bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Memanfaatkan Figma Dalam Pelatihan Desain UI/UX Untuk GP Anshor PAC Ciledug
Authors: Haryanti Tuti , Handayani Rani Irma , Kristiana Titin , Frieyadie Frieyadie
Published: January 2024

Kemajuan teknologi informasi yang cepat mengharuskan terciptanya inovasi dalam aplikasi perangkat lunak sebagai kebutuhan primer bagi masyarakat Indonesia. Dalam lingkup ini, persaingan di antara penyedia aplikasi mendorong terus-menerusnya penelusuran inovasi. User Interface (UI) dan User Experience (UX) menjadi sorotan utama dalam meningkatkan reputasi bisnis atau perusahaan dengan bantuan elemen visual dalam aplikasi atau situs web. Pendidikan tentang aplikasi FIGMA bagi Anggota Gerakan Pemuda (GP) Ansor PAC Ciledug menjadi esensial karena GP Ansor berperan signifikan sebagai entitas otonom di bawah Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) yang memiliki dampak yang substansial dalam dinamika sosial, politik, dan budaya di Indonesia. Namun, Anggota GP Ansor Ciledug menghadapi hambatan dalam pemahaman terkait desain UI/UX menggunakan FIGMA disebabkan oleh variasi latar belakang pendidikan mereka. Sementara itu, karena karakter yang beraneka ragam dan besarnya jumlah anggota organisasi ini, dibutuhkan pendekatan penyuluhan untuk menjadikan desain UI/UX situs web lebih ramah pengguna. Dalam konteks ini, pelaksanaan pelatihan UI/UX menggunakan FIGMA bertujuan untuk meningkatkan pemahaman anggota GP Ansor Ciledug mengenai desain antarmuka pengguna yang dapat meningkatkan pengalaman navigasi pengguna dalam situs web. Harapannya, pelatihan ini akan mengatasi kendala-kendala yang dihadapi oleh anggota dan memperkuat reputasi serta kemudahan akses situs web GP Ansor dalam mendukung visi organisasi terhadap perkembangan masyarakat Indonesia.
Impact of Medical Practitioners’ Emotional Intelligence on their Effect on Job Performance
Authors: Shah Wilayat , Junfei Chen , Khan Sohail , Subhan Muhammad , Rehman Zia ur , Rahman Atta Ur , Jan Muhammad Dawood
Published: January 2024

It is believed that the emotional intelligence can significantly affect the job performance dimension to include task performance and contextual performance of doctor’s work in hospitals. This paper uses the quantitative and deductive approach to establish the relationship between above-mentioned factors for medical practitioners by a cross-sectional method by including suitable number of medical doctors in the selected area for meaningful results. The data collected in form of questionnaire is analyzed and a positive relation is found between emotional intelligence and job performance after correlation analysis. Emotional intelligence is found to significantly impact medical practitioners’ job, task and contextual performances, the latter two being strongly affected. The reliability test for suitability of the dataset reveals that the results can be applied to larger population. The regression analysis indicates that there is significant and positive relationship between the factors of emotional and job performance.
Bacteriological Profile and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns in Pediatric Urinary Tract Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study at Dhaka Shishu Hospital
Authors: Md. Tazul Islam
Published: January 2024

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a prevalent concern in pediatric healthcare, causing distress to children, raising parental concerns, and potentially leading to lasting kidney damage. The highest incidence of first-time symptomatic UTIs occurs in infants during the first year of life, with a subsequent marked decrease. Febrile infants under 2 months, presenting with unexplained fever, constitute a critical subset requiring particular attention. Knowledge of the bacteriological profile and antimicrobial resistance patterns in specific regions is crucial for guiding effective treatment strategies. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at 250 Bedded General Hospital, Jamalpur, Bangladesh from Feb 2016 to Aug 2016 to assess the bacteriological profile and antibiotic resistance patterns in pediatric UTIs. A total of 147 culture-positive UTI patients were included. Bacterial isolates were identified, and colony counts for samples with ≥105 CFU/mL bacteria were considered positive. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using twelve agents, and resistance patterns were analyzed. Results: Among the 147 culture-positive UTI patients, Escherichia coli (E-coli) was the predominant isolate (70%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (13.6%), Pseudomonas (5.44%), Enterobacter spp (3.40%), Staphylococcus Aureus (3.40%), Proteus (2.72%), and Enterococcus (1.36%). Antimicrobial resistance analysis revealed varying patterns, with Cefradine (79.59%), Co-trimoxazole (SXT) (69.39%), Nalidixic acid (NA) (66.67%), and Ceftazidime (CTM) (48.98%) showing higher resistance rates. No drug exhibited 100% resistance against urinary pathogens, indicating a dynamic resistance landscape. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of understanding local prevalence and resistance patterns in guiding empirical antibiotic selection for pediatric UTIs. The observed decrease in antimicrobial resistance underscores the need for continuous surveillance and tailored antibiotic strategies. Clinicians should base their treatment decisions on the specific epidemiological context rather than relying solely on universal or national guidelines.
Numerical investigations on the effect of frequency on synthetic jet impingement cooling using multiple orifice
Authors: Vaishnav S. , R. Leena
Published: January 2024

