bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reduction in preparatory brain activity preceding gait initiation in individuals with chronic ankle instability: A movement‐related cortical potential study
Authors: Beyraghi Zivar , Khanmohammadi Roya , Hadian Mohammad Reza 
Published: August 2024

AbstractEvidence suggests that chronic ankle instability (CAI) is not merely a peripheral musculoskeletal injury but should be recognized as a neurophysiological dysfunction. This reflects a paradigm shift from focusing on peripheral structural changes to emphasizing the central nervous system. However, changes in cortical activity during functional activities remain poorly understood. Thus, this study aimed to compare preparatory brain activity during gait initiation (GI) through movement‐related cortical potentials (MRCPs) in individuals with CAI and healthy subjects. The proactive components of MRCPs, including contingent negative variation (CNV) and event‐related desynchronization (ERD), were measured using electroencephalography. The primary outcomes were late CNV amplitude, CNV peak amplitude, CNV peak time, and alpha/beta ERD. The results indicated that the late CNV amplitude was significantly lower in the CAI group compared to the healthy group at the Fz and Cz electrodes (P < 0.001). The CAI group also demonstrated lower CNV peak amplitude at the Fz, Cz, and Pz electrodes (P < 0.0025). Additionally, in the CAI group, signals peaked earlier at the Cz electrode (P = 0.002). Furthermore, alpha ERD at Pz was significantly lower in the CAI group than in the healthy group (P = 0.003), suggesting diminished preparatory brain activity during GI in CAI subjects. Recognizing CAI as a condition involving both peripheral and central dysfunctions highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in treatment and rehabilitation. This approach should target brain activity in addition to peripheral structures, potentially leading to improved long‐term outcomes for patients.
Presumed aetiologies and clinical outcomes of non‐lesional late‐onset epilepsy
Authors: Puisieux Salomé , Forthoffer Natacha , Maillard Louis , Hopes Lucie , Jonveaux Thérèse , Tyvaert Louise 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBackground and purposeOur objective was to define phenotypes of non‐lesional late‐onset epilepsy (NLLOE) depending on its presumed aetiology and to determine their seizure and cognitive outcomes at 12 months.MethodsIn all, 146 newly diagnosed NLLOE patients, >50 years old, were prospectively included and categorized by four presumed aetiological subtypes: neurodegenerative subtype (patients with a diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease) (n = 31), microvascular subtype (patients with three or more cardiovascular risk factors and two or more vascular lesions on MRI) (n = 39), inflammatory subtype (patient meeting international criteria for encephalitis) (n = 9) and unlabelled subtype (all individuals who did not meet the criteria for other subtypes) (n = 67). Cognitive outcome was determined by comparing for each patient the proportion of preserved/altered scores between initial and second neuropsychological assessment.ResultsThe neurodegenerative subtype had the most severe cognitive profile at diagnosis with cognitive complaint dating back several years. The microvascular subtype was mainly evaluated through the neurovascular emergency pathway. Their seizures were characterized by transient phasic disorders. Inflammatory subtype patients were the youngest. They presented an acute epilepsy onset with high rate of focal status epilepticus. The unlabelled subtype presented fewer comorbidities with fewer lesions on brain imaging. The neurodegenerative subtype had the worst seizure and cognitive outcomes. In other groups, seizure control was good under antiseizure medication (94.7% seizure‐free) and cognitive performance was stabilized or even improved.ConclusionThis new characterization of NLLOE phenotypes raises questions regarding the current International League Against Epilepsy aetiological classification which does not individualize neurodegenerative and microvascular aetiology per se.
Effects of heterogenous forest environments on ground‐dwelling beetles in a conifer plantation
Authors: Ueda Akira , Itô Hiroki , Kanetani Seiichi 
Published: August 2024

