bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparing response of SDF systems to near‐fault and far‐fault earthquake motions in the context of spectral regions
Authors: Chopra Anil K. , Chintanapakdee Chatpan
Published: August 2002

In spite of important differences in structural response to near‐fault and far‐fault ground motions, this paper aims at extending well‐known concepts and results, based on elastic and inelastic response spectra for far‐fault motions, to near‐fault motions. Compared are certain aspects of the response of elastic and inelastic SDF systems to the two types of motions in the context of the acceleration‐, velocity‐, and displacement‐sensitive regions of the response spectrum, leading to the following conclusions. (1) The velocity‐sensitive region for near‐fault motions is much narrower, and the acceleration‐sensitive and displacement‐sensitive regions are much wider, compared to far‐fault motions; the narrower velocity‐sensitive region is shifted to longer periods. (2) Although, for the same ductility factor, near‐fault ground motions impose a larger strength demand than far‐fault motions—both demands expressed as a fraction of their respective elastic demands—the strength reduction factors Ry for the two types of motions are similar over corresponding spectral regions. (3) Similarly, the ratio um/u0 of deformations of inelastic and elastic systems are similar for the two types of motions over corresponding spectral regions. (4) Design equations for Ry (and for um/u0) should explicitly recognize spectral regions so that the same equations apply to various classes of ground motions as long as the appropriate values of Ta, Tb and Tc are used. (5) The Veletsos–Newmark design equations with Ta=0.04 s, Tb=0.35 s, and Tc=0.79 s are equally valid for the fault‐normal component of near‐fault ground motions. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Withdrawn: Temperament, character and eating disorders
Authors: Raevuori Anu
Published: August 2002

Withdrawal: The above article, published online on 28th February 2002 on Wiley Online Library (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/erv.461) has been withdrawn by agreement between the author Anu Raevuori, the Editor‐in‐Chief, Beate Herpertz‐Dahlmann, the Eating Disorders Association, and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The withdrawal has been agreed due to concerns over violation of the privacy of a research subject.
Location and height of intertidal bars on macrotidal ridge and runnel beaches
Authors: Masselink Gerhard , Anthony Edward J.
Published: August 2002

Previous studies devoted to the morphology and hydrodynamics of ridge and runnel beaches highlight characteristics that deviate from those initially postulated by King and Williams (Geographical Journal, 1949, vol. 113, 70–85) and King (Beaches and Coasts, 1972, Edward Arnold). Disagreements on the morphodynamics of these macrotidal beaches include the position of the ridges relative to the mean neap and spring tide levels, the variation in the height of the ridges across the intertidal profile and, most importantly, whether the ridges are formed by swash or surf zone processes. The morphological characteristics of ridge and runnel beaches from three locations with varying wave, tidal and geomorphic settings were investigated to address these disagreements. Beach profiles from each site were analysed together with water‐level data collected from neighbouring ports. It was found that the ridges occur over the entire intertidal zone. On one site (north Lincolnshire, east England), the ridges are uniformly distributed over the intertidal beach, whereas on the two other sites (Blackpool beach, northwest England, and Leffrinckoucke beach, north France) there is some indication that the ridges appear to occur at preferential locations. Most significantly, the locations of the ridge crests were found to be unrelated to the positions on the intertidal profile where the water level is stationary for the longest time. It was further found that the highest ridges generally occur just above mid‐tide level where tidal non‐stationarity is greatest. These findings argue against the hypothesis that the ridges are formed by swash processes acting at stationary tide levels. It is tentatively suggested that the ridges are the result of a combination of swash and surf zone processes acting across the intertidal zone. Elucidation of the morphodynamic roles of these two types of processes, and other processes such as strong current flows in the runnels, requires further comprehensive field measurements complemented by numerical modelling. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A microcontroller‐based data‐logger design for seasonal hydrochemical studies
Authors: Davis Jerry D. , Davis Glenn A.
Published: August 2002

Detailed studies of seasonal patterns of karst processes are rare in remote regions with limited winter access. An important aspect of erosional and environmental processes is how these change over time, and how they relate to annual cycles of temperature, precipitation and runoff. Such measurements have consistently proved difficult in remote alpine areas, resulting in a paucity of continuous data from these environments. An automated data‐logger installation designed to perform under difficult conditions, including limited sunlight for solar recharge, heavy snowfall and disturbance by bears, has provided four years of data at a 2‐hour sampling interval of electrical conductivity (used to predict solute concentration), water level (used to predict discharge) and temperature, at the Marble Mountains karst resurgence, California, USA. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enhanced biosensor performance for on‐site field analysis of explosives in water using solid‐phase extraction membranes
Authors: Charles Paul T. , Dingle Bridgette M. , Van Bergen Saskia , Gauger Paul R. , Patterson Charles H. , Kusterbeck Anne W.
Published: August 2002

