Rheological behaviour of processed avocado pulp emulsions

Shear rate vs. shear stress data were obtained on avocado pulp in water emulsions using a concentric cylinder rheometer and fitted to a power law model. Dilution, as volume fraction of water, had a pronounced effect on the apparent viscosity of the pulp emulsions and the Richardson equation, (η_R= exp.( a φ) for the emulsion viscosity fitted the data well. A mean slope coefficient, a , of 4.57 can be used as a first approximation. Enzymatic treatment (40°C, 1 h), is slightly more effective than thermal treatment (65°C, 1 h), in reducing the initial apparent viscosity of the pulp-water emulsions     

条形药包爆炸应力场试验研究

应用动态光弹性模型试验方法研究了条形药包的爆炸应力场分布特性。研究结果表明：起爆方式和位置影响着条形药包爆炸应力场的分布形态，并首次成功地记录了条形药包瞬间爆炸应力场的动光弹条纹，得到了理想成力场的分布形式。     

Random discrete PWM method for DC-DC power converters

A random discrete pulse-width modulation (RDPWM) scheme is examined and compared with the randomised pulse-position modulation (RPPM) method for DC-DC power conversion. The RDPWM method has no switching harmonics while the RPPM method has significant switching harmonics. Power spectral characteristics of the two methods are presented and discussed     

The dynamic effects and compensation of load transitions in robotic systems

The problem of a robot handling a payload typically involves pre-load, load, and post-load stages, and payload transitions between these stages. Although considerable work has focused on the control of robots carrying payloads, few consider the problem of load transitions—one of the most important effects on system performance. This article studies these transitions and presents a compensation method. It is shown that load transitions lead to abrupt (jump) parameters and uncertain transition times in the robot/payload model. A control strategy is proposed that takes the load transitions into account and guarantees the stable path tracking of robots in the face of these transitions. The effectiveness of the proposed control strategy is verified via simulation. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Development of `information collection and delivery sensor basesystem' for large-scale power systems

The authors present a real-time database system capable of collecting and delivering a large amount of information accurately at a high speed and by a simple method. This system has a microprocessor unit (MPU) for each private communication line around the main memory and coordinates the independent parallel operation for a number of these MPUs with the main memory access operation, using a fixed cyclic scan method and having all the MPUs perform multi-operation. Many advantages can be expected when this method is adopted, especially for the monitoring and control of power systems. Degradation of the system can be avoided during an information rush due to accidents, and it can be easily extended when adding to or expanding the power facilities in the future. Excellent daily maintainability can be assured, and a low overall cost can be expected     

Mode of vascularization of control and basic fibroblast growth factor-stimulated prefabricated skin flaps

This study, using 62 rabbits, examines the rate and pattern of vascular outgrowth from a subcutaneously implanted vascular pedicle, how the newly formed vessels connect to preexisting skin vessels, and whether local application of basic fibroblast growth factor can accelerate the angiogenic process. When the femoral artery and vein of rabbits are implanted beneath the skin, angiogenesis from both the pedicle and small blood vessels within the adjacent skin begins within 3 days. Perfusion with India ink reveals connections between the pedicle and dermal vessels as early as 5 days after implantation of the pedicle. Provided the pedicle does not thrombose, skin flaps based on it may survive completely when elevated as early as 2 weeks after implantation. Flap survival depends on the development of a small number of vascular connections between vessels arising from the pedicle and preexisting dermal vessels. If elevation is delayed until 4 weeks after implantation a flap may survive even if its pedicle has thrombosed. Prolonged release of basic fibroblast growth factor adjacent to the pedicle significantly increases the survival of flaps elevated 1 week after implantation but does not alter the survival of flaps elevated at 2 and 4 weeks.     

Responses of plasma norepinephrine and heart rate during exercise in patients after Fontan operation and patients with residual right ventricular outflow tract obstruction after definitive reconstruction

In a fetal autopsy series, we have explored the occurrence of renal tubular dysgenesis in twins. Renal tubular dysgenesis was found exclusively among those monozygotic twins with evidence of twin transfusion syndrome, particularly in those donor twins with oligohydramnios and growth restriction. We infer that hypotension in the donor twin of the twin transfusion syndrome pair is responsible for the failure of proximal convoluted tubule differentiation, and the disturbance of renal function is manifested as oligohydramnios prenatally, and either oliguria or tubular dysfunction postnatally.     

