bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preliminary report on in vivo coronary MRA at 3 Tesla in humans
Authors: Stuber Matthias , Botnar René M. , Fischer Stefan E. , Lamerichs Rolf , Smink Jouke , Harvey Paul , Manning Warren J.
Published: September 2002

Current limitations of coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) include a suboptimal signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), which limits spatial resolution and the ability to visualize distal and branch vessel coronary segments. Improved SNR is expected at higher field strengths, which may provide improved spatial resolution. However, a number of potential adverse effects on image quality have been reported at higher field strengths. The limited availability of high‐field systems equipped with cardiac‐specific hardware and software has previously precluded successful in vivo human high‐field coronary MRA data acquisition. In the present study we investigated the feasibility of human coronary MRA at 3.0T in vivo. The first results obtained in nine healthy adult subjects are presented. Magn Reson Med 48:425–429, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Volume of rat lungs measured throughout the respiratory cycle using 19F NMR of the inert gas SF6
Authors: Kuethe Dean O. , Behr Volker C. , Begay Stephanie
Published: September 2002

The lung volumes of mechanically ventilated rats were measured over the course of the respiratory cycle using the NMR signal strength from inhaled sulfurhexafluoride. Rats with elastase‐induced emphysema showed larger lung volumes and slower exhalation than control rats. For humans the technique should be able to provide lung volume measurements at least 20 times a second. Magn Reson Med 48:547–549, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantitative 1H‐magnetic resonance spectroscopy of human brain: Influence of composition and parameterization of the basis set in linear combination model‐fitting
Authors: Hofmann L. , Slotboom J. , Jung B. , Maloca P. , Boesch C. , Kreis R.
Published: September 2002

Localized short‐echo‐time 1H‐MR spectra of human brain contain contributions of many low‐molecular‐weight metabolites and baseline contributions of macromolecules. Two approaches to model such spectra are compared and the data acquisition sequence, optimized for reproducibility, is presented. Modeling relies on prior knowledge constraints and linear combination of metabolite spectra. Investigated was what can be gained by basis parameterization, i.e., description of basis spectra as sums of parametric lineshapes. Effects of basis composition and addition of experimentally measured macromolecular baselines were investigated also. Both fitting methods yielded quantitatively similar values, model deviations, error estimates, and reproducibility in the evaluation of 64 spectra of human gray and white matter from 40 subjects. Major advantages of parameterized basis functions are the possibilities to evaluate fitting parameters separately, to treat subgroup spectra as independent moieties, and to incorporate deviations from straightforward metabolite models. It was found that most of the 22 basis metabolites used may provide meaningful data when comparing patient cohorts. In individual spectra, sums of closely related metabolites are often more meaningful. Inclusion of a macromolecular basis component leads to relatively small, but significantly different tissue content for most metabolites. It provides a means to quantitate baseline contributions that may contain crucial clinical information. Magn Reson Med 48:440–453, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
UNFOLD using a temporal subtraction and spectral energy comparison technique
Authors: Wu Yijing , Jeong Eun‐Kee , Parker Dennis L. , Alexander Andrew L.
Published: September 2002

In dynamic MRI, several methods have been demonstrated to increase acquisition speed by decreasing the number of sequential phase encodings. The UNFOLD technique interleaves the measurements of k‐space, reconstructs aliased images from each k‐space interleaf, and applies a temporal low‐pass filter to obtain the nonaliased images. However, low‐pass filter resolution of the nonaliased images fails if there is overlap between the spatially aliased temporal spectra. In this study a subtraction method was used to remove the static portion of the image. The aliased and nonaliased dynamic portions are then resolved by comparing the temporal energy of bands in the power spectrum. This method was combined with the 3D 2×2 UNFOLD (a factor of 2 interleaves in two directions) technique. The combination resulted in a factor of 4 improvement in acquisition speed. Application of this method to a time‐resolved, contrast‐enhanced flow phantom study is presented. Magn Reson Med 48:559–564, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mapping at glomerular resolution: fMRI of rat olfactory bulb
Authors: Kida Ikuhiro , Xu Fuqiang , Shulman Robert G. , Hyder Fahmeed
Published: September 2002

The rat olfactory bulb contains ∼2000 functional units called glomeruli which are used to recognize specific characteristics of odorants. Activity localization of individual glomerulae (∼0.002 μL) has important consequences for understanding mechanisms in olfactory information encoding. High‐resolution functional MRI (fMRI) data from the rat olfactory bulb are presented using the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) method at 7 T. Either individual or clusters of fMRI voxels suggestive of activity in the olfactory nerve and glomerular layers were reproducibly detected with repeated 2‐min exposures of iso‐amyl acetate at spatial resolution of 0.001–0.003 μL. The importance of glomerular clustering for olfaction and the implications of BOLD mapping with even higher spatial resolution (i.e., ≪0.001 μL voxels) are discussed. High‐resolution in vivo mapping of the rat olfactory bulb with fMRI at high magnetic field promises to provide novel data for understanding olfaction. Magn Reson Med 48:570–576, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Correction of concomitant magnetic field‐induced image artifacts in nonaxial echo‐planar imaging
Authors: Du Yiping P. , Joe Zhou Xiaohong , Bernstein Matt A.
Published: September 2002

