bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estimating component characteristics from system failure‐time data
Authors: Bhattacharya Debasis , Samaniego Francisco J. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractSuppose that failure times are available from a random sample of N systems of a given, fixed design with components which have i.i.d. lifetimes distributed according to a common distribution F. The inverse problem of estimating F from data on observed system lifetimes is considered. Using the known relationship between the system and component lifetime distributions via signature and domination theory, the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator
$ \hat{ \bar{F}} $N(t) of the component survival function $ \bar{F} $(t) is identified and shown to be accessible numerically in any application of interest. The asymptotic distribution of $ \hat{ \bar{F}} $N(t) is also identified, facilitating the construction of approximate confidence intervals for $ \bar{F} $(t) for N sufficiently large. Simulation results for samples of size N = 50 and N = 100 for a collection of five parametric lifetime models demonstrate the utility of the recommended estimator. Possible extensions beyond the i.i.d. framework are discussed in the concluding section. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2010
A close look at valences in hexahedral element meshes
Authors: Staten Matthew L. , Shimada Kenji 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThis paper discusses using valences in objective functions for topological modification of 3D hexahedral meshes. For topological optimization of 2D quadrilateral meshes, node valence (i.e. number of element edges attached to each node) is used to maximize the number of regular nodes (i.e. nodes with four attached edges). Difficulties in developing 3D hexahedral local topology modifications have limited the success of hexahedral topology optimization, although published literature suggests using an object function based on node valence. However, in this paper, we show that node valence is not a consistent measure of good hexahedral element topology, and objective functions based on node valence can lead to element topology, which will only admit concave element shapes. Instead, we propose that objective functions based on edge valence (i.e. number of quadrilateral faces attached to each element edge) will provide a consistent measure of element topology. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hormone therapy and fatal breast cancer
Authors: Norman Sandra A. , Weber Anita L. , Localio A. Russell , Marchbanks Polly A. , Ursin Giske , Strom Brian L. , Weiss Linda K. , Burkman Ronald T. , Bernstein Leslie , Deapen Dennis M. , Folger Suzanne G. , Simon Michael S. , Nadel Marion R. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractPurposeAmong unanswered questions is whether menopausal use of estrogen therapy (ET) or estrogen‐plus‐progestin therapy (CHT) increases risk of developing fatal breast cancer i.e., developing and dying of breast cancer. Using a population‐based case‐control design, we estimated incidence rate ratios of fatal breast cancer in postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) users compared to non‐users by type, duration, and recency of HT use.MethodsHT use prior to breast cancer diagnosis in 278 women who died of breast cancer within 6 years of diagnosis (cases) was compared with use in 2224 controls never diagnosed with breast cancer using conditional logistic regression. Measures taken to address potential bias and confounding inherent in case‐control studies included collecting and adjusting for detailed data on demographic and other factors potentially associated both with HT use and breast cancer.ResultsFifty‐six per cent of cases and 68% of controls reported HT use. Among current 3+ year HT users, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for death were 0.83 (0.50, 1.38) and 0.69 (0.44, 1.09), respectively, for exclusive use of CHT or of ET, and were 0.94 (0.59, 1.48) and 0.70 (0.45, 1.07) for any use of CHT or of ET regardless of other hormone use.ConclusionPoint estimates suggest no increased risk of fatal breast cancer with HT use, although 50% increases in risk in longer‐term current CHT users cannot be ruled out. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Understanding distress and distressing experiences in patients living with multiple myeloma: an exploratory study
Authors: Potrata Barbara , Cavet Jim , Blair Susan , Howe Tracy , Molassiotis Alex 
Published: March 2010

