bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The reporting quality of abstracts of randomised controlled trials submitted to the ICS meeting in Heidelberg
Authors: Herbison Peter
Published: October 2004

Aims

The quality of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) is associated with bias. Thus, reports of RCTs must have enough detail of key elements of quality to enable them to be interpreted properly. This study examines the quality of abstracts of RCTs reported at the ICS meeting in Heidelberg in 2002, using the CONSORT statement as the gold standard.

Materials and Methods

All of the abstracts accepted for the meeting at Heidelberg were read to identify reports of RCTs. Copies of these were printed and examined to see whether they complied with the 22 items in the CONSORT statement. As these were all abstracts the first CONSORT item was changed so that to comply the title had to say it was a randomised trial. Each item was scored as not met, partially met, met.

Results

Fifty‐three reports of RCTs were found. Five of these were podium presentations, 14 discussion posters, and 34 non‐discussion posters. Most reports did not comply with many of the items in the CONSORT statement, lacking particularly in technical details of the methods (only one study clearly reported hidden allocation to groups), and how the results were presented (only two studies fully reported results). Only 2/53 of the abstracts complied fully with more than 10 of the items, and 30/53 did not comply at all with 10 or more.

Conclusions

The quality of reporting of studies at ICS is so poor that it is difficult to interpret the results. Reporting was particularly poor on the details of the randomisation and the numeric results. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Significance of pad test loss for the evaluation of women with urinary incontinence
Authors: Paick Jae‐Seung , Ku Ja Hyeon , Shin Jae Wook , Park Kwanjin , Son Hwancheol , Oh Seung‐June , Kim Soo Woong
Published: October 2004

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine whether the objective incontinence severity, as measured by the pad test, correlated with urethral parameters, and if the objective incontinence severity was differentiated by the incontinence types and also, if it influenced the patient's clinical outcome.

Methods

Two hundred seventy‐four female patients who had undergone a tension‐free vaginal tape procedure between March 1999 and May 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. The 1 hr pad test was carried out as recommended by the International Continence Society, with some modification. The mean patient age was 55.1 years (range: 28–80). Two hundred‐one women (73.3%) that complained of stress urinary incontinence and another 73 women (26.7%) that had additional symptoms of urge incontinence were enrolled as study subjects. A cure for incontinence, after the tension‐free vaginal tape procedure, was defined as the absence of a subjective complaint of leakage and the absence of objective leakage on stress testing, and all other cases were considered failures.

Results

In linear regression analysis, the Valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP) was the only explanatory variable influencing the objective incontinence severity. The urine leakage was significant higher in the mixed urinary incontinence group than in the stress urinary incontinence group (39.7 ± 7.5 g vs. 30.3 ± 2.8 g, P < 0.05). For the total patients, the failure group had a more severe preoperative objective severity than the cure group (53.2 ± 16.6 vs. 32.0 ± 3.0, P < 0.05). Upon a subgroup analysis, a similar result was found in the stress urinary incontinence group (87.1 ± 8.2 vs. 29.8 ± 2.8, P < 0.05) but not in the mixed urinary incontinence group.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the amount of urine leakage as measured during the pad test may be associated with the clinical outcome, after the anti‐incontinence surgery. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Two‐grid methods for banded linear systems from DCT III algebra
Authors: Chan R. H. , Serra‐Capizzano S. , Tablino‐Possio C.
Published: October 2004

We describe a two‐grid and a multigrid method for linear systems whose coefficient matrices are point or block matrices from the cosine algebra generated by a polynomial. We show that the convergence rate of the two‐grid method is constant independent of the size of the given matrix. Numerical examples from differential and integral equations are given to illustrate the convergence of both the two‐grid and the multigrid method. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fast summation based on fast trigonometric transforms at non‐equispaced nodes
Authors: Fenn Markus , Potts Daniel
Published: October 2004

We develop a new algorithm for the fast computation of matrix–vector products with special matrices. More precisely we develop a method for the fast computation of sums f(yj):= ∑ αk K(yj−xk) at non‐equispaced nodes xk and yj (j=1,…,M) which requires only 𝒪(N log N + (M + N)) arithmetic operations. Our algorithm is based on a novel approach to fast discrete trigonometric transforms at non‐equispaced nodes. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Conservative perturbations of positive definite Hamiltonian matrices
Authors: Amodio P. , Iavernaro F. , Trigiante D.
Published: October 2004

We consider Hamiltonian matrices obtained by means of symmetric and positive definite matrices and analyse some perturbations that maintain the eigenvalues on the imaginary axis of the complex plane. To obtain this result we prove for such matrices the existence of a diagonal form or, alternatively by means of symplectic transformations, the existence of thesimplestcanonical form. Applications related to a pair of problems in the context of linear algebra and differential equations are also reported. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Schur algorithm applied to the design of optical multi‐mirror structures
Authors: Bae Jinho , Chun Joohwan , Kailath Thomas
Published: October 2004

