bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The role of executive function and attention in gait
Authors: Yogev‐Seligmann Galit , Hausdorff Jeffrey M. , Giladi Nir 
Published: December 2007

AbstractUntil recently, gait was generally viewed as a largely automated motor task, requiring minimal higher‐level cognitive input. Increasing evidence, however, links alterations in executive function and attention to gait disturbances. This review discusses the role of executive function and attention in healthy walking and gait disorders while summarizing the relevant, recent literature. We describe the variety of gait disorders that may be associated with different aspects of executive function, and discuss the changes occurring in executive function as a result of aging and disease as well the potential impact of these changes on gait. The attentional demands of gait are often tested using dual tasking methodologies. Relevant studies in healthy adults and patients are presented, as are the possible mechanisms responsible for the deterioration of gait during dual tasking. Lastly, we suggest how assessments of executive function and attention could be applied in the clinical setting as part of the process of identifying and understanding gait disorders and fall risk. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Brain parenchyma sonography and 123I‐FP‐CIT SPECT in Parkinson's disease and essential tremor
Authors: Doepp Florian , Plotkin Michail , Siegel Lara , Kivi Anatol , Gruber Doreen , Lobsien Elmar , Kupsch Andreas , Schreiber Stephan J. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractWe aimed to investigate the accuracy of transcranial brain parenchyma sonography (TCS) for differentiation between idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET) in comparison to 123I‐FP‐CIT SPECT (FP‐CIT SPECT). Seventy‐four patients, in whom PD or ET was suspected on the basis of clinical criteria, were analyzed. The echogenicity of the substantia nigra (SN) and the striatal binding of dopamine transporters (DAT) were evaluated by TCS and FP‐CIT SPECT, respectively. Three patients were excluded due to an insufficient transtemporal bone window using TCS. Forty‐six and 25 patients were clinically classified as PD and ET. SPECT revealed a reduced DAT binding in 42 of all 71 included patients. Thirty‐six of the 42 patients with abnormal FP‐CIT SPECT findings had a pathological SN hyperechogenicity, whereas TCS findings in the remaining 6 patients were normal. In 27 of 29 patients with normal SPECT findings the SN echogenicity was regular. Referring to FP‐CIT SPECT, the sensitivity and specificity of TCS for detection of PD were 86 and 93%; the positive and negative predictive values were 95 and 82%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity in detection of clinically diagnosed PD patients were 78 and 92% for TCS and 91 and 100% for FP‐CIT SPECT, respectively. In patients with pathological FP‐CIT SPECT and pathological TCS, the extent of SN hyperechogenicity did not correlate with the degree of reduction in dopamine transporter binding on the side opposite of the more affected limb. TCS allows a reliable differentiation of PD and ET. The TCS SN hyperechogenicity does not correlate with the extent of dopaminergic neuron degeneration. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
MR elastography of the lung with hyperpolarized 3He
Authors: McGee Kiaran P. , Hubmayr Rolf D. , Ehman R.L. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractMR elastography (MRE) is a phase contrast–based technique for spatially mapping the mechanical properties of tissue‐like materials. While hyperpolarized noble gases such as helium‐3 (3He) have proven to be an ideal contrast mechanism for imaging of the lung using conventional MR techniques, their applicability for lung MRE is unknown, due to the fact that gases do not support shear. In this study, we report on the application of MRE to an ex vivo porcine lung specimen inflated with a hyperpolarized noble gas. Unlike proton MRE, shear wave propagation is encoded into the gas entrapped within the alveolar spaces rather than the parenchyma itself. These data provide first evidence of the technical feasibility of MRE of the lung using hyperpolarized noble gases. Magn Reson Med, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A fast full multigrid solver for applications in image processing
Authors: Stürmer M. , Köstler H. , Rüde U. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractWe present a fast, cell‐centered multigrid solver and apply it to image denoising and non‐rigid diffusion‐based image registration. In both applications, real‐time performance is required in 3D and the multigrid method has to be compared with solvers based on fast Fourier transform (FFT). The optimization of the underlying variational approach results for image denoising directly in one time step of a parabolic linear heat equation, for image registration a non‐linear second‐order system of partial differential equations is obtained. This system is solved by a fixpoint iteration using a semi‐implicit time discretization, where each time step again results in an elliptic linear heat equation. The multigrid implementation comes close to real‐time performance for medium size medical images in 3D for both applications and is compared with a solver based on FFT using available libraries. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preparation of colloidal stable fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomer/silver nanocomposites––application to the surface modification of traditional organic polymers with these nanocomposites
Authors: Sawada Hideo , Sasaki Ayumu , Sasazawa Kazuo , Toriba Ken‐ichi , Kakehi Hiroshi , Miura Masashi , Isu Norifumi 
Published: December 2007

