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Coming on the heels of the global financial crisis, the Euro crisis was first an issue of banking solvency, then an issue of sovereign indebtedness, and then an issue of the stability and integrity of the Eurozone and its currency. Market agents take bets on the future of the Euro, how it might be saved (or not), and the likely interventions (or not) of leading politicians and their governments as well as the European Central Bank. The integrity, powers and governance structure of the ECB are fundamental issues for the Eurozone, its members and the stability of global financial markets. Just as important are the geographical manifestations of the Euro crisis, since the national and urban and regional effects of the crisis often translate directly into political movements that question the legitimacy of the European project. This special issue brings together a set of papers that provide an overarching perspective on the Euro crisis and maps the uneven spatial effects of the crisis across countries, cities and regions.

A model of why people do not move between local labor markets is developed by means of a set of concepts derived from the job search and contracts literature. Emphasis is placed on how the environment, in which individuals behave, determines outcomes. It is argued that individuals act rationally, but that in a world of inequality rational behavior can reinforce disequilibrium and the perpetuation of spatial-economic inequality. A hypothetical example of two local labor markets is used to illustrate our argument.

OBJECTIVE: Glioblastoma multiforme is the most frequent primary brain tumor in adults. The major obstacle for successful treatment is the invasive growth pattern. Metabolically, glioblastomas are highly glycolytic, leading to increased levels of lactic acid production. The carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) moderates the extrusion of hydrogen ions into the extracellular space, which may enhance tumor invasion by activating proteolytic enzymes. We therefore induced glycolysis in glioblastoma cells and investigated the extracellular pH, cathepsin B expression, and its subcellular distribution and secretion parallel to the invasive behavior of the cells upon CAIX knockdown. METHODS: U251 glioblastoma cells were transfected with a CAIX siRNA construct and cultured in a Biocoat Matrigel invasion chambers with an 8-mm pore size membrane. The chambers were incubated in a humified 5% CO2 modular with either 21% oxygen and 25 mM glucose (control) or 0% oxygen plus 125 mM glucose (glycolysis). Invasion was quantified by counting the cells on the lower membrane surface. Extracellular pH was measured using a pH-meter. Cathepsin B expression and localization was investigated by RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. The cathepsin B secretion into the supernatant was measured using a cathepsin B activity assay. RESULTS: In vitro glycolysis caused a significant increase of cathepsin B expression and secretion combined with massive invasion of glioblastoma cells. In addition, the subcellular distribution of the enzyme was shifted to the cell periphery. The extracellular pH dropped significantly under glycolytic conditions, antagonized by CAIX knockdown. In addition, CAIX knockdown did not influence cathepsin B expression but attenuated the intracellular change of cathepsin B distribution and reduced both the cathepsin B secretion and glioma cell invasion. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that CAIX moderates invasion in glycolytic glioma cells via acidification of the extracellular milieu and enhanced secretion of cathepsin B.

The authors present the case of a 32-year-old woman who underwent concomitant abdominoplasty and mastopexy. Before discharge from the recovery room, she experienced cardiac arrest and seizures resulting from an accidental overdose of Marcaine, caused by failure of an intramuscular pain pump. The anesthesiologist initiated a rescue protocol with an Intralipid 20% bolus (1.5 mg/kg), followed by continuous intravenous infusion of 0.25 mg/kg for 60 minutes. The Intralipid intervention resulted in a successful outcome. This case emphasizes the importance of ensuring the availability of Intralipid 20% infusion in the operating room. Plastic surgeons who place postoperative pain pumps must be aware of this method of resuscitation and its effectiveness in treating possible cases of local anesthetic overdose or toxicity. Level of Evidence: 5 ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif

