bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the Three Laws of Gearing
Authors: Dooner David B.
Published: December 2002

Three laws of gearing are presented in terms of a three link 1-dof spatial direct contact mechanism. The first law of gearing defines the instantaneous relationship between an infinitesimal displacement of an output body to an infinitesimal angular displacement of an input body for a specified tooth contact normal. A system of cylindroidal coordinates are introduced to facilitate a universal methodology to parameterize the kinematic geometry of generalized motion transmission between skew axes. The second law of gearing establishes a relation between the instantaneous gear ratio and the apparent radii of the hyperboloidal pitch surface in contact as parameterized using a system of cylindroidal coordinates. The third law of gearing establishes an instantaneous relationship for the relative curvature of two conjugate surfaces in direct contact and shows that this relation is independent of the tooth profile geometry. These three laws of gearing along with the system of cylindroidal coordinates establish, in part, a generalized geometric theory comparable to the existing theory for planar kinematics.
Resistance-training-induced adaptations in skeletal muscle protein turnover in the fed state
Authors: Phillips S M , Parise G , Roy B D , Tipton K D , Wolfe R R , Tarnopolsky M A
Published: November 2002

Resistance training changes the balance of muscle protein turnover, leading to gains in muscle mass. A longitudinal design was employed to assess the effect that resistance training had on muscle protein turnover in the fed state. A secondary goal was investigation of the potential interactive effects of creatine (Cr) monohydrate supple mentation on resistance-training-induced adaptations. Young (N = 19, 23.7 ± 3.2 year), untrained (UT), healthy male subjects completed an 8-week resistance-training program (6 d/week). Supplementation with Cr had no impact on any of the variables studied; hence, all subsequent data were pooled. In the UT and trained (T) state, subjects performed an acute bout of resistance exercise with a single leg (exercised, EX), while their contralateral leg acted as a nonexercised (NE) control. Following exercise, subjects were fed while receiving a primed constant infusion of [d5]- and [15N]-phenylalanine to determine the fractional synthetic and breakdown rates (FSR and FBR), respectively, of skeletal muscle proteins. Acute exercise increased FSR (UT-NE, 0.065 ± 0.025 %/h; UT-EX, 0.088 ± 0.032 %/h; P < 0.01) and FBR (UT-NE, 0.047 ± 0.023 %/h; UT-EX, 0.058 ± 0.026 %/h; P < 0.05). Net balance (BAL = FSR  FBR) was positive in both legs (P < 0.05) but was significantly greater (+65%) in the EX versus the NE leg (P < 0.05). Muscle protein FSR and FBR were greater at rest following T (FSR for T-NE vs. UT-NE, +46%, P < 0.01; FBR for T-NE vs. UT-NE, +81%, P < 0.05). Resistance training attenuated the acute exercise-induced rise in FSR (T-NE vs. T-EX, +20%, P = 0.65). The present results demonstrate that resistance training resulted in an elevated resting muscle protein turnover but an attenuation of the acute response of muscle protein turnover to a single bout of resistance exercise.Key words: myofibrillar protein, hypertrophy, protein synthesis, protein breakdown.
Hippocampal brain amines in methotrexate-induced learning and memory deficit
Authors: Madhyastha Sampath , Somayaji S N , Rao M S , Nalini K , Bairy K Laxminarayana
Published: November 2002

Intrathecal methotrexate in children with leukemia is known to cause seizures, dementia, leukoencephalo pathy, and cognitive dysfunction after long-term treatment. To investigate the cognitive dysfunction, male Wistar rats were given multiple intracerebroventricular injections of methotrexate. Its effect on behaviour was tested in the two-compartment conditioned avoidance task and darkbright arena test. Levels of brain amines in the hippocampal region of the brain were estimated by HPLC. The qualitative and quantitative histopathological changes in the different regions of the hippocampus were studied by cresyl violet staining. Multiple injections (1 or 2 mg/kg) produced convulsions and learning and memory impairment but did not induce anxiolytic activity. They also reduced concentrations of all three brain amines (norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin) and the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. The CA4 region of the hippocampus was severely affected by intraventricular methotrexate. Disruption of brain monoamines has been proposed as a cause of brain dysfunction from this chemotherapy, and that disruption may in turn involve cytotoxic effects of methotrexate on brain tissue. The outcomes of this study may have therapeutic implications in the management of cancer conditions, particularly in childhood lymphoblastic leukemia.Key words: methotrexate, hippocampus, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, learning and memory.
Stereospecific disposition of fluvastatin in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
Authors: Rocha Adriana , Coelho Eduardo Barbosa , Lanchote Vera Lucia
Published: November 2002

