bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Periorbital purpura can be the only initial symptom of primary light chain amyloidosis: A case report
Authors: Wang Xiu-Feng , Li Ting , Yang Man , Huang Yan 
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND
Primary light chain amyloidosis is a rare and complex disease with complex clinical features and is highly susceptible to misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis in the early stages.
CASE SUMMARY
We report a case of a 47-year-old female patient whose only initial symptom was periorbital purpura, which was not taken seriously enough. As the disease progressed, pleural effusion gradually appeared, and after systematic diagnosis and treatment, she was diagnosed with “primary light chain amyloidosis”. She achieved rapid hematological remission after treatment with a daratumumab + bortezomib + cyclophosphamide + dexamethasone regimen.
CONCLUSION
Periorbital purpura can be the only initial symptom of primary light chain amyloidosis; we should pay attention to the cases where the initial clinical symptoms are only periorbital purpura.
Sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma of the pancreas: A case report
Authors: Sun Meng-Qing , Guo Li-Na , You Yan , Qiu Yan-Yu , He Xiao-Dong , Han Xian-Lin 
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND
A sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma (SEF) is a rare malignant fibroblastic soft tissue tumor that rarely occurs in intra-abdominal organs. A case of a SEF in the pancreatic head is reported herein, including its clinical manifestations, preoperative imaging features, gross specimen and pathological findings.
CASE SUMMARY
A 33-year-old male patient was admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital in December 2023 due to a one-year history of intermittent upper abdominal pain and the discovery of a pancreatic mass. The patient underwent an enhanced computed tomography scan of the abdomen, which revealed a well-defined, round mass with clear borders and calcifications in the pancreatic head. The mass exhibited progressive, uneven mild enhancement, measuring approximately 6.6 cm × 6.3 cm. The patient underwent laparoscopic pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy. Postoperative pathological examination revealed that the lesion was consistent with a SEF. At the 3-month postoperative follow-up, the patient did not report any short-term complications, and there were no signs of tumor recurrence.
CONCLUSION
SEFs are rare malignant fibrous soft tissue tumors. SEFs rarely develop in the pancreas, and its preoperative diagnosis depends on imaging findings, with confirmation depending on pathological examination and immunohistochemistry. Currently, only four cases of pancreatic SEF have been reported in studies written in English. This case is the first reported case of a pancreatic SEF by a clinical physician.
Global burden and epidemiological prediction of polycystic ovary syndrome from 1990 to 2019: A systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Authors: Zhang Jiacheng , Zhu Yutian , Wang Jiaheng , Hu Hangqi , Jin Yuxin , Mao Xin , Zhang Haolin , Ye Yang , Xin Xiyan , Li Dong 
Published: July 2024

Objective
To comprehensively assess the global, regional and national burden of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability (DLYs) based on the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2019.

Methods
This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Data on PCOS incidence, prevalence, and DLYs from 1990 to 2019 were obtained from the GBD study 2019. According to the commonwealth income, WHO region, and the sociodemographic index, the estimates were demonstrated along with the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC). The EAPC data were analyzed by four levels of hierarchical clustering and displayed in the world map. The Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model was used to predict the PCOS burden in the next 20 years.

Results
From 1990 to 2019, the number of PCOS incidence in one year increased from 1.4 million in 1990 to 2.1 million in 2019 (54.3%). Only the EAPC estimates of incidence in the Region of the Americas decreased, and their aged-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) values were the highest in 1990 and 2019. There was no significant correlation between human development index (HDI) and EAPC. However, when HDI < 0.7, EAPC of incidence and prevalence was positively correlated with HDI, and when HDI > 0.7, EAPC of incidence and prevalence was negatively correlated with HDI. Countries with the middle level HDI have the highest increasing trend of ASIR and age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR). The 10 to 19 years old group had the highest incidence counts of PCOS globally. Besides, the ARIMA and BAPC model showed the consistent increasing trend of the burden of PCOS.

