bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stimulatory effect of cinnamic acid analogues on α1A-adrenoceptors in-vitro
Authors: Chang Huang-Kuang , Hsu Feng-Lin , Liu I-Min , Cheng Juei-Tang
Published: June 2003

We have characterized the effects of cinnamic acid and its derivatives on α1-adrenoceptor subtypes. The cinnamic acid with a methoxyl group and/or a hydroxyl group showed the ability to stimulate radioactive glucose uptake into C2C12 cells, a cell line that specifically expresses the α1A-adrenoceptor subtype of α1-adrenoceptors. However, cinnamic acid without chemical modification diminished the glucose uptake into C2C12 cells. It was shown that methoxylation and/or hydroxylation of cinnamic acid had higher affinities for α1A-adrenoceptors investigated using [3H]prazosin binding experiments in C2C12 cells. The effect of these derivatives on α1A-adrenoceptors was further characterized using the displacement of [3H]prazosin binding in rat prostate. We found that 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid, the cinnamic acid derivative with two methoxyl groups and hydroxylation at the fourth carbon on the benzene ring, had a higher affinity for the α1A-adrenoceptor subtype, showing a smaller IC50 value (the concentration for production of 50% inhibition) to displace [3H]prazosin binding in rat prostate. Affinity of these compounds for α1B-adrenoceptors was identified using [3H]prazosin-binding experiments in rat spleen. However, we found no marked differences in the IC50 values between these cinnamic acid analogues to displace the [3H]prazosin binding in rat spleen. In conclusion, our data indicated that methoxylation and/or hydroxylation of cinnamic acid might raise the affinity for α1A-adrenoceptors.
Si-Ni-San, a traditional Chinese prescription, and its drug-pairs suppress contact sensitivity in mice via inhibition of the activity of metalloproteinases and adhesion of T lymphocytes
Authors: Sun Yang , Chen Ting , Xu Qiang
Published: June 2003

In this paper, the effect of Si-Ni-San, a famous traditional Chinese prescription, on ear contact sensitivity was examined. Si-Ni-San significantly inhibited the ear swelling when administered during the induction phase of picryl-chloride-induced ear contact sensitivity in mice. The adhesion to type I collagen of isolated spleen cells was significantly decreased in the Si-Ni-San group, especially in the presence of protein kinase C activator, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. The inhibition of adhesion was seen in purified T cells from the spleen, as well as in Jurkat cells. Furthermore, the adhesion to collagen involves the production of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and −9 in spleen cells, and the oral administration of Si-Ni-San remarkably reduced the matrix metalloproteinase production. Three drug-pairs composed in Si-Ni-San were used for comparison. The combination of Chaihu and Shaoyao showed a similar effect to Si-Ni-San, while Chaihu and Zhishi, and Shaoyao and Gancao only showed a tendency in most situations. These results suggest that Si-Ni-San may contribute to the treatment of immunologically related diseases by down-regulating the activation and function of T lymphocytes, especially the cell adhesion and matrix metalloproteinase production. Its effect is mainly displayed by the combination of Chaihu and Shaoyao.
Antioxidant activity of Smoke Shield in-vitro and in-vivo
Authors: Sreekanth Kavitha Sivaraman , Sabu Mandumpal Chacko , Varghese Leyon , Manesh Chittezhath , Kuttan Girija , Kuttan Ramadasan
Published: June 2003

Smoke Shield is a proprietory formulation containing extract of turmeric (Curcuma longa), obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide gas extraction and post-supercritical hydroethanolic extraction, together with extracts of green tea and other spices whose presence synergistically increases the activity of turmeric. This study evaluates the antioxidant potentials of Smoke Shield in-vitro and in experimental animals, as well as in human models. Smoke Shield was found to scavenge superoxide radicals generated by photoreduction of riboflavin (50% inhibitory concentration = 91 μg mL−1) and hydroxyl radicals generated by Fenton reaction (50% inhibitory concentration = 95 μg mL−1) and reduced lipid peroxidation. Administration of Smoke Shield to mice was found to elevate antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and superoxide dismutase in blood as well as in liver and kidney. Glutathione-S-transferase activity was found to be significantly elevated in liver and kidney of animals treated with Smoke Shield. Glutathione levels were also significantly elevated in blood. Glutathione reductase was significantly elevated in kidney. Administration of Smoke Shield decreased the lipid peroxidation in serum, liver and kidney, as well as reduced the levels of conjugated dienes and hydroperoxides. Administration of Smoke Shield to smokers was found to increase the superoxide dismutase and glutathione in blood and decrease glutathione peroxidase. Smoke Shield inhibited phase I enzymes as represented by aniline-hydroxylase and aminopyrene-demethylase in-vitro. These results indicate that Smoke Shield has potent antioxidant activity, could inhibit phase I enzymes and increase detoxifying enzymes, which makes it an effective chemoprotective herbal formulation.
C. elegansZAG-1, a Zn-finger-homeodomain protein, regulates axonal development and neuronal differentiation
Authors: Clark Scott G. , Chiu Catherine
Published: June 2003

