bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long‐term organ culture of keloid disease tissue
Authors: Bagabir Rania , Syed Farhatullah , Paus Ralf , Bayat Ardeshir
Published: February 2012

Abstract:  Keloid disease (KD) is a common fibroproliferative disorder of unknown aetiopathogenesis, with highly unsatisfactory treatment. Therefore, it is crucial to have a robust and clinically relevant model for studying KD pathobiology as well as preclinical testing of potential KD therapeutics. However, the unique occurrence of KD in human skin and the corresponding lack of animal models pose a major challenge in KD research. Therefore, we developed a simplified assay for the serum‐free, long‐term organ culture of KD tissue that facilitates quantitative analyses of major KD read‐out parameters. Four millimetre KD punches embedded in a collagen matrix and organ‐cultured at the epidermis air–liquid interphase (ALI) in supplemented William’s E medium showed optimal tissue, cell and RNA preservation for up to 6 weeks (as measured by H & E and Pyronin Y histochemistry as well as by MTT assay, lactate dehydrogenase release and quantitative Ki67/TUNEL immunohistomorphometry). The keloid phenotype persisted well during this period, as shown by collagen‐I and ‐III synthesis (Herovici’s histochemistry staining and ELISA), and analysis of the expression of significant KD markers (CD3, CD20, CD31, CD34, CD56, tryptase, Langerin, vimentin, neutrophil elastase, CTGF and Collagen). To functionally evaluate whether this assay can test the response to candidate therapeutics, dexamethasone, a glucocorticosteroid often used in KD therapy, was administered. Indeed, dexamethasone significantly reduced the keloid volume and cellularity plus induced epidermal shrinkage. Therefore, this novel assay provides a quantitative, clinically relevant model system for studying KD pathobiology and response to treatment.
Relationships between fire history, edaphic factors and woody vegetation structure and composition in a semi‐arid savanna landscape (Niger, West Africa)
Authors: Diouf Abdoulaye , Barbier Nicolas , Lykke Anne Mette , Couteron Pierre , Deblauwe Vincent , Mahamane Ali , Saadou Mahamane , Bogaert Jan
Published: February 2012

Question

What are the relationships between edaphic factors, fire regime and woody vegetation structure and composition in savannas at landscape to regional scales?

Location

The Transboundary ‘W’ Regional Park, Niger, West Africa.

Methods

We focused on a protected savanna ecosystem with rainfall of 700 mm yr−1, where rainfall is not expected to be a strong limiting factor for tree cover, and with historically low grazer and browser densities. A burned area history map was created over 7 yr using the high temporal resolution Aqua MODIS space‐borne sensor. In the field, the composition and structural parameters of the woody layer, as well as soil samples, were acquired in 137 plots of 0.09 ha each, based on a stratified random sampling approach to sampling the fire regime (seasonality and frequency). Using classical multivariate methods, we analysed the correlations between woody cover characteristics, fire regime and soil and geomorphological factors.

Results

In spite of management practices aimed at generalizing early fire every year, the fire regime created a diverse spatial structure, with some vegetation less prone to burning (fire‐free) and other types that burned very frequently. These diverse fire histories showed correlations with gradients of both structure and composition of the woody layer. Soil variables had a higher explanatory power for vegetation structure and composition than fire.

Conclusions

Among the plausible causal chains between fire regime, soil factors and woody vegetation structure and composition, our results showed better agreement with a model in which fire regime is more a consequence than a cause of the other factors. This contrasts with bottleneck/perturbation theories as well as management practices, but meets the common sense opinions of field practitioners. Although our regional approach should be complemented by controlled experiments at a local scale, it does appear that investments in annual efforts to organize early fire campaigns in many protected areas may need to be reassessed.
Exploiting the selectivity of protein phosphatase 1 for pharmacological intervention
Authors: Tsaytler Pavel , Bertolotti Anne
Published: February 2012

Selective and reversible phosphorylation is one of the most common post‐translational modifications of proteins. Although kinase inhibitors are popular in drug development programmes, selective pharmacological manipulation of phosphatase activity has been challenging to achieve. We review recent advances in the development of selective inhibitors of dephosphorylation events and discuss the potential applications of small‐molecule phosphatase inhibitors.
Impacts of leafroll‐associated viruses (GLRaV‐1 and ‐3) on the physiology of the Portuguese grapevine cultivar ‘Touriga Nacional’ growing under field conditions
Authors: Moutinho‐Pereira J. , Correia C.M. , Gonçalves B. , Bacelar E.A. , Coutinho J.F. , Ferreira H.F. , Lousada J.L. , Cortez M.I.
Published: February 2012

