bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energy Profile and Bifurcation Analysis in Softening Plasticity
Authors: Chen G. , Baker G.
Published: January 2005

Bifurcations of solutions and energy profile in softening plasticity are discussed in this paper. The localized and non-localized solutions are obtained for a simple softening bar; the second-order derivatives of the incremental energy are evaluated. The second-order derivatives along the fundamental path demonstrate a discontinuity at the bifurcation point; the eigen-analysis of the tangential stiffness matrix fails to identify the post-bifurcation paths. The energy variation near the bifurcation point is investigated; the relationship between the stationary points of the energy profile and post-bifurcation solutions is established. Beyond the bifurcation point, the single stable loading path splits into several post-bifurcation paths and the incremental energy exhibits several competing minima. Among the multiple post-bifurcation equilibrium states, the localized solutions correspond to the minimum points of the energy profile, while the non-localized solutions correspond to the saddles and local maximum points. To determine the real post-bifurcation path, the concept of minimization of the second-order energy is used as the criterion for the bifurcation analysis involved in softening plasticity. As an application, a lattice model of a beam is analyzed and damage localization is obtained.
Effect of Differential Temperature on a Curved Post-Tensioned Concrete Bridge
Authors: Fu Yongda , DeWolf John T.
Published: January 2005

This paper presents the results of an experimental and analytical study of a continuous three-span curved post-tensioned concrete bridge. This bridge is being studied in a long-term project that involves the placement of continuous monitoring systems on a number of bridges that are critical to the bridge infrastructure in the State of Connecticut. The bridge has been monitored using tiltmeters, thermocouples and accelerometers. The experimental data has been used to develop a three-dimensional finite element analysis model to describe the overall behavior. The model has been used to explore the effect of the differential temperatures on the overall behavior.
A Plasticity-Based Damage Model for Concrete
Authors: Shen Xinpu , Yang Lu , Zhu Fusheng
Published: January 2005

A plasticity-based damage model is proposed for inelastic analysis of structural concrete in this paper. Drucker-Prager-type plasticity is adopted in the formulation of the constitutive equations. Numerical validations have been performed for the proposed model with a driver subroutine developed in this study. Numerically predicted behaviour with the proposed model seems reasonably accurate for the cases of uniaxial tension and uniaxial compression when compared with experimental data in the literature. Numerical tests for multi-axial compression cases under various states of hydrostatic confinement stress have been carried out. Results indicate the validity of the proposed model for simulating plastic damage phenomena under various loading paths.
Furazolidone-Induced Pulmonary Hypersensitivity
Authors: Kowalski Todd J , Henry Michael J , Zlabek Jonathan A
Published: January 2005

OBJECTIVE:

To report a case of pulmonary hypersensitivity associated with furazolidone use and review the literature on this topic.

CASE SUMMARY:

A 43-year-old white female presented with fever and dyspnea. She had recently completed a course of furazolidone 125 mg 4 times daily for 10 days for enteritis. Investigations revealed bibasilar interstitial infiltrates on chest X-ray, hypoxia, and 21% eosinophilia. Her fever, hypoxia, and dyspnea rapidly abated following discontinuation of furazolidone and administration of corticoteroids.

DISCUSSION:

Furazolidone is a bactericidal agent used to treat infectious enteropathies. It is chemically similar to nitrofurantoin, which is well known to cause pulmonary hypersensitivity reactions. Application of the Naranjo probability scale suggests that a furazolidone adverse reaction in this patient was probable. A MEDLINE search from 1966 to October 2004 revealed 2 previously reported cases suggestive of furazolidone pulmonary hypersensitivity. All published reports closely resemble each other and descriptions of nitrofurantoin-associated pulmonary hypersensitivity reactions.

CONCLUSIONS:

Furazolidone may induce pulmonary hypersensitivity reactions; clinicians should be aware of this potentially serious adverse effect.
Promethazine Adverse Events after Implementation of a Medication Shortage Interchange
Authors: Sheth Heena S , Verrico Margaret M , Skledar Susan J , Towers Adele L
Published: January 2005

BACKGROUND:

Prochlorperazine and droperidol were commonly used antiemetics at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center– Presbyterian Hospital until a shortage of prochlorperazine occurred and a black box warning was added to droperidol prescribing information. Subsequently, promethazine was selected as the approved intravenous antiemetic for therapeutic interchange in December 2001. Promethazine use and adverse drug events (ADEs) were investigated following review of a serious ADE that identified promethazine use as a probable contributing factor.

OBJECTIVE:

To illustrate ADEs associated with promethazine and characterize high-risk patients.

METHODS:

An ADE database analysis identified promethazine ADEs reported from 2000 to 2003. Promethazine utilization and ADEs were compared with those of other antiemetics during the pre- and post-interchange periods.

