bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Business process management as a tool for intellectual capital management
Authors: Kujansivu Paula , Lönnqvist Antti 
Published: May 2008

AbstractMany different frameworks and methods have been developed for managing intellectual capital (IC). At the same time, many other management approaches, which companies are already applying in practice, also cover some issues related to IC. Business process management is one such approach. This paper aims to determine whether business process management is applicable for managing IC. The rationale for not implementing an additional management system for IC in some cases is that it may consume too many resources, having two or more overlapping management systems may cause problems for management control and the concepts related to IC may be confusing for the personnel even though the issues being managed, e.g. competencies and company image, are familiar as such. The role of business process management in IC management is examined empirically in a single case study. To explore the research issue in practice and to obtain an in‐depth understanding of the phenomenon, the authors carried out an action research project in a case company. The findings show that IC management can indeed be carried out through business process management. It was discovered, however, that managing IC through business process management is to a great extent about developing IC at an operational level, instead of controlling IC at a strategic level. The study contributes to prior research by illustrating how IC management can be applied in practice without utilising any specific IC management framework (i.e. by using the company's existing managerial approach). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Novel, complex interruptions of the GAA repeat in small, expanded alleles of two affected siblings with late‐onset Friedreich ataxia
Authors: Stolle Catherine A. , Frackelton Edward C. , McCallum Jennifer , Farmer Jennifer M. , Tsou Amy , Wilson Robert B. , Lynch David R. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractFriedreich ataxia (FA) is an autosomal recessive disorder associated with expanded GAA repeats in intron 1 of the FRDA gene. Two siblings presented with a mild form of FA at >60 years of age. Both had a large expansion (>600 repeats) and a small expansion (120 repeats) by long‐range PCR. Sequence analysis of the small allele revealed multiple, complex interruptions in the GAA repeat. These 2 patients presented later than predicted from their allele size alone, when compared with a large cohort of FA patients. Accounting for the interruptions in the GAA repeat, though, did not make the age of onset consistent with that noted in other patients. Three additional patients with late onset FA and small expanded alleles also exhibited interrupted GAA repeats that were not associated with inappropriately late onset. Our observations suggest that interrupted GAA repeats do not clearly impact the age of onset in FA. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Short‐term effects of coenzyme Q10 in progressive supranuclear palsy: A randomized, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Stamelou Maria , Reuss Alexander , Pilatus Ulrich , Magerkurth Jörg , Niklowitz Petra , Eggert Karla M. , Krisp Andrea , Menke Thomas , Schade‐Brittinger Carmen , Oertel Wolfgang H. , Höglinger Günter U. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractMitochondrial complex I appears to be dysfunctional in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a physiological cofactor of complex I. Therefore, we evaluated the short‐term effects of CoQ10 in PSP. We performed a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled, phase II trial, including 21 clinically probable PSP patients (stage ≤ III) to receive a liquid nanodispersion of CoQ10 (5 mg/kg/day) or matching placebo. Over a 6‐week period, we determined the change in CoQ10 serum concentration, cerebral energy metabolites (by 31P‐ and 1H‐magnetic resonance spectroscopy), motor and neuropsychological dysfunction (PSP rating scale, UPDRS III, Hoehn and Yahr stage, Frontal Assessment Battery, Mini Mental Status Examination, Montgomery Åsberg Depression Scale). CoQ10 was safe and well tolerated. In patients receiving CoQ10 compared to placebo, the concentration of low‐energy phosphates (adenosine‐diphosphate, unphosphorylated creatine) decreased. Consequently, the ratio of high‐energy phosphates to low‐energy phosphates (adenosine‐triphosphate to adenosine‐diphosphate, phospho‐creatine to unphosphorylated creatine) increased. These changes were significant in the occipital lobe and showed a consistent trend in the basal ganglia. Clinically, the PSP rating scale and the Frontal Assessment Battery improved slightly, but significantly, upon CoQ10 treatment compared to placebo. Since CoQ10 appears to improve cerebral energy metabolism in PSP, long‐term treatment might have a disease‐modifying, neuroprotective effect. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
On the structure of motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease
Authors: Stochl Jan , Boomsma Anne , Ruzicka Evzen , Brozova Hana , Blahus Petr 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThis study aims to investigate the structure of the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), as measured by the Motor Section of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). The dimensionality of the Motor Section of the UPDRS was studied using structural equation modeling. The UPDRS measures were obtained from 405 patients with PD [237 men (39 “off”, 170 “on”, 28 unknown) and 168 women (21 “off”, 140 “on”, 7 unknown)]. The ordinal character of UPDRS scores and sample size substantiated the use of robust diagonally weighted least squares model estimation. It was shown that the Motor Section of the UPDRS incorporates five main latent symptom factors (rigidity, tremor, bradykinesia of the extremities, axial/gait bradykinesia, speech/hypomimia) plus two additional factors for laterality, which account for asymmetry of tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia of the extremities. Tremor seems to be an independent symptom factor of PD. Other latent variables are substantially correlated. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Genetic and environmental findings in early‐onset Parkinson's disease Brazilian patients
Authors: de Carvalho Aguiar Patricia , Lessa Patricia Silva , Junior Clecio Godeiro , Barsottini Orlando , Felício Andre Carvalho , Borges Vanderci , de Azevedo Silva Sonia Maria , Saba Roberta Arb , Ferraz Henrique Ballalai , Moreira‐Filho Carlos A. , Andrade Luiz Augusto F. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractParkinson's disease (PD) etiology has been attributed both to genetic and environmental factors. In this study, we investigated Brazilian early‐onset PD (EOPD) patients for mutations in PARK2 and PARK8, exposure to environmental factors and possible correlations between PARK2 polymorphisms, environmental exposure, and disease age of onset. We enrolled 72 EOPD index patients and 81 healthy volunteers. Both groups were investigated for environmental exposure. EOPD patients were screened for PARK2 and PARK8 mutations. PARK2 coding polymorphisms Ser167Asn and Val380Leu were investigated in both groups. Mutations were present in 18% of the patients and in 32% of those with a positive family history. PARK2 mutations represented 12.5% and PARK8 mutations accounted for 5.5% of the mutations. A novel PARK2 mutation (D53X) was identified in 2 patients. A positive correlation was found between EOPD and well water drinking. In patients exposed to well water, a later age of onset was observed for those who carried at least one PARK2 380Leu allele. PARK2 mutations have an important role in EOPD Brazilian patients and PARK8 might be the second most important disease causing gene in this group. Well water drinking exposure represents a risk factor for EOPD and the PARK2 coding polymorphism Val380Leu might be interacting with environmental factors acting as a disease modifier. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Cerebral white matter alterations in idiopathic restless legs syndrome, as measured by diffusion tensor imaging
Authors: Unrath Alexander , Müller Hans‐Peter , Ludolph Albert C. , Riecker Axel , Kassubek Jan 
Published: May 2008

