bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
VENTIlatory strategies for patients with severe traumatic brain injury in the LOw- and Middle-Income CountrieS – The VENTILOMICS survey
Authors: Prabhakar Hemanshu , Mahajan Charu , Kapoor Indu , Shrestha Gentle Sunder , Picetti Edoardo , Robba Chiara , Schultz Marcus j , Videtta Walter , Sampaio Gisele , Gutierrez Simon P , Rubiano Andres Mariano , Jibaja Manuel , Shiferaw Ananya Abate , Arruebarrena Yanet Pina , Sepriwan Tori , Konkayev Aidos , Tsan Samuel Ern Hung , Mijangos-Mendez Julio C , Myei Chann , Salisu-Kabara Halima Moji , Shafiq Faraz , Pinedo Juan Luis , Galicia Beda , Martínez Noelia Rocío Rivas , Popugaev Konstantin , Padayachy Llewellyn , Shanmugam Puvanendiran , Fadalla Tarig , Viarasilpa Tanuwong , Arun Oguzhan , Agaba Peter Kaahwa , Bui Tuan Van , Mani Kalaivani
Published: December 2024

Introduction - Traumatic brain injury (TBI) poses a significant global health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the disease burden is exacerbated by limited resources and preventative measures. This study revisits the ‘VENTILatOry strategies in patients with severe traumatic brain injury’ (VENTILO) survey, focusing on ventilatory management practices among healthcare professionals in LMICs.
Methodology - A cross-sectional online survey, VENTILOMICS, was conducted using the original VENTILO survey questionnaire, developed following a review of literature on respiratory management in TBI patients, captured demographics of participants, type of hospital/specialty and available neuromonitoring tools; protocols for mechanical ventilation and weaning, and respiratory management strategies. Descriptive statistics were computed for all study variables. We analyzed data based on the geographical location of the LMICs and their economic status.
Results – There were 204 respondents from 28 LMICs. Our results indicate that 55-70% of respondents recommend tidal volumes (VT) of 6-8 ml/kg for patients with high or medium PaO2/FiO2 (P/F) ratios, while VT of 4-6 ml/kg is preferred for those with low P/F ratios. For patients with intracranial hypertension, lower positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) levels were utilized. Access to neuromonitoring tools was notably better in neuro-critical care units compared to general ICUs, with significant geo-economic disparities in practices and resource availability. Most respondents advocated for early tracheostomy, though preferences varied by region, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Conclusion - The findings are suggestive of a consistent approach to lung-protective ventilation across LMICs, with notable variations influenced by local resources and economic status. This study highlights the necessity for tailored research and guidelines to address the specific challenges faced in TBI management within LMICs, thereby, advocating improved access to neuromonitoring techniques and standardized protocols.
A Machine Learning Model for the Prediction of Sexually Transmitted Diseases among the Youths in Southwestern Nigeria
Authors: Emuoyibofarhe Ozichi N. , Bamidele Olubayode. , Osueke Christian O. , Adeyemo Adetoye A. , Ojo Gideon , Adeyinka Abiodun O. , Sunday Abraham A. , Osueke Ngozi O.
Published: December 2024

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are diseases which are spread between individuals through unprotected sexual contact. The spread has become rampant, especially among the youths nowadays who display promiscuous characteristics, which leads to a faster rate of the spread of the disease among the youths. Thus, this study aims to develop a machine learning model for an accurate analysis and prediction of the transmission rate of STDs among the youth within the southwestern region of Nigeria. For an approximate and optimize study, a questionnaire in Google form was administered to harvest opinions of youths within the stated demographic with respect to their health status, disease awareness, lifestyle choices and other characteristics. The collected primary dataset of 529 individual responses was used to build the machine learning model. The dataset was converted to comma-separated values (CSV) format to be trained and tested for a well-supervised machine learning model. Of the data collected, 75% served as training data and 25% served as testing data. Feature extraction, data visualization and data preprocessing were done to convert raw data into suitable machine learning. Taking from the results, a decision tree accuracy of 0.9393 with an area under the curve (AUC) score of 0.5843, logistic regression accuracy of 0.9621 with AUC score of 0.5, support vector machine accuracy of 0.96212 with AUC score of 0.5 and Gaussian Naïve Bayers machine learning algorithms accuracy score of 0.5909 with AUC score of 0.7874 were obtained. Hence, the Gaussian Naïve Bayers gave the best outcomes with an area under the curve (AUC) score of 0.79 and was able to correctly classify all 5 cases of STDs within the test set as compared to other algorithms.
New findings from a media-fasting intervention: Intentions for screen-free days in different age cohorts and use of the resulting free time.
Authors: Schwarz Silke , Büssing Arndt , Streit Benjamin , Martin David
Published: December 2024

