bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developmental increases in plasma leptin binding activity and tissue Ob-Re mRNA expression in the rat
Authors: Smith Jeremy T , Mark Peter J , Waddell Brendan J
Published: March 2005

Leptin’s actions are mediated via the long form of its receptor, Ob-Rb, but access to this receptor on target cells is also influenced by truncated leptin receptor isoforms Ob-Ra and Ob-Re. Plasma leptin binding activity is primarily attributed to Ob-Re, which can restrict leptin passage to extravascular tissue. In this study we investigated whether plasma leptin binding activity changes from fetal to adult life in male and female rats, and whether tissue expression of Ob-Re mRNA changes during development. Plasma leptin binding activity was low in the fetus and prepubertal rats but then increased in male rats by more than three-fold from pre- to post-puberty and by a further two-fold by 7 months of age. A more modest increase in plasma leptin binding activity was observed in females such that a clear sex difference became evident after puberty. There was also a reduction in hypothalamic Ob-Rb protein content between puberty and adult life in female rats. Combined with the higher levels of plasma leptin binding activity, this change in hypothalamic Ob-Rb expression is likely to lead to a more leptin-resistant state in aging females. To assess possible sources of circulating leptin binding activity, Ob-Re mRNA expression was measured by quantitative RT-PCR in several tissues from male rats soon after puberty and at 7 months of age. All tissues examined (testis, epididymis, adrenal, liver, adipose and spleen) expressed Ob-Re mRNA, and there was a dramatic, age-related increase in expression (> 300-fold) in the spleen. These data show that, in addition to the developmental increase in hypothalamic Ob-Rb expression previously reported, plasma leptin binding activity increases several fold from fetal to adult life in the rat. This suggests that the actions of leptin depend not only on its synthesis in adipose tissue and Ob-Rb expression in target cells, but also on factors that regulate tissue expression of Ob-Re and thus leptin transport within plasma.
Infrared Quantum Dots
Authors: H. Sargent E.
Published: March 2005

Colloidal nanocrystals are quantum‐size‐effect tunable; offer an abundance of available surface area for electronic and chemical interactions; and are processible from organic or aqueous solution onto substrates rigid or flexible, smooth or rough, flat or curved, inorganic or organic (including biological), crystalline or amorphous, conducting, semiconducting, or insulating. With the benefit of over a decade's progress in visible‐light‐emitting colloidal‐quantum‐dot synthesis, physical chemistry, and devices, significant progress has recently been made in infrared‐active colloidal quantum dots and devices. This progress report summarizes the state‐of‐the‐art in infrared colloidal quantum dots, with an emphasis on applications and devices. The applications of interest surveyed include monolithic integration of fiber‐optic and free‐space‐communications photonic components with electronic substrates such as silicon and glass; in‐vivo biological tagging in infrared spectral bands in which living tissue is optically penetrable to a depth of 5–10 cm; solar and thermal photovoltaics for energy conversion; and infrared sensing and imaging based on non‐visible, including thermal, signatures. The synthesis and properties of quantum dots are first reviewed: photoluminescence quantum efficiencies greater than 50 % are achievable in solution, and stable luminescent dots are available in organic and aqueous solvents. Electroluminescent devices based on solution processing have been reported with external quantum efficiencies approaching 1 %. Photoconductive devices have been realized with 3 % internal quantum efficiencies, and a photovoltaic effect was recently observed. Electro‐optic modulation achieved by either field‐ or charge‐induced modification of the rate of optical absorption has been demonstrated based both on interband and intersubband (intraband) transitions. Optical gain from these processible materials with a threshold of 1 mJ cm–2 and an optical net modal gain coefficient of 260 ± 20 cm–1 have been reported.
Inside Front Cover: Topological Transformation of Vesicular Mesostructured Silica (Adv. Mater. 5/2005)
Authors: Wang B. , Shan W. , Zhang Y. , Xia J. , Yang W. , Gao Z. , Tang Y.
Published: March 2005

The micrometer‐scale self‐assembly behavior of MCM‐41‐type mesostructured silica is shown by Tang and co‐workers on p. 578 through study of a family of vesicular mesostructured silica with topology genera from 1 to 0. The inside cover shows a series of typical vesicular structures with different topologies on the micrometer scale. A better understanding of the micrometer‐scale self‐assembly behavior provides a guide for the rational design of new hierarchical organic–inorganic composite materials, and may also shed new light on the natural biosilicification process.
Quantitative characterization of sphere‐templated porous biomaterials
Authors: Marshall A. J. , Ratner B. D.
Published: March 2005

