bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantitative comparison of 2D and 3D circumferential strain using MRI tagging in normal and LBBB hearts
Authors: Tecelão Sandra R.R. , Zwanenburg Jaco J.M. , Kuijer Joost P.A. , de Cock Carel C. , Germans Tjeerd , van Rossum Albert C. , Marcus J. Tim
Published: February 2007

The response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), which is applied to patients with heart failure (HF) and left bundle‐branch block (LBBB), can be predicted from the mechanical dyssynchrony measured on circumferential strain. Circumferential strain can be assessed by either 2D or 3D strain analysis. In this study was evaluated the difference between 2D and 3D circumferential strain using MR tagging with high temporal resolution (14 ms). Six healthy volunteers and five patients with LBBB were evaluated. We compared the 2D and 3D circumferential strains by computing the mechanical dyssynchrony and the cross correlation (r) between 2D and 3D strain curves, and by quantifying the differences in peak circumferential shortening, time to onset, and time to peak of shortening. The obtained maximum r2 values were 0.97 ± 0.03 and 0.87 ± 0.16 for the healthy and LBBB populations, respectively, and thus showed a good similarity between 2D and 3D strain curves. No significant difference was observed between 2D and 3D in time to onset, time to peak, or peak circumferential shortening. Thus, to measure dyssynchrony, 2D strain analysis will suffice. Since 2D analysis is easier to implement than 3D analysis, this finding brings the application of MRI tagging and strain analysis closer to the clinical routine. Magn Reson Med 57:485–493, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Whole‐heart cine MRI using real‐time respiratory self‐gating
Authors: Uribe Sergio , Muthurangu Vivek , Boubertakh Redha , Schaeffter Tobias , Razavi Reza , Hill Derek L.G. , Hansen Michael S.
Published: February 2007

Two‐dimensional (2D) breath‐hold cine MRI is used to assess cardiac anatomy and function. However, this technique requires cooperation from the patient, and in some cases the scan planning is complicated. Isotropic nonangulated three‐dimensional (3D) cardiac MR can overcome some of these problems because it requires minimal planning and can be reformatted in any plane. However, current methods, even those that use undersampling techniques, involve breath‐holding for periods that are too long for many patients. Free‐breathing respiratory gating sequences represent a possible solution for realizing 3D cine imaging. A real‐time respiratory self‐gating technique for whole‐heart cine MRI is presented. The technique enables assessment of cardiac anatomy and function with minimum planning or patient cooperation. Nonangulated isotropic 3D data were acquired from five healthy volunteers and then reformatted into 2D clinical views. The respiratory self‐gating technique is shown to improve image quality in free‐breathing scanning. In addition, ventricular volumetric data obtained using the 3D approach were comparable to those acquired with the conventional multislice 2D approach. Magn Reson Med 57:606–613, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Improved reproducibility of right ventricular volumes and function estimation from cardiac magnetic resonance images using level‐set models
Authors: Catalano Oronzo , Corsi Cristiana , Antonaci Serena , Moro Guido , Mussida Maria , Frascaroli Mauro , Baldi Maurizia , Caiani Enrico , Lamberti Claudio , Cobelli Franco
Published: February 2007

This study aims to assess whether an alternative method, that is based on volumetric surface detection (VoSD) without tracing and is totally free of geometric assumptions, can improve the reproducibility of right ventricular (RV) volume quantification from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images, in comparison with a conventional disk‐area technique. In a sample of 23 patients, with wide variability of RV end‐diastolic volume (EDV: 47–131 ml), end‐systolic volume (ESV: 20–76 ml), and ejection fraction (EF: 29–73%), using the standard method (Argus, Siemens) as the reference, the VoSD method showed good agreement for EDV, ESV, and EF estimations (correlation coefficient: 0.91, 0.94, and 0.94; Bland‐Altman biases: 1 ml, 1 ml, and 0%; limits of agreement: ±16 ml, ±11 ml, and ±11%, respectively). An analysis of the reproducibility of the two methods showed lower intraobserver variability for the VoSD method than for the conventional method, as evidenced by the coefficient of variability (CoV) values (2–6% vs. 8–15%; P < 0.05). In addition, the VoSD method showed improved interobserver reproducibility (7–10% vs. 8–15%), but the difference was statistically significant only for EF estimation variability (8 vs. 15%, P < 0.05). In conclusion, the newly developed VoSD technique allows accurate measurements of RV volumes and function, and appears to be more reproducible than the conventional methodology. Magn Reson Med 57:600–605, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multispectral quantification of tissue types in a RIF‐1 tumor model with histological validation. Part I
Authors: Henning Erica C. , Azuma Chieko , Sotak Christopher H. , Helmer Karl G.
Published: February 2007

