bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Forecast of daily mean, maximum and minimum temperature time series by three artificial neural network methods
Authors: Ustaoglu B. , Cigizoglu H. K. , Karaca M. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractTemperature forecasting has been one of the most important factors considered in climate impact studies on sectors of agriculture, vegetation, water resources and tourism. The main purpose of this study is to forecast daily mean, maximum and minimum temperature time series employing three different artificial neural network (ANN) methods and provide the best‐fit prediction with the observed actual data using ANN algorithms.The geographical location considered is one of Turkey's most important areas of agricultural production, the Geyve and Sakarya basin, located in the south‐east of the Marmara region (40°N and 30°E). The methods chosen in this study are: (1) feed‐forward back propagation (FFBP), (2) radial basis function (RBF) and, (3) generalized regression neural network (GRNN). Additionally, predictions with a multiple linear regression (MLR) model were compared to those of the ANN methods. All three different ANN methods provide satisfactory predictions in terms of the selected performance criteria; correlation coefficient (R), root mean square error (RMSE), index of agreement (IA) and the results compared well with the conventional MLR method. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Thoracoscopic approach of the internal mammary artery (IMA): A training model in pigs
Authors: Jiga Lucian P. , Cristian Horia , Blidisel Alexandru , Sandra Flavius , Nistor Alexandru , Hoinoiu Bogdan , Dornean Vlad , Ionac Mihai 
Published: July 2008

AbstractEndoscopic internal mammary artery (IMA) approach represents a well‐established procedure in coronary bypass surgery. However, such techniques require highly trained skills that need to be mastered in experimental models before taken into the clinic. To attain such skills, our aim was to develop a training model of thoracoscopic approach for harvesting of the IMA in pig. Ten pigs of either sex, weighing 20–28 kg, were used. The thoracic cavity was accessed with the animal in a lateral decubit position, through two ports of 10 mm and 1 of 5 mm, inserted on the anterior and posterior axillary lines immediately below the infrascapular angle into the pleural cavity, and a 30° Hopkins II telescope. The internal mammary artery (IMA) was identified and dissected from its origin in the subclavian artery until its distal part where it becomes the deep superior epigastric artery. Afterward, the arterial segment was clipped and harvested. The mean operative time was 73 min. Postoperative survival at 72 hours was 100% and 90% at 4 weeks. A mean length of 3.2 cm of IMA graft was obtained (2.8–4 cm). The pig IMA has no intercostal branches; thus, the mobilization of the vessel being greatly facilitated. The procedure has two critical steps: the proper trocar insertion and the dissection of the middle one‐third of the IMA. Endoscopic‐assisted IMA, harvesting in pigs, represents a useful tool for training in minimally invasive heart surgery and supports further development toward other clinical applications. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2008.
Facial pain and headache associated with brachial plexus compression in the thoracic inlet
Authors: Zhang Zijie , Dellon A. Lee 
Published: July 2008

AbstractAmong the sources for confusion related to brachial plexus compression in the thoracic inlet are the name for this clinical entity (thoracic outlet syndrome) and the fact that some of its associated symptoms occur outside the upper extremity, such as face and neck pain (FP) and occipital headaches (OH). With the realization that scalenus anticus (SA) contraction is the primary source of brachial plexus compression, it is possible to understand the occurrence of both FP and OH in this syndrome. It was hypothesized that SA contraction compresses the cervical plexus as it exits deep to this muscle. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that tension on the origin of this muscle from the transverse cervical processes causes compression of the occipital nerves. To evaluate this, a consecutive series of 32 patients who had resection of the SA between January 2004 and December 2007 were evaluated to determine prevalence of FP and OH, and the extent to which these symptoms were relieved postoperatively after SA resection. It was found that 25% of the patients had FP and that 50% had OH. Postoperatively, for those patients with neck pain, with or without facial pain, 75% were completely relieved, 18% were partially relieved. OH was completely relieved in 81% and partially relieved in 13% of the patients. In conclusion, symptoms of FP and OH associated with brachial plexus compression is due to cervical plexus compression by SA muscle, and symptoms can be relieved by resection of the SA. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2008.
