bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Urgency degree and bladder contraction velocity: Sequential changes in women with idiopathic detrusor overactivity
Authors: Cucchi A. , Quaglini S. , Siracusano S. , Rovereto B. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractAimsIn patients with idiopathic detrusor overactivity (DO) who showed storage symptoms worsening with time, we checked whether and which urodynamic parameter changes are associated with an increased urgency degree.Materials and MethodsWe analyzed retrospectively the urodynamic findings in 54 women −27 with storage symptoms (Group A, mean age 32 ± 7 years) and 27 controls (Group B, mean age 30 ± 9 years). These latter had a history of recurrent UTIs (urinary tract infections), but when seen by us had no UTI, DO, lower urinary tract symptoms, or any other pathological finding. Group A had a first urodynamic examination when first referred (time 1) and were re‐assessed a mean of 16 months later (time 2) for worsened storage symptoms.ResultsIn Group A, an idiopathic DO was shown at both times 1 and 2; urgency of voiding could be delayed during cystometry for ≥2 min (= moderate urgency) at time 1 and for <2 min (= severe urgency) at time 2; detrusor contraction strength or contractility proved higher than in Group B (P < 0.001) and increased from time 1 to time 2 (P < 0.001), detrusor shortening velocity being always the major component of the higher contractility levels.ConclusionsA DO‐related increase in bladder contractility may have been further enhanced by severe urgency through a positive feedback mechanism. The urgency degree proved closely associated in DO patients with the level of detrusor shortening velocity rather than with detrusor pressure. Neurourol. Urdynam. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Optimal production and maintenance policy for imperfect production systems
Authors: Wang Chih‐Hsiung 
Published: December 2005

AbstractA joint optimization of the production run length and preventive maintenance (PM) policy is studied for a deteriorating production system where the in‐control period follows a general probability distribution with non‐decreasing failure rate. In the literature, the sufficient conditions for the optimality of the equal‐interval PM schedule is explored to derive an optimal production run length and an optimal number of PM actions. Nevertheless, an exhaustive search may arise. In this study, based on the assumption that the conditions for the optimality of the equal‐interval PM schedule hold, we derive some structural properties for the optimal production/PM policy, which increases the efficiency of the solution procedure. These analyses have implications for the practical application of the production/PM model to be more available in practice. A numerical example of gamma shift distribution with non‐decreasing failure rates is used to illustrate the solution procedure, leading to some insight into the management process. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2006
Preparation, swelling behaviors and application of polyacrylamide/attapulgite superabsorbent composites
Authors: Zhang Junping , Liu Ruifeng , Li An , Wang Aiqin 
Published: January 2006

AbstractA series of superabsorbent composites, polyacrylamide/attapulgite (PAMA), were prepared from acrylamide (AM) and attapulgite micropowder in aqueous solution, using N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate (APS) as an initiator and then saponified with sodium hydroxide solution. This paper focuses on swelling behaviors of the PAMA superabsorbent composites in various saline solutions. The results indicate that saline solutions can weaken the swelling abilities of the PAMA compsites greatly. Water absorbency of the PAMA composites with 20 and 40 wt% attapulgite in aqueous chloride salt solutions has the following order: Li+ = Na+ = K+, Mg2+ > Ca2+ = Ba2+ all through the range of concentration investigated. However, swelling properties of the composites are complicated in CuCl2(aq), AlCl3(aq) and FeCl3(aq) solutions and are related to saline solutions concentration. The deswelling behavior of PAMA composites is more obvious in univalent chloride salt solutions than in divalent and trivalent ones. The influence of kind and valence of anions on swelling ability of the composites is limited and almost the same. Moreover, reswelling capability, practical water retention ability in sand soil of the composites and the effect of pH on water absorbency of the PAMA composites were investigated. The PAMA composite shows good water retention and reswelling ability in sand soil, and may be used as a recyclable water‐managing material for the renewal of arid and desert environment. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Functional Micropatterned Surfaces by Combination of Plasma Polymerization and Lift‐Off Processes
Authors: Brétagnol Frédéric , Ceriotti Laura , Lejeune Michaël , Papadopoulou‐Bouraoui Andri , Hasiwa Marina , Gilliland Douglas , Ceccone Giacomo , Colpo Pascal , Rossi François 
Published: December 2005

