bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aerobic rehabilitation program for improving muscle function in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Di Martino Siria , Tramonti Caterina , Unti Elisa , Del Gamba Claudia , Bonuccelli Ubaldo , Rossi Bruno , Ceravolo Roberto , Chisari Carmelo 
Published: February 2018

Background: Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is characterized by progressive and disabling symptoms. An impaired oxidative metabolism efficiency was supposed to be involved in the systemic impairment. Rehabilitative treatment represents a valid tool in promoting skeletal muscle’s adaptations, even if no solid studies on muscle metabolic features are still available. Objective: To evaluate the efficiency of skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism in PD patients in comparison with age-matched controls and test the role of an intensive aerobic treatment on muscle oxidative metabolism and its clinical effects. Methods: 60 PD patients and 32 age-matched healthy controls participated. Haematic lactate values were detected during and after a submaximal incremental exercise on treadmill. The number of steps completed during the exercise was recorded. From these patients 10 underwent to an intensive aerobic treatment on treadmill (4 sessions/week for 4 weeks). Haematic lactate values and functional scales were recorded before (T0) and after (T1) treatment. Results: At rest no significant difference in hematic lactate values between PD and control subjects was found. Lactate blood levels were significantly higher ( p < 0,001) after the aerobic exercise test in PD patients compared to controls. These values remained higher at any time during recovery period ( p < 0,001). No significant relationship between lactate values and the number of completed steps was found. After the rehabilitation treatment haematic value of lactate showed a significant reduction ( p < 0,05) at 0, 5 and 10 minutes of recovery period with a normalization of value at 30’. All functional scales showed an improvement trend at T1, in particular Berg Balance Scale and 6 Meter Walking Test showed a significant reduction ( p < 0,001 and p < 0,05 respectively). Conclusion: Our data clearly show an impaired muscle oxidative efficiency in PD subjects. The intensive rehabilitation program on treadmill showed a beneficial effect on muscle oxidative metabolism, endurance and balance, confirming the focal role of rehabilitation in PD patients.
Voluntary contraction enhances spinal reciprocal inhibition induced by patterned electrical stimulation in patients with stroke
Authors: Takahashi Yoko , Fujiwara Toshiyuki , Yamaguchi Tomofumi , Matsunaga Hikaru , Kawakami Michiyuki , Honaga Kaoru , Mizuno Katsuhiro , Liu Meigen 
Published: February 2018

Background: Reciprocal inhibition (RI) may be important for recovering locomotion after stroke. Patterned electrical stimulation (PES) can modulate RI in a manner that could be enhanced by voluntary muscle contraction (VC). Objective: To investigate whether VC enhances the PES-induced spinal RI in patients with stroke. Methods: Twelve patients with chronic stroke underwent three 20 min tasks, each on different days: (1) PES (10 pulses, 100 Hz every 2 s) applied to the common peroneal nerve; (2) VC consisting of isometric contraction of the affected-side tibialis anterior muscle; (3) PES combined with VC (PES + VC). RI from the tibialis anterior to the soleus muscle was assessed before, immediately after, and 10, 20, and 30 min after the task. Results: Compared to the baseline, PES + VC significantly increased the changes in reciprocal inhibition at immediately after and 10 min after the task. PES alone significantly increased this change immediately after the task, while VC alone showed no significant increase. Conclusion: VC enhanced the PES-induced plastic changes in RI in patients with stroke. This effect can potentially increase the success rate of newer neurorehabilitative approaches in achieving functional recovery after stroke.
Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on walking ability after stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Yi , Fan Jingjing , Yang Jingyi , He Chengqi , Li Shasha 
Published: February 2018

