bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hypokalemic periodic paralysis associated with malignant hyperthermia
Authors: Rajabally Yusuf A. , El Lahawi Mohammed
Published: October 2004

Hypokalemic periodic paralysis is in most cases related to mutations within the dihydropyridine receptor gene. Susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia has been linked to a different part of the same gene, but is more frequently caused by mutations within the ryanodine receptor gene. We report the association of the two disorders in a patient for whom the most frequent mutations for hypokalemic periodic paralysis were not found. This suggests further genetic heterogeneity of this condition, the interest of this case residing in the known coupling between dihydropyridine and ryanodine receptors. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 25: 000–000, 2002
Effects of temperature on neuromuscular electrophysiology
Authors: Rutkove Seward B.
Published: October 2004

Like nearly all biologic structures, the peripheral nervous system is remarkably temperature sensitive. Clinical neurophysiologists are most aware of the untoward effects of cooling on nerve conduction studies, including reduced conduction velocity, prolonged distal latency, and increased response amplitude and duration. However, familiarity with the effects of temperature variation on the peripheral nervous system can also provide a deeper understanding of the physiological mechanisms underlying the function of nerve, muscle, and neuromuscular junction in health and disease. Intentional temperature alteration can also improve the diagnostic accuracy of certain electrophysiologic tests, such as the use of heat when performing repetitive nerve stimulation in myasthenia gravis or the use of cold during needle electromyography in some of the myotonic disorders. Finally, extremes of temperature have long been known to produce permanent neuronal dysfunction; recent investigations are beginning to elucidate the mechanisms of such injury. © 2001 American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine Muscle Nerve 24: 867–882, 2001
Stimulated single fiber electromyography in the mouse: Techniques and normative data
Authors: Gooch Clifton L. , Mosier Dennis R.
Published: October 2004

As the number of new transgenic mouse models of human neuromuscular disease continues to increase, the development of sophisticated electrophysiologic techniques for assessing the peripheral nervous system in these models has become important. Neuromuscular junction (NMJ) dysfunction, in particular, is often not detectable by morphologic or other techniques. To enable sensitive testing of murine NMJ function, we developed and tested a method for stimulated single fiber electromyography (S‐SFEMG) in the gastrocnemius muscles of anesthetized mice. Jitter was assessed by measuring the mean consecutive latency difference (MCD) of single fiber responses to sciatic nerve stimulation at 2 HZ. Mean MCD values in normothermic mice were in the range of 6–8 μs for different strains, with no MCD values exceeding 25 μs. Reduced core temperature (to 29°–30°C) resulted in increased jitter, whereas intubation and mechanical ventilation of mice did not alter these values. Intraperitoneal and intravenous injection of vecuronium, however, resulted in progressively increased jitter followed by blocking in continuously monitored fibers. These observations validate the utility of S‐SFEMG in mice as an index of NMJ function under a variety of physiologic conditions, and suggest that a high safety factor for neuromuscular transmission exists at mouse NMJs. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 941–945, 2001
Transcarpal motor conduction velocity in carpal tunnel syndrome
Authors: Walters R. Jon L. , Murray Nicholas M.F.
Published: October 2004

Transcarpal motor conduction to abductor pollicis brevis (APB) was evaluated in 43 patients (70 hands) with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Transcarpal motor conduction was abnormal in 80% of hands compared with 11.5% with prolongated distal motor latency from wrist stimulation. Transcarpal motor conduction was comparable in sensitivity with transcarpal sensory conduction and 2nd lumbrical–interosseous latency difference. Transcarpal motor conduction is a sensitive test for diagnosis of CTS. Sensory fibers were no more susceptible than motor fibers to compression in the carpal tunnel, and fibers to APB were as susceptible as those to the 2nd lumbrical muscle. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 966–968, 2001
Partitioning of biweighted trees
Authors: Agnetis Alessandro , Mirchandani Pitu B. , Pacifici Andrea
Published: October 2004

A districting problem is formulated as a network partitioning model where each link has one weight to denote travel time and another weight to denote workload. The objective of the problem is to minimize the maximum diameter of the districts while equalizing the workload among the districts. The case of tree networks is addressed and efficient algorithms are developed when the network is to be partitioned into two or three districts. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 49: 143–158, 2002; DOI 10.1002/nav.10003
Minimum‐weight rooted not‐necessarily‐spanning arborescence problem
Authors: Rao V. Venkata , Sridharan R.
Published: October 2004

In this paper, we propose the problem of identifying a minimum‐weight rooted not‐necessarily‐spanning arborescence (MRA) in a directed rooted acyclic graph with weights on arcs. We show this problem to be NP‐hard and formulate it as a zero—one integer program. We develop a heuristic H to construct a rooted arborescence (RA) in a given graph G, giving an upper bound. We also formulate a Lagrangian problem, LMRA, by relaxing one set of constraints of the zero—one integer program. For a given set of Lagrange multipliers, LMRA can be easily solved to obtain a lower bound. Then, we propose a Lagrangian heuristic, L, that generates both a lower bound and an upper bound in each iteration. The above heuristics were tested with 50 test problems. We also compared the performance of L with a general‐purpose optimization package, CPLEX, using 12 test problems. The results show that L was able to identify an optimal solution in almost all cases. CPLEX found an optimal solution in all cases, but was not able to verify optimality in some instances. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Deterministic radio broadcasting at low cost
Authors: Dessmark Anders , Pelc Andrzej
Published: October 2004

