bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Validation of EpiTRAQ, a transition readiness assessment tool for adolescents and young adults with epilepsy
Authors: Clark Sarah J. , Beimer Nicholas J. , Gebremariam Acham , Fletcher Linda L. , Patel Anup D. , Carbone Lorrie , Guyot Jamie A. , Joshi Sucheta M. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo design and validate a transition readiness assessment tool for adolescents and young adults with epilepsy and without intellectual disability.MethodsWe adapted a general transition readiness assessment tool (TRAQ) to add epilepsy‐relevant items based on concepts in current epilepsy quality measures. The adapted tool, EpiTRAQ, maintained the original structure and scoring system. Concurrent with clinical implementation in pediatric and adult epilepsy clinics at an academic medical center, we assessed the validity and reliability of this adapted tool for patients 16‐26 years of age. This process included initial validation with 302 patients who completed EpiTRAQ between October 2017 and May 2018; repeat validation with 381 patients who completed EpiTRAQ between June 2018 and September 2019; and retest reliability among 153 patients with more than one completed EpiTRAQ.ResultsMean scores were comparable between initial and repeat validation populations (absolute value differences between 0.05 and 0.1); internal consistency ranged from good to high. For both the initial and repeat validation, mean scores and internal consistency demonstrated high comparability to the original TRAQ validation results. Upon retest, few patients rated themselves with a lower score, while the majority rated themselves with higher scores.SignificanceEpiTRAQ is a valid and reliable tool for assessing transition readiness in adolescents and young adults with epilepsy and without intellectual disability.
Full‐scale hybrid test for realistic verification of a seismic upgrading technique of RC frames by BRBs
Authors: Qie Yi , Barbagallo Francesca , Marino Edoardo M. , Du Chunbo , Wang Tao 
Published: August 2020

SummaryScientific research proposing any type of device/technique for seismic protection of buildings is generally based on numerical models that adopt simplifications to make possible extensive analyses. This means that important details of the inelastic response could be neglected. Following this consideration, regardless of the device/technique invented, before it could be put into practice, an experimental verification of the actual structural performance should be conducted by full‐scale tests at building level. This issue is investigated in the paper considering seismic retrofit of reinforced concrete (RC) framed structures by buckling‐restrained braces (BRBs) as technique to be validated, while hybrid test is selected as tool for experimental validation at building level. The analysed seismic upgrading technique consists in the insertion of BRBs into the RC frame. The upgrading intervention is designed by a method developed in previous studies. This technique responds to an important need of the society. Indeed, existing RC frames showed high vulnerability in occurrence of past earthquakes when they were not originally conceived to sustain horizontal forces. The hybrid test is selected among the available experimental techniques because it allows the experimentation on full‐scale specimens with reasonable cost. In this study, a substructure hybrid test was conducted and the results are here presented to (a) evaluate the effectiveness of the design method of BRBs for seismic upgrading, (b) investigate the integration of BRBs in existing RC frame, and (c) show the potentiality of the substructure hybrid test for the experimental verification of innovative techniques for seismic protection of buildings.
Shift of microbial community structure by substrate level in dynamic membrane bioreactor for biohydrogen production
Authors: Kim Do‐Hyung , Park Jeong‐Hoon , Kim Sang‐Hyoun , Kumar Gopalakrishnan , Lee Byung‐Don , Kumar Sunil , Yoon Jeong‐Jun 
Published: August 2020

SummaryThe aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of biological hydrogen production (BHP) in a dynamic membrane bioreactor. Hydraulic retention time (HRT) was varied from 1 to 12 hours, and the microbial communities were analyzed. The major hydrogen‐producing bacterium was Clostridium chromiireducens, which was enriched up to 82% of the total bacteria with a 2 hour HRT, while Enterobacter cloacae was also observed in the range of 0.2% to 34.4% of total bacteria. When the level of the substrate in the reactor was low (<0.5 g/L), BHP dropped dramatically, and Sporolactobacillus putidus increased to 8.8% of the total bacteria. Differences in substrate affinity between S. putidus and C. chromiireducens likely promoted the dominance of S. putidus, which is more favorable for growth and metabolism at low substrate concentrations, and caused changes in the microbial community.
Relationship between tree height and landslide characteristics obtained by GIS assessment
Authors: Evans Jamie R. , Imaizumi Fumitoshi , Ohsaka Okihiro , Ogawa Shigeyuki 
Published: August 2020