AbstractIn search for the pathoanatomical correlate of the restless legs syndrome (RLS), various neuroimaging and electrophysiological techniques have demonstrated partly conflicting results of cortical, subcortical, brainstem, and spinal alterations. In a novel approach, the delineation of potential cerebral white matter tract disruption was investigated by application of quantitative whole brain‐based diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to a well characterized group of 45 patients with idiopathic RLS. The data of patients and 30 healthy controls were statistically compared including computation of regional fractional anisotropy (FA) as a quantitative marker of white matter integrity by use of the tensor imaging and fiber tracking software. In the patient group, multiple subcortical areas of significantly reduced FA were observed bihemispherically in close proximity to the primary and associate motor and somatosensory cortices, in the right‐hemispheric thalamus (posterior ventral lateral nucleus), in motor projectional fibers and adjacent to the left anterior cingulum. Together with the results of a recent study by use of an MRI‐based gray matter analysis, which localized RLS‐associated changes in the sensorimotor cortices, these findings gave support to an altered subcortical network, with the major component of altered cerebral sensorimotor pathways, within a hodological concept of the RLS pathoanatomy. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Quantitative measures of fine motor, limb, and postural bradykinesia in very early stage, untreated Parkinson's disease
Authors: Koop Mandy Miller , Shivitz Nicole , Brontë‐Stewart Helen 
Published: May 2008

