bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Correlation of gastro-esophageal reflux disease with asthma control and quality of life: a cross-sectional study from a low-middle income country
Authors: Iqbal Nousheen , Amirali Atiqa , lail Ghulam ullah , Khan Maria Ali , Sial Rabia , Irfan Muhammad 
Published: November 2024

Background: Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic disease that coexists with asthma and is often responsible for repeated exacerbations, as well as has a negative impact on the quality of life (QoL). However, from our continent, there is limited data available on the exact prevalence of GERD in asthma and its association with asthma control and QoL. Objective: To determine the prevalence of GERD in asthma and see its association with asthma control and QoL. Design: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted over 8 months from September 2020 to April 2021. Methods: Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of asthma aged 18 years and above were recruited from the outpatient department of pulmonology. Patients’ GERD score was calculated using the FSSG SCALE (Frequency Scale for Symptoms of GERD) questionnaire and the Asthma Control Test (ACT) was used to determine asthma control. To assess the QoL, the short form of health survey (SF-36) questionnaire was used. Patients were recruited through a convenience sampling technique. Results: A total of 190 patients were enrolled, the mean age was 33.7 ± 13.3 years and 55.8% were female. Prevalence of GERD was (136) 71.6%. According to the ACT score, 81 (42.6%) patients had very poorly controlled asthma (mean GERD score of 13.73 ± 7.66), compared to 59 (31.1%) asthmatic patients who had well-controlled asthma (mean GERD score of 11.97 ± 7.39, p = 0.43). SF-36 questionnaire was used to measure QoL showed GERD patients had statistically lower scores in the following domains of QoL: “Role Limitations due to Physical Functioning” (37.78 vs 57.44, p = 0.003), “Energy/Fatigue” (47.47 vs 55.07, p = 0.02), and “Bodily Pain” (63.40 vs 72.84, p = 0.01). Conclusion: This study showed a high prevalence of GERD among asthmatic patients with a negative impact on QoL but did not demonstrate a statistically significant relationship between GERD and asthma control.
Surgical Margin Definition and Assessment in Head and Neck Oncology: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Canadian Head and Neck Surgeons
Authors: Daniel Ryan C. , Yan Bernie , Chandarana Shamir , Nichols Anthony C. , Eskander Antoine , Enepekides Danny , Higgins Kevin 
Published: November 2024

Importance Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are responsible for a significant amount of morbidity and mortality in Canada. Surgical margins are one of the most important factors used to guide treatment; however, currently there is a lack of consensus on the ideal surgical margin definition, sampling, and assessment method. Objective To understand the current perspectives and practice patterns of Canadian head and neck surgeons with respect to surgical margin: (1) definition, (2) sampling, (3) pathological assessment. Design A 24-question cross-sectional survey was sent via email through the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery (CSOHNS), and responses were gathered from December 19, 2023, to March 12, 2024. Responses were aggregated and reported using descriptive statistics. Setting/Participants The survey was conducted in Canada among self-reported staff head and neck oncology surgeons with membership in the CSOHNS. Results A total of 36 staff head and neck oncology surgeons responded from across Canada. The most common (58.3%) definition of a negative surgical margin for oral cavity HNSCC was “>5 mm formalin fixed paraffin embedded distance.” To obtain surgical margins, surgeons were split with 44.1% using only a tumor bed approach and 32.4% using only a specimen-driven approach. A dedicated head and neck pathologist is always available more commonly for final pathological assessment (63.6%) versus intraoperative frozen section assessment (15.5%). Finally, most surgeons reported having a synoptic standardized reporting system for annotating margin status (78.8%). Conclusions/Relevance The results of this survey provide a current-state analysis of head and neck surgeons across Canada and set the stage for future efforts to be directed toward standardizing the collection method and reporting criteria for surgical margins in HNSCC.
Common Cold Coronavirus 229E Induces Higher Interferon Stimulating Gene Responses in Human Nasal Epithelial Cells from Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Polyposis
Authors: Sell Elizabeth A. , Tan Li Hui , Renner David M. , Douglas Jennifer , Lee Robert J. , Kohanski Michael A. , Bosso John V. , Kennedy David W. , Palmer James N. , Adappa Nithin D. , Weiss Susan R. , Cohen Noam A. 
Published: November 2024