Echo‐planar images acquired in nonaxial planes are often distorted. Such image distortion has limited the applications of the echo‐planar imaging (EPI) technique. In this article, it is demonstrated that a considerable amount of the distortion is caused by the higher‐order magnetic field concomitant with the linear magnetic field gradient, or the concomitant magnetic field. The image distortion caused by the concomitant magnetic field is more prominent when a higher gradient amplitude is used for readout. It is also shown that the concomitant magnetic field can cause ghosting and blurring. A theoretical analysis is performed for the concomitant field effect in nonaxial EPI images. A point‐by‐point (or line‐by‐line) phase correction algorithm is developed to correct the image distortion, ghosting, and blurring. A postreconstruction processing algorithm is also developed to correct image distortion with much higher computational efficiency. Experimental results show that both correction methods effectively reduce the image distortion in coronal or sagittal images. Magn Reson Med 48:509–515, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pathway selection by pulsed field gradients
Authors: Rodriguez Ignacio , Alejo Rigoberto Perez de , Ruiz‐Cabello Jesus
Published: September 2002

A method for pathway selection in a multiple spin‐echo pulse sequence applying crusher gradients before and after each π pulse, to dephase unwanted pathways, is described. This method selects the only pathway that would contribute to the measurable signal if the π pulses were perfect (1,–1,1,–1,…). Good pathway selection is essential in pulse programming, especially when the CPMG condition is not met. An interactive applet was also developed to deal with these calculations. Magn Reson Med 48:540–542, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genetic disorders of neuromuscular ion channels
Authors: Kleopa Kleopas A. , Barchi Robert L.
Published: September 2002

Ion channels are complex proteins that span the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane, where they orchestrate the electrical signals necessary for normal function of the central nervous system, peripheral nerve, and both skeletal and cardiac muscle. The role of ion channel defects in the pathogenesis of numerous disorders, many of them neuromuscular, has become increasingly apparent over the last decade. Progress in molecular biology has allowed cloning and expression of genes that encode channel proteins, while comparable advances in biophysics, including patch‐clamp electrophysiology and related techniques, have made the study of expressed proteins at the level of single channel molecules possible. Understanding the molecular basis of ion channel function and dysfunction will facilitate both the accurate classification of these disorders and the rational development of specific therapeutic interventions. This review encompasses clinical, genetic, and pathophysiological aspects of ion channels disorders, focusing mainly on those with neuromuscular manifestations. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 299–325, 2002
Bimodal dose‐dependence of FK506 on the rate of axonal regeneration in mouse peripheral nerve
Authors: Udina Esther , Ceballos Dolores , Verdú Enrique , Gold Bruce G. , Navarro Xavier
Published: September 2002

FK506 has been shown to enhance the rate of axonal regeneration after peripheral nerve lesions. However, quite variable doses of FK506 have been used in different animal studies. We examined the dose‐dependence of FK506 on the rate of axonal regeneration after crush lesion of the mouse sciatic nerve. Mice received daily subcutaneous injections of FK506 at 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, or 10 mg/kg for 7 days after lesioning. A control group was injected with saline. The distance that regenerative axons advanced from the crush site was measured by the pinch test at 2, 4, and 7 days. Regenerating axons reached greater mean distances in all FK506‐treated groups compared to the control group. The fastest regeneration rate was found at 5 mg/kg (12% increase over controls), although the 0.2 and 2 mg/kg doses achieved similar regeneration rates. In contrast, intermediate doses (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) and a higher dose (10 mg/kg) were not different from controls. Calcitonin gene–related peptide immunohistochemical labeling of regenerating axons yielded similar results to those found with the pinch test. Based on our finding of a double peak in the dose–response for FK506, it is hypothesized that at least two mechanisms of action (perhaps corresponding to distinct functional binding sites) are evoked at different concentrations of the drug to accelerate nerve regeneration. These results have clinical implications for the pharmacological treatment of nerve injuries while avoiding immunosuppressive effects and for the design of related drugs with more specific activities. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 348–355, 2002
Reflex effects of induced muscle contraction in normal and spinal cord injured subjects
Authors: Knikou Maria , Conway Bernard A.
Published: September 2002

