bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Growth Characteristics of Carbon Nanotube Arrays Synthesized by ICP‐CVD using Anodic Aluminum Oxide on Silicon as a Nanotemplate
Authors: Yen J.‐H. , Leu I.‐C. , Wu M.‐T. , Lin C.‐C. , Hon M.‐H.
Published: April 2005

Carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays with different packing density were synthesized by inductively coupled plasma (ICP‐)CVD using anodic alumina oxide (AAO) on Si as a nanotemplate. Pre‐electrodeposited Ni nanowires and CH4 were used as catalyst and reaction gas, respectively. The parameters determining the growth density of CNT arrays, such as AAO pore length, pore diameter, growth time, DC bias, and pretreatment conditions were investigated. It was found that the transport of ion species flux in the AAO channel and the catalytic activity of Ni nanowires determined the growth behavior of CNTs. The field‐emission measurement shows that CNT arrays with a medium density of 5 × 108 CNTs per cm2 grown on the AAO/Si substrate have both the lowest threshold field of 1.5 V μm–1 and the highest current density of 4 mA cm–2. Either a decrease or an increase of the CNT density results in inferior emission properties.
Mechanistic Insights into the Oxidation of Veratryl Alcohol with Co(salen) and Oxygen in Aqueous Media: An in‐situ Spectroscopic Study
Authors: Kervinen Kaisa , Korpi Heikki , Gerbrand Mesu J. , Soulimani Fouad , Repo Timo , Rieger Bernhard , Leskelä Markku , Weckhuysen Bert M.
Published: April 2005

Many transition‐metal complexes can perform catalytic oxidations, but their corresponding reaction pathways are still not clear. In this study, the mechanism of Co(salen)‐catalyzed [salen = N,N'‐bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine] oxidization of veratryl alcohol (3,4‐dimethoxybenzyl alcohol) by dioxygen in alkaline aqueous solution was elucidated with in‐situ ATR‐IR, Raman and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The mechanism of this reaction seems to start by formation of a bis‐μ‐hydroxo[(Co(salen)]2 species, which explains the dramatic effect of pH on the reaction rate. Substrate coordination to this species leads to formation of a cobalt‐bound veratryl alkoxo intermediate, to which oxygen molecule can bind. Formation of a μ‐peroxo bridge between two such Co(salen) substrate units is observed in the UV/Vis spectra. Transfer of a hydrogen atom from the substrate to the peroxo bridge results in detachment of the product aldehyde and regeneration of the initial bis‐μ‐hydroxo[(Co(salen)]2 species. In the overall cycle two substrate molecules are oxidized to aldehyde and molecular oxygen is reduced to water. The rate‐limiting step is the detachment of the product molecule, which is aided by the methoxy substituents in the aromatic ring of the benzylic alcohol. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
A New Diastereoselective Synthetic Approach to the Enantiopure Peptidomimetic Scaffold 2‐Oxo‐1‐azabicyclo[4.4.0]decane
Authors: Truchot Cyrille , Wang Qian , Sasaki N. André
Published: April 2005

A general method for the synthesis of unsubstituted and C‐7‐substituted azabicyclo[4.4.0]decane dipeptides (23, 30a, and 30b) that can serve as dipeptide mimetics has been developed. The key step of this new method involves the coupling reaction of the oxazolidine aldehyde 5 and the sulfone 7, both of which are derived from L‐glutamic acid. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
A Lewis Acid Promoted Asymmetric Umpolung Reaction with ChiralN‐Sulfinyl Imines as the Electrophiles
Authors: Xu Xin , Liu Jun‐ying , Chen Dian‐jun , Timmons Cody , Li Guigen
Published: April 2005

An new asymmetric umpolung reaction has been developed by reacting N‐sulfinyl imines with 2‐lithio‐2‐phenyl‐1,3‐dithiane. The reaction was conducted at between –20 and–25 °C in THF in the presence of Et2AlCl as the Lewis acid promoter. Excellent diastereoselectivities (up to >95 % de) and chemical yields (64–95 %) have been achieved for nine substrates with all individual isomers separated and characterized. The absolute structure of the chiral products has been unambiguously determined by synthetic conversions to a known sample. 2‐Lithio‐2‐phenyl‐1,3‐dithiane was found to be much less reactive than its 2‐methyl counterpart, which was reported very recently. All individual isomers have been readily separated by column chromatography. The absolute structure of the chiral products has been unambiguously determined by conversion into a known compound. This method provides an easy access to enantiomerically pure α‐amino ketones. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
Lanthanide(III) Tosylates as New Acylation Catalysts
Authors: Parac‐Vogt Tatjana N. , Deleersnyder Karen , Binnemans Koen
Published: April 2005

