bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Safety and feasibility of dopamine‐atropine stress echocardiography
Authors: Khemka Abhishek , Rao Roopa A , Ghumman Waqas , Mahenthiran Jothiharan , Feigenbaum Harvey , Sawada Stephen G. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundDobutamine‐atropine stress echocardiography (DSE) has lower sensitivity in patients with advanced liver disease (ALD) due to vasodilation.HypothesisDopamine‐atropine stress echocardiography (DopSE) may be an alternative to DSE in ALD patients by improving the blood pressure response to stress.MethodsThe safety and tolerability of DSE and DopSE were compared in 10 volunteers. The safety, adverse effects, and efficacy of DopSE were then assessed in 105 patients, 98 of whom had ALD. Dopamine was infused in stepwise fashion from 5 µg/kg/min to a peak dose of 40 µg/kg/min. Atropine was given before and in early stages of dopamine infusion up to cumulative dose of 1.5 mg. The hemodynamic responses of 98 ALD patients were compared with 102 patients with ALD who underwent standard DSE.ResultsIn normal volunteers, systolic BP increased more with DopSE compared to DSE (61 ± 19 mm Hg vs 39 ± 15 mm Hg, P = .008). In 105 patients who underwent DopSE, none had adverse effects that required early stress termination. In the groups with ALD, the systolic BP increase (38 ± 28 mm Hg vs 12 ± 27 mm Hg, P < .001) and peak rate pressure product (RPP) (22 861 ± 5289 vs 17 211 ± 3848, P = <.001) were both higher in those undergoing DopSE versus DSE. The sensitivity and specificity of DopSE were 45% and 88%, respectively for coronary disease (≥70% stenosis) in 37 patients who had angiography.ConclusionsDopamine‐atropine stress echocardiography appears to be a safe stress modality and provides greater increases in RPP in patients with ALD compared to DSE.
Right lateralized alpha desynchronization increases with the proportion of symmetry in the stimulus
Authors: Makin Alexis D. J. , Tyson‐Carr John , Rampone Giulia , Morris Amie , Bertamini Marco 
Published: March 2021

AbstractResearch into the neural basis of symmetry perception has intensified in the last two decades; however, the functional role of neural oscillations remains unclear. In previous work Makin et al. (2014, Journal of Vision, 14, 1–12) and Wright et al. (2015, Psychophysiology, 52, 638–647) examined occipital alpha event‐related desynchronization (alpha ERD). It was concluded that alpha ERD is right lateralized during active regularity discrimination but not during a secondary task. Furthermore, alpha ERD was unaffected by stimulus properties, such as the type of regularity. These conclusions are refuted by new time‐frequency analysis on an electroencephalography (EEG) data set first introduced by Makin et al. (2020, Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 32, 353–366). We compared alpha ERD across five tasks. First, we found that right lateralization of alpha ERD was evident in all tasks, not just active regularity discrimination. This was caused by hemispheric differences in alpha power during prestimulus baseline (left < right), which equalized after stimulus onset (left = right). Second, we found that Alpha ERD increased with the proportion of symmetric elements in the image (PSYMM). Sensitivity to PSYMM was stronger on the right. These findings suggest that known extrastriate symmetry activations are accompanied by reduced alpha power.
The road to a World Health Organization global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders
Authors: Guekht Alla , Brodie Martin , Secco Mary , Li Shichuo , Volkers Nancy , Wiebe Samuel 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized epilepsy as a public health imperative due to its occurrence at all ages in all regions of the world, its high impact on disability‐adjusted life years and psychosocial aspects, and the accompanying stigma. The International League Against Epilepsy and the International Bureau for Epilepsy have established crucial collaborations with regional and global organizations to promote epilepsy as a treatable disease, close the treatment gap in care, education, and research, and eradicate stigma. In November 2020, the efforts of these three organizations—with support from WHO member states, the World Federation of Neurology, and the European Federation of Neurological Associations—culminated in the unanimous approval of a WHO resolution to create and implement an Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders. This unique achievement is built on more than 2 decades of collaboration and effort, and heralds extraordinary opportunities to work toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy.
