bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Recidivism of Violent Youths in Juvenile and Adult Court
Authors: Myers David L.
Published: April 2004

Contemporary research suggests that increased efforts to transfer juveniles to the adult criminal justice system may backfire because waived youths generally exhibit greater recidivism as compared to similar offenders retained in juvenile court. One concern with this research is the possibility of selection bias, meaning that the findings could be explained as merely a simple consequence of the highest risk youth being transferred. This study examined this issue for 494 violent youths from Pennsylvania, of which 79 were waived to adult court and 415 were retained in juvenile court. The likelihood, seriousness, and timing of their recidivism were analyzed, with a statistical control for selection bias included. The findings still suggest heightened recidivism among the transferred youths.
An Empirical Portrait of the Youth Reentry Population
Authors: Snyder Howard N.
Published: April 2004

Nearly 100,000 juvenile offenders are released annually from custody facilities following adjudication or conviction, arguably all candidates for reentry programs. Their numbers increased substantially over the 1990s. These youth have spent a great proportion of their teenage years in custody. Most are male, minority, and nonviolent offenders. About half lived primarily in a single-parent family while growing up. About one fourth has a sibling, and about one fourth has a father who has been incarcerated. Most have not completed 8th grade, compared to one fourth of similarly aged youth in the U.S. population. Excluding alcohol, two thirds report regular drug use. Two thirds of committed males have a mental health disorder and the rate is higher for females. The article concludes that the justice system cannot rely on others to provide the needed services if it ever hopes to control its own workload and reduce the problems caused by these youth.
Interventions and Services Offered to Former Juvenile Offenders Reentering Their Communities
Authors: Spencer Margaret Beale , Jones-Walker Cheryl
Published: April 2004

The authors review youth reentry and reintegration programming services findings and describe what works and what does not. Then, as an explanatory strategy for interpreting the findings, they introduce overlooked issues concerning identity formation and the influences of race/ethnicity and class. They consider (a) a systems theoretical stance that acknowledges youths’ perspectives, (b) human development themes that do not emphasize psychopathology, and (c) the settings where reentry and reintegration programming occur. The authors conclude by recommending strategies for improving assessments of programming and services.
Juveniles and Weapons
Authors: Brown Ben
Published: April 2004

This article summarizes recent research on juvenile access to firearms, juvenile weapon carrying, variables associated with juvenile weapon carrying, and the unlawful use of weapons by juveniles. Although weapon-associated juvenile violence has declined since the mid-1990s, research indicates that juveniles have easy access to firearms and that delinquent juveniles are more likely than nondelinquent juveniles to own and carry guns and other weapons. However, there are no empirical data that indicate that the majority of juvenile gun owners or weapon carriers are delinquents. Thus, for purposes of policy and program development, a distinction should be drawn between (a) juveniles who own and carry firearms and other weapons for legitimate reasons and (b) juveniles who own and carry firearms and other weapons for crime-related reasons.
Gender and Arrest among Homeless and Runaway Youth
Authors: Chapple Constance L. , Johnson Kurt D. , Whitbeck Les B.
Published: April 2004

Little is known regarding the predictors of arrest for homeless and runaway youth. The self-reported criminal activity of homeless and runaway youth has been associated with familial abuse, deviant peers, and situational street stressors. The path to running away was suggested to differ by gender, with more girls running away from sexually and physically abusive homes than boys. We asked two questions in our research: Are the predictors of arrest among homeless and runaway youths similar to the predictors of self reported offending and do these predictors differ by gender? Our results indicated that association with deviant peers, prior arrest, sexual abuse, and poor parental monitoring were associated with the number of arrests homeless and runaway youths reported. Yet the effects of prior arrest and deviant peers were stronger for boys, suggesting a gendered process of arrest for homeless and runaway youth.
Opening the Contemplative Mind in the Classroom
Authors: Hart Tobin
Published: April 2004

How we know is as important as what we know. However, contemporary pedagogy and curriculum generally exclude a fundamental way of knowing—the contemplative—from any viable role in education in favor of a rational and empirical approach. As a result, few mainstream teachers or curriculum planners have explicitly integrated the contemplative into the classroom. Yet, contemplative knowing has been described as fundamental to the quest for knowledge and wisdom and complementary to analytic processing. The present article offers educators a rationale for returning the contemplative to education by summarizing research on the impact of contemplation on learning and behavior. It then provides a range of specific approaches for teachers that can be easily integrated into existing curriculum from elementary to university levels. The result of such integration transforms learning and the learner while affecting the very practical concerns of mainstream education.
Transformative Learning in a faculty Professional development Context
Authors: Whitelaw Cheryl , Sears Myrna , Campbell Katy
Published: April 2004

