bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Properties of poly(vinyl alcohol)‐graft‐polyacrylamide copolymers depending on the graft length. 2. Thermal properties in the bulk state
Authors: Demchenko Olga , Zheltonozhskaya Tatyana , Guenet Jean‐Michel , Filipchenko Svetlana , Syromyatnikov Vladimir 
Published: November 2003

AbstractThermal behavior of poly(vinyl alcohol)‐graft‐polyacrylamide copolymers (PVA‐g‐PAA), so‐called intramolecular polymer‐polymer complexes (intraPC), with variable M̄ vPAA and constant average number N of grafts is considered in this report. Complete compatibility of PVA and PAA through hydrogen bonding is realized in the range of the graft lengths not exceeding some critical value. The content of adsorbed and trapped water in graft copolymers reflects some features of PVA‐g‐PAAN structure depending on the graft lengths. The first thermal decomposition region in air for copolymers begins at higher temperatures with growing M̄ vPAA, but the total destruction interval reduces. Formal kinetic decomposition parameters of the first decomposition stage appear to be the largest for the PVA‐g‐PAA with the largest quantity of H‐bonds between the main and graft chains. Chemical transformations in graft copolymers, PVA and PAA during thermal decomposition are discussed.
Methodologies for the optimal design of parallel manipulators
Authors: Hay A. M. , Snyman J. A. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractIn this paper the problem of determining a manipulator design so that its workspace corresponds to a prescribed workspace is considered. Two different strategies, resulting in two different types of optimization problem are considered. The first strategy attempts to obtain a good overall approximation to the prescribed workspace and results in an unconstrained optimization problem. The second strategy entails designing a manipulator so that its workspace fully encloses the prescribed workspace and results in a constrained optimization problem. Two specific formulations of the constrained problem are proposed. The first constrained problem simply aims to fit the manipulator workspace as exactly as possible to the prescribed workspace, while still ensuring that the prescribed workspace is fully enclosed. The second constrained optimization formulation is used to design a manipulator, the workspace of which fully encloses the prescribed workspace, but which is also well‐conditioned throughout the workspace with respect to some performance measure. The particular manipulator used to illustrate and evaluate these formulations is a simple 2‐dof planar parallel manipulator, and the final formulation is also applied to a 3‐dof planar parallel manipulator. Although the manipulators studied here are simple, the objective of this study is to obtain a robust numerical methodology which can be extended to more practical and complex manipulators. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Postoperative adjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer
Authors: Penberthy David R. , Rich Tyvin A. , Adams Reid B. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractThe majority of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer present at an advanced stage, and only a small percentage are considered technically resectable at diagnosis. The overall prognosis for the majority is dismal, with a median survival in untreated cases of only 24 weeks. Even in resected patients the overall 5‐year survival rate is generally only 5% to 10%; however, some reports indicate higher 5‐year survival rates in patients treated with surgery who are pathologically staged with no lymph node involvement. Even when macroscopically complete resection is achieved, local recurrence (LR) rates are unacceptably high (30% to 70%), which is usually attributed to the difficulty of obtaining microscopically free surgical margins. Microscopic clearance is difficult to achieve because these tumors frequently extend into the peripancreatic tissues (e.g., retropancreatic fat), abut or invade the adjacent large vessels (the portal vein and superior mesenteric artery), and have a propensity to invade the lymphovascular and perineural space. Other common sites of failure after attempted curative resection include metastasis to the liver and the peritoneal cavity. Patients who present with pancreatic cancer, and for whom curative surgery is deemed possible, are thus potential candidates for adjuvant therapy because of the high local failure rate following resection alone. The radiotherapy dose that can be achieved in the postoperative setting for pancreatic cancer is limited because of the proximity of critical structures (e.g., the kidney, liver, small intestines, stomach, and spinal cord). Newer techniques such as conformal radiotherapy and intensity‐modulated radiotherapy have the advantage of being able (theoretically) to precisely localize the dose to the target volume while reducing the dose to critical structures. These techniques may potentially enable the tumorcidal dose to be increased; however, they are only now becoming widespread. Systemic radiation‐sensitizing chemotherapy is also a promising approach to take advantage of additive or synergistic effects with radiation locally, and for the sterilization of systemic disease. This concept of concomitant chemotherapy with radiotherapy, or chemoradiotherapy, has proved effective in a number of sites, including the anal canal, rectum, lung, and pancreas. The recent trials reviewed here varied considerably in terms of the total dose and technique used, and the choice of radiation sensitizing treatment. Semin. Surg. Oncol. 21:256–260, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Discarding Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus L.) through low salinity layers – mortality and damage seen in simulation experiments
Authors: Harris R.R , Ulmestrand M 
Published: November 2003