We show how to use the classical Schur algorithm to design multi‐mirror optical interferometers (or filters). Our derivation is simple and straightforward, clearly revealing its connection to the previously known orthogonal digital filter structures. We also give a complete detailed description of an FFT‐based algorithm for the reciprocal polynomial approximation of an arbitrary curve (or spectrum). The Schur algorithm can, in turn, be applied to the obtained polynomial to get the desired reflection coefficients of the mirrors. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Some linear algebra issues concerning the implementation of blended implicit methods
Authors: Brugnano Luigi , Magherini Cecilia
Published: October 2004

In this paper we discuss some linear algebra issues concerning the implementation of blended implicit methods (J. Comput. Appl. Math. 2000; 116:41–62, Appl. Numer. Math. 2002; 42:29–45, J. Comput. Appl. Math. 2004; 164–165:145–158, In Recent Trends in Numerical Analysis, Trigiante D (ed.), Nova Science Publication Inc.: New York, 2001; 81–105) for the numerical solution of ODEs. In particular, we describe the strategies, used in the numerical code BiM (J. Comput. Appl. Math. 2004; 164–165:145–158), for deciding whether re‐evaluating the Jacobian and/or the factorization involved in the non‐linear splitting for solving the discrete problem. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The eigenvalues of preconditioned matrices for linear multistep formulas in boundary value form
Authors: Bertaccini Daniele , Wen Youwei , Ng Michael K.
Published: October 2004

The application of linear multistep formulas in boundary value form for the solutions of initial and boundary value problems requires the solutions of linear systems of which the coefficient matrices are large and sparse block‐Toeplitz‐like matrices. Block‐circulant preconditioners applied to these linear systems are examined. Analytical formulas for the eigenvalues of these preconditioned matrices are derived. The eigenvalues are also predicted by an asymptotic analysis. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Molecular characterization of a novel splice site mutation within the CYBB gene leading to X‐linked chronic granulomatous disease
Authors: Barese Cecilia N. , Copelli Silvia B. , Matteo Elena De , Zandomeni Rubén , Salgueiro Fabián , Giovanni Daniela Di , Heyworth Paul , Rivas Eva María
Published: October 2004

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency that affects the oxidative mechanism of microbial killing of phagocytic cells. The defect is characterized by a lack or severely reduced superoxide anion (O2−) production by phagocytes. Seventy percent of CGD cases are X‐linked (X‐CGD) and they are caused by mutations in the gene encoding for gp91phox, one of the two subunits of the flavocytochrome b558 of the NADPH oxidase. We identified an abnormal transcript arising from a novel splice site mutation within the gene encoding gp91phox, which suggested that the mutation affected normal mRNA splicing. Thus, the effect of this mutation leads to the complete absence of the flavocytochrome b558 in neutrophil membranes, which caused the biochemical phenotype X91°‐CGD in this family. These molecular findings help to explain the early onset and severe phenotype in this X‐CGD kindred. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Epstein–Barr virus‐associated peripheral T‐cell lymphoma and hemophagocytic syndrome arising after liver transplantation: Case report and review of the literature
Authors: George Tracy I. , Jeng Michael , Berquist William , Cherry Athena M. , Link Michael P. , Arber Daniel A.
Published: October 2004

Post‐transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are a well‐recognized complication of solid organ transplantation. The vast majority of PTLD are Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐related infections that manifest as B‐cell malignancies. We report an unusual case of an EBV‐associated T‐cell lymphoma in a 10‐year‐old boy who had previously undergone liver transplantation at age 4 years. He presented with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) and active EBV infection, with positive serum titers and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for EBV in blood, colon, and antral samples. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Longitudinal patterns of new Benzodiazepine use in the elderly
Authors: Bartlett Gillian , Abrahamowicz Michal , Tamblyn Robyn , Grad Roland , Čapek Radan , Berger Roxane du
Published: October 2004

Purpose

To characterize longitudinal patterns of Benzodiazepine use in the elderly.

Methods

Prospective cohort of 78 367 community‐dwelling Quebec residents aged 66 years or more who were new Benzodiazepine users, was followed for 5 years, 1989–1994. Data acquired from four population‐based, provincial administrative databases were used to create time‐dependent measures of change in dosage, switching or adding Benzodiazepines for 11 drugs listed in the provincial formulary. Subject‐specific Spearman's rank correlation coefficients between dose and time were used to measure the tendency of increasing dose with consecutive periods of use. Multiple logistic regression and generalized estimating equations (GEE) models evaluated subject characteristics associated with increasing dose.

Results

The mean duration of uninterrupted Benzodiazepine use was 75.5 days. The mean daily dose was about half the recommended adult daily dose but 8.6% of subjects exceeded the recommended adult dose. Some of them (28.8%) switched medications at least once and 8.2% filled two or more prescriptions concurrently. For women, older age at date of first prescription was associated with increasing dose over time (odds ratio (OR) for 10 year age increase = 1.23, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Long periods of Benzodiazepine use are frequent among Quebec elderly. The evidence of increasing dose, particularly for older women, and long‐duration of use has important implications for clinicians. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Drug prescription for adult frequent attenders in Danish general practice: a population‐based study
Authors: Vedsted Peter , Sørensen Henrik Toft , Mortensen Jens Tølbøll
Published: October 2004

Purpose

To analyse the association between daytime frequent attendance in general practice and drug use, i.e. type of drug used and prevalence of polypharmacy.

