bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Linking Amazonian secondary succession forest growth to soil properties
Authors: Lu D. , Moran E. , Mausel P.
Published: October 2002

The Amazon Basin has suffered extensive deforestation in the past 30 years. Deforestation typically leads to changes in climate, biodiversity, hydrological cycle, and soil degradation. Vegetation succession plays an important role in soil restoration through accumulation of vegetation biomass and improved soil/plant interaction. However, relationships between succession and soil properties are not well known. For example, how does vegetation succession affect nutrient accumulation? Which soil factors are important in influencing vegetation growth? What is the best way to evaluate soil fertility in the Amazon basin? This paper focuses on the interrelationships between secondary succession and soil properties. Field soil sample data and vegetation inventory data were collected in two regions of Brazilian Amazonia (Altamira and Bragantina). Soil nutrients and texture were analyzed at successional forest sites. Multiple regression models were used to identify the important soil properties affecting vegetation growth, and a soil evaluation factor (SEF) was developed for evaluating soil fertility in Alfisols, Ultisols, and Oxisols, which differ in the ways they affect vegetation growth. For example, the upper 40 cm of soil is most important for vegetation growth in Alfisols, but in Ultisols and Oxisols deeper horizons significantly influence vegetation growth rates. Accumulation of vegetation biomass increased soil fertility and improved soil physical structure in Alfisols but did not completely compensate for the nutrient losses in Ultisols and Oxisols; however, it significantly reduced the rate of nutrient loss. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Er:YAG laser in endodontics: Results of an in vitro study
Authors: Schoop Ulrich , Moritz Andreas , Kluger Wolf , Patruta Sanda , Goharkhay Kawe , Sperr Wolfgang , Wernisch Johann , Gattringer Rainer , Mrass Paulus , Georgopoulos Apostolos
Published: October 2002

Background and Objective

Until recently, the main field of Er:YAG laser application was the removal of dental hard substances within the scope of cavity preparation. Nowadays, several new delivery‐systems are available, permitting the application of the Er:YAG laser in endodontics. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of Er:YAG laser irradiation on root canals in vitro.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

For this purpose, 220 extracted human teeth were endodontically processed and subsequently irradiated at different settings using an Er:YAG laser imitating in vivo irradiation procedures. The teeth were then subdivided into three groups and subjected to bacteriological evaluations, scanning electron microscopy, and temperature measurements.

Results

The bacteriological evaluation revealed a decisive bactericidal effect of the Er:YAG laser in the root canal. The bactericidal effect was dependent on the applied output power and specific for the different species of bacteria investigated. Scanning electron microscopy showed discrete removal of dentine from the root canal walls. The temperature rise during irradiation was moderate when standardized power settings were used.

Conclusion

The investigations indicate that the Er:YAG laser is a suitable tool for the elimination of bacteria in root canals under in vitro conditions. Lasers Surg. Med. 30:360–364, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Single‐feed circularly polarized triangular microstrip antenna with triangular slot for compact operation
Authors: Lu Jui‐Han
Published: October 2002

Novel compact circular polarization (CP) designs of a single‐feed triangular microstrip antenna with a triangular slot or an inverted triangular slot are proposed and experimentally studied. For the design with a triangular slot, CP operation can easily be achieved by inserting a slit with a length about 24% of the slot's side length at the center of the inner bottom edge of the patch. As for the design with an inverted triangular slot, the insertion of a slit with a length about 12% of the slot's side length can result in CP radiation. Results also indicate that with the triangular slot embedded in the patch, the proposed CP design can have an antenna size reduction of about 30% as compared to the regular‐size CP design using a simple triangular patch. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 34: 263–266, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10433
Simultaneous measurement of the nonlinear refractive index and chromatic dispersion of optical fibers by four‐wave mixing
Authors: André P. S. , Pinto J. L.
Published: October 2002

The simultaneous measurement of the nonlinear refractive index and the chromatic dispersion measurement of dispersion shift fibers are proposed, based on the power determination of the mixing products generated by four pump waves. This method is also used with other low‐dispersion chromatic dispersion fiber, such as nonzero dispersion shifted fibers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 34: 305–307, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10444
Incidence and trends in pediatric malignancies medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor: A SEER update
Authors: McNeil Dawn Elizabeth , Coté Timothy R. , Clegg Limin , Rorke Lucy Balian
Published: October 2002

Background

It has been suggested that cerebellar medulloblastoma (M) and primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) arising elsewhere in the nervous system, represent a single entity (M/PNET), although this concept is controversial. Cancer registries permit population‐based description of cases reported as medulloblastoma, those reported as PNET and description of the aggregate, M/PNET.

Procedure

We reviewed the 768 cases of M/PNET (633 diagnosed medulloblastoma and 135 diagnosed PNET) among persons under 20 years of age in the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database.

