Three-dimensional (3D) medical images of computed tomographic (CT) data sets can be generated with a variety of computer algorithms. The three most commonly used techniques are shaded surface display, maximum intensity projection, and, more recently, 3D volume rendering. Implementation of 3D volume rendering involves volume data management, which relates to operations including acquisition, resampling, and editing of the data set; rendering parameters including window width and level, opacity, brightness, and percentage classification; and image display, which comprises techniques such as "fly-through" and "fly-around," multiple-view display, obscured structure and shading depth cues, and kinetic and stereo depth cues. An understanding of both the theory and method of 3D volume rendering is essential for accurate evaluation of the resulting images. Three-dimensional volume rendering is useful in a wide variety of applications but is just now being incorporated into commercially available software packages for medical imaging. Although further research is needed to determine the efficacy of 3D volume rendering in clinical applications, with wider availability and improved cost-to-performance ratios in computing, 3D volume rendering is likely to enjoy widespread acceptance in the medical community.

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Five years of 160-to 400-nm solar flux measurements by the Solar Backscattered Ultraviolet experiment on Nimbus 7 have been analyzed. The flux in the center of strong lines and at shorter wavelengths varies with periods that correspond to modulation by the rotation of active regions. The modulation is greater at the centers of strong lines and at shorter wavelengths, corresponding to radiation that originates at higher levels in the solar atmosphere. The ratio of the irradiance in the core of the Mg 280-nm line to the irradiance at neighboring wavelengths is used as an index of solar variation. A scaling factor is derived by comparing rotational modulation at other wavelengths with the rotational modulation of the index. The scaled Mg II 280-nm strength successfully represents both rotational and long-term variations across the AI absorption edge near 210 nm. This ratio can therefore provide an empirical representation of long-term ultraviolet solar variability. Scaling factors are derived and changes estimated at several ultraviolet wavelengths. At 204 nm, in the wavelength region that drives atmospheric photochemistry, the solar irradiance drops about 4% from its average level for 1979-1980 to late 1983. The total estimated range of variation of the 27-day averaged (one rotation) 204-nm irradiance is 6%, over the 5 years of measurements. A least squares fit shows that over the 5 years, 27-day averages of 10.7-cm radio flux and of the Mg II index follow a linear relation. The radio flux can therefore be used to estimate changes in the solar ultraviolet for times before the launch of Nimbus 7. 1. INTRODUCTION Solar ultraviolet radiation at wavelengths from 170 to 300 nm is a driver of the photochemistry of the middle atmosphere. In recent years, evidence has been accumulating that variations in solar radiation at these wavelengths could lead to changes in the physical processes and chemical balance of the middle atmosphere [-Brasseur and Solomon, 1984] and in the overall global climate [National Academy of Sciences, 1982]. In general, two techniques have been used to measure changes in the ultraviolet solar flux: continuous monitoring by a single space-borne instrument and comparison of measurements at different times from balloon and rocket platforms. However, instrument calibration problems complicate both techniques. For continuous monitoring by a single instrument the instrument characteristics may change with time [e.g., Heath, 1980]. Changes in the signal resulting from changes in the instrument must then be separated from those arising from actual variations in the sun. For repeated measurements on separate flights the instruments must be intercalibrated. Mount and Rottman [1983a, b] have measured the solar spectrum from 180 to 310 nm with instruments aboard several rocket flights, but their quoted errors are on the order of 10%, larger than the anticipated changes in solar irradiance, especially at the longer wavelengths. While changes in instrument sensitivity complicate determination of long-term solar ...

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Bacteria thought to be clinically significant platelet contaminants can be detected in 9.2 to 25.6 hours when the starting concentration is approximately 10 to 100 CFU per mL. P. acnes required considerably longer incubation times for detection (in either aerobic or anaerobic bottles). However, P. acnes is of questionable clinical significance. Such a detection system could be used in either a blood collection center or a transfusion service to screen platelet concentrates for bacterial contamination. Such testing (with sterile sampling performed so as to maintain a closed-bag system) would be expected to save lives and might allow an extension of platelet storage.