bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainable Livelihood through Skill Development among Rural Tribal Youths: A Review of Literature
Authors: Das Kishore Kumar
Published: February 2024

Aims: Empowering marginalized communities, especially indigenous youth, is essential for attaining inclusive growth and socioeconomic equity in the face of growing urbanization and economic inequities. The current study's objective is to review the development of literatures relating to sustainable livelihood through skill development among rural tribal youths. Accordingly, the research gap will be found for further research and strengthen the literature as well as to contribute to the creation of knowledge for betterment of society in general and academics in particulars. In order to promote sustainable livelihoods among remote tribal adolescent populations, this literature review critically evaluates the significance of skill development.

Sample: The present study considers 47 literatures relating to the research topic both from national and international referred journal to understand the developments in the sustainable livelihood for tribal population across the globe.

Study Design: In order to evaluate the efficacy of skill development programs in expanding livelihood options for this vulnerable population, the study synthesizes a wide range of scholarly publications, reports, and case studies .The study is based on analytical review of literature considering the methods and models adopted for research, size of sample and outcomes of individual research papers are analysed and accordingly the limitations/ the gaps for research are considered for future research.

Conclusion: It emphasizes the critical part that skill development programs play in overcoming these obstacles and empowering young people to find gainful work or launch their own businesses in their communities.
Synthesis and characterization of terephthalamides from poly(ethylene terephthalate) waste
Authors: Soni R. K. , Singh Swati
Published: March 2005

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste flakes (blow‐molded‐grade industrial waste) were degraded with aqueous methylamine and ammonia at room temperature in the presence and absence of quaternary ammonium salt as a catalyst for various times. The catalyst reduced the time required for the degradation of the PET waste. The degraded products were analyzed with IR, nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and differential thermal analysis and were characterized as N,N′‐dimethylterephthalamide and terephthalamide in the case of methylamine and ammonia, respectively. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1515–1528, 2005
Chemical surface treatment of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene for improved adhesion to methacrylate resins
Authors: Debnath Subir , Ranade Rahul , Wunder Stephanie L. , Baran George R. , Zhang Jianming , Fisher Ellen R.
Published: March 2005

Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has high yield strength and modulus, but is nonpolar and chemically inert. For it to be used as an effective reinforcing agent for composites, methods to make the UHMWPE wettable or capable of reaction with the matrix are critical. In the current work, Spectra 900™ (UHMWPE) fibers were surface modified by swelling in p‐xylene with: (1) methylmethacrylate (MMA) monomer; (2) PMMA; (3) camphorquinone (CQ); (4) 3‐methacryloxypropyltrichlorosilane (Cl‐MPS); (5) trimethoxysilyl modified polyethylene, N‐(triethoxysilylpropyl)‐dansylamide (fluorescent silane), or octadecyltrimethoxy silane (OMS), followed by hydrolysis and reaction with Cl‐MPS; and (6) by coating with SiO2 films followed by reaction with MPS. These modifiers were used to improve wettability and provide sites for chemical interactions with the resin matrix. Beads of resin [60/40 BisGMA‐TEGMA (bis‐phenol A bis‐(2‐hydroxypropyl) methacrylate and tri(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate)] were light‐cured around the treated fibers and the improvement in adhesion was tested by microbond shear strength (τ) tests. The improvements were comparable to those reported by acid etching and plasma treatments. The OMS, fluorescent silane, and SiO2/Cl‐MPS treatments yielded the best results, that is fourfold increases in τ compared with untreated fibers. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1564–1572, 2005
A novel positive‐type photosensitive polyimide having excellent transparency based on soluble block copolyimide with hydroxyl group and diazonaphthoquintone
Authors: Jin XingZhou , Ishii Hiroyuki
Published: March 2005

A novel positive‐type photosensitive polyimide having excellent transparency based on soluble block copolyimide (Bco‐PI) with hydroxyl group and diazonaphthoquinone (DNQ) as a photoreactive compound was developed. The base Bco‐PI A was prepared by a direct one‐pot polycondensation of cyclohexanetetracarboxylic dianhydride (H‐PMDA), 2,2‐bis(3‐amino‐4‐hydroxyphenylhexafluoropropane) (Bis‐AP‐AF), and bis(4‐(3‐aminophenoxy)phenyl)sulfone (m‐BAPS) in the presence of a γ‐valerolactone and pyridine catalyst system by using dipolar aprotic solvent such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP).The wholly aromatic polyimides have strong absorptions in the visible regions, because of their change–transfer complex formation. On the other hand, alicyclic dianhydride, H‐PMDA, contributed to the resulting Bco‐PI film with colorlessness and transparency, which are the important factors for a photosensitive polyimide. Photosensitive Bco‐PI, containing 20 wt % 1,2‐naphthoqiunonediazide‐5‐sulfonic acid p‐cresol ester (PC5), showed a sensitivity of 250 mJ/cm2 and a contrast of 2.56 when it was exposed to UV light, followed by development with 5% tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) aqueous solution at room temperature. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1619–1624, 2005
Preparation and characterization of alginate/gelatin blend fibers
Authors: Fan Lihong , Du Yumin , Huang Ronghua , Wang Qun , Wang Xiaohui , Zhang Lina
Published: March 2005

