bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The relationship between depressive symptoms, quality of life, and swallowing function in head and neck cancer patients 1 year after definitive therapy
Authors: Lin Brian M. , Starmer Heather M. , Gourin Christine G. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractObjectives/Hypothesis:To determine the incidence of depression in head and neck cancer (HNCA) patients following definitive treatment and the relationship between depression and head and neck‐specific measures of quality of life and function.Study Design:Prospective cohort analysis.Methods:Two hundred forty‐six patients were evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory Fast‐Screen (BDI‐FS), University of Washington Quality of Life (UW QOL), Voice Handicap Index (VHI), and MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) questionnaires. Patients with a preexisting diagnosis of depression were excluded.Results:Complete 1‐year post‐treatment data were available for 46 HNCA patients, with depression identified in nine patients (20%). On multivariate analysis, depression was significantly associated with poorer global UW QOL (β = −40.3, P < .001) and overall MDADI scores (β = −21.8, P = .038), but not with VHI scores, after controlling for other clinical variables including initial treatment modality. BDI‐FS scores were significantly correlated with global UW QOL (r = −0.7, P < .001) and overall MDADI scores (r = −0.5, P = .0045), and global UW QOL correlated significantly with overall MDADI scores (r = 0.4, P = .0166). After controlling for clinical variables, MDADI, and VHI scores, only depression was associated with global UW QOL score (β = −30.5, P = .019).Conclusions:There is a high incidence of depressive symptoms in HNCA patients at 1 year following definitive therapy, which is independent of primary treatment modality and is associated with poorer global QOL and MDADI scores. Although depression and swallowing function are highly correlated, depression has a greater effect on QOL than swallowing scores, suggesting that early identification and aggressive treatment of patients with depressive symptoms is warranted to maximize post‐treatment QOL.
Hyperbranched Polybenzobisthiazole with High Thermal Stability, Good Organosolubility, and Interesting Optical Performance
Authors: Hu XiaoBing , Yu DeMei 
Published: March 2012

AbstractA series of hyperbranched poly(p‐phenylene benzobisthiazole)s (HBPBZTs) are synthesized by solution polycondensation of 2,5‐diamino‐1,4‐benzenedithiol dihydrochloride (DABDT, A2 monomer) and 1,3,5‐benzene‐tricarboxylic acid (BTA, B3 monomer). Their structure changes depending on the feed molar ratios (A2:B3). The addition of DABDT and BTA (3:2) yielded HBPBZT with stoichiometry equivalent carboxyl and o‐aminothiophenol end groups. By adding DABDT and BTA (1:1), carboxyl‐terminated HBPBZT is prepared. When the ratio of DABDT and BTA is 9:4, amino and sulfydryl‐terminated HBPBZT is obtained. These polymers are amorphous and exhibit good thermal stability. They are soluble in some common polar aprotic solvents. The HBPBZTs exhibit strong blue light in methansulfonic acid and in DMF solution. The type of solvent has a strong influence on optical properties of the HBPBZTs solution.
Existence and nonexistence of the ground state solutions for nonlinear Schrödinger equations with nonperiodic nonlinearities
Authors: Wang Jun , Tian Lixin , Xu Junxiang , Zhang Fubao 
Published: March 2012

AbstractIn this paper we study the following nonlinear Schrödinger equation

where a is periodic with respect to x and f(x, u) is superlinear in u. Suppose that 0 lies in a gap of the spectrum σ( − Δ + a). Without periodic assumption on f, we prove the existence of ground state solution for the system. Moreover, we obtain some sufficient conditions for the nonexistence of ground state solution.
Polystannanes: Synthesis, Properties, and Outlook
Authors: Trummer Markus , Choffat Fabien , Smith Paul , Caseri Walter 
Published: March 2012