Accurate assessments of therapeutic efficacy are confounded by intra‐ and intertumor heterogeneity. To address this issue we employed multispectral (MS) analysis using the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), T2, proton density (M0), and k‐means (KM) clustering algorithm to identify multiple compartments within both viable and necrotic tissue in a radiation‐induced fibrosarcoma (RIF‐1) tumor model receiving single‐dose (1000 cGy) radiotherapy. Optimization of the KM method was achieved through histological validation by hematoxylin‐eosin (H&E) staining and hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) immunohistochemistry. The optimum KM method was determined to be a two‐feature (ADC, T2) and four‐cluster (two clusters each of viable tissue and necrosis) segmentation. KM volume estimates for both viable (r = 0.94, P < 0.01) and necrotic (r = 0.69, P = 0.07) tissue were highly correlated with their H&E counterparts. HIF‐1α immunohistochemistry showed that the intensity of HIF‐1α expression tended to be concentrated in perinecrotic regions, supporting the subdivision of the viable tissue into well‐oxygenated and hypoxic regions. Since both necrosis and hypoxia have been implicated in poor treatment response and reduced patient survival, the ability to quantify the degree of necrosis and the severity of hypoxia with this method may aid in the planning and modification of treatment regimens. Magn Reson Med 57:501–512, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Spinal cord atrophy in injured rodents: High‐resolution MRI
Authors: Deng Xiang , Ramu Jaivijay , Narayana Ponnada A.
Published: February 2007

Longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in normal and spinal cord (SC)‐injured rodents. A fast technique based on polar B‐spline snake was developed to extract the SC contour from the MR images in order to estimate the cord atrophy. Based on pooled data from all of the imaging studies, the extracted contours correlated well with manually defined contours. Results from the injured group showed cord atrophy shortly after the contusion injury. The maximum amount of atrophy (9.7% ± 3.5% decrease in the cross‐sectional area (CSA)) occurred mainly at the epicenter around 14 days postinjury. The caudal and rostral segments in the injured group did not exhibit significant atrophy compared to the normal controls. The MRI‐based atrophy measurements obtained in injured cords are consistent with previous histological findings. Magn Reson Med 57:620–624, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reduced field‐of‐view MRI using outer volume suppression for spinal cord diffusion imaging
Authors: Wilm B.J. , Svensson J. , Henning A. , Pruessmann K.P. , Boesiger P. , Kollias S.S.
Published: February 2007

A spin‐echo single‐shot echo‐planar imaging (SS‐EPI) technique with a reduced field of view (FOV) in the phase‐encoding direction is presented that simultaneously reduces susceptibility effects and motion artifacts in diffusion‐weighted (DW) imaging (DWI) of the spinal cord at a high field strength (3T). To minimize aliasing, an outer volume suppression (OVS) sequence was implemented. Effective fat suppression was achieved with the use of a slice‐selection gradient‐reversal technique. The OVS was optimized by numerical simulations with respect to T1 relaxation times and B1 variations. The optimized sequence was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. In simulations the optimized OVS showed suppression to <0.25% and ∼3% in an optimal and worst‐case scenario, respectively. In vitro measurements showed a mean residual signal of <0.95% ± 0.42 for all suppressed areas. In vivo acquisition with 0.9 × 1.05 mm2 in‐plane resolution resulted in artifact‐free images. The short imaging time of this technique makes it promising for clinical studies. Magn Reson Med 57:625–630, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gadolinium‐enhanced off‐resonance contrast angiography
Authors: Edelman Robert R. , Storey Pippa , Dunkle Eugene , Li Wei , Carrillo Andres , Vu Anthony , Carroll Timothy J.
Published: February 2007

We describe a novel physical basis and methodology for gadolinium (Gd)‐enhanced MRA, which we call “off‐resonance contrast angiography” (ORCA). Unlike standard contrast‐enhanced (CE) MR angiography (MRA), ORCA contrast depends not on T1 but on Gd‐induced shifts in intravascular resonance frequency due to the bulk magnetic susceptibility (BMS) effects of Gd. The method was tested at 3 Tesla in phantoms with a range of dilutions of Gd‐DTPA and ultrasmall iron oxide contrast agent (CA). With the use of ORCA, complete background suppression was obtained without image subtraction. As a result, catheters filled with various Gd dilutions proved to be highly conspicuous in ORCA projection images. This feature may make ORCA particularly attractive for passive catheter tracking during MR‐guided endovascular procedures. Gd‐induced intravascular frequency shifts were measured in human subjects and found to be in the expected range. ORCA was used to create angiograms of forearm veins that were comparable in quality to standard CE‐MRA. In addition, ORCA images of the extracranial carotid bifurcation were successfully acquired during intravenous contrast administration. However, significant technical restrictions also exist, including a dependence on vessel orientation with respect to B0, and sensitivity to static field inhomogeneities. Further study is needed to determine the practicality and potential clinical utility of this method. Magn Reson Med 57:475–484, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression pattern of myostatin in gastrocnemius muscle of rats after sciatic nerve crush injury
Authors: Liu Mei , Zhang Donglei , Shao Chenxin , Liu Jie , Ding Fei , Gu Xiaosong
Published: February 2007

