bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modelling the effect of venous disease on quality of life
Authors: Carradice D , Mazari F A K , Samuel N , Allgar V , Hatfield J , Chetter I C 
Published: May 2011

Abstract

Background
A clear understanding of the relationship between venous reflux, clinical venous disease and the effects on quality of life (QoL) remains elusive. This study aimed to explore the impact of venous disease, and assess any incremental direct effect of progressive disease on health-related QoL, with the ultimate aim to model venous morbidity.

Methods
Consecutive patients with venous disease were assessed for inclusion in the study. Patients with isolated, unilateral, single superficial axial incompetence diagnosed on duplex imaging were included. Clinical grading was performed with the Clinical Etiologic Anatomic Pathophysiologic (CEAP) classification and Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS). Patients completed generic (Short Form 36, SF-36®; EuroQol 5D, EQ-5D™) and disease-specific (Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire, AVVQ) QoL instruments. Multivariable regression modelling was performed, taking account of demographic and anatomical factors, to explore the effect of clinical severity on QoL impairment.

Results
Some 456 patients with C2–6 venous disease were included, along with control data for 105 people with C0–1 disease. Increasing clinical grade corresponded strongly with deterioration in disease-specific QoL (P &lt; 0·001). This could be stratified into three distinguishable groups: C0–1, C2–4 and C5–6 (P &lt; 0·001 to P = 0·006). Increasing clinical grade also corresponded with deterioration in the physical domains of SF-36® (P &lt; 0·001 to P = 0·016), along with EQ-5D™ index utility (quality-adjusted life year) scores (P &lt; 0·001).

Conclusion
Demonstrable morbidity was seen, even with uncomplicated venous disease. The physical impairment seen with venous ulceration was comparable with that seen in congestive cardiac failure and chronic lung disease.
Role of Disulfide Bridges in Archaeal Family‐B DNA Polymerases
Authors: Killelea Tom , Connolly Bernard A. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractThe family‐B DNA polymerases obtained from the order Thermococcales, for example, Pyrococcus furiosus (Pfu‐Pol) are commonly used in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) because of their high thermostability and low error rates. Most of these polymerases contain four cysteines, arranged as two disulfide bridges. With Pfu‐Pol C429–C443 forms one of the disulfides (DB1) and C507–C510 (DB2) the other. Although the disulfides are well conserved in the enzymes from the hyperthermophilic Thermococcales, they are less prevalent in euryarchaeal polymerases from other orders, and tend to be only found in other hyperthermophiles. Here, we report on the effects of deleting the disulfide bridges by mutating the relevant cysteines to serines. A variety of techniques, including differential scanning calorimetry and differential scanning fluorimetry, have shown that both disulfides make a contribution to thermostability, with DB1 being more important than DB2. However, even when both disulfides are removed, sufficient thermostability remains for normal (identical to the wild type) performance in PCR and quantitative (real‐time) PCR. Therefore, polymerases totally lacking cysteine are fully compatible with most PCR‐based applications. This observation opens the way to further engineering of polymerases by introduction of a single cysteine followed by appropriate chemical modification.
The inclined settling of dispersed suspensions of spherical particles in square‐section tubes
Authors: Oliver D. R. , Jenson V. G. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractIt has been known since 1920 that thing a tube containing a suspension increases the settling rate. The theory of Nakamura and Kuroda is shown to predict both an experimental and theoretical upper limit to this improvement. A small square‐section tube resting on an edge or on a corner is used to study the sculling of suspensions of closely‐sized spherical particles, four concentrations being used at five inclinations to the vertical.The initial settling rate shows no improvement over that obtained in a vertical tube, but a clarified layer is soon formed on the upper inclined face. Hydrodynamic forces then develop which transfer this liquid to the upper surface, thus augmenting the natural settling rate by factors as great as six or seven for the present tube geometry.By introducing a parameter to allow for the resistance to flow within the clarified layer, it is possible to predict the observed behavior on a theoretical basis. In particular, the effect of the concentration of the solid particles on the shape of the settling rate curves is shown to be a logical consequence of the properties of the system.
The pipeline flow of capsules: Part 7 ‐ an experimental investigation of the transport by two oils of single cylindrical and spherical capsules with density equal to that of the oil
Authors: Ellis H. S. , Bolt L. H. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractCritical Reynolds numbers were revealed by the study at which the velocity ratio curves typically achieved minimum or maximum values. The pronounced critical condition at Reynolds number about 1,000 is of particular interest, falling as it does in the middle of the Reynolds number range widely regarded as yielding laminar flow in a long circular pipe, but coinciding with the first manifestations of turbulence reported in previous studies.Velocity ratios for both spherical and cylindrical capsules were found to vary from about 1.10 to 1.75 in the laminar flow regime, and from 1.10 to 1.30 at the highest Reynolds numbers.
Mass transfer from solid spheres
Authors: Keey R. B. , Glen J. B. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractThe authors investigate the applicability of the relationshipNsh = A + B NmRe NnScto determine over‐all mass transfer rates in forced convection from single solid spheres, where A, B, m and n are presumed to be constants. This expression is shown to be not entirely adequate and, in particular, the changing importance of the wake with increasing Reynolds number and turbulence in the boundary layer will affect these constants.
The Impact of Snail (Bellamya aeruginosa) Bioturbation on Sediment Characteristics and Organic Carbon Fluxes in an Eutrophic Pond
Authors: Zheng Zhongming , Lv Jing , Lu Kaihong , Jin Chunhua , Zhu Jinyong , Liu Xiasong 
Published: May 2011

