bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Misoprostol‐induced abortions in Kosovo
Authors: Paçarada Myrvete , Zeqiri Fehmi , Kongjeli Niltene , Kongjeli Gyltene , Obërtinca Bujar 
Published: December 2010

AbstractObjectiveTo compile and compare data on the abortions performed surgically and medically between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2008, at the Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic of the University Clinical Center of Kosovo.MethodsThe information for this retrospective, descriptive study was collected from the abortion register and the register of operative protocols. The variables used were age, number of births, number of abortions, duration of the terminated pregnancy, method of abortion, complications during and/or after the procedure, and attendance at consultations about family planning.ResultsA total of 1329 abortions were performed during the study period in women with a mean age of 30.12 years (range, 15–46 years). Of these abortions, 923 were performed by curettage, 108 by vacuum aspiration, and 250 using misoprostol. The rates of retained products of conception were 6.39%, 23.15%, and 8%, respectively, in these 3 groups. Heavy bleeding occurred in the 3 groups and there was 1 case of postabortion endometritis in both the curettage and the misoprostol group. However, no transfusions were needed and no uterine perforations occurred in the misoprostol group, whereas there were 9 transfusions in the vacuum aspiration group and 2 uterine perforations in the curettage group—1 followed by a hysterectomy.ConclusionMisoprostol was very successful in all cases, with no serious adverse effects. It is much easier to administer than to perform a surgical abortions, with less severe postabortion complications and lesser costs.
Comparison of Burch colposuspension and transobturator tape when combined with abdominal sacrocolpopexy
Authors: Moon Yeo‐Jung , Jeon Myung‐Jae , Kim Sei‐Kwang , Bai Sang‐Wook 
Published: December 2010

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the treatment outcomes of Burch colposuspension and transobturator tape (TOT) when each is combined with abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC) to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI) with pelvic organ prolapse (POP).MethodsConsecutive cases of Burch colposuspension and TOT combined with ASC were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with SUI and POP beyond stage III—according to the POP‐quantification system—were included.ResultsMean hospital stay was longer in the Burch group (n = 49) than in the TOT group (n = 60) (11.3 vs 7.8 days; P < 0.001), as was operation time (202.7 vs 170.1 minutes; P < 0.001); furthermore, there were higher rates of urinary retention (53.1% vs 11.7%; P < 0.001), de novo urgency (18.4% vs 3.3%; P = 0.01), and recurrent SUI (18.4% vs 1.7%; P = 0.003) in the Burch group. The cure rate was significantly higher in the TOT group than in the Burch group (98.3% vs 69.7%; P < 0.001).ConclusionThe use of TOT with ASC resulted in higher cure rates and better functional outcomes than did Burch colposuspension with ASC.
Systematic comparison of radical vaginal trachelectomy and radical hysterectomy in the treatment of early‐stage cervical cancer
Authors: Han Ling , Yang Xiao‐Yun , Zheng Ai , Wang Li , Chu Yan‐Xia , Wang Yu 
Published: December 2010

AbstractObjectiveTo review the effects of radical vaginal trachelectomy (RVT) and radical hysterectomy (RH) on overall progression‐free survival rate, and intraoperative and postoperative complications in patients with cervical cancer (FIGO stage IA–IB1).MethodsElectronic searches for studies of RVT and RH in the treatment of cervical cancer between 1994 and January 2010 were made on MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and the Wan Fang dissertation database.ResultsNo significant differences were found between RVT and RH in 5‐year overall survival rate (relative risk [RR] 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93–1.02); 5‐year progression‐free survival rate (RR 0.99; 95% CI, 0.95–1.02); intraoperative complications (RR 1.99; 95% CI, 0.61–6.52)]; and postoperative complications (RR 0.36; 95% CI, 0.10–1.27). There were fewer blood transfusions (RR 0.33; 95% CI, 0.12–0.90), less blood loss, and shorter hospital stays in patients undergoing RVT.ConclusionRadical vaginal trachelectomy should be considered as a viable treatment option for young patients with early cervical cancer (FIGO stage IA–IB1) who wish to preserve their fertility.
Food Aid and Agricultural Cargo Preference
Authors: Bageant Elizabeth R. , Barrett Christopher B. , Lentz Erin C. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThis paper uses an unprecedentedly rich data set to estimate the cost of agricultural cargo preference (ACP) restrictions on United States food aid programs, and to document some of the programs' competitiveness and national security impacts. ACP cost U.S. taxpayers $140 million in 2006, 46% more than competitive freight costs would have. This roughly equals the cost of non‐emergency food aid to Africa. Furthermore, 70% of ACP vessels did not satisfy the criteria that deem them militarily useful, a large share were ultimately owned by foreign corporations, and no ACP vessel crew has been mobilized for national service.
