bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on Parkinson's Disease: A Cross‐Sectional Survey of 568 Spanish Patients
Authors: Santos‐García Diego , Oreiro Mila , Pérez Patricia , Fanjul Gemma , Paz González Jose Manuel , Feal Painceiras María José , Cores Bartolomé Carlos , Valdés Aymerich Lorena , García Sancho Carlos , Castellanos Rodrigo Maria del Mar 
Published: August 2020

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe aim of this study was to know the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic on Spanish patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).MethodsThis is a descriptive, observational, cross‐sectional study. An anonymous online survey with 95 questions was distributed among patients. Responses were collected from 11 May 2020 to 20 July 2020.ResultsOf a total of 570 questionnaires received, 568 (99.6%) were considered valid for the analysis (mean age, 63.5 ± 12.5 years; 53% females). A total of 553 patients (97.4%) were aware of the COVID‐19 pandemic and 68.8% were concerned about it; 95.6% took preventive measures. A total of 484 patients (85.2%) had no contact with cases of COVID‐19, and only 15 (2.6%) had confirmed COVID‐19. Although up to 72.7% remained active during confinement, 65.7% perceived a worsening of their symptoms.ConclusionsSpanish patients with PD perceived the COVID‐19 pandemic with concern and responsibility. More than half experienced worsening of their symptoms during confinement. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Differences in voluntary and reflexive cough strength in individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and healthy adults
Authors: Tabor‐Gray Lauren , Vasilopoulos Terrie , Plowman Emily K. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIntroductionDystussia impacts the ability to protect the airway. Voluntary cough provides a metric of airway defense but differs from the reflexive response to aspiration during swallowing. Therefore, we evaluated relationships between voluntary and reflexive cough among individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and a healthy cohort.MethodsTwenty‐eight individuals with ALS and 26 healthy individuals completed voluntary and reflexive cough testing. Descriptive statistics, reliability, and paired t tests were conducted to evaluate differences in cough volume acceleration (CVA) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in voluntary vs reflexive cough.ResultsCompared with reflexive cough, voluntary CVA and PEFR were greater in individuals with ALS [t(27) = 4.83, P < .001 and t(27) = 8.69, P < .001] and the healthy cohort [t(21) = 5.91, P < .001 and t(21) = 12.26, P < .001], respectively.DiscussionThese findings hold important implications for the use and interpretation of voluntary peak cough flow during clinical swallowing evaluations.
Black Bullhead Removal from a Headwater Trout Stream in Southern California
Authors: Barabe Russell 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
The introduction of invasive species has resulted in negative impacts to aquatic ecosystems and is cited as the second leading cause of fish extinctions. In the southwestern United States, low diversity and high levels of endemism increase the deleterious effects of these introductions. Near the southern edge of their range, the last remaining population of native Coastal Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus in San Diego County, California, inhabits the West Fork San Luis Rey River (WFSLRR). The nonnative Black Bullhead Ameiurus melas was discovered in the WFSLRR in 2007, elevating concern over this small population of Coastal Rainbow Trout. Preliminary surveys found that baited minnow traps set overnight were effective at capturing Black Bullhead; therefore, a removal project was initiated. Crew members set baited traps at the upstream end of the Coastal Rainbow Trout distribution in the evening (maximum = 72 traps/trip) and checked the traps the following morning. Four two-night trips were completed in 2016, removing 1,315 Black Bullhead. The initial Black Bullhead population was estimated as 1,361 fish by a depletion function. Follow-up surveys in 2017 and 2018 captured no Black Bullhead. Prolonged drought conditions in California during the removal effort may have concentrated the Black Bullhead into pools, facilitating this rare complete eradication of an invasive fish species.
Crossing the hurdles of translation—a robust methodology for synthesis, characterization and GMP production of cross‐linked high molecular weight hyaluronic acid particles (cHA)
Authors: Krishna K. Vijaya , Benito Ana , Alkorta Janire , Gleyzes Christine , Dupin Damien , Loinaz Iraida , Pandit Abhay 
Published: August 2020