AbstractA mesocosm experiment was conducted for 32 days in an eutrophic pond to study the effects of the bioturbation of the freshwater snail, Bellamya aeruginosa, on the benthic environment and to further understand cycling of organic carbon in water containing algal blooms. Chlorophyll‐a (chl‐a), phaeopigment, and organic matter contents of sediment, sediment oxygen consumption (SOC), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) fluxes were determined on day 1, 16, and 32, respectively. The SOC decreased on day 16 and increased on day 32 significantly with the increase in snail density. DOC fluxes showed a net sediment uptake in all enclosures throughout the experiment. DOC fluxes in the high and mid density treatments were lower than those of the control. The concentrations of chl‐a and phaeopigment in the sediment increased significantly with snail density, indicating that the presence of snails reduced the biomass of phytoplankton. The results suggest that freshwater snails, B. aeruginosa, could influence the algal biomass (chl‐a) of small water bodies by their bioturbation effects on sediment characteristics and the fluxes of organic carbon.
Controlling NOx Emission of Crude Rice Bran Oil Blend for Sustainable Environment
Authors: Saravanan Subramani , Nagarajan Govindan , Ramanujam Radhakrishnan , Sampath Santhanam 
Published: May 2011

AbstractThe main objective of this work is to investigate the factors influencing the NOx control of a stationary diesel engine fuelled with crude rice bran oil blend with lesser effect on smoke density and brake thermal efficiency (BTE). Fuel injection timing, percentage of EGR, and fuel injection pressure are chosen as the factors for the objective and NOx emission, smoke density, and BTE are considered as the response variables. To critically analyze the effects of the chosen factors on the objective three levels were chosen in each factor and the experiments were designed by following the design of experiments method. Taguchi's L9 orthogonal array was used to conduct the tests with different combination of factor levels. Through analysis of variance (ANOVA) method, the most influencing factors and also the significance of each factor affecting each response variable were found out. Response graph was drawn for each response variable to determine the optimum combination of factor levels in achieving the objective and the obtained combination was confirmed experimentally.
Well‐posedness for the Navier Slip Thin‐Film equation in the case of partial wetting
Authors: Knüpfer Hans 
Published: May 2011