The impact of mixed infection of grapevine leafroll‐associated virus 1 and 3 (GLRaV‐1&‐3) on physiological performance of the Portuguese grapevine variety ‘Touriga Nacional’ was evaluated during 3 years with the main purpose of understanding the drastic reduction in yield. Overall, gas exchange was negatively affected in leaves with these leafroll virus infections. Particularly at ripeness stage, the reduction in stomatal conductance (gs) was higher than in net CO2 assimilation rate (A), leading to higher intrinsic water use efficiency (A/gs) in infected leaves. However, the decrease in gs and A were not a consequence of the decrease in bulk water potential, as the water index/normalised difference vegetation index ratio suggested similar magnitude for both treatments. The maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II was unaffected by GLRaV‐1&‐3, whereas quantum effective efficiency of PSII, apparent electron transport rate and photochemical quenching significantly decreased in infected leaves and these was paralleled by a significant increase of non‐photochemical quenching. Relative to carbon metabolism, the analyses of the net CO2 assimilation rate/photosynthetic photon flux density (A/PPFD) and net CO2 assimilation rate/internal CO2 concentration (A/Ci) curves revealed that virus infection had a negative effect on light saturated rate of CO2 fixation at high irradiances and carboxylation efficiency but, in contrast, apparent quantum yield of CO2 fixation was significantly higher. Meanwhile, the presence of GLRaV‐1&‐3 resulted in a marked decrease in photosynthetic pigments, soluble sugars and soluble proteins contents, while starch and anthocyanins were significantly improved. N, P, Ca, S and Fe leaf concentrations significantly decreased, while K, Mg, B, Cu, Zn and Mn were unaffected by these two leafroll virus species. Infected plants showed a significant decrease in yield, mainly due to a lower cluster weight. These results emphasised the important role of GLRaV‐1&‐3 as a biotic stress for the grapevine physiology and consequently to yield attributes.
Winner of the SLS Annual Conference Best Paper Prize 2011: Giving purpose to the corporate purpose debate: an Equitable Maximisation and Viability principle
Authors: Attenborough Daniel
Published: February 2012

Over the years, there has been an explosion in the mainstream scholarship of various academic disciplines on the issue of the appropriate corporate objective, which has been framed by a debate between the shareholder wealth maximisation and stakeholder-orientated theories. Behind the two paradigms is a complex set of controversies on which there exists wide disagreement. What is certain is that the prevailing theories have obvious normative and/or practical limitations and neither is to be extolled as an affirmative theory, for different reasons. The purpose of this paper is to cut through the consequent knot of partial and inaccurate dialectic in order to develop a positive normative principle of the corporate objective. This will be referred to as the Equitable Maximisation and Viability principle. The objective of the corporation as a separate legal entity should be to: (i) respect, protect, and fulfil the demonstrable, legitimate interests and expectations of the constituent groups that contribute to the corporation; and (ii) to facilitate the corporation's viability so that its future is guaranteed with sufficiently high probability. This theory is justifiable on the basis of the values of equality and efficiency.
The central role of myostatin in skeletal muscle and whole body homeostasis
Authors: Elliott B. , Renshaw D. , Getting S. , Mackenzie R.
Published: February 2012

Myostatin is a powerful negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass in mammalian species. It plays a key role in skeletal muscle homeostasis and has now been well described since its discovery. Myostatin is capable of inducing muscle atrophy via its inhibition of myoblast proliferation, increasing ubiquitin‐proteasomal activity and downregulating activity of the IGF–Akt pathway. These well‐recognized effects are seen in multiple atrophy causing situations, including injury, diseases such as cachexia, disuse and space flight, demonstrating the importance of the myostatin signalling mechanism. Based on this central role, significant work has been pursued to inhibit myostatin's actions in vivo. Importantly, several new studies have uncovered roles for myostatin distinct from skeletal muscle size. Myostatin has been suggested to play a role in cardiomyocyte homeostasis, glucose metabolism and adipocyte proliferation, all of which are examined in detail below. Based on these effects, myostatin inhibition has potential to be widely utilized in many Western diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, type II diabetes and obesity. However, if myostatin inhibitors are to successfully translate from bench‐top to bedside in the near future, awareness must be raised on these non‐traditional effects of myostatin away from skeletal muscle. Indeed, further research into these novel areas is required.
Chemical Evaluation, Antioxidant Capacity, and Consumer Acceptance of Several Oak Infusions
Authors: Rocha‐Guzmán Nuria Elizabeth , Medina‐Medrano Jose Roberto , Gallegos‐Infante José Alberto , Gonzalez‐Laredo Rubén Francisco , Ramos‐Gómez Minerva , Reynoso‐Camacho Rosalía , Guzmán‐Maldonado Horacio , González‐Herrera Silvia Marina
Published: February 2012

Abstract:  As part of an ongoing screening on natural products, 4 oak leaves were analyzed as potential nutraceutical beverages. The phenolic composition, antioxidant capacity, and sensory preferences of leaves infusions from Quercus resinosa, Q. sideroxyla, Q. eduadii, and Q. durifolia in comparison with 2 commercial green teas were investigated. Herbal infusions from oak leaves and Green teas (1%, 80 °C, 10 min) were evaluated for total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), HPLC analysis, trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), soluble solids, pH, color, and consumer preference analysis. Q. resinosa leaves infusions have shown the highest TPC, TEAC, and ORAC values but they have attained the lowest preference score. Quercus leaves infusions with higher content of gallic acid and catechins showed best antioxidant capacity but lower consumer preference.
Safety and accuracy of a new long‐term subconjunctival glucose sensor
Authors: HASSLACHER Christoph , AUFFARTH Gerd , PLATTEN Isabell , RABSILBER Tanja , SMITH Beate , KULOZIK Felix , KNUTH Monika , NIKOLAUS Katharina , MÜLLER Achim
Published: February 2012

Background:  A new biosensor has been developed by EyeSense (Großostheim, Germany) that is placed into the conjunctiva of one eye to measure the glucose concentration of the surrounding tissue in a non‐invasive manner. In the present study we investigated the correlation between glucose concentrations measured by the EyeSense implant and those determined by finger prick testing, as well as the tolerability and safety of the implant over a 16‐week period.

