bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploiting Agent Oriented Software Engineering in Cooperative Robotics Search and Rescue
Authors: Deloach Scott A. , Matson Eric T. , Li Yonghua
Published: July 2003

This paper reports our progress in applying multiagent systems analysis and design in the area of cooperative robotics. In this paper, we apply the Multiagent Systems Engineering (MaSE) methodology to design a team of autonomous, heterogeneous search and rescue robots. MaSE provides a top-down approach to building cooperative robotic systems instead of the bottom-up approach employed in most robotic implementations. We follow the MaSE steps and discuss various approaches and their impact on the final system design.
Sparsity Reduction in Collaborative Recommendation: A Case-Based Approach
Authors: Wilson David C. , Smyth Barry , Sullivan Derry O'
Published: July 2003

Recommender systems research combines techniques from user modeling and information filtering in order to build search systems that are better able to respond to the preferences of individual users during the search for a particular item or product. Collaborative recommenders leverage the preferences of communities of similar users in order to guide the search for relevant items. The success of collaborative recommendation has always been restrained by the so-called sparsity problem, in which a lack of available user similarity knowledge ultimately limits the formation of high-quality user communities and has a subsequent impact on recommender accuracy. This article presents an approach to addressing the sparsity problem by describing and evaluating how implicit similarity knowledge can be discovered and exploited using data-mining techniques and an approach to recommendation that is inspired by case-based reasoning research.
Concurrent Data Materialization for Object-Relational Database with Semantic Metadata
Authors: Fong Joseph , Pang Ringo , Fong Anthony , Pang Francis , Poon Kenny
Published: July 2003

For a company with many databases in different data models, it is necessary to consolidate them into one data model interchangeable and present data in one data model concurrently to users. The benefit is to let user stick to his/her own data model to access database in another data model. This paper presents a semantic metadata to preserve database constraints for data materialization to support user's view of database on an ad hoc base. The semantic metadata can store the captured semantics of a relational or an object-oriented database into classes and stored procedures triggered by events. The stored constraints and data can be materialized into a target database upon user request. The user is allowed to perform the data materialization many times alternatively. The process can provide a relational as well as an object oriented view to the users simultaneously. This concurrent data materialization function can be applied to data warehouse to consolidate heterogeneous database into a fact table in a data model of user's choice. Furthermore, a user can obtain either a relational view or an object-oriented view of the same dataset of an object-relational database interchangeably.
An XML Definition Language to Support Scenario-Based Requirements Engineering
Authors: Della Penna Giuseppe , Intrigila Benedetto , Laurenzi Anna Rita , Orefice Sergio
Published: July 2003

Scenarios are a new way of representing knowledge that has been attracting a lot of attention from practitioners and researchers. In this paper we present the SDML formalism, an XML definition language to support scenario-based requirements engineering. The definition of scenarios through SDML enables to exploit the emerging XML technologies in order to offer powerful ways to create, maintain, distribute and use scenarios. Moreover, we are experimenting the SDML language on a variety of practical case studies.
Knowledge and Case-Based Reasoning for Customization of Software Processes — A Hybrid Approach
Authors: Ahn Yu Whoan , Ahn Hyung Jun , Park Sung Joo
Published: July 2003

Software processes must be properly designed according to various project characteristics, past experiences, and improvement initiatives in order to ensure the quality of software products. Because various types of knowledge are required for designing software processes, many parts of the designs depend on the knowledge of experts and manual activities. Consequently, design processes can be time-consuming and error prone. To overcome this problem, this paper proposes a mechanism that supports the customization of software processes. Since integration of various types of knowledge is required in the customization process, the proposed approach uses a hybrid method combining CBR (Case Based Reasoning) and knowledge-based technique. CBR is used to facilitate re-use of past experiences; knowledge-based technique is used to derive process components using knowledge-based inferencing and to resolve conflicts that may occur during customization. To support the two approaches in a seamless manner, an organizational process library (PL) is designed which defines and shares various types of process knowledge and reusable objects throughout the whole customization procedure. An illustrative example is presented to show how the hybrid approach can be used to design actual software processes.
Adding Flexibility in Information Flow Control for Object-Oriented Systems Using Versions
Authors: Maamir Allaoua , Fellah Abdelaziz
Published: July 2003

One of the main features of information flow control is to ensure the enforcement of privacy and regulated accessibility. However, most information flow models that have been proposed do not provide substantial assurance to enforce end-to-end confidentiality policies or they are too restrictive, overprotected, and inflexible. This paper presents an approach to control flow information in object-oriented systems using versions, thus allowing considerable flexibility without compromising system security by leaking sensitive information. Models based on message filtering intercept every message exchanged among objects to control the flow of information. Versions are proposed to provide flexibility and avoid unnecessary and undesirable blocking of messages during the filtering process. Two options of operations are supported by versions — cloning reply and non-cloning reply. Furthermore, we present an algorithm which enforces message filtering through these operations.
Apply Market Mechanism to Agent-Based Grid Resource Management
Authors: Li Chunlin , Lu Zhengding , Li Layuan
Published: July 2003

