Familial jejunal atresia with renal dysplasia

Although jejunal atresia occasionally may occur with a familial pattern, an association with renal disease has not been described. The authors report on three family members treated over two generations, all of whom had both proximal jejunal atresia and renal dysplasia. This association was most likely inherited as an autosomal dominant trait.     

Oxygenation in the rabbit myocardium: assessment with susceptibility-dependent MR imaging

PURPOSE: To determine the feasibility of using hemoglobin (Hb) desaturation as an indicator of myocardial oxygenation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: High-resolution gradient-echo nuclear magnetic resonance (MR) images of isolated, blood-perfused rabbit hearts were obtained at various blood oxygenation levels. The hearts were perfused at 37 degrees C with a Langendorff apparatus modified for nuclear MR imaging. The perfusate contained bovine red blood cells in a cardioplegic solution that eliminated motion artifacts and minimized arteriovenous oxygenation differences. Hb saturation was varied (7%-100%) randomly. Perfusion pressure was continuously monitored, and blood samples were obtained. RESULTS: There was a substantial correlation between image signal intensity in the myocardium and Hb saturation in the blood, believed to be due to susceptibility effects of the paramagnetic species deoxyhemoglobin. CONCLUSION: Direct and noninvasive determination of regional Hb saturation with susceptibility-dependent MR imaging may provide information regarding regional myocardial O2 content.     

Alfalfa yield response to inoculation with recombinant strains of Rhizobium meliloti with an extra copy of dctABD and/or modified nifA expression

The construction of rhizobial strains which increase plant biomass under controlled conditions has been previously reported. However, there is no evidence that these newly constructed strains increase legume yield under agricultural conditions. This work tested the hypothesis that carefully manipulating expression of additional copies of nifA and dctABD in strains of Rhizobium meliloti would increase alfalfa yield in the field. The rationale for this hypothesis is based on the positive regulatory role that nifA plays in the expression of the nif regulon and the fact that a supply of dicarboxylic acids from the plant is required as a carbon and energy source for nitrogen fixation by the Rhizobium bacteroids in the nodule. These recombinant strains, as well as the wild-type strains from which they were derived, are ideal tools to examine the effects of modifying or increasing the expression of these genes on alfalfa biomass. The experimental design comprised seven recombinant strains, two wild-type strains, and an uninoculated control. Each treatment was replicated eight times and was conducted at four field sites in Wisconsin. Recombinant strain RMBPC-2, which has an additional copy of both nifA and dctABD, increased alfalfa biomass by 12.9% compared with the yield with the wild-type strain RMBPC and 17.9% over that in the uninoculated control plot at the site where soil nitrogen and organic matter content was lowest. These increases were statistically significant at the 5% confidence interval for each of the three harvests made during the growing season. Strain RMBPC-2 did increase alfalfa biomass at the Hancock site; however, no other significant increases or decreases in alfalfa biomass were observed with the seven other recombinant strains at that site. At three sites where this experiment was conducted, either native rhizobial populations or soil nitrogen concentrations were high. At these sites, none of the recombinant strains affected yield. We conclude that RMBPC -2 can increase alfalfa yields under field conditions of nitrogen limitation, low endogenous rhizobial competitors, and sufficient moisture.     

Acidogenic fermentation of blended food‐waste in combination with primary sludge for the production of volatile fatty acids