Results

The incidence of M/PNET rose 23%, from 4 per 106 person‐years in 1973–77 to 4.9 per 106 person‐years in 1993–98. Cases reported as PNET were more likely than those reported as medulloblastoma to be supratentorial (30.4% vs. 1.9%, P < 0.001) and to be female (42.2% vs. 35.4%, P = 0.13). The difference in 5‐year survival between the 600 children with infratentorial medulloblastoma vs. the 49 children with infratentorial PNET was not statistically significant (55% vs. 43%). Regardless of reporting diagnosis, survival was poorer among children age 0–3 years and those with supratentorial tumors. Children diagnosed in the more recent period from 1985–1998 had a longer median survival than children diagnosed in 1973–84 (4.9 years vs. 10 years, P < 0.05). Rates were 42% higher among Whites compared to Blacks (4.5/106 person‐years vs. 3.1/106 person‐years, P < 0.01).

Conclusions

We found M/PNET is increasing in incidence and more frequent among Whites. Given that medulloblastoma and PNET are histologically identical and have similar epidemiologic profiles, future studies should provide analyses that combine these entities. Med Pediatr Oncol 2002;39:190–194. Published 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
MeCP2 and other methyl‐cpg binding proteins
Authors: Jørgensen Helle Færk , Bird Adrian
Published: October 2002

DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that is implicated in transcriptional silencing. Recently, it has become increasingly clear that both correct levels and proper interpretation of methylation are important factors for normal development and function of the human organism. One example is the neurological disorder Rett syndrome (RTT), which affects approximately one in 10,000 girls. RTT is caused by mutations in MeCP2, a protein that was identified by its ability to bind specifically to CpG‐methylated DNA. Furthermore, MeCP2 represses transcription in a methylation‐dependent manner, and it is the founding member of the family of methyl‐CpG binding domain (MBD) proteins. MRDD Research Reviews 2002;8:87–93. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Water exchange and inflow affect the accuracy of T1‐GRE blood volume measurements: Implications for the evaluation of tumor angiogenesis
Authors: Kim Y.R. , Rebro K.J. , Schmainda K.M.
Published: October 2002

The goal of this study was to determine the degree to which vascular water exchange and blood flowing into an imaging slice affect the accuracy of blood volume measurements of brain and tumor tissue when using intravascular T1 contrast agents. The study was performed using 2D and 3D gradient‐echo imaging sequences, since these are two of the most commonly used MRI methods used to evaluate tissue blood volume fraction. Computer simulations were performed and measurements made in a rat 9L gliosarcoma brain tumor model. The computer simulations demonstrate that, with either water exchange or inflow effects alone, the dependence on the physiologic and imaging parameters can be well characterized and therefore potentially offset. In the exchange only case, the parametric dependence of 3D simulations suggest that the best accuracy is achieved with high flip angles, short TR, and low blood contrast agent concentrations. However, for a 2D GRE sequence which is influenced by both water exchange and inflow, the simulations predict that the error trend as a function of the imaging and physiologic parameters is unpredictable and therefore difficult to compensate. With both 2D and 3D GRE the measured blood volume data in rat brain and tumor tissue demonstrate tissue‐specific trends, which reflect differences in the considered physiologic parameters. The experimental data strongly support the computer simulations and also indicate that minimization of the physiological effects by proper selection of imaging parameters, contrast concentration, and volume calculation methods is crucial for accurate assessment of absolute blood volume fraction. Magn Reson Med 47:1110–1120, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Oxygen‐enhanced MRI of the brain
Authors: Losert Christoph , Peller Michael , Schneider Philipp , Reiser Maximilian
Published: October 2002

Blood oxygenation level‐dependent (BOLD) contrast MRI is a potential method for a physiological characterization of tissue beyond mere morphological representation. The purpose of this study was to develop evaluation techniques for such examinations using a hyperoxia challenge. Administration of pure oxygen was applied to test these techniques, as pure oxygen can be expected to induce relatively small signal intensity (SI) changes compared to CO2‐containing gases and thus requires very sensitive evaluation methods. Fourteen volunteers were investigated by alternating between breathing 100% O2 and normal air, using two different paradigms of administration. Changes ranged from >30% in large veins to 1.71% ± 0.14% in basal ganglia and 0.82% ± 0.08% in white matter. To account for a slow physiological response function, a reference for correlation analysis was derived from the venous reaction. An objective method is presented that allows the adaptation of the significance threshold to the complexity of the paradigm used. Reference signal characteristics in representative brain tissue regions were established. As the presented evaluation scheme proved its applicability to small SI changes induced by pure oxygen, it can readily be used for similar experiments with other gases. Magn Reson Med 48:271–277, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of 2‐D Green's boundary formula and its normal derivative using Legendre polynomials, with an application to acoustic scattering problems
Authors: Yang S. A.
Published: October 2002

This paper presents the non‐singular forms, in a global sense, of two‐dimensional Green's boundary formula and its normal derivative. The main advantage of the modified formulations is that they are amenable to solution by directly applying standard quadrature formulas over the entire integration domain; that is, the proposed element‐free method requires only nodal data. The approach includes expressing the unknown function as a truncated Fourier–Legendre series, together with transforming the integration interval [a, b] to [‐1,1] ; the series coefficients are thus to be determined. The hypersingular integral, interpreted in the Hadamard finite‐part sense, and some weakly singular integrals can be evaluated analytically; the remaining integrals are regular with the limiting values of the integrands defined explicitly when a source point coincides with a field point. The effectiveness of the modified formulations is examined by an elliptic cylinder subject to prescribed boundary conditions.

