bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intelligent Agents
Authors: Zeng Daniel Dajun , Nissen Mark E.
Published: July 2008

Agent technology is one of the fastest growing areas of research and system development in information technology and is becoming a critical technological component of the emerging electronic marketplace and online economy. This chapter briefly reviews intelligent agents and presents an overview of the applications of intelligent agent and multiagent systems technologies in various areas of e‐commerce. These applications are grouped into two major categories: (1) agent‐based information, knowledge, and process management, and (2) agent‐based operational and strategic decision making. Also included are an exposition on system development and integration issues related to building effective agent‐based e‐commerce systems and an introduction to evaluating such systems in an economic and social context.
Interactive Multimedia on the Web
Authors: Furht Borko , Marques Oge
Published: July 2008

In this chapter, we present fundamental concepts of interactive multimedia systems and their applications on the Web. The first part describes multimedia network technologies and related multimedia standards. We also discuss the characteristics of multimedia traffic as well as the Internet techniques for transferring data. Next, we introduce a process of creating interactive multimedia Web pages and related languages and tools, such as Java Applets and JavaScript, VBScript, VRML, ActiveX, and Active Server Pages. Finally, we present an overview of popular interactive multimedia Web services and applications, including multimedia portals, distance learning, media sharing, and multimedia search.
International Cyberlaw
Authors: Gladstone Julia Alpert
Published: July 2008

The Internet is a forum for the exchange of ideas and a platform for commerce. It is a global marketplace where millions of dollars of business is transacted pursuant to a divided national and international regulatory regime. Continued economic growth on the Internet will be hampered by the inconsistencies and lack of predictability inherent in the current legal framework that governs cyberspace activity. This chapter reviews the key national and international laws and cases that control much of the behavior on the Internet and suggests ways to harmonize the laws in order to achieve a more seamless World Wide Web. Predictability and reliability are important to stimulate commerce, and uniform laws can play a key role in providing these elements.
Intrusion Detection Techniques
Authors: Ning Peng , Jajodia Sushil
Published: July 2008

In an information system,intrusionsare the activities that violate the security policy of the system, andintrusion detectionis the process used to identify intrusions. Intrusion detection techniques have been traditionally classified into one of two methodologies:anomaly detectionormisuse detection. This chapter gives an overview of the existing intrusion detection techniques, including anomaly detection and misuse detection models, and identifies techniques related to intrusion detection in distributed systems. Topics covered include statistical models, machine learning and data mining approaches, computer immunological approach, specification‐based approach, information theoretic measures for anomaly detection, rule‐based languages, state transition analysis toolkit, colored Petri automata (CPA), abstraction‐based approach, distributed intrusion detection systems, network‐based intrusion detection systems, and information sharing among intrusion detection systems.
Java
S
erver Pages (
JSP
)
Authors: Pratter Frederick
Published: July 2008

JavaServer Pages
(JSP) technology is one of several current strategies for providing dynamic content on the World Wide Web. The particular advantages of JSP are that it is nonproprietary and platform independent, freely available, and that it provides a way to separate data and business logic from presentation components in a multitier Web application architecture.
Library Management
Authors: Sitter Clara L.
Published: July 2008

Information professionals use the Internet in two broad areas of library management: library resources and library functions. The applications of the Internet in the management of library resources include the identification, selection, acquisition, organization, access, utilization, and evaluation of information. Applications in the management of library functions include planning, organizing, staffing, directing, controlling, reporting, and budget. Areas of future focus relate to collections, users, technology, information providers, and education of information professionals. The role of the librarian in facilitating the connection of users with information includes some of the following priorities: equity of access, protection of intellectual content, understanding diverse users, preservation, and emerging technology. These priorities and other traditional values of the profession will continue to be important. The opportunities for the application of the Internet for library management are enormous.
Linux Operating System
Authors: Abzug Charles
Published: July 2008

The Linux operating system occupies a special position in the world of computer science. Unlike the great majority of operating systems, which are produced by commercial developers and sold at a profit, Linux is produced and maintained by a coterie of enthusiastic volunteers, and is distributed with no license fees whatsoever. It is available in several versions that run with nearly identical look and feel on a diverse group of hardware platforms. Linux is famed both for its stability and for its efficiency, often running for months, or occasionally years at a time without having to be rebooted, while also achieving excellent performance. It conveys many of the properties of UNIX that have made that operating system extremely popular among computer science professionals. Linux source code is as freely available as the executable code, thus giving users complete freedom to modify and adapt the operating system to the special needs of their systems. Linux maintains the tradition of openness and voluntarism that originally characterized the UNIX world, while at the same time avoiding the concomitant fragmentation experienced by UNIX into a variety of dialects. Linux is likely to continue to increase in importance.
Managing a Network Environment
Authors: Latchman Haniph A. , Walters Jordan
Published: July 2008

