bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Failure of Computerized Treatment Suggestions to Improve Health Outcomes of Outpatients with Uncomplicated Hypertension: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Murray Michael D. , Harris Lisa E. , Overhage J. Marc , Zhou Xiao‐Hua , Eckert George J. , Smith Faye E. , Buchanan Nancy Nienaber , Wolinsky Fredric D. , McDonald Clement J. , Tierney William M.
Published: May 2004

Study Objective. To assess the effects of evidence‐based treatment suggestions for hypertension made to physicians and pharmacists using a comprehensive electronic medical record system.

Design. Randomized controlled trial with a 2 times 2 factorial design of physician and pharmacist interventions, which resulted in four groups of patients: physician intervention only, pharmacist intervention only, intervention by physician and pharmacist, and intervention by neither physician nor pharmacist (control).

Setting. Academic primary care internal medicine practice.

Subjects. Seven hundred twelve patients with uncomplicated hypertension.

Measurements and Main Results. Suggestions were displayed to physicians on computer workstations used to write outpatient orders and to pharmacists when filling prescriptions. The primary end point was generic health‐related quality of life. Secondary end points were symptom profile and side effects from antihypertensive drugs, number of emergency department visits and hospitalizations, blood pressure measurements, patient satisfaction with physicians and pharmacists, drug therapy compliance, and health care charges. In the control group, implementation of care changes in accordance with treatment suggestions was observed in 26% of patients. In the intervention groups, compliance with suggestions was poor, with treatment suggestions implemented in 25% of patients for whom suggestions were displayed only to pharmacists, 29% of those for whom suggestions were displayed only to physicians, and 35% of the group for whom both physicians and pharmacists received suggestions (p=0.13). Intergroup differences were neither statistically significant nor clinically relevant for generic health‐related quality of life, symptom and side‐effect profiles, number of emergency department visits and hospitalizations, blood pressure measurements, charges, or drug therapy compliance.

Conclusion. Computer‐based intervention using a sophisticated electronic physician order‐entry system failed to improve compliance with treatment suggestions or outcomes of patients with uncomplicated hypertension.
Crystallographic report: Bis(N‐cyclohexyl,N‐methyldithiocarbamato)zinc(II)
Authors: Chan Meng Yin , Lai Chian Sing , Tiekink Edward R. T.
Published: May 2004

The mononuclear structure of Zn[S2CN(Me)Cy)]2 features a tetrahedral zinc center defined by two chelating dithiocarbamate ligands. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Crystallographic report: Dimeric chlorobis(hexamethylenedithiocarbamato)antimony(III) di‐chloroform solvate
Authors: Liu Yu , Tiekink Edward R. T.
Published: May 2004

The structure of Sb(S2CN(CH2)6)2Cl, is dimeric owing to SbCl bridges and features a distorted six‐coordinate geometry for antimony; there are two solvent chloroform molecules per dimer. The geometry is based on a capped octahedron as a result of the presence of a stereochemically active lone pair of electrons. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Crystallographic report: Supramolecular structure of 2‐aminonicotinatodimethylthallium(III), [TlMe2(2anic)]n
Authors: Toma Monica , Sánchez Agustín , García‐Tasende María S. , Casas José S. , Sordo José , Castellano Eduardo E. , Ellena Javier
Published: May 2004

The title compound displays an overall two‐dimensional supramolecular arrangement comprising [TlMe2(2anic)] units linked by TlN bonds and weak Tl···O interactions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and application of pendant phenyl cyclopentadienyl lanthanide chlorides as catalyst precursors for methyl methacrylate polymerization
Authors: Xie Xiaomin , Huang Jiling
Published: May 2004

The synthesis and characterization of a series of new pendant phenyl substituted cyclopentadienyl lanthanide chlorides are reported. The analytical data of 3a–3e point to the formation of monomeric and unsolvated complexes, (PhCMe2C5H4)2LnCl (Ln = Er (3a), Sm (3b), Gd (3c), Y (3d), Nd (3e)); and the analytical data of 4a–4d point to the formation of the dimeric and unsolvated complexes, [(PhCH2CMe2C5H4)2LnCl]2 (Ln = Gd (4a), Y (4b), Sm (4c), Er (4d)). The X‐ray crystallographic structure of 4d indicates that the pendant phenyl substituent is not coordinated to the central metal. The nine complexes are efficient catalysts for the polymerization of methyl methacrylate in conjunction with Al(Et)3 or NaH. As NaH was used as a new co‐catalyst, the catalytic systems show highly catalytic activity at room temperature. In the [(PhCH2CMe2C5H4)2ErCl]2/Al(Et)3 catalyst system, the effects of the concentration of catalyst, and the temperature and time of polymerization were studied. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Epidural analgesia in gastrointestinal surgery
Authors: Fotiadis R J , Badvie S , Weston M D , Allen-Mersh T G
Published: May 2004

Background

The ideal perioperative analgesia should provide effective pain relief, avoid the detrimental effects of the stress response, be simple to administer without the need for intensive monitoring, and have a low risk of complications.