Biosensors, over the past decade, have demonstrated their utility in a number of environmental applications. One application has been trace‐level detection of energetic materials (i.e., explosives) in the soil, sediment, and waterways as a result of unexploded ordnances from past military exercises. A promising biosensor, developed at the Naval Research Laboratory, has been designed to detect the explosives 2,4,6‐trinitrotoulene (TNT) and 1,3,5‐hexahydro‐1,3,5‐trinitrotriazine (RDX), utilizing a displacement immunoassay format. The fundamental principle of the biosensor relies on the specificity of the recognition element (e.g., antibody) to recognize and bind the explosive molecule, with subsequent release and fluorescence signal response by a cyanine‐5 labeled reporter complex. In recent analytical tests performed on environmental samples, erroneous signal responses and inaccurate quantitative measurements were obtained with the biosensor as a result of interference components in the environmental matrices. In this paper, we investigated the use of solid‐phase extraction (SPE) membranes for their efficiency to extract the explosives TNT and RDX in water samples to improve quantitative measurements conducted with the biosensor. Three SPE membranes were evaluated: (1) styrenedivinylbenzene‐extra clean (SDB‐XC) copolymer, (2) styrenedivinylbenzene‐reverse phase sulfonated (SDB‐RPS) copolymer, and (3) C‐18 octadecyl bonded silica (C18). Each SPE membrane was exposed to media containing the explosives TNT, RDX or both. Initial experiments were conducted to determine which SPE membrane and what elution solvent was most effective in the extraction of both TNT and RDX from water samples. Solvent extracts from the SPE membranes containing the explosive molecules were also analyzed using a reverse‐phase high performance liquid chromatography method (EPA SW846‐Method 8330). Experimental results using the SDB‐RPS membrane to extract TNT or RDX from groundwater or seawater consistently produced extraction efficiencies between 80 and 100%. Results also confirmed that combining the extraction capabilities of the SPE membrane improved the fluorescence signal response and accuracy of the biosensor twofold in comparison to previous analysis © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.*Field Analyt Chem Technol 5: 272–280, 2001; DOI 10.1002/fact.10007

This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
Composition of the essential oil of Salvia aramiensis Rech. fil. growing in Turkey
Authors: Demirci Betül , Can Başer Kemal Hüsnü , Tümen Gülendam
Published: August 2002

Water‐distilled essential oils from aerial parts of Salvia aramiensis Rech. fil., collected in three different seasons (pre‐flowering, flowering and post‐flowering stages) from Hatay, were analysed by GC–MS. 1,8‐Cineole (43–49%) was identified as the main constituent in all the samples. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Essential oil composition of Hypericum perfoliatum L. growing in different locations in Greece
Authors: Couladis M. , Baziou P. , Petrakis P.V. , Harvala C.
Published: August 2002

The essential oils of the aerial parts of Hypericum perfoliatum L., collected in two different locations in Greece, were obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC– MS. Fifty constituents were identified. The monoterpene hydrocarbons had the highest contribution. The major constituents in sample A were α‐pinene (48.6%) n‐nonane (8.5%) and δ‐cadinene (4.6%), while those of sample B, were α‐pinene (34.2%) β‐pinene (9.2%) and δ‐cadinene (8.1%). Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modelling the frequency and severity of extreme exchange rate returns
Authors: Hsieh Ping‐Hung
Published: August 2002

Risk managers are often concerned about tail probabilities of asset return distributions, in particular the frequency and severity of extreme returns. In this article, we propose a model that integrates extreme value theory and point processes to model the frequency and severity of exchange rate returns. The proposed model is applied to daily spot exchange rate series and the parameters of interest, such as the tail index, the mean size and rate of occurrence of extreme returns, are estimated using maximum likelihood estimation. We study the impact of recent currency crises on the frequency and severity of the series and find that, during 1995–9, the frequency of extreme daily Japanese yen–US dollar spot exchange rate returns increases twofold, and the time duration of high volatility persists longer for the Japanese yen series than for the Swiss franc and Danish krone series. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modeling seasonality in agricultural commodity futures
Authors: Sørensen Carsten
Published: August 2002

The stochastic behavior of agricultural commodity prices is investigated using observations of the term
structures of futures prices over time. The continuous time dynamics of (log‐) commodity prices
are modeled as a sum of a deterministic seasonal component, a non‐stationary state‐variable, and a
stationary state‐variable. Futures prices are established by standard no‐arbitrage arguments and
the Kalman filter methodology is used to estimate the model parameters for corn futures, soybean futures, and
wheat futures based on weekly data from the Chicago Board of Trade for the period 1972–1997. Furthermore,
in a discussion of the estimated seasonal patterns in agricultural commodity prices, the paper provides empirical
evidence on the theory of storage that predicts a negative relationship between stocks of inventory and
convenience yields; in particular, convenience yields used in this analysis are extracted using the Kalman
filter. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 22:393–426, 2002
Gain of chromosome 7, as detected by in situ hybridization, strongly correlates with shorter survival in astrocytoma grade 2
Authors: Wessels Peter H. , Twijnstra Albert , Kessels Alfons G. H. , Krijne‐Kubat Bela , Theunissen Paul H. , Ummelen Monique I. J. , Ramaekers Frans C. S. , Hopman Anton H.
Published: August 2002

