Ptychographic X-ray computed tomography of extended colloidal networks in food emulsions

As a main structural level in colloidal food materials, extended colloidal networks are important for texture and rheology. By obtaining the 3D microstructure of the network, macroscopic mechanical properties of the material can be inferred. However, this approach is hampered by the lack of suitable non-destructive 3D imaging techniques with submicron resolution. We present results of quantitative ptychographic X-ray computed tomography applied to a palm kernel oil based oil-in-water emulsion. The measurements were carried out at ambient pressure and temperature. The 3D structure of the extended colloidal network of fat globules was obtained with a resolution of around 300 nm. Through image analysis of the network structure, the fat globule size distribution was computed and compared to previous findings. In further support, the reconstructed electron density values were within 4% of reference values.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Food Structur

Spectral signature of short attosecond pulse trains

We report experimental measurements of high-order harmonic spectra generated in Ar using a carrier-envelope-offset (CEO) stabilized 12 fs, 800nm laser field and a fraction (less than 10%) of its second harmonic. Additional spectral peaks are observed between the harmonic peaks, which are due to interferences between multiple pulses in the train. The position of these peaks varies with the CEO and their number is directly related to the number of pulses in the train. An analytical model, as well as numerical simulations, support our interpretation

Head-to-head comparison of length of stay, patients' outcome and satisfaction in Switzerland before and after SwissDRG-Implementation in 2012 in 2012: an observational study in two tertiary university centers.

On 1 January 2012 Swiss Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG), a new uniform payment system for in-patients was introduced in Switzerland with the intention to replace a "cost-based" with a "case-based" reimbursement system to increase efficiency. With the introduction of the new payment system we aim to answer questions raised regarding length of stay as well as patients' outcome and satisfaction. This is a prospective, two-centre observational cohort study with data from University Hospital Basel and the Cantonal Hospital Aarau, Switzerland, from January to June 2011 and 2012, respectively. Consecutive in-patients with the main diagnosis of either community-acquired pneumonia, exacerbation of COPD, acute heart failure or hip fracture were included. A questionnaire survey was sent out after discharge investigating changes before and after SwissDRG implementation. Our primary endpoint was LOS. Of 1,983 eligible patients 841 returned the questionnaire and were included into the analysis (429 in 2011, 412 in 2012). The median age was 76.7 years (50.8% male). Patients in the two years were well balanced in regard to main diagnoses and co-morbidities. Mean LOS in the overall patient population was 10.0 days and comparable between the 2011 cohort and the 2012 cohort (9.7 vs 10.3; p = 0.43). Overall satisfaction with care changed only slightly after introduction of SwissDRG and remained high (89.0% vs 87.8%; p = 0.429). Investigating the influence of the implementation of SwissDRG in 2012 regarding LOS patients' outcome and satisfaction, we found no significant changes. However, we observed some noteworthy trends, which should be monitored closely

Evaluation of a Single-Matrix Food Attractant Tephritid Fruit Fly Bait Dispenser for Use in Federal Trap Detection Programs

The use of synthetic food attractant lures for Tephritid fruit fly trapping is presently being incorporated into U.S. state and federal detection programs. These lures consist of ammonium acetate, trimethylamine hydrochloride and putrescine contained in individual packages that are attached to the inside (top) of plastic McPhail-type traps. Two chemical packets are placed in the traps for Anastrepha spp., where as three are attached for Ceratitis capitata. This report presents data on trap captures of the above species comparing the current (individually packaged) baits with a novel dispenser containing either two or three components into a single matrix. Tests were conducted in Florida and Hawaii using hand release of sterile Caribbean fruit fly (Caribfly), Anastrepha suspensa and the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (medfly)/ aerially released medfly/ and wild caribfly populations (Florida) and wild medfly (Hawaii). Observations in the Florida study indicated that minor formulation adjustment should increase the efficacy of the Anastrepha attractant, whereas less of an adjustment may be required to capture Ceratitis capitata. Results in open field tests in Hawaii indicated that the three-component synthetic food attractant in a single cone unit was just as effective in capturing wild male and female Medflies as the same food attractants in individual packets. The single matrix has some advantages in handling and ease-of-use, especially with the Multilure trap

Análise Morfométrica de Bacia Hidrográfica: Subsídio à Gestão Territorial Estudo de Caso no Alto e Médio Mamanguape.

Para esta análise, foram criados os mapas da drenagem e hipsométrico, levando em conta que o relevo é um dos aspectos mais importantes deste estudo, pois permite compreender a disposição da drenagem e tem aplicação direta para a gestão territorial. A análise da morfometria utilizou 17 índices morfométricos entre os mais de 50 existentes na literatura, dentre os quais podem-se destacar: fator de forma; índice de circularidade; coeficiente de compacidade; índice de rugosidade; padrão de drenagem; canais de drenagem; amplitude altimétrica; densidade de drenagem; textura topográfica; e coeficiente de manutenção. Com base na análise dos resultados, pode-se concluir que o fator de forma (0,44), o índice de circularidade (0,78), o coeficiente de compacidade (1,12) e o índice de rugosidade (0,72) demonstraram que a bacia hidrográfica em estudo exibe um formato alongado contribuindo, dessa forma, para o processo de escoamento e apresentando, portanto, baixa suscetibilidade à ocorrência de enchentes. Enfim, esses parâmetros podem ser utilizados para comparação entre os diversos tipos de áreas como microbacias, fazendas ou municípios, auxiliando, no monitoramento, análise e gestão territorial.bitstream/item/84896/1/0000010346-BPD-Analise-morfometrica.pd

