Interaction of transport resistances with biochemical reaction in packed-bed solid-state fermentors: effect of temperature gradients

Subdermal superficial liposuction, first presented by the authors at the ISAPS Congress at Zurich in 1989, is performed with thin three-hole Mercedes cannulas (diameter ranges from 1.8 to 2 mm) to treat small and secondary adiposities and to allow better skin retraction. Suction of the subdermal layer of fat reduces the thickness and consistency of the superficial fat and enhances the possibility of skin retraction. In cases where there is a large adiposity of the abdomen, arms, or inner thighs, there is a conspicuous volume of fat whose weight tends to overstretch and to carry the overlying skin downward. In these cases we need to reduce the large fat volume to permit effective skin retraction. Therefore, we apply the principles of traditional liposuction with those of subdermal superficial liposuction to aspirate large amounts of fat from all the adipose layers. We call this technique Massive All Layer Liposuction (MALL). The amount of skin shrinkage after this "defatting" procedure is remarkable and the clinical results are very good. The MALL technique can be applied to other areas as well. In our experience this new liposuction technique has dramatically reduced the indications of abdominoplasties and dermolipectomies of inner thighs and arms.     

Atmospheric inner-scale effects on normalized irradiance variance

We have investigated five types of atmospheric optical-turbulence inner scales for their effects on normalized laser irradiance variance in the Rytov and early saturation regimes: (1) zero inner scale, (2) Gaussian inner scale, (3) Hill's viscous-convective enhancement inner scale, (4) Frehlich's parameterization of the viscous-convective enhancement, and (5) turbulence spectrum truncation because of the discrete grid representation. Wave-optics computer simulations yielded normalized irradiance variances within 2% of the results from numerical integrations of the Rytov-Tatarskii predictions. In the Rytov regime a Gaussian inner scale reduces the normalized irradiance variance compared with the zero-innerscale case, and the viscous-convective inner scale first raises, then lowers the irradiance variance as the inner-scale size increases. In the saturation regime all inner-scale models increase the intensity variance for a spherical wave.     

Flat-field postobjective polygon scanner

A general two-dimensional ray-trace analysis is presented for the motion of a geometric focal point over a flat surface provided by a postobjective rotating polygon laser beam scanner. The exact defocus equation is derived for any value of the neutral scan position deflection angle and the polygon rotation angle. The scan nonlinearity is derived for the special case of a zero neutral scan deflection angle. Geometric parameters were found that reduce the peak-to-peak defocus by more than an order of magnitude from that found in previous design approaches. Conditions were also found that reduce scan nonlinearity to less than 2 × 10(-4). Practical limitations, such as large polygons and beam obscurations, encountered in the implementation of postobjective scanning are discussed.     

Learning of sequential movements in the monkey: process of learning and retention of memory

1. To characterize procedural learning and memory, we devised a behavioral paradigm that allows us to examine the process of learning of new procedures, repeatedly and without serious difficulties for primate subjects. We trained two monkeys to perform a sequential button press task. Upon pressing of a home key, 2 of 16 (4 x 4 matrix) light-emitting diode (LED) buttons (called "set") were illuminated simultaneously, and the monkey had to press them in a predetermined order that he had to find out by trial-and-error. A total of five sets (called "hyperset") was presented in a fixed order for completion of a trial; an error at any set aborted the trial. A given hyperset was repeated as a block of experiment until 20 successful trials were performed. Monkeys PI and BO experienced 313 and 92 hypersets, respectively. Most of these hypersets were experienced only once (1 block of experiment); the others (28 hypersets for monkey PI and 14 hypersets for monkey BO) were chosen for extensive practice. 2. The learning, indicated as the decrease in the number of trials to criterion and the decrease in the performance time, proceeded at three levels: 1) short-term and sequence-selective learning that occurred by repeating a particular hyperset during a block of experiment; our monkeys learned, to some degree, to perform a new hyperset within a short period (< 5 min); 2) long-term and sequence-selective learning that took place for each hyperset across days; by daily practice, they further improved their skills for performing the particular hyperset; and 3) long-term and sequence-unselective learning that was indicated by the improvement of performance for new hypersets; the monkeys were required to learn many hypersets, each just once (a block of trials), in which they performed gradually better with more experiences in the 2 x 5 task. 3. To examine whether the memory was retained for a long period, we had the monkey learn 12 hypersets sufficiently, then we stopped the training and retested them after 1 or 6 mo. After the 1-mo interruption the performance was significantly better than that for new hypersets. After the 6-mo interruption the performance was not different from new hypersets in terms of the number of trials but was significantly better than new hypersets in terms of the performance time. The results suggest that motor memory (measured by performance time) can be retained longer than procedural memory (measured by the number of trials).     

From research to practice: the effects of the jointly sponsored dissemination of an arthritis self-care nursing intervention

Various educational programs have been developed and found to be effective in the self-management of arthritis. This study reexamined the effectiveness of one such program, "Bone Up On Arthritis" (BUOA), when the program was delivered by a community-based service organization to a sample of persons (N = 154) who differed widely in disease type and demographic characteristics. Arthritis Foundation staff implemented BUOA at four national sites; data were collected and analyzed by University of Michigan nurse researchers. Investigators found improved scores on all outcome measures (self-care behavior, helplessness, pain, dysfunction, and depression). These findings suggest that "Bone Up" is an effective nursing intervention in multiple organizational and community environments and for diverse patient populations.     

