bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sourcing fire ash on archaeological sites in the Western and Northern Isles of Scotland, using mineral magnetism
Authors: Church M.J. , Peters C. , Batt C.M. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe application of a new technique developed to identify different fuel sources from ash on nine archaeological sites in the Western and Northern Isles of Scotland is presented. The technique is based on variations observed in the mineral magnetic signatures that derive from the experimental burning of different fuels. The application of the technique is successful, demonstrating both uniformity and diversity in fuel use. A marked continuity of practice in fuel procurement is apparent over thousands of years from seven sites in Lewis, with well‐humified peat the dominant fuel source. This implies a long‐term stability in the division and tenure of the peatlands. Greater magnetic variation is displayed by the samples from Cladh Hallan, South Uist, and Scatness, Shetland, suggesting more diverse fuel procurement strategies were in operation at these sites. The uniformity and diversity in fuel types also has implications in terms of the residuality of plant remains from the fuel source within archaeobotanical assemblages recovered from the sites. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Eliciting the demand for long‐term care coverage: a discrete choice modelling analysis
Authors: Brau Rinaldo , Lippi Bruni Matteo 
Published: August 2007

AbstractWe evaluate the demand for long‐term care (LTC) insurance prospects in a stated preference context, by means of the results of a choice experiment carried out on a representative sample of the Emilia‐Romagna population. In this paper, these methods are first of all used in order to assess the relative importance of the characteristics that define hypothetical insurance programmes and to elicit the willingness to pay for some LTC coverage prospects. Moreover, thanks to the application of a nested logit specification with ‘partial degeneracy’, we are able to model the determinants of the preference for status quo situations where no systematic cover for LTC exists. On the basis of this empirical model, we test for the effects of a series of socio‐demographic variables as well as personal and household health‐state indicators. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The impact of integrating the elimination programme for lymphatic filariasis into primary health care in the Dominican Republic
Authors: Baker Margaret C. , McFarland Deborah A. , Gonzales Manuel , Diaz Mary Janet , Molyneux David H. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractIntegration of disease‐specific programmes into existing health care delivery systems is a challenge for many countries, made more salient as the scope and scale of disease‐specific programmes increases. This paper reports on the programmatic outcomes of 2 years of integrating the lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination programme into primary health care (PHC) in the Dominican Republic during a period of national health care reform and decentralization. Data were collected retrospectively from community volunteers, PHC staff and LF programme staff using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods. Benefits of integration for LF elimination included increasing the extent of the geographic coverage of mass drug administration (MDA) and a 21% increase in municipalities achieving the MDA target coverage rate of 80%. Benefits which accrued to PHC included improved information systems and strengthened relationships between the health services and the community. This study also identified challenges to implementing integration and the solutions found. These include the importance of focusing on the professional development of disease‐specific program staff as their roles change, strengthening specific weakness in the general health system and finding alternative solutions where these are not easily solved, actively engaging senior management at an early stage, continually evaluating the impact of integration and not pushing integration for the sake of integration. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predicting unit plot soil loss in Sicily, south Italy