A synthetic jet generally consists of a cavity with a driver attached on one side and an orifice on the opposite side. When the driver moves back and forth, the jet will generate an unsteady flow through the orifice and the flow will move downstream to a surface forming an impinging flow. When the jet is in the ejection cycle, the diaphragm will expel flow out from the orifice and form a vortex near the orifice. If the propulsion is large enough, the vortex will move downstream before the jet orifice flow reverses and starts to suck in flow. The computational process is carried out using the commercial software ANSYS Fluent. In this study, the heat transfer characteristics of synthetic jet impingement cooling with multiple orifice (1 and 2 orifices) are analyze with different operating frequencies (f=100 Hz to f=500 Hz and f=1 Hz to f=5 Hz) with different Reynolds numbers (Re=10000 and 20000) The results demonstrate that high frequency synthetic jets show better heat removal capacity than lower frequency at the same Reynolds number.
Emotion Recognition Using Smart Bands
Authors: Baby Aleena , Geo Aneeka , Fairuz AR Haseen , Boby M Joel , Anuranj P
Published: January 2024

Emotion recognition is an important research area within the field of affective computing, which aims to build systems that can recognize, interpret, and respond to human emotions. The feasibility and costliness of continuous emotion recognition have led to numerous studies. Rather than labeling emotional states continuously, the focus is on modeling time intervals that better represent the presence of affective states. Instead of tracking ongoing affective changes within a specific timeframe, this technique aims to identify the most prominent emotional incidents. This approach offers a practical and natural way of learning in a weakly supervised environment, considering the uncertainty of emotional responses.
Phytochemical Screening, gc-ms Analysis and Antioxidant Activity of Methanol Stem Bark Extract of Cassia Sieberiana DC
Authors:   Department of Microbiology, Babcock University, Ilisan-remo, Ogun State, Nigeria., Amodu Samuel
Published: January 2024

The over production of free radicals in the human body is known to cause oxidative stress which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many diseases. Therefore, the search for natural antioxidants would continue to be a major area of research for many decades. This study was to investigate the in vitro antioxidant activities and to determine the phytochemicals present in Cassia sieberiana. The methanol stem bark extract of C. sieberiana was subjected to phytochemical screening and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Its antioxidant activities were assayed in vitro using nitric oxide scavenging assay, ferric reducing antioxidant potential assay, lipid peroxidation inhibitory assay and 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging assay. The phytochemical screening of the stem bark extract of C. sieberiana showed saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, tannins, phlobatannins, terpernoids, cardiac glycosides, phenolics and reducing sugar. The GC-MS Table revealed that the methanol extract has 51 bioactive compounds with 3-0-Methyl-d-glucose having the highest percentage of 12.16 % while 5.alpha-Androstan-3-beta-ol,4,4-dimethyl- having the lowest percentage of 0.09 %. The antioxidant study showed concentration-dependent radical scavenging activity of the methanol stem bark extract of C. sieberiana. This concentration-dependent result was also observed when compared with ascorbic acid used as the standard drug. The presence of different phytochemicals such as alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phenols, flavonoids, among other things, might be responsible for C. sieberiana antioxidant activity. The study concluded that the methanol stem bark extract of C. sieberiana contains 51 bioactive compounds and showed good antioxidant activity which could be therapeutic in several human diseases. Key words: Cassia sieberiana, Phytochemical, Antioxidant, Pharmaceuticals
Predisposing Factors Associated with Preventive Practices of Low Birth weight among Women Living Close to Surface Coal Mines in Okura Region, Kogi State, Nigeria
Authors:   Department of Public Health, Babcock University., Ochai Johnson , Asekun-Olarinmoye Ifeoluwapo ,   Department of Public Health, Babcock University., Oloyede Busola ,   Department of Public Health, Babcock University., Joe-Amadi Harmony ,   Department of Public Health, Babcock University.
Published: January 2024

Low birth weight remains a public health concern especially in developing countries as it is a major contributor to neonatal mortality. Investigations on the problem phenomenon have related proximity to surface coal mining to persistent increase in low birth weight. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The population were women attending anti-natal clinic in health facilities in Okura region, Kogi state. One hundred and eighty-three participants were recruited for the study. A validated structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on the Knowledge, attitude and prevention practices of the respondents measured. Data was collected using a validated 30-item interviewer questionnaire (reliable coefficient of 0.9). The result showed that the median age of the participants was 31 years and majority (42.1%) had at least secondary school education with 7.1% reporting non-formal education. Result also showed level of knowledge about low birth among the women was low with mean (SD) of 4.03(2.00) eighty-seven respondents had negative attitudinal disposition towards low birth weight. The mean (SD) of attitude was 9.6(3.35). The preventive practices of the respondents had an aggregated mean of 10.391.41. Generally, in this study, respondents had moderate level of knowledge, attitudinal disposition and preventive practices regarding proximity to coal mining and its effects/consequences. These moderate levels are not good enough as an increase in the predisposing factors (knowledge and attitude) is needed for the development of better practices and solutions in order to prevent/reduce the incidence of low birth weight. Key words: Cassia Siberian, Phytochemical, Antioxidant, Pharmaceuticals
Knowledge, Attitude and Food Safety Practice among Food Handlers in Kaduna North Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Authors:   Department of Public Health, Babcock University., Odogwu Claret , Amosu Ademola ,   Department of Public Health, Babcock University.
Published: January 2024

