bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
From ridge to reef. Land use dynamics and ecosystem services in the Yuna River basin: insights for policymaking.
Authors: Valenzuela Víctor Gómez , Bonilla-Duarte Solhanlle , Ramírez Katerin , Gonzalez Claudia Caballero , Espina Ana Pou 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the land use land change dynamics in the Yuna River basin in the northeast region of the Dominican Republic (DR), considering their implications for ecosystem services. The Yuna basin is one of the most critical watersheds in the Caribbean, connecting the northeastern hills of the Cordillera Central to the Atlantic Ocean in the Samaná Bay. The basin is also connected to the global value chains of agricultural and mining commodities, such as organic cocoa exports and gold, from several mining concessions in its territory. The Basin faces socioeconomic pressures expressed in the timeless analysis of land-use dynamics, which can jeopardize the basin's ability to provide ecosystem services in the medium and long term. It suggests developing an approach based on the adaptive management of ecosystems and deploying a payment for environmental services scheme for watershed restoration.
Choline applications alleviate Cd uptake and toxicity of Solanum lycopersicum seedlings
Authors: AKPINAR Aysegul , CANSEV Asuman 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

In this study, cadmium (Cd) stress, one of the most common heavy metal pollutants, was investigated and the effect of exogenous choline applications before and after Cd stress on reducing Cd uptake and toxicity in Solanum lycopersicum seedlings was determined. Choline is a natural molecule effective in stress tolerance and is thought to be effective in Cd stress tolerance in tomato plants. In our study, growth parameters of tomato plants, photosynthetic pigment content, changes in Cd accumulation depending on choline applications before and after Cd stress, oxidative stress state (malondialdehyde (MDA) content and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) amount) caused by Cd stress were investigated. The effect of the antioxidant defense system on Cd stress tolerance was also investigated, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the enzymatic system and glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (AsA) in the non-enzymatic system. When choline was applied to Solanum lycopersicum seedlings before cadmium stress, there was a reduction in Cd accumulation in roots and leaves and significant improvements in plant performance. Our research provides results that will enhance the quality and efficiency of crop production in heavy metal-polluted areas under today's conditions.
Effect of glucose supplementation on human bronchial epithelial cells infected with Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Emrich Roberta Pereira Soares , Bueno Giovanna Ferreira , Santos Wanessa Maria dos , Pereira Aline Beatriz Mahler , Silva Leonardo Euripedes de Andrade , Silva Paulo Roberto da , Silva-Vergara Mario Leon , Rogerio Alexandre Paula 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Diabetes could be a risk factor for cryptococcal meningitis in immunocompetent individuals. A model frequently used to understand cellular changes in diabetes consists of exposure to high concentrations of glucose in vitro. In the airways, epithelial cells are crucial for the establishment of cryptococcosis. We evaluated the effects of the combination of Cryptococcus neoformans and glucose concentrations (at 5mM or 15mM) on human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) for 24h. No cytotoxic effect was observed in cells stimulated by C. neoformans and/or treated with glucose supplementation. C. neoformansincreased IL-6 and IL-8 productions and NF-kB, ERK1/2 and STAT3 activations in BEAS-2B cells when compared to control. In contrast to increased IL-6 production and STAT3 activation the IL-8 production and ERK1/2 activation markedly decreased upon culturing of cells stimulated by C. neoformans and supplemented by glucose when compared to cells only infected with C. neoformans. In addition, the glucose supplementation increased the internalization of C. neoformans in cells but reduced the percentage of C. neoformans on the surface and its growth. Conclusion: The glucose supplementation promoted pro- and anti-inflammatory responses in bronchial epithelial cells infected with C. neoformans.
Sleep Fragmentation and Hypoxaemia as Key Indicators of Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Authors: Georgeson Thomas , Atkins Lacey , Zahnleiter Alex , Terrill Philip I , Eeles Eamonn , Coulson Elizabeth J , Szollosi Irene 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to characterize the prevalence of cognitive impairment in older individuals with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) using the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R), and to identify characteristics associated with impairment status.
