bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness and Safety of the ESC‐TROP (European Society of Cardiology 0h/1h Troponin Rule‐Out Protocol) Trial
Authors: Mokhtari Arash , Forberg Jakob Lundager , Sandgren Jenny , Hård af Segerstad Caroline , Ellehuus Catarina , Ekström Ulf , Björk Jonas , Lindahl Bertil , Khoshnood Ardavan , Ekelund Ulf 
Published: October 2024

Background
European guidelines recommend the use of a 0h/1h hs‐cTn (high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin) protocol in patients with acute chest pain. We aimed to determine the performance of this protocol in routine care when supplemented with patient history and ECG and a recommendation to refrain from noninvasive testing in low‐risk patients.

Methods and Results

This was a pre‐ and postimplementation study with concurrent controls. Patients with chest pain were enrolled at 5 Swedish emergency departments (EDs) during a 10‐month period in both 2017 and 2018. All hospitals used a 0h/3h hs‐cTnT protocol in 2017 and 3 EDs implemented a 0h/1h hs‐cTnT protocol during 10 months in 2018. The 2 coprimary outcomes were the incidence of acute myocardial infarction and all‐cause death within 30 days and ED length of stay. The study included 26 040 consecutive patients. In the intervention hospitals, 21 (0.40%) of the discharged patients had an acute myocardial infarction/death event during the control period (0h/3h testing) and 22 (0.45%) in the intervention period (0h/1h testing), which met the criteria for noninferiority. There was no significant difference in ED length of stay (ratio 0.99,
P
=0.48) or ED discharge rate between the periods in the intervention versus the control hospitals. A total of 3142 patients met low‐risk 0h/1h hs‐cTnT criteria and were discharged, of whom 2 had an acute myocardial infarction/death event.

Conclusions
A 0h/1h hs‐cTnT protocol incorporating patient history and ECG was as safe as using a 0h/3h protocol but did not reduce ED length of stay or increase the discharge rate. Refraining from noninvasive testing in patients identified as low risk was safe.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT03421873.
Women in the Labor Force in the Arab World
Authors: Azhar Muhammad 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Female participation in economic development is crucial for female empowerment. It further indicates the maturity and level of emancipation of a society. The labor market is a very significant indicator of this phenomenon. The Arab labor market has its unique features. This paper aims to study the prevailing trends in the Arab labor market. The paper has included in its scope women’s unemployment both for educated and uneducated women in the Arab world. It also brings into its ambit aspects of supply and demand. It discusses the various constraints in this context. The paper is able to locate various factors responsible for the present state of female labor participation in the Arab world.
Understanding Cycles of Protest and Elections in Lebanon
Authors: Deets Stephen , Abou Harb Larissa 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
While contentious politics literature links protest and voting as connected forms of claim making, in Lebanon, scholars, activists, and citizens generally have treated them as distinct phenomena, resulting in cycles of anti-system protests and elections characterized by wins by the status quo and low turnout. This unusual situation reflects how confessionalism has become deeply intertwined with neoliberalism, closing off necessary opportunity structures for change. Neoliberal policies, even while causing general harm to the average Lebanese citizen, generated high rents which sectarian parties could then distribute to supporters. To keep this system going, the collusive sectarian elite consciously and largely successfully removed economic policy as an electoral issue. By starting from how the ruling sectarian parties dominate the economy, it is possible to explain the cycles of protest and voting behavior.
Comparative study between the roles of intrauterine misoprostol versus the sublingual route for prevention of postpartum blood loss in elective cesarean sections: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Atef Adel , Shehata Hadeer Salah Eldin Abdelrahman Moha , Bassiouny Yasmin Ahmed , Al-Inany Hesham Gaber 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Background
The prostaglandin E1 analog “misoprostol” is a drug that has powerful ecbolic effects and can be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage, which is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide.

Objectives
To assess the value of adding intrauterine misoprostol together with intravenous oxytocin injection compared with sublingual misoprostol together with intravenous oxytocin injection during elective cesarean section to reduce blood loss intraoperatively and prevent postpartum hemorrhage.

