bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Traditional Chinese Medicine as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lu Zhenzhen , Liu Wangyi , Gao Hongzhi , Chen Wanjia , Ge Wenshu , Li Fang , Deng Yueyi 
Published: May 2021

Background
Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) is one of the most common causes of nephrotic syndrome in adults involving multiple targets and factors. The effect of conservative nonimmunosuppressive or immunosuppressive therapies is unsatisfactory and with many side effects. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can regulate immune function and improve kidney function.

Purpose
To evaluate the total effective rate, curative rate, recurrence rate and adverse events of TCM alone or TCM as an adjunctive therapy for IMN.

Methods
Randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing either TCM alone or the combination of TCM to western medicine (WM) therapies for patients with IMN were retrieved by searching English and Chinese database. Risk of bias summary was used to assess the methodological quality of eligible studies. Dichotomous data were presented using odds ratios (OR). The primary outcome measure was the total effective rate. Secondary outcomes included curative rate, recurrence rate and adverse events.

Results
29 RCTs involving 1883 participants met the inclusion criteria. There was no statistically significant difference between the therapy of TCM alone and WM on the total effective rates (OR: 2.00; 95% CI: 0.80–4.98; P = 0.14) and curative rate (OR: 1.66; 95%CI: 0.66–4.22; p = 0.28). However, compared to basic treatment or immunosuppressive therapies alone, results showed that TCM as an adjunctive therapy had beneficial effects on the total effective rate (OR: 2.59; 95% CI: 1.38–4.86; P = 0.003 and OR: 3.01; 95% CI: 2.25–4.04; P < 0.00001) and curative rate (OR: 3.01; 95%CI: 1.24–7.28; p = 0.01 and OR: 1.73; 95%CI: 1.10–2.71; p = 0.02). In addition, the combination of TCM treatment could reduce the recurrence rate (OR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.12–0.68; P = 0.004) and adverse reactions (OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.27–0.54; p < 0.00001).

Conclusion
The results indicate that TCM is well-tolerated for the treatment of IMN. However, there remains a need for large-scale and high-quality trials.
A systematic scoping review of the methodological approaches and effects of pesticide exposure on solitary bees
Authors: Lehmann David M. , Camp Allison A. 
Published: May 2021

Background
Pollination services provided by solitary bees, the largest group of bees worldwide, are critical to the vitality of ecosystems and agricultural systems alike. Disconcertingly, bee populations are in decline, and while no single causative factor has been identified, pesticides are believed to play a role in downward population trends. The effects of pesticides on solitary bee species have not been previously systematically cataloged and reviewed.

Objectives
This systematic scoping review examines available evidence for effects of pesticide exposure on solitary bees to identify data gaps and priority research needs.

Methods
A systematic literature search strategy was developed to identify and document reports on solitary bee pesticide exposure-effects investigations. Literature was subsequently screened for relevance using a Population, Exposures, Comparators, and Outcomes (PECO) statement and organized into a systematic evidence map. Investigations were organized by effect category (lethal effects on immatures, lethal effects on adults, sublethal effects on immatures, and sublethal effects on adults), species, pesticide class, and publication year.

Results
A comprehensive literature search of Web of Science and ProQuest Agricultural & Environmental Science supplemented by targeted internet searching and reference mining yielded 176 reports and publications for title and abstract screening and 65 that met PECO criteria (22 included lethal and 43 included sublethal effects endpoints). Relevant design details (pesticide, test compound configuration, study type, species, sex, exposure duration) were extracted into literature inventory tables to reveal the extent endpoints have been investigated and areas in need of additional research.

Conclusions
Evidence mapping revealed diversity in the pesticides and endpoints studied across the database. However, dilution across bee species, lack of complementary laboratory work and paucity of replicated investigations complicate efforts to interpret and apply available data to support pesticide risk assessment.
Biomarkers representing key aging-related biological pathways are associated with subclinical atherosclerosis and all-cause mortality: The Framingham Study
Authors: Castro-Diehl Cecilia , Ehrbar Rachel , Obas Vanesa , Oh Albin , Vasan Ramachandran S. , Xanthakis Vanessa 
Published: May 2021

Background
Increased oxidative stress, leukocyte telomere length (LTL) shortening, endothelial dysfunction, and lower insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 concentrations reflect key molecular mechanisms of aging. We hypothesized that biomarkers representing these pathways are associated with measures of subclinical atherosclerosis and all-cause mortality.