RESULTS:

Promethazine utilization increased significantly during the post-interchange period compared with all other antiemetics (p < 0.001). Promethazine ADEs increased from one event during the pre-interchange period to 13 events during the post-interchange period. Causality assessment using the Naranjo algorithm ranged from possible to probable. The promethazine ADE rate per 10 000 doses was significantly higher than the combined ADE rate for all other antiemetics (p < 0.001; incident rate ratio [IRR] 4.32). Elderly patients (aged ≥65 y) experienced more promethazine ADEs than younger patients (p = 0.005; IRR 4.68). Concurrent use of opioids and/or sedating drugs contributed to promethazine ADEs in 11 of 14 (78.6%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

Geriatric status is a significant risk factor for promethazine ADEs. Concomitant use of sedating drugs may further increase the risk for ADEs. Therapeutic interchange programs should be monitored for both ADEs and utilization.
Are Incentive-Based Formularies Inversely Associated with Drug Utilization in Managed Care?
Authors: Gleason Patrick P , Gunderson Brent W , Gericke Kristin R
Published: January 2005

OBJECTIVE:

To review recent studies comprehensively assessing the impact of incentive-based multitier formularies on pharmaceutical costs and utilization.

DATA SOURCES:

PubMed (2001–December 2003) was searched using the key terms formularies, cost-sharing, and drug costs. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Studies addressing the impact of implementing multitiered incentive-based formularies as a central component of an outpatient drug benefit were selected.

DATA SYNTHESIS:

One study using pharmacy claims from 25 employers with data from 402 786 members modeled the range of anticipated plan/employer savings associated with single- to 3-tier shifts and found that, going from a single- to 3-tier benefit results in decreased plan/employer pharmaceutical costs from $650 to $494 (24% decrease) per member per year and decreased pharmaceutical utilization from 12.3 to 9.4 (23.6% decrease) prescriptions per member per year. Another study demonstrated that adding an additional tier decreased pharmaceutical utilization, with a dramatic increase in member contribution offsetting the plan's expected increase in expenditures. This shift in pharmaceutical expenditures appeared to have no effect on overall medical utilization over a 3-year follow-up. Finally, a study converting members from a single- to 3-tier incentive-based formulary, associated with two- to fourfold copayment increases, resulted in a 10% discontinuation rate for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, statins, and proton-pump inhibitors among members who were primarily hourly employees. For salaried workers, the addition of a tier to their benefit appeared to have minimal impact on pharmaceutical utilization.

CONCLUSIONS:

Emerging data suggest a potential inverse relationship between pharmaceutical utilization and incentive-based formularies that increase member contribution to drug costs. Future research should focus on identifying price points and percentage increases at which members are likely to begin discontinuing necessary medications.
Obstruction of Critical Information on Over-the-Counter Medication Packages by External Tags
Authors: Sansgiry Sujit S , Pawaskar Manjiri D
Published: January 2005

BACKGROUND:

Over-the-counter (OTC) medication packages are important sources of information for consumers during product selection and use. Consumers may not be able to access information from OTC packages if external tags, namely price or anti-theft tags, are improperly placed.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the amount and type of information concealed by anti-theft tags and price tags affixed on OTC drug packages.

METHODS:

A field study was performed by evaluating packages containing acetaminophen and combinations of acetaminophen in stores located in Houston. Five packages for 4 products selected from each store after an initial survey for presence of an external tag were examined. A data collection sheet was prepared that extracted the type and amount of information concealed by these tags. Data were analyzed by performing descriptive analyses to provide an understanding of the information obscured.

RESULTS:

A total of 24 stores were considered in the study, and 67 products and 285 packages were evaluated. External tags, both anti-theft and price tags, obscured significant amounts of information on the principal display panel (53.4%) and the Drug Facts panel (47.7%) of OTC packages. These tags concealed crucial information on various aspects of labels such as brand names (42.3%), product description (36.3%), warnings (51.5%), uses (10.4%), and purposes (7.2%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Results suggest that improper use of external tags clearly obscured important information on OTC medication packages necessary for consumers to make informed decisions regarding product selection and use. Tagging practices should be altered to allow consumers full access to drug information on the product.
Detection Sensitivity and Temporal Resolution of Visual Signals near Absolute Threshold in the Salamander Retina
Authors: Chichilnisky E. J. , Rieke F.
Published: January 2005

Several studies have suggested that the visual system can detect dim lights with a fidelity limited only by Poisson fluctuations in photon absorption and spontaneous activation of rhodopsin. If correct, this implies that neural processing of responses produced by rod photoreceptors is efficient and effectively noiseless. However, experimental uncertainty makes this conclusion tenuous. Furthermore, previous work provided no information about how accurately stimulus timing is represented. Here, the detection sensitivity and temporal resolution of salamander rods and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are compared in nearly matched experimental conditions by using recorded responses to identify the time of a flash. At detection threshold, RGCs could reliably signal the absorption of 20-50 photons, but the rods within the RGC receptive field could signal stimuli 3-10 times weaker. For flash strengths 10 times higher than detection threshold, some RGCs could distinguish stimulus timing with a resolution finer than 100 msec, within a factor of 2 of the rod limit. The relationship between RGC and rod sensitivity could not be explained by added noise in the retinal circuitry but could be explained by a threshold acting after pooling of rod signals. Simulations of rod signals indicated that continuous noise, rather than spontaneous activation of rhodopsin or fluctuations in the single-photon response, limited temporal resolution. Thus, detection of dim lights was limited by retinal processing, but, at higher light levels, synaptic transmission, cellular integration of synaptic inputs, and spike generation in RGCs faithfully conveyed information about the time of photon absorption.
Determinants of Action Potential Propagation in Cerebellar Purkinje Cell Axons
Authors: Monsivais Pablo , Clark Beverley A. , Roth Arnd , Häusser Michael
Published: January 2005