The modulation of the soleus H reflex in response to functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the rectus femoris (RF) muscle and its overlying skin was examined in 11 normal adults and 6 patients with a clinically defined complete spinal cord injury (SCI). Stimulation of RF at twice motor threshold (MT) resulted in a long‐lasting (>1,000 ms) and significant reduction (50–70% of control) in the size of the soleus H reflex in all normal subjects tested. For five of the SCI subjects, 2MT stimulation of RF induced a 55–60% reduction in the soleus H reflex that was also long‐lasting (>160 ms). In the remaining SCI subject, 2MT stimulation resulted in an initial period of significant H‐reflex facilitation (0–14 ms) that was followed by a longer‐lasting inhibition commencing 60 ms after the cessation of the conditioning stimulation. Decreasing the strength of stimulation to below that required to generate a clear contraction in RF resulted in mixed facilitatory and inhibitory actions that were subject dependent. The changes in H‐reflex excitability resulting from FES highlight the potential use of FES in the management of hypertonicity in SCI but also suggest that the central actions of FES need to be considered when FES gait restoration programs are designed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 374–382, 2002
Clinical variant of familial amyloid polyneuropathy
Authors: Quan Dianna , Cohen Jeffrey A.
Published: September 2002

Hereditary amyloidosis with early and prominent peripheral nerve involvement is often designated familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). The abnormality usually lies in the transthyretin (TTR) gene. We describe a patient with a tyr77 TTR gene mutation who presented with sensorimotor polyneuropathy but no other systemic symptoms of amyloidosis. This is one of a few documented cases of the tyr77 mutation in North America. The clinical and electrophysiologic features of this unusual cause of sensorimotor polyneuropathy are discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 417–420, 2002
Apoptosis and apoptosis‐related proteins in thyroid myopathies
Authors: Monici Maria C. , Rodolico Carmelo , Toscano Antonio , Messina Sonia , Benvenga Salvatore , Messina Corrado , Vita Giuseppe
Published: September 2002

DNA fragmentation and apoptosis‐related proteins have been investigated in thyroid cells and there is evidence that Fas‐mediated apoptosis is inhibited by thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). We investigated DNA fragmentation by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), and Bcl‐2 and Fas antigen expression by immunocytochemistry in skeletal muscles from 12 patients with hypothyroid myopathy and 5 patients with hyperthyroid myopathy. The finding of very few TUNEL‐positive muscle fibers in both conditions suggests that apoptosis does not play a role in the pathogenesis of thyroid myopathies. Bcl‐2 expression increased significantly in hypothyroid myopathy, correlating with high serum TSH levels, and not with either triiodothyronine (T3) or thyroxine (T4) serum levels. By contrast, Fas antigen was overexpressed in hyperthyroid myopathy, correlating with low TSH levels. These findings suggest an anti‐apoptotic role for TSH itself in skeletal muscle. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 383–388, 2002
Comparison of neuromuscular blockade and recovery with botulinum toxins A and F
Authors: Billante Cheryl R. , Zealear David L. , Billante Mark , Reyes Julio H. , Sant'Anna Geraldo , Rodriguez Ricardo , Stone R.E.
Published: September 2002

Intramuscular injection of botulinum toxin A is used to treat focal dystonias. Because immunoresistance has been documented in some patients, other molecular forms of the toxin have been evaluated clinically. The present investigation compared the time course and extent of neuromuscular blockade and recovery of botulinum toxin types A and F using an electromyographic monitoring system implanted in the rat hindlimb. For a given dose, the degree and duration of blockade was more complete with type A toxin. Delayed onset of recovery in animals that received high doses of type A toxin allowed time for denervative changes to prevent a full return to baseline, as confirmed histologically. Conversely, animals receiving type F toxin fully recovered within 30 days at all dose levels. The rapid recovery with type F toxin suggested that neuromuscular transmission was restored via the original terminals rather than through functional collateral sprouting. The reversible nature of blockade with this molecular species puts in question its future clinical utility. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 395–403, 2002
Augmented cubes
Authors: Choudum S. A. , Sunitha V.
Published: September 2002

Following the recursive definition of the hypercube Qn, we define the augmented cube AQn. After showing that its graph is vertex‐symmetric, (2n − 1)‐regular, and (2n − 1)‐connected and that it has diameter ⌈n/2⌉, we describe optimal routing and broadcasting procedures. The augmented cube possesses several embeddable properties that the hypercube and its variations do not possess. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Source location problems considering vertex‐connectivity and edge‐connectivity simultaneously
Authors: Ito Hiro , Ito Motoyasu , Itatsu Yuichiro , Nakai Kazuhiro , Uehara Hideyuki , Yokoyama Mitsuo
Published: September 2002

Let G = (V, E) be an undirected multigraph, where V and E are a set of vertices and a set of edges, respectively. Let k and l be fixed nonnegative integers. This paper considers location problems of finding a minimum‐size vertex‐subset S ⊆ V such that for each vertex x ∈ V the vertex‐connectivity between S and x is greater than or equal to k and the edge‐connectivity between S and x is greater than or equal to l. For the problem with edge‐connectivity requirements, that is, k = 0, an O(L(|V|, |E|, l)) time algorithm is already known, where L(|V|, |E|, l) is the time to find all h‐edge‐connected components for h = 1, 2, … , l and O(L(|V|, |E|, l)) = O(|E| + |V|2 + |V|min{|E|, l|V|}min{l, |V|}) is known. In this paper, we show that the problem with k ≥ 3 is NP‐hard even for l = 0. We then present an O(L(|V|, |E|, l)) time algorithm for 0 ≤ k ≤ 2 and l ≥ 0. Moreover, we prove that the problem parameterized by the size of S is fixed‐parameter tractable (FPT) for k = 3 and l ≥ 0. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Super edge‐ and point‐connectivities of the Cartesian product of regular graphs
Authors: Shieh Bih‐Sheue
Published: September 2002

