Characterization of the Residence Time Distribution in Spray Dryers

In this work it is presented a study on the residence time distribution (RTD) of particles in a co-current pilot-plant spray dryer operated with a rotary atomization system. A nuclear technique is applied to investigate the RTD responses of spray dryers. The methodology is based on the injection of a radioisotope tracer in the feed stream followed by the monitoring of its concentration at the outlet stream. The experiments were performed during the drying of aqueous suspensions of gadolinium oxide. The RTD responses obtained experimentally presented good reproducibility, indicating that the technique applied is well suited to investigating fluid-dynamics of spray dryers. In addition to the experimental investigation, a mathematical model was used to describe the RTD experimental curves.     

Opinions regarding the importance of body image disorders in the development and in the course of eating disorders

The article presents a review of most important research results as well as opinions about the role and importance of body image disturbances in the development and the course of eating disorders. It also contains a review of definitions of body image, and techniques used in the evaluation of this type of disorders.     

Mapping of Trellises Associated with General Encoders onto High-Performance VLSI Architectures

A rate 1/n binary generic convolutional encoder is a shift-register circuit where the inputs are information bits and the outputs are blocks of n bits generated as linear combinations on the appropriate shift register contents. The decoding of the outputs of a convolutional encoder can be carried out by the well-known Viterbi algorithm. The communication pattern of the Viterbi Algorithm is given as a graph, called trellis, associated to the state diagram of the corresponding encoder. In this paper we present a methodology that permits the efficient mapping of the Viterbi algorithm onto a column of an arbitrary number of processors. This is done through the representation of the data flow by using mathematical operators which present an inmediate hardware projection. A single operator string has been obtained to represent a generic encoder through the study of the data flow of free-forward encoders and feed-back encoders. The formal model developed is employed for the partitioning of the computations among an arbitrary number of processors in such a way that the data are recirculated opimizing the use of the processors and the communications. As a result, we obtain a highly regular and modular architecture suitable for VLSI implementation.     

Effects of Ajoene on lymphocyte and macrophage membrane-dependent functions

An increasing flow of evidences collected on elementary forms of learning processes in selected animal models evidentiates some mechanisms which can represent the basic cellular principles underlying plastic changes: 1. 5HT and second messengers of nucleotide type (like cAMP) have a pivotal role in the learning process. 2. In almost all short-term learning processes the modifications are subserved by a mechanism of protein phosphorylation. 3. In various animal models the modulation of K+ and Ca2+ channels is the molecular mechanism for learning. Experiments performed in sensory T neuron of the leech indicate that the modulation of Na+/K+ electrogenic pump is one of the fundamental mechanism for learning. 4. In long-term plastic changes, the most important finding is that newly synthesized proteins are formed. 5. In addition to what has been observed in the Aplysia model, where changes in synaptic efficacy represent the basic principles of memory storage, in the leech it has been demonstrated that a molecular machinery present in a single neuron can adapt the activity of the cell to environmental stimuli.     

Adenovirus-Mediated Inducible Expression of a PD-L1 Blocking Antibody in Combination with Macrophage Depletion Improves Survival in a Mouse Model of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in a growing number of malignancies. However, overcoming primary or secondary resistances is difficult due to pharmacokinetics issues and side effects associated with high systemic exposure. Local or regional expression of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) using gene therapy vectors can alleviate this problem. In this work, we describe a high-capacity adenoviral vector (HCA-EFZP-aPDL1) equipped with a mifepristone-inducible system for the controlled expression of an anti-programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) blocking antibody. The vector was tested in an immune-competent mouse model of colorectal cancer based on implantation of MC38 cells. A single local administration of HCA-EFZP-aPDL1 in subcutaneous lesions led to a significant reduction in tumor growth with minimal release of the antibody in the circulation. When the vector was tested in a more stringent setting (rapidly progressing peritoneal carcinomatosis), the antitumor effect was marginal even in combination with other immune-stimulatory agents such as polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (pI:C), blocking mAbs for T cell immunoglobulin, mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3) or agonistic mAbs for 4-1BB (CD137). In contrast, macrophage depletion by clodronate liposomes enhanced the efficacy of HCA-EFZP-aPDL1. These results highlight the importance of addressing macrophage-associated immunoregulatory mechanisms to overcome resistance to ICIs in the context of colorectal cancer.     

