bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Collection of family health histories: The link between genealogy and public health
Authors: Case Donald O. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAlthough a number of investigations have been conducted on the information behavior of family historians, we know little about the degree to which they systematically collect information on the causes of death and major illnesses of ancestors. Such information, if reliable and accessible, could be useful to family physicians, the families themselves, and to epidemiologists. This article presents findings from a two‐stage study of amateur genealogists in the USA. An initial state‐wide telephone survey of 901 households was followed by in‐depth interviews with a national sample of 23 family historians. Over half of the responding households in the general survey reported that someone in their family collects ancestral medical data; this practice appears to be more common among respondents who are women, older persons, and those with higher incomes. In‐depth interviews revealed that this information is commonly collected by family historians, and typically comes from death certificates, secondarily from obituaries, and thirdly from word‐of‐mouth or family records; most of these respondents collected health information for reasons of surveillance of their own health risks. Social‐networking approaches to encourage gathering of family data could aid in increased awareness and surveillance of health risks. Implications for health information seeking and applicable theories are discussed.
Regional differences in stakeholders' perspectives on strategies to overcome teledensity limitations: An exploratory comparison of selected Latin American and Sub‐Saharan African countries
Authors: Meso Peter , Kaba Bangaly , Mbarika Victor , McCline Richard 
Published: August 2008

AbstractPrior research has identified specific factors that hinder growth of teledensity in developing countries and specific strategies used to overcome such limitations both in Latin America and in Sub‐Saharan Africa. Prior research also has reported on the perceptions that telecommunications stakeholders have on how various strategies can inform and assist in the enhancement of teledensity in each of the two continental regions. This study fills a gap in the literature by investigating similarities and differences in the telecommunication stakeholders' perspectives of specific strategies used to address teledensity limitations in Latin America as well as in Sub‐Saharan Africa. Independent samples of survey participants (Latin America's and Sub‐Saharan Africa's telecommunications stakeholders) analyzed the strategies. Using appropriate statistical procedures, we examined these stakeholders' perceptions to find areas of commonality and difference in their respective perspectives on the effectiveness of selected strategies. Qualitative comments to support the stakeholders' responses are reported, together with future research implications.
Recursive identification for Wiener systems using Gaussian inputs
Authors: Hu Xiao‐Li , Chen Han‐Fu 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThe recursive algorithms are given for identifying the single‐input single‐output Wiener system which consists of a moving average type linear subsystem followed by a static nonparametric nonlinearity. The input is defined to be a sequence of mutually independent Gaussian random variables. The estimates for coefficients of the linear subsystem as well as for f(v) at any v are proved to converge to the true values with probability one. A numerical example is given, justifying the theoretical analysis. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
An interactive approach to template generation in quantitative feedback theory methodology
Authors: Diaz Jose M. , Dormido Sebastian , Aranda Joaquin 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThe calculation of templates associated with plant uncertainty at some frequencies is one of the first steps in the design of robust controllers using the quantitative feedback theory (QFT) methodology. If the QFT designer does not calculate the templates correctly, the design will be unnecessarily conservative, or even erroneous. This paper describes the main features of Template Interactive Generator (TIG), a new, free software tool that calculates the templates of plants with special parameter dependences, such as interval plants and plants with affine parametric uncertainty. The paper also includes two examples that illustrate the ease of use and the high level of interactivity of TIG. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