Methods and results
We evaluated up to 2,314 Framingham Offspring Study participants (mean age 61 years, 55% women) with available biomarkers of aging: LTL, circulating concentrations of IGF-1, asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA), and urinary F2-Isoprostanes indexed to urinary creatinine. We evaluated the association of each biomarker with coronary artery calcium [ln (CAC+1)] and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). In multivariable-adjusted linear regression models, higher ADMA levels were associated with higher CAC values (βADMA per 1-SD increase 0.25; 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.11, 0.39]). Additionally, shorter LTL and lower IGF-1 values were associated with higher IMT values (βLTL −0.08, 95%CI −0.14, −0.02, and βIGF-1 −0.04, 95%CI −0.08, −0.01, respectively). During a median follow-up of 15.5 years, 593 subjects died. In multivariable-adjusted Cox regression models, LTL and IGF-1 values were inversely associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratios [HR] per SD increase in biomarker, 0.85, 95% CI 0.74–0.99, and 0.90, 95% CI 0.82–0.98 for LTL and IGF-1, respectively). F2-Isoprostanes and ADMA values were positively associated with all-cause mortality (HR per SD increase in biomarker, 1.15, 95% CI, 1.10–1.22, and 1.10, 95% CI, 1.02–1.20, respectively).

Conclusion
In our prospective community-based study, aging-related biomarkers were associated with measures of subclinical atherosclerosis cross-sectionally and with all-cause mortality prospectively, supporting the concept that these biomarkers may reflect the aging process in community-dwelling adults.
Exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields and childhood cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Seomun GyeongAe , Lee Juneyoung , Park Jinkyung 
Published: May 2021

Background
Extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) are classified as a possible carcinogenic factor (Group 2B). This study assessed the association between ELF-MFs and childhood cancer through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods
Three databases were searched in January 2020. We conducted a meta-analysis for the association between the ELF-MFs exposure level and childhood cancer.

Results
A total of 33 studies were identified. Thirty studies with 186,223 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Children exposed to 0.2-, 0.3-, and 0.4-μT ELF-MFs had a 1.26 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06–1.49), 1.22 (95% CI 0.93–1.61), and 1.72 (95% CI 1.25–2.35) times higher odds of childhood leukemia. In childhood brain tumors, children exposed to 0.2-μT had a 0.95 (95% CI 0.59–1.56) times higher odds, and those exposed to 0.4-μT ELF-MFs had a 1.25 (95% CI 0.93–1.61). Children exposed to 0.2- and 0.4-μT ELF-MFs had a 1.10 (95% CI 0.70–1.75) and 2.01 (95% CI 0.89–4.52) times higher odds of any childhood cancers.

Conclusions
Significant associations were observed between exposure to ELF-MFs and childhood leukemia. Furthermore, a possible dose-response effect was also observed.
Is the HPV-test more cost-effective than cytology in cervical cancer screening? An economic analysis from a middle-income country
Authors: Vale Diama Bhadra , Silva Marcus Tolentino , Discacciati Michelle Garcia , Polegatto Ilana , Teixeira Julio Cesar , Zeferino Luiz Carlos 
Published: May 2021

