bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiences and opinions of general practitioners with patient online record access: an online survey in England
Authors: Blease Charlotte R , Kharko Anna , Dong Zhiyong , Jones Ray B , Davidge Gail , Hagglund Maria , Turner Andrew , DesRoches Catherine , McMillan Brian
Published: February 2024

Objective

To describe the experiences and opinions of general practitioners (GPs) in England regarding patients having access to their full online GP health records.

Design

Convenience sample, online survey.

Participants

400 registered GPs in England.

Main outcome measures

Investigators measured GPs’ experiences and opinions about online record access (ORA), including patient care and their practice.

Results

A total of 400 GPs from all regions of England responded. A minority (130, 33%) believed ORA was a good idea. Most GPs believed a majority of patients would worry more (364, 91%) or find their GP records more confusing than helpful (338, 85%). Most GPs believed a majority of patients would find significant errors in their records (240, 60%), would better remember their care plan (280, 70%) and feel more in control of their care (243, 60%). The majority believed they will/already spend more time addressing patients’ questions outside of consultations (357, 89%), that consultations will/already take significantly longer (322, 81%) and that they will be/already are less candid in their documentation (289, 72%) after ORA. Nearly two-thirds of GPs believed ORA would increase their litigation (246, 62%).

Conclusions

Similar to clinicians in other countries, GPs in our sample were sceptical of ORA, believing patients would worry more and find their records more confusing than helpful. Most GPs also believed the practice would exacerbate work burdens. However, the majority of GPs in this survey also agreed there were multiple benefits to patients having online access to their primary care health records. The findings of this survey also contribute to a growing body of contrastive research from countries where ORA is advanced, demonstrating clinicians are sceptical while studies indicate patients appear to derive multiple benefits.
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of traumatic brain injury in patients admitted to surgical ward of Jimma Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia: a prospective observational follow-up study
Authors: Dibera Gemechis Belay , Yizengaw Mengist Awoke , Yadeta Gemechu Lemi , Iticha Dinka Dugassa , Gamachu Busha , Legesse Bruck Tesfaye
Published: February 2024

Objective

To assess the Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Traumatic Brain Injury in Patients Admitted to the Surgical Ward of Jimma Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia from January to July 2022.

Design and setting

A hospital-based prospective observational study was conducted among 175 patients admitted with Traumatic Brain Injury at Jimma Medical Center from January to July 2022. Data were collected by structured questionnaires and a convenient sampling technique was used. For data entry, Epidata V.4.6.0.5 software was used and exported to Stata V.14.0.2 for analysis. The Cox regression model was fitted to evaluate the predictors of mortality and variables with a p value <0.05 at 95% CI were taken as statistically significant predictors.

Results

The incidence of in-hospital mortality was 22 (12.6%). The mean length of hospital stay was 6 days. In-hospital complications were recorded in 32.0% of patients. A Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of <8 on admission (adjusted HR (AHR)=6.2, 95% CI 0.75 to 51), hyperthermia (AHR: 1.7, 95% CI 1.02 to 3.05) and lack of prehospital care (AHR: 3.2, 95% CI 2.2 to 8.07) were predictors of mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury.

Conclusion

In-hospital mortality was recorded in over one-tenth of patients with traumatic brain injury. The GCS score of <8 on admission, hyperthermia and lack of prehospital care positively affected the outcome of patients with traumatic brain injury. Screening of patients for hyperthermia and antipsychotics should be strengthened to reduce death. However, a multicentred study is needed for further evidence. Giving priority to the patients with those predictors will decrease the number of deaths.
Early sepsis care with the National Early Warning Score 2-guided Sepsis Hour-1 Bundle in the emergency department: hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation pilot stepped wedge randomised controlled trial (NEWS-1 TRIPS) protocol
Authors: Lam Rex Pui Kin , Hung Kevin Kei Ching , Lui Chun Tat , Kwok Wai Shing , Lam Wendy Wing Tak , Lau Eric Ho Yin , Sridhar Siddharth , Ng Peter Yau Tak , Cheng Chi Hung , Tsang Tat Chi , Tsui Matthew Sik Hon , Graham Colin Alexander , Rainer Timothy Hudson
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Early sepsis treatment in the emergency department (ED) is crucial to improve patient survival. Despite international promulgation, the uptake of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) Hour-1 Bundle (lactate measurement, blood culture, broad-spectrum antibiotics, 30 mL/kg crystalloid for hypotension/lactate ≥4 mmol/L and vasopressors for hypotension during/after fluid resuscitation within 1 hour of sepsis recognition) is low across healthcare settings. Delays in sepsis recognition and a lack of high-quality evidence hinder its implementation. We propose a novel sepsis care model (National Early Warning Score, NEWS-1 care), in which the SSC Hour-1 Bundle is triggered objectively by a high NEWS-2 (≥5). This study aims to determine the feasibility of a full-scale type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial on the NEWS-1 care in multiple EDs.

Methods and analysis

We will conduct a pilot type 1 hybrid trial and prospectively recruit 200 patients from 4 public EDs in Hong Kong cluster randomised in a stepped wedge design over 10 months. All study sites will start with an initial period of standard care and switch in random order at 2-month intervals to the NEWS-1 care unidirectionally. The implementation evaluation will employ mixed methods guided by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance framework, which includes qualitative and quantitative data from focus group interviews, staff survey and clinical record reviews. We will analyse the 14 feasibility outcomes as progression criteria to a full-scale trial, including trial acceptability to patients and staff, patient and staff recruitment rates, accuracy of sepsis screening, protocol adherence, accessibility to follow-up data, safety and preliminary clinical impacts of the NEWS1 care, using descriptive statistics.

