bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparing morbidity and mortality of HLA-matched unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplantation after nonmyeloablative and myeloablative conditioning: influence of pretransplantation comorbidities
Authors: Sorror Mohamed L. , Maris Michael B. , Storer Barry , Sandmaier Brenda M. , Diaconescu Razvan , Flowers Christopher , Maloney David G. , Storb Rainer
Published: May 2004

We have carried out HLA-matched unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) after nonmyeloablative conditioning in patients with hematologic malignancies who were ineligible for conventional transplantations because of age, comorbidities, or both. The nonmyeloablative regimen consisted of 90 mg/m2 fludarabine and 2 Gy total body irradiation given before and mycophenolate mofetil and cyclosporine given after HCT. This report compares, retrospectively, morbidity and mortality among 60 consecutive patients given nonmyeloablative conditioning (nonablative patients) to those among 74 concurrent and consecutive patients given myeloablative conditioning (ablative patients) before unrelated HCT. The Charlson Comorbidity Index was used to assess pretransplantation comorbidities. Even though nonablative patients had significantly higher pretransplantation comorbidity scores, were older, and had more often failed preceding ablative transplantations and cytotoxic therapies, they experienced fewer grades III to IV toxicities than ablative patients. Further, the incidence of grades III to IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was significantly lower in nonablative patients. Both patient groups had comparable 1-year probabilities of chronic GVHD. The 1-year nonrelapse mortality rate was 20% in nonablative patients compared to 32% in ablative patients (hazard ratio = 1.4). After adjustment for pretransplantation differences between the 2 patient groups, the hazard ratio was 3.0 (P = .04). Multivariate analyses showed higher pretransplantation comorbidity scores to result in increased toxicity and mortality.
P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 is required for the development of cutaneous vasculitis induced by immune complex deposition
Authors: Yanaba Koichi , Komura Kazuhiro , Horikawa Mayuka , Matsushita Yukiyo , Takehara Kazuhiko , Sato Shinichi
Published: May 2004

Immune complex (IC)-induced tissue injury is mediated by inflammatory cell infiltration that is highly regulated by various adhesion molecules. To assess the contribution of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) and selectins in the pathogenetic process, the cutaneous reverse-passive Arthus reaction was examined in mice treated with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to PSGL-1 or P- and/or E-selectin. Edema and hemorrhage were significantly reduced in mice treated with anti-P-selectin mAb compared with control mice while they were not inhibited in mice treated with anti-E-selectin mAb. It is remarkable that blocking PSGL-1 by mAb resulted in significant, further reduction in edema and hemorrhage compared with blocking anti-P- or anti-E-selectin. However, blockade of E- and P-selectins exhibited more significant reduction relative to PSGL-1 blockade. The inhibited edema and hemorrhage paralleled reduced infiltration of neutrophils and mast cells. Reduced infiltration of neutrophils and mast cells was observed in the peritoneal Arthus reaction and was associated with the decreased production of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6. The results of this study indicate that PSGL-1 contributes to the Arthus reaction mainly as a ligand of P-selectin and partly as a ligand of E- and/or L-selectin by regulating neutrophil and mast-cell recruitment and that PSGL-1 would be a therapeutic target for human IC-mediated diseases.
The cerebroprotective effects of pentoxifylline and aprotinin during cardiopulmonary bypass in dogs
Authors: Durgut Kadir , Hosgor Kemalettin , Gormus Niyazi , Ozergin Ufuk , Solak Hasan
Published: May 2004

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the cerebroprotective effects of pentoxifylline (PNX) and aprotinin in dogs using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Materials and methods: Eighteen clinically healthy dogs were divided into three groups: Group 1 (control, n = 6), Group 2 (PNX, n = 6), and Group 3 (aprotinin, n = 6). PNX was administered at a dose of 300 mg/day in Group 2 three days before the operation and during the operation. Half a million IU aprotinin were added to the prime solution and 500 000 IU were transfused via a central venous jugular catheter preoperatively in Group 3. Blood samples were taken from the central jugular vein before and after CPB and interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and S100β protein were measured. Gliosis was investigated histopathologically in cerebral cortex biopsy samples under light microscopy.

Results: The preoperative results of IL-6, TNF-α, and S100β protein values were found to be significantly higher ( p < 0.001) when compared with postoperative values. This significant difference was observed in the same parameters between Groups 1 and 2, and 1 and 3 ( p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between Groups 2 and 3. Comparison between pre- and postoperative levels of IL-6 and TNF-α for Group 2 and Group 3 revealed statistically significant differences ( p < 0.001), whereas S100β protein levels did not. Histopathological examinations showed significant differences between the control group and PNX and aprotinin, and between aprotinin and PNX groups ( p < 0.001).

