bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Drug utilization study in a neonatology unit of a tertiary care hospital in eastern India
Authors: Chatterjee Suparna , Mandal Ananya , Lyle Nazmun , Mukherjee Suchandra , Singh Arun K 
Published: September 2007

AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate the drug prescribing trends in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a tertiary care hospital in eastern India.MethodsThe study was a prospective study that spanned for a period of 6 months from March 2005 to August 2005. Prescriptions and patient records were reviewed and analyzed using the World Health Organization (WHO) indicators for drug utilization studies. Rationality of drug usage was also evaluated by analyzing the drug prescriptions.ResultsA total of 176 neonates were admitted and 21 deaths were noted. The total number of drugs prescribed were 849. The average number of drugs per prescription was 4.8. The intravenous route (92.1%) was the commonest route of drug administration. 79.7% of the drugs were prescribed in generics. 30.2% of the total drugs prescribed were antimicrobials. It was noted that 88.6% of the drugs prescribed were in compliance with the National list of Essential Medicines 2003.ConclusionThe common diseases for which the neonates sought admission in the NICU were suspected septicaemia, birth asphyxia, neonatal jaundice and major congenital malformations. As antibiotics were the most frequently used drugs, their usage was analyzed in all cases. It was found to be rational in 84% of suspected septicaemia cases, as the provisional diagnosis on admission was confirmed with subsequent investigations thereby justifying appropriate antibiotic therapy. The diagnosis and treatment of other cases like neonatal jaundice, birth asphyxia, congenital malformations and electrolyte imbalance were rational and treatment was given as per treatment guidelines. Irrational usage of vitamins, nutritional supplements and parenteral fluids was not noted. The absence of the latest National essential list of medicines at the neonatology unit was noted. Secondly an antibiotic usage policy for the unit depending on the local microbial sensitivity pattern should have been in place. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polymerization and self‐assembly of thermally responsive in‐chain functionalized double‐hydrophilic macromonomers
Authors: Berlinova Iliyana V. , Iliev Plamen V. , Vladimirov Nikolay G. , Novakov Christo P. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractDouble‐hydrophilic in‐chain functionalized macromonomers consisting of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and poly(ethylene oxide) were prepared by a multistep procedure including esterification of PNIPAM monoester of maleic acid with α‐methoxy‐ω‐hydroxypolyoxyethylene or its amidation with α‐methoxy‐ω‐aminopolyoxyethylene. The polymerization of the macromonomers was carried out in aqueous solutions. The temperature was the key parameter controlling the polymerization process that was performed in the organized domains formed by the macromonomers below and above the phase transition temperature (Ttr). Polymacromonomers with higher degrees of polymerization were prepared at temperatures just below the Ttr. Static light scattering measurements on dilute aqueous solutions of thermally‐responsive macromonomers and their polymerization products demonstrated that they formed aggregates below the Ttr. Supramolecular structures with low density cores, formed by the polymacromonomers at room temperature, were imaged by SEM. Morphological tuning was achieved by varying both the composition of the copolymer and the concentration of the aqueous solution. The rheological behavior of the polymacromonomers in 25 wt % aqueous solution was compared to that of the respective macromonomers. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4720–4732, 2007
Addition polymerization of norbornene using bis(β‐ketoamino)nickel(II)/tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane catalytic systems
Authors: He Xiaohui , Chen Yiwang , Liu Yongming , Yu Shuxian , Hong Sanguo , Wu Qing 
Published: September 2007