Methods

This review defines the physiological effects of epidural analgesia and assesses whether the available evidence supports its preferential use in gastrointestinal surgery. All papers studied were identified from a Medline search or selected by cross-referencing.

Results

Epidural analgesia is associated with a shorter duration of postoperative ileus, attenuation of the stress response, fewer pulmonary complications, and improved postoperative pain control and recovery. It does not reduce anastomotic leakage, intraoperative blood loss, transfusion requirement, risk of thromboembolism or cardiac morbidity, or hospital stay compared with that after conventional analgesia in unselected patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. Thoracic epidural analgesia reduces hospital costs and stay in patients at high risk of cardiac or pulmonary complications.

Conclusions

Epidural analgesia enhances recovery after gastrointestinal surgery. The results support the development of structured regimens of early postoperative feeding and mobilization to exploit the potential for thoracic epidural analgesia to reduce hospital stay after gastrointestinal surgery.
Randomized comparison of rapid ambulation using radial, 4 French femoral access, or femoral access with AngioSeal closure
Authors: Reddy Bhagat K. , Brewster Pamela S. , Walsh Thomas , Burket Mark W. , Thomas William J. , Cooper Christopher J.
Published: May 2004

Radial access and closure devices are associated with improved quality of life (QOL) after cardiac catheterization. Whether this is related to the access site or time to ambulation is unknown. Seventy‐five patients undergoing cardiac catheterization were randomized to femoral 6 Fr with AngioSeal closure (F+C), femoral 4 Fr without closure, and radial (R) access. All patients were ambulated at 1 hr. QOL was measured utilizing visual analogue scales and Short Form‐36 at baseline, 1 day, and 1 week. Time to ambulation and discharge were equivalent, as was postprocedure QOL. However, angiographic quality was lower in the 4 Fr group (P < 0.0001) and catheterization costs were higher in the F+C group (P < 0.0001). Ambulation 1 hr after catheterization can be accomplished utilizing radial, femoral 6 Fr with closure device, or femoral 4 Fr access with equivalent outcomes and QOL. However, this is achieved at a higher cost with a closure device, or lesser angiographic quality with 4 Fr catheters. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;62:143–149. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bioptome‐assisted coil occlusion of moderate‐large patent ductus arteriosus in infants and small children
Authors: Kumar Raman Krishna , Anil Sivadasan Radha , Kannan Bhava R.J. , Philip Ancil , Sivakumar Kothandam
Published: May 2004

Coil occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), although inexpensive, is technically challenging for the moderate‐large ducts in small children. Bioptome assistance allows better control and precision. We describe case selection strategies, technique, immediate and short‐term results of bioptome‐assisted closure of moderate‐large (≥ 3 mm) PDA in 86 infants and children ≤ 10 kg (age, 18 days to 3 years; median, 8 months; weight, 6.6 ± 1.9 kg; duct size, 3.6 ± 0.8 mm; pulmonary artery mean pressures, 33 ± 12 mm Hg). Patients with PDA > 6 mm (> 4 mm for children under 5 kg) and/or shallow ampullae (by echocardiography) underwent operation (n = 41). Specific technical modifications included use of long sheaths (5.5–8 Fr) for duct delineation and coil delivery, cutting of coils turns (51 patients) to accommodate the coils in the ampulla, and simultaneous delivery of multiple coils (n = 43). As far as possible, coils were deployed entirely in the ampulla. Median fluoroscopy time was 7.3 min (1.2–42 min). Successful deployment was feasible in all (final pulmonary artery mean pressures, 20 ± 4.6 mm Hg). Coils embolized in 14 (16%) patients (all retrieved). Complete occlusion occurred immediately in 63 patients (73%) and in 77 patients (89%) at 24 hr. Three patients had new gradients in the left pulmonary artery. Follow‐up (62 patients; median duration, 13 months) revealed small residual Doppler flows in 11 patients (18%) at the most recent visit. Bioptome‐assisted coil occlusion of moderate‐large PDA in selected infants and small children is feasible with encouraging results. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;62:266–271. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Percutaneous closure of atrial septal defect via transjugular approach with the Amplatzer septal occluder after unsuccessful attempt using the CardioSEAL device
Authors: Sullebarger J. Thompson , Sayad Dany , Gerber Lowell , Ettedgui Jose , Jimmo‐Waumans Sonia , Alcebo Patricia C.
Published: May 2004

Percutaneous closure of a secundum atrial septal defect was performed successfully via the jugular approach in a 77‐year‐old patient with heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia and total occlusion of the inferior vena cava using the Amplatzer septal occluder after an unsuccessful attempt using the CardioSEAL septal occluder. This case demonstrates the advantages of the jugular approach in the patient with difficult anatomy and the advantage of the Amplatzer over the CardioSEAL device in this situation. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;62:262–265. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Variability in quantitative measurement of the same segment with two different intravascular ultrasound systems: In vivo and in vitro studies
Authors: Li Yuxin , Honye Junko , Saito Satoshi , Takayama Tadateru , Yokoyama Shin‐Ichiro , Saruya Tadahiro , Kotani Motoko , Harasawa Kazuo , Ando Hideyuki , Endo Masayoshi , Kanmatsuse Katsuo
Published: May 2004

