bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A service‐oriented business performance evaluation model and the performance‐aware service selection method
Authors: Liu Bo , Fan Yushun , Huang Shuangxi 
Published: June 2008

AbstractIn service‐oriented architecture, services and business processes are closely related and therefore the research on service‐oriented business process (SOBP) attracts the attention of academia as well as industry. Because of the loosely coupled, autonomic and dynamic nature of services, the operation and the performance evaluation of business process meet some challenges, such as the definition of the key performance indicators (KPIs) and the alignment of business performance and IT performance. In this paper, we address these challenges. First, the definition and the characteristics of an SOBP are presented with a motivating scenario. Then a service‐oriented business performance evaluation model is described, which integrates the performance of strategy layer, business process layer, business activity layer, service composition layer and IT infrastructure layer. The KPIs corresponding to each layer are also defined with their formal representations. The qualitative and quantitative performance analysis methods, based on the proposed model, are presented, respectively. Finally, the improved analytic hierarchy process is explicated to calculate the correlation between different KPIs and select the most suitable service. An online‐shopping example is taken to prove the soundness and the feasibility of the method. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A dynamic admission control scheme to manage contention on shared computing resources
Authors: Xavier Percival , Cai Wentong , Lee Bu‐Sung 
Published: June 2008

AbstractA virtual organization is established when physical organizations collaborate to share their computing resources with the aim of serving each other when there is a likelihood of insufficient local resources during peak resource usage periods at any organization. Contention becomes a potential problem when a large number of requests, which can overwhelm the aggregate capacity of shared resources, are submitted from the participating organizations coincidentally at the same period. In particular, when a small number of requests that require large amounts of computing resources are admitted in place of a large number of requests that require less computing resources, the overall system performance, in terms of admission ratio, can deteriorate significantly. Hence, admission control is necessary to reduce resource oversubscription. Because domain‐shared computing resources are likely to be combined to form a large‐scale system, it is not possible to define a fixed admission policy solely based on the request's CPU and execution time requirements. In this paper, we introduce an admission control framework, based on a pricing model, for a multi‐domain‐shared computing infrastructure. The performance of the admission control framework is evaluated under different scenarios that contribute to the overall degree of competition for shared resources. The results are presented and analyzed in this paper. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Performance evaluation of virtual machine‐based Grid workflow system
Authors: Wang Lizhe , Kunze Marcel , Tao Jie 
Published: June 2008

AbstractGrid computing has now become the de facto standard for distributed computing and provides huge computing resources for high‐performance scientific and engineering applications. Recent advantages of virtual computing technologies make it possible to efficiently employ computing resources on‐demand. Distributed virtual machines (VMs) can help to build scalable, manageable and efficient Grid infrastructures. This paper is engaged to organize compact muon solenoid applications in virtual data system workflows and execute them on VMs in computational Grids. The work is implemented on VMware VMs. Test results are discussed and the performance is evaluated with comparison of related work. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Magnetic Properties of a 1D Oxalate‐Bridged MnII Complex Consisting of 10‐Membered Ring Units
Authors: Li Wei , Jia Hong‐Peng , Ju Zhan‐Feng , Zhang Jie 
Published: June 2008

AbstractSelf‐assembly of the newly synthesized 2‐methyl‐4,6‐bis(4′‐pyridyl‐1′‐pyridinio)pyrimidine dichloride (MbppCl2) with MnCl2·4H2O and Na2C2O4 affords an unprecedented chain‐like oxalate‐bridged MnII polymer consisting of 10‐membered ring units, {[Mn3(OH)(H2O)2(Mbpp)(C2O4)3.5]·6.5H2O}n (1), which exhibits spin‐canted antiferromagnetism at low temperature.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Nafion–Zirconium Phosphate Nanocomposite Membranes with High Filler Loadings: Conductivity and Mechanical Properties
Authors: Casciola M. , Capitani D. , Comite A. , Donnadio A. , Frittella V. , Pica M. , Sganappa M. , Varzi A. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractZirconium phosphate (ZrP) was incorporated in preformed Nafion 117 membranes by exchange of the ionomer protons with zirconium cationic species and subsequent treatment with phosphoric acid. Reiteration of these treatments under the same reaction conditions allowed to obtain membranes with filler loading in the range of 20–40 wt.‐%. 31P MAS NMR investigations showed that the filler is mainly α‐ZrP and that the fraction of monohydrogen phosphate groups in the α‐type environment increases with the number of treatments. All membranes were characterised by stress–strain mechanical tests at room temperature and turned out to be stiffer than Nafion 117. Through‐plane conductivity determinations were carried out as a function of temperature and relative humidity (RH). At 100 °C and RH in the range of 30–90%, the composite membranes were less conductive than Nafion 117, and the higher the filler loading the larger the conductivity decrease occurring with decreasing RH. The conductivity of the composite membranes showed however better long‐term stability at high temperature and RH values. Moreover, the partial replacement of the phosphate groups of ZrP with sulphophenylphosphonate groups leads to a significant improvement of conductivity and stiffness with respect to both Nafion 117 and the parent composite membrane.
