bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Disruptiveness of innovations: measurement and an assessment of reliability and validity
Authors: Govindarajan Vijay , Kopalle Praveen K. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractStrategic management scholars have long explored the broad topic of innovation, a cornerstone in creating competitive advantage. Any attempt at theory construction in this area must encompass reliable and valid measures for key innovation characteristics. Yet, with respect to an important construct, i.e., disruptiveness of innovations, there has been relatively little academic research. Without formalizing the disruptiveness concept with a reliable and valid measure, it is difficult to conduct rigorous research to uncover the causes of the innovator's dilemma and identify mechanisms to help incumbents develop such innovations. In this paper, we develop a scale for the disruptiveness of innovations. We collected data from senior executives (vice president or general manager level) at 199 strategic business units (SBUs) in 38 Fortune 500 corporations and performed a series of analyses to establish the reliability and validity of the disruptiveness scale. The reliability measures, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and subsequent statistical tests strongly support our measure. Further, we also present nomological validity of the disruptiveness construct, thus establishing its predictive validity. Thus, this paper distinguishes the disruptiveness concept from other established innovation constructs, such as radicalness and competency destroying. Finally, we discuss the significance of our results and how this study might be useful to other researchers. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transvaginal ultrasound after first‐trimester uterine evacuation reduces the incidence of retained products of conception
Authors: Debby A. , Malinger G. , Harow E. , Golan A. , Glezerman M. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the incidence of retained products of conception (RPOC) in relation to transvaginal ultrasound performed after first‐trimester uterine evacuation.MethodsThis was a prospective randomized study involving 809 women undergoing first‐trimester uterine evacuation. The study group included 404 women in whom transvaginal sonography was performed at the end of the surgical procedure and the control group contained 405 women who did not undergo ultrasound examination. Initially, in the study group, recurettage was immediately performed if the endometrium appeared irregular but latterly only if endometrial thickness was ≥ 8 mm. The patients were followed up by gynecological and ultrasound examinations 5–8 days following the surgical procedure.ResultsThe total complication rate was 4.3%. RPOC presented in three women in the study group (0.7%) and in 15 women in the control group (3.7%, P < 0.05). Vaginal bleeding requiring hospitalization occurred in two women in the study group (0.5%) vs. seven in the control group (1.7%, P = 0.2). Endometritis was diagnosed in one woman in the study group (0.2%) vs. six in the control group (1.5%) and uterine perforation occurred in one woman in the control group vs. none in the study group. There were no cases of RPOC in women who had an endometrial thickness of < 8 mm as demonstrated by ultrasound at the end of the surgical procedure.ConclusionTransvaginal sonography immediately following first‐trimester uterine evacuation may reduce the incidence of RPOC and the total complication rate. When the endometrial thickness is ≥ 8 mm at the end of suction curettage, an attempt at re‐evacuation of the uterine cavity is indicated. Copyright © 2005 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Feasibility and reproducibility of an image‐scoring method for quality control of fetal biometry in the second trimester
Authors: Salomon L. J. , Bernard J. P. , Duyme M. , Doris B. , Mas N. , Ville Y. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjectivesThe need for training programs and certification processes in fetal ultrasound has become obvious. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a score‐based quality control system for fetal biometry in the second trimester.MethodsStandard measurements of biparietal diameter and head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur length at 20–24 weeks had been made by four operators using the same ultrasound machine. Twenty‐five of each of the cephalic, abdominal and femoral images with the calipers in place were selected arbitrarily from each operator's ultrasound database and anonymized. These 300 images were analyzed by three experienced reviewers blinded to the operator's identity. Each image was first evaluated subjectively and then scored according to six criteria for abdominal and cephalic measurements and four criteria for femur length making a six‐point score for abdominal and cephalic biometry and a four‐point score for femur length. For subjective evaluation, inter‐reviewer differences were analyzed using percentage agreement and adjusted kappa. For objective evaluation, a difference in scoring of one point or less among reviewers was considered good agreement. Intrareviewer variability was assessed using 40 images of each type of examination selected arbitrarily.ResultsThe distribution of scores was similar between reviewers. One operator obtained significantly lower scores whereas the other three had good and comparable results. There was no statistical difference in the mean score attributed by each reviewer and agreement was good in 84–90% of the cases. Intrareviewer agreement was good in 90–100% of the cases, with similar scores for each reviewer.ConclusionA quality control policy based on image scoring is feasible and allows for fair to good inter‐ and intrareviewer reproducibility. The potential contribution of this approach to assess the quality of routine ultrasound examinations should be tested on a larger scale. Copyright © 2005 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ultrasound and color power Doppler in the detection of metastatic omentum: a prospective study
Authors: Testa A. C. , Ludovisi M. , Savelli L. , Fruscella E. , Ghi T. , Fagotti A. , Scambia G. , Ferrandina G. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjectivesTo analyze prospectively the ability of ultrasound to detect metastatic omentum in patients with suspicious pelvic masses and to describe the sonographic features of metastatic omental disease.MethodsOne hundred and eighty‐four patients were evaluated preoperatively by ultrasound examination and of these 173 were used in the analysis. We defined as an ultrasound‐positive examination one which visualized intra‐abdominal aperistaltic solid tissue, located above the bowel loops and below the anterior peritoneal surface. Preoperative sonographic findings were compared with pathological results.ResultsSonographic detection of metastatic omentum was achieved in 104 of 173 patients (60.1%), appearing as either solid aperistaltic tissue (80.8% of cases), or as solid discrete nodules (19.2%). When considering the echostructure of the surrounding bowel loops, this tissue appeared hypoechoic in 46 (44.2%) cases and isoechoic or slightly hyperechoic in the other 58 (55.8%) cases. In the overall series, the negative and positive predictive values (NPV and PPV) and the accuracy of ultrasound examination were 92.7%, 91.3% and 91.9%, respectively. When considering only the group of ovarian tumors, the NPV, PPV and accuracy were 91.9%, 94.6%, and 93.8%, respectively.ConclusionUltrasound examination is highly accurate in detecting metastatic omental involvement in cases with suspicious pelvic masses. Copyright © 2005 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prenatal prediction of survival in isolated left‐sided diaphragmatic hernia
Authors: Jani J. , Keller R. L. , Benachi A. , Nicolaides K. H. , Favre R. , Gratacos E. , Laudy J. , Eisenberg V. , Eggink A. , Vaast P. , Deprest J. ,   Antenatal‐CDH‐Registry Group
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the potential value of antenatally determined intrathoracic herniation of the liver and the ratio of fetal lung area to head circumference (LHR) in the prediction of postnatal survival in isolated, left‐sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).MethodsIn this multicenter study, we searched the antenatal‐CDH‐Registry for fetuses with isolated left‐sided CDH that were liveborn after 30 weeks of gestation and were followed up postnatally for at least 3 months after discharge from hospital. The patients were subdivided into those with and those without intrathoracic herniation of the liver and into subgroups according to the LHR that had been measured between 22 + 0 and 28 + 0 weeks of gestation. The rate of survival in each group and subgroup of patients was determined and compared.ResultsThe registry search identified 184 patients that fulfilled the entry criteria. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that significant predictors of survival were the presence or absence of intrathoracic herniation of the liver and the LHR. In 86 cases there was liver herniation (Group A) and in 98 the liver was confined to the abdomen (Group B). In Group A, the survival rate was 50.0% and was significantly associated with LHR; in Group B the survival rate was 76.5% and was unrelated to LHR.ConclusionIn isolated, left‐sided CDH, the postnatal mortality rate is substantially higher if there is intrathoracic herniation of the liver. In fetuses with liver herniation, measurement of LHR at 22–28 weeks of gestation is useful in the prediction of subsequent survival. Copyright © 2005 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Entanglement and alpha entropies for a massive scalar field in two dimensions
Authors: Casini H , Huerta M 
Published: December 2005

