bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
INHOMOGENEOUS d-WAVE SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND ANTIFERROMAGNETISM IN A TWO-DIMENSIONAL EXTENDED HUBBARD MODEL WITH NEAREST-NEIGHBOR ATTRACTIVE INTERACTION
Authors: SU W. P.
Published: May 2007

To understand the interplay of d-wave superconductivity and antiferromagnetism, we consider a two-dimensional extended Hubbard model with nearest neighbor attractive interaction. The Hamiltonian is solved in the mean field approximation on a finite lattice. In the impurity-free case, the minimum energy solutions show phase separation as predicted previously based on free energy argument. The phase separation tendency implies that the system can be easily rendered inhomogeneous by a small external perturbation. Explicit solutions of a model including weak impurity potentials are indeed inhomogeneous in the spin-density-wave and d-wave pairing order parameters. Relevance of the results to the inhomogeneous cuprate superconductors is discussed.
ADSORPTION OF HYDROGEN ON β-Ga2O3(100): A THEORETICAL STUDY
Authors: GONZALEZ ESTELA A. , JASEN PAULA V. , LUNA CARLA R. , JUAN ALFREDO
Published: May 2007

We have modeled the (100) surface of β- Ga2O3with a clear-cut optimization from ab initio calculations. The adsorption geometry of one hydrogen atom on this surface was determined by a semi-empirical quantum chemistry method. H is found bonded to a tetrahedral Ga atom and no bond with surface oxygen atoms is detected. As a consequence of this Ga – H bond, the Ga – O overlap population decreases. This result is in good agreement with the recent spectroscopic determination of Ga – H IR frequencies on supported catalysts. The orbital composition of the Ga – H bond and density of states of tetrahedral and octahedral gallium ions, Ga ( I ), Ga ( II ), and that of oxygen before and after H adsorption are also addressed.
THERMODYNAMIC AND KINETIC ANALYSES OF SYNTHESIZING ZrB2@Al(OH)3–Y(OH)3 CORE–SHELL COMPOSITE PARTICLES
Authors: SONG JIEGUANG , ZHANG LIANMENG , LI JUNGUO , SONG JIANRONG
Published: May 2007

ZrB 2 has some excellent performances, but it is easily oxidized at high temperatures to impact the high-temperature strength, which restricts its applied range. To protect from the oxidization and improve the strength of ZrB 2 at high temperature, the surface of ZrB 2 particles is coated with the Al ( OH )3– Y ( OH )3 shell to synthesize ZrB 2@ Al ( OH )3– Y ( OH )3 core–shell composite particles. Through the thermodynamic and kinetic analyses of the heterogeneous nucleation and homogeneous nucleation, the concentration product of precursor ion ( Y 3+ or Al 3+) and OH - (Qi) must be greater than the solubility product (K sp ), respectively; the conditions of Y 3+ and Al 3+ are reached to produce Al ( OH )3– Y ( OH )3 shell on the ZrB 2 surface between the Y 3+ line and the AlO 2- line. Through TEM and XRD analyses, ZrB 2@ Al ( OH )3– Y ( OH )3 core–shell composite particles are successfully synthesized by the co-precipitation method, the shell layer quality is better at pH = 9, which established the foundation for preparing high-performance YAG / ZrB 2 and Al 2 O 3– YAG / ZrB 2 multiphase ceramic materials.
RATIONAL DYNAMICS AND EPISTEMIC LOGIC IN GAMES
Authors: VAN BENTHEM JOHAN
Published: May 2007

Game-theoretic solution concepts describe sets of strategy profiles that are optimal for all players in some plausible sense. Such sets are often found by recursive algorithms like iterated removal of strictly dominated strategies in strategic games, or backward induction in extensive games. Standard logical analyses of solution sets use assumptions about players in fixed epistemic models for a given game, such as mutual knowledge of rationality. In this paper, we propose a different perspective, analyzing solution algorithms as processes of learning which change game models. Thus, strategic equilibrium gets linked to fixed-points of operations of repeated announcement of suitable epistemic statements. This dynamic stance provides a new look at the current interface of games, logic, and computation.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONSTRAINTS UNDER AMBIGUITY: A GAME-THEORETIC APPROACH
Authors: BASILI MARCELLO , FONTINI FULVIO
Published: May 2007

In the paper a game between private and public individuals is set in order to study under which conditions the former would like to limit ex-ante the choices of the latter. Ambiguity, as distinguished from risk, is explicitly introduced by means of capacities and Choquet Expected Utility. It is shown that constitutional constraints are necessary to prevent private individuals from being exploited by public individuals whenever citizens feel a too high level of ambiguity.
TRANSFORMING GAMES FROM CHARACTERISTIC INTO NORMAL FORM
Authors: GAMBARELLI GIANFRANCO
Published: May 2007

A technique is proposed to represent games in characteristic function form as games in normal form, enabling the former to exploit the concepts of solution of the latter. A new solution for games in characteristic function form is then introduced and some properties are found. A generalization of a result of von Neumann and Morgenstern is thus obtained.
BANKRUPTCY RULES AND COALITIONAL MANIPULATION
Authors: MORENO-TERNERO JUAN D.
Published: May 2007

