Shelf-life extension of herring (Clupea harengus) using in-package atmospheric plasma technology

peer-reviewedAtmospheric cold plasma is a green and emerging technology, highly interesting to the food industry for its application. Dielectric Barrier Discharges (DBD) can generate atmospheric cold plasma inside sealed packages filled with air through the use of high voltages. This study investigated the use of a large gap DBD design to generate a plasma discharge within the headspace of packaged herring fillets, and its effects on microbiological and quality markers of the fish stored for 11 days at 4 °C. DBD plasma treatment conditions were 70 kV or 80 kV for 5 min treatment time. Results showed that the microbial load (total aerobic mesophilic, total aerobic psychrotrophics, Pseudomonas, lactic acid bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae) were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the treated samples compared to the control samples. However, samples exposed to the lowest applied voltage better retained key quality factors (lower oxidation and less colour modification). DBD-treatment caused a reduction in trapped water in the myofibrillar network (T21), identified using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance of protons (1H LF NMR). The results indicate that in-package plasma treatment could be employed as an effective treatment for reducing spoilage bacteria in fish

Effects of Non-Ablative Solid-State Vaginal Laser (SSVL) for the Treatment of Vulvovaginal Atrophy in Breast Cancer Survivors after Adjuvant Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy: Preliminary Results

Background: One of the side effects of anti-estrogen treatments in breast cancer survivors (BCSs), especially with aromatase inhibitor (AI) treatment, is the frequent appearance of vulvo-vaginal atrophy (VVA). We aim to evaluate the efficacy, safety and feasibility of a new type of non-ablative Solid-State Vaginal Laser (SSVL) treatment in BCSs with VVA. Methods: A total of 30 BCSs with a history of AI use and symptoms of VVA were treated with a non-ablative SSVL (LASEmaR 1500™-EUFOTON)in this non-randomized pilot study. The effects of the laser have been evaluated at baseline, 10 wk and 24 wk using a visual analogue scale (VAS), the Vaginal Health Index (VHI), the Vulvar Health Index (VuHI), the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the EORTC QLQ-BR23, the Vaginal Maturation Index (VMI) and vaginal pH. Results: At 10-week follow-up vs. baseline there were no statistically significant differences in FSFI, lubrication and EORTC QLQ-BR23. In all the subjective (dyspareunia, VHI, VuHI, FSFI, QLQ) and objective parameters (VMI and pH) there was a statistically significant improvement at the 6-month follow-up. Satisfaction was very high (4.7 out of 5), with 95.7% of patients being satisfied, more than or very satisfied. Conclusions: Preliminary results of SSVL treatment of VVA and dyspareunia in BCSs after AI treatment suggest clinical improvement, without relevant side effects and with a high degree of satisfaction

Quadratic optimal functional quantization of stochastic processes and numerical applications

In this paper, we present an overview of the recent developments of functional quantization of stochastic processes, with an emphasis on the quadratic case. Functional quantization is a way to approximate a process, viewed as a Hilbert-valued random variable, using a nearest neighbour projection on a finite codebook. A special emphasis is made on the computational aspects and the numerical applications, in particular the pricing of some path-dependent European options.Comment: 41 page

Robustness analysis of discrete predictor-based controllers for input-delay systems

