bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of the Dimethyl Ester of 2'‐Cyano‐8'‐formyl‐N'‐methyl‐1',1a',5a',6'‐tetrahydroacrido[4,5,5a,6‐bcd]‐Annulated 2,3‐Dihydromesoporphyrin – A Novel System with Outstanding Properties as Basis for Photodynamic Therapy in the Far‐Red Region of the Visible Spectrum
Authors: van der Haas Richard N S. , Tang Siu‐Ha , Arenas Hernández Beatriz , de Jong Robertus L. P. , Erkelens Cornelis , Liu Yan , Gast Peter , Smijs Threes G. M. , Schuitmaker Hans J. , Lugtenburg Johan
Published: July 2005

The sterically hindered [5‐(2'‐cyanovinyl)mesoporphyrin dimethyl ester]nickel complex 1 has been treated with N‐methylformanilide under Vilsmeier conditions. Besides the expected meso‐formylporphyrin derivatives, 22 % of a novel green compound was isolated. After removal of Ni2+ by treatment with concentrated sulfuric acid, the structure of the novel compound was elucidated by mass spectrometry and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, which led to the unambiguous establishment of the unprecedented racemic dimethyl ester of 2'‐cyano‐8'‐formyl‐N'‐methyl‐1,1a,5a,6‐tetrahydroacrido[4,5,5a,6‐bcd]‐annulated 2,3‐dihydromesoporphyrin structure 5. This racemic form was efficiently separated into its two pure enantiomeric forms each of which shows the same electronic spectrum as the racemate mixture. The two optical isomers show the exact opposite circular dichroism spectra. The structure of this novel product is clearly formed after the initial attack of the carbenium ion formed from N‐methylformanilide and POCl3 at the α‐carbon atom of the appending meso‐acrylonitrile function. This processis thus far an unprecedented cyclization process underVilsmeier conditions. It is clear that in this case the aromatic system of the Vilsmeier reagent is intimately involved in this reaction. In order to further explore the reactivity of the starting material, we treated it with the Vilsmeier reagent prepared from dimethylformamide and POCl3. In this case we obtained, besides the expected formylation products, a mixture of two peri‐annulated quinoporphyrins. From the structures of the products and the starting material it could be established that in this case the attack of the Vilsmeier reagent is on the nitrogen atom of the appending acrylonitrile function. For the initial tests of 5 as the basis of a photodynamic therapy we found that in the presence of air and light it is an efficient singlet oxygen generator that is stable during the irradiation time. It shows no toxicity towards lung carcinoma cells in the dark while in the presence of air and light the compound leads to a rapid killing of the cancer cells at concentrations that are an order of magnitude lower than in the case of the quinoporphyrin systems. These are all promising properties for continued studies and further development towards a photodynamic cancer therapy. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
New Method for the General Synthesis of [1,2,4]Triazolo[1,5‐a]pyridines
Authors: Huntsman Elliott , Balsells Jaume
Published: July 2005

[1,2,4]Triazolo[1,5‐a]pyridines without substituents on the 2‐position have been prepared from 2‐aminopyridines by cyclization of N‐(pyrid‐2‐yl)formamidoximes with trifluoroacetic anhydride. Triazoles substituted at any position on the pyridine ring may be prepared in good yields and under mild reaction conditions. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
Using program theory–driven evaluation science to crack the Da Vinci code
Authors: Donaldson Stewart I.
Published: July 2005

The evaluator in this chapter provides a realistic account of the actions he would take to provide external evaluation services using the program theory–
driven evaluation science approach.
A proposal to build evaluation capacity at the Bunche–Da Vinci Learning Partnership Academy
Authors: King Jean A.
Published: July 2005

The evaluator in this chapter describes potential evaluation capacity‐building activities in contrast to
the specifics of an evaluation design.
Nanoindentation of injection molded PLA and self‐reinforced composite PLA after in vitro conditioning for three months
Authors: Wright‐Charlesworth Debra D. , Miller Darinda M. , Miskioglu Ibrahim , King Julia A.
Published: July 2005

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is used for medical devices such as sutures or orthopedic screws. A standard way to determine the loss of mechanical properties of a degradable polymer would be to soak the polymer in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and test the desired property as a function of immersion time. This method is not sensitive enough to discern changes in mechanical properties through the cross‐section of the polymer and neglects the degradation that is occurring at the molecular level. This article presents results of a nanoindentation study carried out with PLA. The modulus and hardness of PLA is characterized as a function of processing method, immersion time in PBS, and location of the indent. Measuring local properties with the nanoindenter allowed detection of differences in material properties as a function of all three of these variables. The mechanical properties on the edge were lower than the interior of the sample after in vitro degradation, and changes were seen earlier for nanoindentation than for traditional flexural or tensile tests. The nanoindenter is a valuable tool for quantifying changes in material properties and may have applicability for accelerated tests to screen biomaterials. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2005
The electrochemical evaluation of a Zr‐based bulk metallic glass in a phosphate‐buffered saline electrolyte
Authors: Morrison M. L. , Buchanan R. A. , Leon R. V. , Liu C. T. , Green B. A. , Liaw P. K. , Horton J. A.
Published: July 2005

Bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) represent an emerging class of materials with an amorphous structure and a unique combination of properties. The objectives of this investigation were to define the electrochemical behavior of a specific Zr‐based BMG alloy in a physiologically relevant environment and to compare these properties to standard, crystalline biomaterials as well as other Zr‐based BMG compositions. Cyclic‐anodic‐polarization studies were conducted with a Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10.0Ti5.0(at %) BMG in a phosphate‐buffered saline electrolyte with a physiologically relevant oxygen content at 37°C. The results were compared to three common, crystalline biomaterials: CoCrMo, 316L stainless steel, and Ti‐6Al‐4V. The BMG alloy was found to have a lower corrosion penetration rate (CPR), as compared to the 316L stainless steel, and an equivalent CPR, as compared to the CoCrMo and Ti‐6Al‐4V alloys. Furthermore, the BMG alloy demonstrated better localized corrosion resistance than the 316L stainless steel. However, the localized corrosion resistance of the BMG alloy was not as high as those of the CoCrMo and Ti‐6Al‐4V alloys in the tested environment. The excellent electrochemical properties demonstrated by the BMG alloy are combined with a low modulus and unparalleled strength. This unique combination of properties dramatically demonstrates the potential for amorphous alloys as a new generation of biomaterials. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2005
A fast, scalable method for the parallel evaluation of distance‐limited pairwise particle interactions
Authors: Shaw David E.
Published: July 2005

Classical molecular dynamics simulations of biological macromolecules in explicitly modeled solvent typically require the evaluation of interactions between all pairs of atoms separated by no more than some distanceR, with more distant interactions handled using some less expensive method. Performing such simulations for periods on the order of a millisecond is likely to require the use of massive parallelism. The extent to which such simulations can be efficiently parallelized, however, has historically been limited by the time required for interprocessor communication. This article introduces a new method for the parallel evaluation of distance‐limited pairwise particle interactions that significantly reduces the amount of data transferred between processors by comparison with traditional methods. Specifically, the amount of data transferred into and out of a given processor scales asO(R3/2p−1/2), wherepis the number of processors, and with constant factors that should yield a substantial performance advantage in practice. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 26: 1318–1328, 2005
Inhibition of lipopolysaccharide‐induced microglial activation by preexposure to neurotrophin‐3
Authors: Tzeng Shun‐Fen , Huang Hsin‐Ying , Lee Tsung‐I , Jwo Jeng‐Kuan
Published: July 2005

Microglia activated by neural injuries produce proinflammatory mediators, but activated microglia also appear in developing neural tissue to phagocytose cell debris resulting from programmed cell death without inducing tissue damage. Thus, factors associated with the developing CNS may modulate microglial activities. Previously we reported that pretreatment with neurotrophin‐3 (NT‐3), a factor known to regulate neural development, inhibits the production of proinflammatory mediators, nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor‐α, and interleukin‐1β, in BV2 activated by inflammagen lipopolysaccaride (LPS). In this study, the inhibition of proinflammatory mediators by NT‐3 pretreatment (preNT‐3) in primary microglia with LPS stimulation was corroborated. Moreover, pretreatment of LPS‐activated microglia with NT‐3 induced a trend of reduction in phagocytotic ability. By using LPS‐activated BV2 cells, we further found that reduced expression of inducible NO synthetase by preNT‐3 was mediated by MAP kinase and PI3 kinase signaling pathways. Moreover, pretreatment of BV2 cells with NT‐3 led to reduced levels of the p65 subunit of nucleus factor‐κB (NFκB) and its DNA binding activity. Accordingly, our results indicate that preexposure of microglia to NT‐3 leads to a reduced production of proinflammatory mediators in activated microglia by the induction of MAP kinase and PI3 kinase signaling, which in turn may reduce NFκB DNA binding activity. This suggests that an NT‐enriched microenvironment may be favorable for preventing the inflammatory reaction of microglia. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Core/Shell Particles Containing 3‐(Methacryloxypropyl)‐Trimethoxysilane in the Shell: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application
Authors: Cao Shunsheng , Liu Bailing , Deng Xiaobo , Li Songjun
Published: July 2005

Summary: In comparison to the corresponding single‐component counterparts, core/shell particles are widely used due to their better physical and chemical properties. The surface properties of core/shell particles evidently play an important role in the process of application. It is easy to deduce that surface properties mostly depend on the properties of the component in the shell. Therefore, desirable materials of shell are very significant for the study of composite materials, especially in core/shell field. It is well known that polysiloxane has excellent properties, such as the water repellency, high flexibility, low surface energy, and biocompatibility. Its application, however, is limited due to poor cohesiveness and poor film‐forming properties. Recently, much endeavor has been made to overcome such flaws. It is found that polyacrylate is commonly considered for its good cohesiveness and excellent film‐forming property. The combination of polysiloxane and polyacrylate has been shown to be important in the composite material field, especially as core/shell particles. Unfortunately, their hydrophobicity is considerably different and thus, the core/shell particles consisting of polyacrylate (PA)/polysiloxane (PSi) are hard to prepare by general seeded emulsion polymerization, and are also scarcely available in the literature. In this study, the new core/shell PA/PSi particles with poly(butyl methacrylate) (PA) as the core and poly(3‐(methacryloxypropyl)‐trimethoxysilane) (PSi) as the shell were prepared by dispersion polymerization under the kinetically controlled conditions. The characterization of the particles by TEM, DSC, particle size analyzer as well as static contact angle confirmed the formation of core/shell structure. The application of core/shell (PA/PSi) particles also has been considered and discussed here.

