bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Contribution of Jules Froment to the study of Parkinsonian rigidity
Authors: Broussolle Emmanuel , Krack Paul , Thobois Stéphane , Xie‐Brustolin Jing , Pollak Pierre , Goetz Christopher G. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractRigidity is commonly defined as a resistance to passive movement. In Parkinson's disease (PD), two types of rigidity are classically recognized which may coexist, “leadpipe ” and “cogwheel”. Charcot was the first to investigate parkinsonian rigidity during the second half of the nineteenth century, whereas Negro and Moyer described cogwheel rigidity at the beginning of the twentieth century. Jules Froment, a French neurologist from Lyon, contributed to the study of parkinsonian rigidity during the 1920s. He investigated rigidity of the wrist at rest in a sitting position as well as in stable and unstable standing postures, both clinically and with physiological recordings using a myograph. With Gardère, Froment described enhanced resistance to passive movements of a limb about a joint that can be detected specifically when there is a voluntary action of another contralateral body part. This has been designated in the literature as the “Froment's maneuver ” and the activation or facilitation test. In addition, Froment showed that parkinsonian rigidity diminishes, vanishes, or enhances depending on the static posture of the body. He proposed that in PD “maintenance stabilization ” of the body is impaired and that “reactive stabilization ” becomes the operative mode of muscular tone control. He considered “rigidification ” as compensatory against the forces of gravity. Froment also demonstrated that parkinsonian rigidity increases during the Romberg test, gaze deviation, and oriented attention. In their number, breadth, and originality, Froment's contributions to the study of parkinsonian rigidity remain currently relevant to clinical and neurophysiological issues of PD. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Morphometric changes of sensorimotor structures in focal dystonia
Authors: Obermann Mark , Yaldizli Ozguer , De Greiff Armin , Lachenmayer Martin Lenard , Buhl Anna Rebecca , Tumczak Felicitus , Gizewski Elke Ruth , Diener Hans‐Christoph , Maschke Matthias 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIdiopathic cervical dystonia (CD) and benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) are the most common forms of focal dystonia. Previous autopsy and imaging studies suggested that these disorders are not accompanied by structural brain abnormalities. However, recent brain voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) studies of these conditions suggest that there actually may be changes in gray matter. The objective of this stdy was to detect possible gray matter abnormalities in patients with CD and BEB using VBM and to compare the results between the two conditions and with age‐ and gender‐matched controls. High‐resolution MRI was employed to evaluate healthy controls and individuals with BEB and CD. Eleven BEB, 9 CD, and 14 healthy control subjects were imaged. VBM revealed alterations of gray matter structures involved in sensorimotor processing in the individuals with focal dystonia. In CD subjects there was increased gray matter in the thalamus, caudate head bilaterally, superior temporal lobe, and left cerebellum, while gray matter was decreased in the putamen bilaterally. BEB subjects had increased gray matter in the caudate head and cerebellum bilaterally as well as decrease in the putamen and thalamus bilaterally. These findings strongly underline the recent notion that idiopathic focal dystonias might have a detectable structural correlate. They also demonstrate structural similarities of the investigated focal dystonias, possibly reflecting a shared common pathophysiological origin. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Enhancement of rigidity in Parkinson's disease with activation
