bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel Method for the Synthesis of the PEG‐Crosslinked Chitosan with a pH‐Independent Swelling Behavior
Authors: Kulkarni Anandrao R. , Hukkeri Vijaykumar I. , Sung Hsing‐Wen , Liang Hsiang‐Fa
Published: October 2005

Summary: In this study, a simple method was developed to crosslink chitosan using poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with different molecular weights. Crosslinking of chitosan was confirmed by various spectral analyses. The differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) study indicated that the rigid crystalline structure of chitosan was decreased after crosslinking with PEG. The PEG‐crosslinked chitosan (PEG‐Ch) showed a pH‐independent swelling behavior: swelled in both the simulated stomach (pH 1.1) and intestinal (pH 7.4) solutions. The swelling ratio of PEG‐Ch increased significantly with a higher molecular weight of PEG used. In contrast, chitosan dissolved completely in a simulated stomach solution and showed a comparatively less swelling in a simulated intestinal solution. Thus, the prepared PEG‐Ch could be a better biomaterial than chitosan in the development of orally sustained drug‐delivery devices.

13C‐NMR spectra of chitosan and PEG‐Ch.

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13C‐NMR spectra of chitosan and PEG‐Ch.
Polyether Core‐Shell Cylinder–Polymerization of Polyglycidol Macromonomers
Authors: Mendrek Aleksandra , Mendrek Sebastian , Trzebicka Barbara , Kuckling Dirk , Walach Wojciech , Adler Hans‐Juergen , Dworak Andrzej
Published: October 2005

Summary: The synthesis and polymerization of macromonomers containing a polymerizable styrene head group and a tail of ethylene oxide derivatives of different character were investigated. The synthesis of macromonomers was based on living anionic polymerization of oxiranes. Two monomers were used: 1‐ethoxyethyl glycidyl ether (glycidol acetal), which after hydrolysis forms hydrophilic glycidol blocks and glycidyl phenyl ether forming hydrophobic blocks. Polymerizable double bonds were introduced by terminating the living chain with p‐(chloromethyl)styrene. The radical polymerization of the macromonomers was carried out in water with addition of a non‐polar solvent (benzene) and AIBN as initiator. Core‐shell polymers of different character and molar masses were obtained. The conversion of polymerized macromonomers was around 50%. However, the polymerization product could easily be separated from the reaction mixture.

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Structure and Properties of CdS/Regenerated Cellulose Nanocomposites
Authors: Ruan Dong , Huang Qilin , Zhang Lina
Published: October 2005

Summary: Novel inorganic‐organic hybrid materials composed of cadmium sulfide (CdS) semiconducting nanocrystals and regenerated cellulose (RC) were prepared by using in situ synthesizing method. Cellulose was dissolved in a 6 wt.‐% NaOH/4 wt.‐% urea/thiourea aqueous solution at low temperature followed by addition of cadmium chloride (CdCl2), resulting that the CdS nanocrystals were successfully grown in situ in the cellulose solution. Nanocomposite films containing homogeneous CdS nanoparticles were obtained by casting the resulting solution. Their structure and optical properties were characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetry analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, atomic force microscopy, transmittance electronic microscope, UV‐vis spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The experimental results confirmed that the CdS nanocrystalline existed in the composite films, and cellulose matrix provided a confined medium for CdS particle growth in uniform size. The CdS/RC composites showed narrow emission in photoluminescence spectra, and their optical absorbance in the UV range was higher than that of the cellulose film without CdS. This work provided a simple method to prepare cellulose functional materials in NaOH/urea aqueous solution.

Photoluminescence of CdS/RC nanocomposites and TEM image of CdS nanocrystals dispersed in RC matrix.

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Photoluminescence of CdS/RC nanocomposites and TEM image of CdS nanocrystals dispersed in RC matrix.
Poly(propylene)/Clay Nanocomposites Prepared by Reactive Compounding with an Epoxy Based Masterbatch
Authors: Chen Ling , Wang Ke , Toh Mei Ling , He Chaobin
Published: October 2005

Summary: Poly(propylene) (PP)/clay nanocomposites have been prepared via a novel reactive compounding approach, in which an epoxy based masterbatch consisting of 20 wt.‐% clay was introduced to poly(propylene) with the aid of a maleic anhydride grafted PP (MAPP). The masterbatch was prepared using a recently developed “slurry compounding” technique. After melt compounding, most clay particles have been exfoliated and dispersed into small stacks with several clay layers. WAXD data shows that the dispersion of clay is better at low clay content or high MAPP content. Due to the novelty of the preparation process and complication of the system, the tensile properties of nanocomposites exhibit some unique tendencies with varying the content of MAPP or masterbatch. It is believed that the yield strength and Young's modulus can be dramatically improved after minimizing the excess of unreacted epoxy and optimizing the dispersion of clay.

TEM micrograph of PP/clay nanocomposites prepared with epoxy based masterbatch.