Media fasting has been found a way to reduce screen time. In this article new findings from the evaluation of the media-fasting intervention (https://mediafasting.org/) are presented. Starting with 407 children and young people who were surveyed initially, at the end of the intervention, 229 participants returned the questionnaire, resulting in a loss of 43.7% of the original participants. Therefore, a matched pair sample of 169 children and adolescents was analyzed. Most participants completed the questionnaires with the assistance of their parents, particularly their mothers. The number of media-free days of children 6–9 years of age, or 10–13 years, and adolescents 14–18 years was significantly higher after the intervention as compared to before the intervention. Regarding media habits, 29% of participants intended to reduce their TV time, while the majority already avoided looking at digital media or TV screens during meals (72.5%) and kept their mobile phones out of the room during sleep (80.0%). Additionally, 42.9% intended to avoid screen time after dinner. However, only 24.7% refrained from screen time after dinner. The intentions for media-free days varied significantly among different age groups before and after the intervention. The media fasting intervention was followed by decreased screen time in children and youth aged 6 to 18. There were significantly more intended complete media-free days after the intervention and especially less screen time after dinner.
The Cross-Level Influence of Medical Students’ Perception of Stress on Sleep Quality—A Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Xu Hao , Juma Talante , Cao Yongping
Published: December 2024

Background
Medical students, the healthcare practitioners in the future, are under greater pressure and prone to physical and mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders compared with other non-medical specialties.
Methods
This study investigated the perceived stress of medical students in China and the relationship between their sleep quality. Based on the Cognitive Appraisal Theory and the Perseverative Cognition Hypothesis, we constructed a cross-sectional structural equation model (SEM) with stress perception as a predictor, sleep quality as an outcome variable, and work rumination and social support as buffer moderators. An online survey of 350 medical students from a medical university were collected, 318 of the participants were defined as study objects.
Results
The results of the study found that medical student’s stress perception negatively affects sleep quality; work rumination plays a mediating role in the relationship between stress perception and sleep quality; perceived social support plays a negative cross-level moderating role between stress perception and work rumination, and also plays a positive cross-level moderating role between work rumination and sleep quality.
Conclusions
This study provided evidence for the design of stress regulation methods for medical students as well as intervention techniques to improve sleep quality among medical students.
Navigating Risks: Insights on Unrelated Overseas Renal Transplantations from Two Saudi Centers
Authors: Hennawy Hany M El , Safar Omar , Faifi Abdullah S Al , Hennawy Maryam H El , Alghamdi Balqees , Ali Amani , Alqahtani Manar , Zaitoun Mohammad F , Alasmari Sharifah A , Serageldeen Ahmed , Fourtounas Konstantinos , Ayyad Mostafa , Ali Ahmed , Zahran Mohamed H
Published: December 2024

Background: Due to a shortage of cadaveric organs for transplantation, some Saudi patients seek to purchase kidneys in other countries. However, kidney transplantation (KT) abroad is often associated with negative outcomes. This study shared the experiences of two Saudi transplantation centers regarding unrelated KT overseas.
Methods: This retrospective comparative cohort study included patients who underwent unrelated KT abroad (Group I) and local patients who received living unrelated KT from September 2017 to July 2024, with follow-up for at least one year at AFHSR and Tabouk.
Results: we studied 204 patients, including 96 who underwent commercial KT (Group I) and 108 who received living unrelated KT(Group II), with an average follow-up of 42 months. Immediate graft function was lower in Group I (83.33%) than in Group II (93.51%; p=0.0104). One-year patient survival was significantly lower in Group I (94.8%) than in Group II (100% in Group II (p=0.0167), along with poorer long-term kidney function.
Conclusion: commercial transplantation patient survival rates are lower, and overall outcomes are worse than those of traditional unrelated transplantation in the midterm. Educating patients about the risks associated with overseas KT and promoting public registration for deceased organ donation could help mitigate this practice.
Biomechanical analysis of clear aligners for mandibular anterior teeth intrusion and its application in the design of new aligner attachment
Authors: Xiao Shengzhao , Cheng Caiqi , Li Haochen , Li Lin , Shen Canao , Feng Qiping , Zhao Yan , Duan Yufeng , Xia Lunguo , Chu Fengting , Fang Bing
Published: December 2024

