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This paper investigates the problem of grouping different customer orders into jobs and these formed jobs to batches and scheduling them on a single batch processing machine to minimize the total weighted tardiness of orders. A compatible batching environment is considered in which there is no restriction on the orders being from the same family to be batched together. A mixed-integer program (MIP) is developed and tested. The compatible MIP model takes 1 + h, on average, to solve an instance. A new simulated annealing-based heuristic solves compatible problems to within 4% of optimality in a few minutes. This fast, near optimal performance suggests that these heuristics may be viable for implementation in practical manufacturing settings, such as burn-in operations in the back end of the semiconductor manufacturing process [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Since the conclusion of data collation from previously published work, a further 352 inseminations using frozen-thawed dog semen by endoscopic-assisted transcervical insemination (EIU) have been performed by the author. Insemination was performed on the second day in which crenulation of the anterior vagina was detected in conjunction with a progesterone concentration of >10 ng/ml. All semen samples were analysed for total number of sperm, total motility and progressive motility using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). The insemination dose was based on the progressively motile normal spermatozoa (PMNS). Insemination was performed on all bitches as previously described using a ureterorenoscope. Additional extender was inseminated subsequent to the semen to expand and fill the uterus. The semen and additional extender were inseminated slowly over a period of 15-20 min. Pregnancy was determined by B-mode ultrasound equipped with a 7.5-MHz probe whilst standing and/or via the whelping rate. The number of sperm inseminated ranged from 9 × 10 6 PMNS to 519 × 10 6 PMNS, with progressive motility values ranging between 20% and 80%. The overall pregnancy rate was 68% (238/352). When stratified by PMNS, pregnancy rates were as follows: >150 × 10 6 PMNS - 76% (110/145), 100-150 × 10 6 - 68% (87/128) and <100 × 10 6 PMNS - 52% (41/79). Pregnancy rate was significantly higher when >150 × 10 6 PMNS (p = .003) or 100-150 ×10 6 PMNS (p = .027) were inseminated compared to <100 × 10 6 PMNS. These data are concordant with previous reports recommending the insemination of >150 × 10 6 PMNS to maximize pregnancy rate. These results indicate that one optimally timed EIU insemination results in similar pregnancy rates to previous publications of one optimally timed, or two or more non-optimally timed inseminations using the Norwegian catheter., (© 2016 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

The objective of this retrospective clinical study was to compare pregnancy rates obtained after the use of endoscopic-assisted transcervical catheterization (EIU) or laparotomy (SIU) for insemination of frozen-thawed dog semen. Healthy bitches from various breeds were inseminated with semen from multiple donors processed by different freezing centers. Data from 118 inseminations (78 EIU and 40 SIU) performed between 2009 and 2011 were analyzed. Insemination timing was based on vaginal cytology, serum progesterone concentrations, and vaginoscopy. A ureterorenoscope and a CH-5 Transcervical insemination catheter were used for EIU; 28 of the bitches in this group were inseminated twice with the second insemination less than 12 hours after the first. The numbers of live morphologically normal sperm (LMNS) were determined to characterize insemination doses. Overall, pregnancy rate was greater (P < 0.05) in the EIU group (65%) than in the SIU group (45%). Pregnancy rates were greater (P ≤ 0.06) when more than 100 × 10(6) LMNS were inseminated regardless of insemination method; the greatest pregnancy rate was observed in the EIU group when this insemination dose was used (38/49; 78%). There was no significant difference in pregnancy rate whether one (69%) or two inseminations (64%) were performed in the EIU group. Complications in the SIU group included anesthetic-induced bradycardia during surgery, significant postsurgery pain, seroma formation over the abdominal incision, and delayed wound healing. No complications were noted during or after insemination in the EIU group. In conclusion, these results support the use of EIU as a noninvasive alternative to laparotomy for insemination of frozen-thawed dog semen. In addition, use of more than 100 × 10(6) LMNS is also recommended for insemination., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Spider dragline silk is renowned as one of the toughest materials of its kind. In nature, spider silks are spun out of aqueous solutions under environmental conditions. This is in contrast to production of most synthetic fibres, where hazardous solvents, high temperatures and pressure are used. In order to identify some of the chemical processes involved in spider silk spinning, we have produced a collection of cDNA sequences from specific regions of Nephila senegalensis major ampullate gland. We examined in detail the sequence and expression of a putative Nephila senegalensis peroxidase gene (NsPox) from our EST collection. NsPox encodes a protein with similarity to Drosophila melanogaster and Aedes aegypti peroxidases. Northern analysis and in situ localisation experiments revealed that NsPox is expressed in major and minor ampullate glands of the spider where the main components of the dragline silk are produced. We suggest that NsPox plays a role in dragline silk fibre formation and/or processing.