In this paper, we apply market mechanism and agent to build grid resource management, where grid resource consumers and providers can buy and sell computing resource based on an underlying economic architecture. All market participants in the grid environment including computing resources and services can be represented as agents. Market participant is registered with a Grid Market Manager. A grid market participant can be a service agent that provides the actual grid service to the other market participants. Grid market participants communicate with each other by communication space that is an implementation of tuple space. In this paper, Grid agent model description is given. Then, the structure of Grid Market is described in detail. The design and implementation of agent oriented and market oriented grid resource management are presented in this paper.
Automata, Semigroups and Recognizability of Words on Ordinals
Authors: Bedon Nicolas
Published: July 2003

For a given integer n, we define ωn-semigroups as a generalization of ω-semigroups for languages of words of length less than ωn+1. When they are finite, those algebraic structures define the same sets as those recognized by Choueka automata. These sets are also equivalent to regular expressions in which an unary ω operator standing for the infinite repetition of a language is as free as the Kleene closure operator is. Naturally, the notion of syntactic congruence still works on ωn-semigroups: among all ωn-semigroups recognizing a regular language X, there exists an unique ωn-semigroup of which all others are refinements.
A Domain Embedding Method for Scattering Problems with an Absorbing Boundary or a Perfectly Matched Layer
Authors: Heikkola Erkki , Rossi Tuomo , Toivanen Jari
Published: August 2003

The efficient numerical solution of the exterior Helmholtz equation modeling the acoustic scattering by an obstacle is considered. The exterior problem is approximated by truncating the domain with a rectangular boundary and using either a perfectly matched layer or a second-order absorbing boundary condition to reduce reflections from the artificial boundary. The scattering problem is solved iteratively by using a domain embedding method with an efficient separable preconditioner. With this approach, it is possible to realize the GMRES iterations in a low-dimensional subspace and use the partial solution method to solve the linear systems with the preconditioner. The accuracy and the efficiency of the proposed solution technique are studied with numerical experiments.
Efficient Broadband Vibro-Acoustic Analysis of Passenger Car Bodies Using an FE-Based Component Mode Synthesis Approach
Authors: Kropp Andreas , Heiserer Daniel
Published: August 2003

The costliest part of computationally optimizing automobiles for Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) is the frequency response calculation of very large finite element models. In general, NVH is treated as a fluid-structure interaction between the body and the car interior fluid volume. In this paper, some features of the current approach to NVH computations at BMW are elucidated. First, the equations of motion for a typical NVH problem will be derived using three different formulations, differential, algebraic and modal. Next, three numerical approaches for solving the large systems of equations (direct, modal and Automated Multi-Level Substructuring (AMLS)) will be shown. Finally, the numerical precision and the efficiency of these approaches will be assessed.
A Coupled Finite Element–Wave Based Approach for the Steady-State Dynamic Analysis of Acoustic Systems
Authors: van Hal B. , Desmet W. , Vandepitte D. , Sas P.
Published: August 2003

The finite element method (FEM) is widely accepted for the steady-state dynamic response analysis of acoustic systems. It exhibits almost no restrictions with respect to the geometrical features of these systems. However, it is limited to the low-frequency range due to the rapidly growing model size for increasing frequencies. An alternative method is the wave based method (WBM), which is based on the indirect Trefftz approach. It exhibits better convergence properties than the FEM and therefore allows accurate predictions at higher frequencies. However, the applicability is limited, since the high computational efficiency only appears for systems of moderate geometrical complexity. In order to benefit from the advantageous features of both methods, i.e. the wide application range of the FEM and the high convergence rate of the WBM, the coupling between both methods is proposed. Only the parts of the problem domain with a complex geometry are modeled using the FEM, while the remaining parts are described with a wave based model. The resulting hybrid model contains less degrees of freedom, which allows a further model refinement. The proposed coupled approach has the potential to cover the mid-frequency range, where it is still difficult to obtain satisfactory prediction results with currently existing deterministic techniques.
A Procedure for Monitoring High Quality Processes with Correlated Measurement
Authors: Xie M. , Lu X. S. , Goh T. N. , Lai C. D.
Published: July 2003

The CCC chart is a type of control chart based on the plotting of cumulative count of conforming items, and is shown to be very useful for the monitoring of high quality processes. However, the traditional approach assumes that the items inspected are independent, which is probably not the case for high quality processes because of short sampling interval and the use of automated manufacturing environment. In the presence of correlation, the conventional CCC chart will give different false alarm probability than specified. This paper investigates a method of determining the control limits in this case. A correlation model based on statistical exchangeability is used for the modelling of dependence. The effect on the control limits due to the correlation and its comparison with the independent case is studied. When the correlation is present and the probability that an item is nonconforming directly after observing a nonconforming item is high, a decision making procedure to detect process deterioration, which is based on counting the cumulative conforming items after one conforming item and can be easily implemented in automated manufacturing industry, is proposed.
Parabolic Cylinder Functions: Examples of Error Bounds for Asymptotic Expansions
Authors: Temme Nico M. , Vidunas Raimundas
Published: July 2003

