bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Predictive Model of HIV Infection Among men who have sex with men (MSM): A Cross-Sectional Study in 6 Cities of China
Authors: Li Chenrui , Wang Yuxuan , Zhang Meihui , Zhang Yinghuan , Zhang Jiechen , Xu Gang , Hu Fan , Shang Meili , Wang Ying 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background Compared to the overall decrease in infection rates, the prevalence of HIV among key populations like men who have sex with men (MSM) remains high. Understanding the factors influencing HIV in these key populations is crucial. However, currently there are few large-scale studies that can comprehensively incorporate multiple potential influencing factors. Therefore, it is significant to build a predictive model for HIV infection among MSM based on demographic, behavioral, social and psychological characteristics. Methods A cross-sectional study of MSM was conducted in six major regions of China. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. We screen variables through univariate and multivariate analyses, and construct a predictive model through stepwise regression. We evaluated the model through nomograms, ROC(Receiver Operating Characteristic) curves and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results Among 2,403 MSM, 199 were HIV positive, resulting in a prevalence rate of 8.3%. MSM aged 35–44, with lower education level, higher smoking frequency, having STDs, assuming the receptive role in same-sex intercourse, using drugs before sex and experiencing depression are more likely to be infected with HIV. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed a p-value of 0.3834 for the model. The AUC of the nomogram was 0.783 (95% CI: 0.749–0.816). Conclusions HIV infection among the MSM population arises from a combination of demographic, behavioral, social and psychological characteristics. The development of the predictive model aids in formulating targeted and comprehensive intervention strategies. We need to strengthen our focus on HIV infection in MSM and take targeted measures based on the results of predictive model to curb the spread of HIV.
Defining and Prioritizing the Needs in Surgical Education: A National Survey Study
Authors: Yan Yichuan , Krusing Madeline B. , Awad Michael M. , Stefanidis Dimitrios 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background

In a recent study of surgical education leaders, a foundational understanding of educational needs in surgery was established. However, the challenges faced by and needs of the broader surgical education community remain elusive. The aim of this study was to determine the challenges and prioritize the needs of a variety of stakeholders in surgical education.

Methods

An anonymous survey was created using previously defined categories of educational needs, including leadership, teaching, learning, research, and professional development (PD). Participants were asked to submit the challenges faced and rank their needs. The survey was distributed electronically to members of the Association for Surgical Education (ASE) and through surgery-related social media channels from March to April in 2023. The survey results were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results

The survey was completed by 228 respondents. The most common challenges reported were limited faculty engagement in surgical education, lack of protected time for education, limited consistent constructive feedback to trainees, limited research funding, and limited time and direction for appropriate PD. The top priorities of educational needs included improving faculty engagement, providing best-practice teaching guidelines, creating a repository of educational resources for learning, offering training to improve research skills, and getting leadership training and career development.

Conclusion

The challenges faced by a variety of stakeholders in surgical education were determined and their priorities of educational needs were defined. Surgery departments, institutional leaders, and professional organizations representing surgical educators such as the ASE can use this information to develop resources and offerings to address identified needs in surgical education and help improve its quality.
Adjunctive phage therapy improves antibiotic treatment of Ventilator-Associated-Pneumonia with Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Weissfuss Chantal , Li Jingjing , Behrendt Ulrike , Hoffmann Karen , Bürkle Magdalena , Krishnamoorthy Gopinath , Korf Imke , Rohde Christine , Gaborieau Baptiste , Debarbieux Laurent , Ricard Jean-Damien , Witzenrath Martin , Felten Matthias , Nouailles Geraldine 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Bacterial multidrug resistance poses an urgent challenge for the treatment of critically ill patients developing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Phage therapy, a potential alternative when conventional antibiotics fail, has been unsuccessful in first clinical trials when used alone. Whether combining antibiotics with phages may enhance effectiveness remains to be tested in experimental models. Here, we used a murine model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced VAP to compare the efficacy of adjunctive phage cocktail for antibiotic therapy to either meropenem or the phage cocktail alone. Combined treatment led to faster recovery of VAP-mice and prevented lung epithelial cell damage. Using human primary epithelial cells to dissect these synergistic effects, we find that adjunctive phage therapy reduced the minimum effective concentration of meropenem and prevented resistance development against both treatments. These findings suggest adjunctive phage therapy represents a promising treatment for MDR-induced VAP, enhancing the effectiveness of both antibiotics and phages while reducing adverse effects.
DPYD (Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase) Variant c.2194G&gt;A (Normal Metabolizer) with Severe Toxicities in Patients Treated with Fluoropyrimidine Based Regimens. A first Case Report from Bihar, India
Authors: Ali Mohammad , Singh Manisha , Upadhyay Avinash , Afroz SK Aman , Suman Samriddhi , kumari Anjali , Kumari Anamika , Niraj Pintoo Kumar , kumar Arun , Ghosh Ashok , Priya Anandi 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

