bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Defining goals in a COTS‐aware requirements engineering approach
Authors: Chung Lawrence , Cooper Kendra 
Published: December 2003

AbstractThe goals of developing systems better, faster, and cheaper continue to drive software engineering practitioners and researchers to investigate software engineering methodologies. In requirements engineering, the focus has traditionally been on modeling the software engineering process and products for systems that are being built from scratch. As the size and complexity of systems continues to grow the use of commercial off the shelf (COTS) components is being viewed as a solution. Effective use of COTS components, however, requires a systematic approach that provides both a set of concepts for modeling the subject matter and a set of guidelines for using such concepts. In particular, the process needs to recognize and address the people oriented problems including the identification and resolution of conflicting goals, bridging the gaps between stated requirements and “approximately fitting” components while still satisfying the customer. In this paper, we present a goal and agent oriented requirements engineering process model that explicitly addresses the use of COTS components. More specifically, we present (part of) our model for a COTS‐Aware Requirements Engineering (CARE) process and illustrate it using a Digital Library System (DLS). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 7: 61–83, 2004
Case studies of systems engineering and management in systems acquisition
Authors: Friedman George , Sage Andrew P. 
Published: December 2003

AbstractThis paper discusses the role of case studies in systems engineering and systems management, especially case studies that involve systems acquisition. We first provide a brief overview of case studies, including some of the analysis techniques useful for the conduct of case studies. Next, we discuss a two‐dimensional framework for systems engineering and management case studies. The framework is in the form of a 9 row by 3 column matrix. We present a number of vignettes of case studies, at least one for each of the 27 cellular entries in this matrix. The hope is that this will be a stimulus and precursor of additional systems engineering and management case study efforts, both in terms of appropriate frameworks for these and in the actual conduct of case study research. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 7: 84–97, 2004
Sex differences in pain anchors revisited: further investigation of “most intense” and common pain events⋆
Authors: Robinson Michael E , George Steven Z , Dannecker Erin A , Jump Rebecca L , Hirsh Adam T , Gagnon Christine M , Brown Jennifer L 
Published: December 2003

AbstractRecent research suggests that the interpretation of maximal endpoints of pain scales vary between sexes. The purposes of this study were to investigate sex differences in (a) maximal endpoints of pain scales and (b) bias, discrimination, and the “better than average effect” for ratings of common pain events. Study participants described and rated the intensity of events that were the “most intense pain imaginable” for the typical woman, typical man, and one's self. Study participants also described and rated the intensity of the “most painful” events they had experienced. Study participants completed the situational pain questionnaire (SPQ), which measured the amount of pain that the typical woman, typical man, or one's self would be expected to experience during thirty common painful events. One hundred and fifteen undergraduate psychology students completed this study. Men and women differed in the categories of events selected for most intense pain imaginable for one's self. There were no significant sex differences for the intensity of most intense self‐imagined pain or most painful event experienced. However, women were more likely to report the intensity of their worst self‐imagined pain event as 100/100. In addition, only women demonstrated a significant correlation between the intensity of most painful self‐experienced event and intensity of most intense self‐imagined event. Analyses of the SPQ discrimination scores revealed no sex or version differences. Analyses of the SPQ bias scores showed that both sexes indicated that the typical woman would rate the intensity of common pain events higher than would the typical man. Women rated the intensity of common pain events for themselves lower than for the typical woman, but higher than the typical man, and men rated also rated themselves as lower than the typical women, but the same as the typical man. Thus, there was inconsistent support for the “better than average effect”. Future research is needed to determine the clinical relevance of sex differences in pain anchors and gender‐related stereotypes for evaluating other people's pain.
Association of neck pain, disability and neck pain during maximal effort with neck muscle strength and range of movement in women with chronic non‐specific neck pain
Authors: Ylinen Jari , Takala Esa‐Pekka , Kautiainen Hannu , Nykänen Matti , Häkkinen Arja , Pohjolainen Timo , Karppi Sirkka‐Liisa , Airaksinen Olavi 
Published: December 2003

