A modified indirect mathematical model for evaluation of ethanol production efficiency in industrial-scale continuous fermentation processes.

AIMS: To calculate fermentation efficiency in a continuous ethanol production process, we aimed to develop a robust mathematical method based on the analysis of metabolic by-product formation. METHODS AND RESULTS: This method is in contrast to the traditional way of calculating ethanol fermentation efficiency, where the ratio between the ethanol produced and the sugar consumed is expressed as a percentage of the theoretical conversion yield. Comparison between the two methods, at industrial scale and in sensitivity studies, showed that the indirect method was more robust and gave slightly higher fermentation efficiency values, although fermentation efficiency of the industrial process was found to be low (~75%). CONCLUSIONS: The traditional calculation method is simpler than the indirect method as it only requires a few chemical determinations in samples collected. However, a minor error in any measured parameter will have an important impact on the calculated efficiency. In contrast, the indirect method of calculation requires a greater number of determinations but is much more robust since an error in any parameter will only have a minor effect on the fermentation efficiency value. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The application of the indirect calculation methodology in order to evaluate the real situation of the process and to reach an optimum fermentation yield for an industrial-scale ethanol production is recommended. Once a high fermentation yield has been reached the traditional method should be used to maintain the control of the process. Upon detection of lower yields in an optimized process the indirect method should be employed as it permits a more accurate diagnosis of causes of yield losses in order to correct the problem rapidly. The low fermentation efficiency obtained in this study shows an urgent need for industrial process optimization where the indirect calculation methodology will be an important tool to determine process losses.

Adaptive estimation of residue signal for voice pathology diagnosis.

The use of noninvasive techniques to evaluate the larynx and vocal tract helps the speech specialists to perform accurate diagnose of diseases. In this study, a method to distinguish among 21 different pathologies using speech signals was developed. Through inverse filtering (Kalman and Wiener filters) of the voice signal, the residue was estimated and seven acoustic features were extracted from it to evaluate the laryngeal diseases. As time-invariant inverse filtering was used, the nonstationary nature of dysphonic voices was also considered. Together with the estimation of the acoustic features using a robust statistical method, this technique also allowed us to discriminate among pathologies with very close perceptual characteristics. The results from a Mann-Whitney test indicated that the best measurement for pathological discrimination was JITTER with 54.79% ability to cluster the voice types and the worst one was spectral flatness of residue (SFR) with 36.41%.

[Initial polychemotherapy in the treatment of cancers of the head and neck. The efficacy and tolerance of 2 nonrandomized combinations in 48 patients]. / Polychimiothérapie initiale dans le traitement des cancers des voies aérodisgestives supérieures. Efficacité et tolérance de deux associations non randomisées chez 48 patients.

Before loco regional treatment for head and neck cancer forty eight patients received one or the other of the following combined chemotherapy regimens: Regimen A (28 patients): high dosage methotrexate, bleomycin, cis-platin; regimen B (20 patients): common dosage methotrexate, bleomycin, hydroxyurea, vincristin. The effectiveness of regimen A seemed better than that of regimen B (46% responses versus 20%). This assessment must be accepted with caution, since, although the organization of treatment was strictly similar in the two groups, the study was not randomized, and there were noticeable differences between the two groups. Regimen B was associated with no toxicity. Regimen A was responsible for two fatalities. These two cases were linked to high dosage methotrexate. However, a combined chemotherapy regimen of type A with the high dosage methotrexate replaced by intermediate dosage methotrexate, seems feasible to us. Loco regional treatment was not impaired by initial chemotherapy with either regimen.

[Congenital rubella syndrome and the occurrence of congenital heart disease]. / Síndrome da rubéola congênita e a ocorrência de cardiopatias congênitas.

Aiming to document the incidence and type of associated congenital heart disease, 20 children affected with the congenital rubella syndrome have been evaluated during a 5 year period, starting 1988. Congenital heart disease was detected in 45% of the cases. Persistent ductus arteriosus was the most frequent finding, followed by ventricular and atrial septal defects. Hearing disturbances occurred in 83% of the 12 cases studied. Ophthalmic lesions appeared in 69% of the 13 cases analysed, congenital cataracts being the most frequent one. An association of 66% was found between ophthalmic and heart lesions. Regarding the nutritional index, 70% of the cases were situated between the 25th and 50th percentile. The relevant incidence of congenital defects and the documentation of an important number of cases in a short period of time point out to a significant prevalence of the syndrome with imperative need improve the vaccination programs.

[Nerve and artery lesions after irradiation (author's transl)]. / Lésions nerveuses et artérielles après irradiations.

Recent studies relating to soft tissue lesions following irradiation have been concerned with those involving nerves and arteries: Nerve root myelopathies--Brown-sequard's syndrome--spasmodic paraparesis Peripheral neuropathies--plexal disorders--peripheral lesions Carotid stenosis.