Ethics and dissemination

The institutional review boards of all study sites approved this study. This study will establish the feasibility of a full-scale hybrid trial. We will disseminate the findings through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and educational activities.

Trial registration number

NCT05731349.
Maintaining independence in individuals with dementia at home after a fall: a protocol for the UK pilot cluster randomised controlled trial MAINTAIN
Authors: Greene Leanne , Barber Robert , Bingham Alison , Connors James , Conroy Simon , Elkhafer Kamr , Fox Chris , Goodwin Victoria , Gordon Adam , Hall Abigail J , Harwood Rowan H , Hulme Claire , Jackson T , Litherland Rachael , Morgan-Trimmer Sarah , Pankiewicz Sophie , Parry Steve W , Sharma Ashima , Ukoumunne Obioha , Whale Bethany , Allan Louise
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Individuals with dementia face an increased risk of falls. Falls can cause a decline in the individual’s overall functionality. All types of falls, including those that do not result in injury, can lead to psychosocial consequences, such as diminished confidence and a fear of falling. Projections indicate a rising trend in dementia diagnoses, implying an increase in fall incidents. Yet, there is a lack of evidence to support interventions for people living with dementia who have fallen. Our objective is to test the feasibility of a falls intervention trial for people with dementia.

Method and analysis

This is a UK-based two-arm pilot cluster randomised controlled trial. In this study, six collaborating sites, which form the clusters, will be randomly allocated to either the intervention arm or the control arm (receiving treatment as usual) at a 1:1 ratio. During the 6 month recruitment phase, each cluster will enrol 10 dyads, comprising 10 individuals with dementia and their respective carers, leading to a total sample size of 60 dyads. The primary outcomes are the feasibility parameters for a full trial (ie, percentage consented, follow-up rate and cost framework). Secondary outcomes include activities of daily living, quality of life, fall efficacy, mobility, goal attainment, cognitive status, occurrence of falls, carer burden and healthcare service utilisation. Outcome measures will be collected at baseline and 28 weeks, with an additional assessment scheduled at 12 weeks for the healthcare service utilisation questionnaire. An embedded process evaluation, consisting of interviews and observations with participants and healthcare professionals, will explore how the intervention operates and the fidelity of study processes.

Ethics and dissemination

The study was approved by the NHS and local authority research governance and research ethics committees (NHS REC reference: 23/WA/0126). The results will be shared at meetings and conferences and will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN16413728.
Match injuries in English schoolboy rugby union
Authors: Hancock Matthew V , Barden Craig , Roberts Simon P , McKay Carly D , Stokes Keith A
Published: February 2024

Objective

This study describes the incidence, severity and burden of match injuries in schoolboy rugby union in England, across three age groups: under-13 (U13), under-15 (U15) and under-18 (U18).

Methods

Data regarding 574 24-hour time-loss match injuries and 18 485 player-hours of match exposure were collected from a total of 35 schools (66 teams) in the 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons. Injury incidence (injuries/1000 hours), severity (mean and median days lost) and burden (days lost/1000 hours) were calculated for each age group, injury region, event, playing position and match period and were compared using Z scores.

Results

The U18 age group had a significantly higher injury incidence (34.6 injuries/1000 hours, 95% CI 31.5 to 38.1) and burden (941 days/1000 hours, 95% CI 856 to 1035) than both the U13 (incidence=20.7 injuries/1000 hours, 95% CI 14.1 to 30.3, p=0.03; burden=477 days lost/1000 hours, 95% CI 325 to 701, p<0.01) and U15 (incidence=24.6 injuries/1000 hours, 95% CI 20.6 to 29.5, p<0.01; burden=602 days lost/1000 hours, 95% CI 503 to 721, p<0.01) age groups, but no significant differences were found between the U13 and U15 age groups. Contact events accounted for 87% of known injury events, with the tackle responsible for 52% (U13), 48% (U15) and 62% (U18) of all injuries. Concussion was the most common injury type in all age groups (U13=4.8 injuries/1000 hours; U15=6.4 injuries/1000 hours; U18=9.2 injuries/1000 hours), but the incidence was not significantly different between age groups.

Conclusion

Injury incidence and burden was higher in U18 than U13 and U15 age groups. Concussions and the tackle are priority areas at all age groups and should be the focus of injury prevention strategies.
Exploring conservative management for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 in organised cervical cancer screening programmes: a multicentre study in Italy
Authors: Gori Silvia , Frayle Helena , Pagan Alessio , Soldà Marika , Romagnolo Cesare , Insacco Egle , Laurino Licia , Matteucci Mario , Sordi Giuseppe , Busato Enrico , Zorzi Manuel , Maggino Tiziano , Del Mistro Annarosa
Published: February 2024

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2) lesions may regress spontaneously, offering an alternative to immediate treatment, especially for women of childbearing age (15–45 years).

We conducted a prospective multicentre study on conservative CIN2 management, with semiannual follow-up visits over 24 months, biomarkers’ investigation and treatment for progression to CIN3+ or CIN2 persistence for more than 12 months. Here, we assess women’s willingness to participate and adherence to the study protocol.

