bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Euclid: Strategic alternative assessment matrix
Authors: Tavana Madjid 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThe vast amount of information that must be considered to solve inherently ill‐structured and complex strategic problems creates a need for tools to help decision makers (DMs) recognize the complexity of this process and develop a rational model for strategy evaluation. Over the last several decades, a philosophy and a body of intuitive and analytical methods have been developed to assist DMs in the evaluation of strategic alternatives. However, the intuitive methods lack a structured framework for the systematic evaluation of strategic alternatives while the analytical methods are not intended to capture intuitive preferences. Euclid is a simple and yet sophisticated multiobjective value analysis model that attempts to uncover some of the complexities inherent in the evaluation of strategic alternatives. The proposed model uses a series of intuitive and analytical methods including environmental scanning, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), subjective probabilities, and the theory of displaced ideal, to plot strategic alternatives on a matrix based on their Euclidean distance from the ideal alternative. Euclid is further compared to the quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM) in a real world application. The information provided by the users shows that Euclid can significantly enhance decision quality and the DM's confidence. Euclid is not intended to replace the DMs, rather, it provides a systematic approach to support, supplement, and ensure the internal consistency of their judgments through a series of logically sound techniques. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modelling risk and uncertainty with the analytic hierarchy process
Authors: Millet Ido , Wedley William C. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThis paper proposes methods for modelling risk and uncertainty with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). We start by showing why benefit/risk ratios, as described in previous literature, might be an improper modelling approach. We then introduce prototypical case studies where risk plays a role in multicriteria decision making. These cases demonstrate how the AHP can be used to derive relative probabilities, multiple criteria outcome measures, risk criteria, and risk adjustment factors. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Homebound schooling is the least favorable option for continued education of adolescent cancer patients: A preliminary report
Authors: Searle Nancy S. , Askins Martha , Bleyer W. Archie 
Published: April 2003

AbstractBackgroundWith an overall objective to improve the educational programs of pediatric cancer patients, the purpose of this study was to compare the quality of educational experiences of adolescent cancer patients undergoing treatment while enrolled in hospital, homebound, or community schools.ProcedureTen students, 12–17 years of age at diagnosis, their parent and their teachers were interviewed with a structured list of open‐ended questions designed to assess their perceptions of their homebound, hospital, and community school experiences. The interviews were taped, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative methods for recurring themes.ResultsHigh achieving students engaged in extracurricular activities prior to diagnosis performed well academically in all three schooling situations. Those less engaged in school prior to diagnosis did poorly in homebound schools, better in their community schools, and best in the hospital school.ConclusionsHomebound learning during cancer therapy does not appear to be as meaningful as either hospital or community learning environments. Prior academic performance, as well as social, emotional, and health factors should be considered in selecting the most appropriate formal school environment for adolescent cancer patients. Med Pediatr Oncol 2003;40:380–384. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tube feeding and bone marrow transplantation
Authors: Hopman G.D. , Peña E.G. , le Cessie S. , van Weel M.H. , Vossen J.M.J.J. , Mearin M.L. