bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on research activities: A survey of the largest Italian academic community”
Authors: Volpe Massimo , Ralli Massimo , Isidori Andrea 
Published: June 2024

Purpose
The aim of the present work is to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on research activities in a vast multidisciplinary academic community to identify the most critical issues.

Method
To this purpose we planned a survey addressed to the entire academic research staff at "Sapienza" University of Rome, which represents the largest Italian academic community. A questionnaire consisting of both open and closed-ended questions was delivered to 4118 individuals in April 2021.

Results
A total of 544 responses were collected. All academic roles were sufficiently represented in the study cohort. The median number of critical issues experienced by academic research staff was three. Among these, the three most frequently reported were related to: "Access to libraries / laboratories / research sites" (21.9%), "Limitation to stay abroad / study / research periods" (17.6%), "Progress of experimental work" (14.7%), with variable prevalence according to academic position and gender. Older subjects reported issues with "Projects’ financial reporting” and “Expiration of acquired consumable material more frequently”. The most common critical aspects reported in relation to the economic burden were: being “Unable to allocate funds” (31.4%), a “Reduction in clinical and scientific activity” (26.3%) and experiencing “Increased expenses (comprising private costs)” (21.2%) with no differences between genders. Researchers in Applied Sciences and Natural Sciences reported a higher frequency of problems in clinical and scientific activities, whereas increased expenses were reported also by researchers operating in the Humanities field. As a possible solution aimed at improving these issues, most subjects, especially those aged >45 years, indicated “Economic aid” (22.6%), “Reduction in bureaucracy” (19.9%) or “Enhancement of the scientific and clinical activities”, whereas those aged ≤45 years felt that an increased duration and better access to PhD programs were to be prioritized.

Conclusion
Our findings highlight the most critical issues related to research activities during the COVID-19 pandemic in a large academic community. The information achieved may be useful to identify researchers’ needs and to design appropriate policies aimed at preparing research institutions for unexpected catastrophic events and limiting the negative impact on academic research activities.
Psychological distress and sleep quality among Sri Lankan medical students during an economic crisis
Authors: Liyanage Guwani , Rajapakshe D. P. R. W. , Wijayaratna D. R. , Jayakody J. A. I. P. , Gunaratne K. A. M. C. , Alagiyawanna A. M. A. D. K. 
Published: June 2024

Objectives
This study examined the evidence of the prevalence of psychological distress and poor sleep among medical students and its associations during an economic crisis.

Design
This was a cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire. It included the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Setting and participants
This study included medical undergraduates from a large metropolitan university in Sri Lanka.

Primary and secondary outcome measures
We assessed the prevalence of psychological distress, sleep quality, and factors associated with psychological distress. To evaluate the associations, we used logistic regression.

Results
The majority (69.2%) had some form of distress (depression, anxiety or stress), while 23% had distress in all three. Anxiety was the most prevalent (50.7%). Poor sleep quality was reported in 41%. The highest contribution to global PSQI was from sleep latency, duration, and daytime dysfunction subscales. In bivariate analysis, sleep quality was directly related to depression (t245.65 = -6.75, p<0.001)., anxiety (t313.45 = -6.45, p <0.001), and stress (t94.22 = -5.14, p <0.001). In multinomial logistic regression models, sleep quality was independently associated with depression, anxiety and stress. In addition, frequent contact with friends was inversely associated with depression and anxiety. Also, social media use was inversely linked to depression, anxiety and stress. Clinical-year students had lower depression and anxiety than non-clinical students. Engaging in mindfulness activities was inversely associated with depression. However, models explained only a moderate amount of variance (Nagelkerke R-squared values were 0.21, 0.18, and 0.13 for depression, anxiety and stress, respectively).

Conclusions
Poor sleep quality and psychological distress are high among the undergraduates. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing sleep quality and psychological wellbeing in medical undergraduates. Further research with larger and more diverse samples is needed for a more comprehensive understanding of the factors associated with psychological distress among undergraduates.
Analysis of the chemical constituents and their metabolites in Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. via UHPLC-Q exactive orbitrap-HRMS and AFADESI-MSI techniques
Authors: Ouyang Jianting , Lin Danyao , Chen Xuesheng , Li Yimeng , Liu Qin , Li Delun , Quan Haohao , Fu Xinwen , Wu Qiaoru , Wang Xiaowan , Wu Shouhai , Li Chuang , Feng Yi , Mao Wei 
Published: June 2024

Background
Known for its strong diuretic properties, the perennial herbaceous plant Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. is believed to preserve the kidney disease. This study compared the boiling water extract with powdered Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. and used a highly sensitive and high resolution UHPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-HRMS technology to evaluate its chemical composition.

