bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Three simple clinical tests to accurately predict falls in people with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Paul Serene S. , Canning Colleen G. , Sherrington Catherine , Lord Stephen R. , Close Jacqueline C. T. , Fung Victor S. C. 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACTFalls are a major cause of morbidity in Parkinson's disease (PD). The objective of this study was to identify predictors of falls in PD and develop a simple prediction tool that would be useful in routine patient care. Potential predictor variables (falls history, disease severity, cognition, leg muscle strength, balance, mobility, freezing of gait [FOG], and fear of falling) were collected for 205 community‐dwelling people with PD. Falls were monitored prospectively for 6 months using monthly falls diaries. In total, 125 participants (59%) fell during follow‐up. A model that included a history of falls, FOG, impaired postural sway, gait speed, sit‐to‐stand, standing balance with narrow base of support, and coordinated stability had high discrimination in identifying fallers (area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve [AUC], 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77–0.88). A clinical tool that incorporated 3 predictors easily determined in a clinical setting (falling in the previous year: odds ratio [OR], 5.80; 95% CI, 3.00–11.22; FOG in the past month: OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.19–4.80; and self‐selected gait speed < 1.1 meters per second: OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 0.96–3.58) had similar discrimination (AUC, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.73–0.86) to the more complex model (P = 0.14 for comparison of AUCs). The absolute probability of falling in the next 6 months for people with low, medium, and high risk using the simple, 3‐test tool was 17%, 51%, and 85%, respectively. In people who have PD without significant cognitive impairment, falls can be predicted with a high degree of accuracy using a simple, 3‐test clinical tool. This tool enables individualized quantification of the risk of falling. © 2013 Movement Disorder Society
Alpha‐synuclein p.H50Q, a novel pathogenic mutation for Parkinson's disease
Authors: Appel‐Cresswell Silke , Vilarino‐Guell Carles , Encarnacion Mary , Sherman Holly , Yu Irene , Shah Brinda , Weir David , Thompson Christina , Szu‐Tu Chelsea , Trinh Joanne , Aasly Jan O. , Rajput Alex , Rajput Ali H. , Jon Stoessl A. , Farrer Matthew J. 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACTBackgroundAlpha‐synuclein plays a central role in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. Three missense mutations in SNCA, the gene encoding alpha‐synuclein, as well as genomic multiplications have been identified as causes for autosomal‐dominantly inherited Parkinsonism.MethodsHere, we describe a novel missense mutation in exon 4 of SNCA encoding a H50Q substitution in a patient with dopa‐responsive Parkinson's disease with a family history of parkinsonism and dementia.ResultsThe variant was not observed in public databases or identified in unrelated subjects.ConclusionsThe substitution's evolutionary conservation and protein modeling provide additional support for pathogenicity as the amino acid perturbs the same amphipathic alpha helical structure as the previously described pathogenic mutations. © 2013 Movement Disorder Society
The internal circadian clock increases hunger and appetite in the evening independent of food intake and other behaviors
Authors: Scheer Frank A.J.L. , Morris Christopher J. , Shea Steven A. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractObjective:Despite the extended overnight fast, paradoxically, people are typically not ravenous in the morning and breakfast is typically the smallest meal of the day. We assessed whether this paradox could be explained by an endogenous circadian influence on appetite with a morning trough, while controlling for sleep/wake and fasting/feeding effects.Design and Methods:Twelve healthy non‐obese adults (six males; age, 20‐42 years) were studied throughout a 13‐day laboratory protocol that balanced all behaviors, including eucaloric meals and sleep periods, evenly across the endogenous circadian cycle. Participants rated their appetite and food preferences by visual analog scales.Results:There was a large endogenous circadian rhythm in hunger, with the trough in the biological morning (8 AM) and peak in the biological evening (8 PM; peak‐to‐trough amplitude = 17%; P = 0.004). Similarly‐phased significant endogenous circadian rhythms were present in appetites for sweet, salty and starchy foods, fruits, meats/poultry, food overall, and for estimates of how much food participants could eat (amplitudes 14‐25%; all P < 0.05).Conclusions:In people who sleep at night, the intrinsic circadian evening peak in appetite may promote larger meals before the fasting period necessitated by sleep, whereas the circadian morning trough would theoretically facilitate the extended overnight fast. Furthermore, the circadian decline in hunger across the night would theoretically counteract the fasting‐induced hunger increase that could otherwise disrupt sleep.
