bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Board Accountability: Lessons from the Field
Authors: Holland Thomas P.
Published: May 2004

Accountability has become a major issue in the nonprofit sector. Numerous external and internal approaches to strengthening performance in this area exist, and many nonprofit boards expect their executives to account foruse of their organizations' resources. However, few boards apply any such expectations to themselves. Qualitative analysis of records from interviews, consultations, and meeting observations with 169 board members of thirty‐four diverse nonprofit organizations revealed six sets of practices that foster board accountability. They include setting clear expectations and standards for the group and for its members, actively using policies regarding conflicts of interests, identifying and staying focused on priorities, maintaining strong two‐way communications directly with constituency groups, conducting assessments of meetings and board performance, and experimenting intentionally with new approaches to their work. The experiences of these boards provide numerous examples of practical steps that others may consider when they seek to increase the value they add to their organizations as well as to strengthen public trust.
The Board as a Monitor of Organizational Activity: The Applicability of Agency Theory to Nonprofit Boards
Authors: Miller Judith L.
Published: May 2004

Monitoring, as an important function for boards of directors in both the private and nonprofit sectors, receives widespread attention throughout the empirical (Chait, Holland, and Taylor, 1996; Eisenhardt, 1989; Golden‐Biddle and Rao, 1997; Kosnik, 1987) and normative literature (Axelrod, 1994; Block, 1998; Carver, 1997; Houle, 1997; Ingram, 1989). Despite the consensus about the significance of this crucial board responsibility, scholars know little about the ways in which a nonprofit board actually performs its monitoring function. In this article I report on an empirical study of the monitoring behavior of twelve nonprofit boards of directors. Agency theory provides the framework for this analysis. I show that the way in which individual board members define their relationship with the chief executive and understand the scope of the monitoring function influences how, or if, they monitor agency action. The findings also show that, given ambiguous rules of accountability and unclear measures of performance, nonprofit board members tend to monitor in ways that reflect their professional or personal competencies rather than paying attention to measures that would indicate progress toward mission‐related goals and initiatives.
German welfare organizations and the process of European integration
Authors: Lange Chris
Published: May 2004

The process of European integration affects an increasing number of areas of life. The influence of the
European single market on the social sector, including organizations providing human services, can no longer be
denied. This article looks at the activities of the European Commission toward these organizations and argues
that European regulations are relevant to the German system of social service delivery due to the introduction
of market‐like features in the national context. Within this context, German welfare organizations have
discovered an important field of interest representation and lobbying.
Artists as Amateurs and Volunteers
Authors: Brooks Arthur C.
Published: May 2004

Scholarship on U.S. arts labor has generally focused only on professional artists. However, a large portion of the arts labor force is unpaid. This article takes the first steps toward characterizing both groups simultaneously and uses General Social Survey data (Davis, Smith, and Marsden, 1999) to build probabilistic portraits of active arts participation. Significant pre‐dictors of arts activity are race, region of residence, age, attendance at arts events, political ideology, gender, income, and education. These results have implications for cultural policy and future research on arts activity, especially that focusing on amateurs.
Revisiting the Prediction of Financial Vulnerability
Authors: Trussel John M.
Published: May 2004

Whether or not a nonprofit organization is vulnerable to financial problems is a concern of all stakeholders of the organization. Recently, Greenlee and Trussel (2000) and Trussel and Greenlee (2001) expanded Tuckman and Chang's work (1991) to predict which organizations are financially vulnerable. This article extends the work of these authors by developing a model of financial vulnerability that includes four financial indicators, controls for the sector to which an organization belongs, and is based on a sample of over ninety‐four thousand organizations. The model is useful as a screening, monitoring, and attention‐getting device.
Using Economic Theory and Research to Better Understand Volunteer Behavior
Authors: Govekar Paul L. , Govekar Michele A.
Published: May 2004

The literature on the determinants of volunteering for nonprofit organizations is highly complex, and noconceptual model has received general support (Winniford, Carpenter, and Grider, 1997). Researchers often cite the huge economic impact that nonprofit organizations have on the economy as a whole. However, they seldom mention the small but potentially important body of research on the determinants of the supply of volunteer labor that appears in the economics literature.

�The purpose of this article is to outline some of the economic arguments used to explain the determinants of volunteering and point out some cases where they may support other theories and concepts concerning the determinants of volunteering.
Is Corporate Engagement an Advocacy Strategy for NGOs?: The Community Aid Abroad Experience
Authors: Phillips Ruth
Published: May 2004

This article focuses on the question of whether corporate engagement can be used as an advocacy strategy for international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The article will explore some of the characteristics of corporate engagement by studying the corporate engagement experience of the Australian NGO Community Aid Abroad (CAA) in its program, the Mining Campaign. The risks that emerged for CAA from policy decisions and processes within the development of the campaign are of central concern.
Factors Influencing Women Entrepreneurs of NGOs in India
Authors: Handy Femida , Kassam Meenaz , Renade Shree
Published: May 2004