Food safety practices remain poor in Sub-Saharan Africa despite the significant financial burden that outbreaks of food-borne illness have on individuals. Kaduna State recorded cases and mortalities from the most recent cholera outbreak due to food borne diseases caused by poor safety practices from food handlers. Therefore, this study examined knowledge, attitude and food safety practices among food handlers in Kaduna North Local Government Area, Kaduna State. A descriptive cross-sectional design was utilized in this study. The three-stage sampling technique was used to select two hundred and forty-six food handlers. Data was obtained using a 28- itemed validated interviewer-administered questionnaire. For the entire construct, the Cronbach alpha coefficient was 0.75. All statistical tests were conducted at p ≤ 0.05 level of significance. The result showed majority 219 (89%) of respondents had good level of knowledge, 151 (61.4%) had positive attitude and 157 (63.8%) had good food safety practices. There was a significant relationship between respondents’ level of knowledge of food safety practices and their attitude towards food safety practices (r=0.57; p=0.000). Additionally, there was a significant association between respondents’ knowledge of food safety practice and food safety practices (r=0.61; r2=0.372; p=0.00). Further analysis revealed a significant association between respondents’ attitude towards food safety practice and food safety practices (r=0.63; r2=0.402; p = 0.00). In conclusion, findings from this study showed that most of the respondents had good level of knowledge, positive attitude and good food safety practices. Continuous training should be recommended on proper food safety practices by environmental health officers in order to improve their food safety practices. Keywords: Attitudes, Food handlers, Food safety practices, Knowledge.
Maternal Socio-demographic Characteristics Associated with Under-five Care Practice among Internally Displaced Persons in Abuja, Nigeria
Authors:   Department of Public Health, Babcock University., Oloyede Busola , Ajike Saratu ,   Department of Public Health, Babcock University.
Published: January 2024

The insurgency in the north-eastern part of Nigeria has led to the displacement of people thereby leading to various health situations and children under-five are not left behind. This study investigated maternal socio-demographic characteristics associated with under-five care practice among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Abuja, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 312 women in five purposively selected IDP camps in Abuja. A validated structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Binary Logistic Regression at 5% level of significance. The mean age of the 312 respondents was 29.6 ± 6.72 years. Majority of the participants had poor care practice (62.8%; n = 196). There was no significant association between age (OR = 1.06, CI = 0.85 – 1.32, p = 0.630), marital status (OR = 1.06, CI = 0.79 – 1.41, p = 0.700), religion (OR = 0.99, CI = 0.61 – 1.60, p = 0.960), parity (OR = 1.23, CI = 0.97 – 1.53, p = 0.070), previous child death (OR = 0.89, CI = 0.71 – 1.12, p = 0.311) and under-five care practice. However, a significant association existed between educational attainment (OR = 1.77, CI = 1.28 – 2.44, p = 0.001), ethnicity (OR = 2.44, CI = 1.50 – 3.97, p = 0.000) and under-five care practice. The socio-demographic factors associated with under-five care practice were maternal education and ethnicity. Effort should be directed at improving the educational status of internally displaced women and girls. Keywords: Internally Displaced Persons, Socio-demographic characteristics, Under-five, Under-five care practice.
Caregiving and familiality of young people in the midst of change? Selected aspects.
Authors: Gajewska Grażyna
Published: January 2024

Wprowadzenie. We współczesnym świecie tworzone są przestrzenie, w których nie mogą pojawić się dzieci. Od czasu pandemii COVID-19 zaobserwować można zmiany – szczególnie u młodych ludzi – w opiekuńczości i rodzinności. Coraz częściej deklarują oni
i przejawiają np. niechęć, nienawiść do dzieci i opieki nad nimi, do rodzicielstwa i zakładania rodzin, brak miłości wobec biologicznych dzieci, pozytywny stosunek do opiekunów niebiologicznych dzieci. Kierunek tych zmian oraz wstępna analiza ich przyczyn wymaga diagnozy i podejmowania działań pedagogicznych i społecznych. Cel. Celem artykułu jest rozpoznanie zakresu, cech i przyczyn zjawisk takich jak: niechęć, nienawiść do dzieci, niechęć do opieki nad nimi, do rodzicielstwa i rodziny, brak miłości wobec posiadanych dzieci biologicznych oraz stosunek do osób opiekujących się niebio-logicznymi dziećmi, obserwowanych w coraz większym stopniu u młodych ludzi potencjalnych
lub aktualnych opiekunów prawnych), zrozumienie istoty, stanu i zależności między opiekuńczością, rodzicielstwem a życiem we współczesnym świecie po pandemii, i w dalszej kolejności wskazanie wybranych zagrożeń i nadziei, a także opinii na dane tematy osób studiujących pedagogikę opiekuńczą. Materiały i metody. W artykule zastosowano analizę literatury przedmiotu, źródeł dziennikarskich i mediów społecznościowych oraz metodę sondażu diagnostycznego. Wyniki. Większość badanych (75%) zna przynajmniej jednego młodego człowieka, który nie lubi dzieci, a około 12% z nich zna takiego, który ich nienawidzi. Twierdzą oni, że młodzi
ludzie nie chcą mieć dzieci, gdyż są takie czasy, w których byłoby to nieodpowiedzialne, wolą młody organizm wykorzystywać do rozwoju siebie, twierdząc, że dzieci to ograniczenie ich wolności i ponoszenie zbyt dużych kosztów. Spora część badanych nie zgadzała się
z tezą, że obecnie młodzi ludzie nie kochają swoich dzieci biologicznych. Wśród przyczyn podawane były m. in.: trudny poród i brak sił do opieki (brak pomocy przy opiece), nie spełnione wcześniej aspiracje, bycie w ciąży „przez przypadek”. Niektórzy ankietowani nie
zgadzają się z tezą, że obecnie młodzi ludzie nie chcą opiekować się dziećmi i podkreślają istniejące zróżnicowanie w tej grupie. Jako przyczyny braku chęci do tego wskazali m. in. brak gotowości i dojrzałości do bycia rodzicem, chęć do wykonywania przez młodych ludzi
wszystkiego szybko a opieka wymaga cierpliwości, bycie wygodnym, przedkładanie kariery nad założenie rodziny. Badani pozytywnie postrzegają i uzasadniają opiekę i kochanie dzieci przyjętych pod swoją opiekę, które nie są ich dziećmi biologicznymi. Z podawanych
przyczyn wnioskować można, że nie wszyscy znają specyfikę i różnorodność tej opieki. Wnioski. Badania warto kontynuować i uszczegóławiać. Wskazane są działania pedagogiczne z młodzieżą i zmiany w polityce społecznej i zdrowotnej. O wskazanych zjawiskach
należy rozmawiać z kandydatami na pedagogów.
Maternal Outcome in Patients with Abruptio Placenta: A Comprehensive Analysis in A Tertiary Care Hospital
Authors: Basit Abdul , Mazhar Tayaba , Khattak Muhammad Asad , Jamala Fazilat , Owiredu Vanessa , Zareef Huma
Published: January 2024

