bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Ref/Aly proteins are dispensable for mRNA export and development in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: LONGMAN DASA , JOHNSTONE IAIN L. , CÁCERES JAVIER F.
Published: June 2003

The mRNA export pathway is highly conserved throughout evolution. We have used RNA interference (RNAi) to functionally characterize bona fide RNA export factors and components of the exon–exon junction complex (EJC) in Caenorhabditis elegans. RNAi of CeNXT1/p15, the binding partner of CeNXF1/TAP, caused early embryonic lethality, demonstrating an essential function of this gene during C. elegans development. Moreover, depletion of this protein resulted in nuclear accumulation of poly(A)+ RNAs, supporting a direct role of NXT1/p15 in mRNA export in C. elegans. Previously, we have shown that RNAi of CeSRm160, a protein of the EJC complex, resulted in wild-type phenotype; in the present study, we demonstrate that RNAi of CeY14, another component of this complex, results in embryonic lethality. In contrast, depletion of the EJC component CeRNPS1 results in no discernible phenotype. Proteins of the REF/Aly family act as adaptor proteins mediating the recruitment of the mRNA export factor, NXF1/TAP, to mRNAs. The C. elegans genome encodes three members of the REF/Aly family. RNAi of individual Ref genes, or codepletion of two Ref genes in different combinations, resulted in wild-type phenotype. Simultaneous suppression of all three Ref genes did not compromise viability or progression through developmental stages in the affected progeny, and only caused a minor defect in larval mobility. Furthermore, no defects in mRNA export were observed upon simultaneous depletion of all three REF proteins. These results suggest the existence of multiple adaptor proteins that mediate mRNA export in C. elegans.
Characterization of the catalytic activity of U2 and U6 snRNAs
Authors: VALADKHAN SABA , MANLEY JAMES L.
Published: June 2003

Removal of introns from pre-messenger RNAs in eukaryotes is carried out by the spliceosome, an assembly of a large number of proteins and five small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs). We showed previously that an in vitro transcribed and assembled base-paired complex of U2 and U6 snRNA segments catalyzes a reaction that resembles the first step of splicing. Upon incubation with a short RNA oligonucleotide containing the consensus sequence of the pre-mRNA branch site, the U2/U6 complex catalyzed a reaction between the 2′ OH of a bulged adenosine and a phosphate in the catalytically important AGC triad of U6, leading to the formation of an X-shaped product, RNA X, apparently linked by an unusual phosphotriester bond. Here we characterize this splicing-related reaction further, showing that RNA X formation is an equilibrium reaction, and that the low yield of the reaction likely reflects an unfavorable equilibrium coefficient. Consistent with a phosphotriester linkage, RNA X is highly alkali-sensitive, but only mildly acid-sensitive. We also show that mutations in the AGC sequence of U6 can have significant effects on RNA X formation, further extending the similarities between splicing and RNA X formation. We also demonstrate that pseudouridylation of U2 enhances RNA X formation, and that U6 snRNA purified from nuclear extracts is capable of forming RNA X. Our data suggest that the ability to form RNA X might be an intrinsic property of spliceosomal snRNAs.
UAP56 levels affect viability and mRNA export in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: MACMORRIS MARGARET , BROCKER CHAD , BLUMENTHAL THOMAS
Published: June 2003

Expression of a gfp transgene in the intestines of living Caenorhabditis elegans has been measured following depletion by RNAi of a variety of known splicing factors and mRNA export proteins. Reduction of most splicing factors showed only a small effect on expression of the transgene in the animal injected with dsRNA, although most of these RNAi’s resulted in embryonic lethality in their offspring. In contrast, RNAi of nxf-1, the worm homolog of mammalian NXF1/TAP, a key component of the mRNA export machinery, resulted in dramatic suppression of GFP expression in the injected animals. When we tested other proteins previously reported to be involved in marking mRNAs for export, we obtained widely divergent results. Whereas RNAi of the worm REF/Aly homologs had no obvious effect, either in the injected animals or their offspring, RNAi of UAP56, reported to be the partner of REF/Aly, resulted in strong suppression of GFP expression due to nuclear retention of its mRNA. Overexpression of UAP56 also resulted in rapid loss of GFP expression and lethality at all stages of development. We conclude that UAP56 plays a key role in mRNA export in C. elegans, but that REF/Aly may not. It also appears that some RNA processing factors are required for viability (e.g., U2AF, PUF60, SRp54, SAP49, PRP8, U1-70K), whereas others are not (e.g., U2A′, CstF50).
Prescribing Indicators for Evaluating Drug Use in Nursing Homes
Authors: van Dijk Karen N , Pont Lisa G , de Vries Corinne S , Franken Maria , Brouwers Jacobus RBJ , de Jong-van den Berg Lolkje TW
Published: June 2003

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate drug use in 2 Dutch nursing homes (254 residents) by developing and evaluating prescribing indicators based on pharmacy prescription data.