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TEM micrograph of PP/clay nanocomposites prepared with epoxy based masterbatch.
p.H1069Q mutation in ATP7B and biochemical parameters of copper metabolism and clinical manifestation of Wilson's disease
Authors: Gromadzka Graznya , Schmidt Harmut H.J. , Genschel Janine , Bochow Bettina , Rodo M. , Tarnacka Beatek , Litwin Thomas , Chabik Grzegorz , Członkowska Anna
Published: October 2005

We compared the effect of the p.H1069Q mutation and other non‐p.H1069Q mutations in ATP7B on the phenotypic expression of Wilson's disease (WD), and assessed whether the clinical phenotype of WD in compound heterozygotes depends on the type of mutation coexisting with the p.H1069Q. One hundred forty‐two patients with clinically, biochemically, and genetically diagnosed WD were studied. The mutational analysis of ATP7B was performed by direct sequencing. A total number of 26 mutations in ATP7B were identified. The p.His1069Gln was the most common mutation (allelic frequency: 72%). Seventy‐three patients were homozygous for this mutation. Of compound heterozygotes, 37 had frameshift/nonsense mutation, and 20 had other missense mutation on one of their ATP7B alleles. Twelve patients had two non‐p.H1069Q mutations. Patients homozygous for the p.H1069Q mutation had the less severe disturbances of copper metabolism and the latest presentation of first WD symptoms. The most severely disturbed copper metabolism and the earliest age at initial disease manifestation was noticed in non‐p.H1069Q patients. In compound heterozygotes, the type of mutation coexisting with the p.H1069Q to a small extent influenced WD phenotype. The phenotype of WD varied considerably among patients with the same genotype. The p.H1069Q mutation is associated with late WD manifestation and with a mild disruption of copper metabolism. In compound heterozygotes, the phenotype of WD to a small extent depends on the type of mutation coexisting with the p.H1069Q. Besides genotype, additional modifying factors seem to determine WD manifestations. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society
In vivo multiple‐mouse MRI at 7 Tesla
Authors: Bock Nicholas A. , Nieman Brian J. , Bishop Johnathan B. , Mark Henkelman R.
Published: October 2005

We developed a live high‐field multiple‐mouse magnetic resonance imaging method to increase the throughput of imaging studies involving large numbers of mice. Phantom experiments were performed in 7 shielded radiofrequency (RF) coils for concurrent imaging on a 7 Tesla MRI scanner outfitted with multiple transmit and receive channels to confirm uniform signal‐to‐noise ratio and minimal ghost artifacts across images from the different RF coils. Grid phantoms were used to measure image distortion in different positions in the coils. The brains of 7 live mice were imaged in 3D in the RF coil array, and a second array of 16 RF coils was used to 3D image the whole bodies of 16 fixed, contrast agent‐perfused mice. The images of the 7 live mouse brains at 156 μm isotropic resolution and the 16 whole fixed mice at 100 μm isotropic resolution were of high quality and free of artifacts. We have thus shown that multiple‐mouse MRI increases throughput for live and fixed mouse experiments by a factor equaling the number of RF coils in the scanner. Magn Reson Med, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Normative values for the American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUA‐7) and short form Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI‐6) in patients 65 and older presenting for non‐urological care
Authors: Svatek Robert , Roche Vivyenne , Thornberg Jacqueline , Zimmern Philippe
Published: October 2005

Objective

To determine the scores of two commonly used urologic questionnaires in community dwelling elderly patients receiving non‐urologic primary care.

Methods

Patients 65 years and older presenting for routine non‐urologic primary care from April to July 2004 were eligible for enrollment. They completed a questionnaire evaluating demographics, AUA‐7, UDI‐6, and one visual analogue quality of life (QOL) question (range 0, pleased to 10, terrible). Total and question specific scores were analyzed. In addition, correlations among urinary symptoms and QOL scores were performed.

Results

In 157 patients who satisfied the study criteria, total and question‐specific scores for the AUA‐7 and UDI‐6 were mildly elevated and similar across age groups in both sexes. Question 1 (frequency) rendered the highest score for both women and men from the UDI‐6 questionnaire (mean 1.3 and 0.74, respectively). Question 7 (nocturia) rendered the highest score for both women and men from the AUA‐7 questionnaire (mean 1.87 and 0.940, respectively). A total of 32 (27%) of 118 women and 6 (15%) of 39 men were found to have high elevation in QOL scores (>5).

Conclusion

The total scores for the AUA‐7 and UDI‐6 were found to be mildly elevated but stable with age over time in this older population. These data provide useful information for urologists regarding baseline ranges for urinary symptoms in the elderly population. Over one‐third of women were found to have a significant elevation in QOL scores (>5) which suggest a need for improvement in identifying and addressing urinary symptoms among elderly women. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Repair of vaginal vault prolapse and pelvic floor relaxation using polypropylene mesh
Authors: Rutman Matthew P. , Deng Donna Y. , Rodriguez Larissa V. , Raz Shlomo
Published: October 2005

Aims

The sacrouterine ligament/cardinal (SULC) complex and prerectal fascia attach at the perineal body, forming a single support unit preventing levator descent. Many patients with vault prolapse have levator descent and widening of the hiatus. Existing transvaginal procedures do not address pelvic floor descent. We describe a technique utilizing polypropylene mesh to repair pelvic floor relaxation and prevent levator descent, along with restoration of the SULC complex in vaginal vault repair.

