bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Novel K2NiF4‐Type Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Compatibility with Electrolytes in the Intermediate Temperature Range
Authors: Sayers R. , Liu J. , Rustumji B. , Skinner S. J. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractMany new materials have been identified as being of potential interest to solid oxide fuel cell developers. Recent work has suggested that materials of the La2NiO4 composition possess sufficient activity to act as an effective cathode. Whilst there have been many studies of the transport properties of materials of this family the reactivity with electrolyte compositions has received relatively little attention. In this work we have investigated the compatibility of La2NiO4 + d (LNO) with LSGM and ceria gadolinium oxide (CGO) electrolytes. It is clear that under an air atmosphere LNO reacts readily with CGO electrodes with the formation of a higher order Ruddlesden–Popper (Lan + 1NinO3n + 1) phase as one of the reaction products. In contrast, there is no evidence of secondary phase formation with LSGM electrolytes from the obtained diffraction data over a period of 72 h at temperatures up to 1,273 K.
Effect of Ionomer Content in Anode and Cathode Catalyst Layers on Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Performance
Authors: Krishnamurthy B. , Deepalochani S. , Dhathathreyan K. S. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe influence of ionomer content on the performance of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) is studied. The performance is studied as a function of the (nafion/carbon, N/C) ratio on the anode and cathode. The performance of the DMFC has been found to increase as a function of the N/C ratio. The ionomer content seems to influence the catalyst layer resistance in the anode and cathode and also the methanol oxidation potential on the anode. On the cathode, catalyst utilisation is seen to be affected by the ionomer content. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) is used to study the effect of ionomer content on Platinum (Pt) utilisation on the cathode. Theoretical calculations are used to study the catalyst layer resistance on the anode and cathode as a function of ionomer content. Findings indicate that ionomer content plays only a partial role in characterising the performance of a DMFC.
Novel SSBP2‐JAK2 fusion gene resulting from a t(5;9)(q14.1;p24.1) in pre‐B acute lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Poitras Jennifer L. , Cin Paola Dal , Aster Jon C. , DeAngelo Daniel J. , Morton Cynthia C. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractActivating mutations in JAK2 are found in virtually all patients with polycythemia vera, and about half of those with essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis. In addition, less common aberrations (particularly gene fusions) involving JAK2 have been described in acute leukemias. With the advent of JAK2 inhibitor trials in myeloproliferative disorders, tumors with JAK2 mutations or rearrangements have become candidates for targeted therapy. In this report, we identify SSBP2 as a new JAK2 fusion partner in a patient with pre‐B cell acute lymphocytic leukemia. This finding adds to the expanding compendium of JAK2 aberrations found in various hematopoietic malignancies, as well as the potential need for a diagnostic FISH analysis in the appropriate clinical setting. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Redundant DNA methylation in colorectal cancers of Lynch‐syndrome patients
Authors: Alemayehu Aster , Sebova Katarina , Fridrichova Ivana 
Published: July 2008

AbstractLynch syndrome is an inherited disease resulting predominantly in colorectal cancer (CRC). The crucial cause is DNA mismatch repair (MMR) malfunction that is associated mostly with MLH1 or MSH2 germline mutations. A significant hallmark of repair defects is a high level of instability in microsatellites (MSI‐H). In many sporadic unstable CRCs, the MLH1 gene is inactivated by promoter hypermethylation in addition to extensive promoter methylation in many tumor‐suppressor genes known as CpG island methylation phenotype (CIMP). To investigate the possible role of epigenetic alterations in causing MMR deficiency and thereby Lynch syndrome, we evaluated the MLH1 specific and global hypermethylation in hereditary CRCs. Of 22 Lynch‐syndrome‐related CRCs, 18 (81.8%) demonstrated various levels of DNA methylation; of these, 14 (63.6%) and 4 (18.2%) were methylated in distal and both distal and proximal regions of the MLH1 promoter, respectively. However, only 7/18 (38.9%) of results were confirmed by bisulfite sequencing. Similar methylation patterns in tumors and frequently in matched normal DNA were found in twelve and four patients with MLH1 and MSH2 alterations documented by the absence of protein or presence of germline mutation, respectively. Moreover, the same results were observed in five stable CRCs. None of 22 Lynch‐syndrome‐related tumors presented CIMP in contrast to 3/10 (30%) stable carcinomas. The rather randomly distributed weak methylation patterns in hereditary CRCs indicate that epigenetic events are redundant in Lynch‐syndrome etiology, in contrast to the widespread DNA methylation in sporadic unstable CRCs. These methylation‐profile differences can lead to more effective molecular diagnosis of Lynch syndrome. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bayesian variable and model selection methods for genetic association studies