AbstractPolystannanes are characterized by a main chain which consists of covalently bound tin atoms. Characteristic absorption maxima in UV‐vis spectra of poly(dialkylstannane)s are due to σ‐delocalization and of poly(diarylstannane)s to σ–π delocalization. Poly(diorganostannane)s are thermally stable with decomposition commencing above 200 °C. Poly(dialkylstannane)s can show liquid‐crystalline behavior around room temperature. They can be oriented by various procedures, whereby orientation of the polystannane main chain depends on the orientation procedure and the length of the alkyl side groups. Some of the oriented systems showed a pronounced dichroism. Polystannanes degrade under the action of light, in particular when in solution.
REM sleep behavior disorder: Motor manifestations and pathophysiology
Authors: Arnulf Isabelle 
Published: March 2012

AbstractPatients with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) enact violent dreams during REM sleep in the absence of normal muscle atonia. This disorder is highly frequent in patients with synucleinopathies (60%–100% of patients) and rare in patients with other neurodegenerative disorders. The disorder is detected by interview plus video and sleep monitoring. Abnormal movements expose the patients and bed partners to a high risk of injury and sleep disruption. The disorder is usually alleviated with melatonin and clonazepam. Limb movements are mainly minor, jerky, fast, pseudohallucinatory, and repeated, with a limp wrist during apparently grasping movements, although body jerks and complex violent (fights) and nonviolent culturally acquired behaviors are also observed. Notably, parkinsonism disappears during RBD‐associated complex behaviors in patients with Parkinson's disease and with multiple system atrophy, suggesting that the upper motor stream bypasses the basal ganglia during REM sleep. Longitudinal studies show that idiopathic RBD predisposes patients to later develop Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and, more rarely, multiple system atrophy, with a rate of conversion of 46% within 5 years. During this time window, patients concomitantly develop nonmotor signs (decreased olfaction and color vision, orthostatic hypotension, altered visuospatial abilities, increased harm avoidance) and have abnormal test results (decreased putamen dopamine uptake, slower EEG). Patients with idiopathic RBD have higher and faster risk for conversion to Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies if abnormalities in dopamine transporter imaging, transcranial sonography, olfaction, and color vision are found at baseline. They constitute a highly specific target for testing neuroprotective agents. © 2012 Movement Disorder Society
Dynamically applied B1+ shimming solutions for non‐contrast enhanced renal angiography at 7.0 tesla
Authors: Metzger Gregory J. , Auerbach Edward J. , Akgun Can , Simonson Josh , Bi Xiaoming , Uğurbil Kâmil , van de Moortele Pierre‐François 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to detail a strategy for performing non‐contrast enhanced renal magnetic resonance angiography studies at 7.0 T. It is demonstrated that with proper B management, these studies can be successfully performed at ultrahigh field within local specific absorption rate constraints. An inversion prepared gradient echo acquisition, standard for non‐contrast renal magnetic resonance angiography studies, required radiofrequency pulse specific B shimming solutions to be dynamically applied to address the field dependent increases in both B0 and B inhomogeneity as well as to accommodate limitation in available power. By using more efficient B shimming solutions for the inversion preparation and more homogeneous solutions for the excitation, high quality images of the renal arteries were obtained without venous and background signal artifacts while working within hardware and safety constraints. Finite difference time domain simulations confirmed in vivo measurements with respect to B distributions and homogeneity for the range of shimming strategies used and allowed the calculation of peak local specific absorption rate values normalized by input power and B. Increasing B homogeneity was accompanied by decreasing local specific absorption rate per Watt and increasing maximum local specific absorption rate per [B]2, which must be considered, along with body size and respiratory rate, when finalizing acquisition parameters for a given individual. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fast 3D contrast enhanced MRI of the liver using temporal resolution acceleration with constrained evolution reconstruction
Authors: Xu Bo , Spincemaille Pascal , Chen Gang , Agrawal Mukta , Nguyen Thanh D. , Prince Martin R. , Wang Yi 
Published: March 2012