Conclusion: PNX and aprotinin might be useful in order to reduce postoperative cerebral damage in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB.
Dural sinus thrombosis after cardiopulmonary bypass
Authors: Emir Mustafa , Ozisik Kanat , Çagli Kerim , Bakuy Vedat , Ozisik Pinar , Sener Erol
Published: May 2004

Cerebral venous thrombosis in various clinical conditions, such as congenital heart disease (CHD) and hyper-coagulable states, have been recognized previously. However, dural sinus thrombosis in a pediatric patient with Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APLS) after the repair of a ventricular septal defect (VSD) has not been reported yet. A child who underwent an operation for the surgical repair of VSD under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) developed a stroke after the procedure. A cranial computer tomography (CT) scan of the patient showed dural sinus thrombosis and severe cerebral edema. APLS and CPB were thought to be the only risk factors of dural sinus thrombosis. This observation warrants attention and screening should be taken into consideration in patients with APLS who carry a higher risk for dural sinus thrombosis after CPB.
In vitro assessment of the vacuum-assisted venous drainage (VAVD) system: risks and benefits
Authors: Fiorucci Angelo , Gerometta Pier Silvio , DeVecchi Massimo , Guzman Cesare , Costantino Maria Laura , Arena Vincenzo
Published: May 2004

The vacuum-assisted venous drainage (VAVD) technique has been introduced with the utilization of small-bore venous cannulae to facilitate minimally invasive cardiac surgery and it has found widespread use for traditional surgical approaches. Although this technique was devised to increase venous return, it may cause a reduction of blood flow through a negative pressure effect on the raceway tubing.

In this study, the potential of this system to increase the venous drainage was evaluated in vitro together with the measurements of delivered blood flow. The VAVD has been tested in association with normal gravitational drainage or as a substitute for gravitational drainage. The flow was calculated by multiplying the pump rate by the stroke volume and it was simultaneously measured by a magnetic flowmeter. A steady state maximal flow was defined as the flow that could maintain a constant level of fluid in the graduated canister used to act as the patient.

Based on our results, the VAVD can increase venous drainage by as much as 50% above baseline levels. However, delivered blood flow may be overestimated, particularly when negative pressure values >60 mmHg are employed. A 100 mmHg negative pressure may produce an overestimate of blood flow as great as 54% of the measured flow.
Light therapy and the management of winter depression
Authors: Eagles John M.
Published: May 2004

Much the most common type of seasonal affective disorder at temperate latitudes is recurrent winter depression, which probably affects around 3% of adults in the UK to a clinically significant degree. In this article, diagnosis and presentation are discussed and symptoms are contrasted with those of non-seasonal depression. Aetiology and epidemiology, with regard to age, gender and latitude of residence, are described. Sufferers are often treated with light therapy, and this is described in some detail, with mention of effectiveness, prediction of outcome, timescales of response, side-effects, use of lightboxes and alternatives to lightboxes. Other general aspects of the management of seasonal affective disorder, including the use of antidepressant medication, are also outlined.
Differential Roles for Cholecystokinin A Receptors in Energy Balance in Rats and Mice
Authors: Bi Sheng , Scott Karen A. , Kopin Alan S. , Moran Timothy H.
Published: May 2004

Although cholecystokinin A (CCK-A) receptors (CCK-AR) mediate the feeding inhibitory actions of CCK in both rats and mice, the absence of CCK-AR results in species-specific phenotypes. The lack of CCK-AR in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats results in hyperphagia and obesity. We have suggested that demonstrated increases in meal size and elevated levels of dorsomedial hypothalamic (DMH) neuropeptide Y (NPY) gene expression may contribute to this phenotype. In contrast to OLETF rats, CCK-AR−/− mice have normal total daily food intake and do not develop obesity. To assess the basis underlying the different phenotypes in rats and mice lacking CCK-AR, we characterized meal patterns in CCK-AR−/− mice and determined whether CCK-AR−/− mice exhibited an alteration in DMH NPY gene expression. We demonstrate that although CCK-AR−/− mice show a similar dysregulation in meal size as OLETF rats, they do not have an elevation in DMH NPY mRNA expression levels. In fact, intact mice have no CCK-AR in the DMH. Furthermore, in intact rats, NPY and CCK-AR are colocalized in DMH neurons, and parenchymal injection of CCK into the DMH reduces food intake and down-regulates DMH NPY mRNA expression. These results suggest that although CCK-AR plays a role in the mediation of CCK actions in the control of meal size in both rats and mice, CCK-AR seems to contribute to modulating DMH NPY levels only in rats. The deficit in CCK’s action in the control of DMH NPY gene expression may play a major role in the obese phenotype in OLETF rats.
G1/S phase cyclin-dependent kinase overexpression perturbs early development and delays tissue-specific differentiation inXenopus
Authors: Richard-Parpaillon Laurent , Cosgrove Ruth A. , Devine Christine , Vernon Ann E. , Philpott Anna
Published: May 2004