In this paper, we study the immunity of bankruptcy rules to manipulation via merging or splitting agents' claims. We focus on the TAL-family of bankruptcy rules (Moreno-Ternero & Villar, 2005), a one-parameter family encompassing three classical rules: the Talmud (T) rule, the constrained equal-awards (A) rule and the constrained equal-losses (L) rule. We show that all rules within the TAL-family are partially non-manipulable and identify the domain of problems where each rule is either non-manipulable by merging or non-manipulable by splitting. We also show that they can be ranked in terms of their relative non-manipulability, according to the parameter that generates the family.
GAME FORMATS AS CHU SPACES
Authors: VANNUCCI STEFANO
Published: May 2007

It is argued that when morphisms are ignored virtually all coalitional, strategic and extensive game formats as currently employed in the extant game-theoretic literature may be presented in a fairly natural way as (concrete categories over) discrete subcategories of Chu(Set,2). Moreover, under a suitable choice of coalitional morphisms, coalitional game formats are shown to be (concrete categories over) full subcategories of Chu(Set,2).
HETEROGENEOUS RECOMBINATION OF O ATOMS ON METAL SURFACES
Authors: MOZETIC MIRAN , CVELBAR UROS
Published: May 2007

A study on recombination of neutral oxygen atoms on the surface of different metals is presented. The source of oxygen atoms was a weakly ionized highly dissociated oxygen plasma created in an inductively coupled radio-frequency discharge. Ionized particles as well as excited molecules were effectively recombined and de-excited on the walls of a noncatalytic tube between the discharge and the experimental chamber, so the gas in the latter consisted only of well-thermalized neutral molecules and atoms. The density of oxygen atoms in the experimental chamber was measured with a catalytic probe. Depending on discharge parameters, the O density was between 2×1020 and 5×1021 m-3. Thin foils of different metals were mounted in the experimental chamber and exposed to oxygen atoms. Due to heterogeneous surface recombination of oxygen atoms on the surface of the samples, the metal temperature was increased well above the ambient temperature. The recombination coefficient was calculated from the foil temperature using physical formalism. Among the materials tested the highest recombination coefficient of 0.41 was found for pure polycrystalline iron. The recombination coefficient for flat and well-oxidized nickel, copper, stainless steel, and niobium were found to be 0.27, 0.23, 0.07, and 0.09, respectively, while the recombination coefficient for nanostructured niobium was 0.8. The accuracy of these values was estimated to be about 30%.
COKING MECHANISM AND PROMOTER DESIGN FOR Ni-BASED CATALYSTS: A FIRST PRINCIPLES STUDY
Authors: XU JING , SAEYS MARK
Published: May 2007

Based on a first principles study of the interaction of carbon with Ni (111), a new way is proposed to improve the coking resistance of Ni -based catalysts. Three forms of chemisorbed carbon—on-surface carbon atoms, bulk nickel carbide and graphene — are distinguished and their relative stability is studied. At low coverages, on-surface carbon atoms will diffuse to the Ni bulk until saturation at a C:Ni mole fraction of about 1:2. The formation of the carbide will affect the catalytic properties of Ni and might lead to catalyst deactivation. When the on-surface carbon can accumulate to high coverages, formation of a graphene overlayer becomes preferred, leading to surface blocking and catalyst deactivation. Boron was found to be a potential promoter to prevent coking of Ni -based catalysts by effectively blocking the diffusion of carbon into the Ni bulk.
SHAPE AND SIZE CONTROL OF BARIUM COMPOUND NANOPARTICLES USING MICROEMULSION
Authors: NOMURA TOSHIYUKI , MORI TOSHIHIRO , KONISHI YASUHIRO
Published: May 2007

The shape and size control of barium compound nanoparticles (barium chromate, barium sulfate, barium carbonate) was examined using the water-in-oil microemulsion as nanometer-sized reaction medium. The barium compound nanoparticles were synthesized using the microemulsion formed by AOT as an anionic surfactant and iso-octane as an organic solvent. Chromate, sulfate, or carbonate-containing microemulsion solution and Ba(AOT) 2 reverse micelle solution were mixed. After a few days, the morphology of the product material was observed using TEM. Then, bundle of the nanowire, chain structure of the nanorod, superlattice structure of the nanodot, and dispersed nanodot were synthesized by changing material concentration and material molar ratio. It has been shown that the aspect ratio of the generated particles decreased with increase in the anionic ion concentration. In contrast, the aspect ratio did not change even if the barium ion concentration changed. The surfactant AOT has selectively adsorbed on the specific crystal faces and suppressed their crystal growth. And, the generated particles were self-organized by the hydrophobic interaction of hydrophobic group of the AOT molecule adsorbed onto the particle. In conclusion, it was clarified that the supersaturation ratio and the particle–surfactant interaction were important factors for controlling the shape and size of the inorganic nanoparticles.
MODIFICATION IN MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF POLYMERS BY 10 keV ELECTRON BEAM
Authors: VIJAY Y. K. , ACHARYA N. K. , KULSHRESTHA V. , SINGH M. , SHARMA B. K. , MARSHAL D. , CHOI J. S.
Published: May 2007