METHODS:

We evaluated the prescribing of benzodiazepines, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ulcer-healing drugs, and diuretics. Prescribing indicators were used to identify prescribing that was potentially not in line with recommendations in national and regional prescribing guidelines. We used both descriptive indicators, such as the number and percentage of users, and indicators reflecting potentially suboptimal prescribing, such as use of drugs outside the regional drug formulary, use of >1 drug from the same drug class, and prescription of drug dosages above recommended values. When potentially suboptimal prescribing was found, we verified the findings by means of an interview with 1 of the prescribers.

RESULTS:

The prescribing indicators we assessed were generally in agreement with national and regional guidelines. However, prescribing of NSAIDs without concomitant prescribing of gastroprotective drugs was found in a relatively high number of patients. After prescriber interview and patient chart review, it was found that some prescribing indicators, such as dosages above recommended values, were not always indicative for suboptimal prescribing.

CONCLUSIONS:

This pilot study showed that prescribing indicators based solely on pharmacy prescription data can be a useful tool to evaluate drug prescribing. With some of these prescribing indicators, we identified cases of potentially suboptimal prescribing. However, with other indicators such as those based on drug dosages, we could not identify suboptimal prescribing, and clinical information from the prescriber was necessary to get insight into the appropriateness of prescribing.
Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Community Residential Care Facilities
Authors: Gray Shelly L , Hedrick Susan C , Rhinard Ellen E , Sales Anne E , Sullivan Jean H , Tornatore Jane B , Curtis Michael P
Published: June 2003

OBJECTIVE:

To describe the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication use in community residential care (CRC) facilities at baseline, describe exposure to potentially inappropriate drugs during the 1-year follow-up, and examine characteristics associated with potentially inappropriate use.

DESIGN:

A cohort study was conducted using 282 individuals aged ≥65 years entering a CRC facility in a 3-county area in the Puget Sound region of Washington State between April 1998 and December 1998 on Medicaid funding.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE:

Use of potentially inappropriate medications as defined by explicit criteria (e.g., drugs that should generally be avoided in the elderly because potential risks outweigh any potential benefits).

RESULTS:

Sixty-two (22%) residents took a total of 75 potentially inappropriate medications at baseline. The most common agents used at baseline were oxybutynin (3.5%) and amitriptyline (3.5%). The incidence of new use of potentially inappropriate medications was 0.1/100 person-days during the follow-up period. Potentially inappropriate use was related to self-reported fair or poor health (adjusted OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.92) and number of prescription drugs (adjusted OR 1.12; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.19). In the Cox proportional hazard model, no characteristics predicted new potentially inappropriate medication use during the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS:

Potentially inappropriate medication use is common among residents in CRC facilities. A comprehensive periodic review may be beneficial for reducing potentially inappropriate use, especially for patients taking multiple drugs.
Intraspinal Use of Morphine
Authors: Gaudette Kathryn E , Weaver S Jay
Published: June 2003

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the different sterility standards and the cost issues involved when choosing an opioid product for intraspinal administration.

DATA SOURCES:

Literature accessed through MEDLINE and other Internet search engines (September 2002–April 2003) was evaluated. Key search terms included epidural/intrathecal, opioids, sterility, and compounding.

DATA SYNTHESIS:

Intraspinal use is prevalent in the area of pain management. Product selection is of utmost importance when administering through the intraspinal route. An evaluation of guidelines on sterility and a cost comparison were conducted.

CONCLUSIONS:

The preservative-free commercially available products that are indicated for intrathecal/epidural use are the best alternative due to proper outside testing and stringent quality assurance. The generic morphine preservative-free product may also be considered if proper steps are taken to ensure that the final product is diluted properly.
Decreased Argatroban Clearance Unaffected by Hemodialysis in Anasarca
Authors: de Denus Simon , Spinler Sarah A
Published: June 2003

OBJECTIVE:

To report the case of a patient with acute renal failure and anasarca undergoing hemodialysis who demonstrated a prolonged effect of argatroban despite having no hepatic dysfunction.

CASE SUMMARY:

A 54-year-old white woman with a past medical history of St. Jude's prosthetic mitral valve placement was admitted for anasarca secondary to acute renal failure of unknown origin. In order to prevent valve thrombosis and stroke, argatroban was initiated. Despite having no hepatic dysfunction, the patient demonstrated an elevated activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) for a prolonged period of time, requiring a significant dose reduction. This suggested reduced clearance of argatroban. Furthermore, this prolonged effect persisted despite hemodialysis.

