Family planning knowledge, attitudes and practices in women with schizophrenic spectrum disorders

This study set out to test three hypotheses about family planning in women with schizophrenic spectrum disorders, as compared to demographically comparable non-mentally ill control women: that they (1) report at least as much unprotected intercourse while not desiring pregnancy; (2) have less knowledge about contraception; and (3) perceive more, and different, obstacles to obtaining or using birth control. A semistructured Family Planning Interview was administered to subjects (n = 44) with Research Diagnostic Criteria diagnoses of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, and to non-mentally ill control subjects (n = 50). The participants had high rates of unprotected intercourse, as did non-mentally ill controls. They had significantly less reproductive and contraceptive knowledge than the control subjects, and were more likely to perceive birth control as difficult to obtain. The most common reason women with schizophrenic spectrum disorders gave for failing to use birth control was that they did not expect to have sex, while that given by non-mentally ill subjects related to side-effects of birth control. Important obstacles to family planning in women with schizophrenic spectrum disorders include relative lack of knowledge and difficulty planning ahead. Although many women with schizophrenia could benefit from long-acting, reversible contraception, many may be unaware of those options and/or may find them difficult to obtain. Integrating family planning with mental health care might better address the unique needs of this population.     

Ceramic fuel cells to replace metal burners

Global warming is thought to result from emissions largely caused by combustion reactions. Designs of burners and specifications of their materials are therefore of primary importance in restraining the warming phenomena. This paper proposes a new type of ceramic burner which incorporates many of the innovations which are needed to improve burner performance, including catalytic combustion, premixed fuel/air, recuperation of combustion heat, recycling of reaction products, electric-ignition and electron extraction. The key problems of fuel variation and thermal shock resistance of the ceramic are addressed through the concept of 'reaction gradient' in which the rich sequence of oxidation reactions during combustion is spread through three extended catalytic regimes along the isothermal ceramic device. It is evident that ceramic burners are necessary to provide catalytic activity and to promote electron transfer. The conclusion is that ceramic will ultimately replace metal in burners requiring low emissions and high exergy output.     

Self-control game interventions for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Compared the effects of self-control training, using cognitive-behavioral game play (CB) and biofeedback game play (BF), on the behaviors of 58 male and 5 female 8–12 yr olds with Full Scale IQ of 90 or higher on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children--Revised (WISC--R) and diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The experimental groups were compared to a control game group (GC), which received no self-control training. A 3?×?3 (treatment?×?time) factorial design with repeated measures, using IQ as a covariate, and multiple outcome criteria was employed comparing the groups. Findings support the hypothesis that self-control training by BF reduces a child's perception of his or her self-control problems, but the same does not generalize to parental report of self-control or behavioral measures. Hyperactivity, one of the cardinal symptoms of ADHD, was significantly decreased in GC. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Development of a novel test system for in situ catalytic, electrocatalytic and electrochemical studies of internal fuel reforming in solid oxide fuel cells

A test system based around a thin‐walled extruded solid electrolyte tubular reactor has been developed, which enables the fuel reforming catalysis and surface chemistry occurring within solid oxide fuel cells and the electrochemical performance of the fuel cell to be studied under genuine operating conditions. It permits simultaneous monitoring of the catalytic chemistry and the cell performance, allowing direct correlation between the fuel cell performance and the reforming characteristics of the anode, as well as enabling the influence of drawing current on the catalysis and surface reaction pathways to be studied. Temperature‐programmed reaction measurements can be carried out on anodes in an actual SOFC, and have been used to investigate the reduction characteristics of different anode formulations, methane activation and methane steam reforming, and to evaluate the nature and level of carbon deposition on the anode during reforming. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Accuracy of the conductance catheter for measurement of ventricular volumes seen clinically: effects of electric field homogeneity and parallel conductance

Ultrasound returns from tissue display variations in amplitude on several spatial scales. Although large-scale variations result from factors such as attenuation, variations on smaller scales are caused by tissue characteristics such as variations in scatterer spacing and reflectance. These small scale variations cause a corresponding variation in the amplitude of the ultrasound return. A simple and direct method for detecting and quantifying periodicity in these variations in the presence of attenuation is described. The radiofrequency ultrasound return is first demodulated by full-wave rectification. The normalized power spectrum of the demodulated return then yields an index that we call the relative Fourier energy. Both computer simulations and in vitro experiments were performed in order to study how relative Fourier energy performed in discriminating between periodic and random scatterer distributions. Computer simulations demonstrated significant differences between the returns from periodic and random scatterer distributions. Ultrasound returns from aortic tissue yielded a relative Fourier energy index that was significantly different between normal vs. atherosclerotic tissue (normal: 0.868 +/- 0.076, mean +/- s.d., fibrofatty plaque: 0.705 +/- 0.109, p < 0.01 vs. normal, calcified plaque: 0.753 +/- 0.078, p < 0.01 vs. normal). In contrast, no difference was found in comparisons of overall reflectance.     