AbstractSummary: In this study, microstructured surfaces are produced by a spatial arrangement of different functional domains by a combination of plasma polymerization and photolithography. Two different kinds of protein and cell adhesive patterns have been alternated with non‐fouling areas. Non‐fouling patterns are made of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)‐like polymers obtained by pulsed plasma polymerization of diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, which leads to coatings with a high concentration of ethylene oxide groups (>70%). Fouling surfaces are composed of PEO coatings with a low concentration of ethylene oxide groups (≈40%) and films containing amino groups (from allylamine monomer) obtained by plasma polymerization. High pattern fidelity is demonstrated by ellispometry measurements, whereas XPS and ToF‐SIMS analyses have been used to characterize the surfaces. Experiments with a model protein (bovine serum albumin) and cells (L929 mouse fibroblasts) on patterned surfaces show that proteins and cells only adhere on the patterns, whereas the background stays uncovered.Optical image showing the selective proliferation of L929 mouse fibroblast cells after culture on a pulsed PEO‐like/PAL micropatterned surface.magnified imageOptical image showing the selective proliferation of L929 mouse fibroblast cells after culture on a pulsed PEO‐like/PAL micropatterned surface.
BIODECON: Plasma Decontamination in Medical Technology
Authors: Awakowicz Peter , von Keudell Achim 
Published: December 2005

AbstractPlasma News: This section contains news of the plasma community all over the world. Articles about, for example, people, projects, and market trends are welcome. Suggestions should be sent to the editorial office of the Plasma Processes and Polymers, preferably by E‐mail to plasma@wiley‐vch.de. The editorial office decides which articles will be published.
Electrostatic interactions of peptides flanking the tyrosine kinase domain in the epidermal growth factor receptor provides a model for intracellular dimerization and autophosphorylation
Authors: Aifa Sami , Miled Nabil , Frikha Fakher , Aniba Mohamed R. , Svensson Samuel P.S. , Rebai Ahmed 
Published: December 2005

AbstractThe mechanism by which ligand‐activated EGFR induces autophosphorylation via dimerization is not fully understood. Structural studies have revealed an extracellular loop mediated receptor dimerization. We have previously presented experimental data showing the involvement of a positive 13 amino acid peptide (R645–R657; P13+) from the intracellular juxtamembrane domain (JM) of EGFR important for intracellular dimerization and autophosphorylation. A model was presented that suggest that P13+ interacts with a negative peptide (D979–E991; P13−) positioned distal to the tyrosine kinase domain in the opposite EGFR monomer. The present work shows additional data strengthening this model. In fact, by analyzing protein sequences of 21 annotated ErbB proteins from 9 vertebrate genomes, we reveal the high conservation of peptides P13+ and P13− with regard to their sequence as well as their position relative to the tyrosine kinase (TK) domain. Moreover in silico structure modeling of these ErbB intracellular domains supports a general electrostatic P13+/P13− interaction, implying that the C‐terminal of one receptor monomer is facing the TK domain of the other monomer in the receptor dimer and vice versa. This model provides new insights into the molecular mechanism of ErbB receptor activation and suggests a new strategy to pharmacologically interfering with ErbB receptor activity. Proteins 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Investigation of the electronic structure of the SbSeI cluster
Authors: Audzijonis A. , Žigas L. , Siroic J. , Pauliukas A. , Žaltauskas R. , Čerškus A. , Narušis J. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe energy levels of valence bands (VBs) and core levels (CLs) of SbSeI single crystals have been investigated theoretically. A molecular model of the SbSeI crystal was used for the calculations of VBs and CLs by the Hartree–Fock method (UHF). This molecular cluster consisting of 20 molecules was used for calculations of the total and of the averaged density of states including atom vibrations. The averaged total density of states is more similar to the experimental X‐ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). The cluster‐model calculations showed that the splitting of the CLs in SbSeI may be caused by photoelectron emission from the atoms at the surface which are in a different valence state. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Identification of peptides in antimicrobial fractions of cheese extracts by electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry coupled to a two‐dimensional liquid chromatographic separation
Authors: Losito Ilario , Carbonara Teresa , De Bari Maria Domenica , Gobbetti Marco , Palmisano Francesco , Rizzello Carlo Giuseppe , Zambonin Pier Giorgio 
Published: January 2006

AbstractElectrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI‐ITMS) coupled to a two‐dimensional liquid chromatographic separation was applied to the identification of peptides in antimicrobial fractions of the aqueous extracts of nine Italian cheese varieties. In particular, the chromatographic fractions collected during a preliminary fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) separation on the cheese extracts were assayed for antimicrobial activity towards Lactobacillus sakei A15. Active fractions were subsequently analyzed by reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization sequential mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI)‐ITMSn, with n up to 3. Peptide identification was then performed starting from a conventional proteomics approach based on tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) analysis followed by database searching. In many cases this strategy had to be integrated by a careful correlation between spectral information and predicted peptide fragmentation, in order to reach unambiguous identifications. When even this integrated approach failed, MS3 measurements provided decisive information on the amino acid sequence of some peptides, through fragmentation of pendant groups along the peptide chain. As a result, 45 peptides, all arising from hydrolysis of milk caseins, were identified in nine antimicrobial FPLC fractions of aqueous extracts obtained from five of the nine cheese varieties considered. Many of them corresponded to peptides already known to exhibit biological activity. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differentiation of monoiodothyronines using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhang Yuntao , Conrad Abigail H. , Thoma Rudy , Conrad Gary W. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractIn this work two monoiodothyronines, 3‐T1 and 3′‐T1, have been analyzed using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS/MS). Fragmentation patterns were proposed based on our data obtained by ESI‐MS/MS. MS2 spectra in either negative or positive ion mode can be used to differentiate 3‐T1 and 3′‐T1. Based on the relative abundance of fragment ions in MS2 spectra in the negative ion mode, quantification of the 3‐T1 and 3′‐T1 isomers in mixtures is achieved without prior separation. Solid‐phase extraction in combination with ESI‐MS/MS provides a practicable procedure that can be used to determine the molar ratio of 3‐T1 and 3′‐T1 in human serum with an error less than 3%. The detection limits for 3‐T1 and 3′‐T1 were 0.5 and 0.7 pg/µL, respectively. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Levels of a scale‐free tree
Authors: Katona Zsolt 
Published: December 2005

AbstractConsider the random graph model of Barabási and Albert, where we add a new vertex in every step and connect it to some old vertices with probabilities proportional to their degrees. If we connect it to only one of the old vertices the graph will be a tree. These graphs have been shown to have power law degree distributions, the same as observed in some large real‐world networks. We show that the degree distribution is the same on every sufficiently high level of the tree. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2006
Average case analysis of the Boyer‐Moore algorithm
Authors: Tsai Tsung‐Hsi 
Published: December 2005

AbstractLimit theorems (including a Berry‐Esseen bound) are derived for the number of comparisons taken by the Boyer‐Moore algorithm for finding the occurrences of a given pattern in a random text. Previously, only special variants of this algorithm have been analyzed. We also propose a means of computing the limiting constants for the mean and the variance. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2006.
On ε‐biased generators in NC0
Authors: Mossel Elchanan , Shpilka Amir , Trevisan Luca 
Published: December 2005