Background: Abruptio placenta is a critical obstetric condition characterized by the premature detachment of the placenta from the uterine wall, leading to significant maternal and fetal risks. Despite its rarity, the condition demands prompt diagnosis and intervention due to the high morbidity and mortality associated with it. Prior research has established a link between maternal hypertension and increased risk of severe complications such as hemorrhagic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and organ failure.
Objective: This study aimed to analyze the maternal outcomes of patients with Abruptio placenta in a tertiary care setting, with a specific focus on the association between hypertension and maternal complications.
Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted over a three-month period at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. A sample size of 100 patients was determined based on the anticipated frequency of cases. Inclusion criteria were patients diagnosed with Abruptio placenta during antenatal care or at admission for delivery. Comprehensive data on demographics, medical history, clinical presentation, and management strategies were collected using standardized forms. Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional review board, and informed consent was secured from all participants. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.
Results: The study included 105 patients with a mean age of 28.6 years; 64.8% were multiparous, and 40.0% had hypertension. Clinical presentation included vaginal bleeding (92.4%), abdominal pain (83.8%), and fetal distress (72.4%). The majority (59.0%) were diagnosed during antenatal care, while 41.0% were diagnosed at admission. Emergency Cesarean section was performed in 93.3% of cases. Blood transfusions were required for 23.8% of patients, and 28.6% presented with a low amniotic fluid index. The mean gestational age at delivery was 34.2 weeks. The analysis revealed a significant association between hypertension and the incidence of haemorrhagic shock (12 cases with hypertension, 2 without), DIC (5 cases with hypertension, 2 without), and organ failure (3 cases with hypertension, 1 without).
Conclusion: The study affirms the heightened risk of severe maternal complications associated with hypertension in patients with Abruptio placenta. The high rate of emergency Cesarean sections and blood transfusions underscores the urgency and complexity of managing this condition. These findings highlight the necessity for vigilant antenatal monitoring and rapid intervention strategies in tertiary care settings.
Cyber-Bullying at Workplace and its Mental Health Outcomes: A Linguistic Analysis
Authors: Naveed Amna , Ali Nadir , Aziz Shazia
Published: January 2024

Background: Cyberbullying is a growing concern in educational settings, but recent evidence indicates that it has become prevalent in professional environments as well. With the advent of digital communication, employees have become vulnerable to cyberbullying not only during work hours but also in their personal time. This study focuses on understanding the psychological impacts of cyberbullying in the workplace.
Objective: The primary aim of this research was to investigate the lived experiences of cyberbullying victims in the workplace, to comprehend the depth of its psychological implications, and to identify coping mechanisms employed by victims. The study also aimed to examine the patterns of cyberbullying across different hierarchical levels within an organization.
Methods: A qualitative, phenomenological approach was adopted, involving semi-structured interviews with eight employees from a public-sector university in Lahore, Pakistan. Participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling techniques, and thematic analysis was utilized to interpret the data.
Results: Participants reported experiencing stress, embarrassment, and anger due to cyberbullying, with these emotions stemming from a sense of vulnerability and public exposure. Cyberbullying incidents occurred through emails, social media, and text messages, often leading to a need for self-preservation and coping strategies. The study found that aggressors included not just superiors but also peers and subordinates.
Conclusion: The study concluded that workplace cyberbullying is a multifaceted issue that affects individuals across different levels of employment. It causes significant psychological distress, necessitating effective strategies for prevention and intervention. Future research should explore the role of organizational leadership in addressing workplace cyberbullying and aim for more generalizable findings through quantitative research.
Process of Fingerprint Authentication using Cancelable Biohashed Template
Authors: K R Mamatha , K R Radhika
Published: January 2024

