bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Much ado about nothing
Authors: VRENSEN G 
Published: November 2009

AbstractMay I introduce myself? I am a lens, one of the two you have. I look like a discus with my front less curved than my back. In good condition I am crystal clear and nearly colourless. When adult my diameter is 10mm, in the center I am 4mm thick and my weight is 250mg. I have a protected life, swimming in a small nicely warm pool, with water containing everything I need for living. I am hanging on thin strings in a trampoline. My back is supported by a huge soft waterbed. In front a round coloured iris is protecting me from too much sunlight. My only activity is regularly changing, in harmony with my fellow lens, my front and back curvature. As you see I am not very fascinating and I am surprised that my master and so many of his colleagues are spending so much time to me. Much ado about nothing!!! However, when looking around I see many young and old people wearing glasses, for reading and far vision. Big business; so many shops selling these glasses in expensive mounts. Moreover, when my master is consulting the homepages of the WHO it comes out that I am still the main cause of blindness world wide. In my master’s country lens blindness, also called cataract, is rare due to the fact that 130,000 of my fellow lenses are taken out per year and replaced by plastic lenses put in the thin bags surrounding us. Some 13,000‐26,000 of them are frustrating this surgery and their renewed cloudy backs are eliminated by laser bombardment. Imagine the enormous financial burden for this simple but very common treatment of cataract and after‐cataract. Much ado about nothing??? I am not as dull as I look at first glance. I am the only organ with no blood supply and no innervation. Food is coming in from the pool along small spaces between my fibers and my waste products are leaving through the fibers back to the pool. My center does not receive food at all. My most common cells: the fibres, are not shedded and I still contain all the fibers formed during my life span. For transparency my fibers have to loose their nuclei without dying; an unprecedented process. I am changing my curvatures without disturbing my internal structure. It is not surprising, however, that with all my metabolic and physiological handicaps, I become brown and opalescent in the end and am no longer able to help my ‘old’ master with reading. I am unique in many other aspects. So it is not surprising that many scientists got intrigued by my ingenuity to remain clear and active for nearly my whole life span. Much ado about nothing. No!!!
Flicker‐induced retinal vasodilataion ‐ what does a reduced response mean?
Authors: SCHMETTERER L 
Published: November 2009

Abstract Purpose In the recent years much interest has been directed towards flicker‐induced vasodilatation. Various studies were done showing reduced flicker responses in diseases such as diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma. The basis for this reduced flicker responses is, however, largely unclear. Methods Papers published on this topic in the last years were reviewed. Specific emphasis was directed towards publications that deal with potential mechanisms underlying flicker‐induced vasodilatation. Results There is evidence from animal and human studies that flicker‐induced vasodilatation is at least partially dependent on nitric oxide. In addition, there is evidence to assume that flicker induces changes in the retinal glucose metabolism and the ratio of cytosolic NADH/NAD+ are involved. Conclusion Flicker‐induced retinal vasodilatation appears to be partially endothelium‐dependent. It is, however, likely that other factors are also involved Further research is required to characterize the mechanisms underlying flicker‐induced vasodilatation in more detail. From a clinical point of view studies are needed to test the hypothesis that reduced retinal flicker responses are related to the prevalence, incidence and progression of ocular vascular disease.
Pharmacokinetics and ocular tissue penetration of VEGF trap after intravitreal injection in rabbits
Authors: STRUBLE C , KOEHLER‐STEC E , ZIMMER E , TU W 
Published: November 2009

