bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impacts of mask-wearing regulations on stroke morbidity and mortality: A population-based retrospective cohort study in China
Authors: Shi Yulin , Wang Xiaonan , Li Ning , Li WanWei , Meng Xianfeng , Wang Baohua , Wan Xia 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background
It is common to protect people from air pollution by wearing masks, but how much of its health effect on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is unknown. This study aimed to determine whether the mask intervention associated with decrease in stroke morbidity and mortality.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort study comprising 7.8 million residents in Weifang, China from 2016 to 2022. The primary outcome was the daily stroke morbidity and mortality. An interrupted time series analysis, adjusting for underlying secular trends, seasonal patterns, air pollution, meteorological factors, health services utilization and road lockdowns, was performed to assess the immediate and gradual changes of stroke morbidity and mortality after the implementation of mask-wearing regulations.
Results
During the study period, 400,245 incident cases and 64,719 deaths of stroke were identified. Findings indicated a 5.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.8%-10.0%) immediate and a 14.3% annual gradual (95% CI: 12.7%-15.8%) reduction were observed in stroke morbidity after the implementation of the regulations, which resulted in an overall reduction of 38.6% (95% CI: 34.1%-43.2%) within 33 months of follow-up. Similarly, there was the gradual decrease in stroke mortality. It resulted in an overall post-intervention decrease of 8.4% (95% CI, 1.6%-15.1%). The subgroup analyses indicated that overall post-regulation reductions in stroke morbidity were observed across all age groups, genders, and subtypes. However, the overall reduction in stroke mortality among male and those with hemorrhagic stroke was not statistically significant.
Conclusion
These findings have implications for policy makers and public health experts seeking to reduce burden of stroke morbidity and mortality at the population level through personal protection measure in regions with severe air pollution.
Evaluation of the effect of short-term intravenous pumping of Dezocine after lower limb fracture surgery：a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wang Qianliang , Wang Ye , Zhang Pan , Wang Huazheng , Ben Xinglei , Liu Chao , Jin Xingyu 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Objective: To explore the analgesic effect and adverse reaction of early short-term intravenous pumping of Dezocine after lower limb fracture surgery.
Methods: Prospectively collected from 530 patients who underwent surgery for lower limb fracture and treated with postoperative analgesia. They were randomly divided into Dezocine combined with ketorolac group (DEZ) and ketorolac group (KET). The DEZ group was given ketorolac combined with dezocine by intravenous pumping for 24 hours. The KET group was only given ketorolac. Recorded the patients' pain scores, the postoperative adverse reactions and analgesic satisfaction. The analgesic effects of the two groups were compared after postoperative administration.
Results: Among the patients with postoperative pain, the effective rate in the DEZ group and the KET group has difference which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The proportion of patients with pain scores ≥3 on postoperative days 1 and 3 was significantly lower in the DEZ group than in the KET group (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse drug reactions in patients in the DEZ group was not significantly different from that in the KET group on postoperative days 1 and 3 (P < 0.05), and the analgesic satisfaction in patients in the DEZ group was significantly higher than that in the KET group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The effective rate and analgesic satisfaction for postoperative analgesia of lower limb fracture of combined medication were higher, and the adverse reaction rate didn’t change significantly. The difference of analgesic effect was more obvious in patients with severe postoperative pain.
Trial registration: This study has been registered in China National Medical Research Registration Information System on 15/05/2024.(MR-32-24-018286).
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictor of Short- and Long-term Complications in Pediatric Burns.
Authors: Delgado-Miguel Carlos , Gómez Lara Fuentes , Morán Ada García , Miguel-Ferrero Miriam , Díaz Mercedes , López-Gutiérrez Juan Carlos 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background
Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) has been postulated as a useful inflammatory biomarker in the prediction of complications in different pediatric diseases. Our aim is to analyze the predictive value of NLR in the development of complications in burned children, both in the short-term (need for grafting) and in the long-term (need for surgery of the sequelae).
Methods
A retrospective study was performed on burned patients under 18-years admitted to our Burn Unit between 2015–2021. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data at admission were evaluated. Predictive factors for the development of complications after burns (time of evolution, burned total body surface area, and acute phase reactants) were analyzed using sensitivity and specificity analysis (ROC curves).
