bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of the Non‐Perfect Step Input Concentration at the Feed Side of the Membrane Surface on the Diffusion Coefficient Evaluation
Authors: Cermakova Jirina , Fialova Katerina , Petrychkovych Roman , Kudrna Vladimir , Uchytil Petr 
Published: April 2006

AbstractSummary: Vapor diffusion coefficients in polymeric membranes were evaluated from dynamic permeation experiments. A membrane separated the diffusion cell into two parts – upstream and downstream. At the start of the experiment the concentration change in the upstream part (feed side) was made by substituting the input stream of pure nitrogen by the stream of permeant vapors. The solution of the Fick's second law with the step input concentration function is used for the evaluation of diffusion coefficients. The realization of the step input function can be difficult and its imperfection can negatively influence the evaluation process. This contribution deals with the description of the experimentally obtained input function and the study of its influence on evaluated values of diffusion coefficients. The mathematical model, which includes the non‐perfect step input concentration function and the transport through a polymer was developed. The results of this study enable the estimation of diffusion coefficient evaluation errors as dependence on the experimental arrangements and on the membrane transport properties.Diffusion apparatus for measurement of the steady‐state permeation process.magnified imageDiffusion apparatus for measurement of the steady‐state permeation process.
Surface and Interface Spectroscopy of High Explosives and Binders: HMX and Estane
Authors: Kim Hackjin , Lagutchev Alexei , Dlott Dana D. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractVibrational sum‐frequency generation spectroscopy (SFG) is used to characterize the surfaces of β‐HMX single crystals and Estane polymer binder, as well as the HMX‐Estane interface. SFG is a nonlinear vibrational spectroscopy that selectively probes vibrational transitions at surfaces and interfaces. On the HMX {011} surface, both CH‐ and NO2‐stretching transitions are observed. Compared to bulk HMX, the surface transitions are blueshifted and the splittings are larger. This effect is explained by surface HMX molecules having partially buried and partially free CH2 and NO2 groups. Estane is a diblock copolymer with both soft and hard segments. Comparison of Estane spectra with polymers having only the soft unit and with polymers having predominantly hard units indicate there is a preference for the hard unit on the surface. SFG spectra of the HMX‐Estane interface show smaller splittings of the HMX CH‐stretch transitions than at the HMX‐air interface, because the partially free surface groups are buried in Estane.
Current imaging in quantum point contacts
Authors: Cresti Alessandro 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe experimental imaging of microscopic currents in two‐dimensional electron gas based systems has been recently realized exploiting an ingenious use of scanning microscope tips. By means of the Keldysh Green's function formalism in a tight‐binding framework, I study the electron transport in a model quantum point contact device, obtaining detailed maps of the local current distribution. The results are then compared with those obtained by a direct simulation of the experimental process, i.e. introducing a suitable external potential to reproduce the effect of the coupled microscopic tip on the overall conductance and the electron flow. The analysis of the differences between the two calculations helps to interpret the experimental maps and sheds light on the interference effects of the tip. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Momentum and industry growth
Authors: Safieddine Assem , Sonti Ramana 
Published: April 2006

AbstractIn this paper, we find that individual stock momentum varies almost monotonically with industry growth. Firms in the highest industry growth quintile have significantly higher momentum compared to those in the lowest growth quintile. We find that the above‐average growth group within each quintile has significantly higher momentum profits than the below‐average group. Further, momentum profits of the highest industry growth quintile are always higher than those for the universe of firms, suggesting an economic benefit to stratifying firms based on industry growth and relative company growth intra‐industry, while following a momentum investment strategy.
THE COLLAPSE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY: LESSONS FROM ECONOMICS, AND HISTORY
Authors: Kufuor Kofi Oteng 
Published: April 2006