We evaluated two different intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) systems, Atlantis and Intrafocus, to verify their accuracy and reproducibility. In an in vivo study on 20 consecutive patients with coronary artery diseases, the minimum lumen diameter (MLD), vessel diameter, lumen area (LA), vessel area, plaque area, and area stenosis rate (% AS) were respectively measured. In an in vitro study, MLD and LA were measured in four metal tubes with different diameters. All of the measured values except for % AS by Atlantis were significantly larger than the values obtained with Intrafocus. Nonuniform rotational distortion (NURD) was estimated as 34% in Atlantis and 1% in Intrafocus. The measurements by Atlantis were larger than the true values while the measurements by Intrafocus were less than the true values in all four metal tubes. These findings suggest that we should clearly avoid the use of different IVUS systems in the same study. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;62:175–180. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Concomitant coronary and subclavian steal caused by ipsilateral subclavian artery stenosis and arteriovenous fistula in a hemodialysis patient
Authors: Lee Pui‐Yin , Ng William , Chen Wai‐Hong
Published: May 2004

Patients with chronic renal failure, because of concomitant conventional cardiovascular and uremia‐associated risk factors, are at risk of developing diffuse and accelerated atherosclerosis involving both the coronary and peripheral territories. We report an end‐stage renal failure patient with a history of coronary artery bypass surgery who developed both angina and dizziness during hemodialysis via a left forearm arteriovenous fistula. Magnetic resonance imaging diagnosed the presence of significant subclavian artery stenosis. The patient then underwent successful percutaneous stenting of the left subclavian artery. His angina and dizziness symptoms resolved subsequently. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;62:244–248. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Point‐of‐care testing shows clinically relevant variation in the degree of inhibition of platelets by standard‐dose abciximab therapy during percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Ray Michael J. , Walters Darren L. , Bett Nicholas , Cameron James , Wood Peter , Aroney Con
Published: May 2004

Administration of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has proven clinical benefit, but is administered at a dose allowing for the patients' weight but not other variables. This study of 75 patients evaluated platelet inhibition achieved by standard‐dose abciximab therapy during PCI as measured by two point‐of‐care (POC) instruments, Plateletworks (PW) and whole blood aggregation (WB). Results were related to the decrease of platelet activation produced as well as patients' return of angina within 30 days. Flow cytometric measurement showed abciximab suppressed platelet‐monocyte aggregates (P < 0.001) and activated glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (P < 0.001) but not P‐selectin. Greater POC‐measured inhibition corresponded to less postabciximab expression of platelet‐monocyte aggregates (P < 0.01). Patients above the lowest quartile of POC inhibition with PW demonstrated a relative risk of experiencing return of angina within 30 days of 0.48 (0.23–0.99). In conclusion, POC measurements reflect platelet activation suppression, higher PW measurements being associated with a decreased risk of return of angina. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;62:150–154. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
First human experience with stent‐based ventricle‐to‐coronary artery bypass
Authors: Boekstegers Peter , Steinbeck Gerhard , Bengel Frank M. , Reichart Bruno , Vicol Calin
Published: May 2004

Stent‐based ventricle‐to‐coronary artery bypass (VSTENT) has been shown experimentally to provide systolic instead of physiological diastolic blood flow directly from the left ventricle to a coronary artery distal to a high‐grade stenosis. We report on the first successful surgical implantation of a VSTENT in a patient with coronary artery disease. At 3‐month follow‐up, the VSTENT was patent and showed sufficient regional blood flow at rest with a significant flow reserve. In addition, the patient was asymptomatic during exercise testing. Though encouraging, these observations have to be confirmed and are the subject of an ongoing multicenter study. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;62:198–200. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Early prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) kinetics following prostate carcinoma radiotherapy
Authors: Cavanaugh Sean X. , Kupelian Patrick A. , Fuller Clifton D. , Reddy Chandana , Bradshaw Patrick , Pollock Brad H. , Fuss Martin
Published: May 2004

BACKGROUND

The goal of the current study was to analyze the prognostic value of early prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) kinetics, with PSA assessed as reaching or failing to reach discrete threshold values at fixed time points during follow‐up after external‐beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for prostate carcinoma.

METHODS

The authors conducted a retrospective review of PSA follow‐up for 839 patients treated between May 1987 and December 2000 at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (Cleveland, OH). They also assessed the impact on bRFS of PSA levels lower than defined threshold values at given time points during follow‐up.

