bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Is improvement in the quality of life after subthalamic nucleus stimulation in Parkinson's disease predictable?
Authors: Daniels Christine , Krack Paul , Volkmann Jens , Raethjen Jan , Pinsker Markus O. , Kloss Manja , Tronnier Volker , Schnitzler Alfons , Wojtecki Lars , Bötzel Kai , Danek Adrian , Hilker Rüdiger , Sturm Volker , Kupsch Andreas , Karner Elfriede , Deuschl Günther , Witt Karsten 
Published: September 2011

AbstractDeep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) significantly improves quality of life (QoL) in PD. However, QoL fails to improve in a relevant proportion of patients. We studied clinical baseline and progression parameters associated with improvement in QoL after DBS. Data from a German randomized, controlled study comparing DBS (60 patients) with best medical treatment (59 patients) were analyzed. Changes in patients' QoL were assessed using the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ‐39) at baseline and at the 6‐month follow‐up. For the STN‐DBS patients, the changes in PDQ‐39 were correlated with predefined clinical preoperative and progression parameters. Scores for QoL improved after STN‐DBS for 57% of the patients, and for 43% patients, they did not improve. Patients with improvement in QoL showed significantly higher cumulative daily “off” time. Changes in the PDQ‐39 showed a significant positive correlation with the cumulative daily off time at baseline. Logistic regression analysis revealed that 1 additional hour off time at baseline increases the odds for improvement on PDQ‐39 by a factor of 1.33 (odds ratio). In the postoperative course, changes in the PDQ‐39 significantly correlated with the reduction of cumulative daily off time, an improvement on the UPDRS (UPDRS III off), and positive mood changes. Among the baseline parameters, the cumulative daily off time is the strongest predictor for improvement in disease‐related QoL after DBS. Improvement in QoL after STN‐DBS is also correlated with changes in motor functions and changes in depression and anxiety. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Heads or tails? Structural events and molecular mechanisms that promote mammalian sperm acrosomal exocytosis and motility
Authors: Buffone Mariano G. , Ijiri Takashi W. , Cao Wenlei , Merdiushev Tanya , Aghajanian Haig K. , Gerton George L. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractSperm structure has evolved to be very compact and compartmentalized to enable the motor (the flagellum) to transport the nuclear cargo (the head) to the egg. Furthermore, sperm do not exhibit progressive motility and are not capable of undergoing acrosomal exocytosis immediately following their release into the lumen of the seminiferous tubules, the site of spermatogenesis in the testis. These cells require maturation in the epididymis and female reproductive tract before they become competent for fertilization. Here we review aspects of the structural and molecular mechanisms that promote forward motility, hyperactivated motility, and acrosomal exocytosis. As a result, we favor a model articulated by others that the flagellum senses external signals and communicates with the head by second messengers to affect sperm functions such as acrosomal exocytosis. We hope this conceptual framework will serve to stimulate thinking and experimental investigations concerning the various steps of activating a sperm from a quiescent state to a gamete that is fully competent and committed to fertilization. The three themes of compartmentalization, competence, and commitment are key to an understanding of the molecular mechanisms of sperm activation. Comprehending these processes will have a considerable impact on the management of fertility problems, the development of contraceptive methods, and, potentially, elucidation of analogous processes in other cell systems. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 79:4–18, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Measurement of pulsatile motion with millisecond resolution by MRI
Authors: Souchon Rémi , Gennisson Jean‐Luc , Tanter Mickael , Salomir Rares , Chapelon Jean‐Yves , Rouvière Olivier 
Published: September 2011

