bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Construction of a Nomogram Prediction Model for the Risk of Type 2 Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Authors: Li Lei , Yang Jing , Jiang Sheng 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Objective Development and validation of a nomogram to predict the risk of developing diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods A total of 706 patients with T2DM who met the criteria were included in this study. They were divided into a training group (n = 521) and a validation group (n = 185) in a ratio of 3:1. Clinical data were collected and analyzed using multivariate logistic regression to identify independent risk factors. A nomogram prediction model was then established based on the results, and its feasibility was evaluated using the validation group. The discriminative power, accuracy, and clinical utility of the predictive models were assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA), respectively.Results In this study, a total of 706 patients with T2DM were found to have DPN in 414 cases, resulting in an incidence rate of 58.64%. The results of stepwise regression and multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age, duration of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy (DR), and body mass index (BMI) were identified as significant factors influencing the development of DPN in T2DM patients (P < 0.05). The nomogram model used to predict the risk of DPN demonstrated a consistency index of 0.780, indicating a good degree of discrimination. The calibration curve showed a mean absolute error of 0.013 between the predicted and actual occurrence of DPN. Additionally, the ROC curve revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.780 (95% CI: 0.740 to 0.819) for the nomogram model's ability to predict DPN. Lastly, the DCA demonstrated that the model exhibited good accuracy and clinical utility.Conclusion This study successfully established and validated a high-precision nomogram prediction model, which can help improve the ability of early identification and screening of high-risk patients with DPN.
Association between Statin use and the risk of atrial fibrillation in community-dwelling older people in Shanghai, China：a propensity score-matched study
Authors: Deng Tiantian , Sheng Fei , Zhang Ziqiang 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Objective: Whether statins prevent atrial fibrillation remains unclear. In particular, the data on the elderly are limited. Thus we investigated the association between statin use and the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in community-dwelling older people in Shanghai ,China.
Methods: This registry-based cohort study was conducted in one community in Shanghai. Participants without history of AF were enrolled in this study, then new-onset of AF was recorded and evaluated in the followed three years. Poisson generalized linear models were conducted to examine the association between statin therapy and the incidence of AF. All analysis were performed with both conventional adjustment and propensity score matching methods. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis were performed to evaluate the risk factor of AF in community-dwelling older people
Results: In the cohort of 5675 participants (43.5% men; median age, 68.0 years), 456 (8.0%) were treated with stains. Two propensity score-matched cohorts of 453 participants (with or without statin treatment) were analyzed, in respectively. Statin use did not reduce the proportion of atrial fibrillation incidence, with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of 0.982(0.948 to 1.018) (p＞0.05) in the unmatched cohort and 0.833 (0.459 to 1.512) (p＞0.05) in the matched cohort. The result of multivariate regression analysis showed that age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), BMI, Serum creatinine (Scr), total cholesterol (TC),were the independent risk factors of the new onset of AF.
Conclusion: Older age, SBP, BMI, Scr, TC, were independent predictors of AF onset. However, statin use was not associated with a decreased risk of atrial fibrillation incidence of AF in the elderly.
Study of Conductance in Graphene Nanochannels for Symmetric and Asymmetric Junction Configurations
Authors: Patra Simran , Sahu Ajit Kumar , Mishra Madhusudan , Swain Raghunandan , Sahoo Narayan 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The transport properties of graphene nanochannels have been studied for symmetric and asymmetric junction configurations using an open-source Python based tool “Kwant”. In the design process, the arrangement of a narrow channel connected between the two wide graphene nanoribbons appeals to shapes like U and H. Both zigzag (ZNR) and armchair graphene nanoribbons (AGNR) are considered as case studies, and the effect of side junctions on the conductance and density of states are analysed as a function of nanochannel width (WC). It is observed that, in all the shapes as WC increases the conductance enhances around the zero Fermi energy. Unity conductance is achieved with WC = 8, 12, and 16 atoms for unmodulated ZNR channels of length 60 Å. However, for U- and H-shapes with narrow channels (WC = 8 or 12 atoms), the scattering effect is prominent at the junction leading to reduction and fluctuation of the conductance. A wider channel (WC = 16 atoms), reduces the scattering effect and leads to unity conductance. On the other hand, for the AGNR based U-shaped structure though the channels with WC = 23, 29, and 35 atoms satisfying metallic conditions (WC = 3p + 2), the conductance is still zero. However, for the H-shaped structure, the channel with WC = 35 atoms gives rise to the unity conductance. Moreover, studying the effect of asymmetry in the junction alignment of the channel in the H-shape, the conductance fluctuates for the AGNR case but remains unchanged for the ZNR case.
