Particle Size, Moisture, and Fluidization Variations Described by Indirect In-line Physical Measurements of Fluid Bed Granulation

The aim of this study was to evaluate an instrumentation system for a bench scale fluid bed granulator to determine the parameters expressing the changing conditions during the spraying phase of a fluid bed process. The study focused mainly on four in-line measurements (dependent variables): fluidization parameter (calculated by inlet air flow rate and rotor speed), pressure difference over the upper filters, pressure difference over the granules (lower filter), and temperature of the fluidizing mass. In-line particle size measured by the spatial filtering technique was an essential predictor variable. Other physical process measurements of the automated granulation system, 25 direct and 12 derived parameters, were also utilized for multivariate modeling. The correlation and partial least squares analyses revealed significant relationships between various process parameters highlighting the particle size, moisture, and fluidization effect. Fluidization parameter and pressure difference over upper filters were found to correlate with in-line particle size and therefore could be used as estimates of particle size during granulation. The pressure difference over the granules and the temperature of the fluidizing mass expressed the moisture conditions of wet granulation. The instrumentation system evaluated here is an invaluable aid to gaining more control for fluid bed processing to obtain repeatable granules for further processing.     

A New Rapid On-Line Imaging Method to Determine Particle Size Distribution of Granules

The purpose of this research was to study the feasibility of the new image analysis method in the particle size determination of the granules. The method is capable of forming a three-dimensional topographic image of a sample surface from a digital picture. In the method, a flat granule bed surface was illuminated from three different directions, using the three primary colors (red, green, and blue). One color picture was taken by a digital camera, after which a topographic image of the object surface was constructed. The particle size distribution was then calculated from the image data. The particle size analysis method was tested both off-line and on-line. Off-line particle size measurement results determined by the image analysis method corresponded quite well to those of sieve analysis in the size fraction range 250–1,000 μm. In on-line application, images were successfully retrieved and median granule size trend could be calculated and followed during fluid bed granulations.     

Population genetic structure of male black grouse (Tetrao tetrix L.) in fragmented vs. continuous landscapes

We investigated the association of habitat fragmentation with genetic structure of male black grouse Tetrao tetrix. Using 14 microsatellites, we compared the genetic differentiation of males among nine localities in continuous lowland habitats in Finland to the genetic differentiation among 14 localities in fragmented habitats in the Alps (France, Switzerland and Italy). In both areas, we found significant genetic differentiation. However, the average differentiation, measured as theta, was more than three times higher in the Alps than in Finland. The greater differentiation found in the Alps is probably due to the presence of mountain ridges rising above natural habitats of the species, which form barriers to gene flow, and to a higher influence of genetic drift resulting from lower effective sizes in highly fragmented habitats. The detection of isolation by distance in the Alps suggests that gene flow among populations does occur. The genetic variability measured as gene diversity HE and allelic richness A was lower in the Alps than in Finland. This could result from the higher fragmentation and/or from the fact that populations in the Alps are isolated from the main species range and have a lower effective size than in Finland. This study suggests that habitat fragmentation can affect genetic structure of avian species with relatively high dispersal propensities.     

Über den Einfluss des elektrischen Stromes auf die Plasmapermeabilität pflanzlicher Zellen

Zusammenfassung Zellen vonChara ceratophylla, die in Lösungen von hochdispersen Sulfosäurefarbstoffen liegend mit elektrischen Strömen durchströmt wurden, zeigten keine Farbstoffaufnahme, ehe die Zellen irreversibel beschädigt waren. Ebenso wenig fand eine wahrnehmbare Exosmose von Cl-Ionen aus unbeschädigtenChara-Zellen statt, wenn die Zellen in einer chloridfreien Nitratlösung durchströmt wurden. An dem untersuchten, für derartige Versuche sehr günstigen Objekt konnte somit keine reversible Permeabilitätssteigerung durch elektrische Ströme bewirkt werden.     

Rapid Particle Size Measurement Using 3D Surface Imaging

The present study introduces a new three-dimensional (3D) surface image analysis technique in which white light illumination from different incident angles is used to create 3D surfaces with a photometric approach. The three-dimensional features of the surface images created are then used in the characterization of particle size distributions of granules. This surface image analysis method is compared to sieve analysis and a particle sizing method based on spatial filtering technique with nearly 30 granule batches. The aim is also to evaluate the technique in flowability screening of granular materials. Overall, the new 3D imaging approach allows a rapid analysis of large amounts of sample and gives valuable visual information on the granule surfaces in terms of surface roughness and particle shape.     

Association of Abdominal Obesity with Lumbar Disc Degeneration – A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Purpose

To evaluate whether midsagittal (abdominal) obesity in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), waist circumference (WC) and body fat percentage are associated with lumbar disc degeneration in early adulthood.