Myostatin is a strong inhibitor of skeletal muscle growth. The purpose of this study was to investigate myostatin expression profiles during denervation‐induced muscle atrophy in order to understand the relationship between myostatin expression and muscle atrophy. We constructed a sciatic nerve crush model, undertook morphometric analyses of rat gastrocnemius muscle to evaluate the degree of muscle atrophy, and utilized a real‐time quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and Western blot analysis to measure myostatin mRNA and protein expression levels, respectively, in the gastrocnemius at different time‐points after nerve injury. Muscle atrophy changed in a parabola‐like manner from day 1 to day 28 after nerve injury, with a maximum value at day 14. During this time, myostatin expression changed in the reverse manner, with myostatin mRNA or protein expression gradually increasing from days 1–14, and then gradually declining to day 28, when the normal level was reached. Statistical analyses further provided evidence for a significant negative linear correlation between myostatin expression and muscle atrophy within a 28‐day period after nerve injury. Our study thus describes the expression pattern of myostatin in response to a specific type of muscle atrophy and raises the possibility of developing myostatin as a therapeutic target for future clinical applications. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Normative values and the effects of age, gender, and handedness on the Moberg Pick‐Up Test
Authors: Amirjani Nasim , Ashworth Nigel L. , Gordon Tessa , Edwards David C. , Chan K. Ming
Published: February 2007

The Moberg Pick‐Up Test is a standardized test for assessing hand dexterity. Although reduction of sensation in the hand occurs with aging, the effect of age on a subject's performance of the Moberg Pick‐Up Test has not been examined. The primary goal of this study was to examine the impact of aging and, secondarily, the impact of gender and handedness, on performance of the Moberg Pick‐Up Test in 116 healthy subjects. The average time to complete each of the four subsets of the test was analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney U, and Wilcoxon signed‐rank tests. The results show that hand dexterity of the subjects was significantly affected by age, with young subjects being the fastest and elderly subjects the slowest. Women accomplished the test faster than men, and task performance with the dominant hand was faster than with the non‐dominant hand. Use of normative values established based on age and gender is a valuable objective tool to gauge hand function in patients with different neurologic disorders. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Myasthenia gravis presenting with unusual neurogenic muscle atrophy
Authors: Samuraki Miharu , Furui Eisuke , Komai Kiyonobu , Takamori Masaharu , Yamada Masahito
Published: February 2007

We report a patient with myasthenia gravis who had neurogenic muscle atrophy in association with external ophthalmoplegia and weakness of the upper limbs. Neurogenic changes in the limb muscles were found on needle electromyography and histological studies. Symptoms improved and atrophy of the limbs diminished after intravenous immunoglobulin and oral corticosteroid therapy. We concluded that functional interruption of the neuromuscular junction caused the neurogenic muscle atrophy and that this was relieved by appropriate therapy. Muscle Nerve, 2007
An efficient architecture for Bandwidth Brokers in DiffServ networks
Authors: Bouras Ch. , Stamos K.
Published: February 2007

In this article we examine the architecture of an entity used for automatic management and provisioning of resources for DiffServ networks. We examine the existing literature and implementations in this area, focusing on the design choices made, and we propose an architecture for the design of Bandwidth Brokers that combines an adaptive admission control algorithm for increased utilization of network resources and a mechanism for reducing the complexity overhead that intends to be both simple and effective. Specifically, we present a novel architecture for the admission control module that aims at achieving a satisfactory balance between maximizing the resource utilization for the network provider and minimizing the overhead of the module. We complement our theoretical discussion with extensive experimental simulations for the proposed Bandwidth Broker components and analysis of the results. The simulations study the possible configurations of the proposed algorithm and also compare it with alternative admission control policies. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On fusion of PCA and a physical model‐based predictive control strategy for efficient load‐cycling operation of a thermal power plant
Authors: Prasad Girijesh
Published: February 2007

Controlling a thermal power plant optimally during load‐cycling operation is a very challenging control problem. The control complexity is enhanced further by the possibility of simultaneous occurrence of sensor malfunctions and a plethora of system disturbances. This paper proposes and evaluates the effectiveness of a sensor validation and reconstruction approach using principal component analysis (PCA) in conjunction with a physical plant model. For optimal control under severe operating conditions in the presence of possible sensor malfunctions, a predictive control strategy is devised by appropriate fusion of the PCA‐based sensor validation and reconstruction approach and a constrained model predictive control (MPC) technique. As a case study, the control strategy is applied for thermal power plant control in the presence of a single sensor malfunction. In particular, it is applied to investigate the effectiveness and relative advantage of applying rate constraints on main steam temperature and heat‐exchanger tube‐wall temperature, so that faster load cycling operation is achieved without causing excessive thermal stresses in heat‐exchanger tubes. In order to account for unstable and non‐minimum phase boiler–turbine dynamics, the MPC technique applied is an infinite horizon non‐linear physical model‐based state‐space MPC strategy, which guarantees asymptotic stability and feasibility in the presence of output and state constraints. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Radiation‐induced graft modification of knitted poly(ethylene terephthalate) fabric for collagen immobilization
Authors: Gupta Bhuvanesh , Revagade Nilesh , Atthoff Björn , Hilborn Jöns
Published: February 2007

Radiation‐induced graft co‐polymerization of methacrylic acid and N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone mixture from poly(ethylene terephthalate) knitted fabrics were conducted using a preirradiation method. The influence of the graft conditions, such as irradiation dose, reaction time, monomer concentration and temperature on the degree of grafting was determined. It was found that there is a limiting irradiation dose of 40 kGy above which the degree of grafting does not increase. An increase in the monomer concentration from 20 to 40% and an increase in temperature from 60 to 80°C gave a higher initial rate of grafting as well as higher equilibrium graft levels. The characterization of the fabric was carried out by attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐IR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The grafted fabric surface, carrying negatively charged carboxylate ions, was shown to attract collagen, being positively charged to provide bioreceptive surfaces. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of comonomer on thermal/mechanical and shape memory property of L‐lactide‐based shape‐memory copolymers
Authors: Min Changchun , Cui Wenjin , Bei Jianzhong , Wang Shenguo
Published: February 2007

