bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The phosphatidylserine receptor has essential functions during embryogenesis but not in apoptotic cell removal
Authors: Böse Jens , Gruber Achim D , Helming Laura , Schiebe Stefanie , Wegener Ivonne , Hafner Martin , Beales Marianne , Köntgen Frank , Lengeling Andreas
Published: August 2004

Background

Phagocytosis of apoptotic cells is fundamental to animal development, immune function and cellular homeostasis. The phosphatidylserine receptor (Ptdsr) on phagocytes has been implicated in the recognition and engulfment of apoptotic cells and in anti-inflammatory signaling. To determine the biological function of the phosphatidylserine receptor in vivo, we inactivated the Ptdsr gene in the mouse.

Results

Ablation of Ptdsr function in mice causes perinatal lethality, growth retardation and a delay in terminal differentiation of the kidney, intestine, liver and lungs during embryogenesis. Moreover, eye development can be severely disturbed, ranging from defects in retinal differentiation to complete unilateral or bilateral absence of eyes. Ptdsr-/- mice with anophthalmia develop novel lesions, with induction of ectopic retinal-pigmented epithelium in nasal cavities. A comprehensive investigation of apoptotic cell clearance in vivo and in vitro demonstrated that engulfment of apoptotic cells was normal in Ptdsr knockout mice, but Ptdsr-deficient macrophages were impaired in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine signaling after stimulation with apoptotic cells or with lipopolysaccharide.

Conclusion

Ptdsr is essential for the development and differentiation of multiple organs during embryogenesis but not for apoptotic cell removal. Ptdsr may thus have a novel, unexpected developmental function as an important differentiation-promoting gene. Moreover, Ptdsr is not required for apoptotic cell clearance by macrophages but seems to be necessary for the regulation of macrophage cytokine responses. These results clearly contradict the current view that the phosphatidylserine receptor primarily functions in apoptotic cell clearance.
Role of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Resected Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Reappraisal With a Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Hotta Katsuyuki , Matsuo Keitaro , Ueoka Hiroshi , Kiura Katsuyuki , Tabata Masahiro , Tanimoto Mitsune
Published: August 2004

Purpose

The role of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with resected non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains to be defined. This study was aimed at re-evaluating the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with resected NSCLC, by performing a meta-analysis of relevant trials.

Methods

We performed a literature search to identify trials reported after the publication of a meta-analysis in 1995, comparing patients with NSCLC receiving chemotherapy after surgery with those undergoing surgery alone. The hazard ratio (HR) was estimated to assess the survival advantage of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Results

Eleven trials conducted on a total of 5,716 patients were identified by the literature search. In these trials, hazard ratio estimates suggested that adjuvant chemotherapy yielded a survival advantage over surgery alone (HR, 0.872; 95% CI, 0.805 to 0.944; P = .001). In a subset analysis, both cisplatin-based chemotherapy (HR, 0.891; 95% CI, 0.815 to 0.975; P = .012) and single-agent therapy with tegafur and uracil (UFT; HR, 0.799; 95% CI, 0.668 to 0.957; P = .015) were found to yield a significant survival benefit. The toxicities of adjuvant chemotherapy were found to be generally mild.

Conclusion

This is the first updated meta-analysis demonstrating the importance of cisplatin-based chemotherapy and single-agent UFT therapy as adjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of resected NSCLC. Although the results must be carefully interpreted because of one limitation (the meta-analysis was performed with abstracted data), they raise critical issues that must be resolved in future studies.
Are we managing deep venous thrombosis of the upper limb appropriately?
Authors: Fassiadis N , Pepas L , Chan M , Mason D , Morgan M
Published: August 2004

Objective: The objective of this retrospective study was to analyse risk factors, management and outcome of upper limb deep venous thrombosis (ULDVT) in two London district hospitals.

Methods: The study group audited between May 1995 and July 2002 comprised 33 patients with ULDVTs, of which 12 were primary and 21 were secondary.

Results: Common risk factors included malignant disease ( n=17, 51.5%), smoking ( n=16, 48.5%), central venous access ( n=9, 27.3%), cardiac disease ( n =6, 18.2%) and hormonal therapy ( n=4, 12.1%). None of the patients were evaluated for thoracic outlet compression. A thrombophilia screen was performed in eight patients with primary ULDVT and in seven patients with secondary ULDVT. Thrombophilic states were identified only in the primary group, in two patients. Twenty-eight patients were anticoagulated (84.8%) and overall symptoms resolved in 20 patients (60.6%). All 13 deaths occurred within the secondary group.

Conclusions: The present study reveals that there is no consensus in investigating and managing patients with ULDVT, which is probably due to the variety of aetiological factors of this condition.
Venoruton metabolites: pharmacological activity and kinetics
Authors: Hasler-Nguyen N , Shelton D , Ponard G , Zijlstra J
Published: August 2004

Objective: This study was undertaken to further elucidate the mechanism of action of the phlebotonic drug Venoruton®, which is a standardized mixture of hydroxyethylrutosides (HR).

