Morphology of peripheral airways in current smokers and ex-smokers

To investigate the effect of smoking status on pulmonary function and pathologic changes in the peripheral airways, we studied 97 patients who underwent thoracotomy for coin lesions. The patients were divided into 4 groups: nonsmokers (n = 9), current smokers (n = 51), and those who had ceased smoking for less than (n = 18) or more than (n = 19) 2 yr prior to surgery. We found that current smokers had evidence of air-flow obstruction with abnormal lung volumes when compared with nonsmokers. Ex-smokers had lung volumes similar to those of nonsmokers, but showed evidence of obstruction, with the FEV1/FVC between the values found for nonsmokers and current smokers. Examination of the small airways showed that the membranous bronchioles of current smokers and ex-smokers displayed only increased goblet cell metaplasia when compared with those in nonsmokers; the respiratory bronchioles of current and ex-smokers showed increases in intraluminal and airway wall inflammatory cells, wall fibrosis, and pigment deposition. We conclude that patients who currently smoke cigarettes have reduced lung function that is associated with abnormalities of airway structure. Although those who have stopped smoking have function that is closer to the nonsmoking group, there is no apparent difference in structural change between current and ex-smokers.     

Development of noncontact end effector for handling of bakery products

The application of automation for handling of nonrigid or semirigid products and air permeable materials is limited due to lack of suitable end effectors. The majority of robotic manipulators and end effectors are not easily applicable because of lack of contact rigidity with nonrigid or semirigid products due to their unpredictable and unstable behaviour and with materials which are sensitive to deformation, especially bakery products (baked and unbaked) in the biscuits industry (Erzincanli and Sharp, Food Control 8:185–190, 1997). Also, during the handling process, the risk of contamination is high due to direct contact with food products. Hence, the need for noncontact robotic end effectors is strongly felt. In this paper a noncontact type end effector having a rectangular cross-section designed for handling bakery products is discussed for use in the biscuits manufacturing industry. These end effectors operate on the principle of generating vacuum, which lifts the material without any mechanical contacts. The present work explores the possibility of using radial flow nozzles in the biscuits industry. The basic working principle is presented, followed by experimental results. An automatic noncontact end effector system may be found quite useful for the food handling industry.     

20世纪丹麦精致硬木家具

7年前,奥利弗·奥尔森(Oliver Olsen)放弃了他在投资银行的优渥工作,开始了自己的事业——Paere Dansk,一个收藏和重新制作20世纪中叶丹麦家具设计大师的精致硬木家具的品牌。为什么会这样?"在投资银行的工作,要求我凡事追求完美,我每天都在那些数字中寻找美感。但是在那些设计大师的精美家具作品上,我也找到了这种美。"奥尔森如是说,"那些生长了几百年的热带木材散发出的美丽的质感,那些精致的手工,结合大师们的有机设计,是那么得完美。"     

Conditioning and avoidance responding effects on gastric secretion in the rat with chronic fistula.

Conducted 3 experiments with a total of 42 male Long-Evans rats. Base-line data was obtained by collecting gastric juice from Ss with chronic gastric fistula (CSF). Results show the hourly volume of gastric secretion decreased over the 23-hr period, whereas free and total acid increased. When Ss were given a 2-hr shock-stress period, secretion was inhibited during this period and higher volumes were obtained during 2-hr pre- and poststress periods. The same gastric secretory inhibition occurred during conditioning test trials in which shock was omitted. When Ss were trained on a Sidman avoidance task, hourly avoidance work sessions were characterized by a decrease in volume of gastric secretion and an increase in total acid. Results are discussed in terms of the psychological etiology of gastrointestinal lesions. (35 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Improvement of the corrosion characteristics of 1.4713 ferritic steel in 0.1 M sulfuric acid by heat treatment and Al2O3–TiO2 coating

