Obesity is characterized by the abnormal or excessive deposition of fat in the adipose tissue. Its consequences go far beyond adverse metabolic effects on health, causing an increase in oxidative stress,...Full Text Available
Obesity is associated with increased susceptibility to dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and hypertension, a combination of traits that comprise the traditional definition of the metabolic syndrome. Recent evidence suggests that obesity is also associated with the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Despite the high prevalence of obesity and its related conditions, their etiologies and pathophysiology remains unknown. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of obesity and NAFLD. Previous genetic analysis of high-fat, diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6J (B6) and A/J male mice using a panel of B6-ChrA/J/NaJ chromosome substitution strains (CSSs) demonstrated that 17 CSSs conferred resistance to high-fat, diet-induced obesity. One of these CSS st...
Objective: To study the correlation of the bone mineral density (BMD) and the body composition components of body mass index (BMI), FAT and LEAN in Chinese obesity. Methods: There were 150 cases in obesity group diagnosed by BMI, including 75 males [ median age 46 years, mean weight (89.64 #+-# 8.33) kg] and 75 females [median age 45 years, mean weight (77.23 #+-# 6.85) kg]. There were 150 persons with normal BMI in the control group, including 75 males [(median age 47 years, mean weight (62.34 #+-# 5.72) kg] and 75 females [ median age 45 years, mean weight (50.16 #+-# 5.06) kg]. The body height and weight of 300 persons in two groups were measured respectively and ,simultaneously calculated the BMI. These data and the body composition parameters measured by the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in these two groups were compared and analyzed. The data obtained used two-sample t-test analysis, bi-variable correlation ...
In a "nutrition transition", the consumption of foods high in fats and sweeteners is increasing throughout the developing world. The transition, implicated in the rapid rise of obesity and diet-related...Full Text Available
All treatments for obesity, including dietary restriction of carbohydrates, have a goal of reducing the storage of fat in adipocytes. The chief enzyme responsible for the mobilization of FFA from adipose...Full Text Available
Brown fat is a specialized tissue that can dissipate energy and counteract obesity through a pattern of gene expression that greatly increases mitochondrial content and uncoupled respiration. PRDM16...Full Text Available
Insulin resistance plays a central role in type 2 diabetes and obesity, which develop as a consequence of genetic and environmental factors. Dietary changes including high fat diet (HFD) feeding promotes...Full Text Available
Menopause is characterized by the progressive reduction of estrogens resulting to cessation of menses. It is associated with an increase of cardiovascular risk factors such as hyperglycemia, hypertension, dyslipidemia and of abdominal and/or selective visceral fat mass deposition. Obesity, a modern day epidemic, is promoted by an obesogenic environment that interacts with the genetic background. The result is a positive energy balance materialized by the accumulation of the adipose tissue. This process is marked by great individual variation. Obesity is also associated with the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. In this review, the main pathophysiologic processes for the increase of obesity in menopause and the possible effects of pre-menopausal obesity regarding the cessation of ova...
Computed Tomography (CT) and, more recently, ultrasound (US), have proved excellent tools for quantifying adipose tissue distribution. Body fatdistribution is an important factor in the treatment of obesity and its complications. In this work it is investigated the correlation between CT and US measurements in pediatric obesity. Forty obese children and adolescents aged 4.1-14.8 years were submitted to CT and US. Intra-abdominal, subcutaneous and total body fat were calculated (in cm{sup 2}), with the CT image analysis software. The rectus muscle-spine and rectus muscle-aorta distances, as indicative of visceral fat thickness, were measured on US images with(out) compression. The distance between skin fat and fat-rectus muscle interfaces was measured as subcutaneous ...
Abnormal fat metabolism plays an important role in the pathogenesis of obesity-related type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study examined whether free fatty acid levels (FFAs), like insulin levels, oscillate...Full Text Available
Gestational exposure to maternal overweight (OW) influences the risk of obesity in adult life. Male offspring from OW dams gain greater body weight and fat mass and develop insulin resistance when fed...Full Text Available
Cellular hypertrophy is regulated by coordinated pro- and antigrowth machineries. Foxo transcription factors initiate an atrophy-related gene program to counter hypertrophic growth. This study was designed...Full Text Available
Obesity is a risk factor for stroke and neurodegenerative disease. Excess body fat has been linked to impaired glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, and impulsivity and may be a precursor to decline...Full Text Available
Growing evidences indicate that proteases are implicated in adipogenesis and in the onset of obesity. We previously reported that the cysteine protease cathepsin K (ctsk) is overexpressed in the white...Full Text Available
Total potassium was assayed in 150 normal weight and obese females (cervical carcinoma-52, endometrial carcinoma-25 and breast cancer-73) by measurements of 40K spontaneous radiation in a low-background chamber. Control group included 30 healthy and 25 obese females. Computations of body cell and extracellular mass and fat were carried out on the basis of the said measurements. Extracellular fluid volume was measured in 38 patients by X-ray fluorescence method using sodium bromide. The results pointed to a body cell mass deficit matched by increased extracellular mass due to a higher fat level in patients with breast, endometrial and cervical carcinoma. The said correlation was particularly pronounced in obese patients. The beneficial effect of treatment was more often observed in patients with normal body weight. PMID:3739295
No research has compared expressions of weight bias across different subgroups of obese individuals. This study compared attitudes toward and beliefs about obesity in women with and without binge eating disorder (BED) and examined whether these attitudes are related to psychological factors. Fifty obese women with BED were compared with an age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched group of 50 obese women without BED on a battery of established measures of anti-fat attitudes and beliefs about weight controllability and psychological factors (self-esteem, depression, and eating disorder features). The ageand BMI-matched groups did not differ with respect to beliefs about obesity or attitudes toward obese persons, or in self-esteem or depression. Correlational analyses conducted separately within each group revealed that women with BED who ...
While levels of weight bias vary among individuals, it is not clear why one person possesses stronger anti-fat attitudes than another person. This investigation examined whether individual differences commonly associated with greater anti-fat bias are also associated with a greater preference for thinness among people of varying levels of weight. Young adults (62% women; 84% Caucasian) recruited from psychology classes (N=308) rated four male and female figures with approximate BMIs of 18.5, 25, 30, and 40, on measures of dislike and personality characteristics and completed measures assessing weight controllability, attitudes toward the obese, and perceptual reliance. Greater negative attitudes, weight controllability beliefs, and perceptual reliance were positively associated with greater dislike and negative personality attributes among obese/severely obese figures, but inversely ...
Previous research demonstrates that we tend to derogate individuals who are perceived to be in a social relationship with stigmatized persons. Two experiments examined whether this phenomenon also occurs for individuals seen in the presence of an obese person and whether a social relationship is necessary for stigmatization to spread. The results from both experiments revealed that a male job applicant was rated more negatively when seen with an overweight compared to a normal weight female and that just being in the mere proximity of an overweight woman was enough to trigger stigmatization toward the male applicant. Experiment 2 examined possible moderating effects of the proximity finding. Applicants seated next to heavy (vs. average weight) individuals were denigrated consistently regardless of the perceived depth of the relationship, the participant's anti-fat attitudes or gender, and whether or not positive information was presented ...
Inhibition of adipogenesis and lipid accumulation has a very crucial role to prevent obesity. Low molecular weight (LMW) chitosan is known to inhibit fat accumulation and adipogenesis. (N,O)-sulfated chitosan is a sulfation derivative of chitosan oligomers, and its anti-obesity effect is not yet reported. In this study, it has been reported that (N,O)-sulfated chitosan significantly decreased lipid accumulation, an indicator for adipogenesis, in differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. Furthermore, mRNA expressions and protein levels of key adipogenic markers such as peroxisome prolifetor-activated receptor (PPAR)-@c and CCAAT-enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)-@a were considerably decreased by (N,O)-sulfated chitosan treatment. As a consequence, sulfation of LMWC remarkably increased its ...
Sida rhomboidea. Roxb leaf extract (SRLE) is being used by the populace of North-East India to alleviate symptoms of diabetes and obesity. We have previously reported its hypolipidemic and anti-diabetic properties. In this study, we report the effect of SRLE on (i) in vivo modulation of genes controlling high fat diet (HFD) induced obesity and (ii) in vitro 3T3L1 pre-adipocyte differentiation and leptin release. Supplementation with SRLE significantly prevented HFD induced increment in bodyweight, plasma lipids and leptin, visceral adiposity and adipocyte hypertrophy. Also, SRLE supplementation reduced food intake, down regulated PPAR?2, SREBP1c, FAS and LEP expressions and up-regulated CPT-1 in epididymal adipose tissue compared to obese mice. In vitro adipogenesis of 3T3L1 pre-adipocytes was significantly retarded in the presence of SRLE extract. Also decreased triglyceride accumulation, leptin ...
Analysis of the pattern of the chromosomal localization of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) is necessary for comprehensively understanding their functions. The chromosomal localization of QTLs controlling milk production traits has been studied in cattle chromosomes. The distribution of QTLs between chromosomes has proved to be binomial. Their distribution along each chromosome was, in general, uniform, except for the QTLs controlling the somatic cell score (SCS), which tended towards telomeric location. However, there are chromosomes either enriched with or particularly poor in QTLs. The QTL distribution patters are the most similar for the milk yield (M) and milk protein yield (P) and for milk fat yield (F) and milk fat content (%F). The pattern of the SCS QTLs stands out among those of ot...
Macronutrient self-selection and responses to dietary protein dilution were investigated in Senegalese sole, a flatfish species of interest for Mediterranean aquaculture. Eight groups of six sole were distributed among 75-l tanks and allowed to feed on three experimental diets composed of pure macronutrients: PC (75% crude protein and 25% carbohydrate), PF (75% crude protein and 25% crude fat) and PFC (10% crude protein, 45% crude fat and 45% carbohydrate). Choosing from the above diets, the sole selected a diet containing 68.0% crude protein, 15.7% crude fat and 16.3% carbohydrate. When the PF diet was diluted 50% with cellulose, the fish increased their feed intake to sustain the energy intake (5.0?kJ/kg BW/day). Their selection of fat remained unchanged, while carbohydrate selection sig...
Rats from an inbred Sprague-Dawley strain were fed semisynthetic diets with a low (0.3 energy percent (en %)), normal (3 en %) or high (10 en %) content of essential fatty acids (EFA) for at least three generations. Twenty-nine- to 33-day-old male rats were given a single intragastric dose of (1-14C)linoleic acid in olive oil, and the respiratory CO2, urine and feces were collected for 46 hours (expt 1) or 20 hours (expt 2). The 14C activity in respiratory CO2, feces, urine and the carcass was determined in both experiments. In experiment 2 it was also measured in samples of the brown fat, liver, adrenals, white fat, skeletal muscles and brain. In both experiments the rats fed the low EFA diet retained significantly more 14C activity than the rats fed the normal or high EFA diets. In all groups the concentration of label was highest in the brown fat and the adrenals, but the above differences among the groups with respect ...
The authors have studied the distribution of H-3 labelled schistosomicidal drug in mice by autoradiography. The H-3-labelled substances were found in liver and kidney and in successfully decreasing amounts in brain, lung, heart, fat, testis, pancreas and spleen. In various cells the silver granules were present mainly in the cytoplasms but a few in the nucleus. After administration of this labelled schistosomicidal drug, the mice were killed and studied in groups successively at 4, 8, 24 hrs. No difference in the distribution of silver granules were observed. This fact indicated that, this drug was rapidly absorbed and highly concentrated with a long duration of reservation in liver. All of these favours the schistosomicidal effect of the drug. As this drug was highly concentrated in the cytoplasm of liver cells, that might provide a pathophysiologic basis for the explanation of jaundice in the clinical practice. Moreover, ...
The prevalence of obesity among children, adolescents and adults has been dramatically increasing worldwide during the last several decades. The obesity epidemic has been recognized as one of...Full Text Available
Background:Childhood obesity is increasingly being observed with changing lifestyles of families. The magnitude of overweight ranges from 9% to 27.5% and obesity ranges...Full Text Available
To determine the mechanism of the cardiac dilatation and reduced contractility of obese Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats, myocardial triacylglycerol (TG) was assayed chemically and morphologically. TG was...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe increasing prevalence of obesity in young women is a major public health concern. Few data are available concerning the epidemiology of malnutrition especially obesity...Full Text Available
Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) maps to a region on distal mouse chromosome 7 that has been linked to the phenotypes of obesity and type II diabetes. We recently reported that UCP2 expression is increased...Full Text Available
Adipocyte death has been reported in both obese humans and rodents. However, its role in metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, and inflammation associated with obesity...Full Text Available
We examined fat phobia, defined as a pathological fear of fatness, by constructing the Fat Phobia Scale, determining its reliability and validity, examining correlates of fat phobia, and using a treatment approach designed to decrease fat phobia. Study 1 describes the development of the Fat Phobia Scale, a 50-item, modified 5-point semantic differential scale. Subjects (974 females and 117 males) completed the scale; factor analysis yielded six factors. Respondents who are average weight, female, younger, have more than a high school education, or are nonmedical professionals are more likely to have fat phobic attitudes. Study 2 examines fat phobic attitudes of women (N = 40) who had negative feelings about their bodies. Subjects completed the Fat Phobia Scale before and after a treatment approach ...
Retention kinetics and tissue partition coefficients for "8"5Kr were determined in rats exposed to known concentrations of "8"5Kr gas. The tissue partition coefficients were used to calculate the relative tissue radiation dose, assuming exposure conditions equivalent to the maximum permissible concentration in air (MPC)a. The estimated radiation dose was highest in adrenals and body fat, about twice the dose estimated for the next highest tissue, ovaries. Saturation and desaturation curves show that the contents of the large intestines have a prolonged desaturation time compared to other samples analyzed.
ObjectiveTo assess familial links in fat stereotypes and predictors of stereotypes among girls and their parents.Research Methods and...Full Text Available
Exercise promotes weight loss and improves insulin sensitivity. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating its beneficial effects are not fully understood. Obesity correlates with increased production...Full Text Available
Serum protein and lipid concentrations as well as the serum protein binding of propranolol, diazepam and phenytoin were measured in normal weight and obese volunteers. Concentrations of alpha 1-acid...Full Text Available
The current obesity pandemic is expected to result in considerable downstream morbidity, mortality and incremental costs to health care systems around the world. The major metabolic complications of...Full Text Available
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of maternal obesity on mode of delivery following induction of labour (IOL) for prolonged pregnancy and subsequent intrapartum and neonatal complications.DesignRetrospective...Full Text Available
Obesity and metabolic syndrome result from excess calorie intake and genetic predisposition and are mechanistically linked to type II diabetes and accelerated body aging; abnormal nutrient and insulin...Full Text Available
The influence of obesity on the metabolism of apolipoprotein B (apo B) in very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) was investigated...Full Text Available
Understanding the pathogenesis of obesity is now more important than ever, given the remarkable world-wide epidemic. This paper explores the potential role of core temperature in energy balance, and...Full Text Available
BackgroundAdipose tissue lipid storage and processing capacity can be a key factor for obesity-related metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and diabetes. Lipid uptake is...Full Text Available
Acquired resistance to the action of insulin to stimulate glucose transport in skeletal muscle is associated with obesity and promotes the development of type 2 diabetes. In skeletal muscle,...Full Text Available
BackgroundObesity is one of the principal causative factors involved in the development of metabolic syndrome. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an energy sensor that regulates...Full Text Available
The disposition of three (1-/sup 14/C)-chlorododecanes (MCDD, PCDD I and PCDD II; 17.4%, 55.9%, and 68.5% chlorination) was studied in C57Bl mice. (1-/sup 14/C)-lauric acid (LA) was studied as reference compound. Fifty-two percent (MCDD), 32% (PCDD I), and 8% (PCDD II) of the radioactive doses were exhaled as /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ during 12 h after i.v. injection. Similar results were obtained after p.o. administration. In addition to a marked labelling of the liver and fat, the distribution patterns observed at 24 h after administration revealed an uptake of radioactivity in tissues with high cell turnover/high metabolic activity, e.g., intestinal mucosa, bone marrow, salivary glands and thymus. The concentration of radioactivity in these sites and the exhalation of /sup 14/CO/sub 2/, which were inverse to the degree of chlorination, indicate that the chloroalkanes are degraded to metabolites which can be utilized in the intermediary metabolism. A ...
The growing epidemic of juvenile obesity has prompted pediatricians to investigate obesity-related conditions in obese teenagers. We report a clinical case of severe hepatic fibrosis in an adolescent with severe and recent obesity. Because of elevated serum aminotransferase levels, abnormal hepatic ultrasonography and insulin resistance (impaired glucose tolerance), we suspected nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Disease activity and fibrosis were confirmed on liver biopsy. Considering the risk of progression toward cirrhosis and its complications, and the pathological liver lesions, we started long-term medical monitoring and drug therapy to control weight loss. At present, although biopsy is the only validated way to establish the diagnosis of NASH, there is no consensus on its indicat...
Male infertility, characterized by hypogonadism, decreased semen quality or ejaculatory dysfunction, accounts for approximately 20% of infertility cases. Obesity and metabolic dysfunction have been identified, among other causal factors, to contribute to male infertility. In the context of the Western world's `obesity epidemic', this article discusses three main biological mechanisms linking obesity to impaired male reproductive function: hypogonadism, testicular heat stress/hypoxia-induced apoptosis and endocrine disruption by `obesogens'. Among these, obesity-induced hypogonadism is undoubtedly the most clinically significant and is easily assessed. Rapidly expanding areas of research in this area include leptin modulation of kisspeptins and hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular hormone path...
Abstract This study examines the relationship between emotional/behavioral difficulties and obesity among US adolescents aged 12-17 using parent-reported data for 11,042 adolescents in the National Health Interview Survey. Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ?sex/age-specific 95th percentile BMI cut-points from the 2000 CDC Growth Charts. Types of emotional/behavioral difficulties were identified using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Among females, emotional/behavioral difficulties were associated with obesity among non-Hispanic (NH) white and Hispanic adolescents (both those with interviews in English and interviews in Spanish). Among males, emotional/behavioral difficulties were associated with obesity among NH white adolescents and Hispanic males with interview...
SummaryBrown fat is specialized in energy expenditure, a process that is principally controlled by the transcriptional co-activator PGC-1α. Here we describe a molecular...Full Text Available
Disorders of mitochondrial fat metabolism lead to sudden death in infants and children. Although survival is possible, the underlying molecular mechanisms which enable this outcome have not yet been...Full Text Available
Pericardial fat necrosis is an infrequent cause of acute chest pain and this can mimic acute myocardial infarction and acute pericarditis. We describe here a patient with the magnetic resonance imaging...Full Text Available
Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to establish for the first time reference curves for body fat levels in a Greek pediatric population aged 7-15y.Methods:...Full Text Available
The most commonly studied laboratory rodents possess a specialized form of fat called brown adipose tissue (BAT) that generates heat to help maintain body temperature in cold environments. In...Full Text Available
Objective: To study the changes of serum leptin, insulin and adiponectin levels and their relationship with BMI in females with simple obesity. Methods: Serum leptin, adiponectin and insulin levels were measured with RIA in 48 pre-obese females (BMI=23-24.9 kg/m"2), 40 females with simple obesity, (BMI#>=#25 kg/m"2) and 42 female controls (BMI 18-22.9 kg/m"2). Correlations among these variables were studied. Results: Serum leptin, insulin levels were significantly higher and serum adiponectin levels were significantly lower in both the pre-obese and obese females than those in controls. Serum leptin, insulin levels were positively correlated to BMI; Serum adiponectin levels were negatively correlated to BMI. Conclusion: Within normal range of BMI, the leptin-insulin feedback mechanism provided satisfactory self-regulation. However, with excessive BMI, this dynamic equilibrium ...
The central nervous system (CNS), generally accepted to regulate energy homeostasis, has been implicated in the metabolic perturbations that either cause or are associated with obesity. Normally, the CNS receives hormonal, metabolic, and neuronal input to assure adequate energy levels and maintain stable energy homeostasis. Recent evidence also supports that the CNS uses these same inputs to regulate glucose homeostasis and this aspect of CNS regulation also becomes impaired in the face of dietary-induced obesity. This review focuses on the literature surrounding hypothalamic regulation of energy and glucose homeostasis and discusses how dysregulation of this system may contribute to obesity and T2DM.
BACKGROUNDLifestyle modifications are successfully employed to treat obese and overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The aims of the current pilot study were (i) to compare the efficacy on reproductive functions of a structured exercise training (SET) programme with a diet programme in obese PCOS patients and (ii) to study their clinical, hormonal and metabolic effects to elucidate potentially different mechanisms of action.METHODSForty obese PCOS patients with anovulatory infertility underwent a SET programme (SET group, n = 20) and a hypocaloric hyperproteic diet (diet group, n = 20). Clinical, hormonal and metabolic data were assessed at baseline, and at 12- and 24-week follow-ups. Primary endpoint was cumulative pregnancy rate.RESULTSThe two groups had similar demogra...
Bariatric surgical procedures have become important therapeutic options for treatment of morbid obesity in both adults and adolescents co-morbidities of obesity such as glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), metabolic syndrome, steatohepatitis, hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease. These co-morbidities of obesity have significant impacts on the overall quality of life of the individual and our society at large. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and the relatively newer procedures of gastric banding (GB) and vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) have proven to be efficacious in achieving rapid weight loss and reversing the comorbidities of obesity. Unfortunately, bariatric procedures are not without risks including micronutrient deficiency, failure to maintain lost weight, and mortalit...
... for a stapling or division of tissue the creation of a small gastric pouch which then assists ... follow up. Laparoscopic gastric bypass entails the surgical creation of a small gastric pouch, typically about an ...
Adipose tissue plays an essential role in energy homeostasis as a metabolic and endocrine organ. Accordingly, adipocytes are emerging as a major drug target for obesity and obesity-mediated metabolic syndrome. Dysfunction of enlarged adipocytes in obesity is involved in obesity-mediated metabolic syndrome. Adipocytokines, such as adiponectin released from small adipocytes, are able to prevent these disorders. In this study, we found that honokiol, an ingredient of Magnolia officinalis used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicines, enhanced adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Oil Red O staining showed that treatment with honokiol in the presence of insulin dose-dependently increased lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipoyctes although its activity was weak compared with r...
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) remains to be the most effective long-term treatment for obesity and its associated comorbidities, but the specific mechanisms involved remain elusive. Because RYGB patients appear to no longer be preoccupied with thoughts about food and are satisfied with much smaller meals and calorically dilute foods, brain reward mechanisms could be involved. Just as obesity can produce maladaptive alterations in reward functions, reversal of obesity by RYGB could normalize these changes or even further reset the food reward system through changes in gut hormone secretion, aversive conditioning and/or secondary effects of weight loss. Future studies with longitudinal assessments of reward behaviors and their underlying neural circuits before and after surgery wil...
diet and genetic obesity metabolic defects and inflammation. To determine the role of adipocyte death in promoting adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance in animal...
RationaleProcedures for studying the effects of medications on satiation will assist the development of obesity medications.ObjectivesFull Text Available
Preschool-age children hold negative attitudes toward overweight peers (i.e., anti-fat attitudes), but little is known about individual differences in these attitudes. The current study investigated actual weight status and perceived body size in relation to preschool-age children's anti-fat attitudes. Sixty-nine 4-6 year-olds (61% girls) were individually interviewed about their body size perceptions using a figure rating scale and anti-fat attitudes using multiple methods (including an adjective rating scale and ratings of acceptability for different body shapes). Results suggested that children's perceived body size, not actual body size, was related to their attitudes about an overweight figure and the number of figures rated as acceptable. Children who perceived themselves as heavier held fewer anti-fat attitudes. Perceived and actual body size ratings were not related to ratings of a thin figure. ...
Prejudice against overweight people is rife. However, there is a paucity of research on the underlying reasons for it. In two studies the relationship between body image, the tendency to make physical appearance-related comparisons (PACS), and both explicit and implicit anti-fat attitudes was examined. In Study 1 (n = 227) people with a high tendency to make physical appearance-related comparisons (high PACS scorers) reported lower self-appearance evaluation, but higher appearance orientation and explicit anti-fat attitudes. The PACS fully mediated the relationship between appearance orientation and explicit anti-fat attitudes. Study 2 (n = 134) found that the PACS also mediated the relationship between appearance orientation and implicit anti-fat attitudes. Thus, individual differences in factors such as body image and the tendency to make appearance-related comparisons, appear to play a central role ...
