bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A dynamic programming approach to model the retirement behaviour of blue‐collar workers in Sweden
Authors: Karlstrom Anders , Palme Marten , Svensson Ingemar 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThis paper presents an empirical analysis of how Sweden's public old age pension system affects the retirement decision. We focus on male blue‐collar workers whose dominant income source as retired comes from the public old age pension system. We develop a dynamic programming model using the rules for the public pension system. In addition to the effects of economic incentives through the pension systems the DP model also measures the effect of the mandatory retirement age of 65—which applies to most parts of Sweden's labour market—on retirement behaviour. The estimated model fits within‐sample retirement patterns remarkably well. A simulation of a hypothetical reform, where all retirement incentives in the pension schemes are delayed by three years, shows that economic incentives affect retirement behaviour. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Selective regulation of 14‐3‐3η in primary culture of cerebral cortical neurons and astrocytes during development
Authors: Chen Xiao Qian , Liu Shuang , Qin Lu Ye , Wang Chen Ran , Fung Yin‐Wan Wendy , Yu Albert Cheung‐Hoi 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThe 14‐3‐3 proteins exist predominantly in the brain and may play regulatory roles in cellular processes of growth, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The biological functions, however, of the various 14‐3‐3 isoforms (β, ϵ, η, γ, and ζ) in the brain remain unclear. We have reported previously upregulation of 14‐3‐3γ in ischemic astrocytes. In the present study, we report selective regulation of 14‐3‐3η in cultured cerebral cortical neurons and astrocytes during in vitro development. In cultured neurons, gene expression levels of 14‐3‐3η increase with culture age (0–10 days). Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin‐3 upregulate 14‐3‐3η gene expression. In cultured astrocytes, 14‐3‐3η is downregulated with culture age (1–5 weeks). The gene expression level of 14‐3‐3η is not affected by scratch injury in astrocytes or by ischemia in neurons. These data suggest a possible role of 14‐3‐3η in growth and differentiation of neurons and astrocytes, indicating an intricate mechanism governing coordinated and well‐controlled developmental events in the brain to ensure normal neural functions. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of brain mitochondrial glutamate and α‐ketoglutarate transport under physiologic conditions
Authors: Berkich Deborah A. , Xu Yuping , LaNoue Kathryn F. , Gruetter Rolf , Hutson Susan M. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractSome models of brain energy metabolism used to interpret in vivo 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic data assume that intramitochondrial α‐ketoglutarate is in rapid isotopic equilibrium with total brain glutamate, most of which is cytosolic. If so, the kinetics of changes in 13C‐glutamate can be used to predict citric acid cycle flux. For this to be a valid assumption, the brain mitochondrial transporters of glutamate and α‐ketoglutarate must operate under physiologic conditions at rates much faster than that of the citric acid cycle. To test the assumption, we incubated brain mitochondria under physiologic conditions, metabolizing both pyruvate and glutamate and measured rates of glutamate, aspartate, and α‐ketoglutarate transport. Under the conditions employed (66% of maximal O2 consumption), the rate of synthesis of intramitochondrial α‐ketoglutarate was 142 nmol/min·mg and the combined initial rate of α‐ketoglutarate plus glutamate efflux from the mitochondria was 95 nmol/min·mg. It thus seems that much of the α‐ketoglutarate synthesized within the mitochondria proceeds around the citric acid cycle without equilibrating with cytosolic glutamate. Unless the two pools are in such rapid exchange that they maintain the same percent 13C enrichment at all points, 13C enrichment of glutamate alone cannot be used to determine tricarboxylic acid cycle flux. The α‐ketoglutarate pool is far smaller than the glutamate pool and will therefore approach steady state faster than will glutamate at the metabolite transport rates measured. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Unusual properties of the prespore‐specific enzyme, UDPgalactose:polysaccharide galactosyl transferase, of Dictyostelium discoideum
Authors: Nakahara Yasuo , Okamoto Koji 
Published: November 2004

AbstractUDPgalactose:polysaccharide galactosyl‐transferase is the enzyme that is specifically localized in prespore cells of Dictyostelium discoideum and its activity sharply changes in response to differentiation and dedifferentiation. To clarify the nature of this enzyme, we first developed an improved assay method for the enzyme, and by using this method, we partially purified the enzyme through DEAE‐sepharose, phenyl‐sepharose and ATP‐sepharose chromatography. The apparent molecular mass of the enzyme was ca. 200 KDa (by non‐denaturing polyacrylamide gel gradient analysis) and the isoelectric point was around pH 7. The enzyme exhibited a hitherto undescribed property, that is the reaction proceeds faster at 0 °C than at 21 °C, with a smaller Km value and an unchanged Vmax value. This low‐temperature resistant property of the enzyme is consistent with the previous observation (Maeda 1984, J. Cell Sci. 69, 159–165) that prespore differentiation is favored at low temperatures. The reaction appears to proceed in a double displacement manner. ATP reversibly inhibited the enzyme with a Ki value of 2 mM, suggesting the possibility that ATP regulates its activity in vivo. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Species identification and comparative molecular and physiological analysis of Candida zemplinina and Candida stellata
Authors: Sipiczki Matthias 
Published: November 2004

