Spontaneous regression of familial glioma of the optic nerve in a boy with suspected neurofibromatosis 1 (Recklinghausen''s disease)

A boy with a large intracranial glioma of the optic tract and probable neurofibromatosis of the first type was observed for 8 years since the age of 7 years. A series of MR scans was made over this period. A notable decrease of the tumor size was seen on its signals on the MR scans. This was paralleled by an improvement of the vision acuity, color field, and visual field on the involved eye. Patient's grandmother had an intracranial glioma of the optic nerve with a slight but stable decrease of the visual functions. The tumor shape in the grandmother and grandchild is remarkably similar. This finding in the grandmother and stability of her vision decreased from childhood permit us to propose that the tumor did not develop and even regressed with time.     

Infants' sensitivity to optical flow for controlling posture.

Infants' sensitivity to optical flow for controlling sitting and standing was tested using a "moving room" in which all of the walls moved together, or only the side walls or front wall moved. Two questions motivated this research. (a) is the optical flow necessary for inducing postural compensations spatially distributed in the optic array? (b) Do visually induced compensations follow a developmental progression, or alternatively, emerge all at once? Experiment 1 was designed to test postural compensations by 14-month-old infants capable of standing in the moving room. Experiment 2 was designed to test postural compensations by 5- to 9-month-old infants who were passively supported while sitting in the moving room. The results revealed that partial flow is generally sufficient for inducing postural compensations, but that the amplitude and consistency of the response depend on the location of the flow in the optic array. In addition, there was evidence suggesting that compensatory responses become increasingly systematic during the second half of the first year. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rapid software integration using structured methods

In this paper we discuss an approach to organizing the integration of 110,000 lines of C, SQL, Assembler, and microcode distributed over a network of 36 processors of four types so that it could be accomplished in six months. The software runs on a test system architecture consisting of a LAN-based workstation group and a set of VME-based embedded processors. By using structured methodology, parallelism in the integration process was achieved. The necessary stub tools were identified and developed before integration began. The principles followed and experiences of integrating the system are discussed.     

The flexible surface or the rigid surface?

In this paper we discuss aspects of the concept described by Somorjai as the flexible surface, and whether some surfaces can be considered to be inflexible, or rigid. We present STM results which appear to manifest both types of behaviour for surfaces, depending on their oxidation state. Copper metal surfaces can be classed as flexible, showing facile reconstruction in the presence of oxygen, whereas an oxidised Pd(110) surface shows no apparent diffusivity, even at 500 K. We go on to show data for a bulk oxide which indicates that sub-stoichiometry in the sample induces an element of flexibility in the surface, especially during reaction with oxygen. Finally, this is related to the direct observation of spillover on model catalysts of Pd nanoparticles supported on TiO₂. It must be recognised that flexibility relates to surface diffusivity and hence length- and time-scales. Surfaces which appear inflexible at short times may be flexible at long times. In relation to catalysis then, surface flexibility depends on the relationship between the time-scale of diffusive events on the surface and the catalytic turnover number.     

Wear Mechanisms of Chromia Refractories in Slagging Gasifiers

The hot-face refractory lining is a key component of gasification systems. The refractory liner protects the gasification system from the high-temperature corrosive gaseous and from the molten slag environment associated with the conversion of carbon feedstocks. This paper will discuss the effect of gasifier operating conditions and carbon feedstock slag/ash chemistry on the refractory service life. Particular attention is focused on the wear mechanism of chromia refractories, determined through postmortem analysis of spent refractory bricks from service in gasifiers. Also presented is the behavior of a phosphate-containing chromia refractory with improved resistance to structural spalling.     

Activation analysis of environmental pollutants

Activation analysis is a highly sensitive and specific technique for the detection of trace heavy metal pollutants in environmental materials. Comparison of natural “baseline” levels with elevated levels provides direct evidence of contamination. Neutron activation analysis (NAA) is used in this study to determine arsenic, zinc, cadmium, and mercury. Photo-nuclear activation analysis (PNAA) is used to determine lead in soils. Holland Marsh, a market-gardening area north of Toronto, has been studied as various herbicides and fungicides have been used there. The analyses of soil and vegetation samples, and of human head hair collected from residents are reported.     

Outlook on fertilizer use efficiency in the tropics

In this paper efficiency of applied fertilizers under tropical conditions is examined. Understanding of the fertilizer efficiency is particularly important for the developing countries mainly because there is need for enhancement of crop yields at a reduced cost. Many of the soil, plant and climatic factors of the tropical regions that contribute to the efficiency of the applied fertilizers have been discussed. Many of the tropical soils are acidic in nature and in these soils efficiency of applied fertilizer is relatively poor, mainly because plant roots are unable to grow and function to their fullest extent in utilizing the soils available nutrients. To enhance yield potentials there is need for understanding of interaction between crop species and soil and climatic variables. Incorporation and adoptation of a suitable application time can greatly enhance efficiency of urea form of nitrogen. Research findings in tropical soils have shown that an initial broadcast application of P and subsequent band treatment is more effective than either method of application alone. Current crop yields in tropical countries are far below the known yield potentials. Such low production potentials are attributed to the lack of suitable crop germplasms and understanding of improved agronomic practices. Intensification of research activities in fertilizer use efficiency in tropical countries is suggested.Senior author formerly was a Research Advisor to EMBRAPA/IICA/World Bank Program in Brazil.     

An investigation of methods for the on-line estimation of tool wear

The paper examines the use of the measurements of spindle motor power for the estimation of wear and the detection of the end of effective tool life for a vertical milling machine. The measurements are analysed using spectral analysis and the effectiveness of using moving averages, running-means and cumulative sum of the power spectrum values to estimate wear is evaluated. For a specific machine tool (Beaver NC5), workpiece material (stainless steel) and under a particular set of cutting conditions it is shown that (a) there is a strong correlation between the cumulative sum of the power spectral energies and the total flank wear, and (b) the residuals obtained from computing a least squares linear fit to the plot of cumulative sums of the power spectral energies against cutting time clearly indicates when the tool is entering the region of high wear.