Computer Applications in Intelligent Compaction

The term “intelligent compaction” is now heard so often one might believe that the method used for documenting and controlling the quality of hot-mix asphalt pavement has evolved to a state of total commercial and engineering acceptance. In fact, today’s most-used process for determining the density of an asphalt mat uses 1960’s technology. Now, however, the responsibility for quality control (QC) of the paving and compaction process has largely been given to the contractor. This shift in responsibility comes at a time when the construction industry as a whole is faced with the worst labor shortage in history, limiting the number of qualified QC technicians and equipment operators. Recently, researchers introduced a patented system that, when mounted on a vibratory asphalt compactor, can render an asphalt density reading (in pounds per cubic foot) every 1?s in real time. This paper briefly describes the system and details the essential contributions made by computer hardware and software to a successful onboard asphalt density measuring system.     

Heartburn. The role of radiology

There is currently controversy as to the importance of the radiologic demonstration of a hiatal hernia, reflux, or both as the explanation of heartburn. It is clear, however, that clinical-radiologic correlation requires additional observations such as the straightness of the potential path for reflux, the presence of a contractile esophagogastric region, the degree of extrinsic compression of the cuff of the stomach within the hiatus, the size of the hernia, and the peristaltic activity of the body of the esophagus. Vigorous or water-swallowing maneuvers to demonstrate reflux are unreliable in individual cases. Of importance is the concept that the so-called patulous cardia, or effaced abdominal esophagus or widened or absent "submerged segment," is a variety of sliding hiatal hernia that is often neglected radiologically but may be of considerable clinical significance.     

喷吹站的计算机控制应用

文章叙述了原高炉喷吹站长期人工操作。继电控制方式能耗大、控制精度低、故障率高、维护困难、系统改动困难。计算机可以实现精确的程序控制。包钢炼铁厂采用了美国HONEYWELL公司的TPS控制系统,由于它具有冗余系统,系统安全稳定,功能方便强大,大大的提高了生产率,降低了成本,减轻了劳动强度。     

The Society for Personality Assessment.

The Society for Personality Assessment (SPA) has grown from a series of informal seminars held in 1936 to a membership organization whose purpose is to advance professional personality assessment, develop procedures and concepts for personality assessment, and promote the ethical and responsible use of personality assessment techniques. SPA has gone through 4 name changes during the course of its development from a group that focused exclusively on the Rorschach Inkblot Test to one that promotes the responsible use of a wide variety of assessment instruments. SPA publishes the Journal of Personality Assessment and holds an annual meeting. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

European Congress of Radiology (ECR), European Association of Radiology (EAR), European Society of Radiology (ESR): European Radiology between the past and the future

OBJECTIVE: To screen patients with SLE for malabsorption. METHODS: Twenty-one patients fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for SLE were enrolled in the study. Patients were screened for malabsorption by the D-Xylose test (DXT) and by microscopic examination of the stool for fat droplets. All patients underwent upper GI endoscopy with biopsy from the second portion of the duodenum. The specimen was examined for morphologic abnormalities and for the presence of IgG, IgM, IgA, and kappa and lambda light chains. Ten patients without SLE served as controls. RESULTS: A history of abdominal pain and occasional diarrhea was elicited in 2/21 patients. These patients were found to have an abnormal DXT and excessive fecal fat excretion. In one of these patients, histologic examination revealed flattened and deformed villi with an inflammatory infiltrate. Two other patients showed isolated excessive fecal fat excretion with a normal microscopic appearance of the mucosa. In 20/21 patients the small bowel histology was normal. In all patients, immunoperoxidase staining revealed a normal quantity and distribution of the immunoglobulins and light chains within the intestinal mucosa. No correlation was demonstrated between CH50, C3, C4, anti-dsDNA levels and the malabsorption. CONCLUSION: In this series of SLE patients, the prevalence of malabsorption was 9.5%, and was even higher if isolated fat malabsorption was considered. A search for malabsorption in patients with SLE, and in particular in those with abdominal complaints, is recommended. The pathogenesis is not yet clear and warrants further investigation.     

The concept of transformation in psychoanalysis.

Transformation is viewed as the essential process of structure building. This article delineates levels of meaning organization that undergo alteration and move increasingly toward higher levels of symbolization. The transition from each stage of mental organization involves a dialectic conflict leading to reorganization at a higher level. This general thesis is illustrated by clinical material, reference to the literature, and a body of research data. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The RSNA-AUR-ARRS introduction to research program for 2nd year radiology residents: effect on career choice and early academic performance. Radiological Society of North America. Association of University Radiologists. American Roentgen Ray Society

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether quantitative measurement of end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) can differentiate between cardiac and obstructive causes of respiratory distress. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Emergency department (ED) of a tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Adult patients who presented to the ED with moderate-to-severe dyspnea. Patients were excluded if they were unable to cooperate with the performance of peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) or ETCO2 tests, were younger than 18 years of age, or had received prehospital intervention for their respiratory distress. INTERVENTIONS: Physicians obtained an ETCO2 level and PEFR prior to ED pharmacologic intervention. A hand-held capnometer with digital read-out was used to obtain the ETCO2 level. The patient's age, sex, initial vital signs, breath sounds and medication history, the presence or absence of diaphoresis and/or orthopnea, the duration of symptoms, the chest radiograph interpretation, and final diagnosis were also recorded. MEASUREMENTS and RESULTS: Forty-two patients were eligible for inclusion in the analysis. The mean ETCO2 level was 31.1+/-9.4 mm Hg; the mean PEFR was 161.3+/-53.1 L/min. The ETCO2 levels for pulmonary edema/congestive heart failure (CHF) patients differed significantly from those of asthma/COPD patients (27.1+/-7.8 mm Hg vs 33.4+/-9.6 mm Hg; p=0.0375). However, no single ETCO2 level was found to be a reliable predictor of diagnosis. CONCLUSION: ETCO2 levels for pulmonary edema/CHF patients differ significantly from those of asthma/COPD patients. However, no single ETCO2 level reliably differentiates between the two disease processes.