bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Managing coordination and cooperation in distributed software processes: the GENESIS environment
Authors: Aversano Lerina , De Lucia Andrea , Gaeta Matteo , Ritrovato Pierluigi , Stefanucci Silvio , Luisa Villani Maria 
Published: December 2004

AbstractWe present the GENESIS platform (GEneralised eNvironment for procEsS management in cooperatIve Software engineering), the outcome of a research project aiming at designing and developing a noninvasive and open‐source system to support software engineering processes in a highly distributed environment. The system supports the cooperation and coordination in software processes as its process modeling language enables the decomposition of complex processes into subprocesses that can be distributed and executed at different organizational sites. In GENESIS, workflow management technologies have been integrated with artifact management and communication services to meet the necessary requirements of managing the cooperation among distributed teams. Its strengths are a powerful activity management, covering all the main aspects of the life cycle of an activity; an efficient and flexible project monitoring, collecting productivity and quality metrics to show on‐demand snapshots of the whole process and of its parts at different levels of detail, and a careful consideration of the process evolution questions, allowing to adequately manage the most common exceptions happening during process execution in a simple and flexible way. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of supported zirconocenes by x‐ray emission and absorption techniques
Authors: Loureiro Silvia R. , Silveira Fernando , Pires Gilvan P. , Alves Maria do C. , Stedile Fernanda C. , dos Santos João Henrique Z. , Bichinho Kátia M. , Teranishi Toshiharu 
Published: December 2004

