Heart transplantation in Finland 1985-1995

BACKGROUND: Clearance of large molecules from the interstitial space is an important function of lymphatics and is affected by local pathologic changes. OBJECTIVE: To determine if the clearance rate of interstitially injected albumin is correlated to tumour characteristics and outcome in women with invasive breast cancer. METHOD: In a consecutive series of women coming to biopsy for suspected breast cancer, technetium-tagged albumin was injected into the tissue adjacent to the palpable mass. The isotope disappearance rate was measured over two hours. Also assessed were the maximum vessel density (MVD-using Factor VIII polyclonal antisera), the proliferation rate (using Ki-67 antisera), node status, tumour size, histologic and nuclear grade, mitotic rate, and p53 and c-erbB-2 oncoproteins. All patients were followed until relapse and for a minimum of 10 years. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis, an association between relapse-free survival and isotope clearance rate was suggested (p = 0.024). The best outcome was seen in patients with the least isotope clearance. Node status, size, histologic and nuclear grade, and mitotic rate correlated with survival. MVD did not correlate with survival and was inversely related to the isotope clearance rate. Tumour proliferation rate, and the c-erbB-2 and p53 oncoproteins did not relate to outcome. CONCLUSION: The role of lymphatics in breast cancer is difficult to study. Measurement of interstitial clearance may be a useful technique and could be a prognostic factor.     

Analysis of a MEMS transmission line

A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sound waveguide is considered as a transmission line for RF signals. We analyze a device geometry of a straight one-dimensional microsize silicon rod, where a longitudinal acoustic wave is generated and detected using capacitive transducers. Linear, isotropic, and nondispersive acoustic-wave propagation is assumed. Based on the calculation of the electromechanical impedance, an electrical equivalent model is derived for the acoustic transmission line. A numerical example and a comparison to measured properties of a MEMS-transmission-line resonator shows that the characteristic impedance level of the waveguide is typically high, which causes challenges for matched termination. Solutions to overcome the matching problems are discussed.     

Allotype-associated differences in concentrations of human IgA2

A prospective clinical trial comparing adverse postmyelographic effects and myelographic quality of metrizamide and iohexol was conducted. Using a predetermined, randomized assignment, 24 horses exhibiting neurologic signs were administered either metrizamide (180 mgl/ml) or iohexol (180 mgl/ml) via cerebellomedullary puncture. Each horse was evaluated postmyelographically for adverse effects. Myelographic quality was assessed by a numerical scoring method. Adverse effects were observed more frequently with metrizamide (21) compared with iohexol (6) myelography (p < 0.05). Seizures, intensification of preexisting neurologic signs and prolonged anesthetic recovery were the most common complications after myelography. There was no difference in myelographic quality (p > 0.05). We conclude that iohexol is safer than metrizamide for equine myelography and that quality myelograms can be obtained with either contrast medium.     

Detection of serum antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis in patients with chlamydial and nonchlamydial pelvic inflammatory disease by the IPAzyme Chlamydia and enzyme immunoassay

A novel serological test, IPAzyme Chlamydia (Savyon Diagnostics Ltd., Beer Sheva, Israel), was compared with an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the ability to detect serum immunoglobulin G and A antibodies in the diagnosis of acute chlamydial pelvic inflammatory disease. In comparison with cell culture, which is the "gold standard," IPAzyme Chlamydia and EIA exhibited sensitivities of 63 and 68% and specificities of 76 and 87%, respectively. Thus, IPAzyme Chlamydia offers no advantages over the EIA, and neither serological test can be recommended for the diagnosis of acute Chlamydia trachomatis infection. So far, conventional cell culture remains the most reliable diagnostic test for chlamydial pelvic inflammatory disease.     

Photoluminescence in n and p modulation-doped GaInNAs/GaAs quantum wells

Experimental results concerning the steady-state photoluminescence (PL) studies in n and p modulation doped and undoped GaInNAs/GaAs quantum wells are presented. The effects of modulation, type of doping and nitrogen concentration on the PL and the temperature dependence of the band gap, carrier localization and non-radiative recombination are investigated. Increasing the nitrogen composition decreases energy band gap as expected. The n-type modulation doping eliminates most of the defect-related effects and blue shifts the energy band gap. However, the p-type doping gives rise to additional features in the PL spectra and red shifts energy band gap further compared to the n-type-doped material.     

