bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Better land husbandry in Honduras: towards the new paradigm in conserving soil, water and productivity
Authors: Hellin J. , Haigh M. J.
Published: August 2002

Land shortages are forcing more smallholder farmers to cultivate tropical steeplands. Resulting accelerated soil erosion is being countered by the promotion of soil conservation (SC) technologies, such as cross‐slope barriers, which aim to reduce soil loss and preserve land productivity. However, farmer adoption rates tend to be low. This is often attributed to the farmers' conservatism or lack of education. Research in Honduras's steeplands demonstrates that farmers value SC, provided that it promotes agricultural production. Field research from 1995–98, involving farmed test plots on slopes greater than 35 per cent (19 degrees), demonstrates that at least one typical SC technology—live barriers of Vetiveria zizanioides (vetiver grass)—has little or no impact on maize yield. This means that farmers see little benefit from their investment in the SC method. They find that erratic rainfall, pests and diseases and a lack of economic resources are far greater threats to their livelihoods than soil erosion. Consequently, SC has a low priority. Keeping soil in place avoids major off‐farm disbenefits. However, the SC technique tested here made no discernible difference to slope foot sediment yields during the life of this study. In sum, a new approach is needed. Promoting ‘Better Land Husbandry’ strategies, which seek to combine farmers' concerns about productivity with conservationists' concerns about reducing soil erosion—often via cover‐management—seem to be the best way forward. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Deregulated expression of the PCPH proto‐oncogene in rat mammary tumors induced with 7,12‐dimethylbenz[a]anthracene
Authors: Solanas Montserrat , Escrich Eduard , Rouzaut Ana , Costa Irmgard , Martínez Alfredo , Notario Vicente
Published: August 2002

The PCPH proto‐oncogene was identified by its frequent activation in Syrian hamster fetal cells exposed to 3‐methylcholanthrene. We previously isolated human PCPH cDNA and studied its expression in normal human tissues. We report herein the pattern of PCPH expression in normal rat tissues. Each tissue expressed one major PCPH polypeptide that varied in molecular mass in different tissues. Normal mammary gland expressed a single PCPH polypeptide of 27 kDa. This PCPH form also was expressed in lactating mammary glands but at significantly greater levels. These results suggest the existence of tissue‐specific regulatory mechanisms for PCPH expression that may be influenced by the differentiation stage. Our previous studies on the involvement of PCPH in human cancer showed that human breast tumor cell lines have frequent alterations in PCPH, including multiple PCPH polypeptide forms that are not expressed in normal cells. These cell lines also have frequent loss of a 27‐kDa form identified as the only PCPH polypeptide expressed by normal human breast epithelial cells. In this study, we found that these same alterations occurred in vivo during mammary carcinogenesis in Sprague‐Dawley rats treated with 7,12‐dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, in both benign and malignant tumors, indicating that stable changes in PCPH expression took place early in the neoplastic process. Results showed that this experimental system is relevant to human breast carcinogenesis and provides an excellent model to study the molecular basis of the regulation of PCPH expression during normal differentiation and pathologic stages of neoplasia of the mammary gland and to analyze the role of PCPH in the carcinogenic process. Furthermore, the detection of atypical PCPH polypeptides in tumors suggests that PCPH immunodetection may be applied as a diagnostic tool for the early identification of neoplastic breast epithelial cells. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Role of extracellular signal–regulated kinase pathway in RRR‐α‐tocopheryl succinate–induced differentiation of human MDA‐MB‐435 breast cancer cells
Authors: You Huihong , Yu Weiping , Munoz‐Medellin Debbie , Brown Powel H. , Sanders Bob G. , Kline Kimberly
Published: August 2002

RRR‐α‐tocopheryl succinate (vitamin E succinate, VES) induces differentiation of human breast cancer cells. Previous studies ruled out transforming growth factor‐β and c‐jun N‐terminal kinase involvement in VES‐induced differentiation but implicated extracellular signal–regulated kinases (ERKs). Here we show that dominant‐negative mutants of either mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) 1 or ERK1 blocked VES‐induced differentiation of MDA‐MB‐435 cells, as measured by induction of cytokeratin 18 and p21 (Waf1/Cip1) proteins. Blockage of c‐jun protein expression using c‐jun antisense oligonucleotides or expression of an inducible dominant‐negative c‐jun mutant protein inhibited VES‐induced differentiation. Elevated expression of wild‐type c‐jun alone was sufficient to induce cellular differentiation. A role for p21 (Waf1/Cip1) is implicated, in that p21 antisense oligomers blocked VES‐induced differentiation. In summary, MEK1, ERK1, the transcription factor c‐jun, and the cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor p21 (Waf1/Cip1) play a part in VES‐induced differentiation of human MDA‐MB‐435 breast cancer cells. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transformation of kidney epithelial cells by a quinol thioether via inactivation of the tuberous sclerosis‐2 tumor suppressor gene
Authors: Yoon Hae‐Seong , Monks Terrence J. , Walker Cheryl L. , Lau Serrine S.
Published: August 2002

