Marine n-3 fatty acids: Basic features and background

There is some evidence from epidemiology that intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from seafood may protect against coronary artery disease (CAD). This hypothesis is further supported from animal data showing a beneficial effect of n-3 PUFA on thrombosis and atherosclerosis in animals fed fish oils in most, but not all, studies. There are several mechanisms by which an increased intake of marine n-3 PUFA may protect against CAD; the most universal finding is a reduction of plasma triglycerides. It is puzzling, however, that a very low amount of n-3 PUFA, with no known beneficial biochemical effects, seems to be cardioprotective. It has therefore been of paramount interest to perform clinical trials. Such evidence and trials are discussed in later chapters, and the results have been very encouraging.     

Enhanced O2 Flux of CaTi0.85Fe0.15O3−δ Based Membranes by Mn Doping

Dense symmetric membranes of CaTi_0.85?xFe_0.15Mn_xO_3?δ (x = 0.1, 0.15, 0.25, 0.4) are investigated in order to determine the optimal Mn dopant content with respect to highest O₂ flux. O₂ permeation measurements are performed as function of temperature between 700°C–1000°C and as function of the feed side ranging between 0.01 and 1 bar. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy is utilized to elucidate the charge state of Mn, and synchrotron radiation X‐ray powder diffraction (SR‐XPD) is employed to investigate the structure symmetry and cell volume of the perovskite phase at temperatures up to 800°C. The highest O₂ permeability is found for x = 0.25 over the whole temperature and ranges, followed by x = 0.4 above 850°C. The O₂ permeability for x = 0.25 reaches 0.01 mL(STP) min^?1 cm^?1 at 925°C with 0.21 bar feed side and Ar sweep gas. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates that the charge state of Mn changes from approx. +3 to +4 when x > 0.1, which implies that Mn mainly improves electronic conductivity for x > 0.1. The cell volume is found to decrease linearly with Mn content, which coincides with an increase in the activation energy of O₂ permeability. These results are consistent with the interpretation of the temperature and dependency of O₂ permeation. The sintering behavior and thermal expansion properties are investigated by dilatometry, which show improved sinterability with increasing Mn content and that the thermal expansion coefficient decreases from 12.4 to 11.9 × 10^?6 K^?1 for x = 0 and x = 0.25, respectively.     

Basic Oxygen Furnace: Assessment of Recent Physicochemical Models

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B - Modeling of the basic oxygen furnace (BOF) process, both for online monitoring and fundamental research, has gained importance in steelmaking industry...     

SUPRENUM software for the symmetric eigenvalue problem

The effecient use of the SUPRENUM computer calls for a careful choice of adequate algorithms and an implementation taking into account the special characteristics of a parallel computer with distributed memory. To demonstrate these facts, well-known algorithms solving the symmetric eigenvalue problem are presented, parallelized in particular for the SUPRENUM machine.

The main problems arise in the amount of communication calls, and ways are shown to reduce this amount by using block algorithms rather than the usual ones.     

External cost of electricity generation in Baltic States

This article deals with external cost of electricity generation in Baltic States. The costs of electricity generation and distribution are the most important criteria shaping decisions within the electricity system. However, the external cost due to air pollution should also be adequately taken into account seeking to promote new and clean technologies for electricity generation. External costs of electricity generation in the main power plants burning fossil fuel were calculated based on ExternE methodology for Baltic States during EU Framework 6 project CASES. The article presents the first results of external cost of electricity generation in Baltic States.     

Constructing users in the smart grid—insights from the Danish eFlex project

The smart grid is promoted as one of the key elements in a low-carbon transition in many countries. In Denmark, the dominant framing of the smart grid emphasises the challenge of integrating much more wind power into the electricity system and using electricity for heating (heat pumps) and transport (electric cars). In the process of radically transforming the electricity system, strategic system builders need to align many forces, including consumers, who play an important role in the functioning of such large networked systems. System builders need to explore, for instance, whether and how users can be motivated to be flexible in relation to moving electricity consumption over time. This paper reports on one of the first smart-grid-related projects in Denmark in which consumer aspects have been central and where potentials for flexible electricity consumption have been tested. The aim of the paper is to explore what can be learned from such experiments and which roles they play in the construction of the smart grid. In this context, the concept of the ‘aligned user’ is introduced.     

Pitch Estimation by Block and Instantaneous Methods

Choosing a pitch estimation algorithm is not a simple task. One must balance between the accuracy and the reliability of the estimates. Two classes of methods are available. The first one, known as the block methods class, gives noise robust solutions and has an intrinsic averaging property, but is not very accurate, especially for the transition regions. The second one, known as the instantaneous (or event-based) methods class, gives very accurate estimates, but is considered to be inadequate in the presence of noise.In this paper, we present potential enhancements of the performance in pitch estimation, based on both block and instantaneous methods. In this respect we discuss mainly two algorithms: a nonlinear cepstral algorithm and a wavelet-based one. The first algorithm, due to the proposed nonlinear model, enhances the classical linear model performance related to the accuracy of the estimated pitch for the transition regions and to the robustness in the presence of noise. Concerning the second algorithm, to the inherent accuracy of the estimated pitch, we add robust estimates even in the presence of noise, based on the multiresolution properties of an improved wavelet transform. The obtained enhancements were evaluated on a hand-labeled speech database, and the improved algorithms are now being applied in our research concerning speech compression and prosody.     

Surveyance of disease frequency in a population by linkage to diagnostic laboratory databases. A system for monitoring the incidences of hyper- and hypothyroidism as part of the Danish iodine supplementation program

In Denmark an increase in iodine intake through salt iodization has been introduced in 1998. In parallel a program for surveyance of thyroid diseases in the population was developed as recommended by UNICEF and WHO. OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate a computer based system to identify and register new cases of hyper- and hypothyroidism in a well defined cohort, by linkage to diagnostic laboratory databases. DESIGN AND RESULTS: (1) Two sub cohorts for monitoring were defined (n=535,859), and evaluated to minimize loss of new cases. Collaboration was established with laboratories covering thyroid hormone analyses in the cohort; (2) a diagnostic algorithm was defined and evaluated against clinical practice; (3) evaluation of the laboratory methods employed by the four participating laboratories, to ensure they would reach the same diagnosis in a patient; (4) a register database was developed which used data imported from the laboratory databases to automatically identify previously unknown cases of hyper- and hypothyroidism and record diagnostic activity in the area. All parts of the registration were carefully evaluated. CONCLUSION: We describe for the first time a computer based system for prospective measuring the incidence rate of hyper- and hypothyroidism. The system is particularly useful for monitoring of iodine supplementation programmes.     

Exploitation or neglect.

A comparison of lengths of stay for alcoholism treatment in nonpublic and public hospitals indicates that the ratio of median stay was greater in nonpublic hospitals (2:1). While 3 explanations are possible, these results support W. R. Miller and H. K. Hester's (see record 1986-28253-001) contention that financial considerations play a dominant role in patient treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)