bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short outcome in Patients with Non–ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI) after multi-vessel Percutaneous Intervention
Authors: Aslam Kamran , Iqbal Erum , Khan Muhammad Shahbaz , Sajjad Wasim , Khan Fahad Raja , Adil Muhammad
Published: February 2024

Background: Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) presents a significant clinical challenge, particularly in the context of multi-vessel disease (MVD), which complicates patient management and impacts prognosis. The variability in short-term outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for NSTEMI patients with MVD necessitates a deeper understanding of the associated risk factors and outcomes.
Objective: To evaluate the risk factors and short-term clinical outcomes of NSTEMI patients after multi-vessel PCI, identifying predictors of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and cardiac death within this population.
Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, from January 2022 to December 2022, including 100 NSTEMI patients who underwent multi-vessel PCI. The Institute Review Board approved the study, adhering to the Declaration of Helsinki. Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes were collected. Multi-vessel disease was defined by ≥50% narrowing in the left main coronary artery or ≥70% in at least two major epicardial coronary arteries. Statistical analysis employed SPSS Version 25.0, with Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses determining the impact of various predictors on short-term outcomes.
Results: The mean age of participants was 65.6 ± 10.5 years, with a BMI of 22.75 ± 4.67 kg/m^2. Diabetic and ischemic heart disease prevalence was 30.4% and 26.9%, respectively. Multi-vessel disease was observed in 66.2% of patients. Short-term mortality and MACE rates were significantly influenced by factors such as age, lower BMI, renal dysfunction, and left ventricular dysfunction. The cumulative incidence of MACE within 30 days post-PCI was notably higher in patients with these risk factors.
Conclusion: NSTEMI patients undergoing multi-vessel PCI face a significant risk of short-term adverse outcomes. Key predictors of increased risk include advanced age, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and renal dysfunction. Tailored management strategies focusing on these high-risk groups are essential for improving short-term prognosis.
Pengaruh Model Pembelajaran Eksplisit Instruction Terhadap Kemampuan Hasil Belajar Siswa Kelas VII Dalam Menulis Puisi di SMPN 19 Kota Bengkulu
Authors: Pitriana Era , Friantary Heny , Martina Feny
Published: February 2024

Masalah utama dalam penelitian ini yaitu bagaimana pengaruh model pembelajaran Eksplisit Instruction terhadap Kemampuan Hasil Belajar siswa kelas VII dalam menulis puisi di SMPN 19 Kota Bengkulu.Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan hasil belajar siswa dalam menulis puisi pada mata pelajaran bahasa Indonesia dengan menggunakan model pembelajaran EKsplisit Instruction di kelas VII SMP Negeri 19 Kota Bengkulu.Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian Kuantitatif. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah siswa kelas VII SMP Negeri 19  Kota Bengkulu.Teknik pengambilan data yang digunakan yaitu  menggunakan angket dengan cara mengumpulkan data sebanyak 30 siswa. Variabel penelitian meliputi Explicit Instruction sebagai variabel bebas dan hasil belajar kemampuan menulis surat pribadi sebagai variabel terikat. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan, yaitu analisis statistik deskriptif dan inferensial. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa keterampilan menulis puisi siswa kelas VII SMPN 19 Kota Bengkulu.setelah menerapkan model pembelajaran Exsplisit Instruction di SMPN 19 kota Bengkulu hasil uji penelitian uji t post-test diketahui rata-rata hasil belajar kelas Eksperimen sebesar 82,92 dan rata-rata hasil belajar kelas kontrol sebesar 71,88 sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa rata-rata hasil belajar kelas Eksperimen lebih 11,04lebih besar dibandingkan dengan kelas kontrol . dari table uji t post-test diketahui t hitung sebesar 5,043 dengan signifikasi 0,000 didapatkan t table pada taraf signifikasi 5% adalah 2,018jadi nilai t hitung >t table (5,043>2,018) dan nilai signifikasinya kurang dari 0,05(p=0,000<0,05). dapat disimpulkan bahwa terdapat perbedaan skor hasil belajar  pada kelas eksperimen dan kelas kontrol sehingga menunjukan bahwa model Eksplisit Intrustion lebih memberikan sumbangan kemajuan terhadap kemampuan hasil menulis puisi dikelas VII SMPN 19 kota Bengkulu
Digital video-based study habits as mediators of academic performance in university students
Authors: Remaycuna-Vasquez Alberto , Carrión-Barco Gilberto , Atoche-Silva Luz Angelica , Vela-Miranda Oscar Manuel , Horna-Calderón Víctor Eduardo , Espinoza-Porras Fátima Rosalía , Fernández-Otoya Fiorela Anaí
Published: February 2024

In recent years, various studies have been developed regarding academic performance related to self-esteem, cognitive commitment, motivation, among others. However, there is still a limitation in works that analyze to what extent study habits function as mediating factors of academic performance in students. This work aimed to determine to what extent study habits explain academic performance in university students in northern Peru.
Alaskans’ Thoughts on Improving Healthcare Service
Authors: Lan June , Spencer Haley , Cannava Ryann
Published: February 2024