We prove that the Cartesian product of two regular graphs with maximum edge (respectively, point‐)‐connectivity is super edge (respectively, point‐)‐connected except for the case K2 × Kn, n ≥ 2 (respectively, n ≥ 4), where Kn is a complete graph of order n. Using these results, certain classes of networks which are recursively defined by the Cartesian product can be simply shown to possess super edge‐connectivity and super point‐connectivity. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Shortest‐path network interdiction
Authors: Israeli Eitan , Wood R. Kevin
Published: September 2002

We study the problem of interdicting the arcs in a network in order to maximize the shortest s–t path length. “Interdiction” is an attack on an arc that destroys the arc or increases its effective length; there is a limited interdiction budget. We formulate this bilevel, max–min problem as a mixed‐integer program (MIP), which can be solved directly, but we develop more efficient decomposition algorithms. One algorithm enhances Benders decomposition by adding generalized integer cutting planes, called “supervalid inequalities” (SVIs), to the master problem. A second algorithm exploits a unique set‐covering master problem. Computational results demonstrate orders‐of‐magnitude improvements of the decomposition algorithms over direct solution of the MIP and show that SVIs also help solve the original MIP faster. Published 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fast permutation routing in a class of interconnection networks
Authors: Elmallah Ehab S. , Lam Chin‐Hung
Published: September 2002

This paper considers the following permutation routing problem: Given an N × N augmented data manipulator (ADM) network and a permutation π between its N inputs and outputs, can all the traffic connections of π be routed through the network in one pass? A number of backtrack search algorithms have been devised for recognizing ADM admissible permutations. None of the published results, however, appears to settle the time complexity of the problem. The goal of this paper was to answer the question positively by showing the first polynomial time bound for solving the problem. The devised algorithm requires O(N1.695) time to decide whether a given permutation π is admissible and compute a setting of the switches whenever π is admissible. For many practical applications, the obtained bound compares favorably with the O(N lg N) size of an N‐input ADM network. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Successive episodes of synapses production in the developing rat nucleus tractus solitarii
Authors: Lachamp Philippe , Tell Fabien , Kessler Jean‐Pierre
Published: September 2002

In the rat nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS), synaptogenesis is thought to occur both pre‐ and postnatally. The present study was performed to precisely define the timetable of synapse formation in the NTS after birth. Changes in synapse morphology and densities were analyzed between postnatal day 3 (P3) and P28 using electron microscopy and ethanol phosphotungstic acid (E‐PTA) staining. The proportion of morphologically immature synapses was high at P3 (38%) and P14 (30%) and low (8–14%) at the other ages investigated (P7, P21, and P28). Synaptic density significantly increased between P7 and P14 (60%) and between P21 and P28 (54%), but did not significantly change between P3 and P7 and between P14 and P21. Mean synaptic diameter also increased over the first postnatal month. Significant increases in synaptic size occurred between P3 and P7 (28%) and between P14 and P21 (15%). The present data indicate that, in the NTS, synaptogenesis occurs over a protracted period of time and involves distinct successive episodes of synapse production. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 52: 336–342, 2002
Ovarian hormones after postnatal day 20 reduce neuron number in the rat primary visual cortex
Authors: Nuñez Joseph L. , Sodhi Jagdeep , Juraska Janice M.
Published: September 2002

Previous work from our lab has documented a sex difference in neuron number in the binocular region of the adult rat primary visual cortex (Oc1B), with males having 19% more neurons than females. In the present study, the role of developmental steroid hormones in the formation of this difference was explored. Male and female rats underwent neonatal hormone manipulation (female + testosterone or dihydrotestosterone; male + flutamide) followed by gonadectomy on postnatal day 20. Animals that did not undergo hormone manipulation were either gonadectomized or sham operated at day 20. Neuron number was quantified in the monocular (Oc1M) and binocular (Oc1B) subfields of the adult rat primary visual cortex using the optical disector technique. As adults, day 20 gonadectomized females, as well as females + testosterone and females + dihydrotestosterone, had significantly more neurons than intact females. There was no difference in neuron number between postnatal day 20 gonadectomized males, males + flutamide, and intact males. Also, intact males had significantly more neurons than intact females in both in Oc1M and Oc1B. It appears that ovarian steroids after day 20 are the primary cause of the lower number of neurons in the primary visual cortex of the female rat. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 52: 312–321, 2002
Mushroom bodies are not required for courtship behavior by normal and sexually mosaic Drosophila
Authors: Kido Asami , Ito Kei
Published: September 2002