Methods

A population‐based cross‐sectional study of individual face‐to‐face contacts with 179 Danish general practices (320 general practitioners, GPs) in the county of Northern Jutland, Denmark and the drug use of the 371 897 inhabitants aged 20 and over. Data on contacts and reimbursed drugs were obtained during the year of 1997 from the Health Insurance Registry. Frequent attenders (FAs) were defined as the 10% most FAs in 12 months. We measured the prevalence difference (PD) and the prevalence ratio (PR) of drug use and polypharmacy (drugs from five or more ATC groups) among FAs.

Results

FAs received prescriptions in 95% of the cases and utilised 27% of all prescribed drugs. Compared with the 50% least attending patients, the highest absolute prevalence of drug use among FAs was found for antibiotics (PD: 22.6–34.5), strong analgesics and psychotropics (PD: 16.0–38.5) and cardiovascular (PD: 4.2–46.2), musculoskeletal (PD: 16.3–29) and gastrointestinal drugs (PD: 10.8–39.9). The FAs had an increased PR for receiving a drug (1.1–1.6) and their polypharmacy PD was high (4.0–46.3). The association between frequent attendance and the prevalence of polypharmacy was strong (PR = 6.7–36.7).

Conclusions

Frequent attendance in general practice is strongly associated with drug use and polypharmacy. FAs account for a high proportion of the prescription workload, and some disease groups are very common among FAs. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of iron oxide/poly(methyl methacrylate) composite latex particles: Nucleation mechanism and morphology
Authors: Wang Ping‐Chieh , Chiu Wen‐Yen , Lee Chia‐Fen , Young Tai‐Horng
Published: October 2004

A magnetic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composite latex was prepared by soapless emulsion polymerization in the presence of ferrofluid, and the ferrofluid was prepared by means of a coprecipitation method. The effects of various polymerization parameters, such as the monomer concentration, ferrofluid content, and initiator concentration, on the conversion curve and particle size of the magnetic composite latex particles were examined in detail. The results showed that two nucleation mechanisms were involved according to the polymerization conditions. In the monomer‐rich and less ferrofluid system, self‐nucleation of PMMA was dominant over the entire course of emulsion polymerization. In the ferrofluid‐rich system, seeded emulsion polymerization was the main course to form the magnetic composite latex particles. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5695–5705, 2004
Grafting of maleic anhydride onto linear polyethylene: A Monte Carlo study
Authors: Zhu Yutian , Zhang Ronghua , Jiang Wei
Published: October 2004

Monte Carlo simulation was used to study the graft of maleic anhydride (MAH) onto linear polyethylene (PE‐g‐MAH) initiated by dicumyl peroxide (DCP). Simulation results revealed that major MAH monomers attached onto PE chains as branched graft at higher MAH content. However, at extremely low MAH content, the fraction of bridged graft was very close to that of branched graft. This conclusion was somewhat different from the conventional viewpoint, namely, the fraction of bridged graft was always much lower than that of branched graft under any condition. Moreover, the results indicated that the grafting degree increased almost linearly to MAH and DCP concentrations. On the other hand, it was found that the amount of grafted MAH dropped sharply with increasing the length of grafted MAH, indicating that MAH monomers were mainly attached onto the PE chain as single MAH groups or very short oligomers. With respect to the crosslink of PE, the results showed that the fraction of PE‐(MAH)n‐PE crosslink structure increased continuously, and hence the fraction of PE‐PE crosslink decreased with increasing MAH concentration. Finally, quantitative relationship among number average molecular weight of the PE, MAH, and DCP contents was given. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5714–5724, 2004
Associative block copolymers comprising poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) and poly(ethylene oxide) end‐functionalized with a fluorophilic or hydrophilic group. Synthesis and aqueous solution properties
Authors: Nedelcheva Ana N. , Vladimirov Nikolay G. , Novakov Christo P. , Berlinova Iliyana V.
Published: October 2004

A series of block copolymers comprising poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) end‐functionalized with a quaternary ammonium group (RQ) was synthesized by free‐radical polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide with well‐defined RQPEO macroazoinitiators. The radical termination occurred mainly by disproportionation, as confirmed by combining the data from size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and rheology measurements. The copolymers denoted RQExNy differ in type of the terminal group [FQ = C8F17(CH3)2N+ or MQ = (CH3)3N+] and in the length of the PEO (Ex; x = 4, 6, or 10 K) and PNIPAM (Ny; y = 7 or 17–19 K) blocks. The type of the terminal group determined the behavior of the block copolymers in the dilute and semidilute regime. Self‐assembled species formed by both FQ and MQ modified block copolymers were detected by static light scattering measurements at 25 °C and above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The LCST of the block copolymers depended on the type of the RQ group and the length of the blocks. FQ‐modified copolymers form elastic gels below and above the LCST. It was inferred that the FQ groups and the PNIPAM blocks form segregated microdomains that serve as junctions to maintain a viscoelastic network. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5736–5744, 2004
Moisture‐induced effects on stacking strength of moulded‐fibre packaging in varying environmental conditions
Authors: Sørensen Gitte , Hoffmann John
Published: October 2004