Conclusion
In order to better promote the early diagnosis and treatment, expert consensus and diagnosis criteria should be formulated according to the characteristics of different ethnic groups or regions. It is necessary to emphasize the early screening and actively develop targeted drugs for PCOS.
Health disparities in cervical cancer: Estimating geographic variations of disease burden and association with key socioeconomic and demographic factors in the US
Authors: Castellano Tara , ElHabr Andrew K. , Washington Christina , Ting Jie , Zhang Yitong J. , Musa Fernanda , Berksoy Ezgi , Moore Kathleen , Randall Leslie , Chhatwal Jagpreet , Ayer Turgay , Leath Charles A. 
Published: July 2024

Background
Despite advances in cervical cancer (CC) prevention, detection, and treatment in the US, health disparities persist, disproportionately affecting underserved populations or regions. This study analyzes the geographical distribution of both CC and recurrent/metastatic CC (r/mCC) in the US and explores potential risk factors of higher disease burden to inform potential strategies to address disparities in CC and r/mCC.

Methods
We estimated CC screening rates, as well as CC burden (number of patients with CC diagnosis per 100,000 eligible enrollees) and r/mCC burden (proportion of CC patients receiving systemic therapy not in conjunction with surgery or radiation), at the geographic level between 2017–2022 using administrative claims. Data on income and race/ethnicity were obtained from US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Brachytherapy centers were proxies for guideline-conforming care for locally advanced CC. Associations among demographic, socioeconomic, and healthcare resource variables, with CC and r/mCC disease burden were assessed.

Results
Between 2017–2022, approximately 48,000 CC-diagnosed patients were identified, and approximately 10,000 initiated systemic therapy treatment. Both CC and r/mCC burden varied considerably across the US. Higher screening was significantly associated with lower CC burden only in the South. Lower income level was significantly associated with lower screening rates, higher CC and r/mCC burden. Higher proportion of Hispanic population was also associated with higher CC burden. The presence of ≥1 brachytherapy center in a region was significantly associated with a reduction in r/mCC burden (2.7%).

Conclusion
CC and r/mCC disparities are an interplay of certain social determinants of health, behavior, and race/ethnicity. Our findings may inform targeted interventions for a geographic area, and further highlight the importance of guideline-conforming care to reduce disease burden.
COVID-19’s psychological toll on oral health: A cross-sectional study in Iranian adults
Authors: Karimi Mahsa , Khami Mohammad Reza , Varmazyari Shabnam , Shamshiri Ahmad Reza , Hormozi Mahmoud , M. Aly Nourhan , Oluwátóyìn Foláyan Morẹ́nikẹ́ 
Published: July 2024

BackgroundThe Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic increased global psychological distress, emotional distress, and sleep disturbances, all known risk factors for compromised oral health. Despite this, there is limited understanding of the impacts of these psychological factors on oral health in certain populations, including Iranians. Thus, the present study investigates the associations between sociodemographic characteristics, emotional distress, sleep pattern changes, tooth brushing frequency, and oral ulcer reports in a sample of Iranian adults during the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.Materials and methodsThis cross-sectional, web-based study collected data from Iranian adults between July and September 2022 using respondent-driven sampling. The Mental Health and Wellness questionnaire was used to gather information on sociodemographic characteristics, emotional distress, sleep pattern changes, toothbrushing frequency, and oral ulcer reports. Simple and multiple logistic regression served for statistical analysis.ResultsAmong the 240 participants, comprising 164 females and 76 males, with a mean age of 35.3 years (±13.3), 28 individuals (11.7%) reported reduced tooth brushing frequency, and 35 individuals (14.6%) reported oral ulcers. Male gender (OR = 2.75, p = 0.016) and sleep patterns changes (OR = 2.93, p = 0.01) increased the likelihood of reduced tooth brushing frequency. Additionally, being younger than 30 (OR = 2.87, p = 0.025) and fearing coronavirus transmission (OR = 3.42, p = 0.009) increased the odds of oral ulcers.ConclusionsMale gender and sleep pattern changes were risk factors for reduced tooth brushing frequency among the present sample of Iranian adults during the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Additionally, being under 30 and fearing coronavirus transmission were identified as risk factors for oral ulcers in this population. To preserve and promote adults’ oral health during public health crises, targeted educational initiatives, public health awareness campaigns, and integrated mental and oral healthcare approaches are encouraged.
Chilaiditi Syndrome Masquerading as Acute Cholecystitis
Authors: Saha Bibek , Verma Anjul , Coelho-Prabhu Nayantara , Kelm Zachary S. , Cabrera Daniel 
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACT
Chilaiditi sign is an incidental radiological finding where the intestine is interposed between the diaphragm and liver. Chilaiditi syndrome (CS), characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms and Chilaiditi sign on imaging, is of important clinical significance despite its rarity given associated complications including intestinal obstruction, bowel ischemia, and perforation. While most cases involve the large intestine, we report a rare case of CS with ileal involvement complicated by small bowel obstruction, managed conservatively. Failure to recognize Chilaiditi sign or CS may prompt unnecessary surgical interventions, emphasizing the need for physician awareness to ensure accurate timely diagnosis and appropriate management.
Infectious disease agent surveillance in fitness centers in northern cyprus: is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (mrsa) infection a threat?
Authors: Yazir Cemal , Sultanoglu Nazife , Guvenir Meryem , Hurdoganoglu Ulas , Yavuz Hasan Ulas , Suer Kaya 
Published: July 2024