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractBackgroundChildren undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT) have poor oral intake during the transplant period, caused mainly by the intensive therapy used for their conditioning. Nutritional support (NS) is almost always needed. Whenever possible, tube feeding (TF) is preferred to parenteral nutrition (PN) because its more physiologic and causes fewer complications. However, children undergoing BMT are usually parenterally fed. We, therefore, studied whether TF was tolerated in children undergoing BMT and whether the nutritional intake was adequate in comparison to PN.ProcedureTwo groups were compared: TF (n = 12) and PN (n = 22). If intolerance for TF occurred, additional or total PN was given. Nutritional status, intake, complications, and costs were assessed.ResultsBoth groups had an adequate nutritional status and reached 85% of their nutritional requirements. TF was possible in 62% of the NS days and three children could be exclusively fed with TF. A longer pre‐transplant duration of TF seemed to increase the enteral tolerance. Gastrointestinal symptoms were equally frequent in TF as in PN, but cholestasis was less frequent in TF. The mean nutritional cost per child in the TF group was 440 US dollars less than in the PN group.ConclusionsTF is possible and equal in efficacy to PN in children undergoing BMT, and may have budgetary benefits. Med Pediatr Oncol 2003;40:375–379. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Germ cell tumours of the central nervous system in children—controversies in radiotherapy
Authors: Borg Martin 
Published: April 2003

AbstractBackgroundPrimary germ cell tumours (GCT) of the central nervous system (CNS) are rare tumours of children and adults. As few prospective, randomised trials have been published, management decisions are often based on retrospective and historical studies, histology, age, performance status, and extent of disease at diagnosis. This article reviews the current controversies in the radiotherapeutic management of primary GCT of the CNS.ProcedureA computerised literature search was performed using the Medline database from 1975 to 2000, this being limited to publications written in the English language on CNS GCT in children up to the age of 16 years.ResultsIssues in radiation therapy currently undergoing review include the role of cranio‐spinal irradiation (CSI), radiation therapy field sizes, the radiation therapy dose, the extent of surgery in combination with radiotherapy, and the role and timing of chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy.ConclusionsThe excellent outcome in children with pure germinoma of the CNS and the long‐term morbidity associated with standard therapy justifies attempts to limit both the total radiation dose and field sizes, with or without the addition of chemotherapy. The poorer outcome associated with non‐germinoma GCT justifies a more aggressive approach in children, combining chemotherapy, surgery and virgule, or radiation therapy, based on known prognostic factors. Med Pediatr Oncol 2003;40:367–374. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Influence of high‐dose methotrexate therapy (HD‐MTX) on glomerular and tubular kidney function
Authors: Hempel Lutz , Misselwitz Joachim , Fleck Christian , Kentouche Karim , Leder Christiane , Appenroth Dorothea , Rost Michael , Zintl Felix 
Published: April 2003

AbstractBackgroundThe present investigation was intended to further clarify the mechanisms involved in renal dysfunction following high‐dose methotrexate (HD‐MTX) treatment.Patients and MethodsFifty eight predominately pediatric patients [39 male, 19 female; mean age 12.3 years (range 2.2–34.1)] suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL, n = 28), Non Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL, n = 13), osteosarcoma (n = 8), malignant brain tumor (n = 6), or an ALL relapse (n = 3), were prospectively examined. In the course of 220 infusions of HD‐MTX, glomerular and tubular renal function was determined by measuring proteinuria and glomerular filtration rate (GFR), as well as renal excretion of alpha‐1‐microglobulin (AMG) and N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase (NAG). It was investigated whether there were differences in MTX toxicity in dependence on the administered dose (1, 5, or 12 g/m2 BSA), on the combination with other cytostatic agents (ifosfamide or cyclophosphamide), on the metabolism of MTX into 7‐OH‐MTX, and on pre‐treatment with MTX.ResultsThe administration of HD‐MTX has no direct tubulotoxic effect. The disturbance in glomerular function was dose dependently and indicated by an increase in proteinuria as well as by a decrease in GFR; all changes were completely reversible and did not correlate to the metabolism of MTX to 7‐OH‐MTX. Increasing the number of MTX therapeutic cycles did not increase the nephrotoxicity of MTX.ConclusionMTX is not directly tubulotoxic. Its side effects on glomeruli are usually without clinical relevance. Med Pediatr Oncol 2003;40:348–354. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sperm cryopreservation in adolescents with newly diagnosed cancer
Authors: Postovsky Sergey , Lightman Abraham , Aminpour Dina , Elhasid Ronit , Peretz Monique , Arush Myriam Weyl Ben 
Published: April 2003