Methods:  The study was performed in 28 diabetic patients. The biosensor was inserted under local anesthesia and sterile conditions. Correlations between capillary glucose measured by laboratory methods and interstitial glucose determined by the biosensor were investigated by inducing increases and decreases in glucose values between 60 and 300 mg/dL.

Results:  Most patients experienced a mild subconjunctival hemorrhage postoperatively. Except for the minor sensation of the presence of foreign body, the implants were well tolerated. Three patients lost the ocular mini insert spontaneously, whereas there was a function failure of the insert in four patients. Error grid analysis showed that the percentage of data pairs in the acceptable ranges (zone A and B) was very high (>96%). However, there was a shift from zone A to zone B during observation. This was due primarily to an increase in the lag time between capillary and interstitial measured glucose.

Conclusion:  The present study demonstrates good tolerability and measurement performance of the biosensor. The reasons for an increase in the lag time are still unknown; local reactions may be involved.
Last fluoroscopy hold in paediatric fluoroscopy: Dynamic capture of physiological events and a potential for radiation exposure time reduction
Authors: Soudack Michalle , Hirschenbein Aviv , Sosna Jacob , Dafne Ehud , Engel Ahuva
Published: February 2012

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate last fluoroscopy hold (LFH) in paediatric fluoroscopy. LFH is a software program that enables dynamic storage of last fluoroscopy sequences. A hundred and ninety‐four paediatric patients underwent 215 fluoroscopy examinations during a 14‐month period. LFH was employed to review an equivocal finding, when last image hold did not provide an adequate diagnostic image or when a physiologic dynamic event was too fast or did not last long enough to capture. LFH was used in 29% of the examinations. The Institutional Review Board approved this study and waived informed consent.
Metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma to parotid nodes: The role of bolus with adjuvant radiotherapy
Authors: Pramana Ariyanto , Browne Lois , Graham Peter H
Published: February 2012

Introduction: Information regarding the addition of tissue equivalent bolus to adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for intra‐parotid metastatic head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of bolus versus no bolus on the patterns of regional and distant recurrence, regional control (RC), cancer‐specific survival (CSS), overall survival, RT toxicity and RT interruption.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed on consecutive patients diagnosed between 1994 and 2008 with metastatic head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma who were treated with parotidectomy ± selective neck dissection and adjuvant RT ± parotid bolus.

Results: Seventy‐five patients were identified: 64 males and 11 females, with median age of 79 years (range 40–96) of which 39 had bolus during RT. Median follow up was 48 months (range 4–177). There were 23 regional recurrences – 14 dermal, six dermal + nodal and three isolated nodal – and only two systemic recurrences. Nine patients had RT interruption >6 days due to acute skin toxicity. Bolus was associated with increased grade ≥3 radiation dermatitis (P = 0.02). RT interruption >6 days was significantly associated with inferior RC and hazard ratio, 2.83 (95% confidence interval: 1.04–7.71, P = 0.042). Lympho‐vascular space invasion, positive margins and nodes >2 cm were adversely significant on CSS multivariate analysis. RC, CSS and overall survival at 5 years were 67, 66 and 52%, respectively.

Conclusions: Dermal involvement dominated the pattern of regional recurrence. Bolus was associated with significantly worse skin reaction. Bolus use was not associated with a significant overall benefit on RC. This analysis does not support the use of bolus as applied in this cohort.
Evaluation of carcinoma cervix using magnetic resonance imaging: Correlation with clinical FIGO staging and impact on management
Authors: Dhoot Nilu Malpani , Kumar Vinay , Shinagare Atul , Kataki Amal Chandra , Barmon Debabrata , Bhuyan Utpal
Published: February 2012

Aim: To evaluate carcinoma of the cervix using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), correlate with clinical approach of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system and to study the impact of MRI findings on patient management.

Method and Material: Pathologically confirmed, 75 cases of carcinoma cervix referred to our institute from April 2007 to March 2008 were prospectively studied. Clinical FIGO stage was assigned to each patient by gynaecologists blinded to MRI findings. MRI stage (based on FIGO and TNM) was allotted by radiologists blinded to clinicopathological details. For patients who were operated, histopathological stage was taken as gold standard. For patients who were not operated, gynaecologists decided on a gold standard stage based on all available clinical and imaging data. MR staging was correlated with FIGO staging, with focus on significant alterations in treatment strategy caused due to MRI findings.

Results: MRI staging had an accuracy of 89.3% (67/75), while clinical FIGO staging had 61.3% (46/75) accuracy. MRI staging and FIGO staging concurred in 65.6% of the patients and differed in 34.4% of the patients. In about 30.6% (23/75) of the patients, there were relevant additional MRI findings not suspected clinically. The common significant MRI findings were detection of pelvic lymphadenopathy and clinically unsuspected bowel/bladder invasion. The management protocol was significantly altered in 86.9% (20/23) of the patients with additional MRI findings constituting 26.6% (20/75) of the total population.

Conclusion: MRI is highly accurate in evaluating carcinoma of the cervix. MRI findings significantly altered therapeutic decisions in 26.6% of the patients. MRI should be considered prior to treatment planning in every patient.
Pictorial review: Vascular anomalies of the head and neck
Authors: Warren Timothy A , Gandhi Mitesh , Panizza Benedict
Published: February 2012

Vascular anomalies encompass a broad spectrum of tumours and malformations as classified by the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies. Despite being one of the most common congenital abnormalities, they are often misunderstood in clinical practice: use of the term ‘haemangioma’ to denote any vascular anomaly still occurs. They are found frequently in the head and neck, often as complex lesions that require multidisciplinary management which necessitates an accurate diagnosis. Precise radiological assessment is therefore crucial. This pictorial review will briefly discuss the current classification system of vascular anomalies and the optimal radiological tools for their evaluation.
A framework for predicting species extinction by linking population dynamics with habitat loss
Authors: Tanentzap Andrew J. , Walker Susan , Theo Stephens R. T. , Lee William G.
Published: February 2012

Conservation policy requires reliable estimates of extinction rates that consider the interactions between population size (N) and habitat area. Current approaches to estimating extinction from the endemics–area relationship (EAR) estimate only the minimum number of species that can become extinct because of habitat loss (instantaneous extinction). EARs will therefore underestimate extinction if small populations and/or habitat area (SPHA) commit species to future extinction. We demonstrate this mathematically, by assuming species require a minimum population size of two individuals, and by randomly sampling habitat loss within stem‐mapped forest plots. We then develop a general framework for incorporating SPHA effects into EARs that builds upon recent advances introducing N into estimates of extinction. By accounting for effects that modify N, our framework explains extinction debt and reduces the uncertainty associated with future estimates of extinction through carefully qualifying the spatial and temporal context of predictions.
Plasma-enhanced and thermal atomic layer deposition of Al2O3 using dimethylaluminum isopropoxide, [Al(CH3)2(μ-OiPr)]2, as an alternative aluminum precursor
Authors: Potts Stephen E. , Dingemans Gijs , Lachaud Christophe , Kessels W. M. M.
Published: February 2012

The authors have been investigating the use of [Al(CH3)2(μ-OiPr)]2 (DMAI) as an alternative Al precursor to [Al(CH3)3] (TMA) for remote plasma-enhanced and thermal ALD over wide temperature ranges of 25–400 and 100–400 °C, respectively. The growth per cycle (GPC) obtained using in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry for plasma-enhanced ALD was 0.7–0.9 Å/cycle, generally lower than the >0.9 Å/cycle afforded by TMA. In contrast, the thermal process gave a higher GPC than TMA above 250 °C, but below this temperature, the GPC decreased rapidly with decreasing temperature. Quadrupole mass spectrometry data confirmed that both CH4 and HOiPr were formed during the DMAI dose for both the plasma-enhanced and thermal processes. CH4 and HOiPr were also formed during the H2O dose but combustion-like products (CO2 and H2O) were observed during the O2 plasma dose. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry showed that, for temperatures >100 °C and >200 °C for plasma-enhanced and thermal ALD, respectively, films from DMAI had an O/Al ratio of 1.5–1.6, a H content of ∼5 at. % and mass densities of 2.7–3.0 g cm−3. The film compositions afforded from DMAI were comparable to those from TMA at deposition temperatures ≥150 °C. At lower temperatures, there were differences in O, H, and C incorporation. 30 nm thick Al2O3 films from the plasma-enhanced ALD of DMAI were found to passivate n- and p-type Si floatzone wafers (∼3.5 and ∼2 Ω cm, respectively) with effective carrier lifetimes comparable to those obtained using TMA. Surface recombination velocities of < 3 and < 6 cm s−1 were obtained for the n- and p-type Si, respectively. Using these results, the film properties obtained using DMAI and TMA are compared and the mechanisms for the plasma-enhanced and thermal ALD using DMAI are discussed.
A comparison of automatic and human speech recognition in null grammar
Authors: Juneja Amit
Published: February 2012

The accuracy of automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems is generally evaluated using corpora of grammatically sound read speech or natural spontaneous speech. This prohibits an accurate estimation of the performance of the acoustic modeling part of ASR because the language modeling performance is inherently integrated in the overall performance metric. In this work, ASR and human speech recognition (HSR) accuracies are compared for null grammar sentences in different signal-to-noise ratios and vocabulary sizes—1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000. The results shed light on differences between ASR and HSR in relative significance of bottom-up word recognition and context awareness.
The Transcription Factor c-Maf Controls Touch Receptor Development and Function
Authors: Wende Hagen , Lechner Stefan G. , Cheret Cyril , Bourane Steeve , Kolanczyk Maria E. , Pattyn Alexandre , Reuter Katja , Munier Francis L. , Carroll Patrick , Lewin Gary R. , Birchmeier Carmen
Published: February 2012

Telling Sandpaper from Satin

Pacinian corpuscles are mechano-receptors tuned to detect high-frequency, low-amplitude, signals. Found in human palm and fingertips, they are useful for discrimination of rough and smooth textures, a sensitivity seemingly amplified by the ridges of fingerprints.

Wende
et al.

(p.
1373
, published online 16 February) identified a mutation in humans that disrupts this sensitivity to texture, but leaves other facets of touch, such as tactile spatial acuity, intact.
Influence of Synaptic Vesicle Position on Release Probability and Exocytotic Fusion Mode
Authors: Park Hyokeun , Li Yulong , Tsien Richard W.
Published: February 2012

A Synaptic Vesicle in Time

Synaptic vesicles move extensively within presynaptic nerve terminals, and their positional features are thought to have an impact on the likelihood and mode of vesicle fusion and transmitter release.

Park
et al.