AbstractFew studies have characterized the motor control abnormalities of very early stage Parkinson's disease (PD), when symptoms are mild and usually unilateral. However, this group is the most targeted for potential disease‐modifying therapeutics. We have validated several quantitative measures of bradykinesia with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor disability score (UPDRS III) and have found these useful in studies of advanced PD. In this study, we asked if quantitative measures of finger, forearm, and postural movement velocity could detect bradykinesia in 20 patients with very early stage, untreated PD. The results revealed evidence of significant finger and forearm bradykinesia of the patient group's more affected side when compared to the nondominant side of 19 age‐matched control subjects (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, the patient group's forearm movement velocity on the more affected side was significantly slower than their less affected side (P = 0.005), highlighting the importance of using an outcome measure that is lateralized in studies of very early stage PD. In contrast to our previous study that revealed significant postural bradykinesia in patients with advanced PD, we did not detect postural bradykinesia in patients with very early stage, untreated PD. Based on these findings, we suggest that the use of quantitative, lateralized measures of bradykinesia would be useful in studies of very early stage, untreated PD. These measures may improve a study by: increasing efficiency and objectivity of the evaluation, decreasing cost, and decreasing the number of subjects needed for statistical significance. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Dynamic postural stability during sit‐to‐walk transitions in Parkinson disease patients
Authors: Buckley Thomas A. , Pitsikoulis Chris , Hass Chris J. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractIn an effort to further our understanding of postural control in Parkinson's disease, we biomechanically evaluated the sit to walk task and its component tasks, sit to stand (STS) and gait initiation (GI) in 12 healthy older adults and 12 persons with Parkinson's disease (PWP). Performance was evaluated utilizing motion capture and two force plates. The major finding of this study was the inability of the PWP to appropriately merge the sequential component tasks (STS and GI) during STW. The PWP rose to nearly full height and had a longer delay between seat‐off and gait initiation (P = 0.003 and P < 0.001, respectively) during STW. Additionally, the PWP moved with slower velocities leading to shorter, slower steps and decreased separation of the center of mass and center of pressure. These observed motor sequencing disturbances may be due to a disease related disability or limitations in proprioception, movement speed, muscular strength, and reduced general mobility. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
The variation of Nγ with footing roughness using the method of characteristics
Authors: Kumar Jyant 
Published: May 2008

AbstractBy using the method of characteristics, the effect of footing–soil interface friction angle (δ) on the bearing capacity factor Nγ was computed for a strip footing. The analysis was performed by employing a curved trapped wedge under the footing base; this wedge joins the footing base at a distance Bt from the footing edge. For a given footing width (B), the value of Bt increases continuously with a decrease in δ. For δ=0, no trapped wedge exists below the footing base, that is, Bt/B=0.5. On the contrary, with δ=ϕ, the point of emergence of the trapped wedge approaches toward the footing edge with an increase in ϕ. The magnitude of Nγ increases substantially with an increase in δ/ϕ. The maximum depth of the plastic zone becomes higher for greater values of δ/ϕ. The results from the present analysis were found to compare well with those reported in the literature. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Numerical analysis to discontinuous Galerkin methods for the age structured population model of marine invertebrates
Authors: Sun Guanying , Liang Dong , Wang Wenqia 
Published: May 2008

