bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intravenous contrast‐enhanced dynamic MR urography: Diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux during bladder filling with time‐signal intensity curves
Authors: Kocaoglu Murat , Bulakbasi Nail , Ilica Ahmet Turan , Gok Faysal , Tayfun Cem , Somuncu Ibrahim 
Published: June 2006

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate the time‐signal intensity (SI) curves generated from intravenous (IV) gadodiamide‐enhanced dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) urographic scans for identifying vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) during bladder filling.Materials and MethodsMR urographic studies of children were retrospectively reviewed, and 52 ureterorenal units of 26 patients (15 females and 11 males, mean age = 5.5 years) who had also undergone voiding cystourethrographic (VCUG) examination were included in this study. The patients were examined on a 1.5T scanner. For functional MR urography and to generate time‐SI curves, we used a post IV contrast‐enhanced two‐dimensional (2D) fast field echo (FFE) sequence (TR = 17 msec, TE = 3.2 msec, flip angle (FA) = 90°) in the coronal plane. MR urographic time‐SI curves that demonstrated a prompt and concave fall of the initial third phase followed by intermittent or constantly increasing SI peaks above the baseline from which the second phase starts were considered to have VUR. We compared the differences in time‐SI curves between the control group and patients with VUR during bladder filling.ResultsTwelve ureterorenal units of eight patients (four bilateral and four unilateral) had VUR during bladder filling on VCUG. The time‐SI curves of these patients showed intermittent (N = 8 ureterorenal units), and constantly increasing (N = 4 ureterorenal units) SI peaks consistent with VUR. One patient also had bilateral abnormal time‐SI curves suggesting VUR despite the normal VCUG study. In the control group, 25 units had normal triphase time‐SI curves, six renal units had urinary dilatation with good washout after diuretic injection, and four renal units had upper urinary dilatation without contrast washout, while five renal units did not show any function. None of the patients in the control group revealed distortion in the time‐SI curve. The differences in time‐SI curves patterns between the control group and patients with VUR during bladder filling were statistically significant (P < 0.001).ConclusionAfter a prompt and concave decrease of the initial third phase of the time‐SI curve, intermittent spikes or a constant rise in SI above the baseline suggest the existence of VUR. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantitative diffusion imaging in breast cancer: A clinical prospective study
Authors: Rubesova Erika , Grell Anne‐Sophie , De Maertelaer Viviane , Metens Thierry , Chao Shih‐Li , Lemort Marc 
Published: June 2006

AbstractPurposeTo study the correlation between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and pathology in patients with undefined breast lesion, to validate how accurately ADC is related to histology, and to define a threshold value of ADC to distinguish malignant from benign lesions.Materials and MethodsSeventy‐eight patients (110 lesions) were referred for positive or dubious findings. Three‐dimensional fast low‐angle shot (3D‐FLASH) with contrast injection was applied. EPI diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) with fat saturation was performed, and ROIs were selected on subtraction 3D‐FLASH images before and after contrast injection, and copied on an ADC map. Inter‐ and intraobserver analyses were performed.ResultsAt pathology 22 lesions were benign, 65 were malignant, and 23 were excluded. The ADCs of malignant and benign lesions were statistically different. In malignant tumors the ADC was (mean ± SEM) 0.95 ± 0.027 × 10–3mm2/second, and in benign tumors it was 1.51 ± 0.068 × 10−3mm2/second. According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, we found a threshold between malignant and benign lesions for highest sensitivity and specificity (both 86%) around 1.13 ± 0.10 × 10−3mm2/second. For a threshold of 0.95 ± 0.10 × 10−3mm2/second, specificity was 100% but sensitivity was very low. Inter‐ and intraobserver studies showed good reproducibility.ConclusionThe ADC may help to differentiate benign and malignant lesions with good specificity, and may increase the overall specificity of breast MRI. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Melatonin content in grape: myth or panacea?
Authors: Iriti Marcello , Rossoni Mara , Faoro Franco 
Published: June 2006