INTRODUCTION:Postprandial lipemia is characterized by an increased concentration of circulating lipids after fat intake and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease....Full Text Available
Fermented sausages were produced with 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of their pork back fat content replaced by amorphous cellulose gel. The sausage production was monitored with physical, chemical and microbiological analyses. The final products were submitted to a consumer study, and the volatile compounds of the final products were extracted by solid-phase microextraction and analyzed by GC/MS. The reformulated fermented sausages had significant reductions in fat and cholesterol, and the volatile compounds derived from lipid oxidation were also reduced in the final products. These results suggest that the substitution of up to 50% of the pork back fat content by amorphous cellulose gel can be accomplished without a loss of product quality, enabling the production of fermented sausages with the l...
Objectives: Evaluate the effect of diet, physical exercise, and a daily oral intake of a soy isoflavones extract (Fisiogen) contained 200mg of Glycine max, which corresponded to 80mg of isoflavone (60.8mg of genistein, 16mg of daidzein and 3.2mg of glicitein) on leptin and other adipokines plasma levels in healthy obese postmenopausal women. Methods: A multicentric randomized longitudinal prospective cohort study was conducted in a sample of 87 healthy obese postmenopausal women. Patients were randomly assigned to a 1200kcal diet and exercise group (control group) or a group of 1200kcal diet, exercise, and daily oral intake of daily oral intake of a soy isoflavones extract (Fisiogen) contained 200mg of Glycine max, which corresponded to 80mg of isoflavone (60.8mg of genistein, 16mg of daid...
In recent years, Obesity (defined as Body Mass Index > 30 kg/m2) has increased its prevalence reaching epidemic levels in countries such as The United States where it has became a national health issue. In Colombia the Obesity prevalence is figured around 14%. Treatment options for Obesity include life style modifications, pharmacologist management and surgical approach (Bariatric Surgery). This article describes a patient with previous bariatric surgery, who presents abdominal pain and melena owed to isquemic process of the alimentary limb caused by an internal hernia which is a potentially lethal condition if it is not highly suspected allowing its early diagnosis and treatment
Insulitis is considered the histopathological hallmark of type I diabetes. In the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse, diabetes has never been observed in the absence of insulitis. The in vivo detection of insulitis could be of relevance for early prediction of diabetes. As approximately 15% of islet-infiltrating lymphocytes express interleukin 2 receptors, the authors have labelled recombinant inter-leukin 2 with "1"2"3I and used this radiopharmaceutical to detect insulitis by gamma camera imaging. The authors studied 71 prediabetic NOD and 27 normal Balb/c mice. Labelled #alpha#-lactalbumin was used as the control protein. In the first set of experiments the tissue distribution of radiolabelled interleukin 2 in isolated organs from animals sacrificed at different time points was studied. Higher radioactivity was detected in the pancreas of NOD mice injected with labelled interleukin 2, as compared to NOD mice receiving labelled ...
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a platelet concentrate that has widely been used to accelerate the healing of soft and hard tissues. The preparation of PRP has been described by several authors. Preparation protocols vary from system to system, depending on the concentration of different integrating proteins. The objective of this article is to describe the principal use of PRP mixed with fat grafts in aesthetic plastic surgery.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether resistance exercise training-induced reductions in inflammation are mediated via melanocortin 3 receptor expression in obese (BMI 32.7 ± 3.7)...Full Text Available
Syndrome X is a combination or co-occurrence of several known cardiovascular risk factors (including central obesity, dyslipidemias, fatty liver disease, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance,...Full Text Available
Vitamin D deficiency is a well-known comorbidity of obesity that can be exacerbated after bariatric surgery and can predispose the patient for hypocalcemia. Vitamin D and calcium doses to prevent and...Full Text Available
BackgroundLarge population growth surveys of children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 y were undertaken in Hong Kong in 1963 and 1993. The global epidemic of obesity is a major public...Full Text Available
Adipocyte differentiation is a complex developmental process that involves the coordinated interplay of numerous transcription factors. PPARγ has emerged as a master regulator of adipogenesis...Full Text Available
Percutaneous tracheostomy is a routine procedure in intensive care units. In cases of very low position of the larynx, cervical spine deformation, morbid obesity, or neck tumor, performance of the classic...Full Text Available
Some pathological conditions with feeding pattern alterations, including obesity and Huntington disease (HD) are associated with hypothalamic dysfunction and neuronal cell death. Additionally, the hypothalamus...Full Text Available
BackgroundHealthcare professionals can play a crucial role in optimizing the health status of patients with cardiovascular risk factors (abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, low...Full Text Available
OBJECTIVENicotinamide adenine dinucleotides (NAD+ and NADH) play a crucial role in cellular energy metabolism, and a dysregulated NAD+-to-NADH ratio is implicated...Full Text Available
Objective:We examine the extent to which body weight affects three types of perceived interpersonal mistreatment, and evaluate whether these patterns vary by race,...Full Text Available
OBJECTIVE—Identification of arterial genes and pathways altered in obesity and diabetes.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Aortic gene expression profiles of...Full Text Available
Hypothalamic systems which regulate appetite may be permanently modified during early development. We have previously reported hyperphagia and increased adiposity in the adult offspring of rodents fed...Full Text Available
The mammalian circadian system consists of a central oscillator in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus, which coordinates peripheral clocks in organs throughout the body. Although circadian...Full Text Available
Physical activity and sedentary behavior are central components of lifetime weight control; however, our understanding of dimensions of these behaviors in childhood is limited. This study investigated...Full Text Available
BackgroundObesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. It is implicated in the development of a variety of chronic disease states and is associated with increased...Full Text Available
Social stress is prevalent in many facets of modern society. Epidemiological data suggest that stress is linked to the development of overweight, obesity and metabolic disease. Although there...Full Text Available
The prevalent surge in childhood and adolescent obesity within the past 3 decades poses a significant challenge for many pediatric clinicians who are charged with treating this condition. The...Full Text Available
OBJECTIVEPhosphoinositide 3-kinase enhancer A (PIKE-A) is a proto-oncogene that promotes tumor growth and transformation by enhancing Akt activity. However, the physiological functions...Full Text Available
BackgroundObesity is a major public health threat and policies aimed at curbing this epidemic are emerging. National calorie labeling legislation is forthcoming and requires rigorous...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe occurrence of diabetes has greatly increased in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Asia, as has the prevalence of overweight and obesity; in European-derived...Full Text Available
BackgroundHigh intake of sugar-sweetened beverages in childhood is linked to increased risk of obesity and type II diabetes later in life. Using three nationally representative surveys...Full Text Available
BackgroundWith rates of childhood obesity increasing, physical activity (PA) promotion especially in young children has assumed greater importance. Given the limited effectiveness...Full Text Available
ObjectiveMaintaining weight loss is a major challenge in obesity treatment. Individuals often indicate that waning motivation prompts cessation of effective weight...Full Text Available
Background and RationaleAtypical antipsychotics exhibit metabolic side effects including diabetes mellitus and obesity. The adverse events are preceded by acute worsening of oral...Full Text Available
Diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC), a chelating agent, is an active metabolite of disulfiram (Antabus) and is used in the rubber industry. The effect of DDTC on the tissue distribution of "2"0"3Pb was studied in rats. Two groups of rats were given an i.v. injection of 100 #mu#Ci "2"0"3Pb (28.6 nmol/kg b.wt.) as lead acetate. After 10 min one group received 2 mmol/kg b.wt. of DDTC as an i.p. injection. Rats were killed 4 and 72 h after injection of "2"0"3Pb and tissue concentration and excretion of "2"0"3Pb was determined by gamma counting. The brain concentration of "2"0"3Pb in DDTC-treated rats was nine times higher than in controls after 4 h and 14 times higher after 72 h. Treatment with DDTC also increased the lead concentration in fat about seven times at both survival intervals. On the other hand, uptake of "2"0"3Pb in bone was reduced by treatment with DDTC and at 4 h also kidney and blood had a lower concentration of "2"0"3Pb in DDTC-treated ...
Epididymal adipocytes, isolated from rats pretreated with (/sup 14/C)-2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (6-CB), were utilized to examine the relationship between the mobilization of lipid and 6-CB and to determine whether 6-CB was differentially associated with subcellular organelles over time as has been demonstrated for newly synthesized lipid. Lipolysis, depleted approximately 1% of total cellular triacylglycerols (TG) regardless of time from treatment with 6-CB. The percentage of cellular 6-CB released from adipocytes to incubation buffer infranatants was not correlated with the magnitude of lipolysis produced over the 50-min incubation period; nor was the percentage of 6-CB released to the buffers correlated with the length of the incubation period, regardless of the presence of ISO. Although adipocytes responded similarly to lipolytic stimuli independent of time (days) since 6-CB treatment, significant decreases were found in the percentage of 6-CB ...
Pinealectomy completely prevented gonadal regression as well as reduction in body weight and white adipose tissue content of the gonadal and retroperitoneal fat deposits in male meadow voles transferred from long to short day lengths. Pineal influences on pelage characteristics depended on which parameter was assessed. For instance, the increase in guard hair length observed in short-day control voles was blocked by pinealectomy; however, a similar increase in underhair length was unaffected by removal of the pineal gland. Photoperiod-dependent changes in fat deposition, testicular activity, and guard hair length presumably rely on altered pineal secretory activity to transduce the effects of day length on the neuroendocrine axis; however, mechanisms independent of pineal activity may be capable of mediating photoperiodic control of underhair growth. PMID:2979644
Skip to Content Cancer Control and Population Sciences Home Applied Research Home Risk Factor Monitoring and Methods Home Diet Usual Dietary Intakes: Background The NCI Method Details of the NCI Method Food Intakes, US Population, 2001-04 Selected Intakes
Skip to Content Cancer Control and Population Sciences Home Applied Research Home Risk Factor Monitoring and Methods Home Diet Usual Dietary Intakes: Background The NCI Method Details of the NCI Method Food Intakes, US Population, 2001-04 Selected Intakes
Objectives:The supermarket industry now services many customers through online food shopping over the Internet. The Internet shopping process offers a novel opportunity...Full Text Available
In vivo short-term effects of recombinant human TNF-alpha on lipolysis, FFA flux, fat oxidation, triglyceride-fatty acid cycling, and glucose kinetics were evaluated with stable isotopic tracers and...Full Text Available
The rate-limiting step in the transit of dietary fat across the intestinal absorptive cell is its exit from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in a specialized ER-to-Golgi transport vesicle, the prechylomicron...Full Text Available
Adipose tissue is central to the regulation of energy balance. Two functionally different types of fat are present in mammals: white adipose tissue (WAT), the primary site of triglyceride storage,...Full Text Available
Craniofacial injuries require a variety of different cell types to repopulate areas of bone, cartilage, tendon, and fat. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) provide a multipotent cell source for tissue...Full Text Available
AIMS—(1) To validate a leg to leg bioimpedance analysis (BIA) device in the measurement of body composition in children by assessment of its agreement with dual energy x...Full Text Available
Seq 1 was 8 images spaced 2sec apart, 999 ms man exp, filter 0. ... This region is the 2 sigma ellipsoid. This means, there was 90% chance that ... At this point the ellipse was fat and collapsed as we were still looking more or less ...
Hormone potency depends on receptor availability, regulated via gene expression and receptor trafficking. To ascertain how central leptin receptors are regulated, the effects of leptin challenge, high-fat...Full Text Available
The effects of dietary monosodium glutamate (MSG) on trans-fatty acid (TFA)-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are addressed in an animal model. We used Affymetrix microarray...Full Text Available
BackgroundAcute low back pain is a very common symptom and reason for many medical consultations. In some unusual circumstances it could be linked to a rare aetiology.Case...Full Text Available
1. The effect on rat liver peroxisomal beta-oxidation of feeding diets containing various amounts of dietary oils was investigated. With increasing amounts (5-25%, w/w) of soya-bean oil an apparent,...Full Text Available
Confluent monolayers of microvascular endothelial cells, derived from the rat epididymal fat pad and grown in culture, were radioiodinated by using the lactoper-oxidase method. Their radioiodinated...Full Text Available
A factor produced by plerocercoids of the tapeworm Spirometra mansonoides is similar to human growth hormone (hGH) in that it stimulates body growth, binds to hGH receptors, cross-reacts with anti-hGH antibodies, and has lactogenic and insulin-like activities. The purpose of this study was to determine whether plerocercoid growth factor (PGF) is similar to hGH in expressing diabetogenic activity in the genetically obese (ob/ob) mouse. To determine an effective dose for use in the obese mice, the ability of daily injections of PGF to stimulate growth of phenotypically normal mice of the same strain was assessed in a 10-day weight gain assay. Injections of PGF stimulated a dose-dependent weight gain (r = 0.83) and 25 ng eq/day of PGF stimulated a response not significantly different from that produced by 100 micrograms of bovine growth hormone/day. Diabetogenicity was assessed using fasting blood glucose and glucose tolerance tests in ...
Bariatric surgical procedures have become important therapeutic options for treatment of morbid obesity in both adults and adolescents co-morbidities of obesity such as glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), metabolic syndrome, steatohepatitis, hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease. These co-morbidities of obesity have significant impacts on the overall quality of life of the individual and our society at large. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and the relatively newer procedures of gastric banding (GB) and vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) have proven to be efficacious in achieving rapid weight loss and reversing the comorbidities of obesity. Unfortunately, bariatric procedures are not without risks including micronutrient deficiency, failure to maintain lost weight, and mortality. Further, the resolution of T2DM has long been understood to precede weight loss, and this finding provides ...
Abstract Aims: The aim of this study was to examine whether metabolic syndrome (MS) is associated with periodontitis in a representative sample of Korean adults, who were involved in the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Materials and Methods: A total of 7178 subjects over the age of 19 years who participated in KNHANES were examined. MS was defined as the definition proposed by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III and the abdominal obesity cut-off line based on Korean Society for the Study of Obesity. The periodontal status was assessed by the Community Periodontal Index. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out adjusting for the sociodemographics, oral health behaviours and status, and health behaviou...
Objectives Our purpose was to evaluate interaction of green tea consumption and abdominal obesity as related factors for lacunar infarction in Korean women. Designs A hospital-based, incident case-control study. Settings The Prevention and Managements of Stroke in Women study. Participants Cases (n=233) of first incident lacunar infarction were enrolled and matched by age to stroke-free hospital controls (n=204). Measurements The data were collected through face-to-face interviews by well trained research assistants to assess demographic, medical, lifestyle, marital status, religions status, green tea consumptions, family history of stroke, smoking status, alcohol consumption, meat and vegetable intake frequency, and past history of hypertension. Biochemical analysis, fasting blood specime...
Apelin is a peptide known as the ligand of the G-protein-coupled receptor APJ. Several active apelin forms exist such as apelin-36, apelin-17, apelin-13, and the pyroglutamated form of apelin-13. Apelin and APJ are expressed in the central nervous system, particularly in the hypothalamus and in many peripheral tissues. Apelin has been shown to be involved in the regulation of cardiovascular and fluid homeostasis, food intake, cell proliferation, and angiogenesis. In addition to be an ubiquitous peptide, apelin is also produced and secreted by adipocytes and thus considered as an adipokine. This has opened a new field of investigation establishing a link between apelin and metabolic disorders (obesity, type 2 diabetes, etc.) which is the focus of the present review. Several studies, but not...
BackgroundAdipokines, e.g. TNFα, IL-6 and leptin increase insulin resistance, and consequent hyperinsulinaemia influences breast cancer progression. Beside its mitogenic...Full Text Available
Increased oxidative stress is a known cause of cardiac dysfunction in animals and patients with diabetes, but the sources of reactive oxygen species [e.g., superoxide anion (O2−)]...Full Text Available
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a serious health problem linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes. To investigate the biological outcome and therapeutic potential of hepatic fatty acid uptake inhibition,...Full Text Available
The CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBPβ) is required for adipocyte differentiation and maturation. We have studied the role of the transcription factor, C/EBPβ,...Full Text Available
Tea catechin is one of the compounds that are closely related to obesity and insulin sensitivity. In order to determine the effect of catechin on adipocyte differentiation, we treated 3T3-L1 preadipocytes...Full Text Available
Dutch-style fermented sausages were manufactured with 15% and 30% pork back-fat substitution by pure or commercial encapsulated fish oil, either added as such or as pre-emulsified mixture with soy protein isolate. Adding commercial encapsulated fish oil was the most important factor influencing the chemical composition. The fat content was not significantly different between products (p>0.05). The n-6/n-3 ratio decreased from 8.49 in controls to 0.90-2.47 in modified products. Lipid oxidation parameters (propanal and hexanal) showed much higher values for sausages with pure fish oil than for products with encapsulated oil. For the latter, lipid oxidation was similar to controls. Products with encapsulated or pre-emulsified oil were significantly firmer than products from other treatments i...
Short photoperiods reduce both body mass and food intake of male meadow voles. To help determine whether the primary effect of short day lengths is on regulation of some component of body mass or on the control of food consumption, voles housed in a long photoperiod were provided rations equivalent to those consumed by animals in short day lengths. Animals were transferred to a short photoperiod and after either 3 or 6 weeks of food restriction were fed ad lib. Both groups of voles overate after termination of food restriction and achieved seasonally appropriate body masses that were influenced by the duration of short photoperiod treatment. We conclude that short photoperiods gradually alter the regulated level of one or more components of body mass. We tested and failed to support the hypothesis that the subcutaneous fat depot is selectively spared during seasonal weight loss and thereby increases surface insulation. Thus, the proportion of adipose tissue ...
We developed a new breast surface coil for the supine position. The subjects consisted of 9 patients with breast cancer varying from 46 to 60 years of age (average: 52). The cancer image of the SPGR (CE+) method was compared with that of the FSMTC (MTC-SPGR (CE+)) method and that of the FSMTC (MTC-SPGR with fat-saturation (CE+)) method in the sagittal section after injection of Gd-DTPA (0.1 mmol/kg). Quantitative analyses were performed before and after injection of Gd-DTPA in 6 patients. Three patients were excluded from the quantitative analyses owing to the clear detection of tumors in the fat tissue. Signal intensity measurements were systematically performed in each region of interest (ROI), i.e. the cancer lesion, the surrounding mammary gland. Statistical analyses showed significant differences between the lesions using the FSMTC (MTC-SPGR (CE+)), and the FSMTC (MTC-SPGR with fat-saturation (CE+)) methods and the ...
Objective: To determine the reproductibility of three-dimensional volume and thickness measurements of the knee joint cartilage with MRI in volunteers. Methods: The knees of 7 healthy individuals (ages 23 to 58 yrs.) were sagitally imaged with a resolution of 2x0.31x0.31 mm{sup 3}, using a fat-suppressed FLASH-3 D sequence. The knee was repositioned in between replicate acquisitions, 6 data sets being obtained in each case. After semiautomatic segmentation and three-dimensional reconstruction of the cartilage, the thickness was determined independent of the original section orientation. The coefficient of variation for repeated volume measurements and the deviations of the maximal cartilage thickness values were calculated subsequently. Results: The mean variation of the cartilage volumes of the replicate measurements was 1.4% ({+-}0.8%) in the patella, 1.7% ({+-}1.5%) in the femur, 3.0% ({+-}1.2%) in the medial tibial plateau and 3.5% ({+-}2.0%) in the lateral ...
A novel continuous laminar shear structuring crystallizer with a suitable cooling system was designed and built. This is a new method to continuously crystallize edible fat in the desirable polymorphic form from the melt while being uniformly sheared.The machine consists of four main sections: Feed unit, shearing mechanism, cooling system and power unit. In each of these sections specific design considerations are taken into account which makes the process controllable and continuous. The shearing unit is made of two concentric cylinders. The internal cylinder is stationary and has a cooling system inside for temperature control. The outer cylinder rotates to produce a uniform shear in the sample fluid placed in the 1.5mm gap between the cylinders. The sample's feed rate is controlled whil...
The half-value thicknesses, linear and mass attenuation coefficients of biological samples such as bone, muscle, fat and water have been measured at 140, 364 and 662keV ?-ray energies by using the ATOMLABTM-930 medical spectrometer. The ?-rays were obtained from 99mTc, 131I and 137Cs ?-ray point sources. Also theoretical calculations have been performed in order to obtain the half-value thicknesses and, mass and linear attenuation coefficients at photon energies 0.001keV-20MeV for bone, muscle and water samples. The calculated value and the experimental results of this work and the other results in literature are found to be in good agreement.
The study was conducted during 2000 to determine the role of various chemical plant factors viz., total minerals, nitrogen, fat contents, carbohydrate, macro an micro nutrients in the leaves of five genotypes of sugarcane i.e., BF-162, SPSG-26, L-118, CP-43/33 and CP-72/2086 by correlating the infestation of top borer, Scirpophaga Nivella F. at tillering stage. None of the genotype was found completely resistant to the pest. CP-43/33 and BF-162 proved susceptible and resistant varieties, respectively. Total mineral, manganese and copper contents did not show significant correlation with the pest infestation, whereas nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium and ferrous contents played a positive and significant role. Phosphorous, carbohydrates, fats and zinc contents played a significant and negative effect on the pest infestation at tillering stage. (author)
Glucose homeostasis requires the tight regulation of glucose utilization by liver, muscle and white or brown fat, and glucose production and release in the blood by liver. The major goal of maintaining glycemia at -5 mM is to ensure a sufficient flux of glucose to the brain, which depends mostly on this nutrient as a source of metabolic energy. This homeostatic process is controlled by hormones, mainly glucagon and insulin, and by autonomic nervous activities that control the metabolic state of liver, muscle and fat tissue but also the secretory activity of the endocrine pancreas. Activation or inhibition of the sympathetic or parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous systems are controlled by glucose-excited or glucose-inhibited neurons located at different anatomical sites, mainl...
Practical procedures were developed for large-scale microbial decontamination of dry egg powder and gelatine with gamma radiation ("6"0Co). The formation and lifes of free organic radicals in these materials were examined by ESR measurements of powder samples. The concentration of these radicals was studied in dependence on the time of storage. Secondary oxidation of egg fats by air oxygen was investigated. Sensoric tests of irradiated gelatine, both in powder and hydrogel form, were performed. (author). 4 figs., 2 tabs., 2 refs.
Accumulation of "8"5Kr in arterial blood of sheep occurs within 10 min of inhalation exposure initiation, and disappears by 30 min after exposure termination. As reported for other species, "8"5Kr concentrations in fat were approximately 10 times those in other tissues.
DescriptionThis application is a request for Bridge Link funds to support studies in order to develop a full proposal under the Link Sustainable Livestock Scheme in collaboration with Dr Nigel Scollan of IGER. The hypothesis being examined is that the poor performance of some ruminants is due to poor nutrition at strategic time points during the animal's development. The initial hypothesis will be tested in sheep and the results from this will be used to develop the full proposal. Excessive fat in ruminan [continued...
The clinical and metabolic effects of two regimens of total parenteral nutrition delivering the same amino-acid (2·8 g/kig per 24 h), fat (4·8 g/kg per 24 h), and glucose (12 g/kg per...Full Text Available
Abstract High Post-Modernism with its understanding of the significance of the image anticipated the flattening of culture, first in advertising and the printed media, and more recently online. Sam Jacob of FAT speculates on architecture's relationship with the Internet, -a flatland of undifferentiated information-, and how Radical Post-Modernism might be best placed to resist the ubiquity of global culture while reanimating the social and cultural agenda of Modernism and Post-Modernism. Copyright 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A combination of sustained release (SR) naltrexone (32mg/day) and bupropion SR (360mg/day) plus behavioral counseling was evaluated for the treatment of smoking cessation and mitigation of nicotine withdrawal and weight gain. Thirty overweight or obese nicotine-dependent subjects were enrolled in a 24-week, open-label study; 85% and 63% completed 12 and 24weeks, respectively. The target quit date was Week 4. Week 4-12 continuous abstinence rate was 48%, 78% of subjects achieved CO 10ppm, serum cotinine decreased from 185 to 48mg/L, and tobacco use decreased from 129 to 14 cigarettes/week. Similar results were seen at Week 24. Body weight was essentially unchanged (Week 12: -0.1%; Week 24: +0.4%). Except for a transient significant increase 1week after the target quit date (p<0.05), nicotin...
The liver is a primary target of growth hormone (GH). GH signals are mediated by the transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5). Here, we focus on recent discoveries about the role of GH-STAT5 signaling in hepatic physiology and pathophysiology. We discuss roles of the GH-STAT5 axis in body growth, lipid metabolism, and the cell cycle pertaining to hepatosteatosis, fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Finally, we discuss recent discoveries about the role of GH-STAT5 in sex-specific gene expression and bile acid, steroid, and drug metabolism.
Background This report describes the authors? experience with a unique endoluminal, endoscopically delivered and retrieved gastroduodenojejunal bypass sleeve, including short-term weight loss and changes in comorbidities. Methods A prospective, single-center trial was designed. The patients were morbidly obese individuals who met the National Institutes of Health criteria for bariatric surgery. The device used was a unique gastroduodenojejunal bypass sleeve secured at the esophagogastric junction with endoscopic and laparoscopic techniques and designed to create an endoluminal gastroduodenojejunal bypass. At completion of the trial, the device was explanted with endoscopic retrieval. The primary end points were safety and incidence of adverse events. The secondary outcomes included the per...