“I don’t think people should die young”: Perspectives of parents with children diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Tsai Hsiao H. , Young Jennifer L. , Cherny Sara , Ahmed Cat Davis , Khan Sadiya S. , Duquette Debra 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited disorder that significantly increases an individual’s risk of developing premature cardiovascular disease (CVD). Early intervention involving lifestyle modification and medication is crucial in preventing CVD. Prior studies have shown that lipid-lowering therapy in children is safe and effective. Despite FH being a treatable and manageable condition, the condition is still underdiagnosed and undertreated. Universal lipid screening (ULS) in children has been recommended by some medical experts in the United States as a strategy to identify cases of FH and maximize the benefits of early invention. However, lipid screening is not routinely offered in pediatric clinics. This study aimed to explore parental experience with FH diagnosis in their children, identify key facilitators and barriers in children’s diagnosis and care, and examine parental perspectives on ULS in children in the United States. A total of fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants recruited through the Family Heart Foundation. Thematic analysis identified three key themes: role of family history in facilitating child’s FH diagnosis, barriers and challenges in post-diagnosis care, and attitudes towards ULS in children. All participants supported ULS in children and emphasized the value of early diagnosis and treatment for FH. However, a lack of guidance or referral after the child's diagnosis was a concern raised by many participants. This underscores the need for accessible and comprehensive care amid ongoing efforts to increase pediatric diagnosis of FH.
Effect of leaf scald disease on a major Brazilian sugarcane cultivar and cultivar reaction to Xanthomonas albilineans
Authors: González Claudia Elizabeth Bogado , Júnior Antonio Ribeiro Fernandes , Liska Gilberto Rodriguez , Urashima Alfredo Seiiti 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
The lack of information on the damage caused by leaf scald disease (LSD) hinders the sugarcane industry to adopt measures to control it. One distinct feature of LSD is its latent stage where diseased canes are symptomless enabling nurseries be formed from asymptomatic materials. The chance to find two commercial sugarcane fields of RB966928, with similar characteristics grown side by side, but contrasting in phytosanitary status, gave a rare opportunity to examine the importance of LSD in Brazil scientifically. Therefore, the objectives of this work were to quantify the damage caused by LSD in a real-world condition in the most important Brazilian cultivar as well as to examine reaction of different cultivars to the disease.
Results
Data showed visual incidence varying from 21 to 72% whereas lab-based incidence ranged from 50 to 72%, a comparison between the two fields showed a significant difference in percentage of stalk death (above 42%), stalk weight (above 14%) and stool weight loss (above 54%). Five out of ten cultivars were classified as susceptible or moderately susceptible, where RB966928 and RB92579 were the most susceptible. Clean seedcane proved to be an effective means to control LSD since the field employed as gold standard was originated from different nursery and remained symptomless throughout the crop season.
Conclusion
Leaf scald disease caused severe damage in a commercial sugarcane field and lab-based diagnostic of seedcanes is paramount to control the disease.
