bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and food safety considerations of poultry competitive exclusion products
Authors: Wagner Robert Doug 
Published: October 2006

AbstractCompetitive exclusion (CE) products are anaerobic cultures of bacteria that are applied to poultry hatchlings to establish a protective enteric microbiota that excludes intestinal colonization by human food‐borne pathogens. For safety of the poultry flock and human consumers, the identities of bacteria in CE products need to be known. A CE product is a culture of intestinal contents from adult chickens. It may be microbiologically defined by analysis of bacteria isolated from the culture, but many bacteria are hard to reliably isolate, identify, and characterize with conventional techniques. Sequence analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes may be more reliable than conventional techniques to identify CE bacteria. Bacteria in CE products may contain antimicrobial drug resistance and virulence mechanisms that could be transferred to the enteric bacteria of the food animal and to the human consumer. Detection methods for specific antimicrobial drug resistance and virulence genes and the integrase genes of conjugative transposons, mostly utilizing PCR technology, are being developed that can be applied to assess these risks in CE bacteria. With improvements in efficacy, bacterial identification, and detection and control of the possible risks of gene transfer, CE product technology can be made a more effective food safety tool.
Human rectal mucosal gene expression after consumption of digestible and non‐digestible carbohydrates
Authors: Schauber Jürgen , Weiler Frank , Gostner Andrea , Melcher Ralph , Kudlich Theodor , Lührs Hardi , Scheppach Wolfgang 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThe effect of regular consumption of the low‐digestible and prebiotic isomalt versus the digestible sucrose on gene expression in rectal mucosa was examined in a randomized double‐blind crossover trial. Nineteen healthy volunteers received 30 g isomalt per day or 30 g sucrose as part of a controlled diet over two 4‐week test periods with a 4‐week washout period in between. At the end of each test phase rectal biopsies were obtained. After RNA extraction mucosal gene expression was assayed using GeneChip microarrays. In addition, expression of cathelicidin hCap18/LL37, cellular detoxification enzymes GSTπ, UGT1A1 and CYP3A4, cyclooxygenase 2 and barrier factors MUC2 and ZO‐1 were determined by real‐time RT‐PCR. Microbiological analyses of fecal samples revealed a shift of the gut flora towards an increase of bifidobacteria following consumption of the diet containing isomalt. Isomalt consumption did not affect rectal mucosal gene expression in microarray analyses as compared to sucrose. In addition, the expression of cathelicidin LL37, GSTπ, UGT1A1, CYP3A4, COX‐2, MUC2 and ZO‐1 was not changed in rectal biopsies. We conclude that gene expression of the human rectal mucosa can reliably be measured in biopsy material taken at endoscopy. Dietary intervention with the low digestible isomalt compared with the digestible sucrose did not affect gene expression in the lining rectal mucosa.
Effect of urethral compliance on the steady state p‐Q relationships assessed with a mechanical analog of the male lower urinary tract
Authors: Mijailovich Srboljub M. , Sullivan Maryrose P. , Yalla Subbarao V. , Venegas Jose G. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractAimsUsing a lumped parameter theoretical model of bladder outlet function, we previously explored the relationship between the tube law of the urethra and the pressure‐flow characteristics during micturition [Mijailovich et al., 2004]. To validate this theoretical model, we constructed a mechanical analog of the male lower urinary tract that incorporated elements simulating all relevant parameters of the theoretical model. In addition, we determined the effect of alterations in compliance of the flow‐controlling zone on these relationships.MethodsIn the mechanical analog, the bladder neck and urethra were represented by a thin‐walled conduit made of latex rubber and the prostate with a fluid filled cuff of variable compliance encircling the conduit. We measured in the same system steady‐state pressure‐flow (p‐Q) and pressure‐area (p‐A) relationships of the flow‐controlling zone. The effects of bladder outlet obstruction and prostatic compliance on these relationships were simulated by varying cuff pressure and capacitative coupling of the cuff, respectively.ResultsWe demonstrated two previously described flow regimes—critical for low Q, and subcritical for higher Q. In the critical flow regime, the cross‐sectional area of the collapsible conduit downstream of the cuff became narrow up to a site where the area suddenly expanded (elastic jump). Pressure losses across the cuff region decreased with increasing Q as the elastic jump approached the cuff, and the jump vanished when Q became subcritical. By altering prostatic cuff compliance and cuff pressure, we showed that an increase in opening pressures was associated with a steeper p‐Q relationship.ConclusionsUsing this mechanical analog, the measurements of p‐A and p‐Q relationships under various experimental conduit conditions validated our previous theoretical model of the male lower urinary tract. Both the experimental measurements and our previous theoretical model predictions indicate that an increase in opening pressure is associated with an increase in the slope of the p‐Q relationship which becomes steeper with decreased cuff compliance. These data are in accordance with urodynamic findings in patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and suggest that a reduction in prostatic compliance exacerbates the severity of obstruction. Neurourol. Urodynam. 26:234–246, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Changes in medication associated with epilepsy‐related hospitalisation: a case‐crossover study
