bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The predicted barrier effects in the proximity of tall buildings
Authors: Li Kai Ming , Tang Siu Hong
Published: August 2003

A ray model is developed and validated for the prediction of the insertion loss of barriers that are placed in front of a tall building in high-rise cities. The model is based on the theory of geometrical acoustics for sound diffraction at the edge of a barrier and multiple reflections by the barrier and façade surfaces. It is crucial to include the diffraction and multiple reflection effects in the ray model, as they play important roles in determining the overall sound pressure levels for receivers located between the façade and barrier. Comparisons of the ray model with indoor experimental data and wave-based boundary element formulation show reasonably good agreement over a broad frequency range. Case studies are also presented that highlight the significance of positioning the barrier relative to the noise-sensitive receivers in order to achieve improved shielding efficiency of the barrier.
Elastic constants of natural quartz
Authors: Heyliger Paul , Ledbetter Hassel , Kim Sudook
Published: August 2003

The elastic constants of a natural-quartz sphere using resonance-ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) are measured. The measurements of the near-traction-free vibrational frequencies of the sphere are matched with the predicted frequencies from the dynamic theory of elasticity, with optimized estimates for the elastic constants driving the differences between these sets of frequencies to a minimal value. The present computational model, although based on earlier approaches, is the first application of RUS to trigonal-symmetry spheres. Quartz shows six independent elastic constants, and our estimates of these constants are close to those computed by other means. Except for C14, after a 1% mass-density correction, natural quartz and cultured quartz show the same elastic constants. Natural quartz shows higher internal frictions.
Louder sounds can produce less forward masking: Effects of component phase in complex tones
Authors: Gockel Hedwig , Moore Brian C. J. , Patterson Roy D. , Meddis Ray
Published: August 2003

The influence of the degree of envelope modulation and periodicity on the loudness and effectiveness of sounds as forward maskers was investigated. In the first experiment, listeners matched the loudness of complex tones and noise. The tones had a fundamental frequency (F0) of 62.5 or 250 Hz and were filtered into a frequency range from the 10th harmonic to 5000 Hz. The Gaussian noise was filtered in the same way. The components of the complex tones were added either in cosine phase (CPH), giving a large crest factor, or in random phase (RPH), giving a smaller crest factor. For each F0, subjects matched the loudness between all possible stimulus pairs. Six different levels of the fixed stimulus were used, ranging from about 30 dB SPL to about 80 dB SPL in 10-dB steps. Results showed that, at a given overall level, the CPH and the RPH tones were louder than the noise, and that the CPH tone was louder than the RPH tone. The difference in loudness was larger at medium than at low levels and was only slightly reduced by the addition of a noise intended to mask combination tones. The differences in loudness were slightly smaller for the higher than for the lower F0. In the second experiment, the stimuli with the lower F0s were used as forward maskers of a 20-ms sinusoid, presented at various frequencies within the spectral range of the maskers. Results showed that the CPH tone was the least effective forward masker, even though it was the loudest. The differences in effectiveness as forward maskers depended on masker level and signal frequency; in order to produce equal masking, the level of the CPH tone had to be up to 35 dB above that of the RPH tone and the noise. The implications of these results for models of loudness are discussed and a model is presented based on neural activity patterns in the auditory nerve; this predicts the general pattern of loudness matches. It is suggested that the effects observed in the experiments may have been influenced by two factors: cochlear compression and suppression.
Subfield History:
Caenorhabditis elegans
as a System for Analysis of the Genetics of Aging
Authors: Johnson Thomas E.
Published: August 2003

This article reviews key events in the genetic analysis of aging in the worm. The events are presented in the form of a timeline and include landmark papers, key meetings, and the development of important funding agencies. I also speculate on events that might appear in this timeline if this review were written in the distant future.
Vitamin B1 Blocks Damage Caused by Hyperglycemia
Authors: Obrenovich Mark E. , Monnier Vincent M.
Published: August 2003

Diabetes accelerates the aging process and leads to complications that include blindness, renal failure, nerve damage, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. It has been hypothesized that high plasma glucose concentrations are responsible for increased mitochondrial free radical production and subsequent inactivation of glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) in vascular endothelial cells and other cells implicated in these complications. As a result of the decreased ability of GAPDH to process upstream metabolites, three pathways of metabolic damage are activated, which include the advanced glycation end-product formation pathway, the protein kinase C pathway, and the hexosamine pathway. All three pathways have been implicated in abnormal cell signaling in diabetes. A group of German and U.S. scientists has now found that treating diabetic rats with high doses of benfotiamine, a lipid-soluble form of vitamin B1, can prevent diabetic retinopathy and all three forms of metabolic damage by stimulating transketolase activity and thus diverting excess metabolites toward the pentose pathway. Although vitamin B1 is available over the counter, the researchers at this time do not advocate self-treatment without further clinical data.
Screening for Nitric Oxide-Dependent Protein-Protein Interactions
Authors: Matsumoto Akio , Comatas Karrie E. , Liu Limin , Stamler Jonathan S.
Published: August 2003