Background Viral infections have long been implicated in the development of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Given widespread exposure to the common cold coronavirus 229E (HCoV229E), we sought to investigate how HCoV-229E is cleared and stimulates interferon pathways in air–liquid interface (ALI) cultures from patients with CRSwNP. Objective The objective of this study was to identify whether viral clearance and ISG expression is different in ALI cultures from donors with CRSwNP compared with controls. Methods Plaque assays were used to quantify infectious virus released by infected air–liquid interface (ALI) cultures derived from patients with CRSwNP compared to patients without CRS (controls). Additionally, mock and induced levels of Interferon Stimulated Genes (ISGs) mRNA following HCoV-229E infection were quantified by RT-qPCR. Results Quantification of infectious virus by plaque assay reveals that CRSwNP ALI cultures were equally susceptible to HCoV-229E infection, and surprisingly viral titers dropped significantly faster than in the control ALI cultures. We further demonstrate that this accelerated viral clearance correlates with increased mRNA expression of at least 4 ISGs following viral infection in the CRSwNP ALIs compared to the control ALIs. Conclusion This study paradoxically demonstrates that ALI cultures from patients with CRSwNP are more efficient at clearing the common cold HCoV-229E virus compared to controls. We also demonstrate significantly increased ISG mRNA expression following HCoV-229E infection in CRSwNP. These findings call for further investigation into the effect of unimpaired interferon signaling on the type 2 inflammatory environment in patients with CRSwNP.
Consumer perceptions of direct-to-consumer electronic prescription services in Queensland, Australia
Authors: Cossart Amelia R , Kennedy Eloise , Yong Faith R , Hillen Jodie B , Freeman Christopher R 
Published: November 2024

Background Direct-to-consumer (DTC) electronic prescription services (EPS) are a novel addition to the Australian healthcare landscape. This study aimed to explore consumers’ perceptions on how this model of care supports the delivery of best-practice care. Method Focus groups participants were recruited through social media and included adults aged 18 years or older, Queensland (Australia) residents, and interested in DTC EPS. Focus groups were conducted via Zoom® and repeated until data saturation. Inductive thematic analysis was undertaken to elicit consumer perception themes from focus group discussions and field notes. Results Three focus groups were conducted between July and August 2022 and included 13 participants of which two (15%) had previously used DTC EPS. Four major perception themes were induced: (a) Consumer responsibility. There is an assumed level of consumer health literacy leading to an unacceptable burden of responsibility on the patient; (b) System processes appear to be underdeveloped to support best-practice care; (c) Access to convenient and timely healthcare will be improved for many patients, however, out of pocket expenses may promote inequity; and (d) Service model improvements can address safety and quality concerns including integration of the model within existing national digital health platforms. Conclusion Participants believed that DTC EPS was a valuable addition to the Australian health care landscape increasing convenient and timely access to medicines for consumers. Participants were concerned that a heavy reliance on health literacy and underdeveloped system processes may lead to unsafe prescribing.
Transoral Atlantoaxial Reduction Plate (TARP) Technique for the Treatment of Irreducible Atlantoaxial Dislocation (IAAD) Caused by Old Odontoid Fracture
Authors: Zou Xiaobao , Cai Mandi , Yang Haozhi , Zhang Shuang , Deng Chenfu , Chen Junlin , Ma Rencai , Chen Zexing , Xia Hong , Ma Xiangyang 
Published: November 2024

