Psychosocial functioning in children of alcoholic fathers.

T. Jacob and K. Leonard (1986) reported that children of alcoholic fathers were comparable to children of depressed fathers in their psychosocial functioning. These results, however, were based on a relatively homogeneous sample. In the current study, previous results were extended by examining a sample of alcoholic fathers who were not screened for additional paternal psychiatric disorders or for major maternal psychopathology. Children in the unscreened and screened samples could not be distinguished in their functioning, and the majority of children of alcoholic fathers were functioning in the normal range of the Child Behavior Checklist. Given the heterogeneous adjustment in children of alcoholic fathers, the authors examined a range of factors that might protect against or exacerbate the risk associated with paternal alcoholism. Maternal depression and certain demographic characteristics were associated with poorer child functioning, particularly for male children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Experimental evaluation of fishway modifications on the passage behaviour of adult Chinook salmon and steelhead at Lower Granite Dam,Snake River,USA

Previous studies of Pacific salmonid passage over Snake River dams indicated slowed passage at transition pools, the transition area between the fishway entrance and the fish ladder. In 2001 and 2002, we conducted an experiment to determine if modified weirs affected adult salmon and steelhead passage times and route selection through the Lower Granite Dam transition pool. Fish attraction flows through the lower ladder weirs were experimentally increased using removable panels. During the experiment we monitored radio‐tagged adult Chinook salmon and steelhead to determine passage routes and times through the transition pool. The weir treatment increased the number of spring–summer Chinook salmon passing straight through the transition pool compared to those exiting the transition pool to the collection channel or tailrace. Mean passage times through the transition pool differed among routes and were significantly lower during treatment periods for the exit‐to‐collection channel route in spring‐summer Chinook salmon, but not for other routes. Passage times among routes differed in steelhead, but there was no evidence of treatment effects on route use or passage time. Fall Chinook exhibited similar trends in route use and passage time to spring–summer Chinook, but differences were not significant, perhaps because of relatively small sample size. Total dam passage times did not differ by treatment or route for any run. Fish depth during passage of the transition pool suggested that most fish passed through submerged orifices and supported the hypothesis that increased water velocity through these orifices caused the increase in straight‐through passage in spring–summer Chinook. Collectively, the results suggested the weir modifications provided improvement to passage through the transition pool for spring–summer Chinook and no evidence of negative effects on other runs. The results from this study were used to develop new design criteria and modifications of the Lower Granite Dam fishway. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new efficient dcvs circuit synthesis technique used for an improved implementation of a serial/parallel multiplier

This paper describes an efficient technique for the design of fault-secure VLSI circuits based on differential cascode voltage switch (DCVS) logic. We propose a new synthesis method for constructing DCVS circuits with a near-optimal transistor count based on binary decision diagrams (BDDs). the time and memory resources required are very low, making the technique practical even for PC-based synthesis tools. This method is the basis for a CAD tool that allows automatic synthesis of fault-secure circuits based on the DCVS technology. We finally present an improved design and implementation of a 2's complement serial/parallel multiplier as an application of the proposed technique and algorithm.     

Molecularly Targeted Agents as Radiosensitizers in Cancer Therapy—Focus on Prostate Cancer

As our understanding of the molecular pathways driving tumorigenesis improves and more druggable targets are identified, we have witnessed a concomitant increase in the development and production of novel molecularly targeted agents. Radiotherapy is commonly used in the treatment of various malignancies with a prominent role in the care of prostate cancer patients, and efforts to improve the therapeutic ratio of radiation by technologic and pharmacologic means have led to important advances in cancer care. One promising approach is to combine molecularly targeted systemic agents with radiotherapy to improve tumor response rates and likelihood of durable control. This review first explores the limitations of preclinical studies as well as barriers to successful implementation of clinical trials with radiosensitizers. Special considerations related to and recommendations for the design of preclinical studies and clinical trials involving molecularly targeted agents combined with radiotherapy are provided. We then apply these concepts by reviewing a representative set of targeted therapies that show promise as radiosensitizers in the treatment of prostate cancer.     