Although hydroquinone (HQ) is a rodent carcinogen, because of its lack of mutagenicity in standard bacterial mutagenicity assays it is generally considered a nongenotoxic carcinogen. 2,3,5‐Tris‐(glutathion‐S‐yl)HQ (TGHQ) is a potent nephrotoxic metabolite of HQ that may play an important role in HQ‐mediated nephrocarcinogenicity. TGHQ mediates cell injury by generating reactive oxygen species and covalently binding to tissue macromolecules. We determined the ability of HQ and TGHQ to induce cell transformation in primary renal epithelial cells derived from the Eker rat. Eker rats possess a germline inactivation of one allele of the tuberous sclerosis‐2 (Tsc‐2) tumor suppressor gene that predisposes the animals to renal cell carcinoma. Treatment of primary Eker rat renal epithelial cells with HQ (25 and 50 μM) or TGHQ (100 and 300 μM) induced 2‐ to 4‐fold and 6‐ to 20‐fold increases in cell transformation, respectively. Subsequently, three cell lines (The QT‐RRE 1, 2, and 3) were established from TGHQ‐induced transformed colonies. The QT‐RRE cell lines exhibited a broad range of numerical cytogenetic alterations, loss of heterozygosity at the Tsc‐2 gene locus, and loss of expression of tuberin, the protein encoded by the Tsc‐2 gene. Only heterozygous (Tsc‐2EK/+) kidney epithelial cells were susceptible to transformation by HQ and TGHQ, as wild‐type cells (Tsc‐2+/+) showed no increase in transformation frequency over background levels following chemical exposure. These data indicate that TGHQ and HQ are capable of directly transforming rat renal epithelial cells and that the Tsc‐2 tumor suppressor gene is an important target of TGHQ‐mediated renal epithelial cell transformation. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cervical dystonia in monozygotic twins: Case report and review of the literature
Authors: Wunderlich Silke , Reiners Karlheinz , Gasser Thomas , Naumann Markus
Published: August 2002

We report on monozygotic male twins of German origin with early onset cervical dystonia. No other family members were affected. Although identical in age of onset and clinical course, there were phenotypic variations. While the second‐born, more affected twin suffered from a symmetric retrocollis, the twin brother mainly presented with a spasmodic torticollis to the left. Dystonia remained focal in both siblings. A DYT1 gene deletion was excluded. Including our patients, hitherto only four twin pairs with idiopathic dystonia have been reported. Although dystonia in twins can be remarkably uniform in some cases, major differences in terms of disease progression, remissions, and disability may be found. These observations underline the role of inheritance in the pathogenesis of idiopathic dystonia but also indicate that some other factors contribute to the clinical presentation of dystonia. © 2001 Movement Disorder Society.
Asymptotics of the hypergeometric function
Authors: Jones D. S.
Published: August 2002

An asymptotic representation is obtained for the hypergeometric function ${\bf F}(a+\lambda,b‐\lambda,c,1/2‐1/2z)$\nopagenumbers\end as $|\lambda|\rightarrow\infty$\nopagenumbers\end with $|{\rm ph}\,\lambda|<\pi$\nopagenumbers\end. It is uniformly valid in the z‐plane cut in an appropriate way. Several other forms of the hypergeometric function are discussed also. Another representation which has some advantages over the conventional one is given as well. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Continuous dependence on spatial geometry for the generalized Maxwell–Cattaneo system
Authors: Lin Changhao , Payne L. E.
Published: August 2002

In this paper the authors establish continuous dependence of the temperature on the spatial geometry in an initial‐boundary value problem for the generalized Maxwell–Cattaneo system of equations. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Broadband patch antenna edge‐fed by a coplanar probe feed
Authors: Chang Fa‐Shian , Wong Kin‐Lu
Published: August 2002

A new broadband probe‐fed patch antenna is proposed. We demonstrate that, by feeding an air–substrate patch antenna at the patch edge using a probe feed coplanar with the radiating patch, broadband operation can easily be obtained. Also, for the use of the proposed coplanar probe‐feed design, the ground plane of the patch antenna is transformed into an L‐shape. Experimental results of the constructed prototype showed that the obtained impedance bandwidth (1 : 1.5 VSWR) could be greater than 10% centered at about 1.8 GHz, which makes it suitable for DCS base‐station antenna application. Good radiation characteristics for operating frequencies within the impedance bandwidth have also been observed. Details of the experimental results are presented and discussed. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 31: 287–289, 2001.
Circuit theory of symmetrical coupled waveguiding structures: Group‐theoretical approach
Authors: Dmitriev Victor
Published: August 2002

We discuss a general method for calculations of scattering matrices of coupled waveguiding structures using group theory. As an example, we present the calculated matrices for a structure consisting of two circular coupled waveguides with different symmetries and with coupling elements of different natures. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 31: 446–449, 2001.
Analog carrier recovery circuits for six‐port direct digital receivers
Authors: Xu Yansheng , Bosisio Renato G.
Published: August 2002

In this paper, simple analog carrier recovery circuits are proposed for BPSK and QPSK reception. Theoretical analysis and simulations using an SPW (signal processing workstation) validate the feasibility of these circuits. Practical circuits are also given to implement the control signal. The proposed circuits are especially suitable for receivers using compact analog signal processing means to receive high data bit‐rate signals. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 31: 454–457, 2001.
Two‐dimensional fast evanescent wave algorithm
Authors: Chew W. C. , Jiang L. J. , Velamparambil S.
Published: August 2002

