bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High performance modified thermoplastic starch/linear low‐density polyethylene blends in one‐step extrusion
Authors: Ning Wang , Jiugao Yu , Xiaofei Ma , Chunmei Han 
Published: January 2007

AbstractIn this study, the morphology and the mechanical properties of thermoplastic starch (TPS)/linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) blends prepared by one‐step and two‐step extrusion processing conditions were contrasted. In the presence of citric acid (CA), the compatibility of TPS/PE blends were proved to transfer to a high continuous dispersion in one‐step extrusion process by scanning electron microscopy analysis. By increasing the interaction between two phases, the mechanical properties of the blends were markedly improved, even reached the levels of the conventional plastics. The rheological study proved that the viscosity (η) of TPS and TPS/PE blends were both decreasing with increase in the content of CA at the same temperature, which ascribed to the acidity of CA was propitious to fragmentation and dissolution of cornstarch granules, deteriorated the chain entanglement in starch, and weakened the interaction of starch molecules. Both FTIR spectroscopy and thermal properties analysis of TPSs and TPS/PE blends showed that the interactions between starch and plasticizer became stronger in the presence of CA. POLYM. COMPOS. 28:89–97, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers
Preparation and characterization of polyurethane–organoclay nanocomposites
Authors: Rehab Ahmed , Akelah Ahmed , Agag Tarek , Shalaby Nasser 
Published: January 2007

AbstractNanocomposite polyurethane (PU)–organoclay materials have been synthesized via in‐situ polymerization. The organoclay is first prepared by intercalation of tyramine into montmorillonite (MMT)‐clay through ion exchange process. The syntheses of polyurethane–organoclay hybrid films containing different ratios of clay were carried out by swelling the organoclay into diol and diamine followed by addition of diisocyanate and then cured. The nanocomposites with dispersed and exfoliated structure of MMT were obtained as evidenced by X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. X‐ray diffraction showed that there is no peak corresponding to d001 spacing in organoclay with the ratios up to 20 wt%. SEM images confirmed the dispersion of nanometer silicate layers in the polyurethane matrix. Also, it was found that the presence of organoclay leads to improvement in the mechanical properties. The tensile strength was increased with increasing the organoclay contents to 20 wt% by 221% in comparision to the PU with 0% organoclay. POLYM. COMPOS. 28:108–115, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers
Colorimetric and fluorometric molecularly imprinted polymer sensors and binding assays
Authors: Stephenson Clifton J , Shimizu Ken D 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThis mini review examines the utility of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in colorimetric and fluorometric sensors and binding assays. The review focuses on the challenges in developing MIP‐based spectroscopic sensors. Specifically, strategies to address the low selectivities, lack of sensing mechanism and poor optical material properties of MIPs are examined and critically evaluated using examples from the literature. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
The aggressiveness of cancer care in the last three months of life: a retrospective single centre analysis
Authors: Braga Sofia , Miranda Ana , Fonseca Rute , Passos‐Coelho J. L. , Fernandes Aires , Costa J. D. , Moreira António 
Published: January 2007

AbstractBackground: There is concern that terminally ill cancer patients are over treated with chemotherapy, even when such treatment is unlikely to palliate symptoms. The study objective was to evaluate the use of chemotherapy in the last three months of life in a cohort of adult patients with advanced solid tumours.Methods: All adult patients with solid tumours who died in our hospital in 2003 and received chemotherapy for advanced cancer, were included. Detailed data concerning chemotherapy and toxicity, in the last three months of life, were collected from patients' clinical charts.Results: A total of 319 patients were included. Median age was 61 years. Median time from diagnosis of metastatic disease to death was 11 months. The proportion of patients who received chemotherapy in the last three months of life was 66% (n = 211), in the last month 37% and in the last two weeks 21%. Among patients who received chemotherapy in the last three months of life, 50% started a new chemotherapy regimen in this period and 14% in the last month. There was an increased probability of receiving chemotherapy in the last three months of life in younger patients and in patients with breast, ovarian and pancreatic carcinomas.Conclusion: There was a large proportion of patients who received chemotherapy in the last three months of life, including initiation of a new regimen within the last 30 days. Thus, further study is needed to evaluate if such aggressive attitude results in better palliation of symptoms at the end of life. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relationship of early childhood viral exposures to respiratory symptoms, onset of possible asthma and atopy in high risk children: The Canadian asthma primary prevention study
Authors: Lee Kathy K. , Hegele Richard G. , Manfreda Jure , Wooldrage Katherine , Becker Allan B. , Ferguson Alexander C. , Dimich‐Ward Helen , Watson Wade T.A. , Chan‐Yeung Moira 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe contribution of respiratory viral infections to the onset of asthma and atopy is controversial. In “high risk” children (n = 455) born into asthmatic/atopic families, we determined the relationship of exposures to common respiratory viruses and concomitant respiratory symptoms, and to subsequent possible asthma and atopy at ages 1 and 2 years. Frozen nasal specimens, obtained when children were 2 weeks, 4, 8, and 12 months old, underwent reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) testing for parainfluenza virus (PIV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and picornavirus (rhinovirus/enterovirus). Odds ratios of viral RT‐PCR results to respiratory symptoms (“cold,” rhinitis, cough, wheezing) and to possible asthma or atopy at 1 and 2 years of age were calculated. Positive viral RT‐PCR was associated with increased odds of “cold” and cough; PIV and picornavirus were associated with rhinitis, and RSV was associated with wheezing. PIV was associated with increased odds of atopy at 1 year of age in the control group; PIV and RSV were associated with possible asthma at 2 years of age. We conclude that in high‐risk children, viral exposures documented by RT‐PCR are associated with respiratory symptoms, and exposures to PIV and RSV during the first year of life are associated with the initial onset of possible asthma. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2007; 42:290–297. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Feroniellin B, A new highly potent human platelet aggregation inhibitor from Feroniella lucida
Authors: Phuwapraisirisan Preecha , Surapinit Serm , Jeenapongsa Rattima , Tip‐pyang Santi , Kokpol Udom 
Published: January 2007