The study reports on the stereoselective pharmacokinetics of fluvastatin, a racemic mixture of ()-(3S,5R)- and (+)-(3R,5S)-enantiomers, in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Wistar (control) and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (n = 6/time point) received by oral gavage racemic fluvastatin (5 mg/kg), and blood samples were collected until 24 h. The enantiomers were analysed by chiral HPLC with fluorescence detection. The pharmacokinetic parameters were analysed by Wilcoxon and MannWhitney tests. The results are reported as means (95% CI). The following differences (p < 0.05) were observed between the control and diabetic groups, respectively: maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of ()-(3S,5R), 410.0 (310.0510.0) versus 532.6 (463.5601.8) ng·mL1; area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC0[Formula: see text]) for ()-(3S,5R), 4342.4 (3775.74909.0) versus 3025.2 (2218.93831.5) ng·h·mL1; apparent total clearance (Cl/f) of ()-(3S,5R), 0.6 (0.50.7) versus 0.9 (0.61.1) L·h1·kg1; AUC0[Formula: see text] for (+)-(3R,5S), 493.5 (376.9610.1) versus 758.5 (537.1980.0) ng·h·mL1; and Cl/f of (+)-(3R,5S), 5.3 (3.96.8) versus 3.5 (2.6-4.4) L·h1·kg1. Streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats alters the pharmacokinetics of fluvastatin in a stereoselective manner. Key words: fluvastatin, enantiomers, pharmacokinetics, rats, streptozotocin diabetes.
The contribution of afferent signals from the liver to metabolic regulation during exercise
Authors: Lavoie Jean-Marc
Published: November 2002

The crucial role of the liver as the only organ to produce glucose used by skeletal muscle during exercise is well known. Since hepatic glucose production is central to blood glucose homeostasis during exercise, it has been postulated that the liver may inform the central nervous system and other organs of its diminishing capacity to produce glucose from glycogen, before blood glucose falls. The sensory role of the liver during exercise would be similar to its role in the control of food intake. As a consequence, the experimental approaches used to test the hypothesis that afferent signals from the liver contribute to metabolic regulation during exercise are inspired by those used to test the same hypothesis in the regulation of food intake. In the present review, two questions are addressed. The existing evidence for the liver's sensory influence on metabolic adjustments to exercise is first reviewed; the nature of the initiating stimuli for the afferent contribution of the liver to physical exercise is discussed thereafter. The hypothetical construct upon which rests the contribution of the liver's afferent signals to metabolic regulation during exercise is that a decrease in liver glycogen or a related metabolic intermediate is sensed by the liver, and the signal is transduced to the central nervous system, most likely through the afferent activity of the hepatic vagus nerve, where it contributes to the orchestration of the metabolic and hormonal responses to exercise. Support in favour of this construct comes mainly from the demonstration that sectioning of the hepatic vagus nerve attenuates the normal hormonal response to exercise. It seems that the liverglucagon axis is particularly responsive to this reflex activation. In other respects, the hepatic mechanism responsible for linking the metabolic activity in the liver to an afferent signal capable of regulating the metabolic response to exercise remains speculative. Substrates or derivatives of substrate oxidation, energy-related compounds (ATP and Pi), or changes in cell volume may all be related to changes in transmembrane potential in the liver cell, which according to the "potentiostatic" theory would determine the afferent vagal activity. Key words: hepatic vagotomy, insulin, glucagon, portal infusion, metabolic regulation.
Mucosal inflammation in a genetic model of spontaneous type I diabetes mellitus
Authors: Hardin J A , Donegan L , Woodman R C , Trevenen C , Gall D G
Published: November 2002

The BioBreeding (BB) rat provides a model of spontaneous type I diabetes mellitus that closely resembles the human disease. Diabetes-prone BB rats demonstrate increased intestinal permeability prior to the development of insulinitis. Studies suggest that alterations in intestinal permeability can lead to increased intestinal inflammatory activity. Diabetes-prone (BBdp) and diabetes-resistant (BBdr) BB rats were examined at 45 days and at >70 days of age following the development of clinical disease (BBd). In separate experiments, tissue was assayed for myeloperoxidase (MPO) or fixed for histological assessment and immunohistochemistry. Blood was obtained for leukocyte MPO measurements and morphological assessment of circulating leukocytes. MPO activity was significantly elevated in the distal small intestine of 45-day-old BBdp rats. In contrast, at >70 days of age, MPO activity was significantly increased throughout the small intestine of BBd and non-diabetic BBdp rats. Subsequently, all measurements were performed in >70-day-old rats. An increase in inflammatory infiltrate was noted in the distal small intestine of BBd rats by light microscopy. Infiltrating cells were identified as bands (a maturing cell type of the neutrophil lineage) and mature neutrophils. The findings suggest diabetes susceptibility is associated with an increase in intestinal inflammatory activity.Key words: diabetes, inflammation, myeloperoxidase, jejunum.
Calcium-stimulated short-circuit currents in the canine proximal colonic epithelium: effects of DK-PGD2, a metabolite of prostaglandin D2
Authors: Larsen P , Schleihauf E , Yu H , Prior T , Rangachari P K
Published: November 2002

