bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cystic Lesions as a Rare Complication of Deep Brain Stimulation
Authors: Sharma Vibhash D. , Bona Alberto R. , Mantovani Alessandra , Miocinovic Svjetlana , Khemani Pravin , Goldberg Mark P. , Foote Kelly D. , Whitworth Louis A. , Chitnis Shilpa , Okun Michael S. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractDBS is a typically well‐tolerated operation for treatment of Parkinson's disease, dystonia, and essential tremor (ET). Complications related to the surgical procedure and implanted hardware may occur. More commonly reported complications include hemorrhage, seizure, confusion, and infection. In this article, we report on a rare, but important, complication of DBS surgery, a brain cyst formation at the tip of the implanted ventralis intermedius nucleus (VIM) DBS lead in 2 patients who underwent the procedure at 2 different centers. The indication for surgery was debilitating ET, and in both cases, there was development of a delayed‐onset neurological deficit associated with an internal capsule/thalamic cystic lesion formation located at the tip of the DBS lead. Case 1 presented within a few months post‐DBS, whereas case 2 had a 10‐mo delay to onset of symptoms. No clinical and radiological signs of infection were observed and both DBS systems were explanted with uneventful recovery.
The Verbal Fluency Decline After Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease: Is There an Influence of Age?
Authors: Cozac Vitalii V. , Schwarz Nadine , Bousleiman Habib , Chaturvedi Menorca , Ehrensperger Michael M. , Gschwandtner Ute , Hatz Florian , Meyer Antonia , Monsch Andreas U. , Taub Ethan , Fuhr Peter 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBackgroundDBS is commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease (PD). DBS is not considered to cause major cognitive side effects, but some research groups have reported that it can cause decreased verbal fluency. The influence of age on DBS cognitive outcome is unclear. We investigated the possible influence of patients' age, level of education, disease duration, disease progression, depression, and levodopa equivalent dose (LED) on verbal fluency performance in patients with PD who underwent DBS of the subthalamic nucleus (STN‐DBS). In this article, we investigated the influence of demographic and clinical parameters, especially age, on cognitive performance post‐DBS in PD patients.MethodsForty‐three patients with PD and without major psychiatric illness (according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disroders, Fourth Edition) were enrolled in the study. Median age was 64.0 years (range, 46–77). In 21 patients, the indication for DBS was established on clinical grounds in keeping with international guidelines; these patients underwent STN‐DBS, and the remaining 22 did not. Cognitive performance in both groups was assessed by standard neuropsychological test batteries at baseline and after median follow‐up of 7 months.ResultsA statistically significant decline in the semantic category of verbal fluency task was found in the STN‐DBS group (P < 0.01). Linear regression model revealed an influence of age (P < 0.01) and disease duration (P < 0.01) in relation to this decline.ConclusionsThis study confirms previous findings that verbal fluency declines after STN‐DBS in PD patients in comparison to PD patients without DBS. This decline is related to age and disease duration.
In Silico Investigation of the Neurotensin Receptor 1 Binding Site: Overlapping Binding Modes for Small Molecule Antagonists and the Endogenous Peptide Agonist
Authors: Lückmann Michael , Holst Birgitte , Schwartz Thue W. , Frimurer Thomas M. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThe neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) belongs to the family of 7TM, G protein‐coupled receptors, and is activated by the 13‐amino‐acid peptide neurotensin (NTS) that has been shown to play important roles in neurological disorders and the promotion of cancer cells. Recently, a high‐resolution x‐ray crystal structure of NTSR1 in complex with NTS8–13 has been determined, providing novel insights into peptide ligand recognition by 7TM receptors. SR48692, a potent and selective small molecule antagonist has previously been used extensively as a tool compound to study NTSR1 receptor signaling properties. To investigate the binding mode of SR48692 and other small molecule compounds to NTSR1, we applied an Automated Ligand‐guided Backbone Ensemble Receptor Optimization protocol (ALiBERO), taking receptor flexibility and ligand knowledge into account. Structurally overlapping binding poses for SR48692 and NTS8–13 were observed, despite their distinct chemical nature and inverse pharmacological profiles. The optimized models showed significantly improved ligand recognition in a large‐scale virtual screening assessment compared to the crystal structure. Our models provide new insights into small molecule ligand binding to NTSR1 and could facilitate the structure‐based design of non‐peptide ligands for the evaluation of the pharmacological potential of NTSR1 in neurological disorders and cancer.