AbstractHuman platelet aggregation inhibition by coumarins isolated from Feroniella lucida roots extract was investigated. Of 11 coumarins examined, feroniellin B highly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP with an IC50 value of 0.287 mm while the standard drug ibuprofen displayed this inhibition with an IC50 value of 11.2 mm. The presence of feroniellin B is possibly linked to the ethnopharmacological use of F. lucida as a remedy for cardiovascular diseases. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Learning in a hierarchical control system: 4D/RCS in the DARPA LAGR program
Authors: Albus Jim , Bostelman Roger , Chang Tommy , Hong Tsai , Shackleford Will , Shneier Michael 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe Defense Applied Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Learning Applied to Ground Vehicles (LAGR) program aims to develop algorithms for autonomous vehicle navigation that learn how to operate in complex terrain. Over many years, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a reference model control system architecture called 4D/RCS that has been applied to many kinds of robot control, including autonomous vehicle control. For the LAGR program, NIST has embedded learning into a 4D/RCS controller to enable the small robot used in the program to learn to navigate through a range of terrain types. The vehicle learns in several ways. These include learning by example, learning by experience, and learning how to optimize traversal. Learning takes place in the sensory processing, world modeling, and behavior generation parts of the control system. The 4D/RCS architecture is explained in the paper, its application to LAGR is described, and the learning algorithms are discussed. Results are shown of the performance of the NIST control system on independently‐conducted tests. Further work on the system and its learning capabilities is discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Learning obstacle avoidance parameters from operator behavior
Authors: Hamner Bradley , Singh Sanjiv , Scherer Sebastian 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThis paper concerns an outdoor mobile robot that learns to avoid collisions by observing a human driver operate a vehicle equipped with sensors that continuously produce a map of the local environment. We have implemented steering control that models human behavior in trying to avoid obstacles while trying to follow a desired path. Here we present the formulation for this control system and its independent parameters and then show how these parameters can be automatically estimated by observing a human driver. We also present results from operation on an autonomous robot as well as in simulation, and compare the results from our method to another commonly used learning method. We find that the proposed method generalizes well and is capable of learning from a small number of samples. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparison of early stages of precipitation in Mo‐rich and Mo‐poor maraging stainless steels
Authors: Andersson M. , Stiller K. , Hättestrand M. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe precipitation process during ageing in the Mo‐poor alloy Carpenter 455 has been investigated by three‐dimensional atom probe (3DAP) and energy‐filtered transmission electron microscopy. The ageing treatment was performed at 475 °C for 5 min, 25 min, 1 h and 2 h. The precipitation of a mixed Ni‐, Ti‐ and Cu‐rich phase was observed after 25 min of ageing. A complete separation between Ni/Ti‐rich and Cu‐rich regions occurred within 1–2 h of ageing. After 2 h of ageing at 475 °C, coarsening of the η‐Ni3Ti precipitates was observed. Moreover, large Ni/Ti‐rich and Cu‐rich particles were observed in the lath boundaries after 2 h of ageing. The results were compared with the precipitation process in the Mo‐rich alloy 1RK91. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigation of the ordering and atomic site occupancies of Nb‐doped TiAl/Ti3Al intermetallics
Authors: Al‐Kassab Tala'at , Yuan Yong , Kluthe Christian , Boll Torben , Liu Zhi‐Guo 
Published: January 2007