TEM micrographs of core/shell (PA/PSi) particles.

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TEM micrographs of core/shell (PA/PSi) particles.
Novel Poly(amido‐amine)‐Based Hydrogels as Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering
Authors: Ferruti Paolo , Bianchi Sabrina , Ranucci Elisabetta , Chiellini Federica , Caruso Vincenzina
Published: July 2005

Summary: Biodegradable and biocompatible amphoteric poly(amido‐amine) (PAA)‐based hydrogels, containing carboxyl groups along with amino groups in their repeating unit, were considered as scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. These hydrogels were obtained by co‐polymerising 2,2‐bisacrylamidoacetic acid with 2‐methylpiperazine with or without the addition of different mono‐acrylamides as modifiers, and in the presence of primary bis‐amines as crosslinking agents. Hybrid PAA/albumin hydrogels were also prepared. The polymerisation reaction was a Michael‐type polyaddition carried out in aqueous media. The PAA hydrogels were soft and swellable materials. Cytotoxicity tests were carried out by the direct contact method with fibroblast cell lines on the hydrogels both in their native state (that is, as free bases) and as salts with acids of different strength, namely hydrochloric, sulfuric, acetic and lactic acid. This was done in order to ascertain whether counterion‐specific differences in cytotoxicity existed. It was found that all the amphoteric PAA hydrogels considered were cytobiocompatible both as free bases and salts. Selected hydrogels samples underwent degradation tests under controlled conditions simulating biological environments, i.e. Dulbecco medium at pH 7.4 and 37 °C. All samples degraded completely and dissolved within 10 d, with the exception of hybrid PAA/albumin hydrogels that did not dissolve even after eight months. The degradation products of all samples turned to be non‐cytotoxic. All these results led us to conclude that PAA‐based hydrogels have a definite potential as degradable matrices for biomedical applications.

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Epigenetic silencing of the PRSS3 putative tumor suppressor gene in non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Marsit Carmen J. , Okpukpara Chinedu , Danaee Hadi , Kelsey Karl T.
Published: July 2005

The serine protease family member PRSS3 (trypsinogen‐IV) has been implicated as a putative tumor suppressor gene due to its loss of expression, which is correlated with promoter hypermethylation, in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and gastric adenocarcinoma. As epigenetic alteration is common in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we sought to determine if promoter hypermethylation of PRSS3 occurred in this disease, and if it was associated with clinical features of NSCLC or tobacco‐related exposures in these patients. Using methylation‐specific PCR, we determined the promoter hypermethylation status of PRSS3 in a case series study of primary NSCLC, and found methylation of this gene to be common, occurring in 53% (86 of 166) of tumors examined. There was no association of this alteration with patient demographics, tumor features, or exposure histories of the patients. The lack of association is of interest, as it may suggest a lack of specific selection for inactivation of this gene. On the other hand, the high prevalence of this alteration makes PRSS3 methylation an attractive biomarker for use in diagnostic or screening applications in NSCLC. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Cauchy–Neumann problem for a multi‐dimensional isentropic hydrodynamic model for semiconductors
Authors: Li Yeping
Published: July 2005

We investigate a multi‐dimensional isentropic hydrodynamic (Euler–Poisson) model for semiconductors, where the energy equation is replaced by the pressure–density relation p(n) . We establish the global existence of smooth solutions for the Cauchy–Neumann problem with small perturbed initial data and homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions. We show that, as t→+∞, the solutions converge to the non‐constant stationary solutions of the corresponding drift–diffusion equations. Moreover, we also investigate the existence and uniqueness of the stationary solutions for the corresponding drift–diffusion equations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fully discrete approximation of a velocity and temperature tracking problem for the Boussinesq equations with piecewise distributed controls
Authors: Lee Hyung‐Chun , Shin Byeong Chun
Published: July 2005

In this article, we study the dynamics of a fully discrete piecewise optimal distributed control problem for the Boussinesq equations which models a velocity tracking over time coupled to thermal dynamics. We prove that the rates of velocity and‐ temperature tracking are exponential. We also give some computational results which reinforces the theoretical results derived. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Silicon surface modification with trialkoxysilyl‐functionalized star‐shaped polymers
Authors: Viswanathan Kalpana , Long Timothy E. , Ward Thomas C.
Published: July 2005