AbstractThe Kattegat/Skagerrak Nephrops fishery is unusual in that animals normally live in high salinities (33–34 psu) but are raised through a low salinity surface layer and, if discarded, descend back through it to the sea bed. In other open-sea Nephrops fisheries, such low salinity exposure is rare. Physiologically the species is described as being marine stenohaline, i.e. intolerant of reduced salinities, and a lower salinity limit of 29–30 for its distribution has been suggested. Using CTD data from the Anholt E hydrographic station, near to known Nephrops grounds, a knowledge of hauling times (including washing the cod-end with surface water) and of the sinking rate of Nephrops, we simulated conditions experienced by the catch in this fishery. We also included a period of emersion (air exposure) on deck during sorting or reshooting the trawl. Blood electrolytes, body mass changes and simple behavioural responses were examined before and after the simulation over a 5-day period. “Discarded” Nephrops experienced significant haemodilution and gained mass rapidly. Animals showed slow rates of “tail-flipping”, or absence of responses to stimulation, in the period immediately following return to salinity 33 seawater, although many showed recovery later. Delayed effects included abdominal stiffness, swelling and further mortalities (25–42% overall). Controls (exposed to 33 psu seawater only) showed good survival and vigorous responses, even with a period of emersion. The effects of salinity exposure, which are additional to the stresses of being trawled, on the fitness of discarded animals were evaluated. Our results suggest that Nephrops discard mortality in this fishery is significantly higher than past estimates and is due to the stress of this brief exposure to low salinity surface water.
Explaining credit rating differences between Japanese and U.S. agencies
Authors: Shin Yoon S. , Moore William T. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractWe compare credit ratings assigned to Japanese firms by the two leading U.S. rating agencies and the two leading Japanese agencies. Our goal is to investigate the complaint that the U.S. agencies Moody's and Standard and Poor's (S&P) ignore special corporate governance features of Japanese firms, i.e.,keiretsuaffiliation. We find that it is true that ratings of Japanese firms by the U.S. agencies are systematically lower than those assigned by Japanese raters. However, the reasons for the differences are not found to be related tokeiretsuaffiliation. Thus, we reject one of the prominent reasons for rating differences put forth by managers of Japanese firms. This leaves open the question of what drives the difference. The phenomenon is clearly consistent with more general home bias documented in previous work.
A Multilevel Contextual Model of Neighborhood Collective Efficacy
Authors: Duncan Terry E. , Duncan Susan C. , Okut Hayrettin , Strycker Lisa A. , Hix-Small Hollie 
Published: November 2003

AbstractDifferent data sources were used to examine hypothesized relations among neighborhood‐, family‐, and individual‐level variables, and perceptions of neighborhood collective efficacy. Data were from 1,105 individuals (56% female, 42% African American, and 58% White) nested within 55 neighborhoods and 392 families, analyzed within a multilevel design using a 3‐level model. At the neighborhood level, the study examined relations between Census, police, and neighborhood representative indicators. At the family level, the model examined the influence of marital status and family income. At the individual level, gender and age were examined. Results indicated that age at the individual level, marital status at the family level, and poverty and perceived gang activity at the neighborhood level predicted levels of neighborhood collective efficacy. The study illustrated significant variation across neighborhoods and families, and demonstrates the utility of combining different sources of neighborhood data to examine relations of interest within a multilevel framework.
A response, by any other …
Authors: Cade Brian 
Published: November 2003