Google Cloud vs. Azure: Sentiment Analysis Accuracy for Polish and English Across Content Types
Authors: Pawlik Łukasz 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

This study investigated the comparative performance of two popular sentiment analysis tools, Azure Sentiment Analysis and Google Cloud Sentiment Analysis, applied to Polish and English text data. The analysis focused on two content types: hotel reviews and tweet comments. The findings demonstrate that the type of text and language analyzed significantly influence the accuracy of sentiment detection. Sentiment analysis tools performed worse on informal and unstructured text like tweet comments compared to structured and formal text like hotel reviews. Additionally, language can influence the performance of sentiment analysis tools. In this study, English showed a slight edge over Polish, particularly for tweet comments. When analyzing tweet comments, the Google Cloud Sentiment Analysis function outperformed Azure Sentiment Analysis in both Polish and English, suggesting better handling of informal and ambiguous language. Furthermore, this research addressed the limitations of relying solely on pre-assigned sentiment labels from analysis tools. A custom labeling method was developed that effectively captures the nuances of sentiment in both Polish and English content. This method provides a more granular and objective approach to sentiment classification and offers a valuable framework for further research in sentiment analysis. By highlighting the challenges associated with informal and unstructured text, as well as the importance of considering language variations, this research contributes to the field of sentiment analysis. The findings and the proposed labeling method present valuable opportunities for future research along promising directions, particularly in sentiment-based decision-making for social media data analysis.
Short –Term Weight Management Programs Improve the Quality of Life of Attendees of the Dietetic Centers in the West Bank
Authors: Abu-Alwafa Umaymah , Tamimi Mohammad Al , Badrasawi Manal 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Obesity is a primary health issue. This study aimed at assessing health related quality of life (HRQOL) among overweight/obese adults. Participants were referred to Nutri Health centers in the West Bank for weight management programs during the period between 1 of May 2019 to 30 November 2020. A total of 466 participants were involved in the study. Body composition, anthropometric measurements, socio-demographic data, and HRQOL were determined at baseline and after 3 months. The results showed a significant decline in the mean weight of participants from 93.9 ± 17.2Kg to 83.9 ± 15.7 kg. More than half (51.3%) of participants had weight reduction more than 10%. Participants reported significant improvement in all components of (36-SF) HRQOL after 3 months compared to baseline scores. Moreover, participants with ≥ 10% loss of baseline weight had a greater improvement in the overall HRQOL scores by 14.6 ± 17.6 (mean ± SD) compared to 9.7 ± 15.0 for those who lost < 10% baseline body weight. Moreover, the Role limitation due to physical health achieved the highest score after 3 months by (mean ± SD) of 93.0 ± 20.7 compared to baseline score of 80.8 ± 32.2. The highest improvement was reported in Physical functioning with 18.9 ± 27.3 and 10.9 ± 27.3 for participants who lost ≥ 10% and < 10%, respectively. In conclusion, weight management programs seemed to be not only effective to induce weight loss but also to improve HRQOL. The mechanism behind this improvement should be investigated in light of decreased levels of inflammation and changes in gut microbiota.
Early Cystography before Catheter Removal after Robot Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: A Single Center Experience
Authors: Cheng Wan-Yu , Hsieh Chia-Chih , Tseng Wen-Hsin , Lim Chye-Yang , Su Chia-Cheng , Lee Kau-Han , Liu Chien-Liang , Huang Steven K. , Chiu Allen W. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Purpose:Evaluate early cystography post robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for prostate cancer (PCa), aiming to expedite discharge, compare leakage incidence, and assess associated factors.
Materials and Methods: Retrospective review between January 2017 and December 2022 of 316 RARP patients at Chi Mei Medical Center. Grouped by postoperative day (POD) for cystography (≤ 3 vs. > 3 days). Assessed pre-op characteristics, hospitalization, catheter duration, leakage, and complications.