Materials and Methods

We prospectively evaluated 50 patients who had a transvaginal mesh vault/posterior wall reconstruction. A T‐shaped soft prolene mesh is prepared fixing the two arms of the mesh and recreating the SULC complex in support of the cuff. The vertical segment of the mesh is transferred over the prerectal fascia and secured to the pelvic floor musculature. The rectocele is repaired incorporating the mesh distally preventing pelvic floor descent. Surgical outcome was determined by patient self‐assessment including quality of life (QoL) measure as well as pelvic examination using POP‐Q staging.

Results

Mean age was 67 years. Mean follow‐up was 6 months (range 3–12). There were no intraoperative complications. There have been two apical (4%) recurrences. Mean QoL score postoperatively on a 0–6 scale was 0.74 (0 = delighted, 1 = pleased). Pelvic floor descent has been repaired on all patients. Postoperative POP‐Q reveals restoration of normal anatomy.

Conclusions

We report a new technique that recreates the SULC complex in support of the vaginal vault with the aid of prolene mesh. It is the first transvaginal procedure described to reconstruct the pelvic floor in attempt to prevent pelvic floor descent. Neurourol. Urdynam. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Phytochemical profiling of new and old world Hypericum (St. John's Wort) species
Authors: Crockett Sara L. , Schaneberg Brian , Khan Ikhlas A.
Published: October 2005

Botanical extracts of Hypericum perforatum L. (common St. John's Wort) are used in the USA and in Europe as a treatment for mild to moderate depression, although controversy surrounds the identity of the active constituent(s). RP‐HPLC with photodiode array detection was used to separate and quantify nine compounds of pharmacological interest in extracts from 74 taxa of Hypericum native to the Old and New World. Chemical profiles of these constituents may be used to distinguish extracts of H. perforatum from those of other species of Hypericum, and to indicate species that may be of interest for further phytochemical investigation. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of degradation mechanisms in field‐tested CdTe modules
Authors: Carlsson Thomas , Brinkman Andy
Published: October 2005

Field tests and accelerated ageing tests were conducted on CdTe photovoltaic modules with Sb‐based back contacts. Significant performance degradation was observed during one and a half years of outdoor exposure. Small‐area samples were prepared from field tested modules and characterized with current–voltage, capacitance–voltage and resistance measurements. Results show that module performance degradation in the field can be partly attributed to a decrease in doping concentration close to the CdS/CdTe junction and an increased resistance in the transparent front contact. A comparison with results in the literature indicates that bias voltage may play a role in the degradation process. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Controlled radical polymerization of a trialkylsilyl methacrylate by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization
Authors: Nguyen M. N. , Bressy C. , Margaillan A.
Published: October 2005

The reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of a hydrolyzable monomer (tert‐butyldimethylsilyl methacrylate) with cumyl dithiobenzoate and 2‐cyanoprop‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate as chain‐transfer agents was studied in toluene solutions at 70 °C. The resulting homopolymers had low polydispersity (polydispersity index < 1.3) up to 96% monomer conversion with molecular weights at high conversions close to the theoretical prediction. The profiles of the number‐average molecular weight versus the conversion revealed controlled polymerization features with chain‐transfer constants expected between 1.0 and 10. A series of poly(tert‐butyldimethylsilyl methacrylate)s were synthesized over the molecular weight range of 1.0 × 104 to 3.0 × 104, as determined by size exclusion chromatography. As strong differences of hydrodynamic volumes in tetrahydrofuran between poly(methyl methacrylate), polystyrene standards, and poly(tert‐butyldimethylsilyl methacrylate) were observed, true molecular weights were obtained from a light scattering detector equipped in a triple‐detector size exclusion chromatograph. The Mark–Houwink–Sakurada parameters for poly(tert‐butyldimethylsilyl methacrylate) were assessed to obtain directly true molecular weight values from size exclusion chromatography with universal calibration. In addition, a RAFT agent efficiency above 94% was confirmed at high conversions by both light scattering detection and 1H NMR spectroscopy. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5680–5689, 2005
Measuring discord in treatment decision‐making; progress toward development of a cancer communication and decision‐making assessment tool
Authors: Siminoff Laura A. , Rose Julia H. , Zhang Amy , Zyzanski Stephen J.
Published: October 2005

Families, as a unit, play an important role in the process of making decisions about care for and with adult cancer patients. Families often step in as the patient's advocate and primary decision‐maker as the patient's condition deteriorates. How well caregivers fulfill that role may depend on the level of congruence between the family members and the patient. Disagreements may jeopardize processes of decision‐making and treatment choice. To facilitate the clinical assessment process and to provide a tool for research, we are designing an instrument that can validly and reliably assess the level of family discord concerning the treatment of late stage cancer as they consider participation in clinical trials, palliative care and salvage treatment such as chemotherapy designed to decrease tumor burden without hope of cure. Development of the instrument is a four step process to develop and test the instrument: (1) formative interviewing with lung cancer patients and their family caregivers to identify and develop a comprehensive list of domains and items; (2) refinement of the items' wording with a sample of 43 patients and 67 family caregivers; (3) testing the reduced item pool to determine statistical and content validity and reliability with an initial of sample of 42 patients and their primary caregivers; (4) examination of the 30‐item scale's properties with 160 lung cancer patients and their primary caregivers. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tenth International Conference on Plasma Surface Engineering
Authors: Blau Winfried
Published: October 2005