AbstractNorbornene polymerizations proceeded in toluene with bis(β‐ketoamino)nickel(II) {Ni[CH3C(O)CHC(NR)CH3]2 [R = phenyl (1) or naphthyl (2)]} complexes as the catalyst precursors and the organo‐Lewis compound tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane [B(C6F5)3] as a unique cocatalyst. The polymerization conditions, such as the cocatalyst/catalyst ratio (B/Ni), catalyst concentration, monomer/catalyst ratio (norbornene/Ni), polymerization temperature, and polymerization time, were studied in detail. Both bis(β‐ketoamino)nickel(II)/B(C6F5)3 catalytic systems showed noticeably high conversions and activities. The polymerization activities were up to 3.64 × 107 g of polymer/mol of Ni h for complex 1/(B(C6F5)3 and 3.80 × 107 g of polymer/mol of Ni h for complex 2/B(C6F5)3, and very high conversions of 90–95% were maintained; both polymerizations provided high‐molecular‐weight polynorbornenes with molecular weight distributions (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight) of 2.5–3.0. The achieved polynorbornenes were confirmed to be vinyl‐addition and atactic polymers through the analysis of Fourier transform infrared, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectra, and the thermogravimetric analysis results showed that the polynorbornenes exhibited good thermal stability (decomposition temperature > 410 °C). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4733–4743, 2007
Generation of core/shell iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles with polystyrene brushes by atom transfer radical polymerization
Authors: Garcia I. , Tercjak A. , Zafeiropoulos N. E. , Stamm M. , Mondragon I. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractThe functionalization of nanoparticle surfaces is required to improve the dispersion of an inorganic material inside an organic matrix. In this work, polystyrene (PS) brushes were grown on the surface of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles with atom transfer radical polymerization and a grafting‐from approach. After polymerization, the magnetic nanoparticles had a graft density of 0.9 PS chains/nm2. A sacrificial initiator was used to obtain a satisfactory result for the control of the polymerization, as its addition had to generate a sufficient concentration of persistent radicals (deactivator). A variety of techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, gel permeation chromatography, water contact‐angle measurements, and atomic force microscopy, were used to characterize the nanoparticles. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4744–4750, 2007
Synthesis of perfectly bifunctional polyacrylates by single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization
Authors: Lligadas Gerard , Percec Virgil 
Published: September 2007

AbstractPoly(methyl acrylate)s, poly(ethyl acrylate)s, and poly(butyl acrylate)s with α,ω‐di(bromo) chain ends and Mn from 8500 to 35,000 were synthesized by single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP). The analysis of their chain ends by a combination of 1H and 2D‐NMR, GPC, MALDI‐TOF MS, chain end functionalization, chain extension, and halogen exchange experiments demonstrated the synthesis of perfectly bifunctional polyacrylates by SET‐LRP. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4684–4695, 2007
Cancer and disability benefits: a synthesis of qualitative findings on advice and support
Authors: Wilson Kate , Amir Ziv 
Published: September 2007

AbstractFollowing the Supportive and Palliative Care Guidance, a call was made for a meta‐ethnography on social support services for people affected by cancer. We responded by focusing on the topic of financial advice and support. After a scoping exercise revealed little qualitative evidence, we adopted the chief aim of identifying issues for research. Over 50 keywords relating to patient finances, cancer and qualitative research were entered into electronic search databases and combined. Because of the nature of the literature found, we synthesized primary data into themes and discussion, rather than second‐order constructs into third‐order constructs, as is common in meta‐ethnography. Most of the literature found serves pragmatic, campaigning and/or service‐development objectives. Also, most relates to disability benefits rather than insurance, tax and other issues. Five themes emerged: patients' struggles to obtain financial advice and benefits; tests/rules for disability benefits; issues relating to ‘Special Rules’; intervention by benefit advisers; and intervention by health/social‐care professionals. Struggles with the benefit system emerged as the fundamental theme.We conclude that patients need sensitive, proactive services to assist with benefit claims, and a benefit system that seems supportive rather than obstructive. Numerous under‐researched topics were identified, including the need for general financial advice, help for carers, and cultural issues. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hand position effects on precision and speed in telerobotic surgery
Authors: Golenberg L. , Cao A. , Ellis R. D. , Klein M. , Auner G. , Pandya A. K. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractBackgroundMany surgical robotic interfaces allow users to interact with robots over a wide potential range of motion, yet variation in operator performance across a range of motion remains unexamined. This research identifies and explores a new construct, the surgeon's ‘comfortable working envelope’ within the available range of motion, as a factor in surgical robotic interface design.MethodsTask accuracy and completion time for a simple aimed movement task were analysed as a function of participant hand positions obtained via infrared motion tracking.ResultsHand positions outside the ‘comfortable working envelope’ led to a 20% increase in error magnitude. With respect to the overall input device range of motion, there were large variations in performance, up to 31% difference in error magnitude and 11% difference in movement time.ConclusionsThese results suggest that advanced surgical robots should have intelligent re‐indexing strategies. Alternatively, the robot's control gain should adaptively change with respect to hand position to normalize a surgeon's performance throughout his/her working volume. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Real‐time localization and elevation mapping within urban search and rescue scenarios
Authors: Kleiner Alexander , Dornhege Christian 
Published: September 2007

