Restaurant site selection

"Restaurant site selection is a complex decision often made without proper planning or sufficient information. It is generally held that the site selection process is more art than science and therefore difficult to quantify. The most important aspect of site selection is to assure that all factors that could possibly have any bearing on the decision are considered carefully."--First paragraph.Neil P. Quirk (Management Assistance Officer, Small Business Administration ; St. Louis), Robert F. Lukowski and Dante M. Laudadio (State Extension Specialists, Food Service and Lodging Management ; University of Missouri--Columbia)Includes bibliographical references

AFM characterization of biomolecules in physiological environment by an advanced nanofabricated probe

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Characterization and winemaking application of a novel pectin-degrading enzyme complex from Aspergillus sojae ATCC 20235

A novel pectin-degrading enzyme complex produced by Aspergillus sojae ATCC 20235 (PC-AS) using lowcost substrates was characterised in terms of its enzyme activities relevant in winemaking. This novel PC-AS was applied at the maceration/fermentation stage during the elaboration of 'Tempranillo' red wines to study its effect on colour development and the phenolic and amino acid wine composition. PC-AS polygalacturonase activity was the major enzyme activity detected and quantified under winemaking conditions (pH 3.5, 20 °C) and proved being stable and active in the presence of sulfur dioxide. Xylanase activity, albeit in lesser amounts, was also present in PC-AS, and neither pectinesterase, which produces methanol, nor β-glucosidase, which is detrimental to wine colour, were detected in PC-AS. This pectin-degrading complex promoted a faster colour extraction since maximum colour intensity of the enzyme treated wines was reached earlier compared to their controls. After 6 months of storage under winery conditions, wines elaborated with PC-AS presented higher concentrations of caffeic acid, coumaric acid and aspartic acid (p ˂ 0.05), suggesting an improved extraction of grape cell components. In conclusion, the application of PCAS yielded results that showed that it can be used in red winemaking to shorten the maceration time needed to reach high CI values and to improve the extraction of some phenolics and other compounds that enhance the quality of the final product.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasCentro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriale

Self-organizing multi-agent system for management and planning surveillance routes

This paper presents the THOMAS architecture, specially designed to model open multi-agent systems, and its application in the development of a multi-agent system for managing and planning surveillance routes for security personnel. THOMAS uses agents with reasoning and planning capabilities. These agents can perform a dynamic self-organization when they detect changes in the environment. THOMAS is appropriate for developing systems in highly dynamic environments similar to the one presented in this study, as demonstrated by the results obtained after having applied the system to a case study.Web of Science3151100108

Characterization and winemaking application of a novel pectin-degrading enzyme complex from Aspergillus sojae ATCC 20235

A novel pectin-degrading enzyme complex produced by Aspergillus sojae ATCC 20235 (PC-AS) using lowcost substrates was characterised in terms of its enzyme activities relevant in winemaking. This novel PC-AS was applied at the maceration/fermentation stage during the elaboration of 'Tempranillo' red wines to study its effect on colour development and the phenolic and amino acid wine composition. PC-AS polygalacturonase activity was the major enzyme activity detected and quantified under winemaking conditions (pH 3.5, 20 °C) and proved being stable and active in the presence of sulfur dioxide. Xylanase activity, albeit in lesser amounts, was also present in PC-AS, and neither pectinesterase, which produces methanol, nor β-glucosidase, which is detrimental to wine colour, were detected in PC-AS. This pectin-degrading complex promoted a faster colour extraction since maximum colour intensity of the enzyme treated wines was reached earlier compared to their controls. After 6 months of storage under winery conditions, wines elaborated with PC-AS presented higher concentrations of caffeic acid, coumaric acid and aspartic acid (p ˂ 0.05), suggesting an improved extraction of grape cell components. In conclusion, the application of PCAS yielded results that showed that it can be used in red winemaking to shorten the maceration time needed to reach high CI values and to improve the extraction of some phenolics and other compounds that enhance the quality of the final product.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasCentro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriale

Self-Organizing Multi-Agent System for Management and Planning Surveillance Routes

This paper presents the THOMAS architecture, specially designed to model open multi-agent systems, and its application in the development of a multi-agent system for managing and planning surveillance routes for security personnel. THOMAS uses agents with reasoning and planning capabilities. These agents can perform a dynamic self-organization when they detect changes in the environment. THOMAS is appropriate for developing systems in highly dynamic environments similar to the one presented in this study, as demonstrated by the results obtained after having applied the system to a case study

Effects of bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) and its inhibitor, Noggin, on in vitro maturation and culture of bovine preimplantation embryos

