bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improving Estimation of Specific Differential Phase and Assessing Differential Backscattering Phase
Authors: Mishler Reese , Zhang Guifu , Mahale Vivek N. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Polarimetric variables such as differential phase ΦDP and its range derivative, specific differential phase KDP, contain useful information for improving quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) and microphysics retrieval. However, the usefulness of the current operationally utilized estimation method of KDP is limited by measurement error and artifacts resulting from the differential backscattering phase δ. The contribution of δ can significantly influence the ΦDP measurements and therefore negatively affect the KDP estimates. Neglecting the presence of δ within non-Rayleigh scattering regimes has also led to the adoption of incorrect terminology regarding signatures seen within current operational KDP estimates implying associated regions of unrealistic liquid water content. A new processing method is proposed and developed to estimate both KDP and δ using classification and linear programming (LP) to reduce bias in KDP estimates caused by the δ component. It is shown that by applying the LP technique specifically to the rain regions of Rayleigh scattering along a radial profile, accurate estimates of differential propagation phase, specific differential phase, and differential backscattering phase can be retrieved within regions of both Rayleigh and non-Rayleigh scattering. This new estimation method is applied to cases of reported hail and tornado debris, and the LP results are compared to the operationally utilized least squares fit (LSF) estimates. The results show the potential use of the differential backscattering phase signature in the detection of hail and tornado debris.
Correlations of Physical and Psychological Health in Parents of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Johnson Norah L. , Bekhet Abir K. , Zint Emily , Wang June , Pena Sylvia , Van Hecke Amy , Garnier-Villarreal Mauricio , Ng Alexander 
Published: May 2024

Background: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have social communication difficulties and restricted, repetitive, and/or sensory behaviors or interests. The prevalence of ASD is now 1 in 36 individuals. Parents of individuals with ASD face challenges that can affect their physical and psychological well-being. Objective: With the long-term goal to tailor an exercise program, the purpose of this study was 2-fold: (1) establish the baseline physical and mental health of parents of individuals with ASD and (2) estimate the relationship of physiologic variables with psychological variables of health for parents of individuals with ASD. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study (N = 44) explored physical health measures and the correlation between physical and psychological health, using measures of anxiety, stress, parenting depression, and positive thinking for parents who care for individuals with ASD. Results: The common characteristics that these parents shared was high body fat and low physical activity. Body fat was negatively correlated to total step count ( r = −0.428, P < .05), grip strength ( r = −0.319, P < .5), and total distance walked in the week ( r = −0.661, P < .01), and positively correlated to 5-times sit to stand ( r = 0.337, P < .05). Low activity correlated to increased parenting stress of advocating for child’s needs ( r = −0.310, P = .043). Conclusions: Understanding relationships between physical and psychological health informs effective interventions and support systems for parents. Parents need supports to be able to prioritize exercise. Future studies should include a larger sample to verify these effects.
Step by step technique of Stentless Florence Robotic Intracorporeal Neobladder (FloRIN), does the ureteral management influence functional outcomes?
Authors: Lambertini Luca , Di Maida Fabrizio , Cadenar Anna , Grosso Antonio Andrea , Valastro Francesca , Bacchiani Mara , Giudici Sofia , Sandulli Alessandro , Lipparini Filippo , Salamone Vincenzo , Paganelli Daniele , Coco Simone , Mari Andrea , Minervini Andrea 
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Benefits and harms of avoid the sent placement during IntraCorporeal Neobladder configuration are still debated. Our objective was to describe the step-by-step technique of Florence intracorporeal neobladder (FloRIN) configuration performed with stentless procedure focusing on perioperative and mid-term functional outcomes. Materials and methods: In this single institution prospective randomized 1:1 series all consecutive patients underwent Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy (RARC) and FloRIN reconfiguration from January 2021 to March 2021 were enrolled. Functional perioperative and mid-term outcomes were gathered. Postoperative complications were graded according to Clavien-Dindo classification and divided in early (<30 days from discharge) and delayed (>30 days). Results: Overall, 10 patients were included in the analysis. Of these, the 50.0% was treated with Stentless FloRIN. In terms of baseline features, no differences were recorded between the two groups. Median age was 65 and 66 years while median BMI was 27 and 25 in the stentless and in the stent group, respectively. Concerning intraoperative variables, no intraoperative complications as well as open conversion occurred among both groups. As regard introperative features, a shorter console time was associated with stentless procedure (331 min vs 365 min). In terms of perioperative outcomes, canalization and time to drainage removal didn’t differ between groups while length of hospital stay was significantly lower in stentless group 10 days versus 14 days. Early and delayed postoperative complication rate was not influenced by the ureteral management at a preliminary assessment with comparable rates of Clavien Dindo ⩾ 3a between the two groups. Mid-term functional outcomes did not differ between groups in terms of kidney function loss. Conclusions: FloRIN with Stentless technique showed functional and perioperative preliminary outcomes comparable with the standard ureteral management strategy. Further series with longer functional follow-up assessment will be needed to confirm our preliminary results.
Lentinan Regulates Glioma Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis by Activating p53 and Caspases Pathways
Authors: Sun Ying , Gao Peng , Wan Xilin , Liu Xinze , Xu Fang , Wang Jiaqi 
Published: May 2024