The performance of a laboratory‐scale anaerobic acidogenic fermenter fed with a mixture of blended kitchen food‐waste and primary sludge from a sewage treatment plant was investigated for the production of volatile fatty acids (VFA). The operating variables for acidogenic fermentation were kitchen food‐waste content (10 and 25 wt %), hydraulic retention time (HRT: 1, 3 and 5 days), temperature (ambient: 18 ± 2 °C, and mesophilic: 35 ± 2 °C) and pH (varied from 5.2 to 6.7). The experimental results indicated that effluent VFA concentrations and VFA production rates were higher at ambient temperature than at mesophilic conditions. The net amount of VFA with 10 wt % food‐waste increased up to 920 mg dm^?3 with an increase of HRT, but contrasting results (a decrease of 2610 mg dm^?3) were found due to the conversion of VFA into biogas in the case of 25 wt % food‐waste, which increased significantly at HRT of 3–5 days. In terms of biogas composition (CO₂ and CH₄), the organic matter was converted into CO₂ through the oxidative pathway by facultative species at low temperature while mesophilic temperature and optimum pH (6.3–7.8) played a pivotal role in increasing rate of conversion of VFA into biogas by methanogenesis. Rates of VFA production and their conversion are dependent on the food‐waste content in the mixture. Yet, the higher concentration of food‐waste (25% compared with 10%) did not produce VFA proportionally due to the increased rate of conversion of VFA into gaseous products. The maximum VFA production rate (0.318 g VFA_produced g^?1 VS_fed day^?1) was achieved in the 10 wt % food‐waste at ambient temperature and at a 5‐day HRT. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

New high-efficiency low-waste technology at the Vyksa Metallurgical Plant for operating metallurgical equipment with the use of Kompaks® monitoring systems

Introduction of the BER? KOMPAKS® automated system at the Vyksa Metallurgical Plant to safely and efficiently manage the operation of the plant’s equipment has allowed the facility to begin operating that equipment based on real-time evaluations of its actual physical condition. Introduction of the new system has also allowed better coordination of repair-scheduling with ongoing production operations, significantly improved the reliability and readiness of the equipment for operation at 100% capacity, completely eliminated the human factor from the process of monitoring the condition of equipment, and made it possible to check the quality and timeliness of equipment maintenance and repair work so as to ensure safe, efficient operation of the entire production complex.     

Turbulent flow of a chemically reactive gas suspension in a channel with a blow

The influence of the chemical reactions occurring in the gas phase of a gas suspension flowing in a channel with penetrable walls and the combustion of the condensed-impurity particles in this flow on its gasdynamic structure has been investigated. It is shown that the order of the system of equations defining a flow of a chemically reactive gas suspension with a homogeneous exothermic reaction proceeding at a definite rate and a heterogeneous combustion of the condensed-phase particles can be decreased if certain assumptions are mode. The distributions of the parameters of the gas and dispersed phases were calculated as functions of the rate of blow and the sizes of the particles. __________ Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 80, No. 4, pp. 91–98, July–August, 2007.     

Metal fusion by laser radiation action in an oxidizing medium

Results are presented from a calculation of fusion of a massive zirconium plate under the action of laser radiation with consideration of simultaneous surface oxidation.Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 61, No. 1, pp. 11–14, July, 1991.     

Effects of local geometry and fluid dynamics on regional platelet deposition on artificial surfaces

An important aspect of blood-material interactions is the activation, adhesion, and subsequent aggregation of blood platelets on the artificial surface, all of which are directly affected by local fluid dynamics. The objective of this work was to directly correlate changing local fluid dynamic conditions produced by various vessel geometries, including stenosis, aneurysm, and separate contraction and expansion geometries, with quantitative in vitro measurements of regional platelet deposition. We directly measured platelet deposition as a function of axial position along four Lexan flow chambers with axisymmetric models of these geometries using 111In-labeled platelets. Platelet deposition was maximum in observed areas of flow recirculation and reattachment and minimum in locations of high shear and separation. For the stenosis geometry, two distinct regions of increased platelet deposition were apparent, one proximal to and one distal to the stenosis throat. An approximately linear increase in platelet densities was produced in the aneurysm region, increasing in the direction of flow. Through a comparison of platelet deposition with local fluid streamline orientation, we have shown that platelet deposition is increased in certain areas due to the enhanced convective transport of platelets and blood cells to the vessel wall along locally curved streamlines with velocity components perpendicular to the vessel wall.