bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous recovery of locomotion induced by remaining fibers	after spinal cord transection in adult rats
Authors: You Si-Wei , Chen Bing-Yao , Liu Hui-Ling , Lang Bing , Xia Jie-Lai , Jiao Xi-Ying , Ju Gong 
Published: December 2024

Purpose: A major issue in analysis of experimental results after spinal cord injury is spontaneous functional recovery induced by remaining nerve fibers. The authors investigated the relationship between the degree of locomotor recovery and the percentage and location of the fibers that spared spinal cord transection. Methods: The spinal cords of 12 adult rats were transected at T9 with a razor blade, which often resulted in sparing of nerve fibers in the ventral spinal cord. The incompletely-transected animals were used to study the degree of spontaneous recovery of hindlimb locomotion, evaluated with the BBB rating scale, in correlation to the extent and location of the remaining fibers. Results: Incomplete transection was found in the ventral spinal cord in 42% of the animals. The degree of locomotor recovery was highly correlated with the percentage of the remaining fibers in the ventral and ventrolateral funiculi. In one of the rats, 4.82% of remaining fibers in unilateral ventrolateral funiculus were able to sustain a certain recovery of locomotion. Conclusions: Less than 5% of remaining ventrolateral white matter is sufficient for an unequivocal motor recovery after incomplete spinal cord injury. Therefore, for studies with spinal cord transection, the completeness of sectioning should be carefully checked before any conclusion can be reached. The fact that the degree of locomotor recovery is correlated with the percentage of remaining fibers in the ventrolateral spinal cord, exclusive of most of the descending motor tracts, may imply an essential role of propriospinal connections in the initiation of spontaneous locomotor recovery.
BG01V: A variant human embryonic stem cell line which exhibits	rapid growth after passaging and reliable dopaminergic differentiation
Authors: Zeng Xianmin , Chen Jia , Liu Ying , Luo Yongquan , Schulz Thomas C. , Robins Allan J. , Rao Mahendra S. , Freed William J. 
Published: December 2024

Purpose: To explore a karyotypically abnormal variant human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line, BG01V, as a potential model for studies of dopaminergic neuronal differentiation. Methods: The properties of BG01V cells were compared to those of normal BG01 cells using immunocytochemistry, RT-PCR, focused microarrays and in vitro differentiation, including dopaminergic differentiation, by culturing with the stromal cell line PA6. Results: Despite the karyotypic abnormality (49, +12, +17 and XXY), undifferentiated BG01V cells expressed pluripotent ESC markers similar to BG01 cells, and retained the ability to differentiate into cell types characteristic of all three germ layers. When co-cultured with the stromal cell line PA6, BG01V cells differentiated into dopaminergic cells which exhibited properties similar to those of mature dopaminergic neurons. Conclusions: BG01V cells were easier to maintain in culture than karyotypically normal BG01 cells and can be used as an alternative pluripotent hESC type for in vitro developmental studies.
Virtual reality applications for the remapping of space in neglect	patients
Authors: Ansuini Caterina , Pierno Andrea Cristiano , Lusher Dean , Castiello Umberto 
Published: December 2024

Purpose: The aims of the present article were the following: (i) to provide some evidence of the potential of virtual reality (VR) for the assessment, training and recovery of hemispatial neglect; (ii) to present data from our laboratory which seem to confirm that the clinical manifestation of neglect can be improved by using VR techniques; and (iii) to ascertain the neural bases of this improvement. Methods: We used a VR device (DataGlove) interfaced with a specially designed computer program which allowed neglect patients to reach and grasp a real object while simultaneously observing the grasping of a virtual object located within a virtual environment by a virtual hand. The virtual hand was commanded in real time by their real hand. Results: After a period of training, hemispatial neglect patients coded the visual stimuli within the neglected space in an identical fashion as those presented within the preserved portions of space. However it was also found that only patients with lesions that spared the inferior parietal/superior temporal regions were able to benefit from the virtual reality training. Conclusions: It was concluded that using VR it is possible to re-create links between the affected and the nonaffected space in neglect patients. Furthermore, that specific regions may play a crucial role in the recovery of space that underlies the improvement of neglect patients when trained with virtual reality. The implications of these results for determining the neural bases of a higher order attentional and/or spatial representation, and for the treatment of patients with unilateral neglect are discussed.
Neglect and extinction: Within and between sensory	modalities
Authors: Brozzoli Claudio , Demattè M. Luisa , Pavani Francesco , Frassinetti Francesca , Farnè Alessandro 
Published: December 2024