Decentralized tracking control for linear uncertain interconnected systems with time delays
Authors: Ni Mao‐Lin , Wang Jing , Li Guo 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThis paper investigates the robust output tracking problem for a class of large‐scale linear uncertain systems with interactions and time delays. Time delays exist in both states and controls. Using the Riccati equation, a procedure for determining decentralized linear control laws is presented such that the closed‐loop system asymptotically tracks the reference output and rejects any constant but unknown disturbances. The main feature of this approach is that the uncertain systems may contain time delays in both states and controls as well as in interactions between subsystems. A numerical example is included to show the results. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
Delay‐dependent robust stability and stabilization of uncertain neutral systems
Authors: He Yong , Wu Min , She Jin‐Hua 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThis paper discusses the problems of the delay‐dependent robust stability and stabilization of uncertain neutral systems with time‐varying delays. Delay‐dependent stability criteria are derived by taking the relationships between the terms in the Leibniz‐Newton formula into account. Free‐weighting matrices are employed to express these relationships, and they are easy to obtain because the new criteria are based on linear matrix inequalities. Moreover, the stability criteria are extended to the design of a stabilizing state feedback controller. Numerical examples demonstrate that these criteria are effective and are an improvement on previous ones. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
Multi‐sensor track‐to‐track fusion via linear minimum variance sense estimators
Authors: Fong Li‐Wei 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAn integrated approach that consists of sensor‐based filtering algorithms, local processors, and a global processor is employed to describe the distributed fusion problem when several sensors execute surveillance over a certain area. For the sensor tracking systems, each filtering algorithm utilized in the reference Cartesian coordinate system is presented for target tracking, with the radar measuring range, bearing, and elevation angle in the spherical coordinate system (SCS). For the local processors, each track‐to‐track fusion algorithm is used to merge two tracks representing the same target. The number of 2‐combinations of a set withNdistinct sensors is considered for central track fusion. For the global processor, the data fusion algorithms, simplified maximum likelihood (SML) estimator and covariance matching method (CMM), based on linear minimum variance (LMV) estimation fusion theory, are developed for use in a centralized track‐to‐track fusion situation. The resulting global fusers can be implemented in a parallel structure to facilitate estimation fusion calculation. Simulation results show that the proposed SML estimator has a more robust capability of improving tracking accuracy than the CMM and the LMV estimators. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
Onℋ︁∞model reduction for discrete‐time linear time‐invariant systems using linear matrix inequalities
Authors: Ebihara Yoshio , Hirai Yoshito , Hagiwara Tomomichi 
Published: August 2008

AbstractIn this paper, we address the ℋ︁∞model reduction problem for linear time‐invariant discrete‐time systems. We revisit this problem by means of linear matrix inequality (LMI) approaches and first show a concise proof for the well‐known lower bounds on the approximation error, which is given in terms of the Hankel singular values of the system to be reduced. In addition, when we reduce the system order by the multiplicity of the smallest Hankel singular value, we show that the ℋ︁∞optimal reduced‐order model can readily be constructed via LMI optimization. These results can be regarded as complete counterparts of those recently obtained in the continuous‐time system setting.