The CRR1 Nutritional Copper Sensor in Chlamydomonas Contains Two Distinct Metal-Responsive Domains
Authors: Sommer Frederik , Kropat Janette , Malasarn Davin , Grossoehme Nicholas E. , Chen Xiaohua , Giedroc David P. , Merchant Sabeeha S. 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
Copper response regulator 1 (CRR1), an SBP-domain transcription factor, is a global regulator of nutritional copper signaling in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and activates genes necessary during periods of copper deficiency. We localized Chlamydomonas CRR1 to the nucleus in mustard (Sinapis alba) seedlings, a location consistent with its function as a transcription factor. The Zn binding SBP domain of CRR1 binds copper ions in vitro. Cu(I) can replace Zn(II), but the Cu(II) form is unstable. The DNA binding activity is inhibited in vitro by Cu(II) or Hg(II) ions, which also prevent activation of transcription in vivo, but not by Co(II) or Ni(II), which have no effect in vivo. Copper inhibition of DNA binding is reduced by mutation of a conserved His residue. These results implicate the SBP domain in copper sensing. Deletion of a C-terminal metallothionein-like Cys-rich domain impacted neither nutritional copper signaling nor the effect of mercuric supplementation, but rendered CRR1 insensitive to hypoxia and to nickel supplementation, which normally activate the copper deficiency regulon in wild-type cells. Strains carrying the crr1-ΔCys allele upregulate ZRT genes and hyperaccumulate Zn(II), suggesting that the effect of nickel ions may be revealing a role for the C-terminal domain of CRR1 in zinc homeostasis in Chlamydomonas.
Inflation and the dividend policy of US firms
Authors: Basse Tobias , Reddemann Sebastian 
Published: December 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the dividend policy of firms from a macroeconomic perspective. In order to do so inflation and real growth are also considered.Design/methodology/approachThe paper examines the relationship between dividends, corporate earnings, real growth and inflation in the USA by applying cointegration techniques. In this framework, impulse response analysis is used to test the two most popular theories of dividend determination.FindingsThe data indicate three cointegration relations among the four‐time series. Impulse response analysis then shows some interesting dynamics. Dividend smoothing seems to be a relevant phenomenon. Furthermore, inflation has a positive effect on dividends.Research limitations/implicationsThe most important finding of this paper is the indication of a positive relationship between inflation and dividend payments. This can be interpreted in two different ways: managers may try to follow a dividend policy, which is perceived to be optimal, believing that there is a desirable level of real dividend income to be paid to their investors. On the other hand, inflation may simply increase the nominal value of corporate earnings and therefore the dividends paid. Independently from the interpretation of the results, inflation should definitely be considered analysing dividend policy.Practical implicationsManagers should also examine the inflationary environment formulating an adequate dividend policy for their firm.Originality/valueThe paper provides an as of yet widely ignored link between the micro‐ and macroeconomic sphere examining one of the most important problems of financial economics. Neglecting the effects of inflation on dividends may, among others, be one reason for the mixed empirical findings testing theories of dividend determination.
Pricing interest rate derivatives under stochastic volatility
Authors: Tahani Nabil , Li Xiaofei 
Published: December 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to derive semi‐closed‐form solutions to a wide variety of interest rate derivatives prices under stochastic volatility in affine‐term structure models.Design/methodology/approachThe paper first derives the Frobenius series solution to the cross‐moment generating function, and then inverts the related characteristic function using the Gauss‐Laguerre quadrature rule for the corresponding cumulative probabilities.FindingsThis paper values options on discount bonds, coupon bond options, swaptions, interest rate caps, floors, and collars, etc. The valuation approach suggested in this paper is found to be both accurate and fast and the approach compares favorably with some alternative methods in the literature.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research could extend the approach adopted in this paper to some non‐affine‐term structure models such as quadratic models.Practical implicationsThe valuation approach in this study can be used to price mortgage‐backed securities, asset‐backed securities and credit default swaps. The approach can also be used to value derivatives on other assets such as commodities. Finally, the approach in this paper is useful for the risk management of fixed‐income portfolios.Originality/valueThis paper utilizes a new approach to value many of the most commonly traded interest rate derivatives in a stochastic volatility framework.
Frequency‐domain homogenization for periodic electromagnetic structure
Authors: Meunier Gérard , Guérin Christophe , Charmoille Vincent , Labie Patrice 
Published: December 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a general approach for the frequency‐domain homogenization of electromagnetic periodic structures. The method allows calculating macroscopic equivalent properties including local effects. It is based on the equivalence of active and reactive electromagnetic powers on an elementary cell. This work is applied to the modelling of eddy current losses in windings, by the use of the finite element method in 2D and 3D.Design/methodology/approachThe approach is based on an homogenization technique, allowing describing local properties (permeability and conductivity) and local effects (eddy currents) of periodical structures, through macroscopic homogenized behaviour laws.FindingsIt was found that the presence of local loops of eddy currents at the local scale implies that the average values of the electric and magnetic field are different from the macroscopic fields. This implies some precautions to implement the homogenization. Furthermore, the question of the coupling of the macroscopic laws has been clarified.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed method is limited to the frequency domain. Some additional work is necessary to extend the researches in the time domain.Practical implicationsThe proposed methodology is applied for determining losses in coils with the finite element method. The major interest of the method is that it allows taking into account local effects (losses in particular), with a reduced computational time.Originality/valueThe method proposed in this paper is general and clarifies the principle of homogenization in the case of periodical structure in presence of local eddy currents (local loops of current).