We consider distributed deterministic broadcasting in synchronous radio networks. A node receives a message in a given round if and only if exactly one of its neighbors transmits. The source message has to reach all nodes. We assume that nodes do not know the network topology or even their immediate neighborhood. (Such networks are calledad hoc.) We are concerned with two efficiency measures of broadcasting algorithms: their executiontime(number of rounds) and theircost(number of transmissions). We focus our study on the execution time of algorithms which have cost close to minimum. We consider two scenarios depending on whether nodes know or do not know global parameters of the network: the numbernof nodes and the eccentricityDof the source. Our main contribution is proving tight lower bounds on the time of low‐cost broadcasting which show sharp differences between these scenarios. In each case, we also give broadcasting algorithms whose performance matches these lower bounds. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rare and spatially segregated release sites mediate a synaptic interaction between two identified network neurons
Authors: Cabirol‐Pol Marie‐Jeanne , Combes Denis , Fénelon Valérie S , Simmers John , Meyrand Pierre
Published: October 2004

Laser‐scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), electron microcopy (EM), and cellular electrophysiology were used in combination to study the structural basis of an inhibitory synapse between two identified neurons of the same network. To achieve this, we examined the chemical inhibitory synapse between identified neurons belonging to the lobster (Homarus gammarus) pyloric network: the pyloric dilator (PD) and the lateral pyloric (LP) neurons. In order to visualize simultaneously these two neurons, we used intrasomatic injection of Lucifer Yellow (LY) in one and rhodamine/horseradish peroxydase (HRP) in the other. Under LSCM, we found only two zones of close apposition in a restricted part of the neuritic tree of the two network neurons. Then, within these two zones, the synaptic release sites were searched using EM. To this end, photoconversion of LY with immunogold and development of HRP with DAB were performed on the previously observed preparations. Structural evidence was found for only one release site per zone. To confirm this result, and because the zones of contact were always segregated in a restricted part of the dendrites, we used laser photoablation to selectively delete, either pre‐ or postsynaptically, the branches on which the release sites were located. In both cases, such restrictive ablation completely abolished the functional interaction between these neurons. Our results therefore demonstrate that an inhibitory synapse that is essential for the operation of a neural network relies on only very few sites of contact localized in a highly restricted part of each neuron's dendritic arbor. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 50: 150–163, 2002; DOI 10.1002/neu.10023
Pain intensity and bioavailability of intramuscular asparaginase and a local anesthetic: A double‐blinded study
Authors: Albertsen Birgitte Klug , Hasle Henrik , Clausen Niels , Schrøder Henrik , Jakobsen Preben
Published: October 2004

Background

To evaluate if dissolution of asparaginase in lidocaine can relieve pain of an intramuscular injection in children without changes in bioavailability.

Procedure

The study was designed as a double‐blinded study, randomizing 12 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to four different combinations of injections, including two injections where asparaginase was dissolved in a lidocaine solution and two in sterile water. Seventeen treatment courses of asparaginase, each consisting of four injections, were evaluated.

Pain intensity (Pain Visual Analog Scale, VAS‐score) and pharmacokinetics of the drug was evaluated.

Results

The pain scores showed a significant difference between the two solutions of asparaginase (±lidocaine) (P value < 0.0001). Lidocaine did not influence the pharmacokinetics of the drug.

Conclusions

Asparaginase with addition of lidocaine significantly decreases the pain as measured by the visual analog scale without changing the bioavailability or the absorption rate of the enzyme. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High‐dose ifosfamide in relapsed pediatric osteosarcoma: Therapeutic effects and renal toxicity
Authors: Berrak Su Gülsün , Pearson Margaret , Berberoğlu Semha , İlhan İnci Ergürhan , Jaffe Norman
Published: October 2004

Background

Sixteen pediatric osteosarcoma patients, previously treated with conventional chemotherapy (including ifosfamide (IFX), 9 g/m2) were retreated with high‐dose ifosfamide (HD‐IFX, 14 g/m2 per course), following relapse or development of a new bone tumor. The objective was to obtain responses and an improved event‐free survival (EFS).

Procedure

HD‐IFX was administered as described by Patel SR: J Clin Oncol 1997;15:2378. Efficacy of treatment was assessed initially after two to four courses. The interval between the courses was 3 to 4 weeks. Provided a response was obtained after two to four courses, treatment was continued for an additional eight courses unless progressive disease or an untoward event, for example, renal failure occurred. Tumor sites were: lung, (10) bone (9), and bone and soft‐tissue (1).

