bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Structural Validity of the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest) in People With Mild to Moderate Parkinson Disease
Authors: Benka Wallén Martin , Sorjonen Kimmo , Löfgren Niklas , Franzén Erika 
Published: May 2016

Abstract

Background
The Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest) is a clinical balance test comprising 14 items assumed to reflect the unidimensional construct “dynamic balance.”

Objective
The study objective was to examine the dimensionality of the test and the properties of each item and their interrelationships in elderly people with mild to moderate Parkinson disease (PD).

Design
This was a cross-sectional study in a laboratory setting.

Methods
A total of 112 participants (mean age=73 years) with idiopathic PD (Hoehn and Yahr stages 1–3) were assessed by physical therapists. Local independence among items was examined with Rasch modeling. Unidimensionality was tested by running a principal component analysis on the residuals. An exploratory factor analysis was used to examine the structure of the test, and a confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the fit of the derived model.

Results
The first residual component of the principal component analysis, with an eigenvalue of greater than 2, superseded the assumption of unidimensionality. After the omission of item 7 because of convergence problems, the exploratory factor analysis suggested that a 3-factor solution best fit the data. A confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated acceptable fit of the final model, although item 14 loaded poorly on its factor.

Limitations
The sample size was on the lower end of what is generally recommended.

Conclusions
This study could not confirm that the Mini-BESTest is unidimensional. Gait items were dispersed over all factors, indicating that they may reflect different constructs. Nonetheless, as there arguably is no clinical balance test superior to the Mini-BESTest today, we recommend using the total score for assessing gross balance in this population and individual items to identify specific weaknesses. Moreover, dual tasks should be assessed separately because they are an important aspect of balance control in people with PD, reflected in only one item of the test.
Ultra-early angiographic vasospasm associated with delayed cerebral ischemia and infarction following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Al-Mufti Fawaz , Roh David , Lahiri Shouri , Meyers Emma , Witsch Jens , Frey Hans-Peter , Dangayach Neha , Falo Cristina , Mayer Stephan A. , Agarwal Sachin , Park Soojin , Meyers Philip M. , Connolly E. Sander , Claassen Jan , Schmidt J. Michael 
Published: May 2016

OBJECTIVEThe clinical significance of cerebral ultra-early angiographic vasospasm (UEAV), defined as cerebral arterial narrowing within the first 48 hours of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), remains poorly characterized. The authors sought to determine its frequency, predictors, and impact on functional outcome.METHODSThe authors prospectively studied UEAV in a cohort of 1286 consecutively admitted patients with aSAH between August 1996 and June 2013. Admission clinical, radiographic, and acute clinical course information was documented during patient hospitalization. Functional outcome was assessed at 3 months using the modified Rankin Scale. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were generated to assess predictors of UEAV and its relationship to delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) and outcome. Multiple imputation methods were used to address data lost to follow-up.RESULTSThe cohort incidence rate of UEAV was 4.6%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that younger age, sentinel bleed, and poor admission clinical grade were significantly associated with UEAV. Patients with UEAV had a 2-fold increased risk of DCI (odds ratio [OR] 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4–3.9, p = 0.002) and cerebral infarction (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.0–3.9, p = 0.04), after adjusting for known predictors. Excluding patients who experienced sentinel bleeding did not change this effect. Patients with UEAV also had a significantly higher hazard for DCI in a multivariable model. UEAV was not found to be significantly associated with poor functional outcome (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.4–1.6, p = 0.5).CONCLUSIONSUEAV may be less frequent than has been reported previously. Patients who exhibit UEAV are at higher risk for refractory DCI that results in cerebral infarction. These patients may benefit from earlier monitoring for signs of DCI and more aggressive treatment. Further study is needed to determine the long-term functional significance of UEAV.
Continuous intranigral infusion is not associated with observable behavioral deficits or marked pathology: a preclinical safety study
Authors: Grondin Richard , Ai Yi , Hardy Peter A. , Butt Mark T. , Nelson Brian D. , Lemmon Jack D. , Bumcrot David , Gash Don M. , Gerhardt Greg A. , Zhang Zhiming 
Published: May 2016

OBJECTIVE
A better understanding of the effects of chronically delivering compounds to the substantia nigra and nearby areas is important for the development of new therapeutic approaches to treat alpha-synucleinopathies, like Parkinson's disease. Whether chronic intranigral delivery of an infusate could be achieved without causing motor dysfunction or marked pathology remains unclear. The authors evaluated the tolerability of continuously delivering an infusate directly into the rhesus monkey substantia nigra via a programmable pump coupled to a novel intraparenchymal needle-tip catheter surgically implanted using MRI-guided techniques.