AbstractStrains of the recently described yeast species Candida zemplinina have been identified in botrytized grapes and musts in geographically distant areas. C. zemplinina is almost indistinguishable from C. stellata, another yeast common in fermenting botrytized wines. In this work a specific PCR‐RFLP method is described for the differentiation of the two species. It is also shown that both species have three chromosomes, display chromosomal length polymorphism, and C. zemplinina has a smaller genome. C. zemplinina is acidogenic, highly osmotolerant, grows much better than C. stellata in the presence of ethanol and at low temperatures. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Comparative evaluation of the Desoxycholate Agar Nissui Food Stamp and swab methods for estimating coliform organisms in poultry processing plants after cleaning in Japan
Authors: Kodaka Hidemasa , Goto Koichi , Umeki Kyuichi , Nishina Tokuhiro , Tokumaru Yoshikazu , Shinagawa Kunihiro , Konuma Hirotaka 
Published: November 2004

AbstractBacterial control in poultry processing plants is very important, but the swab method for estimating bacterial contamination is somewhat troublesome in routine work. We compared the Desoxycholate Agar Nissui Food Stamp (DA‐NFS) based on the agar contact method with the swab method to estimate coliform organisms from various equipments in four poultry processing plants after cleaning. Overall 104 surfaces for coliform organisms were evaluated. The results from 98 (94.2%) surfaces for coliform organisms were equivalent by the DA‐NFS and swab methods and there were no significant differences between two methods (P > 0.05). The correlation coefficient between the DA‐NFS and swab methods was 0.91. We conclude that the DA‐NFS could be useful for routine coliform organisms examination in poultry processing plants after cleaning in Japan. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Functional Thin Polymer Films at High Pressure
Authors: Baba Akira , Kleideiter Gerd , Jakob Thomas , Knoll Wolfgang 
Published: November 2004

AbstractSummary: A new thin‐film characterization setup was created based on the combination of a surface plasmon spectrometer with an electrochemical cell operated under high pressure of up to 200 MPa and at temperatures up to 120 °C. The examples given to document its performance include photoisomerization studies with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films partly derivatized with disperse red (DR1), as well as, a preliminary account of the electropolymerization of EDOT under pressure and the assessment of the redox properties of the resulting thin PEDOT films.Sketch of the high‐pressure electrochemistry surface plasmon cell.magnified imageSketch of the high‐pressure electrochemistry surface plasmon cell.
Highly Active Yttrium and Lanthanide Catalysts for Polymerization of Isobutene
Authors: Touchard Virginie , Spitz Roger , Boisson Christophe , Llauro Marie‐France 
Published: November 2004

AbstractSummary: Highly active catalysts for isobutene polymerization were obtained by mixing silica with yttrium or lanthanide chloride salts. Solid catalysts were investigated using transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Both Lewis and Brönsted acid sites were detected on the surface. Polymers of low and medium molecular weight were prepared and their unsaturated chain ends were fully investigated by one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR analyses.13C NMR spectrum of a low‐molecular‐weight polyisobutene (high‐field resonance region).image13C NMR spectrum of a low‐molecular‐weight polyisobutene (high‐field resonance region).
Non‐linear analysis of shells with arbitrary evolving cracks using XFEM
Authors: Areias Pedro M. A. , Belytschko Ted 
Published: November 2004