DISCUSSION:

Patients with severe renal dysfunction eliminate argatroban at a rate similar to that in healthy volunteers, while those with hepatic disease have a marked decrease in argatroban elimination. Our patient apparently had a reduction in argatroban elimination similar to that in patients with hepatic dysfunction. The few published reports regarding the use of argatroban in patients undergoing hemodialysis generally lack any information regarding variations in plasma concentrations of argatroban, the aPTT, or the type of dialyzer used. The available data, as well as our report, suggest that dosing adjustment during hemodialysis may not be necessary in patients without associated hepatic dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS:

This report suggests that in patients who are fluid-overloaded, the anticoagulant effects of argatroban may be prolonged to a degree similar to that observed in patients with hepatic disease. Our report supports the previously published data that hemodialysis has little, if any, role in increasing argatroban elimination.
A Brief Primer on Automated Signal Detection
Authors: Hauben Manfred
Published: June 2003

BACKGROUND:

Statistical techniques have traditionally been underused in spontaneous reporting systems used for postmarketing surveillance of adverse drug events. Regulatory agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and drug monitoring centers have recently devoted considerable efforts to develop and implement computer-assisted automated signal detection methodologies that employ statistical theory to enhance screening efforts of expert clinical reviewers.

OBJECTIVE:

To provide a concise state-of-the-art review of the most commonly used automated signal detection procedures, including the underlying statistical concepts, performance characteristics, and outstanding limitations, and issues to be resolved.

DATA SOURCES:

Primary articles were identified by MEDLINE search (1965–December 2002) and through secondary sources.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:

All of the articles identified from the data sources were evaluated and all information deemed relevant was included in this review.

DATA SYNTHESIS:

Commonly used methods of automated signal detection are self-contained and involve screening large databases of spontaneous adverse event reports in search of interestingly large disproportionalities or dependencies between significant variables, usually single drug–event pairs, based on an underlying model of statistical independence. The models vary according to the underlying model of statistical independence and whether additional mathematical modeling using Bayesian analysis is applied to the crude measures of disproportionality. There are many potential advantages and disadvantages of these methods, as well as significant unresolved issues related to the application of these techniques, including lack of comprehensive head-to-head comparisons in a single large transnational database, lack of prospective evaluations, and the lack of gold standard of signal detection.

CONCLUSIONS:

Current methods of automated signal detection are nonclinical and only highlight deviations from independence without explaining whether these deviations are due to a causal linkage or numerous potential confounders. They therefore cannot replace expert clinical reviewers, but can help them to focus attention when confronted with the difficult task of screening huge numbers of drug–event combinations for potential signals. Important questions remain to be answered about the performance characteristics of these methods. Pharmacovigilance professionals should take the time to learn the underlying mathematical concepts in order to critically evaluate accumulating experience pertaining to the relative performance characteristics of these methods that are incompletely defined.
Seizures Associated with Quetiapine Treatment
Authors: Dogu Okan , Sevim Serhan , Kaleagasi Hakan S
Published: June 2003

OBJECTIVE:

To report a case of seizures in a patient with Alzheimer disease, who was receiving quetiapine for psychoses.

CASE SUMMARY:

A 75-year-old white man with Alzheimer disease was observed to have seizures while receiving quetiapine 500 mg/d and carbamazepine 200 mg/d. He had been taking quetiapine for 18 months prior to the event. No other toxic, metabolic, or anatomic abnormalities were identified to explain the seizures. After cessation of quetiapine treatment, the patient remained seizure free. An objective causality assessment revealed that the adverse drug reaction was possible.

DISCUSSION:

The patient was taking a relatively high dose of quetiapine. An increased risk of seizures has been associated with Alzheimer disease. Using a relatively high dose of quetiapine may have resulted in seizures in our patient with Alzheimer disease.

CONCLUSIONS:

As with other antipsychotics, quetiapine should be used cautiously in elderly patients with conditions that can lower the seizure threshold, and special monitoring should be performed for this serious adverse effect.
Job attitudes of part‐time vs. full‐time workers: A meta‐analytic review
Authors: Thorsteinson Todd J.
Published: June 2003

A meta‐analysis was conducted (k =38, N =51,231) to examine the size of the difference between full‐ and part‐time employees on job attitudes. Results indicated that there was little difference between full‐time (FT) and part‐time (PT) employees on job satisfaction, organizational commitment, intentions to leave and facets of job satisfaction. Full‐time employees were found to be more involved with their jobs than PT employees (dc=0.39). Moderating variables were examined (type of job, sex of the sample and sampling strategy used), but these variables explained little of the variability in effect sizes across the studies. An additional analysis of voluntary vs. involuntary employment status was conducted on job satisfaction, but only small differences were found. The theoretical implications are discussed.
Testing the Social Process model on Selection through expert analysis
Authors: Derous Eva , de Witte Karel , Stroobants Rob
Published: June 2003

