Heterogeneity in Youth Symptom Trajectories Following Psychiatric Crisis: Predictors and Placement Outcome.

The authors examined heterogeneity in symptom trajectories among youths following psychiatric crises as well as the psychosocial correlates and placement outcomes associated with identified trajectories. Using semiparametric mixture modeling with 156 youths approved for psychiatric hospitalization, the authors identified 5 trajectories based on symptoms over the 16 months following crisis: high improved, high unimproved, borderline improved, borderline unimproved, and subclinical. Membership in unimproved symptom groups was associated with less suicidality, younger age, more youth hopelessness, and more caregiver empowerment. Improved symptom group membership predicted long-term decreases in days in out-of-home placements. More important, and in contrast with general impressions from the existing literature, findings suggest that a substantive proportion of youths with serious emotional disturbance sustain high levels of symptomatology following intensive mental health services. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Performance of PKI-based security mechanisms in mobile ad hoc networks

Security for ad hoc network environments has received a lot of attention as of today. Previous work has mainly been focussing on secure routing, fairness issues, and malicious node detection. However, the issue of introducing and conserving trust relationships has received considerably less attention. In this article, we present a scalable method for the use of public key certificates and their revocation in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). With the LKN-ad hoc security framework (LKN-ASF) a certificate management protocol has been introduced, bringing PKI technology to MANETs. In addition a performance analysis of two different revocation approaches for MANETs will be presented.     

The Determinants of Debt and (Private) Equity Financing: The Case of Young, Innovative SMEs from Germany

Financial theory creates a puzzle. Some authors argue that high-risk entrepreneurs choose debt contracts instead of equity contracts since risky but high returns are of relatively more value for a loan-financed firm. Conversely, authors who focus explicitly on start-up finance predict that entrepreneurs are the more likely to seek equity-like venture capital contracts, the more risky their projects are. Our paper is an initial step towards resolving this puzzle empirically. We present microeconometric evidence on the determinants of debt and equity financing in young and innovative SMEs. We pay special attention to the role of risk for the choice of the method of financing. Since risk is not directly observable we use different indicators for financial and project risk. It turns out that our data generally confirms the hypothesis that the probability that a young high-tech firm receives equity financing is an increasing function of the financial risk. With regard to the intrinsic project risk, our results are less conclusive, as some of our indicators of a risky project are found to have a negative effect on the likelihood to be financed by private equity.     

Strengthening of concrete prisms using the plate-bonding technique

This paper presents the use of fracture mechanics for the plate bonding technique. Plates of steel or carbon-fibre reinforced plastic are bonded with an epoxy adhesive to rectangular concrete prisms and loaded in shear up to failure, what is normally known in fracture mechanics as mode II failure. In this special application a linear and a nonlinear approach are presented. The nonlinear equation derived for a realistic shear-deformation curve can only be used for numerical calculations. However, for simplified shear-deformation curves, the derived formula can be solved analytically. Results from tests, which are compared with the theory, are also presented.     

Surfactant replacement therapy in acute respiratory distress syndrome from viral pneumonia

A modified natural surfactant was administered to a patient with life-threatening adult respiratory distress syndrome caused by viral pneumonia. Subsequently, there was a marked improvement in gas exchange. In order to assess the mechanism for improved oxygenation, computed tomography of the lungs was done. Quantitative analysis of the scans taken before and after surfactant administration indicates that improvement in gas exchange was largely due to the expansion of underinflated and collapsed lung areas. Although this is a single case report, it provides insight into the possible beneficial effect of instilled surfactant in severe respiratory distress from viral pneumonia.     

Growth Stresses in the Oxide Scales on TiAl Alloys at 800 and 900°C

In the oxidation of TiAl alloys, the role of scale-growth stresses formed during oxidation has, thus far, been unknown. In the present paper the oxide-growth stresses were investigated by the deflection-test method in monofacial oxidation (DTMO) accompanied by acoustic-emission measurements. On unmodified surfaces the growth stresses are compressive and reach levels of around –100 MPa. At the same time, significant acoustic emission occurs indicating that even under isothermal conditions, stresses are relieved by a scale-cracking mechanism. For oxide scales on TiAl surfaces, which had been ion implanted with chlorine before oxidation, a very thin protective alumina layer is formed which, however, develops growth stresses in the range of several GPa, accompanied by intensive acoustic emission. In all stress–time curves, a dynamic situation is observed. This consists of phases of stress relief by scale microcracking and phases of stresses increase due to crack healing and further oxide growth. As a result, the level of stress as a function of oxidation time, is characterized by an oscillating course.