Ceramic‐based Anode Materials for Improved Redox Cycling of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Authors: Fu Q. X. , Tietz F. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractIn order to improve the reliability of anode‐supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) in terms of tolerance to redox cycles, and to minimise fuel preprocessing for the direct use of readily available hydrocarbons in SOFCs, alternative ceramic‐based anode substrate materials and functional anode materials were investigated, with the emphasis on perovskite oxides. Compared to (Sr,La)TiO3–δ and Nb2TiO7–δ, (Sr,Y)TiO3–δ ceramics (SYT, with a Y content of about 7 at.‐%) reduced at high temperatures are promising redox‐stable anode substrate materials due to their very small dimensional change upon redox cycling (0.14%). Correspondingly, the composite ceramic SYT/YSZ impregnated with ∼5 vol.‐% Ni has a good chance of being applied as a redox‐stable functional anode material due to its even smaller dimensional change upon redox cycling (<0.05%) and superior electrochemical performance for H2 oxidation (polarisation resistance ∼0.2 Ω cm2 at 800 °C). The small fraction of Ni homogeneously dispersed on the pore walls of the SYT/YSZ ceramic framework significantly enhances the electrocatalytic activity, and should not have a detrimental effect on the redox stability of the electrode. In addition, two mixed conductors with perovskite structure, (La0.8Sr0.2)0.94Al0.5Mn0.5O3–δ and La0.4Sr0.6Ti0.4Mn0.6O3–δ, were also investigated. They show promising electrochemical performance for the oxidation of H2. However, the high‐level Mn substitution which seems necessary to achieve a significant electrical conductivity and catalytic activity has a detrimental effect on the chemical stability of these two materials. Consequently, they show relatively large and irreversible chemical expansion and are thus not considered to be qualified functional anode materials.
