bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of Piclidenoson in the treatment of plaque psoriasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Ul Haq Muhammad Zain , Ashraf Saad , Shaukat Ayesha , Fatima Laveeza , Shah Muhammad Shahmeer Ullah , Ansari Muhammad Ahsan , Saddique Muhammad Nabeel , Batool Gharira , Iqbal Javed 
Published: November 2024

AbstractPsoriasis, an autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by hyperproliferation of keratinocytes, affects 0.2–4.8% of the global population. The disease manifests primarily as plaque psoriasis, causing chronic physical and psychological burdens. Although numerous treatments exist, there is ongoing exploration for novel therapies due to concerns about the toxicity, efficacy, and costs of current options. An A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) agonist called Piclidenoson has been shown to reduce inflammation and could be used to treat moderate to severe psoriasis. This meta-analysis evaluates the safety and efficacy of Piclidenoson in psoriasis treatment. This meta-analysis was conducted accordance with the PRISMA guidelines and has been registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024566459). A comprehensive search on Cochrane CENTRAL, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Google Scholar was conducted up to July 2024. Included studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving Piclidenoson. Efficacy outcomes included PASI 75 and PGA 0 or 1, while safety outcomes included adverse events. Pooled outcomes were presented as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Statistical analysis employed the Mantel-Haenszel random-effects model, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 and X2index. Three RCTs with 574 patients (313 Piclidenoson, 261 placebo) met the inclusion criteria. The pooled analysis showed no significant difference in achieving PASI 75 between Piclidenoson and placebo (OR: 1.62, 95% CI 0.70–3.75, P = 0.26, I2 = 12%). However, Piclidenoson significantly improved PGA scores (OR: 2.74, 95% CI 1.22–6.16, P = 0.01, I²=0%). Safety assessment revealed no significant differences in adverse events, including nervous system, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, renal, and infections, compared to placebo. Piclidenoson demonstrates a significant improvement in PGA scores and a favorable safety profile, suggesting it could be a valuable addition to plaque-like psoriasis treatment. Further research with larger, longer-term RCTs is needed to confirm its efficacy and optimize clinical use.
Beneficial effects of imagination of successful action after an actual error on baseline performances in non-expert young tennis players
Authors: Nicolas Robin , Carien Robbin , Ouarti Younès , Laurent Dominique 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of motor imagery (MI: imagining the success or failure of a forehand or backhand shot) training according to an internal visual modality centred on the movement and the target to be reached on tennis performance. 66 young (Mage = 12.1 years) players were randomly divided into three groups: control, failure MI or success MI, and performed 3 experimental phases. The pre-test consisted of performing 6 blocks of 5 forehand and backhand groundstrokes (sent randomly by a ball launcher towards the baseline) and a super tie-break. The acquisition phase consisted of 12 sessions, each including a standardized warm-up followed by 15 min of background rally in pairs. The participants of the MI group were instructed, after unprovoked errors on their part, to imagine performing the previous shot correctly (positive MI) or missing (failure MI). The post-test was identical to the pre-test. The efficiency score of shots and the number of errors committed at the pre- and post-test served as dependent variables. The results of this study indicate that participants in the success MI group performed better than the control and failure MI groups at post-test. The success MI, performed after errors, has positive effects on the quality of the shot and reduces the number of unforced errors of tennis players, while failure MI induces negative outcomes. The use of success MI, integrated in training session, is recommended.
Artificial intelligence in music: recent trends and challenges
Authors: Mycka Jan , Mańdziuk Jacek 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Music has always been an essential aspect of human culture, and the methods for its creation and analysis have evolved alongside the advancement of computational capabilities. With the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and one of its major goals referring to mimicking human creativity, the interest in music-related research has increased significantly. This review examines current literature from renowned journals and top-tier conferences, published between 2017 and 2023, regarding the application of AI to music-related topics. The study proposes a division of AI-in-music research into three major categories: music classification, music generation and music recommendation. Each category is segmented into smaller thematic areas, with detailed analysis of their inter- and intra-similarities and differences. The second part of the study is devoted to the presentation of the AI methods employed, with specific attention given to deep neural networks—the prevailing approach in this domain, nowadays. In addition, real-life applications and copyright aspects of generated music are outlined. We believe that a detailed presentation of the field along with pointing out possible future challenges in the area will be of some value for both the established AI-in-music researchers, as well as the new scholars entering this fascinating field.
Dirichlet problem for semilinear partial integro-differential equations: the method of orthogonal projection
Authors: Klimsiak Tomasz , Rozkosz Andrzej 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
We study the Dirichlet problem for semilinear equations on general open sets with measure data on the right-hand side and irregular boundary data. For this purpose we develop the classical method of orthogonal projection. We treat in a unified form equations with operators belonging to the broad class of integro-differential operators associated with symmetric regular Dirichlet forms.
Correlation of serum vitamin D and IL-8 to stages of periodontitis: a case-control analysis
Authors: Saleh Wafaa , Ata Fatma , Nosser Nessma A. , Mowafey Bassant 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Objectives
The current literature lacks the correlation between serum levels of vitamin D and interleukin-8 (IL-8) to the stages of periodontitis. The present research objectives are to evaluate the serum levels of vitamin D and IL-8 in periodontitis participants and healthy controls and to measure their correlation with the stages of periodontitis.

