Cognitive profile of fragile X premutation carriers with and without fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome.

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) develops in a subset of fragile X premutation carriers and involves gait ataxia, action tremor, Parkinsonism, peripheral neuropathy, autonomic disorders, and cognitive impairment. The study was designed to define the nature of cognitive deficits affecting male premutation carriers with and without FXTAS. A sample of 109 men underwent motor, cognitive, genetic, and neurologic testing, as well as brain magnetic resonance imaging. Subjects were classified into 3 groups: (a) asymptomatic premutation carriers, (b) premutation carriers with FXTAS, and (c) normal controls. Men with FXTAS performed worse than controls on mental status, intelligence, executive cognitive functioning (ECF), working memory, remote recall of information, declarative learning and memory, information processing speed, and temporal sequencing, as well as 1 measure of visuospatial functioning. Language and verbal comprehension were spared. Asymptomatic carriers performed worse than controls on ECF and declarative learning and memory. This comprehensive examination of cognitive impairment in male premutation carriers suggests that FXTAS involves substantial executive impairment and diffuse deficits in other cognitive functions. Longitudinal research currently underway will provide insight into the progression of the disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Six years of experience with nightly home hemodialysis access

Background: Lynchburg Nephrology Dialysis Incorporated started its nightly home hemodialysis (NHHD) program in September 1997. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate episodes of exit‐site infections, catheter sepsis, and safety and longevity of accesses for patients doing NHHD. Method: If internal jugular (IJ) catheter was chosen, the patient was started on 2 mg coumadin per day when catheter was placed. If catheter malfunctioned, it was blocked with a thrombolytic agent and coumadin was adjusted to meet a goal international normalized ratio (INR) of 1.5 to 2.25. If the problem persisted, the catheter was exchanged. For catheters, a threaded lock cannula (BD InterLink device, BD) was used to prevent air emboli and infections and a locking device was used to prevent disconnects. If arteriovenous (AV) fistula was used, four buttonholes were established using 16‐gauge needles. If AV graft was used, patients were taught the rope ladder cannulation technique using 16‐gauge needles. Results: As of September 1, 2003, 45 patients have completed training and have performed 27,063 treatments at home. Total catheter time at home was 930 months. Total AV fistula and AV graft times at home were 190 and 20 months, respectively. Upon completion of training, 34 patients were using tunneled IJ catheters, 10 were using AV fistulas, and 1 was using an AV graft. The IJ catheter exit‐site and sepsis infection rates were 0.35 and 0.52 episodes per 1000 patient‐days, respectively. Mean catheter life was 8.5 months with the longest being 66.7 months and the shortest being 0.2 months. The AV fistula and graft exit‐site and sepsis infection rates were 0.16 and 0 episodes per 1000 patient‐days, respectively. Catheter complications included one episode of disconnect due to patient's failure to use the locking device, one episode of central stenosis, and one episode of intracranial hemorrhage, due to prolonged INR, with resolution of symptoms. Conclusion: Data support the fact that tunneled IJ catheters, AV fistulas, and AV grafts are effective and safe permanent accesses for patients on NHHD.     

Organization structure as a moderator of the relationship between procedural justice, interactional justice, perceived organizational support, and supervisory trust.

Organizational justice researchers recognize the important role organization context plays in justice perceptions, yet few studies systematically examine contextual variables. This article examines how 1 aspect of context--organizational structure--affects the relationship between justice perceptions and 2 types of social exchange relationships, organizational and supervisory. The authors suggest that under different structural conditions, procedural and interactional justice will play differentially important roles in determining the quality of organizational social exchange (as evidenced by perceived organizational support [POS]) and supervisory social exchange (as evidenced by supervisory trust). In particular, the authors hypothesized that the relationship between procedural justice and POS would be stronger in mechanistic organizations and that the relationship between interactional justice and supervisory trust would be stronger in organic organizations. The authors' results support these hypotheses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Developmental Outcome of Drug-Exposed Children Through 30 Months: A Comparison of Bayley and Bayley-II.

This study examined the effects of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) version on developmental outcomes among drug-exposed children, some of whom received an intervention. Developmental outcome was evaluated with the BSID at 12 and 18 months and with the BSID-II at 24 and 30 months. In the repeated measures analyses, children scored higher on the BSID Mental Developmental Index (MDI; p     

NASCAR engineering: Balancing science with tradition

Conclusion As NASCAR officials balance progress with competition and continue to control the creep of new materials and technology into the sport, knowledge remains the commodity they cannot control. Nelson is not opposed to the influx of engineers into the sport. “Who ever wants to stay still?” he asked. “You’ve got to evolve and change with the times.” Wehrly, who is now 63, said he expected to retire when he was 55, but has been unable to escape the hold the business has on him. “Each year I’ve been involved in racing is a new challenge,” he said.     

Wundt's American doctoral students.

Using the student records in the archives at Karl Marx University in Leipzig, Germany, 33 American students have been identified who took their doctoral degrees with Wilhelm Wundt. Wundt served as major reader (Erstgutachter) for 16 students and as secondary reader (Zweitgutachter) for another 17. Many of these students are unknown to psychologists, even among historians of psychology. This article provides the 1st comprehensive catalog of these students and includes information on their dissertation work and subsequent careers. Wundt's effect on his American students is also discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social ecological model of illness management in high-risk youths with type 1 diabetes.

In this study, the authors tested a social ecological model of illness management in high-risk, urban adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. It was hypothesized that management behaviors would be associated with individual adolescent characteristics as well as family, peer, and provider relationships. Questionnaires were collected from 96 adolescents in poor metabolic control and their primary caregivers. Variables in each system were correlated with illness management. Multiple regression demonstrated that higher externalizing symptoms, poorer family relationships, lower satisfaction with providers, and greater age contributed to the variance in illness management. Internalizing symptoms and peer relationships were no longer significant in the model. Results support a social ecological model of illness management in high-risk youths. Interventions grounded in social ecological theory are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Early observations on an emerging Great Lakes invader Hemimysis anomala in Lake Ontario

Hemimysis anomala, a Ponto-Caspian littoral mysid, is an emerging Great Lakes invader that was discovered in Lakes Michigan and Ontario in 2006. Similar to the native mysid Mysis diluviana, Hemimysis exhibits a diel vertical migration pattern but generally inhabits shallower and warmer waters than M. diluviana. Because basic information on the distribution, habitat use, and biology of Hemimysis in the Great Lakes is scarce, the potential for food web disruption by Hemimysis cannot easily be predicted. Preliminary observations indicate widespread invasion of Hemimysis in Lake Ontario. In this study, we confirm the presence of Hemimysis at sites spanning the northern and southern shores of Lake Ontario and the presence of the individuals during winter months. In one horizontal tow in November 2007, over 26,000 individuals were collected with a length range of 4.4 to 9.0 mm and an average caloric density of 611 cal/g wet weight. The most effective methods for sampling Hemimysis were horizontal tows with either a zooplankton net in the water column or a benthic sled near the lake bottom. Although more quantitative data on the life history and distribution of this species is necessary, our preliminary observations support the prediction that the potential for Hemimysis to impact the nearshore food web in Lake Ontario appears high.