Corrections to Scaling in the Hydrodynamic Properties of Dilute Polymer Solutions

We discuss the hydrodynamic radius $R_H$ of polymer chains in good solvent, and show that the leading order correction to the asymptotic law $R_H \propto N^\nu$ ($N$ degree of polymerization, $\nu \approx 0.59$) is an ``analytic'' term of order $N^{-(1 - \nu)}$, which is directly related to the discretization of the chain into a finite number of beads. This result is further corroborated by exact calculations for Gaussian chains, and extensive numerical simulations of different models of good--solvent chains, where we find a value of $1.591 \pm 0.007$ for the asymptotic universal ratio $R_G / R_H$, $R_G$ being the chain's gyration radius. For $\Theta$ chains the data apparently extrapolate to $R_G / R_H \approx 1.44$, which is different from the Gaussian value 1.5045, but in accordance with previous simulations. We also show that the experimentally observed deviations of the initial decay rate in dynamic light scattering from the asymptotic Benmouna--Akcasu value can partly be understood by similar arguments.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures. submitted to J. Chem. Phy

Entwicklung eines ganzheitlichen Informationssystems zur Optimierung der Reihenfolgebildung im Sondermaschinenbau

Vor dem Hintergrund eines gestiegenen technologischen Wettbewerbs im Sondermaschinenbau gewinnen die industriellen Zielgrößen Kosten, Qualität und Zeit unentwegt an Bedeutung. Zur Optimierung der Zielgröße Zeit greift die vorliegende Arbeit die Entwicklung eines ganzheitlichen Informationssystems auf. Für die Entwicklung des Systems wird eine Entwicklungsmethode systematisch anhand der Schritte Analyse, Konzeption und Entwicklung beschrieben. Ergebnis sind die Teilsysteme zur Datenbereitstellung, Datenerfassung, Datenintegration und Informationsnutzung, welche durch ihrer bidirektionalen Kommunikation untereinander ein ganzheitliches Informationssystem bilden. Durch das Teilsystem zur Datenbereitstellung wird die Auswahl von projektspezifischen Kennzeichnungstechnologien und Informationsträgern zur maschinenlesbaren Materialkennzeichnung ermöglicht. Im Folgenden kann durch das Teilsystem zur Datenerfassung eine bedarfs- und anforderungsgerechte Erfassung dieser maschinenlesbaren Daten in der Produktion erfolgen. Um die erhobenen Daten für die Informationsnutzung aufzubereiten und standardisiert zur Verfügung zu stellen, findet in der Datenintegration die Entwicklung eines Datenmodells statt. Infolge dieser Teilsysteme der vorangegangenen Phasen stehen aktuelle als auch historische Daten zur Verfügung, die in dem Teilsystem der Informationsnutzung verwendet werden, um die Reihenfolgebildung von wartenden Aufträgen an Arbeitssystemen in der Produktion zu optimieren.Against the background of increased technological competition in special machine construction, the industrial target variables of costs, quality and time are constantly gaining in importance. In order to optimise the target value of time, the present work takes up the development of a holistic information system. For the development of the system, a development method is systematically described on the basis of the steps analysis, conception and development. The result is the subsystems for data provision, data acquisition, data integration and information utilisation, which form a holistic information system through their bidirectional communication with each other. The subsystem for data provision enables the selection of project-specific marking technologies and information carriers for machine-readable material marking. In the following, the subsystem for data collection can be used to collect this machine-readable data in production according to requirements and needs. In order to prepare the collected data for the use of information and to make it available in a standardised way, the development of a data model takes place in the data integration. As a result of these subsystems of the previous phases, current as well as historical data are available, which are used in the subsystem of information utilisation to optimise the sequencing of waiting orders at work systems in production

Interleukin 31 mediates MAP kinase and STAT1/3 activation in intestinal epithelial cells and its expression is upregulated in inflammatory bowel disease

