Medical Images Simulation, Storage, and Processing on the European DataGrid Testbed

The European 1ST DataGrid project was a pioneer in identifying the medical imaging field as an application domain that can benefit from Grid technologies. This paper describes how and for which purposes medical imaging applications can be Grid-enabled. Applications that have been deployed on the DataGrid testbed and middleware are described. They relate to medical image manipulation, including image production, secured image storage, and image processing. Results show that Grid technologies are still in their youth to address all issues related to complex medical imaging applications. If the benefit of Grid enabling for some medical applications is clear, there remain opened research and technical issues to develop and integrate all necessary services.     

Levels of Vibrio vulnificus and organoleptic quality of raw shellstock oysters (Crassostrea virginica) maintained at different storage temperatures.

Temperature abuse during raw oyster harvesting and storage may allow for the multiplication of natural spoilage flora as well as microbial pathogens, thus posing a potential health threat to susceptible consumers and compromising product quality. The objective of this study was to provide a scientific basis for determining whether different refrigeration and abuse temperatures for raw oysters would result in a spoiled product before it became unsafe. Raw shellstock oysters (Crassostrea virginica) purchased from a commercial Virginia processor were subjected to different temperature abuse conditions (7, 13, and 21 degrees C) over a 10-day storage period. Salinity, pH, halophilic plate count (HPC), total culturable Vibrio counts, and culturable Vibrio vulnificus counts were determined at each abuse condition. V. vulnificus isolates were confirmed by a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Olfactory analysis was performed to determine consumer acceptability of the oysters at each abuse stage. The pH of the oysters decreased over time in each storage condition. The HPC increased 2 to 4 logs for all storage conditions, while olfactory acceptance decreased over time. V. vulnificus levels increased over time, reaching 10(5) to 10(6) CFU/g by day 6. The length of storage had a greater effect on the bacterial counts and olfactory acceptance of the oysters (P < 0.05) over time than did the storage temperature (P < 0.05).     

Influence of the nanostructuration of PVD hard TiN-based films on the durability of coated steel

The design of thin hard coatings at a nanometric scale is very promising to improve the surface characteristics of coated parts. Unfortunately, most often only one specific property is really enhanced. Besides, the origin of such a “nanostructure effect” remains still not clearly elucidated, and a wider industrial development requires a better understanding of the relations linking structure and functionality.This paper results from an invited review presented within the framework of the EMRS 2007 spring meeting. Its objective is to present how it is possible to control the films structure to achieve optimized performance in terms of tribological, mechanical, and physico-chemical behaviours. Two types of films architecture are studied, resulting either from a stratification of nanolayers, or from a nanodistribution of a crystallised phase into an amorphous matrix. To illustrate both structures, arc-evaporated nanomultilayered TiN/CrN and TiSiN nanocomposite coatings are more particularly developed, and compared to TiN, CrN and SiN_x references.High wear resistance of TiN/CrN is explained by an original propagation mode of the cracks due to a fluctuating residual stress field, evidenced by TEM and synchrotron measurements. Corrosion behaviour depends mainly on the nature of the outer layer. An external CrN layer, presenting a p-type semiconductive character, affords an enhanced protection. A beneficial role of the nanostratification, susceptible to strongly improve the density of films, was also evidenced. The high oxidation resistance of TiSiN is attributable to the network of refractory SiN_x, which acts as a diffusion barrier for oxygen and insulates the highly reactive TiN nanograins from the aggressive atmosphere.     

Computer literacy skills among school students and employees in industry

Abstract  A program was developed to examine the computer skills of 180 school leavers and 190 workers in industry. The 25-minute task tested skills of using a mouse, typing information, and ordering parts for a LEGO construction. In general, school students performed better than the workers in industry, and males better than females. These results are attributed to the greater familiarity of males with computers, particularly in school, where differences in scores were particularly significant.     

Effect of gas phase conditions on resultant matrix pyrocarbons in carbon/carbon composites

The various microstructures obtained by the low temperature (< 1500°C) chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of carbon in carbon fiber substrates fall into three major types identified as rough laminar, smooth laminar, and isotropic. It is shown that the type of microstructure is a function of the temperature of deposition, the total gas pressure, and the carbon to hydrogen ratio of the source gas. These experimental results are found to be in good agreement with a previously reported carbon CVD model which relates the microstructure to a single parameter, the equilibrium gas phase $\text{C}{}_2\text{H}{}_2\text{C}{}_6\text{H}{}_6$ molar ratio.The densities and crystallographic parameters of the heat-treated composites are significantly affected by the type of microstructure. The rough laminar material has by far the most graphitic characteristics and is followed by the smooth laminar and isotropic materials, in that order.     

