Fatal G-CSF-induced pulmonary toxicity

Inherited thrombophilia has been suggested as a cause of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease in up to 75% of patients. This prevalence seems high compared to the prevalence of inherited thrombophilia in other thrombotic disorders (average, 30%). Therefore, we investigated 44 patients with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease for antithrombin-III, protein-C, and protein-S deficiency and activated protein C (APC) resistance. Three (6.8%) of our patients were positive for APC resistance, and one patient (2.2%) showed deficiency of protein-C activity. Our results suggest that inherited thrombophilia is not associated with avascular necrosis of the femoral head (Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease).     

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia on the ESA-short-arm human centrifuge

In this article, we investigated the hypothesis that the effects of hypergravity on respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) can mimic the effects observed after spaceflight cardiovascular deconditioning. Artificial gravity along the head-to-feet axis on a short-arm centrifuge induces gravity gradients. This physiological condition of significantly higher g at the feet than at the heart level is specific and likely induces blood sequestration in the lower limbs. After spaceflight, astronauts are in a condition of cardiovascular deconditioning, where blood pooling in the lower part of the body and autonomic adaptation are factors contributing to orthostatic intolerance and changes in heart-rate variability (HRV). ECG and respiration were recorded during imposed and controlled breathing (ICB) protocols, which were repeated at different levels of artificial gravity as well as during supine and standing control conditions, and the changes were analyzed.     

Forgetting Exceptions is Harmful in Language Learning

We show that in language learning, contrary to received wisdom, keeping exceptional training instances in memory can be beneficial for generalization accuracy. We investigate this phenomenon empirically on a selection of benchmark natural language processing tasks: grapheme-to-phoneme conversion, part-of-speech tagging, prepositional-phrase attachment, and base noun phrase chunking. In a first series of experiments we combine memory-based learning with training set editing techniques, in which instances are edited based on their typicality and class prediction strength. Results show that editing exceptional instances (with low typicality or low class prediction strength) tends to harm generalization accuracy. In a second series of experiments we compare memory-based learning and decision-tree learning methods on the same selection of tasks, and find that decision-tree learning often performs worse than memory-based learning. Moreover, the decrease in performance can be linked to the degree of abstraction from exceptions (i.e., pruning or eagerness). We provide explanations for both results in terms of the properties of the natural language processing tasks and the learning algorithms.     

Physics and chemistry of partial discharge and corona. Recentadvances and future challenges

Results of recent research on physical and chemical processes in partial discharge (PD) phenomena are reviewed. The terminology used to specify different types or modes of PD are discussed in light of a general theory of electrical discharges. The limitations and assumptions inherent to present theoretical models are examined. The influence of memory propagation effects in controlling the stochastic behavior of PD is shown. Examples of experimental results are presented that demonstrate the nonstationary characteristics of PD which can be related to permanent or quasi-permanent discharge-induced modifications (aging) of the site where the PD occur. Recommendations for future research are proposed     

Recent advances in insulated gate bipolar transistor technology

Device design of the insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) has been optimized to reduce the distributed transmission-line effect. In addition, cell geometry is chosen to yield high latchup current capability and low forward-voltage drop simultaneously. The vertical structure is optimized to enhance both the turn-off speed and the safe operating area of the IGBTs. The turn-off time of the n-IGBT has been shortened to be as low as 40 ns. The p-channel IGBT latchup current has been improved four to six times over the previously reported results through innovative design and processes. An open-base bipolar transistor model has been implemented to investigate transient IGBT characteristics     

Power system observability and related functions Derivation of appropriate strategies and algorithms

Observability analysis deals with the adequacy of the available measurement configuration for state estimation purposes. This paper considers methods to explore observability and to face unobservable situations. More explicity, first, the problem of unobservable networks is examined; strategies currently used are discussed and a more general method is proposed, to build a complete and reliable database. Second, topological concepts derived from observability are used to enhance the reliability of the bad data analysis under stringent identification conditions. Third, a concrete algorithm for observability analysis is proposed.     