AbstractA variety of fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers/silver nanocomposites were prepared by the reactions of silver ions with poly(methylhydrosiloxane) in the presence of fluoroalkyl end‐capped N,N‐dimethylacrylamide oligomer, N‐(1,1‐dimethyl‐3‐oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomer, N,N‐dimethylacrylamide cooligomer containing poly(dimethylsiloxane) segments in organic media such as toluene and 1,2‐ dichloroethane. These fluorinated oligomers/silver nanocomposites thus obtained were found to exhibit clear plasmon absorption bands around 420 nm related to the formation of silver nanoparticles. In particular, these composites could display narrow plasmon absorptions around 420 nm in toluene by the addition of trioctylamine (TOA). On the other hand, the corresponding non‐fluorinated N‐(1,1‐ dimethyl‐3‐oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomer was not able to afford such a plasmon absorption under similar conditions. These fluorinated oligomers/silver nanocomposites in organic media have been found to be stable for more than 10 days. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements showed that silver nanoparticles could be effectively encapsulated into fluorinated oligomeric aggregate cores to afford colloidal stable fluorinated oligomers/silver nanocomposites. Fluorinated oligomers/silver nanocomposites were also applied to the surface modification of traditional organic polymers such as polystyrene (PSt) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to exhibit not only a good oleophobicity imparted by fluorine but also a higher surface antibacterial activity related to the silver nanoparticles on their surface. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prenatal diagnosis of congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia (CLAH) by estriol amniotic fluid analysis and molecular genetic testing
Authors: Jean Amy , Mansukhani Mahesh , Oberfield Sharon E. , Fennoy Ilene , Nakamoto Jon , Atwan Maha , Lerer Israela , Neriah Ziva Ben , Zangen David H. , Chung Wendy K. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractObjectiveCongenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia is an autosomal recessive condition due to mutations in Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR) associated with the inability to synthesize all adrenal and gonadal steroids, resulting in adrenal insufficiency and failure to develop male genitalia in affected 46,XY individuals. We used two independent methods of prenatal diagnosis for CLAH.MethodCLAH was diagnosed prenatally by measuring amniotic fluid estriol, adrenal, and gonadal hormone levels, and by mutation analysis for the c.201–202 delCT mutation in StAR.ResultsPrenatal testing diagnosed one affected and three unaffected fetuses in two families at risk for CLAH.ConclusionPrenatal testing for CLAH is effective, and targeted molecular genetic analysis should be considered in Palestinian families with a fetus with discordant 46,XY karyotype and female genitalia on ultrasound, and low maternal serum estriol. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and self‐assembly of amphiphilic dendronized conjugated polymers
Authors: Xiao Xing , Wu Yonggang , Sun Minghao , Zhou Jianjun , Bo Zhishan , Li Lin , Chan Chiming 
Published: December 2007

AbstractTwo kinds of amphiphilic dendronized conjugated polymers, polyfluorene (PF) and poly(binaphthyl‐alt‐fluorene) (PBF), were synthesized by Suzuki polycondensation of hydrophobic macromonomers with two nonpolar octyloxy chains and hydrophilic macromonomers with two polar oligo(ethylene oxide) chains. In these polymers, PF possesses a linear rod‐like backbone structure, and PBF adopts a folded rigid backbone structure. The different configurations in the conjugated main chains result in different supramolecular self‐assembly morphologies. The optical and thermal properties of PF and PBF were also studied. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 574–584, 2008
Water sorption by poly(tetrahydrofurfuril methacrylate)'s
Authors: Sanchis Maria J. , Díaz‐Calleja Ricardo , García‐Bernabé Abel , Alegría Luz , Gargallo Ligia , Radic Deodato 
Published: December 2007