For a long time, academics have treated the social process side of personnel selection in a stepmotherly way. Based on a literature review we presented the Social Process model on Selection (SPS model), reflecting applicants' expectations and valuing of procedural and product characteristics of the selection encounter (Derous & De Witte, 2001). In this paper, eight characteristics of the SPS model are tested through expert analysis. Expert analysis is seen as a preliminary step in the development of a questionnaire. Data were generated through Q‐sorting: Thirty experts in selection sorted 69 items into mutually exclusive piles. Additionally, experts were asked to label each pile according to the underlying meaning of the items. Classic ordinal multidimensional scaling was applied on Q‐sorts, revealing a two‐dimensional configuration, comprising six regions (stress=.18 and R2=.85). Corroborative evidence on six clusters was found on the basis of additive tree modelling. To estimate the degree of consistency in labelling, the Consistency in Meaning index (CIM index) was developed. Although experts were not informed about the research goal, both the graphic solution and labelling task came close to the theoretical categories of the SPS model. Based on the results of the expert analysis, the adapted SPS model is presented.
After the fall: Layoff victims' trust and cynicism in re‐employment
Authors: Pugh S. Douglas , Skarlicki Daniel P. , Passell Brian S.
Published: June 2003

The relationship between an individual's psychological contract violation by a former employer and his or her attitudes toward a new employer was examined in a sample of lay off victims (N =141). Violation was negatively related to trust in the new employer, and positively related to employee cynicism. The degree that participants worried about being similarly mistreated by their new employer mediated the relationship between violation and both trust and cynicism.
Psychological contracting: Processes of contract formation during interviews between nannies and their ‘employers’
Authors: Purvis Lynne J. Millward , Cropley Mark
Published: June 2003

Three studies (one exploratory pilot, one concurrent between‐group post‐only, and one prospective between‐group time‐series) are reported that investigate processes of psychological contracting in the context of interviews conducted by parents (i.e. as prospective employers) looking for a live‐in nanny to care for their children (i.e. prospective employee). The qualitative study involved the development of a coding scheme for analysing interviews with 18 experienced nanny‐employer pairs coupled with a focus group comprising five ‘experts’ trained in psychological contract theory. In the two inferential studies, we examined the quantity (frequency) character (explicit or implicit) and content (relational or transactional) of spontaneous discussion about mutual expectations within two types of employment interview (23 first‐time nanny‐employer pairs and 16 experienced nanny‐employer pairs). In particular, we looked at the consequences of those interviews for: (1) perceptions of mutual trust, mutual understanding and perceived reciprocity at post‐interview; and (2) selection decisions. The results showed that clarity of expectation (or experience) was associated with an increased likelihood of time spent referring to, or discussing, expectations—whether explicitly or implicitly (H1a), but did not induce a more explicit discussion (H1b). On the contrary, clarity predicted an increased likelihood of discussing expectations ‘implicitly’, especially relational considerations (H2b). Generally speaking, relational material was discussed more implicitly than explicitly, whereas transactional material was discussed more explicitly than implicitly (H2a). Moreover, what was discussed (relational or transactional) during interviews predicted feelings of mutual trust, not the explicit/implicit nature of the discussion (H3a). However, implicit discussion did mediate the association between discussion of relational material, mutual understanding (H3b) and perceptions of reciprocity (H3b). Finally, selection decisions could not be attributable to the explicit/implicit nature of discussion (H4a); rather, post‐interview outcomes (mutual understanding and trust, perceived reciprocity) mediated selection decisions (H4b). The theoretical and methodological implications of these findings are discussed.
Complex or unitary? A critique and empirical re‐assessment of the Allinson‐Hayes Cognitive Style Index
Authors: Hodgkinson Gerard P. , Sadler‐Smith Eugene
Published: June 2003

Recently researchers have debated the nature and significance of the cognitive style construct as a basis for understanding individual differences in behaviour in organizations. Two rival theoretical traditions prevail, one group of scholars arguing that cognitive style is best conceived within complex, multidimensional frameworks, others contending that the various facets of style can be meaningfully subsumed under a single, overarching dimension. The Allinson‐Hayes Cognitive Style Index (CSI) is a 38‐item instrument, predicated on the unitarist conception of the construct. This paper presents theoretical and methodological arguments as to why the previously hypothesized unifactoral structure of the CSI is potentially found wanting. Two variants (oblique versus orthogonal factors) of an alternative twofactor model, comprising separate analytic and intuitive dimensions, are developed and the results are reported of a series of principal components and confirmatory factor analyses (N =939) designed to overcome the limitations of previous research into the factor structure of the CSI. The results strongly indicate that the twofactor model with correlated factors provides a better approximation of responses to the CSI than previously reported unifactoral solutions. In the light of these findings we propose a revised scoring procedure, in which the analysis and intuition items are treated as separate scales, and consider the implications for future theory‐building, research and practice.
Further reflections on the nature of intuition‐analysis and the construct validity of the Cognitive Style Index
Authors: Hayes John , Allinson Christopher W. , Hudson Robert S. , Keasey Kevin
Published: June 2003