Purpose: The interest in human conscious awareness has increasingly propelled the study of neglect, the most striking occurrence of an acquired lack of conscious experience of space. Neglect syndromes commonly arise after unilateral brain damage that spares primary sensory areas nonetheless leading to a lack of conscious stimulus perception. Because of the central role of vision in our everyday life and motor behaviour, most research on neglect has been carried out in the visual domain. Here, we suggest that a comprehensive perspective on neglect should examine in parallel evidence from all sensory modalities. Methods: We critically reviewed relevant literature on neglect within and between sensory modalities. Results: A number of studies have investigated manifestations of neglect in the tactile and auditory modalities, as well as in the chemical senses, supporting the idea that neglect can arise in various sensory modalities, either separately or concurrently. Moreover, studies on extinction (i.e., failure to report the contralesional stimulus only when this is delivered together with a concurrent one in the ipsilesional side), a deficit to some extent related to neglect, showed strong interactions between sensory modality for the conscious perception of stimuli and representation of space. Conclusions: Examining neglect and extinction by taking into account evidence from all sensory modalities in parallel can provide deeper comprehension of the neglect syndrome mechanisms and possibly more effective multi-sensory based rehabilitation approaches.
Improvement of dexterity by single session low-frequency	repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over the contralesional motor	cortex in acute stroke: A double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial
Authors: Liepert Joachim , Zittel Simone , Weiller Cornelius 
Published: December 2024

Purpose: Increasing evidence suggests that the contralesional motor cortex (M1) inhibits the ipsilesional M1 in stroke patients. This inhibition could impair motor function of the affected hand. We investigated if inhibitory 1~Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the contralesional M1 improved motor performance of the affected hand in acute stroke. Methods: A double-blind study of real versus placebo rTMS was conducted. Twelve patients early after subcortical stroke (mean: 7 days) received 1200 stimuli of real and placebo rTMS in a crossover design. The sequence of stimulations was counterbalanced across subjects. Stimulus intensity was subthreshold (90% of motor threshold at rest). Motor function was tested by grip strength recordings and Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT) executions before and after each rTMS session. Results: Compared to sham stimulation, real rTMS improved NHPT results but not grip strength in the affected hand. No change of performance was observed for the unaffected hand. NHPT baseline repetitions in a subgroup of patients indicated stable motor performance prior to the rTMS sessions. Conclusions: The study suggests that therapeutic rTMS applications over the contralesional hemisphere are feasible in acute stroke patients and can transiently improve dexterity of the affected hand. RTMS may become an additional tool for early neurorehabilitation.
Five days versus a lifetime: Intense associative vocabulary	training generates lexically integrated words
Authors: Breitenstein Caterina , Zwitserlood Pienie , de Vries Meinou H. , Feldhues Christiane , Knecht Stefan , Dobel Christian 
Published: December 2024