This article considers transformative learning within the context of the Partnership Program, an instructional development initiative of the Academic Technologies for Learning unit at the University of Alberta. This initiative focused on introducing faculty to technology-enhanced teaching and learning strategies and tools, developing educational resources through a collaborative instructional development process, promoting faculty use of educational technologies within the university, and supporting faculty to change their teaching practice through participation in an instructional development project. One question asked in this study was: Does the involvement of faculty members in an instructional development project facilitate a transformation in their teaching philosophy and practice? This article focuses on three themes that emerged from the study—alignment/misalignment of expectations with experience, change in attitudes toward technology-enhanced instruction, and change in pedagogical style—and how they may relate to the presence or lack of transformative learning experiences for faculty participating in instructional development projects.
Care(full) Deliberation
Authors: McGregor Catherine
Published: April 2004

As adult educators, the perspectives of social and political theorists are important to consider as we seek to understand the challenges faced in educating for a postmodern conception of citizenship, including an increasing discourse of conflict arising from the politics of difference. The centrality of dialogue in community is a theme shared between adult learning theory, liberal democratic theory, and political deliberative models, all considered strategies for enhancing the capacity of the deliberative citizen. By deconstructing these models for their emphasis on rationality, and subsequently drawing on the work of feminist scholarship, the author theorizes the potential of emotional connection as central to adult educators’ practice and effective deliberation. It is postulated that this lack of attention to the emotive responses of individuals engaged in dialogue and deliberation has served to limit its theoretical and practical applications; the implications for a pedagogy for citizenship education are considered.
Distributed Leadership and School Improvement
Authors: Harris Alma
Published: April 2004

This article considers the relationship between distributed leadership and school improvement. Drawing upon empirical evidence from two contemporary studies of successful school leadership and recent studies of school improvement, it explores the extent to which distributed forms of leadership can contribute to school improvement. The article argues that the distributed perspective offers a new and important theoretical lens through which leadership practice in school can be reconfigured and reconceptualized. It concludes by suggesting that, while evidence would suggest that distributed forms of leadership can assist capacity building within schools which contributes to school improvement, further research is needed to confirm a relationship between distributed forms of leadership and improved student learning outcomes.
Resigned Compliance
Authors: Farrell Catherine , Morris Jonathan
Published: April 2004

This article reports on the introduction of performance-related pay (PRP) in schools in Wales. Specifically, it evaluates the attitudes of teachers to PRP by means of a large-scale questionnaire survey. The results suggest a strong antipathy to PRP for school teachers on the basis that it would be divisive and difficult to implement. In particular, teachers felt that it would be problematic to isolate the performance of individual teachers and deleterious to collegiality and teamwork in schools. Moreover, teachers were critical of the methods of assessment, differences between schools, the potential for subjectivity and favouritism, the negative effect on morale and the bureaucratic burden.
Control, Autonomy and Partnership in Local Education
Authors: Bennett Nigel , Harvey Janet A. , Anderson Lesley
Published: April 2004

In the light of central government rhetoric of partnerships in educational provision, and the recent redefinition of schools’ relationships with local authorities, this article explores the perceptions of six chief education officers of the formal relationships that currently exist between them. The CEOs interviewed were drawn from different types of LEAs, some of which had seen high levels of ‘opting out’ by their secondary schools and some of which had had very low levels. They saw the concept of partnership as problematic, raising significant questions about the extent to which their organizations, constrained by formal accountability relationships and externally created codes of practice, could discharge their responsibilities as partnerships. It is suggested that the concept of partnership needs further clarification and precision if it is to be used in describing relationships between schools and their LEAs.
Friction and Mechanical Properties of Cluster Diamond Dispersed Epoxy Resin
Authors: Nakayama N. , Tominaga R. , Mayuzumi M. , Hanada K. , Sano T. , Takeishi H.
Published: April 2004

In the present paper, epoxy resin based composite materials with nanosize diamond (graphite cluster diamond, GCD) added to constitute 0 - 5 vol.-% were prepared, with the aim of developing a solid lubricating composite material using epoxy resin as the matrix. The material's mechanical properties and friction coefficient were measured. Density measurement showed that the compacted GCD dispersed epoxy resin based composite had a relative density of 1·0. The bending modulus of elasticity remained constant, regardless of changes in the GCD content; however, the bending strength dropped rapidly as the volume fraction of the GCD was increased. The addition of GCD to the matrix system reduced the friction coefficient.
CVD Diamond: Erosion Resistant Hard Material
Authors: Wheeler D. W. , Wood R. J. K.
Published: April 2004