Background/aim: Interleukin 31 (IL31), primarily expressed in activated lymphocytes, signals through a heterodimeric receptor complex consisting of the IL31 receptor alpha (IL31R\textgreeka) and the oncostatin M receptor (OSMR). The aim of this study was to analyse IL31 receptor expression, signal transduction, and specific biological functions of this cytokine system in intestinal inflammation.Methods: Expression studies were performed by RT-PCR, quantitative PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Signal transduction was analysed by western blotting. Cell proliferation was measured by MTS assays, cell migration by restitution assays.Results: Colorectal cancer derived intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) lines express both IL31 receptor subunits, while their expression in unstimulated primary murine IEC was low. LPS and the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-\textgreeka, IL1\textgreekb, IFN-\textgreekg, and sodium butyrate stimulation increased IL31, IL31R\textgreeka, and OSMR mRNA expression, while IL31 itself enhanced IL8 expression in IEC. IL31 mediates ERK-1/2, Akt, STAT1, and STAT3 activation in IEC resulting in enhanced IEC migration. However, at low cell density, IL31 had significant antiproliferative capacities (p<0.005). IL31 mRNA expression was not increased in the TNF\textgreekDARE mouse model of ileitis but in inflamed colonic lesions compared to non-inflamed tissue in patients with Crohn's disease (CD; average 2.4-fold increase) and in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC; average 2.6-fold increase) and correlated with the IL-8 expression in these lesions (r = 0.564 for CD; r = 0.650 for UC; total number of biopsies analysed: n = 88).Conclusion: IEC express the functional IL31 receptor complex. IL31 modulates cell proliferation and migration suggesting a role in the regulation of intestinal barrier function particularly in intestinal inflammation

Implicit Prejudice in Eight-Graders

This study examines the automatic activation of negative prejudices towards Turks using a masked affective priming paradigm in a sample of German adolescents (aged 13 to 15). Pictures of Turks and Germans were used as masked primes; positive and negative adjectives conveying either other-relevant valence (e.g., honest, evil) or possessor-relevant valence (e.g., talented, dull) were used as targets. Results revealed that both explicit prejudices towards Turks living in Germany as well as prejudiced behaviour in a virtual ball-tossing game are meaningfully related to automatic prejudice activation. As expected, these correlations were found only for priming indices based on other-relevant targets, thereby emphasising the differentiation of implicit prejudice into (imputed) hostility and depreciation

Adolescents' attitudes towards foreigners: associations with perceptions of significant others' attitudes depending on sex and age

'The present study examines associations between adolescents' attitudes towards foreigners and their perceptions of the same attitudes among their parents, friends, and teachers. Questionnaire data from a sample of 518 students attending 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grade of German high-track schools addressed students' own attitudes and their reports on the reference persons m their proximal contexts. Analyses of individual profile correlations suggest strong correspondences between adolescents and their perceived contexts which slightly decrease depending on age. Processes of projection are discussed as a possible explanation of the strong associations observed as well as to the age-graded pattern of correlations.' (author's abstract)

Improved coverage of cDNA-AFLP by sequential digestion of immobilized cDNA

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>cDNA-AFLP is a transcriptomics technique which does not require prior sequence information and can therefore be used as a gene discovery tool. The method is based on selective amplification of cDNA fragments generated by restriction endonucleases, electrophoretic separation of the products and comparison of the band patterns between treated samples and controls. Unequal distribution of restriction sites used to generate cDNA fragments negatively affects the performance of cDNA-AFLP. Some transcripts are represented by more than one fragment while other escape detection, causing redundancy and reducing the coverage of the analysis, respectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>With the goal of improving the coverage of cDNA-AFLP without increasing its redundancy, we designed a modified cDNA-AFLP protocol. Immobilized cDNA is sequentially digested with several restriction endonucleases and the released DNA fragments are collected in mutually exclusive pools. To investigate the performance of the protocol, software tool MECS (Multiple Enzyme cDNA-AFLP Simulation) was written in Perl. cDNA-AFLP protocols described in the literatur and the new sequential digestion protocol were simulated on sets of cDNA sequences from mouse, human and <it>Arabidopsis thaliana</it>. The redundancy and coverage, the total number of PCR reactions, and the average fragment length were calculated for each protocol and cDNA set.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Simulation revealed that sequential digestion of immobilized cDNA followed by the partitioning of released fragments into mutually exclusive pools outperformed other cDNA-AFLP protocols in terms of coverage, redundancy, fragment length, and the total number of PCRs. Primers generating 30 to 70 amplicons per PCR provided the highest fraction of electrophoretically distinguishable fragments suitable for normalization. For <it>A. thaliana</it>, human and mice transcriptome, the use of two marking enzymes and three sequentially applied releasing enzymes for each of the marking enzymes is recommended.</p

10P. About the Nature of Enterprise Interoperability

Flexibility is one of today’s key business requirements. Transferring flexibility to the enterprise means that the enterprise needs to be able to operate in different ways. Classically this should be realized by a high degree of adaptability. However, you could also foresee and forethink possible ways of doing business and build your company accordingly. We call this state, where an enterprise is constructed in a way that it is able to seamlessly enter collaborations, Enterprise Interoperability. In this paper, we conceive the concept of Enterprise Interoperability. Furthermore, we depict its characteristics and decompose it into partial areas of interoperability that affects enterprises. Finally, we conclude in a framework that comprises and captures Enterprise Interoperability