AbstractA new formulation and numerical procedures are developed for the analysis of arbitrary crack propagation in shells using the extended finite element method. The method is valid for completely non‐linear problems. Through‐the‐thickness cracks in sandwich shells are considered. An exact shell kinematics is presented, and a new enrichment of the rotation field is proposed which satisfies the director inextensibility condition. To avoid locking, an enhanced strain formulation is proposed for the 4‐node cracked shell element. A finite strain plane stress constitutive model based on the logarithmic corotational rate is employed. A cohesive zone model is introduced which embodies the special characteristics of the shell kinematics. Stress intensity factors are calculated for selected problems and crack propagation problems are solved. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using spectral low rank preconditioners for large electromagnetic calculations
Authors: Duff I. S. , Giraud L. , Langou J. , Martin E. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractFor solving large dense complex linear systems that arise in electromagnetic calculations, we perform experiments using a general purpose spectral low rank update preconditioner in the context of the GMRES method preconditioned by an approximate inverse preconditioner. The goal of the spectral preconditioner is to improve the convergence properties by shifting by one the smallest eigenvalues of the original preconditioned system. Numerical experiments on parallel distributed memory computers are presented to illustrate the efficiency of this technique on large and challenging real‐life industrial problems. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Numerical simulation of granular materials by an improved discrete element method
Authors: Fortin J. , Millet O. , de Saxcé G. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractIn this paper, we present an improved discrete element method based on the non‐smooth contact dynamics and the bi‐potential concept. The energy dissipated during the collisions is taken into account by means of restitution coefficients. The interaction between particles is modelled by Coulomb unilateral contact law with dry friction which is typically non‐associated: during the contact, the sliding vector is not normal to the friction cone. The main feature of our algorithm is to overcome this difficulty by means of the bi‐potential theory. It leads to an easy implement predictor–corrector scheme involving just an orthogonal projection onto the friction cone. Moreover the convergence test is based on an error estimator in constitutive law using the corner stone inequality of the bipotential. Then we present numerical simulations which show the robustness of our algorithm and the various possibilities of the software ‘MULTICOR’ developed with this approach. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and solution properties of poly(methacrylate)s with semipolar structures on the side chains
Authors: Hiwatashi Tomoaki , Hayama Kazuhide , Sawada Yoshiaki , Itoh Takahito 
Published: November 2004

AbstractPoly{2‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate [poly(DMMA)]}, which was prepared by radical polymerization initiated with dimethyl 2,2‐azobis(2‐methylpropionate), was reacted with hydrogen peroxide, diethyl sulfate, and chloroacetic acid to yield poly[N,N‐dimethyl‐N‐(2‐methacryloyloxyethyl)amine N‐oxide] [poly(DMANO)], poly[N‐ethyl‐N,N‐dimethyl‐N‐(2‐methacryloyloxyethyl)ammonium ethyl sulfate] [poly(EDMES)], and poly[N,N‐dimethyl‐N‐(2‐methacryloyloxy)ethylammonioacetate] [poly(DMEAA)] as ion‐containing water‐soluble polymers, respectively. The solution properties of these charged polymers were compared via the reduced viscosities of these three charged polymers in aqueous solutions as a function of the concentration. Poly(EDMES) showed typical polyelectrolyte behavior, and the other two polymers [poly(DMANO) and poly(DMEAA)] exhibited antipolyelectrolyte behavior. Furthermore, the antipolyelectrolyte behavior was different for poly(DMANO) and poly(DMEAA); that is, poly(DMANO) was less dependent on small electrolytes. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 129–141, 2005
Synthesis of acid‐sensitive latices by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization
Authors: Quémener Damien , Héroguez Valérie , Gnanou Yves 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThis study describes the synthesis of polynorbornene colloidal particles able to release active molecules in response to pH change. Such functionalized polynorbornene latices with surface active molecules have been obtained by ring‐opening metathesis copolymerization in a dichloromethane/ethanol medium in the presence of α‐norbornenyl poly(ethylene oxide) macromonomer. Two different strategies of introduction of the active molecule—either at their periphery or at their core— have been contemplated. The particles have been characterized by both dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Their size was found to range from 260 to 600 nm. The release of the active molecules was monitored by UV spectrometry. After 48 h in an appropriate HCl buffer (pH = 3) more than 80% of the initially linked active molecule was released. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 217–229, 2005
Copolymerization kinetics of N‐isopropylacrylamide and diethylene glycol monomethylether monomethacrylate determined by online NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Gramm Stefan , Komber Hartmut , Schmaljohann Dirk 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThe kinetics of the copolymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NiPAAm) and diethylene glycol monomethylether monomethacrylate was followed by online 1H NMR spectroscopy. Two copolymerization reactions were sufficient to evaluate the kinetic data with the Extended‐Kelen–Tüdös method as well as the nonlinear least square method. The copolymerization parameter was determined as rNiPAAm = 0.70 and rDEGMA = 2.0. The higher reactivity of the methacrylate compared to the NiPAAm is in good agreement with other kinetic data of similar systems. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 142–148, 2005
Incompatibility of metam sodium with halogenated fumigants
Authors: Guo Mingxin , Yates Scott R , Papiernik Sharon K , Zheng Wei 
Published: November 2004

