bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A HEURISTIC REPLACEMENT SCHEDULING APPROACH FOR MULTI-UNIT SYSTEMS WITH ECONOMIC DEPENDENCY
Authors: HUANG JIANSHENG , OKOGBAA O. GEOFFREY 
Published: October 2004

For a multi-unit system with economic dependency, it is difficult to develop an effective joint replacement schedule due to the stochastic complexity of the system failure-repair process. As a result, restrictions have often been introduced in the maintenance policy specification and decision problem formulation. In some cases, these restrictions have resulted in a reduction in the optimality or effectiveness of the proposed schedule. In this paper, we propose a general opportunistic maintenance policy for multi-unit systems with economic dependency. Two cost boundary conditions are developed in order to evaluate the potential cost savings achieved by implementing the opportunistic maintenance policy. A heuristic approach based on the application of the single-unit model is presented for developing the opportunistic maintenance schedule via an example problem. The effectiveness of the resulting schedule is demonstrated through simulation experiments.
OVERVIEW OF MANUFACTURING STRATEGY IN JAPAN
Authors: LEE JAY 
Published: October 2004

Japan has been a world leader in manufacturing in the past several decades. Undoubtedly, this leadership will persist well into the 21st century. It is, therefore, very important to understand the status of Japan's manufacturing technologies as well as its projected manufacturing strategies for the future, especially those technologies which would generate substantial impact on the manufacturing industries in the next five years. This paper highlights current Japanese manufacturing strategies. Examples on several major industries including the industrial machinery industry, the semiconductor industry, and the automotive industry will be given. In addition, major initiatives on emerging technologies, including micromachine, environmentally conscious design and manufacturing, and manufacturing globalization support are described.
DATA COMMUNICATION PERFORMANCE TESTING OF AN ADVANCED SATELLITE
Authors: WEIBEL MARJORIE L. 
Published: October 2004

The results of a series of data communication tests that measured the digital end-to-end performance of the Advanced Communication Technology Satellite (ACTS) are presented. The experiment intended to determine the performance provided to a pair of users who use the satellite as the transmission medium. In order to accomplish this task, the performance parameters defined in the American National Standard X3.102 were measured. Some examples of the X3.102 parameters include Access Time, Access Denial Probability, Bit Error Probability, User Information Transfer Rate, Disengagement Time, and Disengagement Denial Probability. The performance measured is dependent on the type of service offered (e.g., connection-oriented or connectionless, packet size, window size). The services analyzed included narrowband Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), X.25, and a dialed circuit-switched connection. For all services, test results showed that ACTS has a very clean data channel (only one lost byte was recorded during all the tests), the Access Time for most services needs to be shorter, and the parameter estimates did not vary substantially over time or destination location.
Bilād al-Šām in the Modern Period: Integration into the Ottoman Empire and New Relations with Europe
Authors: Philipp Thomas 
Published: October 2004