AbstractIt is widely recognized that heterogeneous environments promote biodiversity. Consequently, we investigated whether heterogeneous environments influence the diversity of ground‐dwelling beetles within a well‐managed conifer plantation forest. We collected carabid beetles, and necrophagous silphid and dung beetles (necrophagous beetles) using pitfall traps at 37 sites with or without fish meat bait. The result of a two‐dimensional principal component analysis (PCA) utilizing environmental indices measured at each site suggested that the environmental heterogeneity depended on the survival density of planted conifers, serving as an indicator of historical gap formation levels. Gaps populated by invading broadleaved trees exhibited low canopy opening percentages and understory cover degrees, while those filled by the growth of planted conifers displayed the opposite conditions. The presence of bait had a negligible impact on carabid beetles but significantly influenced necrophagous beetles. No significant relationships were found between the scores of PCA components and the beetle species richness, suggesting that a heterogeneous environment does not increase the beetle species diversities. However, significant relationships were observed with the scores on nonmetric multidimensional scaling axes, indicating that a heterogeneous environment contributes to the complexity of beetle assemblages. The most dominant carabid, Synuchus cycloderus, was abundant in areas where historical gap formation was thought to be more prevalent. Among necrophagous beetles, Pherotrupes laevistriatus and Panelus parvulus preferred habitats with darker environments, in contrast to Onthophagus fodiens and O. nitidus. This study will aid in developing forestry practices aimed at conserving specific ground‐dwelling beetle species within conifer plantations.
Metal ions steer the duality in microbial community recovery from nitrogen enrichment by shaping functional groups
Authors: Chen Mengmeng , Zheng Yao , Zhai Xiufeng , Ma Fangling , Chen Ji , Stevens Carly , Zhang Wen‐Hao , Tian Qiuying 
Published: August 2024

AbstractAtmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition has been substantially reduced due to declines in the reactive N emission in major regions of the world. Nevertheless, the impact of reduced N deposition on soil microbial communities and the mechanisms by which they are regulated remain largely unknown. Here, we examined the effects of N addition and cessation of N addition on plant and soil microbial communities through a 17‐year field experiment in a temperate grassland. We found that extreme N input did not irreversibly disrupt the ecosystem, but ceasing high levels of N addition led to greater resilience in bacterial and fungal communities. Fungi exhibited diminished resilience compared to bacteria due to their heightened reliance on changes in plant communities. Neither bacterial nor fungal diversity fully recovered to their original states. Their sensitivity and resilience were mainly steered by toxic metal ions and soil pH differentially regulating on functional taxa. Specifically, beneficial symbiotic microbes such as N‐fixing bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi experienced detrimental effects from toxic metal ions and lower pH, hindering their recovery. The bacterial functional groups involved in carbon decomposition, and ericoid mycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi were positively influenced by soil metals, and demonstrated gradual recovery. These findings could advance our mechanistic understanding of microbial community dynamics under ongoing global changes, thereby informing management strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of N enrichment on soil function.
Relationship between the response to donepezil and plasma amyloid beta oligomers in patients with Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Yang YoungSoon , Huh Kyoon , Kwak Yong Tae 
Published: August 2024

AimTo date, there is no reported effective biomarker that can predict which Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients will respond to donepezil and which will not. This study aimed to investigate whether baseline values of Aβ oligomers (AβOs), measured by the Multimer Detection System‐Oligomeric Aβ (MDS‐OAβ), can be used to predict responders after 6 months of donepezil medication.MethodsThe study enrolled 104 patients diagnosed with probable AD. After 6 months of donepezil medication, the response to treatment was evaluated by re‐assessing the Korean version of the Mini‐Mental State Examination (K‐MMSE) and Clinical Dementia Rating scale‐Sum of Box (CDR‐SB) scales conducted at baseline. The patients were categorized into two groups according to the baseline MDS‐OAβ values known as the cut‐off for AD diagnosis: a group with values below 0.78 and another group with values equal to or above 0.78.ResultsAfter 6 months of medication, the number of responders was 50 (49.5%). Responders exhibited significantly worse baseline CDR, CDR‐SB, K‐MMSE, and Barthel index compared with non‐responders. There was a significantly higher number of responders among patients with MDS‐OAβ values below the cut‐off of 0.78 compared with those with values equal to or above this threshold. Furthermore, there was a significant improvement in the K‐MMSE and CDR‐SB after 6 months of donepezil medication in patients with MDS‐OAβ values below 0.78 compared with those with values equal to or above 0.78.ConclusionsBaseline MDS‐OAβ values might constitute a novel biochemical marker for the efficacy of 6 months of donepezil treatment in AD. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 918–923.
The Effective Vertical Anisotropy of Layered Aquifers
Authors: Bakker Mark , Bot Bram 
Published: August 2024