Neurons acquire distinct cell identities and implement differential gene programs to generate their appropriate neuronal attributes. On the basis of position, axonal structure and synaptic connectivity, the 302 neurons of the nematode Ceanorhabditis elegans are divided into 118 classes. The development and differentiation of many neurons require the gene zag-1, which encodes a δEF1/ZFH-1 Zn-finger-homeodomain protein. zag-1 mutations cause misexpression of neuron-specific genes, block formation of stereotypic axon branches, perturb neuronal migrations, and induce various axon-guidance, fasciculation and branching errors. A zag-1-GFP translational reporter is expressed transiently in most or all neurons during embryogenesis and in select neurons during the first larval stage. Analysis of the zag-1 promoter reveals that zag-1 is expressed in neurons and specific muscles, and that ZAG-1 directly represses its own expression. zag-1 activity also downregulates expression of genes involved in either the synthesis or reuptake of serotonin, dopamine and GABA. We propose that ZAG-1 acts as a transcriptional repressor to regulate multiple, discrete, neuron-specific aspects of terminal differentiation, including cell migration, axonal development and gene expression.
Modelling of heat transfer in waterjet guided laser drilling of silicon
Authors: Li C-F , Johnson D B , Kovacevic R
Published: June 2003

Waterjet guided laser processing is an internationally patented technique based on guiding a laser beam inside a thin, high-speed waterjet. The process combines the advantages of laser processing with those of waterjet cutting. It is very suitable in processing thin and heat-sensitive materials with a high degree of precision required. A model and simulation method for waterjet guided laser drilling on a silicon substrate are presented in this study. A finite difference method has been developed to simulate the thermal field and phase changes involved. The model represents the thermal process in detail. The simulation results predict the main characteristics of waterjet guided laser drilling. The study gives insight into the interactions between the laser beam, waterjet and workpiece material during drilling of a silicon substrate.
Implementation aspects of intelligent machining
Authors: Katz Z , van Niekerk T
Published: June 2003

Intelligent machining is an advanced method in manufacturing, related to the recent developments in reconfigurable manufacturing equipment. A multilevel modular scheme for implementing integrated process monitoring, diagnosis and control is proposed. A PC-based hardware integrated within an object-based software structure is used to manipulate several machining parameters while performing on-line sensing of machining variables, through sampling and processing by means of digital signal processing (DSP). Indirect measurement of machining parameters, surface finish and tool wear monitoring, through the use of neurofuzzy (NF) sensor fusion modelling, is presented as a part of the integrated approach. A fuzzy relation (FR), indicating the nature of the connection between dependent and independent process-related variables, and acting as a knowledge node within a decision-making scheme, determines intelligently the variations in machining parameters when a performance parameter exceeds the predetermined functional limits. Such capability is utilized on-line. The integrated approach for further improvement in machining quality and overall productivity is described.
Friction-induced fluctuation of cutting forces in the diamond turning of aluminium single crystals
Authors: Lee W B , Cheung C F , To S
Published: June 2003

This paper presents a multidisciplinary approach to the analysis of the fluctuation of cutting forces in the diamond turning of crystalline materials. The analysis is based on a microplasticity model for shear angle prediction and a cutting force model incorporating a friction variable which is estimated from the power spectrum analysis. The results reveal that the pattern of periodic fluctuation of the microcutting forces is not only due to the crystallographic orientation of the materials being cut but also to the friction between the chip and the tool face. The frictional effect is found to cause a change in the pattern and the periodicity of the fluctuation of the cutting force. The power spectrum predicted from the cutting force model incorporates a friction variable which can be chosen to match the experimental power spectrum, thus providing a new way to assess the frictional condition, and can be used as a diagnostic tool to monitor the tool wear and cutting conditions during diamond turning.
Analysis of wire erosion and workpiece surface roughness in wire electrical discharge machining
Authors: Tosun N , Cogun C
Published: June 2003

In this study, the effects of machining parameters on the wire wear, on the size of erosion craters on the wire and on the workpiece surface roughness were investigated experimentally in wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM). An attempt was made to correlate the crater volume and the pulse energy. The experiments were conducted under different settings of pulse duration, open-circuit voltage, wire speed and dielectric flushing pressure. The variations of the wire wear, the size of erosion craters on the wire and the workpiece surface roughness with machining parameters were modelled mathematically by using regression analysis. The relationship between the workpiece surface roughness and the crater size was established. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) and F-test were performed to obtain statistically significant process parameters and the percentage contribution of these parameters to the performance outputs.
The state of the art of photochemical machining at the start of the twenty-first century
Authors: Allen D M
Published: June 2003

