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There is a need to develop effective stormwater filters for passive (without any addition of chemicals or energy) and effective removal of pathogens in order to mainstream stormwater harvesting. This study focuses on the development of coated granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration material in order to develop filters for effective removal of pathogens from urban stormwater. Several laboratory trials were performed to gauge the effectiveness of the filters, which use a mixture of the zinc- sulphate-heptahydrate coated GAC and sand, on the removal of Escherichia coli (E. coli) from semi- natural stormwater. On average, a 98% removal of the inflow concentration of E. coli was achieved. Furthermore, there was also an improvement of approximately 25% in the removal of phosphorous. However, it was found that the treated material was leaching zinc. It was important to determine whether the observed removal of E. coli was indirectly caused by the sampling methodology. The results showed that the inactivation of the E. coli in the collected sample was small compared with the inactivation which actually occurred within the filter. This provides much promise to the filter, but the presence of zinc in the outflow demonstrates the need for further investigation into the stabilisation of the coating process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Writing and drawing tests are widely used in the clinical environment for the diagnosis of a variety of neuropsychological conditions. Conventional assessment of these tests involves the inspection by trained assessors of the completed patient response. This article describes the development of a computer-based framework for data capture, automated feature analysis, and result reporting for a range of drawing- and writing-based test batteries. In developing this framework, we have exploited the commonality between tasks while allowing for both flexibility in configuration across condition-specific testing requirements and extensibility for future test development. Using the two example clinical conditions of visuospatial neglect and dyspraxia, we illustrate the advantages of utilizing a computer-based analysis system, describe a structured approach to system implementation, and demonstrate the generality of this implementation for different conditions of interest, which extends to feature selection and design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current approaches to personal identity authentication using a single biometric technology are limited, principally because no single biometric is generally considered both sufficiently accurate and user-acceptable for universal application. Multimodal biometrics can provide a more adaptable solution to the security and convenience requirements of many applications. However, such an approach can also lead to additional complexity in the design and management of authentication systems. Additionally, complex hierarchies of security levels and interacting user/provider requirements demand that authentication systems are adaptive and flexible in configuration. In this paper we consider the integration of multimodal biometrics using intelligent agents to address issues of complexity management. The work reported here is part of a major project designated IAMBIC (Intelligent Agents for Multimodal Biometric Identification and Control), aimed at exploring the application of the intelligent agent metaphor to the field of biometric authentication. The paper provides an introduction to a first-level architecture for such a system, and demonstrates how this architecture can provide a framework for the effective control and management of access to data and systems where issues of privacy, confidentiality and trust are of primary concern. Novel approaches to software agent design and agent implementation strategies required for this architecture are also highlighted. The paper further shows how such a structure can define a fundamental paradigm to support the realisation of “universal access” in situations where data integrity and confidentiality must be robustly and reliably protected . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether a computer-based method for recording standardized assessment of neglect identifies abnormalities in the ‘process’ as well as in the ‘outcome’ of such tasks. Design: Prospective sequential assessment of patients admitted to a stroke rehabilitation unit. Subjects: All consecutive patients with right-sided cerebrovascular accident confirmed on computerized tomography (CT) scan including 30 patients with neglect, 57 patients without neglect. An age-matched control group of 13 subjects. Intervention: All patients were tested using the standard Rivermead Behavioural Inattention Test (BIT) and by computer recording of two standard tests for assessing neglect (line bisection and Albert’s test). Age-matched controls were tested using computer recording of the two standard tests. Main outcome measures: Neglect was defined using the BIT with a cut-off score of 129. Computer recording measured the ‘outcome’ of tasks, i.e. the deviation from midline and omissions in cancellation, as well as the ‘process’ of tasks, i.e. time between cancellations, components of cancellation time including premovement, movement and drawing time, and the starting point for cancellation. Results: The computer recording identified significant differences in ‘outcome’ and ‘process’ which distinguished neglect from non-neglect patients. There were significant differences between non-neglect patients and age-matched controls with regard to ‘process’ measures but not with regard to ‘outcome’ measures. Conclusions: Computer recording of standard tests for assessing neglect identifies novel impairments with regard to the process of carrying out tasks. These impairments may be used to investigate changes in neglect with time, the response of neglect to treatment and to explore further the neuropsychological changes associated with neglect in stroke patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports various topics published in the 'British Journal'. Comment on alcoholism; Critic against the Department of Transportation on the issues regarding road safety; Comment on automatic blood-gas analyser.