Study Design Retrospective case series study. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of TARP technique for treating IAAD caused by old odontoid fracture and assess the outcomes of patients who underwent TARP technique over 2 years of follow-up. Methods Between January 2005 and September 2017, 56 patients with IAAD caused by old odontoid fractures were treated with TARP technique. Patients’ clinical, radiological, and surgical data were retrospectively analyzed. Radiological parameters included the atlantodental interval (ADI) and the space available for the spinal cord (SAC) were measured. Occipitocervical pain levels and neurologic status were evaluated with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score respectively. Degree of cervical dysfunction was assessed by Neck Disability Index (NDI). Fusion status was evaluated by images during the follow-ups. Results Surgeries for 56 cases were performed successfully with no injury to the spinal cord, nerve, or blood vessels. All patients achieved satisfactory reduction and fixation. Clinical symptomatic relief was obtained in all cases (100%). Patients were followed up for an average of 33.9 ± 9.6 months (ranged 24-60 months). Improvements in the postoperative ADI, SAC, VAS, JOA score and NDI were significant ( P < .05). Besides, Bone fusion was observed in all patients. No hardware failure or re-dislocation occurred during the follow-up period. Conclusions TARP technique is an effective procedure for the treatment of IAAD caused by old odontoid fracture, which can achieve complete release, satisfactory decompression, reduction and fixation, and reliable bone fusion through a single transoral approach.
Extremity War Injury Symposium 2024: Sports Medicine and Medical Readiness Section Summary
Authors: Anderson Ashley , Barrow Aaron E. , Bedi Asheesh , Dekker Travis J. , Donohue Michael A. , Dragoo Jason L. , Ficke James R. , Gosselin Michelle M. , Hsu Joseph R. , Renninger Christopher , Sheean Andrew J. , Song Daniel , Spindler Kurt P. , Stinner Daniel J. , Tintle Scott , Tokish John M. , Waltz Robert , Whitney Kaitlyn E. , Yuan Xiaoning ,   Extremity War Injury Symposium Working Group
Published: November 2024

Collaboration between military and civilian investigators is necessary to develop strategies for optimizing treatments to diminish the sequelae of non–battle-related musculoskeletal injuries, which are highly prevalent among servicemembers. The 2024 Extremity War Injuries Symposium provided a forum whereby a diverse group of clinicians and researchers could develop strategies for optimizing treatments and diminishing the sequelae of conditions that are highly prevalent among active individuals. Key points were as follows: 1. The value of collaborations between military and civilian investigators cannot be overemphasized. These synergies can leverage the capabilities of established infrastructures in order to answer important questions pertaining to short-term outcomes—for example, warrior readiness of anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions among servicemembers and long-term posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) outcomes among civilian cohorts. 2. Current and future prospective trials will inform future treatment decisions related to multiligamentous knee injuries and glenohumeral instability. 3. Novel approaches to addressing PTOA in the acute postinjury period will need longitudinal surveillance to measure their impact on improving clinical outcomes and diminishing residual functional deficits.
Design of a Novel Macro-Micro Integrated Brain Surgery Robot Based on Modular Parallel Mechanisms
Authors: Zheng Hao , Liang Chenbo , Gao Feng , Qi Chenkun , He Bingze , Liu Renqiang , Chen Longhai 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThe advancement and development of medical surgical robots have provided new technological support for brain surgery and neurosurgical procedures, improving the reliability of highly complex and precise surgeries. In turn, this urges the design and development of novel surgical robots to possess higher precision, stability, and enhanced motion capabilities. In response to this practical demand, this paper introduces a macro-micro integrated medical brain surgery robot system based on the concept of modular PMs (parallel mechanisms), which have a total of 13 active DOFs (degrees of freedom). This system divides the motion process of brain surgery into a large-scale macro-motion space and a small-scale high-precision motion space for design and planning control. The introduction of the design concept that combines multiple modular parallel sub-mechanisms has brought a significant level of decoupling characteristics to the mechanism itself. A comprehensive introduction and analysis of the surgical robot are provided, covering aspects such as design, kinematics, motion planning, and performance indicators. To address the pose allocation and coordination of motion between the macro platform and the micro platform, a pose allocation algorithm based on the decoupling and non-decoupling characteristics in various dimensions of the macro-micro platform is proposed. The designed measurement experiments have demonstrated that the repeatability in positioning accuracy of the macro and micro platform reaches the level of micron and submicron respectively. Practical experiments of motion control and simulated brain electrode implantation validate the excellent performance and stability of the entire surgical robot system. This research contributes innovative insights to the development of medical surgical robot systems, particularly in the domain of mechanism design.
Physics-Informed Neural Networks-Based Online Excavation Trajectory Planning for Unmanned Excavator
Authors: Fu Tao , Hu Zhengguo , Zhang Tianci , Bi Qiushi , Song Xueguan 
Published: November 2024

