bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Global, Regional, and National Burden of Stroke, 1990–2021: A Systematic Analysis for Global Burden of Disease 2021
Authors: He Qiang , Wang Wenjing , Zhang Yangchang , Xiong Yang , Tao Chuanyuan , Ma Lu , Ma Junpeng , You Chao , Wang Chaohua 
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND:
This study aims to perform a comprehensive analysis of stroke burden from the Global Burden of Disease 2021.

METHODS:
We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the burden, including prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life year rates, for stroke across 204 countries and regions from 1990 to 2021 using data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021. We calculated the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) and performed a joinpoint regression analysis to identify the trends. We also explored the association between the stroke burden and sociodemographic index.

RESULTS:

The age-standardized prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life year rates for stroke were 1099.310, 141.553, 87.454, and 1886.196 per 100 000 persons in 2021, respectively. The general stroke burden trends declined in EAPC analysis (age-standardized prevalence: EAPC, −0.37; age-standardized incidence: EAPC, −0.99; age-standardized mortality: EAPC, −1.81; and disability-adjusted life year: EAPC, −1.76). However, we found an increasing burden of stroke in East Asia and Southern Sub-Saharan Africa (EAPC >0). The global burdens of intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and ischemic stroke showed a similar trend. The stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and ischemic stroke burdens were heavier in men than in women, except for that of subarachnoid hemorrhage in women. Our joinpoint regression analysis revealed that the age-standardized burden rates of stroke decreased from 1990 to 2021 (average annual percent change <0), whereas an upward trend was observed between 2019 and 2021 (average annual percent change >0). The burden of stroke was inversely proportional to the sociodemographic index (
P
<0.05), except in the case of subarachnoid hemorrhage. The actual stroke burden showed an increasing trend for stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and ischemic stroke in 2021 (during the coronavirus pandemic).

CONCLUSIONS:
We found age-standardized rates of stroke burden declining over time, but some areas exhibited a notable increase in the prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life year rates.
Chronicity, Women’s Suffering, and Prayer: a Budding Prayer Group’s Response to Chronic Developmental Crises in Zimbabwe
Authors: Mate Rekopantswe 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
This paper uses textual analysis of an audio note that circulated on WhatsApp in 2018 presenting the founder of a rapidly growing predominantly women-only Zimbabwean prayer group. The audio note’s content is taken as an emergent ethnography exposing emic views of women’s lived realities. The analysis uses notions of ‘chronicity’, (Vigh 2008, 10–15) and ‘women’s suffering’ (Cole 2012, 384–6) to ground the audio note’s content in Zimbabwe’s prolonged socioeconomic and political crises. Chronic crises produce unique social actions (Vigh 2008), such as popular religious practices and theologies (Miller-McLemore 2018). The group prefers do-it-yourself (DIY) prayers which demand constant environmental and self-assessment, and comparing with peers. The group’s construction of women’s suffering as anathema to ideal Pentecostal personhoods discussed in four themes discernible from the audio note is revealing (Harnisch 2000). Techniques of DIY prayers echo the feminist notion that ‘the personal is political’. Thus, the group potentially contributes to gender transformation.
Insolubles
Authors: Segrave Walter 
Published: October 2024

Paradoxes, such as the Liar (‘What I am saying is false’), fascinated medieval thinkers. What I said can’t be true, for if it were, it would be false. So it must be false—but then it would be true after all. Attempts at a solution to this contradiction led such thinkers to develop their theories of meaning, reference and truth.
A popular response, until it was attacked at length by Thomas Bradwardine in the early 1320s, was to dismiss such self-reference as impossible: no term (here, ‘false’) could refer to (or in medieval terms, “supposit for”) a whole, e.g., a proposition, of which it is part.
In light of Bradwardine’s criticisms, Walter Segrave, writing around 1330, defended so-called restrictivism (restrictio) by claiming that such paradoxes exhibited a fallacy of accident. The classic example of this fallacy, the first of Aristotle’s fallacies independent of language, is the Hidden Man puzzle: you know Coriscus, Coriscus is the one approaching, but you don’t know the one approaching since, e.g., he is wearing a mask. But Aristotle’s account is unclear and Segrave, building on ideas of Giles of Rome and Walter Burley, shows how the fallacy turns on an equivocation over the supposition of the middle term or one of the extremes in a syllogism. Thereby, Segrave is able to counter Bradwardine’s arguments one by one and defend the restrictivist solution. In this volume, Segrave’s text is edited from the three extant manuscripts, is translated into English, and is preceded by a substantial Introduction.
An Ecolinguistic Approach to Kumzari
Authors: O’Dell Emily Jane 
Published: October 2024

