bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical and neurophysiological evaluation of progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: de Carvalho Mamede , Scotto Manuel , Lopes Arminda , Swash Michael
Published: October 2003

There is a need for a sensitive neurophysiological measure of disease progression in following the course of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We studied two groups of nine ALS patients, one with slow progression (Group A) and the other with rapid progression (Group B). We evaluated muscle strength scores using the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale in limb and trunk muscles, forced vital capacity (FVC), and ALS functional rating scale (ALS‐FRS) scores. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of the abductor digiti minimi muscle (ADM) was measured, using a digital device. We also measured M‐wave amplitude and area in the ADM, and the distal motor latency and F‐wave frequency in the ulnar nerve; from these data, the neurophysiological index (NI) was calculated, as described previously. In both groups, the NI was the most sensitive measure of change, with the smallest coefficient of variation. We conclude that the NI, which requires no special technology and no new clinical or technical skills to use, is sensitive to change, and therefore may be useful in clinical trials, as well as in a clinical setting. Muscle Nerve 28: 630–633, 2003
Positive salivary gland biopsy, Sjögren syndrome, and neuropathy: Clinical implications
Authors: Gorson Kenneth C. , Ropper Allan H.
Published: October 2003

The relationship between neuropathy and Sjögren syndrome has been predicated largely on sicca symptoms or serological abnormalities rather than salivary gland pathology. We reviewed consecutive neuropathy patients who had had a lip biopsy to identify features of the neuropathy that were associated with a positive lip biopsy suggesting Sjögren syndrome. Twenty of 54 neuropathy patients were biopsy positive; 13 had a painful or nonspecific sensory neuropathy and only 4 were ataxic. Sicca symptoms were not associated with a positive biopsy (P = 0.14). Serological abnormalities were found more often in the biopsy‐positive group (P = 0.008), but anti–Sjögren syndrome A or B (anti‐SSA or SSB) antibodies were detected in only 30%. There were no other clinical or electromyographic (EMG) features associated with a positive biopsy. From this experience, we conclude that: (1) most patients with neuropathy and a positive lip biopsy for Sjögren syndrome have a painful, distal, sensory axonal neuropathy; (2) there are no clinical or EMG features that are predictive of a positive lip biopsy; (3) ataxic neuropathy is uncommon; and (4) the lack of sicca symptoms or anti‐SSA or SSB antibodies in patients with neuropathy does not exclude Sjögren syndrome based upon salivary gland pathology. Muscle Nerve 28: 553–560, 2003
Clinical study of fk506 in patients with myasthenia gravis
Authors: Konishi Tetsuro , Yoshiyama Yasumasa , Takamori Masaharu , Yagi Koichi , Mukai Eiichiro , Saida Takahiko ,   The Japanese FK506 MG Study Group
Published: October 2003

To investigate the usefulness of low‐dose FK506 for the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG), we treated 19 patients with generalized MG in a 16‐week open clinical trial of FK506 (3–5 mg/day). At the end of the trial, total MG scores (range: 0–27 points) improved by 3 points or more in 7 of 19 patients (37%), and activities of daily living (ADL) scores (range: 0–6 points) also improved by 1 point or more in 8 of 19 patients (42%). Nine of 19 patients (47%) showed improvement in either MG or ADL scores. Significant reduction of anti‐acetylcholine receptor antibody titers and interleukin 2 production were observed at the end of this study. Minor but commonly observed side effects were an increase in neutrophil count and a decrease in lymphocyte count. No serious adverse events such as renal toxicity or diabetes mellitus were observed during the 16‐week treatment period. FK506 could safely serve as an adjunct to steroid therapy for MG at low dosage. Muscle Nerve 28: 570–574 2003
Differential responses of HSPs to heat stress in slow and fast regions of rat gastrocnemius muscle
Authors: Oishi Yasuharu , Taniguchi Kouhachi , Matsumoto Hisahiro , Ishihara Akihiko , Ohira Yoshinobu , Roy Roland R.
Published: October 2003

In a recent study, we showed that the rat slow soleus and fast plantaris muscles exhibited different time courses for the response of specific heat shock proteins (HSPs) after 1 h of heat stress. We hypothesized that these differential responses were related, in part, to the varying fiber type composition of these muscles. To further test this hypothesis, we now have determined the responses of Hsp60, Hsp72, and Hsc73 during the 60 h following exposure to a single bout of heat stress in the deep (relatively high percentage of slow fibers) and superficial regions (only fast fibers) of the adult rat gastrocnemius muscle. The temperature of the musculature in the left hindlimb was elevated to ∼42°C for 1 h, while the right hindlimb served as a control. Two hours after the heat stress, the Hsp60 levels were increased by 1.3‐ and 2.0‐fold in the deep and superficial regions, respectively. The Hsp72 levels were increased (1.8‐fold) in the deep region at 8 h after heat stress, whereas in the superficial region these levels were increased between 4 and 48 h (peak at 36 h by 10‐fold) after the heat stress. No changes were observed for Hsc73 in either region of the muscle. Combined with our previous data, the results indicate that the responses of HSPs in the rat hindlimb muscles after a single exposure to heat stress are related to fiber type composition of the muscle or muscle region or to the inherent properties of each HSP. From a clinical viewpoint, these data indicate that specific regions (most likely based on fiber type composition) within a muscle may be affected differentially by any intervention inducing HSPs. Muscle Nerve 28: 587–594, 2003
Autonomic and peripheral neuropathy in endstage liver disease and following liver transplantation
Authors: McDougall Alan J. , Davies Leo , McCaughan Geoff W.
Published: October 2003

