High-efficiency GaInP-AlGaInP ridge waveguide single-mode lasersoperating at 650 nm

In this letter, the authors report a very high quantum efficiency of 91% for antireflection/high-reflection-coated GaInP-AlGaInP ridge waveguide laser diodes operating at 650 nm range. The laser structure was grown by solid-source molecular beam epitaxy. The laser diodes performed stable single-mode operation up to 60 mW. Threshold current as low as 50 mA was measured for 5.5×600 μm² laser diodes. To the authors' best knowledge, this is among the best ever reported efficiency for visible lasers     

Determination of the Henry's Coefficient and Mass Transfer for Ozone in a Bubble Column at Different pH Values of Water

In this study, the ozone gas-liquid mass transfer into water in a bubble column was investigated for different pH values. The ozone volumetric mass transfer coefficient and the Henry's coefficient were determined simultaneously by parameter estimation using a nonlinear optimization method. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to obtain information on the reliability and identifiability of the estimated parameters. A minor dependence of the Henry's law constant on pH was detected at the pH range 4 to 9.     

Development particularities for programming systems of measurementprocedures

This study deals with contemporary tools for programming of the procedures for measurement and control. Computer-aided measurement systems are considered as information systems. A classification of measurement programming languages is presented as a scheme based on bipolar estimates of four factors characterizing these languages. The available typical software packages are discussed. The common principles of constructing an integrated environment for measurement programming are proposed     

Neurotoxic effects of the oxidative thermal degradation products form low density polyethylene

Adult male Wistar rats were exposed for 2–5 weeks, 6 h nightly, 5 nights a week, to oxidative thermal degradation products of low density polyethylene derived by heating (325°C) under an airstream in a tube oven. Chemical analysis of the degradation products in the gaseous fraction revealed a wide variety of potentially toxic molecules which included carbon monoxide (<20 ppm), formaldehyde (1.4 ppm), acrolein (0.5 ppm) and various other aldehydes (total concentration 18 ppm expressed as formaldehyde). The mean oxygen concentration was 20%. The total particulate fraction amounted to 8 mg m^?3. The latter particles might have caused the detected discoloration of the rat fur. Similarly this contamination might have been the cause of a very significant increase in the duration and frequency of preening of the rats. The neurochemical effects associated with the exposure included an increase in the cerebral RNA concentration as well as initial increase in the glycosylation of cerebral protein in vitro. NADPH-diaphorase activity was below the control range throughout the exposure while the superoxide dismutase activity displayed an increasing trend five weeks after the beginning of the experiment. The latter effects were taken as a response to potentially harmful molecules in the brain whereas the effects on the RNA and glycosylation might have resulted from a more peripheral nervous irritation.     

Risk-benefit evaluation of nuclear power plant siting

An assessment scheme is described for the risk-benefit analyses of nuclear power versus conventional alternatives. Given the siting parameters for the proposed nuclear plant an economic comparison is made with the most advantageous competitive conventional production scenario. The economic benefit is determined from the differential discounted annual energy procurement cost as a function of the real interest rate and amortization time. The risk analysis encompasses following factors: radiation risks in normal operation, reactor accident hazards and economic risks, atmospheric pollutants from the conventional power plants and fuel transportation. The hazards are first considered in terms of probabilistic dose distributions. In the second stage risk components are converted to a compatible form where excess mortality is used as the risk indicator. Practical calculations are performed for the power production alternatives of Helsinki where district heat would be extracted from the nuclear power plant. At the real interest rate of 10% and amortization time of 20 yr the 1000 MW(e) nuclear option is found to be $9.1 m per yr more economic than the optimal conventional scenario. Simultaneously the nuclear alternative is estimated to reduce excess mortality by 2–5 fatal injuries annually.     

A workbench for distributed production management systems

An end-user oriented workbench approach in the design of distributed production management systems (DPMS) is presented. We shall also deal with models and design of DPMS. Changes anticipated in design processes, roles and professionality required are discussed. In fact, complete structural rearrangements in the design of production management systems (PMS) are expected towards the end of this decade. The ideas presented are based on an on-going research project at Helsinki University of Technology (the so-called HUTDPMS project).     

Shape recognition by a scale-invariant model

In this article, we considered the recognition of unknown shapes by maximum likelihood methods. The contour of a shape is represented by its centroidal profile, and it is fitted by a circular autoregressive model. Two different shape recognition problems are considered: the decision on the similarity of two unknown shapes, and the classification of an unknown shape as one of many known shapes. Maximum likelihood decision rules for these two cases are derived. The decision rules are invariant to translation, rotation, and size change after normalizing the estimates. The developed algorithms are applied to classify eight classes of machine parts and eight classes of aircraft shapes. For each class, 60 to 80 samples are generated by rotating and dilating the original shape. In the experiment, more than 98% of machine parts are classified correctly, and more than 97% of aircraft shapes are correctly classified. This result is better than previous model-based approaches. Partially supported by the National Science Foundation under the grant IRI-8809391.     

Do the isocyanate monomer standards still protect against attacks of occupational asthma? Should a standard including polyisocyanates be evolved?

Field surveys of diisocyanates at the workplaces in Switzerland and particularly in car repair shops, where HDI was the most used, showed that the monomer levels comply with the Swiss permissible exposure limit (PEL) in the great number of situations. Cases of medical surveillance associated with industrial hygiene measurements demonstrate that occupational asthma was also observed in situations where the monomer concentrations are low although high peaks of prepolymers are often recorded. From the statistical data on compensations, the annual incidence of occupational asthma over the period 1988 to 1992 remains around 54 cases with a mean cost of 21,000 sFr. per case per year. It is suggested that a PEL on the prepolymers should be introduced in the Swiss PEL list to enhance the efficiency of prevention policy.     

Comparative effectiveness and safety of cefdinir and amoxicillin-clavulanate in treatment of acute community-acquired bacterial sinusitis. Cefdinir Sinusitis Study Group

Cefdinir is an extended-spectrum oral cephalosporin that is active against pathogens commonly seen in acute community-acquired bacterial sinusitis (ACABS), including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. Two randomized, investigator-blind, multicenter trials (one in the United States and one in Europe) compared two dosage regimens of cefdinir (600 mg once a day for 10 days and 300 mg twice a day for 10 days) to amoxicillin-clavulanate (A-C) (500 mg three times a day for 10 days) for adult and adolescent patients with ACABS. Twelve hundred twenty-nine patients entered the U.S. study, 698 with antral puncture; 569 patients entered the European study, all with antral puncture. Clinical response (cure or improvement) was determined 7 to 14 days and 3 to 5 weeks posttherapy. Microbiologic eradication rates were determined 10 to 30 days posttherapy in a subset of patients who underwent pre- and posttherapy sinus aspirate culture. Rates of adverse events and treatment discontinuations due to adverse events were examined. Cefdinir, given once or twice daily, was as effective clinically (approximately 90% cure rate) as amoxicillin-clavulanate given three times daily in the treatment of ACABS. Microbiologic eradication rates were also similar in the three groups. The major side effect was mild diarrhea, occurring in approximately 20% of each group. Cefdinir caused fewer adverse events requiring treatment discontinuation.