bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The backup 2‐center and backup 2‐median problems on trees
Authors: Wang Hung‐Lung , Wu Bang Ye , Chao Kun‐Mao 
Published: August 2008

AbstractIn this paper, we are concerned with the problem of deploying two servers in a tree network, where each server may fail with a given probability. Once a server fails, the other server will take full responsibility for the services. Here, we assume that the servers do not fail simultaneously. In the backup 2‐center problem, we want to deploy two servers at the vertices such that the expected distance from a farthest vertex to the closest functioning server is minimum. In the backup 2‐median problem, we want to deploy two servers at the vertices such that the expected sum of distances from all vertices to the set of functioning servers is minimum. We propose an O(n)‐time algorithm for the backup 2‐center problem and an O(n log n)‐time algorithm for the backup 2‐median problem, where n is the number of vertices in the given tree network. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2009
Poly(N,N‐diethylacrylamide) microspheres by dispersion polymerization
Authors: ŠponarovÁ Daniela , Horák Daniel 
Published: August 2008

AbstractPoly(N,N‐diethylacrylamide)‐based microspheres were prepared by ammonium persulfate (APS)‐initiated and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP)‐stabilized dispersion polymerization. The effects of various polymerization parameters, including concentration of N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBAAm) crosslinker, monomer, initiator, stabilizer and polymerization temperature on their properties were elucidated. The hydrogel microspheres were described in terms of their size and size distribution and morphological and temperature‐induced swelling properties. While scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the morphology of the microspheres, the temperature sensitivity of the microspheres was demonstrated by dynamic light scattering. The hydrodynamic particle diameter decreased sharply as the temperature reached a critical temperature ∼ 30 °C. A decrease in the particle size was observed with increasing concentration of both the APS initiator and the PVP stabilizer. The microspheres crosslinked with 2–15 wt % of MBAAm had a fairly narrow size distribution. It was found that the higher the content of the crosslinking agent, the lower the swelling ratio. High concentration of the crosslinker gave unstable dispersions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6263–6271, 2008
Synthesis, properties, and field effect transistor characteristics of new thiophene‐[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxaline‐thiophene‐based conjugated polymers
Authors: Cheng Kai‐Fang , Chueh Chu‐Chen , Lin Chia‐Hung , Chen Wen‐Chang 
Published: August 2008

AbstractFour new conjugated copolymers based on the moiety of bis(4‐hexylthiophen‐2‐yl)‐6,7‐diheptyl‐[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxaline (BTHTQ) were synthesized and characterized, including poly(6,7‐diheptyl‐4,9‐bis(4‐hexylthiophen‐2‐yl)‐[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxaline) (PBTHTQ), poly‐(6,7‐diheptyl‐4,9‐bis(4‐hexylthiophen‐2‐yl)‐[1,2,5]thiadiazolo‐[3,4‐g]quinoxaline‐alt‐2,5‐thiophene) (PTTHTQ), poly(6,7‐diheptyl‐4,9‐bis(4‐hexylthiophen‐2‐yl) [1,2,5]‐thiadiazolo‐[3,4‐g]quinoxaline‐alt‐9,9‐dioctyl‐2,7‐fluore‐ne) (PFBTHTQ), and poly(6,7‐diheptyl‐4,9‐bis(4‐hexylthiophen‐2‐yl)‐[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxaline‐alt‐1,4‐bis(decyloxy)phenylene) (PPBTHTQ). The λmax of PBTHTQ, PTTHTQ, PFBTHTQ, and PPBTHTP thin films was shown at 780, 876, 734, and 710 nm, respectively, with the corresponding optical band gaps (E) of 1.31, 1.05, 1.40, and 1.43 eV. The relatively small band gaps of the synthesized polymers suggested the significance of intramolecular charge transfer between the donor and TQ moiety. The estimated hole mobilities of PBTHTQ, PTTHTQ, and PFBTHTQ‐based field effect transistor devices using CHCl3 solvent were 8.5 × 10−5, 8.5 × 10−4, and 2.8 × 10−5 cm2 V−1 s−1, respectively, but significantly enhanced to 1.6 × 10−4, 3.8 × 10−3, and 1.5 × 10−4 cm2 V−1 s−1 using high boiling point solvent of chlorobenzene (CB). The higher hole mobility of PTTHTQ than the other two copolymers was attributed from its smaller band gap or ordered morphology [wormlike (chloroform) or needle‐like (CB)]. The characteristics of small band gap and high mobility suggest the potential applications of the BTHTQ‐based conjugated copolymers in electronic and optoelectronic devices. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6305–6316, 2008
Learning of your parent's BRCA mutation during adolescence or early adulthood: a study of offspring experiences