KUFUOR, KOFI OTENG, The collapse of the Organization of African Unity: Lessons from economics and history, Journal of African Law, 49, 2 (2005): 132–144This paper argues that the analytical tools of the New Institutional Economics (NIE) School provide fruitful lines of inquiry into the decision to replace the Organization of African Unity with the African Union. The application of two NIE methodologies, economics and history, do explain why the OAU had failed to play a meaningful role in African affairs. Relying on economic tools, the paper explores issues relating to monitoring of the members' commitments, the provision of public goods, decision-making, and membership of the OAU. Historical approaches seek to explain why the OAU remained as Africa's paramount regional organization for four decades despite the obvious flaws in the OAU's design and the consequent inefficiencies these flaws produced.
Acoustical Analysis of Spanish Vowels Produced by Laryngectomized Subjects
Authors: Cervera Teresa , Miralles José L. , González-Àlvarez Julio 
Published: April 2006

The purpose of this study was to describe the acoustic characteristics of Spanish vowels in subjects who had undergone a total laryngectomy and to compare the results with those obtained in a control group of subjects who spoke normally. Our results are discussed in relation to those obtained in previous studies with English-speaking laryngectomized patients. The comparison between English and Spanish, which differ widely in the size of their vowel inventories, will help us to determine specific or universal vowel production characteristics in these patients. Our second objective was to relate the acoustic properties of these vowels to the perceptual data obtained in our previous work (J. L. Miralles & T. Cervera, 1995). In that study, results indicated that vowels produced by alaryngeal speakers were well perceived in word context.
Vowels were produced in CVCV word context by two groups of patients who had undergone laryngectomy: tracheoesophageal speakers (TES) and esophageal speakers. In addition a control group of normal talkers was included. Audio recordings of 24 Spanish words produced by each speaker were analyzed using CSL (Kay Elemetrics). Results showed that F1, F2, and vowel duration of alaryngeal speakers differ significantly from normal values. In general, laryngectomized patients produce vowels with higher formant frequencies and longer durations than the group of laryngeal subjects. Thus, the data indicate modifications either in the frequency or temporal domain, following the same tendency found in previous studies with English-speaking laryngectomized speakers.
Patterns and Predictors of Inpatient Falls and Fall-Related Injuries in a Large Academic Hospital
Authors: Fischer Irene D. , Krauss Melissa J. , Dunagan William Claiborne , Birge Stanley , Hitcho Eileen , Johnson Shirley , Costantinou Eileen , Fraser Victoria J. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractObjectives:Most research on hospital falls has focused on predictors of falling, whereas less is known about predictors of serious fall-related injury. Our objectives were to characterize inpatients who fall and to determine predictors of serious fall-related injury.Methods:We performed a retrospective observational study of 1,082 patients who fell (1,235 falls) during January 2001 to June 2002 at an urban academic hospital. Multivariate analysis of potential risk factors for serious fall-related injury (vs no or minor injury) included in the hospital's adverse event reporting database was conducted with logistic regression to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI95).Results:The median age of patients who fell was 62 years (interquartile range, 49-77 years), 50% were women, and 20% were confused. The hospital fall rate was 3.1 falls per 1,000 patient-days, which varied by service from 0.86 (women and infants) to 6.36 (oncology). Some (6.1%) of the falls resulted in serious injury, ranging by service from 3.1% (women and infants) to 10.9% (psychiatry). The most common serious fall-related injuries were bleeding or laceration (53.6%), fracture or dislocation (15.9%), and hematoma or contusion (13%). Patients 75 years or older (aOR, 3.2; CI95, 1.3-8.1) and those on the geriatric psychiatry floor (aOR, 2.8; CI95,1.3-6.0) were more likely to sustain serious fall-related injuries.Conclusions:There is considerable variation in fall rates and fall-related injury percentages by service. More detailed studies should be conducted by floor or service to identify predictors of serious fall-related injury so that targeted interventions can be developed to reduce them.
A national survey of epidural use and management in elderly patients undergoing elective and emergency laparotomy
Authors: Walton B. , Farrow C. , Cook T. M. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryA postal questionnaire was sent to anaesthetic clinical tutors in the United Kingdom describing two hypothetical 75‐year‐old patients requiring abdominal surgery. Patient 1 (ASA 2) required elective anterior resection and patient 2 (ASA 3–4) required emergency laparotomy. There was a 65% response rate. For patient 1, 98.5% of respondents would insert an epidural, 93% inserting this awake and 50% placing it in the high‐mid thoracic region. All respondents would use local anaesthesia (concentration varied four‐fold) and 62% would use opioids. All respondents would place the epidural pre‐operatively; although 36% would administer the epidural block pre‐operatively and 3% postoperatively. For patient 2, 70% of respondents would insert an epidural (p < 0.0001), drug administration would be more frequently delayed until postoperatively (13%); p = 0.0005) and epidural opioid use decreased (57%); p = n/s. Epidural insertion influenced the postoperative destination in 42% of departments. Use of a critical care facility was anticipated for more than half of these patients; 60% reported difficulty accessing critical care beds.
A randomised, crossover study of the Dorges, McCoy and Macintosh laryngoscope blades in a simulated difficult intubation scenario
Authors: Sethuraman D. , Darshane S. , Guha A. , Charters P. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe use of alternative adult laryngoscope blades in an unexpected difficult intubation was evaluated with a human patient simulator manikin. Twenty anaesthetists of varying experience attempted to intubate the trachea of a high fidelity simulator in both its normal and difficult intubation settings using Macintosh, Dorges and McCoy laryngoscopes in a randomised order. The time taken to intubate, Cormack and Lehane scores, percentage of glottic opening visible, failure rate, number of attempts and subjective ease of use were recorded. The Dorges and McCoy blades did not perform any better than the standard Macintosh blade in either the easy or difficult tracheal intubation settings. Guidelines recommending the use of an alternative blade in an unexpected difficult intubation scenario have limited supporting evidence. This study does not support this recommendation.
Use of preferred music to decrease agitated behaviours in older people with dementia: a review of the literature
Authors: Sung Huei‐chuan , Chang Anne M 
Published: April 2006