This paper outlines the procedure developed in the United Kingdom to determine whether a wetland is groundwater-dependent and damaged or at risk of damage as a result of groundwater quality or quantity pressures. First, we determined which sites were thought to be critically dependent on groundwater; we then worked to quantify the risk of damage. Results were verified by local ecologists and hydrogeologists who advised on the cause(s) of damage to each site, and the level of risk and confidence in that judgement. Second, we classified each groundwater body at good or poor status, using site condition assessments of sites protected for nature conservation to identify actual ecological damage, and a seven-step process to assess whether the environmental supporting conditions for each site were met, and if not, whether the departure was due to poor groundwater quality or inadequate quantity. The Environment Agency for England and Wales is also promoting wetlands as cost-effective measures to a number of catchment pressures, particularly the reduction of sedimentation and eutrophication, as part of the ecosystem services approach adopted by the United Kingdom Government.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an important gasotransmitter in both animals and plants. Many physiological events, including responses to stress, have been suggested to involve H2S, at least in part. On the other hand, numerous responses have been reported following treatment with H2S, including changes in the levels of antioxidants and the activities of transcription factors. Therefore, it is important to understand and unravel the events that are taking place downstream of H2S in signaling pathways. H2S is known to interact with other reactive signaling molecules such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO). One of the mechanisms by which ROS and NO have effects in a cell is the modification of thiol groups on proteins, by oxidation or S-nitrosylation, respectively. Recently, it has been reported that H2S can also modify thiols. Here we report a method for the determination of thiol modifications on proteins following the treatment with biological samples with H2S donors. Here, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is used as a model system but this method can be used for samples from other animals or plants.

The mixing of sub-millimetre diameter jets issuing into a turbulent cross flow is examined with a combination of laser diagnostic techniques. The cross flow stream is in a confined duct and the micro-jet issue from the sides of injector vanes. A range of cross jet momentum ratios, cross flow temperatures and turbulence intensities are investigated to examine the influence on the jet mixing. Methane, seeded with acetone, was used to measure the concentrations of the jets and the mixing of the jet fluid in the duct. Unlike previous jet in cross flow work, mixing appears to be dominated by the free stream turbulence, rather than the cross jet momentum ratios. Temperature increases in the free stream appear to increase the rate of mixing in the duct, despite the associated decrease in the Reynolds number. The dominance of the free stream turbulence in controlling the mixing is of particular interest in respect of gas turbine injection systems, as the cross jet momentum ratio is insufficient in defining the mixing process.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Octreotide is a somatostatin analogue that, when coupled to a radioisotope, produces a scintigraphic image of neuroendocrine tumors (NET) expressing somatostatin type 2 receptors (SSR 2). Octreotide scintigraphy (OS) may be useful in confirming the preoperative diagnosis of certain head and neck NET. Paragangliomas (PG), like many NET, have been found to have a high density of SSR 2 on the cell surfaces. Other NET of the head and neck include merkel cell carcinomas (MCC), medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC), and esthesioneuroblastomas. Study Design: A retrospective study that compared the results of OS with the histopathologic diagnosis in 74 patients with head and neck NET. Results: Of the 60 patients undergoing evaluation for suspected paraganglioma, OS was correctly positive in 36 of the 37 patients with PG. OS was correctly negative in 19 of the 23 patients that did not exhibit PG. For PG, this yielded a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 82%. There were 14 patients in the nonparaganglioma group. OS detected or diagnosed all metastases in three patients with MTC, locoregional recurrences in two patients with esthesioneuroblastoma, an extrapituitary adenoma in one patient, and metastasis in two patients with MCC. It failed to detect a paraspinal metastasis in the third patient with MCC. Conclusion: On the basis of this series of patients, OS appears to be a reliable test to detect PG and may be helpful in detecting primary and metastatic disease for NET.