Authors: Handoko Kim B. , Zwart‐van Rijkom Jeannette E. F. , Hermens Walter A. J. J. , Souverein Patrick C. , Egberts Toine C. G. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractAimTo assess the association between changes in medication and epilepsy‐related hospitalisation.MethodsData were obtained from the PHARMO Record Linkage System (Jan 1998 to Dec 2002). We conducted a case‐crossover study among patients with a first epilepsy‐related hospital admission who had continuously used at least one antiepileptic drug (AED) during a 28‐week period before admission. For each patient, changes in medication in a 28‐day window before hospitalisation were compared with changes in four earlier 28‐day windows. Evaluated changes were: changes in AEDs (pattern and dosage), changes in interacting co‐medication and changes in non‐interacting co‐medication (i.e. introduction of non‐interacting drugs). The strength of the association between changes in medication and epilepsy‐related hospitalisation was estimated using conditional logistic regression analysis and expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsOut of 1185 patients with a first epilepsy‐related hospitalisation, 217 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of the changes in antiepileptic therapy, discontinuation showed a trend towards an increased risk of hospitalisation (OR: 2.57; 95%CI: 0.81–8.17). Drug interactions influencing antiepileptic therapy rarely occurred. Introduction of three or more non‐interacting drugs was significantly associated with epilepsy‐related hospitalisation (OR: 4.80; 95%CI: 2.12–10.87). Of individual drugs, addition of antimicrobial agents was significantly associated with epilepsy‐related hospitalisation (OR: 1.99; 95%CI: 1.06–3.75).ConclusionsChanges in AED therapy were not significantly associated with epilepsy‐related hospitalisation and few drug interactions influencing antiepileptic therapy occurred. However, patients starting three or more new non‐AEDs had a nearly five times increased risk of epilepsy‐related hospital admission. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
All‐cause mortality associated with atypical and typical antipsychotics in demented outpatients
Authors: Trifirò Gianluca , Verhamme Katia M. C. , Ziere Gijsbertus , Caputi Achille P. , Ch Stricker Bruno H. , Sturkenboom Miriam C. J. M. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractPurposeTo estimate the association between use of typical and atypical antipsychotics and all‐cause mortality in a population of demented outpatients.MethodsThe study cohort comprised all demented patients older than 65 years and registered in the Integrated Primary Care Information (IPCI) database, during 1996–2004. First, mortality rates were calculated during use of atypical and typical antipsychotics. Second, we assessed the association between use of atypical and typical antipsychotics and all‐cause mortality through a nested case‐control study in the cohort of demented patients. Each case was matched to all eligible controls at the date of death by age and duration of dementia. Odds ratios were estimated through conditional logistic regression analyses.ResultsThe crude mortality rate was 30.1 (95%CI: 18.2–47.1) and 25.2 (21.0–29.8) per 100 person‐years (PY) during use of atypical and typical antipsychotics, respectively. No significant difference in risk of death was observed between current users of atypical and typical antipsychotics (OR = 1.3; 95%CI: 0.7–2.4). Both types of antipsychotics were associated with a significantly increased risk of death as compared to non‐users (OR = 2.2, 1.2–3.9 for atypical antipsychotics; OR=1.7, 1.3–2.2 for typical antipsychotics).ConclusionsConventional antipsychotic drug should be included in the FDA's Public Health advisory, which currently warns only of the increased risk of death with the use of atypical antipsychotics in elderly demented persons. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of the complex thermal behavior of poly(L‐lactic acid) film. I. Samples crystallized from the glassy state
Authors: Ling Xiaoyun , Spruiell Joseph E. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThe melting behavior of poly(L‐lactic acid) film crystallized from the glassy state, either isothermally or nonisothermally, was studied by wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and temperature‐modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC). Up to three crystallization and two melting peaks were observed. It was concluded that these effects could largely be accounted for on the basis of a “melt‐recrystallization” mechanism. When molecular weight is low, two melting endotherms are readily observed. But, without TMDSC, the double melting phenomena of high molecular weight PLLA is often masked by an exotherm just prior to the final melting, as metastable crystals undergo melt‐recrystallization during heating in the DSC. The appearance of a double cold‐crystallization peak during the DSC heating scan of amorphous PLLA film is the net effect of cold crystallization and melt‐recrystallization of metastable crystals formed during the initial cold crystallization. Samples cold‐crystallized at 80 and 90 °C did not exhibit a long period, although substantial crystallinity developed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3200–3214, 2006
