bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy‐Trace Theory, Risk Communication, and Product Labeling in Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Authors: Reyna Valerie F. , Adam Mary B.
Published: December 2004

Health care professionals are a major source of risk communications, but their estimation of risks may be compromised by systematic biases. We examined fuzzy‐trace theory's predictions of professionals' biases in risk estimation for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) linked to: knowledge deficits (producing underestimation of STI risk, re‐infection, and gender differences), gist‐based mental representation of risk categories (producing overestimation of condom effectiveness for psychologically atypical but prevalent infections), retrieval failure for risk knowledge (producing greater risk underestimation when STIs are not specified), and processing interference involving combining risk estimates (producing biases in post‐test estimation of infection, regardless of knowledge). One‐hundred‐seventy‐four subjects (experts attending a national workshop, physicians, other health care professionals, and students) estimated the risk of teenagers contracting STIs, re‐infection rates for males and females, and condom effectiveness in reducing infection risk. Retrieval was manipulated by asking estimation questions in two formats, a specific format that “unpacked” the STI category (infection types) and a global format that did not provide specific cues. Requesting estimates of infection risk after relevant knowledge was directly provided, isolating processing effects, assessed processing biases. As predicted, all groups of professionals underestimated the risk of STI transmission, re‐infection, and gender differences, and overestimated the effectiveness of condoms, relative to published estimates. However, when questions provided better retrieval supports (specified format), estimation bias decreased. All groups of professionals also suffered from predicted processing biases. Although knowledge deficits contribute to estimation biases, the research showed that biases are also linked to fuzzy representations, retrieval failures, and processing errors. Hence, interventions that are designed to improve risk perception among professionals must incorporate more than knowledge dissemination. They should also provide support for information representation, effective retrieval, and accurate processing.
The Role of Federal Budget and Trust Fund Institutions in Measuring the Effect of Federal Highway Grants on State and Local Government Highway Expenditure
Authors: Gamkhar Shama
Published: December 2004

Federal highway financing institutions affect the response of state and local government spending to federal highway aid. Most previous studies of the spending effects of federal highway grants consider federal highway expenditure as the highway grant variable, disregarding the reimbursement nature of this expenditure and the multiyear availability of highway aid. This article argues that obligations of federal highway aid to states rather than actual federal expenditure should be used in models assessing the spending effects of federal highway grants. Considering federal obligations rather than expenditure results in a greater effect of highway grants on spending than reported in previous studies.
An Empirical Examination of the Determinants of Insured Municipal Bond Issues
Authors: Denison Dwight V.
Published: December 2004

Research demonstrates that there are interest cost savings associated with municipal bond insurance, and yet only half of the bonds are issued with insurance. The theoretical determinants of bond insurance are discussed and evaluated empirically through logistic regression. Statistically significant bond attributes are the underlying credit risk, maturity, par value, and a call option. In addition, regional market characteristics at the time of issue and market segmentations are determinants of bond insurance. These findings strengthen the hypotheses that insurance mitigates market segmentation and that insurers function as delegated monitors of bond quality.
Social Policy Under One Country, Two Systems: Institutional Dynamics in China and Hong Kong since 1997
Authors: Holliday Ian , Wong Linda
Published: December 2004

Hong Kong's 1997 reversion to Chinese sovereignty brought two hitherto distinctive social policy systems into one country. As Hong Kong is gradually assimilated into China in the coming decades, the two social policy systems will need to identify elements of convergence. In this article, we argue those elements can be found in parallel efforts to curtail the reach of the state, extend the role of the market, enhance individual responsibility, and in the development of a productivist social policy orientation in both societies. The social policy systems of the two societies remain strikingly different in many ways, reflecting their diametrically opposed starting points. But their reform trajectories appear to be pointing in similar directions.
Does Organization Matter? A Critical‐Case Analysis from Recent Presidential Nomination Politics
Authors: Trish Barbara
Published: December 2004

This article examines presidential nomination politics in Iowa, considering the question of whether organization matters. It does so by analyzing the 1996 GOP nomination race in the state, with an eye toward the relationship between organization and caucus outcome. It approaches Iowa caucus politics as a critical case, that is, one for which the prospects for organizational impact are arguably as good as they get. Even so, the data suggest only conditional support for the proposition that organization matters, a finding that may call into question the presumed role of Iowa as the arena in which the underfunded and unknown nomination hopeful can succeed.
The Polls: The Dynamics of Presidential Favorability, 1991–1998
Authors: Cohen Jeffrey E.
Published: December 2004

A presidential favorability time series is the construct for the period 1991 to 1998. Although the favorability series is related to presidential job approval, the two series are not identical. Periods can be identified when favorability is greater than approval, as well as periods when approval is higher than favorability. Other possible sources of the dynamics of presidential favorability are discussed, and the article argues for a multidimensional understanding of public assessments of the president.
The Contemporary Presidency: Presidential Lies
Authors: Pfiffner James P.
Published: December 2004