RESULTS

During a median follow‐up of 74 months (range, 24–189 months), 540 patients (64.4%) maintained bRFS, whereas 299 patients (35.6%) did not maintain bRFS. The median nadir among patients with sustained bRFS was 0.4 ng/mL, with a median time to nadir of 28.9 months. Patients who did not maintain bRFS reached a median nadir of 1.3 ng/mL at a median of 15 months (P < 0.0001 for both nadir level and time to nadir). Reaching PSA thresholds of 3.0, 2.0, 1.0, 0.5, and 0.2 ng/mL at any time during follow‐up was correlated with improved bRFS (P < 0.0001, each threshold). Patients whose PSA levels crossed the appropriate thresholds within 3 and 6 months of follow‐up, irrespective of the time or level of eventual nadir, exhibited significantly improved bRFS when compared with patients whose PSA levels reached those thresholds at any time during follow‐up and patients whose PSA levels never reached those thresholds (all thresholds: P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite previous conclusions that early PSA assessment may lack prognostic value, the data obtained in the current study suggest that the kinetics of early PSA decline is predictive of long‐term bRFS when assessed using a time‐and–PSA threshold model. After EBRT for prostate carcinoma, PSA levels below various discrete PSA thresholds were indicative of statistically meaningful long‐term outcome differences between experimental arms as early as 90 days after radiotherapy. If the time‐and–PSA threshold model is shown to be predictive of prostate carcinoma mortality as well, then it may allow the scientific community to evaluate promising treatment concepts and technologies at a highly accelerated pace. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Spontaneous crystallization of potassium chloride from aqueous and aqueous‐ethanol solutions Part 1: Kinetics and mechanism of the crystallization process
Authors: Linnikov Oleg D.
Published: May 2004

Kinetics of spontaneous crystallization of potassium chloride from aqueous and aqueous‐ethanol solutions were studied. During the crystallization of the salt the electrical conductance and optical transmission of the supersaturated solutions were measured automatically. For monitoring of the total surface of growing potassium chloride crystals at the crystallization the turbidimetric method was used. The growth rate and activation energy of the crystals were determined. The crystal growth rate was proportional to supersaturation. When the volume fraction of ethanol in the solution increased from 0 to 25.76%, the activation energy of the growth process did not change and was about 60 kJ·mol‐1. Aggregation of the crystals was found. The aggregation kinetics of the crystals may be described approximately by the famous Smoluchowski equation for coagulation of colloidal particles. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Impurity adsorption mechanism of borax for a suspension growth condition: A comparison of models and experimental data
Authors: Al‐Jibbouri Sattar , Ulrich Joachim
Published: May 2004

A fluidized bed crystallizer is employed to investigate the growth and dissolution rates of MgSO4·7H2O from aqueous solutions in the presence of borax as impurity at 25°C. By adding 0.5, 1, 2 and 5 wt % of impurity the pH value changes from 6.7 to 7.11, while the saturation temperature shifts to 24.8, 24.4, 24 and 23.1°C, respectively. The data on crystal growth rates from aqueous solutions as a function of impurity concentration are discussed from the standpoint of Cabrera and Vermileya, and Kubota and Mullin. The value of the impurity effect, αθeq, determined from analysis of the data on growth kinetics was found to be in good agreement with the value obtained from direct adsorption experiments. The estimated value of the average spacing between the adjacent adsorption active sites and the average distance between the neighbouring impurity‐adsorbed sites are also reported. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A software pattern to check scenarios in a reactive system
Authors: Itoh Kiyohito , Kobayashi Hiromi
Published: May 2004

In the field of object‐oriented software, a great deal of research has addressed software patterns with the objective of developing software modules at the design level. However, we have found only little research on the patterns related to system safety. In this paper, we propose a mechanism related to the safety of reactive systems and the development of software patterns for its construction. First, we focus on the representation of a reactive system as event stimuli and reactions; a safety mechanism called the event checker that checks the scenario, that is, the event sequence and timing constraints, combines several existing patterns to form a pattern. Next, as application examples of this safety mechanism, we present implementation examples written in the Java language of two models related to railroads. Finally, we consider the improvements in safety due to the event checker and reliability of the software mechanism by using this pattern. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 87(11): 11–19, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjc.10156
Control of variable structure elements in adaptive mathematical morphology for boundary enhancement of ultrasound images
Authors: Tsubai Masayoshi , Ito Masayasu
Published: May 2004

This paper discusses boundary enhancement function for adaptive morphology using variable structuring elements. The mechanism for boundary enhancement is quantitatively described. A method is proposed for setting the definition domain for the structuring elements and controlling their values, which is effective regarding boundary enhancement and speckle reduction in ultrasound images. It is shown that by controlling the value of the structuring element so that it is large near the boundary and small in other areas of the image, boundary enhancement and speckle elimination can be performed simultaneously, using the opening operation and closing operation. The spatial resolution and statistical properties of the speckle intensity in the ultrasound image are utilized to set these functions automatically on the basis of information on the object image. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by a quantitative evaluation of a numerical phantom created in a computer simulation and in an application to boundary extraction from a real biological ultrasound image. It is shown that the performance of the proposed method in speckle reduction and boundary enhancement is better than that of the conventional method. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 87(11): 20–33, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjc.20117
Motion generation of virtual human with hierarchical reinforcement learning
Authors: Mukai Tomohiko , Kuriyama Shigeru , Kaneko Toyohisa
Published: May 2004

