Software CAD: a revolutionary approach

A research project is described in which an experimental software CAD environment called the Carleton embedded system design environment (CAEDE), oriented toward embedded systems and Ada, was developed to provide a demonstration of the concept and to serve as a research testbed. The major contribution of CAEDE is a demonstration of a visual paradigm which combines semantic depth and syntactic shallowness, relative to Ada, in a manner that makes it possible for the embedded-system designer to work in terms of abstract machines while still thinking Ada. A secondary contribution is the identification of Prolog as a promising approach for supporting tool development in an environment which supports the visual paradigm. Also described are experimental tools for temporal analysis, performance analysis, and the generation of skeleton Ada code     

Glutamine stabilizes intestinal permeability and reduces pancreatic infection in acute experimental pancreatitis

Intestinal barrier failure and subsequent translocation of bacteria from the gut play a decisive role in the development of systemic infections in severe acute pancreatitis. Glutamine (GLN) has been shown to stabilize gut barrier function and to reduce bacterial translocation in various experimental settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether GLN reduces gut permeability and bacterial infection in a model of acute necrotizing pancreatitis. Acute necrotizing pancreatitis was induced in 50 rats under sterile conditions by intraductal infusion of glycodeoxycholic acid and intravenous infusion of cerulein. Six hours after the induction of pancreatitis, animals were randomly assigned to one of two groups: standard total parental nutrition (TPN) or TPN combined with GLN (0.5 g/kg(-1)/day(-1)). After 96 hours, the animals were killed. The pancreas was prepared for bacteriologic examination, and the ascending colon was mounted in a Ussing chamber for determination of transmucosal resistance and mannitol flux as indicators of intestinal permeability. Transmucosal resistance was 31% higher in the animals treated with GLN- supplemented TPN compared to the animals given standard TPN. Mannitol flux through the epithelium was decreased by 40%. The prevalence of pancreatic infections was 33% in animals given GLN-enriched TPN as compared to 86% in animals receiving standard TPN (P < 0.05). Adding GLN to standard TPN not only reduces the permeability of the colon but decreases pancreatic infections in acute necrotizing pancreatitis in the rat. This confirms previous reports that GLN decreases bacterial translocation by stabilizing the intestinal mucosal barrier. The present findings provide the first evidence suggesting that stabilizing the intestinal barrier can reduce the prevalence of pancreatic infection in acute pancreatitis and that GLN may be useful in preventing septic complications in clinical pancreatitis.     

Isovolemic hemodilution with dextran 60 as treatment of pancreatic ischemia in acute pancreatitis. Clinical practicability of an experimental concept

OBJECTIVE: This phase-I study transferred the concept of isovolemic hemodilution, which has been proven beneficial in the treatment of experimental acute pancreatitis to the patient. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Pancreatic ischemia represents one main mechanism in the pathogenesis of necrotizing pancreatitis. Isovolemic hemodilution with dextran 60 has been shown experimentally to limit the progression of pancreatic necrosis by improving pancreatic microcirculation. METHODS: Thirteen patients with clinically severe nonbiliary pancreatitis and CT-classification E according to Balthazar were enrolled. Exclusion criteria were anemia, coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coagulopathies, and secondary referral. The volume of blood to be exchanged for dextran 60 was calculated from a nomogram based on body surface. Isovolemic hemodilution aimed at a hematocrit of 30%. Independent from the exchange procedure conventional fluid resuscitation was performed to adjust the central venous pressure at 6 +/- 2 mm Hg. RESULTS: Whole blood (750-1,700 mL) was exchanged for dextran 60 during 45 to 70 minutes. No adverse effect was encountered; central hemodynamics were not affected. Considering a mean Ranson score of 5, mortality was low (7.7%). Progression of pancreatic necrosis was registered in only two patients subsequently undergoing surgical treatment (15%). CONCLUSIONS: Isovolemic hemodilution is practicable in patients. A randomized trial has to prove whether isovolemic hemodilution can substantially alter the course of acute pancreatitis as anticipated from animal studies.     