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>BMP4 is a member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) superfamily and Noggin is a potent BMP inhibitor that exerts its function by binding to BMPs preventing interactions with its receptors. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of BMP4 and Noggin, on oocytes <it>in vitro </it>maturation (m experiments) and embryos <it>in vitro </it>development (c experiments) of bovine.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>For m experiments, COCs were collected from slaughterhouse ovaries and <it>in vitro </it>matured in TCM with 100 ng/ml of either BMP4 or Noggin. After 24 h, the nuclear stage of the oocytes was determined by staining with Hoechst 33342. In addition, RT-qPCR was performed on MII oocytes to study the relative concentration of <it>ZAR1, GDF9, BAX, MATER </it>and <it>HSP70 </it>transcripts. Treated oocytes were submitted to parthenogenic activation (PA) or <it>in vitro </it>fertilization (IVF) and cultured in CR2. For c experiments, non-treated matured oocytes were submitted to PA or IVF to generate embryos that were exposed to 100 ng/ml of BMP4 or Noggin in CR2 until day nine of culture. Cleavage, blastocyst and hatching rates, expression pattern of the transcription factor Oct-4 in blastocysts and embryo cell number at day two and nine post-activation or fertilization were evaluated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that Noggin, as BMP4, did not affect oocyte nuclear maturation. Noggin supplementation up-regulated the expression of <it>HSP70 and MATER </it>genes in matured oocytes. Moreover, BMP4 during maturation increased the proportion of Oct-4 positive cells in parthenogenic embryos. On the other hand, when Noggin was added to embryo culture medium, developmental rates of parthenogenic and <it>in vitro </it>fertilized embryos were reduced. However, BMP4 addition decreases the development only for <it>in vitro </it>fertilized embryos. BMP4 and Noggin during culture reduced the proportion of Oct-4-expressing cells.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results show that BMP4 is implicated in bovine oocytes maturation and embryo development. Moreover, our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that a correct balance of BMP signaling is needed for proper pre-implantation development of bovine embryos.</p

Massive open star clusters using the VVV survey, I: presentation of the data and description of the approach

Context. The ESO Public Survey “VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea” (VVV) provides deep multi-epoch infrared observations for unprecedented 562 sq. degrees of the Galactic bulge, and adjacent regions of the disk. Aims. The VVV observations will foster the construction of a sample of Galactic star clusters with reliable and homogeneously derived physical parameters (e.g., age, distance, and mass, etc.). In this first paper in a series, the methodology employed to establish cluster parameters for the envisioned database are elaborated upon by analysing four known young open clusters: Danks 1, Danks 2, RCW 79, and DBS 132. The analysis offers a first glimpse of the information that can be gleaned from the VVV observations for clusters in the final database. Methods. Wide-field, deep JHKs VVV observations, combined with new infrared spectroscopy, are employed to constrain fundamental parameters for a subset of clusters. Results. Results are inferred from VVV near-infrared photometry and numerous low resolution spectra (typically more than 10 per cluster). The high quality of the spectra and the deep wide–field VVV photometry enables us to precisely and independently determine the characteristics of the clusters studied, which we compare to previous determinations. An anomalous reddening law in the direction of the Danks clusters is found, specifically E(J − H)/E(H − Ks) = 2.20 ± 0.06, which exceeds published values for the inner Galaxy. The G305 star forming complex, which includes the Danks clusters, lies beyond the Sagittarius-Carina spiral arm and occupies the Centaurus arm. Finally, the first deep infrared colour-magnitude diagram of RCW 79 is presented, which reveals a sizeable pre-main sequence population. A list of candidate variable stars in G305 region is reported. Conclusions. This study demonstrates the strength of the dataset and methodology employed, and constitutes the first step of a broader study which shall include reliable parameters for a sizeable number of poorly characterised and/or newly discovered clusters.Fil: Chené, A.-N.. Universidad de Valparaíso; ChileFil: Borissova, J.. Universidad de Valparaíso; ChileFil: Clarke, J. R. A.. Universidad de Valparaíso; ChileFil: Bonatto, C.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Majaess, D. J.. Saint Marys University; CanadáFil: Moni Bidin, C.. Universidad de Concepción; ChileFil: Sale, S. E.. Universidad de Valparaíso; ChileFil: Mauro, F.. Universidad de Concepción; ChileFil: Kurtev, R.. Universidad de Valparaíso; ChileFil: Baume, Gustavo Luis. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Astrofísica La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas. Instituto de Astrofísica La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Feinstein Baigorri, Carlos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Astrofísica La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas. Instituto de Astrofísica La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Ivanov, V. D.. European Southern Observatory; ChileFil: Geisler, Doug. Universidad de Concepción; ChileFil: Catelan, M.. The Milky Way Millennium Nucleus; ChileFil: Minniti, Dante. The Milky Way Millennium Nucleus; ChileFil: Lucas, P.. University Of Hertfordshire; Reino UnidoFil: de Grijs, R.. Peking University; ChinaFil: Kumar, M. S. N.. Centro de Astrofisica da Universidade do Porto; Portuga

Hysteresis in the Random Field Ising Model and Bootstrap Percolation

We study hysteresis in the random-field Ising model with an asymmetric distribution of quenched fields, in the limit of low disorder in two and three dimensions. We relate the spin flip process to bootstrap percolation, and show that the characteristic length for self-averaging $L^*$ increases as $exp(exp (J/\Delta))$ in 2d, and as $exp(exp(exp(J/\Delta)))$ in 3d, for disorder strength $\Delta$ much less than the exchange coupling J. For system size $1 << L < L^*$, the coercive field $h_{coer}$ varies as $2J - \Delta \ln \ln L$ for the square lattice, and as $2J - \Delta \ln \ln \ln L$ on the cubic lattice. Its limiting value is 0 for L tending to infinity, both for square and cubic lattices. For lattices with coordination number 3, the limiting magnetization shows no jump, and $h_{coer}$ tends to J.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure