bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Correlation between the combined sensory index and clinical outcome after carpal tunnel decompression: A retrospective review
Authors: Malladi Niriksha , Micklesen Paula J. , Hou Juliet , Robinson Lawrence R. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThe combined sensory index (CSI) is a useful electrodiagnostic tool, but it was not known if the CSI can be correlated with clinical outcome following carpal tunnel decompression. The objective of this study was to examine the association between the CSI and symptom relief from pain and parasthesiae following surgical intervention. Retrospective chart review was performed on 272 patients, diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome by electrodiagnostic criteria, who proceeded to undergo open or endoscopic carpal tunnel release with postoperative follow‐up at an academic medical center between 1996 and 2006. The CSI demonstrated statistical significance (P = 0.03) for correlation with resolution of pain and parasthesiae following carpal tunnel decompression. Patients with a CSI of 2.5–4.6 had the best prognosis for resolution of pain and parasthesiae following surgical intervention. Median compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude and median motor latency were also associated with resolution of parasthesiae, but not pain. The CSI effectively establishes correlation with clinical outcomes following surgical intervention for carpal tunnel syndrome, and thus a range of optimal outcomes (CSI between 2.5 and 4.6) can also be established. Muscle Nerve, 2010
Familial, demyelinating sensory and motor polyneuropathy with conduction block
Authors: Scelsa Stephen N. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBoth multifocal, demyelinating features and prednisone responsiveness are rare in Charcot–Marie–Tooth (CMT) disease. We report a mother and son with a prednisone‐responsive, multifocal, demyelinating, predominantly sensory polyneuropathy that was associated with an isoleucine92valine polymorphism of lipopolysaccharide‐induced TNF‐alpha factor (LITAF). The mother had a multifocal, acquired, demyelinating sensory and motor polyneuropathy (MADSAM)‐like presentation. The son developed left peroneal neuropathy during acute Lyme disease with a subsequent relapsing, MADSAM‐like illness, despite antibiotic treatment. Both shared prednisone responsiveness and multifocal, demyelinating features electrophysiologically. MADSAM may be familial (FaDSAM) and respond to prednisone. Muscle Nerve 41: 558–562, 2010
Construct and concurrent validation of the MG‐QOL15 in the practice setting
Authors: Burns Ted M. , Grouse C.K. , Conaway Mark R. , Sanders Donald B. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractHealth‐related quality of life (HRQOL) estimates can play an important role in patient care by providing information about the patient's perception of impairment and disability and the degree to which the patient tolerates disease manifestations. The 15‐item myasthenia gravis quality of life scale (MG‐QOL15) is an HRQOL evaluative instrument specific to patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) that was designed to be easy to administer and interpret. In this multicenter study we demonstrate the construct validity of the MG‐QOL15 in the practice setting. To assess the construct validity, score distributions were examined for test items in different MG patient groups that represent the clinical spectrum of the disease. For example, patients in remission more frequently scored test items as normal than did patients in other groups. Patients with lower (better) MG composite scores also more frequently scored items as normal than did patients with higher (worse) scores. There was also appropriate correlation between the MG‐QOL15 and the other MG‐specific scales studied. The study findings shed light on what troubles MG patients. The MG‐QOL15 has construct validity in the clinical practice setting and represents an efficient and valuable tool for assessing HRQOL for patients with MG. Muscle Nerve, 2010
Local government reform in South Africa: An analysis of financial management legislative compliance by municipalities
Authors: Graves Nigel , Dollery Brian 
Published: November 2009