The effect of UV–IR radiation and electron on polymers has been widely studied. However, independent irradiation effects in different energy domain of electron are of greater interest. We have installed 10 keV electron beam which has zero background of UV–IR using solenoid guided electron beam upto 100 nA/cm2. The effect of electron beam changes the microstructure upto a few microns of polymers, which results in the variation in the physical, chemical, and gas permeation properties. The polymer membrane of 25 μm is exposed to an electron beam with 50 μm grid structure on the top. The RGA spectra of polymers during the irradiation were recorded. The optical micrograph shows a depression on the surface due to electron impact and scission of the polymer chains. The gas permeation also gets modified in such a way that permeation rate was higher from the irradiation side.
GENERALIZED IRREGULAR SAMPLING IN SHIFT-INVARIANT SPACES
Authors: GARCÍA ANTONIO G. , PÉREZ-VILLALÓN GERARDO
Published: May 2007

This article concerns the problem of stable recovering of any function in a shift-invariant space from irregular samples of some filtered versions of the function itself. These samples arise as a perturbation of regular samples. The starting point is the generalized regular sampling theory which allows any function f in a shift-invariant space to be recovered from the samples at {rn}n∈ℤof s filtered versions [Formula: see text] of f, where the number of channels s is greater or equal than the sampling period r. These regular samples can be expressed as the frame coefficients of a function related to f in L2(0,1) with respect to certain frame for L2(0,1). The irregular samples are also obtained as a perturbation of the aforesaid frame. As a natural consequence, the irregular sampling results arise from the theory of perturbation of frames. The paper concludes by putting the theory to work in some spline examples where Kadec-type results are obtained.
SPECTRA AND FILTERING: A CLARIFICATION
Authors: BRUNEAU CH.-H. , FISCHER P.
Published: May 2007

Filtering methods have been introduced in the early nineties, in 1988 by Farge et al. for a wavelet filtering, in 1987 by Benzi et al. and in 1994 by Borue for a direct cut-off filtering. The aim of these methods is to filter the velocity and/or the vorticity fields of two-dimensional turbulence experiments in order to enhance the various components of the fluid. Using this king of methods allows us to separate the vortices from the background essentially composed by vorticity filaments. We have also shown the ability of the wavelet packets in performing this filtering. However, we had underestimated, like Borue in 1994, the influence of the filtering process in the computation of the energy and/or enstrophy spectra. We will show in the present paper how the introduction of discontinuities due to the filtering process can subsequently modify the spectra.
COMPLETION OF MULTIVARIATE WAVELETS
Authors: BHATT GHANSHYAM , KEINERT FRITZ
Published: May 2007

The construction of wavelet functions from known scaling functions is called the 'completion problem'. Completion algorithms exist for univariate wavelets, including multiwavelets. For multivariate wavelets, however, completion is not always possible. We present a new algorithm (a generalization of a method of Lai) which works in many cases.
The Construction of a New Evaluative GERD Questionnaire – Methods and State of the Art
Authors: Armstrong David , Mönnikes Hubert , Bardhan Karna Dev , Stanghellini Vincenzo
Published: May 2007

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, and it is becoming increasingly important to monitor the effect of various interventions on GERD symptoms. There can be rapid temporal changes in the severity and frequency of patients’ symptoms as well as their health status and well-being, all of which could, theoretically, be monitored using diaries or questionnaires. However, current GERD monitoring instruments are not appropriate because they do not assess symptoms daily, they are not sufficiently responsive to short-term changes in health status or they are not adequately validated. To address these problems, the conceptual and psychometric requirements for a GERD symptom assessment questionnaire were identified. A dimension-based scale was designed to reduce the number of symptoms monitored on a daily basis, and the validation process was defined to produce parallel long and short forms of a scale for patients’ self-assessment of their GERD symptom response to therapy. These basic principles which underlie the successful development of a new, self-assessed symptomatic reflux questionnaire (ReQuest™) are also applicable to the development of validated questionnaires for daily symptom self- assessment in other disease areas.
Process of Measuring in Clinical Medicine – Implications of Different Definitions in Clinical Therapeutic Studies
Authors: Beckerling Andree , Braun Waldemar , Sommer Michael
Published: May 2007

Often, the decision whether a patient can be considered as healthy or ill is very difficult and depends on measurements and the interpretation of the results. Therefore, it is necessary to build and establish devices that base on certain pre-considerations (who should assess the data, when and how should be measured). Additionally, these devices have to be valid, reliable and responsive. According to the literature we came to the conclusion that no uniform definition of what is ‘healthy’ exists. Referring to mathematical considerations we show an approach to solve this problem especially when the device is a scale. Based on the quality of the scale and of certain pre-considerations, normal ranges can be established that will help to distinguish whether patients are ‘healthy‘ or ‘ill’. In this short review we discuss the problem of the establishment of a cut-off level on the basis of devices and we try to point out a solution to solve the arising problems.
International Validation of ReQuest™ in Patients with Endoscopy-Negative Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease
Authors: Bardhan K.D. , Stanghellini V. , Armstrong D. , Berghöfer P. , Gatz G. , Mönnikes H.
Published: May 2007