The present paper describes the erosion of 60 μ m thick diamond coatings on tungsten, 600 μ m thick free standing diamond brazed to tungsten carbide and two grades of cemented tungsten carbide and stainless steel type 316. The erosion rate of the diamond samples was between 12 and 30 times lower than that of tungsten carbide at a particle velocity of 268 m s-1. Moreover, the diamond coating displayed an erosion resistance approximately 2·4 times higher than the brazed diamond. However, pinholes were observed on the 60 μ m thick coating, which were not seen on the thicker diamond. Scanning acoustic microscopy showed these pinholes to be formed on regions of debonded coating and, therefore, they provide a visual indication of coating debonding, which eventually leads to the catastrophic failure of the coating. The mass loss associated with the formation of pinholes has been estimated to account for less than 5% of the total mass loss. Therefore, the coating life or time to failure tF rather than the volumetric erosion rate may be a more useful parameter by which the performance of different coatings can be compared.
Tailored Si3N4 Ceramic Substrates for CVD Diamond Coating
Authors: Amaral M. , Oliveira F. J. , Belmonte M. , Fernandes A. J. S. , Costa F. M. , Silva R. F.
Published: April 2004

A review is presented of chemical vapour deposition (CVD) diamond coating of silicon nitride (Si3N4) materials. Microcrystalline and nanocrystalline diamond films were grown using microwave plasma (MPCVD) and hot filament (HFCVD) reactors, respectively. Scanning electron and atomic force microscopy, μ-Raman spectroscopy, low incident angle and classical X-ray diffraction, acoustic emission assisted Brale indentation and thermal conductivity measurements were employed for the full characterisation of the diamond/ Si3N4 system. Using these techniques, the nucleation and growth stages as a function of substrate composition and surface pretreatment were characterised, as well as the diamond quality, the existence of residual stresses and the adhesion between the diamond film and the substrate. Based on this study, a tailored material was developed and tested in the machining of hardmetal workpieces with encouraging results.
Microraman Study of Single Wall Carbn Nanotubes Obtained by Arc Method Using Metal and Oxide Catalysts
Authors: Cazzanelli E. , Castriota M. , Mariotto G. , Rosolen J. M.
Published: April 2004

Single wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesised by the arc method (He atmosphere) using Pt/WO3, Ni/Co and Ni/Co/Fe, Ni/Y2O3 and NiO/Y2O3 as catalysts. The samples were collected in two regions of reactor: the collar and the wall zones. The presence of oxygen in the catalyst decreased the carbon impurities (amorphous carbon and graphite). Raman scattering and TEM were used as characterisation tools. Different CNT yields were found for the different catalysts: almost zero or a very poor yield for the Pt/ WO3 and ternary Ni/Co/Fe metal catalysts, better and promising results for the Ni/Co catalyst, especially after treatment with nitric acid, and for metal - oxide and oxide - oxide catalysts based on Ni/Y2O3 and NiO/Y2O3.
Application of Electrolyte Jet to Rapid Composite Electroplating
Authors: Takeuchi H. , Tamura S. , Tsunekawa Y. , Okumiya M.
Published: April 2004

This paper presents a rapid electroplating process which uses an electrolyte jet containing ceramic particles for the formation of Ni-P matrix composite coatings on an aluminium alloy substrate. The electrolyte jet not only makes the deposition rate of Ni-P matrix extremely fast, but also controls the volume fraction of the particles and phosphorus contents in the deposits by changing the jet velocity. The high deposition rate is caused by a thinned diffusion layer adjacent to the cathode surface as a result of nickel ions forcibly supplied by the electrolyte jet. The limiting current density increases linearly with the square root of jet velocity. As the jet velocity increases, however, it reaches saturation at the current density determined by the hydrogen evolution voltage. The volume fraction of SiC particles in deposits decreases to zero with increasing jet velocity. This is because the particles adsorbed on the cathode surface are subjected to a higher shearing force on desorption when the jet velocity accelerates. In contrast, the adsorbed particles are subjected to a lower shearing force when the jet slows, although the particle adsorbing force increases owing to the cathodic potential. The phosphorus content in matrices increases with the increase in jet velocity and with decrease in the current density. The matrix grain size becomes finer owing to a restraint on the growth rate of nickel crystals by adsorbed phosphorus atoms. Therefore, through a change in both the jet velocity and current density, the jet electroplating process achieves compositionally graded codeposits of the particle volume fraction and/or the phosphorus content with a high deposition rate.
Electrochemical Preparation of Ni and Fe Hydroxide/Oxide Films Using Polyethylenimine
Authors: Bon P. , Zhitomirsky I. , Embury J. D.
Published: April 2004

Composite films consisting of Fe hydroxide, Ni hydroxide and polyethylenimine (PEI) were obtained by the combined electrolytic-electrophoretic deposition method. The proposed method for PEI charging and deposition is based on the use of cationic polymer-metal ion complexes. Cathodic deposits were obtained on Pt and Ag substrates. By varying both the concentration of PEI in solutions and the deposition time, the amount of material deposited and its composition can be varied. The method was used to fabricate NiFe2O4 films. The deposits were studied by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis and SEM. The mechanism of electrochemical intercalation of PEI into hydroxide deposits is discussed.
Deposition of ta-C:N:H as Function of Experimental Parameters
Authors: Rodil S. E. , Muhl S.
Published: April 2004