AbstractMetal contents in supported zirconocene catalysts were comparatively determined by x‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. A series of supported zirconocenes was prepared by grafting sequentially Cp2ZrCl2 (Cp = cyclopentadienyl) and (nBuCp)2ZrCl2 on to silica. The addition order and molar ratio of the two catalysts were varied. The grafted metal content was shown to be coherent between the two techniques and was between 0.37 and 0.53 wt% Zr/SiO2. The steric effect played by the ligand influences the final zirconocene grafted content. No influence of the grafting order was observed. Nevertheless, catalyst systems in which (nBuCp)2ZrCl2 was either immobilized in the first place or at a higher molar ratio were shown to be more active in ethylene polymerization. Extended x‐ray absorption fine structure analysis in the Zr‐edge showed that systems bearing Cp2ZrCl2 and (nBuCp)2ZrCl2 in a 1:3 molar ratio afforded a more disoriented system. According to electron probe microanalysis, the metal distribution in the catalyst particle was more uniform than that resulting from the immobilization of solely (nBuCp)2ZrCl2 on silica. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis and localization of metal‐ and metalloid‐containing proteins by synchrotron radiation x‐ray fluorescence spectrometry
Authors: Kühbacher M. , Weseloh G. , Thomzig A. , Bertelsmann H. , Falkenberg G. , Radtke M. , Riesemeier H. , Kyriakopoulos A. , Beekes M. , Behne D. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractSynchrotron radiation x‐ray fluorescence (SRXRF) spectrometry has been applied for the determination of metals and metalloids in electrophoretically separated proteins and histological samples. The method was tested by the analysis of trace element‐containing proteins in rat testis homogenate and the determination of the spatial distribution of some metals in brain sections of scrapie‐infected hamsters. After sodium dodecyl sulfate—polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) and transfer on to a blotting membrane, the distribution of selenium among the proteins of testis homogenate was determined. The comparison with the autoradiogram of 75Se‐labeled testicular proteins separated in the same way showed that of nine selenium‐containing proteins found by autoradiography, four could be detected by SRXRF. The distribution of several metals and metalloids in cryo‐sections of 10 µm thin brain sections of three Syrian hamsters intracerebrally infected with the scrapie strain ME7‐H and of three control animals was investigated at the HASYLAB beamline L by scanning with a synchrotron radiation beam focused by a polycapillary lens. The copper‐binding prion protein (PrP) in its pathological form PrPSc, determined by immunohistochemistry on cryo‐sections, was found to be diffusely dispersed in the scrapie‐infected brains, and the copper distribution differed from that in the control animals. The question whether, and to what extent, PrPSc and copper hot‐spots are related, remains to be investigated. The method was shown to be suitable for the determination of trace element distribution patterns in electrophoretically separated proteins and histological tissue preparations. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determination of L‐shell intensity ratios for Yb, Hf and Ta by a parameter refinement method
Authors: Carreras A. , Trincavelli J. , Bonetto R. , Castellano G. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractTransition rates for radiative decays to the L‐shell were obtained for Yb, Hf and Ta by means of a method of experimental and atomic parameter refinement in x‐ray fluorescence. An analytical function accounts for continuum and characteristic radiation detection artifacts are also included in the spectral description. The procedure of parameter refinement consists of minimizing quadratic differences between the experimental and predicted spectra through the optimization of the parameters involved in the analytical expression used. Spectra were acquired in an energy‐dispersive system with synchrotron monochromatic beams. The results obtained for the sought transition rates are in agreement with the scarce values found in the literature. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determination of Mg and Ti in Ziegler–Natta catalysts by x‐ray fluorescence spectrometry
Authors: Bichinho Kátia M. , Pires Gilvan Pozzobon , dos Santos João Henrique Z. , Wolf Carlos Rodolfo 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe metal content in Ziegler–Natta catalysts based on Ti and Mg derivatives could not be determined directly by x‐ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry owing to the instability of the catalyst. The samples were then calcined and the resultant Mg and Ti oxides were characterized by x‐ray diffraction (XRD). A series of synthetic standards were prepared with high‐purity MgO and TiO2, since there were no available certified standards for the catalysts. Samples and standards were compressed with high‐purity H3BO3 flux. This protocol was shown to be reproducible, having a correlation coefficient of 0.9999. The metal contents determined by XRF were in accordance with those obtained by a complexometric titration (Mg) and a UV–visible spectrophotometric method (Ti). Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A new portable XRF spectrometer with beam stability control
Authors: Romano F. P. , Calvi G. , Furia E. , Garraffo S. , Marchetta C. , Pappalardo G. , Pappalardo L. , Rizzo F. , Rovelli A. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractA new portable XRF spectrometer which allows control of the energy and the intensity stability of the emitted x‐ray beam has been designed and built. The control is obtained by measuring the x‐ray fluorescence generated by a double Ag/Ba thin target when crossed by the x‐ray beam during a measurement. The silver and barium fluorescence K lines are detected by an ancillary Si‐PIN detector and analysed by software developed at the LNS/INFN laboratories. The new portable spectrometer, the beam stability control method, the evaluation of the system and some quantitative applications of interest in the cultural heritage field are presented and discussed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Distribution of Pb and Zn in slices of human bone by synchrotron µ‐XRF
Authors: Zoeger N. , Wobrauschek P. , Streli C. , Pepponi G. , Roschger P. , Falkenberg G. , Osterode W. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractSynchrotron radiation‐induced micro x‐ray fluorescence analysis (µ‐XRF) at HASYLAB beamline L was used to determine the distribution of Pb and other trace elements in slices of human bone. Using a focused synchrotron x‐ray beam of about 15 µm in diameter it was found that Pb was mostly located at the outer border of the cortical bone in various samples. Ratios of Pb intensities of cortical and trabecular bone varied from 0.027 for hip head to 0.408 for proximal tibia. Additionally Ca, Zn and Sr distributions were simultaneously recorded. A remarkable association between Pb and Zn content could be observed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Monte Carlo study of quantitative EPMA analysis of a non‐conducting sample with a coating film
Authors: Osada Yoshio 
Published: December 2004