Cell division and differentiation are largely incompatible but the molecular links between the two processes are poorly understood. Here, we overexpress G1/S phase cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases in Xenopus embryos to determine their effect on early development and differentiation. Overexpression of cyclin E prior to the midblastula transition (MBT), with or without cdk2, results in a loss of nuclear DNA and subsequent apoptosis at early gastrula stages. By contrast, overexpressed cyclin A2 protein does not affect early development and, when stabilised by binding to cdk2, persists to tailbud stages. Overexpression of cyclin A2/cdk2 in post-MBT embryos results in increased proliferation specifically in the epidermis with concomitant disruption of skin architecture and delay in differentiation. Moreover, ectopic cyclin A2/cdk2 also inhibits differentiation of primary neurons but does not affect muscle. Thus,overexpression of a single G1/S phase cyclin/cdk pair disrupts the balance between division and differentiation in the early vertebrate embryo in a tissue-specific manner.
A Werner syndrome protein homolog affectsC. elegansdevelopment, growth rate, life span and sensitivity to DNA damage by acting at a DNA damage checkpoint
Authors: Lee Se-Jin , Yook Jong-Sung , Han Sung Min , Koo Hyeon-Sook
Published: May 2004

A Werner syndrome protein homolog in C. elegans (WRN-1) was immunolocalized to the nuclei of germ cells, embryonic cells, and many other cells of larval and adult worms. When wrn-1 expression was inhibited by RNA interference (RNAi), a slight reduction in C. elegans life span was observed, with accompanying signs of premature aging, such as earlier accumulation of lipofuscin and tissue deterioration in the head. In addition,various developmental defects, including small, dumpy, ruptured, transparent body, growth arrest and bag of worms, were induced by RNAi. The frequency of these defects was accentuated by γ-irradiation, implying that they were derived from spontaneous or induced DNA damage. wrn-1(RNAi) worms showed accelerated larval growth irrespective of γ-irradiation, and pre-meiotic germ cells had an abnormal checkpoint response to DNA replication blockage. These observations suggest that WRN-1 acts as a checkpoint protein for DNA damage and replication blockage. This idea is also supported by an accelerated S phase in wrn-1(RNAi) embryonic cells. wrn-1(RNAi) phenotypes similar to those of Werner syndrome, such as premature aging and short stature, suggest wrn-1-deficient C. elegans as a useful model organism for Werner syndrome.
CRM1-dependent, but not ARE-mediated, nuclear export ofIFN-α1mRNA
Authors: Kimura Tominori , Hashimoto Iwao , Nagase Takahiro , Fujisawa Jun-Ichi
Published: May 2004

While the bulk of cellular mRNA is known to be exported by the TAP pathway, export of specific subsets of cellular mRNAs may rely on chromosome region maintenance 1 (CRM1). One line of evidence supporting this hypothesis comes from the study of mRNAs of certain early response genes (ERGs) containing the adenylate uridylate-rich element (ARE) in their 3′ untranslated regions (3′ UTRs). It was reported that HuR-mediated nuclear export of these mRNAs was CRM1-dependent under certain stress conditions. To further examine potential CRM1 pathways for other cellular mRNAs under stress conditions, the nuclear export of human interferon-α1 (IFN-α1) mRNA, an ERG mRNA induced upon viral infection, was studied. Overproduction of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev protein reduced the expression level of the co-transfected IFN-α1 gene. This inhibitory effect, resulting from nuclear retention of IFN-α1 mRNA, was reversed when rev had a point mutation that made its nuclear export signal unable to associate with CRM1. Leptomycin B sensitivity experiments revealed that the cytoplasmic expression of IFN-α1 mRNA was arrested upon inhibition of CRM1. This finding was further supported by overexpression of ΔCAN, a defective form of the nucleoporin Nup214/CAN that inhibits CRM1 in a dominant-negative manner, which resulted in the effective inhibition of IFN-α1 gene expression. Subsequent RNA fluorescence in situ hybridisation and immunocytochemistry demonstrated that the IFN-α1 mRNA was colocalised with CRM1, but not with TAP, in the nucleus. These results therefore imply that the nuclear export of IFN-α1 mRNA is mediated by CRM1. However, truncation of the 3′ UTR did not negatively affect the nuclear export of IFN-α1 mRNA that lacked the ARE, unexpectedly indicating that this CRM1-dependent mRNA export may not be mediated via the ARE.
Expression of the endocytic proteins dynamin and amphiphysin in rat gastric enterochromaffin-like cells
Authors: Zanner Robert , Gratzl Manfred , Prinz Christian
Published: May 2004

Dynamin and amphiphysin play crucial roles in a variety of endocytic processes. Previous investigations of expression and functions of these proteins were performed mostly on neurons. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and interaction of dyn and amph in gastric enterochromaffin-like cells. These endocrine cells of the gastric mucosa play a pivotal role in the regulation of acid secretion. Exocytosis of histamine-containing secretory vesicles has been described in detail. However, the mechanisms of endocytosis are unknown in this neuroendocrine cell type. Using RT-PCR and western blotting, we detected dynamin-1, -2 and -3 in highly enriched isolated enterochromaffin-like cells. Dynamin-1 and -2 were expressed at similar high levels, whereas dynamin-3 was of low abundance. Immunofluorescence microscopy located dynamin-1 and -2 to the cytoplasm and cell surface, whereas dynamin-3 was distributed differently in the perinuclear area. The presence of amphiphysin-1 and -2 RNAs was revealed by RT-PCR and a new splice variant of amphiphysin-2 was detected. Amphiphysin-1 and -2 were also detected in enterochromaffin-like cells by immunohistochemistry in the same locations as dynamin-1 and -2. Amphiphysin-1 and dynamin-1 co-immunoprecipitated with amphiphysin-2. In addition, dynamin-1 and amphiphysin-2 partially colocalized at the plasma membrane. Our results confirm the interaction of dynamin and amphiphysin and imply a role in endocytosis in enterochromaffin-like cells. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the co-expression of all three dynamin isoforms in a non-tumor cell.
Singular vectors for moisture‐measuring norms
Authors: Errico Ronald M. , Raeder Kevin , Ehrendorfer Martin
Published: May 2004