Results

Response after two to four courses was 62.5%: CR 6 and PR 4. A total of 84 courses were administered to the 16 patients: (range 2–10, median 5.5 per patient). Median interval between courses was 28.5 days (range 15–90). Five patients were disease free at 15+ to 63+ months after induction and maintenance therapy. Fever and neutropenia occurred in 12 courses. Nephrotoxicity was a major toxic event and was characterized by creatinine levels at or above three times the upper limit of normal. It was unpredictable and occurred in four patients: two were reversible. The other two patients developed full‐blown renal failure; one was treated with renal dialysis, but both eventually succumbed to osteosarcoma. Our past experience also indicated that two patients treated with IFX (9 g/m2/course) developed renal failure: one recovered and the other required a renal transplant.

Conclusions

HD‐IFX is effective in patients who have failed conventional chemotherapy including IFX (9 g/m2). Improved disease‐free survival was achieved in 30% of patients. However, renal failure constitutes an important life‐threatening complication and its development is unpredictable. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Parental perceptions of adverse educational outcomes among children diagnosed and treated for ADHD: A call for improved school/provider collaboration
Authors: LeFever Gretchen B. , Villers Margaret S. , Morrow Ardythe L. , Vaughn, E. Sidney
Published: October 2004

An Erratum has been published for this article in Psychology in the Schools 42(2) 2005, 227 [].

This research utilized parent report to examine the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), related treatment, and associated educational outcomes among elementary school children in southeastern Virginia. In a representative sample of elementary school children, 17% had been diagnosed with ADHD. The majority of diagnosed children had been medicated for ADHD (84%). More than one third of students taking medication had received no other interventions for ADHD. Over half of the diagnosed students received behavioral therapy and almost half received a combination of medical and behavioral interventions. Children diagnosed with ADHD were 3 to 7 times ( p values < 0.001) more likely than other children to receive special education, be expelled or suspended, and repeat a grade. Based on parental opinion, children diagnosed with ADHD are at high risk for school failure. Results are discussed in terms of distinctions between clinical efficacy/effectiveness and schoolwide and public health interventions implemented in the study region. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Differential ability scales: Profiles of preschoolers with cognitive delay
Authors: Hughes Tammy L. , McIntosh David E.
Published: October 2004

This study examined the cluster profiles obtained using the Differential Ability Scale (DAS, Elliott, 1990a) for preschool children diagnosed with cognitive delay and for those without cognitive delay. Cluster analyses resulted in distinctive profiles for each group. Profiles for preschoolers diagnosed with cognitive delay were compared with DAS profile patterns previously reported for school‐aged children diagnosed with learning disabilities (McIntosh & Gridley, 1993). Cluster comparisons indicated profiles of cognitively delayed preschoolers were not the same as those found in school‐age children with learning disabilities. Implications for prediction of school‐age learning disabilities from preschool DAS cognitive cluster profiles are discussed. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Relations of middle school students' perceptions of family and school contexts with academic achievement
Authors: Marchant Gregory J. , Paulson Sharon E. , Rothlisberg Barbara A.
Published: October 2004

The purposes of this study were to examine the relations of both family and school contexts on students' academic achievement and to explore the mediating effects of students' perceptions of their motivations and academic self‐competence between the family and school contexts and achievement. Participants were 230 fifth‐ and sixth‐grade students. Students' perceptions of parenting style (demandingness and responsiveness), parental involvement (parental values and involvement in school functions), teaching style (teacher control and responsiveness), and school atmosphere (school responsiveness and supportive social environment) significantly predicted their school achievement; however, students' motivations and self‐competence mediated the relations between students' contexts and their academic achievement. Furthermore, parental values, teacher responsiveness, school responsiveness, and supportive social environment predicted students' motivations and academic competence above and beyond parenting style, parental involvement, and teacher control. The importance of students' supportive relationships and the internalization of the messages conveyed to them underscore the need for a contextual view by school psychologists when consulting with parents and education staff regarding achievement concerns. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Polymerization of sterically congested α‐alkylacrylates under high pressure
Authors: Rzayev Javid , Penelle Jacques
Published: October 2004

A series of α‐alkylacrylates, including methyl ethacrylate (MEA), methyl α‐propylacrylate, methyl α‐isopropylacrylate (MiPA), methyl α‐butylacrylate (MnBA), and methyl α‐isobutylacrylate (MiBA), were successfully polymerized at 65 °C under high pressure (1–9 kbar). In contrast to results obtained at ambient pressure, all monomers yielded high molecular weight polymers (number‐average molecular weight = 4–18 × 104), except for MiPA (number‐average molecular weight = 8 × 103), probably because of the high steric hindrance of the isopropyl group. Polymerization kinetics under high pressure were obtained for MEA, MnBA, and MiBA. Overall activation volumes were estimated to be −14.9, −17.0, and −11.6 mL mol−1 for MEA (3–7 kbar), MnBA (3–7 kbar), and MiBA (5–9 kbar), respectively. Extrapolation to ambient pressure provided rates of polymerization for these monomers unaffected by the ceiling temperature effect. These values were further used to quantitatively assess the steric influence exerted by the α‐substituent on the polymerizability of these sterically congested acrylates with Meyer's steric parameter. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 836–843, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10161
Analogy in adsorption behavior of homopolyelectrolyte mixtures as compared to analogous diblock polyampholytes
Authors: Mahltig B. , Gohy J.‐F. , Jérôme R. , Buchhammer H.‐M. , Stamm M.
Published: October 2004