Stacking strength of moulded‐fibre trays was investigated as both compressional creep and static compression strength at constant and varying humidity conditions. The compressional creep behaviour resembled that of other paper and board containers and was accelerated at humidity cycling between 33% and 94% relative humidity (r.h.) for 18 days compared to constant humidity conditions 91% and 94% r.h. Although the moulded‐fibre trays did not experience failure, secondary creep rate was accelerated by a factor of 10–20 and total creep strain by a factor of 1.3–1.6. Compressional creep was thus affected by mechanosorption, whereas static compression was found not to respond to cycling of environmental humidity. Static compression strength was merely determined by the moisture content of the moulded‐fibre material.

The effect of varying temperature on tray moisture content was examined by transfer of the moulded‐fibre tray from preconditioning at cold storage (5°C, 59% r.h.) to ambient conditions (25°C, 54%). When a food simulant [agar gel, water activity (aw) ∼1] was sealed inside the moulded‐fibre tray, moisture condensed on the tray outer surface (moisture gain 1.4 g/100 g dry fibre) within 40 min of transfer, contrary to when empty moulded‐fibre trays were exposed to same conditions. Condensation could thus potentially induce a large initial creep deformation of the moulded‐fibre tray. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surface evaluation of whey protein films by atomic force microscopy and water vapour permeability analysis
Authors: de Paula Herrmann Paulo Sérgio , Yoshida Cristiana M. Pedroso , Antunes Aloísio José , Marcondes Jorge A.
Published: October 2004

The atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique is a powerful tool for studying surfaces and has been used to provide qualitative and quantitative information about nanometer‐scale matter properties that are often inaccessible by any other experimental technique. In this work AFM was used to evaluate the surfaces of edible films produced with whey protein concentrate (WPC). The morphology and the roughness of the films were analysed. The effects of WPC and plasticizer concentration were characterized in terms of water vapour permeability (WVP) and roughness parameters. Roughness was calculated through the images captured with AFM. AFM can be useful to identify structural changes of the film resulting from sample preparation. The results showed a relation between water vapour permeability and area roughness, through different sample preparation. The analyses of topography through roughness obtained with AFM, demonstrated the correlation between the morphology of the film, obtained with nanometer resolution and WVP. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Variational energy functionals of the Green function tested on molecules
Authors: Dahlen Nils Erik , Van Leeuwen Robert , Von Barth Ulf
Published: October 2004

It was recently proposed to use variational functionals based on many‐body perturbation theory for the calculation of the total energies of many‐electron systems. The accuracy of such functionals depends on the degree of sophistication of the underlying perturbation expansions. The energy functionals are variational in the sense that they can be evaluated at rather crude approximations to their independent variables, which are the one‐electron Green function, or the one‐electron Green function and the dynamically screened electron interaction. The functionals were previously applied to the electron gas and shown to be extraordinarily accurate already at the level of the so‐called GW approximation (GWA). In the current work we have tested the functional due to Luttinger and Ward, which is a functional of the Green function. Using density functional theory (DFT) and Hartree–Fock Green functions as input variables, we have calculated total energies of diatomic molecules at the level of the GWA as well as with second‐order exchange effects included. We will also discuss various other variational energy functionals, including DFT orbital functionals based on many‐body perturbation theory. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005
Development, validation and transfer of a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric method for the analysis of the tobacco‐specific nitrosamine metabolite NNAL in human plasma at low picogram per milliliter concentrations
Authors: Pan Jiongwei , Song Qi , Shi Haihong , King Melissa , Junga Heiko , Zhou Shaolian , Naidong Weng
Published: October 2004

A highly sensitive bioanalytical method based on a simple liquid/liquid extraction and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC/MS/MS) analysis has been developed, validated and transferred for the determination of 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanol (NNAL), a tobacco‐specific nitrosamine metabolite. Deuterated NNAL (NNAL‐d4) was synthesized and used as the internal standard. This method can be used for the analysis of free and total NNAL (free NNAL plus NNAL‐gluc) in K3‐EDTA human plasma. Free NNAL and NNAL‐d4 are extracted from human plasma by liquid/liquid extraction. To analyze for total NNAL and the internal standard, a separate aliquot of the K3‐EDTA human plasma is treated with β‐glucuronidase to deconjugate the NNAL‐gluc; the total NNAL and internal standard are then extracted using liquid/liquid extraction. After drying down under nitrogen, the residue is reconstituted with acetonitrile and analyzed using positive ion electrospray and HILIC/MS/MS at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The chromatographic run time is 1.0 min per injection, with retention time for both NNAL and NNAL‐d4 of 0.75 min with a capacity factor (k') of 2. The standard curve range for this assay is from 5.00–1000 pg/mL for both free and total NNAL, using a total plasma sample volume of 1.0 mL. The interday precision and accuracy of the quality control (QC) samples demonstrated <7.6% relative standard deviation (RSD) and <3.3% relative error (RE) for free NNAL. For total NNAL, the interday precision and accuracy of the QC samples demonstrated <11.7% RSD and <2.8% RE. Optimization of enzyme hydrolysis of NNAL‐gluc is discussed in detail. The overall recoveries for free and total NNAL and IS were 68.2 and 71.5% (free) and 70.7 and 65.5% (total). No adverse matrix effects were noticed for this assay. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The use of liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry for quantitative analysis of oxycodone, oxymorphone and noroxycodone in Ringer solution, rat plasma and rat brain tissue
Authors: Boström Emma , Jansson Britt , Hammarlund‐Udenaes Margareta , Simonsson Ulrika S. H.
Published: October 2004

