bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Position and posture measurements and shape recognition of columnar objects using an ultrasonic sensor array and neural networks
Authors: Ohtani Kozo , Baba Mitsuru , Konishi Tadataka 
Published: October 2002

AbstractA new method for measuring the position and posture (pose) and recognizing the shape using ultrasonic wave sound pressure signals and neural networks is proposed. In most of the past methods of this kind, the characteristic quantities have been based on either time of flight methods or acoustic holographic methods. In these methods, measuring and recognizing the width and depth directions simultaneously with a high resolution has been difficult in principle. In this paper, the problems of the past methods are resolved by changing the viewpoints by using criteria such as the peak values of the penetrating and reflecting waveforms, their positions, their deflection points, and their intervals when ultrasonic waves are directed onto a measured object, as characteristic quantities given to neural networks. In addition, a prototype measuring and recognizing system implementing the proposed scheme is constructed by introducing a circuit for detecting the peak positions of the sound pressure signal distribution waveforms with high resolution. The experimental results are satisfactory in position measurements and shape recognition, and confirm that the method is applicable to rectangular prisms and the like. It is shown that the position and pose measurements and shape recognition can be realized with high resolution in both the width and depth directions by this scheme, and that the proposed method is very effective when applied to position and pose measurements and shape recognition and the like ultrasonically. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 33(11): 27–38, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10103
Auditory scene analysis based on time‐frequency integration of shared FM and AM (I): Lagrange differential features and frequency‐axis integration
Authors: Abe Mototsugu , Ando Shigeru 
Published: October 2002

AbstractWe will propose in this paper a new algorithm for a computational implementation of auditory scene analysis. This algorithm forms a three‐layer structure of (1) subband decomposition by wavelet transform, (2) characterization of subband signal fragments by instantaneous frequency, frequency change rate, and amplitude change rate, and (3) frequency integration of subband signal features by voting method. We will perform the grouping and integration by voting the subband signal fragments into a nonparametric multipeak probability density distribution expressing “possibility of streams”; and then the recognition of the streams and the extraction of the stream parameters are realized by tracing its greatest point. It is confirmed from basic experiments for synthesized sounds and voices that the fundamental frequency/frequency change rate/amplitude change rate can be separated and estimated from multiple streams. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 33(11): 95–106, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.1167
Quantitative analysis of conductive coatings by radiofrequency‐powered glow discharge optical emission spectrometry: hydrogen, d.c. bias voltage and density corrections
Authors: Payling Richard , Michler Johann , Aeberhard Max 
Published: October 2002

AbstractRadiofrequency‐powered glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (rf‐GDOES) can provide rapid quantitative depth profiles of both conductive and non‐conductive coatings. Examples of three types of conductive coatings are shown here: galvanized steel, a TiN hard coating and two electrical coatings. Expected compositions and thicknesses were achieved when both d.c. bias voltage and hydrogen corrections were applied. A new algorithm for calculating the density of mixed metals, oxides and nitrides is presented. The hydrogen correction is also applied to the extreme surface of a metal coating for the first time. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dissolution of UV‐cured polymeric films: a fluorescence study
Authors: Uǧur Şaziye , Akkök Beril , Pekcan Önder 
Published: October 2002

AbstractA steady‐state fluorescence (SSF) technique was used for studying the dissolution of UV‐cured polymer films. These films are formed from poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) chains labelled with pyrene, which was introduced as a fluorescence probe to monitor the dissolution processes. The PMMA films of various ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDM) contents, cured by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, were dissolved in chloroform–heptane (20 : 80, v/v) mixtures. Dissolution of the films was monitored in real‐time by the change in pyrene fluorescence intensity, IP, in the solvent mixture. It was observed that the maximum pyrene intensity, IP∞, increased above a critical EGDM content, which was attributed to the formation of a percolation cluster, i.e. UV‐cured films hardly dissolve above this critical EGDM content in the film. Desorption rates, Dd, were measured for films prepared with various EGDM contents. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Soft x‐ray absorption spectroscopy study of oxide layers on titanium alloys
Authors: López M. F. , Soriano L. , Palomares F. J. , Sánchez‐Agudo M. , Fuentes G. G. , Gutiérrez A. , Jiménez J. A. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractSoft x‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) has been used to perform chemical analysis of oxide films formed after contact with air, both at room temperature and at 750° C, on three titanium alloys. The alloys investigated were Ti–13Nb–13Zr, Ti–15Zr–4Nb and Ti–7Nb–6Al. Soft x‐ray absorption spectra were taken at the Ti 2p and O 1s edges. The spectra corresponding to the room‐temperature‐oxidized samples are similar for the three alloys and show the presence of native oxide with a small metallic contribution. For the heat‐treated samples, the alloying elements as well as element diffusion play a significant role in the formation of the oxide layer. In this case, the spectra exhibit clear differences between the TiNbZr alloys and Ti–7Nb–6Al. The oxide layer of the two TiNbZr alloys for the different heat treatment times is composed of TiO2 in the form of rutile. However, for Ti–7Nb–6Al short heat treatments give rise to the formation of Al2TiO5. By increasing the oxidation time, an Al2O3 layer grows on the initial oxide film, becoming thicker as the exposure time is enhanced. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fixed‐effect versus random‐effect models for evaluating therapeutic preferences
Authors: Lee Y. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractA preference trial is a special form of cross‐over trial where clinical conditions determine when patients change treatment, in a prescribed order. This leads to binary responses with variable lengths. In cross‐over trials with normal responses, patient effect may be treated as either fixed or random. However, with binary responses, random‐ and fixed‐effect assumptions may lead to very different conclusions, so that one is no longer an alternative to the other. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reproducibility probability in clinical trials
Authors: Shao Jun , Chow Shein‐Chung 
Published: October 2002

