bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of various protocols of ischemic preconditioning on rat tram flaps
Authors: Wang Honggang , Li Zhiyong , Liu Xiaolin
Published: November 2007

We used rat transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flaps to investigate whether the ischemic cycle duration and number of cycles influenced the effectiveness of ischemic preconditioning (IPC). First, the animals were divided into one control group and four treatment groups. Controls received no preconditioning; flaps with IPC were treated by two cycles of pedicel clamping and reperfusion for either 5 or 10 min. Then the best of IPC protocols in first part was selected, and flaps were subjected to one or three cycles of IPC before 4 h of normothermic ischemia. The preconditioned flap survival area had improved 2.5–3 times over that of the control area by postoperative day 7. Serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK), water content, and malondialdehyde (MDA) in muscle were significantly decreased in the preconditioned groups after 4 h of reperfusion. Especially, 2 and 3 cycles of the 10/5‐min combination were more effective than other protocols of IPC. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2008.
Microsurgical anatomy of dorsal root entry zone of brachial plexus
Authors: Xiang Jian‐Ping , Liu Xiao‐Ling , Xu Yang‐Bing , Wang Jian‐Yun , Hu Jun
Published: November 2007

The purpose of this study was to describe microsurgical anatomy of the dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) and provide an anatomic basis for the approach of DREZ lesion in treating radiculopathy of brachial plexus avulsion injuries. We studied 100 dorsal cervical roots and DREZ/posterior horn complexes in 20 adult cadavers. At each root level the following data were recorded: widths of laminectomy, numbers of posterior rootlets, angle of the inferior rootlets with the spinal cord, and distance from posterior median sulcus to posterolateral sulcus. On cross‐sectional plane, the length and width of dorsal horn and the angle between longitudinal axis of dorsal horn and sagittal plane of spinal cord were measured. The results showed that the spinal cord segment and the entry of dorsal roots from C5 to T1 were exposed clearly after laminectomy from C4 to C7. The average number of roolets of C5‐T1 roots was about 7.76 and C6 has the most. From up to down, the angle from the inferior rootlet to spinal cord of C5‐T1 diminished gradually. The average distance from posterior median sulcus to posterolateral sulcus was 2.95 mm. The average length, width, and angle of posterior horn were 3.47 mm, 1.346 mm, and 35.9°, respectively. Our study demonstrated that the spinous process and lamina of the C4 to C7 vertebrae should be resected to expose the C5‐T1 when DREZ lesions are employed to treat pain after brachial plexus avulsion. The lesion‐making apparatus should be inserted at an angle of 30°–40°, the width of lesion should be less than 1.2 mm and the lesion depth less than 3.1 mm. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2008.
Low levels of maternal serum PAPP‐A in the first trimester and the risk of pre‐eclampsia
Authors: Spencer Kevin , Cowans Nicholas J. , Nicolaides Kypros H.
Published: November 2007

Background

Low levels of pregnancy associated plasma protein‐A (PAPP‐A) have been previously shown to be associated with pregnancies that subsequently develop pre‐eclampsia. The objective of this study was to establish the relative risk for pre‐eclampsia at various PAPP‐A levels as an aid to counselling and follow up of pregnancies.

Methods

Maternal serum PAPP‐A and free ß‐human chorionic gonadotropin (ß‐hCG) levels at 11 to 13 weeks of gestation from 224 singleton pregnancies that subsequently developed pre‐eclampsia were compared to those from 47 770 normal singleton pregnancies resulting in live births after 37 weeks with birth weight greater than or equal to the 10th centile of normal for gestation. In all cases, the measured PAPP‐A and free ß‐hCG levels were expressed as multiple of the median (MoM). The association between metabolite levels and the incidence of pre‐eclampsia was assessed by comparing the relative incidence at a number of MoM cut‐offs and at various centiles. At various marker levels, the likelihood ratio for pre‐eclampsia was also calculated.

Results

In the pre‐eclampsia group the median PAPP‐A MoM was significantly reduced (0.772 MoM, p < 0.0001) whilst the median free β‐hCG MoM was not different from controls (0.981 MoM, p = 0.26). With decreasing levels of PAPP‐A, the likelihood ratio for pre‐eclampsia increased. At the 5th centile of normal (PAPP‐A MoM 0.415) the odds ratio was increased 4‐fold and at this cut‐off 15% of cases of pre‐eclampsia would be identified.

Conclusions

The graphical presentation of a likelihood ratio curve for pre‐eclampsia at any PAPP‐A MoM level is likely to be useful in counselling women with low levels of PAPP‐A and a normal karyotype. Use of low levels of PAPP‐A for selecting women for further follow‐up with uterine artery Doppler may further improve the clinical discrimination. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Crystal structure and functional analysis identify the P‐loop containing protein YFH7 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as an ATP‐dependent kinase
Authors: Gueguen‐Chaignon Virginie , Chaptal Vincent , Larivière Laurent , Costa Narciso , Lopes Philippe , Morera Solange , Nessler Sylvie
Published: November 2007