Methods
We analysed existing cross-sectional datasets that measured the performance of 89 adult patients (aged 50–85 years) with OSA on the ACE-R cognitive test. Receiver operating characteristic curves and logistic regression analysis were utilized to identify associations between impairment status and various factors, including demographic characteristics, self-reported sleepiness, cognitive complaints, and OSA severity.
Results
According to established thresholds (ACE-R ≤ 88), 36% of participants were cognitively impaired. When adjusted for age and education, the strongest factors associated with impairment status were prior measures of arousal index (cut-off: ≥28events/hr, OR: 5.67, p < 0.01), sleep mean SpO2 (cut-off: ≤92%, OR: 3.52, p < 0.05), 3% oxygen desaturation index (cut-off: ≥27events/hr, OR: 3.75, p < 0.05), and sleep time spent under 90% SpO2 (cut-off: ≥9%, OR: 3.16, p < 0.05). Combining these factors achieved a high sensitivity (≥ 93%) of detecting impairment within this cohort. Conversely, the apnoea-hypopnoea index, daytime sleepiness, and cognitive complaints were not associated with impairment status.
Conclusions
The ACE-R identified a significant proportion of patients with OSA as having cognitive impairment. Traditional indices of sleep fragmentation and hypoxemia may allow clinicians to identify at-risk patients for cognitive evaluation, however further studies are needed to validate these findings and explore whether poor cognitive performance can be remediated via OSA treatment.
Addressing Gender Bias in Generative Large Language Models
Authors: Zhou Hanqing , Inkpen Diana , Kantarci Burak 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

The examination of gender bias, alongside other demographic biases like race, nationality, and religion, within generative large language models (LLMs), is increasingly capturing the attention of both the scientific community and industry stakeholders. These biases often permeate generative LLMs, influencing widely used products and potentially compromising user experiences. A growing body of research is dedicated to enhancing gender representations in natural language processing (NLP) across a spectrum of generative LLMs. This paper explores the current research focused on identifying and evaluating gender bias in generative LLMs. A comprehensive investigation is conducted to assess and mitigate gender bias across five distinct generative LLMs. The mitigation strategies implemented yield significant improvements in gender bias scores, with performance enhancements of up to 46% compared to zero-shot text generation approaches. Additionally, we explore how different levels of LLM precision and quantization impact gender bias, providing insights into how technical factors influence bias mitigation strategies. By tackling these challenges and suggesting areas for future research, we aim to contribute to the ongoing discussion about gender bias in language technologies, promoting more equitable and inclusive NLP systems.
Dacomitinib as first-line treatment for patients with EGFR-mutant non-small- cell lung cancer: Real-world data and Insights
Authors: Shin Ji Eun , Jung Hyun Ae , Park Sehhoon , Sun Jong-Mu , Lee Se-Hoon , Ahn Jin Seok , Ahn Myung-Ju , Shim Byoung Yong 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Dacomitinib demonstrated superior survival benefit compared to gefitinib as a first-line treatment in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with common EGFR mutations through ARCHER 1050. However, there is limited real-world data concerning its efficacy and safety. This study included patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC who received dacomitinib as a first-line treatment between January 2021 and December 2022 at Samsung Medical Center and St. Vincent’s Hospital. This study assessed the objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), safety profile of dacomitinib, and subsequent treatments after dacomitinib failure. In total, 153 patients were included in this study. Exon 19 deletion was observed in 50.3% of patients, while the L858R mutation in exon 21 was observed in 46.4% of patients. 45.1% of patients had brain metastasis. The ORR was 84.3%. The median follow-up duration was 16.9 months, with a median PFS of 16.7 months (95% CI, 14.4 to 25.2). Based on the type of EGFR mutation, the median PFS was 18.1 months (95% CI, 14.5 to NE) in patients with exon 19 deletion, and 15.9 months (95% CI, 12.5 to NE) in patients with L858R mutation. Grade 3 or higher adverse events were observed in 7.2% of patients. Initially administered at a dose of 45 mg, dose reduction was necessary for 85.6% of patients, with a final dosage of 30 mg in 49.0% and 15 mg in 36.6% of cases. Out of the 60 patients who experienced disease progression, 31 underwent tissue re-biopsy and 25 underwent liquid biopsy. Overall, T790M mutation was detected in 40.9% of patients who progressed after dacomitinib. The survival benefit of dacomitinib has been demonstrated, indicating its promising efficacy in a real-world setting. The detection rate of the T790M mutation after dacomitinib treatment failure was comparable to that of other second-generation EGFR-TKIs.