Singular vectors (SVs) are determined for 12‐hour forecasts using a regional mesoscale model. Norms used as constraints at the initial time include the usual total‐energy norm, a related moisture‐measuring norm, and norms using weights equal to the inverse of estimated variances of initial‐condition uncertainty. Norms used to measure perturbations at the end of the forecast include either the total energy or mean‐squared perturbed rate of precipitation. Four synoptic cases are examined. The locations of the four leading SVs for each pair of norms considered differ widely for some cases but are collocated for others. The initial vertical structures of the SVs are also sensitive to norms and cases. Most importantly, both final‐time norms are sensitive to initial perturbations of both moisture and dynamic fields. For some cases, similar structures are optimal for maximizing both perturbation energy and precipitation. When the initial moisture SVs are introduced in the nonlinear forecast model with perturbation magnitudes of the size of initial‐condition uncertainties, many of the results remarkably match corresponding tangent‐linear estimates. In other nonlinear experiments, however, the matches are poor in terms of either correlation or magnitude measures, or both, indicating that the tangent‐linear results are sometimes informative but at other times can be misleading. For the present study the key reported tangent‐linear model results were, therefore, all confirmed in the nonlinear context. An implication of the results is that as much attention must be paid to moisture analysis as to analysis of other fields, and that ensemble forecast techniques should consider initial moisture uncertainty. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society.
Organization of near‐inertial energy by an eddy field
Authors: Klein Patrice , Smith Stefan Llewellyn , Lapeyre Guillaume
Published: May 2004

We propose an analytical solution for the evolution of the spatial variability of wind‐forced inertial energy in the presence of an oceanic mesoscale eddy field. The solution requires knowledge of only the stream function of the eddy field and the Rossby radii of the normal modes associated with the near‐inertial oscillations. It also shows that, when the vorticity spectrum slope is shallower than k−4, inertial energy is trapped inside structures in which the Laplacian of the vorticity field is positive and whose size matches a critical length‐scale that increases with time. Numerical simulations using different models, including a fully nonlinear shallow‐water model, confirm the analytical results. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society.
Application of SSM/I satellite data to a hurricane simulation
Authors: Chen Shu‐hua , Vandenberghe Francois , Petty Grant W. , Bresch James F.
Published: May 2004

The impact of Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) data on simulations of hurricane Danny is assessed. The assimilation of SSM/I data is found to increase the atmospheric moisture content over the Gulf of Mexico, strengthen the low‐level cyclonic circulation, shorten the model spin‐up time, and significantly improve the simulation of the storm's intensity. Two different approaches for assimilating SSM/I data, namely assimilating retrieved products and assimilating raw measurements, are further compared. The data‐assimilation analyses from these two approaches give different moisture distributions in both the horizontal and vertical directions in the storm's vicinity, which may potentially affect the simulated storm's development; however, the simulated storm intensities are considered comparable for the Danny case. From sensitivity tests performed in this study, it is also found that the choice of the observational error variances could be potentially important to the model simulations. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society.
On the radiative properties of cirrus cloud at solar and thermal wavelengths: A test of model consistency using high‐resolution airborne radiance measurements
Authors: Baran A. J. , Francis P. N.
Published: May 2004

Two models describing the single‐scattering properties of cirrus cloud are tested for physical consistency at solar and thermal wavelengths using airborne high‐resolution radiance data. The data were obtained from a case of semi‐transparent cirrus cloud, which occurred north of Scotland during October 2000. The single‐scattering models tested are randomly oriented hexagonal ice columns and randomly oriented ice aggregates. High‐spectral resolution radiances were measured from above the cirrus at a number of wavelengths between 0.3 and 16.7 µm, thereby covering a large range of ice crystal size parameter space and complex refractive index. It is shown that consistency between retrieved optical thickness and ice crystal effective radius at both solar and infrared wavelengths could only be achieved if the ice aggregate model was assumed. Moreover, differences between the ice aggregate model and spectrally resolved brightness temperature measurements were generally well within ±1 K between the wavelengths of 3.3 and 16.0 µm in the clean atmospheric window regions. The paper shows that it is important to have simultaneous radiance measurements from both the solar and thermal spectral regions so that ice crystal scattering models and cirrus retrievals can be rigorously tested. © Crown copyright 2004.
Quasi‐periodic bora gusts related to the structure of the troposphere
Authors: Beluši'c Danijel , Pasarić Miroslava , Orlić Mirko
Published: May 2004

