bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Measurement of transition frequencies and hyperfine constants of molecular iodine at 520.2  nm
Authors: Nishiyama Akiko , Okubo Sho , Kobayashi Takumi , Kawasaki Akio , Inaba Hajime 
Published: August 2024

We measured the transition frequencies of the hyperfine components in
the four lines (P(34) 39-0, R(36) 39-0, P(33) 39-0, and R(35) 39-0) of
the B-X transitions of molecular iodine at 520.2 nm. The
520.2 nm laser was generated by wavelength-converting the
output of a 1560.6 nm external-cavity diode laser using a
dual-pitch periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide. The
frequencies were measured by counting the heterodyne beats between the
laser stabilized at the frequencies of the hyperfine components and a
frequency comb synchronized with a hydrogen maser. We determined the
transition frequencies of the a1 components with relative
uncertainties of 1×10−11; the uncertainty was limited by the
impurity of the molecular iodine in the cell. From the measured
hyperfine splitting frequencies, we calculated the hyperfine constants
of these four transitions to obtain the rotational dependence of the
excited-state hyperfine constants.
Eye health knowledge, attitude, and practice among special school managers and barriers to eye health programmes in special schools in Hyderabad, India
Authors: Prakash Winston D. , Morjaria Priya , McCormick Ian , Khanna Rohit C. 
Published: August 2024

Background
Children with special education needs (SEN) are at high risk of developing vision problems. In India, there is no data available on the awareness level of eye health needs of children with SEN among special school managers (SSM) and on the barriers to providing eye care for these children in schools. This study aimed to identify the awareness level among SSM and the barriers to organizing School Eye Health (SEH) programmes in special schools, as reported by the eye health program organizers.

Methods
A mixed-method study was conducted between July and August 2020 among SSM and eye health programme organizers from a local eye care provider in Hyderabad, India. SSM participants completed an online questionnaire assessing their knowledge, attitude, and practice concerning the eye health needs of children with SEN. Quantitative responses were described with summary statistics. Qualitative interviews with eye health programme organizers were conducted via telephone, and transcripts were thematically analysed. Results: In total, 13/67 (19.4%) invited SSM participated and 2/4 invited eye health programme organizers (50%) were interviewed. Among the SSM participants, 92.3% were aware of vision impaired (VI) children in their schools. Awareness of potential causes of VI ranged from 53.9%-92.3%, common eye conditions ranged from 7.7%-69.2%, and difficulties experienced by children with SEN in classroom activities ranged from 46.2%-76.9%. Only 30.8% of the special schools organized SEH programmes at least once a year. Eye health programme organizers reported barriers, such as a lack of interest from SSM, unavailability of qualified screening staff, and a lack of provision for spectacles and low-vision devices.

Conclusion
This study identified varied levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of SSM related to the eye health needs of children with SEN. Key barriers to conducting SEH programmes included a lack of demand, inadequate human resource availability, and limited access to government-funded resources. As the study was negatively impacted by the Covid pandemic, further research with wider representation is needed to plan comprehensive eye health programmes for children with SEN.
A comparison of self-triage tools to nurse driven triage in the emergency department
Authors: Trivedi Sachin V. , Batta Rachit , Henao–Romero Nicolas , Mondal Prosanta , Wilson Tracy , Stempien James 
Published: August 2024

Introduction
Canadian patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) typically undergo a triage process where they are assessed by a specially trained nurse and assigned a Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) score, indicating their level of acuity and urgency of assessment. We sought to assess the ability of patients to self-triage themselves through use of one of two of our proprietary self-triage tools, and how this would compare with the standard nurse-driven triage process.

Methods
We enrolled a convenience sample of ambulatory ED patients aged 17 years or older who presented with chief complaints of chest pain, abdominal pain, breathing problems, or musculoskeletal pain. Participants completed one, or both, of an algorithm generated self-triage (AGST) survey, or visual acuity scale (VAS) based self-triage tool which subsequently generated a CTAS score. Our primary outcome was to assess the accuracy of these tools to the CTAS score generated through the nurse-driven triage process.

