bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Standardization of High-Sensitivity Immunoassays for Measurement of C-Reactive Protein; II: Two Approaches for Assessing Commutability of a Reference Material
Authors: Kimberly Mary M , Caudill Samuel P , Vesper Hubert W , Monsell Elizabeth A , Miller W Greg , Rej Robert , Rifai Nader , Dati Francesco , Myers Gary L 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
Background: We evaluated the commutability of a proposed reference material (PRM), with a formulation based on dilution of Certified Reference Material 470 (CRM470), for 24 high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) methods. We also investigated whether calibration by use of PRM was effective in harmonizing results.
Methods: A set of 40 native clinical samples was measured along with PRM and 3 dilutions of PRM. We used weighted least-squares polynomial regression (WLS/PR) to perform comparisons between all method combinations and to calculate normalized residuals for the PRM. The PRM was considered noncommutable if any of the normalized residuals for a method pair was &gt;2. Correspondence analysis (CA) was used to explore the multidimensional relationships between methods and samples to evaluate if the PRM had properties similar to native clinical samples. Clinical sample results from the methods for which PRM was commutable were recalibrated based on the PRM results, and ANOVA was used to estimate the CVs before and after recalibration.
Results: After omitting data for 9 methods because of poor precision or procedural flaws, we used data from the 15 remaining methods to evaluate commutability. Using both WLS/PR and CA we found that PRM was noncommutable with 1 method. We found modest improvement in total and among-method CVs when PRM was used to harmonize the results from the 14 methods for which it was commutable.
Conclusions: A PRM with a formulation based on dilution of CRM470 was commutable with native clinical samples for 14 of 15 hsCRP methods that had acceptable precision. For those methods the use of PRM may contribute to improved harmonization of results for native clinical samples.
Sovereign-Wealth Funds: Assuaging the Exaggerated Anguish about the New Global Financial Players
Authors: Das Dilip K. 
Published: December 2008

The world of international finance is in the process of transformation. A new group of emerging market economies and members of GCC are emerging as major exporters of capital. Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) are their instruments of interacting with the global capital markets. Although they are an instrument of enhancing liquidity and financial resource allocation in the international capital market, they have become a source of controversies and threaten an escalation in financial protectionism. SWFs are state-owned and managed and have started playing a decisive role in underpinning, sustaining, and expanding financial globalization. Popular and financial media did not begin copious discussions regarding the operations of the SWF until the last quarter of 2007, when they acquired considerable eminence due to their increasing operations. The sub-prime mortgage crisis in the US created severe credit crunch, which precipitously worsened to a crisis proportion in the third week of September 2008. This credit crunch became a window of opportunity for the SWFs. Total assets under management of the SWFs were on an increase. However, their state-ownership and lack of transparency has created considerable anxiety about their operations. The SWFs are being viewed as turning from creditors to owners. Large and diversified portfolio investments by SWFs entail few risks for the international financial market; anxiety about them is exaggerated. Restrictions from host economies on SWFs activities would deprive the international financial markets of a cash-rich market player. Rise of financial protectionism would work as a barricade against the expanding globalization. Participation of the SWF in the international financial system can be improved by policy initiatives at three levels, namely, the SWF level, the host economy level and by the international institutions like the IMF, which needs to devise a set of best practices for the operations of the SWFs.
Crossing the Line: Direct Estimation of Cross-Border Cigarette Sales and the Effect on Tax Revenue
Authors: Chiou Lesley , Muehlegger Erich 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
Differences in excise taxes across jurisdictions create incentives for consumers to cross the border and to purchase in lower-tax jurisdictions. This paper introduces a discrete choice model to examine tax avoidance and state border crossing in the market for cigarettes. We exploit a rich dataset of consumer location choices and demographics to estimate a consumer's tradeoff between distance and price when choosing a location to maximize utility. Using the estimates from our location and demand models, we reconsider a recent public policy issue among states and simulate tax avoidance under alternative cigarette excise tax levels.
