Chemical and nutritional evaluation of two amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus)-based infant formulas

The objective of this study was to calculate, prepare and evaluate the Protein Efficiency Ratio (P.E.R.) and Net Protein Utilization (N.P.U.) of two infant formulas made with amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus). Both formulas were formulated to match a previously developed and tested soy-oats infant formula. No significant differences were found between the three formulas with respect to corrected Protein Efficiency Ratio (P.E.R.) and Net Protein Utilization (N.P.U.) values. Only the product made with the 1-R fraction of amaranth was found to have a significantly lower P.E.R. than casein.     

A general approach for estimating scale score reliability for panel survey data.

Scale score measures are ubiquitous in the psychological literature and can be used as both dependent and independent variables in data analysis. Poor reliability of scale score measures leads to inflated standard errors and/or biased estimates, particularly in multivariate analysis. Reliability estimation is usually an integral step to assess data quality in the analysis of scale score data. Cronbach’s α is a widely used indicator of reliability but, due to its rather strong assumptions, can be a poor estimator (L. J. Cronbach, 1951). For longitudinal data, an alternative approach is the simplex method; however, it too requires assumptions that may not hold in practice. One effective approach is an alternative estimator of reliability that relaxes the assumptions of both Cronbach’s α and the simplex estimator and thus generalizes both estimators. Using data from a large-scale panel survey, the benefits of the statistical properties of this estimator are investigated, and its use is illustrated and compared with the more traditional estimators of reliability. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Entwicklungen von verschleiß-und korrosionsbeständigen Oberflächensystemen. Development of wear and corrosion resistant surface syatems

Develpoment of wear and corrosion resistant surface systems In this study two methods are described to realize wear and corrosion resistant surface systems: Plasma diffusion treatment (PDT) and Plasma assited CVD (PACVD). Plasma nitriding, Plasma nitrocarburizing and plasma boriding are used to treat different kinds of substrates. The advances of PACVD and the development of low temperature PACVD and industrial applications of these techniques are explained.     

Processes for System Family Architecting, Design, and Integration

Today, many systems within government and industry are typically engineered, not as stand alone systems, but as part of an integrated system of systems, or a federation of systems, or systems family. A significant level of effort has been devoted in the past several years to the development, refinement, and ultimately, acceptance of processes for engineering systems or systems engineering processes. Today, we have four ldquostandardrdquo processes within present and past standards: EIA-632, IEEE 1220, ISO 15288, and MIL-STD-499C. We continue to use systems engineering processes espoused in our current set of standards, and are left to our devices to tailor these processes to one appropriate for a systems family context. This paper will examine the systems engineering processes in existence today and conclude with development of a process designed specifically for systems family applications.     

Successful reimplantation of a completely separated thumb (author's transl)

Successful reimplantation of a completely amputated thumb is described. The guiding principles to which attention must be paid for a successful reimplantation, particularly with regard to transport of the amputated part are emphasized.     

Degloving injuries of the soft tissues of the heel. An indication for microvascular revascularization!

The sole of the foot has a unique soft tissue structure which allows weightbearing. There is no adequate reconstructive method for soft tissue defects of the weightbearing sole. Soft tissue reconstructions in this area frequently develop stress lesions. After degloving injuries of the heel, the unique vascularisation of the sole may lead to ischemia and consecutive soft tissue necrosis. Revascularisation of degloved heel pads e.g. by reconstruction of the medial calcaneal branch of the posterior tibial artery is recommended as a salvage procedure. In the primary treatment of extremity injuries with severe soft tissue damage a plastic surgeon should be involved.     

Einfluß der Behandlungstemperatur beim plasmaunterstützten Gasphasenborieren mittels BCl3

The influence of the glow discharge using BCl₃-H₂-Ar-atmosphere on the characteristics of the obtained boride layers has been investigated by optical emission spectroscopy for different treatment temperatures. Several species have been identified in the discharge. A special effect in respect to corrosive reactions can be ascertained for the density ratio of the species B*/Cl⁺* that is influenced among other factors by the treatment temperature. Considering the discharge conditions it is possible to suppress corrosive reactions on the substrate surface if the process temperature is stepped.     

Accuracy and precision of the three-dimensional assessment of the facial surface using a 3-D laser scanner

Three-dimensional (3-D) recording of the surface of the human body or anatomical areas has gained importance in many medical specialties. Thus, it is important to determine scanner precision and accuracy in defined medical applications and to establish standards for the recording procedure. Here we evaluated the precision and accuracy of 3-D assessment of the facial area with the Minolta Vivid 910 3D Laser Scanner. We also investigated the influence of factors related to the recording procedure and the processing of scanner data on final results. These factors include lighting, alignment of scanner and object, the examiner, and the software used to convert measurements into virtual images. To assess scanner accuracy, we compared scanner data to those obtained by manual measurements on a dummy. Less than 7% of all results with the scanner method were outside a range of error of 2 mm when compared to corresponding reference measurements. Accuracy, thus, proved to be good enough to satisfy requirements for numerous clinical applications. Moreover, the experiments completed with the dummy yielded valuable information for optimizing recording parameters for best results. Thus, under defined conditions, precision and accuracy of surface models of the human face recorded with the Minolta Vivid 910 3D Scanner presumably can also be enhanced. Future studies will involve verification of our findings using test persons. The current findings indicate that the Minolta Vivid 910 3D Scanner might be used with benefit in medicine when recording the 3-D surface structures of the face.