bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparative effectiveness and prognostic factors for outcome of surgical and non-surgical management of lumbar spinal stenosis in an elderly population: protocol for an observational study
Authors: Brøgger Helle Algren , Maribo Thomas , Christensen Robin , Schiøttz-Christensen Berit 
Published: December 2018

IntroductionLumbar spinal stenosis is a common cause of low back and leg pain in the elderly and affects both physical activity and quality of life. First-line treatments are non-surgical options but if unsuccessful, surgery is advocated. The literature is not clear as to the outcome of surgery compared with non-surgical treatment, and the optimal time for surgery is not explicit. This observational study is designed to investigate the course of treatment, compare effectiveness of surgical and non-surgical management in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and identify prognostic factors for outcome in the context of current clinical practice.Materials and analysisProspectively registered data on treatment, outcome and patient characteristics are collected from nationwide registers on health and social issues, a clinical registry of people with chronic back pain and hospital medical records. Primary outcome is change in physical function measured by the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes are changes in symptom severity, pain-related function, health-related quality of life and general self-efficacy. Outcomes are assessed at baseline and 6 and 12 months. Outcomes at 12 months will be compared for patients who undergo surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis and patients managed non-surgically, using different analytical approaches. Prespecified prognostic factors of interest at baseline include treatment allocation, back and leg pain intensity, comorbidity, duration of symptoms, pretreatment function, self-rated health, income, general self-efficacy and MRI-graded severity of central stenosis.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been evaluated by the Regional Committees on Health Research for Southern Denmark (S-20172000–200) and notified to the Danish Data Protection Agency (18/22336). All participants provide consent. Findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications and presented at national and international conferences according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology and Prognosis Research Strategy statements. Potential sources of bias will be addressed using Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Interventions.Trial registration numberNCT03548441; Pre-results.
Preferences for portable ultrasound devices: a discrete choice experiment among abdominal aortic aneurysm surveillance patients and general ultrasound patients in England
Authors: Parsons Caron , Khan Kamran Ahmad , Pink Joshua , Verran Alice , Griffiths Frances , Hutchinson Charles E , Petrou Stavros 
Published: December 2018

ObjectiveTo undertake an assessment of preferences as to how, where and by whom ultrasounds (US) should be performed in: (1) patients undergoing surveillance of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) size (AAA group); and (2) patients being scanned for general abdominal conditions (general group).DesignA discrete choice experiment (DCE) questionnaire was administered to patients attending US appointments. Analysis of questionnaire responses used conditional logit models and included validity checks.SettingWest Midlands, England.Participants524 patients (223 in the AAA group and 301 in the general group) were recruited from the US outpatient department at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire.Outcome measuresCoefficients for attributes in relation to their reference levels.ResultsThe AAA group preferred to have their US performed in hospital while the general group had a preference for portable US at general practice surgeries. All patients had a strong preference for scanning by specialists, devices with a lower risk of underdiagnosis and receiving their results at the appointment where the scan takes place. The general group had a strong preference for the person performing the scan to know their medical history.ConclusionsPatients being scanned for general abdominal conditions prefer to be scanned in a general practice by practitioners who know their medical history. Patients undergoing surveillance of AAA size prefer to be scanned in a hospital setting. Both groups would prefer to be informed of the scan results as soon as possible. Further research is required to explore the clinical scenarios in which targeted scanning by community practitioners would be of benefit to patients.
Flow diversion covering the M1 origin as a last resort
Authors: Lin Li-Mei , Bender Matthew T , Colby Geoffrey P , Jiang Bowen , Campos Jessica K , Zarrin David A , Young Robert W C , Xu Risheng , Caplan Justin M , Huang Judy , Tamargo Rafael J , Coon Alexander L 
Published: December 2018

