No abstract

After adenocarcinoma, squamous cell lung cancer is the most common type of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) among non-smokers. A tissue biopsy followed by imaging (chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT) lung, and positron emission tomography (PET) scan) is the best modality for confirmation and staging of the disease. Sometimes, the histopathological appearance of squamous cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) can be confused with organizing pneumonia. Such findings can delay the diagnosis of SCLC, which can affect the treatment and course of the disease. Any lung mass that is highly suspicious for carcinoma should be closely monitored with imaging, and a repeat tissue biopsy should be done for a confirmation of the diagnosis to start appropriate therapy as soon as possible.

Integrating traditionally separate industrial control systems can derive factory-wide benefits by leveraging more information about the ongoing process. This paper shows that connecting a networked safety system and a process control system leads to an extension of the individual benefits provided by each system. A safety system gains the ability to protect not only the machines and workers but also the product that is being built. A diagnostic system can also raise safety alarms when a process variable is outside the expected range of safe operation. This connection is explored to determine the practical impact of different methods of integration on machining and system processes. Three integration methods are possible depending on which portions of the system can be classified as “safe”. A case study integrating a diagnostics system as a non-safe sensor proves that this connection, when it is implemented on an industrial testbed, provides all of the benefits described and does not require significant changes to control software.

The choice of implementing a safety system on a dedicated network or on a shared network (with a control system) rests solely on the system cost involved. To determine which option leads to a lower overall system cost, a two-tiered normalized weighted cost calculator approach that evaluates the trade-offs is presented. Applying the calculator to the decision process shows that either solution could be determined to be optimal, depending on the weights applied to specific cost factors as a result of the application environment.