Robust S1, S2, and thalamic activations in individual subjects with vibrotactile stimulation at 1.5 and 3.0 T
Authors: Chakravarty M. Mallar , Rosa‐Neto Pedro , Broadbent Scott , Evans Alan C. , Collins D. Louis 
Published: June 2008

AbstractFunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is often used to enhance visualization and provide target localization during the planning phase of neurosurgical procedures. Although parametric maps have been used to identify areas of eloquent cortex such as the primary (S1) and secondary (S2) somatosensory areas for tumor surgery, to date, few fMRI methods exist to localize subcortical targets for surgical interventions used to treat movement disorders. The scanning time required to obtain statistically significant functional signals must be balanced against the possibility of movement artifacts and patient discomfort. We propose a vibrotactile stimulation technique to activate the somatosensory pathway for neurosurgical planning and perform a sensitivity analysis to determine the amount of time required to achieve significant activations of S1, S2, and sensory thalamus in individual subjects. Bilateral stimulation experiments were carried out on two MRI scanners (n = 13 at 1.5 T; n = 5 at 3.0 T). The analysis demonstrates that statistically significant functional activations can be achieved in clinically acceptable times: 16 min at 1.5 T (26/26 experiments) and 6 min at 3.0 T (10/10) for S1 activations; 24 min at 1.5 T (22/26) and 18 min at 3.0 T for S2 activations (9/10); and 32 min at 1.5 T (15/26) and 18 min at 3.0 T (10/10) for activation of thalamic nuclei. These results demonstrate that S1 and S2 activations are robust at 1.5 and 3.0 T, and that robust thalamic activations in individual subjects are possible at 3.0 T. These techniques demonstrate that this technique can be used for preoperative planning for surgical candidates. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multivariate Granger causality analysis of fMRI data
Authors: Deshpande Gopikrishna , LaConte Stephan , James George Andrew , Peltier Scott , Hu Xiaoping 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThis article describes the combination of multivariate Granger causality analysis, temporal down‐sampling of fMRI time series, and graph theoretic concepts for investigating causal brain networks and their dynamics. As a demonstration, this approach was applied to analyze epoch‐to‐epoch changes in a hand‐gripping, muscle fatigue experiment. Causal influences between the activated regions were analyzed by applying the directed transfer function (DTF) analysis of multivariate Granger causality with the integrated epoch response as the input, allowing us to account for the effects of several relevant regions simultaneously. Integrated responses were used in lieu of originally sampled time points to remove the effect of the spatially varying hemodynamic response as a confounding factor; using integrated responses did not affect our ability to capture its slowly varying affects of fatigue. We separately modeled the early, middle, and late periods in the fatigue. We adopted graph theoretic concepts of clustering and eccentricity to facilitate the interpretation of the resultant complex networks. Our results reveal the temporal evolution of the network and demonstrate that motor fatigue leads to a disconnection in the related neural network. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
My third arm: Shifts in topography of the somatosensory homunculus predict feeling of an artificial supernumerary arm
Authors: Schaefer Michael , Heinze Hans‐Jochen , Rotte Michael 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe classic understanding of the role of the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) is to be a first major unimodal area processing somatosensory input and reflecting the physical location of peripheral stimulation in the form of the famous homunculus. Whereas in the past this functional topography was believed to be fixed, recent studies challenge this view. For example, in upper extremity amputees the cortical representation of the mouth was found to invade the region that formerly represented the amputated limb. Moreover, several studies demonstrated dynamic modulations of the body map in SI by tactile illusions. The present study aims to further explore the role of SI by creating an illusion of feeling a supernumerary artificial limb. Using an artificial hand and arm that were connected to their body, subjects were given the visual impression that they had a supernumerary third arm. The topography in SI was examined with neuromagnetic source localization. Results revealed that the participants not only viewed the artificial arm but felt to have three arms. Thus, a simple visuo‐tactile illusion evoked feelings of ownership of a supernumerary body part. Furthermore, during the illusion the cortical representation of the thumb shifted to a more medial and superior position. Because this modulation in SI could predict the strength of the feeling that the third arm was belonging to the own body, the results suggest that the somatosensory homunculus is reflecting the perceived shape of the body rather than physical aspects of peripheral stimulation even when feeling an artificial third arm. Hum Brain Mapp 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparison of unilateral and bilateral complex finger tapping‐related activation in premotor and primary motor cortex