The first-line medications used in clinics for colorectal cancer (CRC) are 5-FU based chemotherapy and its prodrug, capecitabine. Nevertheless, there are still relatively few patients responding to 5-FU/capecitabine-based therapy. Up to 30% of patients treated with 5-FU experience early-onset severe toxicity, including diarrhea, nausea, mucositis, stomatitis, myelosuppression, neurotoxicity, and hand-foot syndrome. The catabolism of 5-FU plays a major role in determining its toxicity. DPD enzyme present in the liver and is encoded by DPYD gene, which inactivates most FPs(fluoropyrimidines) molecules, Patients with a deficit in DPD are more likely to have significant treatment-related toxicity while using FP on a regular basis. In the present case report, we have documented the case of a 49-year-old female diagnosed with mCRC stage 4 and evaluated the toxicity produced by the entire dose regimen. The patient had shown grade 4 toxicity from the first dose (5 FU) and continued until shifting to capecitabine and finally adjusting to the S Trio. Despite the high level of toxicity, the patient was found to be negative for the four most common mutant variants of the DPYD gene (c.1905+1G>A [*2A], c.1129‐5923C>G [HapB3], c.1679T>G [*13], and c.2846A>T). However, the c.2194 G/A variant, which is a normal metabolizer, was found to be positive. Therefore, we document to imply that c.2194 G/A should be regarded as a clinically important SNP and advised for protective testing, particularly in the Indian population.
Climate, not land-use, drives a recent acceleration of Larch expansion at the forest-grassland ecotone in the Southern French Alps.
Authors: Nicoud Baptiste , Bayle Arthur , Corona Christophe , Chambard Rémy Perron , Francon Loïc , Fructus Mathieu , Bensa Marion , Choler Philippe 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Recent decades have seen significant forest expansions into treeless alpine zones across global mountain ranges, including the Alps, and this is often associated with a complex interplay of climate and land use change. The upward shift of treelines has far-reaching implications for ecosystem functioning, biodiversity, and biogeochemical cycling. However, climate variables alone explain only a fraction of treeline migration, leaving substantial research gaps regarding the influence of non-climatic factors. This study addresses these gaps by combining dendrochronological methods, high-resolution bioclimatic data, and historical land use records to examine treeline dynamics in the southern French Alps. Our results reveal a recent acceleration in tree establishment, which began in the early 2000s, and is not attributable to pastoral abandonment in the 19th century but rather to climate change. We demonstrate that historical land use changes serve as a predisposing factor for tree establishment, while recent climate change has increasingly acted as an accelerator of this dynamic. Despite identifying key climatic factors, such as thermal indicators and growing season length, that contribute to treeline shifts, our study highlights the need for further research to disentangle the specific drivers of tree recruitment and survival, particularly in the context of ongoing climate change.
Higgs-confinement transitions in QCD from symmetry protected topological phases
Authors: Dumitrescu Thomas , Hsin Po-Shen 
Published: September 2024