The proliferation of computer networks as critical resources in homes, businesses, and other enterprises requires significant coordination of efforts to effectively manage and administer these networks in order to provide the desired services. Such networks of computers may consist of a few interconnected computers forming small‐ to medium‐sized local area networks or larger campus area networks involving connections among several buildings, as well as metropolitan and wide area networks. But regardless of the size or reach of these networks, the management of the resulting network environment involves a set of common functions. These include hardware and software issues, network operating systems, telecommunication interconnection technologies, user management and support, information and computer security, data backup and retrieval, and support for mobile users. In this chapter we will describe these major network management issues, from the point of view of the network manager as well as from the perspective of users of the network services.
Managing the Flow of Materials Across the Supply Chain
Authors: Holweg Matthias , Rich Nick
Published: July 2008

Fundamental to the success of any supply chain is the management of both the material flow of product and the information flow. For any supply chain to be effective, these flows cannot be interrupted or distorted without incurring waste and consuming management time in correcting problems. In addition, the procurement of materials, manufacturing, and distribution of products accounts for the majority of the overall cost and is key to customer service and overall competitiveness. Therefore, the development of a supply chain management capability for modern businesses is a means of contributing to business efficiency, effectiveness, and competitive advantage over rival producers. With the Internet enabling rapid information flow, much of the recent attention has focused on the information flow only, yet even in Internet‐enabled supply chains, the overall success still depends on an uninterrupted and efficient physical order fulfilment process. This chapter discuss the basics of both material and information flows and their interactions and concludes with an overview of current challenges and future trends on how to manage efficiently the material flow in the supply chain in the Internet age.
Online Public Relations
Authors: Hallahan Kirk
Published: July 2008

Public relations units within corporations, not‐for‐profit organizations, and government institutions have embraced the Internet to communicate important information and to build relationships with key publics. Online public relations employs Web sites and other Internet technologies, such as e‐mail discussion groups and chats, file transfers, and remote kiosk terminals. Factors that shape online organizational‐public relationship building relate to the organization, the system being used, and the user. The process of relationship building includes awareness and trial, cognitive learning, interactivity with technology and others, and impression formation. Outcomes of relationship building can be measured in terms of knowledge, attitudes toward the organization, communication activities, and the adoption of routinized behaviors that benefit the organization (and user). In addition to promotion and relationship building, online relations is particularly important to organizations when managing crises and issues. Public relations managers confront numerous concerns in managing online relations. These include content control, branding, assurance of message quality, usability, systems integration, security, legal and regulatory compliance, and assessment and measurement. Implications for organizational‐public relationships in society also are discussed.
Online Religion
Authors: Ciolek T. Matthew
Published: July 2008

Religious uses of the Internet began in the late 1970s. These started with tentative interpersonal and group exchanges, followed by more systematic information publishing and gathering, and finally online pastoral contact and computer‐mediated religious rituals. Over the years hundreds of thousands of specialised faith‐focused electronic environments have been established worldwide, with a user population of many millions. As more people gain access to the Net, these online social networks and communities continue to evolve and grow. Also, what were once complicated tools and procedures became thoroughly mastered and integrated into their users' lives. The Internet gives daily access to many types of spiritual resources, and religious use of the Net seamlessly complements face‐to‐face contacts, as well as information disseminated by traditional mass media. New technologies mutate the inherited formats of religious communication, however. Moreover, such technologies challenge existing patterns of power and authority within congregations and religious institutions.
Perl
Authors: Stotts David
Published: July 2008

This chapter gives an overview of the Perl scripting language and shows how it is used for programming Internet and Web applications. The history of the language is presented along with its Unix heritage. Basic language features are explained with examples of Perl scripts for string manipulation, pattern matching, text processing, and system interactions. The Perl community module repository
CPAN
is discussed, and several of the popular Perl modules are used to illustrate Web client, Web server, database, and network programming. Two newer scripting languages—Python and Ruby—are briefly discussed and compared with Perl. Finally, many of Perl's most advanced features are mentioned but not discussed, so references are provided for readers who wish further study.
Project Management Techniques
Authors: Schwalbe Kathy
Published: July 2008

The Project Management Institute (PMI) estimates that 4.5 million people in the United States (3.3% of the workforce), and more than 12 million people in the rest of the world regard project management as their profession of choice. In addition, PMI estimates that the United States spends more than $2.3 trillion on projects every year, or one quarter of the nation's gross domestic product (PMI,

). To meet this growing demand for projects, organizations must understand and apply appropriate project management tools and techniques.
The PMBOK Guide, 2000 Edition,
lists several tools and techniques for each of the nine project management knowledge areas (PMI,

). This chapter briefly describes the field of project management and summarizes a few important tools and techniques to help select projects, identify and manage scope requirements, assign resources, determine schedules, and track performance in meeting scope, time, and cost goals.
Prototyping
Authors: Nyberg Eric H.
Published: July 2008