AbstractHistorical periods are the attempt of the historian to shape the endless flow of events in time into meaningful, coherent entities. Periods are often bracketed by "decisive" events and comprise one or more dominant features which give "unity" to the period so chosen. The periodization of history must by necessity remain a work in progress. It is always an attempt of interpretation and giving meaning and, hence, always open to revision. Ottoman rule over the Arab provinces was always considered as such a period, defined by the conquest and the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire. The present article tries to probe in how far these events are indeed meaningful for the periodization of the history of Bilad al-Sham, the geographical Syria.
Accurate crystal chemistry of ferric smectites from the lateritic nickel ore of Murrin Murrin (Western Australia). I. XRD and multi-scale chemical approaches
Authors: Gaudin A. , Grauby O. , Noack Y. , Decarreau A. , Petit S. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractLateritic weathering profiles developed on serpentinized peridotites of Murrin Murrin (Western Australia) exhibit thick smectite zones (10–15 m). The smectites from plasma and fissures were characterized by XRD, chemical analyses (ICP-AES, SEM-EDX and TEM-EDX) and Mo¨ssbauer spectroscopy. These Fe-rich smectites, previously described as nontronites, are in fact more complex. Their layer charges originate from both the tetrahedral and octahedral sheets. Plasma and notably fissure smectites exhibit, from the bulk sample scale to the particle scale, large and continuous Al for (Fe+Cr) substitutions, covering a chemical gap previously described for dioctahedral smectites ranging between nontronite and beidellite end-members. Lastly, they exhibit an octahedral occupancy slightly above 2, due to a low (Mg+Ni) trioctahedral contribution. Thus, the smectites occurring in weathering profiles of ultrabasic rocks can have actual chemistries intermediate between four dioctahedral end-members (beidellite, nontronite, montmorillonite and previously rarely described ferric-montmorillonite) and a trioctahedral one ((Mg+Ni)-saponite).
Iron (III)-doped montmorillonite catalysis of alkenes bearing sulphoxide groups in Diels-Alder reactions
Authors: Gültekіn Z. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractFe3+-doped K10 montmorillonite combined with 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenol is a potent catalytic system for trans-2-methylene-1,3-dithiolane 1,3-dioxide as a dienophile. Cycloaddition occurs with cyclopentadiene and furan as a diene at room temperature in short time and with good yields (64% overall).
A computational approach for ordering signal transduction pathway components from genomics and proteomics Data
Authors: Liu Yin , Zhao Hongyu 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
Background
Signal transduction is one of the most important biological processes by which cells convert an external signal into a response. Novel computational approaches to mapping proteins onto signaling pathways are needed to fully take advantage of the rapid accumulation of genomic and proteomics information. However, despite their importance, research on signaling pathways reconstruction utilizing large-scale genomics and proteomics information has been limited.

Results
We have developed an approach for predicting the order of signaling pathway components, assuming all the components on the pathways are known. Our method is built on a score function that integrates protein-protein interaction data and microarray gene expression data. Compared to the individual datasets, either protein interactions or gene transcript abundance measurements, the integrated approach leads to better identification of the order of the pathway components.

Conclusions
As demonstrated in our study on the yeast MAPK signaling pathways, the integration analysis of high-throughput genomics and proteomics data can be a powerful means to infer the order of pathway components, enabling the transformation from molecular data into knowledge of cellular mechanisms.
The structurally constrained protein evolution model accounts for sequence patterns of the LβH superfamily
Authors: Parisi Gustavo , Echave Julián 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
Background
Structure conservation constrains evolutionary sequence divergence, resulting in observable sequence patterns. Most current models of protein evolution do not take structure into account explicitly, being unsuitable for investigating the effects of structure conservation on sequence divergence. To this end, we recently developed the Structurally Constrained Protein Evolution (SCPE) model. The model starts with the coding sequence of a protein with known three-dimensional structure. At each evolutionary time-step of an SCPE simulation, a trial sequence is generated by introducing a random point mutation in the current coding DNA sequence. Then, a "score" for the trial sequence is calculated and the mutation is accepted only if its score is under a given cutoff, λ. The SCPE score measures the distance between the trial sequence and a given reference sequence, given the structure. In our first brief report we used a "global score", in which the same reference sequence, the ancestral one, was used at each evolutionary step. Here, we introduce a new scoring function, the "local score", in which the sequence accepted at the previous evolutionary time-step is used as the reference. We assess the model on the UDP-N-acetylglucosamine acyltransferase (LPXA) family, as in our previous report, and we extend this study to all other members of the left-handed parallel beta helix fold (LβH) superfamily whose structure has been determined.

Results
We studied site-dependent entropies, amino acid probability distributions, and substitution matrices predicted by SCPE and compared with experimental data for several members of the LβH superfamily. We also evaluated structure conservation during simulations. Overall, SCPE outperforms JTT in the description of sequence patterns observed in structurally constrained sites. Maximum Likelihood calculations show that the local-score and global-score SCPE substitution matrices obtained for LPXA outperform the JTT model for the LPXA family and for the structurally constrained sites of class i of other members within the LβH superfamily.

