Perceptual primitives from an extended 4D Hough transform

Directional features extracted from Gabor wavelets responses were used to train a structure of self-organising maps, thus classifying each pixel in the image within a neuron-map. Resulting directional primitives were grouped into perceptual primitives introducing an extended 4D Hough transform to group pixels with similar directional features. These can then be used as perceptual primitives to detect salient structures. The proposed method has independently fixed parameters that do not need to be tuned for different kind or quality of images. We present results in application to noisy FLIR images and show that line primitives for complex structures, such as bridges, or simple structures, such as runways, can be found by this approach. We compare and demonstrate the quality of our results with those obtained through a parameter-dependent traditional Canny edge detector and Hough line finding process.     

Local synthesis of immunoglobulins in neuropathies

It is essential to know how the immune system acts in different neurological diseases, some of them non very well known or of unknown etiology at all. It was applied Reiber and Felgenhauer's formula in 56 patients with different diseases. IgA, IgM, IgG and albumin were quantified in sera and cerebrospinal fluid by simple immunodiffusion. It was observed more frequent IgG local synthesis and IgA in this sample.     

Role of child and maternal processes in the psychological adjustment of children with sickle cell disease.

In this study, 64% of children aged 7–12 yrs with sickle cell disease were found to have a parent-reported behavior problem, and 50% met the criteria for a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III-Revised (DSM-III-R) diagnosis based on a structured clinical interview of the child. Internalizing types of behavior problems and diagnoses were the most frequent. Support was provided for a transactional stress and coping model in delineating the processes associated with child adjustment. In particular, maternal anxiety accounted for 16–33% of the variance in mother-reported internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, respectively, and child pain-coping strategies accounted for 21% of the variance in child-reported adjustment problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Renopancreatic transplant. Urologic complications

OBJECTIVE: Retrospective study of urological complications in our series of reno-pancreatic transplants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between February 1983 and May 1994 our group has conducted 93 RPT, 80 of which, mean age 36 +/- 6 years (24-54 years), are studied in this paper: 57 male and 23 female with an average time in dialysis of 20 +/- 15 months (0-84 months) and diabetes evolution of 21 +/- 5 years (11-37 years). RESULTS: Actuarial annual survival of patient, renal graft and pancreatic graft has been 85%, 79% and 74% respectively. Haematuria: 25% incidence, with graft pancreatitis etiology in 16 cases, rejection in 8 and urinary fistula in 6. Urinary infection: 85% incidence, symptomatic in 23 patients (29%) and asymptomatic in the remaining cases. Dysuria, urethritis and urethral stenosis: 14 patients, all male, most with both conditions associated. Reconversion of pancreatic exocrine secretion by intestinal route was performed in 7 patients. Urinary fistula: secondary to surgery in 9 cases and rejection in 4. Etiology of one case remained unknown. In 4 cases it was resolved with conservative treatment, and with surgical correction in 8. One patient required pancreatic transplantectomy and one patient died of AMI. CONCLUSIONS: Urological complication in RPT account for a significant morbidity, urinary fistula being the one with greater repercussion on the patient and pancreatic graft survival.     

Finite element analysis of partly wrinkled reinforced prestressed membranes

Wrinkling is a well known phenomenon experimented by tension membranes in Civil Engineering applications. This paper will present an efficient numerical technique for the computational simulation of such wrinkles in a prestressed membrane. In particular, the relaxed energy approach (Pipkin in IMA J Appl Math 36:85–99, 1986) is particularized for prestressed membranes (Gil in Textile composites and inflatable structures, CIMNE, 2003) undergoing moderate strains. Wrinkling conditions in terms of the Euler-Lagrange finite deformation tensor along principal directions will be obtained. This will provide a framework to describe properly the initial instant when wrinkles start to be encountered in a prestressed Saint Venant–Kirchhoff hyperelastic membrane. Subsequently, a modified Helmholtz’s free energy functional will be introduced with the purpose of describing the modified constitutive behaviour of the continuum after the onset of wrinkling. Consistent derivations of the stress tensor as well as the constitutive tensor will de depicted. The results will be particularized for membranes and cables in a Finite Element discretization basis. Some numerical examples will prove the accuracy and robustness of the described algorithm.     

Psychological adjustment of children with sickle cell disease: Stability and change over a 10-month period.

