bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical stage after preoperative chemoradiation is a better predictor of patient outcome than the baseline stage for localized gastric cancer
Authors: Patel Pooja R. , Mansfield Paul F. , Crane Christopher H. , Wu Tsung‐Teh , Lee Jeffrey H. , Lynch Patrick M. , Morris Jeffrey , Pisters Peter W. , Feig Barry , Sunder Punita K. , Izzo Julie G. , Ajani Jaffer A.
Published: July 2007

BACKGROUND.

For patients with localized gastric cancer (LGC) who are receiving preoperative chemoradiation (CTRT), the postsurgical pathologic stage predicts overall survival (OS) better than the baseline stage. The authors hypothesized that presurgical (postCTRT) stage would also correlate better with patient outcome than the baseline stage.

METHODS.

The authors analyzed 74 LGC patients treated with preoperative CTRT receiving similar treatment. Patients were staged with baseline endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and laparoscopy. Patients received induction chemotherapy, then CTRT (45 Gy), and had an attempted surgery. After CTRT, patients had complete preoperative staging including EUS in 35 patients.

RESULTS.

Thirty‐five had all 3 sets of staging, baseline, presurgical, and postsurgical. Baseline stage did not associate with OS (P = .16) nor disease‐free survival (DFS; P = .13). However, presurgical stage was associated with OS (P = .01), and DFS (P = .05). OS was also associated with postsurgical stage and was longer for stages 0 and I than for stages III and IV (P = .01 and .04, respectively). Similarly, DFS was longer in postsurgical pathologic stages 0, I, and II than in stage III or IV (P < .001, <.001, and <.01, respectively). Baseline staging did not correlate with the proportion of patients alive at 4 years; however, presurgical staging did. Patients with stage I or II survived longer than those with stage III or IV (81% vs 25%; P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS.

Heterogeneity in clinical biology of LGC is best reflected after CTRT in presurgical and postsurgical pathologic stages rather than by the baseline stage. Correlation of outcome with presurgical staging may facilitate strategies to individualize therapy for LGC. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
An efficient hourglass control implementation for the uniform strain hexahedron using the Total Lagrangian formulation
Authors: Joldes Grand Roman , Wittek Adam , Miller Karol
Published: July 2007

The under‐integrated hexahedron is one of the best candidates for use in real‐time surgical simulations, because of its computational efficiency. This element requires a very efficient method of controlling the zero energy (hourglass) modes that arise from one‐point integration. An efficient implementation of the perturbation hourglass control method proposed by Flanagan and Belytschko for the uniform strain hexahedron is presented. The implementation uses the Total Lagrangian formulation and takes into consideration large deformations and rigid body motions. By using the Total Lagrangian formulation most of the necessary components for calculating the hourglass forces can be pre‐computed, leading to a significant reduction of the additional computation time required for hourglass control. The performance evaluation results show the very good accuracy and computational efficiency of the presented algorithm. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Segregation and scheduling for P2P applications with the interceptor middleware system
Authors: Anglano Cosimo
Published: July 2007

Very large size peer‐to‐peer systems are often required to implement efficient and scalable services, but usually they can be built only by assembling resources contributed by many independent users. Among the guarantees that must be provided to convince these users to join the P2P system, particularly important is the ability of ensuring that P2P applications and services run on their nodes will not unacceptably degrade the performance of their own applications because of an excessive resource consumption. In this paper we present the Interceptor, a middleware‐level application segregation and scheduling system, which is able to strictly enforce quantitative limitations on node resource usage and, at the same time, to make P2P applications achieve satisfactory performance even in face of these limitations. A proof‐of‐concept implementation has been carried out for the Linux operating system, and has been used to perform an extensive experimentation aimed at quantitatively evaluating the Interceptor. The results we obtained clearly demonstrate that the Interceptor is able to strictly enforce quantitative limitations on node resource usage, and at the same time to effectively schedule P2P applications. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimizing the finger tables in Chord‐like DHTs
Authors: Chiola Giovanni , Cordasco Gennaro , Gargano Luisa , Negro Alberto , Scarano Vittorio
Published: July 2007

The Chord protocol is the best known example of implementation of logarithmic complexity routing for structured peer‐to‐peer networks. Its routing algorithm, however, does not provide an optimal trade‐off between resources exploited (the size of the ‘finger table’) and performance (the average or worst‐case number of hops to reach destination). Cordasco et al. showed that a finger table based on Fibonacci distances provides lower number of hops with fewer table entries. In this paper we generalize this result, showing how to construct an improved finger table when the objective is to reduce the number of hops, possibly at the expense of an increased size of the finger table. Our results can also be exploited to guarantee low routing time in case a fraction of nodes fails. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Neighbourhood maps: decentralized ranking in small‐world P2P networks
Authors: Dell'Amico Matteo
Published: July 2007

