bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long‐term outcome of clozapine use for psychosis in parkinsonian patients
Authors: Fernandez Hubert H. , Donnelly Edward M. , Friedman Joseph H. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractA retrospective analysis was carried out on 39 parkinsonian patients on clozapine treatment ≥24 months for psychosis. The cohort had a mean age of 76 years and an average clozapine dose of 47 mg/day over 60 months of clozapine use. Of 39 patients, 13 (33%) patients were eventually admitted to nursing homes, 6 (46%) of whom died over a period of 5 years. The overall 5‐year mortality rate in this cohort was 44% (17/39). Of 39 patients, 33 (85%) had continued partial/good response and 5 (13%) had complete resolution of psychosis. None discontinued clozapine due to motor worsening. Among patients who responded early on, the long‐term efficacy of clozapine for psychosis was sustained. The risk of nursing home placement and mortality among parkinsonian patients treated with clozapine for psychosis in this geriatric cohort was better than that reported previously. Our data are more consistent with recently published long‐term outcome data suggesting an improvement in the prognosis of parkinsonian patients with psychosis with the use of atypical antipsychotic agents such as clozapine. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Clinical signs and symptoms in a large hereditary spastic paraparesis pedigree with a novel spastin mutation
Authors: Nicholas Anthony P. , O'Hearn Elizabeth , Holmes Susan E. , Chen Dung‐Tsa , Margolis Russell L. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThe most common form of autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP), SPG4, is caused by mutations in the spastin gene on chromosome 2p. This disease is characterized by intra‐ and interfamilial phenotypic variation. To determine the predictive values of clinical signs and symptoms in SPG4, we examined 43 members of a large pedigree with autosomal dominant HSP. We then identified the genetic etiology of the disorder in this family, a novel nonsense mutation in exon 1 of spastin, carried by 24 of the examined family members. The best clinical predictors of positive gene status were the presence of hyperreflexia in the lower extremities, >2 beats of ankle clonus, pes cavus, bladder symptoms and increased tone in the legs. The mean age of onset was 32.2 ± 7.4 years, but the age of onset was earlier in children from 10 of 12 child–parent gene‐positive pairs, with a mean difference of 10.8 ± 3.3 years. The finding of leg weakness was especially common in older‐onset affected family member with leg hyperreflexia. These results suggest that specific clinical signs and symptoms may be of value in differentiating individuals affected with SPG4 from family members with nonspecific neurological findings. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Safety and efficacy of botulinum toxin type B (Myobloc) in adductor spasmodic dysphonia
Authors: Adler Charles H. , Bansberg Stephen F. , Krein‐Jones Kari , Hentz Joseph G. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThis single‐site, open‐label, dose‐finding study evaluated the safety and efficacy of botulinum toxin type B (BoNT‐B; Myobloc) for the treatment of adductor spasmodic dysphonia (AdSD) in 13 patients. Three patients received a total of 50 U (25 U per vocal fold); the same three subsequently received 100 U, and then 10 more received 200 U. The primary measure of efficacy was the patient's rating of the change in the severity of spasms on a scale from −3 to +3. There were seven secondary measures of efficacy, including blinded ratings of the sound of voice recorded on audiotape. At Week 8 after injection, spasms improved in 0 of 3 patients who received 50 U, 1 of 3 patients who received 100 U, and 8 of 10 patients who received 200 U. The mean (± standard deviation [SD]) score for the change in spasm severity at Week 8 in the 200 U group was 1.4 (±1.2) points (P = 0.004). All seven secondary measures also showed improvement. Breathiness was the most common side effect but was mild in intensity and of short duration. We conclude that BoNT‐B is safe and effective for the treatment of adductor spasmodic dysphonia. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Basigin expression and regulation in mouse ovary during the sexual maturation and development of corpus luteum
Authors: Chang Hong , Ni Hua , Ma Xing‐Hong , Xu Li‐Bin , Kadomatsu Kenji , Muramatsu Takashi , Yang Zeng‐Ming 
Published: April 2004

