bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Definition and Diffusion of Expert Systems: An Empirical Survey of Belgian External Audit Firms
Authors: Acker Carine Van den , Vanthienen Jan 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis paper reports empirical results on the definition and diffusion of expert systems (ESs). The findings are based on a questionnaire that was sent to Belgian external audit firms in June 1993. Audit firms were chosen as the questionnaire's target group because another part of the survey was aimed at gathering information concerning the audit of ESs. The definition section deals with the importance of several ES characteristics as seen by the sample of practitioners. Results are compared with opinions from theoretical literature and reveal significant differences. The section on diffusion of ESs is intended to provide an indication of the extent of development and usage of ESs in todays business life. On the basis of the sample of audit firms that reported on their auditees' situations, diffusion rates are rather low. Each of these sections is introduced by a short literature review. As both sections are largely based on the results of a survey, relevant details are included in the first section.
Supporting the Process of Customer Consulting in the Field of Financial Services
Authors: Rossbach Peter 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAn increase in competition and a change in customer needs has caused financial service companies to revise their operations and establish a coordinated product and market strategy. Customer consulting is a substantial part of this type of strategy. Due to the increasing number, complexity and diversity of financial products, the client adviser is confronted by a continuously expanding range of required expert knowledge, which in most cases extends beyond his capabilities. To deal with these problems, supporting the consulting process with information technology seems to be appropriate. At a glance, the usage of currently employed advisory support systems indicates that the system support does not fulfil the financial company's needs. For this reason we developed ALLFIWIB to actively support every phase of the client advisory process as well as to improve upon the quality of financial product supply. ALLFIWIB is designed as a blackboard‐based distributed problem‐solving system. Initial usage of ALLFIWIB has indicated that the system is capable of providing intelligent solutions to financial problems and thus considerably lessens the burden on the client adviser.
Ernest Everett Just: Egg and embryo as excitable systems
Authors: Byrnes W. Malcolm , Newman Stuart A. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTErnest Everett Just (1883–1941) was an African American embryologist of international standing whose research interests lay in the area of fertilization and early development in marine invertebrates. Perhaps best known for his discovery of the dynamical and structural blocks to polyspermy that sweep over the egg upon fertilization, E. E. Just also was the first to associate cell surface changes with stages of embryonic development. He was deeply familiar with the natural history of the animals whose eggs he studied, and his knowledge of natural settings led him to emphasize the importance of using laboratory conditions that closely match those in nature. Based on more than 30 years of work, he came to believe that it was the cell surface that played the most critical role in development, heredity, and evolution. He promoted a holistic view of cells and organisms in opposition to the gene‐centric view that was becoming more prevalent with the rise of genetics, but rejected the vitalism espoused by some biologists of his era, calling instead for “a physics and chemistry in a new dimension …superimposed upon the now known physics and chemistry” to account for biological phenomena. Just's incisive critique of genetic reductionism finds echoes in contemporary multiscale, systems approaches in biology. His speculations on the relationship between developmental and evolutionary mechanisms resonate with today's evolutionary developmental biology. After a brief biographical sketch, this paper outlines and discusses some of Just's scientific contributions, and shows how his ideas remain relevant today. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 322B: 191–201, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Genomics, evolution and development of amphioxus and tunicates: The Goldilocks principle
Authors: Holland Linda Z. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTMorphological comparisons among extant animals have long been used to infer their long‐extinct ancestors for which the fossil record is poor or non‐existent. For evolution of the vertebrates, the comparison has typically involved amphioxus and vertebrates. Both groups are evolving relatively slowly, and their genomes share a high level of synteny. Both vertebrates and amphioxus have regulative development in which cell fates become fixed only gradually during embryogenesis. Thus, their development fits a modified hourglass model in which constraints are greatest at the phylotypic stage (i.e., the late neurula/early larva), but are somewhat greater on earlier development than on later development. In contrast, the third group of chordates, the tunicates, which are sister group to vertebrates, are evolving rapidly. Constraints on evolution of tunicate genomes are relaxed, and they have discarded key developmental genes and organized much of their coding sequences into operons, which are transcribed as a single mRNA that undergoes trans‐splicing. This contrasts with vertebrates and amphioxus, whose genomes are not organized into operons. Concomitantly, tunicates have switched to determinant development with very early fixation of cell fates. Thus, tunicate development more closely fits a progressive divergence model (shaped more like a wine glass than an hourglass) in which the constraints on the zygote and very early development are greatest. This model can help explain why tunicate body plans are so very diverse. The relaxed constraints on development after early cleavage stages are correlated with relaxed constraints on genome evolution. The question remains: which came first? J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 324B: 342–352, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Palatal myoclonus: Algorithm for management with botulinum toxin based on clinical disease characteristics
Authors: Sinclair Catherine F. , Gurey Lowell E. , Blitzer Andrew 
Published: March 2014