A new fast evanescent wave algorithm (FEWA) is introduced in the two‐dimensional (2‐D) case. It expands the Green's function into propagating waves and directional evanescent waves. Applying the evanescent wave correction technique, a procedure similar to the traditional MLFMA can be expedited. No buffer region is necessary anymore, and fewer translators are needed. Numerical examples are given to show the features of this method. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 31: 460–465, 2001.
Broadband low‐profile wire‐patch antenna
Authors: Zaid L. , Staraj R.
Published: August 2002

This paper describes a wire‐patch air‐filled antenna, made up of two metallic stacked plates and center fed by a coaxial probe. This radiating element, which uses the original resonance phenomenon due to the presence of wires between the ground plane, the first and the second metallic stacked patches, has a wide bandwidth. This antenna also works like a short monopole for frequencies located below the fundamental cavity resonance mode, and close to the GSM frequency band. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 32: 323–325, 2002.
Time‐domain CAD of dual‐mode HE11 dielectric resonator microwave filters
Authors: Weily Andrew R. , Mohan Ananda S.
Published: August 2002

The CAD of dual‐mode HE11 dielectric resonator (DR) microwave filters is extended to include time‐domain methods. S‐parameters are computed for a four‐pole dual‐mode HE11 DR filter using the FDTD over both wide and narrow bandwidths, and are compared with measured values. The spurious suppression predicted using the FDTD agrees very well with the measured results, justifying the use of time‐domain CAD methods for dual‐mode DR filters. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 29: 6–11, 2001.
Characterization of antennas for mobile and wireless terminals in reverberation chambers: Improved accuracy by platform stirring
Authors: Rosengren Kent , Kildal Per‐Simon , Carlsson Charlie , Carlsson Jan
Published: August 2002

It has been demonstrated that the radiation efficiency of antennas can be measured in reverberation chambers. The measurement accuracy is known to be better the larger the size. The present paper shows that the measurement accuracy can be significantly improved by rotating the antenna under test. This is demonstrated in the 900 MHz GSM band by measurements in a reverberation chamber of dimensions 1.0 m×0.8 m×1.0 m. We refer to this new stirring method as platform stirring. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 30: 391–397, 2001.
Cytodifferentiation and clinical outcome after chemotherapy and radiation therapy for rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS)
Authors: Smith Lynn M. , Anderson James R. , Coffin Cheryl M.
Published: August 2002

Background

Second‐look surgery after therapy for rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) may yield prognostic information regarding tumor responsiveness to treatment. Favorable outcome is suggested by tumor cells which have undergone maturation (cytodifferentiation).

Procedure

Specimens from patients treated on Intergroup RMS Study‐IV (IRSG‐IV) were studied before and after treatment. All patients received chemotherapy and most received radiation therapy. Post‐treatment specimens were graded according to the quantity of tumor showing cytodifferentiation (0 = absent, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 =  extensive). Proliferative activity by MIB‐1, topoisomerase II‐alpha, and p53 protein expression were measured.

Results

19/31 cases from IRSG‐IV were adequate for analysis. Six out of nineteen patients failed therapy within 1.3 years of treatment. Grade 3 cytodifferentiation was present in 10 cases (2 BRMS, 8 ERMS)†

E = embryonal; B = botryoid; A = alveolar.

; none failed therapy. Grade 2 cytodifferentiation was present in 5 cases (1 ERMS, 2BRMS, 2ARMS)†; 2 patients with ARMS failed therapy. Grade 0–1 cytodifferentiation was present in 4 cases (1 ERMS and 3 ARMS); all failed therapy. Proliferative activity by MIB‐1 and topoisomerase II‐alpha immunohistochemistry decreased or was unchanged after treatment for all ERMS/BRMS, and 4/5 cases of ARMS. p53 immunohistochemistry showed no consistent pattern of reactivity. Sparse persistent tumor cells were present in 9/10 ERMS, 3/4 BRMS, 5/5 ARMS.

Conclusions

Extensive cytodifferentiation is more commonly seen in ERMS/BRMS compared with less evidence for cytodifferentiation in ARMS suggesting fundamentally different mechanisms of cellular response to therapy in RMS. Sparse persistent tumor cells in post treatment ERMS/BRMS specimens does not appear to affect outcome. Med Pediatr Oncol 2002;38:398–404. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Molecular discrimination between relapsed and secondary acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Proposal for an easy strategy
Authors: Szczepański Tomasz , Willemse Marja J. , Kamps Willem A. , van Wering Elisabeth R. , Langerak Anton W. , van Dongen Jacques J.M.
Published: August 2002

Background

Discrimination between late relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and secondary ALL might be clinically important, because the former might still respond favorably to chemotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, whereas secondary ALL is associated with poor prognosis.

Procedure

We present a pre‐B‐ALL patient in whom disease recurred 2 years after completion of treatment. Differences in cytomorphology and immunophenotyping raised a suspicion of secondary ALL. We performed detailed molecular studies of immunoglobulin and T‐cell receptor genes for discrimination between relapsed and secondary ALL.