Methods
The current case-control study was conducted on patients with periodontitis and healthy controls. After obtaining a questionnaire from the participants, the following clinical parameters were measured; periodontal probing depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and tooth count. The serum levels of vitamin D and IL-8 were measured using ELISA kits. Then, we measured the correlation of the stages of periodontitis with the serum levels of vitamin D and IL-8.

Results
Ninety-eight participants; 52 with periodontitis and 46 healthy controls were included. The patients with periodontitis showed a significantly lower level of vitamin D, higher PPD, CAL, BOP, and lower number of teeth than the controls. In addition, serum vitamin D significantly correlated with the stages of periodontitis. Serum IL-8 showed no significant difference between the study and control groups while it does not significantly correlate with the stages of periodontitis.

Conclusion
The current study’s findings suggest a potential association between serum level of vitamin D with severity of periodontitis which necessitates screening vitamin D status in patients with periodontitis and investigating the possibility of vitamin D supplementation in decreasing the progression of periodontitis.
Disease activity at the onset of diagnosis as a predictor of disease outcomes in a cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A post hoc retrospective analysis of the COMOSLE-EGYPT study
Authors: Mokbel Abir , Fouad Nermeen A. , Alkemary Alkhateeb , Abdo Marwa 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Introduction
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has a non-uniform course directly reflected in changes in disease activity and anticipation of damage.

Aim
To determine the impact of disease activity at the onset of disease diagnosis, measured by the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) disease activity score, on different disease parameters and outcomes.

Methods
This multicentre, retrospective cohort study included 823 SLE patients. Disease damage was measured by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index (SLICC), and comorbidities were measured by the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). According to the mean SLEDAI at onset of disease diagnosis, patients were classified into two groups: I included patients with a mean SLEDAI ≤ 10 (non-severe disease activity), and II included patients with a mean SLEDAI > 10 (severe disease activity).

Results
SLEDAI at onset of disease diagnosis was a predictor of damage and comorbidities.

Conclusion
A higher SLEDAI score at onset of disease diagnosis was associated with damage accrual. Patients who are younger at disease onset are more likely to have more severe disease. Severe disease activity at the onset of disease diagnosis was also associated with future comorbidity occurrences, but it was not significantly associated with mortality. SLEDAI at the onset of disease diagnosis could be a prognostic marker predicting the damage, which may help in the identification of patients who are at higher risk of adverse outcomes. Special care should be directed towards patients who are younger at disease onset as they may have a higher disease activity at diagnosis.

Key Points• This is a unique study as it is the first to focus on the impact of SLE disease activity at the onset of disease diagnosis measured by SLEDAI disease activity score on different disease parameters and outcomes.• Previous studies, though these are scarce, have highlighted the impact of disease activity throughout the disease course and not specifically at the beginning of the SLE disease.
Can nanotechnology and genomics innovations trigger agricultural revolution and sustainable development?
Authors: Javaid Arzish , Hameed Sadaf , Li Lijie , Zhang Zhiyong , Zhang Baohong , -Rahman Mehboob-ur 
Published: November 2024

