bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Results of the citalopram to enhance cognition in Huntington disease trial
Authors: Beglinger Leigh J. , Adams William H. , Langbehn Douglas , Fiedorowicz Jess G. , Jorge Ricardo , Biglan Kevin , Caviness John , Olson Blair , Robinson Robert G. , Kieburtz Karl , Paulsen Jane S. 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe objective of this study was to evaluate citalopram for executive functioning in Huntington's disease (HD).MethodsThe study was randomized, double‐blind, and placebo‐controlled. Thirty‐three adults with HD, cognitive complaints, and no depression (Hamilton Depression [HAM‐D] rating scale ≤12) were administered citalopram 20 mg or placebo (7 visits, 20 weeks), with practice and placebo run‐ins. The primary outcome was change in executive functioning.ResultsThe intent to treat analysis was controlled for practice effects, comparing visits 1 and 2 to visits 5 and 6 for citalopram versus placebo. There were no significant benefits on the executive function composite (treatment‐placebo mean difference −0.167; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.361 to 0.028; P = .092). Citalopram participants showed improved clinician‐rated depression symptoms on the HAM‐D (t = −2.02; P = 0.05). There were no group differences on motor ratings, self‐reported executive functions, psychiatric symptoms, or functional status.ConclusionsThere was no evidence that short‐term treatment with citalopram improved executive functions in HD. Despite excluding patients with active depression, participants on citalopram showed improved mood, raising the possibility of efficacy for subsyndromal depression in HD. © 2013 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
DNA methylation of the MAPT gene in Parkinson's disease cohorts and modulation by vitamin E In Vitro
Authors: Coupland Kirsten G. , Mellick George D. , Silburn Peter A. , Mather Karen , Armstrong Nicola J. , Sachdev Perminder S. , Brodaty Henry , Huang Yue , Halliday Glenda M. , Hallupp Marianne , Kim Woojin S. , Dobson‐Stone Carol , Kwok John B.J. 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTParkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder for which environmental factors influence disease risk and may act via an epigenetic mechanism. The microtubule‐associated protein tau (MAPT) is a susceptibility gene for idiopathic PD. Methylation levels were determined by pyrosequencing of bisulfite‐treated DNA in a leukocyte cohort (358 PD patients and 1084 controls) and in two brain cohorts (Brain1, comprising 69 cerebellum controls; and Brain2, comprising 3 brain regions from 28 PD patients and 12 controls). In vitro assays involved the transfection of methylated promoter‐luciferase constructs or treatment with an exogenous micronutrient. In normal leukocytes, the MAPT H1/H2 diplotype and sex were predictors of MAPT methylation. Haplotype‐specific pyrosequencing confirmed that the H1 haplotype had higher methylation than the H2 haplotype in normal leukocytes and brain tissues. MAPT methylation was negatively associated with MAPT expression in the Brain1 cohort and in transfected cells. Methylation levels differed between three normal brain regions (Brain2 cohort, putamen < cerebellum < anterior cingulate cortex). In PD samples, age at onset was positively associated with MAPT methylation in leukocytes. Moreover, there was hypermethylation in the cerebellum and hypomethylation in the putamen of PD patients compared with controls (Brain2 cohort). Finally, leukocyte methylation status was positively associated with blood vitamin E levels, and the effect was more significant in H2 haplotype carriers; this result was confirmed in cells that were exposed to 100 μM vitamin E. The significant effects of sex, diplotype, and brain region suggest that hypermethylation of the MAPT gene is neuroprotective by reducing MAPT expression. The effect of vitamin E on MAPT represents a possible gene‐environment interaction. © 2013 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Gait disorders in fatal familial insomnia
Authors: Cortelli Pietro , Fabbri Margherita , Calandra‐Buonaura Giovanna , Capellari Sabina , Tinuper Paolo , Parchi Piero , Lugaresi Elio 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTBackgroundFatal familial insomnia (FFI) is a hereditary autosomal‐dominant prion disease linked to a mutation of the prion protein gene and characterized by sleep and autonomic abnormalities at onset followed by motor disturbances. We describe gait abnormalities in 13 FFI cases with different disease durations.MethodsClinical records and corresponding videos of 13 FFI cases were regularly monitored from disease onset to death.ResultsGait disturbances appeared in all FFI subjects 5 ± 2 months after disease onset following a distinct progression for the 2 genetic FFI variants. Homozygous patients developed only a cautious gait with some difficulties in turning and in tandem gait; heterozygous patients showed a clear progressive worsening of equilibrium with latero/retropulsion ultimately preventing standing and walking unaided.ConclusionsThe severity and features of gait dysfunction in FFI are related to the duration of the disease, which in turn is a result of the genotype. The evolving gait dysfunction in the disease course may mirror the spread of neuronal degeneration from the thalamus to other brain areas involved in the control of gait or may be the functional effect of a disturbed neuronal network in which the thalamus is a crucial relay. © 2013 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Spectral analysis and stability of thermoelastic Bresse system with second sound and boundary viscoelastic damping
Authors: Han Zhong‐Jie , Xu Gen‐Qi 
Published: December 2013