Prostaglandin D2(PGD2) has marked inhibitory effects on the canine proximal colonic epithelium set up in Ussing chambers. These effects involved a receptor that is pharmacologically distinct from the classical DP, presumably the recently identified CRTH2/DP2 variety. The mechanism underlying these effects was studied using 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGD2(DK-PGD2), a stable metabolite of the parent prostanoid. The metabolite quickly reversed short circuit currents (Isc) stimulated by diverse agonists. Greater inhibitory effects were seen with stimulants such as carbachol and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) rather than with forskolin or protein kinase A activators. Since the same stimulants were differentially affected by removal and replacement of serosal Ca2+, we tested the possibility that the prostanoid inhibited basolateral Ca2+entry. In the absence of serosal Ca2+, tissues primed with CPA demonstrated concentration-dependent increases in Iscto cumulative additions of Ca2+or Sr2+, though the former was more potent. Clremoval and pretreatment with bumetanide virtually abolished responses, suggesting that the increase in Iscreflected Ca2+dependent Clsecretion. Though responses were insensitive to the L-type channel antagonist, verapamil, a marked inhibition was seen in the presence of metal cations (Gd3+, Cd2+, and La3+). Pretreatment with DK-PGD2inhibited responses to Ca2+in CPA-primed tissues. Thus, basolateral Ca2+entry via store-operated Ca2+channels may be the locus for the inhibitory effects of PGD2in this tissue. These results could indicate a potential transduction mechanism for the novel DP receptor variously called CRTH2 or DP2.Key words: store-operated Ca2+channels, capacitative, arachidonic acid metabolites, epithelia.
Effects of a hypocaloric, low-carbohydrate diet on weight loss, blood lipids, blood pressure, glucose tolerance, and body composition in free-living overweight women
Authors: Meckling Kelly A , Gauthier Melanie , Grubb Rebecca , Sanford Jennifer
Published: November 2002

The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects of a very low-carbohydrate diet on weight loss and biochemical parameters in overweight women. Twenty women completed an 8-week trial that reduced their daily carbohydrate intake from 232 to 71 g (p < 0.05) and reduced energy by 2644 kJ/day (8384 to 5740 kJ, p < 0.001). The average weight loss was 5.0 kg (p < 0.0001), with a net decrease in body mass index of 1.82 kg/m2, a loss of 3.4% body fat (4 kg, p < 0.0001), and a loss of 1.0 kg lean mass (p < 0.05). There were no significant changes in fasting blood glucose, fasting serum insulin, oral glucose tolerance, free or total insulin-like growth factor-1, or total IGFBP-3. Systolic blood pressure decreased by an average of 9.0 mmHg (1 mmHg = 133.322 Pa) (p < 0.01) and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 7 mmHg (p < 0.05). Total cholesterol decreased 1.2 mM (p < 0.001), all of which was accounted for by a decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.001) with no change in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (baseline, 1.17 mM; week 8, 1.22 mM). Total triacylglycerol decreased 0.6 mM (p < 0.01), and the ratio of triacyl glycerol/HDL also significantly decreased (baseline, 1.40; week 8, 0.87; p < 0.001). Serum β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations rose significantly by week 2 and declined thereafter but remained significantly higher than baseline values for the duration of the intervention. Therefore, carbohydrate restriction to 70 g or less with concomitant energy restriction, without changes in protein or fat consumption, promotes weight loss, and improvements in body composition, blood pressure, and blood lipids without compromising glucose tolerance in moderately overweight women.Key words: obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, insulin resistance, triglycerides.
Effect of in vivo nitrate tolerance on hypersensitivity to NO donors after NO-synthase blockade
Authors: Ratz Jodan D , Adams Michael A , Bennett Brian M
Published: November 2002

Animals treated with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors exhibit marked hypersensitivity to the blood pressure lowering effects of exogenous nitric oxide (NO) donors. We used this model as a sensitive index to evaluate the relative importance of reduced biotransformation of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) to NO in the development of nitrate tolerance. NOS-blockade hypertension using NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) caused a marked enhancement of the mean arterial pressure (MAP) decrease mediated by GTN in nontolerant rats. However, even large doses of GTN were unable to change the MAP in GTN-tolerant, NOS-blockade hypertensive animals. In contrast, the MAP responses to the spontaneous NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were completely unaltered in either tolerant rats or tolerant NOS-blockade hypertensive animals, indicating that NO-dependent vasodilatory mechanisms remain intact despite the development of GTN tolerance. The MAP-lowering effects of GTN in NOS-blockade hypertensive animals were restored 48 h after cessation of chronic GTN exposure. These alterations in the pharmacodynamic response to GTN during tolerance development and reversal were associated with parallel changes in the pattern of GTN metabolite formation, suggesting that the activity of one or more enzymes involved in nitrate metabolism was altered as a consequence of chronic GTN exposure. These findings suggest that the vasodilation resulting from the vascular biotransformation of GTN to NO (or a closely related species) is severely compromised in nitrate-tolerant animals, and that although other mechanisms may contribute to the vascular changes observed following the development of GTN tolerance, decreased GTN bioactivation is likely the most important.Key words: biotransformation, glyceryl trinitrate, hypertension, nitric oxide, tolerance.
THE Pr AND OXYGEN CORRELATION IN THE GdPr123 SYSTEM
Authors: KHOSROABADI H. , DAADMEHR V. , AKHAVAN M.
Published: November 2002

We prepared single-phase polycrystalline Gd 1 - x Pr x Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7 - δ samples with x = 0, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20. The deoxygenation process of these samples was performed by an annealing method. Electrical resistivity measurements revealed depression of the transition temperature with the increase of x and δ. We calculated the hole concentration in the CuO 2 plane for different values of x and δ. A linear dependence of transition temperature and hole concentration in the CuO 2 plane was found as a function of 2δ + x. It is proposed that a combination of the localization and filling of holes should be considered as the effective mechanisms for the appearance of the Pr anomaly in HTSCs.
MICROSCOPIC SELF-ORGANIZATION IN NETWORKS AND REGULAR LATTICE
Authors: OUYANG QI , SUN KAI , WANG HONGLI
Published: November 2002

