bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An assessment of diabetes care in Palestinian refugee camps in Syria
Authors: Alabed Samer , Guul Aisha , Crighton Claire , Alahdab Fares , Fares Munes , Morad Mohammad , Sonbol Mohamad B , Madmani Mohammed E , Sasa Anas , Unwin Nigel 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
Background: Palestinian refugees have been a displaced group of people since 1948, many of whom are living in refugee camps in the Middle East. They are entitled to free health care from the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA). They show a higher prevalence of diabetes than the population in their host countries in the Middle East. This study examined the realities of care for diabetic patients in UNRWA health clinics in Damascus, Syria. The aim was three‑fold: To investigate the level of diabetes care, to probe patients′ level of general understanding of their disease and its management, and to search for areas of potential improvement. Methods: Data on patient education and care was gathered over a 1 month period from August 4, 2008 to September 4, 2008 using questionnaires and direct observation of the workflow at the clinics. Clinic‑led care was observed by the study team using checklists during patient visits. All of the clinic staff and sampled patients were interviewed. The main areas of care assessed were: Patient follow‑up; examination of eyes and feet; availability of medications; and patient education. A total of 154 people with diabetes were sampled from three refugee camps situated around Damascus. Results: A total of 154 patients, three doctors and seven nurses composed the sample of the study. Foot examinations were almost always neglected by health staff and eye examinations were not offered by the UNRWA clinics. Interviews with patients showed that: 67% (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.59‑0.70) had to buy their medication at their own expense at least once due to medication shortage in the UNRWA clinics, 48% (95% CI: 0.40‑0.55) displayed poor knowledge regarding the cause and exacerbating factors of diabetes, 65% (95% CI: 0.56‑0.72) had not heard of insulin, and 43% (95% CI: 0.35‑0.51) did not know for how long they needed to take their medications.
Zombie, vous avez dit zombie ? Quand l’apocalypse zombie s’empare du roman
Authors: Bergeron Patrick 
Published: May 2014

Cet article examine la manière dont les genres littéraires narratifs (roman et nouvelle) se sont approprié la figure du zombie mythifiée au cinéma par George A. Romero. Une première partie situe la figure littéraire du zombie par rapport à ses modèles cinématographique (Romero) et bédéistique (Kirkman). Une seconde partie identifie cinq catégories de récits représentatives de cette appropriation littéraire : les anthologies de nouvelles de zombies, les romans de genre zombie, les zomédies et les pots-pourris, les fictions zombies hors du monde anglophone et les spéculations zombies littérairement élaborées.
Apocalypse Zombie : l’invasion des morts- vivants dans le roman graphique contemporain
Authors: Domínguez Leiva Antonio 
Published: May 2014

La figure du zombie envahit littéralement l’univers de la bande dessinée contemporaine, s’articulant autour de différents mythèmes et motifs qui, à la suite de Romero, en font un héraut inquiétant d’une Nouvelle Apocalypse : la ville en ruines et l’anomie sociale, en proie aux dérèglements de l’« l’homme-masse » associé au topos fin-de-siècle des « nouveaux barbares » et la régression à la sauvagéité ; la pandémie et le motif de la « rage » associée au cannibalisme des morts ; le triomphe de l’iconographie du cadavre galvanisé ; la surenchère dans le détail gore, à la lisière de l’humour ; la paranoïa envers les appareils idéologiques d’État et notamment les pouvoirs médicaux et militaires ; le sous-texte religieux d’un jugement dernier sans rédemption ; enfin, la « politique » du mauvais goût qui fait des zombies les emblèmes d’une antiesthétique contre-culturelle.
La place réservée à l’avis des peuples autochtones dans le cadre du processus de prise de décision concernant le Plan Nord ou l’exploitation du Nord québécois : perspective juridique interne et internationale
Authors: Farget Doris , Fullum-Lavery Marie-Pier 
Published: May 2014