Building e‐commerce systems is a challenging activity. E‐commerce software involves the rapid deployment of leading‐edge technology and is usually subject to a significant set of expectations and constraints concerning performance, scalability, security, and flexibility. At the start of a project, the problem domain and the requirements for possible solutions are often not well understood. In order to maximize the likelihood of on‐time delivery (and minimize cost and schedule overruns), it can be useful to construct an initial prototype system. A prototype can help an organization to identify conflicting assumptions, select among competing technologies, and minimize uncertainty. Building prototypes is a good way to identify potential technical challenges and risks inherent in different implementation strategies. The goals of prototyping vary from system to system, and different prototyping strategies may be adopted, depending on the problem domain.
Securities Trading on the Internet
Authors: Flicker Marcia H.
Published: July 2008

A web of information technology has transformed the securities industry over the past 30 years. Initial innovations spun vast proprietary networks between institutions, speeding up transaction processing to allow greater transaction volume in the same time period. The Internet has expanded that web to individual investors, newly empowering them with timely information in a cost‐efficient manner, access to communities of other investors—each contributing to the common knowledge (or ignorance) base—and greater access to markets. As the bull market of the 1990s dissolved, retail investors have been less inclined to take advantage of these opportunities to ”go it alone.” Online brokerages have had to acquire research and advising capabilities, either internally or through alliances, and to increase their fees commensurately. At the same time as it attracted a swarm of retail investors, the web of electronic communication over the Internet has impacted trading institutions, brokers and exchanges alike. Buy and sell orders can now “meet” and “match” away from a physical trading floor or even a centralized electronic exchange such as Nasdaq. Newly born electronic communication networks (ECNs) provide unprecedented competition for the established exchanges, challenging them to restructure themselves into more flexible, more accessible entities.
Trademark Law
Authors: Everett‐Church Ray
Published: July 2008

This chapter addresses the foundations of trademark law and discusses how traditional trademark protections are being applied to key aspects of the Internet business environment. The chapter begins by explaining the fundamental concepts of protecting the rights of trademark owners, including how federal trademark registration works, the elements of trademark infringement, and some defenses against certain trademark‐related claims. Because Internet domain names are the focus of some of the most important recent guidance in trademark law, the chapter outlines why domain names are important, how the domain name system works, and how domain names are registered. Several groundbreaking legal disputes over domain names are surveyed, as are laws that have grown to address the unique nature of Internet domain name trademark disputes, and the role of ICANN in both controlling and facilitating dispute resolution within the Internet domain name system.
Universally Accessible Web Resources: Designing for People with Disabilities
Authors: Gunderson Jon
Published: July 2008

The universal design of Web resources is beneficial for all users, including people with disabilities. The basis of universal design is to provide users with options and control over how they view information on the Web. Universal design easily adapts to user capabilities or the capabilities of the technologies they are using. Users with visual impairments can style the text on the page to be easier to read. Able‐bodied users using Personal Digital Assistants or speech‐based telephone browsers can access content just as easily as someone viewing the information in a graphical rendering since the structure of the information is separated from the style of rendering. Even graphical renderings are enhanced since Web resources adapt to the dimensions and resolutions of the user's display settings. Universally designed resources can be as graphically rich as other Web resources, but use different technologies to create the graphical effects.
Value Chain Analysis
Authors: Kleindl Brad
Published: July 2008

Michael Porter's value chain framework is widely used as a strategic tool for identifying how the functional components of a firm provide value and margins for a business. The adoption of e‐commerce tools and techniques has led to a new perspective on value chain development, the e‐commerce value chain. Information technology has affected industry structure by allowing firms to gain efficiency in operations, driving down costs. At the same time, this technology has decreased pricing power and increased price competition. Firms are still forced to focus their strategic efforts on gaining sustainable competitive advantages. This chapter outlines the value chain framework, identifies emerging new business models that utilize e‐commerce tools and techniques, proposes a framework for an e‐commerce value chain, and gives examples of how these business models and value chains are used by businesses.
Video Streaming
Authors: Tuttle Herbert
Published: July 2008

Streaming video is a technology that allows a user to access a video on the Internet and then start viewing it as it is being delivered to the user's computer or other device. This eliminates the time spent in fully downloading a video before viewing. Streaming video has become popular with many businesses, educators, and individual users. Because of some network data transmission limitations, there are many technical challenges in producing and streaming a good‐quality video. Even with these challenges, streaming video is an exciting area that will continue to grow. Reform to existing copyright rules may curb the growth seen over the last couple of years.
Visual Basic
Authors: Owen Dennis O.
Published: July 2008

Visual Basic has been a favorite application development platform for Windows programming. Recent trends in application development are toward using the World Wide Web and Internet technologies as a data transport mechanism. The Web server will become the data and application repository of choice. Applications will no longer reside on the client; data and applications alike will reside on the server. Clients will receive programs and data over an Internet‐like connection through a browser. Tools to develop these systems are pivotal to the success of this trend. At the same time, existing systems must continue to be supported. This chapter looks at Visual Basic as a tool to facilitate new Windows and Web application development and to maintain existing applications.
Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
Authors: Cassel Lillian N.
Published: July 2008