Three‐dimensional (3‐D) porous hydrogels were fabricated by polymerizing 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate around templates of random close‐packed poly(methyl methacrylate) microspheres with nominal diameter of 5 or 15 μm. The templates were leached out to create networks of interconnected spherical pores. Applications for sphere‐templated porous biomaterials include scaffolds for tissue engineering and spatial control of wound healing. This study describes an approach to characterizing pore structure and predicting permeability of sphere‐templated porous hydrogels. The materials were embedded in resin, and 1‐μm‐plane sections were digitally analyzed with fluorescence microscopy. The porosity and pore size distribution were determined from stereological interpretation, and we present novel techniques for obtaining the pore throat size distribution, the number of pore throats per pore, and the tortuosity. A simple apparatus is also introduced for measurement of the hydraulic permeability. Permeability predictions based on quantitative microscopy measurements and on stereology were found to agree closely with permeability measurements. The aptness of the Kozeny equation for spherically pored materials is also investigated. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005
The organotin industry rises to the HPV challenge
Authors: Batt John M.
Published: March 2005

In 1998, the US Environmental Protection Agency launched the High Production Volume (HPV) Challenge Program, which called for chemical manufacturers to voluntarily commit to fill gaps in basic screening‐level hazard data for high volume chemicals they manufacture and to make the data available to the regulatory community as well as the public. Companies could sponsor chemicals individually or, if there were multiple manufacturers, companies could join together to form consortia to jointly sponsor work. The organotin industry, through the Stabilizer Task Force of ORTEPA, volunteered 27 organotin and related inorganic compounds for this program. This paper addresses setting up the industry effort, securing committed funding, sharing of existing data, establishing the test plans, contracting for the testing and administering the testing. It also provides an update as to where industry is in meeting its obligations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and characterization of several cephalothin derivatives modified with germanium‐containing moieties
Authors: Takeuchi Yoshito , Kase Yumiko , Imafuku Yoko
Published: March 2005

A cepham, cephalothin (4), was modified with germanium‐containing moieties. Their structures were confirmed chiefly based on electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy and their antibacterial properties were tested. None of these exhibited activity strong enough to be used as a medicine. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reactivities of germacyclopropabenzene toward some transition metal carbonyl complexes
Authors: Tajima Tomoyuki , Sasaki Takayo , Sasamori Takahiro , Takeda Nobuhiro , Tokitoh Norihiro
Published: March 2005

The thermal reactions of an overcrowded germacyclopropabenzene with group 6 metal hexacarbonyl complexes [M(CO)6] (M = Cr, Mo and W) resulted in the formation of novel Fischer‐type carbene complexes via the insertion reaction of a CO group to the GeC bond. By contrast, the germacyclopropabenzene reacts with [Co2(CO)8] to give a germanium analog of benzocyclobutanone via the insertion reaction of a CO unit into the germacyclopropane ring. The reaction of the germacyclopropabenzene with [Mn2(CO)10] resulted in the formation of the intramolecular cyclization product accompanying the migration of a trimethylsilyl group, i.e. a cyclobutabenzene derivative. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Penetrating missile injuries during asymmetric warfare in the 2003 Gulf conflict
Authors: Hinsley D E , Rosell P A E , Rowlands T K , Clasper J C
Published: March 2005

Background

War wounds produce a significant burden on medical facilities in wartime. Workload from the recent conflict was documented in order to guide future medical needs.

Methods

All data on war injuries were collected prospectively. This information was supplemented with a review of all patients admitted during the study period.

Results

During the first 2 weeks of the conflict, the sole British field hospital in the region received 482 casualties. One hundred and four were battle injuries of which nine were burns. Seventy-nine casualties had their initial surgery performed by British military surgeons and form the study group. Twenty-nine casualties (37 per cent) sustained gunshot wounds, 49 (62 per cent) suffered wounds from fragmentation weapons and one casualty detonated an antipersonnel mine. These 79 patients had a total of 123 wounds that were scored prospectively using the Red Cross Wound Classification. Twenty-seven (34 per cent) of the wounded were non-combatants; eight of these were children. Four patients (5 per cent) died.

Conclusion

War is changing; modern conflicts appear likely to be fought in urban or remote environments, producing different wounding patterns and placing non-combatants in the line of fire. Military medical skills training and available resources must reflect these fundamental changes in preparation for future conflicts.
Angiographic views used for percutaneous coronary interventions: A three‐dimensional analysis of physician‐determined vs. computer‐generated views
Authors: Green Nathan E. , Chen S.‐Y. James , Hansgen Adam R. , Messenger John C. , Groves Bertron M. , Carroll John D.
Published: March 2005