We find the analytic expression of
tr ρ
n
(L) for a free massive
boson field in 1+1
dimensions, where ρ(L)
is the reduced density matrix corresponding to an interval of length
L. This is given exactly (except for a non-universal factor) in terms of a finite sum of
solutions of non-linear differential equations of the Painlevé V type. Our method is a
generalization of one introduced by Myers and is based on the explicit calculation of
quantities related to the Green function on a plane, where boundary conditions
are imposed on a finite cut. It is shown that the associated partition function
is related to correlators of exponential operators in the sine–Gordon model in
agreement with a result by Delfino et al. We also compute the short and long distance
leading terms of the entanglement entropy. We find that the bosonic entropic
c-function interpolates between the asymptotic limits of the Dirac and Majorana fermion
ones given in a previous paper. Finally, we study some universal terms for the entanglement
entropy in arbitrary dimensions which, in the case of free fields, can be expressed in terms
of the two-dimensional entropy functions.
Effects of Caffeine, Halothane, and 4-Chloro-m -cresol on Skeletal Muscle Lactate and Pyruvate in Malignant Hyperthermia–susceptible and Normal Swine as Assessed by Microdialysis
Authors: Bina Saiid , Cowan George , Karaian John , Muldoon Sheila , Mongan Paul , Bünger Rolf 
Published: December 2005

