bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
D-dimer-based prediction model for flap loss in iliac bone transplantation
Authors: Wu Zhou-Yang , Zhou Ying , Ma Si-Rui , Yu Zi-Li , Jia Jun 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background:
In recent years, the utilization of autogenous vascularized iliac crest flap for repairing jaw defects has seen a significant rise. However, the visual monitoring of iliac bone grafts presents challenges, frequently leading to delayed detection of flap necrosis. Consequently, there's a pressing need to devise effective indicators for monitoring postoperative complications in iliac crest flaps.
Methods:
A retrospective review was conducted on 160 patients who underwent vascularized iliac bone transplantation surgery in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, China, between January 2020 and December 2022.
Results
On the first day following surgery, patients who experienced thrombosis exhibited a substantial increase in plasma D-dimer levels, reaching 3.75 mg/L, a Fig. 13.84 times higher than the baseline. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05) compared to patients without postoperative complications. Furthermore, the nomogram we have developed and validated effectively predicts venous thrombosis, assigning individual risk scores to patients. This predictive tool was assessed in both training and validation cohorts, achieving areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.630 and 0.600, with the 95% confidence intervals of 0.452–0.807 and 0.243–0.957, respectively.
Conclusions:
Our study illustrates that postoperative plasma D-dimer levels can serve as a highly sensitive biomarker for monitoring thrombosis-induced flap loss. Moreover, we have developed a novel prediction model that integrates multiple factors, thereby enhancing the accuracy of early identification of patients at risk of thrombosis-associated flap loss. This advancement contributes to improving the overall management and outcomes of such procedures.
STUDY PROTOCOL Co-producing a supportive self-management intervention for Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and testing for feasibility: an exploratory sequential three phase study
Authors: Eftekhari H. , Pearce G. , Staniszewska S. , Seers K 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a long-term condition with an often disabling impact on quality of life. People with long-term conditions have to learn how to manage their condition. The evidence into interventions supporting people with POTS to learn self-management strategies is limited. The supportive self-management in POTS study (SSPOTS) aims to co-produce and feasibility test a POTS intervention. The research aims to evaluate the feasibility of a co-produced POTS supportive self-management intervention developed from the experiences of POTS.
METHODS
SSPOTS is an exploratory sequential three phased intervention development and feasibility testing design. A SSPOTS public and patient advisory board will advise on key study questions. Phase one will be a qualitative study of the experiences of POTS from the perspectives of people with POTS and health care practitioners. Data on the components of supportive self-management will then be extracted and mapped to the PRISMS taxonomy of supportive self-management components. In phase two, the taxonomized results from phase one will be taken to first an intervention co-designing workshop, and then to a second co-refining workshop. In the first co-designing workshop key people from a charity network and health care professionals will prioritise intervention components through nominal group technique. An intervention framework will be developed from these results, and a proposed intervention will be circulated to participants for co-refining. The second workshop will explore areas for co-refining. Phase three will be the feasibility testing of SSPOTS.
DISCUSSION
The primary outcome for the feasibility testing will be the number of eligible potential participants who convert into participants. Secondary outcome measures will be 1) adherence to sessions, 2) intervention fidelity, 3) outcome measure calculations of mean, medium and standard deviation to inform a sample size calculation for a potential future trial and 4) a focused process evaluation of intervention acceptability. Purposive sampling from three NHS identification sites with POTS services will aim to recruit a maximum of 30 participants. The feasibility study will inform the practicality of a definitive SSPOTS randomised control trial.
ETHICAL APPROVALS:
Ethical approval was sought initially for phase one, Chelsea Research Ethics Committee (HRA: 281841 25/6/21). Subsequent phases were granted ethical approval through substantial amendments to the original protocol. The initial protocol was for the phase one qualitative study, the first substantial amendment (09/09/2022) was for the co-production workshops and the second substantial amendment (23/08/2023) for the programme feasibility testing
Effects of an exercise program on long-term care certification and the incidence of bone fracture in community-dwelling older adults: A retrospective matched cohort study
Authors: Shibata Aki , Suzuki Asuka , Ishizuka Ryohei , Niwayama Marie , Takahashi Kenzo 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Exercise programs are implemented to prevent functional decline in older adults. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of an exercise program on the occurrence of long-term care certification and the incidence of bone fractures in community-dwelling older adults in a rural Japanese city.
Methods
Of the 1951 subjects, two non-participating groups were established to ensure comparability between groups for the 168 participants in the exercise program participation group. Matched Cohort 1 was matched 1:3 by sex, age, and baseline medical expenses, and 504 subjects were selected as the non-participating group. Matched Cohort 2 was variable ratio matched 1:1–4 by propensity score, and 420 subjects were selected as the non-participating group.