AbstractGenerally, the ZAF method has been used for quantitative electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) analysis of conducting samples. However, the ZAF method is not applied to non‐conducting samples with coating films, mainly because the x‐ray intensity and the primary electron energy are both attenuated within the coating films. In this study, for application to the ZAF method we tried to correct the x‐ray attenuation and the primary electron energy attenuation by Monte Carlo simulation. As calculation models, we selected carbon coating as a light element and gold coating as heavy element and selected four kinds of materials, Al2O3, BN, AlN and Al4C3, as non‐conducting targets. After the correction we compared the calculated results and theoretical compositions. The calculated results were in good agreement with theoretical compositions. Finally, to verify the method we measured standard Al4C3 coated with gold (100 Å thickness). The experimental result showed good agreement with the theoretical composition. In conclusion, we confirmed that this method is useful for the quantitative analysis of non‐conducting samples with coating films. Further, by combining this method with appropriate standard compounds, we can obtain the hypothetical pure x‐ray intensities of gaseous pure elements. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Social support in bipolar disorder: its relevance to remission and relapse
Authors: Johnson Lars , Lundström Ola , Åberg‐Wistedt Anna , Mathé Aleksander A 
Published: December 2004

Objectives:  While an association between low‐level social support and depression has been found in many studies, its relevance in bipolar illness has been rarely investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of social support in the remission and relapse of bipolar disorder.Methods:  We obtained ratings from 94 stabilized bipolar patients using two different questionnaires that measure perceived social support: the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction and the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List.Results:  Significantly lower social support was found in patients in partial recovery compared with those in full recovery (p = 0.003). Patients who relapsed during a 1‐year prospective follow‐up period perceived a significantly lower level of social support than patients with no relapse (p = 0.012).Conclusions:  Bipolar patients with full interepisode remission perceive more social support than those who do not achieve full remission. Poor social support may increase the risk of relapse in bipolar disorder.
Response of patients with panic disorder and symptoms of hypomania to cognitive behavior therapy for panic
Authors: Bowen Rudy C , D'Arcy Carl 
Published: December 2004

Objectives:  The purpose of this cohort study was to determine in patients with Panic Disorder (PD): (1) the prevalence of subsyndromal symptoms of hypomania, and (2) whether subsyndromal hypomania symptoms affect the outcome of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for panic.Methods:  Using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, and DSM‐III‐R criteria we identified 18 individuals with a history of symptoms of hypomania among 56 patients with PD. Patients were treated in an open CBT group program. They were assessed before treatment and 6 and 12 months later. We used the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Pearlin‐Schooler Mastery Scale (PMS), and the Social Adjustment Scale (SAS) at all assessments.Results:  The total group significantly improved on all measures. The Clinically Significant Change was 71.4% and the Reliable Change Index 48.2%. Between 6 and 12 months, there was a trend for the hypomania symptom subgroup (PH) to continue to improve on the BSI Depression Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Pearlin–Schooler Mastery Scale, and the Social Adjustment Scale but to lose gains on the BSI Phobic Anxiety and Somatization subscales compared with the group without symptoms of hypomania (PNH).Conclusions:  Thirty‐two percent of patients with PD had symptoms of hypomania. With CBT for panic, patients with PD and symptoms of hypomania improve as much as those without hypomania symptoms. The presence or absence of symptoms of hypomania might help explain the inconsistent effects of depression and personality disorders on the treatment of PD.
Impaired heart rate variability in euthymic bipolar patients
Authors: Cohen Hagit , Kaplan Zeev , Kotler Moshe , Mittelman Irena , Osher Yamima , Bersudsky Yuly 
Published: December 2004

Background:  Power spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) has recently been shown to be a reliable non‐invasive test for quantitative assessment of the central sympathovagal interaction that modulates cardiovascular autonomic function.Methods:  We studied 39 euthymic bipolar patients and 39 controls, matched for age and sex. A high‐resolution electrocardiogram was obtained during complete rest. Spectral analysis of R–R intervals was performed by the fast Fourier transform algorithm.Results:  Euthymic bipolar patients at rest are characterized by markedly low HRV, independent of specific drug treatments.Conclusion:  While these results of autonomic stability in euthymic bipolar patients are counter‐intuitive, the findings may be important in understanding pathophysiology of bipolar affective illness.
The comorbidity of bipolar disorder and axis II personality disorders: prevalence and clinical correlates
Authors: George Elizabeth L , Miklowitz David J , Richards Jeffrey A , Simoneau Teresa L , Taylor Dawn O 
Published: December 2004