Purpose: The best predictor of successful language therapy in both the acute and chronic stages after stroke is the treatment intensity, i.e., number of hours trained per week. Associative learning should be particularly suited for intense training because it places low demands on (executive) cognitive functions. It is as of yet unresolved, however, whether associative training is a valid language learning approach. It could merely produce superficial associations of acoustic-visual information, which remain outside lexical and conceptual networks. Methods: We here examined if five days of associative training in a miniature vocabulary are sufficient for an integration of novel words into the learner's mental lexicon. Twelve healthy subjects were trained 20 min daily for five consecutive days simply by frequent couplings of object pictures with novel words. Results: Correct responses for couplings of novel words and object names increased from a chance level of 50 percent on day 1 to > 90 percent accuracy on day 5. Prior to and immediately after the vocabulary training, a cross-modal semantic priming test was administered to determine the degree of lexical integration of the novel words into the language system already in situ. Conclusions: Results show that learned novel words had acquired semantic characteristics, which were comparable to words of subjects' native language acquired over a lifetime. Thus, comprehensive integration of the novel words into existing conceptual and lexical networks occurred after just five days of training. This lays the foundation for probing associative training approaches in aphasia therapy, with the hope of increasing therapy efficiency.
The Excite Trial: Relationship of intensity of constraint induced	movement therapy to improvement in the wolf motor function test
Authors: Wolf Steven L. , Newton Heather , Maddy Douglas , Blanton Sarah , Zhang Qin , Winstein Carolee J. , Morris David M. , Light Kathye 
Published: December 2024

Purpose: To examine the relationship between change scores on the log mean Wolf Motor Function Test (lmWMFT) and the intensity of supervised Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) in participants with subacute and chronic stroke. Methods: A retrospective analysis of data from 169 EXCITE participants who received CIMT either immediately after randomization or one year later was undertaken. During waking hours, participants wore a restraining mitt on the less affected extremity. The lmWMFT was administered before and after the two week treatment block. Results: Significant relationships were seen between the intensity of training and functional score in the immediate, lower functional group for whom more training in adaptive task practice resulted in poorer outcomes (p=0.01) and in the immediate, higher functioning group for whom more training in repetitive task practice resulted in poorer outcomes (p=0.02). Female participants in the immediate group showed less progress in lmWMFT scores with greater amounts of total training (p=0.01). Functional level, gender, and concordance did not modify any other relationship. Both higher functioning participants who trained within the normal ratio (N=50) and who were exposed to more than the prescribed adaptive task practice (N=11) experienced a significant improvement in the lmWMFT score (p=0.03 and p=0.02, respectively) compared to those higher functioning participants who experienced excessive repetitive task practice. Conclusion: Applying CIMT to a large sample of participants with stroke resulted in directionally inappropriate but significant relationships between intensity and lmWMFT scores in the immediate but not the delayed group. Our data also suggest that functional improvements observed in the EXCITE Trial might be attributable to training components other than the designated ratio of training approaches (adaptive and repetitive task practice).
Electrical stimulation prior to delayed reinnervation does not	enhance recovery in muscles of rats
Authors: Dow Douglas E. , Cederna Paul S. , Hassett Cheryl A. , Dennis Robert G. , Faulkner John A. 
Published: December 2024

Purpose: Prolonged denervation of skeletal muscles results in atrophy and poor recovery of motor function following delayed reinnervation. Electrical stimulation reduces denervation atrophy. We hypothesized that electrical stimulation of denervated extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles during a prolonged period between nerve axotomy and opportunity for reinnervation by motoneurons after nerve-repair would enhance the recovery of muscle mass, force and motor-function. Methods: The EDL muscles of rats were denervated for 3.5 months by peroneal nerve axotomy, then repaired with an end-to-end neurorrhaphy, and allowed to recover for 6.5 months. During the period of denervation, some of the rats received a protocol of electrical stimulation that had previously been shown to dramatically attenuate the effects of denervation atrophy through 4 months. Other experimental groups included unoperated control muscles, denervated muscles, and axotomy followed immediately by nerve-repair. Final evaluations included walking track analysis, maximum force measured in situ by indirect stimulation of the nerve, and muscle mass. Results: The hypothesis was not supported. Electrical stimulation during the period of denervation did not enhance recovery of muscle mass, force or motor function. Conclusion: The primary factors that inhibited reinnervation and recovery following delayed reinnervation were not alleviated by the electrical stimulation during the period of muscle denervation.
Reorganization of visual processing is related to eccentric	viewing in patients with macular degeneration
Authors: Schumacher Eric H. , Jacko Julie A. , Primo Susan A. , Main Keith L. , Moloney Kevin P. , Kinzel Erin N. , Ginn Jimmy 
Published: December 2024