Access to Cytotoxic Medicines by Children With Cancer: A Focus on Low and Middle Income Countries
Authors: Barr Ronald , Robertson Jane 
Published: September 2015

BackgroundThe Essential Medicines Working Group of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) has proposed a list of antineoplastic drugs that should be available in low and middle income countries.ProcedureData were extracted on the listing of 18 essential and 8 ancillary antineoplastic medicines in the national essential medicines lists (NEMLs) or national reimbursable medicines lists (NRMLs) of 135 countries with gross national income (GNI) per capita of less than US $25,000. Correlations between numbers of medicines listed and GNI per capita, annual government health expenditure (AGHE) per capita, and the number of physicians per million people were examined.ResultsListing of the 18 essential antineoplastic drugs ranged from 27% (thioguanine) to 95% (methotrexate). The median number of medicines listed was 7 (0–18) in low income countries (n = 26) and 14 in lower‐middle (n = 42), upper‐middle (n = 44), and high income countries (n = 20). For the ancillary eight medicines, the median was one (0–8) across the 135 countries. Correlations with GNI per capita (r = 0.17, P = 0.0266) and physician density (r = 0.25, P = 0.0017) were statistically significant; not so for AGHE per capita (r = 0.00, P = 0.5000).ConclusionsThere was large variability within income groups in numbers of antineoplastic agents identified as essential in NEMLs and NRMLs. While not a direct measure of availability, listing is an important step, guiding procurement for the public sector. These results focus attention on deficits in NEMLs and NMRLs as a step to improving access to effective antineoplastic medicines for cancers in children in low and middle income countries. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Activity and Toxicity of Intravenous Erwinia Asparaginase Following Allergy to E. coli‐Derived Asparaginase in Children and Adolescents With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Vrooman Lynda M. , Kirov Ivan I. , Dreyer ZoAnn E. , Kelly Michael , Hijiya Nobuko , Brown Patrick , Drachtman Richard A. , Messinger Yoav H. , Ritchey A. Kim , Hale Gregory A. , Maloney Kelly , Lu Yuan , Plourde Paul V. , Silverman Lewis B. 
Published: September 2015

BackgroundErwinia asparaginase is antigenically distinct from E.coli‐derived asparaginase and may be used after E.coli‐derived asparaginase hypersensitivity. In a single‐arm, multicenter study, we evaluated nadir serum asparaginase activity (NSAA) and toxicity with intravenously administered asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi (IV‐Erwinia) in children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or lymphoblastic lymphoma with hypersensitivity to E.coli‐derived asparaginase.Patients and MethodsBetween 2012 and 2013, 30 patients (age 1–17 years) enrolled from 10 centers. Patients received IV‐Erwinia, 25,000 IU/m2/dose on Monday/Wednesday/Friday, for 2 consecutive‐weeks (6 doses = 1 cycle) for each dose of pegaspargase remaining in the original treatment plan. The primary objective was to determine the proportion of patients achieving NSAA ≥0.1 IU/ml 48 hr after dose 5 in Cycle 1. Secondary objectives included determining the proportion achieving NSAA ≥0.1 IU/ml 72 hr after Cycle 1 dose 6, and the frequency of asparaginase‐related toxicities.ResultsTwenty‐six patients completed Cycle 1; 24 were evaluable for NSAA assessment. In Cycle 1, NSAA ≥0.10 IU/ml was detected in 83% of patients (95% confidence interval [CI], 63–95%) 48 hr post‐dose 5 (mean ± SD; 0.32 IU/ml ± 0.23), and in 43% (95% CI, 22–66%) 72 hr post‐dose 6 (mean ± SD; 0.089 IU/ml ± 0.072). For all 30 patients over all cycles, hypersensitivity/infusional reactions with IV‐Erwinia occurred in 37%, pancreatitis 7%, and thrombosis 3%.ConclusionsIV‐Erwinia administration in children/adolescents appeared feasible and tolerable. A therapeutically‐effective NSAA (≥0.10 IU/ml) was achieved in most patients at 48 hr, but in fewer than half 72 hr post‐dosing, suggesting that monitoring NSAA levels and/or every 48 hr dosing may be indicated. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fertility After Treatment With High Dose Melphalan in Women With Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