To elucidate the effect of feminization of male Drosophila brain cells on courtship control, we performed a large scale screening of expression drivers that can suppress male‐specific behavior with transformer gene expression. Two drivers caused essentially total courtship suppression. The expression pattern of these drivers did not show any correlation with the mushroom bodies or the antennal lobes, the regions that have been suggested to play important roles in courtship. Ablation of mushroom bodies using hydroxyurea treatment did not affect this courtship suppression. The ablation did not change either wild‐type heterosexual behavior or bisexual behavior caused by transformer expression driven by the same drivers used in the previous studies to suggest the involvement of the mushroom bodies in courtship. Our results show that feminization of different nonoverlapping cells in other parts of the protocerebrum was sufficient to cause the same bisexual or suppressed‐courtship phenotype. Thus, contrary to previous assumptions, the mushroom bodies are not required for the control of courtship. Present evidence supports its mediation by other distributed protocerebral regions. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 52: 302–311, 2002
Elasto‐plasticity revisited: numerical analysis via reproducing kernel particle method and parametric quadratic programming
Authors: Liew K. M. , Wu Y. C. , Zou G. P. , Ng T. Y.
Published: September 2002

Aiming to simplify the solution process of elasto‐plastic problems, this paper proposes a reproducing kernel particle algorithm based on principles of parametric quadratic programming for elasto‐plasticity. The parametric quadratic programming theory is useful and effective for the assessment of certain features of structural elasto‐plastic behaviour and can also be exploited for numerical iteration. Examples are presented to illustrate the essential aspects of the behaviour of the model proposed and the flexibility of the coupled parametric quadratic programming formulations with the reproducing kernel particle method. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
What It Takes to Turn Manufacturing Lean: The Experience of Donnelly Corporation
Authors: Scaffede Russ
Published: September 2002

Donnelly Corporation, a global supplier of automotive mirrors, windows, and door handles, began implementing

lean manufacturing a decade ago. Along the way, they discovered that the basis of lean thinking goes back to

Henry Ford. Out of this understanding, they developed the Donnelly Production System. Throughout the years, they

learned what works and what does not work, and lean manufacturing at Donnelly evolved from a focus on tools to a

system that is integrated into management's vision and implemented by the entire production team. Donnelly

has been named by the Society of Automotive Engineers as a model company in lean manufacturing practices.

© 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Study Finds that Knowledge of Pay Process Can Beat Out Amount of Pay in Employee Retention, Organizational Effectiveness
Authors: Mulvey Paul W. , LeBlanc Peter V. , Heneman Robert L. , McInerney Michael
Published: September 2002

This article is based on some of the findings of a major research study just published by WorldatWork

(formerly American Compensation Association) entitled The Knowledge of Pay Study: E‐mails

from the Frontline. Surveying more than 6,000 managers and employees in 26 major U.S. and Canadian

organizations, the study found close connections between employees' knowledge of their organization's

pay structure and their ability to align their own behaviors and goals to those of the organization—leading

them to feel a greater sense of company loyalty and to contribute to the effectiveness of the organization. But it

also found that such knowledge is far from universal, and identifies the gaps that need to be filled.

© 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Enrichment Programs Help Leviton Manufacturing Build Teamwork and Growth
Authors: Fogel Mark S. , Shephard Kim
Published: September 2002

Breaking down silos, promoting teamwork, and enhancing employee morale are goals of many managers. At Leviton

Manufacturing, the human resources department did all this while also opening up a long‐standing corporate

culture by means of a variety of very low‐cost programs that met employees' needs and interests. And,

when the economy began to adversely impact the company, these programs became even more valuable in

“re‐recruiting” employees—boosting morale—and in selling the company to applicants

for critical positions. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Development of Human Resource Management in Quality Award Winning Governments
Authors: Kline James J.
Published: September 2002

Governments around the world are adopting total quality management. Despite this, little work has been done

on the human resources management practices of quality‐oriented governments. This article describes the

human resources management practices of some of the quality award‐winning governments around the world.

It shows how award winners focus their HRM to facilitate and reinforce the adoption of TQM. The implementation

of these practices, in turn, is having a positive impact on organizational performance. © 2002

Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Developmental characteristics in adult forebrain following neonatal unilateral olfactory bulbectomy
Authors: Račeková Enikö , Orendáčová Judita , Martončiková Marcela , Zigova Tanja , Sekerkova Gabriela , Maršala Jozef
Published: September 2002

In this study we performed neonatal unilateral olfactory bulbectomy to determine the influence of the olfactory bulb on the development of forebrain anatomical characteristics. Histological examination was used to examine the long‐term effect of the neonatal olfactory bulb removal on the rostral migratory stream general morphology in rats. BrdU‐immunohistochemistry presented here provides evidence of the proliferating cells topography throughout this migratory pathway. To analyse spatial distribution of the rostral migratory stream on bulbectomized versus intact side camera lucida drawing was used. The results show that although the migratory stream anatomical pattern of bulbectomized rats was similar to the control adult ones, an open olfactory ventricle was regularly present within it. These findings indicate that neonatal bulbectomy maintains the prosencephalic region developmental pattern till adulthood.
A 3D spatial navigation task for assessing memory in rodents
Authors: Mostafa Randa M. , Michalikova Simona , Ennaceur Abdelkader
Published: September 2002