Reputation in P2P networks is an important tool to encourage cooperation among peers. It is based on ranking of peers according to their past behaviour. In large‐scale real‐world networks, a global centralized knowledge about all nodes is neither affordable nor practical. For this reason, reputation ranking is often based on local history knowledge available on the evaluating node. This criterion is not optimal, since it ignores useful data about interactions with other peers. In our approach, evaluations of past history create recommendations between nodes, that will be used to form a network called web of trust. Under the assumption that the web of trust has the ubiquitous small‐world property, we propose a simple, scalable and decentralized method, called ‘neighbourhood maps’, which approximates rankings calculated using link‐analysis techniques, exploiting the short‐distance characteristics of small‐world networks. We test our algorithms using data from the OpenPGP web of trust, a real‐world network of trust relationships, and by developing a simple simulation of a file‐sharing network using an evolutive approach. Our results show that it is sufficient to have maps having size $O(\sqrt{n})$, where n is the size of the network, in order to have good results. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The children's DEBQ for assessment of restrained, emotional, and external eating in 7‐ to 12‐year‐old children
Authors: van Strien Tatjana , Oosterveld Paul
Published: July 2007

Objective:

Construct an age adapted version of the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ) for measurement of restrained, emotional and external eating in 7‐ to 12‐year‐old children: the DEBQ‐C.

Method:

The DEBQ‐C was constructed and tested for its reliability, factorial validity, factorial invariance for sex, overweight (BMI‐status), and age, and correlations with measures for unhealthy life style in one sample (382 boys and 387 girls). In a second sample (252 boys and 263 girls) correlations were obtained with measures for body dissatisfaction and parental feeding styles. Single and multigroup confirmatory factor analyses were used.

Results:

The fit measures for the three factor model and the factorial invariance models with respect to sex, BMI‐status, and age were satisfactory. In the (sub) samples of the 7‐ to 12‐year‐olds Cronbach's alpha's ranged from .73 to .82 and there were satisfactory correlations (p < .01) with other measures.

Conclusion:

The DEBQ‐C should provide a useful measure for young children's emerging dietary restraint and overeating tendencies. The low prevalence of emotional eating indicates that most young children show the natural reaction to emotional stressors (loss of appetite when feeling lonely, depressed or afraid) and that emotional (over) eating at this age is quite abnormal. © 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2008
Topical TLR9 agonists induce more efficient cross‐presentation of injected protein antigen than parenteral TLR9 agonists do
Authors: Najar Hossain M. , Dutz Jan P.
Published: July 2007

Topical application of adjuvant to the skin promotes the generation of immune responses to co‐administered peptide or protein antigen. We demonstrate that topical administration of CpG adjuvant (a TLR9 agonist) induces the cross‐presentation of, and antigen‐specific CTL induction to, locally injected soluble protein antigen. C57BL/6 mice were immunized by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection with ovalbumin (OVA) protein as model antigen. Application of CpG to the local skin induced more efficient cross‐presentation of the injected antigen than co‐injected adjuvant. Robust antigen‐specific CTL responses were generated, as determined by antigen‐specific CTL enumeration using tetramers, IFN‐γ ELISPOT analysis and cytotoxicity assays. Long‐term memory CTL responses were induced. Topical administration of adjuvant induced Langerhans cell migration, local type 1 IFN‐dependent myxovirus‐resistance protein A expression and bystander dendritic cell (DC) activation. Soluble antigen‐bearing DC within the skin draining lymph nodes were mainly CD11chiCD11bhilangerinloDEC205lo. Topical administration did not result in the splenomegaly or systemic cytokine induction (including TNF‐α, IL‐12, IFN‐γ and MCP‐1) noted with parenteral administration. Topical TLR9 family agonists may be used to modulate the immune response to soluble protein vaccines administered by standard percutaneous route. Topical adjuvant administration increases efficacy of CTL induction and reduces toxicity when compared to parenteral adjuvant administration.
Pyrazole‐Based Ligands for the [Copper–TEMPO]‐Mediated Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol to Benzaldehyde and Structures of the Cu Coordination Compounds
Authors: Salinas Uber Jorge , Vogels Yorick , van den Helder Dave , Mutikainen Ilpo , Turpeinen Urho , Fu Wen Tian , Roubeau Olivier , Gamez Patrick , Reedijk Jan
Published: July 2007

New pyrazole‐based ligands have been designed, and the catalytic performances of their copper(II) complexes for the [copper/TEMPO]‐mediated oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde have been examined. The pyridine‐pyrazole ligands give efficient catalysts, while the use of naphthol‐pyrazole ligands results in inactive catalytic systems. Single‐crystals of four Cu coordination compounds obtained from pyridine‐pyrazole ligands and a free ligand have been isolated and were characterized by X‐ray diffraction. Thus, the solid‐state structures of three copper(II) complexes are described, together with a copper(I) coordination chain, exhibiting luminescent properties. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)
Approximate basket option valuation for a simplified jump process
Authors: Flamouris Dimitris , Giamouridis Daniel
Published: July 2007

This study proposes the use of a simplified jump process, namely the Bernoulli jump process, to develop approximate basket option valuation formulas. The proposed model is based on a more realistic stochastic process—relative to the standard geometric Brownian motion—without introducing additional intractability. Typical approximations, necessary for the development of the closed form formulas, are validated on the basis of a Monte Carlo experiment. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 27:819–837, 2007
Pricing American options on foreign currency with stochastic volatility, jumps, and stochastic interest rates
Authors: Guo Jia‐Hau , Hung Mao‐Wei
Published: July 2007