AbstractSouth African local government has undergone radical transformation. The reform process included a local government financial management best‐practice technical assistance programme (MFMTAP) targeting financial management and especially budget quality reform. Dollery and Graves (2009) earlier examined the efficacy of the South African National Treasury (NT's) municipal budget funding compliance technique for measuring adherence to the Municipal Finance Management Act's (MFMA) budget funding requirements using a single metropolitan municipality case study. This article further evaluates the robustness and validity of the funding compliance instrument as a reform performance measurement tool by comparing the results of four geographically and demographically different municipalities. Also introduced is a performance ‘trend’ instrument similar to a ‘Likert scale’ for comparing municipal performance. Optimal tax revenue theory is invoked to examine this key revenue variable for producing a compliant budget. The article finds the ‘budget funding’ reform component of the Best‐Practice Technical Assistance (BPTA) programme presently ineffective and unsustainable. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of the effect of mica and talc and chemical coupling on the rheology, morphology, and mechanical properties of polypropylene composites
Authors: Jahani Yousef 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThe effect of filler types of mica and talc on the oscillatory shear rheological properties, mechanical performance, and morphology of the chemically coupled polypropylene composites is studied in this work. The Maleic Anhydride grafted Polypropylene (MAPP) was used as an adhesion promoter for coupling mineral particles with the polypropylene matrix. The samples were prepared by a co‐rotating, L/D = 40, 25 mm twin screw extruder. The tensile tests carried out on the injection molded samples showed a reinforcing effect of talc up to 20 wt% on the Polypropylene (PP). The tensile strength of PP‐mica composites showed a slight decrease at all percentages of mica. The effect of chemical coupling by using MAPP on the tensile strength was more pronounced in increasing the tensile strength for PP‐mica than PP‐talc composites. The complex viscosity curve of pure PP and the composites, showed a Newtonian plateau (η0) up to 30 wt% at low frequency terminal zone. By increasing the filler content to 40 and 50 wt%, the complex viscosity at very low shear rates sharply increased and showed yield behavior that can be due to the formation of filler particles networks in the melt. At the optimum amount of coupling agent, a minimum in cross over frequency curve against MAPP content is observed. The optimum amount of coupling agent for PP‐talc composites is about 1.5%, and about 3% for PP‐mica formulations. The analysis of viscosity behavior at power‐law high region, revealed the more shear thinning effect of mica than talc on the PP matrix resin. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Conductivity, structure, and thermal properties of chitosan‐based polymer electrolytes with nanofillers
Authors: Aziz N. A. , Majid S. R. , Yahya R. , Arof A. K. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThis paper focus on the effect of nanosize (<50 nm BET) inorganic alumina (Al2O3) filler on the structural, conductivity, and thermal properties of chitosan‐based polymer electrolytes. Films of chitosan and its complexes were prepared using solution‐casting technique. Different amounts of Al2O3 viz., 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9, 12, and 15 wt% were added to the highest room temperature conducting sample in the chitosan–salt system, i.e. sample containing 60 wt% chitosan–40 wt% NH4SCN. The conductivity value of the sample is 1.29 × 10−4 S cm−1. On addition of 6 wt% Al2O3 filler the ionic conductivity increased to 5.86 × 10−4 S cm−1. The amide and amino peaks in the spectrum of chitosan at 1636 and 1551 cm−1, respectively, shift to lower wavenumbers on addition of salt. The glass transition temperature Tg for the highest conducting composite is 190°C. The increase in Tg with increase in more than 6 wt% filler content is attributed to the increase in degree of crystallinity as proven from X‐ray diffraction studies. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimizing annealing steps for crystalline silicon solar cells with screen printed front side metallization and an oxide‐passivated rear surface with local contacts
Authors: Kontermann S. , Wolf A. , Reinwand D. , Grohe A. , Biro D. , Preu R. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractSilicon solar cells that feature screen printed front contacts and a passivated rear surface with local contacts allow higher efficiencies compared to present industrial solar cells that exhibit a full area rear side metallization. If thermal oxidation is used for the rear surface passivation, the final annealing step in the processing sequence is crucial. On the one hand, this post‐metallization annealing (PMA) step is required for decreasing the surface recombination velocity (SRV) at the aluminum‐coated oxide‐passivated rear surface. On the other hand, PMA can negatively affect the screen printed front side metallization leading to a lower fill factor. This work separately analyzes the impact of PMA on both, the screen printed front metallization and the oxide‐passivated rear surface. Measuring dark and illuminated IV‐curves of standard industrial