Gonality for stable curves and their maps with a smooth curve as their target
Authors: Ballico Edoardo 
Published: December 2008

AbstractHere we study the deformation theory of some maps f: X → ℙr , r = 1, 2, where X is a nodal curve and f|T is not constant for every irreducible component T of X. For r = 1 we show that the “stratification by gonality” for any subset of
A new 122 mm electromechanical drill for deep ice-sheet coring (DISC): 2. Mechanical design
Authors: Mason William P. , Shturmakov Alexander J. , Johnson Jay A. , Haman Scott 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe deep ice-sheet coring (DISC) drill consists of four major mechanical drilling subsystems and four subsystems supporting on-surface activities. The mechanical drilling subsystems are a drill sonde, a drill cable, a tower and a winch. The drill sonde is the down-hole portion of the drill system and consists of six distinct sections: (1) the cutter head, (2) the core barrel, (3) the screen section, (4) the motor/pump section, (5) the instrument section and (6) the upper sonde, which includes anti-torques and drill cable terminations. The drill cable not only provides the means of supporting the drill sonde in the borehole, but also provides conduits for electrical power and data transmission. The tower tilts to allow the drill sonde to be serviced in the horizontal position without removing it from the tower. The winch provides a means of quickly raising the sonde from the borehole and providing the fine control necessary for coring operations.
The PrairieDog: a double-barrel coring drill for ‘hand’ augering
Authors: Kyne Jay , McConnell Joe 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe PrairieDog is a double-barreled ice corer designed to enable more efficient drilling – better core quality, fewer trips in and out of the borehole, easier breaks from the hole bottom, better chip collection and less energy to turn – than a simple single core barrel that accompanies most ‘hand’ ice-coring drill systems. Over several seasons, the PrairieDog has been used to drill about 50 holes to an average depth of about 20 m. It is safe to use in warm ice where a simple core-auguring barrel could easily become stuck. For a 20m hole, about five trips in and out of the borehole are saved using the PrairieDog compared with a simple auger barrel of the same core length. With fiberglass inner and outer barrels and an anti-torque section composed primarily of aluminum, the PrairieDog weighs only about 25 lb (11.3 kg).
EPICA Dome C electronic control system
Authors: Panichi S. , Querci M. , Arrighi C. , Lefebvre E. , Frascati F. , Armeni M. , Benamati G. , Augustin L. , Antonelli A. , Nucci S. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractA new deep drill has been developed within the framework of the European Programme for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA). Several versions of the EPICA drill exist. The version used at Dome Concordia (75˚06'1" S, 123˚23'71" E) was operated with a new electronic control system developed by the Ente per le Nuove tecnologie, l’Energia e l’Ambiente (ENEA) Research Center in Brasimone, Italy. This electronic control system was used for the first time during the 1997/98 Antarctic summer season.
A floating-station structure
Authors: Rufli Henry , Schwander Jakob 
Published: December 2008

AbstractLong-term maintenance of camp constructions on snow and ice surfaces involves repeated adjustments of the vertical position of buildings due to snow accumulation or ice ablation. The principle of a low-effort vertical-adjustment station structure is presented. The basic idea is to construct a floatable spherical-shaped building that can be lifted by adding water underneath, which will then refreeze, or can be lowered by melting ice away from the base. Under cold polar conditions, the power requirement for melting the base free is approximately 100 Wm–2 and is usually available as waste heat from the electric power generator of the station.
