bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pelvic ring fracture and erectile dysfunction (PERFECD) – 3 year follow-up cross sectional study
Authors: Rizzoli Gioia , Schmid Florian A. , Kessler Franziska , Kalbas Yannik , Klingebiel Felix Karl-Ludwig , Berk Till , Pfeifer Roman , Eberli Daniel , Pape Hans-Christoph , Halvachizadeh Sascha
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Pelvic ring fractures are known to be associated with complications associated with adjacent organ injuries, such as the urogenital tract (e.g. erectile dysfunction (ED), which are sometimes diagnosed in a delayed fashion. Therefore, we assessed the quality of life (QoL) and the rate of erectile dysfunction (ED) following pelvic ring fractures at a minimum of 3 years after pelvic ring injury.

Methods

Between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2020, adult male patients (≥ 18 years) with pelvic ring injuries were included in the study. Fractures were classified according to the Young & Burgess (Y&B) classification system, while pelvic contusions were categorized as the control group. Data were collected using a written questionnaire that assessed Quality of Life (QoL) by Short Form 12 (SF-12) and erectile dysfunction (ED) with the International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF-5). ED was stratified as follows: no ED (21–25 points), mild ED (16–21 points), moderate ED (9–15 points), and severe ED (5–7 points). Comorbidities and risk factors for ED were also assessed, including vasculopathy, peripheral artery disease, hypercholesterolemia, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and smoking.

Results

A total of 182 patients were included, with a mean age at injury of 53.5 years (SD 17.1) and a mean age at the time of the questionnaire of 57.8 years (SD 17.4). The distribution of patients was as follows: APC Group (n = 20, 11.1%), LC Group (n = 94, 52.2%), CMVS Group (n = 6, 3.3%), and Control Group (n = 60, 33.3%). The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 24.6 points (SD 16.4). Regarding erectile dysfunction, 8 patients (17.4%) had no ED, 10 (21.7%) had mild ED, 6 (13.0%) had moderate ED, and 22 (47.8%) had severe ED. Quality of Life (QoL) was significantly reduced in patients with CMVS pelvic fractures, particularly in physical role function, which scored 62.5 points (SD 29.6, p < 0.001). All patients in the APC Group reported at least a mild form of ED. APC injuries were identified as an independent risk factor for lower IIEF-5 scores (OR -4.5, 95% CI -8.3 to -0.7, p = 0.02), comparable to other risk factors such as hypertension (OR -9.2, 95% CI -12.8 to -5.6, p < 0.001), diabetes (OR -5.3, 95% CI -9.4 to -1.2, p = 0.012), and smoking (OR -2.6, 95% CI -5.2 to -0.04, p = 0.05).

Conclusion

Vertical shear fractures are associated with significantly lower quality of life compared to APC or LC fractures three years post-injury. The APC type of pelvic ring injury was identified as an independent risk factor for the development of erectile dysfunction (ED). Early screening and appropriate management should be initiated for patients with APC injuries to address and mitigate the risk of ED.
Plastisch-chirurgische Therapie der Neurofibromatose Typ 1
Authors: Längle Gregor , Gohritz Andreas , Gstöttner Clemens , Harnoncourt Leopold , Platzgummer Hannes , Azizi Amedeo A. , Aszmann Oskar
Published: January 2025

Die Neurofibromatose Typ 1 (NF1, früher Morbus Recklinghausen) ist ein genetisches Tumorprädispositionssyndrom, bei dem die Mutation eines Tumorsuppressorgens (Neurofibromin) zur Ausbildung meist gutartiger Neurofibrome der Haut und des zentralen und peripheren Nervensystems und Fehlbildungen oder Tumoren anderer Organsysteme führt. Patient:innen mit NF1 sollten lebenslang in spezialisierten Zentren interdisziplinär betreut werden, wichtige Therapieentscheidungen sollten hier in einem regelmäßig stattfindenden interdisziplinären Expertengremium getroffen werden. Die plastische Chirurgie spielt in der Behandlung aller klinischen Formen der NF1-assoziierten Nervenscheidentumoren eine wichtige Rolle – von kutanen und subkutanen bis zu tiefen nodulären und diffusen plexiformen Neurofibromen. Jeder Patient erfordert eine individualisierte chirurgische Planung, wobei Zeitpunkt und Ausmaß der Operationen von Symptomatik, funktionellen und ästhetischen Einschränkungen, Fortschreiten der Krankheit und potenzieller maligner Entartung bestimmt werden. Da jede Körperregion betroffen sein kann, reicht das erforderliche umfassende Spektrum ästhetischer und rekonstruktiver Chirurgie von der Lidplastik und Gesichtswiederherstellung über die Brustformung bis hin zur Nervenrekonstruktion oder motorischen Ersatzoperationen. Ein rechtzeitig durchgeführter chirurgischer Eingriff kann die Krankheitsentwicklung und Lebensqualität der Betroffenen entscheidend beeinflussen und im Fall einer Transformation zum malignen peripheren Nervenscheidentumor (MPNST) sogar lebensrettend sein.
Genetic diversity of murine norovirus associated with ethanol sensitivity
Authors: Wanguyun Aken Puti , Oishi Wakana , Sano Daisuke
Published: January 2025