The goal of this study was to determine the severity of vessel foreshortening in standard angiographic views used during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Coronary angiography is limited by its two‐dimensional (2D) representation of three‐dimensional (3D) structures. Vessel foreshortening in angiographic images may cause errors in the assessment of lesions or the selection and placement of stents. To date, no technique has existed to quantify these 2D limitations or the performance of physicians in selecting angiographic views. Stent deployment was performed in 156 vessel segments in 149 patients. Using 3D reconstruction models of each patient's coronary tree, vessel foreshortening was measured in the actual working view used for stent deployment. A computer‐generated optimal view was then identified for each vessel segment and compared to the working view. Vessel foreshortening ranged from 0 to 50% in the 156 working views used for stent deployment and varied by coronary artery and by vessel segment within each artery. In general, views of the mid circumflex artery were the most foreshortened and views of the right coronary artery were the least foreshortened. Expert‐recommended views frequently resulted in more foreshortening than computer‐generated optimal views, which had only 0.5% ± 1.2% foreshortening with < 2% overlap for the same 156 segments. Optimal views differed from the operator‐selected working views by ≥ 10° in over 90% of vessels and frequently occurred in entirely different imaging quadrants. Vessel foreshortening occurs frequently in standard angiographic projections during stent deployment. If unrecognized by the operator, vessel foreshortening may result in suboptimal clinical results. Modifications to expert‐recommended views using 3D reconstruction may improve visualization and the accuracy of stent deployment. These results highlight the limitations of 2D angiography and support the development of real‐time 3D techniques to improve visualization during PCI. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2005;64:451–459. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinical outcome of patients with lymph node‐negative breast carcinoma who have sentinel lymph node micrometastases detected by immunohistochemistry
Authors: Chagpar Anees , Middleton Lavinia P. , Sahin Aysegul A. , Meric‐Bernstam Funda , Kuerer Henry M. , Feig Barry W. , Ross Merrick I. , Ames Frederick C. , Singletary S. Eva , Buchholz Thomas A. , Valero Vincente , Hunt Kelly K.
Published: March 2005

BACKGROUND

The ideal pathologic assessment of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in patients with breast carcinoma remains controversial. The authors evaluated how detailed assessment of SLNs using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and serial sectioning would affect treatment decisions and outcomes in patients with breast carcinoma who had negative SLNs on standard hematoxylin and eosin staining.

METHODS

The SLNs from patients who were treated between June 1998 and June, 1999 and who had negative lymph node status determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining (n = 84 patients) were evaluated further with serial sectioning and cytokeratin IHC. Patients were offered adjuvant therapy based on primary tumor factors.

RESULTS

The median patient age was 57 years, and the median tumor size was 1.2 cm. At a median follow‐up of 40.2 months, 81 patients (96%) were alive with no evidence of disease, 1 patient was alive with disease, 1 patient had died of disease, and 1 patient had died of other causes. Fifteen patients (18%) had micrometastases identified on IHC. Of the total 84 patients, information regarding adjuvant therapy was not available for 5 patients. Of the remaining 79 patients, 10 patients (13%) were not offered adjuvant chemotherapy but had positive SLN status determined by IHC. SLN status based on IHC evaluation did not correlate with age (P = 0.077), tumor size (P = 0.717), grade (P = 0.148), estrogen receptor status (P = 1.000), or lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.274). Furthermore, IHC‐detected positive SLN status did not correlate with distant metastasis (P = 0.372) or overall or distant metastasis‐free survival (P = 0.543 and P = 0.540, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the finding of SLN micrometastases by IHC may change management in > 12% of patients, preliminary results suggested that such micrometastases do not affect outcomes significantly. Cancer 2005;103:1581–6. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Regeneration of rat auditory ossicles using recombinant human BMP‐2/collagen composites
Authors: Takeda Yasushi , Tsujigiwa Hidetsugu , Nagatsuka Hitoshi , Nagai Noriyuki , Yoshinobu Junko , Okano Mitsuhiro , Fukushima Kunihiro , Takeuchi Ayako , Yoshino Tadashi , Nishizaki Kazunori
Published: March 2005

Tympanoplasty operations to improve hearing impairment require a wide middle ear cavity and reconstruction of columellar formations. There is no specific material for use in the reconstruction of columellar formations. Tissue response to BMP has been employed as regenerative material. To our knowledge, however, there are no reports of the reconstruction of columellar formations using recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein‐2/bovine collagen composites in the middle ear. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein‐2/bovine collagen composites (rhBMP‐2 composites) are appropriate for use as regenerative material for tympanoplasty. In the form of pellets, rhBMP‐2 composites were implanted as columellae into the tympanic cavity. At 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery, the middle ear of the animals (n = 4 at each week) was stained with hematoxylin‐eosin for light microscopic observation. All composites were in the process of ossification or had ossified according to their developmental stages and were covered with a single layer of squamous or cuboidal epithelium. The new bone formed in these composites was persistently stable and displayed some columellar conditions assessed by histological examination. This study led to the conclusion that rhBMP‐2 composites make excellent regenerative material for auditory ossicles. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 73A: 133–141, 2005
Effects of filler composition on flexibility of microfilled resin composite
Authors: Suzuki S. , Ori T. , Saimi Y.
Published: March 2005

