bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Free‐flap resurfacing of tissue defects in the foot due to large gouty tophi
Authors: Lin Chin‐Ta , Chang Shun‐Chen , Chen Tim‐Mo , Dai Niann‐Tzyy , Fu Ju‐Peng , Deng Shou‐Cheng , Tzeng Yuan‐Sheng , Chen Shyi‐Gen 
Published: October 2011

AbstractBackground: Large or extensive gouty tophi on the feet can cause functional impairment, drainage sinus, and infected necrosis, finally resulting in complex soft‐tissue defects with tendon, joint, bone, nerve, and vessel exposure. Reconstruction of complex soft‐tissue defects of the foot is still challenging. The purpose of this report was to review the outcomes of free‐flap reconstructive surgery for treating the metatarsal joint defects of the feet caused by chronic tophaceous gout. Methods: Ten patients who had large tophus masses (>5 cm) and ulceration on the feet were admitted to our hospital between September 2006 and September 2010. Six patients underwent free‐flap reconstruction after debridement to resurface the circumferential wound, protect the underlying structures, and provide a gliding surface for exposed tendons. The patients' age, sex, comorbidities, location and size of the defects, reconstructive procedures, surgical outcomes, complications, follow‐ups, and recurrence of tophaceous gout were reviewed and recorded. Results: The mean patient age was 49.8 years (range, 36–72 years). The average skin defect size was 92.2 cm2. Five patients were treated using free anterolateral thigh flaps, and 1, using a free medial sural flap. These free flaps were safely raised and showed excellent functional and cosmetic results, with a mean follow‐up of 31.7 months (range, 7–50 months). Conclusion: Chronic tophaceous gout can cause severe skin infection and necrosis, even resulting in deformity or sepsis if left untreated. Surgical debridement is inevitable in patients with extensive wounds. We reconstructed the large, ulcerative skin and soft‐tissue defects on the dorsum of the foot by performing free‐flap reconstruction after adequate debridement and achieved good functional and cosmetic results. © C 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery, 2011.
Thermoregulatory response of anterolateral thigh flap compared with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap: An evaluation of flaps cutaneous flow and velocity due to thermal stress
Authors: Rahmanian‐Schwarz Afshin , Schiefer Jennifer L , Amr Amro , Rothenberger Jens , Schaller Hans‐Eberhard , Hirt Bernhard 
Published: October 2011

AbstractIntroduction: Although, the success of free flaps has increased in the last years, more details about its characteristics might improve the clinical outcome of the flaps. This study examined the thermoregulatory ability as a sign of neural re‐innervation of two different types of microsurgical free flaps in the postoperative course. Methods: A total of 22 patients were examined after grafting two different flap types: The latissimus dorsi myocutaneous (LDM) flap (n = 11) and the anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap (n = 11). Patients were examined 6 and 9 months postoperatively. After exposure to cold and warm water (10°C and 35°C), multiple measurements were performed with the focus on blood velocity and flow using the “O2C” device. Results: Both examined flaps showed a tendency for improvement in local blood flow and velocity due to thermal stress. We recorded a more physiological thermoregulation during thermal stress for the LDM flap, when compared with the ALT flap over a measured period of time. Conclusion: We believe that the presence of the muscle portion in the LDM flap may offer better conditions for thermoregulation based on the improvement of neural and vascular regeneration. However, further studies should clarify the pathophysiological backgrounds, to make these interesting results clinically applicable. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery, 2011.
