Relationships between coping style and PAI profiles in a community sample

Relationships between coping style and psychological functioning were examined in a heterogeneous community sample (N = 168). Psychological functioning was categorized with the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey, 1991). Subjects were assigned to PAI configural profile clusters, using T-scores from PAI clinical scales. Three PAI clusters were prominent in this sample: normal, anxious, and eccentric. Multivariate analysis of covariance revealed that these clusters differed significantly in coping style, as measured by the dispositional format of the COPE Inventory (Carver, Scheier, & Weintraub, 1989). Normals coped through avoidance significantly less than anxious or eccentric subjects. Also, normals engaged in seeking social support and venting more than eccentric but less than anxious subjects. Gender differences also were noted, with women more likely to cope by seeking social support and men more likely to cope through hedonistic escapism. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Deletions of the short arm of chromosome 2 characterize a new cytogenetic subgroup of benign thyroid tumors

Cytogenetic studies of thyroid hyperplasias and adenomas have shown that besides cases with an apparently normal karyotype different groups of cytogenetic abnormalities exist. Herein we describe the cytogenetic analyses of two benign thyroid tumors with deletions of the short arm of chromosome 2. A similar case has been described previously. Besides the previously well-established subgroups, alterations of chromosome 2 may thus characterize a new cytogenetic subgroup of benign thyroid tumors. Genes Chromosom Cancer 16:149–151 (1996). © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Airway responsiveness to hyperosmolar saline challenge in cystic fibrosis: A pilot study

Hyperosmolar aerosols are used to assess airway responsiveness in subjects with asthma. Using a 10% NaCl aerosol, we investigated airway responsiveness in 23 cystic fibrosis (CF) subjects (12 females, 11 males; 19.1 ± 3.3 years) who had asthma-like symptoms. The pre-challenge predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) was 74.7 ± 21.5. The aerosol was generated by a MistO₂gen 143A ultrasonic nebulizer and inhaled for 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 8, and 8 minutes or part thereof. Spirometry was performed before and 1 minute after each inhalation period. The challenge was stopped when a ≥20% fall from the baseline FEV₁ was recorded, after the last inhalation period, or when requested by the subject. We recorded different responses to 10% NaCl among subjects. In 7, the FEV₁ fell progressively throughout the challenge in a manner similar to asthmatics. By contrast, in 15 subjects the FEV₁ was higher at the completion of challenge compared to during challenge, i.e., the fall in FEV₁ was transient. In 7 of these subjects, the final FEV₁ at the end of the challenge was higher than the pre-challenge FEV₁. We conclude that inhaled 10% hyperosmolar saline causes either progressive and sustained or transient airway narrowing during challenge in the majority of CF subjects. The cause of the transient airway narrowing requires further investigation. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1996;21:282–289. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Mechanisms of drug-induced lupus. IV. Comparison of procainamide and hydralazine with analogs in vitro and in vivo

Objective. T cells treated with DNA methylation inhibitors overexpress lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1), which results in autoreactivity, and the autoreactive cells cause a lupus-like disease in vivo, suggesting a mechanism by which some agents may cause drug-induced lupus. This study compared the effects of procainamide (Pca) and hydralazine (Hyd) with those of structural analogs, to determine if the degree of LFA-1 overexpression and T cell autoreactivity correlated with the ability of the agents to induce autoimmunity. Methods. Cloned murine T helper 2 cells were treated with Pca, N-acetylprocainamide, Hyd, Phthalazine, or hydroxyurea (HU). The treated cells were then compared for LFA-1 overexpression, autoreactivity, and the ability to induce autoimmunity in vivo. Results. Pca and Hyd were more potent than their analogs or HU in all 3 assays. Conclusion. The results support a relationship between LFA-1 overexpression, T cell autoreactivity, and autoimmunity, and suggest a mechanism by which Pca and Hyd, but not the analogs, may cause drug-induced lupus.     

Cost effectiveness of antenatal anti-D prophylaxis

This paper estimates the incremental cost-effectiveness of providing antenatal anti-D prophylaxis in varying dose sizes to either primigravidae or all Rh D negative women. It presents a model for calculating the net cost per 1000 ‘at risk’ women based on the costs of anti-D prophylaxis and the future NHS costs avoided. Incremental cost-effectiveness is measured in terms of the net cost per Rh D-alloimmunization and the net cost per Rh HD loss prevented. Programmes for Rh D negative primigravidae are more cost-effective than the same dose protocol extended to all Rh D negative women. The 1 × 1250 iu programme is the most cost-effective option.     

