Postoperative induction of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 proteolytic activity: relation to insulin and insulin sensitivity

Increased serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) proteolytic activity (IGFBP-3-PA) has been demonstrated in a number of clinical states of insulin resistance, including severe illness, after surgery, and in noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. In the present study we assessed the role of insulin sensitivity in expression of IGFBP-3-PA in serum. In 18 patients studied, a significant increase in IGFBP-3-PA (P < 0.005) was demonstrated after colo-rectal surgery. Eight patients receiving an oral glucose load before surgery demonstrated a significant greater relative increase in IGFBP-3-PA compared with 10 patients not receiving glucose (32.9 +/- 7.1% vs. 8.6 +/- 6.7%, respectively; P < 0.05). Both groups had reduced insulin sensitivity after surgery (-58 +/- 4%; P < 0.0001; n = 18), as determined by hyperinsulinemic, normoglycemic clamps; however, the group not receiving glucose displayed 18% less insulin sensitivity than the oral glucose load group (P < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the relative changes in IGFBP-3-PA and C peptide levels were inversely correlated (P < 0.05), suggesting that increased IGFBP-3-PA, presumably increasing IGF bioavailability, may be associated with decreased insulin demands. Interestingly, insulin infusion during the 4-h hyperinsulinemic, normoglycemic clamp performed 24 h after surgery (post-op) resulted in a further increase in IGFBP-3-PA in both groups (P < 0.005), whereas no significant responses could be demonstrated during the pre-op clamp. The expression of increased IGFBP-3-PA was accompanied by conversion of endogenous intact 39/42-kDa IGFBP-3 into its 30-kDa fragmented form as determined by Western immunoblotting, and this conversion was virtually complete after the 4-h post-op clamp in patients displaying marked increases in IGFBP-3-PA. Characterization of the IGFBP-3-PA demonstrated that it was specific for IGFBP-3, as no degradation of IGFBP-1 and -2 was detected, and the use of various protease inhibitors demonstrated that serine proteases and possibly matrix metalloproteinases contribute to the increased IGFBP-3-PA level after surgery. We propose that IGF bioavailability may be increased by the induction of IGFBP-3-PA in insulin-resistant subjects, and that insulin regulates IGFBP-3-PA in this state.     

Iterative learning control of heat-up phase for a batch polymerization reactor

This paper describes a novel method for heat-up phase control of an industrial batch polymerization reactor where heat transfer characteristics change with batches due to fouling of the polymer products on the reactor wall. The main objective of the control is to settle the reactor temperature on a target value within ± 0.1°C in a minimum possible time. To achieve this goal utilizing the repetitive nature of batch operation, the control problem was defined as a tracking problem and feedback-assisted iterative learning control (FBALC) was employed as the underlying control technique. The proposed control method was applied to an industrial batch reactor polymerizing ABS resin. After on-site evaluation for an extended period of time, it was found that the proposed method gives a pronounced improvement in heat-up phase operation. Consistent heat-up profiles with a minimized settling time are obtained.     

Comparaison du modèle des réservoirs imparfaitement agités en série avec le modèle de dispersion axiale

The transfer function of the model of imperfectly mixed tanks in series, involving the three parameters p, m and n, is presented. It is thus possible to evaluate easily the residence time distribution curve E(θ) and the output response for a given input. This model is compared to the axial dispersion model, through the variance of the curve for E(θ) and the average absolute error between theoretical values and experimental data. A graphical representation relates the Péclet number of the axial dispersion model to the parameters of the p, m, n model and also to the variance of the curve for E(θ). The p, m, n model gives a good approximation of experimental data; it is shown to be more versatile than the axial dispersion model.     

Effect of chelators and reductants on the mobilization of metals from ambient particulate matter

Ambient urban particulate matter (PM) contains various transition metals. When the PM is inhaled into the lung, not all but some part of metals from the particles might be mobilized to participate in a reaction that can damage various biomolecules, such as DNA and proteins. The dust particle size as well as organic acids may influence the metal mobilization. Thus, the mobilization of the metal from two standard reference materials (SRM; NIST, USA) and urban PM (PM2.5 and PM10) collected in the Seoul area was measured in the presence of artificial or biological chelator with or without reductant. The degree of the mobilization was higher with the artificial or biological chelator than the control with saline. In some cases, a reductant increased the mobilization as much as about 5 times the control without the reductant. Especially, the mobilization of Fe was greatly influenced by the presence of reductants. In general, the degree of the mobilization of the transition metal was higher with PM2.5 than with PM10. Therefore, it is expected that, considering the previously known toxicities of the transition metals, PM2.5 is more damaging to various biomolecules than PM10. The results also suggest that not the total amount but the mobilizable fraction of the metal in the ambient PM should be considered with regard to the toxicity of the urban particulate matter.     

