bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Damage functions and estimates of fratricide and collateral damage
Authors: Lucas Thomas W.
Published: March 2003

There are multiple damage functions in the literature to estimate the probability that a single weapon detonation destroys a point target. This paper addresses differences in the tails of four of the more popular damage functions. These four cover the asymptotic tail behaviors of all monotonically decreasing damage functions with well‐behaved hazard functions. The differences in estimates of probability of kill are quite dramatic for large aim‐point offsets. This is particularly important when balancing the number of threats that can be engaged with the chances of fratricide and collateral damage. In general, analysts substituting one damage function for another may badly estimate kill probabilities in offset‐aiming, which could result in poor doctrine. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 50: 306–321, 2003.
Scheduling patients in an ambulatory surgical center
Authors: Hsu Vernon Ning , de Matta Renato , Lee Chung‐Yee
Published: March 2003

This paper presents a deterministic approach to schedule patients in an ambulatory surgical center (ASC) such that the number of postanesthesia care unit nurses at the center is minimized. We formulate the patient scheduling problem as new variants of the no‐wait, two‐stage process shop scheduling problem and present computational complexity results for the new scheduling models. Also, we develop a tabu search‐based heuristic algorithm to solve the patient scheduling problem. Our algorithm is shown to be very effective in finding near optimal schedules on a set of real data from a university hospital's ASC. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2003
Scheduling prowler training
Authors: Raffensperger John F. , Swords Scott
Published: March 2003

The U.S. Navy Prowler aircraft is designed for electronic surveillance and countermeasures. In this paper, we describe the problem of scheduling Prowler crew training, and we present two integer programming models to solve it. The first model maximizes the number of aviators trained above 75% in each mission area, subject to the available number of flights, over a single month. The second model distinguishes peacetime from mobilization, and minimizes the number of flights done in mobilization subject to the available number of flights in peacetime. Our models distinguish different types of crew and allow more than one qualification to be earned on a given flight. We give numerical results using real data, comparing our results to the actual readiness of a squadron. We found that crew readiness of Prowler squadrons can be increased by 10%, simply by better scheduling. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 50: 289–305, 2003.
Molecular characterization, functional expression, and developmental profile of an ether à‐go‐go K+ channel in the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta
Authors: Keyser Matthew R. , Anson Blake D. , Titus Steven A. , Ganetzky Barry , Witten Jane L.
Published: March 2003

A very large number of evolutionarily conserved potassium channels have been identified but very little is known about their function or modulation in vivo. Metamorphosis of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, is a compelling model system for such studies because it permits analysis to be conducted at the level of identified neurons whose roles in simple behaviors and endocrine regulation are known. We present here the characterization of the first ion channel to be cloned from this animal. Partial genomic sequence for Manduca sexta ether à‐go‐go (Mseag) and a cDNA clone encoding the Mseag open reading frame were obtained. Genomic Southern analysis indicates that Manduca contains a single member of the eag subfamily per haploid genome. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, MsEag channels conduct a voltage‐dependent, K+ selective outward current with an inactivating component that closely resembles the Drosophila eag current. Mseag transcripts were restricted to the nervous system, adult antenna, and one set of larval skeletal muscles. Steroid hormonal regulation of Mseag expression is suggested by the temporal correlation of developmental changes in transcript expression with the changing steroid titers that promote metamorphosis. These results provide the foundation for functional and modulatory studies of the Eag family of K+ channels in Manduca, which will complement the genetic analysis in Drosophila. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 55: 73–85, 2003
MAPK signal transduction pathway mediates agrin effects on neurite elongation in cultured hippocampal neurons
Authors: Karasewski Lisa , Ferreira Adriana
Published: March 2003

We have previously shown that agrin regulates the rates of axonal and dendritic elongation by modulating the expression of microtubule‐associated proteins in cultured hippocampal neurons. However, the mechanisms by which agrin‐induced signals are propagated to the nucleus where they can lead to the phosphorylation, and hence the activation, of transcription factors, are not known. In the present study, we identified downstream elements that play essential roles in the agrin‐signaling pathway in developing central neurons. Our results indicate that agrin induces the combined activation of the extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERK1/ERK2) and p38 in central neurons. In addition, they showed that PD98059 and SB202190, synthetic inhibitors of ERK1/ERK2 and p38 respectively, prevented the changes in the rate of neurite elongation induced by agrin in cultured hippocampal neurons. Collectively, these results suggest that agrin might modulate the expression of neuron‐specific genes involved in neurite elongation by inducing CREB phosphorylation through the activation of the MAPK signal transduction pathway in cultured hippocampal neurons. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 55: 14–24, 2003
A Trefftz approach to computational mechanics
Authors: Hochard Ch.
Published: March 2003