Dynamic modeling and validation studies of a tubular solid oxide fuel cell

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is a key component in the new vision of distributed power generation. However, for connecting SOFC reliably to a load-varying grid, its transient behavior needs to be studied in detail with a thoroughly validated dynamic model. Dynamic models are also important for synthesizing efficient controllers. In this paper, a detailed dynamic model of a tubular SOFC is validated using experimental data from an industrial cell operating over a broad operating range. Steps in voltages and flows are used to study the system response. In the process of validation, phenomena that affect the transient response of the cell significantly are identified. The effects of Knudsen diffusion along with that of the increased active area for the electrochemical reactions are considered in this model observing the deviations of the simulation results from the experimental data. A dynamic model that includes these effects provides a very good match with the experimental data. Characteristics of the transient responses and various nonlinearities in the fuel cell dynamics are also studied in detail.     

The murine IL-13 receptor alpha 2: molecular cloning, characterization, and comparison with murine IL-13 receptor alpha 1

Two components of a receptor complex for IL-13, the IL-4R and a low affinity IL-13-binding chain, IL-13R alpha 1, have been cloned in mice and humans. An additional high affinity binding chain for IL-13, IL-13R alpha 2, has been described in humans. We isolated a cDNA from the thymus that encodes the murine orthologue of the human IL-13R alpha 2. The predicted protein sequence of murine IL-13R alpha 2 (mIL-13R alpha 2) has 59% overall identity to human IL-13R alpha 2 and is closely related to the murine low affinity IL-13-binding subunit, IL-13R alpha 1. The genes for both mIL-13-binding chains map to the X chromosome. A specific interaction between mIL-13R alpha 2.Fc protein and IL-13 was demonstrated by surface plasmon resonance using a BIACORE instrument. Ba/F3 cells that were transfected with mIL-13R alpha 2 expressed 5000 molecules per cell and bound IL-13 with a single Kd of 0.5 to 1.2 nM. However, these cells did not proliferate in response to IL-13, and the IL-4 dose response was unaffected by high concentrations of IL-13. In contrast, the expression of mIL-13R alpha 1 by Ba/F3 cells resulted in a sensitive proliferative response to IL-13. Consistent with its lower affinity for IL-13, IL-13R alpha 1.Fc was 100-fold less effective than IL-13R alpha 2.Fc in neutralizing IL-13 in vitro. These results show that mIL-13R alpha 2 and mIL-13R alpha 1 are not functionally equivalent and predict distinct roles for each polypeptide in IL-13R complex formation and in the modulation of IL-13 signal transduction.     

The fetal-pelvic index has minimal utility in predicting fetal-pelvic disproportion

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the fetal-pelvic index in our patient population and to determine whether it would be predictive of route of delivery. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred seventy-six patients with a previous history or clinical findings in the current pregnancy suggestive of fetal-pelvic disproportion participated in this Human Investigation Committee-approved study. All underwent fetal ultrasonographic examinations and modified digital radiography before labor. Fetal head and abdominal circumferences and maternal inlet and midpelvic circumferences were determined, and the fetal-pelvic index was calculated. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients fulfilled all aspects of the study, including rigorous criteria pertaining to labor management. Thirty of these patients underwent cesarean delivery and 61 were delivered vaginally. The fetal-pelvic index value for the vaginal delivery group was -5.4 +/- 5.3, as opposed to -2.4 +/- 5.8 in the cesarean delivery group (P <.02). Notwithstanding this difference, the fetal-pelvic index had a low overall ability to predict fetal-pelvic disproportion (0.65) and had associated sensitivity and specificity of 0.27 and 0.84, respectively. Predictive thresholds other than zero were tested, but optimal predictive ability, at a fetal-pelvic index cutoff of 2, was only 70% (sensitivity 0.20, specificity 0.95). CONCLUSION: In our patient population the fetal-pelvic index was only moderately predictive of fetal-pelvic disproportion. Factors other than those assessed by the fetal-pelvic index are probably important in determining the route of delivery. Further studies are indicated.     

Design, integration and demonstration of a 50 W JP8/kerosene fueled portable SOFC power generator

A man-portable solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system integrated with desulfurized JP8 partial oxidation (POX) reformer was demonstrated to supply a continuous power output of 50 W. This paper discusses some of the design paths chosen and challenges faced during the thermal integration of the stack and reformer in aiding the system startup and shutdown along with balance of plant and power management solutions. The package design, system capabilities, and test results of the prototype unit are presented.