Regular physical activity (PA) decreases the risk of several chronic diseases including some cancers, type II diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease; however, the majority of US adults are not meeting the recommended levels to experience these benefits. To address this public health concern, the underlying mechanisms for behavior change need to be understood, translated and disseminated into appropriately tailored interventions. The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) provides a framework for both the conceptualization and the measurement of behavior change, as well as facilitating promotion strategies that are individualized and easily adapted. The purpose of this manuscript is to present the constructs of the TTM as they relate to PA behavior change. We begin with a brief synopsis of rec...
Now, more than ever, there are serious health concerns for obese and overweight children. Schools are the perfect setting for children to learn, and this influence can play an important role in preventing children from becoming obese and overweight. The study concerns the behaviors of Health Promoting School (HPS) according to a broad definition of HPS in World Health Organization (WHO), or dependent on schools own health promoting policies. The purpose of study research is to examine whether promoting physical activity among the children at schools in relation to a school health policy such as Food and Nutrition Policy (FNP). This was determined through the comparisons between the FNP based schools and non policy based schools. The study undertook surveys among school food coordinators in the selected Danish primary schools through a web-based questionnaire. The questions in the survey were more focused on physical activity in internal and ...
A novel method for non-destructive intramuscular fat (IMF) estimation via spectral ultrasound backscatter analysis of signals obtained from pig carcasses early post mortem is described. A commercial hand-held ultrasound device (center frequency: 2.7MHz) was modified to focus the sound beam to the longissimus muscle at the 2nd/3rd last rib. Time-resolved ultrasound backscatter signals of loin muscle were recorded 45minp.m. on 82 pig carcass sides. Backfat width (d"B"F=18.9+/-3.8mm) and muscle attenuation (@a"m"u"s"c"l"e=.77+/-.15dBMHz^-^1cm^-^1) were assessed from the measured pulse echo data. Other propagation properties of skin, backfat and muscle tissue obtained in a previous investigation were incorporated into the signal pre-processing to minimize parameter estimation artifacts. Spectr...
To evaluate the yield of SPIR sequences with fat suppression in the diagnosis of optic nerve lesions. T1 and T2 weighted fat suppressed SPIR imaging of the optic nerve improves anatomical definition, lesion detection and characterization in optic nerve conditions. [Italian] L'articolo analizza i vantaggi ricavabili dall'utilizzazione delle sequenze SPIR nella documentazione del decorso del nervo ottico e delle sue alterazioni nei pazienti con sospetto clinico e strumentale di malattia retrobulbare. L'utilizzo delle sequenze SPIR consente ottimale visualizzazione del nervo ottico e delle sue eventuali alterazioni senza gli artefatti che limitavano la qualita' delle immagini nelle prime sequenze RM con soppressione del segnale del grasso.
A solution based on sludge and Olive oil mill effluent (OME) co-digestion, coupled with a management plan, has been implemented, to treat and dispose safely, the mixed residues, into the natural forest and agricultural land. The mixture of up to 25% OME to the sludge improved anaerobic degradation of phenols and fats. High density fat compounds, present in OME, enhanced aggregation, settling and acetoclastic activity of anaerobic sludge. The full scale unit, obtained by modification of a cold digester, allowed to set-up a low capital cost system. The system produced large quantity of biogas and electric energy. Anaerobic degradation of the mixture improved fertilizing properties, making feasible land application of the digested mixture. Regional plan based in Geographical Information System (GIS) selected 800 ha of adequate land area for application near the WWTP. The experience is technically and economically successful. Main incomes are ...
To determine MTRs for normal structures and benign diseases in the breast two-dimensional magnetization transfer imaging was performed in 62 patients and in 3 young female volunteers. With regard to the MTRs of measurements in the normal breast tissues, fat tissues which is close to simple cysts in MTRs show little transfer of longitudinal magnetization. MTRs of the muscles was 15.15{+-}6.22%, which exceeded those of breast parenchyma. The breast parenchyma didn`t show the change of MTR value due to the difference of patient age and due to variable amount of fat and fibrous tissues. Breast parenchyma in the two young volunteers clearly showed biphasic change of MTR values in accordance with the menstrual cycle; little transfer value was due to hydration in the postovulatory period and high transfer value was due to dehydration in the preovulatory period. In the remaining one volunteer during lactation period, mammary parenchyma shows sever ...
To make the doubly labelled water method for determining energy expenditure more applicable in a free-living population, collection of a single daily urine or breath sample would have advantages compared to a 24-hr urine collection. Coward et al. reported the use of a single daily urine sample. In the previously described study, a single urine collection and a fasting morning breath sample were collected from four men during two 21-day periods (fall, F, spring, S) while maintaining their body wts. on controlled diets (20% calories from protein, 40% from fat, 60% from CHO [F]; 20% protein, 20% fat, 60% CHO [S]). Urine and breath samples were analyzed to determine disappearance rates of D and "1"8O for up to 21 days. Values were compared with metabolizable energy intake levels (EI), with or without corrections for estimated changes in body composition assessed by several methods. Preliminary evaluations suggest that the single daily urine sample ...
Objectives To clarify the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition in Japanese women aged 18?40?years with low forearm BMD. Methods The subjects were Japanese199 women who had been selected for inclusion in the study based on a low forearm BMD determined at the Annual Women?s Health Examination. The subjects? mean (? standard deviation) age, body height, body weight, and body mass index (BMI) were 33.5 (?4.3) years, 158.1 (?5.1) cm, 49.6 (?5.7) kg, and 19.8 (?2.1), respectively. The BMD of the lumbar spine, total body, and left arm were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Fat mass (FM), bone-free lean tissue mass (LTM), and body fat percentage (BF%) were measured simultaneously with DXA. Results In the structural equation model, the standardiz...
Forty-one cases of mediastinal tumor examined by computed tomography were reviewed. CT findings of the mediastinal malignancy were as follows: 1) inhomogeneous density on contrast CT, 2) equivocaton of fat plane surrounding the tumor, 3) irregular margin. Benign teratoma had smooth margin and included fat or calcification density. Mediastinal seminoma was observed as a lobulated mass with no calcification on CT. These findings were similar to the patterns of malignant thymoma or lymphoma. Consequently, it was very difficult to differentiate between malignant thymoma and malignant lymphoma by CT. According to our data, malignant thymoma tended to expand to only one side of the anterior mediastinum and to invade the anterior chest wall. On the other hand, malignant lymphoma of anterior medistinal type expanded into the trachea and the superior vena cava. In patients with sarcoidosis, the enlargement of bilateral hilar lymph nodes was commonly ...
Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the functional properties of cartilaginous tissues generated by porcine MSCs isolated from different tissue sources, and to compare these properties to those derived from chondrocytes (CCs). MSCs were isolated from bone marrow (BM) and infrapatellar fat pad (FP), while CCs were harvested from the articular surface of the femoro-patellar joint. Culture-expanded CCs and MSCs were encapsulated in agarose hydrogels and cultured in the presence of TGF3. Samples were analysed biomechanically, biochemically and histologically at days 0, 21 and 42. After 42 days in free swelling culture, mean GAG content was 1.50% w/w in CC-seeded constructs, compared to 0.95% w/w in FP- and 0.43% w/w in BM-seeded constructs. Total collagen accumulation was hig...
The results of the experiments on the pressure oxidation of oil and fat in waste waters shows that the final COD and TOC values decrease with growing temperature and reaction time and decreasing initial concentration. Oxidation of oil and fat in waste water is no straight forward procedure. Therefore it should be compared in the individual case with laternative methods in terms of cost and economic efficiency. (EF) [Deutsch] Die Ergebnisse der Versuche zur Druckoxidation von Oel und Fett in Abwaessern zeigten, dass sich die CSB- und TOC- Endkonzentration verringerte mit steigender Temperatur, Reaktionszeit und verringerter Ausgangskonzentration. Die Oxidierbarkeit von Oel und Fett in Abwaessern ist sehr schwierig. Deshalb sollte in jedem Einzelfall ein Vergleich mit alternativen Verfahren bezueglich Aufwand und Wirtschaftlichkeit vorgenommen werden. (EF)
A method of treating bitumina and allied substances of asphaltose character includes heating the material to be treated with up to 25% of its weight of a substance of the group consisting of vegetable and animal oils and fats and fatty acids. The resulting material is heated to a temperature of about 250/sup 0/C under sufficient pressure to prevent the material escape of sulfur dioxide from the reaction mixture in the presence of a substance of the group consisting of inorganic acids of sulfur containing at least 4 oxygen atoms and their anhydrides. The heating is continued until there is no free acid left in the reaction mass.
Single photon tomography using lipophilic tracers provides tomographic representations of regional blood flow. To penetrate a healthy blood-brain barrier requires that radiotracers either are fat-soluble or have an affinity for one of the selective blood-brain barrier transport systems. In recent years there has been an increasing interest to explore the ideal physical characteristics of "9"9"mTc for diagnostic problems of brain diseases. The development of radiopharmaceuticals for brain imaging including the intensively studied "9"9"mTc-propyleneamineoxime derivatives is discussed. (author).
When the use of retarders in utility vehicles increased in the middle of the 80s, the Forschungsvereinigung Automobiltechnik (FAT) commissioned a study on the safety aspect of this braking technology in trucks. Retarders are wear-free permanent brakes that are fitted in the drive transmission system of utility vehicles, thereby generating braking forces only at the wheels of the live shaft. The question of the possible overbraking of the live shafts was just as well investigated as the interaction between the retarder and service brake in so-called integrated braking systems, and both under conditions of low adhesion as well as in the border area of the dynamics of vehicle movement. This subject met with considerable joint interest on the part of the motor vehicle industry as well as of manufacturers of towed vehicles and unit sets. FAT, therefore, commissioned the Institut fuer Kraftfahrwesen of the University of Hannover to carry out a ...
Authors retrospectively analyzed the CT findings of mediastinal lesions in surgically or clinically confirmed 37 cases at Kosin Medical College during recent 4 years from September 1979 to August 1983. 1. Among 37 caes, malignant lymphoma were 7 cases, thymoma and vascular lesion or anomaly were 5 cases respectively, benign teratoma and tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenitis and neurogenic tumor were 4 cases respectively, pericardial cyst were 2 cases, bronchogenic cyst, non-specific cyst, pancreatic pseudocyst, mesothelioma, Bochdalek hernia was 1 case respectively. 2. The sex ratio between male and female was about 1 : 1 and the majority of the patients with malignant lymphoma and teratoma was under 20 years old. 3. CT findings of the each mediastinal lesion. 1) Primary mediastinal malignant lymphoma. (1) A large, matted, continuous and midline-crossing mass was observed in the superior and the anterior mediastinums in all cases. (2) In 3 cases, irregular lower densities were seen in ...
Liver paste or foie gras, which is a French term meaning fatty liver, was produced traditionally from goose and duck. Chickens are also used in the making of foie gras. The present study deals with the properties and quality of raw chicken and duck liver in comparison with manufactured liver paste (foie gras). Raw chicken liver contained 24.60% protein, 6.00% fat, 1.40 % ash, and 66.80% moisture. The average mineral values were 83.65, 50.75, 5.29, 1.15, 0.154, 0.683, 0.317 and 0.066 {mu}g/g of Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cr, respectively. The processing of liver paste (Foie gras) changed the composition of raw liver due to a loss in moisture, a release of fat and the addition of butter as a fat source. Chicken liver paste contained 27.8% moisture, 10.1% protein, 58.2% fat, and 0.8% ash. Mineral contents were 68.90, 40.50, 1.60, 1.1, 0.08, 0.22, 0.04 and 0.04 {mu}g/g of Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cd, Pb, Ni, ...
Purpose: Hormonal activity causes breast volume to change during the menstrual cycle. One possible cause of this volume change is thought to be due to water retention or oedema within the tissues. We used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study the variation in breast volume and {sup 1}H Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) to measure T{sub 2} relaxation times which are known to increase with increasing tissue water content. We hypothesised that an increase in breast volume will elevate T{sub 2} relaxation due to the presence of an increased water content within the breast. T{sub 2} Relaxation time and volume were studied in fifteen control subjects and in a cohort of eight patients with cyclical mastalgia in order to determine whether changes in breast volume and T{sub 2} relaxation times differed in controls and patients during menses, ovulation and premenses. Method: Breast volume was determined by the Cavalieri method in combination with point counting techniques on MR images ...
Experiences with weight stigma negatively impact both psychological outcomes (e.g., body dissatisfaction, depression) and behavioral outcomes (e.g., dieting, exercise). However, not everyone is equally affected by experiences with weight stigma. This study examined whether internalized societal attitudes about weight moderated the impact of weight stigma. Adult participants (n = 111) completed measures of experiences with weight stigma, as well as two indexes of internalized societal attitudes (the moderators): Internalized anti-fat attitudes and internalization of societal standards of attractiveness. Psychological outcomes included self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, and bulimic symptoms; behavioral outcomes included avoidance of exercise and self-reported exercise behavior. Weight stigma was positively correlated with body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, and bulimic symptoms, and was negatively correlated with state and trait self-esteem. ...
This study reports the outcome of real-time ultrasonographic screening tests of a healthy population. The study group consisted of 33 female teachers who were found to have asymptomatic gallstone disease. All cases were followed up to determine the incidence of biliary colic or complications. After a 38-month period of follow-up, seven subjects (21.2%) developed either biliary colic or complication. Study results revealed that the 38-month cumulative probability of the development of biliary colic or complication was 36%. Data shown that development of biliary colic or complications was positively associated with obesity, but no assocition was found with age, number of activities, or duration of contraceptive pill-taking. Having such a high percentage of subjects who developed biliary colic or complications within a relatively short period of time suggests that the silent gallstone is not innocent. PMID:17372404
Objective Comorbidities predisposing cardiac surgical patients toward deep sternal wound infection, such as diabetes and obesity, are rising in the United States. Longitudinal analysis of risk factors, morbidity, and mortality was performed to assessed effects of these health trends on deep sternal wound infection rates. Methods In this retrospective analysis of all median sternotomies performed at a single institution from 1991 through 2006, demographic and surgical characteristics were identified from a prospective database. The cohort was separated into periods from 1992 through 2001 and 2002 through 2006 to identify longitudinal trends in risk factors for deep sternal wound infection. Univariate and matched multivariable analyses were performed. Results Overall, study population had in...
A wide variety of phytochemicals present in our diet, including fruits, vegetables, and spices, have been shown to possess a broad range of health-beneficial properties. The cytoprotective and restorative effects of dietary phytochemicals are likely to result from the modulation of several distinct cellular signal transduction pathways. Many dietary phytochemicals that are synthesized as secondary metabolites function as toxins, that is, -phytoalexins,- and hence protect plants against insects and other damaging organisms and stresses. However, at the relatively low doses consumed by humans and other mammals, these same toxic plant-derived chemicals, as mild stressors, activate adaptive cellular response signaling, conferring stress resistance and other health benefits. This phenomenon has...
Kundur [Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.], a member of the family Cucurbitaceae, is one of the famous crops that are grown primarily for its fruits and usually recognized with its nutritional and medicinal properties especially in Asian countries. Kundur fruit has been valued as a nutritious vegetable as it provides a good source for natural sugars, amino acids, organic acids, mineral elements and vitamins. A number of medicinal properties such as anti-diarrheal, anti-obesity, anti-ulcer, and antioxidant and diuretic have been ascribed to this fruit of high economic value. As a rich source of functionally important bioactives and therapeutics such as triterpenes, phenolics, sterols, and glycosides, the fruit has been widely used for the treatment of epilepsy, ulcer, and other nervous disor...
Keratinocyte growth factor receptor (KGFR) and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) 2c share identical amino acid sequences, except for a 46-amino acid domain in the extracellular region. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific to KGFR have not been reported nor are commercially available. In this study, we generated murine MAbs specific to KGFR in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice using a modified Repeated Immunizations at Multiple Sites (RIMMS) technology. Stable cell lines expressing the full-length human KGFR or FGFR2c were produced to facilitate the identification of KGFR-specific MAbs. Following the initial screening of hybridoma clones with a fluorescence-based, confocal cell detection method and ELISA, KGFR-specific MAbs were selected and confirmed by flow cytometry and Western blot ...
Abstract Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a highly prevalent condition, is independently associated with increased risks of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and metabolic syndrome. It is unclear, however, if the severity of OSA has any impact on glycemic control among patients with T2D. We therefore aimed to determine the independent association between OSA severity and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in patients with T2D. Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study of 52 consecutive patients attending the diabetes obesity clinic between January 2008 to February 2010 with risk factors for sleep apnea and who underwent polysomnography study. Clinical, demographic, and lifestyle data were recorded using a questionnaire. Results: Prevalence of OSA in this clini...
The proton momentum distributions of (39)K,(40)Ca and (48)Ca are calculated from the model-independent charge distributions obtained from analyses of electron elastic scattering and muonic atoms, and also from the charge distributions calculated from the single-particle potential method in the framework of the flucton model. The sensitivities of the momentum distribution to different regions of the charge distribution are determined. The analysis is extended to the neutron distributions using the single-particle potential method, and the differences between the proton and neutron momentum distributions are examined. The resulting momentum distribution in the case of (40)Ca is used for analyzing the quasielastic electron scattering.
ObjectiveTo examine the extent to which the regional and neighborhood distribution of HIV in Tanzania is caused by the differential distribution of individual correlates...Full Text Available
Full text: Many studies have demonstrated significant declines in 24-hour energy expenditure (TEE) measured by whole body calorimetry with either the process of weight loss or the maintenance of reduced body weight. The aims of this study were to determine the effect of weight loss and two weeks of weight maintenance on TEE using ["1"4C]-bicarbonate-urea, Eleven subjects (6 males, 5 females), mean (#+-#SE) age 50 #+-# 3 years, BMI 34.1 #+-# 2.1 kg/m2 and body fat 38.7 #+-# 3% were studied before and after a decrease in body weight of > 8% over a period of 8 weeks, followed by two weeks of weight maintenance. Weight loss was induced using the combination of Modifast and one small meal a day (#approx#3.34 MJ/day). Body composition (DEXA), resting energy expenditure (REE) and the thermic effect of a 2.7 MJ test meal (TEF) were measured in addition to TEE at week 2 and again at week 12. Diet was assessed using diaries and physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) ...
Many foods have been implicated in theories about the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease. While evidence has accumulated that nutritional factors as part of overall lifestyle changes may play a role in the growing incidence, no specific dietary recommendations except the promotion of breastfeeding can currently be given to decrease the risk of developing Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. For the treatment of Crohn's disease in children and adolescents, however, enteral feeding with a semi-elemental diet seems to be as effective as corticosteroids in inducing and maintaining remission. In the meta-analyses, advantages of one formula over the other are evened out, and more research is warranted into the anti-inflammatory properties of different nutrients, such as polyunsaturated fat...
A full scale co-digestion system for sludge and Olive oil mill effluent (OME) and a regional sludge management plan has been set-up to solve urgent environmental problems, modifying an existing cold municipal digester, by means of simple and effective technology. Monitoring of the full scale system demonstrated good compatibility between OME and sludge, up to 20% mixture, and high removal of organics compounds. Coagulant compounds present in OME (mainly Fats), promoted aggregation and settling of anaerobic sludge and also its acetoclastic activity, minimizing the load returned to the wastewater treatment line and improving also the activated sludge system. The co-digestion of OME with sludge agreed the project purposes, and produced large quantity of biogas and electric energy.
This study examined the psychometric properties of the Anti-fat Attitudes Scale (AFAS), a 5-item instrument developed by the authors to measure negative attitudes toward overweight individuals. A total of 4 studies were conducted among Canadian adolescents (n = 1,452) and university students (n = 424). Results suggested that the AFAS possessed a unidimensional factor structure and satisfactory reliability for both men and women. As predicted, men obtained higher scores than women on the AFAS, and antifat attitudes were positively associated with authoritarianism, homonegativity, and political conservatism. Participants who were overweight had lower scores on the AFAS than participants who were thin or average weight. Responses on the AFAS did not appear to be contaminated by social desirability bias. PMID:10457760
Cuphea, a relatively unknown plant outside the scientific community, might someday provide valuable oils for manufacturing soaps, detergents, surfactants, and lubricants, and may have medical, nutritional and dietetic applications as well. Unique properties of oils found in its seed make cuphea a potentially valuable new crop for the USA. Its seeds contain large quantities of medium-chain fatty acids such as lauric acid, which is used in manufacturing soaps and detergents. Other medium-chain fatty acids in cuphea can be used for clinical treatment of rare human ailments associated with fat absorption. New uses for the fatty acids in the seed may be developed and economic conditions may change, making the crop more or less valuable.
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) images of live rats with sterile and pyogenic abscesses, hematomas, and various implanted and spontaneous neoplasms demonstrated good contrast differentiation between pathologic and surrounding normal tissues. This differentiation was maximal when both the T1 and T2 tissue relaxation times were used as criteria. Neoplasms have a broad range of T1 and T2 values and may be confused with abscesses or hematomas. Tissue rate constants (1/T1 and 1/T2) are mainly dependent on total water content, the exception being fat, which has a 1/T2 value much shorter than that expected on the basis of water content alone.
Starch from the fruits of sweetsop (Anonna squamosa) and soursop (Anonna muricata) were isolated and purified and the fat, ash, phosphorus and protein contents measured. The amount of amylose present was determined spectrophotometrically and found to be very similar (19%) for both starches. Scanning electron microscopy showed very small indented and spherical granules from both with an average granule size of 4.84mm and 4.72mm, respectively. The physicochemical properties, namely the swelling power, solubility, pasting characteristics, paste clarity and freeze-thaw stability were studied to assess the functionality of the starch pastes as hydrocolloids. The sweetsop starch showed higher swelling power and solubility compared to soursop starch and had a lower gelatinization temperature indi...
The report reviews the activity during the fourth year of Gas Research Institute's Gas Appliance Technology Center program. Work on gas appliances involved a conceptual table-top multi-function oven, development of an indirect-fired conveyor oven, and performance comparisons of smooth cooktops. Performance-evaluation methods for commercial ovens were evaluated. Design improvements were made to a direct-fired conveyor oven and a pulse-combustion deep-fat fryer. Performance of common vents were studied, and a device was designed to allow incorporation of appliances with positive vent pressures into such systems. Standards-related work included draft-hood capacities, flexible corrugated-connector corrosion, and sediment trap efficiencies. Heating-related work comprised conceptual design of a vented baseboard heater and a centralized heat-transfer fluid system.
The relationship between cigarette smoking and cell damage is complicated, particularly considering the role of oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to identify the relationships among plasma nicotine metabolites, lipophilic antioxidants, and metabolic parameters in smokers and non-smokers. This cross-sectional study recruited 100 subjects who visited the Department of Family Medicine at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital. Excluding 14 ineligible cases, 46 smokers and 40 non-smokers were enrolled. Plasma nicotine metabolites, lipophilic antioxidants (including retinol, lycopene, a-carotene, b-carotene, d-tocopherol, g-tocopherol and a-tocopherol), related metabolic parameters, and body composition (including height, weight, body mass index, body fat, and waist circumference) were...
The purpose of this study was to compare cardiopulmonary fitness and endurance in 9-11-year-old children with DCD against a group of typically developing children in Taiwan. The Movement ABC test was used to evaluate the motor abilities of children. Forty-one participants (20 children with DCD and 21 children without DCD) were recruited for this study. The cardiopulmonary tests included the 800-m run test and the peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2) test using the Bruce treadmill protocol. No significant differences in age, body height, body weight, body mass index, and percentage of body fat between children with DCD and without DCD were found. However, there were significant differences in the cardiopulmonary endurance tests between children with DCD and without DCD. Children with DCD had ...
In this work was made an assessment of the supramolecular structures presents into human breast tissue normal and pathological samples, as well as into two types of animals samples (tendon chicken and pork fat) using the small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) technique. The scattering profiles of the samples were determined at the momentum transfer range O.150nm{sup -1}<=5:q(=4pi.sin({theta}/2)/{lambda})<=8.500nm{sup -1}. In this range, it was possible identify structures corresponding to collagen fibrils (glandular tissue) and to triacylglycerides (adipose tissue) from the correlation between the information extracted from the human breast tissues scattering profiles and those extracted from animals samples. (author)
The objectives of this study were to develop an accurate and precise method for cholesterol quantification in meat samples based on modifications made to an existing procedure (AOAC Official Method 994.10), and to apply this modified method to evaluate cholesterol levels in longissimus muscles (LM) from Angus (AN, n=5), Brahman (BR, n=4), and Romosinuano (RM, n=9) breeds. Validation of this method was performed using a meat homogenate (Standard Reference Material 1546) from National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and LM samples from the three breeds with fat contents ranging from 2.4% to 9.3%. The results indicated that the modified method was accurate with cholesterol recovery exceeding 95%. The method was also found to be precise with an average coefficient of variation of...