This paper presents a Trefftz method for solving structural elasticity problems and flow problems of incompressible viscous fluids. The problem of unilateral contact is also dealt with. For each type of problem, Trefftz polynomials and associated variational formulations are given. Complex structures are studied by a sub‐structuring technique. This method requires the resolution of a non‐symmetrical linear system. It is shown that it is possible to take advantage of this Trefftz approximation in two ways: (i) the approach presented can be considered as a simplified method which enables a solution to be evaluated quickly; (ii) this approach also makes it possible to obtain a good quality solution associated with high degree polynomial bases. This method is adapted to optimization processes because the discretization of the structure requires only very few sub‐domains to build a good approximation and offers a great flexibility in use. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Financial control in religious organizations: A status report
Authors: Wooten Thomas C. , Coker John W. , Elmore Robert C.
Published: March 2003

Several recent high profile cases of financial mismanagement in religious organizations have highlighted the
need for all religious nonprofit organizations (NPOs) to have strong internal accounting controls. These
organizations are often small, rely on a great deal of volunteer support, and as a result may not have the
professional oversight to adequately monitor the resources of the organization or the behavior of its leaders. The
purpose of this article is to assess the current state of financial control for one segment of religious NPOs,
churches, and give some suggestions for improvement. In this study over 530 churches of widely varying sizes
responded to an extensive survey about specific internal controls they may or may not have in place. The results
are assessed in light of preferred practices. Readers can use this information to strengthen current practices and
provide a greater level of assurance that an organization is directing its resources toward its mission.
Levation of serum macrophage colony stimulating factor level in patients with Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Zhang JianMin , Kong QingLi , Zhang ZhenXin , Ge PingJiang , Ba DeNian , He Wei
Published: March 2003

There was impairment of immune function in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the perturbation of immune system was involved in the pathogenesis of AD. To investigate the mechanism of the impairment of immune function in AD patients, we analyzed the levels of serum IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, and M‐CSF in AD patients. The results demonstrated that levels of serum M‐CSF were significantly increased in AD patients compared with healthy controls (P<0.01), and they were significantly correlated with the degree of dementia (CDR and MMSE) in AD patients. Our findings indicated that M‐CSF might play an important role in the development of neuropathology of patients with AD, and it might serve as an indicator for monitoring the perturbation of immune function in patients with AD.
A nonconventional Eulerian‐Lagrangian single‐node collocation method with Hermite polynomials for unsteady‐state advection‐diffusion equations
Authors: Wu Li , Wang Hong , Pinder George F.
Published: March 2003

We developed a nonconventional Eulerian‐Lagrangian single‐node collocation method (ELSCM) with piecewise‐cubic Hermite polynomials as basis functions for the numerical simulation to unsteady‐state advection‐diffusion transport partial differential equations. This method greatly reduces the number of unknowns in the conventional collocation method, and generates accurate numerical solutions even if very large time steps are taken. The method is relatively easy to formulate. Numerical experiments are presented to show the strong potential of this method. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 19: 271–283, 2003.
Epstein–Barr virus and microsatellite instability in gastric carcinogenesis
Authors: Chang Mee Soo , Lee Hye Seung , Kim Hee Sung , Kim Sun Hee , Choi Seung Im , Lee Byung Lan , Kim Chul Woo , Kim Yong Il , Yang Mihi , Kim Woo Ho
Published: March 2003

Little information is available concerning the relationship between transforming viruses and microsatellite instability (MSI). We evaluated Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) using in situ hybridization for EBV‐encoded small RNAs and MSI using the polymerase chain reaction in surgically resected gastric cancer. The study subjects included 298 consecutive cases of solitary gastric carcinoma, 63 gastric carcinomas in young patients (≤30 years old), 64 cases of gastric cancer coexisting with gastric adenoma in a single lesion, 26 cases of gastric remnant cancer, and 98 carcinomas from 47 patients with synchronous multiple gastric carcinomas. There was no overlapping case among these subsets of gastric cancer. None of these 549 gastric carcinomas demonstrated both EBV positivity and MSI positivity. Furthermore, the EBV‐positive and the MSI‐positive cases showed a mutually negative association in all subsets of gastric cancer. 5.7% of consecutive solitary gastric carcinomas were EBV positive, and 9.7% were MSI positive. EBV was positive in 1.6% of gastric cancers coexisting with gastric adenoma, 12.7% of younger patients, 28.6% of gastric remnant cancer with previous gastrectomy for benign disease, and 14.5% of synchronous cancers without adenoma. MSI was found in 1.6% of younger patients, 18.8% of gastric cancers coexisting with gastric adenoma, 25% of gastric remnant cancer with previous gastrectomy for gastric cancer, and in 53.3% of synchronous gastric carcinomas having gastric adenoma remote from the cancer. In conclusion, the carcinogenic roles of EBV and MSI may be different in terms of each subset of gastric cancer. EBV and MSI may contribute to functionally equivalent pathways in gastric carcinogenesis. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antenatal urodynamic studies in the fetal lamb: experimental protocol and preliminary results
Authors: Tayrac Renaud de , Cuckow Peter Malcom , Devlieger Roland , Deprest Jan , Bogaert Guy , Ville Yves
Published: March 2003

Objectives

To set up a fetal lamb model for intrauterine fetal urodynamic studies.

Methods

Fourteen fetal lambs underwent placement of a bladder catheter at a mean gestational age of 87 days. Three fetuses also had a partial urethral obstruction by the simultaneous placement of a peri‐urethral constricting ring. Urodynamic and ultrasound studies were performed weekly by the filling cystometry method.

