bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thermal Properties of Hf‐Doped ZrB2 Ceramics
Authors: Lonergan Jason M. , McClane Devon L. , Fahrenholtz William G. , Hilmas Gregory E. 
Published: June 2015

The effect of Hf additions on the thermal properties of ZrB2 ceramics was studied. Reactive hot pressing of ZrH2, B, and HfB2 powders was used to synthesize (Zr1−x,Hfx)B2 ceramics with Hf contents ranging from x = 0.0001 (0.01 at.%) to 0.0033 (0.33 at.%). Room‐temperature heat capacity values decreased from 495 J·(kg·K)−1 for a Hf content of 0.01 at.% to 423 J·(kg·K)−1 for a Hf content of 0.28 at.%. Thermal conductivity values decreased from 141 to 100 W·(m·K)−1 as Hf content increased from 0.01 to 0.33 at.%. This study revealed, for the first time, that small Hf contents decreased the thermal conductivity of ZrB2 ceramics. Furthermore, the results indicated that reported thermal properties of ZrB2 ceramics are affected by the presence of impurities and do not represent intrinsic behavior.
Seed‐Free Solid‐State Growth of Large Lead‐Free Piezoelectric Single Crystals: (Na1/2K1/2)NbO3
Authors: Jiang Minhong , Randall Clive A. , Guo Hanzheng , Rao Guanghui , Tu Rong , Gu Zhengfei , Cheng Gang , Liu Xinyu , Zhang Jinwei , Li Yongxiang 
Published: June 2015

Large Na0.5K0.5NbO3 (NKN) piezoelectric single crystals were obtained by seed‐free solid‐state crystal growth method, which is a traditional sintering grain growth process, with LiBiO3 used as a sintering aid. The largest dimension of the single crystals obtained was 11 mm × 9 mm × 3 mm. In addition to the LiBiO3 doping content, temperature, and time effect of the crystal growth process was systematically investigated and considered from the kinetics point of view. With the assistance of Avrami analysis, parameters relevant to the crystal growth process were determined. Laue diffraction and transmission electron microscopy suggested an orthorhombic symmetry for the single crystalline structure. Dielectric‐frequency‐temperature measurements revealed an orthorhombic‐tetragonal and tetragonal‐cubic phase transition at 155°C and 405°C, respectively, both of which are typical of first‐order transitions, and have a well‐defined thermal hysteresis. Rayleigh analysis was performed regarding to the extrinsic reversible and nonreversible piezoelectric properties, and the result suggested a dominant intrinsic reversible piezoelectric contribution of 91.5% under E0 = 1 kV/cm AC amplitude. Such a single crystal growth process route is low cost and a relative simple preparation process.
‘I don't feel trapped anymore…I feel like a bird’: People with Learning Disabilities' Experience of Psychological Therapy
Authors: Lewis Nicola , Lewis Karin , Davies Bronwen 
Published: June 2015

BackgroundThere are very few studies that investigate the qualitative experiences of people with a learning disability who have engaged in psychological therapy. Indeed, having a learning disability has traditionally been an exclusion criterion for good quality research about psychological treatments (Psychotherapy and Learning Disability. Council Report CR116. London: Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2004; Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 19, 2005 and 5). The current research was developed in response to a clinical psychology service recognizing the need to evaluate their psychological service and, as part of this evaluation, the importance of consulting with service users about their experience of psychological therapies. The overall aim of gaining this feedback would be to improve the service offered and to ensure that people receive the best psychological care.MethodsSix service users with a learning disability were interviewed about their experience of individual psychological therapy. The interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.ResultsThemes were generated from the interviews which highlighted both positive and negative feedback on the psychological therapy process. The feedback covered areas such as access to therapy, feelings about therapy, preparing for therapy, skill development and collaborative working, accessibility and making therapy fun, challenges to confidentiality, positive feelings towards the therapist, aspects of the therapeutic relationship, therapy being challenging but helpful, and positive outcomes.ConclusionsThese results have contributed to the evidence base that people with a learning disability are able to meaningfully engage in research and provide essential feedback on the services that they receive. No longer can people be excluded from individual psychological therapy or research just because of their label.
The Effectiveness Dimension of the EU's Performance in International Institutions: Toward a More Comprehensive Assessment Framework
Authors: Oberthür Sebastian , Groen Lisanne 
Published: June 2015

