Manufacturing flow line systems: a review of models and analytical results

The most important models and results of the manufacturing flow line literature are described. These include the major classes of models (asynchronous, synchronous, and continuous); the major features (blocking, processing times, failures and repairs); the major properties (conservation of flow, flow rate-idle time, reversibility, and others); and the relationships among different models. Exact and approximate methods for obtaining quantitative measures of performance are also reviewed. The exact methods are appropriate for small systems. The approximate methods, which are the only means available for large systems, are generally based on decomposition, and make use of the exact methods for small systems. Extensions are briefly discussed. Directions for future research are suggested.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant DDM-8914277

A database of expressed genes From Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

We used an expressed sequence tag and 454 pyrosequencing approach to initiate a study of the genome of the screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Two normalized cDNA libraries were constructed from RNA isolated from embryos and second instar larvae from the Panama 95 strain. Approximately 5,400 clones from each library were sequenced from both the 5? and 3? directions using the Sanger method. In addition, double-stranded cDNA was prepared from random-primed polyA RNA purified from embryos, second-instar larvae, adult males, and adult females. These four cDNA samples were used for 454 pyrosequencing that produced ?300,000 independent sequences. Sequences were assembled into a database of assembled contigs and singletons and used to search public protein databases and annotate the sequences. The full database consists of 6,076 contigs and 58,221 singletons assembled from both the traditional expressed sequence tag (EST) and 454 sequences. Annotation of the data led to the identification of several gene coding regions with possible roles in sex determination in the screwworm. This database will facilitate the design of microarray and other experiments to study screwworm gene expression on a larger scale than previously possible

Solid State Experiments at High Pressure and Strain Rates

Experiments have been developed using high powered laser facilities to study the response of materials in the solid state under extreme pressures and strain rates. Details of the target and drive development required for solid state experiments and results from two separate experiments are presented. In the first, thin foils were compressed to a peak pressure of 180 GPa and accelerated. A pre-imposed modulation at the embedded RT unstable interface was observed to grow. The growth rates were fluid-like at early time, but suppressed at later time. This result is suggestive of the theory of localized heating in shear bands, followed by dissipation of the heat, allowing for recovery of the bulk material strength. In the second experiment, the response of Si was studied by dynamic x-ray diffraction. The crystal was observed to respond with uni-axial compression at a peak pressure 11.5-13.5 GPa