Severe chronic liver disease may be associated with a peripheral somatic and an autonomic neuropathy. There are only a limited number of reports on the incidence and features of these neuropathies. In addition the effects of liver transplantation on these neuropathies have not been well studied. We examined peripheral somatic and autonomic nerve function in 42 patients with endstage liver disease prior to transplantation and also examined the effect of liver transplantation on these neuropathies in 14 patients. Peripheral somatic neuropathy (93%) and autonomic neuropathy (50%) were common in patients with endstage liver disease and were more frequent than previously reported. Abnormalities improved in some patients after liver transplantation, particularly if there was return of normal hepatic function. Muscle Nerve 28: 595–600, 2003
Acute leg‐cycling exercise attenuates the h‐reflex recorded in soleus but not flexor carpi radialis
Authors: Motl Robert W. , Dishman Rod K.
Published: October 2003

The amplitude of the Hoffman reflex (H‐reflex) in the soleus muscle is attenuated after acute bouts of leg‐cycling exercise. The attenuation has been interpreted as a “tranquilizing” effect of exercise controlled by the central nervous system and generalized beyond a single spinal segmental level. If so, the postexercise depression of the H‐reflex should occur in both the soleus and the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) muscle, which is not actively involved during leg cycling. This experiment examined the effect of moderate‐intensity cycling exercise on the H‐reflex recorded in soleus and FCR among 16 men. The H‐reflex was measured immediately before and 10 min after 30 min of either moderate‐intensity leg cycling (60% V̇O2peak) or quiet rest. The acute bout of cycling exercise reduced the H‐reflex in the soleus but not in the FCR. Thus, the attenuation of the H‐reflex after leg cycling does not generalize beyond the spinal segmental level that modulates the involved locomotory muscles; it is likely the result of segmental processes associated with the repetitive stretching or activation of the soleus muscle. Muscle Nerve 28: 609–613, 2003
An improvement on perturbation bounds for the Drazin inverse
Authors: Wei Yimin , Li Xiezhang
Published: October 2003

The Drazin inverse of a square matrix occurs in a number of applications. It is of importance to analyse the perturbation bounds for the Drazin inverse of a matrix. Let B=A+E. Under the assumption of rank(Bj) =rank(Ak), where j and k are the indices of B and A, respectively, upper bounds of ∥BD‐AD∥/∥AD∥ and ∥BBD‐AAD∥/∥AAD∥ have been recently studied. However, these upper bounds do not cover the perturbation bounds of the group inverse recently given by the authors as a special case.

Moreover, these perturbation bounds for the Drazin inverse are too large to be practical. In this paper, we present sharper unified perturbation bounds for the Drazin inverse, which are the extensions of the recent result in the case of group inverse. It solves the problem posed by Campbell and Meyer in 1975. A numerical example is given to illustrate the sharpness of the new general bounds. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The spectral diameter as a function of the diagonal entries
Authors: Parlett Beresford N.
Published: October 2003

For certain specified real symmetric matrices A the spectral diameter of A – diag (A) is less than or equal to the spectral diameter of A. Included are irreducible matrices whose undirected graphs have no cycles. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the stability of the computation of the stationary probabilities of Markov chains using Perron complements
Authors: Neumann Michael , Xu Jianhong
Published: October 2003

For an n‐state ergodic homogeneous Markov chain whose transition matrix is T∈ℝn,n, it has been shown by Meyer on the one hand and by Kirkland, Neumann, and Xu on the other hand that the stationary distribution vector and that the mean first passage matrix, respectively, can be computed by a divide and conquer parallel method from the Perron complements of T. This is possible due to the facts, shown by Meyer, that the Perron complements of T are themselves transition matrices for finite ergodic homogeneous Markov chains with fewer states and that their stationary distribution vectors are multiples of the corresponding subvectors of the stationary distribution vector of the entire chain.