(p.
1362
, published online 16 February) now provide real-time, three-dimensional tracking of individual synaptic vesicles in living nerve terminals. Single synaptic vesicles were identified within hippocampal neurons right up to the moment of exocytosis.
Surveillance of Animal Influenza for Pandemic Preparedness
Authors: Peiris J. S. M. , Poon L. L. M. , Guan Y.
Published: February 2012

How might we prepare to cope better with future pandemics, particularly ones with greater severity?
Identification of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Genes That Are Induced
In Vivo
during Infection in Chickens
Authors: Tuntufye Huruma Nelwike , Lebeer Sarah , Gwakisa Paul Simon , Goddeeris Bruno Maria
Published: February 2012

Avian pathogenic
Escherichia coli
(APEC) is associated with extraintestinal infections in poultry causing a variety of diseases collectively known as colibacillosis. The host and bacterial factors influencing and/or responsible for carriage and systemic translocation of APEC inside the host are poorly understood. Identification of such factors could help in the understanding of its pathogenesis and in the subsequent development of control strategies. Recombination-based
in vivo
expression technology (RIVET) was used to identify APEC genes specifically expressed during infection in chickens. A total of 21 clones with
in vivo
-induced promoters were isolated from chicken livers and spleens, indicative of systemic infection. DNA sequencing of the cloned fragments revealed that 12 of the genes were conserved
E. coli
genes (
metH
,
lysA
,
pntA
,
purL
,
serS
,
ybjE
,
ycdK
[
rutC
],
wcaJ
,
gspL
,
sdsR
,
ylbE
, and
yjiY
), 6 of the genes were phage related/associated, and 3 genes were pathogen specific (
tkt1
,
irp2
, and
eitD
). These genes are involved in various cellular functions, such as metabolism, cell envelope and integrity, transport systems, and virulence. Others were phage related or have yet-unknown functions.
The impact of increased age on outcome from a strategy of early invasive management and revascularisation in patients with acute coronary syndromes: retrospective analysis study from the ACACIA registry
Authors: Malkin Christopher J , Prakash Roshan , Chew Derek P
Published: February 2012

Objective

To evaluate the impact of increased age on outcome from a strategy of early invasive management and revascularisation in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Design

Retrospective analysis of a national Acute Coronary Syndrome registry (ACACIA).

Setting

Multiple Australian (n=39) centres; 25% rural, 52% with onsite cardiac surgery.

Patients

Unselected consecutive patients admitted with confirmed ACS, total n=2559, median 99 per centre.

Interventions

Management was at the discretion of the treating physician. Analysis of outcome based on age >75 years was compared using Cox proportional hazard with a propensity model to adjust for baseline covariates.

Main outcome measures

Primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes were bleeding and a composite of any vascular event or unplanned readmission.

Results

Elderly patients were more likely to present with high-risk features yet were less likely to receive evidence-based medical therapies or receive diagnostic coronary angiography (75% vs 49%, p<0.0001) and early revascularisation (50% vs 30%, p<0.0001). Multivariate analysis found early revascularisation in the elderly cohort to be associated with lower 12-month mortality hazard (0.4 (0.2–0.7)) and composite outcome (0.6 (0.5–0.8)). Propensity model suggested a greater absolute benefit in elderly patients compared to others.

Conclusions

Following presentation with ACS, elderly patients are less likely to receive evidence-based medical therapies, to be considered for an early invasive strategy and be revascularised. Increasing age is a significant barrier to physicians when considering early revascularisation. An early invasive strategy with revascularisation when performed was associated with substantial benefit and the absolute accrued benefit appears to be higher in elderly patients.
ACTIVE NETWORKS THAT MAXIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION TRANSMISSION
Authors: BAPTISTA M. S. , DE CARVALHO J. X. , HUSSEIN M. S. , GREBOGI C.
Published: February 2012

This work clarifies the relationship between network circuit (topology) and behavior (information transmission and synchronization) in active networks, e.g. neural networks. As an application, we show how to determine a network topology that is optimal for information transmission. By optimal, we mean that the network is able to transmit a large amount of information, it possesses a large number of communication channels, and it is robust under large variations of the network coupling configuration. This theoretical approach is general and does not depend on the particular dynamic of the elements forming the network, since the network topology can be determined by finding a Laplacian matrix (the matrix that describes the connections and the coupling strengths among the elements) whose eigenvalues satisfy some special conditions. To illustrate our ideas and theoretical approaches, we use neural networks of electrically connected chaotic Hindmarsh–Rose neurons.
CONNECTING PERIOD-DOUBLING CASCADES TO CHAOS
Authors: SANDER EVELYN , YORKE JAMES A.
Published: February 2012

The appearance of infinitely-many period-doubling cascades is one of the most prominent features observed in the study of maps depending on a parameter. They are associated with chaotic behavior, since bifurcation diagrams of a map with a parameter often reveal a complicated intermingling of period-doubling cascades and chaos.

