bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A comparative study on ocular damage induced by 1319nm laser radiation
Authors: Chen Hongxia , Yang Zaifu , Wang Jiarui , Chen Peng , Qian Huanwen 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesHigh energy loss of 1,319 nm laser due to pre‐retinal water absorption makes the ocular axial length more critical, while the relative low absorbance of melanin makes retinal pigmented epithelium less contributing, to retinal damage threshold. However, both have never been illustrated experimentally. Here we determined and compared the retinal damage thresholds at this wavelength in three species with different axial lengths and retinal pigmentations. The corneal damage threshold was also determined for further comparative analysis.Materials and MethodsThe retinal damage thresholds of albino rat, non‐pigmented and pigmented rabbit, and the corneal damage threshold of non‐pigmented rabbit were determined for 0.2 and/or 0.4‐second exposure durations. The incident beam diameter on cornea was 5 mm for rabbit retinal and 2 mm for rat retinal and rabbit corneal lesion. Minimum visible lesions were examined 1‐ and 24‐hour post‐exposure. Probit analysis was used to establish the estimated damage threshold for 50% of exposures (ED50). The direct transmittance of pre‐retinal eye media was used for further comparative analysis.ResultsThe retinal ED50 of albino rat for 0.2 seconds, non‐pigmented rabbit for 0.2 seconds, 0.4 seconds, pigmented rabbit for 0.4 seconds was 8.8, 12.1, 22.5, 18.5 J/cm2 (0.28, 2.4, 4.4, 3.6 J in total intraocular energy (TIE)). The corneal ED50 was 86.1 J/cm2. Under the condition of 5 mm beam diameter and 0.4‐second exposure duration, the calculated retinal ED50 of human was higher, while that of rhesus monkey was lower than the corneal ED50.ConclusionFor 1,319 nm laser radiation, the ocular axial length has great, while the retinal pigmentation has only slight influence on retinal damage threshold. The relative lower direct transmittance of human eye media makes the retina more resistant to laser lesion, which should be considered when deriving human maximum permissible exposure (MPE). Lasers Surg. Med. 43:306–312, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
1.9 µm diode laser assisted vascular microanastomoses: Experience in 40 clinical procedures
Authors: Leclère Franck Marie P. , Schoofs Michel , Buys Bruno , Mordon Serge R. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackgroundSince the initial work of Jacobson and Suarez in 1960, microsurgery has evolved greatly. In 2009, we reported our clinical experience with 1.9 µm diode laser‐assisted vascular microanastomoses (LAMA) for free flap reconstruction. In this report, the ongoing study is now expanded to include 11 additional procedures which were analyzed prospectively with a focus on the duration of the LAMA technique.MethodsIn total, 40 clinical procedures with LAMA have been performed since 2005. Mean follow‐up was 3.3 years (range 0.5–5.5 years). Among those, 11 procedures were performed and prospectively analyzed during the period 2008–2009. LAMA was performed with a 1.9 µm diode laser after placement of equidistant stitches. For vessels size <1.5 mm, the following laser parameters were used: spot size 400 µm, five spots for each wall, power 125 mW, arterial/venous fluence 100/90 J/cm2 (spot duration 1/0.9 seconds).ResultsFor the last observed 11 procedures, mean occlusion time of the flap arterial and venous anastomoses was 5.4 ± 0.4 and 6.8 ± 0.7 minutes respectively. One anastomosis required a secondary laser application. Arterial and venous patency rates were 100% at the time of surgery. The success rate for the 11 procedures was 100%. The global success rate of the series (97.5%) is discussed and compared with the literature.ConclusionThe success rates for reconstructive free flap surgery realized with LAMA appear excellent. Technical innovation will most likely lead to widespread use of the handpiece laser in the operating room. Lasers Surg. Med. 43:293–297, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Photodynamic inactivation of bacteria using polyethylenimine–chlorin(e6) conjugates: Effect of polymer molecular weight, substitution ratio of chlorin(e6) and pH