AbstractPurpose: The aim of this study was to gain greater insight into the symptoms and distressing experiences of patients living with myeloma.Methods: A qualitative interview evaluation of distressing experiences in patients with myeloma, following a grounded theory approach, was used. Sampling was purposive, with particular attention to diversity in age and ethnic minority patients.Results: Fifteen patients were interviewed. Key findings suggest that (a) many individual symptoms were not considered as particularly distressing beyond the acute phase of the disease and its treatment, except when they occurred in a context that was threatening to the patients; (b) visible symptoms that showed to other people one's disease condition may be particularly distressing, and (c) the conditioning phase of the transplant was particularly stressful and a violation to one's body, described by some patients as ‘being somehow dead’.Conclusion: The personal meaning ascribed to symptoms and treatments as well as the context in which they occur are important determinants of distress. Such patient meanings and contexts should be explored by health professionals in‐depth, in order to prepare patients for the experience and support them more fully. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Discussion of emotional and social impact of cancer during outpatient oncology consultations
Authors: Taylor Sally , Harley Clare , Campbell Lyndsay J. , Bingham Laura , Podmore Emma Joanne , Newsham Alex C. , Selby Peter J. , Brown Julia M. , Velikova Galina 
Published: March 2010

AbstractObjective: Following publication of national guidelines on detection and management of psychosocial problems in oncology, this study explores frequency of discussion of emotional and social issues in outpatient oncology consultations.Methods: Analysis of baseline data from 212 outpatients participating in a randomized controlled trial. Baseline data included content analysis of audio recordings of consultations, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐General (FACT‐G) questionnaire subscale scores, and patient and clinician self‐rated preferences and perceptions of communication.Results: Fifty‐nine percent patients and 75% clinicians expressed preferences to discuss emotional issues during consultations. Analysis of audio recordings showed that they were discussed in 27% of the consultations, regardless of severity of emotional problems reported by patients (FACT‐G Emotional well‐being subscale). Fifty percent of clinicians reported discussing emotional issues ‘often’ or ‘almost always’, compared with 18% of patients. Forty‐four percent patients and 39% clinicians reported that they would discuss social activities, but they were actually discussed in 46% of consultations. Patients predominantly initiated discussion of emotional and social issues (85 and 60% consultations, respectively).Conclusions: Low prevalence of discussion of psychosocial issues cannot be accounted for by patient or clinician communication preferences. If clinicians rely on patients to initiate discussion of psychosocial issues, patients' problems may go unaddressed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interruptions in the collagen repeating tripeptide pattern can promote supramolecular association
Authors: Hwang Eileen S. , Thiagarajan Geetha , Parmar Avanish S. , Brodsky Barbara 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThe standard collagen triple‐helix requires a perfect (Gly‐Xaa‐Yaa)n sequence, yet all nonfibrillar collagens contain interruptions in this tripeptide repeating pattern. Defining the structural consequences of disruptions in the sequence pattern may shed light on the biological role of sequence interruptions, which have been suggested to play a role in molecular flexibility, collagen degradation, and ligand binding. Previous studies on model peptides with 1‐ and 4‐residue interruptions showed a localized perturbation within the triple‐helix, and this work is extended to introduce natural collagen interruptions up to nine residue in length within a fixed (Gly‐Pro‐Hyp)n peptide context. All peptides in this set show decreases in triple‐helix content and stability, with greater conformational perturbations for the interruptions longer than five residue. The most stable and least perturbed structure is seen for the 5‐residue interruption peptide, whose sequence corresponds to a Gly to Ala missense mutation, such as those leading to collagen genetic diseases. The triple‐helix peptides containing 8‐ and 9‐residue interruptions exhibit a strong propensity for self‐association to fibrous structures. In addition, a small peptide modeling only the 9‐residue sequence within the interruption aggregates to form amyloid‐like fibrils with antiparallel β‐sheet structure. The 8‐ and 9‐residue interruption sequences studied here are predicted to have significant cross‐β aggregation potential, and a similar propensity is reported for ∼10% of other naturally occurring interruptions. The presence of amyloidogenic sequences within or between triple‐helix domains may play a role in molecular association to normal tissue structures and could participate in observed interactions between collagen and amyloid.