In the present report we describe a 3‐D maze spatial navigation task for rats based on a modification of an eight‐arm radial maze. The arms radiating from a central platform can be presented in a horizontal plane either raised 10 cm above the level of a central platform or lowered 10 cm below. Memory of visited and non‐visited arms can be guided by distinct internal cues (patterns) that are presented on panels set at the end of each arm. Rats are trained in three different maze configurations (eight session each) with arms set lowered, flattened or raised relative to a central platform. A food pellet is placed at the end of each arm and rats are allowed to make eight arm choices only, in each testing session. In this task rats perform better when moving uphill to raised arms than when moving on flattened arms or when moving downhill to lowered arms. It is likely that spatial navigation on raised arms is based on visual cues that were highly visible from the central platform. This result can be accounted for by the position of the rats' eyes that are placed laterally on the sides of their heads.
Rise in intracellular calcium concentration by propylene glycol‐induced hypertonicity in PC12 cells
Authors: Hattori Toshimi , Miyazawa Toshiko
Published: September 2002

There are some reports that clinical application of propylene glycol (PG) induces hypertonicity and results in various toxicities. In our experiments, a hypertonic solution made by adding PG to a normal saline raised the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). The present study was conducted with the object of determining whether hypertonicity is related to the rise in [Ca2+]i induced by PG. Hypertonic salines made by adding PG, NaCl, sucrose, mannitol or glucose to a normal saline raised the [Ca2+]i. The isotonic PG saline concentration‐dependently decreased the [Ca2+]i. Isotonic salines containing sucrose, glucose or mannitol raised the [Ca2+]i. The findings obtained lead us to the conclusion that PG raises the [Ca2+]i by elevating the tonicity of the saline.
The effects of methylphenidate and diazepam on the acoustic startle reflex in stand alone and prepulse trials in healthy volunteers
Authors: van Luijtelaar Gilles , Vrijmoed‐de Vries Maria
Published: September 2002

The effects of catecholamine reuptake blocker methylphenidate (Ritalin®, 20 mg) and the benzodiazepine diazepam (Valium®, 10 mg) on the acoustic eye blink reflex were investigated in healthy volunteers. Stand alone as well as prepulse trials were presented and three intensities of stand‐alone stimuli and three intensities of prepulses were used in an double blind cross‐over study (n=12). Measured were the amplitude, area under the curve, onset and peak latencies of the blink reflex.

It was found that the amplitude, area under the curve, and the onset latency were dependent on the intensity of the stand‐alone and prepulse trials. The amplitude of the startle reflex was not changed by methylphenidate, diazepam showed a large reduction in the amplitude. The amplitude of prepulse trials was not reduced by methylphenidate, but strongly by diazepam. The onset latencies were prolonged in loud prepulse trials and after diazepam. The diazepam data not only suggest that firm reductions in stand‐alone trials might have major consequences for the amplitude in prepulse inhibition trials, they equally show that sedation may affect the reflex amplitude in prepulse inhibition trials and that large reduction of the amplitude in prepulse inhibition trials are not exclusive for DA agents.
Alcohol and nicotine enhance expression of nitric oxide synthase in rat hypothalamus
Authors: Kim Hong , Jang Mi‐Hyeon , Shin Min‐Chul , Lee Taeck‐Hyun , Kim Young‐Pyo , Cho Seong‐Yeon , Kim Ee‐Hwa , Kim Chang‐Ju
Published: September 2002

In this study, the effects of alcohol and nicotine on the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) of the hypothalamus were investigated. Sprague‐Dawley rats of the alcohol‐treated group were injected intraperitoneally with 2 g/kg alcohol twice per day for 3 days, and animals of the nicotine‐treated group were given 1 mg/kg nicotine intraperitoneally twice per day for 3 consecutive days, while those of the control group received equivalent amounts of saline for the same duration of time. The results show that NOS expression in the PVN of the hypothalamus is enhanced by alcohol administration and that NOS expression in the VMH increased by nicotine treatment. Based on the results, it can be suggested that alcohol and nicotine enhance the expression of NOS in the hypothalamus and that the inductive effect of alcohol and nicotine on NOS expression are region‐specific.
SWAMP: A two‐dimensional hydrodynamic and quality modeling platform for shallow waters
Authors: Covelli P. , Marsili‐Libelli S. , Pacini G.
Published: September 2002