This research takes an interdisciplinary approach to explore the relationship of the indigenous language of Kumzar and the marine ecology of Kumzar’s natural environment – namely, the sea. Taking an ecocentric approach with the acknowledgement that identity is not just social and cultural, but also always ecological, this chapter frames Kumzari identity as ecocultural “in nature” and analyzes how the marine ecosystem and “aqua-culture” of Kumzar are expressed through language. Exploring the ecological dimensions and expressions of Kumzari reveals the interlinkages and impacts of the environment of Kumzar on both language and identity.
Kumzari is mainly spoken in the fishing village of Kumzar on the Musandam Peninsula in northern Oman, as well as nearby Dibba and Khasab and Larak Island in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Kumzari is an endangered language due to the small population of Kumzar, its unwritten status, and the ubiquitous use of Arabic in the education system and other domains of life. As a result, UNESCO has classified Kumzari as “severely endangered.” With only a few thousand speakers of Kumzari left, the language is teetering on the brink of extinction, though there are increasing efforts among the villagers to preserve and pass on their language. Kumzar’s remote location and geography have largely protected the language and culture of Kumzar from outside influences, and within the academia it has gone almost completely ignored in scholarship until relatively recently (E. Anonby 2008, 2010, 2011; Al-Jahdhami, 2013; al Kumzari, 2009; van der Wal Anonby, 2015).
This research is rooted in Linguistics and Semitic Studies; it draws specifically upon ecolinguistics, cultural anthropology, sociolinguistics, cognitive linguistics, geography studies, agriculture studies, and environmental / sustainability studies. Special attention is paid to a collection of Kumzari words and phrases related to fishing, boating, date palm cultivation, goat husbandry, ethnozoological knowledge, tides, and coastal watching. It also explores folk taxonomy, habitat, and migration to metaphorically map the marine ecosystem of Kumzar and indigenous understandings and navigations of it.
Finally, this research, in highlighting the ecological dimensions and assemblages of Kumzari identity, language, and relations, suggests that centering these interlinkages and impacts can help cultivate not just a habitable but a thriving future for both the people of Kumzar and the Kumzari language itself.
Anti-inflammatory Effects and Toxicity Study of Chemically Characterized Extracts from Juniperus thurifera (L.) and Juniperus  phoenicea (L.)
Authors: Lafraxo Soufyane , Metouekel Amira , Amrati Fatima Ez-Zahra , Zouirech Otmane , Chelouati Tarik , Drioiche Aziz , Gaafar Abdel-Rhman Z. , Ibenmoussa Samir , Alsahli Abdulaziz Abdullah , Bourhia Mohammed , Moussaoui Abdelfattah El , Bari Amina 
Published: October 2024

Background: Moroccan traditional medicine utilizes Juniperus thurifera and Juniperus phoenicea to treat numerous ailments. Purpose: This research investigates the chemical composition, acute toxicity, and anti-inflammatory properties of J. thurifera (L.) and J. phoenicea (L.) hydroethanolic extracts. Methods: High-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) identified the chemical makeup of J. phoenicea and J. thurifera hydroethanolic extracts. We tested the acute toxicity of hydroethanolic extracts of J. thurifera (T) and J. phoenicea (P) leaves in Wistar rats by gastric gavage at doses of 300, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg. Wistar rats were injected with 1% carrageenan in the plantar fascia to assess anti-inflammatory activity. Results: Chemical investigation of the extracts revealed gallic acid, urocanic acid, linalool, ferulic acid, and mefenamic acid. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels did not significantly vary based on biochemical markers, including urea, creatinine (CR), AST, and ALT. Both extracts increased CR and urea, especially J. phoenicea, at 1,000 mg/kg. The hydroethanolic extracts of J. phoenicea (P) and J. thurifera (T) demonstrated 100% and 40% edema-inhibiting action at 6 h, respectively. Conclusion: The investigated extracts exhibited a strong anti-inflammatory effect. However, they may harm the kidneys, particularly J. phoenicea, which may explain why J. thurifera is overused.
Relationship Between the Provincial Competitiveness Index and Corporate R&D Investment in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Thu Ha , Nguyen Truong Giang , Nguyen Cao Chuong 
Published: October 2024