Sensitive and reproducible methods for the determination of oxycodone, oxymorphone and noroxycodone in Ringer solution, rat plasma and rat brain tissue by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry are described. Deuterated analogs of the substances were used as internal standards. Samples in Ringer solution were analyzed by direct injection of 10 μL Ringer solution diluted by an equal volume of water. The limit of quantification was 0.5 ng/mL and the method was linear in the range of 0.5–150 ng/mL for all substances. To analyze oxycodone and oxymorphone in rat plasma, 50 μL of plasma were precipitated with acetonitrile, and the supernatant was directly injected onto the column. To analyze oxycodone, oxymorphone and noroxycodone in rat plasma, 100 μL of rat plasma were subjected to a C18 solid‐phase extraction (SPE) procedure, before reconstituting in mobile phase and injection onto the column. For both methods the limit of quantification in rat plasma was 0.5 ng/mL and the methods were linear in the range of 0.5–250 ng/mL for all substances. To analyze the content of oxycodone, oxymorphone and noroxycodone in rat brain tissue, 100 μL of the brain homogenate supernatant were subjected to a C18 SPE procedure. The limit of quantification of oxycodone was 20 ng/g brain, and for oxymorphone and noroxycodone 4 ng/g brain, and the method was linear in the range of 20–1000 ng/g brain for oxycodone and 4–1000 ng/g brain for oxymorphone and noroxycodone. All methods utilized a mobile phase of 5 mM ammonium acetate in 45% acetonitrile, and a SB‐CN column was used for separation. The total run time of all methods was 9 min. The intra‐day precision and accuracy were <11.3% and <±14.9%, respectively, and the inter‐day precision and accuracy were <14.9% and <±6.5%, respectively, for all the concentrations and matrices described. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mass spectrometric studies on the intrinsic stability of destruxin E from Metarhizium anisopliae
Authors: Dudley Ed , Wang Chengshu , Skrobek Anke , Newton Russell P. , Butt Tariq M.
Published: October 2004

Destruxins are of current interest as bioactive agents. They are cyclic hexadepsipeptides produced by fungi, the most common destruxins, A, B and E, differing in the structure of a side chain. Before they can be widely used, the potential risk of destruxins and their metabolites entering the human food chain must to be assessed; thus, knowledge of the structures of their degradation products is essential. Here we report a study aimed at identifying, by tandem mass spectrometry and accurate mass analysis, the products resulting from thermally and temporally induced degradation of destruxin E. The degradation products fell into two groups: those with relatively simple modifications of the side chain and those involving much more complex rearrangements. The structures of most of the degradation products were deduced from the MS data, with the major product being destruxin E diol: significantly, this compound had previously been reported to have only been produced as a metabolic product of enzyme action rather than as a simple degradation product as demonstrated here. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A streamlined approach to the analysis of volatile fatty acids and its application to the measurement of whole‐body flux
Authors: Morrison Douglas J. , Cooper Karen , Waldron Susan , Slater Christine , Weaver Lawrence T. , Preston Tom
Published: October 2004

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) are produced in the human colon by the bacterial breakdown of carbohydrates that escape digestion and absorption in the small intestine. They have important local and systemic effects on gastrointestinal and nutritional functions. Measuring their production is difficult because of inaccessibility of sampling sites and low circulating concentrations. Stable isotope tracer techniques are a way to measure VFA production but require measurement of isotope dilution in blood and other biological fluids. We have developed a streamlined and robust method to measure the concentration and enrichment of [2H]‐labelled VFAs by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and [13C]‐labelled VFAs by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS). Both types of analysis were carried out on the same samples allowing multiple tracer studies to be conducted. Good accuracy and repeatability were found for GC/MS analysis of [2H]‐labelled VFAs. Careful handling of the background contribution, especially acetate, allowed quantitation of concentration and enrichment within the analysis. GC/C/IRMS analysis of [13C] VFAs was also achieved with good accuracy and repeatability. This methodology was used to determine whole‐body acetate production in two subjects using multiple tracers ([2H3]‐ and [1‐13C]acetate) and blood and urine sampling. Whole‐body acetate flux was similar when measured either with [2H3]‐ or [1‐13C]acetate, and when flux was determined from plasma or urine tracer enrichment. This new method will permit rapid and accurate measurement of VFA flux using [2H]‐ and/or [13C]‐labelled VFAs as tracers. Measurements of the contribution of colonic VFA production to whole‐body VFA flux are now possible. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A microscopic visual feedback system
Authors: Oku Hiromasa , Ishii Idaku , Ishikawa Masatoshi
Published: October 2004