Fewer than 15% of lipomas occur in the head and neck. To date, fewer than 100 cases of laryngeal lipoma have been reported in the literature. Typical clinical manifestations include dysphagia, dyspnea and hoarseness, as well as the presence of a smooth or pedunculated mass seen endoscopically and a low attenuation mass on computed tomography scan. Pathologic sections commonly reveal a tumor consisting of mature adipocytes, which is often encapsulated. Treatment of laryngeal lipoma varies from conservative total endoscopic removal to external surgical approaches. The following is a report of a single case of laryngeal lipoma, including pathologic and radiologic findings, as well as a review of the literature.

For lean burn combustor development in low emission aero-engines, the pilot stage of the fuel injector plays a key role with respect to stability, operability, NOx emissions, and smoke production. Therefore it is of considerable interest to characterize the pilot module in terms of pilot zone mixing, fuel placement, flow field and interaction with the main stage. This contribution focusses on the investigation of soot formation during pilot-only operation. Optical test methods were applied in an optically accessible single sector rig at engine idle conditions. Using planar laser-induced incandescence (LII), the distribution of soot and its dependence on air/fuel ratio, as well as geometric injector parameters, was studied. The data shows that below a certain air/fuel ratio, an increase of soot production occurs. This is in agreement with smoke number measurements in a standard single sector flame tube rig without optical access. Reaction zones were identified using chemiluminescence of OH radicals. In addition, the injector flow field was investigated with PIV. A hypothesis regarding the mechanism of pilot smoke formation was made based on these findings. This along with further investigations will form the basis for developing strategies for smoke improvement at elevated pilot only conditions.

In this investigation of patterns of coping with AIDS or the threat of AIDS by male intravenous drug abusers (both HIV positive and HIV negative), psychosocial measures were used to study the effects of personality factors and social support. Correlational analyses and multiple hierarchical regression analyses were used to assess the results. The pathways by which psychosocial factors affected coping differed in HIV-positive and HIV-negative subjects. A mediational model best depicted the interrelation of personality, family, and peer factors among HIV-positive subjects. Anger and rebelliousness interfered with coping among HIV-negative subjects, but not among HIV-positive subjects. This cross-sectional study provides insight into the interplay of inner personality factors and external support factors and their effects on coping ability in male intravenous drug abusers. Differences between those with HIV and those at risk for HIV infection are discussed.

The authors studied psychosocial risk and protective /actors in HIV transmission in a population of intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs), with a focus on needle-sharing. The authors examined high-risk sexual behavior in the same population by looking at factors affecting the individual IVDA's condom use. The volunteer sample was 300 male IVDAs who were patients at AIDS or methadone clinics in a large city hospital. All subjects were individually interviewed regarding condom use for vaginal intercourse, with a structured questionnaire analyzed by means of multiple hierarchical regressions and Pearson correlation coefficients. Parental and peer factors and coping measures were associated with more condom use. The findings supported a mediational model for condom use. Family factors were associated with good coping and with the selection of friends who support condom use. These factors in turn were associated with planning to use and actually using condoms.

Humor and laughter in medicine has received much attention in the medical literature. The use of humor by medical students, residents and medical personnel is not uncommon. Laughter can be therapeutic, for patients and practitioners alike. However, when inappropriately directed towards patients humor can be seen as unprofessional, disrespectful and dehumanizing. How physicians interpret their day-to-day professional experiences, and when and how they use humor is influenced by the perspective that is taken, the social distance from the event, culture and context. Some argue that social and physical distance makes it more acceptable to laugh and joke about patients, but not everyone agrees. To laugh with and not at others is the appropriate use of humor in medicine. To cry against the suffering of others and the injustice behind that suffering and not with them in their agony and frustration is the appropriate response to tragedy.