This article examines women entrepreneurs in the nonprofit sector. Entrepreneurial activity attracts certain kinds of individuals.Such self‐selection is not a random event but is influenced by personal characteristics as well as socioeconomic and cultural factors. This article examines women entrepreneurs in a particular segment of the nonprofit sector in India to determine which factors influence such self‐selection. Our research confirms findings by other scholars that nonprofit entrepreneurs receive a high payoff from promoting social causes. Furthermore, we find that previous experience in the sector, beliefs, culture, social class, education, and family background also play an important role. We explore some policy implications of our findings.
Self‐Help Groups in the Welfare State: Treatment Program or Voluntary Action?
Authors: Karlsson Magnus , Grassman Eva Jeppsson , Hansson Jan‐Håkan
Published: May 2004

This article identifies two different perspectives used when studying self‐help groups: the professional treatment perspective and the voluntary action perspective. An outline of the perspectives leads to a discussion of their consequences for self‐help group research. The authors categorize about five hundred scientific publications from all over the world on the basis of the perspectives they present on self‐help groups; the results indicate that different perspectives seem to be preferred in different countries and when discussing different subjects. Finally, the authors suggest questions and concepts that the perspectives generate, and they emphasize the importance of being aware of which perspective is used in the study of self‐help groups.
The Urge to Merge: A Multiple‐Case Study
Authors: Golensky Martha , DeRuiter Gerald L.
Published: May 2004

The authors undertook a comparative study of three recent mergers of nonprofit organizations in a Midwestern urban center, within the context of political‐economy theory. The research explored the impact of the same environmental factor, managed care, on the initial decisions by organizational leaders and the effects of these early decisions on subsequent actions taken to implement the merger. The study tested the authors' model of the motivations for merging, which proposes that the relationship between the decision‐making style of the leadership and the internal and external resources of the prospective partners determines whether the merger is driven primarily by mission, practicality, stability, or fear. Although the findings provide initial support for the hypotheses derived from the model, a demonstration of the differences in the approach to the merger by each organization indicated that other factors emerged as important driving forces during the various phases of the process.
Passive Support: No Support at All?
Authors: Wollebæk Dag , Selle Per
Published: May 2004

Several scholars have pointed out a shift from classic secondary associations to tertiary organizations based on passive support in Western countries. This development necessitates a better understanding of passive support within social science and voluntary sector management, on which strong opinions are expressed in the literature. This article attempts to contribute to the empirical basis for such opinions. We suggest that the current anxieties concerning the future of democracy if activity rates drop may be exaggerated.
The economics of performance management in nonprofit organizations
Authors: Speckbacher Gerhard
Published: May 2004

This article analyzes whether and how private‐sector notions of performance management apply to
nonprofit organizations. To this end the author shows that each concept of performance management used in the
private sector is based on a specific economic theory of the firm and its environment. Before transferring
concepts and tools derived from a certain model of the firm and its environment to nonprofit organizations, one
must determine whether the assumptions underlying this model are also adequate for nonprofit organizations.
Otherwise, one must first adjust those assumptions and analyze whether the derived concepts and tools are still
meaningful in the new context; if not, one must determine how to modify them accordingly. The analysis
elaborates on the differences between for‐profit and nonprofit organizations that are important for
applying performance management concepts. Moreover, the author discusses the practical implications for the use
of balanced scorecards in nonprofits.
Organizational transformation among NGOs, North and South
Authors: Snavely Keith , Kulygina Evgenia
Published: May 2004

Going Global: Transforming Relief and Development NGOs, by Marc Linberg and Coralie Bryant.
Bloomfield, Conn.: Kumarian Press, 2001. 271 pp., $25.95 cloth.

Towards Financial Self‐Reliance: A Handbook of Resource Mobilization for Civil Society
Organizations in the South, by Richard Holloway. London: Earthscan, 2001. 233 pp., $25.00 cloth.
Executive Compensation in the Nonprofit Sector
Authors: Oster Sharon M.
Published: May 2004

An examination of executive compensation in the nonprofit sector indicates that, as in the for‐profit sector, the salaries of nonprofit executive directors depend heavily upon the organization's size. Among nonprofits, both ideology and the composition of revenues substantially affect executive compensation levels. The results of this study indicate broad differences across segments of the nonprofit sector and a strong role for ideology in the setting of compensation.
The Adoption of the Corporate Governance Model by Nonprofit Organizations
Authors: Alexander Jeffrey A. , Weiner Bryan J.
Published: May 2004

This article examines the circumstances under which nonprofit organizations adopt corporate governance practices. In the study reported here, the authors found that adoption of corporate governance practices depends primarily on the presence of a supportive institutional (that is, value) context as well as available resources to support governance restructuring. These findings strongly suggest that the adoption of structures and practices from the for‐profit sector is neither a feasible nor even a desirable solution to problems facing many nonprofit organizations.
Contracting and Patterns of Nonprofit Governance
Authors: Saidel Judith R. , Harlan Sharon L.
Published: May 2004

