Singular integral equations in the planar case for bodies containing elastic angular inclusions

Summary A planar problem is considered for an isotropic body containing elastic angular inclusions, whose contours have angular points, which is reduced to a system of singular integral equations allowing numerical integration. The complex potentials are represented as sums of principal parts having power-law singularities at the angular points and regular parts that are derived from the integral equation system. Characteristic equations are given that define the order of the stress singularity.Translated from Fiziko-Khimicheskaya Mekhanika Materialov, No. 6, pp. 20–29, November–December, 1992.     

Candida fungemia in neonates treated with fluconazole: report of forty cases, including eight with meningitis

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To assess efficacy and safety of fluconazole in neonates with Candida fungemia. STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter prospective protocol of all fungemias appearing between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 1997, in four major university hospitals. RESULTS: Forty neonates, 28 of them with very low birth weight (<1500 g; 30.5 median gestation week), with documented Candida albicans fungemia were treated with intravenous fluconazole in a daily dosage of 6 mg/kg once daily for 6 to 48 days. Thirty-four received fluconazole as monotherapy and 6 received it in combination with amphotericin B. Thirty-two (80%) were cured; 4 of them relapsed despite at least 14 days of therapy, but they were ultimately cured without sequelae. Eight other neonates died, 4 because of fungal infection and 4 because of prematurity or hemorrhage or lung failure, with fungemia (20% overall and 10% attributable mortality). Two neonates had elevated liver enzymes during fluconazole therapy and 2 others had elevated serum creatinine during fluconazole monotherapy. In none of them did these abnormalities necessitate discontinuation of antifungal therapy. In 8 neonates fungal meningitis developed as a complication of fungemia. All but 3 fungemias were C. albicans; 3 were Candida parapsilosis. CONCLUSIONS: Fluconazole was safe and effective antifungal therapy even in complicated or Candida fungemia in neonates and in infants with very low birth weight.     

BCG vaccination

The author expounds the fairly obscure history of BCG vaccination. Summarises the efficiency of accomplished vaccinations of different geographical areas. He accounts the diversity of results by the distinction of technical and methodical conditions and disparity in virulence of BCG strains. Overviews the Inland and European routine and the risk of possible complications. The favourable position of domestic childhood tuberculosis is due to the effective preventive arrangements. Considering the international and national epidemiology of tuberculosis in adults the administration of BCG vaccine, by chance in modified form, is recommended further on.     

Enhanced electron emission from phosphorus-doped diamond-cladsilicon field emitter arrays

Undoped and phosphorus (P)-doped diamond-clad Si field emitter arrays have been successfully fabricated using microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) technology. The electron emission from the blunt diamond-clad microtips are much higher than those for the pure Si tips with sharp curvature due to a lower work function. Furthermore, the characteristics of emission current against applied voltage for the P-doped diamond-clad tips show superior emission at lower field to the undoped ones. After the examination of Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and electrical characteristics of as-grown diamond, such a significant enhancement of the electron emission from the P-doped diamond-clad tips is attributed to a higher electron conductivity and defect densities     

A preliminary analysis of the biomass energy production potential in Africa in 2025 considering projected land needs for food production

This paper provides a preliminary examination of present and projected land use in Africa to estimate the potential availability of land in 2025 for use in producing biomass energy. Fifty countries are included in the analysis. Future cropland requirements are projected on the basis of average African cereal crop yield improvements since 1972, and minimum nutritional requirements are assumed to be met in 2025 without increasing imports above present absolute levels. Cropland, natural forests and other wilderness areas are excluded from consideration for biomass energy use. Woody biomass energy yields are estimated on the basis of nationally averaged precipitation, using a yield-precipitation correlation for commercial eucalyptus plantations in Brazil. The total African bioenergy production potential in 2025 is estimated to be about 18 EJ per year for a set of baseline assumptions that includes planting only 10% of the available non-crop, non-forest, non-wilderness area with biomass energy crops. A preliminary cost assessment suggests that much of this biomass could be produced for $1–2 GJ⁻¹. A number of uncertainties in the modelling assumptions are examined through a sensitivity analysis. Despite limitations in the model used here, one robust conclusion is that Africa as a whole has a significant biophysical potential for producing biomass energy. This result suggests that more detailed country and sub-country level assessments would be worthwhile to understand better the practical prospects for future biomass energy production in Africa.     

Experimental and numerical investigation of fracture in double-edge notched steel plates

Double-edge notched (DENT) steel plates were pulled until complete fracture and several experimental observations were made (using profilometry and scanning electron microscopy). The essential work of fracture (EWF) model was found to be well verified. Numerical simulations—up to the maximum load only—of some experiments were performed using the finite element method (FEM), and incorporating geometric and material non-linearities (large deformation elasto-plasticity). Some experimental measurements were compared with the corresponding numerical computations and excellent agreement was found.     

Formulation Factors Affecting Thimerosal Stability

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay has been developed for thimerosal and some of its degradation products: thiosalicylic and 2,2'-dithiosalicylic acids. Using this method, the influence of formulation factors as: isotonic agent, initial concentration, addition of tromethamine, pH and container material, over thimerosal stability was studied.     

Respiratory mechanics during mechanical ventilation: a model study on the effects of leak around a tracheal tube

Recently published studies indicate a potential clinical application of PET in head and neck tumors. In the preoperative staging phase, PET enables confirmation of regional lymph node extension and guides nodal neck dissection or systemic treatment. In this phase, a high negative predictive value, near 100%, could make it possible to avoid many negative neck dissections. This is a reliable technique for confirming or excluding the presence of recurrent/residual tumor and for obtaining an early evaluation of chemotherapeutic and radiotherapeutic response. PET imaging in many cases makes it possible to locate and guide histological study of tumors with an unknown primary. PET imaging for these indications is a perfect complementary method for clinical exploration and better than other imaging techniques.     

Comparative efficacy of calcipotriol (MC903) cream and betamethasone 17-valerate cream in the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis. A randomized, double-blind, parallel group multicentre study. Calcipotriol Study Group

PURPOSE: Ultrasound estimated bladder weight was compared before and after surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) to reveal a possible reversible change in bladder hypertrophy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ultrasound estimated bladder weight was measured before and after subcapsular (17) or transurethral (16) prostatectomy in 33 male patients with BPH. Sequential changes in the American Urological Association symptom score and urinary flow rate were also examined. RESULTS: Along with a significant improvement in the American Urological Association symptom scores and maximum flow rate, ultrasound estimated bladder weight decreased from 52.9 +/- 22.6 to 31.6 +/- 15.8 gm. in 12 weeks after treatment. In all but 4 patients (29 of 33, or 87.9%) ultrasound estimated bladder weight decreased to less than 35.0 gm. in 12 weeks after treatment. Interestingly, in all patients with an initial ultrasound estimated bladder weight of greater than 80 gm. the bladder weight still remained at an abnormally high level 12 weeks after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Bladder hypertrophy was completely reversible after the surgical treatment of the obstruction in the majority of patients with BPH. The measurement of ultrasound estimated bladder weight was of value in monitoring therapeutic effects in BPH patients. An extraordinarily high ultrasound estimated bladder weight of 80 gm. or more might suggest degenerative and irreversible pathological changes in the bladder detrusor.