bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Devonian–Carboniferous brachiopod zonation in the Tarim Basin, northwest China: implications for biostratigraphy and biogeography
Authors: Chen Zhong‐Qiang 
Published: September 2004

AbstractFourteen brachiopod zones are recognized in the Upper Devonian and Carboniferous successions of the Tarim Basin, northwest China. Of these, the Trifidorostellum longhuiense Zone is established from the Famennian, the Eochoristites neipentaiensis Zone in the lower Tournaisian, the Chuiella aitegouensis Zone from the upper Tournaisian to lowest Viséan; the Brochocarina kunlunensis, Rugosochonetes hardrensis, Buxtonia pseudoscabricula, Vitiliproductus groberi, and Datangia weiningensis zones from the Viséan, the Gigantoproductus edelburgensis Zone from the Serpukhovian age, both Productus productus and Eomarginifera lata zones from the Bashkirian, both Choristites abnormalis and Purdonella artuxensis zones from the Moscovian, and the Linoproductus cora Zone from the Kasimovian–Gzhelian. The faunal characteristics and basin‐wide distributions of these zones are discussed. Close comparisons of the Tarim brachiopod zones with faunas from other regions of China (South China, North China, Tienshan–Junggar, and Tibet), Thailand, Pakistan (Karakorum), Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Afghanistan), and the Urals–Russian Platform suggest that the Tarim faunas were biogeographically closely related to the South Chinese faunas in the late Famennian–Tournaisian and appear to be of a mixture between South Chinese and Central Asian–Uralian faunas, with elements from West Europe, North America, Siberia, and Gondwanaland in the Viséan‐Serpukhovian. The Tarim brachiopods demonstrate stronger links with faunas of the Urals–Russian Platform and Central Asia and, to a lesser extent, with the South Chinese faunas throughout the Bashkirian to Gzhelian. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mudrock deposition in an ancient dryland system: Moor Cliffs Formation, Lower Old Red Sandstone, southwest Wales, UK
Authors: Marriott Susan B. , Wright V. Paul 
Published: September 2004

AbstractStudies of the lowermost Old Red Sandstone of South Wales (Pridolian–Lochkovian) have revealed that the mudstones that constitute up to 80% of some of the formations have been deposited in a variety of environments. In addition there is a variety of lithofacies associations present in some mud‐dominated units that suggests diverse mechanisms of deposition. This paper considers the Moor Cliffs Formation and examines four distinct mudrock facies.The overall depositional environment is considered to have been a multi‐stage, multi‐channel system, similar to a modern dryland river system, with mud‐dominated, moderately sinuous ephemeral rivers that reworked muddy floodplain sediment over a proximal braidplain during seasonal flooding. The alluvial deposits were pedified to varying degrees as calcic Vertisols, which, due to seasonal wetting and drying, provided soil aggregates for reworking by wind and water as sand‐ or silt‐sized pellets. Very infrequent flooding events (superfloods) resulted in extensive stripping of the floodplain surface and the introduction of allochthonous sand sheet deposits over wide areas in this normally sediment‐starved system.Depressions (pans or waterholes) on the floodplain formed ephemeral lakes following floods, and acted as sediment traps for dust from the frequent dust storms occurring in the system. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sedimentation and tectonics: the marine Silurian–basal Lower Old Red Sandstone transition in southwest Wales
Authors: Hillier Robert D. , Williams Brian P. J. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractBoth regional and localized tectonic events controlled deposition within the Wenlock and early Ludlow of SW Wales. Estuarine deposits within north–south‐tending incised valleys dominate the youngest (Homerian) Gray Sandstone Group, valley incision being probably related to changing base‐levels associated with Avalonia/Laurentian collision. Available accommodation space was outpaced by sediment supply, with the Red Cliff Formation (Late Ludfordian) defining a conformable transition from marine to Old Red Sandstone (ORS) deposition within the Marloes Peninsula. Sedimentation was dominated by fine‐grained pedified siliciclastics, with subordinate fine‐grained ephemeral sheet‐flood sandstones. Local palaeocurrents indicate sediment transport from the south and west, though long‐distance transport from a distant Laurentian provenance is assumed. A probable tectonically generated sequence boundary marks the base of petrographically distinctive, multi‐storey pebbly sandstones of the Albion Sands Formation, deposited within the hangingwall valley of the active east–west‐trending Wenall Fault. Sediment accommodation space was controlled by proximity to the tip‐point of this important growth fault within the Lower ORS. Debris‐flow‐dominated fans, shed from both the hangingwall and footwall of the Wenall Fault, deposited the Lindsway Bay Formation, an exotic‐clast conglomerate unit sourced predominantly from the south and west. It is uncertain as to whether movement along the Wenall Fault was caused by collision‐related transtension, or rifting associated with the southern margin of Avalonia. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Early Devonian (Lochkovian) microflora from the Freshwater West Formation, Lower Old Red Sandstone, southwest Wales
Authors: Higgs Kenneth T. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThe Lower Old Red Sandstone deposits occurring to the south of the Ritec Fault on the Pembroke Peninsula in southwest Wales are very poorly age‐constrained. Two moderately well‐preserved spore assemblages have been recovered from the Freshwater West Formation, locally the highest division of the Milford Haven Group. These assemblages contain both cryptospores and trilete spores, with the latter group being dominant. They essentially represent a single microflora which is assigned to the middle part of the Emphanisporites micrornatus–Streelispora newportensis (MN) Spore Zone and is considered to be of Early Devonian (mid‐Lochkovian) age. A new cryptospore species Qualisaspora sinuata and a new trilete spore species Dictyotriletes williamsii are described. The microflora is correlated with similar assemblages from the Dittonian of the main Anglo‐Welsh Basin. Locally, the new biostratigraphic data constrain the age of the rich ichnofauna of the Freshwater West Formation and also date the influx of coarse clastic sediments into the basin following the sedimentary quiescence represented by the underlying Chapel Point Calcrete. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prediction of response speed by anticipatory high‐frequency (gamma band) oscillations in the human brain
Authors: Gonzalez Andino Sara L. , Michel Cristoph M. , Thut Gregor , Landis Theodor , Grave de Peralta Rolando 
Published: September 2004

AbstractResponse to a stimulus is faster when a subject is attending and knows beforehand how to respond. It has been suggested recently that this occurs because ongoing neuronal activity is spatially and temporally structured during states of expectancy preceding a stimulus. This mechanism is believed to mediate top‐down processing, facilitating the early grouping and selection of distributed neuronal ensembles implicated in ensuing sensory–motor processing. To validate this model, it must be shown that some features of this early ongoing neural activity are correlated with subsequent perceptual decisions or behavioral events. We investigated this hypothesis in an electrophysiologic study in 12 subjects carrying out a simple visuomotor reaction‐time task. Local field potentials (LFP) at each brain voxel were estimated using a linear distributed inverse solution termed “ELECTRA” for each single trial of each subject. The energy of oscillations for different frequency bands was computed for the period between the warning cue and visual stimuli by applying a time–frequency decomposition to the estimated LFP. A nonparametric correlation coefficient was then calculated between energy of oscillations and reaction times for each single sweep. Gamma band oscillatory activity in a frontoparietal network before stimulus onset significantly correlated with reaction time for a significant amount of subjects. These results provide direct evidence for the role of neural oscillations as a top‐down attentional control mechanism that mediates the speed of motor actions. Hum. Brain Mapping 24:50–58, 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dissociation of action and object naming: Evidence from cortical stimulation mapping
Authors: Corina David P. , Gibson Erin K. , Martin Richard , Poliakov Andrew , Brinkley James , Ojemann George A. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThis cortical stimulation mapping study investigates the neural representation of action and object naming. Data from 13 neurosurgical subjects undergoing awake cortical mapping is presented. Our findings indicate clear evidence of differential disruption of noun and verb naming in the context of this naming task. At the individual level, evidence was found for punctuate regions of perisylvian cortex subserving noun and verb function. Across subjects, however, the location of these sites varied. This finding may help explain discrepancies between lesion and functional imaging studies of noun and verb naming. In addition, an alternative coding of these data served to highlight the grammatical class vulnerability of the target response. The use of this coding scheme implicates a role for the supramarginal gyrus in verb‐naming behavior. These data are discussed with respect to a functional–anatomical pathway underlying verb naming. Hum. Brain Mapping 24:1–10, 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A comparison of the EQ‐5D and SF‐6D across seven patient groups
