Direct targeting of human plasma for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and analysis of plasma proteins by time of flight-mass spectrometry

A method to analyze human plasma proteins without fractionation, directly applying a plasma-matrix mixture on the target plate of a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF-MS), has been described. Peaks of ionized plasma proteins could not be detected applying a mixture of an undiluted plasma sample and a matrix solution, but they appeared when the plasma was diluted before mixing with the matrix. Tenfold diluted plasma provided well-resolved protein peaks in the m/z range from 4000 to 30,000. The addition of a simple post-crystallization washing procedure performed on the target plate further improved the quality of mass spectra. We numbered 58 peaks in the range of 4-160 kDa and 32 out of which were assigned to the plasma protein species which have been reported. Especially high sensitivity and resolution were obtained in the region < 30 kDa, where multiple isoforms of apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein A-II, apolipoprotein C-I, apolipoprotein C-II, apolipoprotein C-III, and transthyretin could be assigned. Various post-translational modifications are involved in the isoforms, e.g., proteolytic cleavage, glycosylation and chemical modifications. This method will become complementary with the present electrophoretic techniques, especially for the analysis of low-molecular-mass proteins.     

Fast simultaneous determination of 23 veterinary drug residues in fish,poultry, and red meat by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

The misuses of veterinary drugs can result in the accumulation of residues in food of animal origin that can make its way to the final consumer. Herein we describe a simple method for the accurate determination of beta-lactams, quinolones, sulphonamides, and tetracyclines in fish, poultry, and red meat. No extraction cartridges were used; instead, the extraction process consisted of the addition of an organic solvents, shaking, centrifugation, and dilution. An extensive validation process demonstrated an excellent linearity (R² ≥ 0.99) for 23-drug residues. The recovery of drugs in different matrices at two concentration levels (n = 6) was in the range of 82–119%. The method was proved to be repeatable and reproducible with intra/inter-day measurements (RSDs lower than 20%). The quantification limits of drug residues were in the range of 0.8 to 45.3 ug/kg, which is well below the maximum residue limits set by most regulatory authorities. This method was successfully applied to the routine analysis of 20 fish, poultry, and red meat samples (n = 60).     

The effect of composition of parenteral solution on the thermal resistance of Bacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus subtilis spores

Large-volume parenteral solutions were submitted to heat treatments after being inoculated with Bacillus stearothermophilus ATCC 7953 (T _r =121°C) and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 9372 (T _r =104.5°C) spores. The average decimal reduction time for B. stearothermophilus ranged from a D _121°C value of 1.31 to 3.14 min, in glucophysiologic and Ringer’s solutions respectively. For B. subtilis, D _104.5°C value increased from 0.69 to 1.37 min, in Ringer’s (pH=5.91) and 50% glucose (pH 3.05) solutions respectively. The z value ranged from 7.95°C (20% mannitol solution) to 13.14°C (50% glucose solution), corresponding to an activation energy (Ea) of 81.48 and 49.30 kcal/mol, respectively.     

边界层对粗糙单裂隙溶质运移影响试验

为探究非费克(non-Fickian)运移表现出的峰值提前到达和拖尾等现象,开展了粗糙单裂隙溶质运移试验,总结了粗糙单裂隙中溶质运移特征及运移机理,结合边界层理论对峰值提前到达和拖尾现象进行了分析和解释。结果表明：峰值时间和拖尾时间与边界层厚度之间存在较好的线性相关关系;边界层对裂隙介质溶质运移有较为显著影响,即水流速度越小,边界层厚度越大,滞留在边界层内部的溶质越多,溶质获取率越低;粗糙单裂隙中溶质穿透曲线的峰值提前和拖尾现象是由裂隙中心处以惯性力主导的主流区和裂隙壁面以黏性力主导的边界层区共同作用造成的,其中峰值时间主要由主流区的对流因素控制,而边界层区域的存在对拖尾时间影响较大。     

