bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reactive glia support and guide axon growth in the rat thalamus during the first postnatal week. A sharply timed transition from permissive to non‐permissive stage
Authors: Ajtai Béla M. , Kálmán Mihály 
Published: July 2002

AbstractThe present study demonstrates a supportive and guiding effect of the reactive glia on the postlesional axon growth in vivo, and offers a model system to compare permissive and non‐permissive forms of the glial reaction. After stab wounds in early postnatal (P2–P9) rats, the reactive glia and the nerve fibers were detected by the immunohistochemical staining of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament protein, respectively. In the thalamus of the animals lesioned at P5 or earlier, an extraordinary bundle of fibers immunoreactive to neurofilament protein was found, corresponding to the lesion track marked by reactive glia. This bundle persisted up to 2 months, as shown by electron microscopy. When the animals were lesioned at P7 or later, the lesion track was immunonegative to neurofilament protein. Following P6 lesions, an intermediate situation was found, the strip of immunoreactive neurofilament protein was missing, or short and weak. GFAP immunostaining demonstrated a typical reactive glia in every case. As a result of the same operation, reactive glia plus a deficiency of neurofilament protein immunostaining was found in every animal in the cortex and the corpus callosum, independently from the age at lesion. The results demonstrate that the permissive nature of the glial reaction depends on the lesioned area as well, and changes to a non‐permissive effect in a short time interval.
Myelin proteolipid DM20: evidence for function independent of myelination
Authors: Nadon Nancy L. , Miller Shirley , Draeger Karen , Salvaggio Michelle 
Published: July 2002

AbstractDM20 is a proteolipid protein that has been extensively studied for its role in central nervous system myelination. We demonstrate that DM20 expression is wide‐spread and independent of myelination. In the Schwann cells and neurons of the peripheral nervous system, DM20 is not incorporated into the membrane as it is in the central nervous system (CNS), but remains cytoplasmic. Mutations that severely reduce the amount of DM20 mRNA in CNS myelinating cells have little effect on DM20 expression in nonmyelinating cells of the peripheral nervous system and embryonic CNS. Most importantly, the combination of wild‐type DM20 from the endogenous X‐linked gene and mutant DM20 expressed from an autosomal transgene results in embryonic lethality. We propose a function for DM20 to explain these diverse findings based on the ability of DM20 to form multimeric complexes, and hypothesize that the DM20 complex participates in intracellular molecular transport.
Correlation between lead‐induced changes in cerebral ornithine decarboxylase and protein kinase C activities during development and in cultured PC 12 CELLS
Authors: Hilliard A. , Ramesh A. , Zawia N.H. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractExposure to lead (Pb) interferes with neurodevelopment and disturbs ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity. ODC the key regulatory enzyme of the polyamine pathway, is a potential substrate for protein kinase C (PKC). Therefore, we examined developmental changes in PKC activity and its relationship to ODC activity. Male rats were lactationally exposed to 0.2% Pb‐acetate from birth to weaning. PKC and ODC activity were measured on postnatal days (PND) 3, 5, 10, 20 and 30. We found that the basal patterns of ODC and PKC activities resembled each other in both the neocortex and cerebellum and Pb‐exposure attenuated both enzymes in a similar manner. To determine whether any link existed between these enzymes, ODC and PKC activities were induced to increase using nerve growth factor (NGF) in the presence and/or absence of ODC (difluoromethylornithine, DFMO) and PKC (staurosporine) inhibitors, in control and Pb‐exposed Pheochromocytoma (PC‐12) cells. Staurosporine decreased both ODC activity and PKC activity, while DFMO had no effect on PKC activity. These data suggest that ODC may be regulated by PKC and that Pb‐induced developmental alterations in ODC activity may be secondary to changes in the integrity of PKC.