Background: During the process of intruding the mandibular anterior teeth with clear aligners, the teeth are susceptible to unintended displacement, leading to complications such as excessive alveolar bone resorption and root exposure, which can significantly compromise the treatment outcome. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the underlying causes and develop effective coping strategies.
Methods: CBCT data from 30 patients were collected before and after the intrusion treatment of mandibular anterior teeth. Changes in the labial-lingual inclination of the mandibular anterior teeth and the distance between the root apex and alveolar bone wall were statistically analyzed. Finite element models of mandibular anterior teeth undergoing vertical intrusion with standard clear aligners were created with eight incisor mandibular plane angles (IMPA) to assess displacement trends, labial and lingual moments, and crown contact forces. Additionally, six aligner attachments were designed to simulate and analyze their biomechanical mechanisms.
Results:Significant differences were observed in changes before and after treatment. When the IMPA was 90°, the crown experienced a labial moment. The labial root control ridge increased the labial moment of the crown, while the lingual root control ridge and labial attachments increased the lingual moment. The lingual fossa excavation group also increased the labial moment. The lingual root control attachment enhanced the lingual movement of the crown, whereas the lingual excavated attachment promoted labial movement. During the intrusion of mandibular anterior teeth, a comprehensive design incorporating labial intrusive attachments, labial root control ridges, lingual root control ridges, and lingual fossa excavation can be employed to ensure true vertical intrusion of the lower anterior teeth.
Conclusion: This study performed finite element analysis under different inclination angles and various working conditions of the mandibular anterior teeth to reveal their biomechanical changes during intrusion, and innovatively designed the lingual fossa excavation, contributes to the development of novel orthodontic techniques and improves clinical treatment outcomes.
Survival Outcomes of Laparoscopic Pancreaticoduodenectomy with Arterial Circumferential Lymphadenectomy and Total Meso-pancreas Dissection for Periampullary Malignancies
Authors: NGUYEN Ham Hoi , NGUYEN Thanh Khiem , LUONG Tuan Hiep , TRINH Hong Son , NGUYEN Dang Vung , LE Van Duy
Published: December 2024

Backgrounds.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the survival outcomes, recurrence pattern and risk factors of patients with resectable periampullary malignancies (PM) underwent laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) with left-sided superior mesenteric artery (SMA) first-approach, circumferential lymphadenectomy around SMA and common hepatic artery (CHA) combined total meso-pancreas dissection (TMpD).
Methods.
This prospective study included 37 patients who underwent LPD for resectable PMs. General characteristics, operative techniques, pathological results, and survival outcomes including recurrence pattern were prospectively evaluated.
Results.
The median age of 58,95 ± 8,9 years (range 35–70), with fifty-four-point one percent of the patients are aged over 60 years. The mean operative time was totally 426,2 ± 78,5 (250–600) minutes. Metastatic meso-pancreas was observed in 11 cases (29,7%), and 17 cases (45,9%) had reactive fibrous tissue. The number of harvested lymph nodes (LNs) and left-sided SMA LNs were 32,4 ± 12,2 (16–74) and 7,1 ± 5,6 (1–30), respectively. The rate of metastatic left sided SMA LNs was 5 cases (13,5%). In multivariate analysis, the left sided SMA LNs metastasis status was the sole significant factor of both DFS and OS (p < 0.1).
Conclusion.
LPD with left-sided SMA first-approach, circumferential lymphadenectomy around SMA and CHA combined TMpD was effective to achieve favorable oncological and survival outcomes.
Examining the Level of College Students’ Awareness Regarding the Healing Function of Art Therapy as an Intervention for the Psychological Development of College Students in China
Authors: Guangli Luo
Published: December 2024

The aim of this study is to examine the level of college students’ awareness regarding the healing functions of art therapy as an intervention for the psychological development of college students in China. Numerous studies have explained the different healing benefits of art therapy to different people all over the world in recent times. This study specifically focuses on three main functions of art therapy for a specific group of individuals-college students in China. The study is anchored on the healing value of art in modern design as identified by (14) and the Functions of Expressive Arts Therapy proposed by Malchiodi. The theoretical framework integrates these two approaches to maximize the healing value of art by combining psychological cues, self-awareness enhancement, and the expressive arts therapy methods. The research is a quantitative descriptive study aimed at determining the level of students’ awareness regarding the healing function of arts for the psychological development of college students. The study data were obtained via questionnaire filled online by the research participants. The research population was students from five schools (SCBC, GMU, BNU, CCOM and SHCM) selected in China, from whom a sample size of 352 was drawn. The questionnaire filled and completed was analysed using SPSS. The study results revealed that there was high level of students’ awareness in all the variables (guide to recognize and explore oneself, healing and appreciating oneself, and unconscious spiritual healing). Based on the study’s findings, the researcher proposed a sustainable art therapy program that can enhance the awareness level of college students regarding the healing benefits of art therapy.
parafac4microbiome: Exploratory analysis of longitudinal microbiome data using Parallel Factor Analysis
Authors: Ploeg Geert Roelof van der , Westerhuis Johan A. , Heintz-Buschart Anna , Smilde Age K.
Published: December 2024

Background: Recently, studies that investigate microbial temporal dynamics have become more frequent. In a longitudinal microbiome study design, microbial abundance data are collected across multiple time points from the same subjects. In this context, exploratory analysis of longitudinal microbiome data using Principal Component Analysis is insufficient because the study design is not fully utilized. Indeed, the study design can be used to create a three-way data array where the rows constitute the subjects, the columns contain the microbial abundances, and the third dimension contains the time points. Organising the data this way enables multi-way methodologies that take full advantage of the study design. In this work we present Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFAC) as a method to explore longitudinal microbiome data using three exemplary studies.
Results: In the first example study, a long time series of experimental in vitro microbiomes, we show that PARAFAC can identify the main time-resolved variation in longitudinal microbiome data. In the second example, a longitudinal infant gut microbiome study, we show that PARAFAC can find differences between subject groups and enhance comparative analysis despite a moderate amount of missing data. In the third example, a longitudinal gingivitis intervention study of the oral microbiome, we show that PARAFAC helps identify microbial groups of interest using a post-hoc clustering approach.
Conclusions: We show that Parallel Factor Analysis is an applicable method for longitudinal microbiome data analysis across a wide range of microbial environments. The analyses and the example datasets with the resulting figures are implemented in the R package parafac4microbiome, which is available on CRAN at https://cran.rstudio.com/web/packages/parafac4microbiome/.
A hidden danger: Lung abscess following inhalation of kerosene-based pyrethroid insecticide spray
Authors: Ofune Kohei , Hirose Tomoya , Kai Hiroki , Yokono Yoshinori , Takegawa Ryosuke , Oda Jun
Published: December 2024

