Characteristics of 9194 patients with left ventricular hypertrophy: the LIFE study. Losartan Intervention For Endpoint Reduction in Hypertension

-Losartan was the first available orally administered selective antagonist of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor developed for the treatment of hypertension. The Losartan Intervention For Endpoint (LIFE) Reduction in Hypertension Study is a double-blind, prospective, parallel group study designed to compare the effects of losartan with those of the beta-blocker atenolol on the reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Patients with essential hypertension, aged between 55 and 80 years, and ECG-documented left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were included. Altogether, 9223 patients in Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, and the United States were randomized from June 1995 through April 1997, and 9194 remain after exclusion of a study center at which irregularities were discovered. This population of hypertensives (mean systolic/diastolic blood pressure, 174.4/97.8 mm Hg) with LVH comprises women (54.1%) and men, mostly retired from active work (mean age, 66.9 years), with a high prevalence of overweight (mean body mass index, 28.0 kg/m2), diabetes mellitus (12.3%), lipid disorders (18.0%), and symptoms or signs of coronary heart disease (15.1%). There were fewer current smokers (<17%) than in the general population, and approximately 7% were nonwhite. Almost 30% of participants had been untreated for at least 6 months when screened for the study. Only 1557 persons who entered the placebo run-in period of 14 days were excluded, predominantly because of sitting blood pressures above or below the predetermined range of 160-200/95-115 mm Hg and ECG-LVH criteria not met. By application of simple 12-lead ECG criteria for LVH (Cornell voltage QRS duration product formula plus Sokolow-Lyon voltage read by a core laboratory), hypertensive patients with LVH with an average 5-year coronary heart disease risk of 22.3% according to the Framingham score were identified. This population is now being treated (goal, <140/90 mm Hg) in adherence with the protocol for at least 4 years after final enrollment (ie, through April 2001) and until at least 1040 patients suffer myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death.     

Full‐scale test of trailing edge flaps on a Vestas V27 wind turbine: active load reduction and system identification

A full‐scale test was performed on a Vestas V27 wind turbine equipped with one active 70 cm long trailing edge flap on one of its 13 m long blades. Active load reduction could be observed in spite of the limited spanwise coverage of the single active trailing edge flap. A frequency‐weighted model predictive control was tested successfully on this demonstrator turbine. An average flapwise blade root load reduction of 14% was achieved during a 38 minute test, and a reduction of 20% of the amplitude of the 1P loads was measured. A system identification test was also performed, and an identified linear model, from trailing edge flap angle to flapwise blade root moment, was derived and compared with the linear analytical model used in the model predictive control design model. Flex5 simulations run with the same model predictive control showed a good correlation between the simulations and the measurements in terms of flapwise blade root moment spectral densities, in spite of significant differences between the identified linear model and the model predictive control design model. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Organische LEDs

Certain polymers are able to generate luminescence when being applied to an electric field. Basically, this effect allows to manufacture luminous flat displays on a low cost basis. However, most processes involved are still in a development stage. High vacuum evaporation is applied for the conductive layers and is also used to deposit the low molecular organic material. Co‐evaporation, fine tuning of evaporation sources and prevention of cross‐contamination are basic demands on process equipment. Materials involved are sensitive to Oxygen and water vapour. Therefore they need to be handled by load lock transfer systems or under inert gas. Integrating vacuum deposition systems into inert gas glove boxes is a state‐of‐the‐art solution.     

两方面的优势聚合:高速应用对现代放大器的要求

现代系统设计人员正面对着许多设计挑战,从实现数据转换器的接口到维持其系统与模拟系统接口时的信号保真度等。他们转向使用运算放大器来解决这些难题是很自然的事。因此,当今的放大器需     

Review of the direct sulfation reaction of limestone

The direct sulfation reaction is defined as the sulfation reaction between SO₂ and limestone in an uncalcined state, and is typically relevant for flue gas desulfurization by direct sorbent injection during pressurized fluid-bed combustion (PFBC) and SO₂ absorption on limestone in the cyclone preheater used in cement production. In the past decades, this reaction has been extensively studied due to its potential for providing an economical control of SO₂ emissions during PFBC and other similar processes. In this paper, a literature review of the direct sulfation reaction is presented. Various subjects, such as the influence of the reaction conditions (gas concentrations, temperature and system pressure), limestone properties and additives to the reaction kinetics, the reaction mechanism and modeling, are discussed.     

LPCVD silicon nitride uniformity improvement using adaptive real-time temperature control

An effective approach to improve silicon nitride thickness uniformity has been demonstrated on a batch LPCVD furnace platform. Implementation of adaptive real-time temperature control provides accurate, real-time estimation of substrate temperature profiles that enables model-based optimization of process temperature. Optimization of a 200-nm silicon nitride deposition yielded long-term, overall nitride thickness uniformity of 0.79% 1/spl sigma/ over a seven-week period, compared to 1.24% for an equivalent PID-tuned process. Three sequential silicon nitride deposition iterations were implemented in the process recipe to enable increased temperature ramp rates for more efficient optimization of within-wafer uniformity. The optimized process requalified quickly after major and minor equipment maintenance, and is suitable for use in a manufacturing environment. The ART-optimized temperature ramp intervals used in this study are comparable to temperature deltas often used to offset dichlorosilane depletion effects encountered in some large-batch vertical furnace depositions. SIMS depth profiling of ART-optimized silicon nitride does reveal small oxygen and chlorine peaks, indicating slight interface formation between deposition steps.     

Stressful life events, social support, and mortality in men born in 1933

OBJECTIVE: To examine relations between stressful life events and mortality in middle aged men. DESIGN: Prospective population study. Data on stressful life events, social network, occupation, and other psychosocial factors derived from self administered questionnaires. Mortality data obtained from official registers. SETTING: City of Gothenburg, Sweden. SUBJECTS: 752 men from a random population sample of 1016 men aged 50. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Mortality from all causes during seven years' follow up. RESULTS: Life events which had occurred in the year before the baseline examination were significantly associated with mortality from all causes during seven years' follow up. Of the men who had experienced three or more events during the past year 10.9% had died compared with 3.3% among those with no life events (odds ratio 3.6; 95% confidence interval 1.5 to 8.5). The association between recent life events and mortality remained true after smoking, self perceived health, occupational class, and indices of social support were controlled for. Many of the deaths were alcohol related, but the number of deaths was too small to allow for analyses of specific causes of death. The association between life events and mortality was evident only in men with low emotional support. CONCLUSION: Stressful life events are associated with high mortality in middle aged men. Men with adequate emotional support seem to be protected.