bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polymeric liquid crystals: cholesteric superstructure from blends of hydroxypropylcellulose esters
Authors: Bianchi Estella , Marsano Enrico , Picasso Paolo , Matassini Lorenzo , Costa Camilla
Published: August 2003

n‐Butyric, iso‐butyric, n‐valeric and iso‐valeric esters of hydroxypropylcellulose were synthesized. Their behaviors, in terms of cholesteric structure, glass (Tg) and anisotropic‐isotropic (Ti) transition temperatures are compared to results in the literature. A 6–8 month time period from sample preparation has no influence on the cholesteric phase characteristics. Six binary blends may be formed from the four esters. They show only a Tg value at each composition, which suggests a good miscibility among the components. However, positive deviation of linearity of Tg vs. composition varies from one pair to another. Analysis of the absorption curves in UV‐vis spectra show that three pairs form a single cholesteric helix containing both components while other three give a only nematic phase. Colors changing from red to violet are shown for blends of n‐butyric and iso‐butyric esters at different weight ratio. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Studies on thermal and morphological properties of 1,1‐bis(3‐methyl‐4‐cyanatophenyl)cyclohexane‐epoxy‐bismaleimide matrices
Authors: Dinakaran K. , Alagar M.
Published: August 2003

A new cyanate ester monomer, 1,1‐bis(3‐methyl‐4‐cyanatophenyl)cyclohexane has been synthesized and characterized. Epoxy modified with 4, 8 and 12% (by weight) of cyanate ester were made using epoxy resin and 1,1‐bis(3‐methyl‐4‐cyanatophenyl)cyclohexane and cured by using diaminodiphenylmethane. The cyanate ester modified epoxy matrix systems were further modified with 4, 8 and 12% (by weight) of bismaleimide (N,N′‐bismaleimido‐4,4′‐diphenylmethane). The formation of oxazolidinone and isocyanurate during cure reaction of epoxy and cyanate ester blend was confirmed by IR spectral studies. Bismaleimide‐cyanate ester‐epoxy matrices were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and heat deflection temperature (HDT) analysis. Thermal studies indicate that the introduction of cyanate ester into epoxy resin improves the thermal degradation studies at the expense of glass transition temperature. Whereas the incorporation of bismaleimide into epoxy resin enhances the thermal properties according to its percentage content. However, the introduction of both cyanate ester and bismaleimide influences the thermal properties according to their percentage content. DSC thermogram of cyanate ester modified epoxy and bismaleimide modified epoxy show unimodel reaction exotherms. The thermal degradation temperature and heat distortion temperature of the cured bismaleimide modified epoxy and cyanate ester‐epoxy systems increased with increasing bismaleimide content. The morphology of the bismaleimide modified epoxy and cyanate ester‐epoxy systems were also studied by scanning electron microscopy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The fabrication and characterization of poly(lactic acid) scaffolds for tissue engineering by improved solid–liquid phase separation
Authors: Tu Chifeng , Cai Qing , Yang Jian , Wan Yuqing , Bei Jianzhong , Wang Shenguo
Published: August 2003

In this article a new technique was developed to fabricate scaffolds with a unique microstructure by solid–liquid separation in combination with particulate‐leaching. Firstly, the effects of polymer concentration, quenching temperature on the porous morphology and the mechanical property of obtained scaffolds during solid–liquid separation have been investigated. Then, salt granules as porogen were introduced into the solid–liquid phase separation to produce the unique pore structure of the scaffold. The pore diameter of the scaffold could be controlled with the particulate size and the wall of pores possessed special microstructure, which enhanced the pore interconnectivity. The cell culture results confirmed that a good interconnectivity of the scaffold prepared by the improved solid–liquid separation was useful for nutrition transportation and cell proliferation. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Safe Schools/Healthy Students initiative: Pinellas County, Florida
Authors: Armstrong Kathleen Hague , Massey Oliver T. , Boroughs Michael , Bailey Ralph , LaJoie Diane
Published: August 2003

The Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) Initiative in Pinellas County, FL, emerged as a part of a broader local effort to implement creative educational and mental health programs to support children and families. This initiative focused on capacity building, prevention, and intervention efforts and comprehensive evaluation to address the barriers to learning and enhance healthy development. This article describes Pinellas County's plan, and highlights the instrumental roles played by school psychologists, which included grant writing, program and resource coordination, clinical services, program evaluation, staff training, parent advocacy, and steering committee membership. Promising outcomes and generalization of these findings to other communities is also discussed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 40: 489–501, 2003.
The aspartimide problem in Fmoc‐based SPPS. Part II
Authors: Mergler M. , Dick F. , Sax B. , Stähelin C. , Vorherr T.
Published: August 2003

The sequence dependence of base‐catalysed aspartimide formation during Fmoc‐based SPPS was systematically studied employing the peptide models H‐Val‐Lys‐Asp‐Xaa‐Tyr‐Ile‐OH. The extent of formation of aspartimide and related by‐products was determined by RP‐HPLC. Considerable amounts of by‐products were formed in the case of Xaa = Asp(OtBu), Arg(Pbf), Asn(Mtt), Cys(Acm) and unprotected Thr. Aspartimide formation could be diminished by incorporation of Asp(OMpe) or by employing milder methods for Fmoc cleavage, e.g. hexamethyleneimine/N‐methylpyrrolidine/HOBt/NMP/DMSO 4 : 50 : 4 : 71 : 71 (v/v/w/v/v). Copyright © 2003 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Remarks on the updated Hessian matrix methods
Authors: Bofill Josep Maria
Published: August 2003