AbstractAt the dawn of new millennium, policy makers and researchers focused on sustainable agricultural growth, aiming for food security and enhanced food quality. Several emerging scientific innovations hold the promise to meet the future challenges. Nanotechnology presents a promising avenue to tackle the diverse challenges in agriculture. By leveraging nanomaterials, including nano fertilizers, pesticides, and sensors, it provides targeted delivery methods, enhancing efficacy in both crop production and protection. This integration of nanotechnology with agriculture introduces innovations like disease diagnostics, improved nutrient uptake in plants, and advanced delivery systems for agrochemicals. These precision-based approaches not only optimize resource utilization but also reduce environmental impact, aligning well with sustainability objectives. Concurrently, genetic innovations, including genome editing and advanced breeding techniques, enable the development of crops with improved yield, resilience, and nutritional content. The emergence of precision gene-editing technologies, exemplified by CRISPR/Cas9, can transform the realm of genetic modification and enabled precise manipulation of plant genomes while avoiding the incorporation of external DNAs. Integration of nanotechnology and genetic innovations in agriculture presents a transformative approach. Leveraging nanoparticles for targeted genetic modifications, nanosensors for early plant health monitoring, and precision nanomaterials for controlled delivery of inputs offers a sustainable pathway towards enhanced crop productivity, resource efficiency, and food safety throughout the agricultural lifecycle. This comprehensive review outlines the pivotal role of nanotechnology in precision agriculture, emphasizing soil health improvement, stress resilience against biotic and abiotic factors, environmental sustainability, and genetic engineering.
Safe implementation of minimally invasive surgery in a specialized colorectal cancer unit
Authors: Azevedo José , Kashpor Anna , Fernandez Laura , Herrando Ignacio , Vieira Pedro , Domingos Hugo , Carvalho Carlos , Heald Richard , Parvaiz Amjad 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Introduction
In the past 30 years, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has made remarkable progress and has become the standard of care in colorectal cancer treatment. The implementation of new techniques or platforms is, therefore, a challenge for surgical teams. This study aims to analyze the experience in the implementation of minimally invasive surgery in the colorectal unit in a specialized colorectal cancer center. We will report and compare the clinical outcomes of the patients submitted to the different surgical approaches, reflecting the importance of surgical training in the laparoscopic and robotic field for the reduction of surgical complications and improve short-term outcomes.

Methods
This study involved a retrospective analysis of data collected from a prospectively maintained database at the colorectal unit of Champalimaud Foundation between 2012 and 2023. Data were collected as part of routine clinical documentation and included variables on patient’s demographics, staging, short-term outcomes, and follow-up.

Results
A total of 661 patients treated at the Champalimaud Foundation between 2012 and 2023 were included, of which 389 (59%) had colon and 272 (41%) rectal cancer. Most of the patients underwent elective surgery, with a minimally invasive approach performed in 91% of cases. A complete resection (R0) was achieved in 95.1% (619) of the procedures with a pathology report staging 64.5% (409) of tumors as pT3–4. Eleven percent (70) of patients had complications classified as Clavien-Dindo (CD) ≥ 3.

Conclusion
This study supports the safety of the implementation of minimally invasive surgery in colorectal cancer care, with improvement in postoperative outcomes and surgical quality, supporting the importance of surgical training and specialized teams.
Timing of resting zone parathyroid hormone-related protein expression affects maintenance of the growth plate during secondary ossification: a computational study
Authors: Stoop Jorik , Yokoyama Yuka , Adachi Taiji 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Secondary ossification and maintenance of the growth plate are crucial aspects of long bone formation. Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) has been implicated as a key factor in maintaining the growth plate, and studies suggest that PTHrP expression in the resting zone is closely related with formation of the secondary ossification center (SOC). However, details of the relationship between resting zone PTHrP expression and preservation of the growth plate remain unclear. In this study, we aim to investigate the role of resting zone PTHrP expression on maintenance of the growth plate using a computational method. We extend an existing continuum-based particle model of tissue morphogenesis to include PTHrP and Indian hedgehog (Ihh) signaling, allowing the model to capture biochemical and mechanical regulation of individual cell activities. Our model indicates that the timing of resting zone PTHrP expression—specifically the rate of increase in production at the onset of SOC formation—is potentially a crucial mechanism for maintenance of the growth plate.
Maximum non-bounded difference method for overbounding Global Navigation Satellite System errors
Authors: Alghananim Ma’mon Saeed , Ochieng Washington Yotto 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) support numerous applications, including mission-critical ones that require high integrity for safe operations such as air, maritime, and land-based navigation. These applications require ensuring the upper bound of the positioning computation, including overbounding any assumptions made in positioning algorithms. One of the main assumptions in the GNSS positioning algorithm is that the error follows a Probability Density Function (PDF), widely assumed to be Gaussian. This assumption should be overbounded to ensure safety. Two mathematical definitions of distribution overbounding have been proposed: Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) overbounding and paired overbounding. Achieving these definitions has been an open problem for the past 20 years, and to date, no methods have effectively achieved either definition in multimode datasets. This paper proposes the first overbounding method, the Maximum non-Bounded Difference (MnBD) method, capable of achieving both definitions. Its effectiveness is assessed by comparison with the combined CDF bounding and paired overbounding approach. The results show that the MnBD method successfully achieves overbounding in both real datasets and 1000 simulated multimode data, tested on Gaussian and Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) distributions. The latter demonstrates MnBD’s ability to handle asymmetric distributions. The developed approach can be utilized in overbounding the GNSS error at the system level and user level to ensure the system integrity.
Who are the fathers? Profiling fathers of children born to teenage mothers in South Africa using the Recorded Live Births 2016–2020
Authors: Petlele Rebaone , Mkwananzi Sibusiso , Odimegwu Clifford 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Aim
Despite the huge investment in reducing cases of teenage pregnancy in South Africa, the incidence remains high. Interventions are targeted at girls with minimal consideration for the men who father children with teenagers. Our study aimed to profile the men who have children born to teenage mothers.