Axons have traditionally been viewed as highly faithful transmitters of action potentials. Recently, however, experimental evidence has accumulated to support the idea that under some circumstances axonal propagation may fail. Cerebellar Purkinje neurons fire highfrequency simple spikes, as well as bursts of spikes in response to climbing fiber activation (the “complex spike”). Here we have visualized the axon of individual Purkinje cells to directly investigate the relationship between somatic spikes and axonal spikes using simultaneous somatic whole-cell and cell-attached axonal patch-clamp recordings at 200-800 μm from the soma. We demonstrate that sodium action potentials propagate at frequencies up to ∼260 Hz, higher than simple spike rates normally observedin vivo. Complex spikes, however, did not propagate reliably, with usually only the first and last spikes in the complex spike waveform being propagated. On average, only 1.7 ± 0.2 spikes in the complex spike were propagated during resting firing, with propagation limited to interspike intervals above ∼4 msec. Hyperpolarization improved propagation efficacy without affecting total axonal spike number, whereas strong depolarization could abolish propagation of the complex spike. These findings indicate that the complex spike waveform is not faithfully transmitted to downstream synapses and that propagation of the climbing fiber response may be modulated by background activity.
Synthesis and characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol)‐based membranes for direct methanol fuel cell
Authors: Smitha B. , Sridhar S. , Khan A. A.
Published: January 2005

Membranes made of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and its ionic blends with sodium alginate (SA) and chitosan were synthesized and characterized for their ion‐exchange capacity (IEC) and swelling index values to investigate their applicability in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). These membranes were assessed for their intermolecular interactions, thermal stabilities, and mechanical strengths with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction methods, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and tensile testing, respectively. Methanol permeability and proton conductivity were also estimated and compared to that of Nafion 117. In addition to being effective methanol barriers, the membranes had a considerably high IEC and thermal and mechanical stabilities. The addition of small amounts of anionic polymer was particularly instrumental in the significant reduction of methanol permeability from 8.1 × 10−8 cm2/s for PVA to 6.9 × 10−8 cm2/s for the PVA–SA blend, which rendered the blend more suitable for a DMFC. Low methanol permeability, excellent physicomechanical properties, and above all, cost effectiveness could make the use of these blends in DMFCs quite attractive. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 1154–1163, 2005
Organo‐soluble polyimde (ODA–BSAA)/montmorillonite nanocomposite materials prepared by solution dispersion technique
Authors: Yeh Jui‐Ming , Hsieh Chi‐Fa , Jaw Jenn‐Huey , Kuo Tai‐Hung , Huang Hsi‐Ya , Lin Ching‐Lung , Hsu Min‐Yu
Published: January 2005

A series of polymer–clay nanocomposite materials, consisting of organo‐soluble polyimide (ODA‐BSAA) matrix and dispersed nanolayers of inorganic montmorillonite clay, were successfully prepared by solution dispersion technique and subsequently characterized by FTIR, powder X‐ray diffraction patterns, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Effects of the materials composition on the corrosion protection performance, gas barrier, and optical properties, in the form of both coating and film, were also studied by electrochemical corrosion measurements (e.g., corrosion potential, polarization resistance, corrosion current, impedance spectroscopy), gas permeability analysis, and UV–visible transmission spectroscopy, respectively. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 1082–1090, 2005
Pervaporation separation of water‐isopropanol mixtures using polymeric membranes: Modeling and simulation aspects
Authors: Aminabhavi Tejraj M. , Naidu B. Vijaya Kumar , Sridhar S. , Rangarajan R.
Published: January 2005

Pervaporation technique was used to separate water + isopropanol azeotropic mixtures at 30°C using pure sodium alginate, pure poly(vinyl alcohol), and blend membranes of sodium alginate containing 10 and 20 mass % of poly(vinyl alcohol). The membrane performance was studied by calculating flux, selectivity, pervaporation separation index, and enrichment factor. Pure sodium alginate membrane gave the highest pervaporation separation index for all compositions of water. Pervaporation experiments were carried out for 10 mass % containing water + isopropanol mixture at 30, 40, and 50°C. The Arrhenius activation parameters were computed. The PV results have been analyzed by considering complete mixing and plug flow models. Design parameters, like membrane area, permeate concentrations, flux, stage cut, separation selectivity, etc., have been calculated for different feed compositions of water in the mixture. Results are explained in terms of sorption‐diffusion principles. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 1143–1153, 2005
Polyelectrolyte‐assisted removal of metal ions with ultrafiltration
Authors: Rivas Bernabé L. , Pereira Eduardo , Cid Rocío , Geckeler Kurt E.
Published: January 2005