Template protection using cancelable biometrics prevents data loss and hacking stored templates, by providing considerable privacy and security. Hashing and salting techniques are used to build resilient systems. Salted password method is employed to protect passwords against different types of attacks namely brute-force attack, dictionary attack, rainbow table attacks. Salting claims that random data can be added to input of hash function to ensure unique output. Hashing salts are speed bumps in an attacker’s road to breach user’s data. Research proposes a contemporary two factor authenticator called Biohashing. Biohashing procedure is implemented by recapitulated inner product over a pseudo random number generator key, as well as fingerprint features that are a network of minutiae. Cancelable template authentication used in fingerprint-based sales counter accelerates payment process. Fingerhash is code produced after applying biohashing on fingerprint. Fingerhash is a binary string procured by choosing individual bit of sign depending on a preset threshold. Experiment is carried using benchmark FVC 2002 DB1 dataset. Authentication accuracy is found to be nearly 97\%. Results compared with state-of art approaches finds promising.
Survey on the Most Current Image Processing Methods in Huntington's Disease Diagnostics and Progression Assessment
Authors: Kawala-Sterniuk Aleksandra , Mikolajewski Dariusz , Bryniarska Anna , Myslicka Maria , Czarnecki Damian , Junkiert-Czarnecka Anna , Sudol Adam , Mikolajewska Emilia , Pawlowski Mateusz , Wlodarczyk Anna , Walecki Piotr , Gasz Rafal , Libionka Witold , Panczyszak Bartosz , Pelc Mariusz , Zygarlicki Jaroslaw , Racheniuk Henryk , Bojkowska-Otrebska Katarzyna , Sterniuk Piotr , Gorzelanczyk Edward , Ferri Raffaele
Published: January 2024

Huntington's disease (HD) is a rare, incurable neurodegenerative disorder where fast and non-invasive diagnosis targeting patients' condition plays a crucial role. In modern medicine, various scientific areas are being combined, such as computing, medicine and biomedical engineering. This survey is focused on the most recent image processing methods applied not only for the purpose of diagnosing HD but also for the assessment of its progression severity, in order to contribute to the effort to prolong life of and to improve its quality.
Machine Learning based Reconstruction for the MUonE Experiment
Authors: Zdybał Miłosz , Kucharczyk Macin , Wolter Marcin
Published: January 2024

As currently operating high energy physics experiments produce a huge amount of data, new methods of fast and efficient event reconstruction are necessary to handle the immense load. Storing the unprocessed data is not feasible, forcing experiments to process the data online employing the algorithms of quality provided for the offline analysis, but within strict time constraints. In the MUonE experiment the machine learning based event reconstruction techniques are being implemented and tested in order to provide efficient online reduction of data and to maximize the statistical power of the final physics measurement.
Vergleichende Untersuchungen zur Carboxymethylierung der Cellulose im heterogenen und homogenen Reaktionssystem
Authors: Dautzenberg H. , Philipp B.
Published: May 2003

Unter Verwendung von Linterspulver, Viskosestapelfaser und einer alkalilöslichen, niedrigsubstituierten Carboxyethylcellulose als Ausgangsmaterialien wird unter weitgehend vergleichbaren Bedingungen der zeitliche Verlauf einer Carboxymethylierung der Cellulose in wäßrig‐alkalischem Medium untersucht, wobei ein heterogenes, ein quasihomogenes und ein homogenes Reaktionssystem miteinander verglichen werden. Die Ergebnisse sprechen dafür, daß in dem stark alkalischen Medium der Einfluß der übermolekularen Struktur der Cellulose auf den Reaktionsablauf gering ist, indem sich die formalen Geschwindigkeitskonstanten beim Vergleich von heterogenem und homogenem Reaktionsablauf nur um einen Faktor von etwa 2 unterscheiden.
Über den Einfluß von Wasser auf die Polymerisation von Hexachlorcyclotriphosphazen
Authors: Koršak V. V. , Vinogradova S. V. , Tur D. R. , Kasarova N. N. , Komarova L. I. , Gilman L. M.
Published: May 2003

Es wurde gezeigt, daß die Anwesenheit von restlichem Wasser im Reaktionssystem zur Hydrolyse der PCl‐Bindungen von Blockpolymerisaten von Hexachlorcyclotriphosphazen führt. Auf Grund der Abschätzung des sich bei der Hydrolyse entwickelnden HCl und der IR‐Spektren der Umwandlungsprodukte auf verschidenen Polymerisationsstufen wurde ein Schema der Hexachlorcyclotriphosphazenpolymerisation mit HCl vorgeschlagen.
Zur Übertragungsreaktion bei der radikalischen Pfropfcopolymerisation von Vinylchlorid mit Ethylen‐Vinylacetat‐Copolymeren. 1. Untersuchungen zur Kettenübertragung von Modellsubstanzen
Authors: Höring S. , Hornung U. , Ulbricht J.
Published: May 2003

Die Polymerisation von Vinylchlorid bei 50°C in Gegenwart verschïedener Alkane und Essigsäureester als Modelle für Ethylen‐ Vinylacetat‐Copolymere wird untersuch und der Einfluß der Verbindungen auf Polymerisationsgeschwindigkeit, Reaktionsordnungen und Polymerisationsgrad festgestellt. Es werden kinetische Konstanten der Reaktion mitgeteilt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß entgegen bisherigen Ansichten den Methylengruppen der Copolymere eine beachtliche übertragungsaktivität zukommt. Zusammen mit den Acetatseitengruppen bestimmen sie das Ausmaß der Übertragungsreaktion.
Zur Lichtstreuung an Polymerdispersionen. Teil 1. Theoretische Untersuchungen zur Auswertung von Streulichtkurven nach der Rayleigh‐Debye‐Näherung und Mie‐Theorie
Authors: Dautzenberg H. , Hartmann M. , Koch H.
Published: May 2003

Unter Voraussetzung einer monomodalen zweiparametrigen Verteilungsfunktion wurden Streulichtkurven in Abhängigkeit von Teilchengröße und Polydispersität berechnet. Der Gültigkeitsbereich der Rayleigh‐Debye‐Näherung wurde quantitativ untersucht und ein Korrekturverfahren zur Umrechnung der nach Rayleigh‐Debye ermittelten Parameter in die richtigen, der Mie‐Theorie entsprechenden Werte entwickelt.
Celluloseacetatmembranen für Ultrafiltration und Umkehrosmose
Authors: Hicke H.‐G. , Schwarz H. ‐H. , Paul D. , Bartsch D. , Gröbe V.
Published: May 2003