Background: Reflux Questionnaire (ReQuest™), a newly developed gastro-oesophageal reflux disease-sensitive scale, can be used to reliably evaluate the effect of treatment on gastro-oesophageal reflux disease symptoms. Aim: International validation of this scale, in patients suffering from endoscopy-negative gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Methods: In this open, multicentre and multinational clinical trial 840 endoscopy-negative gastro-oesophageal reflux disease patients received pantoprazole 20 mg daily for 28 days. The long and short versions of ReQuest™ were completed both in the pre-treatment and treatment phases. For scale development an item reduction analysis was performed. Internal consistency, test–retest reliability and responsiveness were calculated for psychometric analysis. Construct validity was evaluated by comparison with the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale and the Psychological General Well-being questionnaire by means of correlation coefficients. Results: Factor analyses confirmed the content validity of both long and short version of ReQuest™. Psychometric calculations proved high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.9), test–retest reliability [Intraclass Correlation Coefficient: 0.9 (long vs. long) and 0.8 (short vs. short)], and responsiveness (Responsiveness Index 320.3) of the scale, for which also good construct validity was achieved (correlation coefficient: Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale 0.6; Psychological General Well-being –0.4). Conclusion: ReQuest™ proved valid, reliable, and responsive in this multinational clinical trial to evaluate treatment response in endoscopy-negative gastro-oesophageal reflux disease patients.
Determination of ReQuestTM-Based Symptom Thresholds to Define Symptom Relief in GERD Clinical Studies
Authors: Stanghellini Vincenzo , Armstrong David , Mönnikes Hubert , Berghöfer Peter , Gatz Gudrun , Bardhan Karna Dev
Published: May 2007

Background/Aims: The growing importance of symptom assessment is evident from the numerous clinical studies on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) assessing treatment-induced symptom relief. However, to date, the a priori selection of criteria defining symptom relief has been arbitrary. The present study was designed to prospectively identify GERD symptom thresholds for the broad spectrum of GERD-related symptoms assessed by the validated reflux questionnaire (ReQuestTM) and its subscales, ReQuestTM-GI (gastrointestinal symptoms) and ReQuestTM-WSO (general well-being, sleep disturbances, other complaints), in individuals without evidence of GERD. Methods: In this 4-day evaluation in Germany, 385 individuals without evidence of GERD were included. On the first day, participants completed the ReQuestTM, the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, and the Psychological General Well-Being scale. On the other days, participants filled in the ReQuestTM only. GERD symptom thresholds were calculated for ReQuestTM and its subscales, based on the respective 90th percentiles. Results: GERD symptom thresholds were 3.37 for ReQuestTM, 0.95 for ReQuestTM-GI, and 2.46 for ReQuestTM-WSO. Conclusion: Even individuals without evidence of GERD may experience some mild symptoms that are commonly ascribed to GERD. GERD symptom thresholds derived in this study can be used to define the global symptom relief in patients with GERD.
Challenges in Harmonizing Energy and Nutrient Recommendations in Europe
Authors: Pavlovic Mirjana , Prentice Ann , Thorsdottir Inga , Wolfram Gunther , Branca Francesco
Published: May 2007

At the present time, there is considerable diversity in the dietary reference values and recommendations used across Europe, both in terms of terminology and guideline values. Harmonization of dietary reference values would be beneficial in simplifying nutritional policy, trade, and public understanding of diet and health issues. However, this is not a simple task because of the differences in methodological approaches adopted and the assumptions made. In addition, there are genuine differences in diet, lifestyle and geography that may necessitate retaining variation in some dietary reference values between European nations. The complexities of harmonization were discussed at a recent symposium held under the auspices of the Federation of European Nutrition Societies (FENS). This provided overviews of the different terminologies currently in use, of the variations in reference values for children and adolescents, and of the disparities between different groups of countries in Europe. The symposium hosted by FENS provided a forum to exchange views and to consider the steps that will be needed if harmonization is to be realized in the future. A summary of the presentations and conclusions is presented here.
Does Drug-target Have a Likeness?
Authors: Xu H. , Fang Y. , Yao L. , Chen Y. , Chen X.
Published: May 2007

Objective:
The discovery of new targets that are sufficiently robust to yield marketable therapeutics is an enormous challenge. Conventional target identification approaches are disease-dependent, which require heavy experimental workload and comprehensive domain knowledge. In this work, we propose that a disease-independent property of proteins, “drug-target likeness”, can be explored to facilitate the genomic scale target screening in the post-genomic age.

Methods:
ASupport Vector Machine (SVM) classifier was trained to recognize target and non-target protein sequences compiled from the Therapeutic Target Database, Drug Bank, and PFam. Protein sequences are encoded by theircomposition, transition and distribution features of residues and Gaussian kernel function was used in SVM classification.

Results:
SVM with a fine-tuned kernel width records 66.4 ± 5.1% of sensitivity and 97.2 ± 0.6% of specificity, corresponding to an overall target prediction accuracy of 94.4 ± 0.8%.