Methods: First, its oral absorption in rats was compared with that of hydroxyethylquercetins (HQ), which are the hydrolysed aglycones of HR. Second, the pharmacological activity of the major HR metabolites in humans, mono-3′-hydroxyethylquercetin (mono-3′HQ) and a mixture with mono-4′HQ, were further evaluated in vitro.

Results: Time to reach the maximal plasma concentration of its marker metabolite mono-4′HQ was significantly shorter after HQ than after HR administration, with an eightfold higher maximal concentration. The rapid absorption of HQ and the increased plasma levels confirm the theory that rutosides need to be hydrolysed by the intestinal microflora prior to absorption. Mono-3′HQ and, even more so, the mixture with mono-4′HQ inhibited xanthine oxidase, an enzyme responsible for the formation of reactive oxygen species, at concentrations comparable to those found in human plasma. The metabolites also inhibited the formation of superoxide radicals induced by the respiratory burst of activated HL-60 neutrophils. Both HR metabolites decreased the degree of cell death of human umbilical vein endothelial cells that were exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation conditions, probably by scavenging destructive superoxide radicals.

Conclusions: These results demonstrated new pharmacological activities, which contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of action of HR in chronic venous insufficiency.
Surgical treatments for chronic deep venous insufficiency
Authors: Scott N A , Corabian P , Forbes T L , Hardy S C
Published: August 2004

Objective: The aim of this study was to critically appraise and synthesize the published evidence regarding the short- and long-term efficacy/effectiveness of surgical techniques for patients with deep venous insufficiency (DVI) refractory to other forms of management.

Methods: All original, published studies on non-pregnant human patients undergoing treatment for deep or mixed deep/superficial/perforator chronic venous insufficiency were identified by systematically searching PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, Science Citation Index and the websites of various health technology assessment agencies, research registers and guidelines sites, from January 1990 to July 2003. No language restriction was applied.

Results: A total of two randomized controlled trials and 12 non-randomized comparative studies reported on a variety of procedures ranging from superficial venous surgery (SVS) and subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery (SEPS), through to deep venous reconstruction (including valvuloplasty, transplantation and transposition) for the treatment of DVI. Limited evidence suggested that combined SVS/valvuloplasty is a relatively safe procedure that is potentially more effective than SVS alone in preventing ulcer recurrence in patients with primary DVI in both the short- and mid-term. Evidence for the efficacy of valvuloplasty, bypass, transplantation, SEPS and iliac stenting in the treatment of DVI was inconclusive. The optimal surgery for patients with deep venous obstruction or secondary valvular incompetence remains unclear.

Conclusions: It is unlikely that a large randomized, or even non-randomized, controlled trial will be conducted to ascertain the safety and efficacy of surgery for DVI. However, standardized reporting and collection of data in a registry would be a move forward. In addition, professional bodies should consider providing guidance, in the form of an evidence-based treatment algorithm, that would define when to perform SVS in patients with mixed or deep venous insufficiency and what type of deep venous surgery is considered appropriate for different indications. A prime focus of future research may be to understand why less invasive treatments have failed in patients requiring surgery for DVI and to identify those patients who would benefit most from early surgical intervention.
Effectiveness and safety of calcium dobesilate in treating chronic venous insufficiency: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Labs K-H , Degischer S , Gamba G , Jaeger K A
Published: August 2004

Objective: To determine whether calcium dobesilate is effective in reducing chronic venous insufficiency-related peripheral oedema.

Methods: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, parallel-group study in 253 consecutive outpatients with chronic venous insufficiency (CEAP C3-C4). The patients were treated for four weeks with either calcium dobesilate (CaD) 500 mg three times a day or matching placebo. The primary outcome measure was the reduction in lower leg volume. The leg volume calculation was based on a truncated cone model

Results: Active drug treatment resulted in a median reduction of the leg volume of 25.5 ± 33.6 ml/l tissue. The difference in the median change of the leg volume between the treatment groups at week 4 was -12.2 ml/l tissue (95 % CI -21.6 to -2.8; P =0.01). In contrast with the placebo, the effects of CaD were independent of the duration of CVI and most pronounced in more severely diseased patients. Safety variables did not differ significantly between groups.

Conclusions: Calcium dobesilate is an effective and well tolerated treatment for chronic venous insufficiency.
Roller coaster reflux: definition and clinical significance
Authors: Gradman W S
Published: August 2004

Objective: Duplex scanning readily identifies typical proximal venous reflux that descends directly to varices. Occasionally, reflux may first descend in a saphenous or deep vein, and then reverse direction to ascend 10 cm or more in a tributary or varicose vein before descending again to clinically evident varicose veins. This pattern, here defined as roller coaster reflux (RCR), can be difficult to establish, since no immediate superior source of reflux feeds the uppermost varices. This study reviews recent clinical experience with RCR and illustrates the phenomenon in two patients.