AbstractLandslides in forested landscapes have far‐reaching implications, beyond that of just destroying the forest itself, sometimes initiating large‐scale sediment disasters. Although vegetation increases slope stability through its root network, it is hard to evaluate its contribution to slope stability over a wide area. In this study, the relationship between tree height and landslide characteristics in the Ikawa catchment, central Japan, was investigated to develop a method for evaluating the effects of forest cover on slope stability over a regional extent. Catchment‐wide tree height was obtained using airborne LiDAR point cloud data and used in conjunction with the root depth profile, measured for trees of various height by digging trenches. Root tensile strength per unit area of soil was calculated from individual root diameters and empirical power law equations on the relationship between root diameter and root tensile force in order to better understand the effect that tree height has on slope stability. Landslide density in the Ikawa catchment shows that landslides occur more frequently in forests with shorter trees, with occurrence decreasing as tree height increases. This is likely due to the stabilizing features of larger trees having a greater network of roots, which is supported by the general increase in total root area and the deeper penetration of root biomass into the soil as the height of trees surveyed increases. Landslide density was not solely affected by tree height, but also by slope gradient and plane curvature. Decreasing landslide occurrence and landslide area as tree height increases suggests that slope stability increases with tree height, while the random distribution of results when comparing landslide depth to tree height suggests that while tree height has an impact on relative slope stability, the landslide failure depth is independent of tree height, and thus controlled by other factors. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of small scale n‐heptane fire extinguishing efficacy by natural antioxidants based pyrotechnic compositions: An experimental study
Authors: Pathak Tribhuvan Kumar , Kaushik Kumar , Dobhal Satya Prakash , Dixit Pradeep Kumar , Sharma Vandana , Johar Rajni , Jassal Pyar Singh , Singh Raj Pal 
Published: August 2020

SummaryThe conventional pyrotechnic compositions (PCs) for firefighting application mostly consist of potassium nitrate, chlorate or perchlorate as oxidants and organic resin‐like phenol‐formaldehyde, melamine‐formaldehyde, epoxy resin and polyurethanes are used as reducers. Unfortunately, there are also some potential disadvantages to the use of conventional compositions. These are related to high combustion temperature with the generation of heat and flame which may cause secondary fire chances and hazards associated with the use of organic resins. Exposure to phenol, melamine, epoxy resins and polyurethanes are considered as a life‐threatening occupational hazard. Under the present study, new pyrotechnic compositions were prepared with the combination of natural antioxidants like ascorbic acid and gallic acid as reductant and mixture of potassium nitrate with potassium chlorate as oxidant. Fire extinguishing efficacies, calorific value, burn rate, the flame temperature of newly developed compositions was evaluated against potassium nitrate and phenol‐formaldehyde resin‐based conventional composition. Although both the new and conventional composition has shown good fire extinguishing efficacies, extinguishing 4.57 KW of small scale n‐heptane pool fire in 3 to 4 seconds, these newly developed compositions showed 67% to 76% reduction in flame temperature. It was also found that these new compositions exhibit a faster burn rate and lower calorific value than the conventional composition. To understand the fire extinguishing mechanism by the discharged aerosol particulate, its physical and chemical characteristics were assessed by a series of techniques viz; HRXRD, SEM, FTIR, EDX.
A study revealing volatile aroma produced by Pediococcus pentosaceus in dough fermentation
Authors: Gong Yunxia , Qi Xiaobao 
Published: August 2020

