Remote control system for the operation of 65 WWTPs.

The present report discusses the monitoring system for approximately 340 facilities for water management of the Emschergenossenschaft and Lippeverband. It is based on the operation control system of the wastewater treatment plants (currently 61) and the pumping stations of the Lippeverband, which has been created since 1985. For the near future, the integration of the plants of the Emschergenossenschaft including storm-water tanks is scheduled. The current connection ratios of the WWTPs which are to be monitored vary between 500 and 1,940,000 Population Equivalents. The data recorded at each plant are transmitted to the allocated catchment area centre and then to the district centres. The encompassing monitoring centre serves the integrated control of all plants. The comprehensive remote control is managed through the presentation of relevant plant-type-specific system parameters. The investment costs of approximately 33,000 Euros/plant and annual costs of 9,400 Euros/plant stand against a considerable increase of the operation safety and the reduction of manpower.

Occurrence of antibodies to L1, L2, E4 and E7 gene products of human papillomavirus types 6b, 16 and 18 among cervical cancer patients and controls.

Sera from 118 women of 33 to over 90 years of age, with or without a history of cervical squamous-cell carcinoma, were examined for the presence of antibodies to HPV-6b, HPV-16 and HPV-18, L1, L2, E4, and E7 gene products by the use of bacterially derived beta-Gal fusion proteins and Western-blot analysis. Among the cervical cancer patients, 29/46 (63.0%) were positive for antibodies to E4 and/or E7 of HPV-16 and/or E7 of HPV-18. In contrast, only 2 of 31 (6.5%) non-genital cancer patients and 4 of 41 (9.8%) healthy individuals were antibody-positive for HPV-16 E4 or E7, while antibodies to the homologous proteins of HPV-18 could not be detected. Prevalence rates of antibodies to the HPV-16/18 late proteins were 25/46 (54.3%) in the cervical carcinoma group, 13/31 (41.9%) among women with non-genital cancer types, and 18/41 (43.9%) among normal, healthy individuals. Antibodies to HPV-6b late gene products ranged between 6.5% and 12.2% in the different patient groups. Antibodies to HPV-6b E4 and E7 were detected only once. By studying an additional control group of 207 women with a different age distribution, age-dependence of antibodies to HPV gene products could be ruled out. Whereas antibodies to late proteins may indicate that, regardless of clinical stage, HPV infections are wide-spread among the female population, the striking difference between the prevalence rates of antibodies to early proteins of HPV-16 and HPV-18 among cervical cancer patients and controls (p less than 0.001) supports the idea of the involvement of these virus types in carcinogenesis of the cervix.

Premature rupture of the membranes and amniotic infections--the significance of laboratory tests.

White blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP) and elastase alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complex (E alpha 1 PI) have been determined in 85 women during pregnancy and after birth to assess their diagnostic value in case of amniotic infection syndrome (AIS). In ten patients clinically diagnosed AIS could be confirmed by histopathological examination, five patients who fulfilled the clinical criteria showed no histological signs of infection. E alpha 1 PI levels were found to be elevated to above 200 micrograms/l in nine patients with clinical and histological infection and remained below this value in all but one of the cases not showing signs of AIS. On the other hand, CRP concentrations were elevated in five out of these ten women, but also showed false-positive values in patients without AIS; leucocyte counts above 15,000/mm3 have been observed in only one case before delivery. The application of betamethasone led to a marked elevation of leucocyte concentrations. CRP levels were raised substantially after birth, whereas E alpha 1 PI remained unchanged under both conditions. It is suggested that all three parameters should be taken into consideration to increase diagnostic reliability in case of suspected amniotic infections.

Occurrence of human papillomavirus DNA types 16 and 18 (HPV-16/18) in cervical smears as compared to cytological findings.