Methods: Over a two-year period in a solo phlebology practice, duplex ultrasound was used on patients with varicose veins to identify the initial descending reflux and the point of reversal where flow began to ascend. A Trendelenburg manoeuvre with direct compression over the point of reversal was used to prove whether the source of venous distention lay 10 cm or more below the most superior varices.

Results: A total of 12 patients showed evidence of RCR with flow ascending 10-23 cm to feed the uppermost varices. The sources of descending reflux were the femoral (3), popliteal (2), great saphenous (4), short saphenous (2) and tibial (1) veins. The ascending veins were the great saphenous (3), Giacomini (2) or varices (7). Elimination of the source of reflux along with the varices routinely resulted in clinical success.

Conclusions: Roller coaster reflux should be sought in individuals whose reflux does not appear to arise from a superior source.
Cognitive representations in alcohol and opiate abuse: The role of core beliefs
Authors: Brotchie Janet , Meyer Caroline , Copello Alex , Kidney Robert , Waller Glenn
Published: August 2004

There are clinical indications that alcohol and drug abuse are associated with unhealthy core beliefs (unconditional, schema‐level representations). This study examined levels of such cognitions among four groups: alcohol abusers; opiate abusers; combined alcohol and opiate abusers; and a non‐clinical group. Each patient completed the short version of the Young Schema Questionnaire, measuring levels of 15 pathological core beliefs. These schema‐level cognitions were less healthy in the clinical groups than in the non‐clinical group, particularly among individuals who abused alcohol. These findings provide preliminary support for the utility of therapies that address schema‐level representations among substance abusers.
The role of body objectification in disordered eating and depressed mood
Authors: Tiggemann Marika , Kuring Julia K.
Published: August 2004

Objectives: The study aimed to extend tests of objectification theory into the realm of depression. The theory's applicability to men was also investigated.

Design: A cross‐sectional study.

Method: A sample of 115 men and 171 women completed questionnaire measures of self‐objectification, depressed mood, disordered eating, as well as the proposed mediating variables of body shame, appearance anxiety, flow and awareness of internal states.

Results: For women, it was found that depressed mood and disordered eating were both predicted by self‐objectification and its corollary of habitual self‐surveillance. Path analysis gave strong support to the mediational relationships of the theoretical model. With one major exception (the role of self‐objectification), the pattern of relationships was similar for men.

Conclusion: Objectification theory provides a useful framework for identifying predictors of depressed mood.
The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS): Construct validity, measurement properties and normative data in a large non‐clinical sample
Authors: Crawford John R. , Henry Julie D.
Published: August 2004

Objectives: To evaluate the reliability and validity of the PANAS (Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988b) and provide normative data.

Design: Cross‐sectional and correlational.

Method: The PANAS was administered to a non‐clinical sample, broadly representative of the general adult UK population (N = 1,003). Competing models of the latent structure of the PANAS were evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis. Regression and correlational analysis were used to determine the influence of demographic variables on PANAS scores as well as the relationship between the PANAS with measures of depression and anxiety (the HADS and the DASS).

Results: The best‐fitting model (robust comparative fit index = .94) of the latent structure of the PANAS consisted of two correlated factors corresponding to the PA and NA scales, and permitted correlated error between items drawn from the same mood subcategories (Zevon & Tellegen, 1982). Demographic variables had only very modest influences on PANAS scores and the PANAS exhibited measurement invariance across demographic subgroups. The reliability of the PANAS was high, and the pattern of relationships between the PANAS and the DASS and HADS were consistent with tripartite theory.

Conclusion: The PANAS is a reliable and valid measure of the constructs it was intended to assess, although the hypothesis of complete independence between PA and NA must be rejected. The utility of this measure is enhanced by the provision of large‐scale normative data.
The use of a cognitive battery to predict who will fail an on‐road driving test
Authors: McKenna Pat , Jefferies Luke , Dobson Adrian , Frude Neil
Published: August 2004

Objectives: There is a growing need to find a valid and reliable neuropsychological battery to screen out those people who are clearly unsafe to drive following brain injury or pathology, and thus alleviate the need to refer for an on‐road assessment.

Design: A battery of cognitive tests fine‐tuned for their relevance to driving was examined in terms of its sensitivity and specificity for predicting who would fail an on‐road test following brain injury or pathology.

Method: Performance on the battery was compared to the results of an on‐road driving test in a consecutive series of 142 clients referred to a driving assessment centre following brain injury or pathology. The group represented diverse neurological conditions which affect brain functioning.

Results: The overall accuracy rate of the battery in predicting a fail on‐road was 92% and in predicting a pass on road was 71%. It was more accurate for those under 70 with 100% accuracy in predicting a fail on‐road and 85% accuracy in predicting a pass on‐road, but less accurate for those aged 70 or above with 85% accuracy in predicting a fail on‐road and 37% accuracy in predicting a pass on‐road.