Handheld devices allow people to carry their calendars, address books, reminders, games, and various other tools in a compact unit. However, the prospect of attaching the handheld to the resources of the Internet adds another dimension to the usefulness of these devices. The wireless application protocol (WAP) is an open, global specification to allow wireless devices to access and interact with information and services. This chapter reviews the components of WAP and the challenges involved in producing materials appropriate for access by wireless devices, especially those with small screens, such as the typical handheld device.
Wireless Marketing
Authors: Kwok Pamela M. H.
Published: July 2008

The dramatic development in wireless technologies has created a dynamic business environment for marketers. More important, wireless technologies also bring fundamental changes to business. The earlier optimism and overconfidence in dot‐com companies and adventures in mobile commerce (e.g., i‐mode in Japan) have been disappointing to consumers and investors alike. Nevertheless, many retain a positive attitude toward the future of wireless business and mobile commerce. Worldwide wireless Internet users are expected to reach 48% in 2005. The increasingly ubiquitous ownership of mobile phones in developed countries, together with new product development (e.g., Web‐enabled mobile phones), wireless technologies (e.g., general packet radio service—“always on connections,” universal mobile telephone system, and wideband code division multiple access), have stimulated potential demand for wireless services and new business opportunities. This chapter takes a closer look at the wireless economy and explores key elements in wireless marketing and future challenges for m‐marketers (mobile marketers).
Personality and intimate partner aggression in dating relationships: the role of the “Big Five”
Authors: Hines Denise A. , Saudino Kimberly J.
Published: July 2008

Although personality is shown to predict negative relationship experiences, few researchers have used a structural model of personality to study the ways that personality contributes to intimate partner aggression (IPA). This study investigates the five‐factor model of personality and its associations with both the use and receipt of psychological, physical, and sexual IPA in 179 men and 301 women. Each of the five factors of personality was associated with at least one type of IPA perpetration or victimization. The dimensions of neuroticism and agreeableness were the strongest predictors of IPA particularly for women. Results are discussed in terms of why personality should be considered as a predictor for both the use and receipt of IPA, why sex differences emerged, and future research that should be conducted. Aggr. Behav. 34:593–604, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Embedded Shape‐Memory Alloy Wires for Improved Performance of Self‐Healing Polymers
Authors: Kirkby Eva L. , Rule Joseph D. , Michaud Véronique J. , Sottos Nancy R. , White Scott R. , Månson Jan‐Anders E.
Published: July 2008

We report the first measurements of self‐healing polymers with embedded shape‐memory alloy (SMA) wires. The addition of SMA wires shows improvements of healed peak fracture loads by up to a factor of 1.6, approaching the performance of the virgin material. Moreover, the repairs can be achieved with reduced amounts of healing agent. The improvements in performance are due to two main effects: (i) crack closure, which reduces the total crack volume and increases the crack fill factor for a given amount of healing agent and (ii) heating of the healing agent during polymerization, which increases the degree of cure of the polymerized healing agent.
Circularly Polarized Dielectric‐Loaded Antennas: Current Technology and Future Challenges
Authors: Mirsaneh Mehdi , Leisten Oliver P. , Zalinska Beata , Reaney Ian M.
Published: July 2008

In the last few years, dielectric loaded antennas (DLAs) have emerged as a viable solution for high‐gain reception at microwave frequencies for handheld devices such as satellite phones, radios, and global positioning systems. This article compares the performance, cost, and volumetric efficiencies of the two dominant designs, namely the dielectrically loaded quadrifilar‐helix and microstrip patch antennas. The current and future material requirements for DLAs are discussed and an example is given of a recently developed castable glass ceramic based on BiNbO4, which is suitable in terms of properties and glass formability for the single‐step fabrication of net‐shape antenna cores.

magnified image
Large‐Area Silver‐Coated Silicon Nanowire Arrays for Molecular Sensing Using Surface‐Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Zhang Baohua , Wang Haishui , Lu Lehui , Ai Kelong , Zhang Guo , Cheng Xiaoli
Published: July 2008

A new and facile method to prepare large‐area silver‐coated silicon nanowire arrays for surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)‐based sensing is introduced. High‐quality silicon nanowire arrays are prepared by a chemical etching method and used as a template for the generation of SERS‐active silver‐coated silicon nanowire arrays. The morphologies of the silicon nanowire arrays and the type of silver‐plating solution are two key factors determining the magnitude of SERS signal enhancement and the sensitivity of detection; they are investigated in detail for the purpose of optimization. The optimized silver‐coated silicon nanowire arrays exhibit great potential for ultrasensitive molecular sensing in terms of high SERS signal enhancement ability, good stability, and reproducibility. Their further applications in rapidly detecting molecules relating to human health and safety are discussed. A 10 s data acquisition time is capable of achieving a limit of detection of approximately 4 × 10−6 M calcium dipicolinate (CaDPA), a biomarker for anthrax. This value is 1/15 the infectious dose of spores (6 × 10−5 M required), revealing that the optimized silver‐coated silicon nanowire arrays as SERS‐based ultrasensitive sensors are extremely suitable for detecting Bacillus anthracis spores.
Acrylic Nanocomposite Resins for Use in Stereolithography and Structural Light Modulation Based Rapid Prototyping and Rapid Manufacturing Technologies
Authors: Gurr Matthias , Hofmann Daniel , Ehm Michael , Thomann Yi , Kübler Rainer , Mülhaupt Rolf
Published: July 2008