Here we examine various questions concerning the stability of computing the stationary distribution vectors of the Perron complements and compare them with the stability of computing the stationary distribution vector for the entire chain. In particular, we obtain that condition numbers which are related to the coefficients of ergodicity improve as we pass from the entire chain to the chains associated with its Perron complements. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Convergence of a balancing domain decomposition by constraints and energy minimization
Authors: Mandel Jan , Dohrmann Clark R.
Published: October 2003

A convergence theory is presented for a substructuring preconditioner based on constrained energy minimization concepts. The substructure spaces consist of local functions with zero values of the constraints, while the coarse space consists of minimal energy functions with the constraint values continuous across substructure interfaces. In applications, the constraints include values at corners and optionally averages on edges and faces. The preconditioner is reformulated as an additive Schwarz method and analysed by building on existing results for balancing domain decomposition. The main result is a bound on the condition number based on inequalities involving the matrices of the preconditioner. Estimates of the form C(1+log2(H/h)) are obtained under the standard assumptions of substructuring theory. Computational results demonstrating the performance of method are included. Published in 2003 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Algorithms for automated meshing and unit cell analysis of periodic composites with hierarchical tri‐quadratic tetrahedral elements
Authors: Kim Hyung Joo , Swan Colby C.
Published: October 2003

Unit cell homogenization techniques together with the finite element method are very effective for computing equivalent mechanical properties of composites and heterogeneous materials systems. For systems with very complicated material arrangements, traditional, manual mesh generation can be a considerable obstacle to usage of these techniques. This problem is addressed here by developing automated meshing techniques that start from a hierarchical quad‐tree (in 2D) or oc‐tree (in 3D) mesh of pixel or voxel elements. From the pixel/voxel mesh, algorithms are presented for successive element splitting and nodal shifting to arrive at final meshes that accurately capture both material arrangements and constituent volume fractions, and the material‐scale stress and strain fields within the composite under different modalities of loading. The performance and associated convergence behaviour of the proposed techniques are demonstrated on both densely packed fibre and particulate composites, and on 3D textile‐reinforced composites. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.
A novel unsymmetric 8‐node plane element immune to mesh distortion under a quadratic displacement field
Authors: Rajendran S. , Liew K. M.
Published: October 2003

An 8‐node quadrilateral plane finite element is developed based on a novel unsymmetric formulation which is characterized by the use of two sets of shape functions, viz., the compatibility enforcing shape functions and completeness enforcing shape functions. The former are chosen to satisfy exactly the minimum inter‐ as well as intra‐element displacement continuity requirements, while the latter are chosen to satisfy all the (linear and higher order) completeness requirements so as to reproduce exactly a quadratic displacement field. Numerical results from test problems reveal that the new element is indeed capable of reproducing exactly a complete quadratic displacement field under all types of admissible mesh distortions. In this respect, the proposed 8‐node unsymmetric element emerges to be better than the existing symmetric QUAD8, QUAD8/9, QUAD9, QUAD12 and QUAD16 elements, and matches the performance of the quartic element, QUAD25. For test problems involving a cubic or higher order displacement field, the proposed element yields a solution accuracy that is comparable to or better than that of QUAD8, QUAD8/9 and QUAD9 elements. Furthermore, the element maintains a good accuracy even with the reduced 2× 2 numerical integration. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reexamining data from the national reading panel's meta‐analysis: Implications for school psychology
Authors: Burns Matthew K.
Published: October 2003

The National Reading Panel (NRP) recently conducted a meta‐analysis about reading interventions and made several recommendations from the data. However, given that reading is the academic area for which most children are referred to school psychologists, further exploration of the implications of the NRP data may be warranted. Effect size data for reading outcome measures were qualitatively interpreted, with none of the posttest effect sizes, and only one‐third of all of the effect size coefficients exhibiting a large effect. Furthermore, reading outcome measures were divided into three categories: pseudowords, words in isolation, and contextual reading. The resulting recomputed mean effect sizes of .84, .92., and .37, respectively, questions the grouping of these three variables into one outcome. Other concerns about methodology were also included. This supports the need for targeted reading interventions based on assessment of reading skills. Implications for the three roles that school psychologists play in the educational research area are also discussed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 40: 605–612, 2003.
Using educational placement in third grade to select and validate a preschool screening measure
Authors: Scott Marcia Strong , Delgado Christine F.
Published: October 2003

The early detection of children with mild learning problems remains a problem. New screening tests are being developed that will be more effective in identifying children who fall into this “difficult to identify” group. This study examined the predictive validity of one potential screening test. The scores of 268 children on each task of a nine‐task preschool cognitive battery were evaluated in terms of the accuracy with which they predicted the classification of those same children into regular education (n = 254) or special education (n = 14) 4 years later when the children were in third grade. A classification accuracy level of 79% was achieved for the exceptional children, and a classification level of 70% for the normally achieving children. Racial/ethnic status, testing language, and socioeconomic status all impacted the children's screening performance. Lower screening scores and a greater proportion of the sample with scores below the cut were associated with minority status, not being tested in English, and lower socioeconomic status. Preschool testing in Spanish or both English and Spanish was associated with poorer achievement 4 years later. Many of the children not in special education, but with a screening score below 13, had serious academic problems in third grade that were reflected in their low percentile scores on one or more subtests of the Stanford Achievement Test. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 40: 565–582, 2003.
Multidimensional perfectionism in a sample of middle school students: An exploratory investigation
Authors: Gilman Rich , Ashby Jeffrey S.
Published: October 2003