AbstractPolymers consisting of poly(heterocyclic methacrylate)s are considered as potential materials for clinical applications such as drug delivery and cartilage repair. Much of the success of these systems has been attributed to the complex nature of their water sorption properties. Dielectric permittivity is very sensitive to water sorption. Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy studies have been carried out on two heterocyclic poly(methacrylate)s: poly(tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate) (PTHFMA) and poly(3‐methyl tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate) (P3MTHFMA). The isochrones representing the dielectric losses show in both cases high conductivity at low frequencies and high temperatures. In PTHFMA two conductive processes are observed, which can be associated to the existence of two types of water sorption. These effects have been analyzed and were removed from the dielectric spectra by using classical empirical equations. Both polymers show ostensible α‐relaxation centered in the vicinity of 350 K at 100 Hz. This relaxation was analyzed by means of the empirical Havriliak‐Negami equation. Reminiscent β‐relaxation could also exist. Both polymers present well defined γ and δ subglass absorptions at approximately 120 K, 160 K for PTHFMA and 125 K, 163 K for P3MTHFMA, at 100 Hz, associated to local intramolecular relaxations in side groups. These relaxations were analyzed using semiempirical symmetric model. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 109–120, 2008
Kinetics of re‐embrittlement of (anti)plasticized glassy polymers after mechanical rejuvenation
Authors: Kierkels J. T. A. , Dona C.‐L. , Tervoort T. A. , Govaert L. E. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractMechanical rejuvenation is known to dramatically alter the deformation behavior of amorphous polymers. Polystyrene (PS)—for example, typically known as a brittle polymer—can be rendered ductile by this treatment, while a ductile polymer like polycarbonate (PC) shows no necking anymore and deforms homogeneously in tensile deformation. The effects are only of temporary nature, as because of physical aging the increasing yield stress, accompanied by intrinsic strain softening, renders PS brittle after a few hours, while for PC necking in tensile testing returns in a few months after the mechanical rejuvenation treatment. In this study, it is found that physical aging upon rejuvenation in both PS and PC can be delayed in two different ways: (1) by reducing the molecular mobility through antiplasticization and (2) by applying toughening agents (rubbery core–shell particles). For the first route, even though progressive aging is found to decrease with increasing amounts of antiplasticizer added, dilution of the entanglement network results in enhanced brittleness. Besides antiplasticization effects, also some typical plasticization effects are observed, like a reduction in matrixTg. For the second route, traditional rubber toughening using acrylate core–shell modifiers also results in a reduced yield stress recovery, and ductile tensile deformation behavior is observed even 42 months after mechanical rejuvenation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 134–147, 2008
Effects of glycyrrhizic acid on cocklebur‐induced hepatotoxicity in rat and human hepatocytes
Authors: Yin Jian , Li Donghui , Hu Weiming , Meng Qin 
Published: December 2007

AbstractHerbal medicines are gradually being accepted for their low toxicity and high efficacy, but their hepatotoxicity still needs to be recognized. For the multiple compounds in herbs, hepatocytes in vitro would be a useful tool for the evaluation of herbal hepatotoxicity. This study aimed at cocklebur/atractyloside‐induced hepatotoxicity and the protective effects of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) against this toxicity using rat and human hepatocytes in monolayer culture. After a 48 h treatment, cocklebur as well as atractyloside induced concentration‐dependent hepatotoxicity according to obvious decreases of cell viability, intracellular glutathione (GSH) content and albumin secretion in rat hepatocytes. Compared with rat hepatocytes, human hepatocytes seemed to be less sensitive to cocklebur‐induced hepatotoxicity, indicative of species differences between humans and rats. Furthermore, as expected, GA showed significant protective effects on cocklebur hepatotoxicity in both human and rat hepatocytes. Overall, these results suggested that hepatocytes in vitro, particularly human hepatocytes, could be a useful tool for herbal hepatotoxicity screening in vitro. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enhancing racial self‐understanding through structured learning and reflective experiences
Authors: Quaye Stephen John , Baxter Magolda Marcia B. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractIntercultural maturity and the learning partnerships model are offered as frameworks for understanding the intersection of students' developmental levels and readiness for cross‐racial interactions, and for assisting educators in promoting racial self‐understanding. A case study is used to illustrate the usefulness of the model in supporting student engagement with race.
Arrayed MC‐CDMA reception in space‐time diffused multipath vector channels
Authors: Rashid Farrukh , Manikas Athanassios 
Published: December 2007