Background Pyrethroid insecticides are widely used because of their low toxicity in humans. Spray-type pyrethroids are often formulated with kerosene as a carrier solvent, and inhalation of kerosene-containing products can lead to pneumonia and the formation of lung abscesses. We report a case of chemical pneumonia resulting in the development of a lung abscess due to the intentional inhalation of pyrethroids.
Case presentation A man in his 50s in a psychiatric hospital for transient psychotic disorder attempted suicide during an overnight leave from the hospital. He drank sodium hypochlorite, put a nylon bag over his head, and sprayed pyrethroid insecticide inside the bag. He was found collapsed and was transported to our emergency room. On arrival, his SpO2 was 100% (on O2 at 10 L/min by mask), his circulation was stable, and his Glasgow Coma Scale score was E1V3M6, which improved to E4V5M6 in about one hour. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed ground-glass shading in both lungs. We diagnosed him as having pneumonia and started antimicrobial therapy. On day 13 of hospitalization, we found multifocal hypo-absorptive areas, and a diagnosis of lung abscess was made based on CT imaging, and antimicrobial therapy was continued. During the hospitalization, he expectorated bloody sputum. A contrast chest CT scan obtained on day 71 of hospitalization showed a pseudoaneurysm in the abscess cavity, for which we performed successful transcatheter coil embolization. On day 77, the abscess was shrinking, and he was transferred to another hospital for continued treatment. However, he again had bloody sputum and was transferred back to our hospital on day 113. Another contrast chest CT scan revealed the formation of a new aneurysm, and on day 114, we successfully performed coil embolization again, and he was transferred back to the other hospital on day 116.
Conclusions Spray-type pyrethroid insecticides contain the organic solvent kerosene. Inhalation of kerosene has been reported in several cases of chemical pneumonitis leading to lung abscess. Clinicians should pay attention to kerosene contained in insecticides and the circumstances under which they are used. Early recognition and aggressive treatment can likely prevent severe outcomes.
Risk Factors and Mortality in Children with Severe Pertussis: The Role of Exchange Transfusion
Authors: Huo Junming , Chen Song , Qin Yanran , Xu Feng , Liu Chenjun
Published: December 2024

Objective
High white blood cell (WBC) counts has been identified as a risk factor for adverse outcomes in pertussis patients, but the predictive value of it and the efficacy of interventions such as exchange transfusion remain poorly understood. Therefore, we endeavored to investigate the impact of white blood cell counts on mortality risk in severe pertussis children and assess the potential benefits of exchange transfusion therapy.
Methods
A retrospective analysis of 170 pertussis patients admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) between January 2018 and June 2024 was performed.
Results
Among the 170 patients, 38 (22.35%) died. The deceased group exhibited significantly higher WBC counts (67.31 vs. 28.41 × 10^9/L, P < 0.001), neutrophils (29.95 vs. 11.61 × 10^9/L, P < 0.001), and C-reactive protein (CRP) (29 vs. 8 mg/L, P < 0.001). Additionally, sepsis (39.47% vs. 9.09%, P < 0.001), shock (63.16% vs. 6.06%, P < 0.001), ARDS (23.68% vs. 2.27%, P < 0.001), and acute kidney injury (21.05% vs. 0.76%, P < 0.001) were more prevalent in the deceased group. ROC analysis showed that WBC counts had a predictive value for mortality (AUC = 0.75, sensitivity = 0.78, specificity = 0.68), with an optimal cutoff of 48.58 × 10^9/L.
Conclusion
High WBC counts are significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality in critically ill children, with a threshold of 48.58 × 10^9/L identified as indicative of high risk. Exchange transfusion can reduce white blood cell counts, but patients with severe secondary infections still face a high risk of death after blood exchange.
Applying novel Plasmodium vivax serological exposure markers to quantify residual malaria transmission in the Philippines through repeated health facility surveys: the SMaRT study protocol
Authors: Bernal Jhobert , Macalinao Maria Lourdes , Cosca Katherine , Boncayao Beaulah , Mueller Ivo , Espino Fe Esperanza J. , Stresman Gillian , Luchavez Jennifer , Longley Rhea J.
Published: December 2024