Because nitric oxide (NO) may be a ubiquitous regulator of cellular signaling, we have modified the yeast two-hybrid system to explore the possibility of NO-dependent protein-protein interactions.We screened for binding partners of procaspase-3, a protein implicated in apoptotic signaling pathways, and identified multiple NO-dependent interactions.Two such interactions, with acid sphingomyelinase and NO synthase, were shown to occur in mammalian cells dependent on endogenous NO.Nitrosylation may thus provide a broad-based mechanism for regulating interactions between proteins.If so, systematic proteomic analyses in which redox state and NO bioavailability are carefully controlled will reveal a large array of novel interactions.
Bacterial Chromosome Dynamics
Authors: Sherratt David J.
Published: August 2003

Bacterial chromosomes are highly compacted structures and share many properties with their eukaryote counterparts, despite not being organized into chromatin or being contained within a cell nucleus. Proteins conserved across all branches of life act in chromosome organization, and common mechanisms maintain genome integrity and ensure faithful replication. The principles that underlie chromosome segregation in bacteria and eukaryotes share similarities, although bacteria segregate DNA as it replicates and lack a eukaryote-like mitotic apparatus for segregating chromosomes. This may be because the distances that newly replicated bacterial chromosomes move apart before cell division are small as compared to those in eukaryotes. Bacteria specify positional information, which determines where cell division will occur and which places the replication machinery and chromosomal loci at defined locations that change during cell cycle progression.
Evidence for Selective Advantage of Pathogenic FGFR2 Mutations in the Male Germ Line
Authors: Goriely Anne , McVean Gilean A. T. , Röjmyr Maria , Ingemarsson Björn , Wilkie Andrew O. M.
Published: August 2003

Observed mutation rates in humans appear higher in male than female gametes and often increase with paternal age. This bias, usually attributed to the accumulation of replication errors or inefficient repair processes, has been difficult to study directly. Here, we describe a sensitive method to quantify substitutions at nucleotide 755 of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (
FGFR2
) gene in sperm. Although substitution levels increase with age, we show that even high levels originate from infrequent mutational events. We propose that these FGFR2 mutations, although harmful to embryonic development, are paradoxically enriched because they confer a selective advantage to the spermatogonial cells in which they arise.
Transcription Activation at
Escherichia coli
FNR-Dependent Promoters by the Gonococcal FNR Protein: Effects of a Novel S18F Substitution and Comparisons with the Corresponding Substitution in
E. coli
FNR
Authors: Overton Tim , Reid Eleanor G. F. , Foxall Robin , Smith Harry , Busby Stephen J. W. , Cole Jeffrey A.
Published: August 2003

The
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
genome encodes a homologue of the
Escherichia coli
FNR protein (the fumarate and nitrate reductase regulator). Despite its similarity to
E. coli
FNR, the gonococcal FNR only partially complemented an
E. coli fnr
mutation. After error-prone PCR mutagenesis of the gonococcal
fnr
gene, we identified four mutant
fnr
derivatives carrying the same S18F substitution, and we showed that the mutant FNR could activate transcription from a range of class I and class II FNR-dependent promoters in
E. coli
. Prompted by the similarities between gonococcal and
E. coli
FNR, we made changes in gonococcal
fnr
that created substitutions that are equivalent to previously characterized substitutions in
E. coli
FNR. First, our experiments showed that cysteine, C116, in the gonococcal FNR, equivalent to C122 in
E. coli
FNR, is essential, presumably because, as in
E. coli
FNR, it binds to an iron-sulfur center. Second, the L22H and D148A substitutions in gonococcal FNR were made. These changes are equivalent to the L28H and D154A changes in
E. coli
FNR, which had been shown to increase FNR activity in the presence of oxygen. We show that the effects of these substitutions in gonococcal FNR are distinct from those of the S18F substitution. Similarly, substitutions in the putative activating regions of gonococcal FNR were made. We show that the activity of gonococcal FNR in
E. coli
can be increased by transplanting certain activating regions from
E. coli
FNR. The effects of these substitutions are additive to those due to S18F. From these data, we conclude that the effects of the S18F substitution in gonococcal FNR are distinct from the effects of the other substitutions. S18 is immediately adjacent to one of three N-terminal cysteine residues that coordinate the iron-sulfur center, and thus the S18F substitution is most likely to stabilize this center. Support for this came from complementary experiments in which we created the S24F substitution in
E. coli
FNR, which is equivalent to the S18F substitution in gonococcal FNR. Our results show that the S24F substitution changes the activity of
E. coli
FNR and that the changes are distinct from those due to previously characterized substitutions.
Regulation of the
Bacillus subtilis
Extracytoplasmic Function Protein σ
Y
and Its Target Promoters
Authors: Cao Min , Salzberg Letal , Tsai Ching Sung , Mascher Thorsten , Bonilla Carla , Wang Tao , Ye Rick W. , Márquez-Magaña Leticia , Helmann John D.
Published: August 2003