Authors: Even‐Or Ehud , Ben‐Haroush Avi , Yahel Anat , Yaniv Isaac , Stein Jerry 
Published: September 2015

BackgroundHigh‐dose melphalan (HDM) is an integral component of conditioning regimens for autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for patients with malignant and non‐malignant diseases. The gonadotoxic effects of HDM are often obscured by previous or concurrent administration of alkylating agents. From April 1996 to January 2006 our acute myeloid leukemia treatment regimen included induction and consolidation therapy with cytosine arabinoside, anthracyclines and etoposide, followed by HDM and autologous stem cell infusion. We explored gonadal function in surviving female patients so treated, who represent a unique group of patients exposed to HDM as a single gonadotoxic agent.ProcedureThe fertility assessment included a questionnaire, blood tests for luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and anti mullerian hormone (AMH), and a gynecological ultrasound exam for antral follicular count (AFC).ResultsEight female survivors participated. Although fertility assessment showed considerable damage to ovarian reserve in all participants, four of the eight female survivors conceived and bore children without medical intervention.ConclusionIn this cohort, HDM treatment reduced fertility potential but did not preclude fecundity. Early referral to a fertility clinic and long term follow‐up including serial measurements of AMH levels and AFC for female patients receiving HDM are recommended. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Macroscopic alignment of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) for enhanced long‐range collection of photogenerated carriers
Authors: Li Anton , Bilby David , Dong Ban Xuan , Amonoo Jojo , Kim Jinsang , Green Peter F. 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACTAn epitaxy‐directing solvent additive 1,3,5‐trichlorobenzene is combined with an off‐center spin‐casting technique to produce poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) fibers with uniaxial in‐plane alignment on the centimeter scale. Photoconductive atomic force microscopy (pc‐AFM) is used to characterize planar heterojunction devices assembled from phenyl‐C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) acceptor and both aligned and unaligned P3HT donor. By varying the relative positions of the laser spot (site of carrier generation) and probe (site of hole extraction), it is found that devices with aligned P3HT exhibit anisotropic and greatly enhanced long‐range photocarrier transport, with nearly 10% of original photocurrent measured 400 µm from the laser spot along the direction parallel to the alignment. Complementary thin film transistor (TFT) measurements reveal a factor of ∼3.5 difference in the hole mobilities parallel and perpendicular to the direction of alignment. Together, these findings highlight the importance of macroscopic alignment as a strategy to overcome the low mobilities of disordered polymer semiconductors.1 © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 180–188
Dependence on material choice of degradation of organic solar cells following exposure to humid air
Authors: Glen Tom S. , Scarratt Nicholas W. , Yi Hunan , Iraqi Ahmed , Wang Tao , Kingsley James , Buckley Alastair R. , Lidzey David G. , Donald Athene M. 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACTElectron microscopy has been used to study the degradation of organic solar cells when exposed to humid air. Devices with various different combinations of commonly used organic solar cell hole transport layers and cathode materials have been investigated. In this way the ingress of water and the effect it has on devices could be studied. It was found that calcium and aluminum in the cathode both react with water, causing voids and delamination within the device. The use of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) was found to increase the degradation by easing water ingress into the device. Replacing these materials removed these degradation features. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 216–224
Desire for hastened death: how do professionals in specialized palliative care react?