The incorporation of nitrogen into tetrahedral amorphous carbon films (ta-C:H) was investigated as a function of different gas sources, ion energies and substrate temperatures. Samples were deposited using a highly energetic plasma method: electron cyclotron wave resonance. Composition was measured by nuclear techniques or by XPS. The optical gap was determined by reflection and transmission measurements of samples deposited on quartz substrates and the bonding state was investigated by Raman and infrared (ir) spectroscopy. All the results suggest that tetrahedral bonding is lost, as the nitrogen content increases independently of the deposition parameters used. Structural changes indicated a more polymeric structure with the formation of >C=N, -C≡N and >NH groups.
Auger Microscopy of Laser Induced Fe Oxide/Al Reaction Composite Coating
Authors: Nayak S. , Meyer H. M. , Dahotre N. B.
Published: April 2004

A laser based technique was used to synthesise an Fe3O4/Al composite coating on an Al alloy substrate. The material was analysed using scanning Auger microanalysis. The laser treatment resulted in extensive refinement of the microstructure, and Fe oxide particles were strongly bonded to the matrix owing to reaction induced wetting by liquid Al. The spectroscopy data indicated the formation of several possible stoichiometric compounds as a result of the chemical reaction between Fe3O4 and the alloy. Iron produced as an intermediate product of the aluminothermic reaction between Fe3O4 and Al further reacted with Al (and Si) to form Fe and (Fe,Si) aluminides. The composition across the interface region between the reaction product and the matrix was found to vary gradually, resulting in good bonding. Often, the interfacial region was also found to consist of aluminides of varying composition and stoichiometry. Owing to these features, the coating exhibited high toughness, as characterised by dimpled fracture produced in vacuo.
Case Report: Early Detection Of Anencephaly and Encephalocele in the First Trimester
Authors: Shah J , Byrne F , Peplow M , Fincham J , Loong M , Ahmed P , Pisal P
Published: April 2004

We present two cases of early detection of anencephaly and encephalocele at the routine first trimester examination.
Effects of p27Kip1 on cell cycle status and viability in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells
Authors: Ishii T. , Fujishiro M. , Masuda M. , Goshima Y. , Kitamura H. , Teramoto S. , Matsuse T.
Published: April 2004

p27Kip1 is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, it negatively regulates G1 progression and is reported to modulate apoptosis. Phosphorylation of this protein is thought to regulate its intracellular localisation and affect its stability.

The aim of this study was to regulate p27Kip1 expression levels, and to examine how this protein affects cell cycle status and modulates viability in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells. In addition, the association between phosphorylation status of p27Kip1 and its intracellular localisation was investigated, using expression vectors with cDNA of p27Kip1 or mutants in which the phosphorylation sites had been mutated.

Although overexpression of p27Kip1 reduced cell cycle progression, its removal did not change cell cycle status. Modest induction of p27Kip1 rescued adenovector-induced apoptosis and its removal with short interfering RNA increased spontaneous cell death. It was also observed that p27Kip1 localised mainly in the cytoplasm, and forced expression of p27Kip1 cDNA with the substitution of serine (S) 10, threonine (T) 157 and T198 to glutamate (phosphor-mimetic) induced its cytoplasmic localisation.

In conclusion, p27Kip1, when expressed physiologically, exists mainly in the cytoplasm, has little effect on cell cycle status and contributes viability in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells. It was also surmised that intracellular localisation of p27Kip1 dominates its function and that its localisation was partly determined by its phosphorylation.
Ultraprecision grinding technologies in silicon semiconductor processing
Authors: Ahearne E , Byrne G
Published: April 2004

The production of silicon substrates for integrated circuits continues to set standards in levels of precision form and finish tolerances required of surface generation processes. Extreme tolerances are specified for a range of parameters such as total thickness variation, global and local planarity, and surface finish over substrate dimensions of up to 300mm in diameter (current-generation silicon wafer). These tolerances are related to the ‘design rule’ for each generation of microprocessor and memory unit.

The economic and technological environment of an industry that demands such precision is reviewed. The general production process is then described with particular reference to surface grinding as an enabling technology. The context of developments in ultraprecision machine tool technology is delineated, requirements for assuring the indicated tolerances are set out and machine solutions representing the ‘state-of-the-art’ and ‘next-generation’ machine technologies reported.
Modelling and reasoning for failure modes and effects analysis generation
Authors: Teoh P C , Case K
Published: April 2004

Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) is a quality improvement and risk assessment tool commonly used in industry. It is a living document used to capture design and process failure information. However, the traditional FMEA has its limitations in terms of knowledge capture and reuse. In order to increase its effectiveness, much research has been carried out to find an effective way to provide FMEA generation. However, because of the complexity of the information needed, most of the research concentrates on the application for a specific design domain. This paper reviews various FMEA research studies and modelling and reasoning methods that can be used for generic applications. A new proposal made is based on the ‘knowledge fragment’ reasoning concept suggested by Kato, Shirakawa and Hori in 2002. FMEA is introduced in the conceptual design stage so as to minimize the risks of costly failure. The method enables new knowledge to be formed using the limited available information in the conceptual design stage. A prototype has been created to evaluate the proposed method. Case studies have been conducted to validate the proposed method. The case studies show that the method is able to provide reliable results with limited information.
Use of genetic algorithms in operations management: Part 1: Applications
Authors: Stockton D J , Quinn L , Khalil R A
Published: April 2004