Aus einem Celluloseacetat mit dem Acetylierungsgrad 2,5 wurden unter Verwendung von Aceton als Lösungsmittel und Formamid als Quellmittel Membranen hergestellt. Die Herstellungsbedingungen werden zu den Membraneigenschaften in Beziehung gesetzt. Durch änderung nur weniger Einflußgrößen läßt sich ein breites Spektrum von Ultrafiltrationseigenschaften der Membranen erreichen. Die Eigenschaften der Membranen werden mit den Eigenschaften von handelsüblichen Membranen verglichen.
Zum Einfluß von Oberflächenverunreinigungen auf den Ladungsabbau bei FEP‐Elektreten
Authors: Stark W. , Danz R.
Published: May 2003

Der Einfluß von Oberflächenverunreinigungen auf den isothermen Ladungsabbau bei Elektreten aus Tetrafluorethylen‐Hexafluorpropylen‐Copolymer (FEP) wird untersucht. An sorgfältig gespülten Proben ist eine deutliche Erhöhung der Ladungsstabilität im Vergleich zu unbehandelten bzw. offen gelagerten Proben zu beobachten. Die Ergebnisse werden mit der teilweisen Zerstörung der Isolationseigenschaften des FEP durch eindringende Staubpartikel in Verbindung gebracht.
Mechanical loss peaks of polypropylene/EPDM blends in relation to their fracture toughness and impact strength
Authors: Karger‐Kocsis J. , Kiss L. , Kuleznev V. N.
Published: May 2003

Attempts were made for calculation of the mechanical characteristics of fracture (Kc, Gc) for PP/EPDM blends on the basis of instrumented impact testing of Charpy specimens No. 2 formed according to the DIN 53453 standard. The results were related to the notched impact strength values. Load vs. time curves in the fractograms referred to the rigid fracture characteristics in a wide temperature range thus Kc and Gc values were calculated by the principle of linear elastic fracture mechanism. Based on the analogy of the course of Gc and mechanical loss factor curves vs. temperature, a linear relationship was suggested between them. Gc and notched impact strength values were also found to be in linear relation when determined at different temperatures. Among the EPDM impact modifiers of different melt viscosity, the more favourable one was that of melt viscosity closer to PP.
Zur Übertragungsreaktion bei der anionischen Polymerisation von Oxiranen. III. Zur Dynamik der Doppelbindungsbildung bei der Propylenoxidpolymerisation
Authors: Becker H. , Wagner G. , Stolarzewicz A.
Published: May 2003

Die Veränderung der Übertragungsgeschwindigkeit im Verlauf der anionischen Propylenoxidpolymerisation wurde untersucht. Die Übertragung wird wesentlich durch den OH‐Gehalt des Systems beeinflußt. Dieser Einfluß kann durch Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen zum Epoxidsauerstoff erklärt werden. Bisher bestehende Differenzen zwischen der kinetischen und der mechanistischen Beschreibung der Kettenübertragung können auf dieser Basis beseitigt werden.
Identifizierung von Nebenprodukten der Polybutylenterephthalatsynthese
Authors: Möller B. , Blaesche J. , Mudrick M. , Rafler G. , Zimmermann H. , Stromeyer M.
Published: May 2003

Im Zusammenhang mit reaktionsanalytischen Arbeiten zur Synthese von Polybutylenterephthalat wurde die Zusammensetzung von Polykondensationsdestillaten sowie von flüchtigen Abbauprodukten untersucht. Zur Charakterisierung der Mehrkomponentengemische wurde die Gaschromatographie zur Trennung und die Massenspektrometrie zur Strukturaufklärung eingesetzt. Anhand der identifizierten Verbindungen werden mögliche Nebenreaktionen der Polybutylenterephthalatsynthese diskutiert.
Untersuchungen zur Modifikatiorwirkung auf die Synthese eines phosphorhaltigen Polyethylenterephthalats
Authors: Troev K. , Borisov G. , Grozeva A. , Dimov K. , Betchev Chr.
Published: May 2003

Die Wirkung von Modifikatoren wie Diethylphosphit, Natriumdiethylphosphit oder Dinatrium‐1,2‐dicarbomethoxy‐ethylphosphonat auf den Verlauf der Nebenreaktionen bei der Synthese von Polyethylenterephthalat wurde untersucht. Es zeigt sich, daß das Natriumsalz des Diethylphosphits und das Dinatriumsalz der 1,2‐Dicarbo‐methoxy‐ethylphosphonsäure als Modifikatoren des Polyethylenterephthalats angewandt werden können, weil sie Nebenreaktionen nicht beschleunigen.
Pfropfung von Polyamiden durch Polykondensationsreaktionen
Authors: Theil‐Tenchea I. , Constantinescu A.
Published: May 2003

An Poly‐ε‐caprolactam wurde durch Polykondensation mit Formaldehyd und aromatischen Aminen eine Pfropfung durchgeführt, wobei Aminomethylen‐Seitenketten erhalten wurden. Der Reaktionsmechanismus der Pfropfung und die Eigenschaften der gepfropften Polymere wurden untersucht.
Common community respiratory viruses in patients with cancer
Authors: Hicks Krystal L. , Chemaly Roy F. , Kontoyiannis Dimitrios P.
Published: May 2003

Community respiratory viruses long have been recognized as primary respiratory pathogens among infants and young children. More recently, it has become clear that these viruses cause a considerable disease burden throughout life. The consequences of repeated infections are most evident in elderly and immunocompromised persons. Even in otherwise healthy persons, reinfections often require medical attention but generally are undiagnosed and unrecognized. These reinfections may spread from healthy persons to those at highest risk. Control requires a multifaceted approach combining vaccination, chemoprophylaxis, and aggressive early antiviral treatment of high‐risk individuals, as well as education of all populations affected by these viruses. Cancer 2003;97:2576–87. © 2003 American Cancer Society.