Macrophage activation results in bone resorption

Monocytes or macrophages from important accessory cells in the regulation of bone metabolism and destruction. Cells of the mononuclear phagocyte lineage form the precursor cells of the osteoclasts. Soluble products produced by activated macrophages regulate progenitor cell proliferation, recruitment, differentiation, and activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. After osteoclasts are removed from the resorption site, macrophages process bone surfaces and create a cement line before osteoblasts enter to form new bone. Although osteolysis associated with normal bone remodeling is seen as an osteoclast driven process, it may be that in chronic inflammation macrophage activation and vascular derangements lead to low pH, local bone demineralization (acid attack), and H+ mediated stimulation of the primary afferent nociceptive nerve fibers (bone pain). Osteoclasts are not able to attach to demineralized bone or to osteoid surfaces. However, if macrophages degrade the demineralized organic bone matrix, chemotactic factors and attachment sites for osteoclasts are produced. In such a scenario, the osteoclast-osteoblast mediated activation, resorption, and formation cycle would be secondarily activated. Such events may play a role in the most common orthopaedic problem related to macrophage activation, aseptic loosening of orthopaedic joint implants, which is secondary to a chronic foreign body reaction and to micromovement.     

Optic flow field segmentation and motion estimation using a robustgenetic partitioning algorithm

Optic flow motion analysis represents an important family of visual information processing techniques in computer vision. Segmenting an optic flow field into coherent motion groups and estimating each underlying motion is a very challenging task when the optic flow field is projected from a scene of several independently moving objects. The problem is further complicated if the optic flow data are noisy and partially incorrect. In this paper, the authors present a novel framework for determining such optic flow fields by combining the conventional robust estimation with a modified genetic algorithm. The baseline model used in the development is a linear optic flow motion algorithm due to its computational simplicity. The statistical properties of the generalized linear regression (GLR) model are thoroughly explored and the sensitivity of the motion estimates toward data noise is quantitatively established. Conventional robust estimators are then incorporated into the linear regression model to suppress a small percentage of gross data errors or outliers. However, segmenting an optic flow field consisting of a large portion of incorrect data or multiple motion groups requires a very high robustness that is unattainable by the conventional robust estimators. To solve this problem, the authors propose a genetic partitioning algorithm that elegantly combines the robust estimation with the genetic algorithm by a bridging genetic operator called self-adaptation     

Electron spin resonance of DNA irradiated with a heavy-ion beam ([16]O[8+]): evidence for damage to the deoxyribose phosphate backbone

A major problem in the intensive care unit nowadays is the development of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), a cumulative sequence of progressive deterioration of organ functions. While the pathogenic pathways of MODS remain to be elucidated, it is assumed that cells of the host defence system, especially the macrophages, are altered in their function. During the development of MODS it is assumed that macrophages are overactivated and that an exaggerated inflammatory response may contribute to its pathogenesis. In order to gain insight into the alterations of the functional status of the macrophage during the development of MODS, a series of macrophage functions was measured in the subsequent phases of zymosan induced generalized inflammation in mice. Male C57BL/6 mice received a single dose of zymosan intraperitoneally and groups of animals were killed after 2, 5, 8, and 12 days. Peritoneal macrophages were collected for in vitro assessment of the ADCC, the production of superoxide (O2-) and nitric oxide (NO), and complement mediated phagocytosis and intracellular killing of Staphylococcus aureus. A single intraperitoneal injection with zymosan resulted in a three-phase illness. During the third phase the animals developed MODS-like symptoms. Peritoneal cells from control animals produced very low to non-detectable amounts of O2- and NO, and the cytotoxic activity was also low. During the development of MODS, from day 7 onwards, the ability to produce O2- and NO2- became strongly elevated, as did the cytotoxic activity. These findings are in parallel with the development of MODS whereas the phagocytic and killing capacity remained essentially unaltered. The changes found could be detrimental for the organism, thus possibly contributing to the onset and development of MODS.