Can Teacher Mobility Promote the Development of Chinese Students' Social and Emotional Skills? —— An Empirical Study Based on the SESS 2019 Data
Authors: Huang Xuzhong , Yang Heqing , Hao Yipu , Cao Jing , An Ni 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

The Chinese government regards teacher mobility as a policy tool to allocate teacher resources in counties and has carried out the teacher mobility policy for nearly 30 years, but the relationship between teacher mobility and student development in China is unclear, hindering the in-depth implementation of related policies. Based on the SESS 2019 survey China Suzhou data, this study analyzed the effects of teacher mobility on students' social and emotional skills development using OLS regression methods, interaction terms, and conditional quantile regression with 10-year-old and 15-year-old students as the research subjects. The study found that teacher mobility had a significant positive effect on students' social and emotional skills. These effects did not differ significantly between male and female student groups, but the effects differed significantly between students from different family socioeconomic statuses, with students from higher family socioeconomic statuses benefiting more. The quantile regression results found that teacher mobility had a significant effect on students in the low and high quartiles of social and emotional development (Q10%, Q25%, and Q90%), and a non-significant effect on students in the middle quartile (Q50% and Q75%). Therefore, in China, governmental departments should take effective measures to continuously and deeply promote the teacher mobility policy in order to promote the development of students' social and emotional skills, but they also need to be wary of generating new problems of educational inequality.
Does digital literacy promote household consumption? Evidence from China
Authors: Xiao Ling , Li Yucong 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

This paper analyses the impact and key mechanisms of micro-level digital literacy on household consumption in China's low-consumption context using China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data. The results reveal that micro-level digital literacy positively affects household consumption after controlling related individual, household, and regional factors. Mechanism analysis suggests that the improvement of micro-level digital literacy promotes household consumption mainly through improving income, expanding social networks and increasing online payment. Further analyses indicate that micro-level digital literacy has a greater promoting effect on daily household consumption, healthcare and education expenses than other types of consumption and among individuals with lower educational levels and those in younger and middle-aged demographics. Moreover, digital literacy has increased households' investment in human capital such as healthcare and cultural education. This study theoretically contributes to understanding the formation of consumption behaviors in digital era, and provides some implications for policymakers to enhance efforts in cultivating digital literacy among specific groups to address the situation of low consumption in China.
Suitability of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and golden jackal (Canis aureus) hosts for Echinococcus multilocularis based on egg production characteristics
Authors: Csivincsik Ágnes , Moloi Sibusiso , Halász Tibor , Nagy Gábor 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Echinococcus multilocularis is the most important food-borne parasite in Europe. Its natural definitive host is red fox while other canid species play a secondary role in the maintenance of its endemics. However, recent studies call attention to the potential of golden jackal (Canis aureus) as a suitable definitive host for E. multilocularis. Our study aimed to evaluate the egg production ability, as an indicator of reproductive success, of E. multilocularis adults in different hosts and crowding conditions. With investigation of 111 and 82 parasites from 33 red foxes and 29 golden jackals, respectively, this study ascertained that the proportion of worms with mature eggs were significantly lower in golden jackals than in red foxes. Those worms, which produced mature eggs in golden jackal hosts, originated from less crowded infrapopulations than their fox-originated counterparts. Other characteristics of parasitism, such as mean intensity, fertile worm count, and mean egg production were similar in the two hosts. Comparing these findings to evolutionary data on different canid taxa, we hypothesised that mutual presence of red fox and a differently evolved host of E. multilocularis might contribute to the formation of stable parasite circulation in these multi-host systems.