Optimizing a function with respect to a set of variables using the quasi‐Newton–Raphson method implies updating the Hessian matrix at each iteration. The Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno update formula is used for minimization and the Murtagh–Sargent–Powell update formula for optimization of first‐order saddle points. Two new formulae are proposed to update the Hessian matrix. One of these formulae is derived using exponential weights and should be used to locate first‐order saddle points. The second formula is a modification of the TS–Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno update and could used for both minimum and first‐order saddle point optimizations. These two update Hessian matrix formulae present a performance that is the same and in many cases better that the Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno and Murtagh–Sargent–Powell formulae. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 94: 324–332, 2003
Testing a model of reasoned risk‐taking: governance, the experience of principals and agents, and global strategy in high‐technology IPO firms
Authors: Carpenter Mason A. , Pollock Timothy G. , Leary Myleen M.
Published: August 2003

Research on the governance of risky ventures, like the initial public offerings (IPOs) of high‐technology firms, has focused primarily on the relationship between governance mechanisms and firm performance. While such an emphasis is clearly important, it does little to shed light on potential relationships between governance and the strategies pursued by risky firms, nor does it take into account the complementary role of key stakeholders in affecting those strategies. To partially remedy this deficit we integrate agency and behavioral perspectives to develop a theory of ‘reasoned risk‐taking,’ whereby the nature of risks undertaken is a consequence of the interaction of governance mechanisms and stakeholder characteristics. We demonstrate our theory by predicting when corporate governance should be associated with strategic risk‐seeking beyond a firm's technical core—as seen in the degree to which it has expanded internationally. Surprisingly, even though venture capitalists (VC) are risk specialists, we find that technology‐based IPO firms are less likely (i.e., a negative relationship) to have extensive global sales when they are backed by a VC. In support of our reasoned risk‐taking theoretical framework, we find that VCs are indeed risk‐seeking when VC backing is complemented by the international experience of their board appointees, top management team (TMT) members, or both. IPO firms with significant insider ownership are similarly global risk‐seekers, and those effects are strongest with an internationally seasoned board and TMT at the helm. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predicting a firm's forecasting ability: the roles of organizational illusion of control and organizational attention
Authors: Durand Rodolphe
Published: August 2003

Recent research shows that forecasting ability is an organizational distinctive competence. We propose and test a model accounting for interfirm differences in forecasting ability. After controlling for reciprocal effects, we find that two principal firm‐level factors (i.e., organizational illusion of control and organizational attention) influence both bias and magnitude of errors in estimates. High organizational illusion of control increases positive forecast bias. As for organizational attention, higher relative investments in market information appear to reduce positive forecast bias and magnitude of errors; they also moderate forecast bias due to illusion of control. Finally, higher relative investments in employee capability increase both negative forecast bias and, unexpectedly, magnitude of errors for the majority of observed cases. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Profitability of small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises in high‐tech industries: the case of the biotechnology industry
Authors: Qian Gongming , Li Lee
Published: August 2003

This paper investigates the profitability determinants of small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises in high‐tech industries. Literature review suggests that innovator position, market awareness, niche operation, and internationalization should have positive impacts on SMTEs' profitability. However, the empirical results partially agree with, and partially dissent from, the propositions. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Developing end‐user tailorable Web applications using a compositional framework
Authors: Mejuev I
Published: August 2003

Since Web‐based applications are typically required to accommodate a rapid development cycle and be adaptable to the needs of heterogeneous communities of users, the ability to continue evolving after deployment (tailoring) is regarded as a valuable property for any software accessible via a WWW‐browser interface. This article introduces a reusable compositional framework to support the development of end‐user‐tailorable applications for the Web. This framework defines the composition of tailorable applications with an object‐scripting technique, based on nested compositional markup specifications. Application tailorability is achieved through the use of a ‘visualizer’ pattern that allows decoupling of tailoring interfaces from primitive components and recomposing fragments of an application at runtime. The framework permits the application of multiple tailoring interfaces (visualizers) to an application instance, reusing tailoring interfaces across multiple application domains and allows for the evolution of visual techniques for carrying out tailoring throughout a project lifecycle. This article summarizes the experience accumulated while developing the proposed framework using the Java 2 platform and introduces two case studies that have been made on the development of remote monitoring applications in the domain of large‐scale control systems in high‐energy physics and interactive multimedia courseware for the Web. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cellular localization of three vesicular glutamate transporter mRNAs and proteins in rat spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia
Authors: Oliveira Alexandre L.R. , Hydling Fredrik , Olsson Eric , Shi Tiejun , Edwards Robert H. , Fujiyama Fumino , Kaneko Takeshi , Hökfelt Tomas , Cullheim Staffan , Meister Björn
Published: August 2003