In this exploratory study, 185 middle school students were administered the Almost Perfect Scale‐Revised and the Behavioral Assessment System for Children‐Self Report. Self‐reported grade‐point average was also obtained. Students who established high personal standards but nonetheless recognize their limitations (adaptive perfectionists) reported significantly higher (i.e., more positive) scores on a number of academic, intrapersonal, and interpersonal variables. However, the perceived inability for some students to consistently meet their high standards (maladaptive perfectionists) was significantly and negatively related to perceptions of school and family relationships, and greater emotional distress. Implications of these findings and future research and clinical suggestions are provided. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 40: 677–689, 2003.
Parent involvement and reading: Using curriculum‐based measurement to assess the effects of paired reading
Authors: Fiala Cathy L. , Sheridan Susan M.
Published: October 2003

This study examined the effectiveness of a paired reading intervention using curriculum‐based measurement (CBM) probes to document reading progress for one fourth‐ and two third‐grade students. These students were considered below‐average readers. Parents and children used the paired reading method in their homes for 10 minutes, four times a week. Children and parents were also provided with reading material at their instructional level. Results showed that the children's reading accuracy and rates increased from baseline to follow‐up on CBM measures and on pre/posttesting. In addition, students and parents gave favorable treatment acceptability ratings for paired reading. Implications for future research are outlined. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 40: 613–626, 2003.
Attention‐Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A national survey of training and current assessment practices in the schools
Authors: Demaray Michelle Kilpatrick , Schaefer Katherine , Delong Lauren K.
Published: October 2003

The primary purpose of this research was to survey school psychologists to investigate their training and current assessment practices for attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the schools. The survey consisted of 38 questions regarding participant characteristics and three main areas relevant to ADHD: (a) training, (b) caseloads/referral patterns, and (c) assessment. The respondents reported receiving adequate training in the assessment of ADHD, with doctorate‐level psychologists self‐reporting being better trained than nondoctorate psychologists. Results confirmed a substantial caseload of ADHD referrals. In the assessment of ADHD, the results indicated school psychologists are using multiple informants, methods, and settings for the assessment of ADHD with rating scales, observations, and interviews the most common methods identified. Limitations of current practices will be discussed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 40: 583–597, 2003.
Assistant professors of school psychology: A national survey of program directors and job applicants
Authors: Demaray Michelle K. , Carlson John S. , Hodgson Kelly K.
Published: October 2003

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the nature of academic position openings in the field of school psychology and to gather information about the characteristics sought and attributed to those individuals who were hired at the assistant professor rank. Survey methodology was used to gather information from both program directors and new assistant professor hires about the job‐search process. A total of 178 program directors in school psychology from the United States were sent surveys in the fall of 1998. One hundred twenty‐six of the program directors responded (71%). Fifty‐five (44%) program directors reported their program had an assistant professor job opening within the last 2 academic years. Of the 55 program directors that reported having job openings, five of these reported that they had two position openings in the last two academic years. Thus, data were gathered on a total of 60 job openings at 55 schools. Information about the job search process and characteristics sought in applicants, from the program directors perspective, are described. In addition, demographic data, prior teaching and research experiences, and information about the new hires' job‐search process is presented. Recommendations are provided to help graduate students, faculty advisors, and future applicants with the job‐search process. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 40: 691–698, 2003.
Intellectual assessment of language minority students: What do school psychologists believe are acceptable practices?
Authors: Bainter Tracey R. , Tollefson Nona
Published: October 2003

A survey was sent to 500 school psychologists in eight states to examine the acceptability of methods used to assess the cognitive ability of language minority students. Responses of 195 participants indicated that (a) the use of a bilingual school psychologist, and (b) the use of tests in English when a student is dominant in English were usually or always acceptable. Sometimes or usually acceptable were the use of nonverbal tests and foreign‐normed tests. Administering tests in English when a student is dominant in another language, and using nonverbal tests that require oral instructions without the presence of an interpreter were considered to be never or rarely acceptable. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 40: 599–603, 2003.
Thermal Decomposition of Energetic Materials 86. Cryogel Synthesis of Nanocrystalline CL‐20 Coated with Cured Nitrocellulose
Authors: Tappan Bryce C. , Brill Thomas B.
Published: October 2003

An unusual energetic composite, in which spherical nano‐dimensional particles of CL‐20 were uniformly coated with HDI‐cross‐linked nitrocellulose, was synthesized by the sol‐gel to cryogel method. Up to 90% solid loading was achieved. The particle size of CL‐20 was determined to be in the range of 20–200 nm by transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X‐ray powder diffraction. The decomposition characteristics of the composite were investigated by DSC and T‐jump/FTIR spectroscopy. The decomposition properties were controlled mostly by nitrocellulose until the percentage of CL‐20 was well above 50%. The drop weight impact sensitivity of the cryogels was essentially independent of the composition.
Studies on Energetic Compounds Part 27: Kinetics and Mechanism of Thermolysis of Bis(Ethylenediamine)Metal Nitrates and Their Role in the Burning Rate of Solid Propellants
Authors: Singh Gurdip , Kumar Pandey Durgesh
Published: October 2003

