Larynx-associated lymphoid tissue (LALT) in young children

BACKGROUND: Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) plays a central role in mucosal immunity. Whereas the characteristics and function of MALT in the intestine are well established, almost nothing is known about MALT in the larynx. METHODS: In this study we examined the morphology and the lymphocyte subset composition of MALT in the larynges of children who had died of sudden infant death or various defined traumatic or nontraumatic causes. RESULTS: Organized lymphoid tissue was found in the supraglottic parts of the larynx in nearly 80% of the children in both groups. This lymphoid tissue showed all morphological signs of MALT, such as typical lymphoid follicles with germinal centers, infiltration of the overlying epithelium by lymphocytes, and high endothelial venules (HEV). Thus we will use the term LALT (larynx-associated lymphoid tissue) to refer to this tissue. The lymphoid follicles of LALT contained mainly B lymphocytes with some CD4+ lymphocytes in the germinal centers. Remarkably, T lymphocytes of both subset types and B lymphocytes were observed in comparable numbers in the parafollicular area. CONCLUSIONS: We assume that LALT is a physiological structure of the larynx in young children. The morphology and the distribution of lymphocyte subsets are similar to those of MALT in the human gut. LALT may be a regular part of the mucosal immune system in young children with the role of respiratory inductive site for mucosal immunity.     

Correlation properties of combiners with memory in stream ciphers

For pseudo-random generators where one or several LFSRs are combined by a memoryless function, it is known that the output sequences are correlated to certain LFSR-sequences whose correlation coefficients c _t satisfy the equation _i c ₂ ⁱ = 1. In this paper it is proved that a corresponding result also holds for generators whose LFSRs are connected to a combiner with memory.If correlation probabilities are conditioned on side information, e.g., on known output digits, it is shown that new or stronger correlations may occur. This is exemplified for the summation cipher with only two LFSRs where such correlations can be exploited in a known plaintext attack. A cryptanalytic algorithm is given which is shown to be successful for LFSRs of considerable length and with arbitrary feedback connection.A preliminary version of this paper was presented at Eurocrypt '90, May 21–24, Århus, Denmark, and has appeared in the proceedings, pp. 204–213.     

Bitterstoffe beim Erhitzen von Saccharose, Maltose und Prolin 2. Mitteilung

Summary In addition to the mono- and dipyrrolidinohexosereductones described recently (Z Lebensm Unters Forsch (1984) 178:356) two further bittertasting compounds were isolated from heated mixtures of proline and sucrose (molar ratio 3: 1, 190 °C, 30 min) and also synthesized, namely 2,3-bis-(1-pyrrolidinyl)2-cyclopenten-l-one and 2,3-bis(1-pyrrolidinyl)-5methyliden-2-cyclopenten-l-one. The recognition thresholds (mmol/1) are 0.15–0.25 and 0.06–0.12 respectively. Both compounds have a burning bitter taste character. From a maltose-proline reaction mixture 2--glucosyl-5-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-piperidinyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one was isolated. When the dihydroxypyranone VI was heated with proline, 2,5-dihydroxy-5-methyl-4-prohnyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one and the cyclopent(b)azepinones XI and XII were among the compounds formed. These compounds also have a bitter taste character.Zusammenfassung Zusätzlich zu den kürzlich beschriebenen Mono- and Dipyrrolidinohexosereduktionen (Z Lebensm Unters Forsch (1984) 178:356) wurden zwei weitere bittere Verbindungen aus erhitzten Mischungen von Prolin and Saccharose (Molverhältnis 3:1, 190 °C, 30 min) isoliert and synthetisiert. Es handelt sich um 2,3-Bis-(1-Pyrrolidinyl)-2-cyclopenten-1-on und 2,3-Bis-(1-Pyrrolidinyl)-5-methyliden-2-cyclopenten-1-on. Die Erkennungsschwellenwerte (mmol/1) sind 0,15-0,25 and 0,06-0,12. Beide Verbindungen haben einen brennend-bitteren Geschmack. Aus einem Maltose-Prolin-Umsetzungsgemisch gelang die Isolierung des 2--Glucosyl-5-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-piperidinyl-2-cyclopenten-1-ons. Bei der Reaktion des Dihydropyranons VI mit Prolin wurden u. a. das 2,5-Dihydroxy-5-methyl-4-prolinyl2-cyclopenten-1-on sowie die Cyclopent(b)azepinone XI and XII gebildet. Diese Verbindungen sind ebenfalls mehr oder weniger stark bitter.     