Methods
A total of 192 pregnant women were counseled and recruited from the labor and delivery unit at Kasr Al Aini Hospital, Cairo University, and equally randomized into two groups. Group (A) included 96 women who received intrauterine misoprostol (400 mg) + oxytocin. Group (B) included 96 women who received sublingual misoprostol (400 mg) + oxytocin. The primary outcome of our study was estimation of the amount of blood loss during and after cesarean delivery. The secondary outcomes were the incidence of PPH within the first 6 h after labor, the need for blood transfusion, the need for any supplementary ecbolic drugs, the need for additional surgical intervention for PPH, changes in hematocrit and hemoglobin in both groups after delivery, and the incidence of side effects of the study medications.

Results
We observed a significant discrepancy between the two groups in terms of postoperative Hb and Hct, postoperative differences (pre- and post-Hb and post-Hct) and EBL favoring the intrauterine group. However, no significant difference was observed between the groups with respect to excessive blood loss > 1000 ml in the 1st six hours, the need for supplementary ecbolics, the necessity for blood or blood prod, the need for additional surgical intervention (for PPH) or side effects.

Conclusion
Intrauterine misoprostol combined with oxytocin intravenous infusion is more effective than sublingual misoprostol combined with oxytocin intravenous infusion in lowering intraoperative blood loss and preventing postpartum hemorrhage in elective cesarean section.

Trial registration
This trial was retrospectively registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov Registry on 12-April-2024 (registration number: NCT06364098).
‘What is the most important lesson you learnt as a neuroscience master's student?’ A single-question study in postgraduate neuroscience education
Authors: Sandrone Stefano 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Introduction
Neuroscience is a young discipline and an expanding field of study and research. The number of neuroscience postgraduate courses has risen much more rapidly than in any other field of biomedical research. However, from a scholarship perspective, the master's experience has been understudied. This work focuses on the answers given by a group of neuroscience alumni, a rarely examined academic cohort, to a straightforward question: ‘What is the most important lesson you learnt as a master's student?’.

Methods
Thematic analysis was performed on 27 entries hosted by a public-facing blog of a STEM-intense university across four academic years.

Results
Four themes emerged: Skills, Theoretical knowledge, Attitudes and Community. Beyond replicating previous findings on the importance of skills and theoretical knowledge, an ‘imbalance’ between them has been reported for the first time. What emerges in our work is the overwhelming importance the alumni place in attitudes, especially resilience, and in the social/community aspects of learning, along with the role played by fellow students, faculty and laboratory colleagues.

Discussion
The master's level can be the ideal one for increasing awareness of resilience and learning how to make the most of it. Institutions should consider strategies for strengthening informal learning and supporting the development of professional identities. These findings can be of interest to a wide range of neuroscience educators and provide useful insights for designing effective postgraduate training courses. Future works can investigate the how beyond the what and explore the roles played by attitudes, emotions and feelings across neuroscientists’ career stages.
Effect of the second and third COVID-19 pandemic waves on routine outpatient malaria indicators and case management practices in Uganda: an interrupted time series analysis
Authors: Mukisa Pius , Kitutu Freddy Eric , Mpimbaza Arthur , Okiring Jaffer , Kalyango Joan N. , Nankabirwa Joaniter I. 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Background
Reports on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of malaria care and burden in sub Saharan Africa have provided a mixed picture to date. The impact of the 2nd (Delta) and 3rd (Omicron) COVID-19 waves on outpatient malaria indicators and case management practices was assessed at three public health facilities with varying malaria transmission intensities in Uganda.

Methods
Individual level data from all patients presenting to the out-patient departments (OPD) of the three facilities (Kasambya, Walukuba and Lumino) between January 2019 and February 2022 were included in the analysis. Outcomes of interest included total number of outpatient (OPD) visits, proportion of patients suspected to have malaria, proportion of suspected malaria cases tested with a malaria diagnostic test, test positivity rates (TPR) and proportion of malaria cases prescribed artemether-lumefantrine (AL). Using the pre-COVID-19 trends between January 2019 and February 2020, interrupted time series analysis was used to predict the expected trends for these study outcomes during the 2nd wave (May 2021–August 2021) and 3rd wave (November 2021–February 2022). The observed trends of the study outcomes were compared with the expected trends.