By applying the Heath–Jarrow–Morton (HJM) framework, an analytical approximation for pricing American options on foreign currency under stochastic volatility and double jump is derived. This approximation is also applied to other existing models for the purpose of comparison. There is evidence that such types of jumps can have a critical impact on earlyexercise premiums that will be significant for deep out‐of‐the‐money options with short maturities. Moreover, the importance of the term structure of interest rates to early‐exercise premiums is demonstrated as is the sensitivity of these premiums to correlation‐related parameters. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 27:867–891, 2007
Transcriptional oncogenomic hot spots in Barrett's adenocarcinomas: Serial analysis of gene expression
Authors: Razvi Mohammad H. , Peng Dunfa , Dar Altaf A. , Powell Steven M. , Frierson Henry F. , Moskaluk Christopher A. , Washington Kay , El‐Rifai Wael
Published: July 2007

Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) provides quantitative and comprehensive expression profiling in a given cell population. In our efforts to define gene expression alterations in Barrett's‐related adenocarcinomas (BA), we produced eight SAGE libraries and obtained a total of 457,894 expressed tags with 32,035 (6.9%) accounting for singleton tags. The tumor samples produced an average of 71,804 tags per library, whereas normal samples produced an average of 42,669 tags per library. Our libraries contained 67,200 unique tags representing 16,040 known gene symbols. Five hundred and sixty‐eight unique tags were differentially expressed between BAs and normal tissue samples (at least twofold; P ≤ 0.05), 395 of these matched to known genes. Interestingly, the distribution of altered genes was not uniform across the human genome. Overexpressed genes tended to cluster in well‐defined hot spots located in certain chromosomes. For example, chromosome 19 had 26 overexpressed genes, of which 18 mapped to 19q13. Using the gene ontology approach for functional classification of genes, we identified several groups that are relevant to carcinogenesis. We validated the SAGE results of five representative genes (ANPEP, ECGF1, PP1201, EIF5A1, and GKN1) using quantitative real‐time reverse‐transcription PCR on 31 BA samples and 26 normal samples. In addition, we performed an immunohistochemistry analysis for ANPEP, which demonstrated overexpression of ANPEP in 6/7 (86%) Barrett's dysplasias and 35/65 (54%) BAs. ANPEP is a secreted protein that may have diagnostic and/or prognostic significance for Barrett's progression. The use of genomic approaches in this study provided useful information about the molecular pathobiology of BAs. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Brain response to visual sexual stimuli in heterosexual and homosexual males
Authors: Paul Thomas , Schiffer Boris , Zwarg Thomas , Krüger Tillmann H.C. , Karama Sherif , Schedlowski Manfred , Forsting Michael , Gizewski Elke R.
Published: July 2007

Although heterosexual and homosexual individuals clearly show differences in subjective response to heterosexual and homosexual sexual stimuli, the neurobiological processes underlying sexual orientation are largely unknown. We addressed the question whether the expected differences in subjective response to visual heterosexual and homosexual stimuli may be reflected in differences in brain activation pattern. Twenty‐four healthy male volunteers, 12 heterosexuals and 12 homosexuals, were included in the study. BOLD signal was measured while subjects were viewing erotic videos of heterosexual and homosexual content. SPM02 was used for data analysis. Individual sexual arousal was assessed by subjective rating. As compared to viewing sexually neutral videos, viewing erotic videos led to a brain activation pattern characteristic for sexual arousal in both groups only when subjects were viewing videos of their respective sexual orientation. Particularly, activation in the hypothalamus, a key brain area in sexual function, was correlated with sexual arousal. Conversely, when viewing videos opposite to their sexual orientation both groups showed absent hypothalamic activation. Moreover, the activation pattern found in both groups suggests that stimuli of opposite sexual orientation triggered intense autonomic response and may be perceived, at least to some extent, as aversive. Hum Brain Mapp, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Test–retest and between‐site reliability in a multicenter fMRI study
Authors: Friedman Lee , Stern Hal , Brown Gregory G. , Mathalon Daniel H. , Turner Jessica , Glover Gary H. , Gollub Randy L. , Lauriello John , Lim Kelvin O. , Cannon Tyrone , Greve Douglas N. , Bockholt Henry Jeremy , Belger Aysenil , Mueller Bryon , Doty Michael J. , He Jianchun , Wells William , Smyth Padhraic , Pieper Steve , Kim Seyoung , Kubicki Marek , Vangel Mark , Potkin Steven G.
Published: July 2007

