bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysing the Legal Development of the Case Management System in the High Court of Tanzania
Authors: Siyani Mustapher M. , Marwa Ryoba 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
This article traces the legal development of case management as applied in the High Court of Tanzania for the timely justice dispensation. To make it easier for the readers, the authors of this article employed a doctrinal approach by carrying out a systematic documentary review, including the constitution, legislation, reports, and case laws. This review aimed to provide a thorough historical perspective of the development of the case management system in the High Court of Tanzania. The findings reveal that Tanzania introduced a case management system to address the inefficiency of justice in the court system. Furthermore, timely dispensation of justice is the constitutional essence of the existence of the Judiciary of Tanzania. However, even with the introduction of the case management system, the need for the timely justice dispensation in the court of law has not been satisfactorily achieved.
Quantitative risk assessment for aflatoxins in beans from northern Tanzania
Authors: Nyangi C. , Runyogote J. , Mng’ong’o M. 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
The study focussed on quantitative risk assessment for population exposure to aflatoxins by consuming beans from bean farmers in three villages; Long, Sabilo and Seloto in Babati District, Northern Tanzania. Aflatoxin levels were determined in a total of 144 bean samples; a total of 38 samples were collected from harvesting beans, while 106 samples were collected from stored beans. This kind of assessment allows modelling bean consumption data (kg/kg body weight (bw)/day) using an estimated average weight of an adult of 60 kg with previously collected data for total aflatoxin (AF) contamination (μg/kg) beans samples from the 2013/14 survey. Consumption was estimated by using the minimum annual per capita consumption of beans in Tanzania of 13.02 kg (which is equivalent to 35.67 g/day) and the exposure assessment was performed with the @RISK analysis software. Results from the assessment showed exposure for lower bound (LB) having a mean value of 1.06, 0.79 and 0.95 ng/kg bw/day in Long, Sabilo and Seloto villages, respectively, while for the medium bound (MB) the mean values were 1.33, 1.07 and 1.26 ng/kg bw/day, respectively, and for the upper bound (UB) the values were 1.65, 1.38 and 1.58 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. The margins of exposure (MoE) from this study were below 10,000 for all scenarios and this is of public health concern. Even though all samples had aflatoxin contamination below the maximum tolerable limit (MTL) of 4, 10 and 20 μg/kg for aflatoxins in cereals and pulses in the EU, the East African Community (EAC) and the USA, there is still a serious long-term health implication. Meeting MTL will not by itself guarantee food safety, but using the data collected and available on various health effects from aflatoxin and other mycotoxins, it is important to incorporate them into a risk assessment and show how excessive consumption of foods meets MTLs can still carry significant public health risks.
Co-occurring mental and substance use disorders in Australia 2020–2022: Prevalence, patterns, conditional probabilities and correlates in the general population
Authors: Sunderland Matthew , Vescovi Joshua , Chapman Cath , Arya Vikas , Harris Meredith , Burgess Philip , Marel Christina , Mills Katherine , Baillie Andrew , Teesson Maree , Slade Tim 
Published: October 2024

