Radiometric sensor for temperature control of food processing

This paper describes a novel planar antenna sensor created for the purpose of noninvasive temperature measurements using microwave radiometry. In order to improve radiometric measurements in industrial applications, a new generation of sensors is introduced, composed of a metallic sheet. Simulations based upon the method of moments is used both to design and to determine their electromagnetic performances. This paper also describes a radiometric device using these sensors to measure and control the temperature of food products during deep freezing processes. The results and discussions are presented.     

Ventricular arrhythmias in myocardial hypertrophy of various origins

BACKGROUND: Elevated serum sialic acids are associated with increased cardiovascular mortality, but sialic acid levels have not been studied in cardiac tissue. METHODS: Myocardial samples were obtained at the time of transplantation from 23 patients (age 54 +/- 12 years) with heart failure secondary to ischemic heart disease and 16 patients (age 51 +/- 7 years) with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). A control group comprised postmortem samples obtained from 14 patients (age 70 +/- 5 years) who died of non-cardiovascular causes. Ventricular sialylation was quantitated using the sialic acid-specific lectins Maackia amurensis agglutinin (MAA) and Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA) using a chemiluminescence assay. Results are expressed as the percentage (+/-standard error of the mean) of the binding of lectin to a standardized control sample of human myocardium. RESULTS: Ventricular sialylation recognized by MAA was 55 +/- 7% in patients with heart failure secondary to ischemic heart disease compared with 26 +/- 7% for DCM (p = 0.006) and 32 +/- 8% for controls (p = 0.04), and that recognized by SNA was 69 +/- 7% in patients with heart failure secondary to ischemic heart disease compared with 42 +/- 6% for DCM (p = 0.006) and 38 +/- 7% for controls (p = 0.006). No significant difference in ventricular sialylation was observed between patients with DCM and controls. CONCLUSION: Myocardial levels of sialic acids are significantly increased in patients with heart failure secondary to ischemic heart disease compared with patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and controls. Our findings are important in view of recent reports of an association between serum sialic acid concentration and cardiovascular mortality and require further investigation.     

Fuzzy sets-a convenient fiction for modeling vagueness andpossibility

This paper is a reply to Laviolette and Seaman's critical discussion of fuzzy set theory. Rather than questioning the interest of the Bayesian approach to uncertainty, some reasons why Bayesian find the idea of a fuzzy set not palatable are laid bare. Some links between fuzzy sets and probability that Laviolette and Seaman seem not to be aware of are pointed out. These links suggest that, contrary to the claim sometimes found in the literature, probability theory is not a special case of fuzzy set theory. The major objection to Laviolette and Seaman is that they found their critique on as very limited view of fuzzy sets, including debatable papers, while they fail to account for significant works pertaining to axiomatic derivation of fuzzy set connectives, possibility theory, fuzzy random variables, among others     

Acrylonitrile-based copolymers: Synthesis,characterization, and formation of ultrafiltration membranes utilized for the immobilization of proteins

Various high molecular weight copolymers of acrylonitrile and a vinyl comonomer containing an aryl amine, a pyridine, or an aliphatic hydroxyl group were synthesized via slurry polymerization techniques so as to contain from 1 to 15 mol % functional comonomer. The comonomer content was quantitated by ultraviolet absorbance, base titration of acid polymer salts, and/or relative chemical reactivity with trichloro-s-triazine. Thin films were cast from copolymer solutions, coagulated into unsupported ultrafiltration membrances, and characterized with respect to both water permeability and pore size distribution. Analysis by size exclusion chromatography of the membrane permeate of a pool of dextran fractions yielded a continuous distribution curve for membrane pore size over the range 1.5 to 70 nm. The ultrafiltration membranes were used for protein immobilization after appropriate chemical activation. The three distinct types of functional copolymers gave comparable results for α-chymotrypsin, with protein weight loadings of 6–12% and 40–65% retention of enzymatic specific activity.     

