Effect of conjugated linoleic acid supplementation on the microbial,physical, chemical and sensory properties of yoghurt

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of synthetic conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation on the quality of yoghurt. Yoghurt was prepared by adding CLA to create yoghurt with 0%, 25%, 50% and 100% w/w of the recommended dietary allowance for CLA. CLA inclusion had no effect on the viability of the yoghurt lactic acid bacteria. Physical properties such as viscosity and pH increased with increased CLA levels. CLA inclusion had a significant effect on the fatty acid composition of the yoghurt. Yoghurts from all four treatments were found acceptable by a consumer panel.     

Strategies to Overcome Resistance to Immune-Based Therapies in Osteosarcoma

Improving the prognosis and cure rate of HGOSs (high-grade osteosarcomas) is an absolute need. Immune-based treatment approaches have been increasingly taken into consideration, in particular for metastatic, relapsed and refractory HGOS patients, to ameliorate the clinical results currently achieved. This review is intended to give an overview on the immunotherapeutic treatments targeting, counteracting or exploiting the different immune cell compartments that are present in the HGOS tumor microenvironment. The principle at the basis of these strategies and the possible mechanisms that HGOS cells may use to escape these treatments are presented and discussed. Finally, a list of the currently ongoing immune-based trials in HGOS is provided, together with the results that have been obtained in recently completed clinical studies. The different strategies that are presently under investigation, which are generally aimed at abrogating the immune evasion of HGOS cells, will hopefully help to indicate new treatment protocols, leading to an improvement in the prognosis of patients with this tumor.     

Crystallization kinetics of the amorphous alloy Fe80B20 studied using a thermomagnetic balance

The kinetics of isothermal crystallization of the amorphous metal alloy Fe₈₀B₂₀ have been studied using a Perkin-Elmer thermomagnetic balance. Well-defined and reproducible incubation periods were observed on the degree of crystallization against time curves, in agreement with the theory of non-steady state nuclear ions in glasses. Values from 1.4 to 2.4 were obtained for the exponentn in the Johnson-Mehl-Kolmogorov-Avrami equation. The activation energy of viscous flow in the glass was found from the incubation period against temperature dependences at temperature near the crystallization point. The activation energy of crystallization was determined from the temperature dependence of the 50% crystallization times. Metallographic observations show unambiguously that two crystallization reactions proceed simultaneously: the growth of ready athermal centres located on the more slowly quenched surface of the amorphous metal ribbon along two directions, and growth in the bulk of the ribbon.     

Saccade preparation inhibits reorienting to recently attended locations.

We measured manual reaction time in normal human Ss to confirm that an eccentric visual signal has a biphasic effect on covert attention and eye movements. First, it summons attention and biases a saccade toward the signal; a subsequent inhibition of return then slows responses to signals at that location. A temporal hemifield dominance for inhibition of return was shown; this finding coverges with observations (M. I. Posner et al; see record 1986-22316-001) in neurologic patients to suggest that it is mediated by midbrain pathways. Endogenous orienting of attention, from a central arrow cue, did not activate inhibition of return, whereas endogenous saccade preparation did so as effectively as an exogenous signal, even when no saccade was made. Inhibition of return is activated by midbrain oculomotor pathways and may function as a location "tagging" mechanism to optimize efficiency of visual search. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of the NIST and ENEA Air Kerma Standards

A comparison was made between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Ente per le Nuove Tecnologie l’Energia e l’Ambiente (ENEA) air kerma standards for medium energy x rays and ⁶⁰Co gamma rays. The comparison took place at ENEA in June 1994. Two different transfer chambers from NIST were used for the comparison. The measurements were made at radiation qualities similar to those used at the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) (generating voltages of 100 kV, 135 kV, 180 kV and 250 kV, respectively) and with ⁶⁰Co gamma radiation. The transfer chamber calibration factors obtained at the NIST and at the ENEA agreed with one another to 0.03 % for ⁶⁰Co gamma radiation and between 0.1 % to 0.8 % for the medium energy x-ray beam codes.     

Embodied actions in time and place: The cooperative design of a multimedia, educational computer game

This paper reports a field study of the design of a multimedia, educational software product, from the early articulations about the kind of product to be made, to the production of the prototype used for capital raising. The designers were members of a small distributed company who used computer systems and communication technology, as well as highly developed communication skills and procedures, to enable them to work together over distance. The focus of the paper is the work people did to create and maintain the cooperative design process within a specific organisational framework and in relation to the design of an actual product. The basic conclusion is that the cooperative design of the product was enabled and achieved by the work the designers did communicating with each other. Any future selection of additional CSCW technology by the company will be determined by its contribution to the communicative resources of the designers.     

Cognitive function in asymptomatic HIV-1 infection: The effects of age, education, ethnicity, and depression.

Examined whether individuals with asymptomatic HIV-1 infection exhibit subtle cognitive deficits relative to healthy seronegative control Ss. 122 symptomatic seropositive homosexual and bisexual White men were compared with 59 seronegative homosexual or bisexual men (all Ss aged 20–71 yrs) on a battery of neuropsychological tests. Age, education, ethnicity, and depression were controlled as potential confounding variables. Seropositive Ss performed below seronegative controls on measures of verbal fluency, recall of logical discourse material (younger seropositive Ss only), and arithmetic. No group differences were found on visuospatial measures, abstract reasoning, attention, or set shifting. Ethnicity (Hispanic vs non-Hispanic) and education effects were observed only on select language measures. Depression did not adversely affect performance scores. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prognostic significance of hypertension and albuminuria for early mortality after acute myocardial infarction

The motile enterococci with the vanC gene have intrinsic low-level resistance to vancomycin, but have not been implicated in a nosocomial outbreak. We determined the colonization rate of motile enterococci in hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients. Perianal or stool specimens were cultured in Enterococcosel broth supplemented with 6 micrograms of vancomycin per mL. Rapid motility and pigment tests were performed on all enterococci isolated. A total of 82 motile and/or pigmented enterococci were isolated from 679 patients for a colonization rate of 12.1%. There were 43 Enterococcus gallinarum, 32 Enterococcus casseliflavus, 4 Enterococcus flavescens, and 3 Enterococcus mundtii identified. The E. gallinarum vancomycin MIC90 was 32 micrograms/mL and the E. casseliflavus vancomycin MIC90 was 8 micrograms/mL.     

The Relationship Between PDA Usage and Student Performance in an Introductory Engineering Course

This research focuses on the development of a methodology to evaluate student attitudes towards technology in the classroom and the impact of this technology on student learning. A survey was developed and tested to evaluate the impact of introducing Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) in a traditional college classroom setting. PDAs were introduced in an introductory course in the College of Engineering at Oregon State University. A reliable attitude assessment tool was developed as a result of this research. Initial results of this study also provide empirical data that engineering students respond favorably to the introduction of PDAs in a traditional classroom setting. Preliminary results also provide limited evidence that student attitudes may vary based on gender, age, and/or ethnicity. Standard student performance metrics (course assignment and exam scores) and student self‐evaluations were used to assess the impact on student learning and are discussed.     

Error studies of the Coupling Darcy-Stokes System with velocity-pressure formulation

In this paper we study the Coupling Darcy-Stokes Systems. We establish a coupled variational formulation with the velocity and the pressure. The velocity is approximated with curl conforming finite elements and the pressure with standard continuous elements. We establish optimal a priori and a posteriori error estimates. We conclude our paper with some numerical simulations.