bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Developments in connections in cold‐formed building structures and design specifications
Authors: Tomà A W 
Published: September 2003

AbstractFor all building structures national and international Codes are important in the design process. This is also true for connections in cold‐formed building structures. Lightweight construction has developed rapidly in this field, but the Codes, by their very nature are far slower in their development. For this reason a number of connection types are not fully covered, or not covered at all, by the existing Codes. Designers thus face a different situation with respect to connections than for usual steel buildings. This paper describes the relation between traditional connection systems and existing Codes. The ideal situation should be that the development of connection systems and their treatment in Codes (fastener and structural codes) should be well balanced for appropriate application in the building industry. But, because of the comparatively slow development of the Codes, new developments (clinching, air driven pins and adhesive bonding) require guidance on how to proceed in design.For selection of a connection system the important structural and non‐structural parameters are surveyed. With the use of these parameters it should be possible to choose system, a fit for purpose i.e. a reliable (safe and durable) and economical system.
Determination of earthquake loading and seismic performance in intraplate regions
Authors: Hutchinson G L , Lam N T K , Wilson J L 
Published: September 2003

AbstractMajor intraplate earthquakes are rare, however, their occurrence is often unpredictable and can result in high consequences in terms of both life‐safety and economic loss. Consequently, the issue of intraplate seismic hazard is attracting increasing attention from the world community. It is important that the overall process of modelling earthquake‐induced loads is well understood by structural engineers who are professionally responsible and accountable for the performance of the structure and for life‐safety. The modelling for seismic hazard in regions of low and moderate seismicity is difficult and challenging, owing to the paucity of earthquake data in these regions. The objective of this paper is to present an overview of the seismic hazard analysis procedure for regions of low to moderate seismicity to a wide engineering readership. The review covers topics ranging from the modelling of seismic activity, the attenuation of seismic waves and site amplification to the representation of seismic loading for design purposes. Basic concepts that are widely known within the earthquake engineering profession are introduced for the benefit of readers who do not possess specialized knowledge in this field. Further, the latest techniques that have been developed to overcome the challenges associated with the paucity of data in regions of low to moderate seismicity are described.
Optimal hold functions for MDCS sampled‐data problems
Authors: Mirkin Leonid , PalmorM Zalman J. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractIn this paper the H2 and H∞ sampled‐data problems with mixed discrete/continuous specifications (MDCS) are considered. The hold function is not fixed a priory but rather is the design parameter. The (sub)optimal controller obtained is of the form of a serial interconnection of a (sub)optimal digital controller and a (sub)optimal hold function. It is demonstrated that the incorporation of the hold function into the sampled‐data design with MDCS extends considerably the possibility to reach a required trade‐off between discrete and continuous specifications in comparison with designs with a fixed hold function. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fixed‐orderH∞control design via a partially augmented Lagrangian method
Authors: Apkarian Pierre , Noll Dominikus , Duong Tuan Hoang 
Published: September 2003

AbstractIn this paper we develop an augmented Lagrangian method to determine local optimal solutions of the reduced‐ and fixed‐orderH∞synthesis problems. We cast these synthesis problems as optimization programs with a linear cost subject to linear matrix inequality (LMI) constraints along with nonlinear equality constraints representing a matrix inversion condition. The special feature of our algorithm is that only equality constraints are included in the augmented Lagrangian, while LMI constraints are kept explicitly in order to exploit currently available semi definite programming (SDP) codes. The step computation in the tangent problem is based on a Gauss–Newton model, and a specific line search and a first‐order Lagrange multiplier update rule are used to enhance efficiency. A number of computational results are reported and underline the strong practical performance of the algorithm. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Monitoring of human cytomegalovirus infections in heart transplant recipients by pp65 antigenemia
Authors: Sénéchal Mario , Dorent Richard , Montcel Sophie Tezenas du , Fillet Anne‐Marie , Ghossoub Jean‐Jacques , Dubois Michelle , Pavie Alain , Gandjbakhch Iradj 
Published: September 2003