Authors: Galushko M. , Frerich G. , Perrar K. M. , Golla H. , Radbruch L. , Nauck F. , Ostgathe C. , Voltz R. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractObjectiveDesires for hastened death (DHD; wish to hasten death is also in use) are prevalent in terminally ill patients. Studies show that health professionals (HP) are often underprepared when presented with DHD. HPs in specialized palliative care (SPC‐HP) often encounter DHD. This study aimed to identify SPC‐HP responses to DHD in daily practice and their corresponding functions.MethodsNarrative interviews were conducted with 19 SPC‐HPs at four German University Hospitals. Transcripts were analyzed using the documentary method. An inventory of established responses to DHD was compiled, and their corresponding functions in the context of the patient–SPC‐HP interaction were reconstructed.ResultsTwelve response categories and six corresponding functions were identified. On the patient level, responses categorized as symptom control, exploring the reasons and generating perspective, reorientation, and hope were particularly used to ease the patient's burden. On the interaction level, creating a relationship was fundamental. On the SPC‐HP level, various methods served the functions self‐protection and showed professional expertise.ConclusionsProfound personal and professional development is necessary to respond to the inherent challenges presented by DHD. Establishing helpful relationships with patients is essential regardless of SPC‐HP specialization. SPC‐HPs should maximize their skills in establishing and maintaining relationships as well as strengthening their own resilience, possibly in specific training courses. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Body Posture After Mastectomy: Comparison Between Immediate Breast Reconstruction Versus Mastectomy Alone
Authors: Atanes Mendes Peres Ana Carolina , Dias de Oliveira Latorre Maria do Rosário , Yugo Maesaka Jonathan , Filassi José Roberto , Chada Baracat Edmund , Alves Gonçalves Ferreira Elizabeth 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBackgroundImmediate breast reconstruction has been increasingly incorporated as part of breast cancer treatment, especially for the psychological benefits. Currently, there are many options for breast reconstruction surgery, but the impact of the different techniques on body posture has not been widely studied. One study demonstrated that immediate breast reconstruction with a Beker‐25 prosthesis could help to preserve body posture after mastectomy; however, there is no evidence regarding the effect of surgery on the body posture of women after breast reconstruction when using autologous tissue.PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare the body postures of women who underwent immediate breast reconstruction using an abdominal flap with those of women who underwent mastectomy alone.DesignThis is a cross‐sectional study.SubjectsSeventy‐six women diagnosed with breast cancer underwent mastectomy, between 1 and 5 years after the diagnosis, are the participants of the study. Two groups were defined: women who underwent mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction (n = 38) and women who underwent mastectomy alone (n = 38).ProcedureTo assess body posture, specific anatomical points for obtaining photographs were located and marked in anterior, posterior and right‐side and left‐side views. The photographs were analysed using Postural Analysis Software/Software de Análise Postural (PAS/SAPO).ResultsIn the left lateral view, there was a significant difference in the vertical alignment of the trunk (4.2 vs 3.1; p = 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups for the variables in the anterior, posterior or right‐side views.ConclusionWomen who underwent mastectomy alone, compared with women who underwent immediate breast reconstruction with abdominal flaps, showed differences in the vertical alignment of the trunk, with greater asymmetry between the acromion and greater trochanter, which can mean trunk rotation. No significant differences were found between the two groups in the alignment of the head, shoulders, scapula, or pelvis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Private diaries as information sources in climate research
Authors: Adamson George C. D. 