Summary Background All existing long-term glucocorticoid replacement therapy is suboptimal as the normal nocturnal rise and waking morning peak of serum cortisol is not reproduced. Aim To test whether it is possible to reproduce the normal overnight rise and morning peak in serum cortisol using an oral delayed and sustained release preparation of hydrocortisone (Cortisolds). Subjects and methods Six healthy normal male volunteers attended on two occasions, in a single-dose, open-label, nonrandomized study. Endogenous cortisol secretion was suppressed by administration of dexamethasone. Cortisolds (formulation A or B) was administered at 2200 h on day 1. Blood samples for measurement of cortisol were taken from 2200 h every 30 min until 0700 h, then hourly until 2200 h on day 2. Fifteen body mass index (BMI)-matched control subjects had serum cortisol levels measured at 20-min intervals for 24 h. Serum cortisol profiles and pharmacokinetics after Cortisolds were compared with those in controls. Results Formulations A and B were associated with delayed drug release (by 2 h and 4 h, respectively), with median peak cortisol concentrations at 4·5 h (0245 h) and 10 h (0800 h), respectively, thereby reproducing the normal early morning rise in serum cortisol. Total cortisol exposure was not different from controls. Conclusions For the first time we have shown that it is possible to mimic the normal circadian rhythm of circulating cortisol with an oral modified-release formulation of hydrocortisone, providing the basis for development of physiological circadian replacement therapy in patients with adrenal insufficiency.

The aim of these experiments was to evaluate the significance of the chemical reaction between hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and nitric oxide (NO) for the control of vascular tone.The effect of sodium hydrosulphide (NaHS; H2S donor) and a range of NO donors, such as sodium nitroprusside (SNP), either alone or together, was determined using phenylephrine (PE)-precontracted rat aortic rings and on the blood pressure of anaesthetised rats.Mixing NaHS with NO donors inhibited the vasorelaxant effect of NO both in vitro and in vivo. Low concentrations of NaHS or H2S gas in solution reversed the relaxant effect of acetylcholine (ACh, 400 nM) and histamine (100 microM) but not isoprenaline (400 nM). The effect of NaHS on the ACh response was antagonized by CuSO(4) (200 nM) but was unaffected by glibenclamide (10 microM). In contrast, high concentrations of NaHS (200-1600 microM) relaxed aortic rings directly, an effect reduced by glibenclamide but unaffected by CuSO4. Intravenous infusion of a low concentration of NaHS (10 micromol kg(-1) min(-1)) into the anaesthetized rat significantly increased mean arterial blood pressure. L-NAME (25 mg kg(-1), i.v.) pretreatment reduced this effect.These results suggest that H2S and NO react together to form a molecule (possibly a nitrosothiol) which exhibits little or no vasorelaxant activity either in vitro or in vivo. We propose that a crucial, and hitherto unappreciated, role of H2S in the vascular system is the regulation of the availability of NO.

The ITRS working group has identified mask alignment and overlay control as a technology roadblock with no known solutions beyond the 65 nm node. Mechanical stress induced by thermal processing critically influences the distortion and warpage of wafers. This paper investigates the wafer distortion between source/drain and contact masking steps. In the experimental part of this work we demonstrated that certain temperature non-uniformity patterns with uniformity less than 1% generate bigger warpage of processed wafer than a less uniform pattern with a higher non-uniformity

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that until very recently had not been found in the Americas. In 1999, there was an outbreak of West Nile encephalitis in New York and surrounding areas, involving 62 human cases, including 7 fatalities. The virus has subsequently become established in the United States of America (U.S.) with 4156 human cases, including 284 deaths, in 2002. The WNV strains found in the U.S. are members of "lineage I", a genetic grouping that includes viruses from Europe, Asia and Africa. Molecular epidemiologic studies indicate that two genetic variants of WNV emerged in 2002. The major genetic variant is found in most parts of the U.S., while the minor genetic variant has been identified only on the southeast coast of Texas. Investigation of WNV in mouse and hamster models demonstrated that strains from the U.S. are highly neurovirulent and neuroinvasive in these laboratory rodents. Other strains, such as Ethiopia 76a from lineage I, are not neuroinvasive and represent important viruses which can be used to elucidate the molecular basis of virulence and attenuation of WNV. To identify putative molecular determinants of virulence and attenuation, we have undertaken comparative nucleotide sequencing of Ethiopia 76a and strains from the U.S. The results show that the two viruses differ by 5 amino acids in the envelope (E) protein, including loss of the glycosylation site. Comparison of our panel of 27 WNV strains suggests that E protein glycosylation is a major determinant of the mouse neuroinvasive phenotype.

