bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feasibility and efficacy of repeated chemotherapy for progressive pediatric low‐grade gliomas
Authors: Scheinemann Katrin , Bartels Ute , Tsangaris Elena , Hawkins Cynthia , Huang Annie , Dirks Peter , Fried Iris , Bouffet Eric , Tabori Uri
Published: December 2010

Background

Chemotherapy is widely accepted as first‐line therapy for pediatric low‐grade gliomas (LGG). Treatment modalities for further progression are not clearly established. The aim of the study was to determine the feasibility and long‐term outcome of repeated chemotherapy for children with recurrent LGG.

Methods

The study group consisted of patients who received a second line of chemotherapy at progression of their LGG. We compared toxicity, progression‐free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) of patients treated with chemotherapy at the time of initial diagnosis and patients who received another treatment with chemotherapy at further progression.

Results

Between 1985 and 2009, 118 patients received chemotherapy as primary treatment for LGG, 38 had repeated chemotherapy at further progression. Chemotherapy was tolerated extremely well. Ninety‐two percent of patients completed their second line protocol and toxicity was comparable between initial and second line chemotherapy. Five‐year OS and PFS were 86 ± 6% and 37 ± 8%, respectively, which were similar to first‐line chemotherapy (P = 0.14). Repeated chemotherapy courses were not associated with worsening of visual, neuroendocrine, or other long‐term organ sequelae.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates high feasibility and low mortality of repeated chemotherapy treatment for progressive LGG. The chronic nature of LGG concerning tumor progression justifies consideration of non‐toxic second‐line treatment regimens at the time of recurrence. Prospective studies focusing on toxicity and long‐term outcome are needed to substantiate this approach. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011;57:84–88. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Analysis of the optical properties of poly(3‐octylthiophene) partially dedoped
Authors: Therézio E. M. , Duarte J. L. , Laureto E. , Di Mauro E. , Dias I. L. , Marletta A. , de Santana H.
Published: December 2010

In this work, poly(3‐octylthiophene) (P3OT) films were synthesized electrochemically in non‐aqueous media through the oxidation of the monomer, (3‐octylthiophene), using a standard three‐electrode cell in acetonitrile with 0.05 mol L−1 LiClO4 or 0.05 mol L−1 Et4NBF4. The polymeric films were deposited on fluorine tin oxide (FTO). The partial dedoping was obtained in NH4OH solution, providing a good chemical stability of the formed material. The films obtained through this method have been characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), UV–Vis absorption, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The FT‐IR and EPR spectra together gave the results that led to characterization of two structures (pristine and non‐pristine forms of thiophene rings) while forming the P3OT polymer chain. These results were associated with the stabilization of pristine chains and mixed chains (non‐pristine structures) in the polymeric film. Their bands in the PL spectra are wide and asymmetric and their adjustments by Gaussian functions was necessary; this was the main indication that there are two distinct contributions to the emission spectra. These two contributions are attributed to the emission by mixed chains (Gaussian centered at higher energy) and by pristine chains (Gaussian of lower energy) present in the formed polymeric material. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Waterborne polyurethane nanocomposites having shape memory effects
Authors: Lee Soo Kyung , Yoon Sung Ho , Chung Ildoo , Hartwig Andreas , Kim Byung Kyu
Published: December 2010

UV curable waterborne polyurethane/silica nanocomposites were designed and synthesized with functionalized silicas, where the functionalization was made with allyl isocyanate. The incorporated silica particles gave triple effects of multifunctional chemical cross‐links, reinforcing fillers, and stress relaxation retarders. Consequently, functionalized silica incorporated into the polymer chains showed significantly improved mechanical and thermal properties than the simple addition of unmodified silica. Notably, over 99% shape fixity and shape recovery with minimum cyclic hysteresis were obtained for the repeated cycles at 1% loading of the modified silica. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Vinylcarbonates and vinylcarbamates: Biocompatible monomers for radical photopolymerization
Authors: Heller Christian , Schwentenwein Martin , Russmüller Günter , Koch Thomas , Moser Doris , Schopper Christian , Varga Franz , Stampfl Jürgen , Liska Robert
Published: December 2010

The last decade has seen a remarkable interest in the use of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers as scaffolds for tissue engineering. The fabrication of 3D scaffolds by lithography‐based additive manufacturing technology (AMT) represents an appealing approach. As poly(lactic acid), the state of the art biocompatible and biodegradable material, cannot be processed by these photopolymerization‐based techniques, it has so far been necessary to use selected (meth)acrylates. By developing new photopolymers based on vinyl carbonates and vinyl carbamates as a reactive group we have been able to avoid most of the disadvantages of classical (meth)acrylate‐based photopolymers. The new generation of biocompatible monomers show low cytotoxicity, have good storage stability, and are sufficiently photoreactive to be structured by lithography based AMT. The mechanical properties and rates of degradation of the polymers can be easily tuned over a broad range. Degradation results in the formation of nonacidic and nontoxic degradation products of low molecular weight that can be easily transported within the human body. Initial in vivo tests showed significant osseointegration of the 3D cellular scaffolds and no signs of implant rejection. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Dielectric relaxation and conductivity studies on (PEO:LiClO4) polymer electrolyte with added ionic liquid [BMIM][PF6]: Evidence of ion–ion interaction
Authors: Chaurasia Sujeet K. , Singh Rajendra K. , Chandra S.
Published: December 2010