Over the past few years, there have been advances in research into high‐speed vision systems, which can acquire and process video faster than current vision systems that use video signals, with many areas of applied research emerging. In this paper we will explore high‐speed vision systems for controlling and manipulating microscopic objects, such as cells or semiconductors, and propose the “microscopic visual feedback” (MVF) a method for controlling microscopic objects using high‐speed visual feedback based on high‐speed vision systems. We then consider the components that will be needed in an MVF system, examine the specifications that will be needed for each component, and construct an actual MVF system based on these specifications. Finally, we conduct control‐performance testing to ascertain the MVF system's actual ability to control moving microscopic subjects, and by tracking a paramecium in applied testing, demonstrate that this is a viable system for acquiring motion tracks. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 35(13): 71–79, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10056
A neural network approach to interference mechanism for logic programming language
Authors: Takeda Yuji , Kawahara Hideya , Kikuchi Yukihiro , Murakoshi Hideki , Funakubo Noboru
Published: October 2004

It is known that the Hopfield‐type neural network can solve the combinatorial optimization problem with a high speed. In order to realize that advantage, however, the energy function must be constructed for each problem, and there is no general framework to be applied to various problems. This paper notes that the logic programming language Prolog can be represented as the logical operation of facts and the rules, and proposes an algorithm, which converts the logical operation network to the Hopfield‐type neural network. Using this conversion algorithm, the power of the Hopfield‐type network as an optimization machine can be utilized in the logic inference described by Prolog. Then, it is expected that the range of its application will be enlarged greatly. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 35(13): 63–70, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10102
Measurement of heavy traffic in a tunnel from image sequences
Authors: Kuboyama Hideo , Ozawa Shinji
Published: October 2004

The measurement of traffic plays a major role in Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in providing beneficial information to the control center or drivers. In this paper, the authors propose a technique for counting the number of vehicles by detecting vehicles from images taken by cameras installed in tunnels. Since the camera height within a tunnel is low, the vehicles overlap when traffic is congested and it is difficult to separate them. As a result, the authors herein propose a powerful measurement technique for congested traffic based on vehicle edge information by using a horizontal edge and the left side of a vehicle to create a vehicle model and performing a cumulative evaluation according to settled frame tracking of this model. In addition, they applied the proposed algorithm to actual in‐tunnel images and showed the results of a vehicle counting experiment. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 35(13): 52–62, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ scj.10287
A multilayered feed‐forward network based on qubit neuron model
Authors: Kouda Noriaki , Matsui Nobuyuki , Nishimura Haruhiko
Published: October 2004

With the development of our highly information‐oriented society, there is an increasing demand for large‐scale and high‐level information processing. Toward this goal, studies have sought to create a new computation principle having an information processing ability exceeding the existing Neumann‐type computer, such as the creation of a new computation theory or the integration of the frameworks of existing computation theories. As one such approach, quantum neural computing is considered to be interesting, which integrates neural computing and quantum computation. This paper constructs the feed‐forward neural network, which is widely used in practice, based on the qubit neuron model. The 4‐bit parity‐check problem and the general function identification problem are considered. The performance is compared to the feed‐forward network based on the conventional neuron model, and it is shown that the proposed model has a higher performance than the conventional model, using the learning diagram composed of convergence rate and the number of learning iterations. The reason for the better performance is also discussed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 35(13): 43–51, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10342
Virtual surgery using a deformable organ model created by the sphere‐filled method
Authors: Suzuki Shigeyuki , Suzuki Naoki , Hattori Asaki , Uchiyama Akihiko
Published: October 2004

We are developing a virtual surgery system to conduct realistic surgical procedures in a virtual world; its purpose is to master and practice surgical techniques and to improve planning for operations. In this study, we present a deformable organ model created using the sphere‐filled method. Further, we equipped this model with senses of touch and force by connecting it to a force feedback device. The result was that the sphere‐filled model allowed our system to perform various physical manipulations, including blood vessel deformation. In addition, by applying tactile sensations in virtual space our system provided the user‐surgeon with a realistic simulation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 35(13): 1–9, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10689
Green space sustainability in Thailand
Authors: Ryan Patricia , Wayuparb Natarika
Published: October 2004

A ‘green space’ perspective cuts across – yet respects – ecological, economic, social, political, cultural and spatial considerations that should underpin healthy, diverse, local ecosystems in developing nations. Its application to Thai conditions helps expose the institutional linkages needed for sustainable systems of organized growth and shared understandings. Despite significant institutional hurdles, Thailand has strengthened its capacity for green space sustainability. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Enhancing the sustainability of airport developments
Authors: Kaszewski Andrea L. , Sheate William R.
Published: October 2004

In December 2003, the UK Government published a long‐awaited new air transport White Paper, looking 30 years ahead. New airport developments are invariably controversial for both local and global sustainability reasons. Notwithstanding the effects of implementing this new policy, this paper examines how the sustainability of new airport development can be improved.

