bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long-term distress throughout one’s life: health-related quality of life, economic and caregiver burden of patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 in China
Authors: Liang Wanxian , Cao Shihuan , Suo Yusi , Zhang Lining , Yang Lujia , Wang Ping , Wang Hanfei , Wang Han , Bai Guannan , Li Qingnan , Zheng Jiayin , Jin Xuejing 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionNeurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a rare genetic disorder, with lack of evidence of disease burden in China. We aimed to describe the economic burden, health-related quality of life (HRQL), and caregiver burden of NF1 patients in China.MethodsWe conducted an online cross-sectional survey employing the China Cloud Platform for Rare Diseases, with 223 caregivers of NF1 pediatric patients (patients under 18), and 226 adult patients. Economic burden was estimated using direct and indirect costs related to NF1 in 2021, and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: General Health V2.0 (WPAI-GH). HRQL measures included EQ-5D-Y proxy version and PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales (PedsQL GCS) proxy version for pediatric patients, and EQ-5D-5L and PedsQL™ 3.0 Neurofibromatosis Module (PedsQL NFM) for adult patients. Caregiver burden was estimated by Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI).ResultsFor pediatric patients, the average direct cost in 2021 was CNY 33,614 (USD 4,879), and employed caregivers’ annual productivity loss was 81 days. EQ-5D-Y utility was 0.880 ± 0.13 and VAS score was 75.38 ± 20.67, with 52.6% patients reporting having problems in “pain/discomfort” and 42.9% in “anxiety/depression.” PedsQL GCS total score was 68.47 ± 19.42. ZBI score demonstrated that 39.5% of caregivers had moderate-to-severe or severe burden. For adult patients, average direct cost in 2021 was CNY 24,531 (USD 3,560). Patients in employment reported an absenteeism of 8.5% and presenteeism of 21.6% according to the results of WPAI-GH. EQ-5D-5L utility was 0.843 ± 0.17 and VAS score was 72.32 ± 23.49, with more than half of patients reporting having problems in “pain/discomfort” and “anxiety/depression” dimensions. PedsQL NFM total score was 68.40 ± 15.57.ConclusionBoth pediatric and adult NF1 patients in China had a wide-ranging economic burden and low HRQL, especially in the psychological dimension. Caregivers for NF1 pediatric patients experienced considerable caregiver burden. More attention and support from policymakers and stakeholders are required to relieve NF1 patients’ and caregivers’ distress.
The prediction of occupational health risks of n-Hexane in small and micro enterprises within China’s printing industry using five occupational health risk assessment models
Authors: Hu Liecong , Chen Manlian , Zhong Quanjin , Chen Huipeng , Cai Xiaoxuan , Cai Muwei 
Published: August 2024

BackgroundChronic n-Hexane poisoning is prevalent among workers in small and micro printing industries in China. Despite this, there is limited research on occupational health risk assessment in these sectors. Conducting comprehensive risk assessments at key positions and proposing effective countermeasures are essential.MethodsData were collected from 84 key positions across 32 small and micro-sized printing enterprises. Air samples were tested for n-Hexane exposure levels in accordance with Chinese standards. Five risk assessment models were employed: COSHH, EPA, MOM, ICMM, and Technical Guide GBZ/T 289-2017 of China. The consistency of results across these models was analyzed.ResultsWorkers in 84 job positions were categorized into four exposure groups, with exposure to n-Hexane for 8–10 h daily, 5–6 days weekly. Most positions operated with low automation levels (96.9% in printing, 5.9% in oil blending, and 42.9% in pasting), while others were manual. Localized ventilation rates were notably low in oil blending (23.5%), cleaning (14.3%), and pasting (9.5%) groups. n-Hexane concentrations exceeded Chinese occupational limits in 15.6% of printing, 17.7% of oil blending, and 21.4% of cleaning groups. Risk assessment models identified over 60% of work groups as high risk. Significant differences (p &lt; 0.05) were found among the seven risk assessment methods. Consistency analysis revealed moderate agreement between the Chinese synthesis index and exposure index methods (k = 0.571, p &lt; 0.01).ConclusionThe Chinese synthesis and exposure index methods from Technical Guide GBZ/T 289-2017 are practical and reliable for assessing n-Hexane exposure risks in small and micro printing enterprises. Cleaning and printing roles were found to be at the highest risk for n-Hexane exposure. These findings provide valuable insights for targeted risk management strategies to protect workers’ health in the industry.
Investigating how blood cadmium levels influence cardiovascular health scores across sexes and dose responses
Authors: Chen Feng , Lin Hao , Zhang Yuansi , Zhang Yu , Chen Shaohe 
Published: August 2024