Genome sequencing projects have revealed that P‐loop proteins are highly represented in all organisms and that many of them have no attributed function. They are characterized by a conserved nucleotide‐binding domain and carry different activities implicated in many cellular processes. Saccharomyces cerevisiae YFH7 is one of these P‐loop proteins of unknown function. In this work we tried to integrate bioinformatics, structure, and enzymology to discover the function of YFH7. Sequence analysis revealed that yeast YFH7 is a yeast‐specific protein showing weak similarity with the phosphoribulokinase/uridine kinase/bacterial pantothenate kinase (PRK/URK/PANK) subfamily of P‐loop containing kinases. A large insertion of about 100 residues distinguishes YFH7 from other members of the family. The 1.95 Å resolution crystal structure of YFH7 solved using the SAD method confirmed that YFH7 has a fold similar to the PRK/URK/PANK family, with the characteristic core, lid, and NMPbind domains. An additional α/β domain of novel topology corresponds to the large sequence insertion. Structural and ligand binding analysis combined with enzymatic assays suggest that YFH7 is an ATP‐dependent small molecule kinase with new substrate specificity. Proteins 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Context‐specific amino acid substitution matrices and their use in the detection of protein homologs
Authors: Goonesekere Nalin C. W. , Lee Byungkook
Published: November 2007

The sequence homology detection relies on score matrices, which reflect the frequency of amino acid substitutions observed in a dataset of homologous sequences. The substitution matrices in popular use today are usually constructed without consideration of the structural context in which the substitution takes place. Here, we present amino acid substitution matrices specific for particular polar–nonpolar environment of the amino acid. As expected, these matrices [context‐specific substitution matrices (CSSMs)] show striking differences from the popular BLOSUM62 matrix, which does not include structural information. When incorporated into BLAST and PSI‐BLAST, CSSM outperformed BLOSUM matrices as assessed by ROC curve analyses of the number of true and false hits and by the accuracy of the sequence alignments to the hit sequences. These findings are also of relevance to profile–profile‐based methods of homology detection, since CSSMs may help build a better profile. Profiles generated for protein sequences in PDB using CSSM‐PSI‐BLAST will be made available for searching via RPSBLAST through our web site http://lmbbi.nci.nih.gov/. Proteins 2008; 71:910–919. Published 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Crystal structure of an archaeal specific DNA‐binding protein (Ape10b2) from Aeropyrum pernix K1
Authors: Kumarevel Thirumananseri , Sakamoto Keiko , Gopinath Subash C. B. , Shinkai Akeo , Kumar Penmetcha K. R. , Yokoyama Shigeyuki
Published: November 2007

DNA binding proteins are essential in all organisms, and they play important roles in both compacting and regulating the genetic material. All thermophilic and hyperthermophilic archaea encode one or more copies of Alba or Sso10b, which is a small, abundant, basic protein that binds DNA. Here, we present the crystal structure of Ape10b2 from Aeropyrum pernix K1 at 1.70 Å. Although the overall structure resembles the known Alba protein fold, a significant conformational change was observed in the loop regions. Specifically, the L5 loop is slightly longer, as compared to those of other known proteins, and the flexibility of this loop may facilitate the interaction with double stranded DNA. In addition, we showed that Ape10b2 binds to 16 and 39 bp duplex DNAs with high affinity. On the basis of our analyses, we have created a putative protein‐DNA complex model. Proteins 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Full‐color nanostructured thin‐film electroluminescent device utilizing ZnS nanocrystals doped with activator‐ions
Authors: Toyama T. , Adachi D. , Okamoto H.
Published: November 2007

We have studied nanostructured (NS‐) thin‐film electroluminescent (TFEL) devices utilizing the ZnS nanocrystals (NCs) with the mean crystal sizes of ca. 2–4 nm doped with activator‐ions. As compared to the conventional TFEL device, we have achieved a remarkable reduction in the operation voltages by >100 V0–p. Moreover, toward full‐color emissions, EL emissions of three primary colors, i.e., red, green, and blue have been derived from Mn2+, Tb3+, and Tm3+ ions, respectively. In this article, we review the studies on the fundamental properties of ZnS NCs as well as the device performance of the NS‐TFEL devices. We also discuss the excitation mechanisms of the activator‐ions in the ZnS NCs. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Energy transfer from Si nanocrystals to Er ions near a metal layer
Authors: Fujii M. , Nakamura T. , Miura S. , Inui M. , Hayashi S.
Published: November 2007

Er ions can be excited efficiently by energy transfer from Si nanocrystals. There are several different kinds of energy transfer processes depending on the distance between Si nanocrystals and Er ions. Among them, Förster‐type dipole–dipole interaction is considered to have the longest interaction distance. In this work, we study how the long‐distance interaction is modified when Er–Si‐nanocrystals coupled system is placed near a metal layer. We show that the energy transfer rate is strongly modified by the metal layer and the rate oscillates depending on the distance between the metal and the coupled system. From the quantitative analysis of the oscillation behavior, the energy transfer efficiency as well as the rate is estimated as a function of the energy transfer wavelength, and the evidence of resonant energy transfer is demonstrated. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Near‐field light emission from dark‐states in semiconductor quantum dots
Authors: Pistone G. , Savasta S. , Di Stefano O. , Martino G. , Girlanda R. , Portolan S.
Published: November 2007