Authors: Hong Minna , Perlmutter Joel S. , Earhart Gammon M. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractRigidity, a cardinal symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD), increases with movement of a contralateral limb. It is unclear whether this effect is specific for movement of a contralateral limb. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that ipsilateral or contralateral movement would enhance rigidity but that bilateral limb movements would maximally increase rigidity in people with PD. We assessed rigidity in 12 people with PD off meds, 12 matched controls, and 10 young controls, using a Rigidity Analyzer (Neurokinetics, Alberta, Canada). The elbow was passively moved repetitively into flexion and extension by the examiner, while the subjects engaged in different toe tapping conditions: no tapping, ipsilateral tapping, contralateral tapping, and bilateral tapping. Three 50‐second trials were done for each condition and the order of the trials was randomized. A 2‐way repeated measures ANOVA and Holm–Sidak post hoc tests were used to determine differences across conditions and groups. There was a significant effect of group, tapping conditions and an interaction of the two. Post hoc tests revealed that for the PD group, all tapping conditions were significantly different from the no tapping condition but not different from each other. There were no differences across conditions for the controls. We conclude that movement of either the contralateral or ipsilateral lower extremity can increase arm rigidity in people with PD but the effects from left and right are apparently not additive. Further, activation did not enhance muscle tone in controls suggesting that this procedure may help distinguish people with PD from controls. © 2007 Movement Disordrer Society
Electromagnetic scattering theorems for interior dipole excitation of a layered obstacle
Authors: Athanasiadis Christodoulos , Tsitsas Nikolaos L. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA layered scatterer is excited by a time‐harmonic spherical electromagnetic wave, generated by a dipole located either in the interior or in the exterior of the scatterer. The scatterer's core may be perfect conducting, impedance or dielectric. This paper initiates the investigation of scattering theorems corresponding to the excitation of a layered scatterer by a dipole in its interior. We establish reciprocity and general scattering theorems relating the total electric fields with the corresponding far‐field patterns. The optical theorem, relating the scattering cross‐section with the electric field in the layer containing the dipole, is recovered as a corollary of the general scattering theorem. Furthermore, for a scatterer excited by a spherical and a plane wave, mixed scattering theorems are derived. Besides, all the derived theorems recover known results, concerning the excitation of a homogeneous scatterer by an exterior dipole. We also analyze numerical implementations of the optical theorem in certain concrete scattering applications. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antiinflammatory and antifibrogenic effects of s‐ethyl cysteine and s‐methyl cysteine in the kidney of diabetic mice
Authors: Yin Mei‐chin , Hsu Cheng‐chin , Chiang Pei‐fang , Wu Wen‐jean 
Published: April 2007

AbstractProtective effects of s‐ethyl cysteine (SEC) and s‐methyl cysteine (SMC) in kidney of diabetic mice were examined. SEC and SMC at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 g/L were added to the drinking water for 6 wk. Results showed that the intake of SEC or SMC alleviated body weight loss and urine output, as well as markedly decreased plasma blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine clearance (CCr) in diabetic mice (P < 0.05). The intake of SEC caused significantly dose‐dependent increase in insulin and decrease in blood glucose, urinary albumin and type IV collagen (P < 0.05). SEC and SMC intake significantly and dose‐dependently decreased malondialdehyde level and increased glutathione content in kidney (P < 0.05). The intake of these agents also increased renal GPx activity (P < 0.05), but there was no dose‐dependent effect. SEC treatments dose‐dependently decreased IL‐6 and TNF‐α levels, increased IL‐4 and IL‐10 levels, as well as upregulated IL‐10 mRNA expression (P < 0.05). SMC treatments significantly suppressed renal IL‐6 and TNF‐α levels (P < 0.05), but did not affect IL‐4 and IL‐10 levels (P < 0.05). SEC or SMC intake significantly suppressed renal TGF‐beta1 level and renal PKC activity (P < 0.05); however, only SEC treatments showed dose‐dependent effect. SEC and SMC treatments significantly down‐regulated mRNA expression of renal TGF‐beta1 (P < 0.05), only SEC treatments had dose‐dependent effects. Based on the observed antioxidative, antiinflammatory, and antifibrogenic effects, the supplement of SEC or SMC might be helpful for the prevention or treatment of diabetic kidney diseases.