Abstract Purpose VEGF Trap is a potent antiangiogenic agent that binds and blocks the action of all VEGF‐A isoforms and placental growth factor and, is active in numerous animal models of age‐related ocular neovascularization and diabetic retinopathy, when administered either intravitreally or systemically. Moreover, systemic administration of VEGF Trap was active in reducing excess retinal thickness in a Phase I study in age‐related macular edema. To understand the pharmacokinetics following intravitreal administration, VEGF Trap (500 mcg) was administered to both eyes of pigmented rabbits. Methods Plasma and eyes were harvested from three animals/time point at defined times to 4 weeks after administration. Concentrations of VEGF Trap, free and bound to VEGF, were determined in plasma, vitreous, choroid, and retina by ELISA. Results Maximal vitreal concentrations of free VEGF Trap were approximately 500 mcg/mL at 0.25 to 6 hours after injection. The drug was cleared from the vitreous in a first order process with a half‐life of approximately 4.5 days. Vitreal VEGF:VEGF Trap complex reached a plarteau of 0.6 mcg/mL 10 days after administration. Drug was detected in both retina and choroid, and the elimination profile from these tissues approximated by that of the vitreous. Peak plasma total drug concentrations of 1.6 mcg/mL occurred at 10 days. At 4 weeks, the vitreal free VEGF Trap remained over 10‐fold in excess of bound VEGF Trap and the complex levels were on a plateau. Conclusion Given the vitreal half‐life, free should remain in excess of bound for at least 3 additional half‐lives (13.5 days), suggesting that eye VEGF production would be completely blocked for more than 6 weeks after adminstration of of 500 mcg/eye of VEGF Trap.
Commercial interest
Macular pigment and its correlation with colour vision and SWAP perimetry
Authors: DAVISON PA , LOUGHMAN J , SCANLON G , NOLAN J , BEATTY S 
Published: November 2009

Abstract Purpose To investigate the effects of macular pigment optical density (MPOD) on colour vision and colour modulated visual fields using short‐wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP). Methods Macular pigment (MP) spatial profile was measured using customised heterochromatic flicker photometry (cHFP) on 51 normal subjects. Colour vision was assessed using the Oculus anomaloscope [Moreland equation (AME)] and Farnsworth‐Munsell 100‐Hue (FM) with optimum confusion axes. A custom designed program on the Humphrey automated perimeter, was used to determine SWAP thresholds at the fovea, and at each degree of retinal eccentricity for the central five degrees. A 440nm Goldmann V stimulus presented on a 100cd/m2 bleaching background was used to isolate the short wave sensitive pathway. Results While inter‐relationships were evident between AME, FM and SWAP, only one colour vision measure (on FM) correlated with MPOD (r=.302, p= 0.03). At similar degrees of eccentricity, SWAP was inversely and statistically significantly correlated with MPOD (e.g. 1‐degree retinal eccentricity: r = ‐0.198, p = 0.047; 3 degrees retinal eccentricity r = ‐0.290, p = 0.03). Conclusion Colour vision, even using sensitive tests targeting blue‐yellow and blue‐green confusion is surprisingly independent of MPOD, while SWAP sensitivity is reduced with increased MPOD. We hypothesize that this is due to long‐term adaptation of the retinal blue‐yellow pathway to prevailing MPOD in normal subjects, this adaptation being upset by short‐term chromatic adaptation in SWAP.
Commercial interest
Retinal blood flow in patients with diabetes during normalized insulin and glucose plasma levels
Authors: WEIGERT G , POLSKA E , GARHOFER G , SCHMETTERER L 
Published: November 2009

Abstract Purpose Ocular blood flow studies in patients with diabetes showed contradictory results. One of the reasons for these discrepancies is related to glycemic control, because glucose and insulin have been shown to induce ocular vasodilatation. Hence, we performed a study in diabetic patients measuring ocular blood flow during euglycemic euisoglycemic clamps. Methods 16 patients with insulin dependent diabetes, no or mild non‐proliferative diabetic retinopathy and serum cholesterol levels < 250 mg/dl and 16 healthy sex‐ and age‐matched controls were included in the study. Retinal blood flow was measured in diabetic patients before the insulin morning dose and during euglycemic euinsulinemic clamps. For the assessment of retinal blood flow the Retinal Vessel Analyzer and bi‐directional laser Doppler velocimetry were used. All veins entering the optic nerve head were measured to gain information on total retinal blood flow. Results Plasma glucose levels decreased from 176±21 mg/dl before morning insulin to 102±4 mg/dl during the euinsulinemic clamp. Retinal blood flow was reduced significantly from 51.4±5.5 µl/min before the clamp to 42.1±5.2µl/min during the euglycemic euinsulinemic clamps (p<0.01). As compared to the healthy control group retinal blood flow was increased before the clamps, but not during euglycemic euinsulinemic conditions. Conclusion The present study indicates that retinal blood flow is increased in diabetic patients during high blood glucose levels. Retinal blood flow values are, however, comparable to healthy controls during euglycemic euisoglycemic clamps.
Outcome of transplanted mesenchymal stem cells in the alkali burned cornea
Authors: VERA L , LATOUCHE JB , GUEUDRY J , VANNIER JP , MURAINE M 
Published: November 2009

