bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and evolution of spasticity in patients suffering from first‐ever stroke with carotid origin: a prospective, longitudinal study
Authors: Dorňák T. , Justanová M. , Konvalinková R. , Říha M. , Mužík J. , Hoskovcová M. , Srp M. , Navrátilová D. , Otruba P. , Gál O. , Svobodová I. , Dušek L. , Bareš M. , Kaňovský P. , Jech R. 
Published: January 2019

Background and purposeThe main aim of the study was to document the occurrence and evolution of post‐stroke spasticity (PSS). The secondary goal was to identify predictors for increases and decreases in PSS rates during 12 months of subsequent follow‐up.MethodsIn a longitudinal, multicenter, prospective cohort study, assessments were done at 7 days (V1), 6 months (V2), and 12 months (V3) after stroke onset. A total of 307 consecutive patients from four comprehensive stroke centers with the first‐ever stroke of carotid origin and the presence of motor deficit at day 7 were included. The demographic data, baseline characteristics, Barthel index, degree and pattern of paresis and muscle tone were evaluated and recorded. Spasticity was assessed using the modified Ashworth scale.ResultsSpasticity was present in 45.0% of patients at V1, in 49.5% at V2, and in 43.2% at V3. A significant number of patients experienced changes in spasticity between visits: increased/new occurrence of spasticity in 32.5% (V1 and V2) and in 13.6% (V2 and V3) of patients; decreased occurrence/disappearance of spasticity in 18.5% (V1 and V2) and in 18.3% (V2 and V3) of patients. The number of patients with severe spasticity increased throughout the year, from 2.6% to 13.0% (V2) and 12.5% (V3).ConclusionsSpasticity developed in almost half of the included patients. The degree of spasticity often changed over time, in both directions. The rate of severe spasticity increased during the first year, with the maximum at 6 months following stroke onset.
Comparative efficacy of valnoctamide and sec‐butylpropylacetamide (SPD) in terminating nerve agent–induced seizures in pediatric rats
Authors: Haines Kari M. , Matson Liana M. , Dunn Emily N. , Ardinger Cherish E. , Lee‐Stubbs Robyn , Bibi David , McDonough John H. , Bialer Meir 
Published: January 2019

SummaryObjectivesChildren and adults are likely to be among the casualties in a civilian nerve agent exposure. This study evaluated the efficacy of valnoctamide (racemic‐VCD), sec‐butylpropylacetamide (racemic‐SPD), and phenobarbital for stopping nerve agent seizures in both immature and adult rats.MethodsFemale and male postnatal day (PND) 21, 28, and 70 (adult) rats, previously implanted with electroencephalography (EEG) electrodes were exposed to seizure‐inducing doses of the nerve agents sarin or VX and EEG was recorded continuously. Five minutes after seizure onset, animals were treated with SPD, VCD, or phenobarbital. The up‐down method was used over successive animals to determine the anticonvulsant median effective dose (ED50) of the drugs.ResultsSPD‐ED50 values in the VX model were the following: PND21, 53 mg/kg (male) and 48 mg/kg (female); PND28, 108 mg/kg (male) and 43 mg/kg (female); and PND70, 101 mg/kg (male) and 40 mg/kg (female). SPD‐ED50 values in the sarin model were the following: PND21, 44 mg/kg (male) and 28 mg/kg (female); PND28, 79 mg/kg (male) and 34 mg/kg (female); and PND70, 53 mg/kg (male) and 53 mg/kg (female). VCD‐ED50 values in the VX model were the following: PND21, 34 mg/kg (male) and 43 mg/kg (female); PND28, 165 mg/kg (male) and 59 mg/kg (female); and PND70, 87 mg/kg (male) and 91 mg/kg (female). VCD‐ED50 values in the sarin model were the following: PND21, 45 mg/kg (male), 48 mg/kg (female); PND28, 152 mg/kg (male) 79 mg/kg (female); and PND70, 97 mg/kg (male) 79 mg/kg (female). Phenobarbital‐ED50 values in the VX model were the following: PND21, 43 mg/kg (male) and 18 mg/kg (female); PND28, 48 mg/kg (male) and 97 mg/kg (female). Phenobarbital‐ED50 values in the sarin model were the following: PND21, 32 mg/kg (male) and 32 mg/kg (female); PND28, 58 mg/kg (male) and 97 mg/kg (female); and PND70, 65 mg/kg (female).SignificanceSPD and VCD demonstrated anticonvulsant activity in both immature and adult rats in the sarin‐ and VX‐induced status epilepticus models. Phenobarbital was effective in immature rats, whereas in adult rats, higher doses were required that were accompanied by toxicity. Overall, significantly less drug was required to stop seizures in PND21 animals than in the older animals, and overall, males required higher amounts of drug than females.
Genetic and environmental risk factors for vitiligo and melanoma in Pura Raza Español horses
Authors: Sánchez‐Guerrero M. J. , Solé M. , Azor P. J. , Sölkner J. , Valera M. 
Published: January 2019

