bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with heart failure and conduction abnormalities other than left bundle‐branch block: Analysis of the multicenter insync randomized clinical evaluation (MIRACLE)
Authors: Aranda Juan M. , Conti Jamie B. , Johnson James W. , Petersen‐Stejskal Susan , Curtis Anne B. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground:Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been proposed as a treatment for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and prolonged QRS durations. Previous studies have predominantly included patients with left bundle‐branch block (LBBB). The Multicenter InSync Randomized Clinical Evaluation (MIRACLE) investigators assessed the efficacy of CRT in patients with CHF with QRS durations > 130 ms and found that CRT lead to improvement in several measures of functional capacity and exercise tolerance.Hypothesis:We designed this retrospective study to determine whether patients with CHF who have conduction abnormalities other than LBBB also respond favorably to CRT.Methods:We divided patients enrolled in the MIRACLE trial into three subgroups according to conduction abnormality ‐ LBBB, right bundle‐branch block (RBBB), and nonspecific interventricular conduction delay (IVCD) ‐ and compared the response among and within these groups to CRT or no CRT at baseline and 6‐months' follow‐up.Results:We found 313 patients with LBBB, 43 with RBBB, and 35 with IVCD. When they received CRT, significant improvement was achieved in functional class (p = 0.001) by patients with RBBB, and in quality of life (p = 0.038) by patients with IVCD. Patients in the RBBB and IVCD groups showed improvement in exercise time and peak oxygen consumption after CRT. Most patients with RBBB (82%) also had either left anterior fascicular block or left posterior fascicular block.Conclusions:Patients with CHF with RBBB and IVCD do benefit from CRT. Improvement with CRT in patients with RBBB may be due to concomitant left‐sided conduction abnormalities. Further subgroup analyses of other CRT trials are necessary to validate these results.
Markers of myocardial reperfusion as predictors of left ventricular function recovery in acute myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty
Authors: Bellandi Francesco , Leoncini Mario , Maioli Mauro , Toso Anna , Gallopin Michela , Dabizzi Roberto Piero 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground:Myocardial blush grade (MBG), corrected TIMI frame count (cTFC), and ST‐segment reduction are indices of myocardial reperfusion.Hypothesis:We evaluated their predictive value for left ventricular (LV) function recovery by gated single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods:In 40 patients with AMI, gated SPECT was performed at admission and repeated 7 and 30 days after PCI. Left ventricular function recovery was defined as an increase ≥ 10 points in SPECT LV ejection fraction from baseline to 1 month. The MBG, cTFC, and ST‐segment elevation index 1 h after PCI were determined to evaluate reperfusion.Results:Twenty‐four patients (Group 1) had LV function recovery and 16 (Group 2) did not. A significant correlation was found between LV function recovery and MBG (r = 0.66; p=0.0001), and ST‐segment elevation index at 1 h(r=−0.55; p = 0.0001), but not with cTFC. Univariate predictors of LV function recovery were MBG (p = 0.0003) and ST‐segment elevation index 1 h after intervention (p = 0.0026), but not cTFC. In a multivariate analysis, MBG was the only predictor of LV function recovery. Myocardial blush grade ≥ 2 and ST‐segment elevation index reduction had the same accuracy (88%) for predicting LV function recovery. Lower accuracy (75%) was shown by fast cTFC (< 23 frames). Myocardial blush grade ≥ 2 showed the better negative likelihood ratio, and ST‐segment elevation index reduction had the higher positive likelihood ratio in predicting LV function recovery.Conclusions:Myocardial blush grade was the best parameter for prediction of LV function recovery: MBG ≥ 2 and ST‐segment elevation index reduction showed good accuracy in predicting LV function recovery. The cTFC failed to be a significant predictor.