频域时间反转多用户系统的信干噪比和误比特率分析

为了更有效地将时间反转技术应用到正交频分复用系统中,推导了多天线频域时间反转预编码多用户系统的平均信干噪比和误比特率的表达式。通过推导信号功率均值的表达式和用户间干扰信号功率均值的近似表达式,得到用户的平均接收信干噪比的近似表达式,进而得到二进制相移键控调制下的平均误比特率的一个下界和近似表达式。仿真结果表明,推导的平均信干噪比的近似值与仿真结果很接近,近似BER值与仿真得到的平均BER值较为接近;通过增大速率回退因子和天线数,可明显提高平均信干噪比,降低误比特率。     

Complexity of flow time minimization in a crossdock truck scheduling problem with asymmetric handover relations

We address a novel truck scheduling problem arising in crossdocking logistics, in which inbound trucks carry items (pallets) which must be sorted and loaded onto outbound trucks. We minimize the utilisation of the warehouse by focusing on the synchronisation between the different related trucks. The problem is to assign the trucks to the doors of the warehouse and sequence them, in order to minimize the total time spent in the system by the pallets. We discuss the complexity of the problem, showing that even with a single door the problem is NP-hard in general, and discuss some special cases.     

Hopf bifurcation of a tumor immune model with time delay

In this paper, a tumor immune model with time delay is studied. First, the stability of nonnegative equilibria is analyzed. Then the time delay τ is selected as a bifurcation parameter and the existence of Hopf bifurcation is proved. Finally, by using the canonical method and the central manifold theory, the criteria for judging the direction and stability of Hopf bifurcation are given.     

Event-triggered sliding mode control for switched genetic regulatory networks with persistent dwell time

This paper focus on the event-triggered sliding mode controller design for discrete-time switched genetic regulatory networks (GRNs) with persistent dwell time (PDT) switching. Firstly, the observation error dynamics of switched GRNs with PDT is constructed in the light of event-triggered sliding mode control (SMC) scheme. Next, sufficient conditions are derived to ensure the exponential stability of the augmented plant. Moreover, an event-triggered SMC law is synthesized to impel the system trajectories onto the sliding surface in a finite time. Finally, a verification example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness and potential of the proposed method.     

Some Properties of Solutions to the Novikov Equation with Weak Dissipation Terms

In this paper, we investigate the Novikov equation with weak dissipation terms. First, we give the local well-posedness and the blow-up scenario. Then, we discuss the global existence of the solutions under certain conditions. After that, on condition that the compactly supported initial data keeps its sign, we prove the infinite propagation speed of our solutions, and establish the large time behavior. Finally, we also elaborate the persistence property of our solutions in weighted Sobolev space.     

Single machine group scheduling with ordered criteria

The single machine group scheduling problem is considered. Jobs are classified into several groups on the basis of group technology, i.e. jobs of the same group have to be processed jointly. A machine set-up time independent of the group sequence is needed between each two consecutive groups. A schedule specifies the sequence of groups and the sequence of jobs in each group. The quality of a schedule is measured by the criteriaF ₁, ...,F _m ordered by their relative importance. The objective is to minimize the least important criterionF _m subject to the schedule being optimal with respect to the more important criterionF _m–1 which is minimized on the set of schedules minimizing criterionF _m–2 and so on. The most important criterion isF ₁, which is minimized on the set of all feasible schedules. An approach to solve this multicriterion problem in polynomial time is presented if functionsF ₁, ...,F _m have special properties. The total weighted completion time and the total weighted exponential time are the examples of functionsF ₁, ...,F _m–1 and the maximum cost is an example of functionF _m for which our approach can be applied.The research of the authors was partially supported by a KBN Grant No. 3 P 406 003 05, the Fundamental Research Fund of Belarus, Project N 60-242, and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Project Schema, respectively. The paper was completed while the first author was visiting the University of Melbourne.