This paper reviews photochemical machining, prior to 2001, in terms of its history, materials, products, environmental impact and markets. Its future role in providing a rapid manufacturing process is also discussed.
Effect of high-rate heat transfer during casting on the strength, hardness and wear behaviour of aluminium—quartz particulate metal matrix composites
Authors: Seah K H W , Hemanth J , Sharma S C
Published: June 2003

This paper describes research on aluminium-based metal matrix composites (MMCs) reinforced with quartz particles cast in sand moulds using high-rate heat transfer techniques during solidification by means of metallic and non-metallic chills. The MMCs were fabricated by dispersing 3, 6 and 9 wt% of quartz particles ranging from 30 to 100μm in size in molten aluminium alloy above the liquidus temperature. The resulting composites, cast using chills, were tested for their strength, hardness and wear resistance. These properties of the MMCs were found to improve with the rate of heat transfer during casting. This rate of heat transfer is in turn dependent on the chill size and the chill material. After wear testing, the material surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the wear mechanisms were analysed.
A contribution to technological data estimation for concurrent engineering using geometrical control of net shape forming parts
Authors: Bigot R , Martin P , Leleu S
Published: June 2003

Within the framework of integrated design and manufacturing in mechanical engineering, which is now a well-known field, the design of the parts, the choice of process parameters and even the design of the production system must be carried out at the same time. However, in order to achieve full knowledge integration taking into account the actors' knowledge (the intervening people in the process of design and manufacture of a product are named ‘actors’) and their various points of view, it is necessary to formalize and structure this knowledge together with the technical and economical constraints (manufacturing, quality, logistics, cost, etc.). This means that the models and data must be homogeneous, coherent and not user adapted until their actual time of use. In order to give an illustration of this wide-ranging problem a case of application will be presented in the field of the forming process based on two industrial applications that have been carried out. A contribution is proposed for an approach that makes it possible to gather the technological data and information necessary for integrated design and manufacturing in order to obtain net shape forming of workpieces for the automotive industry. Two approaches are presented, on the basis of dimensional control of the workpiece: the first deals with the description of the forming process, and the second covers the definition of product functionality.
An approach to modelling dependencies linking engineering processes
Authors: Chatha K A , Weston R H , Monfared R P
Published: June 2003

A multiperspective modelling method is described that was developed and used to support an international consortium of businesses concerned with realizing automobile engine production on a global scale. The modelling method provides a capability of documenting, communicating and analysing various dependent aspects of multiple threads of engineering activities. Commercially available and specially developed computer modelling tools have been deployed to operationalize the method, and thereby to facilitate the design of dependent activity flows, the resourcing of activity flows by suitable human and technical systems and the control and management of workflows. The paper outlines requirements of the method, with reference to properties of engineering processes that needed to be modelled. A prime focus of attention was on engineering a new generation of component-based manufacturing lines suitable for the ‘mass customization’ of automotive engine products in production plants around the globe. Key features of the modelling framework are described, as are the stages of modelling and the associated use of proprietary modelling tools. Also provided are examples of models generated when using the method and tools.
A novel method for early formal developments using computer aided design and rapid prototyping technology
Authors: Prieto P A , Wright D K , Qin S F
Published: June 2003

The paper describes a novel method for updating computer aided design (CAD) models with information taken from physical models in the early stages of design. The new approach is an image mapping based method in which an initial. CAD model is transferred to a soft rapid prototype model (RPM) made by a three-dimensional printer and sculpted in order to carry out formal developments. The RPM has a built-in contrasting three-dimensional grid composed of parallel orthogonal planes, and the initial CAD model is represented by cross-section curves corresponding to the RPM grid. The initial CAD geometry is then updated from images of the developed RPM by matching the differences between the initial CAD model and the modified RPM, making use of identical perspective transformations and viewpoints for the initial CAD model and an RPM image. Examples studied varied from a small depression on a cube face to general freeform surfaces. Compared with typical reverse engineering (RE) processes, the present approach is simpler and more direct. It is not necessary to use three-dimensional scanning or coordinate measuring devices for updating existing initial geometrical CAD models with data obtained from physical models.
Simulation of abrasive waterjet machining based on unit event features
Authors: Lebar A , Junkar M
Published: June 2003

Abrasive waterjet (AWJ) machining is a non-conventional process. Its most striking advantage is the absence of a heat-affected zone. AWJ machining can be successfully used on a very broad spectrum of materials, regardless of their brittleness, ductility or composition. However, this machining process has the disadvantage of striations being left on the surface of the machined workpiece. Since forecasting of the results of this process is still on the empirical level, great efforts are being put into the modelling of the AWJ process. In this paper, an original model of the AWJ machining process is presented. It is based on an AWJ process unit event, which in this case represents the impact of a particular abrasive grain. The geometrical characteristics of the unit event are measured on a physical model of the AWJ process. The measured dependencies and the proposed model relations are then implemented in AWJ machining process simulation.
Electroplating simulation and design tool
Authors: Druesne F , Afzali M
Published: June 2003

