New concepts in atopic dermatitis

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) occurs in 1-2% of patients with asthma and in 10% of patients with cystic fibrosis. We introduce the acronym "ARTEPICS" in this review article on ABPA to facilitate its diagnosis: A: Asthma; R: Roentgenographic infiltrates; T: Tests for Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) positive in the skin; E: Eosinophilia; P: Precipitating antibody to Af; I: IgE in serum elevated; C: Central bronchiectasis; and S: Serum specific IgE-Af and IgG-Af elevated (ARTEPICS).     

Ridged surface for reducing eddy-current losses in ferromagnetic shielding

Because of the increasing demand for electric power, devices operating at higher and higher currents have been developed and are being produced. These machines are placed in a closed metal enclosure that provide also shielding of the electromagnetic field. Two novel methods to reduce Joule-heat losses in shielding are described. These methods are based on making the surface of the ferromagnetic shielding material corrugated or ridged, thus increasing the conductive area for the eddy currents. The results were obtained from 1D and 2D finite element models of the new and conventional types of shielding, considering also the non-linear magnetization curve of the material used. It can be seen that the ridging can be a beneficial alternative of coating with high-conductivity material, e.g., copper, in reduction of eddy current losses.     

Modellierung des technischen Wahrnehmungsbewusstseins für den Bereich Home Automation

The OSI model and the system of profiles defined for various branches are the most important models for describing the communication of technical units in the area of home automation. But they are not enough for describing complex expiry scenarios in houses and buildings as a whole. The following paper presents such a model, which is presently being realized in the Smart Kitchen project. In doing so we will be able to cover, amongst other things, aspects like reliability, availability, maintainability, interoperability and profitability. Several institutes are involved in this project.     

The competitive dynamics of status and niche width: US investment banking, 1920-1949

By integrating the status-based model of market competitionand the resource partitioning model, this paper develops theresource-status space imagery of markets and two propositions.First, the paper argues that the benefit that an organizationderives from an increment in status is not independent of theorganization's niche width. Second, the paper considers theimplications of status-based stratification for the resourcepartitioning model's specification of the effects of increasingmarket concentration. Using the resource-status space imagery,this paper posits that if expanding generalists are reluctantto lower their status or are unable to increase their status,they will expand within their current status level. The expandinggeneralists will thus encroach on the niches of similar statusgeneralists and specialists, rather than expand into the nichesof generalists across the whole status spectrum. We discussimplications for the sociology of markets.     

Volatile compounds from the fruiting bodies of three Hygrophorus mushroom species from Northern Greece

The volatile composition of the wild edible mushroom species Hygrophorus chrysodon , Hygrophorus eburneus and Hygrophorus russocoriaceus was analysed by headspace-solid phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Forty-five volatile compounds were detected, including alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, hydrocarbons, esters and terpenes. The most abundant compounds in the three species were 3-methyl butanal, hexanal, p -cymene, 3-octanone, 1-octen-3-one, 3-octanol, 1-octen-3-ol and benzoic acid methyl ester. The concentration of eight-carbon (C₈) compounds relative to the total volatiles varied widely ranging from 24.14% to 61.41% among the three species. Finally, the presence of sesquiterpenes only in Hygrophorus russocoriaceus , confirms the characteristic distinctive cedar odour of this species.     

Improving the energy efficiency of induction cooking

The wide use of induction cooking technology in households is impeded by the price of the hobs, which still has not dropped significantly in spite of the mass production and the availability of high-power (several kW) units. The effective power with conventional technology could be increased only by raising the exciting current flowing in the inductor coil. This means increased loss in the coil, together with lower efficiency caused by the non-linear magnetic behavior of the pot. Using a special type of iron pot, significantly more effective power can be obtained than with conventional ones without increasing the exciting current, improving the energy efficiency of the technology. Calculations were carried out on the 2D finite element model of a given induction hob used with a conventional and a new type of pot. A disadvantage of the special pot is also presented: with conventional hobs the higher efficiency cannot be exploited.     

Detection of normal and chimeric nucleophosmin in human cells

In anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL), the (2;5) chromosomal translocation creates a fusion gene encoding the 80-kD NPM-ALK hybrid protein. This report describes three new monoclonal antibodies, two of which recognize, by Western blotting, the N-terminal portion of NPM present in the NPM-ALK fusion protein and also in two other NPM fusion proteins (NPM-RARalpha and NPM-MLF1). The third antibody recognizes the C-terminal portion (deleted in NPM-ALK) and reacts only with wild-type NPM. The three antibodies immunostain wild-type NPM (in paraffin-embedded normal tissue samples) in cell nuclei and in the cytoplasm of mitotic cells. Cerebral neurones, exceptionally, show diffuse cytoplasmic labeling. In contrast to normal tissues, the two antibodies against the N-terminal portion of NPM labeled the cytoplasm of neoplastic cells, in four ALK-positive ALCL, reflecting their reactivity with NPM-ALK fusion protein, whereas the antibody to the C-terminal NPM epitope labeled only cell nuclei. Immunocytochemical labeling with these antibodies can therefore confirm that an ALK-positive lymphoma expresses NPM-ALK (rather than a variant ALK-fusion protein) and may also provide evidence for chromosomal anomalies involving the NPM gene other than the classical (2;5) translocation.     

Chronic electrical stimulation of the left ventrointermediate (Vim) thalamic nucleus for the treatment of pharmacotherapy-resistant Parkinson's disease: a differential impact on access to semantic and episodic memory?

Thalamotomy for medically refractory Parkinson's disease (PD) is considered to be efficacious and relatively safe. Because a minority of patients experience decrements in language and memory (often mild and transient) after thalamotomy, chronic thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) might be a safer treatment given its reversibility and the modifiability of stimulation parameters. Two preliminary studies support the relative cognitive safety of unilateral DBS of the ventral intermediate (Vim) thalamic nucleus, but it is unclear whether possibly subtle changes in language and memory represent effects of "microthalamotomy" or of stimulation per se. This report provides preliminary data concerning effects of left thalamic stimulation on information processing speed, semantic memory (verbal fluency and visual confrontation naming), and verbal episodic memory in a patient with PD. In addition to being evaluated before and 3 and 6 months after surgery, the patient was tested 18 months after surgery either on or off medications and with the stimulator turned either on or off (order counterbalanced across medication conditions). Test performance differences between the stimulation conditions were attenuated "off" as compared to "on" medication. Vim stimulation consistently, albeit subtly, improved semantic verbal fluency but interfered with immediate recall of word lists. Parallels to findings from acute, intraoperative thalamic stimulation studies are explored. The hypothesis is offered that left Vim stimulation might facilitate access to semantic memory, but interfere with episodic memory processes.     

Successful long-term kidney-pancreas transplants in diabetic patients with high C-peptide levels

Health Canada and the Canadian-Italian Physicians Association recently spent $20,000 to send 4 Canadian cancer specialists to Italy to check out the "miracle" anticancer cocktail prepared by an Italian physician. Most doctors remain decidedly sceptical about this latest "cure," but Charlotte Gray says their suspicions count for little when an issue like this captures the imagination of the public and their politicians.