bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A model of practice development: learning from service users' experiences
Authors: Molyneux Jeanie , Fulton John 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe present paper describes a project in which two researcher facilitators worked with a multiprofessional group of staff on a haematology unit in order to develop their practice in response to the views of patients about the service they received. Topics for practice development workshops were devised in conjunction with the staff involved, using data gained from interviews with users of the service. The workshops were evaluated, and as result, a model for practice development workshops is proposed. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Evaluating the scope for nursery nurses to perform selected 21‐month child health reviews
Authors: Barrows Tina , Hanmer Janet , Paley Chris , Rowbottom Carol 
Published: March 2006

AbstractWarrington Primary Care Trust health visiting team has recently achieved practice development unit accreditation. The journey towards this status has harnessed the enthusiasm and dedication of the whole team, which has worked on numerous projects to achieve accreditation at level 2 in a year. The 21‐month nursery nurse pilot study described here focused on the expansion of the role of nursery nurses to enable them to deliver a client‐focused service that made the most effective use of the skills and time of both nursery nurses and health visitors. The project also contributed towards the achievement of practice development unit status. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Learning from experience: promoting evidence‐based practice
Authors: Palfreyman Simon , Tod Angela , Doyle Jane 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe present article describes a project to establish an evidence‐based council in a large acute teaching hospital as a tool for promoting evidence‐based practice. The council aimed to give clinically active nurses ‘ownership’ of research questions and an opportunity to develop confidence in their evidence‐based practice skills. The development and implementation of the project are outlined and recommendations for encouraging capacity and the involvement of nurses with regard to evidence‐based practice are provided. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Miscibility and crystallization behavior of PBT/epoxy blends
Authors: Zhang Huiliang , Ren Minqiao , Chen Qingyong , Sun Shulin , Sun Xiaohong , Zhang Huixuan , Mo Zhishen 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe miscibility and the isothermal crystallization kinetics for PBT/Epoxy blends have been studied by using differential scanning calorimetry, and several kinetic analyses have been used to describe the crystallization process. The Avrami exponents n were obtained for PBT/Epoxy blends. An addition of small amount of epoxy resin (3%) leads to an increase in the number of effective nuclei, thus resulting in an increase in crystallization rate and a stronger trend of instantaneous three‐dimensional growth. For isothermal crystallization, crystallization parameter analysis showed that epoxy particles could act as effective nucleating agents, accelerating the crystallization of PBT component in the PBT/Epoxy blends. The Lauritzen–Hoffman equation for DSC isothermal crystallization data revealed that PBT/Epoxy 97/3 had lower nucleation constant Kg than 100/0, 93/7, and 90/10 PBT/Epoxy blends. Analysis of the crystallization data of PBT/Epoxy blends showed that crystallization occurs in regime II. The fold surface free energy, σe = 101.7–58.0 × 10−3 J/m2, and work of chain folding, q = 5.79–3.30 kcal/mol, were determined. The equilibrium melting point depressions of PBT/Epoxy blends were observed and the Flory–Huggins interaction parameters were obtained. It indicated that these blends were thermodynamically miscible in the melt. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1320–1330, 2006
Thermal behaviors of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/SiO2 nanocomposites prepared by cryomilling
Authors: Zhu Yan‐Guo , Li Zhi‐Qiang , Zhang Di , Tanimoto Toshio 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe thermal behaviors of poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/SiO2 nanocomposites prepared by cryomilling were studied, by comparing with the cryomilled PET and the raw PET. Cryomilling induced amorphization of crystalline PET matrix and the decrease of PET molecular weight. Cryomilled PET/SiO2 nanocomposites have two abnormal phenomena in the DSC 1st heating thermogram due to the stored energy induced by cryomilling. During DSC cooling process, the dispersed nanometer SiO2 particles play a role of nucleating agent in PET matrix, and the hot crystallization ability of PET/SiO2 nanocomposites improves a lot. Besides, the heat stability of cryomilled PET/SiO2 nanocomposites improves more much during reheating. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1351–1356, 2006