Several asymptotic expansions of parabolic cylinder functions are discussed and error bounds for remainders in the expansions are presented. In particular, Poincaré-type expansions for large values of the argument z and uniform expansions for large values of the parameter are considered. It is shown how expansions can be derived by using the differential equation, and, for a special case, how an integral representation can be used. The expansions are based on those given in Olver (1959) and on modifications of these expansions given in Temme (2000). Computer algebra techniques are used for obtaining representations of the bounds and for numerical computations.
On SubRiemannian Geodesics
Authors: Greiner Peter , Calin Ovidiu
Published: July 2003

We consider a subRiemannian geometry induced by a step 3 subelliptic partial differential operator in ℝ3. Our main result is the characterization of a canonical submanifold through the origin, all of whose points are connected to the origin by infinitely many (subRiemannian) geodesics.
Refinable Functions: Positivity and Interpolation
Authors: Micchelli Charles A. , Zhou Ding-Xuan
Published: July 2003

This paper examines two properties of refinable functions. The first provides conditions under which a refinable function is strictly positive and the other presents a conjecture about cardinal interpolation by refinable functions. The conjecture is supported by some analysis and also computation.
Evaluating a Science Diversity Program at UC Berkeley: More Questions Than Answers
Authors: Matsui John , Liu Roger , Kane Caroline M.
Published: July 2003

For the past three decades, much attention has been focused on developing diversity programs designed to improve the academic success of underrepresented minorities, primarily in mathematics, science, and engineering. However, ethnic minorities remain underrepresented in science majors and careers. Over the last 10 years, the Biology Scholars Program (BSP), a diversity program at the University of California (UC), Berkeley, has worked to increase the participation and success of students majoring in the biological sciences. A quantitative comparison of students in and out of the program indicates that students in BSP graduate with a degree in biology at significantly higher rates than students not in BSP regardless of race/ethnicity. Furthermore, students who are in BSP have statistically lower high school grade point averages (GPAs) and Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) scores than students not in BSP. African-American and Hispanic students who join BSP graduate with significantly higher UC Berkeley biology GPAs than non-BSP African-American and Hispanic students, respectively. Majority (Asian and White) students in BSP graduate with statistically similar UC GPAs despite having lower SAT scores than non-BSP majority students. Although BSP students are more successful in completing a biology degree than non-program members, the results raise a series of questions about why the program works and for whom.
The Promise of New Ideas and New Technology for Improving Teaching and Learning
Authors: Novak Joseph D.
Published: July 2003

There have been enormous advances in our understanding of human learning in the past three decades. There have also been important advances in our understanding of the nature of knowledge and new knowledge creation. These advances, when combined with the explosive development of the Internet and other technologies, permit advances in educational practices at least as important as the invention of the printing press in 1460. We have built on the cognitive learning theory of David Ausubel and various sources of new ideas on epistemology. Our research program has focused on understanding meaningful learning and on developing better methods to achieve such learning and to assess progress in meaningful learning. The concept map tool developed in our program has proved to be highly effective both in promoting meaningful learning and in assessing learning outcomes. Concept mapping strategies are also proving powerful for eliciting, capturing, and archiving knowledge of experts and organizations. New technology for creating concept maps developed at the University of West Florida permits easier and better concept map construction, thus facilitating learning, knowledge capture, and local or distance creation and sharing of structured knowledge, especially when utilized with the Internet. A huge gap exists between what we now know to improve learning and use of knowledge and the practices currently in place in most schools and corporations. There are promising projects in progress that may help to achieve accelerated advances. These include projects in schools at all educational levels, including projects in Colombia, Costa Rica, Italy, Spain, and the United States, and collaborative projects with corporate organizations and distance learning projects. Results to date have been encouraging and suggest that we may be moving from the lag phase of educational innovation to a phase of exponential growth.
Inquiry-Based Undergraduate Teaching in the Life Sciences at Large Research Universities: A Perspective on the Boyer Commission Report
Authors: Wood William B.
Published: July 2003

The 1998 Boyer Commission Report advocated improvement of undergraduate education at large research universities through large-scale participation of undergraduates in the universities' research mission. At a recent conference sponsored by the Reinvention Center, which is dedicated to furthering the goals of the Boyer Commission, participants discussed progress toward these goals and recommendations for future action. A breakout group representing the life sciences concluded that independent research experience for every undergraduate may not be feasible or desirable but that transformation of lecture courses to more inquiry-based and interactive formats can effectively further the Commission's goals.
Public Access for Teaching Genomics, Proteomics, and Bioinformatics
Authors: Campbell A. Malcolm
Published: July 2003