AbstractConsider a viscous liquid droplet spreading on a surface. The classical slip condition at the liquid‐solid interface is the no‐slip condition. However, this condition yields infinite dissipation rate when the contact line moves (“no‐slip paradox”). For this reason other slip conditions such as the Navier slip condition have been proposed. We prove well‐posedness for a reduced 1‐D fluid model related to Navier slip. It turns out that the profile of the droplet cannot be described by a smooth function (not even for an initially smooth profile). However, existence and uniqueness can be proved in larger classes of spaces that allow for certain classes of singular expansions at the moving contact point. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Growth and characterization of heavily doped silicon crystals
Authors: Scala R. , Porrini M. , Borionetti G. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractSilicon crystals grown with the Czochralski method are still the most common material used for the production of electronic devices. In recent years, a growing need of large diameter crystals with increasingly higher doping levels is observed, especially to support the expanding market of discrete devices and its trend towards lower and lower resistivity levels for the silicon substrate. The growth of such heavily doped, large‐diameter crystals poses several new challenges to the crystal grower, and the presence of a high dopant concentration in the crystal affects significantly its main properties, requiring also the development of dedicated characterization techniques. This paper illustrates the recent advances in the growth and characterization of silicon crystals heavily doped with antimony, arsenic, phosphorus and boron. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Experimental and theoretical aspects of the growth and equilibrium morphology of NaNO3
Authors: Benages Vilau R. , Costa E. , Bruno M. , Cuevas‐Diarte M. À. , Calvet i Pallas T. , Aquilano D. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractSodium nitrate (mineral nitratine, NaNO3, space group R $ \bar 3 $c at room temperature) is a material used in a great variety of fields, such as the molten salt technology. It is also of very interest from a crystallographic point of view, being iso‐structural with calcite (CaCO3). We performed several growth experiments in aqueous solution, near‐equilibrium, with the aim of finding the ideal conditions for investigating both face‐by‐face growth kinetics and surface characterization, as well as the influence of K+ and Li+ ions on the growth morphology. Single {10.4} rhombohedral crystals have been systematically grown from pure aqueous solution, while {00.1} truncated rhombohedra were obtained in the presence of K+ and Li+ ions in the mother solution. When determining the theoretical equilibrium morphology of NaNO3 crystals, the {00.1} and {10.4} surfaces were studied by using the 2D‐slab model and relaxed and athermal surface energies (surfaces energies at T = 0 K) were evaluated at DFT level (B3LYP Hamiltonian) by using the CRYSTAL06 package. The {00.1} dipolar surfaces were reconstructed by the octopolar Hartman‐Lacmann's model, already proposed for NaCl‐like lattices. This type of reconstruction is the only one which respects the bulk symmetry of the crystal. The octopolar Na+ terminated {00.1} form resulted to be more stable than the NO3– terminated one. However, the {00.1} form does not enter the theoretical athermal equilibrium shape of nitratine crystals, being γ(10.4)Na=160, γ(00.1)Na= 695 and γ(00.1)NO3=1535 erg/cm2. Finally, a simple 2D‐epitaxy model is proposed to explain the appearance of NaNO3{00.1} truncated rhombohedra in the presence of K+ and Li+ ions. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Haze in sapphire crystals grown by SAPMAC method
Authors: Zhang Lunyong , Zuo Hongbo , Zhou Ji , Sun Jianfei , Xing Dawei , Han Jiecai 
Published: May 2011

AbstractHaze defect in SAPMAC method grown sapphire crystal was studied in detail. It is shown that haze is composed by a large number of CO2 bubbles, and haze always appears in the axis region of the crystal since the bubbles formed in front of the crystallization surface are most always draged to the convection rolls in front of the central part of the crystallizaiton surface by melt and then engulfed by the rolls. Moreover, the effects of pulling rate on the formation of haze were analyzed and means for restraining haze was suggested. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Effect of Humidity and UV Assistance on the Properties of Erbium Doped Yttrium Oxide Films Prepared by Aerosol‐MOCVD
Authors: Salhi Rached , Roussel Herve , Chaudouët Patrick , Maalej Ramzi , Fourati Mohieddine , Deschanvres Jean‐Luc 
Published: May 2011