AbstractBackgroundReferring male patients (pts) for pretreatment sperm cryopreservation (SCP) is a routine practice in adult oncology. Our aim was to evaluate the semen quality and feasibility of sperm cryopreservation in male adolescents diagnosed with cancer prior to the commencement of treatment.MethodsAll consecutive adolescents from 14 to 19 years of age with newly diagnosed cancer were referred to this study. The following parameters of semen analysis were investigated: (1) volume of collected sample (N ≥ 2.0 ml); (2) total sperm concentration (N ≥ 20x106/ml); (3) percentage of motile spermatozoa (N ≥ 50%). The results were compared with normal values characteristic of healthy young men.ResultsSixty‐two attempts to collect sperm were made by the 27 adolescents. Of the 40/62 (64.5%) attempts, which resulted in a normal sperm count in each sample, only nine (22.5%) demonstrated normal sperm motility. Only 9/62 (14.5%) attempts resulted in normal sperm motility. Nineteen of 62 (30.6%) attempts produced a normal volume of ejaculate, while three pts were unable to produce any sperm. Only 4/62 (6.5%) attempts produced semen that could be considered normal in all the parameters.ConclusionsOnly a minority of adolescents newly diagnosed with cancer is able to produce sperm that can be considered normal, compared with healthy young men. Despite this, SCP should be offered and is a technically feasible procedure for these patients in light of the recent advances in assisted reproductive technologies. Further studies are required to develop treatment protocols for this group of pts to lessen damage to fertility function. Med Pediatr Oncol 2003;40:355–359. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Intraoperative electron beam treatment for pediatric malignancies: The Ohio State University experience
Authors: Nag Subir , Tippin Douglas , Smith Shane , Bauer Connie , Ruymann Frederick B. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractPurposeTo report the result of intraoperative electron beam radiation therapy (IOERT) in patients with extensive pediatric tumors.MethodFrom October 1989 through June 2000, 13 children were treated with chemotherapy, maximal surgery, and 10–15 Gy IOERT at a total of 18 sites. IOERT was used for palliative purposes in 5 children with metastatic disease and in 3 others who were previously treated with external beam radiation (EBRT). The remaining five patients received definitive IOERT. Postoperative EBRT of 35.4–45 Gy was given in 5 patients.ResultsAfter a median follow‐up of 42 months (range = 18–63 months), 4 patients were alive and without evidence of disease. Overall and 3 year actuarial survival rates were 31% (4/13) and 26%, respectively. Local control was achieved at 13/18 sites (72%). Poor prognostic factors included metastatic disease, recurrent disease, and the absence of adjuvant EBRT. Two children with Wilms tumors had 100% local control, disease‐free survival, and overall survival without the addition of EBRT.ConclusionA boost dose of IOERT allows for reduction in the dose of EBRT, thereby limiting growth‐related morbidity without compromising local control or disease‐free survival. Except for Wilms tumors, which achieved 100% local control and disease‐free survival, adjuvant EBRT is necessary for successful local control and survival in children with soft tissue sarcomas. Based on this study and others, intraoperative irradiation should be considered for inclusion in prospective, multi‐institutional trials designed to treat localized malignancies in young children. Med Pediatr Oncol 2003;40:360–366. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Late cardiotoxicity after bolus versus infusion anthracycline therapy for childhood cancers
Authors: Gupta Monesha , Steinherz Peter G. , Cheung Nai‐Kong , Steinherz Laurel 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the long‐term myocardial function of patients who had been treated with infusion anthracycline therapy (administered continuously over >24 hr, IG) versus bolus therapy (administered over <30 min, BG).MethodsWe selected 25 patients (BG) and 19 patients (IG) who had three or more years of disease free survival. We evaluated the echocardiograms for left ventricular shortening fraction (SF) obtained at baseline, within one year after the end of therapy (early follow‐up), and on long‐term follow‐up.ResultsThe mean anthracycline dose in the BG was 385 mg/m2 and in the IG was 345 mg/m2 (P = 0.07). During therapy, one patient in BG and none in IG developed diminished SF. During early follow‐up, five of the 22 patients in BG and one of the 17 patients in IG developed diminished SF (P = 0.2). Of these five patients with diminished SF, three patients in BG and none in IG continued to have abnormally low SF long‐term. At mean of 7 years, five of the 25 patients in BG and two of the 19 in IG had diminished SF on (P = 0.7). Late left ventricular dilatation was seen in 8% in BG and 5% in IG (P = 1.0).ConclusionsAt mean of 7 years after end of therapy, diminished cardiac function was seen in 20% of the patient who had received bolus anthracycline compared to 11% of patients who had received it via infusion. This difference did not prove to be statistically significant. Med Pediatr Oncol 2003;40:343–347. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Designing materials with prescribed elastic properties using polygonal cells