In the key frame method, which is a general method of generating the motion of a virtual human, a large number of postures must be specified for the virtual human in each key frame. A tremendous effort is required if this process is performed by a manual operation. This paper proposes a method of efficiently constructing the motion of the virtual human by specifying the position of the end effector in each key frame. In this method, the posture of the virtual human in each key frame is efficiently extracted from a tremendous number of candidate postures through hierarchical reinforcement learning. The virtual human model to be used is hierarchically organized according to the learning structure, thus partitioning the search space. Each component of the body retains a posture template with discrete joint angles. By the proposed method, composite continuous motion can be generated automatically by specifying the locus points of the fingertip or the toe in motion. In addition, the motion is generated with overall optimization based on an arbitrary condition. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 87(11): 34–43, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjc.20118
Automatic annotation of tennis action for content‐based retrieval by collaborating audio and visual information
Authors: Miyamori Hisashi
Published: May 2004

In this paper, the author proposes a scheme for automatically annotating tennis action for content‐based retrieval by using video and audio information collaboratively. Conventionally, annotation for content‐based retrieval had been associated with the action events to be recognized by analyzing information such as the locus or relative position and their transitions for each target object within the video. However, these methods have the drawback that when only video information is used, there are parts for which important times or positions basically cannot be identified because of tracking errors due to occlusion of the target object, which results in action events not being detected or detection errors occurring. The proposed method, which is applied to tennis video, uses audio information to extract the times when a player strikes the ball and recognizes basic actions of the player such as a forehand swing or overhead swing from the positional relationship between the player and ball at those times. The authors performed experiments to check the degree to which the recognition of the basic action of a player was affected by whether or not audio information was used to extract the ball impact time. The results verified the effectiveness of the approach by showing that the proposed scheme could prevent several action identification errors that could not be avoided by using only video information. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 87(11): 57–72, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjc.20120
Configuration of a voltage sag compensator by use of a micro‐SMES and experimental results
Authors: Polmai Sompob , Ise Toshifumi , Kumagai Sadatoshi
Published: May 2004

A voltage sag compensating using a micro‐SMES is presented. Based on previous works, we have carried out experiments for voltage sag compensation on the laboratory‐built system in order to validate the proposed minimum energy injection voltage sag compensation algorithm. To improve the compensating performance of the system, two‐degree‐of‐freedom voltage control is proposed. In this paper, the circuit configuration and feedback voltage control system of the compensator are described and the experimental results are reported. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 148(2): 84–92, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.10267
Extinction of spherulites and improvement of polyethylene properties by the use of lithium carbonate
Authors: Yamamoto Shigeru , Kawakami Chikataka , Mizuyori Yasuo
Published: May 2004

Polyethylene (PE) consists of nonpolar molecular chains having simple structural units. Physically, this polymer is so stable and flexible that it is widely used for insulation of electric wires and power cables, as well as for fabrication of various molded products. The crystalline texture and the presence of spherulites are major factors determining the mechanical and electrical properties of polyethylene.

For the purpose of improving these properties of PE, the spherulites are eliminated completely by heat mixing of PE with Li2CO3. PE processed in this manner is free of spherulites, has a uniform structure and excellent electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties, such as short treeing length, high dielectric breakdown strength, and high tearing impact strength. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 148(2): 22–38, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.10296
Substation outage rate prediction method based on lightning characteristics
Authors: Shimizu Kenji , Motoyama Hideki
Published: May 2004

A unique method of predicting lightning outage rates for substations, taking into account statistics‐based lightning characteristics, has been developed. The proposed method features the application of a combination of two processes: a high‐accuracy lightning surge analysis applying the electromagnetic transient program (EMTP) and a statistical data analysis using a general‐purpose spreadsheet software. By employing an original tool applying the proposed prediction method, which is installed in a personal computer, an optimal lightning protection for substations can be designed. In this paper, several analysis models are proposed for lightning characteristics including lightning surge. The validity of the proposed method was confirmed by comparing the transmission line outage rates derived by the models with the outage data gained during actual observations. It was found that the predicted lightning outage rates for 500‐kV substations were relatively low, and this finding revealed that it is possible to decrease the impulse withstand voltage level (LIWV). © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 148(2): 64–75, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.10300
Ruthenium(III) Schiff's Base Complex as Novel Chloride Selective Membrane Sensor
Authors: Ganjali Mohammad Reza , Pourjavid Mohammad Reza , Rezapour Morteza , Poursaberi Tahereh , Daftari Azadeh , Salavati‐Niasari Masoud
Published: May 2004

A novel chloride PVC‐based membrane sensor based on a ruthenium(III) Schiff's base complex, as an excellent neutral carrier, has been developed. The ruthenium complex, in combination with a ketonic plasticizer and a cationic additive led to ISEs with fundamental characteristics, such as slope sensitivity, short response times and selectivity coefficients, which were sufficient for practical applications. The sensor with composition of 30% PVC, 62% benzyl acetate, 5% ruthenium(III) Schiff's base complex and 3% hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide displays near‐Nernstian behavior in a wide concentration range (1.0×10−1–3.0×10−6 M with slope of −54.5±0.5) with a detection limit of 2.0×10−6 M (71.0 ng per mL). The response of the electrode is independent on pH in the range of 4.0–10.0 and can it be used for at least ten weeks. The proposed electrode shows a very short response time (<20 s) in whole concentration range. The sensor displays high selectivity toward chloride ions over several organic and inorganic anions. It was successfully applied for the determination of chloride in serum samples. It was also used as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of chloride ions with silver nitrate solution.
Embryonic development of the oligochaeteEnchytraeus coronatus: An SEM and histological study of embryogenesis from one‐cell stage to hatching
Authors: Bergter Annette , Beck Lothar A. , Paululat Achim
Published: May 2004