Authors: Bagarello V. , Di Piazza G. V. , Ferro V. , Giordano G. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractPredicting soil loss is necessary to establish soil conservation measures. Variability of soil and hydrological parameters complicates mathematical simulation of soil erosion processes. Methods for predicting unit plot soil loss in Sicily were developed by using 5 years of data from replicated plots. At first, the variability of the soil water content, runoff, and unit plot soil loss values collected at fixed dates or after an erosive event was investigated. The applicability of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) was then tested. Finally, a method to predict event soil loss was developed. Measurement variability decreased as the mean increased above a threshold value but it was low also for low values of the measured variable. The mean soil loss predicted by the USLE was lower than the measured value by 48%. The annual values of the soil erodibility factor varied by seven times whereas the mean monthly values varied between 1% and 244% of the mean annual value. The event unit plot soil loss was directly proportional to an erosivity index equal to $Q_{\rm R}R_{\rm e}^{1{\cdot}609}$, being QRRe the runoff ratio times the single storm erosion index. It was concluded that a relatively low number of replicates of the variable of interest may be collected to estimate the mean for both high and particularly low values of the variable. The USLE with the mean annual soil erodibility factor may be applied to estimate the order of magnitude of the mean soil loss but it is not usable to estimate soil loss at shorter temporal scales. The relationship for estimating the event soil loss is a modified version of the USLE‐M, given that it includes an exponent for the QRRe term. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The performance of heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation robust tests: a Monte Carlo study with an application to the three‐factor Fama–French asset‐pricing model
Authors: Ray Surajit , Savin N. E. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThis paper illustrates the pitfalls of the conventional heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation robust (HAR) Wald test and the advantages of new HAR tests developed by Kiefer and Vogelsang in 2005 and by Phillips, Sun and Jin in 2003 and 2006. The illustrations use the 1993 Fama–French three‐factor model. The null that the intercepts are zero is tested for 5‐year, 10‐year and longer sub‐periods. The conventional HAR test with asymptotic P‐values rejects the null for most 5‐year and 10‐year sub‐periods. By contrast, the null is not rejected by the new HAR tests. This conflict is explained by showing that inferences based on the conventional HAR test are misleading for the sample sizes used in this application. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Protein recognition via molecularly imprinted agarose gel membrane
Authors: Lin Yuan , Tang Shunqing , Mao Xuan , Bao Lei 
Published: August 2007

AbstractAgarose gel membranes (AGMs), which could selectively recognize bovine serum albumin (BSA) and bovine hemoglobin (Hb), were prepared by molecular imprinting technique under moderate preparation conditions. Four imprinting processes, including gelation without any treatment, second gel‐melting, and two glutaraldehyde crosslinking processes of fumigation or direct addition of the crosslinking agent, were developed to investigate the protein‐recognition behavior of the AGMs. Results showed that the preparation processes affected the adsorption capacity and selectivity of the imprinted AGMs. Both BSA‐ and Hb‐imprinted AGMs exhibited higher adsorption abilities for the targeted proteins (3.77–5.72 times for BSA, 1.31–2.18 times for Hb) than the nonimprinted ones. And the selectivity of BSA‐imprinted AGMs for BSA molecules (the selective factor K = 3.29–4.90) was higher than that of Hb‐imprinted AGMs for Hb (K = 0.32–1.17). The optimal adsorption capacity of BSA‐ and Hb‐imprinted AGMs was 25.90 and 117.45 mg/g, respectively, when the membrane was crosslinked by glutaraldehyde with a fumigation process; the optimal selectivity of BSA‐ and Hb‐imprinted AGMs was 4.91 when the membrane was prepared by second gel‐melting process, and 0.76 when the membrane was prepared without any treatment. These findings demonstrate that the molecularly imprinted AGMs are hopeful to be used in specific protein analysis. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2008
Oblique MR imaging of the anterior cruciate ligament based on three‐dimensional orientation