Four bis(ethylenediamine)metal(II) nitrate (BEMN) complexes, i.e. [M(EDA)2](NO3)2, where M=Cu, Co, Ni and Zn, have been prepared and characterized. Thermolysis of these complexes induced by heat and drop‐weight impact has been investigated by TG‐DTG, DTA, explosion delay (DE), explosion temperature (TE) and impact sensitivity measurement. The kinetics of early thermolysis reaction prior to fast decomposition have been evaluated. Contracting area (CA, n=2) and contracting cube (CC, n=3) equations were found to give the best fits in isothermal TG data among all tested nine mechanism‐based kinetic models. The values of activation energy (Ea), TE, DE and activation energy for explosion (E*) have been found to be quite lower for the copper complex as compared to cobalt, nickel and zinc complexes. A mechanism of thermolysis has also been proposed. All these complexes were found to be insensitive towards impact of 2 kg weight up to the height of 110 cm. These complexes were used as energetic burning rate modifiers in the combustion of hydroxy‐terminated polybutadiene (HTPB)‐ammonium perchlorate (AP) composite solid propellants. A two‐fold increase in burning rate was observed with copper and cobalt complexes at low concentration (2% by wt.). The in situ freshly formed metal oxides with large number of active sites in their crystallites seem to be better additives for combustion of propellants.
New Aspects of Impact Reactivity of Polynitro Compounds, Part II. Impact Sensitivity as “the First Reaction” of Polynitro Arenes
Authors: Zeman Svatopluk , Krupka Miloslav
Published: October 2003

The impact reactivity (“the first reaction”) of 22 polynitro arenes was expressed as the drop energy, Edr, required for 50 percent initiation probability. Relationships have been found between the Edr values and heats of fusion, on the one hand, and 13C NMR chemical shifts of carbon atoms in reaction centers, on the other hand. On the basis of the said relationships it was stated that the impact reactivity of polynitro arene molecules depends on the electronic configuration within their reaction centers and on the intensity of their intermolecular interactions in the molecular crystals. The relationships found make it possible to specify this reaction center which is illustrated by the molecules of 1,5‐dinitronaphthalene and 3,3′‐dimethyl‐2,2′,4,4′,6,6′‐hexanitrodiphenyl sulfide.
Flash Tube Lacquer Seal Dynamic Rupture Strength in 30‐mm Ammunition
Authors: Howard Stephen L.
Published: October 2003

The M788, M789, and M799 30‐mm ammunition use a flash tube to augment the ignition stimulus of the primer and to provide an ignition source for the propellant bed in each round. The flash tube must be fast acting, provide abundant hot gases/particles, and increase the pressure in the propellant bed sufficiently so that the initial burn rate of the propellant in the bed is high enough to propel the projectile to the muzzle within the few milliseconds that constitute the action time of the M230 cannon. This investigation studied the dynamic rupture pressure of the lacquer seal on the flash tube. The rupture pressure of the seal was found to be a function of the pressurization rate in the flash tube. At the largest rupture pressure of this study (78 MPa), significant gas generation would be achieved before the flash tube vented into the main propellant bed. Gas flow at these pressures is expected to play a significant role in ignition of the main propellant charge and rapid functioning of the round.
Reaction Zones in Ultrafine TATB
Authors: Frank Alan , Chau Henry , Lee Ron , Vitello Peter , Souers P. Clark
Published: October 2003

We have measured the particle velocity of aluminum foils placed between ultrafine TATB and lithium fluoride, where the TATB thicknesses are varied between 0 and 8 mm. Resolution is about ±2 ns. The reaction zones are determined from the data, with 0.3 mm being the average. We suggest a 1‐D analytical approach based on the idea that the initiating flyer must put in some minimum amount of energy over one reaction zone length. The energy is calculated three ways: flyer input, reaction zone to be filled and the P2τ initiation energy. Code calculations show the reaction zones rapidly growing in the region dominated by the flyer followed by a slow increase as the detonation takes hold.
Preparation and Molecular Structure of {[Ca(CHZ)2(H2O)](NTO)2⋅3.5H2O}n
Authors: Tonglai Zhang , Chunhua Lu , Jianguo Zhang , Kaibei Yu
Published: October 2003

The title compound {[Ca(CHZ)2(H2O)](NTO)2⋅3.5H2O}n was synthesized by using an aqueous solution of calcium 3‐nitro‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐onate and carbohydrazide (CHZ, NH2NHCONHNH2). Its molecular structure was determined by X‐ray diffraction and its crystals have monoclinic form, with space group C2/c, where a=2.4483(4) nm, b=1.2581(2) nm, c =1.6269(3) nm, β=121.168(12)°, V=4.2879(13) nm3, Z=8, dc=1.727 g⋅cm−3, μ (Mo Kα)=3.9 cm−1, M=557.47, F(000)=2312. The coordination polyhedron is a tricapped trigonal prism in a tetradecahedron with a coordination number of nine. The whole molecule has many long chains formed through the carbohydrazide bridges, and every long chain is unlimited along the c axis. The long chains are linked by hydrogen bonds to form the crystal structure.
An effective strategy for legacy systems evolution
Authors: Rahgozar Maseud , Oroumchian Farhad
Published: October 2003

