Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) show a high electrical conductivity but a reduced specific surface area that limits their use as electrode materials for supercapacitors. In this work, amorphous CNFs, with a ...relatively high electrical conductivity are easily activated in KOH, using certain KOH/CNF weight ratios. Activation does not produce any important change in the shape, surface roughness, diameter, graphene sheet size, and electrical conductivity of starting nanofibers. However, activation leads to new micropores and larger surface areas as well as a higher content of basic oxygen groups. They clearly enhanced the specific capacitance, attaining values higher than those reported for other activated CNFs. In this study, the effects of micropore size and oxygen content on the specific capacitance are discussed for three electrolytes: H2SO4, KOH, and (CH3CH2)4NBF4. Moreover, a good cycle life is found for the most activated CNFs.
Background and purpose
Although Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by typical motor manifestations, non‐motor symptoms (NMS) are an outstanding part of the disease. At present, several ...specific instruments for assessment of NMS are available. The objective of our study was to determine the performance of the Movement Disorder Society‐Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS‐UPDRS): Part I – Non‐Motor Aspects of Experiences of Daily Living (nM‐EDL) compared with the Non‐Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS).
Methods
To this purpose, 434 consecutive patients with PD were included in an international, observational, cross‐sectional study. The association between scores of both scales was determined by the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Equations for transformation of total score of a scale to the other were constructed from weighted regression models and both, transformed and observed score, contrasted by means of the Lin's Concordance Correlation Coefficient (LCCC) and Bland–Altman plot.
Results
As a whole, the prevalence of the NMS according to each scale was quite similar, and most of the correlations between their corresponding components were high (rS > 0.60). The total score correlation of the MDS‐UPDRS Part I with the NMSS was high (rS = 0.81). Concerning the transformed scores, estimated scores only partially approach the observed ones (sharing about 60–64% of the variance) because residual variance increased with increasing magnitudes of the scores, i.e. the most severe patients (Bland–Altman plot; LCCC < 0.60 for severe patients).
Conclusions
(i) MDS‐UPDRS Part I (nM‐EDL) and NMSS showed a strong convergent validity; (ii) however, transformed scores using the equations from weighted regression models showed that for patients with the most severe NMS they are not concordant.
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Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, non-binary, two-spirit, and other (LGBTQ+) students are a diverse group with unique and frequently overlooked needs in medical training. ...The present study was designed to understand the concerns of LGBTQ+ applicants to medical school and examine the effectiveness of a webinar in alleviating concerns. Sixty participants joined webinars discussing the medical school application process with particular attention to concerns pertinent to the LGBTQ+ population. Pre and post surveys were administered to examine webinar effectiveness and participant concerns. Results were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods. Pre-medical students reported that the webinar format was helpful for their application process. Specifically, pre- and post-test analyses revealed that the webinar increased both students' preparedness as well as their confidence in disclosing their LGBTQ+ identity or being "out" when applying to medical school. Student-led, online webinars increase LGBTQ+ students' confidence and help address SGM students' concerns about applying to medical school.
Abstract Background Non-motor symptoms (NMS) of Parkinson's disease (PD) affect virtually every patient, yet they are under-recognized and under-treated. The NMS Questionnaire (NMSQuest) is a ...validated 30-item self-assessment instrument useful for NMS screening in clinic. Objective Development of a straight forward grading classification of the burden of non-motor symptoms in PD based on the number of NMS as assessed by the NMS Questionnaire. Methods In an observational, cross-sectional, international study of 383 consecutive patients distribution of the declared NMS as per NMSQuest was analyzed according to previously published levels based on the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale and also the median and interquartile range (IR, percentiles 25 and 75) of the total NMSQuest scores. After post hoc checking, these values were proposed as cut-off points for estimating NMS burden based only on the accumulation of symptoms. Results Burden and number of NMS correlate closely (r ≥ 0.80). On the basis of this finding, five levels (0 = No NMS to 4 = Very severe) of NMSQuest grading were proposed after identification of their cut-offs by ordinal logistic regression and median and interquartile range distribution. These values coincided almost completely with those obtained by median and interquartile range in an independent sample. Concordance between this classification and HY staging was weak (weighted kappa = 0.30), but was substantial (weighted kappa = 0.68) with the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale grading. Conclusion Completion of NMSQuest and subsequent grading of the burden could allow the health care professional to approach the severity of NMS burden using the self completed NMSQuest in a primary care setting.