Importance of a canteen lunch on the dietary intake of acrylamide
Authors: Mestdagh Frédéric , Lachat Carl , Baert Katleen , Moons Emmanuelle , Kolsteren Patrick , Van Peteghem Carlos , De Meulenaer Bruno 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA food and drink intake survey was carried out among university students and staff members. Consumption data were collected on days when the participants took hot lunch in a university canteen. The dietary acrylamide exposure was calculated through a probabilistic approach and revealed a median intake of 0.40 μg/kg bw/day [90% confidence interval: 0.36–0.44], which is in accordance with previous exposure calculations. Biscuits (35.4%), French fries (29.9%), bread (23.5%), and chocolate (11.2%) were identified to be the main sources of dietary acrylamide. Foodstuffs consumed in between the three main meals of the day (so called snack type foods) contributed the most to the intake (42.2%). The exposure was lower in an intervention group which received free portions of fruit and vegetables, indicating that a nutritionally balanced diet may contribute to a decreased acrylamide intake. French fries had a significant impact on the acrylamide intake, due to the frequent consumption in the canteen. This demonstrates the important responsibility of caterers and canteen kitchens in the mitigation of acrylamide exposure through reduction of acrylamide in their prepared products, in particular in French fries.
Angiotensin‐converting enzyme activity in plasma and tissues of spontaneously hypertensive rats after the short‐ and long‐term intake of hydrolysed egg white
Authors: Miguel Marta , Manso María A. , Martín‐Álvarez Pedro J. , Aleixandre Amaya , López‐Fandiño Rosina 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis paper evaluates the effects of the short‐ (1 g/kg) and long‐term (0.5 and 1 g/kg/day) oral intake of egg white hydrolysed with pepsin (hEW) and the long‐term oral intake (1 g/kg/day) of egg white (EW) on local angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) activities in plasma and other tissues of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), as compared to the effect of the ACE inhibitor prototype captopril. The rats treated with hEW were classed in a different group than the control rats and the rats treated with EW by cluster analysis, taking into account their tissue ACE activities and their systolic blood pressure (SBP). Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that SBP in SHR was negatively related with ACE activity in plasma and positively related with ACE activity in aorta and kidney. ACE activity in plasma significantly increased after the long‐term treatment with hEW (0.5 g/kg/day). ACE activity in aorta and kidney was significantly inhibited 4 h after the short‐term administration of hEW. The long‐term treatment with hEW caused local effects on ACE activity in aorta, kidney and lungs that followed a pattern similar, but less pronounced, than that caused by captopril.
Magnetic stimulation including the triple‐stimulation technique in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Attarian Shahram , Verschueren Annie , Pouget Jean 
Published: April 2007

AbstractTo study the relative importance of upper motor neuron (UMN) dysfunction in the weakness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and to compare the sensitivity of several transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) parameters as means of assessing UMN impairment in ALS, we used TMS to evaluate one upper limb of 63 patients. The triple‐stimulation technique (TST) and silent period (SP) were found to be the most frequently abnormal parameters (55.6% and 47.6%, respectively), without significant difference in their diagnostic sensitivity. The SP was found to be a useful parameter in patients with suspected or possible ALS. A positive correlation was found between weakness and the TST amplitude ratio, indicating that weakness may partly be caused by UMN dysfunction. Thus, the TST provides a quantitative tool for assessing UMN conduction failure. When used in association with the SP, the TST provides a sensitive diagnostic tool for use on ALS patients. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Latin–American public financial reporting: recent and future development
Authors: Pérez Carmen Caba , Hernández Antonio López 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn recent years, numerous Latin–American countries have carried out reforms in their public accounting systems, with technical cooperation provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Taking into account the lack of international accounting standards for the public sector, USAID has designed a model termed Integrated Financial Management System for Latin America and the Caribbean (IFMS or SIMAFAL). This model is intended to provide better financial information for governmental decision‐taking as regards the allocation of resources; a further goal is to achieve greater transparency and for a higher degree of responsibility to be accepted for the commitments made and the results of activities undertaken.Important changes are currently taking place on the international public accounting scene and the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) is pressing for the adoption of a set of international public accounting standards by Latin–American countries. In this article, we compare the level of information included in the year‐end governmental public report in Latin–American countries which have carried out their reforms outside SIMAFAL with that of others which have followed this model. Second, we examine the extent to which the public financial reporting practices recommended by IFAC coincide with those adopted by the above countries. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Community‐based environmental management in Vietnam: the challenge of sharing power in a politically guided society