Background: As a promising technique, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has gained so much attention in its potential effects on functional recovery of lower limb following stroke. However, individual studies have yielded inconsistent or conflicting results. Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of tDCS for the functional recovery of lower limb following stroke reported in the randomized controlled trials by using a meta-analysis. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database was comprehensively searched for randomized controlled trials published until April 2017 that investigated the effects of tDCS on lower limb function. Main outcomes included walking speed, walking endurance, mobility, balance function, muscle strength of lower limb and adverse events. Results: A total of 10 trials ( n = 194) met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis demonstrated a significant effect of tDCS on mobility (SMD 0.44, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.87, P = 0.04) and muscle strength of lower limb (SMD 1.54, 95% CI: 0.29 to 2.78, P = 0.02). No significant effects were found in walking speed (SMD 0.39, 95% CI: –0.06 to 0.85, P = 0.09), walking endurance (SMD 0.28, 95% CI: –0.28 to 0.84, P = 0.33) and balance function (SMD 0.44, 95% CI: –0.06 to 0.94, P = 0.08). Conclusion: tDCS might have beneficial effects on improving mobility and muscle strength of lower limb among individuals with stroke. Future studies with larger sample sizes and an adequate follow-up period are needed.
Effects of posture and coactivation on corticomotor excitability of ankle muscles
Authors: Kesar Trisha M. , Eicholtz Steven , Lin Bethany J. , Wolf Steven L. , Borich Michael R. 
Published: February 2018

Background: The use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to evaluate corticomotor excitability of lower limb (LL) muscles can provide insights about neuroplasticity mechanisms underlying LL rehabilitation. However, to date, a majority of TMS studies have focused on upper limb muscles. Posture-related activation is an important under-investigated factor influencing corticomotor excitability of LL muscles. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of posture and background activation on corticomotor excitability of ankle muscles. Methods: Fourteen young neurologically-unimpaired participants (26.1±4.1 years) completed the study. TMS-evoked motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded from the tibialis anterior (TA) and soleus during 4 conditions – standing, standing coactivation, sitting, and sitting coactivation. TA and soleus MEP amplitudes were compared during: (1) standing versus sitting;(2) standing coactivation (standing while activating both TA and soleus) versus sitting coactivation; and (3) standing coactivation versus standing. For each comparison, background EMG for TA and soleus were matched. Trial-to-trial coefficient of variation of MEP amplitude and coil-positioning errors were additional dependent variables. Results: No differences were observed in TA or soleus MEP amplitudes during standing versus sitting. Compared to sitting coactivation, larger MEPs were observed during standing coactivation for soleus but not TA. Compared to standing, the standing coactivation task demonstrated larger MEPs and reduced trial-to-trial MEP variability. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that incorporation of measurements in standing in future TMS studies may provide novel insights into neural circuits controlling LL muscles. Standing and standing coactivation tasks may be beneficial for obtaining functionally-relevant neuroplasticity assessments of LL musculature.
The potential dual role of transcallosal inhibition in post-stroke motor recovery
Authors: Bertolucci Federica , Chisari Carmelo , Fregni Felipe 
Published: February 2018

Up to now, the mechanism of motor impairment and recovery after stroke has been thought to be based on the interhemispheric competition model. According to this model, which assumes that suppressing the excitability of contralesional hemisphere will enhance recovery by reducing transcallosal inhibition (TCI) of the stroke hemisphere, many clinical trials used non-invasive brain stimulation to improve motor function. Despite some positive findings, meta-analysis shows an important source of variability in the results, questioning whether the interhemispheric competition model would be exhaustive enough to explain the positive results or whether other mechanisms could explain the motor effects of inhibitory stimulation in the contralesional hemisphere. The goal of this study was to review the relationship between increased TCI and motor impairment after stroke. A systematic review of clinical studies investigating TCI through transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in stroke patients and the relationship of this metric with motor recovery was then performed. After a literary search in PubMed eleven articles were included. The potential role of several covariates was examined and discussed. Overall, the importance of TCI as a putative mechanism for stimulation of the contralesional hemisphere seems to depend on the baseline motor function. In other words, from evidence coming mostly from chronic patients, modulation of abnormal TCI seems to be useful for patients with good motor function and less important in patients with poor motor function. TCI seems to be negatively correlated with mirror movements of the paretic hand. It can be inferred that suppressing the activity of the contralesional hemisphere could be beneficial for patients with good residual motor function and strong TCI, but not for those with poor motor function and weak TCI. Baseline motor function and measure of TCI should be taken into account for stratification of patients in clinical trials and for the design of customized treatment.
snRPN controls the ability of neurons to regenerate axons
Authors: Mertsch Sonja , Schlicht Katrin , Melkonyan Harutyun , Schlatt Stefan , Thanos Solon 
Published: February 2018