RNA viruses have high genetic diversity, allowing rapid adaptation to environmental pressures, such as disinfection. This diversity increases the likelihood of mutations influencing the viral sensitivity to disinfectants. Ethanol is widely used to control viral transmission; however, insufficient disinfection facilitates the survival of less-sensitive viruses. Further, the underlying mechanisms of ethanol-induced changes in viral sensitivity remain unclear. Here, we assessed the genetic characteristics of ethanol-adapted murine norovirus (MNV) and associated changes in viral sensitivity. Experimental ethanol-facilitated MNV adaptation and subsequent genetic characteristic evaluation of the whole genome sequence was performed. MNV was exposed to 70% ethanol for 5 s to achieve ± 3-log10 inactivation. Twelve MNV populations were identified as “less sensitive,” consisting of nine treated and three control populations. Less-sensitive MNV populations exhibited significantly higher synonymous nucleotide diversity (πS) in ORF1 (p = 0.001), which encodes the non-structural protein, than sensitive populations. Ethanol sensitivity and πS were negatively correlated in ORF1 (R = − 0.49, p = 0.003), indicating that high genetic diversity in ORF1 could be linked to reduced ethanol sensitivity. This study demonstrates an association between nucleotide diversity in specific coding regions of the MNV genome and ethanol sensitivity. These findings are vital for improving disinfection methods and anticipating emerging viruses that are more resistant to disinfectants.

Key points

• Several MNV populations reduced sensitivity to ethanol.

• Higher synonymous diversity in ORF1 linked to reduced ethanol sensitivity.

• Synonymous mutations can influence viral adaptation to ethanol.
Imaging on the painful and compressed nerve: lower extremity
Authors: Bordalo Marcelo
Published: January 2025

Entrapment neuropathies of the lower extremity are often underdiagnosed due to limitations in clinical examination and electrophysiological testing. Advanced imaging techniques, particularly MR neurography and high-resolution ultrasonography (US), have significantly improved the evaluation and diagnosis of these conditions by enabling precise visualization of nerves and their surrounding anatomical structures. This review focuses on the imaging features of compressive neuropathies affecting the lumbosacral plexus and its branches, including the femoral, obturator, sciatic, common peroneal, and tibial nerves. Key conditions such as meralgia paraesthetica, piriformis syndrome, and tarsal tunnel syndrome are discussed, highlighting findings such as nerve thickening, T2 hypersignal, fascicular changes, and associated muscle denervation patterns. The ability to detect structural causes, including anatomical variations, fibrous bands, and space-occupying lesions, underscores the value of these imaging modalities in facilitating early diagnosis, guiding therapeutic interventions, and improving patient outcomes.
Dehydration rapidly induces expression of NCED genes from a single subclade in diverse eudicots
Authors: Vo Hanh M. , Charleston Michael A. , Brodribb Timothy J. , Sussmilch Frances C.
Published: January 2025

Main conclusion

A gene within a single subclade of NCED genes is triggered in response to both, short- and long-term dehydration treatments, in three model dicot species.

During dehydration, some plants can rapidly synthesise the stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA) in leaves within 20 min, triggering the closure of stomata and limiting further water loss. This response is associated with significant transcriptional upregulation of Nine-cis-Epoxycarotenoid Dioxygenase (NCED) genes, which encode the enzyme considered to be rate-limiting in ABA biosynthesis. However, most embryophyte species possess multiple NCED genes, and it is not currently known whether there is any phylogenetic pattern to which NCED genes are involved in this response. We tested transcriptional responses to dehydration for all NCED genes present in three diverse eudicot species—Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), pea and tomato—over both the timeframe of stomatal responses (< 20 min) and in response to sustained dehydration (hours). We found that there is a single NCED gene per species, AtNCED3, PsNCED2, and SlNCED1, respectively, that is rapidly upregulated by dehydration. Using a null mutant, we confirmed that the rapidly responsive gene identified in Arabidopsis is important for physiological responses to a sudden drop in humidity. Analysis of the relationships and the evolutionary history of NCED genes using available sequence data from diverse land plant species revealed that the identified genes in each species all belong to the same subclade within the gene family, suggesting a conserved role for this subclade in rapid dehydration responses in eudicots. These findings enable future phylogenetically-informed prediction of genes of interest for rapid dehydration responses within this important multigene family in eudicot species.
Practitioners’ perspective: a mixed-methods study on dealing with suicidality from the perspective of oncological healthcare professionals
Authors: Schwinn Tamara , Hirschmiller Judith , Wiltink Jörg , Zwerenz Rüdiger , Brähler Elmar , Beutel Manfred E. , Ernst Mareike
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) play a critical role in suicide prevention and clinical guidelines recommend inquiring about suicidality as part of medical history and diagnosis. Emerging evidence indicates a lack of implementation of such policies in clinical practice. However, to date, no comprehensive mixed-methods study has examined this issue in the field of oncology.