Plasma News: This section contains news of the plasma community all over the world. Articles about, for example, people, projects, and market trends are welcome. Suggestions should be sent to the editorial office of the Plasma Processes and Polymers, preferably by E‐mail to plasma@wiley‐vch.de. The editorial office decides which articles will be published.
Use of bioinformatics tools for the annotation of disease‐associated mutations in animal models
Authors: Ferrer‐Costa Carles , Orozco Modesto , de la Cruz Xavier
Published: October 2005

Single‐point mutations are one of the most frequent causes of genetic variability in both human and close species. The recent availability of different bioinformatics tools for annotating human single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has opened the possibility of using them to score SNPs from species with a biomedical interest, in particular from mice and other models of human disease. Also, this ability to predict pathogenicity of single point mutations in one species, based on data from another species, opens the possibility to predict the pathological character of single point mutations in humans using data from well‐characterized model systems of human disease. This could provide a valuable alternative to the more traditional genetic population approaches. However, transferral of prediction tools may be limited by different factors, from a species bias in the training set, to a large sequence divergence between the proteomes of the training and the target species. Here we study the conditions under which prediction tools can be transferred among species, concentrating in the case of mice. We find that for the majority of the human–mouse homolog pairs, the sequence similarity is large enough to preserve the pathological character of mutations among species, in general. We then establish that prediction/annotation tools developed for one organism can be used to predict the neutral/pathological character of mutations/SNPs in the other organism. Proteins 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Thermoluminescence characteristics of terbium‐doped Ba2Ca(BO3)2 phosphor
Authors: Liu Liyan , Zhang Yanli , Hao Jingquan , Li Chengyu , Tang Qiang , Zhang Chunxiang , Su Qiang
Published: October 2005

Thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics and dosimetric properties of Ba2Ca(BO3)2 phosphor doped with Tb3+ exposed to gamma‐ray irradiation are reported for the first time. Firstly, the influence of different rare earth dopants, i.e. Dy3+, Tb3+ and Tm3+, on TL of Ba2Ca(BO3)2 phosphor is discussed. All glow curves consist of two TL peaks located at 109–120 °C and 199–220 °C and Tb3+‐doped Ba2Ca(BO3)2 phosphor exhibits the highest TL sensitivity. Secondly, the effects of concentration of Tb3+ and gamma‐ray irradiation dose on TL are investigated. The optimum Tb3+ concentration is 2 mol% and the TL kinetic parameters of Ba2Ca(BO3)2:0.02Tb are calculated by the peak shape method. The high‐temperature peak for this sample shifts to higher temperature with increasing irradiation dose. Furthermore, the dosimetric properties of Ba2Ca(BO3)2:0.02Tb phosphor, i.e. the pre‐irradiation annealing treatment, reproducibility and linearity, are studied, the results of which indicate that Tb3+‐doped Ba2Ca(BO3)2 phosphor has a potential application in the personal protection dosimetry field. TL emission of the phosphor is observed to peak at about 485, 542, 580 and 625 nm originating from the characteristic transitions of Tb3+. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Betriebliche Kontinuität als Teil eines integrierten Risikomanagements
Authors: von Rössing Rolf
Published: October 2005

In den vergangenen Jahren haben die Begriffe “Risikomanagement”, “Corporate Governance” und “internes Kontrollsystem” weitreichende Popularität erlangt. Die Tendenz zur nahezu allumfassenden Kontrolle der Prozesse im Unternehmen wird stärker, zumal die Haftung der Vorstände und Aufsichtsräte ebenfalls erweitert wurde. Es leuchtet ein, dass Vertreter dieser Gruppen einer präventiven Absicherung zuneigen, die ihre Haftungsrisiken minimiert und zugleich eine klare Außenwirkung für das Unternehmen erzeugt. Im Ergebnis führt dieses Vorhaben jedoch häufig zu enorm komplexen und aufwändigen Kontrollsystemen, die durch ausufernde Mechanismen der Überwachung und Freigabe eine eigene Form der Bürokratie schaffen. Es ist ja gerade die Geschäftstätigkeit an sich, die ein unternehmerisches Risiko in sich birgt – dieses Risiko gilt es abzuwägen und in geeigneter Form zu begrenzen. Wäre das Kontrollsystem ausschließlich an der Vermeidung jeglicher Risiken ausgerichtet, so könnte dies in letzter Konsequenz nur zur Einstellung des Betriebs führen.
Rüsten für den Notfall – Business Continuity Management und Risiko‐Vorsorge
Authors: Schmidt Heidrun
Published: October 2005