The synthesis of trimethoxysilane end‐capped linear polystyrene (PS) and star‐branched PS and subsequent silicon (Si) surface modification with linear and star polymers are described. Trimethoxysilane terminated PS was synthesized using sec‐butyl lithium initiated anionic polymerization of styrene and subsequent end‐capping of the living anions with p‐chloromethylphenyl trimethoxysilane (CMPTMS). 1H and 29Si NMR spectroscopy confirmed the successful end‐capping of polystyryllithium with the trimethoxysilane functional group. The effect of a molar excess of end‐capper on the efficiency of functionalization was also investigated, and the required excess increased for higher molar mass oligomers. Acid catalyzed hydrolysis and condensation of the trimethoxysilane end‐groups resulted in star‐branched PS, and NMR spectroscopy and SEC analysis were used to characterize the star polymers. This is the first report of core‐functionalized star‐shaped polymers as surface modifiers and the first comparative study showing differences in surface topography between star and linear polymer modified surfaces. Surface‐sensitive techniques such as ellipsometry, contact angle goniometry, and AFM were used to confirm the attachment of star PS, as well as to compare the characteristics of the star and linear PS modified Si surfaces. The polymer film properties were referenced to polymer dimensions in dilute solution, which revealed that linear PS chains were in the intermediate brush regime and the star‐branched PS produced a surface with covalently attached chains in the mushroom regime. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3655–3666, 2005
Mechanical properties of the novel organometallic polymer poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane)
Authors: Smith Chris W. , Tan Kheng H. , Evans Ken E. , Resendes Rui , Bartole‐Scott Alexandra , Manners Ian
Published: July 2005

A study of the mechanical properties of poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) [Fe(η‐C5H4)2SiMe2]n, 3, a novel organometallic polymer, has been performed on thin films of this material. The Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of film samples (15 × 1 × 1 mm) of 3 were measured in quasi‐static tension using a video extensometer. For 3, the values of the Young's moduli (E) and Poisson's ratios (ν) were similar between axes in the plane and independent of the splicing direction used during sample preparation. The mean and standard deviation of the Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio were 0.78 ± 0.08 GPa and 0.37 ± 0.06 GPa, respectively. Thermomechanical analysis of 3 revealed a steady decrease of E from a room temperature value of approximately 0.70 GPa. Additionally, it was found that at 150 °C, 3 was unable to support even small stresses, consistent with the onset of a melt transition (ca. 135 °C). A mathematical model based on molecular geometry is developed to describe the results. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2280–2288, 2005
Quantitative risk evaluations of LNG equipment applying ASME risk‐based maintenance concepts
Authors: Ochiai Shigemi , Makita Takenori , Sanjo Takashi , Sato Kazu , Katagiri Masafumi
Published: July 2005

Future regulatory requirements in Japan will mandate that all high‐pressure gas production companies impose a maintenance system based on predictive data rather than on equipment inspections. This paper describes a risk‐based maintenance (RBM) system to achieve these new regulatory requirements. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2005
Luminescence of excitons and Eu2+vc– centres in KI:Eu2+ crystals
Authors: Aceves R. , Piters T. M. , Zazubovich S.
Published: July 2005

Luminescence characteristics of KI:Eu2+ crystals are studied at 11.5–300 K under excitation in the 3.0–6.3 eV energy range. Besides the known 2.88 eV emission of Eu2+vc– centers, the new emission bands peaking at ∼3.75 eV, ∼3.3 eV, 3.06 eV, and 2.38 eV are found. The bands, located in the 3.1–4.3 eV energy range and strongly distorted due to their overlap with the Eu2+vc– absorption bands, are ascribed to the self‐trapped exciton emission. The 3.06 eV and 2.88 eV bands are ascribed to the electronic transitions from two close levels of the splitted T2g excited state of an Eu2+ ion. The 2.38 eV emission is ascribed to the radiative decay of an exciton localized near an Eu2+ ion. It is assumed that the appearance of the self‐trapped exciton emission under excitation in the Eu2+‐related absorption bands is connected with the radiative decay of excitons, which are formed at the recombination of electrons and holes, produced in the crystal as a result of the photostimulated charge transfer from the Eu2+‐perturbed I– states. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Generalized expressions for resonant excitation transfer and retarded dispersion energy shifts obtained using multipolar quantum electrodynamics
Authors: Salam A.
Published: July 2005

Generalized expressions are presented within the framework of molecular quantum electrodynamics for intermolecular interactions arising from the exchange of one or two virtual photons. When one species is excited while the other is in the ground state, the former process corresponds to resonant transfer of excitation. The rate of energy exchange for molecules possessing electric multipole moments of arbitrary order is given in terms of the resonant multipole–multipole coupling tensor. This latter quantity is then used in the calculation of the generalized dispersion energy shift between a pair of ground‐state electric multipole polarizable molecules of arbitrary order via the interaction of induced multipole moments at each center. The results obtained offer an efficient alternative means of calculating higher multipole contributions to intermolecular processes. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005
Symbolic programming language in molecular multicenter integral problem
Authors: Safouhi Hassan , Bouferguene Ahmed
Published: July 2005