Augmentation with Atypical Antipsychotics for Depression: A Review of Evidence‐Based Support from the Medical Literature
Authors: Wright Bradley M. , Eiland Edward H. , Lorenz Raymond 
Published: March 2013

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a chronic mental illness that affects an estimated 5–26% of adults at some time in their lives. Treatment is often started as pharmacotherapy using a single drug such as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. If a patient fails to respond adequately to the initial antidepressant, typically three pharmacotherapy options are available to the practitioner. The dose of the current therapy can be maximized, a change can be made to a different drug, or the current regimen can be augmented with another drug. Atypical antipsychotics have recently become a major focus for augmentation of traditional antidepressant therapy.This review summarizes the evidence for efficacy and safety of augmenting treatment‐refractory or treatment‐resistant depression with atypical antipsychotics.The National Library of Medicine's MEDLINE database was searched for all English‐language articles published from January 1966–December 2011 describing the use of atypical antipsychotics in treatment‐resistant depression. The literature retrieved was limited to case series, open‐label trials, and randomized controlled trials (RCT). Studies of bipolar depression, psychotic depression, or studies conducted in children and adolescents were excluded.Thirty‐five studies using atypical antipsychotics for augmentation treatment of depression were included in this analysis. Trials were identified for aripiprazole (six open‐label; three RCT), clozapine (one case series), olanzapine (three open‐label, including two case series; four RCT), quetiapine (four open‐label; five RCT), risperidone (two open‐label; five RCT), and ziprasidone (two open‐label).The atypical antipsychotics may be effective as adjunctive therapy in MDD; however, their adverse effect profile may be unfavorable to some patients. Trying at least one alternative treatment strategy after an initial antidepressant is indicated before augmentation is implemented with these agents. If atypical antipsychotics are used, safety and efficacy should be frequently reassessed and dosage should be individualized.
Angular behavior of the absorption limit in thin film silicon solar cells
Authors: Naqavi Ali , Haug Franz‐Josef , Söderström Karin , Battaglia Corsin , Paeder Vincent , Scharf Toralf , Herzig Hans Peter , Ballif Christophe 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACTWe investigate the angular behavior of the upper bound of absorption provided by the guided modes in thin film solar cells. We show that the 4n2 limit can be potentially exceeded in a wide angular and wavelength range using two‐dimensional periodic thin film structures. Two models are used to estimate the absorption enhancement; in the first one, we apply the periodicity condition along the thickness of the thin film structure, but in the second one, we consider imperfect confinement of the wave to the device. To extract the guided modes, we use an automatized procedure that is established in this work. Through examples, we show that from the optical point of view, thin film structures have a high potential to be improved by changing their shape. Also, we discuss the nature of different optical resonances that can be potentially used to enhance light trapping in the solar cell. We investigate the two different polarization directions for one‐dimensional gratings, and we show that the transverse magnetic polarization can provide higher values of absorption enhancement. We also propose a way to reduce the angular dependence of the solar cell efficiency by the appropriate choice of periodic pattern. Finally, to obtain more practical values for the absorption enhancement, we consider the effect of parasitic loss that can significantly reduce the enhancement factor. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PSPICE model for silicon nanowire field‐effect transistor biosensors in impedimetric measurement mode
Authors: Nguyen Thanh Chien , Vu Xuan Thang , Freyler Miriam , Ingebrandt Sven 
Published: March 2013

AbstractIn this work, we demonstrate a behavioral PSPICE model for silicon nanowire (SiNW) field‐effect transistor (FET) biosensors, which is suitable to simulate frequency domain electrical measurements. The model is divided into two separated components: an electrochemical part for the liquid/solid interface at the gate input and an FET part simulating the SiNW characteristics. In our study, the parameters of the FET model are obtained from characterization measurements of real devices, which are fabricated in our research group. Measurements were performed with a self‐developed readout system. The model can be used to investigate the effects of solution conductivity and the drain and source capacitances of the SiNW sensor. We observed that the impedance spectra consist of a low‐pass filter domain at low frequencies and a resonance domain at higher frequencies. The former is mainly influenced by the source capacitance and the oxide/liquid interface of the devices, whereas the latter is mainly dominated by the drain capacitance, in case that the solution conductivity is kept constant. In addition, based on the relationship of the solution conductivity and the experimental data, we suggest a value called representative resistance of the solution. In this study, the model was compared to real spectra and we achieved good agreement between simulation and experiments. Our model provides a clearer view for frequency domain measurements with SiNW sensors, offers the possibility to optimize our SiNW design and forms the basis to include and explain sensing events in future biomedical assays.