Alginate and gelatin blend fibers were prepared by spinning their solution through a viscose‐type spinneret into a coagulating bath containing aqueous CaCl2 and ethanol. The structure and properties of the blend fibers were studied with the aid of infrared spectra, scanning electron micrography, X‐ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. Mechanical properties and water‐retention properties were measured. The best values of the tensile strength and breaking elongation of blend fibers were obtained when gelatin content was 30 wt %. The water‐retention values of blend fibers increase as the amount of gelatin is raised. The structural analysis indicated that there was strong interaction and good miscibility between alginate and gelatin molecules resulted from intermolecular hydrogen bonds. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1625–1629, 2005
Cellulose derivative‐based cholesteric networks
Authors: Zhou Xuesong , Huang Yong
Published: March 2005

Ethyl‐cyanoethyl cellulose [(E‐CE)C]/acrylic acid (AA) solution could form cholesteric networks when the AA was quickly photopolymerized. The cholesteric structure in the solution was changed during the polymerization but the variation of the cholesteric order could be depressed by crosslinking of the system. The dependence of λmax for the cholesteric phase on both the crosslinker concentration and the polymerization temperature was studied by UV‐Vis spectrometry. It was found that the cholesteric pitch variation is decreased with increasing the concentration of the crosslinking reagent and the water sensitivity of the cholesteric network is effectively suppressed and dependent on the types of crosslinker. The pitch of cholesteric network was decreased sharply with increasing the polymerization temperature, due to the increase of the volume shrinkage of the solvent during the polymerization. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1648–1653, 2005
Degree of branching of hyperbranched polystyrenes via a controlled radical mechanism of an inimer: Determination by a kinetic approach
Authors: Ishizu Koji , Ohta Yoshihiro , Kawauchi Susumu
Published: March 2005

We studied, with a kinetic approach, the living nature and degree of branching (DB) of the formation of hyperbranched polystyrene by the free‐radical photopolymerization of 2‐(N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamyl)methylstyrene in benzene. The free‐radical polymerization proceeded with a living radical mechanism. Subsequently, we treated the kinetics of the initiation and propagation steps of the active A* and B* (side‐group) sites with model compounds. The degradation rates of two types of dithiocarbamate groups at the A and B sites agreed well with theoretical trends for CS bond dissociation energies predicted by the density functional theory for model compounds. The reactivity of the initiating B* groups was greater than that of the propagating A* groups. DB of the hyperbranched polymers was estimated to be 0.31 with both reaction rates in terms of Müller's equation. This result supported the DB value (0.39) estimated from NMR data. The hyperbranched molecules obtained in this work were not perfectly dendritic but had somewhat defective structures. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1810–1815, 2005
Wet‐phase‐separation membranes from the polysulfone/N,N‐dimethylacetamide/water ternary system: The formation and elements of their structure and properties
Authors: Stropnik Chrtomir , Kaiser Vladimir , Musil Vojko , Brumen Milan
Published: March 2005

Asymmetric and porous polysulfone (PSf) membranes were prepared by wet phase separation. Binary (PSf)/N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMA) solutions with polymer concentrations of 12.5–30 wt % were cast in thicknesses of 80–700 μm and immersed in a coagulation bath of pure water. The morphology of the formed membranes' cross sections consisted of a cellular structure and macrovoids; the cellular structure density was highest when the cast solution contained about 21 wt % PSf, regardless of the cast thickness. The membranes' pure water permeability decreased as the cast thickness increased. The instantaneous onset of the turbidity, regardless of the PSf content and cast thickness, its steep growth, and relatively high end value were the main characteristics of the turbidity phenomena taking place during the formation of the protomembranes. Again, the membrane‐forming system with a PSf/DMA solution with about 21 wt % polymer, regardless of the cast thickness, had the highest turbidity end value. The shrinkage of the cast solutions into the corresponding protomembrane was also examined quantitatively. Inverse experiments showed that the direction of the gravitation field had no influence on the shrinkage of the membrane‐forming ternary system or the membranes' morphology and its water permeability. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1667–1674, 2005
Simultaneous gravimetric and calorimetric analysis of chloroform sorption in nanoporous semicrystalline sPS
Authors: Sannino A. , Larobina D. , Mensitieri G. , Aldi A. , Maffezzoli A.
Published: March 2005