Period doubling can be studied at three levels of complexity. The first is an individual period-doubling bifurcation. The second is an infinite collection of period doublings that are connected together by periodic orbits in a pattern called a cascade. It was first described by Myrberg and later in more detail by Feigenbaum. The third involves infinitely many cascades and a parameter value μ2of the map at which there is chaos. We show that often virtually all (i.e. all but finitely many) "regular" periodic orbits at μ2are each connected to exactly one cascade by a path of regular periodic orbits; and virtually all cascades are either paired — connected to exactly one other cascade, or solitary — connected to exactly one regular periodic orbit at μ2. The solitary cascades are robust to large perturbations. Hence the investigation of infinitely many cascades is essentially reduced to studying the regular periodic orbits of F(μ2, ⋅). Examples discussed include the forced-damped pendulum and the double-well Duffing equation.
CANARD CYCLES IN GLOBAL DYNAMICS
Authors: VIDAL ALEXANDRE , FRANÇOISE JEAN-PIERRE
Published: February 2012

Fast-slow systems are studied usually by "geometrical dissection" [Borisyuk & Rinzel, 2005]. The fast dynamics exhibit attractors which may bifurcate under the influence of the slow dynamics which is seen as a parameter of the fast dynamics. A generic solution comes close to a connected component of the stable invariant sets of the fast dynamics. As the slow dynamics evolves, this attractor may lose its stability and the solution eventually reaches quickly another connected component of attractors of the fast dynamics and the process may repeat. This scenario explains quite well relaxation oscillations and more complicated oscillations like bursting. More recently, in relation both with theory of dynamical systems [Dumortier & Roussarie, 1996] and with applications to physiology [Desroches et al., 2008; Toporikova et al., 2008], a new interest has emerged in canard cycles. These orbits share the property that they remain for a while close to an unstable invariant set (either singular set or periodic orbits of the fast dynamics). Although canards were first discovered when the transition points were folds, in this article, we focus on the case where one or several transition points (or "jumps") are instead transcritical. We present several new surprising effects like the "amplification of canards" or the "exceptionally fast recovery" on both (1 + 1)-systems and (2 + 1)-systems associated with tritrophic food chain dynamics. Finally, we also mention their possible relevance to the notion of resilience which has been coined out in ecology [Holling, 1973; Ludwig et al., 1997; Martin, 2004].
ZERO-DIFFUSION DOMAINS IN REACTION–DIFFUSION MORPHOGENETIC AND EPIDEMIOLOGIC PROCESSES
Authors: DEMONGEOT JACQUES , GAUDART JEAN , LONTOS ATHANASIOS , MINTSA JULIE , PROMAYON EMMANUEL , RACHDI MUSTAPHA
Published: February 2012

Classical models of morphogenesis by Murray and Meinhardt and of epidemics by Ross and McKendrick can be revisited in order to consider the colocalizations favoring interaction between morphogens and cells or between pathogens and hosts. The classical epidemic models suppose, for example, that the populations in interaction have a constant size and are spatially fixed during the epidemic waves, but the presently observed pandemics show that the long duration of their spread during months or years imposes to take into account the pathogens, hosts and vectors migration in epidemics, as well as the morphogens and cells diffusion in morphogenesis. That leads naturally to study the occurrence of complex spatio-temporal behaviors in dynamics of population sizes and also to consider preferential zones of interaction, i.e. the zero-diffusion sets, for respectively building anatomic frontiers and confining contagion domains. Three examples of application will be presented, the first proposing a model of Black Death spread in Europe (1348–1350), and the last ones related to two morphogenetic processes, feather morphogenesis in chicken and gastrulation in Drosophila.
ROBUST SENSOR FAULT RECONSTRUCTION FOR NONLINEAR SYSTEMS USING OBSERVERS
Authors: ZHANG CHANGFAN , LIU XINZHI , HE JING
Published: February 2012

This paper considers a sensor fault reconstruction scheme for nonlinear systems, using the sliding mode observer and adaptive observer. The novelty of this contribution is that we consider the disturbances represented in both the state equation and the output equation. Computer simulation experiments are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design.
MULTI-SCROLL CHAOTIC AND HYPERCHAOTIC ATTRACTORS GENERATED FROM CHEN SYSTEM
Authors: LIU XINZHI , SHEN XUEMIN SHERMAN , ZHANG HONGTAO
Published: February 2012

In this paper, we create a multi-scroll chaotic attractor from Chen system by a nonlinear feedback control. The dynamic behavior of the new chaotic attractor is analyzed. Specially, the Lyapunov spectrum and Lyapunov dimension are calculated and the bifurcation diagram is sketched. Furthermore, via changing the value of the control parameters, we can increase the number of equilibrium points and obtain a family of more complex chaotic attractors with different topological structures. By introducing time delay to the feedback control, we then generalize the multi-scroll attractor to a set of hyperchaotic attractors. Computer simulations are given to illustrate the phase portraits with different system parameters.
SIMULTANEOUS GRADUAL LENGTHENING OF PROXIMAL AND DISTAL NERVE STUMPS FOR REPAIR OF CHRONIC PERIPHERAL NERVE DEFECT IN RATS
Authors: Nakajima Yoshiko , Nishiura Yasumasa , Hara Yuki , Sharula  , Ochiai Naoyuki
Published: February 2012

We investigated nerve regeneration of rat sciatic nerves after chronic injury of 15 mm-defect by the gradual lengthening of proximal and distal nerve stumps. Thirty days after the primal injury, both stumps were grasped and lengthened at a rate of 1 mm per day using external nerve-lengthening devices for 15 days. Then end-to-end neurorrhaphy was performed. After the lengthening, both stumps were evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis. Nerve regeneration was evaluated by electrophysiological and histological studies at 12 weeks after the repair. In the lengthened proximal stump, Schwann cells and axons existed along the whole nerve stump. In the lengthened distal stump, Schwann cells exist along the overall length. The whole nerve trunk was lengthened. The nerve regeneration was comparable with the delayed end-to-end suture without nerve defect. We showed the feasibility of direct gradual lengthening of proximal and distal nerve stumps for the treatment of chronic segmental nerve defect.
ROLE OF THE HYALURONAN-PRODUCING TENOSYNOVIUM IN PREVENTING ADHESION FORMATION DURING HEALING OF FLEXOR TENDON INJURIES
Authors: Yagi Masaharu , Mitsui Yasuhiro , Gotoh Masafumi , Sato Naoto , Yoshida Kenji , Nagata Kensei
Published: February 2012