AbstractUrban search and rescue (USAR) is a time critical task. One goal in rescue robotics is to have a team of heterogeneous robots that explore autonomously the disaster area, while jointly creating a map of the terrain and registering victim locations, which can further be utilized by human task forces for rescue. Basically, the robots have to solve autonomously in real‐time the problem of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), consisting of a continuous state estimation problem and a discrete data association problem. In this paper we contribute a novel method for efficient loop closure in harsh large‐scale environments that utilizes RFID technology for data association and slippage‐sensitive odometry for 2D pose tracking. Furthermore, we introduce a computational efficient method for building elevation maps by utilizing an extended Kalman filter for 3D pose tracking, which can be applied in real‐time while navigating on rough terrain. The proposed methods have been extensively evaluated within outdoor environments, as well as within USAR test arenas designed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Our results show that the proposed methods perform robustly and efficiently within the utilized benchmark scenarios. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evolving interface design for robot search tasks
Authors: Yanco Holly A. , Keyes Brenden , Drury Jill L. , Nielsen Curtis W. , Few Douglas A. , Bruemmer David J. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractThis paper describes two steps in the evolution of human‐robot interaction designs developed by the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) and the Idaho National Laboratory to support urban search and rescue tasks. Usability tests were conducted to compare the two interfaces, one of which emphasized three‐dimensional mapping while the other design emphasized the video feed. We found that participants desired a combination of the interface design approaches. As a result, the UML system was changed to augment its heavy emphasis on video with a map view of the area immediately around the robot. The changes were tested in a follow‐up user study and the results from that experiment suggest that performance, as measured by the number of collisions with objects in the environment and time on task, is better with the new interaction techniques. Throughout the paper, we describe how we applied human‐computer interaction principles and techniques to benefit the evolution of the human‐robot interaction designs. While the design work is situated in the urban search and rescue domain, the results can be generalized to domains that involve other search or monitoring tasks using remotely located robots. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Atomic Force Microscopy of Recombinant Adeno‐associated Virus‐2 Prepared by Centrifugation
Authors: Chen Heng 
Published: September 2007

AbstractIn order to decrease salt crystal formation, reduce the aggregation of viruses in atomic force microscopy (AFM) preparations and obtain an acceptable AFM image, the AFM sampling of viruses must be optimized. In this paper, centrifugal AFM sampling of recombinant adeno‐associated virus‐2 (rAAV‐2) was used. The prepared rAAV‐2 virus was imaged by AFM using the tapping mode in air. The results indicate that the rAAV‐2 viruses prepared by centrifugal AFM sampling methods could be well imaged by AFM. The rAAV‐2 viruses exhibited polymorphous particles in the AFM images. The preliminary off‐line section analysis of the individual rAAV‐2 virus particle indicated that the half‐high widths of the large rAAV‐2 particles ranged from 18 to 23 nm, while those of the small rAAV‐2 particles ranged from 15 to 17 nm, which is almost in agreement with the results obtained by the off‐line particle analysis of the rAAV‐2 virus particles. Above all, the aggregation of different‐sized rAAV‐2 particles was directly imaged by AFM, which verifies the previous speculation that the large number (>∼31 nm) distribution of the mean diameter of rAAV‐2 virus particles was probably caused by aggregation of rAAV‐2 particles. SCANNING 29: 238‐242, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Converging confidence of expert opinions
Authors: Hart Gary C. , King Stephanie A. , Hortacsu Ayse 
Published: September 2007