When the human genome project was conceived, its leaders wanted all researchers to have equal access to the data and associated research tools. Their vision of equal access provides an unprecedented teaching opportunity. Teachers and students have free access to the same databases that researchers are using. Furthermore, the recent movement to deliver scientific publications freely has presented a second source of current information for teaching. I have developed a genomics course that incorporates many of the public-domain databases, research tools, and peer-reviewed journals. These online resources provide students with exciting entree into the new fields of genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics. In this essay, I outline how these fields are especially well suited for inclusion in the undergraduate curriculum. Assessment data indicate that my students were able to utilize online information to achieve the educational goals of the course and that the experience positively influenced their perceptions of how they might contribute to biology.
Brain volume, asymmetry and intellectual impairment in relation to sex in early-onset schizophrenia
Authors: Collinson Simon L. , Mackay Clare E. , James Anthony C. , Quested Digby J. , Phillips Tania , Roberts Neil , Crow Timothy J.
Published: August 2003

Background

Accumulating evidence suggests that early-onset schizophrenia arises from a disturbance in the normal trajectory of cerebral development.

Aims

To investigate brain structure, asymmetry and IQ in early-onset schizophrenia.

Method

Volumes of left and right cerebral hemispheres and IQ were assessed in 33 participants with early-onset DSM – IV schizophrenia and 30 members of a matched, normal control group.

Results

Total brain volume was significantly smaller in the group with early-onset disease (‘cases’) relative to the control group (4.5%), especially for the left hemisphere in males (6.0%). A significant sex x diagnosis interaction in hemisphere asymmetry revealed that the female cases group had significantly reduced rightward asymmetry relative to the female control group and that the male cases tended to have reduced leftward asymmetry relative to the male control group. Decreased left hemisphere volume in males and decreased rightward hemispheric asymmetry in females correlated with reduced IQ.

Conclusions

Sexually dimorphic alterations in asymmetry correlate with degree of intellectual impairment in early-onset schizophrenia.
Assertive outreach teams in London: Staff experiences and perceptions
Authors: Billings Joanne , Johnson Sonia , Bebbington Paul , Greaves Adele , Priebe Stefan , Muijen Matt , Ryrie Iain , Watts Joanna , White Ian , Wright Christine
Published: August 2003

Background

The job satisfaction, burn-out and work experiences of assertive outreach team staff are likely to be important to the model's sustainability.

Aims

To describe self-reported views and workexperiences of staff in London's 24 assertive outreach teams and to compare these with staff in community mental health teams (CMHTs) and between different types of assertive outreach team.

Method

Confidential staff questionnaires in London's assertive outreach teams (n=l87, response rate= 89%) and nine randomly selected CMHTs (n=114, response rate=75%).

Results

Staff in assertive outreach teams and CMHTs were moderately satisfied with their jobs, with similar sources of satisfaction and stress. Mean scores were low or average for all sub-scales of the Maslach Burnout Inventory for the assertive outreach team and the CMHT staff, with some differences suggesting less burn-out in the assertive outreach teams. Nine of the 24 assertive outreach teams had team means in the high range for emotional exhaustion and there were significant differences between types of assertive outreach team in some components of burn-out and satisfaction.

Conclusions

These findings are encouraging, but repeated investigation is needed when assertive outreach teams have been established for longer.
Suicides in ethnic minorities within 12 months of contact with mental health services
Authors: Hunt Isabelle M. , Robinson Jo , Bickley Harriet , Meehan Janet , Parsons Rebecca , McCann Kerry , Flynn Sandra , Burns James , Shaw Jenny , Kapur Navneet , Appleby Louis
Published: August 2003

Background

Information on suicide by psychiatric patients from ethnic minority groups is scarce.

Aims

To establish the number of patients from ethnic minorities who kill themselves; to describe their suicide methods, and their social and clinical characteristics.

Method

A national clinical survey was based on a 4-year sample of suicides in England and Wales. Detailed data were collected on those who had been in contact with mental health services in the year before death.

Results

In total 282 patients from ethnic minorities died by suicide – 6% of all patient suicides. The most common method of suicide was hanging; violent methods were more common than in White patient suicides. Schizophrenia was the most common diagnosis. Ethnic minority patients were more likely to have been unemployed than White patients and to have had a history of violence and recent non-compliance. In around half, this was the first episode of self-harm. Black Caribbean patients had the highest rates of schizophrenia (74%), unemployment, living alone, previous violence and drug misuse.