Polymer electrolytes, (PEO:LiClO4)+x IL (1‐Buty‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate) with varying concentration of IL; x = 0,5,10,15,20 wt % have been prepared by solution cast technique and characterized by X‐Ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetery, FTIR, conductivity and dielectric relaxation measurements in the frequency range of 100 Hz–5 MHz. Temperature dependence of relaxation frequency and conductivity were found to be typical of thermally activated process both at T > Tm and T < Tm. Composition dependence of conductivity, dielectric relaxation, and degree of crystallinity has also been studied. On addition of IL, the degree of crystallinity after a decrease at 5 wt % IL increases slightly at 10 wt % and then finally decreasing. Variation of conductivity and relaxation frequency with composition could only be partly explained on the basis of variation of degree of crystallinity. An additional feature of ion–ion interaction (contact ion pair formation between IL or salt cations and their associated anions) has been invoked which was supported by FTIR studies. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011
Polymer segmental dynamics and solvent thermal transitions in poly(ethyl acrylate)/p‐xylene mixtures
Authors: Stathopoulos A. T. , Kyritsis A. , Colomer F. J. Romero , Ribelles J. L. Gomez , Shinyashiki N. , Christodoulides C. , Pissis P.
Published: December 2010

A poly(ethyl acrylate) polymer network was swollen with different concentrations of the nonpolar solvent p‐xylene, cpx, from xerogel until saturation (0 ≤ cpx ≤ 0.85). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermally stimulated depolarization currents (TSDC) techniques were employed to study the polymer segmental dynamics and the solvent thermal transitions in homogeneous (cpx < 0.20) and partially crystallized (cpx ≥ 0.20) PEA/p‐xylene mixtures. Our DSC measurements indicate that p‐xylene undergoes cold crystallization for intermediate solvent concentrations, 0.20 ≤ cpx ≤ 0.30 while for higher cpx values crystallization takes place during cooling. The results show that for cpx ≤ 0.30 the Tg decreases with increasing cpx (plasticization effect) obeying the respective Fox equation. For the same cpx range we found that both the dielectric strength and the heat capacity increment of the segmental (α) relaxation process increase gradually with cpx whereas the distribution of relaxation times for the underlying molecular relaxations does not change. For cpx > 0.30 the partially crystallized mixtures exhibit a constant Tg corresponding to the gel phase of PEA with an amount of p‐xylene which is not able to crystallize under any conditions. The concentration of this noncrystallized p‐xylene, cUCpx, has been estimated to be between 0.12 and 0.15, independent of the total p‐xylene concentration in the mixtures. When a separate p‐xylene crystal phase is formed (for cpx > 0.30) the segmental dielectric strength and heat capacity increment decrease significantly exhibiting values significantly lower than those measured for the homogeneous gels. In addition, we found that the presence of p‐xylene crystals may induce marginal spatial heterogeneity of polymer (or p‐xylene) concentration within the gel phase affecting thus slightly the breath of the segmental relaxation of PEA. We attribute these results to restrictions of polymer segmental configurations due to constraints imposed by the p‐xylene crystals and/or to the immobilization of a part of the polymer chains. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011
Gold electrodeposition into porous silicon: Comparison between meso‐ and macroporous silicon
Authors: Chourou Mohamed L. , Fukami Kazuhiro , Sakka Tetsuo , Ogata Yukio H.
Published: December 2010

We report the fabrication and characterization of porous Si templates for electrodeposition of Au high aspect ratio nanostructures. The templates with ordered and controlled pore size, 4 µm and 50 nm in diameter, were created through Si etching. Electrodeposition of Au into macroporous Si and into mesoporous Si was investigated. The different morphologies of deposits depending on the Si type and pore size were compared and discussed. The morphology and structural characteristic of the fabricated nanostructures were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The micrographs confirm that the deposition parameters have a strong influence on morphology of the structures. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Influence of PECVD SiOx and SiNx:H films on optical and passivation properties of antireflective porous silicon coatings for silicon solar cells
Authors: Remache L. , Mahdjoub A. , Fourmond E. , Dupuis J. , Lemiti M.
Published: December 2010

The meso‐porous silicon layer (PS) is a promising material to reduce the surface reflectance of solar cells. PS layers were grown on the front surface n+ emitter of n+‐p mono‐crystalline Si junction. Single layers PS antireflection coating (ARC) achieved around 8% of effective reflectivity in the wavelength range between 400 to 1100 nm. To improve the stability and the passivation properties, and to reduce the reflectivity of PS ARC, the design of PECVD silicon oxide (SiOx) and silicon nitride (SiNx:H) layers were investigated. Optimised SiOx and SiNx layer deposited on PS decreased the effective reflectivity respectively to ∼3.8% and ∼7% between 400 and 1000 nm. Open circuit voltage (Voc) measurements were carried out on all the samples by suns‐Voc method and showed an improvement of 20% of the surface passivation quality brought by the nitride layer after rapid thermal anneal (RTA). Using the experimental reflectivity results and taking into account the surface passivation quality of the samples, numerical simulations predict an enhancement of the photogenerated current exceeding 49% for the PS/SiOx stacks (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
EPR study of nanocrystalline tin dioxide
Authors: Konstantinova E. A. , Pentegov I. S. , Marikutsa A. V. , Rumyantseva M. N. , Gaskov A. M. , Kashkarov P. K.
Published: December 2010