Lanthanide(III) complexes of p‐toluenesulfonic acid (Ln(TOS)3)were prepared, characterized, and examined as catalystsfor the acetylation of various alcohols in acetic acid solution. Examination of a series of Ln(TOS)3 catalysts in the acetylation of 2‐phenylethanol revealed a clear correlation between the ionic radius of the lanthanide(III) ion and the yield of the reaction, with the heavier lanthanides being more effective. In the presence of 5 mol‐% of Yb(TOS)3, a quantitative conversion of phenethyl alcohol to phenethyl acetate was achieved within 18 hours at 50 °C. Faster reaction was obtained under reflux conditions, in which case acetylation was complete within 30 minutes and in the presence of only 2 mol‐% of the Yb(TOS)3 catalyst. The Yb(TOS)3 catalyst was effective for acetylation of a range of primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols. The Yb(TOS)3 catalyst was also effective for acylation of phenethyl alcohol with propionic acid and cyclohexanecarboxylic acid. The catalysts could be easily recovered and reused for further acetylation, with no apparent change in selectivity or efficiency. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of a Heparin‐Like Hexasaccharide with the Structural Motifs for Binding to FGF and FGFR
Authors: de Paz José Luis , Martín‐Lomas Manuel
Published: April 2005

A heparin‐like hexasaccharide structure (2) containing the two trisaccharide sequences that interact with acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF‐1) and with its receptor (FGFR) has been designed on the basis of crystallographic data. This hexasaccharide has been effectively synthesized by a completely stereoselective modular approach and biologically evaluated by determination of its capacity to stimulate FGF‐1‐induced mitogenic activity. It was found that this molecule did not show an appreciable FGF‐1 activating effect. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
A Diels–Alder Strategy for the Building of Imidazo[4,5‐g]quinoline‐4,9‐dione Derivatives
Authors: Alvarez Frédéric , Taleb Abbas , Gentili Jacques , Nebois Pascal , Terreux Raphaël , Domard Monique , Thozet Alain , Merle Daphné , Fillion Houda , Walchshofer Nadia
Published: April 2005

Benzimidazole‐4,7‐diones 3a and 3b were synthesized and submitted to hetero Diels–Alder reactions with azadienes 4 and 5 to afford imidazo[4,5‐g]quinoline‐4,9‐diones 6–9. The structure of the latter was assigned by X‐ray diffraction, 1H NMR NOE DIFF experiments or by a molecular dynamics study. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
Coupling–Isomerization–Enamine Addition–Cyclocondensation Sequences:A Multicomponent Approach to Substituted and Annelated Pyridines
Authors: Dediu Oana G. , Yehia Nasser A. M. , Oeser Thomas , Polborn Kurt , Müller Thomas J. J.
Published: April 2005

Annelated (dihydropyridines, tetrahydroquinolines, naphthyridines) and substituted pyridines can be synthesized in moderate to good yields in a consecutive one‐pot, four‐component process by a coupling–isomerization–enamine addition–cyclocondensation sequence of an electron poor (hetero)aryl halide, a terminal propargyl alcohol, an enamine, and ammonium chloride. After the coupling–isomerization sequence a Diels–Alder reaction with inverse electron demand of the intermediate chalcone and the enamine furnishes a cycloadduct 6 that was unambiguously characterized by X‐ray structure analysis as well as the 1,5‐diketones 4b and 4g — the corresponding hydrolysis products — and the pyridine derivatives 11e (dihydropyridine), 11i (tetrahydroquinoline), 11o (naphthyridine), and 14b and 14c (ethyl nicotinoates). Additionally, quantum chemical calculations support the stepwise nature of the enamine cycloaddition. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
1,3‐Di(2‐pyrrolyl)azulene: An Efficient Luminescent Probe for Fluoride
Authors: Salman Husein , Abraham Yael , Tal Shay , Meltzman Shai , Kapon Moshe , Tessler Nir , Speiser Shammai , Eichen Yoav
Published: April 2005

Photo‐induced Energy Transfer (PET) based chemosensing is a very elegant way for reporting the presence of an analyte in solution. This method was successfully applied to the detection of many cationic species in solutions and already appears in interesting commercial applications. In this paper we report on the preparation and host–guest chemistry of 1,3‐di(2‐pyrrolyl)azulene (5), a new azulene‐based selective PET‐like chemosensor that turns fluorescent upon binding the fluoride anion. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
Organocatalytic Alkynylation of Aldehydes and Ketones under Phase‐Transfer Catalytic Conditions
Authors: Weil Torsten , Schreiner Peter R.
Published: April 2005

We developed alkynylations of various aldehydes and ketones under practical phase‐transfer conditions at room temperature. The straightforward methodology combines one‐pot synthesis and simple workup with good to excellent yields for propargylic alcohols derived from aliphatic aldehydes and ketones. Even aromatic aldehydes and ketones could be transformed to the corresponding propargylic alcohols in somewhat lower yields. The yield depending on the amount of PT catalyst and NaOH concentration was also determined. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
Convenient Synthesis of Difluoromethyl Alcohols from Both Enolizable and Non‐Enolizable Carbonyl Compounds with Difluoromethyl Phenyl Sulfone
Authors: Surya Prakash G. K. , Hu Jinbo , Wang Ying , Olah George A.
Published: April 2005

A general and efficient nucleophilic difluoromethylation of carbonyl compounds (both enolizable and non‐enolizable aldehydes and ketones) has been achieved by using a nucleophilic (phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethylation‐reductive desulfonylation strategy. Difluoromethyl phenyl sulfone acts as a difluoromethyl anion (“CF2H–”) equivalent. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
Absolute Stereochemical Assignment and Fluorescence Tuning of the Small Molecule Tool, (–)‐Blebbistatin
Authors: Lucas‐Lopez Cristina , Patterson Stephen , Blum Till , Straight Aaron F. , Toth Judit , Slawin Alexandra M. Z. , Mitchison Timothy J. , Sellers James R. , Westwood Nicholas J.
Published: April 2005

