Effect of birch (Betula pendula) bark and food protein level on root voles (Microtus oeconomus): II. detoxification capacity

The effect of protein and birch bark powder (BBP) content of forage on detoxification capacity of root voles (Microtus oeconomus) was studied. Young voles were fed with eight different diets for two weeks. Individuals on low (3%) protein diets had significantly lighter livers and kidneys than those on moderate (6%) or high (12%) protein diets. Birch bark powder addition did not have significant effect on organ weight. Detoxification was significantly induced, apparently due to secondary compounds in BBP. The activity of ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (EROD) was high when protein content or BBP concentration in forage was high as compared to low protein diets or diets containing no BBP. Glucuronidation, on the other hand, was not induced by BBP. High BBP content caused serious physiological stress to the voles. The only individuals surviving were those capable of sufficiently allocating energy and protein to detoxification.     

Overlap-freeness in infinite partial words

We prove that there exist infinitely many infinite overlap-free binary partial words containing at least one hole. Moreover, we show that these words cannot contain more than one hole and the only hole must occur either in the first or in the second position. We define that a partial word is $k$-overlap-free if it does not contain a factor of the form $xyxyx$ where the length of $x$ is at least $k$. We prove that there exist infinitely many 2-overlap-free binary partial words containing an infinite number of holes.     

Extension of the decidability of the marked PCP to instances with unique blocks

In the Post Correspondence Problem (PCP) an instance (h,g)$(h,g)$ consists of two morphisms h$h$ and g$g$, and the problem is to determine whether or not there exists a nonempty word w$w$ such that h(w)=g(w)$h\left(w\right)=g\left(w\right)$. Here we prove that the PCP is decidable for instances with unique blocks using the decidability of the marked PCP. Also, we show that it is decidable whether an instance satisfying the uniqueness condition for continuations has an infinite solution. These results establish a new and larger class of decidable instances of the PCP, including the class of marked instances.     

Embedding linear orders in grids

A grid (or a mesh) is a two-dimensional permutation: an m× n-grid of size mn is an m× n-matrix where the entries run through the elements {1,2, …, mn}. We prove that if δ₁ and δ₂ are any two linear orders on {1,2, …, N}, then they can be simultaneously embedded (in a well defined sense) into a unique grid having the smallest size.     

A non‐repudiable negotiation protocol for security service level agreements

Security service level agreements (SSLAs) provide a systematic way for end users at home or in the office to guarantee sufficient security level when doing business or exchanging sensitive personal or organizational data with an online service. In this paper, we propose an SSLA negotiation protocol that implements non‐repudiation with cryptographic identities and digital signatures and includes features that make it resistant to denial of service attacks. The basic version of the protocol does not rely on the use of a trusted third party, and it can be used for all kinds of simple negotiations. For the negotiation about SSLAs, the protocol provides an option to use an external knowledge base that may help the user in the selection of suitable security measures. We have implemented a prototype of the system, which uses JSON Web Signature for the message exchange and made some performance tests with it. The results show that the computational effort required by the cryptographic operations of the negotiation protocol remains at a reasonable level. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Microprocessor Controlled System For Photoelectrochemical Measurements

ABSTRACT

An automatic system for measuring photocurrent of electrodes as a function of excitation wavelength and electrode potential is described. Applications to a chemically modified transparent Sn0₂ electrode and an oxide-covered tantalum electrode are shown.     

A new table for work with a microscope, a solution to ergonomic problems

Microscope workers are exposed to continuous static muscular work and an increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders in the neck, shoulder and upper extremities. In a Finnish research centre, microscope workers reported pain in the shoulder, neck, lower back and upper back. As a consequence, a programme to solve the ergonomic problems of microscope work was initiated and led to the construction of a new table for microscopes. Ten experienced male microscope workers were chosen as subjects to carry out an experimental study in which the new table and an old one, an ordinary non-adjustable laboratory table, were compared in a standardized microscope task. The dependent variable was the electromyographic activity measured from muscles in the neck–shoulder region. The new table allowed the microscope to be used with the head in an upright position, the forearms supported and with less flexion of the upper arm. Surface electromyographic measurements also confirmed that the changes were ergonomic improvements.     

Low-Power Application-Specific Processor for FFT Computations

In this paper, a processor architecture tailored for radix-4 and mixed-radix FFT computations is described. The processor has native support for power-of-two transform sizes. Several optimizations have been used to improve the energy-efficiency of the processor and experiments show that a programmable solution can possess energy-efficiency comparable to fixed-function ASICs.     

What goes down must come up? Trends of industrial electricity use in the North-West of Russia

This article uses decomposition method to analyse industrial electricity consumption in North-Western Russia, namely in Archangelsk oblast, the Republic of Karelia and Murmansk oblast. The case sectors, forestry and electricity, have in most cases developed similarly in the chosen regions during 1990–2001. The decomposition analysis shows that the reduction of economic activity has reduced electricity consumption in all three regions but that it is not always the main factor reducing consumption. The changes in energy efficiency increased consumption in the forestry sector in all regions while in the electricity sector it led to a reduction. The changes in the structures of the regional economies increased electricity consumption in electricity industry which gained importance due to developments in the manufacturing industry. In Murmansk, forestry sector has almost disappeared during the observation period. This was the main observed electricity consumption reduction caused by structural changes. Many of the developments can be better understood against the general knowledge of transition factors.