We have detected that O2‐ and OH• radicals are the main type of spin centers in nanocrystalline tin dioxide. Their integral concentrations increase proportionally to a growth of specific surface in the investigated samples. Concentration of OH• radicals increases after sample treatment in water vapour. Concentration decrease of O2‐ radicals is provided through the surface modification of tin dioxide with palladium and additionally water molecules, that is probably due to the formation of PdO‐layer on the surface of the samples. It is shown that the SnO2/Pd samples have promising sensor properties. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Dip‐coating LiBr on porous silicon: A new method of surface treatment
Authors: Haddadi Ikbel , Dimassi Wissem , Bousbih Rabaa , Ali Kanzari M. , Ezzaouia Hatem
Published: December 2010

In this paper we report on the enhancement of optoelectrical properties of the porous silicon (PS) layer passivated with Lithium Bromide (LiBr), a simple method consist of immersion of the PS in dilute LiBr of aqueous solution followed by a thermal treatment at 100 °C under nitrogen can lead to an increase in the intensity of photoluminescence. The morphologies of the samples were studied by atomic force microscope (AFM) show that the immersion has a great effect on the diameter of the nanoparticles of the PS. The experimental results of I‐V measurements show an improvement in the series resistance, which decrease from 867 Ω to 236 Ω. We observed an enhancement of the Light Beam Induced Current (LBIC) after treatment with LiBr it assumed an increase in the minority carrier diffusion length (L), knowing that this method is efficient and has low cost surface treatment (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Different size biomolecules anchoring on porous silicon surface: fluorescence and reflectivity pores infiltration comparative studies
Authors: Giovannozzi Andrea M. , Renacco Chiara , Derosas Manuela , Enrico Emanuele , Farano Alessandro , Rossi Andrea M.
Published: December 2010

The performance of porous silicon optical based biosensors strongly depends on material nanomorphology, on biomolecules distribution inside the pores and on the ability to link sensing species to the pore walls. In this paper we studied the immobilization of biomolecules with different size, such as antibody anti aflatoxin (anti Aflatox Ab, ∼150 KDa), malate dehydrogenase (MDH, ∼36KDa) and metallothionein (MT, ∼6KDa) at different concentrations on mesoporous silicon samples (∼15 nm pores diameter). Fluorescence measurements using FITC‐ labeled biomolecules and refractive index analysis based on reflectivity spectra have been employed together to detect the amount of proteins bound to the surface and to evaluate their diffusion inside the pores. Here we suggest that these two techniques should be used together to have a better understanding of what happens at the porous silicon surface. In fact, when pores dimensions are not perfectly tuned to the protein size a higher fluorescence signal doesn't often correspond to a higher biomolecules distribution inside the pores. When a too much higher concentration of biomolecule is anchored on the surface, steric crowd effects and repulsive interactions probably take over and hinder pores infiltration, inducing a small or absent shift in the fringe pattern even if a higher fluorescence signal is registered. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Surface study of organopalladium molecules on S‐terminated GaAs
Authors: Konishi Tomoya , Nishiwaki Nagatoshi , Toujyou Takashi , Ishikawa Takuma , Teraoka Teruki , Ueta Yukiko , Kihara Yoshifumi , Moritoki Hideji , Tono Tatsuo , Musashi Mio , Tada Takashi , Fujikawa Seiji , Takahasi Masamitu , Bell Gavin , Shimoda Masahiko , Tsukamoto Shiro
Published: December 2010

Organopalladium species ({Pd}) immobilized on an Sterminated GaAs substrate (S/GaAs) effectively catalyzes C‐C bond formation in the Mizoroki‐Heck reaction with cycle durability. However, the immobilizing mechanism of {Pd} is unknown. In this study, we deposited Pd(OCOCH3)2 on S/GaAs in two different methods, namely dry‐physical vapor‐deposition and wetchemical deposition, and compared the catalytic activities in the Mizoroki‐Heck reaction.