Frame (noun), an established order, plan or system, (verb), set in or provide with a frame; serve as a frame for; formulate or devise the essentials of (a complex thing, idea, theory, etc.). Framework (noun), an essential supporting structure; a basic system.(The Concise Oxford Dictionary)If the framework through which experience is viewed can be changed, then meaning can be changed and thus also the experiential and behavioural consequences of meaning. (Cade, 1980; p. 90)To the extent that cognitive factors are potent determinants of emotional states, it could be anticipated that precisely the same state of physiological arousal could be labelled joy' or ‘fury’ or ‘jealousy’ or any other of a great diversity of emotional labels depending on the cognitive aspects of the situation. (Schachter and Singer, 1962; p. 381)
Gynaecological malignancies in pregnancy: A review
Authors: Oehler Martin K. , Wain Gerard V. , Brand Alison 
Published: November 2003

AbstractGynaecological malignancies frequently occur in women of reproductive age and are estimated to complicate approximately one in 1000 pregnancies. The incidence of gynaecological malignancies during pregnancy is expected to rise as more women delay childbearing into their later reproductive years, and maternal age is the most powerful predictor of cancer risk. Pregnancy‐associated malignancies present significant challenges as a result of the conflict between optimal maternal therapy and fetal well‐being. The lack of prospective randomised treatment studies has prevented the development of clinical guidelines for most of the issues complicating the management. In the present review, recent diagnostic and treatment strategies for cervical, ovarian, vulvar and endometrial carcinomas during pregnancy are presented.
Punch planting, flame weeding and stale seedbed for weed control in row crops
Authors: Rasmussen J 
Published: November 2003

SummaryPunch planting is introduced as a new method to reduce weeds within rows in organically grown crops. In this method a hole is punched in the soil, and a seed is dropped into it, without seedbed preparation and soil disturbance outside the hole. In 2 years, punch planting with flame weeding, normal planting with flame weeding and normal planting without flame weeding were compared in fodder beet for five planting dates. Each planting date represented a lag‐period since establishment of the stale seedbed. Over all planting times and years, punch planting with flame weeding reduced intra‐row weed densities by 30% at the two to four leaf stage of fodder beet compared with normal drilling with flame weeding. Punch planting with flame weeding also reduced intra‐row weed densities by 50% compared with normal drilling without flame weeding. In general, there was no improved performance of punch planting with flame weeding over years by later planting, but delayed planting reduced intra‐row weed densities significantly. Over 2 years, 240 day degrees Celsius (4 weeks) planting delay reduced intra‐row weed densities in the range of 68–86% depending on plant establishment procedure. Punch planting with flame weeding offers a promising method of weed control in organic farming.
Olive processing wastes for weed control
Authors: Boz Ö , Doğan M N , Albay F 
Published: November 2003

SummaryThe herbicidal effect of olive processing wastes (OPW) on some weed species in wheat, maize and sunflower was investigated in the Aegean region of Turkey. In trials with maize and sunflower, OPW was applied as an air‐dried solid form at 3 and 4.5 kg m−2. It provided an effectiveness level on Portulaca oleracea of 63–98%. In trials with wheat, OPW was applied as solid and liquid forms, each at two different doses, namely 4.5 and 6 kg m−2 (solid), and 5 and 10 L m−2 (liquid). Solid OPW provided a reduction in total weed coverage of 75% and 81% at doses of 4.5 and 6 kg m−2, respectively. The weed coverage reduction by liquid OPW was 39% and 62% with 5 and 10 L m−2, respectively. Apart from 12–26% reduction of the number of germinating seeds, OPW showed no toxic effects on maize and sunflower. Wheat was affected in the initial stages but no adverse effect was detected at harvest. It can be concluded that the herbicidal effect of OPW may be considered as an alternative to chemical weed control in some important summer crops (maize and sunflower) and for most of the weeds in winter wheat.
Relationship between clinical parameters and cytokine profiles in inflamed gingival tissue and serum samples from patients with chronic periodontitis
Authors: Górska Renata , Gregorek Hanna , Kowalski Jan , Laskus‐Perendyk Agnieszka , Syczewska Małgorzata , Madaliński Kazimierz 
Published: November 2003