A novel family of optically transparent acrylic nanocomposites containing up to 30 wt % silica nanoparticles with an average diameter of 20 nm was developed for application in structural light modulation (SLM) and stereolithography (SL) technologies. The uniform dispersion of nanoparticles affords a significantly improved toughness/stiffness‐balance of the photopolymerized and postcured nanocomposites. It is possible to increase stiffness, as expressed by Young's modulus, from 1290 to 1700 MPa without encountering the embrittlement typical for many other conventional filled polymers. Fracture behaviour is examined by means of fracture mechanics investigation and SEM analyses of fracture surfaces. According to TEM analyses and measurement of optical transmittance remarkable uniform dispersion of silica nanoparticles was achieved. The silica nanoparticle concentrations up to 17 wt % give only marginally higher viscosities and do not affect transmittance, while slightly increasing the exposure times needed in photopolymerization. Moreover, the silica nanoparticles afford materials with reduced shrinkage and improved properties. The green effective ankle splay out (EASO) measured on H‐shaped diagnostic specimens, is significantly reduced for the nanocomposite materials from 1.38 mm for the unfilled material to 0.82 mm for nanocomposites containing 30 wt % nanosilica. The building accuracy is increased significantly with increasing content of silica nanofillers.
Synthesis of Self‐Supported Ordered Mesoporous Cobalt and Chromium Nitrides
Authors: Shi Yifeng , Wan Ying , Zhang Renyuan , Zhao Dongyuan
Published: July 2008

Herein, we demonstrate an ammonia nitridation approach to synthesize self‐supported ordered mesoporous metal nitrides (CoN and CrN) from mesostructured metal oxide replicas (Co3O4 and Cr2O3), which were nanocastly prepared by using mesoporous silica SBA‐15 as a hard template. Two synthetic routes are adopted. One route is the direct nitridation of mesoporous metal oxide nanowire replicas templated from SBA‐15 to metal nitrides. By this method, highly ordered mesoporous cobalt nitrides (CoN) can be obtained by the transformation of Co3O4 nanowire replica under ammonia atmosphere from 275 to 350 °C, without a distinct lose of the mesostructural regularity. Treating the samples above 375 °C leads to the formation of metallic cobalt and the collapse of the mesostructure due to large volume shrinkage. The other route is to transform mesostructured metal oxides/silica composites to nitrides/silica composites at 750–1000 °C under ammonia. Ordered mesoporous CrN nanowire arrays can be obtained after the silica template removal by NaOH erosion. A slowly temperature‐program‐decrease process can reduce the influence of silica nitridation and improve the purity of final CrN product. Small‐angle XRD patterns and TEM images showed the 2‐D ordered hexagonal structure of the obtained mesoporous CoN and CrN nanowires. Wide‐angle XRD patterns, HRTEM images, and SAED patterns revealed the formation of crystallized metal nitrides. Nitrogen sorption analyses showed that the obtained materials possessed high surface areas (70–90 m2 g−1) and large pore volumes (about 0.2 cm3 g−1).
Factors affecting the development of lung function in Tunisian children
Authors: Trabelsi Y. , Pariès J. , Harrabi I. , Zbidi A. , Tabka Z. , Richalet J. P. , Buvry A.
Published: July 2008

We undertook to evaluate the impacts of morphology at birth, physical activity, anthropometric, socioeconomic and environmental factors on lung function in healthy Tunisian children. Pulmonary function parameters were measured with a Minato portable spirometer in a randomized population of 756 healthy children (388 males and 368 females) aged between 6 and 16. The morphology at birth, the gestational age, the physical activity, the socioeconomic status, the type of habitation, and the environmental factors were all assessed by a standard questionnaire. Using univariate analysis, we found that: (1) morphometric parameters (height, weight, maximal inspiratory, and expiratory perimeter), as well as sex were highly associated with pulmonary function parameters; (2) Height at birth showed strong significant relations with FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC; (3) lung function parameters were influenced by physical training of our children, socioeconomic status, indoor pollution, and passive smoking; and (4) we did not observe any association between the gestational age and the weight at their birth and lung function parameters. Using a general linear model analysis, morphometric parameters, age, sex, type of heating, and maximal inspiratory and expiratory perimeters had significant relation with respiratory parameters. In our population of healthy Tunisian children, the main predictive factors of the pulmonary development were the morphological factors such as height, weight, maximal inspiratory, and expiratory thoracic perimeter, sex and age, and the environmental conditions such as type of heating but not morphology at birth, physical activity, or socioeconomic status. Am. J.Hum. Biol., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Which cranial regions reflect molecular distances reliably in humans? Evidence from three‐dimensional morphology
Authors: Smith Heather F.
Published: July 2008

