Effects of oral treatment with sustained release morphine tablets on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

A 31-year-old black male with sarcoidosis en-plaque of the dura mater, which is a rare morphological variant of neurosarcoidosis (NS), presented at our clinic. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head with gadolinium showed non-specific enhancement of both tentorial leaves extending to the floor of right middle cranial fossa and cavernous sinus. The laboratory results were normal except for slightly increased serum angiotensin converting enzyme (SACE) (68 U/ml n = 4-56 U/ml) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IgG index (0.57, n = 0.46). Biopsy of the intracranial dural lesion was consistent with sarcoidosis. Oral steroid therapy (Methylprednisolone 4 mg QID) was started and the patient became asymptomatic. However, MRI of the brain with gadolinium 2 months after biopsy showed progression and extension of the enhanced dural lesion. His SACE level was unchanged. We concluded that progression of the enhanced lesion seen in MRI could be recently formed scar tissue, new lesion or both. MRI findings should always be correlated with clinical findings for evaluation of NS during follow-up.     

General acid-base catalysis of alpha-glucan phosphorylases: stereospecific glucosyl transfer from D-glucal is a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and orthophosphate (arsenate) dependent reaction

D-Glucal, containing a highly reactive double bond, can replace glucose 1-phosphate as the glucosyl donor in phosphorylase-catalyzed glucosyl transfer to a suitable oligo- or polysaccharide acceptor: D-glucal + Pi + (glucose)Pi leads to n 2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucosyl(glucose)n in equilibrium 2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucose-1-P + (glucose)n. This reaction is catalyzed by alpha-glucan phosphorylases from rabbit skeletal muscle, potato tuber, and Escherichia coli. D-Glucal is only measurably consumed by alpha-glucan phosphorylases when orthophosphate or arsenate is present. With saturating concentrations of these anions and a glucosyl acceptor, the D-glucal reaction proceeds at rates comparable with the rates of glucosyl transfer from glucose 1-phosphate and of phosphorolysis or arsenolysis of poly- or oligosaccharides. Furthermore, for the reaction to proceed, the enzyme must be in the active conformation containing the cofactor pyridoxal 5'-phosphate in its dianionic form. On the basis of proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, it is proposed that protonation at C-2 of D-glucal gives rise to a hypothetical 2-deoxy-beta-D-glucose intermediate, yielding as a final product (2-deoxy-alpha-D-[2(e)-2H]glucose)n alpha (1 leads to 4) saccharides. These 2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucose oligo- or polysaccharides are degraded by alpha-glucan phosphorylases by phosphorolysis or arsenolysis like natural linear and branched alpha-glucans. The absolute requirement of the D-glucal reaction for phosphate (or arsenate) and its dependency on the dianionic form of the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate bound to phosphorylase are rationalized in terms of a proton transfer relay involving juxtaposed phosphates. Phosphate--phosphate interactions were postulated by Withers et al. [Withers, S. G., Madsen, N. B., Sykes, B. D., Takagi, M., Shimomura, S., & Fukui, T. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 10759-10762].     

The Fe-A1-Ti system

An extensive experimental investigation of the Fe-Al-Ti system by metallography, microprobe analysis, and XRD on quenched specimens and on diffusion couples is presented. Two isothermal sections at 800 and 1000 °C were established; they differ substantially from the existing (800 °C) or partly determined (1000 °C) diagrams. From these results, existence of the τ₁ phase (Fe₂AlTi) can be ruled out. Existence of the ternary compounds, τ₂ (Al₂FeTi) and τ₃ (Al₂₂Fe₃Ti₈), is confirmed. The composition limits of both phases were determined; they differ considerably from those given in earlier reports. The τ₂ phase apparently exists in a cubic and a tetragonal polymorph, depending on composition. The cubic form exists at high titanium contents. At 1000 °C, the two polymorphs are separated by a miscibility gap. At compositions where the “X phase” (Al₆₉Fe₂₅Ti₆) was previously reported, single-phase samples were obtained at both temperatures. From the present results, there is no evidence to assume that this is a new ternary phase rather than the ternary homogeneity range of the Al₃Fe phase. In addition, extensions of the binary intermetallic phases into the ternary system were determined.     