Authors: Brazier John , Roberts Jennifer , Tsuchiya Aki , Busschbach Jan 
Published: September 2004

AbstractAs the number of preference‐based instruments grows, it becomes increasingly important to compare different preference‐based measures of health in order to inform an important debate on the choice of instrument. This paper presents a comparison of two of them, the EQ‐5D and the SF‐6D (recently developed from the SF‐36) across seven patient/population groups (chronic obstructive airways disease, osteoarthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, lower back pain, leg ulcers, post menopausal women and elderly). The mean SF‐6D index value was found to exceed the EQ‐5D by 0.045 and the intraclass correlation coefficient between them was 0.51. Whilst this convergence lends some support for the validity of these measures, the modest difference at the aggregate level masks more significant differences in agreement across the patient groups and over severity of illness, with the SF‐6D having a smaller range and lower variance in values. There is evidence for floor effects in the SF‐6D and ceiling effects in the EQ‐5D. These discrepancies arise from differences in their health state classifications and the methods used to value them. Further research is required to fully understand the respective roles of the descriptive systems and the valuation methods and to examine the implications for estimates of the impact of health care interventions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modelling EuroQol health‐related utility values for diabetic complications from CODE‐2 data
Authors: Bagust Adrian , Beale Sophie 
Published: September 2004

AbstractRecent research has employed different analytical techniques to estimate the impact of the various long‐term complications of type 2 diabetes on health‐related utility and health status. However, limited patient numbers or lack of variety of patient experience has limited their power to discriminate between separate complications and grades of severity.In this study alternative statistical model forms were compared to investigate the influence of various factors on self‐assessed health status and calculated utility scores, including the presence and severity of complications, and type of diabetes therapy. Responses to the EuroQol EQ‐5D questionnaire from 4641 patients with type 2 diabetes in 5 European countries were analysed. Simple multiple regression analysis was used to model both visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and time trade‐off index scores (TTO). Also, two complex models were developed for TTO analysis using a structure suggested by the EuroQol calculation algorithm.Both VAS and TTO models achieved greater explanatory power than in earlier studies. Relative weightings for individual complications differed between VAS and TTO scales, reflecting the strong influence of loss of mobility and severe pain in the EuroQol algorithm. Insulin‐based therapy was uniformly associated with a detrimental effect equivalent to an additional moderate complication. Evidence was found that TTO values are not responsive in cases where 3 or more multiple complications are present, and therefore may underestimate utility loss for patients most adversely affected by complex chronic diseases like diabetes. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The impact of price regulation on the launch delay of new drugs—evidence from twenty‐five major markets in the 1990s
Authors: Danzon Patricia M. , Wang Y. Richard , Wang Liang 
Published: September 2004

AbstractWe analyze the effect of price regulation on delays in launch of new drugs. Because a low price in one market may ‘spill‐over’ to other markets, through parallel trade and external referencing, manufacturers may rationally prefer longer delay or non‐launch to accepting a relatively low price. We analyze the launch in 25 major markets, including 14 EU countries, of 85 new chemical entities (NCEs) launched between 1994 and 1998. Each NCE's expected price and market size in a country are estimated using lagged average price and market size of other drugs in the same (or related) therapeutic class. We estimate a Cox proportional hazard model of launch in each country, relative to first global launch.Only 55% of the potential launches occur. The US leads with 73 launches, followed by Germany (66) and the UK (64). Only 13 NCEs are launched in Japan, 26 in Portugal and 28 in New Zealand. The results indicate that countries with lower expected prices or smaller expected market size have fewer launches and longer launch delays, controlling for per capita income and other country and firm characteristics. Controlling for expected price and volume, country effects for the likely parallel export countries are significantly negative. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stochastic league tables: an application to diabetes interventions in the Netherlands