Knowledge of the degree to which various subsets of morphological data reflect molecular relationships is crucial for studies attempting to estimate genetic relationships from patterns of morphological variation. This study assessed the phylogenetic utility of six different human cranial regions, plus the entire cranium. Three‐dimensional landmark data were collected for 83 landmarks from samples of skulls from 14 modern human populations. The data were subsequently divided into anatomical regions: basicranium, upper face, mandible, temporal bone, upper jaw, cranial vault, and a subset of points from around the entire cranium. Depictions of population molecular distances were calculated using published data on microsatellites for the same or closely related populations. Distances based on morphological variation of each of the anatomical regions were compared with molecular distances, and the correlations assessed. The morphology of the basicranium, temporal bone, upper face, and entire cranium demonstrated the highest correlations with molecular distances. The morphology of the mandible, upper jaw, and cranial vault, as measured here, were not significantly correlated with molecular distances. As the three‐dimensional morphology of the temporal bone, upper face, basicranium, and entire cranium appear to consistently reflect genetic relationships in humans, especially with more reliability than the cranial vault, it would be preferable to focus on these regions when attempting to determine the genetic relationships of human specimens with no molecular data. Am. J.Hum. Biol., 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sentinel surveillance of occupational diseases: A quality improvement project
Authors: Spreeuwers D. , de Boer A.G.E.M. , Verbeek J.H.A.M. , de Wilde N.S. , Braam I. , Willemse Y. , Pal T.M. , van Dijk F.J.H.
Published: July 2008

Background

Occupational diseases are generally underreported. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a sentinel surveillance project comprising motivated and guided occupational physicians would provide higher quality information than a national registry for a policy to prevent occupational diseases.

Methods

A group of 45 occupational physicians participated in a sentinel surveillance project for two years. All other occupational physicians (N = 1,729) in the national registry were the reference group. We compared the number of notifications per occupational physician, the proportion of incorrect notifications, and the overall reported incidence of occupational diseases.

Results

The median number of notifications per occupational physician during the project was 13.0 (IQR, 4.5–31.5) in the sentinel group versus 1.0 (IQR, 0.0–5.0) in the reference group (P < 0.001). The proportion of incorrect notifications was 3.3% in the sentinel group and 8.9% in the reference group (P < 0.001). The overall reported occupational disease incidence was 7 times higher (RR = 6.9, 95% CI: 6.5–7.4) in the sentinel group (466 notifications per 100,000 employee years) than in the reference group (67 notifications per 100,000 employee years).

Conclusions

A sentinel surveillance group comprising motivated and guided occupational physicians reported a substantially higher occupational disease incidence and a lower proportion of incorrect notifications than a national registry. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:834‐842, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Environmental exposure to Libby asbestos and mesotheliomas
Authors: Whitehouse Alan C. , Black C. Bradford , Heppe Mark S. , Ruckdeschel John , Levin Stephen M.
Published: July 2008

Background

Thirty‐one cases of mesothelioma resulting from exposure to Libby Asbestos have been identified from Libby, Montana. Eleven cases not previously reported are the subject of this report.

Methods

These cases are in non‐occupationally exposed people, appearing to have resulted from exposure to contamination of the community, the surrounding forested area, and areas in proximity to the Kootenai river and railroad tracks used to haul vermiculite.

Results

These exposures are considered to be of a low degree of magnitude, but are similar to those in Western Australia's crocidolite mine at Wittenoom Gorge. An epidemic of mesothelioma can likely be expected from this type of asbestos contamination over the next 20 plus years. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:877‐880, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc
Halogenbrücken in der supramolekularen Chemie
Authors: Metrangolo Pierangelo , Meyer Franck , Pilati Tullio , Resnati Giuseppe , Terraneo Giancarlo
Published: July 2008

Halogenbrücken sind nichtkovalente Wechselwirkungen, in denen Halogenatome als elektrophile Spezies auftreten. Die Energien und geometrischen Charakteristika derartiger Bindungen werden im vorliegenden Kurzaufsatz beschrieben, und es wird diskutiert, welche Voraussetzungen Moleküle erfüllen müssen, um diese Wechselwirkungen eingehen zu können. Die Bildung von Halogenbrücken wirkt sich auf alle Forschungsgebiete aus, die durch molekulare Erkennung und Selbstorganisation bestimmt sind. Es werden einige Prinzipien für das Kristall‐Engineering mithilfe von Halogenbrücken vorgestellt. Das Potenzial derartiger Wechselwirkungen zeigt sich auch in Flüssigkristallen, magnetischen und leitfähigen Materialien sowie in biologischen Systemen.
Biaryl Phosphane Ligands in Palladium‐Catalyzed Amination
Authors: Surry David S. , Buchwald Stephen L.
Published: July 2008

