bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Performance of real-time polymerase chain reaction and Kato-Katz for diagnosing soil-transmitted helminth infections and evaluating treatment efficacy of emodepside in randomized controlled trials
Authors: Lotz Christian N. , Mrimi Emmanuel C. , Schneeberger Pierre H. H. , Ali Said M. , Hattendorf Jan , Keiser Jennifer 
Published: February 2025

Background
The World Health Organization recommends the use of the microscopy-based Kato-Katz thick smear for diagnosing soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections. Despite its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, the Kato-Katz method faces challenges, including reader subjectivity and reduced sensitivity. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology offers standardized readouts and higher sensitivity, making it suitable for STH diagnosis and monitoring the treatment efficacy of emodepside within the framework of randomized controlled trials.

Methodology/Principal findings
We evaluated the performance of Kato-Katz versus qPCR for assessing treatment efficacy in terms of cure rates, of single doses of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 mg of emodepside compared to 400 mg albendazole. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient examined the correlation between STH eggs per gram in stool samples and qPCR Ct values. Diagnostic sensitivity of qPCR was calculated using a Bayesian latent class modelling approach with data from Ascaris lumbricoides infections. Agreement between Kato-Katz and qPCR at baseline was 93.57% for Trichuris trichiura, and 73.49% for both hookworm and A. lumbricoides. For the latter helminth qPCR demonstrated higher sensitivity (85.00% vs. 47.70%) and slightly lower specificity (93.40% vs. 99.40%) compared to Kato-Katz. We observed a fair to moderate agreement with negative correlation between Ct values and Kato-Katz egg counts. Treatment efficacy, as assessed by qPCR, was lower for all doses of emodepside and albendazole compared to Kato-Katz. Nonetheless, emodepside demonstrated higher cure rates against T. trichiura and A. lumbricoides infections compared to albendazole.

Conclusion/ Significance
Our study confirmed that qPCR is a sensitive diagnostic method for diagnosing STH infections compared to Kato-Katz and serves as a valuable tool for determining treatment efficacy in clinical trials. Furthermore, qPCR confirmed the better treatment efficacy of emodepside compared to albendazole, despite indicating lower cure rates than Kato-Katz.
Prevalence of burnout syndrome in Brazilian anesthesiologists during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey
Authors: Azi Liana M. T. A. , Ferreira Thaiane S. , Cerqueira-Silva Thiago , Diego Luis A. S. , Albuquerque Marcos A. C. , Azi Matheus L. 
Published: February 2025

Background
Burnout syndrome, one of the consequences of chronic exposure to stressful, is more prevalent among physicians compared to the general population. Anesthesiology, alongside high-stress specialties such as emergency medicine and surgery, is particularly susceptible to this condition. During the COVID-19 pandemic, anesthesiologists were often on the front lines, potentially exacerbating burnout. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of burnout syndrome among Brazilian anesthesiologists during the pandemic.

Methods
A cross-sectional analytical observational study was conducted with all members of the Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology (SBA). Data were collected via sociodemographic questionnaires and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), disseminated by email.

Results
Burnout syndrome was identified in 19.6% (n = 213) of respondents, while 56.5% (n = 613) were at high risk for developing burnout. Having considered quitting the specialty was the variable most strongly associated with the prevalence of burnout syndrome and the high risk of burnout. As a protective factor, dedicating more time to leisure (over 5 hours per week) was related to a lower occurrence of burnout syndrome and its risk.

Conclusion
Burnout syndrome is highly prevalent among Brazilian anesthesiologists and residents. Target strategies to mitigate burnout should be implemented by healthcare institutions, professional organizations, and government bodies.
Identification of the key role of IL-17RB in the treatment of osteoarthritis with Shaoyao Gancao decoction: Verification based on RNA-seq and bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Hou Chengzhi , Yu Zhangjingze , Song Qinghui , Chu Xuelei , Wei Guangcheng , Zhu Jia , Yang Liping , Zhao Yong , Zhang Ping , Li Qiuyue 
Published: February 2025

Background
Shaoyao Gancao Decoction (SGD) is a classic and representative oral administration of traditional Chinese medicine formula. It is composed of two Chinese herbal medicines, Paeoniae Radix Alba [Paeonia lactiflora Pall] and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. The clinical study found SGD could effectively reduce clinical symptoms and improve the level of inflammation in osteoarthritis (OA) patients.

