Hemostatic disorders in septicemia. Apropos of 65 cases

In the course of a restrospective study, some hemostatic parameters were studied in connection with 65 cases of septicaemia. From this study, it follows that coagulation troubles are more frequent in septicaemiae induced by negative Gram germs, but that this frequency is actually linked with circulatory troubles. Besides, as for the biological diagnosis of the disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome in this instance, it is not possible to take strictly into account the fibrinogen values or the rate of thrombocytes.     

A model of cerebellar computations for dynamical state estimation

The cerebellum is a neural structure that is essential for agility in vertebrate movements. Its contribution to motor control appears to be due to a fundamental role in dynamical state estimation, which also underlies its role in various non-motor tasks. Single spikes in vestibular sensory neurons carry information about head state. We show how computations for optimal dynamical state estimation may be accomplished when signals are encoded in spikes. This provides a novel way to design dynamical state estimators, and a novel way to interpret the structure and function of the cerebellum.     

State-space receptive fields of semicircular canal afferent neurons in the bullfrog

Receptive fields are commonly used to describe spatial characteristics of sensory neuron responses. They can be extended to characterize temporal or dynamical aspects by mapping neural responses in dynamical state spaces. The state-space receptive field of a neuron is the probability distribution of the dynamical state of the stimulus-generating system conditioned upon the occurrence of a spike. We have computed state-space receptive fields for semicircular canal afferent neurons in the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana). We recorded spike times during broad-band Gaussian noise rotational velocity stimuli, computed the frequency distribution of head states at spike times, and normalized these to obtain conditional pdfs for the state. These state-space receptive fields quantify what the brain can deduce about the dynamical state of the head when a single spike arrives from the periphery.     

Changes in estriol excretion in the urine and kidney function during Partusisten infusion

In a random controlled trial the effects of a betamimetic infusion (Fenoterol 2 micrograms/min) on the estriol excretion and the renal function were analysed in 30 patients in the 28.-34. weeks of pregnancy. It was stated that the estriol excretion in urine during the Partusisten infusion significant decreases (from 663 micrograms/2 h to 376 micrograms/2 h, i.e. to 56%). The diuresis and the creatinine-clearance showed a significant diminishing too (from 218 ml/2 h to 154 ml/2 h and from 131 ml/min to 88 ml/min). The decrease of estriol excretion is caused on the one hand by the diminution of GFR, on the other by a direct effect of betamimetics on the kidney. From the results obtained in this study the following consequences can be drawn: 1. The determination of urinary estriol during tocolytic treatment is not a suitable method for the monitoring the fetoplacental unit. 2. Applying the tocolysis in an infusion a possible reduction of water intake and a strict control of water balance is of great importance. 3. The betamimetic therapy in patients having an impaired renal function can be applied only with great precaution.     

Physicochemical properties of talc ore from three deposits of Lamal Pougue area (Yaounde Pan-African Belt, Cameroon), in relation to industrial uses

Three talc deposits were discovered at Ngoung, Lamal Pougue and Bibodi Lamal (Cameroon). They derived from ultramafic rocks and are enclosed in a Pan-African garnet and muscovite-bearing mica schist of the Yaoundé series. The physico-chemical properties of these talc deposits have been investigated by different techniques including Scanning Electron and Transmission Microscopy (SEM and TEM), chemical analyses, X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy, particle size analysis by laser diffraction and low temperature gas absorption–desorption. The mineralogical composition deduced from XRD is wide (talc + chlorite + tremolite ± anthophyllite ± chromite ±serpentine ± brucite ± magnesite ± dolomite), but due to the high talc contents (≈ 90%) the samples are close to monomineralic. SEM studies reveal that all talc deposits comprise bundles of platy talc and a few prismatic crystals of amphiboles and other contaminating minerals. Laser diffraction confirms the coarse particle size of the talc crystals. Mode values are as high as 105–170 μm (except two samples displaying 76 and 42 μm) and d50 ranges from 107 to 25 μm. The values of specific surface area measured by BET and t-plot methods range from 1 to 6 m²/g and are correlated with external specific surface area measured by laser diffraction. Discrepancies from the trend are due to the semi-crystalline texture of the samples and mostly to intra-crystalline structural defects revealed by TEM observations. In infrared spectra, specific absorption bands are distinguished for talc, chlorite, tremolite, carbonates, serpentine, brucite and water. Occasional substitutions in minerals led to a shift in some absorption bands. The chemical composition criteria important for most of the industrial applications such as ceramics and pharmaceutics are closely complied with in untreated samples from these deposits. In summary, high talc proportions, chemical compositions, platy morphology and coarse grain size of its crystals lead to the conclusion that the studied deposits are economically attractive. The data set of the present work is an important tool for choosing the beneficiation methods for specific applications.     

Characterization of psychrotrophic bacterial communities in modified atmosphere-packed meat with terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism

Characterization of psychrotrophic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Brochothrix thermosphacta communities is needed to understand the microbial ecology of spoilage of modified atmosphere-packed (MAP) meats. To overcome the limitations of the currently used methods for the characterization of psychrotrophic bacterial communities in meat, we developed a culture-independent, 16S rRNA gene-targeted terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) method. An identification library consisting of 100 Gram-positive and 30 Gram-negative meat-associated bacterial strains was set up to identify the terminal restriction fragments derived from the communities. The taxonomic resolution level of the T-RFLP method was in between genus and species within the investigated LAB strains and within family and genus within the investigated Gram-negative strains. The established library was applied to identify the members of bacterial communities in MAP minced meat at the end of the shelf life. The T-RFLP results and plate counts on Man-Rogosa-Sharpe, Violet Red Bile Glucose, and Streptomycin sulfate thallium acetate actidione agars indicated that LAB and B. thermosphacta predominated in meat. The bacterial taxa associated with the T-RFLP results were compared to those identified among plate-grown LAB isolates by numerical ribopattern analysis. Both methods agreed that Leuconostoc spp. and Carnobacterium spp. prevailed in the LAB community in minced meat followed by Lactobacillus algidus, Lactococcus spp. and Weissella spp. Colony identification revealed that Leuconostoc gasicomitatum, L. gelidum, Carnobacterium divergens and C. maltaromaticum were the predominant LAB species. The T-RFLP results were shown to correlate with viable counts of Leuconostoc spp. and B. thermosphacta. The T-RFLP method was found to be a useful tool enabling rapid and high-throughput characterization of psychrotrophic bacteria prevailing in MAP meat.     

Routing automorphisms of the hypercube

We present an online algorithm for routing the automorphisms (BPC permutations) of the queueless MIMD hypercube. The routing algorithm has the virtue of being executed by each node of the hypercube without knowing the state of the others nodes. The algorithm is also vertex and link-contention free. We show, using the proposed algorithm, that BPC permutations are arbitrarily routable in the considered communication model.     

Roundtable: Design and CAD Challenges for Leading-Edge Multimedia Designs

Multimedia, game, and entertainment devices have pushed the leading edge of performance, complexity, power, form factor, design cycle time, and other key aspects of ASIC design for the past several technology nodes. This roundtable brings together experts who are defining the next generation of gaming, mobile-TV, digital-home, display, and multimedia-processing platforms. The discussion spans the underlying chip architectures and roadmaps, as well as the key design, technology, and market challenges for next-generation products.