bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A pilot study of thalidomide in patients with progressive metastatic renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Daliani Danai D. , Papandreou Christos N. , Thall Peter F. , Wang Xuemei , Perez Cherie , Oliva Rose , Pagliaro Lance , Amato Robert
Published: October 2002

BACKGROUND

The highly vascular nature of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) suggests that angiogenesis inhibition may be therapeutic for patients with this disease. Thalidomide inhibits basic fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐induced angiogenesis.

METHODS

In a pilot study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of escalating doses of thalidomide in patients with progressive metastatic RCC (mRCC), measurable disease, and good organ function. Patients received oral thalidomide starting at 200 mg per day and increasing by 100–200 mg per day weekly until a target dose of 1200 mg per day was reached. Study endpoints were objective tumor response and toxicity.

RESULTS

Of the 20 patients enrolled, 19 were evaluable for response. Eighteen achieved the target dose. The most common, but reversible, toxicities were constipation, somnolence, and fatigue. Peripheral neuropathy was seen after prolonged therapy, necessitating dose reduction. Two patients achieved a partial response and nine had stable disease for a median of 14 months (range, 3–17 months). Median time to progression was 4.7 months (range, 0.7–31.3 months). Fifteen patients died (median survival, 18.1 months; 95% lower confidence bound 10.7). Survival was significantly longer in patients with higher hemoglobin level and longer time from first metastasis to start of thalidomide, but significantly shorter in patients with multiple organ involvement and previous treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Thalidomide at this dose is associated with manageable acute toxicities but long‐term dose‐limiting neuropathy. Objective responses are rare in patients with mRCC and are characterized by delay in achieving maximum tumor reduction. Prolonged stable disease is seen in some patients, but the benefit of thalidomide, as well as other angiogenesis inhibitors, in that setting needs to be studied in controlled, randomized trials. Cancer 2002;95:758–65. © 2002 American Cancer Society.

DOI 10.1002/cncr.10740
Relationship between changes in hemoglobin level and quality of life during chemotherapy in anemic cancer patients receiving epoetin alfa therapy
Authors: Crawford Jeffrey , Cella David , Cleeland Charles S. , Cremieux Pierre‐Yves , Demetri George D. , Sarokhan Brenda J. , Slavin Mitchell B. , Glaspy John A.
Published: October 2002

BACKGROUND

Hemoglobin increases have been associated with quality of life (QOL) improvements in anemic cancer patients treated with epoetin alfa, but intervention generally has been reserved for symptomatic anemia or hemoglobin < 10 g/dL. Relationships among hemoglobin, functional status, and patient reported QOL have not been well characterized.

METHODS

Data from two open‐label, community‐based trials of epoetin alfa therapy that enrolled 4382 anemic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy were used to evaluate the relationship between hemoglobin changes and QOL changes. The authors measured QOL using the Linear Analog Scale Assessment (LASA) and the more detailed, disease‐specific Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐Anemia (FACT‐An) instrument. Analyses were performed to determine the incremental change in QOL associated with hemoglobin increases (1 g/dL increments).

RESULTS

Cross‐sectional analyses showed a nonlinear relationship and significant positive correlation between high hemoglobin levels and high LASA and FACT‐An scores (r = 0.25 and 0.29, respectively, P < 0.01). Patients with hemoglobin increases of ≥ 2 g/dL reported statistically significant improvements in five FACT‐An items selected a priori specifically to reflect functional capacity. An incremental analysis used regression methods to identify the longitudinal relationship between incremental changes in hemoglobin and QOL scores. This relationship was found to be nonlinear, with the maximum QOL gain occurring at a hemoglobin level of 12 g/dL (range, 11–13 g/dL). Patients with low baseline QOL scores and longer time periods between baseline and final QOL assessments experienced significantly (P < 0.05) greater increases in overall QOL. Progressive disease at baseline, change in disease status from baseline to end of study, and increase in self‐reported pain or nausea all had significant (P < 0.05) negative effects on QOL scores.

CONCLUSIONS

A direct relationship exists between hemoglobin increases during epoetin alfa therapy and corresponding QOL improvements in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy across the clinically relevant hemoglobin range of 8–14 g/dL. These data suggest that the maximal incremental gain in QOL occurs when hemoglobin is in the range of 11–13 g/dL. Cancer 2002;95:888–95. © 2002 American Cancer Society.