AbstractAs a large-scale mining excavator, the electric shovel (ES) has been extensively employed in open-pit mines for overburden removal and mineral loading. In the development of unmanned operations for ES, dynamic excavation trajectory planning is essential, as it directly influences operational efficiency and energy consumption by guiding the dipper during excavation. However, conventional optimization-based methods for excavation trajectory planning typically start from scratch, resulting in a time-consuming process that fails to meet real-time requirements. To address this challenge, we propose an innovative online trajectory planning framework based on physics-informed neural networks (PINNOTP) that utilizes advanced data-driven techniques. The input to PINNOTP consists of on-site working conditions, including the initial state of the ES and the material surface being excavated. The output is a smooth, polynomial-based curve that serves as the reference trajectory for the dipper. To ensure smooth execution of the generated trajectory, prior domain knowledge—such as physics-based target-oriented constraints, essential system dynamics, and mechanical constraints—is explicitly incorporated into the loss function during training. A case study is presented to validate the proposed method, demonstrating that PINNOTP effectively addresses the challenges of online excavation trajectory planning.
Influence of gradient moisture content on hot pressing heat transfer of bamboo scrimber and it’s mathematical model
Authors: Tian Xinchi , Yang Chunmei , Wang Tingting , Lin Qiuqin , Xue Bo , Yu Wenji 
Published: November 2024

AbstractHot pressing process is an important process in the preparation of bamboo scrimber. However, due to the low thermal conductivity of fiberized bamboo veneer and the low heat transfer efficiency in the preparation of bamboo scrimber, the processing time is prolonged. At the same time, due to the influence of moisture content in the hot pressing process, the “boiler effect” of the core layer with a sharp increase in temperature and excessive steam pressure will appear, resulting in the risk of board explosion. In this study, a pavement method with gradient moisture content is explored, which can make the surface water vaporize and produce steam impact on the core layer, thus improving the heat transfer efficiency of the core layer and reducing the hot pressing period. The results show that when paving with gradient moisture content, the heating rate of the core layer is increased to a certain extent due to the promotion of steam impact on the core layer temperature. At the same time, due to the low moisture content of the core layer, the saturated steam cannot be formed from the moisture to the core layer, so the obvious “boiler effect” will not appear in the core layer, which can improve the hot pressing efficiency and reduce the risk of board explosion. In addition, this method does not reduce the mechanical properties of the panel. Meanwhile, this study introduces a straightforward gradient moisture content paving method and has made structural enhancements to the hot press machine, enabling the practical implementation of gradient moisture content paving.
Making it on the breadline – improving food security on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, Central Australia
Authors: Lee Amanda J. , Rainow Stephan , Balmer Liza , Hutchinson Rhiannon , Bryce Suzanne , Lewis Meron , Herron Lisa-Maree , Torzillo Paul , Stevens Robert , Kavanagh Margaret , Wells Lisa , Kenny Ingrid ,   Nganampa Health Council, Nyaningu Jamie , Singer John , Haines Sue ,   Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council, Smith Kunmanara , Yangi Yangi Fox Yangi Yangi , Baker Maureen , Bandicha Yanyi , Forbes Janet , Kulitja Rene , Lewis Wanatjura , Naylon Peggy , Roberts Tjawina Nellie , Tjiweri Lily , Ward Martha , Windy Carmen , Ross Lynette 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Background
This longitudinal case study describes the efforts and impacts of community-controlled service organisations on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in Central Australia to tackle food security since the 1980s, with a focus on the last decade, particularly during a year of concerted action from mid-2018.

