Dynamics of the uptake of free amino acids in the blood serum of the portal vein during the digestion of isolated krill protein

The rate of absorption of amino acids obtained from isolated krill protein administered to rat stomach was studied. Absorption of casein amino acids was determined for reference purposes. Rats subjected to 48-hour fasting were administered krill isolate and casein in the form of homogenates at a rate 540 mg protein per 100 g bw in 6 ml of distilled water. The concentration of free amino acids in the portal vein was measured after 30 minutes, 1, 3 and 6 hours. The content of amino acids was measured by ion-exchange chromatography with the use of an automatic analyzer of amino acids. The digestion of krill protein proceeds at a high rate. This ensures the maximal augmentation of the concentration of most amino acids in the blood of the portal vein 30 min after isolate administration to the stomach.     

Composite multivariate quality control using a system of univariate, bivariate, and multivariate quality control rules.

We propose a composite multivariate quality control (CMQC) system to control simultaneously measured variables. This system is designed to detect unacceptable trends and systematic error in one or more variables, unacceptable random error in one or more variables, and unacceptable changes in the correlation structure in any pair of variables. It is also designed to be tolerant of missing data, to be capable of rejecting as few as one or as many as all variables in a run, and to provide the analyst with control statistics and graphics that logically relate to sources of analytical error. Quality control rules for univariate, multivariate, and correlation conditions are incorporated in the system, as are plots displaying CMQC statistic values and control limits for univariate, multivariate, and correlation parameters. We also discuss advantages of the CMQC over the T2 and principal component multivariate quality control methods. We demonstrate the CMQC procedure using data from a laboratory process in which 40 variables were measured during 40 characterization runs and 23 runs analyzing unknowns.     

Solid-solid reactions in the Ca3(AsO4)2-Ca2SiO4-CaSO4 ternary system at elevated temperatures

Exploratory laboratory-scale tests were performed in order to identify the solid phases present in the Ca₂SiO₄-Ca₃(AsO₄)₂ binary system and in the Ca₂SiO₄-Ca₃(AsO₄)₂-CaSO₄-CaO system. A microanalysis study from slow-cooled samples suggests the presence of at least two intermediate phases. These compositions correspond to Ca₅(AsO₄)₂(SiO₄) (1:1) and Ca₈(AsO₄)₄(SiO₄) (1:2). The formation of stable intermediate salts with high melting points is of significant industrial interest in copper converting operations. If excessive amounts of solids form, skimming problems or poor slag-metal separation may become problematic.     

Adaptive control of diamond drilling of nonmetallic materials

The basic principles for selecting the work regimes for diamond drilling of nonmetallic materials are presented. The process of microcutting by a single diamond grain is examined, and relations between the components of the cutting force and the ratio of the rate of the main motion to the feed rate are obtained on the basis of known relationships. It is shown that adaptive control of the drilling nonmetallic materials is possible using two-circuit systems — one for feed-rate control and one for cutting-rate. __________ Translated from Steklo i Keramika, No. 3, pp. 28–30, March, 2007.     

Effect of steel fibres at two different stages: The material and the structure

The addition of steel fibres to plain concrete is intended both to improve the material's ductility and that of the structure in which it is used. These two effects of steel fibres are clearly distinguishable through an analysis of cracking both at a local and a global level. This analysis is essential if the use of steel fibres is to be optimized.     

Development of a high energy biscuit for use as a food supplement in disaster relief

International aid agencies undertake supplementary feeding programmes following disasters in order to alleviate or prevent protein energy malnutrition. The associated problems include lack of facilities for preparation and distribution of food on site and food hygiene dangers. In response to these factors a biscuit of high calorific value and acceptable organoleptic qualities has been developed. It is currently being used by Oxfam as part of their disaster relief programme in Ethiopia.     

Joint Effect of MLSE and Receiver Filters Optimization on Dispersion Robustness of IMDD, DPSK, DQPSK, and Duobinary Modulation

We analyze the effectiveness of a 32-state maximum-likelihood sequence-estimation (MLSE) receiver on chromatic dispersion robustness of optical transmission based on several binary modulation formats: intensity modulation direct detection, differential phase-shift keying, and duobinary line coding. Multilevel differential quadrature phase-shift keying modulation is also analyzed using a four-state 2-bit/symbol joint MLSE processor. For all modulation formats, receiver filters are optimized together with the use of the MLSE technique.     

Biocides used in building materials and their leaching behavior to sewer systems.

There is increasing concern about diffuse pollution of aquatic systems by biocides used in urban areas. We investigated sources and pathways of biocides significant for the pollution of storm water runoff. Main sources seem to be building envelopes, i.e. facades (paints, plasters) and roof sealing membranes. First results from a defined urban catchment drained by a separated sewer system without any agricultural activities reveal a substantial occurrence. Even after the first flush, concentrations of terbutryn, carbendazim, mecoprop as well as Irgarol 1051 and its metabolite exceeded the Swiss water quality standard of 0.1 microg/L. In laboratory experiments, leaching of mecoprop used as a root protection agent in bitumen sheets for roof waterproofing was determined. The concentrations differed in 16 different sheets two orders of magnitude, depending on the product composition. Using optimized products, it is expected to be the most efficient and sustainable way to reduce the environmental impact. To understand transport dynamics and environmental risk, further storm water events will be analyzed. Based on the ongoing project URBIC, first measures will be proposed to limit the release to surface and ground water.     

An LP-based heuristic procedure for the generalized assignment problem with special ordered sets

The generalized assignment problem with special ordered sets (GAPS2), is the problem of allocating n tasks to m time-periods, where each task must be assigned to a time-period, or shared between two consecutive time-periods. For reasonably large values of m and n the NP-hard combinatorial problem GAPS2 becomes intractable for standard mathematical programming software, hence there is a need for heuristic algorithms to solve such problems. It will be shown how an LP-based heuristic developed previously for the well-established generalized assignment problem can be modified and extended to solve GAPS2. Encouraging results, in terms of speed and accuracy, in particular when compared to an existing heuristic for GAPS2, are described.     

SED88: a Pascal program for the analysis of sedimentation equilibrium data

Analytical ultracentrifugation is commonly used for the determination of molecular weights (sedimentation equilibrium) and sedimentation coefficients (sedimentation rate) of biological macromolecules in solution. A Turbo Pascal program for the analysis of sedimentation equilibrium centrifugation data produced by absorbance optical systems is described. The user may enter data from a scan of absorbance versus distance from the centre of rotation, via a graphics tablet (or ASCII file). This is subsequently manipulated to yield an apparent weight average molecular weight for the given sample. Plots of ln (absorbance) versus (radius2) may also be produced. The method described uses readily available computational equipment requiring only a graphics tablet in addition to an IBM PC compatible computer. This technique and the software developed have been used to investigate the molecular weight range of two International Humic Substances Society (IHSS) reference samples from the Suwannee River.