The clinical course of astrocytoma grade 2 (A2) is highly variable and is not reflected by morphological characteristics. Earlier studies using small series of A2 cases suggest that in situ hybridization (ISH) with chromosome‐specific DNA probes allows for frequent detection of aneusomy 1, trisomy 7, and monosomy 10. The role of trisomy 7 in astrocytoma carcinogenesis is disputed, however, because of its presence in non‐neoplastic brain tissue, as detected by karyotyping. Our objective was to investigate whether there was a correlation between chromosomal aberrations and survival in a series of 47 cases of A2. All cases were evaluated for numerical aberrations of chromosomes 1, 7, and 10 by ISH. Chromosomal aberrations were detected in 68% of cases of A2. Trisomy/polysomy 7 was seen in 31 cases (66%), 22 of which (47%) had a high percentage of this numerical aberration. Only 11 of these 22 cases also showed aneusomy for 1 or 10. No cells or only a few cells with aberrations were detected in non‐neoplastic control samples. Using Kaplan‐Meier analysis, trisomy/polysomy 7 correlated significantly with shorter survival. Hence, as determined by ISH, trisomy/polysomy 7 is absent in non‐neoplastic brain tissue and is frequently detected in A2, correlating with the malignant progression of the disease. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Chromosomal imbalances in gastric and esophageal adenocarcinoma: Specific comparative genomic hybridization–detected abnormalities segregate with junctional adenocarcinomas
Authors: Stocks S. Craig , Pratt Norman , Sales Mark , Johnston David A. , Thompson Alastair M. , Carey Francis A. , Kernohan Neil M.
Published: August 2002

The incidence of adenocarcinoma arising at the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) is increasing at a rate greater than that for any other form of solid malignancy. Commensurate with this, the incidence of histologically similar tumors arising in the gastric body and antral mucosa is declining. The increased incidence of the proximal group of tumors may reflect, in part, the higher prevalence of Barrett esophagus. These epidemiological features suggest that histologically similar tumors arising at the EGJ and from the distal stomach are different, which may be reflected in the genetic abnormalities that characterize the two groups of tumors. The purpose of this study was to screen genomic DNA from adenocarcinomas of the esophagus and stomach for regions of chromosomal imbalance, using comparative genomic hybridization to determine whether tumors at the EGJ (junctional tumors) have a different profile compared with tumors of the distal stomach. Tumor samples were derived from a series of 48 gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas (20 junctional and 28 distal) that were acquired prospectively from patients undergoing esophagogastrectomy. These tumors are characterized by several regions of chromosomal imbalance with no obvious correlation between most regions of abnormal copy number and tumor type. However, our study shows for the first time cytogenetic abnormalities (5p+ and 18q−) that identify statistically significant differences (P < 0.02 and < 0.05, respectively) between junctional and distal gastric tumors. These differences are gain of 5p (55% [11/20] of junctional tumors vs. 21% [6/28] of distal gastric tumors) and loss of 18q (25% [5/20] cases of junctional tumors vs. 4% [1/28] of distal tumors) segregating with tumors of the EGJ. These abnormalities may distinguish distinct tumor subtypes that are recognized in epidemiological and clinical studies but that are otherwise histologically identical. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A cre recombinase transgene with mosaic, widespread tamoxifen‐inducible action
Authors: Guo Caiying , Yang Wenyi , Lobe Corrinne G.
Published: August 2002

Summary: Cre‐mediated site‐specific recombination allows conditional transgene expression or gene knockouts in mice. Inducible Cre recombination systems have been developed to bypass initial embryonic lethal phenotypes and provide access to later embryonic or adult phenotypes. We have produced Cre transgenic mice in which excision is tamoxifen inducible and occurs in a widespread mosaic pattern. We utilized our Cre excision reporter system combined with an embryonic stem (ES) cell screen to identify ES cell clones with undetectable background Cre activity in the absence of tamoxifen but efficient excision upon addition of tamoxifen. The CreER™ transgenic mouse lines derived from the ES cells were tested using the Z/AP and Z/EG Cre reporter lines. Reporter gene expression indicated Cre excision was maximal in midgestation embryos by 2 days after tamoxifen administration, with an overall efficiency of 5–10% of cells with Cre excision. At 3 days after tamoxifen treatment most reporter gene expression marked groups of cells, suggesting an expansion of cells with Cre excision, and the proportion of cells with Cre excision was maintained. In adults, Cre excision was also observed with varying efficiencies in all tissues after tamoxifen treatment. genesis 32:8–18, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Haplotype frequency estimation in patient populations: The effect of departures from Hardy‐Weinberg proportions and collapsing over a locus in the HLA region
Authors: Single Richard M. , Meyer Diogo , Hollenbach Jill A. , Nelson Mark P. , Noble Janelle A. , Erlich Henry A. , Thomson Glenys
Published: August 2002