DOI 10.1002/cncr.11353
Development of a brief screening interview for adjustment disorders and major depression in patients with cancer
Authors: Akizuki Nobuya , Akechi Tatsuo , Nakanishi Tatsuro , Yoshikawa Eisho , Okamura Masako , Nakano Tomohito , Murakami Yoshie , Uchitomi Yosuke
Published: May 2003

BACKGROUND

Adjustment disorders and major depression are common psychiatric disorders in patients with cancer and have a serious impact on quality of life. The problem in clinical oncology settings is underrecognition of these disorders; as a result, screening is recommended to detect them. The goal of the current study was to develop a new, brief screening tool for adjustment disorders and major depression and to compare its performance with that of existing screening methods.

METHODS

Patients with cancer completed the newly developed One‐Question Interview (a 1‐item, structured interview); the Distress Thermometer (a 1‐item, self‐report questionnaire), which previously was developed as a brief screening tool; and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS; a 14‐item, self‐report questionnaire). Psychiatric diagnoses of adjustment disorders and major depression were made by psychiatrists and were based on criteria set forth by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition.

RESULTS

Two hundred seventy‐five patients participated in the study. Scores on both the One‐Question Interview and the Distress Thermometer were significantly correlated with HADS score (One‐Question Interview: r = −0.66, P < 0.01; Distress Thermometer: r = 0.71, P < 0.01). At the optimal cutoff points, the sensitivity and specificity for detection of adjustment disorders and major depression were 80% and 61%, respectively, for the One‐Question Interview; 84% and 61%, respectively, for the Distress Thermometer; and 92% and 57%, respectively, for the HADS.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the current study suggested that the One‐Question Interview was a valid tool for use in screening patients with cancer for adjustment disorders and major depression. Its performance was inferior to that of the HADS but comparable to that of the Distress Thermometer. The One‐Question Interview may be suitable for widespread use in routine screening. Cancer 2003;10:2605–13. © 2003 American Cancer Society.

DOI 10.1002/cncr.11358
Thyroid neoplasms after therapeutic radiation for malignancies during childhood or adolescence
Authors: Acharya Suchitra , Sarafoglou Kyriakie , LaQuaglia Michael , Lindsley Skyler , Gerald William , Wollner Norma , Tan Charlotte , Sklar Charles
Published: May 2003

BACKGROUND

Recent data indicate that the risk of developing a thyroid neoplasm clearly is increased after high‐dose, therapeutic radiation therapy during childhood. To better understand the time course, natural history, and histopathology of thyroid lesions that develop after high‐dose irradiation, the authors undertook a retrospective study of all survivors of childhood and adolescent malignancies who were treated at Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center and who developed a clinically apparent thyroid neoplasm.

METHODS

The authors searched the data base of the Department of Pediatrics, the hospital‐based tumor registry, and the hospital medical records database for patients with thyroid neoplasms.

RESULTS

Thirty‐three patients were identified who developed a thyroid neoplasm after therapeutic radiation. Primary diagnoses were Hodgkin disease (n = 18 patients), non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 10 patients), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n = 2 patients), acute myeloid leukemia (n = 1 patient), Wilms tumor (n = 1 patient), and neuroblastoma (n = 1 patient). The median age at the time of diagnosis of the primary malignancy was 12.0 years (range, 3.7–18.3 years), the median radiation dose to the thyroid gland was 2400 centigrays (cGy; range, 1000–4200 cGy), and the median interval from the time of radiation therapy until the recognition of thyroid disease was 13.0 years (range, 6.2–30.1 years). Thirteen of 33 thyroid lesions (39%) were malignant (11 papillary carcinomas and 2 follicular carcinomas). Age at diagnosis, gender ratio, and time elapsed since initial treatment did not differ between patients with malignant and benign lesions, but the median radiation dose to the thyroid was lower in patients who had malignant disease compared with patients who had benign disease (2000 cGy vs. 2950 cGy; P = 0.03). Disease was confined to the neck in all patients who had malignant thyroid lesions; after a median follow‐up of 6.5 years (range, 0.9–12 years), none of the patients developed progressive or recurrent disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Data from this study suggest that a high proportion of clinically apparent thyroid neoplasms that develop after therapeutic radiation for a childhood malignancy are malignant. However, most of these thyroid malignancies do not appear to behave in an aggressive fashion. Because thyroid neoplasms may not become evident for decades after radiation therapy, all individuals who are at risk require life‐long follow‐up. Cancer 2003;97:2397–403. © 2003 American Cancer Society.

DOI 10.1002/cncr.11362
Physical activity and breast cancer risk among Asian‐American women in Los Angeles
Authors: Yang Dongyun , Bernstein Leslie , Wu Anna H.
Published: May 2003

BACKGROUND

To the authors' knowledge, there have been few studies published to date regarding physical activity patterns and breast cancer risk in Asian and Asian‐American women.