AbstractHyaluronic acid (HA) is one of the most widely used extracellular matrix substrate in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and other clinical applications, due to its unique physiochemical properties and ubiquitous biological presence. In the past decade, there has been a surge in research paradigms involving HA products to evaluate their commercial feasibility. Numerous papers and reviews have reported procedures for chemical modifications and cross‐linking of HA, but the intricacies of their scale‐up in the production processes are often not discussed. Protected by confidentiality agreements with industry partners, information on these procedures is exclusive and not accessible within an academic setting. Establishing translatable synthetic protocols of HA would address this significant gap in the field and facilitate their use in other applications. The current method details a reproducible and robust method for producing particles that are composed of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (cHA) and cross‐linked via a 4‐arm polyethylene glycol amine linker using 4‐(4,6‐dimethoxy‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐yl)‐4‐methyl‐morpholinium chloride chemistry. A critical analysis of previously reported procedures for their advantages and limitations (reaction parameters, molar equivalents, and reagents used for cross‐linking), forms the basis for this procedure and its subsequent adaptation to good manufacturing practices requirements. As a component of a Class III medical device, the reported cHA is in the form of non‐sized particles.
Analytical and numerical solutions of the Fitzhugh–Nagumo equation and their multistability behavior
Authors: İnan Bilge , Ali Khalid K. , Saha Asit , Ak Turgut 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we propose an analytical method and a modification of explicit exponential finite difference method (EEFDM) for analytical and numerical solutions of the Fitzhugh–Nagumo (FN) and Newell–Whitehead (NW) equations. The method is improved computationally by using the Padé approximation technique. Furthermore, multistability behavior of traveling wave solutions of the FN and NW equations are examined in presence of external forcing. It is observed that there exist coexisting periodic and quasiperiodic orbits for the FN equation, where as only quasiperiodic orbits is observed in case of NW equation.
Medical Weight‐Loss Outcomes in Patients Receiving Concomitant Psychotropic Medication: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Shukla Alpana P. , Mandel Lindsay S. , Tchang Beverly G. , Litman Ethan , Cadwell Joshua , Kumar Rekha B. , Waitman Jonathan , Igel Leon I. , Christos Paul , Aronne Louis J. 
Published: August 2020

ObjectiveThis study aimed to elucidate medical weight‐loss outcomes in patients unexposed or exposed to psychotropic medication(s).MethodsThis retrospective cohort study evaluated weight‐loss outcomes of completers treated at an academic weight‐management center between April 1, 2014, and April 1, 2016. Patients were classified as either unexposed (not prescribed psychotropic medication) or exposed (prescribed psychotropic medication) based on use of antidepressants, mood stabilizers, or antipsychotics during the study.ResultsOf 1,932 patients seen during the study period, 885 were eligible for inclusion, of whom 619 (70.0%) were unexposed and 266 (30.0%) were exposed to psychotropic medications. In the unexposed and exposed groups, the mean age, sex distribution, proportion with type 2 diabetes, initial BMI, and number of weight‐loss medications prescribed were similar. At 12 months, the unexposed group lost 1.6% more weight on average than the exposed group (9.1% [SD 7.6%] vs. 7.5% [SD 8.1%], respectively; P = 0.02); 71.0% and 41.2% of the unexposed group achieved ≥ 5% and ≥ 10% weight loss at 12 months, respectively, compared with 63.1% and 31.8% in the exposed group at 12 months (P = 0.04 at 5%; P = 0.02 at 10%).ConclusionsExposure to psychotropic medications was associated with diminished weight loss in patients with medically managed overweight and obesity.
Bariatric Surgery‐Induced Changes in Intima‐Media Thickness and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Class 3 Obesity: A 3‐Year Follow‐Up Study
Authors: Domenech‐Ximenos Blanca , Cuba Victor , Daunis‐i‐Estadella Pepus , Thió‐Henestrosa Santiago , Jaldo Francisco , Biarnes Carles , Molina Xavier , Xifra Gemma , Ricart Wifredo , Bardera Anton , Boada Imma , Essig Marco , Pedraza Salvador , Federici Massimo , Fernández‐Real José Manuel , Puig Josep 
Published: August 2020

