Phosphorus‐Enriched Hemodialysates: Formulations and Clinical Use

Although hyperphosphatemia is a cardinal feature of renal failure, the occasional patient suffering from end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) may present with hypophosphatemia. For example, hypophosphatemia can develop in ESRD patients if they suffer from malnutrition or if they are aggressively dialyzed. Hypophosphatemia is commonly prevented or treated with the oral or the intravenous administration of soluble phosphate salts; however, determination of the required oral or intravenous dose is difficult. Under appropriate circumstances, phosphorus‐enriched dialysates can also be employed for the purpose of phosphorus administration. Various preparations of soluble phosphate salts can be used to enrich hemodialysates.     

Online monitoring of a bioprocess based on a multi‐analyser system and multivariate statistical process modelling

Multivariate statistical process control (MSPC) was for the first time applied to analyse data from a bioprocess on‐line multi‐analyser system consisting of an electronic nose (EN), a near‐infrared spectroscope (NIRS), a mass spectrometer (MS) and standard bioreactor probes. One hundred and fifty sensor signals from the electronic nose, 1050 wavelength signals from the NIRS, carbon dioxide evolution rate calculated from mass spectrometer signals and standard bioreactor data (eg amount of substrate fed) were interrogated for their ability to model a bioprocess using MSPC. The models obtained were validated on a recombinant Escherichia coli fed‐batch process for tryptophan production. Limiting trajectories were defined in the MSPC models for warning, action, and process experience with respect to biomass and tryptophan concentrations. The results showed the capacity and robustness of MSPC models for monitoring with multi‐analysers and allowed a comparison of the different analysers' suitability for this kind of data processing. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that MSPC models provide a functional and versatile framework for coping with large information flows and are also suited to a variety of other bioprocessing monitoring and control tasks. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Comparing the Developmental Trajectories of Marijuana Use of African American and Caucasian Adolescents: Patterns, Antecedents, and Consequences.

Adolescent marijuana use has tripled recently, and the once-noted race gap between African American and Caucasian adolescents in marijuana use appears to have disappeared. Yet, relatively little research has examined marijuana use among African American adolescents. In this study, we examined developmental trajectories of marijuana use among Caucasian and African American adolescents to identify whether and when differences in marijuana use appear and whether the precursors and outcomes associated with these developmental trajectories differ by race. Findings indicate that both the developmental patterns and outcomes associated with marijuana use are different for African American and Caucasian adolescents. Early-onset Caucasian and mid-onset African American adolescents experienced the greatest number of negative outcomes later in life associated with their marijuana use, suggesting that groups to target for intervention may vary by race. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A System for Semi-Autonomous Tractor Operations

Tractors are the workhorses of the modern farm. By automating these machines, we can increase the productivity, improve safety, and reduce costs for many agricultural operations. Many researchers have tested computer-controlled machines for farming, but few have investigated the larger issues such as how humans can supervise machines and work amongst them. In this paper, we present a system for tractor automation. A human programs a task by driving the relevant routes. The task is divided into subtasks and assigned to a fleet of tractors that drive portions of the routes. Each tractor uses on-board sensors to detect people, animals, and other vehicles in the path of the machine, stopping for such obstacles until it receives advice from a supervisor over a wireless link. A first version of the system was implemented on a single tractor. Several features of the system were validated, including accurate path tracking, the detection of obstacles based on both geometric and non-geometric properties, and self-monitoring to determine when human intervention is required. Additionally, the complete system was tested in a Florida orange grove, where it autonomously drove seven kilometers.     

Estimating sleep parameters: A multitrait-multimethod analysis.

All-night sleep recordings were obtained from 12 good sleepers and 12 sleep-maintenance insomniacs (aged 20–60 yrs) on three consecutive postadaptation nights. Ss completed a sleep diary each morning and evening. Spouses of good sleepers completed independent reports of Ss' sleep. Insomniacs reported significantly more minutes to onset of Stage 1 sleep, more minutes awake after sleep onset, and fewer awakenings than were observed in the sleep recordings. Good sleepers' self-report values for minutes to sleep onset and minutes awake after sleep onset were not significantly different from recorded values. Good sleepers reported fewer number of awakenings than were observed in the recording. Spouses of good sleepers agreed with recorded and reported estimates of minutes to sleep onset but reported significantly different values for minutes awake after sleep onset and number of awakenings. The multitrait-multimethod analysis showed that data from self- and spouse reports provided valid information for estimates of minutes to sleep onset for good sleepers and for minutes to sleep onset and minutes awake after sleep onset for insomniacs. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fatty acid composition of the neutral lipids and individual phospholipids of muscle of cold-stressed arctic mice

Fatty acids of the individual phospholipids and total neutral lipid fractions in skeletal muscle of three species of Arctic mice were identified and quantitated after the mice had been classified as control, cold-sensitive or cold-resistant. The results indicate that some species increase the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids as an apparent result of cold exposure and some species do not. A common finding for all cold-sensitive mice was a significant increase in 14∶0 in phosphatidic acid when compared to cold-resistant and control animals. Hypotheses are presented in an attempt to explain this finding.     

Effect of enriched input on schizophrenic abstraction.

Closed ward, openward, and former schizophrenic patients were compared with nonschizophrenic patients. Ss gave abstract interpretations for single proverbs and for sets of 3 proverbs, the proverb sets providing an enriched input condition. Schizophrenics with mild and medium degrees of psychosis showed improvement in abstract responses with enriched input. Nonschizophrenic and severely schizophrenic Ss showed no improvement. When input was adequate, deficit in abstract responses disappeared entirely for the mildly schizophrenic Ss. Severely schizophrenic Ss showed deficit on all tests. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Attraction-enhancing client behaviors: A structured learning approach for "Non-Yavis, Jr."

Tested the use of structured learning techniques to train lower socioeconomic emotionally disturbed children and adolescents in verbal behaviors that are (a) useful in interviews, (b) attraction enhancing, and that (c) generalize to the psychotherapeutic context. 40 such Ss, residentially hospitalized, were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups matched on age and sex. The experimental condition consisted of 4 structured learning sessions designed to teach the interviewee verbal skills. The control condition was a time and attention placebo procedure designed to appear credible to the Ss. Dependent variables were S acquisition of inteview skills, S-perceived interviewer attractiveness, and interviewer-perceived S attractiveness. Posttraining results indicate significant effects for the experimental treatment on S acquisition of interview initiation and interview responsibility. Short-term follow-up indicated (a) a significant experimental effect upon retention of interview initiation only and (b) a significant experimental effect on S attractiveness to the interviewer. Implications for client pretherapy training in attraction-enhancing verbal skills are discussed. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)