DOI 10.1002/cncr.10763
Evidence from V1 connections for both dorsal and ventral subdivisions of V3 in three species of new world monkeys
Authors: Lyon David C. , Kaas Jon H.
Published: October 2002

We used patterns of connections of primary visual cortex (V1) to reevaluate differing proposals on the organization of extrastriate cortex in three species of New World monkeys. Several fluorescent tracers and the bidirectional tracer cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) were injected into dorsal V1 (representing the lower visual quadrant) and ventral V1 (representing the upper visual quadrant) of titi, squirrel, and owl monkeys. Labeled cells and terminals were plotted on brain sections cut parallel to the surface of flattened cortex and were related to architectonic boundaries. The results provided compelling evidence for both dorsal V3 with dorsal V1 connections and ventral V3 with ventral V1 connections. The connection pattern indicated that V3 represents the visual hemifield as a mirror image of V2. In addition, V3 could be recognized by a weak banding pattern in brain sections processed for cytochrome oxidase. V1 has connections with at least 12 subdivisions of visual cortex, with half of the connections involving V2 and 20% V3. Comparable results were obtained from all three species, suggesting that visual cortex is similarly organized. J. Comp. Neurol. 449:281–297, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Vlasov‐Poisson‐Boltzmann system near Maxwellians
Authors: Guo Yan
Published: October 2002

The dynamics of dilute electrons can be modeled by the Vlasov‐Poisson‐Boltz‐mann system, where electrons interact with themselves through collisions and with their self‐consistent electric field. It is shown that any smooth, periodic initial perturbation of a given global Maxwellian that preserves the same mass, momentum, and total energy (including both kinetic and electric energy), leads to a unique global‐in‐time classical solution. The construction of global solutions is based on an energy method with a new estimate of dissipation from the collision: ∫0t〈Lf(s), f(s)〉ds is positive definite for solution f(t,x,v) with small amplitude to the Vlasov‐Poisson‐Boltzmann system (1.4). © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Self‐organization and selection in the emergence of vocabulary
Authors: Ke Jinyun , Minett James W. , Au Ching‐Pong , Wang William S.‐Y.
Published: October 2002

Human language may have started from a consistent set of mappings between meanings and signals. These mappings, referred to as the early vocabulary, are considered to be the results of conventions established among the agents of a population. In this study, we report simulation models for investigating how such conventions can be reached. We propose that convention is essentially the product of self‐organization of the population through interactions among the agents and that cultural selection is another mechanism that speeds up the establishment of convention. Whereas earlier studies emphasize either one or the other of these two mechanisms, our focus is to integrate them into one hybrid model. The combination of these two complementary mechanisms, i.e., self‐organization and cultural selection, provides a plausible explanation for cultural evolution, which progresses with high transmission rate. Furthermore, we observe that as the vocabulary tends to convergence there is a uniform tendency to exhibit a sharp phase transition. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Wireless provision of true VoD services and fast access to Internet
Authors: Pallis E. , Kourtis A. , Alexandridis A. A. , Smith M. C. B.
Published: October 2002

The evolution of digital compression techniques has made possible the provision of full‐motion video services through networking infrastructures of sufficient bandwidth. This paper presents a wireless broadband network, which is capable of providing true interactive VoD services (with full VCR functions) and fast access to Internet to a number of simultaneous clients. The network is based on frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) technology operating in the 2.4
GHz frequency band. The paper describes the system architecture and configuration adopted in a real environment trial and elaborates on the provided picture quality in a multi‐client environment. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Utility of cytomorphologic criteria and p53 immunolocalization in distinguishing benign from malignant cystic squamous‐lined lesions of the neck on fine‐needle aspiration
Authors: Nasuti Joseph F. , Braccia Marian G. , Roberts Shelley , Baloch Zubair W.
Published: October 2002

Fine‐needle aspiration can effectively distinguish between benign and malignant cystic lesions of the head and neck. However, in some instances it may be difficult to arrive at a definite diagnosis due to limited cellularity, reactive changes, and cellular degeneration. In this study we examined the usefulness of six cytomorphologic features including the presence or prevalence of nuclear atypia, anucleated cells, tissue fragments, necrosis, and background inflammation in distinguishing between benign and malignant cystic lesions of the head and neck. The case cohort comprised 14 benign and 22 malignant cases. P53 immunostain was performed in 19 cases. These features were semiquantitatively measured on a sliding scale of 0–4 in both air‐dried Diff‐Quik‐stained, alcohol‐fixed Papanicolaou‐stained smears and Millipore filter preparations. Mean and standard errors were calculated and statistical significance was evaluated by unpaired t‐test (StatView). Increased number of tissue fragments (P < 0.001), greater degree of nuclear atypia (P < 0.001), and background necrosis (P < 0.001) were more frequent in cystically degenerating squamous carcinoma as compared to benign squamous cystic lesions. No significant differences were noted in the number of single cells, anucleated cells, or in the amount of background inflammation found in aspirates of benign vs. malignant cystic squamous lesions. A higher percentage of the malignant cystic squamous lesions FNA cases demonstrated p53 immunolocalization but this difference was not statistically significant. Application of the above‐mentioned cytomorphologic criteria and the use of p53 immunostain could effectively distinguish between benign and malignant cystic lesions of the head and neck. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2002;27:10–14. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Individual housing during the play period results in changed responses to and consequences of a psychosocial stress situation in rats
Authors: Von Frijtag J. C. , Schot M. , van den Bos R. , Spruijt B. M.
Published: October 2002