[Twenty-five cases of bone resection for mandibular osteoradionecrosis (author's transl)]. / Vingt-cinq résections osseuses pour ostéoradionécrose mandibulaire.

Good morphological and functional results are obtained in lateral osteoradionecrosis after bone resection by the endobuccal route, and this operation should be performed at an earlier stage. Median resections give poor results and in these cases it is reasonable to temporize in the normal manner. Long-term prognosis is only moderate as tumoral recurrences are frequent in these patients.

[Parotid lithiasis. Surgical tactics]. / Lithiase parotidienne. Tactique opératoire.

Calculi situated behind the buccinator muscle must be approached via a parotidectomy incision. In many cases, simple removal of the intra-canalar or intra-parenchymatous calculus is sufficient.

[Cerebro-costo-mandibular syndrome (author's transl)]. / Le syndrome cérébro-costo-mandibulaire.

This rare condition associates a Pierre Robin syndrome with costal and intellectual abnormalities. It usually rapidly results in death from pulmonary complications.

[Tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome (author's transl)]. / Le syndrome trico-rhino-phalangien.

Tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome, of genetic origin, consists invariably of an association of finger malformations, changes in the hair system and nasal malformations. There may also be other facial abnormalities. Plastic surgery may improve the appearance of these subjects.

[Orbital fractures by blow-out (author's transl)]. / Fractures orbitaires par blow-out.

The prevalence of orbital fractures by blow out remains open to discussion. Operative decisions are taken after clinical and radiological study, being based above all on evaluation of the forced duction tests and upon frontal tomographies.

[Mucopolysaccharidosis]. / Mucopolysaccharidoses.

The different types of mucopolysaccharidosis, due to a congenital absence of a lysosomial dehydrolysase acid, are the origin of facial deformities. Precise diagnosis depends on the results of biochemical and histological examinations.

[Diagnostic procedure in chronic cervicofacial adenopathies]. / Démarche diagnostique devant les adénopathies cervico-faciales chroniques.

Results of clinical examination are fundamental for establishment of an etiologic diagnosis, but the additional data provided by paraclinical investigations are essential elements. Adenectomy should be performed when etiology is uncertain.

[A case of familially associated cherubism, centro-osseous giant cell granulomas and giant cell tumors of the jaws]. / Cas familial associant chérubisme, granulomes centro-osseux à cellules géantes et tumeurs à cellules géantes des maxillaires.

Fourteen years after the discovery of cherubism a young woman presented reconstructive granulomas of the maxilla and mandible. Her grandmother and father had had giant cell mandibular tumors.

[Surgical repair after wide excision in cancer of the oral commissure]. / Réparations chirurgicales après vastes exérèses pour cancer de la commissure buccale

The possibility of reconstruction following vast losses of substance makes it possible to propose curative treatment for very advanced cancer, with a satisfactory quality of survival. Such vast losses of substance may be treated in a two-stage procedure using a delto-pectoral flap, the distal extremity of which is folded over upon itself.

[Action of corticosteroids on cutaneous cicatrization. Use in maxillofacial surgery]. / Action des corticostéroïdes sur la cicatrisation cutanée. Utilisation en chirurgie maxillo-faciale

The effects of glucocorticoids on cutaneous cicatrisation are discussed. It is generally admitted that they have a delaying effect especially when applied locally. Their use in maxillo-facial surgery is limited: generally, they are used against oedema; locally, to check excessive fleshy growth and to treat cheloid scars.

[Ankylosing temporomandibular arthritis following masseter cellulitis. 3 cases]. / Arthrites temporo-mandibulaires ankylosantes après cellulites massétérines. 3 Observations.

Treatment of temporomandibular ankylosis complicating masseter muscle cellulitis in three patients, as a result of a dental lesion, required wide excision of bone structure and, in two cases, of adjacent infected soft tissues.

[Massive facial destruction. Management, resuscitation, anesthesia, surgery (experience at the Henri-Mondor University Hospital Center)]. / Délabrements faciaux. Tactique, réanimation, anesthésie, chirurgie (expérience du C.H.U. Henri-Mondor)

Anaylsing 67 cases of facial injury treated at the Henri Mondor Hospital in Créteil, the authors consider the various problems raised by these injured patients. -first aid, -methods of protection of the airway, -surgical management, -anaesthetic management and resuscitation, -problems of post-operative supervision, -methods of feeding. Owing to the localisation of these lesions, and the surgical methods, these are high risk injured patients who raise complex problems in the pre, per and post-operative periods, dominated by maintenance of the permeability of the airway. A specialised multidisciplinary team ensures coordination of the various acts.