Fertilized graminoids intensify negative drought effects on grassland productivity
Authors: Van Sundert Kevin , Arfin Khan Mohammed A. S. , Bharath Siddharth , Buckley Yvonne M. , Caldeira Maria C. , Donohue Ian , Dubbert Maren , Ebeling Anne , Eisenhauer Nico , Eskelinen Anu , Finn Alain , Gebauer Tobias , Haider Sylvia , Hansart Amandine , Jentsch Anke , Kübert Angelika , Nijs Ivan , Nock Charles A. , Nogueira Carla , Porath‐Krause Anita J. , Radujković Dajana , Raynaud Xavier , Risch Anita C. , Roscher Christiane , Scherer‐Lorenzen Michael , Schuchardt Max A. , Schütz Martin , Siebert Julia , Sitters Judith , Spohn Marie , Virtanen Risto , Werner Christiane , Wilfahrt Peter , Vicca Sara 
Published: March 2021

AbstractDroughts can strongly affect grassland productivity and biodiversity, but responses differ widely. Nutrient availability may be a critical factor explaining this variation, but is often ignored in analyses of drought responses. Here, we used a standardized nutrient addition experiment covering 10 European grasslands to test if full‐factorial nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium addition affected plant community responses to inter‐annual variation in drought stress and to the extreme summer drought of 2018 in Europe. We found that nutrient addition amplified detrimental drought effects on community aboveground biomass production. Drought effects also differed between functional groups, with a negative effect on graminoid but not forb biomass production. Our results imply that eutrophication in grasslands, which promotes dominance of drought‐sensitive graminoids over forbs, amplifies detrimental drought effects. In terms of climate change adaptation, agricultural management would benefit from taking into account differential drought impacts on fertilized versus unfertilized grasslands, which differ in ecosystem services they provide to society.
Abandonment of traditional land use and climate change threaten the survival of an endangered relict butterfly species
Authors: Scherer Gwydion , Löffler Franz , Fartmann Thomas 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe decline of butterflies exceeds those of many other animal taxa due to their high sensitivity to habitat alterations driven by land‐use change. Moreover, cold‐adapted species frequently suffer severe range retractions due to rising temperatures at their trailing‐edge range margins.In this study, we aim to identify drivers of occupancy of the post‐glacial relict speciesLycaena helleat three spatial scales – (i) landscape, (ii) habitat, and (iii) microhabitat – in one of its last refuges in central Europe.In our study in the Eifel low mountain range (western Germany), the occurrence ofL. hellewas mainly driven by the (i) isolation, (ii) size, and (iii) quality of habitat patches.Lycaena helleformed metapopulations that were dependent on networks of interconnected but often small habitat patches.Habitat quality within the semi‐natural grasslands was determined by (i) macro‐ and mesoclimate, (ii) host‐plant abundance, and (iii) vegetation structure, which was interrelated with microclimate.Lycaena hellepreferred moist, nutrient‐poor grasslands in deep, narrow valleys at the highest elevations of the study area, which were characterised by (i) cold winters, (ii) high abundance of the host plant, and (iii) short and sparse swards providing a warm microclimate in summer.According to these findings, abandonment of traditional land use and climate change are considered the most severe threats for long‐term survival of the species. Hence, conservation measures should aim at maintaining and restoring networks of large and well‐connected habitat patches of high quality, preferably in cold‐air depressions within mountain systems.
The relationship between anti‐consumption lifestyle and the trust triangle in a ride‐sharing platform: A cross‐cultural study of U.S. and Indian consumers
Authors: Lee Hee‐Jung , Cha Moon‐Kyung 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe aim of this study is to examine three types of trust in services provided in the sharing economy toward the goal of increasing consumers’ intention to use a ride‐sharing service. The three trust factors for sharing services are trust in drivers, trust in users, and trust in platforms. It is hypothesized that related to consumers’ consumption lifestyles would influence their trust in a sharing service; in particular, previous researchers found that anti‐consumption influenced consumers to participate in the sharing economy. Based on previous findings, the attempt with this study is to determine whether an anti‐consumption would affect formation of the three types of trust with regards to the ride‐sharing service. Specifically, the differing effects of anti‐consumption on trust formation in a ride‐sharing service are compared between the United States and India. Data are collected from 253 online surveys from the United States and 266 from India, and data analysis reveals that the anti‐consumption affects the formation of all three types of trust in the ride‐sharing service. In the United States in particular, non‐voluntary anti‐consumption has a greater effect on trust formation than it did in India.