The regularization is further applied to acoustic scattering problems. The well‐known Burton–Miller method, using a linear combination of the surface Helmholtz integral equation and its normal derivative, is adopted to overcome the non‐uniqueness problem. A general non‐singular form of the composite equation is derived. Comparisons with analytical solutions for acoustically soft and hard circular cylinders are made. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A new numerical method for the boundary optimal control problems of the heat conduction equation
Authors: Park H. M. , Lee W. J.
Published: October 2002

A new numerical method is developed for the boundary optimal control problems of the heat conduction equation in the present paper. When the boundary optimal control problem is solved by minimizing the objective function employing a conjugate‐gradient method, the most crucial step is the determination of the gradient of objective function usually employing either the direct differentiation method or the adjoint variable method. The direct differentiation method is simple to implement and always yields accurate results, but consumes a large amount of computational time. Although the adjoint variable method is computationally very efficient, the adjoint variable does not have sufficient regularity at the boundary for the boundary optimal control problems. As a result, a large numerical error is incurred in the evaluation of the gradient function, resulting in premature termination of the conjugate gradient iteration. In the present investigation, a new method is developed that circumvents this difficulty with the adjoint variable method by introducing a partial differential equation that describes the temporal and spatial dynamics of the control variable at the boundary. The present method is applied to the Neumann and Dirichlet boundary optimal control problems, respectively, and is found to solve the problems efficiently with sufficient accuracy. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Implementation of cyclic plasticity models based on a general form of kinematic hardening
Authors: Kobayashi Mineo , Ohno Nobutada
Published: October 2002

This paper deals with implementation of cyclic plastic constitutive models in which a general form of strain hardening and dynamic recovery is employed to represent the multilinear, as well as non‐linear, evolution of back stress. First, in order to incorporate such a general form of kinematic hardening in finite element methods, successive substitution and its convergence are discussed for implicitly integrating stress; moreover, a new expression of consistent tangent modulus is derived by introducing a set of fourth‐rank constitutive parameters into discretized kinematic hardening. Then, the constitutive parameters introduced are specified in three cases of the general form of kinematic hardening; the three cases have distinct capabilities of simulating ratcheting and cyclic stress relaxation. Numerical examples are given to verify the convergence in successive substitution and the new expression of consistent tangent stiffness. Error maps for implicitly integrating stress under non‐proportional as well as proportional loading are also given to show that the multilinear case of the general form provides high accuracy even if strain increment is very large. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Solution of contact optimization problems of cylindrical bodies usinghp‐FEM
Authors: Páczelt I. , Szabó T.
Published: October 2002

This paper is concerned with a numerical solution of contact optimization problems using displacement‐basedhp‐FEM. Small displacements and deformations are assumed for linear elastic material. The contact optimization problem is performed by controlling the contact pressure. The Coulomb friction is also considered. Special attention is paid to the treatment of the jumps in the displacement derivatives at special points. The mesh is adjusted adaptively so that both the boundary of the contact zone and the boundary of the adhesion and slip zones are nodal points. Examples are presented for axially symmetric problems. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Towards advanced circuit board materials: adhesion of copper foil to ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene composite
Authors: Rein Dmitry M. , Vaykhansky Lev , Cohen Yachin
Published: October 2002

Polyethylene based composites are attractive materials for advanced circuit board applications because of their unique combination of properties: low dielectric constant and loss factor, light weight, high flexural modulus and low thermal expansion coefficient controlled in all spatial directions. This investigation describes a process to consolidate chopped fibers of ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene concurrently with its bonding to a copper foil. Bonding is affected by a thin sheet of low‐density polyethylene, incorporating a crosslinking agent with a concentration gradient across the sheets thickness. In this single step process, the composite material is formed and bonded to the metal foil, achieving good adhesion without the use of extraneous glue. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (inflammatory pseudotumour) of the breast. Clinicopathological and genetic analysis of a case with evidence for clonality
Authors: Sastre‐Garau Xavier , Couturier Jérôme , Derré Josette , Aurias Alain , Klijanienko Jerzy , Lagacé Réal
Published: October 2002