Results

Southern blot analysis showed an oligoclonal immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) gene configuration at diagnosis and a monoclonal configuration at relapse. The size of one of the rearranged bands at relapse was identical to one of the faint rearranged bands at diagnosis. However, heteroduplex PCR analysis demonstrated that none of the clonal IGH gene rearrangements at diagnosis and at relapse was fully identical. Sequencing of several clonal PCR products revealed an identical DH6‐13↔JH6b junction shared by two different rearrangements at diagnosis and one rearrangement at relapse, thereby proving the clonal relationship between diagnosis and late relapse in this patient.

Conclusions

We propose a stepwise molecular approach for discrimination between relapsed and secondary ALL based on the rapid and cheap heteroduplex PCR technique, including mixing of clonal (homoduplex) PCR products identified at diagnosis and at relapse. Direct sequencing and comparative sequence analysis of IGH gene rearrangements at diagnosis and at relapse should be regarded as an ultimate standard, but can be limited to the rare cases, in which no identical clonal PCR products at diagnosis and at relapse were detected with the mixed heteroduplex PCR analyses. Med. Pediatr. Oncol. 36:352–358, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of cryopreservation of mouse embryos and in vitro fertilization on genotypic frequencies in colonies
Authors: Goto Kazuo , Muguruma Kaori , Kuramochi Takashi , Shimozawa Nobuhiro , Hioki Kyoji , Itoh Toshio , Ebukuro Michi
Published: August 2002

To evaluate the effects of cryopreservation and in vitro fertilization (IVF) on genotypic frequencies in mouse colonies, genotypic frequencies at 15 biochemical, 4 immunological and 20 microsatellite loci were examined in three colonies of MCH (ICR) mice derived from noncryopreserved embryos obtained by natural mating without the induction of superovulation, cryopreserved embryos obtained by natural mating with the induction of superovulation, and cryopreserved embryos obtained by the induction of superovulation and IVF. Three (Pgm‐1, Ldr‐1 and Hbb) out of the 15 biochemical loci, two (Thy‐1 and H2K) out of four immunological loci and five (D5Mit18, D6Mit15, D12Mit5, D13Mit26, and D14Mit7) out of 20 microsatellite loci that showed polymorphisms in every colony were used for detection of genotypic frequencies. The genotypic frequencies of the loci in the three colonies did not differ from the predicted genotypic frequencies (P > 0.05). The results suggested that genetic drift does not occur among colonies established from treated and untreated embryos, and it was clear that the embryo banking by cryopreservation is suitable for preservation of outbred stock without genetic drift. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 62: 307–311, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fast maximum intensity projection algorithm using shear warp factorization and reduced resampling
Authors: Fang Laifa , Wang Yi , Qiu Bensheng , Qian Yuancheng
Published: August 2002

Maximal intensity projection (MIP) is routinely used to view MRA and other volumetric angiographic data. The straightforward implementation of MIP is ray casting that traces a volumetric data set in a computationally expensive manner. This article reports a fast MIP algorithm using shear warp factorization and reduced resampling that drastically reduced the redundancy in the computations for projection, thereby speeding up MIP by more than 10 times. Magn Reson Med 47:696–700, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Background suppression using magnetization preparation for contrast‐enhanced MR projection angiography
Authors: Bos Clemens , Bakker Chris J.G. , Viergever Max A.
Published: August 2002

In contrast‐enhanced MR projection angiography, vessel conspicuity is determined by the T1‐weighted signal difference between blood and surrounding tissues. For slice‐selective excitation pulses, the excitation angle varies across the slice, leading to poor saturation of the background signal at the slice edge and reducing the blood‐background signal difference. This work reports on the use of magnetization preparation to enhance the T1‐weighted contrast between blood and background tissue. Applying the prepulse nonselectively reduces the influence of the slice profile imperfections of the excitation pulse by keeping the background tissue at the slice edge saturated. Analytical calculations and in vitro experiments show that a prepulse angle of 110°–130° and a delay time of 20–25 ms enhance the contrast between contrast‐enhanced blood (T1 < 50 ms) and background tissues (T1 > 200 ms), and improve the slice weighting profile. Magnetization preparation is shown to effectively suppress signal from background tissue, resulting in a threefold increase of the vessel‐to‐background signal ratio. Magnetization preparation eliminates the need for subtraction at the cost of a slight increase in scan time. Possible applications, such as projection MRA, detection of contrast arrival, and test‐bolus tracking are demonstrated in a pig model. Magn Reson Med 46:78–87, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
MR perfusion imaging using encapsulated laser‐polarized 3He
Authors: Callot Virginie , Canet Emmanuelle , Brochot Jean , Viallon Magalie , Humblot Hubert , Briguet André , Tournier Hervé , Crémillieux Yannick
Published: August 2002