Melting and crystallization of poly(butylene terephthalate) by temperature‐modulated and superfast calorimetry
Authors: Pyda M. , Nowak‐Pyda E. , Heeg J. , Huth H. , Minakov A. A. , Di Lorenzo M. L. , Schick C. , Wunderlich B. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractQuantitative temperature‐modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC) and superfast thin‐film chip calorimetry (SFCC) are applied to poly(butylene terephthalate)s (PBT) of different thermal histories. The data are compared with those of earlier measured heat capacities of semicrystalline PBT by adiabatic calorimetry and standard DSC. The solid and liquid heat capacities, which were linked to the vibrational and conformational molecular motion, serve as references for the quantitative analyses. Using TMDSC, the thermodynamic and kinetic responses are separated between glass and melting temperature. The changes in crystallinity are evaluated, along with the mobile–amorphous and rigid–amorphous fractions with glass transitions centered at 314 and 375 K. The SFCC showed a surprising bimodal change in crystallization rates with temperature, which stretches down to 300 K. The earlier reported thermal activity at about 248 K was followed by SFCC and TMDSC and could be shown to be an irreversible endotherm and is not caused by a glass transition and rigid–amorphous fraction, as assumed earlier. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1364–1377, 2006
Luminescence behavior of Eu3+ in polytitanasiloxane solution
Authors: Zhang Ling , Yao Yingzheng , Ye Xiufang , Wu Qing 
Published: March 2006

AbstractPolytitanasiloxane solutions containing Eu3+ ions have been prepared by the hydrolytic cocondensation of tetraethoxysilane and tetrabutyl titanate. The UV‐vis absorption and the luminescence intensity were both found to increase with the increase of tetrabutyl titanate/tetraethoxysilane (TBT/TEOS) molar ratio. This revealed that the incorporation of TiO2 can result in the increase of absorption energy of the TiO group by near‐UV excitation and in the increase of energy transfer to the metal ion. At the same time, the intensity ratio of 5D0→7F2 to 5D0→7F1 increases as the TBT/TEOS molar ratio increases, indicating the formation of Eu3+O2−Ti4+ bonding. A longer decay time means that the Eu3+ ions are better dispersed and less clustered with the increase of TBT/TEOS molar ratio. The results on the luminescence properties of the Eu3+ in different media containing ethanol or water suggest that the incorporation of TiO2 can shield Eu3+ ions from the effect of water and ethanol molecules, which leads to an improvement of the Eu3+ surroundings. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1357–1363, 2006
Free volume properties of model fluids and polymers: Shape and connectivity
Authors: Willmore Frank T. , Wang Xiaoyan , Sanchez Isaac C. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe Cavity Energetic Sizing Algorithm (CESA) method of in 't Veld (J Phys Chem B 2000, 104, 12028) is extended to characterize the nonspherical nature of free volume. The new technique is introduced with reference to simple model fluids (water, hard spheres, and a Lennard‐Jones fluid) and then applied to polymers of interest to membrane scientists. A set of shape parameters is introduced, characterizing nanopores in terms of surface area, volume, radius of gyration, and span. Results are presented for Lennard‐Jones fluid and hard sphere fluid, and for the high free volume polymers (poly‐trimethyl‐silyl‐propane) poly(1‐trimethylsilyl‐1‐propyne) (PTMSP) and a random copolymer of 2,2‐bis(trifluoromethyl)‐4,5‐difluoro‐1,3‐dioxole (TFE/BDD). PTMSP is observed to have an average free volume cluster span of 1.43 nm, compared to TFE/BDD with an average cluster span of 0.98 nm, consistent with the markedly higher permeability of CO2 observed in PTMSP. An additional method for measuring free volume is introduced, similar to a method introduced by Greenfield and Theodorou (Macromolecules 1993, 26, 5461; Mol Simul 1997, 19, 329; Macromolecules 1998, 31, 7068; 2001, 34, 8541), which measures free volume relative to a specific probe. The method captures 1–3 times the fractional cavity volume captured by CESA. Free volume measurements are presented for a set of polysulfones with respect to noble gas probes (J Chem Phys 2005, 122, 84906; J Mol Struct 2005, 739, 173). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44:1385–1393, 2006
Photoluminescence of Hg‐doped CdS nanowires
Authors: Zhou Shao‐Min 
Published: March 2006

