Delivering health and mental health care services to children in family foster care after welfare and health care reform

As the 20th century draws to a close, fundamental changes in the organization, financing, and delivery of health care and welfare services, principally directed at poor families, are likely to result in an increased number of children entering out-of-home care. These children typically have significant physical, mental health, and developmental problems. Whether the quality of health care services they receive will improve as a result of health care reform efforts and new approaches to service delivery remains to be seen. This article addresses some of the major changes wrought by welfare and health care reform and describes the essential features of a health care system that can meet the special needs of children in care.     

Pertussis toxin modification of PC12 cells inhibits a protein phosphatase 2A-like phosphatase

We have found that modification of rat PC12 cells with pertussis toxin resulted in an approximately 50% inhibition of a protein phosphatase 2A-like phosphatase. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a major cellular serine/threonine-specific protein phosphatase. Treatment of extracts from pertussis toxin-modified PC12 cells with either immobilized alkaline phosphatase or Ca2+ reversed this inhibition. Reactivation of the PP2A-like phosphatase in Ca2+ appears to result from the dephosphorylation of a protein by the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin. The PP2A-like phosphatase in extracts from pertussis toxin-modified PC12 cells eluted from a Mono Q column at a higher ionic strength than did the PP2A-like phosphatase in extracts from control cells. After incubation in Ca2+, the PP2A-like phosphatase in extracts from pertussis toxin-modified cells eluted from a Mono Q column at the same ionic strength as did the PP2A-like phosphatase in extracts from control cells. These results indicate that the effect of pertussis toxin on this PP2A-like activity results from the phosphorylation of either one of the subunits of the PP2A-like phosphatase or a protein that when phosphorylated binds to and inhibits this phosphatase. Pertussis toxin modification did not result in the phosphorylation of the catalytic subunit of PP2A. Because phosphorylation regulates the activities of many enzymes and cell surface receptors, a pertussis toxin-induced decrease in PP2A activity could alter signaling pathways and other cellular processes in which G proteins are not directly involved.     

Effect of silicon on the wear resistance of high-carbon steels with the structures of isothermal decomposition of austenite during friction and abrasive action

The hardness and wear resistance during sliding and abrasive friction of 80S2 (0.83% C, 1.66% Si) and U8 (0.83% C) steels subjected to the isothermal γ → α decomposition in the temperature range 330–650°C and additional 5-min annealing at 650°C are compared. The optimum decomposition temperature is found to be 550°C. At this temperature, fine lamellar pearlite with the maximum hardness and wear resistance as compared to other pearlitic and bainitic structures forms in the silicon steel. The silicon-alloyed fine lamellar pearlite of 80S2 steel is found to have high hardness and abrasive wear resistance as compared to the similar structure in plain U8 steel; however, this pearlite has no advantages in the wear resistance under conditions of sliding friction on a steel plate. Silicon alloying of the bainitic structures in the eutectoid steel leads to a noticeable decrease in the wear resistance during sliding friction and abrasive action. Friction oxidation is shown to negatively affect the abrasive wear resistance of the silicon steel.