A plethora of technological applications justify why titanium dioxide is probably the most studied oxide, and an optimal exploitation of its properties quite frequently requires a controlled ...modification of the surface. Low-energy ion bombardment is one of the most extended techniques for this purpose and has been recently used in titanium oxides, among other applications, to favour resistive switching mechanisms or to form transparent conductive layers. Surfaces modified in this way are frequently described as reduced and defective, with a high density of oxygen vacancies. Here we show, at variance with this view, that high ion doses on rutile titanium dioxide (110) induce its transformation into a nanometric and single-crystalline titanium monoxide (001) thin film with rocksalt structure. The discovery of this ability may pave the way to new technical applications of ion bombardment not previously reported, which can be used to fabricate heterostructures and interfaces.
: The increase in exercise levels in the last few years among professional and recreational female athletes has led to an increased scientific interest about sports health and performance in the ...female athlete population. The purpose of the IronFEMME Study described in this protocol article is to determine the influence of different hormonal profiles on iron metabolism in response to endurance exercise, and the main markers of muscle damage in response to resistance exercise; both in eumenorrheic, oral contraceptive (OC) users and postmenopausal well-trained women.
: This project is an observational controlled randomized counterbalanced study. One hundered and four (104) active and healthy women were selected to participate in the IronFEMME Study, 57 of which were eumenorrheic, 31 OC users and 16 postmenopausal. The project consisted of two sections carried out at the same time: iron metabolism (study I) and muscle damage (study II). For the study I, the exercise protocol consisted of an interval running test (eight bouts of 3 min at 85% of the maximal aerobic speed), whereas the study II protocol was an eccentric-based resistance exercise protocol (10 sets of 10 repetitions of plate-loaded barbell parallel back squats at 60% of their one repetition maximum (1RM) with 2 min of recovery between sets). In both studies, eumenorrheic participants were evaluated at three specific moments of the menstrual cycle: early-follicular phase, late-follicular phase and mid-luteal phase; OC users performed the trial at two moments: withdrawal phase and active pill phase. Lastly, postmenopausal women were only tested once, since their hormonal status does not fluctuate. The three-step method was used to verify the menstrual cycle phase: calendar counting, blood test confirmation, and urine-based ovulation kits. Blood samples were obtained to measure sex hormones, iron metabolism parameters, and muscle damage related markers.
: IronFEMME Study has been designed to increase the knowledge regarding the influence of sex hormones on some aspects of the exercise-related female physiology. Iron metabolism and exercise-induced muscle damage will be studied considering the different reproductive status present throughout well-trained females' lifespan.
Radial axes plots are projection methods that represent high‐dimensional data samples as points on a two‐dimensional plane. These techniques define mappings through a set of axis vectors, each ...associated with a data variable, which users can manipulate interactively to create different plots and analyze data from multiple points of view. However, updating the direction and length of an axis vector is far from trivial. Users must consider the data analysis task, domain knowledge, the directions in which values should increase, the relative importance of each variable, or the correlations between variables, among other factors. Another issue is the difficulty to approximate high‐dimensional data values in the two‐dimensional visualizations, which can hamper searching for data with particular characteristics, analyzing the most common data values in clusters, inspecting outliers, etc. In this paper we present and analyze several optimization approaches for enhancing radial axes plots regarding their ability to represent high‐dimensional data values. The techniques can be used not only to approximate data values with greater accuracy, but also to guide users when updating axis vectors or extending visualizations with new variables, since they can reveal poor choices of axis vectors. The optimal axes can also be included in nonlinear plots. In particular, we show how they can be used within RadViz to assess the quality of a variable ordering. The in‐depth analysis carried out is useful for visualization designers developing radial axes techniques, or planning to incorporate axes into other visualization methods.