AbstractFor marketing approval of a new drug product, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that substantial evidence of the effectiveness of the drug product be provided through the conduct of at least two adequate and well‐controlled clinical trials. The purpose of conducting the second clinical trial is to study whether the clinical result from the first trial is reproducible in the second trial with the same study protocol. Under certain circumstance, the FDA Modernization Act of 1997 includes a provision to allow data from one adequate and well‐controlled clinical trial investigation and confirmatory evidence to establish effectiveness for risk/benefit assessment of drug and biological candidates for approval. In this paper, we introduce the concept of reproducibility probability for a given clinical trial, which is useful in providing important information for regulatory agencies in deciding whether a single clinical trial is sufficient and for pharmaceutical companies in adjusting the sample size in a future clinical trial. Three approaches, the estimated power approach, the method of confidence bounds and the Bayesian approach, are studied in evaluating reproducibility probabilities under several study designs commonly used in clinical trials. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Extended shifts in ambulance work: influences on health
Authors: Pisarski Anne , Bohle Philip , Callan Victor J. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractShiftwork is a major source of stress for many workers. This study highlights the role that organizational and psychosocial variables play in alleviating the negative health effects of 10‐ and 14‐h shifts. It examines the direct and mediated effects of coping strategies, social support and control of shifts on work/non‐work conflict and subjective health. Participants are 60 ambulance workers, aged 22 to 55 years. A structural equation model with good fit demonstrates complex effects of social support from various sources (supervisors, co‐workers and family), coping and control on work/non‐work conflict and subjective health. Conceptually, the research contributes to the development of a theoretical framework that can assist in explaining how key psychosocial and organizational variables influence the psychological and physical symptoms experienced by shiftworkers. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Embryotoxicity of the pesticide mirex in vitro
Authors: El‐Bayomy Ahmed A. , Smoak Ida W. , Branch Stacy 
Published: October 2002