Programs in R for computing truncated t distributions
Authors: Nadarajah Saralees , Kotz Samuel 
Published: October 2006

AbstractTruncated distributions arise naturally in many industrial settings. Owing to the popularity of the normal distribution, programs have been developed for computing quantities of interest of its truncated version such as the truncated mean, truncated variance and the cumulative probability. In this note, we follow up the work for the Student's t distribution because of its recent popularity as a rival to the normal distribution. We provide programs for computing the mean, variance, cumulative probability and two other quantities of interest for any truncated t distribution: whether it is left truncated, right truncated or doubly truncated. The programs are written in R: a freely downloadable statistical software. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Field Reliability Prediction in Consumer Electronics Using Warranty Data
Authors: Ion Roxana A. , Petkova Valia T. , Peeters Bas H. J. , Sander Peter C. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractIn innovative fast product development processes, such as consumer electronics, it is necessary to check as quickly as possible, using field data, whether the product reliability is at the right level. In consumer electronics, some major companies use the Warranty Call Rate (WCR) for this purpose. This paper discusses extensively the theoretical and practical drawbacks of the WCR. Subsequently, it is demonstrated, using a Weibull failure distribution, that only a few months after product launch, say three months, the warranty data offer the opportunity to estimate the parameters of the failure distribution. Of course, this requires that the warranty data are available in the quality department. Unfortunately, for some companies the field feedback information process from the repair centres to the quality department causes a delay of several months. These companies have to speed up their field feedback information process before they can fully take advantage of the proposed estimation procedure. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reliability Analysis of a Novel Pulse Code Modulation Flow Control Valve with Self‐compensating Ability
Authors: Peng Zhang , Jinji Gao 
Published: October 2006

AbstractIn this paper a self‐compensating pulse code modulation compound flow control valve and its self‐compensating algorithm are introduced. After adopting a self‐compensating method, the compound valve can maintain good control quality when one or more turn on/off valves (TOVs) fail by adjusting the activities of unfailed TOVs. A stochastic fault model for the compound valve is established and a Monte Carlo approach is used to calculate its life distribution. The results indicate that there is about 20–50% increase of mean controllable life. This might be of great importance when immediate emergency shutdown is not allowable or too costly, such as in the case of aircraft control and in the control of continuous processes. The extra life can leave a large enough time margin to plan a more graceful shutdown and maintenance. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Three‐Dimensional Quantitative Structure‐Activity Relationships. 2. Conformational Mimicry and Topographical Similarity of Flexible Molecules
Authors: Labanowski Jan , Motoc Ioan , Naylor Cristopher B. , Mayer Dorica , Dammkoehler Richard A. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractA molecular mechanics program (Maximin) is described with emphasis on its distinctive features. With Maximin, energy can be minimized while maintaining specified geometric relationships within and/or among given sets of atoms. Additionally, two alternative methods for conformational comparisons are supported: a set of flexible molecules can be mapped onto a rigid reference structure, or treating all molecules as flexible entities, one can minimize the conformational variance of the set. The latter method is described here for the first time. Calculations of methotrexate‐dihydrofolate reductase interaction energy, and the analysis of a series of structurally diverse inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme are reported. Algorithmic description of the original features of Maximin is also provided.
Electronic Structure and Serotonin Receptor Binding Affinity of 7‐Substituted Tryptamines QSAR of 7‐Substituted Tryptamines
Authors: Gornez‐Jeria Juan S. , Morales‐Lagos Dernian , Cassels Bruce K. , Saavedra‐Aguilar Juan C. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractA QSAR study was carried out seeking a relationship between the receptor binding affinities and the molecular‐electronic structures of a group of 7‐substituted tryptamines. The results suggest that these molecules interact with the rat stomach fundus serotonergic receptor by charge transfer from the aromatic nucleus and that there are pockets in the receptor which place limits on the sizes of acceptable N‐ and α‐carbon substituents. Also, the charge density available at carbon atom 7 and the size of the C‐7 substituent as estimated by a calculated steric factor seem to make important contributions to an optimal interaction between the IAA and the receptor molecules.