Flexor tendons of white Leghorn chickens (n = 25) were used for this study. One chicken was used as a normal control (no surgery), and the remaining 24 were used for experiments. After partial tendon-severing in both legs of 24 chickens, the right and the left leg were treated differently, thereby creating two groups: Group I, in which the tenosynovium was preserved, and Group II, in which the tenosynovium was removed. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe adhesions; immunohistochemical analysis was used to localize HA. HA production was noted in granulation tissue invading between the tendon stumps in both groups; however, HA expression in the tenosynovium was observed only in Group I where adhesion formation was minimal. The HA-producing tenosynovium plays a crucial role in preventing adhesion formation in this model of flexor tendon injuries.
ALTERATION OF THE END-PLANE ANGLE IN PRESS-FIT CYLINDRICAL STEM RADIAL HEAD PROSTHESIS: AN IN VITRO STUDY
Authors: Luenam Suriya , Chalongviriyalert Piti , Kosiyatrakul Arkaphat , Thanawattano Chusak
Published: February 2012

Purpose: Many studies comparing the morphology of native radial head with the prosthesis have been published. However, there is limited information regarding the postoperative alignment of the articular surface following the radial head replacement. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the alteration of the end-plane angle in the modular radial head prosthesis with a press-fit cementless cylindrical stem.

Methods: The study used 36 cadaveric radii. The press-fit size prosthesis with cylindrical stem was inserted into each specimen. The end-plane angles of the radial head before and after prosthetic replacement, were measured in coronal and sagittal planes with a digital inclinometer. The data were analyzed by paired t-test.

Results: From paired t-test, there were statistically symmetrical end-plane angles before and after radial head replacement in both coronal and sagittal planes (p-value < 0.01). The mean of radial head end-plane angle alteration in the coronal plane was 3.62° (SD, 2.76°) (range, 0.3°–8.9°). In the sagittal plane, the mean of alteration was 5.85° (SD, 3.56°) degrees (range, 0.3° – 14.2°).

Conclusion: The modular radial head prosthesis with cylindrical stem is in vitro able to restore the native end-plane angles of radial heads statistically when used in a press-fit fashion.
EXTENSOR TENDON RUPTURE IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: A SURVEY OF PATIENTS BETWEEN 2005 AND 2010 AT FIVE KOREAN HOSPITALS
Authors: Gong Hyun Sik , Lee Joon Oh , Baek Goo Hyun , Kim Byung Sung , Kim Jin Young , Lee Jae Seong , Song Choel Ho
Published: February 2012

Background. Recent medical advancements in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can prevent joint damage and tendon involvement. The authors evaluated patterns of extensor tendon ruptures in RA patients that presented to hand surgeons over a recent five-year period.

Methods. Medical records and radiographs were retrospectively reviewed, and telephone interviews were conducted with 38 patients that had experienced extensor tendon ruptures in a rheumatoid hand during the study period and were operated on at one of five tertiary referral hospitals in South Korea. Patterns of tendon ruptures were compared in patients that did or did not receive medical treatment.

Results. Twenty-nine of the 38 patients (76%) had tendon ruptures in more than two digits. When multiple digits were involved, mean duration between first and latest rupture was 2.9 months. When patients treated with medications by rheumatologists (24 patients) were compared with those not treated (14 patients), no significant differences were found for; number of ruptured tendons, time from first to last rupture, disease duration, or radiographic RA severity.

Conclusions. RA patients who once experienced a tendon rupture are still at risk of sequential tendon ruptures despite recent advancement of medical treatment. Education of the risks of sequential tendon ruptures and timely consultation to hand surgeons continue to be necessary in RA patients.
CURETTAGE AND CALCIUM PHOSPHATE BONE CEMENT INJECTION FOR THE TREATMENT OF ENCHONDROMA OF THE FINGER
Authors: Kim Jae Kwang , Kim Nam Ki
Published: February 2012

Ten consecutive patients with digital enchondroma were treated by curettage and calcium phosphate bone cement (CPC) injection under digital nerve block. Mean patient age at surgery was 39 years old (range, 26–54), and the mean follow-up period was 19 months (range, 12–31). Two patients had a pathologic fracture at the first visit. Active finger motion was allowed at three days postoperatively and all patients returned to work within four weeks of surgery. The surgical procedures were uneventful in all patients, and no complications were encountered during follow-up. The mean total arc of motion of the PIP joints and MP joints of the affected fingers was 93% of and 99%, respectively, of the arcs of the corresponding joints of the contralateral unaffected fingers at final follow-up. CPC injection is a good option for the treatment of enchondroma of the finger.
NEGATIVE PRESSURE THERAPY WITH IRRIGATION FOR DIGITS AND HANDS: PRESSURE MEASUREMENT AND CLINICAL APPLICATION
Authors: Matsushita Yuki , Fujiwara Masao , Nagata Takeshi , Noda Tatsuya , Fukamizu Hidekazu
Published: February 2012