Fitness centers offer an opportunity for investigating the indirect transmission of pathogens. Many people with varying levels of personal hygiene share sports equipment where direct surface-to-skin contact occurs. This study aimed to investigate the bacterial load and fungal and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) contamination on predetermined sports equipment in fitness centers in Northern Cyprus. Additionally, volunteer personal trainers and gym members were screened to detect whether they were carriers of MRSA. Samples were collected from six fitness centers on sports equipment. MRSA carrier status was investigated for personal trainers (n=10) and gym members (n=100). The study used culture-dependent techniques and used SPSS 20 software for statistical analysis. There was no statistically significant difference between fungal growth on the sports equipment, and Aspergillus spp. were predominant. However, one of the fitness centers had a statistically significant difference in fungal growth compared to the others (p<0.005). There was no significant difference in the bacterial load among the sports equipment, but there was a significant difference among the fitness centers (p<0.009). Among all tested individuals, only 2.7% (3/110) were MRSA-positive, all of whom were gym members. No MRSA was detected on any of the equipment. Despite the increasing incidence of community-acquired MRSA infections, the fitness centers in this study did not appear to be significant sources of staphylococcal or fungal infections. However, the detection of MRSA carriers among gym members suggests that the spread of MRSA between individuals in gyms is still possible.
Artificial intelligence and depth ontology: implications for intercultural ethics
Authors: O’Regan John P. , Ferri Giuliana 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Despite increasing concerns over the use of AI in surveillance, privacy, public health, climate change, global migration and warfare, the implications of its use in the field of intercultural communication are still not clearly defined. This paper critically examines the contemporary emergence of AI through the lens of a critical realist depth ontology to argue that AI, with its unending interplay of signs and symbols, is the ultimate simulacrum. As such, AI vacates the normative terrain of judgemental rationality in favour of the relativist terrain of endless simulacra and the fetish appearances of postmodernism. To illustrate this, it is argued that the inability of AI to make judgements based on judgemental rationality (or Ethics1) occludes the possibility of intervening in the world to ameliorate real injustice. Therefore, if intercultural ethics remains within the realm of judgmental relativism (or Ethics2) it abdicates the possibility to have an impact in the material world.
A multi-chamber soft robot for transesophageal echocardiography: continuous kinematic matching control of soft medical robots
Authors: Sayahkarajy Mostafa , Witte Hartmut 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Objectives
This research investigates designing a continuum soft robot and proposing a kinematic matching control to enable the robot to perform a specified medical task, which in this paper is the transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

Methods
A multi-chamber soft robot was designed and fabricated based on the molding of separate layers. The method of transformation matrices was used to develop the kinematic models, and a control method using Jacobian matrices was proposed to manipulate the robot.