Glutamate is transported into synaptic vesicles by vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT) proteins. Three different VGLUTs, VGLUT1, VGLUT2, and VGLUT3, have recently been characterized, and they are considered to represent the most specific marker so far for neurons using glutamate as transmitter. We analyzed the cellular localization of VGLUT1‐3 in the rat spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) in control rats and after dorsal rhizotomy. Using in situ hybridization, VGLUT1 mRNA containing neurons were shown in the dorsomedial part of the intermediate zone, whereas VGLUT2 mRNA‐expressing neurons were present in the entire intermediate zone, both populations most likely representing interneurons. VGLUT3 mRNA could not be detected in the spinal cord. In the ventral horn, a dense plexus of VGLUT1‐immunoreactive (ir) nerve terminals was present, with large varicosities abutting on presumed motoneurons. In the dorsal horn a similarly dense plexus was seen, except in laminae I and II. A very dense plexus of VGLUT2‐ir fibers was distributed in the entire gray matter of the spinal cord, with many fibers lying close to presumed motoneurons. Few VGLUT3‐ir fibers were distributed in the white and gray matter, including lamina IX. However, a dense VGLUT3‐ir plexus was seen in the sympathetic intermedio‐lateral column (IML). Multiple‐labeling immunohistochemistry revealed that the VGLUT1‐, VGLUT2‐, and VAChT‐containing varicosities in lamina IX all represent separate entities. There was no colocalization of VGLUT3 with VAChT or 5‐HT in varicose fibers of the ventral horn, but some VGLUT3‐ir fibers in the IML were 5‐HT‐positive. Lesioning of the dorsal roots resulted in an almost complete disappearance of VGLUT1‐ir fibers around motoneurons and a less pronounced decrease in the remaining gray matter, whereas the density of VGLUT2‐ and VAChT‐ir fibers appeared unaltered after lesion. Many VGLUT1‐ir neurons were observed in DRGs; they were almost all large and did not colocalize calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP), and there was no overlap between these markers in fibers in the superficial dorsal horn. VGLUT2 was, at most, seen in a few DRG neurons. Taken together, these results suggest that the VGLUTs mRNAs are present in distinct subsets of neuronal populations at the spinal level. VGLUT1 is mainly present in primary afferents from large, CGRP‐negative DRG neurons, VGLUT2 has mainly a local origin, and VGLUT3 fibers probably have a supraspinal origin. Synapse 50:117–129, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Serotonergic regulation of the GABAergic transmission in the rat basal ganglia
Authors: Di Cara Benjamin , Samuel Denise , Salin Pascal , Kerkerian‐Le Goff Lydia , Daszuta Annie
Published: August 2003

The GABAergic neurons represent a major neuronal population in the basal ganglia. Although alterations in serotonin (5‐HT) transmission are associated with neurodegenerative diseases involving these regions, the influence exerted by 5‐HT afferents on GABAergic populations remains poorly understood. Here, we examined the consequences of 5,7‐dihydroxytryptamine‐induced lesion of 5‐HT neurons on glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) activity, mRNA expression of the two isoforms of the enzyme, GAD65 and GAD67, GABA uptake, and extracellular GABA levels in the striatum. The 5‐HT depletion produced an increase in GAD activity without modifying GAD65 and GAD67 mRNA levels, suggesting that 5‐HT acts at the posttranscriptional level to regulate striatal GABA synthesis. No change in GAD activity was measured in the main striatal target structures, the globus pallidus and substantia nigra. Striatal GABA uptake and extracellular levels of GABA measured under basal conditions in freely moving rats were maintained in a normal range following 5‐HT deprivation. By contrast, depolarization‐induced increases in extracellular levels of GABA were larger in the striatum of 5‐HT‐deprived rats than in controls, which may be accounted for by an increase in a releasable pool of GABA due to increased synthesis rate. Together, these results suggest that 5‐HT afferents may exert a phasic inhibitory control on striatal GABA transmission. Therefore, a decrease in striatal 5‐HT transmission in disease states, such as Parkinson's disease, may contribute to pathological changes in striatal GABA neuron activity by increasing their reactivity to depolarizing stimuli. Synapse 50:144–150, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Intrastriatal serotonin 5‐HT2 receptors mediate dopamine D1‐induced hyperlocomotion in 6‐hydroxydopamine‐lesioned rats
Authors: Bishop Christopher , Kamdar Dev P. , Walker Paul D.
Published: August 2003

Striatal dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5‐HT) functions are altered following DA denervation. Previous research indicates that intrastriatal coadministration of D1 and 5‐HT2 receptor agonists synergistically increase locomotor behavior in DA‐depleted rats. In the present study, we examined whether striatal 5‐HT2 mechanisms also account for supersensitive D1‐mediated locomotor behavior following DA denervation. Adult male Sprague‐Dawley rats were subjected to bilateral striatal cannulation and then received either intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) or intrastriatal 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA; 200 μg or 20 μg/side, respectively). After at least 3 weeks, i.c.v.‐lesioned rats received intrastriatal infusions of the 5‐HT2 receptor antagonist ritanserin (2.0 μg/side) or its vehicle (DMSO) followed by systemic SKF 82958, a D1 agonist (1.0 mg/kg, i.p.) and locomotor activity was monitored. In another experiment, intrastriatal sham and 6‐OHDA‐lesioned rats received bilateral intrastriatal infusions of ritanserin (2.0 μg/side) or its vehicle (DMSO) followed by intrastriatal infusions of SKF 82958 (5.0 μg/side) or vehicle (0.9% saline). Rats with DA loss demonstrated supersensitive locomotor responses to both systemic and intrastriatal SKF 82958. Ritanserin pretreatment blunted systemic SKF 82958‐induced hyperlocomotion and returned intrastriatal D1‐mediated hyperactivity to sham lesion levels. The results of this study suggest that striatal 5‐HT2 receptors contribute to D1‐mediated hyperkinesias resulting from DA loss and suggest a pharmacological target for the alleviation of dyskinesia that can develop with continued DA replacement therapy. Synapse 50:164–170, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Intrastriatal microinjection of sodium nitroprusside induces cell death and reduces binding of dopaminergic receptors
Authors: Yanamoto Kazuhiko , Hosoi Rie , Uesaka Yumi , Abe Kohji , Tsukada Hideo , Inoue Osamu
Published: August 2003