The study was set in population-based organised cervical cancer screening.

From April 2019 to October 2021, 640 CIN2 cases were diagnosed in women aged 25–64 participating in the screening programmes.

According to our predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 228 (35.6%) women were not eligible; 93 (22.6%) of the 412 eligible refused, and 319 (77.4%) were enrolled. Refusal for personal reasons (ie, desire to become pregnant, anxiety, difficulty in complying with the study protocol) and external barriers (ie, residence elsewhere and language problems) accounted for 71% and 17%, respectively. Only 9% expressed a preference for treatment. The primary ineligibility factor was the upper age limit of 45 years. After enrolment, 12 (4%) women without evidence of progression requested treatment, 125 (39%) were lost to follow-up (mostly after 6–12 months) and 182 (57%) remained compliant. Remarkably, 40% of enrolees did not fully adhere to the protocol, whereas only 5% (20/412) of the eligible women desired treatment.

Our study demonstrates a good acceptance of conservative management for CIN2 lesions by the women, supporting its implementation within cervical screening programmes.
Implementation and evaluation of Exercise is Medicine in primary care clinics within a large academic health system
Authors: Dayao John Kevin Ong , Duffy Caroline E L , Cristiano Amalia M , Kallenberg Gene 'Rusty' , Linke Sarah E
Published: February 2024

Objective

Exercise is Medicine (EIM) is a global initiative encouraging healthcare providers to routinely assess and promote physical activity (PA) among patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, adoption, implementation and effectiveness of EIM from patient, clinician and healthcare staff perspectives using a combination of electronic health record (EHR), survey and interview data.

Design

This study used a combination of the Practical Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM) and the Learning Evaluation model to implement EIM. Data captured from the EHR, including Physical Activity Vital Sign (PAVS) scores, and data collected from qualitative surveys and interviews were used to evaluate the programme’s Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM, which is embedded within PRISM) from provider, staff and patient perspectives.

Setting

Five primary care clinics within a large academic health system.

Participants

A total of 24 443 patients from all participating clinics had at least one PAVS score during the study period. A total of 17 clinicians completed surveys, and 4 clinicians, 8 medical assistants and 9 patients completed interviews.

Results

Implementation fidelity metrics varied widely between components and across clinics but were generally consistent over time, indicating a high degree of programme maintenance. Fidelity was highest during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic when most visits were virtual. Mean PAVS scores increased from 57.7 (95% CI: 56 to 59.4) to 95.2 (95% CI: 91.6 to 98.8) min per week at 6 months for patients not meeting PA guidelines at baseline and decreased from 253.84 (95% CI: 252 to 255.7) to 208.3 (95% CI: 204.2 to 212.4) min per week at 6 months for patients meeting PA guidelines at baseline. After EIM implementation, clinician-estimated time spent discussing PA with patients increased for 35% of providers and stayed the same for 53%.

Conclusion

Overall, this study established EIM’s feasibility, adoption, implementation and maintenance in routine primary care practice within a large academic health system. From a population health perspective, EIM is a model to emulate to help primary care providers efficiently address healthy lifestyle behaviours in routine primary care visits.
Defining criteria for disease activity states in juvenile dermatomyositis based on the Juvenile Dermatomyositis Activity Index
Authors: Rosina Silvia , Consolaro Alessandro , Pistorio Angela , Rebollo-Giménez Ana , Bracaglia Claudia , Dolezalova Pavla , Guilaisne Bernard-Medina Ana , Herlin Troels , Trachana Maria , Vargová Veronika , Wouters Carine , Carenini Laura , Ruperto Nicolino , Ravelli Angelo
Published: February 2024

Objectives

To develop and validate the cut-offs in the Juvenile DermatoMyositis Activity Index (JDMAI) to distinguish the states of inactive disease (ID), low disease activity (LDA), moderate disease activity (MDA) and high disease activity (HDA) in children with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM).

Methods

For cut-off definition, data from 139 patients included in a randomised clinical trial were used. Among the six versions of the JDMAI, JDMA1 (score range 0–40) and JDMAI2 (score range 0–39) were selected. Optimal cut-offs were determined against external criteria by calculating different percentiles of score distribution and through receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. External criteria included the modified Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization (PRINTO) criteria for clinically ID in JDM (for ID) and PRINTO levels of improvement in the clinical trial (for LDA and HDA). MDA cut-offs were set at the score interval between LDA and HDA cut-offs. Cut-off validation was conducted by assessing construct and discriminative ability in two cohorts including a total of 488 JDM patients.

Results

The calculated JDMAI1 cut-offs were ≤2.4 for ID, ≤6.6 for LDA, 6.7–11 for MDA and >11 for HDA. The calculated JDMAI2 cut-offs were ≤5.2 for ID, ≤8.5 for LDA, 8.6–11.3 for MDA and >11.3 for HDA. The cut-offs discriminated strongly among disease activity states defined subjectively by caring physicians and parents, parents’ satisfaction or non-satisfaction with illness outcome, levels of pain, fatigue, physical functional impairment and physical well-being.