In this study, three kinds of L‐lactide‐based copolymers, poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA), poly(lactide‐co‐p‐dioxanone) (PLDON) and poly(lactide‐co‐caprolactone) (PLC), were synthesized by the copolymerization of L‐lactide (L) with glycolide (G), or p‐dioxanone (DON) or ε‐caprolactone (CL), respectively. The copolymers were easily soluble in common organic solvents. The compositions of the copolymers were determined by 1H‐NMR. Thermal/mechanical and shape‐memory properties of the copolymers with different comonomers were compared. Moreover, the effect of the chain flexibility of the comonomers on thermal/mechanical and shape‐memory properties of the copolymers were investigated. The copolymers with appropriate lactyl content showed good shape‐memory properties where both the shape fixity rate (Rf)and the shape recovery rate (Rr) could exceed 95%. It was found that the comonomers with different flexible molecular chain have different effects on their thermal/mechanical and shape‐memory properties. Among them, PLGA has the highest mechanical strength and recovery rate while PLC copolymer has high recovery rate when the lactyl content exceeded 85% and the lowest transition temperature (Ttrans). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Carboxymethyl poly(L‐histidine) as a new pH‐sensitive polypeptide at endosomal/lysosomal pH
Authors: Asayama Shoichiro , Kato Hiroyuki , Kawakami Hiroyoshi , Nagaoka Shoji
Published: February 2007

A carboxymethyl poly(L‐histidine) has been synthesized as a new pH‐sensitive polypeptide at endosomal/lysosomal pH. Because of its poor water solubility at physiological pH, an application of poly(L‐histidine) with a pKa around 6.0 has been limited in spite of the native possession of the pH‐dependent property change at endosomal pH. Although the unmodified poly(L‐histidine) suddenly precipitates out of the aqueous medium above pH 6.0 as the result of the deprotonation of the imidazole groups, the water solubility of the resulting carboxymethyl poly(L‐histidine) has been improved at physiological pH. A solution turbidity measurement proved that no significant effect on a rapid aggregate formation or phase separation of serum proteins is induced by carboxymethyl poly(L‐histidine). Hemolysis assay showed that the carboxymethyl poly(L‐histidine) enhances membrane disruptive ability at endosomal/lysosomal pH. The cellular uptake of luciferase in the presence of the carboxymethyl poly(L‐histidine) increases intracellular luciferase activity, which suggests that the carboxymethyl poly(L‐histidine) makes the luciferase escape from lysosomal degradation. The carboxymethyl poly(L‐histidine) would be the fundamental compound for designing various drug carriers with the pH sensitivity at endosomal/lysosomal pH. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effects of the potential and polarization time on the performance of ionic polymer metal composite actuators: a control of forward and reverse displacements
Authors: Shoji Eiichi , Hirayama Daisuke
Published: February 2007

This paper focuses on the dependence of various waveforms of the potential on the displacement of Nafion‐platinum based IPMC actuators at 40 and 90% relative humidity (RH). In comparison with simpler square waveforms, a waveform that is being composed by inclusion of a rest potential of 0 V has given a longer displacement. This benefit was effective at lower humidity conditions. By a polarization, the actuators show three major displacement processes of maximum forward displacement, steady forward displacement, and maximum reverse displacement. Here, the dependence of the potential and polarization time on these displacements has been carefully examined. An increase in the forward displacement by the potential does not strongly affect a slower reverse relaxation. To give a suitable relaxation period before a polarity switching of the potential seems effective to release the internal stress of the actuator. An elevated drive potential has decreased in the bending speed apparently. Finally, it has been noted that the ‘recovery’ of the maximum displacement is possible if a suitable waveform is applied to the actuator. This recovery effect is more remarkable at higher dive potential. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Control of orientation for carbazole group in comb copolymers arranged by method of organized molecular films
Authors: Hoshizawa Hiroko , Masuya Ryosuke , Masuko Toru , Fujimori Atsuhiro
Published: February 2007

We investigated the molecular orientation of organized molecular films with regard to solid‐state structures for newly synthesized comb copolymers with N‐vinylcarbazole (NVCz) by in‐plane and out‐of plane X‐ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In the bulk state, hydrogenated and fluorinated comb copolymers form side‐chain crystals for a two‐dimensional lattice spacing of 4.2 and 5.0 Å, respectively. The findings suggest that the carbazole rings in the main‐chain are arranged in opposition to each other. From the results of the DSC measurement, sharp‐shaped melting peaks appear on the relatively lower temperature side of the thermograms. This result supports the formation of side‐chain crystals in the synthesized comb copolymers. These monolayers of the copolymers on the water surface were extremely condensed, except for the fluorocarbon:NVCz = 1:1 copolymer. From the in‐plane XRD measurement of multilayers on solids, the changes in the two‐dimensional lattice structure of fluorinated comb copolymer films containing NVCz units, as opposed to their bulk state, were confirmed. It seems that these structural changes are caused by the stronger π–π interaction between the carbazole rings rather than the van der Waals interaction between fluorocarbons. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Viscoelastic and damping characteristics of poly(n‐butyl acrylate)‐poly(n‐butyl methacrylate) semi‐IPN latex films
Authors: Suresh K. I. , Vishwanatham S. , Bartsch E.
Published: February 2007