Methods

A preregistered mixed-methods study was conducted with oncological HCPs (N = 20) from various professions, using semi-structured interviews and validated questionnaires. Employing an explorative theory-generating approach, qualitative content analysis was applied to the interviews. The different data sources are integrated and contrasted. Comparisons according to sociodemographic variables (profession, age, and gender) and frequency distributions were used to examine the questionnaire data.

Results

Most HCPs reported direct or indirect experiences with suicidality in cancer patients. Nineteen HCPs did not routinely explore suicidality, of whom five reported not inquiring about it at all. Those who explored suicidality were more confident, less emotionally overwhelmed and reported higher subjective knowledge. HCPs also differed regarding their endorsement of suicide myths.

Conclusion

The study highlights difficulties with active suicide exploration and differences among HCPs. Integrating these findings into education and training could improve HCPs’ skills and reduce disparities, supporting successful suicide prevention.
The citizen perspective on challenges and rehabilitation needs among individuals treated for head and neck cancer: a qualitative study
Authors: Jacobsen Kathrin Fríðunn Astrup Brøgger , Mikkelsen Lene Kronborg , Jørgensen Lone
Published: January 2025

Purpose

In Denmark, the prevalence of head and neck cancer is approximately 17.000, and the incidence is increasing. The disease and treatment of this condition may lead to severe physical, psychological, and social consequences. However, the literature indicates a lack of rehabilitation services and insufficient professional resources in the municipal setting resulting in unmet rehabilitation needs. The aim of this study is to gain an understanding of the challenges and rehabilitation needs experienced by citizens treated for head and neck cancer.

Methods

A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was employed. Paul Ricoeur’s interpretation theory was used to analyze the data.

Findings

Citizens treated for head and neck cancer experience the need for targeted assistance to manage the consequences following treatment for head and neck cancer and the need for adequate information and specialized professional competencies in municipal rehabilitation. The findings highlight a dual need: support from healthcare professionals and opportunities for patients to connect with others who have undergone treatment for head and neck cancer, as part of municipal rehabilitation.

Conclusion

The study contributes to an understanding of the citizen perspective on rehabilitation needs and informs and enhances knowledge about municipal rehabilitation interventions for citizens treated for head and neck cancer. However, the findings also indicate the complexity of the referral process, highlighting the need for further research on barriers and facilitators to referral and access to municipal rehabilitation.
Experimental Investigation of Burst Failure Mechanism Under Polyaxial Loading Conditions
Authors: Akdag Selahattin , Karakus Murat , Nguyen Giang D.
Published: January 2025

Effective monitoring and early warning methods are crucial for enhancing safety and sustainability in deep resource extraction, which are particularly important for mitigating rock/coal burst failures. This study introduces a newly modified thick-walled hollow cylinder (TWHC) testing system for rock and coal burst at the laboratory scale. Fracture initiation and propagation, leading to bursting on the wall of a cylindrical opening in granite, bluestone and coal are characterised by real-time acoustic emission (AE) responses. In this study, a borescope was used synchronously to observe the dynamic failure processes of rock/coal bursts and to verify AE results. The internal fracture morphologies of granite, bluestone and coal specimens were acquired using X-ray micro-Computed Tomography (μCT). We analysed the intrinsic mechanism of strain energy evolution of bursting and found that the average energy consumed by the induced cracking and released kinetic energy during bursting is approximately ~ 8, 25 and 18% of the total absorbed strain energy of granite, bluestone and coal, respectively. We found the average mass of the ejected rock/coal fragments to be ~ 0.3–0.5 g, whilst the rock/coal ejection velocity ranged from 10.5 to 19.8 m/s for the hollow coal, bluestone and granite. The results also indicate that granite and bluestone have the highest potential for violent bursting failure.
Climate-weather interactions modulating tropical cyclones over the Mascarene Islands 2000–2024
Authors: Jury Mark R
Published: January 2025

Tropical cyclones (TC) over the Mascarene Islands of the south-west Indian Ocean have been studied using meteorological reanalysis, satellite observations and local measurements in December to March season in the period 2000–2024. An innovative methodology was employed to create an index of TC impacts: multiplying the daily maximum wind and standardized maximum rainfall within the area 19–22 S, 54.5-58.5E, then summing to monthly interval above a threshold of 50. This time series was regressed onto a variety of fields in the Dec-Mar season to determine how climate-weather interactions modulate TCs near the islands of Mauritius and Reunion. The results highlight the importance of outflow from east Africa that passes northern Madagascar and generates cyclonic vorticity. Statistical links with Pacific El Nino Southern Oscillation and the Indian Ocean Dipole were weak but offer an advance warning of risk. Global regression maps show an inter-hemispheric dipole in SST and upper-level geopotential height (warm and high to south), associated with a zonal overturning circulation during austral summers with greater TC impacts in the Mascarene Islands. Trends over the longer period 1980–2024 were mapped to identify warming and moistening in the Mascarene area, and low level northwesterlies in the equatorial belt. The case of TC Dina 22 Jan 2002 was analyzed for meteorological structure and impacts, to place the statistical results in local context.
The association between maternal diabetes and the risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in offspring: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Damtie Yitayish , Dachew Berihun Assefa , Ayano Getinet , Tadesse Abay Woday , Betts Kim , Alati Rosa
Published: January 2025