Haplotype analyses are an important area in the study of the genetic components of human disease. Associations between markers and disease loci that are not evident with a single marker locus may be identified in multi‐locus marker analyses using estimated haplotype frequencies (HFs). Procedures that make use of the expectation‐maximization (EM) algorithm to estimate HFs from unphased genotype data are in common use in genetic studies. The EM algorithm uses these unphased genotype frequencies along with the assumption of Hardy‐Weinberg proportions (HWP) to converge on HF estimates. In this paper, we assess the accuracy of EM estimates of HFs in patients with type I diabetes for whom the true haplotypes are known, but the data are analyzed ignoring family information to allow comparison between estimated and true frequencies. The data consist of six HLA loci with high levels of polymorphism and a range of departures from HWP and linkage equilibrium. While the overall accuracy of the EM estimates is good, there can be large over‐ and underestimates of particular HFs, even for common haplotypes, especially when the loci involved deviate significantly from HWP. Estimating HFs for three or more loci and then collapsing over loci so as to generate two locus haplotypes can improve the accuracy of the estimation. The collapsing procedure is most beneficial when one of the loci in the two‐locus haplotype of interest deviates significantly from HWP and the locus collapsed over is in linkage disequilibrium with the other loci. Genet. Epidemiol. 22:186–195, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High‐Si phengite, mineral chemistry and P–T evolution of ultra‐high‐pressure eclogites and calc‐silicates from the Dabie Shan, eastern China
Authors: Schmid Robert , Franz Leander , Oberhänsli Roland , Dong Shuwen
Published: August 2002

A suite of coesite–eclogites and associated calc‐silicate rocks from the ultra‐high‐pressure (UHP) belt in the Dabie Shan (eastern China) was investigated petrologically. Field relations and the presence of UHP minerals such as coesite, omphacite and high‐Si phengite in the eclogites and the enclosing calc‐silicates testify to a common metamorphic evolution for these two lithologies. Except for one sample, all bear phengite with unusually high silica contents (Si up to 3.7 per formula unit). Phengite occupies various textural positions indicating that different metamorphic stages are reflected by these white micas, which correlate with distinct mineral zonation patterns. Using the latest thermobarometric calibrations for eclogite‐facies rocks, maximum pressure–temperature (P–T) conditions of 40–48 kbar at < 750°C were estimated for the peak‐metamorphic mineral assemblages. These P–T conditions were calculated for both eclogitic garnet porphyroblasts with diffusion‐controlled zoning as well as garnet porphyroblasts with prograde growth zonation patterns. Most samples were affected by a strong retrograde overprint mainly under eclogite‐ and amphibolite‐facies conditions. Thermobarometry using mineral sets from different textural positions reveals cooling and decompression of the UHP rocks down to < 20 kbar at < 600°C for the bulk of the samples. Decompression and heating indicated by a few samples is interpreted to result from mineral chemical disequilibrium or late thermal influence. These new data show that subduction of continental crust in the Dabie Shan was deeper than previously thought, and also that some cooling and decompression took place at upper‐mantle depths. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Calcium dependence of rapid astrocyte death induced by transient hypoxia, acidosis, and extracellular ion shifts
Authors: Bondarenko Alexander , Chesler Mitchell
Published: August 2002

Exposure to hypoxic, acidic, ion‐shifted Ringer (HAIR) for 15–40 min has been shown to cause rapid astrocyte death upon reperfusion with normal media. The ion shifts of the HAIR solution included a rise in extracellular K+ (e.g., [K+]o) and a fall in [Na+]o, [Cl−]o, and [Ca2+]o, characteristic of ischemic‐traumatic brain insults. We investigated the ionic basis of the HAIR‐induced injury. After HAIR exposure, reperfusion in 0 Ca2+/EGTA media completely protected astrocytes. Preincubation of cells in BAPTA‐AM ester was also protective, indicating that the injury was triggered by Ca2+ influx during reperfusion. Neither nimodipine, CNQX, APV, nor TTX reduced injury. Astrocyte death could be blocked by 100 μM Ni2+ or 100 μM benzamil, suggesting involvement of Na+–Ca2+ exchange. KB‐R7943, which preferentially inhibits reverse Na+–Ca2+ exchange, also protected astrocytes. Elevation of [K+]o was not necessary for astrocyte death. However, when [Na+]o was maintained at 151 mM throughout the HAIR protocol, cell death was markedly reduced. We postulate that [Na+]o shifts aid reversal of Na+–Ca2+ exchange by favoring cytosolic Na+ loading. Possible means of astrocytic Na+ accumulation are discussed. GLIA 34:143–149, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Psychosis, depression and behavioural disturbances in Sydney nursing home residents: prevalence and predictors
Authors: Brodaty Henry , Draper Brian , Saab Dania , Low Lee‐Fay , Richards Vicki , Paton Helen , Lie David
Published: August 2002

Background

There is wide variation in the rates of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) reported in nursing homes.

Aims

This study aimed to investigate: (1) the prevalence of BPSD in nursing home residents using the BEHAVE‐AD; (2) the relationships of BPSD with (a) demographic, (b) dementia, (c) diurnal and (d) nursing home variables; and (3) the inter‐relationships between different types of BPSD, as measured by subscales of the BEHAVE‐AD.

Results

Over 90% of residents exhibited at least one behavioural disturbance. Specifically, there was evidence of psychosis in 60%, depressed mood in 42% and activity disturbances or aggression in 82% of residents. Younger, more functionally impaired residents with a chart diagnosis of psychosis had higher BPSD rates, as did those residing in larger nursing homes. Individual BPSD were significantly intercorrelated.