In a republic based on the consent of the governed, citizens need accurate information to make informed decisions about elections and public policy. The purpose of this article is to present some examples of lies in the modern presidency and argue that there is a range of lies, from those that are justifiable to those that are unacceptable. The presidential lies under consideration will be broken into three broad categories: justifiable lies, lies to prevent embarrassment (including some serious breaches of the public trust), and lies of policy deception. The article concludes that we, as citizens, have the responsibility to examine the context of each lie before judging how it should be weighed in the overall assessment of a president.
Source Material: Presidential Recordings as Presidential Data: Assessing LBJ's Presidential Persuasive Attempts
Authors: Sullivan Terry , Hora Jennifer , Keele Luke , McNoldy Todd , Pettis Gregory
Published: December 2004

This article evaluates the usefulness of one currently available set of presidential recordings, those of President Lyndon Johnson. It demonstrates that these recordings constitute a sample of the president's phone conversations and a reasonable representation of his contacts with others. It demonstrates the use of these data in assessing presidential persuasion and activities. It also suggests how popular presentations of these data, through other published means, have distorted the picture of presidential activities.
Species co‐occurrences and neutral models: reassessing J. M. Diamond's assembly rules
Authors: Ulrich Werner
Published: December 2004

The question whether species co‐occurrence patterns are non‐random has intrigued ecology for more than two decades. Recently Gotelli and McCabe used meta‐analysis to show that natural assemblages indeed tend to have non‐random species co‐occurrence patterns and that these patterns are in line with the predictions of Diamond's assembly rule model. Here I show that neutral ecological drift models are able to generate patterns in line with Diamond's assembly rules and very similar to the empirical results in Gotelli and McCabe. Ecological drift shifted species co‐occurrence patterns (measured by C‐scores, checkerboard scores and species combination scores) of model species placed into a grid of the 25 cells (sites; metacommunity sizes 5 to 25 species with 100 individuals each) significantly from an initial random pattern towards a pattern predicted by the assembly rule model of Diamond. These findings imply that instead of asking whether natural communities are structured according to some assembly rules we should ask whether these non‐random patterns are generated by species interactions or by stochastic drift processes.
The Role of Risk and Future Land Use in Cleanup Decisions at the Department of Energy
Authors: Burger Joanna , Powers Charles , Greenberg Michael , Gochfeld Michael
Published: December 2004

As a result of the legacy of the Cold War, the Departments of Energy and Defense are involved in massive cleanup and remediation projects. While health risk to humans and ecological receptors is perceived to be the basis for remediation, this assumption is rarely examined. In this article, we examine the role of risk and future land‐use designations in cleanup decisions, using the Department of Energy's self‐assessment of 36 sites. We then discuss the risk‐related tools that might be required to address the cleanup challenge. Much of the current cleanup program is driven by compliance with federal and state statutes and regulations, presumably to protect human health and the environment. Compliance, however, is not synonymous with cleanup. Although some of these laws and regulations take risk into account, the lack of site‐specific data on exposures and risk scenarios, and the lack of attention to future land use or end states, has often resulted in disconnects between risk and cleanup goals, risk and final end states, and cleanup levels and end state or subsequent land use. Partly, these disconnects result from the need for a range of technical, economic, sociological, and public policy tools to address the issues. A better transfer of information among and within Department of Energy facilities, operations offices, and DOE headquarters is required. Further, linking cleanup decisions and goals with the final end state involves a number of risk tradeoffs, including (1) ecological versus human health, (2) worker versus public health, (3) among competing contaminated areas, (4) among temporal patterns of cleanup, (5) among different ecological receptors (plants vs. animals, one animal vs. another), and (6) among the sites across the DOE complex. For the nation, balancing among risks is essential within sites and among Department of Energy sites, as well as among other remediation sites (such as those of Department of Defense and Superfund sites).
Concomitant Vitiligo and Psoriasis in a Patient Treated with Interferon Alfa‐2a for Chronic Hepatitis B Infection
Authors: Seçkin Deniz , Durusoy Çiçek , Şahin Sedef
Published: December 2004

Abstract:  Well‐known cutaneous side effects of interferon (IFN)‐alfa therapy include dry skin, pruritus, hair loss, and psoriasis. Presumably because of its potent immunomodulatory activity, the use of IFN‐alfa has also led to the development of autoimmune diseases in susceptible individuals. Vitiligo, an autoimmune cutaneous disease, has been reported to occur during IFN‐alfa therapy. We report a 10‐year‐old girl with chronic hepatitis B infection in whom IFN‐alfa treatment induced de novo development of vitiligo and psoriasis. Neither skin condition improved after withdrawal of interferon treatment. Concomitant occurrence of vitiligo and psoriasis due to IFN‐alfa has not been reported previously.
Photosynthetic parameters of birch (Betula pendula Roth) leaves growing in normal and in CO2‐ and O3‐ enriched atmospheres
Authors: EICHELMANN H. , OJA V. , RASULOV B. , PADU E. , BICHELE I. , PETTAI H. , MÖLS T. , KASPAROVA I. , VAPAAVUORI E. , LAISK A.
Published: December 2004