Authors: Breitenseher Martin J. , Mayerhoefer Marius E. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractPurposeTo investigate the three‐dimensional (3D) course of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and determine the optimum planes for oblique full‐length MRI of the ligament.Materials and MethodsTwenty‐five healthy volunteers were examined. Axial proton density‐weighted (PDw) images of the knees of 20 volunteers were obtained. 3D paths along the course of the ACL and corresponding tangents were constructed. Angles between these tangents and reference lines RFL‐1 (the line connecting the posterior edges of the femoral condyles), RFL‐2 (the line through the intercondylar joint space), and RFL‐3 (the line connecting the anterior and posterior edge of the medial tibial condyle) were measured. These angles were used for oblique T2‐weighted (T2w) MRI of the knees of the remaining five volunteers, and the number of slices that depicted the entire ACL was calculated.ResultsThe mean angles to the ACL were 74.0° for RFL‐1, 79.9° for RFL‐2, and 70.4° for RFL‐3. Full‐length visualization of the ACL was demonstrated by 1.4 slices using the sagittal oblique plane prescribed for RFL‐1, 2.4 slices using the sagittal oblique plane prescribed for RFL‐2, and 1.4 slices using the coronal oblique plane prescribed for RFL‐3.ConclusionThe ACL is best depicted using a sagittal oblique imaging plane angled at 80° from a line through the intercondylar joint space. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007;26:794–798. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Relationship between the renal apparent diffusion coefficient and glomerular filtration rate: Preliminary experience
Authors: Xu Yufeng , Wang Xiaoying , Jiang Xuexiang 
Published: August 2007

AbstractPurposeTo investigate the relationship between ADC values measured by diffusion‐weighted MRI (DWI) and the split glomerular filtration rate (GFR).Materials and MethodsDWI (b = 0 and 500 seconds/mm2) was performed with a 1.5T MR unit in 55 patients. The ADCs were calculated with ROIs positioned in the renal parenchyma, and the split GFRs were measured by 99Tcm‐DTPA scintigraphy using Gates' method. The 110 kidneys were divided into four groups: normal renal function (GFR 40 mL · minute−1), mild renal impairment (40 > GFR ≥ 20 mL · minute−1), moderate renal impairment (20 > GFR ≥ 10 mL · minute−1), and severe renal impairment (GFR < 10 mL · minute−1). The renal ADCs between four groups were statistically compared by analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the relationship between ADCs and GFR was examined using Pearson's correlation test.ResultsThe mean renal ADCs of the four groups were 2.87 ± 0.11, 2.55 ± 0.17, 2.29 ± 0.10, and 2.20 ± 0.11 × 10−3mm2/second, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in renal ADCs among the four groups (P < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between the ADCs and split GFR (r = 0.709).ConclusionThe ADCs were significantly lower in impaired kidneys than in normal kidneys, and there was a positive correlation between the ADCs and GFR. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007;26:678–681. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Diffusion‐weighted MR imaging of uterine endometrial cancer
Authors: Tamai Ken , Koyama Takashi , Saga Tsuneo , Umeoka Shigeaki , Mikami Yoshiki , Fujii Shingo , Togashi Kaori 
Published: August 2007

AbstractPurposeTo determine the feasibility of diffusion‐weighted (DW) MRI of uterine endometrial cancer and to investigate whether the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of endometrial cancer differ from those of normal endometrium and whether they differ according to the histologic grade of the tumor.Materials and MethodsStudy population included 18 consecutive females with surgically proven endometrial cancer and 12 females with pathologically confirmed normal endometrium in cervical cancer patients. Visual evaluation and ADC measurement were performed in endometrial cancer and normal endometrium.ResultsAll endometrial cancer and the normal endometrium appeared hyperintense on DW images. The mean ADC value (10−3 mm2/second) of endometrial cancer was 0.88 ± 0.16, which was significantly lower (P < 0.01) than that of normal endometrium (1.53 ± 0.10). The mean ADC value for each histologic grade was 0.93 ± 0.16 (G1), 0.92 ± 0.13 (G2), and 0.73 ± 0.09 (G3).ConclusionThe present study showed that DW imaging is feasible in demonstrating uterine endometrial cancer and ADC measurement has a potential ability to differentiate between normal and cancerous tissue of the endometrium. The ADC values of endometrial cancers of higher grade show tendency to decrease compared to those of lower grade, although estimation of histologic grade based on ADC values seems difficult because of considerable overlap. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007;26:682–687. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
T1 and T2 measurements of the fine structures of the in vivo and enucleated human eye