Palladium‐catalyzed amination reactions of aryl halides have undergone rapid development in the last 12 years, largely driven by the implementation of new classes of ligands. Biaryl phosphanes have proven to provide especially active catalysts in this context. This Review discusses the application of these catalysts in CN cross‐coupling reactions in the synthesis of heterocycles and pharmaceuticals, in materials science, and in natural product synthesis.
Efficiency of non‐reactive isothermal bubble column based on mass transfer
Authors: Majumder Subrata Kumar
Published: July 2008

Bubble column reactor as a gas–liquid contactor is extensively used in the chemical and biochemical industries. Mass transfer coefficients governing the transport processes in bubble contactors are a growing concern in chemical and biotechnological processes whose rates are often limited by the mass transfer rate. The influences of different physical, dynamic and geometric variables affect the efficiency characterization of the equipment which are involved in gas/liquid mass transfer processes. This characterization has great importance to optimize the process plant design. In this article, efficiency of two‐phase mass transfer in bubble column reactors has been analyzed based on dynamic, geometric and physical variables of the system. An empirical correlation for mass transfer efficiency has also been developed in terms of those variables. The present analysis on the gas–liquid mass transfer efficiency of bubble column may give insight into a further understanding and modeling of multiphase reactors in industrial applications. Copyright © 2008 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of hydrolysis and oxidation reactions of carbonyl sulfide on particle matter
Authors: Wang Hailin , Cheng Jie , Li Jinjun , Hao Zhengping
Published: July 2008

Reactions of carbonyl sulfide (OCS) on atmospheric particles were investigated in a flowing system using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) at 293 K. Results show that OCS could be slowly oxidized and hydrolyzed on atmospheric particles. As a simplified model, alumina (Al2O3) was used to further compare the two reactions and the results indicate that hydrolysis reaction of OCS has an advantage over oxidation reaction to take place at a given time and that heterogeneous reactions of OCS on particles at atmospheric conditions may include oxidation and hydrolysis reactions. To explore the effect of metals on hydrolysis reaction, zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) supported on Al2O3 were prepared by incipient wetness method, and the results suggest that all metal oxides significantly enhance the initial intrinsic activity of OCS when compared with unmodified Al2O3. The Zn‐modified Al2O3 gives a significant increase of CO2 produced throughout the time‐scale of these experiments and the possible reaction processes are proposed. Copyright © 2008 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermal and dynamic mechanical behavior of bionanocomposites: Fumed silica nanoparticles dispersed in poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), chitosan, and poly(vinyl alcohol)
Authors: Chrissafis Konstantinos , Paraskevopoulos Konstantinos M. , Papageorgiou George Z. , Bikiaris Dimitrios N.
Published: July 2008

Various bionanocomposites were prepared by dispersing fumed silica (SiO2) nanoparticles in biocompatible polymers like poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), chitosan (Chi), or poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). For the bionanocomposites preparation, a solvent evaporation method was followed. SEM micrographs verified fine dispersion of silica nanoparticles in all used polymer matrices of composites with low silica content. Sufficient interactions between the functional groups of the polymers and the surface hydroxyl groups of SiO2 were revealed by FTIR measurements. These interactions favored fine dispersion of silica. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength and Young's modulus substantially increased with increasing the silica content in the bionanocomposites. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the polymer matrices were stabilized against thermal decomposition with the addition of fumed silica due to shielding effect, because for all bionanocomposites the temperature, corresponding to the maximum decomposition rate, progressively shifted to higher values with increasing the silica content. Finally, dynamic thermomechanical analysis (DMA) tests showed that for Chi/SiO2 and PVA/SiO2 nanocomposites the temperature of β‐relaxation observed in tanδ curves, corresponding to the glass transition temperature Tg, shifted to higher values with increasing the SiO2 content. This fact indicates that because of the reported interactions, a nanoparticle/matrix interphase was formed in the surroundings of the filler, where the macromolecules showed limited segmental mobility. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Improved method to determine succinylacetone in dried blood spots for diagnosis of tyrosinemia type 1 using UPLC‐MS/MS
Authors: Al‐Dirbashi Osama Y. , Rashed Mohamed S. , Jacob Minnie , Al‐Ahaideb Lujane Y. , Al‐Amoudi Mohamed , Rahbeeni Zuhair , Al‐Sayed Moeen M. , Al‐Hassnan Zuhair , Al‐Owain Mohamed , Al‐Zeidan Hamad
Published: July 2008