The adsorption behavior of aqueous mixtures of the homopolyelectrolytes poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) and poly[(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) was investigated in comparison with the adsorption of the ampholytic diblock copolymer PMAA‐b‐PDMAEMA on silicon substrates. Ellipsometry was used to determine the amount of adsorbed homopolyelectrolyte and diblock polyampholyte. Furthermore, the topography of the adsorbed polymers was investigated with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and compared with the structures observed in aqueous solutions by dynamic light scattering (DLS). For all types of investigated polyelectrolytic mixtures or the single polyampholyte, the adsorption was strongly influenced by the pH of the polymer solution. Although single homopolyelectrolytes showed only one maximum in adsorption according to their charge, the mixtures made from these homopolyelectrolytes showed two or three maxima. The third maximum near the isoelectric point of the mixture was assigned to a new species formed by aggregation of the two homopolyelectrolytes. Altogether, the adsorption behavior of the polyelectrolytic mixtures was in between the behavior of the pure homopolyelectrolytes and the analogous polyampholytes and therefore understandable from both of these polymer species. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 338–345, 2002; DOI 10.1002/polb.10091
Time‐resolved backbone desolvation and mutational hot spots in folding proteins
Authors: Fernández Ariel
Published: October 2004

A method is presented to identify hot mutational spots and predict the extent of surface burial at the transition state relative to the native fold in two‐state folding proteins. The method is based on ab initio simulations of folding histories in which transitions between coarsely defined conformations and pairwise interactions are dependent on the solvent environments created by the chain. The highly conserved mammalian ubiquitin is adopted as a study case to make predictions. The evolution in time of the chain topology suggests a nucleation process with a critical point signaled by a sudden quenching of structural fluctuations. The occurrence of this nucleus is shown to be concurrent with a sudden escalation in the number of three‐body correlations whereby hydrophobic units approach residue pairs engaged in amide‐carbonyl hydrogen bonding. These correlations determine a pattern designed to structure the surrounding solvent, protecting intramolecular hydrogen bonds from water attack. Such correlations are shown to be required to stabilize the nucleus, with kinetic consequences for the folding process. Those nuclear residues that adopt the dual role of protecting and being protected while engaged in hydrogen bonds are predicted to be the hottest mutational spots. Some such residues are shown not to retain the same protecting role in the native fold. This kinetic treatment of folding nucleation is independently validated vis‐a‐vis a Φ‐value analysis on chymotrypsin inhibitor 2, a protein for which extensive mutational data exists. Proteins 2002;47:447–457. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Energy spectrum of extended Hubbard model with spin‐dependent hopping and related spin ladder model
Authors: Cheranovskii V. O. , Ezerskaya E. V. , Özkan I.
Published: October 2004

We studied the energy spectrum of the 1‐D extended Hubbard model with spin‐dependent hopping and related spin ladder system formed by two coupled XXZ spin 1/2 chains with the interchain interaction of Ising type. It was proved that the model excitation spectrum has no gap excepting some special values of z‐projection of the ground‐state total spin. The thorough analytic consideration of two‐magnon states was given. The existence up to five bound states at specified value of quasimomentum of the pair of inverted spins was shown. We also present the results of density matrix renormalization group calculations that showed nonadequacy of the pair approximation for n‐magnon bound states of the extended model with the strong electron–electron interactions. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002
Generic molecular mechanics as based on local quantum description of molecular electronic structure
Authors: Tokmachev A. M. , Tchougréeff A. L.
Published: October 2004

Molecular mechanics (MM) is now widely used for modeling potential energy surfaces of large organic molecules. All MM schemes use ad hoc forms for the potential functions and parameters specially adjusted to fit experimental or quantum chemical data. In this work we attempt to deduce a generic MM scheme starting from a local quantum mechanical description of molecular electronic structure. The basis for this derivation is the trial electronic wave function in the form of antisymmetrized product of strictly localized geminals. The MM scheme obtained does not require adjusting any parameters. The quality of numerical estimates obtained by this scheme is analyzed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002
Ab initio quantum chemical calculations of a cluster C8H12
Authors: Timokhina Helen N. , Ovchinnikov Alexander A. , Bozhenko Konstantin V.
Published: October 2004

Using unrestricted Hartree–Fock–Roothaan approximation and density functional theory on 6‐31G* basis, ab initio calculation cluster C8H12 has been carried out. It was shown as a result of calculations that a ground state for the conformation given is a septet state. This cluster can be used for investigation of the kinematic mechanism of magnetic exchange and magnetic ordering in polyradicals. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002
Metallomacrocycle (MacM) complex with cyanide as bridged ligand: Electronic structures of [MacMCN]n
Authors: Mendizabal Fernando , Olea‐Azar Claudio
Published: October 2004

