bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Polyaniline-polypyrrole coating for solid phase microextraction
Authors: Vickackaite Vida , Ciuvasovaite Vilma 
Published: May 2007

Abstract
A procedure for direct electrochemical deposition of polyaniline-polypyrrole blend coating on the surface of stainless steel wire was suggested. Incorporation of polyaniline and polypyrrole into the blend coating was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy. Key parameters (pyrrole, aniline, dopant and sulphuric acid concentrations and deposition potential) influencing the coating’s mechanical stability and surface homogeneity were optimised and thermostability of the coating was investigated. A possibility to apply the coating as a new fibre for solid phase microextraction was demonstrated. The coating showed better selectivity toward aromatic, hydrophobic compounds.
Validation of the Clinical Internship Evaluation Tool
Authors: Fitzgerald Lynn M , Delitto Anthony , Irrgang James J 
Published: May 2007

Background and Purpose
Graduates of physical therapist education programs should be expected to function as competent clinicians. Instead, the benchmark for many clinical performance assessment tools has been “as good as an entry-level graduate.” The authors developed the Clinical Internship Evaluation Tool (CIET), which measures clinical performance of the student relative to a “competent clinician.” The purpose of this study was to provide evidence for validity of the tool.

Subjects and Methods
The CIET was used to evaluate physical therapist student clinical performance from 1999 to 2003. Data from 228 student evaluations, a survey of 26 clinical instructors (CIs), and an item review by 7 faculty members were used to collect validity evidence. The relevance of items on the CIET was examined by the survey and the item review. Coefficient alpha was calculated to estimate internal consistency among the items. A Spearman correlation was used to examine the relationship between 2 measures of clinical competence. A repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) compared the student scores at each clinical time frame to confirm expected improvements in performance longitudinally. Evidence for practicality was collected by the CI survey.

Results
Based on the faculty item review and the CI survey, all items were representative of skills and behaviors considered important for a clinically competent physical therapist. The internal consistency (alpha) was .98 for the patient management items. The average correlation of the 2 measures of clinical competence was .76. The repeated-measures ANOVA was significant and demonstrated improved patient management scores as the student progressed through the program. The CI survey results indicated that 96% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the instrument was short and easy to use.

Discussion and Conclusion
The results of the study suggest that the CIET is representative of skills and behaviors necessary for students to perform at the level of a competent therapist and that the instrument is practical to use for busy clinicians. The CIET appears to be a valid tool for measuring student clinical performance and can be a time-efficient alternative for CIs in today's demanding clinical environment.
Modified Constraint-Induced Therapy in Patients With Chronic Stroke Exhibiting Minimal Movement Ability in the Affected Arm
Authors: Page Stephen J , Levine Peter 
Published: May 2007

Background and PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of a reimbursable, outpatient modified constraint-induced therapy (mCIT) protocol administered to subjects with chronic stroke who initially exhibited minimal movement ability in their affected wrists and fingers.SubjectsThe subjects were 4 individuals who had experienced a stroke more than 1 year prior to study entry (mean age [±SD]=60.25±1.98 years, mean time since stroke=37.5±23.2 months).MethodA multiple-baseline, preintervention-postintervention, single-blinded case series design was used. The intervention consisted of structured, ½-hour therapy sessions emphasizing affected arm use in valued activities, occurring 3 times per week for 10 weeks. Subjects’ less affected arms also were restrained 5 days per week for 5 hours per day during the same 10-week period. The main outcome measures were the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), the Motor Activity Log (MAL), and the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Motor Recovery (FM).ResultsThe subjects exhibited improvements in use of the more affected arm (+1.9, +1.8, +1.7, and +2.3 for subjects 1 through 4, respectively) and in quality of movement (+1.5, +2.1, +1.63, and +1.9 for subjects 1 through 4, respectively), as measured by the MAL. They also exhibited reduced impairment, as measured by the FM (+5.0, +6.5, +5.5, and +5.0 for subjects 1 through 4, respectively), and increased fine motor skill movement, as measured by the ARAT (+7.5, +7.0, +7.0, and +5.5 for subjects 1 through 4, respectively).Discussion and ConclusionThe findings demonstrated that mCIT participation was efficacious because it led to increased use of the affected arm and of function and to increased ability to perform valued activities. The subjects reported some new ability to perform some valued activities. These outcomes are significant because few therapies are believed to effectively increase use of the affected arm and function in this population.
Einfluss freilebender Wiederkäuer auf die Verjüngung des Schweizer Waldes | Influence of Wild-Living Ruminants on the Regeneration of the Swiss Forest
Authors: Odermatt Oswald 
Published: May 2007