Authors: Bradbury Angela R. , Patrick‐Miller Linda , Pawlowski Kimberly , Ibe Comfort N. , Cummings Shelly A. , Hlubocky Fay , Olopade Olufunmilayo I. , Daugherty Christopher K. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractObjective: To examine the experience, comprehension and perceptions of learning of a parent's BRCA mutation during adolescence and early adulthood, and explore the impact on offspring's physical and psychosocial well‐being.Methods: Semi‐structured interviews were completed with 22 adult offspring who learned of their parent's BRCA mutation prior to age 25 years. Data were summarized using qualitative methods and response proportions.Results: Offspring reports of the content shared varied; discussion of cancer risks and offspring genetic testing were described more frequently than risk modification strategies. The majority of offspring reported a good understanding of the information shared and no negative aspects for learning this information. Some offspring reported changing their health behaviors after learning of the familial mutation; many tobacco users stopped smoking. Offspring interest in genetic counseling surrounding parent disclosure and genetic testing during adulthood were high.Conclusions: Some offspring understand and respond adaptively to early communication of a genetic risk for cancer, and disclosure may foster improved health behaviors during adolescence and young adulthood. Further research is necessary to evaluate how offspring conceptualize and utilize genetic risk and to identify the biopsychosocial factors predictive of adaptive/maladaptive responses to early disclosure of hereditary risk for adult cancer. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inter‐observer variability in chest radiograph reading for diagnosing acute lung injury in children
Authors: Angoulvant François , Llor Juan , Alberti Corinne , Kheniche Ahmed , Zaccaria Isabelle , Garel Catherine , Dauger Stéphane 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAcute lung injury (ALI), including its most serious form called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), is a devastating disease that can occur at any age. ALI/ARDS accounts for only 5–8% of admissions to pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) but is fatal in 30–60% of cases. International multicenter prospective studies are needed to better understand pediatric ALI/ARDS. However, a reproducible definition of ALI/ARDS is crucial to ensure that study populations are homogeneous. We designed a retrospective review to test the inter‐observer variability of chest radiograph interpretation for presence of the American‐European Consensus Conference (AECC) radiographic criterion for ALI/ARDS. The medical files of 24 children ventilated for ALI/ARDS in our PICU between January 1993 and December 2002 were reviewed. Five pediatric radiologists and five pediatric intensivists interpreted one frontal chest radiograph (FCR) per patient taken on the day of ALI/ARDS diagnosis. Each reader indicated whether the radiograph showed the AECC radiographic criterion for ALI/ARDS. Data analysis involved comparing each reader to all the others based on the raw agreement and Kappa coefficient (κ). Features in the 24 patients were consistent with earlier studies. Global inter‐observer agreement beyond chance was fair (κ = 0.29 ± 0.02) among the five radiologists (κ = 0.26 ± 0.05) and among the five intensivists (κ = 0.29 ± 0.05). Thus, considerable inter‐observer variability occurred in assessing the radiographic criterion for ALI/ARDS, as previously shown in adults. Given the low incidence of ALI/ARDS in children, this variability may have a large impact in studies of pediatric ALI/ARDS. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:987–991. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nrf2‐mediated induction of detoxifying enzymes by alantolactone present in Inula helenium
Authors: Seo Ji Yeon , Lim Soon Sung , Kim Ju Ryoung , Lim Ji‐Sun , Ha Young Ran , Lee In Ae , Kim Eun Ji , Park Jung Han Yoon , Kim Jong‐Sang 
Published: August 2008

AbstractOur previous study showed that a methanol extract of Inula helenium had the potential to induce detoxifying enzymes such as quinone reductase (QR) and glutathione S‐transferase (GST) activity. In this study the methanol extract was further fractionated using silica gel chromatography and vacuum liquid chromatography, to yield pure compounds alantolactone and isoalantolactone as QR inducers. Alantolactone caused a dose‐dependent induction of antioxidant enzymes including QR, GST, γ‐glutamylcysteine synthase, glutathione reductase, and heme oxygenase 1 in hepa1c1c7 mouse hepatoma cells. The compound increased the luciferase activity of HepG2‐C8 cells, transfectants carrying antioxidant response element (ARE)‐luciferase gene, in a dose‐dependent manner, suggesting ARE‐mediated transcriptional activation of antioxidant enzymes. Alantolactone also stimulated the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 that was inhibited by phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) inhibitors. In conclusion, alantolactone appears to induce detoxifying enzymes via activation of PI3K and JNK signaling pathways, leading to translocation of Nrf2, and subsequent interaction between Nrf2 and ARE in the encoding genes. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An adaptive dimension reduction scheme for monitoring feedback‐controlled processes
