The Distribution of Fatty Acid Biomarkers of Dairy Intake across Serum Lipid Fractions: The Prospective Metabolism and Islet Cell Evaluation (PROMISE) Cohort

Circulating fatty acids (FA) derived largely from dairy consumption have most commonly been measured in total human serum or phospholipid (PL) fractions, and have been used as validated biomarkers of dairy intake in a growing number of epidemiological studies. Nevertheless, measurement and characterization of a wider spectrum of FA biomarkers of dairy across the four major serum lipid fractions is lacking. This study aimed to (1) quantify FA biomarkers of dairy in PL, triacylglycerol (TAG), cholesteryl ester (CE), and unesterified fatty acid (FFA) serum lipid fractions; and (2) identify potential demographic and metabolic factors that may modify the proportions of these FA across serum fractions. Baseline data from 444 adults in the PROMISE cohort were analyzed. FA biomarkers, 15:0, t16:1n-7, 18:2-c9,t11, and t18:1n-7 were quantified from serum. Dairy intake was estimated using the validated Canadian Diet History Questionnaire. Our results show that t18:1n-7 was the most abundant FA biomarker in all fractions except CE, where 18:2-c9,t11 was the most abundant. Positive correlations within fractions, and across FA in the PL, CE, and FFA fractions were found, however, TAG FA were negatively correlated with the other fractions. PL and CE FA were positively associated with dairy intake, and negatively associated with markers of dysmetabolism while, in contrast, these markers were predictors of higher TAG dairy FA. This study is the first to demonstrate distinct proportions of dairy FA in different serum lipid fractions. PL and CE FA marked dairy intake in this cohort, while TAG FA appeared to be markers of dysmetabolism.     

Two-dimensional photonic-crystal vertical-cavity array for nonlinear optical image processing

We investigate the electromagnetic properties of a two-dimensional (2-D) photonic-crystal array of vertical cavities for use in nonlinear optical image processing. We determine the 2-D photonic band structure of the array, and we discuss how it is influenced by the degree of interaction between cavities. We study the properties of defects in the 2-D lattice and show that neighboring cavities interact through their overlapping wave functions. This interaction can be used to produce nearest-neighbor nonlinear Boolean functions such asand, or, and xor, which are useful for optical image processing. We demonstrate the use of 2-D photonic bandgap structures for image processing by removing noise from a sample image with a nearest-neighbor and function.     

A high-impedance ground plane applied to a cellphone handsetgeometry

A high-impedance electromagnetic surface is a new type of metallic structure exhibiting high surface impedance and the suppression of propagating surface currents at a particular frequency band. We experimentally characterize such a high-impedance surface designed near 2.4 GHz. We describe an antenna built on such a surface, integrated into a printed circuit board that was designed for the form factor of a portable handset. Measurement shows high radiation efficiency near 2.4 GHz     

Monitoring of Multiple Binary Data Streams using a Hierarchical Model Structure

Multiple streams of binary data occur commonly in practice. In this paper, we propose a hierarchical statistical model to describe multi‐stream binary data that demonstrate over‐dispersion. In such a model, a group of binary streams in a multi‐stream dataset is modeled by a beta‐binominal hierarchical mixture distribution. Using this hierarchical model structure, a cumulative sum (CUSUM) chart based on the log‐likelihood ratio is developed to monitor all the data streams simultaneously. The performance of the CUSUM chart is investigated and compared to conventional monitoring schemes through numerical studies and a real‐world dataset. It is shown that the CUSUM method using the hierarchical model is effective and advantageous over the conventional methods. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Statistical Monitoring of Time‐to‐Failure Data Using Rank Tests

A common type of reliability data is the right censored time‐to‐failure data. In this article, we developed a control chart to monitor the time‐to‐failure data in the presence of right censoring using weighted rank tests. On the basis of the asymptotic properties of the rank statistics, we derived the generic formulae for the operating characteristic functions of the control chart to show the relationship between type I error probability, type II error probability, sample size, and hazard rate change. We presented case studies to illustrate the design procedure and the effectiveness of the proposed control chart system. We also investigated and compared the performance of the proposed monitoring procedure with some available monitoring techniques for nonconformities. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High-impedance electromagnetic surfaces with a forbidden frequencyband