Rat striatum was microinjected with 50 nmol sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and neural cell death as well as the binding of dopaminergic receptors were followed for 24 h after the infusion using TTC staining, cresyl violet staining, and quantitative autoradiography. Striatal cell death was observed 3 h after the infusion of SNP. A widespread area of cell death, including part of the cerebral cortex, was seen at 24 h after the infusion. A decrease of more than 80% in dopamine D1 receptor binding was seen in rat brain slices prepared 2 h after the infusion of SNP, whereas only a slight decrease in dopamine D2 receptor binding and almost no changes in dopamine transporter binding were observed. One day after the infusion, less than 10% of the binding of all three types of dopaminergic receptors remained in a widespread area in the infused side of the striatum and part of the cerebral cortex. Microinjection of either NOC‐18 (50 nmol), another type of NO donor, or sodium cyanide (50 nmol) did not caused cell death. In addition, microinjection of FeCl2 (50 nmol) into the striatum caused cell death and reduction in dopamine D1 receptor binding. These results suggest that iron‐related radical reactions, but not NO itself, might have important roles on SNP‐caused cell death. The current receptor binding study also indicated that dopamine D1 receptor binding is the most sensitive indicator for detection of cell death or cell damage induced by radical reactions in the rat striatum. Synapse 50:137–143, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inhibition of [18F]FP‐TZTP binding by loading doses of muscarinic agonists P‐TZTP or FP‐TZTP in vivo is not due to agonist‐induced reduction in cerebral blood flow
Authors: Shimoji Kazuaki , Esaki Takanori , Itoh Yoshiaki , Ravasi Laura , Cook Michelle , Jehle Jane , Jagoda Elaine M. , Kiesewetter Dale O. , Schmidt Kathleen , Sokoloff Louis , Eckelman William C.
Published: August 2003

[18F][3‐(3‐(3‐Fluoropropyl)thio)‐1,2,5‐thiadiazol‐4‐yl]‐1,2,5,6‐tetrahydro‐1‐methylpyridine ([18F]FP‐TZTP) is an M2 selective muscarinic agonist that may allow noninvasive studies of Alzheimer's disease with PET. 3‐(3‐(Propylthio)‐1,2,5‐thiadiazol‐4‐yl)‐1,2,5,6‐tetrahydro‐1‐methylpyridine (P‐TZTP), a nonfluorinated analog of FP‐TZTP, and unlabeled FP‐TZTP inhibited [18F]FP‐TZTP binding in vivo. Because muscarinic action of the loading dose of P‐TZTP administered might have had pharmacological effects, the apparent inhibition might have resulted from reduced delivery rather than competition with receptor‐binding. Therefore, we examined the effects of P‐TZTP or FP‐TZTP administration on cerebral blood flow (CBF) measured by the [14C]iodoantipyrine method and laser‐Doppler flowmetry in rats. Statistically significant synchronous decreases in both CBF and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) were observed within the first minute following administration. The decreases in both CBF and MABP were prevented by pretreatment with atropine methyl bromide (M‐At), a peripheral muscarinic antagonist, and coadministration of M‐At with either FP‐TZTP or P‐TZTP resulted in the same degree of inhibition of cerebral [18F]FP‐TZTP‐uptake 30 min after administration as observed without M‐At. Also, with programmed infusions designed to produce constant arterial concentrations of [18F]FP‐TZTP and FP‐TZTP, which avoid changes in CBF, significant inhibition of [18F]FP‐TZTP‐binding by FP‐TZTP was observed. These results indicate that inhibition of [18F]FP‐TZTP‐binding in the brain by P‐TZTP or FP‐TZTP in vivo occurs independently of their effects on CBF. The methods employed here may also be of interest to evaluate physiological effects of blocking agents utilized to validate other radiopharmaceuticals. Synapse 50:151–163, 2003. Published 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Degenkolb Engineers
Authors: Wosser Thomas D. , Poland Chris D.
Published: August 2003

Degenkolb Engineers is completing its 62nd year of providing consulting structural engineering services in the design and construction industry. While the primary efforts have focused on the design of new structures and on seismic strengthening and rehabilitation, other important services include seismic evaluation, development of seismic hazard reduction programs, peer reviews, consultation and design of underpinning and shoring for deep excavations, as well as major participation in the development of seismic evaluation and rehabilitation standards. These services have been provided to private industry and business, universities, hospitals, governmental agencies, the insurance industry, and contractors, often, but not always, working with an architect. The firm is now in its fourth generation of leadership, headed by Chris D. Poland, President, CEO and Chairman of the Board. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mechanisms of membrane permeabilization by picornavirus 2B viroporin
Authors: Nieva José L. , Agirre Aitziber , Nir Shlomo , Carrasco Luis
Published: August 2003