IntroductionInternal carotid artery termination (ICAT) and proximal A1 aneurysms can be challenging for open surgical clipping or endovascular coiling. Treatment with flow diversion covering the middle cerebral artery (MCA), an end vessel supplying a terminal circulation, has not been reported.MethodsA prospective, Institutional Review Board-approved database was analysed for patients with pipeline embolisation device (PED) placement from the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) to the ICA during cerebral aneurysm treatment.ResultsNine cases were identified, including five proximal A1, three posterior communicating artery and one ICAT aneurysm locations. Average aneurysm size was 8.3 mm (range 3–17), with 67% saccular and 78% right-sided. Primary indication for treatment was significant dome irregularity (44%), recurrence or enlargement (33%), underlying collagen vascular disorder (11%) and traumatic pseudoaneurysm (11%). Preservation of the ipsilateral ACA (with PED placed in A1) was performed when the anterior communicating artery (67%) or contralateral A1 (33%) were absent on angiography. Adjunctive coiling was done in four cases (44%). There was one major stroke leading to mortality (11%) and one minor stroke (11%). Clinical follow-up was 27 months on average. Follow-up digital subtraction angiography (average interval 15 months) showed complete aneurysm obliteration (88%) or dome occlusion with entry remnant (12%). The jailed MCA showed minimal or mild delay (primarily anterograde flow) in 75% of cases and significant delay (reliance primarily on ACA and external carotid artery collaterals) in 25%.ConclusionsCovering the MCA with a flow diverting stent should be reserved for select rare cases. Strict attention to blood pressure augmentation during the periprocedural period is necessary to minimise potential ischaemic compromise.
Controllable synthesis of 3D Urchin-like V2O5as high-stability for Lithium-ion battery cathodes
Authors: Wang Qinggang , Huang Jianfeng , Pan Limin , Liu Yijun , Li Jiayin , Huang Lingyan 
Published: December 2018

A facile technique was used to prepare self-assembled 3D urchin-like V2O5under solvothermal condition. The 3D urchin-like V2O5could provide high Li[Formula: see text] capacity with excellent rate performance, presenting a high reversible discharge capacity of 271.6[Formula: see text]mAh[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text], at 0.1[Formula: see text]C. At current density of 1[Formula: see text]C, it shows a high reversible capacities of 209[Formula: see text]mAh[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] with capactity retention of 91.8% (191[Formula: see text]mAh[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text]) after 380 cycles. Even at 2[Formula: see text]C and 5[Formula: see text]C, the capacity displays 172.4 and 129.24[Formula: see text]mAh[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text]. The above enhanced performance is caused from greatly enhanced charge transportation, which closely relates to the structural stability and more channels for Li[Formula: see text] transfer of the unique 3D urchin-like V2O5.
Paleozoic plays of NW Europe: an introduction
Authors: Monaghan A. A. , Underhill J. R. , Marshall J. E. A. , Hewett A. J. 
Published: December 2018

Abstract
Despite successful production from Carboniferous and Permian reservoirs in the Southern North Sea and onshore Netherlands and Germany, Paleozoic hydrocarbon plays across parts of NW Europe remain relatively under-explored onshore and offshore. This volume brings together new and previously unpublished knowledge about the Paleozoic plays of NW Europe. Improvements in seismic data quality and availability tied to previously unpublished well datasets form the basis for improved understanding of local to regional structural interpretations, depositional environments and basin history. New interpretations move significantly away from generalized basin development models, with improved definition of structural traps and source rock basins feeding to better constrained, locally variable burial, uplift, maturation and migration models. Particularly notable are the significant mapped extents and thickness of Paleozoic source, reservoir and seal rocks. Areas previously dismissed as regional highs and platforms are dissected by Paleozoic basins with evidence for mature source rocks into basin centres. Numerous potential Paleozoic plays or play elements result within thick organic-rich and variably mature successions. Outside or below existing Jurassic and Southern North Sea to onshore Netherlands and German Permian-Carboniferous plays, Paleozoic plays in frontier areas offer significant additional exploration opportunities.
Eocene–Recent drainage evolution of the Colorado River and its precursor: an integrated provenance perspective from SW California
Authors: Nicholson Uisdean , Carter Andrew , Robinson Paula , Macdonald David I. M. 
Published: December 2018