Upper limb musculoskeletal stress markers among middle Holocene foragers of Siberia's Cis‐Baikal region
Authors: Lieverse Angela R. , Bazaliiskii Vladimir Ivanovich , Goriunova Olga Ivanovna , Weber Andrzej W. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThis evaluation of musculoskeletal stress markers (MSMs) in the Cis‐Baikal focuses on upper limb activity reconstruction among the region's middle Holocene foragers, particularly as it pertains to adaptation and cultural change. The five cemetery populations investigated represent two discrete groups separated by an 800–1,000 year hiatus: the Early Neolithic (8000–7000/6800 cal. BP) Kitoi culture and the Late Neolithic/Bronze Age (6000/5800–4000 cal. BP) Isakovo‐Serovo‐Glaskovo (ISG) cultural complex. Twenty‐four upper limb MSMs are investigated not only to gain a better understanding of activity throughout the middle Holocene, but also to independently assess the relative distinctiveness of Kitoi and ISG adaptive regimes. Results reveal higher heterogeneity in overall activity levels among Early Neolithic populations—with Kitoi males exhibiting more pronounced upper limb MSMs than both contemporary females and ISG males—but relative constancy during the Late Neolithic/Bronze Age, regardless of sex or possible status. On the other hand, activity patterns seem to have varied more during the latter period, with the supinator being ranked high among the ISG, but not the Kitoi, and forearm flexors and extensors being ranked generally low only among ISG females. Upper limb rank patterning does not distinguish Early Neolithic males, suggesting that their higher MSM scores reflect differences in the degree (intensity and/or duration), rather than the type, of activity employed. Finally, for both Kitoi and ISG peoples, activity patterns—especially the consistently high‐ranked costoclavicular ligament and deltoid and pectoralis major muscles—appear to be consistent with watercraft use. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The fractal analysis of copolymerization processes
Authors: Kozlov G. V. , Shustov G. B. , Zaikov G. E. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe results obtained in the present article show that the fractal analysis and irreversible aggregation models application allow to obtain a clear physical picture of copolycondensation process and estimate its quantitative characteristics. The basic characteristic, controlling this process, is fractal dimension Df of macromolecular coil in solution. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Transport properties of some cationic amphiphilic polysaccharides: Effects of the side‐chain length and solvent polarity
Authors: Ghimici Luminita , Nichifor Marieta 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe transport properties of polyelectrolytes with N‐alkyl‐N,N‐dimethyl‐N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl)ammonium chloride pendent groups (alkyl = octyl, dodecyl, or cetyl) randomly distributed along a polysaccharide backbone (dextran) in solutions were studied with viscometry and conductometry. This investigation mainly considered the influence of the side‐chain length and the solvent polarity on the polyelectrolyte behavior in salt‐free aqueous solutions. The viscometric data indicated that all the copolymers exhibited polyelectrolyte behavior, and they were plotted in terms of the Rao equation. The viscosity of the polycation with dodecyl as alkyl substituent was also measured in solvent mixtures of water and methanol. The conductometric behavior of these cationic polysaccharides was found to be influenced by the alkyl side‐chain length and the solvent polarity. A nonlinear dependence of the equivalent conductivity on the dielectric constant of the solvent was observed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Polyurethane‐modified epoxy resin: Solventless preparation and properties
Authors: Ong S. , Ismail J. , Bakar M. Abu , Rahman I. A. , Sipaut C. S. , Chee C. K. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractA polyurethane‐modified epoxy resin system with potential as an underfill material in electronic packaging and its preparation procedure were studied. The procedure enabled the practical incorporation of an aliphatic polyurethane precursor, synthesized from poly(ethylene glycol) and hexamethylene diisocyanate without a solvent, as a precrosslinking agent into a conventional epoxy resin. With a stoichiometric quantity of the polyurethane precursor added to the epoxy (ca. 5 phr), the polyurethane‐modified epoxy resin, mixed with methylene dianiline, exhibited a 36% reduction in the contact angle with the epoxy–amine surface, a 31% reduction in the cure onset temperature versus the control epoxy system, and a viscosity within the processable range. The resultant amine‐cured thermosets, meanwhile, exhibited enhanced thermal stability, flexural strength, storage modulus, and adhesion strength at the expense of a 5% increase in the coefficient of thermal expansion. Exceeding the stoichiometric quantity of the polyurethane precursor, however, reduced the thermal stability and modulus but further increased the coefficient of thermal expansion. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Effects of retinoic acid onDominant hemimeliaexpression in mice