The study examines the feasibility of four scenarios encouraging more sustainable airport development, focusing on airport terminal building design and surface access transport. The scenarios were (1) a ‘business as usual’ (BAU) plan for an airport's surface access transport and terminal building design, (2) a green transport plan (GTP), (3) a green architecture plan (GAP) and (4) a best practice approach combining (2) and (3), using a range of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

Stakeholders' responses to the scenarios were explored, with unanimous support for the best practice scenario (4). As the scenarios become more energy efficient and incorporate more renewable energy technologies, stakeholders consider the approaches to be more sustainable, cost effective and feasible. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Nanobiotechnologie: Innovationen für Medizin und Technik. Nanobiotechnology: Innovations for medicine and technics
Authors: Wechsler D.
Published: October 2004

Die Bio‐ und Nanotechnologie sind zwei wichtige Forschungsgebiete, die eine Vielzahl neuer technologischer Möglichkeiten für unsere Zukunft erwarten lassen. An der Schnittstelle zwischen diesen Disziplinen entsteht ein besonders hohes Innovationspotential, das erst seit einigen Jahren gezielt erschlossen wird. Dieser Artikel beleuchtet aktuelle Forschungsergebnisse und ‐aktivitäten im Bereich der Nanobiotechnologie und zeigt die damit verbundenen Anwendungsperspektiven auf.
Vakuumbeschichtungstechnik optischer Datenspeicher. Vacuum Coating Technology of Optical Discs
Authors: Cord Bernhard , Mücke Michael , Sichmann Eggo
Published: October 2004

Die Herstellung optischer Datenträger in Form der CD und DVD ist zu einem bedeutenden Industriezweig geworden. Es wird ein Rückblick auf die Entwicklung der Beschichtungs‐ und Anlagentechnik während der letzten 20 Jahre gegeben. Schlüsselfunktionen für eine effiziente Produktion sind Zuverlässigkeit und kurze Taktzeiten. Speziell die Vakuumbeschichtungstechnik leistet ihren Beitrag für einen auf das Produkt optimierten Prozess. Zukünftige Formate verwenden einen blauen Laser für das Schreiben und Lesen. Mehrlagensysteme dienen dazu, die Speicherkapazität weiter zu erhöhen.
Use of data storage tags to quantify vertical movements of cod: effects on acoustic measures
Authors: Heffernan O. , Righton D. , Michalsen K.
Published: October 2004

Depth data from archival tagging studies of cod (Gadus morhua) were used in three different analyses with the aim of testing basic assumptions of cod behaviour. Examination of post-release depth profiles from cod tagged in the Barents, North, and Irish Seas revealed that some cod underwent a post-release period of adaptation to increasing depth as they readjusted their buoyancy to its pre-tagging level. This depth adaptation behaviour was characterized by gradually increasing mean depth, and enabled the calculation of neutral-buoyancy compliant descent rates, which were less than 1 m h−1. Estimated rates of vertical movement were shown to be highly dependent upon the frequency at which depth was sampled. Maximum estimated rates of ascent and descent from sampling intervals of 10 or 15 min were inconsistent with the maintenance of neutral buoyancy, but estimates from sampling intervals greater than 1 h were not. Calculation of tilt angles using depth data sampled at 10-s intervals showed that cod were often tilted more than 5° relative to the horizontal, and that this effect was more pronounced at night. These findings suggest that basic assumptions regarding cod physiology and behaviour require revision if the accuracy and precision of acoustic methods are to be improved.
The biology of the greater weever (Trachinus draco) in the commercial fishery of the Kattegat
Authors: Bagge Ole
Published: October 2004

The scarce published literature on greater weever in western and northwestern European waters is reviewed and synthesized, along with a summary of a Danish investigation in the Kattegat for the years 1961–1973. Distribution, growth, mortality, migration, fecundity, abundance, and stock abundance in relation to the directed local commercial fishery are described. The greater weever has not been and still is not in any way protected by legislation or management, although it moves little, grows slowly, has high catchability, and has been exposed to high total mortality. Since the mid-1980s, directed fishing effort has declined, likely as a consequence of the decreasing catches, and because the effort applied through poundnets, which earlier produced about 40% of the total yield, has for other reasons almost halted. Total landings concomitantly decreased, and the current yield is now only by-catch from trawlers and from two or three 40-ft vessels occasionally directly targeting the species.
Net plankton community production in the Arabian Sea based on O2 mass balance model
Authors: Sarma V. V. S. S.
Published: October 2004