AbstractTitanium–aluminum alloys comprising mainly the TiAl‐phase and a small amount of the Ti3Al‐phase are promising candidates for application as high‐temperature materials. Alloying addition of Nb improves clearly the mechanical strength and the oxidation resistance of these alloys. A dual‐phase TiAl/Ti3Al alloy with additions of 5 at.%Nb was investigated in this study by means of field‐ion microscopy (FIM), tomographic atom probe (TAP) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It has been found that the structure of the two phases and the lamellar structure of the alloy were not seriously changed by the addition of 5 at.% Nb. The structural anisotropy of the TiAl phase along [100] and [001] directions, as revealed by FIM, was analyzed. FIM observations and atom probe analyses showed that Nb atoms in TiAl phase preferentially occupy Ti atomic sites. Preliminary reconstruction of the atomic stacking sequence perpendicular to [001] direction of the γ‐TiAl phase from the TAP measurements was demonstrated and is discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Indicating ontology data quality, stability, and completeness throughout ontology evolution
Authors: Orme Anthony M. , Yao Haining , Etzkorn Letha H. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractMany application areas today make use of ontologies. With the advent of semantic Web technologies, ontology based systems have become widespread. Developing an ontology is part of the necessary early development of an ontology‐based system. Since the validity and quality of the ontology data directly affects the validity and quality of the system using the ontology, evolution of the ontology data directly affects the evolution and/or maintenance of the ontology‐based systems that depend on and employ the ontology data. Our research examines the quality, completeness, and stability of ontology data as ontologies evolve. We propose a metrics suite, based on standard software quality concepts, to measure the complexity and cohesion of ontology data. First we theoretically validate our metrics. Then we examine empirically whether our metrics determine ontology data quality, by comparing them to human evaluator ratings. We conclude that several of our metrics successfully determine ontology complexity or cohesion. Finally, we examine, over evolving ontology data, whether our metrics determine ontology completeness and stability. We determine that various metrics reflect different kinds of changes. Our experiments indicate our metrics' measure ontology stability and completeness; however, interpretation of specific metrics values and the interaction of different metrics requires further study. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An overview of scalable video streaming
Authors: Sun Huifang , Vetro Anthony , Xin Jun 
Published: January 2007

AbstractSignificant progress in digital video processing and communication technology has enabled the dream of high‐quality and real‐time video streaming over various networks. Compression technologies have bridged the gap between huge amount of visual data required for video streaming and limited bandwidth of communication channels. Communication networks, including wired and wireless networks, provide the platform for video streaming applications. However, video streaming is still a challenging problem due to limited network bandwidth, the presence of channel errors, and the variability in consumer terminals. In this article, we present an overview of scalable video streaming techniques that have been developed in recent years. These techniques include scalable video coding (SVC), video transcoding, and scalable video streaming methods. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The pathogenesis of the white matter abnormalities in phenylketonuria. A multimodal 3.0 tesla MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) study
Authors: Leuzzi V. , Tosetti M. , Montanaro D. , Carducci C. , Artiola C. , Carducci C. , Antonozzi I. , Burroni M. , Carnevale F. , Chiarotti F. , Popolizio T. , Giannatempo G. M. , D'Alesio V. , Scarabino T. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractObjective: To gain insights into the nature and pathogenesis of white matter (WM) abnormalities in PKU. Methods: Thirty‐two patients with phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency (21 with early and 11 with late diagnosis and treatment) and 30 healthy controls underwent an integrated clinical, neuroimaging (3.0 T MRI, diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)) and neurochemical (1H MRS) investigation. Results: All patients had white matter abnormalities on T2‐weighted (T2W) and fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) scans; parietal white was consistently affected, followed by occipital, frontal and temporal white matter. T1‐weighted hypointense alterations were also found in 8 of 32 patients. DWI hyperintense areas overlapped with those detected on T2W/FLAIR. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was reduced and correlated inversely with severity of white matter involvement. Fractional anisotropy index, eigenvalues λmin, λmiddle, λmax obtained from DTI data, and the principal brain metabolites assessed by 1H MRS (except brain phenylalanine (Phe)) were normal. Brain Phe peak was detected in all but two subjects. Brain and blood Phe were strictly associated. Blood Phe at the diagnosis, patient's age, and concurrent brain Phe independently influence white matter alteration (as expressed by conventional MRI or ADC values). Conclusions: (a) MRI abnormalities in phenylketonuria are the result of a distinctive alteration of white matter suggesting the intracellular accumulation of a hydrophilic metabolite, which leaves unaffected white matter architecture and structure. (b) White matter abnormalities do not seem to reflect the mechanisms involved in the derangement of mental development in PKU. (c) Our data do not support the usefulness of conventional brain MRI examination in the clinical monitoring of phenylketonuria patients.
Cross‐situational coping with peer and family stressors in adolescent offspring of depressed parents
Authors: Jaser Sarah S. , Champion Jennifer E. , Reeslund Kristen L. , Keller Gary , Merchant Mary Jane , Benson Molly , Compas Bruce E. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractOffspring of depressed parents are faced with significant interpersonal stress both within their families and in peer relationships. The present study examined parent and self‐reports of adolescents’ coping in response to family and peer stressors in 73 adolescent children of parents with a history of depression. Correlational analyses indicated that adolescents were moderately consistent in the coping strategies used with peer stress and family stress. Mean levels of coping were similar across situations, as adolescents reported greater use of secondary control coping (i.e., acceptance, distraction) than primary control coping (i.e., problem solving, emotional expression) or disengagement coping (i.e., avoidance) with both types of stress. Regression analyses indicated that fewer symptoms of self‐reported anxiety/depression and aggression were related to using secondary control coping strategies in response to family stress and primary control coping in response to peer stress. Implications for understanding the characteristics of effective coping with stress related to living with a depressed parent are highlighted.
Farm husbandry and the risks of disease transmission between wild and domestic mammals: a brief review focusing on bovine tuberculosis in badgers and cattle
Authors: Ward A. I. , Tolhurst B. A. , Delahay R. J. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractWhere wildlife act as a reservoir of disease for domestic mammals, measures solely based on management of either in isolation are unlikely to resolve the problem. Many such diseases can have serious economic implications for farmers and the economy and their management can present considerable challenges. Traditionally, wildlife populations have been culled in attempts to reduce the risks of disease transmission to livestock (e.g. bovine tuberculosis in European badgers and brushtail possums). However, this may be both undesirable and potentially counter-productive in some circumstances. Consequently, in recent years increasing attention has focused on changing livestock husbandry and farm management practices so as to reduce risks of disease transmission from wildlife to livestock. Here we present a brief review of husbandry and farm management practices that may influence disease transmission risks from wild to domestic mammals, with particular attention to bovine tuberculosis in the UK. We conclude that the manipulation of farming practices could potentially make a significant contribution to disease risk management. However, there are currently scant empirical data on risk reduction methods and further information will undoubtedly be required to inform husbandry best-practice.
Optical altimetry: a new method for observing rotating fluids with applications to Rossby and inertial waves on a polar beta-plane
Authors: RHINES P. B. , LINDAHL E. G. , MENDEZ A. J. 
Published: January 2007