Regional economic growth by policy-induced capital flows: I. Theoretical approach

In view of regional income disparities this paper discusses alternative allocation strategies of regional economic growth policy: movement of the workers to the jobs (passive factor stocks adjustment) versus jobs to the workers (active factor stocks adjustment). For policy evaluation of this classical question a dynamic two-regions model is presented (Part I). Its implications will be analyzed on the basis of selected parameters to give an example of possible model applications (Part II). In Part I the analysis will start with general remarks on model construction (stressing the relevance of supply-side growth barriers), then describe the relationships of the model and finally refer to some selected aspects of possible extensions (introduction of a third region as the outside world of the two regions, modification of the model to deal with the no-growth case, consideration of the size of regions, and incorporation of independent regional investment functions). The concluding remarks will focus on the essential policy parameters of the model.The author wishes to thank Reiner Wolff, Paderborn, Georg Zink, Siegen, and Norbert Matthes, Bonn, for their permanent readiness to discuss earlier drafts of both parts of this paper. Also the author gratefully acknowledges the useful comments of an anonymous referee.     

Measurement of the modulation transfer function of digital X-ray detectors with an opaque edge-test device

A variant of the edge method for the determination of the pre-sampled modulation transfer function (MTF) of digital X-ray imaging devices has been developed and accepted as the standard method in the novel DQE measurement standard IEC 62220-1. An opaque tungsten edge-test device accomplishes the ideal step-like profile of the incident X rays. The edge spread function is measured over a large region across the edge transition that enables an accurate MTF measurement including the 'low-frequency drop'. The method has been applied to different state-of-the-art X-ray imaging detectors, a computed radiography, a CsI-based indirect and an Se-based direct flat-panel detector. The MTF measurement results will be presented. In contrast to the opaque edge device, the commonly used semi-transparent edge-test devices produce scatter radiation that deteriorates the incident X-ray profile, which leads to a systematic overestimation of the MTF.     

The prognostic importance of calcitonin screening in familial medullary thyroid carcinoma

A prospective study of 20 patients with traumatic amputations of the fingers and a thumb was carried out during a six week period at Mpilo Central Hospital, Bulawayo. Most of the adult injuries (17 patients) resulted from industrial accidents (76.5 pc) while two out the three children sustained their injury from domestic accidents. Inadequate safety precaution, ignorance and human error contributed significantly to the injuries. Safety education and preventive measures both at home and in industry should be inoculated into the daily life of individuals.     

Double Stimuli‐Responsive Isoporous Membranes via Post‐Modification of pH‐Sensitive Self‐Assembled Diblock Copolymer Membranes

Double stimuli‐responsive membranes are prepared by modification of pH‐sensitive integral asymmetric polystyrene‐b‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐b‐P4VP) diblock copolymer membranes with temperature‐responsive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) by a surface linking reaction. PS‐b‐P4VP membranes are first functionalized with a mild mussel‐inspired polydopamine coating and then reacted via Michael addition with an amine‐terminated pNIPAM‐NH₂ under slightly basic conditions. The membranes are thoroughly characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H‐NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray‐induced photoelectron spectroscopy. Additionally dynamic contact angle measurements are performed comparing the sinking rate of water droplets at different temperatures. The pH‐ and thermo‐double sensitivities of the modified membranes are proven by determining the water flux under different temperature and pH conditions.     

Effects of molecular rotation in low-energy electron collisions of H3+

Measurements on the energetic structure of the dissociative recombination rate coefficient in the millielectronvolt range are described for H3+ ions produced in the lowest rotational levels by collisional cooling and stored as a fast beam in the magnetic storage ring TSR (Test Storage Ring). The observed resonant structure is consistent with that found previously at the storage ring facility CRYRING in Stockholm, Sweden; theoretical predictions yield good agreement on the overall size of the rate coefficient, but do not reproduce the detailed structure. First studies on the nuclear spin symmetry influencing the lowest level populations show a small effect different from the theoretical predictions. Heating processes in the residual gas and by collisions with energetic electrons, as well as cooling owing to interaction with cold electrons, were observed in long-time storage experiments, using the low-energy dissociative recombination rate coefficient as a probe, and their consistency with the recent cold H3+ measurements is discussed.     

Influence of saliva on temporal volatile flavour release from red bell peppers determined by proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry

The effect of saliva on temporal volatile flavour release from rehydrated red bell peppers was evaluated. The addition of 40% artificial saliva (w/w) was studied using a model mouth combined with proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry. Saliva reduced the maximum headspace concentration during temporal release of 2-methylpropanal, 2/3-methylbutanal and hexanal by 42% on average. This was attributed to an effect of saliva on both the thermodynamic and kinetic component of flavour release, as saliva resulted in an average decrease of 25% for these compounds in equilibrium headspace analysis. A preliminary comparison of model mouth and in-nose analysis showed that the model mouth mimicked temporal release under mouth conditions quite well.