Hippocampal theta-band activity and trace eyeblink conditioning in rabbits.

The authors examined the relationship between hippocampal theta activity and trace eyeblink conditioning. Hippocampal electrophysiological local field potentials were recorded before, during, and after conditioning or explicitly unpaired training sessions in adult male New Zealand White rabbits. As expected, a high relative power of theta activity (theta ratio) in the hippocampus predicted faster acquisition of the conditioned response during trace conditioning but, contrary to previous results obtained using the delay paradigm, only in the initial stage of learning. The presentation of the conditioned stimulus overall elicited an increase in the hippocampal theta ratio. The theta ratio decreased in the unpaired group as a function of training, remained high throughout conditioning in the fast learners, and rapidly increased in the slow learners initially showing a low theta ratio. Our results indicate a reciprocal connection between the hippocampal oscillatory activity and associative learning. The hippocampal theta ratio seems to reflect changes and differences in the subjects’ alertness and responsiveness to external stimuli, which affect the rate of learning and are, in turn, affected by both conditioning and unpaired training. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Treatment of Industrial Landfill Leachates By Chemical And Biological Methods: Ozonation,Ozonation + Hydrogen Peroxide,Hydrogen Peroxide And Biological Post-Treatment For Ozonated Water

The objective of this study was to determine a suitable treatment method for variable waters from a forest industry landfill site. The main target was to find out the impact of different chemical treatments on the composition and biodegradability of those waters. Earlier studies have shown that biological treatment alone is not a suitable treatment method for these waters. That is why ozonation, ozonation+hydrogen peroxide and hydrogen peroxide treatment were studied in a laboratory scale. The ozonated waters were also biologically post-treated.

All the methods studied were able to degrade a part of the organic compounds and convert them into a more biodegradable form. Also the BOD/COD -ratio increased significantly. The removal of organic compounds by ozonation was 30 - 50 %. Hydrogen peroxide addition did not improve the degradation. The combination of pre-ozonation and biological post-treatment gave a total TOC removal between 50 - 95 %.     

Ante- and perinatal factors and child characteristics predicting parenting experience among formerly infertile couples during the child's first year: A controlled study.

In this prospective controlled study, the authors examined (a) parenting experiences among couples with successful assisted reproduction treatment (ART; n = 367) and fertile spontaneously conceiving controls (n = 371) and (b) the impact of ante- and perinatal factors and child characteristics on parenting experiences. The results show that positive mothering experiences increased more during the 1st year of parenting and were generally higher among ART mothers than control mothers. No differences were found between ART fathers and controls in their fathering experience. Unpleasant birth experiences, low birth weight, and difficulty soothing the child were associated with high levels of parental stress in the control group, but this was not so among the ART parents. Psychosocial interventions in maternal care should take into account the various meanings that couples give to the history of infertility and conception and ante- and perinatal experiences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Quantification of haemodynamic response to auditory stimulus in intensive care

Measuring effects of sensory stimuli on haemodynamics could provide information about the interplay between central and autonomous nervous system (ANS). However, ANS response to sensory stimulus has received little attention. In this paper we present a signal processing scheme to extract the responses of heart rate and systemic arterial pressure on auditory stimulus in intensive care patients (N=5). In short, the effect of mechanical ventilation is rejected by optimal linear modelling. Other disturbances are attenuated by filtering and efficient rejection of outlying sweeps of data. The results show identifiable responses on three out of five cases. The response characteristics may be explained by synchronisation of spontaneous variability in systemic arterial pressure to auditory stimulus.     

Isotopentechnische Untersuchungen über die Synthese und Hydrolyse von Glyceriden in Milch und in den somatischen Zellen der Milch

Investigations on the Synthesis and Hydrolysis of Glycerides in Milk and Somatic Cells of Milk Using Isotopic Technique Using isotopic technique it was established that the synthesis and hydrolysis of glycerides occur simultaneously in fresh milk. The extent of synthesis is considerably increased by homogenizing the reaction mixture using an Ultra-Turrax equipment, although the hydrolysis remains the predominant reaction. No relationship was observed between the synthesis and hydrolysis. However, the extent of glyceride synthesis was directly related to the number of milk cells. Simultaneously, the glyceride synthesizing and hydrolyzing activities were exhibited by the milk cells, although the cells alone are not responsible for the synthesis. The synthesizing and hydrolyzing activities of the cells are mainly of intracellular nature. The hydrolytic activity is considerably stronger and its action is specific towards the short chain fatty acids.     