Results

Hundred and six voiding cycles were recorded during 25 urodynamic studies between 84‐ and 133‐days gestation. All voiding profiles were biphasic with a mean duration of 4.2 min (range 1–10), a mean voiding pressure of 23 cm of water (range 7–33) and a mean periodicity of 19.2 min (range 11–50). The obstructed animals had bladder overactivity. This correlated with ultrasound and post‐mortem findings of megacystis and bilateral hydroureteronephrosis. The fetal mortality rate was 85.7% and the mean duration of survival post surgery was 45 ± 5.7 days.

Conclusion

Serial urodynamic studies could be performed in a fetal lamb model. Following partial urethral obstruction, bladder overactivity was observed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Successful early in utero management of fetal hydrothorax in a twin pregnancy
Authors: Lam H. , Yates R. , Jauniaux E.
Published: March 2003

We present a case of dichorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy in which one of the fetuses was found to have a major pleural effusion at 15 weeks of gestation. A single‐needle pleural fluid aspiration was performed at 15 and 16 weeks, but the fluid reaccumulated quickly after each procedure and at 16 weeks, the fetus was found to become progressively hydropic. A shunt was then successfully inserted at 17 weeks, which is the earliest gestation reported so far in the literature for such a procedure to treat isolated hydrothorax. Because we felt that the fetus would be too small for a classical double‐pigtail pleuroamniotic shunt, we used a multilength double‐pigtail bladder stent (Harrison drain; Cook; Spencer; Indiana; USA) via a 13‐gauge echo tip trocar. This shunt could be used for both singleton and twin pregnancies presenting with fetal pleural effusion from as early as 16 to 17 weeks to prevent the development of fetal hydrops and polyhydramnios and subsequent premature delivery. Treatment at this stage of gestation would also minimize the risk of lung hypoplasia, which is the main clinical issue when shunts are inserted after 24 weeks. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Limiting efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells due to Coulomb‐enhanced Auger recombination
Authors: Kerr Mark J. , Cuevas Andres , Campbell Patrick
Published: March 2003

Excitonic effects are known to enhance the rate of intrinsic recombination processes in crystalline silicon. New calculations for the limiting efficiency of silicon solar cells are presented here, based on a recent parameterization for the Coulomb‐enhanced Auger recombination rate, which accounts for its dopant type and dopant density dependence at an arbitrary injection level. Radiative recombination has been included along with photon recycling effects modeled by three‐dimensional ray tracing. A maximum cell efficiency of 29.05% has been calculated for a 90‐μm‐thick cell made from high resistivity silicon at 25°C. For 1 Ω cmp‐type silicon, the maximum efficiency reduces from 28.6% for a 55‐μm‐thick cell in the absence of surface recombination, down to 27.0% for a thickness in the range 300–500 μm when surface recombination limits the open‐circuit voltage to 720 mV. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Warum gibt es Materie?
Authors: Ziegler Thomas
Published: March 2003

Seit über 30 Jahren wird die CP‐Verletzung zur Erklärung der Materie‐Antimaterie‐Asymmetrie im Universum herangezogen. Seit kurzem ist jedoch klar, dass der Effekt viel zu gering ist, um diese Baryon‐Asymmetrie zu erklären. Theoretiker am DESY und von der Universität Oxford haben ein Modell entwickelt, das die Baryon‐Asymmetrie mit Hilfe des Zerfalls schwerer Majorana‐Neutrinos erklärt [1].
Neue Karte der kosmischen Hintergrundstrahlung
Authors: Bührke Thomas
Published: March 2003

Amerikanische Astronomen veröffentlichten kürzlich die bislang genaueste Karte der kosmischen Hintergrundstrahlung. Sie ermöglicht es, eine Reihe kosmologischer Größen mit erstaunlicher Genauigkeit zu bestimmen. Das Weltalter wird nunmehr zu 13,7 ± 0,2 Milliarden Jahren angenommen.
Aerosole und das Klimasystem: Atmosphärenforschung
Authors: Feichter Johann
Published: March 2003

Aerosolpartikel beeinflussen Wetter und Klima. Sie streuen das Sonnenlicht zurück in den Weltraum oder absorbieren es und bewirken damit eine Abkühlung der Erdoberfläche. Man vermutet daher, dass die anthropogen produzierten Aerosole den anthropogen verursachten Treibhauseffekt mildern. Aerosole fungieren auch als Kondensationskerne für Wassertröpfchen und Eiskristalle, womit sie die physikalischen und optischen Eigenschaften von Wolken sowie die Verteilung der Niederschläge beeinflussen. Um die Verteilung des Aerosols realistisch simulieren und mit dem Klimasystem zu koppeln, müssen die Massenverteilung, die chemische Zusammensetzung und die Größenverteilung der Teilchen bekannt sein.
Hochsprung auf dem Mond: Biomechanik
Authors: Thaller Sigrid
Published: March 2003