The electronic structures of complexes and one‐dimensional metallomacrocycles with cyanide as bridged ligand, such as [MacM(CN)2]− and [MacM(CN)]n [Mac=phthalocyanine, tetrabenzoporphyrine; M=Co(III), Rh(III)] have been investigated using density functional theory. The results of this study show that the intrinsic semiconductivity properties depend on the frontier bands. The valence band is composed by the π‐macrocycle orbital. The conduction band for the cobalt polymers is a mixture of orbitals between this metal and the cyanide ligand along of the stacking direction. However, in the rhodium polymers such a band is exclusively composed of the π* system of the macrocycles. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002
An analysis of labwork tasks used in science teaching at upper secondary school and university levels in several European countries
Authors: Tiberghien Andrée , Veillard Laurent , Le Maréchal Jean‐François , Buty Christian , Millar Robin
Published: October 2004

This article describes the results of a study of the similarities and differences in laboratory tasks used in science education at upper secondary school and university level, in the three main science subjects, in seven European countries. The data source for the study was a collection of 75 laboratory instruction sheets for use at school level in five countries, and 90 for use at university level in six countries, selected as being “typical” of practice in these countries. The tool used for analysis was a “map” (or classification system) for labwork tasks. Whilst some differences are noted between the science subjects and between educational levels, the dominant impression from this analysis is of similarity across educational levels, science subjects and countries. Some coding categories arise only very infrequently, suggesting that some possible designs of labwork task are very seldom used. The findings indicate the potential usefulness of this classificatory “map” as a tool for monitoring practice and for raising questions about the use of labwork in science education. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sci Ed 85:483–508, 2001.
Infants with single ventricle: A population‐based epidemiological study
Authors: Steinberger Eileen K. , Ferencz Charlotte , Loffredo Christopher A.
Published: October 2004

Background

Single ventricle, a rare congenital cardiac defect, often occurs as part of a complex group of cardiovascular abnormalities. Little is known of its epidemiologic associations.

Methods

Using data from the Baltimore‐Washington Infant Study [BWIS], (1981–89), a population based case‐control study of cardiovascular malformations, infants with single ventricle were evaluated with respect to infant and family characteristics and maternal and paternal exposures. The cases were analyzed according to presence/absence of abnormal cardio‐visceral situs. Controls were 3,572 infants without heart defects randomly selected from the regional cohort of live births. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were used as measures of association.

Results

Single ventricle occurred in 1.25% of infants with congenital cardiovascular defects in the BWIS. Fifty‐five infants had single ventricle. In 48 families (87.3%) the parents were interviewed. Thirty‐three infants had normal situs and 15 had abnormal situs. Paternal alcohol consumption (OR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.1–3.9) and paternal cigarette smoking (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.1–5.1) were associated with all cases of single ventricle. These associations were even stronger in the subset of infants with abnormal situs. Maternal history of a previous induced abortion was also associated with infants born with abnormal situs (OR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.1–11.5). Paternal marijuana use was associated with cases of single ventricle in normal situs (OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.0–5.2).

Conclusions

Potential risk factors included paternal smoking and alcohol consumption, highlighting the need for future studies to consider environmental factors in the pathogenesis of this cardiac defect. Teratology 65:106–115, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Congenital malformations in offspring of Vietnamese women in California, 1985–97
Authors: Shaw Gary M. , Carmichael Suzan L. , Nelson Verne
Published: October 2004

Background

Little is known about reproductive outcome risks for Vietnamese women delivering infants and fetuses in the U.S.

Methods

Using data from a large population‐based registry, we explored risks of selected congenital malformation phenotypes in offspring of Vietnamese women in California. Data were derived from the California Birth Defects Monitoring Program, a population‐based active surveillance system for collecting information on infants and fetuses with congenital malformations using multiple source ascertainment. Approximately 3.4 million births (liveborn and stillborn) occurred during the ascertainment period, 1985–97. Information on maternal race/ethnic background was obtained from California birth certificate and fetal death files. Vietnamese women delivered 45,453 births and 1,257,853 births were delivered to non‐Hispanic white women.

Results

The overall prevalence of structural congenital malformations was 1.92 among Vietnamese and 2.63 among non‐Hispanic whites per 100 births and fetal deaths. Grouping by 20 3‐digit malformation codes of the International Classification of Diseases‐Ninth Revision revealed relative risks of 0.8 or less for spina bifida, eye, upper alimentary, genital, urinary, musculoskeletal, “other” limb, and “other” musculoskeletal anomalies, and relative risks of 1.3 or more for anencephaly and chromosomal anomalies. Grouping by the more specific 4‐digit malformation codes revealed 50, among 178, malformation groupings with associated relative risks of ≥1.3 or ≤0.8. Seventeen relative risk estimates suggested elevated risks for Vietnamese births, and 33 estimates suggested lowered risks for Vietnamese, relative to non‐Hispanic white births. Simultaneous adjustment for maternal age, plurality, and child sex, did not substantially alter observed risks.