Je mehr geschäftskritische Applikationen Unternehmen einsetzen, desto größer werden auch die möglichen Bedrohungen. Fallen solche Ressourcen aus, liegt der Geschäftsbetrieb sehr schnell lahm, wenn nicht rechtzeitig und proaktiv gegengesteuert wurde. Business Continuity Management setzt genau dort an und stellt die Fortführung der kritischen Geschäftsprozesse bei Eintritt eines Notfalles sicher.
In Abrahams Schoß – Absicherung der “Business Continuity” durch Software‐Escrow
Authors: Krüger Johannes M.
Published: October 2005

Laut Angaben des Statistischen Bundesamts haben im Jahr 2004 rund 39.000 deutsche Firmen Insolvenz anmeldet, darunter eine erhebliche Anzahl von Software‐Herstellern. Nach einschlägiger Erfahrung werden zwar Berichte wie über die drohende Insolvenz des Herstellers der so genannten “Hartz IV”‐Software oder die Probleme des “Toll Collect”‐Konsortiums durchaus wahrgenommen. Die Frage, ob denn nicht dasselbe Risiko für das eigene Unternehmens besteht, wird zumeist aber nicht gestellt.
Bankportfolio‐Zinsrisikomanagement – Aufsichtliche Überprüfung des Zinsänderungsrisikos im Anlagebuch (Säule 2 von Basel II) in Österreich
Authors: Hudetz Thomas
Published: October 2005

Der Beitrag gibt einen kurzen Überblick über die Entwicklung der Meldeerfordernisse für Zinsänderungsrisiken im Anlagebuch österreichischer Kreditinstitute, die seit 2000 von der österreichischen Bankenaufsicht vorangetrieben wird. Das Thema ist eingebettet in den hochaktuellen Rahmen der Basel‐II‐Erfordernisse, die ab Anfang 2007 für die “Aufsichtliche Überprüfung” (Säule 2) gelten.
Generation of natural motions for redundant multi‐joint systems: A differential‐geometric approach based upon the principle of least actions
Authors: Arimoto S. , Hashiguchi H. , Sekimoto M. , Ozawa R.
Published: October 2005

This article challenges Bernstein's problem of redundant degrees of freedom (DOF) that remains unsolved from both the standpoints of physiology and robotics. A rather simpler but difficult control problem of movements of human‐like multi‐joint reaching with excess DOF is analyzed from Newtonian mechanics and differential geometry. It is shown that, regardless of ill‐posedness of inverse kinematics for such a redundant system, a simpler control signal composed of a well‐tuned (synergistic) combination of task‐space position feedback (corresponding to spring‐like forces) and joint velocity feedback (viscous‐like forces) leads to a skilled motion of reaching in a natural way without solving inverse kinematics or dynamics. Fundamental characteristics of human skilled multi‐joint movements such as (1) generation of a quasi‐straight line trajectory of the endpoint and (2) a little “variability” in task space but notable “variability” in joint space are analyzed from the concepts of “stability on an EP (equilibrium‐point) manifold” and “transferability to an EP submanifold.” It is claimed that the control signal exerts torques on joints of the whole arm just like a single virtual‐spring drawing the endpoint of the arm to the target while giving a specified viscosity to each joint. This leads to an interpretation that skilled reaching movements emerge through formation of a set of neuro‐motor signals exerting relevant group of muscles to generate a total potential energy equivalent to that of the spring. Discussions are presented on how such control signals in case of human reaching can be generated in a feedforward manner with capability of anticipatory adjustments of stiffness. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A natural redundancy‐resolution for 3‐D multi‐joint reaching under the gravity effect
Authors: Sekimoto Masahiro , Arimoto Suguru
Published: October 2005

A simple control method for 3‐dimensional multi‐joint reaching movements under redundancy of degrees of freedom (DOF) is proposed, which need neither introduce any performance index to solve inverse kinematics uniquely nor calculate pseudo‐inverse of the Jacobian matrix of task coordinates with respect to joint coordinates. The proposed control signal is composed of linear superposition of three terms: (1) angular‐velocity feedback for damping shaping, (2) task‐space position error feedback with a single stiffness parameter, and (3) compensation for gravity force on the basis of estimates for uncertain parameters of the potential energy without calculation any inverse joint position to the target in task space. Through a theoretical analysis of the closed‐loop dynamics and a variety of computer simulations by using a whole arm model with five DOFs, the importance of synergistic adjustments of damping factors as well as its relation to selection of the stiffness parameter is pointed out. It is shown that if damping factors are chosen synergistically corresponding to the inertia matrix at the initial time and the stiffness parameter then the endpoint converges asymptotically to the target position and reaches it smoothly without incurring any self‐motion. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Forces, activation and displacement prediction during free movement in the hand and forearm
Authors: Chalfoun J. , Younes R. , Renault M. , Ouezdou F. B.
Published: October 2005

This paper deals with the development of a highly realistic human hand and forearm model. The model contains 38 muscles and 24 degrees of freedom representing the joints of the system. The adopted model has to be as close as possible to the reality of the human being hand, to address several features linked to manipulation tasks, grasping objects and daily routine movements like shaving, writing, etc. In addition, a better comprehension of the biomechanical and neuromuscular behavior of the system is aimed. This will allow having a tool for the simulation of repairing surgery, acts such as tendon transfer. In this paper, we focus on the muscle forces determination for a given task. An optimization technique is used to resolve the redundant problem over the 24 joints of the system. Also, a muscle model is used and is integrated in the optimization technique, in order to determine measurable values, like the activation and the displacement of each muscle in the system. The calculation is made during a real‐time simulation. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Optimal robot arm control using the minimum variance model
Authors: Simmons Gavin , Demiris Yiannis
Published: October 2005