AbstractMelatonin (N‐acetyl‐5‐methoxytryptamine) was detected by a modified HPLC method and ELISA tests in extracts of eight different Vitis vinifera cultivars, namely Nebbiolo, Croatina, Sangiovese, Merlot, Marzemino, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Barbera. Its concentration varied greatly among the cultivars, being the highest in Nebbiolo (0.965 ng g−1) and Croatina (0. 870 ng g−1). Field treatments of grapevine with the plant defence activator benzothiadiazole, greatly improved the melatonin content in berry skin extracts, indicating a possible strategy to raise the content of this important pharmaconutrient in plants, while inducing resistance to pathogens. The finding of this compound in grape suggests that the well‐established pharmaconutritional properties of this fruit are due not only to the presence of polyphenolic nutraceuticals, such as resveratrol, anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, but also to the powerful antioxidant activity of melatonin. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Novel Densely Alkylated Hydroxyl‐Functional Polyvinylpyrrolidone Showing Phase‐Selective Solubility
Authors: Engström Jonas U. A. , Helgee Bertil , Sung Shayna D. , Bergbreiter David E. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractSummary: Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is a commonly used polymer with many different applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. However, the lack of reactive groups and the difficulty in copolymerizing the monomer, N‐vinylpyrrolidin‐2‐one (NVP) with most other monomers, limits the possibility of modifying the physical and chemical properties of the polymer. Monomers that are derivatives of NVP itself are expected to show small differences in radical reactivity as compared to the parent monomer and provide a way of adjusting the polymer properties without extensive compositional drift during copolymerization. Here we present the synthesis of two new functionalized NVP‐based monomers and their copolymerization with alkylated NVP‐monomers for the preparation of two functionalized PVPs with phase‐selective solubility in heptane. Both copolymers showed 99.99% selective solubility in heptane over DMF (thermomorphic system) and 99.99% in heptane over 90% EtOH‐H2O (latent biphasic system). These results suggest that the polymers could be used as soluble supports to facilitate recovery and recycling of catalysts or reagents from liquid/liquid systems after homogeneous reactions.Phase‐selectively soluble polyvinylpyrrolidone copolymer.magnified imagePhase‐selectively soluble polyvinylpyrrolidone copolymer.
Thermally Stable, Organosoluble, and Colorless Poly(ether imide)s Having Ortho‐Linked Aromatic Units in the Main Chain and Trifluoromethyl Pendent Groups
Authors: Yang Chin‐Ping , Wang Je‐Min , Su Yu‐Yang , Hsiao Sheng‐Huei 
Published: June 2006

AbstractSummary: A novel series of aromatic poly(ether imide)s (PEIs) IVa–h containing ortho‐linked aromatic units and pendent trifluoromethyl (CF3) groups were prepared from 2,3‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)naphthalene dianhydride (I) with various CF3‐substituted aromatic bis(ether amine)s IIa–h via a conventional two‐stage process including ring‐opening polyaddition to form the poly(amic acid)s followed by either chemical or thermal imidization to the PEIs. The inherent viscosities of PEIs IVa–h were in the range of 0.43–0.86 dL · g−1 that corresponded to weight‐average and number‐average molecular weights (by gel permeation chromatography) of 36 000–73 000 and 23 000–51 000, respectively. All the IV series were highly soluble in several organic solvents and could be solution‐cast into transparent, flexible, and strong films. These films were essentially colorless; their cut‐off wavelengths were between 368 and 377 nm and a very low b* value (a yellowness index) ranging from 4.1 to 5.5. They had useful levels of thermal stability associated with moderately high‐glass transition temperatures (208–281 °C), 10% weight‐loss temperatures in excess of 492 °C, and char yields at 800 °C in nitrogen higher than 51%. They also showed low water uptakes of 0.25–0.48% and low dielectric constants of 3.06–3.67 at 10 kHz. For a comparative study, a series of structurally similar, non‐fluorinated PEIs Va–h from dianhydride I and bis(ether amine)s II′a–h were also prepared and characterized.A novel series of aromatic poly(ether imide)s (PEIs)IVa–h.magnified imageA novel series of aromatic poly(ether imide)s (PEIs)IVa–h.
Non‐Shrinking Networked Materials from the Cross‐Linking Copolymerization of Spiroorthocarbonate with Bifunctional Oxetane
Authors: Nagai Daisuke , Nishida Masaki , Nagasawa Tomomi , Ochiai Bungo , Miyazaki Koji , Endo Takeshi 
Published: June 2006