Water quality two‐dimensional models are often partitioned into separate modules with separate hydraulic and biological units. In most cases this approach results in poor flexibility whenever the biological dynamics has to be adapted to a specific situation. Conversely, an integrated approach is pursued in this article, producing a two‐dimensional hydraulic‐water quality model, named Shallow Water Analysis and Modeling Program (SWAMP) designed for shallow water bodies. The major objective of the work is to create a comprehensive two‐dimensional water quality assessment tool, based on an open framework and combining easy programming of additional procedures with a user‐friendly interface. The model is based on the numerical solution of the partial differential equations describing advection‐diffusion and biological processes on a two‐dimensional rectangular finite elements mesh. The hydraulics and advection‐diffusion modules model were validated both with experimental tracer data collected at a constructed wetland site and a comparison with a commercial hydrodynamic software, showing good agreement in both cases. Moreover, the model was tested in critical conditions for mass conservation, such as time‐varying wet boundary, showing a considerable numerical robustness. In the last part of the article water quality simulations are presented, though validation data are not yet available. Nevertheless, the observed model response demonstrates general consistency with expected results and the advantages of integrating the hydraulic and quality modules. The interactive graphical user interface (GUI) is also shown to represent a simple and effective connective tool to the integrated package. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 18: 663–687, 2002; DOI 10.1002/num.10014
Finite element analysis and application for a nonlinear diffusion model in image denoising
Authors: Li Jichun
Published: September 2002

The stability analysis and error estimates are presented for a nonlinear diffusion model, which appears in image denoising and solved by a fully discrete time Galerkin method with kth (k ≥ 1) order conforming finite element spaces. Numerical experiments are provided with denoising several grayscale noisy images by our Galerkin method on bilinear finite elements. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 18: 649–662, 2002; DOI 10.1002/num.10017
Symmetric mixed covolume methods for parabolic problems
Authors: Rui Hongxing
Published: September 2002

We present a mixed covolume method for a system of first order partial differential equations resulting from the mixed formulation of the general self‐adjoint parabolic problem with a variable nondiagonal diffusion tensor. The lowest order Raviart‐Thomas mixed element space on rectangles is used. We prove the first order optimal rate of convergence for approximate pressure as well as for approximate velocity. We also prove the second order superconvergence both for approximate velocity and pressure in certain discrete norms. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 18: 561–583, 2002
Solution of two‐dimensional Riemann problems for gas dynamics without Riemann problem solvers
Authors: Kurganov Alexander , Tadmor Eitan
Published: September 2002

We report here on our numerical study of the two‐dimensional Riemann problem for the compressible Euler equations. Compared with the relatively simple 1‐D configurations, the 2‐D case consists of a plethora of geometric wave patterns that pose a computational challenge for high‐resolution methods. The main feature in the present computations of these 2‐D waves is the use of the Riemann‐solvers‐free central schemes presented by Kurganov et al. This family of central schemes avoids the intricate and time‐consuming computation of the eigensystem of the problem and hence offers a considerably simpler alternative to upwind methods. The numerical results illustrate that despite their simplicity, the central schemes are able to recover with comparable high resolution, the various features observed in the earlier, more expensive computations. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 18: 584–608, 2002
Does government funding alter nonprofit governance? Evidence from New York City nonprofit contractors
Authors: O'Regan Katherine , Oster Sharon
Published: September 2002

Government contracting has raised a collection of issues with respect to adequate oversight and accountability. This paper explores one avenue through which contracting agencies may achieve these tasks: through the governance practices of the contractor's board. Oversight and monitoring are a board's key responsibilities, and influencing a board's practices is one way a governmental agency can help to insure quality performance. Agencies could thus use both their selection process and their post‐contracting power to influence board practice. Using a new, rich data set on the nonprofit contractors of New York City, a series of hypotheses were tested on the relationship between government funding and board practices. Significant differences were found to exist in board practices as a function of government funding levels, differences that mark a shift of energy away from some activities (i.e., traditional board functions, such as fund‐raising) towards others (financial monitoring and advocacy). This suggests that government agencies may indeed use their contracting choices with an eye to particular governance practices. This increased emphasis on such activities appears to crowd out other activities, and is not unambiguously to the benefit of nonprofit board governance. © 2002 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Precautionary principles: general definitions and specific applications to genetically modified organisms
Authors: Löfstedt Ragnar E. , Fischhoff Baruch , Fischhoff Ilya R.
Published: September 2002

Precautionary principles have been proposed as a fundamental element of sound risk management. Their advocates

see them as guiding action in the face of uncertainty, encouraging the adoption of measures that reduce serious

risks to health, safety, and the environment. Their opponents may reject the very idea of precautionary

principles, find specific principles unacceptably vague or see them as clearly doing economic damage—either

to society as a whole or to their own interests. This article traces the development of alternative precautionary

principles, primarily in Europe. Their adequacy is considered in one context where such principles have often been

invoked, using genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture. Although some precautionary

principles can be given analytical rigor, the concerns that they express strain the intellectual and institutional

structure of conventional policy analysis. © 2002 by the Association for Policy Analysis and Management.
Volunteer labor sorting across industries
Authors: Segal Lewis M. , Weisbrod Burton A.
Published: September 2002