Cell infection by picornaviruses leads to membrane permeabilization. Recent evidence suggests the involvement of the non‐structural protein 2B in this process. We have recently reported the detection of 2B porin‐like activity in isolated membrane–protein systems that lack other cell components. According to data derived from these model membranes, four self‐aggregated 2B monomers (i.e. tetramers) would be sufficient to permeabilize a single lipid vesicle, allowing the free diffusion of solutes under ca. 1000 Da. Our findings also support a role for lipids in protein oligomerization and subsequent pore opening. The lipid dependence of these processes points to negatively charged cytofacial surfaces as 2B cell membrane targets.
MIP‐T3 associates with IL‐13Rα1 and suppresses STAT6 activation in response to IL‐13 stimulation
Authors: Niu Yamei , Murata Takashi , Watanabe Ken , Kawakami Koji , Yoshimura Akihiko , Inoue Jun-ichiro , Puri Raj K , Kobayashi Nobuyuki
Published: August 2003

To unravel the mechanism of interleukin‐13 (IL‐13)‐specific functions, we sought to identify IL‐13 receptor (IL‐13R) binding molecules. A novel human IL‐13Rα1 binding protein (IL13RBP1) has been identified using yeast tri‐hybrid system, which was found to encode the same protein as MIP‐T3 (microtubule interacting protein that associates with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor associating factor‐3 (TRAF3)). It constitutively associates with IL‐13Rα1 and suppresses IL‐4/13‐induced signal transducer and activator of transcription‐6 (STAT6) phosphorylation. IL‐13‐induced STAT6 activation was also inhibited as determined by dual luciferase assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). These results suggest that MIP‐T3 is a novel inhibitor of IL‐13 signaling and may be a useful molecule in ameliorating various conditions in which IL‐13 plays a central role.
Sedimentologic and palynologic records of the last deglaciation and Holocene from Ballston Lake, New York
Authors: Toney Jaime L. , Rodbell Donald T. , Miller Norton G.
Published: August 2003

Continuous pollen and sediment records from two ∼8.5-m-long cores document late Pleistocene and Holocene sedimentation and vegetation change in the Ballston Lake basin, eastern New York State. Pebbles at the base of both cores and the geomorphology of the watershed reflect the presence of the Mohawk River in the basin prior to ∼12,900 ± 70 cal yr B.P. Ballston Lake formed at the onset of the Younger Dryas (YD) by an avulsion of the Mohawk River. The transition from clay to gyttja with low magnetic susceptibility (MS), low bulk density, and high organic carbon indicates rapid warming and increased lake productivity beginning 11,020 cal yr B.P. MS measurements reveal that the influx of magnetic particles, associated with pre-Holocene clastic sedimentation, ceased after ∼10,780 cal yr B.P. The pollen record is subdivided into six zones: BL1 (12,920 to 11,020 cal yr B.P.) is dominated by boreal forest pollen; BL2 (11,020 to 10,780 cal yr B.P.) by pine (Pinus) forest pollen; BL3 (10,780 to 5290 cal yr B.P.) by hemlock (Tsuga) and mixed hardwood pollen; BL4 (5290 to 2680 cal yr B.P.) by mixed hardwood pollen; BL5a (2680 cal yr B.P. to 1030 cal yr B.P.) by conifer and mixed hardwood pollen; and BL5b (1030 cal B.P. to present) by increasing ragweed (Ambrosia) pollen. A 62% decrease in spruce (Picea) pollen in <320 cal years during BL1 reflects rapid warming at the end of the YD. Holocene pollen zones record more subtle climatic shifts than occurred at the end of the YD. One of the largest changes in the Holocene pollen spectra began ∼5300 cal yr B.P., and is characterized by a marked decline in hemlock pollen. This has been noted in other pollen records from the region and may record preferential selection of hemlock by a pathogen or parasites.
Transmembrane scaffolding proteins in the formation and stability of nodes of Ranvier
Authors: Girault Jean‐Antoine , Oguievetskaia Ksénia , Carnaud Michèle , Denisenko‐Nehrbass Natalia , Goutebroze Laurence
Published: August 2003

The function of myelinated fibers depends on the clustering of sodium channels at nodes of Ranvier, the integrity of the myelin sheath, and the existence of tight axoglial junctions at paranodes, on either sides of the nodes. While the ultrastructure of these regions has been known for several decades, recent progress has been accomplished in the identification of proteins essential for their organization, which depends on the interplay between axons and myelinating glial cells. Evolutionary conserved intercellular multimolecular complexes comprising proteins of the Neurexin IV/Caspr/paranodin (NCP) family and of the immunoglobulin‐like cell adhesion molecules superfamily, are essential components for the axoglial contacts at the level of paranodes and juxtaparanodes. These complexes are able to interact with cytoplasmic proteins of the band 4.1 family, providing possible links to the axonal cytoskeleton. While the identification of these proteins represents a significant progress for understanding axoglial contacts, they also raise exciting questions concerning the molecular organization of these contacts and the mechanisms of their local enrichment.
The pricing of U.S. IPOs by seasoned foreign firms
Authors: Burch Timothy R. , Fauver Larry
Published: August 2003

We examine the pricing of U.S. initial public offerings (IPOs) by foreign firms that are already seasoned in their domestic countries. Presumably, these equity offers have less downside risk for investors than typical IPOs since domestic share prices can be used to help establish a preoffer value for the firm's equity. In spite of the presumed diminished downside risk, we find that offers by firms from countries that impose foreign ownership restrictions and capital controls are on average underpriced, experiencing an average first‐day return in the United States of 12.7%. This result stems in part from the underwriter's failure to price the issue to fully reflect the postoffer premium that often arises for the U.S. shares. In contrast, offers by firms from countries without ownership restrictions have an average first‐day return of 0.0%.
Pre‐discharge, but not admission, levels of NT‐proBNP predict adverse prognosis following acute LVF
Authors: O'Brien Russell J. , Squire Iain B. , Demme Bettina , Davies Joan E. , Ng Leong L.
Published: August 2003

Background:

Circulating natriuretic peptide levels provide prognostic information following acute coronary syndromes and in chronic heart failure. Little evidence exists of their utility following hospitalisation with acute left ventricular failure (LVF).