Conclusions

In order to reduce the number of suicides byethnicminority patients, services should address the complex health and social needs of people with severe mental illness.
Integrating evaluative research and community-based mental health care in Verona, Italy
Authors: Tansella Michele , Burti Lorenzo
Published: August 2003

Verona is a city of about 260 000 inhabitants, located in northern Italy, half way between Milan and Venice and on the route from Italy to central Europe. It is a historical city with impressive Roman and medieval monuments. Verona is also a modern and affluent city, with a commercial and industrial centre and a university that includes a school of medicine with a good reputation.
Global burden of depression: The intersection of culture and medicine
Authors: Scott Jan , Dickey Barbara
Published: August 2003

The statistics about depression clearly identify it as a major public health problem (Greenberg et al, 1993). About 6% of the population meet the criteria for major depressive disorder or dysthymia at any time, and 20% of those with major depressive disorder will have symptoms that persist beyond 2 years (Keller et al, 1992). The disorder is highly recurrent; 30% of individuals experience a relapse within 3 months of recovery and (in the absence of continuation or maintenance treatment) 50% experience a further episode within 2 years. The standardised mortality ratios for unipolar depression for accidental deaths, for deaths by natural causes and for suicide were 1.4, 1.7 and 19.7, respectively (Ustun, 1999). In the National Health Service the cost of treating depression ($887 million) exceeds the cost of treating both hypertension ($439 million) and diabetes ($300 million) (Department of Health, 1996). However, the direct health care costs are dwarfed by the indirect costs (Berndt et al, 2000). Days lost from work owing to depression exceed all other disorders and the economic burden on family members and society is considerable (Broadhead et al, 1990). This may account for 60–85% of the total cost of the illness and represents a significant proportion of the gross national product (Kind & Sorensen, 1993; World Health Organization, 2001).
Psychological and emotional problems in staff following assaults by patients
Authors: Wildgoose Joanna , Briscoe Martin , Lloyd Keith
Published: August 2003

Aims and Method

To determine psychological morbidity among staff following actual or threatened violence from patients on acute psychiatric wards. A retrospective survey of all 156 clinical staff on Exeter's acute psychiatric wards was conducted by means of an anonymous questionnaire using standardised measures.

Results

The response rate was 81%, and 72% of respondents had experienced one or more distressing incidents of actual or threatened violence within the previous year. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire and Impact of Events Scale scores were significantly higher in those who reported exposure to ‘frequent’ violent incidents.

Clinical Implications

Some National Health Service staff may be harmed psychologically when they are at work. This consequently may have implications for patient care, employer liability and recruitment.
Engaging patients as teachers of clinical interview skills
Authors: Ikkos George
Published: August 2003

Aims and Method

To engage patients as teachers of psychiatrists in training and non-consultant career grades, for the purpose of enhancing doctors' understanding of the patient point of view and of the complexity of the doctor–patient relationship. Patients have been engaged as teachers in a recurrent cycle of ‘Basic Interview Skills' workshops and the views of the doctors about this initiative have been elicited through a brief anonymous and confidential questionnaire.

Results

Thirty-six psychiatric senior house officers (SHOs), general practitioners, Vocational Training Scheme SHOs in psychiatry, and staff grade and trust doctors in psychiatry have participated in four cycles of workshops. Five patients have engaged in the workshops as teachers, alongside the clinical tutor. Questionnaire feedback indicated some specific criticisms of a number of participants and dissatisfaction by a small minority of doctors, but the overall evaluation of the experience was positive.

Clinical Implications

Engagement of patients as teachers of psychiatrists in training and other new doctors in mental health services is desirable, feasible and welcomed by most doctors. With due attention to the legitimate sensitivities of participants, the practice of engaging patients as teachers of doctors working in psychiatry could be generalised in training schemes and services across the country.
Base Isolation: Linear Theory and Design
Authors: Kelly James M.
Published: August 2003

The idea that a building can be uncoupled from the damaging effects of the ground movement produced by a strong earthquake has appealed to inventors and engineers for more than a century. Many ingenious devices have been proposed to achieve this result, but very few have been implemented and the concept now referred to as base isolation or seismic isolation has yet to be generally accepted by the engineering profession. Although most of the proposed systems are unacceptably complicated, in recent years a few practical systems have been developed and implemented. While some of these systems have been tested on large-scale shaking tables, none have to date been tested as-built by a strong earth tremor. The shake table testing and related static testing of full-scale components such as isolation bearings, however, has led to a certain degree of acceptance by the profession and it is possible that the number of practical implementations of base isolation will increase quite dramatically in the next few years. This paper describes recent implementations of base isolation and describes an approximate linear theory of isolation which can be used for the design of base isolation systems that use multilayer elastomeric isolators.
Base Isolation: What we need to know to Diffuse this Technology
Authors: Olson Robert A. , Lambright W. Henry
Published: August 2003

San Bernardino Country's willingness to “experiment” with a base isolated building raises broader questions about how engineering innovations are adopted and implemented. Focusing on group decision making, this paper explores the questions that need to be examined if more rapid use of new engineering techniques is desired.
A Simple Pendulum Technique for Achieving Seismic Isolation
Authors: Zayas Victor A. , Low Stanley S. , Mahin Stephen A.
Published: August 2003