Background
Skeletal muscle fibers from malignant hyperthermia (MH)-susceptible humans and swine are markedly more sensitive to ryanodine receptor (RyR1) agonists than those from normal individuals. Reproducible shifts in the dose-response of skeletal muscle to caffeine and halothane are the basis of the current in vitro diagnostic caffeine-halothane contracture test. In an attempt to develop a less invasive MH diagnostic test, the authors determined the effects of RyR1 agonists (caffeine, 4-chloro-m-cresol [4CmC], and halothane) on the adductor muscle with respect to the lactate-pyruvate (L/P) system that was percutaneously dialyzed using a microdialysis technique in homozygous MH-susceptible compared with normal swine.

Methods
Animals were anesthetized (ketamine-propofol) and artificially ventilated. Sets of six CMA/20 microdialysis catheters were implanted; each catheter was perfused with different RyR1 agonist concentrations. After a 30-min equilibration after implantation, one of the catheters was perfused (2 microl/min) with vehicle (0.9% saline or lipid emulsion), and the other five were perfused with caffeine (1-64 mM), 4CmC (0.1-8 mM), or halothane (prepared in lipid emulsion; 10-500 mM). Outflow dialysate fractions collected at 10-min intervals and L/P parameters were measured enzymatically.

Results
Only in the MH-susceptible group did all RyR1 agonists increase dialysate L/P in a dose-dependent manner. The dose-effect relations were most prominent with 4CmC. With the halothane lipid emulsion, data scatter was high compared with that of the caffeine group and especially the 4CmC group. There were no signs of global muscle rigidity, systemic hypermetabolism, or a clinical MH episode during microdialysis RyR1 perfusion.