METHODS

The authors conducted a population‐based case–control study of 501 Asian‐American women with incident breast cancer and a control group of 594 Asian‐American women in Los Angeles County to evaluate the role of lifetime physical activity on breast cancer risk. Information concerning lifetime recreational physical activity (i.e., type of activity, duration [years], and frequency [average hours per week]) and occupational physical activity was obtained using a structured questionnaire that was administered in person.

RESULTS

Increasing years and levels (average metabolic equivalent [MET] hours per week) of lifetime recreational activity were associated with a significantly reduced risk of breast cancer after adjusting for demographic factors, migration history, and menstrual and reproductive factors. Compared with women who had no lifetime recreational physical activity, ≤ 3 MET hours per week, > 3–6 MET hours per week, > 6–12 MET hours per week, and > 12 MET hours per week of activity were associated with significantly reduced risk, with odds ratios (and 95% confidence intervals) of 0.91 (0.55–1.49), 0.65 (0.39–1.10), 0.53 (0.31–0.90), and 0.47 (0.28–0.80), respectively (P value for trend < 0.001). The risk of breast cancer was associated inversely with occupational physical activity, although the result was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the current study provide further support for the finding that physical activity has a protective role in breast cancer. Cancer 2003;10:2565–75. © 2003 American Cancer Society.

DOI 10.1002/cncr.11364
Simultaneous detection of apoptosis and proliferation in colorectal carcinoma by multiparameter flow cytometry allows separation of high and low‐turnover tumors with distinct clinical outcome
Authors: Rupa J. Dennis , de Bruïne Adriaan P. , Gerbers Andrea J. , Leers Mathie P. G. , Nap Marius , Kessels Alfons G. H. , Schutte Bert , Arends Jan Willem
Published: May 2003

BACKGROUND

Dukes C colorectal carcinoma is treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Adjuvant treatment is not standard for patients with Dukes B tumors, even though about 20% of patients within this tumor stage die of recurrent disease. The authors investigated whether a novel method of simultaneous detection of apoptosis and proliferation would improve the assessment of prognosis in colorectal carcinoma patients, with the ultimate goal of accurately identifying patients eligible for adjuvant therapy.

METHODS

A multiparameter flow cytometric assay with heat pretreatment was performed on 278 paraffin‐embedded colorectal adenocarcinomas. After immunochemical isolation of tumor cells, apoptosis and proliferation were assessed simultaneously by immunostaining for the M30 antibody and by quantitative DNA analysis, respectively. Patients were followed for more than 10 years.

RESULTS

The mean values of apoptosis (apoptotic fraction [AF], i.e., the percentage of M30‐positive cells) and proliferation (S‐phase fraction [SPF]) were 11.1% and 13.1%, respectively. The AF and SPF values were correlated positively (P = 0.01) and both increased with advancing tumor stage (P = 0.02). Combining AF and SPF, patients with tumors with a high turnover (i.e., both AF and SPF values were greater than the mean) had an overall survival rate of 13%, whereas patients with low‐turnover tumors (i.e., both AF and SPF values were less than the mean) had an overall survival rate of 89% (P < 0.001 by log rank test). Moreover, within Dukes B and C stages, patients with high‐turnover tumors had a poorer survival than patients with low‐turnover tumors (P < 0.001 for both stages).

CONCLUSIONS

The simultaneous detection of apoptosis and proliferation in archival material allows separation of high and low‐turnover colorectal adenocarcinomas and improves the assessment of prognosis. This technique could be used to stratify patients for adjuvant chemotherapy. Cancer 2003;97:2404–11. © 2003 American Cancer Society.

DOI 10.1002/cncr.11366
Alternating chemotherapy with etoposide plus cisplatin and topotecan plus paclitaxel in patients with untreated, extensive‐stage small cell lung carcinoma
Authors: Jett James R. , Hatfield Alan K. , Hillman Shauna , Bauman Michael D. , Mailliard James A. , Kugler John W. , Morton Roscoe F. , Marks Randolph S. , Levitt Ralph
Published: May 2003

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to test the response rate and toxicity of alternating chemotherapy in previously untreated patients with extensive‐stage small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC).

METHODS

Patients with histologically proven, extensive‐stage SCLC, with a performance status of 0–2, and who had received no prior chemotherapy were eligible. The design was a two‐stage, Phase II, multicenter trial. Treatment consisted of alternating chemotherapy every 3 weeks with etoposide (100 mg/m2 on Days 1–3) and cisplatin (30 mg/m2 on Days 1–3) on Cycles 1, 3, 5 and with topotecan (1 mg/m2 on Days 1–5) and paclitaxel (200 mg/m2 on Day 5) on Cycles 2, 4, and 6. Filgrastim support was given with Cycles 2, 4, 6.

RESULTS

Forty‐four patients were eligible and evaluable. The primary toxicity was myelosuppression. The median absolute neutrophil count was 300/μL with 70% Grade 4 neutropenia. The median platelet count was 58,000/μL with 23% Grade 4 thrombocytopenia. Grade 4 nonhematologic toxicities occurred in 16% of patients. Overall toxicities were not different between the two regimens. There were no treatment‐related deaths. Complete or partial responses occurred in 34 patients (77%). The median time to progression was 6.9 months, with a median survival of 10.5 months and with 1‐year and 2‐year survival rates of 37% and 12%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The regimen of alternating chemotherapy was associated with substantial myelosuppression and resulted in a high response rate and good overall survival. The results were similar to those reported in prior trials and did not suggest any improvement in therapy for patients with SCLC. Cancer 2003;10:2498–503. © 2003 American Cancer Society.

DOI 10.1002/cncr.11377