AbstractWe investigated a technique based on phase‐contrast cine MRI combined with deconvolution of the phase shift waveforms to measure rapidly varying pulsatile motion waveforms. The technique does not require steady‐state displacement during motion encoding. Simulations and experiments were performed in porcine liver samples in view of a specific application, namely the observation of transient displacements induced by acoustic radiation force. Simulations illustrate the advantages and shortcomings of the methods. For experimental validation, the waveforms were acquired with an ultrafast ultrasound scanner (Supersonic Imagine Aixplorer), and the rates of decay of the waveforms (relaxation time) were compared. With bipolar motion‐encoding gradient of 8.4 ms, the method was able to measure displacement waveforms with a temporal resolution of 1 ms over a time course of 40 ms. Reasonable agreement was found between the rate of decay of the waveforms measured in ultrasound (2.8 ms) and in MRI (2.7–3.3 ms). Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Confirmation of the efficacy of vitamin B6 supplementation for McArdle disease by follow‐up muscle biopsy
Authors: Sato Shinya , Ohi Takekazu , Nishino Ichizo , Sugie Hideo 
Published: September 2011

AbstractNo effective treatment for McArdle disease exists.We report a Japanese patient with McArdle disease who was treated with vitamin B6 supplementation (60–90 mg/day). After treatment, increased muscle phosphorylase activity was confirmed by follow‐up muscle biopsy (3.8 times higher than pretreatment levels). Increased lactate levels were seen on the forearm exercise test, and regular work activities could be resumed. Vitamin B6 supplementation can enhance residual phosphorylase activity and improve insufficient anaerobic glycolysis of skeletal muscle. Muscle Nerve, 2012
Spectral methods based on Hermite functions for linear hyperbolic equations
Authors: Aguirre Julián , Rivas Judith 
Published: September 2011

AbstractWe consider the approximation by spectral and pseudo‐spectral methods of the solution of the Cauchy problem for a scalar linear hyperbolic equation in one space dimension posed in the whole real line. To deal with the fact that the domain of the equation is unbounded, we use Hermite functions as orthogonal basis. Under certain conditions on the coefficients of the equation, we prove the spectral convergence rate of the approximate solutions for regular initial data in a weighted space related to the Hermite functions. Numerical evidence of this convergence is also presented. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 2012
What Happened Here? Bone Histology as a Tool in Decoding the Postmortem Histories of Archaeological Bone from Castricum, The Netherlands
Authors: Hollund H. I. , Jans M. M. E. , Collins M. J. , Kars H. , Joosten I. , Kars S. M. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTIt is generally a challenge to interpret incomplete and degraded skeletal assemblages found during archaeological excavations. Several events after the death of animals and humans, before and during burial, will have influenced the situation as seen upon excavation. This postmortem sequence of events can be calledthe taphonomic history of bones. Taphonomic signatures as detected using histology can provide additional data on deposition/burial and the evolution of the burial environment. This article reports on the results of a histological characterisation of diagenetic alterations in a bone assemblage from the Roman period burial and settlement site of Castricum, located in the province of Noord‐Holland in the Netherlands. The aim is to assess the relationship between bone histology and known taphonomic events. Both transmitted light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to investigate histological changes.In 1995, the excavation at Castricum uncovered the skeletal material of humans and a variety of animal species that had received different burial treatments. The humans, as well as some dogs and cattle, were buried as complete inhumations. The skeletal remains of horses provided evidence of surface exposure before deposition. In addition, both environmental changes (e.g. variations in groundwater levels) and disturbances by later human activity are known to have occurred since the internment of the bones. Together with the animal refuse bones from the site, this assemblage provides an excellent opportunity to investigate the relationship between early taphonomy, burial conditions and histological appearance. The complex taphonomic history of the Castricum skeletal material was found to be reflected in several characteristic alterations of the bone microstructure such as the extent of bioerosion, cracking, staining and inclusions of framboidal pyrite crystals. This allowed for the reconstruction of a postmortem sequence of events. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Taphonomic Analysis of Amphibian and Squamate Remains from El Harhoura 2 (Rabat‐Témara, Morocco): Contributions to Palaeoecological and Archaeological Interpretations
Authors: Stoetzel E. , Denys C. , Bailon S. , El Hajraoui M. A. , Nespoulet R. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTAmphibian and reptile remains found in archaeological contexts are still poorly studied, especially in North Africa. This article presents the first taphonomic analysis realised on amphibian and squamate remains coming from a North‐African quaternary site. The bones were not transported/sorted by water; they were quickly buried and no significant perturbation occurred within deposits. The main origin of the amphibian and squamate assemblages is predation, although some animals probably died in the cave from natural causes. A comparison with taphonomic data from small mammals of the same cave gave more accurate taphonomic and reliable palaeoecological interpretation of the site. This study also highlights the numerous problems of interpretation linked to the lack of taphonomic referentials based on predator pellets/scats and on weathering/burying experiments in North Africa. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The rate of polymerization in two loci reaction systems: VDF‐HFP precipitation copolymerization in supercritical carbon dioxide
Authors: Costa Liborio I. , Storti Giuseppe , Morbidelli Massimo , Galia Alessandro , Filardo Giuseppe 
Published: September 2011

