Query optimization using restructured views: Theory and experiments

We study optimization of relational queries using materialized views, where views may be regular or restructured. In a restructured view, some data from the base table(s) are represented as metadata—that is, schema information, such as table and attribute names—or vice versa.     

Bioethanol production from thick juice as intermediate of sugar beet processing

The aims of this study were to investigate the bioethanol production of thick juice as intermediate from sugar beet processing in batch culture by free Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells and the effect of sugar concentration on ethanol yield and CO₂ weight loss rate. Thick juice and molasses of sugar beet from a domestic sugar factory were diluted with distilled water to give a total sugar concentration of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% (w w^?1). Initial concentration of fermentable sugars of 20% (w w^?1) in culture medium can be taken as optimal, enabling maximal ethanol yield (68%) and maximal CO₂ evolution rate was realized, amounting to more than 90 g L^?1 h^?1. The optimal concentration of fermentable sugar from thick juice for bioethanol production by free S. cerevisiae cells was 20% (w w^?1) at 30 °C, pH 5 and agitation rate 200 rpm gave maximum ethanol concentration of 12% (v v^?1).     

High-speed thermal analysis of high power diode arrays

This paper explores high-speed image capture as a viable approach for non-invasive thermal analysis. The ability to monitor thermal transients and obtain accurate spatial information for miniature devices is important for many lighting applications. In this study, high power optoelectronic devices are stressed, and the impact of self-heating effects is examined. Results demonstrate that these effects lead to degraded device performance, reduced efficiency, and power loss.     

The presence of fivefold germanium as a possible transitional phase in the iron–lead–germanate glass system

Glasses in the system xFe₂O₃·(100 − x)[7GeO₂·3PbO] with 0 ≤ x ≤ 60 mol% have been prepared from melt quenching method. In this article, we investigated changes in germanium coordination number in iron–lead–germanate glasses through molar volume analysis, measurements of densities, investigations of FTIR, and UV–VIS spectroscopy. The observations present in these mechanisms show that the lead ions have an affinity pronounced toward [GeO₅] and [FeO₄] structural units with non-bridging oxygens. The excess of oxygen can be supported into the glass network by the formation of [FeO₆] structural units and the apparition of the germanate anomaly. At higher content of iron (III) oxide, the anomaly behavior of the germanium is due to the formations of [FeO₆] structural units. Our results show that the presence of fivefold germanium as a possible transitional phase from four to sixfold germanium it is necessary for the formation of the [FeO₆] structural units and the apparition of the Fe₂O₃ crystalline phase. Pb⁺² ions with 6s² configuration show strong absorption in the ultraviolet due to parity allowed s²-sp transition.     

Computers and gradualness: The selfish meme

In making a contribution, a person's life gains meaning. A small contribution affects a few people for a short time, while a large contribution affects many people for a long time. Within the framework of an abstract, computational world, a metric on contributions is defined. Simulation of the computational model shows the critical role of gradualness. Gradualness can be supported by human-computer systems in which the computer does the copying and arithmetic, and the human applies a rich understanding of the world. The role of gradualness in the research areas of machine learning and hypertext is highlighted.     

Treatment of the patient receiving Coumadin anticoagulant therapy

Minimizing the risk of bleeding as well as the risk of thromboembolism in dental patients being treated with anticoagulants is a common challenge for practitioners. This article features tips on evaluating and managing these patients.     

A longitudinal study of immunologic reactivity in leprosy patients treated with immunotherapy

More than 150 leprosy patients treated with multidrug therapy (MDT) plus immunotherapy (IMT) with a mixture of heat-killed Mycobacterium leprae plus live BCG were studied in relation to humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Many previously had received prolonged sulfone monotherapy. Patients received 2 to 10 doses of IMT in a period of 1 to 3 years, depending upon their clinical form of leprosy. The patients were followed up for 5 to 10 years with repeated determinations of antibody levels to phenolic glycolipid-I; lymphoproliferative (LTT) responses to soluble extract of M. leprae, to whole bacilli and to BCG, skin-test responses and bacterial indexes (BIs). After MDT plus IMT there was a statistically significant decrease of antibody levels in the multibacillary (MB) group. The BI decreased proportionally to the ELISA results. LTT increased to M. leprae antigens, especially to soluble extract, in a high percentage of these patients (34% of LL patients positive). Lepromin positivity in MB patients increased from 5% initially positive to 75% at the cut-off during this follow up. These results show substantial early and persistent cell-mediated reactivity to M. leprae in many MB patients treated with MDT-IMT, confirming and expanding previously published data.     

Characteristics of the Bulgarian yoghurt lactic acid bacteria-metabolism of lactose

The investigation was made with more than 200 selected strains of lactic acid bacteria isolated from home-made yoghurt produced in the high-mountains regions of Bulgaria. 94% of them (LBD strains) were attributed to L. bulgaricus spicies and only 6% (KBL strains) were attributed to the species 5. thermophilus. The results showed that the LBD strains utilize glucose completely. The LBL strains partially utilize galactose and most (or all) glucose derived from lactose hydrolysis. The starters for Bulgarian yoghurt contain selected strains of L bulgaricus and S. thermophilus, and the starters for Yana yoghurt contain selected strains L. helveticus and S. thermophilus. So the symbiotic starters used for production of Bulgarian yoghurt, as well as those used for the production of Yana yoghurt, guarantee the obtaining of a product which contains over 80% L(+) lactate, and in some cases over 93% L(+) lactate. According to the references of WHO these kinds of yoghurt could be used in child's nutrition.     

Dual role of the six-coordinated lead and copper ions in structure of the copper-lead-tellurate glasses

Glasses from xCuO·(100 − x)[4TeO₂·PbO₂] system where x = 0-40 mol% were studied by density measurements, FTIR, UV-vis and EPR spectroscopy in order to obtain information about the changes that appear in the structure of matrix glass with the doping of copper ions.The FTIR data analysis shows that the copper ions will be distributed in the six-coordinated interstices ([PbO₆] structural units) and some [TeO₄] structural units will be converted to [TeO₃] structural units because the lead ions have a strong affinity towards these groups containing non-bridging oxygens, with negative charge.From the EPR studies, we can conclude that Cu⁺² ions have an environment elongated along the z-axis and the ground state of the Cu⁺² is dx²−y² orbital (²B_1g state). When the concentration of CuO is increased beyond 5 mol%, the intensity and width of both the parallel and perpendicular hyperfine components are observed to increase.     

Crystallization behavior and sintering of cordierite synthesized by an aqueous sol–gel route

The purpose of the research was to investigate crystallization behavior and sintering of cordierite synthesized by a low-price aqueous sol–gel route starting from silicic acid and magnesium and aluminum salts. Viscous sintering of the gel occurred in the temperature range of 800–850 °C, followed by μ-cordierite crystallization at about 900 °C, which proves the homogeneity of the gel. Decreasing of μ-cordierite crystallinity in a wide temperature range prior to commencing of α-cordierite crystallization at about 1200 °C indicates reconstructive type of μ- → α-cordierite transformation. The transformation was fully completed at 1350 °C. The value of the Avrami parameter indicates that μ-cordierite crystallization was controlled by surface or interface nucleation, which implies that viscous sintering occurred in the primary gel particles, which leads to shrinkage, and thereafter nucleation occurred on the surface or interface of the particles. The overall activation energy of μ-cordierite crystallization was 382.0 kJ/mol. The sinterability of the powder obtained by calcination at 1300 °C, where well-crystallized α-cordierite was formed, was better than that of the powder obtained by calcination at 850 °C, where the most intensive shrinkage occurred before the onset of crystallization of μ-cordierite.