Mixed results have been reported regarding the link between different types of maternal diabetes and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in offspring. Hence, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore these associations. Relevant studies on the subject were retrieved from six major databases, including PubMed, Medline, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsychINFO. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and between-study heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Subgroup, sensitivity, and meta-regression analyses were conducted to identify the sources of heterogeneity between studies. In total, seventeen observational studies (five case-control and twelve cohort studies) with 18,063,336 study participants were included in the final analysis. Our random-effects meta-analysis revealed that exposure to any form of maternal diabetes was associated with an increased risk of ADHD in children. Specifically, we observed a heightened risk of ADHD in children exposed to gestational diabetes mellitus, any pre-existing diabetes, pre-existing type 1 diabetes mellitus, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Our study suggests that children exposed to diabetes during prenatal development are at a higher risk of developing ADHD. These findings underscore the critical importance of early screening and timely interventions for exposed offspring.
Valuation Driven Innovation
Authors: Li Keming
Published: January 2025

This paper examines whether and how market valuation influences firm innovation, using an ex ante valuation measure that filters firm size and growth prospects from tangible investment. Specifically, by utilizing the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) patent database, I find that firms with high market valuations generate more innovative outputs, as measured by the number of patents and patent citations. Causality is established using mutual fund flows as an exogenous shock, demonstrating a strong effect of market valuation on firm innovation. Consistent with the idea that managers take advantage of irrationally low discount rates by issuing equity and investing the proceeds, these results are more pronounced among firms with high financial constraints and overvaluation. The sensitivity of innovative output to market valuation varies with equity market timing and sentiment, but is not affected by whether or not firms are issuing equity.
Uniform Differential Item Functioning Across Gender, Grade Level and Racial Groups: A MIMIC Investigation of the Non-clinical Parent Ratings of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17
Authors: Gao Ruiqin , Distefano Christine , Liu Jin , Jiang Ning , Greer Fred , Dowdy Erin
Published: January 2025

The Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17 (PSC-17) is a screening instrument designed to measure children’s behavioral and emotional problems. This study investigated the factor structure of the PSC-17 and the uniform differential item functioning (DIF) of the PSC-17 item scores as a function of school children’s gender, grade level, and racial/ethnic groups. Parent ratings of 1,305 children from pre-K to Grade 1 were used. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the scale’s factor structure indicated that parent ratings of PSC-17 were composed of three subscales: Externalizing Problems, Internalizing Problems, and Attention Problems. A multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) analysis results showed that four of the PSC-17 items exhibited statistically uniform DIF as a function of race/ethnicity but not as a function of gender or grade level. Uniform DIF had little impact on latent mean differences of Internalizing, Attention, and Externalizing Problems among gender, race/ethnicity, and grade-level groups. This study’s results implied that teachers or schools should be cautious with comparing racial/ethnic groups at the item level. However, they can compare children’s subscale scores across gender, race/ethnicity, and grade levels with parent ratings of the PSC-17.
Conic relaxations for conic minimax convex polynomial programs with extensions and applications
Authors: Doan Chuong Thai , Vicente-Pérez José
Published: January 2025

In this paper, we analyze conic minimax convex polynomial optimization problems. Under a suitable regularity condition, an exact conic programming relaxation is established based on a positivity characterization of a max function over a conic convex system. Further, we consider a general conic minimax

$$\rho $$

ρ

-convex polynomial optimization problem, which is defined by appropriately extending the notion of conic convexity of a vector-valued mapping. For this problem, it is shown that a Karush-Kuhn-Tucker condition at a global minimizer is necessary and sufficient for ensuring an exact relaxation with attainment of the conic programming relaxation. The exact conic programming relaxations are applied to SOS-convex polynomial programs, where appropriate choices of the data allow the associated conic programming relaxation to be reformulated as a semidefinite programming problem. In this way, we can further elaborate the obtained results for other special settings including conic robust SOS-convex polynomial problems and difference of SOS-convex polynomial programs.
Investigations of warped product manifolds through the concircular curvature tensor with relativistic applications
Authors: Syied Abdallah Abdelhameed , Neacşu Crina Daniela , Bin Turki Nasser , Vîlcu Gabriel-Eduard
Published: January 2025

This article focuses on characterizing warped product manifolds through the flatness and the symmetry of the concircular curvature tensor. It is proved that the factor manifolds of a concircularly-flat warped product manifold have constant sectional curvatures as well as they are concircularly-flat. It is shown that in a concircularly-symmetric warped product manifold, the fiber manifold has constant sectional curvature and it is concircularly-flat, while the base manifold is locally-symmetric and concircularly-symmetric. It is demonstrated that a concircularly-flat (symmetric) GRW space-time is perfect fluid and static. Finally, it is established that in a concircularly-flat (symmetric) F-associated standard static space-time, the base manifold has constant sectional curvature and it is concircularly-flat, while the fiber manifold is locally-symmetric and concircularly-symmetric.
Everything under control? Daily dynamics of self-control and emotion regulation
Authors: van den Bekerom Loes , Donker Monika H. , Mainhard Tim , Evers Catharine
Published: January 2025