Cet article présente les normes de droit interne et international encadrant la prise en compte de l’avis des peuples autochtones lorsque des décisions gouvernementales sont susceptibles d’avoir un impact sur leurs vies, leurs territoires ou sur leurs droits. L’article met en lumière certaines ambiguïtés quant à l’interprétation de ces normes et propose des pistes de solution afin d’y remédier.
Il tend à démontrer que le régime de consultation en place au Canada devrait prendre en compte l’avis des peuples autochtones de manière plus importante. Pour ce faire, les auteures mettent en lumière les intérêts du droit au consentement préalable, libre et éclairé, outil de conciliation, oeuvrant à l’acceptabilité de projets d’envergure et à la prise en compte des peuples autochtones en tant que partenaires de ceux-ci. L’article propose également une interprétation novatrice des normes de droit international et rappelle qu’elles peuvent asseoir l’intégration du droit au consentement en droit interne.
Zift ou La mise en bière de l’idéologie totalitaire
Authors: Vassilev Kris 
Published: May 2014

Le film Zift (Javor Gardev, 2008), qui met en scène l’époque du totalitarisme bulgare, refuse les postulats et les procédés d’un discours d’inspiration réaliste revendiquant ou imitant l’authenticité du document historique. Au langage impersonnel du reportage, Zift substitue la représentation outrancière d’un parcours initiatique. En plaçant sa narration dans la perspective faussement naïve d’une expérience individuelle, le film brouille les images d’un savoir banalisé, fondé sur les lieux communs et les certitudes apprises. Au mépris des conventions génériques, Zift subordonne la réalité communiste qu’il représente au code normatif du film noir. Sur l’arrière-fond de cette alliance inédite, le récit filmique déploie ses métaphores sous-jacentes : autant de symboles incarnant les rouages du système totalitaire, inséparable du scatologique, de l’absurde et du grotesque. Au coeur de cette insolite contextualisation de l’espace totalitaire, Zift semble chercher le principe générateur de l’histoire, pour l’émanciper d’un passé définitivement replié sur lui-même.
Technological Advancements in Affective Gaming: A Historical Survey
Authors: Christy Thomas , Kuncheva Ludmila I. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractAffective gaming (AG) is a cross-disciplinary area drawing upon psychology, physiology, electronic engineering and computer science, among others. This paper presents a historical overview of affective gaming, bringing together psychophysiological system developments, a time-line of video game graphical advancements and industry trends, thereby offering an entry point into affective gaming research. It is proposed that video games may soon reach a peak in perceivable graphical improvements. This opens up the door for innovative game enhancement strategies, such as emotiondriven interactions between the player and the gaming environment.
Factors Underlying Reduced Hospitalizations for Myocardial Infarction During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Wilcock Andrew D. , Zubizarreta Jose R. , Wadhera Rishi K. , Yeh Robert W. , Zachrison Kori S. , Schwamm Lee H. , Mehrotra Ateev 
Published: July 2024

ImportanceThe incidence of hospital encounters for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) decreased sharply early in the COVID-19 pandemic and has not returned to prepandemic levels. There has been an ongoing debate about what mechanism may underlie this decline, including patients avoiding the hospital for treatment, excess mortality from COVID-19 among patients who would otherwise have had an AMI, a reduction in the incidence or severity of AMIs due to pandemic-related changes in behavior, or a preexisting temporal trend of lower AMI incidence.ObjectiveTo describe drivers of changing incidence in AMI hospital encounters during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cross-sectional study used traditional Medicare claims from all patients enrolled in traditional Medicare from January 2016 to June 2023 (total of 2.85 billion patient-months) to calculate the rate of AMI hospital encounters (emergency department visits, observation stays, or inpatient admissions) per capita at all short-term acute care and critical access hospitals in the United States overall and by patient characteristics. Observed rates were compared with expected rates that accounted for shifts in population characteristics and the prepandemic temporal trend (as estimated over 2016-2019). Data were analyzed in November 2023.Main Outcomes and MeasuresHospital encounters for AMI.ResultsOn average, the study sample included 31 623 928 patients each month from January 2016 through June 2023, for a total of 2 846 153 487 patient-months during the 90-month study period. In June 2023, there were 0.044 AMI hospital encounters per 100 patients, which was 20% lower than in June 2019 (0.055 encounters per 100 patients). Early in the pandemic, AMI rates moved inversely with COVID-19 death rates and tracked patterns seen for other painful acute conditions, such as nephrolithiasis, suggesting these changes were associated with care avoidance. Changes in patient characteristics driven by excess deaths during the pandemic explained little of the decline. Later in the pandemic, the decline may be explained by the long-standing downward trend in AMI incidence; by April 2022, the observed rate of encounters matched the expected rate that accounted for this trend. During the full pandemic period, from March 2020 to June 2023, there were an estimated 5% (95% prediction interval, 1%-9%) fewer AMI hospital encounters than expected.Conclusions and RelevanceThe early reduction in AMI encounters was likely driven by care avoidance, while ongoing reductions through June 2023 likely reflect long-standing temporal trends. During the pandemic, there were 5% fewer AMI encounters than expected.
Leadless Ultrasound-Based Cardiac Resynchronization System in Heart Failure
Authors: Singh Jagmeet P. , Rinaldi Christopher A. , Sanders Prashanthan , Kubo Spencer H. , James Simon , Niazi Imran K. , Betts Timothy , Butter Christian , Okabe Toshimasa , Cunnane Ryan , Aziz Emad , Biffi Mauro , Zaidi Amir , Alison Jeffrey , Defaye Pascal , Aurrichio Angelo , Gold Michael R. , Lindenfeld JoAnn , Rogers Tyson , Walsh Mary Norine ,   SOLVE-CRT Investigators
Published: July 2024