AbstractPediococcus pentosaceus is important probiotics in Chinese Laomian. Its role in meat and fermented vegetable has been largely demonstrated, but few studies have investigated the role of P. pentosaceus in Chinese Laomian. For this purpose, we simulated Laomian fermentation using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and P. pentosaceus. Volatile aroma was detected by headspace solid‐phase microextraction gas–chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Real‐time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to determine dynamic growth of S. cerevisiae and P. pentosaceus in fermentation. Extracellular proteins were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Folin–Ciocalteu method was used to detect extracellular protease activity in different pH values. Owing to addition of P. pentosaceus, the types and contents of esters increase, the relative contents of acetic acid hexyl ester, formic acid octyl ester, and heptanoic acid ethyl ester rise obliviously; especially, the relative content of hexanoic acid ethyl ester was highly correlated with P. pentosaceus by increasing 20.61%. As the gel electrophoresis results display, due to mixed fermentation of S. cerevisiae and P. pentosaceus, the 25k Da and 51k Da proteins expression quantity of P. pentosaceus clearly increased. Under neutral and alkaline culture conditions, the extracellular protease activity of P. pentosaceus is higher. This research benefits to gain insight into the fermentation actions of P. pentosaceus in Chinese Laomian.
COVID‐19 in the geriatric population
Authors: Roy Justin , Jain Rohit , Golamari Reshma , Vunnam Rama , Sahu Nitasa 
Published: August 2020

ObjectivesThe global COVID‐19 pandemic has caused rapid and monumental changes around the world. Older people, who already experience higher rates of social isolation and loneliness, are more susceptible to adverse effects as a result of the social distancing protocols enacted to slow the spread of COVID‐19. Based on prior outbreaks, we speculate the detrimental outcomes and offer solutions.MethodsReviewing the literature on the detrimental effects of social isolation and loneliness and higher mortality in the older population. Utilizing psychological study outcomes from prior major outbreaks such as in SARS, Ebola, H1N1 influenza, and Middle East respiratory syndrome offer predictions and the susceptibility in the geriatric age group.ResultsOrganizations such as the WHO, Centers for Disease Control, and American Association of Retired Persons have put measures in place to provide networking on a local, regional, and national level. These efforts are designed to start mitigating such detrimental effects. A necessary follow‐up to this pandemic will be gathering data on unique populations such as the geriatric community, to better mitigate adverse outcomes given the certainty that COVID‐19 will not be the last global viral outbreak.ConclusionsThe results of worsened social isolation and loneliness is associated with significantly increased morbidity and mortality in the geriatric population. Various solutions including virtual interactions with loved ones, engaging in physical activity, continuing any spiritual or religious prayers remotely, and community services to provide aid for the older population are all efforts to minimize social isolation and loneliness.
Vision impairment and depression among older adults in low‐ and middle‐income countries
Authors: Abou‐Hanna Jacob J. , Leggett Amanda N. , Andrews Chris A. , Ehrlich Joshua R. 
Published: August 2020