We report our numerical studies on the microscopic self-organizations of a reaction system in three types of networks: a regular network, a small-world network, and a random network as well as on a regular lattice. Our simulation results show that the topology of the network has an important effect on the communication among reaction molecules, and plays an important role in microscopic self-organization. The correlation length among reacting molecules in a random or a small-world network is much shorter compared with that in the regular network. As a result, it is much easier to obtain a microscopic self-organization in a small-world or a random network. A phase transition from a stochastic state to a synchronized state was observed when the randomness of a small-world network was increased. We also demonstrate that good synchronization activities of enzymatic turnover cycles can be developed on a regular lattice when the correlation length created by the fast diffusion of regulatory particles is large enough.
SQUEEZING, HIGHER-ORDER SQUEEZING, PHOTON-BUNCHING AND PHOTON-ANTIBUNCHING IN A QUADRATIC HAMILTONIAN
Authors: MANDAL SWAPAN
Published: November 2002

Under the assumption of strong (classical) pump condition, the coherent light interacting with a medium of second-order nonlinearity gives rise to a model represented by a quadratic Hamiltonian. By exploiting this model, we obtain the squeezing and the higher-order squeezing of the input coherent light. These phenomena are found to depend on the classical intensity but do not depend on the number of photons present in the input coherent radiation field. For the same physical model, it is found that the photons are bunched in the input vacuum field provided that two-photon processes dominate over one-photon processes. Depending on the suitable choice of phases and interaction time, we show both photon bunching and photon antibunching phenomena for the vacuum field and for the field with a large number of photons as well. The results obtained in this paper are completely analytical in nature and provide a feeling for the physical situation in an explicit manner.
THE HEUN–SCHRÖDINGER RADIAL EQUATION WITH TWO AUXILIARY PARAMETERS FOR H-LIKE ATOMS
Authors: TARASOV V. F.
Published: November 2002

This article deals with the connection between the confluent Heun equation (with two singularities 0 and ∞) and Schrödinger's equation for H-like atoms with two "auxiliary" parameters μ and ν which "influence" the spectrum of eigenvalues, the Coulomb potential and also the radial function. The case of μ = ν = 1 corresponds to the "standard" form of Schrödinger's equation. In terms of the parameter ν, for example, "relativistic corrections" of the type: Dirac's formula of the fine structure, the nuclear motion, etc., may be considered.
CHANGE IN THE POLARIZATION STATE AND THE INTENSITY OF A WEAK LIGHT BEAM IN A LOSSY ISOTROPIC NONLINEAR MEDIUM IN THE PRESENCE OF AN INTENSE CO-PROPAGATING LIGHT BEAM
Authors: PRAKASH HARI , SINGH DEVENDRA K.
Published: November 2002

The effect of an intense plane wave on a co-propagating weak plane wave in a lossy isotropic nonlinear medium is studied using the exact solution of H. Prakash et al.1 The presence of a plane-polarized intense beam changes the initial circular polarization of the weak beam to elliptical in general. The plane containing the direction of the major axis and the propagation oscillates about the plane of polarization of the intense beam. At the extreme positions, the elliptical polarization reduces to plane polarization and switches its handedness. For the lossless case, the plane of the major axis remains fixed at 45° to the plane of polarization of the intense beam and the polarization oscillates between circular and plane, switching the handedness when the plane polarization occurs, and there effects are periodic in distance within the medium. The presence of a circularly polarized intense beam changes the initial plane polarization of the weak beam to elliptical, whose major axis rotates in propagation. For the lossless case, the weak beam remains plane-polarized and rotates at a uniform rate in propagation. Suggestions for experimental observations of these effects are given and the values of observable quantities estimated for carbon disulfide.
A NEURAL-NETWORK-BASED IMAGE RESOLUTION ENHANCEMENT SCHEME FOR IMAGE RESIZING
Authors: PU HER-CHANG , LIN CHIN-TENG
Published: November 2002

In this paper, a novel edge-oriented neural-network-based adaptive interpolation scheme for natural image is proposed. An image analysis module is used to classify pixels of the input image into non-oriented class and oriented class. The bilinear interpolation is used to interpolate the non-oriented regions and a neural network is proposed to interpolate the oriented regions. High-resolution digital images along with supervised learning algorithms can be used to automatically train the proposed neural network. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed new resolution enhancement algorithm can produce higher visual quality of the interpolated image than the conventional interpolation methods.
A FUZZY HOUGH TRANSFORM APPROACH TO SHAPE DESCRIPTION
Authors: SOODAMANI R. , LIU Z. Q.
Published: November 2002

To use the Hough transform to detect shapes we need to accumulate votes for the edge passing a specific bin. Most existing Hough transform techniques use a sharp (crisp) cutoff to determine whether the bin has received a vote or not. This results in considerable errors. In this paper, we propose a new line Hough transform (LHT) using evidence accumulation and fuzzy aggregation function. The resulting voting process is dependent on the distance ρ from the grid centers. This effectively handles uncertainty in the accumulation process and achieves a better performance. To show the effectiveness this approach, we present our experimental results for a set of 2D parametric and 3D nonparametric objects.
A MULTI-SCALE TWO-STEP FAST SEARCH ALGORITHM FOR BLOCK MOTION ESTIMATION
Authors: KE SHIH-HAO , LEE TSU-TIAN
Published: November 2002