In the present study, the consequences of individual rearing during the play period on adult responses to aggression were investigated in a complex social setting. In a group of either socially or individually reared rats, an aggressor was repeatedly introduced. Separate control groups of individually and socially reared rats were not exposed to an aggressor. To allow an interpretation of the altered reactivity to aggression in terms of (in)efficient or (in)adequate behavior, not only the responses in the presence of the aggressor but also the consequences of the altered reactivity on subsequent behavior in the absence of the aggressor were observed. We demonstrated that a higher number of injuries, more agitation of the aggressor, and more ultrasonic distress vocalizations accompanied the altered responses of individually reared rats in the presence of the aggressor. In the absence of the aggressor, individually reared rats displayed less social stress‐reducing behaviors (play and social grooming) than socially reared rats. It was concluded that individually reared rats display a less adequate response to aggression in this social context. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 41: 58–69, 2002. Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/dev.10057
Fear, disgust, and abnormal eating attitudes: A preliminary study
Authors: Harvey Tony , Troop Nicholas A. , Treasure Janet L. , Murphy Tara
Published: October 2002

Objective

Clinical descriptions of eating disorders emphasize the role of fear (e.g., fear of weight gain, weight phobia, morbid dread of fatness). The present study explored whether disgust, an emotion that is linked intimately with food, may also be an important emotional response to eating and weight‐related issues in women with abnormal eating attitudes.

Method

Forty nonclinical female participants were presented with a series of food, drink, body shape, and emotion‐related stimuli. They were asked to rate each on a number of responses associated with fear and disgust. In addition, participants completed standard questionnaire measures of eating attitudes, phobias, and disgust sensitivity.

Results

Ratings of fear and disgust were higher in women with abnormal eating attitudes than in those without for high‐calorie foods and for overweight body shapes, but not for drinks and slim body shapes. In response to fear and disgust relevant images, women with abnormal eating attitudes also rated emotional responses higher, but this was restricted to the appropriate emotion (i.e., higher levels of fear in response to fear stimuli and higher levels of disgust in response to disgust stimuli).

Conclusion

In women with abnormal eating attitudes, both disgust and fear responses to food and body shape issues are equally salient. Thus, an emphasis on fear in eating disorders, to the exclusion of disgust, may be unwarranted. © 2002 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 32: 213–218, 2002.
RHiNET‐2/SW: High‐speed network switch implemented with parallel optical interconnection for parallel computing system
Authors: Nishimura Shinji , Kudoh Tomohiro , Nishi Hiroaki , Yamamoto Junji , Harasawa Katsuyoshi , Fukuda Shuji , Shikichi Yasutaka , Akutsu Shigeto
Published: October 2002

We developed the RHiNET‐2/SW high‐speed network switch for a high‐throughput parallel computing system consisting of optically interconnected distributed personal computers (PCs). RHiNET‐2/SW enables high‐throughput network switching (64 Gbit/s) by means of a switching LSI and eight pairs of synchronized parallel optical interconnection modules. To confirm the reliability of RHiNET‐2/SW, we measured its bit error rate (BER), which was less than 10−11(estimated value: 10−20). Five RHiNET‐2/SWs and sixteen PC nodes can perform parallel computing. This result demonstrates the feasibility of optical interconnection in a high‐speed, flexible network in a parallel computing system. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 85(6): 1–10, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.10022
Fuzzy‐reasoning‐based computer‐aided diagnosis for automated discrimination of myocardial heart disease from ultrasonic images
Authors: Tsai Du‐Yih , Lee Yongbum
Published: October 2002

This paper describes a fuzzy‐reasoning‐based computer‐aided diagnosis scheme for automated classification of cardiomyopathy from ultrasonic images. Unlike the conventional types of membership functions such as triangle and trapezoid, Gaussian‐distributed membership functions (GDMFs) are employed in the present study. The GDMFs are initially generated using various texture‐based features computed from gray‐level co‐occurrence matrices. Subsequently, the shapes of GDMFs are optimized by a genetic‐algorithm learning process. After optimization, the classifier is used to discriminate two sets of echocardiographic images, namely, normal and abnormal cases, which were diagnosed in advance by a highly trained physician. We experimentally evaluate the performance of the proposed method against various methods reported in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and total accuracy. Our results show the promise of the proposed approach in discriminating cardiomyopathy. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 85(11): 1–8, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjc.10025
A unified proposal for characteristic testing methods and figure of merit of 8‐kV/3.5‐kVA class light‐triggered thyristors
Authors: Asano Katsunori , Sugawara Yoshitaka
Published: October 2002