Authors: Huang Liyi , Zhiyentayev Timur , Xuan Yi , Azhibek Dulat , Kharkwal Gitika B. , Hamblin Michael R. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesAntimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) is a novel technique to treat local infections. Previously we reported that the attachment of chlorin(e6) to polyethylenimine (PEI) polymers to form PEI‐ce6 conjugates is an effective way to improve ce6 PDT activity against bacteria. The aim of this work was to explore how the polymer molecular weight, substitution ratio (SR) of ce6 and pH value affect the PDT efficacy.Study Design/Materials and MethodsWe have synthesized PEI‐ce6(10) (MW = 60,000, SR = 1) and PEI‐ce6(11) (MW = 60,000, SR = 5) and compared these with the previous PEI‐ce6(9) (MW = 10,000, SR = 1). We tested the PDT efficacy of these three conjugates against Gram‐negative E. coli and Gram‐positive bacteria (S. aureus and E. fecalis) at three different pH values (5.0, 7.4, 10.0) that may affect the charge on both the bacterial cells and on the conjugate (that has both basic and acidic groups).ResultsPEI‐ce6(9) and PEI‐ce6(10) were the most effective against these tested bacteria. The PDT effect of all three conjugates depended on pH values. The effective order was pH = 10.0 > pH = 7.4 > pH = 5.0 on E. coli. For S. aureus and E. fecalis the order was pH = 5.0 > pH = 10.0 > pH = 7.4. PEI‐ce6(11) PDT activity was worse than PEI‐ce6(10) activity which is probably connected to the fact that ce6 molecules are self‐quenched within the PEI‐ce6(11) molecule. Ce6 quenching within the PEI‐ce6 molecules was proved by analyzing fluorescence spectra of PEI‐ce6 conjugates at different pH values. There were no differences in bacterial uptake between different pH values in three PEI‐ce6 conjugates.ConclusionWe assume high pH (rather than low pH as was hypothesized) disaggregates the conjugates, so the higher pH was more effective than the lower pH against E. coli. But for Gram‐positive bacteria, low pH was more effective possibly due to more overall positive charge on the conjugate. Lasers Surg. Med. 43:313–323, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Combining confluent and fractionally ablative modalities of a novel 2790nm YSGG laser for facial resurfacing
Authors: Munavalli Girish S. , Turley Ayse , Silapunt Sirunya , Biesman Brian 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackgroundSeveral laser technologies exist for improving rhytides, pigmentation, and skin texture. Recent advances in technology introduced a new wavelength, 2,790 nm, erbium:yttrium–scandium–galium–garnet (Er:YSGG) for treatment of photoaging. 2,790 nm Er:YSGG has a water absorption coefficient between CO2 laser and Er:YAG laser and has both ablative and fractional‐ablative capabilities.ObjectivesTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of combining the ablative (confluent) and fractional‐ablative modes of 2,790 nm Er:YSGG laser for treatment of photoaging.Study Design/Materials and MethodsIn this uncontrolled, open label, prospective study, 10 subjects were enrolled and had a single treatment of combined confluent and fractional‐ablative 2,790 nm lasers for photoaging. The primary clinical end point of the study was the change in Fitzpatrick wrinkle score from baseline at different time points as determined by blinded reviewer assessments. Secondary clinical end points were the improvement in fine lines, tone/texture, and pigmentation; the subjects' self assessment; the incidence of side effects; and the tolerability of treatments.ResultsBased on blinded photo‐assessments by two independent dermatologists, subjects showed clinically and statistically significant mean improvement of 1.9 (95% CI: 1.1–2.6), 1.6 (95% CI: 0.8–2.3), and 1.2 (95% CI: 0.5–2.0) in Fitzpatrick wrinkle scores at 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months, respectively. Of the 90% of subjects who showed improvement in Fitzpatrick wrinkle scores, 78% continued to have improvement at the 6‐month follow‐up visit. Mild erythema observed post‐treatment was resolved by the 6‐week follow‐up visit in all subjects. No transient or permanent post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH); or serious adverse events were reported.ConclusionA combined confluent and fractional‐ablative 2,790 nm Er:YSGG laser treatment improves photodamaged skin for at least 6 months. The treatment was well‐tolerated and PIH was not found in our study. Lasers Surg. Med. 43:273–282, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Enhanced photoacoustic detection of melanoma cells using gold nanoparticles