In the present report, estimates of test–retest and between‐site reliability of fMRI assessments were produced in the context of a multicenter fMRI reliability study (FBIRN Phase 1, www.nbirn.net). Five subjects were scanned on 10 MRI scanners on two occasions. The fMRI task was a simple block design sensorimotor task. The impulse response functions to the stimulation block were derived using an FIR‐deconvolution analysis with FMRISTAT. Six functionally‐derived ROIs covering the visual, auditory and motor cortices, created from a prior analysis, were used. Two dependent variables were compared: percent signal change and contrast‐to‐noise‐ratio. Reliability was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients derived from a variance components analysis. Test–retest reliability was high, but initially, between‐site reliability was low, indicating a strong contribution from site and site‐by‐subject variance. However, a number of factors that can markedly improve between‐site reliability were uncovered, including increasing the size of the ROIs, adjusting for smoothness differences, and inclusion of additional runs. By employing multiple steps, between‐site reliability for 3T scanners was increased by 123%. Dropping one site at a time and assessing reliability can be a useful method of assessing the sensitivity of the results to particular sites. These findings should provide guidance toothers on the best practices for future multicenter studies. Hum Brain Mapp, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Memory, perception, and the ventral visual‐perirhinal‐hippocampal stream: Thinking outside of the boxes
Authors: Bussey T.J. , Saksida L.M.
Published: July 2007

The prevailing paradigm in cognitive neuroscience assumes that the brain can be best understood as consisting of modules specialised for different psychological functions. Within the field of memory, we assume modules for different kinds of memory. The most influential version of this view posits a module called the “medial temporal lobe memory system” which operates in the service of “declarative memory.” This system can be contrasted with a separate “perceptual representation system” in the ventral visual stream, which is critical for perceptual learning and memory, an example of nondeclarative function. Here we question this modular memory systems view and suggest that a better way to understand the ventral visual‐perirhinal‐hippocampal stream is as a hierarchically organised representational continuum. We suggest that in general, rather than trying to map psychological functions onto brain modules, we could benefit by instead attempting to understand the functions of brain regions in terms of the representations they contain, and the computations they perform. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Running induces widespread structural alterations in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex
Authors: Stranahan Alexis M. , Khalil David , Gould Elizabeth
Published: July 2007

Physical activity enhances hippocampal function but its effects on neuronal structure remain relatively unexplored outside of the dentate gyrus. Using Golgi impregnation and the lipophilic tracer DiI, we show that long‐term voluntary running increases the density of dendritic spines in the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus of adult rats. Exercise was associated with increased dendritic spine density not only in granule neurons of the dentate gyrus, but also in CA1 pyramidal neurons, and in layer III pyramidal neurons of the entorhinal cortex. In the CA1 region, changes in dendritic spine density are accompanied by changes in dendritic arborization and alterations in the morphology of individual spines. These findings suggest that physical activity exerts pervasive effects on neuronal morphology in the hippocampus and one of its afferent populations. These structural changes may contribute to running‐induced changes in cognitive function. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Withdrawal behavior and depression in infancy
Authors: Guedeney Antoine
Published: July 2007

This paper describes the history of the concept of infant depression, which has been at the beginning of the discipline of infant mental health, and reviews classification and diagnosis issues, along with some animal models. Several diagnostic criteria have yielded different prevalence rates, and some being unrealistic, but we still do not know when infant depression begins, what its outcome is, and what are its different aspects. It is suggested that infant depression needs a certain amount of emotional and cognitive development to unfold, and that it might not exist before 18–24 months of age, a crossover during which major autoreflexive, cognitive, and emotional abilities emerge. Depression could be an outcome of attachment disorganization in infancy, as depression and disorganization seem to share the same learned helpnessness psychopathological process. Developmental psychopathology considers trouble more from a dimensional point of view rather than from a categorical one, and more as the result of several factors with a sequential action rather than the effect of a genetic disorder with direct expression. Before the limit of 18–24 months, the concept of relational withdrawal seems more applicable and useful.
Bimolecular Formation of Radicals by Hydrogen Transfer, 11. Transfer Hydrogenation of Conjugated Cyclic Dienes and Trienes
Authors: Morgenthaler Jens , Rüchardt Christoph
Published: July 2007

1,3‐Cyclohexadiene, 1,3‐cycloheptadiene and cycloheptatriene are smoothly hydrogenated to cyclohexene and cycloheptene, respectively, when heated to 260–340°C with an excess of 9,10‐dihydroanthracene (DHA) in diphenyl ether or benzonitrile. On the basis of a mechanistic study a nonchain three‐step mechanism is proposed which is initiated by a transfer of a hydrogen atom from DHA to the polyenes (retrodisproportionation).
Titanium(IV) Chloride Induced Reactions of Ketones and C‐Acylimines with Dimethylcyanamide
Authors: Mazik Monika , Sustmann Reiner , Boese Roland
Published: July 2007