Results: 142 (44.9%) underwent cystography on POD ≤ 3 and 174 (55.1%) on POD > 3. Shorter catheter indwelling (3 vs. 6 days) and hospitalization (4 vs. 7 days) in early group (p < 0.0001). Postoperative leakage rates similar (14.08% vs. 12.07%) but higher acute urine retention (9.15% vs. 3.45%, p = 0.0338) and Foley re-insertions (13.38% vs. 5.17%, p = 0.0106) in early group. Postoperative leakage associated with prolonged catheterization and hospitalization (p < 0.0001). Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) with bladder neck reconstruction (BNR) history and increased blood loss linked to higher leakage risk (p = 0.0309 and p = 0.0221, respectively), confirmed by both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.
Conclusion: Early cystography post RARP reduces hospitalization and catheter duration without increased leakage risk. Caution needed for higher acute urine retention with early catheter removal. TURP with BNR history and increased blood loss require careful monitoring for leakage. These findings guide postoperative care for RARP patients.
YOLOv8-FCS: A more focused YOLOv8 model for defect detection in images of steel surface
Authors: Hu Bingtao , Lu Rongsheng , Wan Dahang , Wang Sailei , Yin Jiajie 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Defect detection in steel surface is crucial for engineering quality control. Traditional methods for detecting surface defects on steel materials have issues such as low detection accuracy, slow speed, low level of intelligence, and insufficient utilization of images. In response to these challenges, this paper proposes an improved YOLOv8 model for efficient and accurate detection of defects on steel surface. Firstly, we introduce a single-channel adversarial input strategy (AIS) to enhance the utilization of single-channel images and improve the network's detection effectiveness. Secondly, we utilize various attention modules to enhance the Neck and detection head of the network, thereby further improving the network's expressive power and detection performance. Finally, experiments were conducted on three open datasets, achieving a mAP (mean average precision) of 77.3% on the NEU-DET dataset, outperforming YOLOv8 at 74.1%, a mAP of 65.5% on the GC10 dataset, outperforming YOLOv8 at 64.0%, and a mAP of 73.8% on the Magnetic-tile-defect-datasets, outperforming YOLOv8 at 71.2%. Additionally, the average detection speed of this model is 93 frames per second, effectively balancing detection accuracy and efficiency.
Necrotizing Anterior Scleritis with kertouveitis in a Patient with Psoriasis: A Case Report
Authors: See Wengail , Siazon Richmond , Paz Maria Fideliz 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Objective: To present a rare case of necrotizing anterior scleritis with keratouveitis in a patient with psoriasis and to emphasize the importance of early recognition and aggressive systemic therapy to prevent its sequelae.
Necrotizing anterior scleritis is a rare and severely debilitating condition in patients with psoriasis. We present the case of a 60-year-old man with a one-week onset of right eye redness, severe eye pain, and tenderness, accompanied by headache, photophobia, and foreign body sensation. The patient had a history of psoriasis for >20 years and was maintained on methotrexate and topical medications, with poor compliance. He was admitted two weeks prior due to COVID-19 infection. Examination of the right eye showed signs of anterior scleritis and kerato-uveitis. Autoimmune and infection screens yielded negative results. He was administered a regimen of topical cyclosporine BID, atropine TID, and oral prednisone at 1 mg/kg/day that was tapered accordingly after clinical response. Follow-up over the course of three weeks revealed decreased eye pain and improved visual acuity from 20/100 to 20/30 in the right eye. This case of necrotizing sclerotic sclerosis occurred in a setting of long-standing psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis with chronic methotrexate use and various environmental triggers. Early recognition and aggressive treatment with systemic and topical immunomodulators are required to prevent the sequelae of this disease.
Role of Immune Cell in Mendiating the Effect of Lipids on Female Infertility
Authors: Xie Yafei , Zhang Zhelin , Yin Qiaozhi 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background: Observational and retrospective studies suggest that liposomes may be associated with female infertility. The exact relationship between different liposomes and female infertility remains difficult to determine. In addition, modulation of the immune system is a key measure of the impact of lipids on disease development, but it remains uncertain whether the causality of this association is mediated by immune cells.