AbstractIn this paper, we consider the energy decay rate of a thermoelastic Bresse system with variable coefficients. Assume that the thermo‐propagation in the system satisfies the Cattaneo's law, which can eliminate the paradox of infinite speed of thermal propagation in the assumption of the Fourier's law in the classical theory of thermoelasticity. Meanwhile, we also discuss the effect of a boundary viscoelastic damping on the stability of this system. By a detailed spectral analysis, we obtain the expressions of the spectrum and deduce some spectral properties of the system. Then based on the distribution of the spectrum, we prove that the energy of the system with a boundary viscoelastic damping decays exponentially. However, it no longer decays exponentially if there is no boundary damping. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Leveraging countermeasures as a service for VoIP security in the cloud
Authors: Dabbebi Oussema , Badonnel Remi , Festor Olivier 
Published: December 2013

SUMMARYThe emergence of cloud computing is contributing to the integration of multiple services, in particular VoIP services. While the cloud has recently been used for performing security attacks targeting IP telephony, it also provides new opportunities for supporting the security of this service. In that context, we propose a risk management strategy for VoIP cloud based on security countermeasures that may be outsourced as services. We present the architecture of our solution and its components in the context of services implementing the SIP protocol. We describe the mathematical modelling supporting our approach and detail different treatment strategies for the application of countermeasures. Finally, we quantify the benefits and limits of these strategies based on extensive simulation results. When a countermeasure fails, these strategies allow us to maintain the risk level low at an additional cost of up to 7%, or to accept an additional risk of up to 12%. They can also be combined to obtain a trade‐off between cost and performance. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High frequency of BRAFV600E mutations in ameloblastoma
Authors: Kurppa Kari J , Catón Javier , Morgan Peter R , Ristimäki Ari , Ruhin Blandine , Kellokoski Jari , Elenius Klaus , Heikinheimo Kristiina 
Published: December 2013

AbstractAmeloblastoma is a benign but locally infiltrative odontogenic neoplasm. Although ameloblastomas rarely metastasise, recurrences together with radical surgery often result in facial deformity and significant morbidity. Development of non‐invasive therapies has been precluded by a lack of understanding of the molecular background of ameloblastoma pathogenesis. When addressing the role of ERBB receptors as potential new targets for ameloblastoma, we discovered significant EGFR over‐expression in clinical samples using real‐time RT–PCR, but observed variable sensitivity of novel primary ameloblastoma cells to EGFR‐targeted drugs in vitro. In the quest for mutations downstream of EGFR that could explain this apparent discrepancy, Sanger sequencing revealed an oncogenic BRAF V600E mutation in the cell line resistant to EGFR inhibition. Further analysis of the clinical samples by Sanger sequencing and BRAF V600E‐specific immunohistochemistry demonstrated a high frequency of BRAF V600E mutations (15 of 24 samples, 63%). These data provide novel insight into the poorly understood molecular pathogenesis of ameloblastoma and offer a rationale to test drugs targeting EGFR or mutant BRAF as novel therapies for ameloblastoma. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. www.pathsoc.org.uk
The economic burden of caregiving on families of children and adolescents with cancer: A population‐based assessment
Authors: Pagano Eva , Baldi Ileana , Mosso Maria Luisa , di Montezemolo Luca Cordero , Fagioli Franca , Pastore Guido , Merletti Franco 
Published: December 2013