An innovative seismic isolation system, the Friction Pendulum System (FPS), offers improvements in strength, versatility and ease of installation as compared to previous systems. Moreover, the approach offers several inherent performance benefits not available before. The FPS uses geometry and gravity to achieve the desired seismic isolation results. It is based on well known engineering principles of pendulum motion, and is constructed of materials with demonstrated longevity and resistance to environmental deterioration. The desirable isolation characteristics exhibited by FPS components hold the promise of an effective and practical system for significantly increasing the seismic resistance of new and existing buildings. This paper summarizes results of a comprehensive research and testing program to assess the technical performance of the FPS. In addition, an example building design using the FPS is given.
The Influence of Mexico City Soils on the Seismic Performance of Friction Damped and Base Isolated Structures
Authors: Filiatrault A. , Cherry S. , Byrne P. M.
Published: August 2003

The seismic performance of hypothetical low and high-rise steel framed structures founded on both soft and stiff soils in Mexico City and equipped with (i) friction damping devices, (ii) base isolators and (iii) a combination of base isolators and friction damping devices is compared. The response of the three structural systems, including soil- structure interaction, is examined for two specific sites in Mexico City: the stiff hills zone and the soft lake bed zone. The results of the study show that although soil-structure interaction can be beneficial for some base isolated structures, friction damping alone provides a more consistent way of protecting structures in Mexico City against earthquakes.
A Slip Surface Isolation System for Multistory Buildings
Authors: Anderson James C.
Published: August 2003

The dynamic response characteristics of a slip surface isolation system having restraints which produce a bilinear hysteresis are investigated. Design issues pertaining to base isolated structures are reviewed with regard to slip surface systems. The proposed restraint mechanism results in three parameters which can be selected so as to produce the optimal behavior for a given structure. Results show that the proposed system can be effective in reducing accelerations in the structure and that it may offer certain advantages compared to other isolation devices.
EPRI Contribution to International Utility Industry Seismic Isolation Development Program
Authors: Rodwell Ed , Ehrman Chester S. , Maeno Yoji , Sigal George B. , Womack Gerard J.
Published: August 2003

Seismic isolation was selected as a potential method of increasing the structural integrity margins for liquid metal reactor power plants. Analyses indicated that seismic isolation would reduce by 90 to 95% the acceleration experienced by the reactor vessel at its fundamental frequency. A cooperative development program was established by electric utility organizations in Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Alternative seismic isolator concepts were compared and the laminated elastomer/steel with lead plug concept was selected to be the first concept tested. Sixteen half-sized units were tested, the results compared with predictions and potential isolator design improvements inferred. The cooperative program is continuing through testing of other isolator concepts.
Interrater Reliability of Criteria Used in Assessing Blunt Head Injury Patients for Intracranial Injuries
Authors: Hollander Judd E. , Go Steven , Lowery Douglas W. , Wolfson Allan B. , Pollack Charles V. , Herbert Mel , Mower William R. , Hoffman Jerome R.
Published: August 2003

Objective: To determine the interrater reliability of potential predictor variables that may be used to construct a clinical decision rule for emergency computed tomography of the head in blunt head injury victims. Methods: As a substudy of the NEXUS II study of blunt head trauma, physicians from 21 different emergency departments performed paired evaluations of patients undergoing computed tomography of the head after blunt head injury. Each physician independently determined, for each subject, the presence or absence of each of 19 separate clinical characteristics. The physicians were either residents or attending physicians in the participating emergency departments. Paired responses on a sample of 3,951 patients were compared for raw level of agreement and for interrater concordance using the κ statistic. If the lower margin of the 95% confidence interval for raw agreement was at least 85% and was equal to or greater than 0.50 for κ, this was predetermined to represent substantial interrater agreement. Results: There was substantial interobserver agreement by both measures for 17 of the 19 candidate variables in patients with blunt head trauma. Interobserver agreement was substantial for all candidate variables except presence of seizure (κ= 0.57 [95% CI = 0.47 to 0.67]; raw agreement = 96.5%) and abnormal cerebellar function (κ= 0.54 [95% CI = 0.41 to 0.67]; raw agreement = 96.5%). Conclusions: The clinicians in our study had a substantial level of agreement regarding most clinical criteria assessed in this large sample of patients with blunt head injury.
Advanced Statistics: Applying Statistical Process Control Techniques to Emergency Medicine: A Primer for Providers
Authors: Callahan Charles D. , Griffen David L.
Published: August 2003

Emergency medicine faces unique challenges in the effort to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Increased patient volumes, decreased emergency department (ED) supply, and an increased emphasis on the ED as a diagnostic center have contributed to poor customer satisfaction and process failures such as diversion/bypass. Statistical process control (SPC) techniques developed in industry offer an empirically based means to understand our work processes and manage by fact. Emphasizing that meaningful quality improvement can occur only when it is exercised by “front‐line” providers, this primer presents robust yet accessible SPC concepts and techniques for use in today's ED.
Assessment for Deaths in Out‐of‐hospital Heroin Overdose Patients Treated with Naloxone Who Refuse Transport
Authors: Vilke Gary M. , Sloane Christian , Smith Alan M. , Chan Theodore C.
Published: August 2003