Authors: McCormack Devin R. , Bhattacharyya Kiran , Kannan Raghuraman , Katti Kattesh , Viator John A. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesWe tagged melanoma cells with gold nanoparticles to show their viability for increasing sensitivity in a photoacoustic detection system. Ultimately, this study models the detection of circulating tumor cells, which are an important prognostic factor in the progress of melanoma.Study Design/Materials and MethodsA Q‐switched, tunable Nd:YAG laser was used to irradiate cells in both a stationary and flow set‐up. Photoacoustic signals were measured using a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film in the stationary test, and a commercially available ultrasonic probe for flow tests. Both unmodified melanoma cells and gold nanoparticle (AuNP) tagged melanoma were tested.ResultsAuNP tagged melanoma in a stationary set‐up showed an average of 0.227 mV/mJ larger signal than the untagged, indicating a signal increase of 34%. At 500 nm there is a maximum difference of 0.295 mV/mJ, or a 41% increase. In flow tests, the ultrasound probe was able to detect single cells, but the increased signal from AuNP tagging was minimal.ConclusionAuNP tagging proved to give an increased photoacoustic signal allowing greater sensitivity in stationary metastasized melanoma detection systems using photoacoustics. Lasers Surg. Med. 43:333–338, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multiscale Modeling of Branch Length in Butyl Acrylate Solution Polymerization: Molecular Versus Continuum Kinetics
Authors: Rawlston Jonathan A. , Schork Francis Joseph , Grover Martha A. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractA well‐mixed kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulation is used to examine branch formation by both backbiting and intermolecular chain transfer to polymer in the solution polymerization of butyl acrylate. The results of the KMC simulations are compared to those of a rate‐equation simulation based on ordinary differential equations. The rate‐equation simulation is modified based on insight gained from the KMC simulation. While the KMC simulation requires significantly more computational time, its high resolution is advantageous when studying the branching topology of individual molecules. magnified image
Thalamic neuronal and EMG activity in psychogenic dystonia compared with organic dystonia
Authors: Kobayashi Kazutaka , Lang Anthony E. , Hallett Mark , Lenz Frederick A. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackground:This is a retrospective analysis of thalamic neuronal and electromyogram activities between subjects with organic dystonia and a subject with psychogenic dystonia in whom a thalamotomy was carried out before the diagnosis of psychogenic dystonia was made.Results:The signal‐to‐noise ratio in the lowest frequency band (dystonia frequency < 0.76 Hz) in the electromyogram was not significantly different by diagnosis or muscle. The coherence at dystonia frequency for wrist flexors X biceps electromyograms was significantly higher in organic dystonia, whereas the phase was not apparently different from zero for either diagnosis. In a thalamic pallidal relay nucleus (ventral oral posterior), neuronal firing rates were not apparently different between psychogenic and organic dystonia. The neuronal signal‐to‐noise ratio in ventral oral posterior was significantly higher in organic dystonia than in psychogenic dystonia, whereas both were greater than in controls with chronic pain. Spike X electromyogram coherence apparently was not different between psychogenic and organic dystonia. The proportion of thalamic cells responding to joint movements was higher in the cerebellar relay nucleus (ventral intermediate) of psychogenic dystonia than in organic dystonia.Conclusions:These results suggest that some features, such as firing rates and thalamic reorganization, are similar in psychogenic and organic dystonia. Other features differ, such as the coherence between the electromyograms from different muscles and the thalamic neuronal signal‐to‐noise ratio, which may reflect pathophysiological factors in organic dystonia. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Skin banking: Treatment option for native skin necrosis following skin‐sparing mastectomy and previous breast irradiation
Authors: Reichl Heike , Hladik Michaela , Wechselberger Gottfried 
Published: April 2011

AbstractSkin flap necrosis, as well as positive resection margins in the context of skin‐sparing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction, may require reoperation, potentially associated with tissue loss, and thereby impair the aesthetic result. Skin banking has recently been described as a method for handling skin flaps of uncertain viability. Here, we describe the advantages of skin banking in previously irradiated patients with breast cancer recurrence, which underwent skin‐sparing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction. Aside from its utility in the management of skin necrosis, we present this method as an option to conserve the native breast shape in patients with questionable total resection during surgery. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2011.