Conclusion
We extended the SCPE model by introducing a new scoring function, the local score. We performed a thorough assessment of the SCPE model on the LPXA family and extended it to all other members of known structure of the LβH superfamily.
Microarray and comparative genomics-based identification of genes and gene regulatory regions of the mouse immune system
Authors: Hutton John J , Jegga Anil G , Kong Sue , Gupta Ashima , Ebert Catherine , Williams Sarah , Katz Jonathan D , Aronow Bruce J 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
Background
In this study we have built and mined a gene expression database composed of 65 diverse mouse tissues for genes preferentially expressed in immune tissues and cell types. Using expression pattern criteria, we identified 360 genes with preferential expression in thymus, spleen, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, lymph nodes (unstimulated or stimulated), or in vitro activated T-cells.

Results
Gene clusters, formed based on similarity of expression-pattern across either all tissues or the immune tissues only, had highly significant associations both with immunological processes such as chemokine-mediated response, antigen processing, receptor-related signal transduction, and transcriptional regulation, and also with more general processes such as replication and cell cycle control. Within-cluster gene correlations implicated known associations of known genes, as well as immune process-related roles for poorly described genes. To characterize regulatory mechanisms and cis-elements of genes with similar patterns of expression, we used a new version of a comparative genomics-based cis-element analysis tool to identify clusters of cis-elements with compositional similarity among multiple genes. Several clusters contained genes that shared 5–6 cis-elements that included ETS and zinc-finger binding sites. cis-Elements AP2 EGRF ETSF MAZF SP1F ZF5F and AREB ETSF MZF1 PAX5 STAT were shared in a thymus-expressed set; AP4R E2FF EBOX ETSF MAZF SP1F ZF5F and CREB E2FF MAZF PCAT SP1F STAT cis-clusters occurred in activated T-cells; CEBP CREB NFKB SORY and GATA NKXH OCT1 RBIT occurred in stimulated lymph nodes.

Conclusion
This study demonstrates a series of analytic approaches that have allowed the implication of genes and regulatory elements that participate in the differentiation, maintenance, and function of the immune system. Polymorphism or mutation of these could adversely impact immune system functions.
Family doctors' involvement with families in Estonia
Authors: Oona Marje , Kalda Ruth , Lember Margus , Maaroos Heidi-Ingrid 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
Background
Family doctors should care for individuals in the context of their family. Family has a powerful influence on health and illness and family interventions have been shown to improve health outcomes for a variety of health problems. The aim of the study was to investigate the Estonian family doctors' (FD) attitudes to the patients' family-related issues in their work: to explore the degree of FDs involvement in family matters, their preparedness for management of family-related issues and their self-assessment of the ability to manage different family-related problems.

Methods
A random sample (n = 236) of all FDs in Estonia was investigated using a postal questionnaire. Altogether 151 FDs responded to the questionnaire (response rate 64%), while five of them were excluded as they did not actually work as FDs.

Results
Of the respondents, 90% thought that in managing the health problems of patients FDs should communicate and cooperate with family members. Although most of the family doctors agreed that modifying of the health damaging risk factors (smoking, alcohol and drug abuse) of their patients and families is their task, one third of them felt that dealing with these problems is ineffective, or perceived themselves as poorly prepared or having too little time for such activities. Of the respondents, 58% (n = 83) were of the opinion that they could modify also relationship problems.

