bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Systematic review of patient-reported measures of treatment burden in stroke
Authors: Gallacher Katie I , Quinn Terry , Kidd Lisa , Eton David , Dillon Megan , Elliot Jennifer , Johnston Natalie , Erwin Patricia J , Mair Frances 
Published: September 2019

ObjectivesTreatment burden is the workload of healthcare for people with long-term conditions (LTC) and its impact on well-being. A method of measurement is required to identify those experiencing high burden and to measure intervention efficacy. Our aim was to identify, examine and appraise validated patient-reported measures (PRMs) of treatment burden in stroke. Here, stroke serves as an exemplar LTC of older adults.DesignA systematic review of published studies that describe the development and validation of PRMs measuring treatment burden in stroke survivors.Data sourcesWe searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO electronic databases.Eligibility criteriaStudies published between January 2000 and 12 April 2019 inclusive, in English language. No restrictions were set based on clinical setting or geographical location.Data extraction and synthesisScreening, data extraction and quality appraisal were conducted by two independent reviewers. Content of the PRMs was compared with a published taxonomy of treatment burden. Quality appraisal was conducted using International Society for Quality of Life Research standards.ResultsFrom 3993 articles, 6 relevant PRMs were identified: 3 were stroke specific: The Satisfaction with Stroke Care questionnaire; The Stroke Patient-Reported Outcome Measure and The Barriers to Physical Activity after Stroke scale. Three were generic but validated in stroke: The WHO Quality of Life-100; The Patient’s Questionnaire on Participation in Discharge Planning and The Chao Perception of Continuity scale. None comprehensively measured treatment burden. Examples of omitted burdens included developing coping strategies, managing finances and returning to driving. The most notable issue regarding quality appraisal was that three PRMs lacked any underpinning qualitative research relevant to the sample.ConclusionThere is a need to develop a comprehensive PRM of treatment burden for use in stroke, with potential for use in other older populations.
Effect modifiers of lung function and daily air pollutant variability in a panel of schoolchildren
Authors: Mentz Graciela , Robins Thomas G , Batterman Stuart , Naidoo Rajen N 
Published: September 2019

BackgroundAcute pollutant-related lung function changes among children varies across pollutants and lag periods. We examined whether short-term air pollutant fluctuations were related to daily lung function among a panel of children and whether these effects are modified by airway hyperresponsiveness, location and asthma severity.MethodsStudents from randomly selected grade 4 classrooms at seven primary schools in Durban, participated, together with asthmatic children from grades 3–6 (n=423). The schools were from high pollutant exposed communities (south) and compared with schools from communities with lower levels of pollution (north), with similar socioeconomic profiles. Interviews, spirometry and methacholine challenge testing were conducted. Bihourly lung function measurements were performed over a 3-week period in four phases. During all schooldays, students blew into their personal digital monitors every 1.5–2 hours. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen oxide (NO), sulphur dioxide and particulate matter (<10 μm diameter) (PM10) were measured at each school. Generalised estimating equations assessed lag effects, using single-pollutant (single or distributed lags) models.ResultsFEV1declines ranged from 13 to 18 mL per unit increase in IQR for NO and 14–23 mL for NO2. Among the 5-day average models, a 20 mL and 30 mL greater drop in FEV1per IQR for NO2and NO, respectively, among those with airway hyperresponsiveness compared with those without. Effects were seen among those with normal airways.ConclusionsThis first panel study in sub-Saharan Africa, showed significant declines in lung function, in response to NO and NO2with effects modified by airway hyperresponsiveness or persistent asthma.
Structure and thermal analysis of Ba0.5La0.5MnO3 polycrystalline powder
Authors: Hashimov R. F. , Mikailzade F. A. , Trukhanov S. V. , Lyadov N. M. , Vakhitov I. R. , Trukhanov A. V. , Mirzayev M. N. 
Published: September 2019