Authors: Fridley Brooke L. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractVariable selection is growing in importance with the advent of high throughput genotyping methods requiring analysis of hundreds to thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the increased interest in using these genetic studies to better understand common, complex diseases. Up to now, the standard approach has been to analyze the genotypes for each SNP individually to look for an association with a disease. Alternatively, combinations of SNPs or haplotypes are analyzed for association. Another added complication in studying complex diseases or phenotypes is that genetic risk for the disease is often due to multiple SNPs in various locations on the chromosome with small individual effects that may have a collectively large effect on the phenotype. Hence, multi‐locus SNP models, as opposed to single SNP models, may better capture the true underlying genotypic‐phenotypic relationship. Thus, innovative methods for determining which SNPs to include in the model are needed. The goal of this article is to describe several methods currently available for variable and model selection using Bayesian approaches and to illustrate their application for genetic association studies using both real and simulated candidate gene data for a complex disease. In particular, Bayesian model averaging (BMA), stochastic search variable selection (SSVS), and Bayesian variable selection (BVS) using a reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) for candidate gene association studies are illustrated using a study of age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) and simulated data.Genet. Epidemiol. 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A nonparametric method for penetrance function estimation
Authors: Alarcon F. , Bonaïti‐Pellié C. , Harari‐Kermadec H. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractIn diseases caused by a deleterious gene mutation, knowledge of age‐specific cumulative risks is necessary for medical management of mutation carriers. When pedigrees are ascertained through at least one affected individual, ascertainment bias can be corrected by using a parametric method such as the Proband's phenotype Exclusion Likelihood, or PEL, that uses a survival analysis approach based on the Weibull model. This paper proposes a nonparametric method for penetrance function estimation that corrects for ascertainment on at least one affected: the Index Discarding EuclideAn Likelihood or IDEAL. IDEAL is compared with PEL, using family samples simulated from a Weibull distribution and under alternative models. We show that, under Weibull assumption and asymptotic conditions, IDEAL and PEL both provide unbiased risk estimates. However, when the true risk function deviates from a Weibull distribution, we show that the PEL might provide biased estimates while IDEAL remains unbiased. Genet. Epidemiol. 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Impaired performance of FDR‐based strategies in whole‐genome association studies when SNPs are excluded prior to the analysis
Authors: Marenne Gaëlle , Dalmasso Cyril , Perdry Hervé , Génin Emmanuelle , Broët Philippe 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWith recent advances in genomewide microarray technologies, whole‐genome association (WGA) studies have aimed at identifying susceptibility genes for complex human diseases using hundreds of thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) genotyped at the same time. In this context and to take into account multiple testing, false discovery rate (FDR)‐based strategies are now used frequently. However, a critical aspect of these strategies is that they are applied to a collection or a family of hypotheses and, thus, critically depend on these precise hypotheses. We investigated how modifying the family of hypotheses to be tested affected the performance of FDR‐based procedures in WGA studies. We showed that FDR‐based procedures performed more poorly when excluding SNPs with high prior probability of being associated. Results of simulation studies mimicking WGA studies according to three scenarios are reported, and show the extent to which SNPs elimination (family contraction) prior to the analysis impairs the performance of FDR‐based procedures. To illustrate this situation, we used the data from a recent WGA study on type‐1 diabetes (Clayton et al. [2005] Nat. Genet. 37:1243–1246). and report the results obtained when excluding or not SNPs located inside the human leukocyte antigen region. Based on our findings, excluding markers with high prior probability of being associated cannot be recommended for the analysis of WGA data with FDR‐based strategies. Genet. Epidemiol. 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Generation of brachiopod‐dominated shell beds in the Miocene rocks of Carriacou, Lesser Antilles