Double‐free, flow‐through flap reconstruction for complex scalp defects: A case report
Authors: Haddock Marie‐Claire , Creagh Terrence , Sivarajan Vivek 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThis case report describes the use of a double‐free, flow‐through flap as a valuable tool in reconstruction following oncological resection of a large, fungating, squamous cell carcinoma extending through the scalp, forehead, skull, and dura. An anterolateral thigh flap was utilized to supply: soft tissue for the forehead reconstruction, vascularized fascia lata for the dural repair, and to act vascular conduit to supply a distally placed latissmus dorsi flap for total scalp reconstruction. We believe this is the first time this combination of double‐free, flow‐through flap design has been published for the reconstruction of complex, composite scalp and calvarial defects. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2011.
The sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous “patch esophagoplasty” for cervical esophageal stricture
Authors: Noland Shelley S. , Ingraham John M. , Lee Gordon K. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractEsophageal strictures may be caused by many etiologies. Patients suffer from dysphagia and many are tube‐feed dependent. Cervical esophageal reconstruction is challenging for the plastic surgeon, and although there are reports utilizing chest wall flaps or even free flaps, the use of a sternocleidomastoid (SCM) myocutaneous flap provides an ideal reconstruction in select patients who require noncircumferential “patch” cervical esophagoplasty. We present two cases of esophageal reconstruction in which we demonstrate our technique for harvesting and insetting the SCM flap, with particular emphasis on design of the skin paddle and elucidation of the vascular anatomy. We believe that the SCM flap is simple, reliable, convenient, and technically easy to perform. There is minimal donor site morbidity with no functional loss. The SCM myocutaneous flap is a viable option for reconstructing partial esophageal defects and obviates the need to perform staged procedures or more extensive operations such as free tissue transfer. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2011.
Altered testicular gene expression patterns in mice lacking the polyubiquitin gene Ubb
Authors: Sinnar Shamim A. , Small Christopher L. , Evanoff Ryan M. , Reinholdt Laura G. , Griswold Michael D. , Kopito Ron R. , Ryu Kwon‐Yul 
Published: April 2011

AbstractUbiquitin (Ub) is an essential protein found in all eukaryotic cells and plays important roles in a variety of cellular functions including germ cell development. We have previously reported that targeted disruption of the polyubiquitin gene Ubb results in male and female infertility in Ubb−/− mice, with germ cells arrested at meiotic prophase I. Although reduced Ub levels in germ cells are believed to be responsible for the fertility defect in Ubb−/− mice, it is still unclear how reduced Ub levels result in sterility. Here we describe the results of a microarray analysis of the murine testicular transcriptome, which demonstrates dramatically altered gene expression patterns in Ubb−/− mice, possibly related to reduced levels of histone 2A (H2A) ubiquitylation. We find that large numbers of genes related to fertility, metabolism, transcription, and the ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) are misregulated in Ubb−/− mice. Such wide‐ranging alterations in gene expression suggest that loss of the Ubb gene does not mimic a single‐gene defect phenotype, but instead may affect gene expression more globally. These dramatic changes in gene expression could, at least in part, contribute to the complex fertility and metabolic phenotypes seen in these mice. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 78:415–425, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of filler contents and processing parameters on the weldline strength of compression molded natural rubber
Authors: Patcharaphun S. , Chookaew W. , Tungkeunkunt T. , Na‐Ranong N. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThe presence of weldlines in rubber products is regarded as a one of the most undesirable phenomena, since it results in poor mechanical properties. Compression molding of large or complicated products are prepared by multiple charges, which produces weldlines once the melt fronts are joined by the impingement flow. In this work, the effects of curing systems, processing parameters, filler types, and contents on weldline strength of compression molded natural rubber (NR) were investigated. Furthermore, the effects of curing systems on the aging properties of NR vulcanizates were studied in details. The results show that an increased amount of calcium carbonate does not affect the weldline strength. However, the difference in tensile strength between weldline and nonweldline specimens becomes larger with the high loading of silica and carbon black. In addition, for the factors selected in the experiments, clamping pressure, and curing system were found to be the principal factors affecting the weldline property of vulcanizates. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
The influence of the polymer chain stiffness on tracer diffusion in polymeric matrices