Decrease in serum levels of retinol and its binding protein (RBP) in infection

The main purpose of the present study was to determine the qualitative and quantiative effect of various infectious epsiodes on the blood serum levels of retinol and retinol-binding protein (RBP). Twenty-four children and 30 adult subjects were studied. The infections studied included chickenpox (n = 7); bronchitis (n = 9) upper respiratory infection (n = 30); tonsillitis (n = 2); diarrhea (n = 2) and one case each of: febrile stomatitis, nonspecific gastrointestinal alteration, urinary infection and shigellosis. In addition to retinol and RBP, the study determined changes in serum carotene, proteins, albumin and globulins. The results clearly demonstrate the marked depressing effect of infections on serum retinol, with a magnitude which in many cases reached more than 20 micrograms/dl, and in others more than 30 micrograms/dl. The RBP levels were significantly correlated with retinol, decreasing proportionally with infection. Serum albumin also decreased in most instances; and the globulin levels of the children, but not of the adults, were significantly higher during the infections. Carotene did not show important variations. The effects were more intense when fever accompanied the infectious episodes. These results are considered of great public health significance, in view of the large majorities, mainly children, who ordinarily subsist with very low serum retinol levels in the underdeveloped regions of the world. As infections attack these underpriviledged children, their serum retinol and RBP levels will likely drop a magnitude similar to that observed in the subjects of this study. They may then reach even more critically deficient retinol levels and be in serious danger of developing a severe acute state of clinical vitamin A deficiency.     

Depth-Based Classification Method Underlain by a Remote Concentration Measure for Processing Asymmetric Data

A depth-based classification method underlain by a remote concentration measure for processing asymmetric data is developed and investigated. The motivation for the construction of the method was the inefficient use of affine invariant classifiers in combination with depth functions vanishing outside the convex hull of data. The idea of the proposed method is to map a remote space using a remote concentration measure, the Stahel–Donoho remoteness measure, and a corrected remoteness measure.     

Recognition of Actions of Medical Workers on the Basis of Accelerometer Readings with the Use of a Deep Belief Network

This paper analyzes a real set of large-volume medico-statistical data used for the recognition of actions of medical workers on the basis of accelerometer readings at definite moments of time. During the recognition process, a deep belief network was applied to unlabeled data, and then it was supervisedly learned using the error backpropagation method. The obtained results demonstrate higher recognition accuracy in comparison with basic methods. A considerable improvement in medical staff productivity is also achieved.     

3D Semantic Scene Completion: A Survey

International Journal of Computer Vision - Semantic scene completion (SSC) aims to jointly estimate the complete geometry and semantics of a scene, assuming partial sparse input. In the last years...     

Molecular and genetic features of fragile X syndrome

This study explored the claim that superior disembedding performance in autism reflects "less capture by meaning" and/or reduced "central coherence" [Shah & Frith, Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 24, 613-620 (1983); Shah & Frith, Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 34, 1351-1364 (1993)]. Meaningless as well as meaningful disembedding contexts were used, and memory for contextual information was examined. Neither qualitative (search strategy) nor quantitative (RT or accuracy) data indicated that high-functioning individuals with autism/PDD were superior to younger, developmentally matched controls. For both groups, disembedding was slowest from meaningful contexts, which generally were remembered best. No evidence was provided for "less capture by meaning" or reduced "central coherence" in autism/PDD, raising the possibility that earlier findings reflect a developmental, rather than a stable autism-specific, phenomenon.