Background Gliomas are highly lethal malignancies that develop in the central nervous system. The primary treatment for gliomas involves surgical resection followed by chemoradiotherapy. However, due to the infiltrative growth nature of gliomas, surgical resection is often incomplete. Moreover, the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs is constrained by their ability to cross the blood–brain barrier, and the currently utilized agents can lose effectiveness, particularly with prolonged administration. Lentinan, an active compound in Lentinula edodes, exhibits various pharmacological activities. Purpose This study aims to investigate the anti-tumor effects of lentinan on glioma U251 cells. Materials and Methods Cell proliferation assays, cell fluorescence staining, scratch healing experiments, and transwell chamber experiments were conducted to assess the anti-tumor activity of lentinan on U251 cells. Additionally, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot experiments were performed to validate the anti-tumor mechanism of lentinan. Results The findings revealed that lentinan significantly suppressed the proliferation of U251 cells, induced robust apoptosis, and decreased the cells’ migration and invasion capabilities. Furthermore, lentinan notably influenced the gene and protein expression of p53, Bcl-2, Cyto-c, Bax, Caspases, and MMP-9 in U251 cells. Conclusion These findings suggest that lentinan may inhibit glioma cells by activating P53 and caspase-related apoptosis pathways.
Influence of Ascorbic Acid on Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate-induced Ovarian Gene Alterations in Pubertal Female Wistar Rats
Authors: Ali Shifana , Ziyad Ahmed , Pai Karkala Sreedhara Ranganath , Muraleedharan Anju , Gopan Adhithya , Upadhya Raghavendra , Seetharam Raviraja N , Manokaran Kalaivani 
Published: May 2024

Background Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer compound affecting female reproduction, leads to scenarios, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and infertility through oxidative stress (OS) mechanisms. Ascorbic acid (AA) is one of the antioxidants in infertility issues. Objectives The present study investigates the ameliorative effect of AA on DEHP-induced ovarian toxicity in pubertal female Wistar rats. Materials and Methods Thirty female Wistar rats of four weeks of age were stratified into five groups. Group I was treated with corn oil (Vehicle), groups II and III with low and high dose DEHP, and groups IV and V with low and high dose DEHP+AA were administered for 30 days. Results Increased body weight gain was noted in DEHP groups. Estradiol hormone was considerably reduced, whereas progesterone levels were increased in both low- and high-dose DEHP-treated groups. DEHP+AA groups have shown significant ( p < 0.005) protection of these hormone levels as equal to the control group. The high-dose DEHP group shows an increased, ovarian estrogen receptor (ER) alpha, ER-beta, and progesterone receptor gene expression, and DEHP+AA groups have significantly ( p < 0.005) showed expression similar to the control. OS was noted with decreased superoxide dismutase and increased malondialdehyde expression in Group III (GR III) compared to control, whereas the DEHP+AA treated group significantly protected OS by restoring the expression levels. DEHP-treated groups show elevated levels of both Bcl-2 and BAX which is specific to apoptotic expression and restored by AA treatment ( p < 0.005). Conclusion Evidence suggests that AA may protect against DEHP-induced ovarian toxicity by decreasing OS levels, improving folliculogenesis, and restoring the hormonal with receptor level alterations.
Assessment of polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medications, and drug-drug interactions in older patients with cancer
Authors: Albayrak Aslınur , Erbay Bahar , Kayıkçıoğlu Erkan 
Published: May 2024

Introduction This study aimed to determine polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medications, and potential drug-drug interactions in elderly patients hospitalized in the oncology services of a university hospital in Turkey. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2021 and September 2022 on cancer patients over 65 years old hospitalized at Suleyman Demirel University Medical Faculty Hospital in Isparta, Turkey. Potentially inappropriate medications were defined according to the 2023 Beers Criteria of the American Geriatrics Society. Potential drug-drug interactions were determined with Medscape® drug interaction checker. Results The median (min-max) of drugs used by the patients was 6 (2–15). Most of the patients (74.3%) had polypharmacy. Approximately half of the patients (51.4%) had potentially inappropriate medications. The most commonly used potentially inappropriate medications were diuretics (22.1%), metoclopramide (11.4%), antidepressant drugs (7.9%), and opioids (6.4%). The presence of comorbidities, mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders, circulatory system diseases, and respiratory system diseases were found to be statistically significantly higher in the group with potentially inappropriate medication than in the group without potentially inappropriate medication ( p < 0.05). In total, 98 patients (70%) had at least one potential drug-drug interaction. Potential drug-drug interactions were minor in 33.3%, major in 57.5%, serious in 7.74%, and contraindicated in 0.22% Conclusion According to our study, polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medications, and potential drug-drug interactions were high in elderly cancer patients. It is important to determine potential drug-drug interactions and potentially inappropriate medications in cancer patients by a multidisciplinary team, including the clinical pharmacist, to prevent possible negative consequences.
Trends in central nervous system-active polypharmacy among people with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Naizer Hayden , Wozny Joseph , Krause Trudy Millard , Huson Ethan , Freeman Leorah 
Published: May 2024

