bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multimodal imaging guidance for laser ablation in tracheal stenosis
Authors: Murgu Septimiu D. , Colt Henri G. , Mukai David , Brenner Matt 
Published: July 2010

AbstractObjective/Hypothesis:Laser‐induced damage of tracheal wall microstructures might contribute to recurrence after bronchoscopic treatment of tracheal strictures. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate how multimodal imaging using white light bronchoscopy (WLB), endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) might identify in vivo airway wall changes before and resulting from Nd:YAG laser ablation and dilation of tracheal stenosis.Study Design:Case study.Methods:Commercially available WLB, high frequency EBUS using a 20‐MHz radial probe and time‐domain, frontal imaging OCT systems were used to characterize the extent, morphology, and airway wall microstructures at the area of hypertrophic fibrotic tissue formation before, during and after treatment of postintubation tracheal stenosis.Results:WLB revealed the location of a complex, extensive, severe stricture. EBUS showed a homogeneous layer overlying a hyperechogenic layer corresponding to disrupted cartilage. OCT showed a homogeneous light backscattering layer and absence of layered microstructures, confirming absence in close proximity of normal airway wall. After laser ablation, OCT of charred tissue showed high backscattering and shadowing artifacts. OCT of noncharred tissue showed a thinner, homogeneous, light backscattering layer. EBUS showed thinner but persistent hypertrophic tissue suggesting incomplete treatment. WLB revealed improved airway patency postprocedure and recurrence 3 weeks later.Conclusions:EBUS identified cartilage disruption and residual hypertrophic tissue, the evidence of which might contribute to recurrence. OCT revealed homogeneous light backscaterring representing persistent noncharred hypertrophic tissues but it did not visualize cartilage disruption. Future studies are warranted to confirm whether these technologies can help guide bronchoscopic treatments.
The effects of human trampling on the microbiological properties of soil and vegetation in mediterranean mountain areas
Authors: Lucas‐Borja M. E. , Bastida F. , Moreno J. L. , Nicolás C. , Andres M. , López F. R. , Del Cerro A. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractIncreased tourist activity and recreational use of wilderness and other protected areas has endangered zones of high environmental value. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of trampling intensity (low, high use trails and untrampled trails) and distance from the trails (on the trails, at 10 and 20 m from the trails) on the vegetation, chemical, physical and microbiological properties of a soil in Mediterranean mountain areas. Trail type and distance from the trail significantly influenced several parameters. High use trails showed lower values of plant cover and diversity of vegetation species, as well as soil respiration and some enzyme activities (phosphatase, β‐glucosidase and dehydrogenase) than low use trails. In addition, the effects of trampling spatially extended further from these high use trails than from low use trails. Statistical analysis showed that some microbiological (basal respiration, dehydrogenase activity and β‐glucosidase activity) and vegetal parameters (plant cover and diversity) may be established as a set of indicators for the evaluation of soil quality on these areas subjected to human trampling. We concluded that trampling significantly impacts on soil microbial processes and vegetal communities, and visitor should be restricted from entering ecologically sensitive areas due to the effects of trampling. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Charge and Size Dependence of Liposome Diffusion in Semidilute Biopolymer Solutions
Authors: Rusu Laura , Lumma Dirk , Rädler Joachim O. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe diffusion of liposomes and PL/DNA complexes in mucin and collagen solutions, considered to model ‘in vivo’ colloidal gene delivery vector transport, is studied with FCS. The diffusion of defined liposomes is investigated as a function of particle size, surface charge, and the deviation from the Stokes‐Einstein behavior. In all cases the self‐diffusion coefficient decreases exponentially with polymer concentration. The same surface charge dependence of diffusion is observed in mucin for PL/DNA complexes with either positive or negative excess charge. Incubation of positively‐charged PL/DNA complexes in a natural lung surfactant lipid increases the diffusion coefficients to almost the same as for the negatively‐charged PL/DNA complexes.magnified image
Photocurable Shape‐Memory Copolymers of ε‐Caprolactone and L‐Lactide
Authors: Nagata Minoru , Yamamoto Yu 
Published: July 2010

