Honeycomb and triangular domain wall networks in heteroepitaxial systems.

A comprehensive study is presented for the influence of misfit strain, adhesion strength, and lattice symmetry on the complex Moiré patterns that form in ultrathin films of honeycomb symmetry adsorbed on compact triangular or honeycomb substrates. The method used is based on a complex Ginzburg-Landau model of the film that incorporates elastic strain energy and dislocations. The results indicate that different symmetries of the heteroepitaxial systems lead to distinct types of domain wall networks and phase transitions among various surface Moiré patterns and superstructures. More specifically, the results show a dramatic difference between the phase diagrams that emerge when a honeycomb film is adsorbed on substrates of honeycomb versus triangular symmetry. It is also shown that in the small deformation limit, the complex Ginzburg-Landau model reduces to a two-dimensional sine-Gordon free energy form. This free energy can be solved exactly for one dimensional patterns and reveals the role of domains walls and their crossings in determining the nature of the phase diagrams.

Attitude changes of general practitioners towards lowering LDL cholesterol.

BACKGROUND: Clinical studies have demonstrated the benefit of lowering cholesterol in decreasing coronary complications. These results need to be implemented in clinical practice, where an important barrier are the attitudes of physicians. DESIGN: General practitioners in the city of Helsinki were asked to respond to two questionnaires sent to them by post 12 months apart (1996 and 1997); 284 responses were received in 1996 and 258 in 1997. METHODS: In addition to brief questions aimed to characterize the responding physician, the questionnaire included four examples of patients: (1) middle-aged man without, or (2) with coronary heart disease (CHD); (3) 70-year-old man with a history of stroke; (4) 70-year-old women with CHD. The physicians were asked at what level of serum low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol they usually initiate drug therapy. Comparisons were made longitudinally between 1996 and 1997, as well as between different patients. Analyses are based on the responses of those physicians who reported that they treat atherosclerotic patients (241 and 237 in 1996 and 1997, respectively). RESULTS: In case 1 (primary prevention), 40.1% of general practitioners in 1996 compared with 52.4% in 1997 (difference +12.3, 95% CI +3.2(-)+20.9, P < 0.01) reported that they would initiate drug therapy at the LDL cholesterol level < 5.0 mmol/l. In case 2 (secondary prevention), 42.0% in 1996 and 54.8 in 1997 (difference +12.8, 95% CI +4.0(-)+21.8, P < 0.01) would initiate drug therapy at the LDL cholesterol level < 4.0 mmol/l. In case 3 (70 year man with stroke), 13.8% in 1996 compared with 30.4% in 1997 (difference +16.6, 95% CI +9.4(-)+24.0, P < 0.01) would initiate drug therapy at the LDL cholesterol level < 4.0 mmol/l. In case 4 (70 year old woman with CHD) 12.8% in 1996 compared with 34.2% in 1997 (difference +21.4%, 95% CI + 13.9(-)+28.7, P < 0.01) would initiate drug therapy at the LDL cholesterol level < 4.0 mmol/l. The physicians' attitudes were significantly more active towards LDL cholesterol lowering both in 1996 and 1997 in case 2 compared with case 1, case 3 or case 4. No difference was observed between case 3 and case 4. CONCLUSIONS: Between 1996 and 1997 the attitudes of general practitioners towards lowering LDL cholesterol have become significantly more active in all four patient categories. However, the attitudes are still not optimal concerning coronary patients and especially older atherosclerotic patients.

United States disability policy in a time of economic crisis: a comparison with Sweden and the Federal Republic of Germany.

Similar economic pressures on the United States, Sweden, and West Germany in the 1970s and 1980s elicited different policies for disabled workers, including those temporarily or partially disabled. Swedish program aimed first at providing rehabilitation or subsidized jobs, though older workers later often received income maintenance stipends; West Germans relied on income supports, early paid retirements, and job quotas to abet disabled citizens. Contrariwise, American policies limited aid to the partially disabled to veterans' and welfare benefits, and weakly encouraged return to the labor force. It remains unclear whether the economy's upsurge from 1984 to 1989 proportionately boosted the well-being of Americans with disabilities.

Vaccination with a live RA 27/3 strain rubella vaccine (Rudivax), a follow-up study.

Thirteen-year-old Helsinki schoolgirls were screened for rubella antibodies using fingertip blood specimens and the single radial haemolysis (SRH) test. The seronegative individuals (326/1234; 26.4%) were immunized with the RA 27/3 strain of rubella vaccine (Rudivax). All 326 produced SRH and haemagglutinin inhibition (HAI) antibodies and 129 IgM antibodies (39.4%) detected by enzyme immunoassay in the two-month follow-up serum samples. The incidence and nature of side effects was low. In the twenty-four month follow-up serum samples all individuals had substantial levels of rubella antibodies and no clinical reinfections had occurred during the observation period.

Lymphocyte subpopulations and reactivity during and after infectious mononucleosis.

T- and B-lymphocyte numbers, as well as lymphocyte reactivity to mitogens in vitro, were studied and correlated to other laboratory tests during the acute phase of infectious mononucleosis (30 patients) and up to one year thereafter. During the acute disease an absolute increase in both T- and B-lymphocyte numbers was recorded, the relative increase in B-lymphocytes occurring at the start. B-lymphocyte numbers fell after the second week and T-lymphocyte numbers after the fourth week of disease. Lymphocyte activation was impaired in all patients during the acute phase and was still significantly impaired for some mitogens after 6-9 months. Very few correlates between lymphocyte tests and other laboratory and clinical parameters were found.

Nitroglycerin ointment effective for seven hours in severe angina pectoris.

The efficacy and tolerability of nitroglycerin (NTG) ointment were studied in 80 male patients with severe angina pectoris. Two symptom-limited exercise tests were performed on successive days after application of an ointment containing 15 mg NTG or a placebo (P) ointment. The patients were assigned to 4 groups. The study was conducted in a double-blind, cross-over manner. The total amount of work performed was higher in all groups on NTG (46-70%) compared to P ointment. The difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.001) at all points of time from 0.5 to 7 hours. The ST segment depression in ECG at the end of the exercise test was slightly greater on P than on NTG, but the difference was statistically significant only in the 3-hour group (p less than 0.01). The frequencies of headache and dizziness were 35% and 16%, respectively, on NTG. Eight patients (10%) reported that headache was severe enough to prevent regular use of NTG ointment. NTG ointment is effective, has a long duration of action and is relatively well tolerated by patients with severe angina pectoris.

Fever of unknown origin: a follow-up investigation of 34 patients.

34 patients hospitalized for fever of unknown origin (FUO) were subjected to a follow-up investigation on the average 5 yr after the hospital stay. Two patients had died of a disease related to FUO: one had adenocarcinoma with an unknown primary site and the other a supposed autoimmune disease. In one case the cause of FUO was a periappendicular abscess. A woman continued to have periods of fever with high ESR. In the remaining 30 cases the cause of FUO had apparently been a self-limited, benign disease. In contrast to an earlier series from our clinic, no cases of tuberculosis were revealed.