AbstractObjective:  The purpose of the present study was to assess the relation between clinical parameters and concentrations of the key (IL‐1β, TNF‐α, IL‐2, IFN‐γ, IL‐4, IL‐10) cytokines, important in the initiation and progression of periodontal diseases, within inflamed gingival tissues and serum samples from patients with severe chronic periodontitis.Material and Methods:  Twenty‐five patients with severe chronic periodontitis, who had sites with probing depths (PD) >5 mm, and 25 periodontally healthy persons were included in the study. Clinical examinations including PD, clinical attachment loss, plaque index, and bleeding index were performed before periodontal treatment. Gingival tissue biopsies were collected from one active site of each patient and from healthy individuals, and blood samples were withdrawn on the day of tissue biopsy. The concentrations of cytokines were determined by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and the relationship between their profiles in situ and in circulation with clinical parameters was analysed.Results:  The concentrations of IL‐1β, TNF‐α, IL‐2, IFN‐γ were, on average, significantly higher in serum samples and gingival tissue biopsies from periodontitis patients than in healthy controls. However, serum samples from both groups showed high individual variability of cytokine profiles, and no association between cytokine concentrations and clinical parameters of periodontitis was found. On the contrary, the levels of IL‐4 and IL‐10 in both kinds of samples obtained from patients and controls were generally low or even undetectable, and remained, on average, on the same level. However, the frequency of IL‐4 (88% positive samples) and IL‐10 (72%) was much higher in healthy gingival tissues. High concentrations of TNF‐α, IFN‐γ and IL‐2 and, especially, a high ratio of IL‐1β/IL‐10 and TNF‐α/IL‐4 found in tissue biopsies from periodontitis patients, strongly correlated with the severity of periodontitis.Conclusion:  These results indicate that high variability of cytokine concentrations and low frequency of their detection in serum samples from periodontitis patients make these determinations useless for the detection of disease presence and/or its severity. In contrast, high absolute levels of IL‐1β, TNF‐α, IL‐2 and IFN‐γ and, especially their high ratios to IL‐4 and IL‐10 found in inflamed tissue biopsies, were closely associated with periodontal disease severity.
Signs of carotid calcification from dental panoramic radiographs are in agreement with Doppler sonography results
Authors: Ravon Nicolas A. , Hollender Lars G. , Mcdonald Vanessa , Persson G. Rutger 
Published: November 2003

AbstractBackground: Duplex ultrasonography (DS) is a frequently used noninvasive method for assessing carotid artery stenosis. The level of agreement between panoramic radiographs (PMX) findings of radiopacities in the area of C3–C4 and DS results has not been established.Aims: (1) to examine the level of agreement between DS results and PMX signs of carotid calcification and (2) to evaluate the association between periodontitis and DS results.Material and methods: Eighty‐three subjects who had received a DS assessment at the University of Washington Medical Center within 36 months volunteered for a periodontal examination, including assessments of probing pocket depth (PPD), attachment level (PAL), evidence of bleeding on probing and bone loss from PMX. Two examiners independently analyzed the radiographs for evidence of carotid calcifications. The distance between the cemento‐enamel junction (CEJ) to bone level (BL) CEJ–BL was used to assess alveolar bone loss as a criteria for periodontitis.Results: Twenty‐nine subjects (34.9%) presented with positive DS readings. The Mantel–Haentszel common odds ratio estimate for a positive DS score and periodontitis (>30% of teeth with distance CEJ–BL4.0 mm) was 38.4 (95% CI: 10.6–138.7, p<0.0001). For nonsmokers only (n=72) the odds ratio was 43.0 (95% CI: 16.7–1178.0, p<0.0001). Evidence of bleeding on probing was 16% of sites both in the DS‐positive and ‐negative subjects. Subjects with a positive DS result had significantly more teeth with clinical evidence of attachment loss5.0 mm (p<0.001). The odds ratio of having periodontitis (CEJ–BL4.0 mm at 30% of the teeth) and medical records confirmed diagnosis of either a stroke or an infarct or both was 7.8 (95% CI: 2.6–23.8, p<0.001).Conclusions: Subjects with positive DS readings of the carotid arteries due to calcified arterial plaque are accurately detected by means of conventional PMX. The likelihood of being DS positive and having radiographic evidence of periodontitis is high. A dose–response relationship between the extent of carotid calcification and severity of periodontitis was demonstrated, supporting the hypothesis of an association between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases.
Korean mothers’ psychosocial adjustment to their children's cancer
Authors: Han Hae‐Ra 
Published: November 2003