Results
In both of the matched cohorts, point estimates of the odds ratio for the effect of exercise participation on long-term care certification were less than 1. This study showed that continued participation in exercise programs may reduce the occurrence of progression to a state requiring long-term care.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that an exercise program contributes to the extension of a healthy life expectancy.
Predictors of pregnancy loss among urban and rural women aged 15 to 49 years in Pakistan
Authors: Samuel Kevin George , Kandala Ngianga-Bakwin , Ryan Bridget L , Thind Amardeep 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
The burden of pregnancy loss remains high in low- and middle-income countries like Pakistan. The Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) aims to decrease the stillbirth rate to 12 per 1000 total births by 2030, in every country. Current estimates indicate that Pakistan is unlikely to achieve this ENAP target, as the stillbirth rate stands at 30.6 per 1000 total births.
Methods
This study used the 2019 Pakistan Maternal Mortality Survey to identify the community-level, sociodemographic, maternal, environmental, and health services factors that are associated with pregnancy loss. Due to characteristic differences in urban and rural communities, separate analyses were carried out for ever-married women of 15 to 49 years. Mixed effects negative binomial regression was used to analyze the urban (n = 5,887) and rural (n = 7,112) samples of women who reported at least one pregnancy.
Results
The separate analyses found the factors associated with pregnancy loss to vary between urban and rural areas. In urban areas, pregnancy loss was associated with maternal education, maternal age, current marital status, and sanitation facility type. In rural areas, pregnancy loss was associated with region of residence, wealth index, maternal age, current marital status, drinking water source, cooking fuel type, and sanitation facility type.
Conclusion
This study carries significant implications for alleviating the burden of pregnancy loss in Pakistan, in line with ENAP objectives. The separate analyses provide a novel perspective regarding the factors influencing pregnancy loss in urban and rural areas, allowing for targeted interventions.
Fer-1 Alleviates Traumatic Brain Injury-Induced Cognitive Impairment By Inhibiting Hippocampal Ferroptosis
Authors: Meng Zi-Jun , Hao Jin-Jing , Chen Yi-Yang , Chu Zheng , Kuai Jin-Xia , Bao Hai-Jun 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The hippocampus plays a pivotal role in the development of cognitive disorders induced by traumatic brain injury (TBI). Recent studies have elucidated the involvement of ferroptosis in the pathophysiological cascade of TBI. However, the specific role of ferroptosis and the therapeutic potential of ferrostatin-1 in mitigating hippocampal damage post-TBI remain unclear. In this study, we established a TBI model and conducted a series of behavioral and histomorphological experiments in mice to assess outcomes. Our assessments included evaluating ferroptosis levels using Perl's staining, measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation via malondialdehyde assays, assessing neuronal cell death through PI staining, examining mitochondrial shrinkage with transmission electron microscopy, and analyzing the expression levels of key proteins such as glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), transferrin receptor, and SLC40A1 via Western blotting. Our results revealed that TBI led to iron and lipid-ROS accumulation, disrupted iron metabolism, mitochondrial atrophy, neuronal cell death, and downregulation of GPX4 expression in the hippocampus. Importantly, administration of Ferrostatin-1 into the lateral ventricle significantly mitigated iron accumulation and neuronal cell death in the hippocampus, thereby attenuating injury and long-term cognitive impairment following TBI. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting hippocampal ferroptosis as a novel treatment approach for TBI.
Hypoxia-guided treatment planning for lung cancer with dose painting by numbers
Authors: Li Yazhou , Ma Yuanyuan , Wu Jieyan , Zhang Hui , Cai Hongyi , Liu Xinguo , Li Qiang 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Tumor hypoxia significantly impacts the efficacy of radiotherapy. Recent advances in the methodology of dose painting by numbers (DPBN) promise to obviously improve the tumor control probability (TCP) in conventional radiotherapy for hypoxic cancer. This study firstly integrated the DPBN technique with hypoxia-guided dose distribution optimization to overcome hypoxia for lung cancers, and the DPBN plans’ efficacy and clinical suitability were assessed.
18F-FMISO PET-CT scans from 13 lung cancer patients were retrospectively employed in our study to make hypoxia-guided radiotherapy. To demonstrate clinical feasibility, TCP and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) derived from the DPBN plans in comparison to conventional intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plans were evaluated. Furthermore, to explore the enhanced clinical acceptability, the robustness of DPBN plans against potential patient positioning errors and radiation resistance variations throughout the treatment course was assessed.
The DPBN approach, employing voxelized prescription doses, led to an average increase of 24.47% in TCP, alongside a reduction of 1.83% in NTCP, compared to the conventional radiotherapy treatment plans. As for the robustness of the DPBN plans, we found that positional uncertainties confined to within 2mm and the radiosensitivity deviations within 4%. The lung NTCP showed a minimal increase when the isocenter was moved by 3mm in any direction, indicating that the DPBN plan is clinically acceptable.