(–)‐Blebbistatin (1), a recently discovered small molecule inhibitor of the ATPase activity of non‐muscle myosin II has been prepared from methyl 5‐methylanthranilate (6) in three steps. This flexible synthetic route has also been used to prepare a nitro group‐containing analogue12that has modified fluorescence properties and improved stability under microscope illumination. The key step in the synthesis of1and its analogues was the asymmetric hydroxylation of the quinolone intermediate3using the Davis oxaziridine methodology. The absolute stereochemistry of (–)‐blebbistatin (1) was shown to beSby X‐ray crystal structure analysis of a heavy atom (bromine) containing analogue11, which was subsequently reduced and shown to be identical to1. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
Cover Picture: Quantitative Transduction of Excited‐State Energy in Fluorophore‐Heterofullerene Conjugates (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 9/2005)
Authors: Hauke Frank , Hirsch Andreas , Atalick Stefan , Guldi Dirk
Published: April 2005

The cover picture shows a typical example of a fluorophore‐heterofullerene conjugate which represents a molecular energy transducer. The heterofullerene moiety is the C59N cluster and the fluorophore is, in this case, phenanthrene. In a similar way other fluorophores such as fluorene and pyrene units can be attached to the heterofullerenes. In such architectures, conformations that allow for effective π‐π‐stacking interactions can easily be adopted. This leads to favourable electronic communication between the two subsystems. It was found that a common deactivation process of the photoexcited fluorophores takes place, namely, a quantitative energy transduction to the heterofullerene unit. Details are discussed in the article by A. Hirsch, D. Guldi et al. on p. 1741 ff.
Amplification of IGH/MYC fusion in clinically aggressive IGH/BCL2‐positive germinal center B‐cell lymphomas
Authors: Martín‐Subero José Ignacio , Odero María Dolores , Hernandez Roberto , Cigudosa Juan Cruz , Agirre Xabier , Saez Borja , Sanz‐García Eduardo , Ardanaz María T. , Novo Francisco Javier , Gascoyne Randy D. , Calasanz María José , Siebert Reiner
Published: April 2005

Activation of an oncogene via its juxtaposition to the IGH locus by a chromosomal translocation or, less frequently, by genomic amplification is considered a major mechanism of B‐cell lymphomagenesis. However, amplification of an IGH/oncogene fusion, coined a complicon, is a rare event in human cancers and has been associated with poor outcome and resistance to treatment. In this article are descriptions of two cases of germinal‐center‐derived B‐cell lymphomas with IGH/BCL2 fusion that additionally displayed amplification of an IGH/MYC fusion. As shown by fluorescence in situ hybridization, the first case contained a IGH/MYC complicon in double minutes, whereas the second case showed a BCL2/IGH/MYC complicon on a der(8)t(8;14)t(14;18). Additional molecular cytogenetic and mutation analyses revealed that the first case also contained a chromosomal translocation affecting the BCL6 oncogene and a biallelic inactivation of TP53. The second case harbored a duplication of REL and acquired a translocation affecting IGL and a biallelic inactivation of TP53 during progression. Complicons affecting Igh/Myc have been reported previously in lymphomas of mouse models simultaneously deficient in Tp53 and in genes of the nonhomologous end–joining DNA repair pathway. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that IGH/MYC complicons have been reported in human lymphomas. Our findings imply that the two mechanisms resulting in MYC deregulation, that is, translocation and amplification, can occur simultaneously. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Colorectal cancer and the CHEK2 1100delC mutation
Authors: de Jong Mirjam M. , Nolte Ilja M. , te Meerman Gerard J. , van der Graaf Winette T. A. , Mulder Marcel J. , van der Steege Gerrit , Bruinenberg Marcel , Schaapveld Michael , Niessen Renée C. , Berends Maran J. W. , Sijmons Rolf H. , Hofstra Robert M. W. , de Vries Elisabeth G. E. , Kleibeuker Jan H.
Published: April 2005

The CHEK2 1100delC mutation was recently identified as a low‐penetrance breast cancer susceptibility allele. The mutation occurred more frequently in families with clustering of breast and colorectal cancers (CRCs) than in families with clustering of breast cancer only. Hence, the 1100delC mutation could also be a low‐penetrance CRC susceptibility allele. To test this hypothesis, we examined the mutation in 629 unselected CRC cases, 230 controls, and 105 selected CRCs diagnosed in patients before age 50. The mutation was observed in 1.6% of unselected patients and in 0.3% of controls (Not significant (NS)). After stratifying unselected patients according to defined genetic risk (on the basis of age at diagnosis and family history of colorectal and endometrial cancer), the highest frequency was observed in high‐risk patients (12.5%), followed by moderate‐risk patients (3.3%), and was lowest in low‐risk patients (1.0%, Ptrend 0.014). In selected patients, 1.6% carried the mutation (NS). Subgroup analyses for tumor localization, gender, and age at diagnosis did not reveal an association with the 1100delC genotype. In addition, a pooled analysis, combining data of one published study in unselected CRC cases and our study, also did not reveal an association. In conclusion, the frequency of the 1100delC genotype was neither significantly increased in unselected CRC patients nor in selected CRC patients diagnosed before age 50. However, after stratifying unselected CRC patients according to defined genetic risk, a significant trend of increasing frequency was observed. Together, the results are consistent with a low‐penetrance effect (OR 1.5–2.0) of the CHEK2 1100delC on CRC risk. Large case–control studies are required to clarify the exact role of the CHEK2 1100delC mutation in CRC. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Major depression as a risk factor for early institutionalization of dementia patients living in the community
Authors: Dorenlot Pascale , Harboun Marc , Bige Vincent , Henrard Jean‐Claude , Ankri Joël
Published: April 2005