In all terrestrial and aquatic plant species the primary cell wall is a dynamic structure, adjusted to fulfil a diversity of functions. However a universal property is its considerable mechanical and tensile strength, whilst being flexible enough to accommodate turgor and allow for cell elongation. The wall is a composite material consisting of a framework of cellulose microfibrils embedded in a matrix of non-cellulosic polysaccharides, interlaced with structural proteins and pectic polymers. The assembly and modification of these polymers within the growing cell wall has, until recently, been poorly understood. Advances in cytological and genetic techniques have thrown light on these processes and have led to the discovery of a number of wall-modifying enzymes which, either directly or indirectly, play a role in the molecular basis of cell wall expansion.

Expansins are proteins which have been demonstrated to induce cell wall extension in vitro. The identification and characterization of six expansin cDNAs from strawberry fruit, termed FaExp3 to FaExp7, as well as the previously identified FaExp2 is reported here. Analysis of expansin mRNAs during fruit development and in leaves, roots and stolons revealed a unique pattern of expression for each cDNA. FaExp3 mRNA was present at much lower levels than the other expansin mRNAs and was expressed in small green fruit and in ripe fruit. FaExp4 mRNA was present throughout fruit development, but was more strongly expressed during ripening. FaExp5 was the only clone to show fruit specific expression which was up-regulated at the onset of ripening. FaExp6 and FaExp7 mRNAs were present at low levels in the fruit with highest expression in stolon tissue. During fruit development FaExp6 had the highest expression at the white, turning and orange stages whereas expression of FaExp7 was highest in white fruit. The expression profiles of FaExp2 and FaExp5 in developing fruit were similar except that FaExp2 was induced at an earlier stage. Analysis of expansin protein by Western blotting using an antibody raised against CsExp1 from cucumber hypocotyls identified two bands of 29 and 31 kDa from developing fruit. Protein extracts from developing fruit were assayed for extension activity. Considerable rates of extension were observed with extracts from ripening fruit, but no extension was observed with protein from unripe green fruit. These results demonstrate the presence of at least six expansin genes in strawberry fruit and that during ripening the fruit acquires the ability to cause extension in vitro, characteristic of expansin action.

Expansins are cell wall proteins thought to play an important role in growth and other events involving cell wall modifications. Whereas the expression patterns of many isoforms have been characterised, the nature of their activity is still poorly understood. Large amounts of active expansins are necessary to undertake biochemical studies and identify their substrates. We report here the successful expression of a recombinant expansin [CsExp1, isolated from cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) hypocotyls] in transgenic tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plants, under the control of a constitutive promoter. In some transformants, CsExp1 transcript and protein accumulated to high levels, and expansin activity extractable from the cell walls was increased up to about 20-fold the activity measured in wild-type plants. These results confirm the identity of the CsExp1 coding sequence, and will enable large quantities of active expansin to be obtained for further studies.

