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.     

Untersuchungen zum Sorptions- und Quellungsverhalten von thermisch behandeltem Holz

Zusammenfassung Proben aus Radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don), Douglasie (Pseudotsuga menziesii Franco), Laurel (Laurelia sempervirens (R. et Pav.)Tul), Edelkastanie (Castanea sativa Mill.) und Eiche (Quercus robur L.) wurden im belüfteten Trockenschrank jeweils 24 h bei 100°C, 150°C bzw. 200°C) wärmebehandelt. Danach wurden das Sorptionsverhalten bei variabler Luftfeuchte und die Quellung in radialer und tangentialer Richtung bestimmt. Als Bezugsbasis dienten unbehandelte Proben. Je Variante wurden zehn Proben verwendet. Das Sorptionsverhalten wurde basierend auf den gemessenen Werten mit dem Hailwood–Horrobin-Modell berechnet. Je nach Holzart kam es bereits ab 100°C teilweise zu einer merklichen Reduzierung der Gleichgewichtsfeuchte. Bei 150°C und insbesondere bei 200°C war eine deutliche Reduzierung der Gleichgewichtsfeuchte und Quellung vorhanden. Mit dem HH-Modell konnte nachgewiesen werden, dass es dabei sowohl zu Änderungen der Porenstruktur als auch der Chemisorption kommt. Auch die Verkettung der Cellulosemoleküle ändert sich. Der Unterschied zwischen tangentialer und radialen differentialer Quellung steigt in der Reihenfolge Pinus radiata, P. menziesii, C. sativa, L. sempervirens und Q. robur. Die tangentiale differentielle Quellung ist allgemein empfindlicher auf die Wärmebehandlung als die radiale. Was die tangentiale differentielle Quellung anbelangt setzt sich Q. robur von den übrigen untersuchten Holzarten in den absoluten Werten deutlich ab. Mit Ausnahme von Pinus radiata tendiert der Anisotropie-Koeffizient bei 200°C dazu, leicht abzunehmen. Die Dichte sank bei allen Holzarten durch die Behandlung ab.

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Investigations on the sorption and swelling properties of thermally treated wood

Samples from Pinus radiata D. Don, Pseudotsuga menziesii Franco, Laurelia sempervirens (R. et Pav) Tul., Castanea sativa Mill. and Quercus robur L. were heat treated under air condition in each case during 24 h at 100°C, 150°C and 200°C. The sorption behaviour and swelling (tangential and radial) were examined in the hygroscopic range between RH 11% and 93% with untreated speciments as reference basis. For each variant ten samples were used. The sorption analysis was performed using the Hailwood–Horrobin sorption model. Depending on wood species, already starting with 100°C, a noticeable reduction of the equilibrium moisture content was observed. At 150°C and particularly at 200°C a distinct reduction of the equilibrium moisture content was measured. The sorption analysis according to the Hailwood–Horrobin model showed that changes in the void structure and chemisorption occurred. Also cross linking between cellulose molecules takes place. The difference between tangential and radial differential swelling increases in the order Pinus radiata, P. menziesii, C. sativa, L. sempervirens and Q. robur. The tangential differential swelling is generally more sensitive to thermal treatment than the radial swelling. The absolute swelling values of Q. robur are significantly higher than the values of the other wood species under study. With the exception of Pinus radiata the anisotropy coefficient tends to decrease slightly at 200°C. In all the examined wood species the heat treatment caused a decrease in density.