Results
A total of 342 patients (198 males, 144 females) were included, with a median age of 27 months (interquartile range 15–83 months). In 97.4% of the cases, burns were primarily caused by thermal injuries (78.4% scald burns). Acute escharectomy and grafting were performed in 85 patients (24.9%), while long-term sequelae were observed in 112 cases (32.7%). NLR was the most sensitive and specific predictor for the need for escharectomy and grafting (Sensitivity 90%, Specificity 88.4%; AUC 0.920), for the development of long-term sequelae (Sensitivity 80.4%, Specificity 83.5%; AUC 0.849) and for the need for surgery of the sequelae (Sensitivity 83.5%, Specificity 80.9%; AUC 0.833).
Conclusion
NLR may be considered a useful predictor for the development of short- and long-term complications in childhood burns. It may help in the identification of high-risk patients to prevent sequelae.
Application of local anesthesia in parotid gland tumor resection: a retrospective review of 364 cases
Authors: Liu Shiyuan , Shen Heli , Yang Futian , Dai Pengzhan , Huang Zhiquan , Li Wei , Zhang Xianjun 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Objectives: The study explores the feasibility of using local anesthesia in parotid gland tumor surgery.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze 364 medical records, gathering data on several key aspects. These included the age, incision length, operation time, size of tumor, NHIS, ASA score, pathology. Additionally, we documented postoperative complications.
Results: A total of 111 patients underwent surgery under local anesthesia, while 253 patients underwent surgery under general anesthesia. We found a significantly different in surgical time, incision length, and tumor size between two group. There is no difference in postoperative complications and age.
Conclusions: It is feasible to perform parotid gland tumor resection under local anesthesia. Compared to general anesthesia, this approach does not increase the risk of complications or surgical trauma and can reduce anesthesia-related complications. This is beneficial for expanding the surgical treatment indications, allowing patients who cannot tolerate general anesthesia to also receive treatment.
Female labour force participation, power dynamics and adoption of LPG for cooking in Ghana
Authors: Wilson Joseph , Owusu-Brown Bernice , Iddrisu Seidu 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Cooking with solid fuels has been identified to pose health and environmental risks especially to women and children who bear the primary and heaviest burden of collecting firewood and cooking. While liquefied petroleum gas is recognized as a clean energy source that could alleviate the issues associated with solid fuels, empirical research has not extensively explored how women's involvement in the labour force and their power dynamics could promote the adoption of liquefied petroleum gas. This study addresses this gap by examining female labour force participation, power dynamics, and adoption of liquefied petroleum gas in Ghana using mixed-effect logistic regression model. The findings suggest that increasing women’s participation in the labour market increases the likelihood of adoption of liquefied petroleum gas as a cooking fuel by 2.5 times. However, married women with limited decision-making power in their households are less likely to adopt liquefied petroleum gas as a cooking fuel. Policy should be geared towards empowering women by giving them employable skills through training.
Leukemia burden impacts the efficacy and toxicity of blinatumomab in pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Yan Weiling , Hu Shaoyan , Gao Wenjin , Yang Lihua , Gu Yan , Liu Yufeng , He Yunyan , Zhou Dunhua , Hu Wenting , Tang Xue , Sun Ming , Song Lili , Yang Wenyu , You Yalan , Tang Yongmin , Xu Xiaojun 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background Blinatumomab has demonstrated its efficacy and safety in pediatric patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). The objective of this analysis was to describe the responses and toxicities of blinatumomab in pediatric patients with different leukemic burdens in the bone marrow.
Methods We enrolled patients aged 0-18 years who were diagnosed with CD19-positive B-ALL and treated with blinatumomab between January 2021 and May 2023 from 14 centers in China.
Results A total of 307 patients were enrolled in this analysis. The complete remission (CR) rate was 72.1% among 61 patients with ≥5% blasts(non-complete remission, NCR group), of whom 90.9% achieved minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity. Among 93 patients with <5% blasts but multiparametric flow cytometry MRD (MFC-MRD) positive(MRD+ group), 96.8% achieved MRD negativity. Of the 153 MFC-MRD negative patients(MRD- group), 60.0% and 65.5% turned quantitative polymerase chain reaction MRD (qPCR-MRD) or next-generation sequencing MRD (NGS-MRD) negative, respectively. Additionally, Patients in the MRD+ and MRD- groups had significantly better outcomes than those in the NCR group, with 30-month OS rates of 91.6% (95% CI: 0.857-0.979), 95.3% (95% CI: 0.915-0.993), and 77.6% (95% CI: 0.674-0.894), respectively (P<0.001), and 30-month RFS rates of 90.7% (95% CI: 0.847-0.972), 93.3% (95% CI: 0.890-0.979), and 64.4% (95% CI: 0.495-0.837), respectively (P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in OS between the patients who achieved MFC-MRD negativity in the NCR group and those in the MRD+ group, with 30-month OS rates of 85.7% (95% CI: 0.745-0.987) and 93.2% (95% CI: 0.881-0.986), respectively (P=0.270). In this study, 41% of patients experienced grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs), with hematological toxicity being the most common (32.9%). The severe adverse events, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity, occurred at a low rate, particularly grade ≥3, at 3.6% and 2.6%, respectively.
