bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Accidents, often the result of an ‘uncontrolled business process’—a study in the (Dutch) chemical industry
Authors: Sonnemans P. J. M. , Körvers P. M. W. , Brombacher A. C. , van Beek P. C. , Reinders J. E. A. 
Published: June 2003

AbstractOften companies in the (petro‐) chemical industry claim that all possible countermeasures against potential accidents have been taken and therefore accidents are unforeseeable. In this paper we question this statement by analysing the pre‐warning signals (precursors) preceding a number of industrial accidents. 17 accidents that occurred in the (petro‐) chemical industry have been investigated by exploring FACTS, an accident database containing information about industrial accidents worldwide. This paper will demonstrate that the existence of precursor information could have been used to foresee and even prevent these accidents if a proper control action had been initiated. The accidents are analysed further, according to a control model, which was adapted from that of C. Argyris. It demonstrates the ineffectiveness of several elements of business process control loops and that the so‐called ‘double‐loop learning’ cycle is more important than the ‘single‐loop learning’ cycle if one considers safety improvement. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
International Workshops on QSARs in the Environmental Sciences – The First 20 Years
Authors: Walker John D. 
Published: June 2003

AbstractSince 1983, ten international workshops have been organized to discuss Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships (QSARs) in the environmental sciences. This letter identifies the dates, locations and organizers of these 10 workshops, quantifies the number of papers that have been published from the workshops and describes the topics that have been discussed at these workshops.
QSAR of Progestogens: Use of a Priori and Computed Molecular Descriptors and Molecular Graphics
Authors: Kiralj Rudolf , Takahata Yuji , Ferreira Márcia M. C. 
Published: June 2003

AbstractQuantitative Structure‐Activity Relationship (QSAR) study of two sets of oral progestogens was carried out by using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) and Partial Least Squares (PLS). A priori, computed (at DFT 6‐31G** level) and molecular graphics and modeling descriptors were employed. Molecular graphics and modeling studies of crystal structures of complexes progesterone receptor (PR)‐progesterone, Fab′‐progesterone and PR‐metribolone have been performed. QSAR of progestogens is a three‐dimensional phenomenon (over 96% of information is explained by the first three Principal Components), which can be, although it exhibits significant non‐linearity, treated well with linear methods such as PLS. Progestogen activity depends primarily on double bond contents and resonance effects which define the skeletal conformation, and also on substituent characteristics (size, conformational and electronic properties). Sterical relationships between a substituent at C6(sp2) or C6(sp3)‐α and sulfur atom from Met 801 residue of PR are important for progesterone binding to the protein and can be quantified. Basically the same was observed for substituents at β‐C10 with respect to residue Met759.
Synthesis and QSAR Studies on the Antifungal Activity of 2,3,4‐Substituted Thiazolidines
Authors: Prabhakar Yenamandra S. , Jain P. , Khan Z. K. , Haq W. , Katti S. B. 
Published: June 2003

Abstract2,3,4‐Substituted Thiazolidines were synthesized and explored for antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Tricophyton mentagrophyte and Aspergillus fumigatus. The 2D‐ and 3D‐QSAR studies indicate the usefulness of this skeleton as a potential scaffold to explore new antifungal agents. The activity of these compounds against Candida albicans appears to be non‐specific. For the remaining three fungal organisms, the 3D‐equations identified are based on three biophoric centers. In case of Cryptococcus neoformans and Tricophyton mentagrophyte, both 2D and 3D‐QSAR equations have highlighted the positive role of bulk properties of the compounds in deciding their antifungal activity. Among the models, the one against Aspergillus fumigatus is the most complex and identifies thiazolidines C4 and C2‐phenyl region as main players in deciding the activity in terms of steric and electronic properties, respectively. All these equations suggest the necessity of steric and hydrophobic groups at C4 substitution and C2‐phenyl moiety of thiazolidine for optimum and broad‐spectrum antifungal activity. Also, the models suggest that S1, N3, C2‐phenyl moiety, oxygen of t‐butyloxy carbonyl or benzoyl attached to N3 and carboxyl oxygen of C4 of thiazolidines are the part of most probable centers for biophoric sites.
Magic bimetallic cluster anions of M/Pb (M = Au, Ag and Cu) observed and analyzed by laser ablation and time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Xing Xiaopeng , Tian Zhixin , Liu Hongtao , Tang Zichao 
Published: June 2003