Abstract

The Colorado River in the SW of the USA is one of Earth's few continental-scale rivers with an active margin delta. Deformation along this transform margin, as well as associated intra-plate strain, has resulted in significant changes in sediment routing from the continental interior and post-depositional translation of older deltaic units. The oldest candidate deposits, fluvial sandstones of the Eocene Sespe Group, are now exposed in the Santa Monica Mountains, 300 km to the north of the Colorado River. Heavy mineral data from this basin indicate that sediment was sourced by a large river system, with some affinity to the early Pliocene Colorado River, but was unlikely to have been integrated across the Colorado Plateau. Sedimentological and mineralogical evidence from the earliest (
c.
5.3 Ma) unequivocal Colorado River-derived sediments in the Salton Trough provide evidence for a rapid transition from locally derived sedimentation. Lack of evidence for a precursor phase of suspended-load sediment suggests that drainage capture took place in a proximal position, favouring a ‘top-down’ process of lake spillover. Following drainage integration, significant changes in heavy mineral assemblages of fluvio-deltaic sediments, particularly evident from apatite–tourmaline and garnet–zircon indices, as well as U–Pb ages of detrital zircons, document the integration of the fluvial system to its present form and progressive incision of the Colorado Plateau from the Miocene to the present.
Interval vs. Point Temporal Logic Model Checking
Authors: Bozzelli Laura , Molinari Alberto , Montanari Angelo , Peron Adriano , Sala Pietro 
Published: December 2018

In recent years, model checking with interval temporal logics is emerging as a viable alternative to model checking with standard point-based temporal logics, such as LTL, CTL, CTL*, and the like. The behavior of the system is modeled by means of (finite) Kripke structures, as usual. However, while temporal logics which are interpreted “point-wise” describe how the system evolves state-by-state, and predicate properties of system states, those which are interpreted “interval-wise” express properties of computation stretches, spanning a sequence of states. A proposition letter is assumed to hold over a computation stretch (interval) if and only if it holds over each component state (homogeneity assumption). A natural question arises: is there any advantage in replacing points by intervals as the primary temporal entities, or is it just a matter of taste?
In this article, we study the expressiveness of Halpern and Shoham’s interval temporal logic (HS) in model checking, in comparison with those of LTL, CTL, and CTL*. To this end, we consider three semantic variants of HS: the state-based one, introduced by Montanari et al. in [30, 34], that allows time to branch both in the past and in the future, the computation-tree-based one, that allows time to branch in the future only, and the trace-based variant, that disallows time to branch. These variants are compared among themselves and to the aforementioned standard logics, getting a complete picture. In particular, we show that HS with trace-based semantics is equivalent to LTL (but at least exponentially more succinct), HS with computation-tree-based semantics is equivalent to finitary CTL*, and HS with state-based semantics is incomparable with all of them (LTL, CTL, and CTL*).
A perpetual switching system in pulmonary capillaries
Authors: Wagner Wiltz W. , Jaryszak Eric M. , Peterson Amanda J. , Doerschuk Claire M. , Bohlen H. Glenn , King Judy A. C. , Tanner Judith A. , Crockett Edward S. , Glenny Robb W. , Presson Robert G. 
Published: December 2018