AbstractSeveral studies have reported lower neck muscle strength in patients with chronic neck pain compared to healthy controls. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between the severity of neck pain and disability with neck strength and range of movement in women suffering from chronic neck pain. One hundred and seventy‐nine female office workers with chronic neck pain were selected to the study. The outcome was assessed by the self‐rating questionnaires on neck pain (visual analogue scale, Vernon's disability index, Neck pain and disability index) and by measures of the passive range of movement (ROM) and maximal isometric neck muscle strength. No statistically significant correlation was found between perceived neck pain and the disability indices and the maximal isometric neck strength and ROM measures. However, the pain values reported during the strength tests were inversely correlated with the results of strength tests (r=−0.24 to −0.46), showing that pain was associated with decreased force production. About two‐thirds of the patients felt pain during test efforts. Pain may prevent full effort during strength tests and hence the production of maximal force. Thus in patients with chronic neck pain the results do not always describe true maximal strength, but rather the patients' ability to bear strain, which may be considerably influenced by their painful condition. The results of the present study suggest that rehabilitation in cases of chronic neck pain should aim at raising tolerance to mechanical strain.
The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia: further examination of psychometric properties in patients with chronic low back pain and fibromyalgia
Authors: Roelofs Jeffrey , Goubert Liesbet , Peters Madelon L. , Vlaeyen Johan W.S. , Crombez Geert 
Published: December 2003

AbstractThe present study attempted to replicate the robustness of a two‐factor model of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) in chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients and fibromyalgia patients, by means of confirmatory factor analysis. Construct and predictive validity of the TSK subscales were also examined. Results clearly indicated that a two‐factor model fitted best in both pain samples. These two factors were labelled somatic focus, which reflects the belief in underlying and serious medical problems, and activity avoidance, which reflects the belief that activity may result in (re)injury or increased pain. Construct validity of the TSK and its subscales was supported by moderate correlation coefficients with self‐report measures of pain‐related fear, pain catastrophising, and disability, predominantly in patients with CLBP. Predictive validity was supported by moderate correlation coefficients with performance on physical performance tests (i.e., lifting tasks, bicycle task) mainly in CLBP patients. Implications of the results are discussed and directions for future research are provided.
Testing candidate indicators to support ecosystem-based management: the power of monitoring surveys to detect temporal trends in fish community metrics
Authors: Nicholson Mike D , Jennings Simon 
Published: December 2003

Abstract
Community metrics describe aspects of community structure and are often calculated from species-size-abundance data collected during fish stock monitoring surveys. Several community metrics have been proposed as indicators to support ecosystem-based fishery management. These metrics should be sensitive to fishing impacts and respond rapidly to management action, so that managers can assess whether changes in the fish community are a desirable or undesirable response to management. It should also be possible to estimate metrics with sufficient precision so that changes in the community can be detected on management time scales of a year to a few years. Here, we test the power of a large-scale annual trawl survey (North Sea International Bottom Trawl Survey, IBTS) to detect trends in six community metrics: mean length, mean weight, mean maximum length, mean maximum weight, slope of the biomass size spectrum, and mean trophic level. Our analyses show that the power of the trawl survey to detect trends is generally poor. While community metrics do provide good long-term indicators of changes in fish community structure, they are unlikely to provide an appropriate tool to support short-term management decisions. If fish community metrics are to provide effective support for ecosystem-based management, and management time scales cannot be extended, then the power of many surveys to detect trends in fish community structure will need to be improved by increased replication and standardization.
Stock structure of Sebastes mentella in the North Atlantic revealed by chemometry of the fatty acid profile in heart tissue
Authors: Joensen Hóraldur , Grahl-Nielsen Otto 
Published: December 2003

