Moving up the automation S-curve: The role of the laboratory automation support function in successful pharmaceutical R&D

The political and economic climate that exists today is a challenging one for the pharmaceutical industry. To effectively compete in today's marketplace, companies must discover and develop truly innovative medicines. The R&D organizations within these companies are under increasing pressure to hold down costs while accomplishing this mission. In this environment of level head count and operating budgets, it is imperative that laboratory management uses resources in the most effective, efficient ways possible. Investment in laboratory automation is a proven tool for doing just that

A parameterization of flow separation over subaqueous dunes

Flow separation plays a key role in the development of dunes, and modeling the complicated flow behavior inside the flow separation zone requires much computational effort. To make a first step toward modeling dune development at reasonable temporal and spatial scales, a parameterization of the shape of the flow separation zone over two-dimensional dunes is proposed herein, in order to avoid modeling the complex flow inside the flow separation zone. Flow separation behind dunes, with an angle-of-repose slip face, is characterized by a large circulating leeside eddy, where a separation streamline forms the upper boundary of the recirculating eddy. Experimental data of turbulent flow over two-dimensional subaqueous bed forms are used to parameterize this separation streamline. The bed forms have various heights and height to length ratios, and a wide range of flow conditions is analyzed. This paper shows that the shape of the flow separation zone can be approximated by a third-order polynomial as a function of the distance away from the flow separation point. The coefficients of the polynomial can be estimated, independent of flow conditions, on the basis of bed form shape at the flow separation point and a constant angle of the separation streamline at the flow reattachment point. \ud \u

An Examination of Cesarean and Vaginal Birth Histories Among Hispanic Women Entering Prenatal Care in Two California Counties with Large Immigrant Populations

Repeat cesarean delivery (CD) rates among US Hispanic women are the highest of all racial/ethnic groups (90%). Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is an alternative delivery method, but requires medical records documentation of a non-vertical incision and favorable conditions in the current pregnancy. VBAC rates for Hispanic women are extremely low. This study explores the birth histories and medical records access among Hispanic women in California, taking into account the potential role of immigration on access to VBAC. Study aims are to describe for a sample of Hispanic women: (1) CD and VBAC histories as well as history of vaginal delivery preceding CD; and (2) medical records access, among women who had previous births in Mexico. Chart review was conducted for prenatal patients from three safety net clinics in two California counties with large Mexican migrant populations between August, 2003 and February 2004—during which VBAC was widely available in these two counties to determine: obstetric histories, CD details, birthplace and whether or not medical records had been requested/obtained for CD. 355 multiparous Hispanic women were included. Thirty-three percent had a previous CD, almost two-thirds (64%) had only one CD. Over half of the women (55%) with 2+ births and CD history also reported a vaginal birth history. Medical records for CD were infrequently requested (29%). Of those requested, records were received for 77% of women with a US CD, compared with 13% of women with Mexican CD histories. Policies to address: (1) VBAC opportunities for low risk women, such as those with prior vaginal births and one CD, and (2) overcoming limited medical records access, could mitigate against unnecessary CD and associated medical expenditures and risks for future complications

An Inventory and Assessment of Silver City\u27s Arts and Cultural Assets

Despite a high level of organization and integration, the economic impact of arts and cultural (A & C) industries is yet to be fully realized in Silver City, New Mexico. During the period October 2008-April 2009, UNM-BBER conducted an investigation of the A & C economy of Silver City, with a focus on an inventory and assessment of the community\u27s cultural assets. The study was done in three parts: an extensive inventory of the assets of the area\u27s creative economy; a community-based survey of artists, preservationists, retailers, and others engaged in creative industries in Silver City and neighboring communities; and an analysis of the impact and trends of the creative economy. The findings are presented in two main parts; first, an analysis of the social assets of the local creative economy, followed by an analysis of the economic market for A & C industries in the area, including a review of trends during the 1989-2006 period. The report includes tables, graphs, and a sample survey

Large-eddy simulation of two-dimensional dunes in a steady, unidirectional flow

We performed large-eddy simulations of the flow over a typical two-dimensional dune geometry at laboratory scale (the Reynolds number based on the average channel height andmean velocity is 18,900) using the Lagrangian dynamic eddy-viscosity subgrid-scale model. The results are validated by comparison with simulations and experiments in the literature. The flowseparates at the dune crest, generating a shear layer that plays a crucial role in the transport of momentum and energy, and the generation of coherent structures. The turbulent kinetic energy budgets show the importance of the turbulent transport and mean-flow advection in the bulk flow above the shear layer. In the recirculation zone and in the attached boundary layers production and dissipation are the most important terms. Large, coherent structures of various types can be observed. Spanwise vortices are generated in the separated shear layer due to the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability; as they are advected, they undergo lateral instabilities and develop into horseshoe-like structures, are tilted downward, and finally reach the surface. The ejection that occurs between the legs of the vortex creates the upwelling and downdrafting events on the free surface known as "boils." Near-wall turbulence, after the reattachment point, is affected by large streamwise Taylor-Görtler vortices generated on the concave part of the stoss side, which affect the distribution of the near-wall streaks

Lower semilattice-ordered residuated semigroups and substructural logics

We look at lower semilattice-ordered residuated semigroups and, in particular, the representable ones, i.e., those that are isomorphic to algebras of binary relations. We will evaluate expressions (terms, sequents, equations, quasi-equations) in representable algebras and give finite axiomatizations for several notions of validity. These results will be applied in the context of substructural logics

Haplotype Structure of the ENPP1 Gene and Nominal Association of the K121Q Missense Single Nucleotide Polymorphism With Glycemic Traits in the Framingham Heart Study

OBJECTIVE—A recent meta-analysis demonstrated a nominal association of the ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) K→Q missense single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position 121 with type 2 diabetes. We set out to confirm the association of ENPP1 K121Q with hyperglycemia, expand this association to insulin resistance traits, and determine whether the association stems from K121Q or another variant in linkage disequilibrium with it

Probability of detection of defects in coatings with electronic shearography

The goal of this research was to utilize statistical methods to evaluate the probability of detection (POD) of defects in coatings using electronic shearography. The coating system utilized in the POD studies was to be the paint system currently utilized on the external casings of the NASA Space Transportation System (STS) Revised Solid Rocket Motor (RSRM) boosters. The population of samples was to be large enough to determine the minimum defect size for 90 percent probability of detection of 95 percent confidence POD on these coatings. Also, the best methods to excite coatings on aerospace components to induce deformations for measurement by electronic shearography were to be determined