Also, S‐termination and {Pd}‐immobilization on GaAs grains were performed by the wet‐chemical method to monitor the change in the surface chemical structure during the preparation process with diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR). FT‐IR measurements implied that the immobilization of catalytic active {Pd} was related to the OH groups on the S‐terminated surface. {Pd}‐S/GaAs prepared dryphysically showed poor catalytic activity, because {Pd} was not immobilized under absence of OH groups. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Effect of growth temperature on structure properties of InN grown by pressurized‐reactor metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy
Authors: Zhang Yuantao , Liu Yuhuai , Kimura Takeshi , Hirata Masaki , Prasertusk Kiattiwut , Ji Shiyang , Katayama Ryuji , Matsuoka Takashi
Published: December 2010

The effect of the growth temperature on InN films grown at 500‐725 °C by the pressurized–reactor metal organic vapor phase epitaxy (PR‐MOVPE), which is designed to apply high nitrogen pressure to the reactor, has been studied. The growth temperature is found to greatly influence the surface morphology. The columnar islands appear at the growth temperature lower than and equal to 575 °C while the coalescence of islands occurs and forms continuous films at the growth temperature higher than 575 °C. Step‐flow‐like morphology is actually observed in the growth temperature range as high as 600‐650 °C.However, at this high growth temperature range, the diffraction peak of metallic indium appears in XRD spectra. Therefore, it is in a dilemma to enhance the surface migration and prevent the precipitation of metallic indium. Our experimental results indicate that the growth temperature of InN can be increased using the pressurized growth conditions and the epitaxial temperature around 575 °C is best to obtain a good crystalline quality InN films without the precipitation of metallic indium at present growth pressure. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Hydrogen production from gas phase photocatalytic decomposition of methanol using Pt‐supported nanocrystalline WO3 films
Authors: Sadale Shivaji B. , Noda Kei , Kobayashi Kei , Matsushige Kazumi
Published: December 2010

Nanocrystalline uniform thin films of WO3 were fabricated by polymer assisted deposition (PAD) varying the polymer concentration in the precursor solution and the calcination temperature with controlled heating rate. The precursor solution was prepared using peroxo‐tungstic acid and polyethylene glycol (PEG300) in water. The microstructure and morphology of the WO3 thin films were studied by the XRD, AFM techniques. Nanocrystalline thin films were obtained with 20% of polyethylene glycol (PEG300) and at a calcination temperature of 350 °C. The hydrogen generation process on platinized WO3 specimens was investigated using a six channel quadrupole mass spectrometer at a real‐time scale with gaseous methanol under visible (400‐700 nm), UVA (300‐400 nm), and UVB (240‐300 nm) light illumination. The use of WO3 as photocatalyst opens the way for solar light powered photocatalytic hydrogen production. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Annealing behavior on luminescence properties of self‐assembled InGaAsN/GaP quantum dots
Authors: Urakami N. , Umeno K. , Furukawa Y. , Fukami F. , Mitsuyoshi S. , Okada H. , Yonezu H. , Wakahara A.
Published: December 2010

Self assembled In0.6Ga0.4AsN/GaP quantum dots (QDs) were grown by solid source molecular beam epitaxy (SSMBE). Structural and optical properties of as‐grown and annealed In0.6Ga0.4AsN/GaP QDs were investigated. Cross sectional high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR‐TEM) study did not show any structural defects and N‐related chain structures. The integrated PL intensity at 725 °C rapid thermal annealing (RTA) for sample prepared at RF power of 390 W was obtained 3.7 times higher than the as‐grown sample measured at 18 K. The blueshifts of ∼ 0.35 and ∼ 0.55 meV/°C were observed annealed up to 725 and 800 °C, respectively as compare to as‐grown samples. Average QD height was reduced from 5 to 3 nm, which may be due to interdiffusion of In and Ga atoms. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Contact shaping in planar Gunn diodes
Authors: Pilgrim N. J. , Khalid A. , Li C. , Dunn G. M. , Cumming D. R. S.
Published: December 2010

The production of Gunn diodes with a planar architecture provides the ability to easily specify contact separation, and hence device transit region length, through lithographic processing. Beyond manufacturing and integration benefits, this also enables the production of devices whose contacts are intentionally and controllably non‐uniform over their width. Through such shaping of the contacts, the morphology of the Gunn domains may also be controlled. This has demonstrated potential for improving device performance, both with regard to operating frequency and oscillation amplitude, by at least ∼30% and ∼100% respectively. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Quality diagnosis of silicon solar cell using LED spotlight irradiation method
Authors: Okamoto Kensho , Esaki Nobuhiro , Goshima Keishiro
Published: December 2010

Solar cells with some defect should not be flowed into the market. However it seems that there is no method other than infrared light photograpy to inspect the reliability of commercially available solar cells. In this paper, we propose a novel technique, named the LED spotlight scan method, to diagnose whether some electrical defect exists in solar cell module or not. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Rapid energy transfer process through π*‐conjugation network in meta ‐linked branching dendrimers
Authors: Akai Ichiro , Miyanari Kuniaki , Shimamoto Tomoshige , Fujii Atsuhiro , Kimura Mutsumi
Published: December 2010

We investigated rapid energy transfer (ET) processes in dendrimers having meta ‐linked branching light harvesting antennas. It was found that, at room temperature (RT), the rapid ET occurs efficiently from the antennas to the core and gives rise to intense core‐PL bands under the selective excitation on the antenna. However, the ET efficiency impairs at lower temperatures than ∼100 K.