Power devices with high capability have been developed. 8‐kV/3.5‐kA‐class light‐triggered thyristors have the highest capability among power devices. These devices are used in the Kii Channel HVDC transmission system in Japan. In this paper, we report the extracted problems of conventional testing methods of 8‐kV/3.5‐kA‐class light‐triggered thyristors among manufacturers, and the proposed unified testing methods on the basis of element characteristics and operating conditions in the Kii Channel HVDC system. Furthermore, we propose a figure of merit for power devices for the practical use, and try to extract elements used at the Kii Channel HVDC system with small margins and low withstand capabilities. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 140(3): 61–70, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.10024
Factors influencing the dielectric properties of linear low‐density polyethylene
Authors: Ono Hironaga , Araoka Makoto , Hirai Naoshi , Ohki Yoshimichi
Published: October 2002

We investigated the factors that influence dielectric properties such as the breakdown strength and conduction current of linear low‐density polyethylene. Films with a lower melt‐flow‐rate show a higher dielectric strength. Furthermore, the catalyst used to polymerize the film affects the dielectric strength, although additives in the film scarcely affect its electrical properties. The effect of crosslinking on dielectric breakdown in linear low‐density polyethylene was found to be similar to that in low‐density polyethylene. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 140(3): 1–7, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.10035
Degradation of direct‐tunneling gate oxide under hot hole injection
Authors: Kamakura Yoshinari , Deguchi Kazuaki , Ishida Akihiro , Uno Shigeyasu , Taniguchi Kenji
Published: October 2002

The degradation of ultrathin SiO2films accompanied by the hole direct tunneling is investigated using a substrate hot hole (SHH) injection technique. Hot holes from the substrate as well as cold holes in the inversion layer are injected into the gate oxides inp‐channel MOSFETs withp+poly‐Si gates, while the gate bias is kept low enough to avoid simultaneous electron injection from the gate. During the SHH stress, in contrast to the case of thicker oxide films, a strong correlation is observed between the oxide film degradation and the injected hole energy, whereas no degradation occurs due to the hole direct tunneling from the inversion layer. These experimental findings indicate the existence of threshold energy for trap creation process, which has been predicted by the theoretical study of hole‐injection‐induced structural transformation of oxygen vacancy in SiO2. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 140(4): 54–61, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.2008
“It's OK if we say it, but you can't”: responses to intergroup and intragroup criticism
Authors: Hornsey Matthew J. , Oppes Tina , Svensson Alicia
Published: October 2002

Three experiments were conducted examining group members' responses to criticism from ingroup and outgroup members. In Experiment 1a, Australians read scripts of a person making either negative or positive comments about Australia. The speaker was identified as coming from either Australia (ingroup member) or another country (outgroup member). Responses indicated an intergroup sensitivity effect; that is, while ingroup criticisms were tolerated surprisingly well, outgroup criticisms were met with sensitivity and defensiveness. This pattern was replicated using the identity of ‘university student’ (Experiment 1b). Experiment 2 demonstrated that the intergroup sensitivity effect is driven by perceptions that ingroup criticisms are seen to be more legitimate and more constructive than are outgroup criticisms. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for intragroup and intergroup relations. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Motivation and dropout in female handballers: a 21‐month prospective study
Authors: Sarrazin P. , Vallerand R. , Guillet E. , Pelletier L. , Cury F.
Published: October 2002

The purpose of this study was to test a motivational model of sport dropout that integrates the four‐stage causal sequence proposed by the Hierarchical Model of Vallerand (1997) and elements from achievement goal theory (Nicholls,1989). The model posits that a task involving motivational climate facilitates, while an ego‐involving climate undermines, perceptions of competence, autonomy, and relatedness. In turn, feeling incompetent, non‐autonomous, and unrelated to others undermines self‐determined motivation toward handball which leads to the intention of dropping out of the game. Finally, such intentions are implemented later. Three hundred and thirty‐five female handballers completed a motivation questionnaire and were followed for 21 months. Results from structural equation modelling analyses provided basic support for the model. The findings are discussed in the light of their theoretical and applied implications. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cyclic‐demand spectrum
Authors: Malhotra Praveen K.
Published: October 2002

The seismic response spectrum defines the amplitude of the load, but it does not specify the number of cycles for which the load must be resisted by the structure. The amplitude by itself is not sufficient to evaluate the seismic resistance of a structure, because the structure's strength, stiffness and energy‐dissipation capacity reduce with an increase in the number of load cycles. This paper presents a cyclic‐demand spectrum, which, in conjunction with the amplitude spectrum, provides a more complete definition of the seismic load, hence a way to consider the degradation in strength, stiffness and energy‐dissipation capacity in a rational manner. Similarly to three amplitude parameters (peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity, and peak ground displacement), three cyclic‐demand parameters are introduced for stiff, moderately stiff, and flexible systems. A design example is presented to illustrate the use of the cyclic‐demand spectrum. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Treatment aims and philosophy in the treatment of adolescent anorexia nervosa in Europe
Authors: Gowers S. G. , Edwards V. J. , Fleminger S. , Massoubre C. , Wallin U. , Canalda G. , Starkova L. , Hannesdottir H. , Almquist F. , Aronen P. , Scholz M. , Höerder K. , Skarderud F. , Boyadjieva S.
Published: October 2002