BackgroundChildhood cancer represents a relevant economic burden on families. The preferred tool to investigate family expenditure is the retrospective questionnaire, which is subject to recall errors and selection bias. Therefore, in the present study the economic burden of caregiving on families of children and adolescents (0–19 years of age) with cancer was analysed using administrative data as an alternative to retrospective questionnaires.ProcedureIncident cases of cancer diagnosed in children and adolescents in 2000–2005 (N = 917) were identified from the Piedmont Childhood Cancer Registry and linked to available administrative databases to identify episodes of care during the 3 years after diagnosis (N = 13,433). The opportunity cost of informal caregiving was estimated as the value of the time spent by one of the parents, and was assumed to be equal to the number of days during which the child received inpatient care, day‐care or outpatient radiotherapy. Factors affecting the level of economic burden of caregiving on families were analysed in a multivariable model.ResultsThe economic burden of caregiving increased when care was supplied at the Regional Referral Centre, or when treatment complexity was high. Families with younger children had a higher level of economic burden of caregiving. Leukaemia required a higher family commitment than any other cancer considered.ConclusionsEstimates of the economic burden of caregiving on families of children and adolescents with cancer derived from administrative data should be considered a minimum burden. The estimated effect of the covariates is informative for healthcare decision‐makers in planning support programmes. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:1088–1093. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nanostructured hybrid material based on highly mismatched III–V nanocrystals fully embedded in silicon
Authors: Benyoucef M. , Alzoubi T. , Reithmaier J. P. , Wu M. , Trampert A. 
Published: December 2013

InAs quantum dots were directly grown on (100) planar silicon surfaces and embedded in a defect‐free silicon matrix after a multi‐step silicon overgrowth and annealing process performed by molecular beam epitaxy. Detailed high‐resolution transmission electron microscope investigations allow to follow within several steps the formation process of nearly fully relaxed InAs nanocrystals embedded in a defect‐free and planar silicon layer. The lattice mismatch between InAs and Si is almost fully accommodated by closed misfit dislocation loops at the III–V silicon interface, which suppresses the generation of threading dislocations in the embedding silicon matrix. InAs QDs embedded in defect‐free silicon.
Comparing ion‐pairing reagents and sample dissolution solvents for ion‐pairing reversed‐phase liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis of oligonucleotides
Authors: Gong Lingzhi , McCullagh James S. O. 
Published: December 2013

RATIONALEA sensitive and selective liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method is essential for quality control of synthetic oligonucleotides. However, researchers are still searching for improvements to ion‐pairing reagents for ion‐pairing reversed‐phase LC/MS. This study performed a comprehensive comparison of six ion‐pairing reagents to determine their performance as mobile phase modifiers for oligonucleotide LC/MS.METHODSThe study was performed using a Waters ultra‐performance liquid chromatography (UPLC®) system coupled to a Waters LCT premier XE ESI‐TOF mass spectrometer by using a UPLC® OST column (2.1 mm × 100 mm, 1.7µm). Buffer systems containing ion‐pairing reagents (triethylamine, tripropylamine, hexylamine, N,N‐dimethylbutylamine, dibutylamine, N,N‐diisopropylethylamine) and hexafluoro‐2‐propanol were compared by measuring the adduct ion formation, chromatographic separation, and MS signal intensity of four oligonucleotides (10mer to 40mer). The effect of dissolution solvents on MS signal intensity and adduct ion formation was also investigated.RESULTSResults showed that the type of dissolution solvent can have a signficiant impact on adduct ion formation with oligonucleotides. Results also showed that the maximum separation for small, medium and large oligonucleotides occured when using tripropylamine, N,N‐dimethylbutylamine, and dibutylamine, respectively. However, on average 15 mM hexylamine and 50 mM hexafluoro‐2‐propanol provided the best chromtatographic performance (resolution values: 14.1 ± 0.34, 11.0 ± 0.17, and 6.4 ± 0.11 for the pairs of oligonucleotides T10 & T15, T15 & T25, and T25 & T40, respectively (3 replicates)).CONCLUSIONSThe impact of dissolution solvent on the MS signal of oligonucleotides depends on the type of ion‐pairing reagent. Buffer combining 15 mM hexylamine and 50 mM hexafluoro‐2‐propanol produced the highest overall performance for oligonucleotides (10mer to 40mer) with respect to chromatographic resolution and mass detection. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterizing changes in snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) cryptocyanin protein during molting using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Demian Wael L. L. , Jahouh Farid , Stansbury Don , Randell Edward , Brown Robert J. , Banoub Joseph H. 
Published: December 2013