Magnetic critical behavior of Mn5Ge3 ribbons
Authors: Zheng T. F. , Shi Y. G. , Li J. B. , Fan J. Y. , Shi D. N. , Lv L. Y. , Tang S. L. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractMagnetic critical behavior of Mn5Ge3 ribbons was investigated by dc magnetization measurements. The critical exponents were obtained by a modified Arrott plot technique and the Kouvel–Fisher method. Finally, β = 0.372 ± 0.003 and γ = 1.05 ± 0.01 were determined. The exponent δ = 3.88 ± 0.02 obtained from the magnetization isotherm of TC fulfills the Widom scaling relation δ = 1 + γ/β. Moreover, with these exponents, the magnetization curves collapse into two independent curves following a single equation around TC. These results confirm the reliability of the obtained critical exponents. However, this set of exponents belongs to none of the classical theoretical models. This phenomenon is probably caused by the anisotropy of the Mn ions.
Laser Raman spectroscopy of phase transformation in GaAs induced by radiation defects
Authors: Gotoshia Sergo V. , Gotoshia Lamara V. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractWhen implanting (111) GaAs with boron and heavier argon ions, severe distortion of crystal structure occurs. The Raman scattering has shown that with implanted ion dose change the crystal structure gradually transforms into disordered state, in which coexistence of crystalline, microcrystalline, nanocrystalline and amorphous phases is possible. At the certain stage of implantation the formation of continuous amorphous layer of GaAs takes place. The critical doses of disorder and amorphization of GaAs at implantation with B and Ar ions accordingly have been defined. The graphs of dependence of LO and TO phonon halfwidths upon implantation doses are also the characteristics of amorphization. The possibility of estimation of quantitative portions of the amorphous and nano phases from the Raman‐spectra is emphasized. It is shown experimentally that using light ions to synthesize nano GaAs most likely is more advantageous: the nano phase synthesizes in the wide range of fluencies (at high fluencies too). (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Comprehension at the Core
Authors: Harvey Stephanie , Goudvis Anne 
Published: March 2013

AbstractAs teachers, we have both the power and the responsibility to create classrooms full of eager, curious, and active readers and learners. Teaching students to become strategic readers and thinkers and to actively use the knowledge they glean from reading are the focus of the comprehension practices discussed in this article. A longstanding research tradition suggests that comprehension strategies are best taught as tools for reading and learning, so that students acquire and use a repertoire of thinking strategies that further engagement and understanding. To become literate in the broadest sense of the term, students must learn to read, write and think across disciplines, evaluating information, asking questions and engaging in dialogue. The authors suggest principles and practices that keep comprehension at the core of 21st century teaching and learning.