Authors: Hutubessy Raymond C. W. , Niessen Louis W. , Dijkstra Rob F. , Casparie Ton F. , Rutten Frans F. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to discuss the use of stochastic league tables approach in cost‐effectiveness analysis of diabetes interventions. It addresses the common grounds and differences with other methods of presenting uncertainty to decision‐makers.This comparison uses the cost‐effectiveness results of medical guidelines for Dutch diabetes type 2 patients in primary and secondary care.Stochastic league tables define the optimum expansion pathway as compared to baseline, starting with the least costly and most cost‐effective intervention mix. Multi‐intervention cost‐effectiveness acceptability curves are used as a way to represent uncertainty information on the cost‐effectiveness of single interventions as compared to a single alternative. The stochastic league table for diabetes interventions shows that in case of low budgets treatment of secondary care patients is the most likely optimum choice. Current care options of diabetes complications are shown to be inefficient compared to guidelines treatment. With more resources available one may implement all guidelines and improve efficiency.The stochastic league table approach and multi‐intervention cost‐effectiveness acceptability curves in uncertainty analysis lead to similar results. In addition, the stochastic league table approach provides policy makers with information on affordability by budget level. It fulfils more adequately the information requirements to choose between interventions, using the efficiency criterion. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
LigaSure versus clamp‐and‐tie thyroidectomy for benign nodular disease
Authors: Petrakis Ioannis E. , Kogerakis Nektarios E. , Lasithiotakis Kostas G. , Vrachassotakis Nikolaos , Chalkiadakis Georgios E. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractBackground.LigaSure is an alternative bipolar diathermy system (BDS) combining vessel sealing with reduced thermal spread, which has been successfully used in many abdominal operations; however, there is a little experience in open thyroidectomy. This study compares the efficacy and the advantages of the LigaSure BDS when used for total thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disease with the conventional clamp‐and‐tie technique.Methods.Between May 1998 and October 2002, 517 patients underwent total thyroidectomy for benign thyroid multinodular goiter. Among them, from May 1998 until May 2000, 247 patients (group I) were operated on with the conventional clamp‐and‐tie technique, whereas from May 2000 until October 2003, 270 patients (group II) underwent total thyroidectomy for benign multinodular goiter with LigaSure BDS through a 4‐cm transverse suprasternal incision. Demographics, pathologic characteristics, gland mass, operative time, blood loss, and complications were assessed.Results.There were no intraoperative complications. Thyroid mass was similar in both groups, but the operative time was shorter in group II than in group I (mean ± standard deviation, 71 ± 14 minutes vs 86 ± 22 minutes; p < .01). Intraoperative total blood loss was similar between the two groups, but postoperative drain volume was less in group II than in group I (21 ± 15 mL; p < .01). Major post‐thyroidectomy complications (ie, laryngeal nerve palsy, hematoma, and hypocalcemia) occurred less frequently in the LigaSure group than in the clamp‐and‐tie group (0.7%, 0.4%, 1.1% vs 4%, 2%, 4.8%, respectively; p < .05). The mean ± standard deviation postoperative hospital stay was significantly less for the patients in group II than for those in group I (2.3 ± 1.7 days vs 2.8 ± 1.3 days; p < .05).Conclusions.The use of the LigaSure vessel sealer for thyroid surgery is an effective and safe alternative that reduces the overall operative time and could be successfully applied through a narrow surgical incision. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 26: 903–909, 2004
p73 expression for human buccal epithelial dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma: Does it correlate with nodal status of carcinoma and is there a relationship with malignant change of epithelial dysplasia?
