The aditi deductive database system

Deductive databases generalize relational databases by providing support for recursive views and non-atomic data. Aditi is a deductive system based on the client-server model; it is inherently multi-user and capable of exploiting parallelism on shared-memory multiprocessors. The back-end uses relational technology for efficiency in the management of disk-based data and uses optimization algorithms especially developed for the bottom-up evaluation of logical queries involving recursion. The front-end interacts with the user in a logical language that has more expressive power than relational query languages. We present the structure of Aditi, discuss its components in some detail, and present performance figures.     

Treatment and prognosis of secondary glaucoma in Fuchs' heterochromic iridocyclitis

After reviewing the records of 111 patients with Fuchs' heterochromic iridocyclitis, we studied the therapy and prognosis of secondary glaucoma in 30 of these 111 patients (27%) who had glaucoma or could be considered glaucoma suspects. Maximal medical therapy was unsuccessful in 22 of the 30 patients (73%). Surgical intervention (mostly trabeculectomies, half with 5-fluorouracil) successfully controlled intraocular pressure (< or = 21 mm Hg with or without medication) in 13 of the 18 operated-on patients (72%) after a mean follow-up of 26 months. All successfully operated-on patients retained a visual acuity of 20/80 or better. We had favorable results, possibly because of modern surgical techniques (use of 5-fluorouracil, sodium hyaluronate) or earlier surgical intervention, or both.     

STRONG METAL-CERAMIC JOINTS

In this paper the technology for joining metals to ceramics is reviewed. The technologies of metal powder sintering, liquid phase joining with activated brazing alloys and with ceramic frit, solid-state joining, friction welding and mechanical fixation are described. In order to put some perspective on the mechanical data given in the literature, some evaluating remarks on mechanical testing are made.     

Intubation conditions: importance of the rate of repetition of the train-of-four

OBJECTIVES: To assess that neuromuscular relaxation onset of the adductor pollicis (AP) is related to neuromuscular stimulation rate. To assess that train-of-four (TOF) at 0.05 Hz is a more accurate indicator of optimal tracheal intubation time and conditions, than TOF at 0.08 Hz. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, comparative, randomized double-blind study. PATIENTS: Forty adults, physical class ASA 1 or 2, undergoing general anaesthesia with tracheal intubation were allocated to two groups (n = 20) according to the sequence of stimulation of the AP: either TOF at 0.05 Hz (test group) or TOF at 0.08 Hz (control group). METHODS: Induction of anaesthesia was achieved with thiopentone, fentanyl and vecuronium (0.1 mg.kg-1). Neuromuscular monitoring was obtained with force displacement transducers attached to each AP. Tracheal intubation was performed once AP muscular response obtained with TOF at 0.05 Hz for test group and TOF at 0.08 Hz for control group was abolished. Results are expressed as mean +/- SEM. Fisher exact test was used for intubation conditions comparison. Curarization time between groups was compared with unpaired Student's t test (P < 0.05 accepted). RESULTS: TOF with 0.05 Hz stimulation significantly increased curarization time: 217 +/- 7 versus 162 +/- 6 s (P < 0.001). Intubation conditions were excellent in 95% and good in 5% of patients in the study group, compared to 15 and 40% in the control group, respectively (P < 0.01) in 45% of the control group patients coughing at intubation occurred. CONCLUSION: Low stimulation rate (TOF at 0.05 Hz) of AP is a reliable technique to determine the appropriate intubation time for patients paralyzed with vecuronium.     

Longitudinal diffusion and resistance to mass transfer as causes of nonideality in chromatography : J. J. van Deemter, F. J. Zuiderweg and A. Klinkenberg, Chem. Engng Sci. 5 271–289, 1956

The sharpness of separation in a gas-liquid chromatographic column is effected by longitudinal molecular diffusion, slowness to reach absorption equilibrium, and by flow irregularities in channels and across the column. The total effect of all these causes can be described by a simple equation which can be derived from the rigorous mathematical solution by introducing reasonable simplifying assumptions.     

Sequence capture-PCR improves detection of mycobacterial DNA in clinical specimens

The rapid identification of mycobacterial DNA in clinical samples by PCR can be useful in the diagnosis of tuberculous infections, but several large studies have found that the sensitivity of this approach is not better than that of culture. In order to improve the sensitivity of detection of mycobacterial DNA in clinical specimens from patients with paucibacillary forms of tuberculosis, we have developed a procedure permitting the specific capture of mycobacterial DNA in crude samples prior to amplification, thereby concentrating the target sequences and removing irrelevant DNA and other potential inhibitors of the amplification reaction (sequence capture-PCR). By using this approach to capture and amplify two different sequences specific for organisms of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (IS6110 and the direct repeat region), it was possible to detect as little as one genome of mycobacterial DNA in samples containing up to 750 micrograms of total DNA, representing a 10- to 100-fold increase in sensitivity compared with that obtained by purifying total DNA prior to amplification. Detection of the IS6110 sequence in pleural fluid samples from patients with tuberculous pleurisy by sequence capture-PCR gave positive results in 13 of 17 cases, including 3 of 3 culture-positive samples and 10 of 14 culture-negative samples. In contrast, when total DNA was purified from these samples by adsorption to a silica matrix prior to amplification, only the three culture-positive samples were positive by PCR. The sensitivity of detection of the direct repeat sequence in these samples by sequence capture-PCR was similar to that of IS6110 and, in addition, permitted immediate typing of the strains from some patients. We conclude that sequence capture-PCR improves the sensitivity of detection of mycobacterial DNA in paucibacillary samples. This approach should be useful in detecting rare target sequences from organisms implicated in other pathologic processes.     

Konzept zur Maßstabsübertragung beim Suspendieren im Rührbehälter

Concept for Scale-up on Suspension in a Stirred Tank. The relationships derived for the suspension of solids in a propeller loop can be applied to corresponding processes in a stirred tank by means of analogy considerations. Accordingly, the ratio of stirrer power to slip power of laminar flow state is inversely proportional to the vessel diameter. In contrast, the power ratio remains constant in turbulent flow. There is a pronounced transition range between these two limiting states. The author's own experimental studies performed over a wide range of Re numbers for the recycling flow confirm this relationship. The observations presented explain why numerous authors have determined scale-up rules lying between these two extremes. The experiments shows that the power input for suspension is always significantly greater than the slip power. Under otherwise identical conditions, the necessary stirrer power is smaller by a factor of three for a propeller stirrer than for a disk impeller. The suspension of small solids concentrations can also be approximated by the flow model presented. The somewhat different physical relations valid in this case are substantiated by the author's experiments. The model also provided information relevant to scale-up when the particle properties are unknown. This is demontrated for an example in a 21 m³ vessel.