Poly(phenyllactide): synthesis, characterization, and hydrolytic degradation.

Poly(phenyllactide) was synthesized via the ring-opening polymerization of phenyllactide, the dimer of phenyllactic acid. Phenyllactide was synthesized by two methods, the solution phase condensation of L-phenyllactic acid and by thermal cracking of low molecular weight phenyllactic acid oligomers. The poor solubility of the monomer limited solution polymerizations of phenyllactide to low yields and low molecular weights, but melt polymerization of phenyllactide with Sn(Oct)2/tert-butylbenzyl alcohol at 180 degrees C gave high molecular weight polymers in high yields. The resulting polymers were amorphous due to epimerization of approximately 10% of the stereocenters during polymerization. Poly(phenyllactide) has a glass transition temperature of 50 degrees C and degrades to monomer at 320 degrees C. Experiments run at 55 degrees C at pH 7.4 show that poly(phenyllactide) degrades at approximately 1/5 the rate of rac-polylactide.

Symptoms of adopted children presenting to a large mental health clinic.

The intake records of a selected sample of children adopted in early infancy are reviewed and their presenting symptoms categorized. A majority of the children's symptoms fell into the first 5 of 15 categories: Oppositional Behavior, Aggressive Behavior, Anti-social Acting Out, Academic Problems and Problems with Peers. While these symptoms are not uncommon in non-adoptive clinic cases, the authors note an emphasis on the adoptive parents' disappointment and accusatory attitude to toward these children as well as high incidence of symptoms indicative of interpersonal difficulties and problems in developing solid parental attachments and self-control.