Background
After decades of progress towards malaria elimination, Plasmodium vivax is now the predominant source of infection and the major obstacle towards elimination in the Asia-Pacific region. In the Philippines, the situation is slightly different with P. falciparum still accounting for the largest burden. However, there has been a steady increase in the total number of reported P. vivax cases in the main transmission hotspot of Palawan, as well as two years of consecutive outbreaks of P. vivax in the near-elimination setting of Sultan Kudarat. Here, we describe the protocol for a new study in Sultan Kudarat that aims to identify whether an underlying, hidden, burden of P. vivax contributes to the ongoing risk of outbreaks.
Methods
A challenge for surveillance of P. vivax is the presence of an additional hidden liver-stage, where parasites (hypnozoites) lie dormant for weeks to months before causing a relapse of infection. Hypnozoites cannot be detected with commercial diagnostic tests. We have designed novel serological exposure markers of recent P. vivax infection, which indirectly inform on hypnozoite carriage. In this study we will conduct a prospective 18-month survey in health facilities within Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, and compare epidemiology and serological data with that in archival samples from Palawan. We will enroll both care-seeking individuals and their companions, and utilise remote geolocation to uncover spatial trends.
Discussion
This study will generate important data for the malaria control program in the Philippines whilst also demonstrating utility of P. vivax serological exposure markers in near-elimination settings. We will utilise this data to build a decision-making framework to support novel, evidence-based elimination strategies relevant for the Philippines and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
Comparative analysis of thoracoscopic sympathetic nerve resection segments on clinical outcomes and quality of life in palmar hyperhidrosis patients
Authors: Wang Jingsi , Zhao Shengliang , Tang Bo , Xiang Mingzhang , Dai Jigang , Liu Quanxing
Published: December 2024

Background：Primary hyperhidrosis, characterized by excessive palm sweating, significantly impacts the quality of life for affected individuals, particularly among young adults. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy (VATS) in improving symptoms and quality of life among 816 patients with primary hyperhidrosis.
Methods：This retrospective study analyzed clinical data from 816 PPH patients treated at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, between January 2014 and January 2024.
Results：The results indicated that the cohort consisted of 359 males and 457 females, with a mean age of 24.98 ±6.47 years. All patients underwent VATS, with a 100% success rate, and the mean operative time was 53.2 ±24.7 minutes. Postoperatively, complications included 43 cases of incision infections, 194 cases of chest pain, and 157 cases of pneumothorax; compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH) occurred in 53.80% of the T3 group and 43.74% of the T4 group after one month, with significant differences noted at the 24-month follow-up. Furthermore, QOL scores significantly improved from 38.25 ±3.61 preoperatively to 69.07 ±3.48 at one year postoperatively (P < 0.05).
Conclusions：VATS offers a reliable and effective treatment for severe palmoplantar hyperhidrosis, significantly enhancing patients' overall quality of life. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes and the applicability of this treatment across diverse populations to further advance clinical management of hyperhidrosis.
Effect of game-based physical education interventions on executive function, attention and academic performance in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis from 2010 to date
Authors: Mo Weilong , Saibon Jamalsafri Bin , Li Yaming , Deng Shuao , Li Jiequan , He Yanwu
Published: December 2024

Background
Previous studies found that gamification interventions have a positive impact on children's cognitive functioning and academic performance. However, implementation of gamification interventions in physical education has been limited over the past two decades, This research aimed to analyse the impact of game-based physical education on executive function, attention, and academic performance in children.
Methods
This research was conducted with six electronic databases: Web of Science, PubMed, EBSCOhost, Cochrane, Embase, and Scopus, covering the span of time from 2010 to September 2024. This meta-analysis evaluated the impact of game-based PE intervention on executive function, attention, and academic performance in children through both randomized controlled trials (RCT) and non-randomized controlled trials (nRCTs). From an initial pool of 343 studies identified, 167 were independently reviewed by two authors. 15 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The quality of these studies was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) tool.
Results
Meta-analysis revealed significant moderate effects across three main domains: executive function (SMD = 0.72, 95% CI: [0.33, 1.10], p = 0.0002), attention (SMD = 0.50, 95% CI: [0.22, 0.79], p = 0.0006), and academic performance (SMD = 0.59, 95% CI: [0.28, 0.91], p = 0.0002). Within executive function, cognitive flexibility (SMD = 1.10, 95% CI: [0.71, 1.30], p < 0.0006) and response inhibition (SMD = 0.77, 95% CI: [0.58, 0.97], p < 0.00001) showed significant improvements, while working memory did not (SMD = 0.25, 95% CI [-0.11, 0.62], p = 0.18). No significant effects were found in selective attention (SMD = -0.07, 95% CI [-0.59, 0.46], p = 0.80) or sustained attention (SMD = 0.03, 95% CI [-0.49, 0.55], p = 0.91). For academic performance, only mathematical ability showed significant improvement (SMD = 0.56, 95% CI [0.19, 0.94], p = 0.003).
Conclusions
Game-based interventions have shown effective in enhancing executive function, attention and academic achievement in children.
Do diesel exhaust particles affect the flight activity of the buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris in the field?
Authors: Seidenath Dimitri , Pölloth Sarah , Mittereder Andreas , Hillenbrand Thomas , Brüggemann Dieter , Schott Matthias , Laforsch Christian , Otti Oliver , Feldhaar Heike
Published: December 2024