This study investigates how the quality of economic governance impacts corporate research and development (R&D) investment in Vietnam. We use the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) to gauge economic governance quality. Our findings indicate that improved economic governance encourages firms to invest more in R&D. This conclusion remains consistent when using two different measures of R&D investment and employing propensity score matching to address the endogeneity issue. Moreover, the effect of the business environment on innovation is moderated by the size of the firm and the stock exchange on which it is listed. Our findings hold significance as governments in developing countries strive to boost firm innovation, a crucial driver of economic advancement. JEL Classification H00, O10, O30
Co-authorship Networks in Left-Behind Children Research in China: A Social Network Analysis
Authors: Luan Hui , Perron Brian E. , Zhang Yu 
Published: October 2024

Purpose This study investigates collaboration dynamics within Chinese left-behind children (LBC) research through co-authorship network analysis. Method Using Web of Science data from 2017 to 2023, the study maps a research network involving 886 authors and 1,944 links. Results The analysis reveals sparse collaboration and fragmented structure, predominantly featuring single-paper contributors. Notable institutions such as Zhejiang Normal University, Zhejiang University, and Anhui Medical University have emerged as pivotal hubs facilitating interdisciplinary LBC research. Their prominence is attributed to geographic proximity and institutional emphasis on LBC-related studies. This study identifies key authors and influential contributors, shedding light on knowledge dissemination. Conclusions The findings underscore the need for targeted support mechanisms for pivotal institutions and advocate for cross-cluster collaborations to enhance research cohesion and impact. Emphasizing the significance of fostering a dedicated LBC research community, the utility of social network analysis in revealing collaboration patterns, and informing strategic interventions in social work.
Surgical Correction of Secondary Bilateral Cleft lip and Nasal Deformities Using the Delaire-Precious Technique
Authors: Watanabe Akira , Suga Kenichiro , Doucet Jean-Charles , Yoshida Shuji , Narita Masato , Kanno Katsuya , Uchiyama Takeshi 
Published: October 2024

Objective This study aimed to determine the efficacy of the surgical correction of secondary bilateral cleft lip and nasal deformities using the Delaire-Precious technique for Asian patients with bilateral cleft lip +/- palate (BCL+/-P). Design Retrospective cohort study. Subjects Thirty-six patients with BCL+/-P in Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam underwent secondary lip correction using the Delaire-Precious technique by a single surgeon. Methods The critical concepts of this surgical technique are discussed and clarified. A patient/parent satisfaction survey was carried out to evaluate the usefulness of this technique. Results The Delaire-Precious technique improves Cupid's bow's symmetry and the central tubercule's volume. The scar tissue between lateral and medial philtrum incisions is excised. The orbicularis oris muscle is then reconstructed with a midline suture placed above the periosteum of the premaxilla. Most patients (90.9%) and all parents were at satisfied with the surgical result. The technique was highly satisfactory to patients and parents except at the level of scar correction. Conclusion The secondary bilateral cleft lip and nasal repair using the Delaire-Precious technique is an adaptable technique that can be applied to various ethnic groups. It was found to be a satisfactory technique for Asian patients with BCL+/-P.
Effectiveness of Adjuvant Chemo- and Radiotherapy in Thymic Carcinoma Stage II: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Nazzal Ahmad , Yayan Josef , Biancosino Christian , Tabatabaei Seyed Vahid , Hekmat Khosro 
Published: October 2024