Lean premixed combustors have been developed to meet stringent NOx emission legislation. Operating close to the lean limit introduces a susceptibility to combustion oscillations, which have a damaging impact on hardware and affect combustor performance. The RB211 DLE aero derivative gas turbine has to be CO and NOx compliant from 60% power. Therefore the required turndown must be incorporated into the design. This is achieved by the addition of a second combustion stage, which provides the required CO burn out. Combustion instabilities can occur at different primary and secondary combustion temperatures in the form of noise islands. A 1/2 wave mode has been identified at high primary zonal temperatures and occurs over a certain range of secondary zonal temperatures. This observation suggests that the secondary flame can excite or dampen the instability depending on the phase relationship between the associated dynamic pressure and the fluctuating heat release rate. The mechanism is though to be fluctuations in temperature originating from the primary flame and convecting to the secondary flame. A second mode is observed at lower primary combustion temperatures, involving the axial combustor length and the circumference of the whole combustion system. A low order thermoacoustic network has been created by Stow et al [1] for the purpose of analysing eigen modes within aero annular combustors. This low order network is used to model the RB211 DLE combustion system. It uses linear perturbation theory to predict the eigen frequencies in the combustion system. Coupling between the unsteady flow and the fluctuating heat release rate is represented by a simple transfer function in both combustion zones. Results and discussion are given for both acoustic modes encountered on the RB211 DLE combustion system.Copyright © 2004 by ASME

The experimental work reported in this paper has confirmed that Rapid Thermal Annealing in the presence of optical excitation has a significant athermal component of annealing. It is suggested that the origin of athermal component annealing is related to the energy localization in the vicinity of deep level defects which may be in metastable state after optical excitation. The fact that these kind of states cannot be achieved by thermal annealing may be the reason for differences between thermal annealing (in dark) and annealing in the presence of optical irradiation. It is demonstrated that athermal annealing can be use for typical annealing application such as S/D anneal of submicron devices. Sheet resistance, SIMS profile and bulk lifetime were measured. Parametric test data are presented for typical logic ASIC process.

Prion diseases are characterized by the conversion of the normal cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) into a pathogenic isoform (PrP(Sc)). PrP(C) binds copper, has superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity in vitro, and its expression aids in the cellular response to oxidative stress. However, the interplay between PrPs (PrP(C), PrP(Sc) and possibly other abnormal species), copper, anti-oxidation activity and pathogenesis of prion diseases remain unclear. In this study, we reported dramatic depression of SOD-like activity by the affinity-purified PrPs from scrapie-infected brains, and together with significant reduction of Cu/Zn-SOD activity, correlates with significant perturbations in the divalent metals contents. We also detected elevated levels of nitric oxide and superoxide in the infected brains, which could be escalating the oxidative modification of cellular proteins, reducing gluathione peroxidase activity and increasing the levels of lipid peroxidation markers. Taken together, our results suggest that brain metal imbalances, especially copper, in scrapie infection is likely to affect the anti-oxidation functions of PrP and SODs, which, together with other cellular dysfunctions, predispose the brains to oxidative impairment and eventual degeneration. To our knowledge, this is the first study documenting a physiological connection between brain metals imbalances, the anti-oxidation function of PrP, and aberrations in the cellular responses to oxidative stress, in scrapie infection.

