The development and application of an interactive material requirements planning model

DUE TO COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION AT ASTON UNIVERSITY LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES WITH PRIOR ARRANGEMENT

The development and application of a coding and classification system for manufacturing industry

DUE TO COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION AT ASTON UNIVERSITY LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES WITH PRIOR ARRANGEMENT

Breakage model development and application with CFD for predicting breakage of whey protein precipitate particles

Particle breakage due to fluid flow through various geometries can have a major influence on the performance of particle/fluid processes and on the product quality characteristics of particle/fluid products. In this study, whey protein precipitate dispersions were used as a case study to investigate the effect of flow intensity and exposure time on the breakage of these precipitate particles. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations were performed to evaluate the turbulent eddy dissipation rate (TED) and associated exposure time along various flow geometries. The focus of this work is on the predictive modelling of particle breakage in particle/fluid systems. A number of breakage models were developed to relate TED and exposure time to particle breakage. The suitability of these breakage models was evaluated for their ability to predict the experimentally determined breakage of the whey protein precipitate particles. A "power-law threshold" breakage model was found to provide a satisfactory capability for predicting the breakage of the whey protein precipitate particles. The whey protein precipitate dispersions were propelled through a number of different geometries such as bends, tees and elbows, and the model accurately predicted the mean particle size attained after flow through these geometries. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Application of genomics, proteomics and metabolomics in drug discovery, development and clinic

Genomics, proteomics and metabolomics are three areas that are routinely applied throughout the drug-development process as well as after a product enters the market. This review discusses all three 'omics, reporting on the key applications, techniques, recent advances and expectations of each. Genomics, mainly through the use of novel and next-generation sequencing techniques, has advanced areas of drug discovery and development through the comparative assessment of normal and diseased-state tissues, transcription and/or expression profiling, side-effect profiling, pharmacogenomics and the identification of biomarkers. Proteomics, through techniques including isotope coded affinity tags, stable isotopic labeling by amino acids in cell culture, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification, multidirectional protein identification technology, activity-based probes, protein/peptide arrays, phage displays and two-hybrid systems is utilized in multiple areas through the drug development pipeline including target and lead identification, compound optimization, throughout the clinical trials process and after market analysis. Metabolomics, although the most recent and least developed of the three 'omics considered in this review, provides a significant contribution to drug development through systems biology approaches. Already implemented to some degree in the drug-discovery industry and used in applications spanning target identification through to toxicological analysis, metabolic network understanding is essential in generating future discoveries.

The Experience of Development and Application Perspectives of Learning Integrated Expert Systems in the Educational Process

The main principles and experience of development of learning integrated expert systems based on the third generation instrumental complex AT-TECHNOLOGY are considered.

Application of Network Technologies for Development of Medical Data-advisory Clinic “Med-Health”

In this article the medical data-advisory web-resource developed by authors is considered. This resource allows carrying out information interchange between consumers of medical services and the medical establishments which give these services, and firms-manufacturers of medical equipment and medicaments. Main sections of this web-site, their purposes and capabilities are considered in this article.

Increasing Reliability and Improving the Process of Accumulator Charging Based on the Development of PCGraph Application

The article presents the software written in Builder C++ that monitors the process of processor impulse charger. Protocol, interface, components used and the future research are presented.

Experience of Development and Application of Expert Systems for Economic Macroparameters Forecasting and Operation

In this article there are considered problems of forecasting economical macroparameters, and in the first place, index of inflation. Concept of development of synthetical forecasting methods which use directly specified expert information as well as calculation result on the basis of objective economical and mathematical models for forecasting separate “slowly changeable parameters” are offered. This article discusses problems of macroparameters operation on the basis of analysis of received prognostic magnitude.

Development of potent and selective tissue transglutaminase inhibitors:their effect on TG2 function and application in pathological conditions

Potent-selective peptidomimetic inhibitors of tissue transglutaminase (TG2) were developed through a combination of protein-ligand docking and molecular dynamic techniques. Derivatives of these inhibitors were made with the aim of specific TG2 targeting to the intra- and extracellular space. A cell-permeable fluorescently labeled derivative enabled detection of in situ cellular TG2 activity in human umbilical cord endothelial cells and TG2-transduced NIH3T3 cells, which could be enhanced by treatment of cells with ionomycin. Reaction of TG2 with this fluorescent inhibitor in NIH3T3 cells resulted in loss of binding of TG2 to cell surface syndecan-4 and inhibition of translocation of the enzyme into the extracellular matrix, with a parallel reduction in fibronectin deposition. In human umbilical cord endothelial cells, this same fluorescent inhibitor also demonstrated a reduction in fibronectin deposition, cell motility, and cord formation in Matrigel. Use of the same inhibitor in a mouse model of hypertensive nephrosclerosis showed over a 40% reduction in collagen deposition.