Chloroform vapor sorption in semicrystalline syndiotactic polystyrene with a nanoporous crystalline form has been investigated by simultaneous gravimetric and calorimetric analysis to gather information on the sorption process and associated heat of sorption. At the investigated pressures of chloroform vapor, the sorption process is dominated by exothermic adsorption of penetrating molecules in the nanocavities of the crystalline phase. The mass uptake kinetics has been compared with the kinetics of evolution of heat of sorption measured simultaneously. The integral heat of sorption evaluated calorimetrically has been compared to the corresponding value calculated by elaborating gravimetric sorption isotherms at several temperatures evaluated independently through gravimetric sorption experiments. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1675–1681, 2005
A study of the mechanical properties of randomly oriented short banana and sisal hybrid fiber reinforced polyester composites
Authors: Idicula Maries , Neelakantan N. R. , Oommen Zachariah , Joseph Kuruvilla , Thomas Sabu
Published: March 2005

The mechanical performance of short randomly oriented banana and sisal hybrid fiber reinforced polyester composites was investigated with reference to the relative volume fraction of the two fibers at a constant total fiber loading of 0.40 volume fraction (Vf), keeping banana as the skin material and sisal as the core material. A positive hybrid effect is observed in the flexural strength and flexural modulus of the hybrid composites. The tensile strength of the composites showed a positive hybrid effect when the relative volume fraction of the two fibers was varied, and maximum tensile strength was found to be in the hybrid composite having a ratio of banana and sisal 4 : 1. The impact strength of the composites was increased with increasing volume fraction of sisal. However, a negative hybrid effect is observed when the impact strength of the composites is considered. Keeping the relative volume fraction of the two fibers constant, that is, banana : sisal = 0.32 : 0.08 (i.e., 4 : 1), the fiber loading was optimized and different layering patterns were investigated. The impact strength of the composites was increased with fiber loading. Tensile and flexural properties were found to be better at 0.40 Vf. In the case of different layering patterns, the highest flexural strength was observed for the bilayer composites. Compared to other composites, the tensile properties were slightly higher for the composite having banana as the skin material and sisal as the core material. Scanning electron micrographs of the tensile and impact fracture surfaces of the hybrid composites having volume fraction 0.20 and 0.40 Vf were studied. The experimental tensile strength and tensile modulus of hybrid composites were compared with those of theoretical predictions. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1699–1709, 2005
Comparative analysis of webometric measurements in thematic environments
Authors: Faba‐Pérez Cristina , Zapico‐Alonso Felipe , Guerrero‐Bote Vicente P. , Moya‐Anegón Félix de
Published: March 2005

There have been many attempts to evaluate Web spaces on the basis of the information that they provide, their form or functionality, or even the importance given to each of them by the Web itself. The indicators that have been developed for this purpose fall into two groups: those based on the study of a Web space's formal characteristics, and those related to its link structure. In this study we examine most of the webometric indicators that have been proposed in the literature together with others of our own design by applying them to a set of thematically related Web spaces and analyzing the relationships between the different indicators.
Impact of personality on technology adoption: An empirical model
Authors: Vishwanath Arun
Published: March 2005

An innovator's personality along with the perceived attributes of an innovation predicts the rate of diffusion. The current study focuses on the personality factors that determine the likelihood of adoption of a technological innovation. To that end, the study distinguishes between global innovativeness and context‐specific innovativeness. An information processing model was tested where technological innovativeness was purported to be indirectly influenced by an individual's global innovativeness, through its impact on communication and media use behaviors. The structural model was tested on two separate technology clusters, and partial support was found for linking sophistication in information search, and prior technology ownership to technological innovativeness.
Homoserine‐derived cyclic sulfamidate as chiral educt for the diversity‐oriented synthesis of lactam‐bridged dipeptides
Authors: Galaud Fabrice , Lubell William D.
Published: March 2005

Introduction of structural constraint into peptides is an effective way for studying their conformation–activity relationships. Conformationally restrained dipeptidyl lactams, important building blocks for the synthesis of peptidomimetics, have now been synthesized from N‐[9‐(9‐phenylfluorenyl)]‐L‐aspartic acid α‐cumyl β‐methyl diester as an inexpensive chiral educt. After selective reduction of the β‐methyl ester with diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAL‐H), homoserine 6 was treated with thionyl chloride, imidazole, and triethylamine to give sulfamidites 7. Diastereoisomers 7 were separated by chromatography and oxidation of the major sulfamidite (2R,4S)‐7 with catalytic ruthenium trichloride afforded sulfamidate 8. A series of γ‐lactam‐bridged dipeptides was then obtained by ring opening of sulfamidate cumyl ester 8 with a series of amino esters, selective cumyl ester removal, and lactam formation. The resulting dipeptidyl lactams possessed aliphatic, aromatic, amino, thioether, and carboxylate side chains. A γ‐lactam analog of Pro–Leu–Gly–NH2 (PLG), 16, was synthesized to illustrate the potential for using this approach in the synthesis of biologically active peptide mimics. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci), 2005
Development of the projection from the nucleus of the brachium of the inferior colliculus to the superior colliculus in the ferret
Authors: Nodal Fernando R. , Doubell Timothy P. , Jiang Ze D. , Thompson Ian D. , King Andrew J.
Published: March 2005