The effects of the filler composition on physical and mechanical properties of microfilled composites was investigated by measuring water absorption, solubility, compressive, flexural, and impact strength. A series of experimental composites, consisting of UDMA/TEGDMA comonomer matrix and prepolymerized fillers, was fabricated. The prepolymerized fillers were composed of hydrophobic colloidal silica and two monomers in varying ratios, trimethylolpropanetrimethacrylate (TMPT), and polyesterdiacrylate (PEDA). TMPT/PEDA ratios were 100:0, 64:36, 46:54, 18:82, and 0:100%. There were no significant differences in water sorption and solubility, regardless of the amount of PEDA monomer. Young's modulus and modulus of resilience increased with decreasing PEDA ratio. Fracture energy exhibited drastic changes (30.1 × 10−5 J to 93.4 × 10−5 J). The highest value of flexural strength (96.0 ± 3.5 MPa) was obtained when the TMPT‐PEDA filler was 46:54. The impact strengths of composites fabricated with TMPT‐PEDA filler of 46:54 (11.2 ± 1.4 kJ/m2), 18:82 (10.6 ± 3.2 kJ/m2), and 0:100 (13.1 ± 3.8 kJ/m2) were significantly higher than those with 100:0 (6.0 ± 1.8 kJ/m2) or 64:36 (7.1 ± 2.4 kJ/m2). Based upon the results, it was concluded that the mechanical properties of microfilled composites were improved by the modification of prepolymerized filler composition. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater
Clinical grand round: A rapidly progressive pyramidal and extrapyramidal syndrome with a supranuclear gaze palsy
Authors: Morris H.R. , Bronstein Adolfo M. , Shaw Christopher E. , Lees Andrew J. , Love S.
Published: March 2005

The case history of a patient with a rapidly progressive spastic tetraparesis, pseudobulbar palsy, supranuclear gaze palsy, and extrapyramidal signs is presented. The patient died 17 months after symptom onset, and the differential diagnosis and pathological findings are reviewed. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society
Soleus H‐reflex inhibition during gait initiation in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Hiraoka Koichi , Matsuo Yoshimi , Abe Kazuo
Published: March 2005

The soleus H‐reflex excitability during gait initiation was investigated in Parkinson's disease. Eleven patients participated in this study. Patients stepped forward as soon as the start signal flashed. Soleus H‐reflex was evoked from the trailing leg 100, 300, or 600 msec after the start signal. The electromyographic activity in the soleus muscle immediately before evoking the H‐reflex and the ankle joint motion were recorded. The soleus H‐reflex was inhibited 300 msec after the start signal. The amount of the soleus H‐reflex inhibition was inversely correlated with the Hoehn and Yahr stage; Items 14, 29, and 31 of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale; and the delay of the onset of the ankle dorsiflexion from the start signal. In contrast, the amount of electromyographic activity immediately before evoking the H‐reflex was not significantly correlated with those measures but was significantly correlated with Item 22 of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. Those findings indicate that the amount of soleus H‐reflex inhibition during gait initiation depends on the severity of the disease. Abnormality of descending command may be related to the severity‐dependent H‐reflex inhibition. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society
Stress analysis around crack tips in finite strain problems using the eXtended finite element method
Authors: Legrain G. , Moës N. , Verron E.
Published: March 2005

Fracture of rubber‐like materials is still an open problem. Indeed, it deals with modelling issues (crack growth law, bulk behaviour) and computational issues (robust crack growth in 2D and 3D, incompressibility). The present study focuses on the application of the eXtended Finite Element Method (X‐FEM) to large strain fracture mechanics for plane stress problems. Two important issues are investigated: the choice of the formulation used to solve the problem and the determination of suitable enrichment functions. It is demonstrated that the results obtained with the method are in good agreement with previously published works. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The hybrid boundary node method accelerated by fast multipole expansion technique for 3D potential problems
Authors: Zhang Jianming , Tanaka Masataka , Endo Morinobu
Published: March 2005

This paper presents a fast formulation of the hybrid boundary node method (Hybrid BNM) for solving problems governed by Laplace's equation in 3D. The preconditioned GMRES is employed for solving the resulting system of equations. At each iteration step of the GMRES, the matrix–vector multiplication is accelerated by the fast multipole method. Green's kernel function is expanded in terms of spherical harmonic series. An oct‐tree data structure is used to hierarchically subdivide the computational domain into well‐separated cells and to invoke the multipole expansion approximation. Formulations for the local and multipole expansions, and also conversion of multipole to local expansion are given. And a binary tree data structure is applied to accelerate the moving least square approximation on surfaces. All the formulations are implemented in a computer code written in C++. Numerical examples demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed approach. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reaction Kinetics in a Tight Spot
Authors: Biham Ofer , Krug Joachim , Lipshtat Azi , Michely Thomas
Published: March 2005

The standard analysis of reaction networks based on deterministic rate equations fails in confined geometries, commonly encountered in fields such as astrochemistry, thin‐film growth and cell biology. In these systems the small reactant population implies anomalous behavior of reaction rates, which can be accounted for only by following the full distribution of reactant numbers.
Assessing performance in problem‐based service‐learning projects
Authors: Peterson Tim O.
Published: March 2005

Problem‐based service‐learning projects are complex and ambiguous learning environments. New thinking about assessment must occur to be able to assist the learning from this type of project.
Performance‐based assessment: Improving the value of laboratory and skills examinations
Authors: Silvestrone Judy M.
Published: March 2005

Whether in the science or language laboratory, carrying out health care procedures or demonstrating performance arts, faculty can improve skill evaluation through transparency and authenticity in exam construction, format, and grading.
Aligning paper tests with multimedia instruction
Authors: Howell Scott L.
Published: March 2005