Former, mostly authoritative knowledge on the obstruction of forest regeneration through wild-living ruminants is presently replaced by figures from numerous inventories on browsing and juvenile forest in Switzerland. In practice, the percentage of browsing has shown to be an apt indicator of the level of game damage. Thus, a more objective and differentiated picture of the situation can be presented today.
On the whole, the game damage to the regeneration of the Swiss forest has not diminished during the past 25 years. However, a certain prosiness has occurred with regard to evaluation. In the Swiss Central Plateau, solutions for these conflicts have been found in the meantime. Within the alpine areas, some particularly serious cases of game damage in the forest were solved by means of problem-oriented killing-off and habitat improvements. Locally, the spread of the lynx has had its positive effects. The regeneration of the fir is a particularly significant problem. In many areas, without technical protective measures the fir has not been able to regenerate itself for decades.
Two Dutch brothers with Borrone dermato‐cardio‐skeletal syndrome
Authors: van Steensel M.A.M. , Ceulen R.P.M. , Delhaas T. , de Die‐Smulders C. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractIn 1993, Borrone et al. described two Italian brothers affected by a syndrome of severe acne, mitral valve prolapse, dysmorphic facies, and Scheuermann‐like changes of the vertebral column. Since then, no further cases have been reported. Here, we report on two Dutch brothers with many features suggestive of this rare syndrome. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mother to son amplification of a small subtelomeric deletion: A new mechanism of familial recurrence in microdeletion syndromes
Authors: Faravelli Francesca , Murdolo Marina , Marangi Giuseppe , Bricarelli Franca Dagna , Di Rocco Maja , Zollino Marcella 
Published: May 2007

AbstractA 2.8‐Mb 4p16.3 terminal deletion, with proximal breakpoint at locus D4S182, was diagnosed by FISH in a 16‐year‐old boy who presented with a typical Wolf–Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) phenotype. The deletion, which was maternally derived, was isolated, and a balanced translocation was ruled out in both parents by FISH with probe 33c6 (locus D4S43) falling within the patient's deletion interval, at a distance of about 2.3 Mb from the telomere. His older brother, who died from pneumonia at the age of 18 years, also presented with clinical signs consistent with WHS, including typical facial appearance and major malformations, but the genetic test was not performed. A smaller 4p deletion, spanning the 1.5 Mb region from locus D4S96 to the telomere was detected in the healthy mother. When critically analyzed, after the FISH results, she was noted to present with partial WHS facial “gestalt,” borderline mental delay, a few episodes of seizures as a child, normal weight and head circumference, and height at the lower limit of normal range. This report highlights a previously undescribed mechanism of familial recurrence of a microdeletion syndrome. Potential meiotic amplification is to be considered for different subtelomeric deletions that are currently interpreted as population polymorphisms. At the same time, the present report adds new insights to mapping some peculiar WHS clinical signs, such as seizures and severe growth delay. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synthesis of ultra‐low‐molecular‐weight polyethylene wax using a bulky Ti(IV) aryloxide–alkyl aluminum catalytic system
Authors: Umare Prashant S. , Tiwari Ajaykumar J. , Antony Robin , Tembe Gopal L. , Trivedi Bhavna 
Published: May 2007

