bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Barriers and facilitators of benzathine penicillin G adherence among rheumatic heart disease patients: a mixed methods systematic review using the COM-B (capability, opportunity, and motivation for behavior) model
Authors: Areri Habtamu Abera , Tadele Henok , Workneh Sale 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
Benzathine penicillin G (BPG) is a proven preventive agent for preventing the progression of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and is recognized as a standard of care. However, ensuring adherence to BPG remains a global challenge. The objective of this review was to synthesize the available evidence on the barriers to and facilitators of BPG adherence among RHD patients.

Methods
This systematic review included both qualitative and quantitative studies on RHD patients published in the English language. This systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search strategy involved PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Global Health, Scopus, and Web of Sciences databases to identify keywords and terms contained in the title and abstract and the index terms used to describe articles. The review included papers published from January 1, 2000, to March 30, 2024. Two independent reviewers screened, appraised, and extracted the data. The data analysis was carried out deductively to fit onto the components of the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour) model.

Results
In this review, 1067 records were screened, and 22 studies with 7338 participants were included. Thirty-five barriers and twenty facilitators were identified and mapped onto COM-B components. Physical capability (e.g., felt healthy), psychological capability (e.g., lack of knowledge), reflective motivation (e.g., poor patient handling), automatic motivation (e.g., BPG injection pain), physical opportunity (e.g., BPG unavailability) and social opportunity (e.g., inadequate counseling) were identified as barriers. The most discussed barrier was automatic motivation, followed by psychological capability and physical opportunity.

Conclusions
Our review revealed variable levels of BPG adherence across studies and identified significant barriers and facilitators. Further research is recommended to identify contextual interventions to address barriers and capitalize on facilitators.

Systematic review registration
PROSPERO CRD42024535398.
Rapid test for Mycobacterium leprae infection: a practical tool for leprosy
Authors: Pierneef Louise , van Hooij Anouk , de Jong Danielle , Wassenaar Gaby , Verhard Els , Tjon Kon Fat Elisa , Engel Nadine , Khatun Marufa , Soren Santosh , Chowdhury Abu Sufian , van Hees Colette , Corstjens Paul , Geluk Annemieke 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
Detection of infection with Mycobacterium leprae allows timely prophylactic treatment, thereby reducing transmission as well as the risk of permanent, leprosy-associated nerve damage. However, since there is no worldwide-implemented standard test for M. leprae infection, detection of infection in asymptomatic individuals remains a major challenge for control programs in endemic areas. In previous studies, we developed and field-tested a lateral flow assay (LFA) quantitatively detecting human IgM against M. leprae-specific phenolic glycolipid I (anti-PGL-I), a marker for both active and past infection. This rapid test utilizes luminescent, background-free, up-converting reporter particles (UCP) and immunochromatography (i.e. the UCP-LF test platform) for accurate quantitation of anti-PGL-I IgM without operator bias. The aim of this study was to evaluate the final version of this quantitative UCP-based rapid test (i.e. PGL-I QURapid), using serum and fingerstick blood (FSB).

Methods
The test comprises a lateral flow strip, in a standard plastic or biodegradable cassette. It can be provided with a humanized, recombinant control to monitor test performance and calculate accurate anti-PGL-I IgM levels. The performance of this QUR-test was assessed using serum and FSB from patients with leprosy (n = 214), tuberculosis (n = 20), buruli ulcer (n = 19), leishmaniasis (n = 14), non-tuberculous mycobacterial (n = 35) infections, as well as healthy Dutch individuals (n = 710) and humanized, recombinant anti-PGL-I IgM antibodies. Plot receiver operating characteristic curves were created and sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp) and the area under the curve were calculated to evaluate test performance.

Results
Test results classified multibacillary leprosy patients with 95.0% Sn and 100% Sp using serum and 91.5% Sn and 99.8% Sp using FSB. Qualitative test results could be read after 2 min flow time, with accurate quantitation from 10 min onwards. The new anti-PGL-I IgM control supports production of batches with predetermined seropositivity thresholds and monitoring of the PGL-I QUR-test in various settings.

Conclusion
The operational version of the PGL-I QURapid with point-of-care applicability, meets the WHO target product profile criteria. Thus, this QUR-test is ready for public health implementations.