Aims:

To examine the relative prognostic value of admission and pre‐discharge plasma N‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) following hospitalisation with acute heart failure.

Methods:

NT‐proBNP was measured at admission in 96 patients hospitalised with acute LVF. In a subset of 34 patients, NT‐proBNP was also measured prior to discharge. Multivariate analysis was performed of the clinical and serological predictors of a combined primary endpoint of death or heart failure (hospitalisation or as an outpatient).

Results:

During follow up (median 350 days, range 2–762), 37 (38.5%) patients died (n=16, 16.7%), or experienced at least 1 heart failure event (n=21, 21.9%). For the entire cohort of 96 patients, only a prior history of heart failure was associated with the primary endpoint (OR 3.5 [1.10–11.08], P=0.034). Admission plasma NT‐proBNP was not predictive (OR 1.84 [0.75–4.51], P=0.185). In the 34 patients for whom both admission and pre‐discharge NT‐proBNP was available, 19 (55.9%) died (n=8, 23.5%) or experienced heart failure (n=11, 32.4%). Only pre‐discharge plasma NT‐proBNP (OR 15.30 [95% CI: 1.4–168.9], P=0.026) was independently predictive of the composite endpoint. The area under the receiver–operator‐characteristic (AUC ROC) curve for pre‐discharge NT‐proBNP was superior to that for admission NT‐proBNP for prediction of death or heart failure (AUC ROC 0.87 cf 0.70), for death (0.79 cf 0.66), LVF hospitalisation (0.78 cf 0.70) or heart failure as an outpatient (0.71 cf 0.61).

Conclusions:

Plasma NT‐proBNP measured pre‐discharge provides useful prognostic information following hospitalisation with acute LVF.
Idioms, metaphors and syntactic mobility
Authors: HORN GEORGE M.
Published: August 2003

Jackendoff (1997), whose analysis of idioms is based, in part, on work by Nunberg, Sag & Wasow (1994), discusses VP idioms and addresses the question of mobility. Both works identify fixed idioms, such as kick the bucket, and mobile idioms, such as spill the beans and take advantage of. Fixed idioms are ones whose NP objects are impervious to syntactic operations, as illustrated by the unacceptability, in their idiomatic sense, of sentences like *The bucket was kicked by Bill; while mobile idioms occur in sentences like The beans were spilled by Fred and Advantage was taken of Bill. Jackendoff correlates the mobility of VP idioms with a property that he refers to as metaphorical semantic composition. However, he observes that this property is not a sufficient condition for mobility.

I will argue that the property of metaphorical semantic composition be replaced by a property of thematic composition, and that this property is a sufficient condition for mobility. A closer inspection of mobile idioms that have thematic composition reveals that they fall into two subtypes: expressions that have a property of ‘transparency of interpretation’, and ones that do not have this property. I refer to members of the first subtype as METAPHORS. I will demonstrate that there are no idiosyncratic constraints on their syntactic mobility, and will conclude that they need not be encoded in lexical entries as phrasal idioms. In these respects, they are distinct from members of the second subtype, whose degree of mobility is more limited, and which must be encoded in lexical entries as phrasal idioms. Finally, I will address the question of the necessity of thematic composition for mobility. Throughout the paper, I will assume that phrasal idioms are appropriately encoded in lexical entries of the types proposed by Jackendoff for fixed and mobile expressions.
Functionalism is/n't formalism: an interactive review of Darnell et al. (1999) Michael Darnell, Edith Moravcsik, Frederick J. Newmeyer, Michael Noonan & Kathleen M. Wheatley (eds.), Functionalism and formalism in linguistics, vol. I: General papers & vol. II: Case studies (Studies in Language Companion Series 41 & 42). Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 1999. Pp. iv+514 (vol. I) & pp. iv+407 (vol. II).
Authors: CARNIE ANDREW , MENDOZA-DENTON NORMA
Published: August 2003

SETTING: The University of Arizona's idyllic desert campus. As in many colleges across the United States, ‘formalist’ linguistics is implicitly understood to be at cross-purposes with ‘functionalist’ linguistics. The Linguistics Department's only course on non-minimalist syntax is famously nicknamed ‘Bad Guys’. Although the linguistics department forms a unified front, malcontent quietly simmers across campus as functionalist sociolinguists, discourse analysts, grammaticalization specialists and linguistic anthropologists outnumber formalists, though they roam within their own language-department fiefdoms. Politeness and cooperation reign among senior faculty linguists, who have realized that antagonism only hurts students and programs in all the language sciences. The junior faculty are more brash: they work hard, publish a lot, and speak loudly to get tenure as respected form/functionalists. They socialize together and joke about each other's positions, but don't talk very much serious shoptalk. Until now …
Norman Kretzmann on Aquinas's attribution of will and of freedom to create to God
Authors: WIPPEL JOHN F.
Published: August 2003