Authors: Harper David A. T. , Pickerill Ron K. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBrachiopod‐dominated shell concentrations occur within the turbiditic rocks of the Miocene Grand Bay Formation on the Antillean island of Carriacou. The shells, mainly Tichosina, form dispersed and loose accumulations. Exceptional conditions on the deep‐water flanks of submarine volcanic edifices encouraged the recruitment of large populations of Tichosina and the subsequent entrainment of the shells in gravity‐driven deposits. The shells are a rare example, in the Caribbean Basin, of transported Archaic‐type shell beds constructed by a taxonomic group more typical of the Palaeozoic fauna. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Methylprednisolone inhibits the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in reactivated astrocytes
Authors: Liu Wei‐Lin , Lee Yi‐Hsuan , Tsai Shih‐Ying , Hsu Chung Yi , Sun Yu‐Yo , Yang Liang‐Yo , Tsai Shing‐Han , Yang Wei‐Chung Vivian 
Published: July 2008

AbstractReactive gliosis caused by post‐traumatic injury often results in marked expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG), which inhibits neurite outgrowth and regeneration. Methylprednisolone (MP), a synthetic glucocorticoid, has been shown to have neuroprotective and anti‐inflammatory effects for the treatment of acute spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the effect of MP on CSPG expression in reactive glial cells remains unclear. In our study, we induced astrocyte reactivation using α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole propionate (AMPA) and cyclothiazide to mimic the excitotoxic stimuli of SCI. The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker of astrocyte reactivation, and CSPG neurocan and phosphacan were significantly elevated by AMPA treatment. The conditioned media from AMPA‐treated astrocytes strongly inhibited neurite outgrowth of rat dorsal root ganglion neurons, and this effect was reversed by pretreatment with MP. Furthermore, MP downregulated GFAP and CSPG expression in adult rats with SCI. Additionally, both the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist RU486 and GR siRNA reversed the inhibitory effects of MP on GFAP and neurocan expression. Taken together, these results suggest that MP may improve neuronal repair and promote neurite outgrowth after excitotoxic insult via GR‐mediated downregulation of astrocyte reactivation and inhibition of CSPG expression. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Differential NMDA‐dependent activation of glial cells in mouse hippocampus
Authors: Serrano Alexandre , Robitaille Richard , Lacaille Jean‐Claude 
Published: July 2008

AbstractIn the hippocampus, the NMDA receptor is thought to be an important glutamate receptor involved in synaptic plasticity and in memory processes. Until recently, NMDA receptors have been considered solely as neuronal components, but some evidence suggests that glial cells in the hippocampus, and in particular astrocytes, also could be activated by NMDA applications. On the basis of their shape and electrophysiological properties (linear and rectified I/V curve), we describe two different populations of glial cells from GFAP‐GFP transgenic mice that are activated differentially by NMDA. We found that linear glial cells were depolarized by NMDA that was not dependent on Ca2+ rise but partially involved a Ca2+ entry. Additionally, NMDA‐induced depolarization of linear glial cells involved both a TTX‐independent pathway likely through a direct activation, and a TTX‐dependent pathway that required neuronal activity. The NMDA‐induced depolarization in these cells was in part due to the activation of glutamate transporters and GABAB receptors. Furthermore, TTX‐dependent NMDA‐induced activation regulates the level of gap junction coupling between linear glial cells. In contrast, NMDA‐induced depolarization in outward rectifying cells do not require a Ca2+ rise but are mediated directly by Ca2+ entry and are independent of glutamate transporters, GABAB and GABAA receptors. Our findings reveal that NMDA differentially activates hippocampal glial cells and the glial network through heterogeneous mechanisms in a cell‐type specific manner. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Modality of physical exercise and cognitive function in Hong Kong older Chinese community