Long‐term effects of acute pulmonary embolism on echocardiographic doppler indices and functional capacity
Authors: Ciurzyński M. , Kurzyna M. , Bochowicz A. , Lichodziejewska B. , Liszewska‐Pfejfer D. , Pruszczyk P. , Torbicki A. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground and hypothesis:Hemodynamic and functional consequences of acute pulmonary embolism (APE) are believed to be reversible with antithrombotic treatment. To verify this hypothesis, we reassessed our patients at least 1 year after an episode of APE.Methods:We compared echo Doppler indices and 6‐min walking test parameters (6‐MWT) of 36 patients (13 men, 23 women, age 66 ± 11 years), studied on average 3.1 ± 2.2 years after an acute episode of pharmacologically treated massive or submassive APE, with data of 30 age‐matched subjects (12 men, 18 women, age 67 ± 12 years).Results:At least 1 year after APE, right ventricular (RV) diameter remained increased in patients compared with controls (27 ± 2 vs. 23 ± 2 mm, p < 0.001). Also, acceleration time of pulmonary ejection (AcT) was markedly shorter (97 ± 19 vs. 123 ± 19 ms, p < 0.001) and the diameter of the pulmonary trunk was significantly larger in patients than in controls (21 ± 2.6 vs. 18 ± 2.2, p < 0.001). Although the mean value of the tri‐cuspid valve peak systolic gradient (TVPG) in the APE group at follow‐up was similar to that in controls, TVPG > 30 mmHg was recorded in three patients with APE (8.3%). There was no difference in the distance of 6‐MWT between both groups; however, the mean desaturation after 6‐MWT was higher in the APE group than in controls (3.04 ± 2.08 vs. 1.45 ± 0.69%, p = 0.0005).Conclusions:Pharmacologic treatment of acute pulmonary embolism does not prevent mild persistent changes in morphology and function of the cardiovascular system. Despite normalization of pulmonary artery systolic pressure and similar exercise capacity, survivors of APE present signs suggesting RV dysfunction and/or its disturbed coupling to the pulmonary arterial bed, as well as ventilation to perfusion mismatch at exertion persisting long after the acute embolic episode.
Tissue factor activities of streptozotocin induced diabetic rat tissues and the effect of peanut consumption
Authors: Emekli‐Alturfan Ebru , Kasikci Emel , Yarat Aysen 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackgroundTissue factor (TF) is considered to be a major regulator of normal haemostasis and thrombosis. Circulating TF activity is suggested to be associated with diabetes mellitus. Various tissues and body fluids have TF activity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the TF activity of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rat tissues. Peanut consumption is reported to be associated with decreased risk of type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the effect of peanut consumption on the TF activity of STZ induced diabetic rat tissues, and haemostatic parameters such as protrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and fibrinogen levels were determined.MethodsTwenty‐four Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups of 8 rats each as control, STZ‐induced diabetic and diabetic + peanut group. Twelve weeks later, TF activity of liver, kidney, spleen, heart, kidney, lung, pancreas and aorta and haemostatic parameters were determined.ResultsIn the diabetic group, TF activities of liver, kidney and spleen increased (p < 0.01) whereas the TF activity of brain decreased (p < 0.01) compared to the control group. Peanut consumption in the diabetic group decreased the TF activity of spleen and aorta (p < 0.01; p < 0.05). Haemostatic parameters did not change significantly in the groups.ConclusionElevated TF activity in diabetic rat tissues, may contribute to the increased risk of atherothrombotic disease that accompanies the diabetic complications whereas the decreased brain TF activity may be due to a different haemostatic mechanism to protect this vital organ from the diabetic status. The decreased TF activity of peanut given diabetic rat tissues might protect these tissues from the risk of thrombosis. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISEE: Internet‐based Simulation for Earthquake Engineering—Part II: The application protocol approach
Authors: Wang Kung‐Juin , Tsai Keh‐Chyuan , Wang Shiang‐Jung , Cheng Wei‐Choung , Yang Yuan‐Sen 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThis paper develops new techniques for integrating a number of different structural laboratories together through the Internet in order to jointly conduct a single structural experiment. A computer‐networking platform, called Platform for Networked Structural Experiments (PNSE), was developed to achieve this goal. PNSE runs directly on top of the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). It is a multi‐client system consisting of a number of client programs, which include one command