The purpose of this paper is to discuss Norman Kretzmann's account of Aquinas's discussion of will in God. According to Kretzmann, Aquinas's reasoning seems to leave no place for choice on God's part, since, on Aquinas's account, God is not free not to will Himself. And so this leads to the problem about God's willing things other than Himself. On this, Kretzmann finds serious problems with Thomas's position. Kretzmann argues that Aquinas should have drawn necessitarian conclusions from his account of divine will. Moreover, in light of one reading of De veritate, q. 24, a. 3, but one not accepted by the Leonine edition, Kretzmann also maintains that Aquinas practically conceded this necessitarian view of God's creative activity in that text. My purpose will be, after presenting Kretzmann's presentation and defence of Aquinas's attribution of will to God, to examine critically his claim that Thomas should have concluded that God is not free not to create, and to determine whether a stronger argument can be made in support of Aquinas's position in light of his texts.
Caregivers' contingent comments to 9-month-old infants: Relationships with later language
Authors: ROLLINS PAMELA ROSENTHAL
Published: August 2003

This prospective longitudinal study examined the relationship between caregiver input to 9-month-old infants and their subsequent language. Mother–infant dyads were videotaped at ages 9, 12, and 30 months. Language comprehension (at 12 and 18 months) was measured by parent report and correlated with an independent language measure. Three maternal style variables were reduced from the 9-month data. Only caregivers' contingent comments (CCC) related to infants' later language. These findings held after infants' skill with coordinated joint attention (CJA) was taken into account. The total number of words the mothers used when their infants were 9 months predicted vocabulary; however, the predictive power was encapsulated in the words the mother used during CCC. Because studies have typically examined maternal input once infants' CJA has emerged, this work contributes to current efforts to understand variations in early language development.
Semantic category effects in second language word learning
Authors: FINKBEINER MATTHEW , NICOL JANET
Published: August 2003

The present study addresses a long-standing assumption in the field of applied linguistics: that presenting new second language (L2) vocabulary in semantically grouped sets is an effective method of teaching. Participants learned 32 new L2 labels for concepts from four different semantic categories in either a related or unrelated condition. At test, participants translated words in both translation directions. We found a semantic interference effect both during the encoding of information into memory and during the retrieval of information in translation. We discuss these findings in terms of theoretical models of L2 lexical representation and development, as well as in more practical terms of L2 curriculum design and vocabulary instruction.
How to manage communication problems in young children (3rd ed.). Myra Kersner and Jannet A. Wright (Eds.). London: David Fulton Publishers, 2002.
Authors: Fielden Nicola
Published: August 2003

The third edition of this book was published in 2002. The editors explain its development from courses run at the Department of Human Communication Science, University College London, for nonspecialists who wanted to understand the speech and language problems of young children. Overall, it is successful in this aim.
Use of projectional phase space data to infer a 4D particle
distribution
Authors: FRIEDMAN A. , GROTE D.P. , CELATA C.M. , STAPLES J.W.
Published: August 2003

We consider beams that are described by a four-dimensional
(4D) transverse distribution f (x, y,
x′, y′), where x′ ≡
px /pz
and z is the axial coordinate. A two-slit scanner is commonly
employed to measure, over a sequence of shots, a two-dimensional (2D)
projection of such a beam's phase space, for example,
f (x, x′). Another scanner might yield
f (y, y′) or, using crossed slits,
f (x, y). A small set of such 2D scans does
not uniquely specify f (x, y, x′,
y′). We have developed “tomographic” techniques
to synthesize a “reasonable” set of particles in a 4D phase
space having 2D densities consistent with the experimental data. We
briefly summarize one method and describe progress in validating
it, using simulations of the High Current Experiment at Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory.
δf simulation studies of the ion–electron
two-stream instability in heavy ion fusion beams
Authors: QIN HONG , DAVIDSON RONALD C. , STARTSEV EDWARD A. , LEE W. WEI-LI
Published: August 2003

Ion–electron two-stream instabilities in high intensity
heavy ion fusion beams, described self-consistently by the
nonlinear Vlasov–Maxwell equations, are studied using
a three-dimensional multispecies perturbative particle simulation
method. Large-scale parallel particle simulations are carried
out using the recently developed Beam Equilibrium, Stability,
and Transport (BEST) code. For a parameter regime characteristic
of heavy ion fusion drivers, simulation results show that the
most unstable mode of the ion–electron two-stream instability
has a dipole-mode structure, and the linear growth rate decreases
with increasing axial momentum spread of the beam particles
due to Landau damping by the axial momentum spread of the beam
ions in the longitudinal direction.
Transport of megaelectron volt protons for fast ignition
Authors: DEUTSCH C.
Published: August 2003

Quasi-linear analysis demonstrates that intense and
nonrelativistic proton beams do not lose collectively their
kinetic energy through transverse Weibel electromagnetic
instabilities when interacting with supercompressed plasmas
of inertial confinement interest.
Disk converter target
Authors: DOLGOLEVA G.V. , DOVGAYA N.I. , NECHPAI V.I. , KECHIN V.I. , PEVNAYA P.I. , SIZOVA L.I. , KHOLIN S.A.
Published: August 2003

It is cylindrical converters that are generally considered
for the purpose of changing the ion beam energy into X rays,
with their irradiation to be provided through the cylinder end.
This article studies a target having a disk-shaped converter
to be irradiated sideways. It may be practical when one fails
to overcome difficulties with the focusing of ion beams into
a spot of a diameter smaller than a few millimeters.
Phase space growth during RF capture in the GSI heavy ion
synchrotron SIS-18
Authors: KIRK M. , DAMERAU H. , HOFMANN I. , BOINE-FRANKENHEIM O. , SPILLER P. , HÜLSMANN P.
Published: August 2003