AbstractCryan and Miltersen (Proceedings of the 26th Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science, 2001, pp. 272–284) recently considered the question of whether there can be a pseudorandom generator in NC0, that is, a pseudorandom generator that mapsn‐bit strings tom‐bit strings such that every bit of the output depends on a constant numberkof bits of the seed.They show that fork= 3, ifm≥ 4n+ 1, there is a distinguisher; in fact, they show that in this case it is possible to break the generator with alinear test, that is, there is a subset of bits of the output whose XOR has a noticeable bias.They leave the question open fork≥ 4. In fact, they ask whether every NC0generator can be broken by a statistical test that simply XORs some bits of the input. Equivalently, is it the case that no NC0generator can sample an ε‐biased space with negligible ε?We give a generator fork= 5 that mapsnbits intocnbits, so that every bit of the output depends on 5 bits of the seed, and the XOR of every subset of the bits of the output has bias 2. For large values ofk, we construct generators that mapnbits to$n^{\Omega(\sqrt{k})}$bits such that every XOR of outputs has bias$2^{-{n^{{1 \over 2\sqrt k}}}}$.We also present a polynomial‐time distinguisher fork= 4,m≥ 24nhaving constant distinguishing probability. For large values ofkwe show that a linear distinguisher with a constant distinguishing probability exists oncem≥ Ω(2kn⌈k/2⌉).Finally, we consider a variant of the problem where each of the output bits is a degreekpolynomial in the inputs. We show there exists a degreek= 2 pseudorandom generator for which the XOR of every subset of the outputs has bias 2−Ω(n)and which mapsnbits to Ω(n2) bits. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2006
Law of large numbers for increasing subsequences of random permutations
Authors: Pinsky Ross G. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractLet the random variable Zn,k denote the number of increasing subsequences of length k in a random permutation from Sn, the symmetric group of permutations of {1,…,n}. We show that Var(Z) = o((EZ)2) as n → ∞ if and only if
$k_n=o(n^{{2\over 5}})$. In particular then, the weak law of large numbers holds for Z if $k_n=o(n^{{2\over 5}})$; that is,

We also show the following approximation result for the uniform measure Un on Sn. Define the probability measure μ on Sn by

where U denotes the uniform measure on the subset of permutations that contain the increasing subsequence {x1,x2,…,x}. Then the weak law of large numbers holds for Z if and only if

where ∣∣˙∣∣ denotes the total variation norm. In particular then, (*) holds if $k_n=o(n^{{2\over 5}})$.In order to evaluate the asymptotic behavior of the second moment, we need to analyze occupation times of certain conditioned two‐dimensional random walks. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2006
Coloring complete bipartite graphs from random lists
Authors: Krivelevich Michael , Nachmias Asaf 
Published: December 2005

AbstractLet Kn,n be the complete bipartite graph with n vertices in each side. For each vertex draw uniformly at random a list of size k from a base set S of size s = s(n). In this paper we estimate the asymptotic probability of the existence of a proper coloring from the random lists for all fixed values of k and growing n. We show that this property exhibits a sharp threshold for k ≥ 2 and the location of the threshold is precisely s(n) = 2n for k = 2 and approximately
$s(n)={{n}\over{2^{k-1}\ln 2}}$
for k ≥ 3. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2006
Covering minimum spanning trees of random subgraphs
Authors: Goemans Michel X. , Vondrák Jan 
Published: December 2005

AbstractWe consider the problem of finding a sparse set of edges containing the minimum spanning tree (MST) of a random subgraph of G with high probability. The two random models that we consider are subgraphs induced by a random subset of vertices, each vertex included independently with probability p, and subgraphs generated as a random subset of edges, each edge with probability p.Let n denote the number of vertices, choose p ∈ (0, 1) possibly depending on n, and let b = 1/(1 − p). We show that in both random models, for any weighted graph G, there is a set of edges Q of cardinality O(n logbn) that contains the minimum spanning tree of a random subgraph of G with high probability. This result is asymptotically optimal. As a consequence, we also give a bound of O(kn) on the size of the union of all minimum spanning trees of G with some k vertices (or edges) removed. More generally, we show a bound of O(n logbn) on the size of a covering set in a matroid of rank n, which contains the minimum‐weight basis of a random subset with high probability. Also, we give a randomized algorithm that calls an MST subroutine only a polylogarithmic number of times and finds the covering set with high probability. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2006
A spectral heuristic for bisecting random graphs
Authors: Coja‐Oghlan Amin 
Published: December 2005