Virtual reality for limb motor function, balance, gait, cognition and daily function of stroke patients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhang Bohan , Li Dan , Liu Yue , Wang Jiani , Xiao Qian 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAimsTo explore the beneficial effects of virtual reality (VR) interventions on upper‐ and lower‐limb motor function, balance, gait, cognition and daily function outcomes in stroke patients.DesignA systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials.Data SourcesEnglish databases (PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses) and Chinese databases (Chinese BioMedical Literature Service System, WANFANG, CNKI) and the Clinical Trial Registry Platform were systematically searched from inception until December 2019. Additionally, reference lists of the included studies were manually searched.Review MethodsThe methodological quality of studies was scored with the Cochrane ‘risk‐of‐bias tool’ and PEDro scale from the Physiotherapy Evidence Database by two independent evaluators.ResultsIn total, 87 studies with 3540 participants were included. Stroke patients receiving VR interventions showed significant improvements in Fugl‐Meyer assessment of Upper Extremity, Action Research Arm Test, Wolf Motor Function Test, Fugl‐Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity, Functional Ambulation Classification, Berg Balance Scale, Time Up and Go, Velocity, Cadence, Modified Barthel Index and Functional Independence Measure. However, differences between VR intervention and traditional rehabilitation groups were not significant for Box‐Block Test, 10 m Walk Test, Auditory Continuous Performance Test, Mini‐Mental State Examination and Visual Continuous Performance Test.ConclusionThis review suggests that VR interventions effectively improve upper‐ and lower‐limb motor function, balance, gait and daily function of stroke patients, but have no benefits on cognition.ImpactThis review identified the positive effects of VR‐assisted rehabilitation on upper‐ and lower‐limb motor function, balance, gait and daily function of stroke patients. And, we verified the duration of VR intervention affects some health benefits. The benefit of VR on cognitive function requires further investigation through large‐scale multicentre RCTs.
Health Status and Quality of Life of Middle‐Aged and Older Taiwanese Sexual and Gender Minorities
Authors: Wang Ya‐Ching , Chang Shiow‐Ru , Miao Nae‐Fang 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPurposeTo examine the health status and quality of life of middle‐aged and older sexual and gender minority adults in Taiwan.Research Design and MethodsA cross‐sectional online survey was conducted between May and December 2019. A total of 535 self‐identified lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) men and women ≥40 years of age were included in the final sample. An online questionnaire, which included the following three sections, was used to collect data in this study: (a) demographics, (b) the World Health Organization Quality of Life‐Brief Taiwan version, and (c) physical and psychological health status.ResultsMiddle‐aged and older Taiwanese LGBT adults who were single, were unemployed, and earned monthly incomes of <20,000 New Taiwan Dollars reported poorer quality of life. Participants with one or more physical or psychological health problems also reported poorer quality of life than those who had no health problems. In addition, singlehood, unemployment, and poor quality of life and health were positively associated with mental health issues.ConclusionsIt is important to attenuate health disparities and mitigate discrimination within Taiwanese society to enhance the quality of life and mental health of middle‐aged and older Taiwanese LGBT adults.Clinical RelevanceHealthcare providers should be attuned to and knowledgeable about the health issues and specific healthcare needs of middle‐aged and older LGBT adults, and they should also provide culturally competent care to reduce health disparities of the LGBT adults.
Understanding socioeconomic disparities in travel behavior during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Brough Rebecca , Freedman Matthew , Phillips David C. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWe document the magnitudes of and mechanisms behind socioeconomic differences in travel behavior during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We focus on King County, Washington, one of the first places in North America where COVID‐19 was detected. We leverage novel and rich administrative and survey data on travel volumes, modes, and preferences for different demographic groups. Large average declines in travel and public transit use due to the pandemic and related policy responses mask substantial heterogeneity across socioeconomic groups. Travel declined considerably less among less‐educated and lower‐income individuals, even after accounting for mode substitution and variation across neighborhoods in the impacts of public transit service reductions. As policy became less restrictive and travel increased, the size of the socioeconomic gap in travel behavior remained stable, and remote work capabilities became increasingly important in explaining this gap. Our results imply that disparities in travel behavior across socioeconomic groups may become an enduring feature of the urban landscape.