Conclusion: The battery is a useful tool in helping to determine whether someone is safe to drive following brain injury but needs to be used with far more caution for the older driver.
Viewing behaviour of spider phobics and non‐phobics in the presence of threat and safety stimuli
Authors: Lange W. G. T. , Tierney K. J. , Reinhardt‐Rutland A. H. , Vivekananda‐Schmidt P.
Published: August 2004

Objectives: To determine whether spider phobics and spider non‐phobics differ in attending to threat and safety stimuli in close proximity, or spatially separated.

Method: A sample group of 16 spider‐phobic and 16 spider‐non‐phobic volunteers were drawn from a student population on the basis of their scores on Watts and Sharrock's Spider Phobia Questionnaire. Attention was assessed by way of participants' viewing behaviour using an ASL 501 head‐mounted eye‐tracking system. In a control condition, participants viewed a neutral stimulus (a TV video) in the absence of the threat stimulus. In two experimental conditions, the threat stimulus (a live Chilean rose tarantula) was introduced (a) immediately beside the safety stimulus (the only exit of the experimental room), or (b) away from the safety stimulus.

Results: In the experimental conditions, phobics reduced their viewing of the TV and increased their viewing of the tarantula and of the exit; the biggest changes occurred when tarantula and exit were together. Phobics also made more eye motions across the experimental room.

Conclusion: Our results are consistent with previous research employing reaction time to a neutral stimulus as dependent measure. In addition, our results suggest that phobics scan the environment as part of safety behaviour. We suggest that exposure treatments to reduce spider phobia may be facilitated by encouraging patients to stop environmental scanning.
A personality‐based taxonomy of sexually abusive adolescents derived from the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI)
Authors: Richardson Graeme , Kelly Tom P. , Graham Finlay , Bhate Surya R.
Published: August 2004

A personality‐based taxonomy of an out‐patient sample of 112 sexually abusive adolescents is described. Five subgroups were derived from cluster analytic procedures applied to Personality Patterns scales scores from the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI), and were named: Normal, Antisocial, Submissive, Dysthymic/Inhibited, and Dysthymic/Negativistic. The groups were also found to be differentiated on the psychopathology scales of the MACI. The results of the study provide evidence of the heterogeneity of adolescent sexual abusers in both personality characteristics and psychopathology. Comparison of groups differentiated on the basis of victim characteristics did not indicate a relationship between personality and sexual offence.
Linking work conditions to unpleasant affect: Cognition, categorization and goals
Authors: Daniels Kevin , Harris Claire , Briner Rob B.
Published: August 2004

Current approaches to work stress do not address in detail the mental processes by which work events cause unpleasant affect. We propose a cognitive account that incorporates: (1) the distinction between controlled and automatic information processing; (2) the categorization of emotionally relevant stimuli; (3) the role of mental models in coping choice; (4) the enactment of beneficial job conditions through coping; and (5) reciprocal influences between cognition and affect. We conclude by discussing how this account can help explain a range of findings in the work stress literature and how a cognitive approach to work stress informs practice.
The effects of pay level on organization‐based self‐esteem and performance: A field study
Authors: Gardner Donald G. , Van Dyne Linn , Pierce Jon L.
Published: August 2004

Most compensation managers implicitly assume (or perhaps hope) that high pay levels will maintain and enhance future performance. To date, this assumption has been largely untested. Given the importance of pay level and the large expense that pay represents to most organizations, understanding how and why pay level influences the behaviour of employees in organizations is an important question. The purpose of this study is to examine the motivational effects of pay level on employee performance. To examine these issues, we collected field study data from a variety of sources, at three different times, and assessed the effects of employee pay level on subsequent self‐esteem and performance. Specifically, we hypothesized that the effects of pay level on performance would be mediated by pay level effects on organization‐based self‐esteem. We base this hypothesis on the premise that level of pay within an organization communicates a sense of how much the organization values an employee and thus affects employee organization‐based self‐esteem which, in turn, enhances job performance. After controlling for organization tenure, and previous pay change, results supported a mediated model that suggests that pay level affects employee self‐esteem, which in turn, affects employee performance.
Sense of coherence and work characteristics: A cross‐lagged structural equation model among managers
Authors: Feldt Taru , Kivimäki Mika , Rantala Anne , Tolvanen Asko
Published: August 2004

This study investigated the dominance of predictive relationships between Sense of Coherence (SOC) and work characteristics (organizational climate and job control) in cross‐lagged longitudinal data with two measurement points and a time lag of 3 years. The sample consisted of 615 (587 men and 28 women) managers, aged between 27 and 64 years. The cross‐lagged longitudinal analysis was done by the use of Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) within the framework by LISREL. The results of the chi‐square difference tests indicated that the model where SOC at Time 1 predicted work characteristics at Time 2 better accounted for the data than the competitive models. However, the only significant path in addition to test‐retest stabilities was the path from SOC at Time 1 to organizational climate at Time 2 indicating that high SOC predicts good organizational climate over a 3‐year follow‐up period. The path from SOC at Time 1 to job control at Time 2 was not significant. Thus, it seems that SOC, as a relatively stable disposition, influences the ability to mobilize and generate social resources in the workplace but not the ability to produce job control.
Differential relations between general cognitive ability and interest‐vocation fit
Authors: Reeve Charlie L. , Heggestad Eric D.
Published: August 2004