In addition to the classical neurotransmitters, acetylcholine and noradrenaline, a wide number of peptides with neurotransmitter activity have been identified in the past few years. Among them, the ...tachykinins substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA) and neurokinin B (NKB) appear to act as mediators of nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) excitatory neurotransmission. Tachykinins interact with specific membrane proteins, belonging to the family of G protein-coupling cell membrane receptors. Until now, three tachykinin receptors termed NK1 (NK1R), NK2 (NK2R) and NK3 (NK3R) have been cloned in different species. A large amount of reports suggests that these peptides are involved in nociception and neuroimmunomodulation, and in the development of different diseases such as bronchial asthma, inflammatory bowel syndrome and psychiatric disorders. Tachykinin receptor antagonists are therefore promising, therapeutically relevant agents. However, and in spite of extensive research, the obtention of selective antagonists of tachykinin receptors have revealed very difficult. An understanding of how ligands interact with their receptors is essential to permit a rational design of compounds acting selectively at the tachykinin receptor level. The major aim of the present article is to review the structure-activity data that exist for tachykinins and their receptors, with the purpose of getting insight into basic structural requirements that determine ligand / receptor interaction.
The Self-Identified Stage of Recovery (SISR) () is a scale used to assess both the stage of recovery (SISR-A) and the components of the process of personal recovery (SISR-B). This study aimed to ...develop the Spanish version of the SISR and obtain evidence of validity and reliability in a sample of 230 users of community mental health services.
The Spanish version of the SISR was developed following the translation-back translation procedure, with the support of a committee of experienced experts. The SISR was examined in terms of dimensional structure, internal consistency, relationships with other variables (i.e., the Maryland Recovery Assessment Scale MARS-12 and the Dispositional Hope Scale DHS), and temporal stability (n = 66). Differential item functioning (DIF) by gender was analysed.
The study confirmed the unidimensionality of the SISR-B and suitable internal consistency of its scores (ω = .83, α = .83). Scores from both SISR-A and SISR-B showed good temporal stability and the SISR-B displayed strong correlations with the MARS-12 (rs = .78) and the DHS (rs = .67). No DIF was found.
This study supports the validity and reliability of the scores of the Spanish version of the SISR.
Bovine pericardium is a collagenous tissue commonly used as a natural biomaterial in the fabrication of cardiovascular devices. For tissue engineering purposes, this xenogeneic biomaterial must be ...decellularized to remove cellular antigens. With this in mind, three decellularization protocols were compared in terms of their effectiveness to extract cellular materials, their effect on glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content and, finally, their effect on tensile biomechanical behavior. The tissue decellularization was achieved by treatment with t-octyl phenoxy polyethoxy ethanol (Triton X-100), tridecyl polyethoxy ethanol (ATE) and alkaline treatment and subsequent treatment with nucleases (DNase/RNase). The quantified residual DNA content (3.0±0.4%, 4.4±0.6% and 5.6±0.7% for Triton X-100, ATE and alkaline treatment, respectively) and the absence of nuclear structures (hematoxylin and eosin staining) were indicators of effective cell removal. In the same way, it was found that the native tissue GAG content decreased to 61.6±0.6%, 62.7±1.1% and 88.6±0.2% for Triton X-100, ATE and alkaline treatment, respectively. In addition, an alteration in the tissue stress relaxation characteristics was observed after alkaline treatment. We can conclude that the three decellularization agents preserved the collagen structural network, anisotropy and the tensile modulus, tensile strength and maximum strain at failure of native tissue.
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