Objective

Although depression is known to be frequently associated with dementia, it is nonetheless under‐diagnosed and under‐treated among this patient population. Its effect on outcome for dementia patients is thought to be substantial, because depression appears to induce higher than normal rates of disability as well as supplementary cognitive decline. The aim of this study was to measure the impact of major depression on the institutionalization rate of community‐dwelling dementia patients.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Paris, France.

Participants

Three‐hundred forty‐eight consecutive dementia outpatients of a geriatric clinic (mean age: 81 years, 69.8% women, 65.5% dementia of Alzheimer's type, mean baseline MMSE score: 20.5), followed between 1997 and 2002 (mean follow‐up: 20.5 months).

Results

Twenty‐five percent of the patients met the criteria of major depression at baseline, and only 30.3% of these received antidepressant medication. Major depression at baseline was independently associated with nursing home admission within one year of the baseline assessment. Antidepressant medication tended to protect against this outcome, but not to a statistically significant extent.

Conclusions

Major depression at baseline is an independent risk factor for early institutionalization of dementia sufferers. Early institutionalization is defined in this study as nursing home placement within a year of diagnosis with dementia at our specialized outpatient center. The study highlights the need for better management of depression among dementia outpatients. Further investigation is needed to evaluate the protective effect of antidepressant medication (and/or non‐pharmacological therapies) on the institutionalization rate. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Does education moderate neuropsychological impairment in late‐life depression?
Authors: Bhalla Rishi K. , Butters Meryl A. , Zmuda Michelle D. , Seligman Karen , Mulsant Benoit H. , Pollock Bruce G. , Reynolds Charles F.
Published: April 2005

Objective

The increased resistance of better‐educated individuals to the cognitive effects of neuropathology has been conceptualized as reflecting brain reserve. This study examined whether educational level influences the degree of neuropsychological impairment associated with late‐life depression.

Methods

The neuropsychological performances of 115 older depressed patients and of 44 comparison subjects of similar age and education were compared as a function of educational level.

Results

While depressed patients performed worse than comparison subjects on all the measures, the severity of this impairment (with respect to comparison subjects) did not differ with the educational level of the patients.

Conclusions

Brain reserve, as indexed by the patients' level of education, does not mitigate the cognitive decrements associated with late‐life depression. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The clinical psychiatry of late life in Britain from 1950 to 1970: an overview
Authors: Hilton Claire
Published: April 2005

Background

The psychiatry of old age in Britain can be traced back to the 1940s. Provision of services for mentally ill older people, however, did not become widespread until the 1970s.

Method

Survey of archive sources, published work, and oral history interviews relating to the development of services for mentally ill older people in Britain between 1950 and 1970.

Results and conclusions

Despite considerable progress in research leading to a firm academic foundation for the specialty of old age psychiatry, there was relatively little progress made in the coordinated development of services from 1950 to 1970. A new generation of old age psychiatrists began to take service delivery issues forward at the very end of the 1960s and into the 1970s. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Positive affect and its relationship to free recall memory performance in a sample of older Dutch adults from the Maastricht Aging Study
Authors: Hill Robert D. , van Boxtel M. P. J. , Ponds R. , Houx P. J. , Jolles J.
Published: April 2005

Objective

A Dutch translation of the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) was used to measure Positive Affect (PA) and its relationship to episodic memory in a sample of Dutch adults between the ages of 40 to 82 years. Specifically, the role of PA was examined as a predictor of performance on a serial list learning task that included a recognition and free recall component.

Methods

Participants were divided into two age groupings representing middle‐age (40 to 64 years) and older (65 to 82 years) adults with respect to the study sample.

Results

PA was not related to recognition performance in either age grouping. In the older age group, however, PA predicted free recall.

Conclusions

PA facilitated episodic memory in older adults when unsupported tasks conditions were present that placed heavy demands on processing resources. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The CIDI as an instrument for diagnosing depression in older Turkish and Moroccan labour migrants: an exploratory study into equivalence
Authors: Smits Carolien H. M. , de Vries Wilma M. , Beekman Aartjan T. F.
Published: April 2005

Objective

The number of elderly migrants from Turkey and Morocco in Western Europe will increase sharply in the coming decades. Many of these migrants seem to have mental health problems. As mental health care programs are based on DSM criteria, there is a need for diagnostic instruments with good psychometric properties. This exploratory study examines the presence of construct bias, method bias and item bias in the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) Basis Life time version 2.1 in elderly Turkish and Moroccan men and women.