Authors: Lam Linda C. W. , Tam Cindy W. C. , Lui Victor W. C. , Chan W. C. , Chan Sandra S. M. , Chiu Helen F. K. , Wong Ada , Tham M. K. , Ho K. S. , Chan W. M. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractObjectiveWe reported the association between modality of Physical Exercise and cognitive function in 782 older Chinese adults assessed in the second phase of a population survey for dementia in Hong Kong.MethodsProfiles of physical exercise was measured by a questionnaire (no exercise, stretching, aerobic and mind‐body exercise). Cognitive Assessments included the CMMSE, ADAS‐Cog, and Category Verbal Fluency Test (CVFT).ResultsThe aerobic and mind body exercise groups with longer exercise habits (>5 years) had higher scores in most cognitive tests (Kruskal Wallis tests, p < 0.01). Beneficial effects were more significant in the young old group from 65– 75 years.ConclusionsPossible age related specific effects of aerobic and mind body exercise on cognitive reserve are worthy of further exploration. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Understanding care of people with dementia in Spain: Cohabitation arrangements, rotation and rejection to long term care institution
Authors: Rivera Jesús , Bermejo Felix , Franco Manuel , Morales‐González José Manuel , Benito‐León Julian 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBackgroundMost people with dementia in Spain live at home with their families. Current changes in the family structure are transforming the care of people with dementia through new cohabitation arrangenments and rotation practices.ObjectiveTo describe the cohabitation arrangements of families of people with dementia in Spain and to understand the caregivers' characteristics related to rotation and the rejection of long term care institutions.MethodsA cross sectional study ‐NEDICES study‐ was conducted using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies.150 caregivers of people with dementia from two communities from Madrid, Spain, were surveyed using a questionnaire designed to describe cohabitation arrangements and care. Qualitative methods included: 13 caregivers participating in focus groups, and 3 caregivers in Semi Structured Interviews aimed to understand rotation practices and rejection to long term care institution.ResultsCharacteristics related with rotation were: sex of persons with dementia, widowhood, socio‐economic status, caregiver relationship and burden of the caregiver. The qualitative study showed that the use of the rotation was related to normative behaviors and with obligation feelings, along with a change in the role of women in the current Spanish family. The use of long term care institutions was related to geographical distance of the family.ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that rotation has appeared in Spain as a new mechanism of care for people with dementia, and its related to the rejection of long term care institutions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Validity and reliability of the Simpson‐Angus Scale (SAS) in drug induced parkinsonism in the elderly
Authors: Knol Wilma , Keijsers Carolina J. P. W. , Jansen Paul A. F. , Belitser Svetlana V. , Schobben Alfred F. A. M. , Egberts Antoine C. G. , van Marum Rob J. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBackgroundQuantification of drug induced parkinsonism (DIP) for study purposes is difficult. The most often used Simpson Angus Scale (SAS) lacks proper clinimetric evaluation. The newer Schedule for Assessment of Drug‐Induced Movement Disorders (SADIMoD) shows good clinimetric characteristics, but has not been used in published clinical studies, probably due to the complexity of the scale.ObjectivesTo evaluate internal consistency and inter‐rater reliability of the SAS and the correlation ot f the SAS with the parkinsonism subscale of the SADIMoD in elderly.MethodFifteen elderly diagnosed with DIP were recruited. The patients were assessed three times with the SAS by three independent investigators. The resident also performed the SADIMoD. Internal consistency was measured by Cronbach's α‐coefficient, inter‐rater variability was examined with weighted kappa values and percentage of agreement and correlation to SADIMoD by Spearman's correlation coefficient.ResultsSAS demonstrated good internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α coefficients 0.83). Inter‐rater reliability for sum score was good. For individual items slight agreement on the item salivation and moderate to very good agreement on remaining items calculated by weighted kappa values was reached. We found 87–100% agreement on the individual items with acceptance of 1 point difference between raters. The SAS demonstrated acceptable correlation with the SADIMoD parkinsonism subscale scores (Spearman's rho = 0.66; p < 0.01).ConclusionThe SAS appears to be a valid and by different instructed health care professionals easy to perform research tool to evaluate DIP. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment on driving ability: a controlled clinical study by simulated driving test