Theoretical and empirical arguments that support the construct validity of the Allinson‐Hayes Cognitive Style Index are reviewed in the light of Hodgkinson and Sadler‐Smith's (2003) assertion that Allinson and Hayes (1996) incorrectly specified the nature of the Cognitive Style Index (CSI) as a measure of intuition‐analysis predicated on a unitarist conception of the construct. It is concluded that Hodgkinson and Sadler‐Smith fail to offer a robust challenge to either the theoretical or empirical arguments supporting the construct validity of the Cognitive Style Index.
Reflections on reflections … on the nature of intuition, analysis and the construct validity of the Cognitive Style Index
Authors: Hodgkinson Gerard P. , Sadler‐Smith Eugene
Published: June 2003

Hayes, Allinson, Hudson, and Keasey (2003) maintain that the theoretical arguments and empirical evidence presented by Hodgkinson and Sadler‐Smith (2003) in support of an alternative two‐dimensional conception of the Allinson‐Hayes Cognitive Style Index (CSI) are insufficiently robust to challenge the original unidimensional formulation and that, accordingly, users of the CSI should continue to score the instrument as a single bipolar scale. In reply, we show that their reasoning is flawed, being based on a series of misinterpretations of the nature and purpose both of the item parcelling procedure and the exploratory factor analysis technique we employed. Furthermore, their defence fails to take account of the extensive confirmatory factor analytic evidence we presented in support of our conclusions.
The Right to Silence and Undercover Police Operations
Authors: Craig David R.
Published: June 2003

While conducting doctoral research on international undercover operations, the author attended undercover training courses in the United States (US) and in Canada. He also conducted interviews with undercover operatives and those that supervise undercover operations with several agencies in the US, Canada, United Kingdom (UK) and the Netherlands. During the course of this research the author was privy to sophisticated and contemporary undercover training and recruitment methodologies. While the author is available to provide advice to law enforcement agencies on undercover management and training, the author is cognisant of the detrimental effect of disclosing policing methodologies to those external to law enforcement who may hold less than desirable motives. As such, this article is focused upon shedding some light upon the legal ‘grey’ area that exists between the right to silence and police undercover investigations, from information available in the public domain. However, when researching material for this article, the author was both surprised and alarmed at the quantity and accuracy of publicly available information on undercover policing methodologies.1
School-Based Police Officers: What Can the UK Learn from the USA?
Authors: Briers Andrew N.
Published: June 2003

This article is based on the author's experience as Britain's first school-based police officer and his subsequent experience of policing schools in the USA. It outlines the current practices of the Metropolitan Police Service in its quest to introduce the concept of placing police officers on a full-time basis in schools. This is in response to the alarming number of young people becoming involved in crime and is part of the package of measures being taken forward by the Prime Minister's Street Crime Action Team (Home Office, 2003) to combat street robberies and related crime. It highlights the strengths and weaknesses of such a scheme as experienced by the author and the strategies used to address the problems of youth violence and compares and contrasts these findings with those of his experiences in several schools in the US over a five-month period as an observational evaluator.

The article also endeavours to look at the different ways in which the work of the schools officer is perceived in the two countries and the support structure which is available in each. The challenges which need to be met in order to form partnerships are outlined. Such efforts can collectively tackle the issue of juvenile delinquency through a common vision. In addition the need for a comprehensive training manual to be developed and implemented to assist these processes is discussed. The paper concludes by considering the extent to which, by combining the good practice from the US with those successful elements of the UK model, school police partnerships can moveorward and embrace the notion of school-based police officers in a positive light.
Influencing the Police: Local Autonomy in Policy and Practice in England and Wales
Authors: Applegate Richard J.
Published: June 2003

This article assesses the influence of the Home Office; Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary; the Association of Chief Police Officers; the Audit Commission; the Local Police Authority and the Chief Constable, on policy makers and implementers of policy from various levels of a police organization. It is based on three policy areas: the Citizens' Charter; Annual Policing (now Performance) Plans; and Domestic Violence Policy in England and Wales.

Both policy makers and policy implementers believed that, with the exception of the Association of Chief Police Officers, and the Local Police Authority, there was a strong influence from all these groups in all the policy areas examined.

However for police officers directly involved in the implementation process, the Citizens' Charter and Annual Policing (now Performance) Plans had made little difference to the way they carried out their day-to-day work. In these more generic policy areas they saw less influence from these groups, with greater influence coming from consumers, public opinion, colleagues and immediate supervisors. But in the tighter policy area of domestic violence, where there is greater top-down control, the influence of these groups was the strongest, with local autonomy, both in policy and practice, hard to find.
‘What's Good for Them, is Good for Us’: Outside Influences on the Adoption of Incapacitant Sprays by the British Police
Authors: Buttle John W.
Published: June 2003