In this article, robustness to model uncertainties are analysed in the context of discrete predictor-based state-feedback controllers for discrete-time input-delay systems with time-varying delay, in an LMI framework. The goal is comparing robustness of predictor-based strategies with respect to other (sub)optimal state feedback ones. A numerical example illustrates that improvements in tolerance to modelling errors can be achieved by using the predictor framework.The authors are grateful for grant nos. DPI2008-06737-C02-01, DPI2008-06731-C02-01, DPI2011-27845-C02-01 and PROMETEO/2008/088 from the Spanish and Valencian governments.González Sorribes, A.; Sala, A.; García Gil, PJ.; Albertos Pérez, P. (2013). Robustness analysis of discrete predictor-based controllers for input-delay systems. International Journal of Systems Science. 44(2):232-239. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207721.2011.600469S232239442Boukas, E.-K. (2006). Discrete-time systems with time-varying time delay: Stability and stabilizability. Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 2006, 1-10. doi:10.1155/mpe/2006/42489Du, D., Jiang, B., & Zhou, S. (2008). Delay-dependent robust stabilisation of uncertain discrete-time switched systems with time-varying state delay. International Journal of Systems Science, 39(3), 305-313. doi:10.1080/00207720701805982El Ghaoui, L., Oustry, F., & AitRami, M. (1997). A cone complementarity linearization algorithm for static output-feedback and related problems. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, 42(8), 1171-1176. doi:10.1109/9.618250Gao, H., & Chen, T. (2007). New Results on Stability of Discrete-Time Systems With Time-Varying State Delay. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, 52(2), 328-334. doi:10.1109/tac.2006.890320Gao, H., Wang, C., Lam, J., & Wang, Y. (2004). Delay-dependent output-feedback stabilisation of discrete-time systems with time-varying state delay. IEE Proceedings - Control Theory and Applications, 151(6), 691-698. doi:10.1049/ip-cta:20040822Gao, H., Chen, T., & Lam, J. (2008). A new delay system approach to network-based control. Automatica, 44(1), 39-52. doi:10.1016/j.automatica.2007.04.020Garcia , P , Castillo , P , Lozano , R and Albertos , P . 2006 . Robustness with Respect to Delay Uncertainties of a Predictor Observer Based Discrete-time Controller . Proceeding of the 45th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control . 2006 . pp. 199 – 204 .Guo , Y and Li , S . 2009 . New Stability Criterion for Discrete-time Systems with Interval Time-varying State Delay . Joint 48th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control and 28th Chinese Control Conference . 2009 . pp. 1342 – 1347 .Hägglund, T. (1996). An industrial dead-time compensating PI controller. Control Engineering Practice, 4(6), 749-756. doi:10.1016/0967-0661(96)00065-2V.J.S. Leite, and Miranda, M.F. (2008), ‘Robust Stabilization of Discrete-time Systems with Time-varying Delay: An LMI Approach’,Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 2008, 15 pages (doi:10.1155/2008/875609)Liu, X. G., Tang, M. L., Martin, R. R., & Wu, M. (2006). Delay-dependent robust stabilisation of discrete-time systems with time-varying delay. IEE Proceedings - Control Theory and Applications, 153(6), 689-702. doi:10.1049/ip-cta:20050223Lozano, R., Castillo, P., Garcia, P., & Dzul, A. (2004). Robust prediction-based control for unstable delay systems: Application to the yaw control of a mini-helicopter. Automatica, 40(4), 603-612. doi:10.1016/j.automatica.2003.10.007Manitius, A., & Olbrot, A. (1979). Finite spectrum assignment problem for systems with delays. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, 24(4), 541-552. doi:10.1109/tac.1979.1102124Michiels, W., & Niculescu, S.-I. (2003). On the delay sensitivity of Smith Predictors. International Journal of Systems Science, 34(8-9), 543-551. doi:10.1080/00207720310001609057Palmor, Z.J. (1996), ‘Time-delay Compensation – Smith Predictor and Its Modifications’, inThe Control Handbook, ed. W.S. Levine, Boca Raton: CRC Press, pp. 224–237Pan, Y.-J., Marquez, H. J., & Chen, T. (2006). Stabilization of remote control systems with unknown time varying delays by LMI techniques. International Journal of Control, 79(7), 752-763. doi:10.1080/00207170600654554Richard, J.-P. (2003). Time-delay systems: an overview of some recent advances and open problems. Automatica, 39(10), 1667-1694. doi:10.1016/s0005-1098(03)00167-5Wang, Q.-G., Lee, T. H., & Tan, K. K. (1999). Finite-Spectrum Assignment for Time-Delay Systems. Lecture Notes in Control and Information Sciences. doi:10.1007/978-1-84628-531-8He, Y., Wu, M., Han, Q.-L., & She, J.-H. (2008). Delay-dependentH∞control of linear discrete-time systems with an interval-like time-varying delay. International Journal of Systems Science, 39(4), 427-436. doi:10.1080/00207720701832531Yue, D., & Han, Q.-L. (2005). Delayed feedback control of uncertain systems with time-varying input delay. Automatica, 41(2), 233-240. doi:10.1016/j.automatica.2004.09.006Zhang, B., Xu, S., & Zou, Y. (2008). Improved stability criterion and its applications in delayed controller design for discrete-time systems. Automatica, 44(11), 2963-2967. doi:10.1016/j.automatica.2008.04.01