AbstractBasigin is a highly glycosylated transmembrane protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. Basigin‐deficient male mice are azoospermic. The majority of basigin null embryos die around the time of implantation. However, basigin expression and regulation in mouse ovary is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate basigin expression in mouse ovary during sexual maturation, gonadotropin treatment, and luteal development by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Both basigin mRNA and immunostaining were not detected in the granulosa cells of preantral follicles until day 20 after birth. On day 30 after birth, basigin immunostaining dropped to a basal level, while basigin mRNA was still at a high level. Basigin expression was strongly induced by equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) treatment at 4 and 8 hr post‐eCG injection. Both basigin immunostaining and mRNA signals were strongly observed in the corpus luteum on days 2 and 3 post‐hCG injection. However, no basigin expression was detected from days 6 to 15 post‐hCG injection. In conclusion, our data suggest that basigin may play a role during the mouse follicle development and corpus luteum formation. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 68: 135–141, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transcriptome of mouse uterus by serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE): Comparison with skeletal muscle
Authors: Larose M. , St‐Amand J. , Yoshioka M. , Belleau P. , Morissette J. , Labrie C. , Raymond V. , Labrie F. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThe aim of this study was to identify the transcriptome of the normal mouse uterus by Serial Analysis of Gene Expression method. mRNA was extracted from the uterus and also from the gastrocnemius muscle of mice. Short sequences (tags), each one usually corresponding to a distinct transcript, were isolated and concatemerized into long DNA molecules which were cloned and sequenced. We detected 44,484 tags for the uterus and 42,518 tags for the muscle, representing 14,543 and 14,958 potential transcript species, respectively. Seventy‐five and sixty‐nine genes were expressed at more than 0.1%, thus corresponding to 37 and 34% of the mRNA population detected in the respective tissues. In both cases, the most highly expressed genes are especially involved in muscle contraction, energy metabolism, and protein synthesis. Compared to skeletal muscle, some differentially expressed genes in the uterus are likely to correspond to its specific reproductive functions. The majority of these genes remain to be characterized. More than 70% of the different tags detected in the uterus did not match any sequence in the public databases and can represent novel or poorly identified genes. This study is the first quantitative description of the transcriptome of the uterus. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 68: 142–148, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lowering intracellular and extracellular calcium contents prevents cytotoxic effects of ethylene glycol‐based vitrification solution in unfertilized mouse oocytes
Authors: Takahashi Toshifumi , Igarashi Hideki , Doshida Masakazu , Takahashi Kazuhiro , Nakahara Kenji , Tezuka Naohiro , Kurachi Hirohisa 
Published: April 2004

AbstractWe investigated the characteristics of the changes in intracellular calcium (Ca2+) concentration ([Ca2+]i) and the viability of the unfertilized mouse oocytes exposed to various concentrations of ethylene glycol (EG)‐containing solutions or vitrification solutions. Oocytes exposed to EG (1, 5, 10, 20, and 40% (v/v)) exhibited a rapid and dose‐dependent increase in [Ca2+]i. The survival rate was 100% when oocytes were exposed to the EG concentration up to 5% through 5 min, while all oocytes were dead within 3 min when exposed to 10, 20, or 40% EG. When extracellular Ca2+ was removed, increase in [Ca2+]i at 10 and 20% EG was less than that at the same concentrations of EG with extracellular Ca2+. The survival rates of the oocytes exposed to 10, 20, and 40% EG at 3 min were 100, 97, and 0%, respectively. In the presence of 20 μM 1,2‐bis(o‐aminopheoxy)ethane‐N,N,N′,N′‐tetraacetic acid tetra acetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA‐AM), a Ca2+ chelator, a small increase in [Ca2+]i exposed to 10, 20, and 40% EG was observed until 4 min. Subsequently prolonged elevation of the [Ca2+]i was observed in the oocytes exposed to 40% EG but not with 10 and 20% EG. The survival rate of the oocytes, in the presence of 20 μM BAPTA‐AM, exposed to 10 and 20% EG was 100% throughout 5 min, while the oocytes exposed to 40% EG were alive only for 3 min. Treatment by the vitrification solution with various concentrations of EG (10, 20, and 40%) caused a smaller increase in [Ca2+]i, while the survival rates were higher compared to those without vitrification solution at the same concentrations of EG. These data suggested that the sustained [Ca2+]i rises by EG in unfertilized mouse oocytes resulted in cell death. Therefore, the lowering of [Ca2+]i in the oocytes exposed to the cryoprotectant may improve the viability of cryopreserved unfertilized oocytes. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 68: 250–258, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Managing routing tables for URL routers in content distribution networks