The
Bacillus subtilis
extracytoplasmic function sigma factor σ
Y
is of unknown function. We demonstrate that the
sigY
operon is expressed from an autoregulatory promoter site, P
Y
. We selected for transposon-induced mutations that upregulate P
Y
transcription in an attempt to identify genes involved in σ
Y
regulation. The resulting insertions disrupted
yxlC
, the gene immediately downstream of
sigY
. However, the phenotype of the
yxlC
::Tn
10
insertion was due to polarity on the downstream genes of the
sigY
operon; a nonpolar insertion in
yxlC
did not lead to derepression of P
Y
. Further analyses revealed that both
yxlD
and
yxlE
encoded proteins important for the negative regulation of σ
Y
activity. A comparison of the transcriptomes of wild-type and
yxlC
::Tn
10
mutant strains revealed elevated expression of several operons. However, only one additional gene,
ybgB
, was unambiguously identified as a direct target for σ
Y
. This was supported by analysis of direct targets for σ
Y
transcription with whole-genome runoff transcription followed by macroarray analysis.
Identification of CpxR as a Positive Regulator of
icm
and
dot
Virulence Genes of
Legionella pneumophila
Authors: Gal-Mor Ohad , Segal Gil
Published: August 2003

To date, 24
Legionella pneumophila
genes (
icm
and
dot
genes) have been shown to be required for intercellular growth and host cell killing. A previous report indicated that the regulation of these genes is complicated and probably involves several regulatory proteins. In this study, a genetic screen performed in
Escherichia coli
identified the CpxR response regulator as an activator of the
L. pneumophila icmR
gene. Construction of an
L. pneumophila cpxR
insertion mutant showed that the expression of
icmR
is regulated by CpxR. In addition, a conserved CpxR binding site (GTAAA) was identified in the
icmR
regulatory region and
L. pneumophila
His-tagged CpxR protein was shown to bind to the
icmR
regulatory region using a mobility shift assay. Besides its dramatic effect on the
icmR
level of expression, the CpxR regulator was also found to affect the expression of the
icmV-dotA
and
icmW-icmX
operons, but to a lesser extent. The role of CpxA, the cognate sensor kinase of CpxR, was also examined and its effect on the
icmR
level of expression was found to be less pronounced than the effect of CpxR. The RpoE sigma factor, which was shown to coregulate genes together with CpxR, was examined as well, but it did not influence
icm
and
dot
gene expression. In addition, when the
cpxR
mutant strain, in which the expression of the
icmR
gene was dramatically reduced, and the
cpxA
and
rpoE
mutant strains were examined for their ability to grow inside
Acanthamoeba castellanii
and HL-60-derived human macrophages, no intracellular growth defect was observed. This study presents the first evidence for a direct regulator (CpxR) of an
icm-dot
virulence gene (
icmR
). The CpxR regulator together with other regulatory factors probably concerts with the expression of
icm
and
dot
genes to result in successful infection.
Conformation of a Bactericidal Domain of Puroindoline a: Structure and Mechanism of Action of a 13-Residue Antimicrobial Peptide
Authors: Jing Weiguo , Demcoe Alistair R. , Vogel Hans J.
Published: August 2003

Puroindoline a, a wheat endosperm-specific protein containing a tryptophan-rich domain, was reported to have antimicrobial activities. We found that a 13-residue fragment of puroindoline a (FPVTWRWWKWWKG-NH
2
) (puroA) exhibits activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. This suggests that puroA may be a bactericidal domain of puroindoline a. PuroA interacted strongly with negatively charged phospholipid vesicles and induced efficient dye release from these vesicles, suggesting that the microbicidal effect of puroA may be due to interactions with bacterial membranes. A variety of biophysical and biochemical methods, including fluorescence spectroscopy and microcalorimetry, were used to examine the mode of action of puroA. These studies showed that puroA is located at the membrane interface, probably due to its high content of Trp residues that have a high propensity to partition into the membrane interface. The penetration of these Trp residues in negatively charged phospholipid vesicles resembling bacterial membranes was more extensive than the penetration in neutral vesicles mimicking eukaryotic membranes. Peptide binding had a significant influence on the phase behavior of the former vesicles. The three-dimensional structure of micelle-bound puroA determined by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy indicated that all the positively charged residues are oriented close to the face of Trp indole rings, forming energetically favorable cation-π interactions. This characteristic, along with its well-defined amphipathic structure upon binding to membrane mimetic systems, allows puroA to insert more deeply into bacterial membranes and disrupt the regular membrane bilayer structure.
Clozapine associated dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Tanner M A , Culling W
Published: August 2003