Objectives:  Many studies have examined the prevalence and predictive validity of axis II personality disorders among unipolar depressed patients, but few have examined these issues among bipolar patients. The few studies that do exist suggest that axis II pathology complicates the diagnosis and course of bipolar disorder. This study examined the prevalence of axis II disorder in bipolar patients who were clinically remitted.Methods:  We assessed the co‐occurrence of personality disorder among 52 remitted DSM‐III‐R bipolar patients using a structured diagnostic interview, the Personality Disorder Examination (PDE).Results:  Axis II disorders can be rated reliably among bipolar patients who are in remission. Co‐diagnosis of personality disorder occurred in 28.8% of patients. Cluster B (dramatic, emotionally erratic) and cluster C (fearful, avoidant) personality disorders were more common than cluster A (odd, eccentric) disorders. Bipolar patients with personality disorders differed from bipolar patients without personality disorders in the severity of their residual mood symptoms, even during remission.Conclusions:  When structured assessment of personality disorder is performed during a clinical remission, less than one in three bipolar patients meets full syndromal criteria for an axis II disorder. Examining rates of comorbid personality disorder in broad‐based community samples of bipolar spectrum patients would further clarify the linkage between these sets of disorders.
Population pharmacokinetics of clomethiazole and its effect on the natural course of sedation in acute stroke patients
Authors: Zingmark Per‐Henrik , Ekblom Marianne , Odergren Tomas , Ashwood Tim , Lyden Patrick , Karlsson Mats O. , Jonsson E. Niclas 
Published: December 2004

Aims   This analysis was performed to investigate the population pharmacokinetics of clomethiazole and its effect on the natural course of sedation in acute stroke patients using a nonlinear mixed effects modelling approach.Methods   One thousand five hundred and forty‐six acute stroke patients (774 on active treatment) from 166 centres were included in three randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled phase III efficacy and safety studies. A total dose of 68 mg kg−1 clomethiazole edisilate was given as a three‐phase i.v.‐infusion over 24 h. Three blood samples were drawn from all patients to characterize the pharmacokinetics. Sedation was monitored throughout the entire treatment period and the degree of sedation was measured on a discrete ordinal scale with six levels. Models were fitted to the data using the software NONMEM.Results   Clomethiazole was characterized by a two‐compartment pharmacokinetic model with interindividual variability in all structural parameters. For a patient weighing 75 kg, the average CL, V1, Q, and V2 was estimated to be 52.7 l h−1, 82.5 l, 167 l h−1 and 335 l, respectively. The interindividual variability in CL, V1, Q and V2 was estimated to be 48%, 53%, 42% and 54%, respectively. Increasing body weight and concomitant administration of liver enzyme inducing drugs were found to increase clearance (by 0.5 l h−1 kg−1 and 40%, respectively). Increasing weight also increased the volume of distribution (1.1 l kg−1 for V1 and 4.7 l kg−1 for V2). A six‐category proportional odds model with a component including the natural course of sedation following placebo administration, a drug component (present or absent) and an interindividual variability component described the degree of sedation. Stroke severity as measured on the NIH‐stroke scale on admission and drug treatment were the most important predictors of sedation, but a nonlinear increase in sedation with increasing age was also found. Increasing body weight increased the sedative drug effect.Conclusions   The pharmacokinetics of clomethiazole were characterized in acute stroke patients and the analysis excluded several possible covariates of interest in drug development. The time course of sedation could be quantitatively described during the first 24 h following an acute stroke in the presence or absence of clomethiazole treatment.
A simple pain model for the evaluation of analgesic effects of NSAIDs in healthy subjects
Authors: Sycha Thomas , Gustorff Burkhard , Lehr Stephan , Tanew Adrian , Eichler1 Hans‐Georg , Schmetterer Leopold 
Published: December 2004