Background: People with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) are at risk of concurrently using multiple central nervous system (CNS)-active drugs, yet the prevalence of CNS-active polypharmacy remains unmeasured in pwMS. Objective: The objective is to measure the prevalence of CNS-active polypharmacy in pwMS. Methods: This serial, cross-sectional study measured CNS-active polypharmacy in people with MS in the United States from 2008 to 2021 using insurance claims data. CNS-active polypharmacy was defined as the concurrent prescription of ⩾3 CNS-active drugs for >30 continuous days. CNS-active drugs included antidepressants, antiepileptics, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepine benzodiazepine receptor agonist hypnotics, opioids, and skeletal muscle relaxants. Results: The number of subjects included at each time point ranged from 23,917 subjects in 2008 to 55,797 subjects in 2021. In 2021, subjects with CNS-active polypharmacy were more likely to be 46–65 years of age and have CNS-related comorbidities compared to those without CNS-active polypharmacy. From 2008 to 2021, the age-adjusted prevalence of CNS-active polypharmacy among female subjects increased from 19.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 19.1–20.4) to 26.4% (95% CI = 25.9–26.8) versus 15.9% (95% CI = 14.8–17.0) to 18.6% (95% CI = 17.9–19.2) in male subjects. Conclusion: The prevalence of CNS-active polypharmacy has increased among people with MS with a growing disparity by sex.
A clinical comparative study of dual LVIS devices and single flow diversion stenting for the treatment of unruptured V3–V4 vertebral artery dissection
Authors: Long Shuhai , Shi Shuailong , Zhang Zhike , Tian Qi , Wei Zhuangzhuang , Ma Ji , Wang Ye , Yang Jie , Han Xinwei , Li Tengfei 
Published: May 2024

Purpose This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of using overlapping low-profile visualized intraluminal support (LVIS) devices and flow diversion (FD) for the treatment of unruptured vertebral artery dissection (VAD) in the V3–V4 segments. Methods The clinical and imaging data of 71 patients with unruptured VAD in the V3–V4 segments who underwent either dual LVIS stenting (d-LVIS group) or single FD stenting (FD group) at our center from September 2014 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Results Immediate postoperative angiography revealed no significant difference in the degree of occlusion between the two groups in treating vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms (with or without noncompact coiling). However, the d-LVIS group had significantly higher fluoroscopy exposure time and total radiation exposure dose compared to the FD group. During the perioperative period, two cases of pontine infarction and one case of acute thrombosis were encountered. One patient died from subarachnoid hemorrhage during the follow-up period. For dissecting the aneurysm, angiographic follow-up (8.56 ± 1.96 months) showed similar healing outcomes between the two groups (with or without noncompact coiling). However, seven patients (7/40, 17.5%) showed poor healing and one patient showed mild in-stent stenosis. For simple dissection, angiographic follow-up (8.78 ± 1.83 months) showed patent lumens in both groups, with all dissections healing well, and two patients having mild in-stent stenosis. Conclusion Both methods could effectively treat unruptured VAD in V3–V4 segments. Nevertheless, simple FD implantation is relatively easier to perform and involves lower radiation exposure.
Theoretical models applied to understand infection prevention and control practices of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review
Authors: KC Deepti , Smith Jan , Currie Kay , Ness Valerie 
Published: May 2024