ImportanceApproximately 40% of patients with heart failure (HF) who are eligible for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) either fail to respond or are untreatable due to anatomical constraints.ObjectiveTo assess the safety and efficacy of a novel, leadless, left ventricular (LV) endocardial pacing system for patients at high risk for a CRT upgrade or whose coronary sinus (CS) lead placement/pacing with a conventional CRT system failed.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThe SOLVE-CRT study was a prospective multicenter trial enrolling January 2018 through July 2022, with follow-up at 6 months. Data were analyzed from January 17, 2018, through February 15, 2023. The trial combined data from an initial randomized, double-blind study (n = 108) and a subsequent single-arm part (n = 75). It took place at 36 centers across Australia, Europe, and the US. Participants were nonresponders, previously untreatable (PU), or high-risk upgrades (HRU). All participants contributed to the safety analysis. The primary efficacy analysis (n = 100) included 75 PU-HRU patients from the single-arm part and 25 PU-HRU patients from the randomized treatment arm.InterventionsPatients were implanted with the WiSE CRT System (EBR Systems) consisting of a leadless LV endocardial pacing electrode stimulated with ultrasound energy delivered by a subcutaneously implanted transmitter and battery.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary safety end point was freedom from type I complications. The primary efficacy end point was a reduction in mean LV end systolic volume (LVESV).ResultsThe study included 183 participants; mean age was 68.1 (SD, 10.3) years and 141 were male (77%). The trial was terminated at an interim analysis for meeting prespecified stopping criteria. In the safety population, patients were either New York Heart Association Class II (34.6%) or III (65.4%). The primary efficacy end point was met with a 16.4% (95% CI, −21.0% to −11.7%) reduction in mean LVESV (P = .003). The primary safety end point was met with an 80.9% rate of freedom from type I complications (P &amp;lt; .001), which included 12 study device system events (6.6%), 5 vascular events (2.7%), 3 strokes (1.6%), and 7 cardiac perforations which mostly occurred early in the study (3.8%).Conclusions and RelevanceThe SOLVE-CRT study has demonstrated that leadless LV endocardial pacing with the WiSE CRT system is associated with a reduction in LVESV in patients with HF. This novel system may represent an alternative to conventional CRT implants in some HF patient populations.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0292203
Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in High-Risk Pediatric Trauma Patients
Authors: Witte Amanda B. , Van Arendonk Kyle , Bergner Carisa , Bantchev Martin , Falcone Richard A. , Moody Suzanne , Hartman Heather A. , Evans Emily , Thakkar Rajan , Patterson Kelli N. , Minneci Peter C. , Mak Grace Z. , Slidell Mark B. , Johnson MacKenton , Landman Matthew P. , Markel Troy A. , Leys Charles M. , Cherney Stafford Linda , Draper Jessica , Foley David S. , Downard Cynthia , Skaggs Tracy M. , Lal Dave R. , Gourlay David , Ehrlich Peter F. 
Published: July 2024