generation program and a number of facility control programs, connected to a server program via TCP point‐to‐point connections across the Internet. An associated application protocol, called Networked Structural Experiment Protocol (NSEP), was developed to work with the PNSE. In addition to communication rules, the NSEP defines general experimental information, significant laboratory events, commands and signals, as well as obligated behaviours of all PNSE programs. Both domestic and transnational pseudo‐dynamic (PSD) tests were performed to verify the validity and efficiency of the PNSE. Test results showed that on the PNSE: signals were correctly transmitted; significant laboratory events were promptly reflected; and data transmission was remarkably efficient, with the round‐trip time (RTT) between Taiwan and the United States less than 0.1701 s. The characteristic of environment independency was also demonstrated through the successful collaboration of different facility control programs running on different operating systems. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Material order‐independent interface reconstruction using power diagrams
Authors: Schofield Samuel P. , Garimella Rao V. , Francois Marianne M. , Loubère Raphaël 
Published: June 2007

AbstractWe have developed a new, multi‐material, piecewise linear interface reconstruction method that correctly locates the position of each material in the mesh cell and matches the required volume fractions with no material ordering required. This is different from other volume tracking interface reconstruction methods in which an improper material ordering may result in materials being incorrectly located within the cell. The new method utilizes a type of weighted Voronoi diagram, known as a power diagram, to reconstruct the interface from approximate material locations derived either from a particle model or quadrature formula. It works on structured and general polygonal grids, for an arbitrary number of materials and can be naturally extended to three dimensions. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the effects of a compressible viscous lubricant on the load‐bearing capacity of a journal bearing
Authors: Bollada P. C. , Phillips T. N. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractA compressible viscous isothermal model is presented for studying journal‐bearing lubrication. The viscosity in the model thickens with increasing density. The governing equations are written in terms of velocity, the natural logarithm of the density and the kinematic extra‐stress tensor. A semi‐Làgrangian treatment of the material derivatives is combined with a spectral element discretization in space. The roles of the speed of sound and the eccentricity ratio on the load‐bearing capacity of the journal bearing are investigated. Compressibility is shown to enhance the load‐bearing capacity and this effect is amplified as the eccentricity ratio approaches unity. It is shown that for speeds of sound in the region of those of multigrade oils, the dominant component of the force on the journal acts along the line joining the centres of the bearing and journal and in the direction away from the narrow gap. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Instability of the separated shear layer in flow past a cylinder: Forced excitation
Authors: Mittal Sanjay 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe receptivity of the separated shear layer for Re = 300 flow past a cylinder is investigated by forced excitation via an unsteady inflow. In order to isolate the shear layer instability, a numerical experiment is set up that suppresses the primary wake instability. Computations are carried out for one half of the cylinder, in two dimensions. The flow past half a cylinder with steady inflow is found to be stable for Re = 300. However, an inlet flow with pulsatile perturbations, of amplitude 1% of the mean, results in the excitation of the shear layer mode. The frequency of the perturbation of the inlet flow determines the frequency associated with the shear layer vortices. For a certain range of forced frequencies the recirculation region undergoes a low‐frequency longitudinal contraction and expansion. An attempt is made to relate this instability to a global mode of the wake determined from a linear stability analysis. Interestingly, this phenomenon disappears when the outflow boundary of the computational domain is shifted sufficiently downstream. This study demonstrates the need of carefully investigating the effect of the location of outflow
boundaries if the computational results indicate the presence of low‐frequency fluctuations. The effect of Re and amplitude of unsteadiness at the inlet are also presented. All computations have been carried out using a stabilized finite element formulation of the incompressible flow equations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimisation of Manufacturing Parameters for an Ni–Ag Fuel Cell Electrode