METHODS
The MRI contrast agent gadopentetate dimeglumine (Magnevist, 5 mM) was used to noninvasively evaluate catheter patency and infusion volume associated with 2 flow rates sequentially tested in each of 3 animals: 0.1 µl/min for 14 days into the right substantia nigra and 0.1 µl/min for 7 days plus 0.2 µl/min for an additional 7 days into the left substantia nigra. Flow rate tolerability was assessed via clinical observations and a microscopic examination of the striatum and midbrain regions.

RESULTS
Evaluation of postsurgical MRI indicated that all 6 catheters remained patent throughout the study and that the volume of distribution achieved in the left midbrain region at a rate of up to 0.2 µl/min (2052 ± 168 mm3) was greater than that achieved in the right midbrain region at a constant rate of 0.1 µl/min (1225 ± 273 mm3) by nearly 2-fold. Both flow rates provided sufficient infusate coverage of the rhesus (and possibly the human) midbrain region. There were no indications of observable deficits in behavior. Histopathological evaluations confirmed that all catheter tips were placed in or near the pars compacta region of the substantia nigra in all animals. There was no evidence of infection at any of the 6 catheter sites. Mild to moderate microglial reactions were observed at most catheter track sites and were comparable between the 2 infusion rates. Finally, there was neither observable decrease of tyrosine hydroxylase staining in the striatum nor detectable necrosis of neurons in the pars compacta region of the substantia nigra in any of the animals.

CONCLUSIONS
The data from this study support the feasibility of using a pump-and-catheter system for chronic intranigral infusion and lay the foundation for using this approach to treat Parkinson's disease or other related degenerative diseases that would benefit from targeted drug delivery to the substantia nigra or to other brainstem regions.
Intubation biomechanics: laryngoscope force and cervical spine motion during intubation in cadavers—effect of severe distractive-flexion injury on C3–4 motion
Authors: Hindman Bradley J. , Fontes Ricardo B. , From Robert P. , Traynelis Vincent C. , Todd Michael M. , Puttlitz Christian M. , Santoni Brandon G. 
Published: May 2016

OBJECTIVE
With application of the forces of intubation, injured (unstable) cervical segments may move more than they normally do, which can result in spinal cord injury. The authors tested whether, during endotracheal intubation, intervertebral motion of an injured C3–4 cervical segment 1) is greater than that in the intact (stable) state and 2) differs when a high- or low-force laryngoscope is used.

METHODS
Fourteen cadavers underwent 3 intubations using force-sensing laryngoscopes while simultaneous cervical spine motion was recorded with lateral fluoroscopy. The first intubation was performed with an intact cervical spine and a conventional high-force line-of-sight Macintosh laryngoscope. After creation of a severe C3–4 distractive-flexion injury, 2 additional intubations were performed, one with the Macintosh laryngoscope and the other with a low-force indirect video laryngoscope (Airtraq), used in random order.

RESULTS
During Macintosh intubations, between the intact and the injured conditions, C3–4 extension (0.3° ± 3.0° vs 0.4° ± 2.7°, respectively; p = 0.9515) and anterior-posterior subluxation (−0.1 ± 0.4 mm vs −0.3 ± 0.6 mm, respectively; p = 0.2754) did not differ. During Macintosh and Airtraq intubations with an injured C3–4 segment, despite a large difference in applied force between the 2 laryngoscopes, segmental extension (0.4° ± 2.7° vs 0.3° ± 3.3°, respectively; p = 0.8077) and anterior-posterior subluxation (0.3 ± 0.6 mm vs 0.0 ± 0.7 mm, respectively; p = 0.3203) did not differ.