Background: Previous estimates from 2007 found that co-occurring mental and/or substance use disorders were a pervasive feature of Australia’s mental health. Since that time there have been shifts and improvements in the conceptualisation and incorporation of co-occurring disorders in research and treatment settings. The current study provides up-to-date estimates on the prevalence of co-occurring mental and/or substance use disorders, highlights common patterns of co-occurrence, identifies significant correlates and examines any changes in the extent of co-occurring disorders since 2007. Methods: Data were from the two Australian National Surveys of Mental Health and Wellbeing conducted in 2020–2022 ( N = 15,893) and 2007 ( N = 8841). Descriptive statistics were estimated for the number of co-occurring conditions, correlations and pairwise conditional probabilities. Multinomial logistic and robust Poisson regressions were used to identify significant correlates and compare changes in co-occurring conditions across surveys. Results: Approximately 46% of people with a mental or substance use disorder in the past 12 months experienced two or more diagnosable conditions. There was little evidence to suggest that the prevalence of co-occurring disorders has changed since 2007 (Prevalence Ratio (PR) = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.98–1.18). Subgroup analysis indicated that those aged 16–24 years were significantly more likely to experience any co-occurrence in 2020–2022 compared with those aged 16–24 years in 2007 (PR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.17–1.77). Conclusions: Co-occurring mental and substance use disorders remain endemic in Australia. Indeed, they appear to be increasingly problematic in younger, more recent cohorts. The results suggest that continued effort is needed to develop and implement transdiagnostic interventions that target broad contextual and/or societal factors.
Does Meaning-Making Mediate COVID-19 Restrictions’ Impact on Grief and Psychological Symptoms?
Authors: Batista João , Albuquerque Sara , Delalibera Mayra , Oliveira João T. , Coelho Alexandra 
Published: October 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic imposed substantial restrictions on funeral ceremonies, profoundly affecting grief experiences. This study investigated the mediating role of meaning-making in the relationship between these restrictions and prolonged grief disorder (PGD) symptoms, anxiety, depression, and trauma. A longitudinal study involving 141 bereaved individuals was conducted, with assessments at two time points: 3–6 months (T1) and 9–12 months (T2) post-loss. Structural equation modeling revealed that the psychological impact of restrictions on death and funeral ceremonies had indirect effects on anxiety and prolonged grief symptoms through meaning-making, particularly the footing in the world subscale. These findings underscore the importance of understanding the complex interplay between pandemic-related restrictions and grief experiences, emphasizing the pivotal role of meaning-making in adapting to loss during those challenging times.
Aucubin Induces Apoptotic Cell Death Through Caspase-dependent Pathways in Human Osteosarcoma MG-63 Cells
Authors: Cui Mengfan , Chen Pengyu 
Published: October 2024

Background Osteosarcomas (OSs) are predominantly generated by mesenchymal cells, which commonly develop in the distal and upper regions of the bones. OS has high mortality rates and treatment failures, mostly due to the presence of lung metastases. Objectives The present work aimed to scrutinize the anticancer potentials of aucubin against OS human osteosarcoma (MG-63) cells. Materials and Methods The proliferation of the control and aucubin-treated MG-63 cells was studied by an XTT assay. Various fluorescent staining assays were done to assess the endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and apoptosis in the aucubin-treated MG-63 cells. The caspase-3, -8, and -9 activities were investigated using the assay kits. Results The XTT assay results confirmed that the aucubin treatment considerably reduced the MG-63 cells. The findings of the various fluorescent staining assays evidenced that the aucubin treatment remarkably promoted endogenous ROS accumulation and apoptosis in the OS cells. The caspase activities were also improved in the OS cells after the aucubin treatment. Conclusion The results of this work show that aucubin treatments inhibit cell proliferation and trigger apoptosis in MG-63 cells, suggesting its potential as a promising anticancer agent. These findings will facilitate the future development of aucubin as a talented anticancer agent to treat OS.
Diabetes Glycemic Control in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and ADHD
Authors: Leshno Dahlia , Lev Shalem Liat , Perlov Gavze Revital , Leshno Moshe 
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Persistence in treatment is important in balancing diabetes and preventing complications. ADHD impairs quality of life and functioning in many areas of life. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible association of ADHD and diabetes glycemic control among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: All data were obtained from Maccabi Healthcare Services (MHS) automated databases. This retrospective cross-sectional study uses electronic medical records from the Maccabi Healthcare Services database during the years 2010 to 2020. Using a propensity score with the variables of age, gender, and duration of diabetes, we compared a group of 1,582 patients with T2DM and ADHD to 1,582 patients with T2DM and without ADHD. We used a t-test to compare continuous variables and a Mann-Whitney U test for non-parametric testing. In addition, we used multivariate logistic regression with a cutoff of several HbA1c values in T2DM patients with and without ADHD during 2019 to 2020. The proportion of patients with HbA1c values above 10%, 9%, and 8% in the group of patients with ADHD was 4.7 to 5.9 times higher than in patients without ADHD. In addition, the OR in the multivariate logistic regression was 4.2 (95% CI [2.5, 6.8]), 4.3 (95% CI [3.1, 6.1]), and 2.7 (95% CI [2.2, 3.4]) for cutoff of HbA1c of 10%, 9%, and 8%, respectively. Conclusion: Patients with co-morbid ADHD and T2DM have a higher incidence of poor glycemic control. The findings extend the knowledge on the relationship between ADHD and diabetes and highlight the need for further research to improve treatment.
Do we need a high level of detail in health information animations? An experimental study investigating the association between level of detail and information recall
Authors: Pedersen Pernille Blom , Høybye Mette T , Borreskov Dahl Line , Rud Budtz Cecilie 
Published: October 2024