Models of human movement from computational neuroscience provide a starting point for building a system that can produce flexible adaptive movement on a robot. There have been many computational models of human upper limb movement put forward, each attempting to explain one or more of the stereotypical features that characterize such movements. While these models successfully capture some of the features of human movement, they often lack a compelling biological basis for the criteria they choose to optimize. One that does provide such a basis is the minimum variance model (and its extension—task optimization in the presence of signal‐dependent noise). Here, the variance of the hand position at the end of a movement is minimized, given that the control signals on the arm's actuators are subject to random noise with zero mean and variance proportional to the amplitude of the signal. Since large control signals, required to move fast, would have higher amplitude noise, the speed‐accuracy trade‐off emerges as a direct result of the optimization process. We chose to implement a version of this model that would be suitable for the control of a robot arm, using an optimal control scheme based on the discrete‐time linear quadratic regulator. This implementation allowed us to examine the applicability of the minimum variance model to producing humanlike movement. In this paper, we describe our implementation of the minimum variance model, both for point‐to‐point reaching movements and for more complex trajectories involving via points. We also evaluate its performance in producing humanlike movement and show its advantages over other optimization based models (the well‐known minimum jerk and minimum torque‐change models) for the control of a robot arm. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Spatial effects of reservoirs on fish assemblages in Great Plains streams in Kansas, USA
Authors: Falke Jeffrey A. , Gido Keith B.
Published: October 2005

Reservoirs are important components of modern aquatic ecosystems that have negative impacts on native aquatic biota both up‐ and downstream. We used a landscape‐scale geographic information system (GIS) approach to quantify the spatial effects of 19 large reservoirs on upstream prairie fish assemblages at 219 sites in Kansas, USA. We hypothesized that fish assemblage structure would vary with increasing distance from a reservoir and that the abundance of reservoir fishes in upstream reaches would decline with distance from a reservoir. Ordination of sample sites showed variation in fish assemblage structure occurred primarily across river basins and with stream size. Variance partitioning of a canonical ordination revealed that the pure effect of reservoir distance explained a small but significant (6%; F = 4.90, P = 0.002) amount of variability in fish assemblage structure in upstream reaches. Moreover, reservoir species catch per unit of effort (CPUE) significantly declined with distance from a reservoir, but only in fourth‐ and fifth‐ order streams (r2 = 0.32, P < 0.001 and r2 = 0.49, P < 0.001, respectively). Finally, a multivariate regression model including measures of stream size, catchment area, river basin, and reservoir distance successfully predicted CPUE of reservoir species at sites upstream of Kansas reservoirs (R2 = 0.45, P < 0.001). Overall, we found significant upstream effects of reservoirs on Kansas stream fish assemblages, which over time has led to a general homogenization of fish assemblages because of species introductions and extirpations. However, characteristic reservoir species are present throughout these systems and the importance of spatial proximity to reservoirs is probably dependent on the availability of suitable habitat (e.g. deep pools) in these tributary streams. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Applying spatial hydraulic principles to quantify stream habitat
Authors: Crowder David W. , Diplas Panayiotis
Published: October 2005

Flow complexity plays an important role in stream ecology. Yet, a paucity of research exists with regard to quantifying flow complexity and relating it to the habitats that aquatic organisms utilize. Here we provide a generalized example of how two‐dimensional (2‐D) numerical hydraulic models and spatial hydraulic metrics can be used to simulate and quantify biologically important flow patterns within streams. A detailed topographic survey, incorporating meso‐scale topographic features (e.g. exposed boulders and bedrock outcrops) is performed for a small urbanized stream. The 2‐D hydraulic model RMA2 is then used to model the flow conditions within the stream reach. Model results demonstrate that the meso‐scale topographic features create highly complex flow patterns of potential biological importance. Recently developed spatial hydraulic metrics, based on hydraulic engineering principles (vorticity, circulation and kinetic energy gradients), are then used to quantify the various types of flow complexity found within the stream reach. In particular, spatial hydraulic metrics are used to quantify the stream reach's overall flow complexity and the flow complexity surrounding three chub mounds. A method for uniquely characterizing circulation zones is then developed and applied to five circulation zones within the study reach. The principles used in performing this study's topographic survey, spatial explicit hydraulic modelling and spatial hydraulic analyses, form a general framework for quantifying flow complexity in any stream. The ways in which using hydraulic models and spatial hydraulic metrics can help establish better habitat suitability criteria and design best management practices for use in stream and catchment area restoration projects is discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Proofs of the Parisi and Coppersmith‐Sorkin random assignment conjectures
Authors: Nair Chandra , Prabhakar Balaji , Sharma Mayank
Published: October 2005