The structure and thermal properties of Ba[Formula: see text]La[Formula: see text]MnO3 polycrystalline powder have been investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. The structural studies have shown that Ba[Formula: see text]La[Formula: see text]MnO3 compound crystallizes in perovskite structure with Pm-3m cubic symmetry group. The lattice parameters were obtained to be a = b = c = 3.9073 Å. Mass changes have been observed from thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermogravimetric (DTG) curves obtained in a wide temperature interval of 30–950[Formula: see text]C. Free energy and enthalpy changes for all observed transformations were determined. Observed endo and exo effects.
Optimal bandgaps of a spiral structure based on locally resonant phononic crystals
Authors: Zhai Hongfeng , Xiang Hang , Ma Xingfu , Xiang Jiawei 
Published: September 2019

A spiral locally resonant phononic crystal (LRPC) with the optimal bandgaps (BGs) between 20 and 250 Hz is proposed. The single factor analysis of three key geometric parameters (the thickness of spiral elastic beams, the side length of square scatterers and the spirals’ turns) are performed to obtain corresponding influences on BGs, two-factor (the thickness of spiral elastic beams and the side length of the square scatterer) and seven-level experiment under the four fixed spirals’ turns are designed to obtain optimal BGs with better low-frequency broadband properties. According to numerical experiments, BG data of present spiral LRPCs can be calculated by finite element method (FEM). Relationships (i.e., the relationship between the starting frequency of the first BG and the two factors, the relationship between the bandwidth of the first BG and the two factors, and the relationship between the bandwidth of the second BG and the two factors) are further obtained using the response surface methodology (RSM). The optimal BGs with better properties are finally calculated using the interior point method.
Nerve excitability differences in slow and fast motor axons of the rat: more than just Ih
Authors: Bell James M. , Lorenz Chad , Jones Kelvin E. 
Published: September 2019

The objective was to determine biophysical differences between fast and slow motor axons using threshold tracking and demonstrate confounds related to anesthetic. Nerve excitability of motor axons innervating the slow-twitch soleus (SOL) and fast-twitch tibialis anterior (TA) muscles was tested. The experiments were conducted with pentobarbital sodium (SP) anesthetic and compared with previous results that used ketamine-xylazine (KX). Nerve excitability indices measured with SP show definitive differences between TA and SOL motor axons that extend beyond previous reports. Nerve excitability indices sensitive to changes in Ih indicated an increase in SOL axons compared with TA axons [e.g., S3 t = 7.949 (df = 10), P < 0.001; hyperpolarizing threshold electrotonus (90–100 ms), t = 2.659 (df = 20); P = 0.01; hyperpolarizing I/V slope, t = 4.308 (df = 19); P < 0.001]. SOL axons also had a longer strength-duration time constant [ t = 3.35 (df = 20); P = 0.003] and a longer and larger magnitude relative refractory period [RRP (ms) t = 3.53 (df = 12); P = 0.004; Refractoriness at 2 ms, t = 0.0055 (df = 9); P = 0.006]. Anesthetic choice affected many measures of peripheral nerve excitability with differences most apparent in tests of threshold electrotonus and recovery cycle. For example, recovery cycle with KX lacked a clear superexcitable and late subexcitable period. We conclude that KX had a confounding effect on nerve excitability results consistent with ischemic depolarization. Results using SP revealed the full extent of differences in nerve excitability measures between putative slow and fast motor axons of the rat. These results provide empirical evidence, beyond conduction velocity, that the biophysical properties of motor axons vary with the type of muscle fiber innervated. These differences suggest that fast axons may be predisposed to dysfunction during hyperpolarizing stresses, e.g., electrogenic sodium pumping following sustained impulse conduction. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Nerve excitability testing is a tool used to provide insight into the properties of ion channels in peripheral nerves. It is used clinically to assess pathophysiology of axons. Researchers customarily think of motor axons as homogeneous; however, we demonstrate there are clear differences between fast and slow axons in the rat. This is important for interpreting results with selective motor neuronopathy, like aging where fast axons are at high risk of degeneration.
Symmetry of generalized rivalry network models determines patterns of interocular grouping in four-location binocular rivalry
Authors: Golubitsky Martin , Zhao Yukai , Wang Yunjiao , Lu Zhong-Lin 
Published: September 2019