Sorption-desorption of ionogenic compounds at the mineral-water interface: study of metal oxide-rich soils and pure-phase minerals

Sorption of the ionic compounds 2,4-D and quinmerac onto iron oxide-rich, variable charged soils was strongly influenced by mineralogy, particularly soil iron and aluminum oxides, whereas sorption of the neutral norflurazon was only related to total soil C. An appreciable fraction of the mass sorbed in stirred-flow studies was easily desorbed by deionized water, and desorption of ionic compounds was initially more rapid than sorption. This sorption-desorption behavior, although contrary to desorption hysteresis commonly observed in batch studies, suggests that the reversibly sorbed fraction is weakly bound to the soil surface. 2,4-D sorption to iron oxide-rich soils and pure-phase metal oxides appears to be driven by nonspecific electrostatic attraction, with specific electrostatic attraction and van der Waals interactions being secondary. Both the carboxylate and the heterocyclic N groups may participate in sorption of quinmerac, facilitated by specific and nonspecific electrostatic attraction and surface complexation. The heterocyclic N, amine, and carbonyl groups of norflurazon do not appear to interact with soil minerals.     

Quantitative assessment of solid waste treatment systems in the industrial ecology perspective by exergy analysis

Solid waste treatment options (recycling, incineration, and landfilling; the two latter processes both with co-generation of heat and electricity) have been studied for cardboard, newspaper, polyethylene, poly(ethylene terephthalate), polypropylene, polystyrene, and poly(vinyl chloride) waste. The conversion processes have been analyzed in terms of the second law of thermodynamics. The analysis allows calculating the exergy (useful energy) embodied in conversion products that can be obtained from the required inputs for the treatment processes. Taking into account the waste materials and the resources to convert them, it proved that recycling is the most efficient option for polyethylene with an efficiency of 62.5% versus 43.6% for incineration and 0.9% for landfilling. Next, waste treatment has been put into the broader perspective of industrial ecology. Exergetic efficiencies of industrial metabolic options have been calculated. Here resources for manufacturing and converting solid products have been considered. Furthermore, selection of one type of conversion excludes the generation of other potential conversion products. Therefore, it has to be taken into account that these latter products still have to be produced starting from virgin resources. Recycling proved to be the most efficient strategy: the ratio eta between exergy embodied in all delivered products on one hand, and all exergy withdrawn from the ecosphere or from waste materials on the other hand, is the highest. For polyethylene, eta proved to be 0.568, whereas eta is 0.503 and 0.329 for incineration and landfilling, respectively. On the other hand, if R the ratio between exergy of delivered products on one hand and exergy of virgin materials on the other hand is calculated, the differences between the industrial metabolic options are larger. Recycling polyethylene showed a ratio R of 0.936, whereas ratios of 0.772 and 0.531 were found for incineration and landfilling, respectively. It has been shown that the exergy concept allows a quantitative comparison of different industrial metabolic options, contributing to a better assessment of sustainability of technology with respect to resource management.     

Kinetics of alkaline phosphatase and lactoperoxidase inactivation,and of beta-lactoglobulin denaturation in milk with different fat content

In the context of identifying intrinsic time temperature integrators (TTIs) for evaluating heat processing of milk, the extent to which milk fat content has an effect on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactoperoxidase (Lpo) inactivation and on beta-lactoglobulin (beta-Ig) denaturation kinetics was studied. Inactivation and denaturation kinetics were analysed in whole, semi-skimmed and skimmed milk. In previous experiments (isothermal and non-isothermal heating conditions), heat inactivation of ALP and Lpo and heat denaturation of beta-Ig were found to follow first order kinetics. This allowed experimental design to be simplified. Data analysis was performed by non-linear regression and results were evaluated by construction of joint confidence regions. The possible effect of milk fat was illustrated by temperature time tolerance (TTT-) diagrams. Although initial ALP activity was lower in skimmed milk compared with semi-skimmed or whole milk, kinetics were comparable and fat content did not seem to substantially affect the ALP test result for pasteurized milk. Unlike ALP, Lpo inactivation and beta-Ig denaturation kinetics differed significantly in milk with different fat content. Differences between Lpo inactivation kinetics were relatively small and acceptable in the context of quantifying the process impact. Denaturation of beta-Ig, on the other hand, seemed to be enhanced at higher milk fat content (> 72 degrees C).