Authors: Wang Kaibo , Tsung Fugee 
Published: August 2008

AbstractDetecting dynamic mean shifts is particularly important in monitoring feedback‐controlled processes in which time‐varying shifts are usually observed. When multivariate control charts are being utilized, one way to improve performance is to reduce dimensions. However, it is difficult to identify and remove non‐informative variables statically in a process with dynamic shifts, as the contribution of each variable changes continuously over time. In this paper, we propose an adaptive dimension reduction scheme that aims to reduce dimensions of multivariate control charts through online variable evaluation and selection. The resulting chart is expected to keep only informative variables and hence maximize the sensitivity of control charts. Specifically, two sets of projection matrices are presented and dimension reduction is achieved via projecting process vectors into a low‐dimensional space. Although developed based on feedback‐controlled processes, the proposed scheme can be easily extended to monitor general multivariate applications. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Psychic Costs of Empathic Engagement: Personal and Demographic Predictors of Genetic Counselor Compassion Fatigue
Authors: Udipi Sharanya , Veach Patricia McCarthy , Kao Juihsien , LeRoy Bonnie S. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractEmpathic connection with one's patients is essential to genetic counselor clinical practice. However, repeatedly engaging with distressed patients may cause compassion fatigue, a phenomenon characterized as feeling overwhelmed by experiencing patients’ suffering. In order to extend findings of an initial qualitative study, we surveyed 222 genetic counselors about their compassion fatigue and factors that predict its occurrence. Multiple regression analysis identified seven significant predictors accounting for 53.7% of the variance in compassion fatigue. Respondents at higher risk of compassion fatigue were more likely to report being burned out, using self‐criticism and giving up to manage stress, experiencing a greater variety of distressing clinical events, having larger patient caseloads, relying on religion as a coping strategy, having no children, and seeking support to manage stress. Respondents also provided critical incidents regarding their compassion fatigue and themes in these incidents are described. Practice and research recommendations are provided.
Enzyme‐Assisted Aqueous Extraction of Oil and Protein from Soybeans and Cream De‐emulsification
Authors: de Moura J. M. L. N. , Campbell K. , Mahfuz A. , Jung S. , Glatz C. E. , Johnson L. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThe effects of two commercial endoproteases (Protex 6L and Protex 7L, Genencor Division of Danisco, Rochester, NY, USA) on the oil and protein extraction yields from extruded soybean flakes during enzyme‐assisted aqueous extraction processing (EAEP) were evaluated. Oil and protein were distributed in three fractions generated by the EAEP: cream + free oil, skim and insolubles. Protex 6L was more effective for extracting free oil, protein and total solids than Protex 7L. Oil and protein extraction yields of 96 and 85%, respectively, were obtained using 0.5% Protex 6L. Enzymatic and pH treatments were evaluated to de‐emulsify the oil‐rich cream. Cream de‐emulsification generated three fractions: free oil, an intermediate residual cream layer and an oil‐lean second skim. Total cream de‐emulsification was obtained when using 2.5% Protex 6L and pH 4.5. The extrusion treatment was particularly important for reducing trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) in the protein‐rich skim fraction. TIA reductions of 69 and 45% were obtained for EAEP skim (the predominant protein fraction) from extruded flakes and ground flakes, respectively. Protex 6L gave higher degrees of protein hydrolysis (most of the polypeptides being between 1,000 and 10,000 Da) than Protex 7L. Raffinose was not detected in the skim, while stachyose was eliminated by α‐galactosidase treatment.