Results
A prototype was made based on a multi-chamber multi-layer design. The system contains three segments that can be actuated independently to mimic the active bending part of the respective probe. Kinematic models were developed. Negative pressure (vacuum) was used as actuation input. An open-loop controller inspired by a redundancy resolution technique was proposed to make the soft robot tip follow the desired path, i.e. the path of the rigid ultrasound probe.

Conclusions
It is concluded that the soft solution can perform the required task as the reachable points of the TEE tip cover the proposed robot workspace and the proposed control can be used for maneuvering in arbitrary trajectories.
Investigation of corrosion inhibition and adsorption properties of quinoxaline derivatives on metal surfaces through DFT and Monte Carlo simulations
Authors: Azeez Yousif Hussein , Mamand Dyari Mustafa , Omer Rebaz A. , Awla Awat Hamad , Omar Karzan A. 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
This work presents a multiscale theoretical investigation into the potential of quinoxaline derivatives (Q1–Q6) as corrosion inhibitors for various metals (Fe(110), Cu(111), and Al(110)). Employing a combined approach combining density functional theory (DFT) and Monte Carlo simulations, we explore the relationship between molecular structure, electronic properties, and adsorption behavior. Density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics simulations (MDS) were used to investigate the electronic characteristics of diverse compounds. The study included key parameters including highest occupied molecular orbital energy (E
HOMO), lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy (E
LUMO), energy gap (E
g) between E
LUMO and E
HOMO, dipole moment, global hardness, softness (σ), ionization energy (I), electron affinity (A), electronegativity (χ), back-donation energy E
b−d, global electrophilicity (ω), electron transfer, global nucleophilicity (ε), and total energy (sum of electronic and zero-point energies). These properties, alongside adsorption energies (following the trend Q6 > Q2 > Q3 > Q4 > Q5 > Q1), are used to identify promising inhibitor candidates and establish structure–property relationships governing their effectiveness. The results suggest that inhibitor efficiency increases with a decreasing energy gap between frontier orbitals. Notably, the protonated state of Q6 exhibits high reactivity, low stability, and strong adsorption, making it a potential candidate for further exploration. This comprehensive theoretical approach offers crucial insights for the conceptual development of new and powerful corrosion inhibitors.
Children and adolescents with differentiated thyroid cancer from 1998 to 2018: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Li Wei , Zhang Shanling , Gao Zilu , Tao Yingjie , Wang Xudong , Cheng Junping 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Objectives
This study aims to investigate the clinical features of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) in children and adolescents under 18 years and assess the impact of surgery combined with thyroid hormone and radioactive iodine (RAI) on their prognosis.

Methods
A retrospective observational study was conducted, involving children/adolescents with DTC who underwent surgery at the Head and Neck Department of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from January 1998 to December 2018.

Results
Among 198 patients, 130 (65.7 %) were female. According to the American Thyroid Association guidelines, cases were categorized as low (106, 53.5 %), intermediate (54, 27.3 %), and high (38, 19.2 %) risk. The follow-up duration ranged from 3 to 23 years. Local recurrence and distant metastasis were identified in 21 (10.6 %) and 14 (7.1 %) cases, respectively. All patients received levothyroxine, while RAI therapy was administered to intermediate- and high-risk patients. The local recurrence and distant metastasis rates in these two groups were 33.3 and 39.5 %, respectively, with no recurrence or metastasis in the low-risk group. Persistent without structural evidence of disease were 0.9, 3.7, and 26.3 % at end of follow-up for the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, respectively. The overall survival rates for all three groups were 100 %, while disease-free survival rates were 99.1, 63.0, and 34.2 % for the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, respectively.