Optimal control and robust stability of uncertain impulsive dynamical systems
Authors: Liu Bin , Teo Kok Lay , Liu Xinzhi 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThis paper studies the problem of optimal feedback control and robust stability for uncertain impulsive dynamical systems. By using algebraic inequalities, Riccati and Hamilton‐Jacobi inequalities, the conditions are derived under which not only the uncertain impulsive dynamical system has robust asymptotic stability but also the value of the optimal hybrid performance functional can be estimated. An example is also given to illustrate our results. © 2008 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
Catastrophizing and treatment outcome: differential impact on response to placebo and active treatment outcome
Authors: Sullivan Michael JL , Lynch Mary E , Clark A John , Mankovsky Tsipora , Sawynok Jana 
Published: August 2008

AbstractBackground: The primary objective of this study was to examine the differential impact of catastrophic thinking on response to placebo and active treatment in the context of a clinical trial for the treatment of neuropathic pain. Secondary objectives included examination of specific dimensions of catastrophic thinking that influence response to placebo and active treatment.Methods: A sample of 46 patients (26 men, 20 women) with neuropathic pain were randomly assigned to a placebo (n = 24) or treatment (amitriptyline + ketamine) condition (n = 22). All patients completed the Pain Catastrophizing Scale prior to treatment.Results: There were no significant differences between placebo and active treatment on pain reduction. In the placebo condition, high scores on the PCS were associated with greater pain reduction (r = 0.42, p < 0.05), while in the treatment condition, higher PCS scores were associated with less pain reduction (r = −0.51, p < 0.01). Additional analyses revealed that individuals in the active treatment condition reported slightly more side effects than individuals in the placebo condition, and that catastrophizing was significantly correlated with the report of side effects (r = 0.29, p < 0.05).Conclusion: Catastrophizing appears to have a differential impact on treatment response to placebo and active treatment. Given that side effects are more likely with active treatments than placebos, high levels of catastrophizing might impact negatively on active treatment effects but not necessarily on placebo effects. Discussion addresses how pain catastrophizing may contribute to null findings in clinical trials of interventions for pain disorders. Copyright © 2008 British Society of Experimental & Clinical Hypnosis. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metallaboranes of the Early Transition Metals: Direct Synthesis and Characterization of [{(η5‐C5Me5)Ta}2BnHm] (n=4, m=10; n=5, m=11), [{(η5‐C5Me5)Ta}2B5H10(C6H4CH3)], and [{(η5‐C5Me5)TaCl}2B5H11]
Authors: Bose Shubhankar Kumar , Geetharani K. , Varghese Babu , Mobin Shaikh M. , Ghosh Sundargopal 
Published: August 2008

AbstractReaction of [Cp*TaCl4] (Cp*=η5‐C5Me5) with a sixfold excess of LiBH4⋅thf followed by BH3⋅thf in toluene at 100 °C led to the isolation of hydrogen‐rich metallaboranes [(Cp*Ta)2B4H10] (1), [(Cp*Ta)2B5H11] (2), [(Cp*Ta)2B5H10(C6H4CH3)] (3), and [(Cp*TaCl)2B5H11] (4) in modest yield. Compounds 1–3 are air‐ and moisture‐sensitive but 4 is reasonably stable in air. Their structures are predicted by the electron‐counting rules to be a bicapped tetrahedron (1), bicapped trigonal bipyramids (2, 3), and a nido structure based on a closo dodecahedron (4). Yellow tantalaborane 1 has a nido geometry with C2v symmetry and is isostructural with [(Cp*M)2B4H8] (M=Cr and Re); whereas 2 and 3 are C3v‐symmetric and isostructural with [(Cp*M)2B5H9] (M=Cr, Mo, W) and [(Cp*ReH)2B5Cl5]. The most remarkable feature of 4 is the presence of a hydride ligand bridging the ditantalum center to form a symmetrical tantalaborane cluster with a long TaTa bond (3.22 Å). Cluster 4 is a rare example of electronically unsaturated metallaborane containing four TaHB bonds. All these new metallaboranes have been characterized by mass spectrometry, 1H, 11B, and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis, and the structural types were unequivocally established by crystallographic analysis of 1–4.