This paper explores how healthcare technologies have transformed care delivery to patients with a particular reference to Alaska. The paper first examines how electronic health records help build communication among stakeholders. Then, it studies how remote healthcare services technologies change the delivery of services. Finally, it scrutinizes how patient experiences are transformed by adopting technological components. Through a survey of residents, Alaskans’ acceptance and suggestions for improving healthcare services are displayed. The findings of the research will be of value to policy makers and healthcare organizations.
Análise dos desafios do marketing digital em uma empresa de consultoria em mídias sociais: estudo de caso
Authors: Fernandes Guilherme Freire , Botelho João Pedro Machado , Pakes Paulo Renato , Da Rocha Tiago Soares
Published: February 2024

O ambiente empresarial atual destaca-se pela crescente importância do marketing digital, especialmente em plataformas de mídias sociais. Empresas de consultoria em mídias sociais assumem um papel crucial nesse cenário, oferecendo orientação estratégica para a eficácia das campanhas online. Este artigo visa analisar de forma aprofundada como uma empresa de consultoria em mídias sociais está enfrentando os desafios do marketing digital. Buscamos compreender como a empresa aborda a crescente complexidade dos ambientes digitais e as mudanças tecnológicas contínuas. O presente estudo tem como metodologia de pesquisa o estudo de caso, por meio de uma entrevista detalhada com uma profissional, explorando percepções sobre desafios. A demonstração dessa abordagem permitiu a proposição de estratégias práticas para otimizar o marketing digital no segmento abordado. Os resultados revelam desafios cruciais, incluindo a complexidade algorítmica, a gestão da reputação online e a constante adaptação às tendências digitais. A personalização eficaz, a consideração da privacidade do usuário e a integração entre plataformas são áreas-chave para otimizar o marketing digital, oferecendo insights essenciais para estratégias futuras em um ambiente dinâmico. Em síntese, a análise dos desafios enfrentados pelo marketing digital em uma empresa de consultoria em mídias sociais destaca a necessidade de abordagens estratégicas mais flexíveis e adaptáveis às rápidas mudanças nas preferências do consumidor, exigindo uma constante evolução nas estratégias de marketing digital.
Newborn Neurological Assessment, Basics of Clinical Practices
Authors: Rajeshwari A. V. , Kotha Rakesh
Published: February 2024

The purpose of a neurological examination of the newborn is to determine a normal neurological condition and to detect abnormal conditions. The examination includes assessment of the central and peripheral nervous system and observation of posture, muscle tone, strength, reflexes and symmetry. Abnormal assessments may indicate neurological problems. As a rule, neurological maturity varies according to gestational age. Systematic physical examinations usually detect neurological defects. Early detection is crucial as plasticity is greater in early life. Despite developments in neuroimaging and neurophysiological technologies, clinical neurological examinations still have their importance. Performing a timely neurological assessment can speed up the diagnostic process and enable the swift administration of advantageous therapies. This is specifically applicable in situations that require therapeutic hypothermia to be initiated within six hours or sooner, as evaluation of neurologic status plays a crucial part in identifying the necessity for intervention. Neurophysiological technologies can be difficult due to immaturity and reduced myelination in neonates. This article aims to provide readers with a better understanding of the few basic concepts of neurological assessment in neonates.
Evaluation, Flowering Behavior Physico-chemical and Keeping Quality of Custard Apple: A Review
Authors: Senthilkumar T. , Prabhavathi S Jaya , Alagesan A. , Punitha A. , Vidhya D. , Singh Barinderjit , Malathi G.
Published: February 2024

Custard apple, scientifically known as Annona squamosa L., and also referred to as Sitaphal or Sharifa, holds significant importance as a dry land fruit crop in India. Its flowers, either solitary or in small lateral clusters, measure around 2.4 to 2.5 cm long, appearing greenish-yellow atop a hairy, slender 2 cm long stalk. Each carpel bears a single, hard, smooth, shiny, dark-brown or black, glossy seed, oblong in shape, and less than 1.3 to 1.6 cm long. The fruit of the custard apple is renowned for its delicious whitish pulp and is a popular item in tropical markets. Comprised of loosely cohering carpels, the fruit forms a surface that is either squamose or tuberculated. Its pulp, tinged with white and yellow, is edible, sweetly aromatic, and contains a thick, creamy-white layer akin to custard, with somewhat granular flesh beneath the skin surrounding the concolorous, moderately juicy segments. The fruit typically contains around 55 to 60 seeds. Custard apple is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, which are known to combat various diseases and bolster the immune system. Consumption of custard apple is beneficial for heart health, skin, bones, and maintaining blood pressure. It is also known for its therapeutic effects on boils, ulcers, and gum-related issues. Custard apple has undergone evolution through both natural processes and human selection across diverse elevation zones and under different cropping systems. Honey bees, serving as carriers of cross-pollination, have contributed to the wide variety of locally adapted landraces. Despite this diversity, there has been no systematic collection and evaluation of custard apple cultivars in various states. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the collection, characterization, and evaluation of high-yielding strains/lines suitable for commercial cultivation in regions like Chhattisgarh. Thus, the primary objective of this paper is to evaluate genotypes, flower behavior, and physico-chemical characteristics of custard apple, aiming to improve production and meet the satisfaction of farmers.
Characterization of Opioid and ORL1 Receptors
Authors: DeHaven Robert N. , Cassel Joel A. , Windh Rolf T. , DeHaven‐Hudkins Diane L.
Published: August 2005