AbstractChemometric analysis of fatty acid profile in the heart tissue of redfish (Sebastes mentella, Travin 1951) from 11 locations in the waters off Norway, Faroe Islands, Iceland, and from two strata at different depths in the Irminger Sea revealed the presence of four separate stocks in the North Atlantic Ocean. The investigation has, statistically, shown: (i) a clear distinction between S. mentella on the Faroe Plateau and S. mentella in the deeps south-west of the Faroe Bank and on the Wyville Thomson Ridge; (ii) a relationship between S. mentella inhabiting the Faroe Plateau and the Norwegian Sea; and (iii) two significantly distinct stocks of S. mentella dwelling on the Icelandic Plateau. The chemometric method, consisting of methanolysis, gas chromatography of the resulting fatty acid methyl esters, and multivariate statistical treatment of the analytical data, has a discriminating power high enough to differentiate at stock level and individual level.
Ischemic‐preconditioning does not prevent neuromuscular dysfunction after ischemia–reperfusion injury
Authors: Eastlack Robert K. , Groppo Eli R. , Hargens Alan R. , Pedowitz Robert A. 
Published: December 2003

AbstractThe primary purpose of this study was to evaluate ischemic‐preconditioning (IPC) as a means of improving tolerance to ischemia–reperfusion (IR) stress on neuromuscular function. A secondary objective was to isolate the area of injury within the neuromuscular unit responsible for contractile dysfunction after IR injury. Twenty‐eight male rabbits were randomly assigned to four groups (sham, IPC only, sustained ischemia only, IPC and sustained ischemia). The IPC protocol consisted of three cycles of 10 min of tourniquet‐induced ischemia (125 mmHg) followed by 10 min of reperfusion. Sustained ischemia was induced by 350 mmHg external compression for 2 h. Peak tetanic tension of the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle was evaluated 48 h after the tourniquet protocol by both peroneal nerve and direct muscle stimulation, with and without pharmacologic neuromuscular junction blockade. Animals subjected to combined IPC and sustained ishemia had an equivalent loss of contractile force to those undergoing sustained ischemia alone. Two hours of tourniquet‐induced ischemia resulted in marked dysfunction of the TA neuromuscular unit when evaluated by peroneal nerve stimulation (p < 0.0001). Isolation of the TA muscle from the peroneal nerve with direct muscle stimulation and neuromuscular junction blockade preserved muscle function after 3 h of ischemia. In our model, these results clearly demonstrate that IPC provides no significant protective effect from IR injury to either nerve or muscle function in our model. In addition, nerve or neuromuscular junction injury, rather than muscle damage, is identified as primarily responsible for IR‐related muscle dysfunction. © 2003 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Thalidomide for the treatment of idiopathic myelofibrosis
Authors: Strupp C. , Germing U. , Scherer A. , Kündgen A. , Mödder U. , Gattermann N. , Haas R. 
Published: December 2003

Abstract:Except rare instances of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, treatment of idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF) is only palliative and based on cytostatic treatment (hydroxyurea and anagrelide), androgen therapy, steroids and splenectomy. Thalidomide is an anti‐angiogenic and immunmodulatory drug with a wide spectrum of activities, which are not clearly understood. Current data suggest that the action of thalidomide is related to several different mechanisms, including suppression of tumor necrosis factor, effects on basic fibroblast growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukins and interferons, downregulation of selected cell surface adhesion molecules, and changes in the lymphocyte subsets.We administered thalidomide to 16 patients with IMF (15 men, one women) who had transfusion‐dependent anemia, thrombocytopenia or symptomatic splenomegaly. Median age was 59 yr (range: 52–78). Patients received thalidomide at an escalating dose from 100 to 400 mg/d (median 300 mg). The drug was discontinued in four patients because of progressive disease (two) or polyneuropathy (two). Other adverse effects were obstipation (10), fatigue (eight) and edema (two). Clinical response has now been observed for a median duration of 9 months (range: 3–20). Fifteen patients are evaluable. Anemia improved in six of 10 patients who were anemic. Platelet counts improved in five of seven patients with thrombocytopenia. Splenomegaly regressed in three of 13 patients. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) decreased in seven of 12 patients, but increased in four patients. LDH levels were not correlated with clinical response. In summary, thalidomide appears useful in the treatment of IMF.
Clinicopathological correlations of TIMP‐1 and TIMP‐2 in Hodgkin's lymphoma
Authors: Pennanen Heli , Kuittinen Outi , Soini Ylermi , Turpeenniemi‐Hujanen Taina 
Published: December 2003