Objective: This study examined the potential of simple animations with a low level of detail and their impact on patient’s ability to recall information. Also, we examined how the patients’ digital health literacy influenced the association. Methods: Over 900 Danish adults were continuously included in this experimental study, and they were allocated to either an animation with a low or high level of detail. Participants answered questionnaires about demographics, digital health literacy, and the ability to recall information. The association between level of detail and information recall was examined by OR (95% CI). Results: The results showed no association between the level of detail and information recall. Conclusion: This novel study supports the potential of simple animations, and future research could advantageously investigate animations with more significant differences in level of detail. The results should be cautiously interpreted, as selection and information problems may have caused bias.
Perceived benefits and challenges of using an electronic cancer prediction system for safety netting in primary care: An exploratory study of C the signs
Authors: Spear Sara , Knight-Davidson Pamela 
Published: October 2024

Objectives This paper reports on an exploratory study into the perceived benefits and challenges of using an electronic cancer prediction system, C the Signs, for safety netting within a Primary Care Network (PCN) in the East of England. Methods The study involved semi-structured interviews and a qualitative questionnaire with a sample of 15 clinicians and practice administrators within four GP practices in the PCN. Results Participants generally perceived benefits of C the Signs for managing and monitoring referrals as part of post-consultation safety netting. Clinicians made little use of the decision support function though, as part of safety netting during the consultation, and referrals were still sent by administrators, rather than directly by clinicians through C the Signs. Conclusion Emphasising the benefits of C the Signs for post-consultation safety netting is most likely to gain buy-in to the system from clinicians, and can also be used by administrators for shared visibility of referrals. More evidence is needed on the value of C the Signs for safety netting during the consultation, through better diagnosis of cancer, before this is seen as a valued benefit by clinicians and provides motivation to use the system.
Barriers to mobile personal health assistant in patients living with diabetes
Authors: Kuo Mei-Chen , Liou Chiou-Fang , Lin Jyh-Horng , Huang Ching-Feng , Weng Li-Chueh 
Published: October 2024

Objectives: Continued use of a digital health assistant that helps patients living with diabetes to self-manage and deal with complex problems in order to enhance their health status is a healthcare priority. The objective was to explore the barriers related to the use of a mobile personal health assistant for patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Eighty-one participants were offered a personal health assistant through a smartphone application. They completed a questionnaire after initial training (T0) and after 1 month’s experience (T1). Results and Conclusion: Most had a positive behavioral intention before using it, but the opposite was found after 1 month. There were positive correlations between behavioral intention and the eight related factors. The strongest correlations were with satisfaction and perceived usefulness at T0 and T1, respectively. The factors’ mean values decreased after 1 month. The best predictors of behavioral intention were satisfaction and performance expectancy at T0 and T1, respectively, which predicted the status of 88.4% and 82.7% of the sample. Our findings will help health experts to build better tools that satisfy patients and meet their expectations.
Prevalence and Effect of Cannabinoids in Pain Management for Hand Pathologies
Authors: Sleiman Marc G. , Straszewski Andrew , Stepan Jeffrey G. , Conti Mica Megan 
Published: October 2024