Cryopreservation of vascularized ovary: An evaluation of histology and function in rats
Authors: Qi Shijie , Ma Anlun , Xu Dasheng , Daloze Pierre , Chen Huifang 
Published: July 2008

AbstractCryopreservation of organs has been investigated to sustain the reproductive function of patients undergoing sterilizing chemotherapy and radiotherapy or reproductive surgery. A modified protocol for whole organ cryopreservation was described and the outcome of cryopreservative ovaries was evaluated, and apoptosis of cryopreservative cells stored for different time period and the viability of cryopreserved cells stored at different temperature was examined in rats. Lewis rat ovarian grafts were perfused for 30 min at 0.35 ml/min with M2 medium containing 0.1M fructose and increasing concentrations of 0–1.5M dimethylsulfoxide, cooled to −140°C controlled by a computerized program, and stored in liquid nitrogen (−196°C) for 24 hours. After being thawed, ovaries were transplanted to syngeneic recipients after bilateral oophorectomy. Graft functions were monitored postoperatively. The major findings were that: 1) A 100% survival rate of rat ovaries was achieved in this study. Ovarian hormone secretion recovered in 80% rats which had received cryopreservative ovarian grafts. Postoperative serum estradiol levels in the cryopreservative graft group were lower than in the sham surgery control, but much higher than in the bilateral oophorectomy group. 2) Histological examination of cryopreservative ovarian grafts showed preantral and antral follicles. Two gestations were obtained. 3) Estradiol levels remained low in ovariectomized rats while in the oophorectomized rats given cryopreservative ovarian grafts levels started to rise after 14 ± 3 days. 4) The average viability in the cells from cryopreservative ovary organ (−196°C) was about 71 ± 18% compared to 90 ± 9% of fresh cells. This success should encourage further improvement of cryopreservative techniques for large organs. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2008.
On stability of Alfvén discontinuities
Authors: Ilin Konstantin , Trakhinin Yuri 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWe study Alfvén discontinuities for the equations of ideal compressible magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). The Alfvén discontinuity is a characteristic discontinuity for the hyperbolic system of the MHD equations but, as for shock waves, the gas crosses its front. By numerical testing of the Lopatinskii condition, we carry out spectral stability analysis, i.e. we find the parameter domains of stability and violent instability of planar Alfvén discontinuities. We also show that Alfvén discontinuities can be only weakly stable in the sense that the uniform Lopatinskii condition is never satisfied. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stabilization of elasticity–viscoporosity system by linear boundary feedback
Authors: Głowiński Przemysław , Łada Andrzej 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe initial boundary value problem for linear elastodynamic system for viscoporous materials is considered. Exponential decay of solutions via the linear boundary feedback is established. Existence of solutions is obtained through the method of c0‐semigroups. Exponential stabilization is derived via a proper collection of ideas of observability inequality, energy identity and c0‐semigroup of contractions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The stationary Boltzmann equation for a two‐component gas for soft forces in the slab
Authors: Brull Stéphane 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe stationary Boltzmann equation for soft forces in the context of a two‐component gas is considered in the slab. An existence theorem is proved when one component satisfies a given indata profile and the other component satisfies diffuse reflection at the boundaries in a renormalized sense. Weak L1 compactness is extracted from the control of the entropy production term. Trace at the boundaries is also controlled. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
NMR characterization of the host–guest inclusion complex between β‐cyclodextrin and doxepin
Authors: Cruz Jennifer R. , Becker Bridget A. , Morris Kevin F. , Larive Cynthia K. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe interaction between doxepin, a member of the tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) class of drugs, with β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) was investigated using NMR. Several TCAs have been reported to form a complex with β‐CD having 1:1 stoichiometry. Previous results from UV‐visible spectroscopy, fluorescence measurements, and molecular modeling indicated that for imipramine, desipramine, and amitriptyline, the TCA aliphatic tail is included in the cyclodextrin cavity with apparently no interaction of the tricyclic ring. An alternative view of the doxepin–β‐CD complex is presented in this work using analysis of complexation‐induced chemical shifts (CICSs), the method of continuous variation (Job's analysis), and analysis of ROESY spectra. The Job's plot derived from the NMR spectral data confirms that the complex formed has 1:1 stoichiometry. The largest changes in the CICS data were observed for the aromatic protons of one of the doxepin rings, with much smaller chemical shift changes observed for the protons of the other aromatic ring and the doxepin tail. Perhaps the most significant evidence for inclusion of the doxepin tricyclic ring is the strong ROESY cross peaks between the doxepin aromatic resonances and the protons located inside the β‐CD cavity. Changes in the doxepin1H NMR spectrum and the behavior of ROESY exchange cross peaks suggest that inclusion complex formation decreases the rate of internal motions of doxepin. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
NMR spectral assignments of isoprenylated flavanones from Sophora tonkinensis
Authors: Li Xing‐Nuo , Lu Zhi‐Qiang , Chen Guang‐Tong , Yan Hai‐Xia , Sha Na , Guan Shu‐Hong , Yang Min , Hua Hui‐Ming , Wu Li‐Jun , Guo De‐An 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe phytochemical investigation of extracts from the roots of Sophora tonkinensis yielded three new isoprenylated flavanones, the tonkinochromanes F (2), G (3), and H (5), along with four known compounds. Structural elucidation of the compounds were established on the basis of spectral data, particularly by the use of 1D NMR and several 2D shift‐correlated NMR pulse sequences (1H1H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and ROESY). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Kinetics and Modeling of Vinyl Acetate Graft Polymerization from Poly(ethylene glycol)
Authors: Zhu Xiaoxiang , Li Bo‐Geng , Wu Linbo , Zheng Yougui , Zhu Shiping , Hungenberg Klaus‐Dieter , Müssig Stefan , Reinhard Birgit 
Published: July 2008

AbstractA kinetic model for the graft polymerization of VAc from PEG was developed using the method of moments. Experiments were carried out to verify the model. The effect of various parameters, such as initiator concentration, temperature, and PEG molecular weight on the polymerization kinetics was examined. Polymerization rate, grafting efficiency, graft copolymer molecular weight, and PEG grafted ratio were measured. The model was in good agreement with the experimental data. No gel effect was observed at the studied PEG/VAc weight ratio of 1:1. The chain transfer constant to PEG was correlated to be $C_{{\rm PEG}} = 0.139\;\exp ( - 11\,200/RT)$. The model was also applied in a semi‐batch reaction and compared with the experimental results.magnified image
Quantitative manganese tract tracing: dose‐dependent and activity‐independent terminal labelling in the mouse visual system
Authors: Lowe Andrew S. , Thompson Ian D. , Sibson Nicola R. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractAt concentrations sufficient for visualisation using MRI, manganese (Mn) is believed to behave as a calcium analogue. This study examines different concentrations of Mn for enhanced MR tract tracing. The premise of activity‐dependent axonal transport was also examined by partial or complete blockade of retinal ganglion cell activity. Quantitative T1 maps and semi‐quantitative normalised signal intensities in the superior colliculi facilitated assessment of applied intraocular concentrations and activity dependence, respectively. Varying the concentration of applied Mn revealed a non‐monotonic profile, with optimal, unfavourable and undesirable effects noted: 25 mM proved optimal, showing a maximal decrease in T1, whereas 400 mM was associated with no terminal‐field enhancement. The estimated vitreal concentration for optimal transport of Mn (2 mM) is substantially lower than that used in previous studies of the mouse. Both the partial blockade of inputs to 50% of retinal ganglion cells by a mGluR6 glutamate agonist and the complete blockade of all retinal ganglion cell activity with tetrodotoxin failed to decrease the relative enhancement in the superior colliculus. The failure to prevent axonal transport of Mn by blocking activity (and therefore theoretically the intracellular influx) appeared to be paradoxical. The optimal vitreal concentration of Mn has previously been shown to facilitate massive intracellular uptake of Mn, competitively blocking calcium, and 1 mM Mn blocks neurotransmission pre‐synaptically. These results suggest that, at concentrations required for optimal Mn‐enhanced MRI tract tracing in the visual system of the mouse, the uptake and transport of Mn may be dominated by passive mechanisms, which may also block neurotransmission. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification and characterisation of childhood cerebellar tumours by in vivo proton MRS
Authors: Davies N. P. , Wilson M. , Harris L. M. , Natarajan K. , Lateef S. , MacPherson L. , Sgouros S. , Grundy R. G. , Arvanitis T. N. , Peet A. C. 
