bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Uniformity: A Crucial Attribute of Tire/Wheel Assemblies
Authors: Pottinger M. G. 
Published: March 2010

Abstract
Good ride, acceptable comfort for passengers, is a required attribute for all road vehicles particularly automobiles and light trucks. The tire/wheel assembly is a critical component in providing good ride. Indeed, obtaining good ride was the crucial factor that drove the invention of and rapid popularization of the pneumatic tire. Today, the ride effect of tires is often thought of in two ways. The first is in terms of the transmission of vibration produced by the interaction of the tire with road surface irregularities, harshness. The second is in terms of tire structural irregularity generated energy transmitted during operation on a smooth road, uniformity. Both types of energy share the dynamic properties of the tire structure though they differ in source. This paper concentrates primarily on uniformity induced vibration particularly at the frequency of tire rotation, but does touch on harshness to a small degree, when the sharing of structural dynamics makes it appropriate. This review of the subject of force uniformity includes the effect of wheels, as wheels contribute to the vibration that reaches the vehicle spindle. Balance is touched on only as it affects force uniformity in well-balanced assemblies. This is not a treatise on balancing. A suggestion is made, which should, if practical, greatly improve the installed uniformity of tire/wheel assemblies.
A simple analytical model of the angular momentum transformation in strongly focused light beams
Authors: Bekshaev Aleksandr 
Published: February 2010

AbstractA ray-optics model is proposed to describe the vector beam transformation in a strongly focusing optical system. In contrast to usual approaches based on the focused field distribution near the focal plane, we use the beam pattern formed immediately after the exit aperture. In this cross section, details of the output field distribution are of minor physical interest but proper allowance is made for transformation of the beam polarization state. This enables the spin and orbital angular momentum representations to be obtained, which are valid for any cross section of the transformed beam. Simple analytical results are available for a transversely homogeneous, circularly polarized incident beam confined by a circular aperture. Variations of the spin and orbital angular momenta of the output beam with change of the focusing strength are analyzed. The analytical results are in good qualitative and reasonable quantitative agreement with the results of numerical calculations performed for the Gaussian and Laguerre-Gaussian beams. The model supplies an efficient and physically transparent means for qualitative analysis of the spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion. It can be generalized to incident beams with complex spatial and polarization structure.
The Current Knowledge of Invertebrate Aquaporin Water Channels with Particular Emphasis on Insect AQPs
Authors: Tomkowiak Ewa , Pienkowska Joanna Romana 
Published: March 2010

SummaryAquaporins (AQPs) or water channels are some of the most ubiquitous integral membrane proteins, and are present in all living organisms. Their presence in the lipid bilayer of cell membranes considerably increases their permeability to water and, in some cases, to other small solutes. All AQPs, identified thus far, share the same structure, comprising of six transmembrane segments and two conserved regions forming the pore. Depending on the transported solutes, AQPs can be divided into two classes: ‘classical’ aquaporins (permeable only to water) and aquaglyceroporins (permeable also to glycerol and/or other solutes). Many subtypes of AQPs coexist in a single organism. Localization of particular subtypes of AQPs is tissue-specific. AQPs have been well characterized in almost all vertebrate classes. However, little is known about their counterparts in invertebrates. Most of the water channels characterized in invertebrates are found in insects. Therefore, the knowledge of aquaporins in invertebrates is generally limited to the information concerning water channels in this class of organism. Insects are characterized by an astonishing variety of physiological adaptations, notable in their feeding strategies or survival strategies in hostile environments. An example of such, is feeding on blood, or tolerating extreme cold or drought. It is likely that many of these adaptation patterns emerged due to the expression and regulation of particular aquaporins. Here we review the current state of knowledge of invertebrate AQPs (of insects and nematodes) and compare their structure and function with mammalian water channels
On the convergence of spherical harmonic expansion of topographic and atmospheric biases in gradiometry
Authors: Eshagh Mehdi 
Published: February 2010

