Evaluation of gamma rays influence on some biochemical and microbiological aspects in black truffles

The effects of two gamma-ray doses (1.5 kGy and 2.0 kGy) on some biochemical aspects and on the microbiological profile of black truffles was monitored, immediately after treatment and after 30 days of storage at 4 °C. Electrophoretic and chromatographic analyses of proteins and peptides, just like monitoring of polyphenol content, peroxides formation and microbial profile, allowed for the first time a better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for biochemical alterations and bacterial pattern in black truffles during their storage. Treatment at 1.5 kGy appeared to better preserve the characteristics of the fresh product. In 2.0 kGy-samples, the protein profile was characterised by a 20 kDa-polypeptide, which could be considered as an useful marker of the irradiation treatment and of the storage time of the product. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis did not permit a correct identification from tryptic peptides in databases, although the nano-ES/MS/MS analyses performed on the 10 kDa tryptic digest peptides showed an amino acidic sequence entirely contained in a protein of filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa.     

爆炸荷载下钢筋混凝土简支板的有限差分分析

考虑应变率效应、剪切和弯曲变形、横断面几何尺寸、荷载情况,编制有限差分分析程序,精确有效地分析爆炸荷载下钢筋混凝土简支板的动力响应。与构件截面应变速率相适应,采用截面分层分析模型,建立截面矩与和曲率的关系。根据所提公式,将相应的应变率效应与截面分层分析模型相结合,沿构件长度方向,对构件纵向应变速率的分布进行评估。采用明确的有限差分方法,可得到包括剪切变形和转动变量的Timoshenko梁方程的数值解。结合爆炸量和距离,根据钢筋混凝土板爆炸试验的结果,验证所提有限差分分析模型的精确性。与传统的单自由度分析和有限元分析相比,有限差分分析程序快速、精确,结合了单自由度分析的速度和有限元分析精确的优势,十分适合于设计公司应用。     

A decentralized kinematic control architecture for collaborative and cooperative multi-arm systems

In this paper a two-layer decentralized framework for kinematic control of cooperative and collaborative multi-robot systems is developed. The motion of the system is specified at the workpiece level, by adopting a task-oriented formulation for cooperative tasks. The first layer computes the motion of the single arms in the system. In detail, the control unit of each robot computes the end-effector motion references in a decentralized fashion on the basis of the knowledge of the assigned cooperative task and the motion references computed by its neighbors. Then, in the second layer, each control unit computes the reference joint motion of the corresponding manipulator from the end-effector reference motion. The approach is, then, tested in simulation on a work-cell composed by several manipulators, and experimentally on a dual-arm kinematically redundant work-cell composed by industrial manipulators.     

Access Protocols for Cellular High-Speed Data Services

In this contribution, novel access techniquesfor the future cellular information networks areproposed. To facilitate a fast deployment, the suggestedaccess techniques have been implemented over well-known technological platforms, namely DECT (DigitalEnhanced Cordless Telecommunications) containing aFDM/TDMA (Frequency Division Multiplex/Time DivisionMultiple Access) structure. Two situations areconsidered: i) no limits in the use of the all carriers atterminal (ideal case) and ii) maximum number ofcontiguous/simultaneous carriers at terminal (realisticcase). First, to grant a quick access channel, a random access mechanism with reservation is proposed.It is called contention-TDMA (C-TDMA). Next, in order tostudy the feasibility of better collision resolutionalgorithms for C-TDMA, a centralized approach called Centralized C-TDMA Demand Assignment(CC-TDMA-DA) has also been studied. For the ideal case,numerical results indicate that C-TDMA and CC-TDMA-DAyield similar throughput values in typical cellular scenarios. Also, CC-TDMA-DA tends to bepreferable for traffic sources with long messages andweak delay constraints, while C-TDMA performs better forbursty traffic sources with hard time requirements. Additional numerical results for the realisticcase have demonstrated that system performancedeteriorates little with respect to the ideal case interms of collisions, delays and throughputfigures.     