This study describes the range of service provision and explores differences in treatment approaches and therapeutic aims, in the 12 countries participating in the European Union collaborative COST B6 Adolescent Project into the treatment of adolescent anorexia nervosa (AN). Following a number of group meetings, two questionnaires were administered, completed and returned by e‐mail. The first questionnaire examined features of the services provided, including details of the numbers of patients seen, inpatient admission criteria and aspects of patient management. The second questionnaire contained a list of 13 therapeutic aims, asking respondents to rank in order the six they considered most important in the first weeks of treatment. There was broad agreement between services concerning the need to offer a full spectrum of services in a range of settings. Nevertheless, there were significant differences in approaches, chiefly concerning the readiness to admit to hospital, the use of (individual or family) day units and the focus on weight restoration as opposed to therapeutic engagement. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Quantifying the mechanical and hydrologic effects of riparian vegetation on streambank stability
Authors: Simon Andrew , Collison Andrew J. C.
Published: October 2002

Riparian vegetation strips are widely used by river managers to increase streambank stability, among other purposes. However, though the effects of vegetation on bank stability are widely discussed they are rarely quantified, and generally underemphasize the importance of hydrologic processes, some of which may be detrimental. This paper presents results from an experiment in which the hydrologic and mechanical effects of four riparian tree species and two erosion‐control grasses were quantified in relation to bank stability. Geotechnical and pore‐water pressure data from streambank plots under three riparian covers (mature trees, clump grasses and bare/cropped turf grass) were used to drive the ARS bank stability model, and the resulting factor of safety (Fs) was broken down into its constituent parts to assess the contribution (beneficial or detrimental) of individual hydrologic and mechanical effects (soil moisture modification, root reinforcement and surcharge). Tree roots were found to increase soil strength by 2–8 kPa depending on species, while grass roots contributed 6–18 kPa. Slope stability analysis based on data collected during bank failures in spring 2000 (following a very dry antecedent period) shows that the mechanical effects of the tree cover increased Fs by 32 per cent, while the hydrologic effects increased Fs by 71 per cent. For grasses the figures were 70 per cent for mechanical effects and a reduction of Fs by 10 per cent for the hydrologic effects. However, analysis based on bank failures in spring 2001 (following a wetter than average antecedent period) showed the mechanical effects of the tree cover to increase Fs by 46 per cent, while hydrologic effects added 29 per cent. For grasses the figures were 49 per cent and −15 per cent respectively. During several periods in spring 2001 the hydrologic effects of the tree cover reduced bank stability, though this was always offset by the stabilizing mechanical effects. The results demonstrate the importance of hydrologic processes in controlling streambank stability, and highlight the need to select riparian vegetation based on hydrologic as well as mechanical and ecological criteria. Published in 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Origin and palaeo‐environments of calcareous sediments in the Moshaweng dry valley, southeast Botswana
Authors: Ringrose S. , Kampunzu A. B. , Vink B. W. , Matheson W. , Downey W. S.
Published: October 2002

Quaternary sedimentation in the Moshaweng dry valley of southeastern Botswana is evaluated on the basis of geomorphological evolution and sedimentological analyses. Stratigraphic evidence reveals an upper surface (1095 m) containing abundant sil‐calcrete, an intermediate surface (1085 m) in which sil‐calcrete underlies nodular calcrete and lower (1075 m) surface in which sil‐calcrete and nodular calcrete are interbedded. This subdivision is reflected in the geochemical composition of the sediments which show an overall trend of decreasing SiO2 content (and increasing CaCO3 content) with depth from the highest to the lowest surface levels. The calcretes and sil‐calcretes represent modifications of pre‐existing detrital Kalahari Group sand and basal Kalahari pebbles which thinned over a Karoo bedrock high. Modification took place during wet periods when abundant Ca++‐rich groundwater flowed along the structurally aligned valley system. With the onset of drier conditions, water table fluctuations led to the precipitation of nodular calcretes in the phreatic layer to a depth of about 20 m. A major geochemical change resulted in the preferential silicification of the nodular calcrete deposits. Conditions for silica mobilization may be related to drying‐induced salinity and in situ geochemical differentiation brought about by pebble dissociation towards the top of the sediment pile. As calcretization and valley formation progressed to lower levels, silica release took place on a diminishing scale. Thermoluminescence dating infers a mid‐Pleistocene age for sil‐calcrete formation suggesting that valley evolution and original calcrete precipitation are much older. Late stage dissolution of CaCO3 from pre‐existing surface calcretes or sil‐calcretes led to the formation of pedogenic case‐hardened deposits during a time of reduced flow through the Moshaweng system possibly during the upper or late Pleistocene. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The influence of water stress on plant height, herbal and essential oil yield and composition in Satureja hortensis L.
Authors: Baher Zahra F. , Mirza Mehdi , Ghorbanli Mahlega , Bagher Rezaii Mohamad
Published: October 2002