AbstractComplexes of titanium(IV) with bulky phenolic ligands such as 2‐tert‐butyl‐4 methylphenol, 2, 4‐di‐tert‐butyl phenol and 3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl phenol were prepared and characterized. These catalyst precursors, formulated as [Ti(OPh*)n(OPri)4−n] (OPh* = substituted phenol), were found to be active in polymerization of ethylene at higher temperatures in combination with ethylaluminum sesquichloride (Et3Al2Cl3) as co‐catalyst. It was observed that the reaction temperature and ethylene pressure had a pronounced effect on polymerization and the molecular weight of polyethylene obtained. In addition, this catalytic system predominantly produced linear, crystalline ultra‐low‐molecular‐weight polyethylenes narrow dispersities. The polyethylene waxes obtained with this catalytic system exhibit unique properties that have potential applications in surface coating and adhesive formulations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development of a bilayer coating to improve the adhesion between stainless steel and in situ‐polymerized poly(methyl methacrylate)
Authors: Pellice Sergio A. , Fasce Diana P. , Williams Roberto J. J. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractA bilayer coating was developed that may be applied over a stainless steel surface to enhance the adhesive strength with in situ‐polymerized poly(methyl methacrylate). The first layer was an epoxy based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) crosslinked with N‐(2‐aminoethyl)‐3‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (AEAPS). A prereaction and a fast cure were needed to avoid phase separation after the dip coating process. The second layer constituted of an organic–inorganic hybrid formulation synthesized by a sol‐gel process. It was based on 2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA), 3‐methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPMS), and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). This layer provided silanol groups to react with the methoxysilane groups of the first layer and methacrylate groups to produce covalent bonds during the methyl methacrylate polymerization. Stainless steel plaques were successively coated with both layers (about 700 nm per layer), using a dip coating process. Both coated and uncoated plaques were bonded with a 0.55‐mm thickness of a two‐parts PMMA cement, using the standard geometry to perform single lap‐shear strength tests. The average lap‐shear strength increased from 3.4 ± 1.5 MPa for the uncoated metals to 9.7 ± 1.5 MPa for the plaques coated with the bilayer system. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007
Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of styrene using a novel thiophene dithioester as the reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer agent
Authors: Zhou Nianchen , Lu Lude , Zhu Jian , Yang Xujie , Wang Xin , Zhu Xiulin , Zhang Zhengbiao 
Published: May 2007

AbstractBenzyl thiophene‐2‐carbodithioate and 2‐methyl‐2‐(4‐methylcyclohex‐3‐enyl)propyl thiophene‐2‐carbodithioatewere synthesized. The reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerizations of styrene with benzyl thiophene‐2‐carbodithioate and 2‐methyl‐2‐(4‐methylcyclohex‐3‐enyl)propyl thiophene‐2‐carbodithioate as chain‐transfer agents and with 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator were carried out. The polymerization kinetics were investigated. An ab initio calculation method was used to explore the differences between benzyl thiophene‐2‐carbodithioate and benzyl benzodithioate. The structure of the obtained polymers was characterized with 1H‐NMR. Chain‐extension experiments of the obtained polymer with styrene were carried out. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007
Task‐based information retrieval: Structuring undergraduate history essays for better course evaluation using essay‐type visualizations
Authors: Leide John E. , Cole Charles , Beheshti Jamshid , Large Andrew , Lin Yang 
Published: May 2007