A Self-Calibrated Pipeline ADC with 200 MHz IF-Sampling Frontend

A 13-bit, 50-MS/s pipeline ADC with IF-sampling capability is presented. A high sampling linearity is obtained through the use of bootstrapped switches. A digital self-calibration algorithm with modified capacitor measurement scheme is employed to improve the accuracy of the first two pipeline stages. The prototype, implemented with a 0.35-m BiCMOS (SiGe) technology, shows a 76.5-dB SFDR at a 194.2-MHz signal frequency and dissipates 715 mW power from a 2.9-V supply.     

Soft deposits, the key site for microbial growth in drinking water distribution networks

In this project we studied the microbiological quality of soft pipeline deposits removed from drinking water distribution networks during mechanical cleaning. Drinking water and deposit samples were collected from 16 drinking water distribution networks located at eight towns in different parts of Finland. Soft pipeline deposits were found to be the key site for microbial growth in the distribution networks. The microbial numbers in the soft deposits were significantly higher than numbers in running water. The highest microbial numbers were detected in the main deposit pushed ahead by the first swab. The deposits contained high numbers of heterotrophic bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi. Also coliform bacteria were often isolated from deposit samples. Manganese and copper in the deposits correlated negatively with the numbers of heterotrophic bacteria. After a year, the viable microbial numbers in the new deposits were almost as high as in the old deposits before the first mechanical cleaning. The bacterial biomass production was higher in the new than in the old deposits.     

Environment Analysis as a Basis for Designing Multimodal and Multidevice User Interfaces

In this article, we present a practical approach to analyzing mobile usage environments. We propose a framework for analyzing the restrictions that characteristics of different environments pose on the user's capabilities. These restrictions along with current user interfaces form the cost of interaction in a certain environment. Our framework aims to illustrate that cost and what causes it. The framework presents a way to map features of the environment to the effects they cause on the resources of the user and in some cases on the mobile device. This information can be used for guiding the design of adaptive and/or multimodal user interfaces or devices optimized for certain usage environments. An example of using the framework is presented along with some major findings and three examples of applying them in user interface design.     

Estimation of tree crown volume from airborne lidar data using computational geometry

Although simple geometrical shapes are commonly used to describe tree crowns, computational geometry enables calculation of the individual crown properties directly from airborne lidar point clouds. Our objective was to calculate crown volumes (CVs) using this technique and validate the results by comparing them with field-measured values and modelled ellipsoidal crowns. The CVs of standing trees were obtained by measuring the crown radii at different heights, integrating the obtained crown profiles as solids of revolution, and finally averaging the volumes obtained from the four separate profiles. With the lidar data, the CVs were extracted using 3D alpha shape and 3D convex hull techniques. Crown base heights (CBHs) were also estimated from the lidar data and used to exclude echoes from the understory, which was also done using field-based CBHs to exclude this error source. The results show that the field-measured CVs had a high correlation with lidar-based estimates (best R ² = 0.83), but the lidar-based estimates were generally smaller than the field values. The best correspondence (root mean square difference (RMSD) = 45.0%, average difference = –24.7%) was obtained using the convex hull of the point data and field-measured CBH. The CBHs were consistently overestimated (RMSD = 37.3%; average difference = –20.0%), especially in spruces with long crowns. Thus using lidar-based CBH also increased the inaccuracy of the CV estimates. While the underestimation of CV is mainly explained by the inadequate number of echoes from the lower regions of the crowns, the CVs obtained from the lidar were better than those obtained with ellipsoids fitted by using general models for crown dimensions. The utility of the estimated CVs in the prediction of stem diameter is also demonstrated.     

Easyhaler® Multiple Dose Powder Inhaler—Practical and Effective Alternative to the Pressurized MDI

Due to the depletion of ozone layer linked to CFf propellants used in metered-dose inhalers (MDIs), alternative drug delivery systems for inhalation therapy of bronchial asthma is required. Dry powder inhalers have become a remarkable alternative to the MDIs. The research of powder delivery systems has strongly been focused on developing portable, preloaded multiple-dose powder inhalers, from which patients can reliably inhale several drug doses. Recently, a novel multiple-dose powder inhaler (Easyhaler®) has been developed. Easyhaler® is a suitable drug delivery system for various drugs already available or still under development. Optimum patient compliance is achieved by a design similar to the dose delivery system of the conventional MDI. In addition, the construction of the device allows high dose reproducibility and good in vitro and in vivo deposition of inhaled drug particles. Consequently, equal therapeutic efficacy, safety and tolerability with an MDI is documented in clinical trials. Thus the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and clinical features as well as the similar mode of use would facilitate a smooth transition from the freon based MDIs to the Easyhaler® multiple-dose powder inhaler.