Conclusions

BPSD are ubiquitous in nursing home residents. Behavioural disturbances are frequently associated with psychosis and/or depression. The findings suggest the need for psychogeriatric services to nursing homes and smaller facilities. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Diagnosis of dementia from the history and aetiology schedule
Authors: Dewey Michael E. , Copeland John R. M.
Published: August 2002

Objective

To provide a computerised method of diagnosing organic brain syndrome from history data without the use of mental state data.

Methods

Interview dataset from participants in a community study of the incidence of dementia was used to form a training sample and validation sample. The algorithm was developed on the training sample and tested on the validation sample.

Results

Performance in the training and validation samples was very similar. The algorithm shows monotonically increasing probability of being diagnosed with dementia as a function of the proposed level of diagnostic confidence. At the proposed cut point it has sensitivity 94% and specificity 84% for detecting concurrent psychiatrist's diagnosis of dementia.

Conclusions

The method provides a good agreement with psychiatrist's diagnosis, and the results in the validation sample show little shrinkage. The method will prove useful in studies where it has proved impossible to collect mental state information on all the study particpants. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Serum cholesterol and depressive symptoms in elderly Finnish men
Authors: Äijänseppä Sinikka , Kivinen Paula , Helkala Eeva‐Liisa , Kivelä Sirkka‐Liisa , Tuomilehto Jaakko , Nissinen Aulikki
Published: August 2002

Objective

Evidence from previous studies suggests that alterations in lipid levels may be associated with depression in old age. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between serum lipids and depressive symptoms in a population of elderly men.

Subjects and methods

Altogether 470 men born between 1900 and 1919 were examined in the 30‐year follow‐up of the Seven Countries Study in 1989. Zung Self‐Rating Depression Scale was used to determine the depressive status of the subjects. The depressive status was dichotomised and used as the dependent variable in the present study.

Results

The depressive status was available for 421 men aged 70 to 89 years in 1989. The prevalence of depression, defined as the Zung sum score equal to or greater than 48, was 15.2% (n = 64). A low serum total cholesterol (odds ratio (OR) 0.67, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.48–0.94, p = 0.022) and low low density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.46–0.98, p = 0.041) were independently associated with depression. No association with depression was found for high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration or HDL/total cholesterol ratio after the adjustment for other putative correlates for depression.

Conclusions

Our study of a well‐documented population of elderly Finnish men confirms that low total serum cholesterol is associated with a high amount of depressive symptoms independently of weight change or chronic disease. Our study is the first to show an independent association of low LDL‐cholesterol concentration with a high amount of depressive symptoms in the old–old. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simple and convenient routes to new polyheterocycles incorporating pyrazole, thiazole, thiophene, and 1,3,4‐thiadiazole moieties
Authors: Kandeel Zaghloul E. , Dawood Kamal M. , Ragab Eman A. , Farag Ahmad M.
Published: August 2002

The cyanothioacetanilide derivative 3 reacted readily with either α‐halocarbonyl compounds 4 or α‐halodicarbonyl compounds 8 to afford the same thiophene derivatives 6. Compound 3 also reacted with hydrazonoyl chlorides 12 and 16 and furnished the new polyheterocyles 14 and 17, respectively. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 13:248–251, 2002; Published online in Wiley Interscience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10024
Estimating survival gain for economic evaluations with survival time as principal endpoint: A cost‐effectiveness analysis of adding early hormonal therapy to radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer
Authors: Neymark N. , Adriaenssen I. , Gorlia T. , Caleo S. , Bolla M.
Published: August 2002

The problem of estimating expected outcomes for the economic evaluation of treatments for which the outcome of principal interest is (quality adjusted) survival time has so far not received sufficient attention in the literature. The best estimate of expected survival is mean survival time, but with censored survival data, the true survival time for all the subjects is not known, so the mean is not defined.

A possible solution to this estimation problem is illustrated by a retrospective cost‐effectiveness analysis of the addition of hormonal therapy to standard radiotherapy for patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. A recently proposed method is used to approach the problem caused by censored cost data, and the impact of uncertainty is assessed by bootstrap resampling techniques.

Mean survival time is estimated by a restricted means analysis with the time point of restriction determined by statistical criteria. When average total costs and mean survival time is evaluated at this time point of restriction, the result is that the combined therapy (radiotherapy plus hormonal therapy) increases mean survival time by about 1 year, while reducing the costs per patient for the French health insurance system by 12 700 FF. The time point of restriction may also be determined by other criteria and mean survival time may be estimated by extrapolating the survival curves by means of various parametric survival distributions. We show that the exact results of the economic evaluation are decisively determined by the restriction time point chosen and the approach taken to estimate mean survival time. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lymphatic malformations of the head and neck: A retrospective review and a support for staging
Authors: Hamoir Marc , Plouin‐Gaudon Isabelle , Rombaux Philippe , Francois Genevieve , Cornu Anne‐Sophie , Desuter Gauthier , Clapuyt Philippe , Debauche Christian , Verellen Gaston , Beguin Claire
Published: August 2002

Background

Lymphatic malformations (LM) are rare benign congenital tumors appearing mainly in the head and neck with a considerably variable outcome. A need exists to validate a staging system, taking into account the prognosis of the malformation, including preoperative and postoperative complications, long‐term sequelae, and persistence of the disease to improve parental counseling and evaluate the outcome of a surgical treatment of such tumors.