Increasing the usefulness of additive spline models by knot removal

Modern techniques for fitting generalized additive models mostly rely on basis expansions of covariates using a large number of basis functions and penalized estimation of parameters. For example, a mixed model approach is used to fit a model for children’s lung function that allows for non-linear influence of several covariates available in a substantial data set. While the resulting model is expected to have good prediction performance, its handling beyond simple visual presentation is problematic. It is shown how the number basis functions of the underlying B-spline representation can be reduced by knot removal techniques without refitting, while preserving the shape of the fitted functions. The condition for exact knot removal is extended towards approximate knot removal by incorporating the covariance matrix of the initial parameter estimates, resulting in considerable simplification of the model. Covariance matrices for the transformed parameter estimates are provided. It is demonstrated that enforcing the knot removal condition during estimation leads to the difference penalties employed in the P-spline approach for estimation of B-spline coefficients, and therefore provides a further justification for this type of penalty. A final transform to a truncated power basis provides a simple equation for the model. This increases transportability, while retaining properties of the initial fit such as good prediction performance.     

An Overview and Future Perspectives of Aluminum Batteries

A critical overview of the latest developments in the aluminum battery technologies is reported. The substitution of lithium with alternative metal anodes characterized by lower cost and higher abundance is nowadays one of the most widely explored paths to reduce the cost of electrochemical storage systems and enable long‐term sustainability. Aluminum based secondary batteries could be a viable alternative to the present Li‐ion technology because of their high volumetric capacity (8040 mAh cm^?3 for Al vs 2046 mAh cm^?3 for Li). Additionally, the low cost aluminum makes these batteries appealing for large‐scale electrical energy storage. Here, we describe the evolution of the various aluminum systems, starting from those based on aqueous electrolytes to, in more details, those based on non‐aqueous electrolytes. Particular attention has been dedicated to the latest development of electrolytic media characterized by low reactivity towards other cell components. The attention is then focused on electrode materials enabling the reversible aluminum intercalation‐deintercalation process. Finally, we touch on the topic of high‐capacity aluminum‐sulfur batteries, attempting to forecast their chances to reach the status of practical energy storage systems.     

How to shift 100,000 products toward sustainability: creating a sustainable assortment at Haberkorn

Haberkorn is Austria’s biggest industrial wholesaler with ~1,000 employees and an annual turnover of about 260 Mill €. The range of goods consists of about 100,000 articles. Their goal: A sustainable assortment. The challenge: Assessing all the products and defining a sustainable product line. Goal and challenge are based on a corporate decision made by the management board: sustainability should meet the core business. As a scientific and implementation partner Haberkorn chose the Austrian Institute of Ecology. It is obvious that Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) for 100,000 articles are hardly feasible. Hence, a special screening tool for estimating the sustainability potential on product group level in a quick and efficient way had to be developed. The screening tool consists of three categories to be rated: risks, chances, and strategic impact. Product groups with a high score are chosen for further treatment as “sustainability candidates.” In addition, a questionnaire concerning the sustainability performance, knowledge about the supply chain, and willingness to cooperate was sent to all suppliers, and basic facts concerning environmental, health, safety, and social aspects of the major materials used in the products were compiled (material manual). All product line managers have used the screening to detect the sustainability potential of their product groups, and the coached assessment process on individual product basis has started successfully. The next steps consist of the transformation process of sustainability candidates into a sustainability assortment and the evaluation process of high risk articles. This ought to result in improvement or potential elimination of products which jeopardize the user’s health, generate environmental damages, are produced under poor working conditions, etc.     

Starch Consolidation Casting of Cordierite Precursor Mixtures—Rheological Behavior and Green Body Properties

The rheology of suspensions and mechanical properties of green bodies with cordierite composition (raw materials 37 wt% kaolin, 41 wt% talc, 22 wt% alumina, resulting in 46.6 wt% SiO₂, 38.1 wt% Al₂O₃, 13.6 wt% MgO) and two types of starch (corn or potato) are investigated. Rotational viscometry of suspensions with solids loading 50, 60, and 70 wt% without starch showed that all tend to be shear‐thinning with a small degree of thixotropy. Suspensions with a total solids loading of 60 wt% with 25 wt% replaced by starch exhibited higher viscosity and thixotropy, but the viscometric behavior is almost identical for the two starch types (apparent viscosities 130–50 mPa ·s). Oscillatory rheometry shows that for suspensions with potato starch the onset temperature for gelatinization is 61°C–63°C, that is, lower than for corn starch (72°C–73°C). Maximum storage moduli and phase shift values after gelatinization are similar for both systems. The mechanical properties of green disks, measured via diametral compression tests, reveal clear differences between materials prepared with corn and potato starch, with the latter showing higher elastic modulus, higher strength, and higher deformation at fracture, obviously because of incompletely gelatinized starch granules in the green bodies prepared with corn starch .