The water‐soluble polymers poly(styrene sulfonic acid‐co‐maleic acid) and poly(acrylic acid‐co‐maleic acid) were investigated with respect to their metal‐ion‐binding ability with ultrafiltration. The studied metal ions included Ag(I), Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Ca(II), Mg(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Al(III), and Cr(III) ions. The retention properties of the polyelectrolytes for the metal ions depended strongly on the ligand type. As for the carboxylate ligands, with increasing concentration and pH, the metal‐binding affinity increased. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 1091–1099, 2005
Biopolymer stochastic moments. I. Modeling human rhinovirus cellular recognition with protein surface electrostatic moments
Authors: González‐Díaz Humberto , Uriarte Eugenio
Published: January 2005

Stochastic moments may be applied as molecular descriptors in quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) studies for small molecules (H. González‐Dìaz et al., Journal of Molecular Modeling, 2002, Vol. 8, pp. 237–245; 2003, Vol. 9, pp. 395–407). However, applications in the field of biopolymers are less known. Recently, the MARCH‐INSIDE approach has been generalized to encode structural features of proteins and other biopolymers (H. González‐Dáaz et al., Bioinformatics, 2003, Vol. 19, pp. 2079–2087; Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2004, Vol. 14, pp. 4691–4695; Polymers, 2004, Vol. 45, pp. 3845–3853; Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 2005, Vol. 13, pp. 323–331). The present article attempts to extend this research by introducing for the first time stochastic moments for a surface road map of viral proteins. These moments are afterward used to seek a model that predicts the cellular receptor for human rhinoviruses. The model correctly classified 100% of 10 viruses binding to low‐density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and 88.9% of 9 viruses binding to the intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) receptors in training. The same results have been obtained in four cross‐validation experiments using a resubstitution technique. The present model favorably compares, in terms of complexity, with other previously reported based on entropy considerations, and offers a quantitative basis for the visual rule previously reported by Vlasak et al. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 77: 296–303, 2005
Analysis of flow in a cone‐and‐plate apparatus with respect to spatial and temporal effects on endothelial cells
Authors: Buschmann M. H. , Dieterich P. , Adams N. A. , Schnittler H.‐J.
Published: January 2005

Endothelial cells, covering the inner surface of vessels and the heart, are permanently exposed to fluid flow, which affects the endothelial structure and the function. The response of endothelial cells to fluid shear stress is frequently investigated in cone–plate systems. For this type of device, we performed an analytical and numerical analysis of the steady, laminar, three‐dimensional flow of a Newtonian fluid at low Reynolds numbers. Unsteady oscillating and pulsating flow was studied numerically by taking the geometry of a corresponding experimental setup into account. Our investigation provides detailed information with regard to shear‐stress distribution at the plate as well as secondary flow. We show that: (i) there is a region on the plate where shear stress is almost constant and an analytical approach can be applied with high accuracy; (ii) detailed information about the flow in a real cone–plate device can only be obtained by numerical simulations; (iii) the pulsating flow is quasi‐stationary; and (iv) there is a time lag on the order of 10−3 s between cone rotation and shear stress generated on the plate. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors: The incidence, prevalence, clinical course, and prognostication in the preimatinib mesylate era
Authors: Nilsson Bengt , Bümming Per , Meis‐Kindblom Jeanne M. , Odén Anders , Dortok Aydin , Gustavsson Bengt , Sablinska Katarzyna , Kindblom Lars‐Gunnar
Published: January 2005

BACKGROUND

Recent breakthroughs regarding gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and their pathogenesis have redefined diagnostic criteria and have led to the development of molecularly targeted drug therapy. New treatment options mandate more accurate information regarding the incidence, prevalence, clinical behavior, and prognostic factors of GIST.

METHODS

All patients (n = 1460) who potentially had GIST diagnosed from 1983 to 2000 in western Sweden (population, 1.3–1.6 million) were reviewed, and 288 patients with primary GIST were identified. The incidence and prevalence of GIST were determined, and predictive prognostic factors, including current risk‐group stratifications, were analyzed statistically.

RESULTS

Ninety percent of GISTs were detected clinically due to symptoms (69%) or were incidental findings at surgery (21%); the remaining 10% of GISTs were found at autopsy. Forty‐four percent of symptomatic, clinically detected GISTs were categorized as high risk (29%) or overtly malignant (15%), with tumor‐related deaths occurring in 63% of patients and 83% of patients, respectively (estimated median survival, of 40 months and 16 months, respectively). Tumor‐related deaths occurred in only 2 of 170 of patients (1.2%) with very‐low‐risk, low‐risk, or intermediate‐risk tumors. The annual incidence of GIST was 14.5 per million. The prevalence of all GIST risk groups was 129 per million (31 per million for the high‐risk group and the overtly malignant group).

