bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of SLCA62 and CYP2D6 Polymorphisms’ Effects on Atomoxetine Treatment in Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: KOLE ISMAIL HASAN , VURAL PINAR , YURDACAN BESTE , ALEMDAR ADEM , MUTLU CANER 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
There is insufficient replicated data to establish a relationship between the polymorphisms of NET/SLC6A2 and the efficacy of Atomoxetine (ATX) treatment. We focused on evaluating the effect of top-line single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SLC6A2 and CYP2D6 on the ATX treatment response in Attention-Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Methods
Of 160 patient records, thirty-four patients who met the inclusion criteria were evaluated to determine the relationship between genotypes of ten SNPs (six of SLC6A2 and four of CYP2D6) and ATX treatment response. Additionally, the connection between SNPs of CYP2D6 and the severity of side-effects associated with ATX was analyzed in 37 patients, including the 34 study patients, and three patients discontinued because of ATX-dependent side-effects.
Results
All six polymorphisms in SLC6A2 were associated with the treatment response of ATX. The “T” allele of rs3785143 was linked with unresponsiveness to ATX in treating oppositional defiant symptoms of patients with ADHD. We detected an association between higher CGI-side-effect severity scores and the “TT” genotype of rs1065852 polymorphism in CYP2D6.
Conclusions
The findings of this study suggest that genotypes of polymorphisms within the SLC6A2 and CYP2D6 may play an influential role in treatment response or the severity of side-effects associated with ATX in ADHD patients.
High prevalence of Plasmodium spp infections in Bangui, Central African Republic
Authors: Nzoumbou-Boko Romaric , Nalingbo Mireille Cornelia Ingrid Denissio Morissi , Yambiyo Brice Martial , Detol Roger , Moussa Ermeland Rock-feller , Nalinga Didita , Namsenei-Dankpea Lydie Joella-Venus Grace , Manirakiza Alexandre , Ayong Lawrence , II Yap Boum 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Malaria is a major public health problem in the Central African Republic (CAR), despite the massive scale-up of control interventions. Community-based malaria is still not documented across CAR, although 100 % of its population is at risk of malaria and CAR is the 5th most affected country in Africa in terms of incidence. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of malaria parasite infections in Bangui from August to September 2022.
Methods
A community-based cross-sectional study was undertaken in Bangui, the capital of CAR. Sociodemographic data and venous blood samples were collected from each study participant. Positivity for malaria parasites was determined using malaria rapid diagnostic test (mRDT), thick blood smear microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods.
Results
A total of 638 participants, mean age of 26.44 years (range 1 to 75 years) and a sex ratio (M/F) of 1.22, were tested for malaria parasites using all three detection methods. The overall prevalence of Plasmodium spp. was 32.45% (95% CI 31.29 -33.61%) by PCR, 27.59% (95% CI 25.75% – 30.35%) by mRDT and 23.51% (95% CI 20.64% - 24.82%) by Giemsa-based thick blood smear microscopy. Malaria was more common in people aged 15 to 49 years, and a microspatial heterogeneity in positivity rates was observed, with the majority of cases occurring in semi-urban areas by mRDT and microscopy respectivelly. Approximately 80% of microscopy-positive subjects had a low parasite density (<1000 parasites/µl whole blood). Although P. falciparum was the most common species (98.55%), the transmission of P. ovale appears to be well established in the area, occurring either as mono-infection (1.45%) or coinfection (1.93%) with P. falciparum. In addition, a 9.56% prevalence of submicroscopic infections was observed.
Conclusions
This first study of community malaria in Bangui provides essential baseline data to guide future research on malaria parasites in the Central African Republic, particularly with regard to circulating parasite species. The high prevalence of community malaria demonstrates the persistence of malaria as a major public health challenge in the country, highlighting the need to intensify ongoing control efforts.