A 31 year old white man was referred for investigation of a persistent sinus tachycardia. His only significant past medical history was of chronic schizophrenia for which he had been taking clozapine for six years. An electrocardiogram demonstrated sinus tachycardia, voltage criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy, and a prolonged QTc. Echocardiographic findings were consistent with a dilated cardiomyopathy. Serious cardiac complications of clozapine use are rare but have been reported previously. It is important to note that sinus tachycardia may be the only obvious clinical sign, and that complications can manifest months or even years (as in this case) after starting the drug. Patients on clozapine should be informed of potential cardiac symptoms and doctors should maintain a high degree of clinical suspicion throughout the duration of treatment.
Malignant potential in a Brunner’s gland hamartoma
Authors: Brookes M J , Manjunatha S , Allen C A , Cox M
Published: August 2003

Brunner’s gland hamartomas are rare tumours of the duodenum. These lesions have previously been described as being benign, with no malignant potential. A case report is presented of a Brunner’s gland hamartoma, whose histology revealed a focus of well marked epithelial dysplasia. This case suggests a dysplastic stage in the natural history of Brunner’s gland hamartoma, and questions the malignant potential of these lesions.
First Middle Ordovician biota from southern New Brunswick: stratigraphic and tectonic implications for the evolution of the Avalon continent
Authors: Landing Ed , Westrop Stephen R , Kim Dong Hee
Published: August 2003

A limestone boulder in the Triassic Lepreau Formation near Saint John, New Brunswick, has yielded the first diverse marine fauna from the sub-Caradoc Ordovician of the western Avalon continent. This fauna includes the first Arenig conodonts recovered from Avalon and represents an unexposed interval in southern New Brunswick. Association of the conodonts Drepanoistodus and Baltoniodus and the trilobites Neseuretus, Nileus, and Stapeleyella emphasizes the faunal dissimilarity of Avalon and Laurentia through the late Middle Ordovician. Extension of the ranges of Neseuretus cf. Neseuretus parvifrons and Stapeleyella from Britain into New Brunswick further emphasizes that "eastern" and "western" Avalon were confluent parts of a unified, insular Avalon continent that originated in the latest Precambrian. This fauna correlates with the lower Amorphognathus (Lenodus) variabilis Zone (Kundan Stage) of Baltica and the terminal Arenig (upper Middle Ordovician; lower Darriwilian Stage) of Avalonian Britain. Available evidence suggests that an Arenig cover sequence with local shallow-water hematitic iron ore, quartz arenite, and rare limestone extended across the Avalonian marginal and inner platforms from eastern Newfoundland to the Boston, Massachusetts, region. This "western" Avalonian Arenig shows the greatest similarity with the Arenig of the Welsh Borderlands. Phosphatic fossils from the boulder have a thermal alteration index much lower than that of nearby lower Paleozoic outcrops and suggest derivation of the boulder from a weakly heated Avalonian succession brought into the Bay of Fundy region by post-Ordovician transcurrent faulting.
Échanges napperivière en vallée alpine : quantification et modélisation (Vallée d'Aoste, Italie)
Authors: Triganon A , Dzikowski M , Novel J P , Dray M , Zuppi G M , Parriaux A
Published: August 2003

A mathematical model is applied to the Aoste Valley (Italy), which is a good example of the hydrological workings of alluvial rock basin aquifers in mountainous regions. The course of the Dorea Baltea follows the valley, which between the altitudes of 500 and 600 m is dominated by summits reaching more than 3000 m. The lacustrine- and fluviatile-type sedimentary deposits are accompanied by several alluvial cones that, due to their varying nature, confer very diverse hydrodynamic characteristics to the land. In this particular context, the source and drainage of the Dorea control the hydrodynamics of the aquifers and influence the spatial dispersion of the physicochemical properties of the groundwater. The model also led to quantify and determine the zones and types of exchanges with the river. Simulation of lowering the water table in the river showed the variable sensitivity of the water table piezometry with various spatial impacts. Finally, the streamaquifer impact is highlighted by the spatial evolution of the sulphate contents coming from deep lateral sources. Taking into account the streamaquifer exchanges in an underground-flow mathematical model gives a better understanding of the workings of the valley aquifers and thus their management, especially for the development of watercourses in mountainous regions.[Journal translation]
Augmenting inventories with basal area points to achieve desired precision
Authors: Oderwald Richard G
Published: August 2003

An approximation to the variances of the regression and mean of ratios estimators for double sampling is presented that can be used to determine how many basal area points are needed to augment an existing inventory to achieve a desired precision. The approximation may also be used to determine the effective regular sample size to achieve equal precision to a double sample.
Vertical gradients and tree-to-tree variation in shoot morphology and foliar nitrogen in an old-growth Pinus strobus stand
Authors: Leal Diane B , Thomas Sean C
Published: August 2003