For understanding these experimental results, we analyzed molecular vibrations and molecular orbitals (MOs) of a simple model molecule. From these analyses, it was demonstrated that, at RT, the torsional vibration of the entire antenna subunit is excited sufficiently and the torsional vibration improves the co‐planarity between the core and the antenna subunit, consequently, the rapid ET is realized by the short‐range interaction between the π*‐MOs of the core and the antenna. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Photoluminescence spectrum and dynamics in highly photoexcited rutile TiO2
Authors: Yamada Yasuhiro , Kanemitsu Yoshihiko
Published: December 2010

We studied the temperature dependence of the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum and dynamics of rutile‐type TiO2 single crystals. Rutile TiO2 shows sharp exciton‐PL lines at low temperatures. A broad blue PL band appears at around 2.8 eV under high‐density photoexcitation using a pulse laser at room temperature. We discussed the temperature‐dependent photocarrier dynamics of rutile TiO2 in terms of Auger recombination and single‐carrier trapping processes (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Origin of yellow emission in white OLED with single emitting material
Authors: Akimoto Ikuko , Tsuzuki Sayaka , Uzawa Hidetoshi , Hinatsu Masako , Nishide Yosuke , Osuga Hideji , Sakamoto Hidefumi
Published: December 2010

The photo‐luminescence (PL) and electro‐luminescence (EL) of a novel organic material, benzodithiophene/triphenylamine copolymer (P‐PBTx, n=5‐6) were investigated. The PL exhibited wide blue emission at room temperature, which is attributed to fluorescence from a chromophore, benzodithiophene moiety, from results of spectral analysis and decay profile. The EL, however, exhibited white emission consisting of wide blue (B) and yellow (Y) bands, although it was prepared with P‐PBTx as a single emitting material. The Y‐band was slightly observed at 7 K and found to possess long lived component of 19 ms lifetime. The origin of the Y‐band efficiently stimulated by carrier injection is supposed to be a charge‐transfer state between benzodithiophene and triphenylamine moieties. The long lived component could be explained by lowered transition probability caused by charge separation. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A MULTITAXONOMIC APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING LOCAL‐ VERSUS WATERSHED‐SCALE INFLUENCES ON STREAM BIOTA IN THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN, VERMONT, USA
Authors: Cianfrani Christina M. , Sullivan S. Mažeika P. , Hession W. Cully , Watzin Mary C.
Published: December 2010

Twenty‐one stream reaches in northwestern Vermont were surveyed to assess the relative influence of local‐ and watershed‐scale variables on stream biotic assemblages including fish, aquatic macroinvertebrates and birds. Data were collected during the summers of 2003 and 2004 and included quantitative and qualitative geomorphic and habitat assessments (local‐scale) and land‐use characterization and modelled annual flow and sediment loading (watershed‐scale). Biotic assemblages were surveyed to capture characteristics related to abundance, diversity and composition. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to generate sets of factors representing unique scenarios of geophysical data derived from various spatial extents within the watershed. These factors were then used as the independent variables in multiple regression models using the biotic data as the dependent variables. Forty significant models were built from the combination of the eight scenarios and 11 dependent variables. Fish assemblage diversity and composition were influenced by a combination of local‐scale and watershed‐scale variables; however, the qualitative local data were more predictive than the quantitative data. Local‐scale data and sediment (model‐derived) were important factors in building significant macroinvertebrate models. Bird abundance and species richness were best predicted using local geomorphic characteristics and the qualitative local data. Our results reinforce the concept that whereas both local‐ and watershed‐scale variables affect stream biota, their relative influence depends upon the individual ecology of each taxon. In order to address these issues, comprehensive watershed management, restoration and conservation plans would benefit from assessments at multiple scales and from geomorphological, watershed and multitaxonomic perspectives. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stochastic seismic response analysis of offshore wind turbine including fluid‐structure‐soil interaction
Authors: Hacıefendioğlu Kemal
Published: December 2010

This paper presents the stochastic seismic response analysis of offshore wind turbines subjected to multi‐support seismic excitation by using a three‐dimensional numerical finite element model considering viscous boundaries. The seawater‐offshore wind turbine‐soil interaction system is modelled by the Lagrangian (displacement‐based) fluid and solid‐quadrilateral‐isoparametric finite elements. The random seismic excitation is described by the filtered white noise model and applied to each support point of the three‐dimensional finite element model of the coupled interaction system. The research conducts a parametric study to estimate the effects of variable seawater level, different foundation soil types and support site conditions on the stochastic behaviour of the offshore wind turbine coupled interaction system. The finite element model of coupled interaction system was also analyzed to examine the effect of the surrounding ice sheet on the stochastic response of the coupled system with and without ice sheet. The results obtained for different cases are compared with each other. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Torsional analysis of multi‐storey building structures under horizontal load
Authors: Zalka K. A.
Published: December 2010