BackgroundThe association between exposure to cadmium (Cd) and cardiovascular health (CVH) has received considerable scientific interest. However, findings thus far have been inconclusive, particularly regarding sex-specific effects and dose–response relationships. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationships of blood Cd levels with the overall and component CVH scores.MethodsWe used data from the 2011–2018 NHANES to assess CVH using indicators such as BMI, blood pressure, lipid profiles, glucose levels, diet, physical activity, nicotine use, and sleep quality, each rated on a 0–100 scale. The overall CVH score was calculated as the average of these indicators. We employed both multiple linear and restricted cubic spline analyses to examine the relationship between blood Cd levels and CVH scores, including nonlinear patterns and subgroup-specific effects.ResultsOur analysis revealed that higher blood Cd levels were associated with lower overall CVH, nicotine exposure, sleep, and diet scores, with nonlinear decreases observed in overall CVH and nicotine exposure scores at specific thresholds (−1.447 and −1.752 log μg/dL, respectively). Notably, sex differences were evident; females experienced more adverse effects of Cd on CVH and lipid scores, while in males, Cd exposure was positively correlated with BMI, a link not observed in females.ConclusionOur study highlights the complex interplay between blood Cd levels and various aspects of CVH, revealing significant dose–response relationships and sex disparities. These findings enhance our understanding of the biobehavioral mechanisms linking Cd exposure to cardiovascular risk.
Analyzing classification and feature selection strategies for diabetes prediction across diverse diabetes datasets
Authors: Kaliappan Jayakumar , Saravana Kumar I. J. , Sundaravelan S. , Anesh T. , Rithik R. R. , Singh Yashbir , Vera-Garcia Diana V. , Himeur Yassine , Mansoor Wathiq , Atalla Shadi , Srinivasan Kathiravan 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionIn the evolving landscape of healthcare and medicine, the merging of extensive medical datasets with the powerful capabilities of machine learning (ML) models presents a significant opportunity for transforming diagnostics, treatments, and patient care.MethodsThis research paper delves into the realm of data-driven healthcare, placing a special focus on identifying the most effective ML models for diabetes prediction and uncovering the critical features that aid in this prediction. The prediction performance is analyzed using a variety of ML models, such as Random Forest (RF), XG Boost (XGB), Linear Regression (LR), Gradient Boosting (GB), and Support VectorMachine (SVM), across numerousmedical datasets. The study of feature importance is conducted using methods including Filter-based, Wrapper-based techniques, and Explainable Artificial Intelligence (Explainable AI). By utilizing Explainable AI techniques, specifically Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations (LIME) and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), the decision-making process of the models is ensured to be transparent, thereby bolstering trust in AI-driven decisions.ResultsFeatures identified by RF in Wrapper-based techniques and the Chi-square in Filter-based techniques have been shown to enhance prediction performance. A notable precision and recall values, reaching up to 0.9 is achieved in predicting diabetes.DiscussionBoth approaches are found to assign considerable importance to features like age, family history of diabetes, polyuria, polydipsia, and high blood pressure, which are strongly associated with diabetes. In this age of data-driven healthcare, the research presented here aspires to substantially improve healthcare outcomes.
Determinants of green consumption: a systematic literature review using the TCCM approach
Authors: Megha  
Published: August 2024

IntroductionOver the past decade, there has been growing research into the consumption of environmentally friendly products, driven by heightened environmental concerns and a shift towards more conscientious purchasing. Despite generally favorable attitudes towards green products, actual purchase rates remain low, creating a gap between attitudes and behavior. Existing studies present a mixed picture, with some findings conflicting and others consistent, underscoring the need for a thorough review of the literature on green consumption. This study aims to assess the existing literature on green consumption by examining major theoretical frameworks, socio-demographic characteristics, and geographic contexts of green consumers, as well as the most studied product categories. It also explores the antecedents and consequences of green product purchases, the mediators and moderators affecting these relationships, and the methodologies used by scholars in this field.MethodsUsing the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) and TCCM (Theory-Context-Characteristics-Methodology) frameworks, the study systematically searches, selects, and synthesizes relevant data, providing a comprehensive mapping of research. This approach allows for a critical evaluation of theoretical foundations, diverse contexts of green consumption, key variables, and the methodologies employed in previous studies.Results and discussionThe findings indicate that social psychology theories are prevalent in green consumption research and highlight the need to expand the field’s theoretical base. By identifying underexplored product categories, socio-demographic groups, and geographic regions, marketers can more effectively target new segments. The review also identifies major enablers and barriers to green product purchases and suggests further investigation into underexplored variables to develop more effective marketing strategies. To advance the study of consumer behavior regarding green products, the review advocates for the use of mixed-method and qualitative approaches. This comprehensive approach is essential for gaining a deeper understanding of consumer behavior and improving strategies to promote green purchasing and enhance market penetration.
The use of saliva and blood progesterone to profile the menstrual cycles of youth professional football players
Authors: Ferrer Eva , Rodas Gil , Casals Gregori , Trilla Antoni , Balagué-Dobon Laura , González Juan R. , Ridley Katherine , White Richard , Burden Richard J. 
Published: August 2024