Thus, our study demonstrated the considerable potential of the DPBN technique as an innovative strategy to enhance the efficacy of radiotherapy for lung cancer with hypoxic regions.
The Analysis and Comparison of Various Cryptographic Algorithms to Improve Network Security: Insights from an Institutional laboratory Setup
Authors: Ganesh Narayanan , Saraf Ekta , Chaturvedi Samarth 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

In an era of growing cyber dangers, strong encryption solutions are required to maintain data confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity. After doing a thorough examination of sixteen different cryptographic algorithms and assessing parameters such as encryption/decryption timeframes and key generation efficiency. Through rigorous comparison, this paper hopes to identify the best method for improving network security in VIT Lab and similar contexts, ultimately contributing to stronger digital defence measures. This research investigates the critical role of cryptographic algorithms in improving network security in laboratory settings at Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai.
Alterations in the functional connectivity of thalamic subregions after basal ganglia stroke
Authors: Cheng Qiansheng , Liu Shoufeng , Wang Junling , Wang Yajing , Han Bihui , Wang Lichen , Jin Song 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Motor and cognitive impairments are common symptoms of basal ganglia (BG) stroke, although the underlying neurobiological mechanisms remain unclear. We aim to explore the alterations in functional connections (FCs) between thalamic subregions at post-BG stroke via the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measurements.
Methods
We examined FC differences between thalamic subregions and whole-brain voxels in 40 patients with BG stroke and 35 healthy controls (HCs). Correlation of FC differences in brain regions with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Fugl–Meyer Assessment (FMA) scores was detected in patients with BG stroke.
Results
Compared to those of HCs, an increased FC was observed in patients with BG stroke between the left thalamic subregion connected with the sensory cortex (SC_thalamus) versus left precuneus and between the right SC_thalamus versus left angular gyrus. Conversely, patients with BG stroke exhibited a decreased FC between the left thalamic subregion connected with the prefrontal cortex (PFC_thalamus) versus right supramarginal gyrus (supra marginal) and left middle cingulate gyrus (cingulate_mid), between the left thalamic subregion connected with the temporal cortex (TC_thalamus) versus left cuneus and right postcentral gyrus, and between the right thalamic subregion connected with the primary motor cortex (M1_thalamus) versus right medial suprafrontal gyrus (frontal_sup_medial). The FC between the right M1_thalamus versus right Frontal_Sup_Medial was positively correlated with the FMA scores (r = 0.443, P = 0.004), and that between the left PFC_thalamus versus right supra marginal presented a positive correlation with the MMSE scores (r = 0.479, P = 0.002).
Conclusions
Alterations in FC exhibit between thalamic subregions and certain brain regions of patients with BG stroke, shedding light on the pathophysiological changes in motor thalamus and cognitive function at the subnuclear realm. Our results herald the advent of novel treatment of BG stroke.
Understanding the Interplay Between Language Teachers’ Efficacy and Constructivist Pedagogy in Ghana’s Evolving Education Landscape: A Structural Equation Modelling Analysis
Authors: Nyamekye Ernest , Asare-Danso Seth , Ofori Emmanuel Amo 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The education system in Ghana is undergoing a transition from a behaviorist instructional philosophy to a constructivist one, aiming to produce learners who can actively contribute to nation-building. Nonetheless, given the weighing demands on teachers regarding this abrupt shift into constructivist teaching, there is a need to examine teachers sense of efficacy related to the enactment of core principles of this novel instructional philosophy—i.e., social, cognitive, and critical constructivism— laid down in the newly introduced standards-based curriculum. An explanatory sequential mixed method was used to obtain data from basic school teachers in the Sunyani-west district of Bono Region, Ghana. Using adapted teacher self-efficacy and constructivist learning environment scales, quantitative data were gathered from 104 teachers. Qualitative data were also gathered from 61 conveniently sampled language teachers to augment the quantitative findings. Using partial least squares structural equation modelling, a significant positive association was discovered between teachers’ efficacy and the practice of social and cognitive constructivism. Nonetheless, teachers’ efficacy did not statistically predict their practice of critical constructivism. The qualitative results showed that sociocultural concerns probably accounted for the insignificant association between efficacy and critical constructivism. It was therefore concluded that sociocultural norms designed for bringing up a child in Ghana tend to inhibit the enactment of critical constructivism. The study recommends that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, in partnership with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, should update teacher professional development programs in universities and colleges of education to incorporate constructivist principles, particularly critical pedagogy, aiming to produce competent teachers capable of fostering learners' autonomy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills as outlined in the Standards-Based Curriculum (SBC)..