Abstract:  Background: Rapid diagnostic techniques offer the opportunity of early diagnosis of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in immunocompromized patients at risk of developing CMV disease and syndrome. The use of CMV pp65 antigenemia as a predictor of CMV syndrome and disease in heart transplant recipient after induction therapy was studied retrospectively.Methods: One hundred and nineteen consecutive heart transplant recipients treated with induction therapy who survived more then 14 d were monitored for CMV infection. Ninety‐four recipients were seropositive for CMV. Twenty‐five recipients were seronegative for CMV and received grafts from seropositive donors. Pre‐emptive therapy was used in seropositive patients when CMV pp65 antigenemia was greater than 50 antigen‐positive cells per 2 × 105 peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL); prophylactic therapy was done only in seronegative recipient matched with seropositive donor.Results: High‐level CMV pp65 antigenemia (50 antigen‐positive cells 2 × 105 PBL) occurred in 34% (41 of 119) of patients at a median of 44 d following transplantation. In seropositive recipients, 16% (15 of 94) of patients developed CMV invasive disease or syndrome, and in seronegative recipients 20% (5 of 25) of patients developed CMV disease or syndrome. Sixty‐six per cent (62 of 94) of CMV seropositive patients were identified as not requiring pre‐emptive therapy. In seropositive and seronegative recipients, the sensibility and negative predictive value of the cut‐off level of 50 antigen positive cell for CMV disease and syndrome was 100%. The specificity was 79% and positive predictive value was 49%.Conclusion: Because of the excellent sensibility and negative predictive value of the cut‐off level of 50 antigen positive cell per 2 × 105 PBL, application of pre‐emptive therapy guided by high level of CMV pp65 antigenemia in the context of induction therapy allow to omit antiviral therapy in many at risk patients. In the context of pre‐emptive and prophylactic therapy, the cut‐off level of 50 antigen positive cell do not allow to predict with accuracy the development of CMV disease or syndrome.
Predictive factors for early mortality following liver transplantation
Authors: Bilbao Itxarone , Armadans Luis , Lazaro Jose L , Hidalgo Ernest , Castells Luis , Margarit Carlos 
Published: September 2003

Abstract: Aims: To retrospectively review our liver transplant performance to identify factors that influenced early outcomes and to prospectively test their validity in predicting outcomes.Methods: Clinical records from 190 patients with liver transplants (LT; n = 200) performed between 1991 and 1997 were reviewed and the data evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses regarding clinical outcome. The prognostic model thus obtained was prospectively evaluated in 55 patients undergoing transplant between 1999 and 2000.Results: Main indication for transplant was post‐necrotic cirrhosis (61%), mostly HCV(+). The majority of patients were Child‐Pugh C status (46%). Post‐operative mortality at 3 months was 15.3%. Risk factors predicting death were: Child‐Pugh C status (OR 1.3), pre‐LT renal insufficiency (OR 5.8), malnutrition (OR 2.9) and technically complex surgery requiring cross‐clamping with or without bypass (OR 4.9). None of the donor factors was significant. Prospectively applied to predict outcome in the 55 patients, the model had a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 88.8% with a higher‐than‐anticipated accuracy with a positive predictive value of 61.5% and a negative predictive value of 95.3%.Conclusions: Pre‐LT renal insufficiency is the most significant risk factor for early mortality and suggests that LT should be performed before evidence of irreversible renal insufficiency becomes manifest.
The ACR classification of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus: how this helps in diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Bae Sang‐Cheol 
Published: September 2003

AbstractSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic autoimmune disease characterized by diverse clinical manifestations in all organ systems of the body and a variable course and prognosis. Involvement of the nervous system is one of the most profound manifestations of the disease, and it encompasses a wide variety of neurologic (N) and psychiatric (P) manifestations. To date, NP lupus is the most poorly understood subset of the disease, and a major problem of classification of NPSLE has been the lack of definitions for individual manifestations and lack of standardization for investigation and diagnosis. In addressing this, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Ad Hoc Committee on Neuropsychiatric Lupus Nomenclature has recently produced a standard nomenclature and set of 19 case definitions for NPSLE. The new ACR NPSLE classification systems were intended to enhance clinical and basic research, particularly in multicentre studies. Their primary purpose was classification and reporting, rather than making a clinical diagnosis in individual patients. This initiative represents a critical advance for clinical and basic investigations of NPSLE by addressing one of the major obstacles that has marred progress in this area to date. By providing a rational and uniform methodology for defining clinical populations of patients with NP disorders, a solid basis has been developed to evaluate different subsets of NPSLE.
Recycling of sewage sludge to grassland: a review of the legislation to control of the localization and accumulation of potential toxic metals in grazing systems
Authors: Hillman J. P. , Hill J. , Morgan J. E. , Wilkinson J. M. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractThe recycling of sewage sludge or biosolids to grassland is strategically important in the European Union (EU) and its use is tightly regulated to control the risk of pathogen transfer to animals and the food chain. Sewage sludges not only contain valuable concentrations of beneficial nutrients, but also elevated concentrations of potentially toxic metals (PTM) compared with average background concentrations in the soil. The EC and UK regulations refer to six PTM, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni and Hg, with provisional regulations for Cr, that have to be controlled to prevent detrimental effects on soil and animal health. Despite these regulations, there is still a danger that grazing animals may ingest elevated concentrations of PTM. Biosolids may adhere to herbage after the surface application of sewage sludge to grassland. The repeated surface application of sewage sludge to grassland can lead to elevated concentrations of PTM at the soil surface that may be ingested, together with soil and herbage, by grazing ruminants. This may lead to accumulation of Cd or Pb in liver or kidney. The risk to the human food chain is considered to be low, but the impact on the environment is still unknown. There is little information, for example, on the amount of soil and PTMs that may become incorporated into conserved grass. At present EU and UK legislation and voluntary codes of practice have been developed to protect animal from pathogens in sewage sludge and to minimize any potential risks from accumulation of PTM. The background and implementation of the legislation are examined in this review, and the source and mechanisms of accumulation of PTM by the grazing animal are evaluated.
Effect of cutting date and frequency on yield and quality of kudzu in the southern United States
Authors: Terrill T.H. , Gelaye S. , Mahotiere S. , Amoah E. A. , Miller S. , Windham W. R. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractKudzu [Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi.], a vigorous, perennial warm‐season legume, grows widely throughout the south‐eastern United States, predominantly as a volunteer species. It is tolerant of drought and acidic, infertile soils and may have potential as a low‐input forage for livestock. A field experiment was undertaken to determine the effects of cutting date and frequency on yield and nutritive value of kudzu (20‐year‐old stand with no fertilizer or lime inputs) in central Georgia. The cutting treatments included an uncut control, and plots cut once (September), twice (July and September), and three times (June, July, and September) during the 1994 growing season. Dry matter (DM) production and forage quality were determined for total herbage, leaf and stem tissues from quadrat samples taken on all plots in June, July, September, and November (after a killing frost) in 1994, and in June, 1995. Total herbage and leaf DM production was highest for the three‐harvest system and lowest in the no‐cut control plots in 1994, but these results were reversed in the harvest made in 1995. Total herbage production and crude protein concentrations were similar in kudzu cut in the initial summer harvest (either June, July, or September) during the first year. Whole plant and stem in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) in these samples declined throughout the growing season, while leaf IVDMD was unchanged until the first frost. Kudzu has the potential to be a low‐input forage for livestock, particularly as supplemental drought feed, or as a protein bank for summer or autumn grazing.
Seminal reactive oxygen species as predictors of fertilization, embryo quality and pregnancy rates after conventional in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection
Authors: Zorn Branko , Vidmar Gaj , Meden‐Vrtovec Helena 
Published: September 2003