Authors: Prodanoff Zornitza Genova , Christensen Kenneth J. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractLarge‐scale content distribution networks (CDNs) can be built using URL routers to redirect client HTTP requests to the nearest content source. URL routers employ very large routing tables. To improve the manageability of CDNs, we propose to use URL signatures to reduce the size of routing tables and aggressive hashing to speed‐up routing look‐ups. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Escaping from Flatland: clinical and biological aspects of human mammary duct anatomy in three dimensions
Authors: Going James J , Moffat David F 
Published: April 2004

AbstractAccurate knowledge of breast duct anatomy in three dimensions is needed to understand normal breast development, how intraepithelial neoplasia may spread through a breast, and the potential for diagnostic and therapeutic access to breast parenchyma via the nipple. This paper reports three related exploratory studies. In study 1, the median number of milk‐collecting ducts in the nipple was determined in 72 breasts excised for cancer; in study 2, the volumes of all 20 complete duct systems (‘lobes’) in an autopsy breast were measured from 2 mm serial ‘subgross’ sections; and in study 3, a 3D digital model of all collecting ducts in a mastectomy nipple was made from 68 100 µm serial sections. The mastectomy nipples contained 11–48 central ducts (median 27, inter‐quartile range 21–30). In the autopsy breast, the largest ‘lobe’ drained 23% of breast volume; half of the breast was drained by three ducts and 75% by the largest six. Conversely, eight small duct systems together accounted for only 1.6% of breast volume. The 3D model of the nipple revealed three distinct nipple duct populations. Seven ducts maintained a wide lumen up to the skin surface (population A); 20 ducts tapered to a minute lumen at their origin in the vicinity of skin appendages (population B) on the apex of the nipple; and a minor duct population (C) arose around the base of the papilla. Major variations in duct morphology and extent define highly variable territories in which intraepithelial neoplasia could grow. While population A ducts appear accessible to duct endoscopy or lavage, population B and population C ducts may be less accessible. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Drug use among fathers around time of conception: two register based surveys from Denmark and The Netherlands
Authors: Schirm Eric , Pedersen Lars , Tobi Hilde , Nielsen Gunnar L. , Sørensen Henrik T. , de Jong‐van den Berg Lolkje T. W. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractStudy objectiveDespite the increasing attention for the role of paternal exposures around the period of conception, there is no factual information about drug utilisation of fathers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the drugs dispensed to fathers around conception, using pharmacy dispensing data of community pharmacies in Denmark and The Netherlands.Design and settingUsing pharmacy dispensing data from the Pharmaco‐epidemiological Prescription Database of North Jutland in Denmark and the InterAction database in the Netherlands, we examined the prescriptions reimbursed in the half year before conception of 56 735 Danish fathers from 1991 to 2000, and 5859 Dutch fathers from 1995 to 2000.Main resultsOne third of all fathers had taken up prescriptions for at least one drug in the half year before conception, both in Denmark and in The Netherlands. In the majority of fathers only one type of drug was dispensed, but in both countries at least 5% of all fathers had redeemed three or more types of drugs. The main drugs purchased by fathers in Denmark and The Netherlands were antibiotics (14.3 and 6.3% of all fathers, respectively), analgesics (6.1 and 7.6%), antihistamines (2.0 and 2.0%) and anti‐ulcer drugs (1.6 and 2.5%).ConclusionA large proportion of fathers used drugs around the time of conception. This finding emphasises the importance of safety information on therapeutic drugs with respect to potential paternal teratogenicity. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aluminum‐borate‐whiskers‐reinforced bismaleimide composites. 1: preparation and properties
Authors: Liang Guozheng , Hu Xiaolan 
Published: April 2004