Published: September 2015

Private diaries constitute a unique set of materials within climate change research in that they provide information both on past climate variability and on the ways that people live within, and interact with, climate. The fact that the observations within diaries are affected as much by personal experience as by physical conditions can render the derivation of robust climatic data problematic, and a number of techniques have been developed to generate quantitative or semiquantitative information from them. These include frequency counts of binary meteorological phenomena such as days with/without precipitation, content analysis techniques, proxies such as grain harvest dates, and statistical techniques that assume of some degree of continuity between the reconstruction period and the present day. The latter approaches can provide the most robust data, but can preclude direct comparison between past and present climates. Some studies attempt to increase reliability through comparison with other contemporaneous reconstructions, but this can create a potential for circular reasoning. As ethnographies, the methodological issues are less challenging. Most were highly personal documents and not intended for publication; diaries can therefore represent ‘pure’ ethnographies, representing an unbiased account of individuals’ interactions with the ‘weather world’ and, in some cases, the ways that weather informed the character they presented to the world. Diaries can therefore exemplify individuals’ highly personal engagement with weather and climate, reflective of a myriad of a number of social, cultural, political, and scientific narratives. Their use in climate research can therefore provide important contributions to current debates. WIREs Clim Change 2015, 6:599–611. doi: 10.1002/wcc.365This article is categorized under:

Climate, History, Society, Culture > Ideas and Knowledge
Paleoclimates and Current Trends > Modern Climate Change
A selective decision–fusion rule for cooperative spectrum sensing using energy detection
Authors: Alkheir Ala Abu , Ibnkahla Mohamed 
Published: September 2015

AbstractIncreasing the number of terminals in a cognitive radio network is known to improve the accuracy of cooperative spectrum sensing at the cost of reducing the useful communication time. This downside can be partially mitigated using decision‐based fusion and/or sequential reporting. This paper proposes a novel selective decision‐based cooperative spectrum sensing strategy that limits the reporting time to a single reporting slot with a possibility for retransmissions using automatic repeat request. The terminal with the highest energy estimate sends its local decision to the fusion center to make a final decision. Potential decoding errors are mitigated using threshold‐based automatic repeat request. The performance of the proposed strategy is studied using rigorous mathematical analysis and intensive computer simulations. Results show observable performance enhancements compared with some benchmark strategies in terms of detection accuracy and agility. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multiband Transport in CoSb3 Prepared by Rapid Solidification
Authors: Ikeda Matthias , Tomeš Petr , Prochaska Lukas , Eilertsen James , Populoh Sascha , Löffler Stefan , Svagera Robert , Waas Monika , Sassik Herbert , Weidenkaff Anke , Paschen Silke 
Published: September 2015

AbstractNano‐grained CoSb3 was prepared by melt‐spinning and subsequent spark plasma sintering. The phonon thermal conductivity of skutterudites is known to be sensitive to the kind and the amount of guest atoms. Thus, unfilled CoSb3 can serve as model compound to study the impact of a nanostructure on the thermoelectric properties, especially the phonon thermal conductivity. Therefore, a series of materials was prepared differing only by the cooling speed during the quenching procedure. In contrast to clathrates, the microstructure of meltspun CoSb3 was found to be sensitive to the cooling speed. Although the phonon thermal conductivity, studied by means of Flash and 3ω measurements, was found to be correlated with the grain size, the bulk density of the sintered materials had an even stronger impact. Interestingly, the reduced bulk density did not result in an increased electrical resistivity. The influence of Sb and CoSb2 as foreign phase on the electronic properties of CoSb3 was revealed by a multi‐band Hall effect analysis. While CoSb2 increases the charge carrier density, the influence of the highly mobile charge carriers introduced by elemental Sb on the thermoelectric properties of the composite offer an interesting perspective for the preparation of efficient thermoelectric composite materials.
Syntheses, Crystal Structures, Thermal and Photoluminescent Properties of Four Coordination Complexes with a Hetero­cyclic Thioether Carboxylate Ligand
Authors: Li Jing‐Juan , Wei Lu‐Lu , Han Zhen , Xu Li , Li Lin‐Ke 
Published: September 2015

AbstractA series of transition metal coordination complexes, {[Cu(3‐Sptta)2]·1/2H2O}n (1), {[Cd(3‐Sptta)2]·1/2H2O}n (2), [Zn(3‐Sptta)2(H2O)4] (3), and [Co(3‐Sptta)2(H2O)4] (4) were synthesized under solvothermal and solvent evaporation conditions using the newly designed heterocyclic N/NS carboxylate ligand [2‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole‐5‐]‐thio‐acetate (3‐Sptta) as a main building block. Their structures were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses and further characterized by elemental analyses and IR spectroscopy. The four complexes exhibit structural diversity: complexes 1 and 2 exhibit similar 2D “wave‐like” double‐layer framework with two shares of mutually parallel left‐handed and right‐handed helical chains, whereas 3 and 4 present mononuclear structures. Moreover, the thermal stabilities of complexes 1–4 were investigated. The luminescent properties of complexes 2, 3 and the free ligand were also studied.