CONCLUSIONS
The authors' hypotheses regarding the relationship between laryngoscope force and the motion of an injured cervical segment were not confirmed. Motion-force relationships (biomechanics) of injured cervical intervertebral segments during endotracheal intubation in cadavers are not predicted by the in vitro biomechanical behavior of isolated cervical segments. With the limitations inherent to cadaveric studies, the results of this study suggest that not all forms of cervical spine injury are at risk for pathological motion and cervical cord injury during conventional high-force line-of-sight intubation.
A CHARACTERISTIC TRANSMISSION SPECTRUM DOMINATED BY H2O APPLIES TO THE MAJORITY OF HST/WFC3 EXOPLANET OBSERVATIONS
Authors: Iyer Aishwarya R. , Swain Mark R. , Zellem Robert T. , Line Michael R. , Roudier Gael , Rocha Graça , Livingston John H. 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACT
Currently, 19 transiting exoplanets have published transmission spectra obtained with the Hubble/WFC3 G141 near-IR grism. Using this sample, we have undertaken a uniform analysis incorporating measurement-error debiasing of the spectral modulation due to H2O, measured in terms of the estimated atmospheric scale height,

. For those planets with a reported H2O detection (10 out of 19), the spectral modulation due to H2O ranges from 0.9 to 2.9

with a mean value of 1.8 ± 0.5

. This spectral modulation is significantly less than predicted for clear atmospheres. For the group of planets in which H2O has been detected, we find the individual spectra can be coherently averaged to produce a characteristic spectrum in which the shape, together with the spectral modulation of the sample, are consistent with a range of H2O mixing ratios and cloud-top pressures, with a minimum H2O mixing ratio of

ppm corresponding to the cloud-free case. Using this lower limit, we show that clouds or aerosols must block at least half of the atmospheric column that would otherwise be sampled by transmission spectroscopy in the case of a cloud-free atmosphere. We conclude that terminator-region clouds with sufficient opacity to be opaque in slant-viewing geometry are common in hot Jupiters.
MICRO-TIDAL DISRUPTION EVENTS BY STELLAR COMPACT OBJECTS AND THE PRODUCTION OF ULTRA-LONG GRBs
Authors: Perets Hagai B. , Li Zhuo , Lombardi James C. , Milcarek Stephen R. 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACT
We explore full/partial tidal disruption events (TDEs) of stars/planets by stellar compact objects (black holes (BHs) or neutron stars (NSs)), which we term micro-TDEs. Disruption of a star/planet with mass M
⋆ may lead to the formation of a debris disk around the BH/NS. Efficient accretion of a fraction

of the debris may then give rise to bright, energetic, long (103–104 s), X-ray/gamma-ray flares, with total energies of up to

erg, possibly resembling ultra-long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs)/X-ray flashes (XRFs). The energy of such flares depends on the poorly constrained accretion processes. Significantly fainter flares might be produced if most of the disk mass is blown away through strong outflows. We suggest three dynamical origins for such disruptions. In the first, a star/planet is tidally disrupted following a close random encounter with a BH/NS in a dense cluster. We estimate the BH (NS) micro-TDE rates from this scenario to be a few

(a few

)

per Milky Way galaxy. Another scenario involves the interaction of wide companions due to perturbations by stars in the field, likely producing comparable but lower rates. Finally, a third scenario involves a BH/NS that gains a natal velocity kick at birth, leading to a close encounter with a binary companion and the tidal disruption of that companion. Such events could be associated with a supernova, or even with a preceding GRB/XRF event, and would likely occur hours to days after the prompt explosion; the rates of such events could be larger than those obtained from the other scenarios, depending on the preceding complex binary stellar evolution.
A HOT AND MASSIVE ACCRETION DISK AROUND THE HIGH-MASS PROTOSTAR IRAS 20126+4104
Authors: Chen Huei-Ru Vivien , Keto Eric , Zhang Qizhou , Sridharan T. K. , Liu Sheng-Yuan , Su Yu-Nung 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACT
We present new spectral line observations of the CH3CN molecule in the accretion disk around the massive protostar IRAS 20126+4104 with the Submillimeter Array, which, for the first time, measure the disk density, temperature, and rotational velocity with sufficient resolution (0.″37, equivalent to ∼600 au) to assess the gravitational stability of the disk through the Toomre-Q parameter. Our observations resolve the central 2000 au region that shows steeper velocity gradients with increasing upper state energy, indicating an increase in the rotational velocity of the hotter gas nearer the star. Such spin-up motions are characteristics of an accretion flow in a rotationally supported disk. We compare the observed data with synthetic image cubes produced by three-dimensional radiative transfer models describing a thin flared disk in Keplerian motion enveloped within the centrifugal radius of an angular-momentum-conserving accretion flow. Given a luminosity of 1.3 × 104
L
⊙, the optimized model gives a disk mass of 1.5 M
⊙ and a radius of 858 au rotating about a 12.0 M
⊙ protostar with a disk mass accretion rate of 3.9 × 10−5
M
⊙ yr−1. Our study finds that, in contrast to some theoretical expectations, the disk is hot and stable to fragmentation with Q > 2.8 at all radii which permits a smooth accretion flow. These results put forward the first constraints on gravitational instabilities in massive protostellar disks, which are closely connected to the formation of companion stars and planetary systems by fragmentation.
La province sans la Régence ?
Authors: Lemarchand Laurent 
Published: May 2016