Two silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) clones K1659 and V5952 were grown in open‐top chambers over 3 years (age 7–9 years). The treatments were increased CO2 concentration (+CO2, 72 Pa), increased O3 concentration (+O3, 2 × ambient O3 with seasonal AOT40 up to 28 p.p.m. h) and in combination (+CO2 + O3). Thirty‐seven photosynthetic parameters were measured in the laboratory immediately after excising leaves using a computer‐operated routine of gas exchange and optical measurements. In control leaves the photosynthetic parameters were close to the values widely used in a model (Farquhar, von Caemmerer and Berry, Planta 149, 78–90, 1980). The distribution of chlorophyll between photosystem II and photosystem I, intrinsic quantum yield of electron transport, uncoupled turnover rate of Cyt b6f, Rubisco specificity and Km (CO2) were not influenced by treatments. Net photosynthetic rate responded to +CO2 with a mean increase of 17% in both clones. Dry weight of leaves increased, whereas protein, especially Rubisco content and the related photosynthetic parameters decreased. Averaged over 3 years, eight and 17 mechanistically independent parameters were significantly influenced by the elevated CO2 in clones K1659 and V5952, respectively. The elevated O3 caused a significant decrease in the average photosynthetic rate of clone V5952, but not of clone K1659. The treatment caused changes in one parameter of clone K1659 and in 11 parameters of clone V5952. Results of the combined treatment indicated that +O3 had less effect in the presence of +CO2 than alone. Interestingly, changes in the same photosynthetic parameters were observed in chamberless grown trees of clone V5952 as under +O3 treatment in chambers, but this was not observed for clone K1659. These results suggest that during chronic fumigation, at concentrations below the threshold of visible leaf injuries, ozone influenced the photosynthetic parameters as a general stress factor, in a similar manner to weather conditions that were more stressful outside the chambers. According to this hypothesis, the sensitivity of a species or a clone to ozone is expected to depend on the growth conditions: the plant is less sensitive to ozone if the conditions are close to optimal and it is more sensitive to ozone under conditions of stress.
Monitoring system for the biocontrol agent Pichia anomala strain K using quantitative competitive PCR‐ELOSA
Authors: Pujol M. , De Clercq D. , Cognet S. , Lepoivre P. , Jijakli M. H.
Published: December 2004

A quantitative‐competitive PCR (QC‐PCR) method with enzyme‐linked oligosorbent assay (ELOSA) was developed to monitor Pichia anomala strain K, a biocontrol agent against postharvest diseases on apples. The procedure involved: (i) extraction of strain K DNA; (ii) coamplification of a constant amount of the extracted DNA (containing a strain K DNA marker of 262 base pairs (bp) specifically amplified with SCAR primers K1 and K2) with an internal standard (IS) titration; and (iii) differential hybridization with two specific biotinylated probes either for the target or for the IS sequence on microplate. The IS sequence differed from the target by only a short internal region of 35 bp providing the differential detection between both sequences. Both target and IS sequences proved to be competitive in PCR as well as in sandwich hybridization. Two copies of the target sequence were detected in the strain K genome by means of enzymatic restriction and Southern blot analysis. Varying amounts of strain K cell suspension were quantified in the phosphate buffer used for recovering cells from the apple surface. An accurate estimate of the strain K population was obtained from 103 to 106 yeast cells per apple. The threshold of the method was found to be at 1000 colony‐forming units per apple, which was around 100 times more sensitive than the plating method for monitoring strain K.
The psychological well‐being and associated factors of caregivers of outpatients with schizophrenia in Taiwan
Authors: CHEN PO SEE , YANG YEN KUANG , LIAO YI CHENG , LEE YI DAR , YEH TZUNG LIEH , CHENG CHEN CHWEN
Published: December 2004

Abstract  The purpose of this study attempted to understand the psychological well‐being of caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia and factors affecting the caregivers’ psychological well‐being. More specifically, quality of life and psychiatric morbidity were used to represent the psychological well‐being. Personal interviews using questionnaires were administrated to 57 caregivers. Data regarding knowledge of schizophrenia, perceived causes of schizophrenia, quality of life and psychiatric morbidity was collected. Psychiatrists assessed the symptoms severity of the schizophrenic patients. Compared with the controls, the psychological well‐being of caregivers of patients with schizophrenia was poorer. There was a significant association between the positive symptoms score and the psychological well‐being of caregivers. Life quality and psychiatric morbidity were affected by caregivers’ knowledge of schizophrenia and beliefs about the cause of schizophrenia. Health care providers should consider the patients and their caregivers as a whole and provide psychoeducaiton to reduce the negative psychological impact of caregivers.
Quality of life and lifestyle among city dwellers participating in the medical programs
Authors: MATSUSHITA TOSHIKO , MATSUSHIMA EISUKE
Published: December 2004

Abstract  In order to offer health education to the general population, taking into account not only their physical health but also their QOL (quality of life), it is necessary to clarify what guidance should be provided in the sight of QOL. In this study, the relationship between QOL and lifestyle was investigated in 615 Japanese (402 males, 213 females; ranging in age from teens to nineties; mean age, 43.4 ± 16.3 years) undergoing medical checkups. After informed consent was obtained, subjects completed a questionnaire incorporating the Medical Outcome Study 36‐item Short Form Health Survey as a QOL scale in addition to questions concerning individual and lifestyle factors. The results showed that most individual factors and lifestyle factors evaluated were related to QOL. In particular, the physical health QOL of elderly subjects, females, and single subjects, was lower than that of other subjects. Moreover, subjects who ate ‘irregular meals’ and had ‘less than 6 h sleep’ reported lower mental health QOL scores than those who ate ‘regular meals’ and had ‘6 h or more sleep’. Smoking and alcohol consumption were not as significantly related to QOL as anticipated. Taking these findings into account, it is clear that it is necessary to offer medical and health services focusing on meals and sleep for medical program attendants in order to improve QOL.
Multifocal granular cell tumors of the gastrointestinal tract: Immunohistochemical findings compared with those of solitary tumors
Authors: Mitomi Hiroyuki , Matsumoto Yutaka , Mori Akio , Arai Nobuyasu , Ishii Keita , Tanabe Satoshi , Kobayashi Kiyonori , Sada Miwa , Mieno Hiroyoshi
Published: December 2004