In gauge theories with fundamental matter there is typically no sharp way to distinguish confining and Higgs regimes, e.g. using generalized global symmetries acting on loop order parameters. It is standard lore that these two regimes are continuously connected, as has been explicitly demonstrated in certain lattice and continuum models. We point out that Higgsing and confinement sometimes lead to distinct symmetry protected topological (SPT) phases – necessarily separated by a phase transition – for ordinary global symmetries. We present explicit examples in 3+1 dimensions, obtained by adding elementary Higgs fields and Yukawa couplings to QCD while preserving parity \mathsf{P}𝖯 and time reversal \mathsf{T}𝖳. In a suitable scheme, the confining phases of these theories are trivial SPTs, while their Higgs phases are characterized by non-trivial \mathsf{P}𝖯- and \mathsf{T}𝖳-invariant theta-angles \theta_f, \theta_g = \piθf,θg=π for flavor or gravity background gauge fields, i.e. they are topological insulators or superconductors. Finally, we consider conventional three-flavor QCD (without elementary Higgs fields) at finite U(1)_BU(1)B baryon-number chemical potential \mu_BμB, which preserves \mathsf{P}𝖯 and \mathsf{T}𝖳. At very large \mu_BμB, three-flavor QCD is known to be a completely Higgsed color superconductor that also spontaneously breaks U(1)_BU(1)B. We argue that this high-density phase is in fact a gapless SPT, with a gravitational theta-angle \theta_g = \piθg=π that safely co-exists with the U(1)_BU(1)B Nambu-Goldstone boson. We explain why this SPT motivates unexpected transitions in the QCD phase diagram, as well as anomalous surface modes at the boundary of quark-matter cores inside neutron stars.
Indicadores do cuidado farmacêutico para monitoramento da implantação do Programa Farmácia Cuidar+
Authors: Schwambach Karin Hepp , Rigo Ana Paula , Mota Luizi dos Santos , Bergmann Juliana , Argoud Vanessa Klimkowski , Gossenheimer Agnes Nogueira , Schneiders Roberto Eduardo , Blatt Carine Raquel 
Published: September 2024