Um wie viel höher ein Mensch auf dem Mond als auf der Erde springt, hängt wesentlich von den individuellen Muskeleigenschaften ab. Eine Bewegung wird durch ein komplexes Zusammenspiel von Muskelkraft, Geschwindigkeit, Ansteuerung der Muskeln und Geometrie der Gelenke bestimmt. Deshalb hängt die Größe der Auswirkungen einer Gravitationsänderung wieder von den einzelnen Eigenschaften ab. Es kann sogar zu einer Umkehrung der Reihenfolge in der Sprungleistung kommen. Dann ist der Bessere von zwei Springern auf der Erde auf dem Mond der schlechtere.
Farbige Kreise an der Wand
Authors: Schlichting H. Joachim
Published: March 2003

In unserem heutigen Rätsel suchen wir nach einer qualitativen Erklärung eines überraschenden optischen Phänomens.
Delocalized free electron densities in degraded polystyrene and polypropylene macroradicals: The source of different photooxidation rates
Authors: Shyichuk Alexander , Melnyk Dmytro , White Jim R.
Published: March 2003

Electron structures of alkyl, alkoxy, and peroxy macroradicals for both polypropylene and polystyrene have been studied with quantum chemical methods. The polystyrene tertiary alkoxy macroradical has full delocalization of free spin on a neighboring aromatic ring. In addition, the spin is quite delocalized on polystyrene tertiary alkoxy macroradicals and also on both secondary and tertiary peroxy macroradicals. Such strong delocalization does not occur with polypropylene macroradicals, and it is proposed that the inactivation of polystyrene macroradicals caused by spin delocalization is the reason that polystyrene photodegradation rates are slower than those of polypropylene. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1070–1076, 2003
Microwave‐assisted synthesis of optically active poly(amide imide)s derived from diacid chloride containing epiclon and L‐leucine with aromatic diamines
Authors: Mallakpour Shadpour , Hajipour Abdol‐Reza , Zamanlou Mohammad Reza
Published: March 2003

Epiclon [3a,4,5,7a‐tetrahydro‐7‐methyl‐5‐(tetrahydro‐2,5‐dioxo‐3‐furanyl)‐1,3‐isobenzofurandione or 5‐(2,5‐dioxotetrahydrofurfuryl)‐3‐methyl‐3‐cyclohexyl‐1,2‐dicarboxylic acid anhydride] was reacted with L‐leucine in acetic acid, and the resulting imide acid (3) was obtained in a high yield. The diacid chloride (4) was obtained from its diacid derivative 3 by a reaction with oxalyl chloride in dry carbon tetrachloride. The polycondensation reaction of 4 with several aromatic diamines, such as 4,4′‐sulfonyldianiline, 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane, 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylether, p‐phenylenediamine, m‐phenylenediamine, 2,4‐diaminotoluene, and 1,5‐diaminonaphthalene, was developed with a domestic microwave oven in the presence of a small amount of a polar organic medium such as N‐methylpyrrolidone. The polymerization reactions were also performed with two other methods: low‐temperature solution polycondensation in the presence of trimethylsilyl chloride and reflux conditions. A series of optically active poly(amide imide)s with moderate yields and inherent viscosities of 0.12–0.19 dL/g were obtained. All of these polymers were fully characterized by IR, elemental analysis, and specific rotation techniques. Some structural characterizations and physical properties of these optically active poly(amide imide)s are reported. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1077–1090, 2003
Racial/ethnic differences and potential psychological benefits in use of the internet by women with breast cancer
Authors: Fogel Joshua , Albert Steven M. , Schnabel Freya , Ann Ditkoff Beth , Neugut Alfred I.
Published: March 2003

Many websites on the Internet offer information to breast cancer patients and are increasingly being used. The authors investigated the potential psychological benefits of Internet use and how it varied as a function of race/ethnicity among 180 white, African American, and Hispanic American breast cancer patients who used the Internet for medical information. Using standardized psychological measures, as measured by the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL), Internet use among minorities was associated with greater overall, appraisal, and tangible social support (p's<0.05) but not belonging and self‐esteem social support than among whites. No differences were observed for stress, depressive symptoms, loneliness, and coping. Since numerous studies suggest that social support may be related to survival, Internet use for breast health issues may have special clinical relevance to racial/ethnic minority groups. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Psychological and fitness changes associated with exercise participation among women with breast cancer
Authors: Pinto Bernardine M. , Clark Matthew M. , Maruyama Nancy C. , Feder Susan I.
Published: March 2003

Exercise participation has been shown to improve cardiovascular fitness and reduce psychological distress among women receiving chemotherapy and/or radiation. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the changes in distress and body image, and fitness following exercise participation among 24 women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer within the previous 3 years. The women were randomly assigned to participate in a 12‐week supervised aerobic exercise program in a hospital setting or a wait‐list control group. Assessments of distress and body image were conducted at pre‐ and post‐treatment. Data showed that the women in the exercise group improved significantly in body image (Physical Condition and Weight Concerns subscales) vs control group participants at post‐treatment. Reductions in distress were also noted in the exercise group, but these were nonsignificant. At post‐treatment, there were modest improvements in fitness in the exercise group. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The psycho‐social impact of infertility on young male cancer survivors: a qualitative investigation
Authors: Green David , Galvin Hazel , Horne Beverley
Published: March 2003

Intensive treatment regimes that are known to have a potential risk of infertility sometimes have to be given to boys who have aggressive malignant disease. Long‐term care must therefore include further discussion of these patients' impaired fertility. This study describes the results of a series of semi‐structured interviews with 15 young male cancer survivors regarding their experience of receiving feedback on their probable fertility status. All the interviews were conducted by a psychologist formerly uninvolved with their treatment. The interviews were analysed qualitatively using a grounded theory approach. The findings of the study are organised under four headings:

(a) Emotional reaction to news of probable infertility.