AbstractBy using laser ablation on mixtures of coinage metals M (Cu, Ag, Au) and lead, M/Pb binary cluster anions containing up to tens of atoms were produced and analyzed. Most of the magic clusters discovered can be described based on the electron shell models which were deduced from simple homogeneous metal cluster systems. The clustering activities of coinage metals and lead were also compared with the properties of their bulk binary alloys. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative determination of paroxetine and its 4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxy metabolite in plasma by high‐performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry: application to pharmacokinetic studies
Authors: Segura Mireia , Ortuño Jordi , Farré Magí , Pacifici Roberta , Pichini Simona , Joglar Jesús , Segura Jordi , Torre Rafael de la 
Published: June 2003

AbstractA high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with tandem mass spectrometric detection is described for the determination of paroxetine, an antidepressant drug, and its metabolite (3S,4R)‐4‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐3‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenoxymethyl)piperidine (HM paroxetine) in human plasma. Plasma samples were hydrolysed with hydrochloric acid and then analytes were extracted with ethyl acetate at alkaline pH. Extracts were analysed by HPLC coupled to an atmospheric pressure ionisation‐electrospray (ESI) interface and an ion trap mass spectrometer. Chromatography was performed on a reversed‐phase column using acetonitrile/0.02% formic acid (66:34, v/v) as a mobile phase. The mass spectrometer was operated in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The method was validated over concentration ranges of 0.75–100 μg/L and 5–100 μg/L for paroxetine and HM paroxetine, respectively. Mean recoveries of 77% for paroxetine and 76% for HM paroxetine were found, with precision always better than 15%. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.20 and 0.70 μg/L for paroxetine, and 0.70 and 2.20 μg/L for its metabolite. The method was applied to the analysis of plasma samples obtained from nine healthy male volunteers administered with a single oral dose of 20 mg paroxetine. After the 20‐mg dose, the mean peak plasma concentration was 8.60 μg/L for paroxetine and 92.40 μg/L for HM paroxetine showing a tenfold ratio between the metabolite and the parent drug along the entire time‐concentration curve. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An intramolecular benzyl rearrangement of 1‐(N‐benzyloxycarbonylamino)alkylphosphonate diesters under electrospray ionization conditions
Authors: Ma Yuan , Chen Yi , Sun Ming , Zhao Yufen 
Published: June 2003

AbstractThe mass spectrometric behavior of eleven 1‐(N‐benzyloxycarbonyl(Cbz)amino)alkylphosphonate diesters was studied under positive ion electrospray ionization (ESI) conditions. Their fragmentation pathways are depicted and supported by tandem mass spectrometry. Besides the common eliminations of ether, benzyl alcohol, phosphite and an ether plus benzyl alcohol from molecular ions, the title compounds show a tendency to undergo an interesting intramolecular benzyl rearrangement to yield benzylphosphonate ions. The fragmentation patterns do not depend on the substituent attached to the α‐carbon atom. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Topology of hepatitis C virus envelope glycoproteins
Authors: Op De Beeck Anne , Dubuisson Jean 
Published: June 2003

AbstractHepatitis C virus encodes two envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2, that are released from a polyprotein precursor after cleavage by host signal peptidase(s). These proteins contain a large N‐terminal ectodomain and a C‐terminal transmembrane domain, and they assemble as a noncovalent heterodimer. The transmembrane domains of hepatitis C virus envelope glycoproteins have been shown to be multifunctional: (1) they are membrane anchors, (2) they bear ER retention signals, (3) they contain a signal sequence function, and (4) they are involved in E1‐E2 heterodimerisation. Due to these multiple functions, the topology adopted by these transmembrane domains has given rise to much controversy. They are less than 30 amino acid residues long and are composed of two stretches of hydrophobic residues separated by a short segment containing one or two fully conserved positively charged residues. The presence of a signal sequence function in the C‐terminal half of the transmembrane domains of E1 and E2 had suggested that these domains are composed of two membrane spanning segments. However, the two hydrophobic stretches are too short to make two membrane spanning α‐helices. These discrepancies can now be explained by a dynamic model, based on experimental data, describing the early steps of the biogenesis of hepatitis C virus envelope glycoproteins. In this model, the transmembrane domains of E1 and E2 form a hairpin structure before cleavage by a signal peptidase, and a reorientation of the second hydrophobic stretch occurs after cleavage to produce a single membrane spanning domain. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Treatment of chronic hepatitis B: current challenges and future directions
Authors: Chin Ruth , Locarnini Stephen 
Published: June 2003