A large number of organizations depend on the business‐critical information systems for their daily activities that have been developed over the last two decades or more. These systems are called Legacy Information Systems (LISs). They mostly run on old software and hardware technology tools and environments. They are hard to modify, expensive to maintain and difficult to integrate with new technology tools and programs. They need to be evolved into modern environments. The LIS modernization is a long outstanding problem of the IT community. This paper presents a classification of current approaches to this problem and suggests guidelines and a methodology for an optimal solution based on many years of professional experiences of the authors in this area. Parts of this methodology have been implemented and tested in many migration projects and they have proven to be effective. This approach optimizes the time, the human resources and the global costs and reduces the risk factors and side effects of renovation projects by developing migration tools once per platform. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Observe‐mine‐adopt (OMA): an agile way to enhance software maintainability
Authors: Huffman Hayes Jane , Mohamed Naresh , Gao Tina Hong
Published: October 2003

We introduce the observe‐mine‐adopt (OMA) paradigm that assists organizations in making improvements to their software development processes without committing to and undertaking large‐scale sweeping organizational process improvement. Specifically, the approach has been applied to improve software practices focused on maintainability. This novel approach is based on the theory that software teams naturally make observations about things that do or do not work well. Teams then mine their artifacts and their recollections of events to find the software products, processes, metrics, etc. that led to the observation. In the case of software maintainability, it is then necessary to perform some measurement to ensure that the methods result in improved maintainability. We introduce two maintainability measures, maintainability product and perceived maintainability, to address this need. Other maintainability measures that may be used in the mine step are also examined. Finally, if the mining activities lead to validated discoveries of processes, techniques or practices that improve the software product, they are formalized and adopted by the team. OMA has been studied experimentally using two project studies and a Web‐based health care system which is maintained by a large industrial software organization. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Advances in Software Maintenance Management: Technologies and Solutions
Authors: Seaman Carolyn B.
Published: October 2003

Here is a new offering, now available both as a hardcover and as an e‐book, in the much‐neglected category of comprehensive texts on software maintenance. It is especially welcome for those of us struggling to provide our students with a text for learning the basics of software maintenance, in preparation for their inevitable first maintenance assignments as junior software engineers. This new book, Advances in Software Maintenance Management: Technologies and Solutions, edited by Macario Polo, Mario Piattini, and Francisco Ruiz at the University of Castilla‐La Mancha in Spain, is not intended to be an academic textbook and so is lacking in some areas for that purpose. However, it has some important advantages over the few other choices in this area. It also is a useful volume for managers and others interested in getting an up‐to‐date understanding of some of the major issues in software maintenance. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Concurrent Fusarium chlamydosporum and Microsphaeropsis arundinis infections in a cat
Authors: Kluger E.K. , Della Torre P.K. , Martin P. , Krockenberger M.B. , Malik R.
Published: October 2003

A 7-year-old cat was presented initially with multiple draining sinuses on the metatarsal region of its right hindlimb. Another lesion had appeared at the same time on the fifth proximal interphalangeal joint of the left forelimb. Histopathological examination of a biopsy from the right hindlimb lesion revealed chronic pyogranulomatous inflammation associated with yeast-like bodies and septate mycelia; a fungus was cultured on conventional media but not identified further. Culture of a swab collected from the left forelimb lesion demonstrated a pigmented fungus, also not characterised further.

Although there was initially a favourable response to ketoconazole (Nizoral, Janssen-Cilag Pty. Ltd) and β-lactam therapy, the infection in the hind limb relapsed subsequently, and Fusarium chlamydosporum was cultured from deep biopsy specimens. Clinical improvement followed debridement and itraconazole (Sporanox, Janssen-Cilag Pty. Ltd; 100 mg orally once daily), however amputation of the limb represented the best chance for a cure. The cat made an uncomplicated recovery following surgery and remained well for five months until the lesion on the left forelimb recurred. Amputation of the distal fourth digit was then performed, and the resected tissue submitted for culture. The dematiaceous fungus Microsphaeropsis arundinis was subsequently cultured. The cat remained well for several months, until a further F. chlamydosporum infection developed on the body wall. This was excised 7 months ago, and no lesions have recurred in this area.