(b) Coping style adopted.

(c) Response to the offer of semen analysis.

(d) Implications for clinical practice.

The results of this thematic analysis are compared to the wider research literature in oncology and health psychology. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High prevalence of asthma in preschool children in Southern Brazil: A population‐based study
Authors: Chatkin Moema N. , Menezes Ana Maria B. , Victora Cesar G. , Barros Fernando C.
Published: March 2003

The prevalence of asthma is increasing in many countries. To measure asthma's prevalence, a sample of 981 children aged 4 years old belonging to a birth cohort from 1993 was studied in Pelotas, a city in southern Brazil. A standardized questionnaire on asthma was given to the children's mothers. Information was also collected on socioeconomic level, housing conditions, genetic factors, nutritional factors, and previous infectious diseases. Current asthma (asthma diagnosed by a doctor during previous 12 months) and current wheeze (presence of wheezing during previous 12 months) were the main outcomes. The prevalence of current asthma was 18.4%, and current wheeze was 21.1%. The data were analyzed by multiple Poisson regression, and the risk factors that remained significant for both “current asthma and current wheeze” were, respectively, nonwhite color (RR = 1.41 and RR = 1.36), low maternal schooling (RR = 1.75 and RR = 1.68 for 0–4 years), history of asthma or allergy in the family (RR = 1.66 and RR = 1.85), and history of rhinitis and eczema in the child (RR = 2.11 and RR = 1.72). Male sex (RR = 1.36) and bronchiolitis (RR = 1.46) were major risk factors only for “current asthma,” while smoking in pregnancy (RR = 1.30) and low birth weight (RR = 1.45) were risk factors only for “current wheeze.” These results highlight the importance of asthma as a public health problem due to its high prevalence, and support the need of intervention programs against preventable risk factors. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 35:296–301. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Late‐onset respiratory distress after inhalation of laundry detergent
Authors: Wheeler Derek S. , Bonny Andrea E. , Ruddy Richard M. , Jacobs Brian R.
Published: March 2003

Accidental poisoning with household cleaning products can pose significant risks to children. Exposure to granular laundry detergents accounts for a number of calls each year to poison control centers, though few of these exposures result in hospitalization. While caustic gastrointestinal injury resulting from ingestion of these highly alkaline cleaning agents is well‐recognized, few reports address the potential damage to the respiratory tract that can occur following ingestion or inhalation of granular laundry detergent. We present a previously healthy 1‐year‐old who presented to the emergency department with Late‐onset stridor and increased work of breathing following presumed inhalation of granular laundry detergent. Parents, primary care providers, and emergency department physicians need to be aware of the potential toxicity of these widely used household products. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 35:323–325. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Good estimation of arterial carbon dioxide by end‐tidal carbon dioxide monitoring in the neonatal intensive care unit
Authors: Wu Chia‐Hua , Chou Hung‐Chieh , Hsieh Wu‐Shiun , Chen Wai‐Kong , Huang Pei‐Yu , Tsao Po‐Nien
Published: March 2003

End‐tidal carbon dioxide pressure (PetCO2) was measured in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to assess its reliability and accuracy in predicting arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2). Arterial blood was drawn for gas analysis and compared with exhaled CO2 measured by mainstream capnography. In total, 130 PetCO2/PaCO2 comparisons were obtained from 61 patients (20 term and 41 preterm infants). PetCO2 was significantly different from PaCO2 (PetCO2 = 42.3 ± 10.5 mmHg vs. PaCO2 = 45.8 ± 12.3 mmHg, P < 0.001, mean ± SD). The overall PetCO2 bias (mean ± SD) was 3.5 ± 7.1 mmHg. There was a positive correlation between PetCO2 and PaCO2 (n = 130, r = 0.818, P < 0.001) in both term (n = 44, r = 0.779, P < 0.001) and preterm infants (n = 86, r = 0.849, P < 0.001). The PetCO2 biases (95% CI) were 3.5 ± 9.0 mmHg (0.8–6.2) in the term group and 3.4 ± 6.0 mmHg (2.2–4.7) in the preterm group. Therefore, PetCO2 was a valid and reliable method for monitoring PaCO2 in neonates, especially preterm infants. This method decreases blood loss and prevents complications associated with arterial catheters. In conclusion, we recommend using mainstream capnography to monitor PetCO2 instead of measuring PaCO2 in the NICU. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 35:292–295. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multiresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a pediatric cystic fibrosis center: Natural history and implications for segregation
Authors: Davies G. , McShane D. , Davies J.C. , Bush A.
Published: March 2003