The pharmacology of the alpha-2 adrenoceptor of the human adipocyte was improved by using some new alpha-2 antagonists from different chemical families (imidazolines, benzazepines and benzofuroquinolizines) in biological and binding assays. Moreover, investigations were also carried out to define the binding properties of a new imidazolinic antagonist, RX821002 (2-(2-methoxy-1,4-benzodioxan-2yl)-2-imidazoline), which could be a potential radioligand. (3H)RX821002 binding was very rapid and reversible. Saturation isotherms indicated that (3H)RX821002 labeled, with high affinity, a homogeneous population of noninteracting binding sites with a mean Kd of 0.98 +/- 0.05 nM (n = 6). The binding of (3H)RX821002 on the human fat cell alpha-2 adrenoceptor displayed a specificity which is strictly similar to that obtained with (3H)rauwolscine and which is classical for an alpha-2 A adrenoceptor. The binding parameters of (3H)RX821002 were compared with those obtained with ...
Already, MR Imaging is superior in diagnostic imaging of joints in many cases; however, there have been recent developments, which are the subjects of this paper. With gradient-echo sequences acquired in 3D technique, it is possible to produce high-resolution images of joints in acceptable scantime, because gradient-echo sequences are less time-consuming than convential SE sequences. With the acquisition of two echoes, phase difference between water and fat protons have to be considered. 3D Imaging is capable of displaying complex pathology in a superior way, which should be useful in preoperative planning. Tissue contrast is altered by fat saturation or magnetization transfer in order to achieve better conspicuity of lesions. Although diagnostic value of some of these options is not yet clear and further clinical studies are needed, they are a promising possibility for improving MR Imaging of the joints. (orig.) [Deutsch] In der ...
Previous experiments had indicated a slight genotoxic potential both in rat and in human colon cells of a sample of 2-dodecylcyclobutanone, a compound formed by irradiation of food containing palmitic acid in its triglycerides. Up to date, there is no evidence that 2-alkylcyclobutanones occur in non-irradiated foodstuffs, consequently it is prudent to test several members of the class of 2-alkylcyclobutanones which are produced by treatment of fat-containing food with ionising radiation. In this work, 2-tetradecylcyclobutanone (derived from stearic acid) has been tested for its cytotoxic and genotoxic potential. Human colon tumor cell lines, i.e. HT 29 and HT 29 clone 19A, were employed as models for in vitro experiments for cytotoxicity and genotoxicity tests. Cytotoxicity was measured by tetrazolium salt reduction assays (MTT and WST-1) and genotoxicity by determining DNA damage using the Comet Assay. Neither cytotoxic nor genotoxic effects were induced by 2-TCB ...
This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of irradiation (gamma irradiation at dose levels of 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 or 20.0 kGy, He-Ne and their combination) on nutritive characteristics of Vicia faba L. seeds (Giza 843). Analyses included levels of anti-nutrients (total phenolic compounds, tannins, phytic acid, trypsin inhibitor and vicine), chemical composition (sugars, crude proteins, fat, dry matter and ash) and fatty acids profile. All treatments caused significant (P<0.05) decreases in the antinutrational factors under investigation. The reduction in the content of tannins and phenolic compounds were more pronounced with He-Ne alone or He-Ne in combination with gamma irradiation. At dose levels 10.0 and 20.0 kGy without or with combination of He-Ne were more efficiency in the reduction of phytic acid content by 24.3, 32.8, 34.5 and 45.5 %, respectively. Also, for trypsin inhibitor activity, the maximum inhibition was observed with the treatment of ...
Background. In multiple myeloma 5 different infiltration patterns can be differentiated: 1. Normal appearance of bone marrow, 2. focal involvement, 3. homogeneous diffuse infiltration, 4. combined diffuse and focal infiltration, 5. 'salt-and pepper' pattern with inhomogeneous bone marrow with interposition of fat islands. Methods. For the fast and total acquisition of all patterns a combination of a T1-weighted spin echo sequence and a fat suppression technique is superior. The focal involvement is clearly demonstrated as areas of high signal intensity on e.g. STIR images. Diffuse involvement can be quantified objectively by calculation of the percentage of signal intensity increase after contrast material injection. MRI is superior to X-ray in focal and diffuse involvement. With ultrafast sequences a 'screening' of the whole red bone marrow as for myeloma infiltration is possible. Prognosis. In prognosis studies diffuse infiltration is ...
The authors compared unenhanced and contrast-enhanced fast MRI and Computerized Tomography in the detection of liver metastases. Eleven patients with single or multiple hepatic lesions (42 in all) were submitted to V and magnetic resonance studies; T1- and T2- weighted TSE, T2-weighted TSE with fat suppression, unenhanced breath-hold TFE and early or delayed enhanced breath-hold TFE images were acquired with a 1.5 T superconductive magnet (Philips NT). The quantitative analysis of all magnetic resonance images was performed for contrast/noise ratio (CNR) and number of detected lesions; magnetic resonance and Computerized Tomography images were also compared qualitatively for lesion conspicuity, anatomical structure identification and artifacts. The results were compared with Student's test. Early enhanced breath-hold TFE was statistically superior to T1-weighted TSE (p = .0009), T2-weighted TSE (p = .01) and Computerized Tomography ( p = .0004) for lesion ...
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare nutrient content and cost of home-packed lunches to nutrient standards and prices for reimbursable school lunches. Methods: Researchers observed food and beverage contents of 333 home packed lunches at four north Texas elementary schools. Nutritionist Pro was used to analyze lunches for calories, total fat, saturated fat, protein, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, fiber, and sodium content. These values were then compared to National School Lunch Program (NSLP) standards and other nutrient standards. Cost of each home-packed lunch was estimated based on food prices at three local supermarkets. A one-sample t-test (p = 0.05) was used to compare nutrient values of home packed lunches to National School Lunch Program (NSLP) standards. A paired t-test was used to compare cost of home packed lunches to each school's full price for a reimbursable school lunch. Results: Home packed lunches ...
Intact rat fat cell exposed to 12.5 ..mu..M (..gamma..-32P)ATP incorporate label into specific proteins within minutes. By solubilizing the reaction mixture with SDS which bypasses the subcellular fractionation steps, the labeled proteins can be identified in autoradiographs of SDS-PAGE gels. The most prominently labeled protein has an M/sub r/ of 42,000. Localization of this component to the cell surface can be made on the basis of inhibition of phosphorylation by addition of a protein derived from the rat brain with protein kinase inhibitory property, susceptibility of the phosphorylated protein to the tryptic digestion, inhibition of phosphorylation of this protein after brief exposure to melittin. To rule out the possibility that the cell surface protein might be a mitochondrial contaminant from broken cells, /sup 32/Pi-labeled and (..gamma..-/sup 32/P)ATP-labeled cells were chromatographed on a rabbit anti-pyruvate dehydrogenase antibody-Sepharose 4B column. A ...
A general expression for the current-density distribution of a focused-ion beam (FIB) in the chromatic-aberration region is set up in the form of a definite integral. With the experimentally obtained ion-energy distribution of a liquid-metal ion source, its contribution to the FIB current-density distribution is estimated. Calculated results explain the wide-exponential tail of a FIB.
A general expression for the current-density distribution of a focused-ion beam (FIB) in the chromatic-aberration region is set up in the form of a definite integral. With the experimentally obtained ion-energy distribution of a liquid-metal ion source, its contribution to the FIB current-density distribution is estimated. Calculated results explain the wide-exponential tail of a FIB.
Elevated fatty acid levels have been thought to contribute to insulin resistance. Repression of the glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) gene as well as impaired GLUT4 translocation may be a mediator for fatty acid-induced insulin resistance. This study was initiated to determine whether palmitate treatment repressed GLUT4 expression, whether glucose/fatty acid metabolism influenced palmitate-induced GLUT4 gene repression (PIGR), and whether attempts to prevent PIGR restored palmitate-induced impairment of glucose uptake (PIIGU) in C2 myotubes. Not only stimulators of fatty acid oxidation, such as bezafibrate, AICAR, and TOFA, but also TCA cycle substrates, such as pyruvate, leucine/glutamine, and ?-ketoisocaproate/monomethyl succinate, significantly prevented PIGR. In particular, supplementing with pyruvate through methyl pyruvate resulted in nearly complete prevention of PIIGU, whereas palmitate treatment reduced the intracellular pyruvate level. These results suggest that pyruvate ...
When total mesorectal excision (TME) is accurately performed, dysfunction, theoretically, does not occur. However, there are differences among individuals in the running patterns and the volumes of nerve fibers, and if obesity or a narrow pelvis is present, nerve identification is difficult. Currently, the rate of urinary dysfunction after rectal surgery ranges from 33% to 70%. Many factors other than nerve preservation play a role in minor incontinence. Male sexual function shows impotence rates ranging from 20% to 46%, while 20%-60% of potent patients are unable to ejaculate. In women, information on sexual function is not easily obtained, and there are more unknown aspects than in men. As urinary, sexual, and defecation dysfunction due to adjuvant radiotherapy have been reported to occur at a high frequency, the creation of a protocol that enables analysis of long-term functional outcome will be essential for future clinical trials. In the treatment of rectal ...
Lethal yellow (A{sup y}) is a mutation at the mouse agouti locus in chromosome 2 that causes a number of dominant pleiotropic effects, including a completely yellow coat color, obesity, an insulin-resistant type II diabetic condition, and an increased propensity to develop a variety of spontaneous and induced tumors. Additionally, homozygosity for A{sup y} results in preimplantation lethality, which terminates development by the blastocyst stage. The A{sup y} mutation is the result of a 170-kb deletion that removes all but the promoter and noncoding first exon of another gene called Raly, which lies in the same transcriptional orientation as agouti and maps 280 kb proximal to the 3{prime} end of the agouti gene. The authors present a model for the structure of the A{sub y} allele that can explain the dominant pleiotropic effects associated with this mutation, as well as the recessive lethality, which is unrelated to the agouti gene.
We study luminosities of millisecond pulsars in globular clusters by fitting the observed luminosity distribution with single and double power laws. We use simulations to model the observed distribution as the brighter part of some parent distribution for Terzan 5 and try to find a model which simultaneously agrees with the observed diffuse radio flux, total predicted number of pulsars and observed luminosity distribution. We find that wide ranges of parameters for log-normal and power-law distributions give such good models. No clear difference between the luminosity distributions of millisecond pulsars in globular clusters and normal disk pulsars was seen.
Software to aid the distribution and coordination of tasks between different processors was developed to distribute applications written in Fortran. This development led to the discovery of problems unique to Fortran and to interesting practical solutions. Two graphical applications were distributed to a variety of machines and machine pairs: CDC 7600-LSI/11, CRAY-LSI/11, VAX 11/780, and Apollo. These distributions pointed out several parameters such as the use of Fortran COMMON, communication parameters, and processing capabilities that can affect the successful distribution of applications.
Shows the general distribution of Dall sheep in the Seldovia and Seward quadrangles. Data from Alaska Fish and Game Habitat Management maps of the South ... ...
We consider the effect of distributed delays in neural feedback systems. The avian optic tectum is reciprocally connected with the nucleus isthmi. Extracellular stimulation combined with intracellular recordings reveal a range of signal delays from 4 to 9 ms between isthmotectal elements. This observation together with prior mathematical analysis concerning the influence of a delay distribution on system dynamics raises the question whether a broad delay distribution can impact the dynamics of neural feedback loops. For a system of reciprocally connected model neurons, we found that distributed delays enhance system stability in the following sense. With increased distribution of delays, the system converges faster to a fixed point and converges slower toward a limit cycle. Further, the introduction of distributed delays leads to an increased range of the ...
The NASA Langley Distributed Active Archive Center archives and distributes data relating to Radiation Budget, Clouds, Aerosols, and Troposheric Chemistry.
Information search in a distributed environment is an interactive process between the user and the artifact. How the information is distributed across the user and the artifact determines the efficacy...Full Text Available
Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of MRI in the measurement of cartilage thickness of the ankle joint in comparison to pathologic and histologic specimens. Patients and methods: The ankle joints of four fresh cadaver feet were imaged on a 1.5 T MR-unit in the coronal plane. Standard T{sub 1}-weighted spin echo (SE) and a T{sub 1}-weighted 3D-GE (FLASH-3D) sequence with fat saturation were applied. Following MR imaging, the talus was explanted and cut parallel to the MR images for macroscopic evaluation and histologic specimens were prepared. MRI measurements of the cartilage thickness of the talus were carried out in two ways: Without and with consideration of a transition zone of intermediate signal intensity between hyperintense cartilage and hypointense cortical bone. The data were compared with the anatomic specimens as the gold standard expressing the difference as a percentage value. On histologic specimens thickness of deep ...
Non-uniform radionuclide distribution in tumours will lead to a non-uniform absorbed dose. The aim of this study was to investigate how tumour control probability (TCP) depends on the radionuclide distribution in the tumour, both macroscopically and at the subcellular level. The absorbed dose in the cell nuclei of tumours was calculated for {sup 90}Y, {sup 177}Lu, {sup 103m}Rh and {sup 211}At. The radionuclides were uniformly distributed within the subcellular compartment and they were uniformly, normally or log-normally distributed among the cells in the tumour. When all cells contain the same amount of activity, the cumulated activities required for TCP = 0.99 (A-tilde{sub TCP=0.99}) were 1.5-2 and 2-3 times higher when the activity was distributed on the cell membrane compared to in the cell nucleus for {sup 103m}Rh and {sup 211}At, respectively. TCP for {sup 90}Y was not ...
Thermal absorption with its combined thermal and mechanical loads in a solar receiver does depend significantly on the distribution of incident solar radiation. For a cavity receiver with paraboloid collectar a method is derived which enables the calculation of solar radiation distribution on the areas inside the receiver. The theoretical bases are presented first, and a subsequent example shows the influence of the most important geometric parameters on the distribution of solar radiation.
... Note that the terminal ... Probability and Statistics with Reliability, Queueing, and Computer ... Weiss, G., "Stochastic Bounds on Distributions of Optimal ...
Elution profiles of total lipoproteins, apolipoprotein B (apoB) concentrations in lipoproteins, and plasma triglyceride (TG) levels were examined in early-, late-, and non-lactating cows. Additionally, arteriovenous (A-V) differences were also measured to elucidate the uptake of TG and apoB-containing lipoproteins in mammary gland. Non-lactating cows showed three major peaks corresponding to triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TRL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction, whereas both early- and late-lactating cows revealed two peaks corresponding to TRL and HDL. The peak area of TRL in early- and late-lactating cows were significantly (p < 0.05) smaller than that in non-lactating cows. The plasma TG levels and apoB-48 concentrations of TRL in early- and late-lactating cows were also significantly (p < 0.01) lower. Furthermore, early lactating cows showed significantly (p < 0.05) larger A-V differences in both plasma TG and apoB-48 concentration ...
The characteristics of diesel fuel jet atomization in carburetors depend on dynamic viscosity (v) density (d) and surface tension (st) of fuel, grouped in the combined functions v/d; st/v and st/d. Values of these combined functions for binary mixtures of a farm diesel fuel with a crude vegetable oil (sunflower, soybean, cotton and foot-cake olive oils) as well as with a used frying olive oil, are calculated. Three different diesel fuels have been studied. Combined function values of these mixtures are influenced by the characteristics of their diesel fuel. Mixtures containing less than 24% of any studied crude oils show kinematic viscosity values at 40 degrees C not exceeding 5.8 squared millimeters/s. This value is the higher limit for typical United States farm diesel fuels, according to specifications of the Cummins Engine Company. Mixture with 21% of the used frying olive oil shows at 40 degrees C this kinematic viscosity.
Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the capability of high-resolution images obtained with a commercially available pelvic phased-array surface coil to demonstrate normal hip anatomy. Design. We retrospectively analyzed the oblique coronal magnetic resonance (MR) images of hips of 36 consecutive patients acquired on a 1.5-T clinical imager using a pelvic phased-array coil as a receiver, a 16-20 cm field of view, and 5 mm slice thickness. Patients. Thirty-six patients were studied, age 15-81 years. There were 20 males and 16 females. Results and conclusions. The articular cartilage, cortex, superior labrum, and iliofemoral ligament were well visualized on proton density weighted fat saturation (PDF) images. The femoral and obturator vessels, obturator nerve, and various muscles were easily seen on T1-weighted images. High-resolution imaging of the hip is achievable in a reasonable amount of time using newer phased-array surface coils and may play an ...
Spices and packaging materials were exposed to gamma irradiation at a dose of 10 KGy. Luncheon was prepared with irradiated or non-irradiated spices. Prepared luncheon was packaged in irradiated or non-irradiated packaging materials. Packaged luncheon was treated with 2 KGy. Treated and untreated packaged luncheon were kept in a refrigerator (1-4 Centigrade) for 12 months. Microbiological, nutritive and chemical characteristics of luncheon were evaluated after processing and during storage; whereas, sensory quality was evaluated only after irradiation. Gamma irradiation decreased the microorganisms counts of spices, packaging materials and packed luncheon and increased the shelf-life of packaged luncheon products. No major differences in moisture, protein, fat, ph value, total acidity, lipid peroxide and volatile basic nitrogen were observed due to irradiation. Sensory evaluation showed that all the combination treated luncheon were acceptable regarding sensory ...
The acute effects of injections of the human growth hormone-like factor purified from plerocercoids of the tapeworm Spirometra mansonoides on carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolisms were determined in intact rats. Male rats were injected ip with saline, insulin, or various doses of partially purified PGF. The rats injected with insulin had significantly reduced serum glucose concentrations but no dose of PGF caused a change in serum glucose levels. Insulin and PGF stimulated [14C]glucose and [14C]leucine oxidation to 14CO2 in adipose tissue and muscle and increased incorporation of both [14C]glucose carbons into lipids and [14C]leucine into protein in fat and muscle. The responses to PGF were dose-dependent and persisted after 3 hr of incubation in vitro. Injections of naloxone prior to injecting PGF to block the stress response did not prevent the stimulation of insulin-like responses by PGF. Therefore, PGF has intrinsic insulin-like activities in normal male ...
Samples of fat coal-E, its roof sandstone-A and blind coal-W from two coal mines in Hebei Province of China were brought to the laboratory to study the features of infrared thermal images and radiation temperature in the course of uni-axial load and uni-axial cycle load. To check the results of infrared remote sensing detection, two other methods, acoustic emission detection and electrical resistance detection were also used. The AGA-782 thermalvision detected change of the temperature field of the samples` surfaces. The study showed that: (1) coal rocks and sandstone in the course of loading have three types of infrared thermal image features and three types of infrared radiation temperature features; (2) infrared detection is comparable with acoustic emission detection and electrical resistance detection. Generally, the infrared forewarning of coal rocks` failure comes later than that of acoustic and electrical resistance, but the infrared radiation temperature ...
Influence of gamma irradiation and storage on the microbial load, chemical and sensory quality of chicken kabab was investigated. Chicken kabab was treated with 0, 2, 4 or 6 kGy doses of gamma irradiation. Treated and untreated samples were kept in a refrigerator (1-4 deg. C). Microbiological, chemical and sensory characteristics of chicken kabab were evaluated at 0-5 months of storage. Gamma irradiation decreased the microbial load and increased the shelf-life of chicken kabab. Irradiation did not influence the major constituents of chicken kabab (moisture, protein and fats). No significant differences (p>0.05) were observed for total acidity between non-irradiated (control) and irradiated chicken kabab. Thiobarbitric acid (TBA) values (expressed as mg malonaldehyde (MDA)/kg chicken kabab) and volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) in chicken kabab were not affected by the irradiation. Sensory evaluation showed no significant differences between irradiated and ...
In culture migrating and interacting amoeboid cells can form nematic liquid crystal phases. A polar nematic liquid crystal is formed if the interaction has a polar symmetry. One type of white blood cells (granulocytes) form clusters where the cells are oriented towards the center. The core of such an orientational defect (disclination) is either a granulocyte forced to be in an isotropic state or another cell type like a monocyte. An apolar nematic liquid crystal is formed if the interaction has an apolar symmetry. Different cell types like human melanocytes (=pigment cells of the skin), human fibroblasts (=connective tissue cells), human osteoblasts (=bone cells), human adipocytes (= fat cells) etc., form an apolar nematic liquid crystal. The orientational elastic energy is derived and the orientational defects (disclination) of nematic liquid crystals are investigated. The existence of half-numbered disclinations show that the nematic phase has an apolar ...
The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of MRM in providing preoperative locoregional information on patients with breast cancer. MRI was performed on 62 female breast cancer patients. A 1.5 T MR-system was used to acquire fat-suppressed T{sub 1}WI, T{sub 2}WI and dynamic-contrast-enhanced images with an SPGR pulse sequence. The extent of the cancer measured with MRM was confirmed histologically in all patients. The size obtained from MRM correlated well with the size obtained histologically, including intraductal spread of cancer (R: 0.853). As for shape, the round/oval type evident from MRM correlated more accurately (R: 0.934) than the ill-defined type associated with a linear and/or clumped enhanced area (R:0.744). The difference between the size obtained from MRM and the size obtained histologically, including IDS, was less than 15 mm in the majority of patients (93.5%). MRM accurately reveals the extent of cancer, including IDS, and is effective ...
Reactions of consumers to the appearance and taste of pork with and without information concerning outdoor production of pigs were tested in France, Denmark, Sweden and UK. Consumers in all four countries focussed on colour and fatness rather than marbling and drip to make their choice. Almost half of the British and Danish preferred the paler and the French the darker pork. Most people preferred the leaner pork. When information was provided in the form of labels, the vast majority of consumers preferred the pork labelled as originating from their own country as opposed to 'imported' and that labelled as pork from pigs 'raised outside' as opposed to 'inside'. There was no difference in the taste of grilled pork from indoor and outdoor production systems but pork labelled 'home produced' or 'outdoor' were more appreciated. Consumers' willingness to pay varied widely and was higher for those consumers who found more of the characteristics they sought. Consumers ...
Computed tomography (CT) of the thorax shows early promise of important diagnostic advances. We believe that CT often provides information superior to that provided by standard roentgenographic techniques, is capable of significantly influencing patient management, and in selected instances, offers unique information not available by other methods. Computed tomography permits the imaging of mediastinal structures not possible with conventional roentgenographic methods and can diagnose with certainty benign mediastinal conditions such as pericardial cysts and focal or diffuse accumulations of fat. It is ideal for detecting pleural abnormalities and for displaying underlying parenchymal disease in patients with complex pleuroparenchymal shadows on conventional films. Pulmonary metastases unseen on the plain chest film can be detected with greater sensitivity than by any other method. Future applications of CT include the staging of mediastinal lymph nodes in ...
Computed tomography (CT) of the thorax shows early promise of important diagnostic advances. We believe that CT often provides information superior to that provided by standard roentgenographic techniques, is capable of significantly influencing patient management, and in selected instances, offers unique information not available by other methods. Computed tomography permits the imaging of mediastinal structures not possible with conventional roentgenographic methods and can diagnose with certainty benign mediastinal conditions such as pericardial cysts and focal or diffuse accumulations of fat. It is ideal for detecting pleural abnormalities and for displaying underlying parenchymal disease in patients with complex pleuroparenchymal shadows on conventional films. Pulmonary metastases unseen on the plain chest film can be detected with greater sensitivity than by any other method. Future applications of CT include the staging of mediastinal lymph nodes in ...
In general, over the course of the time, the phenomenon of acceleration in physical development may be observed, i.e. the children and adults of the next generation are taller and heavier than in former generation. Our data presented in this paper show a regular trend of acceleration in the development on Vietnamese, but the trend is still slow and was mostly probably influenced by our difficulties in a long time of war. It is hoped that, the acceleration in the development may be increased in the future following the economical acceleration of our country, however it is known that the ratio between the length of different parts of human body is a specific characteristic for human race, sex and group age. Therefore we may estimate these ratio for the prolongation of the utilization of our measured physical data. The result of studies on water balance of Vietnamese living in comfortable environment air temperature conditions and working in hot environment with different levels of energy ...