AbstractIn this article, we develop a comprehensive framework for assessing the effectiveness dimension of the EU's performance in international institutions, consisting of three elements: (1) the quality of the EU's policy objectives; (2) EU engagement in the negotiations, including its fit with the international constellation of power and interests; and (3) goal achievement. We apply this assessment framework to two cases with two phases each: (1) the negotiations on the 2010 Nagoya Protocol on genetic resources to the Convention on Biological Diversity and (2) the negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change toward the 2009 Copenhagen and 2011 Durban climate summits. The analysis demonstrates that the assessment framework (1) facilitates a more complete and richer appreciation of EU effectiveness in international institutions than the established understanding of effectiveness as goal achievement and (2) allows us to start to systematically explore the interaction between the framework's three components.
Spontaneous seizures in Kcna1‐null mice lacking voltage‐gated Kv1.1 channels activate Fos expression in select limbic circuits
Authors: Gautier Nicole M. , Glasscock Edward 
Published: June 2015

AbstractMice lacking voltage‐gated Kv1.1 channels as a result of deletion of the Kcna1 gene are an extensively utilized genetic model of human epilepsy and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy because of their frequent seizures and genotypic–phenotypic similarity to the human condition. Ictal behaviors, electrophysiological recordings, and gene expression studies suggest limbic circuits are critical for epilepsy in Kcna1‐null mice, but the exact brain networks recruited by seizures remain unknown. In this study, Fos protein expression patterns were used to map limbic brain regions with increased neuronal activity at baseline and during spontaneous seizures in Kcna1‐null mice by comparing seizing and non‐seizing knockouts and wild‐type controls. Basal Fos levels were unchanged in non‐seizing knockout mice compared to wild types for all brain regions examined except the dentate gyrus granule cell layer which exhibited a significant decrease in Fos‐positive cells. Following seizures, Kcna1‐null brains exhibited significantly increased Fos labeling in the basolateral amygdala and the dentate hilus region, but not in other principal cell layers of the hippocampal formation. The selective Fos activation in the amygdala following seizures suggests that extra hippocampal limbic circuits may be critically involved with seizure generation or spread in Kcna1‐null mice.
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Fos protein expression patterns were analyzed using immunohistochemistry to provide the first map of brain regions recruited by spontaneous seizures in mice lacking Kv1.1 channels, an extensively used genetic model of epilepsy. Seizures significantly increased Fos expression in the amygdala and hilus by about fourfold, suggesting an important contribution by extrahippocampal networks to epilepsy in this model.
Severe childhood Guillain‐Barré syndrome associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection: a case series
Authors: Meyer Sauteur Patrick M. , Roodbol Joyce , Hackenberg Annette , de Wit Marie‐Claire Y. , Vink Cornelis , Berger Christoph , Jacobs Enno , van Rossum Annemarie M. C. , Jacobs Bart C. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractWe report seven children with recent Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and severe Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS) that presented to two European medical centres from 1992 to 2012. Severe GBS was defined as the occurrence of respiratory failure, central nervous system (CNS) involvement, or death. Five children had GBS, one Bickerstaff brain stem encephalitis (BBE), and one acute‐onset chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (A‐CIDP). The five patients with severe GBS were derived from an original cohort of 66 children with GBS. In this cohort, 17 children (26%) had a severe form of GBS and 47% of patients with M. pneumoniae infection presented with severe GBS. Of the seven patients in this case series, five were mechanically ventilated and four had CNS involvement (two were comatose). Most patients presented with non‐specific clinical symptoms (nuchal rigidity and ataxia) and showed a rapidly progressive disease course (71%). Antibodies against M. pneumoniae were detected in all patients and were found to be intrathecally synthesised in two cases (GBS and BBE), which proves intrathecal infection. One patient died and only two patients recovered completely. These cases illustrate that M. pneumoniae infection in children can be followed by severe and complicated forms of GBS. Non‐specific clinical features of GBS in such patients may predispose a potentially life‐threatening delay in diagnosis.
Rasch‐ionale for neurologists
Authors: Vanhoutte Els K. , Hermans Mieke C. E. , Faber Catharina G. , Gorson Kenneth C. , Merkies Ingemar S. J. , Thonnard Jean‐L. ,   on behalf of the PeriNomS Study Group
Published: June 2015

