Older and younger patients with substance use disorders: Outpatient mental health service use and functioning over a 12-month interval.

This observational study compared a nationwide sample of older patients with substance use disorders (n = 3,598; age > 55) with a demographically and diagnostically matched sample of younger patients on initial functioning, subsequent outpatient mental health service use, and 12-month follow-up outcomes. Older patients were initially functioning as well as or better than younger patients according to substance use, psychiatric, family, and legal criteria. The groups received comparable amounts of outpatient mental health care. At a 12-month follow-up, older patients generally had better substance use and functioning outcomes than did younger patients. The findings suggest that older patients with substance use disorders are keeping pace with demographically and diagnostically comparable younger patients in obtaining specialized outpatient mental health services and that they have positive treatment prognoses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cumulated interference power and bit‐error‐rates in mobile packet radio

In this paper we determine the probability distribution function of cumulated instantaneous interference power in a mobile radio network, when the positions of interfering stations are distributed according to a one‐ or two‐dimensional Poisson point process, truncated at a finite horizon. The influences of Rice and Rayleigh fading, lognormal shadowing, near far effect and capture are taken into account. From the resulting distribution the probability of successful transmission and corresponding bit‐error‐rates are derived. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the distribution of cumulated interference power in Rayleigh fading channels

This paper deals with the distribution of cumulated instantaneous interference power in a Rayleigh fading channel for an infinite number of interfering stations, where each station transmits with a certain probability, independently of all others. If all distances are known, a necessary and sufficient condition is given for the corresponding distribution to be nondefective. Explicit formulae of density and distribution functions are obtained in the interesting special case that interfering stations are located on a linear grid. Moreover, the Laplace transform of cumulated power is investigated when the positions of stations follow a one- or two-dimensional Poisson process. It turns out that the corresponding distribution is defective for the two-dimensional models.This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft under grant no. Ma 1184/2-3.     

Key technologies for system-integration in the automotive and Industrial Applications

System integration and high power density of monolithic and multichip designs are the driving force for the progress in power electronic systems. The whole system has to be considered and optimized to meet this target and to keep the overall ruggedness, sensitivity toward electromagnetic interference and long term reliability, Silicon utilization system reliability and power units miniaturization are the key factors. In this paper new technologies, advanced devices concepts and future system aspect for system-integration in the automotive and industrial segments are discussed. In both fields of applications these are huge requirements toward system dynamic characteristic, overload capability, ruggedness behavior and reliability. In the automotive segment technologies working at high operating temperatures are required and in the industrial are high blocking voltage capabilities are needed.     

Finite element simulation of package stress in transfer molded MEMS pressure sensors

The goal of this paper is to investigate the effect of residual packaging stress resulting from transfer molding of a micro electro mechanical system pressure sensor. A model of a silicon diaphragm micro electro mechanical system pressure sensor geometry was used to simulate the stresses developed during the molding process. The analyses were carried out with an assumption that the epoxy molding compound was a temperature dependent elastic material. Finite element analysis was used to calculate the residual packaging stress. The stress values were used to obtain the electrical output signal and sensitivity of the packaged sensor. In this way, a direct link was established between package stress and device performance.The calculated output signal and sensitivity were compared with experimental data to verify the simulated stress and hence determine the effect of the packaging process on the pressure sensor. Four different service temperatures were considered to examine the temperature effects on the output signal and the sensitivity for the packaged sensor.     

On gradual dosage of the initiator in the suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride

Initiator dosage in the solid phase during the suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride has been investigated with the use of a special apparatus developed for this purpose. Results arc reported on a series of polymerizations in which the initiator was divided in various ratios between the starting and additional quantities, added either in one dose or repeatedly to the reaction mixture at various reaction times. Discussed is the kinetic course of polymerization and the effect of dosage on the rate of reaction heat release. It is found for the system used that a suitable dosage regime allows the total amount of the initiator to be reduced by as much as 15 percent, while the yield and the reaction time corresponding to the standard polymerization procedure remain unchanged.