This unit describes methods for studying activity at opioid receptor subtypes and the ORL1 receptor using conventional radioligand binding assay methods as well as procedures for quantitating functional activity of these receptors by measuring agonist‐induced G protein activation with [35S]GTPγS binding in a manner analogous to traditional receptor‐binding methods. These procedures permit the assessment of the agonist or antagonist character of compounds in a rapid manner that, like most radioligand binding methodologies, is also amenable to high throughput technologies.
Inducible Gene Expression Using an Autoregulatory, Tetracycline‐Controlled System
Authors: Shockett Penny , Schatz David
Published: August 2005

The protocols in this unit describe the transfection of adherent cells and the testing of resultant clones for inducible transactivator or target gene protein expression. Stably transfected fibroblast cell lines expressing transactivator and target gene(s) can be derived by first cotransfecting pTet‐tTAk and a plasmid encoding a selectable marker and obtaining stable lines with inducible transactivator expression. These lines are subsequently stably cotransfected with plasmids encoding the target gene(s) and a second selectable marker. The procedure may also be used to cotransfect pTet‐tTAk with the target gene‐encoding plasmid(s) and a single selectable marker plasmid. A support protocol describes methods to test stably transfected cell lines for inducible gene expression, for transient transfection and induction of tet‐regulated plasmids, and for detection of the tTAk gene in cells (or transgenic mice).
Design and Use of Fluorescent Fusion Proteins in Cell Biology
Authors: Snapp Erik
Published: August 2005

This unit describes strategies for designing functional fluorescent fusion protein constructs. Such constructs can be exploited as probes of cellular environments, protein dynamics, protein life histories, protein binding partners, and markers in living cells. The properties and uses of many currently available fluorescent proteins are discussed. In addition, alternative approaches and troubleshooting guidelines are provided.
Invasion of artificial ponds in Doñana Natural Park, southwest Spain, by an exotic estuarine copepod
Authors: Frisch Dagmar , Rodríguez‐Pérez Héctor , Green Andy J.
Published: August 2005

During a study of five artificial brackish ponds situated in Doñana Natural Park and the Guadalquivir delta between July 2001 and June 2002, a total of six copepod species (two calanoids, three cyclopoids and one harpacticoid) were recorded. All of them are typical of brackish or estuarine habitats.

The estuarine calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa (originally from North America) was present in all the ponds studied. This exotic species has been found previously in European estuaries, but has not previously been recorded from artificial wetlands.

Both the relative and absolute abundance of the species varied significantly among months and ponds. A. tonsa was most abundant during autumn and spring, while Calanipeda aquae‐dulcis was most abundant in summer. This seasonal pattern of the copepod community composition was different from that reported in studies from other European estuaries or wetlands.

The invasion by and dominance of A. tonsa in the area of Doñana Natural Park has important implications for the conservation of the diverse native zooplankton fauna in the natural marshes of the adjacent Doñana National Park, which includes endemic species.

Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Direct Electrochemistry of Cytochrome c at Gold Electrode Modified with Fumed Silica
Authors: Chen Hongjun , Wang Yuling , Dong Shaojun , Wang Erkang
Published: August 2005

Direct electrochemistry of horse heart cytochrome c (cytc) has been obtained at a gold electrode constructed by self‐assembling fumed silica particles (FSPs) onto a silane monolayer. A pair of well‐defined and nearly symmetrical redox peaks of cytc is obtained at the FSPs film modified gold electrode. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and tapping‐mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) are used to characterize the FSPs film modified electrode, showing that the FSPs can provide a favorable microenvironment for cytc and facilitate the direct electron transfer between the cytc and the gold electrode, which may propose an approach to realize the direct electrochemistry of other proteins.
An In Situ Copper Plated Boron‐Doped Diamond Microelectrode Array for the Sensitive Electrochemical Detection of Nitrate
Authors: Ward‐Jones Sarah , Banks Craig E. , Simm Andrew O. , Jiang Li , Compton Richard G.
Published: August 2005

The first example of using a copper microelectrode array for use in electroanalysis is explored and exemplified with the electroanalytical quantification of nitrate. The analytical approach is based upon the in situ deposition of copper at a boron‐doped diamond (BDD) microelectrode array. The immobilized copper layer is electrocatalytic for nitrate reduction and exhibits an analytically useful range from 1.2 to 124 μM with a marked selectivity for nitrate ion over nitrate, with a limit of detection of 0.76 μM. The analytical applicability was examined through standard addition determinations of nitrate in drinking and river water samples.
Political manoeuvrings as sources of measurement errors in forecasts
Authors: Paleologou Susanna‐maria
Published: August 2005