Block motion estimation using full search is computationally intensive. Previously proposed fast algorithms reduce computation by limiting the number of search locations and search directions in a predefined search region. This is accomplished at the expense of accuracy of motion estimation and a large mean squared error for motion-compensated images, especially for image sequences with large displacement and rotation. In this paper, a novel efficient search algorithm for block motion estimation is presented to produce better performance than some fast search algorithms that have been developed, such as three step search, orthogonal search, 2D-logarithmic search, four step search, and block-based gradient descent search, in large displacement and rotation image cases. The proposed algorithm is based on the notion of locally multi-scale operation, search of global minimum, and two layer search strategy. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm produces anticipative performance while costing much less computation power than the full search algorithm.
CONSTRUCTIVE RELAXATION MATCHING INVOLVING DYNAMICAL MODEL SWITCHING AND ITS APPLICATION TO SHAPE MATCHING
Authors: KAMEYAMA KEISUKE , TORAICHI KAZUO , KOSUGI YUKIO
Published: November 2002

This paper introduces a novel approach for contour-based shape matching named as Constructive Relaxation Matching (CRM). Relaxation Matching (RM) introduced by Rosenfeld et al. is one of the standard method for quasi-optimally solving the local correspondences of the template and input images. RM relies on an energy-minimizing nature of the dynamical system to update the label assignment to the input objects. In image matching relying on a particular modeling method, apparently similar images can be judged as being quite distant, according to the nature of the modeling process and its outcome. In the proposed CRM, the modeling stage of a novel input image contour, conventionally done in the same procedure used for modeling the templates, will be included in the procedure of iterative relaxation matching. The model of the input will be dynamically constructed during relaxation, by unifying the pairs of objects having similar template label assignment probabilities. After describing the CRM procedures, the method is applied to simple shape matching problems demonstrating the ability to adaptively model the input image during relaxation. It is shown that the proposed CRM improves the object-label correspondence for evaluation of the image similarities in the following stages of shape matching applications.
ADAPTIVE SUBSPACE SELF-ORGANIZING MAP AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN FACE RECOGNITION
Authors: LIU ZHI-QIANG
Published: November 2002

Recently Kohonen proposed the Adaptive Subspace Self-Organizing Map (ASSOM) for extracting subspace detectors from the input data. In the ASSOM, all subspaces represented by the neurons are constrained to intersect the origin in the feature space. As a result, it cannot compensate for the mean present in the data set. In this paper we propose affined subspaces for constructing a set of linear manifolds. This gives rise to a modified ASSOM known as the Adaptive Manifold Self-Organizing Map (AMSOM). In some cases, AMSOM performs many orders of magnitude better than ASSOM. We apply AMSOM to face recognition. Since some face images may share a manifold due to similarities present in the images, we use a multi-layer neural network to divide the manifold into sub-areas each of which corresponds to a single class, e.g., a face class for Smith. Our experiment results show that this approach performs better than those obtained using the standard Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method.
FUZZY CLUSTERING WITH GENETICALLY ADAPTIVE SCALING
Authors: SCHENKER ADAM , LAST MARK , BUNKE HORST , KANDEL ABRAHAM
Published: November 2002

In this paper we present a genetically enhanced version of the classical fuzzy c-means clustering algorithm. Our algorithm uses an evolutionary method to find optimal values for some scaling constants which are used to scale the various dimensions of the given data set so that clusters can be more easily detected by compensating for differences in distributions among features. We demonstrate how using un-scaled data with the conventional fuzzy c-means algorithm can lead to incorrect classification and how our algorithm overcomes the problem. We present the results of applying our method to both a synthetic data set, which we created to demonstrate the problem, and the standard Iris data set. In both cases, reduction of misclassifications was obtained by the new method, demonstrating improvement over the standard fuzzy c-means algorithm.
FUZZY C-MEANS AND MIXTURE DISTRIBUTION MODELS IN THE PRESENCE OF NOISE CLUSTERS
Authors: MIYAMOTO SADAAKI , ALANZADO ARNOLD C.
Published: November 2002

This paper discusses the relationship between the K-L information based FCM method and a mixture distribution model with the EM algorithm when a noise cluster is assumed. Equivalence between the two methods in the sense that the derived solutions are the same is proved. From the equivalence a parameter in the fuzzy model can be estimated by using the mixture distribution model. A regularized FCM algorithm with the noise cluster is moreover derived for which the equivalent statistical model with the EM algorithm does not exist.
COLOR FACE SEGMENTATION USING A FUZZY MIN-MAX NEURAL NETWORK
Authors: WACHS JUAN , STERN HELMAN , LAST MARK
Published: November 2002

This work presents an automated method of segmentation of faces in color images with complex backgrounds. Segmentation of the face from the background in an image is performed by using face color feature information. Skin regions are determined by sampling the skin colors of the face in a Hue Saturation Value (HSV) color model, and then training a fuzzy min-max neural network (FMMNN) to automatically segment these skin colors. This work appears to be the first application of Simpson's FMMNN algorithm to the problem of face segmentation. Results on several test cases showed recognition rates of both face and background pixels to be above 93%, except for the case of a small face embedded in a large background. Suggestions for dealing with this difficult case are proffered. The image pixel classifier is linear of order O(Nh) where N is the number of pixels in the image and h is the number of fuzzy hyperbox sets determined by training the FMMNN.
FUZZY RELATION CALCULUS IN THE COMPRESSION AND DECOMPRESSION OF FUZZY RELATIONS
Authors: LOIA VINCENZO , PEDRYCZ WITOLD , SESSA SALVATORE
Published: November 2002