The reactions of ketones (benzophenone, 4‐methylbenzophenone, acetophenone, acetone, and 2,2,4,4‐tetramethyl‐3‐pentanone) and C‐acylimines with dimethylcyanamide in the presence of titanium(IV) chloride were investigated, Benzophenone and 4‐methylbenzophenone react with dimethylcyanamide to give 4,4‐disubstituted 2‐dimethylamino‐3‐aza‐1‐oxa‐1,3‐butadienes 5 and 4,4‐disubstituted 2‐dimethylamino‐1‐N,N‐dimethylcarbamoyl‐1,3‐diaza‐1,3‐butadienes 9. Ketones with enolizable hydrogen atoms undergo aldol reactions under these conditions. C‐Acylimines 11b–11e, derived from benzil and substituted anilines, undergo [2 + 2] cycloaddition to dimethylcyanamide with subsequent ring opening to 1‐(N,N‐dimethylcarbamoyl)‐2,3,4‐triaryl‐1,4‐diaza‐1,3‐butadienes 15. 1,2‐Diphenyl‐2‐(isopropylimino)ethanone (11a) reacts with dimethylcyanamide to give 2‐dimethylamino‐1‐isopropyl‐4,4‐diphenyl‐2‐imidazolin‐5‐one (23) in a hitherto unknown multistep reaction. The structure of 23 was confirmed by an X‐ray analysis.
Concave Macrobicycles: Absorption Spectra, Luminescence Properties, and Endocavital Complexation of Neutral Organic Guests
Authors: Vögtle Fritz , Michel Ingo , Berscheid Ralf , Nieger Martin , Rissanen Kari , Kotila Sirpa , Airola Karri , Armaroli Nicola , Maestri Mauro , Balzani Vincenzo
Published: July 2007

By a mild modified Eglinton coupling a series of diynebridged macrobicyclic hosts capable of endocavital complexation were synthesized and their structures and complexation properties investigated by X‐ray analysis. The inclusion of DMSO in 7 suggests a direct correlation between steric fit and orientation of the guest. On the basis of this hypothesis, the orientation of acetone in an endocavital inclusion of 2 was predicted and verified by X‐ray analysis. Comparison of the single‐crystal X‐ray structures of the vacant macrobicycle 3 and of a family of macrobicycles showing endocavital or “pocket” complexation of neutral organic guests suggests that torsion of the cavities upon complexation results from induced fit. Hydrogenation of the triple bonds leads to the more flexible macrobicycles 10–12 with collapsable cavities. The absorption and emission spectra of the diynebridged macrobicyclic hosts 1 and 3, of their hydrogenated analogues 11 and 12, and of a hemicage parent compound of 2 (14) were investigated. The macrobicyclic compounds 3, 11, 12 and 14 exhibit a strong fluorescence in CH2Cl2 solution at room temperature. The lack of fluorescence of 2 under such conditions is attributed to the presence of low‐energy charge‐transfer excited states, as indicated by the charge‐transfer bands in the absorption spectrum. In a rigid CH2Cl2 matrix at 77 K all the examined compounds are fluorescent.
Ethylaluminium Dichloride Induced Reactions of Acetals with Unsaturated Carboxylic Esters: Synthesis of Homoallyl Ethers
Authors: Metzger Jürgen O. , Biermann Ursula
Published: July 2007

The ethylaluminium dichloride induced reactions of methyl 10‐undecenoate (1) with dimethyl acetals of formaldehyde 2a, acetaldehyde 2b, isobutyraldehyde 2c, and pivaldehyde 2d gave the corresponding homoallyl ethers 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d in yields of 48–70%. The products were obtained as mixtures of the (E) and (Z) stereoisomers. With formaldehyde dimethyl acetal (2a), methyl oleate (6), and methyl petroselinate (11) gave the corresponding regioisomeric (E)‐configured homoallyl ethers 7/8 and 12/13.
Double Asymmetric Dihydroxylation of 1,5‐Hexadiene
Authors: Maier Martin E. , Reuter Sebastian
Published: July 2007

Double asymmetric dihydroxylation of 1,5‐hexadiene gave in one step a mixture of the d,l/meso tetrols 6 in a ratio of 3.4:1. From this ratio a facial selectivity of 6.65:1 for each double bond can be calculated. As a consequence of the double reaction the d/l ratio can be estimated to be 44:1. Compound 6 served then as starting material for the preparation of the bis‐epoxide 12 and the 2,5‐dihydroxyhexane (13). While the separation of the diastereomers was not possible so far, this route for the preparation of 6, 12 and 13 might still be useful because it is very short and products derived from them might allow the crucial separation.
Preparation of 1‐Azacyclododeca‐3,8‐diynes and 1,6‐Diazacyclododeca‐3,8‐diynes
Authors: Ritter Joachim , Gleiter Rolf
Published: July 2007

The preparation of N,N′‐dialkyl‐ and N,N′‐diaryl‐1,6‐diazacyclodeca‐3,8‐diynes was achieved by reaction of alkyl‐ or arylamines with 1,4‐dihalobut‐2‐yne under dilution conditions in yields of 5–15%. The compounds synthesized by this procedure were the N,N′‐dimethyl (2b), N,N′‐diethyl (2c), N,N′‐diisopropyl (2d), N,N′‐di‐tert‐butyl (2e), N,N′‐dicyclohexyl (2f), N,N′‐diphenyl (2g), and N,N′‐di‐p‐tolyl (2h) derivatives. The parent compound 2a was obtained in ca. 40% yield by heating 2d with α‐chloroethylchloroformate (20). Using 1,9‐dibromonona‐2,7‐diyne (10) and methylamine or isopropylamine, respectively, the corresponding N‐alkyl‐1‐azacyclodeca‐3,8‐diynes 4b and 4d were synthesized under dilution conditions. By heating 4d with 20 we obtained 1‐azacyclodeca‐3,8‐diyne (4a). As side products of the cyclization reactions the trimers 18 and tetramers 12 and 19 were isolated and characterized. N‐methyl‐1‐azacycloundeca‐3,9‐diyne (14b) was prepared by reaction of 1,10‐dibromodeca‐3,8‐diyne (13) with methylamine.
Progressive oxidative damage in the central nervous system of a murine model for juvenile Batten disease
Authors: Benedict Jared W. , Sommers Crosby A. , Pearce David A.
Published: July 2007

