Insertion/deletion polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene associated with macroangiopathy and blood pressure in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

In the search for new risk factors for diabetic macroangiopathy the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene was studied in 237 consecutive patients (125 men and 112 women) with non-insulin-dependent diabetes. The female population showed an excess of ischemic electrocardiographic changes or definite myocardial infarctions in the patients homozygous for the deletion [D/D; odds ratio (OR) 2.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-5.3] and in the insertion/deletion heterozygotes (I/D; OR 1.8; CI 1.1-3.1) compared with the patients homozygous for the insertion (I/I). In the total series coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and claudication were more often observed in the patients with I/D (OR 1.5; CI 1.0-2.2) or the D/D genotype patients (OR 1.7; CI 1.1-2.6) than in those with the genotype I/I. The systolic blood pressure was lower in patients with genotype I/I (138 +/- 19 mmHg) than in those with the genotype I/D (149 +/- 22 mmHg) or D/D (150 +/- 21 mmHg; P < 0.02). The prevalence of hypertension and the median urinary albumin excretion rate also tended to be lowest in the I/I genotype patients. Multiple logistic analysis revealed that in women the angiotensin-converting enzyme D/D genotype is independently associated with coronary heart disease. Our findings suggest that variation at the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene locus is one of the factors involved in the predisposition of diabetic patients to the development of arterial disease and hypertension.     

A Solder Alloy Filled Z-Axis Conductive Epoxy Adhesive

Epoxy adhesives filled with four different volume fractions of eutectic tin-bismuth solder alloy were prepared and the effect of filler content on the electrical and mechanical properties of these anisotropic electrically conductive adhesives was investigated. The results show that the adhesive containing the lowest amount of the filler alloy had the best combination of conductivity, insulation resistance and shear strength. The DSC-measurements suggested that the filler melts before the cure of the resin begins which allows the filler to wet and bond well to the conductors. This was verified by SEM/EPMA examinations. A temperature cycling test and high humidity, high temperature treatment were conducted on the best composite adhesive. The temperature variation had no effect on conductivity of the joints while humid and hot environment decreased the conductivity.     

Electrical capacitance tomography as a monitoring tool for high-shear mixing and granulation

Electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) was utilized for monitoring of high-shear mixing and high-shear granulation processes. A finite element method (FEM)-based reconstruction algorithm was utilized to take into account the specific geometrical characteristics of the experimental set-up. Two-dimensional ECT tomograms, mixing index curves and permittivity fractions were computed based on the measurements, and their suitability in the analysis of the processes was assessed. It was found that the different mixing processes and the different granulation processes could be analyzed based on these quantities.     

The statistical analysis of highway crash-injury severities: a review and assessment of methodological alternatives

Reducing the severity of injuries resulting from motor-vehicle crashes has long been a primary emphasis of highway agencies and motor-vehicle manufacturers. While progress can be simply measured by the reduction in injury levels over time, insights into the effectiveness of injury-reduction technologies, policies, and regulations require a more detailed empirical assessment of the complex interactions that vehicle, roadway, and human factors have on resulting crash-injury severities. Over the years, researchers have used a wide range of methodological tools to assess the impact of such factors on disaggregate-level injury-severity data, and recent methodological advances have enabled the development of sophisticated models capable of more precisely determining the influence of these factors. This paper summarizes the evolution of research and current thinking as it relates to the statistical analysis of motor-vehicle injury severities, and provides a discussion of future methodological directions.     

IgE, IgA, and IgG responses to common yeasts in atopic patients

To assess the incidence of HIV infection and risk factors associated with HIV seroconversion among patients attending clinics for sexually transmitted diseases (STD), medical record reviews were conducted in 12 clinics in 7 U.S. cities. The records of all patients who initially tested negative for HIV from 1991 through 1996 and who received at least one additional HIV test during the study period were reviewed. In each of 7 cities, 5 to 112 patients seroconverted. Of the 286 seroconverters identified in total, 53% (152 of 286) were heterosexual men and 28% (81 of 286) were women. HIV incidence rates among men who have sex with men (MSM) ranged by city from 0.81 to 7.0 new infections/100 person-years. Rates among heterosexual men and women ranged from 0.018 to 1.2 infections/100 person-years. Multivariate analyses showed that drug use was associated with HIV seroconversion only among heterosexuals. Most new HIV infections in these clinics are being transmitted heterosexually and are associated with drug use. Nevertheless, MSM, particularly young MSM, are at greatest risk for HIV in this population: 1 of 47 seroconvert/year. The effective use of targeted prevention efforts depends upon the continued ability to monitor the incidence of HIV infection.     

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     

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.     

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.