Abstract Purpose Mesenchymal stem cells show promising results in cell therapy for many medical fields. We aimed to study their fate when transplanted in the inflammatory corneal environnement: survival, migration towards the injured tissues, differenciation. Methods Plastic‐adherent, mononucleate cells derived from the bone marrow of New Zealand White rabbits, were transfected with Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) and expanded in cultures. These MSCs were injected either directly in the stroma, or in the sub‐conjunctival space, six hours after the alkali burn of the center of the cornea. Immunohistochemistry and immnunofluorescence were performed one week to four weeks after the transplantation. Results MSCs were detected by fluorescence microscopy at 7 days and 14 days after transplantation, whatever the site of injection. They were not present in our cut sections after two weeks. After the sub‐conjunctival injection, they were mostly localized at the limbus and the peripheral cornea. When transplanted directly in the stroma, they were more dispersed and remained at the site of injection. Fourteen days after transplantation, more than 90% of the MSCs expressed the a‐ smooth muscle actin marker, like residual keratocytes .MSCs never integrated the epithelial layers and did not express cytokeratins. Conclusion These results suggest that MSCs transfected with GFP can migrate towards the damaged tissue when injected in the sub‐conjunctival space and survive during at least two weeks. They engraft to stromal cornea and differenciate rapidly into myofibroblasts. These MSCs are not able to differenciate into epithelial cells in our model. Their differenciation into myofibroblasts suggests that they might be involved in the stromal wound healing.
Is emmetropia the natural endpoint for human refractive development? An analysis of population‐based data from the refractive error study in children (RESC)
Authors: Morgan Ian G. , Rose Kathryn A. , Ellwein Leon B. ,   The Refractive Error Study in Children Survey Group
Published: November 2009