This article reports the synthesis, characterization, and damping characteristics of semi‐interpenetrating (semi‐IPN) latex systems composed of poly n‐butyl acrylate (PBA) core and poly n‐butyl methacrylate (PBMA) shell. The IPN's were prepared by seeded emulsion polymerization using crosslinked PBA seeds with varying crosslinker (m‐diisopropenyl benzene) concentration. The polymer weight ratio in the first and second stage polymerization is maintained at 1:1 in all the cases. The particle size determined by dynamic light scattering shows a decrease in the shell thickness with increasing crosslinker concentration of the seed. The mechanical properties, like Shore A hardness of the films, increased from 18 to 65 when the crosslinker concentration is increased from 0 to 4.8 mol%. The dynamic mechanical studies show that the modulus value of the IPN's is below that of non‐crosslinked films, and the value depends upon the crosslink density of the seed. Mechanical models, such as the Kerner's model and the Takayanagi's model, were used to explain the variation in the dynamic mechanical properties with the degree of seed crosslinking. The study indicates lower bound (rubbery) behavior for the films with lightly crosslinked cores. The study also shows that, at lower crosslinker concentration enhanced phase separation and better damping properties are achieved but at higher cross linker concentration (>2 mol%) greater interpenetration of the shell monomer to the cores takes place and tough films, with reduced damping properties are formed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Alumina supported synthesis of Cassia marginata gum‐g‐poly(acrylonitrile) under microwave irradiation
Authors: Singh V. , Kumari P. L. , Tiwari A. , Sharma A. K.
Published: February 2007

In view of the known advantages of the microwave promoted reactions done in dry medium, the seed gum sourced from Cassia marginata has been graft copolymerized with acrylonitrile in dry medium at neutral alumina support under microwave irradiation. Grafting conditions were optimized and the representative graft copolymer was characterized by Fourier transform‐infrared, Thermo gravimetric analysis, Scanning electron microscopy, and X‐Ray Diffraction (XRD) measurement, taking Cassia marginata gum (CM) as reference. Much higher % grafting and % efficiency could be obtained in the microwave promoted alumina supported grafting as compared to grafting done in aqueous medium (microwave promoted and conventional). Properties of the microwave synthesized Cassia marginata gum‐graft‐poly(acrylonitrile) (CM‐g‐PAN) were studied and compared with the parent seed gum. © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flightless I deficiency enhances wound repair by increasing cell migration and proliferation
Authors: Cowin AJ , Adams DH , Strudwick XL , Chan H , Hooper JA , Sander GR , Rayner TE , Matthaei KI , Powell BC , Campbell HD
Published: February 2007

Wound healing disorders are a therapeutic problem of increasing clinical importance involving substantial morbidity, mortality, and rising health costs. Our studies investigating flightless I (FliI), a highly conserved actin‐remodelling protein, now reveal that FliI is an important regulator of wound repair whose manipulation may lead to enhanced wound outcomes. We demonstrate that FliI‐deficient + /− mice are characterized by improved wound healing with increased epithelial migration and enhanced wound contraction. In contrast, FliI‐overexpressing mice have significantly impaired wound healing with larger less contracted wounds and reduced cellular proliferation. We show that FliI is secreted in response to wounding and that topical application of antibodies raised against the leucine‐rich repeat domain of the FliI protein (FliL) significantly improves wound repair. These studies reveal that FliI affects wound repair via mechanisms involving cell migration and proliferation and that FliI might represent an effective novel therapeutic factor to improve conditions in which wound healing is impaired. Copyright © 2007 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Use of benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine receptor agonists during pregnancy: maternal characteristics
Authors: Wikner Birgitta Norstedt , Stiller Carl‐Olav , Källén Bengt , Asker Charlotte
Published: February 2007

Background

Use of benzodiazepine (BZD) drugs or hypnotic benzodiazepine receptor agonists (HBRAs) during pregnancy may represent a hazard for the foetus. In order to analyse this in an adequate way, knowledge of maternal characteristics as putative confounders is needed.

Methods

In the Swedish Medical Birth Register, 2149 pregnant women using BZDs or HBRAs were identified, 1944 of them in early pregnancy. These women were compared with other women (n = 859 455) giving births during the same period (1 July 1995–31 December 2004). The following maternal characteristics were studied: age, parity, smoking habits, education, previous miscarriages, years of involuntary childlessness as an estimate of subfertility, concomitant drug use and some pregnancy complications.

Results

Use and/or reporting of BZDs or HBRAs increased with maternal age. It was higher at first and 4+ parity and increased markedly with maternal smoking. Women with low education reported a higher use than women with high education. Previous miscarriage or subfertility had little impact on the use of these drugs. Preterm birth and caesarean section (also at term birth) were more common than expected. In women using BZDs or HBRAs, other types of psychoactive drugs were used in excess.