Factors affecting visualization of postmenopausal ovaries: descriptive study from the multicenter United Kingdom Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS)
Authors: Sharma A. , Burnell M. , Gentry‐Maharaj A. , Campbell S. , Amso N. N. , Seif M. W. , Fletcher G. , Brunel C. , Turner G. , Rangar R. , Ryan A. , Jacobs I. , Menon U. ,   for the United Kingdom Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS)
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACTObjectiveTransvaginal sonography (TVS) is core to any ovarian cancer screening strategy. General‐population screening involves older postmenopausal women in whom ovarian visualization is difficult because of decreasing ovarian size and lack of follicular activity. We report on factors affecting the visualization of postmenopausal ovaries in the multicenter United Kingdom Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS).MethodsThe UKCTOCS is a randomized controlled trial of 202 638 postmenopausal women with 50 639 women in the ultrasound scan arm. TVS is the primary screening modality in the ultrasound scan arm. Age, education, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), previous pelvic surgery, lifestyle and reproductive factors, and a personal/family history of cancer were assessed for their effects on ovarian visualization at the initial TVS.ResultsBetween 11 June 2001 and 18 August 2007, 43 867 women underwent TVS. The median age and BMI of the women were 60.6 (interquartile range (IQR), 9.9) years and 25.7 (IQR, 5.8), respectively. The right ovary was visualized in 29 297 (66.8%) and the left ovary was visualized in 28 726 (65.5%). Visualization of ovaries decreased with previous hysterectomy (odds ratio (OR) = 0.534; 95% CI, 0.504–0.567), previous tubal ligation (OR = 0.895; 95% CI, 0.852–0.940), increasing age (OR = 0.953; 95% CI, 0.950–0.956), unilateral oophorectomy (OR = 0.224; 95% CI, 0.186–0.269) and being overweight (OR = 0.918; 95% CI, 0.876–0.962) or obese (OR = 0.715; 95% CI, 0.677–0.755). Increased visualization was observed with a history of infertility (OR = 1.134; 95% CI, 1.005–1.279) and increasing age (in years) at menopause (OR = 1.005; 95% CI, 1.001–1.009).ConclusionsSeveral factors affect the visualization of postmenopausal ovaries. Their impact needs to be taken into consideration when developing quality assurance for ovarian ultrasound scanning or comparing study results as their prevalence may differ between populations. Copyright © 2013 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Response surface methodology for optimising the culture conditions for eicosapentaenoic acid production by marine bacteria
Authors: Abd Elrazak Ahmed , Ward Alan C , Glassey Jarka 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), are increasingly attracting scientific attention owing to their significant health-promoting role in the human body. However, the human body lacks the ability to produce them in vivo. The limitations associated with the current sources of ω-3 fatty acids from animal and plant sources have led to increased interest in microbial production. Bacterial isolate 717 was identified as a potential high EPA producer. As an important step in the process development of the microbial PUFA production, the culture conditions at the bioreactor scale were optimised for the isolate 717 using a response surface methodology exploring the significant effect of temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen and the interaction between them on the EPA production. This optimisation strategy led to a significant increase in the amount of EPA produced by the isolate under investigation, where the amount of EPA increased from 9 mg/g biomass (33 mg/l representing 7.6 % of the total fatty acids) to 45 mg/g (350 mg/l representing 25 % of the total fatty acids). To avoid additional costs associated with extreme cooling at large scale, a temperature shock experiment was carried out reducing the overall cooling time from the whole cultivation process to 4 h only prior to harvest. The ability of the organism to produce EPA under the complete absence of oxygen was tested revealing that oxygen is not critically required for the biosynthesis of EPA but the production improved in the presence of oxygen. The stability of the produced oil and the complete absence of heavy metals in the bacterial biomass are considered as an additional benefit of bacterial EPA compared to other sources of PUFA. To our knowledge this is the first report of a bacterial isolate producing EPA with such high yields making the large-scale manufacture much more economically viable.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Role of CC-chemokine receptor 5 on myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury in rats