Oxidative damage is a known contributor to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Juvenile Batten disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of childhood that results from mutation in Cln3. We have performed an initial characterization of the oxidative burden throughout the CNS in a Cln3−/− mouse model for juvenile Batten disease. A survey of multiple regions of the Cln3−/− mouse brain revealed a specific reduction of total glutathione, a tripeptide antioxidant molecule, in the cerebellum. Further analysis revealed an increase in protein oxidation not only in the cerebellum but also in the thalamus and primary motor cortex. Additionally, the thalamus was found to have an increase in the amount of a potent antioxidant enzyme, manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), which may be in response to an increase in deleterious superoxide radicals. Colocalization studies indicate that microglia are localized directly adjacent to neurons expressing MnSOD, indicating that microglial activation may be related to the observed oxidative damage. This study helps to provide an initial measure of regions within the CNS of Cln3−/− mice that are specifically affected by the loss of CLN3 function and may serve to identify at the neuroanatomical level, the sequence of events that plays a role in the pathogenesis and clinical course of juvenile Batten disease. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Improving quality in marketing; a case example
Authors: Gilmore Audrey , Carson David
Published: July 2007

This article focuses on the issue of quality in marketing and addresses in particular ‘how to’ improve the quality of marketingrelated functions. An integrated approach to quality improvement is described by using Stena Sealink's Irish/Scottish route as a case example. A quality improvement programme currently being implemented serves to illustrate the organizing, structuring and operationalizing required for such an initiative in a service industry.
Power‐based organizational change in an Australian tertiary college
Authors: Lewis Dianne , Cunnington Bert
Published: July 2007

The paper describes a longitudinal case study of culture change in an Australian tertiary college between 1983 and 1990. It challenges three assumptions made in the culture and transformational leadership literature: that patterns of group behaviour within an organization are an indication of the culture; that organizational culture affects organizational performance; and that culture transformation is a time‐consuming process requiring the use of a mix of empirical‐rational, normative‐re‐educative and sometimes power‐coercive strategies. The paper proposes that modifications need to be made to all three assumptions, as findings from the study were that top management introduced their most significant changes by power‐coercive means over a short period of time, yet organizational performance did not deteriorate in line with negative changes in staff values.
Process modelling: A powerful strategic change enabler
Authors: Nagl Mag. Gerhard C.
Published: July 2007

Today's companies exist in complex environments with an increasing demand for fast and effective strategic responses. Companies struggle with these changing environmental realities because strategic management concepts have outdistanced organizational capabilities. As a viable way to close this gap, this paper proposes to take a process view of a company and to use concepts to model company processes in a way that is consistent with the company's strategy.
The re‐engineering route to business transformation
Authors: Dale M. W.
Published: July 2007

The paper defines different improvement activities including process improvement, process simplification, process re‐engineering and business re‐engineering. Frameworks are presented for examining the differences between these. It proposes that a re‐engineering activity is a transformational change, moving the business outside its current ‘rules of the game’. A further framework is then presented for managing a re‐engineering transformation. This enables the softer yet more difficult aspects of re‐engineering to be considered so that change can be pursued successfully right through to delivery of real business benefits. The transformation framework is then considered in more detail to illustrate actions which can presage success. Finally, the outcome of re‐engineering work is discussed, and a hypothesis proposed that re‐engineering is a structured way to make a step change in business performance whilst at the same time conditioning it for a state of continuous change.
Clients, consultants and the social cognition of organizational change
Authors: Despres Charles
Published: July 2007

Four footings of the consulting act are derived from a typification of the social constructionist perspective, and it is argued that consultants and consultees enact the social performances of (1) facilitation, (2) tyranny, (3) discourse or (4) despair. Consultancies are criticized for too often being tyrannical productions where the consultant (1) arrives with solution(s) in hand, (2) manipulates the consultee to generate suitable problems, (3) applies pre‐patterned solutions to the problems so derived, and (4) abandons the scene after being paid. Reflections on this situation and preferred courses of action are discussed.
Strategic planning, scanning activities and the financial performance of small firms
Authors: Orpen Christopher
Published: July 2007

The role of firm and environmental scanning activities on the planning‐performance relationship was examined among 51 small firms in a telephone survey. Small firms which engaged in formalized planning performed better financially than those which did not. They also possessed more information about themselves and their environment than the non‐planning firms and made greater use of this information in strategic decision‐making. The acquisition and utilization of information about the firm and its environment was found to mediate the impact of strategic planning on performance. Implications for improving the strategic planning of small firms and the extent to which it affects on performance are developed.
Flat hierarchies and individual job security in times of recession
Authors: Hinterhuber Hans H. , Krauthammer Eric
Published: July 2007

