Recovery of postischemic contractile function is depressed by antegrade warm continuous blood cardioplegia

Drug-abusing (n = 25) and nonusing (n = 55) pregnant women from a publicly supported prenatal clinic were tested for level of social support and of pregnancy anxiety during the last half of pregnancy. Differences found between the groups were fewer than expected. Drug abusers did not differ from nonusers in overall level of social support or in Appraisal, Belonging, or Tangible subscales. Abusers were found to report lower levels of self esteem; lower self esteem was predicted by drug abuse, having more children and lower socioeconomic status. Drug abusers did not differ from nonusers in their overall feelings of pregnancy anxiety, but they did indicate higher fears for themselves and for the baby, and there was a tendency for higher depression and withdrawal.     

A control-to-target architecture for process control

In this paper, we present an architecture for a run-to-run supervisory process control system that allows the engineer to tailor the form of control for specific processes. The architecture supports different degrees of control, from model-based control to statistical process control to diagnosis. The architecture is compatible with different techniques for model optimization, data acquisition and analysis, and model adjustment and feedback. A primary feature of this architecture is that engineers can define processes In terms of their desired effects, and use process models that transform those effects into machine settings. We have used object technology as the basis for our design and implementation of the architecture. Object-oriented modeling provides the flexibility required to support the varying degrees of control required in a large-scale manufacturing facility. In this paper, we define the components of the architecture, and describe in detail a process control system that was built with this architecture and used in the Computer Integrated manufacturing (CIM) system built for the Microelectronics Manufacturing Science and Technology (MMST) demonstration facility. Although the architecture was developed for the purpose of controlling semiconductor manufacturing processes, the principles behind the architecture may be applied to the control of any process     

The effect of ion irradiation on the adherence of germanium films

Germanium films deposited under simultaneous argon ion irradiation show substantially better adherence on glass and other substrate materials than conventionally produced films.The ion bombardment leads to a strengthening of the interfacial bonding, an effect believed to be associated with a thin layer of intermediate composition produced at the substrate surface by ion knock-on processes. In addition irradiation causes a significant reduction in film stress.     

Determination of antibiotics in different water compartments via liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

The mechanisms by which BCG exerts its antitumour activity remain unclear. Attachment of BCG to the bladder via FN has been shown to be an important step in initiating its antitumorigenic activity. The mechanism(s) by which BCG operates requires LAK cells, BCG-activated killer cells, T lymphocytes (CD4) helper cells and CD8 suppressor/cytotoxic cells) and monocytes. The optimal route of administration is intravesical. The efficacy of a BCG vaccine depends on the viability, dose and strain. Differences in efficacy and side-effects have not been shown between different strains. Low-dose regimens successfully protect from recurrences, with fewer side-effects. The initial schedule of BCG is a course of six instillations in 6 weeks; when the patient fails this course, two possibilities arise. The first is maintenance therapy; response rates improve but there is more local and systemic toxicity. The second is a further 6-week course, and this seems most useful in those with a sustained response to the initial treatment. The clinical response to BCG therapy can be monitored using cytokine measurements or p53 determinations. Toxicity remains a major problem in BCG treatment and triple antituberculosis combination therapy should be given for 3 months in those with severe systemic side-effects. The use of prophylactic isoniazid is not recommend to decrease side-effects. The clinical results of BCG have been good, with success rates of 58-100%, with a minimal follow-up of one year in prophylaxis. BCG seems superior to intravesical therapy, but at the cost of inducing more adverse effects. BCG is not indicated for low- and intermediate-risk patients, in whom chemotherapy is the first choice. BCG can also be used to eliminate tumour after an incomplete TUR, or in patients who are unfit for surgery, with a 60-70% success rate. The primary and best treatment for CIS is intravesical BCG; encouraging results have been reported, with success rate of 42-83% after a minimal follow-up of one year. Although currently BCG seems to be the choice for high-risk superficial TCC, many questions remain unanswered, especially about the mechanism(s) of action, the optimal dose and clinical schedule.     

INTRACTABILITY IN THE ALLEN AND KOOMEN PLANNER

The Allen and Koomen planner is intractable in two ways: the Allen interval algebra is an intractable temporal reasoner, and the collapsing problem introduces a large branching factor in the search space for a solution plan. We define independence and dependence for networks to address both problems. Independence is used to find a decomposition of an interval network, and dependence is used to focus search when faced with the collapsing problem.     

Report of illnesses caused by aldicarb-contaminated cucumbers

During May and June of 1985 the Health Protection Branch and several other agencies were involved in the investigation of over 300 reports of illness reported in the Vancouver area of British Columbia, Canada. Symptoms reported included nausea, vomiting, dizziness, muscle fasciculation and blurred vision. A review of the onset of symptoms and food consumed suggested that at least 140 people had become ill from eating cucumbers adulterated with a carbamate pesticide. The presence of residues of aldicarb in cucumbers from one particular producer was confirmed by laboratory analysis.