Results
Furthermore, by monitoring the absorption of prototype components in rat plasma following oral treatment, the beneficial ingredients of the Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. decoction was discovered. Approximately 92 substances underwent a preliminary identification utilizing relevant databases, relevant literature, and reference standards. As the compound differences between the powdered Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. and its water decoction were analyzed, it was found that boiling produced additional compounds, 48 of which were new. 45 blood absorption prototype components and 49 OS metabolites were discovered from rat serum, and a kidney tissue homogenate revealed an additional 28 prototype components. Early differences in the distribution of ferulic acid, cis 4 coumaric acid, and rosmarinic acid were shown using spatial metabolomics. It was elucidated that the renal cortex region is where rosmarinic acid largely acts, offering a theoretical foundation for further studies on the application of OS in the prevention and treatment of illness as well as the preservation of kidney function.

Significance
In this study, UHPLC–Q Exactive Orbitrap–HRMS was employed to discern OS’s chemical composition, and a rapid, sensitive, and broad-coverage AFADESI-MSI method was developed to visualize the spatial distribution of compounds in tissues.
Exploring needs and requirements for a prototype device measuring physical activity in pediatric physical therapy: A qualitative study
Authors: Engels Barbara , Kloek Corelien J. J. , Sol Marleen E. , Bolster Eline A. M. , Kotte Elles M. W. , Wittink Harriët , Engelbert Raoul H. H. , Gorter Jan Willem , Bloemen Manon A. T. 
Published: June 2024

Aims
To analyze needs and requirements of Pediatric Physical Therapists (PPTs), parents, children and adolescents with and without developmental disabilities in the future use of an activity monitor prototype (AM-p) in everyday clinical practice.

Methods
Qualitative exploratory study with a thematic analysis approach, based on Braun and Clarke’s six steps. Codes derived from the analysis and central themes were collated, based on Fleuren et al.’s groupings of determinants.

Results
We interviewed 25 PPTs, 12 parents, and 12 children and adolescents. Within four groupings of determinants, we found nine themes: 1) development of information materials; 2) application: output visualization and ease of use; 3) design; 4) relevance and acceptance; 5) shared decision-making; 6) compatibility in daily living; 7) finances, 8) time, and 9) legislation and regulations.

Conclusions
End-users have similar basic needs, with individual fine-tuning to be addressed during further development of the AM-p. A child-friendly design, information material, and an easy-to-use application to read and interpret results, need to be developed. Efficient training for PPTs is important for the use of the AM-p and analysis of results. Communication between PPTs and children as well as parents enhances shared decision-making. We recommend involving diverse end-users to enable maximum customization of the AM-p.
Early excellence and future performance advantage
Authors: Wang Tiantian , Zhong Yaping , Wei Xin 
Published: June 2024

Objectives
The objective of this study was to examine the impact of athletes achieving excellence at different ages (excellent age) on their subsequent performance development. The aim was to deepen understanding of the interplay among talent, training, and athletes’ performance development. Additionally, the study aimed to provide insights for athletics coaches to better identify talent and devise more effective personalized long-term training plans.

Design
This was a cross-sectional study.

Method
A hierarchical linear model was employed to analyze the correlation between excellent age and subsequent performance development in a cohort of 775 elite track and field athletes. This analysis was expanded upon by the application of a general linear regression model, which was used to explore the relationship between excellent age and peak age, peak performance, as well as the growth in performance during adulthood.

Results
As athletes reached excellence at later ages, their peak performance exhibited a U-shaped pattern(p <0.001), initially decreasing and then rising. Simultaneously, their peak age became increasingly advanced(p <0.001), with a progressively larger performance improvement during adulthood(p <0.001). In various disciplines, excellent age is negatively correlated with peak performance for speed athletes(p = 0.025), exhibiting a U-shaped pattern for endurance athletes(p = 0.024), and showing no significant correlation for fast-power athletes(p = 0.916).