Background Effective infection prevention and control (IPC) practices among healthcare workers are crucial to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other infections in healthcare settings. Aim To synthesise evidence on behaviour change theories, models, or frameworks applied to understand healthcare workers’ IPC practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods PubMed, EBSCOhost interface, ProQuest interface, MEDLINE (Ovid), and grey literature were searched for primary studies published between December 2019 and May 2023. The Mixed Method Appraisal Tool evaluated the methodological quality of the studies. Two reviewers independently completed study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. Results The search yielded 2110 studies, of which 19 were included. Seven behaviour change theories, models, and frameworks were identified, with the Health Belief Model and Theoretical Domains Framework being the most employed. Based on these theories, models, and frameworks, the included studies identified cognitive, environmental, and social factors influencing healthcare workers’ compliance with COVID-19 IPC practices. Discussion This review offers insights into the critical role of behavioural change theories, models, or frameworks in understanding the factors influencing healthcare workers’ compliance with IPC practices during COVID-19. It also highlights the potential of these theories in guiding the development of evidence-based interventions to improve healthcare workers’ compliance with IPC practices.
Population dynamics of potentially harmful haplotypes: a pedigree analysis
Authors: Arias Katherine D. , Fernández Iván , Gutiérrez Juan Pablo , Álvarez Isabel , Goyache Félix 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Background
The identification of low-frequency haplotypes, never observed in homozygous state in a population, is considered informative on the presence of potentially harmful alleles (candidate alleles), putatively involved in inbreeding depression. Although identification of candidate alleles is challenging, studies analyzing the dynamics of potentially harmful alleles are lacking. A pedigree of the highly endangered Gochu Asturcelta pig breed, including 471 individuals belonging to 51 different families with at least 5 offspring each, was genotyped using the Axiom PigHDv1 Array (658,692 SNPs). Analyses were carried out on four different cohorts defined according to pedigree depth and at the whole population (WP) level.

Results
The 4,470 Linkage Blocks (LB) identified in the Base Population (10 individuals), gathered a total of 16,981 alleles in the WP. Up to 5,466 (32%) haplotypes were statistically considered candidate alleles, 3,995 of them (73%) having one copy only. The number of alleles and candidate alleles varied across cohorts according to sample size. Up to 4,610 of the alleles identified in the WP (27% of the total) were present in one cohort only. Parentage analysis identified a total of 67,742 parent-offspring incompatibilities. The number of mismatches varied according to family size. Parent-offspring inconsistencies were identified in 98.2% of the candidate alleles and 100% of the LB in which they were located. Segregation analyses informed that most potential candidate alleles appeared de novo in the pedigree. Only 17 candidate alleles were identified in the boar, sow, and paternal and maternal grandparents and were considered segregants.

Conclusions
Our results suggest that neither mutation nor recombination are the major forces causing the apparition of candidate alleles. Their occurrence is more likely caused by Allele-Drop-In events due to SNP calling errors. New alleles appear when wrongly called SNPs are used to construct haplotypes. The presence of candidate alleles in either parents or grandparents of the carrier individuals does not ensure that they are true alleles. Minimum Allele Frequency thresholds may remove informative alleles. Only fully segregant candidate alleles should be considered potentially harmful alleles. A set of 16 candidate genes, potentially involved in inbreeding depression, is described.
Optimizing Cucumis sativus seedling vigor: the role of pistachio wood vinegar and date palm compost in nutrient mobilization
Authors: Afsharipour Sediqeh , Mirzaalian Dastjerdi Abdolmajid , Seyedi Azam 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Background
The goal of this research is to enhance the quality of cucumber seedlings grown in greenhouses by experimenting with various soilless culture mediums (CMs) and the application of pistachio wood vinegar (WV). The experimental setup was designed as a factorial experiment within a randomized complete block design (RCBD), in greenhouse conditions featuring three replications to assess the effects of different culture media (CMs) and concentrations of pistachio wood vinegar (WV) on cucumber seedling growth. Cucumber seeds were planted in three CMs: coco peat-peat moss, coco peat-vermicompost, and date palm compost-vermicompost mixed in a 75:25 volume-to-volume ratio. These were then treated with pistachio WV at concentrations of 0, 0.5, and 1%, applied four times during irrigation following the emergence of the third leaf.

Results
The study revealed that treating seedlings with 0.5% WV in the date palm compost-vermicompost CM significantly enhanced various growth parameters. Specifically, it resulted in a 90% increase in shoot fresh mass, a 59% increase in shoot dry mass, an 11% increase in root fresh mass, a 36% increase in root dry mass, a 65% increase in shoot length, a 62% increase in leaf area, a 25% increase in stem diameter, a 41% increase in relative water content (RWC), and a 6% improvement in membrane stability index (MSI), all in comparison to untreated seedlings grown in coco peat-peat moss CM. Furthermore, chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid levels were 2.3, 2.7, 2.6, and 2.7 times higher, respectively, in seedlings treated with 0.5% WV and grown in the date palm compost-vermicompost CM, compared to those treated with the same concentration of WV but grown in coco peat-peat moss CM. Additionally, the Fv/Fm ratio saw a 52% increase. When plant nutrition was enhanced with the date palm compost-vermicompost CM and 1% WV, auxin content rose by 130% compared to seedlings grown in coco peat-peat moss CM and treated with 0.5% WV.

Conclusions
The study demonstrates that using 0.5% WV in conjunction with date palm compost-vermicompost CM significantly betters the quality of cucumber seedlings, outperforming other treatment combinations.