Conclusions
The authors data demonstrate that the in vivo muscle microdialysis of the porcine L/P system reveals distinct differences between MH-susceptible and MH-normal muscle, especially in response to highly specific RyR1 agonists such as 4CmC. The microdialysis L/P technique seems to have an MH diagnostic potential in the clinical setting.
Enthalpic and entropic contributions mediate the role of disulfide bonds on the conformational stability of Interleukin‐4
Authors: Vaz Daniela C. , Rodrigues J. Rui , Sebald Walter , Dobson Christopher M. , Brito Rui M.M. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractThe role of disulfide bridges in the structure, stability, and folding pathways of proteins has been the subject of wide interest in the fields of protein design and engineering. However, the relative importance of entropic and enthalpic contributions for the stabilization of proteins provided by disulfides is not always clear. Here, we perform a detailed analysis of the role of disulfides in the conformational stability of human Interleukin‐4 (IL4), a four‐helix bundle protein. In order to evaluate the contribution of two out of the three disulfides to the structure and stability of IL4, two IL4 mutants, C3T‐IL4 and C24T‐IL4, were used. NMR and ANS binding experiments were compatible with altered dynamics and an increase of the nonpolar solvent‐accessible surface area of the folded state of the mutant proteins. Chemical and thermal unfolding experiments followed by fluorescence and circular dichroism revealed that both mutant proteins have lower conformational stability than the wild‐type protein. Transition temperatures of unfolding decreased 14°C for C3T‐IL4 and 10°C for C24T‐IL4, when compared to WT‐IL4, and the conformational stability, at 25°C, decreased 4.9 kcal/mol for C3T‐IL4 and 3.2 kcal/mol for C24T‐IL4. Interestingly, both the enthalpy and the entropy of unfolding, at the transition temperature, decreased in the mutant proteins. Moreover, a smaller change in heat capacity of unfolding was also observed for the mutants. Thus, disulfide bridges in IL4 play a critical role in maintaining the thermodynamic stability and core packing of the helix bundle.
Breaking symmetry in protein dimers: Designs and functions
Authors: Brown Jerry H. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractSymmetry, and in particular point group symmetry, is generally the rule for the global arrangement between subunits in homodimeric and other oligomeric proteins. The structures of fragments of tropomyosin and bovine fibrinogen are recently published examples, however, of asymmetric interactions between chemically identical chains. Their departures from strict twofold symmetry are based on simple and generalizable chemical designs, but were not anticipated prior to their structure determinations. The current review aims to improve our understanding of the structural principles and functional consequences of asymmetric interactions in proteins. Here, a survey of >100 diverse homodimers has focused on the structures immediately adjacent to the twofold axis. Five regular frameworks in α‐helical coiled coils and antiparallel β‐sheets accommodate many of the twofold symmetric axes. On the basis of these frameworks, certain sequence motifs can break symmetry in geometrically defined manners. In antiparallel β‐sheets, these asymmetries include register slips between strands of repeating residues and the adoption of different side‐chain rotamers to avoid steric clashes of bulky residues. In parallel coiled coils, an axial stagger between the α‐helices is produced by clusters of core alanines. Such simple designs lead to a basic understanding of the functions of diverse proteins. These functions include regulation of muscle contraction by tropomyosin, blood clot formation by fibrin, half‐of‐site reactivity of caspase‐9, and adaptive protein recognition in the matrix metalloproteinase MMP9. Moreover, asymmetry between chemically identical subunits, by producing multiple equally stable conformations, leads to unique dynamic and self‐assembly properties.
Comparative genomic analysis of phytopathogenic fungi using expressed sequence tag (EST) collections
Authors: SOANES DARREN M. , TALBOT NICHOLAS J. 
Published: December 2005

SUMMARYWe describe the analysis of 57 727 unique expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from 15 species of phytopathogenic and three species of saprophytic fungi. This resource is held within the COGEME phytopathogen EST database (http://cogeme.ex.ac.uk/). Comparative analysis was performed to investigate the differences between pathogenic and free‐living fungi based on a substantial collection of expressed gene sequences and available, completed fungal genome sequences. We report that the expressed gene inventories of pathogenic fungi were not significantly more similar to each other than to those of free‐living filamentous fungi. As expected, however, filamentous fungi as a group share more sequences in common than with the free‐living yeast species Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Interestingly, ESTs of the obligate biotrophic fungus Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei were more dissimilar to those of all other fungal species assessed, having a lower number of sequences in common with filamentous ascomycetes studied to date and also possessing a larger proportion of unisequences of unknown function. Our analysis of ESTs in the COGEME database enabled identification of a set of functional groups of genes that are more highly represented in the genomes of pathogenic fungi than non‐pathogenic species.
Influence of acute serotonin reuptake inhibition on colonic sensorimotor function in man
Authors: TACK J. , BROEKAERT D. , CORSETTI M. , FISCHLER B. , JANSSENS J. 
Published: December 2005