AbstractErbium‐doped yttrium oxide films are prepared from yttrium acetylacetonate (Y(C5H7O2)3) and erbium (III) tris(2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐3,5‐heptanedionate) (Er(TMHD)3) under standard conditions by UV‐aerosol‐assisted metal‐organic (AA‐MOCVD), using air with controlled humidity as the carrier gas. The structure and deposition rate are optimized by studying three experimental parameters; substrate temperature, relative humidity (RH) of the carrier gas, and UV‐assistance. Taking all these parameter effects under consideration, the maximum deposition rates are reached under low humidity air and with UV‐assistance. Nevertheless, as‐deposited Er:Y2O3 films crystallize in the Y2O3 cubic structure and present a very low organic contamination when depositions take place under high air humidity and with UV‐assistance. The refractive index of yttrium oxide films under these conditions are relatively high, reaching 1.86 when deposited at 410  °C.
Synthesis of 3′‐S‐Phosphonomethyl‐Modified Nucleoside Phosphonates with a 3′‐Deoxy‐3′‐thio‐α‐L‐threosyl Sugar Moiety
Authors: Huang Qiuya , Herdewijn Piet 
Published: May 2011

AbstractThe synthesis and antiviral evaluation of 3′‐deoxy‐3′‐S‐phosphonomethyl‐3′‐thio‐α‐L‐threosyl nucleosides as well as the 2′‐deoxy analogues related to PMDTT are described. The key transformations involved the synthesis of the 3′‐deoxy‐3′‐thio‐L‐threosyl and the 2′,3′‐dideoxy‐3′‐thio‐L‐threosyl derivatives by the Mitsunobu reaction. The phosphonate function was introduced by nucleophilic substitution and the glycosylation was carried out under Vorbrüggen conditions. None of these synthesized compounds showed significant in vitro activity against HIV, HCV, and RSV, or cytotoxicity.
Seismic control of single‐degree‐of‐freedom structure using tuned viscous mass damper
Authors: Ikago Kohju , Saito Kenji , Inoue Norio 
Published: May 2011

SUMMARYIn this study, we propose a new seismic control device, tuned viscous mass damper (TVMD), for building systems. We give a detailed description of an apparent mass amplifier using a ball‐screw mechanism, which is one of the most important components for realizing the new device. We also derive a closed‐form solution of an optimum seismic control design for a single‐degree‐of‐freedom structure subjected to harmonic excitation. The performance of the new device is compared with those of the conventional viscous damper and viscous mass damper systems. The vibration control system using the TVMD is shown to be the most effective for linear structural systems with dampers having the same additional damping coefficient. The effectiveness of the TVMD for seismic excitation is verified by analyses and shake table tests with a small‐scale TVMD. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Riffle‐pool morphometry and stage‐dependant morphodynamics of a large floodplain river (Vereinigte Mulde, Sachsen‐Anhalt, Germany)
Authors: Vetter Thomas 
Published: May 2011