Numerical dosimetry of currents induced in the human body by ELF magnetic fields
Authors: Scorretti Riccardo , Perrussel Ronan , Morel Laurent , Burais Noël , Nicolas Laurent 
Published: December 2010

PurposeThe classical ϕ‐a formulations for numerical dosimetry of currents induced by extremely low frequency magnetic fields requires that the source field is provided through a vector potential. The purpose of this paper is to present a new formulation t‐b which directly takes the flux density as source term.Design/methodology/approachThis formulation is implemented through finite element and validated by comparison with analytical solutions. The results obtained by both formulations are compared in the case of an anatomical computational phantom exposed to a vertical uniform field.FindingsA good agreement between the t‐b formulation and both numerical and analytical computations was found.Originality/valueThis new formulation seems to be more accurate than the ϕ‐a formulation, and is more suited for situations where the magnetic field is known from experimental measurements, as there is no need for a magnetic vector potential.
Extended 2D magnetic equivalent circuit method
Authors: Lines Christopher R. , Cronjé Willem A. , Wigdorowitz Brian 
Published: December 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to devise a magnetic field modelling approach suitable for simulating the transient behaviour of a class of electromagnetic systems (particularly linear synchronous motors).Design/methodology/approachThe classical 2D magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC) approach is extended by separately accounting for leakage flux from highly permeable polygonal regions (where the MEC approach is most applicable). It capitalises on the computational efficiency of an MEC approach for regions where the flux can be assumed to be uniformly channelled through a coarse network of “flux tubes” and accounts for leakage flux from these regions by introducing mutual permeances. These mutual permeances are geometry dependent and can be calculated upfront using a surface‐current representation of the magnetomotive force attributed to each flux tube.FindingsAs demonstrated with a simple example, the magnetic field solution converges with an increasing subdivision of flux tubes, yielding a transparent trade‐off between simulation time and accuracy.Research limitations/implicationsUsing Schwarz‐Christoffel mapping to approximate the mutual permeances is restrictive and introduces unnecessary error. Hence, the use of finite element or boundary element methods to obtain these permeances is under investigation. Furthermore, it is expected that introducing 2D flux tube elements for junction regions would be beneficial.Originality/valueA novel approach is presented that aims to improve the accuracy of a traditional MEC solution, whilst retaining its computational advantage for the flux that is well channelled. The method has particular merit for the dynamic modelling of linear motors, where the machine's behaviour is dominated by the flux bridging the air gap.
Fixed‐point method for solving non linear periodic eddy current problems with T, Φ‐Φ formulation
Authors: Koczka Gergely , Bíró Oszkár 
Published: December 2010

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to show the application of the fixed‐point method with the T, Φ‐Φ formulation to get the steady‐state solution of the quasi‐static Maxwell's equations with non‐linear material properties and periodic excitations.Design/methodology/approachThe fixed‐point method is used to solve the problem arising from the non‐linear material properties. The harmonic balance principle and a time periodic technique give the periodic solution in all non‐linear iterations. The optimal parameter of the fixed‐point method is investigated to accelerate its convergence speed.FindingsThe Galerkin equations of the DC part are found to be different from those of the higher harmonics. The optimal parameter of the fixed‐point method is determined.Originality/valueThe establishment of the Galerkin equations of the DC part is a new result. The method is first used to solve three‐dimensional problems with the T, Φ‐Φ formulation.
PEEC antenna modeling of rectangular spiral inductors for RFID systems
Authors: Scholz Peter , Ackermann Wolfgang , Weiland Thomas 
Published: December 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to offer a fast and accurate simulation method for printed spiral radio frequency identification coils and to extract the parameters of an equivalent resonance circuit.Design/methodology/approachThe frequency‐dependent port impedance of a rectangular spiral multi‐turn antenna is simulated with the non‐retarded partial element equivalent circuit (PEEC) method. The discretization settings needed for an accurate modeling of skin and proximity effects at medium frequencies as well as parasitic capacitances are discussed. Two different PEEC approaches are used, a magneto‐quasi‐static (resistive and inductive cells) model and a non‐retarded (capacitive cells included) model in order to extract a reduced equivalent resonance circuit which is beneficial to describe the inductive coupling to further inductors via the transformer concept.FindingsWith optimized mesh settings, the extremely fast simulation can be carried out just in seconds whereas the results compared to a computationally much more expensive CST Microwave Studio® reference solution as well as an analytical direct current solution show errors of only about a few percent.Research limitations/implicationsThe methodology is limited to frequencies up to the first self‐resonant frequency of the coil. In addition, piecewise‐homogeneous materials are implied.Originality/valueSpecialized mesh settings allow for a very fast and accurate simulation of rectangular spiral inductors. A method for the parameter extraction of a resonance circuit is proposed by evaluating two different PEEC models.
