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An innovative processing technique that produces distinct, locally patterned microstructures within a single sample is introduced in this article. This technique alters the conventional heat-treatment process by applying a micropatterned external surface load to selected locations during the quench and anneal. In the aluminum-copper system (2 wt pct Cu), spatial control of AlCu precipitates within 50 μm features over an aggregate length scale of millimeters is achieved. Chemical interactions among the furnace environment, the alloy sample, and the loading device can affect the experiments adversely and steps used to ameliorate these effects are discussed. The precipitate patterning technique presented in this article is compatible with standard 'heat and beat' processing and could be used potentially to develop new multifunctional metallic alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A survival disadvantage for black women with brest cancer, which persists after controlling for stage of the disease, has been reported. This study investigates the effects of race and socioeconomic status (SES) on breast cancer survival after controlling for age, stage, histology, and type of treatment. Methods: Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze the interaction between race and SES in predicting survival in a sample of 163 black, 205 Hispanic, and 964 white women with breast cancer treated at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (1987–1991). Results: The results of univariate and multivariate analyses indicate that race was not a significant predictor of survival after adjusting for SES and other confounding factors such as demographic and disease characteristics. SES remained a significant predictor of survival after all adjustments were made. There was no evidence of differences in type of treatment by race or SES if adjustments were made for stage. Conclusions: These results suggest that institutional factors, such as access to treatment, do not explain survival differences by race or SES. Other factors associated with low SES, such as life-style and behavior, may affect survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]