AbstractSummary: The cationic ring‐opening copolymerization behavior of SOC1 with BOXT and the properties of the obtained cross‐linked copolymers are described. SOC1 and BOXT are cationically copolymerized under various feed ratios to obtain the corresponding cross‐linked copolymers in 73–96% yields. The volume change during copolymerization could be controlled by the addition of SOC1 to obtain non‐shrinking or volume‐expanding copolymers. The glass transition temperatures (Tg) of the copolymers also decrease linearly with the feed ratio of SOC1, which suggests that the introduction of the flexible poly(SOC1) segment into the rigid BOXT cross‐linked segment relieves the internal stress in the resins that severely degrade their mechanical properties.Cationic copolymerization of SOC1 and BOXT.magnified imageCationic copolymerization of SOC1 and BOXT.
Computations of eigenpair subsets with the MRRR algorithm
Authors: Marques Osni A. , Parlett Beresford N. , Vömel Christof 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThe main advantage of inverse iteration over the QR algorithm and Divide & Conquer for the symmetric tridiagonal eigenproblem is that subsets of eigenpairs can be computed at reduced cost.The MRRR algorithm (MRRR=multiple relatively robust representations) is a clever variant of inverse iteration without the need for reorthogonalization. STEGR, the current version of MRRR in LAPACK 3.0, does not allow for subset computations. The next release of STEGR is designed to compute a (sub‐)set of k eigenpairs with 𝒪(kn) operations.Because of the special way in which eigenvectors are computed, MRRR subset computations are more complicated than when using inverse iteration. Unlike the latter, MRRR sometimes cannot ignore the unwanted part of the spectrum.We describe the problems with what we call ‘false singletons’. These are eigenvalues that appear to be isolated with respect to the wanted eigenvalues but in fact belong to a tight cluster of unwanted eigenvalues. This paper analyses these complications and ways to deal with them. Published in 2006 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Physicians, pharmacists and patients' compliance with chronic treatment in Bulgaria
Authors: Petkova Valentina 
Published: June 2006

AbstractPurposeTo study the patient–physician and patient–pharmacist interrelation in order to reveal the systematic factors that influence patients' compliance.MethodsStandard individual questionnaires were developed and used to assess compliance and non‐compliance among different categories of patients suffering from chronic diseases.ResultsThere is a relatively good communication between the patients and the health‐care givers but in order to improve compliance (adherence) further, this level of communication has to be improved. The main reasons for non‐adherence were: the high cost of drugs, the complexity of the daily regimen, negligence, and distrust of treatment. Insufficient information in the patient information leaflet, together with an inappropriate drug formulation also appear to be important factors that cause non‐compliance. This is especially so, when patients have to receive more than one drug, or medications in different dosage forms, and it is particularly marked when elderly people are involved.ConclusionDespite the comparatively high level of compliance found in this study (50–92%), there are possibilities for individualization of treatment that merit attention in order that the level of compliance can be improved. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preparation and characterization of colloidal dispersions of vinyl alcohol–vinyl acetate copolymers: application as stabilizers for vinyl chloride suspension polymerization
Authors: Hong Satha , Albu Roxana , Labbe Clorinthe , Lasuye Thierry , Stasik Bernard , Riess Gérard 
Published: June 2006