AbstractBiodegradable and photocurable block copolymers of ε‐caprolactone and L‐lactide were synthesized by polycondensation of PLLA diol ($\overline {M} _{{\rm n}} $ = 10 000 g · mol−1), PCL diol ($\overline {M} _{{\rm n}} $ = 10 000 g · mol−1), and a chain extender bearing a coumarin group. The effect of copolymer composition on the thermal and mechanical properties of the photocured copolymers was studied by means of DSC and cyclic tensile tests. An increase in Young's modulus and a decrease in the tensile strain with increasing PLLA content was observed for the block copolymers. Block copolymers with high PCL content showed good to excellent shape‐memory properties. Random copolymers exhibited Rf and Rr values above 90% at 45 °C for an extremely large tensile strain of 1 000%.magnified image
Indication of Local Phase Separation in Polyimide/Silica Hybrid Polymers
Authors: Bartolotta Antonino , Calandra Pietro 
Published: July 2010

AbstractPI/SiO2 hybrid polymers involving the in situ generation of SiO2 particles through the sol/gel route have emerged as promising materials in many fields of modern technology thanks to their unique structural characteristics. In this paper their structural and dynamic properties were investigated by FT‐IR and DMTA as a function of SiO2 content. All data consistently highlight a loosening of polymeric structure due to the presence of SiO2 nanoparticles and suggest a silica‐induced structural change most probably due to a sub‐micrometer scale SiO2 phase separation. Our results demonstrate how the analysis of sub‐glass γ‐relaxation dynamics can be exploited to investigate sub‐micro phase segregation in such materials.magnified image
1H NMR Determination of the Doping Level of Doped Polyaniline
Authors: Wang Xing , Sun Taolei , Wang Chunyu , Wang Ce , Zhang Wanjin , Wei Yen 
Published: July 2010

Abstract1H NMR spectroscopy is an important method to obtain detailed structural information about polymers. In this study, we demonstrate the assignment of a new set of triplet peaks (sharp, equal‐strength, and equidistant peaks at δ = 6.97, 7.07, and 7.17 with a coupling constant of 51.1 Hz) in 1H NMR spectra for doped PANI, which are directly correlated with the protonation of the PANI backbone. The H/D exchange, dedoping, and redoping procedures supply the experimental proofs. Analyses show that the integral area ratio of the triplet peak is dependent on the effective doping of PANI and has a clear relationship with the conductivity. It thus provides a quantitative tool to evaluate the doping nature of PANI.magnified image
Quantitative assessment of left ventricular function in humans at 7 T
Authors: Brandts Anne , Westenberg Jos J. M. , Versluis Maarten J. , Kroft Lucia J. M. , Smith Nadine B. , Webb Andrew G. , de Roos Albert 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to determine the ability of 7 T cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to quantitatively assess left ventricular volumes, mass, and function from cine short‐axis series and left ventricular diastolic filling from velocity‐encoded MRI in 10 healthy volunteers. As comparative “gold standard,” the corresponding measures obtained at 1.5 T were taken. Left ventricular volumes, function, and mass were obtained by manual image segmentation. Trans‐mitral flow graphs were obtained from 2D one‐directional through‐plane velocity‐encoded MRI planned at the mitral valve in end‐systole. Imaging at 7 T MRI was successful in 80% of the examinations. Assessment of left ventricular volumes, function, and mass at 7 T showed good agreement with 1.5 T (no significant differences between variables describing volumes, function, and mass with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.77 to 0.96). Trans‐mitral stroke volume and the ratio between early and atrial peak filling rate showed strong agreement at both field strengths (no significant differences between stroke volumes and filling ratios with intraclass correlation coefficients 0.92 for stroke volumes and 0.77 for peak filling ratios). In conclusion, this study shows that assessing left ventricular volumes, function, and flow is feasible at 7 T MRI and that standardized MRI protocols provide similar quantitative results when compared with 1.5 T MRI. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Acoustic noise‐optimized verse pulses
Authors: Schmitter S. , Bock M. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractVariable‐rate selective excitation RF pulses modulate the slice selection gradients during RF transmission, especially to reduce the total RF power. Amplitude‐modulated slice selection gradients can lead to increased gradient noise, in particular in high‐field MRI where variable‐rate selective excitation techniques are often used. In this work, an algorithm is presented that calculates a variable‐rate selective excitation pulse modulation from given RF pulses with constant slice selection gradient. The algorithm avoids the known acoustic resonance frequencies of the gradient system to minimize sound pressure levels. It was tested with four different slice‐selective RF pulse shapes (Sinc, Gaussian, and two Shinnar‐LeRoux). Sound measurements revealed a reduction of the mean sound pressure level by up to 13dB, and simultaneously, the specific absorption rate was reduced by 55%. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A convexity‐based homotopy method for nonlinear optimization in model predictive control
Authors: Bonilla Julián , Diehl Moritz , Logist Filip , De Moor Bart , Van Impe Jan F. M. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThis paper presents a convexity‐based homotopy solution procedure to non‐convex optimal control problems (OCPs) arising in model predictive control. The approach deals with a special class of OCP formulations, where the dynamic system involved is control‐affine and the objective is a penalty on deviations from a state reference trajectory. The non‐convex OCP is modified by introducing a penalized pseudo state and a homotopy parameter which gradually transforms the original problem into a convex one. The method solves first this convex formulation and uses the result to initialize the solution of the next problem on the zero path, recovering the original OCP. The proposed methodology is evaluated for the benchmark control problem of an isothermal chemical reactor with Van de Vusse reactions and input multiplicity. For the simple case with control horizon one, the method is able to find the global solution due to the convex initialization, while local optimization techniques only lead to a local minimum. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preparation and characterization of polypyrrole with dispersed metallic rhodium particles
Authors: Stochmal Edyta , Hasik Magdalena , Turek Wincenty , Bernasik Andrzej , Adamczyk Anna , Plis Agnieszka , Litynska‐Dobrzynska Lidia 
Published: July 2010