Purpose: Neural evidence exists for cortical reorganization in human visual cortex in response to retinal disease. Macular degeneration (MD) causes the progressive loss of central visual acuity. To cope with this, MD patients often adopt a preferred retinal location (PRL, i.e., a functional retinal area in their periphery used to fixate instead of the damaged fovea). The use of a PRL may foster cortical reorganization. Methods: We used fMRI to measure brain activity in calcarine sulcus while visually stimulating peripheral visual regions in MD patients and age-matched control participants. Results: We found that visual stimulation of the PRL in MD patients increased brain activity in cortex normally representing central vision relative to visual stimulation of a peripheral region outside the patients' PRL and relative to stimulation in the periphery of age-matched control participants. Conclusions: These data directly link cortical reorganization in MD to behavioral adaptations adopted by MD patients. These results not only confirm that large-scale cortical reorganization of visual processing occurs in humans in response to retinal disease, but also relate this reorganization to functional changes in patient behavior.
Islamic Economic Principles: A Critical Review of Capitalism and a Vision for Justice
Authors: Fadillah Muhammad Ifan , Purnomo Budi Supriatono , Purnamasari Imas 
Published: December 2024

This article addresses the paradigmatic tension between capitalism and socialism in the quest for economic and social justice, with a specific focus on critiquing financial capitalism from an Islamic perspective. Using a literature review methodology, this study explores the theoretical foundations of these paradigms and highlights Islam’s distinct approach. The findings reveal that Islam critiques the financial theories underpinning capitalism, particularly its emphasis on the unrestricted pursuit of profit, accumulation of capital, and reliance on mechanisms like interest (riba) and speculative activities (gharar) that exacerbate economic inequality and social injustice. Islam does not align with the profit-driven individualism of capitalism or the state-centric control of socialism. Instead, it presents a transformative paradigm rooted in Islamic theology, advocating principles such as zakāt to ensure equitable wealth distribution, the prohibition of riba to prevent exploitative financial practices, and the prioritization of shared welfare over material accumulation. This paradigm, referred to as Transformative Islam, critiques the structural inequities of financial capitalism while emphasizing the moral imperative for justice, communal well-being, and sustainable economic systems. By integrating theological principles with practical methodologies, Transformative Islam offers a comprehensive and just alternative to exploitative financial systems.
Spatiotemporal Assessment of Water Quality and Quantity of the Kaptai Lake at Rangamati, Bangladesh - An Approach of Remote Sensing, Field Investigation and Laboratory Analysis
Authors: Tushar Mahmud Al Noor , Hossain Arman , Hossen Mukter , Ahmed Md Ezaz , Mia Md Bodruddoza 
Published: December 2024