ObjectiveTo report a modelling study using local health care costs and epidemiological inputs from a population-based program to access the cost-effectiveness of adopting hrHPV test.MethodsA cost-effectiveness analysis based on a microsimulation dynamic Markov model. Data and costs were based on data from the local setting and literature review. The setting was Indaiatuba, Brazil, that has adopted the hrHPV test in place of cytology since 2017. After calibrating the model, one million women were simulated in hypothetical cohorts. Three strategies were tested: cytology to women aged 25 to 64 every three years; hrHPV test to women 25–64 every five years; cytology to women 25–29 years every three years and hrHPV test to women 30–64 every five years (hybrid strategy). Outcomes were Quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) and Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER).ResultsThe hrHPV testing and the hybrid strategy were the dominant strategies. Costs were lower and provided a more effective option at a negative incremental ratio of US$ 37.87 for the hybrid strategy, and negative US$ 6.16 for the HPV strategy per QALY gained. Reduction on treatment costs would influence a decrease in ICER, and an increase in the costs of the hrHPV test would increase ICER.ConclusionsUsing population-based data, the switch from cytology to hrHPV testing in the cervical cancer screening program of Indaiatuba is less costly and cost-effective than the old cytology program.
What makes music memorable? Relationships between acoustic musical features and music-evoked emotions and memories in older adults
Authors: Salakka Ilja , Pitkäniemi Anni , Pentikäinen Emmi , Mikkonen Kari , Saari Pasi , Toiviainen Petri , Särkämö Teppo 
Published: May 2021

Background and objectives
Music has a unique capacity to evoke both strong emotions and vivid autobiographical memories. Previous music information retrieval (MIR) studies have shown that the emotional experience of music is influenced by a combination of musical features, including tonal, rhythmic, and loudness features. Here, our aim was to explore the relationship between music-evoked emotions and music-evoked memories and how musical features (derived with MIR) can predict them both.

Methods
Healthy older adults (N = 113, age ≥ 60 years) participated in a listening task in which they rated a total of 140 song excerpts comprising folk songs and popular songs from 1950s to 1980s on five domains measuring the emotional (valence, arousal, emotional intensity) and memory (familiarity, autobiographical salience) experience of the songs. A set of 24 musical features were extracted from the songs using computational MIR methods. Principal component analyses were applied to reduce multicollinearity, resulting in six core musical components, which were then used to predict the behavioural ratings in multiple regression analyses.

Results
All correlations between behavioural ratings were positive and ranged from moderate to very high (r = 0.46–0.92). Emotional intensity showed the highest correlation to both autobiographical salience and familiarity. In the MIR data, three musical components measuring salience of the musical pulse (Pulse strength), relative strength of high harmonics (Brightness), and fluctuation in the frequencies between 200–800 Hz (Low-mid) predicted both music-evoked emotions and memories. Emotional intensity (and valence to a lesser extent) mediated the predictive effect of the musical components on music-evoked memories.

Conclusions
The results suggest that music-evoked emotions are strongly related to music-evoked memories in healthy older adults and that both music-evoked emotions and memories are predicted by the same core musical features.
Ultrasound-guided dynamic needle tip positioning technique for radial artery cannulation in elderly patients: A prospective randomized controlled study
Authors: Kim Soo Yeon , Kim Kyu Nam , Jeong Mi Ae , Lee Bong Soo , Lim Hyun Jin 
Published: May 2021

Background
Radial artery cannulation, which is a useful procedure for anesthetic management, is often challenging in elderly patients. Recently, the dynamic needle tip positioning (DNTP) technique was introduced to facilitate ultrasound-guided vascular catheterization. Therefore, we performed this prospective, parallel group, randomized, controlled trial to compare the ultrasound-guided DNTP technique with the palpation method in elderly patients.

Methods
For this study, 256 patients aged 65 years or older were randomly allocated to the ultrasound-guided DNTP technique group (DNTP group) or the palpation method group (palpation group). The primary outcome was first-attempt success rate. The secondary outcomes were overall success rate, numbers of attempts and redirections, cannulation time, and incidence of complications.

Results
The first-attempt success rate (85.9% vs. 72.3%; relative risk [RR], 1.47; 95% CI 1.25–1.72; P<0.001) and the overall success rate (99.2% vs. 93.0%; RR, 1.07; 95% CI 1.02–1.12; P = 0.01) were significantly higher in the DNTP group compared to the palpation group. The numbers of attempts [1 (1,1) vs. 1 (1,3), P<0.001] and redirections [0 (0,1) vs. 2 (0,4), P<0.001] were significantly lower in the DNTP group. The cannulation time for successful attempts was 42 (32,55) seconds in the DNTP group and 53 (36,78) seconds in the palpation group (P<0.001). The incidence of hematoma was significantly lower in the DNTP group (7% vs. 24.2%; RR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.14–0.59; P<0.001).