AbstractWhen domain novices are in C.C. Kuhlthau's (1993) Stage 3, the exploration stage of researching an assignment, they often do not know their information need; this causes them to go back to Stage 2, the topic‐selection stage, when they are selecting keywords to formulate their query to an Information Retrieval (IR) system. Our hypothesis is that instead of going backward, they should be going forward toward a goal state—the performance of the task for which they are seeking the information. If they can somehow construct their goal state into a query, this forward‐looking query better operationalizes their information need than does a topic‐based query. For domain novice undergraduates seeking information for a course essay, we define their task as selecting a high‐impact essay structure which will put the students' learning on display for the course instructor who will evaluate the essay. We report a study of first‐year history undergraduate students which tested the use and effectiveness of “essay type” as a task‐focused query‐formulation device. We randomly assigned 78 history undergraduates to an intervention group and a control group. The dependent variable was essay quality, based on (a) an evaluation of the student's essay by a research team member, and (b) the marks given to the student's essay by the course instructor. We found that conscious or formal consideration of essay type is inconclusive as a basis of a task‐focused query‐formulation device for IR.
Rossby wave dispersion on the C‐grid
Authors: Thuburn J. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractSome spatial averaging of the Coriolis terms is unavoidable on the staggered C‐grid, and the resulting artifical slowing of near‐grid‐scale inertial waves in numerical models is well‐known. A poor treatment of near‐grid‐scale Rossby waves might also be expected. It is shown here that numerical Rossby wave dispersion on the C‐grid is sensitive to the details of the discretization of the Coriolis terms, and that quite good Rossby wave dispersion can be obtained even for near‐grid‐scale meridional wavelengths. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
An Extended Threshold Model for Analyzing Ordered Categorical Data
Authors: Quednau H. D. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThis paper presents an extended threshold model for analyzing ordered categorical data. The model admits interactions between the position of the thresholds and the levels of the effective factors. These interactions are described according to the approach of Milliken and Graybill (1970). Especially important for practical application is the special assumption that there is a linear relation between interactions and thresholds, and that the slopes of the concerning regression lines may be different for samples. This means that the latent variables are distributed according to the same type of distributions, but may have different expectations and variances.Underlying this submodel, the estimation of parameters and the testing of hypotheses according to the maximum likelihood method is described. The procedure is illustrated by a numerical example, and an outline is given about a cluster analysis using model parameters.
Bayesian Approach to Proportional Odds Models for Survival Analysis
Authors: Tan W. Y. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractIn this paper Bayesian approach is adopted to develop inferences about parameters in proportional odds models. Bayesian posterior intervals for coefficients in proportional odds models are derived by using approximation given in Pregibon (1981). The results are illustrated by using the lung cancer survival data reported by Prentice (1973).
Comparing Vectors of Adjusted Means when Covariance Matrices are Unequal
Authors: Misra R. K. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe ability to distinguish between stocks of fish is of vital importance in fisheries management programs. Morphometric measurements are commonly employed to separate biological populations. Unique role of multivariate analysis of covariance in separating fish stocks has been recognized recently. However, fish populations frequently differ in their covariance matrices and sometimes also in vectors of slope (on the covariate) coefficients. In this article the following are presented: (a) a procedure for comparing adjusted (for variations in body sizes of specimens) mean vectors of populations with unequal covariance matrices and slopes, and (b) a study to distinguish between beaked redfishes based on the analysis of a real data set by this procedure. This will also serve as a numerical example.
The Monofactorial Model for Recurrence Risks with Generalized Penetrance
Authors: Khamis H. J. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractRecurrence risks are derived explicitly in terms of gene frequencies and penetrance coefficients for the general case in which all genotypes have incomplete penetrance. Maximum likelihood estimation of recurrence risks is achieved through the use of the semi‐symmetric intraclass contingency table. The resulting formulas and estimation procedure can be useful for the analysis of population and family data, and in genetic counselling.
Ultimate Size of the Drug Addict Population
Authors: Dayananda P. W. A. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractA model presented in a previous paper by Billard et al. (1985) on the spread of drug addiction in a closed population is further examined as a random walk process. The addiction process depends on the initial conditions and the parameters of the process. This paper considers the ultimate size of the drug addict population which is shown to satisfy a recurrence relation. A general expression for the distribution of the ultimate size of the number of drug addicts is derived; its expected size also presented. For given initial conditions and the values of the parameters, numerical values of the expected size of the ultimate number of addict population are presented and they are compared with the corresponding values for the deterministic model.
On a probability Model for Classifying the Unknown Causes of Death Due to Two Competing Risks into Assignable Causes
Authors: Biswas Suddhendu , Noor Hamed Saad 
Published: May 2007

