Adherence in childhood diabetes: Results of a confirmatory factor analysis.

Tested the equality of the factor pattern of adherence to treatment of childhood diabetes identified by S. B. Johnson et al (see record 1988-05437-001) across 2 independent samples. Samples of 162 and 157 diabetics (aged 6–18 yrs) were studied. Factors 1–4, Exercise, Injection, Diet Type, and Eating/Testing Frequency, were confirmed. Factor 5, Diet Amount, proved to be too complex; the adherence measures comprising this factor (total calories and concentrated sweets consumed) are best treated as separate, single-indicator constructs. Results support a multivariate concept of adherence, offer insight into the nature of the components underlying diabetes adherence, and provide measurement information for reliable component estimation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Principles of local sound velocity and attenuation measurementsusing transmission acoustic microscope

Fundamentals of transmission acoustic microscopy as applied to measurements of sound velocities and attenuation in thin specimens and films are discussed. The method is based on measuring the output signal A as a function of a distance z between the radiating and the receiving lenses in the two-lens focusing system of the transmission microscope. It is proposed to measure the A(z) dependence twice: initially without a specimen, and then in the presence of it. When a specimen is absent, maximum of the A(z)-curve arises in the confocal position of the lenses. In the presence of an object, the main peak of the curve is shifted, and its magnitude diminishes. Measuring the changes makes it possible to determine local values of sound velocities and attenuation. For data interpretation a theory of formation of the output signal in the two-lens focusing system was developed. The relationship between the peak shift and the ratio of sound velocities in a specimen and a couplant contains a correction depending on beam angle aperture     

Digital ischemia and gangrene due to red blood cell aggregation induced by acquired dysfibrinogenemia

Digital gangrene was observed in a patient who had angiographic findings of digital arterial occlusion. The patient's blood showed a marked red blood cell aggregation with rouleaux formation in long chains, which could not be dispersed at shear rates up to 200 sec-1. Studies of the patient's blood revealed the presence of an abnormal fibrinogen capable of aggregating normal red blood cells. This fibrinogen was found by Raman spectroscopy to have an increased alpha-helical content, whereas the beta-sheet content was decreased. Defibrinogenation therapy with ancrod resulted in a dramatic symptomatic relief. The disappearance of the abnormal fibrinogen 6 months later and an absence of a family history indicate that this dysfibrinogenemia was acquired.     

Use of converging tube sections of noncircular penstocks for flow rate measurement by the velocity-area method

Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 2, pp. 32–34, February, 1991.