Authors: Ingle Marcus , Halimi Shpresa 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe article presents the challenges of introducing a ‘shared‐power’ community‐based management approach in the socialist society of Vietnam. The Portland State University (PSU)'s Oregon Environmental Management Alliance partnered with Vietnamese organisations in a shared‐power pilot project aimed at strengthening stakeholder participation in environmental improvements in two communities along the Tan Hoa‐Lo Gom (THLG) canal in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). The Oregon Solutions model, a community‐based environmental management (CBEM) approach, was adapted for the shared‐power project. This article analyses three core ingredients of the shared‐power CBEM approach: multiple stakeholder structure, dispersed authority arrangements and diverse policy instruments. Critical reflections are offered on the meaning and appropriateness of these shared‐power ingredients when they are reinvented in Vietnam's politically guided governance system. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Shape memory effect of poly(L‐lactide)‐ based polyurethanes with different hard segments
Authors: Wang Wenshou , Ping Peng , Chen Xuesi , Jing Xiabin 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA series of biodegradable polylactide‐based polyurethanes (PLAUs) were synthesized using PLA diol (Mn = 3200) as soft segment, 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), 2,4‐toluene diisocyanate (TDI), and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) as hard segment, and 1,4‐butanediol as chain extender. The structures and properties of these PLAUs were studied using infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, tensile testing, and thermomechanical analysis. Among them, the MDI‐based PLAU has the highest Tg, maximum tensile strength, and restoration force, the TDI‐based PLAU has the lowest Tg, and the IPDI‐based PLAU has the highest tensile modulus and elongation at break. They are all amorphous. The shape recovery of the three PLAUs is almost complete in a tensile elongation of 150% or a twofold compression. They can keep their temporary shape easily at room temperature (20 °C). More importantly, they can deform and recover at a temperature below their Tg values. Therefore, by selecting the appropriate hard segment and adjusting the ratio of hard to soft segments, they can meet different practical demands for shape memory medical devices. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Controlled release of recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF) from poly[(lactic acid)‐co‐(glycolic acid)] microspheres for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders
Authors: Gu Haigang , Song Cunxian , Long Dahong , Mei Lin , Sun Hongfan 
Published: April 2007

AbstractRecombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF)/bovine serum albumin‐loaded microspheres were prepared by a water/oil/water emulsion and solvent evaporation technique with some modifications. The microspheres were characterized with respect to encapsulation efficiency, morphological properties and drug release. Using higher protein/polymer ratios in the primary emulsion resulted in higher protein content in the microspheres. The protein encapsulation efficiency increased from 89.1% to 97.5% on adding poly(ethylene glycol) to the inner aqueous phase. The in vitro rhNGF release lasted for more than 5 weeks. The biological activity of released rhNGF was confirmed by PC12 cell culture. The microspheres maintained a sustained release of rhNGF for at least 4 weeks in the basal forebrain as detected by fluorescence‐labeled and indirect immunofluorescent techniques. These results demonstrated the rhNGF‐containing microspheres are an effective means for delivering this molecule into the brain and their use may be a promising strategy in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Comparative proteomic analysis of human pancreatic juice: Methodological study
Authors: Zhou Lu , Lu ZhaoHui , Yang AiMing , Deng RuiXue , Mai CanRong , Sang XinTing , Faber Klaas Nico , Lu XingHua 
Published: April 2007

AbstractPancreatic cancer is the most lethal of all the common malignancies. Markers for early detection of this disease are urgently needed. Here, we optimized and applied a proteome analysis of human pancreatic juice to identify biomarkers for pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic juice samples, devoid of blood or bile contamination, were collected from patients with pancreatic cancer (n = 5), benign pancreatic diseases (n = 6), or cholelithiasis (n = 3) during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). After ultramembrane centrifugation sample preparation, pancreatic juice proteins were separated by 2‐DE and identified by MALDI‐TOF‐MS. A 2‐DE dataset of pancreatic juice from patients with cholelithiasis was established, consisting of 76 protein spots representing 22 different proteins. Disease‐associated obstruction of the pancreatic duct strongly effected the protein composition of pancreatic juice. Concurrently, pancreatic juice from patients with pancreatic cancer was compared to nonmalignant controls with comparable obstruction of pancreatic ducts. Seven protein spots were identified that consistently appeared at changed levels in pancreatic juice from patients with pancreatic cancer. In conclusion, comparative proteomic analysis of human pancreatic juice can be used to identify biomarkers of pancreatic cancer.