CONCLUSIONS

GIST has been under recognized: Its incidence, prevalence, and clinical aggressiveness also have been underestimated. Currently existing risk‐group stratification systems based on tumor size and mitotic rate delineate GIST patients who have a poor prognosis. Prognostication in patients with GIST can be refined using a proposed risk score based solely on tumor size and proliferative index. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
3,5,3′‐Triiodo‐L‐thyronine enhances the differentiation of a human pancreatic duct cell line (hPANC‐1) towards a β‐cell‐Like phenotype
Authors: Misiti Silvia , Anastasi Emanuela , Sciacchitano Salvatore , Verga Falzacappa Cecilia , Panacchia Laura , Bucci Barbara , Khouri Daniele , D'Acquarica Ilaria , Brunetti Ercole , Di Mario Umberto , Toscano Vincenzo , Perfetti Riccardo
Published: January 2005

The thyroid hormone, 3,5,3′‐Triiodo‐L‐thyronine (T3), is essential for growth, differentiation, and regulation of metabolic functions in multicellular organisms, although the specific mechanisms of this control are still unknown. In this study, treatment of a human pancreatic duct cell line (hPANC‐1) with T3 blocks cell growth by an increase of cells in G0/G1 cell cycle phase and enhances morphological and functional changes as indicated by the marked increase in the synthesis of insulin and the parallel decrease of the ductal differentiation marker cytokeratin19. Expression analysis of some of the genes regulating pancreatic β‐cell differentiation revealed a time‐dependent increase in insulin and glut2 mRNA levels in response to T3. As last step of the acquisition of a β‐cell‐like phenotype, we present evidence that thyroid hormones are able to increase the release of insulin into the culture medium. In conclusion, our results suggest, for the first time, that thyroid hormones induce cell cycle perturbations and play an important role in the process of transdifferentiation of a human pancreatic duct line (hPANC‐1) into pancreatic‐β‐cell‐like cells. These findings have important implications in cell‐therapy based treatment of diabetes and may provide important insights in the designing of novel therapeutic agents to restore normal glycemia in subjects with diabetes. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Circular perfect graphs
Authors: Zhu Xuding
Published: January 2005

For 1 ≤ d ≤ k, let Kk/d be the graph with vertices 0, 1, …, k − 1, in which i ∼j if d ≤ |i − j| ≤ k − d. The circular chromatic number χc(G) of a graph G is the minimum of those k/d for which G admits a homomorphism to Kk/d. The circular clique number ωc(G) of G is the maximum of those k/d for which Kk/d admits a homomorphism to G. A graph G is circular perfect if for every induced subgraph H of G, we have χc(H) = ωc(H). In this paper, we prove that if G is circular perfect then for every vertex x of G, NG[x] is a perfect graph. Conversely, we prove that if for every vertex x of G, NG[x] is a perfect graph and G − N[x] is a bipartite graph with no induced P5 (the path with five vertices), then G is a circular perfect graph. In a companion paper, we apply the main result of this paper to prove an analog of Haj́os theorem for circular chromatic number for k/d ≥ 3. Namely, we shall design a few graph operations and prove that for any k/d ≥ 3, starting from the graph Kk/d, one can construct all graphs of circular chromatic number at least k/d by repeatedly applying these graph operations. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 48: 186–209, 2005
Simple Trends in NMR Spectra of Vinyl Polymers: The 1H NMR Spectrum of Poly(propylene)
Authors: Monaco Guglielmo , Zambelli Adolfo
Published: January 2005

Summary: The tacticity spreading of chemical shifts in the proton NMR spectrum of poly(propylene) in solution has been analyzed first qualitatively, taking advantage of known trends in both proton chemical shift and conformational statistics of vinyl polymers as summarized in the telephone rule, and then quantitatively using ab initio computations, empirical additivity schemes of proton chemical shifts, and conformational averages according to models of different rotational isomeric states. The very good results obtained, both qualitatively and quantitatively, stem from the relatively easy parametrization of proton chemical shift and establish a successful application of the telephone rule, also for proton NMR spectra.

Anti and syn labeling of methylene hydrogens in m and r diads.

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Anti and syn labeling of methylene hydrogens in m and r diads.
Parkin disease in a Brazilian kindred: Manifesting heterozygotes and clinical follow‐up over 10 years
Authors: Khan Naheed L. , Horta Wagner , Eunson Louise , Graham Elizabeth , Johnson Janel O. , Chang Shannon , Davis Mary , Singleton Andrew , Wood Nicholas W. , Lees Andrew J.
Published: January 2005

We report on a large Brazilian kindred with young‐onset parkinsonism due to either a homozygous or heterozygous mutation in parkin. A total of 6 members were affected: 5 were homozygous and 1 heterozygous for a deletion in exon 4. Two other heterozygotes also had extrapyramidal signs. All affected subjects showed characteristic features of parkin disease with foot dystonia and an excellent response to levodopa complicated by motor fluctuations and dyskinesia within 3 years of therapy. Careful clinical follow‐up over 10 years showed the phenotype was similar in all the homozygotes with asymmetrical limb bradykinesia and early walking difficulties. Some acceleration of disability was observed in some of the cases as they entered the third decade of illness, but dementia was absent. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society
Deep brain stimulation of the GPi treats restless legs syndrome associated with dystonia
Authors: Okun Michael S. , Fernandez Hubert H. , Foote Kelly D.
Published: January 2005

We report on the case of a woman with generalized dystonia and restless legs syndrome whose restless legs resolved after bilateral internal globus pallidus deep brain stimulation, and recurred unilaterally after an infection required removal of one of the devices. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Does severity of Parkinson's disease vary according to season?
Authors: Postuma Ronald B. , Arenovich Tamara , Lang Anthony E.
Published: January 2005