AbstractThe clinical management of chronic hepatitis B infection has entered a new era with the introduction and widespread use of oral nucleoside analogues such as lamivudine and nucleotides such as adefovir dipivoxil. From this, new challenges have now emerged in terms of preventing antiviral drug resistance, promoting viral clearance and improving long‐term survival. For example, the natural history of nucleoside or nucleotide analogue‐associated hepatitis B virus resistant mutants has yet to be determined. Furthermore, the increasing prevalence of HBeAg negative disease with its reduced response to current therapies represents an ongoing challenge to attempts to improve standard of care. There is increasing recognition of the pivotal role that viral load and genotype, and their complex interactions with the host immune response, play in determining the outcome of these treatment interventions. The purpose of this paper is to highlight several key factors that should be considered in the context of future clinical research and management of chronic hepatitis B. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analyzing dynamic behavior of multiagents' task allocation based on subjective cooperative relations
Authors: Katoh Takashi , Kinoshita Tetsuo , Shiratori Norio 
Published: June 2003

AbstractIn multiagent systems in general, the behavior of the individual agent generally affects the behavior of the whole system. Consequently, in order to improve the efficiency of the whole system, it is crucial to know how the operation of the individual agent affects the whole system and to design the agents on the basis of that knowledge. This paper considers a multiagent system in which the technique proposed by the authors is applied to task allocation, and presents a basic analysis of the effect of the individual agent on the behavior of the whole system. More precisely, we consider an environment in which the procedure for updating information concerning the reliance relation to other agents, or the procedure for transfer of information concerning the power of other agents, and so on, is modified, or agents in the system are dynamically generated or deleted, and we analyze the efficiency of task processing and the amount of message traffic among the agents. Experiments are performed by defining several kinds of operations of the agents, and generating or deleting the agents while the system is operating. Based on the results of these investigations, basic guidelines for multiagent systems are presented. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 34(9): 93–104, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10108
A cipher strength evaluation system based on statistical methods
Authors: Tsunoo Yukiyasu , Ohta Ryoji , Miyauchi Hiroshi , Nakamura Katsuhiro 
Published: June 2003

AbstractIn this paper the authors describe a cipher strength evaluation system and an example of its operation. The authors have developed a system to evaluate the mutual relationships among the input and output data of a cipher using statistical methods. The authors' system includes features to display the statistical results in a three‐dimensional graph format. As a result, the behavior of a cipher algorithm can be understood intuitively and in detail, and several different cipher algorithms can be compared. In addition, the authors' system provides a unified environment for program development which allows for comparative evaluations of the results of improvements which accompany algorithm adjustments during the process of cipher design. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 34(9): 83–92, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10163
Automated liver segmentation using multislice CT images
Authors: Masumoto Jun , Hori Masatoshi , Sato Yoshinobu , Murakami Takamichi , Johkoh Takeshi , Nakamura Hironobu , Tamura Shinichi 
Published: June 2003

AbstractWith practical applications of multislice CT, high‐speed imaging has drastically become possible in recent years as compared with the past and imaging the liver twice during the time a patient holds his breath once has become possible in liver CT imaging using contrast media. Thus, three‐dimensional images of two time phases differing in the circulatory state of a contrast medium are obtainable without positional discrepancies. The authors propose an automated liver area extracting (segmenting) method using three‐dimensional CT images of two time phases of a contrast medium for extracting the shape of the liver. This method first constructs a two‐dimensional characteristic (feature) space having the CT values of time phases on each axis from the three‐dimensional images of a two time phase portion imaged immediately after and 10‐plus seconds after the infusion of a contrast medium. The method extracts areas showing changes in the contrast medium corresponding to the liver in this space and generates images with the liver region emphasized using these. The method then determines the liver region by performing opening and closing procedures on the liver area‐emphasized images generated. Finally, it determines the liver region by a three‐dimensional component connecting procedure using geometric shape characteristics of the blood vessels, tumors, and so on. The efficacy of using images of two time phases simultaneously has been verified by applying the proposed method to nine cases. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 34(9): 71–82, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10210
Quantitative evaluation of spatial distribution of line structure in the lung for computer‐aided diagnosis of pulmonary nodules
Authors: Shikata Hidenori , Kitaoka Hiroko , Sato Yoshinobu , Johkou Takeshi , Nakamura Hironobu , Tamura Shinichi 
Published: June 2003

AbstractIn the discrimination of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules, it is considered very important to evaluate the spatial distribution of the line structure around the nodule. For quantitative evaluation, a computer must be used. This paper proposes a method in which line structures, such as vessels, in the chest CT image are extracted, and their spatial distribution is quantitatively evaluated. First, the line structures in the three‐dimensional CT image are extracted, and the direction of the central line is estimated from the eigenvector of the Hessian matrix. The angle between the direction vector of a point on the central line and the vector directed from that point to the nodule center is defined as the “centripetal angle.” By a statistical analysis of the distribution of the centripetal angle, the spatial distribution of the line structure is estimated. In the proposed method, only the variation of the nodule center can affect the result. Consequently, stable operation is expected with a simple manipulation. The method is applied to 20 clinical cases, and satisfactory classification results are obtained. The effects of the image reconstruction algorithm and of parameter values such as the threshold of line structure extraction on the results of the proposed method are examined, and its robustness and range of application are determined. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 34(9): 58–70, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10222
Function of the pupil in vision and information capacity of retinal image
Authors: Hirata Yutaka , Yamaji Kazutsuna , Sakai Hiroyuki , Usui Shiro 
Published: June 2003