Method

From a community based health survey four groups of migrants aged 55–74 were selected for semi‐structured interviews including the CIDI depression section. Data included interview transcriptions and observations of 11 respondents in each group (Turkish men, Turkish women, Moroccan men, and Moroccan women). The data were analysed using qualitative techniques.

Results

Construct bias, method bias and item bias of the CIDI was found in all groups. The poor match between the CIDI on the one hand and the taboo on mental health problems and the poor level of education of the respondents can partly explain this bias.

Conclusions

The use of the CIDI in elderly migrants of Moroccan and Turkish descent is problematic, due to the presence of construct, method and item bias. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Depressive symptom quality and neuropsychological performance in dementia
Authors: Janzing Joost G. E. , Naarding Paul , Eling Paul A. T. M.
Published: April 2005

Background

It is unknown to what extent depression and cognitive dysfunction are related in subjects with dementia. A limitation of earlier studies is that only general measures of depression have been studied.

Methods

In a sample of 60 subjects with dementia according to DSM‐III‐R criteria depressive symptoms were divided into factors of mood and motivation disturbance according to a principal components analysis. Correlations were computed between the factor scores and the performance on a number of specific neuropsychological tests. As the symptom content of motivation disturbance suggests subcorticofrontal dysfunction it was hypothesized that this factor is related to impaired executive functions.

Results

77% of the depressive symptoms contributed to the dimension of motivation disturbance and most of these symptoms occurred outside the context of a major depressive episode. Our hypothesis was supported by a significant negative correlation between motivation symptoms and semantic verbal fluency. This relationship seems to have specificity, as both the dimensions of mood symptoms and of general depressive symptoms did not correlate significantly with specific neuropsychological test scores.

Conclusions

The division of depressive symptoms in factors of mood and motivation disturbance contributes to insight into the relationship between depression and cognitive dysfunction in dementia. An advantage of the motivation disturbance factor compared to the regular apathy scales is that it consists of depressive symptoms. Therefore, it becomes evident that apathy or impaired motivation may occur in patients with dementia both in and outside the context of a depressive syndrome. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Detecting effects of donepezil on visual selective attention using signal detection parameters in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Foldi Nancy S. , White Richard E. C. , Schaefer Lynn A.
Published: April 2005

Background

Attentional function is impaired in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Moreover, attention is mediated by acetylcholine. But, despite the widespread use of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChE‐I) to augment available acetylcholine in AD, measures of attentional function have not been used to assess the drug response.

Objectives

We hypothesized that as cholinergic augmentation impacts directly on the attentional system, higher‐order measures of visual selective attention would be sensitive to effects of treatment using an AChE‐I (donepezil hydrochloride). We also sought to determine whether these attentional measures were more sensitive to treatment than other measures of cognitive function.

Methods

Seventeen patients with AD (8 untreated, 9 treated with donepezil) were contrasted on performance of a selective cancellation task. Two signal detection parameters were used as outcome measures: decision strategy (beta, β) and discriminability (d‐prime, d′). Standard screening and cognitive domain measures of vigilance, language, memory, and executive function were also contrasted.

Results

Treated patients judged stimuli more conservatively (p = 0.29) by correctly endorsing targets and rejecting false alarms. They also discriminated targets from distractors more easily (p = 0.58). The screening and neuropsychological measures failed to differentiate the groups.

Conclusions

Higher‐order attentional measures captured the effects of donepezil treatment in small groups of patients with AD. The results suggest that cholinergic availability may directly affect the attentional system, and that these selective attention measures are sensitive markers to detect treatment response. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Drawing on mind's canvas: Differences in cortical integration patterns between artists and non‐artists
Authors: Bhattacharya Joydeep , Petsche Hellmuth
Published: April 2005

Our primary question was to learn whether mentally composing drawings of their own choice produce different brain electric features in artists and laymen. To this purpose, we studied multichannel electroencephalograph (EEG) signals from two broad groups (all participants were females): artists (professionally trained in visual arts) and non‐artists (without any training in art). To assess the underlying synchronization, which is assumed to be the platform for general cognitive integration between different cortical regions, three measures inspired by nonlinear dynamical system theory were applied as follows: (1) index based on generalized synchronization; (2) index based on mean phase coherence; and (3) index of phase synchrony based on entropy. Results consistent over all three measures were as follows: comparing the tasks to rest, the artists showed significantly stronger short‐ and long‐range delta band synchronization, whereas the non‐artists showed enhancement in short‐range beta and gamma band synchronization primarily in frontal regions; comparing the two groups during the tasks, the artists showed significantly stronger delta band synchronization and alpha band desynchronization than did the non‐artists. Strong right hemispheric dominance in terms of synchronization was found in the artists. In artists, the higher synchrony in the low‐frequency band is possibly due to the involvement of a more advanced long‐term visual art memory and to extensive top‐down processing. The results demonstrate that in artists, patterns of functional cooperation between cortical regions during mental creation of drawings were significantly different from those in non‐artists. Hum. Brain Mapping, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tactile discrimination of grating orientation: fMRI activation patterns
Authors: Zhang Minming , Mariola Erica , Stilla Randall , Stoesz Mark , Mao Hui , Hu Xiaoping , Sathian K.
Published: April 2005