Interfacial Bond Strength in SiC/C/SiC Composite Materials, As Studied by Single-Fiber Push-Out Tests

The interfacial characteristics of SiC/C/SiC composites with different fiber-coating bond strengths have been investigated using single-fiber push-out tests. Previous studies have shown that weak or strong bonds can be obtained by using as-received or treated fibers, respectively, and that the stress-strain behavior is improved with the treated fibers. This effect results from multiple branching of the cracks within the interphase. The model used to extract interfacial characteristics from nanoindentation and microindentation tests does not consider the presence of an interphase. However, the results highlight the significant effect of the interphase on the interfacial parameters, as well as the effect of roughness along the sliding surfaces. For the composite with treated fibers, the uncommon upward curvature of the push-out curves is related to different modes of crack propagation in the interphase. Different techniques are required to analyze the interfacial properties, such as nanoindentation and microindentation with push-out and push-back tests.     

Synthesis of Organotin Polyamine Ethers Containing Acyclovir and their Preliminary Anticancer and Antiviral Activity

Organotin polyamine ethers containing acyclovir in their backbone were synthesized in moderate to high yield employing the aqueous interfacial polycondensation system. The products are high molecular weight polymers. Infrared spectroscopy of the products shows new bands characteristic of the formation of Sn–N and Sn–O bonds consistent with the proposed structure. MALDI-TOF MS below 2000 Da shows the presence of organotin and acyclovir units containing these two moieties. The products show moderate inhibition of a number of cancer cell lines and exhibit the ability to inhibit a number of viruses, particularly the herpes simplex virus-1 and varicella zoster virus that are responsible for herpes, chicken pox and shingles.     

Autonomic correlates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder in preschool children.

Numerous studies have revealed autonomic underarousal in conduct-disordered adolescents and antisocial adults. It is unknown, however, whether similar autonomic markers are present in at-risk preschoolers. In this study, the authors compared autonomic profiles of 4- to 6-year-old children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD; n = 18) with those of age-matched controls (n = 20). Children with ADHD and ODD exhibited fewer electrodermal responses and lengthened cardiac preejection periods at baseline and during reward. Although group differences were not found in baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia, heart rate changes among ADHD and ODD participants were mediated exclusively by parasympathetic withdrawal, with no independent sympathetic contribution. Heart rate changes among controls were mediated by both autonomic branches. These results suggest that at-risk preschoolers are autonomically similar to older externalizing children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Optimizing Reaction Conditions of the NanoOrange® Protein Quantitation Method for Use With Microplate-based Automation

Because of the rapidly expanding need for higher sample throughput in drug discovery, automation of corresponding biochemical analyses is desirable. In particular, automation of protein quantitation is crucial since its results are used extensively. Recently, a single-reagent fluorescent protein quantitation method (NanoOrange®) with attractive performance attributes has become available. While it can potentially be automated with liquid handling workstations, several of this method's reaction parameters need to be optimized.

We studied the time and a temperature dependence of the NanoOrange protein quantitation reaction in ninety-six well black microplates using either a temperature-regulated hot block or a microwave oven as heat sources. Fluorescence of the NanoOrange reaction was quantified with a multimode microplate spectral scanner.

Time-dependent heating profiles of filled microplates placed on hot blocks at fixed temperatures (45, 55, 65, 75, and 95°C) revealed temperature differences of 4–7°C cooler for the outside wells compared to the inner wells, however the maximum well temperature did not exceed 65°C. Similar time-temperature studies of microwave-heated microplates revealed an equilibrium temperature of 45–49°C that was 10–16°C lower than microplates that were block heated.

The bovine serum albumin (BSA): NanoOrange standard curves created using a hot block increased in slope from 45°C to 55°C, but then remained constant from 65 to 85°C.

Fluorescence of the BSA: NanoOrange standard curve created using a microwave oven was about half the magnitude of the hot block-derived curves, possible reflecting a lower energy transfer rate of the microwave oven. We conclude that the NanoOrange protein quantitation method can be automated if a microplatecompatible hot block with a 65-85°C surface can heat the microplate for minimum of 15 min prior to quantifying the reaction's fluorescence.     

Transport and related properties of paint films. I. Composition and structure

This is the first of a series of articles on ionic and molecular transport processes and related properties of paint films. The intention is to correlate adhesion and initiation of corrosion to these relevant physical and chemical properties. Chemical formulas and structure of three vinyl–three epoxy– and one polyurethane–paint system are given in this article. Each paint has been formulated to meet appropriate military specifications. Subsequent articles will deal with dynamic mechanical properties, small angle x-ray scattering measurements of porosity, and transport properties.