Authors: Tae Jung Hyun , June Sung Bong , Yethiraj Arun 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThe diffusion of penetrants in polymers is of technological importance in many areas including chromatography and fuel cell membranes. In this work, the effect of chain conformations on tracer diffusion is studied using molecular simulations and a percolation theory. The polymeric matrix is composed of tangent hard sphere chains that are fixed in space; conformations are changed by tuning the stiffness of the chains. The tracer diffusion coefficient is relatively insensitive to the chain stiffness when polymer chains are frozen as in polymer glasses with the local chain dynamics switched off. An analysis of the matrix using percolation theory shows that the polymer volume fraction at the free volume percolation threshold is also relatively insensitive to the chain stiffness, consistent with the diffusion results. This is surprising because the site‐site intermolecular pair correlation functions in the matrix are quite sensitive to the chain stiffness. In contrast, the tracer diffusion coefficient in a melt of mobile chains decreases significantly as the chain stiffness is increased. We conclude that tracer diffusion is only weakly correlated with the chain conformations and local chain dynamics plays an important role. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011
Low‐temperature Polymer Deposition in Ambient Air Using a Floating‐electrode Dielectric Barrier Discharge Jet
Authors: Tsai Tsung‐Chan , Staack David 
Published: April 2011

AbstractPlasma‐polymerized PMMA films were obtained by a low‐temperature ambient deposition technique using a floating‐electrode DBD jet with two distinct operation modes, namely a diffuse mode and a concentrated mode. Deposition rates, surface morphologies, atomic compositions, and chemical bond concentrations of the PMMA films showed a dependence on the modes. In the concentrated mode rapid deposition (22 nm · s−1) can be achieved with the substrate temperature merely rising to 39 °C. Besides transparent PMMA films with high quality, opaque films with wrinkled microstructures due to buckling effects were obtained. Similar functional groups to those in pure PMMA were also observed by both XPS and FTIR results. It was demonstrated that PMMA films can be successfully grown on different substrate materials, such as glass, plastic, rubber, onion skin, and fingernail. magnified image
Predicting the Peak Pressure from the Curved Surface of Detonating Cylindrical Charges
Authors: Knock Clare , Davies Nigel 
Published: April 2011

AbstractTrinitrotoluene (TNT) equivalency depends on knowing the relative strength of different explosives compared to TNT. However, most past work has been carried out only using spherical charges, whereas most military ammunition is cylindrical in shape. It is known that in certain directions, cylindrical charges give an enhanced blast close in when compared to that of spherical charges. This paper examines data for cylindrical explosive charges from the literature for Composition B and pentolite and then describes experimental work carried out on cylindrical PE4 charges. Analysis of the free air experimental and literature data shows that close into the curved side of a cylindrical charge it is possible to predict the peak pressure using an equation of the form Peak pressure=K×mass/distance3, where K is an explosive dependent constant; 2695 Pa m3 kg−1 for Composition B, 2498 Pa m3 kg−1 for pentolite and 2565 Pa m3 kg−1 for PE4, for length to diameter ratios of between 2 : 1 and 10 : 1. For a scaled distance (distance/mass1/3) of less than 3.5 m kg−1/3, the results are very accurate. This means that, provided data for cylindrical charges of TNT is obtained, a simple method of determining the TNT equivalency of a cylindrical charge, perpendicular to the curved surface is given by TNT equivalence=Kexplosive/KTNT. For a more accurate prediction at a scaled distance of greater than 3.5 m kg−1/3 a cubic equation of the form Peak pressure=K1Z−3+K2Z−2+K3Z−1 has been found to apply where Z=distance/mass1/3 and the coefficients K1, K2 and K3 depend on the explosive type.
Effects of spark duration on minimum ignition energy for methane/air mixture
Authors: Zhang Qi , Li Wei , Zhang Shixi 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThis work investigated the effects of spark duration on the minimum ignition energy of methane/air mixtures in the closed vessel. The main findings from these experiments (all with methane/air mixture with the volume fraction 8.5%) are: (a) for given methane/air mixture, the minimum ignition energy is not constant and it changes with the spark duration, (b) the minimum ignition energies decrease from 6.8 mJ to 0.4 mJ as the spark durations increase from 0.657 μs to 4.31 μs, (c) the explosion pressure reaches the highest value when the spark duration is 2.627 μs and the minimum ignition energy 1.3 mJ, (d) the explosion pressures change with the ignition energy value and spark duration, and (e) the explosion temperature reaches the highest value when the spark duration is 2.627 μs and the minimum ignition energy 1.3 mJ. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2011.