Conclusions

Women using BZDs or HBRAs differ in many aspects from women not using those drugs. These differences may act as confounders in the analysis of pregnancy outcome. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Geschwindigkeitsrekord auf der Datenautobahn: Hochratige optische Datenübertragung in Glasfasernetzen
Authors: Schmidt‐Langhorst Carsten , Schubert Colja , Ludwig Reinhold , Weber Hans‐Georg
Published: February 2007

Die optische Datenübertragung in Glasfasernetzen bildet das Rückgrat der weltweiten Kommunikation. Auch wenn zur Kommunikation zunehmend breitbandige mobile Endgeräte eingesetzt werden, benötigt das weltweite Kommunikationsnetz leistungsfähige faseroptische Kernnetze. Die Übertragungssysteme haben zurzeit je nach Übertragungslänge eine maximale Kapazität von etwa 1 bis 5 Terabit/s und verwenden eine Datenrate von maximal 40 Gigabit/s in einem einzelnen Wellenlängenkanal. Im Labor konnten in einem Kanal schon 2,56 Terabit/s übertragen werden. Das ist der aktuelle Geschwindigkeitsweltrekord.
Streitbare Entdeckungen im Reich der Planeten
Authors: Heering Peter
Published: February 2007

Die Entdeckung eines neuen Planeten galt 200 Jahre lang als Sensation, die in Windeseile um die Welt ging. Einige der Neuankömmlinge wurden indes bald wieder ins Reich der Planetoiden oder Asteroiden verwiesen. Nun ereilte 76 Jahre nach seiner Entdeckung auch den Planeten Pluto dieses Schicksal.
Magnetische Kühlung für Gase
Authors: Koch Tobias , Pfau Tilman
Published: February 2007

Mit einer bereits 1950 vom französischen Nobelpreisträger Alfred Kastler vorgeschlagenen Methode ist es einer Forschergruppe am 5. Physikalischen Institut der Universität Stuttgart gelungen, eine Wolke ultrakalter Chromatome nahezu verlustfrei zu kühlen.
Enhanced Crystallinity of PTFE by Ion Irradiation in a Dense Plasma Focus
Authors: Sadiq Mehboob , Ahmad Sarfraz , Shafiq Muhammad , Zakaullah Muhammad
Published: February 2007

Nitrogen‐ion beam pulses emitted from a low‐energy (1.45 kJ) Mather‐type plasma focus device are used for the surface modification of PTFE polymer specimens. The specimens, placed at a fixed position, are implanted using different number of pulses. Raman spectroscopy and XRD are employed to probe the structural changes incurred during the ion implantation. Both techniques indicate that the crystalline order in the specimens increases with increasing the irradiation dose. The crystallinity degree of the irradiated specimens, as measured from the XRD data, is found to enhance monotonically from 40% to about 55%. Possible crystallinity enhancement mechanism of irradiated PTFE specimens via chain scission is discussed.

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Study of the Si Chemical Bonding and the Semiconductive Behavior of SiCN Coatings and their Correlation with Anti‐Corrosion Properties
Authors: Loir Anne‐Sophie , Pech David , Steyer Philippe , Gachon Yves , Héau Christophe , Sánchez‐López Juan Carlos
Published: February 2007

Amorphous hydrogenated SiCN coatings have been deposited by a PACVD process on M2 steel and silicon substrates. The nitrogen content within the coatings was varied by changing the synthesis conditions. The chemical composition and nature of bonding have been studied by XPS and by X‐ray‐induced AES. The electrochemical and the semi‐conductive properties were evaluated by polarization curves and by using the Mott‐Schottky experiments, respectively. When increasing the N/Si ratio, we observed an increase of Si atoms inside the film structure, which were directly bonded to nitrogen. This gradual incorporation of N modified the electrochemical behavior of the films displaying a variation of the density of charge carriers and the semiconductive behavior (p‐ to n‐type). The modified Auger parameter of silicon was used to determine the nature of the silicon chemical bonding inside the [SiCN]‐based coatings and to predict their corrosion behavior.

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Plasma Polymerization Behavior of Fluorocarbon Monomers in Low‐Pressure AF and RF Discharges
Authors: Gilliam Mary A. , Yu Qingsong , Yasuda Hirotsugu
Published: February 2007

The plasma polymerization behavior of fluorocarbon monomers was investigated using C3F6, C3F6O, C4F10 and C2F4H2, which were compared to hydrocarbons such as methane and butane. The plots of the normalized thickness growth rates of plasma polymers, GR/FM, versus the energy input composite parameters, W/FM, revealed the energy‐deficient and monomer‐deficient domains for each monomer, along with the critical energy input, (W/FM)c, representing the transition between the two domains. The luminous gas phase in fluorocarbon discharges does not contain much polymer‐forming species and thus, the monomer‐deficient domain shifted to a much lower W/FM and GR/FM values than in the case of hydrocarbon systems. For hydrocarbon systems, deposition rates were greater in RF than in AF discharges, which is opposite to the situation observed for the fluorocarbon systems. These differences were attributed to the locations of the dissociation glows and to the nature of the luminous gas phase in respect to polymer‐forming species.

