Insulin edema in three adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Three female patients with a previously poorly controlled Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM), without evidence of cardiovascular, hepatic or renal dysfunction, developed generalized edema after a substantial increase in their insulin dosage. Edema resolved in 2-3 weeks, without specific therapy. Our patient's findings met the criteria of diagnosis of insulin edema. Insulin edema during IDDM is an uncommon complication of insulin therapy (1/400) and its pathogenesis is not clarified so far; it is a transient and self-limiting condition. The diagnosis is based on exclusion of all other major causes of edema.     

On different approximation criteria for subset product problems

We study and compare three different approximation criteria for a class of problems with product objective function. We also show that a dominance rule is a necessary and sufficient condition for the approximability of the same class of problems.     

Computers,management and organization: Reflections on a pilot study

Results are presented of a pilot study dealing with the interaction between computers, management, and organization structures: a study carried out to explore the computerization phenomenon in a small sample of manufacturing firms. A short survey of the literature introduces the perspectives and objectives of the field study. Two main research outcomes are presented. Firstly, a theoretical scheme of analysis, based on the control system of administrative processes, is considered as a means of evaluating computer impact on the organization. Secondly, a set of specific hypotheses is introduced in order to analyse the empirical data.The following interactions between computers and organizational structures have been examined (while considering the firm as an open socio-technical system): technology and environment, organizational structure, automatized applications, and the computerization process.     

Turbo soft combining hybrid ARQ techniques: Theory and application to 3G wireless networks

This paper deals with the application of Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (h-arq) techniques to allow reliable data communications in wireless 3G networks. Basically, retransmission of coded data is endowed with soft combining schemes applied, respectively, to packet replicas, or to decoding algorithm outputs. In particular, the proposed coding scheme takes advantage of error correction capabilities of the turbo codes, while the combining algorithm follows the diversity approach. The performance of the proposedh-arq schemes has been derived by means of a suitable analytical approach and numerical simulations in the case of a typical umts environment. The results highlight the good behavior of the proposed scheme in term of error rate, throughput, packet delivery delay and power reduction.     

Central and peripheral influences on retention of postural asymmetry in rats.

Four studies with 94 Long-Evans rats examined potential neural processes involved in retention of a peripherally induced postural asymmetry. In Exp I, dorsal and ventral spinal root section following varying intervals of stimulation successfully abolished peripherally induced hindlimb asymmetry. Exp II revealed that 50 min of ventral root stimulation, in the absence of central connection, was not effective in producing asymmetry persistence. Exp III attempted to more closely delineate the time parameters involved in peripherally induced asymmetry retention. Asymmetry was found to consistently outlast a spinal transection if 40 min of stimulation was given. In Exp IV, possible modulatory higher brain center influences on the retention processes were demonstrated. Asymmetry persistence was consistently observed in Ss that received 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 min of hindlimb stimulation if 50 min were allowed to elapse between the onset of stimulation and spinal section. Results (1) suggest an active involvement of spinal reflex centers in the fixation process, (2) indicate that the manner in which reflex activity is altered is not crucial as long as underlying time parameters are adhered to, and (3) demonstrate that higher center influences can modulate retention of a postural asymmetry in a complex manner. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

PdAg/alumina membranes prepared by high power impulse magnetron sputtering for hydrogen separation

The development of hydrogen purification membranes that meet market demands such as high purity, dynamic hydrogen production even at small scale, and reduced costs is still an open question. With this view, the present study aims at developing, for the first time, a method based on high power impulse magnetron sputtering for the deposition of Pd77Ag23 (wt%) films onto porous alumina substrates to achieve composite membranes with high hydrogen permeability and stability. This technique allows the deposition of films also on complex geometries and can be easily scaled up, thus making this technology a potential candidate for preparing high performing membranes. Membranes made by stable and porous alumina supports and metallic, dense and crystalline Pd₇₇Ag₂₃ layers, from 3.5 μm to 17 μm thick, have been prepared and tested. The membranes showed good hydrogen permeability values, showing flux values up to a maximum of 0.62 mol_H2 m^?2 s^?1 at 450 °C and ΔP of 300 kPa. The resistance to hydrogen embrittlement and the chemical inertness to syngas were also demonstrated.     

Deflections of Timoshenko beam with varying cross-section

Closed form solutions are presented for bending beams with linearly and (in the binomial form) parabolically varying depth and for bending beams with linearly varying width along the beam's length. The solutions are developed taking into account the shear deformation of the beam. The solutions are achieved, in an original way, by transforming the fourth-order differential equations with variable coefficients into fourth-order differential equations with constant coefficients. Though the solutions presented refer to three recurrent variations in the beam cross-section shape, the procedure outlined can be applied to beams with binomial variation (with any exponent) in the depth or width of the cross-section. Moreover, the solutions can be achieved for polynomial, exponential and sinusoidal load conditions. The solutions can be utilized to obtain the stiffness factors and the flexibility coefficients of beams in the analysis of frames. Closed form solutions for longitudinal displacements are also presented. The analytical solutions are applied to four recurrent beams commonly used in civil engineering practice and a comparison with a numerical procedure is made.     

New insights into the psychological dimension of wood–human interaction

The effect a wooden-built environment exerts on the physical and psychological well-being of people has mostly been investigated by evaluation, through a limited number of sensory modalities, of small size stimuli. In this research, two real-size wooden and plaster indoor settings were used to examine the influence of wood on people’s emotions and perceptions. Three questionnaires assessed participants’ multimodal sensory, affective, and cognitive responses to the settings (Semantic Differential questionnaire), their emotional state (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule), and their environmental behaviour and biophilia degree (Nature Relatedness Scale). The results revealed that wood induces more positive emotions than plaster, and that individual biophilia degree appears to influence the tactile, auditory, and olfactory evaluation of the settings. It furthermore indicates how wood used in real buildings positively influences human psychological well-being and highlights the importance of considering multiple sensory modalities when investigating wood–human interaction.