AbstractPolypyrrole (PPy) with dispersed metallic Rh particles has been prepared by all‐chemical route, i.e. reduction of Rh3+ ions existing in RhCl3 aqueous solutions with sodium borohydride (NaBH4) carried out in the presence of the previously obtained PPy doped with chloride ions (PPyCl). PPy–Rh composites thus formed have been characterized using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM, TEM) combined with energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) microanalysis, Rh3d X‐ray photoelectron (XPS), and IR spectroscopies. This has made it possible to find out that metallic Rh nanoparticles, mainly of sizes below 10 nm, have been present in the composites. Agglomerates, with sizes up to 0.7 µm, have been formed in the systems containing higher amounts of Rh. PPy serving as the matrix in the composites has been doped. However, its doping level has been lower than that of the starting PPyCl. This has been explained by partial reduction of the polymer occurring during preparation of the composites.Catalytic properties of the PPy–Rh systems have been investigated using isopropyl alcohol conversion as a test reaction. It has been established that the composites are active redox catalysts. This makes them promising materials for applications as catalysts of various redox processes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Utilization of the smoking cessation medicine varenicline: an intensive post‐marketing study in New Zealand
Authors: Harrison‐Woolrych Mira , Ashton Janelle 
Published: July 2010

AbstractPurposeTo examine the utilization of varenicline during the first year of marketing in New Zealand (NZ) and to examine how this compares with the dosing instructions recommended in the Champix® product information.MethodsDispensing records for all NZ patients prescribed varenicline were collected by the Intensive Medicines Monitoring Programme (IMMP) during the first year this medicine was available in this country. Analyses of these data included patient characteristics and patterns of usage—in particular the duration of treatment dispensed as the first course. An assessment of the effectiveness of varenicline in post‐marketing use was also performed on a sub‐group of the cohort for whom follow‐up information was available.ResultsOf 3415 patients in the first year IMMP cohort, only 125 patients (4%) were dispensed the recommended 12 weeks varenicline treatment. 1299 (38%) were dispensed 14 days treatment (most often as a Starter Pack), 766 (22%) were dispensed 6 weeks, 411 (12%) were dispensed 4 weeks and 332 (8%) patients were dispensed more than 12 weeks treatment as a continuous course. The most common reasons for stopping varenicline prematurely were adverse reactions and cost of treatment. In a subgroup of 1299 patients, varenicline was reported to have been effective for 359 (28%) patients.ConclusionsIn ‘real‐life’ post‐marketing use, most patients did not receive 12 weeks varenicline treatment as recommended in the Champix product information. This observation may have implications for the effectiveness of this smoking cessation medicine. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The experiences, needs and concerns of younger women with breast cancer: a meta‐ethnography
Authors: Adams Eike , McCann Lisa , Armes Jo , Richardson Alison , Stark Daniel , Watson Eila , Hubbard Gill 
Published: July 2010