Of the 300 billion capillaries in the human lung, a small fraction meet normal oxygen requirements at rest, with the remainder forming a large reserve. The maximum oxygen demands of the acute stress response require that the reserve capillaries are rapidly recruited. To remain primed for emergencies, the normal cardiac output must be parceled throughout the capillary bed to maintain low opening pressures. The flow-distributing system requires complex switching. Because the pulmonary microcirculation contains contractile machinery, one hypothesis posits an active switching system. The opposing hypothesis is based on passive switching that requires no regulation. Both hypotheses were tested ex vivo in canine lung lobes. The lobes were perfused first with autologous blood, and capillary switching patterns were recorded by videomicroscopy. Next, the vasculature of the lobes was saline flushed, fixed by glutaraldehyde perfusion, flushed again, and then reperfused with the original, unfixed blood. Flow patterns through the same capillaries were recorded again. The 16-min-long videos were divided into 4-s increments. Each capillary segment was recorded as being perfused if at least one red blood cell crossed the entire segment. Otherwise it was recorded as unperfused. These binary measurements were made manually for each segment during every 4 s throughout the 16-min recordings of the fresh and fixed capillaries (>60,000 measurements). Unexpectedly, the switching patterns did not change after fixation. We conclude that the pulmonary capillaries can remain primed for emergencies without requiring regulation: no detectors, no feedback loops, and no effectors—a rare system in biology. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The fluctuating flow patterns of red blood cells within the pulmonary capillary networks have been assumed to be actively controlled within the pulmonary microcirculation. Here we show that the capillary flow switching patterns in the same network are the same whether the lungs are fresh or fixed. This unexpected observation can be successfully explained by a new model of pulmonary capillary flow based on chaos theory and fractal mathematics.
Exercise intensity affects acute neurotrophic and neurophysiological responses poststroke
Authors: Boyne Pierce , Meyrose Colleen , Westover Jennifer , Whitesel Dustyn , Hatter Kristal , Reisman Darcy S. , Cunningham David , Carl Daniel , Jansen Connor , Khoury Jane C. , Gerson Myron , Kissela Brett , Dunning Kari 
Published: December 2018

Aerobic exercise may acutely prime the brain to be more responsive to rehabilitation, thus facilitating neurologic recovery from conditions like stroke. This aerobic priming effect could occur through multiple mechanisms, including upregulation of circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), increased corticospinal excitability, and decreased intracortical inhibition. However, optimal exercise parameters for targeting these mechanisms are poorly understood. This study tested the effects of exercise intensity on acute BDNF and neurophysiological responses. Sixteen ambulatory persons >6 mo poststroke performed three different 20-min exercise protocols in random order, approximately 1 wk apart, including the following: 1) treadmill high-intensity interval training (HIT-treadmill); 2) seated-stepper HIT (HIT-stepper); and 3) treadmill moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MCT-treadmill). Serum BDNF and transcranial magnetic stimulation measures of paretic lower limb excitability and inhibition were assessed at multiple time points during each session. Compared with MCT-treadmill, HIT-treadmill elicited significantly greater acute increases in circulating BDNF and corticospinal excitability. HIT-stepper initially showed BDNF responses similar to HIT-treadmill but was no longer significantly different from MCT-treadmill after decreasing the intensity in reaction to two hypotensive events. Additional regression analyses showed that an intensity sufficient to accumulate blood lactate appeared to be important for eliciting BDNF responses, that the interval training approach may have facilitated the corticospinal excitability increases, and that the circulating BDNF response was (negatively) related to intracortical inhibition. These findings further elucidate neurologic mechanisms of aerobic exercise and inform selection of optimal exercise-dosing parameters for enhancing acute neurologic effects. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Acute exercise-related increases in circulating BDNF and corticospinal excitability are thought to prime the brain for learning. Our data suggest that these responses can be obtained among persons with stroke using short-interval treadmill high-intensity interval training, that a vigorous aerobic intensity sufficient to generate lactate accumulation is needed to increase BDNF, that interval training facilitates increases in paretic quadriceps corticospinal excitability, and that greater BDNF response is associated with lesser intracortical inhibition response.
Architectural and functional specifics of the human triceps surae muscle in vivo and its adaptation to microgravity
Authors: Koryak Yuri A. 
Published: December 2018