Chromosomal mapping of 5S rDNA in two species of the genus Acanthocephalus(Echinorhynchida)
Authors: Orosová Martina , Marková Anna 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Chromosomal mapping of 5S rDNA in two Acanthocephala species was performed for the first time using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with a 5S rDNA probe. The 5S rDNA PCR products from the genomes of both species were sequenced and aligned and an identical 141 bp long coding region was determined. The same patterns of 5S rDNA gene cluster distribution were observed, with FISH signal restricted to a single autosomal chromosome pair. A preference for distal positioning on the chromosomes (subtelomeric position) was observed, namely on the short arms of the submetacentric chromosome in Acanthocephalus lucii and on the short arms of the acrocentric chromosome in A. anguillae. In addition, two-color FISH was performed to examine the mutual positions of 5S and 18S rDNA on the chromosomes. Our knowledge of the organization of the Acanthocephala genome is extremely limited and its chromosomes are poorly studied. Any new information about the location of chromosomal markers as important features of the respective karyotype may be useful in solving evolutionary questions.
Cumulative damage characteristics of rock samples under cyclic low energy inclined plane impact
Authors: Wang Xinrong , Zou Xu , Lu Zeng-xiang , Wu Xiao-xu 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

To investigate the cumulative damage characteristics and unstable failure mechanism of rock samples under cyclic inclined plane impact loads, an experimental device simulating inclined plane impact, and a drop hammer loading test machine were used to conduct cyclic low-energy impact tests on sandstone samples with five inclined plane angles. The porosity of the sandstone samples was measured using a low magnetic field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) detection system, obtaining the porosity, T2 spectrum distribution, and NMR images of the samples after different numbers of impacts at different slope angles. Under the action of cyclic inclined plane impact loads, the larger the slope angle, the smaller the extent of sample damage. The rock samples with a large inclined angle is more inclined to rupture at the tip of the inclined plane, mainly primarily characterized by shear-tensile failure. The porosity of the small slope angle changes sharply, resulting in greater damage. Under the same impact energy, as the number of impacts increases, the porosity of the samples first decreases, then increases, and then decreases again. This is manifested by large porosity closure after the first impact, followed by small pore expansion into large pores after 5 impacts, leading to gradual degradation of the samples until failure. The main factor affecting the rock samples is the presence of large-sized pores with a spectral area of over 95%. As the number of impacts increases, the quantity of small pores decreases, while the size and quantity of large pores both increase, indicating continuous deterioration of rock sample.
Characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials over past decade 2013-2023: current landscape and opportunities for improvement
Authors: Dong Wenliang , Wang Gengchen , Hu Xiaowen , Wang Xue , Fang Yi , Shi Luwen , Nie Xiaoyan 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background
There is a disconnection between the continued pressing clinical demand for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatments and the saturation of the current therapeutic markets. The design of rheumatoid arthritis trials might represent one of significant barrier to advancing therapeutic progress. A comprehensive review was performed to evaluate the characteristics of RA trials registered in ClinicalTrials.gov from 2013 to 2023.
Methods
The ClinicalTrials.gov database was searched for trials focused on the RA interventional trials from 2013 to 2023. Interventional drug or biological trials were included. Key characteristics of RA trials were summarized and target population, control groups selection, and clinical endpoints were evaluated.