In temperate climates, many factors that may influence function in Parkinson's disease (PD) vary according to season. We examined whether severity of PD, as measured by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), varied with the season of evaluation. We found no evidence for seasonal fluctuation in the UPRDS scores, suggesting that, although considerable day‐to‐day variation may exist in PD, there is little monthly or seasonal variation. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Rodent models for dystonia research: Characteristics, evaluation, and utility
Authors: Jinnah H.A. , Hess Ellen J. , LeDoux Mark S. , Sharma Nutan , Baxter Mark G. , DeLong Mahlon R.
Published: January 2005

A large number of different genetic and acquired disorders of the nervous system may be associated with dystonia. To elucidate its pathogenesis and to facilitate the discovery of potential novel treatments, there has been a growing interest in the development of animal models and particularly rodent models. Multiple animal models for dystonia have now been developed and partially characterized. The results obtained from studies of these models often lead in very different directions, in part because the different models target different aspects of a very heterogeneous disorder. A recent workshop addressed four main issues affecting those who conduct dystonia research with animal models, including the different ways in which dystonic disorders can be modeled in rodents, key features that constitute a useful model, methods used in the evaluation of these models, and recommendations for future research. This review summarizes the main outcomes of this conference. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society
Task‐dependent intracortical inhibition is impaired in focal hand dystonia
Authors: Bütefisch Cathrin M. , Boroojerdi Babak , Chen Robert , Battaglia Fortunato , Hallett Mark
Published: January 2005

We tested whether task‐dependent modulation of inhibition within the motor cortex is impaired in patients with dystonia. Paired‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) at an interstimulus interval of 2 msec was used to measure the effect of two different tasks on short ISI intracortical inhibition (SICI) in dystonic and normal subjects. In two experiments, SICI of the fourth dorsal interosseus (4DIO) and abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscles were measured before and at the end of the training task. In the first experiment, subjects performed a nonselective task consisting of abducting the thumb, where the APB acted as agonist and the 4DIO as synergist. In the second experiment, the function of the 4DIO was changed as the subjects were asked to consciously inhibit this muscle while abducting the thumb (selective task). Therefore, while the APB was activated in both tasks, the 4DIO was activated in the nonselective task but was in the inhibitory surround in the selective task. We found that performance of the selective but not the nonselective task resulted in increased SICI in the 4DIO of normal but not in dystonic subjects. We conclude that task‐dependent SICI is disturbed in patients with dystonia. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society
FP‐CIT and MIBG scintigraphy in early Parkinson's disease
Authors: Spiegel Jörg , Möllers Marc‐Oliver , Jost Wolfgang H. , Fuss Gerhard , Samnick Samuel , Dillmann Ulrich , Becker Georg , Kirsch Carl‐Martin
Published: January 2005

Methods provided by nuclear medicine may be helpful in diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD). For that purpose, the sensitivity of iodine‐123 metaiodobenzylguanidine ([123I]MIBG) scintigraphy and [123I]FP‐CIT single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was studied in patients with PD onset (Hoehn and Yahr Stage 1). Cerebral [123I]FP‐CIT and cardiac [123I]MIBG scintigraphy were carried out in 18 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, according to Hoehn and Yahr Stage 1. For quantification purposes, we calculated the striatum/posterior lobe binding of FP‐CIT and the heart‐to‐mediastinum (H/M) count ratio regarding MIBG scintigraphy. In 15 of 18 patients, we observed markedly reduced or asymmetric striatal FP‐CIT tracer accumulation. FP‐CIT binding of the affected striatum was significantly lower as compared with that of the unaffected side. Striatal FP‐CIT binding correlated significantly with the motor part of the Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS) but not with age, disease duration, or gender. MIBG scintigraphy delivered significant pathological results in 13 of 18 patients. There was no significant correlation between the H/M ratio relating to MIBG scintigraphy and the motor part of UPDRS, age, disease duration, or gender; however, binding of striatal FP‐CIT correlated significantly with cardiac MIBG accumulation. According to the clinical criteria, it might be difficult to prove the diagnosis of PD in patients with slight symptoms and in these cases, FP‐CIT SPECT and MIBG scintigraphy may contribute to the early diagnosis of PD. In addition, the functional loss of nigrostriatal and cardiac sympathetic neurons seems to be coupled closely. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society
Synthesis and optical properties of Pb‐doped ZnO nanowires
Authors: Zhou Shao‐Min , Zhang Xiao‐Hong , Meng Xiang‐Min , Wu Shi‐Kang , Lee Shuit‐Tong
Published: January 2005

We demonstrate bulk synthesis of single‐crystal Pb‐doped ZnO nanowires by using (Pb(NO3)2 + Zn) powders at 450 °C. These mass nanowires are characterized by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction, and high‐resolution TEM; they have uniform diameters of about 70 nm and are hundreds of microns in length. The growth of ZnPbO nanowires is suggested for self‐catalyzed vapor‐liquid‐solid mechanism. In particular, the PL spectra of these nanowires show emission peaks that strongly shift to long wavelength with increasing Pb, and the doping quantity is found to be responsible for the different characteristics; the PL mechanism is explained in detail. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Effect of Debye plasma on the doubly excited states of highly stripped ions
Authors: Sil A. N. , Mukherjee P. K.
Published: January 2005