AbstractMirex is a pesticide that is environmentally stable, accumulates in body tissues, and is embryo‐ and feto‐toxic at high concentrations in vivo. This study is the first to evaluate the effects of mirex on organogenesis‐stage embryos in vitro. Mouse embryos were exposed on gestation day 8.5 for 24 h in whole‐embryo culture to mirex at 100, 200, or 400 µg/ml dissolved in xylene and compared with xylene‐treated controls (1, 2, or 4 µl/ml, respectively) and untreated controls. Embryos were evaluated for malformations, somite number, total protein content, and visceral yolk sac circulation. Potential embryotoxic mechanisms were evaluated by using PCNA stain for cell proliferation and the TUNEL assay for apoptotic cell death. Mirex‐exposed embryos demonstrated increased malformation rates and decreased total embryonic protein contents at ≥200 µg/ml mirex, and decreased somite numbers and VYS circulation at ≥100 µg/ml mirex, compared with xylene‐treated controls. There was no difference in PCNA levels or TUNEL staining in mirex‐treated embryos compared with xylene‐treated controls or untreated controls. Thus, mirex is embryotoxic in vitro to early organogenesis stage mouse embryos at concentrations ≥100 µg/ml, but the effects do not appear to be mediated by changes in cell proliferation or apoptotic cell death. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Overview of results from the WaterTox intercalibration and environmental testing phase II program: Part 1, statistical analysis of blind sample testing
Authors: Ronco A. , Gagnon P. , Diaz‐Baez M. C. , Arkhipchuk V. , Castillo G. , Castillo L. E. , Dutka B. J. , Pica‐Granados Y. , Ridal J. , Srivastava R. C. , Sánchez A. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractThere is an urgent need to evaluate the presence of toxicants in waters used for human consumption and to develop strategies to reduce and prevent their contamination. The International Development Research Centre undertook an intercalibration project to develop and validate a battery of bioassays for toxicity testing of water samples. The project was carried out in two phases by research institutions from eight countries that formed the WaterTox network. Results for the first phase were reported in the special September 2000 issue of Environmental Toxicology. Phase II involved toxicity screening tests of environmental and blind samples (chemical solutions of unknown composition to participating laboratories) using the following battery: Daphnia magna, Hydra attenuata, seed root inhibition with Lactuca sativa, and Selenastrum capricornutum. This battery was also used to assess potential toxicity in concentrated (10×) water samples. Results are presented for a set of six blind samples sent to the participating laboratories over a 1‐year period. Analyses were performed for each bioassay to evaluate variations among laboratories of responses to negative controls, violations of test quality control criteria, false positive responses induced by sample concentration, and variability within and between labs of responses to toxic samples. Analyses of the data from all bioassays and labs provided comparisons of false positive rates (based on blind negative samples), test sensitivities to a metal or organic toxicant, and interlaboratory test variability. Results indicate that the battery was reliable in detecting toxicity when present. However, some false positives were identified with a concentrated soft‐water sample and with the Lactuca and Hydra (sublethal end‐point) tests. Probabilities of detecting false positives for individual and combined toxic responses of the four bioassays are presented. Overall, interlaboratory comparisons indicate a good reliability of the battery. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 17: 232–240, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/tox.10047
Overview of results from the WaterTox intercalibration and environmental testing phase II program: Part 2, ecotoxicological evaluation of drinking water supplies
Authors: Diaz‐Baez M.C. , Sánchez W.A. , Dutka B.J. , Ronco A. , Castillo G. , Pica‐Granados Y. , Castillo L.E. , Ridal J. , Arkhipchuk V. , Srivastava R.C. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractBecause of rapid population growth, industrial development, and intensified agricultural production increasing amounts of chemicals are being released into the environment, polluting receiving water bodies around the world. Given the potential health risk associated with the presence of toxicants in water sources used for drinking yet the scarcity of available data, there is a need to evaluate these waters and develop strategies to reduce and prevent their contamination. The present study examined the applicability of a battery of simple, inexpensive bioassays in environmental management and the relevance of the test results in establishing the toxicological quality of water sources and drinking water within the framework of the eight‐country WaterTox Network, sponsored by the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada. Seventy‐six samples were collected from surface and groundwater sources and seven samples from drinking water treatment plants. Each sample was tested with a core battery of bioassays (Daphnia magna, Hydra attenuata, and Lactuca sativa root inhibition tests) and a limited set of physical and chemical parameters. In addition, three labs included the Selenastrum capricornutum test. When no toxic effects were found with the battery, samples were concentrated 10× using a solid‐phase extraction (SPE) procedure. Nonconcentrated natural water samples produced a toxic response in 24% of cases with all three core bioassays. When all bioassays are considered, the percentage of raw samples showing toxicity with at least one bioassay increased to 60%. Of seven treated drinkingwater samples, four showed toxicity with at least one bioassay, raising the possibility that treatment processes in these instances were unable to remove toxic contaminants. The Daphnia magna and Hydra attenuata tests indicated a high level of sensitivity overall. Although only three of the eight countries used S. capricornutum, it proved to be an efficient and reliable bioassay for toxicity assessment. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 17: 241–249, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/tox.10052
Direct toxicity assessment of wastewater: Baroxymeter, a portable rapid toxicity device and the industry perspective
Authors: Tzoris Achilles , Fearnside David , Lovell Matthew , Hall Elizabeth A. H. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractDirect toxicity assessment of wastewater is becoming necessary, and new legislation may render it compulsory for the water industry. At present such assessment is performed at a laboratory away from a site, at considerable cost, and results often come too late, after a toxic event has occurred and the toxin has been released into the environment. Some of the rapid toxicity tests available today require certain conditions to function properly, or their results do not always correlate with other methods. The objective of this study was to assess a portable device, the Baroxymeter, for its suitability as an instrument to test wastewater toxicity. The way the device works is based on monitoring respiration of a bacterial culture by pressure measurements and using respiration inhibition as a toxicity alert. It has been shown that it is possible to detect toxic substances such as 3,5‐dichlorophenol and bronopol within 5 min from a 1‐mL sample. The benefits and future applications of the Baroxymeter as a high‐throughput, cost‐effective alternative for toxicity screening are discussed in this article. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 17: 284–290, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/tox.10059
Genotoxicity of cyanobacterial extracts containing microcystins from Polish water reservoirs as determined by SOS chromotest and comet assay
Authors: Mankiewicz Joanna , Walter Zofia , Tarczynska Malgorzata , Palyvoda Olena , Wojtysiak‐Staniaszczyk Magdalena , Zalewski Maciej 
Published: October 2002