Monitoring water quality and quantity is essential for sustainable water resource management. This study investigates changes in the extent and water quality of Kaptai Lake using remote sensing, field measurements, and laboratory analysis. Analysis of Landsat TM/OLI images from 1989, 2000, 2010, and 2021 shows that the lake's water extent ranges from 380 km² (in 2010) to 435 km² (in 2021), with an average of 407.5 km². The extent of water decreased by approximately 3% from 1989 to 2010 and increased by about 5% from 2010 to 2021 due to changing rainfall patterns, dam operations, sedimentation, and land use changes. Seasonal variations in chlorophyll-a concentration and turbidity, analyzed using Sentinel 2B images from 2022 and 2023, indicate mesotrophic to eutrophic conditions and higher turbidity in post-monsoon. The study found that nutrient enrichment from untreated sewage, agricultural runoff, and algal growth affect chlorophyll-a levels, while development activities, excessive rainfall, and sedimentation influence turbidity. Linear regression analyses show strong positive correlation between field obtained and image derived values both for chlorophyll-a (R2 0.621) and turbidity (R2 0.698). Physico-chemical parameters such as pH, EC and temperature have been measured in the field and hydrochemical parameters including, cations and anions have been measured by laboratory analysis to assess the contemporary water quality status. The average values for pH, EC and temperature are 7.55, 119.85 µS/cm and 22.17 °C respectively. The cationic dominance in the studied segment of the Lake is in the order of Ca2+ > Na2+ > Mg2+>K+ > Fe2+ >Mn2+. On the other hand, the anions are in the order of HCO3- > SO42- > Cl- > NO3-. All the physico-chemical parameters of the lake water fall within the Bangladesh Drinking Water Limit (BDWL) and are not linked to chlorophyll-a and turbidity variations. The findings of this study can help mitigate the deterioration of Kaptai Lake by addressing water quality and extent issues, promoting effective and sustainable lake management strategies.
The Dhaka University Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Vol. 13(1), 2024, P 121-139
Improvement on Calibration Weightings in Stratified Random Sampling
Authors: Clement Etebong P , Anieting Akaninyene E 
Published: December 2024

Calibration weightings is the process of formulating calibration constraints using a given distance measure to obtain expression of the calibration weights. One of the major limitations of the simple calibration technique by Deville and Sarndal (1992); is that the calibration weights obtained by this process may be negative and or extremely large. To overcome this challenge, this study develops a new framework for obtaining optimum calibration weightings using inverse exponentiation. A new calibration regression estimator of population mean is proposed in stratified random sampling. Properties of the new estimator are derived and its efficacy established through empirical comparisons with existing estimators. Results of analysis showed that the new estimator obtained by the new calibration weightings is more precise and highly efficient than calibration estimators obtained by the simple calibration technique by Deville and Sarndal (1992), under the same optimum conditions.
International Journal of Statistical Sciences, Vol. 24(2), November, 2024, pp 125-136
Optimizing Wind Speed Predictions in Bangladesh: Unveiling the Power of Machine Learning Approaches
Authors: Khatun Mira , Sattar Golam Sabbir , Karmokar Provash Kumar , Karim Md Rezaul 
Published: December 2024

Wind speed is a naturally occurring phenomenon that arises from the intricate interplay of various atmospheric processes. Wind speed prediction is pivotal in various sectors worldwide, and Bangladesh is no exception. Beyond its impact on agriculture, water management, and disaster preparedness, wind speed also plays a crucial role in urban planning and construction projects. Architects and engineers rely on accurate wind speed forecasts to design buildings and infrastructure that can withstand local wind conditions. Furthermore, the aviation and maritime industries heavily depend on wind speed predictions to ensure the safety of flights and shipping routes. Predicting wind speeds in Bangladesh poses a significant challenge due to the region's susceptibility to frequent seasonal changes influenced by its coastal location and complex, nonlinear climate patterns. To address this important aspect, we leverage Machine Learning (ML) algorithms, including Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Classification and Regression Trees (CART), Random Forest (RF), K Nearest Neighbors (K-NN), and Support Vector Machine (SVM) to forecast wind speeds at various weather stations in Bangladesh. We utilized various accuracy metrics, including precision, sensitivity, specificity, F-measure, and overall accuracy, to evaluate the performances of the algorithms. The RF model outperformed the other models with an overall accuracy of 94.73% for predicting wind speed conditions in Bangladesh. On the other hand, the LDA model exhibited the lowest performance, achieving an accuracy of 93.27% in comparison to the other models. It is noticeable that the aforementioned five models showed more than 90% accuracy for windspeed prediction. Additionally, we complement our analysis with visual representations such as box plots, density plots, dot plots, parallel plots, and scatterplot matrix plots. These empirical results also highlighted the RF as the most suitable method for predicting contemporary wind speed patterns in Bangladesh.
International Journal of Statistical Sciences, Vol. 24(2), November, 2024, pp 137-154