Implications of 15N‐metabolic labeling for automated peptide identification in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Nelson Clark J. , Huttlin Edward L. , Hegeman Adrian D. , Harms Amy C. , Sussman Michael R. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe report the first metabolic labeling of Arabidopsis thaliana for proteomic investigation, demonstrating efficient and complete labeling of intact plants. Using a reversed‐database strategy, we evaluate the performance of the MASCOT search engine in the analysis of combined natural abundance and 15N‐labeled samples. We find that 15N‐metabolic labeling appears to increase the ambiguity associated with peptide identifications due in part to changes in the number of isobaric amino acids when the isotopic label is introduced. This is reflected by changes in the distributions of false positive identifications with respect to MASCOT score. However, by determining the nitrogen count from each pair of labeled and unlabeled peptides we may improve our confidence in both heavy and light identifications.
Modeling the proteome of a Marek's disease transformed cell line: a natural animal model for CD30 overexpressing lymphomas
Authors: Buza Joram J. , Burgess Shane C. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractMarek's disease (MD) in the chicken, caused by the highly infectious MD α‐herpesvirus (MDV), is both commercially important and a unique, naturally occurring model for human T‐cell lymphomas overexpressing the Hodgkin's disease antigen, CD30. Here, we used proteomics as a basis for modeling the molecular functions and biological processes involved in MDV‐induced lymphomagenesis. Proteins were extracted from an MDV‐transformed cell line and were then identified using 2‐D LC‐ESI‐MS/MS. From the resulting 3870 cellular and 21 MDV proteins we confirm the existence of 3150 “predicted” and 12 “hypothetical” chicken proteins. The UA‐01 proteome is proliferative, differentiated, angiogenic, pro‐metastatic and pro‐immune‐escape but anti‐programmed cell death, ‐anergy, ‐quiescence and ‐senescence and is consistent with a cancer phenotype. In particular, the pro‐metastatic integrin signaling pathway and the ERK/MAPK signaling pathways were the two predominant signaling pathways represented. The cytokines, cytokine receptors, and their related proteins suggest that UA‐01 has a regulatory T‐cell phenotype.
Role of interfacial interactions on the anomalous swelling of polymer thin films in supercritical carbon dioxide
Authors: Li Yuan , Park Eun J. , Lim Kwon T. , Johnston Keith P. , Green Peter F. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIt has recently been shown that thin polymer films in the nanometer thickness range exhibit anomalous swelling maxima in supercritical CO2 (Sc‐Co2) in the vicinity of the critical point of CO2. The adsorption isotherm of CO2 on carbon black, silica surfaces, porous zeolites, and other surfaces, is known to exhibit anomalous maxima under similar CO2 conditions. It is believed that because CO2 possesses a low cohesive energy density, there would be an excess amount of CO2 at the surfaces of these materials and hence the CO2/polymer interface. This might cause excess CO2 in the polymer films near the free surface, and hence the swelling anomaly. In addition, an excess of CO2 would reside at the polymer/substrate and polymer/CO2 interfaces for entropic reasons. These interfacial effects, as have been suggested, should account for an overall excess of CO2 in a thin polymer film compared to the bulk, and would be responsible for the anomalous swelling. In this study, we use in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry to investigate the role of interfaces on the anomalous swelling of polymer thin films of varying initial thicknesses, h0, exposed to Sc‐CO2. We examined three homopolymers, poly(1,1′‐dihydroperflurooctyl methacrylate) (PFOMA), polystyrene (PS), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), that exhibit very different interactions with Sc‐CO2, and the diblock copolymer of PS‐b‐PFOMA. We show that the anomalous swelling cannot be solely explained by the excess adsorption of CO2 at interfaces. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1313–1324, 2007