Background: Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of mammals lose the ability to regenerate injured axons during postnatal maturation, but little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms. Objective: It remains of particular importance to understand the mechanisms of axonal regeneration to develop new therapeutic approaches for nerve injuries. Methods: Retinas from newborn to adult monkeys ( Callithrix jacchus) 1 were obtained immediately after death and cultured in vitro. Growths of axons were monitored using microscopy and time-lapse video cinematography. Immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, qRT-PCR, and genomics were performed to characterize molecules associated with axonal regeneration and growth. A genomic screen was performed by using retinal explants versus native and non-regenerative explants obtained from eye cadavers on the day of birth, and hybridizing the mRNA with cross-reacting cDNA on conventional human microarrays. Followed the genomic screen, siRNA experiments were conducted to identify the functional involvement of identified candidates. Results: Neuron-specific human ribonucleoprotein N (snRPN) was found to be a potential regulator of impaired axonal regeneration during neuronal maturation in these animals. In particular, up-regulation of snRPN was observed during retinal maturation, coinciding with a decline in regenerative ability. Axon regeneration was reactivated in snRPN-knockout retinal ex vivo explants of adult monkey. Conclusion: These results suggest that coordinated snRPN-driven activities within the neuron-specific ribonucleoprotein complex regulate the regenerative ability of RGCs in primates, thereby highlighting a potential new role for snRPN within neurons and the possibility of novel postinjury therapies.
Systemic administration of donepezil attenuates the efficacy of environmental enrichment on neurobehavioral outcome after experimental traumatic brain injury
Authors: Bondi Corina O. , Yelleswarapu Narayana K. , Day-Cooney Julian , Memarzadeh Kimiya , Folweiler Kaitlin A. , Bou-Abboud Carine E. , Leary Jacob B. , Cheng Jeffrey P. , Tehranian-DePasquale Roya , Kline Anthony E. 
Published: February 2018

Background: The acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) donepezil (DON) is recommended as a potential treatment for cognition after clinical traumatic brain injury (TBI) and therefore may be prescribed as an adjunct therapy during rehabilitation. However, a dose-response study evaluating DON after a controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury in rats did not reveal cognitive benefits. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of DON on behavioral and histological outcome when combined with environmental enrichment (EE), a preclinical model of neurorehabilitation. It was hypothesized that the combined treatments would produce a synergistic effect yielding improved recovery over neurorehabilitation alone. Methods: Isoflurane-anesthetized adult male rats received a CCI or sham injury and then were randomly assigned to EE or standard (STD) housing plus systemic injections of DON (0.25 mg/kg) or vehicle (VEH; 1.0 mL/kg saline) once daily for 19 days beginning 24 hr after injury. Function was assessed by established motor and cognitive tests on post-injury days 1–5 and 14–19, respectively. Cortical lesion volume was quantified on day 19. Results: DON was ineffective when administered alone. In contrast, EE conferred significant motor and cognitive benefits, and reduced cortical lesion volume vs. STD ( p < 0.05). Combining the therapies weakened the efficacy of rehabilitation as revealed by diminished motor and cognitive recovery in the TBI+EE+DON group vs. the TBI+EE+VEH group ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: These data replicate previous findings showing that EE is beneficial and DON is ineffective after CCI and add to the literature a novel and unpredicted finding that supports neither the hypothesis nor the use of DON for TBI. Investigation of other AChEIs after CCI injury is necessary to gain further insight into the value of this therapeutic strategy.
Repetitive sessions of tDCS to improve naming in post-stroke aphasia: Insights from an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis
Authors: Rosso Charlotte , Arbizu Céline , Dhennain Claire , Lamy Jean-Charles , Samson Yves 
Published: February 2018