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours (IMTs) were initially considered to be benign reactive processes, but cases with an unfavourable outcome have been reported. Moreover, clonal genetic alterations have recently been published in some cases, suggesting that IMT may represent a malignant neoplastic entity. This paper reports a case of IMT that developed in the mammary gland, an unusual site. The histological picture was characterized by a proliferation of spindle cells with little cellular atypia and rare mitoses, associated with a polymorphous inflammatory infiltrate. Their immunophenotype, characterized by the expression of vimentin, smooth muscle actin, and cytokeratins, corresponded to that of myofibroblasts. Cytogenetic analysis revealed the clonal nature of the lesion. The modal karyotype was 48, X, ins(2;X)(q34;p21.2p22.2), +7, del(9)(p23), +19. Including the present observation, a 9p deletion has now been found in three cases of IMT. These observations show that IMT may be a clonal neoplasm, even in sites different from deep soft tissues. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Medin and medin‐amyloid in ageing inflamed and non‐inflamed temporal arteries
Authors: Peng Siwei , Westermark Gunilla T. , Näslund Jan , Häggqvist Bo , Glennert Johanna , Westermark Per
Published: October 2002

Small amyloid deposits commonly occur along the internal elastic lamina of the temporal artery. In temporal artery biopsies from 22 patients with histological signs of giant cell arteritis and 25 without, amyloid deposits were found in 14 and 21 biopsies, respectively. Two specific peptide antisera show that this amyloid is identical to the recently identified medin‐amyloid in the ageing aorta. On immunoelectron microscopy, the amyloid appeared topographically closely related to the elastic material. Furthermore, fragmented elastic material was often immunolabelled for medin and found to be engulfed by giant cells. Medin is an internal fragment of the larger precursor lactadherin and is presumably formed by specific enzymatic cleavage events. In situ hybridization showed that lactadherin is expressed locally by smooth muscle cells of the temporal artery. Given the potential role of lactadherin as a mediator for the adhesion of cells, including macrophages, to other cells or surfaces, lactadherin or its fragment medin may be important in the inflammatory process in giant cell arteritis. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Skin flap‐induced regression of granulation tissue correlates with reduced growth factor and increased metalloproteinase expression
Authors: Darby Ian A. , Bisucci Teresa , Pittet Brigitte , Garbin Stefania , Gabbiani Giulio , Desmoulière Alexis
Published: October 2002

Previous studies have shown that covering granulation tissue of a full‐thickness skin wound by a vascularized skin flap induces tissue remodeling, with a rapid loss of granulation tissue cells by apoptosis. In the present study, in situ hybridization has been used to examine mRNA expression for several factors that may be implicated in the apoptosis seen in this tissue. Skin wounds were made on the dorsal skin of 8‐week‐old rats. Ten days after wounding, skin flaps were created surgically and sutured over the granulation tissue. Tissue sections of granulation tissue from various times after addition of the skin flap were hybridized with 33P‐labelled cRNA probes for transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1), beta‐inducible gene H3 (β‐ig‐h3), α1 (I) procollagen, α‐smooth muscle actin, matrix metalloproteinase‐13 (MMP‐13) and ‐2 (MMP‐2), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‐1 (TIMP‐1), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Control granulation tissue prior to addition of the skin flap showed high levels of TGF‐β1, β‐ig‐h3, α1 (I) procollagen, α‐smooth muscle actin, and TIMP‐1 expression. MMP‐13, MMP‐2, and iNOS mRNA were low in 10‐day granulation tissue. Addition of a skin flap resulted in a decrease in the expression of TGF‐β1, β‐ig‐h3, α1 (I) procollagen, α‐smooth muscle actin, and TIMP‐1, but increased expression of MMP‐13 and MMP‐2. Similarly, an increase in iNOS mRNA expression was observed in the granulation tissue after addition of the skin flap. Addition of a vascularized skin flap may result in rapid remodelling of granulation tissue due to a decrease in expression ofthe trophic growth factor TGF‐β1 and increased degradation of extracellular matrix due to an alteration in the balance between MMPs and their inhibitor, TIMP‐1. Additionally, increased iNOS expression may also favour apoptosis through the generation of free radicals. The additive effect of reduced growth factor expression, increased extracellular matrix turnover, and nitric oxide generation may result in the fibroblast and vascular cell apoptosis seen during the rapid remodelling of this tissue. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A new editorial system for the Journal of Pathology
Authors: Toner P. G. , Herrington C. S.
Published: October 2002

This editorial describes recent and forthcoming changes to the editorial structure of the Journal of Pathology, including on‐line submission and manuscript tracking using Manuscript Central™. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Retracted: Evidence for the early involvement of interleukin 17 in human and experimental renal allograft rejection
Authors: Loong Che‐Chuan , Hsieh Hsian‐Guey , Lui Wing‐Yiu , Chen Ann , Lin Ching‐Yuang
Published: October 2002