Neurons in the deeper layers of the superior colliculus (SC) have spatially tuned receptive fields that are arranged to form a map of auditory space. The spatial tuning of these neurons emerges gradually in an experience‐dependent manner after the onset of hearing, but the relative contributions of peripheral and central factors in this process of maturation are unknown. We have studied the postnatal development of the projection to the ferret SC from the nucleus of the brachium of the inferior colliculus (nBIC), its main source of auditory input, to determine whether the emergence of auditory map topography can be attributed to anatomical rewiring of this projection. The pattern of retrograde labeling produced by injections of fluorescent microspheres in the SC on postnatal day (P) 0 and just after the age of hearing onset (P29), showed that the nBIC‐SC projection is topographically organized in the rostrocaudal axis, along which sound azimuth is represented, from birth. Injections of biotinylated dextran amine‐fluorescein into the nBIC at different ages (P30, 60, and 90) labeled axons with numerous terminals and en passant boutons throughout the deeper layers of the SC. This labeling covered the entire mediolateral extent of the SC, but, in keeping with the pattern of retrograde labeling following microsphere injections in the SC, was more restricted rostrocaudally. No systematic changes were observed with age. The stability of the nBIC‐SC projection over this period suggests that developmental changes in auditory spatial tuning involve other processes, rather than a gross refinement of the projection from the nBIC. J. Comp. Neurol. 485:202–217, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression of soluble guanylyl cyclase in rat cerebral cortex during postnatal development
Authors: Ding Jin‐Dong , Burette Alain , Weinberg Richard J.
Published: March 2005

Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), the principle “receptor” for nitric oxide (NO), catalyzes the formation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), an intracellular second messenger. Studies in invertebrates have shown that the NO/cGMP pathway is involved in several aspects of neural development, including neuronal migration, dendritic and axonal outgrowth, and synaptogenesis. In vitro studies suggest a developmental role also in mammals. To investigate whether the NO/cGMP pathway might mediate these processes in vivo, we performed immunohistochemistry for sGC on sections from postnatal rat cerebral cortex. Early in postnatal development, migrating neurons in the cortical plate were immunonegative, whereas neurons deeper in the cortex that had completed migration were immunopositive. At the subcellular level, sGC preferentially stained dendrites rather than axons, but, at postnatal day 1 (PND1), sGC was found in a large fraction of axonal growth cones, especially those oriented toward the pial surface. At PND10–20 (the period of maximal synaptogenesis), sGC immunostaining was located mainly in dendritic shafts and was only occasionally associated with spines or axon terminals. These results support a role for the NO/cGMP pathway in dendritic development but argue against a major role in neuronal migration and synaptogenesis. J. Comp. Neurol. 485:255–265, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A unified method for eigendecomposition of graph products
Authors: Kaveh A. , Rahami H.
Published: March 2005

In this paper, a unified method is developed for calculating the eigenvalues of the weighted adjacency and Laplacian matrices of three different graph products. These products have many applications in computational mechanics, such as ordering, graph partitioning, and subdomaining of finite element models. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparative study of the continuous phase flow in a cyclone separator using different turbulence models
Authors: Shalaby H. , Pachler K. , Wozniak K. , Wozniak G.
Published: March 2005

Numerical calculations were carried out at the apex cone and various axial positions of a gas cyclone separator for industrial applications. Two different NS‐solvers (a commercial one (CFX 4.4 ANSYS GmbH, Munich, Germany, CFX Solver Documentation, 1998), and a research code (Post‐doctoral Thesis, Technical University of Chemnitz, Germany, September, 2002)) based on a pressure correction algorithm of the SIMPLE method have been applied to predict the flow behaviour. The flow was assumed as unsteady, incompressible and isothermal. A k–ε turbulence model has been applied first using the commercial code to investigate the gas flow. Due to the nature of cyclone flows, which exhibit highly curved streamlines and anisotropic turbulence, advanced turbulence models such as Reynolds stress model (RSM) and large eddy simulation (LES) have been used as well. The RSM simulation was performed using the commercial package activating the Launder et al.'s (J. Fluid. Mech. 1975; 68(3):537–566) approach, while for the LES calculations the research code has been applied utilizing the Smagorinsky model. It was found that the k–ε model cannot predict flow phenomena inside the cyclone properly due to the strong curvature of the streamlines. The RSM results are comparable with LES results in the area of the apex cone plane. However, the application of the LES reveals qualitative agreement with the experimental data, but requires higher computer capacity and longer running times than RSM.