Multiple-step-ahead prediction in control systems with Gaussian process models and TS-fuzzy models

In this paper one-step-ahead and multiple-step-ahead predictions of time series in disturbed open loop and closed loop systems using Gaussian process models and TS-fuzzy models are described. Gaussian process models are based on the Bayesian framework where the conditional distribution of output measurements is used for the prediction of the system outputs. For one-step-ahead prediction a local process model with a small past horizon is built online with the help of Gaussian processes. Multiple-step-ahead prediction requires the knowledge of previous outputs and control values as well as the future control values. A “naive” multiple-step-ahead prediction is a successive one-step-ahead prediction where the outputs in each consecutive step are used as inputs for the next step of prediction. A global TS-fuzzy model is built to generate the nominal future control trajectory for multiple-step-ahead prediction. In the presence of model uncertainties a correction of the so computed control trajectory is needed. This is done by an internal feedback between the two process models. The method is tested on disturbed time invariant and time variant systems for different past horizons. The combination of the TS-fuzzy model and the Gaussian process model together with a correction of the control trajectory shows a good performance of the multiple-step-ahead prediction for systems with uncertainties.     

Mechanical properties and oxidation behaviour of two-phase iron aluminium alloys with Zr(Fe,Al)2 Laves phase or Zr(Fe,Al)12 τ1 phase

Two-phase Fe-rich Fe–Al–Zr alloys have been prepared consisting of binary Fe–Al with a very low solubility for Zr and the ternary Laves phase Zr(Fe,Al)₂ or τ₁ phase Zr(Fe,Al)₁₂. Yield stress, flexural fracture strain, and oxidation behaviour of these alloys have been studied in the temperature range between room temperature and 1200 °C. Both the Laves phase and the τ₁ phase act as strengthening phases increasing significantly the yield stress as well as the brittle-to-ductile transition temperature. Alloys containing disordered A2+ ordered D0₃ Fe–Al show strongly increased yield stresses compared to alloys with only A2 or D0₃ Fe–Al. The binary and ternary alloys with about 40at.% Al and 0 or 0.8at.% Zr show the effect of vacancy hardening at low temperatures which can be eliminated by heat treatments at 400 °C. At higher Zr contents this effect is lost and instead an increase of low-temperature strength is observed after the heat treatment. The increase of the high-temperature yield strength of Fe-40at.% Al by adding Zr is much stronger than by other ternary additions such as Ti, Nb, or Mo. Tests on the oxidation resistance at temperatures up to 1200 °C indicate a detrimental effect of Zr already for additions of 0.1at.%.     

Achieving Regional Housing Planning Objectives: Directing Affordable Housing to Jobs-Rich Neighborhoods in the San Francisco Bay Area

Problem, research strategy, and findings: Low-income households face affordability issues and are often forced to live in areas with limited job access and inadequate transportation. Local communities exacerbate these problems through exclusionary zoning. We study the impact of the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) change in allocation formula under California’s affordable housing mandate. The old policy followed a fair share strategy, whereas the new policy requires local jurisdictions to locate mandated affordable housing units in jobs-rich areas. We compare affordable housing produced in the region before and after ABAG adopted the jobs-housing policy; we also compare the new patterns to the location of market-rate housing and to the experiences of San Diego (CA) and Los Angeles (CA), both of which retain fair share allocation. We do not control for variables that may have affected affordable housing location. ABAG’s policy shift is associated with a 104% improvement in the balance of housing and jobs at the local level; affordable housing units are more likely than market-rate housing to locate in jobs-rich areas, which may indicate that localities prioritize affordable housing. We also find that more affordable housing locates in such areas in the San Francisco Bay Area (CA) than in San Diego or Los Angeles.

Takeaway for practice: A voluntary regional government in a state with mandatory affordable housing requirements can affect the production and distribution of affordable housing. A total of 25 U.S. states require localities to include affordable housing elements in their comprehensive plans; we suggest that regional and local planners use these opportunities to meet multiple policy goals by directing affordable housing to jobs-rich neighborhoods.     