Case Study on Art-Based Intervention with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Macau
Authors: WU Haya HOIPIO , Teixeira Vitor Santos 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience core difficulties in social interaction and communication. Teaching and interacting with them can be challenging for their families and those surrounding them. Art-based interventionas an approach engaging in the creative process and integrating internal sensations to express thoughts and feelings nonverbally. It has the potential to enhance self-esteem, awareness, and exploration, among other benefits that all are good for people with ASD.
The objective of this study is to develop and implement an art-based intervention for children with ASD in Macau, with the goal of enhancing their communication and reducing the problems behaviors. Utilizing single-subject design and a one-group pre-test with post-test design involves three participants who are similar in age and same gender but differ in terms of their ASD level and comorbidities to evaluate the results.
The results of Social Skills Improvement System - Rating Scales (SSIS-RS) demonstrate positive effects on both social skills and problem behaviors. Additionally, based on the Clinical Observation Reports (COR) children showed improvements in the frequency of interaction and communication.
This study indicated that art-based intervention has a positive effect on children with ASD in Macau. Furthermore, implementing this intervention with children with ASD is highly significant, and the outcomes of this study can serve as a reference for the future well-being of children with ASD in Macau.
Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase(LDH) and Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Correlate Optimally with Nottingham Prognostic Index for Breast Cancer
Authors: Mwesige Sylvery , Kyaruzi Victor Meza , Misidai Mungeni , Mchembe Mabula , Mwanga Ally 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
LDH and GGT have been identified as breast cancer serum prognostic markers. Serum level of LDH has been found to increase due to uplifted anaerobic glycolysis in malignant neoplastic conditions. GGT has also been noted to rise in circulation indicating the extent of oxidative stress within the body. Their levels are high in advanced BC cases. Meanwhile, in our setting, there are no serum markers done on a routine basis in breast cancer surveillance among women and predicting the prognosis. Thus, these markers can augment the available tool(s) in predicting breast cancer prognosis since they are widely available, accessible, and economically affordable.
Objective
This study aimed to assess the correlation between LDH/GGT with NPI among Breast Cancer Women.
Study Methods
A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted for 12 months. The data were collected by interviewing patients, patients’ files and from the hospital’s electronic database (Jeeva) and then were filled in the structured checklist. IBM SPSS version 27 was used to analyse the data. Mean, median and standard deviation were used to present numerical variables. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies or proportions The correlation was assessed and analyzed by Spearman correlation coefficient and Linear Regression models while ROC was used to determine the accuracy.
Results
Out of the 104 patients who underwent radical mastectomy for Breast Cancer had a mean age of 48.51 ± 12.80. Among them, 27 (26%) were diagnosed below 40 years of age.
Epidemiological characteristics of five non-COVID respiratory viruses among 37139 all-age patients during 2018−2023 in Weifang, China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Quan Yining , Zhang Xiaomeng , Yang Guimao , Ma Chuanqiang , Liu Mengmeng 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background: Common non-COVID respiratory viruses, such as influenza virus (IFVA/IFVB), parainfluenza virus (PIV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and adenovirus (ADV), often cause acute respiratory infections (ARIs). This study aimed to explore the epidemiological characteristics of these five viruses in patients with ARIs before, during, and after the pandemic from 2018-2023.
Methods: A total of 37,139 serum specimens and epidemiological data from all-aged patients who presented with ARIs were collected from Jan 2018 to Dec 2023. The IgM antibodies of 5 non-COVID respiratory viruses were tested by an IgM kit with indirect immunofluorescent assay (lFA).
Results: 12,806 specimens were screened as positive for any one of the targeted viruses, with an overall positive rate of 34.48%. Among all age groups, the most prevalent respiratory viruses were PIV (21.30%) and Flu (17.30% of IFVB and 9.91% of IFVA). Children aged 1-14 years were most vulnerable to lower respiratory viruses, as children aged 4-6 years have the highest prevalence no matter the positive rate for overall viruses (53.06%) or for each virus. From 2018 to 2023, the annual percentage change (APC) revealed that the prevalence of total viruses have a 13.53% rise (p < 0.05), which increased with statistically significant for all age groups. In addition, both the infection rate and the number of samples detected have decreased significantly in the "first-level response" stage of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the "first three months" after fully lifting. Compared to those in the previous five years, the total infection rate (44.64%) and infection rate (26.93%) of the older adults (>60 years) were all the highest in 2023, and the number of samples collected in 2023 sharply increased, increasing by 77.10% compared to the average of the number of detected in 2018-2022.
