Collaboration and Trust in Healthcare Innovation: The eDiaMoND Case Study

This paper presents findings from an investigation into requirements for collaboration in e-Science in the context of eDiaMoND, a Grid-enabled prototype system intended in part to support breast cancer screening. Detailed studies based on ethnographic fieldwork reveal the importance of accountability and visibility of work for trust and for the various forms of ‘practical ethical action’ in which clinicians are seen to routinely engage in this setting. We discuss the implications of our findings, specifically for the prospect of using distributed screening to make more effective use of scarce clinical skills and, more generally, for realising the Grid’s potential for sharing data within and across institutions. Understanding how to afford trust and to provide adequate support for ethical concerns relating to the handling of sensitive data is a particular challenge for e-Health systems and for e-Science in general. Future e-Health and e-Science systems will need to be compatible with the ways in which trust is achieved, and practical ethical actions are realised and embedded within work practices.     

X-Ray Topography of Czochralski Ruby

Single crystals of ruby (Al₂O₃: 0.05 wt% Cr) were grown by the Czochralski method as 60° type rods. Crystal slices were taken at 30°, 60°, and 90° to the boule axis. Dislocations were observed by Lang X-ray transmission topographs. All sections revealed a relatively defective central region with a dislocation density of about 10⁴/cm². Examples were found of polygenization and small-angle boundaries emanating from the center. Areas near the circumference of the boule had easily resolved dislocation lines and densities as low as 10²/cm². These regions also showed a Frank-type network with node formation. On all slices distinct parallel groups of dislocation lines were observed. Burgers vector, b , for these dislocations was examined by contrast methods involving alternate orientations of the diffraction vector, g. Burgers vector lay along     . A simple model of basal slip of the type (0001)     was used to explain these dislocations.     

Grapevine fruit set: Physiology of the abscission zone

Effects of ethylene and of 'anti-ethylene' compounds on the floral pedicel abscission zone in grapevines were analysed via a laboratory model consisting of isolated flowers held in Petri dishes. Our model permitted precise determination of abscission and enabled us to test a range of physiologically-active compounds including ethylene precursors, and antagonists of ethylene action. For example, a precursor of ethylene, 1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid, had the same effect as ethylene in promoting abscission. Conversely, an inhibition of ethylene action by silver thiosulfate or an inhibition of ethylene synthesis by amino-oxyacetic acid both strongly inhibited abscission zone function. The same type of effect can be obtained by increasing the proportion of auxin with regard to ethylene. The abscission zone of the isolated flower pedicel of grapevine conforms to the classic model of hormone-mediated operation of a pre-existing abscission zone. Our definition of hormone regulation holds practical implications for viticulture and offers new possibilities for controlling berry drop.     

VALIDATION OF HEATING CONDITIONS IN PRODUCTION OF DIRECT ACIDIFIED BEEF SUMMER SAUSAGE FOR ELIMINATION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7

The effectiveness of a typical production process for eliminating Escherichia coli O157:H7 in directly acidified all‐beef summer sausage was evaluated for formulations of different fat contents (approximately 8 and 17%) and types of direct acidulant (encapsulated citric or lactic acid). Raw batter inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 to an initial level of ca. 7.4 log cfu/g was stuffed into 64‐mm casings and processed according to a thermal processing schedule used by a small commercial processor for directly acidified summer sausage products (maximum internal product temperature of 70C, followed by cold showering). For all‐beef summer sausage, log reductions ranged from 5.3 to 5.5 cfu/g when product reached 64.4C (148F) internal temperature (IT) and 70C (158F) IT, and from 6.3 to 6.5 log cfu/g reductions when product reached 37.8C (100F) IT after thermal processing and cold showering. No differences in E. coli O157:H7 counts were observed for products with different fat or acid contents.     

EFFECTS OF SHRINK FILM WRAP ON INTERNAL GAS CONCENTRATIONS, CHILLING INJURY, AND RIPENING OF HONEYDEW MELONS

Honeydew muskmelons (Cucumis melo L.) were individually wrapped with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shrink film and stored at 2.5° or 7.5 °C for 21 days and examined, then held an additional 2 or 3 days at 20°C and examined again. Nonwrapped melons were the control. The concentration of CO₂ in the cavity of wrapped melons stored 21 days was 5.6% at 2.5°C, 9.1% at 7.5°C, but only 1.1% and 1.5% in the nonwrapped held at 2.5°C or 7.5°C, respectively. Wrapped fruit ripened slower than nonwrapped fruit during storage and subsequent holding at 20°C, after which time 70% of the wrapped melons were rated eating ripe, but 62% of the controls were overripe. Wrapped melons exhibited 30% less chilling injury (CI) symptoms than nonwrapped fruit stored at 2.5°C. The CI symptoms ranged from reddish-brown to dark-brown surface discolorations and sometimes included dry sunken areas of skin. Fresh weight loss was about 1 % in wrapped melons, but 5% in nonwrapped fruit, regardless of storage temperature. Decay incidence was about equal in wrapped and nonwrapped melons after storage at 2.5°C, but was greater for wrapped than nonwrapped melons after storage at 7.5°C. Soluble solids content was about 12.5% in wrapped and nonwrapped melons stored at either temperature.     

Computing in the Field of Complex Algebraic Numbers

In this paper we present two methods of computing with complex algebraic numbers. The first uses isolating rectangles to distinguish between the roots of the minimal polynomial, the second method uses validated numeric approximations. We present algorithms for arithmetic and for solving polynomial equations, and compare implementations of both methods inMathematica.     

Token-by-token Syntax-directed Editing (Using an LR Parser)

This paper demonstrates a new approach to the building of a syntax-directed editor (SDE). The approach does not force the user to adopt a top-down syntax-oriented view of editing but supports the traditional text-editing approach of deciding which token to write next. Choices are made from menus listing only the tokens that are syntactically legal at a given point. The actual menus used by the editor are created by reference to the tables used by an LALR parser-generator.     

A comprehensive literature review and analysis of the design,balancing and scheduling of assembly systems

This paper reports the results of a comprehensive review and analysis of the assembly line balancing literature. Quantitative developments and qualitative issues are addressed at both the strategic and tactical levels. The numerous quantitative and qualitative factors which the literature mentions could impact the design, balancing and scheduling of assembly systems are organized into an eight-level hierarchical, factor/decision taxomony. This comprehensive taxonomy is used to assess our progress in assembly system design and operation. Finally, from the results of the literature review and progress assessment, suggestions for future research on socio-technical assembly systems are offered.     

SEQUENTIAL PARTITION DETECTORS WITH DEPENDENT SAMPLING

In this paper, the theory of sequential partition detectors with dependent sampling is introduced. A new formulation is given which predicts the thresholds under q-dependent sampling in order to maintain the same error probabilities as in the independent sampling case. A comparison is made between independent and dependent sequential partition detectors based on the average time to detection. Under stated conditions dependent sequential partition detectors show improved efficiency for both Lehmann and shift of the mean alternatives.