Development of a Three-Dimensional Measuring System for Neonates＇ Head and Facial Morphology

A web camera based multi-camera convergent close-range photogrammetric system is developed to obtain the neonates＇ head and facial morphology. The data will then be used to develop a secure and good-fitting eye-patch protector for neonates, particularly whoa they are exposed to bright lights such as phototherapy light. Measurements obtained by the system are evaluated and validated against data obtained from optical scanning. Results show that the photogrammetric system meets the requirements of measuring accuracy and safety for neonate in the neonatal units.     

A STUDY OF SEAM STRENGTH AND EXTENSIBILITY FOR PRESSURE GARMENTS

Pressure garments are functional garments designed for medical purposes and arc normally used under prolonged stress. The stress across seams is related to the size of the wearer and the fit and the garment, the more close fitting a garment, the greater stress is put on the seam. Since pressure garments are subjected to appreciable stress during wear, seams with the required strength and extensiblity are particular important. The seam type, stitch type, stitch density and thread strength are the main factors determining the strength and extensibility of a seam. In this paper, investigation of seam strength and extensibility are made on four types of seams which have been used for making pressure garments. Five different types of stitch densities and two sizes of sewing thread are used on each type of scam to be tested. The seaming conditions of the selected fabric are also examined.     

The effects of various agents in vitro on homocarnosine-carnosine synthetase from rat brain

Summary The present paper reports the first evidence that homocarnosine-carnosine synthetase from rat brain requires free sulfhydryl groups for activity. The activity of the synthetase can be stabilized by dithioerythritol and inhibited strongly by Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺, Zn²⁺, and to a lesser extent by Ca²⁺, Ni²⁺, Li, chlorpromazine, -methyl DOPA and norepinephrine at the concentrations tested.Acknowledgment. This work was supported by United States Public Health Service Grant No. NS-06137.     

Detection of Design Fault in Dart Placement - intersecting Dart

It is easy to apply lines in design drawings to create different styles, however, there is no guarantee that all the style lines drawn are able to be manufactured. In this paper, we focus on one undeliverable style to enhance our understanding of the relationship between the design sketch and the pattern design process. In order to evidence that such style is unworkable, a systematic display of pattern development, and to be reinforced by mathematical evaluation, will be introduced and addressed. When one can easily detect design fault, waste of product development time can be minimized.     

Multi-facility ordered median problems in directed networks

This paper uses a finite dominating set (FDS) to investigate the multi-facility ordered median problem (OMP) in a strongly connected directed network. The authors first prove that the multi-facility OMP has an FDS in the node set, which not only generalizes the FDS result provided by Kalcsics, et al. (2002), but also extends the FDS result from the single-facility case to the multiple case, filling an important gap. Then, based on this FDS result, the authors develop an exact algorithm to solve the problem. However, if the number of facilities is large, it is not practical to find the optimal solution, because the multi-facility OMP in directed networks is NP-hard. Hence, we present a constant-approximation algorithm for the p-median problem in directed networks. Finally, we pose an open problem for future research.     

Shrinkage Properties of Wool and Acrylic/Wool Plain Knitted Fabrics Treated with DC109

This paper examines the effects of shrink - resist treatment, washing cycle and fabric tightness on the shrinkage properties of plain knitted fabrics made from 100% wool, acrylic/wool (50/50) and acrylic/wool (70/30). It was found that shrinkages of both treated and untreated wool fabrics were negatively correlated to fabric tightness and exceeded the IWS shrinkage limits (5% in length and 8 % in area) after 2 - 5A washing cycle. The effect of tightness was not as obvious with acrylic/wool (A/W) fabrics, but the shrinkage was seen to increase with stages of washing cycle for untreated A/W fabrics with some exceeding IWS standard. By applying the DC 109 shrink - resist solvent treatment, it was identified that by with higher percentage of acrylic fibre blended with wool, shrinkage could be reduced considerably and within acceptable limits.     

Catastrophic extinctions follow deforestation in Singapore

The looming mass extinction of biodiversity in the humid tropics is a major concern for the future, yet most reports of extinctions in these regions are anecdotal or conjectural, with a scarcity of robust, broad-based empirical data. Here we report on local extinctions among a wide range of terrestrial and freshwater taxa from Singapore (540 km2) in relation to habitat loss exceeding 95% over 183 years. Substantial rates of documented and inferred extinctions were found, especially for forest specialists, with the greatest proportion of extinct taxa (34-87%) in butterflies, fish, birds and mammals. Observed extinctions were generally fewer, but inferred losses often higher, in vascular plants, phasmids, decapods, amphibians and reptiles (5-80%). Forest reserves comprising only 0.25% of Singapore's area now harbour over 50% of the residual native biodiversity. Extrapolations of the observed and inferred local extinction data, using a calibrated species-area model, imply that the current unprecedented rate of habitat destruction in Southeast Asia will result in the loss of 13-42% of regional populations over the next century, at least half of which will represent global species extinctions.     

Etude du métabolisme d'une substance affectant la coagulation sanguine par la méthode des indicateurs radioactifs

Summary Radioactive 2-bromo-3-hydroxy-1:4-naphtoquinone has been used for the exploration of the metabolism of substances which influence the course of blood-clotting. It has been found that this substance diffuses very rapidly into the blood, and that the liver is not characterized by any elective fixation-power.     

Biosynthesis of deuteriated amino acids byCandida lipolytica

Summary Biosynthesis of a whole series of deuteriated amino acids has been carried out, by cultivation of the yeastCandida lipolytica in an artificial medium composed of a deuterio-alkane, heavy water, water and some mineral salts.Acknowledgments. This work has been carried out with the aid of grants from The Swedish Medical Research Council. Thanks are due to Mr Nils Engström for his skilful technical assistance during the yeast growth, and to Mrs Monica Olsson for the Moore-Stein analysis.