Granular cell tumors (GCT) are infrequently found in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), and only four previous reports have described lesions occurring simultaneously in different sites. The present case of 11 GCT, located in the esophagus, stomach, colon and pericolic adipose tissue, occurred in a 50‐year‐old Japanese woman. All GCT appeared histologically benign and there was no sign of recurrence at 3 years after surgery. Immunohistochemical analysis and comparison between this case of multifocal GCT and six cases of solitary benign GCT of the GIT, which were taken from the files of the Department of Pathology at Kitasato University (1986–2000), demonstrated the follow‐ing:  (1) all diffusely expressed S‐100, DCC and bcl‐2, and (2) median labeling indices for Ki‐67, cyclin D1, p53 (Pab1801), and p21WAF1/CIP1 of 4%, 24%, 1% and 28%, respectively, for the multifocal tumors, and 3.5%, 23%, 1% and 29%, respectively, for the solitary lesions, with no significant difference between the two groups. Thus, the expression of cyclin D1 and p21WAF1/CIP1 may be involved in the tumorigenesis of both types of GCT. The present case emphasizes the need to evaluate the entire GIT when a single GCT is identified. Multifocal lesions should be treated conservatively by local excision because, as with the solitary tumors, they exhibit a benign biological behavior, consistent with their low Ki‐67 immunoreactivity.
Pentobarbital vs chloral hydrate for sedation of children undergoing MRI: efficacy and recovery characteristics
Authors: Malviya Shobha , Voepel‐Lewis Terri , Tait Alan R. , Reynolds Paul I. , Gujar Sachin K. , Gebarski Stephen S. , Petter Eldevik O.
Published: December 2004

Background : Chloral hydrate (CH) sedation for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is associated with significant failure rates, adverse events and delayed recovery. Pentobarbital (PB), reportedly produces successful sedation in 98% of children undergoing diagnostic imaging. This study compared the efficacy, adverse events and recovery characteristics of CH vs PB in children undergoing MRI.

Methods : With Institutional Review Board approval and written consent, children were randomly assigned to receive intravenous (i.v.) PB (maximum 5 mg·kg−1 in incremental doses) or oral CH (75 mg·kg−1) prior to MRI. Sedation was augmented with 0.05 mg·kg−1 doses of i.v. midazolam (maximum 0.1 mg·kg−1) as necessary. Adverse effects, including hypoxaemia, failed sedation, paradoxical reactions and behavioural changes, the return of baseline activity, and parental satisfaction were documented. The quality of MRI scans was evaluated by a radiologist blinded to the sedation technique.

Results : PB facilitated an earlier onset of sedation (P = 0.001), higher sedation scores (P = 0.01), and less need for supplemental midazolam compared with CH. Severe hypoxaemia occurred in two children (6%) in the PB group. Fourteen per cent of the PB group experienced a paradoxical reaction, 9% sedation failure and 11% major motion artefact, compared with 0% (P = 0.05), 3 and 2% (P = NS), respectively, in the CH group. CH and PB were both associated with a high incidence of motor imbalance, and agitation. However, children who received PB had a slower return to baseline activity (P = 0.04).

Conclusions : Although PB facilitated a quicker sedation onset and reduced the requirement for supplemental sedation, it produced a higher incidence of paradoxical reaction and prolonged recovery with a similar failure rate compared with CH.
Facial nerve palsy: a complication following anaesthesia in a child with Treacher Collins syndrome
Authors: Duggan Michelle , Ames Warrick , Papsin Blake , Berdock Steven
Published: December 2004

We report a case of facial nerve palsy following anaesthesia in a child with Treacher Collins syndrome. Children in whom intubation is difficult may be at increased risk of this complication.
Genetic modification of photosynthesis with E. coli genes for trehalose synthesis
Authors: Pellny Till K. , Ghannoum Oula , Conroy Jann P. , Schluepmann Henriette , Smeekens Sjef , Andralojc John , Krause Klaus Peter , Goddijn Oscar , Paul Matthew J.
Published: December 2004

Improvement in photosynthesis per unit leaf area has been difficult to alter by breeding or genetic modification. We report large changes in photosynthesis in Nicotiana tabacum transformed with E. coli genes for the trehalose pathway. Significantly, photosynthetic capacity (CO2 assimilation at varying light and CO2, and quantum yield of PSII electron transport) per unit leaf area and per leaf dry weight were increased in lines of N. tabacum transformed with the E. coli gene otsA, which encodes trehalose phosphate synthase. In contrast, transformation with otsB, which encodes trehalose phosphate phosphatase or Trec, encoding trehalose phosphate hydrolase, produced the opposite effect. Changes in CO2 assimilation per unit leaf area were closely related to the amount and activity of Rubisco, but not to the maximum activities of other Calvin cycle enzymes. Alterations in photosynthesis were associated with trehalose 6‐phosphate content rather than trehalose. When growth parameters were determined, a greater photosynthetic capacity did not translate into greater relative growth rate or biomass. This was because photosynthetic capacity was negatively related to leaf area and leaf area ratio. In contrast, relative growth rate and biomass were positively related to leaf area. These results demonstrate a novel means of modifying Rubisco content and photosynthesis, and the complexities of regulation of photosynthesis at the whole plant level, with potential benefits to biomass production through improved leaf area.
Emotional modulation of the post‐auricular reflex
Authors: Benning Stephen D. , Patrick Christopher J. , Lang Alan R.
Published: December 2004