As emotions may hinder goal pursuit, regulating them is important. Although the relationship between self-control and emotion regulation has mainly been investigated on a dispositional level, the engagement in self-control and emotion regulation fluctuates across situations. Research on how and to what extent self-control and emotion regulation impact one another within individuals over time is scarce. In the present study, we investigated the within-person reciprocal relationships between momentary self-control and the emotion regulation strategies reappraisal and suppression. Ecological momentary assessment was employed to collect diary data five times a day over four days using repeated, short measures of emotions, self-control, reappraisal, and suppression. Using Dynamic Structural Equation Modeling (DSEM) of data from 1874 assessments provided by 111 participants, results showed that the relationship between self-control and the emotion regulation strategies reappraisal and suppression is reciprocal within persons over time. Momentary suppression related to lower levels of momentary self-control later on, and self-control, in turn, was positively associated with the employment of subsequent reappraisal. Findings are discussed in light of the importance of self-control in dealing with emotions that impede goal pursuit, and the contextual importance of this relationship. Overall, this study adds to the question how emotion regulation and self-control are intertwined on a within-person level and provides insight into how people could deal with their emotional experiences to achieve their long-term goals.
Philosophy and prehistory: new perspectives on minds, art, and culture
Authors: van Mazijk Corijn , Killin Anton , Overmann Karenleigh A.
Published: January 2025

This article introduces the special issue “Philosophy and Prehistory: New Perspectives on Minds, Art, and Culture.” The primary motivation for the issue was to create a space where philosophy and evolutionary cognitive archaeology could intersect. We wanted to encourage cognitive archaeologists to reflect on their field from a philosophical perspective, and philosophers to consider key methodological, theoretical, or conceptual issues in evolutionary cognitive archaeology. We thereby aimed to bridge a perceived gap between philosophical and scientific research on prehistory, and to explore how these fields might complement each other. Our contributors relied on a variety of philosophical frameworks, including phenomenology, analytic philosophy, 4E cognition, and Material Engagement Theory. In this introduction, we reflect briefly on all fourteen contributions, and identify some common themes and points of complementarity. By bringing these perspectives together, we hope to inspire further philosophical inquiry into the vast expanse of human prehistory.
Ukrainian universities in QS World University Rankings: when the means become ends
Authors: Hladchenko Myroslava
Published: January 2025

This study, taking Ukrainian universities as an example, aims, first, to contribute to the body of knowledge on the effects of QS Rankings and national policies inspired by it on universities’ research assessment policies and their research output in Scopus. Second, to explore the relationship between different publication and authorship patterns and the citation impact. Dataset includes publications of six Ukrainian universities assessed by QS Rankings 2025. The study findings highlight that QS Rankings has turned the means of universities into their ends. University performance is supposed to result in the quality of life, technological progress, economic and social well-being of the nation. Publications are just one of the means of achieving these ends. At the national level, the state sustains means-ends decoupling overloading universities with multiple demands without providing beneficial conditions. Universities’ managers also sustain means-ends decoupling, the degree of which varies among universities. Explored universities published extensively in Ukrainian Scopus-indexed, discontinued from Scopus and MDPI journals to increase output in Scopus rapidly. Conference papers constitute a large share of publications. They have a high impact only if the citations are normalised by document type but QS Rankings doesn’t do this. Thus, their impact is small. The citation impact of the articles falls from Q1 to Q4 quartile, while the share of articles authored by only national authors increases. Ukrainian case shows that means-ends decoupling at global, national and organisational levels results in diversion of critical resources, both financial and human.
GAN-CITE: leveraging semi-supervised generative adversarial networks for citation function classification with limited data
Authors: Chatrinan Krittin , Noraset Thanapon , Tuarob Suppawong
Published: January 2025

Citation function analysis is crucial to understanding how cited literature contributes to the overall discourse and meaning conveyed in scientific publications. Citation functions serve diverse roles that must be accurately identified and categorized. Still, the field of citation function analysis faces challenges due to limited labeled data and the complexity of defining and categorizing citation functions, which require expertise and a deep understanding of scientific literature. This limitation results in imprecise identification and categorization of citation functions, emphasizing the need for further advancements to improve the accuracy and reliability of citation function analysis. This paper proposes GAN-CITE, a novel framework employing semi-supervised learning techniques to address these limitations. Its primary objective is to efficiently leverage available unlabeled data by combining generative adversarial networks (GANs) and the language model to incorporate substantial data representations from unlabeled data sources. Our study demonstrates that GAN-CITE outperforms both supervised and semi-supervised state-of-the-art models in limited data settings, namely 10%, 20%, and 30% of the total labeled data. We also examine its performance in insufficient and imbalanced labeled data situations, as well as the potential of unlabeled data utilization. These findings highlight the success of generative adversarial networks in enhancing citation function classification and their applications in digital libraries that require precise citation function categorization, such as trend analysis and impact quantification, under limited annotated data.
Predicting the time to first citation for medical articles using survival analysis and the association between this time and citation counts
Authors: Srisawad Sutthisak , Lertsittiphan Kullacha , Tunsirirut Sirirut , Saenkla Pennapa
Published: January 2025