AbstractMulti‐Carrier Code Division Multiple Access (MC‐CDMA) is a modulation scheme that combines the advantages of OFDM and CDMA to provide robustness against frequency selectivity in wireless channels. Arrayed MC‐CDMA systems combine MC‐CDMA and antenna array technology to harness the spatial and temporal ‘signatures’ of received signals, thus making it possible to realize high transmission rates envisioned for next generation wireless communications. Localized scattering, which occurs for each multipath, motivates the frequency selective wireless channel to be modelled as a diffused vector channel. In this paper, space‐time diffused vector channels for arrayed MC‐CDMA systems are modelled and analysed. Simulation studies show that the use of this diffused channel modelling in arrayed MC‐CDMA receivers yields better Bit Error Rate (BER) and SNIRoutperformance than receivers that ignore the presence of spatial and/or temporal diffusion. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Specification, proof, and model checking of the Mondex electronic purse using RAISE
Authors: George Chris , Haxthausen Anne E. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
This paper describes how the communication protocol of Mondex electronic purses can be specified and verified against desired security properties. The specification is developed by stepwise refinement using the RAISE formal specification language, RSL, and the proofs are made by translation to PVS and SAL. The work is part of a year-long project contributing to the international grand challenge in verified software engineering.
Mechanising Mondex with Z/Eves
Authors: Freitas Leo , Woodcock Jim 
Published: December 2007

Abstract

We describe our experiences in mechanising the specification, refinement, and proof of the
Mondex Electronic Purse
using the Z/Eves theorem prover. We took a conservative approach and mechanised the original L
a
T
E
X sources without changing their technical content, except to correct errors. We found problems in the original specification and some missing invariants in the refinements. Based on these experiences, we present novel and detailed guidance on how to drive Z/Eves successfully. The work contributes to the Repository for the Verified Software Grand Challenge.
Dietary lipoic acid-dependent changes in the activity and mRNA levels of hepatic lipogenic enzymes in rats
Authors: Huong Doan Thi Thanh , Ide Takashi 
Published: December 2007

Effects of dietary α-lipoic acid on hepatic and serum lipid concentrations and the activity and mRNA levels of lipogenic enzymes were examined in rats. Rats were fed experimental diets containing varying amounts of lipoic acid (0, 1, 2·5, 5 g/kg) for 21 d. Lipoic acid profoundly decreased serum and liver concentrations of TAG, and also lowered serum concentrations of phospholipid and NEFA, and the concentration of cholesterol in the liver. A hypoglycaemic effect of this compound was also observed. Lipoic acid dose-dependently decreased the activity and mRNA levels of fatty acid synthase, ATP-citrate lyase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme and pyruvate kinase in the liver despite that reductions were considerably attenuated in the NADPH-producing enzymes. This compound also dose-dependently lowered the mRNA levels of spot 14, adiponutrin, stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1, and Δ5- and Δ6-desaturases. In addition, lipoic acid dose-dependently lowered serum concentrations of insulin and leptin, but increased those of adiponectin. Lipoic acid appeared to reduce hepatic lipogenesis and hence decreases serum and liver lipid levels. Alterations in serum concentrations of insulin and (or) adiponectin may trigger this consequence.
When to Coalesce: Early Versus Late Coalition Announcement in an Experimental Democracy
Authors: GOODIN ROBERT E. , GÜTH WERNER , SAUSGRUBER RUPERT 
Published: December 2007