Conclusions: The data from this study indicate that the epidemiological characteristics of five non-COVID respiratory viruses are vulnerability to the environment, age, sex, and epidemics status among AIR patients, and that the detected number and positive rate of these viruses have increased in the "post-pandemic era", which is critical for the late or retrospective diagnosis and can serve as a useful surveillance tool to inform local public policy in Weifang, China.
Ten-Year Single-Centre Experience in Managing Traumatic Subclavian and Axillary Artery Injuries
Authors: Lee Na Hyeon , Kim Seon Hee , Song Seunghwan , Lee Chung Won , Kwon Hoon , Lee Sang Bong , Ryu Dong Yeon , Kim Sun Hyun , Kim Jae Hun , Kim Hohyun , Park Chan Ik , Kim Gil Hwan 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Purpose
Trauma-induced injuries to the subclavian and axillary arteries are rare. Treatment options include open repair and endovascular procedures, and the selection ofthe appropriate modality requires careful consideration. We aimed to evaluate the management of traumatic subclavian and axillary artery injuries at a single trauma center.
Methods
This single-center retrospective study analyzed the medical records of 12 patients who sustained injuries to the subclavian and axillary arteries between January 2013 and January 2023. Injury grading was categorized as follows: grade A, minimal injury (intima only); grade B, vessel laceration <25%; grade C, laceration 25–50%; grade D, laceration >50%; grade E, pseudoaneurysm; grade F, vessel transection; and grade G, occlusion. Patient outcomes, including in-hospital mortality, limb salvage and length of stay (LOS) in the hospital and intensive care unit (ICU), were identified.
Results
The mean age of the patients was 52.5±16.4 years, and 67% were males. The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 22±4. The in-hospital mortality rate was 17% (n=2), and none of the patients required amputation. The median hospital LOS was 48 days (interquartile range [IQR], 22–71 days) and the median ICU LOS was 4 days (IQR, 2–22 days). When categorized into open repair, endovascular repair, and observation groups, a significant difference was observed in injury grade but not in ISS, LOS, or ICU LOS.
Conclusion
When managing patients with traumatic subclavian and axillary artery injuries, it is crucial to consider the patient's hemodynamic status and the degree of the injury.
Influence of Partial Replacement of Ordinary Portland Cementitious System with Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) on Concrete Strength and Durability
Authors: Maske Mayur Madhukar , Sayyed Sabir Salim , More Sachin Krishna , Patil Savita Nandkishor , Chandak Piyush Govind 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the characteristics of a blended cement system consisting of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS), with a focus on strength and durability performance. This research also focuses on exploring the potential advantages of using GGBFS in OPC-based cement mixes. The experimental investigation includes a series of laboratory tests, such as compressive strength tests and durability tests, such as the Rapid Chloride Permeability Test and Water Impermeability Test. The strength and durability of cementitious systems containing GGBFS in varying percentages were tested against aggressive environments. Both pure and blended cement can achieve the compressive strength required for M20-grade concrete. However, in the case of M60 grade concrete, blended cement exhibits 7.4% lower strength when compared to pure OPC. Both pure OPC and blended cement used in M20 grade concrete exhibited good durability. Likewise, M60 grade concrete with blended cement also demonstrated good durability, whereas M60 grade concrete made with pure OPC was found to be unsatisfactory. The findings from this study provide valuable insights into the use of GGBFS as a supplementary cementitious material, which contributes to the development of sustainable and durable concrete structures.