Single-lead VDD pacing. A case of cross-talk

The haemodynamic and electrophysiological benefits of dual chamber pacing are well recognized at the cost of a more complex and expensive implant. In selected groups of patients VDD-mode dual chamber pacing offers the advantages of dual chamber pacing with the use of a single catheter and is nowadays gaining increasing popularity. The following report describes an uncommon and potentially harmful pacemaker malfunction secondary to the dislodgement of the catheter.     

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction is impaired in rats with nitrofen-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and toxicity of topotecan administered as a 21-day continuous intravenous infusion in patients with advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. 26 previously untreated patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma received topotecan at a dose of 0.5 mg/m2/day or 0.6 mg/m2/day as a continuous intravenous infusion for 21 days. Courses were repeated every 28 days. 26 patients were assessable for response and toxicity on an intent-to-treat basis. The initial 8 patients at a starting dose of 0.6 mg/m2/day experienced unacceptable myelosuppression and dose delays. The subsequent 18 patients, therefore began therapy at a dose of 0.5 mg/m2/day. The major toxicity of topotecan at this dose and schedule was myelosuppression, which was reversible and non-cumulative. There were no complete responses and two partial responses for a total response rate of 8% (95% confidence interval, 1-25%). Response durations were 17 and 45 weeks. Stable disease was seen in 3 patients. The median time to progression for all patients was 8 weeks and the median survival was 20 weeks. Topotecan given as a 21-day continuous intravenous infusion has a similar response rate and median survival to our previously reported study of the 5-day short infusion regimen in pancreatic carcinoma.     

Evaluation of an enforcement program to reduce tobacco sales to minors

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated an active enforcement program to increase retailers' compliance with the law prohibiting tobacco sales to minors. METHODS: Tobacco sales to minors were monitored in 319 outlets in 6 pairs of communities in Erie County, New York. One community in each pair was randomly assigned to an enforcement intervention. RESULTS: Retailers' compliance with the law increased from 35% in 1994 to 73% in 1995. However, the change in compliance rates was roughly the same for stores in the enforcement and nonenforcement communities. CONCLUSIONS: Active compliance checking of retail outlets as a strategy to reduce illegal tobacco sales to minors may only be necessary insofar as it contributes to an increase in retailers' perception that the threat of enforcement is real.     

Effects of the degree of undercooling on flow induced crystallization in polymer melts

This study investigates the coupled effects of mild shear flow and temperature on the crystallization behavior of two thermoplastic polymers, namely, an isotactic polypropylene and an isotactic poly(1-butene). Rheological experiments are used to measure the crystallization induction time under isothermal, steady shear flow conditions. The experimental results clearly show the effects of the degree of undercooling on flow-induced crystallization (FIC). As temperature decreases, the corresponding increase in chain orientation at a given shear rate leads to an absolutely faster crystallization. At the same time, however, a temperature decrease makes the flow-induced driving force to crystallization relatively less influent with respect to the intrinsic kinetics. A FIC model based on the Doi-Edwards micro-rheological theory is shown to successfully describe the quantitative details of the observed experimental behavior.     

Random amplified polymorphic DNA and amplified ribosomal DNA spacer polymorphism: powerful methods to differentiate Streptococcus thermophilus strains

66 inpatients who met the DSM-III-R and ICD-10 criteria for paranoid schizophrenia-active phase were assessed using the SAPS and CDS in order to establish interrelations between depressive and positive symptomatology. The results were then analyzed in reference do particular items of the scale CDS and the three stages of examinations. Numerous positive correlations were found between depressive symptoms and the symptoms from the subscale of Delusions and Hallucinations SAPS (Delusions of Sin or Guilt, of Mind Reading, of Being Controlled, of Reference, Somatic Delusions and Hallucinations) and negative correlations with the symptoms from the subscale of Positive Formal Thought Disorder.