This paper is organized into five sections. The first section consists of an introduction and a summary of previous work. Section 2 deals with turbulence modelling including the governing equations and the three turbulence models used. In Section 3, computational parameters are discussed such as computational grids, boundary conditions and the solution algorithm with respect to the use of MISTRAL/PartFlow‐3D. In Section 4, prediction profiles of the gas flow at axial and apex cone positions are presented and discussed. Section 5 summarizes and concludes the paper. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nonlinearity and the permanent effects of recessions
Authors: Kim Chang‐Jin , Morley James , Piger Jeremy
Published: March 2005

This paper presents a new nonlinear time series model that captures a post‐recession ‘bounce‐back’ in the level of aggregate output. While a number of studies have examined this type of business cycle asymmetry using recession‐based dummy variables and threshold models, we relate the ‘bounce‐back’ effect to an endogenously estimated unobservable Markov‐switching state variable. When the model is applied to US real GDP, we find that the Markov‐switching regimes are closely related to NBER‐dated recessions and expansions. Also, the Markov‐switching form of nonlinearity is statistically significant and the ‘bounce‐back’ effect is large, implying that the permanent effects of recessions are small. Meanwhile, having accounted for the ‘bounce‐back’ effect, we find little or no remaining serial correlation in the data, suggesting that our model is sufficient to capture the defining features of US business cycle dynamics. When the model is applied to other countries, we find larger permanent effects of recessions. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Business and default cycles for credit risk
Authors: Koopman Siem Jan , Lucas André
Published: March 2005

Various economic theories are available to explain the existence of credit and default cycles. There remains empirical ambiguity, however, as to whether these cycles coincide. Recent papers suggest by their empirical research set‐up that they do, or at least that defaults and credit spreads tend to co‐move with macroeconomic variables. If true, this is important for credit risk management as well as for regulation and systemic risk management. In this paper, we use 1933–1997 US data on real GDP, credit spreads and business failure rates to shed new light on the empirical evidence. We use a multivariate unobserved components framework to disentangle credit and business cycles. We distinguish two types of cycles in the data, corresponding to periods of around 6 and 11–16 years, respectively. Cyclical co‐movements between GDP and business failures mainly arise at the longer frequency. At the higher frequency of 6 years, co‐cyclicality is less clear‐cut. We also show that spreads reveal a positive and negative co‐cyclicality with failure rates and GDP, respectively. This pattern disappears, however, if we concentrate on the post World War II period. We comment on the implications of our findings for credit risk management. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How well do Markov switching models describe actual business cycles? The case of synchronization
Authors: Smith Penelope A. , Summers Peter M.
Published: March 2005

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of using a Markov switching model to measure the synchronization of business cycles. We use a Bayesian, Gibbs sampling approach to estimate a multivariate Markov switching model of GDP growth for several countries. We look for evidence of synchronization across countries in the sense of common Markov states, covariance of impulses and a long‐run co‐integrating relationship. We then use the fitted data implied by the posterior distribution of the Markov switching VAR, in conjunction with a dating rule, to obtain the posterior distribution of binary business cycle states. We use these to investigate the posterior distributions of non‐parametric measures of synchronization described by Harding and Pagan (2003) and compare them with similar measures obtained from standard reference chronologies. As a point of reference, we repeat this exercise using simulated data from a linear VAR.

We find no evidence of a common Markov state, but some evidence of the propagation of country‐specific disturbances across countries and of a co‐integrating relationship between the United States and Canada. Posterior odds ratios overwhelmingly favour the Markov switching model over the linear VAR and we find that the posterior distributions of the non‐parametric measures of synchronization produced by the Markov switching VAR match the data more closely than those produced by the linear VAR. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Help seeking and satisfaction among Latinas: The roles of setting, ethnic identity, and therapeutic alliance
Authors: Paris Manuel , Añez Luis M. , Bedregal Luis E. , Andrés‐Hyman Raquel C. , Davidson Larry
Published: March 2005

This study explored help seeking among primary Spanish speaking women of Hispanic origin who had behavioral health needs. We evaluated relational and cultural aspects of care and service utilization by using qualitative and quantitative measures of perceived behavioral health needs, therapeutic relationships, ethnic identity and degree of acculturation, and satisfaction with services among 103 women. We explored the nature of the therapeutic relationship and satisfaction with services among Latinas who received behavioral health services at: (1) a community behavioral health center, (2) a community health center, and (3) a faith‐based agency. Overall, results demonstrated that participants had strong therapeutic alliances and were satisfied with services at the three different treatment sites. Differences noted, including clinical and research implications, are also described. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 33: 299–312, 2005.
Implementing research‐based substance abuse prevention in communities: Effects of a coalition‐based prevention initiative in Vermont
Authors: Flewelling Robert L. , Austin David , Hale Kelly , LaPlante Marcia , Liebig Melissa , Piasecki Linda , Uerz Lori
Published: March 2005