Published: July 2008

Abstract1H MRS has great potential for the clinical investigation of childhood brain tumours, but the low incidence in, and difficulties of performing trials on, children have hampered progress in this area. Most studies have used a long‐TE, thus limiting the metabolite information obtained, and multivariate analysis has been largely unexplored. Thirty‐five children with untreated cerebellar tumours (18 medulloblastomas, 12 pilocytic astrocytomas and five ependymomas) were investigated using a single‐voxel short‐TE PRESS sequence on a 1.5 T scanner. Spectra were analysed using LCModelTM to yield metabolite profiles, and key metabolite assignments were verified by comparison with high‐resolution magic‐angle‐spinning NMR of representative tumour biopsy samples. In addition to univariate metabolite comparisons, the use of multivariate classifiers was investigated. Principal component analysis was used for dimension reduction, and linear discriminant analysis was used for variable selection and classification. A bootstrap cross‐validation method suitable for estimating the true performance of classifiers in small datasets was used. The discriminant function coefficients were stable and showed that medulloblastomas were characterised by high taurine, phosphocholine and glutamate and low glutamine, astrocytomas were distinguished by low creatine and high N‐acetylaspartate, and ependymomas were differentiated by high myo‐inositol and glycerophosphocholine. The same metabolite features were seen in NMR spectra of ex vivo samples. Successful classification was achieved for glial‐cell (astrocytoma + ependymoma) versus non‐glial‐cell (medulloblastoma) tumours, with a bootstrap 0.632 + error, eB.632+, of 5.3%. For astrocytoma vs medulloblastoma and astrocytoma vs medulloblastoma vs ependymoma classification, the eB.632+ was 6.9% and 7.1%, respectively. The study showed that 1H MRS detects key differences in the metabolite profiles for the main types of childhood cerebellar tumours and that discriminant analysis of metabolite profiles is a promising tool for classification. The findings warrant confirmation by larger multi‐centre studies. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Left conjugate gradient method for non‐Hermitian linear systems
Authors: Wang Li‐Ping , Dai Yu‐Hong 
Published: July 2008

AbstractRecently, Yuan et al. (BIT: Numer. Math. 2004; 44(1):189–207) proposed the left conjugate gradient (LCG) method for real positive‐definite linear systems. This paper aims to generalize their method for solving complex non‐Hermitian linear systems. To avoid the breakdown that possibly occurred in the LCG method, we also propose the block left conjugate direction method and the block LCG (BLCG) method. It is found that no breakdown occurs in the BLCG method and the block idea also applies to the real nonsymmetric case. Numerical experiments demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed LCG method. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On componentwise condition numbers for eigenvalue problems with structured matrices
Authors: Diao Huaian 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWe give explicit expressions for the componentwise condition number for eigenvalue problems with structured matrices. We will consider only linear structures and show a general result from which expressions for the condition numbers follow. We obtain explicit expressions for the following structures: Toeplitz and Hankel. Details for other linear structures should follow in a straightforward manner from our general result. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A modified modulus method for symmetric positive‐definite linear complementarity problems