Although instructional methods are moving in ever greater number to a multimedia base, testing is not. What principles should be considered in correcting this misalignment?
Two examples of group exams from communication and engineering
Authors: Sandell Karin L , Welch Lonnie
Published: March 2005

The two models for group exams described here employ these exams as both a formative strategy for assessing student understanding of key course material and preparing students for further class activities and a summative strategy for evaluating student learning and assigning grades.
Buckling and transient behaviour of layered composite plates under thermomechanical loading
Authors: Shukla K.K. , Nath Y. , Kreuzer E.
Published: March 2005

The present paper employs an analytical solution, based on double Chebyshev series technique for the dynamic buckling of composite laminated rectangular plates under transient in‐plane mechanical loading and transverse temperature gradient across the thickness. The formulation is based on first‐order shear deformation theory and von‐Kármán's nonlinearity. The governing nonlinear coupled partial differential equations of motion are linearized by quadratic extrapolation technique and discretized in space domain and time domain by fast converging Chebyshev polynomials and Houbolt time marching scheme, respectively. The resulting simultaneous linear algebraic equations are solved, iteratively. Buckling and response results are presented for uniaxial and biaxial in‐plane mechanical loadings along with transverse temperature gradient across the thickness of symmetric and unsymmetric angle‐ply and cross‐ply laminated composite rectangular plates with different edge conditions.
A systems analysis of a campus community mental health facility: A preliminary investigation
Authors: O'Neil Harold F. , Richardson Frank C. , Carver Donald , Iscoe Ira
Published: March 2005

Faced with increasing demand and relatively static resources, community mental health facilities need to evaluate their functions in terms of time, cost, and performance effectiveness. For this study, the technology of systems analysis was applied to the functions of a progressive university counseling center. The systems analysis provided a management and information flow analysis and a time and cost analysis, as well as a performance analysis. This study focused on the preliminary results of the time, cost, and performance analysis.
The paradoxical effect of a juvenile code change in Virginia
Authors: Mulvey Edward P. , Hicks Ann
Published: March 2005

The impact of a new state juvenile code on the processing of youth through one court locale was examined using an interrupted time‐series design. The intent of the new code was to limit penetration of youth into the juvenile justice system. This locale, however, showed an increased number of youth going through to court despite no increase in the number of youth arrested. The importance of this paradoxical effect for local juvenile justice planners and court officials is discussed briefly.
Television public service announcements as outreach for potential clients
Authors: McAbee Thomas A. , Cafferty Thomas P.
Published: March 2005

Public service announcements (PSAs) aired by local radio or television stations may be useful to human service agencies as a mechanism to reach potential clients during periods of low service demand. To examine the usefulness of PSAs for this purpose, a series of PSAs were videotaped for three aging‐service agencies and aired by a television station during a 6‐week period. The three agencies recorded the incoming demand for services received each day before and during the intervention period. The data were tested by a multiple‐group interrupted time‐series analysis. The results of the analysis indicated that for all three agencies the PSAs were effective for increasing the number of service inquiries received from nonclients over the telephone numbers publicized in the PSAs. At one of the agencies, the number of new clients increased significantly when the PSAs were broadcasted.
Drug prevention in a community setting: A longitudinal study of the relative effectiveness of a three‐year primary prevention program in boys & girls clubs across the nation
Authors: St. Pierre Tena L. , Kaltreider D. Lynne , Mark Melvin M. , Aikin Kathryn J.
Published: March 2005

Tested the effectiveness of a youth drug prevention program in a community setting. Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Stay SMART program, adapted from a school‐based personal and social competence drug prevention program, was offered, with and without a 2‐year booster program, to 13‐year‐old members of Boys & Girls Clubs. Over 27 months, (a) 5 Boys & Girls Clubs offered the Stay SMART program, (b) 5 Boys & Girls Clubs offered the Stay SMART program with the booster programs, and (c) 4 Boys & Girls Clubs served as a control group. The Stay SMART program alone and the Stay SMART program with the booster programs showed effects for marijuana‐related behavior, cigarette‐related behavior, alcohol‐related behavior, overall drug‐related behavior, and knowledge concerning drug use. The Stay SMART program with the booster programs produced additional effects for alcohol attitudes and marijuana attitudes after each year of booster programs. Results suggest that a school‐based personal and social competence program can be adapted effectively to a community setting and that booster programs might enhance program effects. Implications for alternative community models of prevention are discussed.
Further explorations in empowerment theory: An empirical analysis of psychological empowerment
Authors: Zimmerman Marc A. , Israel Barbara A. , Schulz Amy , Checkoway Barry
Published: March 2005