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the interrelationship of general cognitive ability and vocational interest in the context of person‐vocation fit. Drawing on evidence of systematic differences in the average cognitive complexity of occupational domains and the tenets of the gravitational hypothesis, we propose a set of hypotheses specifying that, depending on the dominant interest type, general ability can be either positively or negatively associated with interest‐vocation fit. Analysis of a large longitudinal dataset showed that general cognitive ability was significantly correlated with interest‐vocation fit, and that the direction of the correlation changed in accordance with the cognitive complexity of the occupational domain.
The Maslach Burnout Inventory: Factorial validity and consistency across occupational groups in Norway
Authors: Richardsen Astrid M. , Martinussen Monica
Published: August 2004

The present study tested the factorial validity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory among 1590 human service workers. Confirmatory factor analyses of the total sample as well as multi‐group analyses and analyses of each of seven professional groups separately, indicated that the original three‐factor model of the MBI provided a reasonable fit to the data. However, a factorial model with items 12 and 16 removed provided a superior fit, with two of the fit indices over .90 and an RMSEA value of .06. The results of a multi‐group analyses for the seven occupational groups showed a slightly poorer fit to the data than in the total sample. With a few exceptions, the fit indices of the models tested for each subsample separately indicated similar results, and the proposed 20‐item model also provided the best fit for the subsamples. Internal consistencies of the subscales of the MBI were acceptable, and test‐retest reliability indicated stability of scores over a 6‐month interval. These results indicated that the proposed three‐factor structure of the MBI based on 20 items can be replicated in the total sample as well as across occupations within human services in Norway.
Exploring organizational citizenship behaviour from an organizational perspective: The relationship between organizational learning and organizational citizenship behaviour
Authors: Somech Anit , Drach‐Zahavy Anat
Published: August 2004

The present study explored the issue of organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB) as a context‐related phenomenon, from a multidimensional perspective. More specifically, it was hypothesized that organizational learning (structures and learning values) would be positively related to (a) OCB that benefited the organization as a whole (OCBO) and (b) OCB that immediately benefited particular individuals (OCBI). The hypotheses identified the school as the unit of analysis; so all variables were aggregates of individual responses to the organizational level of analysis. Justification for aggregation was provided by a within‐group similarity index (rwg) and a within‐ and between‐entities analysis (WABA). Results from a sample of 31 schools confirmed the main hypotheses, and generally supported the notion that OCB could be treated as a context‐related phenomenon. These results should encourage researchers and practitioners to focus more attention on the organizational context and its characteristics as related to OCB.
The structure of occupational well‐being: A study among Dutch teachers
Authors: Van Horn Joan E. , Taris Toon W. , Schaufeli Wilmar B. , Schreurs Paul J.G.
Published: August 2004

This study examined the structure of occupational well‐being among 1,252 Dutch teachers. Building on Warr (1994) and Ryff (1989), a multidimensional model for occupational well‐being (including affective, cognitive, professional, social and psychosomatic dimensions) was proposed and tested. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the distinction between these dimensions. A second‐order factor analysis revealed that affect was the most central dimension, supporting earlier conceptualizations of subjective well‐being that mainly focused on affect.
A sub-sector approach to cost-benefit analysis small-scale sisal processing in Tanzania
Authors: Brenters John , Romijn Henny
Published: August 2004

The paper proposes a way to adapt the standard cost-benefit analysis (CBA) technique to make it more suitable for analysing the feasibility of projects in new sub-sectors, when project success hinges on simultaneous investments in complementary activities to be undertaken by different
private investors. New elements in the method include an estimation of expected profitability for a prospective new sub-sector as a whole, and an assessment of the sub-sector’s technological capacity environment. The method could be used as a tool for project planners to gain insight
into the likely feasibility of stimulating initiatives aimed at promoting viable private-sector investment in new economic areas. It should also help them to direct their resources to those key areas within new sub-sectors where central intervention and central coordination is most needed
to overcome critical constraints on innovation by private investors. The method is illustrated with an example of a small-scale sisal processing project in Tanzania.
Les relations économiques Nord/Sud méditerranéen facteur d’impulsion d’un développement durable en Algérie
Authors: Touil Ahmed
Published: August 2004

In what way does economic development become sustainable in developing countries? The Algerian economy is being forced to improve its economic development. In whichever way it attempts to reach this goal, it must do so by using its natural environmental resources and by strengthening
its relationships with Northern Mediterranean countries. This research illustrates how the economic development of both the EU and of Algeria influences this relationship.
Book Review
Authors: João Elsa Maria
Published: August 2004