We theoretically study the carrier capture and distribution among the available energy levels of a symmetric semiconductor quantum dot under continuous‐wave excitation resonant with the barrier energy levels. We find that at low temperature all the dot level‐occupations but one, the second (dark) energy level,decrease monotonically with energy. The second energy level, displays a steady‐state carrier density exceeding that of the lowest level more than a factor two (see the figure). This nonequilibrium effect does not origin from radiative recombination before relaxation to lower energy levels, but at the opposite, it is consequence of carrier trapping due to the symmetry‐induced suppression of radiative recombination of the second (dark) energy level. While the observation of such effect by means of far‐field spectroscopy is prevented, scanning near‐field optical microscopy, able to detect the evanescent waves generated by dark‐states occupations, can be adopted to inspect such nonequilibrium effects at the nanoscale. Exciton‐level occupations of the dot (normalized at the maximum) calculated for two different temperatures. See Sect. 3 for a detailed description of the results here displayed. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Microstructure, dielectric, and piezoelectric properties of 0.38Bi(Gax Sc1–x)O3–0.62PbTiO3 high temperature piezoelectric ceramics
Authors: Jiang Yihang , Qin Baoquan , Zhao Yi , Jiang Yuzhi , Xiao Dingquan , Zhu Jianguo
Published: November 2007

0.38Bi(Gax Sc1–x )O3–0.62PbTiO3 (BGSPTx) ceramics have been prepared by using the conventional mixed oxide method. X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed that BGSPTx has a pure perovskite structure, and the crystal symmetry of BGSPTx changed from rhombohedral to tetragonal with increasing Ga content (x). The Curie temperature (TC) of BGSPTx ceramics is in the range of 448–467 °C for different x. The ferroelectric phase transition of BGSPTx was found to be of the first order type according to the Curie–Weiss law. For x = 0.125, BGSPTx ceramics show enhanced piezoelectric properties: piezoelectric constant d33 = 420 pC/N and d31 = –142 pC/N, planar and thickness electromechanical coupling factors kp = 56.27% and kt = 56.00%, respectively. The high‐TC of BGSPTx coupled with its excellent piezoelectric properties suggests those future high‐temperature applications. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Probing Glycans With the Copper(I)‐Catalyzed [3+2] Azide–Alkyne Cycloaddition
Authors: Hanson Sarah R. , Greenberg William A. , Wong Chi‐Huey
Published: November 2007

The imposing structural complexity and heterogeneity of glycans has made the study of their precise biological roles challenging. However, recently developed synthetic and screening techniques have enabled the study of many aspects of glycan activity that were previously inaccessible. Among these new methods, the Copper(I)‐catalyzed Azide–Alkyne [3+2] Cycloaddition (CuAAC) has provided a means to mimic multivalent glycan display, manipulate cellular glycans in vivo for visualization and isolation, and generate useful inhibitors of glycoprotein processing.
Evaluation of methods to cap molecular fragments in calculating energies of interaction in avian pancreatic polypeptide
Authors: Hatfield Marcus P. D. , Palermo Nicholas Y. , Csontos József , Murphy Richard F. , Lovas Sándor
Published: November 2007

The accuracy of the determination of the energy of interaction between Phe20 and the Pro5‐Thr6‐Tyr7‐Pro8 complex inside the hydrophobic core of avian pancreatic polypeptide was investigated using three capping strategies for molecular fractionation with conjugated caps and DFT quantum chemical calculations at the BHandHLYP/cc‐pVTZ level of theory. The most accurate determination resulted from acetylation of the α‐amino group combined with methyl amidation of the α‐carbonyl group, with relative deviations less than 10%. Combinations of hydrogenation of the α‐amino group with the replacement of the α‐carbonyl group with a hydrogen and the hydrogenation of the α‐amino group with methylation of the α‐carbonyl group were less accurate, leading to relative deviations up to 35%. Choice of capping methods depends on the structural features of the polypeptide system, the desired accuracy, and the available computational resources. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008
Results of total hip replacement using the Robodoc surgical assistant system: clinical outcome and evaluation of complications for 97 procedures
Authors: Schulz Arndt P. , Seide Klaus , Queitsch Christian , von Haugwitz Andrea , Meiners Jan , Kienast Benjamin , Tarabolsi Mohamad , Kammal Michael , Jürgens Christian
Published: November 2007

Background

A computerized robotic surgical system was developed from 1986 by the Thomas J. Watson Research Center. In 1992 the system unit Orthodoc® and the milling robot Robodoc® were first used on humans. We present the results achieved with Robodoc‐assisted total hip arthroplasty in 97 hips.

Methods

Between 1997 and 2002, 143 total hip replacements (128 patients) were performed using the Robodoc system. This is a consecutive series. Complete follow‐up was possible in 97 hips at a mean follow‐up period of 3.8 years.

Results

Technical complications directly related to the robotic device occurred in nine cases (9.3%). The pre‐operative Merle d'Aubigne score was determined at 8.1 points compared to a post‐operative mean score of 16.2. There was no sign of femoral stem loosening on radiographs.

Conclusions

Robotic‐assisted total hip arthroplasty with the Orthodoc/ Robodoc system achieves equal results as compared to a manual technique. However, there was a high number of technical complications directly or indirectly related to the robot. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Probabilistic automata push‐down
Authors: Chen Zhi‐Zhong , Kasai Takumi
Published: November 2007

This paper discusses the basic properties of the probabilistic push‐down automaton (PPDA). Intuitively speaking, PPDA is obtained by adding a probabilistic property to the nondeterministic transition of the nondeterministic push‐down automaton (NPDA). According to the property of the error in the accepting condition, PPDA is classified into a two‐sided error PPDA, a one‐sided error PPDA, and bounded error PPDA. Moreover, the acception error is considered not only for 1/2, but also for an arbitrary cut‐point, to discuss the relations among classes of languages. Major results are as follows.

