Experience in testing the Motif interface

The testing and quality assurance of the Motif 1.0 graphical user-interface software are described. The testing goals, which fell into three general categories (code coverage, defect-density, and defect-arrival rate), and a deliverable formal test suite are examined. The three phases of the testing process-evaluation, test development, and regression testing-and the tools used in testing are discussed     

The comparative characteristics of the Salmonella serotypes rarely encountered in the Maritime Territory

The results of the comparative study of the phenotypical properties and the plasmid profile of 63 strains of salmonellae, belonging to 44 serotypes of groups B, C1, C2, C3, D, E1, E4, F. The study revealed that strains of different serotypes had their individual plasmid profile. Strains of the same serotype of salmonellae isolated from similar sources had an identical plasmid profile, while strains isolated from different sources differed in their plasmid profiles, though they might have a similar phenotype. Plasmid analysis was shown to be an effective method for the intraspecific typing of rarely isolated Salmonella serotypes and suitable for use as the basis of the microbiological monitoring of salmonellae.     

Three-week hepatitis B vaccination provides protective immunity

To determine whether a 3-week hepatitis B (HB) vaccination could achieve protective immunity, 89 healthy non-immunized young adults received three doses of 20 micrograms each of HBs antigen (GenHevac B, Pasteur) and were randomly assigned to schedule A (n = 44): two doses at day 0, one dose at day 21; or schedule B (n = 45): one dose at days 0, 10 and 21. Seroprotection rates (anti-HBs > or = 10 mIU ml-1) for groups A and B respectively were: 23 and 40% at day 21; and 77 and 91% at day 82 (not significant). Anti-HBs geometric mean titres were higher in group B than in group A (p < 0.05) at days 21 (6.4 versus 3.8) and 82 (77.6 versus 33.5). One year after primary vaccination, the seroprotection rate remained as high as 90% in the vaccinees of group B; after boosting all vaccinees had protective levels of anti-HBs antibodies. Thus 3-week HB vaccination with GenHevac B allowed early and durable protective immunity.     

A 10 Gbit/s OEIC photoreceiver using InP/InGaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors

Metal organic molecular beam epitaxy (MOMBE) was successfully used for the first time to realise a high speed monolithic photoreceiver. Incorporating an InGaAs pin photodetector followed by a transimpedance preamplifier circuit implemented with InP/InGaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs), the OEIC photoreceiver had a bandwidth of 6 GHz and a midband transimpedance of 350 Omega . In a system experiment performed at 10 Gbit/s, the receiver exhibited a sensitivity of -15.5 dBm for a bit error rate of 10/sup -9/ at a wavelength of 1.53 mu m. This is the first demonstration of operation of a long wavelength OEIC photoreceiver at this speed.<>     

Controlling orthopoxvirus infections--200 years after Jenner's revolutionary immunization

An 11-year global WHO campaign for eradication of smallpox finished in October 1977 as the result of Edward Jenner's primary success in 1796, who for the first time applied human vaccination against variola virus (VARV). The 200th anniversary of this happening is a good occasion to summarize the current status of the knowledge about the role of B and T lymphocytes in the control of orthopoxvirus infections. This short review concentrates on general characteristics of orthopoxviruses and the immune response to infection, mainly by vaccinia virus (VV) and ectromelia virus (EV).     

X-ray diffraction study of phase transitions in Sr0.39Ba0.61Nb2O6 between 20 and 500 K

X-ray powder diffraction patterns of the ferroelectric mixed crystal Sr_0.39,Ba_0.61Nb₂O₆ (SBN-39) are recorded in Guinier geometry in a temperature range between 20 K and 500 K by means of the film-lift technique. The lattice parameters were refined for a single tetragonal structure in the whole temperature range ignoring the incommensurate (IC) modulation of the structure as well as a temperature dependent small splitting of reflections, most clearly observed for the (001)-type. These values show anomalies in the region of diffuse ferroelectric phase transition as well as below room temperature indicating the three other phase transitions. The splitting may be caused by a two-phase state of a relaxor-like ferroelectric system due to coexistence of polarized regions (clusters) and untransformed remnants of the para-phase.     

Confirmatory factor analysis of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised in a sample of clients with alcohol dependency

Previous analyses of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R; Wechsler, 1987) have reported one-, two-, and three-factor solutions and raised questions about the validity of the visual memory subtests. These various findings may stem in part from different methods of analysis, and from the study of different participant samples. To address these issues, we analysed data from the WMS-R and a spatial maze test administered to 154 participants with a history of alcohol dependence. Results from confirmatory factor analysis supported the interpretation of three factors underlying the WMS-R subtests and the spatial maze score in this sample, namely, attention-concentration, immediate memory, and delayed recall. This result held despite the inclusion of the maze score which is a well-validated measure of visuo-spatial memory.     

The effect of service-temperature exposure on the tensile properties of Ti-1421/SiC metal matrix composites

Composites consisting of a Ti-14Al-21Nb (wt%) aluminide matrix and SCS-6 SiC fibres were fabricated by plasma-spraying and hot-isostatic-pressing. The room temperature longitudinal tensile properties were evaluated after processing and after isothermal and cyclic exposure in air and in argon. The isothermal ages were performed at 760°C, and the thermal cycle was from room temperature to 760°C, which is the projected service temperature for Ti-aluminide-based composites. Some loss of tensile strength occurred after isothermal and cyclic exposure for long times (8 to 12 weeks) in argon, with no apparent difference in behaviour between the isothermal and cyclic samples. Substantial degradation in tensile properties was seen after isothermal exposure in air, while a much more severe loss in properties occurred after cycling in air. In the isothermal samples exposed in air, degradation in properties was associated with surface embrittlement of the matrix, with the longitudinal room temperature tensile strength decreasing linearly with increasing thickness of the embrittled zone. During air-cycling, this effect was enhanced by a rapid decrease in the strength of the SCS-6 fibre, and an increase in the amount of fibre breakage. Isolating the fibres from direct contact with the environment resulted in a decrease in the amount of composite strength degradation after air-cycling. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.