Despite the popularity and perceived potential effectiveness of community‐based coalitions in helping to prevent and reduce adolescent substance use, empirical evidence supporting this approach is sparse. Many reasons have been suggested for why coalition‐based prevention initiatives, and community‐level interventions in general, have not demonstrated stronger and more consistent results. Among these explanations are lack of uniformity and control over activities implemented by coalitions and inadequate numbers of communities used in evaluative studies. This article reports findings from the evaluation of a nonrandomized community trial in Vermont in which 23 community coalitions were funded for 3 years to select and implement a comprehensive mix of research‐based prevention strategies designed to reduce substance use prevalence among adolescents. Data from three successive biennial administrations of the statewide Youth Risk Behavior Survey were used to assess this goal. Across the communities served by these coalitions, greater reductions in student substance use prevalence were achieved, relative to the remainder of the state, for all nine substance use measures examined. The greatest relative reductions were observed for past‐30‐day use of marijuana and cigarettes (both p < .05). These findings suggest that collaborative community‐based efforts implemented within a supportive framework such as Vermont's New Directions project can have a meaningful impact on the prevalence of substance use behaviors among youth. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 33: 333–353, 2005.
The influence of pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and human immunodeficiency virus perceived susceptibility patterns on sexual risk reduction for adolescent females
Authors: Kershaw Trace S. , Ethier Kathleen A. , Milan Stephanie , Lewis Jessica B. , Niccolai Linda M. , Meade Christina , Ickovics Jeannette R.
Published: March 2005

Risky sexual behavior can lead to pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Our study of 300 adolescent females takes an integrative approach by incorporating these multiple outcomes to assess the influence of risk perceptions on sexual behavior by (1) identifying subgroups of perceived susceptibility to pregnancy, STDs, and HIV using cluster analysis and (2) comparing subgroups on demographics, sexual history, sexual risk behavior over time, and subsequent STD acquisition. Results demonstrated five perceived susceptibility clusters (no susceptibility; high HIV; high pregnancy; high STD; and high multisusceptibility) that differed in three important ways: demographic and sexual history profiles, current sexual risk behavior, and subsequent STDs. Young women in the no susceptibility cluster had the lowest sexual risk and those in the high multisusceptibility cluster had the highest sexual risk and the highest number of subsequent STDs. There were no significant changes in sexual risk over time, regardless of cluster. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 33: 313–331, 2005.
Cover Picture: Macromol. Chem. Phys. 6/2005
Authors: Cottet Hervé , Biron Jean Philippe
Published: March 2005

Cover: The figure shows two‐dimensional electrophoretic separation of ten polyelectrolytes, according to the charge density and the molecular mass, performed in a single capillary.

Further details can be found in the Full Paper by H. Cottet* and J.‐P. Biron on page 628.
Hibiscus polyphenol‐rich extract induces apoptosis in human gastric carcinoma cells via p53 phosphorylation and p38 MAPK/FasL cascade pathway
Authors: Lin Hui‐Hsuan , Huang Hui‐Pei , Huang Chi‐Chou , Chen Jing‐Hsien , Wang Chau‐Jong
Published: March 2005

In view of the continuing need for effective anticancer agents, and the association of diet with reduced cancer risk, edible plants are increasingly being considered as sources of anticancer drugs. Hibiscus sabdariffa Linne (Malvaceae), an attractive plant believed to be native to Africa, is cultivated in the Sudan and Eastern Taiwan. Polyphenols had been demonstrated previously to possess antioxidative and antitumor promoting effects. In this study, investigations were conducted to examine the mechanism of the anticancer activity of H. sabdariffa L., Hibiscus polyphenol‐rich extracts (HPE). Using HPLC assay, HPE was demonstrated to contain various polyphenols. HPE induced cell death of eight kinds of cell lines in a concentration‐dependent manner. Among them human gastric carcinoma (AGS) cells were the most susceptible to HPE (0.95 mg/mL HPE inhibited its growth by 50%). Our results revealed that AGS cells underwent DNA fragmentation, and had an increase in the distribution of hypodiploid phase (apoptotic peak, 52.36%) after a 24‐h treatment with HPE (2.0 mg/mL). This effect of HPE in AGS cells might be mediated via p53 signaling and p38 MAPK/FasL cascade pathway, as demonstrated by an increase in the phosphorylation of p53 and the usage of a specific p38 inhibitor, SB203580. Thus, our data present the first evidence of HPE as an apoptosis inducer in AGS cells and these findings may open interesting perspectives to the strategy in human gastric cancer treatment. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rho‐kinase inhibition suppresses bladder hyperactivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Rajasekaran Mahadevan , Wilkes Nathan , Kuntz Steven , E. Albo Michael
Published: March 2005

Aims

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) exhibit overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms and have an up‐regulated calcium sensitizing RhoA/Rho‐kinase pathway in their vascular smooth muscle tissues. This study examined the role of RhoA/Rho‐kinase pathway in bladder hyperactivity by evaluating the effect of a specific Rho‐kinase inhibitor (Y‐27632) on SHR bladder function.

Methods

Adult male SHR (n = 9) and their normotensive controls (Wistar–Kyoto; WKY) (n = 8) were anesthetized and the carotid artery cannulated for blood pressure monitoring. A catheter was fixed into the bladder dome and connected to a pressure transducer and an infusion pump. After equilibration, systemic and bladder pressure were recorded. Continuous filling cystometrograms (CMGs) were performed and threshold pressure (TP), peak pressure (PP), and number of voids and non‐voiding contractions (NVCs) per unit time recorded. Each SHR then received Y‐27632, 10 μmol intra‐arterially. After 10 min, CMG was repeated and the same measurements recorded. Bladder tissues were evaluated immunohistochemically (IHC) for RhoA protein expression.