ObjectiveThe impact of weight loss induced by bariatric surgery (BS) and nonsurgical approaches on cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) has not been fully elucidated. We assessed the effects of BS and a nonsurgical approach on carotid intima‐media thickness (CIMT) and CVRFs in participants with class 3 obesity.MethodsA total of 87 participants with obesity (59 women; 46 [37‐52] years old; BMI, 43 [40‐47]) and 75 controls were recruited; 21 (25%) participants with obesity underwent BS. BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose, C‐reactive protein, CIMT, and Framingham Risk Score were measured at baseline and at 3‐year follow‐up. Independent factors for reduction in CIMT were analyzed. The literature on the effects of BS and CIMT was reviewed.ResultsAfter BS, BMI decreased from 45.45 to 27.28 (P < 0.001), and mean CIMT decreased from 0.64 mm (0.56‐0.75 mm) to 0.54 mm (0.46‐0.65) mm (P < 0.012), equivalent to 0.005 mm/kg of weight lost. At 3‐year follow‐up, participants who had undergone BS had similar CIMT and CVRFs to the control group. No changes in CVRFs were seen related to the nonsurgical approach. BMI reduction after BS had the strongest independent association with decreased CIMT.ConclusionsWeight loss after BS decreases CIMT and CVRFs in middle‐aged participants with class 3 obesity, resulting in CIMT similar to that observed in lean participants.
A special filler for epoxy resin to enhance the T peel strength of adhesive
Authors: Xu Hang , Zhang Xiaorui , Hu Guangkai , Weng Ling , Liu Lizhu 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe filler that could enhance the T peel strength of adhesive was prepared using graphene oxide (GO) grafted with toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and amino terminated poly(butadiene‐acrylonitrile) (ATBN). As a result of structure characterization, the ATBN‐TDI‐GO structure with dissociated ‐NCO groups was built. The T peel strength of the adhesive containing 25 wt% ATBN, 17 wt% TDI, and 0.5 wt% GO increased to 18.47 N/mm, which increased by 4.75 times compared with pure epoxy resin (EP), and other mechanical properties of the adhesive were enhanced. The reason for the increasing of bonding properties was chemical bonding built between the adherent and the adhesive by the surplus ‐NCO groups provided by the ATBN‐TDI‐GO filler. The effect of physical adsorption provided by ATBN and the chemical bonding between the matrix resin and ATBN‐TDI‐GO filler also could toughen the EP resin. The design of the EP filler could provide a new method for adhesive manufacture.
Knowledge is money: Do people think cultural capital can be transformed into economic value?
Authors: Yu Feng , Peng Kaiping , Hu Xiaomeng 
Published: August 2020

AbstractCultural capital is defined as the accumulation of knowledge, behaviors, and skills that a person can tap into to demonstrate one's cultural competence and social status (Bourdieu, 1986). Cultural capital has been well‐understood in social sciences such as sociology and economics for the past decades. Little research has examined the psychological antecedences and consequences of cultural capital at the individual level. Our current work seeks to provide empirical evidence to support the claim that cultural capital (embodied, objective, and institutionalized) can be transformed into economic value. Using a 3 × 3 × 2 (Cultural Capital Conditions × Behavioral Agents × Frames) mixed experimental design, our data showed that under the gain frame rather than the loss frame, the property of people with cultural capital was judged higher than those pretending to have cultural capital, but without real knowledge. Interestingly, this pattern of results only holds true under the embodied cultural capital condition, but did not hold true under the objectified and institutionalized cultural capital conditions.
β‐Cyclodextrin‐functionalized copolymers based on multiple intermolecular forces for enhanced oil recovery
Authors: Ren Hao , Ding Xiang‐Hua , Luo Qiang , Yang Lian‐Yu , Yong Xiao‐Hua , Wei Yun , Peng Jian , Deng Yong 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAs one of mature enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technologies, polymer flooding has been extensively applied in oilfield. In this study, new hydrophobically associative copolymers were synthesized by free‐radical polymerization of acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AA), vinyl‐modified β‐cyclodextrins, and a water‐soluble hydrophobic macromonomer (AA‐APE‐20). Fourier transform infrared, proton‐nuclear magnetic resonance, and scanning electron microscopy verified the structure of hydrophobically associative polymers (HDAPAMs). Compared with partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM), multiple intermolecular forces including chelation between ethoxyl (EO) group and Ca2+/Mg2+, electrostatic bridges between EO groups and carboxyl groups (COO−), hydrogen bonding between EO groups and AM groups (CONH2), hydrophobic association among nonyl phenol groups, and host‐guest inclusion interaction endowed HDAPAMs favorable temperature‐resistance, salt‐resistance, and displacement efficiency. It was found that HDAPAMs showed evident temperature‐response, salt thickening effect, favorable thixotropy, and viscoelasticity. Compared with HPAM, the core flooding experiments demonstrated that HDAPAMs could further enhance 6.97% to 8.43% oil recovery, even after HPAM flooding used. All the results revealed the EOR potential in HDAPAMs flooding.
Self‐Efficacy and Social Support are Associated with Disability for Ambulatory Prosthesis Users After Lower‐Limb Amputation
Authors: Miller Matthew J. , Cook Paul F. , Magnusson Dawn M. , Morris Megan A. , Blatchford Patrick J. , Schenkman Margaret L. , Christiansen Cory L. 
Published: August 2020