Inflammatory processes can stimulate renal epithelial cells to release cytokines, chemoattractants and matrix proteins into the interstitium, thus contributing to interstitial injury during acute allograft rejection. To test the role of interleukin 17 (IL‐17) in this process, cultured human renal epithelial cells (hRECs) were first established and treated with or without human IL‐17 (hIL‐17) for 2, 4, 8 and 10 h in vitro. Significant elevations of IL‐6 and IL‐8 levels were noted in the supernatants in a dose‐dependent and time‐dependent manner, as also for IL‐6 mRNA expression. Secondly, using a rat acute allograft rejection model, the correlation between IL‐17 expression and histopathological changes was serially studied. The results demonstrated that increased expression of IL‐17 protein on infiltrating mononuclear cells (MNCs) was detectable on day 2. This corresponds to the borderline change of acute rejection according to the Banff classification, and it increased progressively to day 5. Serial study of IL‐6, IL‐8 and IL‐17 mRNA expression of the renal allograft confirmed IL‐17 mRNA expression in the allograft early on post‐transplant day 2, whereas IL‐6 and IL‐8 expression started on day 3. Thirdly, IL‐17 expression was observed in human renal allograft and urinary sediment. IL‐17 protein expression was found in human subclinical (borderline) rejection renal allograft biopsy tissue and none in biopsy tissue not showing any evidence of rejection. There was also a 100% detectable rate of IL‐17 mRNA expression in the MNCs of urinary sediment of patients with subclinical borderline rejection. These results demonstrate that hRECs exposed to IL‐17 can produce inflammatory mediators with the potential to stimulate early alloimmune responses, which may also serve to give warning of acute renal allograft rejection. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hepatic stem cells
Authors: Forbes Stuart , Vig Pamela , Poulsom Richard , Thomas Howard , Alison Malcolm
Published: October 2002

The liver in an adult healthy body maintains a balance between cell gain and cell loss. Though normally proliferatively quiescent, hepatocyte loss such as that caused by partial hepatectomy, uncomplicated by virus infection or inflammation, invokes a rapid regenerative response to restore liver mass. This restoration of moderate cell loss and ‘wear and tear’ renewal is largely achieved by hepatocyte self‐replication. Furthermore, hepatocyte transplants in animals have shown that a certain proportion of hepatocytes can undergo significant clonal expansion, suggesting that hepatocytes themselves are the functional stem cells of the liver. More severe liver injury can activate a potential stem cell compartment located within the intrahepatic biliary tree, giving rise to cords of bipotential so‐called oval cells within the lobules that can differentiate into hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells. A third population of stem cells with hepatic potential resides in the bone marrow; these haematopoietic stem cells can contribute to the albeit low renewal rate of hepatocytes, make a more significant contribution to regeneration, and even completely restore normal function in a murine model of hereditary tyrosinaemia. How these three stem cell populations integrate together to achieve a homeostatic balance is not known. This review focuses on two major aspects of liver stem cell biology: firstly, the identity of the liver stem cells, and secondly, their potential value in the treatment of major liver disease. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Expression and localization of HGF and met in Wilms' tumours
Authors: Alami Jennifer , Williams Bryan R. G. , Yeger Herman
Published: October 2002

A number of growth factors and cognate receptors that contribute to normal kidney development have been shown to play roles in the pathogenesis of Wilms' tumours. Expression of both hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its tyrosine kinase receptor met has been demonstrated in normal tissues and their neoplastic counterparts, implicating these factors in normal development and tumour progression. HGF and met expression has not been studied in Wilms' tumour. Since HGF and met function in a paracrine fashion by regulating tubulogenesis in normal kidney development, they could be involved in the pathogenesis of Wilms' tumour, in which tubular formation is dysplastic. In the present study, a series of ten homotypic (consisting of blastemal, epithelial, and stromal elements) and ten heterotypic (consisting of triphasic histology and a muscle component) Wilms' tumour cases were examined for expression of HGF and met, using in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and western blot analysis. Relatively high met message and protein expression, compared with normal kidney, were evident in homotypic and heterotypic tumour blastemal, epithelial, and rhabdomyoblastic cells and a 145 kD met polypeptide was found in all tumours, with a few cases also expressing the 170 kD precursor form. No apparent alterations of the met receptor were observed. Similarly, HGF protein was also abundantly expressed in blastemal, epithelial, and rhabdomyoblastic cells of the homotypic and heterotypic Wilms' tumours and a 69 kD HGF polypeptide was demonstrated by western blot analysis. Immunohistochemistry for the Ki‐67 proliferation marker indicated that the pattern of Ki‐67 expression correlated with the HGF and met pattern of expression in both homotypic and heterotypic tumours. These results reveal, for the first time, significant co‐expression of met/HGF in Wilms' tumours, with a correspondingly high proliferative index in the same cell groups. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Use of chronic medications among a large, commercially‐insured US population
Authors: Roe Catherine M. , McNamara Ann M. , Motheral Brenda R.
Published: October 2002

Purpose

To examine use of chronic therapies by females and males of all ages.