Conclusions

These data contribute to a relatively sparse literature about an important subgroup of the U.S. population, but can not elucidate whether increased or decreased risks among Vietnamese are related to potential underlying genetic susceptibilities, to cultural, social, or political differences that could modify exposures, or to the many potential combinations between susceptibilities and exposures. Teratology 65:121–124, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pregnancy outcomes after first trimester exposure to phentermine/fenfluramine
Authors: Lyons Jones Kenneth , Johnson Kathleen A. , Dick Lyn M. , Felix Robert J. , Kao Kelly K. , Chambers Christina D.
Published: October 2004

Background

Fenfluramine was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 1997 because of its association with cardiac‐valve abnormalities in adults. The combination of fenfluramine and phentermine had been widely used to promote weight loss, and many women were inadvertently exposed during the first trimester of pregnancy. The possible effect on the developing fetus has not been studied.

Methods

Controlled prospective cohort study comparing 98 women who had taken phentermine/fenfluramine to 233 women who had not, all of whom contacted the California Teratogen Information Service during pregnancy.

Results

The proportion of liveborn infants with major structural anomalies was similar in the two groups (3.6% vs. 1.0%, relative risk (RR) 3.59; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61, 21.10), as was the proportion of infants with ≥3 minor anomalies (11.7% vs. 7.6%, RR 1.53; 95% CI 0.61, 3.82). Furthermore, no pattern of malformation was identified. There were no significant differences between the groups in spontaneous pregnancy loss (6.1% vs. 8.2%, P = 0.65) or premature delivery (8.6% vs. 7.7%, P = 0.95). Birth weight and head circumference were significantly increased in the exposed group; however, these differences were not associated with anorexiant use itself. The rate of gestational diabetes was significantly increased in pregnant women who took phentermine/fenfluramine during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Conclusions

Although it is not possible from this study to rule out weak to moderate associations, the lack of an increased risk of spontaneous pregnancy loss, and major or minor anomalies in the offspring of women who took phentermine/fenfluramine at the recommended daily dose during the first trimester of pregnancy is reassuring. Teratology 65:125–130, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mitochondrial transduction of ocular teratogenesis during methylmercury exposure
Authors: O'Hara Michael F. , Charlap Jeffrey H. , Craig Robert C. , Knudsen Thomas B.
Published: October 2004

Background

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the correlation between MeHg developmental toxicity and mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) expression in the embryonic forebrain and pharmacological intervention with PK11195, a ligand for the mitochondrial peripheral‐type benzodiazepine receptor (Bzrp).

Methods

Pregnant CD‐1 mice were dosed with methylmercury (II) chloride (MeHg) with or without 4 mg/kg PK11195 on Day 9 of gestation. Fetuses were examined on Day 9 (RT‐PCR), Day 15 (histology), and Day 17 (teratology).

Results

MeHg (10 mg/kg) induced microcephaly, microphthalmia and cleft palate. The mean incidences of malformed fetuses were 47.7% with MeHg (P < 0.001) and 19.2% with PK11195 co‐treatment (P < 0.01 for rescue). Cleft palates were 12.8% and 1.5%, respectively. An estimate of neurocranial circumference revealed a small (5%) but highly significant (P < 0.001) reduction that was rescued in a subset of co‐treated fetuses (P < 0.05). RT‐PCR analysis of the Day 9 forebrain revealed inhibition of 16S rRNA expression 3.0 hr after 5 mg/kg MeHg exposure (P < 0.001). This effect was rescued with PK11195 (P < 0.001). Preliminary findings revealed a similar response‐rescue in cultured embryos exposed to 1 μM Hg(II) when exogenous 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA) was added. Protoporphyrin‐IX (PP9), the penultimate precursor to heme and an endogenous ligand of the Bzrp, increased in a manner that was ALA‐dependent and PK11195‐sensitive.

Conclusion

At least some teratological effects of Hg appear linked with late steps in the heme biosynthesis pathway through the Bzrp. PK11195, a ligand for these mitochondrial receptors, significantly lessens the risk of microphthalmia, microcephaly, and cleft palate in Hg‐poisoned embryos. Teratology 65:131–144, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Purchasing policy in Switzerland: An empirical study of sourcing decisions
Authors: Quayle Michael
Published: October 2004

The economic ties between the United States and Switzerland are strong, both in terms of investment and trade.
Swiss direct investments in the U.S. amount to US$35 billion providing some 300,000 jobs in the U.S. The
U.S. is the second most important export market for Swiss goods (after Germany). These very striking
facts demonstrate how closely intertwined the economies of the U.S. and Switzerland have become in the
twenty‐first century.