Model approximation using magnitude and phase criteria: implications for model reduction and system identification
Authors: Sandberg Henrik , Lanzon Alexander , Anderson Brian D. O. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractIn this paper, we use convex optimization for model reduction and identification of transfer functions. Two different approximation criteria are studied. When the first criterion is used, magnitude functions are matched, and when the second criterion is used, phase functions are matched. The weighted error bounds have direct interpretation in a Bode diagram, and are suitable to engineers working with frequency‐domain data. We also show that transfer functions that have similar magnitude or phase functions have a small relative H‐infinity error, under certain stability and minimum phase assumptions. The error bounds come from bounds associated with the Hilbert transform operator restricted in its application to rational transfer functions. Furthermore, it is shown how the approximation procedures can be implemented with linear matrix inequalities, and four examples are included to illustrate the results. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A preliminary statement on research in science education
Authors: Novak Joseph D. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractDr. Novak Prepared his statement on science education research especially for the first issue of the Journal in the hope that it will stimulate thought and discussion by our readers, especially by members of NARST and AETS. Critical responses will be welcomed both by the author and by the Editor. In particular, Dr. Novak solicits comments useful to the NARST Committee on Criteria for Research of which he is currently the Chairman.
Some evaluation problems in a course content improvement project
Authors: Atkin J. Myron 
Published: October 2006

AbstractDr. Atkin, who is Co‐Director of the Illinois Elementary‐School Science Project, has long been interested in the evaluation of learning materials and, in particular, the evaluation of the new curricula in science. In this article he brings into sharp focus one of the important issues of the day: the related questions of when, how, and by whom learning goals should be stated in curriculum building and the suitability of traditional procedures for evaluating them. We look forward to publishing reactions to Dr. Atkin's statement.
Science achievement as it relates to science curricula and programs at the sixth grade level in montana public schools
Authors: Swan Malcolm D. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThis study deals primarily with the relationship between pupil achievement in science and factors in the science program. An inventory of science attitudes, interests, and appreciations was constructed and administered in connection with an advanced science test to a large sample of sixth graders. Their teachers completed science teaching questionnaires. The results of the study are significant and are a contribution to the field.
Response to a multi‐media system
Authors: Smith M. Daniel 
Published: October 2006

AbstractSeveral physics classes followed an integrated multi‐media, multi‐modal teaching‐learning system or schedule, and completed a number of evaluation instruments designed to collect data on both affective and cognitive variables, as well as on the resulting behaviors of teachers and students. The data lead to some tentative conclusions about reactions of students to different media in such a system, effects of media on learning, and the impact of the system on teacher self‐concept. Conclusions relate to the future of such integrated systems and their effects on motivation and learning.
The effects of instructional method upon the acquisition of inquiry skills
Authors: Thomas Barbara , Snider Bill 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThis study investigated the effects of Guided Discovery vs. Didactic methods of instruction upon the acquisition of certain inquiry skills. At the same time, the effects of method on the attainment of factual‐conceptual achievement was assessed. Hypotheses of no interaction of the methods variable with the learner variables—sex, measured intelligence, creativity, interest in science, general scholastic achievement, and science achievement—were also tested. The sample consisted of 140 8th‐grade students. The duration of the experimental unit was six weeks. The subject matter was the same for each, “Early Man in America.” The results favored the Didactic group for the factual‐conceptual achievement and the Guided Discovery for the acquisition of inquiry skills. However, in the latter there was an interaction of method with levels of measured intelligence and achievement.
A test to measure problem‐solving skills in science of children in grades one, two, and three
Authors: Dietz Maureen A. , George Kenneth D. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThe aim of this study was to develop a reliable and valid group test that would evaluate some of the science problem‐solving skills of children in grades one, two, and three. The primary grade children used in this study were from three different socio‐economic areas: Area I has been described as a low‐income urban section; Area II is characterized as a middle‐income outlying‐urban area; and Area III is a high‐income suburban region. The problem‐solving skills identified for use in this instrument are: (1) the ability to recognize the problem presented; (2) an understanding of science principles needed to solve the problem; (3) the ability to collect data; and (4) the ability to reason with “if‐then” statements. The findings from the preliminary testing were used to clarify ambiguities in test directions and format and to calculate the difficulty and discrimination of each test item. After an item‐by‐item analysis of student performance, a final form of the instrument was constructed. The data from this final form was used to determine time limits, scoring procedures, test validity, reliability, and norms.
Determining the level of inquiry in teachers' questions
Authors: Ladd George T. , Andersen Hans O. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThe purpose of this investigation was to determine if an instrument, originally designed to classify levels of teachers' questions on the basis of logical operations, could be utilized to measure the level of inquiry present in a classroom discussion and to determine if the inquiry questioning behavior of the teacher influenced student achievement. The results of the study show that the modified classification scheme could accurately and reliably measure the inquiry level of teachers' classroom questions. The data also indicated that teachers who ask a greater proportion of high inquiry questions cause a greater change in students as measured by an achievement examination.