This study examined the relationship between the domains of environmental factors, family illegal drug use, parental child-rearing practices, maternal and adolescent personality attributes, and adolescent illegal drug use. A nonclinical sample of 2,837 Colombian youths and their mothers were interviewed about intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental factors in their lives. Results indicated that certain environmental factors (e.g., violence, drug availability, and machismo), family drug use, a distant parent-child relationship, and unconventional behavior are risk factors for adolescent illegal drug use. As hypothesized, results showed that the adverse effects of family illegal drug use on adolescent drug use can be buffered by protective parental child-rearing practices and environmental factors, leading to less adolescent illegal drug use. Prevention and treatment efforts should incorporate protective environmental, familial, and intrapersonal components in order to reduce adolescent illegal drug use.

The purpose of this study was to examine older brother correlates of younger brother drug use in the context of parental influences and younger brother personality. The sample consisted of 278 White male college students and their oldest brothers, who volunteered to answer self-administered questionnaires. Results indicated that 3 domains of influence each had an independent impact on younger brother drug use: (a) parent-younger brother relationships and parent drug use, (b) older brother-younger brother relationships and older brother drug use, and (c) younger brother personality. Modeling of nondrug use and a strong attachment relationship in the parent-younger brother and sibling dyads, as well as younger sibling traits of conventionality, had strong links to low younger brother drug use. Our findings highlight the importance of modeling and mutual parent-child attachment relationships as well as sibling relationships as they relate to the possible etiology of drug use.

This study longitudinally examined the psychosocial correlates of coping strategies among 165 HIV positive and 179 HIV negative female injection drug users (IDUs). Participants were interviewed twice using a structured questionnaire, with a 6-month interval between interviews. The questionnaire included psychosocial measures as well as measures of general coping and specific HIV-related coping. Data were analyzed using logistic regression analyses. The findings indicated that favorable factors in the psychosocial domains at Time 1 were significantly associated with an increased likelihood at Time 2 of the use of general coping and specific adaptive coping strategies, such as problem solving and seeking social support, and with a decreased likelihood at Time 2 of the use of maladaptive coping strategies, such as aggression and the use of illicit drugs. These findings highlight particular areas of psychosocial functioning that can be targeted by intervention programs to promote adaptive coping and minimize maladaptive coping among HIV positive and HIV negative female IDUs.

The study examined the psychosocial determinants of coping ability in a cohort of 249 HIV positive and HIV negative female injection drug users (IDUs), using a cross-sectional retrospective design. Information collected using a structured questionnaire included data on psychosocial risk and protective factors in the personality, family, and peer domains, HIV status, and coping ability. Coping ability was associated with conventionality, greater control of emotions, less psychopathology, and family cohesion in both HIV positive and HIV negative subjects. The psychosocial factors affected coping in HIV positive and HIV negative IDUs via two different mediational models. The interactional findings supported the influence of risk/protective interactions in both groups. The findings demonstrate the impact of the interplay between personality factors and external support on coping ability in female IDUs.

A method is presented by which the product composition and temperature of constant pressure combustion reactions can be calculated for non equilibrium conditions, by constraining the products free energy and entropy. The calculations for a hydrogen/ oxygen system are compared with chemical kinetic predictions. From the calculated compositions the relationship between free energy and extent of reaction are derived and thence how the individual product mole fractions vary with extent of reaction. The application of these techniques to modelling combustion chemistry is discussed.Copyright © 1999 by ASME