Stereoisomere Aromastoffe

Zusammenfassung 5-Alkyl-substituierte-Lactone finden sich als aromarelevante Substanzen in tierischen Fetten, aber auch in einigen Früchten. Vor kurzem gelang die erste direkte gaschromatographische Stereodifferenzierung einiger-Lactone an der chiralen Phase Oktakis(3-O-butyryl-2,6-di-O-pentyl)--cyclodextrin [4]. Es wird nun die Enantiomerentrennung der-Lactone bis zu den langkettigen Verbindungen-Trideca-(-C₁₃-)- und-Tetradeca-(-C₁₄-)-lacton aufgezeigt. Über optisch reine Referenzsubstanzen konnte die Elutionsfolge S(I), R(II) der drei wichtigsten aromarelevanten Vertreter dieser-Lactonklasse bestimmt werden. Die Enantiomerenverteilung der C₈-, C₁₀-, C₁₂--Lactone im Wasserdampfdestillat verschiedener Milchprodukte (Milch, Sahne, Butter), in Margarine sowie im Kokosnußfleisch wurde exemplarisch mit Hilfe der HRGC, auch unter Einsatz der multidimensionalen Gaschromatographie (MDGC), untersucht. Es zeigten sich charakteristische, substratspezifische Enantiomerenverteilungen. Die Verteilungsmuster der untersuchten Spiegelbildisomeren aus Kokosnüssen unterschieden sich wesentlich von denen der Milchprodukte.

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Stereoisomeric flavour compoundsXLVII. Direct chirospecific HRGC-analysis of natural -lactones

Summary 5-Alkylated-lactones are well known flavour compounds in animal fats and also some special kinds of fruit. Recently, the first direct stereo-differentiation of chiral-lactones was reported using Oktakis(3-O-butyryl-2,6-di-O-pentyl)--cyclodextrin as the chiral stationary phase [4]. The enantiomeric separation of-lactones up to the long-chain compounds-trideca-(-C_13–) and-tetradeca-(-C_14–)-lactone is demonstrated. By means of optically pure references, the order of elution S(I), R(II) was determined for the important flavour compounds-octa-,-deca-, and-dodecalactone. Analysis of the steam distillate of some dairy products (milk, cream, butter), of margarine and of coconut has been carried out, in order to yield the enantiomeric distribution of C₈-, C₁₀- and C₁₂--lactones by HRGC and multidimensional gas chromatography. Characteristic and product-specific ratios of-lactone enantiomers are detected. The pattern of enantiomeric composition of-octa-,-deca-,-dodecalactone in coconuts differs completely from that found in the dairy products.

     

Quasi-Quisling: co-design and the assembly of collaborateurs

In recent years, various critiques of participative approaches to design processes have been presented. Participatory urban planning has been subject to a specific form of criticism, which posits that such processes are ‘post-political’, inasmuch as they merely legitimise the power and political agendas of elites. In reviewing a case of participatory urban planning in Gothenburg, Sweden, this article suggests that actor-network theory can be operationalised as an alternative means to account for democratic deficiencies of co-design practices. It thus uses the concept of translation to describe how the original interests of participants may be betrayed, as successive translations cause objectives to drift. It also suggests that the key agency in these unfortunate betrayals is not human, but emerges through the material modes of collaboration. The article thus endeavours to contribute to the debate on how co-design processes may become more effective means to democratise urban planning and design.     

Experimental investigation of ice slurry heat transfer in horizontal tube

Heat transfer of ice slurry flow based on ethanol–water mixture in a circular horizontal tube has been experimentally investigated. The secondary fluid was prepared by mixing ethanol and water to obtain initial alcohol concentration of 10.3% (initial freezing temperature -4.4 °C). The heat transfer tests were conducted to cover laminar and slightly turbulent flow with ice mass fraction varying from 0% to 22% depending on test performed. Measured heat transfer coefficients of ice slurry are found to be higher than those for single phase fluid, especially for laminar flow conditions and high ice mass fractions where the heat transfer is increased with a factor 2 in comparison to the single phase flow. In addition, experimentally determined heat transfer coefficients of ice slurry flow were compared to the analytical results, based on the correlation by Sieder and Tate for laminar single phase regime, by Dittus–Boelter for turbulent single phase regime and empirical correlation by Christensen and Kauffeld derived for laminar/turbulent ice slurry flow in circular horizontal tubes. It was found that the classical correlation proposed by Sieder and Tate for laminar forced convection in smooth straight circular ducts cannot be used for heat transfer prediction of ice slurry flow since it strongly underestimates measured values, while, for the turbulent flow regime the simple Dittus–Boelter relation predicts the heat transfer coefficient of ice slurry flow with high accuracy but only up to an ice mass fraction of 10% and Re_cf > 2300 regardless of imposed heat flux. For higher ice mass fractions and regardless of the flow regime, the correlation proposed by Christensen and Kauffeld gives good agreement with experimental results.