In this work, the use of a new carrier agent for intravascular laser‐polarized 3He imaging is reported. Lipid‐based helium microbubbles were investigated. Their average diameter of
3 μm, which is smaller than that of the capillaries, makes it possible to conduct in vivo studies. The NMR relaxation parameters T1, T2, and T of a microbubble suspension were measured as 90 s, 300 ms, and 4.5 ms, respectively, and in vivo images of encapsulated 3He with signal‐to‐noise ratios (SNRs) larger than 30 were acquired. Dynamic cardiac images and vascular images of encapsulated 3He were obtained in rats using intravenous injections of microbubble suspensions. Excellent preservation of 3He polarization through the lung capillaries and heart cavities was observed. The first images of 3He microbubble distributions in the lungs were obtained. Additionally, the potential of this technique for lung perfusion assessment was validated through an experimental embolism model with the visualization of perfusion defects. Magn Reson Med 46:535–540, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
3D MR angiography of intratumoral vasculature using a novel macromolecular MR contrast agent
Authors: Kobayashi Hisataka , Sato Noriko , Kawamoto Satomi , Saga Tsuneo , Hiraga Akira , Ishimori Takayoshi , Konishi Junji , Togashi Kaori , Brechbiel Martin W.
Published: August 2002

Noninvasive methods to visualize blood flow in the intratumoral vasculature have not previously been studied. In the present study, the use of a novel intravascular MR contrast agent with a generation‐6 polyamidoamine dendrimer core (G6‐(1B4M‐Gd)192; MW: 175kD) was investigated, and the vasculature in experimental tumors was visualized using 3D MR angiography (MRA). Xenografted tumors in nude mice of two different histologies—KT005 (human osteogenic sarcoma) and LS180 (human colon carcinoma)—were used to obtain 3D MRA using G6‐(1B4M‐Gd)192 and Gd‐DTPA. The contrast MR sectional images were correlated with the corresponding histological sections. The intratumoral vasculature in the KT005 tumor was clearly visualized by 3D MRA, which became more evident with the growth of the tumor xenograft. In contrast, the intratumoral vasculature in the LS180 tumor was sparser and much less developed than that in KT005 tumors. Blood vessels with a diameter as small as 100 μm based on histology were visualized using 0.033 mmol Gd/kg of G6‐(1B4M‐Gd)192. In conclusion, intratumoral vasculature with a 100‐μm diameter was visualized better using 3D MRA with G6‐(1B4M‐Gd)192 than with Gd‐DTPA. Magn Reson Med 46:579–585, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Improved viability of latissimus dorsi muscle grafts after electrical prestimulation
Authors: Woo Edwin B.C. , Tang Augustine T.M. , Jarvis Jonathan C. , Hasleton Philip S. , Salmons Stanley , Hooper Timothy L.
Published: August 2002

Surgical mobilization of the latissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) produces fiber degeneration, particularly in the distal part of the graft, that may compromise its function in clinical applications such as dynamic cardiomyoplasty. In five rats, the left LDM was stimulated continuously at 10 HZ. After 5 weeks, vessels perforating the chest wall were divided and the left LDM was mobilized as a pedicle graft based on the thoracodorsal artery. Twenty‐four hours later, animals were killed and left and right LDMs were incubated with the vital stain nitroblue tetrazolium. Five control rats underwent a similar procedure without prestimulation. Mobilization of the LDM resulted in a loss of viability in the distal third of the muscle graft. This was reduced significantly by prestimulation (P = 0.006). Blood flow to the distal LDM graft is known to be augmented by electrical stimulation in situ before mobilization; the present results show that there is an associated enhancement of viability. The clinical implications of this finding are discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 25: 000–000, 2002
Sensory nerve conduction deficit in experimental monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) neuropathy
Authors: Lawlor Michael W. , Richards Michael P. , Fisher Morris A. , Stubbs Evan B.
Published: August 2002

An emerging body of evidence from in vitro studies and in vivo animal models supports a pathogenic role of antibodies in the development of peripheral neuropathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Although the assessment of motor and sensory nerve fiber function is of clinical importance, it is seldom applied experimentally. We describe the application of an electrophysiologic method for the evaluation of motor and sensory nerve fiber function using an experimental model of MGUS neuropathy. Supramaximal stimulation of the tibial nerve elicited an early motor response (M‐wave, 1.7 ± 0.1 ms, n = 10) and a late sensory (H‐reflex, 7.8 ± 0.1 ms, n = 10) response that was recorded from the hind foot of anesthetized rats. Intraneural injection of serum antibodies from a MGUS patient with sensorimotor polyneuropathy, but not from an age‐matched control subject, produced a marked attenuation of the H‐reflex (P < 0.01, n = 10) without affecting the M‐wave. Light and electron microscopy of affected nerve showed myelinoaxonal degeneration with sparing of the smaller unmyelinated nerve fibers. The combined electrophysiologic and morphologic findings presented in this study are consistent with a selective sensory conduction deficit in MGUS neuropathy. Selective injury of afferent nerve fibers by this patient's serum antibodies may result from reactivity to neural antigens uniquely expressed by sensory neurons. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 809–816, 2001
Finite element modelling of thick plates on two‐parameter elastic foundation
Authors: Buczkowski Ryszard , Torbacki Witold
Published: August 2002

This paper is intended to give some information about how to build a model necessary for bending analysis of rectangular and circular plates resting on a two‐parameter elastic foundation, subjected to combined loading and permitting various types of boundary conditions. The formulation of the problem takes into account the shear deformation of the plate and the surrounding interaction effect outside the plate. The numerical model based on an 18‐node zero‐thickness isoparametric interface element interacting with a thick Reissner–Mindlin plate element with three degrees of freedom at each of the nine nodes, which enforce C0 continuity requirements for the displacements and rotations of the midsurface, is proposed. Stiffness matrices of a special interface element are superimposed on the global stiffness matrix to represent the stiffening elastic foundation under and beyond the plate. Some numerical examples are given to illustrate the advantages of the method presented. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Matlab code for sorting real Schur forms
Authors: Brandts J. H.
Published: August 2002