It is well known that in any ab initio molecular orbital (MO) calculation, the major task involves the computation of molecular integrals, among which the computation of three‐center nuclear attraction and Coulomb integrals is the most frequently encountered. As the molecular system becomes larger, computation of these integrals becomes one of the most laborious and time‐consuming steps in molecular systems calculation. Improvement of the computational methods of molecular integrals would be indispensable to further development in computational studies of large molecular systems. To develop fast and accurate algorithms for the numerical evaluation of these integrals over B functions, we used nonlinear transformations for improving convergence of highly oscillatory integrals. These methods form the basis of new methods for solving various problems that were unsolvable otherwise and have many applications as well. To apply these nonlinear transformations, the integrands should satisfy linear differential equations with coefficients having asymptotic power series in the sense of Poincaré, which in their turn should satisfy some limit conditions. These differential equations are very difficult to obtain explicitly. In the case of molecular integrals, we used a symbolic programming language (MAPLE) to demonstrate that all the conditions required to apply these nonlinear transformation methods are satisfied. Differential equations are obtained explicitly, allowing us to demonstrate that the limit conditions are also satisfied. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006
Interdisciplinary collaboration and academic work: A case study of a university‐community partnership
Authors: Amey Marilyn J. , Brown Dennis F.
Published: July 2005

The authors propose a model of the stages of interdisciplinary collaboration grounded in their experiences as external evaluators of a university‐community partnership.
A microprobe analysis of inorganic elements in Halobacterium salinarum
Authors: Engel Milton B. , Catchpole Hubert R.
Published: July 2005

Halobacterium salinarum were grown on peptone agar containing 4.28 M NaCl, 0.036 M K and other salts. Stationary phase organisms were lifted onto carbon planchets, freeze‐dried, carbon coated and examined in a scanning electron microscope equipped with an X‐ray spectrometer. Intracellular element concentrations (mol/kg H2O) were determined using a bulk analysis program with appropriate standards. The cell K concentration was 110 times that of the medium. For Na this value was 0.3 and for Cl, 1.1. When Rb was present in the medium, its intracellular concentration was 77 times higher than the external value. The cation minus anion value suggests a high fixed negative charge, 0.72 equivalents. Intracellular apparent dielectric constants were calculated using cellular EMFs derived from the literature, and sodium concentration. The determined values ranged from 22–28 (vs 80 for normal water) suggesting phases of structured cell water. Ionic distributions in these extremophiles are treated according to the classical principles elucidated by Willard Gibbs and represents a heterogeneous system in thermodynamic equilibrium with the hypersaline environment. Factors to be considered are: (1) composition of Halobacterium and its immobile negative charge; (2) the physicochemical properties of the individual ions (charge, ionic radius, hydration energy, standard chemical potential); (3) the dielectric constant of the dispersion medium (water); and (4) the binding of ions, particularly potassium.
The subjective quality of life in deficit and nondeficit schizophrenic patients
Authors: Delamillieure Pascal , Ochoa-Torres Dominique , Vasse Thierry , Brazo Perrine , Gourevitch Raphaël , Langlois Sophie , Assouly-Besse Françoise , Van Der Elst Alexis , Morello Rémy , Guelfi Julien , Petit Michel , Dollfus Sonia
Published: July 2005

We assessed the subjective quality of life (QOL) of 30 deficit schizophrenic patients compared to 112 nondeficit schizophrenic patients. The deficit patients did not differ in term of QOL, total score of positive symptoms, general psychopathology from the nondeficit patients. This result suggested an absence of impact of primary negative symptoms on the subjective QOL in schizophrenic patients.
Genetic differentiation of blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou Risso) populations at the extremes of the species range and at the Hebrides–Porcupine Bank spawning grounds
Authors: Ryan Anthony W. , Mattiangeli Valeria , Mork Jarle
Published: July 2005

The blue whiting, Micromesistius poutassou (Teleostei, Gadidae) is found between latitudes 26° and 82°N along the continental margin of the Northeast Atlantic, with smaller populations in the Northwest Atlantic and the Mediterranean. There is an annual spawning aggregation on the Porcupine Bank and Hebridean Shelf (west of Ireland and Scotland, respectively), where most of the blue whiting population of the Northeast Atlantic spawns. Analysis of samples from the Barents Sea, the Northeast Atlantic, and the Mediterranean (n = 850, 11 samples) using one minisatellite and five microsatellite loci revealed significant geographic heterogeneity and isolated populations at the extremes of the species range in the Barents Sea and the Mediterranean. Furthermore, there was evidence of genetic heterogeneity among samples taken during the spawning season on the Porcupine Bank and Hebridean Shelf, with highly significant differentiation between the samples taken in the Hebrides in 1992 and 1998.
Effort distribution and catch patterns adjacent to temperate MPAs
Authors: Murawski Steven A. , Wigley Susan E. , Fogarty Michael J. , Rago Paul J. , Mountain David G.
Published: July 2005

We evaluated the spatial distribution of otter trawl fishing effort and catches resulting from the imposition in 1994 of year-round and seasonal groundfish closed areas off the NE USA. Vessel locations were available from logbooks, vessel monitoring system (VMS) data from many of the largest vessels, and from observer records. There was high spatial coherence between VMS- and observer-derived trawling locations. Prior to establishment, 31% of trawl effort (1991–1993) occurred within the 22 000 km2 of area that would eventually be closed year-round. In 2001–2003 about 10% of effort targeting groundfish was deployed within 1 km of the marine protected area (MPA) boundaries, and about 25% within 5 km. Density gradients, consistent with spill-over from MPAs, were apparent for some species. Average revenue per hour trawled was about twice as high within 4 km of the boundary, than for more distant catches, but the catch variability was greater nearer closed area boundaries. Seasonal closed areas attracted more fishing effort after opening than prior to closure even while average cpue was the same or lower. Spatial resolution of traditional data sources (e.g., logbooks) was too crude to discern detailed MPA-related effects, as revealed by high-resolution vessel positions from VMS and catch data obtained by observers.
Spring-spawning herring (Clupea harengus L.) in the southwestern Baltic Sea: do they form genetically distinct spawning waves?
Authors: Hede Jørgensen Hanne B. , Hansen Michael Møller , Loeschcke Volker
Published: July 2005