Conclusions

Both JDMAI1 and JDMAI2 cut-offs revealed good metrologic properties in validation analyses and are, therefore, suited for application in clinical practice and research.
Estimated prevalence, incidence and healthcare costs of Sjögren’s syndrome in France: a national claims-based study
Authors: Seror Raphaele , Chiche Laurent , Beydon Maxime , Desjeux Guillaume , Zhuo Joe , Vannier-Moreau Virginie , Devauchelle-Pensec Valérie
Published: February 2024

Objectives

To estimate prevalence, incidence and mortality rates, and annual healthcare costs of primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) and SS associated with other autoimmune disorders (SS+AID) in France.

Methods

French national healthcare claims-based study within the prospective Système National des Données de Santé database that includes the majority of the French population. An algorithm was developed to identify patients with SS and SS-related healthcare claims were analysed between 2011 and 2018.

Results

Overall, 23 848 patients with pSS and 14 809 with SS+AID were identified. From 2011 to 2018, the prevalence rate increased slightly for pSS (23–32 per 100000) and SS+AID (16–20 per 100 000), with females comprising 90%–91% and 92%–93% of cases, respectively. The incidence rate of SS per 100 000 persons decreased from 2012 (pSS: 4.3; SS+AID: 2.0) to 2017 (pSS: 0.7; SS+AID: 0.3). Mortality rates per 100 000 persons increased from 2012 to 2018 in patients with pSS (0.2–0.8) or SS+AID (0.1–0.5); mean age of death also increased. Artificial tears and hydroxychloroquine were the most common drug reimbursements. Less than half of patients received annual specialist care from a dentist or ophthalmologist. Healthcare costs associated with SS increased from 2011 to 2018 and exceeded the national estimate of expected costs for chronic diseases.

Conclusion

In this large French population database study, the low prevalence of pSS confirms that it is an orphan disease. SS is clinically and economically burdensome; these findings may help clinicians better understand routine healthcare received by patients.
Photoelectric properties of monolayer 1T-CrS2 modified by doping non-metal atoms under strains
Authors: Liu Huaidong , Yang Lu , Sun Shihang , Zhao Yanshen , Wei Xingbin
Published: February 2024

Based on the first principle, the change of photoelectric properties of non-metal-doped CrS2 under biaxial tension was studied. The formation energy indicates that the doping system is stable. Studies have shown that the partial doping system achieves a semiconductor metal phase transition. The strain opens the bandgap of the F-doped system, and the system changes from metal to n-type semiconductor. The Te-doped system realizes the transition from indirect bandgap to direct bandgap under the adjustment of 2% strain. The O and Se doping systems realize the reverse regulation of the bandgap under strain, and the conductivity gradually increases with the increase of strain. The absorption efficiency of Te doping under a certain strain is significantly enhanced, the static dielectric properties of the F doping system are increased by more than two times, the absorption spectrum response range is increased, and the absorption capacity of the system is enhanced. This lays a foundation for applying monolayer CrS2 in microelectronics and optoelectronics.
Kinetic theory of active particles meets auction theory
Authors: Crucianelli Carla , Pinasco Juan Pablo , Saintier Nicolas
Published: January 2024

In this paper we study Nash equilibria in auctions from the kinetic theory of active particles point of view. We propose a simple learning rule for agents to update their bidding strategies based on their previous successes and failures, in first-price auctions with two bidders. Then, we formally derive the corresponding kinetic equations which describe the evolution over time of the distribution of agents on the bidding strategies. We show that the stationary solution of the equation corresponds to the symmetric Nash equilibrium of the auction, and we prove the convergence to this stationary solution when time goes to infinity. We also introduce a more general learning rule that only depends on the income of agents, and we apply to both first- and second-price auctions. We show that agents learn the Nash equilibrium in first- and second-price auctions with these rules. We present agent-based simulations of the models, and we discuss several open problems.
Investigation of Physical Properties of Nanostructured Selenium-Based Compound Semiconductors
Authors: Ahmad Shabir , Singh Mandeep , Zulfequar M.
Published: February 2024

The study of physical properties of compound semiconductors plays a vital role in the device fabrication point of view. Different investigations suggest that one can tune these properties by impurity dopants, irradiation techniques, adopting different synthesis techniques, etc. In this study, the physical properties of nanostructured thin films of Se–S compound were tuned by different Hg dopant concentrations. X-ray diffraction spectra clarify the preferred crystallite growth occurs in the cubic phase of the corresponding Bravi’s crystal system. The particle size calculated from Bragg’s reflection spectra by using Scherrer’s analytical formula illustrates an enhancement of crystallite size in highly concentrated Hg-doped sample. Similar consequences are found in surface morphological micrographs. The optical band gap reduced from 1.65[Formula: see text]eV to 1.54[Formula: see text]eV on increasing the doping concentration of Hg, according to the computed optical parameters using optical transmission spectra in the wavelength range 200–1100[Formula: see text]nm. The thin-film refractive index dispersion data fits well in accordance with the single oscillator model. Investigation of electrical properties tells that there is significant improvement in electrical conductivity in highly concentrated Hg-doped samples. Therefore, the apparent tuning as observed in the physical properties of the investigated material may have practical uses in industry for a variety of optoelectronic devices.
The Propagation of Rayleigh-Type Waves in Nonlocal Inhomogeneous Transversely Isotropic Half-Space
Authors: Tung Do Xuan
Published: February 2024