Authors: Diaz Alejandro R. , Bénard André 
Published: April 2003

AbstractAn extension of the material design problem is presented in which the base cell that characterizes the material microgeometry is polygonal. The setting is the familiar inverse homogenization problem as introduced by Sigmund. Using basic concepts in periodic planar tiling it is shown that base cells of very general geometries can be analysed within the standard topology optimization setting with little additional effort. In particular, the periodic homogenization problem defined on polygonal base cells that tile the plane can be replaced and analysed more efficiently by an equivalent problem that uses simple parallelograms as base cells. Different material layouts can be obtained by varying just two parameters that affect the geometry of the parallelogram, namely, the ratio of the lengths of the sides and the internal angle. This is an efficient way to organize the search of the design space for all possible single‐scale material arrangements and could result in solutions that may be unreachable using a square or rectangular base cell. Examples illustrate the results. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An integrated, finite element‐based process model for the analysis of flow, heat transfer, and solidification in a continuous slab caster
Authors: Moon C. H. , Hwang S. M. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractAn integrated, finite element‐based process model is presented for the prediction of full three‐dimensional flow, heat transfer, and solidification occurring in a continuous caster. Described in detail are the basic models for the analysis of turbulent flow and heat transfer in the liquid steel zone, in the zone of mixture of the liquid steel and solidified steel, and in the solidified zone. Then, the models are integrated to form a process model which can take into account the strong interdependence between the heat transfer behaviour and the flow behaviour. The capability of the process model to reveal the detailed aspects of turbulent flow, heat transfer, and solidification occurring in a continuous caster is demonstrated through a series of process simulations. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimal modal reduction of vibrating substructures
Authors: Barbone Paul E. , Givoli Dan , Patlashenko Igor 
Published: April 2003

AbstractA structure which consists of a main part and a number of attached substructures is considered. A ‘model reduction’ scheme is developed and applied to each of the discrete substructures. Linear undamped transient vibrational motion of the structure is assumed, with general external forcing and initial conditions. The goal is to replace each discrete substructure by another substructure with a much smaller number of degrees of freedom, while minimizing the effect this reduction has on the dynamic behaviour of the main structure. The approach taken here involves Ritz reduction and the Dirichlet‐to‐Neumann map as analysis tools. The resulting scheme is based on a special form of modal reduction, and is shown to be optimal in a certain sense, for long simulation times. The performance of the scheme is demonstrated via numerical examples, and is compared to that of standard modal reduction. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simultaneous surface and tetrahedron mesh adaptation using mesh‐free techniques
Authors: Rassineux A. , Breitkopf P. , Villon P. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractWe present a method to adapt a tetrahedron mesh together with a surface mesh with respect to a size criterion. The originality of our work lies in the fact that both surface and tetrahedron mesh adaptation are carried out simultaneously and that no CAD is required to adapt the surface mesh. The adaptation procedure consists of splitting or removing interior and surface edges which violate a given size criterion. The enrichment process is based on a bisection technique. In order to guarantee mesh conformity during the refinement process, all possible remeshing configurations of tetrahedra have been examined. Once the tetrahedron mesh has been adapted, surface nodes are projected on a geometrical model. The building of a surface model from discrete data has already been presented in this journal. The method is based on a mesh‐free technique called Hermite Diffuse Interpolation. Surface and volume mesh optimization procedures are carried out during the adaptation and at the end of the process to enhance the mesh. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Coarsening unstructured meshes by edge contraction
Authors: Ollivier‐Gooch Carl 
Published: April 2003