A large literature now exists on emotional modulation of the startle blink reflex. The current study examined affective modulation of the post‐auricular reflex, which can be measured in relation to the same noise probe used to evoke the startle reflex. We recorded the post‐auricular reflex during viewing of pictures that varied systematically in emotional valence, content, and intensity. A significant linear valence modulation effect was found, with pleasant pictures potentiating and aversive pictures inhibiting the post‐auricular reflex in comparison with neutral pictures. This modulatory effect did not vary as a function of picture content, but it was most robust for highly intense emotional pictures. Implications for the assessment of basic emotional action tendencies are discussed.
Are All Latinas the Same? Perceived Breast Cancer Screening Barriers and Facilitative Conditions
Authors: Buki Lydia P. , Borrayo Evelinn A. , Feigal Benjamin M. , Carrillo Iris Y.
Published: December 2004

In this article, we examine perceived breast cancer screening barriers and facilitative conditions for immigrant women from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, El Salvador, and South America ( N = 58). Focus groups conducted separately with women of each ancestry were analyzed using grounded theory methods. Identified barriers comprise secrecy, lack of information, embarrassment, fear, and distrust of health care providers. Perceived facilitative conditions include knowing the importance of early detection and noticing a symptom. We compare and contrast findings across ancestries and discuss how psychosocial and cultural factors could be better integrated into early detection programs. The women's high screening rates also suggest that breast cancer screening can be facilitated in this population by addressing institutional factors (e.g., access to health care, transportation).
Comparative Expression of NFκB Proteins in Melanocytes of Normal Skin vs. Benign Intradermal Naevus and Human Metastatic Melanoma Biopsies
Authors: McNulty Susan E. , Rosario Raul del , Cen Dazhi , Meyskens Frank L. , Yang Sun
Published: December 2004

Nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) is an essential regulator of gene transcription for hundreds of genes, including many critically involved in apoptosis. NFκB complexes containing cRel generally activate pro‐apoptotic genes, while those with RelA activate anti‐apoptotic genes. We have previously shown that NFκB binding by RelA is constitutively elevated in human metastatic melanoma cultures relative to normal melanocytes. Here we extended our investigation to immunohistochemical analysis of human tissue biopsies. We found that RelA expression is significantly elevated in melanocytes of human naevi and melanomas relative to normal skin, but expression of its inhibitor IκB‐α is significantly lower in metastatic melanomas than in intradermal naevi. Antibodies specific for the nuclear localization signal of RelA also showed significantly increased staining in metastatic melanoma biopsies. Notably, in melanomas and in naevi, we also found that RelA is phosphorylated at serine 529, and this activated form accumulates in the nuclei of melanomas. This suggests that increased expression and phosphorylation of RelA occurs at the stage of the benign naevus, but IκB‐α is able to sequester RelA in the cytoplasm and regulate RelA transcriptional transactivation. We also found that antibodies against cRel show a progressive increase in staining from naevi to melanoma. However, staining for IκB‐ɛ, which primarily inhibits the nuclear localization of cRel was also progressively increased, and cRel expression was predominantly cytoplasmic in melanomas. These results confirm that the altered expression of RelA found in metastatic melanoma cells in tissue culture is relevant to human tumors and offer new insights into the deregulation of NFκB signaling.
Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas in a patient with attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis
Authors: Chetty R , Salahshor S , Bapat B , Berk T , Croitoru M , Gallinger S
Published: December 2004

A 67 year old man with a clinical diagnosis of attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis (AFAP) and a past history of synchronous colon cancers in the transverse colon was also found to have an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas. In addition, several foci of heterotopic gastric oxyntic mucosa were noted in the duodenum, interspersed with flat and polypoid adenomas. The duodenal adenomas showed low grade dysplasia, loss of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) protein expression, but retention of β catenin staining, localised to the nucleus and cytoplasm. The IPMN in the pancreas showed an identical immunohistochemical profile to the duodenal adenomas. The heterotopic gastric foci in the duodenum were negative for the APC protein, and β catenin staining was membranous in location. Although the patient did not show germline truncating APC mutations or mutations in the MYH gene, the past history, clinical features, and immunohistochemical profile of the various lesions suggest strongly that the IPMN is part of the spectrum of lesions encountered in AFAP. Whether the heterotopic oxyntic gastric mucosa in the duodenum is also related is unclear, but it may represent a forme fruste of fundic gland polyps.
MATRIX COEFFICIENTS OF REPRESENTATIONS OF SU(2,2): THE CASE OF PJ-PRINCIPAL SERIES
Authors: KOSEKI HARUTAKA , ODA TAKAYUKI
Published: December 2004