In Matlab 6, there exists a command to generate a real Schur form, wheras another transforms a real Schur form into a complex one. There do not exist commands to prescribe the order in which the eigenvalues appear on the diagonal of the upper (quasi‐) triangular factor T. For the complex case, a routine is sketched in Golub and Van Loan (Matrix Computations (3rd edn). The John Hopkins University Press: Baltimore and London, 1996), that orders the diagonal of T according to their distance to a target value τ. In this technical note, we give a Matlab routine to sort real Schur forms in Matlab. It is based on a block‐swapping procedure by Bai and Demmel (Linear Algebra and Its Applications 1993; 186: 73) We also describe how to compute a partial real Schur form (see Saad (Numerical methods for large eigenvalue problems. Manchester University Press: Manchester, 1992.)) in case the matrix A is very large. Sorting real Schur forms, both partially and completely, has important applications in the computation of real invariant subspaces. Copyright © 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Time‐dependent absorbing boundary conditions for elastic wave propagation
Authors: Ju S. H. , Wang Y. M.
Published: August 2002

This paper develops a finite element scheme to generate the spatial‐ and time‐dependent absorbing boundary conditions for unbounded elastic‐wave problems. This scheme first calculates the spatial‐ and time‐dependent wave speed over the cosine of the direction angle using the Higdon's one‐way first‐order boundary operator, and then this operator is used again along the absorbing boundary in order to simulate the behaviour of unbounded problems. Different from other methods, the estimation of the wave speed and directions is not necessary in this method, since the wave speed over the cosine of the direction angle is calculated automatically. Two‐ and three‐dimensional numerical simulations indicate that the accuracy of this scheme is acceptable if the finite element analysis is appropriately arranged. Moreover, only the displacements along absorbing boundary nodes need to be set in this method, so the standard finite element method can still be used. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A general complex variable boundary element method
Authors: Whitley R. J. , Hromadka T. V.
Published: August 2002

The solution to any 2‐dimensional potential problem, with continuous data given on the boundary of a bounded domain with connected complement, can be approximated by sums

Re Σ cn f(αn z + z0),

where f is any preassigned non‐polynomial analytic function. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 17:332–335, 2001
Eigenvalue analysis of a block Red‐Black Gauss–Seidel preconditioner applied to the Hermite collocation discretization of Poisson's equation
Authors: Brill Stephen H. , Pinder George F.
Published: August 2002

This article is concerned with the numerical solution of Poisson's equation with Dirichlet boundary conditions, defined on the unit square, discretized by Hermite collocation with uniform mesh. In [1], it was demonstrated that the Bi‐CGSTAB method of van der Vorst [2] with block Red‐Black Gauss–Seidel (RBGS) preconditioner is an efficient method to solve this problem. In this article, we derive analytic formulae for the eigenvalues that control the rate at which the Bi‐CGSTAB/RBGS method converges. These formulae, which depend upon the location of the collocation points, can be utilized to determine where the collocation points should be placed in order to make the Bi‐CGSTAB/RBGS method converge as quickly as possible. Furthermore, using the optimal location of the collocation points can result in significant time savings for fixed accuracy and fixed problem size. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 17: 204–228, 2001
Computation of Morse decompositions for semilinear elliptic PDEs
Authors: Smiley Michael W. , Chun Changbum
Published: August 2002

A numerical method for computing all solutions of an elliptic boundary value problem Au + g[u, λ] = 0 and their Morse indices as steady‐states of the parabolic problem ut + Au + g[u, λ] = 0 is presented. Morse decompositions are also determined. The method uses a finite element approach that is based on the method of alternative problems. Error estimates for the finite element approximations are verified and examples are given. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 17: 290–312, 2001
Rickets and child abuse: the case of a two year old girl from the 4th century in Lisieux (Normandy)
Authors: Blondiaux Guillaume , Blondiaux Joël , Secousse Frédéric , Cotten Anne , Danze Pierre‐Marie , Flipo René‐Marc
Published: August 2002

The burial of a child of two years of age from the 4th century site of Lisieux‐Michelet (Calvados, France) was examined for bone hyperplasia and a variety of mechanical deformations recognized in association with skeletal trauma. Results of DNA analysis of bone using the PCR method identified this child as female. Microscopic features of the teeth (interglobular dentine) and a sample taken from the tibia conclusively determined that this child suffered from vitamin D‐resistant rickets and possibly X‐linked hypophosphataemic rickets as its most common form of occurrence. In addition, evidence for child abuse is suspected based on the presence of cranial and tooth fractures and the appearance of successive plaque‐like endocranial (meningeal) appositions. This is the first palaeopathological report of child abuse in antiquity. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Passive broadband reflector using photocrosslinkable liquid crystal molecules
Authors: Sixou P. , Gautier C.
Published: August 2002