This study provides a new insight into the behaviour of the bora wind gusts. Wind speed and direction measured with a 1 s sampling interval between 1 December 2001 and 31 January 2002 at Senj (east Adriatic) provided a sufficiently large database for a study of the gusts behaviour. The performed spectral analysis confirmed the occurrence of pulsations in the bora flow. Moreover, a new type of dynamics, involving the onset, cessation and reappearance of the pulsations within a single episode, has been observed in several cases. Suggested mechanisms responsible for generating these phenomena have been determined from comparisons of surface wind data with the upstream tropospheric thermodynamical structure derived from Zagreb radiosonde data. In particular, it has been shown that the appearance of an upper‐tropospheric jet stream results in cessation of the pulsations, and the decrease in the jet stream supports quasi‐periodic gust behaviour. As the pulsations are generated by wave breaking, the jet stream appearance has been related to the disappearance of the wave‐breaking region in the lee of the mountain, which is in accordance with previous studies of downslope windstorms. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society.
Polar low le Cygne: Satellite observations and numerical simulations
Authors: Claud Chantal , Heinemann Guenther , Raustein Elmer , Mcmurdie Lynn
Published: May 2004

A polar low (PL) which occurred in October 1993 over the Norwegian Sea is investigated from an observational and a numerical point of view. This PL has several unique features: it developed early in the season, it lasted for about 3 days, and its trajectory was such that it passed over weather stations so that ‘conventional’ observations of the low are available. The conditions of the formation, development and decay of the PL are investigated using a double approach: satellite data from several instruments are used together to document the mesoscale structure of the low, and two versions of a limited‐area model are run to investigate the dynamics of the low. Numerical model fields are compared to quantities derived from TIROS‐N Operational Vertical Sounder, the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager, and satellite radar altimeter data. In spite of a better spatial resolution of the models, humidity and surface wind speeds are less organized in the simulations than in satellite retrievals. The number of vertical levels, especially for the lowest layers of the atmosphere, appears to be an essential component for a good simulation of the trajectory of the low. There is, however, good overall agreement between modelled and satellite‐derived fields, and the good quality of the simulations allows inferences to be made regarding the essential physical and dynamical processes taking place during the formation and development of the PL. We find that the PL was the result of favourable flow conditions at the surface in the form of a shallow arctic front established south of the ice edge, together with an upper‐level potential‐vorticity anomaly setting the stage for a positive interaction. Later on, the strong surface sensible‐ and latent‐heat fluxes contributed to the extensive vertical development. This study demonstrates the usefulness of the approach adopted here, which relies not only on simulations but also on observations to get a very complete description of such disturbances. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society.
The role of hardiness in stress and illness: An exploration of the effect of negative affectivity and gender
Authors: Klag Stefanie , Bradley Graham
Published: May 2004

Past research into the effects of hardiness on stress and health has yielded inconsistent findings, possibly because of a failure to acknowledge the influence of variables such as negative affectivity and gender. This study examined the main, moderating and mediating effects of hardiness in a sample of 130 (50 male, 80 female) randomly selected university staff members. Controlling for negative affectivity, limited evidence was obtained for thedirect effects of hardiness on stress and illness. Kobasa's (1979) model that hardinessbuffers the effects of stress on illness was supported for males, but not for females. The hypothesis that approach and avoidance copingmediate the hardiness‐illness relationship was not supported for either sex, although there was evidence that relative coping mediated this relationship in females. Collectively, the results point to a need to reconsider the conceptualization and measurement of hardiness.
Dieting and working memory: Preoccupying cognitions and the role of the articulatory control process
Authors: Shaw Jacqueline , Tiggemann Marika
Published: May 2004

Objectives: The study aimed to extend previous research that has demonstrated impaired cognitive function among dieters, by teasing out precisely which components of the phonological loop subsystem of working memory are affected by dieting.

Method: Participants were 92 female undergraduate students divided into three groups; current dieters (n = 19), past dieters (n = 29) and never dieters (n = 44). They completed cognitive performance tasks designed to preferentially load on the phonological store and articulatory control process components of the phonological loop, as well as self‐report measures.

Results: Current dieting to lose weight had no effect on the phonological store, as evidenced by the lack of effect on the phonological similarity effect. Dieting did, however, impede the articulatory control process, as evidenced by substantial reduction in the world length effect. This effect was partially mediated by preoccupying cognitions concerning food, weight and body shape. Further, the results mirrored those found with non‐dieters under conditions of articulatory suppression.

Conclusions: The results clearly identify the articulatory control process as the site of the cognitive impairment suffered by dieters, and thereby offer very strong support to the preoccupying cognitions concerning food, weight and body shape that accompany dieting behaviour as the underlying mechanism.
Individual differences in the temporal variability of medically unexplained symptom reporting
Authors: Ferguson Eamonn , Cassaday Helen J. , Erskind James , Delahaye Gemma
Published: May 2004

Theory: Non‐specific or medically unexplained symptoms account for up to 35% of outpatient referrals. In contrast to the literature on affect, little is known about how people frame daily symptoms and how these patterns are influenced by individual differences.