Over 300 cases of femoral neck fractures following radiotherapy for intrapelvic malignant tumor have been reported in various countries since Baensch reported this disease in 1927. In Japan, 40 cases or so have been reported, and cases of bilateral femoral neck fractures have not reached to ten cases. The authors experienced a case of 75 year-old female who received radiotherapy for cancer of the uterus, and suffered from right femoral neck fracture 3 months after and left femoral neck fracture one year and half after. As clinical symptoms, she had not previous history of trauma in bilateral femurs, but she complained of a pain in a hip joint and of gait disturbance. The pain in left femoral neck continued for about one month before fracture was recognized with roentgenogram. As histopathological findings, increase of fat marrow, decrease of bone trabeculae, and its marked degeneration were recognized. Proliferation of some blood vessels was found out, but ...
Mammography has emerged as a reliable non-invasive technique for the early detection of breast cancer--the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality among American women. The radiographic appearance of the female breast consists of radiolucent (dark) regions due to fat and radiodense (light) regions due to connective and epithelial tissue. The amount of radiodense tissue can be used as a marker for predicting breast cancer risk. This paper presents the development of an algorithm for estimating the percentage of radiodense tissue in a digitized mammogram. The technique involves determining a dynamic threshold for segmenting radiodense indications in mammograms. Both the mammographic image and the threshold are modeled as Gaussian random variables. This work is intended to support a concurrent study at the Fox Chase Cancer Center (FCCC) exploring the association between dietary patterns and breast cancer risk. Mammograms have been obtained from an existing ...
Purified protein kinase C (C-kinase) from guinea pig pancreas and rat brain stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in purified rat adipocyte membranes. Cyclase stimulation occurred over 100 to 1000 mU/ml of C-kinase activity, required greater than 10 ..mu..M calcium, proceeded without a lag, was not readily reversible, and required no exogenous phospholipid. Moreover, C-kinase inhibitors, such as chlorpromazine and palmitoyl carnitine, inhibited selectively adenylate cyclase which was activated by C-kinase and calcium. Depending on assay conditions, 10 nM 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) either enhanced or was required for kinase action on cyclase. Also, TPA plus calcium promoted the quantitative association of C-kinase with membranes. Adenylate cyclase activation by C-kinase was seen both in the presence and absence of exogenous GTP, indicating that the kinase effect does not result from an action on the GTP-binding, inhibitory regulatory component (N/sub i/) of the cyclase ...
Most active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) exhibit particle size distributions with some degrees of asymmetry deviating from log-normality. A new log-skew-normal (L-S-N) distribution model is proposed for a systematic comparison of the asymmetry effect on content uniformity. The new model originated from the S-N model used by Azzalini gives a close approximation to real API particle size distribution. Monte-Carlo method was employed to simulate the dosage potency distribution. A high risk of over potency is uncovered when either the dose is low or API particle size distribution is positively skewed. This is due to the formation of pseudo heavy tail in potency distribution that decays slower than exponentially. Nomographs of API particle size versus dosage strength were constructed with a...
A one-way coupling system between the plant simulator TRAC/BF1-ENTREE and the subchannel code with the improved cross flow model, NASCA, has been developed. Based on a scenario of turbine trip tests in the Peach Bottom Unit 2, the wide and rapid reactivity insertion transient induced by the system pressure rise was calculated. The pin power distribution in hot bundles was re-constructed considering heterogeneity of the fuel bundle. When the neighboring control blade is withdrawn, NASCA predicted that the steady-state bundle exit void distribution was nearly flat with regardless of the pin power distribution. However, void distributions in the middle and lower bundle regions became complicated depending on the pin power and the two-phase flow regime in each subchannel. The pin power distribution rapidly changed according to traveling of control blades. However, influence in the void ...
This volume contains the papers presented at the 1st International Workshop on "Decentralized Coordination of Distributed Processes", DCDP 2010, held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on June 10th, 2010 in conjunction with the 5th International Federated Conferences on Distributed Computing Techniques, DisCoTec 2010. The central theme of the workshop is the decentralized coordination of distributed processes. Decentralized: there is no single authority in the network that everything is vulnerable to. Coordinated: processes need to cooperate to achieve meaningful results, potentially in the face of mutual suspicion. Distributed: processes are separated by a potentially unreliable network.
The formation of the ions charge and energy distributions of the ions slowed down or randomly changing their charge in the collisions with the medium particles are studied. The effect of the ions dispersion by the charge on the Bragg curve form is investigated. The proposed diffusion approximation for the heavy ions kinetic equation makes it possible to determine simply the parameters of the ions distribution by charge and energy on the whole way of the ions motion. The relation between the ions charge distribution characteristics and the cross sections of the ionization-recombination processes is indicated. The ions distributions, calculated in the proposed analytical model, are compared with the results of the numerical calculations. Good agreement between the analytical, numerical and experimental results is obtained
Blood kinetics and tissue distribution of 20, 80 and 110 nm silver nanoparticles were investigated in rats up to 16 days after intravenous administration once daily for 5 consecutive days. Following both single and repeated injection, silver nanoparticles disappeared rapidly from the blood and distributed to all organs evaluated (liver, lungs, spleen, brain, heart, kidneys and testes) regardless of size. The 20 nm particles distributed mainly to liver, followed by kidneys and spleen, whereas the larger particles distributed mainly to spleen followed by liver and lung. In the other organs evaluated, no major differences between the sizes were observed. Size-dependent tissue distribution suggests size-dependent toxicity and health risks. Repeated administration resulted in accumulation in li...
Abstract Uniformly distributing slurry solids in -tall- (-2:1 aspect ratio) process vessels is a significant challenge in the chemical industry. This work determined the performance of various multi-tier agitation systems in uniformly distributing a settling solid throughout water in a -tall- laboratory vessel. It used a 0.445-m ID Plexiglas tank, with a slurry height of 0.889-m, to determine how solids distribution changes with solids loading (wt.%), impeller speed, and impeller type. Some impeller types uniformly distributed the solids even before energy input exceeded 1.00-W/kg. Significantly higher energy improved solids distribution little because flow within the vessel eventually became choked.
The coherent flucton model is applied to the description of some basic nuclear properties, such as: ground state energies, bond energies, nucleon momentum spectra, and nuclear density distributions. It is shown that the momentum distributions of the nucleons coincide with the Fermi distribution for small momenta and exhibit a well pronounced high energy ''tail'', thus providing inclusive reactions of pi-meson generations in kinematically forbidden areas at nucleon-nucleon collisions. Analytical expressions for the bond energy and nuclear density distribution are derived. An agreement with the experimentally obtained data is achieved. The model features are discussed referring to the processes, characterized mainly by the geometric and dynamic properties of the nuclei, as well as by nuclear density distribution. In particular, ion-ion scattering ...
The coherent flucton model is applied to the description of some basic nuclear properties, such as: ground state energies, bond energies, nucleon momentum spectra, and nuclear density distributions. It is shown that the momentum distributions of the nucleons coincide with the Fermi distribution for small momenta and exhibit a well pronounced high energy ''tail'', thus providing inclusive reactions of pi-meson generations in kinematically forbidden areas at nucleon-nucleon collisions. Analytical expressions for the bond energy and nuclear density distribution are derived. An agreement with the experimentally obtained data is achieved. The model features are discussed referring to the processes, characterized mainly by the geometric and dynamic properties of the nuclei, as well as by nuclear density distribution. In particular, ion-ion scattering processes at high energy are ...
The purine adenosine appears to be involved in regulation of coronary vascular tone. Little is known concerning the levels and distribution of adenosine and related purines in the extracellular fluid...Full Text Available
A comparative and quantitative study of the tissue distribution of brain-thymus shared antigens was carried out using rabbit antisera to rat, dog and human brain homogenates, assayed on rat, dog and...Full Text Available
The effect of thiamin on the organ distribution of lead was evaluated in CD-1 mice exposed intragastrically or intraperitoneally to a single dose of lead acetate (100 micrograms) containing 100 microCi...Full Text Available
A survey is given on the present status of the nucleon parton distributions and related precision calculations and precision measurements of the strong coupling constant {alpha}{sub s}(M{sup 2}{sub Z}). We also discuss the impact of these quantities on precision observables at hadron colliders. (orig.)
The safety, pharmacokinetics, and distribution in tissue of an amphotericin B (AmB)-cholesteryl sulfate colloidal dispersion (ABCD) were compared with those of micellar amphotericin B-deoxycholate (m-AmB)....Full Text Available
Bacterial processes in soil, including biodegradation, require contact between bacteria and substrates. Knowledge of the three-dimensional spatial distribution of bacteria at the microscale is necessary...Full Text Available
Method for description of X-ray radiation dose distribution based on semiempirical description of dose fields is suggested. At that dose field description parameters can be easily individualized for concrete X-ray device.
The impact of introducing a 3,6,9-trioxadecyloxyl group at various positions of the desazadesferrithiocin (DADFT) aromatic ring on iron clearance and organ distribution is described. Three DADFT...Full Text Available
This contribution documents the satellite data archives, data processing methods and temporal Fourier analysis (TFA) techniques used to create the remotely sensed datasets on the DVD distributed...Full Text Available
Objective: To evaluate effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on the viability, membrane properties, and zinc distribution, with and without the presence of Zn2+, in human prostate...Full Text Available
In-vitro experiments using 203Pb were performed to identify the lead binding components in human peripheral blood. The distribution of lead in plasma, in the red cell membrane, and within the red cell...Full Text Available
The distribution of activation energies ..delta.. for classical over-the-barrier hopping is computed for a model amorphous metal. The spread in ..delta.. is determined by the variation in equilibrium-site and saddle-point sizes for the assumed model of dense random packing (DRP) of soft spheres. The size distribution is related to the radial distribution function in a manner which reproduces recent numerical results for the interstitials in DRP models. Size (distance) variation in general is related to energy variation by the form of the potential energy V(r). We show, however, that the distribution of equilibrium-site energies can be related directly to the impurity-induced lattice expansion and bulk modulus without detailed knowledge of V(r). The form of V(r) is necessary for the saddle-point distribution, and we estimate this using simple analytic expressions which fit the ...
The distribution of α-galactosidase (α-d-galactoside galactohydrolase [EC 3.2.1.22]) in Cucurbita pepo has been determined in an attempt to assess its involvement...Full Text Available
Distributed denial of service attacks are often considered a security problem. While this may be the way to view the problem with today's Internet, new network architectures attempting to address the issue should view it as a scalability problem. In addition, they need to address the problem based on a rigorous foundation.
In the presentation the major factors determining the conditions of NCC (Natural Coolant Circulation) in the primary circuit and in particular conditions of coolant rate distribution on the horizontal tubes of PGV-1000 in NPP with VVER-1000 under NCC are considered. 5 refs.
Radionuclides are distributed nonuniformly in tissue. The present work examined the impact of nonuniformities at the multicellular level on the lethal effects of 210Po. A three-dimensional...Full Text Available
This report describes Northern Indiana Public Service Co. project efforts to develop an automated energy distribution and reliability system. The purpose of this project was to implement a database-driven GIS solution that would manage all of the company's gas, electric, and landbase objects.
Considered is a new type of generalized asymptotic functions, which are not functionals on some space of test functions as the Schwartz distributions. The definition of the generalized asymptotic functions is given. It is pointed out that in future the particular asymptotic functions will be used for solving some topics of quantum mechanics and quantum theory.
A brief letter attempts to justify the assumption in an earlier paper of an isotropic distribution of environmental gamma rays incident on humans. A second letter from the original authors responds to this in yet more detail. (UK).
An earlier representation of the radial distribution of dose about the path of a heavy ion in liquid water is modified and extended to include silicon, lithium fluoride, and sodium iodide. 6 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals can induce malformations and impairment of reproductive function in experimental animals and may have similar effects in humans. Recently, the environmental obesogen hypothesis was proposed, suggesting that environmental chemicals contribute to the development of obesity and insulin resistance. These effects could be related to chemical interaction with nuclear receptors such as the peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs). As several testosterone-reducing drugs are PPAR activators, we aimed to examine whether four PPAR agonists were able to affect fetal testosterone production and masculinization of rats. Additionally, we wished to examine whether these chemicals affected fetal plasma levels of insulin and leptin, which play important roles in the developmental programming of the metabolic system. Pregnant Wistar rats were exposed from gestation day (GD) 7-21 to diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), butylparaben, ...
... program incorporates the proven concepts of advanced distributed learning, modeling and simulation, and electronic digital libraries (Figure 1) to ...
The Monte Carlo ray-tracing method is applied and coupled with optical properties to predict the radiation performance of solar concentrator/cavity receiver systems. Several different cavity geometries are compared on the radiation performance. A flux density distribution measurement system for dish parabolic concentrators is developed. The contours of the flux distribution for target placements at different distances from the dish vertex of a solar concentrator are taken by using an indirect method with a Lambert and a charge coupled device (CCD) camera. Further, the measured flux distributions are compared with a Monte Carlo-predicted distribution. The results can be a valuable reference for the design and assemblage of the solar collector system.
... in the processes of production and, partic- ularly, product distribution and also by the increase in directive and disciplinary methods of intervention ...
... Southeastern Forests Feral Pig Fishes of Georgia: Georgia Freshwater Fish Distribution, Classification, and Information Flora of the Oconee National ... ...
The efficient use of the fuel is one of the objectives in the assemblies design of type BWR. The present tendency in the assemblies design of type BWR is through a radial distribution of enrichments. The present work has like object showing the because of this decision, for what a comparison of the neutronic performance of two fuel cells with the same enrichment average but one of them with radial distribution of enrichment and the other with a single enrichment equal to the average. The cells were analyzed with the CASMO-4 code and the obtained results of the behavior of the neutron flow and the power sustain the because of the radial distribution of enrichments. (Author)
The Advanced Power Electronics Interfaces for Distributed Energy Workshop, sponsored by the California Energy Commission Public Interest Energy Research program and organized by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, was held Aug. 24, 2006, in Sacramento, Calif. The workshop provided a forum for industry stakeholders to share their knowledge and experience about technologies, manufacturing approaches, markets, and issues in power electronics for a range of distributed energy resources. It focused on the development of advanced power electronic interfaces for distributed energy applications and included discussions of modular power electronics, component manufacturing, and power electronic applications.
Distribution of restricted information (see wikileaks); Restricting Access to as advertised open discussion groups. Gives impression of consensus by ...
Monte Carlo criticality calculations have been performed for over 50 years for reactor physics and criticality safety applications. With today's faster computers, these calculations are being carried out to greater precision (smaller uncertainties) in keff, and detailed distributions of power and reaction rates are being computed routinely. This paper provides a review of the fundamental theory of Monte Carlo criticality calculations, with guidance on practical methods for: (1) assuring convergence of both keff and the source distribution, (2) minimizing the bias in keff and reaction rate distributions, and (3) dealing with the under-prediction bias in uncertainties for keff and reaction rate distributions. (authors)
Network reconfiguration is an operation problem, which entails altering the topological structure of the distribution feeders by rearranging the status of switches in order to obtain an optimal configuration in order to minimise the system losses. This paper presents a new reconfiguration algorithm that enhances voltage stability and improves the voltage profile besides minimising losses without incurring any additional cost for installation of capacitors, tap changing transformers and related switching equipment in the distribution system. Test results on a 69 node distribution system reveal the superiority of this algorithm.
Momentum- and speed-dependent Maxwell-Boltzmann equilibrium distributions have been derived for tachyons and compared with the corresponding relativistic distributions. This is followed by a calculation of the mean, most probable and r.m.s. speeds for both the relativistic and tachyonic distributions. The ideal gas of tachyons is discussed, including calculations of the internal energy and entropy. In each case a comparison is made with the corresponding bradyonic results. It is found that tachyons behave just like bradyons in the high-temperature limit, but have markedly different behaviour at low temperatures.
Substantial changes in the radial distribution function of amorphous Si films have been observed in neutron-diffraction studies. The spectra indicate changes in short-range order associated with an approx.11% modification in the bond-angle distribution width. The results allow the first direct comparison of structural and vibrational Raman probes of variations in local order in thin-film amorphous solids. Good agreement is obtained between the measured bond-angle variation and that based on Raman estimates.
In this paper, a new design methodology for determining the size, location, type and number of capacitors to be placed on a radial distribution system is presented. The objective is to minimize the peak power losses and the energy losses in the distribution system considering the capacitor cost. A sensitivity analysis based method is used to select the candidate locations for the capacitors. A new optimization method using a Genetic Algorithm is proposed to determine the optimal selection of capacitors. Test results have been presented along with the discussion of the algorithm.
The kinetics of lead distribution was studied in suckling and adult rats 8 days after a single intraperitoneal injection of "2"0"3Pb. Marked differences were observed in the kinetics of lead retention and distribution in suckling as compared to adult rats. The rate of "2"0"3Pb disappearance was lower in the whole body, blood and kidneys, but higher in the liver, while the deposition processes predominated in the brain, femur and teeth of sucklings as compared to adult animals. (auth).
The radial distribution function (RDF) derived from wide angle X-ray diffraction patterns gives additional information about the spatial distribution of atoms. Their radial distances and relative average coordination numbers can be calculated using appropriate mathematical procedures. 7 refs.
We show that tilting a model sandpile that has dynamic disorder leads to bistability and hysteresis at the angle of repose. Also the distribution of {\\it local slopes} shows an interesting dependence on the amount of tilt - weakly tilted sandpiles retain the quasi-continuous distributions of the steady state, while large tilt makes the distribution more discrete, with local slopes clustered round particular values. These observations are used to explain recent experimental results on avalanche shapes; we give a theoretical framework in terms of directed percolation.
The distribution of the bilby Macrotis lagotis was assessed in the Tanami Desert using stratified random plots, repetitively sampled transects, aerial survey transects, and ground truth plots. Compared to a previous assessment of distribution, the extent of occurrence has changed little in the last 20 yr. However, the area of occupancy is small relative to the extent of occurrence and
The asymptotic functions are a new type of generalized functions. But they are not functionals on some space of test-functions as the distributions of Schwartz. They are mappings of the set denoted by A into A, where A is the set of the asymptotic numbers introduced by Christov. On its part A is a totally-ordered set of generalized numbers including the system of real numbers R as well as infinitesimals and infinitely large numbers. Every two asymptotic functions can be multiplied. On the other hand, the distributions have realizations as asymptotic functions in a certain sense. (author).
A method for calculation of absorbed dose distributions in three dimensions for 1-20 MeV photons is presented. The method uses convolution/superposition of photon fluence distributions with energy scattering kernels. Results for Co-60 and X-ray beams in homogeneous and inhomogeneous media are compared with measurements. Good agreement is found between calculations and measurements. 8 refs.; 3 figs.
Purpose: To visualise the vessel wall of the descending thoracic aorta using magnetic resonance imaging. To evaluate the diagnostic potential of tailored T{sub 1}-weighted sequences with contrast enhancement to assess systemic atherosclerotic disease. Methods: This study was performed on a clinical 1.5 Tesla scanner using a gradient strength of 30 mT/m and the phased array spine coil. A cadaver was examined to optimise a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol to evaluate atherosclerotic aortic wall disease. The acquired MR images were compared to gross specimens and histology. Subsequently seven patients who had undergone transesophageal ultrasound (TEU) with detailed assessment of the descending thoracic aorta were examined with MRI. The optimised protocol included untriggered and fat suppressed T{sub 2}-weighted turbo spin echo sequences and ECG-triggered and fat suppressed T{sub 1}-weighted spin echo sequences before and after iv ...
Background. In multiple myeloma 5 different infiltration patterns can be differentiated: 1. Normal appearance of bone marrow, 2. focal involvement, 3. homogeneous diffuse infiltration, 4. combined diffuse and focal infiltration, 5. 'salt-and pepper' pattern with inhomogeneous bone marrow with interposition of fat islands. Methods. For the fast and total acquisition of all patterns a combination of a T1-weighted spin echo sequence and a fat suppression technique is superior. The focal involvement is clearly demonstrated as areas of high signal intensity on e.g. STIR images. Diffuse involvement can be quantified objectively by calculation of the percentage of signal intensity increase after contrast material injection. MRI is superior to X-ray in focal and diffuse involvement. With ultrafast sequences a 'screening' of the whole red bone marrow as for myeloma infiltration is possible. Prognosis. In prognosis ...
We provide a quantitative assessment of the probability distribution function of the concentration parameter of galaxy clusters. We do so by using the probability distribution function of halo formation times, calculated by means of the excursion set formalism, and a formation redshift-concentration scaling derived from results of N-body simulations. Our results suggest that the observed high concentrations of several clusters are quite unlikely in the standard Lambda CDM cosmological model, but that due to various inherent uncertainties, the statistical range of the predicted distribution may be significantly wider than commonly acknowledged. In addition, the probability distribution function of the Einstein radius of A1689 is evaluated, confirming that the observed value of ~45" +/- 5" is very improbable in the currently favoured cosmological model. If, however, a variance of ~20% in the theoretically ...
Viddi, F. A., Hucke-Gaete, R., Torres-Florez, J. P., and Ribeiro, S. 2010. Spatial and seasonal variability in cetacean distribution in the fjords of northern Patagonia, Chile. - ICES Journal of Marine Science, 67: 959-970. Compared with other Chilean coastal areas, little is known about the diversity and distribution of cetaceans in northern Patagonian fjords. Between December 2000 and November 2001, surveys on platforms of opportunity were undertaken in southern Chile to evaluate species richness and the spatial and seasonal distribution of cetaceans. Nine species were recorded, blue, humpback, and minke whales, Peales dolphin, Chilean dolphin, killer whale, false killer whale, bottlenose dolphin, and Cuviers beaked whale. The pattern of cetacean distribution displayed significant season...
The size distributions of precipitated Ni clusters on the surface of a LaNi_5-based alloy immersed in alkaline solution (alkaline treatment) at 383 K for 0-110 min were precisely determined by combining superparamagnetic analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations. The superparamagnetic analysis indicated that the diameters of the Ni clusters were smaller than #approx#25 nm in all samples, while their average values increased approximately from 5 to 9 nm with increasing alkaline treatment time. The spatial distribution of the Ni clusters was successively observed by TEM, which agreed fairly well with the estimated size distribution by superparamagnetic analysis. Therefore, estimation of the actual size distribution of Ni clusters by superparamagnetic analysis was proved to be feasible. Based on the above results, a precipitation process for Ni clusters by alkaline treatment is ...
Drug particle size distribution has a profound impact to the content uniformity in low-dose solid drug products. We derived theoretically the skewness of potency distribution as a function of particle size distribution and target dose. It was demonstrated that both skewness and coefficient of variation diverge simultaneously with inverse square root of the target dose. This scaling relation was observed in recent experiment and was verified by Monte Carlo (MC) simulation, which was employed for the first time to solve for the full potency distribution from a random retrieving model. When tested against the criteria from USP uniformity of dosage units, MC simulation showed a striking anisotropic distribution of the data. This suggests a full-scale consideration of the potency distribu...
The distribution of the alkaline earth elements strontium and barium between the solid phases of phosphates of transition elements of group 4 and chloride melts was studied. The distribution coefficients of strontium and barium were found at T = 700-800/sup 0/C. Phosphates of the type NaM/sub 2//sup (IV)/(PO/sub 4/)/sub 3/, where M/sub (IV)/ represents titanium, zirconium, and hafnium, were used as the solid phases. It was established that there is an enrichment of the precipitates with the distributed components. The distribution coefficient depends on the nature of the solid phase and the temperature. It was suggested that M/sup (II)/ x M/sub 4//sup (IV)/(PO/sub 4/)/sub 6/ is formed in processes of distribution, where M/sup (II)/ represents Sr, Ba.
We investigate the influence of the turbulence forcing on the mass distributions of gravitationally unstable cores by postprocessing data from simulations of non-selfgravitating isothermal supersonic turbulence with varying resolution. In one set of simulations solenoidal forcing is applied, while the second set uses purely compressive forcing to excite turbulent motions. From the resulting density field, we compute the mass distribution of gravitationally unstable cores by means of a clump-finding algorithm. Using the time-averaged probability density functions of the mass density, semi-analytic mass distributions are calculated from analytical theories. We apply stability criteria that are based on the Bonnor-Ebert mass resulting from the thermal pressure and from the sum of thermal and turbulent pressure. Although there are uncertainties in the application of the clump-finding algorithm, we find systematic differences in ...
Tokamaks with sufficiently strong supplementary heating develop non-Maxwellian electron velocity distributions. Because the absorption of electron cyclotron power is proportional to #nabla#_Vf, even small deviations from a Maxwellian distribution can significantly affect power deposition. Following an approach used to study microinstabilities in a plasma with an arbitrary, numerically specified, electron distribution, we have developed a computational module to study electron cyclotron power deposition in plasmas that have distributions motivated by those in actual tokamaks. Also, we compare the deposition results obtained using an energy balance approach with those obtained using a Taylor expansion of the dielectric tensor. We illustrate the limitations of the latter approach.