The class of languages accepted by bounded error PPDA is not the same as that accepted by NPDA. In the case of two‐sided error PPDA and the bounded error PPDA, the class of acceptable languages does not depend on the cut‐point. In the case of a one‐sided PPDA, the class of acceptable languages depends to some extent on the cut‐point. In other words, there exists an infinite hierarchy. Kolmogorov complexity is used in the proof of the major theorem.
Analysis of catastrophic phenomena in a multiprogramming system
Authors: Yokohira Tokumi , Miyahara Hideo
Published: November 2007

This paper presents a state analysis of multiprogramming, using the concept of cusp catastrophe in the theory of catastrophe. Based on the result, the catastrophic phenomena in the multiprogramming system are analyzed. It is shown first that the multiprogramming system exhibits two stable states, i.e., monostable and bistable states, for the change of job generation rate and the change of the maximum multiprogramming level. Then it is shown that a rapid change (catastrophe) of the performance of the multiprogramming system, such as the mean number of jobs in the system, throughput and response time, may occur with the change of the stable state of the system. Furthermore, it is shown that for any given job generation rate, there exists a maximum multiprogramming level which maximizes the throughput and minimizes the response time.
Process assignment in distributed systems
Authors: Shimojo Shinji , Miyahara Hideo
Published: November 2007

This paper presents an approximate solution for the process assignment problem with communication contentions in the distributed system. It is assumed that several processes perform a job through mutual communication, and that the process knows the interprocess communication probability as well as its mean interval. A method is shown in this paper whereby the distributed system is modeled as a queueing network model, and the mean job execution time is determined analytically. Then assuming that the job is composed of several such processes, an approximate solution is shown based on the branch‐and‐bound method to derive the assignment to processors minimizing the mean job execution time. Several methods are introduced to reduce the search time. Finally, based on numerical examples, it is demonstrated that the proposed method is sufficiently useful with a small error compared with the exact solution.
A flow control algorithm for computer networks with two‐teacher learning automata
Authors: Qian Fei , Hirata Hironori
Published: November 2007

This paper considers the routing problem on the computer network and constructs a distributed flow‐routing algorithm by considering the balance between the transfer delay and the throughput and introducing the two‐teacher learning automaton model. In the proposed system, the routing strategy is determined by monitoring the change of the network traffic using the automaton placed at each node of the network and by adjusting the balance between the delay and the throughput so that the users are benefitted as uniformly as possible. More precisely, the fairness problem for the flow control is analyzed, and the possibility of introducing the two‐teacher learning automata is discussed.

The construction of a new flow‐routing algorithm is described which integrates the routing algorithm and the flow control schema. Then a theoretical investigation is presented for the dynamic characteristics of the algorithm proposed in this paper, and a simple simulation is executed. It is shown that the proposed algorithm is useful for the network with heavy traffic by comparing the algorithm to the learning routing algorithm before introducing the flow control.
Detection of broken ellipses by the hough transforms and multiresolutional images
Authors: Watanabe Takashi , Shibata Toshihiro
Published: November 2007

This paper discusses the problem of separating and detecting ellipse patterns. The tradiational ellipse detection methods have assumed contour lines to be connected. Thus, they are disadvantageous in that they cannot detect ellipses whose contours are broken considerably due to noise and overlapping.

Here, a new ellipse detection algorithm is presented which can cope with images such that many ellipses of arbitrary shapes are mixed and connectivities of contours are missing completely due to noise and that parts of contours are lost due to overlapping. The proposed algorithm is based on the Merlin‐Farber method, a kind of Hough transform, and the multiresolutional images and the least‐square method are incorporated. Good detection results were obtained in the experiments implemented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Image sequence coding using 3‐D structure and motion information
Authors: Morikawa Hiroyuki , Harashima Hiroshi
Published: November 2007

Video communications play an important role in an information‐oriented society. A cost‐effective image coding technique capable of rendering high quality video communication services is an important component of any information system.

This paper describes an algorithm for image sequence coding using three‐dimensional (3‐D) structure and motion information. Each image is treated as a 2‐D projection of a 3‐D object, with 3‐D information derived and used in the coding scheme. Since the coding scheme considers physical 3‐D information, it provides data compression at the transmitter and improved image quality at the receiver. Furthermore, because the image is represented in a structure‐oriented fashion, it lends itself to image recognition and image understanding. This aids in the realization of high quality communication systems.

The proposed algorithm makes extensive use of 3‐D structure and motion information in conjunction with 3‐D motion interpolation and 3‐D motion compensation predictive coding technique to achieve efficient, high quality image sequence coding.