Purpose
The aim of this study is to identify the efficacy and molecular mechanism of SGD in the treatment of OA, and find the new therapeutic target through RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) to provide theoretical support for its clinical application.

Methods
Destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) OA rat model was established in vivo. Hematoxylineosin staining, safranin O/fast green staining and immunohistochemistry were used to observe changes of cartilage Histology and extracellular matrix (ECM) of cartilage cells. In vitro, the chondrocyte-like cells were derived from ATDC5 cells and induced by interleukin-1 beta to establish the model. The medial meniscotibial ligament (MTT) test was used to identify the effects of SGD on chondrocyte-like cell proliferation, and immunocytochemistry was used to assess changes in chondrocyte ECM. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained by RNA-Seq. Meanwhile, the core targets were found through bioinformatics analysis, and then verified by qRT-PCR and Western Blotting. The inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were detected by ELISA.

Results
SGD could alleviate cartilage degeneration, and reduce ECM degradation in OA by upregulating COL2A1 and downregulating MMP-13. 120 key targets were screened from DEGs by RNA-Seq. Based on further bioinformatics analysis, interleukin 17 receptor B (IL-17RB), interleukin 23 receptor and growth differentiation factor 5 were finally selected as core targets. IL-17RB has rarely been reported in previous studies about OA, and worthy of further study. Subsequently, it was found that the gene and protein expressions of IL-17RB were significantly reversed in model group after SGD treatment. Moreover, SGD could inhibit the release of inflammatory factors by mediating IL-17RB in OA.

Conclusions
SGD reduced the release of inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, upregulated COL2A1 and downregulated MMP-13 to alleviate degradation of ECM, and reduced the cartilage degeneration and progression of OA by reducing IL-17RB in articular cartilage.
Proteomic and metabolomic profiling reveals the underlying molecular mechanisms in modified alternate-day fasting-mediated protection against Diabetic kidney disease
Authors: Zeng Xin , Xing Yi-hang , Ma Xiu-mei , Long Yang , Jiang Zong-zhe , Xu Yong 
Published: February 2025

Background
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease, and while lifestyle interventions like intermittent fasting have shown promise in treating diabetes, the impact of modified alternate-day fasting (MADF) on DKD is not well understood. This study aimed to explore MADF’s effects on DKD in db/db mice, a model for the condition, and to investigate its underlying mechanisms.

Methods
We implemented an MADF regimen in db/db mice on a high-fat diet, measuring blood glucose, body weight, and renal function at various times. After the intervention, we analyzed the proteome and metabolome of renal tissues.

Results
MADF was found to reduce hyperglycemia and slow the pathological progression of DKD in the mice. Proteomic analysis identified 165 proteins that increased and 196 that decreased in the kidneys of db/db mice compared to controls. MADF intervention led to a decrease in 26 of the increased proteins and an increase in 18 of the decreased ones. Notably, many of these proteins, including cathepsin S (CTSS), were related to lysosomes, suggesting a role in renal protection. Metabolomic profiling revealed changes in metabolites associated with inflammation, such as prostaglandin A1, which was downregulated in db/db mice and upregulated with MADF. Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining confirmed the expression changes of CTSS observed in the proteomic data. Additionally, CTSS expression was found to increase in renal cells exposed to high glucose and palmitic acid.