aluminum back surface field (Al‐BSF) silicon solar cells reveals the impact of PMA on the front metallization, while measuring the effective minority carrier lifetime of symmetric lifetime samples provides information about the rear side SRV. One‐dimensional simulations are used for predicting the cell performance according to the contributions from both, the front metallization and the rear oxide‐passivation for different PMA temperatures and durations. The simulation also includes recombination at the local rear contacts. An optimized PMA process is presented according to the simulations and is experimentally verified. The optimized process is applied to silicon solar cells with a screen printed front side metallization and an oxide‐passivated rear surface. Efficiencies up to 18.1% are achieved on 148.8 cm2 Czochralski (Cz) silicon wafers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prenatal alcohol exposure alters phosphorylation and glycosylation of proteins in rat offspring liver
Authors: Fofana Bourlaye , Yao Xing‐Hai , Rampitsch Christof , Cloutier Sylvie , Wilkins John A. , Nyomba B. L. Grégoire 
Published: November 2009

AbstractTo gain more insights into the translational and PTM that occur in rat offspring exposed to alcohol in utero, 2‐D PAGE with total, phospho‐ and glycoprotein staining and MALDI‐MS/MS and database searching were conducted. The results, based on fold‐change expression, revealed a down‐regulation of total protein expression by prenatal alcohol exposure in 7‐day‐old and 3‐month‐old rats. There was an up‐regulation of protein phosphorylation but a down‐regulation of glycosylation by prenatal alcohol exposure in both age groups. Of 31 protein spots examined per group, differentially expressed proteins were identified as ferritin light chain, aldo‐keto reductase, tumor rejection antigen gp96, fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase, glycerol‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, and γ‐actin. Increased phosphorylation was observed in proteins such as calmodulin, gluthatione S‐transferase, glucose regulated protein 58, α‐enolase, eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 β‐2, riboprotein large P2, agmatinase, ornithine carbamoyltransferase, quinolinate phosphoribosyltransferase, formimidoyltransferase cyclodeaminase, and actin. In addition, glycosylation of adenosine kinase, adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase, and 3‐hydroxyanthranilate dioxygenase was reduced. Pathways affected by these protein alterations include cell signaling, cellular stress, protein synthesis, cytoskeleton, as well as glucose, aminoacid, adenosine and energy metabolism. The activity of the gluconeogenic enzyme fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase was elevated by prenatal alcohol. The observations may have important physiological implications.
Enzymatic tunneling and kinetic isotope effects: chemistry at the crossroads
Authors: Sen Arundhuti , Kohen Amnon 
Published: November 2009

AbstractKinetic isotope effects (KIEs), originally a tool for the physical organic chemist and mechanistic enzymologist, have been instrumental in furthering our understanding of quantum‐mechanical hydrogen tunneling in enzymatic systems. This review focuses on the use of KIE studies to investigate this phenomenon in enzyme‐catalyzed reactions. A number of enzymes wherein KIEs have been used as a probe for H‐tunneling are discussed, including dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), and formate dehydrogenase (FDH). Particular emphasis has been placed on the significance of KIE results in exposing the chemical H‐transfer step in the complex kinetic cascades typical to these systems, as well as on questions regarding the influence of protein dynamics on tunneling and, consequently, on the whole enzymatic reaction. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stress test optimization using an integrated production test and field reliability model
Authors: Honari Bahman , Donovan John , Joyce Toby , Wilson Simon , Murphy Eamonn 
Published: November 2009

AbstractNumerous papers and texts have been written in the reliability literature regarding the determination of the optimum test duration for a production stress or a burn‐in test. The techniques presented have largely been based on the identification of the change point at which infant mortality has largely been removed from the units. The time‐on‐test is typically the only factor that influences this decision. Few of these models have attempted to integrate the field performance or the influence of warranty costs into this decision. This paper proposes and validates a methodology that integrates the influence of the production test failures and the field performance including their respective costs into a single unified model. The objective is to identify a production test duration that minimizes the overall cost. A Weibull model is initially developed for the production test that incorporates the failure observations in different time segments of the test based on the ability to detect latent defects in the product. A separate Weibull model is then developed for the product's performance in the field that includes the lifetime of the unit. This paper identifies how both these Weibull models can be combined into a single model including both test and field costs with the objective of minimizing the overall cost. The advantage of the proposed technique is that it does not require one to track individual units from production through to the field in order to develop an integrated test and field cost model. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Broder and Karlin's formula for hitting times and the Kirchhoff Index
Authors: Palacios José Luis , Renom José M. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractWe give an elementary proof of an extension of Broder and Karlin's formula for the hitting times of an arbitrary ergodic Markov chain. Using this formula in the particular case of random walks on graphs, we give upper and tight lower bounds for the Kirchhoff index of any N‐ vertex graph in terms of N and its maximal and minimal degrees. We also apply the formula to a closely related index that takes into account the degrees of the vertices between which the effective resistances are computed. We give an upper bound for this alternative index and show that the bound is attained—up to a constant—for the barbell graph. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
A density‐functional theory approach to the separation of K2ZrF6 and K2HfF6 via fractional crystallization
Authors: Branken D. J. , Lachmann G. , Krieg H. M. , Bruinsma O. S. L. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBecause of the low absorption cross‐section for thermal neutrons of zirconium (Zr) as opposed to hafnium (Hf), Zr‐metal must essentially be Hf‐free (<100 ppm Hf) to be suitable for use in nuclear reactors. However, Zr and Hf always occur together in nature, and due to very similar chemical and physical properties, their separation is particularly difficult. Separation can be achieved by traditional liquid–liquid extraction or extractive distillation processes, using Zr(Hf)Cl4 as feedstock. However, the production of K2Zr(Hf)F6 via the plasma dissociation route, developed by the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation Limited (Necsa), could facilitate the development of an alternative separation process. In this theoretical study, the results of density‐functional theory (DFT) simulations of K2Zr(1‐z)HfzF6 solid solutions [using Cambridge Serial Total Energy Package (CASTEP)] are presented, for which the supercell approach was applied in an attempt to determine whether solid solution formation during crystallization from aqueous solutions (fractional crystallization) is thermodynamically possible, which would hinder the separation efficiency of this method. Consequently, the calculated thermodynamic properties of mixing were used to evaluate the separation efficiency of Zr and Hf by fractional crystallization using a thermodynamic model to calculate the relative distribution coefficients. The small mixing enthalpies that were calculated from the DFT results, indicates that lattice substitution of Zr(IV) by Hf(IV) in K2ZrF6 could occur with relative ease. This is not surprising, considering the close similarities between Zr and Hf, and it was therefore concluded that K2Zr(1‐z)HfzF6 solid solution formation might well restrict the separation efficiency of Zr and Hf by fractional crystallization of K2Zr(Hf)F6. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
BaZrO3 photoluminescence property: An ab initio analysis of structural deformation and symmetry changes
Authors: Gurgel Maria F. C. , Moreira Mário L. , Paris Elaine C. , Espinosa José W. M. , Pizani Paulo S. , Varela José A. , Longo Elson 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThis article reports a theoretical study based on experimental results for barium zirconate, BaZrO3 (BZ) thin films, using periodic mechanic quantum calculations to analyze the symmetry change in a structural order‐disorder simulation. Four periodic models were simulated using CRYSTAL98 code to represent the ordered and disordered BZ structures. The results were analyzed in terms of the energy level diagrams and atomic orbital distributions to explain and understand the BZ photoluminescence properties (PL) at room temperature for the disordered structure based on structural deformation and symmetry changes. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
Fish use of artificial dike structures in a navigable river