We test the extent to which political manoeuvrings can be the sources of measurement errors in forecasts. Our objective is to examine the forecast error based on a simple model in which we attempt to explain deviations between the March budget forecast and the November forecast, and deviations between the outcome and the March budget forecast in the UK. The analysis is based on forecasts made by the general government. We use the forecasts of the variables as alternatives to the outcomes. We also test for political spins in the GDP forecast updates and the GDP forecast errors. We find evidence of partisan and electoral effects in forecast updates and forecast errors. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A forecasting procedure for nonlinear autoregressive time series models
Authors: Cai Yuzhi
Published: August 2005

Forecasting for nonlinear time series is an important topic in time series analysis. Existing numerical algorithms for multi‐step‐ahead forecasting ignore accuracy checking, alternative Monte Carlo methods are also computationally very demanding and their accuracy is difficult to control too. In this paper a numerical forecasting procedure for nonlinear autoregressive time series models is proposed. The forecasting procedure can be used to obtain approximate m‐step‐ahead predictive probability density functions, predictive distribution functions, predictive mean and variance, etc. for a range of nonlinear autoregressive time series models. Examples in the paper show that the forecasting procedure works very well both in terms of the accuracy of the results and in the ability to deal with different nonlinear autoregressive time series models. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigating emotion with music: An fMRI study
Authors: Koelsch Stefan , Fritz Thomas , v. Cramon D. Yves , Müller Karsten , Friederici Angela D.
Published: August 2005

The present study used pleasant and unpleasant music to evoke emotion and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to determine neural correlates of emotion processing. Unpleasant (permanently dissonant) music contrasted with pleasant (consonant) music showed activations of amygdala, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, and temporal poles. These structures have previously been implicated in the emotional processing of stimuli with (negative) emotional valence; the present data show that a cerebral network comprising these structures can be activated during the perception of auditory (musical) information. Pleasant (contrasted to unpleasant) music showed activations of the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG, inferior Brodmann's area (BA) 44, BA 45, and BA 46), the anterior superior insula, the ventral striatum, Heschl's gyrus, and the Rolandic operculum. IFG activations appear to reflect processes of music–syntactic analysis and working memory operations. Activations of Rolandic opercular areas possibly reflect the activation of mirror‐function mechanisms during the perception of the pleasant tunes. Rolandic operculum, anterior superior insula, and ventral striatum may form a motor‐related circuitry that serves the formation of (premotor) representations for vocal sound production during the perception of pleasant auditory information. In all of the mentioned structures, except the hippocampus, activations increased over time during the presentation of the musical stimuli, indicating that the effects of emotion processing have temporal dynamics; the temporal dynamics of emotion have so far mainly been neglected in the functional imaging literature. Hum Brain Mapp 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Contaminant transport and biodegradation in saturated porous media: model development and simulation
Authors: Kim Song‐Bae
Published: August 2005

A mathematical model is developed to describe the contaminant transport, sorption, and biodegradation in saturated porous media. In the model development, sorption was accounted for as a kinetic process for the contaminant transport. In addition, a double Monod function was incorporated into the model to describe the biodegradation of contaminants and utilization of oxygen. In the description of bacterial transport, reversible and irreversible depositions of bacteria were considered as kinetic processes in the model. The model equations were solved numerically with a fully implicit finite‐difference method along with the Runge–Kutta method. The simulation showed that contaminant transport in porous media could be greatly affected by sorption and biodegradation processes. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the contaminant transport model was insensitive to the changes of desorption rate constant for contaminants kb, half‐saturation constant for oxygen Ko, bacterial yield factor Y, and oxygen use coefficient F. However, the model was sensitive to the changes of adsorption rate constant for contaminants kf, maximum utilization rate of contaminants µmax, and half‐saturation constant for contaminants Kc, and so their values should be selected carefully in the modelling process. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Should Bouchet's hypothesis be taken into account in rainfall‐runoff modelling? An assessment over 308 catchments
Authors: Oudin Ludovic , Michel Claude , Andréassian Vazken , Anctil François , Loumagne Cécile
Published: August 2005

An implementation of the complementary relationship hypothesis (Bouchet's hypothesis) for estimating regional evapotranspiration within two rainfall‐runoff models is proposed and evaluated in terms of streamflow simulation efficiency over a large sample of 308 catchments located in Australia, France and the USA. Complementary relationship models are attractive approaches to estimating actual evapotranspiration because they rely solely on climatic variables. They are even more interesting since they are supported by a conceptual description underlying the interactions between the evapotranspirating surface and the atmospheric boundary layer, which was highlighted by Bouchet (1963). However, these approaches appear to be in contradiction with the methods prevailing in rainfall‐runoff models, which compute actual evapotranspiration using soil moisture accounting procedures. The approach adopted in this article is to introduce the estimation of actual evapotranspiration provided by complementary relationship models (complementary relationship for areal evapotranspiration and advection aridity) into two rainfall‐runoff models. Results show that directly using the complementary relationship approach to estimate actual evapotranspiration does not give better results than the soil moisture accounting procedures. Finally, we discuss feedback mechanisms between potential evapotranspiration and soil water availability, and their possible impact on rainfall‐runoff modelling. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spatial distribution and seasonal variation in 18O/16O of modern precipitation and river water across the conterminous USA
Authors: Dutton Andrea , Wilkinson Bruce H. , Welker Jeffrey M. , Bowen Gabriel J. , Lohmann Kyger C.
Published: August 2005

We report a quantitative analysis of regional differences in the the oxygen isotope composition of river water and precipitation across the USA because data are now available to undertake a more geographically and temporally extensive analysis than was formerly possible. Maps of modern, mean annual δ18O values for both precipitation (δ18OPPT) and river water (δ18ORIV) across the 48 contiguous states of the USA have been generated using latitude and elevation as the primary predictors of stable isotope composition while also incorporating regional and local deviations based on available isotopic data. The difference between these two maps was calculated to determine regions where δ18ORIV is significantly offset from local δ18OPPT. Additional maps depicting seasonal and extreme values for δ18ORIV and δ18OPPT were also constructed.