The influence of soil water stress on plant height, fresh and dry weight and essential oil content of Iranian Satureja hortensis L. was investigated. The volatile constituents of the aerial parts of cultivated S. hortensis were isolated by steam distillation and analysed by GC–MS. The results showed that greater soil water stress decreased plant height and total fresh and dry weight. The accumulation of oil increased significantly under severe water stress at the flowering stage, when the mean leaf water potential decreased from −0.5 to −1.6 MPa. This treatment affected the quantity of the essential oils more than moderate water stress during the vegetative and flowering stages. The main oil constituents are carvacrol and γ‐terpinene. The amount of carvacrol increased under moderate stress, while γ‐terpinene content decreased under moderate and severe water stress treatments. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of novel fusion partners of ALK, the anaplastic lymphoma kinase, in anaplastic large‐cell lymphoma and inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor
Authors: Cools Jan , Wlodarska Iwona , Somers Riet , Mentens Nicole , Pedeutour Florence , Maes Brigitte , De Wolf‐Peeters Christiane , Pauwels Patrick , Hagemeijer Anne , Marynen Peter
Published: October 2002

ALK‐positive anaplastic large‐cell lymphoma (ALCL) has been recognized as a distinct type of lymphoma in the heterogeneous group of T/Null‐ALCL. While most of the ALK‐positive ALCL (ALKomas) are characterized by the presence of the NPM‐ALK fusion protein, the product of the t(2;5)(p23;q35), 10–20% of ALKomas contain variant ALK fusions, including ATIC‐ALK, TFG‐ALK, CLTC‐ALK (previously designated CLTCL‐ALK), TMP3‐ALK, and MSN‐ALK. TMP3‐ALK and TMP4‐ALK fusions also have been detected in inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs), making clear that aberrations of the ALK gene are not associated exclusively with the pathogenesis of ALK‐positive ALCL. Here we report results of molecular studies on two lymphoma cases and one IMT case with variant rearrangements of ALK. Our study led to the detection of the CLTC‐ALK fusion in an ALCL case and to the identification of two novel fusion partners of ALK: ALO17 (KIAA1618), a gene with unknown function, which was fused to ALK in an ALCL case with a t(2;17)(p23;q25), and CARS, encoding the cysteinyl‐tRNA synthetase, which was fused to ALK in an IMT case with a t(2;11;2)(p23;p15;q31). These results confirm the recurrent involvement of ALK in IMT and further demonstrate the diversity of ALK fusion partners, with the ability to homodimerize as a common characteristic. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Loss of genetic material is more common than gain in acute myeloid leukemia with complex aberrant karyotype: A detailed analysis of 125 cases using conventional chromosome analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization including 24‐color FISH
Authors: Schoch Claudia , Haferlach Torsten , Bursch Sabina , Gerstner Daniela , Schnittger Susanne , Dugas Martin , Kern Wolfgang , Löffler Helmut , Hiddemann Wolfgang
Published: October 2002

Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and a complex aberrant karyotype have a poor outcome despite intensive antileukemic treatment. The aim of this study was to analyze in detail the genetic abnormalities in this subgroup of AML. Therefore, 125 AML cases with complex aberrant karyotype detected by G‐banding were examined in addition with 24‐color FISH and FISH with locus‐specific probes for EGR1 (5q31), D7S522 (7q31), and TP53 (17p13), given that these regions are known to be commonly deleted in AML with a complex aberrant karyotype. The number of chromosome abnormalities per case varied from 3 to 30 (median 10). A gain of a whole chromosome was observed 131 times, with +8 (n = 30), +10 (n = 11), and +22 (n = 10) being the most frequent trisomies. A loss of a whole chromosome occurred 128 times. The chromosomes most often lost were 7 (n = 25), 18 (n = 24), and 17 (n = 17). Structural aberrations, leading to a gain or loss of chromosomal material, were detected 104 times and 433 times, respectively. Aberrations including only two chromosomes that seemed to be balanced were found only 19 times. Losses resulting from structural abnormalities most frequently involved 5q (n = 100), 17p (n = 47), and 12p (n = 29), whereas gains of 11q (n = 21), 21q (n = 19), and 8q (n = 11) were observed. Using locus‐specific probes, deletions of the EGR1 locus (5q31), of 7q31, and the TP53 gene were observed in 103 (82%), 57 (46%), and 66 (53%) cases, respectively. In conclusion, in AML with a complex aberrant karyotype, loss of chromosomal material was observed much more often than gain. Unbalanced rearrangements leading to loss of chromosomal material are much more frequent than loss of whole chromosomes. These data suggest that in AML with a complex aberrant karyotype, loss of tumor‐suppressor genes is a more important mechanism of leukemogenesis than activation of oncogenes, and that gene‐dosage effects may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of this AML subtype. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
MEN1 tumor‐suppressor protein localizes to telomeres during meiosis
Authors: Suphapeetiporn Kanya , Greally John M. , Walpita Deepika , Ashley Terry , Bale Allen E.
Published: October 2002