AbstractWell‐defined colloidal dispersions of vinyl alcohol–vinyl acetate copolymers (PVAs) with different degrees of hydrolysis (DH) were prepared by a coacervation technique. Colloidal particles in the size range 150–250 nm, with an acetate‐rich core and a hydrophilic PVA corona, were obtained using a combination of a hydrophobic PVA (PVA II) having an average DH ($\overline{DH}$) value of 43 mol% with a ‘blocky’ hydrophilic PVA (PVA I) with a $\overline{DH}$ value of 72 mol%. The core–shell structure of these particles was demonstrated using 1H NMR and using fluorescence‐labelled PVA I. The stabilization efficiency of PVA I and PVA II and their combination was examined for 1‐chlorobutane–water emulsions, as a ‘model solvent’ for vinyl chloride–water emulsions. Preliminary tests of vinyl chloride suspension polymerization confirmed the beneficial effect of PVA I and PVA II combinations as stabilizers on the granulometry and the porosity specifications of the poly(vinyl chloride) grains. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Stereoelectronic effects in radical processes
Authors: Brandi Paolo , Galli Carlo , Gentili Patrizia 
Published: June 2006

AbstractA kinetic study of the H‐abstraction reaction from cyclic and acyclic alkylarene substrates by the nitroxyl radical (dubbed BTNO) of 1‐hydroxy‐benzotriazole (HBT) has been carried out in MeCN solution at 25°C. BTNO was generated from one‐electron oxidation of HBT by cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate. The H‐abstraction reactivity measured with the cyclic alkylarenes is invariably higher than that with the acyclic counterparts. This is explained as the contribution of hyperconjugation between the aromatic π‐system and the scissile benzylic CH bond of the substrate, which weakens the CH bond in the transition state and promotes its cleavage. Stereoelectronic considerations enable to appreciate why the weakening effect is more pronounced in the cyclic system than in the acyclic counterpart, thereby justifying the higher reactivity of the former. Evidence for the intervention of stereoelectronic effects is embodied by the dissociation energies of the CH bonds, having always lower values for the cyclic substrates investigated. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Laboratory and field tests of spray‐dried and granular formulations of a Bacillus thuringiensis strain with insecticidal activity against the sugarcane borer
Authors: Rosas‐García Ninfa M 
Published: June 2006

AbstractFormulations of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) with insecticidal activity against the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), were developed and tested under laboratory and field conditions. The formulations were prepared using biodegradable polymers such as modified corn starch as an encapsulating agent, gelatin as an adherent, powdered sugarcane as a feeding stimulant and a Bt var. kurstaki GM‐34 strain from a non‐sugarcane region as the active ingredient. The spore–crystal complex of this strain was mixed at three different concentrations (30, 70 and 100 g kg−1) with the other ingredients. The blends were prepared as spray‐dried and granular formulations, and then submitted to laboratory tests with two day old larvae of D. saccharalis and field tests in sugarcane crops with natural sugarcane borer infestation. Spray‐dried formulations in laboratory bioassays caused mortality near 100% with all three concentrations, and granular formulations caused mortality around 84%. The field tests showed that spray‐dried formulations at 70 and 100 g kg−1 concentrations were as effective as a commercial bioinsectide (Lepinox™), while granular formulations were ineffective. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Computational study of 4‐fluoro‐4‐chloro‐ and 4‐fluoro‐4‐bromo‐4‐silathiacyclohexane S‐oxides: Effect of halogen on the SO→Si intramolecular coordination in the boat and twist conformers
Authors: Shainyan Bagrat A. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractChair, twist, and boat conformations of axial and equatorial 4‐fluoro‐4‐chloro‐ and 4‐fluoro‐4‐bromo‐4‐silathiacyclohexane S‐oxides have been calculated at the second‐order Møller–Plesset (MP2) and density functional theory (DFT) levels of theory. The 2,5‐twist and 1,4‐boat conformers of the axial sulfoxides are stabilized by transannular interaction between the sulfinyl oxygen and silicon to give trigonal bipyramidal geometry at silicon. The stability of conformers containing pentacoordinate silicon is governed by the balance of the transannular sulfinyl oxygen–silicon coordination, nonbonded H…H and O…Hlgax interactions, electronegativity of Hlgax and nucleofugality of Hlgeq, and may approach the stability of the lowest‐energy chair conformers. The effect of pentacoordination on the energy and geometry of Si‐halogenated 4‐silathiane S‐oxides is analyzed as a function of the halogen nature and position. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007
State generalization method with support vector machines in reinforcement learning
Authors: Goto Ryo , Matsuo Hiroshi 
Published: June 2006