This paper deals with propagation of Rayleigh-type waves in nonlocal inhomogeneous transversely isotropic half-space. From the characteristic equation of wave for the nonlocal inhomogeneous transversely isotropic medium, the existence of the number of surface waves depends on the inhomogeneity of the medium through the number of solutions satisfying the damping condition of the characteristic equation discussed. It has also been concluded that there exist cut-off frequency and escape frequency for the wave propagating in size-dependent materials based on the nonlocal theory. Dispersion equation for the propagation of Rayleigh-type surface waves at the free surface has been derived. Based on the obtained dispersion equation, the effects of the inhomogeneity of material and nonlocality parameter on the Rayleigh wave propagation are considered through some numerical examples.
Hypergroup Structures of Open Quantum Random Walks on Distance Sets
Authors: Sawada Yusuke
Published: February 2024

Wildberger introduced the method of constructing a Hermitian discrete hypergroup from a random walk on a graph. In this study, we will apply his method to an open quantum random walk (OQRW) on a distance set and show that any discrete hypergroup that is not necessarily Hermitian can be realized using the OQRW on a distance set. We also investigate the distributions of OQRWs on distance sets in the view point of hypergroups.
Cretaceous pterosaur history, diversity and extinction
Authors: Martill David M. , Smith Roy E.
Published: February 2024

Pterosaurs, the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight, dominated Mesozoic skies from the Late Triassic to the end Cretaceous, a span of around 154 Myr (∼220–66 Ma). They achieved their greatest diversity in the mid-Cretaceous and had become globally distributed, even occurring at high latitudes and in a wide range of habitats. The pterosaur record is dominated by occurrences in conservation Lagerstätten in just a handful of countries and a narrow range of temporal windows, most notably China, Germany and Brazil, and the Middle–Upper Jurassic and mid-Cretaceous.

During the Cretaceous, two major pterosaur clades evolved edentulism, such that by the end of the Cretaceous, no toothed pterosaurs survived, having become extinct by the mid-Cenomanian.

A distinctive aspect of pterosaur evolution during the mid-Cretaceous was the achievement of gigantic wingspans, perhaps in excess of 10 m, hyper-elongation of the neck vertebrae in Azhdarchidae, and the evolution of highly elaborate cranial crests. For many years, pterosaur diversity in the terminal stage of the Late Cretaceous was regarded as low, but discoveries in the last few decades have indicated pterosaur taxic diversity remained high until the end Maastrichtian, although morphological diversity may have been low. The demise of the Pterosauria at the K/Pg boundary was most likely due to the same causes as the coeval dinosaur extinction associated with the Chicxulub bolide impact and its environmental repercussions. Faunal replacement by avians is no longer considered a significant factor in pterosaur extinction.
Automatic Construction of Interval-Valued Fuzzy Hindi WordNet using Lexico-Syntactic Patterns and Word Embeddings
Authors: Jain Minni , Jindal Rajni , Jain Amita
Published: February 2024

A computational lexicon is the backbone of any language processing system. It helps computers to understand the language complexity as a human does by inculcating words and their semantic associations. Manually constructed famous Hindi WordNet (HWN) consists of various classical semantic relations (crisp relations). To handle uncertainty and represent Hindi WordNet more semantically, Type- 1 fuzzy graphs are applied to relations of Hindi WordNet. But uncertainty in the crisp membership degree is not considered in Type 1 fuzzy set (T1FS). Also collecting billions (5,55,69,51,753 relations in HWN) of membership values from experts (humans) is not feasible. This paper applied the concept of Interval-Valued Fuzzy graphs and proposed Interval- Valued Fuzzy Hindi WordNet (IVFHWN). IVFHWN automatically identifies Interval- Valued Fuzzy relations between words and their degree of membership using word embeddings and lexico-syntactic patterns. The experimental results for the word sense disambiguation problem show better outcomes when IVFHWN is being used in place of Type 1 Fuzzy Hindi WordNet and classical Hindi WordNet.
Da-Chuan-Xiong Decoction Ameliorates Sodium Sensitivity and Plasma Norepinephrine via Attenuation of Brain Oxidative Stress in the DOCA-Salt Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Zhang Qi , Li Hao , Zhao Shan , Li Fangfang , Tan Yingying
Published: February 2024

Background. Da-Chuan-Xiong Decoction (DCXD) is an aqueous extract from a classic Chinese herbal formula composed of dried rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort and Gastrodia elata Bl. in the mass ratio of 4 : 1. It has been long used to treat chronic cardiovascular disease caused by blood stasis and wind pathogen in the clinic. This experimental study aimed to investigate the blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect of DCXD treatment on hypertension and underlying mechanisms. Methods. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were used in the experiment, and the hypertensive models were created by administering deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) in conjunction with a high salt intake in uninephrectomized rats. DCXD was administered to hypertensive rats by oral gavage daily at a dose of 5 g/kg or 2.5 g/kg bodyweight for 28 days. The brain sodium sensitivity, ENaC function, superoxide anion level, NADPH oxidase activity, and expression of ENaC, p67phox, p47phox, and Rac1 in the paraventricular nucleus were assessed by using the appropriate methods. Results. The 28 days of DCXD (5 g/kg) treatment significantly reduced the increased BP effectively, inhibited the enhanced heart index, kidney index, and 24 h urinary protein, and improved the progressive pathological changes of heart and kidney, which was comparable to that of the positive control amlodipine. DCXD treatment also caused a marked reduction in plasma norepinephrine and induced a significant improvement in brain sodium sensitivity and ENaC function in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Rats in DCXD-treated groups also exhibited decreased superoxide anion levels and NADPH oxidase activity in the paraventricular nucleus. The level of ENaC, p67phox, and Rac1 protein expression in the paraventricular nucleus was significantly downregulated by DCXD treatment in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Conclusions. These findings indicate that the depressor action and sympathetic inhibition of DCXD on salt-sensitive hypertension may be by ameliorating brain sodium sensitivity, modulating ENaC function, and inhibiting the expression of ENaC and NADPH oxidase in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus.
Congruences Involving Special Sums of Triple Reciprocals
Authors: Shen Zhongyan
Published: February 2024

