Pneumothorax. A complication of fine needle aspiration of breast tumors

Of 1,666 patients who underwent fine needle aspiration for breast lumps, 4 developed pneumothorax as a complication. The incidence of this complication in our patients is 1:417. The clinical manifestations were immediate chest pain, shoulder pain and, occasionally, dyspnea that developed later. Observation is sufficient treatment in most patients, and rarely is drainage of the pneumothorax required.     

Procedure employed in SSTF USSR for calculating the earth's rotational parameters

Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 4, pp. 38–39, April, 1989.     

Microstructural evolution in rapidly solidified Al-Fe alloys: An alternative explanation

The solidification sequences in aluminum containing 8 and 16 wt pct iron are described in terms of the formation of metastable and stable primary intermetallic phases. These alloys were studied in the chill-cast and splat-quenched conditions, and marked differences in microstructure due to the different cooling rates were observed. Contrary to previous work, it is proposed that the 50-nm intercellular particles observed in the “zone A” regions of the splat-quenched alloys are primary in nature; this may account, in part, for their remarkable thermal stability.     

Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL): initial reliability and validity data

OBJECTIVE: To describe the psychometric properties of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL) interview, which surveys additional disorders not assessed in prior K-SADS, contains improved probes and anchor points, includes diagnosis-specific impairment ratings, generates DSM-III-R and DSM-IV diagnoses, and divides symptoms surveyed into a screening interview and five diagnostic supplements. METHOD: Subjects were 55 psychiatric outpatients and 11 normal controls (aged 7 through 17 years). Both parents and children were used as informants. Concurrent validity of the screen criteria and the K-SADS-PL diagnoses was assessed against standard self-report scales. Interrater (n = 15) and test-retest (n = 20) reliability data were also collected (mean retest interval: 18 days; range: 2 to 36 days). RESULTS: Rating scale data support the concurrent validity of screens and K-SADS-PL diagnoses. Interrater agreement in scoring screens and diagnoses was high (range: 93% to 100%). Test-retest reliability kappa coefficients were in the excellent range for present and/or lifetime diagnoses of major depression, any bipolar, generalized anxiety, conduct, and oppositional defiant disorder (.77 to 1.00) and in the good range for present diagnoses of posttraumatic stress disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (.63 to .67). CONCLUSION: Results suggest the K-SADS-PL generates reliable and valid child psychiatric diagnoses.     

Oxidative thermal decomposition of poly(vinyl chloride) compositions

“Pure” poly(vinyl chloride) resin and four compositions containing poly(vinyl chloride) were subjected to oxidative thermal degradation in air at &400°C both in a quiescent and a flow system. The volatiles formed were identified and quantitatively determined on a gram-per-gram basis. Hydrogen chloride was the main product found. The nature and relative concentration of the produced organic chlorinated species appeared to be dependent not only on the poly(vinyl chloride) constituent but also on the other ingredients. All the compositions contained phthalate ester plasticizers. In the dynamic system, these distilled largely unchanged, whereas under static conditions transformation into phthalic anhydride occurred.     

Dissolution of perfluoroalkyl oligomers in lubricating oil for enhancing wear resistance and fuel economy

Perfluorobutyl-1,1,2-tri-H-1-hexene and perfluoroalkyl methacrylate have been solubilized in lubricating oil by single-step free radically grafting onto poly(ethylene-co-propylene). Perfluoroalkyl-1,1,2,2-tetra-H-ethanol and perfluoropolyether carboxylic acid were solubilized by condensing with poly[(ethylene-co-propylene)-g-glycidyl methacrylate], generating the corresponding perfluoroalkyl ether or ester, respectively. Solubilization of 1,1,2,2-tetra-H-ethanol was also achieved by condensing with poly[(ethylene-co-propylene)-g-2-isocyanoethyl methacrylate] to the corresponding perfluoroalkyl urethane. Scar diameter reductions ranged from 9.4 to 58% using perfluoro-modified graft copolymers as determined using the Four Ball Wear Test, although optimum reductions were obtained using perfluoroalkyl urethane-modified graft copolymers. Moreover, a semiquantitative correlation of scar reductions and thermal instability was determined. Sequence VI engine testing of perfluoroalkyl urethane graft copolymers containing pendant perfluoroalkyl chain lengths of 8.2 and 7.2 had an Equivalent Fuel Economy Index of 4.33 and 4.27, respectively. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.