Inhibition of neuronal calcium channels by a novel peptide spider toxin, DW13.3

Peptide toxins have proved to be useful agents, both in discriminating between different components of native calcium channel currents and in the molecular isolation and designation of their cloned channel counterparts. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of the biochemical and physiological properties of a novel 74-amino acid peptide toxin (DW13.3) extracted from the venom of the spider Filistata hibernalis. The subtype specificity of DW13.3 was investigated using calcium channel currents recorded from two separate expression systems and several different cultured mammalian cell preparations. Overall, DW13.3 potently blocked all native calcium channel currents studied, with the exception of T-type currents recorded from GH3 cells. Examination of transiently expressed calcium channels in oocytes showed that DW13.3 had the highest affinity for alpha1A, followed by alpha1B > alpha1C > alpha1E. The affinity of DW13.3 for alpha1B N-type currents varied by 10-fold between expressed channels and native currents. Although block occurred in a similar 1:1 manner for all subtypes, DW13.3 produced a partial block of both alpha1A currents and P-type currents in cerebellar Purkinje cells. Selective occlusion of the P/Q-type channel ligand omega-conotoxin MVIIC (but not omega-agatoxin IVA) from its binding site in Purkinje neurons suggests that DW13.3 binds to a site close to the pore of the channel. The inhibition of different subtypes of calcium channels by DW13.3 reflects a common "macro" binding site present on all calcium channels except T-type.     

The effect of antioxidants on the production, of volatile nitrosamines during the frying of bacon

Summary In model system studies simulating the frying of bacon a considerable variation in the production of N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NOPyr) has been observed, as occurs in sliced bacon fried conventionally. The inclusion of ascorbate or erythorbate (isoascorbate) has led consistently to a fall in or an elimination of NOPyr production up to an addition of 300 ppm (1,5 mM). Above this concentration of ascorbate, the elimination of NOPyr formation persisted in some instances but in others an increased production of the nitrosamine occurred. Using-tocopherol, a fall of NOPyr production during the simulated frying of bacon was obtained with increase of concentration of the antioxidant, there being a consistent elimination of the volatile nitrosamine following an addition of 500 ppm (1.16 mM). Whilst ascorbyl palmitate had a similar action in reducing or eliminating NOPyr production, no synergistic effect between it and a-tocopherol was noted in an experiment combining the two antioxidants. When bacon was fried in fat containing 400 or 800 ppm-tocopherol, the total production of NOPyr and DMN in the fried bacon, cooked out fat and condensate was markedly reduced but not completely eliminated as in the model system studies. Similarly, the curing of bacon with a brine containing a mixture of-tocopherol, ascorbyl palmitate and citric acid has led to considerable reductions in NOPyr and DMN output on frying when the combined concentrations of the two anti-oxidants were calculated to be 800 ppm.

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Der Einfluß von Antioxydantien auf die Entwicklung flüchtiger Nitrosamine während des Bratens von Speck

Zusammenfassung Bei Untersuchungen in Modell-Systemen, in denen das Braten von Speck simuliert wurde, stellte man eine nennenswerte Variation in der Entstehung von N-Nitrosopyrrolidin (NOPyr) fest, wie sie auch bei konventionell gebratenem Scheibenspeck auftritt. Der Zusatz von Ascorbat oder Isoascorbat hat bei einem Zusatz bis zu 300 ppm (1,5 mmol) regelmäßig zur Abnahme der NOPyr-Produktion geführt. Bei größerer Ascorbatkonzentration nahm die NOPyr-Bildung in einigen Fällen ab, in anderen setzte dagegen eine erhöhte Nitrosaminbildung ein. Bei Anwendung von-Tokopherol wurde eine Abnahme in der NOPyr-Bildung während des simulierten Bratens von Speck bei zunehmender Antioxydantien-Konzentration erreicht, wobei ein gleichbleibendes Verschwinden des flüchtigen Nitrosamins eine Folge des Zusatzes von 500 ppm (1,16 mmol) war. Während Ascorbylpalmitat eine ähnliche Wirkung in der Reduzierung der NOPyr-Bildung hatte, konnte bei einem Experiment, bei dem die beiden Antioxydantien zugegen waren, keine synergistische Wirkung festgestellt werden. Wenn Speck in 400 oder 800 ppm-Tokopherol enthaltendem Fett gebraten wude, war die Gesamtbildung von NOPyr und DMN in dem gebratenen Speck, dem ausgekochten Fett und im Kondensat wesentlich reduziert, aber nicht wie bei den Modell-System-Versuchen vollständig eliminiert. Ähnlich führte auch das Pökeln von Speck in Lake, die eine Mischung von-Tokopherol, Ascorbylpalmitat und Citronensäure enthielt, zu wesentlicher Reduzierung in NOPyr- und DMN-Produktion beim Braten, wenn die Konzentration der beiden Antioxydatien zusammen auf 800 ppm berechnet wurden.

     

Taxometrics, polytomous constructs, and the comparison curve fit index: A Monte Carlo analysis.

The taxometric method effectively distinguishes between dimensional (1-class) and taxonic (2-class) latent structure, but there is virtually no information on how it responds to polytomous (3-class) latent structure. A Monte Carlo analysis showed that the mean comparison curve fit index (CCFI; Ruscio, Haslam, & Ruscio, 2006) obtained with 3 taxometric procedures—mean above minus below a cut (MAMBAC), maximum covariance (MAXCOV), and latent mode factor analysis (L-Mode)—accurately identified 1-class (dimensional) and 2-class (taxonic) samples and produced taxonic results when applied to 3-class (polytomous) samples. From these results it is concluded that using the simulated data curve approach and averaging across procedures is an effective way of distinguishing between dimensional (1-class) and categorical (2 or more classes) latent structure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)