Schizophrenic patients: physical health and access to somatic care
Authors: Casadebaig F , Philippe A , Guillaud-Bataille JM , Gausset MF , Quemada N , Terra JL 
Published: July 2002

SummaryThis study concerns the state of physical health and the availability of somatic care for 3,470 adult patients diagnosed as schizophrenic according to the research criteria established by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10 F20) and treated in public institutions. These institutions volunteered to participate in the study, whereas the patients were selected at random. Data concerning demographic characteristics, physical health, and access to somatic care are compared to that of a public health survey of a sample of the French population. The present study allows the estimation of ratios for a large number of diseases and of some risk factors among the target group. Heavy smokers and overweight individuals are more numerous among schizophrenics. Pathologies such as epilepsy, diabetes and AIDS infection are overrepresented. Patients' access to somatic care is more prevalent than that of the general population overall, similar to that of the less qualified workers or unemployed group. In this study, gender does not appear to allow prediction of care use for schizophrenics in contrast to the general population.
Further evidence on optimism and underreaction in analysts' forecasts
Authors: Espahbodi Reza , Dugar Amitabh , Tehranian Hassan 
Published: July 2002

AbstractIn this paper, we argue that the observed optimism in analysts' forecasts of earnings is related to the costs and benefits to analysts of issuing optimistic forecasts — when the costs of issuing an optimistic forecast are high relative to the benefits of doing so, optimism will be less apparent or absent. We also argue that underreaction to past forecast errors and past changes in earnings is most evident when earnings components are viewed as permanent. We test our arguments by examining the properties of analysts' forecasts for two samples of distressed firms: (1) firms that file for bankruptcy and (2) firms that experience financial distress but turnaround. According to our arguments, for bankrupt firms, optimism should become less apparent or absent as bankruptcy approaches. Further, for these (bankrupt) firms, underreaction to past forecast errors and past changes in earnings should persist during the period of financial distress. For turnaround firms, we predict the opposite results. We find that the bias in forecasts for the bankrupt sample declines to insignificant levels by the year prior to bankruptcy filing. Forecast bias for the turnaround sample disappears in the year of recovery and is absent during the first half of the following year. For the bankrupt sample, we find evidence of underreaction to past errors in the 4 years prior to the bankruptcy filing; this underreaction is driven by firms with negative earnings‐to‐price ratios. Underreaction to past errors for the turnaround sample disappears in the year of recovery and is absent in the two subsequent years. Unlike past research, we do not find analysts' forecasts to be correlated with past earnings changes. Overall, our results support our cost–benefit and permanence of earnings arguments.
Differing beta‐blocking effects of carvedilol and metoprolol
Authors: Stoschitzky Kurt , Koshucharova Gergana , Zweiker Robert , Maier Robert , Watzinger Norbert , Fruhwald Friedrich M. , Klein Werner 
Published: July 2002

AbstractBackground:Metoprolol is a beta1‐selective beta‐adrenergic antagonist while carvedilol is a non‐selective beta‐blocker with additional blockades of alpha1‐adrenoceptors. Administration of metoprolol has been shown to cause up‐regulation of beta‐adrenoceptor density and to decrease nocturnal melatonin release, whereas carvedilol lacks these typical effects of beta‐blocking drugs.Aims:To compare beta‐blocking effects of metoprolol and carvedilol when applied orally in healthy subjects.Methods:We investigated the effects of single oral doses of clinically recommended amounts of metoprolol (50, 100 and 200 mg) and carvedilol (25, 50 and 100 mg) to those of a placebo in a randomised, double‐blind, cross‐over study in 12 healthy male volunteers. Two hours after oral administration of the drugs heart rate and blood pressure were measured at rest, after 10 min of exercise, and after 15 min of recovery.Results:Metoprolol tended to decrease heart rate during exercise (−21%, −25% and −24%) to a greater extent than carvedilol (−16%, −16% and −18%). At rest, increasing doses of metoprolol caused decreasing heart rates (62, 60 and 58 beats/min) whereas increasing doses of carvedilol caused increasing heart rates (62, 66 and 69 beats/min), 50 and 100 mg carvedilol failed to differ significantly from the placebo (71 beats/min).Conclusions:We conclude that clinically recommended doses of carvedilol cause a clinically relevant beta‐blockade in humans predominantly during exercise where it appears to be slightly (although not significantly) less effective than metoprolol. On the other hand, the effects of carvedilol on heart rate at rest appear rather weak, particularly in subjects with a low sympathetic tone. This might be caused by a reflex increase on sympathetic drive secondary to peripheral vasodilation resulting from the alpha‐blocking effects of the drug. These results might be helpful in explaining why carvedilol, in contrast to metoprolol, may fail to cause up‐regulation of beta‐adrenoceptor density and does not decrease nocturnal melatonin release. This, in turn, may be a reason for the weak side‐effects of carvedilol resulting from the beta‐blockade. In addition, our data might be of interest in the interpretation of the forthcoming results of the COMET trial, although it has to be emphasised that they were derived from healthy subjects and, therefore, cannot be directly extrapolated to patients with heart failure.