Acta Ophthalmol. 2010: 88: 877–884Abstract.Purpose:  To determine the natural end‐point for refractive development during childhood.Methods:  Cycloplegic (1% cyclopentolate) autorefraction was performed on 38 811 children aged 5 and 15 in population‐based samples at eight sites in the Refractive Error Study in Children (RESC). Refractions (right eye) were categorized as myopic (≤−0.5 D), emmetropic (>−0.5 to ≤+0.5 D), mildly hyperopic (>+0.5 to ≤+2.0 D and hyperopic (>+2.0 D).Results:  At five sites (Jhapa – rural Nepal, New Delhi – urban India, Mahabubnagar – rural India, Durban – semi‐urban South Africa and La Florida – urban Chile), there was <20% myopia by age 15. Mild hyperopia was the most prevalent category at all ages, except for Mahabubnagar where emmetropia became the marginally most prevalent category at ages 14 and 15. At the other sites (Gombak – semi‐urban Malaysia, Shunyi – semi‐rural China and Guangzhou – urban China), there was substantial (>35%) myopia by age 15. At these sites, mild hyperopia was the most prevalent category during early childhood, and myopia became the predominant category later. In Gombak district and Guangzhou, emmetropia was a minor category at all ages, with myopia increasing as mild hyperopia decreased. In Shunyi district, emmetropia was the most prevalent category over the ages 11–14.Conclusion:  Emmetropia was not the predominant outcome for refractive development in children. Instead, populations were predominantly mildly hyperopic or substantial amounts of myopia appeared in them. This suggests that mild hyperopia is the natural state of refractive development in children and that emmetropia during childhood carries the risk of subsequent progression to myopia.
The wisdom behind third molar extractions
Authors: Kandasamy S , Rinchuse DJ , Rinchuse DJ 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThe literature pertaining to the extraction of third molars is extensive. There is a large individual variation and a multitude of practitioners’ beliefs and biases relating to the extraction of especially asymptomatic and pathology free third molars. With the current emphasis in dentistry being placed on clinicians to make evidence‐based decisions, the routine removal of third molars has been re‐assessed and questioned. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate past and present knowledge of third molar extractions and relate it to logical considerations relevant to science and the evidence‐based decision‐making process. This paper endeavours to encourage and stimulate clinicians to re‐evaluate their views on third molar extractions based on suggested guidelines and current evidence.
Predictable management of cracked teeth with reversible pulpitis
Authors: Abbott P , Leow N 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground:  The aims of this study were to assess symptoms and signs caused by cracks in teeth and to assess a conservative management protocol.Methods:  The symptoms and signs of 100 consecutive teeth that had reversible pulpitis associated with cracks were compared to findings from other reports. Teeth were managed with a conservative protocol which involved removal of cracks, caries and restorations, followed by placement of a sedative lining and interim restoration unless there were pulp exposures or insufficient tooth structure remaining. Teeth were monitored for pulp healing after three months and for up to five years.Results:  Eighty teeth did not require endodontic treatment. One tooth had an uncertain pulp status at review appointments. Fifteen teeth required endodontic treatment at the initial appointment because of carious pulp exposures (4 teeth), cracks extending into the pulp (2), and posts required (9). Four other teeth required endodontic treatment later following conservative pulp treatment due to continued pulpitis under the temporary restoration (1), pulpitis after core restoration (2), and pulp necrosis diagnosed at the review (1).Conclusions:  Provided there is an accurate diagnosis of the pulp status and its cause, teeth with reversible pulpitis due to cracks can be treated conservatively without endodontic treatment in about 80 per cent of cases.
Shear bond strength of luting agents to fixed prosthodontic restorative core materials
Authors: Capa N , Özkurt Z , Canpolat C , Kazazoglu E 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground:  Bonding properties of luting cements are important for retention of restorative core materials. The aim of this study was to compare the bonding performance of a resin‐modified glass ionomer cement and a self‐adhesive resin cement to various fixed prosthodontic core materials.Methods:  Cylindrical specimens with a thickness of 2 mm and a diameter of 5 mm were fabricated from Au‐Pd‐Ag, Co‐Cr, Ni‐Cr‐Mo, Ni‐Cr‐Fe alloys, titanium, zirconia and Empress II (n = 20). Each group was divided into two subgroups to be luted with two different luting agents. Composite resin blocks were cemented onto specimens with RelyXUnicem and FujiCem. A shear bond strength machine with 50 kg load cell and 0.50 mm/min crosshead speed was used. Kruskal Wallis test, Dunn’s Multiple Range test and Mann‐Whitney‐U test were used for statistical analysis. The results were evaluated in a confidence interval of p < 0.05.Results:  The highest bond strength was obtained between Ni‐Cr‐Fe‐RelyXUnicem (8.22 ± 2.15 MPa) and the lowest was between Empress II‐FujiCem (1.48 ± 0.9 MPa). In FujiCem groups, Co‐Cr and Ni‐Cr‐Fe showed significantly higher bond strength than Au‐Pd‐Ag and Empress II. In RelyX Unicem groups, Ni‐Cr‐Fe showed higher bond strength than Empress II.Conclusions:  The types of luting agents and restorative core materials may have a significant influence on bond strength.
Gas Void Fraction Measurement in Two-Phase Gas/Liquid Slug Flow Using Acoustic Emission Technology
Authors: Al-lababidi S. , Addali A. , Yeung H. , Mba D. , Khan F. 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
The gas-liquid two-phase slug flow regime phenomenon is commonly encountered in the chemical engineering industry, particularly in oil and gas production transportation pipelines. Slug flow regime normally occurs for a range of pipe inclinations, and gas and liquid flowrates. A pipeline operating in the slug flow regime creates high fluctuations in gas and liquid flowrates at the outlet. Therefore, the monitoring of slugs and the measurement of their characteristics, such as the gas void fraction, are necessary to minimize the disruption of downstream process facilities. In this paper, a correlation between gas void fraction, absolute acoustic emission energy, and slug velocities in a two-phase air/water flow regime was developed using an acoustic emission technique. It is demonstrated that the gas void fraction can be determined by measurement of acoustic emission.
EPID dosimetry: Effect of different layers of materials on absorbed dose response
Authors: Gustafsson Helen , Vial Philip , Kuncic Zdenka , Baldock Clive , Greer Peter B. 
Published: November 2009

