A Composite Index of Compliance for Chronic In‐Center Hemodialysis Patients

We developed a composite compliance index as the sum of the compliance scores for interdialytic weight gain (IDWG), pre‐dialysis serum potassium and phosphorus concentrations (each scored from zero to 3, with 3 indicating the poorest compliance), and skipping hemodialysis sessions (scored from zero to 9, with 9 indicating the poorest compliance). We used this composite score to prospectively evaluate compliance in 25 prevalent hemodialysis patients over a period of 1 year. We then followed these patients for another 3.5 years. The patients studied were divided into two groups: group A (poor compliance) consisted of 9 subjects with composite score ≥ 9 (13.2 ± 3.2); group B (better compliance) consisted of 16 subjects with composite score < 9 (4.7 ± 1.8). Age, duration of hemodialysis, and frequency of diabetes mellitus did not differ between the groups. Group A contained higher fractions of subjects with history of alcoholism (66.7% vs 12.5%, p = 0.010), other substance addiction (44.4% vs 0%, p = 0.010), and severe psychosocial problems (88.9% vs 18.8%, p = 0.002). Mean survival from the beginning of observation, estimated by actuarial life‐table survival analysis, was 1.19 years in group A and 2.60 years in group B (p = 0.0265). A composite compliance index incorporating domains indicating adherence to diet, medications, and dialysis schedule identified other behavioral problems in poorly compliant patients. Hemodialysis patients characterized by this composite index as poorly compliant had shortened survival.     

A geometry-based error estimation for cross-ratios

For choosing specific cross-ratios as 2D projective coordinates in various computer vision applications, a reasonable error analysis model is usually required. This investigation adopts the assumption of normal distribution for positioning errors of point features in an image to formulate the error variances of cross-ratios. Based on a geometry-based error analysis, a straightforward way of identifying the cross-ratios with minimum error variances is proposed. Simulation results show that the proposed approach, as well as a further simplified alternative, yield much better estimations of minimum error variances in terms of accuracy, cost, and stability compared with some other methods, e.g., the one based on the rule given by Georis et al. (IEEE Trans. Pattern Anal. Mach. Intell. 20 (4) (1998) 366). Some causes of the performance differences in the estimations are explained using a special configuration of point features.     

一种有机硫类絮凝剂DTC的合成及性能评价

讨论了由有机伯胺或仲胺和CS2合成二硫代氨基甲酸盐DTC的反应及副反应,简介了合成工艺。根据红外光谱确认了由三乙烯四胺合成的二硫代氨基甲酸盐（以下简称DTC）的结构。以含原油350 mg/L、含悬浮固体55.1 mg/L,含Fe^2＋10.0 mg/L的模拟污水为实验水样,考察了该DTC的絮凝性能,在40℃、pH=6-7、沉降时间30分钟条件下DTC的适宜加量为20 mg/L,此时污水含油量为9.0 mg/L;使用DTC的适宜pH范围在4-8,pH=6为最佳值,适宜温度范围为10-45℃,温度高于45℃时DTC可发生热分解;DTC的除油效果随污水中Fe^2＋浓度增大而改善。在含油89.1 mg/L、含悬浮固体55.1 mg/L、含Fe^2＋13.2 mg/L的油田污水中,DTC的除油率最高,远高于常用絮凝剂PFS,PAC,CPAM,HPAM和PAM。当污水中不含Fe^2＋时,DTC无絮凝除油效果。讨论了DTC在Fe^2＋参与下的絮凝过程。图5表1参8。     

乙炔在磁稳定床中的选择性加氢研究

 制备了一种磁性Pd/Al₂O₃催化剂，采用磁稳定床考察了活性组分负载量、反应条件及CO浓度对乙炔加氢反应性能的影响。结果表明，当反应温度80℃、反应压力1.5MPa、空速9000h－1、磁场强度（H）25kA/m时，乙炔转化率为100％，乙烯选择性可达81％，具有优良的乙炔加氢活性和乙烯选择性，优于相同反应条件下的进口催化剂；250h稳定性实验结果表明，磁性Pd/Al2O3催化剂具有良好的初活性和乙烯选择性，催化剂性能稳定。     

低温聚合物结构松弛的数值研究

为了获得低温聚合物的参数和升降温速率对连续升降温无量纲比热容的影响,应用差示扫描量热法(DSC)和TNM的结构松弛模型作出简单的数值研究.结果表明,变换不同比率的升降温速率及不同参数值得到的DSC曲线图形变化能够对聚合物的结构松弛研究有一点参考作用.     