Method: Three fixed occasion diary studies over an 8‐day period (one on ill veterans of the Gulf War and two on healthy undergraduates) and a single cross‐sectional survey (on ill Gulf War veterans) were conducted. The severity and frequency of daily symptoms were assessed in all daily diary samples, together with the Big 5 personality domains in one of the undergraduate samples and in the survey of veterans. The data were analysed using auto‐correlations and hierarchical multivariate linear modelling.

Results: In all the chronically ill and healthy samples, the data suggested potential cyclical patterns for symptom severity reporting. With regard to the frequency of symptom reporting, the veterans showed a pattern of constant symptom reporting. Finally, the relationship between the reported severity of symptoms was attenuated by intellect and surgency.

Discussion: There is evidence that daily experiences of symptom severity are framed relative to each other and this relationship is influenced by personality. The practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Stages of motivational readiness for physical activity: A comparison of different algorithms of classification
Authors: Godin Gaston , Lambert Léo‐Daniel , Owen Neville , Nolin Bertrand , Prud'homme Denis
Published: May 2004

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare two approaches to classify individuals into stages of motivational readiness for physical activity and test which one was better explained by attitude and perceived behavioural control, as defined by Ajzen (1991).

Design: A survey of 20430 respondents from a population‐based sample.

Methods: The relevant variables were assessed in a self‐administered questionnaire. The cluster approach consisted of combining both intention and behaviour in order to determine clusters of individuals; such clusters correspond to different stages of motivational readiness. The stage of change (SC) approach consisted of grouping the same individuals by using the SC variable of the Transtheoretical Model (TTM).

Results: The SC and cluster‐solution approaches were replicated across four subsamples of the total number of respondents. Attitude and perceived behavioural control were more strongly associated with stage membership derived from four‐cluster solution than with stage membership in the five categories assessed by the SC method.

Conclusion: Stage of motivational readiness for physical activity, and possibly for other health‐related behaviours, may usefully be characterized when both recent past behaviour and intention in the near future are simultaneously and explicitly taken into consideration.
The Dynamic Effect of Innovation on Market Structure
Authors: Van Heerde Harald J. , Mela Carl F. , Manchanda Puneet
Published: May 2004

Product innovation is endemic among consumer packaged goods firms and is an integral component of their marketing strategy. As innovations affect markets, there is a pressing need to develop market response models that can adapt to such changes. The authors' model copes with the challenges that dynamic environments entail: nonstationarity, changes in parameters over time, missing data, and cross-sectional heterogeneity. They use this approach to model sales response in the frozen pizza category, in which the introduction of rising-crust pizza brands represents a major innovation. The model is directly applicable to other domains in which market structure might be nonstationary, such as changes in promotion strategy, shifts in the retail environment, and movements in macroeconomic factors. The authors find that innovation (1) makes the existing brands appear more similar, as indicated by increasing cross-brand price elasticities; (2) decreases brand differentiation for the existing brands, as indicated by an increase in the magnitude of own-brand price elasticities; and (3) increases the variance of the sales response equations temporarily around the time of the introduction of the innovation, indicating increased uncertainty in sales response. The authors discuss the managerial implications by presenting maps of how clout and vulnerability evolve over time, assessing the effect of new brands on cannibalization, and considering the strategic implications of the introduction of a flanker innovation to facilitate an extant brand's ability to attack an incumbent leader.
A Mixture Model for Internet Search-Engine Visits
Authors: Telang Rahul , Boatwright Peter , Mukhopadhyay Tridas
Published: May 2004

The authors extend the marketing literature on stochastic interpurchase-time models by allowing for purchase periodicities and unobserved heterogeneity in a proportional hazards mixture model. Their parsimonious framework builds on commonly used baseline hazard functions. They use the search-engine visits data to highlight the benefits of the proposed model.
Geographic distribution of environmental factors influencing human skin coloration
Authors: Chaplin George
Published: May 2004

Skin coloration in indigenous peoples is strongly related to levels of ultraviolet radiation (UVR). In this study, the relationships of skin reflectance to seasonal UVR levels and other environmental variables were investigated, with the aim of determining which variables contributed most significantly to skin reflectance. The UVR data recorded by satellite were combined with environmental variables and data on human skin reflectance in a geographic information system (GIS). These were then analyzed visually and statistically through exploratory data analysis, correlation analysis, principal components analysis, least‐squares regression analysis, and nonlinear techniques. The main finding of this study was that the evolution of skin reflectance could be almost fully modeled as a linear effect of UVR in the autumn alone. This linear model needs only minor modification, by the introduction of terms for the maximum amount of UVR, and for summer precipitation and winter precipitation, to account for almost all the variation in skin reflectance. A further significant finding was that the effect of summer UVR seems to reach a threshold beyond which further adaptation is difficult. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Paleopathological find of a sacral neurilemmoma from ancient Egypt
Authors: Strouhal Eugen , Němečková Alena
Published: May 2004