Authors: Patz Samuel , Bert Robert J. , Frederick Eric , Freddo Thomas F. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractPurposeTo measure T1 and T2 of the fine structures of the in vivo eye.Materials and MethodsInvoluntary saccades make it difficult to obtain artifact‐free images. Using a method recently reported (Bert et al, Acad Radiol 2006;12:368–378), near artifact‐free spin‐echo images were obtained. Both an isolated enucleated eye and eight human subjects were studied at 1.5T. Spin‐echo variable TR/TE data was acquired for T1/T2 determination. Average relaxation times were calculated two ways. First, an arithmetic average over different subjects was computed. Second, all data was normalized using the fitted amplitudes of each data set and pooled to obtain a single least squares fit.ResultsIn vivo T1/T2 (msec) are: arithmetic average T1, T2, normalized data T1, T2. Anterior chamber: 6233 ± 979, 468 ± 149, 5053 ± 1052, 450 ± 49. Ciliary body: 1916 ± 184, 80 ± 7, 2038 ± 114, 76 ± 3. Chorioretina: 1717 ± 500, 72 ± 25, 1511 ± 230, 78 ± 3. Extraocular muscle: 1581 ± 646, 41 ± 7, 1470 ± 231, 41 ± 1. Iris: 3334 ± 989, 163 ± 63, 3376 ± 338, 153 ± 10. Lens cortex: 1712 ± 466, 93 ± 36, 1413 ± 177, 100 ± 5. Lens nucleus: 1133 ± 40, 26 ± 3, 1138 ± 47, 25 ± 0.4. Optic nerve: 1906 ± 301, 68 ± 16, 1805 ± 244, 71 ± 2. Posterior chamber: 7915 ± 4897, 241 ± 14, 3323 ± 2154, 251 ± 38. Vitreous humor: 5768 ± 1190, 756 ± 804, 4855 ± 1846, 390 ± 8.ConclusionIn vivo T1 and T2 for many of the fine structures of the human eye have been measured. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007;26:510–518. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Whole‐body MR imaging vs. FDG‐PET: Comparison of accuracy of M‐stage diagnosis for lung cancer patients
Authors: Ohno Yoshiharu , Koyama Hisanobu , Nogami Munenobu , Takenaka Daisuke , Yoshikawa Takeshi , Yoshimura Masahiro , Kotani Yoshikazu , Nishimura Yoshihiro , Higashino Takanori , Sugimura Kazuro 
Published: August 2007

AbstractPurposeTo conduct a prospective comparison of the accuracy of whole‐body MR imaging and positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorine‐18 deoxyglucose (FDG) (FDG‐PET) to assess the M‐stage in lung cancer patients.Materials and MethodsA total of 90 consecutive lung cancer patients (mean age = 68 years) underwent whole‐body MR imaging and FDG‐PET as well as other standard radiological imaging procedures before and after treatment. Probabilities of metastases on whole‐body MR imaging and FDG‐PET were assessed by using 5‐point scoring systems on a per‐site basis and on a per‐patient basis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to compare diagnostic capabilities. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were also compared by using the McNemar's test on a per‐site and per‐patient basis.ResultsFor assessment of head and neck metastases and bone metastases, accuracies of whole‐body MR imaging (95.0% and 94.8%, respectively) were significantly higher than those of FDG‐PET (89.1% and 88.2%, respectively; P < 0.05). For assessment of the M‐stage on a per‐patient basis, accuracy of whole‐body MR imaging (80.0%) was also significantly higher than that of FDG‐PET (73.3%; P < 0.05).ConclusionWhole‐body MR imaging is an accurate diagnostic technique and may be considered at least as effective as FDG‐PET for assessment of the M‐stage of lung cancer patients. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007;26:498–509. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Brain diffusivity in patients with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus with new acute neurological symptoms
Authors: Welsh Robert C. , Rahbar Habib , Foerster Bradley , Thurnher Majda , Sundgren Pia C. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractPurposeTo investigate the source of significant difference in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) between patients with acute symptoms of neuropsychiatric (NP) systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (NPSLE) and normal controls.Materials and MethodsDiffusion‐weighted echo‐planar imaging was performed on 1.5‐T scanners in 17 female and four male NPSLE patients with acute neurological symptoms (23–76 years, mean = 42.7 years), and in 21 aged‐matched healthy controls (16 female, five male, 26–63 years, mean = 41.1 years). ADC histograms were calculated for whole brain, gray matter tissue, and white matter tissue.ResultsOf the 17 NPSLE patients, 13 (72%) had abnormal findings on MR imaging. The NPSLE patients had a mean ADC value of (1105.1 ± 23.6) × 10—6 mm2/second and the control had a mean ADC value of (1012.5 ± 9.4) × 10−6 mm2/second (P ≤ 0.0012). Significant differences were also found in white matter (P ≤ 0.0020) and gray matter (P ≤ 0.0022).ConclusionADC histogram analysis demonstrated increased general diffusivity in the brain in NPSLE patients with acute symptoms compared with healthy normal controls. This finding suggests that in the brain parenchyma of NPSLE patients a loss of tissue integrity occurs facilitating motility of free‐water protons. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007;26:541–551. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High‐resolution MRI of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) at 3T: Comparison of surface coil and volume coil