It has been suggested that cystic fibrosis (CF) patients harboring multiresistant (MR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) should be seen in separate clinics. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of this by longitudinally studying the consistency of isolates of MRPA in individuals. We analyzed all respiratory tract cultures undertaken in 1 year from a pediatric CF clinic population (n = 367). PA was classified as MR according to the definition of the American CF Foundation: resistance to all agents in at least two of the following groups of antibiotics: β‐lactams, aminoglycosides, and fluroquinolones. PA was cultured from 96 children during the year of study. Thirty‐six were infected with at least one MR strain. Following initial identification of MRPA, MR in subsequent cultures was highly variable. Twenty‐three of 36 patients had subsequent cultures in which PA was identified. However, 21 of 23 patients had at least one isolate that was not MR following detection of MRPA. The variability with time in isolation of MR strains from individuals demonstrates the potential difficulties in designing segregation policies based on antibiotic sensitivity patterns. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 35:253–256. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc
Differential cytology of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in asthmatic children
Authors: Najafi N. , Demanet C. , Dab I. , De Waele M. , Malfroot A.
Published: March 2003

Although asthma usually begins in childhood, limited information is available as to the inflammatory reaction of asthmatic children compared to adults and the influence of age. We investigated the cytology of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in 39 newly diagnosed wheezy children (minimum of 3 wheezing episodes during last 6 months): 21 allergic and 18 nonallergic subjects. None had received antiinflammatory treatment. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed, instilling 0.5 ml·kg−1 body weight of warmed saline in 4 successive fractions. The first 2 aliquots (BALF 1) were pooled for microbiology and cytology, and the last 2 (BALF 2) for cytology only. Recovery correlated inversely with age, the most significant being for BALF 2 (r = −0.52, P = 0.001). Children under 2 years of age had larger amounts of ciliated columnar and goblet cells (P = 0.0074). Other cell types did not show age dependency. Differential cytology was characterized by a high number of creola bodies, bronchial epithelial cells (M = 68 × 103·ml−1, R = 5–349), and neutrophils (M = 92 × 103·ml−1, R = 0–1,257). Eosinophils were the only cells distinguishing allergic from nonallergic subjects (P = 0.003). The 16 children with positive microbiology had more neutrophils than the noninfected (P = 0.008), the latter still having more neutrophils than found in adults. These data suggest a limited age dependency in BALF cytology. Differential cytology in BALF might be helpful in differentiating asthma in children. Neutrophil inflammation might be more important than in adults. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 35:302–308. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Spectral Acquisition and Calibration Techniques for the Measurement of Radiative Flux Incident upon Propellant
Authors: Taylor Michael J.
Published: March 2003

A technique for the absolute calibration of a time‐resolved spectrographic system has been developed at QinetiQ, specifically designed to be relevant to spectral acquisition from within the interior of translucent gun‐propellant samples. The technique has shown itself to be particularly useful in the realm of propellant ignition as it allows for the precise determination of the moment that propellant combustion processes begin, as well as measuring the incident radiative flux leading up to ignition. Scope exists to extend its use for high‐pressure measurements of the incident radiative flux during both conventional propellant burn and high‐powered electrothermal‐chemical (ETC) discharges. This paper sets out to describe both the technique and some of the pitfalls encountered during the development of the technique. The use of this technique in some of the experimental work performed at QinetiQ, including the results of measurements that compare the incident radiative flux with propellant ignition during both ETC discharges and conventional gunpowder burn, have been published separately; references for this experimental work are given in this paper.
Direct Measurement of Radiative Flux Incident upon Propellant during Plasma Propellant Interactions
Authors: Taylor Michael J.
Published: March 2003

This paper sets out to describe some of the experimental work performed at QinetiQ, exploring the potential of electrothermal‐chemical (ETC) gun technology. Work performed primarily by the Fraunhofer‐Institut für Chemische Technologie (ICT) and supported by Technologiezentrum Nord (TZN), both in Germany, has been repeated and extended. Their work, which used aluminium plasma initiation wires, showed internal damage was being done to the structure of propellant grains with translucent (but not opaque) propellant formulations, both in exploding wire‐in‐air and in exploding wire closed vessel tests. This damage was shown to increase the gas generation rate in closed vessel tests. That work demonstrated the potential to use ETC plasma to alter the gas generation rate during combustion. If this could be achieved, then the piezometric efficiency of a gun system could be increased.
Minimum‐error strategy for discriminating between subsets of nonorthogonal quantum states
Authors: Herzog U. , Bergou J.A.
Published: March 2003

We consider a quantum system that is prepared, with a given a priori probability, in a pure state that belongs to a known set of N nonorthogonal quantum states. We study a minimum‐error measurement for assigning the state of the system to one or the other of two complementary subsets of the set of the given states. For the case that the N states span a Hilbert space that is only two‐dimensional, a simple analytical solution is derived for the minimum error probability and the optimum measurement strategy. If one of the subsets contains only a single state, the measurement is referred to as quantum state filtering. Our general result is applied to investigate minimum‐error quantum state filtering of three arbitrary linearly dependent states. Moreover, we discuss a generalized measurement for performing minimum‐error filtering of three special linearly independent states.
Gauge‐independent quantum dynamics on phase‐space of charged scalar particles
Authors: Varró S. , Javanainen J.
Published: March 2003

