Elastic wave propagation in bone in vivo: methodology

The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of elastic wave propagation (EWP) in estimating the mechanical properties (elasticity) of human tibia. The test group was composed of 78-yr-old women assigned to high (n = 19) and low (n = 17) bone mineral density (BMD) groups as measured at the calcaneus by the 125I-photon absorption method. The EWP apparatus consisted of an impact-producing hammer with a force strain gauge and two accelerometers positioned on the bone. Results for nylon and acrylic were used to calibrate the apparatus. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) solid rods and tubes of various diameters were used to evaluate the relationship between the elastic wave velocity and cross-sectional area. The density and the cross-sectional area of tibia were measured by the computerized tomographic (CT) method at the same intersection points as velocity recordings. The velocities in tibia of bending waves produced by the mechanical hammer were found to depend on the density, area moment of inertia, and density-dependent elastic constants of bone. It is important to account for the changes of these quantities along the bone. It is suggested that the velocity of elastic waves and various indices derived there from provide inexpensive ways of evaluating the elastic properties of bone.     

Effect of intramammary Escherichia coli endotoxin in early- vs. late-lactating dairy cows

We investigated the differences in the effect of intramammarily infused endotoxin for cows in early (EL) and late (LL) lactation. In this crossover study, nine cows were challenged twice with 100 microg of intramammarily infused Escherichia coli 0111:B4 LPS, each cow serving its own control. Systemic and local signs were recorded throughout the experiment to assess the severity of each cow's response. Daily milk yield and indicators of inflammation in blood and milk were also recorded. The response was significantly more severe in the EL period. Before the challenge, milk yield and serum free fatty acid concentration were higher and serum urea concentration lower in EL compared with LL cows. No significant differences were present in other parameters. After the challenge, milk SCC and leukocyte function, measured as chemiluminescence, increased, more markedly in EL. Blood neutrophil content varied from neutropenia to neutrophilia. Simultaneously with neutropenia, the function of neutrophils increased in LL but decreased in EL. Serum cortisol peaked 4 h after challenge in both groups. In conclusion, endotoxin challenge resulted in more severe response in EL. During that time cows also had impaired neutrophil function postchallenge.     

The use of X‐ray absorption spectroscopy for monitoring the thickness of antiwear films from ZDDP

X‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy at the P K‐edge was used to monitor ZDDP antiwear film thickness with rubbing time. Thermal immersion films of varying thickness were generated from the ZDDP and analysed using XANES spectroscopy and the particle induced X‐ray emission (PIXE) technique. P K‐edge XANES edge jumps and (1s → np) peak heights of the spectra were plotted against PIXE mass thickness values in order to establish calibration curves. Antiwear films were analysed using XANES spectroscopy, and average mass thicknesses were extrapolated from the calibration curves. A set of antiwear films formed in the presence of ZDDP and then further rubbed in base oil (no ZDDP) showed no significant decrease in film thickness. A set of antiwear films rubbed in the presence of ZDDP for various lengths of time showed an increase in film thickness, followed by thinning of the film. The decrease in film thickness is believed to be due to wear caused by the ZDDP solution decomposition products acting as an abrasive in the contact region. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the Covering Radius of Long 5-ary BCH Codes with Minimum Distance 7

 We study S. D. Cohen’s method of estimating the covering radius of long primitive non-binary BCH codes with prime field alphabet. As an application we show that the covering radius is at most 7 for long 5-ary BCH codes with minimum distance seven. Received: November 13, 1996; revised version: March 11, 1997     

Computer Hobbyists and the Gaming Industry in Finland

Since the 1950s, digital games in Finland have bridged gaps between professional users and the public as well as institutional and domestic environments. The early significance of Finland's 1970s and 1980s computer games hobbyist and hacker cultures is still evident: clear connections exist between the country's rich history of such subcultures and its modern international success in multimedia and mobile entertainment.     

High frequency one-step gene replacement in Trichoderma reesei. II. Effects of deletions of individual cellulase genes

Four cellulase genes of Trichoderma reesei, cbh1, cbh2, egl1 and egl2, have been replaced by the amdS marker gene. When linear DNA fragments and flanking regions of the corresponding cellulase locus of more than 1 kb were used, the replacement frequencies were high, ranging from 32 to 52%. Deletion of the major cellobiohydrolase 1 gene led to a 2-fold increase in the production of cellobiohydrolase II; however, replacement of the cbh2 gene did not affect the final cellulase levels and deletion of egl1 or egl2 slightly increased production of both cellobiohydrolases. Based on our results, endoglucanase II accounts for most of the endoglucanase activity produced by the hypercellulolytic host strain. Furthermore, loss of the egl2 gene causes a significant drop in the filter paper-hydrolysing activity, indicating that endoglucanase II has an important role in the total hydrolysis of cellulose.     

Concentration of Umami Compounds in Pork Meat and Cooking Juice with Different Cooking Times and Temperatures

This study examined the concentrations of umami compounds in pork loins cooked at 3 different temperatures and 3 different lengths of cooking times. The pork loins were cooked with the sous vide technique. The free amino acids (FAAs), glutamic acid and aspartic acid; the 5′‐nucleotides, inosine‐5′‐monophosphate (IMP) and adenosine‐5′‐monophosphate (AMP); and corresponding nucleoside inosine of the cooked meat and its released juice were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Under the experimental conditions used, the cooking temperature played a more important role than the cooking time in the concentration of the analyzed compounds. The amino acid concentrations in the meat did not remain constant under these experimental conditions. The most notable effect observed was that of the cooking temperature and the higher amino acid concentrations in the released juice of meat cooked at 80 °C compared with 60 and 70 °C. This is most likely due to the heat induced hydrolysis of proteins and peptides releasing water soluble FAAs from the meat into the cooking juice. In this experiment, the cooking time and temperature had no influence on the IMP concentrations observed. However, the AMP concentrations increased with the increasing temperature and time. This suggests that the choice of time and temperature in sous vide cooking affects the nucleotide concentration of pork meat. The Sous vide technique proved to be a good technique to preserve the cooking juice and the results presented here show that cooking juice is rich in umami compounds, which can be used to provide a savory or brothy taste.     

Study of residual elastic- and plastic-deformation in uniaxial tensile strained nickel-based Alloy 600 samples by polychromatic X-ray microdiffraction (PXM) and neutron diffraction methods

In order to assess the reliability of the relatively new polychromatic X-ray microdiffraction (PXM) method for measuring the magnitude and distribution of mechanical strains, PXM and the traditional technique—neutron diffraction measurements were made on the gauge section of an uniaxially 1% strained Alloy 600 tensile specimen and an unstressed sample of the same alloy. The average strain magnitudes for the grains analyzed by PXM were found to be similar with those measured from neutron diffraction within the large experimental uncertainty. Of particular interest was the behavior of dislocations in opposing grains across grain boundaries of differing orientations, which was studied by comparing the elongation and splitting of PXM spots. Similar dislocation densities, operating on the similar slip systems, were found on both sides of 60° boundaries, while considerable differences in the degree of elongation and splitting of diffraction spots occurred between grains with other misorientation angles.