Cellulose-based composite materials containing xyloglucans or mannan-based polysaccharides have been shown to possess organisational features with many characteristics similar to primary plant cell walls. We have tested the effects of a typical alpha-expansin (CsExp1) on these composites using two different mechanical assays. We show that CsExp1 induces very rapid extension in composites containing tamarind xyloglucan under constant load. In contrast, expansin treatment had no effect in constant load extension assays using cellulose-only materials or in those carried out on composites containing glucomannan or galactomannan. We show that the effect of expansins is much smaller on composites made with short chain length xyloglucans than on those containing longer chains. In uniaxial extension tests we found that expansin could double the total extension (before failure) in xyloglucan composites and that the effects were again lower in composites containing shorter xyloglucans. We found no effect of expansin on uniaxial extensions with glucomannan or galactomannan. However, a significant effect of expansin on the uniaxial extension behaviour of cellulose-only material was observed. These experiments suggest that the target of CsExp1 in cell walls is probably the cellulose xyloglucan matrix, but that other (1-4) beta-glucan to (1-4) beta-glucan hydrogen bonded contacts can also serve as substrates.

Background: Although aspirin is beneficial in patients with unstable angina, it is a relatively weak inhibitor of platelet aggregation. The effect of Integrelin, which inhibits the platelet fibrinogen receptor glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa, on the frequency and duration of Holter ischemia was evaluated in 227 patients with unstable angina., Methods and Results: Patients received intravenous heparin and standard ischemic therapy and were randomized to receive oral aspirin and placebo Integrelin; placebo aspirin and low-dose Integrelin. 45 micrograms/kg bolus followed by a 0.5 microgram.kg-1. min-1 continuous infusion; or placebo aspirin and high-dose Integrelin, 90 micrograms/kg bolus followed by a 1.0-microgram.kg-1, min-1 constant infusion. Study drug was continued for 24 to 72 hours, and Holter monitoring was performed. Patients randomized to high-dose Integrelin experienced 0.24 +/- 0.11 ischemic episodes (mean +/- SEM) on Holter lasting 8.41 +/- 5.29 minutes over 24 hours of study drug infusion. Patients randomized to aspirin experienced a greater number (1.0 +/- 0.33, P < .05) and longer duration (26.2 +/- 9.8 minutes, P = .01) of ischemic episodes than the high-dose Integrelin group. There was no evidence of rebound ischemia after withdrawal of study drug. In 46 patients, platelet aggregation was rapidly inhibited by Integrelin in a dose-dependent fashion. The number of clinical events was small, and there were no bleeding differences in the three treatment arms., Conclusions: Intravenous Integrelin is well tolerated, is a potent reversible inhibitor of platelet aggregation, and added to full-dose heparin reduces the number and duration of Holter ischemic events in patients with unstable angina compared with aspirin.

Epithelial cells exist in a complex setting in which responses to mucosal or serosal environments are mediated by receptors expressed on specialized cellular domains, such as apical versus basolateral cell membranes. We investigated whether airway epithelia can react selectively through G-protein-coupled receptors to stimuli in the mucosal or serosal environments by measuring inositol phosphate and intracellular Ca2+ responses in polarized human nasal epithelial monolayers. We report here that unilateral ATP (10(-4) M) administration stimulated P2 purinoceptors and tapped pools of intracellular Ca2+ associated with the plasma membrane ipsilateral but not contralateral to stimulated receptors. Similarly, activation of plasma membrane Ca2+ influx by ATP was confined to the membrane ipsilateral to receptor stimulation. These findings demonstrate that polarized epithelia restrict P2 receptor-mediated responses to a single domain of the cell, reflecting membrane-specific generation and catabolism of inositol phosphates and confinement of calcium influx regulation to the membrane ipsilateral to the stimulated receptors.

It has been proposed that cell wall loosening during plant cell growth may be mediated by the endotransglycosylation of load-bearing polymers, specifically of xyloglucans, within the cell wall. A xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (XET) with such activity has recently been identified in several plant species. Two cell wall proteins capable of inducing the extension of plant cell walls have also recently been identified in cucumber hypocotyls. In this report we examine three questions: (1) Does XET induce the extension of isolated cell walls? (2) Do the extension-inducing proteins possess XET activity? (3) Is the activity of the extension-inducing proteins modulated by a xyloglucan nonasaccharide (Glc4-Xyl3-Gal2)? We found that the soluble proteins from growing cucumber (cucumis sativum L.) hypocotyls contained high XET activity but did not induce wall extension. Highly purified wall-protein fractions from the same tissue had high extension-inducing activity but little or no XET activity. The XET activity was higher a pH 5.5 than at pH 4.5, while extension activity showed the opposite sensitivity to pH. Reconstituted wall extension was unaffected by the presence of a xyloglucan nonasaccharide (Glc4-Xyl3-Gal2), an oligosaccharide previously shown to accelerate growth in pea stems and hypothesized to facilitate growth through an effect on XET-induced cell wall loosening. We conclude that XET activity alone is neither sufficient nor necessary for extension of isolated walls from cucumber hypocotyls.

