Analytical method of process capability for steel

The mechanical properties of steel are the most important factor in the safety of structures that must be stable and appropriate. In order to investigate whether the process capability of steel production meets the quality requirements or not, Sung et al. proposed a procedure to evaluate the production and quality control of steel manufacturing. This evaluation model uses statistics to judge the quality of steel objectively. However, there are various types of steel which can satisfy the engineering requirements of design and construction, but procedures are lacking with which to evaluate the multi-process capability of the whole steelwork. In this paper, the objective evaluation methods proposed by Sung and Vannman are modified appropriately and extended by using the principles of statistical inference. A procedure to evaluate the quality of the multi-process capability analysis method is proposed. This evaluation method not only completely evaluates the process capability and quality, but it also improves the production process and quality control capability, and so can reduce production loss

Electrically Evoked Cortical Potentials (EECP) in Rabbits Using Implantable Retinal Stimulation System

NBS-ERC Supported by KOSEF (Grant R11-2000-075-01001-0) & Korea Health 21 R&D Project MOHW A05025

Genotype Distribution and Sequence Variation of Hepatitis E Virus, Hong Kong

Most acute cases of infection with hepatitis E virus (HEV) in Hong Kong were autochthonous, sporadic, and occurred in older adults. All except 1 isolate belonged to genotype 4; most were phylogenetically related to swine isolates. The epidemiology is similar to that in industrialized countries, where zoonosis is the major source of HEV infection in humans

Fecal Viral Load and Norovirus-associated Gastroenteritis

We report the median cDNA viral load of norovirus genogroup II is >100-fold higher than that of genogroup I in the fecal specimens of patients with norovirus-associated gastroenteritis. We speculate that increased cDNA viral load accounts for the higher transmissibility of genogroup II strains through the fecal-oral route

Acute Encephalopathy Associated with Influenza A Infection in Adults

We report acute encephalopathy associated with influenza A infection in 3 adults. We detected high cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma concentrations of CXCL8/IL-8 and CCL2/MCP-1 (CSF/plasma ratios >3), and interleukin-6, CXCL10/IP-10, but no evidence of viral neuroinvasion. Patients recovered without sequelae. Hyperactivated cytokine response may play a role in pathogenesis

Fecal Viral Concentration and Diarrhea in Norovirus Gastroenteritis

Fecal viral concentrations of 40 patients infected with norovirus genogroup GII.4 correlated with diarrhea duration and frequency of vomiting. Higher viral concentration and older age were independently associated with prolonged diarrhea (>4 days). These findings provide information on the pathogenesis and transmission of norovirus infections

Human Metapneumovirus-associated Atypical Pneumonia and SARS

Acute pneumonia developed in a previously healthy man during the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in southern China in March 2003. Antibiotic treatment was ineffective, and he died 8 days after illness onset. Human metapneumovirus was isolated from lung tissue. No other pathogen was found. Other etiologic agents should thus be sought in apparent SARS cases when coronavirus infection cannot be confirmed

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome–associated Coronavirus Infection

Whether severe acute respiratory syndrome–associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection can be asymptomatic is unclear. We examined the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV among 674 healthcare workers from a hospital in which a SARS outbreak had occurred. A total of 353 (52%) experienced mild self-limiting illnesses, and 321 (48%) were asymptomatic throughout the course of these observations. None of these healthcare workers had antibody to SARS CoV, indicating that subclinical or mild infection attributable to SARS CoV in adults is rare