Authors: Pishbin M. H. , Mohammadi A. R. , Nasri M. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe aim of this research is to optimise manufacturing parameters for a fuel cell electrode. The combination of nickel oxide, silver oxide and ammonium bicarbonate powders is used to produce the electrode. The main role of silver element is to increase the activity in the electrode. Ni–Ag electrode can be used in fuel cells as positive and negative electrodes. All powders are mixed in the benzene solution by a magnetic mixer and then compressed to form green electrode. The range of pressure in this step is between 40 and 160 MPa. The green electrode is sintered in hydrogen atmosphere through a tube furnace and then cooled to 200 °C under argon atmosphere. The range of sintering temperature and time is 500–800 °C and 10–60 min, respectively. Also, silver oxide and ammonium bicarbonate percentages are varied from 20 to 65 and 15 to 35%, respectively. All parameters including composition, pressure, sintering temperature and time are changed during electrode fabrication to achieve optimised properties in the electrode. So, it is necessary to perform several tests measuring porosity, surface area, density, weight loss, mechanical strength, shrinkage, exchange current density and metallographic photos.The optimum conditions of the electrode production resulting from this investigation include compacting pressure 60 MPa, sintering temperature 560 °C, sintering time 15 min, silver oxide percentage 50% and ammonium bicarbonate percentage 27%.
Long‐term site formation processes at the natural springs Nadaouiyeh and Hummal in the El Kowm Oasis, Central Syria
Authors: Tensorer Jean‐Marie Le , Jagher Reto , Rentzel Philippe , Hauck Thomas , Ismail‐Meyer Kristin , Pümpin Christine , Wojtczak Dorota 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe El Kowm oasis in the desert steppe of Central Syria is one of the oldest settlement centers in the Middle East and is significant worldwide for its great density of Paleolithic sites. About 180 open‐air sites dating between about one million and 10,000 years ago testify that humans regularly resided at or near the springs. The region represents a unique archive where the long‐term cultural history and the development of the landscape can be observed. The sites of Nadaouiyeh and Hummal are the main focus of our research. Geoarchaeological studies on both sites have defined the formation of different sediment types, such as limnic, littoral, and terrestrial deposits. Those sediments provide evidence of eolian processes, but also post‐depositional transformations like the precipitation of silica or pedogenesis. Additional archaeological layers give answers concerning the depositional environment, anthropogenic influence, and post‐sedimentary changes. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The correlation between Hamra and the Paleolithic on the Coastal Plain of the Southern Levant
Authors: Laukhin Stanislav A. , Ranov Vadim A. , Volgina Valerya A. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractFieldwork and literature studies indicate that Paleolithic sites of the coastal plain in the Southern Levant were connected with climatic changes and transgressive‐regressive cycles of the Mediterranean Sea. The presence of archaeological sites corresponds with periods of regressions, during which hamra (a local variety of red soils) formed and was subsequently reworked by slope processes. When the hamra was inundated by shallow lakes, people could settle on the lake shores. Six types of connections have been documented between Paleolithic sites and hamra pedocomplexes. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The impact of geology and geomorphology on cave and rockshelter archaeological site formation, preservation, and distribution in the Zagros mountains of Iran
Authors: Heydari Saman 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThis paper is a first attempt to explore the impact of geological and geomorphological settings on formation processes of shelter sites in the karstic Zagros Mountains of Iran. In general, the Zagros Mountains can be divided geologically and geomorphologically into two main zones, highland and folded, which are located parallel to each other and run from the northeast to the southwest in western Iran. Both the geological and geomorphological zones have implications for the formation processes of archaeological deposits at shelter sites. These environmental differences also influence the preservation of archaeological deposits at these types of sites. It is suggested that apart from site formation and post‐depositional processes, the local geological and geomorphological structure might also have had some influence on the distribution of prehistoric sites in the region. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Advantages and limitations of thermoluminescence dating of heated flint from Paleolithic sites