Lean management and the new competitive conditions of the 1990s mean that managers and employees at all levels of responsibility and in all types of function are constantly under the pressure of time. The question arises for everyone, whether or not their present time management meets company requirements and conforms with their own personal notions. The authors present a practical action plan that can help managers and employees combine what benefits others with what gives them pleasure, through the better management of their time.
Change in a chaotic post‐modern world
Authors: Kirkbride Paul S. , Durcan Jim , Obeng Edward D. A.
Published: July 2007

This paper seeks to argue that despite the easy surface pervaisiveness of notions of turbulence, instability and chaos, such conceptions have yet to radically influence our views of change. Most of the change literature can be seen to be rooted in a traditional modernist paradigm which sees change as linear incremental progression. While there are some theorists who appreciate the limitations of the modernist paradigm, there are few who have begun to develop a truly postmodernist approach to change. This paper represents a small step in that process and concludes by surfacing the practical implications for change agents of transcending the modernist paradigm.

‘Speculate what our ideas of cause and effect might have been had melting butter been our model rather than billiard balls. As it is, the world may seem to us to be a succession of clicks, pushes, ticks and tocks. Had the melting of butter or wax seized our imagination instead, the world would have appeared to us as a series of simmering, drippings, meltings, and splashes…’ (Hanson, 1969, pp. 282–283).
The sources of invention and their market consequences
Authors: Mascarenhas Briance , Park Jun Y.
Published: July 2007

A structured framework is proposed for analysing inventions, focusing on the sources of information utilized in their development

These sources involve internal versus external origins, as well as domestic versus international origins

Analysis of forty inventions revealed five invention approaches, suggesting that society's inventions emerge through diverse means, with varying motivations, market impacts, and pathologies.
So you want to empower your organization…?
Authors: Lowe Phil
Published: July 2007

Practical guidance to the successful implementation of empowerment is hard to find. This article poses a number of questions and indicates the way forward for each.

Why do you want empowerment?

How do you communicate it?

Where do you start?

What are you willing to commit?

What will you do about middle managers?

What are the barriers to success?

How do you know when you have it?

The article draws from a new study of what British organizations really do about empowerment.
‘Survival of the fittest or the fitting?’ A framework for integration
Authors: De Koning Jan A.
Published: July 2007

Collaborations and acquisitions have a high failure rate. This article:

argues that organizational fit is more important than financial fit;

provides a five‐stage evolutionary analytical tool for future partners; and

suggests that problems of integration can be anticipated.

If we look at the organizational world, we find that, as in nature, collaboration is often as common as competition. Organizations in the same industry frequently get together under the umbrella of trade and professional associations to collaborate in relation to shared interests. These are mostly shared interests of power or competition oriented and based on a ‘natural selection’ process in a branch. The reason for collaboration is often survival of the fittest: the most robust competitors in a branch will survive through collaboration or acquisition and elimination of the weaker ones, yet only a few of these ‘strong’ collaborations and acquisitions are really successful.
Managing strategic evolution in fast‐paced technological environments: The case of software development in ‘Silicon Prairie’
Authors: Levenhagen Michael , Porac Joseph F. , Thomas Howard
Published: July 2007

In this open‐ended interview study of software entrepreneurs in an area known as ‘Silicon Prairie’ in the Midwest of the US, the authors examine the problems of managing strategic change in fast‐paced technological environments.

Managers emphasize that when commercializing new technologies:

the process of selling their strategic visions is the preeminent concern;

technological standards and organizational exemplars are used as competitive benchmarks;

competitive advantage is associated with creating new product categories and the selling of technological visions;

visions must be distinctive;

organizational ‘credibility’ or ‘reputation’ needs to be created and/or captured;

stakeholders need to ‘buy into’ their visions and establish a competitive consensus;

competitive communities may form with the cognitive first mover (visionary) as central player;

technology is the fundamental driver of market structure and techno logical instab il itykhange;

knowledge is important in defining the strategic assets leading to competitive success: the knowledge of users' tasks? technology? and of the varying perceptions of market participants;

traditional management tasks are all focused upon creating and supporting commercial legitimacy within highly illstructured market domains; and

software development managers attempt to establish marketdomain boundaries for competitive advantage, rather than maintain pre‐existing competitive boundaries (as in more mature markets).
An improved organizational concept for high‐technology firms
Authors: Ross Stanley C.
Published: July 2007

Technology firms are a unique type of organization because success in an extremely competitive environment requires sophisticated technology‐based products and innovative management.

The T form or ‘power’ design is a new organizational model to guide innovative management.

The model describes the creation of a market‐based corporate culture which focuses on performance outcomes and counters the inherent inclination to bureaucratize operations.
Culture, surveys, culture surveys and other obfuscations a reply to Migliore and Martin. A reply to Migliore and Martin
Authors: Despres Charles Jean‐Noel
Published: July 2007

This is a response to an earlier article in this journal. It argues that:

Questionnaire approaches to defining organizational culture are flawed and reflect the cultural values of the researcher.

Much of the literature confuses the readers.

An ethnographic approach yields a less biased result in that few a priori assumptions are made.
The managerial dimension of small business failure
Authors: Jennings Peter L , Beaver Graham
Published: July 2007

The majority of existing studies of small business failure tend to focus upon either the symptoms arising from problems within the firm or upon the reasons cited for failure. Comparatively little analysis of the root cause has been undertaken.