Pieter Winsemius and Ulrich Guntram, A Thousand Shades of Green: Sustainable Strategies for Competitive Advantage
London: Earthscan, 2002, xviii + 251 pp., ISBN 1-85383-846-2
Learning from the Silicon Valley and implications for technological leapfrogging the experience of Malaysia
Authors: Malairaja Chandra
Published: August 2004

Innovation plays a crucial role in the evolution of high-tech clusters which are invoked as a strategy for sustainable industrialisation and economic growth. Over the last five decades, the Silicon Valley in California has emerged as the most successful high-tech cluster in the world.
Not surprisingly, policymakers, regional planners and real-estate developers elsewhere in the world have sought to emulate its success. Malaysia’s answer to the Silicon Valley is the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), which was launched in 1995 with the aim to create a knowledge-based
economy through technological leapfrogging. Is the MSC a mere ‘top-down’ planning exercise that is out of sync with the needs of the Malaysian economy, or does it represent a strategic way forward for Malaysia to catch up on technologically advanced countries? This paper examines
the rationale, implementation and progress of the MSC, the issues arising from the MSC experience and the implications for other developing countries.
Institutions and organisations enabling reforms in Indian agricultural research and policy
Authors: Raina Rajeswari S.
Published: August 2004

There is a pressing demand for institutional reform in Indian agricultural research and policy. This paper argues that a conceptual and analytical distinction between institutions and organisations is essential to determine the purpose and consistency of reforms. Institutional change
involves transformation of the rules/norms that govern agricultural policy, research and extension organisations. This distinction is necessary for agricultural research to engage in institutional learning and identify the critical constraints on the process of agricultural innovation and
development. Examples from the history of agricultural research and extension in India reveal a legacy of institutional problems in the national agricultural research and extension organisations. These organisations have been unable to involve stakeholder participation, promote partnerships
and generate institutional learning capabilities. Agricultural policy must enable an introspection of the institutions of agricultural research. This is important to enhance the capability of agricultural innovation systems to build effective partnerships, learn from and respond to complex
technological and social contexts, and evolve as a dynamic overarching framework for sustainable development.
The liberal wing of the National Assembly (1969–73) a sociological profile
Authors: Fernandes Tiago
Published: August 2004

The liberal wing was a group of deputies constituting a reformist, pro-democracy sector of the internal semi-opposition to the authoritarian New State regime during its final years. I have used a prosopographic study of all the deputies in this legislature in an attempt to draw a sociological
profile of this group of deputies and to formulate some theories as to its historical genesis and recruitment channels.
Book Reviews
Authors: Amâncio Lígia
Published: August 2004

Sociologia do casamento: a família e a questão feminina, Anália Cardoso Torres Oeiras: Celta, 2001, 145 pp.
Dealing with intergroup conflicts in organizations: a challenge to the right of diversity
Authors: Monteiro Maria Benedicta
Published: August 2004

Any group’s search for a positive social identity will rely on group positive distinctiveness in comparison with significant outgroups. Turner and Brown (1978) have shown, in an intergroup setting, that high status groups presented a higher pattern of positive differentiation
than low status groups. In this paper I will appraise how the identity and diversity dimensions of social interaction are being used in social psychological research on intergroup conflict, whether it be in organizational or in broader social settings.
The changing face of European ports as a result of their evolving use since the nineteenth century
Authors: van Dijk Henk , Pinheiro Magda Avelar
Published: August 2004

The aim of this article is to make a comparative study of the history of European ports during the last two centuries showing their complexity and specific characteristics. Whereas during the process of waterfront development, local governments emphasize the relationship of ports with
sailing ships as a marketing instrument, the industrial history of those ports are mostly neglected. This article focuses on the industrial port, showing differences in the chronology of construction and in their urban impact. Hinterland and inland transportation were responsible for a part
of those differences, as well as geographical and political circumstances. However, social aspects as well as technological issues showed comparable evolutions. The decline of the industrial port city is a part of the general process of de-industrialization of Europe, but it has its own specific
features. At least it is clear that the development of port cities during the last two centuries is far more complex than some stage theories about port development assume.
Concepts for Development of a Service Life Prediction Methodology for Sealed Building and Construction Joints—Review and Roadmap for Future Research
Authors: Wolf AT
Published: August 2004

Despite extensive research on durability of building materials and components performed over the past two decades, no reliable quantitative method of service life prediction (SLP) has gained wide acceptance. Generic guidance is provided in documents published by ASTM, RILEM, EOTA and ISO. Although the methodology is logical and easy to understand, its application is not simple, since much judgement is required in the interpretation of the results. Recently, a more specific method of estimating the service life of sealed joints has been proposed. The paper discusses the key requirements relevant to any service-life-prediction methodology, critiques the preliminary method proposed in the literature, and proposes a possible extension of this method.
Evolution of the Development of the Chicago Facade Inspection Ordinance
Authors: Chin IR , Gerberding H
Published: August 2004