AbstractA discrete state space is often the subject of conventional reinforcement learning; continuous states must be discretized in order to be handled with conventional learning methods. However, simple discretization increases the state dimensionality and results in an exponential increase in the number of states. The time needed for learning and the memory requirements are therefore greatly increased. In this paper, the authors propose an algorithm for generalizing multidimensional continuous states using a support vector machine (SVM). This algorithm estimates the optimal action in an unknown state using SVM and can be expected to adapt to the environment in a smaller number of trials. To compare this method with conventional algorithms, a simulation experiment was carried out for an assumed task in which a robot is caused to move toward a goal. As a result, it was confirmed that this algorithm adapted to the environment in a smaller number of trials. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 37(9): 77–86, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.20140
Article for “Diversity Stories in Community Research and Action” Facing Resistance in Waking Up to Privilege
Authors: Vasquez Hugh 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThis article identifies a challenge brought to us while facilitating a diversity workshop with adults in a school work setting. Our program involved using the video The Color of Fear as a centerpiece of a training to school district staff where the goals were to raise awareness and understanding of race, gender and class issues, increase understanding of power and privilege, and build alliances between people from diverse backgrounds. The challenge came from a white, male participant and involved issues of privilege, the intersections of race, class, and gender, and resistance to addressing diversity matters. Reflections of what worked and didn't work are offered as well as recommendations to other facilitators who will face similar challenges.
Lessons Learned in Developing a Research Partnership with the Transgender Community
Authors: Paxton Keisha Carr , Guentzel Heather , Trombacco Kellii 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThe challenge facing the authors was to develop a relationship with members of the Transgender community in a large urban city in order to develop research that would benefit this group. The situation is presented from the differing perspectives of the three women involved (one Transgender woman and two biological women); they provide their accounts of a meeting with key members of the Transgender community where the challenge became apparent. During the meeting, the issue of representation arose resulting in a discussion of whether the research agenda should be focused on a specific subgroup under the Transgender umbrella or be open to all members of this diverse and underserved group. Reflections on what was learned about the diversity of individuals under the Transgender umbrella and the lessons that helped them respond to the challenge are discussed.
Copper concentration of liver tissue under long‐term copper‐histidine therapy in a patient with Menkes disease
Authors: Kroepfl T. , Mair E. , Deutsch J. , Brunner‐Krainz M. , Paschke E. , Plecko B. 
Published: June 2006

SummaryCopper‐histidine is the treatment of choice in Menkes disease but bears the potential risk of copper overload and induced liver cirrhosis. We report normal copper concentrations of liver tissue over an 8‐year treatment period with copper‐histidine.
Aspartic acid racemization dating of Holocene brachiopods and bivalves from the southern Brazilian shelf, South Atlantic
Authors: Barbour Wood Susan L. , Krause Richard A. , Kowalewski Michał , Wehmiller John , Simões Marcello G. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThe extent of racemization of aspartic acid (Asp) has been used to estimate the ages of 9 shells of the epifaunal calcitic brachiopod Bouchardia rosea and 9 shells of the infaunal aragonitic bivalve Semele casali. Both taxa were collected concurrently from the same sites at depths of 10 m and 30 m off the coast of Brazil. Asp D/L values show an excellent correlation with radiocarbon age at both sites and for both taxa (r2Site 9 B. rosea = 0.97, r2Site 1 B. rosea = 0.997, r2Site 9 S. casali = 0.9998, r2Site 1 S. casali = 0.93). The Asp ratios plotted against reservoir-corrected AMS radiocarbon ages over the time span of multiple millennia can thus be used to develop reliable and precise geochronologies not only for aragonitic mollusks (widely used for dating previously), but also for calcitic brachiopods. At each collection site, Bouchardia specimens display consistently higher D/L values than specimens of Semele. Thermal differences between sites are also notable and in agreement with theoretical expectations, as extents of racemization for both taxa are greater at the warmer, shallower site than at the cooler, deeper one. In late Holocene marine settings, concurrent time series of aragonitic and calcitic shells can be assembled using Asp racemization dating, and parallel multi-centennial to multi-millennial records can be developed simultaneously for multiple biomineral systems.