Research has been carried out to investigate the use of genetic algorithms (GAs) as a common solution technique for solving the range of problems that arise when designing and planning manufacturing operations. A variety of problem areas have been selected that are representative of the range of problem types found in manufacturing decision-making, i.e. assortment planning, aggregate planning, lot sizing within material requirements planning environments, line balancing and facilities layout. In Part 1 of this paper, for each problem area, a typical solution has been coded in terms of a GA structure, a suitable objective function has been constructed and experiments have been performed in order to identify suitable GA operators and operator parameter values. The potential suitability of GAs to solve these problem types has then been determined by comparing the best solution generated using a GA to a solution derived using a traditional solution technique. Part 2 of this paper focuses on the range of GA experiments undertaken to investigate the underlying relationships between problem characteristics and the performance of individual operator types and their parameter values.
Biomimetic design for remanufacture in the context of design for assembly
Authors: Shu L H
Published: April 2004

In this paper, a biomimetic design method is applied to a specific problem in design for remanufacture. First summarized is remanufacture as an option to disposal at product end of life, and how products may be designed for ease of remanufacture. Next identified is a contradiction between a design-for-remanufacture strategy and design-for-assembly preferences. Specifically, making failure-prone features into separate parts facilitates remanufacture but results in additional parts to assemble. An example involving snap fits as a method of fastening and joining is used to illustrate the contradiction. To obtain ideas on how to address this contradiction, a biomimetic search method was used to find biological phenomena that are analogous to remanufacture. One such phenomenon is described and used to develop a concept that satisfies both design-for-remanufacture and design-for-assembly preferences.
Automotive catalyst warm-up to light-off by pulsating engine exhaust
Authors: Benjamin S. F. , Roberts C. A.
Published: April 2004

This paper presents the results of studies on a range of different catalyst substrates warmed by engine exhaust. Engine speeds were in the range 1200–3000 r/min. One substrate was non-washcoated, four were washcoated but non-reactive and four were washcoated and reactive. The temperature at four locations within the non-reactive substrates was measured. The reactive substrates were warmed to light-off by the pulsating exhaust flow from an engine running fuel rich of stoichiometric. Both substrate temperatures and hydrocarbon conversion were measured. Predicted temperatures and conversion were obtained from a one-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. The model was based on the porous medium approach and incorporated a simple three-way chemical scheme. Comparison was made of measurements with predictions, with particular reference to the time taken to achieve light-off. Pulsing flow CFD predictions were found to be almost identical to steady-flow predictions for the conditions investigated. The CFD predictions were found to be in fair agreement with the engine test results, but using kinetic rate constants higher than previously reported values.
Diesel particulate filter pressure drop Part 1: Modelling and experimental validation
Authors: Haralampous O. A. , Kandylas I. P. , Koltsakis G. C. , Samaras Z. C.
Published: April 2004

Pressure drop modelling is a subject of special interest for the design and control of diesel particulate filters. Based on previous experience, an improved pressure drop model is presented. Special emphasis is given on the soot permeability properties and its dependence on temperature and pressure. With the assumption of uniform wall flow distribution throughout the channel length, it is possible to derive an analytic expression for pressure drop calculation. The main difference with previously proposed analytic expressions lies in the inclusion of gas density dependence on local pressure, which necessitates an iterative calculation procedure. The importance of this improvement is illustrated parametrically. The new model is validated against experimental data on an engine bench, using a double filter configuration to ensure constant filter soot loading throughout the test.
Thermal ignition theory applied to diesel engine autoignition
Authors: Mellor A. M. , Russell S. C. , Humer S , Seshadri K
Published: April 2004

The diesel community has used one-equation models for ignition delay in engines for decades. The inverse Arrhenius forms characterizing many of these expressions thus lump together liquid fuel evaporation, mixing of the vapour with the charge and the chemical delay. As a result, correlations apply only to the injector, engine and operating conditions tested. Additionally, they typically exhibit energies or temperatures of activation that can be as much as ten times lower than those obtained in well-mixed, controlled systems that isolate and study the chemical delay. Here the latter system is modelled first, using classical analysis techniques. The result is then extended to the relatively straightforward fluid mechanic environment of a laminar counterflow burner to clarify how both chemistry and mixing can be included in a more general one-equation model. This new model is validated with ignition limit data for ethane or ethene with O2/N2 either premixed or unmixed in the counterflow arrangement and liquid diesel fuel in a pool configuration. Since the overall mixing time in this burner is known a priori, the data can be manipulated to yield global chemical ignition delay activation temperatures for these fuels. As expected, the results are equivalent to those measured in shock tubes and combustion tunnels where reactants are premixed before ignition
Management of laryngeal amyloidosis
Authors: Alaani A. , Warfield A. T. , Pracy J. P.
Published: April 2004

Amyloidosis of the upper aerodigestive tract is rare. However, the larynx is the commonest site within the upper airways to be affected.