A method is described that has 3‐D structure and motion information extraction, and an incremental scheme is presented for stable estimation of 3‐D structure and motion information of rigid as well as non‐rigid bodies.
Pattern separation function of two‐layered random net with feedforward inhibitory connections
Authors: Kobayashi Kunikazu , Torioka Toyoshi , Hara Hajime
Published: November 2007

The two‐layered random neural network with the feedforward inhibitory connections has the interesting property that the input patterns with the same firing rate are separated uniformly under a certain condition, independently of the overlapping rate of the patterns. This paper gives the general condition for the uniform separation of the input patterns with unequal firing rates, independently of the overlapping rate. Then, a detailed condition is derived from the general condition.

Thus it is shown that the network has the function under a certain condition to separate uniformly the input patterns with unequal firing rates. In parallel to this, the effects of the firing rate of the second layer, the firing rates of the input patterns and their ratio on the pattern separation function, are investigated. Based on the investigation, it is shown that the separating function is affected greatly by those firing rates and their ratio.
Academic otolaryngology in the new millennium: We are falling behind
Authors: Bhattacharyya Neil , Shapiro Nina L.
Published: November 2007

Objectives

Determine if young academic otolaryngologists are exhibiting declining publication rates.

Study Design and Setting

A sample of 50 academic otolaryngologists graduating during 1995 to 1999 was selected randomly. For the five years post‐graduation, peer‐reviewed publications were determined from MEDLINE. Publication rates were compared with prior decade cohorts (1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s).

Results

The recent cohort of academic otolaryngologists published a mean of 4.5 articles in five years versus 6.4 for the early 1990s cohort and 8.9 for the 1980s cohort, a statistically significant decline (P = 0.020, ANOVA). Similar declines in major otolaryngology articles (2.4 [1995 to 1999] vs 3.3 [1990 to 1994] vs 5.7 [1980s], P = 0.005) and number of first author articles (1.3 vs 1.6 vs 3.1, P = 0.007) published were noted.

Conclusions

The scholarly output of young academic otolaryngologists is declining when compared with academic otolaryngologists graduating the 1980s and early 1990s.

Significance

This raises concern for the potential career success of new academic otolaryngologists.
The Lund‐Mackay staging system for chronic rhinosinusitis: How is it used and what does it predict?
Authors: Hopkins Claire , Browne John P. , Slack Rob , Lund Valerie , Brown Peter
Published: November 2007

Objectives

The Lund‐Mackay score is widely used in assessment of chronic rhinosinusitis. We aimed to describe its relationship to other measures of pre‐ and post‐treatment health status.

Study Design

Multicenter prospective study of 1840 patients undergoing surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis in the UK.

Results

There was no absolute threshold for surgery, but patients with higher Lund‐Mackay scores underwent more extensive surgery. There was no correlation between Lund‐Mackay and SNOT‐22 scores. The Lund‐Mackay increased with increasing grade of polyposis. The Lund‐Mackay score was associated with symptom reduction (coefficient = 0.24, P = 0.02) complication rates (odds ratio, 1.08, 95%CI 1.06 to 1.1), and revision rates (odds ratio, 1.03, 95% CI 1.001 to 1.06).

Conclusions

The Lund‐Mackay score measures a different aspect of disease to “subjective” symptom scores. However, it correlates well with other markers of disease severity, the nature of surgery offered, and its outcome.

Significance

This demonstrates the strengths and limitations of a commonly used staging system.
Performance after cochlear implantation in DFNB1 patients
Authors: Connell Sarah S , Angeli Simon I , Suarez Hamlet , Hodges Annelle V , Balkany Thomas J , Liu Xue Z
Published: November 2007

Objective

To evaluate the speech perception and language development with cochlear implants (CI) of DFNB1 children in comparison with non‐DFNB1 deaf children.

Study Design

Retrospective case series.

Setting

Academic tertiary center.

Results

Thirty‐one congenitally deafened children, screened for GJB2 allele variants, were followed for an average 32 months after CI. With the use of age‐appropriate testing, 75% of DFNB1 and 53% of non‐DFNB1 children achieved open set word recognition (speech perception category [SPC] level 6). Multivariate analysis showed that SPC was primarily dependent on duration of CI use, but not on the cause of hearing loss. In Reynell language tests, DFNB1 children showed more consistent and quicker gains than non‐DFNB1 children.

Conclusion

Although children with CI with DFNB1 show faster gains in Reynell scores, duration of CI use appears to have a greater effect on speech perception than DFNB1 status. SIGNIFICANCE: Identification of DFNB1 children is useful in counseling of CI outcomes.
Autologous grafts for treatment of vocal sulcus and atrophy
Authors: Pinto José Antônio , Freitas Mario Luiz Augustus da Silva , Carpes Arturo Frick , Zimath Paula , Marquis Valeria , Godoy Luciana
Published: November 2007

Objectives

To obtain complete glottal closure, and evaluate improvement of vocal fold vibration amplitude and vocal quality in patients with sulcus vocalis.

Methods

Autogenous fat and/or fascia augmentation was used in 34 patients with sulcus vocalis. Mean follow‐up time was 1 year. The perceptual acoustic and phonatory functions and videolaryngostroboscopic data were evaluated before and after the procedure.

Results

Most of the individuals reported an improvement of vocal quality, a complete glottal closure, an enhancement of mucosal wave excursion, and significant results of acoustic perceptual and phonatory functions after the surgery.