Objectives/HypothesisTo review the clinical characteristics and management of patients with palatal myoclonus and devise an algorithm for treatment with botulinum toxin based on presenting symptoms, clinical examination findings, and involved muscle groups.Study DesignRetrospective chart review at two clinical research centers.MethodsBetween 1985 and 2011, 15 patients with a diagnosis of essential palatal myoclonus were assessed. Data were collected on patient demographics, disease characteristics, and treatment outcomes.ResultsPatients were more commonly female (60.0% vs. 40.0%) with average age at onset of 35.6 years. In 40.0% of patients, the myoclonus began after a viral upper respiratory tract infection. Two‐thirds of patients had been previously treated unsuccessfully with oral medications. Predominant presenting symptoms included clicking tinnitus (46.7%), nonaudible awareness of palatal movements ± rhinolalia (20.0%), or both (33.3%). Clinical examination revealed co‐incident involvement of pharyngeal musculature in 53.3%. Palatal site for initial botulinum toxin injection depended on the predominant presenting symptom: for tinnitus, 2.5 U were injected transorally into the tensor veli palatini muscle at the level of the pterygoid hamulus/lateral soft palate; for palatal movements, the injection was placed medially on either side of the uvula. Dose and location of subsequent injections were tailored depending on response to the toxin and location of subsequent observed maximal muscular contractions.ConclusionsPalatal myoclonus can present with tinnitus or patient‐perceived palatal movements. Management with botulinum toxin can be tailored to address the muscles contributing to the predominant presenting symptoms.Level of Evidence4 Laryngoscope, 124:1164–1169, 2014
Comparison of the risk of postoperative infection between transurethral vaporesection and transurethral resection of the prostate
Authors: May Alexandre , Broggi Etienne , Lorphelin Henri , Tabchouri Nicolas , Giretti Giovani , Pereira Helder , Bruyere Franck 
Published: March 2014

Background and ObjectiveWe observed in our department at 3 months two episodes of bacteremia postoperatively to photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP). We decided to compare the frequency of postoperative urinary tract infections (POUTIs) in patients with preoperative bacterial colonization of urine between PVP and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).Materials and MethodsFrom January 2010 to December 2011, we studied patients who underwent PVP or TURP for benign prostatic obstruction in our department. Preoperative urine culture (UC) was carried out for all patients and we included those with preoperative bacterial colonization of the urinary tract. Patients were treated preoperatively with an appropriate antibiotic treatment and/or inductive prophylactic antibiotics. Patients were diagnosed with POUTI if they had clinical signs of infections (e.g., fever) and a positive UC during the month after surgery.ResultsPatients were treated by PVP in 49 cases and TURP in 62 cases. A preoperative indwelling urinary catheter was inserted in 80% of the patients. During the postoperative period, eight episodes of fever were identified in the PVP group (16%), five (8%) in the TURP group (P = 0.18). We then studied the subgroup of patients with multiple bacteria strains present in the preoperative UC and identified significant differences. The risk of POUTI was significantly higher in patients treated by PVP than in those treated by TURP (P = 0.018).ConclusionsWe found significant differences between subgroups of patients with positive preoperative cultures (containing various bacterial strains). The risk of POUTI was significantly higher in patients treated by PVP. Lasers Surg. Med. 46:405–411, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis and Characterization of Polymerized Ionic Liquids: Mechanical and Thermal Properties of a Novel Type of Hydrogels
Authors: Bandomir Jenny , Schulz André , Taguchi Satomi , Schmitt Lena , Ohno Hiroyuki , Sternberg Katrin , Schmitz Klaus‐Peter , Kragl Udo 
Published: March 2014