Pilot calculations have been performed to study the effect of surrounding plasma on several doubly excited states for a few astrophysically important, highly stripped ions of helium isoelectronic sequence Al11+, Si12+, P13+, S14+, and Cl15+. The transitions from 1s2:1Se → 2s2:1Se, 2p2:1De, 2s2p:1Po, 2s3d:1De and 2p3d:1Fo are studied. The effect of the plasma background is taken care of using the Debye screening model which admits of a wide variety of plasma conditions. Transition energies as well as the analytical wave functions of the doubly excited states have been obtained from a study of the pole positions of the collective oscillation modes in the two‐electron charge cloud under a time‐dependent harmonic perturbation. The response properties of the system are analyzed from the linearized version of a suitably constructed variational functional. Most of the calculated data are new. Our results agree well with the relatively few existing experimental and theoretical data for the free ions. The general trend of the results show systematic behavior with respect to increased plasma strength, and the data may be useful from the astrophysical viewpoint. The doubly excited state wave functions have been used to calculate the Coulomb repulsion integrals to check their consistency and may be useful for evaluating other physical properties connected with transitions and also estimating the rate coefficients for dielectronic recombination processes, which play a major role in the diagnostic determination of high‐temperature plasmas. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005
Statistical atomic models with complete neglect of differential overlap for the study of free and confined systems
Authors: Cruz S. A. , Díaz‐García C. , Covarrubias G.
Published: January 2005

Total ground‐state energies of free and confined many‐electron atoms are studied through use of the Thomas–Fermi–Dirac–Weizsäcker energy density functional using known properties of the orbital electron densities. The concept of complete neglect of differential overlap put forward by Pople and Segal is combined with the original ideas of Wang and Parr on the development of statistical atomic models. For free atoms, it is found that total energies within 0.1% difference relative to Hartree–Fock values can be obtained using a prefactor λ = 1/8 in the Weizsäcker inhomogeneity correction. The corresponding description of total radial densities and shell structure is found to be overall moderate when compared with Hartree–Fock calculations. It is also shown, for the first time, that this approach properly accounts for the ground‐state energy evolution of many‐electron atoms confined by hard spherical walls. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005
Gegenbauer expansions for three‐electron integrals
Authors: Harris Frank E.
Published: January 2005

An arbitrary power of |ri − rj| can be expanded in terms of the magnitudes of ri and rj and Gegenbauer polynomials whose argument is the cosine of the angle between these two vectors. The Gegenbauer expansion has seen little use in the evaluation of three‐electron integrals because the Gegenbauer polynomials are not orthogonal when integrated over the angular variables of a spherical coordinate system. It is shown here that this disadvantage is easily overcome and that the resulting formulas are not only simple and compact but also particularly suitable for the application of truncation and/or convergence acceleration schemes. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005
Adsorption of CO on the rumpled MgO(100), MgO(100):Ni, and MgO(100):Cr surfaces: A density functional approach
Authors: Quintanar Carlos , Caballero Reyna , Castaño V. M.
Published: January 2005

We investigated the adsorption of carbon monoxide on the MgO(100), MgO(100):Ni, and MgO(100):Cr surfaces, using an ab initio density functional cluster embedding approach. The relaxation and rumpling of the MgO surface were explored through potential energy curves. Then, the Mg adsorption site of sharp and rumpled surfaces was studied. Both local density and generalized gradient approximations were employed, and the orbitals were expanded as Gaussian atom‐centered orbitals. It was found that the surface relaxes bulkward ∼1.4%, but Mg ions displace more toward the bulk than the oxygen ions, producing a surface rumpling of ∼0.95%. The energy obtained for CO adsorption on the pure MgO surface with the generalized gradient approximation using the Perdew–Wang (PW86) functional was as large as 1.6 kcal/mol. Finally, for all the systems studied in this work, the relaxed‐rumpled surfaces showed a surface‐CO adsorption energy larger than the sharp surfaces. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005
Work and community
Authors: Price Richard H.
Published: January 2005

Conclusion

I have argued that research and action in the world of work can be a central concern and a major opportunity for community psychologists. Work is central to well being and identity. It is an arena of rapid and turbulent social change where our values are expressed and lived out. Furthermore, work is not a separate life domain, but interpenetrates family and community life. Work is a source of the psychological sense of community and can be made more so. Experiences at work can spill over to family and community and vice versa. Recognizing the myriad paths of this interdependence is an ecological insight that has the possibility of real consequences for well being in our communities. We have only to act on our insight.
The construction of an edifice: the story of a First Great Debate
Authors: Quirk Joel , Vigneswaran Darshan
Published: January 2005

