Neuropsychological functioning of girls with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder followed prospectively into adolescence: Evidence for continuing deficits?

The current study prospectively followed girls with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), along with a matched comparison sample, 5 years after childhood neuropsychological assessments. Follow-up neuropsychological measures emphasized attentional skills, executive functions, and language abilities. Paralleling childhood findings, the childhood-diagnosed ADHD group displayed moderate to large deficits in executive/attentional performance as well as in rapid naming relative to the comparison group at follow up (Mage 14.2 years). ADHD-inattentive versus ADHD-combined contrasts were nonsignificant and of negligible effect size, even when a refined, sluggish cognitive tempo subgroup of the inattentive type was examined. Although ADHD versus comparison group differences largely withstood statistical control of baseline demographics and comorbidities, control of childhood IQ reduced executive function differences to nonsignificance. Yet when the subset of girls meeting diagnostic criteria for ADHD in adolescence was compared with the remainder of the participants, neuropsychological deficits emerged even with full statistical control. Overall, childhood ADHD in girls portends neuropsychological and executive deficits that persist for at least 5 years. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Refractories for handling steel outside a furnace

A range of refractories is presented for handling steel outside a furnace, which are produced by the Borovichi Refractories Corporation. The refractory characteristics and working features are given. Translated from Novye Ogneupory, No. 9, pp. 29–35, September, 2008.     

Highly resistant dispensing nozzles based on zirconium dioxide for profiled CBCM. Part 1. Structure and physicomechanical properties of materials based on zirconium dioxide for producing CBCM dispensing nozzles

Technology is developed for preparing refractory components made of partially stabilized zirconium dioxide using an isostatic compaction press. Technology is provided for manufacturing dispensing nozzles using combined and separately stabilized zirconium dioxide, and also indices of the refractories obtained and imported materials are compared. __________ Translated from Novye Ogneupory, No. 3, pp. 127–131, March 2008.     

A light refractory concrete for thermal insulation

Compositions have been developed for nonshrinking vibrocast thermally insulating light refractory concretes with densities of 1.0, 1.3, 1.5, and 1.8 g/cm³ for temperatures of use up to 1400°C. The structure and properties have been examined for the concrete of density 1.3 g/cm³. __________ Translated from Novye Ogneupory, No. 4, pp. 29–32, April, 2008.     

Total and Fractional Performance of Granular Dust Traps in Refractory Production

Methods are proposed for designing interpolation models for the preliminary determination and subsequent forecasting of general and fractional breakthrough coefficients for dust used with granular filters, as employed in energy-saving and high-performance dust trapping from technological gases and ventilation discharges in refractory production. The models are supplied with nomograms, which makes them widely suitable for experts working in environmental protection at refractory-producing organizations. The main factors are identified that influence the performance. The results are of interest to experts in related areas of industry such as building materials and engineering ceramics and so on. Translated from Novye Ogneupory, No. 4, pp. 64–67, April, 2008.     

Granular-structure chromium-bearing refractories: Properties and uses

Results are presented on the corrosion resistance of chromium-bearing refractories of granular structure acted on by corrosive molten slags, metals, and glasses. It is possible to recommend these refractories to customers for particular conditions of use. Chromium-bearing refractories increase the working lives of furnaces considerably. __________ Translated from Novye Ogneupory, No. 1, pp. 55–61, January, 2008.     

Refractory objects and materials for continuous steel casting

In the OAO Borovich Refractory Combine production has been assimilated for a complete set of refractories for continuous steel casting, i.e. from a pipe for protecting a stream of metal to a submerged nozzle. In technical and life characteristics the products correspond to that of world analogs, they provide accident free steel pouring, make it possible to reduce the specific consumption of refractories per ton of steel, to increase CBCM productivity, to reduce billet scrap, and to reduce steel cost. Translated from Novye Ogneupory, No. 8, pp. 4–9, August 2008.     

Formation of the complex oxide NaNdTiO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The processes of phase formation in the Na₂CO₃-TiO₂ and Na₂CO₃-TiO₂-Nd₂O₃ systems are investigated in the temperature range 600–900°C. The high-temperature solid-phase reactions underlying the process of formation of complex oxide NaNdTiO4 are studied. It is established that the synthesis of the NaNdTiO₄ compound occurs through the reaction of the intermediate product Na₈Ti₅O₁₄ with neodymium oxide in the temperature range 720–780°C. The optimum method is proposed for synthesizing NaNdTiO₄, which makes it possible to reduce the temperature of the synthesis, to avoid the formation of impurities, and to obtain the product in a finely dispersed state.     

Features of phase transitions in electrolyzer hearth block material between joints

Phase transitions are considered for silicon oxycarbide material between joints in hearth blocks under aluminum electrolyzer operating conditions. It is established that in the electrolyzer there is formation of aluminum subcarbide, and also there is conversion of silicon carbide polytypes as a result of impurities of aluminum, sodium, magnesium, copper and iron. Due to phase transitions there is a reduction in joint strength, and therefore it is undesirable to use material based on corundum and black silicon carbide in hearth joints between blocks for aluminum electrolyzers. Use of pure α-SiO₂ free from impurities is recommended for this purpose. Translated from Novye Ogneupory, No. 4, pp. 47–52, April 2008.     

Synthesis of nanocrystalline solid solutions based on zirconia and hafnia

Nanosized (2–8 nm) amorphous powders of the solid solution based on zirconia and hafnia are synthesized through back coprecipitation upon treatment of gels at temperatures from +20 to −77°C. Heat treatment of these powders at temperatures up to 1000 and above 1100°C leads to the formation of cubic (fluorite type, O _h ⁵ = Fm3m) and tetragonal phases of the Zr₈₂Hf₁₀Y₃Ce₅O _x composition, respectively. It is revealed that a decrease in the synthesis temperature (from +20°C to −6°C) results in a decrease in the size of gel agglomerates from 30 to 1 μm. Recrystallization processes in the gels prepared using cryochemical treatment are developed very slowly in the temperature range 500–1200°C (the crystallite size does not exceed 25 nm). Original Russian Text ? T.I. Panova, V.B. Glushkova, A.E. Lapshin, 2008, published in Fizika i Khimiya Stekla.