Course of functioning in adolescents 1 year after alcohol and other drug treatment.

Clinical course was studied in 131 male and female adolescents with current alcohol use disorder (AUD) at baseline (BL). Participants were classified into 4 groups according to their diagnosis and drinking pattern 1 year later. The 4 groups were compared with each other and with 37 community control participants. Results showed that over half of the clinical sample no longer had a current AUD at 1 year; about 64% were and 36% were not still drinking. BL discriminators of 1-year status were alcohol dependence, other drug use, and coping. All of the clinical groups tended to show improvement at 1 year in the main dependent variables, and the abstainers' level of drug use and coping were comparable with that of the community participants. These findings suggest that many adolescents improve in functioning during the 1 year after alcohol and drug treatment and that a stress and coping model is useful for studying clinical course of AUDs in adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Optical phaselock receiver with multigigahertz signal bandwidth

Describes a balanced pinFET receiver which employs two signal amplification paths for homodyne detection of multigigabit-per-second, pilot-carrier PSK optical signals. Using narrow-line 1.51 mu m semiconductor lasers, the authors have employed this receiver to phaselock a local oscillator to a 295 pW pilot carrier with 8 degrees RMS phase error.<>     

Effect of a high-temperature cycle on the mechanical properties of silicon carbide/titanium metal matrix composites

The effects of fibre/matrix interface strength and thermal residual stresses on the mechanical properties of a silicon carbide/titanium composite were investigated. A 3-ply [0/90/0] composite was subjected to a simulated superplastic forming/diffusion bonding (SPF/DB) temperature cycle which changed fibre/matrix interfacial strength and thermal residual stresses in the composite. The [0/90/0] composite subjected to the SPF/DB process showed a 25% decrease in ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and a 30% decrease in failure strain compared to the as-fabricated (ASF) material. The fatigue life for the SPF/DB specimens was approximately 50% lower than the ASF specimens. The fracture surface of the ASF specimens was very irregular accompanied by substantial fibre pull-out as compared to the planar fracture surface of the SPF/DB cycled specimens that showed negligible fibre pull-out. The large changes in the tensile strength and fatigue life due to the SPF/DB cycle are explained by a difference in the failure mechanisms occurring as a result of the SPF/DB-induced changes in the strength of the fibre/matrix interface and higher thermal residual stresses. Unreinforced titanium was also tested to study the effect of the SPF/DB cycle on the matrix static properties. Fibres were etched from the composite and then individually tested for modulus and strength. Finally, a microscopic examination of the fibre/matrix interface was performed to study the effects of the SPF/DB cycle on the interface.     

Nonimmune hydrops fetalis: fetal and neonatal outcome during 1983-1992

Prognostic factors for survival of 62 fetuses and neonates with nonimmune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) were studied retrospectively. Twenty-eight infants survived >/=28 days which is 45% for all fetuses and newborns diagnosed with NIHF and 61% for liveborns with unresolved NIHF. Univariate analysis identified that mortality was associated with the presence of >/=2 serous cavity effusions and a need for chest compressions at birth. Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that the presence of >/=2 serous cavity effusions was significantly associated with mortality from NIHF <28 days after birth [OR = 48.2 (CI 3.6, 662.9) (p < 0.004)]. We conclude that, compared to published cases from the 1970s and early 1980s, survival of liveborns with NIHF seems improved. The decrease in stillbirths is more notable. The severity of hydrops at birth is the key determinant for survival.     

Microstructural development and creep deformation in equiaxed γ,γ + α2 and γ + α2 + B2 titanium aluminides

The development of microstructure and its influence on creep properties have been studied for structures including equiaxed γ, duplex, and other structures of varying α₂ morphology in two Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb alloys. Heat treatment at 1125°C have been utilized to produce equiaxed γ microstructures in alloys with or without Mo additions. The γ→α transformation produces α₂ plates with several orientation variants with γ grains during subsequent annealing of the equiaxed γ microstructures below the α transus. Formation of this α₂ morphology results from rapid up-quenching (UQ), and this structure persists through annealing, cooling, and creep testing. Differences in minimum creep rates for several microstructures, containing varying amounts of multi-or single variant γ/α₂ grains are shown to be minimal. The presence of Mo has also resulted in improved creep resistance in equiaxed γ and γ + α₂ + B2 structures, as compared to similar microstructures in the Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy. Deformation during creep at 760 °C at stresses between 200 and 400 MPa occurs by a combination of twinning and dislocation glide without recrystallization, resulting in power-law stress exponents in the range of 6 to 9. Only minimal strain path dependence of the minimum creep rate is detected in a comparison of creep rates in stress jump, stress drop, and single stress tests. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium “Fundamentals of Gamma Titanium Aluminides,” presented at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 10–12, 1997, Orlandom, Florida, under the auspices of the ASM/MSD Flow & Fracture and Phase Transformations Committees.     

Functional expression of three isoforms of human nitric oxide synthase in baculovirus-infected insect cells

Complementary DNAs encoding three human isoforms (neuronal, inducible, and endothelial) of nitric oxide synthase were cloned into the baculovirus expression vector pVL1392/1393. Transfection of Sf-9 insect cells with the recombinant baculovirus resulted in the expression of high levels of nitric oxide synthases. The expressed proteins of neuronal and inducible nitric oxide synthase were predominantly soluble, whereas the endothelial enzyme was for the most part, particulate. Recombinant enzymes were purified with 2',5'-ADP Sepharose affinity chromatography. The effects of reference enzymatic inhibitors (NG-methyl-L-arginine, NG-nitro-L-arginine and N-iminoethyl-L-ornithine) on recombinant expressed proteins were not significantly different from native nitric oxide synthase enzyme preparations. L-aminoguanidine was found to be much less potent in inhibiting recombinant or native human inducible nitric oxide synthase compared to the murine isoform. These findings indicate previously unappreciated interspecies differences in the action of nitric oxide synthase enzymatic inhibitors. The functional expression of human nitric oxide synthase isoforms in a heterologous expression system allowed screening of novel inhibitors. Studies indicated that S-ethylisothiourea and 2-amino-5,6-dihydro-6-methyl-4H-1,3-thiazine were potent novel inhibitors of human nitric oxide synthases.     

National cancer clinical trials: children have equal access; adolescents do not

PURPOSE: To determine whether adolescents with cancer, who in comparison to younger patients have a higher cancer incidence and lower mortality reduction, have equal access to national cancer clinical trials. METHODS: The ethnic/racial distribution of 29,859 subjects < 20 years of age entered onto National Cancer Institute-sponsored clinical trials between January 1, 1991, and June 30, 1994, was compared with the expected distribution of patients of the same age in the United States. RESULTS: The Children's Cancer Group and Pediatric Oncology Group had 29,134 (97.6%) of the total study entries among < 20-year-old subjects during the 3.5 years of surveillance. The adult cooperative groups accounted for < 3% of the clinical trials entries in the 15-19-year age range. When analyzed nationally by region, the under-representation of the older adolescent subjects was universal. From other analyses, the two pediatric cooperative groups were estimated to have registered > 94% of the children < 15 years of age who were expected to have been diagnosed to have cancer, but only 21% of the cancer patients in the 15-19-year age group. CONCLUSIONS: The national pediatric cancer cooperative groups allow the majority of American children < 15 years of age and their families equal opportunity to access clinical cancer trials, regardless of race or ethnicity. Among patients 15-19 years of age, however, > 75% are not being enrolled by any cooperative group sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. Thus, older adolescents are disadvantaged with respect to access to the national clinical trials, regardless of their race or ethnicity.