The impact of early surgical intervention in free intestinal perforation: a time-to-intervention pilot study

PURPOSES: An abdominal inflammatory focus is the second most often source of sepsis with a high risk of death in surgical intensive care units. By establishing evidence-based bundled strategies the surviving sepsis campaign provided an optimized rapid and continuous treatment of these emergency patients. Hereby the hospital mortality decreased from 35 to 30%. Sepsis treatment is based on three major therapeutic elements: surgical treatment (source control), antiinfective treatment, and supportive care. The international guidelines of the surviving sepsis campaign were updated recently and recommend rapid diagnosis of the infection and source control within the first 12h after the diagnosis (grade 1c). Interestingly this recommendation is mainly based on studies on soft tissue infections. METHODS: In this retrospective analysis 76 septic patients with an intraabdominal inflammatory focus were included. All patients underwent surgery at different time-points after diagnosis. RESULTS: With 80% patients of the early intervention group had an improved overall survival (vs. 73% in the late intervention group). CONCLUSIONS: Literature on the time dependency of early source control is rare and in part contradicting. Results of this pilot study reveal that immediate surgical intervention might be of advantage for septic emergency patients. Further multi-center approaches will be necessary to evaluate, whether the TTI has any impact on the outcome of septic patients with intestinal perforation

Infraestrutura Nacional de Dados Espaciais: Aspectos Computacionais.

O objetivo deste documento é apresentar os principais conceitos relacionados aos pilares ?tecnologia? e ?padrões?, com enfoque em seus aspectos computacionais. A intenção é sumarizar os fundamentos teóricos envolvidos na especificação da INDE e reunir as principais referências de softwares open source atualmente disponíveis e amplamente adotados pela comunidade para a implantação da INDE.bitstream/item/84963/1/COMUN-TECNICO-1-GESTAO-TERRITORIAL-Infraestrut-Nac-Dados-Espac-ed01-2013.pd

Clonal karyotype evolution involving ring chromosome 1 with myelodysplastic syndrome subtype RAEB-t progressing into acute leukemia

s Karyotypic evolution is a well-known phenomenon in patients with malignant hernatological disorders during disease progression. We describe a 50-year-old male patient who had originally presented with pancytopenia in October 1992. The diagnosis of a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) FAB subtype RAEB-t was established in April 1993 by histological bone marrow (BM) examination, and therapy with low-dose cytosine arabinoside was initiated. In a phase of partial hernatological remission, cytogenetic assessment in August 1993 revealed a ring chromosome 1 in 13 of 21 metaphases beside BM cells with normal karyotypes {[}46,XY,r(1)(p35q31)/46,XY]. One month later, the patient progressed to an acute myeloid leukemia (AML), subtype M4 with 40% BM blasts and cytogenetic examination showed clonal evolution by the appearance of additional numerical aberrations in addition to the ring chromosome{[}46,XY,r(1),+8,-21/45,XY,r(1),+8,-21,-22/46, XY]. Intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy was applied to induce remission in preparation for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from the patient's HLA-compatible son. After BMT, complete remission was clinically, hematologically and cytogenetically (normal male karyotype) confirmed. A complete hematopoietic chimerism was demonstrated. A relapse in January 1997 was successfully treated using donor lymphocyte infusion and donor peripheral blood stem cells (PB-SC) in combination with GM-CSF as immunostimulating agent in April 1997, and the patient's clinical condition remained stable as of January 2005. This is an interesting case of a patient with AML secondary to MDS. With the ring chromosome 1 we also describe a rare cytogenetic abnormality that predicted the poor prognosis of the patient, but the patient could be cured by adoptive immunotherapy and the application of donor's PB-SC. This case confirms the value of cytogenetic analysis in characterizing the malignant clone in hernatological neoplasias, the importance of controlling the quality of an induced remission and of the detection of a progress of the disease. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

Metodologia de monitoramento de cobertura vegetal: estudo de caso no município de Goiânia, GO.

Este trabalho apresenta uma proposta para a análise da variação da cobertura vegetal, utilizando dados de acesso público. Os procedimentos de análise multitemporal propostos foram aplicados no município de Goiânia, GO, como estudo de caso. Aplicou-se o índice de vegetação por diferença normalizada (NDVI), obtido a partir de imagens Landsat-5, em três anos de referência: 1997, 2004, 2011. Consideraram-se três classes de cobertura: ?corpos d?água?, ?vegetação? e ?outros usos?. Foram utilizadas técnicas de processamento digital de imagens, visando à correção de erros gerados pela influência da atmosfera e à obtenção de uma melhor qualidade espectral dos alvos. Para esse fim, o modelo adotado foi o dark object subtraction (DOS). O resultado mostrou-se satisfatório, considerando-se a disponibilidade dos dados e suas limitações.bitstream/item/84894/1/0000010346-BPD-Cobert-vegetal.pd