AbstractObjective: This meta‐ethnography synthesises the evidence on the experiences, needs and concerns of younger women with breast cancer.Methods: Using a method called ‘reciprocal translation’ we developed a conceptual model to reflect the local and social contexts, issues, processes, needs and concerns of importance in this literature.Findings: Key findings relate to the particular point in the life‐course at which young women with breast cancer stand. Issues for these women relate to feeling different as a result of cancer, fear of recurrence, feeling ‘out of sync’ and altered embodied subjectivity. Young women with breast cancer use three processes to integrate the changes that cancer brings, namely, balancing, normalising and changing. Our conceptual model also highlights young women's needs, primarily for support, information, childcare, counselling and spiritual support. Areas of reproduction, fertility and sexuality were also of particular concern. The included papers have methodological limitations that impact on our findings, such as opportunistic data analyses, lack of theoretical frameworks and limited reference to socio‐cultural factors.Conclusion: The conceptual model developed as a result of this meta‐ethnography provides a basis for practitioners to address these young women's concerns more adequately and comprehensively. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Measurement of airway ion transport assists the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis
Authors: Middleton Peter G. , House Hugh H. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe nasal potential difference (PD) demonstrates the increased Na absorption and decreased Cl secretion typically found in cystic fibrosis (CF). It provides useful information for diagnostic purposes and measures the effect of new treatments on the ion transport defects found in CF. This study summarizes the nasal PD results in the respiratory tract of different groups of subjects, examines the responses in squamous epithelia and evaluates new ways to consider nasal PD results.Nasal PD was tested using the standard protocol of baseline, amiloride, low chloride, and isoproterenol solutions in 40 healthy non‐CF volunteers, 46 CF subjects, and 78 subjects referred for investigation of possible CF. Nasal PD was also measured in the squamous epithelium at the anterior nares in six non‐CF subjects.Baseline PD was elevated in the CF (47.5 (1.7) mV) compared with non‐CF subjects: (14.0 (0.8) mV, P < 0.00001). Combined [Cl + Isop] responses were smaller in the CF (−0.1 (0.4) mV) compared with the non‐CF subjects (26.2 (1.2) mV, P < 0.00001). In the diagnostic cohort 58 were given a non‐CF diagnosis, 16 had CF confirmed, but 4 remained indeterminate. Separate consideration of Na and Cl transport was easily portrayed through X–Y plots. Finally, the nasal PD responses of squamous epithelium showed high baseline values, but little response to amiloride and low chloride solutions.The nasal PD provides useful information in the diagnostic algorithm of CF, and in the delineation of the two ion transport defects characteristically found in the respiratory epithelium. Avoidance of the squamous epithelium remains an important consideration for those performing and interpreting nasal PD responses. Pediatr. Pulmonol. 2010; 45:789–795. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The respiratory management of patients with duchenne muscular dystrophy: A DMD care considerations working group specialty article
Authors: Birnkrant David J. , Bushby Katharine M.D. , Amin Raouf S. , Bach John R. , Benditt Joshua O. , Eagle Michelle , Finder Jonathan D. , Kalra Maninder S. , Kissel John T. , Koumbourlis Anastassios C. , Kravitz Richard M. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractIn 2001, the Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research and Education Amendments (MD‐CARE Act) was enacted, which directed federal agencies to coordinate the development of treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy. As part of the mandate, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiated surveillance and educational activities, which included supporting development of care considerations for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) utilizing the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method (RAM). This document represents the consensus recommendations of the project's 10‐member Respiratory Panel and includes advice on necessary equipment, procedures and diagnostics; and a structured approach to the assessment and management of the respiratory complications of DMD via assessment of symptoms of hypoventilation and identification of specific thresholds of forced vital capacity, peak cough flow and maximum expiratory pressure. The document includes a set of Figures adaptable as “pocket guides” to aid clinicians. This article is an expansion of the respiratory component of the multi‐specialty article originally appearing in Lancet Neurology, comprising respiratory recommendations from the CDC Care Considerations project. Pediatr. Pulmonol. 2010; 45:739–748. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Surface plasmons with phase singularities and their effects on matter
Authors: Andrews D. L. , Babiker M. , Lembessis V. E. , Al‐Awfi S. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractWe explain how a surface plasmon optical vortex can be created when a laser beam with a phase singularity such as Laguerre–Gaussian light is totally internally reflected at the planar surface of a dielectric on which a metallic thin film is deposited. The light field in the vacuum region is evanescent in that it decays with distance perpendicular to the film surface, but significantly, it retains the phase singularity of the original light beam and also the orbital angular momentum carried by that beam. We describe the essential features of such surface optical vortices and discuss how they can, in principle, be used to influence atoms localised in the vicinity of the surface. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Erratum: Modelling c‐Si/SiNx interface recombination by surface damage
Authors: Steingrube Silke , Altermatt Pietro P. , Schmidt Jan , Brendel Rolf 
Published: July 2010