Three cases of uncomplicated primary amyloidosis of the larynx and one case of laryngeal amyloidosis with more generalized dissemination throughout the head and neck are presented.

In this article the different presentations of laryngeal amyloidosis and principles of management of this condition at that site are highlighted.
Quality of life and functional evaluation after supracricoid partial laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy in Mexican patients
Authors: Luna-Ortiz Kuauhyama , Núñez-Valencia Ethel R. , Tamez-Velarde Mario , Granados-Garcia Martin
Published: April 2004

This study assessed the functional results in patients treated primarily through supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL) with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy (CHEP).

Fifteen patients with a diagnosis of epidermoid carcinoma of the glottis region admitted to the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (México) between June 2001 and September 2002 were studied. Three patients were at stage I, five at stage II, six at stage III, and one at stage IV. Both cricoarytenoid units were preserved in 12 patients, and only one in three. Each case was assessed through the clinical grading postoperative aspiration (CGPA) scale, the performance status scale for head and neck cancer (PSS-HNC), and the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS). Likewise, voice quality of the patients was assessed regarding tone and intensity using the SpeechViewer version 1 (IBM) and data were obtained with the Cool Edit 2000 software.

Twelve patients received phoniatric rehabilitation and three were left without rehabilitation. The average time for decannulation was 12 days and 23 days for removal of the nasogastric catheter. The degree of aspiration was 0 in four patients and one in 11. According to PSS-HNC, the mean for normalcy in the diet was 95 and the mean for those eating in public was 91. Intelligibility reached an average of 90. Karnofsky’s assessment was related to the disease and not to the treatment, as it remained at 100 per cent in most patients and was never below 80 percent. The mean intensity of quality of voice was -18 dB below normal; however, the mean frequency was 243.7 Hz.

SCPL and CHEP allows the preservation of the basic function of the larynx; however, a clear alteration in voice occurs after the procedure, although normal frequency is kept when both arytenoids are preserved. Likewise, preservation of both arytenoids shortens the time needed for cannula and feeding catheter removal. PSS-HNC, Karnofsky, and CGPA assessments demonstrated thatpatients can reach an almost normal bio-psycho-social integration. It is recommended that all patients be subjected to phoniatric rehabilitation.
Role of repeat fine needle aspiration cytology in head and neck lesions: preliminary study
Authors: Shykhon M. , Macnamara M. , El-Assy A. , Warfield A. T.
Published: April 2004

In this preliminary prospective study the value of repeating fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in patients with head and neck lesions was investigated. Few reports exist on the significance of repeating the procedure in head and neck patients. Fifty-seven patients have been sampled twice for the first and second (repeat) FNAC. The second aspirate was performed in the operating theatre under general anaesthesia prior to a surgical procedure. The cytological results were compared with the histology of the 57 resected lesions. It was found that the overall diagnostic results improved after repeating the FNAC. It can be concluded that repeating FNAC is useful and should be considered under some circumstances, especially in the case of non-diagnostic cervical lymph node aspirates.
Far advanced otosclerosis and intractable benign paroxysmal positional vertigo treated with combined cochlear implantation and posterior semicircular canal occlusion
Authors: Crossland G. , De Ranit , Axon P.
Published: April 2004

This paper presents a combined procedure for the management of intractable benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and profound hearing loss in a patient with far advanced otosclerosis. The procedure comprised of a posterior semicircular canal occlusion and cochlear implantation as one combined procedure in the same ear. The combined approach added little to the operative morbidity and proved effective in this patient’s management. A search of the literature reveals this to be a unique case.
Nasal polyposis: unusual indication for tracheostomy
Authors: Kumar Swati , Osman Eslam , Deans Jonathan A. J. , Scally John
Published: April 2004

A rare case of nasal polyposis requiring urgent tracheostomy is reported. A70-year-old male presented to the hospital with stridor. He had a 10-year history of nasal obstruction. A large proliferative mass was found to be occupying both the nasal cavities. An emergency tracheostomy and biopsy of the lesion was performed. A computerized axial scan (CT) demonstrated that the lesion occupied the pharynx reaching up to the laryngeal inlet. To our knowledge this is the first case reported in the literature. Upper airway obstruction from nasal polypsis uncommon but can cause significant morbidity if not appropriately managed.
Preferred Scenarios in the Sport of Curling
Authors: Willoughby Keith A. , Kostuk Kent J.
Published: April 2004