Results
A total of 223 patients were included in our analysis. Of these, 32 (14.3%) presented with chest pain, 25 (11.2%) with shortness of breath, 75 (33.6%) with abdominal pain, and 91 (40.8%) with musculoskeletal pain. Of the total number of patients, 142 (47.2%) completed the AGST tool, 159 (52.8%) completed the VAS tool and 78 (25.9%) completed both tools. When compared to the nurse-driven triage standard, both the AGST and VAS tools had poor levels of agreement for each of the four presenting complaints.

Conclusions
Self-triage through use of an AGST or VAS tool is inaccurate compared to the established standard of nurse-driven triage. Although existing literature exists which suggests that self-triage tools developed for specific subsets of complaints may be feasible, our results would suggest that adopting the self-triage approach on a broader scale for all-comers to the ED does not appear to be a viable option to enhance the current triage process. Further study is required to show if self-triage can be used in the ED to optimize the triage process.
Coping mechanisms and strategies adopted to improve the quality and timeliness of immunization data among lower-level private-for-profit service providers in Kampala Capital City, Uganda
Authors: Ssegujja Eric , Akulume Martha , Ekirapa-Kiracho Elizabeth , Kiggundu Paul , Zalwango Sarah Karen , Rutebemberwa Elizeus 
Published: August 2024

Background
Lower-level urban private-for-profit health service providers are actively engaged in the delivery of immunization services. However, not much is known about their everyday endeavours to improve data quality and ensure the submitted data meets the quality and timeliness requirements as per established guidelines. The objective of this paper was to examine the coping mechanisms and strategies adopted to improve the quality and timeliness of immunization data among lower-level private-for-profit service providers in Kampala Capital City, Uganda.

Methods
A qualitative study design was adopted with in-depth interviews (n = 17) and key informant interviews (n = 8) completed among frontline health workers, district health managers and immunization implementing partners. Analysis followed a thematic approach with coding conducted using Atlas. ti, a qualitative data management software.

Results
Overall, coping mechanisms and strategies adopted to improve the data quality among lower-level urban private-for-profit immunization service providers included; Experiential attachment for practical skills acquisition in data management, data quality peer-to-peer learning among private-for-profit immunization service providers, registration using cohort system for easy tracking of records during subsequent visits, separation of visiting service user records from regular attendants, service delivery modifications such as reward for better performance, engagement of Village Health Teams (VHTs) in outreaches and data completion, and data quality checks through review of monitoring charts to identify gaps in data quality.

Conclusions
Within the urban context, the delivery of immunization services by lower-level private-for-profit services faces data quality challenges some of which stem from the implementation context. Different coping strategies focusing on frontline health worker skills, enhanced experience sharing through peer-to-peer learning, modifications to registration and routine review of monitoring charts. However, these efforts were often faced with chronic barriers such as the high staff turnover calling for dedicated efforts to optimize the available implementation opportunities like guidelines mandating the public health facilities to supervise the lower-level private immunization service providers within their catchment areas to respond to the identified gaps.
Association between cardiometabolic index and testosterone levels in adult men: NHANES 2011–2016
Authors: Huang Xuanchun , Hu Lanshuo , Tao Shiyi , Xue Tiantian , Li Jun , Wang Xuejiao 
Published: August 2024

Objective
Exploring the relationship between the cardiometabolic index (CMI) and serum testosterone levels as well as testosterone deficiency in American adult males. Additionally, comparing the diagnostic value of the CMI with several common obesity and metabolism indices for identifying testosterone deficiency.

Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2016. Serum testosterone levels and testosterone deficiency were used as dependent variables, with the cardiometabolic index as the independent variable. Multivariable regression was used to assess the relationship between the independent and dependent variables, while subgroup analyses were performed to ensure the stability of the results. Smooth curve fitting was utilized to evaluate the nonlinear relationship between the CMI and testosterone levels. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were plotted for several obesity and metabolism prediction indices and the area under the curve was calculated to compare the specificity and sensitivity of each diagnostic index in the diagnosis of testosterone deficiency.