A large, smooth‐walled cavity molded from the pressure of a relatively hard, globular, and lobulated tissue mass was found inside the sacrum of the mature female, Imakhetkherresnet. She was the sister of the lector‐priest Iufaa, whose unmolested tomb dates to the late 26th Dynasty (prior to 625 BC). The origin of the lesion could be determined unambiguously by macroscopic, radiographic, and histological analysis. It was caused by a neurilemmoma (schwannoma, neurinoma), a benign tumor originating in a nerve sheath. This is the first description in the paleopathological literature of this kind of tumor occurring in the sacrum. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Polyimide–silica hybrid films made from polyamic acids containing phenolic hydroxyl groups
Authors: Huang Yi , Qin Jiaqiang , Gu Yi
Published: May 2004

A diamine and polyamic acid containing phenolic hydroxyl group was synthesized. A series of polyimide/silica hybrid films with strong interacton between organic and inorgamic components was prepared via sol–gel reaction. The morphology of the hybrid films was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The thermal stability and mechanical properties of the films were detected. The results indicated that the introduction of phenolic hydroxyl groups remarkably attributed to the improvement of tensile strength. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1198–1202, 2004
Film studies of certain new aromatic–aliphatic polyamides
Authors: Thayumanaswamy S. M. , Rajendran V.
Published: May 2004

Two new aromatic–aliphatic polyamides containing azo linkage in the main chain based on 2,2′‐dimethyl‐4,4′‐diaminoazobenzene and adipic/2‐chloro‐5‐methyl‐1,2‐dioic acid (α‐chloro‐δ‐methyl adipic acid) were synthesized and analyzed by thermogravimetry and films were cast. Also three polymers obtained from condensation of 4,4′‐azodibenzoic acid/adipic acid and 2,2′‐bis [4‐(p‐amino phenoxy) phenyl] propane/4,4′‐diaminoazobenzene were studied in terms of mechanical and morphological properties. Film studies were carried out interms of tensile property, scanning electron microscope, dielectric, microwave, and X‐ray diffraction pattern. Thermal studies have been done using thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, and pyrolysis‐mass spectral data. The results were correlated with structure and orientation of the molecules. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1305–1316, 2004
Pulsed‐plasma‐polymerized aniline thin films
Authors: Tamirisa Prabhakar A. , Liddell Knona C. , Pedrow Patrick D. , Osman Mohamed A.
Published: May 2004

An inductively coupled pulsed‐plasma reactor was used to synthesize polyaniline thin films on several substrates positioned at various distances from the center of the radio frequency (RF) coil. The samples were characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), cyclic voltammetry, and microscopic techniques. Impedance spectroscopy was used to determine the electrical characteristics of three‐layer structures with polyaniline as the middle layer between top and bottom metal electrodes. FTIR results indicated that the chemical composition and structure of the films were very dependent on the substrate's position with respect to the RF coil, there being considerably less aromatic character closer to the coil. The electrochemical behavior of the films in acidic electrolytes was similar to that of small‐molecule aniline oxidation products; the number of peaks in the cyclic voltammograms varied with the substrate. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that as the films became thicker, they developed nodules atop a somewhat smoother underlayer. Results from transmission electron microscopy and optical birefringence suggested that the films were not completely homogeneous. The impedance measurements were consistent with relatively rough films possibly containing pinholes. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93:1317–1325, 2004
Application of crosslinked chitosan in the analysis of butyl tin speciation
Authors: Wang M. L. , Qian S. H. , Mo S. B. , Huang G. Q. , Wang H. Y.
Published: May 2004

A new method for the separation and preconcentration of butyl tin speciation with crosslinked chitosan (CCTS) and for its determination by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry was developed. At pHs 6.8, 4.4, and 3.0, monobutyl tin (MBT), dibutyl tin (DBT), and tributyl tin (TBT), respectively, were separated and preconcentrated with CCTS, eluted quantitatively with 10 mL of 1 mol L−1 HCl, and determined. The method was applied to the discrimination and determination of MBT, DBT, and TBT in water and sediment samples. The detection limits of TBT, DBT, and MBT were 21.2, 25.5, and 28.5 ng L−1, respectively. The analytical recoveries of MBT, DBT, and TBT added to the samples were 91–95% for water samples and 82–90% for sediment samples. The results were satisfactory. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1326–1328, 2004
Nonisothermal crystallization, melting behavior, and morphology of polypropylene/metallocene‐catalyzed polyethylene blends
Authors: Gao Jungang , Wang Dong , Yu Maoshang , Yao Zihua
Published: May 2004

The nonisothermal crystallization, melting behavior, and morphology of blends of polypropylene (PP) and a metallocene‐catalyzed polyethylene (mPE) elastomer were studied with differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, polarized optical microscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. The results showed that PP and mPE were partially miscible and could form some cocrystallization, although the extent was very small. A modified Avrami analysis and the Mo method were used to analyze the nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of the blends. The values of the Avrami exponent indicated that the crystallization nucleation of the blends was homogeneous, the growth of the spherulites was three‐dimensional, and the crystallization mechanism of PP was not affected by mPE. The crystallization activation energy was estimated with the Kissinger method. Interesting results were obtained with the modified Avrami analysis and Mo and Kissinger methods, and the conclusions were in good agreement. The addition of less mPE increased the overall crystallization rate of PP. The relationship between the composition and morphology of the blends was examined. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1203–1210, 2004
Adhesion property of sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)s
Authors: Choi I. J. , Ahn C. J. , Yoon T. H.
Published: May 2004

Sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)s (S‐PESs) were synthesized from sulfonated 4,4′‐dichlorodiphenylsulfone (S‐DCDPS), 4,4′‐dichlorodiphenylsulfone (DCDPS), and 4,4′‐biphenol through variations in the molar ratio of S‐DCDPS to DCDPS from 10/90 to 40/60. The S‐PES sodium form was characterized with Fourier transform infrared, 1H‐NMR, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and dynamic mechanical analysis, and the intrinsic viscosity and solubility were also evaluated. The sodium form was then subjected to acidification by immersion in 1.5M HCl for 24 h at room temperature, which was followed by washing with deionized water. The S‐PES adhesive properties were measured with single laboratory shear samples with aluminum alloys, and the failure mode was investigated. The synthesized S‐PESs exhibited increased glass‐transition temperatures with increased S‐DCDPS/DCDPS ratios; their acid forms provided much lower glass‐transition temperatures than their sodium forms. In addition, the S‐PES sodium form exhibited a high intrinsic viscosity, which indicated a high molecular weight. The S‐PES acid form exhibited an adhesion strength similar to that of the sodium form, and the single‐lap‐shear strength increased with 10% S‐PES and then decreased with 20, 30, and 40% S‐PES. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1211–1218, 2004
Continuous ultrasonic devulcanization of unfilled butadiene rubber
Authors: Oh Jeong Seok , Isayev A. I.
Published: May 2004

The devulcanization of sulfur‐cured unfilled butadiene rubber (BR) with a grooved‐barrel ultrasonic reactor under various processing conditions was carried out. The experiments indicated that BR had a narrow devulcanization window. Outside this window, significant degradation or no devulcanization occurred. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) measurements were carried out with the sol part of virgin and devulcanized samples to study the breakdown of the polymeric chains. The GPC data showed a significant molecular weight reduction and a broadening of the molecular weight distribution upon devulcanization, indicating that the devulcanization and degradation of BR occurred simultaneously. The rheological properties showed that devulcanized BR was more elastic than the virgin gum. The vulcanizates of the blends of virgin and devulcanized BR showed a considerable enhancement of the mechanical properties. The thermal behaviors of the virgin and devulcanized BR were found to be different. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1166–1174, 2004
Effects of ozone and chlorine dioxide on the chemical properties of cellulose fibers
Authors: Lemeune S. , Jameel H. , Chang H.‐M. , Kadla J. F.
Published: May 2004

The effects of ozone and chlorine dioxide on the structure of hardwood cellulose fibers were studied by chemical methods. Chlorine dioxide had very little effect on the cellulose degree of polymerization (DPv), although 40–50% of the chlorine dioxide charged was consumed. By contrast, ozonation of the cellulosic fibers resulted in a substantial reduction in the cellulose DPv. Increasing the ozone charge increased the extent of cellulose degradation. At an ozone charge of approximately 3 wt % (20 mol equiv/100 g of fiber), a 40% reduction in DPv, as measured by cupriethylenediamine viscosity, was observed. A comparison of the cellulose DPv values obtained for ozonated cellulose fibers reduced with sodium borohydride before the viscosity measurements increased confirmed that the primary reaction of ozone with the cellulose fibers was glycosidic bond cleavage, with only a small amount of cellulose oxidation taking place. A functional group analysis of the ozonated cellulose fibers revealed a slight increase in the amount of carbonyl groups introduced into the fibers. In addition, carbon dioxide was detected, which combined with the lack of change in the carboxyl group content, indicated that the oxidation mechanism likely occurred in a three‐step process: formation of the carbonyl groups, followed by oxidation to carboxyl groups, and finally, decarboxylation resulting in glycosidic bond cleavage. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1219–1223, 2004
Effect of titanate coupling agent on the mechanical properties of clay‐filled polybutadiene rubber
Authors: Alkadasi Nabil A. N. , Kapadi U. R. , Hundiwale D. G.
Published: May 2004

Clays belong to an economic class of fillers, which are used extensively in rubbers and plastics. Being nonreinforcing in nature, there are limitations upon its use. If the properties of filler are modified, it will get a higher value as a filler. To achieve this modification of surface properties is one of the avenues. In the present work, the effect of treatment of the coupling agent on clay has been studied, with polybutadiene as a matrix. Composites were made with a varying proportion of untreated and treated clay. A two‐roll mill was used for dispersing the filler in the rubber, and a compression‐molding technique was used to cure the compounded in sheet forms. Tensile properties were measured on a computerized UTM using the ASTM procedure. Comparison of properties of composites filled with treated and untreated clay established that treatment of clay imparts better reinforcing properties. The properties under consideration were tensile strength, modulus at 100 and 400%, Young's modulus, hardness, etc. Tensile strength was improved by 52%, while modulus at 400% was improved by 150%. Similarly Young's modulus also was improved by 27%. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1299–1304, 2004