AbstractWhen the copolymerization of vinylidene fluoride (VDF) and hexafluoropropylene (HFP) is carried out in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) under heterogeneous conditions, the reaction occurs both in the continuous CO2‐rich phase and in the dispersed polymer‐rich phase. The two phases being characterized by different values of reactant concentrations and kinetic parameters, one would expect that the reaction kinetics is affected by the polymer phase holdup in the reactor. However, the reaction rate is almost insensitive to the amount of produced polymer, at least at specific reaction conditions. This apparent contradiction is discussed and clarified in this paper by a series of comparative simulations carried out using different models, accounting for the reaction in one single phase (one‐locus) or in two phases (two‐loci). This analysis provides general procedures which can be used to design experimental investigations able to identify the number of reaction loci for a given heterogeneous polymerization system. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
Optimizing performances of photovoltaics in Reunion Island—tilt angle
Authors: Bojić Milorad , Bigot Dimitri , Miranville Frederic , Parvedy‐Patou Alexandre , Radulović Jasna 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTAs in Reunion Island, France, around 61% of electricity is produced by using coal and fuel oil with high greenhouse emissions, it is beneficial to the environment to produce electricity from solar energy. Therefore, there is a large push to generate electricity from solar energy by use of photovoltaic (PV) arrays. However, it is important to have high efficiency of electricity generation, that is, to locate PV arrays in an optimal direction. The investigated PV systems may take 1, 2, 4, and 12 tilts per year. For the PV arrays facing the north–south direction, this paper reports investigations of their optimum tilts and the maximum amounts of generated electricity. The investigated PV arrays are located in the towns of Saint‐Benoit, Les Avirons, Piton Saint‐Leu, and Petite‐France in Reunion Island. To obtain optimal tilt of the PV arrays for electricity production from solar energy, EnergyPlus software and GenOpt software are used with Hooke–Jeeves optimization routine. For the investigated PV arrays, the percentage gains in energy, exergy, avoided fossil energy, and the percentage decrease in CO2 emission are around 5% when compared with that of the PV array that takes only one optimum tilt per year. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Proteomic analysis of oligodendrogliomas expressing a mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase‐1
Authors: Thirant Cécile , Varlet Pascale , Lipecka Joanna , Le Gall Morgane , Broussard Cédric , Chafey Philippe , Studler Jeanne‐Marie , Lacombe Joelle , Lions Séverin , Guillaudeau Angélique , Camoin Luc , Daumas‐Duport Catherine , Junier Marie‐Pierre , Chneiweiss Hervé 
Published: September 2011