AbstractTime‐resolved imaging is crucial for the accurate diagnosis of liver lesions. Current contrast enhanced liver magnetic resonance imaging acquires a few phases in sequential breath‐holds. The image quality is susceptible to bolus timing errors, which could result in missing the critical arterial phase. This impairs the detection of malignant tumors that are supplied primarily by the hepatic artery. In addition, the temporal resolution may be too low to reliably separate the arterial phase from the portal venous phase. In this study, a method called temporal resolution acceleration with constrained evolution reconstruction was developed with three‐dimensional volume coverage and high‐temporal frame rate. Data is acquired using a stack of spirals sampling trajectory combined with a golden ratio view order using an eight‐channel coil array. Temporal frames are reconstructed from vastly undersampled data sets using a nonlinear inverse algorithm assuming that the temporal changes are small at short time intervals. Numerical and phantom experimental validation is presented. Preliminary in vivo results demonstrated high spatial resolution dynamic three‐dimensional images of the whole liver with high frame rates, from which numerous subarterial phases could be easily identified retrospectively. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A numerical method for computing optimal controls in feedback and digital forms and its application to the blowing‐venting control system of manned submarines
Authors: Font R. , Pedregal P. , Periago F. 
Published: March 2012

SUMMARYOn the basis of the classical variational reformulation of optimal control problems, we introduce a numerical scheme for solving those problems where the goal is the computation of optimal controls in feedback and digital forms defined on a discrete time mesh. The algorithm reduces the computation of such controls to solving a suitable nonlinear mathematical programming problem where the unknowns are the controls and slope of the state variable of the original problem. The motivation for this study comes from the real‐world engineering problem which consists of maneuvering a manned submarine by using the blowing‐venting control system of the ballast tanks of the vehicle. After checking the proposed algorithm in an academic example, we apply it to the maneuvering problem of submarines whose mathematical model includes a state law which is composed of a system of twenty‐four nonlinear ordinary differential equations. Numerical results illustrate the performance of the numerical scheme. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Review of the use of defined daily dose concept in drug utilisation research in China
Authors: Teng Lida , Xin Hua‐wen , Blix Hege Salvesen , Tsutani Kiichiro 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACTPurposeThis study aimed to understand the characteristics of drug utilisation researches (DURs) using concepts of defined daily dose in China and to provide further suggestion for future DURs in China.MethodsDURs using concepts of defined daily dose published in China were identified from China Journal Full‐text Database, and in‐depth data analysis was conducted for DURs published in every even‐numbered year.ResultsIn total, 2,911 DURs published between 1989 and 2009 were identified, of which 1,268 were included for further data analysis. All studies were hospital‐based. Types of drugs commonly assessed in DURs were Anti‐infectives for systemic use (34.1%), drugs for Nervous system (25.5%) and drugs for Alimentary tract and metabolism (14.3%). In addition, 63 DURs published in even‐numbered year focusing on Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) were identified. Commonly used sources of defined dose were Xin Bian Yao Wu Xue/New Materia Medica (83.9%), drug information leaflets (66.8%) and Chinese Pharmacopoeia (52.0%). Common indicators used in DURs include defined daily doses (DDDs), drug utilisation index (DUI) and daily dose cost (DDC).ConclusionDUR is a popular method to explore the use of both pharmaceutical drugs and CHM in China. The definition of defined daily dose and its related indicators presented in the DURs were highly varied. From this, it follows that DURs with more consistent methodology are highly needed for a thorough understanding of drug utilisation in China. Apart from DURs focusing on the hospital setting, more DURs from other health settings are needed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reflection distributions of textured monocrystalline silicon: implications for silicon solar cells