À tous points de vue (institutionnel, événementiel, historiographique...), la Régence constitue un phénomène parisien. En-dessous des relations officielles ou administratives, d’ailleurs hétérogènes et globalement réduites dans la France du début du xviii e siècle, rien ne semble véritablement faire vivre la province à l’heure de la Régence. Ce régime de transition est alors quasi absent des archives provinciales de son temps, d’autant plus que les mouvements de résistance ou de régionalisme furent aussi quasi nuls. Mais la Régence ne se fit pas sans la province, l’apaisement et la régulation des relations représentant justement l’une des marques de ce régime transitoire. Les provinces évoluaient déjà dans une situation de dépendance vis-à-vis de l’autorité royale. En-dessous des relations apparentes, aléatoires et limitées, agissaient des liens beaucoup plus fondamentaux : de l’ordre provincial, l’autorité de la monarchie et le pouvoir de l’État constituaient des composantes essentielles et indispensables même si non suffisantes. L’évolution du rôle de l’intendant à cette époque en est une bonne illustration.
La forme de la prédication à Berne au xvi e siècle
Authors: Engammare Max 
Published: May 2016

On connaît peu de choses de la forme de la prédication au siècle des Réformes protestantes, en particulier dans ses premières décennies, quand les traités d’homilétique réformée étaient rares ou restaient à écrire. L’historiographie s’est en effet davantage focalisé sur le contenu que sur le contenant et a trop vite conclu, à l’exemple de la pratique genevoise, que la forme de la prédication se limitait à une reprise de la prédication en suivant verset à verset tout un livre biblique ( lectio continua ). Après avoir étudié les formes de la prédication à Bâle et à Zurich, cet article constitue le troisième volet de la recherche, en s’intéressant à Berne, troisième et dernier lieu majeur de la Suisse de langue germanique. Il s’est d’abord agi de lire et d’analyser les sources institutionnelles et politiques, ordonnances ecclésiastiques et Agenbüchlein. Dans un second temps, ce sont des sermons manuscrits (la publication de sermons contemporains était alors rare) qui sont étudiés. On constate que les autorités politiques et religieuses ne légifèrent pas sur la forme du sermon, comme à Bâle et à Zurich, alors qu’on relève, en passant, le sermon très intéressant d’un pasteur bernois qui, en 1567, prêche contre l’alliance avec la France, et ce en accord avec les autorités politiques. On montre que l’usage d’un lectionnaire en relation avec certaines fêtes chrétiennes ancestrales a été maintenu à Berne, comme à Bâle et à Zurich, tout au long du xvi	e	siècle, contrairement à ce qui se faisait à Genève.
Structure, composition spécifique et diversité des ligneux dans deux zones contrastées en zone Sahélienne du Burkina Faso
Authors: Savadogo Ouango Maurice , Ouattara Korodjouma , Pare Souleymane , Ouedraogo Issa , Sawadogo-Kaboré Séraphine , Barron Jennie , Zombre Nabsanna Prosper 
Published: May 2016

