ISO 9000 versus CMM: Standardization and certification of IS development

A growing number of software developers use standards as a basis for their quality systems. Some of them go one step further and have their quality systems certified. In this paper, two well-known quality standards, ISO 9000 and the CMM, are compared. It is concluded that both standards are useful but there is a growing need for more specific standards.     

Providing adaptive QoS to layered video over wireless local area networks through real-time retry limit adaptation

Robust streaming of video over 802.11 wireless LANs (WLANs) poses many challenges, including coping with packets losses caused by network buffer overflow or link erasures. In this paper, we propose a novel error protection method that can provide adaptive quality-of-service (QoS) to layered coded video by utilizing priority queueing at the network layer and retry-limit adaptation at the link layer. The design of our method is motivated by the observation that the retry limit settings of the MAC layer can be optimized in such a way that the overall packet losses that are caused by either link erasure or buffer overflow are minimized. We developed a real-time retry limit adaptation algorithm to trace the optimal retry limit for both the single-queue (or single-layer) and multiqueue (or multilayer) cases. The video layers are unequally protected over the wireless link by the MAC with different retry limits. In our proposed transmission framework, these retry limits are dynamically adapted depending on the wireless channel conditions and traffic characteristics. Furthermore, the proposed priority queueing discipline is enhanced with packet filtering and purging functionalities that can significantly save bandwidth by discarding obsolete or un-decodable packets from the buffer. Simulations show that the proposed cross-layer protection mechanism can significantly improve the received video quality.     

Combination of variable frequency train stimulation and K/sup +/ channel blockade to augment skeletal muscle force

Several innovative approaches are being used to optimize the input-output relationship of muscle, including nonlinear stimulation paradigms and altering muscle membrane ion channel conductances. We tested the hypothesis that the combination of the K+ channel blocker, 3,4-diaminopyridine (DAP), and variable frequency train (VFT) stimulation improves muscle force to a greater extent than either modality alone. Studies were done in vitro on rat diaphragm muscle and contractions were quantified with respect to peak force, mean force, and force area. DAP increased all three force parameters by >50% during conventional 10-20-Hz stimulation, whereas VFT stimulation improved contractile performance for peak force only. When combined, DAP and VFT stimulation augmented peak force to a significantly greater extent than either modality alone. However, this came at a cost of a moderate decline in force area relative to DAP alone, although mean force was preserved. These force increases were generally well-maintained over the course of short-term repetitive stimulation. Thus, VFT stimulation and K+ channel blockade interact in a complex manner to modulate skeletal muscle force. The utility of the combined intervention for functional electrical stimulation may be greatest for mechanical tasks requiring high force levels early during the contraction.     

Differential automatic zero-adjusting amplifier

A method is described for building a low-voltage-drift differential dc amplifier featuring automatic zero adjustment, a high input impedance, and a bandwidth of 10 kHz. This is achieved by an asymmetric two-step process between the input signal and ground. Bandwidth can be extended by the use of a second amplifier during the ground-sampling time. The amplifier can be made with standard electronic components. A major advantage of this method is that an existing amplifier can easily be converted into a low-voltage-drift amplifier by adding the essential elements of the described automatic zero-adjusting amplifier to its input stage. To illustrate the method a practical example is constructed featuring a drift of 0.2 microV/ degrees C.     

Multilead ECG analysis

This paper describes the results of our recent research in computer-assisted ECG/VCG interpretation. It comprises new developments which were initiated by the advent of relatively inexpensive microcomputers. Our previous systems performed an off-line analysis of ECGs. Currently, there is a trend to move computer power near to the patient and to provide on-line analysis of ECGs. Besides the advantage of the direct availability of the ECG interpretation, quality control will reduce the number of uninterpretable ECGs and hence the number of repeated recordings. This paper describes the requirements that were established for a system for on-line ECG analysis. The system is based on our modular approach, just like our off-line system, Modular ECG ANalysis System (MEANS). Changes in the methods and software had to be made mainly because of the simultaneity of all ECG leads and the concurrency of the processing tasks. Other modifications and extensions of the algorithms necessary to meet the requirements of on-line ECG interpretation especially those related to processing speed, are discussed, and evaluation results are presented.     

Genetic Elements Orchestrating Lactobacillus crispatus Glycogen Metabolism in the Vagina

Glycogen in the female lower reproductive tract is a major carbon source for colonization and acidification by common vaginal Lactobacillus species, such as Lactobacillus crispatus. Previously, we identified the amylopullulanase encoding gene pulA of Lactobacillus crispatus to correlate with the ability to autonomously utilize glycogen for growth. Here, we further characterize genetic variation and differential regulation of pulA affecting the presence of its gene product on the outer surface layer. We show that alpha-glucan degrading activity dissipates when Lactobacillus crispatus is grown on glucose, maltose and maltotriose, in agreement with carbon catabolite repression elements flanking the pulA gene. Proteome analysis of the S-layer confirmed that the amylopullulanase protein is highly abundant in an S-layer enriched fraction, but not in a strain with a defective amylopullulanase variant or in an amylopullulanase-sufficient strain grown on glucose. In addition, we provide evidence that Lactobacillus crispatus pulA mutants are relevant in vivo, as they are commonly observed in metagenome datasets of human vaginal microbial communities. Analysis of the largest publicly available dataset of 1507 human vaginal metagenomes indicates that among the 270 samples that contain a Lactobacillus crispatus pulA gene, 62 samples (23%) had a defective variant of this gene. Taken together, these results demonstrate that both environmental, as well as genetic factors explain the variation of Lactobacillus crispatus alpha-glucosidases in the vaginal environment.     

Exciton storage by Mn(2+) in colloidal Mn(2+)-doped CdSe quantum dots

Colloidal Mn (2+)-doped CdSe quantum dots showing long excitonic photoluminescence decay times of up to tau exc = 15 mus at temperatures over 100 K are described. These decay times exceed those of undoped CdSe quantum dots by approximately 10 (3) and are shown to arise from the creation of excitons by back energy transfer from excited Mn (2+) dopant ions. A kinetic model describing thermal equilibrium between Mn (2+ 4)T 1 and CdSe excitonic excited states reproduces the experimental observations and reveals that, for some quantum dots, excitons can emit with near unity probability despite being approximately 100 meV above the Mn (2+ 4)T 1 state. The effect of Mn (2+) doping on CdSe quantum dot luminescence at high temperatures is thus completely opposite from that at low temperatures described previously.     

Systematic Review: Targeted Molecular Imaging of Angiogenesis and Its Mediators in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Extensive angiogenesis is a characteristic feature in the synovial tissue of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from a very early stage of the disease onward and constitutes a crucial event for the development of the proliferative synovium. This process is markedly intensified in patients with prolonged disease duration, high disease activity, disease severity, and significant inflammatory cell infiltration. Angiogenesis is therefore an interesting target for the development of new therapeutic approaches as well as disease monitoring strategies in RA. To this end, nuclear imaging modalities represent valuable non-invasive tools that can selectively target molecular markers of angiogenesis and accurately and quantitatively track molecular changes in multiple joints simultaneously. This systematic review summarizes the imaging markers used for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and/or positron emission tomography (PET) approaches, targeting pathways and mediators involved in synovial neo-angiogenesis in RA.