Assessment of the mean-value of 17-hydroxypregnenolone in the umbilical blood of newborns by the exploratory analysis of biochemical data

The main aim of data analysis in biochemical metrology is the extraction of relevant information from biochemical data measurements. A system of extended exploratory data analysis (EDA) based on the concept of graphical tools for sample data summarization and exploration is proposed and the original EDA algorithm in S-Plus is available on the Internet at http://www.trilobyte.cz/EDA. To check basic assumptions about biochemical and medical data is to examine the independence of sample elements, sample normality and homogeneity. The exact assessment of the mean-value and the variance of steroid levels in controls is necessary for the correct assessment of the samples from patients. Data examination procedures are illustrated by a determination of the mean-value of 17-hydroxypregnenolone in the umbilical blood of newborns. For an asymmetric, strongly skewed sample distribution corrupted with outliers the best estimate of location seems to be the median. The Box–Cox transformation improves a sample symmetry. The proposed procedure gives reliable estimates of a mean-value for an asymmetric distribution of 17-hydroxypregnenolone when the arithmetic mean can not be used.     

Quasicrystal–crystal structural transformation in Al–5 wt.% Mn alloy

The atomic structure of Al–5 wt.%Mn (Al–5Mn) alloy, prepared by rapid solidification, and pre-annealed at 623 and 773 K for 5 and 1 h, respectively, were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) techniques. The sample in as-quenched stage was found crystalline, consisting of metastable α-Al (Al–Mn solid solution) and icosahedral quasicrystalline I-Al₆Mn phases. Five hours annealing at 623 K proved thermal stability of both the phases. Pre-annealing at 773 K/1 h on the other hand leads to α-Al phase decomposition and structural transformation of metastable I-Al₆Mn to stable orthorhombic Al₆Mn phase. The EXAFS results indicate that Mn atoms are located preferably on the outer shell of icosahedrons. During the I-Al₆Mn→o-Al₆Mn transformation the total Al atoms coordinating one Mn were found to be constant (∼10). Based on the results, only distance/symmetry changes in atomic arrangement around Mn atoms were suggested.     

Crystallization of Pd40Cu30Ni10P20 bulk metallic glass with and without pressure

The glass-transition behavior of Pd40Cu30Ni10P20 bulk metallic glass was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry （DSC） and X-ray powder diffraction （XRD）. The effect of pressure on the crystallization behavior of Pd40Cu30Ni10P20 bulk glass was studied by in situ high-pressure and high-temperature X-ray powder diffraction using synchrotron radiation. Phase analyses show at least six crystalline phases in the crystallized sample, namely, monoclinic, tetragonal CuaPd-like, rhombohedral, fcc-Ni2Pd2P, fcc-（Ni, Pd） solid solution, and body-centered tetragonal （bct） NiaP-like phases. The onset crystallization temperature increases with pressure having a slope of 1 1 K/GPa in the range of 0 to 4 GPa. The results are attributed to the competing process between the thermodynamic potential barrier and the diffusion activation energy under pressure.     

New system theory and its impact on control theory

Real systems can include two types of state variables – dynamic and static. While dynamic state variables are a common part of each system, static variables are not and their presence in a system may cause some problems if standard system theories are used. In this paper, it is shown that, due to a new system theory (NST), it is possible to work correctly with systems and subsystems which include not only dynamic state variables, but also static state variables. If standard system theories are used, static variables in the real system cause not only problems in describing systems but also some challenges in control theory. These challenges involve, for example, some questions of controllability, reachability, or observability of a plant that includes static variables or the optimal control design of a plant that includes statical state variables. Some of the challenges mentioned are addressed in this paper after a brief introduction of the NST.     

What stimulates teachers to integrate ICT in their pedagogical practices? The use of digital learning materials in education

The question ‘What stimulates teachers to integrate Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in their pedagogical practices?’ was addressed in the context of teachers’ usage of digital learning materials (DLMs). We adopted Fishbein’s Integrative Model of Behavior Prediction (IMBP), to investigate the various relationships between distal and proximal variables and intention. Mediation analysis revealed that the proximal variables attitude, subjective norm, and self-efficacy towards DLMs were significant predictors of teachers’ intention to use DLMs. The contribution of subjective norm, however, was modest. Attitude, subjective norm and self-efficacy mediated the effects of the following three distal variables on intention: previous use of DLMs, perceived knowledge and skills to use DLMs, and colleagues’ usage of DLMs. Persuasive communication and skills based training seem, therefore, appropriate interventions to promote a positive attitude towards DLMs and improve self-efficacy in using DLMs.     