Uncertainty and Opportunities in Patients with Established Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Mattsson M. , Möller B. , Stamm T. , Gard G. , Boström C. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic disease which can affect any organ, and the impact of the condition will affect each person differently. There are few qualitative studies including the experiences of both women and men with a diagnosis of SLE corresponding to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria where both negative and positive impacts of the disease have been presented.PurposeThe aim was to describe how patients with established SLE experience their illness in everyday life, including both negative and positive aspects.MethodFour focus group interviews were conducted with 16 women and three men with SLE according to ACR criteria, with varied disease activity and no or little organ damage. The interviews were tape recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis.ResultsTwo themes emerged: multifaceted uncertainty contained the categories ‘an unreliable body’, ‘obtrusive pain and incomprehensible fatigue’, ‘mood changes and worries’, ‘reliance on medication and health care’; Focus on health and opportunities included ‘learning process implying personal strength’, ‘limitations and possibilities in activities and work’, ‘a challenge to explain and receive support’ and ‘living an ordinary life incorporating meaningful occupations’.ConclusionsWhile we expected to find a mainly negative impact, positive aspects were also described. Our findings were complex and showed that patients with established SLE can experience both uncertainty and opportunities. This highlights the importance for healthcare professionals of gaining a better understanding of patients' uncertainty, to enable them to support patients, allowing them to focus on health and opportunities. Measurement instruments that capture different aspects of uncertainty and opportunities needs to be developed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the convergence of right transforming iterations for the numerical solution of PDE‐constrained optimization problems
Authors: Linsenmann Christopher 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARYWe present an iterative solver, called right transforming iterations (or right transformations), for linear systems with a certain structure in the system matrix, such as they typically arise in the framework of Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) conditions for optimization problems under PDE constraints. The construction of the right transforming scheme depends on an inner approximate solver for the underlying PDE subproblems. We give a rigorous convergence proof for the right transforming iterative scheme in dependence on the convergence properties of the inner solver. Provided that a fast subsolver is available, this iterative scheme represents an efficient way of solving first‐order optimality conditions. Numerical examples endorse the theoretically predicted contraction rates. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Perturbation analysis of continuous‐time absorbing Markov chains
Authors: Caswell Hal 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARYThe behavior of Markov chains depends on the transition intensities or probabilities; in applications, these transitions are often written as functions of parameters. In this paper, matrix calculus is used to provide the sensitivities and elasticities of the behavior of continuous time‐absorbing Markov chains to arbitrary parameters, which could include the transition intensities themselves or parameters in which those intensities depend. The results include the sensitivity and elasticity of the moments, variances, standard deviations, and coefficients of variation of the time spent in transient states and the time to absorption. The number of visits to transient states is also analyzed, using the embedded discrete‐time chain. For models with multiple absorbing states, the sensitivity of the probability of absorption in each absorbing state is presented. As an example, a published model for the progress of colorectal cancer is analyzed in detail. Transient states in this model are defined by disease status, and the model includes two absorbing states: death from cancer and death from other causes. The perturbation analysis provides a quantitative comparison of the effect of changing transition and mortality rates. Such information may be useful for evaluating treatment or screening programs. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On parametrization of totally nonpositive matrices and applications
Authors: Huang Rong 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARYThe problem of accurate computations for totally non‐negative matrices has been studied; however, it remains open for other sign regular matrices. One major obstacle is that there is no known parametrization of these matrices. The main contribution of the present work is that we provide such parametrization of nonsingular totally nonpositive matrices. A useful application of our results is that these parameters can determine accurately the entries of the inverse of a nonsingular totally nonpositive matrix. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Robust H∞ output feedback control for Markovian jump systems with actuator saturation
Authors: Shi Ting , Su Hongye , Chu Jian 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARYThis paper concerns the output feedback control problem for a class of uncertain continuous‐time Markovian jump systems with actuator saturation. The controller is nonlinear in nature and will be first parameterized in the quasi‐linear parameter varying form. Conditions under which the closed‐loop system is stochastically stable with γ disturbance attenuation are then derived in terms of an LMI approach. The problem of designing an output feedback controller such that the estimate of the domain of attraction is enlarged is then formulated and solved as an optimization problem with LMI constraints. The case where the transition rate matrix of the Markov process is unknown is considered, and the robust H∞ output feedback controller is then derived. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed results. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Establishment and Application of a Metabolomics Workflow for Identification and Profiling of Volatiles from Leaves of Vitis vinifera by HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS
Authors: Weingart Georg , Kluger Bernhard , Forneck Astrid , Krska Rudolf , Schuhmacher Rainer 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTIntroductionVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) occurring in leaves of plants carry information about the physiological state of the plant. Monitoring of VOCs assists in detecting plant stress before visible signs are present.ObjectiveTo establish and apply a simple workflow for the automated extraction, measurement and annotation/identification of Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot Noir leaf metabolites.MethodologyLeaf samples were harvested, cooled with liquid nitrogen and homogenised under cooled conditions. VOCs were extracted and enriched by solid phase microextraction (SPME) and analysed by GC‐MS. Samples were measured on two columns with different polarity of stationary phases. Mass spectral deconvolution and identification was done by AMDIS software. Strict identification criteria were applied: match factor ≥ 90; relative retention index deviation ≤ 2% from reference value on both columns. Data of two sampling dates were analysed with multivariate statistics.ResultsWe found ~600 components in a single chromatogram. Applying the mentioned criteria resulted in annotation of 63 metabolites of which 47 were confirmed with authentic standards. For the majority of the compounds technical variability was < < 40% (RSD), biological variability among plants was 7–119%. Principal component analysis (PCA) scores plot of leaf samples from two different sampling dates showed two clearly separated clusters. The presented workflow enabled for the first time the detection and identification of 19 metabolites that have so far not been described for Vitis spp.ConclusionThe developed workflow enabled the identification of grapevine leaf metabolites, which allowed the separation of leaves from two sampling dates by PCA. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multiple drugs and multiple targets: An analysis of the electrostatic determinants of binding between non‐nucleoside HIV‐1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors and variants of HIV‐1 RT
Authors: Minkara Mona S. , Davis Pamela H. , Radhakrishnan Mala L. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractWe present a systematic, computational analysis of the electrostatic component of binding of three HIV‐1 RT inhibitors—nevirapine (NVP), efavirenz (EFV), and the recently approved rilpivirine (RPV)—to wild‐type (WT) and mutant variants of RT. Electrostatic charge optimization was applied to determine how suited each molecule's charge distribution is for binding WT and individual mutants of HIV‐1 RT. Although the charge distributions of NVP and EFV are rather far from being optimal for tight binding, RPVs charge distribution is close to the theoretical, optimal charge distribution for binding WT HIV‐1 RT, although slight changes in charge can dramatically impact binding energetics. Moreover, toward the L100I/K103N double mutant, RPVs charge distribution is quite far from optimal. We also determine the contributions of chemical moieties on each molecule toward the electrostatic component of binding and show that different regions of a drug molecule may be used for recognition by different RT variants. The electrostatic contributions of certain RT residues toward drug binding are also computed to highlight critical residues for each interaction. Finally, the charge distribution of RPV is optimized to promiscuously bind to three RT variants rather than to each one in turn, with the resulting charge distribution being a compromise between the optimal charge distributions to each individual variant. Taken together, this work demonstrates that even in a binding site considered quite hydrophobic, electrostatics play a subtle yet varying role that must be considered in designing next‐generation molecules that recognize rapidly mutating targets. Proteins 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Optimized grid‐based protein–protein docking as a global search tool followed by incorporating experimentally derivable restraints
Authors: Huang Wei , Liu Haiyan 
Published: October 2011

AbstractUnbound protein docking, or the computational prediction of the structure of a protein complex from the structures of its separated components, is of importance but still challenging. A practical approach toward reliable results for unbound docking is to incorporate experimentally derived information with computation. To this end, truly systematic search of the global docking space is desirable. The fast Fourier transform (FFT) docking is a systematic search method with high computational efficiency. However, by using FFT to perform unbound docking, possible conformational changes upon binding must be treated implicitly. To better accommodate the implicit treatment of conformational flexibility, we develop a rational approach to optimize “softened” parameters for FFT docking. In connection with the increased “softness” of the parameters in this global search step, we use a revised rule to select candidate models from the search results. For complexes designated as of low and medium difficulty for unbound docking, these adaptations of the original FTDOCK program lead to substantial improvements of the global search results. Finally, we show that models resulted from FFT‐based global search can be further filtered with restraints derivable from nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shift perturbation or mutagenesis experiments, leading to a small set of models that can be feasibly refined and evaluated using computationally more expensive methods and that still include high‐ranking near‐native conformations. Proteins 2011. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Coherent X‐ray nanodiffraction on single GaAs nanowires
Authors: Gulden J. , Mariager S. O. , Mancuso A. P. , Yefanov O. M. , Baltser J. , Krogstrup P. , Patommel J. , Burghammer M. , Feidenhans'l R. , Vartanyants I. A. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractCoherent X‐ray nanodiffraction was applied to investigate single GaAs nanowires. Using the nanofocus hard X‐ray setup at ID13 of the ESRF, the diffraction signal from isolated nanowires was measured. The diffraction patterns were recorded for different rotations of the sample. These diffraction patterns were then combined to yield three‐dimensional information around a Wurzite [101] Bragg peak.