Methods

Twenty‐two patients treated for LM were selected from a series of 129 patients operated on for congenital malformations of the head and neck between 1986 and 1997 at St‐Luc University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. Their charts were reviewed retrospectively, with a special focus on the anatomic location of the lesions and all the complications reported. According to de Serres et al, LM up to now have been divided into six possible categories according to their unilateral or bilateral infrahyoid and/or suprahyoid locations.

Results

Stage I (unilateral infrahyoid): nine patients, 11% of complications (without mediastinal extension: 0%, with mediastinal extension: 50%); stage II (unilateral suprahyoid): three patients, 33% of complications; stage III (unilateral suprahyoid and infrahyoid): eight patients, 75% of complications; stage V (bilateral suprahyoid and infrahyoid): two patients, 100% of complications. None of the children was initially seen with stage IV (bilateral suprahyoid) or stage VI (bilateral infrahyoid) LM. Overall complications, preoperative complications, postoperative com‐ plications, and long‐term morbidity showed a significant in‐ crease from stage I to V (p < .01, p = .002, p = .02, and p = .03, respectively).

Conclusions

A staging system of cervicofacial LM based on the anatomic location can be reliably used for prognostic purposes, allowing a more accurate assessment of the global risk of complications and determination of surgical outcome. Mediastinal extension in stage I patients seems to be associated with a higher rate of complications. Such information can be used to inform parents more appropriately regarding the management and long‐term prognosis of their children's malformation. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 23: 326–337, 2001.
A comparison of published head and neck stage groupings in carcinomas of the oral cavity
Authors: Groome Patti A. , Schulze Karleen , Boysen Morten , Hall Stephen F. , Mackillop William J.
Published: August 2002

Background

The combination of T, N, and M classifications into stage groupings is meant to facilitate a number of activities, including the estimation of prognosis and the comparison of therapeutic interventions among similar groups of cases. We tested the UICC/AJCC 5th edition stage grouping and seven other TNM‐based groupings proposed for head and neck cancer for their ability to meet these expectations in a specific site: carcinomas of the oral cavity.

Methods

We defined four criteria to assess each grouping scheme: (1) the subgroups defined by T, N, and M that make up a given group within a grouping scheme have similar survival rates (hazard consistency); (2) the survival rates differ among the groups (hazard discrimination); (3) the prediction of cure is high (outcome prediction); and (4) the distribution of patients among the groups is balanced. We identified or derived a measure for each criterion, and the findings were summarized by use of a scoring system. The range of scores was from 0 (best) to 7 (worst). The data are population based from a prospectively gathered series in Southern Norway, with 556 patients diagnosed from 1983 through 1995. Clinical stage assignment was used, and the outcome of interest was cause‐specific survival.

Results

Summary scores across the eight schemes ranged from 1.66 for TANIS‐3 to 6.50 for UICC/AJCC‐5. The TANIS‐7 staging scheme performed best on the hazard consistency criterion. The Kiricuta scheme performed best on the hazard discrimination criterion. Synderman predicted outcome best overall and Berg produced the most balanced distribution of cases among its groups.

Conclusions

UICC/AJCC stage groupings were defined without empirical investigation. When tested, this scheme did not perform as well as any of seven empirically derived schemes we evaluated. Our results suggest that the usefulness of the TNM system could be enhanced by optimizing the design of stage groupings through empirical investigation. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 23: 613–624, 2001.
Accelerated hyperfractionated irradiation for advanced head and neck cancer: Effect of shortening the median treatment duration by 13 days
Authors: Leborgne Felix , Leborgne José H. , Fowler Jack , Zubizarreta Eduardo , Mezzera Julieta
Published: August 2002

Background and Purpose

Optimal treatment duration of altered fractionation schedules in head and neck cancer is still undefined. A retrospective study on local tumor control, survival, and complications of accelerated hyperfractionated irradiation in head and neck cancer was undertaken to investigate whether there was an advantage in further shortening overall time from 6.5 weeks.

Methods

Four hundred nineteen consecutive male patients treated with radiation alone for cure 1987–1998 were analyzed. Patients with stage I, or treated also with brachytherapy implants or chemotherapy, were excluded. Treatment with accelerated hyperfractionation was performed twice daily, at a median of 1.6 Gy/fraction, to a total median dose of 68 Gy in 39 days. The patient population was divided into two groups: those with ≤39 days overall treatment time (group A,n= 227; median, 33 days) and those with >39 days (group B,n= 192; median, 46 days). Group A received a significant median tumor dose reduction of 7% compared with group B.