Conclusion

Fat and fascia injections are effective autogenous implants and should be considered options in the treatment of patients with sulcus vocalis and vocal fold atrophy.
Laser‐assisted cerebrospinal fluid leak repair: An animal model to test feasibility
Authors: Bleier Benjamin S. , Palmer James N. , Sparano Anthony M. , Cohen Noam A.
Published: November 2007

Objectives

To test the feasibility of laser tissue welding as a method of creating an endonasal tissue bond for the purpose of cerebrospinal fluid leak repair.

Study Design and Setting

An 808 nm diode laser was used with a 42% albumin solder to create laser welds in sheep nasal septal mucosa, periosteum, and in situ rabbit maxillary sinus mucosa. Each condition was tested five times. Groups were compared with Kruskal‐Wallis nonparametric analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post‐hoc multiple‐comparisons testing with the Bonferroni test.

Results

The burst pressures of sheep septal mucosa (34.88 ± 3.49 mmHg) and periosteum (30.02 ± 2.23 mmHg) were significantly higher than suture repair. A burst pressure of 69.58 ± 2.85 mmHg was achieved in rabbit in situ maxillary sinus mucosa.

Conclusion

Laser welding is capable of producing tissue bonds whose burst strength exceeds that of human intracranial pressure.

Significance

This is the first study to examine the feasibility of laser tissue welding in endonasal tissues. The ability to produce instant transnasal tissue bonds with burst pressures that exceed human intracranial pressure make this technology ideal for cerebrospinal fluid leak repair.
Potential non–immunoglobulin E–mediated food allergies: Comparison of open challenge and double‐blind placebo‐controlled food challenge
Authors: Wang De Yun , Gordon Bruce R. , Chan Yiong Huak , Yeoh Kian Hian
Published: November 2007

Objective

Comparison of open food challenge (OFC) with double‐blind placebo‐controlled food challenge (DBPCFC).

Study Design

Prospective sequential randomized challenges.

Methods

Twenty adults with chronic allergy symptoms and at least 1 positive intradermal food wheal response recorded symptoms during DBPCFC and OFC provoked using organic foods, normal portions, and normal food preparation. Acoustic Rhinometry and biochemical tests were done during DBPCFC.

Results

All patients reacted to at least 1 food and to all challenges with the same food, with multiorgan symptoms in the nose, nervous system, throat, and lung. There was a correlation in the type and severity of symptoms (P = 0.015) for OFC and DBPCFC, and both were significantly (P < 0.01) more severe than placebo. Compared with DBPCFC, OFC sensitivity was 66%, and positive predictive value was 89%.

Conclusion

This is the first study showing both concordance of OFC and DBPCFC and also that intradermal tests can identify reactive foods that can be verified by DBPCFC. Because most tests for IgE‐mediated food allergy were negative, observed reactions were probably non‐IgE mediated.
Computer modeling and intraoperative navigation in maxillofacial surgery
Authors: Pham Annette M. , Rafii Amir A. , Metzger Marc C. , Jamali Amir , Strong Bradley E.
Published: November 2007

Objectives

Recent advances in computer‐modeling software allow reconstruction of facial symmetry in a virtual environment. This study evaluates the use of preoperative computer modeling and intraoperative navigation to guide reconstruction of the max‐illofacial skeleton.

Methods

Three patients with traumatic maxillofacial deformities received preoperative, thin‐cut axial CT scans. Three‐dimensional reconstructions, virtual osteotomies, and bony reductions were performed using MIMICS planning software (Materialise, Ann Arbor, MI). The original and “repaired” virtual datasets were then imported into an intraoperative navigation system and used to guide the surgical repair.

Results

Postoperative CT scans and photographs reveal excellent correction of enophthalmos to within 1 mm in patient 1, significant improvement in symmetry of the nasoethmoid complex in patient 2, and reconstruction of the zygomaticomaxillary complex location to within 1 mm in patient 3.

Conclusion

Computer modeling and intraoperative navigation is a relatively new tool that can assist surgeons with reconstruction of the maxillofacial skeleton.
Otologic surgery following ear trauma
Authors: Conoyer J. Matthew , Kaylie David M. , Jackson C. Gary
Published: November 2007

Objectives

To investigate common presentations and expected outcomes in patients with traumatically induced otologic dysfunction.

Study Design

Retrospective case review of patients who underwent otologic surgery for sequelae of otologic trauma over a 28‐year period. Patients were stratified into major and minor trauma cohorts. Major trauma was designated as closed head injury with or without temporal bone fracture; lower‐energy insults comprised the minor trauma group. Preoperative and postoperative audiograms were obtained and correlated with extent of injury.

Setting

Tertiary referral center.

Results

Major trauma accounted for 44.9 percent of all patients. The remaining 55.1 percent suffered minor trauma, of which simple traumatic tympanic membrane perforation was the most common insult (33.6%). Two hundred twenty‐seven cases were performed on 214 patients. Pure tone averages improved a significant 20.8 dB to essentially normal levels postoperatively.