Electroplating process energy and material costs are very important considerations in product manufacturing. The most important plating criteria, however, are quality and plated uniformity of the deposited metals. Simulation tools can help to obtain better plating results. New plating simulation tools are now available that will run on PC/Windows computers and can point the way to optimizing many common electroplating processes. Software packages are available that are versatile and user friendly. These tools have been designed to optimize electroplating cells and racks. An accurate analysis is required to determine the distribution of deposited thickness, current densities and electrode potentials. A good plating simulation tool can help an engineering team find the most reliable rack configuration based on the geometrical description of the rack, the parts to be plated and from calculation of the electrochemical properties of the process being studied.
Calculating cooling times for polymer injection moulding
Authors: Stelson K A
Published: June 2003

Accurate cooling time calculation is needed for cost estimation of injection moulded parts. Many cooling time formulae for injection moulding contain errors, though they may have been used and accepted for decades. The purpose of this paper is to review the available formulae and to clarify correctness from a theoretical standpoint. Ejection criteria may be based either on mid-plane or average temperature. Deviation from the assumptions of the theory for both thin and thick parts is also discussed.
An exact method for the sphericity measurement of soccer balls
Authors: Neilson P J , Jones R
Published: June 2003

The most popular games in the world are ball sports. Generally, ball properties such as weight, circumference and sphericity are specified in the rules and determine the ball quality. The current method of sphericity measurement employed by the Federation International Football Association (FIFA) is to measure the ball diameter at 16 points and then calculate the mean average. The sphericity of the ball is inferred from the diametric measurements. Unfortunately, diameter measurement does not guarantee sphericity, and a new technique has been developed to measure ball sphericity using a coordinate measuring machine (CMM). In this method a representative sample of the ball surface is probed/measured to give three-dimensional coordinates of defined points, nominally the ball panel centres. Computer software is then used to fit a least-squares sphere approximation to the ball data, giving a unique value for ball sphericity. Measurements were taken of six different brand type balls, with a sample of four balls of each brand; all balls were inflated to the same pressure. The results show that the new method of sphericity measurement suggested here gives a unique assessment of sphericity. The errors obtained from the new method are such that the FIFA error specification may need reconsideration.
Complexity metrics for design (simplicity + simplicity = complexity)
Authors: Rodriguez-Toro C A , Tate S J , Jared G E M , Swift K G
Published: June 2003

This paper presents an introduction to concepts of complexity in support of assembly-oriented design, to guide the designer in creating a product with the most effective balance of manufacturing and assembly difficulty. The goal is to provide the designer with such information throughout the design process that an efficient design is produced in the first instance. In this paper, definitions and applications of the term ‘complexity’ are reviewed, and then definitions appropriate for the situation are selected. The metrics required for comparison of different complexity variants is discussed. Finally, a research agenda is presented for development of the proposed metrics within the Designers' Sandpit project, to make complexity in design a practically useful concept.
Telemanufacturing of reverse engineered parts: A case study
Authors: Galantucci L M , Percoco G , Spina R
Published: June 2003

A product idea is normally transferred between designers and/or manufacturing engineers using digital models. Engineering analyses are directly connected with the presence of these models and only limited to virtual evaluations. For this reason, the use of real prototypes is very important in the first design stage in order to perform a deeper product evaluation. A very attractive way to update product designs while realizing prototypes is offered by the direct data communication between reverse engineering (RE) and rapid prototyping (RP). In this way the reproduction of aesthetic prototypes in different geographical positions becomes a key factor for successful competition. In this article, the authors investigate the efficiency of the data transfer between RE and RP systems in order to speed up product development without sharing design intent. A specialized software tool is described in order to perform product shape acquisition, elimination of redundant point cloud data, retriangulation of the point cloud and generation of a machine file for RP fabrication.
Integrating ‘lean’ and ‘high reliability’ thinking
Authors: Smart P K , Tranfield D , Deasley P , Levene R , Rowe A , Corley J
Published: June 2003

This paper illustrates how recent tragedies have been shown to be threatening to the medium-term sustainability of organizations designed and developed solely on the basis of short-term efficiency gain. Over the past 30 years, Western organizations have institutionalized this emphasis on efficiencies through the implementation of Japanese management philosophies, such as lean thinking. This situation has assisted the removal of vital adaptive and responsive capacity or ‘organizational slack’, necessary for organizations that need to contend with complex and dynamic environments. The authors argue for the need to challenge managerial mindsets and re-engage a pluralist metaperspective both at the level of strategic purpose and organizational configuration. In particular, it suggests that, in addition to the efficiency model, a complementary and to some extent alternative set of ‘high-reliability’ organization (HRO) design principles are required. They focus on the notion of creating an HRO that privileges integrity in the achievement of medium- and long-term goals over short-term efficiency gains. Integrating both ‘lean thinking’ and ‘high-reliability’ principles is a requirement for post-modern managers operating in their roles as organizational engineers, if mission accomplishment is to be realized.
The external validity of controlled clinical trials of psychotherapy for depression and anxiety: A naturalistic study
Authors: Morrison Kate H. , Bradley Rebekah , Westen Drew
Published: June 2003

