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Significant quantities of byproducts are generated during the production of iron and steel. Slag is usually the largest in terms of volume but a range of particulate materials are recovered from the pollution control systems. Some steelmill byproducts have been recycled or recovered for many years but changes in the technologies employed, material specifications and environmental legislation means that new issues must be addressed. Examples of practical methods for handling steelmill byproducts for internal recycling or external applications are reviewed. Impurities in the inputs to the steelmaking process mean that it is impossible to recycle all the byproducts generated. However, by careful management it is possible to convert these byproducts into forms that can be utilised in other industries. The challenge to the industry and the legislators is to establish conditions that promote development work that will continue to identify methods of treating or utilising steelmaking byproducts – and thus to continue to enhance the sustainability of the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The method of unweighted means, which is a simple analysis based on cell means, has been limited to designs where every cell has at least one observation. Here, the method of unweighted means is examined with regard to estimating the variance components for a two-way classification with unequal numbers of observations in the cells and with one or more cells having no observations. In particular, two estimating procedures based upon the method of unweighted means are developed to estimate the variance components for a design with missing cells. These two unweighted means procedures are then examined numerically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about several topics discussed at the National Institute of Health (NIH) conference regarding management of hepatitis B in the U.S. It mentions that hepatitis B is a major cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. It presents that the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is higher among people who were born in countries with a high HBV prevalence and members of subpopulations that have behavioral risk factors for HBV transmission.

The cost and financing of mental health services is gaining increasing importance with the spread of managed care and cost-cutting measures throughout the health care system. The delivery of mental health services through structured employee assistance programs (EAPs) could be undermined by revised health insurance contracts and cutbacks in employer-provided benefits at the workplace. This study uses two recently completed national surveys of EAPs to estimate the costs of providing EAP services during 1993 and 1995. EAP costs are determined by program type, worksite size, industry, and region. In addition, information on program services is reported to determine the most common types and categories of services and whether service delivery changes have occurred between 1993 and 1995. The results of this study will be useful to EAP managers, mental health administrators, and mental health services researchers who are interested in the delivery and costs of EAP services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence, outcome, and predictors of myocardial infarct extension were determined in 848 patients with acute myocardial infarction. An increase in the level of plasma MB creatine kinase activity was used to detect extension, which occurred in 71 of 848 patients (8.4%). For these patients, hospital mortality was more than four times higher than for those without extension (30% versus 7%, P less than 0.01). However, for patients surviving the initial hospitalization, there was no significant difference in mortality during the following year (12% compared with 9%). Multivariable analyses indicated that extension was more likely to occur in patients with recurrent ischemic pain during the second hospital day, a history of previous myocardial infarction, and ST segment depression on the admission electrocardiogram. The occurrence of extension in patients with two of these risk factors was more than twice that of patients without any of the risk factors (15.1% compared with 5.8%). Patients with these risk factors should be considered for early coronary angiography and possible intervention to prevent infarct extension and its sequellae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]