BackgroundInterventions targeting psychosocial factors may improve rehabilitation outcomes for prosthesis users after lower‐limb amputation (LLA), but there is a need to identify targeted factors for minimizing disability.ObjectiveTo identify psychosocial factors related to disability for prosthesis users after LLA in middle age or later.DesignCross‐sectional study.SettingGeneral community.ParticipantsParticipants with LLA (N = 122) were included in this cross‐sectional study if their most recent LLA was at least 1 year prior, they were ambulating independently with a prosthesis, and they were between 45 and 88 years old.InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresDisability, the primary outcome, was measured using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS). Candidate psychosocial variables included self‐efficacy, social support, and motivation, measured using the Self‐Efficacy of Managing Chronic Disease questionnaire (SEMCD), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support questionnaire (MSPSS), and modified contemplation ladder (mCL), respectively. The hypothesis was that greater self‐efficacy, social support, and motivation would be associated with lower disability when controlling for covariates.ResultsThe covariate model, including etiology, age, sex, U.S. military veteran status, LLA characteristics, time since LLA, medical complexity, and perceived functional capacity, explained 66.1% of disability variability (WHODAS 2.0). Backward elimination of candidate psychosocial variables stopped after removal of motivation (P = .10), with self‐efficacy (P < .001) and social support (P = .002) variables remaining in the final model. The final model fit was statistically improved (P < .001) and explained an additional 6.1% of disability variability when compared to the covariate model.ConclusionsGreater self‐efficacy and social support are related to lower disability after LLA. Findings suggest there may be a role for interventions targeting increased physical function, self‐efficacy, and social support for ambulatory prosthesis users after LLA in middle age or later, especially when complicated by multiple chronic conditions.
Psychosocial Factors Influence Physical Activity after Dysvascular Amputation: A Convergent Mixed‐Methods Study
Authors: Miller Matthew J. , Morris Megan A. , Magnusson Dawn M. , Putnam Kelly , Cook Paul F. , Schenkman Margaret L. , Christiansen Cory L. 
Published: August 2020