This work consists in creating passive optical filter reflecting light in a broadband wavelength with photo‐polymerizable mesogenic liquid crystal (LC) molecules from a reproducable method. The influence of several parameters was studied and it appears that reflective wavelength range can be modified by chiral agent concentration and/or temperature. Band broadening is influenced by several process parameters such as layer thickness, polymerization and dissolution times. A semi‐quantitative analysis allows the variation of conversion ratio as a function of polymerization and dissolution times to be determined. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Complexes and IPN of CO2 Copolymers
Authors: Chen Liban , Yang Shuying , Lin Xinxin , Liu Sha , Wang Dongshan , Yu Aifang , He Shujie
Published: August 2002

In order to improve mechanical properties of poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC), different types of blends of PPC with some other polymers were prepared to achieve strong molecular interaction. The attempts included 1. preparation of hydrogen‐bonding complexes between PPC and acrylic acid ‐ methyl acrylate copolymers; 2. preparation of complexes of ionic PPC and polymers containing counterions; and 3. Preparation of interpenetrate networks by crosslinking PPC using an isocyanate and crosslinking some other polymers using a peroxide. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Allelic imbalance is not restricted to numerically abnormal chromosomes in epithelial ovarian tumours
Authors: Evans Mark F. , Simon Herrington C.
Published: August 2002

In this study, 23 low malignant potential (LMP) and 27 invasive epithelial ovarian tumours have been examined by microdissection and microsatellite polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for allelic imbalance (AI) at loci on the p and q arms of chromosomes 1, 11, 17, and X, and the data have been compared with interphase cytogenetics for numerical abnormalities (aneusomy) of these chromosomes. AI was uncommon in LMP tumours (5 of 23 at 9 of 146 informative loci) but was significantly more common (p<0.001) in invasive carcinomas (21 of 27 at 47 of 168 informative loci). This difference remained when LMP tumours were compared specifically with stage I carcinomas (p<0.001). A greater number of loci were involved in AI amongst serous than amongst mucinous carcinomas (p=0.015). AI was present at significantly more loci in carcinomas showing aneusomy by interphase cytogenetics than in those showing no numerical chromosome abnormalities (p<0.001). However, amongst the carcinomas showing aneusomy, AI was as frequent at loci on chromosomes with no numerical abnormality as at those with the numerical changes. These data demonstrate that aneusomy and AI are interrelated phenomena but that AI does not occur simply as a consequence of numerical chromosome changes. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MS/MS profiling of taxoids from the needles of Taxus wallichiana
Authors: Madhusudanan K. P. , Chattopadhyay S. K. , Tripathi V. , Sashidhara K. V. , Kumar S.
Published: August 2002

Ammonium cationisation has been used for taxoid profiling of partially purified methanolic extracts of needles of Taxus wallichiana growing in different regions of the Himalayas (Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, UP Hills, Darjeeling, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh) by electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The MS/MS spectra of the [M + NH4]+ or [M + H]+ ions gave structurally diagnostic fragment ions which revealed information about the taxane skeleton as well as the number and nature of the substituents. The rearranged 11(15 → 1)‐abeo‐taxanes showed a characteristic elimination of the hydroxyisopropyl group with an acetoxy/benzoyloxy group from C‐9. The identification of the taxoids was achieved by comparison of the MS/MS spectra with those of authentic taxoids or was based on biogenetic grounds. The results were corroborated by liquid chromatography–MS analysis. Out of the 50 taxoids identified, 21 belonged to the rearranged class. The presence of paclitaxel in the samples from four regions was confirmed: the study also revealed the occurrence of several basic taxoids in these samples. ­MS/MS profiling by electrospray ionisation was shown to be a fast and reliable technique for the analysis of taxoid samples. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Primary care prevention of cardiovascular disease in diabetes
Authors: Kenny Colin
Published: August 2002

In the United Kingdom about 8% of National Health Service (NHS) resources are presently taken up by diabetes care, the cost of type 2 diabetes consuming 80% of that total. General practitioners are actively commissioning routine diabetes care for type 2 diabetic patients. This shift to primary care management has been accompanied by an overall change in focus for the NHS, with the introduction of evidenced‐based medicine, clinical governance and National Service Frameworks in important clinical areas including diabetes. Diabetic patients have a 2 to 5 fold higher risk of dying from coronary heart disease. In order to be most effective practices will want to prioritize patients for risk reducing interventions. People with diabetes may be stratified into three groups: those with established CHD or other atherosclerotic disease; diabetic patients who are at high risk of developing CHD or other atherosclerotic disease due to a combination of risk factors including: smoking, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and proteinuria and close relatives of patients with early onset CHD or other atherosclerotic disease. There are now a number of clear evidence‐based interventions, which can prevent this. The ambitious National Service Framework (NSF) for coronary heart disease and the anticipated NSF for diabetes will underline the importance of these inventions, and present the primary care team with a considerable challenge. Effective protocols and audit will have to be agreed and implemented. Clinical governance is designed to ensure and improve clinical standards throughout the NHS. It could include action to ensure that risk is avoided; inappropriate clinical management is rapidly detected, openly investigated and lessons learned; good practice, such as demonstrated in the UKPDS, is rapidly disseminated; and systems are in place to ensure continuous improvements in clinical care. Adequate resources will have to be identified for these important interventions to be implemented. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transferring elderly type 2 patients to insulin: a prospective study of diabetes nurses', physicians' and patients' perceptions
Authors: Taylor C , Towse K , Reza M , Ward JD , Hendra T J
Published: August 2002