Conclusion
MADF appears to mitigate the progression of DKD, with proteomic evidence pointing to lysosome-related proteins like CTSS as potential mediators of its renal protective effects. These findings indicate that MADF and the inhibition of CTSS could be considered as novel therapeutic strategies for DKD treatment.
New possibilities for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. How much does the effect cost?
Authors: Pyadushkina E. A. , Lila A. M. , Yagnenkova E. E. , Ignatyeva V. I. , Derkach E. V. 
Published: February 2025

Our previous study has shown that the new biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) anifrolumab (AFM) can be considered as a cost-effective alternative to belimumab (BLM) in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Following a review by the Commission of the Ministry of Health of Russia, AFM was recommended for inclusion in the List of vital and Essential Drugs (VED).Objective: to conduct a clinical and economic analysis (CEA) of the use of bDMARD for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe SLE, to update the previously conducted CEA considering changing circumstances, including populational changes, price characteristics and law in the context of the Russian healthcare system, and to assess the impact of changes.Material and methods. The CEA was conducted from a healthcare system perspective and was based on the results of an indirect comparison of the efficacy of AFM and BLM drugs using a cost-effectiveness analysis. The costs of drug therapy with the compared bDMARDs for one year, the cost-effectiveness ratio and the incremental indicator of cost-effectiveness growth were calculated. Drug prices were calculated based on the register of maximum retail prices for drugs from the VED. A comparison of the main results of the analysis is presented.Results and discussion. The results of the indirect comparison of efficacy showed statistically significant advantages of AFM over BLM according to the SRI-4 criterion: odds ratio – 2.61 (95% confidence interval 1.22–5.58). The cost of therapy for one patient for 52 weeks, recalculated considering the changed indicators, for AFM in combination with standard therapy was 655.5 thousand rubles, for BLM – 622 thousand rubles, the difference in cost was 5.1%. When prescribing AFM, the cost of the effect (achieving a response to therapy according to the SRI-4 criterion) in one patient was 1181 thousand rubles, which is 38.6% lower than when using BLM (1924 thousand rubles). The additional cost of achieving a response according to SRI-4 in one additional patient for AFM compared to BLM amounted to 144 thousand rubles, which is significantly less than the previously calculated similar indicator – 3.4 million rubles.Conclusion. The CEA, considering the current data allows us to conclude that the use of AFM in patients with moderate to severe SLE is economically feasible within the framework of the Russian healthcare system. The expansion of the VED list by including new, more effective and economically justifiable options, and registration of maximum retail prices will increase the availability of SLE therapy, reduce the financial burden on the budgets of regions of the Russian Federation and enable more patients to receive the necessary treatment.
Is fibromyalgia secondary to rheumatic diseases?
Authors: Filatova E. G. , Melikova N. A. , Filatova E. S. , Lila A. M. 
Published: February 2025

Fibromyalgia (FM) affects 2 to 4 % of the population. In rheumatic diseases (RD), the frequency of FM is higher than in the general population, but the question remains whether it is a secondary disease, a complication of RD or an independent comorbid disorder.Objective: to determine whether FM in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a secondary or an independent comorbid disorder.Material and methods. The study involved 127 patients who were divided into three groups. Group 1 comprised patients with RA without FM (n=47), group 2 comprised patients with RA + FM (n=55), and group 3 comprised patients with FM without RD (n=25). FM was diagnosed based on the 2016 ACR diagnostic criteria. Pain intensity was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS, 10 cm) at rest. We also assessed the frequency of the neuropathic pain using the Pain DETECT and DN4 questionnaires for neuropathic pain, the presence and severity of central sensitization symptoms using CSI, fatigue using FSS, anxiety and depression using HADS, sleep disturbances using the PSQI and cognitive impairment using the DSST. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed using the EQ-5D and the revised FM impact questionnaire – FIQR, in the group of patients without FM, its modified version – SIQR – was used.Results and discussion. Signs of FM preceded the inflammatory changes in the joints and complicated the diagnosis of RA, which was reflected in an increase in the time until RA diagnosis in the RA + FM group to an average of 20 months compared to 10 months in the RA without FM group. No relationship was found between the presence of FM and the degree of RA activity according to DAS28. No specific clinical picture of FM was found in the RA + FM group compared to the FM group without RD.Conclusion. The results obtained suggest that FM in patients with RA is an independent comorbid condition and the cause of various comorbid disorders, which contributes to an even greater impairment of QOL. The diagnosis of FM in patients with RD will optimize treatment: patients suffering from RD and FM require complex therapy.
The Vadalog Parallel System: Distributed Reasoning with Datalog+/-
Authors: Bellomarini Luigi , Benedetto Davide , Brandetti Matteo , Sallinger Emanuel , Vlad Adriano 
Published: February 2025

