Colosplenic fistula in a patient treated with interleukin-2 for malignant melanoma

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy often causes gastrointestinal side effects and at least 8 cases of bowel perforation have been reported. The patient reported here developed a colosplenic fistula, diagnosed by CT, with no neoplastic involvement of these organs. Awareness of these complications of IL-2 can help lead to earlier diagnosis.     

Time Dependence and Moments of a Family of Time-Varying Parameter Garch in Mean Models

Abstract.  In this paper we consider the time series dependence, stationarity, and higher moments issues of a family of first-order conditionally heteroskedastic in mean models with a possibly time-varying mean parameter. The interest in these models lies in the fact that economic theory and physics often require the connection between the first and second conditional moments of time series. Our results reveal important properties of these models, which are consistent with stylized facts in financial and turbulence data sets. They can also be employed for model identification, estimation, and testing.     

Endoscopic method for large-depth optical imaging of interior bodyorgans

An optical imaging method is described, that offers imaging depth of the order of 1 cm and can be realised utilising existing medical endoscopes with the incorporation of appropriate modifications. This imaging method employs polarisation and spectral light discrimination in combination with image processing to remove a large portion of the image information from the outer layers of the tissue which leads to enhancement of the contrast and visibility of subsurface tissue structures     

Simulation-based robust design of mass dampers for response mitigation of tension leg platforms

A robust stochastic design framework is discussed for design of mass dampers. The focus is on applications for the mitigation of the coupled heave and pitch response of Tension Leg Platforms under stochastic sea excitation. The framework presented fully addresses the complex relationship between the coupled dynamics of the platform, the stochastic excitation and the vibration of the dampers. Model parameters that have some level of uncertainty are probabilistically described. In this probabilistic setting, the system reliability is adopted as the design objective. Stochastic simulation is considered for evaluation of the system model response and the overall reliability performance. This way, all nonlinear characteristics of the structural response and environmental excitation are explicitly incorporated into their respective models. An efficient algorithm is discussed for performing the challenging stochastic design optimization. The ideas are illustrated in an application involving a tension leg platform with closely spaced frequencies for the heave and pitch degrees of freedom.     

Case Studies and Information Technology in Civil Engineering Learning

A multimedia-supported case study is presented that deals with a large-scale civil engineering project. This case study is based on the complete analysis, design, and construction files of the developer of the project. The multimedia instructional tool has integrated different disciplines and input from the project manager, senior students, and instructors of different disciplines. This multimedia tool includes hypertext links to modular and stratified information. Information is made available through the user's control in a logical, interactive, deductive, and disciplinary way that follows the flow of a civil engineering project. Text, graphics, and videos are included. The multimedia tool presents a teaching tool that enables senior class civil engineering students to learn about planning, design, and construction phases of a civil engineering project, as well as their integration. The in-class use of the tool and project discussions help the students to relate better their previous academic knowledge to “real-life” problems, enhance their creativity, and increase the level of retention of the new knowledge acquired. Future enhancements and learning possibilities are discussed with the use of additional capabilities of information technology. The multimedia application developed has been used in an academic environment; however, with some modifications, it could be used to improve the “learning curve” of new employees in a company environment.     

My personal history in the early explorations of computer graphics

Gary Demos discovered computer graphics while hearing a computer-generated film presentation at CalTech in 1970 by John Whitney Sr. Gary then began working under the direction of Ivan Sutherland in Utah to develop early computer graphics hardware and software. In 1974 Gary and John Whitney Jr. started the “Motion Picture Project” at Information International to produce computer generated simulated scenes for movies (Futureworld, Looker, and Tron) and commercials. These early computer-generated visuals were quite challenging given the level of software and hardware technology available in the 1970’s. In 1981 Gary and John left Information International to form Digital Productions, where they produced effects for the movies Last Starfighter and “2010”, which were both released in 1984. Digital Productions used the Cray XMP computer, together with the Digital Film Printer that they had developed at Information International. Following a hostile takeover by Omibus of Digital Productions in 1986, Whitney/Demos Productions was formed, using a Thinking Machine parallel computer. This paper describes the technical challenges and achievements of this early visual computing.     

A genetic algorithm for active noise control actuator positioning

Active noise control systems (ANCS) have been used extensively in several diverse applications in order to reduce the sound levels within a confined space. Several control schemes have been proposed, all of which rely on the same basic idea, namely that of introducing an artificial secondary sound field in order to partially cancel the primary sound field. This secondary field is created by using a number of actuators (usually speakers), placed in several locations within the space of interest. In our particular case of interest, the ANCS under consideration is an interior one. The overall ANCS comprises a set of sensors, a control system, and the actuators. Clearly, the optimal design of all three components needs to be addressed when designing an ANCS. In this paper, the problem of deciding to which specific locations (out of several possible ones) the actuators will be located for optimal performance of the ANCS is addressed. Specifically, a genetic algorithm is designed for this problem. The algorithm was implemented and tested against a simple greedy approach. Results indicate the efficiency of the Genetic Algorithm for the problem at hand.     

Utilization of image processing to quantitate surface metmyoglobin on fresh beef

Ground beef patties were manufactured with various combinations of ascorbic acid and mechanically recovered neck bone lean (MRNL) to study the use of image processing in predicting percentage surface metmyoglobin (metMb) on fresh beef. Ascorbic acid and MRNL cause various color phenomena that resulted in a wide range of variation in surface color. Patties were also stored over six days of retail display to cause further color changes. Surface color was assessed by several different accepted methods. A prediction equation for percentage surface metMb included mean values for hue, saturation and intensity. Root mean square error, R-square and Mallow's Cp statistic were used as selection criteria for choosing the best predictive model. Image processing hue, saturation and intensity accounted for 93% of the variation in percentage surface metMb. Since hue, saturation and intensity each contribute to overall color profile it is logical that these parameters are good predictors. These data indicate that image processing is capable of objectively measuring percentage surface metMb.