This exercise confirms the presence of regions characterized by differences in δ18ORIV and δ18OPPT and specifically identifies the magnitude and regional extent of these offsets. In particular, the Great Plains has δ18ORIV values that are more positive than precipitation, while much of the western USA is characterized by significantly lower δ18ORIV values in comparison with local δ18OPPT. The most salient feature that emerged from this comparison is the ‘catchment effect’ for the rivers. Because river water is largely derived from precipitation that fell upstream of the sample locality (i.e. at higher elevations) δ18ORIV values are often lower than local δ18OPPT values, particularly in catchments with high‐elevation gradients. Seasonal patterns in the isotopic data substantiate the generally accepted notion that amplitudes of δ18O variation are greatly dampened in river water relative to those of local precipitation. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Large scale real‐time PCR analysis of mRNA abundance in rainbow trout eggs in relationship with egg quality and post‐ovulatory ageing
Authors: Aegerter Sandrine , Jalabert Bernard , Bobe Julien
Published: August 2005

The mRNA levels of 39 target genes were monitored in unfertilized eggs of 14 rainbow trout sampled the day of ovulation and again 5, 14, and 21 days later. For all 56 collected egg batches, an egg sample was fertilized to estimate egg quality by monitoring embryonic development. Remaining eggs were used for RNA extraction and subsequent real‐time PCR analysis. A significant drop of egg quality was observed when eggs were held in the body cavity for 14 or 21 days post‐ovulation (dpo). During the same period, eight transcripts (nucleoplasmin or Npm2, ferritin H, tubulin β, JNK1, cyclin A1, cyclin A2, cathepsin Z, and IGF2) exhibited a differential abundance at one or several collection time(s). Interestingly, we observed higher levels of cyclins A1 and A2 mRNAs in eggs taken 5 days post‐ovulation than in eggs taken, from the same females, at the time of ovulation. In addition, seven transcripts exhibited a differential abundance between low quality and high quality eggs. Low quality eggs were characterized by lower levels of Npm2, tubulin β, and IGF1 transcripts. In contrast, keratins 8 and 18, cathepsin Z, and prostaglandin synthase 2 were more abundant in low quality eggs than in high quality eggs. In this study, we have demonstrated differences in mRNA levels in the rainbow trout egg that are reflective of developmental competence differences induced by post‐ovulatory ageing. The putative role of these transcripts in post‐ovulatory ageing‐induced egg quality defects is discussed with special attention for corresponding cellular functions. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Preparation and properties of silicone‐containing poly(methyl methacrylate) gels
Authors: Naghash Hamid Javaherian , Momeni Ahmad Reza , Alian Hamid , Massah Ahmad Reza , Ataie Shahla
Published: August 2005

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) gels with varying amounts of silicone and solvent and constant amounts of crosslinker were prepared by solution free radical crosslinking copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDM), tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) comonomer systems. They were then studied in benzene at a total monomer concentration of 3.5 mol L−1 and 70 °C. The conversion of monomer, volume swelling ratio, weight fraction and gel point were measured as a function of the reaction time, silicone concentration and benzene content up to the onset of macrogelation. Structural characteristics of the gels were examined by using equilibrium swelling in benzene, gel fraction and Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The morphology of the copolymers was also investigated by SEM. Based on the obtained results, it was concluded that the FTIR data did not have the capacity to show the presence of the VTES or TEOS moiety in these kinds of copolymers. On the other hand, the variation of weight fraction of gel, Wg, and its equilibrium volume swelling ratio in benzene, qv, exhibited the same behaviour as that of MMA/EGDM copolymers. Also, the dilution of the monomer mixture resulted in an increase in the gel point and swelling degree and a decrease in the percent of conversion and gel fraction. Finally, TEOS is not an ideal silicone compound for reaction in the MMA/EGDM copolymerization system, whereas VTES is a suitable silicone comonomer for this system and it has been proved useful. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry
Response of economically important aphids to components of Hemizygia petiolata essential oil
Authors: Bruce Toby JA , Birkett Michael A , Blande James , Hooper Antony M , Martin Janet L , Khambay Bhupinder , Prosser Ian , Smart Lesley E , Wadhams Lester J
Published: August 2005