Background: Cannabinoids are a diverse group of compounds under investigation for various medical purposes, including analgesia. Given the evolving landscape of cannabinoid use, we aimed to analyze their prevalence and effect in pain management among urban orthopedic hand patients. Methods: An electronic survey was administered to 122 new patients presenting to the orthopedic hand clinic of a major urban academic hospital. Demographic data, numerical rating scale pain scores, cannabinoid usage, and other concomitant pain regimens were recorded. Results: Approximately half of the new patients were dissatisfied with current pain management for their hand pathology. Prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications were used by 58% (71/122) of patients, while cannabinoids were used by 15% (18/122) of patients. Compared with pre-usage pain scores, both cannabinoids and Rx/OTC medications induced significant reductions in pain associated with patients’ hand pathologies (Cannabinoid: Δ4.4, P = .002; Rx/OTC: Δ3.0, P < .001). Cannabinoids induced a larger analgesic effect, but this difference was not statistically or clinically significant ( P = .06). Subjectively, cannabinoid users either preferred their cannabinoid over Rx/OTC medications or liked both equally. Opioid use was higher among cannabinoid users (22.2% vs 12.5%), although this was not statistically significant ( P = .28). Conclusion: Approximately 15% of new urban hand patients use cannabinoids for pain control, and these compounds have similar analgesic efficacy in hand pathologies as Rx/OTC medications. Cannabinoids are equally liked or preferred relative to traditional medications in this cohort, and they may play an important role in pain management for hand patients.
Judicious Use of Benzathine Penicillin G in Response to a Medication Alert During a Critical Drug Shortage
Authors: Campillo Terrazas William , Kenney Rachel M. , Argyris Amy , Shallal Anita B. , Veve Michael P. 
Published: October 2024

Purpose: To evaluate judicious antibiotic prescribing of benzathine penicillin G (BPG) after implementation of an electronic health record-based medication shortage alert during a critical drug shortage. Methods: This was an institutional review board–approved retrospective cohort study of patients aged ≥3 months who received BPG between May 9, 2023, and February 28, 2024. The study included inpatient and outpatient visits after implementing a BPG medication shortage alert; patients with severe penicillin allergy, neurosyphilis, or congenital syphilis were excluded. Judicious BPG use was defined as use in patients diagnosed with primary, secondary, or latent syphilis or if they were prescribed a BPG alternative in response to the medication shortage alert; nonjudicious use included BPG for alternative diagnoses. Social determinants of health were assessed as exposure variables of interest. A separate cohort of syphilis patients receiving BPG or alternative therapy (i.e., doxycycline) was described. Results: A total of 453 patients were included. Most patients were non-Hispanic Black (n = 273, 60%) men (n = 272, 60%) with a median (interquartile range) age of 32 (22–44) years. Of these, 318 (70%) received judicious BPG, whereas 135 (30%) received nonjudicious BPG. The most nonjudicious diagnosis was streptococcal pharyngitis (n = 128, 95%). Variables associated with judicious use included age >32 years (adjusted odds ratio [adjOR], 2.273; 95% CI, 1.488–3.472), male sex (adjOR, 1.835; 95% CI, 1.206–2.792), and black race (adjOR, 1.847; 95% CI, 1.212–2.815). Among a cohort of 128 syphilis patients who received BPG (n = 64, 50%) or doxycycline (n = 64, 50%), those who received doxycycline were more likely be uninsured (35 [54.7%] vs 43 [67.2%]; P = .15) and receive outpatient treatment (3 [4.7%] vs 12 [18.7%]; P = .13). Conclusion: Despite implementing an electronic health record drug shortage alert, 30% of BPG use was nonjudicious and mostly for pharyngitis.
Investigating the effects of indoor lighting on measures of brain health in older adults: protocol for a cross-over randomized controlled trial
Authors: Mazurek Kevin A. , Li Linhao , Klein Robert J. , Rong Shengliang , Mullan Aidan F. , Jones David T. , St. Louis Erik K. , Worrell Gregory A. , Chen Christina Y. 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Background
The worldwide number of adults aged 60 years and older is expected to double from 1 billion in 2019 to 2.1 billion by 2050. As the population lives longer, the rising incidence of chronic diseases, cognitive disorders, and behavioral health issues threaten older adults’ health span. Exercising, getting sufficient sleep, and staying mentally and socially active can improve quality of life, increase independence, and potentially lower the risk for Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Nonpharmacological approaches might help promote such behaviors. Indoor lighting may impact sleep quality, physical activity, and cognitive function. Dynamically changing indoor lighting brightness and color throughout the day has positive effects on sleep, cognitive function, and physical activity of its occupants. The aim of this study is to investigate how different indoor lighting conditions affect such health measures to promote healthier aging.