SummaryBackgroundVitiligo and melanoma are relatively common disorders in grey Pura Raza Español horses and other horse breeds with grey‐coloured coats.ObjectivesTo determine the breed prevalence, environmental risks factors and estimate the genetic parameters for vitiligo and melanoma in Pura Raza Español horses.Study designRetrospective cohort study.MethodsWe analysed data from a large worldwide population of Pura Raza Español horses. The database included the vitiligo and melanoma scores, on either a four‐ or six‐point linear scale, of 11,436 horses. Genetic parameters were estimated using a Bayesian genetic animal model including the four associated environmental risk factors as systematic effects. Inbreeding was used as a covariate, and animal and residual effects were included as random effects.ResultsOf the horses included in the study, 2.8 and 20.5% showed some traces of vitiligo around the eyes and mouth, respectively, while 1.6% showed varying degrees of melanoma. Age, coat colour and inbreeding were significantly associated with the three outcomes studied. The estimated heritability for the whole population was 0.09 (s.d. +0.019), 0.44 (s.d. +0.031) and 0.13 (s.d. +0.037), for eye vitiligo score, nostril vitiligo score and melanoma scores respectively. The genetic correlations ranged from 0.42 (s.d. +0.084) between eye and nostril vitiligo score to 0.15 (s.d. +0.096) between nostril vitiligo and melanoma.Main limitationsVitiligo scores for the perianal regions were not collected. The veterinarian responsible for each assessment was not recorded.ConclusionsVitiligo and melanoma are prevalent in this population and those environmental risk factors and genetics both have an effect on the clinical expression of the diseases. These findings may help to reduce prevalence through breeding programmes.
Study on the mechanism of customers' participation in knowledge sharing
Authors: Wang Jiuhe , Liu Lin 
Published: January 2019

AbstractKnowledge has replaced capital and energy as an important resource to enable a company to gain a competitive advantage. Knowledge sharing is the core content of knowledge management and the source of knowledge innovation. As an important resource of the company, the customer plays a vital role in the process of knowledge sharing. Therefore, research on the mechanism of customers' participation in knowledge sharing is especially important. In this paper, from the perspective of knowledge sharing between customers and enterprises, a customer participation model of a knowledge‐sharing mechanism is built based on three aspects: subjective influencing factors of knowledge sharing, objective influencing factors of knowledge sharing, and environmental influencing factors of knowledge sharing. On the basis of 222 valid questionnaires, the theoretical model was verified by using the experimental data analysed by the SPSS and AMOS software. The research shows the following: with respect to the objective influencing factors of knowledge sharing, the timeliness, scarcity, complexity, and economy of knowledge will affect the sharing cost and the expected return of knowledge sharing. With respect to the subjective factors, the sharing ability, the sharing cost, and customer loyalty will affect the knowledge‐sharing behaviour by influencing the knowledge‐sharing willingness. With respect to the environmental influencing factors, technical support and incentive mechanisms can indirectly affect knowledge‐sharing behaviour. In addition, on the one hand, customer loyalty can enhance the knowledge‐sharing ability and sharing willingness. On the other hand, knowledge‐sharing behaviour can enhance customer loyalty and thus form a virtuous cycle.
Is there overuse of proton pump inhibitors in B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphomas? A cohort study based on the French health insurance database in the Midi‐Pyrénées region
Authors: Conte Cécile , Bourrel Robert , Despas Fabien , Lapeyre‐Mestre Maryse 
Published: January 2019