Conclusions
Athletes who achieve excellence either early or later often show more remarkable future developments. However, there are significant distinctions in the age at which these athletes reach their peak performance and the pace of improvement leading up to it. Those who excel early may possess greater innate athletic talent, whereas those who excel later may exhibit superior training adaptability. Consequently, an athlete’s early performance can predict his/her future performance trajectory, offering support for individualized long-term training plans. In summary, the age at which athletes achieve excellence may bring different advantages to their future athletic performance and development. This implies that we should harness these differences to uncover each athlete’s maximum potential.
Users’ perception of quality as a driver of private healthcare use in Mexico: Insights from the People’s Voice Survey
Authors: Doubova Svetlana V. , Leslie Hannah H. , Pérez-Cuevas Ricardo , Kruk Margaret E. , Arsenault Catherine 
Published: June 2024

Objective
The Mexican government has pursued multiple initiatives to improve healthcare coverage and financial protection. Yet, out-of-pocket health spending and use of private sector providers in Mexico remains high. In this paper, we sought to describe the characteristics of public and private healthcare users, describe recent visit quality across provider types, and to assess whether perceiving the public healthcare sector as poor quality is associated with private health sector use.

Methods and findings
We analyzed the cross-sectional People’s Voice Survey conducted from December 2022 to January 2023. We used Chi-square tests to compare contextual, individual, and need-for-care factors and ratings of most recent visits between users of public (social security and other public providers) and private sector providers (stand-alone private providers and providers adjacent to pharmacies). We used a multivariable Poisson regression model to assess associations between low ratings of public healthcare sources and the use of private care. Among the 811 respondents with a healthcare visit in the past year, 31.2% used private sources. Private healthcare users were more educated and had higher incomes than public healthcare users. Quality of most recent visit was rated more highly in private providers (70.2% rating the visit as excellent or very good for stand-alone private providers and 54.3% for pharmacy-adjacent doctors) compared to social security (41.6%) and other public providers (46.6%). Those who perceived public health institutions as low quality had a higher probability of seeking private healthcare.

Conclusion
Users rated public care visits poorly relative to private care; at the population level, perceptions of poor quality care may drive private care use and hence out-of-pocket costs. Improving public healthcare quality is necessary to ensure universal health coverage.
Ambulatory antibiotic prescription rates for acute respiratory infection rebound two years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Stevens Elizabeth R. , Feldstein David , Jones Simon , Twan Chelsea , Cui Xingwei , Hess Rachel , Kim Eun Ji , Richardson Safiya , Malik Fatima M. , Tasneem Sumaiya , Henning Natalie , Xu Lynn , Mann Devin M. 
Published: June 2024

Background
During the COVID-19 pandemic, acute respiratory infection (ARI) antibiotic prescribing in ambulatory care markedly decreased. It is unclear if antibiotic prescription rates will remain lowered.

Methods
We used trend analyses of antibiotics prescribed during and after the first wave of COVID-19 to determine whether ARI antibiotic prescribing rates in ambulatory care have remained suppressed compared to pre-COVID-19 levels. Retrospective data was used from patients with ARI or UTI diagnosis code(s) for their encounter from 298 primary care and 66 urgent care practices within four academic health systems in New York, Wisconsin, and Utah between January 2017 and June 2022. The primary measures included antibiotic prescriptions per 100 non-COVID ARI encounters, encounter volume, prescribing trends, and change from expected trend.

Results
At baseline, during and after the first wave, the overall ARI antibiotic prescribing rates were 54.7, 38.5, and 54.7 prescriptions per 100 encounters, respectively. ARI antibiotic prescription rates saw a statistically significant decline after COVID-19 onset (step change -15.2, 95% CI: -19.6 to -4.8). During the first wave, encounter volume decreased 29.4% and, after the first wave, remained decreased by 188%. After the first wave, ARI antibiotic prescription rates were no longer significantly suppressed from baseline (step change 0.01, 95% CI: -6.3 to 6.2). There was no significant difference between UTI antibiotic prescription rates at baseline versus the end of the observation period.