Methods
This protocol is a randomized, cross-over, single-site trial followed by an exploratory third intervention. Up to 70 older adults in independent living residences at a senior living facility will be recruited. During this 16-week study, participants will experience three lighting conditions. Two cohorts will first experience a static and a dynamic lighting condition in a cluster-randomized cross-over design. The static condition lighting will have fixed brightness and color to match lighting typically provided in the facility. For the dynamic condition, brightness and color will change throughout the day with increased brightness in the morning. After the cross-over, both cohorts will experience another dynamic lighting condition with increased morning brightness to determine if there is a saturation effect between light exposure and health-related measures. Light intake, sleep quality, and physical activity will be measured using wearable devices. Sleep, cognitive function, mood, and social engagement will be assessed using surveys and cognitive assessments.

Discussion
We hypothesize participants will have better sleep quality and greater physical activity during the dynamic lighting compared to the static lighting condition. Additionally, we hypothesize there is a maximal threshold at which health-outcomes improve based on light exposure. Study findings may identify optimal indoor lighting solutions to promote healthy aging for older adults.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05978934.
Tree-based analysis of longevity predictors and their ten-year changes: a 35-Year mortality follow-up
Authors: Nosraty Lily , Nevalainen Jaakko , Raitanen Jani , Enroth Linda 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Background
Prior studies on longevity often examine predictors in isolation and rely solely on baseline information, limiting our understanding of the most important predictors and their dynamic nature. In this study, we used an innovative regression tree model to explore the common characteristics of those who lived longer than their age and sex peers in 35-years follow-up. We identified different pathways leading to a long life, and examined to how changes in characteristics over 10 years (from 1979 to 1989) affect the findings on longevity predictors.

Methods
Data was obtained from the “Tampere Longitudinal Study on Ageing” (TamELSA) in Finland. Survey data was collected in 1979 from 1056 participants aged 60–89 years (49.8% men). In 1989, a second survey was conducted among 432 survivors from the 1979 cohort (40.2% men). Dates of death were provided by the Finnish Population Register until 2015. We employed an individual measure of longevity known as the realized probability of dying (RPD), which was calculated based on each participant’s age and sex, utilizing population life tables. RPD is based on a comparison of the survival time of each individual of a specific age and sex with the survival time of his/her peers in the total population. A regression tree analysis was used to examine individual-based longevity with RPD as an outcome.

Results
This relative measure of longevity (RPD) provided a complex regression tree where the most important characteristics were self-rated health, years of education, history of smoking, and functional ability. We identified several pathways leading to a long life such as individuals with (1) good self-rated health (SRH), short smoking history, and higher education, (2) good SRH, short smoking history, lower education, and excellent mobility, and (3) poor SRH but able to perform less demanding functions, aged 75 or older, willing to do things, and sleeping difficulties. Changes in the characteristics over time did not change the main results.

Conclusion
The simultaneous examination of a broad range of potential predictors revealed that longevity can be achieved under very different conditions and is achieved by heterogeneous groups of people.