The entire free-surface elevation field of a rotating fluid in the laboratory can be imaged and analysed, by using it as a parabolic Newtonian telescope mirror. This ‘optical altimetry’ readily achieves a precision of better than 1 μm of surface elevation. The surface topography corresponds to the pressure field just beneath the surface. It is the streamfunction for the geostrophic hydrostatic circulation, which can be resolved to better than 0.1 mm s−1. Still and animated images thus produced, of the entire surface elevation field, are of value in themselves, and using a projected image (a speckle pattern), have the promise of providing quantitative slope and height field data recovered by PIV (particle imaging velocimetry) techniques. With homogeneous fluid, geostrophic flow is the same at all depths. Yet of equal interest are sheared stratified rotating flows where the surface pressure is associated with inertial waves, convection, and other motions, geostrophic or ageostrophic.Although the technique is designed for experiments in which Coriolis effects are strong, it is possible to use reflective imaging for flows at such high Rossby number that Coriolis effects are negligible, and hence this becomes a tool of more general interest in non-rotating fluid dynamics (for example, illuminating surface gravity waves).Examples are given, involving (i) the Taylor–Proudman effect with very slow flows over topography; (ii) quasi-geostrophic and inertial-wave flows over a mountain (f-plane); (iii) inertial waves generated by oscillatory forcing; (iv) Kelvin waves (v) free oscillatory Rossby waves on a polar β-plane; and (vi) stationary waves, blocking, jets and wakes with β-plane zonal flow past a mountain. Movies are available with the online version of the paper.
Taking The Time To Study Competitive Antagonism
Authors: Wyllie D J A , Chen P E 
Published: January 2007

Selective receptor antagonists are one of the most powerful resources in a pharmacologist's toolkit and are essential for the identification and classification of receptor subtypes and dissecting their roles in normal and abnormal body function. However, when the actions of antagonists are measured inappropriately and misleading results are reported, confusion and wrong interpretations ensue. This article gives a general overview of Schild analysis and the method of determining antagonist equilibrium constants. We demonstrate why this technique is preferable in the study of competitive receptor antagonism than the calculation of antagonist concentration that inhibit agonist‐evoked responses by 50%. In addition we show how the use of Schild analysis can provide information on the outcome of single amino acid mutations in structure‐function studies of receptors. Finally, we illustrate the need for caution when studying the effects of potent antagonists on synaptic transmission where the timescale of events under investigation is such that ligands and receptors never reach steady‐state occupancy.British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 150, 541–551. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706997