AbstractOutcome measures are considered the most important tools to monitor patients' outcome in both clinical and research settings. Measuring the clinical state of patients is a fundamental part of our daily clinical practice and research that sometimes is taken for granted. In peripheral neuropathies, there are many scales available, but most of these are at the ordinal level. This paper will systematically address the types of scales available (being nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio data‐based) in terms of their strengths and weaknesses. The differences between classical test theory‐based and modern test method‐based outcome measures will be addressed with emphasis on Rasch methodology. Various steps will be highlighted as part of the evaluation and construction of outcome measures using the Rasch method, with the aim to increase the knowledge and utility of this technique. We argue that Rasch‐built outcome measures should be used for future studies in neuromuscular disorders and their method of construction could be easily extrapolated to other neurological illnesses.
Grip strength comparison in immune‐mediated neuropathies: Vigorimeter vs. Jamar
Authors: Draak Thomas H. P. , Pruppers Mariëlle H. J. , van Nes Sonja I. , Vanhoutte Els K. , Bakkers Mayienne , Gorson Kenneth C. , Van der Pol W.‐Ludo , Lewis Richard. A. , Notermans Nicolette C. , Nobile‐Orazio Eduardo , Léger Jean‐Marc , Van den Bergh Peter Y. K. , Lauria Giuseppe , Bril Vera , Katzberg Hans , Lunn Michael P. T. , Pouget Jean , van der Kooi Anneke J. , van den Berg Leonard H. , van Doorn Pieter A. , Cornblath David R. , Hahn Angelika F. , Faber Catharina G. , Merkies Ingemar S. J. ,   on behalf of the PeriNomS study group
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe Jamar dynamometer and Vigorimeter have been used to assess grip strength in immune‐mediated neuropathies, but have never been compared to each other. Therefore, we performed a comparison study between these two devices in patients with immune‐mediated neuropathies. Grip strength data were collected in 102 cross‐sectional stable and 163 longitudinal (new diagnoses or changing condition) patients with Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), gammopathy‐related polyneuropathy (MGUSP), and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN). Stable patients were assessed twice (validity/reliability studies). Longitudinal patients were assessed 3‐5 times during 1 year. Responsiveness comparison between the two tools was examined using combined anchor‐/distribution‐based minimum clinically important difference (MCID) techniques. Patients were asked to indicate their preference for the Jamar or Vigorimeter. Both tools correlated highly with each other (ρ = 0.86, p < 0.0001) and showed good intra‐class correlation coefficients (Jamar [Right/Left hands]: ICC 0.997/0.96; Vigori: ICC 0.95/0.98). Meaningful changes were comparable between the two instruments, being higher in GBS compared to CIDP patients. In MGUSP/MMN poor responsiveness was seen. Significant more patients preferred the Vigorimeter. In conclusion, validity, reliability, and responsiveness aspects were comparable between the Jamar dynamometer and Vigorimeter. However, based on patients' preference, the Vigorimeter is recommended in future studies in immune‐mediated neuropathies.
Pregnancy outcome in women with gestational diabetes mellitus according to the Carpenter–Coustan criteria in Thailand
Authors: Luengmettakul Jiraporn , Sunsaneevithayakul Prasert , Talungchit Pattarawalai 
Published: June 2015