In multi-party democracies, several parties usually have to join together in coalition to form government. Many aspects of that process have been fairly fully investigated, others less so. Among the latter is the timing of the formation and announcement of coalitions.While the dominant popular image may be one of parties meeting together after the election to hammer out a coalition agreement, pre-election coalitions of one sort or another are actually quite common. In almost half of the elections in OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries since the Second World War, at least one pair of parties had pre-announced their intention to join together in government. A quarter of governments formed were based wholly (and another quarter in part) on pre-election agreements.To date, such studies as there have been of pre-election coalitions have concentrated primarily on system-level explanations – features of the electoral system (majoritarian or proportional, and so on) that make such arrangements more or less likely.3 Here we shall instead look more at the agent-level logic of ‘early’ (pre-election) versus ‘late’ (post-election) coalition formation, from the point of view of voters and parties.hypotheses concerning coalition timingIn the tradition of Downs and Riker and their coalition-theorist progeny, we shall assume that voters are interested primarily in getting policies adopted which are close to their ‘ideal points’ in policy space, and that parties are interested primarily in winning office to implement policies as close as possible to their ‘ideal points’ in policy space. That leads parties to strive for ‘minimal connected winning coalitions’: ‘connected’ in the sense that they link parties adjacent in policy space; ‘minimal’ in the sense that they involve the party's sharing power with the fewest parties backed by fewest voters that it can and still win.
Population structure ofCicada barbaraStål (Hemiptera, Cicadoidea) from the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco based on mitochondrial DNA analysis
Authors: Pinto-Juma G.A. , Quartau J.A. , Bruford M.W. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractWe assess the genetic history and population structure ofCicada barbarain Morocco and the Iberian Peninsula, based on analysis of the mitochondrial cytochromebgene. The divergence between Morocco and the Iberian Peninsula populations was strongly corroborated by the molecular data, suggesting genetically isolated populations with a low level of gene flow. The Ceuta population from Spanish North Africa was more similar to the Iberian populations than the surrounding Moroccan populations, suggesting that the Strait of Gibraltar has not been acting as a strict barrier to dispersal while the Rif Mountains have. The Iberian Peninsula specimens showed a signature of demographic expansion before that which occurred in Morocco, but some of the assumptions related to the demographic parameters should be considered with caution due to the small genetic variation found. The high haplotype diversity found in Morocco implies higher demographic stability than in the Iberian Peninsula populations. These results do not, however, suggest a Moroccan origin for Iberian cicadas; but the most northwest region in Africa, such as Ceuta, might have acted as a southern refuge for Iberian cicadas during the most severe climatic conditions, from where they could expand north when climate improved. The separation of two subspecies withinC. barbara(C. barbara lusitanicaandC. barbara barbara) finds support with these results.
On the Number of Tetrahedra with Minimum, Unit, and Distinct Volumes in Three-Space
Authors: DUMITRESCU ADRIAN , TÓTH CSABA D. 
Published: December 2007

We formulate and give partial answers to several combinatorial problems on volumes of simplices determined bynpoints in 3-space, and in general inddimensions.(i)The number of tetrahedra of minimum (non-zero) volume spanned bynpoints in$\mathbb{R}$3is at most$\frac{2}{3}n^3-O(n^2)$, and there are point sets for which this number is$\frac{3}{16}n^3-O(n^2)$. We also present anO(n3) time algorithm for reporting all tetrahedra of minimum non-zero volume, and thereby extend an algorithm of Edelsbrunner, O'Rourke and Seidel. In general, for every$k,d\in \mathbb{N}, 1\leq k \leq d$, the maximum number ofk-dimensional simplices of minimum (non-zero) volume spanned bynpoints in$\mathbb{R}$dis Θ(nk).(ii)The number of unit volume tetrahedra determined bynpoints in$\mathbb{R}$3isO(n7/2), and there are point sets for which this number is Ω(n3log logn).(iii)For every$d\in \mathbb{N}$, the minimum number of distinct volumes of all full-dimensional simplices determined bynpoints in$\mathbb{R}$d, not all on a hyperplane, is Θ(n).
Pocket borough to county borough: power relations, elites and politics in nineteenth-century Grimsby
Authors: SHINNER P.J. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACTThis article considers the relationship between landed culture and the emergent middle classes in a rapidly expanding urban context substantially removed from the more familiar examples. The port of Grimsby expanded rapidly in the second half of the nineteenth century, displaying many facets in common with other industrial centres and boasting a substantial middle-class presence from a relatively early stage. At the same time the extent to which Grimsby's middle classes assumed a leading role in the town's development is questionable and subject to qualification.