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Synthesis of Metal Oxide Thin Films by Reactive Magnetron Sputtering in Ar/O2 Mixtures: An Experimental Study of the Chemical Mechanisms
Authors: Snyders Rony , Dauchot Jean‐Pierre , Hecq Michel
Published: February 2007

One of the major limitations of reactive magnetron sputtering (RMS) is the low deposition rate when the target is poisoned. With the goal of reducing this phenomenon, we studied the chemical mechanisms involved during conventional and ionized reactive magnetron sputtering (iRMS) of metals (Sn, Ti, Ag) in Ar/O2 mixtures. Target surface, plasma and film compositions were characterized by target voltage, MS and XPS measurements, respectively. Comparing films and plasma compositions, we demonstrated that oxide film formation proceeds by condensation of sputtered material and reaction between the growing film and the reactive species, especially O. Using iRMS, we promoted the latter process: for example, we prepared fully oxidized Sn films using low O2 flows which limits target poisoning and, in turn, increases the deposition rate (6 times).

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Cover Picture: Plasma Process. Polym. 2/2007
Authors: Heyse Pieter , Dams Roel , Paulussen Sabine , Houthoofd Kristof , Janssen Kris , Jacobs Pierre A. , Sels Bert F.
Published: February 2007

Cover: The aquamarine discharge exemplifies polymerization of acetylene in a DBD reactor. In total, over 20 precursors were classified for their “ease” of film deposition and growth at low energy input. Next to acetylene, pyrrole is the precursor of choice. In‐depth analysis of the polymer films offers insights in their physicochemical properties. The research was a combined effort of VITO and KULeuven. Further details can be found in the article by P. Heyse, R. Dams, S. Paulussen,* K. Houthoofd, K. Janssen, P. A. Jacobs, and B. F. Sels on page 145.
Effects of host plants on insecticide susceptibility and carboxylesterase activity in Bemisia tabaci biotype B and greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum
Authors: Liang Pei , Cui Jian‐Zhou , Yang Xiu‐Qing , Gao Xi‐Wu
Published: February 2007

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B and the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood), have become serious pests of cotton and vegetable crops in China since the early 1990s. In recent years, however, B. tabaci have broken out more frequently and widely than have T. vaporariorum. The B. tabaci biotype B has also developed higher resistance to several insecticides. Here, the effects of four different host plants on the insecticide susceptibility of B. tabaci biotype B and T. vaporariorum have been compared. The LC50 values of imidacloprid, abamectin, deltamethrin and omethoate in T. vaporariorum reared on cucumber were significantly higher than those in B. tabaci (the LC50 values in T. vaporariorum were respectively 3.13, 2.63, 2.78 and 6.67 times higher than those in B. tabaci). On the other hand, the B. tabaci population reared on cotton was more tolerant to all four insecticides tested than the T. vaporariorum population from the same host, especially to abamectin (up to 8.4‐fold). The effects of the four host plants on the activity of carboxylesterase (CarE) in B. tabaci biotype B and T. vaporariorum were also compared. The results showed that, although the CarE activity of B. tabaci and T. vaporariorum varied depending on the host plants, the B. tabaci population possessed significantly higher CarE activity than the T. vaporariorum population reared on the same host plant. This was especially so on cucumber and cotton, where the CarE activities of the B. tabaci population were over 1.6 times higher than those of T. varporariorum. The frequency profiles for this activity in B. tabaci and T. vaporariorum populations reared on same host plant were apparently different. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Influence of the lattice discreteness on magnetic ordering in nanostructures and nanoarrays
Authors: Vedmedenko E. Y.
Published: February 2007

The article attempts to analyze the effect of lattice discreteness on the magnetic ordering in nanostructures and nanoarrays. The discussion starts with a basic introduction of the theoretical methods for the description of the magnetic ordering. Next it is shown that the discrete nature of an atomic lattice may lead to the size‐driven reorientation of magnetization in nanoparticles, i.e., the magnetization direction can be changed by shrinking the lateral size, keeping the thickness fixed. It is demonstrated that in finite nanomagnets the shape anisotropy can be divided into the discrete and continuum contributions. Then the orientation of magnetic domain walls in low‐symmetry objects is discussed. It is shown theoretically that in nanomagnets of monolayer thickness the mechanism of the orientation of domain walls is different from that of bulk systems and is mainly determined by the discreteness of the atomic lattice and the exchange energy. In the last part the theoretical study of magnetostatically interacting nanoarrays is presented. Special attention is paid to the influence of the underlaying lattice symmetry and the higher order multipolar terms on the magnetic ordering. It is demonstrated that the multipole‐multipole interactions lead to an enhancement/decrease of the coercivity in arrays with in‐plane/out‐of‐plane magnetization, respectively. In each section of the manuscript the agreement between the theory and recent experimental results is analyzed. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Graphical approaches to the analysis of safety data from clinical trials
Authors: Amit Ohad , Heiberger Richard M. , Lane Peter W.
Published: February 2007