We firstly review some fundamentals of fuzzy relation calculus and, by recalling some known results, we improve the mathematical contents of our previous papers by using the properties of a triangular norm over [0,1]. We make wide use of the theory of fuzzy relation equations for getting lossy compression and decompression of images interpreted as two-argument fuzzy matrices.The same scope is achieved by decomposing a fuzzy matrix using the concept of Schein rank. We illustrate two algorithms with a few examples.
THE IMPACT OF AUTHORITY STRUCTURE, INCENTIVE STRUCTURE, AND COMMUNICATION MODE ON GROUP DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM USE
Authors: BARKHI REZA , JACOB VARGHESE S. , PIRKUL HASAN
Published: November 2002

In today's virtual organizations, the type of communication mode that individuals use to interact with others may influence their decision outcomes and the information they exchange with others. The information that the individuals exchange is often influenced by their incentive structures, the type of communication mode, and the nature of the authority structure in their group. This paper reports the results of a set of experiments in which the groups work on a mixed-motive negotiation task under different types of incentive structures, authority structures, and communication modes. The experimental study consists of a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design. The results suggest that proper design of incentive structures and embedding these incentives into Group Decision Support System (GDSS) features is critical to the successful utilization of GDSS for virtual groups engaged in a mixed-motive negotiation task.
ACCESSING DATA MINING RULES THROUGH EXPERT SYSTEMS
Authors: BOUTSINAS BASILIS
Published: November 2002

Data mining is an emerging research area that develops techniques for knowledge discovery in huge volumes of data. Usually, data mining rules can be used either to classify data into predefined classes, or to partition a set of patterns into disjoint and homogeneous clusters, or to reveal frequent dependencies among data. The discovery of data mining rules would not be very useful unless there are mechanisms to help analysts access them in a meaningful way. Actually, documenting and reporting the extracted knowledge is of considerable importance for the successful application of data mining in practice. In this paper, we propose a methodology for accessing data mining rules, which is based on using an expert system. We present how the different types of data mining rules can be transformed into the domain knowledge of any general-purpose expert system. Then, we present how certain attribute values given by the user as facts and/or goals can determine, through a forward and/or backward chaining, the related data mining rules. In this paper, we also present a case study that demonstrates the applicability of the proposed methodology.
k-ZI: A GENERAL ZERO-INTELLIGENCE MODEL IN CONTINUOUS DOUBLE AUCTION
Authors: ZHAN WENJIE , ZHANG JINLONG , YANG JIE , WANG SHOUYANG , LAI K. K.
Published: November 2002

Replacing human traders by "zero-intelligence" (ZI) programs that submit random bids and offers in their experiments, Gode and Sunder11 conclude that the primary cause of high allocation efficiency and the convergence to theoretical equilibrium price in a continuous double auction market are the market discipline rather than the intelligence of traders. In this paper, we study the influence of ZI traders' expected profit margin on the continuous double auction markets. For this purpose, we develop a general zero-intelligence model that is called "k-ZI" where k ∈ [0, 1]. When k = 0, a k-ZI trader becomes a ZI with constraint (ZI-C) trader; when k = 1, a k-ZI trader becomes a truth-telling trader. The parameter "k" determines the expected profit margin of k-ZI traders. By the experiments conducted, we investigate its influence on the continuous double auction market, such as on the allocation efficiency, the trade ratio and the average trade price. The interesting finding is that parameter "k" affects the allocation efficiency and the trader ratio in continuous double auction markets. In order to interpret experimental results economically, the anti-Marshallian paths of double auction markets are provided.
TESTING THEORY OF BANDWAGONS — GLOBAL STANDARDIZATION COMPETITION IN MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS
Authors: TAN ZIXIANG (ALEX)
Published: November 2002

Standardization development and the global standards adoption are in the center of competition for the global mobile communication industry. This study conducts an historical analysis of three generations of standardization in mobile communications in the world. It aims to examine how the corporation strategy, institutional collaboration, and government policy have influenced the outcome of standardization. It focuses on how competing standards are adopted and deployed in national and global markets. Empirical data has been presented to test the theory of bandwagons in standard adoption by using ratios of total global users to total domestic/home users. Findings lead to the conclusion that standards with well-established domestic bases often start their global bandwagons with a bandwagon ratio between 1.2 and 2.3 and the global competition is centered between the politically sponsored European bandwagon and the market-sponsored US bandwagons. It concludes that politically sponsored bandwagon often leads to a quick establishment while the market-sponsored bandwagons tend to accommodate market and technology dynamics, at least for the wireless industry.
A PROCESS ANALYSIS OF COMPUTER-GENERATED PATIENT REMINDERS DELIVERED BY NURSING PERSONNEL
Authors: TAPE THOMAS G. , FLACH STEPHEN D. , CAMPBELL JAMES R.
Published: November 2002

Purpose: To measure the extent to which health care reminders are offered by nursing personnel and accepted by patients, we performed a detailed process study of a computer-generated, patient-specific mammography reminder.