Conclusions
Ultrasound-guided radial artery cannulation with the DNTP technique improved the efficiency of radial artery cannulation in elderly patients by increasing the success rate while minimizing complications.
Development possibilities of rural tourism activities in the Almaj Valley area, Caras-Severin County
Authors: Adamov Tabita Cornelia , Iancu Tiberiu , Pîrvulescu Luminița , Brad Ioan , Popescu Gabriela , Ciolac Ramona 
Published: May 2021

Rural tourism and agrotourism have an extremely important contribution in rural area’s development, not only in financial terms but also in terms of increasing and improving the quality of life of residents from these areas. So, the development of these forms of tourism is required in the rural area, both economically and socially. Known as an important ethnographic area of the country, with traditional elements specific, Almaj Valley through natural and cultural potential available, it stands more and more lately by intensifying rural tourist and ecotourist activity. However, tourist infrastructure is very underdeveloped, to rural communities returning the mission to get more involved in this purpose, having in view, the national and international recognition of the high tourism potential of this area Romanian area still retains, quite well, the traditional, cultural, ethnographic and folklore valences specific to rural areas, providing favorable conditions for development of rural tourism and agrotourism. Romanian villages have a rich tourist potential, having diversified tourist resources: traditions, customs and folk values, cultural monuments, historical and art and an unpolluted natural environment with a rich natural tourism potential. Almajului Depression known as well as the Almaj Country, Almajului Valley or Bozovici Depression is situated in the South-East side of Banat Mountains, in the south of Caras-Severin county, near the Parallel 45°, being an intramountainous depression, of ellipsoidal form of NE-SW orientation, belonging to Nera basin.
Rural areas from demographic perspective. Study case Poland and Romania
Authors: Toader Cosmina-Simona , Zajdel Malgorzata , Feher Andrea Ana , Michalcewicz-Kaniowska Malgorzata 
Published: May 2021

The rural area is an extremely varied area, agricultural area, the area occupied by forests and grazing the surface of non-agricultural lands (Riviera sea, etc.) and rural agglomerations is a separate entity from the urban areas characterized by a high demographic concentration and vertical and horizontal structures. Being often under the impact of old production systems, characterized by accelerated development and irrational of industry, the countryside has been subject to economic transformation, social and environmental, which mostly resulted in exodus and impoverishment of the rural population. Given this situation, are downright remarkable efforts of developed countries and not only to balance rural-urban ratio, reconciliation and revival of rural areas is kept of unique material and spiritual values. Rural areas are the result of interactions between man and nature, between interdependencies relations, who are specific to diversity of social actions and their natural environment, between the material and spiritual civilization, which for centuries coexist and evolve in a particular national territory. Image of rural area is emphasized by its size, which is the synthetic expression of social activities that are conducted using specific processes and phenomena of nature. All specific features of rural areas (natural, human, material and spiritual), which define the dimension of rural areas, are highlighted by the following components of the system: territorial administrative, demographic, economic and infrastructural. European rural area was and is the subject of extensive restructuring processes that were the result of a complex interaction of social phenomena, economic, sectoral and regional transfers. In circumstances where over half of the 27 Member States of the European Union lives in rural areas, and it occupies over 80% of the total territory, rural areas have considerable potential for growth, with a vital social role. Rural population and surface area occupied and the importance of rural life for a country, make the problem of rural development to gain a national and international importance. In this article the authors presents rural areas as an important part of a country with all its components. The authors elaborated a comparative analysis of rural areas from Poland and Romania from demographic perspective. The analysis was elaborated using indicators like population density, population structure by gender and age, migrations of population, relying on data from national and european statistics.
Revealing the opinion climates of fruit producers and their sales connection
Authors: Ványi Noémi 
Published: May 2021