Clinical trials update: Highlights of the Scientific Sessions of Heart Failure 2001, a meeting of the Working Group on Heart Failure of the European Society of Cardiology. CONTAK‐CD, CHRISTMAS, OPTIME‐CHF
Authors: Thackray Simon , Coletta Alison , Jones Peter , Dunn Anita , Clark Andrew L. , Cleland John G.F. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractThis article continues a series of reports summarising recent research developments pertinent to the topic of heart failure. This is a summary of presentations made at Scientific Sessions of Heart Failure 2001, a meeting of the Working Group on Heart Failure of the European Society of Cardiology. Clinical studies of particular interest to people caring for patients with heart failure include CONTAK‐CD, CHRISTMAS and further updates on OPTIME‐CHF. A brief review of the current status of cardiac resynchronisation therapy is included.
Relationship between cardiac metaiodobenzylguanidine uptake and hemodynamic, functional and neurohormonal parameters in patients with heart failure
Authors: de Milliano Paul A.R. , van Eck‐Smit Berthe L.F. , van Zwieten Pieter A. , de Groot Andre C. , Tijssen Jan G.P. , Lie Kong I. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractBackground:Sympathetic activation plays a pivotal role in heart failure attributing to the disease process and symptoms of the patient. Myocardial sympathetic activity can be visualized using radioiodinated metaiodobenzylguanidine 123I‐MIBG, a structural analogue of norepinephrine (NE).Aim of the study:We investigated whether a relation exists between myocardial MIBG uptake and different functional, hemodynamic and neurohormonal parameters in patients with chronic heart failure.Methods and results:The study comprised 52 patients with stable congestive heart failure functional class II or III and left ventricular ejection fractions of <35%. The heart/mediastinum ratio (H/M ratio) was calculated to quantify myocardial MIBG uptake. A significant correlation was found between peak oxygen consumption and maximal exercise duration as exercise parameters and H/M ratio of MIBG (R, respectively, 0.36 and 0.4, P<0.05). From all other measured parameters, only plasma NE showed a significant correlation with the H/M ratio of MIBG.Conclusion:Cardiac sympathetic activity, as measured by myocardial MIBG uptake, is correlated with peak exercise parameters.
Influence of maximum MLC leaf speed on the quality of volumetric modulated arc therapy plans
Authors: Chen Jiayun , Cui Weijie , Fu Qi , Zhang Haojia , Huang Xiaodong , Han Fei , Xia Wenlong , Liang Bin , Dai Jianrong 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPurposeMaximum leaf speed is a configurable parameter of MLC in a treatment‐planning system. This study investigated the influence of MLC on the quality of VMAT plans.MethodsSeven MLCs with different maximum leaf speeds (1.0, 1.5, 2.25, 3.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10 cm/s) were configured for an accelerator in treatment‐planning system. Correspondingly, seven treatment plans, with the identical initial optimization parameter, were designed with the mdaccAutoPlan system. Six nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients and nine rectal cancer patients were selected, representing complex and simple clinical circumstances. VMAT plan quality was evaluated with PlanIQTM software. The results were statistically analyzed with a one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and pairwise comparison tests.ResultsThe relative changes of plan scores achieved by the seven configured accelerators, with specific maximum MLC leaf speed (MMLS) for each patient, were studied. Two apparent trends of MMLS influence on VMAT plan scores were observed: Plan scores increased with MMLS; Plan scores increased rapidly when MMLS increased from 1 to 3.5, thus the relative change of plan score decreased in this MMLS range. The stationary point of maximum MLC speed (MMSSP) is defined, for the specific MMLS when the relative changes of plan scores is first <5%, as MMLS increases from 1.0 to 10. For rectal plans, MMSSPs were 2.25 for six patients and 3.5 for the other three patients. For NPC plans, MMSSPs were 3.5 for five patients and 2.25 for one patient.ConclusionThis work indicates that MMLS directly influences VMAT plan quality in NPC cases and rectal cancer cases. VMAT plan quality improved conspicuously as MMLS increased from 1 to 3.5, VMAT plan quality with marginal improvement when MMLS is above 3.5.