AbstractAluminum‐borate‐whiskers‐reinforced bismaleimide (BMI/Al18B4O33) composites were prepared, and the mechanical and thermal properties were investigated. Results show that the coupling agent used for surface treatment of whiskers has a great effect on the properties of these materials. Composites containing surface‐untreated whiskers, or silane‐compound‐KH 921‐treated whiskers, exhibited initially only a slight increase in the flexural strength when the whiskers weight content increased up to 5 wt%; thereafter, they showed a sharp decrease when the whiskers content was higher than 5 wt%. On the other hand, impact strength tests showed that the addition of the two kinds of whiskers decreased the impact strength of the composites. However, studies of the composite containing borate (BE4)‐treated whiskers showed that its flexural strength greatly increased with increasing whisker content. Moreover, the composite showed initially an increase in impact strength with a whisker content up to 10 wt%, then showing a slight decrease when the whisker content reached 15 wt%. Scanning electron microscopy observations revealed that the two coupling agents (KH 921 and BE4) employed in this work tend to change the fracture features of the composites from brittleness to that of ductile behaviour. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Thin‐film solar cells: device measurements and analysis
Authors: Hegedus Steven S. , Shafarman William N. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractCharacterization of amorphous Si, CdTe, and Cu(InGa)Se2‐based thin‐film solar cells is described with focus on the deviations in device behavior from standard device models. Quantum efficiency (QE), current–voltage (J–V), and admittance measurements are reviewed with regard to aspects of interpretation unique to the thin‐film solar cells. In each case, methods are presented for characterizing parasitic effects common in these solar cells in order to identify loss mechanisms and reveal fundamental device properties. Differences between these thin‐film solar cells and idealized devices are largely due to a high density of defect states in the absorbing layers and to parasitic losses due to the device structure and contacts. There is also commonly a voltage‐dependent photocurrent collection which affectsJ–Vand QE measurements. The voltage and light bias dependence of these measurements can be used to diagnose specific losses. Examples of how these losses impact the QE,J–V, and admittance characterization are shown for each type of solar cell. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In situ diagnostic methods for thin‐film fabrication: utilization of heat radiation and light scattering
Authors: Sakurai K. , Hunger R. , Scheer R. , Kaufmann C. A. , Yamada A. , Baba T. , Kimura Y. , Matsubara K. , Fons P. , Nakanishi H. , Niki S. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractDeposition processes of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) thin films were observed by informative and low‐cost in situ monitoring means; the pyrometer technique, and the spectroscopic light‐scattering (SLS) technique. Intensities of thermal radiation and scattered white light were profiled from outside the vacuum chamber during growth, using a monochromatic pyrometer and a small CCD spectrometer. The deposition process was studied by systematic variations of major process parameters of CIGS, such as the substrate temperature, Ga concentration and Se supply. Various film properties, including the deposition speed, thickness, compositional ratios, surface roughness and precipitation of Cu‐rich phases have been monitored in situ. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modeling thin‐film PV devices
Authors: Burgelman Marc , Verschraegen Johan , Degrave Stefaan , Nollet Peter 
Published: April 2004

AbstractNumerical modeling is increasingly used to obtain insight in to the details of the physical operation of thin‐film solar cells. Over the years several modeling tools specific to thin‐film PV devices have been developed. A number of these tools have reached a mature status and are available to the PV community. Some of the most commonly used programs are presented and the possibilities as well as the shortcomings are discussed. Also, for the different thin‐film PV devices (CdTe, CIGS, and, to a lesser extent, amorphous silicon and nano‐structured solar cells) an overview is given of modeling efforts and achievements. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Accelerated testing and failure of thin‐film PV modules
Authors: McMahon T. J. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractPackaging‐related PV module failure is distinguished from cell failure, and those failures specific to thin‐film modules are reviewed. These are categorized according to the type of stress that produced them, e.g., temperature, voltage, moisture, current, and thermal cycling. An example is given that shows how to relate time under accelerated stress to time in use. Diagnostic tools for locating the affected area within a large‐area module are pointed out along with the importance of interpretation of the visual appearance of the different damage mechanisms. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development of thin‐film Cu(In,Ga)Se2and CdTe solar cells