This study reports on the optimization of the radio frequency
capture phase during the operational cycle of the SIS-18
synchrotron at Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung,
Darmstadt, Germany. The ion species studied were
238U+28 and 238U73+
at an injection energy of 11.4 MeV/u. The longitudinal relative
momentum spread derived from Schottky spectra of the coasting beam
at injection provides a value of
|Δp/p0|full-width
∼ 5 × 10−3. Simulation results from
the synchrotron tracking code ESME (FermiLab) were compared
with beam-current profile measurements obtained from a pickup.
To gain further insight, the Tomography program (European
Organization for Nuclear Research) has been used to derive the
longitudinal phase space development from waterfall plots of
the measured beam current profile, which may then be compared
against simulation. Possible causes of this nonadiabaticity
are discussed and solutions are proposed.
Plasma properties of a laser-ablated aluminum target in air
Authors: YING MINJU , XIA YUEYUAN , SUN YUMING , ZHAO MINGWEN , MA YUCHEN , LIU XIANGDONG , LI YUFEI , HOU XUEYUAN
Published: August 2003

The optical emission spectra of the plasma generated by a
1.06-μm Nd:YAG laser irradiation of Al target in air was
recorded and analyzed in a spatially resolved manner. Electron
temperatures and densities in the plasma were obtained using
the relative emission intensities and the Stark-broadened
linewidths of Al(I) emission lines, respectively. The dependence
of the electron density and temperature on the distance from
the target surface and on the laser irradiance were manifested.
We also discussed how the air takes part in the plasma evolution
process and confirmed that the ignition of the air plasma was
by the collisions between the energetic electrons and the nitrogen
atoms through a cascade avalanche process.
Two approaches to electron beam enhancement of the metal
vapor vacuum arc ion source
Authors: JOHNSON B.M. , HERSHCOVITCH A. , BUGAEV A.S. , GUSHENETS V.I. , OKS E.M. , YUSHKOV G. YU. , BATALIN V.A. , KOLOMIETS A.A. , KUIBEDA R.P. , KULEVOY T.V. , PERSHIN V.I. , PETRENKO S.V. , SELEZNEV D.N.
Published: August 2003

Conclusive demonstration of electron-beam enhancement of ion
charge states for the Metal Vapor Vacuum Arc (MEVVA) ion source
was recently achieved using an external electron beam (E-MEVVA)
in experiments performed jointly among the Institute for
Theoretical and Experimental Physics (ITEP), Moscow, Russia,
the High Current Electronics Institute (HCEI), Tomsk, Russia,
and Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), USA. The E-MEVVA
experiments were performed in Moscow and Tomsk with nearly the
same design of ion sources. Results for lead and bismuth cathodes
yielded maximum ion charge states of Pb7+ and
Bi8+ for E-MEVVA, as compared to Pb2+
and Bi2+ for conventional MEVVA operation. Additional
encouraging results were also obtained using a Z-discharge to
produce an internal electron-beam (Z-MEVVA and LIZ-MEV).
Toward the next quarter-century: Conceptual and methodological challenges for attachment theory
Authors: THOMPSON ROSS A. , RAIKES H. ABIGAIL
Published: August 2003

Attachment theory and research have offered fundamental insights into early sociopersonality development for the past quarter-century. As its scope expands throughout the life course with applications to developmental psychopathology, however, attachment work faces important conceptual and methodological challenges. These include (a) expanding Bowlby's theoretical formulations to address developmental changes in the nature of attachment organization beyond infancy, the converging influence of multiple attachment relationships, and the nature and development of internal working models; (b) systematically validating assessments of attachment security for older ages in the context of enhanced theoretical understanding of how attachment itself changes with age; (c) new methodological approaches to understanding the relations between attachment and later behavior in light of empirical evidence of stability and change in attachment security and the need for explicit theoretical predictions of the sequelae of attachment security; and (d) more complex conceptualizations of the associations among attachment, contextual risk, and later behavior. These are similar to the challenges facing the original pioneers of attachment theory and research, suggesting that familiar problems must now be reconsidered against the landscape of new applications of attachment work and the insights of contemporary developmental science.
Psychosocial development in racially and ethnically diverse youth: Conceptual and methodological challenges in the 21st century
Authors: SWANSON DENA PHILLIPS , SPENCER MARGARET BEALE , HARPALANI VINAY , DUPREE DAVIDO , NOLL ELIZABETH , GINZBURG SOFIA , SEATON GREGORY
Published: August 2003

As the US population becomes more diverse in the 21st century, researchers face many conceptual and methodological challenges in working with diverse populations. We discuss these issues for racially and ethnically diverse youth, using Spencer's phenomenological variant of ecological systems theory (PVEST) as a guiding framework. We present a brief historical background and discuss recurring conceptual flaws in research on diverse youth, presenting PVEST as a corrective to these flaws. We highlight the interaction of race, culture, socioeconomic status, and various contexts of development with identity formation and other salient developmental processes. Challenges in research design and interpretation of data are also covered with regard to both assessment of contexts and developmental processes. We draw upon examples from neighborhood assessments, ethnic identity development, and attachment research to illustrate conceptual and methodological challenges, and we discuss strategies to address these challenges. The policy implications of our analysis are also considered.