The real Lie group G=SU(2,2) has a standard maximal parabolic subgroup PJ corresponding to the long simple roots in its restricted root system. We have an explicit formula of the holonomic system of the radial part of the matrix coefficients with corner K-type of the generalized principal series representations of G obtained by parabolic induction with respect to PJ from the discrete series representations of MJ. It is equivalent to the modified F2 system of Appell.
QUANTUM PAINLEVÉ SYSTEMS OF TYPE $A_l^{(1)}$
Authors: NAGOYA HAJIME
Published: December 2004

We propose quantum Painlevé systems of type [Formula: see text]. These systems, for l=1 and l≥2, should be regarded as quantizations of the second Painlevé equation and the differential systems with the affine Weyl group symmetries of type [Formula: see text] studied by Noumi and Yamada [13], respectively. These quantizations enjoy the affine Weyl group symmetries of type [Formula: see text] as well as the Lax representations. The quantized systems of type [Formula: see text] and type [Formula: see text](l=2n) can be obtained as the continuous limits of the discrete systems constructed from the affine Weyl group symmetries of type [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively.
THE STUDY OF DIBARYON SYSTEMS WITH STRANGENESS ON CHIRAL QUARK MODEL
Authors: PANG HOURONG , PING JIALUN , WU XIAOHUA
Published: December 2004

We expand Salamanca SU (2) chiral quark model to SU (3) one and calculate promising dibaryon candidates with strangeness S=-3,-6 in the framework of resonating group method. We find that, besides ΩΩ, the mass of NΩ state is about 23–38 MeV lower than its threshold, it might appear as a bound state or a narrow resonance. The effect of K and η exchanges on the masses of strangeness and nonstrangeness systems has been studied and found to be negligible for nonstrangeness systems. However this effect brings some changes (about tens of MeV) on the masses of strangeness systems. We have also studied the sensitivities of binding energy and root mean square radius to the mass of s-quark.
ATTITUDE CYCLE FOR PROBLEM SOLVING TEAMS IN A DYNAMIC WORLD
Authors: GOYAL MADHU
Published: December 2004

In this paper, a mental attribute called attitude is introduced and its importance in agent problem solving is discussed. It presents the various properties of agents describing how the attitudes of the agents affect the behavior of the agents. The paper also discusses how the attitudes could be described computationally in terms of various attributes. This paper formalizes the team as a collective abstract attitude of participating agents. This concept especially has been very useful in formalising the behaviour of complex teams. The team model grounds the team attitude as the individual attitude of its member agents, which in turn is further divided into the attitudes and behaviours towards the various team attributes. In this paper a team problem solving methodology is also presented, which has the notion attitude and team cycle as its core to allow robust and coherent team behavior. It also shows how these various attitudes ultimately result into various team behaviors in a fire world. The application and implementation of this methodology to a virtual fire-fighting domain has revealed a promising prospect in developing problem solving team agents.
SCATTERING THEORY FOR ZAKHAROV EQUATIONS IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL SPACE WITH LARGE DATA
Authors: SHIMOMURA AKIHIRO
Published: December 2004

We study the scattering theory for the Zakharov equation in three-dimensional space. We show the unique existence of the solution for this equation which tends to the given free profile with no restriction on the size of the scattered states and on the support of the Fourier transform of them. This yields the existence of the pseudo wave operators.
SEIBERG–WITTEN INVARIANTS OF RATIONAL HOMOLOGY 3-SPHERES
Authors: NICOLAESCU LIVIU I.
Published: December 2004

We prove that the Seiberg–Witten invariants of a rational homology sphere are determined by the Casson–Walker invariant and the Reidemeister–Turaev torsion.
GRAPH SOLUTIONS OF NONLINEAR HYPERBOLIC SYSTEMS
Authors: LEFLOCH PHILIPPE G.
Published: December 2004

For nonlinear hyperbolic systems of partial differential equations in one-space dimension (in either conservative or non-conservative form) we introduce a geometric framework in which solutions are sought as (continuous) parametrized graphs(t,s) ↦ (X,U)(t,s) satisfying ∂sX ≥ 0, rather than (discontinuous) functions (t,x) ↦ u(t,x). On one hand, we generalize an idea by Dal Maso, LeFloch, and Murat who used a family of traveling wave profiles to define non-conservative products, and we define the notion of graph solution subordinate to a family of Riemann graphs. The latter naturally encodes the graph of the solution to the Riemann problem, which should be determined from an augmented model taking into account small-scale physics and providing an internal structure to the shock waves.

In a second definition, we write an evolution equation on the graphs directly and we introduce the notion of graph solution subordinate to a diffusion matrix, which merges together the hyperbolic equations (in the "non-vertical" parts of the graphs) with the traveling wave equation of the augmented model (in the "vertical" parts).