On the convergence of spherical harmonic expansion of topographic and atmospheric biases in gradiometryThe gravity gradiometric data are affected by the topographic and atmospheric masses. In order to fulfill Laplace-Poisson's equation and to simplify the downward continuation process, these effects should be removed from the data. However, if the analytical downward continuation is considered, the gravity gradients can be continued downward disregarding such effects but the result will be biased. The topographic and atmospheric biases can be expressed in terms of spherical harmonics and studying these biases gives some ideas about analytical downward continuation of these quantities to sea level. In formulation of harmonic coefficients of the topographic and atmospheric biases, a truncated binomial expansion of topographic height is used. In this paper, we show that the harmonics are convergent to the third term of this binomial expansion. The harmonics of the biases onVzzare convergent to the first term and they are convergent inVxyfor all the terms. The harmonics of the other components of the gravity gradient tensor are convergent to the second terms, while the third terms are only asymptotically convergent. This means that in terrestrial and airborne gradiometry the biases should be computed just to the second order term, while in satellite gravity gradiometry, e.g. GOCE, the third term can also be considered.
A significant decrease of the fundamental Schumann resonance frequency during the solar cycle minimum of 2008-9 as observed at Modra Observatory
Authors: Ondrášková Adriena , Ševčík Sebastián , Kostecký Pavel 
Published: February 2010

A significant decrease of the fundamental Schumann resonance frequency during the solar cycle minimum of 2008-9 as observed at Modra ObservatoryThe Schumann resonances (SR) are electromagnetic eigenmodes of the resonator bounded by the Earth's surface and the lower ionosphere. The SR frequency variability has been studied for more than 4 decades. Using data from the period 1988 to 2002,Sátori et al. (2005)showed that the SR fundamental mode frequency decreased on the 11-year time scale by 0.07 - 0.2 Hz, depending on which component of the field was used for estimation and likely also on the location of the observer. A decrease by 0.30 Hz from the latest solar cycle maximum to the minimum of 2009 is found in data from Modra Observatory. This extraordinary fall of the fundamental mode frequency can be attributed to the unprecedented drop in the ionizing radiation in X-ray frequency band. Although the patterns of the daily and seasonal variations remain the same in the solar cycle minimum as in the solar cycle maximum, they are significantly shifted to lower frequencies during the minimum. Analysis of the daily frequency range suggests that the main thunderstorm regions during the north hemisphere summer are smaller in the solar cycle minimum than in the maximum.
Extreme Skeletal Adaptation to Mechanical Loading
Authors: Warden Stuart J. 
Published: February 2010

Athletes who predominantly load their dominant upper extremity are useful models for investigating musculoskeletal responses to mechanical loading, as their non-dominant upper extremity serves as an internal matched control. An extreme case of skeletal adaptation was recently observed in a 22-year-old collegiate male baseball pitcher assessed using peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Playing baseball for 17 years contributed to the athlete having 63% greater bone mass and cortical thickness in the dominant midshaft humerus compared to his nondominant side. These changes resulted from combined periosteal expansion and endosteal contraction, and provided the dominant midshaft humerus with a more circular cross-section, which maximizes torsional resistance. These collective changes resultedin the dominant midshaft humerus having nearly double estimated ability to resist torsional forces than in the nondominant side. These side-to-side differences set new levels for plasticity within the musculoskeletalsystem as they are the largest reported within an individual, and are 8-times larger and more than double those observed in sedentary individuals and average baseball players, respectively. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2010;40(3):188. doi:10.2519/jospt.2010.0404
Diagnostic Imaging Following Cervical Spine Injury
Authors: Mabry Lance M. , Ross Michael D. , Tall Michael A. 
Published: February 2010