An easy and efficient route to synthesize gel materials based on polymeric ionic liquids (PILs) is presented. The radical polymerization of imidazolium (Im)‐based ionic liquids (ILs) bearing a vinyl group ([VEIm][Br], [VEIm][Ac], [VBIm][Br], [VBIm][Cl]) with crosslinker (CL) N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (Bis) in water results in polyionic liquid hydrogels. Thermal and mechanical properties (tensile and compression tests) are investigated and compared with two different types of hydrogels. One is a polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogel having covalent‐type crosslinking. The other is an alginate‐based hydrogel having ionic‐type crosslinking. Prepared IL‐hydrogel materials provide favorable flexibility, adjustable by varying the CL ratio and water content. The higher the CL ratio is, the higher the fragility of the gel matrix. The gelation time of the hydrogels depends on the alkyl chain length, as well as the size of the anion.
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Quantifying iron‐oxide nanoparticles at high concentration based on longitudinal relaxation using a three‐dimensional SWIFT look‐locker sequence
Authors: Zhang Jinjin , Chamberlain Ryan , Etheridge Michael , Idiyatullin Djaudat , Corum Curtis , Bischof John , Garwood Michael 
Published: March 2014

PurposeIron‐oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have proven utility as contrast agents in many MRI applications. Previous quantitative IONP mapping has been performed using mainly T2* mapping methods. However, in applications requiring high IONP concentrations, such as magnetic nanoparticles based thermal therapies, conventional pulse sequences are unable to map T2* because the signal decays too rapidly. In this article, sweep imaging with Fourier transformation (SWIFT) sequence is combined with the Look‐Locker method to map T1 of IONPs in high concentrations.MethodsT1 values of agar containing IONPs in different concentrations were measured with the SWIFT Look‐Locker method and with inversion recovery spectroscopy. Precisions of Look‐Locker and variable flip angle (VFA) methods were compared in simulations.ResultsThe measured R1 (=1/T1) has a linear relationship with IONP concentration up to 53.6 mM of Fe. This concentration exceeds concentrations measured in previous work by almost an order of magnitude. Simulations show SWIFT Look‐Locker method is also much less sensitive to B1 inhomogeneity than the VFA method.ConclusionSWIFT Look‐Locker can accurately measure T1 of IONP concentrations ≤53.6 mM. By mapping T1 as a function of IONP concentration, IONP distribution maps might be used in the future to plan effective magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia therapy. Magn Reson Med 71:1982–1988, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Integrating the self‐growing concept in a self‐organizing wireless network for topology optimization
Authors: Kousaridas Apostolos , Kaloxylos Alexandros , Magdalinos Panagis , Makris Thanos , Koudouridis Georgios , Hedby Gunnar , Alonistioti Nancy 
Published: March 2014

SUMMARYThe concept of self‐organizing networks is considered one of the most promising approaches for the efficient management of future wireless networks that will support a large number of nodes and a plethora of services with diverse characteristics. Today, different types of networks (e.g. WLANs, wireless sensor networks) are deployed to serve different needs but do not interoperate. Their possible loose integration will provide opportunities that could be exploited through collaborative approaches to devise novel solutions to extend the capabilities and improve the performance of these networks. The self‐growing paradigm addresses this challenge by extending network nodes to dynamically evolve in terms of purpose and operational features. In this paper we describe the CONSERN architecture, which targets the realization of the self‐growing concept in the context of self‐organized networks. To test our ideas we designed and implemented a WLAN topology optimization scheme that provides the best coverage at a minimum energy consumption, through dynamic access point (AP) deactivation and reactivation. Using self‐growing mechanisms and typical motion detectors we present how the operation of the proposed topology optimization mechanism can be improved. The reduced energy consumption attained under the proposed scheme at the AP side, as well as the efficient utilization of network resources, are evaluated via a proof‐of‐concept implementation that we have deployed in a real office environment that consists of WLAN APs and motion sensors. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tandem high‐dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell rescue in children with newly diagnosed high‐risk medulloblastoma or supratentorial primitive neuro‐ectodermic tumors
Authors: Dufour Christelle , Kieffer Virginie , Varlet Pascale , Raquin Marie Anne , Dhermain Frederic , Puget Stephanie , Valteau‐Couanet Dominique , Grill Jacques 
Published: March 2014