InP based semiconductor structures for radiation detection

We report the preparation of semi-insulating InP single crystals of p-type conductivity and intentionally undoped p-type epitaxial layers for radiation detection. We focus on (i) the growth of InP single crystals doped with copper by the Czochralski technique and their subsequent temperature annealing to convert them to a semi-insulating (SI) state of p-type conductivity, and (ii) the growth of thick (>10 μm) p-type InP layers by liquid phase epitaxy with an admixture of Pr and Dy. Grown layers and single crystals were examined by low-temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy, capacitance-voltage and temperature dependent Hall measurements. An efficient purification due to rare earth (RE) admixture has been observed and layers grown with the addition of Pr and Dy exhibit the change of electrical conductivity from n to p at certain RE concentration in the melt. Dominant acceptors responsible for conductivity conversion have been identified. Three types of detection structures exploiting the Schottky or Schottky like contacts on pure and SI p-type InP or exploiting the p–n junction were designed.     

Estimation of Rock Aggregates Quality Using Analyses of Drill Cuttings

There is a need for an effective method to estimate the quality of crushed rock aggregates and its usability in the early stages of project planning, e.g., for road and railway constructions and quarry prospecting. The proposed method is based on mineralogical and petrographic analyses of drill cuttings and analysis of the coarse fraction to estimate the homogeneity/heterogeneity of the bedrock. The geological analyses are followed by an estimation of the rock materials’ mechanical properties and their potential technical usability. Development and practical applicability (field and laboratory) of the method have been performed and correlated to three road projects from regions of different geological and climatic zones in Sweden. The study confirms the capability of the proposed method as a surveying tool.     

The influence of electrolyte composition on electrochemical ferrate(VI) synthesis. Part I: anodic dissolution kinetics of pure iron

The influence of anolyte composition and temperature on the anode dissolution kinetics of pure iron and subsequent ferrate(VI) production was studied by means of potentiodynamic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results obtained were verified by batch electrolyses. Pure NaOH, KOH, and mixtures thereof were used as an anolyte. The motivation for this study is to understand in more detail the electrolysis process at which ferrate(VI) is electrochemically produced in situ in the solid form which is more suitable for practical utilization. A significant impact of the anolyte composition on the system behavior was indicated. It is related to the solubility of the anode dissolution products in the anolyte. It was concluded that the fast reaction kinetics in the transpassive potential region is connected with a deterioration of the ferrate(VI) synthesis efficiency. This is explained by the kinetic enhancement corresponding to the intensification of oxygen evolution as a parasitic reaction.     

Insights into the simultaneous chronopotentiometric stripping measurement of indium(III), thallium(I) and zinc(II) in acidic medium at the in situ prepared antimony film carbon paste electrode

The simultaneous measurement of microgram per liter concentration levels of indium(III), thallium(I) and zinc(II) at the antimony film carbon paste electrode (SbF-CPE) is demonstrated. The antimony film was deposited in situ on a carbon paste substrate electrode and employed in chronopotentiometric stripping mode in deoxygenated solutions of 0.01 M hydrochloric acid (pH 2). The chronopotentiometric stripping performance of the SbF-CPE was studied and compared with constant current chronopotentiometric stripping and anodic stripping voltammetric operation. In comparison with its bismuth and mercury counterparts, the SbF-CPE exhibited advantageous electroanalytical performance; namely, at the bismuth film electrode, the measurement of zinc(II) was practically impossible due to hydrogen evolution, whereas the mercury film electrode exhibited a poorly developed signal for thallium(I). The SbF-CPE revealed favorable calculated LoDs (3σ) of 1.4 μg L⁻¹ for thallium(I) and 2.4 μg L⁻¹ for indium(III) along with good linear response in the examined concentration range from 10 to 100 μg L⁻¹ with correlations coefficients (R²) of 0.992 for thallium(I) and 0.994 for indium(III) associated with a 120 s deposition time. The chronopotentiometric stripping performance of the SbF-CPE was characterized also by satisfactory reproducibility of 1.62% for indium(III), 3.96% for thallium(I) and 2.11% for zinc(II) (c = 40 μg L⁻¹, n = 11).     

Preservation of biological materials under desiccation

A number of life forms, including seeds, certain nematodes, bacterial and fungal spores, and cysts of certain crustaceans, show an ability to survive desiccation. The present article reviews the literature available on this subject and critically evaluates the evidence for various mechanisms that may be responsible for these phenomena. Specific mechanisms considered include vitrification (glass formation) by sugars and other polyhydroxy compounds that are accumulated by the desiccated structures, specific effects of polyhydroxy compounds on membranes, effect of “compatible solutes” on conformation of key proteins, as well as other biochemical mechanisms.

The article presents potential applications relevant to food technology and to biotechnology and reviews the research required to materialize more effective use of desiccation in food and biopreservation.