AbstractAimTo compare the pregnancy outcome of patients diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) using the Carpenter–Coustan (CC) criteria with that of non‐GDM pregnant women at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok.MethodsA retrospective study was carried out by reviewing medical records of pregnant women who underwent 100‐g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for diagnosing GDM between January 2009 and December 2012 at Siriraj Hospital. Pregnant women were divided into three groups according to the 100‐g OGTT result: group 1, pregnant women with normal OGTT on both CC and National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG) criteria; group 2, pregnant women with normal OGTT on NDDG criteria but GDM on CC criteria; and group 3, pregnant women with GDM on CC criteria after December 2012 and enrolled in glycemic control program. Maternal and perinatal outcomes were compared between the groups.ResultsDuring the study period, the incidence of GDM increased 32.76% using the CC criteria. These women (group 2) had a higher risk of neonatal hypoglycemia (6.7% vs 0.6%; OR, 12.3; P < 0.0001), neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (13.7% vs 7.8%; OR, 1.9; P = 0.013) compared with group 1. Pregnant women in group 3 had a lower incidence of immediate post‐partum hemorrhage from vaginal delivery than group 2 (0 vs 2.9%; P = 0.04) as well as lower rates of neonatal hypoglycemia and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.ConclusionUse of CC criteria increases the prevalence of GDM, but managing these women according to the program for GDM can improve the adverse neonatal outcome.
Randomized controlled trial of enoxaparin versus intermittent pneumatic compression for venous thromboembolism prevention in Japanese surgical patients with gynecologic malignancy
Authors: Nagata Chie , Tanabe Hiroshi , Takakura Satoshi , Narui Chikage , Saito Motoaki , Yanaihara Nozomu , Okamoto Aikou 
Published: June 2015

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of enoxaparin and intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention in Japanese surgical patients with gynecologic malignancy.Material and MethodsPatients ≥40 years old undergoing major surgery for gynecologic malignancy without preoperative VTE were included. Written informed consent was obtained. Enrolled patients received IPC immediately before surgery. After surgery, they were randomly assigned to either an enoxaparin group or an IPC‐alone group. The enoxaparin group received enoxaparin injection (20 mg, subcutaneous, every 12 h) from postoperative day 2 to 8. IPC was discontinued after the first injection. In the IPC‐alone group, IPC was continued until full ambulation. The primary end‐point was incidence of VTE, including pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis, regardless of symptoms. An interim analysis was to be conducted when the first 30 patients had completed the study protocol. A Data and Safety Monitoring Board was established for making recommendation on the continuation or termination of the study based on the interim results.ResultsAt the time of the interim analysis, six cases of VTE were found: five in the IPC‐alone group and one in the enoxaparin group (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.08). Three patients in the IPC‐alone group developed pulmonary embolism, but none in the enoxaparin group did so (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.10). The study was terminated following the Data and Safety Monitoring Board's recommendation.ConclusionEnoxaparin might have lowered the risk of VTE among surgical patients with gynecologic malignancy. Further studies are necessary to confirm this.
Inhibition of inflammation may enhance nitric oxide availability in patients undergoing bariatric surgery for weight loss
Authors: Blum A. , Ginat‐Maimon L. , Yehuda H. , Geron N. , Ben Ami M. , Tamir S. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBackgroundWeight loss surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity. The mechanisms underlying the beneficial cardiovascular effects are poorly understood, although inhibition of inflammatory markers has been demonstrated. We hypothesized that anti‐inflammatory and antioxidative stress reactions are responsible for the beneficial effects of bariatric surgery that have been shown in clinical trials.MethodsThe inflammatory system was studied by measuring mRNA levels of E‐selectin, tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and in a cell line (HUVEC‐CS) of human umbilical vein endothelial cells that were incubated for 4 h with pools of serum, collected before and 3 months after surgery, from 20 women who underwent bariatric surgery for weight loss. The oxidative stress pathway was examined by mRNA expression of NADPH oxidase (P22phox), paraoxonase (PON2), superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase following incubation of the cells for 4 h with serum pools. The nitric oxide (NO) pathway was studied by measuring mRNA levels of inducible NOS and endothelial NOS and by determining nitrite and nitrate levels. To study the functional behaviour of endothelial cells under stress, primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (PECs) were incubated with the serum pools for 48 h, with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for the last 4 h.ResultsThe inflammatory system: incubation of HUVEC‐CS cells with serum from women who underwent bariatric surgery led to a significant decrease in mRNA expression of E‐selectin and IL‐6 postsurgery. Stimulation of PECs with LPS in the presence of serum from women who underwent bariatric surgery caused a more significant difference in E‐selectin and TNF‐α mRNA expression before and after surgery. The antioxidant system: incubation of HUVEC‐CS cells with serum from women who underwent bariatric surgery did not lead to any difference in mRNA expression of P22phox, PON2, SOD2, GPx or catalase. Stimulation of PECs with LPS showed that obese women had higher levels of P22phox, PON2 and the antioxidant enzymes SOD2, GPx and catalase before and after surgery, compared to the control group. The NO pathway: HUVEC‐CS cells incubated with serum from women who underwent bariatric surgery secreted higher nitrite/nitrate levels compared to presurgery serum (P = 0.04).ConclusionsInhibition of inflammation and enhanced availability of NO 3 months after bariatric surgery could partly explain the beneficial effects of surgery for weight loss.
Unveiling the mechanism of melatonin impacts on maize seedling growth: sugar metabolism as a case
Authors: Zhao Hongbo , Su Tao , Huo Liuqing , Wei Hongbin , Jiang Yang , Xu Lingfei , Ma Fengwang 
Published: June 2015