Authors: Owen Mary H. , Ryan Louise M. , Holmes Lewis B. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND:Dominant hemimelia (Dh)is an autosomal dominant mutation that arose spontaneously in mice.Dhanimals are asplenic and they exhibit asymmetric hindlimb defects in association with reduced numbers of lumbar vertebrae. These defects suggest thatDhacts early in embryonic development to affect patterning of the anterior‐posterior (A‐P) and left‐right axes. This study was undertaken to determine whether retinoic acid (RA), which is involved in A‐P patterning and coordination of bilaterally synchronized somitogenesis, affects phenotypic expression of theDhgene.METHODS:Thirty‐four pregnant females were given, by oral intubation, a single dose of 50 or 75 mg all‐trans RA per kilogram body weight at GD 9, 10, or 11. The pregnant females were then euthanized at GD 18 and fetuses removed by cesarean section. A total of 326 fetuses were identified by phenotype and linked DNA and their skeletons were analyzed.RESULTS:There was a differential effect of RA on the axial skeleton and hindlimb ofDh/+ mice as compared to their wild‐type littermates. Dose‐ and stage‐specific effects on sternebrae and vertebrae were observed.CONCLUSIONS:The effects of RA dosing on numbers of sternebrae and vertebrae suggest thatDhembryos have a primary defect in retinoid‐mediated A‐P patterning. Dosing with RA may produce the observed effects on phenotypic expression ofDh/+ by indirectly or directly modifying an already existing alteredHoxexpression pattern. As the relationship between axial patterning and the asymmetric limb is unknown,Dhis an important model for studying this relationship. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Minimisation of end‐to‐end delay in reconfigurable WDM networks using genetic algorithms
Authors: Durán Barroso Ramón J. , de Miguel Ignacio , Merayo Noemí , Fernández Patricia , M. Lorenzo Rubén , Abril Evaristo J. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractA new genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed to design logical topologies for wavelength‐routed optical networks (WRONs) with the objective of minimising the end‐to‐end delay. Two versions of the algorithm, called D‐GALD (Delay‐optimised Genetic Algorithm for Logical topology Design), have been developed. The first one minimises the average end‐to‐end delay of the packets transported by the network, while the second one minimises the average delay of the most delayed traffic flow. By means of a simulation study, we show that the logical topologies designed by D‐GALD support more than 50 per cent higher traffic load—without causing network instability—than those ones designed by other heuristics. Moreover, the utilisation of D‐GALD leads to reductions of up to 15 per cent in the average end‐to‐end delay and around 30 per cent in the average end‐to‐end delay of the most delayed traffic flow. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Achievable rates of DSL with crosstalk cancellation
Authors: Filho D. Zanatta , Lopes R. R. , Ferrari R. , Loiola M. B. , Suyama R. , Simões G. C. C. P. , Dortschy B. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractCrosstalk is one of the main limiting factors in the data rates achievable by digital subscriber line (DSL) systems, and several algorithms have been proposed to mitigate this impairment. In this paper, we compare the achievable rates of binders under different crosstalk‐mitigating techniques. When computing these rates, we also compare two different power constraints: either on the total power in the binder or on the power in each twisted wire pair. We will see that, for the scenarios considered in this paper, the fact that the signals are jointly processed in one or both ends of the DSL link leads to roughly the same performance, which can be far superior to that of systems with no cooperation between the users. Both power constraints also lead to similar achievable rates. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diffusion and Monod kinetics to determine in vivo human corneal oxygen‐consumption rate during soft contact‐lens wear
