An improved 3D imaging system for dimensional quality inspection of rolled products in the metal industry

Measurement, inspection and quality control in industry have benefited from 3D techniques for imaging and visualization in recent years. The development of machine vision devices at decreased costs, as well as their miniaturization and integration in industrial processes, have accelerated the use of 3D imaging systems in industry. In this paper we describe how to improve the performance of a 3D imaging system for inline dimensional quality inspection of long, flat-rolled metal products manufactured in rolling mills we designed and developed in previous works. Two dimensional characteristics of rolled products are measured by the system: width and flatness. The system is based on active triangulation using a single-line pattern projected onto the surface of the product under inspection for range image acquisition. Taking the system calibration into account the range images are transformed into a calibrated point cloud representing the 3D surface reconstruction of the product. Two approaches to improve the line detection and extraction method used in the original system are discussed, one intended for high-speed processing with lower accuracy, and the other providing high accuracy while incurring higher computational time expenses. A mechanism to remove, or at least reduce, the effects of product movements while manufacturing, such as bouncing and flapping, is also proposed to improve the performance of the system.     

Characterization of the novel Listeria monocytogenes PCR serogrouping profile IVb-v1

The World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Listeria (WHOCCL) has developed in 2004 a multiplex PCR assay that separates the 4 major Listeria monocytogenes serovars (1/2a, 1/2b, 1/2c, and 4b) into distinct PCR serogroups. A new PCR profile has been recently identified, constituted of amplified DNA fragments of prs, ORF2819, ORF2110 and lmo0737. Here we characterize 22 L. monocytogenes isolates of the WHOCCL collection with this PCR IVb variant 1 (IVb-v1) profile. The 22 isolates belong to the clinically predominant serovar 4b, exhibit 6 distinct pulsed-field gel electrophoresis ApaI/AscI combined profiles, and belong to 2 unrelated multilocus sequence types, indicating that the novel profile does not correspond to a recent clonal emergence. We have updated the WHOCCL serogroup-related PCR typing scheme to include this new profile.     

Imbalanced distribution of Plasmodium falciparum MSP-1 genotypes related to sickle-cell trait

BACKGROUND: The sickle-cell trait protects against severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria and reduces susceptibility to mild malaria but does not prevent infection. The exact mechanism of this protection remains unclear. We have hypothesized that AS individuals are protected by virtue of being less susceptible to a subset of parasite strains; thus we compared some genetic characteristics of parasites infecting AS and AA subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood was collected from asymptomatic individuals living in two different regions of Africa. The polymorphic MSP-1 and MSP-2 loci were genotyped using a PCR-based methodology. Individual alleles were identified by size polymorphism, amplification using family-specific primers, and hybridization using family-specific probes. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze allele distribution. RESULTS: In Senegalese carriers, age and hemoglobin type influenced differently the distribution of the three MSP-1 families and had an impact on distinct individual alleles, whereas the distribution of MSP-2 alleles was marginally affected. There was no influence of other genetic traits, including the HLA Bw53 genotype, or factors such as place of residence within the village. In a cohort of Gabonese schoolchildren in which the influence of age was abrogated, a similar imbalance in the MSP-1 allelic distribution but not of MSP-2 allelic distribution by hemoglobin type was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The influence of the host's hemoglobin type on P. falciparum genotypes suggests that parasite fitness for a specific host is strain-dependent, which is consistent with our hypothesis that innate resistance might result from reduced fitness of some parasite strains for individuals with sickle-cell traits.     

Plasmodium falciparum- and merozoite surface protein 1-specific antibody isotype balance in immune Senegalese adults

This study shows markedly different isotype distributions of antibodies to asexual blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum and to merozoite surface protein 1 in clinically immune Senegalese adults depending on the study site. The relationships between immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG and between IgG3 and IgG1 antibodies differed in settings where transmission is perennial compared to settings where it is seasonal. This suggests a role for antibody class and/or subclass production and utilization in the regulation of protective immunity to such antigens.     

T- and B-cell responses of malaria immune individuals to synthetic peptides corresponding to non-repeat sequences in the N-terminal region of the Plasmodium falciparum antigen Pf155/RESA

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted in order to determine whether the effects of tamoxifen in elderly, frail nursing home residents are similar to those that have been previously reported for younger postmenopausal women. DESIGN: A chart review study. SETTING: The Jewish Home and Hospital for Aged (JHHA), a subacute long-term care facility. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred fifty-eight women who had been at the JHHA at any time since 1986. One hundred ten had a history of breast cancer; 43 of these had been treated with tamoxifen while at the JHHA (Group I), and 66 had not (Group II). The remaining 49 women had no history of breast cancer (Group III). MEASUREMENTS: Data were collected from the time of admission to the JHHA through August, 1994 on: chemistry profiles, bone fractures apparently not a consequence of metastasis, gynecological parameters, and thromboemboli. RESULTS: The lack of pre-admission clinical information presented problems regarding research design and the interpretation of our findings. Nevertheless, compared to women who had not been treated with tamoxifen, treated women had a significantly elevated incidence of vaginal discharge (P = 0.01) and a lower prevalence of elevated total cholesterol (P = 0.04). Although not statistically significant, they also had decreased levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol and an increased incidence of thromboemboli and bone fractures. CONCLUSIONS: While some of the effects of tamoxifen in elderly, frail women are similar to those observed in younger, postmenopausal women, others may be different. Our results suggest a need for further innovative studies that focus on the consequences of tamoxifen treatment in the elderly, frail population.     

Hypotensive effect of endothelin-1 in a rat model of pre-eclampsia

OBJECTIVE: To characterize a group of phakic patients with idiopathic intermediate uveitis as defined by vitritis, cystoid macular edema, and retinal periphlebitis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Nineteen phakic patients (35 eyes) with vitreous inflammation, cystoid macular edema, and/or retinal periphlebitis of unknown cause. INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Best-corrected final visual acuities, standardized clinical examinations, photographic and fluorescein angiographic evaluations, and class I and II HLA analysis on all 19 patients. RESULTS: Fifteen of the 19 patients were women. The mean age was 38 years, the mean follow-up was 104 months, and the mean duration of symptoms was 154 months. All 35 affected eyes had significant vitritis; 21 eyes (60%) had cystoid macular edema, 21 eyes (60%) had retinal periphlebitis. The median initial visual acuity was 20/30. The median final visual acuity was 20/20 with 32 (91%) of 35 eyes having 20/40 or better visual acuity at the final visit. No patient developed "snow-banks" or evidence of systemic disease, including multiple sclerosis or sarcoidosis, during the follow-up period. There were no statistically significant HLA associations in these patients compared with controls from another study from Iowa, but the Iowa phakic patients with cystoid macular edema did differ from the Iowa patients with pars-planitis at loci HLA-B8, HLA-B51, and HLA-DR2. CONCLUSIONS: We describe a disease entity of idiopathic intermediate uveitis that affects primarily young to middle-aged women and usually causes bilateral vitritis, cystoid macular edema, and retinal periphlebitis. Most patients retained good vision over a prolonged follow-up period. Multiple sequential examinations and HLA associations suggest that these conditions are distinct from other syndromes of intermediate uveitis, particularly parsplanitis.