Conclusions:
Though primitive, these results suggest that, similar to the “drug likeness” for small chemicals, their binding partners, drug targets, also display shared features which are reflected in their sequences and can be captured bystatistical learning approaches. Further research on how to accurately and interpretably measure the likeness of protein being a drug target is promising. Inspired bythe progress of “drug likeness” studies, advances in protein descriptors, statistical learning algorithms and more comprehensive and accurate gold-standard data set from disease biology research may help to further define the “drug-target likeness” property of proteins.
Automatic Generation of 3D Statistical Shape Models with Optimal Landmark Distributions
Authors: Wolf I. , Meinzer H.-P. , Heimann T.
Published: May 2007

Objectives:
To point out the problem of non-uniform landmark placement in statistical shape modeling, to present an improved method for generating landmarks in the 3D case and to propose an unbiased evaluation metric to determine model quality.

Methods:
Our approach minimizes a cost function based on the minimum description length (MDL) of the shape model to optimize landmark correspondences over the training set. In addition to the standard technique, we employ an extended remeshing method to change the landmark distribution without losing correspondences, thus ensuring a uniform distribution over all training samples. To breakthe dependency of the established evaluation measures generalization and specificity from the landmark distribution, we change the internal metric from landmark distance to volumetric overlap.

Results:
Redistributing landmarks to an equally spaced distribution during the model construction phase improves the quality of the resulting models significantly if the shapes feature prominent bulges or other complex geometry.

Conclusions:
The distribution of landmarks on the training shapes is – beyond the correspondence issue – a crucial point in model construction.
A Geometric Model of the Beating Heart
Authors: Lorenz C. , Berg J. von
Published: May 2007

Objectives
: A comprehensive model of the human heart that covers multiple surfaces, like those of the four chambers and the attached vessels, is presented. It also contains the coronary arteries and a set of 25 anatomical landmarks. The statistical model is intended to provide a priori information for automated diagnostic and interventional procedures.

Methods
: The end-diastolic phase of the model was adapted to fit 27 clinical multi-slice computed tomography images, thus reflecting the anatomical variability to be observed in that sample. A mean cardiac motion model was also calculated from a set of eleven multi-phase computed tomography image sets. A number of experiments were performed to determine the accuracy of model-based predictions done on unseen cardiac images.

Results
: Using an additional deformable surface technique, the model allows for determination of all chambers and the attached vessels on the basis of given anatomical landmarks with an average accuracy of 1.1 mm. After such an individualization of the model by surface adaptation the centerlines of the three main coronary arteries may be estimated with an average accuracy of 5.2 mm. The mean motion model was used to estimate the cardiac phase of an unknown multislice computed tomography image.

Conclusion
: The mean shape model of the human heart as presented here complements automated image analysis methods with the required a priori information about anatomical constraints to make them work fast and robustly.
Spatially Varying Elasticity in Image Registration
Authors: Franz A. , Fischer B. , Kabus S.
Published: May 2007

Objectives:
In this paper we are concerned with elastic image registration. Usually, elastic approaches assume constant material parameters and result in a smooth displacement field. However, a constant choice has its shortcomings for images with varying elastic properties, like bones and soft tissue. The proposed method allows forspatially varying material properties.

Methods:
The proposed variational registration scheme is based on a segmentation of the template image. Individual material properties can be assigned to each segmented region. The proposed variable elastic regulariser leads to a displacement field which is adapted to the locally chosen material properties.

Results:
The capability of this approach is demonstrated by a synthetic and by real-life examples in two dimensions. For all examples the proposed method is compared to a conventional scheme where the material parameters are constants in the entire image domain.

Conclusions:
A method for non-parametric registration which supports spatially varying elastic properties such as (in)compressibility or Young’s modulus in certain image regions is proposed. It allows for registration results to be more realistic compared to conventional approaches. Also, for a particular structure, an approximated preservation of volume or shape can be achieved.
Incomplete Stent Apposition and Very Late Stent Thrombosis After Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation
Authors: Cook Stéphane , Wenaweser Peter , Togni Mario , Billinger Michael , Morger Cyrill , Seiler Christian , Vogel Rolf , Hess Otto , Meier Bernhard , Windecker Stephan
Published: May 2007

Background—

Stent thrombosis may occur late after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation, and its cause remains unknown. The present study investigated differences of the stented segment between patients with and without very late stent thrombosis with the use of intravascular ultrasound.

Methods and Results—

Since January 2004, patients presenting with very late stent thrombosis (>1 year) after DES implantation underwent intravascular ultrasound. Findings in patients with very late stent thrombosis were compared with intravascular ultrasound routinely obtained 8 months after DES implantation in 144 control patients, who did not experience stent thrombosis for ≥2 years. Very late stent thrombosis was encountered in 13 patients at a mean of 630±166 days after DES implantation. Compared with DES controls, patients with very late stent thrombosis had longer lesions (23.9±16.0 versus 13.3±7.9 mm;
P
<0.001) and stents (34.6±22.4 versus 18.6±9.5 mm;
P
<0.001), more stents per lesion (1.6±0.9 versus 1.1±0.4;
P
<0.001), and stent overlap (39% versus 8%;
P
<0.001). Vessel cross-sectional area was similar for the reference segment (cross-sectional area of the external elastic membrane: 18.9±6.9 versus 20.4±7.2 mm
2
;
P
=0.46) but significantly larger for the in-stent segment (28.6±11.9 versus 20.1±6.7 mm
2
;
P
=0.03) in very late stent thrombosis patients compared with DES controls. Incomplete stent apposition was more frequent (77% versus 12%;
P
<0.001) and maximal incomplete stent apposition area was larger (8.3±7.5 versus 4.0±3.8 mm
2
;
P
=0.03) in patients with very late stent thrombosis compared with controls.