Acclimation to ambient light has been assumed to be the principal cause of vertical gradients in leaf nitrogen, foliar morphology, and related traits in forest canopies. We examined the relative role of crown exposure, damage, and reproduction as correlates of vertical gradients in shoot and needle morphology, anatomy, and chemistry in a ~120-year-old stand of Pinus strobus L. (eastern white pine) in central Ontario. Internodes at the top of trees were longer, wider, and produced more fascicles, but had lower fascicle survivorship than lower-canopy shoots. Needles on upper-canopy shoots also had higher allocation to resin ducts than mid- or lower-canopy needles, contained less nitrogen on a mass basis, and showed a higher leaf mass per area, C/N ratio, and chlorophyll a/b ratio. Tree-to-tree variation among the 26 trees measured traits was high, owing, in part, to differences in crown damage and reproductive status. Crown damage was associated with reduced leaf mass per area and other traits associated with shade acclimation, while high cone production was associated with reduced leaf nitrogen and chlorophyll in the upper canopy. Our results suggest that factors other than light acclimation play an important role in determining vertical gradients in foliar morphology, nitrogen, and leaf production in forest canopies.
Explicit Bracket in an Exceptional Simple Lie Superalgebra
Authors: Shchepochkina Irina , Post Gerhard
Published: August 2003

This note is devoted to a more detailed description of one of the five simple exceptional Lie superalgebras of vector fields, [Formula: see text] a subalgebra of [Formula: see text]. We derive differential equations for its elements, and solve these equations. Hence we get an exact form for the elements of [Formula: see text]. Moreover we realize [Formula: see text] by "glued" pairs of generating functions on a (3∣3)-dimensional periplectic (odd symplectic) supermanifold and describe the bracket explicitly.
Evaluation of p-FEM Approximations for Mid-Frequency Elasto-Acoustics
Authors: Dey Saikat
Published: August 2003

p-refinement strategies for numerical simulation of three-dimensional elasto-acoustic problems in the mid-frequency range are evaluated using high-order finite/infinite element-based approximations. Numerical experiments are used to study the convergence of an appropriate quantity-of-interest (QOI) as a function of polynomial degrees for the elastic-displacement and pressure fields.
Multiple-Stencil Dispersion Analysis of the Lagrange Multipliers in a Discontinuous Galerkin Method for the Helmholtz Equation
Authors: Harari Isaac , Farhat Charbel , Hetmaniuk Ulrich
Published: August 2003

We analyze the dispersion properties of elements obtained by a discontinuous Galerkin method with Lagrange multipliers. The dispersion analysis of these elements presents a challenge in that the Lagrange multiplier degrees of freedom are directional, and hence an unbounded mesh is made up of more than one repeating pattern. Two approaches to overcome this difficulty are presented. The similarity in the two sets of results offers mutual validation of the two approaches.
A Hybrid Method for Full Spectrum Noise and Vibration Prediction
Authors: Shorter P. J. , Gardner B. K. , Bremner P. G.
Published: August 2003

Predicting the response of a complex structural-acoustic system across a broad frequency range presents a number of challenges to an analyst. It is quite common to find that the uncertainty associated with the local dynamic properties of various subsystems of a system can vary greatly across the system. It is also common to find that the modal density and wavenumber content of the various subsystems can vary greatly across the system. Typically, this results in a mixture of strongly phase correlated (long wavelength) motion which spans many subsystems, superimposed with weakly phase correlated local motion that is confined to individual subsystems. This mismatch in the local statistical and dynamic properties of a system is often referred to as the mid-frequency problem. This paper provides a qualitative definition of the mid-frequency problem and suggests that a statistical description of the local dynamic properties of a system is an essential element of any mid-frequency prediction method. A hybrid approach to the mid-frequency problem is then described which employs a statistical description of the local modal properties of various subsystems in a system. The spatial statistics of the local modes are of particular interest and the way in which these statistics are encompassed in the hybrid analysis is discussed. Experimental investigations of the spatial statistics of a frame-panel structure are then presented and measurements of the acoustic power radiated by the structure are compared with numerical predictions.
Heterarchies of Value in Manhattan-Based New Media Firms
Authors: Girard Monique , Stark David
Published: August 2003

This article develops a sociology of worth that blurs the traditional disciplinary divide between economic value and social values. Through ethnographic study of a new media startup in Manhattan's Silicon Alley, we examine how a new firm in an emerging industry negotiates an uncertain environment where metrics gauging performance remain illusive as the industry itself gropes toward a clearer definition of its content and contours. Faced with complex foresight horizons, new media firms must develop an organizational capacity for learning, innovation, and flexible adaptation to constantly changing requirements. We examine how the clash of evaluative criteria guiding the work of cross-disciplinary project teams becomes a source for innovation and a resource for learning when deliberation across evaluative principles is combined with an organizational and administrative structure that relies on lateral accountability.
Mobile Transformations of `Public' and `Private' Life
Authors: Sheller Mimi , Urry John
Published: August 2003

Most conceptions of public and private life within political and social theory do not adequately consider the networks or fluidities involved in contemporary social relations. The distinction of public and private is often conceived of as statically `regional' in character. This article, following an extensive analysis of the multiple meanings of the `public' and `private', criticizes such a static conception and maintains that massive changes are occurring in the nature of both public and private life and especially of the relations between them. We consider flows and networks that enable mobility between and across apparent publics and privates. These mobilities are both physical (in the form of mobile people, objects and hybrids of humans-in-machines) and informational (in the form of electronic communication via data, visual images and texts). We consider the transformations of public and private life that have arisen from `complex' configurations of place and space: the dominant system of car-centred automobility whose spatial fluidities are simultaneously private and public; and various globalizations through the exposure of `private' lives on public screens and the public screening of mediatized events. These mobile, machinic examples demonstrate the limitations of the static, regional conceptualizations of public and private life developed within much social and political theory, and suggest that this divide may need relegation to the dustbin of history.
Merton with Energy, Katz with Structure:
Authors: Young Jock
Published: August 2003