The loss of insect biodiversity and biomass is threatening ecosystems around the globe. Drivers of this insect decline include climate change, habitat degradation and pollution. Exposure to airborne particulate matter, such as diesel exhaust particles, may be harmful, especially for insects around urban or industrial areas. Ecotoxicological experiments have shown that chronic oral uptake of diesel exhaust particles can result in higher mortality and changes in the gut microbiome. But how such effects manifest in a natural setting are still largely unknown, especially their effect on the foraging activity and behavior. Here, we exposed workers of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris to diesel exhaust particles and evaluated their impact on the flight activity, i.e. the homing flight and subsequent foraging activity, in the field. We observed a significant delay in the starting time of the bumblebees treated with diesel exhaust particles after the release caused by the inability of some workers to take off vertically from of the exposure box and grooming behavior. Homing flight and subsequent foraging activity did not differ between the treatments. Our findings provide new insights into the potential role of airborne particulate matter in the insect decline by impairing flight activity. However, it remains unclear why bumblebees struggle to start a take-off vertically after exposure to diesel exhaust particles. This observation needs further investigation to elucidate, for example, if this behavior may indicate underlying physiological constraints.
Face and Content Validation of the 10-item Communicative Participation Item Bank for Primary Progressive Aphasia: A Cognitive Interviewing Study
Authors: Fegter Ollie , Shaunfield Sara , Bona Matthew , Cummings Emily , Roberts Angela , Rogalski Emily
Published: December 2024

Background
Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) is a clinical neurodegenerative dementia syndrome marked by progressive decline in language skills, which profoundly affects communication participation in daily life. The 10-item short form of the Communicative Participation Item Bank (CPIB) is a self-report measure developed to assess communicative participation across everyday communication situations and activities. Developed as a disorder-agnostic measure, the appropriateness of the CPIB for capturing clinically meaningful communication function for individuals with PPA has not yet been evaluated but is important for assessing impact of PPA as well as the development and assessment of interventions. Cognitive interviewing was used to evaluate the face and content validity of the CPIB for persons with PPA and their communication partners.
Methods
Nine dyads, each consisting of a person with PPA and their communication partner, completed semi-structured cognitive interviews that assessed the instructions, format, response options, item comprehension, and relevance to their experiences with PPA. Interviews were conducted via videoconference. Closed-ended responses were quantified and open-ended responses were analyzed via thematic analysis. Summaries were generated for each item, including recommended changes.
Results
Measure instructions and format were clear to all participants (N = 18; 100%). Participants demonstrated good comprehension of individual CPIB items, with a majority finding the items clear and relevant to their experiences. Most (n = 14; 78%) participants suggested adding a fifth response option (i.e., “Somewhat”) to better capture their range of communication experiences. Talking on the phone was the most reported missing communication participation situation (n = 12; 67%), followed by videoconference (n = 3; 17%) and email/texting (n = 3; 17%).
Conclusions
Initial data support use of the CPIB with persons with PPA and their communication partners for capturing clinically meaningful communication function. Potential modifications for sharpening the relevance, applicability, and sensitivity to longitudinal measurement of change include increasing number the number of response levels, adding an item on communication participation via phone/videochat, and using proctored administration for persons with PPA.
Enhanced Image Satellite Classification by Using Stacked Learning Model (SLM)
Authors: Darghaoth Ahmed M.H. , Anaz Ammar Sameer , Al-Nima Raid Rafi Omar
Published: December 2024

One of the common challenges in image satellite classification prediction models is obtaining high accuracy, and from this perspective, the primary objective of this paper is to implement the Stacked Learning Model (SLM) technique with the aim of enhancing the accuracy of image classification. Academic research and practical applications have widely used the suggested model, which has made significant strides in the field of image classification. By using a SLM, the model combined the results of three base models to improve the predictive ability and accuracy of image classification. This approach had been applied in a series of sequential steps designed to improve the performance of individual models and their integration. The proposed model uses the EuroSat dataset, which includes images. These images are of high resolution and cover various land use and land cover classes across Europe. They have been evenly distributed across six classes: residential, permanent crop, pasture, industrial, highway, and forest. This data has been augmented to reduce the problem of overfitting and improve the model’s ability to generalize. The model achieved a classification accuracy of 92.35% after training, confirming its robustness in image classification applications, particularly in areas where accuracy is crucial. Various comparisons, even with state-of-the-art models, will be provided.
Me-LLaMA: Medical Foundation Large Language Models for Comprehensive Text Analysis and Beyond
Authors: Xie Qianqian , Chen Qingyu , Chen Aokun , Peng Cheng , Hu Yan , Lin Fongci , Peng Xueqing , Huang Jimin , Zhang Jeffrey , Keloth Vipina , Zhou Xinyu , Qian Lingfei , He Huan , Shung Dennis , Ohno-Machado Lucila , Wu Yonghui , Xu Hua , Bian Jiang
Published: December 2024