Results
Between January 2013 and December 2023, 425 RA trials were included. Decreased trial numbers, excessive industry sponsorship, and delayed published results were found. For target population, 28% clinical trials didn’t define distinct RA patients, and 38% of the trials included population with no upper age limit. For control groups, only 36% trials had head-to-head comparisons, 50% were placebo-controlled, where half of placebo-controlled trials were with special design (add-on, early escape, double dummy), and half without any design. For clinical endpoints, ACR20 (24%) and DAS28 (21%) were the most commonly used outcomes, with declining ACR20 and ascending DAS28. Only 7% trials adherence to “treat-to-target” strategy, but the most commonly used outcome measures not aligned with guideline-recommended.
Conclusions
Our study contributes to a nuanced comprehension of the current landscape of RA trials and offers valuable insights for future improvement. This included the necessity of stratifying the target population based on disease activity or treatment history to achieve precision in treatment; considerations of more stringent or sensitive clinical endpoints to provide better discriminatory power; addressing discrepancies between the endpoints selected for treat-to-target and those recommended by guidelines to choose optimal treatment strategy.
Explainable machine learning model for predicting paratracheal lymph node metastasis in cN0 papillary thyroid cancer
Authors: Chun Lin , Wang Denghuan , He Liqiong , Li Donglun , Fu Zhiping , Xue Song , Su Xinliang , Zhou Jing 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Prophylactic dissection of the paratracheal lymph nodes in clinical lymph node-negative (cN0) papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains controversial, as it is difficult to accurately assess the status of the paratracheal lymph nodes preoperatively. This study aimed to construct and validate an interpretable predictive model for paratracheal lymph node metastasis (PLNM) in cN0 PTC using machine learning (ML) methods. We retrospectively selected 3,212 PTC patients treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from 2016 to 2020. They were randomly divided into the training and test datasets with a 7:3 ratio. The 533 PTC patients treated at the Guangyuan Central Hospital from 2019 to 2022 were used as an external test set. Nine ML models, including XGBoost, were developed. The predictive performance was evaluated using ROC curves, decision curve analysis (DCA), calibration curves, and precision-recall curves. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) were used to interpret the top 10 predictive features, and a web-based calculator was created. The XGBoost model achieved AUC values of 0.935, 0.857, and 0.775 in the training, validation, and test sets, respectively, significantly outperforming the traditional nomogram model with AUCs of 0.85, 0.844, and 0.769, respectively. SHAP-based visualizations identified the top ten predictive features: prelaryngeal and pretracheal LNMR, tumor size, pretracheal LNMR, prelaryngeal and pretracheal LNM, age, tumor border, pretracheal LNM, pretracheal NLNM, side of position, calcification. These features were used to develop a web-based calculator. ML is a reliable tool for predicting PLNM in cN0 PTC patients. The SHAP method provides valuable insights into the XGBoost model, and the resultant web-based calculator is a clinically useful tool to assist in the surgical planning for paratracheal lymph node dissection.
Incomplete Radiofrequency Ablation in the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Lu Huilin , Xie Xuancheng , Xia Xiangwen , Dong Xiangjun , Fan Hongjie , Xu Shufeng 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a commonly used interventional method for treating colorectal cancer liver metastases (CLMs), with its efficacy influenced by tumor characteristics and intrahepatic distribution. The presence of incomplete RFA (iRFA) can result in poorer prognosis and may impede the effectiveness of targeted therapies or immunotherapy. Currently, there is a lack of multicenter prospective cohort studies and predictive models for iRFA. This study prospectively included CLM patients from four medical centers who underwent percutaneous RFA to develop and validate a predictive model for iRFA. All patients were followed up, with the occurrence of new intrahepatic metastases (NIHM) and overall survival (OS) assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. We identified independent predictors of iRFA, including perivascular tumor location (odds ratio [OR] = 3.164), tumor size ≥ 20 mm (OR = 5.639), and minimal ablative margin (OR = 0.607). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.884 for the developmental cohort and 0.857 for the external validation cohort. Compared to the complete RFA group, patients in the iRFA group had a higher incidence of NIHM and shorter OS. However, broader external validation and the inclusion of more variables for comprehensive analysis and balance are still needed.