Methods
The co-designed study comprised an interrupted time series with controls. Availability, affordability, accessibility and sales of foods in the community retail stores on the APY Lands were monitored regularly from 2014 to mid-2022, including by local research teams. Store nutrition policy was updated early 2018. For a year from mid-2018, of the eight communities with stores: (i) two were the focus for concerted intervention, including support from a locally based project officer to help implement the policy and action 105 community requests for nutrition activities (ii) three received usual support to implement the policy; and (iii) three were subject to ‘business as usual’. From mid-2019, all communities/stores received usual service, from 2020 with some restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results were compared over time, across different community/store groups and with controls.

Results
In the 12 months from mid-2018, all food security metrics improved most in the two focus communities. Impacts were less marked in the communities without additional support to implement the revised nutrition policy, and even less apparent, although more varied, in the other three communities/stores. Dietary intake improved only in the two focus communities.
In all communities from early 2020 most gains eroded due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and other external stressors. Food security metrics, including price of healthy food, appeared more resilient in the focus communities, although diet quality worsened. At all times assessed, healthy diets were unaffordable for welfare-dependant households.

Conclusions
This co-designed study demonstrates the effectiveness of community-led approaches, confirming that it is possible to improve food security and diet in remote Aboriginal communities. However, sustained action and monitoring, dedicated resources and employment of local people are critical for success. Results also highlight that low incomes are a major barrier to food security.
The doctor’s presence created a safe space - a mixed methods study of students’ learning outcomes from an elective course in palliative medicine
Authors: Schaufel Margrethe Aase , Rosland Jan Henrik , Haugen Dagny Faksvåg 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Background
Competence in palliative medicine is required in clinical practice. Based on a literature review, we developed a two-week elective course in palliative medicine for 5th and 6th year medical students. We wanted to study learning outcomes from the course, especially related to knowledge, confidence, and reflections on the doctor’s role in palliative care.

Methods
A multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQ) assessed knowledge in palliative care pre and post course. The Thanatophobia Scale (TS) and the Self-efficacy in Palliative Care Scale (SEPC) measured confidence in communication with patients close to death and in providing palliative care, respectively. Reflection notes were analysed using Systematic Text Condensation, a cross-case thematic analysis. Lave & Wenger’s theory about situated learning was used to support interpretations.

Results
From 2018 to 2022 we ran four courses for a total of 48 students. Test results improved over the course in all four groups. On average, MCQ scores increased by 22% (range 13–33), TS scores were reduced by 28% (24–32), and SEPC scores increased by 50% (42–64), reflecting increased confidence in dealing with seriously ill and dying patients and their relatives. The participants prepared reflection notes describing their main impressions and take-home messages from the course, focusing specifically on the role of the doctor. They described the doctor’s role linked to an overarching task of creating a sense of security for patients and relatives. Through the course, and especially through talking to patients and relatives and being part of the interprofessional team, the participants learned how this sense of security was built by gaining competence in the following domains: 1) Patient-centred communication about the disease, expected trajectory, and needs, establishing common ground and support; 2) Being the medical expert in symptom relief and decision-making, providing guidance and reassurance in difficult situations; 3) Professionalism rooted in a holistic and relational approach; and 4) Being a good team player, aware of their function and limitations.

Conclusions
A two-week student-selected course in palliative medicine improved knowledge and skills and increased confidence in providing palliative care. The comprehensive understanding of the doctor’s role obtained in this course may also be relevant to other clinical specialties.

Trial registration
Not applicable (no clinical trial).