Methods

Participants were 1 295 948 members of a large US pharmacy benefit manager. The use of chronic medications by males and females during 1999 was examined overall and within 16 commonly‐used chronic drug groups. Dependent variables were use of a drug group, number of drug groups used, number of prescriptions filled and sum of costs, both within each drug group and overall. Combination therapy was defined as using at least two of the 16 chronic therapy groups during 1999.

Results

Females were more likely than males to use chronic medications during the study year (36.5 vs. 22.4%, p < 0.001). Generally, the likelihood of using a chronic medication increased with age for both sexes. Commonly‐used chronic medications accounted for 54 and 50% of prescriptions for females and males respectively, and for 53% of total drug costs for both sexes. There were few meaningful sex differences in the likelihood of using particular drug groups. Of those who took chronic drugs 14% used combination chronic therapy.

Conclusions

This study provides demographic information regarding treatment of chronic conditions that can be used to aid policy decisions and to provide an impetus for future research. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
From adorable to worthless: implicit and self‐report structure of highly evaluative personality descriptors
Authors: Benet‐Martínez Verónica , Waller Niels G.
Published: October 2002

So‐called highly ‘evaluative’ personality judgments (e.g. describing someone as exceptional, odd, or vile,) are an integral component of people's daily judgments of themselves and others. However, little is known about the conceptual structure, psychological function, and personality‐relevance of these kinds of attribution. Two studies were conducted to explore the internal (i.e. implicit) and external (i.e. self‐report) structure of highly evaluative terms. Factor analyses of semantic‐similarity sortings and self‐reports on several representative samples of highly evaluative personality adjectives yielded internal and external structures that were very similar. Both types of structure included five dimensions representing distinction, worthlessness, depravity, unconventionality, and stupidity. The robustness of the uncovered dimensions across the two studies suggests that typically excluded highly evaluative personality terms, far from being behaviorally ambiguous and psychologically uninformative, allude to meaningful dispositions that people both implicitly understand and possess to different degrees. These findings also suggest that highly evaluative personality judgments are organized around the basic domains of morality (i.e. depravity), power (distinction and worthlessness), peculiarity (unconventionality), and intelligence (stupidity). We discuss the implications of our findings for the study of self‐ and other‐esteem processes, personality perception, and the Big Seven factor model of personality. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Six independent factors of personality variation: a response to Saucier
Authors: Ashton Michael C. , Lee Kibeom
Published: October 2002

We address the concerns raised by Saucier about our proposed six‐factor structure of personality. First, we dispute Saucier's new interpretation of the Negative Valence factor as a meaningful dimension of personality variation. We explain that Negative Valence terms may distort the structure of personality‐descriptive terms, and that the substantive variance of Honesty is weakly correlated with Negative Valence. Also, we point out that our proposed six factors are (like the Big Five) roughly orthogonal, and that the occurrence of rotational variants within this six‐dimensional space is not problematic. We argue that in terms of comprehensiveness, parsimony, independence of factors, and replicability across languages, our proposed six‐factor model so far seems to be the optimal structure of personality characteristics. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The structure of situations from a personality perspective
Authors: ten Berge Maaike A. , De Raad Boele
Published: October 2002

A taxonomy of situations was constructed that categorizes situations by means of ratings of one's ability to deal with those situations. A principal components analysis of self‐ and other‐ratings yielded four components of situations: I, situations of pleasure; II, situations of individual adversity; III, situations of interpersonal conflict; and IV, situations of social demand. Ratings of being able to deal with a situation were related to ratings on a personality questionnaire. This resulted in a very clear set of situations for each of the Big Five factors of personality. The Big Five differed in kind and in number of situations for which they were able to distinguish the well handling from the less well handling persons. Especially, it turned out that the so‐called temperament‐factors, Extraversion, Emotional Stability, and also Autonomy, give rise to more situational differentiation than the so‐called character‐factors, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness. Comparing the present situation structure to that obtained in an earlier study, we found that using the same set of situations does not guarantee obtaining the same set of situation components. Different methods of classification yield differences in the resulting classifications. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Facets of private and public self‐consciousness: construct and discriminant validity
Authors: Nystedt Lars , Ljungberg Anneli
Published: October 2002

The construct and discriminant validity of proposed facets of private self‐consciousness (Self‐Reflectiveness and Internal State Awareness) and public self‐consciousness (Style Consciousness and Appearance Consciousness) was examined in two studies. In study 1 an exploratory factor analysis of 367 subjects' responses to a translated version of the Self‐Consciousness Scale (SCS) of Fenigstein, Scheir, and Buss confirmed the existence of two factors of private and public self‐consciousness. Confirmatory factor analysis of 199 university students' responses to the SCS confirmed the results from study 1. A two‐dimensional model of private and public self‐consciousness respectively represented a significant improvement in fit to data over single‐factor models. Further, the two facets of private and public self‐consciousness were related differently to measures representing different aspects of adjustment/maladjustment. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Major depression, chronic minor depression, and the five‐factor model of personality
Authors: Harkness Kate L. , Michael Bagby R. , Joffe Russell T. , Levitt Anthony
Published: October 2002