Conclusions
The decline in ARI antibiotic prescribing observed after the onset of COVID-19 was temporary, not mirrored in UTI antibiotic prescribing, and does not represent a long-term change in clinician prescribing behaviors. During a period of heightened awareness of a viral cause of ARI, a substantial and clinically meaningful decrease in clinician antibiotic prescribing was observed. Future efforts in antibiotic stewardship may benefit from continued study of factors leading to this reduction and rebound in prescribing rates.
Poverty Traps and Mortality From Liver Diseases in the United States
Authors: Ledenko Matthew , Patel Tushar 
Published: June 2024

INTRODUCTION:
Poverty traps, locations with multigenerational poverty, result from structural and economic factors that can affect health of residents within these locations. The aim of this study was to define poverty traps within the contiguous United States and their impact on outcomes from liver diseases or cancers.

METHODS:
A systematic census-tract level analysis was used to spatially define regions that encompassed poverty traps. Clusters of prevalent poverty and mortality from chronic liver diseases or liver cancers were identified. Temporal trends and the relationship between race and ethnicity, type of space and escape from poverty traps on disease mortality within hot spots were determined.

RESULTS:
The proportion of census tracts enduring multigenerational poverty within counties was strongly associated with mortality from liver disease or cancer. There was a highly significant clustering of persistent poverty and increased mortality. Hot spots of high-mortality areas correlated with factors related to income, ethnicity, and access to health care. Location or noneconomic individual factors such as race and ethnicity were important determinants of disparities within hot spots. Distinct groups of poverty traps were defined. The highly characteristic demographics and disease outcomes within each of these groups underscored the need for location-specific interventions.

DISCUSSION:
Poverty traps are a major and important spatially determined risk factor for mortality from liver diseases and cancers. Targeted location-specific interventions and economic development aimed at addressing the underlying causes of poverty and enhancing prosperity will be required to reduce mortality from liver diseases within poverty traps.
A Population-Based Matched Cohort Study of Digestive System Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Individuals With and Without Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Murthy Sanjay K. , Tandon Parul , Matthews Priscilla , Ahmed Faria , Pugliese Michael , Taljaard Monica , Kaplan Gilaad G. , Coward Stephanie , Bernstein Charles , Benchimol Eric I. , Kuenzig M. Ellen , Targownik Laura E. , Singh Harminder ,   on behalf of the Canadian Gastro-Intestinal Epidemiology Consortium (CanGIEC)
Published: June 2024

INTRODUCTION:
To study digestive system cancer risks in individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) in the biologic era.

METHODS:
We used population-level administrative and cancer registry data from Ontario, Canada, (1994–2020) to compare people with IBD to matched controls (1:10 by sex and birth year) on trends in age-sex standardized cancer incidence and risk ratios of incident cancers and cancer-related deaths.

RESULTS:
Among 110,919 people with IBD and 1,109,190 controls, colorectal cancer incidence (per 100,000 person-years) declined similarly in people with ulcerative colitis (average annual percentage change [AAPC] −1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI] −2.48 to −1.156) and controls (AAPC −2.79; 95% CI −3.44 to −2.14), while small bowel cancer incidence rose faster in those with Crohn's disease (AAPC 9.68; 95% CI 2.51–17.3) than controls (AAPC 3.64; 95% CI 1.52–5.80). Extraintestinal digestive cancer incidence rose faster in people with IBD (AAPC 3.27; 95% CI 1.83–4.73) than controls (AAPC −1.87; 95% CI −2.33 to −1.42), particularly for liver (IBD AAPC 8.48; 95% CI 4.11–13.1) and bile duct (IBD AAPC 7.22; 95% CI 3.74–10.8) cancers. Beyond 2010, the incidences (and respective mortality rates) of colorectal (1.60; 95% CI 1.46–1.75), small bowel (4.10; 95% CI 3.37–4.99), bile duct (2.33; 95% CI 1.96–2.77), and pancreatic (1.19; 95% CI 1.00–1.40) cancers were higher in people with IBD.

