bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The reporting quality of abstracts of randomised controlled trials submitted to the ICS meeting in Heidelberg
Authors: Herbison Peter 
Published: October 2004

AbstractAimsThe quality of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) is associated with bias. Thus, reports of RCTs must have enough detail of key elements of quality to enable them to be interpreted properly. This study examines the quality of abstracts of RCTs reported at the ICS meeting in Heidelberg in 2002, using the CONSORT statement as the gold standard.Materials and MethodsAll of the abstracts accepted for the meeting at Heidelberg were read to identify reports of RCTs. Copies of these were printed and examined to see whether they complied with the 22 items in the CONSORT statement. As these were all abstracts the first CONSORT item was changed so that to comply the title had to say it was a randomised trial. Each item was scored as not met, partially met, met.ResultsFifty‐three reports of RCTs were found. Five of these were podium presentations, 14 discussion posters, and 34 non‐discussion posters. Most reports did not comply with many of the items in the CONSORT statement, lacking particularly in technical details of the methods (only one study clearly reported hidden allocation to groups), and how the results were presented (only two studies fully reported results). Only 2/53 of the abstracts complied fully with more than 10 of the items, and 30/53 did not comply at all with 10 or more.ConclusionsThe quality of reporting of studies at ICS is so poor that it is difficult to interpret the results. Reporting was particularly poor on the details of the randomisation and the numeric results. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Significance of pad test loss for the evaluation of women with urinary incontinence
Authors: Paick Jae‐Seung , Ku Ja Hyeon , Shin Jae Wook , Park Kwanjin , Son Hwancheol , Oh Seung‐June , Kim Soo Woong 
Published: October 2004

AbstractAimsThe aim of this study was to determine whether the objective incontinence severity, as measured by the pad test, correlated with urethral parameters, and if the objective incontinence severity was differentiated by the incontinence types and also, if it influenced the patient's clinical outcome.MethodsTwo hundred seventy‐four female patients who had undergone a tension‐free vaginal tape procedure between March 1999 and May 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. The 1 hr pad test was carried out as recommended by the International Continence Society, with some modification. The mean patient age was 55.1 years (range: 28–80). Two hundred‐one women (73.3%) that complained of stress urinary incontinence and another 73 women (26.7%) that had additional symptoms of urge incontinence were enrolled as study subjects. A cure for incontinence, after the tension‐free vaginal tape procedure, was defined as the absence of a subjective complaint of leakage and the absence of objective leakage on stress testing, and all other cases were considered failures.ResultsIn linear regression analysis, the Valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP) was the only explanatory variable influencing the objective incontinence severity. The urine leakage was significant higher in the mixed urinary incontinence group than in the stress urinary incontinence group (39.7 ± 7.5 g vs. 30.3 ± 2.8 g, P < 0.05). For the total patients, the failure group had a more severe preoperative objective severity than the cure group (53.2 ± 16.6 vs. 32.0 ± 3.0, P < 0.05). Upon a subgroup analysis, a similar result was found in the stress urinary incontinence group (87.1 ± 8.2 vs. 29.8 ± 2.8, P < 0.05) but not in the mixed urinary incontinence group.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the amount of urine leakage as measured during the pad test may be associated with the clinical outcome, after the anti‐incontinence surgery. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Two‐grid methods for banded linear systems from DCT III algebra
Authors: Chan R. H. , Serra‐Capizzano S. , Tablino‐Possio C. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractWe describe a two‐grid and a multigrid method for linear systems whose coefficient matrices are point or block matrices from the cosine algebra generated by a polynomial. We show that the convergence rate of the two‐grid method is constant independent of the size of the given matrix. Numerical examples from differential and integral equations are given to illustrate the convergence of both the two‐grid and the multigrid method. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fast summation based on fast trigonometric transforms at non‐equispaced nodes
Authors: Fenn Markus , Potts Daniel 
Published: October 2004

AbstractWe develop a new algorithm for the fast computation of matrix–vector products with special matrices. More precisely we develop a method for the fast computation of sums f(yj):= ∑ αk K(yj−xk) at non‐equispaced nodes xk and yj (j=1,…,M) which requires only 𝒪(N log N + (M + N)) arithmetic operations. Our algorithm is based on a novel approach to fast discrete trigonometric transforms at non‐equispaced nodes. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Conservative perturbations of positive definite Hamiltonian matrices
Authors: Amodio P. , Iavernaro F. , Trigiante D. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractWe consider Hamiltonian matrices obtained by means of symmetric and positive definite matrices and analyse some perturbations that maintain the eigenvalues on the imaginary axis of the complex plane. To obtain this result we prove for such matrices the existence of a diagonal form or, alternatively by means of symplectic transformations, the existence of thesimplestcanonical form. Applications related to a pair of problems in the context of linear algebra and differential equations are also reported. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Schur algorithm applied to the design of optical multi‐mirror structures
Authors: Bae Jinho , Chun Joohwan , Kailath Thomas 
Published: October 2004