Application and use of isothermal calorimetry in pharmaceutical development

There are many steps involved in developing a drug candidate into a formulated medicine and many involve analysis of chemical interaction or physical change. Calorimetry is particularly suited to such analyses as it offers the capacity to observe and quantify both chemical and physical changes in virtually any sample. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is ubiquitous in pharmaceutical development, but the related technique of isothermal calorimetry (IC) is complementary and can be used to investigate a range of processes not amenable to analysis by DSC. Typically, IC is used for longer-term stability indicating or excipient compatibility assays because both the temperature and relative humidity (RH) in the sample ampoule can be controlled. However, instrument design and configuration, such as titration, gas perfusion or ampoule-breaking (solution) calorimetry, allow quantification of more specific values, such as binding enthalpies, heats of solution and quantification of amorphous content. As ever, instrument selection, experiment design and sample preparation are critical to ensuring the relevance of any data recorded. This article reviews the use of isothermal, titration, gas-perfusion and solution calorimetry in the context of pharmaceutical development, with a focus on instrument and experimental design factors, highlighted with examples from the recent literature. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.

The development of a sustainable agricultural industry through the application of biochar and pyroligneous acid

This paper marks the first in a series of studies into the potential use of pyrolysis products in the development of more sustainable practices within the agricultural industry. In this study, the immediate benefits of the application of biochar to crop yields of Raphanus sativus (radishes) are assessed. Furthermore, the study reports on the preliminary findings into the potential application of pyroligneous acid (wood vinegar) as a biocidal agent against crop disease. Although germination tests undertaken on biochar/compost blends of up to 1: 2, by weight, showed no significant adverse effect from the addition of the nutrient rich carbonaceous solid, evidence of substantial increases in crop yield through the addition of biochar were not observed. In sharp contrast, zones of inhibition were observed at 3-10 vol. % upon application of pyroligneous acid to two causal agents responsible for certain diseases in vegetable and fruit crops, i.e. Rhizobium radiobacter (agrobacterium tumefaciens) and Xanthomonas campestris, highlighting the versatility in the application of pyrolysis products and avenues for exploration in the development of this biomass conversion technology.

Development and Application of a Methodology to Identify Projects of Energy Community Interest

Projects of Energy Community Interest” (PECIs) is a label attached to those projects which have the highest positive impact in the largest possible number of Contracting Parties. The assessment of one hundred projects submitted as candidates, and final selection of 35 PECIs was achieved in a collaborative process undertaken by the same Task Force that contributed to the preparation of the Energy Strategy. Chaired by the European Commission, the Task Force was facilitated by the Energy Community Secretariat and benefited from technical assistance of a Consultant sponsored from the Energy Community budget.

The development, application, and implications of a strategy for reflective learning from experience

The problem on which this study focused was individuals' reduced capacity to respond to change and to engage in innovative learning when their reflective learning skills are limited. In this study, the preceding problem was addressed by two primary questions: To what degree can mastery of a strategy for reflective learning be facilitated as a part of an academic curriculum for professional practitioners? What impact will mastery of this strategy have on the learning style and adaptive flexibility of adult learners? The focus of the study was a direct application of human resource development technology in the professional preparation of teachers. The background of the problem in light of changing global paradigms and educational action orientations was outlined and a review of the literature was provided. Roots of thought for two key concepts (i.e., learning to learn from experience and meaningful reflection in learning) were traced. Reflective perspectives from the work of eight researchers were compared. A meta-model of learning from experience drawn from the literature served as a conceptual framework for the study. A strategy for reflective learning developed from this meta-model was taught to 109 teachers-in-training at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. Kolb's Adaptive Style Inventory and Learning Style Inventory were administered to the treatment group and to two control groups taught by the same professor. Three research questions and fourteen hypotheses guided data analysis. Qualitative review of 1565 personal documents generated by the treatment group indicated that 77 students demonstrated "double-loop" learning, going beyond previously established limits to perception, understanding, or action. The mean score for depth of reflection indicated "single-loop" learning with "reflection-in-action" present. The change in the mean score for depth of reflection from the beginning to end of the study was statistically significant (p $<$.05). On quantitative measures of adaptive flexibility and learning style, with two exceptions, there were no significant differences noted between treatment and control groups on pre-test to post-test differences and on post-test mean scores adjusted for pre-test responses and demographic variables. Conclusions were drawn regarding treatment, instrumentation, and application of the strategy and the meta-model. Implications of the strategy and the meta-model for research, for education, for human resource development, for professional practice, and for personal growth were suggested. Qualitative training materials and Kolb's instruments were provided in the appendices.