Executive staff and board members in nonprofit organizations that operate with government grants and contracts often work together to perform important governance functions. This shared responsibility can be predicted by strong executive leadership of the board, a board with highly regarded members, and affiliation with an influential statewide or regional association. The results of our research suggest that the distribution of governance responsibility in nonprofit organizations with government revenues should command the attention of researchers and activists.
Reducing Funding Risk and Implementing a Fundraising Plan: A Case Study
Authors: Tyminski Robert
Published: May 2004

Small nonprofit organizations in the health care and human services fields can find themselves frozen into a dependence on government funding. They run the risk of constricting their management choices and neglecting other potential funding sources. Often a fundamental shift in attitude is necessary in order to deemphasize service‐based contracts and to transform private fundraising into a central activity of the business.
Popular Nonprofit Management Research Sources on CD‐ROM
Authors: Young Seth
Published: May 2004

Nonprofit World 1983–1996. Madison, Wis.: Learning Institute
for Nonprofit Organizations, 1997. $50 CD‐ROM.

FC Search: The Foundation Center's Database on CD‐ROM,
Version 2.0. New York: Foundation Center, 1997. $1,995 CD‐ROM
personal version.
Humanistic Leadership in the 1990s: Heart, Soul, and Head
Authors: Feeney Suzanne C.
Published: May 2004

The Leader of the Future: New Visions, Strategies, and Practices
for the Next Era, edited by Frances Hesselbein, Marshall
Goldsmith, and Richard Beckhard. San Francisco: Jossey‐
Bass, 1996. 319 pp., $25.00 cloth.

Leading with Soul: An Uncommon Journey of Spirit, by Lee G.
Bolman and Terrence E. Deal. San Francisco: Jossey‐Bass,
1995. 195 pp., $20.00 cloth.

Leading and Managing the Expressive Dimension: Harnessing
the Hidden Power Source of the Nonprofit Sector, by
David E. Mason. San Francisco: Jossey‐Bass, 1996. 323 pp.,
$29.95 cloth.
Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness: Contrasts Between Especially Effective and Less Effective Organizations
Authors: Herman Robert D. , Renz David O.
Published: May 2004

How do key stakeholders of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) judge the effectiveness of their organization? Are the judgments of stakeholders similar, and how are board effectiveness and the use of practitioner‐identified correct management procedures related to judgments of effectiveness? This study focuses on a subset of especially effective and less effective NPOs from a larger sample and finds that the especially effective have more effective boards (as judged by various stakeholder groups), have boards with higher social prestige, use more practitioner‐identified correct management procedures, and use more change management strategies. Practical implications discussed include adopting more correct management procedures and change management strategies.
Business Leaders and Nonprofits
Authors: Austin James E.
Published: May 2004

How do nonprofits figure into the lives of business leaders? And how do business leaders figure into the lives of nonprofits? The intersections exist but there is relatively little systematic research to document empirically this piece of the nonprofit picture. This article aims to help fill that void by presenting research results regarding the who, when, where, why, how, and so what of the involvement of businesspeople in the nonprofit sector, particularly as board members.
An Organization Design Model for Nonprofits
Authors: Shoichet Richard
Published: May 2004

This article proposes that designers of nonprofit public service organizations must get outside a two‐dimensional paradigm of effectiveness and efficiency. The strength of the model is the integration of three parameters, showing how planning, productivity, and politics run through an organizational system and how these dimensions can be aligned for greater leverage. The model simplifies design and diagnosis, allowing managers to initiate change in an incremental and holistic way.
The Fuss About NGOs—Are They Worth It?
Authors: Montague Joel
Published: May 2004

Beyond the Magic Bullet: NGO Performance and Accountability in the Post‐Cold War World, edited by Michael Edwards and David Hulme. West Hartford, Conn.: Kumarian Press, with Save the Children, 1996. 286 pp., $38.00 cloth, $18.95 paper.

NGOs, States, and Donors: Too Close for Comfort? edited by David Hulme and Michael Edwards. New York: St. Martin's Press, with Save the Children, 1997. 300 pp., $59.95 cloth.

Nongovernmental Organizations and Health in Developing Countries, by Andrew Green and Ann Matthias. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1997. 225 pp., $59.95 cloth.
Accountability in Nonprofit Organizations
Authors: Greenlee Janet S.
Published: May 2004

Accountability, Performance Reporting, Comprehensive Audit:
An Integrated Perspective, by Guy LeClerc, W. David Moynagh,
Jean‐Pierre Boisclair, and Hugh R. Hanson. Ottawa:
CCAF‐FCVI (Canadian Comprehensive Auditing Foundation‐
Fondation Canadienne pour la Verification Integral),
1996. 373 pp., $85.00 (Canadian, plus shipping) cloth.