Developed empowerment theory and replicated previous research on citizen participation and perceived control. Few investigators have designed studies that specifically test empowerment theory. This research further extends a theoretical model of psychological empowerment that includes intrapersonal, interactional, and behavioral components, by studying a large randomly selected urban and suburban community sample and examining race differences. Results suggest that one underlying dimension that combines different measures of perceived control may be interpreted as the intrapersonal component of psychological empowerment, because it distinguishes groups defined by their level of participation in community organizations and activities (behavioral component). The association found between the intrapersonal and behavioral components is consistent with empowerment theory. Interaction effects between race groups and participation suggest that participation may be more strongly associated with the intrapersonal component of psychological empowerment for African Americans than for white individuals. Implications for empowerment theory and intervention design are discussed.
Comparing interventions to motivate work‐site collection of home‐generated recyclables
Authors: Needleman Lawrence D. , Geller E. Scott
Published: March 2005

Compared the efficacy of eight different intervention strategies to increase the work‐site delivery of employees' home‐generated recyclables. The interventions incorporated appeals, reciprocity, goals plus feedback, and raffles. Results indicated that relatively few employees participated during any phase of the 25‐week program. Raffles of prizes donated by community businesses were the only effective intervention, motivating substantial deliveries of aluminum cans. This suggests that low‐cost, impersonal interventions targeting employees' delivery of recyclables to work are not effective. Reasons for the low participation rates are discussed as well as suggestions for improving future corporate‐based recycling programs.
Life stress, social support, and locus of control during early adolescence: Interactive effects
Authors: Cauce Ana Mari , Hannan Keith , Sargeant Marion
Published: March 2005

Examined the relationships between negative events, locus of control, social support, and psychological adjustment in an early adolescent sample. Of interest were the potential stress‐buffering effects of social support and the conjunctive effects of social support and locus of control upon adjustment. Family support was positively related to adjustment in several domains, whereas school support was only related to school competence. Peer support was positively related to peer competence and anxiety, and negatively related to school competence. Examination of the buffering hypothesis suggested that both family and school support served to moderate the relationship between negative events and school competence. Conjunctive effects were also detected in that school support buffered number of negative events best for those individuals with an internal locus of control for successes.
Histologic Analysis of Gonadal Tissue in Patients with Ullrich-Turner Syndrome and Derivative Y Chromosomes
Authors: Horn L.-C. , Limbach A. , Hoepffner W. , Tröbs R.B. , Keller E. , Froster U.-G. , Richter C.E. , Jakubiczka S.
Published: March 2005

To identify patients who had Ullrich-Turner syndrome (UTS) and were at risk for gonadoblastoma or associated germ cell tumors, molecular genetic analysis was carried out to detect Y chromosomal sequences. From peripheral blood samples of 5 patients who had cytogenetically confirmed UTS, genomic DNA was extracted and screened for Y chromosomal sequences by polymerase chain reaction. The morphology of the gonadal tissues was compared with results from polymerase chain reaction. Three phenotypic females showed UTS mosaicism with normal X chromosome accompanied by Y chromosomal material, and 2 patients showed marker chromosomes. Molecular analysis represented loci PABY, SRY, ZFY, TSPY, DYZ3, DYZ1 DXYS, 19Y, DYS-273, DYS-148, DYS218, DYS224, and DYZ1. Three patients showed gonadal tumors (1 with unilateral gonadoblastoma, 1 with unilateral dysgerminoma, and 1 patient had both tumors in 1 gonad). Molecular genetic screening for Y chromosomal sequences may be useful as an additional tool for the identification of patients at risk for a gonadal tumor. Careful, complete processing, including step sectioning, of the gonadectomy specimens to detect small lesions is recommended.
Renal Metanephric Adenoma with Previously Unreported Cytogenetic Abnormalities: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Rakheja Dinesh , Lian Fangru , Tomlinson Gail E. , Ewalt David H. , Schultz Roger A. , Margraf Linda R.
Published: March 2005

We report a case of a renal metanephric adenoma in a 10-year-old boy, in which cytogenetic analysis showed a balanced translocation, t(9;15)(p24;q24) and a balanced paracentric inversion of chromosome 12, inv(12)(q13q15). Immunohistochemically, the tumor showed diffuse reactivity for cytokeratin AE1/AE3, CAM5.2, CD57, and WT1; patchy reactivity for CD56; and focal reactivity for cytokeratin 7, epithelial membrane antigen, and CD10. Tumor cells were entirely nonreactive for α-methyl acyl coenzyme A racemase. Published cytogenetic data for metanephric adenomas are limited, and this is the first report of these cytogenetic abnormalities. The involvement of the chromosome region 9p24 is particularly interesting because of the recent identification of a tumor suppressor gene, KANK (kidney ankyrin repeat-containing protein), at this locus.
Autopsy Standards of Body Parameters and Fresh Organ Weights in Nonmacerated and Macerated Human Fetuses
Authors: Maroun Lisa Leth , Graem Niels
Published: March 2005