This article traces the impact of economic and cultural globalization pointing to the consequent rise of widespread resentment and tension both within the First World and internationally. Globalization exacerbates both relative deprivation and crises of identity: such a combination is experienced as unfair, humiliating and threatening and results in behaviour which is transgressive rather than instrumental. Tension is also experienced among the better off because of insecurities of identity, position and the level of sacrifices demanded in their daily life. Punishment becomes vindictive rather than instrumental and rational. Further, `criminal' violence and the violence of war and terrorism have similar aetiologies and characteristics. The article seeks to establish a cultural criminology which puts the transgressive in a structural context, which critiques the insipid rationalistic nature of current neo-liberal discourses while reformulating Mertonian notions of anomie in terms of energy, resentment and tension.
Three‐dimensional depth imaging with generalized screens: A salt body case study
Authors: Rousseau Jérôme H. Le , Calandra Henry , de Hoop Maarten V.
Published: August 2003

We illustrate the performance of the generalized screen propagator on real seismic data for 3D zero‐offset and prestack depth imaging. We use TotalFinaElf's L7D data set from the North Sea, a 3D marine seismic survey that contained limited azimuthal coverage. The subsurface shows significant tectonic deformation, including an intrusive salt body in sedimentary sequences. A transformation to common azimuth is applied prior to the 3D prestack depth imaging procedure. We compare the performance of the generalized screen propagator with that of a hybrid phase shift plus interpolation (PSPI)/split‐step Fourier method. Three‐dimensional prestack results confirm the generalized screen method handles multipathing more accurately. Comparisons are also made with Kirchhoff migration results. The results differ mainly in the fine‐scale irregularities of the image and not in the wavefront set of the image. Using synthetic models of similar structure (the SEG/EAGE salt model), we further illustrate the importance of multipathing and multiple scattering. Overall, our results show that our wave‐equation approach produces better images than the Kirchhoff approach to prestack depth migration; we attribute this mainly to a more complete handling of wave diffraction in the generalized screen expansion, which becomes important in strongly heterogeneous and irregular velocity models such as the ones containing salt bodies.
Three‐dimensional imaging of multicomponent ground‐penetrating radar data
Authors: Kruk J. van der , Wapenaar C. P. A. , Fokkema J. T. , van den Berg P. M.
Published: August 2003

Scalar imaging algorithms originally developed for the processing of remote sensing measurements (e.g., the synthetic‐aperture radar method) or seismic reflection data (e.g., the Gazdag phase‐shift method) are commonly used for the processing of ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) data. Unfortunately, these algorithms do not account for the radiation characteristics of GPR source and receiver antennas or the vectorial nature of radar waves. We present a new multicomponent imaging algorithm designed specifically for vector electromagnetic‐wave propagation. It accounts for all propagation effects, including the vectorial characteristics of the source and receiver antennas and the polarization of the electromagnetic wavefield. A constant‐offset source‐receiver antenna pair is assumed to overlie a dielectric medium. To assess the performance of the scalar and multicomponent imaging algorithms, we compute their spatial resolution function, which is defined as the image of a point scatterer at a fixed depth using a single frequency. Application of the new multicomponent imaging algorithm results in a circularly symmetric resolution function, demonstrating that the radiation characteristics of the source and receiver antennas do not influence the derived image. In contrast, the two tested scalar imaging algorithms return distinctly asymmetric resolution functions with incorrect phase characteristics, which could result in erroneous images of the subsurface when these algorithms are applied to GPR data. The multicomponent and two scalar imaging algorithms are tested on data acquired across numerous buried objects with various dielectric properties and different strike directions. Phase differences between the different images are similar to those observed in the synthetic examples. Of the tested algorithms, we conclude that the multicomponent approach produces the most reliable results.
Fast structural interpretation with structure‐oriented filtering
Authors: Fehmers Gijs C. , Höcker Christian F. W.
Published: August 2003

We present a new approach to structural interpretation of 3D seismic data with the objectives of simplifying the task and reducing the interpretation time. The essential element is the stepwise removal of noise, and eventually of small‐scale stratigraphic and structural features, to derive more and more simple representations of structural shape. Without noise and small‐scale structure, both man and machine (autotrackers) can arrive at a structural interpretation faster. If the interpreters so wish, they can refine such an initial crude structural interpretation in selected target areas.