AbstractA probability model to classify the otherwise unclassified causes of death due to two competing risks R1 and R2 has been evolved in this paper. A simple model based on Poisson inputs has been illustrated by numerical illustrations. Further generalization of the model with more than two competing risks is straightforward for the given model.
Goodness‐of‐Fit Testing for the Logistic Regression Model when the Estimated Probabilities are Small
Authors: Hosmer D. W. , Lemeshow S. , Klar J. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe distribution of the Hosmer‐Lemeshow chi‐square type goodness‐of‐fit tests (Čg, Ȟg) for the logistic regression model are examined via simulations designed to examine their behavior when most of the estimated probabilities are small or are expected to fall in a few deciles. The results of the simulations show statistic Čg should be used when the two outcome groups (y = 0, 1) are not well separated, Δ≤2, where Δ2 is the Mahalanobis distance. Statistic Ȟg should be used when Δ ≥ 8. Either statistic may be used when 2 ≦ Δ ≦ 8. All tests should be used with caution when the proportion in the sample with y = 1 is less than 0.1.
Modification of the Minimum Logit Chi‐Squared Estimator in Simple Linear Logistic Regression
Authors: Hosmane B. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractA new modification of Berkson's minimum logit chi‐squared estimator in simple linear logistic regression is suggested in order to achieve reduction of first order bias of the estimator as well as in the model. Furthermore, unlike estimators currently available, our procedure is quite simple to apply in practice and is valid even in the presence of zero frequencies in the table.
Unbiased Estimation of Relative Risk Using a Binomial with a Negative Binomial Plan
Authors: Roberts Ch. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe use of the binomial distribution for the numerator and the negative binomial for the denominator in prospective studies leads to an unbiased estimate of relative risk and an unbiased estimate for combining experiments. Optimal sample sizes for groups are calculated and confidence intervals for the relative risk are presented. The efficiency of plans are evaluated by comparing variances and coefficients of variation.
On Edge Corrections for the Point‐Event Analogue of the Clark‐Evans Statistic
Authors: Doguwa S. I. , Upton G. J. G. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractEdge corrections are reported for the mean and variance of the average distance between a sampling point and the nearest event point in a spatial point pattern, for the case of a regular grid of sampling points. Using these corrections the point‐event analogue of the Clark‐Evans statistic is found to be a powerful detector of departures from randomness in the clustered direction.
A Technique for the Analysis of Unbalanced Data
Authors: Singe Kuan P. , Singh Umed 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe regression methods with dummy variables have been shown to be effective in preventing confusion in the analysis of linear models. In particular, this model simplifies interpretation of parameters and clarifies hypothesis statements. All existing methods have been shown as special cases of the general linear hypothesis in regression setting.Three regression on dummy variables methods are examined critically to bring out the salient features of each method. The choice of a method should be based on the way definitions of the parameters are desired. The linear models are considered in a regression model setting. This has been done by defining appropriate dummy variables in a regression model which often is desirable, if not mandatory, when dealing with unbalanced data involving two or more factors.
Estimation by Maximum Entropy Subject to Second‐Order Conditions
Authors: Lefkovitch L. P. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractIf the variance,V=V(μ, ϑ) is some known function of the mean, μ = μ(β), where ϑ and β may include unknown parameters, then given empirical data, this paper describes how to estimate the unknown parameters by choosing them to satisfy the variance/mean relationship, and simultaneously to require that the sampling probability distribution has maximum entropy. Bounds for the estimated values of the unknown parameters can be obtained by a further application of the maximum entropy principle. The power variance function,V(μ)=λμϑis discussed, including some special cases of λ and ϑ. The procedure is briefly compared with quasi‐ likelihood, and illustrated by some numerical examples.