Results

The 7‐year actuarial local control (LC) rates were 59% and 48% for groups A and B, respectively (p= .02). The actuarial LC rates for T1–2 patients were 79% and 74% at 7 years for groups A and B, respectively (p= NS). Similarly, for T3–4 patients, they were 47% and 35% (p= .02), respectively. The 7‐year actuarial disease‐free survival (DFS) rates for groups A and B were 39% and 26% (p= .01), respectively. For stage II patients, DFS was 62% and 60% at 7 years (p= NS) for groups A and B, respectively. And similarly, for stage III–IV patients, DFS was 33% and 20% (p= .04), respectively, at 7 years. LC and DFS rates at 7 years for T4 and stage IV patients, respectively, were significantly improved in group A. Cox regression analyses for LC showed that both T stage and overall time were significant prognostic factors. Similarly, UICC clinical stage and overall time were significant prognostic factors for DFS. There was no difference in acute morbidity between the two groups: 3% of patients in both groups required tube or parenteral feeding. The 7‐year actuarial probability of RTOG/EORTC grades 3–5 late effects was 15% and 13%, respectively, for each group (p= NS).

Conclusions

This study, with the limitations of a retrospective study, has shown a significant improvement in local tumor control and disease‐free survival, in patients treated with shorter overall treatment times (median, 33 days) with an accelerated hyperfractionated irradiation schedule compared with those treated with a median duration of 46 days. No significant enhancement of acute reactions and late morbidity were observed with the shorter schedule. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 23: 661–668, 2001.
Leadership styles and work‐related values of managers and employees of manufacturing enterprises in post‐communist countries
Authors: Ardichvili Alexander
Published: August 2002

This survey‐based study used the theoretical framework of full‐range leadership developed by Bass and Avolio, the cultural value framework of Hofstede, and two additional cultural value dimensions—fatalism and paternalism—to compare leadership styles and work‐related cultural values of more than 2,900 managers and employees in nine manufacturing firms in Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgystan. Significant differences among the four countries existed on several dimensions of cultural value and leadership style, as well as in cultural values between managers and nonmanagerial employees. This is one of the first studies to address cultural value dimensions in Georgia, Kazakhstan, and the Kyrgyz Republic; the author draws inferences about the relationship between culture and leadership and discusses implications of this relationship for HRD practices in the former USSR. The author presents implications for Western HRD practitioners working with managers and employees from the former USSR.
Divergence or convergence: a cross‐national comparison of personnel selection practices
Authors: Huo Y. Paul , Huang Heh Jason , Napier Nancy K.
Published: August 2002

Striking a balance between globalization and localization in human resource management (HRM) requires
a better understanding of the cross‐national differences in terms of both the status quo and the socially
desirable HRM practices. With this purpose in mind, we examined the hiring practices in ten different countries or
regions using the Best International Human Resource Management Practices Survey (BIHRMPS). Our empirical
findings revealed more divergence than convergence in current recruiting practices, but they also suggest that
organizations around the world are indeed in the process of converging on ways of recruitment even though the
current selection criteria may still be driven by each country's prevalent cultural values. © 2002 Wiley
Periodicals, Inc.
Strength and persistence of fire‐induced soil hydrophobicity under ponderosa and lodgepole pine, Colorado Front Range
Authors: Huffman Edward L. , MacDonald Lee H. , Stednick John D.
Published: August 2002

Fire‐induced soil hydrophobicity is presumed to be a primary cause of the observed post‐fire increases in runoff and erosion from forested watersheds in the Colorado Front Range, but the presence and persistence of hydrophobic conditions has not been rigorously evaluated. Hence the goals of this study were to: (1) assess natural and fire‐induced soil hydrophobicity in the Colorado Front Range, and (2) determine the effect of burn severity, soil texture, vegetation type, soil moisture, and time since burning on soil hydrophobicity.

Five wild and prescribed fires ranging in age from 0 to 22 months were studied. Each fire had four study sites in ponderosa pine forests that had been burned at high, moderate, or low severity, and three sites were in unburned areas. Additional sites were established in lodgepole pine stands and an area with unusually coarse‐textured soils. At each site the soil hydrophobicity was assessed in two pits using the water drop penetration time (WDPT) and the critical surface tension (CST). Measurements were made at the mineral soil surface and depths of 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 cm.

In sites burned at moderate or high severity the soils were often strongly hydrophobic at 0, 3, and 6 cm. Unburned sites or sites burned at low severity were typically hydrophobic only at the surface. Although soil hydrophobicity generally strengthened with increasing burn severity, statistically significant differences in soil hydrophobicity were difficult to detect because of the high variability within and between sites. Hydrophobicity also increased with increasing percent sand and was not present when soil moistures exceeded 12–25%. There were no significant differences in soil hydrophobicity between ponderosa and lodgepole pine stands, regardless of burn severity.