The essential oil of Hemizygia petiolata Ashby (Lamiaceae) contains high levels (>70%) of the sesquiterpene (E)‐β‐farnesene, the alarm pheromone for many economically important aphid species. In order to test the suitability of H. petiolata oil as a source of (E)‐β‐farnesene for use in new integrated aphid control strategies, behavioural responses of pest aphid species were studied in laboratory and field experiments. In alarm pheromone assays the peach‐potato aphid, Myzus persicae Sulzer, and the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harr), showed a lower level of response to the oil than expected given the high levels of (E)‐β‐farnesene. It was shown that minor components in the oil, (+)‐bicyclogermacrene and (−)‐germacrene D, caused inhibition of the alarm response for M. persicae and A. pisum respectively. Nevertheless, in olfactometer studies the oil was directly repellent to A. pisum and the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae F. Sitobion avenae was not only repelled by (E)‐β‐farnesene but also by (−)‐germacrene D. Furthermore, although it was not directly repellent to M. persicae, the oil interfered with its attraction to host plant stimuli. In field plot experiments, numbers of A. pisum were significantly reduced in plots treated with a slow release formulation of the oil, when compared with control plots. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry
Biomimetic Micropatterning of Silica by Surface‐Initiated Polymerization and Microcontact Printing
Authors: Kim Dong Jin , Lee Kyung‐Bok , Lee Tae Geol , Shon Hyun Kyong , Kim Wan‐Joong , Paik Hyun‐jong , Choi Insung S.
Published: August 2005

Micropatterns of silica on a gold substrate were generated by a biomimetic approach, namely, the biosilicification of silicic acids. The procedure consists of three simple steps: pattern generation of a polymerization initiator, (BrC(CH3)2COO(CH2)11S)2, by microcontact printing; surface‐initiated, atom‐transfer radical polymerization of 2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) from the patterned area; and polycondensation of silicic acids. The tertiary amine‐containing polymer, pDMAEMA, aided in the spatially controlled polycondensation of silicic acids on surfaces in the presence of phosphate ions, and micropatterns of silica on a gold substrate were successfully generated in combination with the technique of microcontact printing. The procedure could be extended to the controlled fabrication of silica patterns with any size, shape, or thickness.
Effects of Physical Aging on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Glassy Normal Corn Starch
Authors: Chung Hyun‐Jung , Yoo Byoungseung , Lim Seung‐Taik
Published: August 2005

Physical aging of glassy corn starch and its effect on the physical properties of compressed starch bars were investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMTA), and Instron texturometer. Amorphous corn starch samples were prepared by drying a starch paste, followed by compressing the dried powders to bar‐type specimens under heat (100°C, 1.38×107 Pa). These bars were then aged at 25°C for up to 22 days, after which thermal and mechanical characteristics were determined. There were progressive increases in glass transition temperature and relaxation enthalpy during the aging, which reached limiting values as structural equilibrium of the amorphous matrix was approached. The peak temperature of the relaxation endotherm (DSC thermogram) changed with time in a trend similar to the relaxation enthalpy. The storage modulus (DMTA) increased with aging time, but the peak intensity of tan δ decreased. The breaking strength (Instron texturometer) increased gradually with time of aging and reached a maximum. It has been demonstrated the relaxation kinetics for glassy amorphous corn starch can be characterized by both thermal and mechanical properties, such as relaxation enthalpy, storage modulus, and breaking strength.
Dependence of Thermodynamic Characteristics of Amylose‐Lipid Complex Dissociation on a Variety of Wheat
Authors: Nebesny Ewa , Kwaśniewska‐Karolak Izabella , Rosicka‐Kaczmarek Justyna
Published: August 2005

Native wheat starch contains amylose‐lipid complexes (AMLs) that are formed both upon biosynthesis of native starch and upon heating of starch slurries at gelatinization temperature and above. These complexes have a detrimental impact on physicochemical properties of starch, because they reduce water binding by starch granules and retard their swelling. An objective of the presented work was to analyze the chemical composition of wheat starch and characterize the thermodynamics of gelatinization of different wheat starches and to evaluate the stability of AMLs derived from these starches with the aid of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Grains of eight wheat varieties were used throughout the studies. The gelatinization behavior of the eight wheat varieties examined was similar. The lowest temperature of the onset of gelatinization (Tk = 57.07°C) was found for the Jawa variety, and the highest (Tk = 60.58°C) for the Torka variety. Enthalpy of gelatinization (ΔHk) of the examined wheat starch preparations ranged from 9.14 J/g (Sakwa) to 11.95 J/g (Elena). Temperature and enthalpy of AMLs dissociation depended on wheat starch variety. During the first heating the temperature of the minimum of the endotherm (Td) ranged from 98.41°C to 100.5°C. During the second heating, the minimum was at slightly higher temperatures, varying from 102.02°C to 104.08°C. Enthalpies of AML dissociation (ΔHd) varied from 1.45 J/g to 2.14 J/g during the first heating. During the second heating the enthalpy values were slightly lower (1.26 J/g to 1.68 J/g). Enthalpies of AML reassociation ranged from 1.29 J/g to 1.72 J/g during the first cooling, and from 1.17 J/g to 1.63 J/g during the second cooling. A correlation was found between the amount of lipids and AML content.
Thermal and Pasting Properties of Microwaved Corn Starch
Authors: Stevenson David G. , Biswas Atanu , Inglett George E.
Published: August 2005