Methods

We obtained the lumbar MRI (1.5-T scanner) of 325 females and 233 males at a mean age of 21 years. Lumbar disc degeneration was evaluated using Pfirrmann classification. We analysed the associations of MRI measures of obesity (abdominal diameter (AD), sagittal diameter (SAD), ventral subcutaneous thickness (VST), and dorsal subcutaneous thickness (DST)), WC and body fat percentage with disc degeneration sum scores using ordinal logistic regression.

Results

A total of 155 (48%) females and 147 (63%) males had disc degeneration. AD and SAD were associated with a disc degeneration sum score of ≥3 compared to disc degeneration sum score of 0–2 (OR 1.67; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.20–2.33 and OR 1.40; 95% CI 1.12–1.75, respectively) among males, but we found no association among females. WC was also associated with disc degeneration among males (OR 1.03 per one cm; 95% CI 1.00–1.05), but not among females.

Conclusion

Measures of abdominal obesity in MRI and waist circumference were associated with disc degeneration among 21-year-old males.     

Longitudinal Changes in Total Brain Volume in Schizophrenia: Relation to Symptom Severity,Cognition and Antipsychotic Medication

Studies show evidence of longitudinal brain volume decreases in schizophrenia. We studied brain volume changes and their relation to symptom severity, level of function, cognition, and antipsychotic medication in participants with schizophrenia and control participants from a general population based birth cohort sample in a relatively long follow-up period of almost a decade. All members of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 with any psychotic disorder and a random sample not having psychosis were invited for a MRI brain scan, and clinical and cognitive assessment during 1999–2001 at the age of 33–35 years. A follow-up was conducted 9 years later during 2008–2010. Brain scans at both time points were obtained from 33 participants with schizophrenia and 71 control participants. Regression models were used to examine whether brain volume changes predicted clinical and cognitive changes over time, and whether antipsychotic medication predicted brain volume changes. The mean annual whole brain volume reduction was 0.69% in schizophrenia, and 0.49% in controls (p = 0.003, adjusted for gender, educational level, alcohol use and weight gain). The brain volume reduction in schizophrenia patients was found especially in the temporal lobe and periventricular area. Symptom severity, functioning level, and decline in cognition were not associated with brain volume reduction in schizophrenia. The amount of antipsychotic medication (dose years of equivalent to 100 mg daily chlorpromazine) over the follow-up period predicted brain volume loss (p = 0.003 adjusted for symptom level, alcohol use and weight gain). In this population based sample, brain volume reduction continues in schizophrenia patients after the onset of illness, and antipsychotic medications may contribute to these reductions.     

Age Differences in the Response of Willow Tits (Parus montanus) to Conspecific Alarm Calls

Predation is an important mortality factor in wintering birds. To counter this, birds produce alarm calls in the presence of predators which serve to warn conspecifics. In social hierarchical bird flocks, adults survive the winter better than juveniles and therefore survival strategies probably vary with social status. This study examined the differential responses to alarm calls by free-living willow tits, Parus montanus, in dominance-structured winter flocks in Finland. To explore the age-dependent differences in response to conspecific alarm calls, a series with three alarm calls was played to focal adults and juveniles while they sat in the middle section of a spruce branch. Immediately after the playback, juvenile willow tits moved more often, flew longer distances and changed branches more often than did adults. Previous mammal studies have shown that juveniles are more likely to flee than adults after hearing conspecific alarm calls. The current study demonstrates that similar age-dependent responses to conspecific alarm calls occur in birds also. These findings reflect an increased vulnerability to predators or lack of experience of young birds.     

Multiple indicators of human impacts on the environment in the Pechora Basin,north-eastern European Russia

The Pechora Region (PR) has extensive natural resources supporting forestry, oil and gas industries. The objective of this integrated study was to identify if local and long range pollution and biodiversity impacts were detectable on a regional scale using multi-indicators by selecting paired sites, close to industrial/forestry activities and in ‘reference’ areas (remote from any industrial centers, settlements or commercial activities). Chemistry of lichens, topsoil, lake water and sediments, plus diversity of lichens, birds and aquatic indicators along with landscape analysis were measured at eight sites in the PR to assess local impacts of oil/gas and forestry operations. Furthermore, an analysis of water and sediment chemistry was made at river stations and sites within the Pechora Delta. Local areas around industrial towns of Vorkuta and Usinsk showed increased pollution and decreased biodiversity. Among remote areas, subtle changes in pollution and biodiversity were detected close to oil/gas operations on the Kolva and Ortina Rivers, indicating early signs of environmental impact. Delta analyses showed limited impacts and most other sites remained unmodified reflecting low ecological impacts. Changes in forest landscape structure over large areas were apparently too small to cause significant negative impacts on bird diversity. This was the first attempt showing how multi-indicators can be used over broad spatial scales to assess environmental impacts in the PR.