Temporal sampling within the spring-spawning season has revealed differentiation in length-at-age in herring at Rügen and differentiation in, e.g., Anisakis infestation rate, otolith microstructure, and gillraker counts in Gdańsk Bay, leading to the expectation that spawning waves consist of distinct herring populations. We tested this expectation by analysing genetic variation at nine microsatellite loci in samples collected at different times during the March to May spawning season in 2 consecutive years, 2002 and 2003. Length-at-age, mean length, and age distributions were compared among samples within locations but did not show consistent temporal patterns. Pairwise genetic differentiation among temporal samples within season was low and non-significant in the Gdańsk Bay (0 < FST < 0.0025) but higher among Rügen samples (0.0008 < FST < 0.0113). Samples from Rügen collected in 2002 differed significantly from each other, and individual assignment tests showed increased divergence with time. Differentiation was not confounded by effects of age class or sex. We conclude that spawning waves are not genetically differentiated among Gdańsk samples based on factors analysed in this study, whereas genetically distinct but sympatric spawning populations may be found at Rügen.
Censored catch data in fisheries stock assessment
Authors: Hammond T.R. , Trenkel V.M.
Published: July 2005

Landings statistics can be lower than true catches because many fish are discarded or landed illegally. Since many discards do not survive, treating landings as true catches can lead to biased stock assessments. This paper proposes treating catch as censored by bounding it below by the landings, L, and above by cL (for scalar c > 1). We demonstrate the approach with a simulation study, using a Schaefer surplus production model. Parameters were estimated in a Bayesian framework with BUGS software using two sets of priors. Both the traditional true-catch method and a survey-and-effort method (which was landings free) performed worse on average than the censored approach, as measured by the Bayes risk associated with estimates of maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and of an index of depletion (X). Recursive partitioning (regression trees) was used to associate simulation parameters to best-performing methods, showing that higher commercial fish catchability favoured the censored method at estimating X. In conclusion, censored methods provide a means of dealing with discarding and misreporting that can outperform some traditional alternatives.
Measuring performance in multi‐stage service operations: An application of cause selecting control charts
Authors: Sulek Joanne M. , Marucheck Ann , Lind Mary R.
Published: July 2005

Many multistage service operations exhibit the cascade property, where performance at one stage is statistically correlated with performance at the preceding stage. Prior research on multistage services has analyzed each process stage independently or in an additive manner. Increased emphasis on Six Sigma initiatives in services has rekindled interest in the use of control charts to monitor and control service processes. This study examines the cause selecting control chart as a methodology to monitor and identify potential problem areas in an actual cascade service process and compares the diagnostic capability of the cause selecting chart to that of a traditional Shewhart chart. A grocery store whose parent company was implementing efficient consumer response (ECR) serves as the research context. This study models the grocery store as a two‐stage cascade process and uses operating data from the store to construct a cause selecting chart and a traditional Shewhart chart for the front‐end operation. Analysis of the two charts reveals that the cause selecting chart outperforms the traditional control chart as tool for signaling unusual variation in performance at the front‐end stage. The analysis demonstrates that service managers can receive misleading or erroneous information from traditional control charts if the service process being monitored is a cascade process.
Artificial substrata colonized by freshwater lichens
Authors: KELLER Christine
Published: July 2005

Small clay cubes, fired at different temperatures and mounted with nylon touch and close fastener (Velcro®) on acrylic glass plates, were used in an experimental design to study colonization of artificial substrata by lichens. The cubes were exposed in alpine streams for either 5–7 y at five different sites in the Swiss Alps: Flüelatal (three sites) and Brigels (Canton of Graubünden), and Eggerberg (Canton of Valais). Only a few cubes were lost, except at two sites, where complete plates were lost – due to the strong water current and, probably, trampling by cattle. After 3 y, freshwater lichens had grown at three sites. At the most elevated site, colonization was observed after 4 y; at one site no lichen growth was recorded. The first colonizers of the new substrata were the locally most common species. Freshwater lichens preferred the surfaces of clay cubes fired at lower temperature, whereas exposed pieces of local rocks were less frequently colonized. Improvements in the experimental design are suggested.
Epiphytic lichens as indicators of environmental health in the vicinity of Chiang Mai city, Thailand
Authors: SAIPUNKAEW Wanaruk , WOLSELEY Patricia , CHIMONIDES P. James
Published: July 2005