Corn starch with 15–40% moisture was irradiated at 0.17 or 0.5 W/g for 1 h using the sophisticated Ethos 1600 microwave apparatus that accurately controls temperature and wattage. Temperature of irradiated starch was measured during microwaving. Thermal and pasting properties were studied on dehydrated starch after microwave irradiation. Temperature increases were greatest during the first 10 min for starch at all moisture contents at both microwave power levels. Starch irradiated at 0.17 W/g had a temperature below onset gelatinization temperature (To) after 1 h. Higher temperatures were observed for starch with higher moisture content and microwaved at 0.5 W/g. Compared to native starch, starch with 15–40% moisture had higher To (measured using differential scanning calorimetry) and with 35–40% moisture had higher peak gelatinization temperature and lower enthalpy change of gelatinization. All paste viscosity parameters measured by the Rapid Visco Analyser were reduced and pasting temperature was elevated for starch irradiated at 0.5 W/g compared to native starch.
Development of vacuum technology market in Russia. Entwicklung des Marktes für Vakuumtechnik in Russland
Authors: Rozanov L.N.
Published: August 2005

Scientific investigations of leak detection problems are being carried out in several directions. The most significant are metrology problems. Mathematical modeling of working processes in new types of leak detectors is also being developed. Mass spectrometer leak detectors remain the most popular for high accuracy measurements. Other types of leak detectors, such as halogen, manometer, and gas discharge, are also developing. Different types of gas discharge leak detectors are being manufactured.
Statistical characterization of the UWB propagation channel in indoor residential environment
Authors: Chong Chia‐Chin , Kim Young‐Eil , Yong Su Khiong , Lee Seong‐Soo
Published: August 2005

This paper presents a statistical characterization of an ultra wideband (UWB) indoor propagation channel based on measurements conducted in various types of high‐rise apartments in several cities of Korea. Measurements were carried out in the frequency band of 3–10 GHz. Various communication links were considered including both line‐of‐sight (LOS) and non‐LOS (NLOS) scenarios, which covered within‐the‐room and room‐to‐room propagations. The measurement procedure allows us to characterize both the large‐scale and the small‐scale statistics of the channel. The aim here is to study in more detail the statistical characteristics of the UWB propagation channel and to provide insight for future statistical channel modeling work. Channel characteristics examined include the distance and frequency dependency of path loss, shadowing fading statistics, and multipath temporal‐domain parameter statistics such as the mean excess delay, RMS delay spread, and the number of dominant paths. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Radio resource management in infrastructure‐based and ad hoc UWB networks
Authors: Giancol Guerino , Martello Cristina , Cuomo Francesca , Di Benedetto Maria‐Gabriella
Published: August 2005

Modeling the resource manager of an ultra wide band (UWB) network is the main object of this paper. The model is tested in two different application scenarios: (i) a UWB WLAN access network to a backbone where the resource management module is implemented at the access points (APs); (ii) a UWB ad hoc network for either local communications or data exchange among sensors, with peer‐to‐peer links with distributed management.

The design must include a quality of service (QoS)‐aware strategy and must take into account coexistence issues raised by the use of UWB at the physical layer. Link quality is represented by the maximum end‐to‐end delay and minimum percentage of correct packets. From these parameters, the resource manager jointly selects the values of power and rate which must be adopted at the physical layer. In the model, radiated power by each device is supposed to be limited by an upper bound, reflecting thus the limitation imposed by regulation. QoS awareness and power constraints are satisfied, thanks to the implementation of an admission control function, which is centralized in the AP in the WLAN case and distributed in the ad hoc case. Major innovative aspects include: (i) taking into account UWB specific features; (ii) introducing QoS awareness based on network layer parameters rather than physical layer parameters; (iii) incorporating error protection functionalities for the optimization of transmission efficiency; (iv) considering both centralized and distributed resource management.

Performance of the proposed resource manager module is evaluated in the presence of different classes of traffic, that is multimedia, voice, and data traffic. For each class of traffic, performance is expressed in terms of the maximum possible number of simultaneous connections for the WLAN case, and in terms of the effective achievable throughput for the ad hoc case. Results of simulations indicate that the behavior of the proposed scheme is strongly dependent upon the class of traffic in the WLAN scenario, while it is slightly affected by changes in traffic characteristics in the ad hoc case. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A joint PHY/MAC architecture for low‐radiated power TH‐UWB wireless ad hoc networks
Authors: Merz Ruben , Widmer Jörg , Le Boudec Jean‐Yves , Radunović Božidar
Published: August 2005