Importantly, this is the first reported case of M. arundinis infection in a mammalian host.
The study of post-communist Slovenian firms and their internationalization
Authors: Šuštar Boris
Published: October 2003

Understanding the evolution and growing importance of firms in post-communist countries is a critical new research direction for the study of communist and post-communist economies. In light of this, the primary purpose of this study is to identify the conditions necessary for the internationalization of enterprises from post-communist Slovenia, based on the responses of 298 firms currently engaged in the export of Slovenian products. The study supports the idea that many of the conditions necessary for international expansion of the firms are also applicable to firms from the post-communist economy, that is Slovenia. Environmental factors, including economic stability and cultural similarity, firm size and experience, stable markets, management strategies and other country-specific factors, were found to have significant influences on the participation of post-communist firms in the global economy. Environmental factors, including economic stability and cultural similarity, were found to be the most important in the factor analysis. Firm size and experience also exerted an influence on the internationalization of post-communist Slovenian firms. However, stable markets were found to be more important than firm size or management strategies at this point in time. Slovenia’s small size, its former command economy, and other country-specific factors, were also found to have significant influences for the firms involved in this study.
Managing civil society: democratisation and the environmental movement in a Russian region
Authors: Crotty Jo
Published: October 2003

The stalling of civil society development within the Russian Federation and its attendant causes have been a focus of academic study since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Alongside the emergence of a fragmented and chronically under-funded community of advocacy groups, the literature points to a rejection of democratic structures by the Russian populace and an absence of active civil engagement. Consequently, the international community has sought to bolster the growth and development of the Russian third sector by funding projects and organisations with a view to increasing public participation.

Utilising research undertaken in Samara oblast of the Russian Federation, this paper examines the role played by overseas donor agencies within the Samara Environmental Movement (SEM). In examining both the quality and quantity of donor assistance received, it reveals a number of dysfunctions arising from this aid, and in particular, a lack of contextualization and mis-direction of the assistance offered vis-à-vis citizen participation, alongside other behavioural impacts of donor funding within the SEM itself.
Translocons, thermodynamics, and the folding of membrane proteins
Authors: White Stephen H.
Published: October 2003

Recent three‐dimensional structures of helical membrane proteins present new challenges for the prediction of structure from amino acid sequence. Membrane proteins reside stably in a thermodynamic free energy minimum after release into the membrane's bilayer fabric from the translocon complex. This means that structure prediction is primarily a problem of physical chemistry. But the folding processes within the translocon must also be considered. A distilled overview of the physical principles of membrane protein stability is presented, and extended to encompass translocon‐assisted folding.
Rescue of functional ΔF508‐CFTR channels by co‐expression with truncated CFTR constructs in COS‐1 cells
Authors: Owsianik Grzegorz , Cao Lishuang , Nilius Bernd
Published: October 2003

The most frequent mutant variant of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), ΔF508‐CFTR, is misprocessed and subsequently degraded in the endoplasmic reticulum. Using the patch‐clamp technique, we showed that co‐expressions of ΔF508‐CFTR with the N‐terminal CFTR truncates containing bi‐arginine (RXR) retention/retrieval motifs result in a functional rescue of the ΔF508‐CFTR mutant channel in COS‐1 cells. This ΔF508‐CFTR rescue process was strongly impaired when truncated CFTR constructs possessed either the ΔF508 mutation or arginine‐to‐lysine mutations in RXRs. In conclusions, our data demonstrated that expression of truncated CFTR constructs could be a novel promising approach to improve maturation of ΔF508‐CFTR channels.
Kinetic analysis of human topoisomerase IIα and β DNA binding by surface plasmon resonance
Authors: Leontiou Chrysoula , Lightowlers Robert , Lakey Jeremy H. , Austin Caroline A.
Published: October 2003

Topoisomerase IIβ binding to DNA has been analysed by surface plasmon resonance for the first time. Three DNA substrates with different secondary structures were studied, a 40 bp oligonucleotide, a four way junction and a 189 bp bent DNA fragment. We also compared the DNA binding kinetics of both human topoisomerase isoforms under identical conditions. Both α and β isoforms exhibited similar binding kinetics, with average equilibrium dissociation constants ranging between 1.4 and 2.9 nM. We therefore conclude that neither isoform has any preference for a specific DNA substrate under the conditions used in these experiments.
Caffeic acid phenethyl ester blocks apoptosis induced by low potassium in cerebellar granule cells
Authors: Amodio Rosalba , De Ruvo Caterina , Di Matteo Vincenzo , Poggi Andreina , Di Santo Angelomaria , Martelli Nicola , Lorenzet Roberto , Rotilio Domenico , Cacchio Marisa , Esposito Ennio
Published: October 2003

Primary cultures of cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) were prepared from 8‐day‐old Wistar rats, and maintained in an appropriate medium containing a high (25 mM) concentration of KCl. To induce apoptosis, culture medium was replaced with serum‐free medium (containing 5 mM KCl) 8 days after plating. Apoptosis was measured by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP‐fluorescein nick end‐labeling (TUNEL) method, and by flow cytometry. Since there is evidence that an increased formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is involved in the apoptosis induced by low K+ (5 mM) concentrations, the potential anti‐apoptotic effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a potent flavonoid antioxidant, was tested in this experimental model. It was found that CAPE (10 μg/ml) promoted cell survival and was capable of blocking the apoptotic process as assayed by both TUNEL and flow cytometric methods. The same concentration of CAPE prevented the formation of ROS induced by low K+. Since there is evidence that low K+‐induced apoptosis in CGNs is associated with a drop in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), activation of the cell death effector proteases caspase‐3 and caspase‐9, and of the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB), the interference of CAPE with these purported mediators of apoptosis was also evaluated. It was found that CAPE did not interfere with the marked decrease in [Ca2+]i induced by low K+, whereas it completely blocked caspase‐3, caspase‐9, and NF‐κB activation. It is concluded that CAPE could exert its anti‐apoptotic effect in CGNs by blocking ROS formation and by inhibiting caspase activity.
Reproductive biology and embryonic development of Centroscymnus coelolepis in Portuguese mainland waters
Authors: Veríssimo Ana , Gordo Leonel , Figueiredo Ivone
Published: October 2003