Purpose:Commercial EPIDs are normally used in indirect detection mode (iEPID) where incident x‐ray photons are converted to optical photons in a phosphor scintillator, which are then detected by a photodiode array. The EPIDs are constructed from a number of nonwater equivalent materials which affect the dose response of the detector. The so‐called direct detection EPIDs (dEPIDs), operating without the phosphor layer, have been reported to display dose response close to in‐water data. In this study, the effect that different layers of materials in the EPID have on the dose response was experimentally investigated and evaluated with respect to changes in field size response and beam profiles.Methods:An iEPID was disassembled and the different layers of materials were removed or replaced with other materials. Data were also obtained on and off the support arm and with a sheet of opaque paper blocking the optical photons from the gadolinium oxysulfide phosphor layer. Field size response was measured for field sizes ranging from , and profiles for the beams were extracted from the data.Results:The iEPID configuration was found to be very sensitive to backscatter. The increases in output with solid water backscatter compared to the no backscatter case were 14.7% and 6.6% at the largest field size investigated for the 6 and beams, respectively. The phosphor layer had a large influence on field size response as well as beam profiles for photons, while no major effects were observed for the beam. For large differences in dose response were found when the standard Cu buildup was changed for equivalent Cu or solid water buildup, indicating that head scatter largely influences dose response for this energy. When the optical photons originating in the layer were blocked from reaching the photodiodes, both field size output data and beam profiles corresponded well with data obtained in the dEPID configuration as well as reference ion chamber data for both energies.Conclusions:As expected, changing the layers of material in the EPID had a dramatic effect on dose response, which was often quite complex. For, the complex dose response is mainly caused by the optical photons from the layer, while insufficient filtering of scattered radiation largely affects the dose response for the beam. The iEPID was also found to be very sensitive to backscatter for both energies. Blocking the optical photons created in the layer essentially changed the iEPID configuration into the dEPID configuration, thus demonstrating great potential for a system that can be optimized for both imaging and dosimetry.
The myth of the 50‐50 breast
Authors: Yaffe M. J. , Boone J. M. , Packard N. , Alonzo‐Proulx O. , Huang S.‐Y. , Peressotti C. L. , Al‐Mayah A. , Brock K. 
Published: November 2009

Purpose:For dosimetry and for work in optimization of x‐ray imaging of the breast, it is commonly assumed that the breast is composed of 50% fibroglandular tissue and 50% fat. The purpose of this study was to assess whether this assumption was realistic.Methods:First, data obtained from an experimental breast CT scanner were used to validate an algorithm that measures breast density from digitized film mammograms. Density results obtained from a total of 2831 women, including 191 women receiving CT and from mammograms of 2640 women from three other groups, were then used to estimate breast compositions.Results:Mean compositions, expressed as percent fibroglandular tissue (including the skin), varied from 13.7% to 25.6% among the groups with an overall mean of 19.3%. The mean compressed breast thickness for the mammograms was 5.9 cm. 80% of the women in our study had volumetric breast density less than 27% and 95% were below 45%.Conclusions:Based on the results obtained from the four groups of women in our study, the “50‐50” breast is not a representative model of the breast composition.