A new type of metallic electromagnetic structure has been developed that is characterized by having high surface impedance. Although it is made of continuous metal, and conducts dc currents, it does not conduct ac currents within a forbidden frequency band. Unlike normal conductors, this new surface does not support propagating surface waves, and its image currents are not phase reversed. The geometry is analogous to a corrugated metal surface in which the corrugations have been folded up into lumped-circuit elements, and distributed in a two-dimensional lattice. The surface can be described using solid-state band theory concepts, even though the periodicity is much less than the free-space wavelength. This unique material is applicable to a variety of electromagnetic problems, including new kinds of low-profile antennas     

Effect of meal dilution on the postprandial glycemic response. Implications for glycemic testing

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of varying the volume of sugar meals on the post-prandial glycemic response (PGR). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: On six separate occasions, after an overnight fast, blood glucose concentrations were measured in eight healthy subjects (34 +/- 4 years of age, BMI 22.9 +/- 0.9 kg/m2) after the consumption of 25 g glucose, sucrose, or fructose dissolved in either 200 or 600 ml of water. Blood was obtained at fasting and then at times 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 min after the start of the test meal. RESULTS: PGR was found to be influenced by carbohydrate type (P < 0.001). Mean response areas (min.mmol.l-1) to the three sugars were statistically different (P < 0.05). Glucose had the highest response area (90.0 +/- 8.1), followed by sucrose (61.3 +/- 5.0) and then fructose (14.7 +/- 2.8). Independent of this effect, PGR was also found to be influenced by volume dose (P < 0.01). By tripling meal volume from 200 to 600 ml, PGR areas were significantly increased for all three sugars, glucose (79.3 +/- 10.3 vs. 100.8 +/- 12.0, P = 0.035), sucrose (52.6 +/- 5.5 vs. 70 +/- 7.4, P = 0.0094), and fructose (11.0 +/- 3.8 vs. 18.4 +/- 3.9, P = 0.012). Where the effects of time (P < 0.05) and dose (P < 0.05) were determined to be independent (interaction nonsignificant) for all three sugars, this increase in volume also significantly increased glycemic concentrations at 15 min, for glucose (P = 0.033) and sucrose (P = 0.026), suggesting that changes in gastric emptying time may be a mechanism of action. CONCLUSIONS: Varying the volume of liquid sugar meals alters PGR. Understanding this concept may help to reduce variability both in the glycemic testing of foods and oral glucose tolerance testing.     

The application of photonic crystals to quasi-optic amplifiers

Quasi-optical spatial power combining provides the high combining efficiency required of solid-state power amplifiers for millimeter-wave frequencies. Photonic crystals (PXTs) are used to implement this type of power combining, as shown by two examples in this paper. The first example describes an all-dielectric structure that provides a carrier for the amplifier array chip satisfying the requirements concerning unilateral transmission and thermal management. The second example describes the use of a high impedance ground plane, based on PXTs, to make the power density incident on the array chip as uniform as possible in order to maximize power and efficiency     

A tunable impedance surface performing as a reconfigurable beamsteering reflector

We describe a reconfigurable microwave surface that performs as a new kind of beam steering reflector. The surface is textured with an array of tiny resonators, which provide a frequency-dependent surface impedance. By tuning the individual resonators, the surface impedance, and thus the reflection coefficient phase, can be varied as a function of position across the reflector. Using a reflection phase gradient, the surface can steer a reflected beam. As an example, we have built a simple mechanically tuned surface in which physical motion of only 1/100 wavelength generates a sufficient phase gradient to steer a reflected beam by ±16 degrees. To steer to greater angles, the surface can be configured as an artificial microwave grating, capable of ±38 degrees of beam steering. The concept of the tunable impedance surface demonstrated here can be extended to electrically controlled structures, which would permit more elaborate reflection phase patterns, and provide more capabilities, such as the ability to focus or steer multiple beams     

A tunable wavelength demultiplexer using logarithmic filter chains

This paper proposes a novel wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) demultiplexer design for dense WDM networks. The proposed demultiplexer consists of rectangular shaped periodic frequency filters connected in series. These rectangular filters can be formed with an apodized one-dimensional (l-D) photonic crystal structure on a ridged semiconductor waveguide. A design example is given for such filters. In such designs, we can use a moderate refractive index contrast, in discrete groups of many layers, to achieve the same stop-band width that we would get with a large contrast. Apart from being compact in size, to demultiplex an arbitrary wavelength from N wavelengths, only log₂ N switches and filter stages are required. This type of filter has a large potential to be used in integrated photonic implementation and packet switched dense WDM applications