New closed‐form formulae are presented for the torsional analysis of asymmetrical multi‐storey buildings braced by moment‐resisting (and/or braced) frames, (coupled) shear walls and cores. The analysis is based on an analogy between the bending and torsion of structural systems. A closed‐form solution is presented for the rotation of the building. The torsional behaviour is defined by three distinctive phenomena: warping torsion, Saint‐Venant torsion and the interaction between the two basic modes. Accordingly, the formula for the maximum rotation of the building consists of three parts: the warping rotation is characterized by the warping stiffness of the bracing system, St Venant rotation is associated with the St Venant stiffness of the building and the third part is responsible for the interaction. It is demonstrated that the interaction between the warping and St Venant modes is always beneficial, as it reduces the rotation of the structure. It is shown how the proposed formula for torsion can be used for the determination of the maximum deflection of multi‐storey asymmetrical building structures. The results of a comprehensive accuracy analysis demonstrate the validity of the method. A worked example is given to show the ease of use of the procedure. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Syntheses, Spectroscopic, Structural, Fluorescent and Thermal Properties of Bis(saccharinato)copper(II) Complexes with two Bis(pyridylamine) Ligands
Authors: Guney Emel , Yilmaz Veysel T. , Sengul Abdurrahman , Büyükgüngör Orhan
Published: December 2010

Two new copper(II) complexes of saccharinate (sac) with bis(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine (bpma) and N,N′‐bis[1‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)ethylidene]ethane‐1,2‐diamine (bapen), [Cu(bpma)(sac)2]·H2O (1) and [Cu(bapen)(sac)2] (2), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, TG‐DTA, X‐ray diffraction, and UV/Vis and IR spectroscopy, respectively. In 1, the copper(II) ion is coordinated by two N‐bonded sac ligands, and three nitrogen atoms of bpma, in a distorted square‐pyramidal coordination arrangement, whereas the arrangement around the copper ion in 2 is a distorted octahedron with two N‐coordinated sac ligands and a tetradentate bapen ligand. In addition to hydrogen bonding involving the water molecule in 1, the mononuclear species of 1 and 2 are further connected by weak intermolecular C–H···π and C–H···O interactions to form a three‐dimensional network. Both complexes are luminescent at room temperature and their emissions seem to be due to ligand‐based π–π* transitions.
The marginal value of increased testing: An empirical analysis using four code coverage measures
Authors: Gokhale Swapna S. , Mullen Robert E.
Published: December 2010

This paper presents an empirical comparison of the growth characteristics of four code coverage measures, block, decision, c-use and p-use, as testing is increased. Due to the theoretical foundations underlying the lognormal software reliability growth model, we hypothesize that the growth for each coverage measure is lognormal. Further, since for a given program the breadth and the depth of the different coverage measures are similar, we expect that the parameters of the lognormal coverage growth model for each of the four coverage measures to be similar. We confirm these hypotheses using coverage data generated from extensive testing of an application which has 30 KLOC. We then discuss how the lognormal coverage growth function could be used to control the testing process and to guide decisions about when to stop testing, since it can provide an estimate of the marginal testing effort necessary to achieve a given level of improvement in the coverage.
Experiences tracking agile projects: an empirical study
Authors: Sato Danilo , Bassi Dairton , Bravo Mariana , Goldman Alfredo , Kon Fabio
Published: December 2010

In this article, we gather results from several projects we conducted recently that use some kind of agile method. We analyze both academic and governmental software development projects, some of them using agile methods since the beginning and others in which agile methods were introduced afterwards. Our main goals are to classify the different projects, and to analyze the collected data and discover which metrics are best suited to support tracking an agile project.

We use both quantitative and qualitative methods, obtaining data from the source code, from the code repository, and from the feedback received from surveys and interviews held with the team members. We use various kinds of metrics such as lines of code, number of tests, cyclomatic complexity, number of commits, as well as combinations of these.

In this article, we describe in detail the projects, the metrics, the obtained results, and their analysis from our main goals standpoint, providing guidelines for the use of metrics to track an agile software development project.
Volume sculpting based on geometric tools
Authors: Huff Rafael , da Rosa Roberto Silveira , Nedel Luciana , Freitas Carla Maria Dal Sasso
Published: December 2010

The analysis of volumetric datasets is the main concern in many areas ranging from geophysics to biomedical sciences. The direct visualization of these data plays an important role in this scenario, and in spite of developments in volume visualization techniques, interacting with large datasets still demands research efforts due to perceptual and performance issues. There is a need of interactive sculpting tools which can provide an intuitive way to examine and explore inner parts of the datasets, as well as to fill missing data for specific purposes. In this paper we report the development of interactive, intuitive and easy-to-use sculpting tools, which specify regions within the volume to be discarded from rendering, thus allowing inspection of the volume interior, and to be filled with material to build virtual structures in the volume. Interactive rates for these sculpting tools were obtained by running special fragment programs on the graphics hardware. The tools were implemented using two interaction metaphors (virtual pointer and virtual hand) and following different approaches in terms of devices and single versus two-handed interaction. We report the evaluation of these approaches in detail and concluded that the use of two different devices together presents a better performance and are preferred by users. Moreover, the use of virtual hand interaction provided better results than using the virtual pointer during the tests.
A progressive vector map browser for the web
Authors: Ramos José Augusto Sapienza , Esperança Claudio , Clua Esteban Walter Gonzales
Published: December 2010