Authors: Horenstein Craig , Lowe Mark J. , Koenig Katherine A. , Phillips Micheal D. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractSixteen healthy right‐handed subjects performed a complex finger‐tapping task that broadly activates the motor and premotor regions, including primary motor (M1), ventral premotor (PMv), and dorsal premotor (PMd) cortex. This task was performed with the right hand only, left hand only and both hands simultaneously. Behavioral performance and the possibility of mirror movements were controlled through the use of MRI‐compatible gloves to monitor finger movements. Using spatially normalized ROIs from the Human Motor Area Template (HMAT), comparisons were made of the spatial extent and location of activation in the left and right motor regions between all three tasks. During unilateral right and left hand tapping, ipsilateral precentral gyrus activation occurred in all subjects, mainly in the PMv and PMd. Ipsilateral M1 activation was less consistent and shifted anteriorly within M1, towards the border of M1 and premotor cortex. Regions of ipsilateral activation were also activated during contralateral and bilateral tasks. Overall, 83%/70%/58% of the ipsilaterally activated voxels in M1/PMd/PMv were also activated during contralateral and bilateral tapping. The mean percent signal change of spatially overlapping activated voxels was similar in PMv and PMd between all three tasks. However, the mean percent signal change of spatially overlapping M1 activation was significantly less during ipsilateral tapping compared with contra‐ or bilateral tapping. Results suggest that the ipsilateral fMRI activation in unilateral motor tasks may not be inhibitory in nature, but rather may reflect part of a bilateral network involved in the planning and/or execution of tapping in the ipsilateral hand. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Stromal cell‐derived factor‐1 stimulates vasculogenesis and enhances Ewing's sarcoma tumor growth in the absence of vascular endothelial growth factor
Authors: Reddy Krishna , Zhou Zhichao , Jia Shu‐Fang , Lee Tim H. , Morales‐Arias Jaime , Cao Ying , Kleinerman Eugenie S. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractStromal cell‐derived Factor‐1α (SDF‐1α) stimulates the migration of bone marrow (BM) cells, similar to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We previously demonstrated that inhibition of VEGF165 by small interfering RNA inhibited Ewing's sarcoma tumor growth, tumor vessel formation and recruitment of BM cells to the tumor. To determine the importance of BM cells in tumor vessel development, we investigated the effects of SDF‐1α on VEGF‐inhibited TC/siVEGF7‐1 Ewing's tumor neovasculature formation and growth. The effect of SDF‐1α on CD34+ progenitor cell chemotaxis was determined in vivo. Using a BM transplantation model with GFP+ transgenic mice as BM donors and nude mice as recipients, we evaluated the effect of SDF‐1α on the recruitment of BM‐derived cells to VEGF165‐inhibited TC/siVEGF7‐1 tumors, as well as its effect on neovasculature development, vessel morphology and tumor growth. SDF‐1α stimulated the migration of CD34+ progenitor cells to Matrigel plugs in vivo and promoted the retainment of BM‐derived pericytes in close association with perfused, functional tumor vessels. Intratumor inoculation of Ad‐SDF‐1α into TC/siVEGF7‐1 tumors resulted in increased SDF‐1 and PDGF‐BB expression, augmented tumor growth, an increase in the number of large, lumen‐bearing vascular structures, and enhanced vessel pericyte coverage, with no change in VEGF165. SDF‐1α stimulates BM cell chemotaxis and the association of these cells with functional tumor vessels. Furthermore, SDF‐1α enhances tumor neovascularization and growth with no alteration in VEGF165. Our work suggests that SDF‐1‐mediated vasculogenesis may represent an alternate pathway that could potentially be utilized by tumors to sustain growth and neovasculature expansion after anti‐VEGF therapy. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Breast cancer and microbial cancer incidence in female populations around the world: A surprising hyperbolic association
Authors: Savu Anamaria , Potter John , Li Suwen , Yasui Yutaka 
Published: June 2008