Previously, symmetry of network models has been proposed to account for interocular grouping during binocular rivalry. Here, we construct and analyze generalized rivalry network models with different types of symmetry (based on different kinds of excitatory coupling) to derive predictions of possible perceptual states in 12 experiments with four retinal locations. Percepts in binocular rivalry involving more than three locations have not been empirically investigated due to the difficulty in reporting simultaneous percepts at multiple locations. Here, we develop a novel reporting procedure in which the stimulus disappears when the subject is cued to report the simultaneously perceived colors in all four retinal locations. This procedure ensures that simultaneous rather than sequential percepts are reported. The procedure was applied in 12 experiments with six binocular rivalry stimulus configurations, all consisting of dichoptic displays of red and green squares at four locations. We call configurations with an even or odd number of red squares even or odd configurations, respectively. In experiments using even stimulus configurations, we found that even percepts were more frequently observed than odd percepts, whereas in experiments using odd stimulus configurations even and odd percepts were observed with equal probability. The generalized rivalry network models in which couplings depend on stimulus features and spatial configurations was in better agreement with the empirical results. We conclude that the excitatory coupling strength in the horizontal and vertical configurations are different and the coupling strengths between the same color and between different colors are different. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Wilson network models of interocular groupings during binocular rivalry are constructed by considering features that indicate equal coupling strengths. Network symmetries, based on equal couplings, predict percepts. For a four-location rivalry experiment with red or green squares at each location, we analyze different possible Wilson networks. In our experiments we develop a novel reporting procedure and show that networks in which stimulus features and spatial configurations are distinguished best agree with experiments.
Increasing the expression level of ChR2 enhances the optogenetic excitability of cochlear neurons
Authors: Meng Xiankai , Murali Swetha , Cheng Yen-Fu , Lu Jingrong , Hight Ariel E. , Kanumuri Vivek V. , Brown M. Christian , Holt Jeffrey R. , Lee Daniel J. , Edge Albert S.B. 
Published: September 2019