BackgroundTo assess the feasibility and effectiveness of high‐dose chemotherapy (HDC) with stem cell support followed by conventional craniospinal radiotherapy (RT) as treatment for children older than 5 years of age with newly diagnosed high‐risk medulloblastoma (MB) or supratentorial PNET (sPNET).ProcedureBetween May 2001 and April 2010, 24 children older than 5 years of age (MB = 21; sPNET = 3), fulfilling inclusion criteria at diagnosis, were treated at Gustave Roussy. After conventional chemotherapy, they received two courses of high‐dose thiotepa (600 mg/m2) followed by craniospinal RT.ResultsThe median follow‐up was 4.4 years (range, 0.8–11.3 years). For children with metastatic MB, the 5‐year event‐free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 72% and 83%, respectively. The toxicity was manageable. No toxic death occurred. At the most recent evaluation, among the 24 children who had at least one Full Scale Intellectual Quotient (FSIQ) examination at a median follow‐up of 3.79 years after diagnosis, the mean estimated FSIQ was 82 (range, 56–114).ConclusionsIn children with metastatic MB, tandem HDCT with ASCT followed by conventional craniospinal RT proved its feasibility without jeopardizing survival. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014; 61:1398–1402. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Instrumental variable applications using nursing home prescribing preferences in comparative effectiveness research
Authors: Huybrechts Krista F. , Gerhard Tobias , Franklin Jessica M. , Levin Raisa , Crystal Stephen , Schneeweiss Sebastian 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTPurposeNursing home residents are of particular interest for comparative effectiveness research given their susceptibility to adverse treatment effects and systematic exclusion from trials. However, the risk of residual confounding because of unmeasured markers of declining health using conventional analytic methods is high. We evaluated the validity of instrumental variable (IV) methods based on nursing home prescribing preference to mitigate such confounding, using psychotropic medications to manage behavioral problems in dementia as a case study.MethodsA cohort using linked data from Medicaid, Medicare, Minimum Data Set, and Online Survey, Certification and Reporting for 2001–2004 was established. Dual‐eligible patients ≥65 years who initiated psychotropic medication use after admission were selected. Nursing home prescribing preference was characterized using mixed‐effects logistic regression models. The plausibility of IV assumptions was explored, and the association between psychotropic medication class and 180‐day mortality was estimated.ResultsHigh‐prescribing and low‐prescribing nursing homes differed by a factor of 2. Each preference‐based IV measure described a substantial proportion of variation in psychotropic medication choice (β(IV → treatment): 0.22‐0.36). Measured patient characteristics were well balanced across patient groups based on instrument status (52% average reduction in Mahalanobis distance). There was no evidence that instrument status was associated with markers of nursing home quality of care.ConclusionFindings indicate that IV analyses using nursing home prescribing preference may be a useful approach in comparative effectiveness studies, and should extend naturally to analyses including untreated comparison groups, which are of great scientific interest but subject to even stronger confounding. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Species differences in sinusoidal and canalicular efflux transport of mycophenolic acid 7‐O‐glucuronide in sandwich‐cultured hepatocytes
Authors: Tetsuka Kazuhiro , Gerst Nicolas , Tamura Kouichi , Masters Jeffrey N. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractMetabolism and sinusoidal/canalicular efflux of mycophenolic acid (MPA) was investigated using sandwich‐cultured hepatocytes (SCHs). After applying MPA to SCHs from humans, wild‐type rats, and multidrug resistance‐associated protein (Mrp) 2‐deficient rats, the MPA metabolites 7‐O‐glucuronide (MPAG) and acyl glucuronide (AcMPAG) were detected in the intracellular compartment of the SCHs. Sinusoidal efflux of MPAG was detected in all SCH preparations including Mrp2‐deficient rat SCHs, whereas canalicular efflux of MPAG was observed in wild‐type rat and human SCHs but not in Mrp2‐deficient rat SCHs. The ratio of canalicular efflux to net (canalicular plus sinusoidal) efflux was 37 ± 8% in wild‐type rat SCHs, while the ratio in human SCHs was significantly lower (20 ± 2%, P < 0.05), indicating species differences in the direction of hepatic MPAG transport. This 20% ratio in human SCHs corresponds to a high sinusoidal MPAG efflux (80%) that can in part account for the urine‐dominated recovery of MPAG in humans. Both sinusoidal and canalicular MPAG efflux in rat SCHs shows a good correspondence to urinary and biliary recovery of MPAG after MPA dosing. The sinusoidal efflux of AcMPAG in human SCHs was detected from one out of three donors, suggesting donor‐to‐donor variation. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the predictive value of SCHs for elucidating the interplay of metabolism and efflux transport, in addition to demonstrating a species difference between rat and human in sinusoidal and canalicular efflux of MPAG.
Low dark current and stable ultraviolet avalanche photodiode of organic (PEDOT:PSS)‐inorganic (ZnSSe) hybrid junction structure
Authors: Abe Tomoki , Ikadatsu Noriyuki , Inoue Ryoichi , Fujimoto Takeru , Tanaka Kenta , Tazue Akio , Inagaki Yusuke , Ebisu Masahiro , Kasada Hirofumi , Ando Koshi 
Published: March 2014