Authors: Romeo A. , Terheggen M. , Abou‐Ras D. , Bätzner D. L. , Haug F.‐J. , Kälin M. , Rudmann D. , Tiwari A. N. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractCu(In,Ga)Se2and CdTe heterojunction solar cells grown on rigid (glass) or flexible foil substrates requirep‐type absorber layers of optimum optoelectronic properties andn‐type wide‐bandgap partner layers to form thep–n junction. Transparent conducting oxide and specific metal layers are used for front and back electrical contacts. Efficiencies of solar cells depend on various deposition methods as they control the optoelectronic properties of the layers and interfaces. Certain treatments, such as addition of Na in Cu(In,Ga)Se2and CdCl2treatment of CdTe have a direct influence on the electronic properties of the absorber layers and efficiency of solar cells. Processes for the development of superstrate and substrate solar cells are reviewed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thin‐film silicon solar cell technology
Authors: Shah A. V. , Schade H. , Vanecek M. , Meier J. , Vallat‐Sauvain E. , Wyrsch N. , Kroll U. , Droz C. , Bailat J. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThis paper describes the use, withinp–i–n‐ andn–i–p‐type solar cells, of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a‐Si:H) and hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon (μc‐Si:H) thin films (layers), both deposited at low temperatures (200°C) by plasma‐assisted chemical vapour deposition (PECVD), from a mixture of silane and hydrogen. Optical and electrical properties of thei‐layers are described. These properties are linked to the microstructure and hence to thei‐layer deposition rate, that in turn, affects throughput in production. The importance of contact and reflection layers in achieving low electrical and optical losses is explained, particularly for the superstrate case. Especially the required properties for the transparent conductive oxide (TCO) need to be well balanced in order to provide, at the same time, for high electrical conductivity (preferably by high electron mobility), low optical absorption and surface texture (for low optical losses and pronounced light trapping). Single‐junction amorphous and microcrystallinep–i–n‐type solar cells, as fabricated so far, are compared in their key parameters (Jsc, FF,Voc) with the [theoretical] limiting values. Tandem and multijunction cells are introduced; the μc‐Si: H/a‐Si: H or [micromorph] tandem solar cell concept is explained in detail, and recent results obtained here are listed and commented. Factors governing the mass‐production of thin‐film silicon modules are determined both by inherent technical reasons, described in detail, and by economic considerations. The cumulative effect of these factors results in distinct efficiency reductions from values of record laboratory cells to statistical averages of production modules. Finally, applications of thin‐film silicon PV modules, especially in building‐integrated PV (BIPV) are shown. In this context, the energy yields of thin‐film silicon modules emerge as a valuable gauge for module performance, and compare very favourably with those of other PV technologies. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thin‐film solar cells: an overview
Authors: Chopra K. L. , Paulson P. D. , Dutta V. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThin film solar cells (TFSC) are a promising approach for terrestrial and space photovoltaics and offer a wide variety of choices in terms of the device design and fabrication. A variety of substrates (flexible or rigid, metal or insulator) can be used for deposition of different layers (contact, buffer, absorber, reflector, etc.) using different techniques (PVD, CVD, ECD, plasma‐based, hybrid, etc.). Such versatility allows tailoring and engineering of the layers in order to improve device performance. For large‐area devices required for realistic applications, thin‐film device fabrication becomes complex and requires proper control over the entire process sequence. Proper understanding of thin‐film deposition processes can help in achieving high‐efficiency devices over large areas, as has been demonstrated commercially for different cells. Research and development in new, exotic and simple materials and devices, and innovative, but simple manufacturing processes need to be pursued in a focussed manner. Which cell(s) and which technologies will ultimately succeed commercially continue to be anybody's guess, but it would surely be determined by the simplicity of manufacturability and the cost per reliable watt. Cheap and moderately efficient TFSC are expected to receive a due commercial place under the sun. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.