The recent attention to purchasing decisions in a variety of commercial and government contexts has grown much
faster than detailed understanding of how sourcing decisions are made and their implications for organizations.
This article provides an overview of empirical research into sourcing decisions made in Swiss organizations and
will be of international interest to practitioners and academics in both purchasing (customer and
purchaser) and marketing. The research demonstrates that sourcing decisions are highly contingent situations
and the variable is policy. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
International assignments and global careers
Authors: Morley Michael , Heraty Noreen
Published: October 2004

Expatriate assignees represent a critical node in most international organizations' networks, and exploring and documenting the experiences of these assignees is important from both the organizational and individual perspective. Subsumed under the theme “International Assignments and Global Careers,” this special issue of Thunderbird International Business Review brings together a complement of selected papers originally presented at the Seventh Conference on International Human Resource Management hosted at the University of Limerick in June 2003. This introduction briefly explores the contemporary context and rationale for the international assignment in order to frame and position the subsequent contributions, which deal with, among other things, knowledge transfer, recruitment, staffing, competencies, and structural specificities in international assignments and global careers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hippocampal volume and subjective memory impairment in depressed patients
Authors: von Gunten Armin , Ron Maria A.
Published: October 2004

The relationship between severity of subjective memory impairment and volume of the hippocampus/amygdala complex was investigated in non-demented depressed patients and it was found to correlate with decreasing volume in the right hippocampus.
Possible decline in leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea nesting along the coast of Caribbean Central America
Authors: Troëng Sebastian , Chacón Didiher , Dick Belinda
Published: October 2004

Leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea nesting has declined on Pacific beaches and as a result the species is considered Critically Endangered. Atlantic populations are, however, also important for the species' survival and therefore we undertook a study to quantify the size and nesting trend of the Caribbean Costa Rica and Panama leatherback turtle rookery. Tag returns show that post-nesting females from the rookery disperse throughout the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and North Atlantic. Aerial and track survey results were used to estimate 5,759–12,893 nests per year between San Juan river and Chiriquí beach, making this the fourth largest rookery worldwide. Monitoring results from three beaches (Tortuguero, Pacuare and Gandoca) were used to examine any temporal trend in nesting using nonparametric regression. Nesting appeared to decline slightly from 1995 to 2003 but the trend could be an artefact of interannual variation in nest numbers. Explanations for the difference in nesting trends over the past 15 years for Pacific (rapid decline) and Caribbean (slight decline or stable) rookeries include: (1) hatching success on Caribbean beaches has been higher due to dispersed nesting, (2) fisheries bycatch has been greater in the Pacific, and (3) less overlap between fishing areas and leatherback turtle habitats in the Atlantic. Quantification of human-caused mortality of all life stages and knowledge of the marine habitats used by Atlantic leatherback turtles are required to facilitate the development and implementation of effective strategies to reduce threats and avoid a repeat of the decline that has occurred in the Pacific population.
On creating worlds without evil – given divine counterfactual knowledge
Authors: RASMUSSEN JOSH
Published: October 2004

An important question raised in the Molinist debate is, ‘Given God's access to counterfactual knowledge, could God create a world in which free creatures always refrain from evil?’ An affirmative answer suggests that God cannot possess counterfactual knowledge since such knowledge would allow God to create seemingly more desirable worlds than the actual world. However, Alvin Plantinga has argued that it is at least possible that every possible person is transworld depraved – meaning that each person would perform some wrong actions if any world in which that person is morally free were actualized. I argue that, given an infinite number of possible persons, the probability that everyone is transworld depraved is exceedingly low. In addition, I investigate whether there are enough possible persons vis-à-vis the number of moral choices per person so that God could create worlds like the actual world, except lacking in moral evil.
Sustained therapeutic effects of oral miglustat (Zavesca, N‐butyldeoxynojirimycin, OGT 918) in type I Gaucher disease
Authors: Elstein D. , Hollak C. , Aerts J. M. F. G. , van Weely S. , Maas M. , Cox T. M. , Lachmann R. H. , Hrebicek M. , Platt F. M. , Butters T. D. , Dwek R. A. , Zimran A.
Published: October 2004

Summary: It has been shown that treatment with miglustat (Zavesca, N‐butyldeoxynojirimycin, OGT 918) improves key clinical features of type I Gaucher disease after 1 year of treatment. This study reports longer‐term efficacy and safety data. Patients who had completed 12 months of treatment with open‐label miglustat (100‐300 mg three times daily) were enrolled to continue with therapy in an extension study. Data are presented up to month 36. Liver and spleen volumes measured by CT or MRI were scheduled every 6 months. Biochemical and haematological parameters, including chitotriosidase activity (a sensitive marker of Gaucher disease activity) were monitored every 3 months. Safety data were also collected every 3 months. Eighteen of 22 eligible patients at four centres entered the extension phase and 14 of these completed 36 months of treatment with miglustat. After 36 months, there were statistically significant improvements in all major efficacy endpoints. Liver and spleen organ volumes were reduced by 18% and 30%, respectively. In patients whose haemoglobin value had been below 11.5 g/dl at baseline, mean haemoglobin increased progressively from baseline by 0.55 g/dl at month 12 (NS), 1.28 g/dl at month 24 (p=0.007), and 1.30 g/dl at month 36 (p=0.013). The mean platelet count at month 36 increased from baseline by 22×109/L. No new cases of peripheral neuropathy occurred since previously reported. Diarrhoea and weight loss, which were frequently reported during the initial 12‐month study, decreased in magnitude and prevalence during the second and third years. Patients treated with miglustat for 3 years show significant improvements in organ volumes and haematological parameters. In conclusion, miglustat was increasingly effective over time and showed acceptable tolerability in patients who continued with treatment for 3 years.
Students' Management of Goals in the Natural Classroom Setting: Methodological Implications
Authors: Serra de Lemos Marina , Gonçalves Teresa
Published: October 2004