A total of 871 females (76–122 cm) and 86 males (68–100 cm) of Centroscymnus coelolepis caught in Portuguese mainland waters were examined for reproductive characteristics. One hermaphroditic individual of 95 cm was found. Males were few in numbers and dominated by immature specimens. Female length at first sexual maturity was 98.5 cm. Mean ovarian and uterine fecundity were 13.2 oocytes per female and 9.9 embryos per pregnant female, respectively. Total length of embryos with completely absorbed external yolk sacs ranged between 233 and 300 mm. Sex ratio (F/M) of embryos with completely absorbed external yolk sac was 0.9. All stages of reproduction were found during the 12-month sampling period. Results were compared with those from other regions. A hypothesis is formulated on the existence of several regional populations based on morphometric and reproductive parameters observed in different areas.
Sustained exponential population growth of grey seals at Sable Island, Nova Scotia
Authors: Bowen W.D , McMillan J , Mohn R
Published: October 2003

Grey seal pup production on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, has been monitored since the early 1960s. We estimated pup production on Sable Island in 1997 using aerial photography with a correction for detection of pups on the imagery and a statistical model to account for the proportion of pups not born at the time of the survey. A total of 20 863 pups were counted on the colour positives. When corrected for the proportion of pups seen on the imagery (0.96) and the proportion of pups born before the survey (east colony 0.94, west colony 0.66), estimated total pup production was 25 400 with approximate 95% confidence limits of 23 500 and 26 900. The 1997 estimate indicates that pup production in this population, now the largest grey seal colony in the world, has been increasing exponentially at an annual rate of 12.8% for four decades in the face of considerable environmental variability.
An investigation of chemotaxis in the insect parasitic nematodeHeterorhabditis bacteriophora
Authors: O'HALLORAN D. M. , BURNELL A. M.
Published: October 2003

We tested the chemotactic responses of dauer juvenile stages (DJs) of the insect parasitic nematodeHeterorhabditis bacteriophorato a variety of compounds that are known to be highly attractive or highly repellent toCaenorhabditis elegans. WhileH. bacteriophoraDJs respond to alcohols and some aromatic compounds as well as to host metabolites such as uric acid and CO2, the most notable difference in the responses of these two nematodes is thatH. bacteriophoraDJs are unresponsive to a large number of compounds whichC. elegansfinds highly attractive. The latter compounds are typical by-products of bacterial metabolism and include aldehydes, esters, ketones and short-chain alcohols. WhileC. elegansfinds long-chain alcohols (e.g. 1-heptanol and 1-octanol) repellent and short-chain alcohols highly attractive,H. bacteriophoraDJs are strongly attracted to 1-heptanol, 1-octanol and 1-nonanol and find short-chain alcohols to be only slightly attractive. Parasitic-stageH. bacteriophoranematodes show a very weak chemotactic response to volatile molecules that DJs find highly attractive. Our results suggest that, associated with the adoption of a parasitic mode of life byHeterorhabditis, there was an adaptive change in chemotactic behaviour of the infective stages, resulting in a decreased sensitivity to volatile by-products of bacterial metabolism and an increased sensitivity towards long-chain alcohols and other insect-specific volatiles and possibly also to herbivore-induced plant volatiles.
Spatial and temporal repeatability in parasite community structure of tropical fish hosts
Authors: VIDAL-MARTÍNEZ V. M. , POULIN R.
Published: October 2003

An assessment is made of the repeatability of parasite community structure in space for a marine fish, and in space and time for a freshwater fish from south-eastern Mexico. The marine fish species was the red grouper,Epinephelus morio(collected from 9 localities), and the freshwater species was the cichlid,Cichlasoma urophthalmus(collected from 6 localities: including monthly at 2 localities for 1 year, and bimonthly at 1 locality in 1990 and 1999). Pairwise interspecific associations and analyses of nested patterns in the distributions of parasite species among hosts were used in both fish species, with comparisons over time made only with the cichlid. Positive interspecific associations, and nested patterns were noted in some localities for both fish species, and/or at some sampling times for the cichlid fish. However, non-random patterns in the structure of parasite communities in these 2 host species only were observed sporadically. When present, nestedness in both fish species was apparently linked with a positive association between total infection intensities and fish size. Additionally, adjacent localities were more likely to display similar parasite community structure than distant ones. This preliminary result suggests that distance between localities is an important determinant of predictability in parasite community structure.