On the basis of the Hamiltonian form of the Klein‐Gordon equation of a charged scalar particle field introduced by Feshbach and Villars, the gauge‐invariant 2×2 Wigner matrix has been constructed whose diagonal elements describe positive and negative charge densities and the off‐diagonal elements correspond to cross‐densities in phase‐space. The system of coupled transport equations has been derived in case of interaction with an arbitrary external electromagnetic field. A gauge‐independent generalization of the free particle representation due to Feshbach and Villars is given, and on the basis of it both the nonrelativistic and the classical limits of the general relativistic quantum Boltzmann‐Vlasov equation(RQBVE) is discussed. In the non‐relativistic limit (p/mc→0) the set of equations of motion decouple to two independent quantum transport equations describing the dynamics of oppositely charged positon and negaton densities separately. In the classical limit(ℏ→0) two relativistic Boltzmann‐Vlasov equations result for the diagonal positon and negaton densities. It is obtained that, though in the latter equations the Planck constant ℏ is absent, the real part of the cross‐density does not vanish.
Ferromagnetic monolayers: a fresh look at fundamentals
Authors: Baberschke Klaus
Published: March 2003

The preparation of single ferromagnetic layers in ultrahigh vacuum provides interesting new phenomena in magnetism. Three examples will be given: (i) Pseudomorphic growth of Ni, Co, Fe on fcc‐Cu single crystals produces ferromagnets with tetragonal and trigonal symmetry. This enlarges the magnetic anisotropy energy (hard magnets) by several orders of magnitude. (ii) In two‐dimensional ferromagnetic films the spin‐fluctuations are much more dominant than in bulk ferromagnets. As a result the magnetic ordering temperature of coupled ferromagnets can be shifted by 50–100 K. (iii) By varying the film thickness the Curie‐temperature can be shifted to any convenient value. This allows to study in a detailed manner critical phenomena, e.g. the critical exponent γ for Fe/V‐multilayers.
Non‐Fermi liquid behavior in CeRhSn coexistent with magnetic order
Authors: Ślebarski A. , Jezierski A.
Published: March 2003

We discuss the electronic structure of CeRhSn which is dependent on the atomic disorder. We conclude, that the non‐Fermi liquid temperature dependences in the specific heat, magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity at low temperatures can be related to the proximity of a magnetic state which depends on the degree of atomic order in this compound.
Lattice Green function for electrons in magnetic field
Authors: Maśka Maciej M.
Published: March 2003

The energy spectrum of electrons on a square lattice in an applied magnetic field composes the famous Hofstadter butterfly with a recursive internal subband structure. An effective method for calculating the Green function for such a system is proposed. The standard approach requires an explicit knowledge of the eigenstates and eigenenergies of the system; here we derive a Harper‐like equation, that allows us to calculate the Green function for the lattice electrons in the field directly. The method is particularly useful in the weak‐field regime, where the standard calculations are cumbersome.
Non‐collinear magnetic structures under pressure
Authors: Duraj M. , Szytuła A.
Published: March 2003

Based on a phenomenological mean‐field model, magnetic properties of Mn sublattice have been studied. The structure consists of two equivalent sublattices canted with 2θ. The free energy contains the exchange energy (with fourth‐order term), the elastic energy, the entropy term and the pressure term. The model preasumes a linear dependence of exchange energy on volume (or pressure). The conditions for stability of the canted arrangement are disscused.
Quantum and thermal effects in the double exchange ferromagnet
Authors: Shannon N.
Published: March 2003

The physics of the ferromagnetic phase of the “double exchange” model has been widely discussed in the context of the CMR manganites. Usually, the double exchange ferromagnet is treated is classically, by mapping it onto an effective Heisenberg model. However this mapping does not permit a correct treatment of quantum or thermal fluctuation effects, and the results obtained lack many of the interesting features seen in experiments on the manganites. Here we outline a new analytic approach to systematically evaluating quantum and thermal corrections to the magnetic and electronic properties of the double exchange ferromagnet.
The dependence of the auto‐oscillation frequency of parametric spin waves on the pumping power and inter mode interaction strengths
Authors: Laulicht I. , Sloutskin E. , Bishop S. R.
Published: March 2003

Computer simulations of spin waves parametric excitations are carried out in the framework of the two modes model. The dependence of the auto‐oscillation (AO) frequency, f, on the pumping amplitude h is investigated. The results support the expression of Lvov et al. for this dependence in cases when the parametric excitation threshold, hth is very close to the auto‐oscillation threshold hosc. In cases when hosc is considerably larger than hth, a much better fit is obtained to a slightly modified expression: f = f0 + B([h/hosc]2 –1)0.5 where f0 is the onset frequency and B is a constant. Support is given to the idea of Lvov et al. that auto oscillation evolves from an oscillation that is damped below hosc and becomes self sustained at hosc. We find that τCO, the decay time of AO below hosc exhibits a critical slowing down power law: τCO ∝ (1 – h/hosc )–2.2. The dependence of f on the inter mode interaction strengths when h is constant, satisfies the expression: f = D + C/(E + 2T11 + S11 + 2T12 + S12) where D, C, and E are constants and T11, T12, S11, and S12 are the inter mode interaction strengths. This result supports the conjecture that the dependence of the auto‐oscillation frequency on the physical parameters is very similar to that of N0, the steady state value of the total number of parametric excitations.
Theoretical study on the adsorption of aromatic compounds on platinum clusters
Authors: De Souza P. R. N. , Aranda D. A. G. , De M. Carneiro J. W. , Da S. B. De Oliveira C. , Antunes O. A. C. , Passos F. B.
Published: March 2003