The prognostic role of comorbidity in salivary gland carcinoma
Authors: Terhaard Chris H. J. , van der Schroeff Marc P. , van Schie Kim , Eerenstein Simone E. J. , Lubsen Herman , Kaanders Johannes H. A. M. , Smeele Ludwig E. , Burlage Fred R. , van Den Ende Piet L. , Baatenburg de Jong Robert J. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.Patients with head and neck cancer are prone to develop significant comorbidity mainly because of the high incidence of tobacco and alcohol abuse, both of which are etiologic and prognostic factors. However, to the authors' knowledge little is known regarding the prognostic relevance of comorbidity in patients with salivary gland cancer.METHODS.A retrospective cohort of 666 patients with salivary gland cancer was identified within the Dutch Head and Neck Oncology Cooperative Group database. For multivariate analysis, a Cox proportional hazards model was used to study the effect of comorbidity on overall survival and disease‐specific survival.RESULTS.According to the Adult Comorbidity Evaluation‐27 (ACE‐27) index, 394 patients (64%) had grade 0 comorbidity, 119 patients (19%) had grade 1 comorbidity, 71 patients (12%) had grade 2 comorbidity, and 29 patients (5%) had grade 3 comorbidity. In multivariate analysis for overall survival, the ACE‐27 comorbidity grade was a strong independent prognostic variable. The hazards ratio (HR) of death, including all causes, was 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1‐2.1) for patients with ACE‐27 grade 1 comorbidity versus grade 0 comorbidity (P < .007). The HR was 1.7 (95% CI, 1.2‐2.5) for grade 2 comorbidity (P = .003) and 2.7 (95% CI, 1.5‐4.7) for grade 3 comorbidity versus grade 0 comorbidity (P = .001). In the current analysis, ACE‐27 comorbidity grade was not an independent prognostic factor for disease‐free survival.CONCLUSIONS.To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study concerning the prevalence and relevance of the prognostic comorbidity variable ACE‐27 grade in patients with salivary gland cancer. Overall survival, but not disease‐free survival, was correlated strongly with ACE‐27 grade. Compared with other studies that investigated the effect of comorbidity on patients with head and neck cancer, patients with salivary gland cancer had less comorbidity. Their comorbid status appeared to be reasonably comparable to that of patients with other nonsmoking‐ and nonalcohol‐related cancers. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Lipolysis—Not inflammation, cell death, or lipogenesis—Is involved in adipose tissue loss in cancer cachexia
Authors: Rydén Mikael , Agustsson Thorhallur , Laurencikiene Jurga , Britton Tom , Sjölin Eva , Isaksson Bengt , Permert Johan , Arner Peter 
Published: August 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.Cancer cachexia is an important, negative prognostic marker that has been linked to systemic inflammation and cell death through unclear mechanisms. A key feature of cancer cachexia is loss of white adipose tissue (WAT) because of increased adipocyte lipolysis and possibly reduced lipid synthesis (lipogenesis). In this study, the authors investigated whether alterations in fat cell numbers, lipogenesis, or cytokine and/or leukocyte infiltration could account for some of the functional changes observed in WAT in cancer cachexia.METHODS.Blood and subcutaneous WAT samples were obtained from a 10 weight‐stable patients, from 13 weight losing (cachexia) patients with cancer, and from 5 patients without cancer (noncancer patients) who initially were classified with cancer.RESULTS.Systemic inflammation (increased circulating levels of interleukin 6 [IL‐6]) and enhanced lipolysis were confirmed in the cachectic patients compared with the other patients. However, the messenger RNA expression of IL‐6 and other cytokine or leukocyte markers, as well as WAT secretion of IL‐6, were not altered in the patients with cachexia. Thus, the elevated serum levels of IL‐6 that were observed in cachexia were not derived from WAT. Insulin‐induced lipogenesis in adipocytes from patients with cachexia was the same as that in adipocytes from patients with weight‐stable cancer and from noncancer patients (2.5‐fold maximal stimulation; half‐maximum effective concentration, ∼0.03 nmol/L). Fat cell size was decreased but adipocyte numbers were normal in cancer patients with cachexia, suggesting that there was no major fat cell death.CONCLUSIONS.The current findings indicated that subcutaneous WAT does not contribute to the systemic inflammatory reaction and does not induce adipocyte insulin resistance in cancer cachexia. Moreover, increased fat cell lipolysis, not reduced lipogenesis or adipocyte cell death, appeared to be the primary cause of fat loss in this condition. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Predictors of patient preferences and treatment choices for localized prostate cancer
