Enalapril versus bendroflumethiazide in type 2 diabetes complicated by hypertension

In a double-blind, double-dummy, randomized, multi-centre study, the effects of bendroflumethiazide vs. enalapril on blood pressure, glycaemic control, lipoprotein concentrations and albuminuria were compared in non-proteinuric, hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients; they were treated for 20 weeks with either bendroflumethiazide 2.5-5.0 mg (n = 59) or enalapril 10-20 mg (n = 55). Age, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c and BMI were similar in the groups. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were reduced in both groups. Bendroflumethiazide was accompanied by minor but significant elevations in fasting plasma glucose and serum C-peptide. HbA1c was increased during both treatments. Lipoproteins and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio were stable. Bendroflumethiazide caused a decrease in serum potassium and an increase in serum urate. No significant correlations were observed between the decline in blood pressure and changes in the metabolic risk factors. Baseline levels of age, sex, BMI, blood pressure or urinary albumin/creatinine ratio were not related to changes in blood pressure, metabolic parameters or urinary albumin/creatinine ratio.     

Effects of Sr/Ti-ratio in SrTiO3-based SOFC anodes investigated by the use of cone-shaped electrodes

In this work the A-site deficiency limit for undoped SrTiO₃, calcined in air or reducing atmosphere, was investigated. XRD and SEM analyses showed that when using the solid-state synthesis route it was difficult to achieve any A-site deficiency. Even very small deviations from unity in the Sr/Ti-ratio resulted in impurity phases. The effects of Sr/Ti-ratio on the performance of SrTiO₃ anodes for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) was investigated by impedance spectroscopy with cone-shaped electrodes. The electrocatalytic activity of the SrTiO₃ cone samples, with various amount of reduced titanium dioxide phases (Magnéli phases), was investigated for oxidation of H₂ at 700 °C. High temperature treatment at 1000 °C, between the measurements at 700 °C, showed that high content of Magnéli phases leads to faster degradation of the activity. The suitability for using cone-shaped electrodes as a tool for investigating electrode materials is discussed.     

Cellulose as a binding material in graphitic anodes for Li ion batteries: a performance and degradation study

Four types of cellulose, in particular carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC), are tested as potential binding materials in graphitic anodes for lithium ion batteries. It is shown that a minimum content of a cellulose which gives acceptable anode properties (reversible capacity>300 mA h g⁻¹ during the first 10 cycles, irreversible loss<20%) is about 2 wt.%, which is less than in the case of conventional polymeric binders (5-10 wt.%). Kinetics of insertion-deinsertion and passivation processes seem not to be affected by the presence of cellulose. Explanation for the electrode failure at cellulose contents lower than 1 wt.% is given based on X-ray diffraction and microscopy investigations. Finally, the structure (distribution) of cellulose in the composite anode material is discussed and (indirectly) checked with a series of experiments. Most results are compared with the corresponding results obtained either with gelatin or conventional polymeric binders or both.     

Linear-Time Self-Interpretation of the Pure Lambda Calculus

We show that linear-time self-interpretation of the pure untyped lambda calculus is possible, in the sense that interpretation has a constant overhead compared to direct execution under various execution models. The present paper shows this result for reduction to weak head normal form under call-by-name, call-by-value and call-by-need.We use a self-interpreter based on previous work on self-interpretation and partial evaluation of the pure untyped lambda calculus.We use operational semantics to define each reduction strategy. For each of these we show a simulation lemma that states that each inference step in the evaluation of a term by the operational semantics is simulated by a sequence of steps in evaluation of the self-interpreter applied to the term (using the same operational semantics).By assigning costs to the inference rules in the operational semantics, we can compare the cost of normal evaluation and self-interpretation. Three different cost-measures are used: number of beta-reductions, cost of a substitution-based implementation (similar to graph reduction) and cost of an environment-based implementation.For call-by-need we use a non-deterministic semantics, which simplifies the proof considerably.     

Formation of oxidising species and their role in the viscosity loss of cereal beta-glucan extracts

The aim of this study was to determine the role of the formation of radicals and hydrogen peroxide in the viscosity loss of beta-glucan extracts from oat and barley. Radicals derived from endogenous H₂O₂ were formed spontaneously in all extracts. The decomposition of H₂O₂ by catalase had little or no effect on the viscosity, and the radical formation detected and measured by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy did not predict the shelf life of crude beta-glucan extracts. The addition of FeSO₄ accelerated the radical formation and viscosity loss, revealing the sensitivity of the extract viscosity towards catalysts for oxidation. Using 50% cadoxen in the extracts slowed down the viscosity loss in all extracts but still led to a 10–70% decrease of the initial viscosities during 4 weeks of storage. The results suggest that the viscosity loss may be a result from multiple mechanisms including chemical reactions during storage as well as aggregation and conformational changes.     

Ship roll damping control

The technical feasibility of roll motion control devices has been amply demonstrated for over 100 years. Performance, however, can still fall short of expectations because of difficulties associated with control system designs, which have proven to be far from trivial due to fundamental performance limitations and large variations of the spectral characteristics of wave-induced roll motion. This tutorial paper presents an account of the development of various ship roll motion control systems together with the challenges associated with their design. It discusses the assessment of performance and the applicability of different mathematical models, and it surveys the control methods that have been implemented and validated with full scale experiments. The paper also presents an outlook on what are believed to be potential areas of research within this topic.     

Molecular Heterojunctions of Oligo(phenylene ethynylene)s with Linear to Cruciform Framework

Electrical transport properties of molecular junctions are fundamentally affected by the energy alignment between molecular frontier orbitals (highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) or lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO)) and Fermi level (or work function) of electrode metals. Dithiafulvene (DTF) is used as substituent group to the oligo(phenylene ethynylene) (OPE) molecular wires and different molecular structures based on OPE3 backbone (with linear to cruciform framework) are achieved, with viable molecular orbitals and HOMO–LUMO energy gaps. OPE3, OPE3–DTF, and OPE3–tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) can form good self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Au substrates. Molecular heterojunctions based on these SAMs are investigated using conducting probe–atomic force microscopy with different tips (Ag, Au, and Pt) and Fermi levels. The calibrated conductance values follow the sequence OPE3–TTF > OPE3–DTF > OPE3 irrespective of the tip metal. Rectification properties (or diode behavior) are observed in case of the Ag tip for which the work function is furthest from the HOMO levels of the OPE3s. Quantum chemical calculations of the transmission qualitatively agree with the experimental data and reproduce the substituent effect of DTF. Zero‐bias conductance, and symmetric or asymmetric couplings to the electrodes are investigated. The results indicate that improved fidelity of molecular transport measurements may be achieved by systematic studies of homologues series of molecular wires applying several different metal electrodes.     

厌氧氨氧化技术用于高氨废水脱氮

在简要介绍厌氧氨氧化菌生理生化特性的基础上,总结了目前应用厌氧氨氧化的主要工艺及其工程实例,重点分析了厌氧氨氧化技术在处理高氨废水实际工程应用过程中需要解决的关键技术,为厌氧氨氧化技术在污水处理工程中的推广提供技术借鉴.     

Reverse phase contrast: an experimental demonstration

We present experimental results showing that the reverse phase contrast (RPC) technique is a viable method for the generation of a binary phase distribution from a spatially varying amplitude pattern using Fourier plane filtering techniques. Experimental results are shown for the generation of a binary 0-pi phase only distribution using either an amplitude mask or a spatial light modulator to provide the input and the results are shown to be in agreement with theoretical predictions for the RPC technique.