Optogenetics comprise a promising alternative to electrical stimulation for characterization of neural circuits and for the next generation of neural prostheses. Optogenetic stimulation relies on expression of photosensitive microbial proteins in animal cells to initiate a flow of ions into the cells in response to visible light. Here, we generated a novel transgenic mouse model in which we studied the optogenetic activation of spiral ganglion neurons, the primary afferent neurons of the auditory system, and showed a strong optogenetic response, with a similar amplitude as the acoustically evoked response. A twofold increase in the level of channelrhodopsin expression significantly increased the photosensitivity at both the single cell and organismal levels but also partially compromised the native electrophysiological properties of the neurons. The importance of channelrhodopsin expression level to optogenetic stimulation, revealed by these quantitative measurements, will be significant for the characterization of neural circuitry and for the use of optogenetics in neural prostheses. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study reveals a dose-response relationship between channelrhodopsin expression and optogenetic excitation. Both single cell and organismal responses depend on the expression level of the heterologous protein. Expression level of the opsin is thus an important variable in determining the outcome of an optogenetic experiment. These results are key to the implementation of neural prostheses based on optogenetics, such as next generation cochlear implants, which would use light to elicit a neural response to sound.
Predictive and Pharmacodynamic Biomarkers of Response to the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Inhibitor Taselisib in Breast Cancer Preclinical Models
Authors: Moore Heather M. , Savage Heidi M. , O'Brien Carol , Zhou Wei , Sokol Ethan S. , Goldberg Michael E. , Metcalfe Ciara , Friedman Lori S. , Lackner Mark R. , Wilson Timothy R. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractThe PI3K signaling pathway serves as a central node in regulating cell survival, proliferation, and metabolism. PIK3CA, the gene encoding the PI3K catalytic subunit p110-alpha, is commonly altered in breast cancer resulting in the constitutive activation of the PI3K pathway. Using an unbiased cell line screening approach, we tested the sensitivity of breast cancer cell lines to taselisib, a potent PI3K inhibitor, and correlated sensitivity with key biomarkers (PIK3CA, HER2, PTEN, and ESR1). We further assessed how taselisib modulates downstream signaling in the different genomic backgrounds that occur within breast cancer. We found that sensitivity to taselisib correlated with the presence of PIK3CA mutations, but was independent of HER2 status. We further showed that HER2-amplified/PIK3CA wild-type cell lines are not as sensitive to taselisib when compared with HER2-amplified/PIK3CA-mutant cell lines. In a PIK3CA-mutant/PTEN null background, PI3K downstream signaling rebounded in the presence of taselisib correlating with decreased sensitivity at later time points. Finally, we observed that PIK3CA mutations cooccurred with mutations in the estrogen receptor (ER; ESR1) in metastatic tumors from patients with ER+ breast cancer. However, the cooccurrence of an ESR1 mutation with a PIK3CA mutation did not affect response to taselisib in a single agent setting or in combination with fulvestrant. In summary, these data suggest that development of taselisib in breast cancer should occur in a PIK3CA-mutant setting with cotreatments determined by the specific subtypes under investigation.
The Hermetic Symbolism of Andrei Bely’s History of the Becoming of the Self-Conscious Soul
Authors: Schmitt Angelika 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
This article addresses some of the main theses of the dissertation on Andrei Bely’s opus magnum, The History of the Becoming of the Self-Conscious Soul. Bely’s work on philosophy of culture will be discussed in contrast to Rudolf Steiner and on the basis of a drawing illustrating its content. Convergences and differences concerning the crucial concept of the self-conscious soul with regard to Bely and Steiner are pointed out as well as some peculiarities of Bely’s historiosophical approach. The third part demonstrates the cognitive principles of the self-conscious soul, which for Bely are connected to its development during modern times. They also provide the means for the formation of the poetical structure of Bely’s text. A fourth part provides some examples of the metaphorical level of the text and shows the implications of Bely’s interpretation of the ‘spiral of history’. The last part discusses the definition of Bely’s method as “hermetic symbolism”.
Interannual Variability of the Tropical Cyclone Landfall Frequency over the Southern and Northern Regions of East Asia in Autumn
Authors: Zhou Xingyan , Lu Riyu 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
This study focused on the interannual variability of tropical cyclone (TC) activity over the western North Pacific in autumn. The results show that the frequencies of TC landfalls in the southern and northern coastal regions of East Asia are roughly independent, implying that they are affected by different factors and should be studied separately. Further analysis indicates that the frequency of TC landfall in the southern region is closely related to El Niño–Southern Oscillation, which affects both the upper- and lower-tropospheric circulation over the western North Pacific and East Asia and induces changes in the steering flow. By contrast, the frequency of TC landfall over the northern region has a close connection with a teleconnection pattern in the upper troposphere over the Eurasian continent, which seems to be triggered by an anomalous Rossby wave source over the North Atlantic. This teleconnection pattern leads to anomalous meridional winds over the western North Pacific and East Asia and induces significant changes in the steering flow.
How Deep Argo Will Improve the Deep Ocean in an Ocean Reanalysis
Authors: Gasparin Florent , Hamon Mathieu , Rémy Elisabeth , Le Traon Pierre-Yves 
Published: September 2019