AbstractToxicity of cyanobacterial blooms, an increasing problem around the world, is connected to the increase in bloom samples containing microcystins, caused by excessive eutrophication of drinking‐ and recreational water reservoirs. Microcystins are the most common group of cyanobacterial hepatotoxins. In Poland they are produced mainly by the Microcystis genus. The toxicity of microcystins has been well documented, but investigation into their genotoxicity has been insufficient relative to the study of their overall toxicity. Therefore, the aim of this study was the estimation and comparison of the genotoxicity of cyanobacterial extracts with microcystins (CEMs) using the SOS chromotest (bacterial test) with Escherichia coli PQ37 and the comet assay with human lymphocytes. Cyanobacterial bloom samples were collected in the summer months from two Polish water reservoirs, one at Sulejów and one at Jeziorsko. The SOS chromotest, which used prokaryotic cells (without metabolic activation), and the comet assay, which used eukaryotic cells, both indicated the potential genotoxic effect of CEMs. Cyanobacterial extracts caused DNA damage in human lymphocytes in vitro. The maximum level of DNA damage was observed after 12 h incubation with CEMs. The bacterial test indicated a dependence of the degree of CEM genotoxicity, the composition, and the concentration of microcystins in each bloom sample examined with the time of exposure. Differences between the genotoxicity of cyanobacterial extract and the standard microcystin‐LR were noticeable. This was probably caused by the interaction of different microcystin variants. The results showed that CEMs from Polish water reservoirs were genotoxic, which was reflected by the stimulation of the SOS repair system in bacterial cells (SOS chromotest) and by the damage induced in DNA in human lymphocytes (comet assay). © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 17: 341–350, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/tox.10061
Projected slabs: approximation of perspective projection and error analysis
Authors: Vilanova Bartrolí A. , Wegenkittl R. , Gröller E. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractVirtual endoscopy is a promising medical application for volume‐rendering techniques where perspective projection is mandatory. Most of the acceleration techniques for direct volume rendering use parallel projection. This paper presents an algorithm to approximate perspective volume rendering using parallel projected slabs. The introduced error due to the approximation is investigated. An analytical study of the maximum and average error is made. This method is applied to VolumePro 500. Based on the error analysis, the basic algorithm is improved. This improvement increases the frame rate, keeping the global maximum error bounded. The usability of the algorithm is shown through the virtual endoscopic investigation of various types of medical data sets. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The creation of a high‐fidelity finite element model of the kidney for use in trauma research
Authors: Snedeker J. G. , Bajka M. , Hug J. M. , Székely G. , Niederer P. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractA detailed finite element model of the human kidney for trauma research has been created directly from the National Library of Medicine Visible Human Female (VHF) Project data set. An image segmentation and organ reconstruction software package has been developed and employed to transform the 2D VHF images into a 3D polygonal representation. Non‐uniform rational B‐spline (NURBS) surfaces were then mapped to the polygonal surfaces, and were finally utilized to create a robust 3D hexahedral finite element mesh within a commercially available meshing software. The model employs a combined viscoelastic and hyperelastic material model to successfully simulate the behaviour of biological soft tissues. The finite element model was then validated for use in biomechanical research. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Building 3D anatomical scenes on the Web
Authors: Evesque F. , Gerlach S. , Hersch R. D. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractWe propose a new service for building user‐defined 3D anatomical structures on the Web. The Web server is connected to a database storing more than 1000 3D anatomical models reconstructed from the Visible Human. Users may combine existing models as well as planar oblique slices in order to create their own structured anatomical scenes. Furthermore, they may record sequences of scene construction and visualization actions. These actions enable the server to construct high‐quality video animations, downloadable by the user. Professionals and students in anatomy, medicine and related disciplines are invited to use the server and create their own anatomical scenes. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.