Failure and success are usually defined in rational terms which ignore stakeholder aspirations.

Many owner‐managers pursue personal objectives which inhibit the probability of success if measured using these rational criteria.

The root cause of small business failure is almost invariably a lack of management attention to strategic issues.

Notwithstanding the fact that common skills and abilities are required, the management process in small firms is unique and cannot be considered to be the same as professional management in larger firms practised on a reduced scale.

The multiplicity of roles expected of the owner‐manager often causes dissonance which enhances the probability of poor decision making and inappropriate action.

Successful small firms practise strategic management either consciously and visibily or unconsciously and invisibly.
The sociocratic model of organizing
Authors: Romme A. Georges L.
Published: July 2007

The sociocratic model has progressed beyond the experimental stage and is being used successfully in several organizations. It relies on four ground rules: decision making by consent; a hierarchy of circles, in which every member of the organization participates; double linking between circles; and election of persons by consent.

Together these rules promote downward as well as upward information processing.

In contrast to conventional methods for advancing information processing (project teams, quality circles), the circle organization is integrated into the administrative hierarchy.
Strategic states and performance: Swedish companies in Germany
Authors: Pehrsson Anders
Published: July 2007

All managers, and particularly those concerned with strategic change, are fascinated by the things that cause strong or poor business performance. In this article the author:

Describes original research comparing high‐ and low‐performing German subsidiaries of Swedish companies.

Concludes that high performers create more stable customer relationships because greater attention is paid to matching the products to customer needs.

Finds that high performers concentrate on a smaller number of market segments compared with that of low performers.
Why are we doing all this?
Authors: Chisholm John
Published: July 2007

A case study of the Defence Research Agency, a public sector scientific organization.

Shows how fundamental business processes were changed to enable the organization to operate in a more effective way.

The organization became more commercial and a customer‐oriented culture resulted, in contrast to the previous bureaucracy.

The changes resulted in an overall reduction of staff of 2000 (although the number of scientists employed rose) whilst output has been maintained.

The case study shows how a major and fundamental strategic change can be successfully implemented.
Network analysis as an organizational diagnostic tool: Bringing structure into process
Authors: Oliver Amalya L.
Published: July 2007

The paper highlights the potential of network analysis as a diagnostic and analytic tool, and illustrates the application of several methods on an hypothetical organizational structure.

• Mathematical analysis of social networks is an emerging tool used by social scientists in various areas.

• The applications of network methods to the study of organizational structure can be used comparatively—by comparing cross‐sectionally various structures and groups, and longitudinal—by comparing changes in structure over time.

• Network analysis can introduce deep structure of information flow, social and instrumental exchanges, and power within an organization or a group, and can reflect individual as well as structural characteristics.
Scientific evaluation of smallholder land use knowledge in Central Kenya
Authors: Mairura F. S. , Mugendi D. N. , Mwanje J. I. , Ramisch J. J. , Mbugua P. K. , Chianu J. N.
Published: July 2007

The following study was conducted to determine smallholders' land use management practices and agricultural indicators of soil quality within farmers' fields in Chuka and Gachoka divisions in Kenya's Central Highlands. Data on cropping practices and soil indicators were collected from farmers through face‐to‐face interviews and field examinations. Farmers characterised their fields into high and low fertility plots, after which soils were geo‐referenced and sampled at surface depth (0–20 cm) for subsequent physical and chemical analyses. Farmers' indicators for distinguishing productive and non‐productive fields included crop yield, crop performance and weed species. Soils that were characterised as fertile, had significantly higher chemical characteristics than the fields that were of poor quality. Fertile soils had significantly higher pH, total organic carbon, exchangeable cations and available nitrogen. Factor analysis identified four main factors that explained 76 per cent of the total variance in soil quality. The factors were connected with farmers' soil assessment indicators and main soil processes that influenced soil quality in Central Kenya. Soil fertility and crop management practices that were investigated indicated that farmers understood and consequently utilised spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability in soil quality status within their farms to maintain and enhance agricultural productivity. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Global Power of Tribes
Authors: Kotkin Joel
Published: July 2007

Years before globalism became a buzzword, business analyst Joel Kotkin was writing about trade and immigration as forces for economic and social vitality. His 1992 book, Tribes, offers an original and insightful view of business, history, and culture. His premise: that dispersed ethnic or national groups who share a strong sense of common identity, a culture of mutual self‐help, and a desire to use knowledge for group and personal advancement have powerfully influenced today's global economy. Among the “tribes” he has studied are the Jews, Chinese, Japanese, Indians, and British.

In a world that is both shrinking and splintering, these groups have shown how communities can thrive by looking outward while drawing on inner strengths. We spoke recently with the author at his Los Angeles home.
Numerical method for non‐linear wave and diffusion equations by the variational iteration method
Authors: Abbasbandy S.
Published: July 2007

This paper applies He's variational iteration to the wave equations in an infinite one‐dimensional medium and some non‐linear diffusion equations. A suitable choice of an initial solution can lead to the needed exact solution by a few iterations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.