Ideal free distribution (IFD) models are perhaps the group of mathematical models of behavior that have been the most widely and successfully applied by empiricists. These models can be applied to nearly any situation in which consumers compete?by any mechanism?for resources that are patchily distributed in their environment. Although IFD models have come to be broadly accepted, experiments that simultaneously test more than a single prediction are rare. Instead, investigators normally either test (1) for a relationship between the distribution of consumers and the distribution of resources or (2) whether average fitnesses are equal across resource patches. We conducted experiments with pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris) feeding on two patches of fava beans (Vicia faba L.) to fully in...
Research in the field of river hydrology has been mainly concerned with the investigation of the rainfall-runoff phenomenon through the analysis of hydrological factors such as meteorology and geography, with the focus being on each river basin. Recently, various forms of digital information such as GIS (Geographic Information System) and RS (Remote Sensing) data have been made available in worldwide digital map format. Therefore, there has been a shift in focus from lumped-parameter models to distributed runoff models, as the latter can consider temporal and spatial variations in water quantity. Distributed runoff models have made possible the comparison of runoff field and rainfall-runoff characteristics considering spatial distribution. Hydrological conditions are differently distribute...
The flow distribution through a plate-fin heat exchanger is studied by using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, FLUENT. The flow distribution through any heat exchanger affects its performance. In designing a heat exchanger, it is assumed that the fluid is uniformly distributed through the heat exchanger core. In practice, however, it is impossible to distribute fluid uniformly, because of an improper inlet configuration, imperfect design, and a complex heat transfer process. The CFD simulation of the flow distribution in the header of a conventional plate-fin heat exchanger is presented. It is found that the flow maldistribution is very serious in the y-direction of the header. A modified header is proposed and simulated using CFD. The modified header configuration has a more uniform flow distribution than the conventional header configuration. Hence, ...
Abstract Unrefined and refined black raspberry seed oils (RSOs) were examined for their lipid-modulating effects in male Syrian hamsters fed high-cholesterol (0.12% g/g), high-fat (9% g/g) diets. Hamsters fed the refined and the unrefined RSO diets had equivalently lower plasma total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in comparison with the atherogenic coconut oil diet. The unrefined RSO treatment group did not differ in liver total and esterified cholesterol from the coconut oil-fed control animals, but the refined RSO resulted in significantly elevated liver total and esterified cholesterol concentrations. The unrefined RSO diets significantly lowered plasma triglycerides (46%; P=.0126) in comparison with the coconut oil diet, whereas the refined RSO only tended to lower plasma triglyceride (29%; P=.1630). Liver triglyceride concentrations were lower in the unrefined (46%; P=.0002) and refined (36%; P=.0005) RSO-fed animals than the ...
Endurance-trained older men have a higher proportion of lean tissue and greater muscle cell oxidative capacity, reversing age-related trends and suggesting major changes in protein metabolism. In this study, protein turnover was determined in 6 middle-aged (52+/-1 yr) men who were well trained (VO_2 max 55.2+/-5.0 ml O_2/kg.min) and lean (body fat 18.9+/-2.8%, muscle mass 36.6+/-0.6%). The maintained habitual exercise while consuming 0.6, 0.9 or 1.2 g protein/kg.day for 10-day periods. N flux was measured from "1"5N in urea after oral "1"5N-glycine administration. Myofibrillar protein breakdown was estimated from urinary 3-methyl-histidine. Dietary protein had no effect on turnover rates, even when N balance was negative. Whole body protein synthesis was 3.60+/-0.12 g/kg.day and breakdown was 3.40+/-0.14 g/kg.day for all N intakes. Whole body protein flux, synthesis and breakdown were similar to values reported for sedentary young (SY) or sedentary old (SO) men on ...
In rat adipocyte membranes, both beta-adrenergic agonists and beta-adrenergic antagonists competed with (--)(/sup 3/H)dihydroalprenolol for high affinity (KD 2-4 nM) and low capacity binding sites. The antagonists but not the agonists competed with (--)(/sup 3/H)dihydroalprenolol for lower affinity and higher capacity sites. The present studies were performed in order to characterize the adipocyte beta-adrenergic receptor and distinguish it from low affinity, higher capacity sites which were heat-labile and not stereoselective. When isoproterenol was used to define the nonspecific binding, saturation studies showed a single binding site with a capacity of approximately 100 fmol/mg membrane protein (corresponding to approximately 50,000 sites/adipocyte). Binding was saturated by 10 nM (--)(/sup 3/H)dihydroalprenolol. Approximate KD's of 204 nM were observed. Kinetic analysis of (--)(/sup 3/H)dihydroalprenolol binding provided an independent measurement of KD between 0.75 and ...
The aim of the current investigation was to study the effects of sevelamer hydrochloride (RenaGel) on serum phosphate, intact parathyroid hormone levels (iPTH), and lipid profiles in stable hemodialysis patients. Hemodialysis patients maintained on calcium containing phosphate binders were enrolled in this study. Following two weeks of washout of the phosphate binders, serum phosphate rose from 6.4 +/- 0.6 to 10.5 +/- 0.7 mg/dl (p <0.001). After 8 weeks of titration with sevelamer hydrochloride, serum phosphate fell by 4.5 +/- 0.3 to 6.3 +/- 0.7 mg/dl (p <0.0001). Serum calcium levels fell during washout (9.8 +/- 0.4 to 8.9 +/- 0.3 mg/dl, p <0.004) and were unaffected by sevelamer hydrochloride. Sevelamer hydrochloride administration was associated with a 23.0 +/- 3.1% fall in total cholesterol, a 35.9 +/- 3.0% fall in LDL cholesterol, and a 35.2 +/- 5.3% fall in the LDL:HDL cholesterol ratio (p <0.001). There was no change in HDL cholesterol, triglycerides or the ...
The usefulness of helical CT early phase images optimized by the SmartPrep method for evaluation of wall invasion by colorectal cancer was investigated. Between August 1997 and September 1998, CT was performed to evaluate the primary tumor and local extension in 10 consecutive patients with colorectal cancer confirmed by barium enema- and/or colonoscopy. Early-phase images were acquired by using SmartPrep application software. This method allows the optimal scan delay time to be obtained by continuous monitoring of increases in CT values after injection of contrast medium. Sections of the surgical specimens, close to the same plane as the CT images, and of the same slice thickness, were analyzed histopathologically. All 10 cancers, regardless of size, showed strong enhancement on the early-phase images (81.4-112 HU, mean: 95.1 HU). The strongly enhanced image areas on CT corresponded to the primary cancer areas on histopathological specimens. A low-density zone was observed adjacent to ...
The metabolic actions of GH can be divided into acute (insulin-like) and chronic (lipolytic/anti-insulin). The insulin-like actions of GH are most readily elicited in GH-deficient animals as GH induces resistance to its own insulin-like action. Like GH, PGF stimulates growth and cross-reacts with anti-hGH antibodies. Independent experiments were conducted comparing the direct actions of PGF to insulin or hGH in vitro. Insulin-like effects were determined by the ability of PGF, insulin or hGH to stimulate (U-/sup 14/C)glucose metabolism in epidydimal fat pads from normal rats and by inhibition of epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis. Direct stimulation of lipolysis was used as anti-insulin activity. To determine if PGF competes for insulin or GH receptors, adipocytes (3 x 10/sup 5/ cells/ml) were incubated with either (/sup 125/I)insulin or (/sup 125/I)hGH +/- PGF, +/- insulin or +/- hGH. PGF stimulated glucose oxidation and /sup 14/C-incorporation into lipids. Insulin, ...
The metabolic actions of GH can be divided into acute (insulin-like) and chronic (lipolytic/anti-insulin). The insulin-like actions of GH are most readily elicited in GH-deficient animals as GH induces resistance to its own insulin-like action. Like GH, PGF stimulates growth and cross-reacts with anti-hGH antibodies. Independent experiments were conducted comparing the direct actions of PGF to insulin or hGH in vitro. Insulin-like effects were determined by the ability of PGF, insulin or hGH to stimulate [U-"1"4C]glucose metabolism in epidydimal fat pads from normal rats and by inhibition of epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis. Direct stimulation of lipolysis was used as anti-insulin activity. To determine if PGF competes for insulin or GH receptors, adipocytes (3 x 10"5 cells/ml) were incubated with either ["1"2"5I]insulin or ["1"2"5I]hGH +/- PGF, +/- insulin or +/- hGH. PGF stimulated glucose oxidation and "1"4C-incorporation into lipids. Insulin, hGH and PGF ...
In radiation processing of food, the product often has to be prepackaged to prevent microbial recontamination during and after irradiation. The packaging material is exposed to radiation during radiation processing and radiation stability is a key consideration in the selection of packaging materials. The effects of ionizing radiation on many food packaging materials at the dose levels recommended for food precessing can be minimized by selecting appropriate radiation resistant materials. It is important to select materials in which chemicals formed as a result of the radiation treatment do not migrate and interact with the food, affecting its organoleptic and toxicological aspects. It is also important to select materials in which the physical properties are not altered to the extent they cannot resist damage during commercial production, shipment and storage. Radiation treatment of food may be classified broadly into two categories: 1. Processes requiring doses less than 10 kGy; 2. ...
Objectives: We have previously shown that chronic exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (less than 2.5 ?m in aerodynamic diameter, PM(2.5)) pollution in conjunction with high-fat diet induces insulin resistance through alterations in inflammatory pathways. In this study we evaluated the effects of PM(2.5) exposure over a substantive duration of a rodent's lifespan and focused on the impact of long-term exposure on adipose structure and function.Methods and Results: C57BL/6 mice were exposed to PM(2.5) or filtered air (FA) (6 hours/day, 5 days/week) for duration of 10 months in Columbus, OH. At the end of the exposure, PM(2.5)-exposed mice demonstrated insulin resistance (IR) and a decrease in glucose tolerance compared with the FA-exposed group. Although there were no significant differences in circulating cytokines between PM(2.5)- and FA-exposed groups, circulating adiponectin and leptin were significantly decreased in PM(2.5)-exposed group. PM(2.5) ...
An abundance of waste corn, a key food of many wildlife species, has helped make possible the widespread success of wildlife management in the United States over the past half century. We found waste corn post harvest in Nebraska declined by 47% from 1978 to 1998 due primarily to improvements in combine headers resulting in a marked decline in ear loss. The reduction in waste coincided with major declines in fat storage by sandhill cranes and white-fronted geese during spring migration. Sandhill cranes, northern pintails, white-fronted geese, and lesser snow geese avoided soybeans while staging in spring in the Rainwater Basin Area and Central Platte River Valley. These findings and other literature suggest soybeans are a marginal food for wildlife particularly during periods of high energy requirements. Soybean acreage has increased by 600% in the United States since 1950 and now comprises nearly one-quarter of the nation>'s cropland. With over 80% of the ...
The lipid fractions of residues from historical pharmaceutical ointments were analysed by reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and mass spectrometer detection. The residues were contained in a series of historical apothecary jars, dating from the eighteenth century and conserved at the "Aboca Museum" in Sansepolcro (Arezzo, Italy) and at the pharmacy of the "Real Cartuja de Valldemossa" in Palma de Majorca (Spain). The analytical protocol was set up using a comparative study based on the evaluation of triacylglycerol (TAG) compositions in raw natural lipid materials and in laboratory-reproduced ointments. These ointments were prepared following pharmaceutical recipes reported in historical treatises and used as reference materials. The reference materials were also subjected to stress treatments in order to evaluate the modification occurring in the TAG profiles as an effect of ageing. TAGs were successfully detected in the ...
The electromagnetic properties of the baryon decuplet are calculated in quenched QCD on a 20{sup 3}x40 lattice with a lattice spacing of 0.128 fm using the fat-link irrelevant clover fermion action with quark masses providing a pion mass as low as 300 MeV. Magnetic moments and charge radii are extracted from the electric and magnetic form factors for each individual quark sector. From these, the corresponding baryon properties are constructed. We present results for the higher-order moments of the spin-3/2 baryons, including the electric-quadrupole moment E2 and the magnetic-octupole moment M3. The world's first determination of a nonzero M3 form factor for the {delta} baryon is presented. With these results we provide a conclusive analysis which shows that decuplet baryons are deformed. We compare the decuplet-baryon results from a similar lattice calculation of the octet baryons. We establish that the environment sensitivity is far less pronounced for ...
To determine the effects of ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) dosage and swimming exercise training during 4 weeks on bone metabolic turnover in rats, seven-week-old female 24 Wister-Kyoto (WKY) rats were investigated by bone status including bone mineral density (BMD) and biomechanical markers from blood and urine. Twenty-four rats (initial weight: 191.2+/-7.6 g) were randomly divided into four groups: baseline (8 weeks old) control group (n=6, BC), 4-week control group (n=6, Con), 4-week swimming exercise loading group (n=6, Swim) and 4-week chronic NH4Cl dosage group (n=6, Acid). All rats were fed an AIN93M diet (Ca: 0.5%, P: 0.3%), and both Con and Swim groups were pair-fed by feeding volume of the NH4Cl dosage group. The acid group only received 0.25 M NH4Cl distilled water ad libitum. At the end of the experimental period, rats were sacrificed with blood drawn and femur and tibia were removed for analysis of bone mineral density (BMD) by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). In the ...
Vildagliptin is a potent and selective dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor in development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes that improves glycemic control by enhancing alpha- and beta-cell responsiveness to glucose. Two open-label, single-dose, randomized, crossover studies in healthy subjects (ages 18-45 years) investigated the dose proportionality of vildagliptin pharmacokinetics (n = 20) and the effect of food (n = 24) on vildagliptin pharmacokinetics. There was a linear relationship (r(2) = 0.999) between vildagliptin doses of 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg and area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC(0-infinity)) and maximum plasma concentration (C(max)). Dose proportionality was assessed using a statistical power model [X = alpha x (dose)(beta)]. The 90% confidence intervals of the proportionality coefficient, beta, for AUC(0-infinity) (1.15-1.19) and C(max) (1.04-1.14) indicated that deviations from dose proportionality were small (<7.7%). ...
The autors examined the hypothesis that current recommendations on dietary energy requirements may underestimate the total energy needs of young adult men, by measuring total energy expenditure (TEE) and resting energy expenditure (REE) in 14 weight-maintaining healthy subjects leading unrestricted lives. TEE and body composition were measured by using 2H(2)18O, and REE was measured by using indirect calorimetry. All subjects had sedentary full-time occupations and participated in strenuous leisure activities for 34 #+-# 6 (SE) min/d. TEE and REE were 14.61 #+-# 0.76 and 7.39 #+-# 0.26 MJ/d, respectively, and 202 #+-# 2 and 122 #+-# 2 kJ.kg-1.d-1. There were significant relationships between TEE and both body fat-free mass (r = 0.732, P less than 0.005) and measured REE (r = 0.568, P less than 0.05). Measured TEE:REE values were significantly higher than the recommended energy requirement (1.98 #+-# 0.09, compared with 1.55 or 1.67, P less than 0.005). These ...
Aims: To provide a significantly improved probability distribution for the H-test for periodicity in X-ray and $\\gamma$-ray arrival times, which is already extensively used by the $\\gamma$-ray pulsar community. Also, to obtain an analytical probability distribution for stacked test statistics in the case of a search for pulsed emission from an ensemble of pulsars where the significance per pulsar is relatively low, making individual detections insignificant on their own. This information is timely given the recent rapid discovery of new pulsars with the Fermi-LAT t $\\gamma$-ray telescope. Methods: Approximately $10^{14}$ realisations of the H-statistic ($H$) for random (white) noise is calculated from a random number generator for which the repitition cycle is $\\gg 10^{14}$. From these numbers the probability distribution $P(>H)$ is calculated. Results: The distribution of $H$ is is found to be ...
The energy distribution of ion beams is important especially for low energy ion beam applications. The energy distributions of negative-ion beams produced through secondary ion emission by sputtering were measured and compared with theoretically estimated distributions by use of four different negative-ion production probability equations (modified surface ionization model, exponential velocity dependence model, and our modified exponential velocity dependence models (modified decaying factor model and combination model of velocity dependence and surface ionization)). In the measurements, the energy distributions of C"- and Ag"- beams had a peak at a few to several eV and the full width at half maximum were 15 eV and 11 eV, respectively. These results could be well explained by the estimated distributions by virtue of our combination model or the modified surface ionization model. ...
With regard to a fracture system in the Hijiori hot dry rock artificial reservoir, an attempt was made on an interpretation which integrates different data. Major factors that characterize development and performance of an artificial reservoir are composed of a fracture system in rocks, which acts as circulating water paths, a heat exchange face and a reservoir space. The system relates not only with crack density distribution, but also with cracks activated by water pressure fracturing, cracks generating acoustic emission (AE), and cracks working as major flow paths, all of which are characterized by having respective behaviors and roles. Characteristics are shown on AE cluster distribution, crack distribution, production zone and estimated stress fields. Mutual relationship among these elements was discussed based on the Coulomb`s theory. The most important paths are characterized by distribution of ...
This is the eighth part of a ten-part final report for the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) on a project that looked into potential problems relating to the Swiss electricity distribution grid with respect to the increasing number of distributed power generation facilities being put into service. The identification of special conditions for the grid's operation and future development that take increasing decentralised power production into account are discussed. The results of the project activities encompass the analysis and evaluation of various problem areas associated with planning and management of the grid during normal operation and periods of malfunction, as well as required modifications to safety systems and grid configurations. This seventh appendix to the main report summarises and discusses the knowledge gained during the project and attempts to provide answers to various questions posed by the use of ...
The calculation of electronn beam dose using an algorithms similar to convolution/superposition methods for photon beams [1,2,3,4] is explored. The distribution of dose deposited by a number of monoenergetic, point-monodirectional electron pencil beams is first determined using the Monte Carlo method [5,6]. These elementary distributions are combined to model distributions that would result from the spectrum of incident energies and angles [6,7] present in a clinical beam. These modified distributions are then stored for use as kernels in the dose calculation. In the case of a homogeneous phantom, the relative fluence distribution is convolved with the stored kernels to obtain thhe dose distributions in 3 dimensions. Since the kernels cannot be assumed to be spatially invariant in a heterogeneous water-like phantom, the dose deposited on paths from the ...
The refrigerant two-phase flows in a distributor and a simulated plate heat exchanger with a single passage used in a compression-type refrigerator were visualized by real-time neutron radiography. For a distributor, the liquid fraction in the each tube was measured by some image processing method. On the other hand, for a plate heat exchanger, the two-dimensional distribution of void fraction was measured quantitatively by the umbra method. As a result, it was shown that the dynamic behaviors of refrigerant at the inlet of the section strongly affected on the performance, that is, a distribution performance of a distributor and a liquid distribution in a plate heat exchanger. (author)
The penetration depth and concentration distribution for vanadium ions with low energy implanted into the dry peanut seeds is determined by scanning electron microscope and X-ray energy dispersion spectrometer. The results show that the depth-concentration distribution is a Gaussian distribution with a long tail and the maximum penetration depth is about 13.6 #mu#m for V"+ with 200 keV in cotyledon of the peanut. The experimental result of the implanted V"+ range in the peanut seeds is compared with the calculating value of the TRIM95
We prove that the 1984 protocol of Bennett and Brassard (BB84) for quantum key distribution is secure. We first give a key distribution protocol based on entanglement purification, which can be proven secure using methods from Lo and Chau's proof of security for a similar protocol. We then show that the security of this protocol implies the security of BB84. The entanglement purification based protocol uses Calderbank-Shor-Steane codes, and properties of these codes are used to remove the use of quantum computation from the Lo-Chau protocol. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.
This document presents the proceedings of the Areva technical days, presented during the session 5 the 9 and 10 december 2004, at Istanbul. It deals with the operations of the transmission and distribution division. With manufacturing facilities in over 40 countries and a sales network in over 100, Areva offers customers technological solutions for nuclear power generation and electricity transmission and distribution (the Group also provides interconnect systems to the telecommunications, computer and automotive markets). It provides five topics: a general presentation of Areva, the strategic stakes for transmission and distribution by world-zone, economic and strategic stakes of business unit products, business unit systems and business unit automation. (A.L.B.)
In this article we obtain an alternative formulation of the von Mises type conditions for p-max stable laws in terms of generalized log Pareto distributions (glogPds). Relationship between the rate of convergence of extremes and the remainder terms in the von Mises type conditions is investigated. It is shown that the rate of convergence in the von Mises type conditions for p-max stable laws determines the distance of the underlying distribution function from a glogPd.
The mass distribution of the Sombrero Galaxy, NGC 4594, is calculated in order to investigate the suspicion that the rotational velocity of the galactic gas does not measure the circular velocity in the galaxy. It is shown that the H II rotation velocities are much less than circular in the central 35 arcsec of the galaxy, and that the suspicion is correct. Thus, the H II rotation velocities cannot be used to measure the mass distribution. The absorption-line rotation curve is used to derive the mass distribution, and it is found that the M/L ratio is nearly constant. It is concluded that the visible matter is self-gravitating at least in the central 180 arcsec. 44 references.
Mass distribution in 28.5 MeV alpha particle induced fission of "2"3"2Th has been determined using gamma spectrometric technique. The chain yields of 24 different fission products covering both symmetric and asymmetric mass divisions were determined. The mass distribution was found to be asymmetric with peak positions at mass numbers 96 and 136 respectively while the peak to valley ratio was 3.86. The results are compared with the available literature on 14 MeV neutron induced fission of "2"3"5U. (orig.).
Mass distribution in 28.5 MeV alpha particle induced fission of {sup 232}Th has been determined using gamma spectrometric technique. The chain yields of 24 different fission products covering both symmetric and asymmetric mass divisions were determined. The mass distribution was found to be asymmetric with peak positions at mass numbers 96 and 136 respectively while the peak to valley ratio was 3.86. The results are compared with the available literature on 14 MeV neutron induced fission of {sup 235}U. (orig.).
The document reports the status of the 'electricity' in Lebanon since 1885 with an emphasis on its present economical situation. Data concerning electric power consumption and distribution as well as the average of rainwater, spring and weather are given. Power plants in Lebanon, the production of electric power and its consumption are described. A quantitative analysis of specifications of power plants and their annual and monthly production of electric power, the distribution of electricity consumption in Lebanon (geographical, annual, monthly) are presented in tables and graphs. An overview of the economical status of the 'electricity' in Lebanon is presented. The evolution of prices charges, hour cuts, damages and the impact of Lebanese wars on the distribution and the consumption of electricity are presented
The distributions of the effective numbers of 6q-fluctons in the energy, momentum and distance to the center of mass of nucleus are studied. Many characteristics of these distributions are shown to be universal, i.e. independent of the flucton size. The saturation of the flucton density in A > 80 nuclei and other peculiarities are found, which define different behavior of the effective numbers of fluctons and deuterons. This fact provides an explanation of the known underestimate by a factor of 1.5-6 of the cross sections of hard inclusive (p, p'd) process on nuclei calculated in the quasi-elastic approximation.
A theoretical analysis is presented for the method of determining the concentration distribution of admixtures in zone melting and in the study of diffusion in melts. Continuous mode X-ray fluorescence analysis is considered. The convolution integral interpreting the analog output of the ratemeter was solved applying the mathematical apparatus of Z transformation. The feasibility of the method is tested on an example of the determination of tin distribution in tungsten. With respect to the statistical error (#delta#<1.5%), the maximum integration constant (100 s) and a very slow sample feed (0.025 mm/s) were used. The calculated transfer function reflects the total transfer function of the ratemeter and the recorder used. (M.D.).
A semi-mechanistic model for calculating solid radionuclide release rates from bubbling pools of sodium was developed. The influence of particle spacial and size distributions on the decontamination of the releases was analysed and found significant. Decontamination factors are shown as a function of pool depth, bubbling characteristics and particle size distribution. The calculation of a decontamination factor for estimating the source term of large scale hypothetical core disruptive accidents is presented. The decontamination factor for a large scale accident was found to be two orders of magnitude greater than results obtained from small scale experiments conducted with uniform particle distributions.
A semi-mechanistic model for calculating solid radionuclide release rates from bubbling pools of sodium was developed. The influence of particle spacial and size distributions on the decontamination of the releases was analysed and found significant. Decontamination factors are shown as a function of pool depth, bubbling characteristics and particle size distribution. The calculation of a decontamination factor for estimating the source term of large scale hypothetical core disruptive accidents is presented. The decontamination factor for a large scale accident was found to be two orders of magnitude greater than results obtained from small scale experiments conducted with uniform particle distributions. (orig.).
Analytical and numerical calculations are presented for a reflexing electron beam type of collective ion accelerator. These results are then compared to those obtained through experiment. By constraining one free parameter to experimental conditions, the self-similar solution of the ion energy distribution agrees closely with the experimental distribution. Hence the reflexing beam model appears to be a valid model for explaining the experimental data. Simulation shows in addition to the agreement with the experimental ion distribution that synchronization between accelerated ions and electric field is phase unstable. This instability seems to further restrict the maximum ion energy to several times the electron energy.
