Recent trends in incidence of respiratory tract pathogens and antimicrobial susceptibilities of Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis isolated in 1994 and 1995

The incidence of pathogenic bacteria in respiratory tract infections in 1994 and 1995 was investigated using quantitative cultures of sputa from patients with the infections in our department. Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis were isolated at high rates (70.5% in 1994 and 73.8% in 1995) from the specimens of out-patients, and the incident rates were similar to the past data. The antimicrobial susceptibilities of these three pathogens were examined with the agar dilution method. The incidence of penicillin (Pc) resistant S. pneumoniae against which MIC of Pc-G was higher than 0.125 microgram/ml was markedly increased from 24% in 1994 to 34.9% in 1995. Most of the Pc resistant isolates were also resistant to other antibiotics including erythromycin, minocycline and tosufloxacin. Serotype of strains against which MIC of Pc-G was higher than 1.0 microgram/ml was 19. The ratios of beta-lactamase-producing strains among H. influenzae isolated in 1994 and 1995 were 20 and 15.8%, respectively, which were slightly higher than those in the past. One quinolone resistant strain was isolated in this study. Although the ratio of beta-lactamase-producing strains among M. catarrhalis was as high (96.7%) as in the past, no increased resistance against the drugs examined was observed.     

Preventive effects of diclofenac ophthalmic solution on post-cataract-surgical cystoid macular edema

Using eyes undergoing phacoemulsification followed by implantation of a foldable acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) designed for small-incision cataract surgery, a multi-center study was performed to compare a non-steroidal ophthalmic solution (0.1% diclofenac) to a steroidal ophthalmic solution (0.1% fluorometholone) in preventing cystoid macular edema (CME) and inducing disruption of the blood-aqueous barrier determined by laser flare cellmetry. The incidence of CME, noted in 3 out of 53 eyes (5.7%) receiving diclofenac and in 29 out of 53 eyes (54.7%) receiving fluorometholone, was significantly lower in the diclofenac group. The flare in the anterior chamber was also significantly lower in the diclofenac group; when compared between eyes with and without CME, the amount of flare was significantly higher in the former group. These findings suggest that diclofenac effectively prevents CME following cataract surgery and that CME is closely related to the breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier.     

DELIQUORING BY EXPRESSION -PART 1 CONSTANT-PRESSURE EXPRESSION

The basic analitical method for so-called expression operation, the separation of liquid from solid-liquid systems by compression, are presented in view of the flow through compressible porous media. It has become evident that the expression mechanism consists of two flow phenomena. These types of phenomena can be analyzed by consideration of the flow mechanism through compressible porous beds, first by the filtration theory and second by the so-called consolidation theory. A simplified equation is also presented. It is shown that the simplified equation is well applicable to industrial expression problems even when the creep effects of matarials to be expressed are appreciable     

Thickness dependent self limiting 1-D tin oxide nanowire arrays by nanosecond pulsed laser irradiation

Fast, sensitive and discriminating detection of hydrogen at room temperature is crucial for storage, transportation, and distribution of hydrogen as an energy source. One dimensional nanowires of SnO2 are potential candidates for improved H2 sensor performance. The single directional conducting continuous nanowires can decrease electrical noise, and their large active surface area could improve the response and recovery time of the sensor. In this work we discuss synthesis and characterization of nanowire arrays made using nanosecond ultraviolet wavelength (266 nm) laser interference processing of ultrathin SnO2 films on SiO2 substrates. The laser energy was chosen to be above the melting point of the films. The results show that the final nanowire formation is dominated by preferential evaporation as compared to thermocapillary flow. The nanowire height (and hence wire aspect ratio) increased with increasing initial film thickness h0 and with increasing laser energy density Eo. Furthermore, a self-limiting effect was observed where-in the wire formation ceased at a specific final remaining thickness of SnO2 that was almost independent of h0 for a given Eo. To understand these effects, finite element modeling of the nanoscale laser heating was performed. This showed that the temperature rise under laser heating was a strong non-monotonic function of film thickness. As a result, the preferential evaporation rate varies as wire formation occurs, eventually leading to a shut-off of evaporation at a characteristic thickness. This results in the stoppage of wire formation. This combination of nanosecond pulsed laser experiments and thermal modeling shows that several unique synthesis approaches can be utilized to control the nanowire characteristics.     

PRESS DEWATERING OF BROWN COAL : PART 2 -BATCH AND CONTINUOUS-SCREW OPERATIONS-

The brown coal is wet-ground and expressed in a batch constant-pressure or constant-rate operation and in a continuous screw-press operation. It is found that 90% of the moisture of the as-mined coal can be removed under the pressure of about 100 ma. Batch operations under a constant-pressure or a con-stant-rate can be analyzed well by using the Terzaghi-Voigt model and constant-pressure analysis. In a continuous screw-press operation, the resistance of the filter medium, the feed concentration and the die resistance affect the screw performance. The volumetric discharge rate under the open discharge condition can be expressed well by a lubrication theory. With discharge restricted by a screw-type die, the slip factor decreases with increase in die resistance.     

A wafer-scale 170000-gate FFT processor with built-in test circuits

The wafer-scale 170000-gate fast Fourier transform (FFT) processor described consists of individual repeatable building blocks, each of which contains a processing element (PE) and interconnection wiring. The PE consists of a multiplier accumulator and its built-in self-test circuits. The wafer system is reconfigured by connected active blocks after block self-diagnosis. Blocks are connected using a programmable contact-hole mask. The processor performs parallel 16-bit, eight-point complex FFTs and is implemented with 725 I/O pads in triple-metal 2.3-μm p-well CMOS technology on a 4-in. wafer. It is mounted by controlled-collapse bonding facedown on a 11.8×11.8-cm² substrate     

Distinct interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme family proteases mediate cisplatin- and staurosporine-induced apoptosis of mouse proximal tubule cells

Interleukin-1beta converting enzyme (ICE) family proteases (caspases) are known to be implicated as important effectors of apoptotic pathways. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of ICE family proteases in apoptosis of mouse cells derived from the terminal proximal tubule (S3) treated with cisplatin, an anti-tumor drug, or staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor. For this purpose, we measured the activities of ICE family proteases and examined the effects of tetrapeptide and viral ICE family protease inhibitors on the activities of ICE family proteases in and the degree of apoptosis of S3 cells treated with cisplatin and staurosporine. RT-PCR analysis revealed that S3 cells as well as mouse kidney express mRNA for ICE and CPP32, an ICE family protease. Results of enzymatic analysis, determination the degree of DNA fragmentation and cytotoxicity test suggest that CPP32 mediates cisplatin-induced apoptosis of S3 cells, whereas ICE family proteases other than CPP32 mediate staurosporine-induced apoptosis of S3 cells. In conclusion, distinct ICE family proteases mediate apoptosis of mouse proximal tubule cells depending on the stimuli to which the cells are exposed.