United States Consortium for Automotive Research (USCAR) conducted a concept feasibility study in 2010--2011 to investigate critical requirements to implement fenceless (the long term goal) or minimally fenced (the short term goal) robotics work cells for automotive applications. One output of the study defines the levels of human and robot collaboration and addresses the levels of complexity that drive the probabilities of successful implementation. The development of these definitions was accomplished through interviews with technology providers, observation of current robot system installations, and discussions with automotive manufacturing engineers and robotic technical experts. In this paper, we attempt to categorize robotic systems for low, medium and high levels of human and robot collaboration with current state application examples in automotive body shop, automotive powertrain manufacturing and assembly, as well as in automotive general assembly. We propose potential human and robot collaboration applications in future state where sensors, when closely integrated with robotic systems with greater dynamic response and related new technology advancements, could enable a closer and more dynamic human and robot collaboration. Finally we highlight the assessment of the successful implementation probabilities for the low, medium, and high levels of human and robot collaborative applications.

BACKGROUND:Percutaneous endoscopic colostomy was used successfully to treat 3 patients with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction whose symptoms were not controlled by conservative measures.METHODS:Percutaneous endoscopic colostomy tubes were placed to allow intermittent decompression of the colon in response to the occurrence of symptoms. The technique and the equipment are the same as for PEG and are described herein.OBSERVATIONS:Symptom improvement was observed in 3 patients, and, to date, surgery has been avoided for all.CONCLUSIONS:Percutaneous endoscopic colostomy is a safe and effective management option for selected patients with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction.

The management of pregnant patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) is a difficult problem. Patients with essential thrombocythaemia (ET), and, less frequently, those with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) or polycythaemia vera (PV), present at a childbearing age. Pregnancy itself does not appear to affect adversely the natural course and prognosis of the MPD. However, fertility might be reduced, and an adverse outcome of pregnancy due to thrombotic or bleeding complications is a matter of concern. In ET, first-trimester abortion is the most frequent complication but increased perinatal mortality and premature delivery are also observed. Placental infarction due to thrombosis seems to be the most consistent event, Maternal thrombotic or haemorrhagic complications are rare but are more common than seen in normal pregnancy. The outcome of pregnancy seems to be positively influenced by aspirin, at least in some cases. The value of cytoreduction and/or heparin prophylaxis has not been established but may have a role in selected cases. In CML, the potential adverse effects of hyperleukocytosis, and sometimes thrombocytosis, generally make myelosuppressive treatment essential. In PV, the number of reported pregnancies is low. Maintaining the PCV below 0.45 is of the utmost importance relating to the outcome of pregnancy. Although cytoreductive drugs should generally be avoided, if possible, until at least after the first trimester of pregnancy, interferon-alpha seems to be the drug of choice when myelosuppression is indicated.

Co-disposal of refuse and incinerator bottom ash used as a soil cover resource has been practiced for many countries including Taiwan. However, the baseline information of co-disposal was still not fully known. In order to obtain a clear result in a short term, laboratory scale anaerobic reactors have been developed to simulate the landfill site operation. The parameters chosen for assessment were pH, total organic carbon, alkalinity, volatile acids and heavy metals. Over the period of 200-day operation, the pH, alkalinity and gas production in the ash added reactors were found to increase as compared to the controlled ones. Soluble concentrations of heavy metals Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn in the four reactors appeared to fluctuate in the range of 0.02–2, 0.01–2.5, 0.01–0.3, 0.01–1, 0.01–1.2 and 0.01–1 mg l−1, respectively. These ranges of heavy metals concentration showed neither significant stimulatory nor inhibitory effects on the anaerobic digesters. Furthermore, the released alkali metals seemed to exert the beneficial effect on the anaerobic digesters within which the volatile acids were buffered by the increase of acids neutralizing capacity (ANCpH=7) of around 2 mequiv. g−1 leading to a suitable pH for the anaerobic environment. Thus, the gas production in the ash added reactors was finally recovered back to the initial yield of about 400 ml g−1 VS added day−1 as compared to that of control reactors remaining about 50–200 ml g−1 VS added day−1. Therefore, it was concluded that the ash addition in the ash/refuse ratio of 25/100 and 50/100 showed a beneficial effects through the increase of pH, alkalinity and gas production. These phenomena indicated that using bottom ash as a soil cover might obtain the potential positive effects on landfill practice.

Brain metastases from renal cell carcinoma are uncommon. The present study was undertaken to determine the value of routine computerized tomographic (CT) scanning of the brain in patients with renal cell carcinoma. A review of 106 patients with renal cell carcinoma who had undergone CT scan of the brain revealed brain metastases in only 13.2 percent. Brain metastases were accompanied by central nervous system (CNS) symptoms in 78.6 percent of patients, with headaches constituting the most common presenting symptom (64.3%). Brain metastases were detected in only 3.3 percent of patients who had no CNS symptoms at the time of evaluation. It is concluded that CT scanning of the brain should be performed routinely only for those patients who report CNS symptoms at the time of evaluation.