Prenatal maternal stress: triangulating evidence for intrauterine exposure effects on birth and early childhood outcomes across multiple approaches
Authors: Lund Ingunn Olea , Hannigan Laurie J. , Ask Helga , Askelund Adrian , Hegemann Laura , Corfield Elizabeth C. , Wootton Robyn E. , Ahmadzadeh Yasmin , Smith George Davey , McAdams Tom A. , Ystrom Eivind , Havdahl Alexandra 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background:
Maternal stress during pregnancy may impact offspring development via changes in the intrauterine environment. However, genetic and environmental factors shared between mothers and children might skew our understanding of this pathway. This study assesses whether prenatal maternal stress has causal links to offspring birthweight, gestational age, or emotional and behavioral difficulties, triangulating across methods that account for various measured and unmeasured confounders.
Methods:
We used data from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), including maternal reports on prenatal stress at work, at home, and via stressful life events as exposures. Outcomes were children’s birth weight and gestational age, from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway, and maternal reports on early childhood emotional and behavioral difficulties. We assessed associations using four approaches: sibling control analyses, gene-environment interaction analyses, intergenerational Mendelian Randomization (MR), and negative control (i.e., post-natal stress) analyses.
Results:
Maternal prenatal stress was observationally associated with lower birthweight (e.g., 𝛽work = -0.01 [95%CI: -0.02,-0.01]), earlier birth (e.g., 𝛽work = -0.04 [95%CI:-0.04,-0.03])), and more emotional (e.g., 𝛽events = [0.08 95%CI:0.07,0.9]) and behavioral difficulties (e.g., 𝛽relationship = 0.08 [95%CI: 0.07,0.09]) in the full sample (N = 112,784). However, sibling control analyses (N = 36,511), revealed substantial attenuation of all associations after accounting for familial factors. Gene-environment interaction models (N = 76,288) showed no clear evidence of moderation of associations by mothers’ polygenic scores for traits linked to stress sensitivity. Intergenerational MR analyses (N = 29,288) showed no clear evidence of causal effects of maternal plasma cortisol on any offspring outcomes. Negative control exposure analyses revealed similar effect sizes whether exposures were measured prenatally or postnatally.
Conclusion:
Our results indicate that links between prenatal maternal stress and variation in early offspring outcomes are more likely to be confounded than causal. While no observational study can rule out causality, the consistency of our findings across different approaches is striking. Other sources of prenatal stress or more extreme levels may represent intrauterine causal risk factors for offspring development. Nonetheless, our research contributes to identifying boundary conditions of the fetal programming and developmental origins of health and disease hypotheses, which may not be as universal as sometimes assumed.
Enhancing concrete strength and durability of normal and high- strength concrete: Exploring combined effects of optimized silica fume and slag
Authors: Mostofinejad Davood , Nasrollahi Mohsen , Bahmani Hadi , Zajshoor Zahra , Sadeghi Morteza 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The utilization of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in concrete attracted significant attention worldwide due to both environmental benefits and the potential for enhancing concrete's mechanical properties and durability. This study investigates the interaction effects of silica fume and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) on the behavior of normal and high-strength concrete in terms of steel corrosion resistance, carbonation depth, and compressive strength. Fifty-two concrete specimens were prepared in four groups with different combinations of water-to-cementitious materials ratio (w/cm), slag content, and silica fume content and were tested. A method was employed to compare the corrosion initiation times of different concrete specimens. The results demonstrated that silica fume improves the concrete's resistance to steel corrosion by enhancing the density, strength, and durability of the cement matrix. The specimen with a w/cm ratio of 0.3 containing 35% slag and 10% silica fume achieved a 33% reduction in carbonation depth and a compressive strength of 118 MPa, representing a 20% increase compared to the similar specimen without slag. Furthermore, the specimen with a w/cm ratio of 0.3 containing 35% slag and 15% silica fume exhibited a 44% increase in steel corrosion resistance compared to the similar specimen without silica fume. While optimizing the combined content of slag and silica fume, this study highlights that their individual effects are less significant than their combined effect when used as partial replacements for cement.
Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB): metabolic adaptation and transcriptional response to human urine (HU)
Authors: Escalante Jenny , Hamza Mase , Nishimura Brent , Melecio Meghan , Davies-Sala Carol , Tuttobene Marisel R. , Subils Tomás , Traglia German M. , Pham Chloe , Sieira Rodrigo , Actis Luis , Bonomo Robert A. , Tolmasky Marcelo E. , Ramirez María Soledad 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is a major human pathogen and a research priority for developing new antimicrobial agents. CRAB is a causative agent of a variety of infections in different body sites. One of the manifestations is catheter-associated urinary tract infection, which exposes the bacteria to the host's urine, creating a particular environment. Exposure of two CRAB clinical isolates, AB5075 and AMA40, to human urine (HU) resulted in the differential expression levels of 264 and 455 genes, respectively, of which 112 were common to both strains. Genes within this group play roles in metabolic pathways such as phenylacetic acid (PAA) catabolism, the Hut system, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and other processes like quorum sensing and biofilm formation. These results indicate that the presence of HU induces numerous adaptive changes in gene expression of the infecting bacteria. These modifications presumably help bacteria establish and thrive in the hostile conditions in the urinary tract. These analyses advance our understanding of CRAB's metabolic adaptations to human fluids, as well as expanding knowledge on bacterial responses to distinct human fluids containing different concentrations of human serum albumin (HSA).
Experimental study on the response characteristic and formation mechanism for the precursor information chain of rockburst
Authors: Sun Jie , Liu Dongqiao , Huang Huili , He Manchao , Sun Qingfeng , Cui Mengyao 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Good understanding of the precursor phenomena is essential to the warning of rockburst. Based on the acoustic emission (AE) monitoring results of 12 rockburst experiments induced by disturbance load, the dynamic response process of rockburst precursors was revealed by the first difference of AE intrinsic trend. Considering the nonlinear evolution process of AE intrinsic trend, three precursor phenomena (including the warning precursor, subcritical precursor, and disaster precursor) were revealed in a continuous process. And then, three mechanisms were proposed to interpreted the formation of these precursors under the framework of rockburst rupture evolution process, including: (i) warning precursor dominated by the reach of maximum damage rate of intergranular rupture, (ii) subcritical precursor dominated by the formation of large-scale rupture, and (iii) disaster precursor dominated by the formation of frictional slip cracks. In addition, the promotion induced effect of dynamic frequency on precursor response time was revealed, and specifically reflected in that the increase of disturbance load frequency shortens the precursor response time.
Enhanced Data Augmentation for Infrared Images with Generative Adversarial Networks Aided byPretrained Models
Authors: Wang Yan , Deng Lianbing 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Infrared imaging emerges as a promising technique for vision tasks within environments characterized by low or obscured visibility. However, the scarcity of infrared datasets, particularly those comprising paired infrared-visible images, addresses significant challenges for the training of high-performance deep learning models. This paper investigates the application of generative adversarial networks (GANs) for data augmentation in infrared imaging. Our work encompasses a range of GAN models including Pix2Pix, CycleGAN, StyleGAN3, and the proposed Cycle-aided model, which incorporates vision-aided loss to enhance both model training and stability. The results demonstrate that CycleGAN encounters stability issues and is prone to mode collapse, leading to less satisfactory performance. By contrast, the Cycle-aided model that leverages pre-trained models to substantially improve both the discriminative and generative capabilities ofGANs, evidenced by a 51% increase in peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), a 43%increase in structural similarity index (SSIM) and an 18% decrease in the Fr´echetinception distance (FID) over CycleGAN. These improvements underscore the potential of GANs to improve data augmentation practices for infrared imaging in low-visibility environments. The insights gained also pave the way for future research aimed at developing architectures and training strategies of GANS for fully exploiting the unique properties of data augmentation.