With the increasing popularity of web-based map browsers, remotely obtaining a high quality depiction of cartographic information has become commonplace. Most web mapping systems, however, rely on high-capacity servers transmitting pre-rendered tiled maps in raster format. That approach is capable of producing good quality renderings on the client side while using limited bandwidth and exploiting the browser’s image cache. These goals are harder to achieve for maps in vector format. In this work, we present an alternative client-server architecture capable of progressively transmitting vector maps in levels-of-detail (LOD) by using techniques such as polygonal line simplification, spatial data structures and, most importantly, a customized memory management algorithm. A multiplatform implementation of this system is described, where the client application is written entirely in JavaScript and processed within the web browser, avoiding the need of external applications or plug-ins. Results of experiments aimed at gauging both the performance and the display quality obtained with the system are presented and explained. Extensions to the system are also discussed, including issues such as level-of-detail versus visual importance tradeoffs and the handling of closed polygonal lines.
Appearance-based odometry and mapping with feature descriptors for underwater robots
Authors: Botelho Silvia Silva da Costa , Drews Junior Paulo Lilles Jorge , Figueiredo Mônica da Silva , Rocha Celina Haffele Da , Oliveira Gabriel Leivas
Published: December 2010

The use of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) for underwater tasks is a promising robotic field. These robots can carry visual inspection cameras. Besides serving the activities of inspection and mapping, the captured images can also be used to aid navigation and localization of the robots. Visual odometry is the process of determining the position and orientation of a robot by analyzing the associated camera images. It has been used in a wide variety of non-standard locomotion robotic methods. In this context, this paper proposes an approach to visual odometry and mapping of underwater vehicles. Supposing the use of inspection cameras, this proposal is composed of two stages: i) the use of computer vision for visual odometry, extracting landmarks in underwater image sequences and ii) the development of topological maps for localization and navigation. The integration of such systems will allow visual odometry, localization and mapping of the environment. A set of tests with real robots was accomplished, regarding online and performance issues. The results reveals an accuracy and robust approach to several underwater conditions, as illumination and noise, leading to a promissory and original visual odometry and mapping technique.
An improved particle filter for sparse environments
Authors: Prestes Edson , Ritt Marcus , Führ Gustavo
Published: December 2010

In this paper, we combine a path planner based on Boundary Value Problems (BVP) and Monte Carlo Localization (MCL) to solve the wake-up robot problem in a sparse environment. This problem is difficult since large regions of sparse environments do not provide relevant information for the robot to recover its pose. We propose a novel method that distributes particle poses only in relevant parts of the environment and leads the robot along these regions using the numeric solution of a BVP. Several experiments show that the improved method leads to a better initial particle distribution and a better convergence of the localization process.
Architecture for animation of affective behaviors in pedagogical agents
Authors: Motola Ronaldo , Jaques Patrícia Augustin , Axt Margarete , Vicari Rosa
Published: December 2010

This article introduces an open-source module responsible for the presentation of verbal (speech) and corporal (animation) behaviors of animated pedagogical agents. This module can be inserted into any learning environment regardless of application domain and platform, being executable under different operating systems. It was implemented in Java as a reactive agent (named Body agent) that communicates with the agent’s Mind through a language known as FIPA-ACL. Therefore, it may be inserted into any intelligent learning environment that is also capable to communicate using FIPA-ACL. Persistence of information is ensured by XML files, increasing the agent’s portability. The agent also includes a mechanism for automatically updating new behaviors and characters once available in the server. A simulation environment was conceived to test the proposed agent.
Performance evaluation of a discovery and scheduling protocol for multihop ad hoc mobile grids
Authors: Gomes Antônio Tadeu Azevedo , Ziviani Artur , Lima Luciana dos Santos , Endler Markus
Published: December 2010

Despite the many research efforts addressing the integration of mobile nodes into grids, only a few of them have considered the establishment of mobile grids over wireless ad hoc networks (hereafter,mobile ad hoc grids). Clearly, such grids need specialized resource discovery and scheduling mechanisms. To the best of our knowledge, though, the research on these mechanisms for mobile ad hoc grids is still preliminary. Besides, and more importantly, it has approached discovery and scheduling as separate mechanisms, which, we argue, is not suitable for mobile ad hoc grids. In this paper, we propose the integration of resource discovery and scheduling for mobile ad hoc grids into a single protocol called DICHOTOMY (Discovery and sCHeduling prOTOcol for MobilitY). This protocol allows computational tasks to be distributed appropriately in a mobile ad hoc grid, while mitigating the overhead of discovery messages exchanged among the nodes. Our experiments show that the protocol: (i) does proper scheduling, allowing an efficient load balancing among the nodes and helping with lowering the average completion time of tasks; (ii) keeps the discovery efficiency at acceptable levels in mobility scenarios and (iii) scales very well with respect to an increasing number of nodes, both in the total amount of energy savings due to packet transmissions and the distribution of such savings among the nodes.
scriptLattes: an open-source knowledge extraction system from the Lattes platform
Authors: Mena-Chalco Jesús Pascual , Junior Roberto Marcondes Cesar
Published: December 2010