Authors: Dong Jun‐Liang , Jiang Mei‐Qun 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBy reformulating the linear complementarity problem into a new equivalent fixed‐point equation, we deduce a modified modulus method, which is a generalization of the classical one. Convergence for this new method and the optima of the parameter involved are analyzed. Then, an inexact iteration process for this new method is presented, which adopts some kind of iterative methods for determining an approximate solution to each system of linear equations involved in the outer iteration. Global convergence for this inexact modulus method and two specific implementations for the inner iterations are discussed. Numerical results show that our new methods are more efficient than the classical one under suitable conditions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tumor immune surveillance defect of X‐linked severe combined immunodeficiency is not Epstein–Barr virus specific
Authors: Mustillo Peter , Bajwa Rajinder P.S. , Termuhlen Amanda M. , Nicol Kathleen , Scherzer Rebecca , Jaffe Ronald , Filipovich Alexandra H. , Gross Thomas G. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractImmunodeficient patients are at an increased risk of developing Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) associated lymphomas. We report a patient with X‐linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X‐SCID), who presented with an EBV‐negative, B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma. The tumor did not resolve with chemotherapy or rituximab, but only after recovery of functional donor T‐cells cell following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). This case illustrates that the cancer predilection associated with immunodeficient hosts may not be a specific immune defect in the recognition of viral specific antigens, and it could be a defect in immune surveillance necessary for elimination of cells with abnormalities in proliferation, function and/or apoptosis. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;51:706–709. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Vincristine pharmacokinetics in children with down syndrome
Authors: Lönnerholm Gudmar , Frost Britt‐Marie , Söderhäll Stefan , de Graaf Siebold S.N. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractChildren with Down syndrome (DS), who represent about 2% of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, have inferior prognosis compared to non‐DS children. For vincristine (and many other anticancer agents) pharmacokinetic data are scant or missing, and there is considerable uncertainty about the optimal dosing of drugs to patients with DS. We studied vincristine pharmacokinetics on treatment day one in six children with DS and compared to 92 non‐DS children. No differences were found. Thus, we found no rationale for dose reduction of vincristine in DS children from a strictly pharmacokinetic point of view. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;52:123–125. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Second‐trimester maternal serum free‐β‐human chorionic gonadotropin and α‐fetoprotein levels in normal twin and singleton pregnancies: a report of local Chinese population
Authors: Xie Zhenwei , Lu Shiming , Zhu Yuning , Sun Yali , Jin Yu 
Published: July 2008

AbstractObjectivesThe study evaluated the differences between Chinese normal twin and singleton pregnancies in the levels of maternal serum free‐β‐human chorionic gonadotropin (free β‐hCG) and α‐fetoprotein (AFP) used in second‐trimester Down syndrome (DS) screening.MethodsThe concentrations of maternal serum markers of 456 twin pregnancies and 12 067 singleton controls in gestational 15 to 20 weeks were measured by time‐resolved fluoroimmunoassay, and the levels of markers were compared between the twins and singletons.ResultsSignificant differences were found between the levels of free β‐hCG in twins and twice of those in singletons in 16, 17 and 19 gestational weeks (p < 0.05 for all); while considering AFP, significant differences were found in 16 and 19 gestational weeks (p < 0.05 for both). No correlations were found in twins between the levels of markers and maternal weights in most gestational weeks (Free β‐hCG: p > 0.05 for 15 to 18 and 20 gestational weeks; AFP: p > 0.05 for 16 to 20 gestational weeks).ConclusionsThe Chinese gestational age‐specific levels of maternal serum markers in normal twins are not twice as those in singletons. The current weight‐correction model for DS screening may be not feasible for twins. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.