We consider the Cauchy problem within the class of graph solutions. The graph solution to the Cauchy problem is constructed by completion of the discontinuities of the entropy solution. The uniqueness is established by applying a general uniqueness theorem due to Baiti, LeFloch, and Piccoli. The proposed geometric framework illustrates the importance of the uniform distance between graphs to deal with solutions of nonlinear hyperbolic problems.
High resolution electron microscopy of the high‐Tc Superconductor Bi2+xSr2Ca1‐xCu2O8+δ
Authors: Zhou W. , Kirkland A. I. , Mackay K. D. , Armstrong A. R. , Harrison M. R. , Jefferson D. A. , Liang W. Y. , Edwards P. P.
Published: December 2004

The structure of the 85 K Bi‐Sr‐Ca‐Cu‐O superconductor has been investigated by means of high resolution electron microscopy combined with image simulation. An ordered one‐in‐five substitution of calcium by bismuth ions is proposed as the explanation for the observed superlattice formation.

magnified image
Metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) perspectives and prospects
Authors: Williams John O.
Published: December 2004

Thin film epitaxial semiconductor structures of widely varying but controlled composition and thickness can be prepared using MOCVD. The performance of the method is gauged against molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and spray pyrolysis, and comment is made on the direction in which this area research is going, for example, towards the processing of high‐Te superconductors and ferroelectric oxides.
The synthesis of metallocene‐labelled drugs for biological assays
Authors: Lavastre I , Besançon J , Brossier P , Moise C
Published: December 2004

Several drugs (amphetamine, desipramine, nortriptyline, phenobarbital) have been labelled with metallocenic fragments in order to develop a new immunoassay method. The metallocenic fragments are cymantrenic or benchrotrenic derivatives: the linkage between the organic and organometallic moieties has been achieved by reactions between amino and acidic functional groups. All the products (metallohaptens), purified by different chromatography techniques, have been fully characterized by IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy and their mass spectra.
An international intercomparison exercise for total mercury in seawater
Authors: Cossa D , Courau P
Published: December 2004

Two 30 dm3 coastal seawater samples were collected in September 1983. One was acidified, homogenized and divided among 50 500‐cm3 glass ampoules. The second was spiked with 612ng of mercury added as methylmercury chloride, acidified, homogenized and divided among 50 500‐cm3 glass ampoules. All these operations were performed under a mercury‐free atmosphere. A single sample from each set was sent to each of 37 laboratories; 21 of them submitted their results of a ‘total’ mercury concentation determination. The consensus values and their confidence limits are 6.0 ± 1.6 and 24.2 ± 2.8 ng dm−3 for the natural and the spiked samples respectively. Eleven laboratories reported reliable quantitative results (within ± 2SD) for the natural (unspiked) sample, and 12 for the spiked sample. In addition, ten laboratories give sets of results within ± 2SD of the consensus values. Storage for up to four months of methylmercury spiked samples with 1.4% nitric acid (0.3 mol dm−3) at room temperature is, alone, an unsuitable treatment for releasing mercury from its monomethyl compounds.
Tributyltin levels in French Mediterranean coastal waters
Authors: Alzieu Claude , Michel Pierre , Sanjuan Jane , Averty Bernard
Published: December 2004

Tributyltin (TBT) and its degradation products were measured in seawater samples in 1988 and 1989 at different locations of the French Mediterranean coast, including harbours, marinas and mariculture areas. Higher levels of TBT contamination were found in harbour (2–833 ng dm−3) and marina waters (18–736 ng dm−3) compared with mariculture areas (<2–111 ng dm−3). Geographical distribution of TBT degradation products showed that a TBT hot spot finally results in a diffuse contamination of dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT), even far distant from input areas.
Electrically conducting organometallic polymers
Authors: Nalwa Hari S.
Published: December 2004

Polyacetylene, which exhibits metallic‐like electrical conductivity upon redox doping, led to the development of a new class of electronic materials. Metallic conductivity in polyacetylene originates from the mobility of charge‐carriers along the highly conjugated π‐electron carbon backbone. On the other hand, organometallic polymer backbones comprising transition‐metal ions and highly conjugated ligands may themselves produce intrinsically conducting materials due to the increased molecular orbital interaction between metal atoms via ligands. For decades organometallic polymers have been the subject of great scientific interest due to their unique electrical properties and many potential uses. Following the discovery of polyacetylene, the cofacially joined metallophthalocyanine polymers emerged as a new class of electrically conducting polymers. This important class of conducting organometallic polymers now includes a wide variety of materials such as poly(metalyne), poly(metallophthalocyanines), metal poly(benzodithiolene), poly(metalloethylene tetrathiolate), poly(metal tetrathio‐oxalate), etc. Depending upon the molecular structures, many organometallic polymers are intrinsic conductors while in others metallic‐like conductivity is induced by a molecular doping process. The superiority of electrically conducting organometallic polymers is manifest in their excellent environmental stability and processability. Conducting organometallic polymers have a wide range of applications in electrocatalysis, photovoltaics, sensors and fuel‐cell technology.
Preparation and characterization of diphenyllead(IV) and triphenyllead(IV) complexes with N‐protected amino‐acids and the dipeptides
Authors: Sandhu G K , Kaur H
Published: December 2004