Results
There were no significant differences between the observed versus expected overall outpatient visits in the 2nd wave, however, a significant decline in OPD attendance was observed during the 3rd wave (15,101 vs 31,154; incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.48 [0.41–0.56]). No significant differences in the overall observed versus expected proportions of suspected malaria cases and test positivity rates in both COVID waves. However, a significant decrease in the overall proportion of suspected malaria cases tested with a malaria diagnostic test was observed during the 3rd wave (99.86% vs 99.99%; relative percent ratio [RPR] = 0.99 [0.99–0.99]). Finally, a significant decline in the overall proportion of malaria cases prescribed AL was observed during the 2nd wave (94.99% vs 99.85%; RPR = 0.95 [0.92–0.98]) but not the 3rd wave.

Conclusion
Significant declines in OPD attendance and suspected malaria cases tested with malaria diagnostic test were observed during the 3rd COVID-19 wave, while AL prescription significantly reduced during the 2nd COVID-19 wave. These findings add to the body of knowledge highlighting the adverse impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the malaria which could explain the increase in the malaria burden observed during this period.
Novel TBC1D8B variant causes neonatal nephrotic syndrome combined with acute kidney injury
Authors: Xu Yuanyuan , Dai Chao , He Jing , Liang Yaping , Zhu Ying , Deng Fang , Wang Chang , Jin Danqun 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Background
Nephrotic syndrome (NPHS), characterized by proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and edema, can be caused by genetic variations. TBC1D8B was recently discovered as a novel disease-causing gene for X-linked NPHS. With only a few reported cases, the clinical manifestations associated with variants of this gene need to be further examined.

Methods
We recruited a newborn with NPHS complicated by acute kidney injury (AKI) and his parents and tested the potential genetic cause of the disease through trio-whole exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing. Western blotting (WB) was performed using a mutant plasmid to evaluate mutant protein expression levels. Since the TBC1D8B protein interacts with RAB proteins to catalyze the GTPase hydrolysis process, immunofluorescence (IF) can be used to verify the interaction between the TBC1D8B mutant protein and RAB11A/RAB11B, and thus to confirm its effect on the endocytosis and vesicle recycling functions of RAB proteins within the cell.

Results
The child, at 1 month, showed severe edema and proteinuria and unexplained coma with epilepsy. Ultrasound examination revealed multiple organ enlargement, and MRI showed nonspecific high diffusion-weighted imaging signal characteristics in the splenium of the corpus callosum. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed diffuse inflammatory cell infiltration in the renal interstitium and multifocal renal tubule lumen expansion. Diffuse fusion of podocyte foot processes was observed under electron microscopy, indicating glomerular podocyte lesions. Genetic testing revealed a maternally inherited novel hemizygous variant, NM_017752: c.628 A > T, p.Lys210Ter, in TBC1D8B. In vitro functional experiments showed that this variant may lead to TBC1D8B protein degradation. IF results showed disrupted interaction with RAB11A/RAB11B, that then affects the biological function of RAB proteins in the process of cell intimal vesicle formation and intracellular transport.

Conclusion
This study will enrich the mutational and phenotypic spectra of TBC1D8B and demonstrate the potential of this gene variants to cause early-onset NPHS leading to severe kidney disease.
An introduction to causal discovery
Authors: Huber Martin 
Published: October 2024