Over the past years, there has been a growing demand for ontological reasoning systems based on languages of the Datalog+/- family, such as Vadalog, for their ability to effectively model a wide range of real-world problems with powerful features such as existential quantification. As the scale and complexity of data analysis tasks continue to grow, the ability to distribute the computational workload across multiple non-communicating processors has become vital for these systems to achieve scalable performance.
The joint presence of existential quantification and recursion poses new challenges, currently unsolved by existing distributed systems, which only concentrate on Datalog and are therefore unsuitable for ontological reasoning. When working across multiple processors, generating all the facts to answer a specific reasoning query, avoiding duplication, and guaranteeing termination are non-trivial tasks as infinitely many new symbols and facts can be generated by existential quantification and recursion.
In this paper, we address such challenges and introduce the first distributed framework in the Datalog+/- space. We propose the condition of homomorphic decomposability, which identifies sets of Datalog+/- rules with good distribution properties. We put homomorphic decomposability into action with a distributed reasoning algorithm for Warded Datalog+/-, the core of Vadalog. We implement Vadalog Parallel, a distributed reasoner for Vadalog and provide experimental evaluation against state-of-the-art systems.
Eventual Durability
Authors: Kashi Tejasvi , Salem Kenneth , Kim Jaemyung , Daudjee Khuzaima 
Published: February 2025

For latency-critical transactional applications, durability is often what limits performance. That is, executing transactions is fast, but guaranteeing that they are durable is slow. As a result, most of each transaction's latency is attributable to durability. To address this problem, some database systems allow applications to sacrifice durability guarantees in exchange for lower transaction latencies. These ad hoc techniques are effective, but they can make it difficult for applications to understand and manage the risks associated with failures.
In this paper, our goal is to offer a more principled foundation for these kinds of performance/durability tradeoffs. The major obstacle to doing this is the transaction model itself, because it couples transaction durability with transaction commit. That is, the model defines a single point at which a transaction becomes visible and durable. This forces all transaction guarantees to wait for the slowest one, which is often durability.

The primary contribution of this work is a new
eventually durable
transaction model, which decouples commit from durability. Transactions commit first, and become durable later. We argue for making this model the basis of the contract between transactional data systems and applications. We describe what it means to correctly implement eventually durable transactions, and consider how they can be exposed to applications. We also describe a prototype implementation of eventual durability in PostgreSQL, and show that it enables applications to reduce transaction latencies while managing the durability risks.
Doing and Being Done: The Definitional Primacy of the Active Power in Metaphysics Θ 1
Authors: Perry Emily , Hobbs Landon 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
In Metaphysics Θ 1, Aristotle claims that the active power is definitionally prior to the passive power. Commentators have been puzzled by this claim, because the definitions appear, and seemingly should be, symmetric. However, their attempts to address this difficulty are dissatisfying, for commentators have not adequately appreciated what the difficulty is: they show (at most) how every kind of active power can be definitionally prior to every kind of passive power, but do not address how the active power as such can be definitionally prior to the passive power as such. We undertake three tasks. First, we clarify the puzzle, demonstrating that it is the claim that the active power as such is definitionally prior to the passive power as such that stands in need of justification. Second, we defend a reading of the definitions which dissolves the appearance of symmetry. Third, we explain why the view that the active power is prior to the passive is philosophically attractive.
Revealing the interfacial dynamics of Escherichia coli growth and biofilm formation with integrated micro- and macro-scale approaches
Authors: Kim Haneum , Jeon Eunseo , Park Jeongmi , Lee Kibaek , Lee Doojin 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Bacterial biofilms present significant challenges across microbiology, environmental science, water management, and healthcare. This study employs Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and interfacial rheology system (IRS) for in situ analysis of Escherichia coli biofilm growth and viscoelastic properties. By monitoring biofilm development at both bulk and micro scales in real-time, we identified three distinct growth phases: surface attachment and initial growth, maturation, and dispersion. Optimal biofilm formation occurred in Luria-Bertani medium medium at 5% (v/v) inoculation, as indicated by high complex viscosity and modulus values of 5.38 mPa·s and high complex modulus of 169.13 kPa. IRS data corroborated these findings, showing consistent elastic and viscous behavior patterns, with the storage modulus (G′) reaching 0.057 Pa·m and loss modulus (G″) peaking at 0.016 Pa·m during the maturation phase. Our results highlight the sensitivity of QCM-D in measuring biofilm properties and the effectiveness of using combined micro- and macro-scale methods for comprehensive biofilm characterization.
Towards a~better understanding of 𝒞𝑝 functions and definable 𝒞𝑝 functions of several variables
Authors: Pierzchała Rafał 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Building on some classical techniques in approximation theory of functions of one variable, we obtain new results concerning