Authors: Baker‐Finch Simeon C. , McIntosh Keith R. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACTA common misconception is that alkaline textured silicon solar cell surfaces are characterised by features that are pyramidal and bounded by {111} planes. In preference to the typical approach of observing scanning electron microscope images, we analyse reflection distributions from various pyramidal textures and find that {111} faceted pyramids are a poor approximation to the features on such surfaces. We conclude that features are hillocks, with an octagonal base. Furthermore, the characteristic base angle of the texture depends on the etchant and is closer to 50–52° than the commonly accepted value of 54.74°. Analyses of antireflection, light trapping, photogeneration and surface recombination properties of textured surfaces should take this feature morphology into account. The base angle has a strong influence on the hemispherical reflectance of the textured surface, with higher angles resulting in reduced reflectance. The influence of this reflection enhancement upon device performance is smallest when an optimised antireflection coating is applied; compared with an array of {111} faceted pyramids, a hillock morphology with 50° base angle results in a 0.2% reduction in photogenerated current in a typical cell. Additionally, as base angle is reduced, an encapsulant of increasingly higher refractive index is required to drive internal reflection at the air–glass interface of light initially reflected from the cell surface. The development of texturing processes resulting in higher base angles is encouraged. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Obtaining small photovoltaic array operational curves for arbitrary cell temperatures and solar irradiation densities from standard conditions data
Authors: Averbukh Moshe , Lineykin Simon , Kuperman Alon 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACTThe paper presents a simple approach to deriving I–V curves of photovoltaic panels and small arrays for arbitrary environmental conditions on the basis of three points of a single operating curve data and short current temperature coefficient only. The proposed method does not employ fitting of any type and is solely based on a numerical solution of a system of transcendental equations. The equations are expressed in a dimensionless form, simplifying both the solution and photovoltaic panel parameters' representation. The solution is used to find the values of normalized equivalent circuit elements for the available data and then perform an appropriate adjustment to obtain the operating curves for arbitrary conditions. The proposed method was applied to monocrystalline and polycrystalline commercial solar panels and was compared with both manufacturer‐provided and experimentally measured operating curves to analyze the approach applicability and accuracy. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Impact of Permafrost Disturbances and Sediment Loading on the Limnological Characteristics of Two High Arctic Lakes
Authors: Dugan Hilary A. , Lamoureux Scott F. , Lewis Ted , Lafrenière Melissa J. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACTThe physical and chemical characteristics of two High Arctic lakes were investigated at the Cape Bounty Arctic Watershed Observatory on Melville Island, in response to large active‐layer detachments generated by extreme summer temperatures in 2007. In the two years following the permafrost disturbances, there was an elevated loading of total dissolved solids into both lakes, but no concomitant increase in suspended sediment levels. The physical dynamics of one lake were significantly altered by an internal sediment input, which was not directly related to watershed processes. The results indicate that localised permafrost disturbance in the watersheds resulted in changes to chemical conditions in these relatively deep, large lakes, while increased sediment transport from disturbances did not have a sustained impact. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Particle Sizing and Zeta Potential of Silica Koestrosol (Basis for Certified Reference Material ERM‐FD100 for Nanoparticles) by Acoustics and Electroacoustics
Authors: Dukhin Andrei , Parlia Sean , Klank Dietmar , Lesti Matthias 
Published: March 2012