The charge distribution in the alpha particle induced fission of "2"0"9Bi has been studied at alpha particle energy of 55.7 MeV and 58.6 MeV. The fractional cumulative yields of "9"7Zr, "9"9Mo, "1"0"1Mo and "1"1"2Pd have been determined using gamma ray spectrometry. The charge distribution have been found to be broad. (author). 4 refs., 1 ta b.
Alpha particles, tritons, deuterons and protons accompanying /sup 252/Cf fission were registered in coincidence with both fission fragments by means of a system containing two-dimensional position-sensitive silicon detectors. Angular distributions, kinetic energy spectra of light charged particles as well as mass distributions of fission fragments in coincidence with light charged particles were measured. The experimental results are compared with some theoretical models.
The formation of a quasiequilibrium beam distribution matched to an alternating-gradient quadrupole focusing lattice by means of the adiabatic turn-on of the oscillating focusing field is studied numerically using particle-in-cell simulations. Quiescent beam propagation over several hundred lattice periods is demonstrated for a broad range of beam intensities and vacuum phase advances describing the strength of the oscillating focusing field. Properties of the matched-beam distribution are investigated. In particular, self-similar evolution of the beam density profile is observed over a wide range of system parameters. The numerical simulations are performed using the WARP particle-in-cell code.
A simple method allowing easy calculation of the spatial damage energy distributions for ion-implanted materials is presented. The direct procedure takes account of the variation with depth of the lateral spreading of implanted ions, as well as the effects of energy transport by the recoiling target atoms. The subsequent computer program LUPIN-3D provides three-dimensional damage distributions and allows the construction of damage energy mappings. Various substrates of technological interest are investigated and several fields of application of the calculation are envisaged. The density of cascades can therefore be determined and heterogeneous amorphization models can be implemented. (orig.).
Often, lifetime data come from experiments where failure times are grouped. The Weibull distribution is a popular distribution for modeling failure times. Maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) has outstanding large sample properties for the Weibull distribution. This article evaluates small sample properties of MLEs for grouped data. We evaluate sample size requirements for MLE asymptotic properties to take effect. We compare type I and type II censoring for pooled experiments and conclude that bias for the shape parameter estimate can be alarmingly high especially for type II censored data. Finally, we investigate the benefits of the pooled analysis.
the nozzle ring, the collector cup, and the impeller fuel-distribution ... sity of the vaned collector cup and the fuel-transfer passages ..... closure ...
Systems MEMS sensors C11-20 Lifetime Distributions of Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors C11-22 Adhesion Strength of Advanced Polymer Films for Flexible and Rigid...
A real-time two-dimensional void fraction distribution measurement of gas-liquid two-phase flow was carried out by real-time neutron radiography and real-time image processing. The JRR-3M real-time thermal neutron radiography system and a Musashi dynamic image processing system were used. Image processing methods to calculate two-dimensional and cross-sectional void fraction distributions were proposed. The void fraction distribution was calculated by non-linear processing of the neutron radiography image and displayed by pseudo-color in real-time. A simple gas-liquid two-phase flow induced by injecting gas through needles at the bottom of water pool in a rectangular vessel was tested. (orig.).
integrates multiple fisheries information systems to obtain a view of U.S. freshwater fish distribution. Information about NFDI National Framework for Early Detection, Rapid...
... in the southeast Caribbean. Cetology 49: 1-15. Watkins, W.A., ... H., S. Brennan, and D. Grover. 1991. Distribution and behavior of male sperm whales ...
The spatial distribution of argon clusters in gas jet is tested using the Rayleigh scattering method. A pulsed laser is used to acquire the whole evolution of the cluster inside one event. The measured results at a fixed axial position show that the argon clusters grow in less than one millisecond after the nozzle is opened and the cluster size keeps constant during the whole open period of 20 ms. Further results show that the scattering signal along the radial direction is almost Gaussian-distributed and the full width half maximum (FWHM) increases almost linearly when the distance from nozzle increases. The scattering signal along the axial direction is Landau-distributed and the area near the nozzle is most effective for laser cluster interaction. (authors)
We compute the limiting distribution, as n approaches infinity, of the number of cycles of length between gamma n and delta n in a permutation of [n] chosen uniformly at random, for constants gamma, delta such that 1/(k+1) <= gamma < delta <= 1/k for some integer k. This distribution is supported on {0, 1, ... k} and has 0th, 1st, ..., kth moments equal to those of a Poisson distribution with parameter log (delta/gamma). For more general choices of gamma, delta we show that such a limiting distribution exists, which can be given explicitly in terms of certain integrals over intersections of hypercubes with half-spaces; these integrals are analytically intractable but a recurrence specifying them can be given. The results herein provide a basis of comparison for similar statistics on restricted classes of permutations.
The rejection thresholds of Phormia regina Meigen for twenty-four glycols have been determined. A definite relationship between the concentration of the test material and the distribution...Full Text Available
A questionnaire on the development of specialist clinics was distributed to the members of the Association of British Neurologists and completed by 104 members (85 consultants). Half of the respondents...Full Text Available
A system model for transmission of computer user's data with a finite number of regular users in a resource-sharing mode in parallel distributed information-processing systems is considered. The mini/microcomputer included in the system model is considered to be receiving the mixed arrival data of the user from a picture-phone terminal with uniformly-distributed data arrivals and a teletypewriter terminal with Erlang-distributed data arrivals. The large-memory performance of the mini/microcomputer is analysed with the mixed input data, constant service-times, synchronous transmission and single server interruption through a first-order Markov process. A simple and general approach to calculate the data arrivals from picture-phone and teletypewriter terminals and their mixed data arrivals is presented. Expressions for memory content probability and average queueing delay are derived. The application of the model is ...
... in the southeast Caribbean. Cetology 49: 1-15. Watkins, W.A., ... H., S. Brennan, and D. Grover. 1991. Distribution and behavior of male sperm whales ...
A steadily increasing part of comminution is nowadays carried out by tube ball mills. Our investigations are a first step to a possible tuning of material distribution with mechanical stress characteristic of the grinding media charge, that is essential for a high efficiency of grinding. A BOND mill filled with porcelain balls as grinding media and labelled corundum (Au-198) as grinding material was used to measure the distribution of material over the cross-section. The evaluation was made by linear interpolation between all combinations of adjacent measuring points to calculate all coordinates with equal intensity for each selected level of activity. Two plottings showing the dependence of material distribution on the rotating speed are presented. (author).
BACKGROUND: An approach to the study of the pharmacokinetics of drugs in the lung is to measure their concentrations in bronchial biopsy specimens. The main criticism of this technique is that bronchial...Full Text Available
The geographical arrangement of people on the surface of the earth is approximated by a mathematical equation of 361 terms. This is a convenient form for comparison with other distributions and for...Full Text Available
BackgroundSection Calochroi is one of the most species-rich lineages in the genus Cortinarius (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) and is widely distributed...Full Text Available
We show that, for the high electron currents used in present-day free-electron lasers, spontaneous radiation is distributed according to thermal statistics.
Diverse cell polarity networks require positive feedback for locally amplifying distributions of signalling molecules at the plasma membrane1. Additional...Full Text Available
A methodology and hypothetical case study are presented for incorporation of uncertainty and variability into calculations of human health risk appropriate for regional, or basin-scale, groundwater management problems. Uncertainty in well water concentration is introduced through complex contaminant migration patterns in the subsurface. Variability is considered in parameters related to individual behavior patterns and biological effects and to groundwater extraction and distribution networks. A joint uncertainty and variability (JUV) analysis is used to generate a two-dimensional distribution or risk surface that spans both transport uncertainty as well as individual variability. Cuts in this distributional surface (fractiles of variability and percentiles of uncertainty) are presented and discussed. Comparisons with alternative approaches based upon deterministic transport models are also made. In addition, important ...
The purpose of this study is to explain the unplanned longitudinal dose modulations that appear in helical tomotherapy (HT) dose distributions in the presence of irregular patient breathing....Full Text Available
... These tankers will be converted to a dual-fuel engine to enable them to run efficiently on the biomethane. The other half will be conditioned and injected into National Gridrsquo;s gas distribution network. This will provide enough renewable energy for all the heating and ...
Radon migration in porous, earthen materials is characterized by diffusion in both the air and water components of the system as well as by the interaction of the radon between the air and water. The size distribution and configuration of the pore spaces and their moisture distributions are key parameters in determining the radon diffusion coefficient for the bulk material. A mathematical model is developed and presented for calculating radon diffusion coefficients solely from the moisture content and pore size distribution of a soil, reducing the need for resorting to radon diffusion measurements. The resulting diffusion coefficients increase with the median pore diameter of the soil and decrease with increasing widths of the pore size distribution. The calculated diffusion coefficients are suitable for use in simple homogeneous-medium diffusion expressions for predicting radon transport and compare ...
In this work, a three-dimensional multiphase non-isothermal model incorporated with a capillary-extended sub-model in gas channels is used to investigate the coupled phenomena of water and thermal transport in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Distributions of water and temperature along the flow path in the channel are highlighted and the pros and cons of various operating temperatures are elaborated. In addition, this work also sheds light on the impacts of temperature variations of bipolar plates induced by non-uniform cooling conditions, which have been overlooked by most previous works. An important phenomenon of water distribution, dry-out at inlets and flooding at outlets (DIFO), is observed and this non-uniform distribution is revealed to be greatly influenced by the operating t...
BackgroundMalaria is one of the most important tropical diseases that affects people globally. The influence of environmental conditions in the patterns of temporal distribution...Full Text Available
This paper introduces a novel three-phase power flow approach for unbalanced radial distribution systems. The proposed approach is developed based on the loop frame of reference, rather than the traditional bus frame of reference. On the basis of the loop frame of reference, a simple direct iterative method in impedance form is applied. Basic graph theory and injection current technique are also applied in the proposed approach. The clear theoretical foundation and the simple topology of the radial distribution network make the proposed method efficient and reliable. To demonstrate the better convergence performance and the efficiency of the proposed approach, four three-phase IEEE test feeders are used for comparisons. The test results show that the proposed method has robust convergence characteristics and high performance, especially for large-scale radial distribution systems. (author)
Polygon coverage showing distribution of groundfish and Pacific halibut in the Gulf of Alaska. Includes halibut, nearshore rockfish, pacific cod, pacific ... ...
Polygon coverage showing known concentrations and known spawning areas of shrimp in the Gulf of Alaska. General distribution area of shrimp includes most ... ...
Charge transport in disordered organic semiconductors is generally described as thermally activated hopping in a gaussian distribution of localized states. The presence of charge traps is critical to the performance of organic electronic devices, since trapped charge carriers do no longer contribute to the current flow. The trap distribution in the polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is investigated by applying the fractional thermally stimulated current technique. Thereby, a low temperatur double-peak distribution has been revealed. One of the peaks is believed to belong to the tail of the intrinsic density of states, whereas the other trap is strongly affected by exposure to oxygen. We discuss the influence of oxygen exposure time on the trap distribution.
Mapping the distribution of invasive alien plant species is significant for testing ecological hypotheses and for guiding effective management. Little is known about the distribution of invasive plants at landscape scale, and the factors controlling their dispersal and establishment are still poorly understood. This is the case for Rosa rugosa, an invasive shrub with negative effects on biodiversity in dune ecosystems of NW Europe. The aim of the study was to identify the factors which determine the distribution of R. rugosa in coastal dunes. In a large semi-natural dune area of NW Denmark (2364ha) all patches of the species (1321, 1.3-59.1m2) were GPS mapped. Patch distribution was GIS analysed, based on aerial photographs and vegetation maps. The distance of R. rugosa from the most consp...
Studies on the kinetics of the distribution of lead-203 in body fluids have been carried out in vitro, and in animal studies using beagle dogs. In vitro, the distribution of carrier free lead-203 between plasma and cells of canine blood at 37"0C was measured after the addition of isotope. In animal studies, activity in plasma was measured for about 150 hours, and activity in blood cells, urine and feces measured for about 400 hours after exposure to lead-203. Linear compartmental models for distribution of the isotope are presented for both in vitro and in vivo experimental systems. The models contain compartments for both untransformed lead, for isotope added in saline or citric acid, and transformed lead, as obtained by lead-203 incubation in plasma.
• Background and Aims The occurrence of stomata in seed coats is uncommon and there is limited information about their function(s). The aim of this study was to verify the distribution...Full Text Available
Molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out of the radial distribution function of the hard sphere fluid for a range of densities in the equilibrium fluid and just into the metastable region. The first derivative of the hard-sphere radial distribution function at contact was computed and its density dependence fitted to a simple analytic form. Comparisons were made with semi-empirical formulae from the literature, and of these the formula proposed by Tao et al (1992 Phys. Rev. A 46 8007) was found to be in best agreement with the simulation data, although it slightly underestimates the derivative at the higher packing fractions in excess of about 0.45. Close to contact, within a few per cent of the particle diameter, the radial distribution function can be represented well by a second order polynomial. An exponential function, which has some useful analytic features, can also be applied in this region.
In the paper presented, an attempt is made to describe quantitatively the room air motion by diffuse air distribution. Since solving the problem theoretically, seems to be hopeless at present, only an experimental solution seems to promise success. Experiments with diffuse air distribution offer suitable preconditions. With this kind of air introduction into the room, a relatively regular distribution of room air motion can be expected. A further simplification will be achieved by isotherme flow conditions. The first goal of the experiments was to establish whether the velocities measured are reproducible to demonstrate, and can be brought into a functional connection. The room air motion is a measured value which changes temporarily and locally quite largely, far more than is customary with technical measurements. From there, a second task arises, i.e. to evaluate the fluctuation of the velocity registered by its quantity ...
Cluster calculations of the electronic structure and charge distribution in V_3Si have been performed using two different molecular orbital methods: a semiempirical LCAO and the MS X#alpha# model. The results are compared with X-ray emission spectra and band structure calculations. An analysis of the calculated electronic distribution reveals a charge transfer from Si-atoms to V-atoms, the additional charge on a V-atom being 0.6e (LCAO) and 0.4e (MS X#alpha# method). The results are in good agreement with experiment, which indicates that the cluster approach is adequate for the description of charge distributions and spectra characteristics of the A-15 compounds. (author).
This paper discusses the application of L1-regularized maximum entropy modeling or SL1-Max [9] to multiclass categorization problems. A new modification to the SL1-Max fast sequential learning algorithm is proposed to handle conditional distributions. Furthermore, unlike most previous studies, the present research goes beyond a single type of conditional distribution. It describes and compares a variety of modeling assumptions about the class distribution (independent or exclusive) and various types of joint or conditional distributions. It results in a new methodology for combining binary regularized classifiers to achieve multiclass categorization. In this context, Maximum Entropy can be considered as a generic and efficient regularized classification tool that matches or outperforms the state-of-the art represented by AdaBoost and SVMs.
Oils, tars, and degraded oils of varying degrees of biodegradation occur in the Permian Phosphoria Formation along the eastern flank of the Wind River mountains, Wyoming, US. Biodegradation has altered the isomer distributions of steranes, the hopanes, and the mono- and triaromatised steroids in these oils. The conventional maturity parameters based on these biomarkers are of limited use in estimating their maturity. On the other hand, even in severely biodegraded oils the vanadylporphyrin distributions are unaltered. Because of this, the Porphyrin Maturity Parameter (PMP) derived from the vanadylporphyrin distribution is an ideal parameter for estimating the maturity of these oils. This study also confirms the previous observation that T[sub s] and T[sub m] are unaffected by even severe biodegradation. 14 refs., 5 figs., 2 tabs.
PurposeTo determine the dosimetric impact of inter-fraction anatomical movements in prostate cancer patients receiving proton therapy.Full Text Available
The economics of medical computer networks are presented in context with the patient care and administrative goals of medical networks. Design alternatives and network topologies are discussed with...Full Text Available
14C-dated Holocene coastal uplift, conventional and satellite geodetic measurements, and coseismic and aseismic fault slip reveal the pattern of distributed deformation at Taiwan resulting...Full Text Available
Figure 23 presented detailed layout of the cooling system designed for the Mach 6 hypersonic- transport. The distribution system consisted of thin-wall ...
The homogeneity of a helium dielectric barrier discharge, working at atmospheric pressure and containing oxygen as contaminant, is assessed by mapping the spatial distribution of oxygen metastable atoms in relation to the uniformity of surface properties. Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy is used to monitor the time evolution of the absorption coefficient corresponding to the oxygen metastable atoms on the 35S2 level, as a function of the laser absorbing path, whereas bi-dimensional Abel transform is used to obtain local information on the space distribution of the metastable atoms in the discharge. The radial distribution of the surface properties is investigated using atomic force microscopy, contact angle measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results show that ...
The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent of consumer demand for patient-oriented pharmacy services. Data, collected via a self-administered questionnaire distributed to 300 households,...Full Text Available
... is a standard in the utility industry which is used to study switching transients on power distribution networks and high-voltage transmission lines. ...
Abstract: Geothermal data available from WDC includes : a) Map of hot spring distribution in ... d) Data on geothermal resources in Zhejiang and Fujian. ...
Pseudomonas stutzeri is a nonfluorescent denitrifying bacterium widely distributed in the environment, and it has also been isolated as an opportunistic pathogen from humans. Over the...Full Text Available
Estimation of mixed Weibull distribution by maximum likelihood estimation and other methods is frequently difficult due to unstable estimates arising from limited data. Bayesian techniques can stabilize these estimates through the priors, but there is no closed-form conjugate family for the Weibull distribution. This paper reduces the number of numeric integrations required for using Bayesian estimation on mixed Weibull situations from five to two, thus making it a more feasible approach to the typical user. It also examines the robustness of the Bayesian estimates under a variety of different prior distributions. It is found that Bayesian estimation can improve accuracy over the MLE for situations with low mixture ratios so long as the prior on the weak subpopulation's characteristic life has an expected value less than or equal to the true characteristic life.
Following a brief overview of the terrestrial distribution of boron in rocks, soil, and water, the history of the discovery, early utilization, and geologic origin of borate minerals is summarized....Full Text Available
This paper presents a new mathematical model for designing distribution networks in a supply chain system considering service level constraint optimizing strategic decisions (location), tactical decisions (inventory), and assigning decisions. In real-world cases, demand, traveling time or any parameters in classical models may change over the period of time. So, considering uncertainty yields more flexibility for the results and the proposed model. In our study, environmental uncertainty is described by discrete scenarios. In this model, we have service level constraint in order to prevent inventory lost in distribution centers (DCs). Also, we assume that customer's demand is stochastic with Poisson distribution function and DCs have coverage radius constraints thus any DC cannot service a...
In this work, we propose a conceptual distributed control framework for electrical grid integrated with distributed renewable energy generation systems in order to enable the development of the so-called ''smart electrical grid''. First, we introduce the key elements and their interactions in the proposed control architecture and discuss the design of the distributed control systems which are able to coordinate their actions to account for optimization considerations on the system operation. Subsequently, we focus on a specific wind/solar energy generation system connected to a reverse osmosis water desalination system and the electrical grid and design two supervisory predictive controllers via model predictive control to operate the integrated system taking into account short-term and lo...
Hyaluronate (HA) distribution patterns were examined in the cranial mesenchyme underlying the mesencephalic neural folds of mouse embryos maintained in roller tube culture. Using standard image-processing techniques, the digitized images of Alcian blue-stained or 3H-glucosamine-labeled sections digested with an enzyme specific for HA, were subtracted from adjacent, undigested sections. The resultant difference picture images (DPI) accurately depicted the distribution of stained or labeled HA within the cranial mesenchyme. 3H-glucosamine-labeled HA was distributed uniformly throughout the cranial mesenchyme as 12, 18, and 24 hr of culture. By contrast, the mesenchyme was uniformly stained with Alcian blue at 12 hr, but stain intensity decreased in the central regions of the mesenchyme at 18 and 24 hr. HA distribution patterns were also examined in the cranial mesenchyme of embryos cultured in the ...
We demonstrate a two-dimensional device simulator for MOSFET structures that incorporates models for defect distributions and show predicted effects on device switching performance for various spatial distributions of defects in amorphous and polycrystalline silicon.
This paper propose to show the technical and economic aspects of the implementation of small power distribution systems in small rural properties in some locations of Argentina. This paper presents a concrete methodology, with a rational cost composition and introduces project variables. 4 figs.
This paper reports on a Level 1 PRA performed on the Omega West Reactor at Los Alamos National Laboratory. A Master Logic Diagram was used to identify possible initiating events. A chi-square distribution was used to quantify initiating event frequencies given that no initiating events have occurred in 30 years of OWR operation. The PRA results are presented as both probability density function and cumulative distribution function curves.
By the methods of the angular distribution of photon annihilation, time distribution of photon annihilation, photoluminescence spectroscopy, Fourier IR-spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy the detail information on relation of the structural and physical properties of the porous nano-structures is obtained. Study of pores sizes in a different nano-porous materials, such as the porous silicon, porous anode aluminium oxide, porous solids exposed to light atoms ion implantation (hydrogen, deuterium, helium) is carried out.
Carbon Black and activated carbon materials providing high surface areas and a distinct pore distribution are prime materials for supercapacitor applications at frequencies < 0.5 Hz. A number of these materials were tested for their specific capacitance, surface and pore size distribution. High capacitance electrodes were manufactured on the laboratory scale with attention to ease of processability. (author) 1 fig., 1 ref.
Spatial distributions of turgor and longitudinal growth were compared in primary roots of maize (Zea mays L. cv FR27 × FRMo 17) growing in vermiculite at high (−0.02...Full Text Available
The transport of Rn through activated charcoal was modelled for a charcoal canister used for surface emanation measurements. Derived Rn concentration distributions in full and half charcoal charges were compared with measured Rn profiles. The distributions were also compared with an empirical expression for the measured profiles. Close agreement was observed between the measured, empirically generated and derived profiles. The influence of temperature and humidity on Rn accumulation and transport is also discussed.
A new semi-empirical algorithm for the radial distribution of dose is compared with available data. The algorithm is used to calculate the inactivation cross section for dry enzymes and viruses using an extended target model of a 1-hit detector. Agreement with data is at about the 15% level, approximating the precision of the data itself. (author).
The fission gas xenon bonded in bubbles, in pore, and in the lattice of mixed carbide fuels is measured by electron-probe microanalysis. Radial xenon distribution and release curves are determined and are calibrated by gas chromatography of the bonded fission gas and by burnup analysis in the respective pin sections of the irradiation experiments FR2 6A and 6C, Mol 11/K 2, and DFR 330/1. The results are correlated to the microstructure of the fuel, bonding medium, temperature, and burnup. (Auth.).
Radial distribution functions of liquid sodium and caesium at 100"0C have been calculated by the method of molecular dynamics with interionic pair potentials derived from Heine-Abarenkov-Shaw type model potential. The results were found to be in good agreement with recent experimental data. (Auth.).
The radial distribution function and the second virial coefficient of interacting bosons have been studied. The second virial coefficient has been deduced theoretically and is in good agreement with experimental values. The third virial coefficient has been calculated from the experimental values of the pressure. (Auth.).
A tiered communications architecture for managing network traffic in a distributed system. Communication between client or control computers and a plurality of hardware devices is administered by agent and monitor devices whose activities are coordinated to reduce the number of open channels or sockets. The communications architecture also improves the transparency and scalability of the distributed system by reducing network mapping dependence. The architecture is desirably implemented in a proton beam therapy system to provide flexible security policies which improve patent safety and facilitate system maintenance and development.
The method of production of xAl{sub 2}O{sub 3}-yTiO{sub 2} compositions provides for the depth distribution of coating components and specifies its mechanical properties. In case of the composition obtained by cladding, titanium is mainly concentrated at the substrate. In case of mechanical mixture or composition obtained by sintering the oxides, the depth distribution of coating components is random.
Zr-Al metallo-organic compounds were thermally decomposed to prepare ZrO_2-Al_2O_3 composite powders. The specific surface area was dependent on the organofunctional groups of the starting organic compounds. The pore size distribution was dependent on the heating rate when the heating temperature was the same. 4 refs.; 4 figs.
Eastern Oregon cattle distribution was studied with global positioning (GPS) collars for 2 years on the Zumwalt prairie in the spring and fall and Hells Canyon during the winter to determine distribution and habitat selection differences between Spanish bred (Corriente X Longhorn) and English bred c...
We show that the size of a lanthanide-ion doped nanoparticle can be accurately determined from its luminosity. The optically determined size distribution is in very good agreement with the distribution obtained from transmission electron microscopy. These data confirm that single nanoparticles are visualized in microscopy experiments. Nanoparticles as small as 13 nm are detectable with integration times of 500 ms.