Patient safety has always been a primary focus in the development of new pharmaceutical products. The predominant method for statistical evaluation and interpretation of safety data collected in a clinical trial is the tabular display of descriptive statistics. There is a great opportunity to enhance evaluation of drug safety through the use of graphical displays, which can convey multiple pieces of information concisely and more effectively than can tables. Graphs can be used in an exploratory setting to help identify emerging safety signals, or in a confirmatory setting as a tool to elucidate known safety issues. We developed several graphical displays for routine safety data collected during a clinical trial, covering a broad range of graphical techniques, and illustrate here 10 specific graphical designs, many of which display the data along with statistics derived from them. Two are simple plots, comparing distributions in the form of boxplots or cumulative plots, and four more display data and summaries over time, comparing information from two groups in terms of distribution (with boxplots), cumulative incidence, hazard, or simply means with error bars. The other four are multi‐panel displays: one‐dimensional and two‐dimensional arrays of scatterplots, a trellis of individual profiles, and a paired dotplot displaying risk together with relative risk. The displays focus on key safety endpoints in clinical trials including the QT interval from electrocardiograms, laboratory measurements for detecting hepatotoxicity, and adverse events of special interest. We discuss in detail the statistical and graphical principles underlying the production and interpretation of the displays. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impulsive stabilization of delayed neural networks with and without uncertainty
Authors: Li Chuandong , Liao Xiaofeng
Published: February 2007

Many dynamic systems in physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, and information science have impulsive dynamical behaviours due to abrupt jumps at certain instants during the dynamical process, and these complex dynamic behaviours can be modelled by impulsive differential systems. This paper formulates and studies the impulsive stabilization of the Hopfield‐type delayed neural networks with and without uncertainty. Several criteria guaranteeing stabilization of such systems are established by employing Lyapunov‐like stability theorem, linear matrix inequality approach, and other inequality techniques. A simple approach to the design of an impulsive controller is then presented. Two numerical examples are given for illustration of the theoretical results. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Teaching the theory of evolution in social, intellectual, and pedagogical context
Authors: Anderson Ronald D.
Published: February 2007

Teaching the theory of evolution in classrooms takes place in a social, intellectual, and pedagogical context which must be considered with care if students are to receive a complete and authentic education. In addition to the science education literature on this topic, attention is directed to the expanding literature on science and religion, as well as the writing on religion and education. With attention to the contentious social context in which the theory of evolution is taught today, as well as the worldviews students bring to the classroom, a case is made for teaching the theory of evolution in a manner that takes account of the questions students bring with them and the broader philosophical considerations that impinge upon their thinking. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed 91:664–677, 2007
Metaphors: a creative expression of holistic nursing
Authors: Sharoff Leighsa
Published: February 2007

Holistic nursing is a personal expression of the practitioner's philosophy that includes participating in the caring process of self and others. Certified holistic nurses (HNCs) are individuals who encompass the knowledge and skills of holism and integrate them into a mutually participatory relationship. Metaphors are a personal expression of an experience or situation. The application of encouraging HNCs to express their practice as a metaphor is a natural progression in qualitative research. The aim of this paper is to present the concept of utilizing metaphors as a qualitative research methodology and to describe the holistic nurse's practice as a metaphor. Qualitative data from interviews with 10 experienced certified holistic nurses (HNCs) provided for the descriptive metaphorical expression of being a holistic nurse. The metaphorical language provided useful insights into the reflective process of being a holistic nurse. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Healing and the soul: finding the future in the past
Authors: Collins Mick
Published: February 2007

This paper discusses a rationale for the inclusion of the soul in modern healthcare practice. It is proposed that, in order to develop a holistic perspective, health professionals need to consider a balance between scientific and technological interventions and the healing experiences associated with the soul. Physicians in the UK and the USA are currently discussing the merits of addressing holism through the practice of integrated medicine. This paper identifies that the development of holism in mainstream healthcare is dependent on all the health professions working together to establish an integrated approach to healthcare. It is being proposed that the care of the soul is vital to the experience of healing and holism. The historical antecedents that form a basis for the art and science of healing are discussed with recommendations for modern healthcare practice. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On constitutive inequalities in nonlinear theory of elastic shells
Authors: Eremeyev V. , Zubov L.
Published: February 2007

Constitutive inequalities in general static and dynamic theory of elastic shells undergoing finite deformation are discussed. Constitutive inequalities are well known in continuum mechanics. They express physical or mathematical restrictions for constitutive equations of 3D elastic materials. In this paper we discuss the analogs of the strong ellipticity, Hadamard and Coleman‐Noll (GCN‐condition) inequalities for nonlinear elastic shells. It is shown that the GCN‐condition implies the strong elipticity for shell theory whereas the strong ellipticity is equivalent to the existence conditions of acceleration waves in shell.
On new phase inclusions in elastic solids
Authors: Freidin A.B.
Published: February 2007

Two‐phase deformation of an elastic body is studied by a small strain approach. Phase transformations of martensite type are implied. An arbitrary anisotropy of the phases and arbitrary transformation eigenstrains are taken into account. An additional thermodynamic condition on the equilibrium interface and a configurational force are presented in a form relating an effective strain or stress on one side of the interface and the normal to the interface. The characteristic features and the shape of the equilibrium ellipsoidal and cylindrical new phase inclusions are studied. Then the difference between the equilibrium and optimal ellipsoidal inclusions is discussed. A necessary stability conditions is proved. An expression of the configurational force acting on the interface of an ellipsoidal inclusion is derived in a form convenient for the analysis. An example of the analytical examination of the behavior of the inclusion not far from the equilibrium is given.