Standards for body parameters and organ weights are important tools in fetal and perinatal pathology. Previously there has been only a weak emphasis on the effect of maceration on dimensions and weights. This study provides autopsy standards for body weight, body dimensions, and fresh organ weights for nonmacerated fetuses and for mildly, moderately, and markedly macerated fetuses at 12 to 43 weeks of gestation. Cases were selected from a consecutive series of 1800 fetal and perinatal autopsies. Cases with malformations, hydrops, infection, or chromosomal abnormality, fetuses from multiple births, and infants who lived longer than 24 h were excluded. In each case the maceration was graded and body weight and 4 body dimensions were recorded before organ examination. Organs were weighed immediately and before fixation. Growth curves were fitted according to appropriate mathematical methods and the effects of maceration on each value were tested statistically. We found that weights of the liver, thymus, and spleen markedly decrease with increasing maceration. The weights of the lungs, kidneys, and adrenals decreased modestly, whereas weights of the heart and brain changed only slightly. Body length increased slightly with maceration, whereas body weight and head circumference were unaffected. User-friendly charts and tables of mean values and standard deviations for nonmacerated and macerated fetuses are provided.
Pediatric Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor with Late Metastasis to the Lung: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Morotti Raffaella A. , Legman Michael D. , Kerkar Nanda , Pawel Bruce R. , Sanger Warren G. , Coffin Cheryl M.
Published: March 2005

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) are challenging lesions with respect to classification, differential diagnosis, and biologic potential. In children, extrapulmonary IMTs, particularly those from the abdomen or mesentery, are generally aggressive, with frequent local recurrences. There are few documented patients with distant metastasis, and most of these had metastases at presentation or developed metastases within months to a few years. We add to the short list of metastatic extrapulmonary IMTs a pediatric patient in whom the primary lesion was widespread in the abdomen at presentation and metastatic disease to the lung was diagnosed 9 years after the primary resection. We describe the clinical and pathologic features of this patient and review the characteristics of extrapulmonary IMTs with distant metastasis reported in the literature.
Extracellular HSP70 binding to surface receptors present on antigen presenting cells and endothelial/epithelial cells
Authors: Thériault Jimmy R. , Mambula Salamatu S. , Sawamura Tatsuya , Stevenson Mary Ann , Calderwood Stuart K.
Published: March 2005

Extracellular HSP70 has been found to participate in both innate and adaptive immune responses. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that mediate this process. Previous reports suggest that HSP70 interacts with antigen presenting cells (APC) through a plethora of surface receptors. In this study, we have examined the relative binding of potential HSP70 receptors and found high affinity binding to LOX‐1 but not other structures with a role in HSP70–APC interactions such as LRP/CD91, CD40, TLR2, TLR4 or another c‐type lectin family member (DC‐SIGN) closely related to LOX‐1. In addition to APC, HSP70 can avidly bind to non‐APC cell lines, especially those from epithelial or endothelial background.
Outcome of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung after antenatal diagnosis
Authors: Hsieh C.C. , Chao A.S. , Chang Y.L. , Kuo D.M. , Hsieh T.T. , Hung H.T.
Published: March 2005

Objective

We evaluated the outcome of fetuses diagnosed with having congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) on ultrasonographic examination and managed conservatively.

Methods

A retrospective study of 19 cases of CCAM diagnosed antenatally in our hospital was conducted between 1990 and 2001. Complete clinical information was available for all patients, with a mean follow‐up of 62 months.

Results

The median gestational age at which CCAM was diagnosed was 23 weeks and there were eight live births. With conservative postnatal management, seven neonates had no major complications and one developed bronchopneumonia.

Conclusion

Taken together, the findings of the present study and a review of the literature strongly support the conservative management of selected neonates with CCAM.
Experience using cryotherapy for treatment of cervical precancerous lesions in low‐resource settings
Authors: Jacob M. , Broekhuizen F.F. , Castro W. , Sellors J.
Published: March 2005

Cervical cancer can be successfully prevented if timely identification of precancerous lesions is followed by effective treatment. In many developing countries, treatment of precancer is neglected because therapeutic services are unavailable, inaccessible, inappropriate, or inadequately linked to screening services. One of the main focuses of the Alliance for Cervical Cancer Prevention (ACCP) has been to ensure that safe and effective methods of treatment for precancer are both available and accessible to women who need them. Cryotherapy, in use for the past 40 years, is a relatively simple, safe, effective, acceptable, and appropriate outpatient procedure for the treatment of precancer. ACCP studies conducted in more than a dozen developing countries show that cryotherapy for precancer can be performed safely and effectively as an outpatient procedure at all levels of health facilities by trained and competent midlevel providers, thus increasing availability and accessibility to precancer treatment services.
Artificial neural network computer prediction of ovarian malignancy in women with adnexal masses
Authors: Szpurek D. , Moszynski R. , Smolen A. , Sajdak S.
Published: March 2005

Objective

Assessment of the usefulness of a neural model to predict which ovarian tumors are malignant.

Method

Age, menopausal status, body mass index, grayscale and Doppler ultrasonographic features, as well as levels of specific markers (CA 125, tissue polypeptide specific antigen) were examined in 686 women with adnexal masses. The probability of malignancy was calculated using an artificial neural network software and the diagnostic efficiency of the received model was estimated using a receiver‐operating characteristics (ROC) curve.