The conceptualization of goals as projects of person-environment relationships emphasizes the mutual influences of individuals and situations. This interactionistic view leads to a focus goal research on current behavior in proximal contexts. Moreover, within the real classroom context, as students encounter situations implying new demands and new opportunities, diverse and multiple goals are potentially elicited. Exploring these assumptions, the present study examined the strategies that students use to deal with multiple goals during ongoing classroom activities. Instead of valuing behavioral and phenomenological approaches as alternative models, we used both observed behavior and reported intentions viewed as representing two different levels of action, to allow a more comprehensive understanding of students' strategies. This approach is consistent with a contextualized view of action orientation, and with a view of goal-directed behavior as hierarchically organized ( Frese & Stewart, 1984 , Silbereisen & Eyferth, 1986 ; Volpert, 1982 ). To this effect, in a multiple case study of eight (6th-grade) students, methods included (a) videotaping, and interpretation of the student's actual behavior (the researcher perspective) in natural classroom settings, and (b) semi-structured interviews regarding the student's individual purposes (subjective perspective) for those activities. Results revealed diverse forms of goal management such as the automatization of certain action-orientations and the monitoring of action emergence and duration. Moreover, results illuminated the function of certain goals within the overall action sequence.
The Role of Contextual Conditions of Vocational Education for Motivational Orientations and Emotional Experiences
Authors: Lewalter Doris , Krapp Andreas
Published: October 2004

This article is concerned with the role of contextual conditions on motivational orientations and emotional experiences within the German Dual System of vocational education (VE). In our research approach we differentiate between three exemplary levels and meanings of context: educational setting, learning arrangement, and learning situation. Prior research in Germany has focused primarily on the analyses of differential motivational conditions and effects in two main educational settings: vocational school and training in companies. In a study in the educational setting of a company we tried to analyze the relation among contextual aspects at the level of learning arrangements and learning situations, intrinsic and extrinsic motivational orientations, and a selected set of emotional experiences. We used a variety of different methodological approaches including video-based observations, and the experience-sampling method (ESM). Comparing the indicators of extrinsic and intrinsic motivational orientations between the two main learning arrangements (training at the workplace and lessons about vocational knowledge), we found significant differences only for interest orientation (not for achievement orientation) and for exemplary indicators of a positive emotional experiences (feelings of being interested and feelings of being committed). Contrary to our theoretical expectations, the measures indicating the quality of emotional experiences with respect to the postulated system of basic needs (competence, autonomy, relatedness) did not vary systematically with the contextual conditions under consideration.
Using Multiple Methods to Assess Students' Perceptions of Classroom Goal Structures
Authors: Urdan Tim
Published: October 2004

Two studies were conducted to examine how students perceive and interpret achievement goal messages in the classroom. The first study, using observational and interview methodologies in four classrooms, found that goals are rarely explicitly discussed by teachers or students in the classroom, and that teachers often provide mixed and contradictory goal messages. In addition, students differed in their perception of and reaction to goal messages, partly according to age and achievement levels. The second study employed survey methods and hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) analytic methods with a sample of high school students. This study revealed that both individual-level and classroom-level goal structure perceptions were associated with students' personal goals, self-handicapping, value, and achievement in English classes. The results from the two studies suggest that teachers can create coherent goal structures that affect students' personal goals and achievement in the classroom, but these goal structures may be difficult for many teachers to purposefully create and students' reactions to them will vary. They also suggest the importance of using multiple methodologies to examine the effects of classroom goal structures.
The Interplay of Motivational Goals and Cognitive Strategies in a New Pedagogical Culture
Authors: Järvelä Sanna , Salovaara Hanna
Published: October 2004

This article describes the results of an analysis of three years' process-oriented interview data concerning secondary school students' goals and learning strategies in computer-supported collaborative inquiries. Specifically, the changes in students' goal interpretations and the situational dynamics of students' goals and strategies were investigated over 3 years. By examining how these secondary school students (N = 18, from ages 13-15 years) interpret and explain different situations in a new instructional setting, we were able to determine their subjective and context-specific explanations of the situation. The interview data were analyzed using a qualitative content analysis, and nonparametric statistics were then used to authenticate some of the qualitative findings. The data show how the students' explanations and interpretations of their goals and strategies vary during different years of the study. It can be concluded that the students seem to develop both individual and contextual goals, as well as strategies, to self-regulate in the new pedagogical culture.