Graphical Abstract
Effect of substrate fabric characteristics on the peel strength of 3D-printed composite fabrics
Authors: Han Yoojung , Yun Changsang 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThis study aimed to analyze those factors affecting the adhesion between substrate fabrics and 3D printing filaments by evaluating the influence of fabric surface characteristics, fiber composition, yarn type, and the fabric’s structure. The results showed that among nylon, PET, and cotton, nylon demonstrated the highest peel strength; however, overall, surface characteristics had a more significant impact on adhesion than fiber composition, and in terms of yarn type, fabrics made from staple fibers had higher peel strength than those made from filament yarns, which is probably due to the rougher surface of staple yarns enhancing adhesion. Regarding fabric structure, among woven, knitted, and nonwoven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics demonstrated the highest peel strength, confirming that the structure and density of the fabric play a crucial role in adhesion. It was also found conclusively that fabric surface roughness and porosity affect peel strength significantly, with rougher surfaces and higher porosity leading to increased adhesion. This is because rougher surfaces provide more area for adhesion, and higher porosity allows the molten 3D filament to penetrate more easily between the fibers, thereby improving adhesion. This study provides practical guidelines for improving the adhesion characteristics of 3D-printed composite fabrics.
Phase change material integration in concrete for thermal energy storage: techniques and applications in sustainable building
Authors: Osibodu Segun Jonathan , Adeyinka Adekanmi Miracle , Mbelu Onyedika Vincent 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe building sector is a significant contributor to global energy consumption, necessitating the development of innovative materials to improve energy efficiency and sustainability. Phase change material (PCM)-enhanced concrete offers a promising solution by enhancing thermal energy storage (TES) and reducing energy demands for heating and cooling in buildings. However, challenges related to PCM leakage, mechanical strength reduction, and encapsulation durability hinder widespread adoption. This paper critically reviews the various PCM incorporation techniques and evaluates their impact on thermal performance and structural integrity. Our findings revealed that while PCM integration improves thermal efficiency, it reduces mechanical strength, especially at higher PCM content. To address these challenges, recent work emphasizes advancements in encapsulation technologies and thermal property optimization, focusing on mitigating leakage and enhancing durability. Organic PCM types are favored for concrete applications due to their compatibility, though issues with leakage control and strength retention remain unresolved. Hence, the choice of incorporation technique must balance application requirements, allowable mechanical property reductions, and cost constraints. Moreover, the lack of standardized methods to assess long-term PCM-composite durability highlights a need for further development of PCM encapsulation and integration techniques to optimize thermal and structural performance.
Alternative data in finance and business: emerging applications and theory analysis (review)
Authors: Sun Yunchuan , Liu Lu , Xu Ying , Zeng Xiaoping , Shi Yufeng , Hu Haifeng , Jiang Jie , Abraham Ajith 
Published: December 2024

AbstractIn the financial sector, alternatives to traditional datasets, such as financial statements and Securities and Exchange Commission filings, can provide additional ways to describe the running status of businesses. Nontraditional data sources include individual behaviors, business processes, and various sensors. In recent years, alternative data have been leveraged by businesses and investors to adjust credit scores, mitigate financial fraud, and optimize investment portfolios because they can be used to conduct more in-depth, comprehensive, and timely evaluations of enterprises. Adopting alternative data in developing models for finance and business scenarios has become increasingly popular in academia. In this article, we first identify the advantages of alternative data compared with traditional data, such as having multiple sources, heterogeneity, flexibility, objectivity, and constant evolution. We then provide an overall investigation of emerging studies to outline the various types, emerging applications, and effects of alternative data in finance and business by reviewing over 100 papers published from 2015 to 2023. The investigation is implemented according to application scenarios, including business return prediction, business risk management, credit evaluation, investment risk prediction, and stock prediction. We discuss the roles of alternative data from the perspective of finance theory to argue that alternative data have the potential to serve as a bridge toward achieving high efficiency in financial markets. The challenges and future trends of alternative data in finance and business are also discussed.
Elevated triglyceride-glucose index is a risk factor for progression to prehypertension in normoglycemic Japanese: a 5-year retrospective cohort study
Authors: Shimodaira Masanori , Minemura Yu , Nakayama Tomohiro 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is an alternative biomarker of insulin resistance that may be associated with elevated blood pressure. However, the relationship between the TyG index and the risk of prehypertension remains unclear. This longitudinal, retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the connection between the TyG index and the risk among Japanese population.

Methods
We enrolled 17,758 participants who underwent medical health checkups in 2017 (baseline) and 2022. At baseline, all participants were normotensive and normoglycemic state, and none were using triglyceride-lowering medications. Participants were divided into four groups according to quartiles of the TyG index at baseline. The risk of progressing to prehypertension was evaluated using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. In addition, multivariate restricted cubic spline analysis was conducted to examine the dose–response relationship. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the predictive value of the TyG index for progression to prehypertension.