Recent advancements in large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and LLaMA have shown significant potential in medical applications, but their effectiveness is limited by a lack of specialized medical knowledge due to general-domain training. In this study, we developed Me-LLaMA, a new family of open-source medical LLMs that uniquely integrate extensive domain-specific knowledge with robust instruction-following capabilities. Me-LLaMA comprises foundation models (Me-LLaMA 13B and 70B) and their chat-enhanced versions, developed through comprehensive continual pretraining and instruction tuning of LLaMA2 models using both biomedical literature and clinical notes. Me-LLaMA utilized the largest and most comprehensive medical data, including 129B pre-training tokens and 214K instruction tuning samples from diverse biomedical and clinical data sources. Training the 70B models required substantial computational resources, exceeding 100,000 A100 GPU hours. We applied Me-LLaMA to six medical text analysis tasks and evaluated its performance on 12 benchmark datasets. To further assess Me-LLaMA’s potential clinical utility, we evaluated its performance on complex clinical case diagnosis compared with other commercial LLMs, using both automatic and human evaluations. Me-LLaMA models outperform LLaMA, and other existing open-source medical LLMs in both zero-shot and supervised learning settings for most text analysis tasks. With task-specific instruction tuning, Me-LLaMA models also surpass leading commercial LLMs, outperforming ChatGPT on 7 out of 8 datasets and GPT-4 on 5 out of 8 datasets. Moreover, Me-LLaMA’s performance is comparable to ChatGPT and GPT-4 for diagnosing complex clinical cases. Our findings underscore combining domain-specific continual pretraining with instruction tuning is essential for developing effective domain-specific large language models in healthcare, significantly enhancing performance across diverse medical text analysis tasks and applications. By publicly releasing our models and resources under appropriate user agreements, we aim to foster innovation and facilitate advancements in medical AI, benefiting researchers and practitioners within the community.
Analysis of risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding in percutaneous coronary intervention patients treated with dual antiplatelet therapy after surgery
Authors: Chen Caiping , Fan Huimin , Shuai Renya
Published: December 2024

Background: Following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is key to preventing thrombosis. However, DAPT use is strongly associated with an increased risk of Gastrointestinal bleeding. This complication not only affects the patient's recovery but also increases the healthcare burden. Therefore, identifying risk factors for Gastrointestinal bleeding in postoperative PCI patients is essential to optimise DAPT management and improve patient safety.
Objective:The aim of this study was to collect and analyse data from patients who underwent PCI at our hospital and were regularly treated with DAPT after the procedure. To determine the influence of previous medical history and factors during hospitalisation on the development of postoperative Gastrointestinal bleeding in patients undergoing PCI with DAPT, and to develop a risk prediction model accordingly. Provide cardiovascular physicians with a more accurate basis for identifying high-risk patients and guiding treatment.
Methods: A total of 380 patients were included in this study, out of which 42 patients presented with Gastrointestinal bleeding. Pre- and postoperative data and past medical history of patients were collected to study the correlation factors affecting the emergence of Gastrointestinal bleeding postoperatively in patients undergoing PCI with DAPT, and to establish a prediction model.
Results:Potentially relevant factors were included in the Univariate Logistic Regression Analysis. After analysis of the results: gender, age, History of Bleeding history, History of cancer, Smoking history, History of Heart failure, History of ProtonPump Inhibitors, Renal insufficiency, and Hypoproteinemia are the nine P < 0.2, which are potential risk factors that may affect the occurrence of Gastrointestinal bleeding after surgery in patients who underwent PCI with DAPT treatment. The data obtained were further included in a multifactorial logistic regression analysis: six factors such as gender (female), History of cancer, History of bleeding, History of cancer, History of smoking, Heart failure, and Renal insufficiency were found to be independent risk factors influencing the development of Gastrointestinal bleeding postoperatively in patients undergoing PCI with DAPT (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The findings of this study confirmed six factors such as gender (female), History of Bleeding history, History of cancer, Smoking history, Heart failure and Renal insufficiency as independent risk factors for postoperative development of Gastrointestinal bleeding in PCI patients undergoing DAPT. The predictive model developed in this study can help cardiovascular physicians to some extent to accurately identify patients at high risk of bleeding and to be more cautious in the treatment as well as in the administration of medication.
The Influence of Thermal Tempering on the Fracture Resistance of Four Heat Pressed Lithia-based glass ceramic Crowns
Authors: Nasser Khaled , EL-Etreby Amr S. , Nabih Soha Osama
Published: December 2024

