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Frost crack represents one of the main defects which affect European beech wood quality. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to improve the knowledge regarding both the impact of frost crack on European beech wood quality and the frost crack characteristics which affect wood quality. In order to do this, nineteen European beech trunks with frost crack have been studied. Each trunk has been cross-cut every 1 meter and the characteristics of frost crack and frost crack star-shaped heart have been measured in each cross-cut section. The defects which accompany frost crack have also been identified in each cross-cut section. Moreover, the possibility of determining these defects using the IML RESIF500 -- S Resistograph has been tested. The research has emphasized the existence of statistical correlations between frost crack star-shaped heart expansion, frost crack rib prominence and frost crack length. These correlations are expressed by multiple linear regressions. The presence of defects which affect wood structure leading to a decrease in penetration resistance can be determined accurately with the resistograph. Decay (in frost cracks older than 8 years) and ring shake have been identified as the most frequent defects which accompany frost crack. The measurements made on the frost cracks studied have been gathered in a graph which shows frost crack impact on European beech wood quality. The results obtained lead to the improvement of the criteria of European beech wood quality assessment by expanding the already existent knowledge and by identifying new aspects which may complete standing wood quality determination and sorting methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The security of the information transmitted, irrespective of the era and the channel selected, has always been one of the main concerns of those using various communication systems. This is particularly the case nowadays, when the Internet has made the mass distribution of any kind of information possible. Codes can be used to transmit data through various noisy channels and any errors that might occur can be corrected; it is therefore very important to design gappropriate codes with adequate parameters. This survey briefly outlines the evolution of the ways in which information has been collected, transmitted and used from the past to the present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to describe clinical and demographic characteristics differentiating patients with DSM-III-R simple phobias comorbid with one or more of five DSM-III-R index anxiety disorders as compared with those with the index diagnoses alone. From 711 subjects participating in a multicenter, longitudinal, naturalistic study of anxiety disorders, 115 subjects with comorbid simple phobias were compared with 596 subjects without simple phobias in terms of demographic data, comorbidity with other disorders, somatic and psychosocial treatment received, and quality of life. In addition, episode characteristics, types of simple phobias found, and course of illness were specified. Subjects with simple phobias had more additional comorbid anxiety disorders by history than did those without. Mean length of intake episode was 22.43 years and severity was typically moderate. Fears of heights and animals were the most commonly represented simple phobias. Subjects with uncomplicated panic disorder were less likely to have comorbid simple phobias than were subjects with other index diagnoses, and subjects with simple phobia were more likely to have comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder than were these without simple phobia. Subjects with and without simple phobias did not differ by somatic or psychosocial treatment received or in terms of quality of life. Simple phobia appeared in this study to be a chronic illness of moderate severity for which behavioral treatment methods of recognized efficacy were not being frequently utilized. Uncomplicated panic disorder may reflect some type of resistance to phobia development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the impact of comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD) on psychiatric morbidity, panic symptomatology and frequency of other comorbid psychiatric conditions in subjects with panic disorder (PD). Four hundred thirty-seven patients with PD were evaluated at intake as part of a multicenter longitudinal study of anxiety disorders; 113 of these patients were also in an episode of MDD. Patients were diagnosed by DSM-III-R criteria utilizing structured clinical interviews. The 113 PD/MDD patients were compared with the 324 remaining PD subjects regarding panic symptoms at intake, sociodemographic, quality of life and psychiatric morbidity variables. Differences in frequency of other comorbid Axis I psychiatric disorders were assessed at intake; personality disorders were evaluated twelve months after intake. The results revealed the PD/MDD patients exhibit increased morbidity and decreased psychosocial functioning as compared to PD patients. Personality disorders were more prevalent in the PD/MDD group at six month follow-up assessment; the PD/MDD group also had an increased frequency of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and more comorbid Axis I anxiety disorders as compared to the PD group. The total number and frequency of panic symptoms was highly consistent between the two patient groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]