Results

SHR exhibited significantly higher number of voids and NVCs than normotensive WKY rats (P < 0.05). In SHR, Y‐27362 administration significantly decreased the number of voids (29%, from 0.83 ± 0.3 to 0.63 ± 0.17 voids/min) and NVCs (61%, from 1.8 ± 0.54 to 0.64 ± 0.167 NVC/min). IHC showed significantly higher RhoA protein expression in SHR bladder tissues.

Conclusions

Overexpression of RhoA may play a role in hypertension‐related OAB. Inhibition of Rho‐kinase activity with Y‐27632 produced a significant suppression of bladder overactivity. Identification of Rho‐kinase isoforms that are bladder‐tissue specific and their selective inhibitors may help to disassociate the unwanted hypotensive effects of this approach. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
ADAS‐COG and mental deterioration battery: different instruments for different aspects of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Serra Laura , Perri Roberta , Carlesimo Giovanni Augusto , Fadda Lucia , Lorusso Sebastiano , Padovani Alessandro , Pettenati Carla , Vegliante Maia , Caltagirone Carlo
Published: March 2005

Objective: Aim of this study was to compare ADAS‐Cog and MDB, instruments usually used in cognitive assessment of AD patients, relative to: 1) diagnostic sensitivity for dementia of AD; 2) ability to rate the progression of cognitive decline and ability to detect the qualitative characteristics of cognitive decline. Material and methods: A sample of 54 AD patients was submitted to a cognitive assessment with both battery at time of study entry (T 0) and after 12 months (T 12). Results: This study showed: 1) a better diagnostic sensitivity of MDB respect to ADAS‐Cog in diagnosing patients affected by mild to moderate levels of AD; 2) a better sensitivity of ADAS‐Cog to follow the cognitive decline over a twelve‐months period Conclusion: These results supports the use of the MDB in the screening phase of AD patients and of ADAS‐Cog to follow the progression of cognitive decline over time.
Placental mesenchymal dysplasia associated with fetal aneuploidy
Authors: Cohen Marta C. , Roper Emma C. , Sebire Neil J. , Stanek Jerzy , Anumba Dilly O. C.
Published: March 2005

Objectives

To describe three cases of placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) associated with abnormal karyotype and review the cases reported in the literature.

Methods

The cases were retrieved from the files of three different institutions. A search of the English language literature was performed using Medline database.

Results

Placental abnormalities suggestive of molar changes were seen on the prenatal ultrasound scans. Histologically, the cases had large, hydropic stem villi with myxomatous stroma, cistern formation and ‘chorangiomatoid’ changes. The placental and fetal karyotypes identified were trisomy 13 (47,XX,t(1:13)(q32;q32)+ 13); Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY) and triploidy (69,XXX). Including these 3 cases, of 66 reported cases, 51 (78%) were female and 14 (22%) male (ratio 3.6:1); the karyotype was normal in 32/36 (89%) and abnormal in 4/36 (11%); Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome was confirmed or suspected in 15/66 (23%). Excluding termination of pregnancies, intrauterine death occurred in 18/54 (33%) cases.

Conclusion

Molar ultrasonographic appearances associated with increased maternal serum alpha‐fetoprotein but normal, or slightly elevated, levels of ß human Chorionic Gonadotrophin should raise the clinical suspicion of PMD. The diagnosis of this condition should not be disregarded when an abnormal fetus and/or an abnormal karyotype are demonstrated. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The association of echogenic fetal lungs with trisomy 21
Authors: Grobman William A. , Wang Eileen , Shulman Lee P.
Published: March 2005

Objective

To evaluate the association between echogenic appearing lungs on ultrasonographic examination of the fetus and aneuploidy.

Methods

Cases in which echogenic lungs were prospectively identified on ultrasonographic examination were collected. Other abnormal ultrasonographic findings were documented, as were patient data pertinent to the risk of aneuploidy, such as maternal age and results of serum screening. The chromosomal complement of each identified case is reported.

Results

Five fetuses were identified with diffusely echogenic lungs on ultrasound examination over a two‐year period. In three of the five cases, there were other ultrasound abnormalities, although in only one of these was a major congenital abnormality detected. In all three of these cases, the fetal chromosomal complement showed trisomy 21. In 1 of the 2 cases in which the echogenic lungs were an isolated finding, the fetus also was found to have trisomy 21.