Background Thymic carcinoma is a rare tumor arising from the epithelial thymic tissue, yet among mediastinal tumors, it is the most common malignant entity. Thymic carcinoma often causes no symptoms and is incidentally discovered. Adjuvant radiotherapy is recommended, particularly in cases of incomplete resection and for stages III and IV, based on current guidelines and existing literature. In stage II (Masaoka-Koga system), the role of chemotherapy remains controversial, particularly in cases of incomplete resection. Therefore, this study aims to assess the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy compared to adjuvant radiotherapy in the treatment of stage II (Masaoka-Koga system) thymic carcinoma after surgery. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and MEDLINE/PubMed databases for relevant studies published through April 30th, 2023. Results The review identified a total of 101 studies in the Embase, Cochrane Library, and MEDLINE/PubMed databases. Of these, only eight retrospective studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. These eight studies encompassed a total of 323 patients with stage II (Masaoka-Koga system) thymic carcinoma, with an average patient age of 53.8 ± 5.0 years. There was no significant difference in the number of R0 resections between patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy and those receiving adjuvant radiotherapy ( P = 0.82). Patients who received adjuvant radiotherapy had a higher rate of recurrence, but this difference was not statistically significant ( P = 0.93). The meta-analysis synthesized five-year overall survival data, with a combined hazard ratio (HR) of 0.881 (95% CI: 0.463 to 1.299), indicating no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups. Conclusions Although the results were not statistically significant, the findings suggest that adjuvant chemotherapy might be associated with a more favorable outcome for patients with stage II (Masaoka-Koga system) thymic carcinoma compared to adjuvant radiotherapy.
Efficacy of oral AB070597 for the management of chronic kidney disease in cats: a prospective, randomised, controlled parallel-group study
Authors: Tsunekawa Naoki , Sato Masahiko 
Published: October 2024

Objectives It has been reported that AB070597, which contains amino acids and peptides, may prevent the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of AB070597 on CKD in International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stage 2 or 3 cats compared with a placebo. Methods A prospective, randomised, controlled parallel-group study was conducted on 35 cats with CKD. The cats were randomly allocated to receive 300 mg of AB070597 or placebo for 180 days, and cats were re-examined every 30 days. Changes in the results were compared from baseline to endpoint in each group, and the efficacy of AB070597 in cats with CKD was assessed. Results A total of 35 cats met the inclusion criteria, of which 20 received AB070597 and 15 received a placebo. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cre) and phosphorus levels increased significantly in the placebo group at 180 days compared with those at baseline, 30 days and 60 days, whereas these values were not significantly changed in the AB070597 group during the study period. The IRIS stage was also stable in cats with AB070597 from the baseline to the end of the study, whereas the IRIS stage progressed from stage 2 to stage 3 in 26% of cats with placebo. Body weight did not change significantly in either group. Conclusions and relevance The administration of AB070597 in cats with CKD may be effective in preventing CKD progression.
Fundus autofluorescence after vitrectomy with ILM peeling and subfoveal injection in diabetic macular edema
Authors: Nawrocka Zofia , Nawrocki Jerzy 
Published: October 2024

Purpose To determine whether subretinal injections cause defects in the RPE that are visible on fundus autofluorescence (FAF). Methods This retrospective study analyzed twenty-six eyes after vitrectomy with ILM peeling and subretinal injection of balanced salt solution for diabetic macular edema (DME). FAF was performed before and 36 months after surgery. Four FAF patterns were distinguished: grade 1 -normal autofluorescence, grade 2 -one or more hyperautofluorescent spots, grade 3 -central increased autofluorescence, grade 4 -central decreased autofluorescence. Results Visual acuity improved from 0.18 to 0.26 Snellen ( p = 0.03). Retinal thickness decreased ( p = 0.01). The injection site would not be possible to spot on postoperative FAF without reviewing surgical videos. Grade 1 pattern was visible in 31% operated and 36% fellow eyes, Grade 2 pattern was observed in 11% operated and in 43% fellow eyes, Grade 3 pattern in 31% operated and in 14% fellow eyes and grade 4 pattern in 31% operated and in 14% fellow eyes. Conclusion No abnormal FAF patterns were observed at the subretinal injection sites. ILM peeling likely decreases the pressure required to perform the injection and protects the RPE from iatrogenic damage. Anomalous autofluorescence patterns are most likely associated with long-standing disease.
Combined Positive Score and Cisplatin Sensitivity Are Prognostic Factors for Response to Nivolumab Therapy for Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
Authors: Iijima Hiroaki , Sakai Akihiro , Ebisumoto Koji , Ogura Go , Yamauchi Mayu , Teramura Takanobu , Yamazaki Aritomo , Watanabe Takane , Inagi Toshihide , Yanagiya Ryoko , Yamamoto Ai , Ashida Hiroshi , Ota Yoshiyuki , Sato Yurina , Kobayashi Naoya , Maki Daisuke , Nakamura Naoya , Okami Kenji 
Published: October 2024