Epiphytic lichens were sampled on selected trees in 19 sites radiating from Chiang Mai city including the adjacent mountain Doi Suthep in Northern Thailand using the VDI method (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure) to obtain frequency of occurrence in 10 area units per sampled tree. Sites selected included highly polluted sites in urban and adjacent industrial areas of Chiang Mai city, disturbed rural sites and undisturbed forest on Doi Suthep mountain, with altitudes varying from 260–1450 m. Lichen diversity was highest in upland sites and lowest in urban and agricultural sites. Analysis of lichen taxa at generic and at macrolichen species level and environmental data using PRIMER showed that upland and lowland sites were distinguished in the first division at both levels and correlated with altitude and vegetation type. Analysis of all taxa at generic level showed no separation of lowland sites but at macrolichen species level a better separation was obtained, suggesting that lichen diversity alone cannot be used for biomonitoring of air pollution. The relationship of epiphytic lichens to climate and pollution data available for Chiang Mai city and Doi Suthep is discussed and results compared with data from other studies in SE Asia.
A new species of Placopsis (Agyriaceae: Ascomycota) from Antarctica
Authors: GALLOWAY David J. , LEWIS-SMITH Ronald I. , QUILHOT Wanda
Published: July 2005

Placopsis antarctica, which is apparently endemic to antarctic regions south of lat. 60°S (South Orkney Is, South Shetland Is and the Antarctic Peninsula), is described. Details of its morphology, anatomy, chemistry, ecology and distribution are given. Placopsis bicolor is newly reported from South Georgia. A revised key to species of Placopsis occurring in South Georgia and Antarctica is given.
Mental disorders in primary care: prevalence and co-morbidity among disorders. Results from the Functional Illness in Primary care (FIP) study
Authors: TOFT TOMAS , FINK PER , OERNBOEL EVA , CHRISTENSEN KAJ , FROSTHOLM LISBETH , OLESEN FREDE
Published: July 2005

Background. Prevalence and co-occurrence of mental disorders is high among patients consulting their family general practitioner (GP) for a new health problem, but data on diagnostics and sociodemographics are sketchy.

Method. A cross-sectional two-phase epidemiological study. A total of 1785 consecutive patients with new complaints, aged 18–65 years, consulting 28 family practices during March–April 2000 in Aarhus County, Denmark were screened, in the waiting room, for mental and somatic symptoms with SCL-8 and SCL-Somatization questionnaires, for illness worry with Whitely-7 and for alcohol dependency with CAGE. In a stratified random sample of 701 patients, physician interviewers established ICD-10 diagnoses using the SCAN interview. Prevalence was calculated using weighted logistic regression, thus correcting for sample skewness.

Results. Half of the patients fulfilled criteria for an ICD-10 mental disorders and a third of these for more than one group of disorders. Women had higher prevalence of somatization disorder and overall mental disorders than men. Men had higher prevalence of alcohol abuse and hypochondriasis than women. Psychiatric morbidity tended to increase with age. Prevalence of somatoform disorders was 35·9% (95% CI 30·4–41·9), anxiety disorders 16·4% (95% CI 12·7–20·9), mood disorders 13·5% (95% CI 11·1–16·3), organic mental disorders 3·1% (95% CI 1·6–5·7) and alcohol abuse 2·2% (95% CI 1·5–3·1). Co-morbidities between these groups were highest for anxiety disorders, where 89% also had another mental diagnosis, and lowest for somatoform disorders with 39%.

Conclusions. ICD-10 mental disorders are very prevalent in primary care and there is a high co-occurrence between most disorders. Somatoform disorders, however, more often than not exist without other mental disorders.
Low-planned suicides in China
Authors: CONNER KENNETH R. , PHILLIPS MICHAEL R. , MELDRUM SEAN , KNOX KERRY L. , ZHANG YANPING , YANG GONGHUAN
Published: July 2005

Background. Acts of suicide differ widely in the amount of planning preceding the act. Correlates of completed suicide in China identified in a previous investigation were re-examined to identify those that may be especially relevant to low-planned (impulsive) and high-planned suicidal behavior. The association of planning and method in completed suicide was also assessed.

Method. A psychological autopsy study of 505 suicide decedents aged [ges ]18 years sampled to be representative of suicides in China was conducted. Multinomial regression analyses compared three levels of suicide planning (low, intermediate, high).

Results. Women and younger individuals were more likely to carry out low-planned and intermediate-planned than high-planned acts of suicide. Greater acute stress distinguished low-planned from high-planned suicides. Ingestion of pesticides stored in the home was a more commonly employed method in low-planned than high-planned suicides.

Conclusions. Low-planned suicides are more common in women, in younger individuals, and among those who are experiencing acute stress. Prevention strategies targeted at restricting access to pesticides may preferentially lower the rate of low-planned suicides.
Neuropsychological functioning in stimulant-naive boys with hyperkinetic disorder
Authors: RHODES SINEAD M. , COGHILL DAVID R. , MATTHEWS KEITH
Published: July 2005

Background. Although children with hyperkinetic disorder and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show disordered executive neuropsychological functioning, the nature of these changes remains controversial. Additionally, impairments in non-executive neuropsychological functioning have been relatively unexplored. Here, the authors describe the neuropsychological functioning of a sample of stimulant drug-naive boys with hyperkinetic disorder on a battery of neuropsychological tasks sensitive to impairments of both executive and non-executive functions.