AbstractPatients suffering from B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphomas (B‐NHL) have an increased likelihood of being exposed to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), related to several factors which have been reported in the literature. PPIs are among the drugs most likely to be prescribed inappropriately. Consequently, B‐NHL patients could be particularly at risk of inappropriate PPI prescription, with potential adverse drug reactions. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of PPIs use and to identify factors associated with PPIs initiation during the active treatment phase of B‐NHL. We conducted a new‐user cohort study using regional data from the French national health insurance database in the Midi‐Pyrénées region (southwestern France). Incident B‐NHL patients were selected according to an algorithm of selection, validated with data from a cancer registry. Our study revealed that 48.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 45.2–52.6) of patients initiated PPIs during chemotherapy after B‐NHL diagnosis. According to information available in the SNDS, recommended indications for PPI prescriptions were identified in 21.1% of cases. Median duration of treatment was 65.3 days (CI: 35–112). Determinants of PPIs initiation were peptic ulcer disease, gastroprotection (appropriate or not) for medications considered at risk (NSAIDs, glucocorticoids and anticoagulants), age, nonfollicular lymphoma, polypharmacy, gastroenterologists’ consultations and being hospitalized in a university hospital. Around 50% of patients initiated PPI treatment during the chemotherapy phase with only one‐fifth identified as appropriate prescriptions and with long durations of treatment in most cases. Given this background, appropriate PPI prescription should be promoted in B‐NHL to avoid potential inappropriate chronic use and related adverse events.
Effect of retained austenite stability on cyclic deformation behavior of low‐alloy transformation‐induced plasticity steels
Authors: Christodoulou Peter I. , Kermanidis Alexis T. , Haidemenopoulos Gregory N. , Krizan Daniel , Polychronopoulou Kyriaki 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe retained austenite (RA) characteristics of Al‐containing TRIP700 steels have been manipulated using varying bainitic isothermal transformation (BIT) processing. The microstructural evolution was investigated using optical microscopy and quantitative image analysis, while the amount of transformed RA was evaluated with the saturation magnetization (SM) technique. Cyclic behavior is found to depend on the applied strain amplitude and stability of RA. At strain amplitudes with comparable elastic and plastic strain components, cyclic softening prevails, facilitated by more stable RA microstructures and Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF) performance benefits from a lower RA stability, which controls the amount of cyclic softening rate. With increasing plastic strain component, a transition to cyclic hardening is observed, and the transition strain increases with increasing RA stability. LCF performance deteriorates because of excessive cyclic strain hardening promoting martensitic transformation. The effect is accompanied by a transition from mixed dimple/cleavage to cleavage‐type fracture characteristics.
Incidence and circumstances of falls among community‐dwelling ambulatory stroke survivors: A prospective study
Authors: Goto Yuto , Otaka Yohei , Suzuki Ken , Inoue Seigo , Kondo Kunitsugu , Shimizu Eiji 
Published: January 2019

AimTo elucidate the incidences and circumstances of falls and fall‐related injuries, and to explore the physical characteristics of community‐dwelling ambulatory stroke survivors who experienced falls.MethodsA total of 144 community‐dwelling ambulatory survivors of hemiparetic stroke (mean age 68.0 years [SD 10.4 years]) who were undergoing rehabilitation in an adult daycare center participated in this prospective study. The mean duration from stroke onset was 5.21 years (SD 3.15 years). The occurrence of falls was collected for 1 year with a fall diary. The incidence rates of falls and fall‐related injuries, and the detailed circumstances of falls were descriptively analyzed. The characteristics of fallers were explored by comparing background information, motor impairments and results of physical function tests, including the 10‐m walk test, Timed Up and Go test and five‐times‐sit‐to‐stand test, between fallers and non‐fallers.ResultsThe incidence rates of falls and fall‐related fractures were 0.88 per person‐year and 2.8 per 100 person‐years, respectively. Falls occurred more frequently during daytime and in winter. Falls were caused most often by losing balance while walking indoors, especially on the way to the toilet. After falling, 34.1% of individuals who fell could not stand up by themselves. The time of the five‐times‐sit‐to‐stand test was significantly longer in fallers than in non‐fallers (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe incidence rate of falls was high among community‐dwelling ambulatory survivors of hemiparetic stroke. Appropriate approaches, including mastering the skills to cope with falling, are required, especially for individuals with reduced lower limb muscle strength. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 240–244.
Citrullinated histone H3 expression in anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody‐associated vasculitis in older Japanese autopsy patients
Authors: Matsuda Yoko , Itabashi Mitsuyo , Tachibana Yasuko , Sugihara Takahiko , Sakashita Yasuhiro , Matsubara Tomoyasu , Murayama Shigeo , Yumura Wako , Shimizu Akira , Takei Takashi , Arai Tomio 
Published: January 2019