Grating orientation discrimination is employed widely to test tactile spatial acuity. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the neural circuitry underlying performance of this task. Two studies were carried out. In the first study, an extensive set of parietal and frontal cortical areas was activated during covert task performance, relative to a rest baseline. The active regions included the postcentral sulcus bilaterally and foci in the left parietal operculum, left anterior intraparietal sulcus, and bilateral premotor and prefrontal cortex. The second study examined selective recruitment of cortical areas during discrimination of grating orientation (a task with a macrospatial component) compared to discrimination of grating spacing (a purely microspatial task). The foci activated on this contrast were in the left anterior intraparietal sulcus, right postcentral sulcus and gyrus, left parieto‐occipital cortex, bilateral frontal eye fields, and bilateral ventral premotor cortex. These findings not only confirm and extend previous studies of the neural processing underlying grating orientation discrimination, but also demonstrate that a distributed network of putatively multisensory areas is involved. Hum Brain Mapp, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Function of striatum beyond inhibition and execution of motor responses
Authors: Vink Matthijs , Kahn René S. , Raemaekers Mathijs , van den Heuvel Martijn , Boersma Maria , Ramsey Nick F.
Published: April 2005

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study the role of the striatum in inhibitory motor control. Subjects had to refrain from responding to designated items (STOP trials) within a similar series of motor stimuli. Striatal activation was increased significantly compared to that when responding to all targets within a series of motor stimuli, indicating that the striatum is more active when inhibitory motor control over responses is required. The likelihood of a STOP trial was varied parametrically by varying the number of GO trials before a STOP trial. We could thus measure the effect of expecting a STOP trial on the fMRI response in the striatum. We show for the first time in humans that the striatum becomes more active when the likelihood of inhibiting a planned motor response increases. Our findings suggest that the striatum is critically involved in inhibitory motor control, most likely by controlling the execution of planned motor responses. Hum Brain Mapp, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The effect of social content on deductive reasoning: An fMRI study
Authors: Canessa Nicola , Gorini Alessandra , Cappa Stefano F. , Piattelli‐Palmarini Massimo , Danna Massimo , Fazio Ferruccio , Perani Daniela
Published: April 2005

Psychological studies of deductive reasoning have shown that subjects' performance is affected significantly by the content of the presented stimuli. Specifically, subjects find it easier to reason about contexts and situations with a social content. In the present study, the effect of content on brain activation was investigated with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while subjects were solving two versions of the Wason selection task, which previous behavioral studies have shown to elicit a significant content effect. One version described an arbitrary relation between two actions (Descriptive: “If someone does …, then he does …”), whereas the other described an exchange of goods between two persons (Social‐Exchange: “If you give me …, then I give you …”). Random‐effect statistical analyses showed that compared to baseline, both tasks activated frontal medial cortex and left dorsolateral frontal and parietal regions, confirming the major role of the left hemisphere in deductive reasoning. In addition, although the two reasoning conditions were identical in logical form, the social‐exchange task was also associated with right frontal and parietal activations, mirroring the left‐sided activations common to both reasoning tasks. These results suggest that the recruitment of the right hemisphere is dependent on the content of the stimuli presented. Hum Brain Mapp, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Exploring the unity and diversity of the neural substrates of executive functioning
Authors: Collette Fabienne , Van der Linden Martial , Laureys Steven , Delfiore Guy , Degueldre Christian , Luxen Andre , Salmon Eric
Published: April 2005

Previous studies exploring the neural substrates of executive functioning used task‐specific analyses, which might not be the most appropriate approach due to the difficulty of precisely isolating executive functions. Consequently, the aim of this study was to use positron emission tomography (PET) to reexamine by conjunction and interaction paradigms the cerebral areas associated with three executive processes (updating, shifting, and inhibition). Three conjunction analyses allowed us to isolate the cerebral areas common to tasks selected to tap into the same executive process. A global conjunction analysis demonstrated that foci of activation common to all tasks were observed in the right intraparietal sulcus, the left superior parietal gyrus, and at a lower statistical threshold, the left lateral prefrontal cortex. These regions thus seem to play a general role in executive functioning. The right intraparietal sulcus seems to play a role in selective attention to relevant stimuli and in suppression of irrelevant information. The left superior parietal region is involved in amodal switching/integration processes. One hypothesis regarding the functional role of the lateral prefrontal cortex is that monitoring and temporal organization of cognitive processes are necessary to carry out ongoing tasks. Finally, interaction analyses showed that specific prefrontal cerebral areas were associated with each executive process. The results of this neuroimaging study are in agreement with cognitive studies demonstrating that executive functioning is characterized by both unity and diversity of processes. Hum. Brain Mapp, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Brain structures involved in interoceptive awareness and cardioafferent signal processing: A dipole source localization study
Authors: Pollatos Olga , Kirsch Wladimir , Schandry Rainer
Published: April 2005