It is shown that account of nuclear effects in nucleon channel is of principle importance when analyzing hadron-nucleon process at high energies. This enables to make correct conclusions both about the contribution of multiquark systems - fluctons - to nuclear wave function and about quark distribution in them. Analysis of these distributions shows that color degrees of freedom in flucton are partially unfrozen and flucton contains with high probability one or two quarks.
Peak at 60 deg in angular proton distribution in inelastic pion-carbon interactions is interpreted as generation of Cherenkov gluon radiation in flucton, passing into the shock wave with successive nucleus decay. Investigation of hadron-nuclear interactions with anomalous peak in angular proton distribution can be used as additional means for study both of flucton and mechanism of hadron-nuclear interactions. 5 refs.
Peculiarities of design of the PGV-1000 horizontal steam generator affecting soluble impurity distribution in its water volume are considered in brief. The results of estimating sodium distribution in different zones of the steam generator are presented. The conclusion is made on the necessity of arrangement of representative measurements of sodium and chloride content in water volume of the steam generator, particularly, in the hot bottom zone for optimization of blow-through flowsheet and its regulations.
In this work we extend our previous analysis concerning the behavior of inelasticity at high energies and discuss the energy dependence of rapidity distributions giving special attention to large rapidities. We conclude that the U A5 and U A 7 data on rapidity distributions are consistent with slight Feynman scaling violation at large rapidities and increasing inelasticities. (author)
A measuring-basis encrypted quantum key distribution scheme is proposed by using twelve nonorthogonal states in a four-state system and the measuring-basis encryption technique. In this scheme, two bits of classical information can be encoded on one four-state particle and the transmitted particles can be fully used.
To obtain the low birth weight (LBW) rate, the very low birth weight (VLBW) rate, and gestational age (GA)-specific birth weight distribution based on a large population in Korea, we collected and analyzed...Full Text Available
Two accelerated aging test procedures are proposed for use on solid dielectric extruded distribution cables under wet conditions. One test method is a fixed time duration test in which the degree of cable specimen aging is assessed in terms of breakdown tests, while the other test method is a time to breakdown test in which the cable specimens are voltage stressed until failure ensues.
Distribution of Lipiodol within hepatic tumor was evaluated using serial computed tomography. Imagistic Lipiodol transition into the tumor via hepatic artery was slower than that of water soluble contrast medium, spreading to central part first and turn to peripheral part of the tumor. This method was thought to be useful to clarify Lipiodol distribution in hepatic tumor and to decide the method or necessity of additional trans-arterial therapy. (author).
In recent years there has been a renewed interest in the treatment of quantum mechanics in terms of joint distribution functions, i.e. functions of momentum and position coordinates p and q. The author considers j.d.f. in the sense of classical probability theory of a stochastic variable. The j.d.f. is then interpreted as the probability that the variables p and q have certain values, the variables being considered as a property possessed by the object system. This formalism is used to provide a unified description of bradyons and tachyons. (Auth.).
We have performed precision measurements in a magneto-optical trap of the 7P1/2 hyperfine structure of the isotopes 209-210Fr. The ratio of these hyperfine constants to the previously measured 7S1/2 ground state values reveals a significant hyperfine anomaly. This anomaly results from the different radial dependence of the electron density in the two atomic levels. The measurements are sensitive to changes in the radial distribution of the neutron magnetism.
A nonperturbing 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method was used to monitor the equilibrium distribution of carboxyl 13C-enriched fatty acids (FA) between distinct binding sites on human serum albumin,...Full Text Available
Electro Energy, Inc. conducted a research project to develop an energy efficient and environmentally friendly bipolar Ni-MH battery for distributed energy storage applications. Rechargeable batteries with long life and low cost potentially play a significant role by reducing electricity cost and pollution. A rechargeable battery functions as a reservoir for storage for electrical energy, carries energy for portable applications, or can provide peaking energy when a demand for electrical power exceeds primary generating capabilities.
Arsenic in soils from the Asarco Lead Smelter in East Helena, Montana was characterized by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). As oxidation state and geochemical speciation were analyzed as a function of depth (two sampling sites) and surface distribution. These results were c...
We investigated the distribution and expression of mutant mtDNAs carrying the A-to-G mutation at position 8344 in the tRNA(Lys) gene in the skeletal muscle of four patients with myoclonus epilepsy and...Full Text Available
Using the Philips DRM distributed real-time multiprocessing system, designers can implement high-performance computer systems using VME hardware and the C programming language. The system provides a virtual-processing environment in which several 68000 CPUs share the workload. There are no centralized components, and tasks can be assumed by the rest of a system in the event of an individual processor's failure.
In this work dissipativity of linear neutral distributed parameter systems has been addressed. Delay-dependent sufficient conditions for the dissipativity with respect to the infinite-dimensional version of energy supply rate (Q"1,S"1,R"1) characterized exclusively by unbounded operator Q"1 are established in terms of linear operator inequalities (LOIs). Finally, the 3-dimensional heat equation illustrates our result.
In this paper a prototype of Requirement Tracking and Verification System(RTVS) for a Distributed Control System was implemented and tested. The RTVS is a software design and verification tool. The main functions required by the RTVS are managing, tracking and verification of the software requirements listed in the documentation of the DCS. The analysis of DCS software design procedures and interfaces with documents were performed to define the user of the RTVS, and the design requirements for RTVS were developed. 4 refs., 3 figs. (Author)
A new portable apparatus—the Interval Distribution Recorder (IDR)—has been developed by WHO for assessing habitual physical activity. It measures R-R intervals and records counts in...Full Text Available
For the first time in China, Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station applied the advanced technology of worldwide commercial pressurized reactors to the in-core detectors, the leading excore six-chamber instrumentation for precise axial power distribution, and the related data processing. Described in this article are the neutron flux measurement in Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station, and the detailed data processing.
The total radiation rate, angular distribution of the emitted energy and photon correlations of the cooperative spontaneous radiation from two atoms with different resonance frequencies and spontaneous decay rates are calculated. Contrary to the case of two identical atoms oscillations appear in the total radiation rate and the spatial distribution of the total number of emitted photons differs from the single-atom radiation pattern. The effect of the dipole-dipole near-field interaction on the time evolution of the atomic system is discussed. (author).
The energy flux distribution at the aperture of cavity receivers is an important parameter that characterizes the performance of point-focusing solar concentrators. Together with simplifying assumptions about cavity absorptance, emittance, and convective losses, good estimates of the dish-receiver collection efficiency as a function of incident flux and effective cavity temperature can be obtained. For detailed design of cavity receivers, however, it is necessary to determine the incident flux distribution on the interior surfaces. This information is needed ultimately to determine the resulting energy fluxes to the working fluid, temperature distributions within the cavity, and receiver performance. Knowing the incident flux distributions provides the designer with insights such as where hot-spots are likely to occur, where heat exchange surfaces are needed, and where more detailed analysis might be ...
The resonance reaction /sup 11/B(p,/alpha/)/sup 8/Be was used to determine the boron profiles in the surface of: (1) boron implanted silicon; (2) boron diffused silicon; and (3) boron containing films deposited on silicon wafers. The boron distribution in the various samples was found to be stable under the bombardment of the proton beam. The convolution process used to obtain yield curves from the depth distribution, and the program used for this purpose are described.
A nuclear power plant engineering (NPP) simulator may include many system functions such as thermal-hydraulic calculation, 3D reactor neutron kinetics model, control and protection system, display and operational human-machine interface, intelligent alarm system, etc. If all those functions are simulated using a single code, the size of the program will cause structural or managerial problems, and the hardware requirement could be tremendous. Thus, any local function errors or changes may affect the whole code, which will make development and maintenance extremely costly. So the nondistributed code is not considered to be flexible and feasible. Currently, distributed and parallel technologies have been applied to develop NPPs engineering simulator for safety analysis, verification of advanced main control room display, operation and intelligent alarm design. The distributed simulation divides a huge task into several objects according to ...
The available measurements on the cosmic-ray antiproton/proton ratio show an excess of antiprotons above predictions derived in the framework of the standard picture of cosmic-ray origin and propagation. Calculations are performed of the production from collisions of cosmic rays with the interstellar gas under the condition of distributed reacceleration. It could be shown that the calculated antiproton/proton ratio is enhanced compared to that derived from the leaky box model, but it remains difficult to bring it into agreement with the data by reasonable astrophysical assumptions. 15 references.
Depth dose distributions for protons in the energy range from 2 to 600 MeV have been calculated by Monte Carlo and analytical methods. The dependence on energy of Maximum Dose Equivalent (MDE), quality factor and isotropic factor recommended for practical use are presented. The problems connected with regulation of maximum permissible proton fluxes are discussed. (author).
Rectus sheath hematomas are a frequent but sometimes misdiagnosed disease in patients under anticoagulative drugs, hemodialysis, or simply in the elderly. The most frequent localization is in the lower part of the abdomen: the explanation lies in the anatomy of the abdominal wall, especially in the arcuate line of the rectus sheath. Aim of this work is to explain the reason of the almost constant location correlating the anatomy with the CT features. The rectus abdominis muscle lies between the aponeuroses of the transverse and oblique muscles which form the so called rectus sheath. This arrangement is found from the costal arch to a level approximately between the umbilicus and the pubic symphisis, where the rear layer of the rectus sheath ends with a curved edge, called the arcuate or semicircular line of Douglas. Beneath this line the aponeuroses of the three muscles pass in front of the rectus which is separated from the peritoneum only by the fascia trasversalis, a thin connective ...
We report the results of ab initio calculations of cross sections and molecular-frame photoelectron angular distributions for C 1s ionization of CO2, and propose a mechanism for the recently observed asymmetry of those angular distributions with respect to the CO^+and O^+ions produced by subsequent Auger decay. The fixed-nuclei, photoionization amplitudes were constructed using variationally obtained electron-molecular ion scattering wave functions. We have also carried out electronic structure calculations which identify a dissociative state of the CO2^++ dication that is likely populated following Auger decay and which leads to O^+ + CO^+ fragment ions. We show that a proper accounting of vibrational motion in the computation of the photoelectron angular distributions, along with reasonable assumptions about the nuclear dissociation dynamics, gives results in good agreement with recent experimental observations. We also ...
Optimal capacitor placement determines the size, type, and location of capacitors to be installed on a radial distribution feeder that will reduce peak power and energy losses while minimizing the costs of investment and installation of the capacitor banks. This paper describes a sensitivity-based optimal placement of capacitors that employs a new load characterization scheme using a voltage-current-angle-logger. The proposed method allows modeling of loads of different power factors for different portions of the distribution feeder. The optimal solution is obtained by testing various combinations of capacitor banks (based on the smallest bank size specified by the user) and candidate nodes along the distribution feeder, and calculating the resultant savings. In order to reduce solution time, the candidate nodes are ranked according to their sensitivity factors. The highest ranking nodes are considered first in the ...
The relationship between the current density distribution and the electron density profile during the flat-top phase of Ohmic discharges in TEXTOR has been investigated by means of far-infrared interferometry and polarimetry. It is found that neither gradual nor rapid changes of the electron density distribution (induced by continuous gas feed or pellet injection) alter the current profile significantly. The conclusion is drawn from the temporal evolution of the measured Faraday rotation signals #alpha#_e_x_p(x,t) which are proportional to the line integrals of n_c times the poloidal magnetic field component B_p_c along the probing beam paths (x is the distance of a chord from the plasma centre). By taking into account the known variation of the density profile but keeping the current distribution fixed, theoretical signals #alpha#_s_i_m(x,t) can be calculated which match the observed waveforms very well without any need to ...
This work improves the reliability and accuracy in the reconstruction of the total isotope activity content in heterogeneous nuclear waste drums containing point sources. The method is based on #chi#"2-fits of the angular dependent count rate distribution measured during a drum rotation in segmented gamma scanning. A new description of the analytical calculation of the angular count rate distribution is introduced based on a more precise model of the collimated detector. The new description is validated and compared to the old description using MCNP5 simulations of angular dependent count rate distributions of Co-60 and Cs-137 point sources. It is shown that the new model describes the angular dependent count rate distribution significantly more accurate compared to the old model. Hence, the reconstruction of the activity is more accurate and the errors are considerably reduced that lead to more ...
Dose reconstruction is a process that re-creates the treatment-time dose deposited in a patient provided there is knowledge of the delivered energy fluence and the patient's anatomy at the time of treatment. A method for reconstructing dose is presented. The process starts with delivery verification, in which the incident energy fluence from a treatment is computed using the exit detector signal and a transfer matrix to convert the detector signal to energy fluence. With the verified energy fluence and a CT image of the patient in the treatment position, the treatment-time dose distribution is computed using any model-based algorithm such as convolution/superposition or Monte Carlo. The accuracy of dose reconstruction and the ability of the process to reveal delivery errors are presented. Regarding accuracy, a reconstructed dose distribution was compared with a measured film distribution for a simulated breast treatment ...
For purposes of designing targeted cataclysmic variable (CV) detection surveys and interpreting results of other projects with many CV detections such as the ChaMPlane Survey, we have created a model of the CV distribution in the Galaxy. It is modeled as a warped, flared exponential disk with a gaussian vertical distribution. Extinction is based on a detailed Galactic dust and gas model. A luminosity function for CVs is also incorporated, based on a smoothed version of published data. We calculate predicted field detection rates as a function of the limiting magnitude expected for the detecting system (i.e. WIYN/Hydra or NOAO 4m/Mosaic). Monte-Carlo techniques are used to assess statistical fluctuations in these rates. We have created maps of the expected CV distribution for the full non-bulge Galactic plane (20
The objective of this work is the measurement of two-phase flow parameters to support development of constitutive relationships for the HANARO/MAPLE type finned fuel using Real-Time Neutron Radiography (RTNR). A single element finned Fuel Element Simulator was used with R134a Freon flow. To observe the effect of a spacer device on void distribution, single pin tests were performed with and without a spacer. By analyzing the RTNR images using image processing, the effects of the spacer on the time-averaged and instantaneous void fraction distributions were studied. For the experimental results without a spacer, the time-averaged local void distribution is radially asymmetric and the degree of void fluctuation increases with a decreasing frequency along the heated channel, where the observed asymmetry may be caused by flow induced vibration. For the experimental results with a spacer, the spacer clearly limits any significant ...
The objective of this work is the measurement of two-phase flow parameters to support development of constitutive relationships for the HANARO/MAPLE type finned fuel using Real-Time Neutron Radiography (RTNR). A single element finned Fuel Element Simulator was used with R134a Freon flow. To observe the effect of a spacer device on void distribution, single pin tests were performed with and without a spacer. By analyzing the RTNR images using image processing, the effects of the spacer on the time-averaged and instantaneous void fraction distributions were studied. For the experimental results without a spacer, the time-averaged local void distribution is radially asymmetric and the degree of void fluctuation increases with a decreasing frequency along the heated channel, where the observed asymmetry may be caused by flow induced vibration. For the experimental results with a spacer, the spacer clearly limits any significant ...
Hybridization and thermal evolution of the Ni+C{sub 60} composites, deposited on Si(001) at room temperature, were studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy, {mu}-Raman spectroscopy and Rutherford Backscattering. As-deposited, the hybrid films exhibited a granular nano-structure with Ni nano-particles encapsulated in C{sub 60} polymerized rinds. The Ni and C (C{sub 60}) distributions in a top layer were found homogeneous with a stable Ni/C (C{sub 60}) ratio; in the larger depth the distributions were inhomogeneous and their ratio dramatically varied. At elevated temperatures, all structural parameters were changed. In the subsurface layer Ni- and C (C{sub 60})-rich zones were formed (due to the induced phase separation), C{sub 60}-molecules decayed and their fragments were transformed into amorphous carbon (a-C). The free volume distribution of the stressed hybrid matter was analyzed by the Hg marker that (in a form of ...
The measurement of two-phase flow parameters and development of constitutive relationships for the HANARO/MAPLE type finned fuel using Real-Time Neutron Radiography (RTNR) is discussed in this paper. A single element finned Fuel Element Simulator (FES) was used with R134a Freon as the working fluid. To observe the effect of a spacer device on void distribution, single pin tests were performed with and without a spacer. By analyzing the RTNR images using image processing, the effects of the spacer on the time-averaged and instantaneous void fraction distribution were studied. For the experimental results without a spacer, the time-averaged local void distribution is radially asymmetric and the degree of void fluctuation increases with a decreasing frequency along the heated channel, where the observed asymmetry may be caused by flow induced vibration. For the experimental results with a spacer, the spacer clearly limits any ...
The measurement of two-phase flow parameters for development of constitutive relationships for the HANARO/MAPLE type finned fuel using Real-Time Neutron Radiography (RTNR) is discussed in this paper. A single element finned Fuel Element Simulator (FES) was used with Freon 134a as the working fluid. To observe the effect of a spacer device on void distribution, single pin tests were performed with and without a spacer present. By analyzing the RTNR images using image processing, the effects of the spacer on the time-averaged and instantaneous void fraction distribution were studied. For the experimental results without a spacer, the time-averaged local void distribution is radially asymmetric and the degree of void fluctuation increases with a decreasing frequency along the heated channel, where the observed asymmetry may be caused by flow induced vibration. For the experimental results with a spacer, the spacer clearly ...
A method has been developed for calibration of CT-numbers to volumetric electron density distributions using tissue substitutes of known elemental composition and experimentally determined electron density. This information have been used in a dose calculation method based on photon and electron interaction processes. The method utilizes a convolution integral between the photon fluence matrix and dose distribution kernels. Inhomogeneous media are accounted for using the theorems of Fano and O'Connor for scaling dose distribution kernels in proportion to electron density. For clinical application of a calculated dose plan, a method for prediction of accelerator output have been developed. The methods gives the number of monitor units that has to be given to obtain a certain absorbed dose to a point inside an irregular, inhomogeneous object. The method for verification of dose distributions outlined in ...
Differential cross sections of elastic scattering of 104 MeV #alpha# particles from "2"0"4,"2"0"6,"2"0"8Pb have been measured with high angular accuracy. The analyses are based on a folding model treating the proton and neutron distributions independently. The proton distributions were taken from precise electron scattering results. The neutron distributions were parametrized by a modified Gaussian the parametrers of which were varied in order to fit the experimental cross sections. The resulting rms radii of the neutron distributions exceed the rms radii of the proton distributions by #DELTA#r=0.22 +- 0.09 fm for "2"0"4Pb, #DELTA#r = 0.19 +- 0.09 fm for "2"0"6Pb, and #DELTA#r = 0.30 +- 0.07 fm for "2"0"8Pb.
Small-angle X-ray scattering method recognised to be very useful in the studies of structural problems of materials in homogeneous in nanoscale. Studies by small-angle X-ray scattering on the Al-Ag alloys are presented. The size distributions of spherical Guinier-Person zones were calculated using Vonk's and Glatter's methods. Small-angle X-ray scattering studies were performed on Al-5.0 at.%Ag alloy containing Guinier-Preson zones in the #eta#-state. For this alloy one can assume that scattering particles are of spherical shape, have uniform electron density and scatter independently. Moreover, the size distributions were calculated for Al-1.6 at.%Ag alloy containing Guinier-Preston zones in #epsilon#-state (scattering particles with not uniform electron density). Both, Vonk's and Glatter's, methods gave similar size distributions. Profiles of size distributions for Guinier-Preston zones in ...
A Real-Time Neutron Radiography (RTNR) system and a high speed X-ray Computed tomography (X-CT) system are compared for measurement of two-phase flow. Each system is used to determine the flow regime, and the void fraction distribution in a vertical annulus flow channel. A standard optical video system is also used to observe the flow regime. The annulus flow channel is operated as a bubble column and measurements obtained for gas flow rates from 0.0 to 30.01/min. The flow regimes observed by all three measurement systems through image analysis shows that the two-dimensional void fraction distribution can be obtained. The X-CT system is shown to have a superior temporal resolution capable of resolving the void fraction distribution in an (r,{theta}) plane in 33.0 ms. Void fraction distribution for bubbly flow and slug flow is determined.
A Real-Time Neutron Radiography (RTNR) system and a high speed X-ray Computed tomography (X-CT) system are compared for measurement of two-phase flow. Each system is used to determine the flow regime, and the void fraction distribution in a vertical annulus flow channel. A standard optical video system is also used to observe the flow regime. The annulus flow channel is operated as a bubble column and measurements obtained for gas flow rates from 0.0 to 30.01/min. The flow regimes observed by all three measurement systems through image analysis shows that the two-dimensional void fraction distribution can be obtained. The X-CT system is shown to have a superior temporal resolution capable of resolving the void fraction distribution in an (r,#theta#) plane in 33.0 ms. Void fraction distribution for bubbly flow and slug flow is determined.
IMRT with inverse planning allows simultaneous integrated boost strategies that exploit the heterogeneous dose distribution within the planning target volumes (PTVs). In this scenario, the location of cold spots within the target becomes a crucial issue and has to be related to the distribution of the clonogenic cell density (CCD). The main aim of this work is to provide the means to calculate the optimal prescription dose in a relative inhomogeneous dose distribution. To achieve this, the prescription dose has to be assigned to obtain the same tumor control probability (TCP) as the ideal homogeneous distribution, taking into account different CCDs in different PTVs (i.e. visible and subclinical regions). An adapted formulation of the linear-quadratic model, within the F-factor formalism, has been derived to preserve a chosen TCP value for the whole target volume. The F-factor has been investigated to ...
The proton beam has an advantage of the sharp dose falloff in dose distribution called Bragg peak while conventional radiation therapy modalities such as photons exhibit considerable amount of exit dose. To take advantage of this property it is important to know the exact location of the distal dose falloff. An error can cause overdose to the normal tissue or underdose to the tumor volume. The only way of finding out the dose distribution in-situ in particle therapy is to measure the gammas produced by nuclear reactions with tissue materials. Two kinds of gammas can be used: one is prompt gamma and the other is coincident gamma from the positron-emission isotopes. We chose to detect prompt gammas, and developed a prompt gamma scanning system (PGS). The proton beams of the proton therapy facility at National Cancer Center were used. The gamma distribution was compared to the dose distribution measured by ...
The aim of the work in this thesis is to investigate the convective and diffusive transport in the TM chemistry transport model, and to investigate some aspects of the consequences for NOx. The large inaccuracy and uncertainty in the description of processes like convection and turbulent diffusion, the strong dependence of the radiative forcing of ozone on its vertical distribution, and the strong dependence of the ozone production on the distribution of NOx, are the main motivation. The availability of the ERA-40 data, where convective data and vertical diffusion coefficients are archived, allows a study of the effect of different convective mass flux sets, and different vertical diffusion coefficients on the model-simulated distribution of tracers. In this thesis the following questions are addressed : (1) How large is the sensitivity of the (model simulated) distribution of ozone and nitrogen oxides ...
With accurate calculation algorithms in inverse planning for beamlet-based intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), it takes time to calculate the dose matrix, which represents the dose distribution of each beamlet element to each voxel for unit fluence. To reduce the calculation time, coarse or approximate algorithms are often a choice, but this results in a final dose distribution that cannot reflect the real value. In addition, it is necessary to test if a coarse algorithm is capable of calculating the dose matrix of beamlets. In this work, simulated dynamics optimization algorithm was applied to optimize the segment weight to minish the dose error from the dose matrix calculation. After calculating the dose matrix by ray-tracing algorithm which takes into account just the primary component of absorbed dose, the original beam profile intensity distribution was optimized by using the simulated dynamics algorithm. Before ...
A series of nine model ferritic alloys were ion irradiated at #propor to#300 C using 2.5 MeV He ions to a dose of 1.4 x 10"2"1 ion/m"2, which corresponds to #propor to#0.1 dpa at a depth of 2 #mu#m and #propor to#3.5 dpa at the peak damage region which occurs at about 4 #mu#m deep. The resultant changes in hardness as a function of depth were measured using a Nanoindenter "t"r"a"d"e"m"a"r"k. TEM was used to investigate the defect distributions. The effect of various solutes, Cu and N in particular, but Mn and Ti as well, on the change of hardness and the defect distribution due to the ion irradiation are discussed. (orig.).
To improve the performance of voice activity detector (VAD) in noisy environments, this paper concentrates on three critical aspects related to noise robustness including speech features, feature distributions and temporal dependence. Based on the statistic on TIMIT and NOIZEUS, Mel-frequency cepstrum coefficients (MFCCs) are selected as speech features, Gaussian Mixture distributions (GMD) are applied to associate the observations in MFCC domain with both speech and non-speech states, and Weibull and Gamma distributions are used to explicitly model noise and speech durations, respectively. To integrate these aspects into VAD, the hidden semi-Markov model (HSMM) as a generalized hidden Markov model (HMM) is introduced first. Then the VAD decision is made according to the likelihood ratio t...