Long-term exposure to microgravity (μG) is known to reduce the strength of a skeletal muscle contraction and the level of general physical performance in humans, while little is known about its effect on muscle architecture. Architectural and contractile properties of the triceps surae (TS) muscle were determined in vivo for male cosmonauts in response ( n = 8) to a spaceflight (213.0 ± 30.5 days). The maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), tetanic tension ( Ро), and voluntary and electrically evoked contraction times and force deficiency (Pd) were determined. The ankle was positioned at 15° dorsiflexion (−15°) and 0, 15, and 30° plantar flexion, with the knee set at 90°. At each position, longitudinal ultrasonic images of the medial (MG) and lateral (LG) gastrocnemius and soleus (SOL) muscles were obtained while the subject was relaxed. After a spaceflight, MVC and Pо decreased by 42 and 26%, respectively, and Pd increased by 50%. The rate of tension of a voluntary contraction substantially reduced but evoked contractions remained unchanged. In the passive condition, fiber length ( Lf) changed from 43, 57, and 35 mm (knee, 0°; ankle, −15°) to 34, 38, and 25 mm (knee, 0°; ankle, 30°) for MG, LG, and SOL, respectively, and Θf changed from 27, 21, and 23° (knee, 0°; ankle, −15°) to 43, 29, and 34° (knee, 0°; ankle, 30°) for MG, LG, and SOL, respectively. Different Lf and Θf, and their changes after spaceflight, might be related to differences in force-producing capabilities of the muscles and elastic characteristics of tendons and aponeuroses. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The present work was the first to combine measuring the fiber length and pennation angle (ultrasound imaging) as main determinants of mechanical force production and evaluating the muscle function after a long-duration spaceflight. The results demonstrate that muscles with different functional roles may differently respond to unloading, and this circumstance is important to consider when planning rehabilitation after unloading of any kind, paying particular attention to postural muscles.
Isometric resistance training increases strength and alters histopathology of dystrophin-deficient mouse skeletal muscle
Authors: Lindsay Angus , Larson Alexie A. , Verma Mayank , Ervasti James M. , Lowe Dawn A. 
Published: December 2018

Mutation to the dystrophin gene causes skeletal muscle weakness in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) or Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD). Deliberation continues regarding implications of prescribing exercise for these patients. The purpose of this study was to determine whether isometric resistance exercise (~10 tetanic contractions/session) improves skeletal muscle strength and histopathology in the mdx mouse model of DMD. Three isometric training sessions increased in vivo isometric torque (22%) and contractility rates (54%) of anterior crural muscles of mdx mice. Mice expressing a BMD-causing missense mutated dystrophin on the mdx background showed comparable increases in torque (22%), while wild-type mice showed less change (11%). Increases in muscle function occurred within 1 h and peaked 3 days posttraining; however, the adaptation was lost after 7 days unless retrained. Six isometric training sessions over 4 wk caused increased isometric torque (28%) and contractility rates (22–28%), reduced fibrosis, as well as greater uniformity of fiber cross-sectional areas, fewer embryonic myosin heavy-chain-positive fibers, and more satellite cells in tibialis anterior muscle compared with the contralateral untrained muscle. Ex vivo functional analysis of isolated extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle from the trained hindlimb revealed greater absolute isometric force, lower passive stiffness, and a lower susceptibility to eccentric contraction-induced force loss compared with untrained EDL muscle. Overall, these data support the concept that exercise training in the form of isometric tetanic contractions can improve contractile function of dystrophin-deficient muscle, indicating a potential role for enhancing muscle strength in patients with DMD and BMD. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We focused on adaptive responses of dystrophin-deficient mouse skeletal muscle to isometric contraction training and report that in the absence of dystrophin (or in the presence of a mutated dystrophin), strength and muscle histopathology are improved. Results suggest that the strength gains are associated with fiber hypertrophy, reduced fibrosis, increased number of satellite cells, and blunted eccentric contraction-induced force loss in vitro. Importantly, there was no indication that the isometric exercise training was deleterious to dystrophin-deficient muscle.