Authors: Frittelli Cristina , Borghetti Davide , Iudice Giovanni , Bonanni Enrica , Maestri Michelangelo , Tognoni Gloria , Pasquali Livia , Iudice Alfonso 
Published: July 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the effects of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) on simulated car driving ability.MethodsTwenty patients with a probable AD of mild severity (Clinical Dementia Rating, CDR = 1) were compared with 20 subjects with MCI (CD = 0.5), and a group of age‐matched neurologically normal controls on a driving simulation task. Measures of driving competence included the length of run, the number of infractions (omission of stop at pedestrian crossings, speed limits violation), the number of stops at traffic lights, the mean time to collision, and the number of off‐road events. Results in the driving competence measures were correlated with scores obtained from simple visual reaction times and mini‐mental state examination (MMSE).ResultsThe patients with mild AD performed significantly worse than MCI subjects and controls on three simulated driving measures, length of run and mean time to collision (p < 0.001), and number of off‐road events (p < 0.01). MCI subjects had only a significantly shorter time‐to‐collision than healthy controls (p < 0.001). Simple visual reaction times were significantly longer (p < 0.001) in patients with AD, compared to MCI and healthy controls, and showed a borderline significant relation (p = 0.05) with simulated driving scores. Driving performance in the three groups did not significantly correlate with MMSE score as measure of overall cognitive function.ConclusionsMild AD significantly impaired simulated driving fitness, while MCI limitedly affected driving performance. Unsafe driving behaviour in AD patients was not predicted by MMSE scores. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of new organophosphorus‐substituted derivatives of ethanesulfonic acid
Authors: Prishchenko Andrey A. , Livantsov Mikhail V. , Novikova Olga P. , Livantsova Ludmila I. , Petrosyan Valery S. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractNucleophilic addition of trimethylsilyl esters of hypophosphorus acid to trimethylsilyl ester and diethylamide of vinylsulfonic acid is proposed as convenient methods for the synthesis of new 2‐sulfonylethylphosphonites and their derivatives under mild conditions. Also the new functionalized derivatives of these phosphonites, including aminomethyl fragments as well as certain properties of these compounds as important precursors of new organophosphorus‐substituted derivatives of ethanesulfonic acid, are presented. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 19:470–473, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.20448
Chalcogenation reactions of a stable ferrocenyldiphosphene: Formation of thia‐, selena‐, and telluradiphosphiranes
Authors: Nagahora Noriyoshi , Sasamori Takahiro , Tokitoh Norihiro 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe reactions of TbtPPTbt (Tbt = 2,4,6‐tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl) with elemental sulfur and selenium in the presence of triethylamine resulted in the formation of the corresponding thia‐ and selenadiphosphiranes in 71% and 65%, respectively, whereas the tellurization reaction was unsuccessful probably due to the steric reason. On the other hand, treatment of TbtPPFc (Fc = ferrocenyl) with elemental sulfur, selenium, and tributylphosphine telluride afforded the corresponding thia‐, selena‐, and telluradiphosphiranes in 84%, 88%, and 66% yields, respectively. The molecular structures of these three‐membered heterocyclic compounds were confirmed by spectroscopic analysis. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 19:443–449, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.20449
Synthesis of functionalized 2‐trimethylsiloxy‐substituted O‐trimethylsilyl alkylphosphonites, their analogues, and derivatives
Authors: Prishchenko Andrey A. , Livantsov Mikhail V. , Novikova Olga P. , Livantsova Ludmila I. , Petrosyan Valery S. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractNucleophilic addition of trimethylsilyl esters of tricoordinate organophosphorus acids to several functionalized alkylene oxides is proposed as convenient methods for the synthesis of new 2‐trimethylsiloxysubstituted alkylphosphonites, their analogues, and derivatives. Also the new functionalized derivatives of these phosphonites, including amino, carboxy, or sulfo groups as well as certain properties of these compounds, which may be the important precursors of new functionalized 2‐hydroxyalkylorganophosphorus acids, are presented. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 19:450–454, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.20453