Authors: Chhabra Mahendra , Prausnitz John M. , Radke C. J. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe rate of oxygen consumption is an important parameter to assess the physiology of the human cornea. Metabolism of oxygen in the cornea is influenced by contact‐lens‐induced hypoxia, diseases such as diabetes, surgery, and drug treatment. Therefore, estimation of in vivo corneal oxygen‐consumption rate is essential for gauging adequate oxygen supply to the cornea. Phosphorescence quenching of a dye coated on the posterior of a soft contact lens provides a powerful technique to measure tear‐film oxygen tension (Harvitt and Bonanno, Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1996;37:1026–1036; Bonanno et al., Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2002;43:371–376). Unfortunately, previous work in establishing oxygen‐consumption kinetics from transient postlens tear‐film oxygen tensions relies on the simplistic assumption of a constant corneal‐consumption rate. A more realistic model of corneal metabolism is needed to obtain reliable oxygen‐consumption kinetics. Here, physiologically relevant nonlinear Monod kinetics is adopted for describing the local oxygen‐consumption rate, thus avoiding aphysical negative oxygen tensions in the cornea. We incorporate Monod kinetics in an unsteady‐state reactive‐diffusion model for the cornea contact‐lens system to determine tear‐film oxygen tension as a function of time when changing from closed‐eye to open‐eye condition. The model was fit to available experimental data of in vivo human postlens tear‐film oxygen tension to determine the corneal oxygen‐consumption rate. Reliance on corneal oxygen diffusivity and solubility data obtained from rabbits is no longer requisite. Excellent agreement is obtained between the proposed model and experiment. We calculate the spatial‐averaged in vivo human maximum corneal oxygen‐consumption rate as Q = 1.05 × 10−4 mL/(cm3 s). The calculated Monod constant is Km = 2.2 mmHg. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009
The return period of wind storms over Europe
Authors: Della‐Marta Paul M. , Mathis Hubert , Frei Christoph , Liniger Mark A. , Kleinn Jan , Appenzeller Christof 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAccurate assessment of the magnitude and frequency of extreme wind speed is of fundamental importance for many safety, engineering and reinsurance applications. We utilize the spatial and temporal consistency of the European Centre for Medium Range Forecasts ERA‐40 reanalysis data to determine the frequency of extreme winds associated with wind storms over the eastern North Atlantic and Europe. Two parameters are investigated: 10‐m wind gust and 10‐m wind speed. The analysis follows two different view‐points: In a spatially distributed view, wind‐storm statistics are determined individually at each grid‐point. In an integral, more generalized view, the wind‐storm statistics are determined from extreme wind indices (EWI) that summarize storm magnitude and spatial extent. We apply classical peak over threshold (POT) extreme value analysis techniques (EVA) to the EWI and grid‐point wind data. As a reference, a catalogue of the 200 most prominent European storms has been compiled based on available literature. The EWI‐based return periods (RP) estimates of catalogue wind storms range from approximately 0.1 to 300 years, whereas grid‐point‐based RP estimates range from 0.1 to 500+ years. EWIs sensitive to the absolute magnitude of wind speed rank the RP of wind storms in the 1989/1990 and 1999/2000 extended winter season similarly to the RP derived from the distributed approach. The RP estimates derived from EWIs are generally higher when calculated using only land grid‐points compared to RPs derived using whole domain. Both the uncertainties in EWIs and grid‐point‐based RPs show a greater dependence on the wind parameter used than on the uncertainty associated with the EVA for RPs less than 10 years, whereas for RPs greater than 10 years the effect of the different datasets is lower. The EWIs share up to approximately 50% of the variability of the local grid‐point RPs. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups J and K are not protective for Parkinson's disease in the Australian community
Authors: Mehta Prachi , Mellick George D. , Rowe Dominic B. , Halliday Glenda M. , Jones Michael M. , Manwaring Neil , Vandebona Himesha , Silburn Peter A. , Wang Jie Jin , Mitchell Paul , Sue Carolyn M. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractMtDNA haplogroups J and K have been associated with a decreased risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD). To confirm this finding, we compared the distribution of mtDNA haplogroups J and K in a large sample of Australian patients with PD (n = 890) to population‐based controls (n = 3,491). We assigned subjects to haplogroups J or K using standard PCR/RFLP techniques. Of the 890 subjects with PD, 10.6% were haplogroup J (95% CI 8.6–12.8, n = 94) and 7.1% were haplogroup K (95% CI 5.5–8.9, n = 63). In our controls, 10.2% belonged to haplogroup J (95% CI 9.2–11.2, n = 356), and 7.8% were in haplogroup K (95% CI 6.9–8.7, n = 272). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of mtDNA haplogroup J or K in PD patients compared to population‐based controls. Our findings indicate that mtDNA haplogroups J and K are not associated with a lower risk of PD. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society