AbstractGliomas are primary tumors of the human central nervous system with unknown mechanisms of progression. Isocitrate dehydrogenase‐1 (IDH1) mutation is frequent in diffuse gliomas such as oligodendrogliomas. To gain insights into the physiopathology of oligodendrogliomas that have a better prognosis than other diffuse gliomas, we combined microdissection, 2‐D DIGE and MS/MS focusing on proteome alterations associated with IDH1 mutation. We first compared tumor tissues (TT) and minimally infiltrated parenchymal tissues (MIT) of four IDH1‐mutated oligodendrogliomas to verify whether proteins specific to oligodendroglioma tumor cells could be identified from one patient to another. This study resulted in identification of 68 differentially expressed proteins, with functions related to growth of tumor cells in a nervous parenchyma. We then looked for proteins distinctly expressed in TT harboring either mutant (oligodendrogliomas, n=4) or wild‐type IDH1 (oligodendroglial component of malignant glio‐neuronal tumors, n=4). This second analysis resulted in identification of distinct proteome patterns composed of 42 proteins. Oligodendrogliomas with a mutant IDH1 had noteworthy enhanced expression of enzymes controlling aerobic glycolysis and detoxification, and anti‐apoptosis proteins. In addition, the mutant IDH1 migrated differently from the wild‐type IDH1 form. Comparative proteomic analysis might thus be suitable to identify proteome alterations associated with a well‐defined mutation.
UniCarbKB: Putting the pieces together for glycomics research
Authors: Campbell Matthew P. , Hayes Catherine A. , Struwe Weston B. , Wilkins Marc R. , Aoki‐Kinoshita Kiyoko F. , Harvey David J. , Rudd Pauline M. , Kolarich Daniel , Lisacek Frederique , Karlsson Niclas G. , Packer Nicolle H. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractDespite the success of several international initiatives the glycosciences still lack a managed infrastructure that contributes to the advancement of research through the provision of comprehensive structural and experimental glycan data collections. UniCarbKB is an initiative that aims to promote the creation of an online information storage and search platform for glycomics and glycobiology research. The knowledgebase will offer a freely accessible and information‐rich resource supported by querying interfaces, annotation technologies and the adoption of common standards to integrate structural, experimental and functional data. The UniCarbKB framework endeavors to support the growth of glycobioinformatics and the dissemination of knowledge through the provision of an open and unified portal to encourage the sharing of data. In order to achieve this, the framework is committed to the development of tools and procedures that support data annotation, and expanding interoperability through cross‐referencing of existing databases. Database URL: http://www.unicarbkb.org.
Magnetization and electronic structure of polycrystalline La1‐xCax MnO3 (x =0.19, 0.17)
Authors: Zhang Hongguang , Li Yongtao , Chen Lingshan , Liu Hao , Chen Yuanyuan , Chen Kai , Dong Xueguang , Li Qi 
Published: September 2011

AbstractMagnetization and electronic states of polycrystalline La1‐xCax MnO3 (LCMO, x = 0.19, 0.17) were studied in order to further understand the nature of Griffiths phase in LCMO. The results of hysteresis loop and x‐ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) spectra of Mn 2p demonstrated the intrinsic inhomogeneity and competition between coexisted phases of paramagnetic phase and ferromagnetic phase caused by mixed valence states of Mn3+ and Mn4+. The valence band spectra (VBS) of samples indicated that there is high degree of hybridization of egstates and O 2p orbital. Combined with the local structure change of crystal lattice, the higher degree of hybridization of these orbitals may play an important part on the physical properties, like Griffiths phase, in prepared samples (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Study of nanocluster‐assembled ZnO thin films by nanocluster‐beam deposition
Authors: Zhao Zhiwei , Lei Wei , Zhang Xiaobing , Tay Beng Kang 
Published: September 2011