Authors: Chen Yuk‐Kwan , Hsue Shui‐Sang , Lin Li‐Min 
Published: September 2004

AbstractBackground.TP73, a p53 homologue gene, shares similar structural sequences with p53. The aim of this study was to investigate the p73 expression for human buccal epithelial dysplasia (ED) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).Methods.Seventy‐five samples of human buccal ED, including mild, moderate, and severe ED (25 samples in each category), were analyzed for p73 protein expression by means of immunohistochemistry. Twenty‐five samples of human buccal SCCs were analyzed for p73 mRNA expression with reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and were also analyzed for protein expression with immunohistochemical analysis.Results.By use of immunohistochemical analysis, nuclear staining of p73 protein was detected in a subset of normal mucosa, buccal ED, and SCC specimens. p73 nuclear staining was noted for the basal cells of normal buccal mucosa. For buccal lesions deriving from mild, moderate, and severe ED, p73 protein was observed in basal and parabasal layers and in more superficial cell layers corresponding to the spinous layer. For well‐differentiated carcinomas, p73 immunoreactivity was chiefly observed among the less‐differentiated cells in the periphery of carcinomatous clusters, whereas moderately differentiated carcinomas revealed homogeneous staining, involving nearly all of the tumor cells. On RT‐PCR, the expression of p73 mRNA from buccal SCC was noted to be compatible with the findings of immunohistochemical analysis. An electrophoretic band with a 180‐bp PCR product corresponding to p73 mRNA has been observed. The expression of p73 seemed to be significantly elevated for specimens of buccal ED (protein level) and SCC (protein and mRNA levels) compared with the analogous expression for normal control tissue (Fisher's exact test, p < .001). Also, p73 expression (protein and mRNA levels) correlated significantly with cervical lymph node metastasis for cases of buccal SCC (Fisher's exact test, p < .001). Eight cases of ED (protein level) showing p73 positivity have undergone malignant transformation to develop SCCs in 2 years follow‐up, but no statistical significance was established (Fisher's exact test, p > .05).Conclusions.The data suggest that p73 expression may be (1) associated with the differentiation of oral stratified squamous epithelium, (2) an early event in human oral carcinogenesis, and (3) associated with the nodal status of patients with oral carcinoma and a possible indicator for malignant change of oral ED. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 26: 945–952, 2004
Mental models, team mental models, and performance: Process, development, and future directions
Authors: Langan‐Fox Janice , Anglim Jeromy , Wilson John R. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractSince the 1940s, researchers have grappled with the notion of a mental model. The concept is eminently reasonable and somewhat seductive, but presents us with a number of difficulties regarding its incompleteness, multiplicity, and inconsistency. Not the least of these difficulties is the problem of “capturing” (measuring) mental models, and still more difficult, capturing a team mental model, an extension of the earlier term. Once captured, finding an appropriate analytic procedure to analyze team mental models has challenged researchers for a long time. Nonetheless, the literature suggests that the construct is well worth the trouble, with many applied benefits especially to industry. In the present work we set out to (a) review the notion of team mental models (TMM); (b) identify the key concepts and thinking behind their development; (c) demonstrate how they support teamworking performance; and (d) outline a three‐phase model of TMM development. Details on TMM measurement are given, before concluding with a discussion of the difficulties facing researchers who wish to study and utilize the notion, and some of the pressing research issues that need investigation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 14: 331–352, 2004.
Team assessment when members have low reading proficiency
Authors: Littlepage Glenn E. , Brower Grant 
Published: September 2004

AbstractWork teams sometimes include individuals with low levels of reading proficiency. Traditional team assessment instruments may not be suitable for use with such teams. A well‐known teamwork instrument, the Team Excellence survey (LaFasto & Larson, 1987), was simplified to enhance readability. Fifty‐two participants completed both the original and simplified versions. Analyses indicated that the simplified instrument had psychometric qualities roughly equivalent to the original instrument. The simplified instrument is appropriate for use as a team assessment instrument when the reading level of team members is low.