Authors: Richter Daniel 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThermoluminescence (TL) dating is now widely used in the age determination of Paleolithic sites. Although the basic principle of TL‐dating is simple, the underlying assumptions are not trivial. One major source of error is the external dose rate, which contributes to a varying degree to the denominator of the age formula and thus has a varying influence on the dating result. The intention of this paper is to enable the user to evaluate TL age determinations of heated flint. The parameters used for age determination and some of their relationships are discussed. It is shown that the reliability of TL results of heated flint depends on the proportion of the various dose‐rate parameters and that these are important for the evaluation of ages. The limitations of the method as well as the advantages are discussed. TL‐dating results for two Near Eastern Paleolithic sites (Rosh Ein Mor and Jerf al‐Ajla) are discussed as examples. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Transcriptional regulation of scar gene expression in primary astrocytes
Authors: Gris Paul , Tighe Allyson , Levin David , Sharma Rahul , Brown Arthur 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe failure of the adult injured spinal cord to support axonal regeneration is in part attributed to the glial scar. Reactive astrocytes constitute a major cellular component of the glial scar and are heterogeneous with respect to the extracellular matrix proteins that they secrete. Astrocytes may produce antiregenerative molecules such as chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CSPGs) or proregenerative molecules such as laminin and fibronectin. While many different CSPGs are expressed after spinal cord injury (SCI) they all rely on the same enzymes, xylosyltransferase‐I and ‐II (XT‐I, XT‐II) and chondroitin 4‐sulfotransferase (C4ST) to add the repulsive chondroitin sulfate side chains to their core proteins. We show that XT‐I, XT‐II, and C4ST are part of a CSPG biosynthetic gene (CBG) battery. Using primary astrocyte cultures and quantitative PCR we demonstrate that TGFβ2, PDGF, and IL‐6 induce the expression of CBGs, laminin and fibronectin by several‐fold. We further show that over‐expression of the transcription factor SOX9 also strongly induces the expression of CBGs but does not increase the expression of laminin or fibronectin. Correspondingly, SOX9 knock‐down in primary astrocytes causes a decrease in CBG and an increase in laminin and fibronectin mRNA levels. Finally, we show that the in vivo expression profiles of TGFβ2, PDGF, IL‐6, and SOX9 are consistent with their potential roles in differentially regulating CBGs, laminin and fibronectin gene expression in the injured spinal cord. This work suggests that SOX9 levels may be pivotal in determining the balance of pro‐ and anti‐regenerative extracellular matrix molecules produced by astrocytes. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Correlation between motor and phosphene thresholds: A transcranial magnetic stimulation study
Authors: Deblieck Choi , Thompson Benjamin , Iacoboni Marco , Wu Allan D. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractTranscranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has become a common tool for the brain mapping of a wide variety of cognitive functions. Because TMS over cortical regions of interest other than motor cortex often does not produce easily observable effects, the ability to calibrate TMS intensity for stimulation over nonmotor regions can be problematic. Previous studies reported no correlation between motor thresholds (MT) over the motor cortex and phosphene thresholds (PT) over the visual cortex. However, different thresholding methods, lighting, and eye‐closure conditions were used to determine MT and PT. We investigated the correlation between resting MT (rMT), active MT (aMT), and PT in 27 dark‐adapted healthy volunteers. All thresholds were measured with eyes‐open in the dark and determined by gradually reducing stimulation intensity downward. All subjects had aMT and rMT; 21 subjects had measurable PT. rMT was 70.4% ± 9.8% (mean ± SD of maximum stimulator output); aMT was 61.1% ± 7.9%; PT was 82.2% ± 10.1%. A significant positive correlation was found between aMT and PT (r = 0.53; P = 0.014) with a trend toward correlation between rMT and PT (r = 0.43; P = 0.052). Our results suggest that sensitivity to TMS over visual and motor cortices may be correlated under similar thresholding procedures. They also provide a rationale for the use of easily obtained aMT to calibrate TMS intensities in brain mapping studies that employ TMS in cortical regions besides motor cortex. Hum Brain Mapp, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.