AbstractGlobal ocean sampling with autonomous floats going to 4000–6000 m, known as the deep Argo array, constitutes one of the next challenges for tracking climate change. The question here is how such a global deep array will impact ocean reanalyses. Based on the different behavior of four ocean reanalyses, we first identified that large uncertainty exists in current reanalyses in representing local heat and freshwater fluxes in the deep ocean (1 W m−2 and 10 cm yr−1 regionally). Additionally, temperature and salinity comparison with deep Argo observations demonstrates that reanalysis errors in the deep ocean are of the same size as, or even stronger than, the deep ocean signal. An experimental approach, using the 1/4° GLORYS2V4 (Global Ocean Reanalysis and Simulation) system, is then presented to anticipate how the evolution of the global ocean observing system (GOOS), with the advent of deep Argo, would contribute to ocean reanalyses. Based on observing system simulation experiments (OSSE), which consist in extracting observing system datasets from a realistic simulation to be subsequently assimilated in an experimental system, this study suggests that a global deep Argo array of 1200 floats will significantly constrain the deep ocean by reducing temperature and salinity errors by around 50%. Our results also show that such a deep global array will help ocean reanalyses to reduce error in temperature changes below 2000 m, equivalent to global ocean heat fluxes from 0.15 to 0.07 W m−2, and from 0.26 to 0.19 W m−2 for the entire water column. This work exploits the capabilities of operational systems to provide comprehensive information for the evolution of the GOOS.
An Evaluation of Integrated Water Vapor, Wind, and Precipitation Forecasts Using Water Vapor Flux Observations in the Western United States
Authors: Darby Lisa S. , White Allen B. , Gottas Daniel J. , Coleman Timothy 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Differences between forecasts and observations at eight atmospheric river observatories (AROs) in the western United States during winter 2015/16 are analyzed. NOAA’s operational RAP and HRRR 3-h forecasts of wind, integrated water vapor (IWV), integrated water vapor flux (IWV flux), and precipitation from the grid points nearest the AROs were paired with ARO observations presented in the NOAA/Physical Sciences Division’s water vapor flux tool (WVFT). The focus of this paper is to characterize and quantify the differences in the WVFT observations and forecasts. We used traditional forecast evaluation methods since they were compatible with the design of the tool: a near-real-time visual depiction of hourly observed and forecasted variables at a single location. Forecast root-mean-squared errors (RMSEs) and unbiased RMSEs, standard deviations of the observed and forecasted variables, and frequency bias scores (FBS) for all of the fields, plus equitable threat scores for precipitation, are presented. Both models forecasted IWV at all AROs and the winds that drive orographic precipitation at most AROs within a reasonable range of the observations as indicated by comparisons of the standard deviations and RMSEs of the forecasts with the standard deviations of the observations and FBS. These results indicated that forecasted advection of moisture to the stations was adequate for generating precipitation. At most stations and most hourly precipitation rates, the HRRR underpredicted precipitation. At several AROs the RAP precipitation forecasts more closely matched the observations at smaller (&lt;1.27 mm h−1) precipitation rates, but underpredicted precipitation rates &gt; 2 mm h−1.
Direct foraminoplasty in endoscope-assisted transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation
Authors: Zhang Yuan-Wei , Xia Wen-Han , Gao Wen-Cheng , Xiao Xin , Xiao Yan , Gong Fei-Peng 
Published: September 2019

Objective As a new minimally invasive surgery developed in recent years, the procedure of endoscope-assisted transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) has not been well described. We herein describe a patient with lumbar disc herniation who underwent direct foraminoplasty and thorough decompression using a self-designed endoscopic trephine in endoscope-assisted TLIF at L4–5. Methods A 57-year-old man presented with a 3-month history of low back and right leg pain. Lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging indicated protrusion of the L4–5 intervertebral disc in the right posterior direction. The patient underwent endoscopic surgery involving direct foraminoplasty, removal of the L4–5 intervertebral disc, and thorough decompression around the nerve roots. Results During the 1-year follow-up, the patient was generally in good condition and had no significant limitation of lumbar spine activity. Conclusions Endoscopic resection for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation is not a novel concept, but the improvement in the efficacy of endoscope-assisted TLIF and other endoscope-assisted spinal surgeries deserves to be reported. Through the innovation and improvement of surgical equipment for endoscope-assisted TLIF, direct foraminoplasty and thorough decompression can be effectively realized. These advances will help to promote the postoperative efficacy and enhance the prognosis.