Enzymatic Synthesis of Biodiesel from Transesterification Reactions of Vegetable Oils and Short Chain Alcohols
Authors: Rodrigues Rafael Costa , Volpato Giandra , Wada Keiko , Ayub Marco Antônio Záchia 
Published: August 2008

AbstractBiodiesel synthesis by alcoholysis of three vegetable oils (soybean, sunflower and rice bran) catalyzed by three commercial lipases (Novozym 435, Lipozyme TL‐IM and Lipozyme RM‐IM), and the optimization of the enzymes stability over repeated batches is described. The effects of the molar ratio of alcohol to oil and the reaction temperature with methanol, ethanol, propanol and butanol were also studied. All three enzymes displayed similar reaction kinetics with all three oils and no significant differences were observed. However, each lipase displayed the highest alcoholysis activity with a different alcohol. Novozym 435 presented higher activity in methanolysis, at a 5:1 methanol:oil molar ratio; Lipozyme TL‐IM presented higher activity in ethanolysis, at a 7:1 ethanol:oil molar ratio; and Lipozyme RM‐IM presented higher activity in butanolysis, at a 9:1 butanol:oil molar ratio. The optimal temperature was in the range of 30–35 °C for all lipases. The assessment of enzyme stability over repeated batches was carried out by washing the immobilized enzymes with different solvents (n‐hexane, water, ethanol, or propanol) after each batch. When washing with n‐hexane, approximately 90% of the enzyme activity remained after seven synthesis cycles.
The effects of maternal parenting style and religious commitment on self‐regulation, academic achievement, and risk behavior among African‐American parochial college students☆
Authors: Abar Beau , Carter Kermit L. , Winsler Adam 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTThis study explored relations between religiosity, both parent and student, and maternal parenting style and student academic self‐regulation, academic achievement, and risk behavior among African‐American youth attending a parochial college. Eighty‐five students completed self‐report survey measures of religiosity, self‐regulation, academic achievement, and risk behavior. Participants also completed youth report measures of parental religiosity and perceived maternal parenting style. Correlational analyses show authoritative parenting to be associated with high levels of academic performance and study skills. Additional correlations revealed that highly religious students tend to perform well academically, study better, and engage in fewer risk behaviors than youth less committed to religion. Although no direct relations were observed between parenting style and student religiosity, maternal parenting style was found to moderate relations between parental and student religiosity. Findings are discussed in terms of their relevance to the population studied.
On Some Inscribed Babylonian Alabastra
Authors: Finkel I. L. , Reade J. E. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractDemand for scents, spices and comparable products from India and further east was a major incentive for the naval expeditions which led, after 1497 AD, to the creation of European empires in the Orient. There was the same demand in the ancient Mediterranean and Middle East, to which these goods travelled through the Red Sea or the Persian Gulf. People in Egypt and Babylonia in the classical period were both middlemen and consumers, and this paper draws attention to the existence of a few alabaster jars that reflect the trade. They are mainly in the Department of the Ancient Near East at the British Museum (previously called the Department of Western Asiatic Antiquities), and are inscribed in Babylonian or Greek with the names of scents or spices. While these inscriptions are unusual, perhaps many more jars were once inscribed in ink which is no longer visible.