Robust adaptive passivity‐based PIλD control
Authors: Gallegos Javier A. , Aguila‐Camacho Norelys , Duarte‐Mermoud Manuel A. 
Published: October 2020

SummaryIn this article, we develop proportional, fractional‐integral, and derivative () controllers for the regulation and tracking problems of nonlinear systems. The analytic results are obtained by extending the passivity‐based approach to include fractional operators. Robustness under parametric uncertainty is dealt with by a combination with an adaptive scheme. It is also shown their robustness under additive noise and their robustness under uncertainty in the derivation order. The advantages in the controlled system performance and in the control energy consumption in comparison to classic PI and proportional integral derivative controllers are illustrated for the quadratic boost converter and a benchmark system in the literature.
Compensation Charge Control and Modeling for Reproducing Negative Capacitance Effect of Hafnia Ferroelectric Thin Films
Authors: Ahn Dante , Jung Moonyoung , Lee Yoseop , Song Sungmun , Ham Woori , Suh Dongseok , Ahn Seung‐Eon 
Published: October 2020

AbstractTo enable continuing development of the performance of highly integrated semiconductor chips, it is necessary to dramatically lower the power consumption of transistors. The discovery of the negative capacitance (NC) effect and the ferroelectric properties of HfO2 thin films have raised the possibility of surpassing the known physical limitations of the 60 mV subthreshold slope of the current MOSFETs. However, for commercial application, stable reproducibility of the voltage drop effect due to the ferroelectric polarization and a model that can fully interpret this phenomenon must be obtained. Despite intense recent efforts, guidance for the design of devices for mass production based on the NC effect is currently unavailable. This study has directly observed the NC effect and confirmed that the NC effect can be controlled through analysis based on the equivalent circuit theory. It is experimentally verified that the NC effect is caused by an imbalance between the amount of polarization switching and the amount of charge supplied to compensate for such switching in the initial stage of the applied voltage pulse. The results suggest that a gate structure or peripheral circuit that can actively respond to polarization switching is necessary to implement a novel MOSFET with breakthrough power consumption.
Supercapacitors in the Light of Solid Waste and Energy Management: A Review
Authors: Dutta Arindam , Mahanta Jiwajyoti , Banerjee Tamal 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn line with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world is witnessing a phenomenal shift toward renewable energy. With this, the demand for energy storage devices has gained immense attention from researchers worldwide over the past decades and so have concerns pertaining to the disposal and management of material and energy wastes from various energy resources. Because of their unique features such as high power density, long cycling stability, and high capacitance, supercapacitors have emerged as a promising technology for storing energy. This review focuses on some of the recent advances in supercapacitors in the wake of solid waste and energy management. First, the utilization of a range of solid waste materials in the fabrication of supercapacitors is summarized. Thereafter, the roles of some of the recently developed “green” electrolytes in curbing the detrimental effects of waste generation from supercapacitors are discussed. Furthermore, different applications of supercapacitors in the field of energy management are highlighted. The strategies for the management of waste generated on account of a supercapacitor's end of life are also reported. The review is concluded by outlining some of the unarticulated challenges as well as the personal outlook of the authors in this area.