AbstractPrecipitated silica Koestrosol 1530 is the basis for the recently adopted certified reference material ERM‐FD100 used for nanotechnology. A similar reference material based on another precipitated silica (silica Ludox™) has been used for testing ultrasound based instruments for particle sizing and zeta potential in concentrated dispersions and emulsions for the past two decades. In this study we test silica Koestrosol as a potential replacement for the silica Ludox™ since the latter has not been certified. The measurements were performed using ultrasound based instruments, which were suitable for concentrated systems. Two laboratories (USA and Germany) with 3 different instruments were involved, measuring samples at 5 % mass fraction. Samples mass fraction was 5 %. The statistically averaged mass‐based median particle size was found to be 22.4 ± 0.5 nm, which is within range of certified values obtained for more diluted samples. Values for ζ‐potential were measured as –26.7 ± 0.9 mV, with precision that is order of magnitude better then reported before.
Synthetic peptides derived from an N‐terminal domain of the E2 protein of GB virus C in the study of GBV‐C/HIV‐1 co‐infection
Authors: Fernández Leticia , Chan Weng C. , Egido Meritxell , Gómara María J. , Haro Isabel 
Published: March 2012

Synthetic peptides derived from GB virus C (GBV‐C) have previously been studied in our group for the development of new systems capable of diagnosing diseases caused by this humanotropic virus. We also recently described specific peptide domains of the E2 envelop protein of GBV‐C that have the capacity to interfere with the HIV‐1 fusion peptide, produce a notable decrease in cellular membrane fusion, and perturb HIV‐1 infectivity in a dose‐dependent manner.The present work discloses the design and synthesis of both linear and cyclic branched peptides based on a previously reported N‐terminal sequence of the GBV‐C E2 protein. Immunoassays and cell–cell fusion assays were performed to evaluate their diagnostic value to detect anti‐GBV‐C antibodies in HIV‐1 patients, as well as their putative anti‐HIV‐1 activity as entry inhibitors.Our results showed that chemical modifications of the selected E2(7–26) linear peptide to afford cyclic architecture do not result in an enhanced inhibition of gp41 HIV‐1‐mediated cell–cell fusion nor improved sensitivity in the detection of GBV‐C antibodies in HIV‐1 co‐infected patients. Thus, the ELISA data reinforce the potential utility of linear versions of the E2(7–26) region for the development of new peptide‐based immunosensor devices for the detection of anti‐GBV‐C antibodies in HIV‐1 co‐infected patients. Copyright © 2012 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Local structural modifications of the HfO2 layer in the Al2O3 capped high‐k dielectric films as probed by EXAFS
Authors: Sahiner M. A. , Lysaght P. S. , Woicik J. C. , Park C. S. , Huang J. , Bersuker G. , Taylor W. , Kirsch P. D. , Jammy R. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe information on the subtle local structural modifications around the Hf atom in HfO2 high‐k dielectric stacks has been demonstrated to be crucial in determining the resulting electronic properties of the complementary metal oxide (CMOS) devices. In this work, using extended X‐ray‐absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, the local structural characterization of Hf‐based advanced gate stacks thin films were investigated. The thin film stacks used in this project are Al2O3 capped HfO2 thin films deposited on silicon substrates. EXAFS simulations and fits were applied to the data in order to extract crucial structural modifications on these films upon postdeposition annealing (PDA). The local crystal symmetry and coordination around the Hf atom were investigated under various annealing conditions. Specifically, in Hf‐based dielectric thin films on silicon substrates capped with Al2O3 layers, the local crystal symmetry, and coordination around the Hf atom were investigated under various annealing conditions. The questions addressed are the effects of various annealing mechanisms to the diffusion mechanisms in the cap layers and modifications on the emerging local structures around the Hf atom. The diffusion of Al into HfO2 films were monitored through the EXAFS simulations. The non‐linear least‐squares fitting to the EXAFS data revealed that the PDA in NH3 (or N2) ambient after HfO2 deposition had prevented Al diffusion to the HfO2 layers.
Nanowire solar cells using hydrogenated amorphous silicon: A modeling study
Authors: Diouf D. , Ngo I. , Kleider J.‐P. , Gueunier‐Farret M. , Alvarez J. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAn interesting example of device combining amorphous material and nano‐ or microstructure is the wire solar cell. Solar cells based on silicon nano‐ or microwires have attracted much attention as a promising path for low cost photovoltaic technology. The key point of this structure is the decoupling of the light absorption from the carriers collection. In this work, we use numerical modeling to study two types of radial junction structures: (i) a p–n heterojunction for which p‐or n‐type crystalline silicon (c‐Si) wires are covered by a conformal n‐ or p‐ doped amorphous silicon (a‐Si:H) thin layer and (ii) thin film a‐Si:H p–i–n radial structures realized by conformal covering on thinner c‐Si wires. In the first structure, the a‐Si:H layer is only intended to form the heterojunction and light absorption takes place in the c‐Si wires, whereas in the second one, the absorber material is the a‐Si:H i‐layer and its thickness can be optimized to facilitate the carrier separation and collection. The potential of those both types of Si wires based solar cells will be compared according to the structure design and material properties. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the a‐Si:H p–i–n radial cells to the light‐soaking effect, i.e., the increase of deep defect density resulting from the breaking of weak silicon bonds, will be studied and compared to what is commonly observed on classical a‐Si:H planar p–i–n cells.