Define the sums of triple reciprocals Zn=∑i+j+k=n1/ijk,i,j,k≥1. Zhao discovered the following curious congruence for any odd prime p, Zp≡−2Bp−3mod p. Xia and Cai extended the above congruence to modulo p2,Zp≡12Bp−3/p−3−3B2p−4/p−2mod p2, where p>5 is a prime. In this paper, we consider the congruences about Zp−1+N/N (where x is the integral part of x, N=1,2,3,4,6) modulo p2. When N=1, the results we obtain are the results of Zhao and Xia and Cai.
Exploring the Experience of Living with Pain after Spinal Cord Injury: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Mashola Mokgadi Kholofelo , Korkie Elzette , Mothabeng Diphale Joyce
Published: February 2024

A spinal cord injury is a life‐changing experience that results in functional limitations and an increased risk of secondary health conditions. People with spinal cord injury identify pain as the most devastating health problem following their injury that not only affects their social life but their mental well‐being as well. This study is aimed at exploring the lived experience of living with pain by community‐dwelling manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injuries. An explorative qualitative design was used to explore their experiences. In‐depth interviews were recorded and transcribed, and the data were analysed using inductive thematic content analysis in the MAXQDA v2020. Fifteen manual wheelchair users with paraplegia participated in this study, and four themes were identified from their experience of living with pain: pain constantly lurks, pain is worse than the direct consequences of the SCI, pain is restrictive, and life continues despite the pain. Categories and subcategories included the participants being one with the pain; pain interfering with sleep; feelings of anger, isolation, and suicidal ideation; and uncertainties about what the future holds living with pain. Living with pain after SCI is a challenging feat, and effective management of pain is necessary to improve not only functioning and mobility but also mental health and life satisfaction.
Supplementary Figure 2 from Single-Cell Transcriptomics Reveals the Heterogeneity of the Immune Landscape of IDH–Wild-Type High-Grade Gliomas
Authors: Ran Xiaojuan , Zheng Jian , Chen Linchao , Xia Zhen , Wang Yin , Sun Chengfang , Guo Chen , Lin Peng , Liu Fuyi , Wang Chun , Zhou Jianguo , Sun Chongran , Liu Qichang , Ma Jianzhu , Qin Zhiyong , Zhu Xiangdong , Xie Qi
Published: February 2024

Supplementary Figure 2
Figure S3 from A Revised Molecular Model of Ovarian Cancer Biomarker CA125 (MUC16) Enabled by Long-read Sequencing
Authors: Wang Chien-Wei , Weaver Simon D. , Boonpattrawong Nicha , Schuster-Little Naviya , Patankar Manish , Whelan Rebecca J.
Published: January 2024

Nanopore sequencing dot plots. The sequencing dot plots show the read length and average read quality. Each dot represents a single read. (A) Kuramochi, (B) OVCAR3, (C) OVCAR5, (D) OV1, (E) OV2, (F) OV3. Note that the axes for each plot are optimized for that plot’s data.
Salivary Cathelicidin (LL-37) in Children and Adolescents Living with HIV
Authors: Seminario Ana Lucia , Karczewski Ashley E. , Chung Whasun , Wang Yan , Wamalwa Dalton , Benki-Nugent Sarah , John-Stewart Grace , Slyker Jennifer A. , Kemoli Arthur
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Human cathelicidin LL-37 is a salivary antimicrobial peptide (AMP) with broad-spectrum activity against oral diseases, but few studies have assessed its role in children and adolescents living with HIV (CALHIV). We assessed salivary LL-37 levels and correlates in a long-term cohort of Kenyan CALHIV followed since antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. Methods: Saliva was collected from 76 CALHIV who were recruited from two ongoing pediatric HIV studies in Nairobi, Kenya. Oral examinations documenting oral manifestations of HIV, dental caries, and gingivitis were completed. Additional variables included age, sex, HIV treatment (initial ART regimen) and disease parameters, caregivers’ demographics, and oral pathologies were conducted. Data were statistically analyzed using the independent T test on the log-transformed LL-37. Results: At the oral exam visit, the mean age of participants was 13.3 years (±SD = 3.4), and the median CD4 count was 954 cells/mm3. Mean salivary cathelicidin values of the cohort were 23.7 ± 21.1 ng/mL. Children with permanent dentition at time of oral examination, and children who initiated ART at ≥2 years old had higher mean LL-37 concentrations compared to those with mixed dentition and those who initiated ART <2 years old (p = 0.0042, 0.0373, respectively). LL-37 levels were not found to differ by initial type of ART regimen, CD4 count, or oral disease. Conclusion: Further research and longitudinal studies are necessary to evaluate and improve the innate immunity of CALHIV in Kenya.
Antiphospholipid-Syndrom: Die Analyse neuer Antiphospholipid-Antikörper könnte die Krankheitserkennung und die Prognoseeinstufung verbessern
Authors: Mihai Carina
Published: February 2024

The antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) increase the risk of developing thrombotic events and may coexist with a variety of autoimmune diseases. They can be detected chronically or temporarily in patients with infectious diseases, during drug therapy, or in cases of cancer. A thrombotic event with aPL detection is known as antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and the diagnostic criteria include the presence of lupus anticoagulant (LA), anticardiolipin (aCL) and β2-glycoprotein-1 (aβ2GPI) antibodies. Other autoantigens recognized in APS are phosphatidylserine (aPS), prothrombin (aPT) and Annexin-5 (aA5). This real life study aimed to explore the connections between laboratory criteria and the prevalence of «non-criteria aPL» in APS. This study followed 300 patients with thrombosis and employed two phospholipid sensitivity assays for LA detection, chemiluminescence assays for aCL and aβ2GPI and enzyme-linked immunoassays for aPS, aPT and aA5. A significant association was found between aPS and aCL (r = 0.76) as well as aβ2GPI (r = 0.77), while the association with LA was less significant (r = 0.33). The results of the aPT and aA5 test did not correlate with criteria-antiphospholipid antibodies (r < 0.30). Since the risk of thrombotic complications increases with the intensity and the number of positive autoantibodies, measuring aPT and aA5 autoantibodies may be useful, particularly in aCL/aβ2GPI-negative patients or in cases of isolated LA positivity.
Autoinflammatorische Syndrome: Rasch erkennen und charakterisieren als Basis einer erfolgreichen Therapie
Authors: Adler Sabine
Published: February 2024

Das Konzept der Autoinflammation umfasst eine heterogene Gruppe monogenetischer und polygener Erkrankungen. Kennzeichnend ist eine übermäßige Aktivierung des angeborenen Immunsystems ohne antigenspezifische T-Zellen oder Autoantikörperbildung. Periodische Fieberschübe und erhöhte serologische Entzündungszeichen sind charakteristisch. Zu den monogenetischen Erkrankungen zählen unter anderem das familiäre Mittelmeerfieber sowie das neu beschriebene VEXAS-Syndrom (VEXAS «vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic»). Zu den heterogenen Erkrankungen zählen unter anderem das Still-Syndrom und das seltene Schnitzler-Syndrom. Die Therapie zielt auf die Verhinderung der überschießenden Entzündungsreaktion ab, um langfristige Schäden, wie das Auftreten einer Amyloid-A (AA)-Amyloidose, zu vermeiden.
Evaluation of Delayed Contact Hypersensitivity in Patients with Rosacea
Authors: Alevizou Antigoni , Gregoriou Stamatios , Tsimpidakis Antonios , Pappa Georgia , Rigopoulos Dimitris , Katoulis Alexandros
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Rosacea is a common chronic inflammatory dermatosis characterized by erythema, telangiectasia, papules, and pustules on the central face. The frequency of contact sensitization complicating rosacea and its therapy is unknown, with only few studies published in the literature. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate contact sensitivity in patients with rosacea. Methods: A total of 50 rosacea patients and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Both groups were patch tested with the European Baseline Series. Results: A positive reaction to at least one allergen of the European Baseline Series was observed in 15 (30%) of rosacea patients and 10 (20%) of the healthy controls. Although the rate of positive reaction in the rosacea group was higher than in the controls, no statistically significant difference was documented. In addition, the total number of positive reactions to allergens in the rosacea group was higher than the control group, namely, 26 versus 17. Conclusion: Contact hypersensitivity may coexist with rosacea. Its identification holds significant clinical relevance, influencing the long-term management and justifying the application of patch testing in rosacea patients.
Association Study between SNPs in MST1 and MST2 and H. pylori Infection as well as Noncardia Gastric Carcinogenesis
Authors: Ma Licong , Gao Fang , Dong Wenjie , Song Qiang , Jia Yanbin
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Gastric cancer (GC) remains a global health challenge, and H. pylori infection is a main risk factor for noncardia GC. The present study aimed to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 (MST1) and MST2, H. pylori (H. pylori) infection, and the risk of noncardia gastric cancer (GC). Methods: A case-control study was conducted using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and TaqMan method to detect the titer of anti-H. pylori antibody in normal human serum and genotype 9 SNPs of MST1 and MST2 genes among 808 samples. Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between SNPs and H. pylori infection, as well as the risk of noncardia gastric cancer in codominant, dominant, overdominant, recessive, and log-additive genetic models. Haplotypes were constructed using the Haploview 4.2 software. Results: The CC genotype of MST2 SNP rs10955176 was associated with a reduced risk of H. pylori infection compared to the TT + CT genotype. None of other SNPs were associated with H. pylori infection. The TT genotype of MST2 SNP rs7827435 was associated with a reduced risk of noncardia gastric cancer compared to the AA + AT genotype. None of the SNPs were associated with noncardia gastric cancer. There were no associations between haplotypes and H. pylori infection or the risk of noncardia gastric cancer. Conclusions: The CC genotype of rs10955176 and the TT genotype of rs7827435 may serve as protective factors against H. pylori infection and noncardia gastric cancer risk, respectively.
Teaching before, during, and after the pandemic: A collaborative autoethnography of college educators teaching service-learning courses
Authors: Vergara Raymond Allan , Blasa-Cheng Angelique , Vergara Kimberly Christie , Balatbat Maricel
Published: January 2024