Conclusion

Regardless of injury extent, surgical rehabilitation of conductive losses attains excellent hearing results that surpass those historically reported for the chronic ear population.
Turbulence structure in rough- and smooth-wall boundary layers
Authors: VOLINO R. J. , SCHULTZ M. P. , FLACK K. A.
Published: November 2007

Turbulence measurements for rough-wall boundary layers are presented and compared to those for a smooth wall. The rough-wall experiments were made on a woven mesh surface at Reynolds numbers approximately equal to those for the smooth wall. Fully rough conditions were achieved. The present work focuses on turbulence structure, as documented through spectra of the fluctuating velocity components, swirl strength, and two-point auto- and cross-correlations of the fluctuating velocity and swirl. The present results are in good agreement, both qualitatively and quantitatively, with the turbulence structure for smooth-wall boundary layers documented in the literature. The boundary layer is characterized by packets of hairpin vortices which induce low-speed regions with regular spanwise spacing. The same types of structure are observed for the rough- and smooth-wall flows. When the measured quantities are normalized using outer variables, some differences are observed, but quantitative similarity, in large part, holds. The present results support and help to explain the previously documented outer-region similarity in turbulence statistics between smooth- and rough-wall boundary layers.
Demonstrative behaviour and political communication in later Anglo-Saxon England
Authors: Barrow Julia
Published: November 2007

The use of demonstrative behaviour in political communication in the tenth and eleventh centuries (for example, proskynesis to obtain pardon) has been examined extensively over the last two decades, especially with regard to Ottonian and Salian Germany. So far, however, there has been no attempt to study its operation in Anglo-Saxon England. This paper aims to do so, looking for examples in narrative sources of demonstrative piety, reactions to rebellion, arbitration, petition and so on, and exploring how far the Anglo-Saxons were influenced by their continental neighbours and how far narrative sources themselves might have transmitted ideas.
Evidence of Recluses in Eleventh-Century England
Authors: Licence Tom
Published: November 2007

The village recluse, avowed to remain in his or her cell, was a feature of the later medieval landscape, but in what circumstances did recluses and the notion of a distinct reclusive vocation emerge? Examining the earliest recluses identifiable, this article contends that reclusion as such, though not without precedent, gained popularity in England in the third quarter of the eleventh century and acquired a terminology (already current on the Continent) in its last third as an expression of the ascetic movement within the emerging parish.
Managing the dead in catastrophes: guiding principles and practical recommendations for first responders
Authors: Tidball-Binz Morris
Published: November 2007

The proper management of the dead from catastrophes is an essential component of humanitarian response, together with the rescue and care of survivors and the provision and rehabilitation of essential services. Sadly, insufficient recognition of the importance of ensuring proper management of the dead and of caring for the needs of the bereaved, coupled with the frequent collapse of forensic services in the aftermath of catastrophes, contribute to perpetuating the tragedy and trauma suffered by survivors forever unable properly to bury and mourn their dead. In 2006 the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), together with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), published guidelines for the management of the dead, to help improve the management of the dead after catastrophes. The publication, Management of Dead Bodies after Disasters: A Field Manual for First Responders, offers practical and simple recommendations to non-specialists for the proper and dignified management of the dead in catastrophes and for the care of bereaved relatives. It also helps to dispel the principal myth which often complicates this difficult task: the unfounded association of cadavers with epidemics. The manual has proven to be a valuable tool for first responders, including humanitarian workers, for disaster response and preparedness in various operational contexts.
Ein 12-Stunden-Schwimmen führt zu keinem nachweisbaren Verlust an subkutanem Fett – eine Fallstudie
Authors: Knechtle  , Knechtle  , Kaul  , Kohler
Published: November 2007

Bei einem 12-Stunden-Schwimmen konnte bei einem Athleten bei konstantem Körpergewicht ein Verlust von 1.1 kg Muskelmasse sowie eine Abnahme des totalen Körperwasser von 2 l nachgewiesen werden, wobei die Fettmasse konstant blieb. Anhand des spezifischen Gewichts des Urins sowie hämatologischer Parameter ist der Athlet keine Dehydratation eingegangen. Wir gehen davon aus, dass der Verlust an Muskelmasse dem Abbau der intramuskulär gespeicherten Energie an intramuskulären Triglyzeriden und Muskelglykogen entspricht. Um die in einer Fallstudie erhaltenen Resultate eines Abbaus von Muskelmasse mit gleich bleibender Fettmasse bei einer längeren Schwimmbelastung zu bestätigen, müsste ein grösseres Kollektiv an Schwimmern untersucht werden.
Hidden rays of diffraction for dielectric wedge
Authors: Kim S.‐Y.
Published: November 2007

Electromagnetic diffraction by a dielectric wedge was analyzed using the method of hidden rays. After ordinary ray‐tracing is terminated in the physical region the usual principle of geometrical optics is also applied to trace the hidden rays in the complementary region, in which original media of background and dielectric are exchanged for each other. The diffraction coefficients are constructed by finite series of cotangent functions, which have one‐to‐one correspondence with not only ordinary rays in the physical region but also hidden rays in the complementary region. The angular period of the cotangent functions is adjusted to satisfy the edge condition at wedge tip. The accuracy of the constructed diffraction coefficients was checked by showing how closely the null‐field condition is satisfied in the complementary region.
Ecohydrology of a seasonal cloud forest in Dhofar: 2. Role of clouds, soil type, and rooting depth in tree‐grass competition
Authors: Hildebrandt Anke , Eltahir Elfatih A. B.
Published: November 2007