Naloxone frequently is used to treat suspected heroin and opioid overdoses in the out‐of‐hospital setting. The authors' emergency medical services system has operated a policy of allowing these patients, when successfully treated, to sign out against medical advice (AMA) in the field. Objectives: To evaluate the safety of this AMA policy. Methods: This is a retrospective review of out‐of‐hospital and medical examiner (ME) databases over a five‐year period. The authors reviewed all ME cases in which opioid overdoses were listed as contributing to the cause of death. These cases were cross‐compared with all patients who received naloxone by field paramedics and then refused transport. The charts were reviewed by dates, times, age, sex, location, and ethnicity when available. Results: There were 998 out‐of‐hospital patients who received naloxone and refused further treatment and 601 ME cases of opioid overdose deaths. When compared by age, time, date, sex, location, and ethnicity, there were no cases in which a patient was treated by paramedics with naloxone within 12 hours of being found dead of an opioid overdose. Conclusions: Giving naloxone to patients with heroin overdoses in the field and then allowing them to sign out AMA resulted in no identifiable deaths within this study population.
Adverse Event Reporting with Selective Serotonin-Reuptake Inhibitors
Authors: Hartnell Nicole R , Wilson James P , Patel Nick C , Crismon M Lynn
Published: August 2003

Objective

The Weber effect is a phenomenon which states that the number of reported adverse reactions for a drug increases until the middle to end of the second year of marketing. The purpose of this study was to examine the number of adverse event reports associated with specific selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use.

Methods

Data used in this study included voluntary adverse event reports submitted to the US federal government through the Spontaneous Reporting System and Adverse Event Reporting System. Adverse event reports were analyzed for the following SSRIs: citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and sertraline.

Results

Adverse event reporting associated with fluvoxamine demonstrates the Weber effect. Adverse events related to fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline do not exhibit the Weber effect. Fluoxetine-related adverse events peaked at year 3, with peaks also occurring during the 10th and 12th years after market entry. Adverse event reports associated with paroxetine and sertraline use increased 5–8 years after market entry.

Conclusions

Within 1 class of medications, it is possible for a few agents to exhibit the Weber effect, while there is no definite pattern with others. A new observation in adverse event reporting is introduced and suggests that a peak in adverse event reporting occurs 1–2 years after a medication receives approval for a new indication. Future research is necessary to validate this effect and examine the generalizability to other medications.
Fatality from Administration of Labetalol and Crushed Extended-Release Nifedipine
Authors: Schier Joshua G , Howland Mary Ann , Hoffman Robert S , Nelson Lewis S
Published: August 2003

Objective

To report a case in which a crushed extended-release (XL) nifedipine tablet contributed to a patient fatality.

Case Summary

A 38-year-old woman with multiple medical problems presented to the hospital in acute respiratory distress and was diagnosed with acute pulmonary edema and pneumonia. After initial stabilization, her medications were changed to oral hydralazine, labetalol, and nifedipine XL. These medications were crushed and administered through a nasogastric tube. The patient developed worsening bradycardia with hypotension and experienced asystolic cardiac arrest. She was resuscitated; however, the following morning, another dose of labetalol and nifedipine XL was crushed and administered through the nasogastric tube. She again developed worsening bradycardia with hypotension and ultimately died.

Discussion

The administration of a crushed nifedipine XL tablet resulted in the patient's severe hypotension. The concurrent administration of labetalol prevented a compensatory heart rate increase. The repeat administration of nifedipine XL in the same manner underscores a fundamental problem in healthcare worker communication and drug delivery system comprehension. Use of the Naranjo probability scale indicated a highly probable relationship between the patient's hypotension and the nifedipine and labetalol therapy.

Conclusions

Simultaneous administration of a β-blocker and a calcium-channel blocker may produce synergistic effects. The release characteristics of oral controlled-release medications are destroyed when crushed, resulting in the rapid bioavailability of the total drug amount. The importance of education and communication among nurses, physicians, and pharmacists regarding the mechanism of action of controlled-release medications and their administration needs to be emphasized.
Canadian and US Drug Approval Times and Safety Considerations
Authors: Rawson Nigel SB , Kaitin Kenneth I
Published: August 2003

Background

Approval times of new drugs are frequently longer in Canada than in the US, but it has been argued that reducing approval times might lead to unsafe drugs receiving marketing approval.

Objective

To compare new drug approval times in Canada and the US over a 10-year period and to relate them to safety discontinuations.

Methods

Application and approval dates of all new drugs except diagnostic products, new salts, esters, isomers, and dosage forms of already-marketed drugs, as well as combinations containing previously approved substances approved in the US and Canada between January 1992 and December 2001 were obtained from the respective drug regulatory agencies and other sources. Information about drugs discontinued for safety reasons was obtained from the agencies' publications and Web sites and from journal articles.