Land‐caused uncertainties in climate change simulations: a study with the COLA AGCM
Authors: Wei Jiangfeng , Dirmeyer Paul A. , Zhang Jingyong 
Published: March 2010

AbstractAn atmospheric general circulation model is coupled with three different land surface schemes (LSSs) to study the impact of LSS uncertainties on the simulation of surface warming caused by doubled CO2 and associated oceanic changes. It is found that the implemented LSSs can greatly impact the spatial distribution and amplitude of the simulated warming over land. In warm regions, the different descriptions of local land processes and their associated feedbacks are responsible for about half of the inter‐model spread. In cold regions, almost all of the spread is caused by the circulation differences triggered by LSS differences, and the local land processes have little direct impact. On the other hand, as the annual global‐average land surface warmings are very close no matter which LSS is coupled, this study suggests that the LSS has little impact on projections of annual global‐average temperature change, despite strong regional impact in warm regions. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Vascular deformation for vascular interventional surgery simulation
Authors: Zhang Dapeng , Wang Tianmiao , Liu Da , Lin Guo 
Published: March 2010

AbstractBackgroundObtaining the expertise to perform minimally vascular interventional surgery (VIS) requires thorough training. Previous VIS simulators have generally assumed that blood vessels are rigid. However, vascular deformation occurs unavoidably in VIS. In this study, the arterial walls were analysed as soft tissue.MethodsA mass‐spring model (MSM) was applied for vascular deformation simulation. To improve simulation precision, the spring coefficient was derived from a reference model, simulated with a linear finite element method (FEM), which established a link between the spring coefficient and the properties of the vascular materials. In order to evaluate the simulation results, we applied identical external forces to FEM and MSM and calculated their deformations. Additionally, based on the proposed MSM, we designed a VIS simulator to achieve renal artery intervention. Quantitative validation was performed by comparing the simulated catheter position with a reference position, as assessed by 3D rotational angiography imaging.ResultsFrom the simulation results, we could clearly see that MSM deformation was real‐time and very close to the linear FEM reference, and MSM was successfully adopted in our renal artery intervention simulator.ConclusionMSM with a spring coefficient derived from linear FEM was able to produce a realistic deformation simulation of arterial walls. This method could also be extended to model other organ deformations. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cross‐sectional benchmarking of social and environmental reporting practice in the australian oil and gas industry
Authors: Dong Shidi , Burritt Roger 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThe objective of this paper is to examine social and environmental disclosures against general and industry benchmarks for the quantity and quality of social and environmental reporting practice. To achieve this, a content analysis approach has been applied to disclosures of the 25 Australian oil and gas companies included in the Australian Stock Exchange 300 index in 2006. The conclusions are that there is relatively poor disclosure, and the majority of environmental disclosures are declarative and positive. Oil and gas companies sampled fail to provide detailed information about, for example, the quantification of targets and outputs, actual achievements and the level of participation by employees. However, consistent with previous studies, the companies perform relatively well in reporting human resources information. Implications of these findings and potential for future research are highlighted. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Strategic thinking for sustainable development
Authors: Baumgartner Rupert J. , Korhonen Jouni 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThe idea of this editorial research article is to start making sense out of the seemingly limitless debate on the environmental dimension of sustainable development. We have evaluated a collection of international peer‐reviewed papers. These contributions have been debated at the conferences of the International Sustainable Development Research Society (ISDRS). Our main research objective here is to consider the often posed question of why the progress made in sustainable development has been so slow and the work implemented so unsuccessful. We argue that one of the main explanations is that the approaches used in sustainable development are reductionist and often lead into problem shifting and problem displacement. To address the problem of reductionism, we propose what we call ‘strategic thinking’ and its incorporation into sustainable development work in general. To open up this argument, we arrive at the discussion of three central dimensions of strategic thinking and the relevance of these dimensions when addressing reductionism. These dimensions are the strategy content, strategy process and strategy context. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Creating sustainable identities: the significance of the financially affluent self
Authors: Hurth Victoria 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThis paper uses identity theory and postmodern identity perspectives to analyse why high‐income groups often have values, attitudes and intentions to consume sustainably, yet tend to have the highest energy consumption of any group. Two key arguments are presented. The first is that the affluent identity is opposed to the environmentalist identity and is more salient, desirable and likely to result in more social support and self‐esteem rewards. Therefore, where both identities are held the affluent identity is likely to be more dominant and invoked in more circumstances. Second, the invocation of the affluent identity is liable to result in high‐energy consumption. Despite some evidence of affluent identities being successfully connected by marketing with low‐energy ‘green’ consumption, there is stronger evidence of the affluent identity being consistently embedded symbolically within high‐energy consumption choices. Recommendations for marketing and social marketing are made and a matrix to guide sustainable identity strategies is proposed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Modulation of basal and morphine‐induced neuronal activity by a NPFF2selective agonist measured by c‐Fos mapping of the mouse brain