Posttraumatic stress in children and adolescents exposed to family violence: I. Overview and issues.

Exposure to child physical abuse and parents' domestic violence can subject youth to pervasive traumatic stress and can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This article presents evolving conceptualizations in the burgeoning field of trauma related to family violence exposure and describes how the often repeating and ongoing nature of family violence exposure can complicate a PTSD diagnosis. In addition, recent literature indicates that children exposed to family violence may experience problems in multiple domains of functioning and may meet criteria for multiple disorders in addition to PTSD. Considerations salient to the recognition of traumatic stress in this population and that inform assessment and treatment planning are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sensitivity analysis of the scattering parameters of microwave filters using the adjoint network method

A novel approach is presented to calculate the sensitivities of the scattering parameters of microwave filters obtained with the full‐wave mode‐matching (MM) technique. Using only the MM simulation of the original network, the sensitivities of the scattering parameters with respect to all designable parameters are obtained. The adjoint network method (ANM) is applied to the generalized scattering matrices of the different filter components. This guarantees good accuracy of the calculated sensitivities. The implementation details are discussed for N‐resonator ridge waveguide filters. Excellent agreement is obtained between the sensitivities calculated using ANM and those obtained using the expensive central differences. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2006.     

Sediment chemistry and nutrient influx in a hydrologically restored bottomland hardwood forest in Midwestern USA

Exchanges of total N and C between a river and its floodplain forest have been enhanced by sedimentation processes during flood pulses at a 5‐ha bottomland hardwood forest located at the Olentangy River Wetland Research Park in central Ohio. In the spring of 2000, the forest was hydrologically restored by notching an artificial levee that had separated the Olentangy River and its floodplain forest for 100 years. One‐hundred flat sediment traps (30 cm × 30 cm) were used to collect sediment samples during spring/summer flooding events from 2003 to 2005. Results showed that sediment deposition is determined by the landscape variability during flooding events, Net sediment deposit in the wettest area averaged 134 ± 12 g‐dry wt m^?2 in 2003, 127 ± 17 g‐dry wt m^?2 in 2004 and 149 ± 23 g‐dry wt m^?2 in 2005. Total N and C sedimentation ranged from 0.49 to 0.92 g‐N m^?2 and 5.2 to 19.9 g‐C m^?2. Fe dominates the sediment chemistry and results show the elemental abundance in the order of Al > Fe > Ca > K > Mg > S > P > Na > Mn > Zn > B > Cu > Mo. A hydrologic pulsing index (HPI) could be used as an indicator for mass changes of energies with hydrologic pulsing events. Restoration of seasonally flooded bottomland forests could stimulate potentially large nutrient and Fe releases, which would eventually lead to an enhanced forest productivity and biodiversity. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Antioxidative ability of native and thermized sour whey in oxidation‐catalysed model systems†

Antioxidative properties of sour (cottage) were evaluated with (thermized) and without (native) heat treatment (80°C for 30 min). A model system comprising a Tween 20 stabilized peanut oil in phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) emulsion containing lipid oxidation catalysts, FeCl ₃, H₂O₂ and ascorbate was used. Native sour whey powder (SWP) was significantly better than thermized whey in terms of limiting the formation of thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances and peroxide value. Antioxidative ability was best at pH 3.0 and decreased with increasing pH. SWP (20%, w/v) was significantly better than all commonly used antioxidants tested after 96 h of incubation at 40°C.     

Perceived risk for influenza in veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders.

Objective: Guided by the extended parallel process model (EPPM), the objective was to assess control processes dominant in influenza behavior decisions. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Results: Response rate was 31% (n=968). Regarding influenza risk, 59% were in danger control. Those in fear control were more likely to report influenza infection (p=.000). In the nonvaccinated, those in fear control were more likely to indicate not knowing where to get the vaccine (p=.016) and that it was unavailable (p=.027), and those in danger control believed they did not need it (p=.023). Zero critical values were more likely to indicate that no health provider recommended the shot (p=.002). Conclusions: Most perceived efficacy to be stronger than threat related to influenza; according to the EPPM, they are aware of their risk but recognize their ability to avert it. For those in danger control, messages should focus on increasing perceptions of severity and susceptibility to positively affect behavior change. For those in fear control, messages should focus on efficacy only. With a critical value of zero, no threat is induced, and a high-threat/high-efficacy approach should be taken. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)