Relation between TMAOase activity and content of formaldehyde in fillet minces and bellyflap minces from gadoid fishes

Minced fish is a significant component of a number of frozen fishery products like fish fingers, cakes and patties. Predominately minced fish is produced from gadoid species (Alaska pollack, cod, saithe, hake and others) possessing the enzyme trimethylamine oxide demethylase (TMAOase, E.C. 4.1.2.32) (Rehbein and Schreiber 1984). TMAOase catalyses the degradation of trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) to formaldehyde (FA) and dimethylamine (DMA), preferentially during frozen storage of products (Hultin 1992). In most gadoid species light muscle contains only low activity of TMAOase, the activity of red muscle and bellyflaps being somewhat higher. In contrast, the TMAOase activity in blood, kidney and other tissues, residues of which may contaminate minced fish flesh, may be higher for several orders of magnitude (Rehbein and Schreiber 1984)

Strength and Ultrasonic Characterization of Metallic Interfaces

In recent years, the process of diffusion bonding has found considerable usage in both the nuclear power and aerospace industries. This process requires the compression of mating surfaces at an elevated temperature for a given time. If optimum conditions of time, temperature, pressure and surface cleanliness are achieved, diffusion of material across the interface will occur, yielding interfacial mechanical properties identical to those of the bulk material. The use of insufficient bonding conditions may result in void formation, precipitation of undesired phases or lack of grain growth across the interface. The consequence will be an interface that is less than fully bonded, which will result in severe degradation of the mechanical properties. Applications of diffusion bonding to nuclear reactor fuel elements, helicopter rotor hubs, jet engine turbine blades, etc., thus make the ability to characterize the strength of these interfaces highly desirable

Physics-Informed Neural Nets for Control of Dynamical Systems

Physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) impose known physical laws into the learning of deep neural networks, making sure they respect the physics of the process while decreasing the demand of labeled data. For systems represented by Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs), the conventional PINN has a continuous time input variable and outputs the solution of the corresponding ODE. In their original form, PINNs do not allow control inputs neither can they simulate for long-range intervals without serious degradation in their predictions. In this context, this work presents a new framework called Physics-Informed Neural Nets for Control (PINC), which proposes a novel PINN-based architecture that is amenable to \emph{control} problems and able to simulate for longer-range time horizons that are not fixed beforehand. The framework has new inputs to account for the initial state of the system and the control action. In PINC, the response over the complete time horizon is split such that each smaller interval constitutes a solution of the ODE conditioned on the fixed values of initial state and control action for that interval. The whole response is formed by feeding back the predictions of the terminal state as the initial state for the next interval. This proposal enables the optimal control of dynamic systems, integrating a priori knowledge from experts and data collected from plants into control applications. We showcase our proposal in the control of two nonlinear dynamic systems: the Van der Pol oscillator and the four-tank system

Absolute frequency measurement of the magnesium intercombination transition 1S0→3P1^1S_0 \to ^3P_1

We report on a frequency measurement of the $(3s^2)^1S_0\to(3s3p)^3P_1$ clock transition of $^{24}$Mg on a thermal atomic beam. The intercombination transition has been referenced to a portable primary Cs frequency standard with the help of a femtosecond fiber laser frequency comb. The achieved uncertainty is $2.5\times10^{-12}$ which corresponds to an increase in accuracy of six orders of magnitude compared to previous results. The measured frequency value permits the calculation of several other optical transitions from $^1S_0$ to the $^3P_J$-level system for $^{24}$Mg, $^{25}$Mg and $^{26}$Mg. We describe in detail the components of our optical frequency standard like the stabilized spectroscopy laser, the atomic beam apparatus used for Ramsey-Bord\'e interferometry and the frequency comb generator and discuss the uncertainty contributions to our measurement including the first and second order Doppler effect. An upper limit of $3\times10^{-13}$ in one second for the short term instability of our optical frequency standard was determined by comparison with a GPS disciplined quartz oscillator.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

Demonstration of the metaphylactic use of gamithromycin against bacterial pathogens associated with bovine respiratory disease in a multicentre farm trial

On five commercial cattle rearing sites across Europe, a total of 802 young cattle at high risk of developing bovine respiratory disease (BRD) associated with the bacterial pathogens Mannheimia haemolytica or Pasteurella multocida and/or Mycoplasma bovis were enrolled into a multicentre, controlled field trial. Half were treated with a single dose of gamithromycin at 6 mg/kg bodyweight by subcutaneous injection and half received an injection of a saline placebo as the control. All animals were observed daily for 14 days for signs of BRD as defined by set criteria. The proportion of metaphylactic preventive treatment successes, defined as animals surviving to day 14 without signs of BRD, in the gamithromycin-treated group (86 per cent) was significantly (P=0.0012) higher than in the saline-treated controls (61 per cent). Morbidity among the treated animals was reduced by 64 per cent compared with the controls

Reduction of optical crosstalk in SiPMs due to coupled light guides and investigation of other properties demonstrated with the SensL MicroFJ-60035-TSV