We describe the embryonic development of the soil‐living oligochaeteEnchytraeus coronatus(Enchytraeidae, Oligochaeta, Annelida).Enchytraeus coronatusis a direct developer. It follows the typical spiral cleavage mode of development that is highly conserved among annelids and a large number of other lophotrochozoan taxa that are collectively named “Spiralia.” Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was combined with light microscopic analysis of wholemounted and sectioned embryos, differentially processed through histological stainings, to reconstruct and document cellular movements and organogenesis from early cleavage stages until hatching. With the help of these data we have established a scheme of morphologically defined stages in order to facilitate future studies on the molecular and histological level that will allow a detailed cross‐species comparison among annelids and other phyla. J. Morphol. 261:26–42, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Stages in spermatogenesis of two species of caecilians, Ichthyophis tricolor and Uraeotyphlus cf. narayani (Amphibia: Gymnophiona): Light and electron microscopic study
Authors: Smita Mathew , Oommen Oommen V. , Jancy M. George , Akbarsha M.A.
Published: May 2004

The sequential changes during spermatogenesis in the testis of two species of caecilians, Ichthyophis tricolor (Ichthyophiidae) and Uraeotyphlus cf. narayani (Uraeotyphliidae), of Western Ghats of Kerala, India, were traced using both histological techniques and transmission electron microscopy. The cell nests were assigned to stages in spermatogenesis based on the classification of van Oordt (1956, Thesis, Utrecht University). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first identification and ultrastructural description of stages in spermatogenesis in caecilians. The article illustrates not only the stages, but also the cell divisions, mitotic and meiotic, as specified. The observations indicate that, although caecilians have undergone considerable modifications in morphology and anatomy, including reproductive anatomy, in the context of a subterranean and concealed life, they appear to have conserved the typical amphibian pattern of spermatogenesis for the events of development of spermatids. J. Morphol. 261:92–104, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Searching for nitrile hydratase using the Consensus‐Degenerate Hybrid Oligonucleotide Primers strategy
Authors: Lopes Lourenço Pedro Miguel , Almeida Tânia , Mendonça Diogo , Simões Fernanda , Novo Carlos
Published: May 2004

Consensus‐Degenerate Oligonucleotide Hybrid Primers (CODEHOP) were designed by using the WWW‐implemented strategy, based on multiple alignments of nitrile hydratase (NHase) α subunit, available from EMBL database. These primers were successfully tested with known NHase‐producing bacterial strains such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens DSM 9674, Rhodococcus erythropolis DSM 9675, R. erythropolis 9685 and R. erythropolis 11397 and also allowed amplification from organisms not previously referenced (Variovorax sp. DSM 11402 and Agrobacterium sp. DSM 11401). Hybrid primer utilisation was evaluated by analysing the incorporated sequences in cloned PCR fragments. Several primers from the oligonucleotide pool seemed to participate in the amplification of the correct fragment.  Common garden soil was used as a source for both acetonitrile culture enrichment screening and direct DNA extraction. A R. erythropolis strain (CCMI 1005) was isolated by culture enrichment and allowed the PCR amplification of a DNA sequence (AJ548493) identical to the NHase coding sequences commonly described for that species, while the direct use of soil DNA as template led to the CODEHOP detection of two putative NHase coding sequences (AJ548498 and AJ548499), which were significantly different from any other known sequence. The phylogenetic relationship between all sequences obtained and the published NHase coding sequences was assessed by neighbour‐joining analysis.

The results demonstrate the use of consensus‐degenerate primers in NHase detection from organisms known to express it and in the screening for new NHase family members. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Isolation, characterization and beneficial effects of rice associated plant growth promoting bacteria from Zanzibar soils
Authors: Yasmin Sumera , Rahman Bakar M. Abdul , Malik Kausar A. , Hafeez Fauzia Y.
Published: May 2004

