Differences in microbial activity of digesta from three sections of the porcine large intestine according to in vitro fermentation of carbohydrate‐rich substrates

To determine whether faecal microorganisms can represent the entire large intestinal population, samples from caecum, mid‐colon and rectum of three adult pigs were used for the in vitro fermentation of fructo‐oligosaccharide (FOS), potato starch, wheat bran and oat hulls. The cumulative gas production technique measured fermentation kinetics and end‐products such as total gas, NH₃ and volatile fatty acids (VFA). There were significant differences in the fermentability of substrates, in terms of both kinetics and end‐products. More relevant to this study, there were also differences between pigs in respect of total gas production, the rate of gas production (R_M) and VFA production. For large intestine sections, there were more VFA from mid‐colon and rectal inocula compared with that from the caecum (p < 0.0001). Total gas, R_M and NH₃ were highest for rectal, intermediate for mid‐colon and lowest for caecal inocula (p < 0.0001). It was concluded that, while faecal sampling might overestimate caecal fermentation, its use is valid for in vitro assessment of large intestinal fermentation. However, differences between pigs indicate that a mix of samples from several animals remains important. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

High pressure treatment of dry-cured Iberian ham. Effect on radical formation,lipid oxidation and colour

The effect of high-pressure treatment (200, 400, 600 and 800 MPa) on radical formation in solid samples of dry-cured Iberian ham and in ham slurries was evaluated using the spin-trapping technique and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. In addition, hexanal was, as a secondary lipid oxidation product, assessed by gas chromatography. The effect of pressure treatments on ESR signals determined in the spin-trapping assay following pressure treatment in solid samples of dry-cured Iberian ham was not statistically significant. However, the lowest level of pressure applied initiated radical formation and promoted lipid peroxidation, whereas intermediate to high levels of pressure seemed to promote further reaction and disappearance of free radicals. Pressure significantly affected hexanal content in the same way as seen for formation of free radicals. Regarding the slurries prepared from dry-cured ham, pressure significantly increased the tendency of radical formation as seen from the ESR signals and significantly increased the hexanal content. The different pattern between solid ham and ham slurries points toward an initiation mechanism associated with the membrane phospholipids for oxidation. In addition, surface colour (L*, a* and b* values and percent reflectance values) of non-pressurized and pressurized (200–800 MPa) dry-cured Iberian ham samples was assessed. Non-pressurized samples showed a higher lightness than pressurized samples, and redness significantly decreased with pressure treatment.     

The set of just-in-time management strategies: An assessment of their impact on plant-level productivity and input-factor substitutability using variable cost function estimates

Many manufacturers in the automobile industry around the world have adopted the just-in-time (JIT) set of management strategies in an effort to improve productivity, efficiency and product quality. This paper provides empirical evidence that supports the idea that JIT manufacturing environments are, in fact, more productive than their non-JIT counterparts. Plant-level cross-sectional data from auto-parts manufacturing firms are used to estimate variable cost functions for a JIT group as well as for a non-JIT group of plants. Differences in cost function characteristics between the two groups are examined and discussed.     

Tensile properties of latex paint films with TiO2 pigment

The tensile properties of latex paint films containing TiO₂ pigment were studied with respect to temperature, strain-rate and moisture content. The purpose of performing these experiments was to assist museums in defining safe conditions for modern paintings held in collections. The glass transition temperature of latex paint binders is in close proximity to ambient temperature, resulting in high strain-rate dependence in typical exposure environments. Time dependence of modulus and failure strain is discussed in the context of time–temperature superposition, which was used to extend the experimental time scale. Nonlinear viscoelastic material models are also presented, which incorporate a Prony series with the Ogden or Neo-Hookean hyperelastic function for different TiO₂ concentrations.     

From the Neuroscience of Memory to Psychoanalytic Interaction: Clinical Implications.

The neuroscience of memory enriches and expands our theory of psychoanalytic interaction. There are 2 broad modes of processing memory: implicit (never experienced in symbolic form) and explicit (which is symbolic). Memory is not a thing, but a process, activated by a retrieval cue that is either external or internal. Each memory is an amalgam of the memory itself and the retrieval cue. Using these phenomena derived from the neuroscience of memory, the authors argue that (a) the analyst acts as a retrieval cue making any memory a coconstructed phenomenon; (b) each memory is constructed, transformed, and expanded anew, incrementally leading to new networks and change; and (c) implicit memory, lacking symbolic content, is an underutilized component of psychoanalytic attention. Clinical examples are used as illustrations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Models and algorithms for coscheduling compute-intensive taks on a network of workstations

The problem of using the idle cycles of a number of high performance workstations, interconnected by a high speed network, for solving computationally intensive tasks is discussed. The classes of distributed applications examined require some form of synchronization among the subtasks, hence the need for coscheduling to guarantee that subtasks start at the same time and execute at the same pace on a group of workstations. A model of the system is presented that allows the definition of an objective function to be maximized. Then a quadratic time and linear space algorithm is derived for computing the optimal coschedule, for the given model and class of applications addressed.     

Superconductivity in the (Yba2Cu3)1−xNaxO7−δ System

The (YBa₂Cu₃)_1−xNa_xO_7–δ system in the range of x = 0–0.8 was investigated. Experimental data suggest that the sodium doping with x 0.26 does not affect the critical transition temperature T_c, and the crystal structure maintains the orthorhombic lattice with a slightly smaller unit cell. However, sodium doping increases the sintering and grain growth kinetics, resulting in a higher superconducting phase volume and an enhanced Meissner effect. It also lowers the processing temperaturel. The experimental data also suggest that the sodium atoms diffuse into the superconducting YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ crystallites, which stabilizes the orthorhombic phase. The transition temperature (ortho-rhombic to tetragonal) in sodium-doped materials increases with the increasing concentration of sodium.