An integral meshless‐based approach in electromagnetic scattering
Authors: Nicomedes Williams L. , Mesquita Renato C. , Moreira Fernando J.S. 
Published: December 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to solve the electromagnetic scattering problem through a new integral‐based approach that uses the moving least squares (MLS) meshless method to generate its shape functions.Design/methodology/approachThe electric field integral equation and its magnetic counterpart (MFIE) are discretized via special shape functions built numerically through the MLS procedure. This approach is applied to the particular problem concerning the scattering of a TM plane wave by an infinite conductor cylinder. An error norm is established in order to verify the quality of the obtained results.FindingsResults show that the discretization process which employs MLS shape functions presents very good precision and fast convergence to the solution, when compared to results provided by another numerical method, the method of moments.Originality/valueMLS shape functions occur in meshless methods intended to solve problems based on differential formulation. This paper shows that these shape functions can also be applied successfully to problems coming from an integral formulation.
A posteriori iron loss computation with a vector hysteresis model
Authors: Belahcen A. , Dlala E. , Fonteyn K. , Belkasim M. 
Published: December 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to find out how to model iron losses in electrical machines accurately and efficiently.Design/methodology/approachThe starting point was a previously developed vector hysteresis model that was designed and incorporated into the 2D time‐stepping finite‐element (FE) simulation of induction machines. The developed approach here is a decoupling between the vector hysteresis model and the 2D FE model of the machine. The huge time consumption of the incorporated hysteresis model required some new approach to make the model computationally efficient. This is dealt with through an a posteriori use of the vector hysteresis model.FindingsIn this research, it was found that the vector hysteresis model, although used in an a posteriori scheme is able to accurately predict the iron losses as far as these losses are small enough not to affect the other operation characteristics of the machine.Research limitations/implicationsThe research methods reported in this paper deal mainly with induction machines. The methods should be applied for transient operations of the induction machines as well as for other types of machines. The fact that the iron losses do not affect very much the operation characteristics of the machine is based on the fact that the air gap field plays a major role in these machines. The method cannot be applied to other magnetic devices where the iron losses are the main loss component.Originality/valueThe paper is of practical value for designers of electrical machines, who use FE programs. The methods presented here allow them to use a different FE package to simulate the machine and own routines (based on the presented methods) to predict the iron losses without loss of accuracy and in a reasonably short time.
A robust optimization based on adjoint variable method
Authors: Maruyama Takayuki , Watanabe Kota , Igarashi Hajime 
Published: December 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a new method to obtain robust solutions to electromagnetic optimization problems, solved with evolutional algorithms, which are insensitive to changes in design parameters such as spatial size, positioning and material constant.Design/methodology/approachAdjoint variable method is employed to evaluate the sensitivity of individuals in evolutional processes.FindingsIt is shown in the numerical examples, where the present method is applied to optimization of a superconducting energy storage system and C‐shape magnet, that robust solutions are actually obtained which are insensitive to deviations in spatial sizes.Originality/valueUnlike usual optimization methods, the present method takes into account deviation in the design parameters due to production errors and long‐term changes. Moreover, the present method is limited to about twice the computational cost of non‐robust optimization methods.
A numerical evaluation of electromagnetic fields exposure on real human body models until 100 kHz
Authors: Dughiero F. , Forzan M. , Sieni E. 
Published: December 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe how numerical models of human body have been applied for the evaluation of current density induced by strong magnetic field, to verify the respect of the basic restriction proposed by International Committee Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines.Design/methodology/approachFinite element method has been used in order to compute the induced current density in a suitable human body model and a simplified model – a homogeneous cylinder – due to a time‐varying magnetic field.FindingsIn the practical case of a resistance welding equipment, the implemented computational technique has been used in order to evaluate both the magnetic flux density and the induced current density in different tissues. Their values have been also compared with the ones obtained in a homogeneous cylinder.Practical implicationsThe proposed method can be used in order to evaluate the compliance of the magnetic field produced by resistance welding equipments with ICNIRP limits.Originality/valueA realistic model of human body has been used. In the paper, the difference on magnetic flux density and corresponding current density values is pointed out for various source positions using a heterogeneous tetrahedral human body model.