Suppose that there are n jobs and n machines and it costs cij to execute job i on machine j. The assignment problem concerns the determination of a one‐to‐one assignment of jobs onto machines so as to minimize the cost of executing all the jobs. When the cij are independent and identically distributed exponentials of mean 1, Parisi [Technical Report cond‐mat/9801176, xxx LANL Archive, 1998] made the beautiful conjecture that the expected cost of the minimum assignment equals $\sum_{i=1}^n (1/i^2)$. Coppersmith and Sorkin [Random Structures Algorithms 15 (1999), 113–144] generalized Parisi's conjecture to the average value of the smallest k‐assignment when there are n jobs and m machines. Building on the previous work of Sharma and Prabhakar [Proc 40th Annu Allerton Conf Communication Control and Computing, 2002, 657–666] and Nair [Proc 40th Annu Allerton Conf Communication Control and Computing, 2002, 667–673], we resolve the Parisi and Coppersmith‐Sorkin conjectures. In the process we obtain a number of combinatorial results which may be of general interest.© 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg. 2005
Mild tricuspid regurgitation: a benign fetal finding at various stages of pregnancy
Authors: Messing B. , Porat S. , Imbar T. , Valsky D. V. , Anteby E. Y. , Yagel S.
Published: October 2005

Objective

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) may accompany various anatomical malformations and/or dysfunction of the fetal right heart. It may also appear in an anatomically healthy heart. With improved ultrasound modalities, more cases than the previously estimated prevalence of fetal TR in the low‐risk population are being diagnosed. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of mild fetal TR in a low‐risk obstetric population.

Methods

In 157 low‐risk pregnant women (age range, 18–42 years) undergoing both early second‐trimester and mid‐trimester targeted organ scanning, including complete fetal echocardiography according to the five transverse planes technique, the apical four‐chamber view was visualized using gray‐scale, color Doppler and spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) ultrasound modalities, with optimal acquisition parameters.

Results

Mild‐to‐moderate TR was discovered in the early second‐trimester scan in 131/157 (83.4%) fetuses. No cases of cardiac malformation were found. All fetuses showed normal flow in the ductus venosus, including in one case diagnosed with moderate TR. Only in 39 (24.8%) cases was mild TR still evident at the second, mid‐trimester scan. Neonatal echocardiography revealed mild TR in eight (5.1%) cases. No cases of chromosomal anomalies were detected.

Conclusion

Mild TR is a benign finding of a temporal nature in early pregnancy. Copyright © 2005 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Scattering signatures for some human tissues using synchrotron radiation
Authors: Castro C. R. F. , Barroso R. C. , Lopes R. T.
Published: October 2005

At photon energies below 100 keV, coherent scatter becomes important and because of its sharply forward peaked nature, it is the dominant interaction at small angles. Further, in the momentum transfer region above 0.5 Å−1, free atom form factors are sufficient to describe coherent scattering. The angular distribution of the coherent scattering carries detailed information about the object and can be used as a signature of the tissue type of the object. The aim of this work was to analyze the scattering properties of different human tissues according to histological classifications. The coherent scattering signatures of healthy and neoplastic breast, uterus and kidney tissues were measured using x‐ray synchrotron radiation at the XRD2 beamline at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS). Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simultaneous Classification and Multidimensional Scaling with External Information
Authors: Kiers Henk A. L. , Vicari Donatella , Vichi Maurizio
Published: October 2005

For the exploratory analysis of a matrix of proximities or (dis)similarities between objects, one often uses cluster analysis (CA) or multidimensional scaling (MDS). Solutions resulting from such analyses are sometimes interpreted using external information on the objects. Usually the procedures of CA, MDS and using external information are carried out independently and sequentially, although combinations of two of the three procedures (CA and MDS, or MDS and using external information) have been proposed in the literature. The present paper offers a procedure that combines all three procedures in one analysis, using a model that describes a partition of objects with cluster centroids represented in a low-dimensional space, which in turn is related to the information in the external variables. A simulation study is carried out to demonstrate that the method works satisfactorily for data with a known underlying structure. Also, to illustrate the method, it is applied to two empirical data sets.
An S‐like ribonuclease gene is used to generate a trap‐leaf enzyme in the carnivorous plant Drosera adelae
Authors: Okabe Takahiro , Iwakiri Yoshimoto , Mori Hitoshi , Ogawa Tomohisa , Ohyama Takashi
Published: October 2005

Carnivorous plants usually grow in nutrient‐deficient habitats, and thus they partly depend on insects for nitrogen and phosphate needed for amino acid and nucleotide synthesis. We report that a sticky digestive liquid from a sundew, Drosera adelae, contains an abundant amount of an S‐like ribonuclease (RNase) that shows high amino acid‐sequence similarity to S‐like RNases induced by phosphate starvation or wounding in normal plants. By giving leaves an RNase “coat”, D. adelae seems to achieve two requirements simultaneously to adapt itself to its specific surroundings: it obtains phosphates from insects, and defends itself against pathogen attack.
Cold‐induced expression of the VEGF gene in brown adipose tissue is independent of thermogenic oxygen consumption
Authors: Fredriksson J. Magnus , Nikami Hideki , Nedergaard Jan
Published: October 2005