In the sport of curling, participants continually debate this question: In the latter stages of a game, is it better for a team to be trailing by one point yet have the last shot, or ahead by one point without the last shot? Based on results from over 900 Canadian men’s national championship games, we found that it is better for a team to be ahead by one point without the last shot. We surveyed world-class curlers to determine their preferences and probability estimates for given outcomes and discovered that several of these participants have disparate preferences and probability estimates.
Confocal Raman Microspectrometry: A Vectorial Electromagnetic Treatment of the Light Focused and Collected through a Planar Interface and its Application to the Study of a Thin Coating
Authors: Sourisseau C. , Maraval P.
Published: April 2004

In-depth confocal Raman microspectrometry (CRM) studies through a planar interface between materials of mismatched refraction indices are known to be affected by a decrease of both the collected Raman intensity and the axial resolution as a function of the penetration depth. Following a previous model, which takes the refraction, diffraction, and spherical aberration effects into account when focusing a Gaussian incident laser beam with a high numerical aperture objective lens, a complete vectorial treatment of these phenomena is considered. It is demonstrated that off-axis refraction effects cannot be neglected and that the dimension of the confocal pinhole aperture plays a crucial role on the effective focal plane position and on the collection efficiency. We thus propose a more rigourous and complete approach to the problem, and we find a very good agreement between experimental and theoretical Raman intensity variations for a thick polyethylene sample as a function of the penetration depth. As compared with calculations where only refraction was considered, we confirm that the lengthening of the focus even for a large penetration depth is significantly reduced upon diffraction effects. As an illustrative example, the theoretical Raman responses for a thin coating of ∼20 μm on a polymer substrate were investigated and compared to experimental results already published. Even though the interfacial region is spread over ∼5–6 μm when using a 100× objective and a confocal pinhole of 200 μm diameter, it is definitively concluded that the apparent axial resolution is not drastically deteriorated with increasing depth and that the coating thickness may be directly estimated with a precision of ∼1.0 μm (5%).
Near-Infrared Surface-Enhanced-Raman-Scattering-Mediated Detection of Single Optically Trapped Bacterial Spores
Authors: Alexander Troy A. , Pellegrino Paul M. , Gillespie James B.
Published: April 2004

A novel methodology has been developed for the investigation of bacterial spores. Specifically, this method has been used to probe the spore coat composition of two different Bacillus stearothermophilus variants. This technique may be useful in many applications; most notably, development of novel detection schemes toward potentially harmful bacteria. This method would also be useful as an ancillary environmental monitoring system where sterility is of importance (i.e., food preparation areas as well as invasive and minimally invasive medical applications). This unique detection scheme is based on the near-infrared (NIR) surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) from single, optically trapped, bacterial spores. The SERS spectra of bacterial spores in aqueous media have been measured using SERS substrates based on ∼60-nm-diameter gold colloids bound to 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane derivatized glass. The light from a 787-nm laser diode was used to trap and manipulate as well as simultaneously excite the SERS of an individual bacterial spore. The collected SERS spectra were examined for uniqueness and the applicability of this technique for the strain discrimination of Bacillus stearothermophilus spores. Comparison of normal Raman and SERS spectra reveals not only an enhancement of the normal Raman spectral features but also the appearance of spectral features absent in the normal Raman spectrum.
Band-Target Entropy Minimization (BTEM) Applied to Hyperspectral Raman Image Data
Authors: Widjaja Effendi , Crane Nicole , Chen Tso-Ching , Morris Michael D. , Ignelzi Michael A. , McCreadie Barbara R.
Published: April 2004

Band-target entropy minimization (BTEM) has been applied to extraction of component spectra from hyperspectral Raman images. In this method singular value decomposition is used to calculate the eigenvectors of the spectroscopic image data set. Bands in non-noise eigenvectors that would normally be used for recovery of spectra are examined for localized spectral features. For a targeted (identified) band, information entropy minimization or a closely related algorithm is used to recover the spectrum containing this feature from the non-noise eigenvectors, plus the next 5–30 eigenvectors, in which noise predominates. Tests for which eigenvectors to include are described. The method is demonstrated on one synthesized Raman image data set and two bone tissue specimens. By inclusion of small amounts of signal that would be unused in other methods, BTEM enables the extraction of a larger number of component spectra than are otherwise obtainable. An improvement in signal/noise ratio of the recovered spectra is also obtained.
Main Inorganic Component Measurement of Seawater Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Chen Jie Yu , Matsunaga Ryuji , Ishikawa Kyoko , Zhang Han
Published: April 2004