The patient was a 23-year-old woman referred to physical therapy for the primary treatment of knee pain which began 4 months prior following a twisting injury. During the patient interview, the patient also complained of neck pain and numbness and tingling in her bilateral hands and feet which began 6 weeks earlier after jumping into a 2 meter pool head first and striking her head on the floor of the pool. Due to concern over a serious cervical spine injury, the physical therapist focused his initial physical examination on the patient's cervical spine. Physical examination findings were remarkable for midline cervical spine tenderness and decreased sensation throughout both hands and feet. Cervical spine radiographs were ordered, which revealed a cortical irregularity along the anterior aspect of the superior endplate of the C7 vertebral body, which was concerning for an anterior-superior compression fracture. Computed tomography scanning was completed for further evaluate the area of injury and revealed minimally displaced anterior compression fractures within the C7, T1, T2, and T3 vertebral bodies. Due to the paresthesias in the upper and lower extremities, magnetic resonance imaging was completed, which demonstrated no evidence for significant central canal or foraminal stenoses. The patient was referred to a neurosurgeon who recommended conservative management. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2010;40(3):189. doi:10.2519/jospt.2010.0405
Promoting smoking cessation in pregnancy with Video Doctor plus provider cueing: a randomized trial
Authors: TSOH JANICE Y. , KOHN MICHAEL A. , GERBERT BARBARA 
Published: March 2010

AbstractObjective. This study examined the use of a Video Doctor plus provider cueing to promote provider advice and smoking cessation outcomes in pregnancy. Design. A randomized clinical trial was conducted from 2006 to 2008. Setting. Five community prenatal clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area of the United States. Participants. A total of 410 pregnant patients completed screening for behavioral risks including tobacco use in the past 30 days. Pregnant smokers (n = 42) were randomized regardless of their intention to quit smoking. Methods. Participants were assigned to either usual care or intervention. Intervention participants received 15‐minute Video Doctor sessions plus provider cueing, at baseline and one month, prior to their routine prenatal visit. The Video Doctor delivered interactive tailored messages, an educational worksheet for participants, and a cueing sheet for providers. Main outcome measures. Receipt of advice from the provider and 30‐day smoking abstinence, both by self‐report. Results. Intervention participants were more likely to receive provider advice on tobacco use at both prenatal visits during the intervention period (60.9 vs. 15.8%, p = 0.003). The intervention yielded a significantly greater decrease in the number of days smoked and in cigarettes smoked per day. The 30‐day abstinence rate at two months post baseline was 2.5 times greater in the intervention group; the difference was not significant (26.1 vs. 10.5%, p = 0.12). Conclusions. The Video Doctor plus provider cueing is an efficacious adjunct to routine prenatal care by promoting provider advice and smoking reduction among pregnant smokers.
False Elevation of Blood Glucose Levels Measured by GDH-PQQ-BASED Glucometers Occurs during all Daily Dwells in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients Using Icodextrin
Authors: Tsai Chiu-Yeh , Lee Su-Chu , Hung Chi-Chih , Lee Jia-Jung , Kuo Mei-Chuan , Hwang Shang-Jyh , Chen Hung-Chun 
Published: February 2010

♦ Objective False elevation of blood glucose levels measured by glucose dehydrogenase pyrroloquinoline quinone (GDH-PQQ)-based glucose self-monitoring systems; glucometer) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients using icodextrin solution has been well documented. However, adverse hypoglycemic events caused by misreadings for blood glucose are still being reported. We aimed to study blood glucose levels measured simultaneously using different methods in PD patients with switching of icodextrin, and throughout daily exchanges either using icodextrin or not. ♦ Design We recruited 100 PD patients, including 40 using icodextrin; 128 hemodialysis patients served as a reference. Fasting serum glucose was measured using our laboratory reference method (LAB) and 2 glucose self-monitoring systems based on glucose dehydrogenase nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (GDH-NAD) and GDH-PQQ respectively. 80 PD patients had a second follow-up study. A time course study was performed in 16 PD patients through measuring fingertip glucose using the 2 glucose self-monitoring systems during daily exchanges. ♦ Result The differences in measured serum glucose levels in (PQQ minus LAB) versus (NAD minus LAB) were markedly increased in PD patients using icodextrin compared to other patient groups, and was further confirmed by the follow-up study in patients that switched to icodextrin. The high serum glucose levels measured by the GDH-PQQ-based glucose self-monitoring system were present throughout all exchanges during the day in patients using icodextrin solution. ♦ Conclusions False elevation of blood glucose measured by GDH-PQQ-based glucose self-monitoring systems exists in patients using icodextrin. To avoid misinterpretation of hyperglycemia and subsequent over-injection of insulin, GDH-PQQ-based glucose self-monitoring systems should not be used in PD patients.
Mini-Laparotomy Implantation of Peritoneal Dialysis Catheters: Outcome and Rescue
Authors: Yang Po-Jen , Lee Chih-Yuan , Yeh Chi-Chuan , Nien Hsiao-Ching , Tsai Tun-Jun , Tsai Meng-Kung 
Published: February 2010