AbstractHg‐doped CdS nanowires with an average diameter of ∼10–15 nm and lengths up to hundreds of micrometers are fabricated by chemical vapor reaction. The as‐synthesized products have a single crystal phase and grow along the 〈001〉 direction. The growth of Hg‐doped CdS nanowires is suggested for the quasi‐vapor–solid mechanism (QVSM). In particular, the PL spectra show enhancing emission peaks that strongly shift to long wavelengths (up to 115 nm redshift) with Hg doping where the Hg‐doped CdS nanowires are found to be responsible for the different characteristics; the PL mechanism is explained in detail. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Theoretical electronic spectra of 2‐aminopurine in vapor and in water
Authors: Borin Antonio Carlos , Serrano‐Andrés Luis , Ludwig Valdemir , Coutinho Kaline , Canuto Sylvio 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe accurate quantum chemical CASSCF and CASPT2 methods combined with a Monte Carlo procedure to mimic solvation effects have been used in the calculation of the spectroscopic properties of two tautomers of 2‐aminopurine (2AP). Absorption and emission spectra have been simulated both in vacuum and in aqueous environment. State and transition energies and properties have been obtained with high accuracy, leading to the assignment of the most important spectroscopic features. The lowest‐lying 1(π,π*) (1La) state has been determined as responsible for the first band in the absorption spectrum and also for the strong fluorescence observed for the system in water. The combined approach used in the present work gives quantitatively accurate results. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006
Equation‐of‐motion coupled‐cluster study of Jahn–Teller effect in X2E CF3O• and CF3S•
Authors: Marenich Aleksandr V. , Boggs James E. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractAn ab initio study of the molecular structure of CF3O and CF3S, fluorinated analogues of the methoxy (CH3O) and methylthio (CH3S) radicals, was performed. The equation‐of‐motion coupled‐cluster method (EOMIP) using a reference Slater determinant based on the CF3X−‐anion (X = O, S) ground state with basis sets of triple‐ζ quality was applied for numerical geometry optimizations of stationary points on adiabatic Jahn–Teller surfaces of the X2E ground electronic state of CF3O and CF3S. The Jahn–Teller distortions in the sulfur‐centered species (CH3S and CF3S) are totally quenched by the strong spin–orbit coupling. However, the CH3O and CF3O radicals are structurally distorted by the Jahn–Teller effect accompanied by a relatively small spin‐orbit coupling. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006
PTDOM: a schema‐aware XML database system for MPEG‐7 media descriptions
Authors: Westermann U. , Klas W. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractCurrent XML database systems largely neglect or make limited use of available schema definitions. But only with schema definitions at hand is it possible to ensure database consistency by document validation, to store, index, and access the content of elements and attribute values in an appropriately typed manner and not just as text, and to perform more sophisticated query optimizations. In this paper, we give an overview of our implementation of a schema‐aware XML database system: the Persistent Typed Document Object Model (PTDOM). Originally developed for the management of MPEG‐7 media descriptions in a database, the core of PTDOM is made up of a schema catalog capable of managing schema definitions written in MPEG‐7 DDL, a superset of XML schema. PTDOM exploits the schema information maintained by this catalog in a variety of contexts: for document validation, for typed storage of elements and attribute values, for structural indexing of XML documents providing additional efficient access paths to document contents, and for optimized construction of query execution plans for XPath expressions. This along with its profound extensibility with new datatypes, user‐defined functions, and value index structures makes PTDOM a flexible and effective database solution not only for the management of MPEG‐7 media descriptions but also for the management of any kind of XML documents for which schema definitions exist. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ATLAS: a framework to provide multiuser and distributed t‐learning services over MHP