Quality of poly(somno)graphy recordings in children
Authors: Olmo Arroyo Jorge , De Sanctis Livio , Sidhoum Lynda , Amaddeo Alessandro , Griffon Lucie , Khirani Sonia , Fauroux Brigitte 
Published: March 2021

SummaryThe aim of the study was to assess the scorability of the signals of four poly(somno)graphy devices and transcutaneous carbon dioxide tracings (PtcCO2) of one device in children. The presence (0%, < 25%, 25%–50%, 50%–75%, 75%–99%, 100% of recording time) and quality (bad, average, good) of the signal of each sensor were analysed. During a 5‐month period, 364 poly(somno)graphies were performed in 12 different hospital units. Forty‐one children had poor/bad cooperation, and 13 severe behaviour disorders. Seventy‐one and 293 poly(somno)graphies were performed in children aged ≤ 2 and > 2 years, respectively; nine poly(somno)graphies failed. For the four poly(somno)graphy devices, the signal was present during 99% of recording time for the electroencephalogram, 99% for thoracic belt, 97% for abdominal belt, 97% for body position, 95% for the microphone, 92% for pulse oximetry, 87% for tracheal sound, 71% for oronasal thermistor, 52% (41% for ≤ 2 years, 55% for > 2 years old) for nasal pressure and 86% for PtcCO2. The signal was of good quality in 98% of poly(somno)graphies for body position, 96% for microphone, 96% for thoracic belt, 95% for pulse oximetry, 91% for abdominal belt, 91% for tracheal sound, 82% for oronasal thermistor, 78% for electroencephalogram, 73% for nasal pressure and 46% of PtcCO2 recordings. The scorability was comparable between devices. Nasal pressure and oronasal thermistor had the lowest scorability, especially in children aged ≤ 2 years. This underlines the necessity of the development or improvement of alternative, ideally face‐free, sensors, or miniaturized devices adapted for infants and children.
Blurred lines: How fictional is pornography?
Authors: McGlynn Aidan 
Published: March 2021

AbstractMany pornographic works seem to count as works of fiction. This apparent fact has been thought to have important implications for ongoing controversies about whether some pornography carries problematic messages and so influences the attitudes (and perhaps even the behaviour) of its audience. In this study, I explore the claim that pornographic works are fictional and the significance that this claim has for these issues, with a particular focus on pornographic films. Two related morals will emerge. First, we need to pay attention not merely to whether entire pornographic works should be classified as fictional, but to the way that pornographic fictions (like fictional works more generally) have both fictional and non‐fictional elements. Second, we have to understand the ways that pornographic works can blur the lines between fiction and non‐fiction, misleading their audiences into taking their fictional elements to be revealing truths about non‐fictional reality. In the case of pornographic films, we will examine how a pornographic fiction can be portrayed by people having sex on camera, and the ways in which this portrayal can mislead viewers about sex in the non‐fictional world.