Abstract:Objectives:  The influence of matrix–tumour interactions in Hodgkin's lymphoma is poorly characterised, although a large part of the tumour often consists of reactive tissue. The aim of the present study was to assess the clinicopathological role of two main inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases, TIMP‐1 and TIMP‐2, in Hodgkin's lymphoma.Materials and methods:  The TIMP‐1 and TIMP‐2 protein expressions were studied from paraffin‐embedded tumour sections of 68 patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma by using immunostaining with TIMP‐1 and TIMP‐2‐specific antibodies. The results of the stainings were compared with the clinicopathological disease characteristics.Results:  A total of 33.3% of the tumour tissue sections expressed TIMP‐1 and 46.8% expressed TIMP‐2. The expression of the TIMP‐1 protein was found to be strongly associated with the nodular sclerosis subtype (P = 0.015) and the existence of a bulky tumour (P = 0.004) in Hodgkin's lymphoma. The expression of the TIMP‐2 protein, on the other hand, correlated with the occurrence of B symptoms (P = 0.032).Conclusions:  These results provide the first clinical evidence suggesting that TIMP‐1 could promote growth of Hodgkin's lymphoma, and may be linked to connective tissue turnover in the nodular sclerosis subtype. However, TIMP‐2 is shown to correlate with systemic symptoms.
Successful treatment of chemotherapy‐refractory Sézary syndrome with alemtuzumab (Campath‐1H)
Authors: Gautschi O. , Blumenthal N. , Streit M. , Solenthaler M. , Hunziker T. , Zenhäusern R. 
Published: December 2003

Abstract:Introduction:  Sézary syndrome (SS) is a cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma characterized by erythroderma, lymphadenopathy and circulating atypical T cells. Median survival after diagnosis is 10 yr, with chemotherapy resistance being a major problem in advanced disease. Alemtuzumab (Campath‐1H) is a monoclonal antibody directed against the lymphocytic antigen CD52, expressed on B‐ and T‐cells. Alemtuzumab is approved for relapsing chronic B‐cell leukemia and seems to be active also in T‐cell lymphomas such as T‐cell prolymphocytic lymphoma, SS and mycosis fungiodes.Case history:  A 32‐yr‐old male patient presented with advanced stage, extensively pretreated SS with heavily itching erythroderma, peripheral lymphadenopathy, circulating Sézary cells and bone marrow infiltration. The disease had not responded to PUVA/interferon‐α and progressed on chemotherapy with CHOP, 2‐CDA, vinorelbine, etoposide and liposomal doxorubicin. Following treatment with alemtuzumab (30 mg i.v. three times per week for 10 wk), itching resolved rapidly and an almost complete remission was achieved within 3 months after starting this treatment. At 12‐month follow up, no disease progression was present.Conclusion:  In accordance with previous data, this single case underlines the potent activity of alemtuzumab in advanced, chemotherapy‐refractory SS.
Salvage therapy with an outpatient DHAP schedule followed by PBSC transplantation in 79 lymphoma patients: an intention to mobilize and transplant analysis
Authors: Olivieri Attilio , Brunori Marino , Capelli Debora , Montanari Mauro , Massidda Danilo , Gini Guido , Lucesole Moira , Poloni Antonella , Offidani Massimo , Candela Marco , Centurioni Riccardo , Leoni Pietro 
Published: December 2003

