[Obstructive sleep apnea in neurological diseases: specially as a risk factor for stroke].

Neurological diseases are frequently associated with sleep-related breathing disorders. In contrast patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) suffer more often from cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. Epidemiological studies have shown that OSA is common among patients with stroke, arterial hypertension or cardiovascular disease.

Vibrational properties of the compressed and the relaxed 1,4,5,8-naphthalene-tetracarboxylic dianhydride monolayer on Ag(111).

Layers of 1,4,5,8-naphthalene-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (NTCDA) grown on Ag(111) at about 80 K have been investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, spot profile analysis low-energy electron diffraction, and temperature programmed desorption. Specifically, the compressed and the relaxed monolayer, as well as the transformation between the two ordered phases have been analyzed in detail. It is found that the two monolayer phases display distinctly different vibrational spectra and can thus be discriminated with high accuracy and sensitivity.

Determination of the composition of light thin films with artificial neural network analysis of Rutherford backscattering experiments.

AlO(x)N(y) ultrathin films are used as insulating layers in advanced microelectronic devices. Structural characterization of these films is often done by the Rutherford backscattering (RBS) analysis. The RBS analysis of these oxinitrides is a difficult task since the relevant signals of the spectrum are washed out by the large substrate background and a considerable time is required for an analyst to characterize the sample.

Respiratory symptoms, ventilatory impairment, and bronchial reactivity in oil mist-exposed automobile workers.

Studies concerning the respiratory effects of oil mists are sparse and contradictory. The aim of this study was to determine the respective effects of occupational exposure to straight cutting oils and soluble mineral oils on the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, ventilatory impairment, and bronchial reactivity. The population study consisted of 308 male workers of a large French car-making plant, including 40 subjects chronically exposed to straight cutting oils (group S), 51 subjects chronically exposed to soluble mineral oils (group E), 139 subjects with chronic dual exposure to straight cutting oils and soluble mineral oils (group D), and 78 unexposed assembly workers used as a control group (group C).