Conclusions
Children/adolescents with low-risk DTC exhibited a favorable prognosis even without RAI. However, intermediate- and high-risk DTC patients, despite RAI and levothyroxine treatment, showed elevated rates of persistent disease, local recurrence, and distant metastasis.
The forbidden fruit: toque macaques (Macaca sinica) feeding on invasive pond apple (Annona glabra) in Sri Lankan mangroves
Authors: Rog Stefanie M. , Sinovas Pablo 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
This is the first documented instance of Sri Lanka’s endemic Macaca sinica (toque macaque) foraging on invasive Annona glabra (pond apple). We observed a troop of toque macaques (∼15) consuming A. glabra in a mangrove forest in Negombo lagoon in western Sri Lanka. This behaviour highlights the need to understand species interactions in the design of effective invasive species interventions for mangrove management.
A systematic approach of vitrification by high pressure freezing
Authors: Kodera Chie , Bret Yann , Eyraud Frederic , Heiligenstein Jérôme , Belle Martin , Heiligenstein Xavier 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
This study explores the efficacy and reliability of high-pressure freezing (HPF) as a sample preparation technique for electron microscopy (EM) analysis across a diverse range of biological samples. Utilizing the HPM Live µ technology, based on the historical hydraulic HPM010 from BalTec, we demonstrate the reliability of our industrial equipment to achieve the critical parameters necessary for vitrification (2076 bars, cooling rate above 2000 K/s). By directly measuring physical values within the HPF chamber, we evaluate the proper functioning of the equipment, contributing to the technique’s reliability. A meticulous approach was adopted for each sample type, acknowledging the uniqueness of each specimen, and associating the final sample analysis with its HPF curve, aiding in protocol optimization. Samples including human cell pellets, cell monolayer, mouse brain and liver biopsies, and Arabidopsis thaliana root and seedlings were processed for EM analysis following HPF. The ultrastructure of each sample type was rigorously examined, revealing homogeneous preservation and minimal ice nucleation artefacts. Overall, our work underscores the robustness and versatility of our HPM Live µ in preserving biological ultrastructure, offering valuable insights for researchers employing EM techniques in diverse biological studies.
The Nominalist Limit of Kim’s Ontological Physicalism
Authors: Ferrari Francesco Maria 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Kim’s Ontological Physicalism (OP) presents itself as a naturalistic and monistic metaphysical framework, aligned with the causal closure of the universe and rejecting causally efficacious “exotic” properties. The foundational ontology is, in turn, monistic and materialistic, positing that the universe is composed solely of material particulars: bits of matter. In this work, we identify a notable tension between OP’s intended model and the one OP specifies. Initially, we show how the theory inevitably becomes entangled with higher-order entities, not just particulars. Kim introduces the Supervenience Argument (SA) to counteract the possibility of higher-order entities being causally efficacious. While SA proves to be a plausible strategy, it is ultimately inadequate: not only SA is a petitio principii against emergence, but it is also unsound and invalid. Therefore, we propose a formal strategy to restore its ontological effectiveness. Unfortunately, at a closer look, even this strategy falls short as it unwarrantedly assumes the logicality and invariance of those equivalence relations (such as identity, similarity, and congruence) which are crucial for specifying the theory’s model as composed of particulars.
Keeping the pitch on track: spatiotemporal challenges in ambulant vending on a Buenos Aires trainline
Authors: Márquez Reiter Rosina , Manrique Elizabeth 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
This article examines ambulant vendors’ labour on a Buenos Aires trainline. It explores how vendors employ a range of verbal and embodied resources to navigate the challenges of sustaining attention from commuters and manage the progressivity of their sales pitch as they achieve individual service encounters and deal with physical obstructions intrinsic to the local ecology of the train and the contingencies of earning a livelihood on the move. An interactional pragmatics analysis of vendors’ working practices as video-recorded by them coupled with ethnographic observations, reveals the complex interplay of verbal and embodied cues, spatial arrangements, and temporal constraints in relation to the progressivity of their sales pitch. The findings challenge long-held negative views of vendors’ presence in public space by highlighting the methodical approach, dexterity, and civility of their working practices, and how their labour fills a gap in the market. The article provides new insights into the dynamics of urban labour in public spaces and the intrinsicality of multimodality to manoeuvre round the unequal conditions these workers inhabit.