Using a dynamic ecosystem model, we investigate the role of summer cloud immersion in the ecohydrology of a seasonal deciduous forest in Oman. This is a semiarid region where vegetation is immersed in dense cloud during a 3‐month‐long monsoon season. The simulated vegetation at equilibrium depends strongly on cloud cover during the wet season, with trees predicted under cloudy conditions and grasses when assuming a cloud‐free monsoon. By varying soil type and rooting depth, we identify a rooting depth at which tree performance is optimal. This is the depth at which transpiration is maximized and the sum of all other fluxes from the soil is minimized. Our analysis shows that cloud cover creates a favorable seasonality in this ecosystem that is crucial for maintaining trees. This is achieved by (1) prolonging the growing season from 3 months to 6 months and (2) allowing deeper infiltration, which assures competitiveness of trees in an otherwise too dry environment.
Predicting postfire sediment yields at the hillslope scale: Testing RUSLE and Disturbed WEPP
Authors: Larsen Isaac J. , MacDonald Lee H.
Published: November 2007

High‐severity wildfires can increase hillslope‐scale sediment yields by several orders of magnitude. Accurate predictions of postfire sediment yields are needed to guide management decisions and assess the potential impact of soil loss on site productivity and downstream aquatic resources. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Disturbed WEPP are the most commonly used models to predict postfire sediment yields at the hillslope scale, but neither model has been extensively tested against field data. The objectives of this paper are to (1) compare predicted sediment yields from RUSLE and Disturbed WEPP against 252 plot years of data from nine fires in the Colorado Front Range; and (2) suggest how each model might be improved. Predicted and measured sediment yields were poorly correlated for RUSLE (R2 = 0.16) and only slightly better correlated for Disturbed WEPP (R2 = 0.25). Both models tended to over‐predict sediment yields when the measured values were less than 1 Mg ha−1 yr−1 and to under‐predict higher sediment yields. Model accuracy was not improved by increasing the soil erodibility (K) factor in RUSLE and was only slightly improved by slowing the vegetative recovery sequence in Disturbed WEPP. Both models much more accurately predicted the mean sediment yields for hillslopes grouped by fire and severity (R2 = 0.54 to 0.66) than for individual plots. The performance of RUSLE could be improved by incorporating an erosivity threshold and a nonlinear relationship between rainfall erosivity and sediment yields. The performance of WEPP could be improved by reducing the effective hydraulic conductivity in sites that have recently burned at high severity. The results suggest that neither model can fully capture the complexity of the different controlling factors and the resultant plot‐scale variability in sediment yields.
Estimation of saturated hydraulic conductivity Ks from the van Genuchten shape parameter α
Authors: Guarracino Luis
Published: November 2007

A simple relationship to estimate the saturated hydraulic conductivity Ks from the van Genuchten shape parameter α is presented. The derivation of the relationship is based on the assumption that the porosity of the soil can be represented by a group of parallel capillary tubes with a fractal cumulative size distribution of pores. The proposed expression of Ks(α) reduces the number of independent van Genuchten parameters from five to four and permits determination of all model parameters directly from water content data, avoiding measurements of saturated hydraulic conductivity. Estimated values of Ks for major soil textural groups are in very good agreement with average values obtained by Carsel and Parrish (1988).
Orographic effects on the northwestern Pacific monsoon: Role of air‐sea interaction
Authors: Okajima Hideki , Xie Shang‐Ping
Published: November 2007

Orographic effects on northwestern Pacific climate are investigated with atmospheric and coupled ocean‐atmosphere general circulation models. In response to the removal of global orography, both models simulate a widespread decrease of summer rainfall over the Asian Continent. Over the subtropical northwestern Pacific, however, the response is opposite between the atmospheric and coupled models during spring and early summer. Sea surface temperature (SST) cooling is responsible for these differences between the atmospheric and coupled response. The SST cooling is triggered by winter stationary wave response to the mountain removal and amplified during spring by the wind‐evaporation‐SST feedback, altering the atmospheric response through summer. These results illustrate the importance of air‐sea interaction and provide useful guidance for interpreting paleoclimate changes in response to the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and Rift Valley of Africa.
Constant bottom water flow into the Indian Ocean for the past 140 ka indicated by sediment 231Pa/230Th ratios
Authors: Thomas Alexander L. , Henderson Gideon M. , McCave I. Nicholas
Published: November 2007

A down‐core 231Pa/230Th record has been measured from the southwestern Indian Ocean to reconstruct the history of deep water flow into this basin over the last glacial‐interglacial cycle. The (231Paxs/230Thxs)0 ratio throughout the record is nearly constant at approximately 0.055, significantly lower than the production ratio of 0.093, indicating that the proxy is sensitive to changes in circulation and/or sediment flux at this site. The consistent value suggests that there has been no change in the inflow of Antarctic Bottom Water to the Indian Ocean during the last 140 ka, in contrast to the changes in deep circulation thought to occur in other ocean basins. The stability of the (231Paxs/230Thxs)0 value in the record contrasts with an existing sortable silt () record from the same core. The observed variability is attributed to a local geostrophic effect amplifying small changes in circulation. A record of authigenic U from the same core suggests that there was reduced oxygen in bottom waters at the core locality during glacial periods. The consistency of the (231Paxs/230Thxs)0 record implies that this could not have arisen by local changes in productivity, thus suggesting a far‐field control: either globally reduced bottom water oxygenation or increased productivity south of the Opal Belt during glacials.