Modelling decision support and uncertainty for large transport infrastructure projects: The CLG-DSS model of the Øresund Fixed Link

This paper presents a decision support system, named the CLG-DSS model, which makes it possible for decision makers to assess various uncertainties in project appraisal in a systematic and explicit way. This model, a decision support system (DSS) developed within the Danish Centre for Logistics and Freight Transport (CLG) is based on cost-benefit analysis (CBA) embedded in a wider multi-criteria analysis (MCA) by the use of some principles for composite modelling assessment (COSIMA). The CLG-DSS model is set up to make use of scenario analysis (SA) and Monte Carlo simulation (MCS). A particular concern in the model is the handling of varying information across the assessment criteria and the application of SA to inform the MCS parameter setting. After the presentation of the modelling principles some ex-post case calculations for the Øresund Fixed Link are illuminating different aspects of appraisal uncertainty and thereby, at the same time, demonstrate the features of the CLG-DSS model as a useful decision support tool. It is finally concluded that appraisal of large infrastructure projects can be effectively supported by dealing with uncertainty issues in accordance with the principles described.     

Finite element analyses and verifying tests for a shock-absorbing effect of a pad in a spent fuel storage cask

A spent fuel storage cask is required to prove the safety of its canister under a hypothetical accidental drop condition which means that the canister is assumed to be free dropped on to a pad of the storage cask during the loading of the canister into a storage cask. In this paper, finite element analyses and verifying tests for a shock-absorbing effect of a pad in a spent fuel dry storage cask were carried out to improve the structural integrity of the canister under a hypothetical accidental drop condition. The pad of the storage cask was originally designed as cylindrical steel structure filled with concrete. The pad was modified by using the structure composed of steel and polyurethane-foam instead of the quarter of the upper concrete as an impact limiter. The effects of the shape and the thickness of the steel structure and the density of the polyurethane-foam which was used in between steel structures were studied. As the optimized pad of a spent fuel dry storage cask, the quarter of the upper concrete was replaced with 12 mm thick circular steel structure and polyurethane-foam whose density was 85 kg/m³. The drop tests of a 1/3 scale model for the canister on to the original pad and the optimized pad were conducted. The effect of the pad structure was evaluated from the drop tests. The optimized pad has a greater shock-absorbing effect than the original pad. In order to verify the analysis results, strains and accelerations in the time domain by the analytical methods were compared with those by a test. The numerical method of simulating the free drop test for a dry storage cask was verified and the numerical results were found to be reliable.     

A Mouse With Two Optical Sensors That Eliminates Coordinate Disturbance During Skilled Strokes

The computer mouse is rarely used for drawing due to its body-fixed coordinate system, which creates a stroke that differs from the user’s original hand movement. In this study, we resolve this problem by implementing a new mouse called StereoMouse, which eliminates the rotational disturbance of the coordinate system in real-time. StereoMouse is a special mouse with two optical sensors, and its coordinate orientation at the beginning of a stroke is maintained throughout the movement by measuring and compensating for the angular deviation estimated from those sensors. The drawing performance of StereoMouse was measured by means of having users perform the task of repeatedly drawing a basic shape. The results of this experiment showed that StereoMouse eliminated the horizontal drift typically observed in a stroke drawn by a normal mouse. Consequently, StereoMouse allowed the users to draw shapes at a 10.6% faster mean speed with a 10.4% shorter travel time than a normal mouse would. Furthermore, StereoMouse showed 37.1% lower chance of making incorrect gesture input than the normal mouse.     

用拉曼散射谱与远红外反射谱研究Ga_xIn_(1-x)As_ySb_(1-y)四元混晶的长波光学声子

报道了 MBE外延生长的 Gax In1 - x Asy Sb1 - y四元混晶的拉曼散射谱与远红外反射谱 ,并从拉曼散射谱中观察到了 Gax In1 - x Asy Sb1 - y四元混晶的晶格振动四模行为 ;从实验中还观察到低于 180 cm- 1的若干散射峰 ,提出它们可能是与次近邻原子间相互作用的晶格振动模式有关 ;从拉曼散射谱和红外反射谱中观察到了与 Gax In1 - xAsy Sb1 - y四元混晶多声子吸收过程的有关的现象     

大跨度现浇预应力空心板结构施工

以2008年奥运会北京射击馆为例,说明大跨度现浇预应力空心板结构的施工过程。着重介绍了保证混凝土浇筑密实的构造方法和防止轻质管上浮的技术措施。