PACS for radiology conferences--improvement of application software

The introduction of PACS in a radiology department means that most functions that are available in the film-based system must be included. One important function is the radiology conference. The handling and application programs of digital workstations are normally not developed for demonstrations of many images in a limited time. This paper describes a workstation with specially designed software for radiology conferences. The application is separated in preparation and presentation of the cases to be demonstrated. Very fast image handling is achieved during the conference because the function is based on the principle of prefetching of the selected images. The images are presented on a large screen with high resolution. The experiences of digital radiology conferences are good. However, reference films from previous examinations create extra work because they have to be shown on the conventional lightbox.     

Langmuir–Blodgett films of indandione-l,3 pyridinium betaine. II: Molecular structure and properties of monolayers; simulation and optical absorption data

The molecular structure and optical properties of a monolayer at the air/water interface of novel amphiphilic derivatives of indandione-1,3 pyridinium betaine (IPB) with different lengths of the aliphatic tail, namely C_1lIPB and C₁₇IPB, have been studied using optical absorption techniques and computer simulation approaches. The compression π-A isotherm of the C₁₇IPB monolayer and computer simulation of its molecular structure show that there may exist two energetically stable molecular configurations, one with antiparallel orientation of the dipole moments of the C₁₇IP ‘heads’ in the low-pressure region at π = 5–32 mN m^?1 and the second (after a distinct phase transition at π = 33 mN m^?1) with parallel orientation of the dipoles, with different tilt angles and areas per molecule. For C₁₁IPB only the first structural phase is observable. The compression-induced changes in spectral characteristics of the two structural phases go in diametrically opposite directions. In the low-pressure phase compression induces a red shift and an increase in intensity of the S₁ absorption band, while in the high pressure phase a blue shift and a decrease in the intensity of this band are observed. These spectral changes correlate reproducibly with the compression π-A isotherms. Measurements of absorption dichroism confirm the change in the tilt angle at the phase transition pressure. The compression-induced spectral changes have been substantiated by the results of quantum chemical calculations.     

Contents of poison apparatus and their relation to trail-following in the antDaceton armigerum

The poison gland, which is the source of the trail pheromone inDaceton armigerum, contains a mixture of dimethylpyrazine, trimethylpyrazine and 3-ethyl-2,5-dimethylpyrazine in approximately equal proportions, similar to that of the antManica rubida. The cross-activity in trail-following tests with several other species can thus be explained. The Dufour gland ofD. armigerum contains a mixture of 26 identified hydrocarbons, chiefly 9-tricosene, tricosane, and 9-pentacosene. It also contains very small amounts of two sesquiterpene aldehydes, tetramorine-2 and tetramorine-3, already known in other myrmicine Dufour glands. No volatile substances were detected in the pygidial gland.     

The relationship between the structure of monoalkyl branched saturated fatty acids and some physical properties

The gel point and the refractive index of monoalkyl branched saturated fatty acids were determined and related to the structure of the acids. A three-factor central composite face-centered design was constructed where the three variables were the length of the main chain, the branching position and the length of the side chain. Second-order models were calculated in which the two properties were related to the structure. In order to confirm the validity of the models, two additional fatty acids were analyzed. The gel point was found to be proportional to the length of the main chain and the square of the branching position whereas the refractive index was proportional to the length of both the main and the side chain and also to the square of the main chain.     

Goals and functions of the human body: an MFM model for faultdiagnosis

Describes the use of explicit models of goals and functions for monitoring and diagnosis of intensive-care patients. The method is based on multilevel flow models (MFM) and used in the Guardian system. It provides this system with alarm analysis, fault diagnosis, and automatic generation of explanations. Advantages include a relatively easy knowledge engineering effort and good properties for use in a system with hard real time deadlines. The results of some experiments are also reported     

Covalent binding of proteins to grafted plastic surfaces suitable for immunoassays. II. Picograms of IgE detected in BAL fluid in sarcoidosis

We cloned and characterized the Neisseria meningitidis rfaC gene which encodes an enzyme, alpha-1,5 heptosyltransferase I, involved in the synthesis of the deep-core of the lipooligosaccharide. The N. meningitidis rfaC mutant, obtained by an allelic exchange, produced lipooligosaccharide which migrated faster in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis than the lipooligosaccharide isolated from the wild-type N. meningitidis. The N. meningitidis rfaC mutant was not affected by growth in a rich microbiological medium and did not show any defect in adhesion to epithelial cell lines. Conversely, the rfaC mutant was attenuated in the infant rat model of meningococcemia, thus confirming the importance of intact lipooligosaccharide in the virulence of N. meningitidis.     

The Synthesis and Composition of Dual-Phase 3Y-TZP/RuO2 Electrode Powders

This research was performed to learn more about the electron conducting yttria doped zirconia/ruthenia dual-phase system. The study indicated that for all starting powder precipitates (by either co-precipitation or sequential precipitation) strong separation between the Ru and Zr-species upon heating occurred already at the unexpected low temperature of 100–200°C. The solubility of RuO₂ in 3Y-TZP (zirconia stabilised into a tetragonal phase by a 3 mol% Y₂O₃ addition) after calcination at 600°C was estimated at 3 mol%, independently of the used synthesis technique.     

Rapid detection of thymidylate synthase gene expression levels by semi-quantitative competitive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction followed by quantitative digital image analysis

We describe a simplified and reliable polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to quantify thymidylate synthase (TS) gene expression levels from clinical human tumor biopsy samples as small as 100 mg using the beta-actin housekeeping gene as a reference standard. The semiquantitative RT-PCR is carried out by the coamplification of the target template and an external competitor using primer pairs common to both templates in the same reaction vessel. Quantitative digital image analysis is performed directly after electrophoresis, thus mRNA quantification is done quickly and without the use of radioactive substances. The observed relative TS gene expression levels varied between 3- and 40-fold, but most of the values were grouped within a 10-fold range. There is an observed 89% correlation between TS mRNA expression and protein levels. These findings suggest that preliminary experiments used to determine the linear range of RT-PCR amplification in non-competitive semiquantitative PCR experiments, and the use of radioactive substances to quantify PCR products may be unnecessary.