Regulation of ovarian UT‐OC‐2 carcinoma cells by cytokines: Effects on cell proliferation, activation of transcription factors and apoptosis
Authors: SEPPÄNEN MARJO , LIN LIN , SAARINEN RIITTA , PUNNONEN REIJO , VIHKO KIMMO K. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractBackground. It is known that immunologic factors are involved in the regulation of the growth of ovarian carcinoma and that granulocytes are often found on the site of ovarian cancer. Therefore, we chose to investigate the effects of cytokines on UT‐OC‐2 ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma cells in vitro. In order to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved, the activation of two key DNA‐binding proteins, AP‐1 and transcription factor NF‐κB (NF‐κB), was studied. Since DNA extracted from the UT‐OC‐2 cells showed fragmentation typical of apoptosis, we also studied the effects of cytokines on this event. Methods. The effects of the studied cytokines on the proliferation of UT‐OC‐2 cells were investigated by 125I‐deoxyuridine incorporation. The activation of DNA‐binding proteins was studied by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Statistical analyses were performed by Student's t‐test. Results. Interferon α (IFN‐α), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α) and interferon γ (IFN‐γ) all had a significant inhibitory effect on cell proliferation. Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) did not alter cell proliferation significantly. Transcription factors AP‐1 and NF‐κB were both found to be constitutively active in UT‐OC‐2 ovarian carcinoma cells. We were able to show that IFN‐γ, TGF‐β1 and TNF‐α all increased the binding activity of transcription factor AP‐1 (AP‐1). The binding activity of transcription factor NF‐κB was not altered by any of the cytokines studied, with the exception of IFN‐γ. IFN‐γ had also a clear inhibitory effect on the apparent magnitude of apoptosis, whereas TNF‐α and TGF‐β1 showed no effect. Conclusion. The results of this study show that TNF‐α, TGF‐β1, and IFN‐γ are able to inhibit the proliferation of UT‐OC‐2 ovarian carcinoma cells. Activation of AP‐1 seems to be involved in the growth‐regulating processes induced by IFN‐γ, TGF‐β1 and TNF‐α; IFN‐γ is also able to increase the binding activity of NF‐κB and inhibited apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells.
A law of large numbers for nearest neighbour statistics
Authors: Evans Dafydd 
Published: August 2008

In practical data analysis, methods based on proximity (near-neighbour) relationships between sample points are important because these relations can be computed in time

(
n
log
n
) as the number of points
n
→∞. Associated with such methods are a class of random variables defined to be functions of a given point and its nearest neighbours in the sample. If the sample points are independent and identically distributed, the associated random variables will also be identically distributed but not independent. Despite this, we show that random variables of this type satisfy a strong law of large numbers, in the sense that their sample means converge to their expected values almost surely as the number of sample points
n
→∞.
Activation profiles of human kallikrein‐related peptidases by proteases of the thrombostasis axis
Authors: Yoon Hyesook , Blaber Sachiko I. , Evans D. Michael , Trim Julie , Juliano Maria Aparecida , Scarisbrick Isobel A. , Blaber Michael 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThe human kallikrein‐related peptidases (KLKs) comprise 15 members (KLK1–15) and are the single largest family of serine proteases. The KLKs are utilized, or proposed, as clinically important biomarkers and therapeutic targets of interest in cancer and neurodegenerative disease. All KLKs appear to be secreted as inactive pro‐forms (pro‐KLKs) that are activated extracellularly by specific proteolytic release of their N‐terminal pro‐peptide. This processing is a key step in the regulation of KLK function. Much recent work has been devoted to elucidating the potential for activation cascades between members of the KLK family, with physiologically relevant KLK regulatory cascades now described in skin desquamation and semen liquefaction. Despite this expanding knowledge of KLK regulation, details regarding the potential for functional intersection of KLKs with other regulatory proteases are essentially unknown. To elucidate such interaction potential, we have characterized the ability of proteases associated with thrombostasis to hydrolyze the pro‐peptide sequences of the KLK family using a previously described pro‐KLK fusion protein system. A subset of positive hydrolysis results were subsequently quantified with proteolytic assays using intact recombinant pro‐KLK proteins. Pro‐KLK6 and 14 can be activated by both plasmin and uPA, with plasmin being the best activator of pro‐KLK6 identified to date. Pro‐KLK11 and 12 can be activated by a broad‐spectrum of thrombostasis proteases, with thrombin exhibiting a high degree of selectivity for pro‐KLK12. The results show that proteases of the thrombostasis family can efficiently activate specific pro‐KLKs, demonstrating the potential for important regulatory interactions between these two major protease families.