ABSTRACTRiffle‐pool sequences are a common feature of gravel‐bed rivers. However, mechanisms of their generation and maintenance are still not fully understood. In this study a monitoring approach is employed that focuses on analysing cross‐sectional and longitudinal channel geometry of a large floodplain river (Vereinigte Mulde, Sachsen‐Anhalt, Germany) with a high temporal and spatial resolution, in order to conclude from stage‐dependant morphometric changes to riffle and pool maintaining processes.In accordance with previous authors, pool cross‐sections of the Mulde River are narrow and riffle cross‐sections are wide suggesting that they should rather be addressed as two general types of channel cross‐sections than solely as bedforms. At high flows, riffles and pools in the study reaches changed in length and height but not in position. Pools were scoured and riffles aggraded, a development which was reversed during receding flows below the threshold of 0·4Qbf (40% bankfull discharge). An index for the longitudinal amplitude of riffle‐pool sequences, the bed undulation intensity or bedform amplitude, is introduced and proved to be highly significant as a form parameter, its first derivative as a process parameter. The process of pool scour and riffle fill is addressed as bedform maintenance or bedform accentuation. It is indicated by increasing longitudinal bed amplitudes.According to the observed dynamics of bed amplitudes, maintenance of riffle‐pool sequences lags behind discharge peaks. Maximum bed amplitudes may be reached with a delay of several days after peak discharges. Increasing bed undulation intensity is interpreted to indicate bed mobility. Post‐flood decrease of the bed undulation intensity indicates a retrograde phase when transport from pools to riffles has ceased and bed mobility is restricted to riffle tails and heads of pools. This type of transport behaviour is referred to as disconnected mobility.The comparison of two river reaches, one with undisturbed sediment supply, the other with sediment deficit, suggests that high bed undulation intensity values at low flows indicate sediment deficit and potentially channel degrading conditions. It is more generally hypothesized that channel bed undulations constitute a major component of form roughness and that increased bed amplitudes are an important feature of channel bed adjustment to sediment deficit be it temporally during late floods or permanently due to a supply limitation of bedload. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimizing gelling parameters of gellan gum for fibrocartilage tissue engineering
Authors: Lee Haeyeon , Fisher Stephanie , Kallos Michael S. , Hunter Christopher J. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractGellan gum is an attractive biomaterial for fibrocartilage tissue engineering applications because it is cell compatible, can be injected into a defect, and gels at body temperature. However, the gelling parameters of gellan gum have not yet been fully optimized. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanics, degradation, gelling temperature, and viscosity of low acyl and low/high acyl gellan gum blends. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed that increased concentrations of low acyl gellan gum resulted in increased stiffness and the addition of high acyl gellan gum resulted in greatly decreased stiffness. Degradation studies showed that low acyl gellan gum was more stable than low/high acyl gellan gum blends. Gelling temperature studies showed that increased concentrations of low acyl gellan gum and CaCl2 increased gelling temperature and low acyl gellan gum concentrations below 2% (w/v) would be most suitable for cell encapsulation. Gellan gum blends were generally found to have a higher gelling temperature than low acyl gellan gum. Viscosity studies showed that increased concentrations of low acyl gellan gum increased viscosity. Our results suggest that 2% (w/v) low acyl gellan gum would have the most appropriate mechanics, degradation, and gelling temperature for use in fibrocartilage tissue engineering applications. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2011.
Long‐term stability of self‐assembled monolayers on electropolished L605 cobalt chromium alloy for stent applications
Authors: Kaufmann Christopher , Mani Gopinath , Marton Denes , Johnson David , Agrawal C. Mauli 
Published: May 2011

AbstractCommercially available drug‐eluting stents have the potential to induce inflammatory and hypersensitive adverse reactions due to their polymer coating. The use of self assembled monolayers (SAMs) as an alternate drug delivery platform for stents has recently been demonstrated. In this study, the formation and stability of phosphonic acid SAMs were investigated using the material and surface preparation commonly used to make ultra‐thin stent struts—electropolished L605 Cobalt Chromium (CoCr) alloy. Methyl (CH3) and carboxylic acid (COOH) terminated phosphonic acid SAMs were coated on electropolished CoCr alloy using a combination of solution immersion and dip‐evaporation cycle deposition methods. SAMs‐coated CoCr alloy specimens were thoroughly characterized using contact angle goniometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). These characterizations suggested that uniform and well‐ordered monolayers were coated on the electropolished CoCr alloy. The long‐term physiological stability of monolayers was investigated in tris‐buffered saline (TBS) at 37°C for up to 28 days. Contact angles, FTIR, XPS, and AFM suggested that both CH3 and COOH terminated phosphonic acid SAMs desorb from electropolished CoCr alloy surfaces in a biphasic manner. A significant desorption of CH3 and COOH terminated SAMs occurs within 1–3 days followed by a slower desorption for up to 28 days. Thus, there is a need to develop techniques that can improve the long‐term stability of SAMs on electropolished CoCr alloy for stent and other biomedical applications. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2011.
Tau splicing and the intricacies of dementia
Authors: Andreadis Athena 
Published: May 2011

AbstractTau is a microtubule‐associated protein that fulfills several functions critical for neuronal formation and health. Tau discharges its functions by producing multiple isoforms via regulated alternative splicing. These isoforms modulate tau function in normal brain by altering the domains of the protein, thereby influencing its localization, conformation, and post‐translational modifications and hence its availability and affinity for microtubules and other ligands. Disturbances in tau expression result in disruption of the neuronal cytoskeleton and formation of tau structures (neurofibrillary tangles) found in brains of dementia sufferers. More specifically, aberrations in tau splicing regulation directly cause several neurodegenerative diseases, which lead to dementia. In this review, I present our cumulative knowledge of tau splicing regulation in connection with neurodegeneration and also briefly go over the still‐extensive list of questions that are connected to tau (dys)function. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 1220–1225, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.