The United States and to a lesser extent France have a history of using incapacitant sprays and other non-lethal weapons for law enforcement purposes. This was taken into consideration when violent assaults on police officers led to the eventual decision to arm British constables routinely with CS spray. Many police officers in the United Kingdom put their faith in research conducted in these countries. They assumed their greater experience regarding incapacitant sprays would lend support to this policy. This article examines the outside influences involved in the adoption of incapacitant sprays in the England and Wales. It discusses the research conducted on health and operational matters concerning incapacitant sprays as well as identifying the policy objectives of adopting incapacitant sprays. The article challenges the underlying assumptions on which these policies are based. It will question the wisdom of adopting incapacitant sprays for policing purposes and consider the implications of adopting other non-lethal weapons.
ARB (Accumulative Roll‐Bonding) and other new Techniques to Produce Bulk Ultrafine Grained Materials
Authors: Tsuji N. , Saito Y. , Lee S.‐H. , Minamino Y.
Published: June 2003

Accumulative roll‐Bonding (ARB) is a severe plastic deformation (SPD) process invented by the authors in order to fabricate ultrafine grained metallic materials. ARB is the only SPD process applicable to continuous production of bulky materials. In the process, 50 % rolled material is cut into two, stacked to be the initial dimension and then rolled again. In order to obtain one‐body solid material, the rolling in ARB is not only a deformation process but also a bonding process (roll‐bonding). By repeating this procedure, SPD of bulky materials can be realized. In this review paper, various kinds of new SPD mechanical properties of the ARB processed materials are indicated.
Equivalent Strains in Severe Plastic Deformation
Authors: Stüwe H.P.
Published: June 2003

The concept of equivalent plastic strain is discussed. Definitions may be based on kinematic arguments (like change of geometry) or on equivalence of plastic work. Complications arise when strain is accumulated in increments with variable strain path.
Importance of Disclinations in Severe Plastically Deformed Materials
Authors: Romanov A.E.
Published: June 2003

A short overview of recent achievements in disclination approach application to severe plastically deformed materials is given. Necessary definitions and designations: Volterra rotational and translational dislocations, disclination Frank (rotation) vector, wedge and twist disclinations, are introduced and explained. The properties of screened disclination configurations (loops, dipoles, defects in small particles etc.) with relatively small energies are considered. Disclination models for the processes in the structure of plastically deformed materials are reviewed. The bands with misorientated crystal lattice in metals and other materials are described as a result of partial wedge disclination dipole motion. The disclination approach is applied to the description of workhardening at large strains and to the analysis of grain boundaries and their junctions in conventional polycrystals and nanocrystals.
Boundary characteristics in Heavily Deformed Metals
Authors: Winther G. , Huang X.
Published: June 2003

The potential of creating nanostructured metals by plastic deformation to very high strains is currently the subject of intensive research. An important part of this research concerns evolution of the characteristics of deformation induced boundaries, in particular boundary spacing and boundary misorientation. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the present understanding of the relations between these characteristics, the microscopic deformation mechanisms and the macroscopic deformation mode.
Paradoxes of Severe Plastic Deformation
Authors: Valiev R.Z.
Published: June 2003

Severe plastic deformation (SPD) can lead to emergence of microstructural features and properties in materials which are fundamentally different from the ones well known for conventional cold deformation. In particular, the instances of unusual phase transformations resulting in development of highly metastable states associated with formation of supersaturated solid solutions, disordering or amorphization and their further decomposition during heating, high thermal stability of the SPD‐produced nanostructures, and the paradox of strength and ductility in some SPD‐processed metals and alloys are discussed.
Unique Features and Properties of Nanostructured Materials
Authors: Hahn H.
Published: June 2003

In this introductory paper an attempt is made to give an overview of the area of nanostructured materials irrespective of the synthesis process. The various microstructural features such as clusters or isolated nanoparticles, agglomerated nanopowders, consolidated nanomaterials and nanocomposite materials as well as all materials classes are considered. As an important component of modern research on nanomaterials a section describes the various characterization tools available. Based on these remarks some properties of nanostructured materials will be summarized emphasizing the property–microstructure relationships. Finally, a brief outlook on applications and initial industrial use of nanomaterials is presented.
Nonlinear changes in brain electrical activity due to cell phone radiation
Authors: Marino Andrew A. , Nilsen Erik , Frilot Clifton
Published: June 2003

We studied the effect of an electromagnetic field from a cellular telephone on brain electrical activity, using a novel analytical method based on a nonlinear model. The electroencephalogram (EEG) from rabbits was embedded in phase space and local recurrence plots were calculated and quantified using recurrence quantitation analysis to permit statistical comparisons between filtered segments of exposed and control epochs from individual rabbits. When the rabbits were exposed to the radiation from a standard cellular telephone (800 MHz band, 600 mW maximum radiated power) under conditions that simulated normal human use, the EEG was significantly affected in nine of ten animals studied. The effect occurred beginning about 100 ms after initiation of application of the field and lasted ∼300 ms. In each case, the fields increased the randomness in the EEG. A control procedure ruled out the possibility that the observations were a product of the method of analysis. No differences were found between exposed and control epochs in any animal when the experiment was repeated after the rabbits had been sacrificed, indicating that absorption of radiation by the EEG electrodes could not account for the observed effect. No effect was seen when deposition of energy in the brain was minimized by repositioning the radiating antenna from the head to the chest, showing that the type of tissue that absorbed the energy determined the observed changes in the EEG. We conclude that, in normal use, the fields from a standard cellular telephone can alter brain function as a consequence of absorption of energy by the brain. Bioelectromagnetics 24:339‐346, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Occupational magnetic field exposures of garment workers: Results of personal and survey measurements
Authors: Kelsh Michael A. , Bracken T. Dan , Sahl Jack D. , Shum Mona , Ebi Kristie L.
Published: June 2003