AbstractDue to an unfortunate conversion error during typesetting, Figure 1 of the Rapid Research Letter by Silke Steingrube et al., published in Phys. Status Solidi RRL 4, No. 3–4, 91–93 (2010), was reproduced with partly wrong labels (especially the assignment of curves in Fig. 1a, b). The correct Figure 1 is presented here. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Using Hidden Markov Model to detect rogue access points
Authors: Shivaraj Gayathri , Song Min , Shetty Sachin 
Published: July 2010

AbstractOne of the most challenging security concerns for network administrators is the presence of rogue access points (RAPs). The challenge is to detect and disable a RAP before it poses a serious security risk. In this paper, we propose a statistical based approach to detect RAPs using a Hidden Markov Model (HMM), which is applied to passively measure packet‐header data collected at a gateway router. The main idea is to process the sequence of packet traces in order to distinguish the normal packets from the abnormal ones. Our approach utilizes variations in packet inter‐arrival time to differentiate between authorized access points and RAPs. We used the inter‐arrival time of a packet as a distinguishing parameter because it varies drastically for a normal activity and an intrusive activity. We developed our HMM by analyzing Denial of Service (DoS) attacks of 802.11 based wireless local area networks. Our trained HMM can detect the presence of a RAP promptly within a second with extreme accuracy (very low false positive and false negative ratios are obtained). The success of our approach lies in the fact that it leverages knowledge about the behavior of the traffic characteristics of 802.11 based wireless local area networks and the properties of DoS attacks. Experiments were also performed to improve the accuracy of our HMM model. Our approach is scalable and non‐intrusive, requiring little deployment cost and effort, and is easy to manage and maintain. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assignment of grouped exposure levels for trend estimation in a regression analysis of summarized data
Authors: Takahashi Kunihiko , Tango Toshiro 
Published: July 2010

AbstractFor performing regression analysis of summarized response data containing grouped intervals of exposure, many researchers use pre‐assigned doses such as the median values of each interval. However, the trend estimate is considerably sensitive to the choice of the assigned values. In this paper, we propose a method to assign the values to obtain a more accurate regression coefficient applying the likelihood approach. Numerical illustrations and comparisons through simulations showed that the proposed dose assignment can yield better estimates of trend in the regression analysis of two variants than that obtained by the conventional assignment methods such as those that use median values. In particular, for the data of a case–control study, the proposed dose improved the accuracy of the procedures such as that developed by Greenland and Longnecker (1992) compared with the conventional pre‐assigned dose. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.