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 is an autosomal dominant cancer predisposition syndrome caused by mutations in the tumor‐suppressor gene MEN1. The gene encodes a nuclear protein, menin, with no recognized functional motifs. Menin has been shown negatively to regulate transcriptional activation mediated by JunD, although the significance of this interaction in normal cell physiology and how the absence of menin leads to tumorigenesis are unknown. Menin is highly expressed in testes. We used immunocytochemistry to explore its role in meiosis and found that it localizes exclusively at telomeres. JunD was not found at telomeres in meiotic cells. In view of elevated telomerase activity or abnormal telomere structure in virtually all malignancies, regulation of telomere function would be an appealing role for a tumor suppressor. However, menin does not specifically associate with telomeres in somatic cells, as indicated by lack of co‐localization with the known telomeric protein TRF2. Cells overexpressing menin had normal telomerase activity, and tumors with homozygous MEN1 mutations showed no aberrations in telomere length, indicating that menin does not directly regulate telomerase activity. The role of menin at meiotic telomeres appears to be independent of JunD and may not have a counterpart in somatic cells. These results suggest that menin may play different roles in different tissues through interactions with different proteins. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Psychometric properties of Clock Drawing Test and MMSE or Short Performance Test (SKT) in dementia screening in a memory clinic population
Authors: Schramm Uta , Berger Gabriele , Müller Ruth , Kratzsch Tilman , Peters Juergen , Frölich Lutz
Published: October 2002

Objective

To evaluate five different scoring methods of the Clock Drawing Test (CDT) and to examine whether a combination of Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) or Short Performance Test (Syndrom Kurz Test, SKT), respectively, with CDT can be used for cognitive screening.

Methods

Retrospective blinded analysis of clock drawing performance using five scoring methods (Shulman et al. (1986), Sunderland et al. (1989), Wolf‐Klein et al. (1989), Watson et al. (1997), Manos (1997)). A Memory Clinic at an academic psychiatric hospital (University of Frankfurt am Main, Germany). 123 consecutive patients (79 dementia patients, 44 controls). Inter‐rater reliability and correlation of five different scoring methods of the CDT with established psychometric tests. Sensitivity and specificity of all five CDT's using the original and modified cut‐off scores. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive value of a combination of the CDT with MMSE and SKT, respectively.

Results

All scoring methods of the CDT showed a highly significant interrater reliability (0.82 to 0.94). Correlation with the MMSE and the SKT was also significant (p < 0.01) for all five CDTs. Highest sensitivity was achieved by the Shulman scoring method (81% sensitivity, specificity 79%). Sensitivity of all scoring methods could be improved up to 89% by modifying the originally proposed cut‐off scores at the cost of lower specificity. By combining the CDT with the MMSE or the SKT, respectively, the sensitivity of each of the tests could be improved to 92% (SKT and Shulman scale). In patients with mild dementia (GDS 3), a combination of the Shulman Scale with the SKT (92%) and the MMSE (75%) achieved the highest sensitivity.

Conclusions

The CDT in combination with the MMSE or SKT is an easily administered, non threatening and highly sensitive screening test for dementia in the setting of a memory clinic. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Psychosocial and clinical predictors of unipolar depression outcome in older adults
Authors: Bosworth Hayden B. , Hays Judith C. , George Linda K. , Steffens David C.
Published: October 2002

Background

This study examined psychosocial and clinical predictors of depression non‐remittance among a sample of initially clinically depressed elders.

Methods

Incident and prevalent unipolar depression cases (n = 166) were enrolled into the MHCRC for the Study of Depression in Late Life and followed for 12 months while undergoing treatment using a standardized algorithm. The outcome was remissionvsnon‐remission (<6vs> 7 on the Montgomery‐Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)) at one‐year follow‐up. Baseline predictor variables included psychosocial factors, such as four domains of social support, basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs), and clinical factors, which included use of ECT, past history of depression, comorbidities, and antidepressant treatment.

Results

At one‐year follow‐up, 45% of the sample was in remission based upon MADRS scores. In bivariate analyses, non‐remitted patients were more likely at baseline to use benzodiazepines, anxiolytic/sedatives, and/or MAO inhibitors than patients in remission, and have more depressive episodes. Among psychosocial factors, non‐remitted patients had at baseline, more ADL and IADL problems and decreased subjective social support as compared to patients in remission. In logistic regression analyses more depression episodes, using anxiolytic/sedatives, more IADL problems and decreased subjective social support predicted poor depression outcome after one‐year.

Conclusions

While clinical and diagnostic variables were related to improvement, baseline psychosocial factors were also important. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Longitudinal increase in the volume of white matter hyperintensities in late‐onset depression
Authors: Nebes Robert D. , Reynolds Charles F. , Boada Fernando , Meltzer Carolyn C. , Fukui Melanie B. , Saxton Judith , Halligan Edythe M. , DeKosky Steven T.
Published: October 2002

Background

Cerebrovascular disease is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of geriatric major depression. One finding supporting such a ‘vascular depression’ is the increased neuropathology in the form of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) found in patients diagnosed with a late‐onset depression. However, at present there is little evidence that a longitudinal increase in WMH burden within an individual is associated with the onset of a late‐life depression.