To examine whether cold‐induced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene expression in brown adipose tissue involved generation of hypoxic oxygen levels by thermogenic processes, we cold‐exposed wild‐type mice, as well as uncoupling protein‐1 (UCP1)‐ablated mice in which no thermogenesis in brown adipocytes can be induced. Cold exposure stimulated VEGF expression in both wild‐type and UCP1‐ablated mice. Unexpectedly, the effect was 3‐fold higher in UCP1‐ablated animals, whereas cultured brown adipocytes from both genotypes responded identically to norepinephrine stimulation. These results demonstrate that generation of low oxygen levels does not contribute to cold‐induced VEGF expression in brown adipose tissue, but the results are consistent with an adrenergic regulation of expression.
Revised structure of the AbrB N‐terminal domain unifies a diverse superfamily of putative DNA‐binding proteins
Authors: Bobay Benjamin G. , Andreeva Antonina , Mueller Geoffrey A. , Cavanagh John , Murzin Alexey G.
Published: October 2005

New relationships found in the process of updating the structural classification of proteins (SCOP) database resulted in the revision of the structure of the N‐terminal, DNA‐binding domain of the transition state regulator AbrB. The dimeric AbrB domain shares a common fold with the addiction antidote MazE and the subunit of uncharacterized protein MraZ implicated in cell division and cell envelope formation. It has a detectable sequence similarity to both MazE and MraZ thus providing an evolutionary link between the two proteins. The putative DNA‐binding site of AbrB is found on the same face as the DNA‐binding site of MazE and appears similar, both in structure and sequence, to the exposed conserved region of MraZ. This strongly suggests that MraZ also binds DNA and allows for a consensus model of DNA recognition by the members of this novel protein superfamily.
Identification and characterization of rDJL, a novel member of the DnaJ protein family, in rat testis
Authors: Yang Chunbo , Miao Shiying , Zong Shudong , Koide Samuel S. , Wang Linfang
Published: October 2005

Applying the method of segmentation of seminiferous tubules combined with DDRT‐PCR and cDNA library screening, a novel DnaJ homologue, rDJL was identified in rat testis. The reading frame encodes a protein of 223 amino acid residues containing J domain in the NH2 terminal region. rDJL gene is expressed mainly in testis and rDJL protein was immunolocalized notably in the acrosome region of spermatozoa. Immunoprecipitation experiments showed that rDJL interacted with Hsc70 and clathrin protein. When CHO cells were treated with EGF, rDJL and clathrin protein were found to be colocalized and be concentrated as endosome vesicles. The present findings suggest that rDJL functions as co‐chaperone to Hsc70, participates in vesicular trafficking and may play an important role in acrosomogenesis.
Prenegotiation Public Commitment in Domestic and International Bargaining
Authors: LEVENOTOĞLU BAHAR , TARAR AHMER
Published: October 2005

We use a formal bargaining model to examine why, in many domestic and international bargaining situations, one or both negotiators make public statements in front of their constituents committing themselves to obtaining certain benefits in the negotiations. We find that making public commitments provides bargaining leverage, when backing down from such commitments carries domestic political costs. However, when the two negotiators face fairly similar costs for violating a public commitment, a prisoner's dilemma is created in which both sides make high public demands which cannot be satisfied, and both negotiators would be better off if they could commit to not making public demands. However, making a public demand is a dominant strategy for each negotiator, and this leads to a suboptimal outcome. Escaping this prisoner's dilemma provides a rationale for secret negotiations. Testable hypotheses are derived from the nature of the commitments and agreements made in equilibrium.
Explaining the Democratic Peace
Authors: ROSATO SEBASTIAN
Published: October 2005

I am grateful for the opportunity to respond to the rejoinders to my article, “The Flawed Logic of Democratic Peace Theory” (Rosato 2003). In each case, I summarize the core issues at stake and explain why I do not believe that my critics have succeeded in casting serious doubt on my original argument.
Douglas Northrop. Veiled Empire: Gender & Power in Stalinist Central Asia. Cornell University Press 2004. xvii+1392 pp. ISBN 0801439442.
Authors: Kamp Marianne
Published: October 2005

Central to Douglas Northrop's archivally based study of the Soviet attempt to unveil Uzbek women is the argument that the Soviet Union was a colonial empire, one where Bolsheviks tried to transform daily cultural practices and gender relations against the wishes of most Uzbeks, who responded as colonial subjects by using weapons of the weak. Northrop's use of previously unavailable Communist Party documents allows an exploration of the Party's arguments for and against unveiling, and describes the Party's surprise at the vehemence and violence of anti-unveiling resistance in Uzbekistan. Starting with the 1927 Communist Party initiation of the Hujum—or campaign against veiling in Soviet Uzbekistan—this work's exclusive focus on the unveiling campaign allows Northrop to reveal that resistance to unveiling and other laws concerning “liberation” continued into the 1950s, and to examine the ways that intrusion into family life and cultural practices served the Party as a tool for defining loyalty during the Stalinist period. Northrop far exceeds Gregory Massell's The Surrogate Proletariat: Moslem Women and Revolutionary Strategies in Soviet Central Asia, 1919–1929 (1974) in exploring Party arguments over policies toward Central Asia.