Authors: Bittersohl Bernd , Huang Thomas , Schneider Erika , Blazar Philip , Winalski Carl , Lang Philipp , Yoshioka Hiroshi 
Published: August 2007

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate high‐resolution MRI of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) at 3T using a surface coil (SC) or volume coil (VC).Materials and MethodsMRI was obtained from nine volunteers in the supine position with a 3‐inch SC and in prone position with a transmit‐receiver wrist VC at 3T. Coronal two‐dimensional‐gradient echo (2D‐GRE) images (TR/TE/FA = 500 msec/15 msec/40°, 1 mm slice‐thickness, 60 mm field of view [FOV], 192 × 256 matrix) and coronal 3D‐GRE images (TR/TE/FA = 33 msec/15 msec/10°, 0.8 mm slice‐thickness, 80 mm FOV, 256 × 256 matrix) were used. Signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) of the TFCC and surrounding structures were measured. For qualitative measurement, visualization of TFCC and intercarpal ligaments was graded.ResultsSNR of TFCC, cartilage, and bone marrow on 2D‐GRE with SC/VC was as follows: 5.3/5.3 (TFCC), 16.5/14.4 (cartilage), and 3.61/3.96 (bone marrow). 3D‐GRE showed similar SNR. Cartilage‐TFCC/cartilage‐bone marrow CNR were 11.1/12.8 (SC‐2D‐GRE), 8.8/10.5 (VC‐2D‐GRE), 14.1/15.5 (SC‐3D‐GRE), and 11.9/15.0 (VC‐3D‐GRE). Quantitative values were not significantly different between SC and VC. Visualization of TFCC and intercarpal ligament with SC was superior to that with VC. All structures show higher scores with 3D‐GRE imaging compared to 2D‐GRE imaging.ConclusionSC may provide superior qualitative and quantitative results and can be an alternative in case of difficulty in prone position at 3T. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007;26:701–707. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Confounding effects of volatile anesthesia on CBV assessment in rodent forebrain following ethanol challenge
Authors: Luo Feng , Li Zhixin , Treistman Steven N. , Kim Young Ro , King Jean A. , Fox Gerard B. , Ferris Craig F. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractPurposeTo compare and contrast the pattern and characteristics of the cerebral blood volume (CBV) response to ethanol (EtOH) in rats under awake and anesthetized conditions.Materials and MethodsAcute EtOH (0.75 g/kg) challenge–induced CBV changes were measured using a contrast‐enhanced functional MRI CBV method in 15 male Sprague Dawley rats under three experimental conditions: 1.0% to 1.2% isoflurane (N = 5); 0.8% halothane (N = 5); and awake with no anesthetic (N = 5). Physiological parameters were collected from bench settings in nine rats from the above different conditions. Four parameters: 1) area under the curve (AUC%); 2) the maximum signal change (Max%); 3) EtOH absorption rate (α2); and 4) EtOH elimination rate (α1) were employed to compare EtOH‐induced MRI signals between the awake and anesthetized groups.ResultsBoth awake and anesthetized animals responded with an increase in CBV to EtOH challenge. However, the presence of anesthesia promoted a significant preferential flow to subcortical areas not seen in the awake condition.ConclusionUnclear mechanisms of anesthesia add a layer of uncertainty to the already complex interpretation of EtOH's influence on neuronal activity, cellular metabolism, and hemodynamic coupling. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007;26:557–563. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cepstral estimation of arterial input functions in brain perfusion imaging
Authors: Grüner Renate , Taxt Torfinn 
Published: August 2007

AbstractPurposeTo investigate voxel‐specific arterial input functions (AIFs) obtained through blind deconvolution using complex cepstrum liftering. Blindly estimated AIFs have the potential of reducing dispersion effects in perfusion maps and are completely user‐independent.Materials and MethodsThe separability of AIFs and tissue residue functions (TRFs) in the cepstrum domain is exemplified using synthetic data, wherein the AIFs are modeled as gamma variate functions and the TRFs are modeled as exponential or linear functions. A novel separation filter is suggested. Initial results of different blind methods are illustrated using data from a stroke patient.ResultsThe AIFs and the TRFs partly overlap in the complex cepstrum. The AIFs, obtained using the new separation filter, are closer to those obtained using noncepstral blind separation.ConclusionThe overlap of AIFs and TRFs in the complex cepstrum makes reliable separation of the two functions more difficult than previously described. Comparison to noncepstral blind methods suggests that similar optima are found using the new separation filter. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007;26:773–779. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.