Results
Compared with the lowest quartile (Q1) of the TyG index group, the adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for progression to prehypertension in the Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups were 1.05 (0.95–1.19), 1.14 (1.02–1.30), and 1.28 (1.11–1.50), respectively. The restricted cubic spline analysis demonstrated a dose–response relationship between the TyG index and the risk of prehypertension. The area under the ROC curve was 0.60 (0.59–0.61), demonstrating a sensitivity of 56.2% and specificity of 58.8%.

Conclusions
The findings suggest that an elevated TyG index may be independently and positively associated with an increased risk of progression to prehypertension in the Japanese population.
Klotho protein: a new insight into the pathogenesis of essential hypertension
Authors: Awasthi Richa , Manger Priyanka Thapa , Khare Rajesh Kumar , Alam Roshan 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
Essential hypertension is a most prevalent global health concern. Despite extensive research, the exact mechanisms contributing to essential hypertension remain unclear. Several factors contribute to the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. Klotho, a membrane-bound and soluble protein, has been found to modulate hypertension through physiological processes like vascular function and sodium balance. This study aimed to determine the association of klotho protein with essential hypertension.

Methods
The study included 164 hypertensive cases and 164 normotensive controls, after imposing certain inclusion and exclusion criteria with written consent from all subjects. Subject’s details were obtained using structured proforma to account for potential confounding variables. To estimate klotho protein activity using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, 2 mL blood was collected in a plain vial. All data were tested at a 5% significance level.

Results
The analysis revealed a significant decrease in klotho protein levels in cases compared to controls (1.52 ± 0.87 vs. 2.45 ± 0.90, P < 0.001), suggesting an inverse relationship of klotho protein with risk of essential hypertension. All indices in the structural equation model have suggested that the final model fitted the data reasonably (chi-square to df ratio, 1.153; goodness of fit index, 0.990; adjusted goodness of fit index, 0.945; normed fit index, 0.936; standardized root mean square residual, 0.953; root mean square error of approximation, 0.031). Also, klotho was negatively associated with blood pressure. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for klotho and blood pressure was 0.765 (95% confidence interval, 0.716–0.815; P < 0.001).

Conclusions
Klotho levels were significantly reduced in essential hypertension cases compared to controls, Also, klotho had a negative direct association with essential hypertension indicating a potential role for klotho as a prognostic and predictive marker for essential hypertension. This suggests that klotho may have a role in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. Understanding klotho’s role in essential hypertension may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for this disease.

Graphical Abstract
Virtual reality-guided therapy on a stroke unit: a feasibility study
Authors: Kühne Escolà Jordi , Demirdas Rumeysa , Schulze Martin , Chae Woon Hyung , Milles Lennart Steffen , Pommeranz Doreen , Oppong Marvin Darkwah , Kleinschnitz Christoph , Köhrmann Martin , Frank Benedikt 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
VR (Virtual Reality) has emerged as a recent treatment approach in neurorehabilitation. The feasibility of VR-guided therapy in the acute phase after stroke has not been assessed.

Methods
This was a cohort study of consecutive patients with suspected stroke who were admitted to the Essen University Hospital Stroke Unit between March 2022 and May 2022. All patients who had an indication for physical or occupational therapy due to upper extremity sensorimotor, cognitive or perceptual deficits were included and considered for VR-guided treatment. We excluded patients with predominant deficits in lower extremity function, since these could not be targeted with our VR system. A multidimensional approach was used to assess the feasibility of VR-guided therapy, which included characterization of eligible patients, resource utilization as well as treatment acceptance. For this purpose, we analyzed baseline and clinical characteristics, causes for withholding the treatment as well as qualitative and quantitative treatment metrics in patients who received VR-guided therapy.

Results
Out of 326 patients admitted with suspected stroke, n = 172 were included in our final analysis. Of these, n = 37 (21.5%) received VR-guided therapy. The most common cause for withholding treatment were neuropsychological limitations (22.9%), followed by physical impairment, comorbidity and level of consciousness alterations (all 17.8%). Patients who received VR-guided therapy tended to have better functional status and less severe neurological deficits. VR-guided sessions had a median duration of 20 min (IQR 17–29) with additional 13 min (IQR 9–17) of preparation time. In the majority of patients who received VR-guided therapy, motivation was rated equal or higher as compared with conventional treatment (76%) and therapists considered VR-guided therapy well feasible (65%).