O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar a matriz de indicadores de monitoramento da implantação do cuidado farmacêutico e os resultados da fase inicial do Programa Farmácia Cuidar+. A matriz de indicadores foi elaborada, validada e valorada por especialistas e após, aplicada em 446 municípios do Rio Grande do Sul que aderiram ao programa. A adesão pelos municípios ao Programa Farmácia Cuidar+ compreende o recebimento de auxílio financeiro estadual municipal para desenvolvimento de atividades relacionadas ao cuidado farmacêutico. A matriz é composta por 22 indicadores que compõem uma nota de zero a 100, distribuídos em oito dimensões: efetividade do tratamento de Asma, efetividade do tratamento de DPOC, Adesão, Atividades clínicas do farmacêutico, Consultório, Segurança, Educação em saúde e Educação continuada. A mediana da nota dos municípios que responderam o formulário (n=351) aplicado na fase inicial do programa foi de 12,00 pontos variando de zero a 50,00, refletindo a incipiente realização do cuidado farmacêutico nas farmácias ambulatoriais que dispensam medicamentos do Componente Especializado da Assistência Farmacêutica. Municípios com até 500 atendimentos mensais alcançaram melhores notas. Orientação para o transporte e armazenamento foram as atividades clínicas com melhor pontuação. A mesma matriz será aplicada nas fases intermediária e avançada do programa. O instrumento apresentou viabilidade de aplicação e identificou fragilidades relacionadas ao cuidado farmacêutico em todas as dimensões avaliadas. Espera-se com esses indicadores monitorar os resultados da implantação do Programa Farmácia Cuidar+ relacionados às ações de cuidado farmacêutico.
Enhancing hydrological predictions: optimised decision tree modelling for improved monthly inflow forecasting
Authors: Abozweita Osama A. , Ahmed Ali Najah , Sidek Lariyah Bte Mohd , Basri Hidayah Bte , Zawawi Mohd Hafiz Bin , Huang Yuk Feng , El-Shafie Ahmed 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT
The utilisation of modelling tools in hydrology has been effective in predicting future floods by analysing historical rainfall and inflow data, due to the association between climate change and flood frequency. This study utilised a historical dataset of monthly inflow and rainfall for the Terengganu River in Malaysia, and it is renowned for its hydrological patterns that exhibit a high level of unpredictability. The evaluation of the predictive precision and effectiveness of the Optimised Decision Tree ODT model, along with the RF and GBT models, in this study involved analysing several indicators. These indicators included the correlation coefficient, mean absolute error, percentage of relative error, root mean square error, Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency, and accuracy rate. The research results indicated that the ODT and RF models performed better than the GBT model in predicting monthly inflows. The ODT model, as well as the RF and GBT models, showed validation results with average accuracies of 94%, 91%, and 92%, respectively. The R² values were 90.2%, 84.8%, and 96.0%, respectively, and the NES values ranged from 0.92 to 0.94. The results of this research have greater implications, extending beyond the forecasting of monthly inflow rates to encompass other hydro-meteorological variables that depend exclusively on historical input data.
Groundwater contamination source identification based on Rat Swarm Optimizer algorithm with a back-propagation neural network surrogate model
Authors: Zhang Tao , Lu Wenxi , Pan Zi Dong , Ge Yuanbo , Luo Chengming , Wang Zibo 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT
In groundwater contamination remediation, accurate portrayal of the hydraulic parameters of the contaminated site with accurate identification of the contaminant release history is crucial. In this paper, the Karhunen–Loeve (KL) expansion was used to describe the non-homogeneity of the hydraulic conductivity while modeling the simulation model. In the solution process of the optimization model, typical algorithms such as genetic algorithms (GAs) might encounter problems such as low search efficiency. To address the challenges, this paper adopted the Rat Swarm Optimizer (RSO) algorithm to solve the optimization model. Compared with GA, the RSO's average relative error of identify the source position was 1.55% and the source strength was 2.61%, both of which were better than 7.91 and 97.9%, respectively, in GA. To solve the problem of a shortage of computational resources caused by repeated and massive calls to the simulation model, this paper considered the use of a back-propagation neural network (BPNN) to establish a surrogate model of the simulation model. According to the results, the BPNN surrogate model had a high fitting accuracy to the simulation model, with R2 of 0.9906 and RMSE of 9.2446 g/day. The identification of groundwater contamination sources based on BPNN and RSO achieved excellent results.
Combined dam-break modes between upper and lower reservoirs of pumped storage hydropower stations and associated flood risk assessment
Authors: Zhu Boyuan , Cao Yaxuan , Xia Bo , Yan Junjun , Chen Huifang , Sun Li , Li Jianping , Borthwick Alistair G. L. 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT

With the increasing construction of pumped storage hydropower projects in China, dam-break risk has become a matter of great concern. Typical pumped storage hydropower stations have relatively small storage capacity but are vulnerable to complicated combinations of dam breaks between their upper and lower reservoirs. This paper provides basic principles for determining different dam-break classes that could initiate at a pumped storage hydropower station and summarizes these in terms of risk source. After idealizing the breach development process, a simple dam-break model and a planar two-dimensional depth-averaged shallow flow model are used to calculate the discharge hydrograph of the dam-break flood and simulate the temporal and spatial characteristics of downstream inundation. Taking a montane rockfill-pumped storage project as an example, 12 dam-break schemes are used to examine different types of combined flow patterns driven by upper and lower dam breaks with modes that are gradual and/or instantaneous. It is found that predicted dam-break discharge hydrographs and downstream inundation indexes under adverse schemes fit common features of dam-break floods in mountain rivers. Downstream disaster losses are evaluated and flood evacuation routes are recommended. The findings of this study should be useful in ensuring the safe management of pumped storage hydropower stations.
A Conserved Tryptophan (Trp10) at the Hydrophobic Core Modulates the Stability and Inhibitory Activity of Potato I Type Inhibitors
Authors: Cui Xiaodong , Shen Jiahui , Wang Jiajie , Li Chen , Li Fang , Li Jiao 
Published: September 2024

Background:
Different inhibitor families have their own conserved three-dimensional
structures, but how these structures determine whether a protein can become an inhibitor is still unknown.
The buckwheat trypsin inhibitor (BTI) pertains to the Potato I type inhibitor family, which
is a simple and essential bio-molecule that serves as a model for the investigation of protease-inhibitor
interaction.