1. We have characterized an adenosine receptor subtype present in human airway epithelial cells by measuring the changes in the intracellular levels of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and the rate of transepithelial Cl- secretion. 2. Primary cultures of human nasal epithelium obtained from excised surgical airway epithelial tissues and the cell lines BEAS39 and CF/T43 derived from human airway epithelium were grown on plastic dishes and labelled with [3H]-adenine for measurement of intracellular cyclic AMP accumulation. Primary cultures were loaded with the calcium indicator fura-2 to measure [Ca2+]i and studied as polarized, ion transporting epithelia on collagen matrix supports for measurement of Cl- secretion. 3. Adenosine analogues stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation with a rank order of potency characteristic of an A2-receptor: 5-N-ethyl-carboxamidoadenosine (NECA) greater than adenosine greater than R-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA), 6-N-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) greater than S-PIA. NECA increased cyclic AMP accumulation in normal and cystic fibrosis (CF) primary cells as well as in the CF/T43 and BEAS39 cell lines with K0.5 values ranging from 0.3 to 3 microM. Preincubation with NECA resulted in the homologous desensitization of airway epithelial cells. The effect of NECA was specifically inhibited by the adenosine receptor antagonist, aminophylline, in a competitive manner. 4. The A1-adenosine receptor agonists CPA and R-PIA did not inhibit isoprenaline-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in CF/T43 cells, and potentiating effects of the adenosine analogues were observed on forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation. Adenosine analogues did not cause significant changes in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in airway epithelium.5. Adenosine analogues, applied to either the serosal or mucosal side of the polarized amiloride pretreated primary cultures, induced changes in I,, with a rank order of potency of agonists similar to that observed for stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation. Intracellular microelectrode studies indicated that the locus of action was the apical membrane Cl- conductance. Adenosine failed to stimulate C1- secretion in CF airway epithelium.6. These results provide evidence for the existence of an A2-adenosine receptor that modulates intracellular levels of cyclic AMP in human airway epithelium. Activation of this receptor might lead to stimulation of Cl- secretion in amiloride pretreated normal but not CF cells.

1 The role of extracellular nucleotides in regulation of ion transport activities (short circuit current, Isc) of human respiratory epithelia was studied. 2 Application of nucleotides to the apical or basolateral membrane of human nasal epithelium induced a concentration-dependent increase in Isc. 3 The rank order of potency of purine- or pyrimidine-induced changes in Isc of normal human nasal epithelium when applied to the apical membrane (UTP greater than or equal to ATP greater than ATP gamma S greater than 2MeSATP greater than ADP beta S much greater than beta gamma MeATP greater than or equal to alpha beta MeATP) or basolateral membrane (2MeSATP greater than UTP greater than ATP greater than ATP gamma S greater than alpha beta MeATP greater than beta gamma MeATP) is consistent with involvement of a P2 purinoceptor. A similar rank order of potencies was observed for nucleotide effects on intracellular calcium measured by Fura-2 fluorescence using microspectrofluorimetry. 4 Similar nucleotide potency in the regulation of ion transport and intracellular calcium in cystic fibrosis (CF) airway epithelium (UTP greater than or equal to ATP) was observed, suggesting purinoceptors might be used to stimulate ion transport processes that would promote hydration of airway secretions and facilitate their clearance from CF lungs. 5 These data provide evidence for the regulation of ion transport by P2 purinoceptors in normal and cystic fibrosis human airway epithelium.