Conclusions

Bilateral and diffusely echogenic lungs appear to have an association with fetal trisomy 21. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Decomposition of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid Using He‐Ar‐O2 Dielectric Barrier Discharge
Authors: Kim Yoon‐Kee , Kim Seon Ae , Lee Soo Bin , Kim Jin Kil , Kang Duk‐Won
Published: March 2005

Summary: DBD generated by mid‐frequency AC (30 kHz) at atmospheric pressure was used for the degradation of EDTA in aqueous solution. The concentration of EDTA was measured by HPLC and TOC analysis. More than 90% of EDTA (initial concentration of 0.2 wt.‐%) was decomposed by DBD degradation, and the TOC content was reduced to below 60% of the initial value within one hour. The reaction was faster at high plasma generation voltages. At an applied voltage of 14 kV, 50% of EDTA was degraded by DBD degradation in only 10 min.

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On the Homogeneity of the Glow‐Like Barrier Discharge at Atmospheric Pressure
Authors: Golubovskii Y. B. , Maiorov V. A. , Behnke J. , Behnke J. F.
Published: March 2005

Summary: The transition of the barrier discharge in nitrogen in a space‐charge (glow) phase and the evolution of radial inhomogeneities are investigated on the basis of a two‐dimensional hydrodynamic model. At medium frequencies, when the primary mechanism of electron emission from the cathode is desorption of electrons, the final stage of the discharge is a filament. When the frequency of the external voltage is low and the electrons are emitted via UV photons, the initial perturbation significantly expands in a radial direction and a homogeneous glow‐like discharge covering the whole surface of the electrodes is observed.

Electron density in the Townsend phase of the discharge at low frequency.

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Electron density in the Townsend phase of the discharge at low frequency.
Underenumeration of the Jewish population in the UK 2001 Census
Authors: Graham David , Waterman Stanley
Published: March 2005

The size of the UK Jewish population has always been a source of uncertainty for demographers. Following considerable discussion and testing, a voluntary question on religion was introduced into the 2001 Census, which afforded the first opportunity to provide definitive answers to the socio‐demographic make‐up of Jews in Britain. However, examination of the 2001 Census figures and data from several large surveys suggests that the census population of 266,740 British Jews by religion is probably a considerable undercount. Jews are increasingly defining themselves in ethnic rather than religious terms, so there is reason to question the efficacy of the data derived from the current format of the census question on religion and identity in general. With growing demands for comprehensive planning of social service needs, the necessity for accurate data is more important than ever. Although much of this can be derived from the Census, there continues to be a key role for community‐wide surveys. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Race and the census in the Commonwealth
Authors: Christopher Anthony J.
Published: March 2005

Race has been a subject of enquiry in the majority of censuses in the Commonwealth. Although the validity of the investigation and the results have been open to question, the endeavour to collect taxonomic information has been universal. Few guidelines were offered by the London government, with the result that each colony tended to adopt its own system of classification, the majority of which were inherited after independence by the post‐colonial census administrations. In the attempt to depict the diversity of colonial societies, the classifications sought to solve a number of basic problems. The first was defining a European, which absorbed undue attention in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The second was to discern recognisable groups within indigenous societies, and the third to distinguish between immigrant communities. Many of the groupings that were identified in colonial times were retained thereafter. The problems encountered by colonial census commissioners thus remain, as only rarely has the exercise been abandoned. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flexible system for simulating and tele‐operating robots through the internet
Authors: Candelas F. A. , Puente S. T. , Torres F. , Segarra V. , Navarrete J.
Published: March 2005

Simulation and teleoperation tools offer many advantages for the training or learning of technological subjects, such as flexibility in time‐tables and student access to expensive and limited equipment. In this paper, we present a new system for simulating and tele‐operating robot arms through the Internet, which allows many users to simulate and test positioning commands for a robot by means of a virtual environment, as well as execute the validated commands in a real remote robot of the same characteristics. The main feature of the system is its flexibility in managing different robots or including new robot models and equipment. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Middle school students' beliefs about matter
Authors: Nakhleh Mary B. , Samarapungavan Ala , Saglam Yilmaz
Published: March 2005

The objective of this study was to examine middle school students' developing understanding of the nature of matter and to compare middle school students' ideas to those of elementary schools students, as was done by Nakhleh and Samarapungavan [J Res Sci Teach 36(7):777–805, 1999]. Nine middle school students were interviewed using a scripted, semistructured interview. The interview probed students' understanding of the composition and particulate (atomic/molecular) structure of a variety of material substances; the relationship between particulate structure and macroscopic properties such as fluidity and malleability; as well as understanding of processes such as phase transition and dissolving. The results indicate that most of the middle school students interviewed knew that matter was composed of atoms and molecules and some of them were able to use this knowledge to explain some processes such as phase transitions of water. In contrast, almost no elementary students knew that matter was composed of atoms and molecules. However, the middle school students were unable to consistently explain material properties or processes based on their knowledge of material composition. In contrast to elementary school students, who had scientifically inaccurate but relatively consistent (macrocontinuous or macroparticulate) knowledge frameworks, the middle school students could not be classified as having consistent knowledge frameworks because their ideas were very fragmented. The fragmentation of middle school students' ideas about matter probably reflects the difficulty of assimilating the microscopic level scientific knowledge acquired through formal instruction into students' initial macroscopic knowledge frameworks. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.