The Lattes platform is the major scientific information system maintained by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). This platform allows to manage the curricular information of researchers and institutions working in Brazil based on the so called Lattes Curriculum. However, the public information is individually available for each researcher, not providing the automatic creation of reports of several scientific productions for research groups. It is thus difficult to extract and to summarize useful knowledge for medium to large size groups of researchers. This paper describes the design, implementation and experiences with scriptLattes: an open-source system to create academic reports of groups based on curricula of the Lattes Database. The scriptLattes system is composed by the following modules: (a) data selection, (b) data preprocessing, (c) redundancy treatment, (d) collaboration graph generation among group members, (e) research map generation based on geographical information, and (f) automatic report creation of bibliographical, technical and artistic production, and academic supervisions. The system has been extensively tested for a large variety of research groups of Brazilian institutions, and the generated reports have shown an alternative to easily extract knowledge from data in the context of Lattes platform. The source code, usage instructions and examples are available at http://scriptlattes.sourceforge.net/.
Aspects of planning support for human-agent coalitions
Authors: de Albuquerque Siebra Clauirton , Lino Natasha Correia Queiroz
Published: December 2010

This paper analyses aspects associated with the development of joint human-agent planning agents, showing that they can be implemented, in a unified way, via a constraint-based ontology and related functions. The constraints’ properties have already been used by several planning approaches as an option to improve their efficiency and expressiveness. This work demonstrates that such properties can also be employed to implement collaborative concepts, which are maintained transparent to the planning mechanisms. Furthermore, the use of constraints provides several facilities to the implementation of advanced mechanisms associated with the human interaction, as also demonstrated here.
Significance of telemedicine for video image transmission of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic ultrasonography procedures
Authors: Shimizu Shuji , Itaba Soichi , Yada Shinichiro , Takahata Shunichi , Nakashima Naoki , Okamura Koji , Rerknimitr Rungsun , Akaraviputh Thawatchai , Lu Xinghua , Tanaka Masao
Published: December 2010

Background

With the rapid and marked progress in gastrointestinal endoscopy, the education of doctors in many new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures is of increasing importance. Telecommunications (telemedicine) is very useful and cost‐effective for doctors’ continuing exposure to advanced skills, including those needed for hepato‐pancreato‐biliary diseases. Nevertheless, telemedicine in endoscopy has not yet gained much popularity. We have successfully established a new system which solves the problems of conventional ones, namely poor streaming images and the need for special expensive teleconferencing equipment.

Methods

The digital video transport system, free software that transforms digital video signals directly into Internet Protocol without any analog conversion, was installed on a personal computer using a network with as much as 30 Mbps per channel, thereby providing more than 200 times greater information volume than the conventional system. Kyushu University Hospital in Japan was linked internationally to worldwide academic networks, using security software to protect patients’ privacy.

Results

Of the 188 telecommunications link‐ups involving 108 institutions in 23 countries performed between February 2003 and August 2009, 55 events were endoscopy‐related, 19 were live demonstrations, and 36 were gastrointestinal teleconferences with interactive discussions. The frame rate of the transmitted pictures was 30/s, thus preserving smooth high‐quality streaming.

Conclusions

This paper documents the first time that an advanced tele‐endoscopy system has been established over such a wide area using academic high‐volume networks, funded by the various governments, and which is now available all over the world. The benefits of a network dedicated to research and education have barely been recognized in the medical community. We believe our cutting‐edge system will be a milestone in endoscopy and will improve the quality of gastrointestinal education, especially with respect to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) procedures.
Climate change in Norway: warm summers limit grouse reproduction
Authors: Selås Vidar , Sonerud Geir A. , Framstad Erik , Kålås John Atle , Kobro Sverre , Pedersen Helge B. , Spidsø Tor K. , Wiig Øystein
Published: December 2010

Grouse and vole numbers may peak after peaks in the seed crop of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) because of reduced levels of feeding deterrents in bilberry plants. We predicted that grouse reproduction depends also on summer (June–September) temperatures in the 2 previous years, because bilberry plants will be less exhausted after a high seed crop in or after warm summers, and thus rebuild their chemical defence more quickly. After berry peak years, population indices of capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) and bank vole (Myodes glareolus) in southern Norway were negatively related to summer temperatures in the previous year or previous 2 years. Willow grouse (Lagopus lagopus) chick production in five areas in Norway was negatively related to summer temperatures in the 2 previous years when controlling for vole density. A similar pattern was found for the bilberry‐feeding moth (Eulithis populata), an important prey for grouse chicks. In eastern Norway, autumn densities of capercaillie and black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) were more likely to peak in vole peak years at high altitudes, where summer temperatures are low. We conclude that high summer temperatures may limit grouse reproduction through the effect on bilberry plants and that a warm climate thus adversely affects population levels of grouse.
Erratum: Isolated Diaphyseal Fractures of the Radius in Skeletally Immature Patients
Authors: Guitton Thierry G. , van Dijk C. Niek , Raaymakers Ernst L. , Ring David
Published: December 2010

Erratum to: HAND (2010) 5:251–255

DOI 10.1007/s11552-009-9238-z

The name of the second author, C. Niek van Dijk, was displayed incorrectly. We apologize for the error.