Conclusions
Despite important treatment barriers, VR may provide additional opportunities to enhance functional recovery in the acute phase after stroke for selected patients. Our findings could aid in planning further randomized controlled trials which are required to refine approaches and assess the effectiveness of VR-guided therapy in the acute setting.
A performance evaluation of commercially available and 3D-printable prosthetic hands: a comparison using the anthropomorphic hand assessment protocol
Authors: Siegel Joshua R. , Harwood Jedidiah K. , Lau Annette C. , Brenneis Dylan J. A. , Dawson Michael R. , Pilarski Patrick M. , Schofield Jonathon S. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractDespite significant technological progress in prosthetic hands, a device with functionality akin to a biological extremity is far from realization. To better support the development of next-generation technologies, we investigated the grasping capabilities of clinically prescribable and commercially available (CPCA) prosthetic hands against those that are 3D-printed, which offer cost-effective and customizable solutions. Our investigation utilized the Anthropomorphic Hand Assessment Protocol (AHAP) as a benchtop evaluation of the multi-grasp performance of 3D-printed devices against CPCA prosthetic hands. Our comparison sample included three open-source 3D-printed prosthetic hands (HACKberry Hand, HANDi Hand, and BEAR PAW) and three CPCA prosthetic hands (Össur i-Limb Quantum, RSL Steeper BeBionic Hand V3, and Psyonic Ability Hand), along with including previously published AHAP data for four additional 3D-printed hands (Dextrus v2.0, IMMA, InMoov, and Limbitless). Our findings revealed a notable grasping performance disparity, with 3D-printed prostheses generally underperforming compared to their CPCA counterparts, specifically in cylindrical, diagonal volar, extension, and spherical grips. We propose that the observed performance shortfalls are likely attributed to the design or build quality of the 3D-printed prostheses, owing to the fact that 3D-printed hands often have a lower technology readiness level for widespread use. Addressing the limitations highlighted in this work and subsequent research will play a crucial role in refining the design and functionality of both 3D-printed and CPCA prosthetic devices.
Savoring traditions: culinary memory, familial identity, and authenticity of meen curry in Kerala
Authors: Davis Ann Rose 
Published: December 2024

AbstractFood has been invented, consumed, modified, and evolved through the ages based on social conditions. This influence can be seen in Kerala, a South Indian state along the Arabian Sea, which has been part of the colonial expedition. The culinary heritage of Kerala is a unique blend of foreign influences from Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, and British who arrived on its shores. In this context, the aim of the study is to focus on the authenticity of Kerala’s traditional dish, meen curry, in relation to culinary nostalgia and familial identity. The research paper will provide a comprehensive analysis of meen curry and the ingredients used in Kerala-style restaurant, studio kitchen, toddy shop, and heirloom recipes to understand how the dish is prepared in various settings within and outside the state as an agent of culinary traditions and nostalgia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six participants to explore the gastronomic landscape of Bangalore and Kerala with respect to the authenticity of meen curry. The qualitative data from these interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis and categorized into three relevant themes. The findings of the study suggest that the authenticity of meen curry of Kerala is variable and subjective, and one single form of “authentic” meen curry that represents entire Kerala does not exist. The research will contribute to the current academic knowledge on how the authenticity of food is perceived by communities or individuals and suggests that this perspective may be applicable to other societies or cuisines for future research.
Critical wind speed of iced hangers wake vibration based on wind tunnel experiment
Authors: Guo Pan , Yang Chao-yu , Tan Zi-kang , Chang Si-yuan , Li Sheng-li , Ren Duo-chang 
Published: December 2024

AbstractAn iced suspension bridge hanger has an altered aerodynamic shape, potentially causing various types of wind-induced vibrations. A wind tunnel experiment was performed, based on the DenHartog galloping theory, to study the wake galloping of the iced suspension bridge hangers at different hanger spacings. The results revealed that, for iced pin joint hangers, the pneumatic characteristics of the leeward hanger are more stable when the hanger spacing is in the 4.8D ≤ L ≤ 6.2D range. The range of wind attack angle corresponding to the negative value of the DenHartog coefficient increased gradually with the increase in hanger spacing. For iced straddling hangers, the effect of lift must be considered when the static wind load of iced straddling hangers is calculated. The DenHartog coefficients of iced hangers under different hanger spacings all exceeded the -1.0 specified in the code for Wind Resistance Design of Highway Bridges (JTG/T3360-01–2018). The aerodynamic characteristics of iced leeward hangers were more stable when the hanger spacing was A × B = 8D × 4D. Therefore, measures should be taken to increase the rigid vibration-damping frame and improve the critical wind speed of the hangers to avoid vibration in iced hangers.