SummaryHigh seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS) are related to poor semen quality and impaired fertilization. We aimed at finding whether there is an association between ROS and fertilization, embryo quality and pregnancy rates after conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In prepared semen of 147 male partners of infertile couples, ROS were assessed with luminol chemiluminescence. Spermiogram was assessed in native semen. ROS were negatively correlated with standard sperm characteristics and testicular volume, and positively with abnormal sperm head morphology. Fertilization rate and embryo morphology on day 2 and on day 4 were assessed in 41 IVF and 106 ICSI cycles. The influence of maternal (female age and number of oocytes) and paternal (sperm motility, morphology and ROS) factors on fertilization and embryo quality were assessed by means of regression analyses. After IVF, fertilization and pregnancy rates were negatively associated with ROS level (p = 0.031 and 0.041, respectively). In case of higher ROS, significantly fewer ICSI‐derived embryos (p = 0.036) reached the morula‐blastocyst stage on day 4. High seminal ROS levels are associated with impaired sperm fertilizing ability and lower pregnancy rates after IVF. In ICSI, a negative association of ROS with embryo development to the blastocyst stage has been observed.
Cytogenetic and molecular analysis of the Y chromosome: absence of a significant relationship between CAG repeat length in exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene and infertility in Indian men
Authors: Dhillon Varinderpal S. , Husain Syed A. 
Published: September 2003

SummaryThe genetic basis of male infertility remains unclear in the majority of cases. Recent studies have indicated an association between microdeletions of the azoospermia factor a (AZFa)–AZFc regions of Yq and severe oligospermia or azoospermia. Increased (CAG)nrepeat lengths in the androgen receptor (AR) gene have also been reported in infertile men. Therefore, in order to assess the prevalence of these genetic defects to male infertility, 183 men with non‐obstructive azoospermia (n = 70), obstructive azoospermia (n = 33), severe oligospermia (n = 80) and 59 fertile men were examined cytogenetically and at molecular level for Yq deletions, microdeletions, and AR‐CAG repeat lengths along with hormonal profiles [luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T)]. We used high resolution cytogenetics to detect chromosome deletions and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) involving 27 sequence‐tagged site (STS) markers on Yq to determine the rate and extent of Yq microdeletions. PCR amplification with primers flanking exon 1 of AR gene was used to determine the AR‐(CAG)nrepeat lengths. Hormonal profiles (LH, FSH and T levels) were also analysed in infertile and fertile men. Testicular biopsies showed Sertoli cell only (SCO) morphology, maturation arrests (MA) and hypospermatogenesis. No chromosome aberrations were found in infertile men but there was a significant increase (p < 0.001) in the association of acrocentric chromosomes including the Y chromosome. Yq microdeletions were found in 16 non‐obstructive azoospermic men (16 of 70; 22%) and seven severe oligospermic individuals (seven of 80; 8.7%) and most of them had deletions in the sY240 locus. No Yq microdeletions were detected in patients with obstructive azoospermia. No statistically significant difference in the mean length of CAG repeats in AR gene was observed between infertile and fertile men (22.2 ± 1.5 and 21.5 ± 1.4 respectively). No significant increase or decrease in levels of LH, FSH and T was observed in infertile and fertile men. In some infertile men, significantly elevated levels of FSH alone or in combination with LH were found to be indicative of failure of spermatogenesis and/or suggestive of testicular failure. Y‐chromosome microdeletions contribute to infertility in some patients but no relationship could be established with the (CAG)nrepeat lengths in exon 1 of the AR gene in infertile Indian men.
Acrosome reaction inhibitor released during in vitro sperm capacitation
Authors: Martins Simone G. , Miranda Patricia V. , Brandelli Adriano 
Published: September 2003