Psychotherapy researchers have increasingly called for clinical practice and training to focus on empirically supported therapies tested in randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs). In this paper, we report data from a naturalistic study of successful treatments in clinical practice that bear on the external validity of ESTs for three disorders. Participants were 242 experienced doctoral‐level clinicians who reported on their last successfully treated patient seeking treatment for clinically significant depression, panic, or anxiety without panic. Successful treatments typically take substantially longer than the 8–16 sessions characteristic of efficacy trials for these disorders, even for the briefest treatments (cognitive‐behavioural). Of particular relevance for generalizability from RCTs, most patients in clinical practice present with multiple problems other than a single Axis I disorder, which clinicians of all theoretical orientations recognize and treat, and these co‐occurring conditions have a substantial impact on treatment length in everyday practice. The data suggest the importance of effectiveness research in bridging research and practice. They also point to the utility of distinguishing two complementary ways in which effectiveness research can be understood and implemented: by starting with efficacy trials and then testing treatments with promising results in the laboratory using broader community samples; or by starting with everyday clinical practice, examining patterns of covariation between specific interventions and outcomes at clinically meaningful follow‐up intervals with diverse and ecologically valid samples and using these data to generate prototypes of treatments that can be used to guide the next generation of experimental studies.
Relationships among psychological mindedness, alexithymia and outcome in four forms of short‐term psychotherapy
Authors: McCallum Mary , Piper William E. , Ogrodniczuk John S. , Joyce Anthony S.
Published: June 2003

This study explored the relative strength of two patient characteristics, psychological mindedness (PM) and alexithymia, as predictors of psychotherapy outcome. Data were provided by two comparative trials of interpretive versus supportive therapy. One involved short‐term group therapy for 107 outpatients with complicated grief. The other involved short‐term individual therapy for 144 outpatients of mixed diagnoses. Prior to beginning therapy, patients were assessed for PM using the Psychological Mindedness Assessment Procedure and for alexithymia using the 20‐item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. For both trials, the association between PM and alexithymia was small and non‐significant. The therapy approach (interpretive vs. supportive) did not differentially affect the relationship between either predictor variable and outcome. There were significant direct relationships between PM and favourable outcome, and between alexithymia and favourable outcome in both trials. There was an additive relationship between PM and alexithymia in predicting outcome. Implications of these results are discussed.
The ability of adult mental health services to meet clients' attachment needs: The development and implementation of the Service Attachment Questionnaire
Authors: Goodwin Isabel , Holmes Guy , Cochrane Ray , Mason Oliver
Published: June 2003

This study examined the relevance of adult attachment to the relationships between mental health services and their clients. The aim of the study was to develop a self‐report measure with acceptable levels of reliability and validity and which was grounded in the experiences of service users, to assess the ability of adult mental health services to meet clients’ attachment needs.

A combination of qualitative and quantitative methodology was used. The Service Attachment Questionnaire (SAQ) was developed via focus groups of service users, followed by a grounded theory analysis of the group data to identify themes and potential items for inclusion. Two clinical trials were conducted to assess its reliability and validity.

The grounded theory analysis produced six key themes forming the basis of the six‐subscale, 25‐item SAQ. It demonstrated good levels of internal and test‐retest reliability. Factor analysis of the subscales revealed a single underlying construct.

The SAQ is a reliable and usable self‐report measure, and indicates that attachment is relevant to the relationships clients have with mental health services. As the measure is the first of its kind, further exploration of the measure's reliability and validity is recommended.
The best laid schemas of paranoid patients: Autonomy, sociotropy and need for closure
Authors: Bentall Richard P. , Swarbrick Rebecca
Published: June 2003

Some theories implicate abnormal self‐schemas in the development of psychosis in general and in paranoid delusions in particular. Patients with delusions may also be highly intolerant of ambiguity. No study has yet compared remitted and currently ill paranoid patients on schema measures, or on tolerance of ambiguity. Currently ill psychotic patients with persecutory delusions, patients whose persecutory delusions had remitted, and normal participants completed the Personal Style Inventory (PSI), a self‐schema measure, and the Need for Closure Scale (NCS), a measure of intolerance of ambiguity. Acutely ill patients scored higher than normal participants on the PSI autonomy scale. This difference became nonsignificant when depression was included as a covariate. Ill and remitted patients scored higher than normal participants on the NCS. This difference could not be explained entirely by comorbid depression. Currently paranoid and remitted paranoid patients are highly intolerant of ambiguity. It is possible that this contributes to their performance on reasoning measures. The role of self‐schemas in paranoid thinking needs to be studied further.
Entrapment and arrested fight and flight in depression: An exploration using focus groups
Authors: Gilbert Paul , Gilbert Jean
Published: June 2003