Background.  During the course of adjustment to their child's illness and medical treatment, parents of children with cancer may experience numerous challenges and difficulties. Although parental adjustment has been a research topic for many years, little research has been conducted among families in different cultures and countries.Aim.  To identify factors that influence maternal psychosocial adjustment to childhood cancer using a new cultural group: Korean.Methods.  A sample of 200 Korean mothers of children with cancer was included in the study. Guided by the double ABCX model of family adjustment and adaptation, a series of variables (i.e. maternal stress, coping, social support and selected illness‐related and demographic questions) were examined for their relationships with maternal psychosocial adjustment to childhood cancer.Results.  Using a hierarchical multiple regression, we found perceived level of stress, coping, social support, and time since diagnosis to be significant correlates of maternal psychosocial adjustment. Stress accounted for most (50%) of the total variance explained (56%) in maternal adjustment.Conclusion.  The results suggest that the stress‐coping framework may be appropriate in explaining maternal responses to childhood cancer across cultures.
Caring for dying people in hospital
Authors: Hopkinson Jane B. , Hallett Christine E. , Luker Karen A. 
Published: November 2003

Background.  Fifty‐four per cent of people who die in England and Wales do so in hospital. Evidence suggests that care delivered to dying people in hospital does not match up to the ideal of a good death. These studies have provided organizational and structural explanations of nurses’ behaviour that support argument for change at the macro level, in order to improve the quality of care delivered to dying people. There has been little study of the perceptions of nurses working in acute medical settings in relation to their experience of caring for dying people. Therefore, there is little evidence on which to base supportive strategies at the level of individual nurses.Aim.  In this study we set out to develop an understanding of care for dying people in hospital, from the perspective of newly qualified staff nurses in the UK. The purpose was to build a theory of how nurses might be helped to deliver quality care to dying people in hospital.Methods.  This paper is based on an exploratory study underpinned by phenomenological philosophy. In‐depth interviews were conducted with 28 newly qualified nurses, focusing on their experiences of caring for dying people on medical wards in two acute hospitals in England in 1999. The interview transcripts were interpreted using a phenomenological approach.Findings.  The findings presented in this paper relate to commonalities found to underlie study participants’ perceptions of their experiences. All the nurses’ stories were found to be built around six essences – the personal ideal, the actual, the unknown, the alone, tension and anti‐tension. These essences, and the relationships between them, were used to build a model of the experience of caring for dying people in hospital.Limitations.  This descriptive study of the experience of individual nurses does not examine the wider social context. It attempts to complement existing sociological theory of death and dying.Conclusion.  The study revealed how a group of newly qualified nurses experienced caring for dying people. We theorize that the model developed has utility as a tool for gaining understanding of the experience of caring for dying people. It is assumed that nurses, through using this model to find explanations for their emotions and behaviours, may gain emotional support that might have a positive impact on the quality of care delivered to dying people in hospital.