Myxomas of the mandible and maxilla

Two cases of congenital absence of a cervical vertebral pedicle are reported. This condition includes hypoplasia of the ipsilateral posterior arch and may predispose to spinal cord injury. The radiographic and computed tomography (CT) findings are reviewed, and the importance of the ipsilateral oblique radiographic view and of CT in diagnosis is stressed.     

Convolutional solutions of partial difference equations

A significant part of the theory of one-dimensional linear shift-invariant systems is based on the concept of weighting function (or impulse response): the output is the convolution of the weighting function with the input. This paper introduces the concept of linear translation-invariant systems and uses this notion in studying impulse response, z-transforms, and transfer functions for multidimensional systems.     

Categorical scaling of time: Implications for clock-counter models.

Pigeons partitioned time into three intervals. Responses to one key could be reinforced after a short time, to a second key after an intermediate time, and to a third key after a long time. The values of the short, intermediate, and long times and the proportion of trials ending with reinforcement were varied. Absolute and relative response rates on each key were an orderly function of time and showed approximately proportional changes with changes in the interval values, consistent with Weber's law, Gibbon's (1977) scalar expectancy theory, and Killeen and Fetterman's (1988) behavioral theory of timing (BeT). Standard deviations of the times at which subjects switched between successive keys increased more slowly within a condition than across conditions, as predicted by BeT. Increases and decreases in reinforcement probability produced both transient and longer lasting changes in timing behavior, once again, in accord with predictions of BeT. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Giant cell myocarditis. Report of a case

The authors report a case of giant cell myocarditis leading to rapidly progressive cardiac failure despite immuno-suppressor treatment in a 20 year old woman. The cardiac failure was successfully managed by implantation of a left ventricular assist device and then cardiac transplantation. The problems encountered underline the importance of accurate diagnosis by endomyocardial biopsy before undertaking treatment and the difficulties in the choice of appropriate method of assistance in this indication. Giant cell myocarditis is a rare cause of cardiac failure and should be considered in the differential diagnosis in view of its clinical features and risk of progression. The literature and the therapeutic implications are discussed.     

Temporary antibiotic-loaded cemented prosthesis for two-stage septic hip arthroplasty

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Myofascial pain is the leading cause of chronic low back pain and in most cases can be successfully resolved with trigger point injections of local anesthetics. This type of pain can exist during pregnancy and exceed the analgesia provided by an epidural for labor. METHODS: A 31-year-old primiparous woman received an epidural infusion for labor analgesia. Despite complete resolution of labor pain and a solid, bilateral T10 block, the patient reported discomfort at two discrete locations in her right lumbar paraspinous muscle. RESULTS: The administration of local anesthetic via trigger point injections resulted in successful palliation of the myofascial pain. CONCLUSIONS: Myofascial pain can be an etiology of back pain in the parturient. Trigger point injections, even when used concomitantly with a functioning epidural infusion, can be a valuable aid for the provision of complete analgesia.     

Detection of West Nile virus by the polymerase chain reaction and analysis of nucleotide sequence variation

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed to rapidly detect and identify West Nile (WN) virus. The RNA from seven isolates of WN virus from six countries and four other flaviviruses (Kunjin, Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, and yellow fever viruses) was reverse-transcribed (RT) and amplified by PCR. The nucleotide sequences of the amplified products were determined by a rapid, automated DNA sequencing method. The WN virus RT/PCR assay detected the target gene segment of sequencing method. The WN virus RT/PCR assay detected the target gene segment of isolates from both the African-Middle Eastern group and the Indian group with a sensitivity of approximately 0.05 pg of viral RNA. Kunjin virus was the only other flavivirus tested that produced a band of the appropriate size. Five of seven WN virus isolates showed 92-98% homology in the nucleotide sequence of their PCR products. The sequence of one isolate was virtually identical to the published sequence of the Nigerian isolate (99.5% homology). No correlation was established between the degree of nucleotide homology, geographic location, time of isolation, or source of the isolates.