Results
Among 3541 adult male participants, CMI is negatively associated with serum testosterone levels and positively associated with testosterone deficiency. In the fully adjusted model, for every unit increase in CMI, serum testosterone decreased by 14.89 ng/dl. Comparing the highest quartile to the lowest quartile of CMI, each unit increase in CMI, serum testosterone decreased by 98.58 ng/dl. Furthermore, each unit increase in CMI was associated with a 16% increase in incidence of testosterone deficiency. By plotting the ROC curves, we found that the AUCs for Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP), Body Mass Index (BMI), Weight Adjusted Waist Index (WWI), CMI, Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) and Triglyceride glucose index (TyG) were 0.73, 0.72, 0.71, 0.69, 0.66, and 0.66 respectively.

Conclusion
Elevated levels of CMI are associated with lower testosterone levels and an increased risk of testosterone deficiency. The predictive value of the LAP was superior to that of CMI, while the predictive value of CMI was higher than VAI and TyG.
Effects of far infrared therapy in hemodialysis arterio-venous fistula maturation: A meta-analysis
Authors: Wu Chiu-Feng , Yeh Tzu-Pei , Lin Tzu-Chen , Huang Po-Hsiang , Huang Pin-Jui 
Published: August 2024

Introduction
Hemodialysis patients rely on stable vascular access to perform effective hemodialysis and reach good dialysis quality. However, an obstructed or under-matured arteriovenous fistula (AVF) may increase infection rate and mortality in hemodialysis patients. Far infrared (FIR) therapy might help to promote AVF maturation and reduce obstruction rate. Therefore, this meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of FIR therapy on AVF obstruction rate and maturation.

Material and method
PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and other databases which provide publications in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of FIR to improve AVF in patients with CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) or HD (hemodialysis) were used to collect articles which published before February 2023. Two authors selected relevant articles independently based on pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and assessed the quality of the articles by using the Cochrane Handbook before performing a meta-analysis in Review Manager (RevMan) 5.4 software.

Results
Four RCTs with 475 patients were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the FIR therapy groups had better physiological maturation at 3 months (RR = 1.22; 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.39; p = .002) and clinical maturation at 12 months (RR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.14 to 1.60; p < .001) than the control groups without FIR therapy. The obstruction rates within 12 months were much lower in the FIR therapy groups than in the control groups (RR = 0.24; 95% CI = 0.08 to 0.68; p = .007), also, there was no statistical heterogeneity.

Conclusions
FIR could promote fistula maturation and reduce the incidence of AVF obstruction.
A comparison of new cardiovascular endurance test using the 2-minute marching test vs. 6-minute walk test in healthy volunteers: A crossover randomized controlled trial
Authors: Surapichpong Suchai , Jisarojito Sucheela , Surapichpong Chaiyanut 
Published: August 2024

Trial design
This was a 2×2 randomized crossover control trial.

Objective
To compare the cardiovascular endurance of healthy volunteers using a 2-minute marching test (2MMT) and a 6-minute walk test (6MWT).

Methods
This study included 254 participants of both sexes, aged 20–50 years, with a height and body mass index (BMI) of ≥150 cm and ≤25 kg/m2, respectively. Participants were hospital staff who could perform activities independently and had normal annual chest radiographs and electrocardiograms. A group-randomized design was used to assign participants to Sequence 1 (AB) or 2 (BA). The tests were conducted over 2 consecutive days, with a 1-day washout period. On day 1, the participants randomly underwent either a 6MWT or 2MMT in a single-anonymized setup, and on day 2, the tests were performed in reverse order. We analyzed maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) as the primary outcome and heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), blood pressure (BP), oxygen saturation, dyspnea, and leg fatigue as secondary outcomes.

Results
Data were collected from 127 participants, categorized into two groups for different testing sequences. The first (AB) and second groups had 63 and 64 participants, respectively. The estimated VO2max was equivalent between both groups. The 2MMT and 6MWT estimated VO2max with a mean of 41.00 ± 3.95 mL/kg/min and 40.65 ± 3.98 mL/kg/min, respectively. The mean difference was -0.35 mL/kg/min (95% confidence interval: -1.09 to 0.38; p <0.001), and no treatment and carryover effect were observed. No significant changes were observed in HR, RR, and systolic BP (p = 0.295, p = 0.361 and p = 0.389, respectively). However, significant changes were found in the ratings of perceived exertion (p <0.001) and leg fatigue scale (p <0.001).