Conclusions—

Incomplete stent apposition is highly prevalent in patients with very late stent thrombosis after DES implantation, suggesting a role in the pathogenesis of this adverse event.
Multi-Fingered Grasping and Manipulation in Virtual Environments Using an Isometric Finger Device
Authors: Kurillo Gregorij , Mihelj Matjaž , Munih Marko , Bajd Tadej
Published: May 2007

In this article we present a new isometric input device for multi-fingered grasping in virtual environments. The device was designed to simultaneously assess forces applied by the thumb, index, and middle finger. A mathematical model of grasping, adopted from the analysis of multi-fingered robot hands, was applied to achieve multi-fingered interaction with virtual objects. We used the concept of visual haptic feedback where the user was presented with visual cues to acquire haptic information from the virtual environment. The virtual object corresponded dynamically to the forces and torques applied by the three fingers. The application of the isometric finger device for multi-fingered interaction is demonstrated in four tasks aimed at the rehabilitation of hand function in stroke patients. The tasks include opening the combination lock on a safe, filling and pouring water from a glass, muscle strength training with an elastic torus, and a force tracking task. The training tasks were designed to train patients' grip force coordination and increase muscle strength through repetitive exercises. The presented virtual reality system was evaluated in a group of healthy subjects and two post-stroke patients (early post-stroke and chronic) to obtain overall performance results. The healthy subjects demonstrated consistent performance with the finger device after the first few trials. The two post-stroke patients completed all four tasks, however, with much lower performance scores as compared to healthy subjects. The results of the preliminary assessment suggest that the patients could further improve their performance through virtual reality training.
Assimilating Vortex Position with an Ensemble Kalman Filter
Authors: Chen Yongsheng , Snyder Chris
Published: May 2007

Observations of hurricane position, which in practice might be available from satellite or radar imagery, can be easily assimilated with an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) given an operator that computes the position of the vortex in the background forecast. The simple linear updating scheme used in the EnKF is effective for small displacements of forecasted vortices from the true position; this situation is operationally relevant since hurricane position is often available frequently in time. When displacements of the forecasted vortices are comparable to the vortex size, non-Gaussian effects become significant and the EnKF’s linear update begins to degrade. Simulations using a simple two-dimensional barotropic model demonstrate the potential of the technique and show that the track forecast initialized with the EnKF analysis is improved. The assimilation of observations of the vortex shape and intensity, along with position, extends the technique’s effectiveness to larger displacements of the forecasted vortices than when assimilating position alone.
On the Interpretation and Utility of Skill Information for Seasonal Climate Predictions
Authors: Kumar Arun
Published: May 2007

In recent years, there has been a steady increase in the emphasis on routine seasonal climate predictions and their potential for enhancing societal benefits and mitigating losses related to climate extremes. It is also suggested by the users, as well as by the producers of climate predictions, that for informed decision making, real-time seasonal climate predictions should be accompanied by a corresponding level of skill estimated from a sequence of the past history of forecasts. In this paper it is discussed whether conveying skill information to the user community can indeed deliver the promised benefits or whether issues inherent in the estimates of seasonal prediction skill may still lead to potential misinterpretation of the information content associated with seasonal predictions. Based on the analysis of atmospheric general circulation model simulations, certain well-known, but often underappreciated, issues inherent in the estimates of seasonal prediction skill from the past performance of seasonal forecasts are highlighted. These include the following: 1) the stability of estimated skill depends on the length of the time series over which seasonal forecasts are verified, leading to scenarios where error bars on the estimated skill could be of the same magnitude as the skill itself; 2) a single estimate of skill obtained from the verification over a given forecast time series, because of variation in the signal-to-noise ratio from one year to another, is generally not representative of seasonal prediction skill conditional to sea surface temperature anomalies on a case-by-case basis. These issues raise questions on the interpretation, presentation, and utilization of skill information for seasonal prediction efforts and present opportunities for increased dialogue and the exploration of ways for their optimal utilization by decision makers.
Model Wind over the Central and Southern California Coastal Ocean
Authors: Hsu Hsiao-ming , Oey Lie-Yauw , Johnson Walter , Dorman Clive , Hodur Richard
Published: May 2007