BackgroundUnderstanding individual ovarian hormone cycles and their relationship with health, performance and injuries is highly important to practitioners supporting female athletes. Venous blood sampling is the current gold standard for measuring the ovarian hormones, but the invasive nature of this method presents a major barrier in sport environments. Saliva analysis may offer an alternative method as it is non-invasive, allowing the sample to be collected “in situ”, with relative ease, necessary in applied sport environments.ObjectiveThe aims of this study were: (i) To compare the concentration of progesterone between capillary blood and saliva, (ii) To assess the efficacy of weekly measurements of progesterone for determining if ovulation has occurred in elite eumenorrheic football players, and (iii) To establish a saliva criteria cut-off for establishing ovulation and assessing the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy values of the method.MethodologyTwenty-one professional and semi-professional, Spanish league female football players (18.6 ± 1.5 years, 58.1 ± 6.0 kg, 164.0 ± 4.8 cm) with natural menstrual cycles, completed the study. Capillary blood and saliva samples were collected from each participant on twelve occasions each separated by at least 7 days. All samples were collected in the morning, following an overnight fast.ResultsAccording to luteal phase serum progesterone concentrations, 11 out of 21 (52%) players presented with menstrual irregularities (oligomenorrheic n = 6, anovulatory n = 4, amenorrhoeic n = 1). A significant correlation was observed between plasma and saliva progesterone in the estimated eumenorrheic group (r = 0.80, p = &lt;0.001, 95% CI 0.72–0.86). The association between serum and saliva progesterone was weaker in the oligomenorrheic group (r = 0.47, p = &lt;0.001, 95% CI 0.27–0.64) and was not present in the anovulatory or amenorrhoeic groups.ConclusionsSalivary measurements of progesterone are well correlated with capillary blood when taken during eumenorrheic menstrual cycles and presents a viable, non-invasive method of establishing characteristic progesterone fluctuations in applied sport settings. The strength of the association appears to be concentration dependent. A luteal phase saliva progesterone (P4) &gt;50 pg/ml and &gt;1.5× follicular baseline has good sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy to indicate ovulation compared to established criteria for serum progesterone.
Trichohyalin gene expression is negatively correlated with the severity of dermatitis in a canine atopic dermatitis model
Authors: Marsella Rosanna , Ahrens Kim , Wilkes Rachel , Munguia Nathalie 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionCanine atopic dermatitis (AD) closely mimics human AD and is recognized as a beneficial animal model. House dust mites (HDM) are a common allergen for both species. The effects of chronic exposure to HDM on the skin have not been studied in this animal model, and it is not known how changes in gene expression correlate to the severity of dermatitis.MethodsWe used an established canine model of AD and took biopsies before HDM exposure (D0) and five times during repeated allergen challenges (on Days 1, 2, 8, 15, and 29, hereafter referred to as D1, D2, D8, D15, and D29). The severity of dermatitis was scored on the same days.ResultsTrichohyalin (TCHH) gene expression decreased the most (15-fold decrease on D29 vs. D0) and negatively correlated with the severity of dermatitis. Gap-junction protein gene expression increased over 3-fold on D1, D8, and D29 and positively correlated with the severity of dermatitis. Compared to D0, IL-31 gene expression significantly increased on D8 (p = 0.0098), D15 (p = 0.0068), and D29 (p = 0.0187), but the correlation with the severity of dermatitis did not reach significance.DiscussionThis is the first report on trichohyalin, a protein belonging to the S100 family, and gap-junction protein gene expression in the context of the clinical severity of AD. We propose that these proteins should be further investigated to better understand their role in this complex disease.
KEPUASAN PELANGGAN DALAM BISNIS RUMAH SAKIT
Authors: Hadiyati Hadiyati 
Published: August 2024

Patient satisfaction is indeed one of the important keys in the hospital business. Satisfied patients tend to share their positive experiences with others, both through word of mouth and through online reviews. A good reputation can attract more patients to the hospital. that the satisfaction of inpatients at the hospital is in the moderately good to good category. The type of research used is survey research. The survey was conducted on 200 patients and their families. Data analysis techniques using descriptive analysis techniques. Of the 17 indicators, it can be seen that the highest indicator is the food menu provided to patients and also the availability of public transportation to the hospital. While the lowest indicators are the availability of drugs at hospital pharmacies and the waiting time for drug collection.
Keywords: Customer Satisfaction, Hospital Business
PROJECT MANAGER LEADERSHIP STYLE WHICH INCREASES THE PROJECT PERFORMANCE
Authors: Lukiyanto Kukuh 
Published: August 2024