In Chicago, IL, there are hundreds of high-rise buildings that were constructed starting in the 1890s. The exterior facade on these buildings includes terra cotta panels, thick stone panels, thin stone panels, brick veneer, precast concrete, poured-in-place concrete, steel panels, aluminum panels, and glass/aluminum curtain wall. After pieces of a terra cotta facade fell from a building in 1974 and killed a pedestrian, Chicago prepared its 1978 facade inspection. This ordinance was the first facade inspection ordinance in the United States. This ordinance was subsequently repealed. Due to subsequent facade failures, Chicago prepared its 1996 facade ordinance and amended this ordinance in 2000, 2001, and 2002. The amended ordinance is currently the most comprehensive facade ordinance in the United States. Approximately 70 % of eligible buildings in Chicago have complied with the ordinance. This paper presents information on the evolution and development of the ordinance.
Facade Inspections a Must for Both New and Old Buildings—A Case Study of Two High Rise Structures
Authors: McGinley WM , Ernest CL
Published: August 2004

To the untrained eye of a nonprofessional and even to the trained eye of many professionals, it is not uncommon for casual observance of the facade of a high-rise structure to suggest all is well. However, one must look deeper to uncover obscure telltale signs that may reveal underlying problems of great significance. Two case studies illustrate that what is not readily obvious may be critical to public safety in facade inspection. These two studies include a 20-story building built in the mid 1920s with a steel frame and masonry cladding that had developed vertical cracking extending up the corners and a 29-story building barely a decade old which signaled distress when a panel of brick masonry veneer fell to the sidewalk below.
Durability by Design: Load Carrying Silicone Bonding, Herz Jesu Church, Munich
Authors: Hagl A
Published: August 2004

The design of conventional glass façades in Germany is typically based on the extensive use of point supports that keep the glass panels in position and which provide the load transfer of the façade. Besides the aesthetic disadvantage of discrete elements being visible in the glass façade, the application of point supports leads to highly concentrated stress regions substantially affecting sizing and durability of the façade components. In order to overcome these limitations, a new approach has been chosen for the design of the glass façade of the Herz Jesu Church, Munich. One peculiarity of the overall glass façade of this box-shaped building consists in horizontal and vertical glass beams used for the support of the façade. Silicone adhesives bond steel stringers along the main edges of the horizontal and vertical glass beams in order to establish load paths between beams and façade. The hereby-realized bonding design offers special features being favorable for the durability of the building. Load carrying capacities have been provided by line-type connections, substantially reducing stress concentrations. Major attention has been given to the geometric layout of the bonding. Thus, detailed finite element (FE) analysis has guided the careful selection of an adequate channel cross section for the stringers. The design philosophy of the bonding is characterized by a small exposed surface of the silicone adhesive, offering only a very small area of attack for environmental degradation. Additionally, the exposed surface is only stressed at a low level avoiding the critical combination of highly loaded areas exposed to aggressive environmental conditions. Furthermore, two principal load paths (tension and shear) are established, leading to a fail-safe design principle of the bonding. These key considerations provide major contributions to the high durability design of the glass façade bonding.
Harmonization and Optimization of Weathering Test Methods for Building and Construction Sealants and Adhesives
Authors: Searle ND
Published: August 2004

Sealants and adhesives play a vital role in building engineering and are expected to perform well for at least 20 years. However, many fail prematurely, partly because of inadequate information on their long-term resistance to the effects of solar radiation, heat/cold, moisture, atmospheric pollutants and mechanical strain. The laboratory accelerated weathering tests, a necessity for determining in a short time whether products are suitable for the intended use, often fail to identify products with poor in-use performance. The validity of the test results depends on optimization of the test parameters so that aging effects of field conditions on sealants can be closely simulated. Simulation of the spectrum of solar radiation by the artificial light source is a critical factor. Simulation of the temperature, amount and type of moisture and mechanical strain that sealants experience under use conditions is also significant.
Silyl-Terminated Polyurethanes for Construction Sealants
Authors: O'Connor AE , Kingston T
Published: August 2004

Construction sealants produced through the curing of silyl-terminated oligomers (STO) display properties similar to conventional polyurethanes, but they possess several distinct advantages. This paper provides a state-of-the-art review of silane-functional polymers for sealants in construction. Properties of silyl-terminated polyurethanes (STPU) are compared with traditional polyurethanes as well as silyl-terminated polyether (STPE) sealants. Urethane prepolymers, prepared from the reaction of a diisocyanate and a conventional polyol, are end-capped with an organo-functional silane. As a consequence, there are no free isocyanate molecules in the sealant. These sealants show improved adhesion to glass, UV stability, and weatherability. Sealants based on STPU chemistry are presently in use for industrial and transportation applications, which require medium to high modulus. Current work explores methods to reduce the modulus and increase elongation while retaining good cohesive properties. STPU sealants have been prepared with varying isocyanates, polyols, and silanes. They have been evaluated in accordance with several ASTM tests, including those in the ASTM Standard Specification for Elastomeric Joint Sealants (C920). The glass-transition temperatures and rheological characterizations of STO-based sealants are presented. Correlations are made between these fundamental material properties and the sealant's behavior in use, as measured by ASTM test methods. These measurements could provide a method for identifying candidate formulations that are expected to pass more extensive ASTM testing. These material characterizations as well as the results of mechanical property testing are compared for selected STPU, STPE, polyurethane, and silicone sealants.
Fiber-Matrix Adhesion Measured By the Micro-Indentation Test: Data Reduction Based On Real Time Simulation
Authors: Al-Ostaz A , Drzal LT , Schalek RL
Published: August 2004