Recent studies have shown the importance of high-resolution wind in coastal ocean modeling. This paper tests the Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS) at the 9-, 27-, and 81-km grid resolutions in simulating wind off the central and southern California coasts, including the Santa Barbara Channel (SBC). The test period is March–May (1999) when the wind changes from its characteristics more typical of winter, to spring when strong gradients exist in the SBC. The model results were checked against wind station time series, Special Sensor Microwave Imager wind speeds, and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis. The high-resolution (9-km grid) COAMPS wind shows expansion fans downwind of major capes where speed increases. The large-scale [O(100 km)] wind turns onshore in the Southern California Bight where both wind and wind stress curl weaken southward along the coast. The formation and evolution of the Catalina eddies are also simulated. These general features agree with observations. The turning appears to be the cumulative effect of synoptic cyclones shed downwind of Point Conception during periods of intense northerly wind. The turning and eddies are much weaker in the ECMWF reanalysis or the COAMPS field at the 81-km grid. Near the coast, observed small-scale (tens of kilometers) structures are reasonably reproduced by COAMPS at the 9-km grid. Results from the 9-km grid generally compare better with observations than the 27-km grid, suggesting that a more accurate model wind may be obtained at even higher resolution. However, in the SBC, simulated winds at both the 9- and 27-km grids show along-channel coherency during May, contrary to observations. The observed winds in the channel appear to be of small localized scales (≈<10 km) and would require an improved model grid and perhaps also boundary layer physics to simulate.
The Predictive Skill and the Most Predictable Pattern in the Tropical Atlantic: The Effect of ENSO
Authors: Hu Zeng-Zhen , Huang Bohua
Published: May 2007

This work investigates the predictive skill and most predictable pattern in the NCEP Climate Forecast System (CFS) in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The skill is measured by the sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly correlation between the predictions and the corresponding analyses, and the most predictable patterns are isolated by an empirical orthogonal function analysis with a maximized signal-to-noise ratio. On average, for predictions with initial conditions (ICs) of all months, the predictability of SST is higher in the west than in the east. The highest skill is near the tropical Brazilian coast and in the Caribbean Sea, and the lowest skill occurs in the eastern coast. Seasonally, the skill is higher for predictions with ICs in summer or autumn and lower for those with ICs in spring. The CFS poorly predicts the meridional gradient in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The superiority of the CFS predictions to the persistence forecasts depends on IC month, region, and lead time. The CFS prediction is generally better than the corresponding persistence forecast when the lead time is longer than 3 months. The most predictable pattern of SST in March has the same sign in almost the whole tropical Atlantic. The corresponding pattern in March is dominated by the same sign for geopotential height at 200 hPa in most of the domain and by significant opposite variation for precipitation between the northwestern tropical North Atlantic and the regions from tropical South America to the southwestern tropical North Atlantic. These predictable signals mainly result from the influence of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The significant values in the most predictable pattern of precipitation in the regions from tropical South America to the southwestern tropical North Atlantic in March are associated with excessive divergence (convergence) at low (high) levels over these regions in the CFS. For the CFS, the predictive skill in the tropical Atlantic Ocean is largely determined by its ability to predict ENSO. This is due to the strong connection between ENSO and the most predictable patterns in the tropical Atlantic Ocean in the model. The higher predictive skill of tropical North Atlantic SST is consistent with the ability of the CFS to predict ENSO on interseasonal time scales, particularly for the ICs in warm months from March to October. In the southeastern ocean, the systematic warm bias is a crucial factor leading to the low skill in this region.
Social Policies Designed to Prevent Sexual Violence
Authors: Levenson Jill S. , D'Amora David A.
Published: May 2007

Sex crimes provoke fear and anger among citizens, leading to the development of social policies designed to prevent sexual violence. The most common policies passed in recent years have included sex offender registration, community notification (Megan's Law), residence restrictions, civil commitment, and electronic monitoring. This article reviews the history of current sexual offender policies, their development, and their implementation. These policies do not appear to be evidence based in their development and implementation because they are founded largely on myths rather than on facts. Little empirical investigation has been conducted to evaluate sex offender policies, but extant research does not suggest that these policies achieve their goals of preventing sex crimes, protecting children, or increasing public safety. The authors make recommendations for more effective legislative solutions, including enlisting media in the promulgation of evidence-based information, creating policies that use risk assessment strategies to identify high risk offenders, and facilitating a more efficient distribution of resources that reserves the most intensive restrictions and interventions for the most dangerous offenders.
Possible Metoprolol-Induced Hyperkalemia
Authors: Hawboldt John , McGrath Debra
Published: May 2007

Hyperkalemia can be a life-threatening event due to the risk of potentially fatal arrhythmias. Hyperkalemia has been reported in 1.3% (serum potassium greater than 6.0 mEq/mL) to 10% (greater than 5.3 mEq/mL) of patients. Hyperkalemia secondary to beta-adrenergic receptor blockade can occur in 1% to 5% of patients and is more likely to occur in non-cardio-selective beta-blockers versus cardio-selective beta-blockers. This case report describes hyperkalemia in a 72-year-old female with diabetes and underlying chronic renal failure receiving metoprolol. Chronically, potassium balance is maintained by the kidney. In acute situations, such as a larger than normal potassium load, both the kidney and the body's cells react to maintain normal potassium levels. Generally, hyperkalemia occurs secondary to 3 mechanisms: excessive potassium intake, disturbed cellular uptake of potassium, or impaired renal excretion of potassium. Beta-blockers, when used in patients with comorbidities such as renal dysfunction or insulin insufficiency, can potentially cause hyperkalemia. As demonstrated in this case report, hyperkalemia can occur in patients treated with cardio-selective beta-blockers with concurrent risk factors. Health care professionals need to be aware of this potentially life-threatening event to effectively prevent occurrences of beta-blocker-induced hyperkalemia.
The Odden High School Fiasco
Authors: Torres Mario S. , Scheurich James Joseph
Published: May 2007