We recently developed continuous negative pressure therapy with irrigation (NPI) and successfully applied it to an infected digit with a narrow wound. With this technique, however, the dressing circumferentially wraps the digit or hand, and the pressure that the digit or hand receives and the influence on peripheral circulation are unclear. In this report, we evaluated the external pressure that a digit and hand received during NPI in vitro. Under circumferential NPI dressing, the skin perfusion pressure (SPP) of the peripheral portion was measured. Pressure was maintained at 1.3 mm Hg, and suction pressure ranged from -50 to -200 mm Hg. The pressure that a digit or hand receives during NPI is much lower than that at which tissue may be damaged (40–50 mm Hg). The SPP of the peripheral portion was much higher than 40 mm Hg, which is the pressure at which wound healing may be predicted. In clinical cases, NPI has been useful for wound bed preparation.
PREVENTING POSTOPERATIVE CONGESTION IN REVERSE PEDICLE DIGITAL ISLAND FLAPS WHEN RECONSTRUCTING COMPOSITE TISSUE DEFECTS IN THE FINGERTIP: A PATIENT SERIES
Authors: Matsuzaki Hironori , Kouda Hisao , Yamashita Haruyoshi
Published: February 2012

For reconstructing an injured fingertip, a reverse pedicle digital island flap can restore excellent function and appearance. However, postoperative flap congestion may lead to flap necrosis. We tested a method for dissecting the vascular pedicle to prevent congestion and to provide more reliable results. Between August 2002 and December 2010, we reconstructed 14 fingertips in 13 patients (average age, 43 years; range, 24 to 68 years; 9 men). Through a small zigzag incision, the digital artery and a 4-mm-wide subcutaneous venous network were elevated in retrograde fashion to facilitate venous drainage. All flaps healed completely without severe congestion or necrosis. Slight flexion contractures remained in the PIP (mean, 12°) and DIP (mean, 14°) joints. Our procedure is simpler and more reliable than other techniques, such as adding a narrow skin bridge to the pedicle or a venous anastomosis to prevent venous congestion, and it assures the survival of the flap.
ULNAR NERVE ENTRAPMENT BY ANCONEUS EPITROCHLEARIS LIGAMENT
Authors: Tiong William H. C. , Kelly Jason
Published: February 2012

Ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow is the second most common upper limb entrapment neuropathy other than carpal tunnel syndrome. There have been many causes identified ranging from chronic aging joint changes to inflammatory conditions or systemic disorders. Among them, uncommon anatomical variants accounts for a small number of cases. Here, we report our experience in managing ulnar nerve entrapment caused by a rare vestigial structure, anconeus epitrochlearis ligament, and provide a brief review of the literature of its management.
ASYMPTOMATIC CALCIUM PYROPHOSPHATE DIHYDRATE DEPOSITION DISEASE CAUSING CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME: CASE REPORT
Authors: Dodakundi Chaitanya , Hattori Yasunori , Doi Kazuteru , Sakamoto Soutetsu , Fujihara Yuki
Published: February 2012

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease typically involves the wrist joint in the form of calcifications of the triangular fibrocartilage and the distal radioulnar joint. We describe an 87-year-old male who presented to us with asymptomatic form of deposition with multiple flexor tendon calcifications causing chronic median nerve compression. Simple carpal tunnel decompression relieved his median nerve symptoms.
GIANT CELL TUMOR OF TENDON SHEATH MIMICKING PYOGENIC GRANULOMA IN THE INDEX FINGER PULP: A CASE REPORT
Authors: Jerome J. Terrence Jose , Venkatesan Kumar , G Amarnath , Rani Usha , Sridhar Rohini
Published: February 2012

We report a 75-year-old man who presented with a painless friable mass in the index finger pulp mimicking pyogenic granuloma. Complete excision of the mass was done. The radiological and the histopathological findings suggested giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath. The patient had no recurrence at the end of a two-year follow-up. This unusual clinical presentation of the giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath was our study base and adds up to its variant presentation in the literature.
TECHNIQUE AND INDICATION OF DISTAL ARTERIAL-TO-PROXIMAL VENOUS ANASTOMOSIS AT AN AMPUTATED DISTAL PHALANX
Authors: Phan Truong Quang Vu , Xu Weiguo , Spilker Gerald , Weinand Christian
Published: February 2012

Digital finger amputation with soft tissue injury is a frequent accident in Reconstructive Surgery. Several techniques about reconstruction of digital finger amputation are described in literature. However replantation is difficult when large segments of the arteries are missing. This is especially true for distal finger phalanx amputations, where replantation is done in selected patients such as artists or musicians. In this article a microsurgical replantation techniques of a distal artery and proximal vein anastomosis is presented in a distal phalanx amputation, which successfully solved the problem of venous reflux without venous anastomosis.
STATE-TO-STATE REACTION DYNAMICS OF THE D(H) + FO → OD(OH) + F REACTIONS ON THE LOWEST TWO TRIPLET STATES
Authors: YUE XIAN-FANG , GENG JIAN-PEI
Published: February 2012

Quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) calculations have been performed to investigate the reaction dynamics of the title reactions at a state-to-state level. The recently developed adiabatic potential energy surfaces (PESs) of the two triplet electronic states of 13A″ and 13A′ (Gómez-Carrasco S. et al., J Chem Phys121:4605, 2004; J Chem Phys123:114310, 2005) are employed in the present QCT calculations. Product vibrational and rotational state distributions have been calculated at three collision energies of 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 eV. The product vibrational state distributions are found to be Gaussian distributions. Both the vibrational and rotational state distributions depend clearly on the isotope substitution, electronic PESs and collision energies. The observed phenomena are probably attributed to the competition of direct and indirect reactions.