Aims and objectives.  This paper reviews study findings of preferred music on agitated behaviours for older people with dementia and provides implications for future research and practice.Background.  Music has been suggested as a feasible and less costly intervention to manage agitated behaviours in older people with dementia. However, no review of the literature focusing on study findings of preferred music on agitated behaviours in older people with dementia had been reported.Methods.  A review was undertaken using electronic databases with specified search terms for the period of 1993–2005. The references listed in the publications selected were also searched for additional studies.Results.  Eight research‐based articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The preferred music intervention demonstrated positive outcomes in reducing the occurrence of some types of agitated behaviours in older people with dementia. The findings from these studies were relatively consistent in finding improvement in agitated behaviours although the findings in one study did not reach statistical significance. The small sample sizes and some variations in the application of the preferred music intervention mean that caution is needed in drawing conclusions from these studies.Conclusions.  This review highlights that preferred music has positive effects on decreasing agitated behaviours in older people with dementia; however, the methodological limitations indicate the need for further research.Relevance to clinical practice.  Findings from the review highlight the beneficial outcomes of preferred music in reducing agitated behaviours for older people with dementia. The incorporation of preferred music has the potential to provide a therapeutic approach to the care of older people with dementia.
Characterisation of potato isolates of Dickeya chrysanthemi in Spain by a microtitre system for biovar determination
Authors: Palacio‐Bielsa A. , Cambra M.A. , López M.M. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThirteen Spanish potato isolates of Dickeya chrysanthemi obtained from different cultivars, regions and years have been characterised by biochemical, physiological, serological, molecular and pathogenicity tests. Isolates studied have been classified into biovars 1, 3, 5 and 6 by a microtitre system that correlates with the conventional tests in tubes. This is the first description of the characteristics of D. chrysanthemi isolated from potato in Spain and of the development of a microtitre system for biovar determination.
Biochemical Bases of Type IV Chromatic Adaptation in Marine
Synechococcus
spp
Authors: Everroad Craig , Six Christophe , Partensky Frédéric , Thomas Jean-Claude , Holtzendorff Julia , Wood A. Michelle 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACT

Chromatic adaptation (CA) in cyanobacteria has provided a model system for the study of the environmental control of photophysiology for several decades. All forms of CA that have been examined so far (types II and III) involve changes in the relative contents of phycoerythrin (PE) and/or phycocyanin when cells are shifted from red to green light and vice versa. However, the chromophore compositions of these polypeptides are not altered. Some marine
Synechococcus
species strains, which possess two PE forms (PEI and PEII), carry out another type of CA (type IV), occurring during shifts from blue to green or white light. Two chromatically adapting strains of marine
Synechococcus
recently isolated from the Gulf of Mexico were utilized to elucidate the mechanism of type IV CA. During this process, no change in the relative contents of PEI and PEII was observed. Instead, the ratio of the two chromophores bound to PEII, phycourobilin and phycoerythrobilin, is high under blue light and low under white light. Mass spectroscopy analyses of isolated PEII α- and β-subunits show that there is a single PEII protein type under all light climates. The CA process seems to specifically affect the chromophorylation of the PEII (and possibly PEI) α chain. We propose a likely process for type IV CA, which involves the enzymatic activity of one or several phycobilin lyases and/or lyase-isomerases differentially controlled by the ambient light quality. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene confirm that type IV CA is not limited to a single clade of marine
Synechococcus
.
Study of Failure Pattern Among High-Risk Breast Cancer Patients With or Without Postmastectomy Radiotherapy in Addition to Adjuvant Systemic Therapy: Long-Term Results From the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group DBCG 82 b and c Randomized Studies
Authors: Nielsen Hanne M. , Overgaard Marie , Grau Cai , Jensen Anni R. , Overgaard Jens 
Published: April 2006

Purpose Postmastectomy radiotherapy (RT) in high-risk breast cancer patients can reduce locoregional recurrences (LRRs) and improve disease-free and overall survival. The aim of this analysis was to examine the overall disease recurrence pattern among patients randomly assigned to receive treatment with or without RT. Patients and Methods A long-term follow-up was performed among the 3,083 patients from the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group 82 b and c trials, except in those already recorded with distant metastases (DM) or contralateral breast cancer (CBC). The end points were LRR, DM, and CBC, and the follow-up continued until DM, CBC, emigration, or death. Information was selected from medical records, general practitioners, and the National Causes of Death Registry. The median potential follow-up time was 18 years. Results The 18-year probability of any first breast cancer event was 73% and 59% (P < .001) after no RT and RT, respectively (relative risk [RR], 0.68; 95% CI, 0.63 to 0.75). The 18-year probability of LRR (with or without DM) was 49% and 14% (P < .001) after no RT and RT, respectively (RR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.27). The 18-year probability of DM subsequent to LRR was 35% and 6% (P < .001) after no RT and RT, respectively (RR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.11 to 0.20), whereas the probability of any DM was 64% and 53% (P < .001) after no RT versus RT, respectively (RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.71 to 0.86). Conclusion Postmastectomy RT changes the disease recurrence pattern in high-risk breast cancer patients; fewer patients have LRR as first site of recurrence, and overall fewer patients have DM.
The role of visual cues in directed aerial descent of Cephalotes atratus workers (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: Yanoviak S. P. , Dudley R. 
Published: April 2006

SUMMARY
Animals often depend on properties of reflected light (e.g. color,brightness) to locate resources. We compared reflectance properties of tree trunks with surrounding vegetation, and examined how differences in reflectance profiles of surrogate tree trunks (red, yellow, green, blue,black, gray, dark gray and white sheets) affected the directed aerial descent of worker Cephalotes atratus (L.) ants. Across the visual spectrum,tree trunk reflectance was 2–10 times higher than the surrounding foliage and differed among trees. In two separate experiments, one with colored sheets and one with black, white and gray sheets, nearly half (42% and 47%, respectively) of falling ants directed their descent to a bright white sheet when given a choice of target colors or shades of gray. When colored and gray sheets were presented individually, landing frequencies were lower than expected for all except white sheets. Glide performance was highly variable,but there was a tendency for higher glide indices to be associated with the white sheet relative to the green sheet. We conclude that visually mediated aerial behavior in falling canopy ants is strongly influenced by reflectance properties of the target object, specifically brightness, and correlates with preferred natural targets of tree trunks.
Vitamin C and aberrant electrolyte results
Authors: Meng Qing H. , Irwin William C. , Visvanathan Kishore 
Published: April 2006