Method:In this study, we performed a two-step two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal role of lipids on female infertility and the mediating role of immune cells between lipids and female infertility. The inverse variance weighting method was employed as the primary estimator, complemented by MR-Egger, Weighted median, Simple mode, and Weighted mode approaches. To address potential bias from single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we utilized MR-PRESSO. Additionally, Cochran's Q test and MR-Egger intercept analysis were performed to detect heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy.
Results: MR analysis identified a causal relationship between 18 lipid species and female infertility. In addition,14 immune cell traits suggested an association with female infertility. Notably, mediated MR showed that the causal effect of phosphatidylcholine on female infertility (Total effect IVW: OR=1.069,95% CI [1.008,1.134], P=0.030) was largely mediated by HLA DR++ monocyte AC (OR=0.888,95% CI [0.790,0.998] , P=0.046).
Conclusion:This study demonstrates a causal relationship between liposomes and female infertility, which may be mediated by HLA DR++ monocyte AC, thereby identifying novel drug targets for the prevention and treatment of this condition.
Biometrics-based Generation of Diffie-hellman Key Exchange Parameters
Authors: Kovacevic Aldin , Saracevic Muzafer 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

When two parties need to securely communicate over an insecure channel, Diffie-Hellman is often employed as the key exchange algorithm. This paper presents two novel approaches to generating Diffie-Hellman parameters for key exchange based on user biometrics, namely their fingerprint data. Fingerprint templates are extracted as bit strings via a fingerprint scanner and later used as inputs. In one approach, the whole fingerprint template is utilized as a user’s private key. In the second approach, fingerprint data is scrambled into smaller chunks and rearranged into two strings that serve as the user’s private key and the basis for prime p. Both approaches were implemented and tested experimentally. After analysis, the second approach that uses scrambled fingerprint data shows better execution times and improved security and usability considerations. http://cs.stanford.edu/people/widom/paper-writing.html
Ethnicity and Knee Osteoarthritis: A comparative analysis of pain, function, and pain catastrophizing between South Florida Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Adults
Authors: Quintero Daniel , Jose MS DO Jean , Kholodovsky Eric , Jahn Jacob , Travis Levi M. , II Joseph P. Costello , Perez Olivia , Caban-Martinez PhD DO Alberto J. , Best  
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Objective:
Race is associated with reporting of pain, coping mechanisms, and disease severity in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). However, few studies have evaluated its importance in ethnicity, particularly the Hispanic population. We compare pain perception (VAS), function (WOMAC), and pain catastrophizing (PCS) between Hispanic (HP) and non-Hispanic (NHWP) patients stratified by socio-economic status (SES) and K-L grade.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study of patients from a tertiary care clinic between July 2021 and December 2022 was performed. Patients with knee pain, radiographs, and doctor-diagnosis of KOA completed questionnaires in English or Spanish. Descriptive statistics characterized demographic differences between NHWP and HP in VAS, PCS, and WOMAC. Two one-way analyses of variance evaluated the effect of both ethnicity and sex, with subgroup analyses stratifying by K-L grade. Multivariate general linear models assessed primary outcomes while controlling for confounders.
Results:
HP exhibited higher VAS, PCS, and WOMAC scores compared to NHWP. PCS was higher in HP (p = 0.004, mean = 8.89) than NHWP (mean = 4.58), as was VAS (p < 0.001, mean = 4.28 vs. 2.74) and WOMAC (p = 0.029, mean = 27.86 vs. 21.58). These differences remained when controlled for SES and K-L grade. Stratifying by sex and comparing primary outcomes between HP and NHWP, male HP had greater VAS (p = .021, mean = 3.83 vs. 2.42) and PCS (p = .008, mean = 8.83 vs. 3.35), while female HP had greater VAS (p = .019, mean = 4.62 vs. 3.08) and nonsignificantly greater PCS (p = .164, mean = 8.94 vs. 5.92).
Conclusion:
HP with KOA reported greater pain intensity, functional limitation, and PCS compared with NHWP, even after adjusting for SES and K-L grade.