Afferent signals from the body play an important role for emotional and motivational aspects of behavior. Nevertheless, little is known about the cortical and subcortical structures involved in interoceptive processes. Recently, a functional MRI study demonstrated that insula, somatomotor, and cingulated cortices are activated when subjects focus attention on their heartbeats. Aside from the use of imaging data, cardiac awareness has frequently been studied by using the heartbeat‐evoked potential (HEP), a brain wave that appears contingent on the heartbeat. The present study aimed at localizing sources of the HEP. Multichannel EEG was recorded in 44 subjects while they performed a heartbeat perception task. This task was used to quantify interoceptive awareness and to subdivide the subjects into good and poor heartbeat perceivers. Analyses showed highest HEP amplitudes over frontal and frontocentral electrode locations in the time range of later than 200 ms after R‐wave onset. By means of a BESA dipole‐source‐analysis, four sources of the HEP were identified which were located in the anterior cingulate, the right insula, the prefrontal cortex, and the left secondary somatosensory cortex. Good heartbeat perceivers showed both significantly higher HEP amplitudes and higher dipole strength than poor heartbeat perceivers in all four cortical sources. We conclude that the identified structures are involved in the processing of cardiac signals, whereby anterior cingulate and right insula seem to serve as interoceptive centers for cardioception. Hum Brain Mapping, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Phenotypic changes of p53, HER2, and FAS system in multiple normal tissues surrounding breast cancer
Authors: Mottolese Marcella , Nádasi Edit A. , Botti Claudio , Cianciulli Anna M. , Merola Roberta , Buglioni Simonetta , Benevolo Maria , Giannarelli Diana , Marandino Ferdinando , Donnorso Raffaele Perrone , Venturo Irene , Natali Pier Giorgio
Published: April 2005

To determine whether phenotypic field changes occur in tissues adjacent to carcinoma, we assayed, by immunohistochemistry, the expression of HER‐2, p53, Fas, and FasL in 72 breast cancers (BC) and multiple autologous peritumoral tissues (PTTs) sampled up to 5 cm distance and in 44 benign breast tumors (BBTs). About 5% and 3% of the PTTs and 4.5% and 6.8% of BBTs showed alterations in HER2 and p53 expression, respectively. Of interest, gene amplification was observed in 50% of HER2 positive PTTs, but not in any HER2 positive BBTs. Fas, highly expressed in BBTs and downregulated in BC, maintained its expression in PTTs, whereas FasL, usually negative in BBTs, was upregulated in BC as well as in the PTTs closest (1 cm) to the invasive lesion. Our data suggest that FasL could be a potential novel biomarker of transformation, which may identify, along with HER2 and p53, precursor lesions in a genetically altered breast tissue. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cross‐sectional survey of Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism in a rural area of the United Kingdom
Authors: Hobson Peter , Gallacher John , Meara Jolyon
Published: April 2005

The objective of this study was to estimate the crude and standardized age/sex‐adjusted prevalence rates of parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease (PD) in a rural area of North Wales. Cases of PD and parkinsonism in a geographically defined rural area of North Wales were ascertained from the prescription of antiparkinsonian medication in primary care, hospital records, attendance at general medical outpatient clinics and at a specialist movement disorder clinic. In this population, the crude prevalence of clinically probable/possible PD was 144 per 1000,000 (95% confidence interval [CI], 120–173) and for parkinsonism 169 per 100,000 (95% CI, 143–201). When adjusted to the UK population, the prevalence for clinically probable PD was 105 per 100,000 (95% CI, 85–124) and for parkinsonism 122 per 100,000 (95% CI, 102–143). Age‐ and sex‐adjusted standardized rates indicate that regional variations in PD and parkinsonism may exist in the United Kingdom. There are several possible reasons for this, although methodological differences between studies may be the most likely explanations for the present findings. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society
Mutation of the Parkin gene in a Persian family: Clinical progression over a 40‐year period
Authors: Clarimon Jordi , Johnson Janel , Djaldetti Ruth , Hernandez Dena , Hattori Nobutaka , Sroka Hava , Barhom Yael , Singleton Andrew
Published: April 2005

We report on an Israeli family originating from Iran in which 4 of 7 brothers born from a consanguineous marriage had juvenile Parkinsonism. Linkage analysis of markers covering the autosomal recessive juvenile Parkinsonism (AR‐JP, PARK2, Parkin gene, OMIM #602544) gene resulted in a maximal logarithm of odds score of 2.18. A homozygous deletion that expanded from exon 4 to exon 6 was identified in all the patients. Significant clinical heterogeneity was present between siblings. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society
Pallidal stimulation reduces treatment‐induced dyskinesias in “minimal‐change” multiple system atrophy
Authors: Huang Yue , Garrick Raymond , Cook Raymond , O'Sullivan Dudley , Morris John , Halliday Glenda M.
Published: April 2005

Deep brain stimulation therapy is increasingly gaining acceptance in the management of levodopa‐induced dyskinesia and fluctuations in idiopathic Parkinson's disease. It is generally not recommended for the other forms of parkinsonism such as progressive supranuclear palsy or multiple system atrophy where the response to levodopa is usually poor and disease progression more rapid, making any benefit short‐lived. Here, we present an autopsy‐confirmed case of “minimal‐change” multiple system atrophy in whom pallidal stimulation surgery was effective in abolishing severe levodopa‐induced dyskinesia. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society
Mikrobruchmechanik in einem Keramik‐Metall‐Verbundwerkstoff mit Hilfe der in‐situ Fluoreszenzspektroskopie
Authors: Müller W. H. , Pezzotti G.
Published: April 2005