We discuss a class of filters that removes noise and, if desired, simplifies structural information in 3D seismic data. The gist of these filters is a smoothing operation parallel to the seismic reflections that does not operate beyond reflection terminations (faults). These filters therefore have three ingredients: (1) orientation analysis, (2) edge detection, and (3) edge‐preserving oriented smoothing. We discuss one particular implementation of this principle in some detail: a simulated anisotropic diffusion process (low‐pass filter) that diffuses the seismic amplitude while the diffusion tensor is computed from the local image structure (so that the diffusion is parallel to the reflections). Examples show the remarkable effects of this operation.
Clinical trials of antidepressant medications are producing meaningless results
Authors: Parker Gordon , Anderson Ian M. , Haddad Peter
Published: August 2003

A recent alert from the UK Committee on Safety of Medicines stated that the dangers of treatment of depression with paroxetine outweigh the benefits in those under 18. Such a warning should focus our minds on the evidence on which clinical practice is based. Antidepressant treatment of depression in the under-18s has been thought to be justified because clinical trials show that it works so well in over-18s. But is that a reasonable assessment of the evidence? Kirsch et al (2002) use the analogy of ‘The Emperor's New Clothes' to describe the findings from their meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials of antidepressants. They conclude that antidepressant medication appears to have only a small effect on outcome over and above placebo. In this analogy psychiatry is the emperor, drug trials are the fraudsters and the deception is being revealed by a growing body of critical opinion proposing that, once methodological problems with clinical trials are taken into account, antidepressants either do not work at all or have an effect that is so small as to be clinically unimportant (Andrews, 2001; Moncrieff, 2002). A large number of randomised placebo-controlled trials of antidepressants have been carried out over the past decades, mostly funded by the pharmaceutical industry, and it is now recognised that about 50% of negative trials go unpublished (Thase, 1999). Meanwhile, unipolar depression has jumped into the top five of the world's total burden of disease, and there is an imperative need for effective and safe treatments. Do we need more randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of antidepressant medications, or has that research paradigm outlived its usefulness? In this month's debate, Professor Gordon Parker, University of New South Wales and Black Dog Institute, Australia, and Drs Ian Anderson and Peter Haddad from the University of Manchester discuss whether clinical trials for antidepressant medication produce meaningless results.
Assertive outreach teams in London: Patient characteristics and outcomes
Authors: Priebe Stefan , Fakhoury Walid , Watts Joanna , Bebbington Paul , Burns Tom , Johnson Sonia , Muijen Matt , Ryrie Iain , White Ian , Wright Christine
Published: August 2003

Background

Although the model of assertive outreach has been widely adopted, it is unclear who receives assertive outreach in practice and what outcomes can be expected under routine conditions.

Aims

To assess patient characteristics and outcome in routine assertive outreach services in the UK.

Method

Patients (n=580) were sampled from 24 assertive outreach teams in London. Outcomes – days spent in hospital and compulsory hospitalisation – were assessed over a 9-month follow-up.

Results

The 6-month prevalence rate of substance misuse was 29%, and 35% of patients had been physically violent in the past 2 years. During follow-up, 39% were hospitalised and 25% compulsorily admitted. Outcome varied significantly between team types. These differences did not hold true when baseline differences in patient characteristics were controlled for.

Conclusions

Routine assertive outreach serves a wide range of patients with significant rates of substance misuse and violent behaviour. Over a 9-month period an average of 25% of assertive outreach patients can be expected to be hospitalised compulsorily. Differences in outcome between team types can be explained by differences in patient characteristics.
Protecting altruism: A call for a code of ethics in British psychiatry
Authors: Sarkar Sameer P. , Adshead Gwen
Published: August 2003

Codes of ethics have existed for medicine since the time of Hippocrates. However, a written code of ethics (like a written constitution) has so far eluded British psychiatry. In this editorial we discuss the arguments for and against a code of ethics as an essential aspect of our identity as medical professionals. Our professional identity as psychiatrists is coming under scrutiny from the General Medical Council, the emergence of the user movement and the proposals in the draft Mental Health Bill. At a time when psychiatry is seen increasingly as a guardian of public safety, there has never been a more pressing need for a code of ethics.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy for schizophrenia: Filling the therapeutic vacuum
Authors: Turkington Douglas , Kingdon David , Chadwick Paul
Published: August 2003

When does a therapeutic intervention become an accepted part of standard clinical practice? Is it when there is sufficient research evidence? But what constitutes ‘sufficient’? What about available resources and acceptability to patients? Do we have to wait until the National Institute for Clinical Excellence pronounces? A convincing evidence base for family work in schizophrenia (Kuipers, 2000) has existed for many years but has been poorly implemented (Anderson & Adams, 1996). Will cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for psychosis suffer the same fate? Which professional group will champion such an implementation? The evidence for other psychological treatments is less robust. Psychoeducation may prolong time to relapse and improve insight but at the cost of increasing suicidal ideation (Carroll et al, 1998). Personal therapy (Hogarty et al, 1997) may be of value but is contra-indicated for patients who are living alone in the community. Psychodynamic approaches are advocated (Mace & Margison, 1997) but most psychiatrists do not support their use in practice, owing to lack of evidence of efficacy.
Seismic Isolation: History, Application, and Performance—A World View
Authors: Buckle Ian G. , Mayes Ronald L.
Published: August 2003