Although researches on the subject of business relationships indicate that the quality of the relationship between the partners is a central element of effective cooperation, it can still be considered an unexplored territory. This paper aims to reveal the relationship of fruit producers and customers, based on relationship quality, as well as determining what customer cooperation is regarded by fruit producers as the most favourable . The survey was conducted between 2013 and 2014, involving 223 producers from Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County, to evaluate their customer cooperation. The results of the evaluation concluded that producers value factors of relationship quality in their cooperation with sales channels differently. Their opinions reflect that overall the most favourable relationship exists between producers and agricultural cooperatives. The main reason is that this cooperation is primarily based on trust, commitment and friendship, where there is typically no conflict among parties and they mutually accept dependence. Since the results of the evaluation clearly reflected that producers value cooperation differently regarding the factors of relationship quality with respect to the various sales channels, further research is justified to reveal correlations between various relationship evaluations (opinion climates) and performance as well as devoting more attention to relationships among the various factors.
Antiantioxidant and antimicrobial activity of herbal teas
Authors: Kincses Lilla Barbara , Csaplár Bettina , Krisch Judit 
Published: May 2021

Teas made from 18 Hungarian medicinal plants were investigated for their total phenolic content and antioxidant effect as radical scavenging activity using the Folin-Ciocaltau and DPPH assays. Antimicrobial effect of the herbal teas was measured by agar diffusion method. In total, the results showed that the smallflower hairy willowherb (Epilobium parviflorum) had the highest antioxidant effect among the plants studied. Teas made from fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and bean pods (Phaseoli legumen) have the lowest activity. Only four herbal teas showed some antimicrobial activity: the smallflower hairy willowherb (Epilobium parviflorum), common agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), spearmint (Mentha crispa) and bean pods. At smaller concentrations the relationship found between total phenolic content and radical scavenging activity was linear but with increasing phenol content the antioxidant activity remained the same.
Potent Acid Suppression With Vonoprazan vs Proton Pump Inhibitors Does Not Have Higher Association With Clostridioides difficile Infection
Authors: Watanabe Kenta , Shimodaira Yosuke , Takahashi So , Fukuda Sho , Koizumi Shigeto , Matsuhashi Tamotsu , Iijima Katsunori 
Published: May 2021

INTRODUCTION:
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are associated with the onset of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Although a new potassium-competitive acid blocker, vonoprazan, consistently shows a more potent acid inhibitory effect in comparison to PPIs, the risk of CDI in vonoprazan-treated patients relative to those treated with PPIs is unknown. In this retrospective case-control study, using a nationwide hospital-based administrative database in Japan, we investigated the association of the onset of CDI in patients treated with vonoprazan.

METHODS:
A CDI case was defined as a case in which a patient was diagnosed and treated for CDI. For each CDI case, 3 non-CDI patients were extracted as controls. Information on the usage of acid suppressants in the 2 months before the onset of CDI and other confounding factors was collected. Relative associations of gastric acid suppressants with the onset of CDI were estimated.

RESULTS:
A total of 4,466 CDI cases and 13,220 of non-CDI controls were extracted. A multivariate conditional regression analysis revealed that PPI or vonoprazan use was modestly, but significantly associated with CDI (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: PPI, 1.3 [1.2–1.4]; vonoprazan, 1.4 [1.2–1.7]). With PPI users as a reference, vonoprazan did not show a stronger association with CDI (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.07 [0.91–1.26]).

DISCUSSION:
We found a significant positive association between vonoprazan use and CDI; however, the magnitude of the association was not beyond that in PPI users. This is the first report on any potential adverse effects of vonoprazan.
The Alchemist’s work: Ibn Arfaʿ Raʾs and the reception of his collection of alchemical poems Shudhūr al-dhahab
Authors: Braun Christopher , Forster Regula 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
In recent years, scholars have increasingly turned their attention to the social contexts of Islamic manuscripts related to the occult sciences. With regard to manuscripts dealing with Arabic alchemy, however, in-depth studies are still lacking. This article aims at shedding some light on the readers and owners of Arabic alchemical literature, focusing on Ibn Arfaʿ Raʾs, a Moroccan alchemist of the twelfth century, and his collection of poems entitled Shudhūr al-dhahab (“The Splinters of Gold”). In the centuries following Ibn Arfaʿ Raʾs’s death, his dīwān became a “bestseller” and was copied numerous times in many parts of the Islamicate world. The 94 extant manuscripts bear witness to this incredible success and allow us to take a closer look at the milieus in which this text circulated.