The fight/flight system has long been recognized to be a basic evolved defence system. However, recent interest has focused on the consequences of arousing these action tendencies but blocking their execution—that is arresting them. Previous research has shown that depressed people can have strong feelings of anger (fight) and desires to run away (flight), but these ‘fight/flight’ defences can become blocked, inhibited, and arrested, which increase stress. This study used three clinical focus groups and one of psychiatric nurses to explore depressed people's own ideas of entrapment and arrested anger. Participants felt that arrested escape (entrapments) and arrested anger were important aspects of the experience of depression. Depressed participants clarified distinctions between internal entrapment (feeling trapped in a state of depression), feeling trapped in a subordinate role, and external entrapment (feeling trapped in relationships or life circumstances). Participants also clarified key reasons for arrested anger. Nurses had similar perspectives on the reasons for entrapment in depression but also saw fear of change and opportunities as important sources of entrapment.
A Q‐methodological study of hearing voices: A preliminary exploration of voice hearers’ understanding of their experiences
Authors: Jones S. , Guy A. , Ormrod J. A.
Published: June 2003

Using Q‐methodology and structured interviews, this preliminary study set out to explore how a diverse range of voice hearers construed their experience of hearing voices. Following factor analysis of 20 completed Q‐sorts, six factors emerged. Pejorative media stereotypes about voice hearers were rejected, and despite the dominance of the biomedical model in our culture, on no factor did participants adhere to all of the biomedical concepts. All six factors endorsed some elements of psychological discourse on voice‐hearing experiences. It is argued that attempting to understand voice hearers within a single theoretical framework may limit or adversely affect engagement and understanding of an individual. Consistent with previous research, users of mental‐health services were more likely to find voices frightening and perceive them as negative experiences than non‐users. However, some non‐users found managing some of their voices difficult despite having seemingly positive beliefs about the experience of hearing voices. Comment is made on the potential therapeutic implications of this study along with some acknowledgement of its limitations.
Electro‐Tunable Liquid‐Crystal Laser
Authors: Ozaki M. , Kasano M. , Kitasho T. , Ganzke D. , Haase W. , Yoshino K.
Published: June 2003

Lasing that is color‐tunable via application of an electric field has been demonstrated at the edge of the 1D photonic band of a dye‐doped chiral smectic liquid crystal with a periodic spiral structure. The lasing wavelength, which can be shifted by 40 nm using a relatively low electric field, is tuned by the electric field adjusting the periodicity of the helical structure (see Figure).
Multifunctional Sodium Lanthanide Silicates: From Blue Emitters and Infrared S‐Band Amplifiers to X‐Ray Phosphors
Authors: Ananias D. , Ferreira A. , Carlos L.D. , Rocha J.
Published: June 2003

A judicious choice of the lanthanide cation and its content in the Na3(Y1–aMa)Si3O9 (M=Tm3+, Tb3+; a = 0–1) system allows the optical properties to be tuned over a very wide range. The materials have the same framework structure and encompass thulium‐based blue‐ and infrared‐emitters and terbium‐based X‐ray phosphors (see spectra in Figure). The emission can be controlled in some infrared regions by varying the Y3+/Tm3+ molar ratio.
Improved Hydrogen Storage Properties of Ti‐Doped Sodium Alanate Using Titanium Nanoparticles as Doping Agents
Authors: Bogdanović B. , Felderhoff M. , Kaskel S. , Pommerin A. , Schlichte K. , Schüth F.
Published: June 2003

By using nanosized doping agents, the properties of Ti‐catalyzed NaAlH4 storage systems are considerably improved. Hydrogenation–dehydrogenation cyclic testing shows that with nanosized TiN dopants, storage capacities of 5 wt.‐% H2 could be achieved. Doping with nanosized Ti brought hydrogenation times close to those required for practical applications, combined with high capacity (4.5 wt.‐% H2, see Figure).
Patterned Alignment of Liquid Crystals on Selectively Thiol‐Functionalized Photo‐Orientation Layers
Authors: Wilderbeek H.T.A. , Teunissen J.‐P. , Bastiaansen C.W.M. , Broer D.J.
Published: June 2003