Objectives: Small clinical trials reported that repetitive sessions of tDCS could improve naming abilities in post-stroke aphasia. However, systematic meta-analyses found no effect, but all of these analyses pooled data from both single and repetitive sessions at the group level. The aim of this paper was to perform a meta-analysis based on individual patient data to explore the effects of repetitive tDCS sessions on naming in post-stroke aphasia and in prespecified subgroups. Methods: We searched for published sham-controlled trials using the keywords “aphasia OR language” AND “transcranial direct current stimulation OR tDCS” AND “stroke”. We computed an active and sham improvement ratio by dividing the difference between naming scores after and before the active or sham sessions, respectively, by the total number of picture items. Because of heterogeneity (I2 = 66%, p: 0.002), we used random-effects models to estimate the standardized mean difference (SMD) for the naming outcome. We then analyzed subgroups according to number of sessions, polarity, side/location of the active electrode, post-stroke delay, aphasia severity and comprehension disorders. Results: Seven eligible studies were identified, including 68 chronic stroke patients. tDCS was beneficial on naming ability (35% ±34% in the active vs. 25% ±37% in the sham condition). An SMD of 0.8 (95% CI: 0.27–1.33) was found for the naming outcome. Additionally, there was a dose-dependent effect (5 vs. >5 sessions). We also demonstrated a prevalence of anodal vs. cathodal condition and left vs. right targeting electrode. Finally, repetitive sessions were beneficial regardless of the severity of aphasia, comprehension disorders or post-stroke delay. Conclusion: Repetitive sessions of tDCS are likely to be valuable in enhancing naming accuracy in post-stroke aphasia.
Universality of Electron Distributions in Extensive Air Showers
Authors: Śmiałkowski Andrzej , Giller Maria 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
Based on extensive air shower simulations, it is shown that electron distributions with respect to two angles determining the electron direction at a given shower age, for a fixed electron energy and lateral distance, are universal. This means that the distributions do not depend on the primary particle energy or mass (thus, neither on the interaction model), shower zenith angle, or shower to shower fluctuations, if they are taken at the same shower age. Together with previous work showing the universality of the distributions of the electron energy, lateral distance (integrated over angles), and angle (integrated over lateral distance) for fixed electron energy, this paper completes a full universal description of the electron states at various shower ages. Analytical parametrizations of the full electron states are given. It is also shown that some distributions can be described by a number of variables smaller than five, with the new ones being products of old ones raised to some power. The accuracy of the present parametrization is sufficiently good to apply to showers with a primary energy uncertainty of 14% (as is the case at the Pierre Auger Observatory). The shower fluctuations in the chosen bins of the multidimensional variable space are about 6%, determining the minimum uncertainty needed for the parametrization of the universal distributions. An analytical way of estimating the effect of the geomagnetic field is given. Thanks to the universality of the electron distribution in any shower, a new method of shower reconstruction can be worked out from the data from observatories using the fluorescence technique. The light fluxes (both fluorescence and Cherenkov) for any shower age can be exactly predicted for a shower with any primary energy and shower maximum depth, so that the two quantities can be obtained by best fitting the predictions to the measurements.
The Year-long Flux Variations in Boyajian's Star Are Asymmetric or Aperiodic
Authors: Hippke Michael , Angerhausen Daniel 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
We combine and calibrate publicly available data for Boyajian’s star, including photometry from ASAS (SN, V, I), Kepler, Gaia, SuperWASP, and citizen scientist observations (AAVSO, HAO, and Burke-Gaffney). Precise (mmag) photometry covers the years 2006–2017. We show that the year-long flux variations with an amplitude of ≈4% cannot be explained with cyclical symmetric or asymmetric models with periods shorter than 10 years. If the dips are transits, their periods must exceed 10 years, or their structure must evolve significantly during each four-year-long cycle.
Strong CO+ and
Emission in Comet C/2016 R2 (Pan-STARRS)*
Authors: Cochran Anita L. , McKay Adam J. 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
We report on imaging and spectroscopic observations of comet C/2016 R2 (Pan-STARRS) obtained with the 0.8 m and 2.7 m telescopes of McDonald Observatory in 2017 November and December, respectively. The comet was at a heliocentric distance greater than 3 au during both sets of observations. The images showed a well-developed tail with properties that suggested it was an ion tail. The spectra confirmed that we were observing well-developed bands of CO+ and