Development and Application of Covalent-Labeling Strategies for the Large-Scale Thermodynamic Analysis of Protein Folding and Ligand Binding

Thermodynamic stability measurements on proteins and protein-ligand complexes can offer insights not only into the fundamental properties of protein folding reactions and protein functions, but also into the development of protein-directed therapeutic agents to combat disease. Conventional calorimetric or spectroscopic approaches for measuring protein stability typically require large amounts of purified protein. This requirement has precluded their use in proteomic applications. Stability of Proteins from Rates of Oxidation (SPROX) is a recently developed mass spectrometry-based approach for proteome-wide thermodynamic stability analysis. Since the proteomic coverage of SPROX is fundamentally limited by the detection of methionine-containing peptides, the use of tryptophan-containing peptides was investigated in this dissertation. A new SPROX-like protocol was developed that measured protein folding free energies using the denaturant dependence of the rate at which globally protected tryptophan and methionine residues are modified with dimethyl (2-hydroxyl-5-nitrobenzyl) sulfonium bromide and hydrogen peroxide, respectively. This so-called Hybrid protocol was applied to proteins in yeast and MCF-7 cell lysates and achieved a ~50% increase in proteomic coverage compared to probing only methionine-containing peptides. Subsequently, the Hybrid protocol was successfully utilized to identify and quantify both known and novel protein-ligand interactions in cell lysates. The ligands under study included the well-known Hsp90 inhibitor geldanamycin and the less well-understood omeprazole sulfide that inhibits liver-stage malaria. In addition to protein-small molecule interactions, protein-protein interactions involving Puf6 were investigated using the SPROX technique in comparative thermodynamic analyses performed on wild-type and Puf6-deletion yeast strains. A total of 39 proteins were detected as Puf6 targets and 36 of these targets were previously unknown to interact with Puf6. Finally, to facilitate the SPROX/Hybrid data analysis process and minimize human errors, a Bayesian algorithm was developed for transition midpoint assignment. In summary, the work in this dissertation expanded the scope of SPROX and evaluated the use of SPROX/Hybrid protocols for characterizing protein-ligand interactions in complex biological mixtures.

Development of InAlN HEMTs for space application

This thesis investigates the emerging InAlN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) technology with respect to its application in the space industry. The manufacturing processes and device performance of InAlN HEMTs were compared to AlGaN HEMTs, also produced as part of this work. RF gain up to 4 GHz was demonstrated in both InAlN and AlGaN HEMTs with gate lengths of 1 μm, with InAlN HEMTs generally showing higher channel currents (~150 c.f. 60 mA/mm) but also degraded leakage properties (~ 1 x 10-4 c.f. < 1 x 10-8 A/mm) with respect to AlGaN. An analysis of device reliability was undertaken using thermal stability, radiation hardness and off-state breakdown measurements. Both InAlN and AlGaN HEMTs showed excellent stability under space-like conditions, with electrical operation maintained after exposure to 9.2 Mrad of gamma radiation at a dose rate of 6.6 krad/hour over two months and after storage at 250°C for four weeks. Furthermore a link was established between the optimisation of device performance (RF gain, power handling capabilities and leakage properties) and reliability (radiation hardness, thermal stability and breakdown properties), particularly with respect to surface passivation. Following analysis of performance and reliability data, the InAlN HEMT device fabrication process was optimised by adjusting the metal Ohmic contact formation process (specifically metal stack thicknesses and anneal conditions) and surface passivation techniques (plasma power during dielectric layer deposition), based on an existing AlGaN HEMT process. This resulted in both a reduction of the contact resistivity to around 1 x 10-4 Ω.cm2 and the suppression of degrading trap-related effects, bringing the measured gate-lag close to zero. These discoveries fostered a greater understanding of the physical mechanisms involved in device operation and manufacture, which is elaborated upon in the final chapter.