Subjects: 25,971 consecutive visits by 2,814 women age 50 and older seen during an eight year period in an academic internal medicine practice.

Methods: An implementation trial with historical controls was done in the Internal Medicine Clinic at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. We incorporated a computer reminder system into the nursing check-in process along with the standing orders for mammograms. The administration of the reminder, the patient response to the reminder, and subsequent follow-through with mammography were tracked during the intervention phase. Patients were considered "up-to-date" if a mammogram had been done within two years before the visit, or if one was obtained within 60 days after the visit.

Results: The proportion of patients up-to-date increased from 48% during a four-year pre-intervention phase to 54% in the intervention phase. Process analysis showed that clinic personnel offered the reminder in 31% of eligible visits, 11% of reminded patients agreed, and 53% of patients who agreed had mammography done. One unsuspected carcinoma was diagnosed. Patient race, insurance coverage, and number of visits during the prior two years influenced whether patients agreed to mammography and whether they then had the test done.
MODELING AND ANALYSIS OF OCCUPANCY DATA: A HEALTHCARE CAPACITY PLANNING APPLICATION
Authors: ISKEN MARK W.
Published: November 2002

Managerial decision making problems in the healthcare industry often involve considerations of customer occupancy by time of day and day of week. Through a case study at a large tertiary care hospital, we discuss a number of issues that arise in analyzing occupancy data which have implications for design of healthcare operations oriented data warehouses and analysis tools. We offer practical solutions to these problems including a transaction oriented database design, a general database framework and software tool for analysis of occupancy related data and a method for simulating entity flow from the data mart.
Relationship of Anti-60 kDa Heat Shock Protein and Anti-Cholesterol Antibodies to Cardiovascular Events
Authors: Veres Amarilla , Füst George , Smieja Marek , McQueen Matthew , Horváth Anna , Yi Qilong , Bíró Adrienn , Pogue Janice , Romics László , Karádi István , Singh Mahavir , Gnarpe Judy , Prohászka Zoltán , Yusuf Salim
Published: November 2002

Background—

Several recent studies have indicated an association between key inflammatory mediators and atherosclerotic diseases. We evaluated whether high levels of antibodies against heat shock proteins and cholesterol (ACHA) predicted cardiovascular (CV) events.

Methods and Results—

We used blood samples from the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE) study to conduct a nested case-control study of 386 cases with CV events and 386 age- and sex-matched HOPE study controls without events. We explored the relationship between anti-hsp antibodies, ACHA, and subsequent outcomes (incident myocardial infarction, stroke, or CV death) during a mean follow-up of 4.5 years using conditional logistic regression. High levels of anti-hsp65 antibodies (≥90th percentile) predicted CV events (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2 to 3.9,
P
=0.01). Anti-hsp60 antibodies did not predict any event type, whereas incident stroke developed significantly less frequently in patients with high ACHA levels. Anti-hsp antibodies and ACHA did not correlate with inflammatory (fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, intracellular adhesion molecule-1) or infectious markers (
C pneumoniae
or cytomegalovirus antibodies). Anti-hsp65 antibodies (≥90th percentile) and fibrinogen (highest tertile) had a strong joint effect: patients with high concentrations of both had more CV events (OR, 5.5; 95% CI, 1.8 to 17.5,
P
=0.004) than patients with low levels of both. A similar joint effect (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.3 to 5.7,
P
=0.01) was found for high levels of anti-hsp65 and presence of cytomegalovirus antibodies.

Conclusions—

Serum antibodies to hsp65 were associated with subsequent CV events in this study of high-risk patients, independent of conventional cardiovascular risk factors and other inflammatory markers.
Abnormal Postexercise Cardiovascular Recovery and Its Determinants in Patients After Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Reconstruction
Authors: Ohuchi Hideo , Ohashi Hiroyuki , Park Jiksoo , Hayashi Johji , Miyazaki Aya , Echigo Shigeyuki
Published: November 2002

Background—

Abnormal responses of heart rate (HR) and oxygen uptake (V̇
o
2
) during exercise characterize patients after right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction (RVOTR) for congenital heart defects. However, little is known about the postexercise dynamics.

Methods and Results—

We evaluated postexercise cardiovascular dynamics in 52 patients after closure of an atrioventricular septal defect (group A), 79 patients after RVOTR (group B), and 44 control subjects. HR variability, arterial baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), plasma norepinephrine, and hemodynamics were measured. Although there was no difference between group A and control subjects, declines in HR and V̇
o
2
after light and peak exercise and in systolic blood pressure (SBP) after peak exercise were delayed in group B. Age, low-frequency component of HR variability, and plasma norepinephrine were independent determinants of early HR decline. Peak SBP and V̇
o
2
had a great impact on the corresponding recoveries. When the peak values were excluded, body weight, BRS, and right ventricular ejection fraction were independent determinants of early SBP decline. BRS and the pulmonary artery resistance were independent determinants of V̇
o
2
decline throughout recovery, and age and right systolic ventricular pressure also determined the early V̇
o
2
decline. BRS and low-frequency component of HR variability were determined independently by the number of surgical procedures.