Maximum performance to achieve the specified target is the expectation of each project work. Leadership is one of the factors causing the achievement of good project performance. The purpose of this study is to find out what kind of project manager leadership style can improve the performance of all elements in the road project. This study uses qualitative methods to study the impact of leadership style on the success of road construction projects. Taking the object of research in East Java with 15 informants, in-depth interviews and observations were carried out for 6 months. Based on the analysis of the data obtained, a guiding leadership style, and open to discussion, can improve the performance of road construction projects.
MSMEs’ resilience strategies during the Covid-19 Crisis: a case of the tourism sector in South Africa
Authors: Shumba Knowledge , Ebewo Patrick , Ndlovu Elona N 
Published: August 2024

MSMEs are widely regarded as important building blocks for economic prosperity and broader social well-being for both developed and developing nations. However, MSMEs face several challenges that impede their ability to fully provide the much-needed boost to the socio-economic development of countries. Tourism MSMEs are often significantly impacted by crises that include economic downturns, natural disasters, and public health emergencies that destroy infrastructure and affect human movement, notably the outbreak of pandemics and epidemics. The Covid-19 pandemic altered every business operation across the globe. This was mainly because the pandemic was new and no reference case for the Covid-19 crisis existed in living memory. As such the survival of all businesses was at high risk, particularly, the tourism MSMEs in South Africa. The industry’s operations were severely affected by the restrictions imposed by the government of South Africa especially in the year 2020 and 2021. Despite operating their businesses in a crisis, the tourism MSMEs entrepreneurs exhibited resilience as they navigated the pandemic, through being agile, adaptive, and exploring new opportunities of operating and utilising government support. It is in this regard that gaining a deeper understanding of the resilience strategies that were employed by the tourism MSMEs during and strategies being employed during post Covid-19 pandemic crisis is of paramount significance. The study adopted qualitative interpretivist approach through document analysis. Collected data was analysed using the ATLAS.ti.software. The study concludes that even though the Covid-19 had some devastating effects on the MSMEs tourism entrepreneurs, that are still being felt now, it forced the entrepreneurs to adapt and be innovative. It is in this regard that the study concludes that the identified strategies are very vital for the survival of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The study also concludes that the tourism MSMEs entrepreneurs became more resilient to the pandemic as it progressed hence, they implemented the identified strategies revealed by the study findings.
Significant of cultural diversity on business performance in the parts manufacturing organisation in South Africa
Authors: Khumalo Philani , Zondo Robert Walter Dumisani 
Published: August 2024

Organisations are in the midst of cultural change and transformation. Thus, the global market demands that they remain competitive, flexible and relevant in order to adequately react to culturally diverse changes in their human resources. This sentiment describes the importance of cultural diversity in organisations. Hence, this study examines the significant of cultural diversity on business performance in the automotive parts manufacturing organisations in South Africa. The study was quantitative in design, with the participation of middle-level managers in two large automotive parts manufacturing organisations in the eThekwini District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal (in South Africa). Of the 168 individuals identified for participation, 118 participated in the study, representing a 70.2 per cent response rate. Descriptive and t-tests, using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), were used to analyse data. Study results indicate that a culturally diverse workforce is associated with greater organisational performance, improved strategic decision-making and innovation. The original value of this study is its essence in providing opportunities and challenges of cultural diversity on business performance in the parts manufacturing organisations in South Africa.
Project Based learning to Improve Students’ Creativity In Speaking and Vocabulary Achievements
Authors: Agustiawati Hartini 
Published: August 2024

The purposes of this study were to find out (1) whether there was a significant difference in vocabulary achievement between students who were taught through Project Based Learning, , (2) whether there was a significant difference in speaking achievement between the students who were taught through project based learning, (3) whether there was a significant correlation between vocabulary and speaking achievements of the seventh grade students of Junior High school Number 18. The population of this study consisted of the seventh grade of Junior high school students. The total number of the population was 14, while the sample consisted of 14 students in the experimental group. In collecting the data, the pretest, treatment and posttest were used. However, the data were analyzed by using t-test. It was found that (1) there was a significant difference in vocabulary achievement where the sig value (2 tailed) was lower than 0.05, (2) there was a significant difference in speaking achievement where the sig value (2 tailed) was lower than 0.05, (3) there was a significant correlation and contribution between vocabulary and speaking. It could be concluded that Project based Learning can improved students’ vocabulary and speaking achievements.