Gastric emptying and lingual lipase activity in cystic fibrosis

To identify gastric factors likely to contribute to fat maldigestion and malabsorption in cystic fibrosis (CF), gastric emptying time, secretion rate, and preduodenal lipolytic activity were studied. Gastric emptying of a liquid test meal and gastric acid secretion were determined in five CF teenagers with pancreatic insufficiency and in five healthy controls. During the first hr, the rate of gastric emptying exhibited a linear pattern in both CF patients and controls. Neither the emptying time nor the gastric secretion rate was different. Lingual lipase activity was measured in eight other CF patients with pancreatic insufficiency and in eight controls. Lipase activity was higher (P less than 0.05) in CF patients than in controls with values (mean +/- S.E.) of 34.48 +/- 11.59 and 12.65 +/- 5.60 mumole butyric acid min-1 ml-1, respectively. No correlation with age or body surface was observed. Intragastric lipolysis of a butterfat triglyceride test meal was fast in both groups, but more extensive (P less than 0.05) in CF patients than in controls. The data show that in CF with pancreatic insufficiency, gastric factors contributing to the first step of fat digestion are preserved. In fact, lingual lipase activity was found to be increased, and a more complete intragastric lipolysis was documented.     

États limites du béton d'argile expansée en compression biaxiale

Résumé étude expérimentale des états limites de réversibilité, de fissuration et de rupture du béton d'argile expansée en traction biaxiale.

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Summary This report gives the principal results drawn from experimental research on the mechanical behaviour of expanded clay concrete under biaxial compression. The measurement of total and residual deformations makes it possible to define different conventional degrees of reversibility in the real material and to reveal the cracking mechanism. Our experiments show that the value of the principal major stress, characterizing the different limit states of cracking reversibility and concrete failure is never independent of the value of the main intermediate stress. Cracking and failure of concrete are obtained by elongation along the load-free axis.

     

Effect of varying the response format of the Alpert-Haber Achievement Anxiety Test.

Administered the Alpert-Haber Achievement Anxiety Test to 312 undergraduates using the original version (multiple-choice) and 2 revisions of the test (one using a horizontal continuum for responses and eliminating the 19 buffer items, the other using a Likert-type response format). An analysis of covariance showed significant differences between the 3 forms on all 3 scales. The 3 versions of the test differed in terms of intraform correlation between the Facilitative and Debilitative scales and internal consistency reliability estimates. Within each of the 3 forms, the negative correlation between the Facilitative and Debilitative scales caused the Facilitative minus the Debilitative scale to yield a higher reliability coefficient than either the Facilitative or Debilitative scale. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A kinematic analysis of the space station remote manipulator system (SSRMS)

An efficient reverse analysis of three 6-degree-of-freedom (dof) subchains of the 7-dof SSRMS is presented. The first subchain is formed by locking the seventh joint. The second subchain is formed by locking the second joint, while the third subchain is formed by locking the first joint (the grounded joint is counted as the first joint in the chain). There are a maximum of eight different arm configurations in each of the three subchains, and these were determined by employing a computer-efficient algorithm, which required the rooting of only at most quadratic polynomials. The algorithms were implemented, and the SSRMS was employed in an animated environment to perform and practice a number of useful tasks for space station servicing. The locking of the second joint has the advantage in that an operator could, at the outset, choose the orientation of the plane that contains the two longest links (the upper arm and forearm) so as to avoid collisions with obstacles. However, it has the disadvantage that when the second joint angle equals 0° or 180°, the manipulator is in a singularity configuration (a singularity analysis of the SSRMS is presented in a second article). It is interesting to note that this plane can also be oriented by specifying the first joint angle. This has the distinct advantage that the plane can be oriented arbitrarily and, in this way, the singularity is avoided.     

National Asian American Psychology Training Conference.

Describes a conference convened to explore problems and issues in training psychologists to serve Asian Americans and their communities and to provide a setting for administrators, faculty, practitioners, and students to share perspectives on the mental health needs of Asian Americans. Among the outcomes were recommendations concerned with appropriate models and approaches of psychology for Asian Americans and appropriate training of psychologists for Asian-American communities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An experimental setup for the study of gas-solid reequilibration phenomena

The effect of Y additions on the oxidation mechanism of NiAl at 1270 K has been investigated. Mass transport in the alumina scale was examined with¹⁸O tracers. Proton activation analysis (¹⁸O(p, )¹⁵N) and SIMS were used to measure the¹⁸O distribution in the scale. On pure NiAl and low-doped (0.07% Y) NiAl mainly outward scale growth was observed. Addition of 0.5% Y induces oxide formation at both interfaces of the scale. Larger quantities of Y added to the alloy (>0.5%) do not dissolve completely in the NiAl, but form Y-rich segregates. Internal oxidation of these intergranular segregates was observed. The relation between the modification of the scale-growth mechanism and the improved adherence of the scale to the alloy due to the addition of Y is discussed.     

Flowability measurements of pharmaceutical powder mixtures with poor flow using five different techniques

Four different tablet formulations for direct compression with poor flow properties were tested regarding flowability using five different techniques: Hausner ratio, avalanching behavior, powder rheometer, uniaxial tester, and Jenike tester. In addition, the behavior of three of the formulations during emptying of the mixer and tableting was observed and compared to the results of the flowability measurements. The rank order correlation of the formulations was generally the same with all techniques. The flow properties measured by the different techniques reflected the behavior during processing of the powder mixtures.