Authors: Shen Bo , Li Jun , Gao Ling , Zhang Jieyu , Yang Bo 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe expression level of CC-chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) is enhanced post inflammatory stimulations and might play a crucial role on inflammatory cells infiltration post myocardial ischemia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of CCR5 on myocardial ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Adult male rats were randomized to sham group, I/R group (I/R, 30 min coronary artery occlusion followed by 2-h reperfusion), ischemic preconditioning (I/R + Pre), CCR5 antibody group [I/R + CCR5Ab (0.2 mg/kg)], and CCR5 agonist group [I/R + CCR5Ago, RNATES (0.1 mg/kg)], n = 12 each group. The serum level of creatine kinase (CK) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were measured by ELISA. Myocardial infarction size and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were determined. Myocardial protein expression of CCR5 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were evaluated by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry staining, respectively. Myocardial nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity was assayed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Myocardial CCR5 protein expression was significantly reduced in I/R + Pre group (P < 0.05 vs. I/R) and further reduced in I/R + CCR5Ab group (P < 0.05 vs. I/R + Pre). LVSP and ±dP/dtmax were significantly lower while serum CK and TNF-α as well as myocardial MPO activity, ICAM-1 expression, and NF-κB activity were significantly higher in I/R group than in sham group (all P < 0.05), which were significantly reversed by I/R + Pre (all P < 0.05 vs. I/R) and I/R + CCR5Ab (all P < 0.05 vs. I/R + Pre) while aggravated by I/R + CCR5Ago (all P < 0.05 vs. I/R). Our results suggest that blocking CCR5 attenuates while enhancing CCR5 aggravates myocardial I/R injury through modulating inflammatory responses in rat heart.
Synthesis and Properties of Dodecyldiethoxylamine Oxide
Authors: Wang Ruitao , Li Yunling , Li Qiuxiao 
Published: March 2013

AbstractDodecyldiethoxylamine oxide (DDEAO) was synthesized by the reaction of dodecyldiethoxylamine with hydrogen peroxide in water as the solvent. Surface activity, wetting ability and emulsifying capacity were investigated and compared with that of dodecyldimethylamine oxide (DDMAO). Results indicate that the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of DDEAO is lower than that of DDMAO, while its surface tension at CMC (γCMC) is slightly higher. The wetting ability of DDEAO is similar to that of DDMAO. For its capacity of emulsifying liquid paraffin, DDEAO is found to be better than DDMAO, but it is the opposite for emulsifying soybean oil. The foaming properties and thickening function of DDEAO in mixtures with alcohol ether sulfate and alkylbenzene sulfonate were also studied. As expected, complex surfactant systems exhibit good foaming ability and DDEAO exhibits a good thickening function.
Effect of prenatal loud music and noise on total number of neurons and glia, neuronal nuclear area and volume of chick brainstem auditory nuclei, field L and hippocampus: A stereological investigation
Authors: Sanyal Tania , Palanisamy Pradeep , Nag T.C. , Roy T.S. , Wadhwa Shashi 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe present study explores whether prenatal patterned and unpatterned sound of high sound pressure level (110 dB) has any differential effect on the morphology of brainstem auditory nuclei, field L (auditory cortex analog) and hippocampus in chicks (Gallus domesticus). The total number of neurons and glia, mean neuronal nuclear area and total volume of the brainstem auditory nuclei, field L and hippocampus of post‐hatch day 1 chicks were determined in serial, cresyl violet‐stained sections, using stereology software. All regions studied showed a significantly increased total volume with increase in total neuron number and mean neuronal nuclear area in the patterned music stimulated group as compared to control. Contrastingly the unpatterned noise stimulated group showed an attenuated volume with reduction in the total neuron number. The mean neuronal nuclear area was significantly reduced in the auditory nuclei and hippocampus but increased in the field L. Glial cell number was significantly increased in both experimental groups, being highest in the noise group. The brainstem auditory nuclei and field L showed an increase in glia to neuron ratio in the experimental groups as compared to control. In the hippocampus the ratio remained unaltered between control and music groups, but was higher in the noise group. It is thus evident that though the sound pressure level in both experimental groups was the same there were differential changes in the morphological parameters of the brain regions studied, indicating that the characteristics of the sound had a role in mediating these effects.