Adaptive synthesis of a wavelet transform using fast neural network

This paper introduces a new method for an adaptive synthesis of a wavelet transform using a fast neural network with a topology based on the lattice structure. The lattice structure and the orthogonal lattice structure are presented and their properties are discussed. A novel method for unsupervised training of the neural network is introduced. The proposed approach is tested by synthesizing new wavelets with an expected energy distribution between low- and high-pass filters. Energy compaction of the proposed method and Daubechies wavelets is compared. Tests are performed using sound and image signals

Differential effect of cigarette smoking on hydrogen peroxide and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances exhaled in patients with community acquired pneumonia

Background. This study was designed to investigate the effect of cigarette smoking on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARs) concentrations in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods. H2O2 and TBARs concentrations in EBC were determined with spectrofluorimetrical assays. Results. Non-smoking CAP patients (n=24) exhaled 1.4, 1.8 and 1.7 times more H2O2 than the smoking patients with CAP (n=19) as assessed one (0.73±0.32 μM v. 0.51±0.36 μM), three (0.84±0.31 μM v. 0.47±0.24 μM) and five (0.66±0.28 μM v. 0.40±0.35 μM) days after admission (p<0.05 in each case). Over 10 days of hospital treatment, mean level of exhaled H2O2 0.45±0.22 μM in CAP patients with smoking history was decreased if compared with 0.71±0.19 μM exhaled H2O2 in CAP group (p=0.005). On the contrary, TBARs concentration evaluated over entire study period was increased in smoking CAP patients (median 0.02 μM, range 0-0.32 μM) compared with non-smoking group (median 0.01 μM, range 0-0.21 μM, p<0.05). Concurrent, active smoking status was related with the decreased levels of H2O2 exhaled in breath condensate within the course of CAP but it appeared to increase levels of TBARs. Conclusions. The differential alternations of oxidative parameters in EBC with respect to the smoking status might provide evidence of increased H2O2 decomposition and enhanced generation of reactive species in airways of CAP patients

Действие местного иммунокорректора со свойствами вакцины НРС 19 на концентрацию перекиси водорода и активность миелопероксидазы в смывах из полости носа у больных с хроническим бронхитом

Twenty eight adults of both genders with chronic bronchitis participated in the open trial studying the influence of the local immune modulating drug IRS 19 with vaccine properties on polymorphonuclear leukocytes number, H202 concentration and myeloperoxidase activity in nasal washes. The polymorphonuclear leukocytes number increased from 4460±3960 to 10490±10950 cells per ml (p&lt;0.02) after two months of IRS 19 use. This effect accompanied by the myeloperoxidase activity and the H202 concentration increase in 2.6 and 1.4 times, correspondingly (p&lt;0.001). As the "polymorphonuclear leukocytes and myeloperoxidase – H202 – Clˉ " system is the first-line defence against pathogenic microorganisms, the changes mentioned above are likely to be one of the mechanisms enhancing the airways antibacterial immunity in response to the IRS 19 therapy.Двадцать восемь взрослых больных обоего пола, страдающие хроническим бронхитом, приняли участие в открытом исследовании, посвященном изучению эффекта применения местного иммуномодулирующего препарата со свойствами вакцины ИРС 19 на число полиморфноядерных лейкоцитов (ПМЯЛ), концентрацию Н202 и активность миелопероксидазы (МЛП) в смывах из полости носа. Число ПМЯЛ, выделявшихся из полости носа, увеличилось после двух месяцев применения ИРС 19 с 4460±3960 до 10 490±10 950 клеток на мл (р&lt;0,02). Этот эффект сопровождался повышением активности МЛП и концентрации Н202, соответственно, в 2,6 и 1,4 раза (р&lt;0,001). Поскольку система ПМЯЛ и МЛП – Н202 – CIˉ находится на переднем крае защиты от проникновения патогенных микроорганизмов, можно предположить, что упомянутые выше изменения могут представлять собой один из механизмов, приводящих к повышению антибактериального иммунитета в области дыхательных путей в ответ на лечение препаратом ИРС 19

Layered and core-shell uniaxial absorbers

We derive periodic multilayer absorbers with effective uniaxial properties similar to a perfectly matched layer (PML). This approximate representation of a PML is based on effective medium theory, and we call it an effective medium PML (EM-PML). We also show that cylindrical core-shell nanostructures derived from flat multilayers also exhibit very good absorptive and reflective properties despite the different geometry

Methane oxidation macro-kinetics in biofilters

Niniejsza praca ma na celu przedstawienie prostego modelu kinetycznego umożliwiającego opis utleniania metanu w biofiltrach. Badania doświadczalne przeprowadzono w biofiltrach pracujących w reżimie przeciwprądo-wym i współprądowym. Ustalono, że wyniki otrzymane w reżimie przeciw-prądowym najlepiej opisuje model kinetyki zerowego rzędu względem metanu i pierwszego rzędu względem tlenu, zaś we współprądowym zerowego rzędu względem obu substratów.The paper shows the kinetic model proposed for methane oxidation in biofilters. The investigations were conducted in both counter- and concurrent modes. In the countercurrent mode the experimental results were best fitted with the first-order reaction kinetics towards methane and zero-order kinetics towards oxygen, while in the concurrent mode with the zero-order reaction kinetics towards both substrates