Results

New drug approval times were significantly longer in Canada than in the US. The difference occurs in all drug categories and by review type (priority/standard). However, the proportion of new drugs approved and later discontinued for safety reasons from the Canadian market (2.0%) was just over half that in the US (3.6%).

Conclusions

When serious drug safety problems were identified in a timely manner after US approval, the products were not subsequently approved in Canada. Canada avoided potential dangers because its longer approval times provided an opportunity to observe actual market experience in other countries. However, the trade-off is that new drugs, including those for conditions for which current therapy has limited efficacy, take significantly longer to be approved in Canada and, hence, to be available to Canadians.
Animal Cell Culture Media
Authors: Tsao Yung‐Shyeng , Gould Sandra L. , Robinson David K.
Published: July 2003

Serum

Chemically Defined Basal Media and Minimal Essential Media (MEM)

Serum‐Free Media

Protein‐Free Media

Medium Stability and Storage

Medium Development for Large‐Scale Production

Development of Serum‐Free Media: A Case Study

Bibliography

At the start of the twentieth century, researchers were trying to grow mammalian cells derived from biopsies, including cancer cells, fetal cells, and primary cells from various tissues. Since that time, medium development has followed one of two approaches; researchers have made use of biological fluids, including serum, embryo extracts, and protein digests, or they have studied those fluids and tried to find simpler substitutes for them. The following sections describe the basic components of cell culture media discovered by both of these approaches. These are (1)serumand its components, functions and processing; (2)chemically defined basal mediathat supplement serum for cell growth; (3)serum‐free media(or serum‐reconstitution); (4)protein‐free media(or serum‐protein replacement); (5)medium stabilityand storage; (6) medium development forlarge‐scaleproduction; and (7)a case studyfor developing a serum‐free medium.
Animal Cell Types, Kidney Cells
Authors: Hodges G.
Published: July 2003

Kidney CellsIn Vitro

Glomerular Cell Cultures

Tubular Cell Cultures

Bibliography
Animal Cell Types,TLymphocytes
Authors: Stebbings Richard
Published: July 2003

Introduction

T‐Lymphocyte Subpopulations and Function

Primary T‐Lymphocyte Cultures

Generation of T‐Cell Clones

T‐Cell Lines

Abbreviations

Bibliography
Dicotyledons
Authors: Ramsay Margaret M.
Published: July 2003

Introduction

Seed Germination

Micropropagation

Axillary Shoot Production

Adventitious Bud Formation

Callus and Cell Suspension

Somatic Embryogenesis

Limitations: Contamination, Hyperhydricity, Recalcitrance and Oxidative Browning

Plant Genetic Engineering

Cryopreservation

Bibliography
Flow Cytometry of Plant Cells
Authors: Blackhall N.W. , Power J.B. , Lowe K.C. , Davey M.R.
Published: July 2003

Introduction

Analysis and Sorting of Plant Protoplasts

Analysis of Nuclear DNA Content

Analysis and Sorting of Chromosomes

Concluding Remarks

Bibliography
History of Animal Cell Technology
Authors: Spier R.E.
Published: July 2003

The Emergence of the Concept of a Cell

Preparing the Mind

Developments in Microscopy

Cells as the Basic Units of Living Beings

The First Cells

On Various Beginings

Life then Cells or Cells then Life?

Messages from Contemporary Cells

What can Cells (as such) Bring to the Table?

What can a Primordial Environment Offer?

Introducing Life

Conglomerates of Prokaryotes

Philosophical Issues

Using Animal Cells in Culture

A Multiphasic Process

Ideas and Experiments: Animal Cells in the Solution of Controversies

Time for a Reconsideration?

A Home from Home

Environments for Cell Culturists

Choosing Appropriate Tools

Reflections

Bibliography
Moss, Molecular Tools for Phenotypic Analysis
Authors: Knight Celia D.
Published: July 2003

Introduction

Life Cycle ofP. Patens

FITC Labeling of Antibodies

Transgenic Moss

Reporter Gene Analysis

Inducible Promoter–Reporter Gene Analysis

Evidence for Gene Targeting

Concluding Remarks

Acknowledgments

Bibliography
Off‐Line Immunoassays in Bioprocess Control
Authors: Pläsier Birgitt
Published: July 2003

Introduction

Competitive and Noncompetitive Immunoassays; Radioimmunoassay

Nephelometric and Turbidimetric Immunoassays

Enzyme Immunoassays

Fluorescence Immunoassay

Chemiluminescence and Bioluminescence Immunoassays

Surface Plasmon Resonance and Immunoassays

Immunoaffinity Chromatography; Capillary Electrophoretic Immunoassays

Miscellaneous Immunoassays

Conclusion

Bibliography
Plant Cell Culture Bag
Authors: Fukui Hiroshi , Tanaka Michio
Published: July 2003

Introduction

Preparation of the Culture Bag and the Culture Method

Growth of Plant Cells and Tissue in a Culture Bag

Production of Metabolites in Culture Bags

Bibliography