Conclusion Overall, these results indicate that blinatumomab is effective and well-tolerated. Patients with a lower leukemia burden before blinatumomab administration tend to have better overall survival and relapse-free survival with fewer AEs.
Glaciation of the Kuznetsky Alatau Mountains – current state according to Sentinel-2 satellite images and field studies
Authors: Ananicheva Maria , Adamenko Marina , Abramov Andrey 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Glaciers and glacierets of the Kuznetsky Alatau mountains are distributed at altitudes of 1200–1500 m above sea level, which is not typical for continental areas. The main factor contributing to the persistence of glaciation here is abundant winter precipitation. According to ground surface temperature measurements, the negative annual values are typical for upper glacier’s boundaries only. Since intensive study during the compilation of the USSR Glacier Inventory (1965–1980), the glaciation of the region has undergone notable changes. To assess the current state of glaciation, Sentinel-2 satellite images were used; contours of the glaciers were traced on the basis of images from 2021–2023. In total, 78 glaciers and 57 glacierets were identified. UAV imagery and field inspection were used for validation. The total glaciated area has been reduced from 8.5 to 3.1 km2, which is 50–75% for selected river basins, with slope morphological types decreasing the most. However, the elevation changes are negligible.
Evaluating the Flammability of Select Native Grasses in the Southeastern Coastal Plain
Authors: LaPierre Gage Daniel J , Schneider Mary A. , Miller Deborah L. , Hedman Craig , Sharma Ajay , Andreu Michael 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

The study investigated the flammability of nine common native grass species in the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Fire has historically shaped many of the plant communities in this region. Grasses are a significant component of these communities, serving as the fine fuels that carry fire across the landscape. The dominant grass species, wiregrass (Aristida beyrichiana), is considered a keystone species due to its high flammability, but its reproduction challenges and restoration costs prompt a search for alternative species with similar flammability but lower restoration and production costs. In this study, we experimentally burned nine common native grass species, including wiregrass, in controlled conditions in a custom-built combustion chamber and measured their flammability metrics, including flame duration, smoldering time, max flame height, mass loss, and mass loss rate, for each species. Results indicated significant differences in flammability metrics across nine common species. Wiregrass, as expected, featured high flammability metrics, including longest flame duration at 105.10 s and second highest flame height at 44.31 cm, supporting its keystone status. However, other species like purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) and split-beard bluestem (Andropogon ternarius) were comparable with wiregrass regarding high mass loss rates and high flame heights, suggesting they could potentially, or partially be used in place of wiregrass or preferably in combination with wiregrass in restoration projects and contribute to sustaining fire regimes in fire-dependent communities of the Southeastern Coastal Plains. Our findings suggest that incorporating a variety of flammable species in restoration projects could enhance ecological resiliency, biodiversity, ecosystem functionality, and further highlight the importance of species-specific traits in fire behavior and ecosystem dynamics.
Efficient Last-Mile Delivery in the Pharmaceutical Sector: A Novel Approach for Vehicle Routing with Smart Parcel Lockers
Authors: Aghdam Reyhaneh Shafiee , Shirazi Mohsen Akbarpour , Karimi Behrooz 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

The rise of B2C businesses and increasing consumer demands for affordable, convenient delivery services underscore the need for efficient delivery solutions. Last-mile delivery is crucial but often costly and time-consuming. Smart lockers offer a faster, cost-effective alternative, particularly important for the pharmaceutical industry during a pandemic. Contactless locker services ensure safe, efficient medication distribution. This research introduces a mathematical model to optimize vehicle routing for multiple products and truck types in the pharmaceutical sector. The dual objectives are reducing logistics costs and enhancing customer satisfaction by considering delivery time windows. The model evaluates direct customer delivery and indirect delivery via parcel lockers. The Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows (VRPTW) is modeled as a mixed-integer non-linear program (MINLP) in GAMS, and solved using a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II). A case study confirms the model's effectiveness, providing managerial insights for field managers.