Authors: Sommers Benjamin D. , Beard Clair J. , D'Amico Anthony V. , Kaplan Irving , Richie Jerome P. , Zeckhauser Richard J. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.Little is known regarding how patients select treatment for localized prostate cancer. This study examined determinants of patients' preferences for health states related to prostate cancer, and assessed whether preferences and/or other factors predict treatment choices.METHODS.A survey of 167 patients with newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer was conducted in 4 academic medical practices from 2004 to 2007. The authors assessed demographic and health factors, and used a time‐tradeoff method to elicit preferences in the form of quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) regarding health states related to prostate cancer. Linear regressions identified predictors of preferences (in QALYs) for erectile dysfunction (ED), urinary incontinence, rectal/bowel symptoms, and metastatic prostate cancer. Linear probability models identified predictors of treatment choice.RESULTS.Patient preferences were affected by a range of behavioral, demographic, and health factors. For example, sexually active men reported significantly lower QALYs for living with ED, and men with family members who died of cancer reported lower QALYs for metastatic disease. The strongest predictor of treatment was the type of physician seen (radiation oncology vs urology) at the time of the survey. Age and tumor grade also were found to be strongly predictive of treatment. In general, QALYs were not found to predict treatment choice.CONCLUSIONS.Patient preferences, as reported in QALYs, are shaped by reasonable behavioral and demographic influences. However, actual treatment choices appear to bear little relation to these patient preferences, and instead demonstrate a strong association with clinician specialty. More attention to variation in preferences among patients, as well as the use of decision‐support technologies, may enable physicians to facilitate more optimal individualized treatment choices for patients with prostate cancer. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Clinicopathologic characteristics of invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast
Authors: Orvieto Enrico , Maiorano Eugenio , Bottiglieri Luca , Maisonneuve Patrick , Rotmensz Nicole , Galimberti Viviana , Luini Alberto , Brenelli Fabricio , Gatti Giovanna , Viale Giuseppe 
Published: August 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.Although invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common histotype of breast cancer, the prognostic implications of its clinicopathologic characteristics remain controversial.METHODS.The authors undertook a retrospective analysis of a large series of cases treated and followed at a single institution, with the objective of assessing the prognostic/predictive value of distinct clinicopathologic features of the tumors, after revision of the original histopathologic preparations and statistical analyses.RESULTS.Overall, 530 patients with pure ILC (57% with the classic type; 19% with the alveolar type; 11% with the solid type; and the remaining 13% characterized by pleomorphic, signet ring cell, histiocytoid, or apocrine features) were included in the study. Tumor size, lymph node metastatic involvement, and hormonal status were confirmed to be significant prognostic factors. In addition, statistically significant correlations were demonstrated between the ‘classic’ histotype of ILC and a lower risk of axillary lymph node metastases (P = .0005), a reduced number of metastatic lymph nodes (P = .04), and lower tumor grade (P < .0001). Patients with ILC of the ‘nonclassic’ subtype demonstrated significantly increased breast‐related events (hazards ratio of 1.80; 95% confidence interval, 1.04‐3.10) and a trend toward reduced disease‐free survival and overall survival.CONCLUSIONS.The results of the current study confirm the clinical usefulness of several traditional clinicopathologic features of ILC as prognostic parameters but also emphasize the prognostic role of the histopathologic subtyping of these tumors, documenting the more favorable outcome of the classic subtype of ILC. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Functional Tethered Bilayer Lipid Membranes on Aluminum Oxide
Authors: Roskamp Robert F. , Vockenroth Inga K. , Eisenmenger Nancy , Braunagel Julia , Köper Ingo 
Published: August 2008

AbstractTethered bilayer lipid membranes are established as well‐suited model membrane systems adaptable to different surfaces, for example, gold and silicon. These solid supported membranes are highly flexible in their tethering and lipid parts and can thus be optimized for functional incorporation of membrane proteins. The excellent sealing properties of the tethered membranes allow incorporated ion‐channel proteins to be investigated. Preparation of ultrasmooth aluminum oxide by sputtering and synthesis of new tethering lipids with phosphonic acid anchor groups enable formation of an electrically sealing membrane on this surface. This process is monitored by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. High sealing performance of the membrane and functional incorporation of the ion carrier valinomycin are demonstrated.