Color variation in young and senescent leaves of Formosan sweet gum (Liquidambar formosana) by the gene regulation of anthocyanidin biosynthesis
Authors: Wen Chi‐Hsiang , Tsao Nai‐Wen , Wang Sheng‐Yang , Chu Fang‐Hua 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn certain plants, leaf coloration occurs in young and senescent leaves; however, it is unclear whether these two developmental stages are controlled by the same regulatory mechanisms. Formosan sweet gum (Liquidambar formosana Hance) is a subtropical deciduous tree species that possesses attractive autumnal leaf coloration. The color of young leaves is closer to purplish red, while senescent leaves are more orange‐red to dark red. It was confirmed that delphinidin and cyanidin are the two anthocyanidins that contribute to the color of Formosan sweet gum leaves, and the content of different anthocyanins influences the appearance of color. To elucidate the regulation of anthocyanidin biosynthesis, recombinant DIHYDROFLAVONOL‐4‐REDUCTASEs (LfDFR1 and LfDFR2) (EC 1.1.1.234) were produced, and their substrate acceptability was investigated both in vitro and in planta. The functions of flavanones and dihydroflavonols modification by FLAVONOID 3′ HYDROXYLASE (LfF3′H1) (EC 1.14.14.82) and FLAVONOID 3′5′ HYDROXYLASE (LfF3′5′H) (EC 1.14.14.81) were verified using a transient overexpression experiment in Nicotiana benthamiana. The results showed that LfMYB5 induced LfF3′5′H and LfMYB123 induced both LfF3′H1 and LfDFR1 in spring when the leaves were expanding, whereas LfMYB113 induced LfF3′H1, LfDFR1, and LfDFR2 in late autumn to winter when the leaves were undergoing leaf senescence. In conclusion, the color variation of Formosan sweet gum in young and senescent leaves was attributed to the composition of anthocyanidins through the transcriptional regulation of LfF3′H1 and LfF3′5′H by LfMYB5, LfMYB113, and LfMYB123.
Design, Modeling, and Manufacturing of a Variable Lateral Stiffness Arm Via Shape Morphing Mechanisms
Authors: She Yu , Gu Zhaoyuan , Song Siyang , Su Hai-Jun , Wang Junmin 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
In this article, we present a continuously tunable stiffness arm for safe physical human–robot interactions. Compliant joints and compliant links are two typical solutions to address safety issues for physical human–robot interactions via introducing mechanical compliance to robotic systems. While extensive studies explore variable stiffness joints/actuators, variable stiffness links for safe physical human–robot interactions are much less studied. This article details the design and modeling of a compliant robotic arm whose stiffness can be continuously tuned via cable-driven mechanisms actuated by a single servo motor. Specifically, a 3D-printed compliant robotic arm is prototyped and tested by static experiments, and an analytical model of the variable stiffness arm is derived and validated by testing. The results show that the lateral stiffness of the robot arm can achieve a variety of 221.26% given a morphing angle of 90 deg. The variable stiffness arm design developed in this study could be a promising approach to address safety concerns for safe physical human–robot interactions.
Incentive Analysis of Bitcoin-NG, Revisited
Authors: Niu Jianyu , Wang Ziyu , Gai Fangyu , Feng Chen 
Published: March 2021

Bitcoin-NG is among the first scalable blockchain protocols by decoupling blockchain operation into two planes: leader election and transaction serialization. Its decoupling idea has inspired a new generation of blockchain protocols. However, the existing incentive analysis of Bitcoin-NG has several limitations. First, the impact of network capacity is ignored. Second, an integrated incentive analysis that jointly considers both key blocks and microblocks is still missing.
In this paper, we aim to address these two limitations. First, we propose a new incentive analysis that takes the network capacity into account, showing that Bitcoin-NG can still maintain incentive compatibility against the microblock mining attack even under limited network capacity. Second, we leverage a Markov decision process to jointly analyze the incentive of both key blocks and microblocks, showing that the selfish mining revenue of Bitcoin-NG is a little higher than that in Bitcoin only when the selfish miner controls more than 35% of the mining power. We hope that our in-depth incentive analysis for Bitcoin-NG can shed some light on the mechanism design and incentive analysis of nextgeneration blockchain protocols.
Fusion Points: The Perceived, Performed, and Passive Merging of Criminality and Mobility in Mexico
Authors: Yates Caitlyn 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Organized criminal actors increasingly diversify criminal portfolios, streamline illicit supply chains, and expand social networks in a process referred to as convergence. The frame is simultaneously used by State actors to justify the criminalization of certain populations, including irregular migrants. Relying on ethnographic and quantitative research with Central American migrants in Mexico, this paper argues that the supposed threat posed by convergence grossly overstates the relationship between organized criminal activities and migrants’ own experiences. There are spaces and times when migrants do interact with organized criminal actors to facilitate their transits. These interactions, though, do not point to convergence. Rather, they demonstrate the brief but fundamental encounters of migrants with criminal/ized actors in Mexico. I refer to these instances as fusion points to elucidate the ways that Central American migrants advance their journeys.