Method. Seventy-five stimulant drug-naive boys meeting diagnostic criteria for ICD-10 hyperkinetic disorder were compared with 70 healthy developing controls matched for age but not IQ on computerized tests of neuropsychological functioning from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) and a Go/No-Go inhibition task.

Results. Boys with hyperkinetic disorder exhibited impairments on tasks with a prominent executive component – working memory, planning, strategy formation, attentional set-shifting and on a reaction time task. However, they were also impaired on tasks without prominent executive components – pattern and spatial recognition, spatial span, delayed matching to sample and paired associates learning. Contrary to predictions, no impairment was observed on the Go/No-Go inhibition task.

Conclusions. Medication-naive boys with hyperkinetic disorder displayed a broad range of neuropsychological impairments. Deficits were demonstrated on tasks with and without prominent executive components. Impairments were not confined to tasks dependent upon frontostriatal functioning, cannot wholly be explained by deficits in inhibitory control, nor can they be attributed to intelligence or previous exposure to stimulant medication.
Sources of covariation among the child-externalizing disorders: informant effects and the shared environment
Authors: ALEXANDRA BURT S. , McGUE MATT , KRUEGER ROBERT F. , IACONO WILLIAM G.
Published: July 2005

Background. Research has documented high levels of co-morbidity among childhood externalizing disorders, but its etiology remains in dispute. Specifically, although all behavior genetic studies of the etiology of the co-occurrence of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and conduct disorder (CD) agree that genetic factors are important, differences exist across studies in the relative weight assigned to genetic, shared environmental factors (i.e. factors that increase similarity among family members), and non-shared environmental factors (i.e. factors that decrease similarity among family members). Because heritability estimates can vary across informants, we used a biometric informant-effects model to determine whether these discrepancies were a function of systematic differences in maternal and child informant reports of ADHD, CD, and ODD.

Method. We studied 1782 11-year-old twins from the Minnesota Twin Family Study. Symptom counts for each disorder were obtained from interviews administered to twins and their mothers. We fit a model that allowed us to examine, both across and within informants, the genetic and environmental contributions to the co-occurrence among ADHD, CD, and ODD.

Results. The results revealed that the co-occurrence among the disorders common to maternal and child informant reports was influenced largely by shared environmental forces. Genetic factors also contributed, though their impact was only marginally significant. In contrast, the co-occurrence unique to each informant was influenced exclusively by either genetic or non-shared environmental factors.

Conclusions. Such findings offer additional evidence that shared environmental factors are important to the co-morbidity among ADHD, CD, and ODD, and highlight the necessity of considering informant effects when drawing conclusions about the origins of co-morbidity from analyses of genetically informative data.
Official psychiatric morbidity and the incidence of schizophrenia 1881–1994
Authors: NIXON NEIL L. , DOODY GILLIAN A.
Published: July 2005

Background. We assess claims that the documented rise in psychiatric morbidity during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries was associated with an increasing incidence of schizophrenia.

Method. Cross-sectional epidemiological comparison of the incidence of schizophrenia in one urban, industrialized community at three points over more than 100 years using new data from 1881–1902 and two pre-existing datasets, 1978–1980 and 1992–1994. For 1881–1902, 34 cases of schizophrenia were obtained through retrospective diagnosis, using Research Diagnostic Criteria, of a random 14·5% sample of first admissions to Nottingham Asylum (n=330). Inter-rater reliability and leakage analyses were performed. The administrative incidence for all three studies was directly standardized against 1991 census data. Local statistics on total psychiatric morbidity in Nottingham were taken from the asylum superintendent's register and recent data from the Office of National Statistics.

Results. Official local and national rates of total psychiatric morbidity increased exponentially. There was no significant change in the incidence of schizophrenia over the 114-year period 1881–1994.

Conclusions. The rise in both local and national official statistics of psychiatric morbidity 1881–1994 was not associated with a significant increase in the incidence of schizophrenia. Stability in the epidemiology of schizophrenia at a geographical level is found despite important demographic changes.
Executive functioning in adult ADHD: a meta-analytic review
Authors: MARIJE BOONSTRA A. , OOSTERLAAN JAAP , SERGEANT JOSEPH A. , BUITELAAR JAN K.
Published: July 2005

Background. Several theoretical explanations of ADHD in children have focused on executive functioning as the main explanatory neuropsychological domain for the disorder. In order to establish if these theoretical accounts are supported by research data for adults with ADHD, we compared neuropsychological executive functioning and non-executive functioning between adults with ADHD and normal controls in a meta-analytic design.

Method. We compared 13 studies that (1) included at least one executive functioning measure, (2) compared the performance of an adult ADHD group with that of an adult normal control group, (3) provided sufficient information for calculation of effect sizes, and (4) used DSM-III-R or DSM-IV criteria to diagnose ADHD.

Results. We found medium effect sizes both in executive functioning areas [verbal fluency (d=0·62), inhibition (d=0·64 and d=0·89), and set shifting (d=0·65)] and in non-executive functioning domains [consistency of response (d=0·57), word reading (d=0·60) and color naming (d=0·62)].

Conclusions. Neuropsychological difficulties in adult ADHD may not be confined to executive functioning. The field is in urgent need of better-designed executive functioning tests, methodological improvements, and direct comparisons with multiple clinical groups to answer questions of specificity.