AbstractIn social sciences and economics, causal inference traditionally focuses on assessing the impact of predefined treatments (or interventions) on predefined outcomes, such as the effect of education programs on earnings. Causal discovery, in contrast, aims to uncover causal relationships among multiple variables in a data-driven manner, by investigating statistical associations rather than relying on predefined causal structures. This approach, more common in computer science, seeks to understand causality in an entire system of variables, which can be visualized by causal graphs. This survey provides an introduction to key concepts, algorithms, and applications of causal discovery from the perspectives of economics and social sciences. It covers fundamental concepts like d-separation, causal faithfulness, and Markov equivalence, sketches various algorithms for causal discovery and discusses the back-door and front-door criteria for identifying causal effects. The survey concludes with more specific examples of causal discovery, e.g., for learning all variables that directly affect an outcome of interest and/or testing identification of causal effects in observational data.
Comparative Assessment of Thermal Damage Induced by Bipolar Forceps in a Bovine Liver
Authors: Çavuşoğlu Neslihan , Güngör Abuzer , Aksu Muhammed Emin , Emel Erhan , Berker Berk Burak , Doğruel Yücel , Türe Uğur 
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Bipolar electrocautery systems in neurosurgical procedures may induce thermal damage to adjacent tissues, especially neural tissues. Therefore, it is crucial to control thermal spread from the tips of bipolar forceps into adjacent tissues. The goal of this study was to compare the thermal damage induced in unintended adjacent tissues during coagulation with 6 different bipolar forceps.

METHODS:
Fresh ex vivo bovine liver tissues were coagulated with 6 different bipolar forceps: Aesculap® nonstick, Atlas Choice™, ISOCOOL®, SilverGlide®, Spetzler™-Malis®, and VersaTru® (45 trials per bipolar forceps). For all forceps, coagulation was performed with a power setting of 35 Malis units, 1-mm tip spacing, and 3-second activation time. Tissue samples were evaluated for the extent of thermal damage (30 trials per bipolar forceps). Tissue temperatures were measured with thermocouples placed in the tissues (15 trials per bipolar forceps). The area and maximum depth of thermal damage were measured manually with image analysis software.

RESULTS:
The injury area induced by ISOCOOL® and Atlas Choice™ bipolar forceps was significantly less than that of the Aesculap® nonstick (P < .001), SilverGlide® (P < .001), Spetzler™-Malis® (P < .001), and VersaTru® (P < .001). The areas of thermal injury caused by the ISOCOOL® and Atlas Choice™ forceps were not statistically significantly different from each other (P = .08). Lesions from the ISOCOOL® and Atlas Choice™ forceps showed significantly less depth of injury than the Aesculap® nonstick (P = .001), SilverGlide® (P < .001), Spetzler™-Malis® (P < .001), and VersaTru® (P < .001). There was no statistically significant difference in the depth of thermal injury between the ISOCOOL® and Atlas Choice™ forceps (P = 1.0).

CONCLUSION:
Bipolar forceps that effectively limit excessive thermal dissipation reduce the risk of unintended injury to adjacent or peripheral tissues. In an ex vivo bovine liver model, coagulation tests with ISOCOOL® and Atlas Choice™ bipolar forceps resulted in less depth and lower mean injury areas compared with other forceps.
Factors affecting employment status in people with epilepsy
Authors: Pasi Sushmita , Riju Sibi , Bhushan Singh Mamta 
Published: October 2024

Aim: People with epilepsy often face difficulties finding and keeping a job in India. This study aimed to determine the employment rate of people with epilepsy, compare it with that of people without epilepsy and to assess the various factors affecting theiremployment status. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was done by recruiting 140 people with epilepsy and 140 people without epilepsy (relatives of patients) from an epilepsy clinic in New Delhi, India. Demographic and clinical data were collected using questionnaires. Additionally, five items were added to measure self-perceived importance of work, ability to work and family support for working. Psychometric scales were used to measure the psychosocial variables affecting employment. Questionnaires were completed by people with epilepsy. Results: The employment rate of people with epilepsy was 59.3% as compared to 70.0% in those without epilepsy (P=0.045). Gender, younger age, having fewer family members, higher educational attainment, self-perceived importance of being employed for personal and financial reasons, and the ability to work and family support for working were some of the factors associated with employment status in people with epilepsy (P<0.05). Among the psychosocial variables, epilepsy stigma and perceived social support were found to be significantly associated with being employed (P<0.05). None of the clinical variables were found to be associated. Of those in the study, 56 out of 83 people with epilepsy, who had a job, felt they were underemployed. Conclusions: The employment rate of people with epilepsy was lower than the control population. The majority of those with jobs felt they were underemployed. A host of factors affect employment status in people with epilepsy. This suggests the need for vocational training, raised awareness among the general population, and counselling and other services for people with epilepsy.
Prediction of Cervical Cancer Lymph Node Metastasis via a Multimodal Transfer Learning Approach
Authors: Zhu Yeqin , Fu Chunlong , Du Junqiang , Jin Yuhui , Du Shunlan , Zhao Fenhua 
Published: October 2024