DISCUSSION:
Cancer incidence is declining for colorectal cancer and rising for other digestive cancers in people with IBD. Incidence and mortality remain higher in people with IBD than controls for colorectal, small bowel, bile duct, and pancreatic cancers.
Space-Time FEM for the Vectorial Wave Equation under Consideration of Ohm’s Law
Authors: Hauser Julia I. M. 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
The ability to deal with complex geometries and to go to higher orders is the main advantage of space-time finite element methods. Therefore, we want to develop a solid background from which we can construct appropriate space-time methods. In this paper, we will treat time as another space direction, which is the main idea of space-time methods. First, we will briefly discuss how exactly the vectorial wave equation is derived from Maxwell’s equations in a space-time structure, taking into account Ohm’s law. Then we will derive a space-time variational formulation for the vectorial wave equation using different trial and test spaces. This paper has two main goals. First, we prove unique solvability for the resulting Galerkin–Petrov variational formulation. Second, we analyze the discrete equivalent of the equation in a tensor product and show conditional stability, i.e., under a CFL condition. Understanding the vectorial wave equation and the corresponding space-time finite element methods is crucial for improving the existing theory of Maxwell’s equations and paves the way to computations of more complicated electromagnetic problems.
Energy absorption and impact response of ballistic resistance laminate
Authors: Radeef Zainab Shakir , Hussein Adnan A. , Abid Zainab Talib , Naser Mahmood Shakir 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
High-speed impact performance has significantly expanded over the past few decades. The target response based on the impact conditions has been more difficult to visualise and evaluate. In this article, Ansys model analysis has been used to measure, visualise, and predict the projectile and target responses of Kevlar® (K) and Ramie® textile-reinforced unsaturated polyester resin (UP) matrix. The laminate thickness threshold was detected experimentally based on the highest stress intensity factor and energy release rates. Furthermore, tensile strength and bending of the laminate were found. The impact conditions have a significant impact on the target response; thus, an explicit dynamic analysis was used to visualise the impact response based on the number of target fixed supports (FSs). Two FS (2 FS) target absorbs 11% more energy than four FS (4 FS) target. Additionally, the target size has a major effect on the projectile and laminate responses, and a successful arrest of the projectile was detected in both cases. The smallest targets with 2 FS have the highest and wider response, where a successful change in the projectile trajectory was obtained.
Action of higher derivations on semiprime rings
Authors: Ali Shakir , Varshney Vaishali 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
Let

m
,
n

{m,n}

be the fixed positive integers and let

ℛ

{\mathcal{R}}

be a ring. In 1978, Herstein proved that a 2-torsion free prime ring

ℛ

{\mathcal{R}}

is commutative if there is a nonzero derivation d of R such that

[

d
⁢

(
ϱ
)

,

d
⁢

(
ξ
)

]

=
0

{[d(\varrho),d(\xi)]=0}

for all

ϱ
,
ξ

∈
R

{\varrho,\xi\in R}

. In this article, we study the above mentioned classical result for higher derivations and describe the structure of semiprime rings by using the invariance property of prime ideals under higher derivations. Precisely, apart from proving some other important results, we prove the following. Let

(

d
i

)

i
∈
ℕ

{(d_{i})_{i\in\mathbb{N}}}

and

(

g
j

)

j
∈
ℕ

{(g_{j})_{j\in\mathbb{N}}}

be two higher derivations of semiprime ring

ℛ

{\mathcal{R}}

such that

[

d
n

⁢

(
ϱ
)

,

g
m

⁢

(
ξ
)

]

∈

Z
⁢

(
ℛ
)

{[d_{n}(\varrho),g_{m}(\xi)]\in Z(\mathcal{R})}

for all

ϱ
,
ξ

∈
ℐ

{\varrho,\xi\in\mathcal{I}}

, where

ℐ

{\mathcal{I}}

is an ideal of

ℛ

{\mathcal{R}}

. Then either

ℛ

{\mathcal{R}}

is commutative or some linear combination of

(

d
i

)

i
∈
ℕ

{(d_{i})_{i\in\mathbb{N}}}

sends

Z
⁢

(
ℛ
)

{Z(\mathcal{R})}

to zero or some linear combination of

(

g
j

)

j
∈
ℕ

{(g_{j})_{j\in\mathbb{N}}}

sends

Z
⁢

(
ℛ
)

{Z(\mathcal{R})}

to zero. We enrich our results with examples that show the necessity of their assumptions. Finally, we conclude our paper with a direction for further research.