AimNeutrophil extracellular traps play key roles in the necrotizing vasculitis associated with anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody‐associated vasculitis (AAV). However, the relationships between neutrophil extracellular traps formation and the distribution and phase of vasculitis are not well understood. In the present study, we clarified the clinicopathological characteristics of older AAV patients, as well as the expression of citrullinated histone H3 (citH3), a marker of neutrophil extracellular traps, in autopsied AAV patients.MethodsWe reviewed autopsy cases that were carried out at Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, from 2001 to 2018. The expression of citH3 was determined by immunostaining.ResultsAAV patients (six cases) were elderly (aged 73–94 years; three men and three women; myeloperoxidase anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody‐positive, five cases; proteinase‐3 anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody‐positive, one case; disease duration was 1.5–5.5 months; and patients were treated with steroids. All patients had necrotizing vasculitis in the medium‐to‐small‐sized vessels in various organs, and also severe vasculitis‐associated lesions including brain hemorrhage, alveolar bleeding, interstitial pneumonia, crescentic nephritis, acute pancreatitis and gastrointestinal bleeding. Expression of citH3 was associated with the activity of inflammation.ConclusionsWe report severe clinicopathological characteristics of AAV in older patients. Expression of citH3 was a useful marker to evaluate vasculitis severity. Identification of these features might aid in the diagnosis of AAV. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 259–264.
Do undergraduate dental students perform well detecting and staging caries and assessing activity by visual examination? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Turchiello Ronairo Z. , Pedrotti Djessica , Braga Mariana M. , Rocha Rachel O. , Rodrigues Jonas A. , Lenzi Tathiane L. 
Published: January 2019

AimTo assess the undergraduate students’ performance in detecting and staging caries and assessing activity using visual inspection.DesignTwo independent reviewers searched the literature through PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Lilacs databases, and OpenSINGLE. Meta‐analyses summarized the results concerning reproducibility and accuracy at D1 (considering all lesions) and D3 (including only cavitated lesions or lesions into dentin) levels. For activity, we considered sound surfaces plus inactive caries lesions vs active lesions. Meta‐regression assessed the effect of methodological variables on the outcomes.ResultsFourteen studies were included. The mean reproducibility values were ≥0.52, except for interexaminer agreement when assessing caries activity (0.39; 95% CI 0.10‐0.67). The intra‐examiner reproducibility tended to be higher than the interexaminer reproducibility. Overall, undergraduate students’ performance in staging caries lesions using visual examination was good (AUC>0.85 and DOR>25). The sensitivity values were moderate; however, these were associated with excellent specificity values. Despite few pooled studies, caries activity assessment revealed moderate overall performance, with lower pooled sensitivity than pooled specificity. Students’ education level and background clinical experience had no influence on the accuracy and reproducibility of the visual inspection.ConclusionUndergraduate students’ performance in detecting and staging caries using visual inspection was good, although caries activity assessment still requires improvement.
Flash sintering of ceramic films: The influence of surface to volume ratio
Authors: Avila Viviana , Raj Rishi 
Published: January 2019