Result

Of the 686 women, 431 (62.8%) had a benign and 255 (37.2%) had a malignant ovarian tumor. The significant malignancy predictors are age, menopausal status, maximum tumor diameter, internal wall structure of tumor, presence of septa and/or solid elements, tumor location, location of vessels, and blood flow indexes. The best network provided 96.0% sensitivity and 97.7% specificity. The area under the curve for the received model was 0.9716.

Conclusions

An artificial neural network model based on clinical and ultrasonographic data allows to calculate the probability of tumor malignancy.
The American College of Nurse‐Midwives' Dream Becomes Reality: The Division of Accreditation
Authors: Carrington Betty Watts , Burst Helen Varney
Published: March 2005

Recognized continuously by the US Department of Education since 1982 as a specialized accrediting agency, the American College of Nurse‐Midwives' Division of Accreditation (DOA) accredits not only nurse‐midwifery education programs at the postbaccalaureate or higher academic level as certificate and graduate programs for registered nurses (RNs), but also precertification programs for professional midwives from other countries who are licensed as RNs in the United States. The DOA also accredits midwifery education programs for non‐nurses at the postbaccalaureate or higher academic level as certificate and graduate programs, and precertification programs for professional midwives from other countries. The accreditation process is a voluntary activity involving both nurse‐midwifery and/or midwifery education programs and the DOA. Present plans include another expansion of recognition: to become an institutional accreditation agency for independent and proprietary schools and to continue as a programmatic accrediting agency. Since its inception, the accreditation process has been viewed as a positive development in nurse‐midwifery education.
Midwifery Care of Poor and Vulnerable Women, 1925–2003
Authors: Raisler Jeanne , Kennedy Holly
Published: March 2005

A systematic literature review of research on midwifery care of poor and vulnerable women from 1925 to 2003, which included topics studied, research methods used, and special issues and implications for future research, was performed; 44 studies published between 1955 and 2003 were identified. The majority were retrospective, descriptive studies. Outcomes examined included prenatal care visits, vaginal versus operative births, labor interventions, maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity, birth weight, and cost‐effectiveness. Studies showed that midwives predominantly serve vulnerable women who are young, poor, immigrants, or members of racial and ethnic minorities. Preterm birth prevention is emerging as a midwifery research focus. Health system changes are making it more difficult to provide effective care and counseling to disadvantaged women, especially in managed care settings. Extensive evidence documents excellent outcomes of midwifery care for the poor in urban and rural settings over the past three quarters of a century. Future research should include more intervention studies and use both qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate midwifery processes of care and the process‐outcome connection. The research focus should broaden beyond childbirth to include gynecology, family planning, and primary care issues. Health disparities, cultural studies, obstetric interventions, and poor women's experiences of childbirth and midwifery care are important topics for future research.
Hemoglobin stimulates the expression of matrix metalloproteinases, MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 by synovial cells: A possible cause of joint damage after intra‐articular hemorrhage
Authors: Tajima Takuya , Yoshida Etsuo , Yamashita Atsushi , Ohmura Sayuri , Tomitaka Yasushi , Sugiki Masahiko , Asada Yujiro , Maruyama Masugi
Published: March 2005

Intra‐articular bleeding causes degradation of articular cartilage leading to joint disorders, but the mechanisms is not well understood. The present study examined the effect of hemoglobin on the ability of synovial tissues to produce plasminogen activators and matrix metalloproteinases that play important roles in the degradation of articular cartilage. Human Hb added to primary cultures of human knee synovial cells markedly increased fibrinolytic activity and gelatinolytic activity. The fibrinolytic activity was due to an increase in uPA activity. Western blot analysis and gelatin zymography indicated that the increased gelatinolytic activity was due to increased MMP‐2 and ‐9. In order to know whether the effect of Hb on cultured synovial tissue is also true in in vivo system or not, rabbit hemoglobin was injected into rabbit knee joints. Coinciding with in vitro study, hemoglobin elicited considerable increase in fibrinolytic and gelatinolytic activity. The level of proteoglycan fragments in the hemoglobin‐treated joint fluid was significantly elevated, indicating cartilage matrix degradation. Cartilage damage after hemoglobin treatment was also confirmed by histological study. These findings suggest that hemoglobin stimulates the secretion of uPA, MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 by synovial tissues, and raise a possible role of hemoglobin in joint damage after intra‐articular bleeding. © 2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd. on behalf of Orthopaedic Research Society.
A monadic analysis of information flow security with mutable state
Authors: CRARY KARL , KLIGER ALEKSEY , PFENNING FRANK
Published: March 2005

We explore the logical underpinnings of higher-order, security-typed languages with mutable state. Our analysis is based on a logic of information flow derived from lax logic and the monadic metalanguage. Thus, our logic deals with mutation explicitly, with impurity reflected in the types, in contrast to most higher-order security-typed languages, which deal with mutation implicitly via side-effects. More importantly, we also take a store-oriented view of security, wherein security levels are associated with elements of the mutable store. This view matches closely with the operational semantics of low-level imperative languages where information flow is expressed by operations on the store. An interesting feature of our analysis lies in its treatment of upcalls (low-security computations that include high-security ones), employing an “informativeness” judgment indicating under what circumstances a type carries useful information.