Renal replacement therapy in the elderly

Before 1980 few patients over the age of 65 started chronic dialysis, despite the fact that the incidence of advanced chronic renal failure was approximately ten times greater in this group compared to young and middle aged adults. Since that time the number of elderly patients starting renal replacement has increased markedly and accounted for 38% of new dialysis patients in Scotland in 1995. (Data supplied by the Scottish Renal Registry). In order to meet the needs of older patients with chronic renal failure there has been considerable expansion in renal services and it has been predicted that this will continue to increase in Scotland until 2010.     

Therapeutic comparison of thiol compounds in severe paracetamol poisoning

Twelve patients with toxic blood concentrations of paracetamol were treated with either cysteamine or amino-acid solution. None of the patients developed severe liver damage, although transient mild biochemical abnormalities developed in three. None of the patients treated with amino-acid solution had side effects due to therapy, whereas all those treated with cysteamine did. It is recommended that amino-acid solutions be used as a temporary measure in patients suspected of massive paracetamol overdose while awaiting estimation of blood paracetamol concentration.     

Team versus individual training, training task fidelity, and task organization effects on transfer performance by three-man teams.

Transfer performance of teams was measured in a simulated radar-controlled aerial intercept task. Superior performance occurred after training on an independently organized task (as compared to that after training which required verbal interaction among controllers), and superior performance occurred in an independently organized transfer task. However, these 2 variables interacted such that performance on an interaction condition of the transfer task was equivalent to that on an independently organized task if prior training was under the independent task organization. Training task fidelity influenced performance only on the interaction transfer task, with superior performance following a high-fidelity training situation in which controllers could acquire the same skills to be required in transfer for communication to interceptor pilots. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A double torsion fracture mechanics and Auger electron spectroscopy approach to the study of stress corrosion cracking in low alloy steels

The applicability of the double torsion fracture mechanics test to the study of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in steels was assessed by evaluating the behaviour of the low alloy steels AISI 4140 and En3OA, exhibiting both high (1400 MNm^–2) and low (765 MNm^–2) yield strengths respectively. An optical method for measuring crack growth rate and a load relaxation method for computing it were compared and found to give similar results. The test was shown to be eminently suitable for the study of SCC in high yield strength steels and those in a temper embrittled condition. The influence of trace impurities on the SCC susceptibility was examined using Auger electron spectroscopy to determine the type and amount of grain boundary segregants. The degree of segregation of trace impurities was shown to have a profound effect on the stress intensity-crack velocity (K-V) diagram by reducingK _IC and increasing the reaction rate as shown by the increased slope in stage III of theK-V diagram. An anomalously low threshold stress intensity was observed in as-quenched AISI 4140 and this was attributed to residual stresses produced by the phase transformations occurring during quenching.     

Stability of α-amylase in model brewery mashes

Experiments with model mashes, of partly purified malt α-amylase added to a grist of ethanol-extracted pale-ale malt confirmed that decreasing the concentration of the mash or increasing mash temperature caused an acceleration in the rate of α-amylase destruction. the experimental mashes were devoid of proteolytic activity and contained high levels of calcium ions. the mash temperature was below that needed to inactivate the enzyme in solution, so that the instability of the enzyme was unexpected. α-Amylase was estimated by a convenient reducing power method using a reduced starch substrate, and ‘hollow plug’ accelerated ion exchange for the removal of interfering substances.