SummaryMammalian spermatozoa fertilize only after capacitation. The removal of decapacitation factors that inhibit the acrosome reaction (AR) is one of the events taking place during capacitation. In this report, human sperm were capacitated by 18‐h incubation in Biggers, Whitten & Whittingham medium (BWW) medium and the proteins, on release, were analysed. After gel filtration by high‐performance liquid chromatography a main peak with an approximate native molecular weight of 130 kDa was recognized by an antinormal seminal plasma antibody. This fraction was able to inhibit the follicular fluid as well as the progesterone‐induced AR, when added to capacitated spermatozoa. Additionally, it reacted with an antibody directed against seminal plasma from vasectomized donors but not with an antibody against epididymal proteins. The AR inhibitory activity was heat‐denatured, could be partially destroyed when treated with proteases, and bound to Concanavalin‐A and wheat germ lectins. These results suggest that during in vitro capacitation, human spermatozoa release a glycoproteic decapacitation factor produced by accessory sex glands.
GH1 as candidate gene for variability of meat production traits in Piemontese cattle
Authors: Di Stasio L. , Brugiapaglia A. , Destefanis G. , Albera A. , Sartore S. 
Published: September 2003

SummaryThe aim of this study was to analyse the polymorphism of the intron 3 of GH1 gene in the Piemontese cattle breed and to investigate its possible associations with meat production traits. The polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) analysis revealed two alleles, GH1C and GH1D, with frequencies of 0.842 and 0.158, respectively. The relationships of the polymorphism with 14 in vivo traits and four meat characteristics were analysed. For the in vivo traits none of the substitution or dominance effects were significant, indicating that the variability of the traits is not related to the polymorphism of the gene. Significant effects were observed for cooking losses and tenderness at day 11, indicating the superiority of the GH1C allele over GH1D. However, before any conclusions can be drawn, further studies are necessary, possibly including a larger number of DD genotypes.
Auditors as Whistleblowers
Authors: Jubb Peter B. 
Published: September 2003

Auditors are being depicted as whistleblowers, a phenomenon which, given negative social attitudes to whistleblowers and informers more generally, can be harmful to the profession and individual practitioners. A recently published general‐purpose definition of whistleblowing is applied to the audit function, considering internal and external auditing separately. The definition is briefly described. It depicts whistleblowing as a disclosure which expresses accusation and dissent; and entails an ethical dilemma of divided loyalty, the origins of which lie in a prima facie duty to respect an organisations proprietary rights over its information. The case argued here is that internal audit disclosures and those arising from the dominant external statutory audit do not qualify as whistleblowing as defined.Whistleblowing is also examined as an audit metaphor but is discarded as unsuitable mainly on grounds of ambiguity.
The Impact of False Rejection Risk on Posterior Audit Risk Measurement
Authors: Woodhead Anne D. , Dixon Rob , Skerratt Len C. L. 
Published: September 2003

This paper investigates false rejection risk, analysing the a priori relationship between the risk of false rejection and the more common risk of false acceptance, of an account balance by a substantive test. The paper uses probability theory to specify the relationship between these two risks and thus generate a model of posterior audit risk.The paper proceeds to investigate the relationship using the power function of basic statistics. This specifies the relationship between (i) the probability of rejecting the account balance and (ii) the size of the error which the balance contains. We argue that unless there is a discontinuity in the power function around the specified value of material error, then posterior audit risk will be unaffected by the substantive tests undertaken. Posterior risk will then be determined entirely by the assessed inherent and control risks. This conclusion is counter‐intuitive to the approach to audit risk adopted by many professional pronouncements and results from the adoption of a mathematically rigorous definition of the risks encountered by the auditor.The primary conclusion is that the discontinuity arises under conditions of careful audit planning. If planning is careful, then false rejection risk contributes very little to posterior risk. In addition, there is very little difference between planned risk and posterior risk.