AbstractWe show how to use the classical Schur algorithm to design multi‐mirror optical interferometers (or filters). Our derivation is simple and straightforward, clearly revealing its connection to the previously known orthogonal digital filter structures. We also give a complete detailed description of an FFT‐based algorithm for the reciprocal polynomial approximation of an arbitrary curve (or spectrum). The Schur algorithm can, in turn, be applied to the obtained polynomial to get the desired reflection coefficients of the mirrors. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Some linear algebra issues concerning the implementation of blended implicit methods
Authors: Brugnano Luigi , Magherini Cecilia 
Published: October 2004

AbstractIn this paper we discuss some linear algebra issues concerning the implementation of blended implicit methods (J. Comput. Appl. Math. 2000; 116:41–62, Appl. Numer. Math. 2002; 42:29–45, J. Comput. Appl. Math. 2004; 164–165:145–158, In Recent Trends in Numerical Analysis, Trigiante D (ed.), Nova Science Publication Inc.: New York, 2001; 81–105) for the numerical solution of ODEs. In particular, we describe the strategies, used in the numerical code BiM (J. Comput. Appl. Math. 2004; 164–165:145–158), for deciding whether re‐evaluating the Jacobian and/or the factorization involved in the non‐linear splitting for solving the discrete problem. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The eigenvalues of preconditioned matrices for linear multistep formulas in boundary value form
Authors: Bertaccini Daniele , Wen Youwei , Ng Michael K. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractThe application of linear multistep formulas in boundary value form for the solutions of initial and boundary value problems requires the solutions of linear systems of which the coefficient matrices are large and sparse block‐Toeplitz‐like matrices. Block‐circulant preconditioners applied to these linear systems are examined. Analytical formulas for the eigenvalues of these preconditioned matrices are derived. The eigenvalues are also predicted by an asymptotic analysis. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Molecular characterization of a novel splice site mutation within the CYBB gene leading to X‐linked chronic granulomatous disease
Authors: Barese Cecilia N. , Copelli Silvia B. , Matteo Elena De , Zandomeni Rubén , Salgueiro Fabián , Giovanni Daniela Di , Heyworth Paul , Rivas Eva María 
Published: October 2004

AbstractChronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency that affects the oxidative mechanism of microbial killing of phagocytic cells. The defect is characterized by a lack or severely reduced superoxide anion (O2−) production by phagocytes. Seventy percent of CGD cases are X‐linked (X‐CGD) and they are caused by mutations in the gene encoding for gp91phox, one of the two subunits of the flavocytochrome b558 of the NADPH oxidase. We identified an abnormal transcript arising from a novel splice site mutation within the gene encoding gp91phox, which suggested that the mutation affected normal mRNA splicing. Thus, the effect of this mutation leads to the complete absence of the flavocytochrome b558 in neutrophil membranes, which caused the biochemical phenotype X91°‐CGD in this family. These molecular findings help to explain the early onset and severe phenotype in this X‐CGD kindred. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Epstein–Barr virus‐associated peripheral T‐cell lymphoma and hemophagocytic syndrome arising after liver transplantation: Case report and review of the literature
Authors: George Tracy I. , Jeng Michael , Berquist William , Cherry Athena M. , Link Michael P. , Arber Daniel A. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractPost‐transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are a well‐recognized complication of solid organ transplantation. The vast majority of PTLD are Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐related infections that manifest as B‐cell malignancies. We report an unusual case of an EBV‐associated T‐cell lymphoma in a 10‐year‐old boy who had previously undergone liver transplantation at age 4 years. He presented with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) and active EBV infection, with positive serum titers and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for EBV in blood, colon, and antral samples. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Longitudinal patterns of new Benzodiazepine use in the elderly
Authors: Bartlett Gillian , Abrahamowicz Michal , Tamblyn Robyn , Grad Roland , Čapek Radan , Berger Roxane du 
Published: October 2004