Background Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis is one of the main treatments for end-stage renal disease. To correct mechanical outflow obstruction after open surgical methods of catheter insertion, laparoscopic techniques are widely employed. Methods Between January 2001 and December 2006, 228 open Tenckhoff catheter implantations were carried out by mini-laparotomy in 218 patients at our medical center. The procedures were all performed by an experienced surgeon, and the postoperative care, patient education, and long-term follow-up were all conducted by the same peritoneal dialysis team. Results Infection of the exit site or tunnel was the most common complication (27/228, 11.8%), followed by peritonitis (18/228, 7.9%) and refractory mechanical catheter obstruction (9/228, 3.9%). The main causes of catheter removal were successful renal transplantation (21/228, 9.2%), peritonitis (18/228, 7.9%), and infection of the exit site or tunnel (7/228, 3.1%). In the 9 cases of refractory mechanical catheter obstruction, laparoscopic surgery was performed to identify the pathology and to rescue the catheter at the same time. Omental wrapping was the major cause (8/9) of catheter obstruction, with blood clot in the lumen and tube migration occurring in the remaining case (1/9). Partial omentectomy was performed in 5 patients to prevent recurrent obstruction. Neither technique failure nor operation-related complications were noted in our laparoscopic rescue group. For 20 of the 25 patients with refractory infection of the exit site or tunnel, the salvage technique of partial re-plantation was performed, with an 85% (17/20) technique survival rate. Conclusions With an experienced surgeon and a good postoperative care team, open paramedian placement is a simple, safe, and effective method for Tenckhoff catheter insertion, with a low complication rate. Laparoscopic surgery is effective as rescue for mechanical obstruction, and partial re-plantation is effective as salvage for exit-site or tunnel infection.
Impact of C-Reactive Protein and Pulse Pressure Evaluated at the Start of Peritoneal Dialysis on Cardiovascular Events in the Course of Treatment with Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors: Han Seung Seok , Ahn Jeong Myung , Chin Ho Jun , Chae Dong-Wan , Oh Kook Hwan , Joo Kwon Wook , Kim Yon Su , Ahn Curie , Han Jin Suk , Kim Suhnggwon , Na Ki Young 
Published: February 2010

♦ Background Despite a reduced number of infectious complications, cardiovascular (CV) mortality remains unchanged in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and pulse pressure (PP) at the start of PD on the development of CV events (CVEs) in these patients. ♦ Methods The study population was comprised of 291 patients that started PD between January 2003 and June 2008 and were treated for more than 6 months. Baseline clinical, biochemical, and echocardiographic data, indices of dialysis adequacy, and peritoneal transport rate were reviewed ret-respectively. The clinical outcome was the occurrence of a CVE. ♦ Results Mean duration of follow-up was 28 (range 6 – 70) months. A CVE was observed in 33 patients (11.3%). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year cumulative incidences of CVEs were 4.0%, 13.7%, and 27.5%, respectively. Although multiple variables were correlated with the prevalence of a CVE in the univariate analysis, hs-CRP, PP, and comorbidity remained significant after adjustment: hs-CRP: odds ratio (OR) 4.09 (1.53 – 10.95), p = 0.005; PP: OR 2.79 (1.26 – 6.17), p = 0.012. PP and hs-CRP, which were not intercorrelated in our data, combined adversely to increase the incidence of CVEs. The incidence of CVEs increased with the number of risk factors, which included high hs-CRP, high PP, and the presence of comorbidity (no risk factor, 0%; 1 risk factor, 1.5%; 2 risk factors, 30.8%; 3 risk factors, 53.9%). ♦ Conclusions Our study suggests that measurements of hs-CRP and PP at the start of PD may be helpful in predicting the development of CVEs in the course of treatment with PD.
Effect of Oral N-Acetylcysteine Treatment on Plasma Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Markers in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Placebo-Controlled Study
Authors: Nascimento Marcelo M. , Suliman Mohamed E. , Silva Margarete , Chinaglia Tiago , Marchioro Josiane , Hayashi Shirley Y. , Riella Miguel C. , Lindholm Bengt , Anderstam Björn 
Published: February 2010