Testing Gait with Ankle-Foot Orthoses in Children with Cerebral Palsy by Using Functional Mixed-Effects Analysis of Variance

Dr Morrissey is part funded by the NIHR/HEE Senior Clinical Lecturer scheme. Tis report presents independent research part-funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) CAT SCL-2013-04-00

The database of the PREDICTS (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems) project

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Risk factors of post renal transplant anaemia among Sudanese patients, a study in three renal transplant centres

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is a relative lack of recent information about late post kidney transplantation anaemia (PTA), especially in the developing countries; data are scarce about the prevalence and risk factors of PTA. Sudan was a leading country in Africa and Arab world in kidney transplantation. The first kidney transplantation in Sudan was in 1973.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is a cross-sectional hospital analytic study enrolling all kidney transplanted recipients following in the transplant referral clinics at Ahmed Gassim, Selma and Ibn Sina Hospitals, Khartoum/Sudan, in the period from 1/8/2010 to 1/9/2010, clinical and laboratory data were obtained from 114 patients, anaemia was defined as Hb levels of < 13 g/dl for male patients and < 12 g/dl for female patients, exclusion criteria were pregnancy, below 18 years old patients, multiple organ transplantation, and patients with less than one year from the transplantation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The study showed that 39.5% of the patients were anaemic. Univariate analysis showed that late PTA is significantly associated with not using Erythropoietin (EPO) in the pre-transplant period (p = < 0.001), history of rejection (p = 0.003), longer time from transplantation (p = 0.015), and eGFR (p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that eGFR (p = < 0.001) and not use of EPO in the pre transplant period (p < 0.001) are strong predictors of PTA. The use of Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/Angiotensin receptors blockers (ACEI/ARB), immunosuppressive treatments, presence or absence of co-morbidities, donor type and donor age are not significantly associated with late PTA.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The study concluded that late PTA is common and under recognized. Risk factors for late PTA include renal dysfunction, history of rejection, longer duration of transplantation and not using EPO in the pre-transplant period. Renal dysfunction and not using EPO in the pre-transplant period are major predictors of late PTA.</p

Codominant scoring of AFLP in association panels

A study on the codominant scoring of AFLP markers in association panels without prior knowledge on genotype probabilities is described. Bands are scored codominantly by fitting normal mixture models to band intensities, illustrating and optimizing existing methodology, which employs the EM-algorithm. We study features that improve the performance of the algorithm, and the unmixing in general, like parameter initialization, restrictions on parameters, data transformation, and outlier removal. Parameter restrictions include equal component variances, equal or nearly equal distances between component means, and mixing probabilities according to Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium. Histogram visualization of band intensities with superimposed normal densities, and optional classification scores and other grouping information, assists further in the codominant scoring. We find empirical evidence favoring the square root transformation of the band intensity, as was found in segregating populations. Our approach provides posterior genotype probabilities for marker loci. These probabilities can form the basis for association mapping and are more useful than the standard scoring categories A, H, B, C, D. They can also be used to calculate predictors for additive and dominance effects. Diagnostics for data quality of AFLP markers are described: preference for three-component mixture model, good separation between component means, and lack of singletons for the component with highest mean. Software has been developed in R, containing the models for normal mixtures with facilitating features, and visualizations. The methods are applied to an association panel in tomato, comprising 1,175 polymorphic markers on 94 tomato hybrids, as part of a larger study within the Dutch Centre for BioSystems Genomics