Conclusion
The 2MMT is practical, simple, and equivalent to the 6MWT in estimating VO2max.

Trial registration
TCTR20220528004 https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org.
Evaluation of the Xpert Carba-R assay for quantifying carbapenemase-producing bacterial load in stool samples
Authors: Chua Jie Yin , Lim Ze Qin , Loy Song Qi Dennis , Koh Vanessa , Thevasagayam Natascha May , Huan Xiaowei , Linn Kyaw Zaw , Marimuthu Kalisvar , Ng Oon Tek 
Published: August 2024

Background
The spread of Carbapenemase-producing Organisms (CPO) remains a major threat globally. Within clinical settings, the existing method of determining gene load involves traditional culture to determine bacterial load and polymerase-chain-reaction-based Xpert Carba-R Assay to determine carbapenemase gene type. However, there is a need for a fast and accurate method of quantifying CPO colonisation to study the risk of persistent CPO carriage.

Objective
This study evaluated the accuracy of Xpert Carba-R Ct value in estimating carbapenamase producing bacterial loads in stool samples.

Methods
Stool samples were obtained from an ongoing study investigating the household transmission of CPO in Singapore. Stool samples lacking carbapenemase producing organisms were spiked with organism carrying a single carbapenemase gene (blaKPC, blaNDM, blaVIM, blaOXA-48(-like) or blaIMP-1) and serially diluted before being subjected to Xpert Carba-R assay and traditional culture. Standard curves with regression lines showing correlation between Ct values and plate counts were generated. The standard curves were validated with stool samples collected from patients.

Results
The limit of detection of blaNDM, blaKPC, and blaOXA-48 was approximately 103 cfu/mL, while that of blaIMP-1 and blaVIM was approximately 104 cfu/mL. Validation of the blaNDM and blaOXA-48 curves revealed average delta values of 0.56 log(cfu/mL) (95% CI 0.24–0.88) and 0.80 log(cfu/mL) (95% CI 0.53–1.07), respectively.

Conclusions
Our validation data for stool positive for blaNDM and blaOXA-48-type suggests that bacterial loads can be estimated within a reasonable range of error.
Identification of breast cancer-associated PIK3CA H1047R mutation in blood circulation using an asymmetric PCR assay
Authors: Thao Dinh Thi , Thanh Nguyen Phu , Quyen Dong Van , Khai Ly Tuan , Song Le Huu , Trung Ngo Tat 
Published: August 2024

Purpose
To establish a highly sensitive and specific approach for the detection of circulating PIK3CA H1047R mutation in breast cancer (BC) patients and to investigate the association between the prevalence of PIK3CA H1047R mutation and clinical presentations.

Methods
A proper blocker was designed in an allele-specific manner and optimized for PCR-based identification of the PIK3CA H1047R mutation. The established technique was validated in cell-free DNA samples from 196 recruited BC patients.

Results
The allele-specific PCR assay with a properly designed blocker was able to detect the H1047R mutant variant with 0.01%. By applying the newly established assay, 62 cases (31.6% of the total recruited cases) were found to carry a blood-circulating H1047R mutant. Wherein, the detected mutant rates increased with disease stages from 2/18 (11.1%) of stage I to 17/71 (23.9%) of stage II, 20/53 (37.7%) of stage III, and 23/31 (42.6%) of stage IV (p = 0.025), respectively. Higher frequencies of H1047R mutation were associated with late-stage (p = 0.033) or recurrence (p = 0.045) or metastatic patients (p = 0.049) as well as radiation-treated human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive BC (p = 0.004). PIK3CA mutant carriers were frequently observed in patients under the age of 50 who had liver-metastasized or brain metastases or lymph node-invaded (p < 0.05).