AbstractVitamin C interferes with assays involving the redox-reaction. However, the interference of Vitamin C with electrolytes has not been reported. In the present case, we describe a 61-year-old lady with severe electrolyte abnormalities after administration of high doses of vitamin C. This patient, who had terminal colon cancer, presented to hospital with anuria. Her electrolytes were extremely abnormal (determined on the Beckman Synchron LX20): serum sodium 200mmol/L, potassium 7.0mmol/L, and chloride 50mmol/L. Repeated measurements showed similar abnormalities. However, these critical abnormalities did not fit her clinical picture, as she was alert with normal vital signs. One of the specimens was also run on both the ABL700 and the Bayer644 analyzers, and the electrolytes appeared normal. Pooled serum from healthy individuals to which various amounts of vitamin C was added then was analyzed on Beckman Synchron LX20 for electrolytes, demonstrating the interference of vitamin C consistent with the initial finding. Thus, we eventually figured out that the aberrant results were due to the vitamin C caused analytical interference.
Unusually high alkaline phosphatase due to intestinal isoenzyme in a healthy adult
Authors: Cho Sung R. , Lim Young A. , Lee Wee G. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractIntestinal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is more prevalent in individuals of blood group O or B, and increases after a meal, especially on a high-fat diet. We did not realize that clinicians could underestimate the importance of fasting for ALP measurement until one healthy adult showed a huge difference in ALP levels before and after a meal. We report a case of transient hyperphosphatasemia resulting in unnecessary workup due to intestinal ALP in a healthy adult of blood group O.
Joking cultures: Humor themes as social regulation in group life
Authors: Fine Gary Alan , Soucey Michaela de 
Published: April 2006

AbstractEvery interacting social group develops, over time, a joking culture: a set of humorous references that are known to members of the group to which members can refer and that serve as the basis of further interaction. Joking, thus, has a historical, retrospective, and reflexive character. We argue that group joking is embedded, interactive, and referential, and these features give it power within the group context. Elements of the joking culture serve to
Medical merriment in the works of Enrique Jardiel Poncela
Authors: Seaver Paul 
Published: April 2006

AbstractEnrique Jardiel Poncela, a twentieth-century Spanish comic writer principally of novels and plays, developed a personal approach to creating humor that involved a novel vision of humor’s literary potential (for his time). Beginning in 1926, he undertook the renovation of humor in creative writing in Spain based on his new objectives. In his peculiar jardielist style in which art for art’s sake is his predominant motive, he pursued a distinctive mode of writing characterized by inverosimilitude, incongruity, wild inventiveness and hyperbole. As one of his comic resources, he made abundant use of doctors, medicines, therapies, diseases, medical terminology and ignorance of medicine by the public in general for his literary purposes. To date, study of this important aspect of his work has been largely neglected. This study proposes to fill that lacuna by examining his use of deformation of language, character and situation and the comic techniques he utilized for purposes of satire and parody in his novels and plays.
Development and Implications of Patent Law
Authors: European Commission  
Published: April 2006

AbstractIntroductionThis is the second report pursuant to Article 16c of the Directive 98/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 1998 on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions and bears the title “Developments and implications of patent law in the field of biotechnology and genetic engineering” (hereinafter the “second 16c Report”).Its purpose is to set out the key events which have occurred since publication of the first 16c Report, and to comment on two issues identified in the latter: the scope of patents on sequences or partial sequences of genes which have been isolated from the human body; and the patentability of human stem cells and cell lines obtained from them. The Commission’s analysis is based on the Commission staff working paper SEC(2005)943.