BackgroundPhysical function is a common target of rehabilitation intervention to improve disability and physical activity after dysvascular lower‐limb amputation (LLA); yet, the influence of psychosocial factors on physical activity is unclear.ObjectiveTo identify psychosocial factors with potential to influence clinically relevant measures of physical activity, physical function, and disability in light of participants' narratives.DesignConvergent mixed‐methods.SettingGeneral community.ParticipantsTwenty participants with dysvascular LLA were enrolled if their most recent LLA was at least 1 year prior, they were ambulating independently with a prosthesis, and were between 45 and 88 years old.InterventionNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresQuantitative data included physical activity (activPAL; steps/d), physical function (Timed Up‐and‐Go; TUG), and disability (World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0; WHODAS 2.0). Qualitative data were collected via semistructured interviews.ResultsHigher steps/d was moderately correlated with better TUG time (r = −.58, P < .01), but was not correlated with WHODAS 2.0 score (r = −0.18; P > .10). Qualitative analysis of interviews, using an inductive, team‐based, phenomenological approach, identified four themes: (1) perceptions of their prosthesis, (2) fear during mobility, (3) influence of LLA on life activities, and (4) positive outlook within social interactions. Mixed‐methods analysis used an iterative approach to interpret and describe how psychosocial factors influence physical activity in four exemplar cases.ConclusionsPhysical activity in people with dysvascular LLA results from an interaction among perceptions of their prosthesis, fear during mobility, influence of LLA on life activities, and positive outlook within social interactions. The overlapping nature of these themes suggests that interventions targeting psychosocial factors may be associated with improved physical activity, physical function, and subsequent disability after dysvascular LLA.
Effects of RAGE inhibition on the progression of the disease in hSOD1G93A ALS mice
Authors: Liu Liping , Killoy Kelby M. , Vargas Marcelo R. , Yamamoto Yasuhiko , Pehar Mariana 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAstrocytes play a key role in the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by actively inducing the degeneration of motor neurons. Motor neurons isolated from receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE)‐knockout mice are resistant to the neurotoxic signal derived from ALS‐astrocytes. Here, we confirmed that in a co‐culture model, the neuronal death induced by astrocytes over‐expressing the ALS‐linked mutant hSOD1G93A is prevented by the addition of the RAGE inhibitors FPS‐ZM1 or RAP. These inhibitors also prevented the motor neuron death induced by spinal cord extracts from symptomatic hSOD1G93A mice. To evaluate the relevance of this neurotoxic mechanism in ALS pathology, we assessed the therapeutic potential of FPS‐ZM1 in hSOD1G93A mice. FPS‐ZM1 treatment significantly improved hind‐limb grip strength in hSOD1G93A mice during the progression of the disease, reduced the expression of atrophy markers in the gastrocnemius muscle, improved the survival of large motor neurons, and reduced gliosis in the ventral horn of the spinal cord. However, we did not observe a statistically significant effect of the drug in symptoms onset nor in the survival of hSOD1G93A mice. Maintenance of hind‐limb grip strength was also observed in hSOD1G93A mice with RAGE haploinsufficiency [hSOD1G93A;RAGE(+/‐)], further supporting the beneficial effect of RAGE inhibition on muscle function. However, no benefits were observed after complete RAGE ablation. Moreover, genetic RAGE ablation significantly shortened the median survival of hSOD1G93A mice. These results indicate that the advance of new therapies targeting RAGE in ALS demands a better understanding of its physiological role in a cell type/tissue‐specific context.
To use or not to use propensity score matching?
Authors: Wang Jixian 
Published: August 2020

SummaryPropensity score matching (PSM) has been widely used to reduce confounding biases in observational studies. Its properties for statistical inference have also been investigated and well documented. However, some recent publications showed concern of using PSM, especially on increasing postmatching covariate imbalance, leading to discussion on whether PSM should be used or not. We review empirical and theoretical evidence for and against its use in practice and revisit the property of equal percent bias reduction and adapt it to more practical situations, showing that PSM has some additional desirable properties. With a small simulation, we explore the impact of caliper width on biases due to mismatching in matched samples and due to the difference between matched and target populations and show some issue of PSM may be due to inadequate caliper selection. In summary, we argue that the right question should be when and how to use PSM rather than to use or not to use it and give suggestions accordingly.
Performance study of change‐point detection thresholds for cumulative sum statistic in a sequential context
Authors: Sahki Nassim , Gégout‐Petit Anne , Wantz‐Mézières Sophie 
Published: August 2020

AbstractSequential detection is based on a recursive statistic and a threshold it must reach to report a change. In this paper, we consider the score‐based cumulative sum statistic and propose to evaluate the detection performance of some thresholds on simulated data. Three thresholds come from the literature: the Wald constant, the empirical constant, and the conditional empirical instantaneous threshold (the latter two are built by a simulation‐based procedure). Two new thresholds are built by a simulation‐based procedure: the first one is instantaneous, the second is a dynamical version of the previous one. The thresholds' performance measured by an estimation of the mean time between false alarm(MTBFA)and the average detection delay(ADD)are evaluated on independent and autocorrelated data for several scenario, according to the detection objective and the real change in the data. The simulations allow us to compare the difference between the thresholds' results and to see that their performances prove to be robust when a parameter of the prechange regime is misestimated or when the data independence assumption is violated. We found also that the conditional empirical threshold is the best at minimizing the detection delay while maintaining the given false alarm rate. However, on real data, we suggest to use the dynamic instantaneous threshold because it is the easiest to build for practical implementation.