AbstractCurrent literature on cancer epidemiology typically discusses etiology of cancer by cancer type. Risks of different cancer types are, however, correlated at population level and may provide etiological clues. We showed previously an unexpected very high positive correlation between breast cancer (BC) and young‐adult Hodgkin disease incidence rates. In a population‐based case–control study of BC, older ages at the first Epstein–Barr virus exposure, indicated by older ages at onset of infectious mononucleosis, were associated with elevated BC risk. Here we examine BC risk in association with microbial cancer (MC) risk in female populations across the world. MC cancers are cervical, liver and stomach cancers with established causal associations with human papillomaviruses, hepatitis viruses, and helicobacter pylori, respectively. We examined age‐adjusted BC and MC incidence rates in 74 female populations around the world with cancer registries. Our analysis suggests that BC and MC rates are inversely associated in a special mathematical form such that the product of BC rate and MC rate is approximately constant across world female populations. A differential equation model with solutions consistent to the observed inverse association was derived. BC and MC rates were modeled as functions of an exposure level to unspecified common factors that influence the 2 rates. In conjunction with previously reported evidence, we submit a hypothesis that BC etiology may have an appreciable link with microbial exposures (and/or immunological responses to them), the lack of which, especially in early life, may elevate BC risk. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Irrigation in the Texas High Plains: a brief history and potential reductions in demand
Authors: Colaizzi P. D. , Gowda P. H. , Marek T. H. , Porter D. O. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractIrrigation for crop production in the semi‐arid Texas High Plains is dependent on groundwater withdrawals from the Ogallala Aquifer, which is declining because withdrawals exceed natural recharge. Irrigation development in the region accelerated during the 1950s. Both irrigated area and volume pumped peaked in 1974 and steadily declined during 1974–1989. By 2004, however, irrigated area was nearly the same as it was in 1958, and volume pumped had increased slightly. Several strategies to reduce groundwater withdrawals were reviewed without any reductions in irrigated land area or crop productivity. The most promising evaluated were: (1) increasing weather‐based irrigation scheduling using the Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration Network (TXHPET); (2) converting gravity‐irrigated land (27% of total) to centre pivot irrigation; and (3) replacing high‐water to lower‐water demand crops (i.e., corn to cotton). If the land area using the TXHPET network was doubled, and if gravity‐irrigated lands were reduced to 10%, groundwater withdrawals could be reduced by 14%. An additional reduction of 8% may be possible by converting half of the irrigated corn area to cotton. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of arterial ischemia and venous congestion on the lumbar nerve root in dogs
Authors: Kobayashi Shigeru , Takeno Kenichi , Miyazaki Tsuyoshi , Kubota Masafumi , Shimada Seichior , Yayama Takafumi , Uchida Kenzo , Normura Eiki , Mwaka Erisa , Baba Hisatoshi 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe development of radiculopathy in patients with lumbar canal stenosis is thought to be closely related to intraradicular edema resulting from compression. However, there is little agreement as to question which is more essential for intermittent claudication: ischemia or congestion. The aim of the present experimental investigation was to examine the effect of ischemia and congestion on the nerve root using dogs. The aorta was clamped as an ischemia model of the nerve root and the inferior vena cava was clamped as a congestion model at the sixth costal level for 30 min using forceps transpleurally. Measurements of blood flow, partial oxygen pressure, and conduction velocity in the nerve root were repeated over a period of 1 h after release of clamping. Finally, we examined the status of intraradicular blood–nerve barrier under fluorescence and transmission electron microscope. Immediately after clamping of the inferior vena cava, the central venous pressure increased by about four times and marked extravasation of protein tracers was induced in the lumbar nerve root. Blood flow, partial oxygen pressure, and conduction velocity of the nerve root were more severely affected by aorta clamp, but this ischemia model did not show any intraradicular edema. The blood–nerve barrier in the nerve root was more easily broken by venous congestion than by arterial ishemia. In conclusion, venous congestion may be an essential factor precipitating circulatory disturbance in compressed nerve roots and inducing neurogenic intermittent claudication. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 26:1533–1540, 2008
Radical neck dissection: Preserving the distal spinal accessory nerve based on its cervical plexus contribution
Authors: Aravind R. , Kathiresan N. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractIn an effort to overcome shoulder morbidity from the classical radical neck dissection, modifications preserving the entire spinal accessory nerve, were described. When there are metastatic upper jugular nodes with potential extracapsular spread, modifications that preserve the entire XI nerve may be oncologically unsafe. We describe a technique wherein the XI nerve is preserved based on the contribution from the cervical plexus, while allowing resection of the proximal part of the nerve en bloc with the specimen. This modification may preserve useful trapezius function without compromising oncological safety. J. Surg. Oncol. 2008;98:200–201. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.