The concept of seismic or base isolation as a means of earthquake protection seems to be more than 100 years old. However, until very recently, few structures were built using this principle. Today the concept has matured into a practical reality and is taking its place as a viable alternate to conventional (fixed base) seismic resistant construction. This paper reviews some of the history of isolation and restates the basic elements of a modern isolation system. It then proceeds to review current activity, worldwide. Progress in the United States is discussed first followed by that in China, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and the Soviet Union. Directories of isolated structures in the United States, New Zealand and Japan are also included. Finally the performance of a selection of these structures during actual earthquakes is given.
The Economics of Seismic Isolation in Buildings
Authors: Mayes Ronald L. , Jones Lindsay R. , Kelly Trevor E.
Published: August 2003

Seismic isolation is a design technique that offers significant benefits in appropriate applications, and interest in its application continues to grow. The two key issues that must be addressed early in the design phase of a project are the technical and economic feasibility issues. This paper focuses on the economic issues, and discusses the four principal cost factors that should be evaluated. These being construction costs, earthquake insurance premiums, physical damage that must be repaired and disruption costs, loss of market share and potential liability. The paper includes a summary of first cost studies on both new and existing buildings. It also discusses methods of estimating the difference in the cost of earthquake damage using different construction techniques.
Independent Engineer Peer Review for Seismic Isolation Projects
Authors: Sharpe Roland L.
Published: August 2003

Seismic isolation for buildings is an evolving state-of-the-art concept that is gaining acceptance for reducing seismic response of structures as well as the equipment housed therein. As there are no standards or codes covering this concept, owners are using independent engineer reviewers to help ensure that the isolation concept is viable for their buildings and the resulting design and construction meets the agreed-upon project needs. The responsibilities and scope of review, types of data reviewed, and questions asked by the reviewer are important ingredients of a successful project.
Seismic Isolation for Advanced Nuclear Power Stations
Authors: Tajirian Frederick F. , Kelly James M. , Aiken Ian D.
Published: August 2003

Seismic isolation offers an attractive approach for reducing seismic loads in nuclear structures, and more significantly, in reactor components. Isolation will lead to a simplification of designs, facilitate standardization, enhance safety margins, and may potentially reduce cost. To date, six large Pressurized Water Reactor units have been isolated in France and South Africa and several advanced nuclear concepts in the U.S., Japan, and Europe have incorporated this approach. It is recognized that to qualify and license an isolation system in the U.S. and in Japan, a comprehensive testing program of isolation components and systems would be required. A major seven year program was initiated in Japan in 1987 with the objective of establishing a qualified seismic isolation design for a large fast breeder reactor to be constructed at the end of this decade. In the U.S., two concepts which use steel laminated elastomeric bearings for seismic isolation have been developed. One of these concepts is a novel system which provides three-dimensional isolation. An extensive test program of scaled prototype bearings to demonstrate their feasibility and effectiveness has been carried out.
Efficient Communication: Assessment‐oriented Oral Case Presentation
Authors: Maddow Charles L. , Shah Manish N. , Olsen Jon , Cook Sandy , Howes David S.
Published: August 2003

Objective: To introduce and assess the time savings from and effectiveness of assessment‐oriented (AO) oral case presentation as a model of interphysician communication. Methods: This was a prospective, interventional study of all 10 on‐site faculty and 36 residents in a postgraduate year 1 to 3 format emergency medicine residency training program. Residents were requested to perform all oral case presentations in either the traditional or AO formats. Presentations were timed, and residents and faculty rated essential measures of oral case presentation effectiveness: data content, expression of decision making, organization, and overall satisfaction. Results: A total of 199 oral case presentations were sampled—112 traditional and 87 AO. Mean length of presentation for traditional presentations was 117 seconds versus 71 seconds for AO presentations (p < 0.001), a clinically significant difference, without significant differences in the essential measures of case presentation effectiveness. Conclusions: AO oral case presentation may provide a means for emergency medicine residents to “get to the point” and to communicate effectively and efficiently.
Wireless communications in acute health-care
Authors: Heslop Liza , Howard Andrew , Fernando Juanita , Rothfield Andrew , Wallace Lyn
Published: August 2003

Before a particular form of wireless communication is implemented within a health-care institution, consideration should be given to the system's capacity for transmitting voice, data and video information, as well as its reliability and coverage. An important associated choice concerns the best combination of user devices that will enable secure and rapid transmission of data to clinical staff at the point of care. Several technologies are available. No new technology that is likely to become available over the next five years will address the two main concerns of health service organizations: the need for non-interference with sensitive equipment; and the need for immediate communication of urgent messages. We therefore believe that health industries with a mobile workforce will gain five to eight years of useful life from cordless telephone systems and that paging or other radio-based devices will remain an important mode of communication for at least the next five years, especially where emergency communication is concerned.