Effect of an Educational Program on Nurses’ Level of Knowledge about Pain Assessment and Management: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Alomari Hussein , Allobaney Nabeel F. , AL-HUSBAN Raya Yousef , Macaaly Rosario A. , Swallmeh Esmat 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background Pain is universally acknowledged as one of the most distressing experiences individuals encounter, often leading to significant psychological and physical implications. Effective pain management is essential in healthcare, and it is imperative that nursing professionals possess the requisite knowledge and skills to assess and manage pain effectively. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a structured educational program on nurses' performance levels in pain assessment and management.
Methods A quasi-experimental, one-group pre- and post-test intervention design was used to facilitate this investigation. The research was conducted in the inpatient medical and surgical units in a main tertiary governmental hospital in Jordan. A total of 106 male and female nurses who provided direct nursing care in medical and surgical wards voluntarily participated in the study. Two instruments were utilised for data collection. A questionnaire was designed to assess nurses' knowledge regarding pain assessment and management, and an observational checklist was used to evaluate the practical application of pain management techniques by nurses.
Results The study focused on a sample predominantly comprising female nurses, most of whom held a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and had 2–5 years of clinical experience. Notably, 88.7% of participants had not previously attended educational sessions centred on pain assessment and management. Following an educational intervention, statistical analysis revealed a significant improvement in the mean knowledge scores (P<0.001). Furthermore, all dimensions of nursing practices related to pain management showed statistically substantial enhancement after the training, demonstrating a strong correlation between knowledge and practice levels before and after the educational program.
Conclusion The educational program's implementation resulted in more thanhalf of the participating nurses achieving a commendable level of knowledge and satisfactory practices in pain assessment and management. This underscores the program's effectiveness in enhancing both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. It is recommended that nursing professionals engage in ongoing training and educational opportunities focused on pain assessment and management to further refine their competencies and improve patient outcomes.
Effective dipole model for electrostatic interactions between polarizable spherical particles in the DEM
Authors: Giordano Maria , Alfano Francesca Orsola , Maio Francesco Paolo Di , Renzo Alberto Di 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Despite their widespread adoption, Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations of electrically charged particles in several natural processes and industrial transformations do not include realistic polarization effects. At close distances, these can dominate the particle motion and are impossible to predict by the commonly adopted Coulomb point–charge approximation. Sophisticated mathematical tools can account for uneven charge distributions, predicting an attractive force between a charged particle and a neutral particle or possible attraction between two like-charged particles. Such approaches are accurate but too complex for implementation in DEM simulations of many interacting particles. We propose a novel, simpler yet realistically accurate effective dipole model. By attributing a net charge and an induced effective dipole on each sphere, the interaction force between charged polarizable particles is computed in closed form. A comparison of a rigorous solution and the proposed dipole approach for two spherical particles reveals significant improvement over the commonly employed Coulomb law. The effects of particle size ratio and charge ratio on the interaction force are discussed. Then, the dynamic simulation of a shaker filled with a binary mixture of differently sized particles that are all positively charged is shown to predict the counterintuitive formation of fine–on–coarse aggregates.
A cross section survey on knowledge, attitude and practices of personal hygiene among school going children in Swabi, Pakistan
Authors: Noor Maqaddas , Khanam Surrya , Mayamba Alex 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background
Poor hygiene, knowledge and practices among the school going children are the major cause of different communicable diseases including diarrhea, skin problems, worm infestations, and dental ailments in developing countries. The present study aimed to investigate the existing knowledge, attitude and practices of personal hygiene among school going children in district Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Method
A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2021 to January 2022 in six randomly selected schools of the area. This study involved 398 students from 4th to 6th class. A well-structured questionnaire was administered to assess children’s knowledge, attitude and practices towards hygiene.
Results
The study results showed that students have good knowledge about the importance of hand washing, foot washing and nail cutting. Almost all the students knew the requirements of personal hygiene. More than 90% of the students wash their hands before and after meals. Half of the students take baths daily and about three quarters of them brush their teeth twice a day.
Conclusion
This study has revealed that school going children have appreciable knowledge and practice good hygiene while at school. The knowledge, attitude and practices of school children are quite satisfactory. Further, proper education, training and compressive intervention programs could support personal hygiene practices among children and minimize the risks for different communicable diseases.