Sodium metabisulfite and SO2 release: an under-recognized hazard among shrimp fishermen

Since the introduction of sodium metabisulfite as a food preservative, it has been associated with several idiosyncratic reactions (eg, bronchospasm, oculonasal symptoms, and urticaria/angioedema) in sulfite-sensitive individuals. The pathogenic mechanism of these reactions is not yet understood. We report the case of two crewmen on a shrimp trawler who were found dead in the ship's hold. Their deaths had occurred while they were applying dry sodium metabisulfite, referred to as "shrimp dip" in the shrimping industry. Postmortem examinations showed diffuse pulmonary edema consistent with death secondary to asphyxia. Associated findings were visceral congestion. Although it is possible to measure death from sodium metabisulfite with available records, its potential morbidity cannot be estimated. It is known that sodium metabisulfite can react with acids and water, releasing toxic sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas. In addition, SO2 gas reacts with respiratory tissue forming sulfureous acid, and inducing a pulmonary reaction causing hypoxemia. Furthermore, sodium metabisulfite, compared with sodium bisulfite, has a much greater propensity to release SO2 gas. We conclude that there is a need for improved education regarding the potential side effects of sodium metabisulfite, thus eliminating needless occupational morbidity and mortality.     

Problems with India ink skin markings

India ink skin markings allow consistently reproducible radiation field setups. The authors report a case in which a facial tattoo was applied with an injection, resulting in permanent "black eyes." The vaccination technique has not been associated with this complication.     

基于Canny边缘检测算子的雷达图像1/8插值改进算法

雷达扫描图像的图像信息单一,大部分为黑色背景,运用传统的1/8图像插值算法放大显示不仅运算复杂度高,处理延时大,而且会使雷达目标航迹的图像边缘十分模糊,难以得到满意的视觉效果。为此,结合Canny算子检测雷达扫描图像的边缘,提出了一种雷达图像1/8插值改进算法。实验结果表明,经本文算法插值放大的雷达扫描图像的目标边缘清晰,且算法复杂度较低,便于硬件实现,可实现实时图像缩放。目前该算法已成功应用于雷达站某系统的图像处理模块。     

浸润度对低温下气膜产生的影响

针对气膜在沸腾过程中的低热导率以及能够降低流体流动阻力的特点,应用分子动力学模拟的方法在等温等压系综下模拟了气膜的形成过程,在较低的温度下得到了气膜.通过改变固液界面的接触角来改变固液界面的浸润度,进一步影响气膜的形成.结果表明,超疏水性固体壁面明显能够增强气膜形成,在较低温度下,一般的疏水性界面不能形成气膜,而超疏水性界面能够在较短时间内形成气膜,既可以减小流体流动阻力,又可以防止器件表面温度过高而烧坏.     

Characterization of brevin, a serum protein that shortens actin filaments

We have purified a protein from rabbit serum with a molecular weight of 90,000 that inhibits the polymerization of actin measured viscometrically and that we have named "brevin" (from the Latin breviare, to shorten). From the extent of purification, we estimate that this inhibitor constitutes 0.3% of the total protein in plasma and serum. Brevin is also present in sera from humans and rats. Almost all of the activity in blood is extracellular; only 1% is present in platelets or other cellular elements. Several lines of evidence indicate that brevin is the same protein as the factor described by Fagraeus and Norberg [Fagraeus, A. & Norberg, R. (1978) Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunol. 82, 1-13] as an actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF). If ADF and brevin are identical, then "ADF" is an inappropriate name because we find that the protein shortens actin filaments without depolymerizing them. Thus, brevin causes little change in the critical concentration of monomeric actin, even though the inhibitor binds to monomeric actin complexed to DNase I-agarose. Binding of brevin to filaments was demonstrated by sedimenting the inhibitor with F-actin. From the amounts of actin and brevin sedimented, and from the lengths of filaments measured by electron microscopy, we calculated that the stoichiometry of binding is one brevin molecule per filament over a wide range of inhibitor concentrations. This stoichiometry suggests that brevin inhibits polymerization by binding at the end of elongating actin filaments, a mechanism similar to that proposed for several intracellular actin-binding proteins and for the cytochalasins. Its abundance suggests that brevin plays an important physiological role in serum, but one not directly concerned with intracellular motility. Therefore its relationship to cytoplasmic actin-binding proteins remains to be determined.     

Two-stage quasi-class-E power amplifier in GaN HEMT technology

This letter presents a two-stage quasi-class-E monolithic microwave integrated circuit power amplifier at 2.0GHz, which is based on field-plated GaN high electron mobility transistor technology. It consists of a driver stage and a power stage. The circuit schematic is described. The amplifier achieves an output power of 37.5dBm into a 50-/spl Omega/ load, a power added efficiency (PAE) of 50%, and a gain of 18.2dB. A power density of 5.6W/mm is achieved.     

物流企业实施ISO9001:2000咨询效果分析

通过对中国物流行业发展现状的分析，对国内物流企业如何整合物流资产、物流业务、物流信息、物流人才以及整合物流企业进行了探讨。对物流企业建立、健全适合自身发展的管理机制和服务体系提出了建议。以期物流企业提高服务质量和管理水平，真正实现与国际规则接轨。     

基于理想点的多属性决策主客观赋权法

针对多属性决策中属性权重确定的问题，提出了基于理想点的主客观赋权法，该方法是指实际方案中的点与反理想点之间的偏离程度越大则该点即为方案集中越好的点，然后通过建立数学规划模型自动求解属性的权重，最后的实例表明，该方法确定的权重不仅反映了文献[6]方法中确定的权重客观程度，同时也反映了属性权重的主观程度。     

地球、金星大气寿命的计算

假定行星大气层中气体分子的逃逸过程是准静态过程,推导出了气体分子的逃逸方程,定义了行星大气分子的逃逸率及行星大气的半寿命,给出了数学表达式.根据数学表达式,假定不同的大气温度,计算了地球和金星大气层的半寿命.结果表明,地球和金星大气层的半寿命远超过宇宙年龄(约1010y),因而是非常稳定的.本理论可应用于其他行星和月球大气层半寿命的计算.     

大时滞系统的智能控制研究

在实际控制应用中常常有大时滞存在，用传统控制方法较难获得满意的控制效果。为解决这个问题，该文提出了基于模糊神经网络控制器，模拟手动控制过程，根据过程状态的动态变化实施控制器的在线调整，仿真和实践结果均表明了该控制方案的优越性。