We have prospectively studied the decision and expectations associated with starting insulin for elderly type 2 patients. Thirty consecutive patients who were referred to start insulin were studied; most started treatment promptly though more than 25% experienced delays of more than three months. Patients, diabetes nurses and physicians did not differ in their reasons for starting insulin though there were differences in treatment goals, with physicians, but not nurses or patients, identifying glucose level targets as important aims of treatment (p < 0.05). Most patients injected insulin twice daily, and performed regular capillary glucose monitoring, but hypoglycaemia was not a problem. We conclude that elderly patients differ from health professionals in their expectations of insulin, but that with careful patient selection this treatment is a safe option for elderly patients. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characteristics of those registered blind as a result of diabetes in Fife over a ten year period
Authors: Steel JM , Grant B , Cormack TGM , Macdonald MJ , Campbell IW
Published: August 2002

Fife is a geographically defined area of Scotland with a stable population of about 350 000. Screening for diabetic eye disease is performed annually with a hand held ophthalmoscope by doctors in hospital clinics and by trained optomotrists in those attending primary care. The standards for screening and management are those recommended by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network.

Over the ten year period 1990–1999 41 people were registered blind where diabetes was considered to be the main cause of blindness. The hospital and primary care records of all 41 patients were examined.

Eight of the 41 people were under 60 years old and six had type 1 diabetes. Three had serious mental health problems, 13 were people who had chronically defaulted and five had been geographically mobile.

No patient with type 1 diabetes who regularly attended a clinic became blind. There was a very high prevalence of microvascular disease and by the end of the study 29 patients had died of macrovascular complications.

The organisation of screening is more important than the method of screening used and the development of strategies to improve the outcome in those who fail to keep appointments and those who are geographically mobile is very important in preventing blindness. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The risk of obstructive airways disease in a glaucoma population
Authors: Huerta Consuelo , García Rodríguez Luis Alberto , Möller Chistina Ström , Arellano Felix M.
Published: August 2002

Background

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), defined as obstructive airways disease (OAD), are two common chronic conditions especially in the elderly. Glaucoma is also a common disease in the elderly with a prevalence close to 5% among those older than 75 years. Most medical therapy for glaucoma is given as eye drops. It has been described that small amounts of systemically absorbed beta‐blockers can produce significant respiratory adverse events in predisposed patients.

Methods

Population‐based cohort study with nested case–control analysis using the UK General Practice Research Database (GPRD). We studied the prevalence of OAD in a cohort of patients 60 to 85 years old with a first ever diagnosis of glaucoma and compared it to the prevalence in an age‐ and sex‐matched cohort sampled from the general population. We also calculated the RR and 95% CI of worsening asthma in non‐severe asthma patients among the two cohorts. Incidence of OAD was studied in a cohort of glaucoma patients 60 to 85 years old and in an age‐ and sex‐matched cohort from the general population.

Results

The prevalence of OAD was the same between the glaucoma cohort and the general population (OR 1.1; 95% CI 0.9–1.4). The risk of worsening asthma associated with glaucoma was OR 1.2 (95% CI 0.5–2.8). The incidence of OAD was similar in both cohorts. Current users of ophthalmic drugs presented a RR of 1.2 (95% CI 0.8–1.9) of developing asthma compared to non‐users in the glaucoma population. The risk in the first month of treatment with topical beta‐blockers was 2.1 (95% CI 0.7–6.7).

Discussion

We did not find an association between glaucoma and OAD. Use of topical glaucoma medication was not associated with a major increased risk of asthma. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spectroelectrochemical study of N‐ethyl‐carbazole in the presence of acrylamide
Authors: Yavuz Ö , Sezer E , Saraç A S
Published: August 2002

Polymerization of N‐ethylcarbazole (NECz) in the presence of acrylamide (AAm) has been investigated by in situ and ex situ UV–visible spectrophotometric measurements to obtain information about the reaction pathway, because NECz gives soluble oligomeric species allowing such measurements. A tentative mechanism is proposed in the light of these results. The redox properties of the new polymers have been studied for possible sensor application.

© 2001 Society of Chemical Industry
Control of crystal morphology via molecular imprinting
Authors: D'Souza Sharon M , Alexander Cameron , Whitcombe Michael J , Waller Andrew M , Vulfson Evgeny N
Published: August 2002

Imprinted polymers were prepared from divinylbenzene and 6‐methacrylamidohexanoic acid as the functional monomer, using calcite crystals of three different morphologies as templates. After template removal voids in the polymer remained which reflected the size and shape of the template crystals. The use of these imprinted polymers in aqueous supersaturated calcium carbonate solution resulted in the formation of some crystal objects of unusual morphology. In the case of spheroidal imprints, the nucleated crystals grow via the {104} faces in many directions creating clusters whose surface consists of many small rhombohedral crystallites. However, in the case of rhombohedral imprints, no conflict between crystal growth and the constraints of nucleation at the polymer surface arises and the new crystals very closely resemble the templates.

© 2001 Society of Chemical Industry