AbstractMany sedimentary aquifers consist of small layers of coarser and finer material. When groundwater flow in these aquifers is modeled, the hydraulic conductivity may be simulated as homogeneous but anisotropic throughout the aquifer. In practice, the anisotropy factor, the ratio of the horizontal divided by the vertical hydraulic conductivity, is often set to 10. Here, numerical experiments are conducted to determine the effective anisotropy of an aquifer consisting of 400 horizontal layers of which the homogeneous and isotropic hydraulic conductivity varies over two orders of magnitude. Groundwater flow is simulated to a partially penetrating canal and a partially penetrating well. Numerical experiments are conducted for 1000 random realizations of the 400 layers, by varying the sequence of the layers, not their conductivity. It is demonstrated that the effective anisotropy of the homogeneous model is a model parameter that depends on the flow field. For example, the effective anisotropy for flow to a partially penetrating canal differs from the effective anisotropy for flow to a partially penetrating well in an aquifer consisting of the exact same 400 layers. The effective anisotropy also depends on the sequence of the layers. The effective anisotropy values of the 1000 realizations range from roughly 5 to 50 for the considered situations. A factor of 10 represents a median value (a reasonable value to start model calibration for the conductivity variations considered here). The median is similar to the equivalent anisotropy, defined as the arithmetic mean of the hydraulic conductivities divided by the harmonic mean.
Professionals' and Intercultural Mediators' Perspectives on Communication With Ukrainian Refugees in the Czech Healthcare System
Authors: Těšinová Jolana Kopsa , Dobiášová Karolína , Jelínková Marie , Tulupova Elena , Koščík Michal 
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACTIntroductionA growing body of research is examining how healthcare systems are responding to the increasing numbers of migrants and the resulting superdiversity of patients. The aim of this article is to identify and explain communication barriers in the provision of healthcare to Ukrainian war refugees in the Czech Republic from the perspectives of healthcare professionals and intercultural mediators.MethodsThe exploratory case study is based on a qualitative analysis of semi‐structured interviews with frontline health professionals: 20 with doctors and 10 with nurses. The second source of data is two focus groups aimed at capturing communication problems from the perspective of intercultural mediators who accompany refugees to health facilities. The interview transcripts and FGs were analysed using six‐stage thematic coding.ResultsThe survey identified five main themes related to barriers to communication: (1) language barriers and interpreting, (2) cultural barriers, (3) differing expectations of health and the healthcare systems in the Czech Republic and Ukraine, (4) prejudices and negative attitudes and unethical behaviour towards refugees and migrants and (5) lack of awareness of patient rights.ConclusionsThe arrival of large numbers of migrants has highlighted deficiencies in the system that may affect other vulnerable groups and the general population. These include the lack of general communication skills and legal awareness among many health professionals, which are barriers to the development of patient‐centred care. The involvement of intercultural mediators fundamentally improves communication between health professionals and (not only) migrant patients. Nevertheless, it is necessary to legally anchor and define the position of intercultural mediators within the healthcare system.Patient or Public ContributionCollaboration with intercultural mediators who interpreted the extensive experiences of Ukrainian refugee patients and also have personal experience as migrant or migrant‐origin patients contributed to shaping research questions, facilitating study participation and enriching evidence interpretation. Researchers with multicultural backgrounds and experience with working with people from refugee backgrounds were involved in the study design and analysis.
Patient‐related predictors of post‐operative pain following root canal treatment: A structural model analysis
Authors: Vitali Filipe Colombo , Mafra Gabriel , Santos Pablo Silveira , da Fonseca Roberti Garcia Lucas , da Silveira Teixeira Cleonice 
Published: August 2024