In this paper, we present a real time data reduction technique for calculating the interfacial shear stress measured by the micro indentation test in real composite samples, which can significantly improve the quality of the data. The model takes into account selected local geometric distribution of the fibers, shape and size of the indenter, friction between the indenter and the fiber, and residual stresses due to thermal loading. Material properties can be nonlinear and non-isotropic. As a result, fiber selection for testing is less restrictive, residual stresses can be included in the IFSS calculation, indenter size and shape are included in the calculation, and the fiber end/free surface singularity is taken into account. In addition to the Interfacial Failure Shear Stress (IFSS) calculation, the tensile stress in the fiber is calculated, and the load-displacement curve is generated. As a result, this real-time model significantly reduces the standard deviation and covariance compared to the conventional model, thermal and mechanical contributions to the measured interfacial shear strength are decoupled, and incorporation of continuous loading testing is possible.
A Test Method to Determine the Fiber and Void Contents of Carbon/Glass Hybrid Composites
Authors: McDonough WG , Dunkers JP , Flynn KM , Hunston DL
Published: August 2004

Hybrid composites are increasingly being used in infrastructure, oil recovery, and aerospace applications. These hybrids generally combine two different types of fibers to reinforce the resin, thereby gaining some of the advantageous properties of both fibers. Typically, carbon and glass are used since this combines the high performance of the carbon with the low cost of the glass. The performance of such materials depends on a number of factors, including the mix ratio of the fibers as well as the fiber and void contents. At present, there is no simple way to determine these features. Although a number of techniques exist for measuring such parameters when only a single reinforcement is present, extension of these methods to hybrids can be difficult. The work here, however, shows that one technique, the burn off test in ASTM D 3171-99, can be extended to characterize carbon/glass hybrids. To verify this procedure, data were obtained for a series of samples with known compositions, and the agreement was excellent. The proposed method has minimal equipment requirements and provides a simple way to obtain important compositional information.
Investigation of Burning Iron in Oxygen-Enriched Atmospheres through Microanalysis Techniques
Authors: Suvorovs T , DeWit JR , Osborne BP , Steinberg TA
Published: August 2004

Promoted-ignition testing of 3.2-mm diameter iron rods was performed in high purity oxygen at 0.69 and 6.9 MPa, with the samples subjected to a comprehensive visual and compositional microanalysis. Scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis, utilizing both energy and wavelength dispersive spectroscopy, were performed to clarify the burning process and aid in the development of a qualitative model of the burning iron rod system. The detached drops and rods of both self-extinguished and quenched samples were examined revealing that a drop, on detachment, is comprised of a significant proportion of unreacted metal. A high concentration of oxygen was detected within the unburned (melted and resolidifed) metal, enhancing the combustion process within the detached slag. The analysis also revealed a detached sphere of melted and resolidified (but unreacted) iron within the attached molten oxide drop on a quenched rod.
Developmental Validation of a Single-Tube Amplification of the 13 CODIS STR Loci, D2S1338, D19S433, and Amelogenin: The AmpFℓSTR® Identifiler® PCR Amplification Kit
Authors: Collins PJ , Hennessy LK , Leibelt CS , Roby RK , Reeder DJ , Foxall PA
Published: August 2004

Analysis of length polymorphism at short tandem repeat (STR) loci utilizing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process has proven to be an ideal assay for human identification purposes. The short length of STR loci coupled with the amplification of target sequence through PCR allows for a robust, sensitive, and specific assay for highly polymorphic markers. A multiplex containing fifteen STR loci plus the gender-determining locus Amelogenin was developed to provide a single amplification/detection of all CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) STR loci (CSF1PO, D3S1358, D5S818, D7S820, D8S1179, D13S317, D16S539, D18S51, D21S11, FGA, THO1, TPOX, and vWA) as well as two internationally-accepted STRs (D2S1338 and D19S433). By incorporating five-dye fragment analysis technology and non-nucleotide linkers, previously optimized AmpFℓSTR® kit primer sequences have been maintained. This kit has been developed in accordance with the standards of the forensic community as defined by the DNA Advisory Board. Validation studies were performed to include developmental validation, and the results support the use of the AmpFℓSTR® Identifiler® PCR Amplification Kit for human identity and parentage testing.