Die Mikrofluoreszenzspektroskopie wird benutzt, um in‐situ Mikrospannungsfelder zu charakterisieren, die während des Bruches in einem exemplarisch untersuchten Keramik‐Metallverbund (Al2OMo) entstehen. Spannungsverläufe werden über ein relativ großes Gebiet in der Nachbarschaft eines sich ausbreitenden Risses aufgenommen und zwar sowohl bei Nulllast als auch bei zur Aufrechterhaltung kritischen Rißwachstums notwendiger Belastung. Theoretische und experimentelle Problemstellungen hinsichtlich der Messung und Analyse komplexer Mikrospannungsfelder werden behandelt. Insbesondere wird eine experimentelle Prozedur vorgestellt, die es erlaubt, (i) den experimentell beobachteten Peakshift in individuelle Komponenten zu zerlegen, wie sie von zuvor existierenden Restspannungs‐ sowie Mikrospannungsfeldern wähhrend des Bruchvorganges (Bridging Stresses) hervorgerufen werden; (ii) die Abhängigkeit des Bridging‐Stress‐Feldes von der Laserspotgröße und ‐tiefe zu bewerten. Die Resultate zeigen, daß die Mikrofluoreszenzspektroskopie in der Lage ist, als quantitatives Hilfsmittel des Mikrobruchverhaltens in verstärkten Werkstoffen zu dienen. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
E‐cadherin‐dependent adhesion of dendritic and Langerhans cells to keratinocytes is defective in cervical human papillomavirus‐associated (pre)neoplastic lesions
Authors: Hubert Pascale , Caberg Jean‐Hubert , Gilles Christine , Bousarghin Latifa , Franzen‐Detrooz Elizabeth , Boniver Jacques , Delvenne Philippe
Published: April 2005

Although human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA is detected in the majority of squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the uterine cervix, the persistence and progression of cervical lesions suggest that viral antigens are not adequately presented to the immune system. This hypothesis is reinforced by the observation that most SILs show quantitative and functional alterations of Langerhans cells (LCs). The aim of this study was to determine whether modulation of E‐cadherin‐mediated homophilic and heterotypic interactions between keratinocytes and LCs is involved in these abnormalities of LCs in (pre)neoplastic cervical epithelium. Cell membrane expression of E‐cadherin and the density of CD1a+ LCs were low in the epithelium of SILs and SCC biopsy specimens, compared with normal exocervical epithelium. Dendritic cells (DCs) and LCs generated in vitro were randomly distributed throughout the full thickness of organotypic cultures of E‐cadherin− HPV‐transformed cells. In contrast, these cells rapidly adhered to the keratinocyte cell layers when HPV‐transformed cells transfected with E‐cadherin were used. These data suggest that the E‐cadherin‐mediated contact between keratinocytes and LCs is potentially important for initiating or maintaining the immune response during chronic HPV infection. Copyright © 2005 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bulk atom transfer radical polymerization of allyl methacrylate
Authors: París Rodrigo , de la Fuente José Luis
Published: April 2005

A detailed investigation of the polymerization of allyl methacrylate, a typical unsymmetrical divinyl compound containing two types of vinyl groups, methacryloyl and allyl, with quite different reactivities, was performed with atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Homopolymerizations were carried out in bulk, with ethyl‐2‐bromoisobutyrate as the initiator and with copper halide (CuX, where X is Cl or Br) with N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine as the catalyst system. Kinetic studies demonstrated that during the early stages of the polymerization, the ATRP process proceeded in a living manner with a low and constant radical concentration. However, as the reaction continued, the increased diffusion resistance restricted the mobility of the catalyst system and interrupted the equilibrium between the growing radicals and dormant species. The obtained poly(allyl methacrylate)s (PAMAs) were characterized with Fourier transform infrared, 1H NMR, and size exclusion chromatography techniques. The dependence of both the gel point conversion and molecular characteristics of the PAMA prepolymers on different experimental parameters, such as the initiator concentration, polymerization temperature, and type of halide used as the catalyst, was analyzed. These real gel points were compared with the ones calculated according to Gordon's equation under the tentative assumption of equal reactivity for the two types of vinyl groups. Moreover, the microstructure of the prepolymers was the same as that exhibited by those homopolymers prepared by conventional free‐radical polymerization; the fraction of syndiotactic arrangements increased as the reaction temperature was lowered. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2395–2406, 2005
Electropolymerization of phenylacetylene in acetonitrile
Authors: García‐Cañadas J. , Rodríguez J. G. , Lafuente A. , Marcos M. L. , Velasco J. González
Published: April 2005

The electrooxidation of phenylacetylene (PA) in acetonitrile (0.1 M in LiClO4) produced poly(phenylacetylene). The product was isolated, purified, and characterized. Spectroscopic data showed the trans structure of the polymer. A radical reaction mechanism was proposed in which the oxidation of PA led to the formation of a PA radical in solution, which initiated a radical polymerization. The theoretical treatment for the radical mechanism yielded a reaction rate equation identical to the experimental one. The average molar mass was determined by gel permeation chromatography to be approximately 3100. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2407–2416, 2005