Comparative study of reflectance properties of nanodiamonds, onion‐like carbon and multiwalled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Kuznetsov V. L. , Moseenkov S. I. , Elumeeva K. V. , Larina T. V. , Anufrienko V. F. , Romanenko A. I. , Anikeeva O. B. , Tkachev E. N. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractCarbon nanomaterials are the promising candidates for potential broadband limiting applications and extremely low reflectance coatings, particularly in the infrared, visible and UV spectral regions. In this paper we have performed the comparative study of diffuse reflectance of nanodiamond (ND), sp2/sp3 composites, onion‐like carbon (OLC) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) in visible and UV regions. ND, sp2/sp3 composites and OLC produced via high temperature annealing of the same set of NDs allow us to vary sp2/sp3 carbon ratio, size of primary particle agglomerates and concentration of defects while MWNT set provides possibility to vary NT diameters and length, order/disorder degree (via high temperature MWNTS annealing). The diffuse reflectance of carbon nanomaterials depends mainly on the electronic configuration, defect concentration, size of graphene‐like ordered fragments and agglomerates of nanoparticles along with their morphology.magnified image
Saddle‐shape warpage of thick 3C‐SiC wafer: Effect of nonuniform intrinsic stress and stacking faults
Authors: Sun Yu , Izumi Satoshi , Sakai Shinsuke , Yagi Kuniaki , Nagasawa Hiroyuki 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe technique of thick cubic silicon carbide (3C‐SiC) film (up to 300 µm) deposition on undulant‐Si substrates is very effective in reducing stacking faults and other planar defects of 3C‐SiC wafers. However, after removing the Si substrate, 3C‐SiC wafers show anisotropic warpage involving large convex curvature in the direction perpendicular to the ridge of undulation and slight concave curvature in the parallel direction, i.e., saddle shape. In this paper, we have discussed the origin of the warpage of 3C‐SiC wafers. From ex situ curvature measurements and stress calculation, we found that large compressive intrinsic stress was generated during high‐temperature growth (1623 K) in both parallel and perpendicular directions. To investigate the intrinsic stress distribution along the 3C‐SiC film thickness direction, we performed reactive ion etching (RIE) on 3C‐SiC film and determined the dependence of the SiC/Si system curvature on the remaining 3C‐SiC thickness. The intrinsic stress component perpendicular to the ridge of undulation showed nonuniform distribution along the film thickness. Below the 50 µm thickness region, the distribution presented large variation. The obtained intrinsic stress distribution was very similar to the stacking fault distribution, which showed high density near the SiC/Si interface and rapidly decreased within 50 µm apart from the interface. The simulation by finite element method (FEM) has clearly explained that the anisotropic warpage of SiC wafer was led by the intrinsic stress distribution in a quantitative manner. Microstructure changes induced by the stacking fault reduction process (stacking fault collision) would be the cause of the intrinsic stress variation.