1. Peroxynitrite is a cytotoxic species that can be formed, among other mechanisms, by the rapid reaction of superoxide with nitric oxide. Peroxynitrite formation has been implicated in a wide range of neurodegenerative and chronic inflammatory diseases, as has the formation of hypochlorous acid by myeloperoxidase. 2. There is considerable interest in the development of peroxynitrite scavengers as therapeutic agents. The thiol compound mercaptoethylguanidine has been suggested to fulfil this role since it has recently been shown to be not only a potent inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase but also a scavenger of peroxynitrite. Indeed, it has been shown to be protective in some experimental models of circulatory shock and inflammation at plasma levels in the approximate range 100-300 microM. 3. One protein inactivated by peroxynitrite is the major inhibitor of serine proteinases in human body fluids, alpha1-antiproteinase. At high (250-1000 microM) concentrations, mercaptoethylguanidine was found to be effective in preventing peroxynitrite-mediated tyrosine nitration and alpha1-AP inactivation. 4. By contrast, lower concentrations of mercaptoethylguanidine (1-60 microM) enhanced the inactivation of alpha1-antiproteinase by peroxynitrite. 5. At all concentrations tested (1-1000 microM), mercaptoethylguanidine decreased the inactivation of alpha1-antiproteinase by hypochlorous acid. 6. We suggest that products of reaction of mercaptoethylguanidine with peroxynitrite or peroxynitrite-derived products could cause damage to alpha1-antiproteinase, and possibly other proteins in vivo, whereas scavenging of hypochlorous acid by mercaptoethylguanidine could contribute to its anti-inflammatory action in vivo.

Fewer than 15% of lipomas occur in the head and neck. To date, fewer than 100 cases of laryngeal lipoma have been reported in the literature. Typical clinical manifestations include dysphagia, dyspnea and hoarseness, as well as the presence of a smooth or pedunculated mass seen endoscopically and a low attenuation mass on computed tomography scan. Pathologic sections commonly reveal a tumor consisting of mature adipocytes, which is often encapsulated. Treatment of laryngeal lipoma varies from conservative total endoscopic removal to external surgical approaches. The following is a report of a single case of laryngeal lipoma, including pathologic and radiologic findings, as well as a review of the literature.

Young adult drug use stemming from childhood aggression, the parent-child mutual attachment relationship, and the effect of unconventionality were studied. Youngsters and their mothers were interviewed when the former were early adolescents, late adolescents, and young adults. Additional data were collected from the mothers when their youngsters were children. The analysis was conducted on youngsters who had complete data at all 4 points in time. The findings were in accord with the family interactional model; that is, the parent-child mutual attachment relationship affects unconventionality in the youngster, which, in turn, affects young adult drug use. The results indicate that the parent-child mutual attachment relationship does so through (a) the stability of the attachment relationship from childhood to young adulthood, (b) the stability of unconventional personality and behavioral attributes from early adolescence to young adulthood, and (c) the stability of drug use from early adolescence to young adulthood. The findings imply that (a) early intervention with respect to aggression, (b) interventions that focus on strengthening the parent-child bond and conventional behavior, and (c) interventions aimed at early drug use should be most effective in reducing young adult drug use.

One hundred fifteen 2-year-old toddlers, one of the parents of each toddler, and the corresponding grandmother of each toddler were studied to determine the influence of the grandmother and the parent on the toddler's behavior. Findings indicated that the grandmother's parenting skills have an effect on the grandchild's anger via two pathways. More specifically, the grandmother's child-rearing techniques are mediated by the parent's personality traits, which, in turn, are associated with the parent's child-rearing practices and, ultimately, the grandchild's anger. The second pathway through which the grandmother's child-rearing is related to the grandchild's behavior involves the parent's imitation of the grandmother's parenting skills, which, in turn, are correlated with the toddler's behavior.

To examine the linkages, cultural/ecological factors, and major psychosocial risk factors as they relate to drug use in a sample from Colombia, South America.The participants were 1.687 adolescents living in mixed urban-rural communities in Colombia, South America. An individual interview was administered to youths in their homes by Colombian interviewers. The scales used were based on item intercorrelations grouped into the following risk categories: (1) adolescent personality, (2) family traits, (3) peer factors, and (4) cultural/ecological variables.Pearson correlations were computed for each variable and the frequency of marijuana use. Results show that each of the domains was related to adolescent marijuana use, with some notable gender differences. As regards the interrelation of domains, a mediational model was operative.Findings support a family interactional theory. The domains of family, personality, and peer factors had a direct effect on the adolescents' marijuana use. Implications for prevention are also addressed.