AbstractIn this age of high technology, the expert consultant usually must state an opinion based on limited information. This is especially true in construction defect or delay claim cases, or when the damage to a structure is due to the occurrence of a natural phenomenon such as rainstorms, strong winds, or earthquakes. The ever expanding availability of tools for computer analysis of structures enable increasing insight and improved accuracy in helping to understand the cause of damage, but many of these analyses are very expensive. Often the client and the expert face the dilemma of balancing the expenditure of limited funds with the goal of achieving a desired level of confidence in the expert's opinion. This paper addresses how one can scientifically assess the confidence in an experts' opinion. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of verbal interactions during an extended, open‐inquiry general chemistry laboratory investigation
Authors: Krystyniak Rebecca A. , Heikkinen Henry W. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractThis study explores effects of participation by second‐semester college general chemistry students in an extended, open‐inquiry laboratory investigation. Verbal interactions among a student lab team and with their instructor over three open‐inquiry laboratory sessions and two non‐inquiry sessions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. Coding categories were developed using the constant comparison method. Findings indicate that, during open‐inquiry activities, the student team interacted less often, sought less instructor guidance, and talked less about chemistry concepts than during their non‐inquiry activities. Evidence suggests that the students employed science process skills and engaged in higher‐order thinking during both types of laboratory activities. Implications for including open‐inquiry experiences in general chemistry laboratory programs on student understanding of science as inquiry are discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 44: 1160–1186, 2007
Miscarriage after a normal scan at 12–14 gestational weeks in women at low risk of carrying a fetus with chromosomal anomaly according to nuchal translucency screening
Authors: Westin M. , Källén K. , Saltvedt S. , Almström H. , Grunewald C. , Valentin L. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractObjectivesTo estimate the risk of second‐trimester miscarriage in women with low risk of carrying a fetus with chromosomal abnormality, according to nuchal translucency (NT) screening, and to determine whether NT thickness or other factors affect the risk.MethodsThe study population comprised 14 278 singleton pregnancies with a risk of Down syndrome < 1:250 at NT scan, and where no fetal karyotyping was performed < 25 weeks. Risk factors for miscarriage were investigated by logistic regression.ResultsThe median risk of Down syndrome was 1 : 3138 (range 1 : 9651–1 : 251) and median NT was 1.7 (range 0.4–3.0) mm. The miscarriage rate was 0.5% (77/14 278; 95% CI 0.4–0.6). After having controlled for maternal age, we found the number of previous deliveries and miscarriages to independently predict miscarriage: odds ratio (OR) for each previous delivery 1.48, 95% CI 1.22–1.94, P < 0.0001; OR for each previous miscarriage 1.34, 95% CI 1.07–1.68, P = 0.01. Excluding women with any previous miscarriage and adjusting for parity, we found a U‐shaped relationship between maternal age and miscarriage (P = 0.04).ConclusionIn singleton pregnancies with estimated risk of Down syndrome < 1:250 according to NT screening at 12–14 weeks, the spontaneous fetal loss rate before 25 weeks is likely to be around 0.5%. NT thickness up to 3 mm does not seem to affect the risk of miscarriage in such pregnancies. Instead, the risk seems to increase with number of previous miscarriages and deliveries, and possibly the risk is highest in the youngest and oldest women. Copyright © 2007 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM): comparison with intra-operative radiotherapy and evaluation of prognostic factors
Authors: Matsuo Masayuki , Shinoda Jun , Miwa Kazuhiro , Yano Hirohito , Iwama Toru , Hayashi Shinya , Okada Sunaho , Tanaka Osamu , Hoshi Hiroaki 
Published: September 2007