SummaryBackground  It is unclear whether decreased serotonin transporter function contributes to sensorimotor abnormalities in irritable bowel syndrome.Aim  To study the influence of acute serotonin transporter inhibition on colonic sensorimotor function in man.Methods  Ten healthy subjects (five men, aged 20–29 years) underwent a combined manometry/barostat study of the descending colon on two occasions. Stepwise distentions by 2 mmHg increments were performed until discomfort. Subsequently, placebo or citalopram 20 mg were administered i.v. over 20 min and distentions were repeated. Afterwards, isobaric tone measurements were performed 30 min before and 90 min after ingestion of a meal. High‐amplitude propagated contractions, colonic motility index, colonic compliance, sensitivity and colonic response to a meal after placebo or citalopram were compared by t‐test and two‐way anova.Results  Citalopram induced a significant increase in colonic motility index (5.6 ± 0.9 to 0.8 ± 1.9 mL*min, P < 0.005) and high‐amplitude propagated contractions (32 after citalopram vs. 2 after placebo, P < 0.05), which were associated with abdominal cramping. Administration of citalopram increased colonic compliance (10.3 ± 1.5 vs. 14.5 ± 2.2 mL/mmHg, P < 0.01) and inhibited colonic response to a meal (volume decrease 48 ± 12 vs. 16 ± 12 mL, P < 0.01).Conclusions  Acute serotonin transporter inhibition in man increases colonic phasic contractility and the occurrence of high‐amplitude propagated contractions, increases colonic compliance and suppresses the colonic tonic response to a meal. These data suggest that both release and elimination of 5‐hydroxytryptamine by serotonin transporter are involved in the control of colonic motility in man.
Age threshold for endoscopy and risk of missing upper gastrointestinal malignancy – data from the Scottish audit of gastric and oesophageal cancer
Authors: PHULL P. S. , SALMON C. A. , PARK K. G. M. , RAPSON T. , THOMPSON A. M. , GILBERT F. J. 
Published: December 2005

SummaryBackground  Urgent endoscopy is indicated for suspected upper gastrointestinal malignancy. However, there is limited evidence on the age threshold for performing urgent endoscopy in uncomplicated dyspepsia (that is, without alarm features).Aim  To quantify the risk of missing upper gastrointestinal malignancy within Scotland, if the age threshold for urgent endoscopy in uncomplicated dyspepsia was increased from 45 to 55 years.Methods  Analysis of data collected prospectively by the Scottish Audit of Gastric and Oesophageal Cancer. ‘Alarm’ features at presentation were defined as dysphagia, weight loss, gastrointestinal bleeding, anaemia, vomiting, history of gastric surgery and history of peptic ulcer disease.Results  Of the 3293 patients diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal malignancy, 290 (8.8%) patients were <55 years of age. Twenty‐one of the patients aged <55 years had no alarm features (0.64% of all patients); 12 were aged 45–55 years and nine were aged <45 years. Only two patients (one aged <45 years) underwent potentially curative surgery.Conclusion  Upper gastrointestinal malignancy is uncommon under 55 years of age and most of the patients present with alarm features. Raising the age threshold for endoscopy for new‐onset uncomplicated dyspepsia from 45 to 55 years would not impact adversely on the diagnosis or outcome of upper gastrointestinal malignancy.
Slimline vs. glass pH electrodes: what degree of accuracy should we expect?
Authors: PANDOLFINO J. E. , GHOSH S. , ZHANG Q. , HEATH M. , BOMBECK T. , KAHRILAS P. J. 
Published: December 2005

SummaryBackground  Ambulatory pH monitoring is considered the gold standard for measuring oesophageal acid exposure, however, data comparing antimony and glass electrodes are limited.Aim  To compare the accuracy of the Slimline antimony pH monitoring system and a conventional glass electrode catheter pH monitoring system during ambulatory conditions.Methods  Eighteen subjects (13 males, 23–45 years) underwent simultaneous pH monitoring using the Slimline antimony pH electrode and MIC M3 glass pH electrode pH monitoring systems for 12 h. Acid exposure was analysed and compared by manual extraction of the data onto an excel spreadsheet.Results  There was no statistical difference in the median per cent time the pH was <4 recorded by the two systems (Slimline, 3%, Glass MIC M3, 2%, P = 0.77) and the correlation was excellent (r = 0.84). The difference in recorded reflux events was also not significantly different between the two systems, with the absolute difference being 23 events (s.d., 26). Point‐by‐point discrepancy was 28% (s.d., 18%), however, the agreement in terms of reflex events was excellent (Kappa value, 0.89, s.d., 0.09).Conclusion  Despite substantial point‐by‐point disagreement, the antimony Slimline pH catheter compares favourably to the Glass MIC M3 pH catheter in terms of measuring standard pH parameters.