Managing for Accountability: Preserving the Public Trust in
Public and Nonprofit Organizations, by Kevin P. Kearns. San
Francisco: Jossey‐Bass, 1996. 255 pp., $27.95 cloth.
Effective Ministerial Leadership
Authors: Butler D. Martin , Herman Robert D.
Published: May 2004

Ministers of local congregations are in positions somewhat similar to the chief executives of other local nonprofit organizations, except that ministers are also expected to respond to the specifically religious needs of their congregants. In this article we assess how especially effective ministers in one denomination differ from less effective ministers in both general leadership skills and specifically religious leadership skills. The especially effective ministers were identified by applying three selection methods, resulting in an unusually careful selection of a sample of especially effective leaders. The results show that the especially effective are more skillful managers, problem solvers, planners, delegators, change agents, shepherds, inspirers, multitaskers, students, and servants and demonstrate themselves to be persons of integrity.
Requisite Variety of Strategic Management Modes: A Cultural Study of Strategic Actions in a Deterministic Environment
Authors: Maranville Steven J.
Published: May 2004

This article presents the results of a qualitative study that examines the modes by which strategy emanates in a nonprofit human services organization, externally controlled by its funding sources. The strategy‐making process is broached by proposing a taxonomy of strategic modes arranged into the Hrebiniak and Joyce (1985) framework. In light of Ashby's law of requisite variety (1968), this study contends that the subject organization's context of environmental determinism should lead to a culturally based configuration of traditional, spontaneous, and dialectical modes. The results support the proposition for requisite variety. This research presents valuable implications for the study and practice of strategic management‐especially regarding strategic learning and change within externally controlled nonprofit organizations.
Using Suggested Contributions in Fundraising for Public Good
Authors: Marks Melanie B. , Schansberg D. Eric , Croson Rachel T.A.
Published: May 2004

This article presents a provision point mechanism experiment designed to investigate the impact of suggested contributions in a public‐good contribution process. We find that suggesting contributions is ineffective if subjects value the public good equally. However, if valuations for the public good differ among individuals, as they do in the real world, we find that contribution suggestions increase the likelihood of providing the public good, increase the fraction of individuals contributing their suggested share, and improve the equity of the distribution of contributions.
The Perils of Practice
Authors: Brudney Jeffrey L.
Published: May 2004

On April 27‒29, 1997, Philadelphia hosted the first‐ever Presidents' Summit for America's Future, an historic meeting that brought unprecedented attention to volunteerism in service to the nation's young people. Based on the experience and careful analysis of a summit delegate, this article concludes that although the spotlight afforded volunteerism was helpful, the hard work to be done by the local delegations to accomplish the summit agenda is not likely to be as successful as organizers hope because of limitations in follow‐up mechanisms and in the capacity and expertise of nonprofit organizations to integrate and manage volunteers effectively.
Leaders' Attitudes and Computer Use in Religious Congregations
Authors: Berlinger Lisa R. , Te'eni Dov
Published: May 2004

This study explores the attitudes of leaders of religious congregations toward computers. We uncover attitudes toward information (and thus toward computers) that are different from those reported for leaders in other organizational contexts. In short, clergy felt that systematically collecting and storing information and trying to serve as many people as possible could distract them from what is distinctive about their jobs—that the job in a religious congregation is accomplished through personal rather than transactional relationships.
Achieving Growth and High Quality by Strategic Intent
Authors: Sheehan Jr. Rober M.
Published: May 2004

Can nonprofits simultaneously pursue continuous rapid growth and maintain high‐quality delivery of services? This article is the story of the five‐year experience of one nonprofit that has attempted to apply the concept of “strategic intent” to its operations in pursuit of this question. The idea of continuous rapid growth seemingly dismisses the possibility of continued high quality. But in a day when expansion of quality services is needed in many segments of the nonprofit sector, the notion of the possibility of rapid growth in services with high quality is of great interest.
Four Books on Nonprofit Boards and Governance
Authors: Fletcher Kathleen
Published: May 2004

Governing Boards, by Cyril O. Houle. San Francisco: Jossey‐
Bass, 1997. 223 pp., $21.95 paper.

Boards That Make a Difference: A New Design for Leadership
in Nonprofit and Public Organizations, by John Carver. 2nd
ed. San Francisco: Jossey‐Bass, 1997, 241 pp., $28.95 cloth.

Perfect Nonprofit Boards: Myths, Paradoxes, and Paradigms,
by Stephen R. Block. Needham Heights, Mass.: Simon &
Schuster, 1998, 149 pp., $21.95 paper.

Nonprofit Boards: Roles, Responsibilities, and Performance, by
Diane J. Duca. New York: Wiley, 1996, 192 pp., $29.95 cloth.
The spirit of leadership and a commitment to quality transform SSM health care system
Authors: Ryan Sr. Mary Jean
Published: May 2004

SSM Health Care has become something of an icon as the first health care organization to win the coveted Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The success of SSM's larger quest—to be the best it can possibly be—owes much to its continuous improvement framework, discipline, commitment, and process, and to the firm belief that every SSM employee has the capacity to lead. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Equality and diversity
Authors: Batstone David
Published: May 2004

Journalist David Batstone here explores workplace balance, diversity, and equality—one of his principles for deciding whether an organization is as credible, trustworthy, and soluble as it seems. He profiles five companies and their successful approaches for building a balanced workforce, nurturing a tolerant culture, and reaching out to underrepresented groups in their customer and supplier bases. © 2003 David Batstone
Relationships between processing conditions and rheological behavior of polyethylenes
Authors: Kulichikhin V. , Borisenkova E. , Plotnikova E. , Vasil'ev G. , Kotomin S. , Merrick‐Mack J. , O'Reilly N.
Published: May 2004

