Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in a patient with genetic haemochromatosis, liver cirrhosis and an iron-free focus

We report a patient with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and genetic haemochromatosis. The patient was shown by the polymerase chain reaction to be homozygous for the Cys282Tyr mutation of the HFE gene. Liver biopsy showed micronodular cirrhosis and the presence of an iron-free focus which was thought to be pre-neoplastic.     

Seeing and hearing rotated faces: influences of facial orientation on visual and audiovisual speech recognition

It is well-known that facial orientation affects the processing of static facial information, but similar effects on the processing of visual speech have yet to be explored fully. Three experiments are reported in which the effects of facial orientation on visual speech processing were examined using a talking face presented at 8 orientations through 360 degrees. Auditory and visual forms of the syllables /ba/, /bi/, /ga/, /gi/, /ma/, /mi/, /ta/, and /ti/ were used to produce the following speech stimulus types: auditory, visual, congruent audiovisual, and incongruent audiovisual. Facial orientation did not affect identification of visual speed per se or the near-perfect accuracy of auditory speech report with congruent audiovisual speech stimuli. However, facial orientation did affect the accuracy of auditory speech report with incongruent audiovisual speech stimuli. Moreover, the nature of this effect depended on the type of incongruent visual speech used. Implications for the processing of visual and audiovisual speech are discussed.     

Faults diagnosis of a centrifugal pump using multilayer perceptron genetic algorithm back propagation and support vector machine with discrete wavelet transform‐based feature extraction

This paper presents a comparative study of two artificial intelligent systems, namely; Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) and support vector machine (SVM), to classify six fault conditions and the normal (nonfaulty) condition of a centrifugal pump. A hybrid training method for MLP is proposed for this work based on the combination of Back Propagation (BP) and Genetic Algorithm (GA). The two training algorithms are tested and compared separately as well. Features are extracted using Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT), both approximations, details, and two mother wavelets were used to investigate their effectiveness on feature extraction. GA is also used to optimize the number of hidden layers and neurons of MLP. In this study, the feature extraction, GA‐based hidden layers, neurons selection, training algorithm, and classification performance, based on the strengths and weaknesses of each method, are discussed. From the results obtained, it is observed that the DWT with both MLP‐BP and SVM produces better classification rates and performances.     

Efficient uncertainty analyses using fast probability integration

Fast probability integration (FPI) algorthms are adapted, extended and used to perform nuclear engineering uncertainty analyses. Methods are presented to improve the efficiency and precision of FPI for frequently encountered input distributions, to permit quick estimates of extreme model output quantiles and to provide appropriate sensitivity and uncertainty importance measures. Advantages and disadvantages of FPI as a stand-alone method are explored in two demonstration applications. FPI is first applied to estimate extreme (0.95, 0.99, 0.999 and 0.9999) quantiles of the frequency of a dominant station blackout accident. Sensitivity measures are quantified to indicate how the relative importance of each model input changes at progressively more extreme output quantiles. FPI is next applied to analyze uncertainties in fire damage times predicted by . Alternative FPI-based uncertainty importance measures are compared and shown to consistently rank the input contributions to the output uncertainty. FPI results are compared with results obtained from Monte Carlo sampling to demonstrate the computational advantage that clearly favors FPI, especially at the more extreme output quantiles.In a third application, Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) is combined with FPI to determine extreme quantiles of peak cladding temperature during the blowdown phase of a large-break loss of coolant accident as modeled by . The 0.95 quantile peak cladding temperature is reproducibly determined to within 2 K in one LHS-FPI iteration, which is based on only 21 runs. To demonstrate convergence for a more extreme case, LHS-FPI is also applied to estimate the 0.999 quantile peak cladding temperature. In each LHS-FPI iteration a final code run is performed to assure that the code-calculated peak cladding temperature agrees with that predicted by LHS-FPI at the most probable point. Importance measures are quantified at this point to identify dominant input-output relationships. Compared with past code scaling, applicability and uncertainty (CSAU) analyses, LHS-FPI offers a significant reduction in the number of best-estimate code runs required while providing additional checks and insights.     

Testing colour fading of cotton fabrics by activated oxygen bleach-ontaining detergent an interlaboratory trial

A single diagnostic wash test to identify coloured cotton fabrics susceptible to activated oxygen bleach was subjected to an interlaboratory trial (ring test). The results from the trial are described and a procedure developed for use as a British Standard is outlined.     

The MUSiC performance measurement method

. This paper reports a method for measuring usability in terms of task performance-achievement of frequent and critical task goals by particular users in a context simulating the work environment. The terms usability and quality in use are defined in international standards as the effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction with which goals are achieved in a specific context of use. The performance measurement method gives measures which, in combination with measures of satisfaction, operationalize these definitions. User performance is specified and assessed by measures including task effectiveness (the quantity and quality of task performance) and User efficiency (effectiveness divided by tasktime). Measures are obtained with users performing tasks in a context of evaluation which matches the intended context of use. This can also reveal usability problems which may not become evident if the evaluator interacts with the user. The method is supported by tools which make it practical in commercial timescales. The method has been widely applied in industry, and can be adapted for use early in design, and to evaluate non-computer products and the performance of small work groups.     

An interlaboratory trial of the effects of reducing liquor to cloth ratio in the ISO 105-C08 test on repeatability and reproducibility

An international ring test has been carried out to assess the repeatability and reproducibility of the ISO 105-C08 test, modified to employ a liquor to cloth ratio of 20;1 in place of the current specification of 50;1. The results, from ten laboratories located in six countries, indicate that no adverse consequences are to be expected from reducing the liquor ratio, with the statistical variability obtained being well within the norm for this type of wash fastness test. It is therefore recommended that the standard be modified to allow the test to be conducted at a range of liquor to cloth ratios. The work in this paper was initiated by the TCI/81 committee and is sponsored by the Society's Technical Coordination Committee.     

3M: a user modelling interface of an expert system for X-ray topographic image interpretation

This paper discusses user modelling techniques and presents the design and implementation of the 3M user modelling interface of INTEREX. INTEREX is an expert system for X-ray topographic image interpretation which assists its users in identifying and analysing a number of defects that can occur in high-quality crystals. 3M consists of a monitor, a model and a modifier. It is used to adapt the consultation route and the explanations provided by INTEREX to three categories of users. It demonstrates the use-of an implicit, individual, dynamic and long-term user model to enable an expert system to accommodate users with different levels of expertise.