AbstractThe minimum bisection problem is to partition the vertices of a graph into two classes of equal size so as to minimize the number of crossing edges. Computing a minimum bisection is NP‐hard in the worst case. In this paper we study a spectral heuristic for bisecting random graphs Gn(p,p′) with a planted bisection obtained as follows: partition n vertices into two classes of equal size randomly, and then insert edges inside the two classes with probability p′ and edges crossing the partition with probability p independently. If $n(p'-p)\geq c_0\sqrt{np'\ln(np')}$, where c0 is a suitable constant, then with probability 1 − o(1) the heuristic finds a minimum bisection of Gn(p,p′) along with a certificate of optimality. Furthermore, we show that the structure of the set of all minimum bisections of Gn(p,p′) undergoes a phase transition as $n(p'-p)=\Theta(\sqrt{np'\ln n})$. The spectral heuristic solves instances in the subcritical, the critical, and the supercritical phases of the phase transition optimally with probability 1 − o(1). These results extend previous work of Boppana Proc. 28th FOCS (1987) 280–285. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2006
Representations of science within children's trade books
Authors: Ford Danielle J. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractThe use of trade books in science instruction, particularly in the elementary and middle school grades, invites scrutiny into the ways in which trade books represent science and its practitioners to learners. Forty‐four trade books were examined for their explicit and implicit representations of science. The majority of the sample was comprised of informational texts, followed by experiment books and artistic books. Scientific knowledge was generally represented as facts, with limited connections to the producers of those facts. Scientists and their practice were represented as experiment or observation, in descriptions that blurred the distinctions between levels of participation in science, and emphasized empirical data collection over analysis or theory development. Artistic books focused on nature encouraged an aesthetic approach to nature, primarily through creative observation. These books are not likely to convey a sophisticated image of the nature of science to young children without contextualization by teachers and other knowledgeable adults. However, they have potential as tools within inquiry contexts, if used in a manner authentic to goals for scientific literacy. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 43: 214–235, 2006
Exploring alternative conceptions from Newtonian dynamics and simple DC circuits: Links between item difficulty and item confidence
Authors: Planinic Maja , Boone William J. , Krsnik Rudolf , Beilfuss Meredith L. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractCroatian 1st‐year and 3rd‐year high‐school students (N = 170) completed a conceptual physics test. Students were evaluated with regard to two physics topics: Newtonian dynamics and simple DC circuits. Students answered test items and also indicated their confidence in each answer. Rasch analysis facilitated the calculation of three linear measures: (a) an item‐difficulty measure based upon all responses, (b) an item‐confidence measure based upon correct student answers, and (c) an item‐confidence measure based upon incorrect student answers. Comparisons were made with regard to item difficulty and item confidence. The results suggest that Newtonian dynamics is a topic with stronger students' alternative conceptions than the topic of DC circuits, which is characterized by much lower students' confidence on both correct and incorrect answers. A systematic and significant difference between mean student confidence on Newtonian dynamics and DC circuits items was found in both student groups. Findings suggest some steps for physics instruction in Croatia as well as areas of further research for those in science education interested in additional techniques of exploring alternative conceptions. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 43: 150–171, 2006
New Chalcogenidoarsenates with Transition Metal Complex Cations: [M(en)3]2As2S5 (M = Mn, Ni) and [Mn(en)3]2As2Se5
Authors: Jia Ding‐Xian , Zhao Qian‐Xin , Dai Jie , Zhang Yong , Zhu Qin‐Yu 
Published: December 2005

AbstractNew chalcogenidoarsenate compounds [M(en)3]2As2S5 (en = ethylenediamine, M = Mn (1), Ni (2)), and [Mn(en)3]2As2Se5 (3) were synthesized by the reaction of transition metal chloride, arsenous oxide, and elemental sulfur (or selenium) in en at 140 °C. The compounds are consist of isolated [As2E5]4− (E = S, Se) anions and transition metal [M(en)3]2+ cations. The dimeric [As2E5]4− anion, which is constructed by two corner‐sharing AsE3 trigonal pyramids, was first isolated and co‐crystallized with transition metal complex cations as counterions. The compound 1 crystallizes in P212121 space group, while both 2 and 3 are in Pbca space group. The thermal behaviors of the compounds are related to their crystal structures. On heating, compound 1 decomposes in two steps, while compounds 2 and 3 decompose in one step. The decomposition products of the compounds are studied by XRD.