AbstractPurposeTo characterize longitudinal patterns of Benzodiazepine use in the elderly.MethodsProspective cohort of 78 367 community‐dwelling Quebec residents aged 66 years or more who were new Benzodiazepine users, was followed for 5 years, 1989–1994. Data acquired from four population‐based, provincial administrative databases were used to create time‐dependent measures of change in dosage, switching or adding Benzodiazepines for 11 drugs listed in the provincial formulary. Subject‐specific Spearman's rank correlation coefficients between dose and time were used to measure the tendency of increasing dose with consecutive periods of use. Multiple logistic regression and generalized estimating equations (GEE) models evaluated subject characteristics associated with increasing dose.ResultsThe mean duration of uninterrupted Benzodiazepine use was 75.5 days. The mean daily dose was about half the recommended adult daily dose but 8.6% of subjects exceeded the recommended adult dose. Some of them (28.8%) switched medications at least once and 8.2% filled two or more prescriptions concurrently. For women, older age at date of first prescription was associated with increasing dose over time (odds ratio (OR) for 10 year age increase = 1.23, p < 0.001).ConclusionLong periods of Benzodiazepine use are frequent among Quebec elderly. The evidence of increasing dose, particularly for older women, and long‐duration of use has important implications for clinicians. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Drug prescription for adult frequent attenders in Danish general practice: a population‐based study
Authors: Vedsted Peter , Sørensen Henrik Toft , Mortensen Jens Tølbøll 
Published: October 2004

AbstractPurposeTo analyse the association between daytime frequent attendance in general practice and drug use, i.e. type of drug used and prevalence of polypharmacy.MethodsA population‐based cross‐sectional study of individual face‐to‐face contacts with 179 Danish general practices (320 general practitioners, GPs) in the county of Northern Jutland, Denmark and the drug use of the 371 897 inhabitants aged 20 and over. Data on contacts and reimbursed drugs were obtained during the year of 1997 from the Health Insurance Registry. Frequent attenders (FAs) were defined as the 10% most FAs in 12 months. We measured the prevalence difference (PD) and the prevalence ratio (PR) of drug use and polypharmacy (drugs from five or more ATC groups) among FAs.ResultsFAs received prescriptions in 95% of the cases and utilised 27% of all prescribed drugs. Compared with the 50% least attending patients, the highest absolute prevalence of drug use among FAs was found for antibiotics (PD: 22.6–34.5), strong analgesics and psychotropics (PD: 16.0–38.5) and cardiovascular (PD: 4.2–46.2), musculoskeletal (PD: 16.3–29) and gastrointestinal drugs (PD: 10.8–39.9). The FAs had an increased PR for receiving a drug (1.1–1.6) and their polypharmacy PD was high (4.0–46.3). The association between frequent attendance and the prevalence of polypharmacy was strong (PR = 6.7–36.7).ConclusionsFrequent attendance in general practice is strongly associated with drug use and polypharmacy. FAs account for a high proportion of the prescription workload, and some disease groups are very common among FAs. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of iron oxide/poly(methyl methacrylate) composite latex particles: Nucleation mechanism and morphology
Authors: Wang Ping‐Chieh , Chiu Wen‐Yen , Lee Chia‐Fen , Young Tai‐Horng 
Published: October 2004

AbstractA magnetic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composite latex was prepared by soapless emulsion polymerization in the presence of ferrofluid, and the ferrofluid was prepared by means of a coprecipitation method. The effects of various polymerization parameters, such as the monomer concentration, ferrofluid content, and initiator concentration, on the conversion curve and particle size of the magnetic composite latex particles were examined in detail. The results showed that two nucleation mechanisms were involved according to the polymerization conditions. In the monomer‐rich and less ferrofluid system, self‐nucleation of PMMA was dominant over the entire course of emulsion polymerization. In the ferrofluid‐rich system, seeded emulsion polymerization was the main course to form the magnetic composite latex particles. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5695–5705, 2004
Grafting of maleic anhydride onto linear polyethylene: A Monte Carlo study
Authors: Zhu Yutian , Zhang Ronghua , Jiang Wei 
Published: October 2004