Aims  Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are believed to counteract inflammation and inflammation‐induced sensitization of nociceptors by inhibiting peripheral prostaglandin synthesis. We evaluated an experimental pain model for NSAIDs, that included an inflammatory component to mimic clinical inflammatory pain conditions.Methods  The study was performed in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, two‐way crossover design on 32 healthy volunteers. A small skin area of the proximal upper leg was irradiated with a UVB source using three times the individually estimated minimal erythema dose. Twenty hours after irradiation skin temperature, heat pain threshold and tolerance in sunburn spot were measured using a thermal sensory testing. These measurements were repeated 2 h after medication of either 800 mg ibuprofen as single oral dose or placebo capsules. Effects of ibuprofen on outcome parameters were assessed with analyses of covariance (ancova).Results  Placebo did not affect heat pain threshold or tolerance. By contrast, ibuprofen increased heat pain threshold by 1.092 °C [confidence interval (CI) 0.498, 1.695; P = 0.0008) compared with placebo. Heat pain tolerance also increased significantly by 1.618 °C (CI 1.062, 2.175; P = 0.0001).Conclusion  The pain model we evaluated was well tolerated in all subjects and the effects of ibuprofen were highly significant. This model is simple, sensitive to NSAIDs’ effects and therefore has potential for future experimental pain studies.
Maintenance of pregnancy in ovariectomized Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)
Authors: KAI Osamu , MATSUMOTO Naeko , TAKINOSAWA Miho , SONODA Yutaka 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTBilateral ovariectomy (Ovx) was carried out on day 20 of pregnancy in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). The body weights of all groups tended to decrease on the day after the operation, and the decrease was significant in the group that was ovariectomized and given vehicle (Ovx + vehicle group). The body weight in this group never recovered until autopsy on day 24, which is normally 1 day before parturition. No fetuses survived to the time of autopsy in any of the animals of the Ovx + vehicle group. Daily administration of 4 mg of progesterone (P4) prevented the termination of pregnancy in Ovx animals, but 1 mg did not. Treatment with estradiol 17β (E2) in addition to 4 mg of P4 tended to result in a lower rate of fetal survival than that of the Ovx group treated with 4 mg of P4 alone. With regard to fetal weight, treatment with 4 mg of P4 resulted in the same weight as in the sham‐operated controls, but the addition of 0.2 or 1 μg of E2 to the 4 mg of P4 resulted in a significantly lower weight than that of fetuses in the 4 mg of P4 group. The present study suggests that adequate maintenance of pregnancy in ovariectomized gerbils can be achieved by daily treatment with 4 mg of P4 alone. Moreover, treatment with 0.2 or 1 μg of E2 in addition to 4 mg of P4 caused a deterioration in the maintenance of gestation, in contrast to the effects in rats, mice and hamsters.
Sequential expression of myogenic regulatory factors in bovine skeletal muscle and the satellite cell culture
Authors: MUROYA Susumu , NAKAJIMA Ikuyo , CHIKUNI Koichi 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTMyogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) are important in the control of skeletal muscle development. To understand myogenic regulation by MRFs in bovine adult muscle cells, their expressions, namely that of Myf5, MyoD, myogenin, and MRF4 in the biceps femoris muscle (BF) and in the satellite cell culture, were analyzed by RT‐PCR. In the BF, all four MRFs were expressed and in particular, myogenin and MRF4 were strongly expressed, whereas Myf5 was faintly expressed. The satellite cells prepared from the BF expressed Myf5, but only a trace of MyoD, at day 9 of culture. During the growth of the cells to day 14, the MyoD and myogenin expressions gradually increased, and that of MyoD expression reached its maximum at the confluence of the culture. After induction of myogenic differentiation by a serum‐free medium at day 14, Myf5 expression gradually decreased, and the up‐regulated expression of MyoD was suppressed, whereas myogenin expression continued to increase sharply. Following the myogenin expression, MRF4 also drastically increased toward the myotube formation of the cells. When huge myotubes were formed at day 18, Myf5 was expressed at a low level, whereas the MyoD expression remained at a moderate level.