Conclusions
Estonian family doctors are favourably disposed to involvement in family-related problems, however, they need some additional training, especially in the field of relationship management.
Psychological trauma and evidence for enhanced vulnerability for posttraumatic stress disorder through previous trauma among West Nile refugees
Authors: Neuner Frank , Schauer Maggie , Karunakara Unni , Klaschik Christine , Robert Christina , Elbert Thomas 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
Background
Political instability and the civil war in Southern Sudan have resulted in numerous atrocities, mass violence, and forced migration for vast parts of the civilian population in the West Nile region. High exposure to traumatic experiences has been particularly prominent in the Ugandan and Sudanese of the West Nile Region, representing an indication of the psychological strain posed by years of armed conflict.

Methods
In this study the impact of traumatic events on the prevalence and severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a random sample of 3.339 Ugandan nationals, Sudanese nationals, and Sudanese refugees (1.831 households) of the West Nile region is assessed.

Results
Results show a positive correlation between the number of traumatic events and the number of endorsed PTSD symptoms. Of the 58 respondents who experienced the greatest number of traumatizing experiences, all reported symptoms which met the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD.

Conclusions
There is a clear dose-effect relationship between traumatic exposure and PTSD in the studied populations with high levels of traumatic events. In this context, it is probable that any individual could develop PTSD regardless of other risk-factors once the trauma load reaches a certain threshold.
Pregnancy weight gain and breast cancer risk
Authors: Kinnunen Tarja I , Luoto Riitta , Gissler Mika , Hemminki Elina , Hilakivi-Clarke Leena 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
Background
Elevated pregnancy estrogen levels are associated with increased risk of developing breast cancer in mothers. We studied whether pregnancy weight gain that has been linked to high circulating estrogen levels, affects a mother's breast cancer risk.

Methods
Our cohort consisted of women who were pregnant between 1954–1963 in Helsinki, Finland, 2,089 of which were eligible for the study. Pregnancy data were collected from patient records of maternity centers. 123 subsequent breast cancer cases were identified through a record linkage to the Finnish Cancer Registry, and the mean age at diagnosis was 56 years (range 35 – 74). A sample of 979 women (123 cases, 856 controls) from the cohort was linked to the Hospital Inpatient Registry to obtain information on the women's stay in hospitals.

Results
Mothers in the upper tertile of pregnancy weight gain (>15 kg) had a 1.62-fold (95% CI 1.03–2.53) higher breast cancer risk than mothers who gained the recommended amount (the middle tertile, mean: 12.9 kg, range 11–15 kg), after adjusting for mother's age at menarche, age at first birth, age at index pregnancy, parity at the index birth, and body mass index (BMI) before the index pregnancy. In a separate nested case-control study (n = 65 cases and 431 controls), adjustment for BMI at the time of breast cancer diagnosis did not modify the findings.

Conclusions
Our study suggests that high pregnancy weight gain increases later breast cancer risk, independently from body weight at the time of diagnosis.
Assessment of the dynamics of atrial signals and local atrial period series during atrial fibrillation: effects of isoproterenol administration
Authors: Mainardi Luca T , Corino Valentina DA , Lombardi Leonida , Tondo Claudio , Mantica Massimo , Lombardi Federico , Cerutti Sergio 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
Background
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays an important role in the genesis and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF), but quantification of its electrophysiologic effects is extremely complex and difficult. Aim of the study was to evaluate the capability of linear and non-linear indexes to capture the fine changing dynamics of atrial signals and local atrial period (LAP) series during adrenergic activation induced by isoproterenol (a sympathomimetic drug) infusion.

Methods
Nine patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF (aged 60 ± 6) underwent electrophysiological study in which isoproterenol was administered to patients. Atrial electrograms were acquired during i) sinus rhythm (SR); ii) sinus rhythm during isoproterenol (SRISO) administration; iii) atrial fibrillation (AF) and iv) atrial fibrillation during isoproterenol (AFISO) administration. The level of organization between two electrograms was assessed by the synchronization index (S), whereas the degree of recurrence of a pattern in a signal was defined by the regularity index (R). In addition, the level of predictability (LP) and regularity of LAP series were computed.