The rheological properties of high‐density polyethylene melts were found to change drastically after treatment with oxygen or peroxide. Unusual features of the treated melts in shear flow (190°C) included (a) increase in length of time to reach steady state values of shear stress in start‐up experiments; (b) a non‐reproducibility of the low‐shear rate sections of the flow curves measured at increasing and decreasing shear rate; (c) an increase of viscosity at low shear rates compared to the neat sample. Under non‐stationary extensional flow (a regime of constant force) the treatment leads to a change in shape of the strain development with time, an increase of the apparent elongational viscosity, and an increase in time to break. At 150–170°C, the rheological behavior of the treated polyethylenes is completely identical to the corresponding behavior of the untreated. These results, together with data from IR‐spectroscopy and GPC suggest the following mechanism: The oxidation or peroxidation leads to reactive sites in the polymer chain that incorporate a few long branches during the initial contact with oxygen or peroxide. These reactive sites remain in the polymer after cooling/solidification and can become activated again upon heating to 190°C causing additional changes in molecular structure. Formation of the long‐chain branches results in an increased resistance of the melt to extensional deformation, and an improvement in processing behavior, as well as the quality of bottles produced by the blow‐molding process. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:615–624, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Formation of a fibrillar morphology of crosslinked epoxy in a polystyrene continuous phase by reactive extrusion
Authors: Fenouillot Françoise , Perier‐Camby Hervé
Published: May 2004

An immiscible polymer blend where the dispersed phase is fibrillar was prepared by in situ crosslinking of the minor phase. A model polystyrene/epoxy‐amine blend was selected on the basis of rheological (achievement of the fibrillar structure) and reactivity (fast crosslinking) criteria. The system was a polystyrene/diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA)‐aminoethyl piperazine (AEP) blend. At the temperature of extrusion, 180°C, the DGEBA is immiscible in PS and heterogeneous material is obtained. The elongational flow imposed by drawing the extrudate at the die exit permitted controlled generation of a fibrillar morphology of the dispersed epoxy phase, with a fiber diameter of 1 μm and an aspect ratio greater than 100. It was shown that when the amine comonomer was injected into the extruder, its reactivity with DGEBA at high temperature was high enough to ensure partial crosslinking of the epoxy. The fibrils were formed even though the gel point of the epoxy phase was exceeded. However, above a certain critical insoluble fraction that we estimated to be between 45% and 70%, a coarsening of the structure appeared, caused by the decreasing deformability of the domains and their coalescence. Finally, for our system, the crosslinking of the dispersed phase up to 90% of insoluble fraction did not totally stabilize the morphology after the second processing step (injection molding). Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:625–637, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Interface evolution and penetration behavior during two‐component transfer molding. Part I: Modeling and formulation
Authors: Li C. T. , Isaye A. I.
Published: May 2004

A theoretical study of pressure‐controlled sequential sandwich transfer molding of rubber compounds under isothermal conditions has been carried out to obtain a two‐layered sandwich structure. A physical model, numerical simulation procedure, and a numerical algorithm have been formulated based on the Hele‐Shaw approximation along with the kinematics and dynamics of interface evolution. Based on the developed numerical simulation code, the effect of various processing conditions on the material distribution and interface shape can be evaluated and predicted. Comparison with experiments is carried out in Part II of this study. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:687–696, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Structure‐property relationship in polyaniline‐filled castor oil based chain extended polyurethanes
Authors: Swamy B. K. Kendaganna , Siddaramaiah  , Somashekarappa H. , Somashekar R.
Published: May 2004

A series of polyaniline (Pani)‐filled chain extended polyurethanes (PUs) were prepared by condensation polymerization of castor oil with methylene diisocyanate (MDI) as crosslinker and diamino diphenyl sulfone (DDS) as chain extender. The effect of different amounts of Pani (varying from 5% to 25%) on the chain extended PUs has been reported. The Pani‐filled chain extended PU sheets were characterized by their physico‐mechanical properties such as density, tensile strength, percentage elongation at break and surface hardness. Electrical properties, such as volume and surface conductivity, also have been reported. These results are corroborated with microcrystalline parameters of PU/Pani estimated using wide angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS). Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:772–778, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Radical copolymerization of cyclic diarsine with vinyl monomers
Authors: Umeyama Tomokazu , Naka Kensuke , Chujo Yoshiki
Published: May 2004

1,2,4,5‐Tetramethyltetrahydrodiarsenine (1), a cyclic diarsine compound, was stirred with styrene and a catalytic amount of 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as a radical initiator at 80 °C for 8 h in toluene to give a copolymer containing arsenic atoms in the backbone. The gel permeation chromatography (GPC) chromatogram of the copolymer showed a single peak. The number‐average molecular weight of the copolymer was estimated to be more than 10,000 by GPC analysis (CHCl3, polystyrene standards). The structure of the copolymer was confirmed by the 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra. According to the integral ratio of peaks in the 1H‐NMR spectrum, the content of 1 in the copolymer was smaller compared to the monomer feed ratio of 1. Radical copolymerization of 1 with methyl methacrylate also provided the corresponding copolymer in the presence of AIBN, whereas copolymerization with vinyl acetate yielded no polymeric material. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3023–3028, 2004
New polyurethanes and polyesters for second‐order nonlinear optical applications
Authors: Casalboni M. , Caruso U. , De Maria A. , Fusco M. , Panunzi B. , Quatela A. , Roviello A. , Sarcinelli F. , Sirigu A.
Published: May 2004