Thailand is transitioning to a knowledge-based economy that relies on a highly skilled workforce and the leveraging of innovative research. This has led to top universities aiming to become world-class institutions. However, Thai universities’ citation indicators still need to be improved, meaning that bibliometric research is needed to find appropriate new strategies for achieving this. We investigated bibliometric data for Thailand and made a comparison with Malaysia. Appropriate models for predicting the time to first citation were also found. Survival analysis and Cox regression were applied in the prediction models. The sample used consisted of 2000 medical articles with authors from four universities. Slight differences were found between the bibliometric data for Thailand and Malaysia. The journal quality was found to be a strong predictor of the time to first citation. Several other statistically significant main variables and interaction variables were found, including the number of citations. Citation counts remain a recognized indicator of research potential. Faster publication can increase the number of citations, but care needs to be taken regarding self-citation. It is notable that Malaysian universities have a higher proportion of cross-disciplinary publications compared with Thai universities.
Unlocking the power of optimized data balancing ratios: a new frontier in tackling imbalanced datasets
Authors: Aymaz Samet
Published: January 2025

Data balancing methods eliminate the problem of imbalanced class distributions, which often lead to the majority class being well-learned while the minority class remains underrepresented, negatively affecting classification performance. This study applies data balancing to the healthcare domain, a critical field where classification success directly impacts human life. The primary aim is to introduce novel balancing methods while addressing the previously overlooked problem of optimizing data balancing ratios. Six healthcare datasets were used: Wisconsin Diagnostic Breast Cancer (WDBC), Wisconsin Prognostic Breast Cancer (WPBC), Z-Alizadeh Sani, Kidney, Diabetes, and Stroke, all characterized by significant diseases and imbalanced class distributions. Six balancing methods were tested, including synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE), adaptive synthetic sampling (ADASYN), support vector machine-SMOTE (SVM-SMOTE), Borderline-SMOTE, cubic interpolation, and quadratic interpolation, with interpolation-based methods being adapted to this domain for the first time. The critical factor in data balancing is identifying the optimal ratio that maximizes classification performance. In this study, particle swarm optimization (PSO), whale optimization algorithm (WOA), and Optuna optimization methods were used to optimize balancing ratios via a custom-designed fitness function that simultaneously optimizes classification accuracy and resource consumption. Classification was conducted for three scenarios: full balance, optimized balance, and imbalance, using support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and ensemble learning (EL) classifiers, allowing for extensive analysis. Each combination of balancing methods, classifiers, and optimization techniques was separately analyzed using metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, time, central processing unit (CPU) usage, and memory usage. As a result, the combination that optimally balances classification accuracy and resource consumption was determined for each dataset, providing both comprehensive analysis and insights into the impact of balancing ratio optimization on diagnostic success in health care.
Hearing loss and risk of major osteoporotic fracture: a population-based cohort study in the United Kingdom
Authors: Khalid Sara , Alhambra Daniel Prieto , Hasheminasab Seyed Alireza , Vinogradova Yana , Qureshi Nadeem , Ratzinger Michaela , Brunetti Vanessa , Salas Adrian , Canals Laura
Published: January 2025

Summary

Using the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink, our cohort study matched 237,297 individuals with hearing loss (HL) to 829,431 without HL. The study found an 8–10% higher risk of major osteoporotic fracture in individuals with HL compared to those without. Additionally, within the HL cohort, we identified risk factors for potential inclusion in fracture risk models.

Purpose

Assess association between hearing loss (HL) and major osteoporotic fracture (MOF; spine, wrist/forearm, shoulder/proximal humerus, hip) in individuals aged ≥ 60 years, and risk factors for MOF in individuals with HL.

Methods

From the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink, our cohort study matched individuals aged ≥ 60 years diagnosed with HL (READ/ICD-10 codes; 01January2001–31December2021; index event), without secondary osteoporosis causes, with up to five individuals without HL (birth, index year, sex, general practice). Incidence rates and Cox proportional hazard ratios (HL vs. no HL; stratified by low/high fracture risk) were calculated for MOF and hip fracture; multivariate logistic regression assessed risk factors for MOF and hip fracture (HL cohort).

Results

A total of 237,297 individuals with HL matched to 829,431 without HL, with a median age of 74 and 72 years, respectively. Compared with those without HL, individuals with HL had greater frailty (severe electronic frailty index, 5.9% vs. 2.7%), higher incidence of prior falls (14.1% vs. 10.6%), longer mean follow-up with higher incidence of MOF and hip fractures (5.1 vs. 4.4 years, 20.1 and 5.32 vs. 16.58 and 4.54 per 1000 person-years, respectively) and higher risk of MOF and hip fracture (adjusted HR, 1.10 and 1.08, respectively). Significant risk factors for MOF and hip fracture included age ≥ 70 years, fracture history, falls, osteoporosis diagnosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and cardiovascular disease (HL cohort).