Conclusions—

In RVOTR patients, in addition to metabolic and autonomic maturation, surgery-related abnormal cardiac autonomic nervous activity and impaired hemodynamics have a great impact on delayed postexercise cardiovascular recovery.
Small Apolipoprotein(a) Size Predicts Mortality in End-Stage Renal Disease
Authors: Longenecker J. Craig , Klag Michael J. , Marcovina Santica M. , Powe Neil R. , Fink Nancy E. , Giaculli Federico , Coresh Josef
Published: November 2002

Background—

The high mortality rate in end-stage renal disease has engendered interest in nontraditional atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk factors that are more prevalent in end-stage renal disease, such as elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels. Previous studies suggest that high Lp(a) levels and small apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] isoform size are associated with ASCVD, but none have investigated the relationship between Lp(a) level, apo(a) size, and mortality.

Methods and Results—

An inception cohort of 864 incident dialysis patients was followed prospectively. Lp(a) was measured by an apo(a) size-independent ELISA and apo(a) size by Western blot after SDS-agarose gel electrophoresis. Comorbid conditions were determined by medical record review. Time to death was ascertained through dialysis clinic and Health Care Financing Administration follow-up. Survival analyses were performed with adjustment for baseline demographic, comorbid conditions, albumin, and lipids. Median follow-up was 33.7 months, with 346 deaths, 162 transplantations, and 10 losses to follow-up during 1999 person-years of follow-up. Cox regression analysis showed no association between Lp(a) level and mortality. However, an association between small apo(a) isoform size and mortality was found (hazard ratio, 1.36;
P
=0.004) after adjusting for age, race, sex, comorbidity score, cause of renal disease, and congestive heart failure. The association was somewhat lower in white patients (hazard ratio 1.34;
P
=0.019) than in black patients (1.69;
P
=0.04). No interaction by age, race, sex, diabetes, ASCVD, or Lp(a) level was present.

Conclusions—

Small apo(a) size, but not Lp(a) level, independently predicts total mortality risk in dialysis patients.
RAGE Blockade Stabilizes Established Atherosclerosis in Diabetic Apolipoprotein E–Null Mice
Authors: Bucciarelli Loredana G. , Wendt Thoralf , Qu Wu , Lu Yan , Lalla Evanthia , Rong Ling Ling , Goova Mouza T. , Moser Bernhard , Kislinger Thomas , Lee Daniel C. , Kashyap Yogita , Stern David M. , Schmidt Ann Marie
Published: November 2002

Background—

Previous studies suggested that blockade of RAGE in diabetic apolipoprotein (apo) E–null mice suppressed early acceleration of atherosclerosis. A critical test of the potential applicability of RAGE blockade to clinical settings was its ability to impact established vascular disease. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that RAGE contributed to lesion progression in established atherosclerosis in diabetic apoE-null mice.

Methods and Results—

Male apoE-null mice, age 6 weeks, were rendered diabetic with streptozotocin or treated with citrate buffer. At age 14 weeks, certain mice were killed or treated with once-daily murine soluble RAGE or albumin; all mice were killed at age 20 weeks. Compared with diabetic mice at age 14 weeks, albumin-treated animals displayed increased atherosclerotic lesion area and complexity. In diabetic mice treated with sRAGE from age 14 to 20 weeks, lesion area and complexity were significantly reduced and not statistically different from those observed in diabetic mice at age 14 weeks. In parallel, decreased parameters of inflammation and mononuclear phagocyte and smooth muscle cell activation were observed.

Conclusions—

RAGE contributes not only to accelerated lesion formation in diabetic apoE-null mice but also to lesion progression. Blockade of RAGE may be a novel strategy to stabilize atherosclerosis and vascular inflammation in established diabetes.
Brief Increase in Carbohydrate Oxidation After Reperfusion Reverses Myocardial Stunning in Conscious Pigs
Authors: Kudej Raymond K. , White Lawrence T. , Kudej Amelia B. , Vatner Stephen F. , Lewandowski E. Douglas
Published: November 2002

Background—

Previous studies have examined only acute effects of enhanced glucose oxidation on postischemic myocardium. The goal of the present study was to examine prolonged functional recovery subsequent to postischemic, intracoronary pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase inhibition with dichloroacetate (DCA) of stunned myocardium in conscious pigs.

Methods and Results—

Myocardial stunning was induced in conscious pigs by coronary stenosis, ie, 40% reduction of coronary blood flow for 90 minutes, followed by full reperfusion. After the initial peak, but during early reactive hyperemia (5 minutes of reperfusion), 1 hour of intracoronary infusion at 20% of measured coronary blood flow was begun using 20 mmol/L [2-
13
C]glucose without (n=4) or with (n=5) 20 mmol/L DCA. Coronary stenosis resulted in similar reduction in wall thickening in both untreated (−53±3% from 3.27±0.22 mm, n=9) and DCA (−51±3% from 3.08±0.15 mm, n=5) groups. During reperfusion, DCA increased glucose oxidation 10-fold. In the absence of DCA, myocardial stunning was observed; ie, wall thickening was reduced by 48±3% at 1 hour of reperfusion and did not fully recover for 48 hours. In contrast, in DCA pigs, myocardial stunning was ameliorated (
P
<0.05).

Conclusions—

Transient metabolic intervention within a clinically relevant time after ischemia eliminates myocardial stunning in conscious pigs during augmented carbohydrate oxidation and provides sustained benefits in contractile recovery.