Cette étude menée au Sahel burkinabé fait l’état actuel de la végétation ligneuse de cette région afin d’établir le lien entre la réalité du terrain et les observations satellitaires dans deux sites dans chacune des deux zones contrastées, l’une présentant un certain taux de reverdissement et l’autre de dégradation. Elle analyse aussi la composition spécifique, la structure, la diversité des ligneux et les similitudes entre les quatre sites (deux sites par deux zones). L’étude a utilisé une méthode d’échantillonnage stratifiée aléatoire analysant 104 placettes de 20 x 20 m². L’analyse statistique a montré des différences significatives de la densité, du nombre d’espèces, de la classe des hauteurs, de la classe des diamètres et des indices de Simpson et Shannon entre les deux zones. Les valeurs les plus importantes ont été observées dans la zone en reverdissement. Nous avons noté aussi une différence significative de la densité, des diamètres et des hauteurs en fonction de l’occupation des terres. Les champs de la zone en reverdissement possèdent les valeurs les plus importantes de densité et des hauteurs, mais ont les diamètres les moins élevés. Le reverdissement au Sahel est donc plus apparent dans les champs.
Nonunion Paediatric Femoral Neck Fracture Treatment without Open Reduction
Authors: Eamsobhana Perajit , Keawpornsawan Kamolporn 
Published: May 2016

Objectives Fractures of the proximal femur account for less than 1% of all children's fractures. Because of this, most orthopaedic surgeons lack enough experience in treating them. This adds to the rather high incidence of complications especially nonunion. At the time of this review there is no consensus on which method of treatment of the nonunion is the best. The objective of this study is to present our method of treatment to correct the nonunion without open reduction of the nonunion sites. Method 9 children with nonunion of the proximal femur with an average age of 10.2 years (2-14 years old) were included in the study. There were 7 males and 2 females. All of them underwent at least 1 operation to treat the initial fractures and the nonunion. The nonunion in all these 9 cases was treated with valgus intertrochanteric osteotomy without open reduction of the nonunion site. The healing time of the nonunion, the postoperative neck-shaft angle and the functional outcome were evaluated. Results All the nonunion cases had coxa vara and had bone resorption of the femoral neck with x-ray evidences of avascular necrosis (AVN). Ratliff classification was used to classify the AVN, Ratliff type 3 was found in 4 cases, Ratliff 2 in 1 case and Ratliff 1 in 4 cases. Patients were followed for an average of 68 (range 36-156) months. All patients had x-ray evidence of solid union of the nonunion in an average time of 15.4 (range 13-18) weeks and union of the osteotomy sites within10.6 (range 9-12) weeks. The postoperative neck-shaft angle averaged 135° (range 125°-150°) compared to 98° before the surgery. The increase in the amount of neck-shaft angle was statistically significant (p<0.001). Using Harris Hip Score, 2 patients were graded as excellent, 3 patients were graded as good and 4 patients were graded as fair. Harris Hip Score was significantly improved compared to the preoperative status (p<0.001). Conclusions Nonunion paediatric femoral neck fracture treatment could be successfully treated without open reduction by using valgus intertrochanteric osteotomy. All patients obtained union of the nonunion site and the osteotomy site in this study. Harris Hip Score showed significant improvement. This technique can be used to treat nonunion with associated coxa vara, bone resorption and AVN with satisfactory results even in cases who had received several operations before.
Control of the low-frequency vibrations of elastic metamaterial shafts with discretized arc-rubber layers
Authors: Lixia Li , Anjiang Cai 
Published: May 2016

Abstract
We propose a new kind of elastic metamaterial (EM) shaft with discretized arc-shaped rubber layers, which shows excellent low-frequency vibration properties. The band gaps of the shaft structure were analyzed by employing the finite element method. The proposed EM shaft exhibits much lower band gaps than the corresponding structures with the whole rubber ring. Furthermore, the band gaps can be modulated by tuning the arc angle and the number of the arc-shaped rubbers. Additionally, we observed that the first complete band gap tends to disappear when the arc angle of each arc-shaped rubber section is decreased but the arc number remains fixed because the arc angle more strongly affects the rotational stiffness than the transverse stiffness of the rubber layers. This new type of EM shafts could find potential application as a means to control the low-frequency vibrations of rotor shafts in mechanical engineering.