♦ Background Inflammation and oxidative stress (OS) are cardiovascular risk factors in patients with chronic kidney disease. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a thiol-containing antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to reduce the number of cardiovascular events in hemodialysis patients. ♦ Methods The current study aimed to determine the effect of oral NAC (2 × 600 mg/daily) on plasma levels of inflammatory and OS markers in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. We performed a placebo-controlled study over 8 weeks in 30 patients (40% males, age 52 ± 13 years) on regular PD. Before the study was started, the patients were divided into 2 groups of 15 patients matched for age and gender. 22 patients completed the study (12 on NAC, 10 on placebo). Proinflammatory cytokines [high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and pentraxin 3] and markers of OS (pentosidine, advanced oxidation protein products, homocysteine, glutathione, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and free sulfhydryls) were measured before and after treatment with NAC. ♦ Results Treatment with NAC for 8 weeks increased mean baseline plasma NAC levels from 2.6 to 24.8 μmol/L ( p = 0.007). This intervention, which caused no side effects, significantly diminished IL-6 levels, from 9.4 (4.5 – 31) to 7.6 (4.9 – 13.5) pg/mL ( p = 0.006), whereas no such changes were observed in the placebo group. NAC treatment did not significantly affect the other inflammatory and OS markers. ♦ Conclusions Short-term oral NAC treatment resulted in reduction of circulating IL-6, suggesting that such treatment could be a useful strategy in blunting the inflammatory response in PD patients.
Static and Dynamic Rotational Eye Tracking During LASIK Treatment of Myopic Astigmatism With the Zyoptix Laser Platform and Advanced Control Eye Tracker
Authors: Neuhann Irmingard M. , Lege Barbara A.M. , Bauer Markus , Hassel Joerg M. , Hilger Anton , Neuhann Thomas F. 
Published: March 2010

PURPOSE:
To evaluate the amount of cyclotorsion and the effect of static and dynamic rotational eye tracking with the Advanced Control Eye Tracker (Bausch & Lomb) based on iris recognition in the treatment of myopic astigmatism with LASIK.

METHODS:
All patients with myopic LASIK and attempted cylinder correction >0.75 diopters (D) on the Zyoptix 217z100 excimer laser platform between May 2005 and May 2007 were identified retrospectively through the existing databank. Pre- and postoperative refraction and the amount of cyclotorsion during treatment were extracted and analyzed in 828 eyes with >3-month follow-up.

RESULTS:
Preoperative mean manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE) was −4.31±1.84 D (range: −0.37 to −9.50 D), and mean cylinder was −1.27±0.87 D (range: −0.75 to −6.75 D). Mean static rotation was 3.96±2.96° (maximum 14.8°). Median dynamic rotation was 1.32±1.85° (maximum 24°). At 3 months postoperatively, MRSE was −0.10±0.36 D (range: −2.25 to +1.25 D), and mean cylinder was −0.33±0.35 D (range: −2.00 to 0 D). Predictability was 90.2% within ±0.50 D and 98.2% within ±1.00 D (MRSE), and 82.5% within ±0.50 D and 96.9% within ±1.00 D (cylinder). The efficacy ratio was 0.99. Safety was 99.4% (5 dry eyes), reaching 100% at 12 months. Stability from 3 to 12 months (n=275) was 98.2% for sphere, 95.3% for cylinder, and 96.0% for MRSE.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study demonstrates that significant cyclotorsion occurs before and during treatment. By using the dynamic rotational eye tracker presented, the efficacy of cylinder correction can be improved compared to those studies not performing cyclotorsional correction. [
J Refract Surg
. 2010;26:17–27.]