We describe an improved diagnostic method for tyrosinemia type 1 based on quantifying succinylacetone in dried blood spots by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Succinylacetone extracted from a single 3/16 inch disk of specimen collection paper containing a dried blood spot was derivatized with dansylhydrazine, separated on an Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.7 µm) and detected by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Succinylacetone derivative eluted at 0.6 min with a complete run time of 1 min. Using a 13C4 labeled succinylacetone as an internal standard, the calibration plot was linear up to 100 µmol/L with a detection limit (S/N = 3) of 0.2 µmol/L. Intra‐day (n = 13) and inter‐day (n = 10) variations were better than 10%. The cutoff level of succinylacetone in dried blood spots from healthy infants obtained by the current method was 0.63 µmol/L (n = 151). In dried blood spots from patients with established tyrosinemia type 1 (n = 11), concentration of succinylacetone was 6.4–30.8 µmol/L. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Argusides B and C, Two New Cytotoxic Triterpene Glycosides from the Sea Cucumber Bohadschia argusJaeger
Authors: Liu Bao‐Shu , Yi Yang‐Hua , Li Ling , Sun Peng , Yuan Wei‐Hua , Sun Guo‐Quan , Han Hua , Xue Mei
Published: July 2008

Two new triterpene glycosides, argusides B and C (1 and 2, resp.), have been isolated from the sea cucumber Bohadschia argus Jaeger collected in the South China Sea. Their structures have been established by spectral analysis (2D‐NMR and ESI‐MS) and chemical evidence. Compounds 1 and 2 both possess a holostane‐type triterpene aglycone with a C(9)C(11) bond and a OH group at C(12), but differ in their substituents at C(17) and the hexasaccharide moiety. The two glycosides exhibited significant cytotoxicities against four human tumor cell lines (A549, HCT‐116, HepG2, and MCF‐7). In comparison with the positive control V‐16 (etoposide), 1 and 2 showed higher cytotoxicities to A549 and HCT‐116 cell lines.
Genetic Characterization and Phytochemical Analysis of Wild and Cultivated Populations of Scutellaria baicalensis
Authors: Su Su , He Chang‐Ming , Li Lin‐Chu , Chen Jia‐Kuan , Zhou Tong‐Shui
Published: July 2008

Scutellaria baicalensis was collected from four wild and four cultivated populations from different locations in China. Forty‐two samples were analyzed using random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) techniques for genetic profiling, and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques to determine the flavonoid content. The selected 23 RAPD primers yielded a total of 838 clear and reproducible bands of which 237 were found to be polymorphic. The wild population exhibited higher polymorphism than that of the cultivated population. The dendrogram generated by the UPGMA method via Nei's genetic distance revealed three distinct genotypes from the cultivated populations and several branches from the wild populations. The contents of baicalin and wogonoside in dried roots of the samples ranged from (w/w) 8.63 to 17.84%, and from 1.99 to 4.21%, respectively, whereas their aglycones, baicalein and wogonin, were within the range of only 0.04–0.23%. The total content of the four flavonoids varied from 9.45 to 26.24%. Comparatively, the cultivated populations contained much higher levels of baicalin and total flavonoids than those in the wild populations. The results from genetic characterization and phytochemical analysis demonstrated that the quality variation of this drug was mainly determined by extrinsic environmental or agricultural factors, rather than by genetic differences. Our findings can be used for the commercial production and germplasm management of this medicinal plant.
Variation of Volatiles in Tunisian Populations of Teucrium polium L. (Lamiaceae)
Authors: Boulila Abdennacer , Béjaoui Afef , Messaoud Chokri , Boussaid Mohamed
Published: July 2008

Volatiles from wild Tunisian diploid (2n=2x=26) and tetraploid (2n=4x=52) Teucrium polium L. populations from five bioclimatic zones were assessed by GC and GC/MS. Thirty‐eight compounds were identified. Main volatiles at the species level were myrcene (6; 15.3%), germacrene D (27; 9.0%), α‐pinene (6.6%), β‐pinene (3; 5.8%), and α‐cadinol (38; 5.1%). A significant variation among populations was observed. The tetraploid populations belonging to the sub humid and lower semi arid bioclimates showed a high amount of myrcene (6; 24.2–43.8%), those from the upper arid contain high percentages of α‐cadinol (38; 50.6%). The dominant compounds in diploid populations, mainly located in the semi arid zone, are α‐pinene (1) and germacrene D (27). Population chemical structure, assessed by a principal component analysis (PCA) using all identified compounds, is concordant with bioclimate and ploidy level. In situ conservation of populations should be made appropriately according to these two factors.
Biflavanones, Flavonoids, and Coumarins from the Roots of Stellera chamaejasme and Their Antiviral Effect on Hepatitis B Virus
Authors: Yang Guohong , Chen Daofeng
Published: July 2008

A new 3,3″‐biflavanone, isosikokianin A (1), was isolated from the roots of Stellera chamaejasme, together with eleven known compounds. Their structures and configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 2D‐NMR techniques. Sikokianin A, chamaechromone, and quercetin showed in vitro antiviral activity against HBsAg secretion.