Background This in-vitro study aimed to evaluate the impact of thermal tempering and ceramic type on the fracture resistance of four heat-pressed glass ceramics.
Methods A total of 84 glass-ceramic crowns were pressed and randomly allocated into four equal groups (n=21) according to the ceramic type: Group (E): IPS e.max Press, Group (L): GC initial LiSi Press, Group (C): Celtra Press and Group (A): VITA Ambria. The crowns of each group were equally allocated into three subgroups (n = 7) regarding the subsequent thermal tempering temperature. Subgroup (T0): No tempering. Subgroup (T1): Tempering at 9% below pressing temperature. Subgroup (T2): Tempering at 5% below pressing temperature. Samples were tested for fracture resistance using a universal testing machine. A scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction and Energy Dispersive x-ray analysis were utilized to disclose the microstructural features.
Results When there is no tempering, IPS e.max press showed a significant elevated fracture resistance. There was an insignificant difference between other ceramics. While with tempering (T2) as well as (T1), Lisi press (L) showed a significant elevated fracture resistance. There was an insignificant difference between other ceramics.
Conclusions Incorporation of zirconia oxide into the lithium disilicate glass matrix did not show improvement in the fracture resistance. Thermal tempering procedure had significant effect on fracture resistance.
ARMH4 accelerates aging by maintaining a positive-feedback growth signaling circuit
Authors: Wang Zhihua , Fang Yu , wang baosen , Guo Qiuxiao , Lv Jian , Li Jiajie , Wang Junmei , Guo Ningning , Bai Yu , Xu Anqi , Ma Xiao , Tan Hui , Li Hong
Published: December 2024

Aging is an inevitable process integrating chronological alterations of multiple organs. A growing aging population necessitates feasible anti-aging strategies to deal with age-associated health problems. We previously performed a proteomics analysis in a healthy-aging cohort, and revealed an age-related downregulation of ARMH4. Here we generated a whole-body Armh4-knockout mouse line, and investigated its impact on systemic aging. Under normal feeding conditions, Armh4 deficiency significantly lowered spontaneous mortality and extended maximum lifespan. In the female mice, Armh4 deficiency postponed sexual maturity for one week. At the organ level, the age-related pathologies of the heart, liver, kidney, and spleen were substantially alleviated by Armh4 deletion. Mechanistically, ARMH4 interacted with IGF1R/FGFR1 to sensitize the activation of PI3K-AKT-mTORC1 and Ras-MEK-ERK pathways, consequently promoting protein synthesis and inhibiting autophagy. Moreover, ARMH4 was required for the maintenance of IGF1R/FGFR1 expressions through regulating transcription factor c-Myc. Therefore, ARMH4 maintains a positive-feedback growth signaling to promote aging.
Assessing the variability effect of land use patterns, rainfall and temperature trends on land degradation across Ibadan, Nigeria
Authors: Areola Abiodun Ayooluwa
Published: December 2024

Land degradation remains a significant global challenge, affecting ecosystems, agriculture, and human livelihoods. This study employed remote sensing technology to investigate vegetation patterns and trends in rainfall and temperature in Ibadan, Nigeria, from 2013 to 2023, with a focus on their impact on land degradation. The objectives were to assess spatiotemporal changes in vegetation cover, temperature, and rainfall distribution; identify areas affected by land degradation; and evaluate the influence of weather variables on vegetation dynamics. Data from NASA Power and the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) were combined with Landsat 8 imagery processed using Google Earth Engine (GEE). The analysis revealed substantial rainfall variability across Ibadan, with higher levels in the northern and central regions affecting vegetation health, as reflected by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Land surface temperature (LST) analysis indicated a moderate negative correlation with NDVI (r = -0.39), demonstrating that rising temperatures adversely impact vegetation health. Additionally, a weak positive correlation (r = 0.11) between land use and land cover (LULC) and rainfall highlighted the role of urbanisation in shaping temperature and precipitation patterns. The findings underscore the importance of sustainable urban planning and land management strategies, including green infrastructure and eco-friendly building practices, to mitigate the effects of weather variability on vegetation and land degradation.
The miR-3156-3p/K+ channel axis regulates replication and release of non-enveloped RNA viruses
Authors: Shih Shin-Ru , Lin Yueh-Te , Kung Yu-An , Gong Yu-Nong , Tang Wen-Fang , Horng Jim-Tong
Published: December 2024

Viruses rely on egress machinery for cell exit, which is crucial for their transmission. While non-enveloped RNA viruses, such as picornaviruses, are typically associated with the lytic release pathway, emerging evidence suggests they can also be packaged within vesicles for non-lytic release. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating this remain unclear. Here, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen and identified the microRNA hsa-miR-3156-1 as a critical host factor for picornavirus replication. Both the primary and mature forms of miR-3156-1 were upregulated following infection, with miR-3156-3p serving as a positive regulator of viral replication by directly targeting the 3′-untranslated regions of K+ channel-associated genes, KCNV1, KCNJ2, KCNK3, and KCNK5, causing plasma membrane depolarization and Ca2+ influx, which facilitate non-lytic release. Administration of a miR-3156-3p antagomir alleviated virus-associated acute flaccid paralysis in a mouse model. Our findings reveal how the miR-3156-3p/K+ channel regulatory axis regulates picornavirus release, highlighting potential therapeutic targets.