Cognitive outcomes in trials of two BACE inhibitors in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Wessels Alette M. , Lines Christopher , Stern Robert A. , Kost James , Voss Tiffini , Mozley Lyn Harper , Furtek Christine , Mukai Yuki , Aisen Paul S. , Cummings Jeffrey L. , Tariot Pierre N. , Vellas Bruno , Dupre Nicole , Randolph Christopher , Michelson David , Andersen Scott W. , Shering Craig , Sims John R. , Egan Michael F. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIntroductionThe APECS and AMARANTH trials showed that beta‐secretase (BACE) inhibitors verubecestat and lanabecestat failed to slow cognitive and functional decline in individuals with prodromal or early Alzheimer's disease. Here, the performance on secondary and exploratory cognitive measures in both studies is reported.MethodsAPECS (verubecestat) and AMARANTH (lanabecestat) were randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, parallel‐group, 104‐week clinical trials conducted by different sponsors. Measures included the 3‐Domain Composite Cognition Score (CCS‐3D), Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), Letter/Category Fluency, and Digit Symbol Coding.ResultsVerubecestat showed worsening on the CCS‐3D Total Score, Episodic Memory, and Attention/Processing Speed domains. Lanabecestat showed worsening on the RBANS Total Score, Immediate Memory, and Visuospatial/Constructional Indexes. Both BACE inhibitors showed worsening on Digit Symbol Coding and improvements on Letter/Category Fluency.DiscussionIn both studies, many measures showed treatment‐associated cognitive worsening, whereas verbal fluency tasks showed improvement.
Prognostic value of transient conduction disturbance in out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest
Authors: Iiya Munehiro , Shimizu Masato , Kimura Shigeki , Fujii Hiroyuki , Suzuki Makoto , Nishizaki Mitsuhiro 
Published: October 2020

AimA retrospective observational study to verify the impact of electrocardiograms (ECGs) following out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) on mortality.MethodsWe retrospectively studied 101 OHCA patients who achieved a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survived for ≥3 h. Among them, 50 patients (66 ± 17 years; 22 male) were evaluated using 12‐lead ECGs repeatedly and were included in the final analysis: immediately after ROSC (initial ECG) and after the initial evaluation in the emergency department (second ECG). Transient conduction disturbance (transient CD) was defined as a narrowing in QRS duration from the initial to second ECG of ≥18 ms. Multivariate Cox regression analyses were carried out to predict 90‐day mortality following OHCA.ResultsAmong 50 OHCA patients, 30 patients survived for 90 days. Thirty patients had initial ventricular fibrillation rhythm. Median emergency medical services response time and low‐flow duration were 8 and 21 min, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the transient CD and low‐flow duration were significant predictors of all‐cause mortality (hazard ratio 16.55, 1.06; P = 0.001, 0.022, respectively).ConclusionTransient CD is a powerful predictor of 90‐day mortality in patients who survived 3 h after ROSC from OHCA.
Co‐assembled Supramolecular Gel of Dipeptide and Pyridine Derivatives with Controlled Chirality
Authors: Wu Aoli , Guo Yongxian , Li Xianbao , Xue Huimin , Fei Jinbo , Li Junbai 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIt is commonly considered that amyloid‐β (Aβ) fibrils are heavily involved in the neurological diseases. Establishing an external model based on the core recognition motif (diphenylalanine, FF) of Aβ would be of significance in understanding the assembly and disassembly of Aβ fibrils in living system. Herein, supramolecular gels with structure transition from amyloid‐like β‐sheet to different supramolecular helices were obtained through the co‐assembly of a N‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl‐protected L‐FF (L‐FmocFF) with achiral pyridine derivatives. It is found that the different stacking modes (H‐ or J‐aggregates) of additives and the microenvironment of chiral carbon play vital roles for the selectively chiral transfer or amplification of L‐FmocFF. The dynamic process of helix formation was also captured. This work provides a convenient co‐assembly way to explore the structure basis of Aβ fibrils with a controlled chirality.