| 1. |
- Balestrino, R, et al.
(author)
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Applications of the European Parkinson's Disease Association sponsored Parkinson's Disease Composite Scale (PDCS)
- 2019
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In: NPJ Parkinson's disease. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2373-8057. ; 5, s. 26-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study was addressed to determine the presence of Parkinson disease (PD) manifestations, their distribution according to motor subtypes, and the relationships with health-related quality of life (QoL) using the recently validated European Parkinson’s Disease Association sponsored Parkinson’s Disease Composite Scale (PDCS). Frequency of symptoms was determined by the scores of items (present if >0). Using ROC analysis and Youden method, MDS-UPDRS motor subtypes were projected on the PDCS to achieve a comparable classification based on the PDCS scores. The same method was used to estimate severity levels from other measures in the study. The association between the PDCS and QoL (PDQ-39) was analyzed by correlation and multiple linear regression. The sample consisted of 776 PD patients. We found that the frequency of PD manifestations with PDCS and MDS-UPDRS were overlapping, the average difference between scales being 5.5% only. Using the MDS-UPDRS subtyping, 215 patients (27.7%) were assigned as Tremor Dominant (TD), 60 (7.7%) Indeterminate, and 501 (64.6%) Postural Instability and Gait Difficulty (PIGD) in this cohort. With this classification as criterion, the analogous PDCS-based ratio provided these cut-off values: TD subtype, ≥1.06; Indeterminate, <1.06 but >0.65; and PIGD, <0.65. The agreement between the two scales on this classification was substantial (87.6%; kappa = 0.69). PDCS total score cut-offs for PD severity were: 23/24 for mild/moderate and 41/42 for moderate/severe. Moderate to high correlations (r = 0.35–0.80) between PDCS and PDQ-39 were obtained, and the four PDCS domains showed a significant independent influence on QoL. The conclusions are: (1) the PDCS assessed the frequency of PD symptoms analogous to the MDS-UPDRS; (2) motor subtypes and severity levels can be determined with the PDCS; (3) a significant association between PDCS and QoL scores exists.
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| 2. |
- Born, D., et al.
(author)
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CaBaCuO ultrathin films and junctions
- 2007
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In: IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity. - : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). - 1558-2515 .- 1051-8223. ; 17:2/3, s. 3581-3584
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We investigated transport properties of ultrathin CaBaCuO (CBCO) bridges, focusing on vortex dynamics, and Josephson bicrystal junctions. The CBCO films used are composed of a stacking sequence of two structural subunits having different functions, namely a Ba-based charge reservoir (CR) block and a Ca-based infinite layer (IL) superconducting block. SQUID microscopy investigations of these films provide Pearl lengths A more than the bridge widths. Measuring current-voltage characteristics we found evidence that at high temperatures the vortices are thermally activated at the edge of the bridge and pushed in, causing dissipation and a power-law dependence of the voltage from the current. At lower temperatures, the experimental curves change their shape. We compared these data with the predicted behavior for vortex quantum tunneling and we found very good agreement. Moreover, we have realized Josephson junctions composed of only a few superconducting CuO2 planes. The CBCO films used in these experiments are only 8 nm thick and have six superconducting CUO2 planes. The simple structure of the GB allows a reliable estimation of the coupling along the ab planes of the CuO2. We calculate for 24 degrees symmetric and asymmetric cases a critical current density per plane of about (1-3) kA/cm(2).
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