Authors: Moulédous Lionel , Frances Bernard , Zajac Jean‐Marie 
Published: March 2010

AbstractNeuropeptide FF (NPFF) is a neurotransmitter known to modulate opioid‐induced analgesia, sensitization, and reward. The expression of the immediate early gene c‐Fos was analyzed to map the distribution of neurons whose activity is regulated by central administration of the NPFF2‐selective agonist dNPA in naive mice and in animals who had received a systemic injection of morphine. The number of c‐Fos positive nuclei was quantified in 28 brain regions. Intracerebro‐ventricular injection of 1 nmol dNPA alone produced an overall inhibition of basal c‐Fos expression in the brain with a statistically significant decrease in the lateral ventral part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the medial preoptic area, and the medial parvicellular part of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. In contrast, intraperitoneal injection of morphine 5 mg·kg−1induced a statistically significant increase in c‐Fos expression in the prelimbic cortex, the nucleus accumbens core and shell, the ventral pallidum, the lateral hypothalamus, and the nucleus of the tractus solitarius. dNPA counteracted morphine effect only in the nucleus accumbens shell and the ventral pallidum. The inhibitory effects of a low dose of dNPA in the hypothalamus and its afferents suggest that NPFF2receptors negatively regulate the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis in mouse. Moreover, our study identified the nucleus accumbens shell and ventral pallidum as putative sites of interaction between NPFF and opioid systems in relation with the modulation of acute morphine rewarding and locomotor effects. Synapse 64:672–681, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cocaine self‐administration markedly increases dopamine D2 receptor negative cooperativity for dopamine binding: A receptor dimer‐based analysis
Authors: Franco Rafael , Seeman Philip , Barrera Carlos , Aymerich Maria S. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThe proportion of dopamine D2High receptors has been reported to increase after cocaine self‐administration without a significant change in the total number of D2 receptors. In the present article, the data of competition by dopamine of [3H]domperidone binding to striatal samples from naïve and cocaine‐addicted animals (Briand et al., [2008] Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 18:551–556) are analyzed assuming that D2 receptors are constitutive dimers. The results show another way of interpreting those previous results and lead to the finding that cocaine affects agonist affinity and may strongly affect the receptor‐receptor cooperation between dimers, a result that can contribute to dopamine supersensitivity. Synapse 64:566–569, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lesion size‐dependent synaptic and astrocytic responses in cortex contralateral to infarcts in middle‐aged rats
Authors: Kim Soo Young , Jones Theresa A. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractIn young adult rats, unilateral lesions of the sensorimotor cortex lead to neuronal structural plasticity and synaptogenesis in the contralateral motor cortex, which is connected to the lesion site by transcallosal fibers. The contralesional neural plasticity varies with lesion size and results from the convergence of denervation‐induced reactive plasticity and behavioral asymmetries. It was unknown whether similar effects occur in older animals. Furthermore, the coordination of synaptic responses with that of perisynaptic astrocytes had not been investigated. In this study, middle‐aged rats (14–16 months old) were given sham‐operations or unilateral ischemic lesions of the sensorimotor cortex. Fifty days later, numerical densities of neurons and synapses and morphological characteristics of astrocytic processes in layer V of the contralesional motor cortex were measured using stereological light and electron microscopy methods. Lesions resulted in behavioral asymmetries, but no significant synapse addition in the contralesional motor cortex. Synapse number per neuron was negatively correlated with lesion size and reduced opposite larger lesions compared with smaller ones. Astrocytic changes were also lesion size‐dependent. Astrocytic hypertrophy was observed only after smaller lesions and was associated with greater coverage and greater numbers of synapses. These findings are consistent with those in younger rats indicating an inverse relationship between lesion size and adaptive neuronal restructuring in denervated cortex. However, they indicate that the synaptogenic reaction to this lesion is relatively limited in older animals. Finally, the results indicate that structural plasticity of perisynaptic astrocytes parallels, and could play a role in shaping, synaptic responses to postischemic denervation. Synapse 64:659–671, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In vivo binding of protoporphyrin IX to rat translocator protein imaged with positron emission tomography
Authors: Ozaki Harushige , Zoghbi Sami S. , Hong Jinsoo , Verma Ajay , Pike Victor W. , Innis Robert B. , Fujita Masahiro 
Published: March 2010

AbstractIn vitro experiments have shown that protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) binds to the translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO), which transports cholesterol across the outer mitochondrial membrane. The purpose of this study was to examine whether binding of PPIX to TSPO can also be detected in vivo using positron emission tomography and [11C]PBR28, a radioligand that binds with high affinity and selectivity to TSPO. Rats were injected with a high dose of 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA, 200 mg/kg i.v.), which is a precursor for PPIX. ALA‐pretreatment significantly decreased the uptake of [11C]PBR28 in TSPO‐rich organs such as heart, kidneys, lungs, parotid glands, and spleen by 57–80%. As a control experiment, injection of a receptor saturating does of PK 11195, which is selective for TSPO, produced a pattern of displacement similar to that after ALA but with greater magnitude (88–97%). This study provides the first evidence that PPIX binds in vivo to TSPO. Although PPIX at physiological concentrations would likely occupy an insignificant percentage of TSPOs, it does reach high‐enough concentrations in porphyria to occupy and have pharmacological effects via this target. Synapse 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.