B3 LYP hybrid functional with LACVP* pseudopotential was applied for the optimization of geometries of complexes resulting from interaction of benzene, pyridine, naphthalene, and quinoline with Ptn (n = 4, 7) clusters. For benzene‐containing complexes, the most stable form corresponds to a bridge adsorption, with benzene undergoing considerable geometric distortions, assuming a boat‐like conformation. CH bonds are bended upward from the plane of the cluster. CC bonds stretch, especially when they form π‐complexes with low coordinated Pt atoms. Some arrangements for pyridine complexes involving the N atom of the organic moiety undergo further distortions, apparently preserving a formal CN π bond. Except for that distortion, the behavior of any heteroaromatic complex is similar to that of benzene in the same arrangement. The quinoline–Pt7 complex can suitably be used for simulation of the cinchonidine (CD) anchorage over Pt. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2003
Unified treatment for the evaluation of arbitrary multielectron multicenter molecular integrals over Slater‐type orbitals with noninteger principal quantum numbers
Authors: Özdoğan T.
Published: March 2003

The expansion formula has been presented for Slater‐type orbitals with noninteger principal quantum numbers (noninteger n‐STOs), which involves conventional STOs (integer n‐STOs) with the same center. By the use of this expansion formula, arbitrary multielectron multicenter molecular integrals over noninteger n‐STOs are expressed in terms of counterpart integrals over integer n‐STOs with a combined infinite series formula. The convergence of the method is tested for two‐center overlap, nuclear attraction, and two‐electron one‐center integrals, due to the scarcity of the literature, and fair uniform convergence and great numerical stability under wide changes in molecular parameters is achieved. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2003
Systematic search of bounds for total π‐electron energy
Authors: Morales Daniel A.
Published: March 2003

We developed a systematic method to improve the known bounds for the total π‐electron energy E by designing a method based on the theory of symmetric polynomials and its inequalities. Additionally, the theory of symmetric polynomials applied to the problem of bounds for the total π‐electron energy suggests the definition of generalized arithmetic and geometric means, which can then be incorporated into Kober's theorem to obtain very sharp upper and lower bounds, better than those already known, in terms of the determinant of the adjacency matrix of the graph and/or higher‐order spectral moments. Having established a connection between the problem of the π‐electron energy and the theory of symmetric polynomials and its inequalities, we apply several other theorems from the theory of symmetric polynomials that allow us to obtain new explicit and implicit inequalities and to obtain implicit inequalities that in principle incorporate all spectral moments. In particular, we present an implicit inequality for the total π‐electron energy that is so sharp that it is for all practical purposes an equation for that energy. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2003
Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization detection of polymerase chain reaction products by utilizing the 5′‐3′ exonuclease activity of Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase
Authors: Isola N. R. , Liu Z. , Allman S. L. , Taranenko N. I. , Kong Y. , Chen C. H.
Published: March 2003

The 5′‐3′ exonuclease activity of DNA polymerase was utilized in the polymerase chain reaction system to generate a specific signal concomitant with amplification. These signals were detected by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOFMS). This method obviates the need to perform extensive DNA purification of reaction products that is often necessary for detecting larger DNA molecules by mass spectrometry. Oligonucleotides complementary to the internal region of the amplicon are degraded by the 5′‐3′ exonuclease activity and the degradation products are analyzed by MALDI mass spectrometry. We refer to this assay as the Exo‐taq assay or probe degradation assay. This method should be amenable to automation. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantification of [Dmt1]DALDA in ovine plasma by on‐line liquid chromatography/quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Wan Haibao , Desiderio Dominic M.
Published: March 2003

The synthetic peptide [Dmt1]DALDA (Dmt‐D‐Arg‐Phe‐Lys‐NH2; Dmt = 2′,6′‐dimethyltyrosine; ‘super‐DALDA’) is a mu opioid‐receptor agonist. On‐line liquid chromatography/quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry and the corresponding stable isotope‐incorporated synthetic peptide internal standard were used to quantify [Dmt1]DALDA that had been extracted from ovine plasma samples. The [M+2H]2+ ion was used to construct the calibration curve, and the product ion was used for verification of the peptide. The detection sensitivity for the [Dmt1]DALDA [M+2H]2+ ion was 12.5 fmol and 50 fmol for the m/z 432.3 product ion. The concentration profile of [Dmt1]DALDA was determined from a set of ovine plasma samples. The molecular specificity of the peptide quantification was confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.