Volunteer labor is generally analyzed as a homogeneous activity, implying that the marginal effects of tax

changes and demographic shifts are equal across industries and forms of volunteering. Here the homogeneity

assumption is tested by estimating and comparing volunteer labor supply functions in three sectors that rely on

volunteer labor—health, education, and religious organizations. Differences in the marginal volunteer labor

supply effects are associated with personal demographics, household composition, and tax status. These differences

are significant statistically as well as for their policy implications. The effects on volunteering to each sector

are predicted for changes in the age, education, and marital status distributions of the population, as well as for

changes in income tax rates, itemization status, and income. © 2002 by the Association for Public Policy

Analysis and Management.
Responsive bureaus, equity, and regulatory negotiation: an empirical view
Authors: Langbein Laura I.
Published: September 2002

Rulemaking agencies commonly delegate the implementation and enforcement of rules to affected parties, but they rarely delegate rulemaking authority. Regulatory negotiation is an example of this uncommon behavior. Compared to conventional rulemaking, regulatory negotiation is thought to be an attempt to make bureaucracy more responsive to affected stakeholders, especially when the rulemaking concerns politically complicated and technical issues. However, negotiation, while it may make bureaucrats more responsive, may also be less fair in that it is likely to result in relatively more responsiveness to interests supported by those with greater resources. This study presents empirical evidence that compares negotiated to conventional rulemaking processes at the Environmental Protection Agency in respect to both responsiveness and equality. The results uphold the expectation that negotiating rules appears more responsive than the conventional rule‐writing process. Furthermore, the results show inequality in both processes; outcomes of negotiated rules may be more unequal than outcomes of conventionally written rules. © 2002 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
“Carve‐outs” from the workers' compensation system
Authors: Levine David I. , Neuhauser Frank , Petersen Jeffrey S.
Published: September 2002

Decentralized regulation has become increasingly important in many areas; examples range from school

vouchers to workplace safety committees to alternative dispute resolution procedures replacing courts.

Consistent with this trend, in 1993 California permitted construction unions and employers to “carve

out” their own workers' compensation system. This study examines California's early experience

with carve‐outs by analyzing two case studies, a survey of all carve‐outs in existence during the

study period, and preliminary data on costs and dispute frequency at one carve‐out. Overall,

carve‐outs do not appear to harm employees, and sometimes they help. At the same time, data analysis of

one carve‐out showed it had no effect on costs and dispute rates. Moreover, the low involvement of union

officials and the many issues that overlap other parts of workplace regulation raise concerns about

decentralizing workers' compensation. Lessons can be learned for other spheres of regulation. © 2002

by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Study on porous silk fibroin materials: 3. Influence of repeated freeze–thawing on the structure and properties of porous silk fibroin materials
Authors: Li Mingzhong , Zhang Changsheng , Lu Shenzhou , Wu Zhengyu , Yan Haojing
Published: September 2002

The influence of repeated freeze–thawing on pore structural characteristics and physical properties of porous silk fibroin materials prepared by freeze drying were studied. It showed that when quick‐frozen silk fibroin solution was repeatedly thawed and frozen before being vacuum dried, thus pore size of prepared porous silk fibroin materials increased from 67 µm to about 120 µm, and pore density decreased from 80 per square millimeter to about 28 per square millimeter; at the same time compression ratio and moisture permeability increased from 22.7% and 230 g/m2 hr to about 33.7% and 308 g/m2 hr, respectively, tensile strength and dissolvability in hot water decreased from 20.2 N/cm2 and 42.7% to about 12.5 N/cm2 and 26.1%, respectively. Both the times of repeated thawing and the thawing temperature had a certain influence on the above‐mentioned pore characteristic parameters and physical properties. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Photoacid‐induced fluorescent imaging by copolymer containing naphthalimide
Authors: Gan Jiaan , Tian He , Chen Kongchang
Published: September 2002

A novel copolymer with naphthalimide pendant group was prepared, in which a tertiary amine acts as an electron donor and quenches the fluorescence of the 4‐amino‐1,8‐naphthalimide fluorophore via the photo‐induced electron transfer process. When a photoacid generator was added, fluorescence enhancement of the copolymer in the net film was induced, this would be applied to generate patterned fluorescent images. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High‐efficiency organic electroluminescent devices using iridium complex emitter and arylamine‐containing polymer buffer layer
Authors: Fukase Akio , Dao Kinh Luan Thanh , Kido Junji
Published: September 2002

We have developed efficient organic electroluminescent (EL) devices using a phosphorescent material, tris(2‐phenylpyridine) iridium, Ir(ppy)3, as an emitter material and a polymer buffer layer, tetraphenyldiamine‐containing poly(arylene ether sulfone) (PTPDES) doped with tris(4‐bromophenyl) aminium hexachloroantimonate (TBPAH) as an electron acceptor. In this device, a high external quantum efficiency of 21.6% and a luminous efficiency of 82 lm/W (77 cd/A) at 3.0 V were obtained. These high efficiencies can be explained by high quantum efficiency due to phosphorescent Ir(ppy)3 and high luminous efficiency realized by the use of the polymer buffer layer. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.