The patterned alignment of liquid crystals is demonstrated on selectively thiol‐functionalized photo‐orientation layers (see cover). Deposited thiols are covalently bound to unsaturated linkages in linearly photo‐polarizable materials, facilitating the simple and versatile combination of a bi‐directionally planar and a homeotropic alignment of liquid crystals within a single substrate (e.g., in Figure). This opens new possibilities for the design, manufacture, and application of existing and novel display concepts.
Synthesis of Gallium‐Filled Gallium Oxide–Zinc Oxide Composite Coaxial Nanotubes
Authors: Hu J.Q. , Bando Y. , Liu Z.W.
Published: June 2003

Ga2O3–ZnO composite coaxial nanotubes have been fabricated via a simple process combining thermal reaction and physical evaporation. The resulting nanotubes are either empty or partially or completely filled with Ga (see Figure), forming Ga (core)–Ga2O3 (interlayer)–ZnO (outer shell) three‐layer coaxial nanocables. The photoluminescence of the nanostructures is investigated and a mechanism for their formation is proposed.
Low‐Temperature Fabrication of Highly Crystalline SnO2 Nanorods
Authors: Zhang D.‐F. , Sun L.‐D. , Yin J.‐L. , Yan C.‐H.
Published: June 2003

Uniform SnO2 nanorods with diameters of ∼ 8–15 nm and lengths of ∼ 150–200 nm have been successfully fabricated by a one‐step reverse micro‐mediated hydrothermal process. X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicate that the as‐prepared SnO2 nanorods are of high crystallinity. The Figure shows a TEM image of SnO2 nanorods synthesized at 200 °C for 18 h.
Three‐Dimensional Ceramic Microcomponents Made Using Microstereolithography
Authors: Provin C. , Monneret S. , Le Gall H. , Corbel S.
Published: June 2003

The combination of a microstereolithography process and a high‐load ceramic suspensionis used to produce complex three‐dimensional alumina microparts. The object (see Figure) produced is designed for microfluidic applications, but the versatility of the microstereolithography technique is generally applicable to the preparation of microcomponents for numerous applications.
Prenatal smoke exposure alters growth in limb proportions and head shape in the midgestation human fetus
Authors: Lampl Michelle , Kuzawa Christopher W. , Jeanty Philippe
Published: June 2003

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of smoke exposure on the growth patterns of the head, limbs, and torso of the midgestation human fetus. Four hundred maternal/fetal pairs contributed to this analysis: 366 individuals were assessed cross‐sectionally (87 smokers and 279 nonsmokers) at approximately 20 and 32 weeks, and 34 individuals were followed longitudinally at 23, 27, and 32 weeks (10 smokers, 24 nonsmokers). Ten body parameters were measured by fetal ultrasound. In both samples, controlling for day of measurement, smoke exposure was significantly associated with early growth acceleration in head and abdominal diameters at 20–27 weeks (P < 0.05). This was followed by altered head shape (a significantly smaller biparietal to occipital frontal diameter ratio at 32 weeks, P < 0.01), and a proximal/distal growth gradient as proportionately long arms (P < 0.05 at 27 and 32 weeks) and short legs were apparent by 32 weeks, with a significant reduction in the tibia/femur ratio (P = 0.04). These fetal body growth patterns, expressed in terms of size and proportionality, are consistent with the presence of chronic hypoxia associated with maternal smoking. The growth pattern differences identify that prenatal smoking is not merely an insult resulting in consistent size and growth rate reduction across developmental ages. Instead, smoke exposure alters the growth rate of individual body segments at variable developmental stages as the fetus experiences selective growth restriction and augmentation. We hypothesize that the growth patterns observed here reflect the unique pattern of fetal blood flow favoring upper body oxygen distribution and extraction, together with genetically based adaptive strategies that permit the fetus to adjust the timing and magnitude of its growth to local environmental resources. It is possible that dolichocephaly is a previously unappreciated marker of fetal hypoxia. Reduced tibial growth may be a good marker for shortfall and a useful proxy for the adequacy of circulating resources more generally. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 15:533–546, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Regression‐based prediction of net energy expenditure in children performing activities at high altitude
Authors: Sarton‐Miller Isabelle , Holman Darryl J. , Spielvogel Hilde
Published: June 2003

We developed a simple, non‐invasive, and affordable method for estimating net energy expenditure (EE) in children performing activities at high altitude. A regression‐based method predicts net oxygen consumption (VO2) from net heart rate (HR) along with several covariates. The method is atypical in that, the “net” measures are taken as the difference between exercise and resting VO2 (ΔVO2) and the difference between exercise and resting HR (ΔHR); ΔVO2 partially corrects for resting metabolic rate and for posture, and ΔHR controls for inter‐individual variation in physiology and for posture. Twenty children between 8 and 13 years of age, born and raised in La Paz, Bolivia (altitude 3,600m), made up the reference sample. Anthropometric measures were taken, and VO2 was assessed while the children performed graded exercise tests on a cycle ergometer. A repeated‐measures prediction equation was developed, and maximum likelihood estimates of parameters were found from 75 observations on 20 children. The final model included the variables ΔHR, ΔHR2, weight, and sex. The effectiveness of the method was established using leave‐one‐out cross‐validation, yielding a prediction error rate of 0.126 for a mean ΔVO2 of 0.693 (SD 0.315). The correlation between the predicted and measured ΔVO2 was r = 0.917, suggesting that a useful prediction equation can be produced using paired VO2 and HR measurements on a relatively small reference sample. The resulting prediction equation can be used for estimating EE from HR in free‐living children performing habitual activities in the Bolivian Andes. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 15:554–565, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Role of depth in eye distance measurements: Comparison of single and stereo‐photogrammetry
Authors: Douglas Tania S. , Meintjes Ernesta M. , Vaughan Christopher L. , Viljoen Denis L.
Published: June 2003