A comparative analysis of drought indices in evaluating climate change impacts on agriculture in Southern Italy
Authors: Mirauda Domenica , Cirigliano Samanta 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

In this paper, a range of drought indices, including the Standardized Precipitation Index, the Reconnaissance Drought Index, and the Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index, are applied to a sample area in Northeast Basilicata, Southern Italy. The goal is to assess the impact of climate change on agriculture, within the context of broader research aimed at developing a decision support model. This model is designed to provide farmers in the area with smart alerts triggered by exceeding specific thresholds relating to agro-environmental indices and extreme weather events in order to optimise water use, preserve agricultural biodiversity, mitigate hydrogeological instability, and facilitate adaptation to climate changes. The core of this approach is based on implementing a rigorous methodology that uses easily acquired data for a comprehensive evaluation of climate change impacts on agriculture. The analysis of data shows an increase in temperatures and variable precipitation patterns showing a trend towards more severe drought conditions, and also reveals a similar behaviour from the comparison of the various indices. This observation highlights that the assessment of agricultural drought can primarily be conducted through precipitation data, indicating a marginal role of temperatures in areas characterised by a Mediterranean climate.
The significance of these results supports the effectiveness of using the SPI index as the main tool for drought assessment in these climatic zones. This methodology not only simplify the approach to drought evaluation but also aligns with the objectives of the decision support model to provide farmers with predictive and management tools based on reliable and easily interpretable data.
Do they really boil their drinking water? : a descriptive study in a rural district of the Lao People's Democratic Republic
Authors: Kawamoto Sae , Nonaka Daisuke , Inthavong Nouhak 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background: For safe drinking water, household water treatments (HWT) are important to reduce the risk of diarrhea in low-and-middle countries including Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). However, the measurement of HWT relies chiefly on self-report in most nationwide surveys. Thus, the validity of self-reported measurement is of concern. The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of households with the presence of boiled water among households that report boiling practices in a rural area of the Lao PDR.
Methods: This study was conducted with randomly selected 108 households in the four villages in the catchment area of the two health centers, in Xepon district of the Savannakhet province, between September and October 2023. The inclusion criterion of the households was the households that report boiling as HWT. Surveyors conducted interviews with an adult household member and observations on boiled water through household visits, using a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were conducted to summarize the collected information using the frequency with proportion for categorical variables and the median with interquartile range for continuous variables. Bivariate analyses were conducted to assess an association between each of the factors and the presence of boiled water, using Fisher’s exact test.
Results: Among the 108 households that reported boiling practice, 91 households were able to show the surveyor self-reported boiled water. Thus, the proportion of households with the presence of boiled water was 90.1% (95% confidence interval: 82.5% to 95.1%.). The presence of a fixed schedule of boiling (p<0.001) was statistically significant between households with boiled water and households without boiled water. Not all family members do not necessarily drink boiled water: approximately a quarter (25.7%) of the participants reported that some household members drink unboiled water.
Conclusion: This study showed that among households that reported boiling drinking water, 90.1% were able to present a container with self-reported boiled water. It suggests that the self-reported measure of boiling practices can be valid in the study villages. In the future, recommending people to make a schedule for boiling and promoting all family members to drink boiled water will spread the drinking of boiled water.
Identification of Treculia africana L. varieties using Internal Transcribed Spacer Region 1 (ITS 1) and Internal Transcribed Spacer Region 2 (ITS 2) DNA barcodes
Authors: Isuosuo Chinyere Chioma , Akaneme Florence Ifeoma , Urom Uchenna Nnanna 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Treculia africana L. (African breadfruit), is an underutilized, underexploited, and endangered species of southern Nigeria. It has been identified and classified using anatomical features, but there is insufficient information on its molecular identification and classification. There is a need to complement the morphological identification of the plant with molecular methods.
Results
To identify 86 accessions of Treculia africana var inversa and Treculia africana var africana, Internal Transcribed Spacer Region ITS-2 and Internal Transcribed Spacer Region lTS- 1 DNA barcodes were used. In this study, we observed that to determine the homology between sequences obtained and the Genbank database, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) basic alignment search tool (BLAST) did not reveal any match. An alignment of the accessions with KU855474.1 Artocarpus altilis showed similarities via molecular evolutionary genetic analysis (mega 11).
Conclusions
The alignment revealed that the Treculia accessions were related and genetically similar to Artocarpus species, members of the Moraceae family, indicating that the accessions belong to the same family. However, the two varieties of Treculia could not be distinguished with ITS Barcodes. The molecular data of Treculia species need to be populated on the gene bank to support future molecular studies and also a combination of DNA barcodes is recommended for identification purposes.