Aims/Background In the treatment of patients with cervical cancer, lymph node metastasis (LNM) is an important indicator for stratified treatment and prognosis of cervical cancer. This study aimed to develop and validate a multimodal model based on contrast-enhanced multiphase computed tomography (CT) images and clinical variables to accurately predict LNM in patients with cervical cancer. Methods This study included 233 multiphase contrast-enhanced CT images of patients with pathologically confirmed cervical malignancies treated at the Affiliated Dongyang Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. A three-dimensional MedicalNet pre-trained model was used to extract features. Minimum redundancy-maximum correlation, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression were used to screen the features that were ultimately combined with clinical candidate predictors to build the prediction model. The area under the curve (AUC) was used to assess the predictive efficacy of the model. Results The results indicate that the deep transfer learning model exhibited high diagnostic performance within the internal validation set, with an AUC of 0.82, accuracy of 0.88, sensitivity of 0.83, and specificity of 0.89. Conclusion We constructed a comprehensive, multiparameter model based on the concept of deep transfer learning, by pre-training the model with contrast-enhanced multiphase CT images and an array of clinical variables, for predicting LNM in patients with cervical cancer, which could aid the clinical stratification of these patients via a noninvasive manner.
Faith communities and Fair Trade Towns in the UK: Raising awareness of sustainable development
Authors: Dawson Mark 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Drawing on my research of Luton Fair Trade Town, in this article I argue that faith communities, working in partnership with Fair Trade Towns, are well-placed to raise awareness of sustainable development. I will discuss the ability of faith communities to raise awareness and bring about change towards sustainable development, utilizing both social and spiritual capital. An analysis focusing on social capital highlights the ability of faith communities to bridge different sections of society, issues and geographies. Spiritual capital concentrates on the motivation to action and this can provide a challenge to the status quo and a vision of how society can work differently, offering a necessary contribution to working towards a sustainable future.
State of the art: The impact of sustainability standards
Authors: Loconto Allison 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Voluntary sustainability standards emerged in the 1980s with the promise of making agrifood systems sustainable, and have developed over time into rather sophisticated systems of rules and sanctions. With this promise of change, has also come an interest in understanding whether or not change has come about. This is particularly pertinent as public agencies and governments are increasingly seeking to use sustainability standards as proxies for progress towards sustainability. In this short commentary, I share some of the recent knowledge about the impact of sustainability standards and Fairtrade standards in particular. I explore the impact of the use of the Fairtrade Premium and the impact of engagement with the Fairtrade system on business practices. I conclude with some reflections on the importance of standards in current debates in Europe.
The Sustainable Cocoa Debate: Key controversies
Authors: Coulibaly-Ballet Mantiaba , Loconto Allison 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
The sustainability of agriculture has been a topic of public debate over the last twenty years. The cocoa sector has been at the centre of this debate because of the large demand for chocolate in the Global North, which was one of the first sectors to begin to adopt sustainability standards. In this article, we focus on the actions taken by Northern and Southern actors to try to achieve cocoa sustainability over the past five years. Based on interviews and observations in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and European countries, complemented by document analysis, we map the controversies in the sector. Three issues emerge from our analysis: fair remuneration for producers, child labour and deforestation. We note differences of views between the actors of the North and the South, especially around the question of the fair remuneration of small producers. Emerging concerns are the single ingredient labels and the European regulations on zero imported deforestation and human rights due diligence.