ObjectivesTo investigate the association between visual impairment (VI) and depression in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) and the mediating role of disability and social participation.Methods/DesignThe World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) provided data on objective and subjective visual function, depression, disability (WHODAS‐12), and social participation for nationally representative samples of adults 50 years and older in China, India, Ghana, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa. Multivariable logistic and linear models were used to test the association between VI and depression and the indirect pathways through disability and social participation. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographics, medical comorbidities, and complex survey design features.ResultsVisual acuity was worse in respondents with depression compared to those without depression in China (0.32 vs 0.23 logMAR; P < .001), Ghana (0.26 vs 0.18 logMAR; P < .001), and India (0.36 vs 0.30 logMAR; P < .001); self‐reported vision was also significantly worse in these three countries, but not in Mexico, Russia, or South Africa. Greater disability significantly mediated the association of both objective and self‐reported VI with depression in China and India. Social participation significantly mediated the association between subjective vision and depression in Ghana.ConclusionsThere is variability in the association between VI and depression across LMICs and in the mediating role of disability and social participation. Culture‐specific instruments may be needed to better characterize the association between VI and depression and further research is needed to assess causality.
Effects of systemic therapy and local therapy on outcomes of 873 breast cancer patients with metastatic breast cancer to brain: MD Anderson Cancer Center experience
Authors: Gao Chao , Wang Fuchenchu , Suki Dima , Strom Eric , Li Jing , Sawaya Raymond , Hsu Limin , Raghavendra Akshara , Tripathy Debu , Ibrahim Nuhad K. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractOutcomes of treatments for patients with breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) remain suboptimal, especially for systemic therapy. To evaluate the effectiveness of systemic and local therapy (surgery [S], stereotactic radiosurgery [SRS] and whole brain radiotherapy [WBRT]) in BCBM patients, we analyzed the data of 873 BCBM patients from 1999 to 2012. The median overall survival (OS) and time to progression in the brain (TTP‐b) after diagnosis of brain metastases (BM) were 9.1 and 7.1 months, respectively. WBRT prolonged OS in patients with multiple BM (hazard ratio [HR], 0.68; 95% CI, 0.52‐0.88; P = .004). SRS alone, and surgery or SRS followed by WBRT (S/SRS + WBRT), were equivalent in OS and TTP‐b (median OS, 14.9 vs 17.2 months; median TTP‐b, 8.2 vs 8.6 months). Continued chemotherapy prolonged OS (HR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.30‐0.41; P < .001) and TTP‐b (HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.33‐0.70; P < .001), however, with no advantage of capecitabine over other chemotherapy agents used (median OS, 11.8 vs 12.4 months; median TTP‐b, 7.2 vs 7.4 months). Patients receiving trastuzumab at diagnosis of BM, continuation of anti‐HER2 therapy increased OS (HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.34‐0.83; P = .005) and TTP‐b (HR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.23‐0.74; P = .003); no additional benefit was seen with switching over between trastuzumab and lapatinib (median OS, 18.4 vs 22.7 months; median TTP‐b: 7.4 vs 8.7 months). In conclusion, SRS or S/SRS + WBRT were equivalent for patients' OS and local control. Continuation systemic chemotherapy including anti‐HER2 therapy improved OS and TTP‐b with no demonstrable advantage of capecitabine and lapatinib over other agents of physicians' choice was observed.
Evaluating the impact of compliance with governance recommendations on firm performance: The case of Spain
Authors: Núñez Izquierdo Manuel E. , Garcia‐Blandon Josep , Baum Christopher F. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we empirically examine whether higher levels of compliance with the recommendations included in the Spanish Unified Good Governance Code (UGGC) have an impact on firm performance using a unique hand‐collected panel data set of 145 listed companies for the research period between 2007 and 2012. We find that, in spite of the increasing compliance trend, there is no conclusive evidence that adherence to the UGGC guidelines is a performance relevant factor. This result seems to be robust, as it holds in the main analysis as well as in all the additional analyses conducted. Therefore, our findings would further support the lack of consensus in this line of research regarding the true impact of compliance with the globally disseminated codes of best corporate governance practices on firm performance. The generally inconclusive findings should suggest to shareholders and stock analysts that high scores on these measures do not necessarily translate into higher performance, despite the notion that “good governance” ought to be beneficial.
The COVID‐19 pandemic and patients with endometriosis: A survey‐based study conducted in Turkey
Authors: Yalçın Bahat Pınar , Kaya Cihan , Selçuki Nura F.T. , Polat İbrahim , Usta Taner , Oral Engin 
Published: August 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo apply rapid online surveying to determine the knowledge and perceptions of the COVID‐19 pandemic on patients with endometriosis in Turkey.MethodsAn online survey was conducted by the Turkish Endometriosis & Adenomyosis Society and administered to patients with endometriosis who agreed to participate in the study. The survey included 25 questions prepared by an expert committee of four professionals (two gynecologists and two endometriosis specialists).ResultsOf the 290 questionnaires sent out, 261 (90%) were returned. A total of 213 (83.86%) patients reported that they were afraid of having endometriosis‐related problems during the pandemic period. In addition, 133 (53.63%) patients thought the management of their endometriosis was affected because of the pandemic.ConclusionClinical studies clearly indicate that endometriosis is a condition associated with high levels of chronic stress. The COVID‐19 pandemic has led the public to experience psychological problems such as post‐traumatic stress disorder, psychological distress, depression, and anxiety. The majority of patients with endometriosis were afraid of having endometriosis‐related problems during the pandemic period. The majority of elective endometriosis surgeries have not been postponed. Patients were highly aware of the pandemic and practiced social distancing and hygiene. Only 4 (1.59%) patients with endometriosis required hospitalization.
Strain and elasticity imaging in compression optical coherence elastography: The two‐decade perspective and recent advances
Authors: Zaitsev Vladimir Y. , Matveyev Alexander L. , Matveev Lev A. , Sovetsky Alexander A. , Hepburn Matt S. , Mowla Alireza , Kennedy Brendan F. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractQuantitative mapping of deformation and elasticity in optical coherence tomography has attracted much attention of researchers during the last two decades. However, despite intense effort it took ~15 years to demonstrate optical coherence elastography (OCE) as a practically useful technique. Similarly to medical ultrasound, where elastography was first realized using the quasi‐static compression principle and later shear‐wave‐based systems were developed, in OCE these two approaches also developed in parallel. However, although the compression OCE (C‐OCE) was proposed historically earlier in the seminal paper by J. Schmitt in 1998, breakthroughs in quantitative mapping of genuine local strains and the Young's modulus in C‐OCE have been reported only recently and have not yet obtained sufficient attention in reviews. In this overview, we focus on underlying principles of C‐OCE; discuss various practical challenges in its realization and present examples of biomedical applications of C‐OCE. The figure demonstrates OCE‐visualization of complex transient strains in a corneal sample heated by an infrared laser beam.
Load‐bearing biodegradable PCL‐PGA‐beta TCP scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration
Authors: Kumar Alok , Mir Mohammad , Aldulijan Ibrahim , Mahajan Agrim , Anwar Aneela , Leon Carlos H. , Terracciano Amalia , Zhao Xiao , Su Tsan‐Liang , Kalyon Dilhan M. , Kumbar Sangamesh G. , Yu Xiaojun 
Published: August 2020