AbstractNanocluster‐assembled ZnO thin films were obtained by nanocluster‐beam deposition, in which nanoclusters were produced by a magnetron sputtering gas aggregation source. Two kinds of ZnO thin films were obtained using this method with the one grown under the on‐line heating temperature of 700 °C, and the other grown without on‐line heating. Film microstructure and optical properties are investigated by various diagnostic techniques. It was found that both of film microstructure of ZnO thin films keep wurtzite structure as that of ZnO bulk materials. The averaged particle size for the film grown without on‐line heating is around 6 nm, which is a little lower than that grown with the on‐line heating. It was also found that as increasing the wavelength, both of the absorbance spectra for the films decrease sharply near ultra‐visible to extend slowly to the visible and infrared wavelength range. For the film grown without on‐line heating, the bandgap energy was estimated to 3.77 eV, while for the film grown with on‐line heating, the bandgap energy was redshift to 3.71 eV. Similar behavior was also found for PL spectra analysis, where PL spectrum exhibited a peak centered at 3.31 eV without on‐line heating, while it redshift to 3.20 eV with on‐line heating. The mechanisms behind these behaviors were presented in this article. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Ab initio electron propagator calculations on electron detachment energies of nickel phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate tetraanions
Authors: Dolgounitcheva Olga , Zakrzewski V. G. , Ortiz J. V. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractVertical electron detachment energies of nickel phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate tetraanion (NiPcTSTA) isomers were obtained with ab initio electron propagator methods. Quasiparticle, outer valence Green's function (OVGF), and partial third‐order approximations were applied to the most stable C4h, all‐δ isomer of NiPcTSTA. Basis set influence on the detachment energies was studied on the most symmetric, D2h, all‐δ structure. Nondiagonal, renormalized methods were applied, as well. The OVGF method provided negative binding energy for the highest occupied level in excellent agreement with the experimental findings. Strong correlation effects are revealed for all low‐lying π cationic states. These results were compared with those obtained with the same methods for the parent Ni phthalocyanine molecule. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012
Power and sample size evaluation for the Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel mean score (Wilcoxon rank sum) test and the Cochran–Armitage test for trend
Authors: Lachin John M. 
Published: September 2011

The power of a chi‐square test, and thus the required sample size, are a function of the noncentrality parameter that can be obtained as the limiting expectation of the test statistic under an alternative hypothesis specification. Herein, we apply this principle to derive simple expressions for two tests that are commonly applied to discrete ordinal data.The Wilcoxon rank sum test for the equality of distributions in two groups is algebraically equivalent to the Mann–Whitney test. The Kruskal–Wallis test applies to multiple groups. These tests are equivalent to a Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel mean score test using rank scores for a set of C‐discrete categories. Although various authors have assessed the power function of the Wilcoxon and Mann–Whitney tests, herein it is shown that the power of these tests with discrete observations, that is, with tied ranks, is readily provided by the power function of the corresponding Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel mean scores test for two and R > 2 groups. These expressions yield results virtually identical to those derived previously for rank scores and also apply to other score functions.The Cochran–Armitage test for trend assesses whether there is an monotonically increasing or decreasing trend in the proportions with a positive outcome or response over the C‐ordered categories of an ordinal independent variable, for example, dose. Herein, it is shown that the power of the test is a function of the slope of the response probabilities over the ordinal scores assigned to the groups that yields simple expressions for the power of the test. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A General Synthetic Approach for Obtaining Cationic and Anionic Inorganic Nanoparticles via Encapsulation in Amphiphilic Copolymers
Authors: Geidel C. , Schmachtel S. , Riedinger A. , Pfeiffer C. , Müllen K. , Klapper M. , Parak W. J. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractA series of amphiphilic copolymers with variable charge densities on their backbone is synthesized. Positively charged N,N,N‐trimethylammonium‐2‐ethyl methacrylate iodide or negatively charged 2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethylphosphonic acid and lauryl methacrylate are used as building blocks. When wrapped around hydrophobically capped inorganic nanoparticles (NPs), the latter are able to disperse in aqueous solutions. Using this method, positively as well as negatively charged colloidal NPs can be synthesized in a reliable way. The method presented herein allows the charge on the NPs to be adjusted to different negative and positive values by using polymers with a variable ratio of charged monomers and lauryl methacrylate. Virtually all kinds of hydrophobic inorganic NPs could be coated with these amphiphilic polymers. The coating procedure is demonstrated for Au particles as well as for CdSe/ZnS quantum dots. To date, wrapping amphiphilic polymers around NPs has led only to anionic NPs. The polymers synthesized in this work allow for positively charged NPs with a high colloidal stability.