This study addresses the influence of heat treatment and alumina coating on the corrosion of EN 1.4713 steel in 0.1 mol dm⁻³ sulfuric acid. The corrosion characteristics of three different samples are examined using the open circuit potential measurements, Tafel extrapolation, linear polarization resistance, weight-loss method, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results showed that the application of the weight-loss method yielded similar values to the electrochemical method in the first 24 h. A decrease in corrosion rate, in a similar manner, was observed for all three samples. The largest deacceleration was obtained for the alumina/titania-coated sample. It was obtained that the heat treatment significantly increased the corrosion resistance, but only in the first 24 h. The alumina/titania coating decreases the corrosion rate by approximately 30 times at the beginning of the corrosion exposure and by nearly 300 times after 240 h. This coating could have a significant influence on construction design, which uses ferritic stainless steel as the material.     

Second-order moment analysis of dispersion-managed solitons

This paper shows how a second-order moment analysis can be used to derive explicit approximate expressions for the evolution of the root-mean-square (rms) width and chirp parameters of a dispersion-managed soliton within one period of the dispersion map. The energy enhancement factor can also be estimated with a good accuracy     

Development of a DC current-blocking device for transformer neutrals

In the early 1990s, Hydro-Que/spl acute/bec undertook a joint project with GE to develop and commission a dc current-blocking series capacitor for the transmission lines forming part of its main power system in the area surrounding the grounding electrode of the Radisson HVdc substation. The aim of this project was to minimize the harmful effects of dc current flowing through the main network during the ground-return operating mode of the Radisson-Sandy Pond multiterminal HVdc link. With a view to having available technology applicable anywhere in the network, TransE/spl acute/nergie and IREQ, two divisions of Hydro-Que/spl acute/bec, later took part in the development of a dc current-blocking device that could be installed in transformer neutrals. This work was undertaken not only with immediate needs in mind but also to solve specific problems that could appear sporadically at different network locations. Tests on a prototype of the new blocking device were performed in the High Power Laboratory at IREQ, followed by tests on the preproduction unit, in accordance with the specified requirements. The neutral dc current-blocking device (NCBD) was then installed at a regional substation for a one-year operating period to verify its immunity under normal network events and switching conditions. During this period, no disruption to the smooth operation of the substation or protection of the ac system occurred. The NCBD operated correctly and suffered no fault or unsolicited operation.     

Gastric secretion as a function of acute and chronic stress in the gastric fistula rat.

Conducted 2 experiments using a total of 54 male Long-Evans rats chronically implanted with gastric cannulas. In Exp I Ss exposed to signaled and unsignaled grid shock secreted more gastric acid after shock stress (chronic stress) for 8 days compared to the 1st 12 hrs of shock stress (acute stress). However, Exp II indicated that the higher gastric acid values under chronic stress were not significantly greater than prestress baseline values. Results are interpreted to reflect an inhibition of gastric acid secretion as a function of acute stress. During chronic stress this inhibition was followed by an habituation of gastric secretory processes which was observed as a return of secretion volume to baseline levels. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

ZnO assisted photocatalytic degradation of acridine orange in aqueous solution using visible irradiation

A detailed investigation of photocatalytic degradation of the dye, acridine orange, has been carried out in aqueous heterogeneous medium containing ZnO as photocatalyst in a batch reactor. Visible light in the absence of ZnO has negligible effect on degradation. The disappearance of the dye, monitored spectrophotometrically, follows approximately pseudo-first order kinetics according to the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model. The total degradation of dye was tested using the chemical oxygen demand (COD) method. The addition of an optimal amount of hydrogen peroxide and potassium persulphate increases the degradation rate while NaCl and Na₂CO₃ decreases. The effect of addition of cationic and anionic surfactants has also been investigated. Bubbling of nitrogen in the reaction solution decreases the reaction rate. ZnO has been found experimentally to be a highly efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of acridine orange dye and hence there is a great potential in the treatment of organic pollutants such as dyes.