Cervical smears from 2336 women were examined for the presence of HPV-16/18 by dot-blot hybridization using 32P-labeled HPV-16/18 DNA under high stringency conditions. The hybridization data were compared with cytological findings classified according to Papanicolaou. The ages of the patients ranged from under 20 to over 70 years. Ninety-eight (4.4%) of the 2237 cytologically normal cervical samples (Pap I and II) were HPV-16/18 positive. Thirteen out of 32 (40.6%) samples showing signs of mild and moderate dysplasia (Pap IIID) were found to be HPV-16/18 positive. In 5 out of 7 (71.4%) samples from women with severe dysplasia or carcinoma in situ (Pap IV) and in 9 out of 25 (32.1%) samples from patients with invasive cervical carcinoma (Pap V) HPV-16/18 DNA was detected. Thirty-two smears were from women with severe unspecific cervical inflammation (Pap III). Two (6.2%) out of them were HPV-16/18 positive. Normal smears showed an apparent age-dependent pattern of HPV-16/18 positivity with a peak prevalence of 10.6% among women younger than 20 years old. The majority of premalignant lesions was detected among women younger than 40 years old; whereas all invasive lesions were from women older than 39 years. Compared to the HPV-16/18 prevalence rate in normal smears, abnormal smears harbored HPV-16/18 DNA approximately 9 times more frequently. This finding supports the hypothesis that HPV-16/18 may be involved in the development of cervical cancer.

[The value of leukocytes, C-reactive protein and granulocyte elastase in patients with premature rupture of fetal membranes and amniotic infection]. / Zur Wertigkeit von Leukozyten, C-reaktivem Protein und Granulozytenelastase bei Patientinnen mit vorzeitigem Blasensprung und Amnioninfektion.

Serum concentrations of leucocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP) and elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (E alpha 1 PI) have been determined in 85 women during pregnancy and after birth to assess their diagnostic value in case of amniotic infections (AI). In ten patients clinically diagnosed AI could be confirmed by histopathological examination, three patients who fulfilled the clinical criteria showed no histological signs of infection. E alpha 1 PI-levels were found to be elevated to over 200 meg/l in six patients with clinical and histological infection and remained below this value in all other cases whereas leucocyte- and CRP concentrations raised in five out of these eight women but also showed false positive values in patients without AI. The application of betamethasone led to a marked elevation of leucocyte concentration. CRP levels were raised substantially after birth, whereas E alpha 1 PI remained unchanged. It is suggested that all three parameters should be taken into consideration to increase diagnostic reliability in case of suspected amniotic infections.

Optical constants for thin films of Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Ir, Os, Pt, and Au from 24 A to 1216 A.

Reflectance vs incidence angle measurements have been performed from 24 A to 1216 A on electron-beam evaporated samples of Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, and Au, and using a nonlinear least-squares curve-fitting technique, the optical constants have been determined. Independently measured values of the incident beam polarization, film thicknesses, and film surface roughnesses are incorporated into the derivation of the optical constants. Additionally, Auger electron spectroscopy depth profiling measurements have been performed on each sample to characterize sample composition including oxidation and contamination.

Optical constants for thin films of C, diamond, Al, Si, and CVD SIC from 24 A to 1216 A.

A method for deriving optical constants from reflectance vs angle of incidence measurements using a nonlinear least-squares curve-fitting technique based on the chi(2) test of fit is presented and used to derive optical constants for several thin-film materials. The curve-fitting technique incorporates independently measured values for the film surface roughness, film thickness, and incident beam polarization. The technique also provides a direct method for estimating probable errors in the derived optical constants. Data are presented from 24 A to 1216 A for thin-film samples of C, synthetic diamond, Al, Si, and CVD SiC. Auger electron spectroscopy depth profiling measurements were performed on some of the samples to characterize sample composition including oxidation and contamination.

Extreme ultraviolet reflectance degradation of aluminum and silicon from surface oxidation.

We have performed in situ oxide contamination and XUV reflectance vs angle of incidence studies on fresh aluminum and silicon films evaporated in an ultrahigh vacuum system (base pressure 2 x 10(-10)Torr). Our ellipsometric measurements indicate that a surface monolayer of oxide forms on aluminum (1 h at 2 x10(-8) Torr oxygen) and silicon (1 h at 10-(7) -Torr oxygen). The monolayer formation time is inversely proportional to oxygen pressure. Our reflectance vs angle of incidence measurements at 58.4-nm wavelength indicate that unoxidized aluminum and silicon coatings can be used as multifacet retroreflectors with net retroreflectances in excess of 75% for aluminum and 50% for silicon.