Authors: Pazos‐Arias José J. , López‐Nores Martín , García‐Duque Jorge , Gil‐Solla Alberto , Ramos‐Cabrer Manuel , Blanco‐Fernández Yolanda , Díaz‐Redondo Rebeca P. , Fernández‐Vilas Ana 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe increasing need of the developed countries to carry out effective distance learning strategies has led to a great development of Internet‐based learning technologies (e‐learning). Despite its evident advantages, the expansion of e‐learning has been limited by the difficulty in reaching important social sectors, and also by the absence of mechanisms to fight the feeling of isolation of the users, which often leads them to abandoning the distance learning activities. This paper tackles these problems by introducing ATLAS, a framework for the development and deployment of multiuser t‐learning services (i.e. learning services over Interactive Digital TV). This framework is built around three major features: an architecture for the services that exploits the multimedia capabilities of the television, a communications infrastructure that promotes the establishment of virtual learning communities, and a development tool that allows services to be created with minimum programming knowledge. ATLAS has been designed by considering several features that make Interactive Digital TV quite different from the PC, advising against the direct translation of the models developed for the Internet. In particular, ATLAS adheres to the Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) standard, which is gaining worldwide acceptance as one of the technical solutions that will shape the future of Interactive Digital TV. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A modular and adaptive framework for large scale video indexing and content‐based retrieval: the SIRSALE system
Authors: Mostefaoui A. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractIn this paper, we present the design and the implementation of SIRSALE: a distributed video data management system. SIRSALE allows users to manipulate video streams stored in large distributed repositories, i.e. it provides remote users with functionalities to browse video streams by structures (shots, scenes, sequences, etc.), to annotate the semantic contents of videos and to query the distributed video repositories. One of the main contributions of SIRSALE is its contextual adaptation to the target application, i.e. it is based on a modular data model that allows adapting the system to deal with several semantic contexts. In other words, SIRSALE allows users to define and to use their own semantic data model in order to annotate and query video databases. The key idea behind this is to dynamically adapt the whole system, mainly user interfaces, to stand several semantic data models. The system has been presented to professionals who gave a positive feedback. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How Much Calcium is in your Drinking Water? A Survey of Calcium Concentrations in Bottled and Tap Water and Their Significance for Medical Treatment and Drug Administration
Authors: Morr Simon , Cuartas Esteban , Alwattar Basil , Lane Joseph M. 
Published: March 2006

Introduction Different forms of water vary in calcium content. High divalent ion (i.e., Ca2+, Mg2+, etc.) concentration is deleterious to the absorption and efficacy of the bisphosphonate group of drugs in osteoporosis treatment. Water with high calcium concentration may also present an alternate pathway of calcium administration. In either case, knowing the actual concentration is critical. Hypothesis The current paper is a surveillance study. We hypothesize that there is considerable variation in the calcium concentrations in the various water sources: tap water from US and Canadian cities of different regions and purified, spring, and mineral bottled waters. In addition, we hypothesize that the water filter removes a significant amount of minerals including calcium from the water. Methodology Calcium concentrations in various city tap waters, as well as an assorted number of bottled waters, were determined through the direct inspection of scientific data. The effect of filtering was also determined by mineral analysis of mineral water directly before and after filtration. Result The calcium concentration of water varies from 1 to 135 mg/L across the USA and Canada. Most spring waters were found to have a relatively low calcium concentration, with an average of 21.8 mg/L. Purified waters contain a negligible calcium concentration. Mineral waters, on the other hand, were generally found to contain higher calcium concentrations, an average of 208 mg/L of calcium. Filtration was found to remove a considerable amount of calcium from the water, removing 89% on average. Conclusion Calcium concentration in water varied substantially from different sources in the USA and Canada. Bottled waters presented with concentrations of calcium covering a very large range. Certain tap and bottled waters present with concentrations of calcium sufficient to exhibit a deleterious effect on bisphosphonate treatment. Alternatively, certain waters may be used as a source of calcium that may provide over 40% of the recommended daily intake for calcium.