Due to environmental concerns and strict constraints on interference imposed on other networks, the radiated power of emerging pervasive wireless networks needs to be strictly limited, yet without sacrificing acceptable data rates. Pulsed time‐hopping ultra‐wideband (TH‐UWB) is a radio technology that has the potential to satisfy this requirement. Although TH‐UWB is a multi‐user radio technology, non‐zero cross‐correlation between TH sequences, time‐asynchronicity between sources and a multipath channel environment make it sensitive to strong interferers and near‐far scenarios. While most protocols manage interference and multiple‐access through power control or mutual exclusion, we base our design on rate control, a relatively unexplored dimension for multiple‐access and interference management. We further take an advantage of the nature of pulsed TH‐UWB to propose an interference mitigation scheme that alleviates the need for an exclusion scheme. A source is always allowed to send and continuously adapts its channel code (hence its rate) to the interference experienced at the destination. In contrast to power control or exclusion, our MAC layer is local to sender and receiver, and does not need coordination among neighbors not involved in the transmission. We show by simulation that we achieve a significant increase in the network throughput compared to alternative designs. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of small planar antennas for UWB mobile terminals
Authors: Klemm Maciej , Tröster Gerhard
Published: August 2005

This paper presents an extensive investigations to characterize antennas for small UWB mobile terminals. Two small planar UWB antennas (slot antenna and printed monopole antenna) were designed, using a full‐wave electromagnetic finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The UWB slot antenna has a size of 32 × 29 mm, the monopole antenna size is 20 × 36.75 mm. Both antennas were characterized usingtrueUWB parameters, such as antenna transfer functions, fidelity, and pulse energy spread. We have investigated angular‐dependence of antenna characteristics over the entire radiation sphere. Spatially averaged transfer functions were introduced to disclose antenna characteristics for different solid angles in the radiation sphere. We have also shown the difference in transient characteristics of antenna in transmitting (Tx) and receiving (Rx) mode. Finally, we have investigated the Tx/Rx antenna system, where any relative orientation between Tx and Rx antenna was assumed to be equally probable. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Security, Community, and Democracy in Southeast Asia: Analyzing ASEAN
Authors: EMMERSON DONALD K.
Published: August 2005

Is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) a pluralistic security community (PSC)? Does community cause security in Southeast Asia? In a PSC, member states are sovereign. So are the members of ASEAN. Before concluding that the ASEAN region is a PSC, however, one should distinguish between two versions: a thin or descriptive PSC, whose members share both a sense of community and the expectation of security, and a thick or explanatory version in which community has actually been shown to cause security. Depending on how a sense of community is defined, one may say that at certain times in its history, ASEAN probably has been a thin PSC. More recently, however, the cooperative identity of regional elites may have frayed, as democratization, especially in Indonesia, has incorporated non-elites into public life. Meanwhile the proposition that the assurance of security in Southeast Asia has resulted from this sense of community, that ASEAN is a thick PSC, remains to be proven.
“A GLOWING FOOTPRINT”: HERZEN, PROUDHON, AND THE ROLE OF THE INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTIONARY
Authors: KELLY AILEEN
Published: August 2005

The founder of Russian socialism, Alexander Herzen, was also an original moral and social philosopher, anticipating much twentieth-century thought in his attack on “grand narratives” that endow history with a rational direction and a final goal. The critique of radical utopianism which he based on his observations of the French revolution of 1848 did not (contrary to the common view) deprive him of any further role as a revolutionary intellectual. Rather, it forced him to redefine this role. The key influences on him in this respect were the thought and the activity of Pierre-Joseph Proudhon. He saw Proudhon's attack on the anthropotheism of Feuerbach's “religion of humanity” as completing the demystification of the world begun by the Left Hegelians' critique of religious alienation, and interpreted Proudhon's unpopularity with the French Left as confirmation of his role as a forerunner who had articulated a vision of freedom from transcendent authorities and systems much in advance of his time. During his subsequent involvement in the Russian political scene Herzen modelled himself to a significant degree on Proudhon, attacking systematizers on all sides, urging a pragmatic approach to the problem of political reform, and accepting his loss of influence among Russian radicals as the price for unmasking the authoritarianism hidden in the ideologies of the Left: a notable instance of cross-cultural influences at work in the history of nineteenth-century revolutionary thought.
MODERNIZATION ON TRIAL
Authors: HASKELL THOMAS
Published: August 2005

Once again, the United States is at war. Just as in the 1960s and 1970s, the battlefield is halfway around the globe in a third world country. The deployment of military force is again justified partly in terms of national interest, but also in terms of bringing modernity, freedom and prosperity to a people whose society can be described in terms such as “traditional,” “despotic,” “backward,” “undemocratic,” and/or “underdeveloped.” The exact meaning of the polar opposition signaled by the words “modern” and “traditional” is, like all politically charged terms, subject to debate and far from stable, but the polarity has figured importantly in international affairs ever since the end of World War II, and its salience was sharply heightened by the suicidal attack on New York's World Trade Center in September, 2001. That tragedy, together with the erratic bellicosity of the American response—directed not solely at the perpetrator, Al Quaeda, but also at Saddam Hussein's cruel dictatorship in Iraq—put modernization back in the headlines for the first time since 1975, when the United States pulled out of Vietnam in defeat. With the return of modernization comes the vexing problem of what to make of differences between “us” and “them.” What ethical obligations do scholars have in a world increasingly crowded with people who are eager to sacrifice lives—their own or others'—for the sake either of preserving tradition, or of hastening the triumph of modernity? Most pressing of all, given the potentially civilizational scale of the conflict, is another integrally related question: what does the future hold for ethnocentrism?