AbstractA new unstructured mesh coarsening algorithm has been developed for use in conjunction with multilevel methods. The algorithm preserves geometrical and topological features of the domain, and retains a maximal independent set of interior vertices to produce good coarse mesh quality. In anisotropic meshes, vertex selection is designed to retain the structure of the anisotropic mesh while reducing cell aspect ratio. Vertices are removed incrementally by contracting edges to zero length. Each vertex is removed by contracting the edge that maximizes the minimum sine of the dihedral angles of cells affected by the edge contraction. Rarely, a vertex slated for removal from the mesh cannot be removed; the success rate for vertex removal is typically 99.9% or more.For two‐dimensional meshes, both isotropic and anisotropic, the new approach is an unqualified success, removing all rejected vertices and producing output meshes of high quality; mesh quality degrades only when most vertices lie on the boundary. Three‐dimensional isotropic meshes are also coarsened successfully, provided that there is no difficulty distinguishing corners in the geometry from coarsely‐resolved curved surfaces; sophisticated discrete computational geometry techniques appear necessary to make that distinction. Three‐dimensional anisotropic cases are still problematic because of tight constraints on legal mesh connectivity. More work is required to either improve edge contraction choices or to develop an alternative strategy for mesh coarsening for three‐dimensional anisotropic meshes. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Generalized Lagrange functions and weighting coefficient formulae for the harmonic differential quadrature method
Authors: Fung T. C. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractIn the harmonic differential quadrature method, truncated Fourier series comprising the trigonometric functions are used to approximate the solutions. The generalized Lagrange functions composed of trigonometric functions are constructed as interpolation functions so that the unknowns are the function values, rather than the Fourier coefficients. In the spirit of the differential quadrature method, the derivatives at a sampling grid point are expressed as weighted linear sums of function values at all the sampling grid points. It is shown that the corresponding weighting coefficients of higher order derivatives can be evaluated recursively and the general explicit formulae are given in this paper. The differential quadrature analog of the governing equations can then be established easily at the sampling grid points. For the periodic boundary value problems, the periodic boundary conditions are satisfied automatically and no other boundary conditions are required in general. It is also shown that the harmonic differential quadrature method is related to the trigonometric collocation method and the harmonic balance method. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the validity and efficiency of the present method. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tumour suppressor gene expression correlates with gastric cancer prognosis
Authors: Lee Hye Seung , Lee Hyeon Kook , Kim Hee Sung , Yang Han‐Kwang , Kim Woo Ho 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThe loss of tumour suppressor genes (TSGs) is a key event in many human cancers, including gastric carcinoma. Many TSG candidates have been studied, but their roles in gastric carcinogenesis remain unclear. To clarify the clinical significance of TSG expression in gastric carcinoma, the expression of various TSG candidates (p53, E‐cadherin, FHIT, smad4, rb, VHL, PTEN, MGMT, p16, and KAI1), as well as other proteins (bcl‐2, MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC6, CEA, CD44, β‐catenin, C‐erbB2, and cyclin B2), was evaluated immunohistochemically in 329 consecutive gastric carcinomas using the tissue array method. The overexpression of p53 and MUC1 (p < 0.01) and the loss of expression of smad4 (p = 0.04), FHIT (p = 0.03), MGMT (p = 0.01), E‐cadherin, KAI1, and PTEN (p < 0.01) were found to be significantly associated with poor gastric carcinoma prognosis. Seven out of eight survival‐associated proteins were found to be protein products of TSGs. The gastric carcinomas were divided into five groups according to the grade of alteration in TSG expression. No TSG expression loss was found in 32 cases (TSG1). One TSG loss was found in 47 cases (TSG2), two in 67 cases (TSG3), three or four in 64 cases (TSG4), and five, six, or seven in 38 cases (TSG5). The grade of TSG expression was confirmed to be significantly associated with WHO classification (p = 0.04), pTNM stage, lymphatic invasion, and patient survival (p < 0.01 for the latter three). By multivariate analysis, the grade of TSG expression was found to be significantly and independently associated with patient survival (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that the cumulative loss of TSG expression in gastric carcinoma is important in determining patient survival. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.