ImportanceThe indications, safety, and efficacy of chemical venous thromboembolism prophylaxis (cVTE) in pediatric trauma patients remain unclear. A set of high-risk criteria to guide cVTE use was recently recommended; however, these criteria have not been evaluated prospectively.ObjectiveTo examine high-risk criteria and cVTE use in a prospective multi-institutional study of pediatric trauma patients.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cohort study was completed between October 2019 and October 2022 in 8 free-standing pediatric hospitals designated as American College of Surgeons level I pediatric trauma centers. Participants were pediatric trauma patients younger than 18 years who met defined high-risk criteria on admission. It was hypothesized that cVTE would be safe and reduce the incidence of VTE.ExposuresReceipt and timing of chemical VTE prophylaxis.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcome was overall VTE rate stratified by receipt and timing of cVTE. The secondary outcome was safety of cVTE as measured by bleeding or other complications from anticoagulation.ResultsAmong 460 high-risk pediatric trauma patients, the median (IQR) age was 14.5 years (10.4-16.2 years); 313 patients (68%) were male and 147 female (32%). The median (IQR) Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 23 (16-30), and median (IQR) number of high-risk factors was 3 (2-4). A total of 251 (54.5%) patients received cVTE; 62 (13.5%) received cVTE within 24 hours of admission. Patients who received cVTE after 24 hours had more high-risk factors and higher ISS. The most common reason for delayed cVTE was central nervous system bleed (120 patients; 30.2%). There were 28 VTE events among 25 patients (5.4%). VTE occurred in 1 of 62 patients (1.6%) receiving cVTE within 24 hours, 13 of 189 patients (6.9%) receiving cVTE after 24 hours, and 11 of 209 (5.3%) who had no cVTE (P = .31). Increasing time between admission and cVTE initiation was significantly associated with VTE (odds ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.01; P = .01). No bleeding complications were observed while patients received cVTE.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this prospective study, use of cVTE based on a set of high-risk criteria was safe and did not lead to bleeding complications. Delay to initiation of cVTE was significantly associated with development of VTE. Quality improvement in pediatric VTE prevention may center on timing of prophylaxis and barriers to implementation.
MRI evidence of gray matter loss in COVID‐19 patients with cognitive and olfactory disorders
Authors: Capelli Serena , Arrigoni Alberto , Napolitano Angela , Pezzetti Giulio , Remuzzi Andrea , Zangari Rosalia , Lorini Ferdinando Luca , Sessa Maria , Caroli Anna , Gerevini Simonetta 
Published: July 2024

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess COVID‐19‐related gray matter (GM) structural alterations in two distinct groups of patients presenting with the prevailing and distinctive COVID‐19‐related neurological symptoms – isolated olfactory disorders as sole neurological manifestation (COVID‐OD) and cognitive disorders (COVID‐CD) – as compared to a control group of unaffected individuals.MethodsThe study included 61 COVID‐CD patients (57 [60–63] years, 62% females), 84 COVID‐OD patients (49 [35–57] years, 60% females), and 17 controls (51 [41–52] years, 41% females). Region‐based morphometry (RBM) and voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) were performed on T1‐weighted MRI scans to assess GM regional volume and voxel‐wise density differences between COVID‐19 patients and controls. Surface‐based morphometry (SBM) was applied to investigate cortical thickness alterations. The statistical models built to assess GM structural differences among groups included total intracranial volume and age as nuisance variables.ResultsThe multi‐morphometric analysis revealed statistically significant (p < 0.05 corrected for multiple comparisons) reduction in GM regional volumes, in voxel‐wise GM density and in cortical thickness in both COVID‐CD and COVID‐OD patient groups as compared to controls. Across all three analyses, COVID‐CD patients showed more distributed and severe GM loss than COVID‐OD patients. The most prominently affected GM regions in the COVID‐CD group included the hippocampus, putamen, cingulate gyrus, precuneus, precentral and postcentral gyri, amygdala, lingual gyrus, and caudate nucleus.InterpretationOur MRI findings show that COVID‐19‐related olfactory and cognitive disorders both induce GM atrophy, although at different degrees of severity, likely indicative of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation.
Flexible High‐Temperature Polymer Dielectrics Induced by Ultraviolet Radiation for High Efficient Energy Storage
Authors: Pei Jia‐Yao , Zhu Jing , Yin Li‐Juan , Zhao Yu , Yang Minhao , Zhong Shao‐Long , Feng Qi‐Kun , Dang Zhi‐Min 
Published: July 2024