Over the last decade, critical historiographers have established that the story of a First Debate, which tells of a struggle between idealism/utopianism and realism between the 1920s and 1940s, is a misleading characterisation of the history of academic international thought. This article adds to this critical literature by exploring how the story of a First Debate became a part of disciplinary orthodoxy between the 1950s and 1990s. Our analysis reveals that scholars produced the myth of a First Debate by detaching the concept of a struggle between idealism and realism from the unique historical milieu in which it was conceived, and employing this dichotomy for a new set of rhetorical purposes. We use these findings to suggest refinements for the historiographical methods employed to understand past international thought, and to illuminate the historical contingency of contemporary notions of scholarly purpose in international relations.
The analysis of protracted social conflict: a tribute to Edward Azar
Authors: Ramsbotham Oliver
Published: January 2005

The aim of this article is to draw attention to the work of a conflict analyst whose theory of ‘protracted social conflict’ – developed in a sustained series of publications over a twenty-year period from the early-1970s – has been neglected in mainstream international relations, strategic studies and security studies circles. The first section offers a conceptual context for assessing the originality and significance of Azar's approach. The second section outlines his theory of protracted social conflict. The third section evaluates his theory in the light of developments in conflict analysis in the 13 years since his death. The conclusion is that Azar's work does not merit such neglect and that it still offers useful pointers for an understanding of the sources of major armed conflict in the turbulent and contested arena of post-Cold War politics.
A complete analytical solution to the inverse kinematics of the Pioneer 2 robotic arm
Authors: Gan John Q. , Oyama Eimei , Rosales Eric M. , Hu Huosheng
Published: January 2005

For robotic manipulators that are redundant or with high degrees of freedom (dof), an analytical solution to the inverse kinematics is very difficult or impossible. Pioneer 2 robotic arm (P2Arm) is a recently developed and widely used 5-dof manipulator. There is no effective solution to its inverse kinematics to date. This paper presents a first complete analytical solution to the inverse kinematics of the P2Arm, which makes it possible to control the arm to any reachable position in an unstructured environment. The strategies developed in this paper could also be useful for solving the inverse kinematics problem of other types of robotic arms.
Jamming analyses for dual peg-in-hole insertions in three dimensions
Authors: Fei Yanqiong , Zhao Xifang
Published: January 2005

In this paper, jamming analyses of the three dimensional dual peg-in-hole are presented. First, for a three dimensional dual peg-in-hole, possible contact states are enumerated and geometric analyses are presented. Second, the contact forces are described by the screw theory in three dimensions. The force/moment equations for static equilibrium states of three dimensional dual-peg insertions are derived. Third, jamming diagrams are obtained. Eleven kinds of possible jamming diagrams are analyzed. Finally, an experiment of a dual peg-in-hole assembly is presented to show the effectiveness of the above analyses.
Design and simulation of a class of spatial reactionless manipulators
Authors: Fattah Abbas , Agrawal Sunil K.
Published: January 2005

For conventional designs of robots, manipulator motions result in forces and moments on the base. These forces and moments may cause undesirable translation and rotation of the base. The objective of this paper is to systematically analyze the fundamentals of reactionless robots. Based on this analysis, a design of one distinct class of spatial robot is proposed. The design is achieved through appropriate choices of geometric and inertial parameters. Due to the underlying conservation laws, the trajectory must satisfy additional constraints. We illustrate the reactionless feature of this robot through computer simulations. We are also fabricating reactionless robots to illustrate the underlying concepts.
One-dimensional magnetic domain walls
Authors: GARCÍA-CERVERA CARLOS J.
Published: January 2005

Ferromagnetic materials may present a complicated domain structure, due in part to the nonlocal nature of the self interactions. In this article we present a detailed study of the structure of one-dimensional magnetic domain walls in uniaxial ferromagnetic materials, and in particular, of the Néel and Bloch walls. We analyze the logarithmic tail of the Néel wall, and identify the characteristic length scales in both the Néel and Bloch walls. This analysis is used to obtain the optimal energy scaling for the Néel and Bloch walls. Our results are illustrated with numerical simulations of one-dimensional walls. A new model for the study of ferromagnetic thin films is presented.
The Design of the Long-Term Care System in Spain: Policy and Financial Constraints
Authors: Costa-Font Joan , Patxot Concepció
Published: January 2005

The provision and financing of long-term care (LTC) in Spain has only recently become a policy concern. However, welfare policy reforms show the need to anticipate the effects of a transition from the traditional ‘family-based’ model of care (78 per cent of Spanish elders who are disabled are treated by their own families) to a modern ‘community-based’ model. This paper examines the current models of providing and funding long-term care in Spain and on the basis of the empirical evidence evaluates the prospects for the future organisation and funding of the system.
On Investigating the ‘Underclass’: Contending Philosophical Perspectives
Authors: Dixon John , Carrier Kerry , Dogan Rhys
Published: January 2005

The concept of ‘underclass’ evokes a multiplicity of attitudes and beliefs about its meaning, existence, causation and, therefore, its resolution. This paper draws upon the philosophy of the social sciences to explicate the contending philosophical perspectives on the ‘underclass's’ causation and resolution by reference to a taxonomy of methodologies, so enabling the articulation of each methodology's analytical strengths and weaknesses when used to investigate the ‘underclass’. The conclusion drawn is that policy analysts must be critically reflective before they seek to describe, explain, understand, judge and address ‘underclass’-related problems and issues by drawing upon any theories and methods grounded in anyone of these contending methodological families.