AbstractThe goals of this study were (1) to compare, in a single institute, the clinical results of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), which has been incorporated into the initial management approach, with thosein-patientstreated with intra-operative radiotherapy (IORT) and (2) to assess whether these local irradiation boost therapies are prognostic factors on survival analysis. One hundred and twenty adult patients with supratentorial GBM had undergone tumour resection or biopsy and had received external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Of them, 31 underwent IORT, 29 underwent SRS, and the remaining 60 had no local high-dose irradiation boost. The local irradiation boost led to clearly better results on survival of GBM patients. Furthermore, SRS is less invasive and allows for meticulous target planning of the irradiation boost, and was superior to IORT in terms of survival prolongation as well as suppression of local tumour recurrence/progression at the primary site in this series. In addition, SRS was a significant, positive prognostic factor for survival as well as gross-total resection of the tumour, and could be an alternative therapeutic modality to IORT for GBM.
Commissioning a new CT simulator I: CT simulator hardware
Authors: Kearns D. , McJury M. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractThis paper reports on the commissioning tests performed on a new GE Lightspeed RT wide-bore computed tomography (CT) scanner with GE Advantage Sim software. This paper focuses on the laser marking system, CT hardware and the interfaces between each component of the system, and generalises the findings to most CT simulation systems currently available. A discussion on the commissioning of the virtual simulator software will follow in a separate paper. Three phantoms were used (two constructed in-house) to assist with a range of tests covering aspects such as the laser patient marking system, CT hardware, and connections between the CT scanner, virtual simulator system and the treatment planning system (TPS) and VARiS. Tests performed showed the CT simulation system to be working within acceptable tolerances suggested in the literature, and baseline data have been obtained against which future comparisons of system performance have been made. Where no tolerances were available, we have suggested suitable values. While considering tolerances on Hounsfield number variation that may lead to a dose error in excess of 2%, we found that in the case of low-kV CT scanning the range of Hounsfield numbers for dense bone was outside the acceptable limits for potential dose errors and so users were advised not to perform radiotherapy planning CT scans with kV below 100 kV.
A comparison of kilovoltage and megavoltage cone beam CT in radiotherapy
Authors: Broderick M. , Menezes G. , Leech M. , Coffey M. , Appleyard R. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractAs more and more patients are planned in 3D, the need to verify their position and treatment in 3D also becomes apparent. Megavoltage (MV) and kilovoltage (KV) cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) provide 3D verification of patient position. However, the soft tissue contrast and thus the accuracy of delineation is superior with KV CT imaging. CBCT in conjunction with energy fluence maps from electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) could theoretically be used to verify the dose delivered. In this instance, a cross calibration between the KV CBCT and the EPID would be required which would not be necessary with MV CBCT. Adaptive planning with CBCT poses similar challenges for both KV and MV CBCT. Although KV CBCT can produce images with Hounsfield units (HUs) comparable with conventional CT in homogenous phantoms there are large discrepancies in inhomogeneous mediums. If the cupping artefact is corrected for in MV CBCT, the HU values can compare well with KV CBCT for homogenous media. However, advances need to be made to achieve a lower patient dose with MV CBCT. At present, the lower dose required for KV CBCT allows for more frequent imaging and better image quality.
The phonetics of stress in Greek
Authors:   Arvaniti
Published: September 2007

AbstractThis paper reports on two experiments that investigate the acoustic correlates of primary stress in Greek. The results clearly show that the most robust correlate is amplitude integral, a measurement that combines those of duration and (average) amplitude, and thus is closer to the perceptual property of prominence that characterises stressed syllables. The paper also discusses the role of pitch in signalling stress, by presenting new and re-analysing existing data on this issue. The significance of the present results for our understanding of Greek rhythmic structure is briefly discussed.