RATIONALEWe report the matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric (MALDI‐MS) characterization of the cryptocyanin proteins of the juvenileChionoecetes opiliocrabs during their molting and non‐molting phases. In order to assess the structural cryptocyanin protein differences between the molting and non‐molting phases, the obtained peptides were sequenced by MALDI low‐energy collision‐induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (CID‐MS/MS).METHODSThe cryptocyanin protein was isolated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) and analyzed by MALDI‐TOF/TOF‐MS. The purified cryptocyanin protein was sequenced, using the 'bottom‐up' approach. After tryptic digestion, the peptide mixture was analyzed by MALDI‐QqTOF‐MS/MS and the data obtained were used for the peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) identification by means of the Mascot database.RESULTSIt was demonstrated using MALDI‐TOF/TOF‐MS that the actual molecular weights of the non‐molting and molting cryptocyanin proteins were different; these were, respectively, 67.6 kDa and 68.1 kDa. Using low‐energy CID‐MS/MS we have sequenced the trytic peptides to monitor the differences and similarities between the cryptocyanin molecular structures during the molting and non‐molting stages.CONCLUSIONSWe have demonstrated for the first time that the actual molecular masses of the cryptocyanin protein during the molting and non‐molting phases were different. The MALDI‐CID‐MS/MS analyses allowed the sequencing of the cryptocyanins after tryptic digestion, during the molting and non‐molting stages, and showed some similarities and staggering differences between the identified cryptocyanin peptides. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fungal oxygen exchange between denitrification intermediates and water
Authors: Rohe Lena , Anderson Traute‐Heidi , Braker Gesche , Flessa Heinz , Giesemann Anette , Wrage‐Mönnig Nicole , Well Reinhard 
Published: December 2013

RATIONALEFungi can contribute greatly to N2O production from denitrification. Therefore, it is important to quantify the isotopic signature of fungal N2O. The isotopic composition of N2O can be used to identify and analyze the processes of N2O production and N2O reduction. In contrast to bacteria, information about the oxygen exchange between denitrification intermediates and water during fungal denitrification is lacking, impeding the explanatory power of stable isotope methods.METHODSSix fungal species were anaerobically incubated with the electron acceptors nitrate or nitrite and 18O‐labeled water to determine the oxygen exchange between denitrification intermediates and water. After seven days of incubation, gas samples were analyzed for N2O isotopologues by isotope ratio mass spectrometry.RESULTSAll the fungal species produced N2O. N2O production was greater when nitrite was the sole electron acceptor (129 to 6558 nmol N2O g dw–1 h–1) than when nitrate was the electron acceptor (6 to 47 nmol N2O g dw–1 h–1). Oxygen exchange was complete with nitrate as electron acceptor in one of five fungi and with nitrite in two of six fungi. Oxygen exchange of the other fungi varied (41 to 89 % with nitrite and 11 to 61 % with nitrate).CONCLUSIONSThis is the first report on oxygen exchange with water during fungal denitrification. The exchange appears to be within the range previously reported for bacterial denitrification. This adds to the difficulty of differentiating N2O producing processes based on the origin of N2O‐O. However, the large oxygen exchange repeatedly observed for bacteria and now also fungi could lead to less variability in the δ18O values of N2O from soils, which could facilitate the assessment of the extent of N2O reduction. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reconciling Hydropower and Environmental Water Uses in the Leishui River Basin
Authors: Ai X. S. , Sandoval‐Solis S. , Dahlke H. E. , Lane B. A. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractToday's water systems require integrated water resource management to improve the water supply for conflicting water uses. This research explores alternative policies to improve the water supply for two conflicting uses, hydropower and environmental, using the Leishui River basin and Dongjiang reservoir as a case study. First, the natural flow regime prior to reservoir construction (pre‐1992) was estimated by performing a statistical analysis of 41 years of daily streamflow data (March 1952–February 1993). This natural flow regime was used as a template for proposing environmental flow (e‐flow) requirements. The post‐reservoir flow regime (post‐1992) (March 1993–February 2011) was analysed to estimate the streamflow alteration. Results show that the natural flow regime has been completely transformed; post‐1992 winter normal flows are greater, and summer flows are smaller than pre‐1992 conditions. Also, the occurrence of natural floods has been prevented. Second, a planning model was built of the current operation of the Dongjiang reservoir and used for comparison of four alternative water management policies that considered e‐flow releases from the Dongjiang reservoir. The scenarios that considered combinations of the current operational policy and e‐flow releases performed better in terms of hydropower generation than the current operation. Different volumes of e‐flow requirements were tested, and an annual e‐flow volume of 75% of the pre‐1992 hydrograph was determined to generate the most hydropower while providing for environmental water needs. Trade‐offs are essential to balance these two water management objectives, and compromises have to be made for both water uses to obtain benefits. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Internationalization Behavior of German High‐Tech Start‐ups: An Empirical Analysis of Key Resources
Authors: Pinkwart Andreas , Proksch Dorian 
Published: December 2013