Rates of poor psychological adjustment of children with sickle cell disease remained relatively constant over initial and follow-up assessment points. 50 children (aged 7–12 yrs) and their mothers completed the initial protocol. 30 children completed the follow-up plus 5 additional children and their mothers. These Ss were aged 7–24 yrs at follow-up. With initial levels of adjustment controlled, children's strategies for coping with pain accounted for a significant increment in child-reported symptoms and mother-reported internalizing behavior problems at follow-up beyond the contribution of illness and demographic parameters and follow-up interval. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Identification and analysis of genes from Streptomyces pristinaespiralis encoding enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of the 4-dimethylamino-L-phenylalanine precursor of pristinamycin I

Dextran has been used as a carrier molecule for the synthesis of monofunctional peptide-dextran conjugates. The immunodetection of such carrier immobilized peptides on ELISA plates was compared to that of peptides adsorbed directly to immunoplates. The main features observed with peptide-dextran conjugates were as follows: only small amounts of peptide (1-2 mg) were necessary for coupling via alpha- or epsilon-amino groups to NaIO4-activated dextran (4 mg); the coupling yield was up to 68%; an amino acid analysis of the conjugate enabled the amount of carrier immobilized peptide to be calculated; an estimated 15-17 peptides were bound per dextran molecule (MW 73,500); using a carbohydrate as carrier reduces the possibility of non-specific interactions because no hydrophobic or ionic sites and no protein-like epitopes exist on the carrier apart from the peptide ligand. It can be assumed that some peptide ligands provide the forces for an interaction with the plate surface whereas other remain free for the interaction with the antibody. Thus, the detection with monoclonal anti-peptide antibodies allowed peptide-dextran conjugates to be used at coating concentrations of 1-3 nM peptide, corresponding to 0.6-2.6 ng peptide-dextran per well. In contrast, concentrations of 150-500 nM were required for coating with peptides. The applicability of monofunctional peptide-dextran conjugates was demonstrated by investigating the titer and specificity of a polyclonal anti-peptide serum developed against human gastrointestinal glutathione peroxidase. The introduction of biotin as a second ligand of the dextran conjugate permitted its capture on streptavidin coated plates. This synthesis of bifunctional peptide-biotin-dextran conjugates opens up additional possibilities for applications.     

Identification of aroma components of Spanish ‘Verdejo’ wine

Aroma components of ine resulting from fermentation of grape must from the Verdejo cultivar ere isolated by continuous liquid-liquid extraction and further fractionation on a silica gel column. One hundred and thirty-to substances, including alcohols, esters, carbonyl compounds, terpenes, acids and sulphur compounds, ere identified by using GC-MS; some had not been previously detected in ines. Data are given hich could lead to the characterisation of the Verdejo cultivar and the effect of the elaboration of young ines. The sensory contribution of some volatile compounds to the flavour of Verdejo ine is also studied.     

Preparation and characterisation of vanadium catalysts supported over alumina-pillared clays

Supported vanadium-containing catalysts were prepared by impregnation of Al-pillared clays with NaVO₃ precursor aqueous solutions. A montmorillonite and a saponite, both natural as well as previously pillared with Al₁₃-Keggin polycations, were used as supports, being impregnated with solutions of the precursor by means of the incipient wetness technique. The layered structure of the supports is maintained after impregnation, and even after calcination of the impregnated solids at 500 °C, although with a significant worsening of the textural properties of the solids, in particular, a loss of specific surface area. Three crystalline vanadium-containing phases were identified in the impregnated solids, namely, NaV₃O₈, AlVO₄ and V₂O₅ (shcherbinaite). The reduction of these phases to V³⁺ species was observed as wide processes in the 450–750 °C range, all of them centred at ca. 600 °C.     

Collaborating freight forwarding enterprises

The paper presents a model for the collaboration among independent freight forwarding entities. In the modern highly competitive transportation branch freight forwarders reduce their fulfillment costs by exploiting different execution modes (self-fulfillment and subcontraction). For self-fulfillment they use their own vehicles to execute the requests and for subcontracting they forward the orders to external freight carriers. Further enhancement of competitiveness can be achieved if the freight forwarders cooperate in coalitions in order to balance their request portfolios. Participation in such a coalition gains additional profit for the entire coalition and for each participant, therefore reinforcing the market position of the partners. The integrated operational transport problem as well as existing collaboration approaches are introduced. The presented model for collaboration is based on theoretical foundations in the field of combinatorial auctions and operational research game theory. It is applicable for coalitions of freight forwarders, especially for the collaboration of Profit Centres within large freight forwarding companies. The proposed theoretical approach and the presented collaboration model are suitable for a coalition of freight forwarding companies with nearly similar potential on the market.