Conclusion

In individuals with HL, we observed an 8–10% higher risk of MOF and hip fracture versus individuals without HL and identified risk factors for potential inclusion in fracture risk models.
A nomogram based on trauma-induced coagulopathy for predicting hospital mortality in multi-trauma patients: a retrospective study
Authors: Chen Shaochuan , Yang Jiale , Shi Xuezhi , Liu Anwei , Lin Guodong , Tong Huasheng
Published: January 2025

Multi-trauma presents significant challenges due to the complexity of injuries and high mortality rates. Early identification and intervention are crucial for improving outcomes in these critically injured patients. This retrospective study analyzed clinical data from multi-trauma patients admitted to the emergency department of Huiyang Sanhe Hospital between January 10, 2020, and September 30, 2022. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify independent predictors of hospital mortality. A prediction model was developed based on these prognostic markers, visualized using a nomogram, and its discriminative ability and clinical benefit were evaluated. A total of 124 multi-trauma patients were included in the study, with a hospital mortality rate of 26.7%. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC) (OR 4.238, 95% CI 1.46–12.28), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (OR 1.397, 95% CI 1.09–1.78), and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score (OR 0.720, 95% CI 0.61–0.85) as independent factors of hospital mortality. Therefore, a nomogram incorporating TIC, BUN, and GCS score was constructed and demonstrated excellent predictive performance and clinical impact (AUC 0.898, 95% CI 0.834–0.962). The nomogram developed in this study provided a practical tool for early prediction of hospital mortality in multi-trauma patients. By focusing on TIC, BUN, and GCS score, this model may facilitate rapid bedside assessment and timely intervention. However, further multicenter, prospective studies are required to validate its performance and applicability.
The relationship between fatigue levels and psychosocial adjustment in elderly individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A descriptive study
Authors: Akbaş Ebru , Filikci Sümeyra Buse
Published: January 2025

Background

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is associated with physical limitations and significant social, psychological, and behavioral challenges. This study investigates the relationship between fatigue levels and psychosocial adjustment in COPD patients, considering their sociodemographic characteristics.

Methods

A descriptive study was conducted with 160 COPD patients hospitalized in the Pulmonology Department of a university hospital. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews using a patient information form, the COPD and Asthma Fatigue Scale (CAFS), and the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale-Self-Report (PAIS-SR). Statistical analyses included Independent Sample t-test, One-Way ANOVA, Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Spearman correlation analysis, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Results

The mean age of participants was 68.70 ± 9.41 years; 71.9% were male, and 67.9% had COPD for over six years. Most participants (74.4%) reported limitations in daily living activities due to the disease, and 91.9% reported having social support. Mean scores were 58.03 ± 15.80 on the CAFS and 64.19 ± 6.41 on the PAIS-SR. Significant differences were observed in fatigue and psychosocial adjustment scores based on gender, social support, and disease impact on daily activities (p < 0.05). A weak positive correlation was found between fatigue levels and psychosocial adjustment (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

COPD patients experience moderate-to-high fatigue levels and challenges in psychosocial adjustment, with fatigue negatively influencing adjustment. Interventions should focus on enhancing coping strategies, addressing psychosocial needs, and leveraging social support systems to improve patient outcomes.
Effects of inflammatory bowel diseases on sexual function in women
Authors: Aydamirov Mubariz , Erbayrak Mustafa , Karkin Kadir , Vuruskan Ediz , Tunckıran Muslum Ahmet
Published: January 2025

Background

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease that includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Studies found that 40–60% of women diagnosed with IBD have sexual dysfunction (SD).

Aims

To determine SD and associated factors in women with IBD.

Methods

Female patients diagnosed with IBD in the Gastroenterology Department who volunteered and healthy volunteers who were examined by a general practitioner were included in the study as the control group. After appropriate training was provided by the researcher, patients and volunteers were asked to fill out the Clinical and Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale and Female Sexual Function Index.

Results

There were 255 patients in the patient group and 240 patients in the control group. The mean ages of the patient and control groups were 40 ± 12 and 38 ± 11 years, respectively. Mean disease duration in IBD patients was 9 ± 5.6 years. The SD rate in the patient group (63.5%) was higher than in the control group (23.8%) (p < 0.01). The prevalence of SD was significantly lower in mildly active IBD patients than in moderate and severe IBD patients (p < 0.05). Active disease (OR: 3.82), active perianal disease (OR: 2.15), and severe depression (OR: 3.19) were predictive factors for SD in univariate logistic regression analysis. Previous abdominal surgery was found to be predictive for SD in multivariate analysis (OR: 5.13).

Conclusions

The prevalence of SD was high in female IBD patients and its prevalence increased as disease activity increased. History of abdominal surgery in IBD was found to be associated with SD.
Impact of comorbidity on survival in cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Yalçıner Merih , Yazgan Satı Coşkun , Mocan Eda Eylemer , Karaoğlan Beliz Bahar , Bölek Hatice , Yekedüz Emre , Ürün Yüksel
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Immunotherapy efficacy in elderly patients with comorbidities and poor performance status is not well understood. More knowledge on this topic is needed to identify subgroups that will benefit from immunotherapy. We aimed to evaluate the effect of comorbidity burden in patients receiving immunotherapy.