Water hydraulic manipulator for fail safe and fault tolerant remote handling operations at ITER

Department of Intelligent Hydraulics and Automation (IHA) of Tampere University of Technology has been involved in the European Fusion program since 1994 within the ITER reactor maintenance activities. In this paper we discuss the design and development of a six degrees of freedom water hydraulic manipulator with a force feedback for teleoperation tasks. The manipulator is planned to be delivered to Divertor Test Platform 2 (DTP2) during year 2008. The paper also discusses the possibility to improve the fail safe and redundant operation of the manipulator. During the design of the water hydraulic manipulator, special provisions have been made in order to meet the safety requirements such as servo valve block for redundant operation and safety vane brakes for fail safe operation.     

The safety climate and its relationship to safety practices, safety of the work environment and occupational accidents in eight wood-processing companies

Employees continuously observe their work environment and the actions of their fellow workers and superiors, and they use such observations as a basis for the creation of cognitive models associated with safety. These models regulate their actions in the workplace and thus have an influence on safety. This study attempts to define the structure of the safety climate as perceived by workers and the correlations between the safety climate, on the one hand, and the safety practices of the company, the safety level of the work environment and occupational accidents on the other. The variables used in this study were the same as those employed in two previous Finnish safety climate studies carried out in the plywood industry, shipyards, the forestry industry, building construction and stevedoring. The safety climate was measured by means of a questionnaire. Workers from four sawmills, two plywood factories and two parquet plants participated. The total number of participants was 508 in 1990 and 548 in 1993. The variables formed four factors, whose contents and reliabilities closely resembled the results obtained in the earlier studies. These results indicate that the structure of the safety climate among Finnish workers is quite stable. The safety climate correlated both with the safety level of the work environment and with the safety practices of the company, but the correlation between the safety climate and the safety of the work environment was stronger. This result differs from those of the previous studies, in which the safety climate was defined specifically in terms of an individual’s perceptions of the safety practices of the company and of the behavior of other employees. The two safety climate factors that described a company’s attitudes to safety and its safety precautions correlated with the accident rates. The better the safety climate of the company was, the lower was the accident rate. Four companies with an accident rate below the average for the wood-processing industry had a better safety climate than four similar companies with an accident rate above the average.     

“Plug-up”–a new concept for fabricating SOI MEMS devices

This paper reports a novel process sequence for fabricating micromechanical devices on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers. Among the merits of the described process are its improved immunity to stiction and elimination of conductor metal endurance problems during sacrificial etching in hydrofluoric acid. With this novel process one can controllably embed vacuum cavities within SOI substrates. Further processing of such cavity wafers enables realization of a wide variety of micromechanical devices based on single crystalline silicon or even integrated read-out circuitry.K. Järvi and T. Häkkinen are gratefully acknowledged for the device fabrication. The Finnish National Technology Agency, Okmetic, VTI Technologies, and Micro Analog Systems participated in funding this work. The ultrasonic devices were fabricated in collaboration with Autotank, Oras, Suunto, Vaisala, and Enermet.     

AUTOMATED OBJECT LOCATOR IN A FOREST FORWARDER

A double approach method for versatile detection of similar objects from the real environment is introduced. By searching both the shape and textural data from the video image, it is possible to solve a generalized location problem without a loss in overall reliability in near–real time. A forest forwarder is used as a proof-of-concept application for the technique.     

The Glu318Gly mutation of the presenilin-1 gene does not necessarily cause Alzheimer's disease

In early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenic mutations have been found in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene and in the presenilin (PS)-1 and PS-2 genes. We screened for mutations in these genes in 20 patients with familial AD from the Finnish population. In addition, we sampled 41 sporadic AD patients and 59 controls to test for mutations identified in our familial AD cases. We detected an A-to-G transition in the PS-1 gene, resulting in a glutamic acid (Glu)-to-glycine (Gly) substitution at codon 318 in 2 familial and 2 sporadic AD patients. The Glu318Gly mutation has previously been reported to cause AD. We also found the Glu318Gly mutation in 4 healthy aged controls (range, 74-87 years). We thus conclude that the mutation is most likely a rare polymorphism not related to AD.