Authors: Hartman Kyle J. , Titus Jennifer L. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractArtificial structures have been used to potentially increase fish production by providing cover, feeding and spawning areas. In some rivers, the United States Army Corps of Engineers has constructed dikes to provide additional habitat for river fishes and to mitigate for navigation impacts to young fishes. This study was designed to test whether such structures function as viable habitats as evidenced by increased abundances relative to reference areas lacking artificial dike structures. Dikes and reference sites in the Kanawha River, West Virginia were sampled 21 times between July 2002 and October 2003. We found a difference in taxonomic composition among fish using dikes relative to reference areas. Artificial dike structure use was most important among Centrarchidae species, especially juveniles, including black bass and several species ofLepomis. Further, distribution of fish between areas with and without dikes appears most affected by water temperature in 2002 and by short‐term river flow in 2003. These patterns suggest these artificial structures are viable mitigation measures that target and benefit fish of economic interest. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A modified Wilcoxon test for non‐negative distributions with a clump of zeros
Authors: Hallstrom Alfred P. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractComparing two samples with a continuous non‐negative score, e.g. a utility score over [0, 1], with a substantial proportion, say 50 per cent, scoring 0 presents distributional problems for most standard tests. A Wilcoxon rank test can be used, but the large number of ties reduces power. I propose a new test, the Wilcoxon rank‐sum test performed after removing an equal (and maximal) number of 0's from each sample. This test recovers much of the power. Compared with a (directional) modification of a two‐part test proposed by Lachenbruch, the truncated Wilcoxon has similar power when the non‐zero scores are independent of the proportion of zeros, but, unlike the two‐part test, the truncated Wilcoxon is relatively unaffected when these processes are dependent. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparative Flow Cytometric Analysis of Immunofunctionalized Nanowire and Nanoparticle Signatures
Authors: Prina‐Mello Adriele , Whelan Aine M. , Atzberger Ann , McCarthy Joseph E. , Byrne Fiona , Davies Gemma‐Louise , Coey J. M. D. , Volkov Yuri , Gun'ko Yurii K. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractFlow cytometry is one of the gold‐standard techniques used in clinical medicine for quantitative immunoassaying. The continuous development of its probes, commonly fluorescent nanoparticles, is important. Lately, the introduction of quantitative multiplexed immunoassay has challenged the use of nanoparticles as probes. Functionalized fluorescent silica‐based magnetic nanowires are investigated under flow cytometry as a novel probe category. The preparation and full characterization of these multimodal nanowires is reported and compared to those of silica‐based magnetic nanoparticles by flow cytometry. Full characterization includes transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy imaging, flow cytometric assaying, superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetization, and Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements. This work shows that loaded silica nanowires have intrinsic geometrical advantages when compared to similar spherical particles due to their unique “flow cytometry fingerprint” when utilized as magnetic carriers for immunodetection applications. These advantages account for a 17% yield in detecting the functional binding between THP‐1 and ICAM‐1, by utilizing a much lower concentration than that required for the nanoparticles.
Starch Phosphate Hydrogels. Part II: Rheological Characterization and Water Retention
Authors: Passauer Lars , Liebner Falk , Fischer Klaus 
Published: November 2009

AbstractHydrogels with different mechanical properties were synthesized by cross‐linking monostarch monophosphates (MSMP) with various di‐ and tricarboxylic acids (succinic, glutaric, adipic, citric, and maleic acid) by using a semi‐dry method. For a physical characterization water retention and rheological parameters (dynamic viscosity η*, storage and loss moduli G′ and G″) of the hydrogels were determined. Rheomechanical measurements revealed the viscoelasticity and mechanical sturdiness of the gels. Due to their special physical qualities MSMP hydrogels are not only suitable for different industrial applications but also have a big potential to be used as water storing soil amendments improving the efficiency of irrigation especially in arid regions. In order to investigate the suitability of MSMP hydrogels as water storing soil amendments the water retention curves of a sandy soil treated with different amounts of a selected starch phosphate hydrogel were determined.