AbstractPolymer‐based dielectrics with fast electrostatic energy storage and release, are crucial for advanced electronics and power systems. However, the deterioration of insulation performance and charge–discharge efficiency of polymer dielectrics at elevated temperatures and high electric fields hinder the applications of capacitors in harsh environments. Herein, a facile and scalable approach is reported to fabricating flexible high‐temperature polymer dielectrics for high‐efficiency energy storage by ultraviolet irradiation. The resultant dielectric films exhibit an augment of 493% in energy density and exceeding 800% in discharge efficiency at 200 °C (3.2 J cm−3 and over 90% discharge efficiency at 480 M V−1m for irradiated polyetherimide (PEI), 0.54 J cm−3, and below 10% discharge efficiency at 400 MV m−1 for pristine PEI) and excellent cycle performance. The injected space charge is found to be the dominant contributor to energy loss during the charge–discharge process. Free radicals introduced by ultraviolet irradiation can act as deep traps to capture injected charge and suppress space charge migration. This work clarifies the contribution of space charge to energy loss and demonstrates the effectiveness of ultraviolet irradiation in improving the capacitive performance of high‐temperature polymer dielectrics. These findings provide a novel paradigm for the rational design of high‐temperature polymer dielectrics for high‐efficiency energy storage.
Fish Collagen Cross‐Linking Strategies to Improve Mechanical and Bioactive Capabilities for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Leonard Alexandria R. , Cumming Mathew H. , Ali Mohammad Azam , Cabral Jaydee D. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractCollagen is the most abundant protein found in humans and is fundamental to tissue structure and function. Collagen products used in biomedical research are primarily derived from mammals, and despite being mainly responsible for providing strength to native connective tissue, collagen hydrogels have comparatively low mechanical properties without the use of additional cross‐linking strategies. Alternative sources of collagen, like fish collagen, are emerging as key biomaterials in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM). By addressing cultural/religious concerns, ease of extraction, absence of mammalian‐derived allergens, and retention of functional motifs, fish collagen has many promising characteristics that make it a suitable alternative to mammalian collagen. Several physical and chemical cross‐linking strategies of fish collagen are explored to create more stable and resilient scaffolds for a variety of TERM applications. This comprehensive review explores how these modifications are optimized in fish collagen hydrogel systems. Herein, the use of fish collagen and their reported sources for TERM research, as well as the types of treatments (including sterilization) used to alter collagen structures and functions, are presented to date.
Electronic Band Offset in a Diamond|cBN|Diamond System for Modulation Doping
Authors: Ruan Qiyuan , Li Xingfu , Yakobson Boris I. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractDiamond is a material with promising electronics applications but with challenges in effective doping. Cubic boron nitride (cBN), due to its similar lattice structure, is ideal for forming heterostructures with diamond, to modify electronic properties and especially shift the band positions. Here it is demonstrated how integrating cBN layers of finite thickness in diamond can induce an electronic band offset near the polarized diamond‐cBN interface. Beyond the direct density functional theory computations, an analytical model is developed for rapid examination of the band offset, for a broad number of crystallographic orientations, in excellent agreement with ab initio calculations. Results show that near [100] and [111] crystal directions, the diamond|cBN|diamond heterostructure displays a 3–4 eV band offset which is expected to facilitate effective modulation doping of diamond.
Direct Catalysis‐Driven Yarn Artificial Muscles: Chemically Induced Actuation
Authors: Zhou Xiaoshuang , Li Mingxia , Cao Xiaoting , Dong Xu , Fang Shaoli , Li Lvzhou , Yuan Ningyi , Ding Jianning , Baughman Ray H. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractYarn artificial muscles offer an exciting avenue to replicate the extraordinary efficiency of biological muscles, converting chemical energy directly into mechanical work. Nevertheless, realizing the chemical‐mechanical energy conversion has posed significant challenges. In this study, a novel approach for harnessing direct catalysis to power yarn artificial muscles within a one‐compartment aqueous system is introduced. This research distinguishes itself through an innovative actuation mechanism using nanoscale catalytic particles. These nanoparticles synthesized and integrated onto the yarn surface act as a chemical trigger for muscle actuation. Notably, the resulting yarn muscle demonstrates a reversible tensile stroke of nearly 4% in ≈20 s. By bridging the gap between chemical catalysis and mechanical performance, this study paves the way for innovative applications in fields ranging from robotics to biomedical devices.