Determination of heat transfer coefficient for forging applications

A setup for measuring the contact heat transfer coefficient between a tool steel die and a specimen was designed, developed, and fabricated. A microcomputer was programmed to collect and process the temperature data. Tests were conducted under dry and lubricated conditions at different temperatures and pressures on four aluminum alloys, namely, 2024-T4, 2024-O, 6061-O, and 1100-O. MoS₂ was used as the lubricant. Results indicate that the heat transfer coefficient increases with pressure and decreases with specimen yield strength. Variation in heat transfer coefficient with temperature is due to chemical changes which occur in the lubricant at the test temperature. The heat transfer coefficient was an order of magnitude greater at high pressures than at nominally zero pressure.     

Infant and child mortality determinants in Bangladesh: are they changing?

From the data of the 1989 Bangladesh Fertility Survey, aggregate deaths reported at ages 0-12 and 13-60 months are used to estimate infant and child mortality. Multivariate analysis shows that preceding birth interval length, followed by survival status of the immediately preceding child, are the most important factors associated with differential infant and child mortality risks; sex of the index child and mother's and father's education are also significant. Demographic factors are influential during infancy as well as childhood, but social factors, particularly mother's and father's education, now emerge as significant predictors of infant mortality risks. This indicates a change in the role of socioeconomic factors, since the earlier Bangladesh Fertility Survey in 1975.     

Gastrointestinal ulceration and pulmonary aspergillosis in a llama treated for parelaphostrongylosis

A 9-year-old llama examined because of hind limb paresis was found to have parelaphostrongylosis. Despite treatment with ivermectin, fenbendazole, cimetidine, and ceftiofur, the llama developed gastrointestinal ulceration and pulmonary aspergillosis and was euthanatized. Parelaphostrongylus tenuis is a parasite of white-tailed deer, but ruminants can serve as aberrant or dead-end hosts after accidentally ingesting snails or slugs carrying third-stage larvae of the parasite. Gastrointestinal ulceration and pulmonary aspergillosis can develop secondarily in llamas with chronic disease. Treatment of gastrointestinal ulceration in llamas is difficult, because efficacy of commonly used antiulcer drugs in llamas has not been established.     

Streptococcus pneumoniae-induced hemolytic uremic syndrome: a case for early diagnosis

The Mitek Mini GII anchor is showcased as a relatively new device that provides a rapid, simple method for bony reattachment; here, it is introduced for the fixation of flexor or extensor tendons at their insertion. Transosseous tunnels with limited visualization, pull-out sutures, and external devices can now be avoided if desired. Applications for soft-tissue fixation should in no way be limited to the small bones of the hand. Expense of the apparatus remains its only major drawback.     

Alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) in serum is inhibited by physiological concentrations of inorganic phosphate

Natural and artificial manipulation of tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase activity indicates that pyrophosphate, phosphoethanolamine, and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate are among the natural substrates for this enzyme. Although inorganic phosphate has been recognized as a competitive inhibitor of this enzyme for many years, the influence of phosphate on alkaline phosphatase activity in serum under physiological conditions has not been previously reported. We examined the kinetics of tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase from bovine kidney and sera from 49 patients with a wide range of endogenous phosphate concentrations using pyridoxine 5'-phosphate as a substrate at pH 7.4. For the bovine kidney enzyme, the Km was 0.42 +/- 0.04 micromol/L, and the Ki for phosphate was 2.4 +/- 0.2 micromol/L. Analysis of the kinetics using pyridoxine 5'-phosphate in undiluted serum from 10 subjects with phosphorus ranging from 0.5-2.1 mmol/L and alkaline phosphatase activity ranging from 41-165 nmol/min x mL gave estimates for the Km of 56 +/- 11 micromol/L and for the Ki of 540 +/- 82 micromol/L for phosphate. This indicates that under physiological conditions alkaline phosphatase activity toward pyridoxine 5'-phosphate is reduced approximately 50% by the normal phosphate concentration and that it will increase or decrease significantly in response to changes in phosphate concentration within the ranges observed clinically.     

Familial occurrence of unilateral vestibular schwannoma

Vestibular schwannoma (VS) may present clinically in one of two forms: sporadic unilateral or hereditary bilateral. Almost all cases of familial transmission have been associated with the diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type II (NF-2). In this report, we describe nine families (18 individuals) presenting with unilateral VS without evidence of NF-2. In four of the nine families, the affected individuals were of parent-offspring relationship, in three families they were cousin-cousin, and in the remaining two families, they were sibling-sibling and aunt-nephew. No other members of the families were diagnosed with NF-2. There was no evidence for gender predilection or genomic imprinting among affected individuals. This study suggests that familial occurrence of unilateral VS may be genetically inherited as it occurs more commonly than would be estimated by chance alone. Future genetic studies will elucidate whether occurrence of unilateral VS in these families represents a variable expression of NF-2, chance occurrence of unilateral VS in families, or a new genetic disorder.     

What do people expect from their hospital? Results of a visitor survey at open house in a general hospital

Both increasing competition between hospitals and growing demands for quality by patients and health insurances require a good knowledge of patients' needs and expectations. For this reason the hospital management organized a survey during Open Day in the hospital. The visitors were asked to find facts about their expectations concerning a potential stay in a hospital. The results of this survey show the importance of hospital staff's communication skills. Moreover, the results indicate that structural changes in a hospital must be aimed at patient's needs and requirements. Only in this manner can the expectations of potential patients be met to ensure high patient satisfaction.