Fifty‐eight outpatients with major depression completed the NEO Personality Inventory at intake (time 1) and after up to three months of anti‐depressant treatment (time 2). Within this group, 26 patients met additional Research Diagnostic Criteria for chronic minor depression. Repeated‐measures analyses revealed significant decreases in Neuroticism scores, and significant increases in Extraversion and Conscientiousness scores, from time 1 to time 2 for both patient groups. In addition, despite similar symptom severity at time 2, the patients with major depression+chronic minor depression scored significantly higher on the Angry Hostility facet of Neuroticism and significantly lower on Agreeableness than those with major depression alone. We suggest from these findings that Angry Hostility and low Agreeableness may represent a trait vulnerability in individuals with chronic minor depression that persists even following remission of the major depressive state, and that this may help to explain their high rates of relapse and recurrence. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The role of the Big Five personality factors in vigilance performance and workload
Authors: Rose Cynthia Laurie , Murphy Laura Bennett , Byard Lynn , Nikzad Katherina
Published: October 2002

Using the five‐factor personality model, the present study explored the influence of personality factors on sustained attention and perceived workload. Ninety‐six college‐aged participants were administered a 12 minute vigilance fast event rate task. Following the vigil, participants were asked to first, rate their perceived workload of the task using the NASA‐TLX, and then second, complete the NEO‐PI‐R personality inventory. Traditional measures of hits, false alarms, and reaction times were examined as well as the signal detection indices of perceptual sensitivity and response bias. Extraversion correlated with false alarms (r = 0.181; eta2 = 0.055) and conscientiousness correlated with both false alarms (r = −0.275, eta2 = 0.097) and perceptual sensitivity (r = 0.227, eta2 = 0.052). With regard to perceived workload, neuroticism was related to perceived frustration (r = 0.238, eta2 = 0.057). The findings are discussed in terms of theoretical implications, impact of task parameters, and practical applications. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Separation, self‐disclosure, and social evaluation anxiety as facets of trait social anxiety
Authors: Endler Norman S. , Flett Gordon L. , Macrodimitris Sophia D. , Corace Kimberly M. , Kocovski Nancy L.
Published: October 2002

In the current article, we propose an expansion of the trait anxiety concept to include interpersonal or social facets of trait anxiety involving separation from significant others and disclosing aspects of the self to others, as a supplement to the existing focus on social evaluation anxiety. Participants in three studies completed a modified version of the Endler Multidimensional Anxiety Scales that included a measure of trait social evaluation anxiety, as well as new measures of trait separation anxiety and trait self‐disclosure anxiety (i.e., three measures of trait social anxiety). Results showed that the social evaluation, separation, and self‐disclosure trait anxiety scales have strong psychometric properties and that they represent distinct but related components of trait anxiety. With respect to validity, the facets of trait social anxiety were predictive of related variables including self‐concealment, anxiety sensitivity, and trait worry. The theoretical and practical implications of a multifaceted approach to trait social anxiety are discussed in terms of an expanded multidimensional interaction model of anxiety. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Theoretical studies on the S—N interaction in sulfinamides
Authors: Bharatam Prasad V. , Amita  , Kaur Damanjit
Published: October 2002

The potential energy surface of sulfinamide H(O)S—NH2 (1) was searched, using ab initio and density functional methods, to study the conformational preferences. High‐accuracy G2MP2 calculations showed that the S—N rotational barrier in 1 is 7.0 kcal mol−1. The inversion around N in 1 goes through a very low energy barrier. Charge analysis using the NPA method was performed to elucidate the electronic factors responsible for the observed trends in the S—N interactions. The strength of negative hyperconjugation in 1 was estimated using NBO analysis and by studying the substituent effect. The repulsions between the lone pairs on oxygen and nitrogen and the nN → σ*S—O negative hyperconjugation play an important role in the conformations. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimized ladder C and ladder H models for sigma conjugation: chain segmentation in polysilanes
Authors: Schepers Thorsten , Michl Josef
Published: October 2002

The parameters of the Hückel type ladder C and ladder H models of permethylated oligosilanes have been optimized to reproduce orbital energies obtained from ab initio Hartree–Fock (HF) calculations of 84 conformers with 1–8 silicon atoms at their optimized geometries. With the optimized parameters, the ladder models reproduce the top ∼5% of the ab initio occupied orbital energies with a mean error of 0.03–0.05 eV. Using Koopmans' theorem, trends in the ionization potentials of very long oligosilanes and polysilanes, including their conformational dependence, can now be predicted with the accuracy of the HF/TZ ab initio method. We use the ladder models to examine the chain‐length dependence of conformational effects in chains with up to 40 silicon atoms, with particular attention to the issue of conformationally induced chain segmentation. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reactive surfactants in heterophase polymerization: Colloidal properties, film‐water absorption, and surfactant exudation
Authors: Amalvy Javier I. , Unzué Maria J. , Schoonbrood Harold A. S. , Asua José M.
Published: October 2002