AbstractAimThe pathways to post‐operative pain are complex and encompass factors that extend beyond the treatment protocol employed. This study aimed to identify patient‐related predictors of post‐operative pain following root canal treatment.MethodologyA total of 154 patients received a single‐visit root canal treatment for asymptomatic necrotic mandibular molars. Before treatment, dental anxiety, dental fear and sense of coherence (SOC) were measured as predictors for each patient using validated questionnaires. Other measured predictors included gender, age, previous negative experiences at the dental offices and prior root canal treatment. Post‐operative pain was assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale at multiple time‐points over 30 days. Structural equation analysis was employed to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of patient‐related predictors on a theoretical model of post‐operative pain. The irrigant solution was also included in the model, as it was the only aspect that varied in the treatment protocol (sodium hypochlorite 2.5% and 8.25%).ResultsDental anxiety (coefficient 0.028; p < .01), dental fear (coefficient 0.007; p = .02) and irrigant solution (coefficient 0.004; p = .03) exerted a direct effect on post‐operative pain. SOC exerted an indirect effect on post‐operative (coefficient 0.006; p = .01) through dental anxiety and dental fear. Moreover, previous negative experiences (coefficient 0.048; p = .04) exerted an indirect effect on post‐operative pain through dental anxiety.ConclusionsDental anxiety, dental fear, previous negative experiences and SOC are patient‐related predictors of post‐operative pain following root canal treatment. These factors should be taken into consideration in clinical practice, as patients with these characteristics may be at an increased risk of experiencing post‐operative pain.
CONDORCET CONSISTENCY AND PAIRWISE JUSTIFIABILITY UNDER VARIABLE AGENDAS
Authors: Barberà Salvador , Berga Dolors , Moreno Bernardo , Nicolò Antonio 
Published: August 2024

AbstractWe compare the consequences of imposing upon collective choice functions the classical requirement of Condorcet consistency with those arising when requiring the functions to satisfy the principle of pairwise justifiability. We show that, despite the different logic underlying these two requirements, they are equivalent when applied to anonymous and neutral rules defined over a class of domains. The class contains the universal, the single‐peaked, and that of order restriction, among other preference domains.
Investigation on the microscopic mechanism of curdlan with different strengths formed by heating
Authors: Wang Huaiguang , Lv Zhikun , Hao Yuhao , Lu Mengling , Huang Zhi , Li Jianbin 
Published: August 2024

SummaryIn this study, temperature‐dependent changes in the molecular conformation of curdlan were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), microscopic observation, particle size analysis and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The DSC results showed that the gel formation temperature of curdlan is related to the glass transition temperature (Tg). The results of microscopic observation and particle size analysis showed that the curdlan particles swelled with increasing temperature, and the original rough and irregular surface morphology gradually became relatively smooth. The MD results show that the weak gel is the result of hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interaction, whereas the strong gel is less affected by hydrogen bonds, and hydrophobic interaction is the main driving force.
Projected changes in mangrove distribution and vegetation structure under climate change in the southeastern United States
Authors: Bardou Rémi , Osland Michael J. , Alemu Jahson B. , Feher Laura C. , Harlan David P. , Scyphers Steven B. , Shepard Christine C. , Swinea Savannah H. , Thorne Kalaina , Andrew Jill E. , Hughes A. Randall 
Published: August 2024