This study was undertaken to isolate and characterize plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) occurring in four soils of Zanzibar, Tanzania as well as to evaluate their potential use as biofertilizers for rice. A total of 12 PGPB strains were isolated from rice and studied for growth characteristics, carbon/nitrogen source utilization patterns using QTS‐24 kits, phosphate solubilization, indole acetic acid (IAA) production, antibiotic resistance patterns and growth at different pH, temperature and salt concentrations. All the isolates were motile and gram negative except Z3‐4. Acetylene reduction activity was detected in all isolates ranging from 5.9–76.4 nmole C2H2 reduced/h × mg protein while 9 isolates produced IAA ranged from 20–90.8 mg/l. Most of the isolates showed resistance against different environmental stresses like 10–40 °C temperature, 0.2–1 M salt concentration and 4–8.5 pH range. Only one isolate Z2‐7 formed clear zones on Pikovskaia's medium showing its ability to solubilize phosphates. Z3‐2 was used to develop fluorescent antibodies to check the cross reactivity of the isolates. Inoculation of these bacterial isolates resulted in higher plant biomass, root area, and total N and P contents on Tanzanian rice variety BKN PRAT3036B under controlled conditions. Bacillus sp. Z3‐4 and Azospirillum sp. Z3‐1 are effective strains and, after further testing under field conditions, can be used for inoculum production of rice in Tanzania. The plant growth promoting effects of these PGPRs suggest that these can be exploited to improve crop productivity of rice in Tanzania. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Role of peg formation in clamp cell fusion of homobasidiomycete fungi
Authors: Badalyan Suzanna M. , Polak Eline , Hermann René , Aebi Markus , Kües Ursula
Published: May 2004

In most filamentous basidiomycetes, clamp cells are found at the septa of dikaryotic mycelia. Clamp cell formation starts at hyphal tip cells with the development of a lateral bulge at a position slightly apical to the future septum. Relative to the growth direction of the hypha, the protrusion expands backwards into a hook‐like structure. Next, the two genetically different haploid nuclei within the hyphal tip cell divide. A septum appears between clamp cell and hyphal tip cell, thereby trapping one nucleus within the clamp cell. Another septum is laid within the hypha, separating a nucleus of the other type in the newly generated subapical hyphal cell from the two different nuclei kept together in the new apical hyphal cell. Through fusion of clamp and subapical cell, the two solitary nuclei become united within the subapical hyphal compartment. In 1933, Buller described subapical formation of a peg to which the clamp cell fuses as an additional, subsequently neglected step in this series of events. In this study, we represent evidence for subapical peg formation and its role in clamp cell fusion. Our observations potentially indicate a B mating type regulated extracellular communication between clamp and subapical hyphal cell. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Quality evaluation of broom honey (Spartocytisus supranubius L) produced in Tenerife (The Canary Islands)
Authors: Serra Bonvehí J , Bentabol Manzanares A , Santos Vilar JM
Published: May 2004

The qualities of 24 samples of broom (Spartocytisus supranubius L) honey from Mount Teide National Park (Tenerife) were evaluated. A total of 33 pollen types was identified. The study demonstrated the predominance of Spartocytisus supranubius, and minor incidence of Echium wildpretii, Descurainia bourgaeana, Erysimum scoparium and Pteocephalus lasiospermus, which are major edemic plants of this zone. The low electrical conductivity was typical of pale honeys. Most samples showed a proper maturity indicated by the low water content. Since the hydroxymethylfurfural content was also low, good freshness was indicated. The free acidity (below 16.8 meq kg−1) indicated the absence of undesirable fermentation, and the mean pH (around 3.89) is usual for this kind of honey. The fructose/glucose ratio was 1.29 ± 0.07 and sucrose content averaged 9.9 ± 9.3 g kg−1, with significance presence of erlose (24.4 ± 16.8 g kg−1). Among the 12 organic acids detected, gluconic, isobutyric and butyric acids were identified in the majority of samples at high concentrations. Malic acid which was also present can be used as an marker for the differentiation of broom honey. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of porosity on rehydration of dry food particulates
Authors: Marabi Alejandro , Saguy I Sam
Published: May 2004

Rehydration of food particulates is a complex phenomenon affected by numerous factors that typically include pre‐drying treatments, mode of dehydration, structure, composition and medium viscosity. Freeze drying (FD), air drying (AD) and their combinations, were utilized to produce an array of porosities, ranging from very high to very low values for FD and AD carrots, respectively. Bulk porosity correlated significantly with open, but not with closed, porosity. Bulk and open porosities decreased with AD time. Scanning electron micrographs of the FD samples verified their organized and more open structure in comparison with the AD carrots. Rehydration ratio increased with bulk and open porosity, and was not affected by the closed porosity. The effective moisture diffusivity, derived from fitting the normalized Weibull distribution, increased with bulk and open porosity and was about two orders of magnitude higher for the FD, than for the AD, carrots. The Weibull shape parameter, β, was inversely related to porosity. Its values indicated that water uptake of only the AD carrots followed a Fickian diffusion. A critical porosity value above which water mechanism changed from a Fickian diffusion to imbibition into a porous medium is suggested. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Superhydrophobic PTFE Surfaces by Extension
Authors: Zhang Jilin , Li Jian , Han Yanchun
Published: May 2004

Summary: A rather simple but yet effective way to achieve a superhydrophobic film by extending a Teflon film is proposed. The water‐contact angle can be increased from 118 to 165° by extending to ca. 190%. The fibrous crystals and the increasing distance between the fibrous crystals are believed responsible for the high water‐contact angle. It indicates that the density of the aligned microstructures is very important for the superhydrophobicity.

Water‐contact angle and the corresponding shapes of water droplets as a function of extension ratio of Teflon tape.

