Increased height gain of children fed a high-protein diet during convalescence from shigellosis: a six-month follow-Up study

The impact of dietary supplementation on catch-up growth was evaluated in 69 malnourished children ages 24-60 mo after recovery from shigellosis. They were fed either a high-protein (HP) diet with 15% of energy as protein, or a standard-protein (SP) diet with 7.5% energy as protein, for 3 wk in a metabolic study ward. Children were followed up bi-weekly for 6 mo by trained health assistants when anthropometric measurements and information of any illness were collected. Thirty-one children in the HP group and 28 children in the SP group completed 6-mo follow-up. The increase in height (mean +/- SD) was 5.3 +/- 1.0 cm vs. 4.1 +/- 1.1 cm for HP and SP groups, respectively (P < 0.001), whereas increase in body weight was 1.39 +/- 0.58 and 1.29 +/- 0.72 kg for children fed HP and SP, respectively (P = 0.59). The proportion of children who were severely stunted (< -2 SD height-for-age) decreased from 45 to 29% in the HP group compared to 50 to 46% in the SP group (P < 0.05) at 6-mo follow-up. The number of diarrheal episodes per child tended to be lower in the HP vs. SP than in the SP group (1.9 vs. 2.3, P = 0.41). These results demonstrate that feeding an HP diet to the malnourished children during recovery from shigellosis enhanced linear growth with a modest reduction in diarrheal morbidity during the 6-mo follow-up period.     

Pixel processing in a memory controller

The SX-a programmable pixel processor implemented in a workstation memory controller chip-aims to perform as well as low-end 2D and 3D graphics processors and to surpass low-end imaging accelerators. The following features help accomplish this goal: large internal register set; vectorized RISC-like instruction set; fast access to both main and video memory; fast pixel operations; free operations; unpolluted cache; and single-chip solution. We describe the workstation configuration we used for our tests and the SX processor architecture, followed by the SX instruction set and sample algorithms. Then we present SX performance results for a wide range of operations     

Optimum design of three-dimensional steel frames with prismatic and non-prismatic elements

Engineering with Computers - In the present article, optimal seismic design of three-dimensional steel frames is carried out. The frames are subjected to gravity and earthquake loadings and are...     

Deformation and orientation behavior of polystyrene-b-polybutadiene-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) triblock terpolymers: Influence of polybutadiene microstructures and the molar masses

Morphological changes caused by deformation and orientation of different domains of polystyrene-b-polybutadiene-b-poly(methyl methacrylate), SBM, triblock terpolymers were investigated using in-situ small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), tensile testing, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Two sets of SBM triblock terpolymers with similar weight fractions of the three blocks were studied. The two sets differ in terms of their molecular weights. Each set contained two SBM differing in their polybutadiene isomers (1,2- and 1,4-B). Results showed that for 1,2-B based SBMs the polybutadiene block forms cylindrical domains which coalesce in the glassy lamellar matrix of the two glassy outer blocks whereas the lower molar mass 1,4-B based SBM forms mixed S/M and the higher one forms well segregated long range ordered lamellae. These morphological differences indicate that the deformation and the orientation behavior of the polymers' domains differ. In 1,2-B based SBMs yielding at high stresses was followed by a stress drop after the yield point. The other polymer type showed homogeneous deformation of the lamellar domains at their yield point. 2D-SAXS during deformation of the triblock terpolymers showed an anisotropic deformation pattern in the 1,2-B SBMs, whereas four point SAXS patterns were found for the 1,4-B SBMs. Further studies showed that the fragmented lamellar planes of the lower molar mass 1,2-SBM oriented randomly whereas the orientation of the lamellar planes of the higher molar mass 1,2-B SBM was parallel to the strain direction. The alignment of the lamellar planes of 1,4-B SBMs were randomly distributed in the unstretched state.     

Preparation and photocatalytic H2-production on α-Fe2O3 prepared by sol-gel

In this work, the hematite α-Fe₂O₃ was synthesized by sol-gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction and optical properties. The XRD patterns realized at different temperatures, show that pure hematite is obtained above 500 °C. The diffuse reflectance gives respectively direct and indirect optical transitions at 2.17 and 2.04 eV, in agreement with the red color. The capacitance measurement of α-Fe₂O₃ indicates p type behavior with a conduction band (?1.14 V vs. SCE), more cathodic than the H₂ evolution (～?0.8 V vs. SCE). The oxide was successfully tested for the hydrogen production under visible irradiation (29 mW cm^?2). α-Fe₂O₃ is photo-electrochemically stable in alkaline medium by hole consumption reactions involving X^2? (= SO₃^2? and S₂O₃^2?) as hole scavengers. The best photocatalytic activity for H₂ production was obtained on α-Fe₂O₃, calcined at 500 °C, in (Na₂S₂O₃ 0.025 M, pH ～ 13), with an average evolution rate of 0.015 cm³ h^?1 (mg catalyst)^?1 and a quantum efficiency of 0.26%. The system shows a tendency toward saturation, due to the competitive reduction of end products with the water reduction and the cathodic shift of the H₂ potential.     

Relative life cycle economic analysis of stand-alone solar PV and fossil fuel powered systems in Bangladesh with regard to load demand and market controlling factors

In this paper, relative life cycle economic analysis (LCEA) of stand-alone solar PV modules is performed with respect to portable fossil fuel driven power sources to test their commercial prospects in remote regions of Bangladesh which do not have a direct access to grid supply. Overall life time expenditures related to the power projects are analyzed and compared with the help of net present worth (NPW) theory. The influence of market controlling factors like government subsidies, excess inflation over the general trend, and price hike are established with case study of medium-scale petrol–diesel generators (0.8–10 kW) and solar photovoltaic modules (100 Wp). It is found that the cost effectiveness of conventional or ‘green’ power driven sources depends on kW rating of generators and daily demand on customer-end in the context of a developing country like Bangladesh. The demand coverage which would determine the commercial viability of renewable and non-renewable sources is calculated considering pragmatic power rating of generators available in the local market. This study is intended to assist planning of financial matters with regard to installing small to medium scale renewable projects in remote localities of Bangladesh.     

Modeling and forecasting natural gas demand in Bangladesh

Natural gas is the major indigenous source of energy in Bangladesh and accounts for almost one-half of all primary energy used in the country. Per capita and total energy use in Bangladesh is still very small, and it is important to understand how energy, and natural gas demand will evolve in the future. We develop a dynamic econometric model to understand the natural gas demand in Bangladesh, both in the national level, and also for a few sub-sectors. Our demand model shows large long run income elasticity – around 1.5 – for aggregate demand for natural gas. Forecasts into the future also show a larger demand in the future than predicted by various national and multilateral organizations. Even then, it is possible that our forecasts could still be at the lower end of the future energy demand. Price response was statistically not different from zero, indicating that prices are possibly too low and that there is a large suppressed demand for natural gas in the country.