Repeat measurements on one fire suggest a weakening of fire‐induced soil hydrophobicity after 3 months. Comparisons between fires suggest that fire‐induced soil hydrophobicity persists for at least 22 months. Overall, CST values were more consistent and more highly correlated with the independent variables than the WDPT, and the CST is recommended for assessing soil hydrophobicity rather than the more commonly used WDPT. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hormone receptors and proliferation in breast carcinomas of equivalent histologic grades in pre‐ and postmenopausal women
Authors: Talley Lynya I. , Grizzle William E. , Waterbor John W. , Brown David , Weiss Heidi , Frost Andra R.
Published: August 2002

Breast cancers in younger, premenopausal women are more likely to exhibit an adverse prognostic profile (including negative steroid hormone receptors and a high rate of cellular proliferation) and poor outcome than breast cancers in postmenopausal women. It has been hypothesized that this adverse prognostic profile is a result of the higher histologic grade of breast cancers in pre‐ compared with post‐menopausal women. To assess the association of expression of steroid hormone receptors and indicators of proliferation while controlling for histologic grade, we identified 100 infiltrating ductal carcinomas from premenopausal women 45 years of age or younger and 100 from postmenopausal women 65 years of age or older. The carcinomas were selected so that the histologic grades (lowversushigh) were distributed equally between the 2 groups. Estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), p27Kip1and Ki‐67 (to measure rate of proliferation) were assessed by immunohistochemistry and compared between groups. Clinical information and survival data were also analyzed. ER content was lower and proliferation was higher in carcinomas in premenopausal women (p= 0.048 andp= 0.005, respectively). By univariate analysis, p27Kip1and PR were not different between the groups; however, in multivariate analysis, p27Kip1was higher in postmenopausal women, but only in a subgroup with highly proliferative carcinomas. Overall survival was similar in the pre‐ and postmenopausal women. Furthermore, low p27Kip1and African‐American ethnicity predicted a poorer overall survival in the premenopausal, but not in the postmenopausal, women in our study. After controlling for histologic grade, a lower expression of ER and a higher proliferative index were detected in breast carcinomas in premenopausal women. Therefore, some prognostic indicators, such as ER and proliferative rate, may be more closely associated with menopausal status than histologic grade. Our data also suggest that some prognostic factors are not equally effective as predictors of survival in pre‐ and postmenopausal women. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Loss of tumor suppressor protein PTEN during renal carcinogenesis
Authors: Brenner Walburgis , Färber Gloria , Herget Thomas , Lehr Hans‐Anton , Hengstler Jan G. , Thüroff Joachim W.
Published: August 2002

The tumor suppressor gene PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted from chromosome 10) encodes a dual specific protein and phospholipid phosphatase that affects cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration. In our study, we examined protein expression of PTEN in renal carcinogenesis. PTEN protein levels were examined in 42 clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCC) and oncocytomas as well as in the corresponding normal renal tissue of the same patients using Western blot analysis. Cellular localization was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. PTEN was highly expressed in all investigated normal renal tissue specimens. Immunohistochemical analysis showed an almost exclusive staining of proximal tubulus epithelial cells known to be precursor cells of ccRCC. Within the proximal tubulus cells, PTEN exhibited a membrane predominant immunostaining pattern. In ccRCCs PTEN expression was markedly reduced to an average of less than 10% compared with normal tissue as evidenced by Western blot analysis (p < 0.001). The degree of reduction was similar in highly differentiated (G1) carcinomas and in less differentiated (G2–G4) carcinomas. These observations were reproduced by immunohistochemical studies, which revealed a loss of the characteristic membrane predominant immunostaining pattern in ccRCC. In contrast to the PTEN positive proximal tubulus epithelial cells, the distal tubulus epithelial cells, which are precursor cells of the benign oncocytomas, exhibited only a very weak PTEN expression. Compared with the distal tubulus epithelial cells, no downregulation of PTEN was seen in oncocytomas. We conclude that PTEN expression and PTEN membrane localization are lost during early renal cell carcinogenesis and may therefore be a valuable RCC tumor marker. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Thymidine kinase in epithelial ovarian cancer: Relationship with the other pyrimidine pathway enzymes
Authors: Fujiwaki Ritsuto , Hata Kohkichi , Nakayama Kentaro , Moriyama Masashi , Iwanari Osamu , Katabuchi Hidetaka , Okamura Hitoshi , Sakai Eiichi , Miyazaki Kohji
Published: August 2002

TK is a pyrimidine metabolic pathway enzyme involved in salvage DNA synthesis. What roles TK may play in epithelial ovarian cancer and the relationships between TK and the other pyrimidine pathway enzymes remain unclear. We examined TK1 gene expression by RT‐PCR and related it to gene expression of TS, TP and DPD in 69 samples from epithelial ovarian cancer, 8 low‐malignant‐potential tumors, 16 benign ovarian tumors and 34 normal ovaries. Additionally, cytosolic and serum TK activities were determined by radioenzymatic assay. TK1 gene expression, the ratio of TK1 to TS gene expression, that of TK1 to TP and that of TK1 to DPD were significantly higher in epithelial ovarian cancer than in normal ovaries. In epithelial ovarian cancer, TK1 gene expression correlated with cytosolic and serum TK activities, TS and TP gene expression and the ratio of TP to DPD gene expression. Patients with high‐TK1 gene expression had a significantly poorer survival than those with low TK1 gene expression. Combined analysis demonstrated that the relative risk of cancer death for tumors with high TK1, high TS and high TP gene expression was greater than that for tumors with high TK1 gene expression alone. TK1 gene expression together with TS, TP and DPD gene expression may play important roles in influencing the malignant behavior of epithelial ovarian cancer. Combination therapy including TK inhibitor is a possible therapeutic intervention in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.