AbstractWe have developed organic‐inorganic hybrid avalanche photodiode (APD) with conducting polymer as a window layer on ZnSSe/n‐GaAs wafers. APD wafers used in this study were grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). We used PEDOT:PSS as hole‐transport conducting polymer window layers formed by inkjet method. We have succeeded in fabrication of low dark current and stable ultraviolet hybrid APDs. The present device has exhibited very low voltage APD operation at 29 V and extremely low dark current of 10–11 A/mm2 in the avalanche breakdown region. The APD device also has shown maximum multiplication factor of 45 and high sensitivity ∼ 3 A/W at the ultraviolet region (∼ 300 nm). A stable device operation is established using polyimide passivation and sealed into package with N2 atmosphere. We also demonstrated integrated devices operation in PIN mode. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Comparison in internal strain sensitivity between polariscopy and Raman scattering spectroscopy in a (110)‐oriented ZnTe single crystal
Authors: Takeuchi Hideo 
Published: March 2014

AbstractWe present the experimental fact that, in a (110)‐oriented ZnTe single crystal, polariscopy is highly sensitive to the internal strain, comparing with Raman scattering spectroscopy. We utilized X‐ray topography and X‐ray diffraction analysis to thoroughly investigate the crystal structure that is intimately associated with the internal strain. The two X‐ray structure analyses clarified that the misalignment from the [110] direction is formed in some regions. We obtained the following main result: The polariscopic analysis detects the internal strain formed by the misalignment, whereas the Raman scattering measurement is insensitive to the internal strain. We, therefore, conclude that polariscopy has the strain‐detection sensitivity higher than the Raman scattering spectroscopy. We have confirmed that the polariscopic analysis can detect the internal strain less than 0.5% in the ZnTe crystal. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Effect of hydrogen partial pressure on growth of Cu2ZnSnS4 films sulfurized using diethyl sulfide
Authors: Tahashi Masahiro , Yamada Ryota , Ito Hiroaki , Yoshino Kenji , Takahashi Makoto , Goto Hideo 
Published: March 2014

AbstractPolycrystalline Cu2ZnSnS4 films were prepared by thermal treatment of stacked Sn/Zn/Cu metallic precursors in the presence of diethyl sulfide, which is a less hazardous sulfur source than H2S gas. The effect of the hydrogen partial pressure on the crystal phases present in the films was investigated. It was found that sulfur and carbon atoms play an important role in film growth. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)