AbstractMonte Carlo simulation was used to study the graft of maleic anhydride (MAH) onto linear polyethylene (PE‐g‐MAH) initiated by dicumyl peroxide (DCP). Simulation results revealed that major MAH monomers attached onto PE chains as branched graft at higher MAH content. However, at extremely low MAH content, the fraction of bridged graft was very close to that of branched graft. This conclusion was somewhat different from the conventional viewpoint, namely, the fraction of bridged graft was always much lower than that of branched graft under any condition. Moreover, the results indicated that the grafting degree increased almost linearly to MAH and DCP concentrations. On the other hand, it was found that the amount of grafted MAH dropped sharply with increasing the length of grafted MAH, indicating that MAH monomers were mainly attached onto the PE chain as single MAH groups or very short oligomers. With respect to the crosslink of PE, the results showed that the fraction of PE‐(MAH)n‐PE crosslink structure increased continuously, and hence the fraction of PE‐PE crosslink decreased with increasing MAH concentration. Finally, quantitative relationship among number average molecular weight of the PE, MAH, and DCP contents was given. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5714–5724, 2004
Associative block copolymers comprising poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) and poly(ethylene oxide) end‐functionalized with a fluorophilic or hydrophilic group. Synthesis and aqueous solution properties
Authors: Nedelcheva Ana N. , Vladimirov Nikolay G. , Novakov Christo P. , Berlinova Iliyana V. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractA series of block copolymers comprising poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) end‐functionalized with a quaternary ammonium group (RQ) was synthesized by free‐radical polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide with well‐defined RQPEO macroazoinitiators. The radical termination occurred mainly by disproportionation, as confirmed by combining the data from size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and rheology measurements. The copolymers denoted RQExNy differ in type of the terminal group [FQ = C8F17(CH3)2N+ or MQ = (CH3)3N+] and in the length of the PEO (Ex; x = 4, 6, or 10 K) and PNIPAM (Ny; y = 7 or 17–19 K) blocks. The type of the terminal group determined the behavior of the block copolymers in the dilute and semidilute regime. Self‐assembled species formed by both FQ and MQ modified block copolymers were detected by static light scattering measurements at 25 °C and above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The LCST of the block copolymers depended on the type of the RQ group and the length of the blocks. FQ‐modified copolymers form elastic gels below and above the LCST. It was inferred that the FQ groups and the PNIPAM blocks form segregated microdomains that serve as junctions to maintain a viscoelastic network. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5736–5744, 2004
Moisture‐induced effects on stacking strength of moulded‐fibre packaging in varying environmental conditions
Authors: Sørensen Gitte , Hoffmann John 
Published: October 2004

AbstractStacking strength of moulded‐fibre trays was investigated as both compressional creep and static compression strength at constant and varying humidity conditions. The compressional creep behaviour resembled that of other paper and board containers and was accelerated at humidity cycling between 33% and 94% relative humidity (r.h.) for 18 days compared to constant humidity conditions 91% and 94% r.h. Although the moulded‐fibre trays did not experience failure, secondary creep rate was accelerated by a factor of 10–20 and total creep strain by a factor of 1.3–1.6. Compressional creep was thus affected by mechanosorption, whereas static compression was found not to respond to cycling of environmental humidity. Static compression strength was merely determined by the moisture content of the moulded‐fibre material.The effect of varying temperature on tray moisture content was examined by transfer of the moulded‐fibre tray from preconditioning at cold storage (5°C, 59% r.h.) to ambient conditions (25°C, 54%). When a food simulant [agar gel, water activity (aw) ∼1] was sealed inside the moulded‐fibre tray, moisture condensed on the tray outer surface (moisture gain 1.4 g/100 g dry fibre) within 40 min of transfer, contrary to when empty moulded‐fibre trays were exposed to same conditions. Condensation could thus potentially induce a large initial creep deformation of the moulded‐fibre tray. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surface evaluation of whey protein films by atomic force microscopy and water vapour permeability analysis
Authors: de Paula Herrmann Paulo Sérgio , Yoshida Cristiana M. Pedroso , Antunes Aloísio José , Marcondes Jorge A. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractThe atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique is a powerful tool for studying surfaces and has been used to provide qualitative and quantitative information about nanometer‐scale matter properties that are often inaccessible by any other experimental technique. In this work AFM was used to evaluate the surfaces of edible films produced with whey protein concentrate (WPC). The morphology and the roughness of the films were analysed. The effects of WPC and plasticizer concentration were characterized in terms of water vapour permeability (WVP) and roughness parameters. Roughness was calculated through the images captured with AFM. AFM can be useful to identify structural changes of the film resulting from sample preparation. The results showed a relation between water vapour permeability and area roughness, through different sample preparation. The analyses of topography through roughness obtained with AFM, demonstrated the correlation between the morphology of the film, obtained with nanometer resolution and WVP. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Variational energy functionals of the Green function tested on molecules
Authors: Dahlen Nils Erik , Van Leeuwen Robert , Von Barth Ulf 
Published: October 2004

AbstractIt was recently proposed to use variational functionals based on many‐body perturbation theory for the calculation of the total energies of many‐electron systems. The accuracy of such functionals depends on the degree of sophistication of the underlying perturbation expansions. The energy functionals are variational in the sense that they can be evaluated at rather crude approximations to their independent variables, which are the one‐electron Green function, or the one‐electron Green function and the dynamically screened electron interaction. The functionals were previously applied to the electron gas and shown to be extraordinarily accurate already at the level of the so‐called GW approximation (GWA). In the current work we have tested the functional due to Luttinger and Ward, which is a functional of the Green function. Using density functional theory (DFT) and Hartree–Fock Green functions as input variables, we have calculated total energies of diatomic molecules at the level of the GWA as well as with second‐order exchange effects included. We will also discuss various other variational energy functionals, including DFT orbital functionals based on many‐body perturbation theory. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005