AbstractThe light–pupil reflex system has been the object of study in physiological engineering, as a typical example of involuntary biological systems. As regards the variable that actually controls the pupil, however, there has been little discussion of its role in vision. This study notes that the pupil is closely related to the spatial frequency response of the eye's optical system, and discusses the relation between the quality of the retinal image and the pupil size, as determined by the external image and the characteristics of the eye's optical system. By defining the information capacity of the retinal image as the evaluation measure, the quality of the retinal image is represented quantitatively. The relation between the pupil size and the information capacity of the retinal image is examined for various conditions. It is shown that the human pupil is controlled so that the quality of the retinal image is optimized, in the sense of the information capacity of the retinal image for each luminance level, when the external image is a natural image. On the other hand, when the external image is not a natural image, or when the characteristic of the eye's optical system or the relation between the visual cell arrangement and the pupillary diameter differs from the actual situation, it is not necessarily true that the pupil optimizes the quality of the retinal image. The above results suggest that the function of the pupil in vision is optimization of the quality of the retinal image. It is also suggested that the adjustment function of the pupillary diameter is acquired under the constraints of the external image and the hardware of the eye. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 34(9): 48–57, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10344
A cropping‐robust watermarking method based on singular value decomposition and Haar transformation
Authors: Sugiyama Masaharu , Goto Munehiro , Kovács Szilveszter , Matsumoto Tadahiro , Naoi Tohru 
Published: June 2003

AbstractThis paper proposes a new watermarking method which applies SVD (singular value decomposition) to the watermark image and the Haar transformation to the host image, respectively. In this method, relatively important information which corresponds to larger singular values is embedded as near to the center of the low‐frequency component image of the Haar transformed host image as possible. This method is useful in decreasing degradation of the quality of watermarked host images and thus in making the embedded watermark robust to various attacks. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 34(9): 38–47, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10371
Structuring of medical information networks for secure information interchange and policy matching by combining VPNs with an autonomous decentralized comparison environment architecture
Authors: Kimura Eizen , Uesugi Shirou , Ohnishi Masahito , Tateishi Norihiko , Ishihara Ken 
Published: June 2003

AbstractIn VPN (virtual private networks), security policy and the services provided have hitherto been modeled separately in determining the specifications. The reason is that VPN is generally characterized as a technology for replacing backbone dedicated links, and is regarded as a still‐developing means to provide a secure connection to the end user. One key to the widespread use of VPN in SOHO (small offices and home offices) is integrating the services offered by various service providers from the viewpoint of the user, and providing the services securely. As a model of SOHO, this paper considers the case of various medical services surrounding the physician and his office as the site of medical care actions. The present status of development is analyzed and problems are pointed out. A new combination of autonomous decentralized comparison environment architecture and VPN is proposed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 34(9): 27–37, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10403
Distributed credibility evaluation of an information gathering mobile agent system
Authors: Watanabe Yuji , Ishida Yoshiteru 
Published: June 2003

AbstractA problem specific to mobile agent systems is that the basis of trustworthiness cannot be ensured. Even during the information gathering stage, it may not be possible to gather information correctly if a host computer is providing false information or if the agent has a bug or has been corrupted. In other words, it is important to ascertain where faults can occur or what can be trusted. Although voting methods have already been proposed for these purposes, the waiting or centralized processing required for voting may ruin the distributed characteristic of a mobile agent system. In the present research, the authors use a dynamic relationship network, which is proposed as a distributed diagnosis model, to execute decentralized evaluations of the credibility of each host and agent in an information gathering system. They use simulations to verify the kinds of parameters needed as a basis for performing credibility evaluations appropriately. They also examine test methods for handling information scattering (probability‐based properties). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 34(9): 10–19, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10427
Image authentication based on fractal image coding without contamination of original image
Authors: Haseyama Miki , Kondo Isao 
Published: June 2003

AbstractSeveral digital watermarking methods proposed for the purpose of copyright protection embed signature data or images in the original images. Thus, they unavoidably produce degradation of the original images. Authors who create art works, however, desire to distribute their own originals unaltered. Therefore, this paper proposes a system for authentication of original images distributed without embedding any watermarks. The proposed method is based on fractal image coding, an image coding method. The IFS parameters obtained in fractal image coding are utilized as authentication parameters, and signature images for authentication are extracted using these parameters. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 34(9): 1–9, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10468