Juice irradiation with Taylor-Couette flow: UV inactivation of Escherichia coli

A novel reactor is described with flow characteristics that approach that of ideal plug flow but with a residence time that is uncoupled from the hydrodynamics or boundary layer characteristics. The design described consists of an inner cylinder that rotates within a stationary but larger outer cylinder. At low rotation rates, a laminar, hydrodynamic configuration called Taylor-Couette flow is established, which consists of a system of circumferential vortices within the annular fluid gap. The latter constitutes a spatially periodic flow that is the hydrodynamic equivalent to cross flow over a tube bank or lamp array. These vortices provide radial mixing, reduce the boundary layer thickness, and are independent of the axial flow rate and thus the fluid residence time. An additional feature of the rotating design is the repetitive exposure of the fluid parcels to a minimum number of lamps, which substantially reduces the maintenance requirements. Inactivation data for Escherichia coli (ATCC 15597) were recorded in commercial apple and grape juice that are relatively opaque to UV radiation. With initial E. coli concentrations of approximately 10(6) CFU/ml, Taylor-Couette flow was found to provide a 3- to 5-log improvement in the inactivation efficiency compared with simple channel flow between concentric cylinders.     

Set and content scores for personality scales and response styles in the MMPI.

Set and content scores from 3 MMPI scales, Edwards SD scale, the Manifest Anxiety scale (MA), and the Masculinity-Femininity (Mf) scale, were derived by an adaptation of the Helmstadter technique for obtaining separate (acquiescence) set and content scores from personality scales. In a factor analysis of scores for 150 male college Ss on 54 variables, the MA-Set and SD-Set variables defined a common factor, but only the Mf-Set variable loaded the 2nd, or acquiescence, factor. The inconsistency of these results indicated that the set formula was not consistently measuring, or reflecting, acquiescence, or any other construct, and furthermore suggested the need for caution in making acquiescence interpretations based on the Helmstadter procedure. Some speculations were advanced to account for the disparate results of the set variables, such as the degree of true-false and SD-SUD keying in the "parent" scales. A systematic variation of such scale keying in future research may indicate what the set procedure is measuring and have potential implications for the clarification of the nature of acquiescence in personality scales. (34 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Validation of the French version of the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS, Snaith et al. 1995). Determination of the statistical parameters in 208 normal subjects and 103 hospitalized patients presenting with depression or schizophrenia

From 1989 to 1995 high-resolution ultrasonography (US) was performed in 3,546 children (age: 1-17 years) with clinically suspected appendicitis. A total of 518 patients underwent laparotomy; 420 had histologically proven acute or perforated appendicitis (prevalence 11.8%). In these children, the sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy of US examination were 90%, 97% and 96% respectively. The use of US in clinically doubtful acute abdomen may allow earlier diagnosis of acute appendicitis; in 1995 the rate of unnecessary appendectomy was reduced to 13%.     

Annual Progress Reports: An Effective Way to Improve Graduate Student Communication Skills

A perennial problem in engineering education is the development of communication skills that allow students to present their ideas clearly and effectively. At Iowa State University, a cooperative program has been set up to provide one-on-one mentoring in communication skills for graduate students participating in the Power Affiliates Program. Graduate student research is funded on an annual basis by a consortium of utility companies. A system comprising a seminar and individual consultation assists students in preparing their required annual progress reports for their spring symposium. Students in the program for several years show improvement in their writing skills and their understanding of communication processes.     

N-acyl-homoserine lactone-mediated regulation of phenazine gene expression by Pseudomonas aureofaciens 30-84 in the wheat rhizosphere

Pseudomonas aureofaciens 30-84 is a soilborne bacterium that colonizes the wheat rhizosphere. This strain produces three phenazine antibiotics which suppress take-all disease of wheat by inhibition of the causative agent Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici. Phenazines also enhance survival of 30-84 within the wheat rhizosphere in competition with other organisms. Expression of the phenazine biosynthetic operon is controlled by the phzR/phzI N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) response system (L. S. Pierson III et al., J. Bacterial 176:3966-3974, 1994; D. W. Wood and L. S. Pierson III, Gene 168:49-53, 1996). By using high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry, the AHL produced by PhzI has now been identified as N-hexanoyl-homoserine lactone (HHL). In addition, the ability of HHL to serve as an interpopulation signal molecule in the wheat rhizosphere has been examined by using isogenic reporter strains. Disruption of phzI reduced expression of the phenazine biosynthetic operon 1,000-fold in the wheat rhizosphere. Coinoculation of an isogenic strain which produced the endogenous HHL signal restored phenazine gene expression in the phzI mutant to wild-type levels in situ. These results demonstrate that HHL is required for phenazine expression in situ and is an effective interpopulation signal molecule in the wheat rhizosphere.