To explore the feasibility of performing an epidemiologic study of female breast cancer and magnetic field (MF) exposures, we chose to study garment workers, who reportedly have some of the highest MF exposures. We collected personal exposure (PE, n = 48) and survey measurements (n = 77) near commercial sewing machines at three garment facilities and conducted a pilot interview among 25 garment workers asking about exposure duration, activities, and machine characteristics. MF levels were higher for older machines with alternating current (AC) than newer machines with direct current (DC) motors. MF levels were comparable for both idling and sewing activities. Most interviewed workers could describe duration of exposure and machine type (automatic/manual), but not other machine characteristics. Measurements were lower than previously reported for garment workers but were higher than exposures to most women. A historical exposure assessment can be conducted by linking duration of exposure with reconstructed exposure measurements but may be limited by the accuracy of work history data. Bioelectromagnetics 24:316‐326, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Extending the color gamut and dynamic range of an sRGB image using a residual image
Authors: Spaulding Kevin E. , Woolfe Geoffrey J. , Joshi Rajan L.
Published: June 2003

Image sources, such as digital camera captures and photographic negatives, typically have more information than can be reproduced on a photographic print or a video display. The information that is lost during the tone/color rendering process relates to both the extended dynamic range and color gamut of the original scene. In conventional photographic systems, most of this additional information is archived on the photographic negative and can be accessed by adjusting the way the negative is printed. However, most digital imaging systems have traditionally archived only a rendered video RGB image. As a result, it is not possible to make the same sorts of image manipulations that historically have been possible with conventional photographic systems. This suggests that there would be an advantage to storing images using an extended dynamic range/color gamut color encoding. However, because of file compatibility issues, digital imaging systems that store images using color encoding other than a standard video RGB representation (e.g., sRGB) would be significantly disadvantaged in the marketplace. In this article, we describe a solution that has been developed to maintain compatibility with existing file formats and software applications, while simultaneously retaining the extended dynamic range and color gamut information associated with the original scenes. With this approach, the input raw digital camera image or film scan is first transformed to the scene‐referred ERIMM RGB color encoding. Next, a rendered sRGB image is formed in the usual way and stored in a conventional image file (e.g., a standard JPEG file). A residual image representing the difference between the original extended dynamic range image and the final rendered image is formed and stored in the image file using proprietary metadata tags. This provides a mechanism for archiving the extended dynamic range/color gamut information, which is normally discarded during the rendering process, without sacrificing interoperability. Appropriately enabled applications can decode the residual image metadata and use it to reconstruct the ERIMM RGB image, whereas applications that are not aware of the metadata will ignore it and only have access to the sRGB image. The residual image is formed such that it will have negligible pixel values for those portions of the image that lie within the sRGB gamut, and will therefore be highly compressible. Tests on a population of 950 real customer images have demonstrated that the extended dynamic range scene information can be stored with an average file size overhead of about 8% compared to the sRGB images alone. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 28, 251–266, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/col.10160
Adequateness of a newly modified opponent‐colors theory
Authors: Nayatani Yoshinobu
Published: June 2003

Two features of a newly modified opponent‐colors theory are examined for correctness: (1) The perceived chroma of pure color is different for different hues. This was confirmed by using Ikeda's UCS (Uniform Color Scales) formula and also by the maximum Munsell Chroma Values for different hues. (2) Chromatic colors with the same values of whiteness, blackness, grayness, and perceived chroma have the same perceived lightness and chromatic tone regardless of hue. This was confirmed by a theoretical analysis and observations of the color samples in the Practical Color Co‐ordinate System (PCCS) developed in Japan. Chromatic tone, a complex concept of object colors, is clarified. The structure of the newly modified theory and its corresponding color space were confirmed by observation of object colors. Furthermore, it was found effective for developing a color‐order system and its corresponding standard color charts to the modified theory. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 28, 298–307, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/col.10164
Windows on diversity: Lawyers, culture, and mediation practice
Authors: LeBaron Michelle , Zumeta Zena D.
Published: June 2003

This article explores connections among culture, lawyering, and mediation. Starting from a broad definition
of culture, the authors illustrate ways that cultural competence is important to mediation practice and process
design. They suggest that awareness of legal culture is an important facet of mediator competence because of the
pervasive influence of legal ways of thinking in mediation process design and implementation.
Learning about learning: The value of “insight”
Authors: Picard Cheryl A.
Published: June 2003

Insight mediation is based on the philosophy of Bernard Lonergan. This article articulates Lonergan's
assumptions about learning and how they can be applied to mediation.
CytometryML, an XML format based on DICOM and FCS for analytical cytology data
Authors: Leif Robert C. , Leif Suzanne B. , Leif Stephanie H.
Published: June 2003

Background

Flow Cytometry Standard (FCS) was initially created to standardize the software researchers use to analyze, transmit, and store data produced by flow cytometers and sorters. Because of the clinical utility of flow cytometry, it is necessary to have a standard consistent with the requirements of medical regulatory agencies.