This is a collaborative autoethnographic account of two educators' experience teaching undergraduate students a course that integrates and activates service-learning principles before, during, and after the pandemic. It is a narrative of the circumstances and problems encountered, how they addressed these issues, and how they addressed problems, resolved issues, and improved learning outcomes. The study also discussed outcomes resulting from the steps they undertook and explored how they want to develop and enhance their courses moving forward. In discussing their experiences, they realized that the pandemic allowed them to reflect on their teaching philosophy and pedagogy, which led to improving their teaching practices. They believe that these improvements led to better learning outcomes. Furthermore, sharing experiences led to discussing unique perspectives on issues and problems, providing insight on how to solve problems, resolve issues, and improve learning outcomes.
mGPT: Few-Shot Learners Go Multilingual
Authors: Shliazhko Oleh , Fenogenova Alena , Tikhonova Maria , Kozlova Anastasia , Mikhailov Vladislav , Shavrina Tatiana
Published: February 2024

This paper introduces mGPT, a multilingual variant of GPT-3, pretrained on 61 languages from 25 linguistically diverse language families using Wikipedia and the C4 Corpus. We detail the design and pretraining procedure. The models undergo an intrinsic and extrinsic evaluation: language modeling in all languages, downstream evaluation on cross-lingual NLU datasets and benchmarks in 33 languages, and world knowledge probing in 23 languages. The in-context learning abilities are on par with the contemporaneous language models while covering a larger number of languages, including underrepresented and low-resource languages of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the indigenous peoples in Russia. The source code and the language models are publicly available under the MIT license.
Perceptions and Expectations Regarding the Step 1 Score Change Among Surgical and Non-Surgical Program Directors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Srinivasan Nitin , Samaan Jamil S. , Premkumar Agnes , Rajeev Nithya D. , Yeo Yee Hui , Samakar Kamran
Published: February 2024

There are currently no studies examining differences in perceptions and expected impact of the Step 1 score change to pass/fail between surgical and non-surgical program directors (PDs). We conducted a systematic review in May 2023 of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PSYCInfo to evaluate studies examining PDs’ perspectives regarding the Step 1 score change. We performed random-effects meta-analyses to determine differences in perspectives among surgical and non-surgical PDs. Surgical PDs (76.8% [95% CI, 72.1%-82.0%], I2 = 52%) reported significantly greater rates of disagreement with the score change compared to non-surgical (65.1% [95% CI, 57.9%-73.1%], I2 = 69.7%) ( P = .01). Surgical PDs also reported significantly greater rates of agreement that the score change will increase the difficulty in objectively comparing applicants (88.1% [95% CI, 84.6%-91.7%], I2 = 16.4%), compared to non-surgical (81.0% [95% CI, 75.6%-86.8%], I2 = 72.6%) ( P = .04). There was less heterogeneity among non-surgical PDs (88.7% [95% CI, 86.2%-91.2%], I2 = 0%), compared to surgical (84.7% [95% CI, 79.0%-90.8%], I2 = 67.3%), regarding expected increases in emphasis on Step 2, although the difference in rates of agreement was not statistically significant. Overall, there is significant heterogeneity in the literature regarding expected changes in the residency application review process. Most PDs reported significant disagreement with the score change, greater expected difficulty in objectively evaluating applicants, and greater emphasis on Step 2, with surgical PDs reporting greater rates of disagreement, greater expected difficulty, and heterogeneity regarding expected increases in emphasis on Step 2, compared to non-surgical. Additionally, there is significant heterogeneity in the overall literature regarding expected changes in the residency application review process. Further research is needed to establish evidence-based guidelines that improve the overall residency application process for all stakeholders.
Exploring the Moderating Roles of Emotions, Attitudes, Environment, and Teachers in the Impact of Motivation on Learning Behaviours in Students’ English Learning
Authors: Wang Xu , Liu Honggang
Published: February 2024

For several decades, extensive research has been conducted on motivation in language learning. However, how motivation impacts learning behaviours with the moderation of factors related to emotions, attitude, environment, and teachers has not been reported. This study aims to examine the moderating effects of these four motivational factors to explain the inconsistent effects of motivation on English learning behaviours across studies. Drawing on self-determination theory, the study investigated 182 high school English learners and explored how the four motivational factors moderate the relationship between students' motivation and their English learning behaviours. We first examined how the four motivational factors predicted intrinsic/extrinsic motivation and how intrinsic/extrinsic motivation predicted English learning behaviours. The results reveal that the four motivational factors all positively predicted intrinsic motivation, while language attitude positively predicted extrinsic motivation. Both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations positively predicted English learning behaviours, with intrinsic motivation exerting a stronger influence. Language attitude did not moderate the relationship between motivation and English learning behaviours. However, the other three factors enhanced the positive relationship between motivation and learning behaviours. Notably, at the low level of teacher-related factors, the impact of extrinsic motivation on English learning behaviours was insignificant. Related implications are discussed.