Contralateral Cervical Lymph Node Metastases in Pyriform Sinus Carcinoma
Authors: Aluffi Paolo , Pisani Paolo , Policarpo Mario , Pia Francesco 
Published: March 2006

OBJECTIVEWe designed a retrospective study to evaluate the incidence of contralateral neck metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus.STUDY DESIGN AND SETTINGSixty‐three patients with strictly unilateral squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus who underwent bilateral neck dissection at the time of primary surgery were included in this study. The medical records of all patients were reviewed. A multivariate statistical analysis was performed, considering some clinical and histologic parameters of T stage and N stage in relation to contralateral neck metastases.RESULTSContralateral neck metastases were histopathologically confirmed in more than 20% of the cases examined (13 out of 63 patients), of whom 3 were clinically staged as N2c, 2 N2b, 5 N2a, 2 N1 and 1 N0. The percentage of occult contralateral neck metastases was 77% (10/13 cases). Poorly differentiated tumors (P =. 02) and the involvement of the lateral wall (P=. 036) showed a statistically significant correlation with stage pN2c. Also T size and ipsilateral N stage were associated with the presence of contralateral neck metastases.CONCLUSIONSOur data suggest that elective bilateral neck dissection is recommended in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus.
Palatal Implants for the Treatment of Snoring: Long‐Term Results
Authors: Nordgård Ståle , Stene Brit Kari , Skjøstad Ketil Wichman , Bugten Vegard , Wormdal Kjell , Vanvik Hansen Nina , Nilsen Ann Helen , Midtlyng Tove Helen 
Published: March 2006

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and long‐term effectiveness of a new treatment for snoring using permanent palatal implants.STUDY DESIGNProspective study with 35 patients referred to the clinic for the treatment of snoring. The patients were followed for 1 year, and a sleep analysis was performed and repeated at 360 days. During the procedure, 3 braided polyethylene terephthalate implants were placed in the palate of each patient.RESULTSThe average duration for nonnarcotic analgesics was 1.3 days. No adverse events were observed. The mean snoring intensity was reduced from 7.1 at baseline to 4.8 at 1 year (P < 0.001). Bed partner satisfaction rate was very high at 70.6% after 1 year. Six patients (17.8%) experienced a total of 9 partial extrusions.CONCLUSIONSThe palatal implant system is safe, and the effectiveness in treating snoring is comparable to other surgical methods. Advantages are virtually no tissue damage and minimal patient discomfort as a result of one standardized, low‐cost procedure.
Malignant Lymphoepithelial Lesions of the Salivary Gland
Authors: Hsu Yao‐Chung , Lu Hsiao‐Feng , Huang Chao‐Cheng , Hsu Ruey‐Fen , Su Chih‐Ying 
Published: March 2006

OBJECTIVESTo describe a relatively large series of patients with uncommon malignant lymphoepithelial lesions (MLEL) in the salivary glands, to present treatment‐outcome data to support therapeutic decision‐making, and to evaluate the incidence of cooccurrence of MLEL and Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV).STUDY DESIGN AND SETTINGTen patients with MLEL were treated between 1987 and 2002. All lesions were surgically removed, with or without neck dissection, and the patients treated with radiotherapy or radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Histopathology and in situ hybridization studies for EBV‐encoded RNA (EBER1) were performed.RESULTSWith aggressive treatment, outcomes were good, regardless of the presenting stage, except when distal metastases were present. All 10 patients tested positive for EBV.CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCEThis and previous investigations support the use of aggressive surgical excision of the tumor and local metastases and radiotherapy or radiotherapy and chemotherapy, as optimal treatment for MLEL. The EBV finding may indicate a role for EBV in the pathogenesis of MLEL.
Detection of Fungi in the Sinus Mucosa using Polymerase Chain Reaction
Authors: Rao Arvin K. , Mathers Peter H. , Ramadan Hassan H. 
Published: March 2006

OBJECTIVETo compare the presence of fungi in the sinus mucosa of patients with and without chronic rhinosinusitis.STUDY DESIGN AND SETTINGProspective observational study using polymerase chain reaction and conventional culture to detect fungi in the sinus mucosa. Middle meatus mucosal samples were collected from 31 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and 14 control subjects.RESULTSFungi were detected in 6.5% of subjects with chronic rhinosinusitis and in none of the control subjects using polymerase chain reaction. Fungi were detected in 29% of subjects with the combination of inhalant allergies, nasal polyposis, and asthma. Fungi were detected in none of the subjects without the combination of these three comorbidities (P = 0.03).CONCLUSIONPolymerase chain reaction assay appears to be able to detect fungi in chronic rhinosinusitis.SIGNIFICANCEFungi may not be implicated in the pathogenesis of most chronic rhinosinusitis.