AbstractWe measure the sintering behavior of thin and thick films of ceramics made by stacking several layers of tapes. The stack thickness was varied from 0.12 to 0.50 mm. A powder‐pressed dog‐bone sample, ~1 mm thick served as the baseline. While all specimens exhibit flash sintering, the following differences are noted. (a) The onset of flash, which has been shown to occur within a narrow band of volumetric power density for powder‐pressed dog‐bone shaped specimens, moves to a higher value for the thinner specimens. (b) The power transition collapses, again, to within a narrow band when the power density is normalized with respect to the surface area rather than the volume. (c) Sintering of thinner specimens to full density required a higher current‐density limit. These results point to a deeper significance of black body radiation than its use in estimating the specimen temperature in a steady state of flash that is calculated from the energy balance between electrical and radiated energy. The experiments were carried out on 3 mol% yttria stabilized zirconia at constant heating rate
Catalytic synthesis of SiC nanowires in an open system
Authors: Kao Kechen , Jiang Min , Ding Lijuan , Lin Wenxin , Chen Jianjun 
Published: January 2019

AbstractSiC nanowires (NWs) are usually synthesized in a closed vacuum reaction system which limits the yield of SiC NWs. In this work, SiC NWs and carbon nanotubes were synthesized in an open tube furnace at 1550°C with Si powder as silicon sources, ethanol as carbon sources and ferrocene as catalyst. The as‐synthesized products were ultralong β‐SiC NWs with the diameter about 80‐100 nm and the length up to several tens micrometers. The diameter of the carbon nanotubes was about 20‐30 nm. The carbon nanotube yarns about 20 cm in length were obtained at the end of the tube furnace. The growth mechanism of SiC NWs and carbon nanotubes were proposed. Compared with the traditional synthetic techniques in the high vacuum closed system, the novel synthesis method in the open system provided a new approach to the synthesis of SiC NWs.
Anger in Wikipedia: Perceived intentionality and threat appraisal as mediators of anger about man‐made attacks
Authors: Greving Hannah , Cress Ulrike , Kimmerle Joachim 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe online encyclopedia Wikipedia has established strict guidelines for the objectivity of content. At the same time, Wikipedia includes articles on negative events, such as disasters or man‐made attacks. These events can elicit strong emotions, which in turn may spill over into Wikipedia articles. Previous research has shown that Wikipedia articles on man‐made attacks contain more anger‐related content than Wikipedia articles on disasters. Building on these findings, we aimed to investigate whether the threat that Wikipedia authors experience when they learn of an attack is relevant as a factor in explaining the anger effect. Threat is known to elicit active and engaged reactions, such as anger, which is why it is a likely explaining factor. Our research also aimed to replicate the findings from the linguistic analysis of the Wikipedia articles using controlled scenario‐based laboratory experiments. Three studies demonstrated that man‐made attacks (terrorist attack, shooting rampage) elicited more threat, more anger, and more expressions of anger‐related content in Wikipedia texts than nature‐made disasters (earthquake, flood) and man‐made disasters (train accident). Moreover, threat was relevant as a factor in explaining the effects on anger and anger‐related content in the Wikipedia texts. These mediations could be explained by the perceived intentionality of the event. This research highlights the findings that perceived intentionality and threat are relevant mediating factors for feelings and expressions of anger after man‐made attacks.
Preliminary survey on putative insect vectors for Rubus stunt phytoplasmas
Authors: Linck Holger , Reineke Annette 
Published: January 2019

AbstractPhytoplasmas are cell wall‐less phytopathogenic bacteria which are associated with a disease in Rubus species known as Rubus stunt. Symptoms range from stunting, witches’ broom, small leaves, short internodes, enlarged sepals, phyllody and flower proliferation to fruit malformations. Phytoplasmas can be spread by vegetative propagation and by phloem‐feeding insect vectors. However, little is known about the spectrum and distribution of putative Rubus stunt insect vectors. In this study, a screening of putative insect vectors of Rubus stunt in raspberry plantations in southern and northern Germany was carried out during two successive years (2014 and 2015) with multiple sampling dates throughout the growing seasons. A total of 2,891 hemipteran insects were sorted, identified to family, genus or species level when possible, and a subset of 319 DNA samples containing a sum of 932 selected individuals representing all identified species, sampling locations and sampling dates were tested for phytoplasma DNA using qPCR. Altogether, eight DNA samples were positive for phytoplasma DNA, among them species from the genera Euscelidius, Macrosteles, Euscelis, Anaceratagalliaand Psammotettix. These data will form the basis for choosing and timing appropriate control measures against Rubus stunt and also for potential insect vector transmission experiments.