The optical coupling of light guides to Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) influences the probability for optical crosstalk. Measurements of the crosstalk probability and the relative gain of 122 SiPMs of type SensL MicroFJ-60035-TSV are presented. Semi-conductor photo sensors have replaced photo multiplier tubes in numerous applications featuring single-photon resolution, insensitivity to magnetic fields, higher robustness and enhanced photo detection efficiency at lower operation voltage and lower costs. Light guides are used to increase the comparably small photo sensitive area of SiPMs. Their optical coupling changes the surface conditions of the sensor and influences the probability for crosstalk photons to leave the sensor without inducing secondary breakdowns. This study compares properties of sensors that are optically coupled to light guides with bare sensors, operated at nominal bias voltage. It demonstrates, that the optical coupling to a light guide significantly reduces the crosstalk probability of the measured sensors

The sequence selectivity of KSRP explains its flexibility in the recognition of the RNA targets

K-homology (KH) splicing regulator protein (KSRP) is a multi-domain RNA-binding protein that regulates different steps of mRNA metabolism, from mRNA splicing to mRNA decay, interacting with a broad range of RNA sequences. To understand how KSRP recognizes its different RNA targets it is necessary to define the general rules of KSRP–RNA interaction. We describe here a complete scaffold-independent analysis of the RNA-binding potential of the four KH domains of KSRP. The analysis shows that KH3 binds to the RNA with a significantly higher affinity than the other domains and recognizes specifically a G-rich target. It also demonstrates that the other KH domains of KSRP display different sequence preferences explaining the broad range of targets recognized by the protein. Further, KSRP shows a strong negative selectivity for sequences containing several adjacent Cytosines limiting the target choice of KSRP within single-stranded RNA regions. The in-depth analysis of the RNA-binding potential of the KH domains of KSRP provides us with an understanding of the role of low sequence specificity domains in RNA recognition by multi-domain RNA-binding proteins

The conceptualisation and measurement of DSM-5 Internet Gaming Disorder: the development of the IGD-20 Test

Background: Over the last decade, there has been growing concern about ‘gaming addiction’ and its widely documented detrimental impacts on a minority of individuals that play excessively. The latest (fifth) edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) included nine criteria for the potential diagnosis of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and noted that it was a condition that warranted further empirical study. Aim: The main aim of this study was to develop a valid and reliable standardised psychometrically robust tool in addition to providing empirically supported cut-off points. Methods: A sample of 1003 gamers (85.2% males; mean age 26 years) from 57 different countries were recruited via online gaming forums. Validity was assessed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), criterion-related validity, and concurrent validity. Latent profile analysis was also carried to distinguish disordered gamers from non-disordered gamers. Sensitivity and specificity analyses were performed to determine an empirical cut-off for the test. Results: The CFA confirmed the viability of IGD-20 Test with a six-factor structure (salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict and relapse) for the assessment of IGD according to the nine criteria from DSM-5. The IGD-20 Test proved to be valid and reliable. According to the latent profile analysis, 5.3% of the total participants were classed as disordered gamers. Additionally, an optimal empirical cut-off of 71 points (out of 100) seemed to be adequate according to the sensitivity and specificity analyses carried

QND measurements for future gravitational-wave detectors

Second-generation interferometric gravitational-wave detectors will be operating at the Standard Quantum Limit, a sensitivity limitation set by the trade off between measurement accuracy and quantum back action, which is governed by the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. We review several schemes that allows the quantum noise of interferometers to surpass the Standard Quantum Limit significantly over a broad frequency band. Such schemes may be an important component of the design of third-generation detectors.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures, 1 table; In version 2, more tutorial information on quantum noise in GW interferometer and several new items into Reference list were adde

The (co-)occurrence of problematic video gaming, substance use, and psychosocial problems in adolescents

Aims. The current study explored the nature of problematic (addictive) video gaming and the association with game type, psychosocial health, and substance use. Methods. Data were collected using a paper and pencil survey in the classroom setting. Three samples were aggregated to achieve a total sample of 8478 unique adolescents. Scales included measures of game use, game type, the Video game Addiction Test (VAT), depressive mood, negative self-esteem, loneliness, social anxiety, education performance, and use of cannabis, alcohol and nicotine (smoking). Results. Findings confirmed problematic gaming is most common amongst adolescent gamers who play multiplayer online games. Boys (60%) were more likely to play online games than girls (14%) and problematic gamers were more likely to be boys (5%) than girls (1%). High problematic gamers showed higher scores on depressive mood, loneliness, social anxiety, negative self-esteem, and self-reported lower school performance. Nicotine, alcohol, and cannabis using boys were almost twice more likely to report high PVG than non-users. Conclusions. It appears that online gaming in general is not necessarily associated with problems. However, problematic gamers do seem to play online games more often, and a small subgroup of gamers – specifically boys – showed lower psychosocial functioning and lower grades. Moreover, associations with alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis use are found. It would appear that problematic gaming is an undesirable problem for a small subgroup of gamers. The findings encourage further exploration of the role of psychoactive substance use in problematic gaming