Monthly net community production (NCP) rates were computed using oxygen mass balance model for the euphotic zone in the eastern (EAS) and western Arabian Sea (WAS). NCP showed large seasonal and spatial variability in the Arabian Sea, and it is consistent with gross productivity. Net autotrophic conditions were found during high productive seasons, while net heterotrophic conditions were prevalent during non‐monsoon seasons in both EAS and WAS. Though gross productivity is higher during SW monsoon (June to September), NCP decreased from June to September due to increase in grazing pressure. This suggests that production to respiration ratio controls NCP in the Arabian Sea. NCP is found to be higher in the WAS compared to the EAS and it is consistent with gross productivity. Incubation experiments suggested that phytoplankton growth was higher than zooplankton grazing in the WAS due to high concentrations of nutrients and it is opposite in the EAS, suggesting that a different ecosystem exists in the east and west probably due to existence of different physical forcing. In general, picoplanktons are more dominant in the EAS, whereas diatoms are major contributors to primary production in the WAS due to low nitrate concentration in the former region. As a result, most of the produced carbon is recycled in the euphotic zone in the EAS, whereas it is exported to the deeper layers in the WAS. These results are consistent with the sinking fluxes of carbon at 100 m depth in both the regions. On an annual scale, WAS is net autotrophic, whereas EAS is net heterotrophic. NCP amounts to approximately one fourth of the gross primary production, and it is consistent with the new production estimated using f‐ratios in the Arabian Sea.
Significance of dextral reactivation of an E‐W transfer fault in the formation of the Pennsylvania orocline, central Appalachians
Authors: Yeh M.‐W. , Bell T. H.
Published: October 2004

Three hypotheses for orocline development including (1) primary plate boundary shape, (2) arc rotation, and (3) arc overprinting were evaluated for the formation of the Pennsylvania orocline, Maryland, USA, using foliation intersection/inflection axes preserved within porphyroblasts (FIA). The distribution and the timing of sequences of FIA data measured from garnet porphyroblasts within the Loch Raven formation are statistically the same across the Pennsylvania orocline, suggesting that all subregions of the arc have experienced the same deformation history. This may suggest that the geometry of the paleocontinental margin controlled the basic shape of this orocline. However, if the orocline is treated as three separate regions, defined by the SW‐WE‐NE trending portions of its slightly staircase‐shaped outline, a much higher proportion of the NNE‐SSW trending FIAs (set II) are preserved in the W‐E trending region than those to either side. This geometric relationship could have resulted from WNW‐ESE directed bulk stress causing a zone of dextral shear along what is now the W‐E trending portion of this orogen. It appears that what could have been an early formed W‐E trending sinistral transform shear zone was preferentially dextrally reactivated during the Taconian orogeny.
Nitrous oxide in the surface layer of the tropical North Atlantic Ocean along a west to east transect
Authors: Walter Sylvia , Bange Hermann W. , Wallace Douglas W. R.
Published: October 2004

Nitrous oxide (N2O) was measured during the first German SOLAS (Surface Ocean – Lower Atmosphere Study) cruise in the tropical North Atlantic Ocean on board R/V Meteor during October/November 2002. About 900 atmospheric and dissolved N2O measurements were performed with a semi‐continuous GC‐ECD system equipped with a seawater‐gas equilibrator. Surface waters along the main transect at 10°N showed no distinct longitudinal gradient. Instead, N2O saturations were highly variable ranging from 97% to 118% (in the Guinea Dome Area, 11°N, 24°W). When approaching the continental shelf of West Africa, N2O surface saturations went up to 113%. N2O saturations in the region of the equatorial upwelling (at 0–1.5°N, 23.5–26°W) were correlated with decreasing sea surface temperatures and showed saturations up to 109%. The overall mean N2O saturation was 104 ± 4% indicating that the tropical North Atlantic Ocean is a net source of atmospheric N2O.
Seesaw structure of subsurface temperature anomalies between the Barents Sea and the Labrador Sea
Authors: Wang Jia , Wu Bingyi , Tang Charles C. L. , Walsh John E. , Ikeda Moto
Published: October 2004

Using a coupled ocean‐sea ice model of the pan‐Arctic and North Atlantic Ocean, we investigate the response of the Arctic and subarctic thermohaline structure to seasonal extreme atmospheric forcing associated with the winter Arctic Oscillation (AO). During the positive phase of AO, significant surface cooling occurs in the Labrador Sea, but there is no substantial surface warming in the Barents Sea, i.e., no seesaw pattern in sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly between the Barents Sea and Labrador Sea. A possible explanation is that Arctic sea ice export into the Barents Sea melts locally and lowers the SST. However, a seesaw structure in subsurface (below the mixed layer: 40–100 m) water temperature anomaly between the two regions is found, exceeding the 95% significance level. Corresponding to the positive phase of the winter AO, a significant warming of the subsurface water in the Barents Sea and a concurrent cooling in the northwestern Labrador Sea are seen in the model results, which is analogous to the seesaw structure in both surface air temperature (SAT) and sea ice extent anomalies. The mechanism leading to the anomalous subsurface temperature seesaw is consistent with the northward advection of the warm Atlantic Water into the Barents Sea and the southward advection of the cold Arctic and sub‐arctic water into the Labrador Sea from the David Strait and Baffin Bay. Hydrographic data are analyzed and the resulting temperature distribution supports this new finding.