High field surface magnetic study of Fe3O4 nanoparticles
Authors: Kihal A. , Fillion G. , Bouzabata B. , Barbara B. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractMagnetic properties of magnetite (Fe3O4) powders, milled for various times up to 15 h, are studied by magnetization measurements. For the starting powder, like in the bulk single crystal, the approach to magnetic saturation is mainly ruled by the usual 1/H and 1/H2 terms. But for the milled samples, as the grain size decreases, a 1/H1/2 term rises as the leading term and is interpreted in the framework of the theory of Chudnovsky et al. accounting for the effect of a random anisotropy generated near the surface, aside from a large constant high field susceptibility related to the canted spins at the surface.
Human Cardiac Progenitor Cell Grafts as Unrestricted Source of Supernumerary Cardiac Cells in Healthy Murine Hearts
Authors: Forte Giancarlo , Pietronave Stefano , Nardone Giorgia , Zamperone Andrea , Magnani Eugenio , Pagliari Stefania , Pagliari Francesca , Giacinti Cristina , Nicoletti Carmine , Musaró Antonio , Rinaldi Mauro , Ribezzo Marco , Comoglio Chiara , Traversa Enrico , Okano Teruo , Minieri Marilena , Prat Maria , Di Nardo Paolo 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Human heart harbors a population of resident progenitor cells that can be isolated by stem cell antigen-1 antibody and expanded in culture. These cells can differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vitro and contribute to cardiac regeneration in vivo. However, when directly injected as single cell suspension, less than 1%-5% survive and differentiate. Among the major causes of this failure are the distressing protocols used to culture in vitro and implant progenitor cells into damaged hearts. Human cardiac progenitors obtained from the auricles of patients were cultured as scaffoldless engineered tissues fabricated using temperature-responsive surfaces. In the engineered tissue, progenitor cells established proper three-dimensional intercellular relationships and were embedded in self-produced extracellular matrix preserving their phenotype and multipotency in the absence of significant apoptosis. After engineered tissues were leant on visceral pericardium, a number of cells migrated into the murine myocardium and in the vascular walls, where they integrated in the respective textures.
The study demonstrates the suitability of such an approach to deliver stem cells to the myocardium. Interestingly, the successful delivery of cells in murine healthy hearts suggests that myocardium displays a continued cell cupidity that is strictly regulated by the limited release of progenitor cells by the adopted source. When an unregulated cell source is added to the system, cells are delivered to the myocardium. The exploitation of this novel concept may pave the way to the setup of new protocols in cardiac cell therapy.
Diagnosing Appendicitis at Different Time Points in Children with Right Lower Quadrant Pain: Comparison Between Pediatric Appendicitis Score and the Alvarado Score
Authors: Wu Han‐Ping , Yang Wen‐Chieh , Wu Kang‐Hsi , Chen Chan‐Yu , Fu Yun‐Ching 
Published: October 2011

AbstractBackgroundAcute appendicitis is the most common abdominal emergency in clinical surgery. This study was designed to compare the diagnostic value of the Pediatric Appendicitis Score (PAS) with that of the Alvarado score based on different time points in children with right lower quadrant (RLQ) abdominal pain.MethodsThis prospective cohort study comprised 1,395 children (aged 3–18 years) with RLQ abdominal pain between 2005 and 2009. The patients were scored by the pediatric emergency physicians. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the appropriate cutoff scores of the Alvarado and PAS systems. The sensitivity and specificity, and area under ROC curve were calculated for both systems.ResultsThe AUCs of the Alvarado system were all higher than those of the PAS system (day 1: 0.09 vs. 0.87; day 2: 0.87 vs. 0.84; day 3: 0.88 vs. 0.82). The best appropriate cutoff scores were seven (days 1 and 2) and six (day 3) on the PAS and six (days 1 and 2) and seven (day 3) on the Alvarado system.ConclusionsThe preliminary data show that the best cutoff score of Alvarado and PAS systems vary with the different time points of RLQ pain presentation. It may provide helpful information for primary or emergency physicians to determine whether the patient should undergo surgical consultation.