C
p

\mathcal{C}^{p}

functions and definable (e.g., semialgebraic)

C
p

\mathcal{C}^{p}

functions of several variables.
The starting point for our work is the following vague problem: can

C
p

\mathcal{C}^{p}

smoothness be tested on lines in

R
N

\mathbb{R}^{N}

parallel to the coordinate axes?
Specific aspects of this problem are investigated both in general setting and in o-minimal setting.
Of course, the behaviour of a function is not examined separately on each line, but it should be uniformly controlled (for otherwise, we cannot expect any positive answers to the problem).
All the main results of the paper are accompanied by numerous examples and counterexamples.
Multiobjective optimization of EDM machining parameters of TIB2 ceramic materials using regression and gray relational analysis
Authors: Shanmugam Karthik , Annamalai Sivakumar , Thangaraj Nathiya 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The aerospace industry widely uses titanium diboride, a tough material that is challenging to machine using conventional methods. We, therefore, process titanium diboride (TiB₂) to determine the best process parameters for electrical discharge machining for TiB₂. The study compares four electrode materials: brass, copper, tungsten, and tungsten copper. In addition, water-based deionized (DI) dielectric fluids are studied, and the input parameters are changed to measure the fluctuations of the output parameters through experimental studies and gain insights into the material removal rate (MRR), tool wear rate (TWR), surface roughness (SR), and overcut during machining of titanium diboride. We then verify this result using gray relational analysis and a regression model. Based on these results, we confirm that the discharge current is the most important factor affecting the MRR and SR. The copper electrode achieves a higher MRR, while the tungsten copper-based electrode leads to a lesser TWR. A copper electrode achieves better SR, while tungsten electrodes with DI water-based dielectric fluid show a lower overcut value. After machining, we used SEM to check the surface quality and elemental makeup and to see if there were any microstructural changes, like craters, recast layers, and maybe even microcracks, that were caused by the high-energy discharge process.
One-step spark plasma sintering infiltration of B4C/Al functionally graded materials
Authors: Xu Chang-Ming , Chen Wen-Tong , Wang Yaxin , Ran Songlin 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Near fully-dense B4C/Al functionally graded materials were prepared by a one-step spark plasma sintering infiltration technique. Microstructural examination and X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that no observable reaction occurred between B4C and Al during the spark plasma sintering infiltration process. The Vicker’s hardness of the as-prepared B4C/Al material exhibited a gradient decrease from the highest value of 30.5 GPa to the lowest of 1.1 GPa, demonstrating an excellent hardness gradient. This typical processing method could serve as an alternative strategy for fabricating similar ceramic/metal functionally graded materials systems, which consist of major compositions with significant melting point differences.