AbstractAlthough there were a lot of new studies about the phenomenon of internationalization in the past several years, the field of newly founded technology‐based firms (NTBFs) internationalization was less considered in literature. We contributed in filling this research gap using a longitudinal study to discover the determinants of internationalization in Germany. Our sample was based on 116 venture capital–financed NTBFs; 44 of them went international. Given the high dependence on exports of the German economy, the internationalization behavior of its NTBFs is of great importance for the future macroeconomic development of the country. In comparison, there are still very few empirical studies on the key determinants and initial drivers for the rapid internationalization of German start‐ups. We showed that technological and financial factors are positively related to going global. The characteristics of the human capital, however, have no significance for going international in our sample. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chronic toxicity of parabens and their chlorinated by‐products in Ceriodaphnia dubia
Authors: Terasaki Masanori , Abe Ryoko , Makino Masakazu , Tatarazako Norihisa 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTThe chronic toxicity of 12 compounds of parabens and their chlorinated by‐products was investigated using 7‐day Ceriodaphnia dubia test under static renewal condition in order to generate information on how to disinfect by‐products of preservatives that are discharged in aquatic systems. The mortality and inhibition of reproduction tended to increase with increasing hydrophobicity and decreased with the degree of chlorination of parabens. The EC50 values for mortality, offspring number, and first brood production ranged between 0.30–3.1, 0.047–12, and 1.3–6.3 mg L−1, respectively. For the number of neonates, the most sensitive endpoint, the no‐observed‐effect concentration (NOEC) and lowest‐observed‐effect concentration (LOEC) values ranged from 0.63 to 10 mg L−1 and from 1.2 to 19 mg L−1, respectively. Methylparaben (MP), benzylparaben (BnP), and dichlorinated BnP (Cl2BnP) elicited a significant decrease in offspring numbers even at their lowest concentration tested; the NOEC for these compounds was determined to be less than the lowest test concentration (1.3, 0.04, and 0.63 mg L−1 for MP, BnP, and Cl2BnP, respectively). Propylparaben (PP), chlorinated PP, isopropylparaben (iPP), and chlorinated iPP exhibited nonmonotonic concentration‐dependent response; their NOEC and LOEC values could not be determined. The multivariate approach involving principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis revealed four groups that corresponded to the toxicological profiles of parabens. Our results suggested that disinfection of parabens by chlorination could reduce aquatic toxicity of original compounds. The findings obtained in our study together with the data available on paraben concentrations in aquatic systems can be used to perform preliminary risk assessment by comparing the predicted environmental concentration (PEC) with the predicted no‐effect concentration (PNEC) for the marine aquatic environment. The calculated PEC/PNEC ratios ranged from 0.0012 to 0.2, with the highest value observed in MP. This suggested that there are negligible environmental risks for aquatic organisms at current use levels. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 30: 664–673, 2015.