AbstractIn this article we consider the age structured population growth model of marine invertebrates. The problem is a nonlinear coupled system of the age‐density distribution of sessile adults and the abundance of larvae. We propose the semidiscrete and fully‐discrete discontinuous Galerkin schemes to the nonlinear problem. The DG method is well suited to approximate the local behavior of the problem and to easily take the locally refined meshes with hanging nodes adaptively. The simple communication pattern between elements makes the DG method ideal for parallel computation. The global existence of the approximation solution is proved for the nonlinear approximation system by using the broken Sobolev spaces and the Schauder's fixed point theorem, and error estimates are obtained for both the semidiscrete scheme and the fully‐discrete scheme. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2009
A linear differential game with bounded controls and two information delays
Authors: Glizer Valery Y. , Turetsky Vladimir 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe problem of intercepting a maneuvering target by a guided interceptor is considered. It is assumed that the interceptor gets the information on the relative velocity and the target lateral acceleration with time delays. This problem is formulated as a zero‐sum differential game with information delays. By using the uncertainty set concept, this differential game is transformed to a new perfect information differential game with a delayed dynamics. The solution of this game is derived, yielding the interception strategy. Illustrative examples are presented. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigation of thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties of novel polyurethanes/high molecular weight polybenzoxazine blends
Authors: Yeganeh Hamid , Razavi‐Nouri Mohammad , Ghaffari Mehdi 
Published: May 2008

AbstractIn order to prepare tough polyurethane (PU) electrical insulator with improved thermal stability and electrical insulating properties, high molecular weight polybenzoxazine precursor was mixed and co‐cured with crosslinkable urethane prepolymers. Polybenzoxazine precursor (Bmda) was synthesized from reaction of bisphenol‐A, methylenedianiline, and paraformaldehyde. Epoxy‐terminated polyurethanes (EPU1‐4) were prepared by the reaction of glycidol with NCO‐terminated urethane oligomers. The oligomers were prepared from different molecular weight versions of polycaprolactone polyol (CAPA) and hexamethylene diisocyanate. Blends were prepared through thermal treatment of equal weights of two precursors dissolved in chloroform. Optimum curing condition was determined by DSC and DMTA analysis and measurement of the gel content for cured samples. Viscoelastic, thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties of cured samples were investigated and structure–property relationship was established. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermotropic liquid crystalline polyester nanocomposites via in situ intercalation polycondensation
Authors: Ahn Yong‐Ho , Chang Jin‐Hae 
Published: May 2008

AbstractA thermotropic liquid crystalline polyester (TLCP)/organoclay nanocomposite was synthesized via in situ intercalation polycondensation of diethyl‐2,5‐dihexyloxyterephthalic acid and 4,4′‐biphenol in the presence of organically modified montmorillonite (MMT). The organoclay, C18‐MMT, was prepared by the ion exchange of Na+‐MMT with octadecylamine chloride (C18‐Cl−). TLCP/C18‐MMT nanocomposites were prepared to examine the variations of the thermal properties, morphology, and liquid crystalline phases of the nanocomposites with clay content in the range of 0–7 wt%. It was found that the addition of only a small amount of organoclay was sufficient to improve the thermal behavior of the TLCP hybrids, with maximum enhancement being observed at 1 wt% C18‐MMT. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structure–property co‐relationship of fluorinated poly(imide‐siloxane)s
Authors: Ghosh Anindita , Banerjee Susanta 
Published: May 2008

AbstractEight poly(imide‐siloxane)s co‐polymers have been prepared by one pot solution imidization method. The polymers are synthesized by the reaction of bisphenol‐A‐dianhydride (BPADA) with fluorinated diamine 4,4′‐bis(3″‐trifluoromethyl‐p‐aminobiphenyl ether) biphenyl, and aminopropyl‐terminated polydimethylsiloxane (APPS). The polymers are synthesized by varying the siloxane loading to 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 wt%, respectively. Thermal, mechanical, rheological, and dielectric properties of these polymers have been evaluated with respect to siloxane loading. The polymers showed glass transition temperature of 107–203°C and tensile strength at break of 24–75 MPa depending on siloxane loading. The elongation break of the polymers ranges from 24 to 144% depending on siloxane loading. The amounts of char residue in the polymers have been correlated with incorporated siloxane in the polymer by NMR techniques. The polymers showed very low water absorption and dielectric constant as low as 2.43 when the siloxane loading is 40 wt%. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Broadband reflection in polymer stabilized cholesteric liquid crystal cells with chiral monomers derived from cholesterol
Authors: Guo Jinbao , Sun Jie , Zhang Lipei , Li Kexuan , Cao Hui , Yang Huai , Zhu Siquan 
Published: May 2008