The relative importance of individual DR binding motif positions as defined by peptide anchor analysis of influenza hemagglutinin peptide 306–318 and human myelin basic protein peptide 152–165 binding to several DR molecules: definition of a common extended DR binding motif

Definition of peptide binding motifs for DR molecules has proven difficult as the peptides that bind to a DR molecule have shown extensive variability at putative motif positions. Recent studies suggest that specific peptide anchor residues (motif positions) and specific DR residues can differ in importance for peptide binding to a DR molecule. To assess further the relevance of individual peptide anchor residues, the binding of serial alanine-substituted analogs of influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) 306–318 and human myelin basic protein (MBP) 152–165 to a panel of transfected wild-type DR molecules was examined. This analysis included DR molecules from a wide range of allelic families and, unlike most earlier studies, multiple members of single DR allelic families. The data show that different peptide residues serve as critical anchors for binding to different DR molecules. For example, MBP binding to DR(α,β1*0303) required peptide residues F154 (i), R159 (i + 5) and R162 (i + 8). In contrast, MBP binding to DR(α,β1*0102) required peptide residues I153 (i) and L156 (i + 3). More importantly, the combination of critical anchor residues in HA and MBP differed for binding to a single DR molecule [e.g. V309 (i) for HA and I153 (i) and L156 (i + 3) for MBP binding to DR(α,β1*0102)]. Although the location of the binding pocket in each DR molecule compared to the DR (α,β1*0101) crystal is expected to be similar and suggests a common extended DR binding motif, the present results suggest that the relative importance of individual peptide anchor residues and of the corresponding DR binding pockets will differ for each DR/peptide complex.     

Reliability and factor structure of the chinese ghq-30 for parents with preschool mentally handicapped children

The Chinese version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30) was administered to 381 parents of preschool mentally handicapped children, along with other instruments that assessed their stress, mental health, coping styles, and care-giving patterns. The GHQ-30 was found to have high internal consistency as a scale and high item-total correlations for most of the items. Factor analysis with a four-factor solution showed that four factors were abstracted from the scale, namely, anxiety, depression, interpersonal dysfunctioning, and inadequate coping. It also was found that the factors extracted could be reproduced reliably in two random subsamples and that the factor structure derived from the present sample corresponds to the previously reported data on the dimensionality of the Chinese GHQ-30.     

Characterization Methods along the Process Chain of Electrical Steel Sheet—From Best Practices to Advanced Characterization

Non-oriented (NO) electrical steel sheets find their application in rotating electrical machines, ranging from generators for wind turbines to motors for the transportation sector and small motors for kitchen appliances. With the current trend of moving away from fossil fuel-based energy conversion towards an electricity-based one, these machines become more and more important and, as a consequence, the leverage effect in saving energy by improving efficiency is huge. It is already well established that different applications of an electrical machine have individual requirements for the properties of the NO electrical steel sheets, which in turn result from the microstructures and textures thereof. However, designing and producing tailor-made NO electrical steel sheet is still challenging, because the complex interdependence between processing steps, the different phenomena taking place and the resulting material properties are still not sufficiently understood. This work shows how established, as well as advanced and newly developed characterization methods, can be used to unfold these intricate connections. In this context, the respective characterization methods are explained and applied to NO electrical steel as well as to the typical processing steps. In addition, several experimental results are reviewed to show the strengths of the different methods, as well as their (dis)advantages, typical applications and obtainable data.     

A Novel Recycling Route for Spent Li-Ion Batteries

In this work, a recycling route for spent Li-ion batteries (LIBs) was developed. For this, the recovery of the metal content in both electrodes (anode and cathode) was investigated. Based on these results, an economic analysis of this recycling process was carried out. The obtained results showed that more than 90% of the material contained in both electrodes was recycled. The dissolution with acetic acid of the metals present in the active cathodic material is thermodynamically viable and the addition of a reducing agent such as hydrogen peroxide improved the spontaneity of the reaction. Dissolutions close to 100% for Li and Co were obtained. In addition, it was determined that the synthesis of lithium and cobalt valuable compounds was viable from the leach liquor, recovering approximately 90% of Co as cobalt oxalate, and 92% of Li as lithium carbonate. Furthermore, carbon graphite and Cu were fully recovered (100%) from the anodes. Finally, the results of the economic analysis showed that the recovered products have a high commercial value and industrial interest, providing an environmentally and economically viable process.     

Review of Low-Frequency Noise Properties of High-Power White LEDs during Long-Term Aging

Low-frequency noise investigation is a highly sensitive and very informative method for characterization of white nitride-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as well as for the evaluation of their degradation. We present a review of quality and reliability investigations of high-power (1 W and 3 W) white light-emitting diodes during long-term aging at the maximum permissible forward current at room temperature. The research was centered on the investigation of blue InGaN and AlInGaN quantum wells (QWs) LEDs covered by a YAG:Ce³⁺ phosphor layer for white light emission. The current-voltage, light output power, and low-frequency noise characteristics were measured. A broadband silicon photodetector and two-color (blue and red) selective silicon photodetectors were used for the LED output power detection, which makes it possible to separate physical processes related to the initial blue light radiation and the phosphor luminescence. Particular attention was paid to the measurement and interpretation of the simultaneous cross-correlation coefficient between electrical and optical fluctuations. The presented method enables to determine which part of fluctuations originates in the quantum well layer of the LED. The technique using the two-color selective photodetector enables investigation of changes in the noise properties of the main blue light source and the phosphor layer during the long-term aging.