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Water‐contact angle and the corresponding shapes of water droplets as a function of extension ratio of Teflon tape.
Severe multivalvular heart disease: A new complication of the ergot derivative dopamine agonists
Authors: Horvath Judit , Fross Robin D. , Kleiner‐Fisman Galit , Lerch René , Stalder Hans , Liaudat Suzanne , Raskoff William J. , Flachsbart Keith D. , Rakowski Harry , Pache Jean‐Claude , Burkhard Pierre R. , Lang Anthony E.
Published: May 2004

We report on 4 new cases of valvular heart disease in Parkinson's disease patients treated with the ergot derivative dopamine agonists pergolide and cabergoline. Noninflammatory fibrotic degeneration of cardiac valves has been reported to occur in patients with carcinoid syndrome and to occasionally complicate therapies with the anti‐migraine ergot alkaloid ergotamine and methysergide and with the appetite suppressants fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine. In these cases, the pathogenesis is suspected to involve serotonin‐mediated abnormal fibrogenesis by means of the 5‐HT2B receptors, which are expressed in the fibroblasts of heart valves. Based on strikingly similar echocardiographic and histopathological features, we strongly suspect that ergot‐derived dopamine agonists may cause a valvular heart disease nearly identical to that seen in those conditions. These cases add to a rapidly growing and worrying list of similar published reports, suggesting that we may well be facing a novel, yet unrecognized, complication of this class of agents, which are widely used not only in Parkinson's disease but also in restless legs syndrome and various common endocrine dysfunctions. Therefore, until more is known about the true prevalence of this side effect, we propose that an assessment of cardiac function be performed before and in the course of a long‐term therapy with ergot derivative dopamine agonists. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Impact of the delay ripple of cascaded gratings on dispersion compensation of long‐haul fiber transmission systems
Authors: Ning Tigang , Zheng Kai , Dong Xiaowei , Pei Li , Liu Yan , Tan Zhongwei , Jian Shuisheng
Published: May 2004

Delay ripples of chirped‐fiber Bragg grating (CFBG), which can compensate 200‐km‐long fiber's dispersion, is detailedly analyzed. A numerical simulation of the delay ripple of cascaded gratings is done using Schrödinger's equation and is compared with an experiment using a 1000‐km transmission system over G.652 fiber by five groups of CFBGs for dispersion compensation. The research shows that the system degradation depends on the delay‐ripple period, which is 0.01–0.1 nm, and its amplitude. Fluctuation of the power penalty, which depends on the CFBG's ripple period when the source wavelength is changed ±20 GHz around the CFBG's center wavelength, is experimentally studied. The theoretical results agree well with the experimental results. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 42: 100–102, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20220
Dramatic spectral narrowing and broadband tuning from a self‐injection‐seeded diode laser
Authors: Rafailov E. U. , Avrutin E. A. , Sibbett W.
Published: May 2004

We demonstrate spectral narrowing with broadband tuning from a picosecond self‐injection‐seeded gain‐switched diode laser. A narrowband spectral output was continuously tunable over a range of 44 nm from 1.538 to 1.582 μm. We also observe a gain‐switched hybrid‐operation regime with elements of mode‐locking. Our numerical simulations exhibit good agreement with the experimental results. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 42: 150–152, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20235
A patch antenna with a wide horizontal radiation pattern for WLAN access point
Authors: Su Saou‐Wen , Wu Chih‐Hsien , Wong Kin‐Lu , Tang Chia‐Lun
Published: May 2004

A patch antenna with an inverted‐V ground plane capable of achieving a wide horizontal radiation pattern for a WLAN access point in the 2.4‐GHz band is presented. The inverted‐V ground plane comprises a narrow central ground portion for setting the 50Ω SMA connector for the patch antenna and two bent ground portions to control the broadening of the antenna's horizontal radiation pattern. By selecting the proper dimensions, the proposed antenna can have a wide horizontal radiation pattern of about 170° (3‐dB beamwidth) with vertical polarization, which is very suitable for WLAN access‐point applications where uniform radiation in one direction or one half‐space is required. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 42: 161–164, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20239
Evaluation of directivity and gain for time‐modulated linear antenna arrays
Authors: Yang Shiwen , Gan Yeow Beng , Tan Peng Kiang
Published: May 2004

In this paper, the directivity and gain of several types of time‐modulated linear antenna arrays are obtained. Three types of array elements are considered: arrays with isotropic elements, parallel short dipoles, and collinear short dipoles. Curves of directivity as functions of inter‐element spacing and sidelobe levels (SLLs) are presented. A comparison between the computed and measured gains of a time‐modulated printed dipole linear array shows reasonable agreement. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 42: 167–171, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20241
A simple method for estimating the splice loss of photonic‐crystal fiber/single‐mode fiber
Authors: Ju J. , Jin W. , Hoo Y. L. , Demokan M. S.
Published: May 2004

A simple formula for calculating the mode‐field diameter of large‐mode‐area endlessly single‐mode photonic‐crystal fiber (PCF) is obtained and used to estimate the splice loss of PCF/single‐mode fiber. The accuracy of splice‐loss estimation is less than 0.2 dB. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 42: 171–173, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20242