New polymers for second‐order nonlinear optical (NLO) applications were synthesized and characterized. They were distinguished by the presence of chromophore groups, with various molecular hyperpolarizability values, used as pendants on substantially rigid backbones. The polymers were prepared through the reaction of tolylene‐2,4‐diisocyanate, or a suitable alkyloxyphthaloyl dichloride, with the N,N‐diethanol‐4‐(phenyl) group azo‐linked to a nitrofluorenone, nitrostilbene, nitrooxadiazole, or nitrothiadiazole moiety. The polymers exhibited good thermal stability, high glass‐transition temperatures, and an absence of crystallinity. The second‐order NLO properties of thin, transparent poled films, prepared by spin coating and thermal corona poling, were investigated for some of the polymers. The second harmonic coefficients, ranging between 18 and 25 pm/V, depended more on the alignment of the chromophore groups along the direction of the poling field than on their molecular hyperpolarizability. The temporal stability of the NLO properties of the polymers was also investigated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3013–3022, 2004
Synthesis and characterization of epoxidized polybutadiene/polyaniline graft conducting copolymer
Authors: De Risi F. R. , D'Ilario L. , Martinelli A.
Published: May 2004

In this article the synthesis and characterization of an elastomeric conducting material, obtained by grafting polyaniline (EB) on commercial cis‐1,4‐polybutadiene (PB), are described. PB was first partially epoxidized in chloroform solution using meta‐chloroperbenzoic acid (MCPBA). The conducting polymer was then grafted to the activated polybutadiene (EPB) via the aminolysis reaction between the polyaniline NH2 terminal groups and the oxirane rings. The material so obtained (EPBPAN) and the epoxidized intermediate product were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, Fourier transform infrared, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, thermal and mechanical analysis, and electrical conductivity measurements. The effect of the sample deformation on conductivity also was analyzed. The HCl doping of the EPBPAN film induced crosslinking reactions, generated by the acid cleavage of unreacted oxirane groups. The electrical conductivity of the doped material reached values of about 10−5 Ω−1 cm−1. The key characteristics of our elastomeric conducting material are its simple synthesis, its starting as a commercial product, and the solubility of its undoped form in a common low‐boiling organic solvent like chloroform. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3082–3090, 2004
Synthesis and characterization of hyperbranched poly(urea‐urethane)s based on AA* and B2B* monomers
Authors: Abdelrehim Mona , Komber Hartmut , Langenwalter Joseph , Voit Brigitte , Bruchmann Bernd
Published: May 2004

Hyperbranched aromatic and aliphatic poly(urea‐urethane)s were prepared by the one‐pot method using 2,4‐toluylene diisocyanate (TDI), isophorone diisocyanate, and 2(3‐isocyanatopropyl)cyclohexyl isocyanate as AA* monomers and diethanol amine and diisopropanol amine as B2B* monomers. The characteristics of the resulting polymers were very sensitive to slight changes in the reaction conditions, such as temperature, concentration, and type of catalyst used, as can be seen from the results of gel permeation chromatography and differential scanning calorimetry. The structures were analyzed in detail using 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. By using model compounds, the different isomeric structures of the TDI polymers were deduced, their percentages of their linear, terminal, and dendritic subunits were calculated, and their degree of branching (DB) was determined. DB values up to 70% were reached depending on the reaction conditions and stoichiometry of the monomers. The number of terminal groups decreased significantly when dibutylamine was used to stop the reaction instead of B2B*, indicating the presence of a significant number of unreacted isocyanate groups in the hyperbranched product when the polyaddition reaction was stopped. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3062–3081, 2004
Zeolite‐supported metallocene catalyst for ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization
Authors: Marques Maria De Fátima V. , Marinha Ana Beatriz A. S.
Published: May 2004

Commercial zeolite acid mordenite was thermally treated for use as a support for bis(n‐butyl‐cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride [(n‐BuCp)2ZrCl2] for the further evaluation of ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization. The polymerization time, temperature, and solvent, as well as the addition of tri(isobutyl)aluminum in the hexane medium, were evaluated. The catalytic activity and 1‐hexene content in the copolymer synthesized with the supported system were very near those obtained with the homogeneous precursor. A comonomer effect was observed for both systems. The polymerization rate profiles were obtained for ethylene polymerization, and the activation energy and monomer reactivity were calculated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3038–3048, 2004
High‐quality poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐p‐phenylenevinylene] synthesized by a solid–liquid two‐phase reaction: Characterizations and electroluminescence properties
Authors: Wu Xufeng , Shi Gaoquan , Chen Feng'En , Han Shaohu , Peng Junbiao
Published: May 2004

Poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐p‐phenylenevinylene] (MEH‐PPV) with a molar mass of 26–47 × 104 g mol−1 and a polydispersity of 2.5–3.2 was synthesized by a liquid–solid two‐phase reaction. The liquid phase was tetrahydrofuran (THF) containing 1,4‐bis(chloromethyl)‐2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)benzene as the monomer and a certain amount of tetrabutylammonium bromide as a phase‐transfer catalyst. The solid phase consisted of potassium hydroxide particles with diameters smaller than 0.5 mm. The reaction was carried out at a low temperature of 0 °C and under nitrogen protection. No gelation was observed during the polymerization process, and the polymer was soluble in the usual organic solvents, such as chloroform, toluene, THF, and xylene. A polymer light‐emitting diode was fabricated with MEH‐PPV as an active luminescent layer. The device had an indium tin oxide/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxylthiophene) (PEDOT)/MEH‐PPV/Ba/Al configuration. It showed a turn‐on voltage of 3.3 V, a luminescence intensity at 6.1 V of 550 cd/m2, a luminescence efficiency of 0.43 cd/A, and a quantum efficiency of 0.57%. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3049–3054, 2004
Effect of raised lung volume technique on subsequent measures of V′maxFRC in infants
Authors: Lum S. , Hulskamp G. , Hoo A.‐F. , Ljungberg H. , Stocks J.
Published: May 2004

Partial and “full” forced expiratory maneuvers are both used to assess airway function in infants. Despite the increasing use of the raised volume technique, there is little information regarding the influence of lung inflations as are necessary for the raised volume technique on other measurements of lung function in infants. The aim of this study was to assess whether application of the raised volume technique influences subsequent tidal measurements of maximal expired flow at functional residual capacity (V′maxFRC). Paired measurements of V′maxFRC were obtained in 29 healthy infants (aged 6–65 weeks) before and after raised volume maneuvers, wherein a lung inflation pressure of 3 kPa was used. When compared with measurements prior to raising lung volume, there was a highly significant (P < 0.001) decrease in V′maxFRC by 40 ml · sec−1 when measurements were repeated (95% CI, −59, −20 ml · sec−1), equivalent to a reduction of 20% or −0.6 SD scores in flows. There was no significant change in selected tidal breathing parameters, 95% CI of differences between the two sets of measurements being −1.5, 1.2 bpm for respiratory rate; −0.5, 0.2 ml · kg−1 for weight corrected tidal volume, and −0.04, 0.01 for tidal breathing ratio (tPTEF:tE). In conclusion, although the mechanism remains unclear, raised volume maneuvers may influence subsequent measures of lung function in infants. Further research is needed to clarify the potential mechanisms. In the meantime, the potential impact of the order of lung function tests within any given study protocol should be considered carefully. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transient phrenic nerve paralysis associated with status asthmaticus
Authors: Santuz Pierantonio , Piccoli Alessandra , Zaglia Federico , Biban Paolo
Published: May 2004

Phrenic nerve paralysis is a condition typically occurring after invasive procedures in the chest and neck. Here we describe a case of transient unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis in a child with status asthmaticus complicated by complete right lung atelectasis. Common causes of this disorder and possible implications for our case are discussed. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cyproheptadine is an effective appetite stimulant in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Homnick Douglas N. , Homnick Benjamin D. , Reeves Andrew J. , Marks John H. , Pimentel Ronald S. , Bonnema Sally K.
Published: May 2004

Chronic pulmonary infection and intestinal malabsorption often lead to malnutrition in children and adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). Appetite stimulants, along with provision of adequate calories, may aid in overcoming nutritional deficits, allowing a better prognosis. We undertook a trial of cyproheptadine hydrochloride (CH) to determine its effectiveness as an appetite stimulant in 18 adults and children with CF. This was a 12‐week, randomized, double‐blind, controlled trial of CH vs. placebo. Eighteen subjects with documented CF (sweat or genetics positive), minimum age of 5 years, and ideal body weight for height <100% were entered, and 16 completed the study. Subjects were seen at baseline and every 4 weeks. Measures included baseline demographics, Shwachman score, anthropometrics (weight, height, body mass index, skin folds, and body composition by bioelectric impedance analysis), spirometry, caloric intake, days of oral (PO) and intravenous (IV) antibiotics, and a symptom and satisfaction survey. Subjects in the CH group showed significant increases in weight (mean 3.45 kg vs. 1.1 kg in the placebo group), height, BMI percentiles, ideal body weight/height, weight for age z‐scores, and fat and fat‐free mass. There were no changes or differences in PO or IV antibiotic use or spirometric changes. No significant side effects except transient mild sedation occurred in the CH group. Patient acceptance was good. In conclusion, CH appears to be an effective appetite stimulant with minimal side effects in children and adults with CF. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bilirubin influence on oxidative lung damage and surfactant surface tension properties
Authors: Dani Carlo , Martelli Elena , Tronchin Michele , Buonocore Giuseppe , Longini Mariangela , Di Filippo Alessandro , Giossi Massimo , Rubaltelli Firmino F.
Published: May 2004