Background: Recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/MHNSCC) is a challenging malignancy with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Nivolumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) targeting the programmed cell death/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway, has emerged as a promising therapy for these patients. However, identifying biomarkers predictive of response to nivolumab remains critical for optimizing treatment strategies. Previous studies have suggested that PD-L1 expression, as determined by the Combined Positive Score (CPS) and other clinical factors, may influence treatment outcome. This study aims to retrospectively examine whether CPS can be a biomarker by staining PD-L1 with 22 C3 antibody in R/MHNSCC patients treated with nivolumab. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of R/MHNSCC patients treated with ICIs at Tokai University Hospital from April 2017 to December 2022. We examined the relationship between response rate to ICI therapy, PD-L1 staining, biomarkers, and survival. Statistical analyses included t-test, chi-square test, and Cox regression. Results: This study included 92 nivolumab-treated patients. Combined Positive Score was evaluable in 53 of these patients. Patients with a CPS of 15 or higher had better progression-free survival (PFS) ( P = .0171), with a median PFS) of 13 months. In the Various Definitions analysis, cisplatin-sensitive patients also had good PFS ( P = .0295). The cisplatin-sensitive patient population with a CPS of 15 or higher had the best PFS, with a median of 14 months ( P = .006). There was no significant difference in overall survival (OS) by CPS value. Immune-related adverse events did not affect OS or PFS. Conclusions: CPS ⩾ 15 and cisplatin sensitivity are promising prognostic markers for nivolumab therapy in R/MHNSCC. Considering these biomarkers in patient selection could maximize the therapeutic benefits of nivolumab. This finding may help to optimize ICI therapy strategies.
Sustainability of health outcomes of patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus after completing 6 months of remote tele-monitoring: Two-year results from a randomised controlled trial (OPTIMUM)
Authors: Tan Ngiap Chuan , Tyagi Shilpa , Koh Yi Ling Eileen , Gong Pei Pei , Koh Gerald Choon Huat , Lee Cia Sin 
Published: October 2024

Introduction Meta-analysis shows that home tele-monitoring (HTM) improves glycaemic control in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) up to 12 months, but their health outcomes after HTM cessation remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the health outcomes of these patients 18 months after completing 6 months of HTM, compared to standard care. Methods Patients with T2DM were enrolled in an open-labelled randomised controlled trial, aged 26 to 65 years, and suboptimal glycaemic control (HbA1c = 7.5%–10%). Patients in the intervention group ( n = 165) undertook HTM using the OPTIMUM (Optimising care of Patients via Telemedicine In Monitoring and aUgmenting their control of diabetes Mellitus) HTM system for 6 months followed by usual care for another 18 months, while control group ( n = 165) had usual care for 24 months. The OPTIMUM HTM system includes in-app video-based tele-education, tele-monitoring of the blood pressure (BP), capillary glucose and weight via Bluetooth devices and mobile applications, followed by algorithm-based telecare by the investigators. They were assessed using the Self-Care Inventory Scale (SCIR) and medication adherence (Medication Adherence Report Scale 5) at baseline, 6-month and 24-month time-points. Results The data from 146 (intervention) and 152 (control) patients, with comparable baseline demographic profiles were eventually analysed. The decrease in HbA1c over 24 months was comparable between intervention and control group. Those in the intervention group were more likely to maintain their glycemic control (HbA1c ≤ 8%) (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.9, 95%confidence interval (CI) = 1.1–3.2; p = 0.028), had higher SCIR score ( p = 0.004), and less likely to “never forget” ( p = 0.022), or “stop medications” ( p = 0.048), at 24-month time-point as compared to subjects in the control group. Conclusion The glycaemic control of patients with T2DM continued to be maintained for another 18 months after 6 months of HTM, which were attributed to sustained self-care behaviour and medication adherence.