Methods/patients

Patients older than 18 years of age and diagnosed with various malignancies, followed up in our tertiary cancer center were screened. Patients treated with immunotherapy were included in this study. We used to Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to evaluate patients’ comorbidity burden. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Hazard ratio (HR) with confidence interval (CI) was evaluated in multivariable analysis.

Results

A total number of 197 patients were included. The median age was 62 years. Patients were grouped based on CCI scores: CCI-low (≤ 8) and CCI-high (> 8). One-hundred and seven patients (54.9%) had metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. Most frequently used immunotherapy agent was nivolumab (n = 124, 62.9%), followed by pembrolizumab (n = 36, 18.3%). The median OS was shorter in the CCI-high group than in the CCI-low group (10.6 vs. 21.2 months, p = 0.002) In multivariable analysis, treatment with anti-CTLA4 (HR: 1.85, 95% CI 1.07–3.20, p = 0.028), ECOG performance status (2–4 vs. 0–1) (HR: 2.17; 95% CI 1.25–3.75; p = 0.005), and higher CCI scores (CCI-high vs. CCI-low) (HR: 1.97; 95% CI 1.3–3.0; p = 0.001) were independently associated with worse OS.

Conclusions

Comorbidity burden and performance status independently predict survival outcomes in immunotherapy-treated cancer patients. Comprehensive comorbidity assessment is essential for optimizing treatment and improving patient outcomes.
Emotion regulation and couple burnout in marriage: A moderated moderation model of authenticity, sex of parents and having children
Authors: Kocyigit Melike , Uzun Mehmet
Published: January 2025

Couples’ emotional well-being is related to emotion regulation and couple burnout. Stress levels and challenges can make it difficult for them to express their emotions. Authenticity, exhibiting one’s “true” self, is critical for couples recognizing and expressing their emotions, reducing conflict and stress in the relationship. This research explores the moderating role of authenticity in relationships, the sex of parents, and having children in the relationship between difficulty in emotion regulation and couple burnout. The study included a total of 602 married individuals. The data were collected using Authenticity in Relationships, Difficulty in Emotion Regulation, and Couple Burnout scales. The formulated hypotheses were analyzed using Model 3 of the PROCESS macro extension (v3.3) for SPSS v23 (Hayes, 2018). The Model results revealed that the interaction terms of difficulty in emotion regulation, authenticity in relationships, and sex were significant (β = − 0.24, p < 0.05). Additionally, there is a combined moderating effect of authenticity in relationships and having children on the relationship between difficulty in emotion regulation and spousal burnout (β = 0.29, p < 0.05). The findings obtained from the slope difference test were visually presented.
Designing the future of bond markets: Reducing transaction costs through tokenization
Authors: Cisar David , Schellinger Benjamin , Stoetzer Jens-Christian , Urbach Nils , Weiß Florian Lennart , Gramlich Vincent , Guggenberger Tobias
Published: January 2025

Corporate bonds are an attractive option for corporate financing. However, current bond markets face many challenges and inefficiencies, resulting in high transaction costs (TAC). In recent years, technological advancements like blockchain technology have enabled the possibility of reducing TAC in bond markets. Even though practice experiments with such solutions, academic literature lacks generic design knowledge under the TAC lens to design blockchain-based bonds. Thus, our research follows the design science research (DSR) paradigm to design and develop a bond prototype using the Ethereum blockchain protocol. Our results highlight the capability of blockchain-based bond markets to reduce TAC in the three dimensions of asset specificity, uncertainty, and transaction frequency. Further, our research provides design principles to contribute to both practice and the academic discourse on developing blockchain-based bond markets with reduced TAC.
Chromatic evolution, chemical changes, and biological colonisation in the quarry fronts of the Santullán limestone massif (Cantabria, Spain): implication for the mitigation of visual impact in mountain quarrying
Authors: Iglesias-Martínez Mario , Fernández-Suarez Jorge , de los Ríos Asunción , Arroyo Xabier , García-Lorenzo Mari Luz , Crespo-Feo Elena , Plet Chloe , De Andrés Pedro
Published: January 2025

The visual impact of the chromatic contrast between quarry faces and rocky outcrops represents one of the prominent disturbances to natural environments. This study, therefore, aims to quantify color changes over time in quarries by analyzing three faces of an active limestone quarry in Santullán, Cantabria, that were exposed to atmospheric conditions in 1978, 2003 and 2021. To achieve this, the contribution of biological colonisation to natural darkening, along with the physicochemical changes occurring on the quarry faces, have been evaluated using scanning electron microscopy in secondary and backscattered electron mode, UV–Vis spectrophotometric techniques, Raman spectroscopy and XRD and XRF analysis. The analysis revealed that the color change was primarily due to microbial colonisation rather than oxidative chemical reactions. Although color change does not follow a direct and progressive relationship with exposure time, biological colonisation, identified primarily as microbial communities dominated by phototrophic microorganisms, shows a clear increase in microbial presence, bioalteration, and penetration into the rock substrate in older samples. The most significant visual changes appear to occur during the first years of exposure of the massif to atmospheric conditions.