AbstractA biocompatible and biodegradable scaffold with load‐bearing ability is required to enhance the repair of bone defects by facilitating the attachment, and proliferation of cells, and vascularization during new bone formation. However, it is challenging to maintain the porosity and biodegradability, as well as mechanical properties (especially compressive strength), at the same time. Therefore, in the present work, a biodegradable composite structure of poly(caprolactone) (PCL) was designed using compression molding with varying amounts of poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) (25, 50, 75 wt%) and fixed amount (20 wt%) of beta tricalcium phosphate (beta TCP). It was hypothesized that the fabricated composite structure will develop porosity during the degradation of the PGA and that the corresponding decrease in mechanical properties will be compensated by new bone formation and ingrowth, in vivo. Accordingly, we have systematically studied the effects of sample composition on time‐dependent dissolution and mechanical properties of the PGA/beta TCP scaffolds. The compressive strength increased up to ~92 MPa at 50% compression of the designed PCL‐PGA samples. Furthermore, the dissolution rate, as well as weight loss, was observed to increase with an increase in the PGA amount in PCL. Based on the mechanical properties and dissolution data, it is concluded that the PCL‐PGA scaffolds with beta TCP can be suitable candidates for bone tissue engineering applications, specifically for the reconstruction of bone defects, where strength and biodegradation are both important characteristics.
Potential energy function for a photo‐switchable lipid molecule
Authors: Klaja Oskar , Frank James A. , Trauner Dirk , Bondar Ana‐Nicoleta 
Published: August 2020

AbstractPhoto‐switchable lipids are synthetic lipid molecules used in photo‐pharmacology to alter membrane lateral pressure and thus control opening and closing of mechanosensitive ion channels. The molecular picture of how photo‐switchable lipids interact with membranes or ion channels is poorly understood. To facilitate all‐atom simulations that could provide a molecular picture of membranes with photo‐switchable lipids, we derived force field parameters for atomistic computations of the azobenzene‐based fatty acid FAAzo‐4. We implemented a Phyton‐based algorithm to make the optimization of atomic partial charges more efficient. Overall, the parameters we derived give good description of the equilibrium structure, torsional properties, and non‐bonded interactions for the photo‐switchable lipid in its trans and cis intermediate states, and crystal lattice parameters for trans‐FAAzo‐4. These parameters can be extended to all‐atom descriptions of various photo‐switchable lipids that have an azobenzene moiety.