Objective:
To study the effects of mutations at Trp10 and Ile25 in the hydrophobic cavity (scaffold)
of rBTI on its inhibitory activity and stability.

Methods:
Site-directed mutagenesis and molecular modeling were performed using the sequence
of BTI. The hydrogen bonds formed by all amino acids and conformational differences of Trp53
were analyzed in the tertiary structures of rBTI and mutants.

Results:
Mutant rBTI-W10A almost completely lost its inhibitory activity (retaining 10%), while
rBTI-I25A retained about 50% of its inhibitory activity. Both rBTI-W10A and rBTI-I25A could
be degraded by trypsin. The hydrogen bond analysis results showed that mutating Trp10 or Ile25
weakened the specific cohesion interactions in the hydrophobic core of rBTI, disrupting the tight
hydrogen bond network in the cavity. This further led to difficulty in maintaining the binding loop
conformation, ultimately causing the Trp53 to undergo conformational changes. It was also difficult
for residues in the mutants to form hydrogen bonds with amino acids in bovine trypsin; thus,
the mutants could not stably bind to trypsin.

Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that the hydrophobic core is also an important factor in the
maintenance of inhibitory activity and stability of rBTI.
Development of Hot Melt Extruded Co-Formulated Artesunate and Amodiaquine- Soluplus® Solid Dispersion System in Fixed-Dose Form: Amorphous State Characterization and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation
Authors: Mujtaba Md Ali , Fule Ritesh , Amin Purnima , Elhassan Gamal Osman , Almoutairi Meshal Meteab Majed , Kaleem Mohammed , Warsi Musarrat Husain 
Published: September 2024

Introduction:
This study aims to develop co-amorphous Solid Dispersion (SD) system containing
antimalarials Artesunate (ARS) and Amodiaquine (AMQ) to improve its oral bioavailability employing the
Hot Melt Extrusion (HME) technique. Soluplus® was selected as a polymeric excipient, whereas Lutrol F127,
Lutrol F68, TPGS, and PEG400 as surfactants were incorporated along with Soluplus® to enhance extrudability,
improve hydrophilicity, and improve the blend viscosity during HME. Soluplus® with surfactant combination
successfully stabilizes both drugs during extrusion by generating SD because of its lower glass transition
temperature (Tg) and viscoelastic behavior.

Methods:
Physicochemical characterizations were performed using FTIR, DSC, TGA, and XRD, which confirmed
the amorphousization of drugs in the SD system. The molecular level morphology of the optimized
formulation was quantified using high-resolution techniques such as Atomic-Force Microscopy (AFM), Raman
spectral, and mapping analysis. The transition of the crystalline drugs into a stable amorphous form has
been demonstrated by 1H-NMR and 2D-NMR studies. The in vivo pharmacokinetics study in rats showed that
the SD-containing drug-Soluplus-TPGS (FDC10) formulation has 36.63-56.13 (ARS-AMQ) folds increase in
the Cmax and 41.87-54.34 (ARS-AMQ) folds increase AUC (0–72) as compared to pure drugs.

Results:
Pharmacokinetic analysis shows that a fixed-dose combination of 50:135 mg of both APIs (ARSAMQ)
significantly increased oral bioavailability by elevating Cmax and AUC, in comparison to pure APIs
and also better than the marketed product Coarsucam®.
.

Conclusion:
Therefore, the developed melt extruded co-amorphous formulation has enhanced bioavailability
and has more effectiveness than the marketed product Coarsucam®.