AbstractMelatonin regulates growth in many plants; however, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, exogenous melatonin feeding resulted in both promotional (≤10 μm) and inhibitory (≥100 μm) effects on maize seedling growth. Initial analyses suggested positive correlations between the amount of melatonin and sucrose synthesis and hydrolysis‐related gene expression, enzyme activities, and sucrose metabolites. However, assays of photosynthetic rate, hexokinase (HxK) activity, expression of photosynthetic marker genes, and HxK‐related genes showed opposite effects under 10 μm (positive) and 100 μm (negative) melatonin treatments. Similarly, 10 μm melatonin accelerated starch catabolism at night, whereas 100 μm melatonin significantly decreased this process and led to starch accumulation in photosynthetic tissues. Furthermore, expression analysis of genes related to sucrose phloem loading resulted in a slight upregulation of sucrose transporters (SUT1 and SUT2) when seedlings were induced with 10 μm melatonin, while treatment with 100 μm melatonin resulted in significant downregulation of these sucrose transporter genes (SUT1 and SUT2), as well as tie‐dyed2 (Tdy2) and sucrose export defective 1. Taken together, these results suggest that low doses of melatonin benefit maize seedling growth by promoting sugar metabolism, photosynthesis, and sucrose phloem loading. Conversely, high doses of melatonin inhibit seedling growth by inducing the excessive accumulation of sucrose, hexose and starch, suppressing photosynthesis and sucrose phloem loading.
Mothers' appreciation of chromosomal microarray analysis for autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Giarelli Ellen , Reiff Marian 
Published: June 2015

AbstractPurposeThe aim of this study was to examine mothers' experiences with chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) for a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Design and MethodsThis is a descriptive qualitative study using thematic content analysis of in‐depth interview with 48 mothers of children who had genetic testing for ASD.ResultsThe principal theme, “something is missing,” included missing knowledge about genetics, information on use of the results, explanations of the relevance to the diagnosis, and relevance to life‐long care. Two subordinate themes were (a) disappreciation of the helpfulness of scientific information to explain the diagnosis, and (b) returning to personal experience for interpretation.Practice ImplicationsThe test “appreciated” in value when results could be linked to the phenotype.