AbstractAimThe climate change‐induced transition from grass‐dominated marshes to woody‐plant‐dominated mangrove forests has the potential to impact the ecosystem goods and services provided by coastal wetlands. To better anticipate and prepare for these impacts, there is a need to advance understanding of future changes in mangrove distribution and coastal wetland vegetation structural properties due to warming winters.LocationSoutheastern United States.Time PeriodRecent (1981–2010) and future (2071–2100).Major Taxa StudiedCoastal wetland vegetation.MethodsWe estimated changes in mangrove distribution and coastal wetland vegetation structure using known climate‐ecological relationships, recent climate data for the period 1981–2010, and future projected climate data for the period 2071–2100. We quantified potential changes in mangrove presence, mangrove relative abundance, coastal wetland vegetation height, and coastal wetland vegetation aboveground biomass under two Shared Socio‐Economic Pathway scenarios (SSPs; SSP2‐4.5 and SSP5‐8.5), which correspond to intermediate and high greenhouse gas emissions scenarios, respectively.ResultsOur analyses indicate that mangrove presence and relative abundance will dramatically increase in the northern Gulf of Mexico and the southeast Atlantic coast of the United States, particularly under the high emissions scenario. Because of the higher stature of mangroves relative to salt marsh vegetation, this expansion will cause a transformative change in coastal wetland vegetation height and aboveground biomass in many areas. However, along the arid southern Texas coast, low precipitation and high salinities are expected to constrain mangrove expansion and growth.Main ConclusionsOur results show where and to what extent climate change, in the form of winter temperature warming, is projected to enable the transition from shorter, grass‐dominated salt marshes to taller, woody plant‐dominated mangrove forests in the southeastern United States, with consequent impacts on ecosystem goods and services.
Research Review: Why do prospective and retrospective measures of maltreatment differ? A narrative review
Authors: Coleman Oonagh , Baldwin Jessie R. , Dalgleish Tim , Rose‐Clarke Kelly , Widom Cathy Spatz , Danese Andrea 
Published: August 2024

BackgroundChildhood maltreatment contributes to a large mental health burden worldwide. Different measures of childhood maltreatment are not equivalent and may capture meaningful differences. In particular, prospective and retrospective measures of maltreatment identify different groups of individuals and are differentially associated with psychopathology. However, the reasons behind these discrepancies have not yet been comprehensively mapped.MethodsIn this review, we draw on multi‐disciplinary research and present an integrated framework to explain maltreatment measurement disagreement.ResultsWe identified three interrelated domains. First, methodological issues related to measurement and data collection methods. Second, the role of memory in influencing retrospective reports of maltreatment. Finally, the motivations individuals may have to disclose, withhold, or fabricate information about maltreatment.ConclusionsA greater understanding of maltreatment measurement disagreement may point to new ways to conceptualise and assess maltreatment. Furthermore, it may help uncover mechanisms underlying maltreatment‐related psychopathology and targets for novel interventions.
Vitamin E improves serum markers and histology in adults with metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Chee Nicholas Ming‐Zher , Sinnanaidu Ram Prasad , Chan Wah‐Kheong 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBackground and AimMultiple clinical trials have been conducted to study the potential benefits of vitamin E for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Despite available evidence, vitamin E is not widely used. This study aimed to assess the effect of vitamin E on serum markers of liver inflammation, specifically serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, and histology, including resolution of metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatohepatitis (MASH), in adult patients with MASLD.MethodsA systematic literature search on randomized controlled trials published in English was conducted using electronic databases. Standardized mean difference (SMD) and mean difference (MD) were used for continuous outcomes, while risk ratio (RR) was used for dichotomous outcomes, with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsA total of eight studies were included in the qualitative synthesis while seven studies were included in the meta‐analysis. Vitamin E significantly reduced serum ALT and AST levels with SMD of −0.82 (95% CI, −1.13 to −0.51) and −0.68 (95% CI, −0.94 to −0.41), respectively. Vitamin E significantly reduced steatosis, lobular inflammation, and hepatocyte ballooning with a MD of −0.60 (95% CI, −0.83 to −0.37), −0.34 (95% CI, −0.53 to −0.16), −0.32 (95% CI, −0.53 to −0.12), and increased MASH resolution with a RR of 1.9 (95%CI, 1.20 to 3.02). However, vitamin E did not reduce fibrosis, with a MD of −0.23 (95% CI, −0.51 to 0.05).ConclusionVitamin E resulted in significant improvement in serum markers of liver inflammation and histology in patients with MASLD.