Methods

This study examined three‐year longitudinal change in WMH volume and in cognition in: (a) an older man who developed his first episode of major depression during the study period, and (b) a comparison group of twelve older individuals who remained depression free. All subjects received at baseline and three years later a structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using fast‐FLAIR technology. The images were analyzed with semi‐automated computerized software to obtain WMH volumes. Subjects also received at both time points the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) as well a series of cognitive tasks assessing executive abilities (verbal fluency, Trail Making Test and Stroop test) since executive dysfunction is thought to be characteristic of a vascular depression.

Results

The individual who became depressed during the followup showed an increase in WMH volume that exceeded the 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) for change in the comparison group. This individual also showed a similar decline on the measures of executive function but not on the MMSE.

Conclusions

These results are consistent with cerebrovascular disease being a factor in the pathogenesis of late‐onset depression (i.e. ‘vascular depression’). Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Near‐infrared spectroscopy can detect brain activity during a color–word matching Stroop task in an event‐related design
Authors: Schroeter Matthias L. , Zysset Stefan , Kupka Thomas , Kruggel Frithjof , von Cramon D. Yves
Published: October 2002

Brain activity can be monitored non‐invasively by near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), which has several advantages in comparison with other imaging methods, such as flexibility, portability, low cost and biochemical specificity. Moreover, patients and children can be repetitively examined. Therefore, the objective of the study was to test the feasibility of NIRS for the event‐related approach in functional brain activation studies with cognitive paradigms. Thus, changes in the concentration of oxy‐, deoxy‐, and total hemoglobin were measured by NIRS in 14 healthy subjects while performing a color–word matching Stroop task in an event‐related design. The hemodynamic response (increase in the concentration of oxy‐/total hemoglobin and decrease in the concentration of deoxy‐hemoglobin) was stronger during incongruent compared to congruent and neutral trials of the Stroop task in the lateral prefrontal cortex bilaterally. This stronger hemodynamic response was interpreted as a stronger brain activation during incongruent trials of the Stroop task, due to interference. A new method for NIRS data evaluation that enables the analysis of the hemodynamic response to each single trial is introduced. Each hemodynamic response was characterized by the parameters gain, lag and dispersion of a Gaussian function fitted by nonlinear regression. Specific differences between the incongruent and neutral condition were found for gain and lag. Further, these parameters were correlated with the behavioral performance. In conclusion, brain activity may be studied by NIRS using cognitive stimuli in an event‐related design. Hum. Brain Mapping 17:61–71, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A new explanation for the difference between time trade‐off utilities and standard gamble utilities
Authors: Bleichrodt Han
Published: October 2002

This paper gives a new explanation for the systematic disparity between standard gamble (SG) utilities and time trade‐off (TTO) utilities. The common explanation, which is based on expected utility, is that the disparity is caused by curvature of the utility function for duration. This explanation is, however, incomplete. People violate expected utility and these violations lead to biases in SG and TTO utilities. The paper analyzes the impact on SG and TTO utilities of three main reasons why people violate expected utility: probability weighting, loss aversion, and scale compatibility. In the SG, the combined effect of utility curvature, probability weighting, loss aversion, and scale compatibility is an upward bias. In the TTO these factors lead both to upward and to downward biases. This analysis can also explain the tentative empirical finding that the TTO better describes people's preferences for health than the SG. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using stated preference discrete choice modelling to evaluate the introduction of varicella vaccination
Authors: Hall Jane , Kenny Patricia , King Madeleine , Louviere Jordan , Viney Rosalie , Yeoh Angela
Published: October 2002

Applications of stated preference discrete choice modelling (SPDCM) in health economics have been used to estimate consumer willingness to pay and to broaden the range of consequences considered in economic evaluation. This paper demonstrates how SPDCM can be used to predict participation rates, using the case of varicella (chickenpox) vaccination. Varicella vaccination may be cost effective compared to other public health programs, but this conclusion is sensitive to the proportion of the target population immunised. A choice experiment was conducted on a sample of Australian parents to predict uptake across a range of hypothetical programs. Immunisation rates would be increased by providing immunisation at no cost, by requiring it for school entry, by increasing immunisation rates in the community and decreasing the incidence of mild and severe side effects. There were two significant interactions; price modified the effect of both support from authorities and severe side effects. Country of birth was the only significant demographic characteristic. Depending on aspects of the immunisation program, the immunisation rates of children with Australian‐born parents varied from 9% to 99% while for the children with parents born outside Australia they varied from 40% to 99%. This demonstrates how SPDCM can be used to understand the levels of attributes that will induce a change in the decision to immunise, the modification of the effect of one attribute by another, and subgroups in the population. Such insights can contribute to the optimal design and targeting of health programs. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.