The diphenyllead(IV) derivatives of N‐benzoyl‐(glycine, DL‐alanine); N‐formyl and N‐acetyl‐L‐phenylalanine; N‐monochloroacetyl‐L‐phenylalanine; N‐benzoyl‐(glycylglycine, DL‐alanylglycine), and N‐formyl‐ N‐acetyl‐ and N‐monochloroacetyl‐(L‐phenylalanylglycine) have been prepared in 1:2 molar ratio by reaction of diphenyllead dichloride with the appropriate amino‐acid or dipeptide. Corresponding triphenyllead(IV) derivatives have been prepared in 1:1 molar ratio by reaction of triphenyllead chloride with the thallium(I) salts of the amino‐acid or the dipeptide. These complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR and 1H NMR spectral studies. A polymeric hexacoordinated octahedral structure for diphenyllead(IV), and a five‐coordinated distorted trigonalbipyramidal chain‐type structure for triphenyllead(IV), complexes is confirmed by IR spectra. The carboxylate group acts in a bidentate manner, not as in diorgano and triorganotin(IV) complexes with these acids, where it is monodentate. The available bonding sites such as amide and peptide carbonyl (CO) and amide and peptide nitrogen atoms are not involved in bonding with lead (IV) and thus are available for bonding with the biological systems. The presence of different N‐protecting groups does not affect the coordination sites around lead(IV). The triphenyllead(IV) compounds are relatively more stable than the diphenyllead(IV) compounds.
Disproportionation of triorganotin species, R3SnX
Authors: Blunden Steven J , Harston Paul , Hill Robin , Wardell James L
Published: December 2004

Triorganotin compounds, R3SnX, have found extensive use as a biological agents in such areas as agrochemicals, marine antifoulants and timber preservatives. In contrast, di(R2SnX2) and tetraorganotin derivatives (R4Sn) possess less biological activity than do their triorganotin counterparts. It has been shown that disproportionation of R3SnX species (i.e. to produce R2SnX2 and R4Sn) can occur especially when X is a chelating or bridging group such as oxide, carboxylate, hydroxy ketone or hydroxyquinoline. This process has implications for the industrial applications and analysis of R3SnX compounds.
Mass spectrometric studies on the decomposition of trialkylgallium on gaas surfaces
Authors: Ohki Yoshimasa , Hiratani Yuji
Published: December 2004

The thermal decomposition of trimethylgallium [(CH3)3Ga] and triethylgallium [(C2H5)3Ga] on gallium arsenide (GaAs) surfaces was studied under an ultra‐high vacuum using mass spectrometry. It was observed that the decomposition process of (CH3)3Ga and (C2H5)3Ga depends on the arsenic coverage of the substrate surface. On a (100)‐oriented surface, increasing the arsenic coverage basically enhances the decomposition of (CH3)3Ga and (C2H5)3Ga to gallium atoms above 350 and 300°C, respectively. The decomposition of (CH3)3Ga proceeds by emitting CH3 radicals. On a surface with low arsenic coverage, the decomposition of (CH3)3Ga is imperfect and fewer than three methyl groups of alkylgallium are desorbed. On a (111)B‐oriented surface, however, an increase in the surface arsenic coverage suppresses the decomposition of alkylgallium, which is different from the case for a (100) surface.
Wavelength dependence in photochemical vapor deposition of aluminum film using dimethylaluminum hydride
Authors: Hanabusa Mitsuga , Ikeda Masashi
Published: December 2004

In photochemical vapor deposition of aluminum film on silicon using dimethylaluminum hydride, (CH3)2AlH, a surface reaction dominated below a (CH3)2AlH pressure of 0.3 m Torr at 200°C, which was induced only with the 160 nm band emitted from a deuterium lamp. A gas‐phase reaction occurred above 0.3 mTorr at 200°C, which could be induced by both 160 nm and 240 nm emission bands from the lamp. To distinguish between surface ad gas‐phase reactions, a thickness profile was used. At 240°C the surface reaction could be induced even by the 240 nm band, while the deposits formed under illumination of the two bands were thinner than those obtained with only the 240 nm band, indicating occurrence of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV)‐enhanced desorption. The mechanism responsible for the observed wavelength dependence in unclear. The electrical resistivity of the films deposited at 200°C was 4.5 μΩ cm, which did not change with wavelength.
Thin films of peroxopolytungstic acids: applications to optical waveguide components
Authors: Itoh Kiminori , Okamoto Tohru , Wakita Shuhei , Niikura Hiroshi , Murabayashi Masayuki
Published: December 2004

Thin films of peroxohetero(carbon)polytungstic acid (CW‐HPA) and carbon‐free isopolytungstic acid (W‐IPA) were prepared, and examined in terms of optical and etching properties. Thermal decomposition was found to give good results in removing excess hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) during the preparation of CW‐HPA and W‐IPA. It was shown for the first time that thin films of CW‐HPA and W‐IPA have very high refractive indices (larger than 2.0) when sufficiently dried. Optical waveguide (OWG) characteristics of these films were examined using a slab‐type OWG structure and ARROW (Antiresonance Reflection Optical Waveguide)‐type structures. An embossing technique was applied to make diffractional grating couplers.
Physicochemical properties of dimethylzinc, dimethylcadmium and diethylzinc
Authors: Kuniya Yasuo , Deguchi Yuichi , Ichida Masanori
Published: December 2004

Physicochemical properties of dimethylzinc, dimethylcadmium and diethylzinc have been investigated by means of vapor pressure measurement, mass spectroscopy and gas chromatography. The saturated vapor pressure‐temperature dependence of these alkyl organometallics was determined to be as follows

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The temperature ranges for vapor phase decomposition for deposition of each metal were clarified, and vapor‐phase species released in the decompositions were investigated. These investigations on the organometallics are to provide basic material data for the establishment of organometallic chemical vapor deposition techniques for Group IIB‐VI compounds.