Abstract:Chemotherapy followed by autologous transplantation may be an efficient salvage treatment in malignant lymphomas. We investigated the feasibility, tolerability and efficacy of an outpatient schedule of dexamethasone, cytarabine and cisplatin (DHAP), followed by peripheral blood progenitor cell autografting as salvage treatment in patients with high grade (HG), low grade (LG) non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin's Disease (HD). A total of 159 DHAP courses (median: 2, range: 1–5), was administered on outpatient basis to 79 patients (31 LG‐NHL, 28 HG‐NHL and 20 HD), with the intention to mobilize and to transplant. A successful collection was not achieved in 40% LG‐NHL, 10% HD and 20% HG‐NHL patients. The risk to fail the collection was significantly related to the number of previous chemotherapy courses (>6) (P = 0.005, RR = 1.4), to the pretransplant status (P = 0.04, RR = 13.5) and to the previous fludarabine administration (P = 0.01, RR = 20). High dose therapy (HDT) was feasible in 60 patients (76%). The overall treatment related mortality was 3.8%. The overall response rate (ORR) was 81% with a 57.6% overall survival (OS) at 62 months (95% CI: 45–69.3%) and a progression free survival (PFS) of 42% at 74 months (95% CI: 26.7–58%). The diagnosis of HG‐NHL and the non‐response to DHAP resulted to reduce respectively the OS (P = 0.007, RR = 2.8) and PFS probability (P = 0.01, RR = 4.1). In conclusion this outpatient schedule of DHAP is a well tolerated, efficient salvage and mobilizing regimen not only in HG‐NHL, but also in LG‐NHL and in HD. Randomized studies are needed to better define the role of DHAP in LG‐NHL and HD patients.
Effect on yield and dry‐matter distribution of the stay‐green characteristic in cultivars of forage maize grown in England
Authors: Wilkinson J. M. , Hill J. 
Published: December 2003

AbstractTo test whether or not the ‘stay‐green’ (SG) characteristic confers benefits in terms of crop yield or distribution of dry matter (DM) in selected forage maize cultivars, an experiment was conducted in 1998 and 1999 at two sites in England: Writtle College, Essex and the University of Leeds, West Yorkshire. Five SG and five conventional (C) cultivars of forage maize were grown in replicated field‐scale plots at each site in both years. One‐metre lengths of single rows in each plot were harvested by hand, leaving a 20‐cm stubble, on four occasions each year over 3‐week periods (harvest 1 to harvest 4), prior to the harvest of the remainder of the fields. Plants were chopped, mixed and a subsample taken for determination of DM content by oven‐drying. Mean yields of whole plant DM were similar between SG and C cultivars. Both yield of DM and proportion of ear in the total plant DM increased from harvest 1 to harvest 4 (P < 0·01). The increase in DM yield between harvest 1 and harvest 4 was greater for C than for SG cultivars (P < 0·05). Within sites there were no differences in the concentration of whole plant DM between SG and C cultivars, which increased from harvest 1 to harvest 4 (P < 0·001). The proportion of ear DM in the whole plant DM tended to be higher for C than for SG cultivars in both years and increased (P < 0·001) from harvest 1 to harvest 4. The concentration of DM in the ear fraction was higher (P < 0·05) for C than for SG cultivars. We conclude that differences between SG and C cultivars of forage maize are likely to be relatively small when grown in the English climate and harvested after the same growing period.
Productivity and nutritive value of some cultivated perennial grasses and mixtures in the alpine region of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Dong S. K. , Long R. J. , Hu Z. Z. , Kang M. Y. , Pu X. P. 
Published: December 2003

AbstractThe productivity and nutritive value of some cultivated perennial grasses, Bromus inermis (B), Elymus sibricus (S), E. nutans (N), Agropyron cristatum (A), Poa crymophila (P) and mixtures B + N, S + A, B + S + A, S + B + N, N + S + A, B + S + N + A, B + N + A + P, B + S +A + P and S + N + A + P, in the alpine region of the Tibetan Plateau were investigated. Elymus nutans and E. sibricus and the mixtures, B + S + N + A, B + S +A + P and S + N + A + P, were most productive with yields of dry matter (DM) of between 11 000 and 14 000 kg−1 of biomass annually in the second harvest year. Acid‐detergent fibre (ADF) concentrations increased (P < 0·05), and crude protein (CP) concentrations and in sacco DM degradability values decreased (P < 0·05) with the maturity of the cultivated grasses. Swards, based on these species and mixtures, have the potential to be the main choices for cultivation in the Tibetan Plateau because they produce more nutrients than other grass species and mixtures. Late August (flowering stage of dominant grasses) is the optimum time for harvesting as the yield of rumen‐degradable CP is highest that of DM relatively high and the DM degradability is satisfactory.