Subject and methods
We used South Africa’s Recorded Live Births 1998–2021 dataset containing cumulative live birth registrations recorded by Statistics South Africa. The birth notifications are received from the Department of Home Affairs. Our sample consisted of N = 97,161 registered births for mothers 19 years and younger for births which occurred between 2016 and 2020 with father information available.

Results
Majority of men who fathered children with teenage girls were between the ages of 20 and 29 years (89.70%); teenage girls are having children fathered by older men, with an average six-year age gap. For every unit increase of mothers’ age, so too the odds of having children with an older father—our findings show 36% reduced odds (adjusted odds ratio 0.54) for a 12-year-old mother having a child with a non-peer father and double the odds (adjusted odds ratio 1.84) for an 18-year-old mother having a child with an older father. The odds of teenage girls having children with older men increased annually and were saturated in rural provinces and district municipalities in South Africa.

Conclusion
Our study provided a geographic and age profile of men who father children with teenage girls in the country which should be used as a starting point for programmes directed at men to augment interventions to make an accelerated dent in teenage pregnancy cases in the country.
Prevention of frailty in relation with social out-of-home activities in older adults: results from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe
Authors: Mümken Sandra A. , Alonso-Perez Enrique , Haeger Christine , O’Sullivan Julie L. , Xue Qian-Li , Lech Sonia , Herrmann Wolfram J. , Gellert Paul 
Published: November 2024

AbstractOut-of-home mobility and social participation have been identified as resources to postpone frailty. We aim to examine the mediating role and specific contribution of social out-of-home activities in frailty prevention. Data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) waves six (w6), seven (w7), and eight (w8) were used. Frailty was measured with the SHARE version of the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) with frailty states fit, pre-fail and frail. First, a mediation model with 13,456 fit participants aged ≥ 50 years in w6 was specified with social network size, loneliness (UCLA 3-Item Loneliness Scale), and lack of motivation (EURO-D) as predictors and number of performed social out-of-home activities in w7 as mediator variable on EFS-scores in w8. Age, education, gender, cohabitation, widowhood, urban environment, and country served as covariates. Second, we investigated the association of increasing social out-of-home activities from w6 to w7 with change in EFS-score from w6 to w8 using a linear mixed model with 17,439 participants in all frailty states. Direct effects of loneliness (w6) and lack of motivation (w6) on EFS-scores (w8) were partially mediated by social out-of-home activities (loneliness ß = 0.005; 95% CI = 0.003–0.008) and (lack of motivation ß = 0.014; 95% CI = 0.009–0.019). The linear mixed model revealed a significant effect of increasing social out-of-home activities (w6–w7) on reduction of EFS-scores (w8) (ß = − 0.21; 95% CI = − 0.29–0.04; p < 0.001). Social out-of-home activities appear to play a crucial role in frailty prevention, which could be used for future interventions.
Energy-efficient instruction compression with programmable dictionaries
Authors: Multanen Joonas , de Bruin Barry , Corporaal Henk , Jääskeläinen Pekka 
Published: November 2024

AbstractTo improve the energy efficiency of computation, accelerators trade off performance and energy consumption for flexibility. Fixed-function accelerators reach high energy efficiency, but are inflexible. Adding programmability via an instruction set architecture (ISA) incurs an energy consumption overhead, as instructions are fetched and decoded. To reduce it, hardware-controlled instruction caches and software-controlled components, such as loop buffers and (programmable) dictionaries improve the energy efficiency of instruction streams in embedded processors. Reducing the instruction overhead with code compression is well established and dictionary compression has been an effective approach due to its simplicity. Compared to static dictionaries, adding programmability improves the effectiveness. However, run-time-programmable dictionary compression and its effect on energy consumption has not been thoroughly studied. We describe a scheme to target energy efficiency by using fine-grained programmable dictionaries in embedded compute devices. Guided by compile-time analysis, the dictionary contents are changed during execution. On CHStone and Embench suites, our method reduces energy consumption on average by 11.4% and 3.8% with negligible run-time overhead. The addition of a loop buffer further reduces the energy consumption by 19.8% and 4.5% in the two suites. Our results indicate that programmable dictionary compression allows further energy reductions over an already highly tuned instruction stream.