The potential of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to measure the main inorganic components of seawater as salt-manufacturing materials was investigated. A total of 72 seawater samples collected from six locations was used, and spectra (1100–1800 nm) were acquired by a NIR spectrophotometer with a 1-mm path length. Principal component analysis (PCA), canonical correlation analysis (CCA), and partial least-squares (PLS) regression were performed based on the reference inorganic components. As a result, the principal component analysis and canonical correlation analysis showed that the near-infrared spectra could be related to the inorganic components of seawater. The partial least-squares regression analysis showed that the inorganic components (ion concentration of Cl−, Na+, K+, SO42−, and Ca2+) could be predicted with good accuracy using NIR spectra and their second derivatives. For Cl− ion and K+ ion concentrations, the accuracy was high.
Stopped Flow Apparatus for Time-Resolved Fourier Transform Infrared Difference Spectroscopy of Biological Macromolecules in 1H2O
Authors: Masuch Ralf , Moss David A.
Published: April 2004

Stopped flow spectroscopy is an established technique for acquiring kinetic data on dynamic processes in chemical and biochemical reactions, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) techniques can provide particularly rich structural information on biological macromolecules. However, it is a considerable challenge to design an FT-IR stopped flow system with an optical path length low enough for work with aqueous (1H2O) solutions. The system presented here is designed for minimal sample volumes (∼5 μL) and allows simultaneous FT-IR rapid-scan and VIS measurements. The system employs a micro-structured diffusional mixer to achieve effective mixing on the millisecond time scale under moderate flow and pressure conditions, allowing measurements in a cell path length of less than 10 μm. This makes it possible to record spectra in 1H2O solutions over a wide spectral range. The system layout is also designed for a combination of kinetic and static measurements, in particular to obtain detailed information on the faster spectral changes occurring during the system dead time. A detailed characterization of the FT-IR stopped flow system is presented, including a demonstration of the alkaline conformational transition of cytochrome c as an example.
Infrared Method for In Situ Studies of Polymer/Surfactant Adsorption on Silica Powders from Aqueous Solution
Authors: Jiang Cuihong , Li Haiyan , Tripp Carl P.
Published: April 2004

This article presents a general infrared spectroscopic method that enables the monitoring of the adsorption of surfactants and poly-electrolytes on high surface area silica particles from aqueous solution. The method is based on the use of a ZnSe internal reflection element (IRE) coated with a layer of titania particles. The titania surface is then converted to silica using atomic layer deposition with sequential addition of an amine catalyst, gaseous SiCl4, and water vapor. A minimum of three cycles is needed to produce a surface that mimics silica, as evidenced by the reaction of hexamethyldisilazane and zeta potential measurements. It is shown that the silica-coated titania particles on the ZnSe crystals are stable to flowing aqueous solutions below pH = 8 and can be used to study the dynamics of polymer/surfactant adsorption on silica.
Spectral Depth Profiling of Arbitrary Surfaces by Thermal Emission Decay—Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Notingher Ioan , Imhof Robert E. , Xiao Peng , Pascut Flavius C.
Published: April 2004

We report a new spectroscopic technique that combines step-scanning Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with opto-thermal transient emission radiometry (OTTER) in order to provide near-surface depth-resolved spectra in the range 700–1800 cm−1. It works nondestructively, without contact, with samples of arbitrary shape and size, without requiring prior preparation. The depth of surface probed depends on the thermal diffusivity of the sample; for organic materials it is ∼10 μm. With homogeneous samples, absolute absorption coefficients can be measured. With two-layered samples, the technique proved able to distinguish between the spectral properties of the top layer and the substrate and to estimate the thickness of the top layer. We present a theoretical analysis with the main design features of the instrumentation and software, together with studies of homogeneous and layered samples, to validate the methods and illustrate the potential of the technique for practical applications.
Examination of Spectral Pretreatments for Partial Least-Squares Calibrations for Chemical and Physical Properties of Wheat
Authors: Delwiche Stephen R. , Graybosch Robert A.
Published: April 2004

Use of near-infrared (NIR) diffuse reflectance on ground wheat meal for prediction of protein content is a well-accepted practice. Although protein content has a strong bearing on the suitability of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) for processed foods, wheat quality, as largely influenced by the configuration and conformation of the monomeric and polymeric endosperm storage proteins, is also of great importance to the food industry. The measurement of quality by NIR, however, has been much less successful. The present study examines the effects and trends of applying mathematical transformations (pretreatments) to NIR spectral data before partial least-squares (PLS) regression. Running mean smooths, Savitzky–Golay second derivatives, multiplicative scatter correction, and standard normal variate transformation, with and without detrending, were systematically applied to an extensive set of hard red winter wheat and hard white wheat grown over two seasons. The studied properties were protein content, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) sedimentation volume, number of hours during grain fill at temperature <24 °C, and number of hours during grain fill at temperature >32 °C. The size of the convolution window used to perform a smooth or second derivative was also examined. The results indicate that for easily modeled properties such as protein content, the importance of pretreatment was lessened, whereas for the more difficult-to-model properties, such as SDS sedimentation volume, wide-window (>20 points) smooth or derivative convolutions were important in maximizing calibration performance. By averaging 30 PLS cross-validation trial statistics (standard error) for each property, we were able to ascertain the inherent modeling ability of each wheat property.