The clash of values between the principal and the community has political ramifications for how policies are developed and implemented. This case study describes a situation in which an African American principal in a White-dominant but increasingly diverse rural school district tests the limits of a community by enforcing a tardy policy for the students. The tensions between the community and its wishes, on one hand, and the principal's enforcement of a new policy, on the other, converge to create a dilemma with enormous implications. In particular, the principal's implementation and regulation of policies are likely to have serious ramifications for how the principal will be embraced by the community. To address this issue and its broader implications, this case narrative contains topics selected to promote dialogue about the development of policies in White-dominant but increasingly diverse rural communities where the principals' race and values vary greatly from those of the parents and students.
Preparation of α-MnO2 Nanorods and Co3O4 Submicrooctahedrons by Molten Salt Route
Authors: Ran Songlin , Gao Lian
Published: May 2007

α-MnO2 nanorods and Co3O4 submicroctahedrons have been obtained by simple molten salt preparation route using cheap reagents. Particle size and morphology of the powders were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM).
Fundamentals and Applications of Soluble Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Nakashima Naotoshi , Fujigaya Tsuyohiko
Published: May 2007

In this review article, we describe i) a strategy for individual solubilization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in water or organic solvents and ii) some fundamental properties and applications of the solubilized SWNTs.
Seeding Method for Three-dimensional Dendritic Growth of Gold Nanoparticles Stabilized by Hexatrimethylammonium Bromide
Authors: Lee Jong-Hee , Kamada Kai , Enomoto Naoya , Hojo Junichi
Published: May 2007

Three-dimensional gold dendrites with fractal nanostructure were prepared with HAuCl4 and l-ascorbic acid via seeding growth method in the presence of hexatrimethylammomium bromide (HTAB) as a protecting agent and architecture soft template. Spherical gold, previously generated, plays as a seed for particle growth. The surfactant HTAB helps to induce various branched nanostructures. The growth of first branches on the seeds leads to the formation of second branches by seed amount.
A Mild and Efficient Chemoselective Protection of Primary Alcohols as Pivaloyl Esters Using La(NO3)3·6H2O as a Catalyst under Solvent-free Conditions
Authors: Prabhakar P , Suryakiran N , Venkateswarlu Y
Published: May 2007

Primary alcohols are selectively and efficiently protected as their pivaloyl esters with pivaloyl chloride in the presence of catalytic amounts of La(NO3)3·6H2O at room temperature under solvent-free conditions in excellent yields.
Role of motion signals in recognizing subtle facial expressions of emotion
Authors: Bould Emma , Morris Neil
Published: May 2007

Three studies investigated the importance of movement for the recognition of subtle and intense expressions of emotion. In the first experiment, 36 facial emotion displays were duplicated in three conditions either upright or inverted in orientation. A dynamic condition addressed the perception of motion by using four still frames run together to encapsulate a moving sequence to show the expression emerging from neutral to the subtle emotion. The multi‐static condition contained the same four stills presented in succession, but with a visual noise mask (200 ms) between each frame to disrupt the apparent motion, whilst in the single‐static condition, only the last still image (subtle expression) was presented. Results showed a significant advantage for the dynamic condition, over the single‐ and multi‐static conditions, suggesting that motion signals provide a more accurate and robust mental representation of the expression. A second experiment demonstrated that the advantage of movement was reduced with expressions of a higher intensity, and the results of the third experiment showed that the advantage for the dynamic condition for recognizing subtle emotions was due to the motion signal rather than additional static information contained in the sequence. It is concluded that motion signals associated with the emergence of facial expressions can be a useful cue in the recognition process, especially when the expressions are subtle.
Epizootic of Tularemia in an Outdoor Housed Group of Cynomolgus Monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)
Authors: Mätz-Rensing K. , Floto A. , Schrod A. , Becker T. , Finke E. J. , Seibold E. , Splettstoesser W. D. , Kaup F.-J.
Published: May 2007

Tularemia is a highly contagious infectious zoonosis, transmissible by inoculation, ingestion, or inhalation of the infectious agent Francisella tularensis. The disease is perpetuated by infected rodents, blood-sucking arthropods, and by contaminated water. Therefore, nonhuman primates housed outdoors may be at risk for exposure. An epizootic of F. tularensis occurred in an indoor/outdoor-housed group of cynomolgus monkeys ( Macaca fascicularis) at the German Primate Center. Tularemia was diagnosed in 18 out of 35 animals within a period of 2 years. Six animals died with unspecific clinical symptoms; 12 animals developed seroconversion and were still alive. Pathologic findings were similar in all monkeys that died and resembled the clinical picture of the human disease, including an ulceroglandular syndrome with local lymphadenopathy, gingivostomatitis, and systemic spread, with manifestations such as subacute necrotizing hepatitis, granulomatous splenitis, and pneumonia. Tularemia was diagnosed by culture, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and ELISA techniques. This is the largest outbreak in nonhuman primates and the first report of tularemia in cynomolgus monkeys. An overview of the recent literature about tularemia in nonhuman primates is given.