Results
LAP series analysis shows a reduction of both LP and R index during isoproterenol infusion in SR and AF (RSR = 0.75 ± 0.07 RSRISO = 0.69 ± 0.10, p < 0.0001; RAF = 0.31 ± 0.08 RAFISO = 0.26 ± 0.09, p < 0.0001; LPSR = 99.99 ± 0.001 LPSRISO = 99.97 ± 0.03, p < 0.0001; LPAF = 69.46 ± 21.55 LPAFISO = 55 ± 24.75; p < 0.0001). Electrograms analysis shows R index reductions both in SR (RSR = 0.49 ± 0.08 RSRISO = 0.46 ± 0.09 p < 0.0001) and in AF (RAF = 0.29 ± 0.09 RAFISO = 0.28 ± 0.08 n.s.).

Conclusions
The proposed parameters succeeded in discriminating the subtle changes due to isoproterenol infusion during both the rhythms especially when considering LAP series analysis. The reduced value of analyzed parameters after isoproterenol administration could reflect an important pro-arrhythmic influence of adrenergic activation on favoring maintenance of AF.
Killing Bugs at the Bedside: A prospective hospital survey of how frequently personal digital assistants provide expert recommendations in the treatment of infectious diseases
Authors: Burdette Steven D , Herchline Thomas E , Richardson W Scott 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
Background
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAS) are rapidly becoming popular tools in the assistance of managing hospitalized patients, but little is known about how often expert recommendations are available for the treatment of infectious diseases in hospitalized patients.

Objective
To determine how often PDAs could provide expert recommendations for the management of infectious diseases in patients admitted to a general medicine teaching service.

Design
Prospective observational cohort study

Setting
Internal medicine resident teaching service at an urban hospital in Dayton, Ohio

Patients
212 patients (out of 883 patients screened) were identified with possible infectious etiologies as the cause for admission to the hospital.

Measurements
Patients were screened prospectively from July 2002 until October 2002 for infectious conditions as the cause of their admissions. 5 PDA programs were assessed in October 2002 to see if treatment recommendations were available for managing these patients. The programs were then reassessed in January 2004 to evaluate how the latest editions of the software would perform under the same context as the previous year.

Results
PDAs provided treatment recommendations in at least one of the programs for 100% of the patients admitted over the 4 month period in the 2004 evaluation. Each of the programs reviewed improved from 2002 to 2004, with five of the six programs offering treatment recommendations for over 90% of patients in the study.

Conclusion
Current PDA software provides expert recommendations for a great majority of general internal medicine patients presenting to the hospital with infectious conditions.
Predicting gender differences as latent variables: summed scores, and individual item responses: a methods case study
Authors: Pietrobon Ricardo , Taylor Marcus , Guller Ulrich , Higgins Laurence D , Jacobs Danny O , Carey Timothy 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
Background
Modeling latent variables such as physical disability is challenging since its measurement is performed through proxies. This poses significant methodological challenges. The objective of this article is to present three different methods to predict latent variables based on classical summed scores, individual item responses, and latent variable models.

Methods
This is a review of the literature and data analysis using "layers of information". Data was collected from the North Carolina Back Pain Project, using a modified version of the Roland Questionnaire.

Results
The three models are compared in relation to their goals and underlying concepts, previous clinical applications, data requirements, statistical theory, and practical applications. Initial linear regression models demonstrated a difference in disability between genders of 1.32 points (95% CI 0.65, 2.00) on a scale from 0–23. Subsequent item analysis found contradictory results across items, with no clear pattern. Finally, IRT models demonstrated three items were demonstrated to present differential item functioning. After these items were removed, the difference between genders was reduced to 0.78 points (95% CI, -0.99, 1.23). These results were shown to be robust with re-sampling methods.

Conclusions
Purported differences in the levels of a latent variable should be tested using different models to verify whether these differences are real or simply distorted by model assumptions.