Photogrammetry has been used as an alternative to direct measurements to obtain facial distances for a variety of anthropometric applications. Taking measurements from photographs is less intrusive to subjects and reduces screening time, but measurements from single frontal photographs neglect depth information and may be inadequate for screening purposes. This study examined the role of depth in measurements of palpebral fissure length, interpupillary distance, inner canthal distance, and outer canthal distance using single‐ and stereo‐photogrammetry; an operator selected landmarks on single and stereo digital photographs displayed on a computer monitor. Depth was not found to make a significant contribution to eye distances in an idealized system where the real‐world coordinates of points on the eye were known from three‐dimensional calibration of stereo photographs. However, the differences found between measurements taken from single frontal photographs and those from stereo‐photogrammetry indicated that measurements from single photographs are prone to errors due to misalignment of the camera, the face, and the calibration instrument during image acquisition; if single photographs are to be used, the placement of these components should be carefully monitored. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 15:573–578, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Origin and distribution of daltonism in Italy
Authors: Grassivaro Gallo P. , Romana L. , Mangogna M. , Viviani F.
Published: June 2003

A research project was started in Italy in order to map dyschromatopsies in this country. Field data was collected by the authors in Liguria, Veneto, Emilia‐Romagna, Apulia, Sicily, and by other authors in Lazio, Calabria, Basilicata, and Sardinia. The samples were all composed of more than 500 male subjects, of homogeneous origin, and assessed using the Ishihara (1973) and the Farnsworth (1947) tests. Statistical analysis identified two groups showing different mean percentages: one, coastal (n = 13,091; 6.50%) and the other, inland (n = 17,881; 5.21%). The results stimulated an ecological‐ergonomic hypothesis based on nutrition (i.e., food gathering strategies) and the kind of light prevailing in the habitat. If trichromacy has been brought about by frugivore feeding (Polyach, 1957), dichromacy may have been maintained by giving a selective advantage to fishermen (originally fishing one fish at a time by hand). This is valid for both sea or fresh water habitats, characterized by blue‐green prevailing light and with sharp discrimination for blue‐gray shapes and colors (usually, 70% of dichromats are deutans). To support this hypothesis a field survey was carried out among 661 Sicilian traditional fishermen, which furnished the highest rates of dyschromatopsia in Italy: 7.90%. In conclusion, we can hypothesize that endogamous fishermen groups bordering the coastal areas of continents, searching for waters abounding in fish, could have determined a greater incidence of color blindness in the coastal regions, while exogamous marriages between fishermen and peasants contributed to the lower diffusion of the genes responsible in inland areas. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 15:566–572, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Maternal work and childhood nutritional status among the Purari, Papua New Guinea
Authors: Ulijaszek Stanley J.
Published: June 2003

In traditional economies, body size, physical work capacity, subsistence productivity, and nutrition of adults may be interrelated, and one cross‐generational effect of these relationships may operate through the household, influencing nutritional status of children. In this analysis, the relationships among adult body size, work productivity in terms of time spent making sago starch, dietary diversity, nutrient availability, and childhood nutritional status are examined in the Purari population of Papua New Guinea, a group largely dependent on the starchy staple palm sago, which is devoid of all nutrients apart from energy. Observations of work scheduling, household food and nutrient availability, and nutritional status were carried out for 16 women, their households, and their children. A multiple regression model of hours spent in sago making on a particular day with days spent in other subsistence activities showed a negative relationship with the number of days spent in sago‐making and a positive relationship with the number of days spent fishing. The number of hours spent in sago‐making on a particular day was also positively related to daily per capita availability of protein at the household level. This is not a function of maternal nutritional status, however, since there is no association between body size of adult females and the number of hours spent making sago on a particular day. Nor does the greater per capita protein availability at the household level in households where women spend longer on a particular day in sago‐making result in improved childhood nutritional status. Since relationships among adult body size, work productivity, dietary diversity, nutrient availability, and childhood nutritional status are only partially demonstrated in this population, it may be that these linkages may only be important if physically arduous work is needed more consistently than is the case in the Purari delta. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 15:472–478, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.