AbstractMetam sodium (metam) is a widely used soil fumigant. Combined application of metam and other available fumigants is intended to produce synergic pesticidal effects for a broad spectrum of pest control in soil fumigation. This study aimed to test the compatibility of metam with the halogenated fumigants 1,3‐dichloropropene (1,3‐D), chloropicrin, methyl bromide, methyl iodide and propargyl bromide. Halogenated fumigants and metam were spiked simultaneously into organic solvents, water and moist soils, and metam‐induced degradation of these halogenated chemicals was evaluated. In all three media, the halogenated fumigants were incompatible with metam and degraded via rapid chemical reactions. The degradation rate varied with halogenated fumigant species and increased as the amount of metam present was increased. In moist soil, 15–95% of the halogenated fumigants were decomposed within 72 h by metam at a 1:1 molar ratio. Combined application of Telone C‐35 (62.5% 1,3‐D + 35% chloropicrin) at 265 mg kg−1 and Vapam (42% metam) at 567 mg kg−1 in soil resulted in complete disappearance of the applied chloropicrin and 20–38% of the 1,3‐D within 8 h. The results suggest that simultaneous application of halogenated fumigants and metam at the same soil depth will not maximize pest control. In practice, sequential treatment of soil or application at different soil depths is recommended when these two types of fumigants are used in combination. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Conducting portions of GLP studies in GMP laboratories
Authors: Roberge Kristin 
Published: November 2004

AbstractGood manufacturing practice (GMP) analytical laboratories are routinely used to conduct stability and concentration analyses of dose formulations for non‐clinical laboratory studies. There are many reasons for using GMP analytical laboratories including saving the overhead required for two or more separate laboratories. There are also several challenges that need to be addressed, however, to make this a successful transition. This paper discusses the challenges resulting from the differences in the GMP and good laboratory practice (GLP) regulations and some of the cultural challenges associated with such a major change. Some challenges are common to most major changes and some are specific to this situation. Finally, this paper will discuss some simple strategies to prepare the GMP analytical laboratory for conducting GLP studies. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Guidance on responding to FDA Warning Letters and possible enforcement consequences for clinical investigators and sponsors
Authors: Walters James P. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractUnder the Bio‐Research Monitoring Program, the United States Food and Drug Administration conducts oversight of clinical investigators, and pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers who sponsor clinical trials used to support pre‐marketing applications submitted to the agency. Although the program focuses on investigators, inspections of violative clinical investigators can result in significant agency action against investigators and sponsors alike. The author discusses Warning Letters, provides guidance on how to respond to Warning Letters, and possible consequences of violative inspections. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
What's new?
Authors: Broughton Harold Steven , Hattemer‐Apostel Rita 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThe What's New? section in the Quality Assurance Journal aims to draw attention to items of importance to QA professionals. There is usually a three‐month interval between final submission of manuscripts and distribution of the journal. For this issue, the entries in the What's New? section arise from the period of 1 June 2004 to 31 August 2004. If you feel that there is any other new information that should be brought to the attention of readers, please let us know by e‐mailing rha@verdandi.ch. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Strategies adopted and lessons learnt during the severe acute respiratory syndrome crisis in Singapore
Authors:   SARS Investigation Team from DMERI,   SGH
Published: November 2004

AbstractIn Singapore, the military was actively involved in the containment of the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) last year. The outbreak started in February 2003 with three Singapore travellers to Hong Kong. At that time, nothing was known about the aetiological agent of the atypical pneumonia that was termed SARS. Unfortunately one of the travellers was a super‐spreader, defined as a person with high efficiency for virus transmission, and was responsible for the expansion of the national outbreak. Not only was the Singapore military involved in contact tracing of personnel and enforcement of home quarantine, military‐affiliated research institutes were also involved in providing diagnostic support. This review reconstructs the events that took place during the SARS outbreak, focusing on the special support arising from complementing the military‐affiliated laboratory with the public health laboratory. A description of the diagnostic findings is provided in chronological order. The review ends with lessons Singapore learnt from the SARS crisis, stressing the importance of national preparedness for future outbreaks. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A simple hybrid variance estimator for the Kaplan–Meier survival function
Authors: Borkowf Craig B. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractIn this paper, we propose a hybrid variance estimator for the Kaplan–Meier survival function. This new estimator approximates the true variance by a Binomial variance formula, where the proportion parameter is a piecewise non‐increasing function of the Kaplan–Meier survival function and its upper bound, as described below. Also, the effective sample size equals the number of subjects not censored prior to that time. In addition, we consider an adjusted hybrid variance estimator that modifies the regular estimator for small sample sizes. We present a simulation study to compare the performance of the regular and adjusted hybrid variance estimators to the Greenwood and Peto variance estimators for small sample sizes. We show that on average these hybrid variance estimators give closer variance estimates to the true values than the traditional variance estimators, and hence confidence intervals constructed with these hybrid variance estimators have more nominal coverage rates. Indeed, the Greenwood and Peto variance estimators can substantially underestimate the true variance in the left and right tails of the survival distribution, even with moderately censored data. Finally, we illustrate the use of these hybrid and traditional variance estimators on a data set from a leukaemia clinical trial. Published in 2004 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.