Methods

We extended the existing mapping of FCS to the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standard to include list‐mode data produced by flow cytometry, laser scanning cytometry, and microscopic image cytometry. FCS list‐mode was mapped to the DICOM Waveform Information Object. We created a collection of Extensible Markup Language (XML) schemas to express the DICOM analytical cytologic text‐based data types except for large binary objects. We also developed a cytometry markup language, CytometryML, in an open environment subject to continuous peer review.

Results

The feasibility of expressing the data contained in FCS, including list‐mode in DICOM, was demonstrated; and a preliminary mapping for list‐mode data in the form of XML schemas and documents was completed. DICOM permitted the creation of indices that can be used to rapidly locate in a list‐mode file the cells that are members of a subset. DICOM and its coding schemes for other medical standards can be represented by XML schemas, which can be combined with other relevant XML applications, such as Mathematical Markup Language (MathML).

Conclusions

The use of XML format based on DICOM for analytical cytology met most of the previously specified requirements and appears capable of meeting the others; therefore, the present FCS should be retired and replaced by an open, XML‐based, standard CytometryML. Cytometry Part A 54A:56–65, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterization of dynamic cellular adhesion of osteoblasts using atomic force microscopy
Authors: Simon A. , Cohen‐Bouhacina T. , Porté M. C. , Aimé J. P. , Amédée J. , Bareille R. , Baquey C.
Published: June 2003

Background

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) can be used to visualize the cell morphology in an aqueous environment and in real time. It also allows the investigation of mechanical properties such as cell compliance as a function of cell attachment. This study characterized and evaluated osteoblast adhesion by AFM.

Methods

Human bone marrow stromal cells were cultured on two types of surface to induce weak and strong cellular adhesions.

Results

Cells were considered as spreading if they had a flattened and lengthened shape and a cytoskeletal organization in the submembrane cytosolic region. Cell detachment demonstrated different adhesion states between adherent cells to be distinguished. The stability of the cytoskeletal fibers indicated that cells were adherent. The elastic modulus was estimated by two complementary approaches. The values deduced were between 3 × 102 and 2 × 105 Nm−2 according to the state of cell adhesion and the approaches used to measure this elastic modulus.

Conclusions

Although the results were qualitative, a relation may be deduced between the elasticity of living cells as demonstrated by cytoskeletal organization and the state of cell adhesion. The technique could be used to determine the adhesion state of an adherent osteoblast observed under AFM. Cytometry Part A 54A:36–47, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantitative analysis of cytoskeletal organization by digital fluorescent microscopy
Authors: Lichtenstein Nurit , Geiger Benjamin , Kam Zvi
Published: June 2003

Background

The cytoskeleton consists of complex arrays of fibers that play indispensable roles in cell structure and function. The cytoskeletal fibers are concertedly involved in numerous cellular processes, including cell adhesion, locomotion, intracellular transport, and cell division. The organization of the cytoskeleton was extensively studied, mainly by immunofluorescence microscopy, yet these studies were mostly qualitative, and a reliable quantitative approach for determining fiber structure and distribution is still missing.

Methods

In this study we developed algorithms for filament feature extraction, based on fluorescence microscopy. These algorithms are robust against blurring by slight defocus, high background, and noise, and are applicable to both fixed, immunolabeled cells and live cells expressing fluorescently tagged cytoskeletal proteins. The implemented FiberScore program is used in order to recognize, segment, and quantify various structural parameters of the cytoskeleton, including total fiber‐associated fluorescence, as well as fiber length and orientation. Furthermore, these parameters can be determined for different cytoskeletal proteins in the same sample tagged with multiple‐fluorescent labels, and the results can be correlated with other cellular parameters.

Results

FiberScore was used here for the quantification of simultaneous changes in microtubule and actin filaments induced by the microtubule‐disrupting drug nocodazole. Actin filaments, which are reported to respond reciprocally to microtubule disruption, are found to be affected by both immediate and delayed signals.

Conclusions

Analysis of the organization of fibers by the FiberScore algorithm allows quantification of the cytoskeletal signature of cells and offers reliable multiparametric functional assays for effects of drugs and other perturbations evaluated on a cell‐by‐cell basis. Cytometry Part A 54A:8–18, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.