To study the hypothesis that hyperbilirubinemia might reduce in vivo oxidative lung damage while also diminishing lung surfactant surface tension properties during acute lung injury, we performed a randomized study in a rabbit model of acute lung injury. Twenty rabbits were randomized to receive bilirubin or saline intravenously. Acute lung injury was induced by lung lavages with saline. Lung tissue oxidation was evaluated by measuring total hydroperoxide (TH), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), and protein carbonyls (PC) in bronchial aspirate (BA) samples. Surface surfactant activity was studied in BA samples using a capillary surfactometer. Bilirubin BA concentration increased in bilirubin‐treated rabbits, while it remained undetectable in controls. A similar increase in TH, AOPP, and PC bronchial aspirate concentrations was found in both the study and control groups, while surfactant surface activity was lower in the bilirubin than in the control group. We conclude that during hyperbilirubinemia, bilirubin enters the lung tissue, where it can be detected in BA fluid. Bilirubin is not effective as an antioxidant agent and exerts a detrimental effect on lung surfactant surface tension properties. These findings may have relevance to the management of premature neonates suffering from respiratory distress syndrome and hyperbilirubinemia. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Serum vitamin D levels in children with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Chavasse R.J. , Francis J. , Balfour‐Lynn I. , Rosenthal M. , Bush A.
Published: May 2004

Osteopenia is increasingly recognized in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF), and is potentially related to vitamin D deficiency in both adulthood and childhood. Vitamin D supplements are recommended and prescribed to all pancreatic‐insufficient patients. We aimed to ascertain whether vitamin D deficiency in children with CF was prevalent. 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25‐OHD) was measured in 290 children attending a specialist pediatric CF clinic for annual assessment. 25‐OHD levels were compared with reference values and to other biochemical markers, lung function, and growth. Levels were also analyzed by pancreatic status and by the presence of CF‐related liver disease. Median 25‐OHD was 65 (range, 9–190) nmol/l. One percent had levels below 15 nmol/l, and 6% had levels less than 25 nmol/l. Levels were lower in adolescents (P < 0.001) and during the “winter” months (P < 0.001). No relationship was found with pancreatic status or liver disease. In conclusion, the majority of children had normal 25‐OHD levels. Interpretation is difficult due to a lack of knowledge of optimal levels of 25‐OHD required for healthy bone accretion. Lower levels in adolescents may be a precursor to low levels in adulthood, and did not seem to be simply related to poor compliance with supplementation. This may reflect normal physiology. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The (CuGaSe2)1−x (MgSe)x alloy system (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5): X‐ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectrometry and differential thermal analysis
Authors: Grima Gallardo P. , Muñoz M. , Delgado G. E. , Briceño J. M. , Ruiz J.
Published: May 2004

The (CuGaSe2)1−x(MgSe)x alloy system (0 < x ≤ 0.5) was investigated using X‐ray powder diffraction, energy dispersion spectrometry and differential thermal analysis. The solubility of MgSe in CuGaSe2 was found to be nearly complete for all the compositions studied, although traces of MgSe appear as a secondary phase at x ≥ 0.15. All the alloys showed the chalcopyrite structure and the lattice parameters of the unit cell do not follow a linear behavior but showed a soft local maximum at x ∼ 0.15. In the single‐phase field, the increasing behavior of the lattice parameters can be reproduced using an extension for quaternary alloys of Jaffe and Zunger's model for chalcopyrites. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Intersubband optical absorption in parabolic quantum wires under a tilted magnetic field
Authors: Ibragimov G. B.
Published: May 2004

We have analyzed the intersubband absorption process in parabolic quantum wires in the presence of a tilted magnetic field. We show that for an increasing magnetic field, the intersubband absorption peak is shifted higher in energy and the peak amplitude is increased. In particular, it is shown that the direction of the magnetic field plays a significant role in the intersubband optical absorption. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Preparation and characterization of (CuInSe2)1−x(CoSe)x alloys in the composition range 0 ≤ x ≤ 2/3
Authors: Grima‐Gallardo P. , Muñoz M. , Ruiz J. , Power C. , González J. , LeGodec Y. , Munsch P. , Itié J. P. , Briceño V. , Briceño J. M.
Published: May 2004

Polycrystalline samples of (CuInSe2)1−x(CoSe)x alloys were prepared by the normal melt and anneal technique in the composition range 0 < x ≤ 2/3. The obtained ingots were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis techniques. A sample with x = 2/3 (prepared a posteriori) was also studied by the Raman shift technique. The results showed a complex behavior of the phase diagram. The phase (α) with chalcopyrite structure exists in a narrow interval 0 < x < 0.1 in the composition range; then, for 0.1 < x < 0.25, the ordered α phase gradually transforms into a disordered (α′) phase where the cation sites are multi‐occupied (Cu, Co and In) at random. For 0.25 < x < 0.35, two phases were observed, the α′ phase and another, not identified (γ) phase. Finally, for 0.35 < x < 2/3, another chalcopyrite‐like phase (α″) was observed together with traces of the γ phase. The sequence of phase transformations in the studied composition range seems to be α → α′ → α′ + γ → α″ + γ. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)