In this article the results obtained with latexes prepared by emulsion polymerization with a conventional surfactant and a polymerizable surfactant (surfmer) are presented. For this study, well‐defined styrene‐butylacrylate latexes with a conventional nonreactive surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and a maleate diester surfmer, of which films can be easily cast, were used. The latex with the surfmer was prepared following a surfmer addition strategy to maximize the amount of surfmer bound to the particle surface, and not buried in the particle interior. The latex properties in terms of mechanical stability, film‐water absorption, and film‐surfactant exudation were assessed and compared. The mechanical stability and water‐absorption properties of the latex prepared with surfmer were better than those of the latex with sodium dodecyl sulfate. Additionally, by using a surfmer the surfactant migration to the film‐substrate and film‐air interfaces can be inhibited. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2994–3000, 2002
Novel synthesis of cyclic methylvinylsiloxanes by the reaction of methylvinyl diethoxysilane with phosphorous pentachloride
Authors: Ciolino Andrés , Vuano Bruno M. , Pieroni Olga , Villar Marcelo A. , Vallés Enrique M.
Published: October 2002

We report a novel synthesis of the cyclic oligomers [(H2CCH)(CH3)SiO]n obtained by the reaction between phosphorous pentachloride and methylvinyl diethoxysilane. According to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry data, the reaction product consisted of a mixture of cyclic oligomers in which the most important fractions were composed of cycles with n = 5, 6, or 7. The reaction product was also characterized by Fourier transform infrared and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Experimental results suggested a new kind of reaction between the phosphorous pentachloride and terminal olefins directly bonded to silicon, which was probably associated with sterical effects favoring COSi bond cleavage of ethoxy groups instead of the conventional addition of phosphorous pentachloride to olefinic linkages. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3182–3189, 2002
Spherulites from polyamides with a structure characterized by three hydrogen‐bond directions
Authors: Franco L. , Puiggalí J.
Published: October 2002

Polyamides constituted by glycine residues have a peculiar structure characterized by the establishment of intermolecular hydrogen bonds along three different directions. Spherulites of polyglycine and nylons 2/3, 2/3/3, 2/6, and 2/11 have been obtained from evaporation of concentrated solutions or from the molten state. In all cases, a negative birefringence was detected. This fact differs from the observations on spherulites of conventional nylons where intermolecular hydrogen bonds are formed along a single direction and sheet structures are postulated. Polarizing light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy showed that banded spherulites are usually formed in the crystallization of nylons 2/n. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1719–1726, 2002
Monte Carlo simulation of diepoxides and monoepoxides cured with amines
Authors: Cheng Kuo‐Chung , Don Trong‐Ming , Rwei Syang‐Peng , Li Yu‐Ching , Duann Yen‐Fang
Published: October 2002

The diepoxide–monoepoxide–diamine curing systems are investigated with a Monte Carlo simulation. The dependence of the molecular weight distribution (MWD), gel fraction, and cycle rank of the polymers on the differences in the epoxy reactivities and the contents of the monoepoxide as a reactive diluent are discussed. Before gelation, the MWD of the curing systems with a lower content of the monoepoxide is broader than the MWD of the curing systems with a higher content, and it leads to a lower critical conversion. The gel fraction and cycle rank of the polymers decrease with an increasing amount of the diluent. Even fully cured, the system with a 0.6 epoxy molar fraction of the monoepoxide still has a large fraction of sol, about 49%. Although the various reactivities of the monoepoxide result in different ways of forming gels during curing, the final gel fractions are always near 100% as long as the epoxy molar fraction of the diluent is no more than 0.2. The profiles of the molecular weights of the polymers calculated by the model are in agreement with the experimental data. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1857–1868, 2002
Packing manner of graft copolymers with rigid‐rod main chains and amorphous‐crystalline diblock copolymers as side chains
Authors: Inomata Katsuhiro , Sasaki Yoichi , Nose Takuhei
Published: October 2002

We have investigated the morphology and packing manner of graft copolymers consisting of rigid‐rod‐like poly(γ‐benzylL‐glutamate) (PBLG) main chains and grafted diblock copolymers of amorphous poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) and crystalline poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The results of differential scanning calorimetry and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering measurements for graft copolymers with higher side‐chain volume fractions suggest that the rodlike main chains and crystallized PEG chains exist in segregated domains. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering profiles for these samples show diffraction intensity maxima accompanied by higher order peaks, the positions of which suggest the formation of an ordered layered structure. From these observations, the graft copolymers are estimated to form repeated layered structure consisting of segregated PBLG, PPG, and PEG layers. A proposed model for molecular packing of the graft copolymers is consistent with the experimental observation that the repeating distance for the layered structure decreases with an increase in the volume fraction of side chains. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1904–1912, 2002