. The

detection was unequivocally cometary and was one of the strongest bands of

detected in a comet spectrum. We derived the ratio of these two ions and from that we were able to derive that N2/CO = 0.15. This is the highest such ratio reported for a comet.
Patterns of Efavirenz use as First-Line Antiretroviral Therapy in the United States: 1999–2015
Authors: Bengtson Angela M , Pence Brian W , Eaton Ellen F , Edwards Jessie K , Eron Joseph J , Mathews William C , Mollan Katie , Moore Richard D , O'Cleirigh Connall , Geng Elvin , Mugavero Michael J 
Published: February 2018

Background Efavirenz has been a mainstay of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for over 15 years in the US. Its association with neuropsychiatric side effects may influence clinical prescribing and management. Methods We included HIV-infected adults enrolled in care at seven sites across the US, who initiated combination ART between 1999 and 2015. We examined the proportion initiating and continuing on efavirenz, overall and by mental health status. Log binomial and Cox models were used to estimate associations between mental health, clinical and sociodemographic characteristics and initiating or switching from efavirenz as first-line ART. Results Of the 8,230 participants included, 3,710 (45%) initiated efavirenz. In multivariable analyses, prior mono-or dual-ART, ART initiation after 2006, being female, intravenous drug use, antidepressant prescription, previous mental health diagnosis and baseline CD4+ T-cell count >350 cells/mm3 were inversely associated with initiating efavirenz. Participants initiating efavirenz had a faster time to a regimen switch, compared with those initiating an efavirenz-free regimen ( P-value <0.01). Among efavirenz initiators, starting efavirenz in more recent time periods and a previous mental health diagnosis were associated with faster time to switching from efavirenz. Despite this, 40–50% of participants with a previous mental health diagnosis initiated and continued on efavirenz for much of the follow-up period. Conclusions Multiple clinical factors, including mental health diagnoses, appeared to influence efavirenz use. While mental health diagnosis status and more recent treatment starts were associated with shorter duration of efavirenz therapy, a previous mental health diagnosis did not preclude efavirenz initiation or continuation in many participants.
Les attentes des étudiants de génération Y en formation paramédicale : des compétences académiques mais aussi non académiques
Authors: Engels Cynthia 
Published: February 2018

L’approche de la génération Y (étudiants nés entre 1981 et 1999) face à la formation en cursus paramédical invite à s’interroger d’une part sur les attentes des étudiants de génération Y, et d’autre part sur les méthodes pédagogiques à adopter avec cette génération. La recherche relatée dans cet article a été menée auprès d’étudiants en troisième année d’ergothérapie. Cent douze étudiants ont été interrogés en septembre 2012 et 2013 concernant leurs attentes vis-à-vis des cours, et vis-à-vis des méthodes pédagogiques proposées. Les résultats ont permis de mettre en lumière d’une part, l’importance de la notion d’utilité du cours telle que perçue par les étudiants et d’autre part, la focalisation des attentes des étudiants sur des compétences dites « non académiques » de l’enseignant. Si le lien entre compétences non académiques et réussite a été mis à jour dans différentes recherches, peu de travaux s’intéressent au développement de ces compétences non académiques par les enseignants de façon à répondre aux attentes des étudiants en formation supérieure. C’est l’objet de cet article, dont le principal intérêt pourrait être d’envisager des pistes relatives aux méthodes pédagogiques à développer auprès de cette population d’étudiants.