AbstractIn this study, a series of achiral monomers and chiral monomers of different flexible spacer chains based on cholesteryl moiety were synthesized. Polymer stabilized cholesteric liquid crystal (PSCLC) cells were then created by incorporation of the polymer networks. The influence of the nature of the monomers and the spacer length of chiral monomers on the reflectance properties of PSCLC was investigated as well as the polymerization condition. The results strongly suggest that the chirality of the polymer networks plays an integral role in the observed reflection spectra, and the chiral polymer networks with chiral centers separated well from the polymer backbone induce a greater change in the bulk helix pitch, and produce the broader reflection band in these LC composites. In addition, the temperature dependence of the pitch of the composites before and after polymerization was investigated. To broaden the reflection band further, the experimental processes of thermally induced pitch variation simultaneously with a UV crosslinking reaction of the composites were presented. The morphology of the polymer network in the composites was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The impact of practice development in an emergency department: a pluralistic evaluation
Authors: Moss Cheryle , Walsh Kenneth , Jordan Zoe , Macdonald Lindsay 
Published: May 2008

AbstractFollowing completion of a practice development (PD) project in a hospital emergency department (ED,) a pluralistic evaluation was undertaken to assess staff perspectives on the impacts of PD on the ED. Individual and focus group interviews were used to gather data, and thematic and integrative analyses of these were undertaken. The overall findings of the evaluation revealed that the participants consistently felt that PD was a valuable undertaking, was useful for engaging in processes of change and offered positive outcomes both for staff and for patients. The research results generate confidence in the methods of pluralistic evaluation to evaluate the impacts of PD. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Hypertension management in diabetic patients: prescribing trends from 1999 to 2005 in three Japanese university hospitals
Authors: Kamijima Yukari , Ooba Nobuhiro , Yagame Mitsunori , Samizo Kazuo , Shimodozono Yoshihiro , Kageyama Shigeru , Horiguchi Shingo , Nagai Ryozo , Kusunoki Tadashi , Kubota Kiyoshi 
Published: May 2008

AbstractPurposeIn hypertensive patients with diabetes, antihypertensive therapy is important in reducing the risk of macro‐ and microvascular complications. In contrast to the guidelines issued by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in and after 2002, the guidelines issued by the Japanese Society of Hypertension (JSH) in 2000 and 2004 maintained the traditional view that β‐blockers and thiazides should be rated as second‐line drugs. However, both sets of guidelines recommended angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) as first‐line agents for such patients.MethodsWe examined the use of antihypertensives in hypertensive patients with and without diabetes using the prescription data for 1999, 2002 and 2005 from three Japanese university hospitals.ResultsWhen compared with 1999, the proportion of patients with and without diabetes using ARBs was dramatically increased in 2005 from 1.5 to 55% and from 1.5 to 40%, while that of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors decreased from 52 to 32% and 35 to 23%, respectively. A relatively stable proportion of patients (around 10% with and without diabetes) used β‐blockers and around 60% of patients with and without diabetes used calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and very few (<5%) used thiazides.ConclusionsThe rapid increase in use of ARBs and under‐use of thiazides may be explained by the fee schedule in the Japanese health insurance system. The paucity of large‐scale clinical trials may also hinder evaluation of the traditional view of the role of β‐blockers and thiazides in treatment of Japanese patients with diabetes. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.