Conclusion
A novel allele-specific PCR assay with high sensitivity was established successfully for the detection of the PIK3CA H1047R mutation in clinical practice.
A new finite element formulation for the lateral torsional buckling analyses of orthotropic FRP-externally bonded steel beams
Authors: Doan-Tan Thi , Nguyen Xuan-Huy , Van Pham Phe 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
The present study develops a new finite element (FE) formulation for the lateral torsional buckling (LTB) analyses of steel beams exteriorly bonded with orthotropic fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) layers. The formulation considers shear deformations, partial material interaction, local and global warping deformations, and orthotropic FRP properties. The buckling responses of multispan FRP-bonded steel beams predicted by the present solutions are excellently validated against experiment and numerical solutions. As observed, the FRP strengthening is highly effective for the LTB resistance of steel beams. However, the LTB responses are strongly dependent on the orthotropic properties and strengthening lengths of FRP layers. The effects of shear deformations, span ratios, and loading conditions on the LTB responses are also quantified in the present study.
Wood discrimination of six commonly traded Phoebe and Machilus species using high-resolution plastid and nuclear DNA barcodes
Authors: Lu Yang , Jiao Lichao , Liu Shoujia , He Tuo , Jiang Xiaomei , Yin Yafang 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Phoebe and Machilus trees, whose wood is known as Nanmu in China, face endangerment owing to long-term manmade destruction and climate change. Therefore, effective and accurate forensic tools to identify Nanmu species are required. This study developed a method for DNA identification of woods from six commonly traded Phoebe and Machilus species. DNA was efficiently extracted from oil cell-rich wood tissues, DNA barcodes were screened, species were compared, and a Nanmu DNA database was constructed. Comparison and analysis involved 26 sets of plastid genomes of Phoebe and Machilus. The five highest variable regions (Pi>0.009; psbA-trnH, psbJ, psbJ-petA, rpl32-trnL, and ycf
1) were identified, and three nuclear regions (ITS, LEAFY, and RPB2) were compared. Among single DNA fragments, the nuclear DNA region LEAFY proved optimal for identifying Nanmu species, while psbA-trnH+psbJ+ycf1 was the optimal plastid combination locus. Compared with distance-based (TaxonDNA) and machine-learning analyses, the tree-based method had a lower success rate for species identification. Four labelled Nanmu samples were selected to validate the method and clustered with P. zhennan and P. sheareri data based on the LEAFY region and plastid combination locus. These findings will contribute to the conservation, classification, architecture maintenance, and trade monitoring of Nanmu natural resources.
From urn models to box models: Making Neyman's (1923) insights accessible
Authors: Lin Winston , Dudoit Sandrine , Nolan Deborah , Speed Terence P. 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Neyman’s 1923 paper introduced the potential outcomes framework and the foundations of randomization-based inference. We discuss the influence of Neyman’s paper on four introductory to intermediate-level textbooks by Berkeley faculty members (Scheffé; Hodges and Lehmann; Freedman, Pisani, and Purves; and Dunning). These examples illustrate that Neyman’s key insights can be explained in intuitive and interesting ways to audiences at all levels, including undergraduates in introductory statistics courses. We have found Freedman, Pisani, and Purves’s box-of-tickets model to be a valuable expository tool, and we also find their intuitive explanation of Neyman’s variance result helpful: It is a “minor miracle” that in randomized experiments, the two-sample

z

z

-test is conservative because of “two mistakes that cancel.” All four books take a more positive view of Neyman’s results than Neyman himself did. We encourage educators and researchers to explore ways to communicate Neyman’s ideas that are helpful for their own audiences.
Chirality and self-assembly of structures derived from optically active 1,2-diaminocyclohexane and catecholamines
Authors: Abdalla Hawdang Othman , Warzańska Martyna , Grajewski Jakub , Mrówczyński Radosław 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Chiral biomimetic nanostructures were successfully synthesized through the oxidative polymerization of chiral and achiral catecholamines in the presence of optically active 1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DACH). Analysis of these nanostructures using circular dichroism confirmed their chiral nature, demonstrating the feasibility of inducing chirality in achiral polycatecholamine materials. Furthermore, the chiral nanostructures exhibited self-assembly behaviour, forming distinctive patterns or curly carpets-like structures on silicon surfaces. The arrangement and morphology of these structures were closely linked to the amount of DACH and its inherent chirality. Additionally, the self-assembly process was shown to be significantly influenced by the pH of the reaction and the choice of supporting materials. These findings are particularly relevant in the context of molecular self-assembly of nanoaggregates/particles generated during dopamine polymerization, suggesting a promising avenue for the development of novel chiral polycatechols-based materials.