bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Remote ischaemic preconditioning for transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a protocol for a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis
Authors: Zhang Weiyi , Du Li , Chen Guo , Du Bin , Zhang Lu , Zheng Jianqiao 
Published: April 2024

IntroductionTranscatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become an important treatment in patients with aortic valve disease with the continuous advancement of technology and the improvement of outcomes. However, TAVR-related complications still increase patient morbidity and mortality. Remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) is a simple procedure that provides perioperative protection for many vital organs. However, the efficiency of RIPC on TAVR remains unclear based on inconsistent conclusions from different clinical studies. Therefore, we will perform a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify the efficiency of RIPC on TAVR.Methods and analysisEnglish databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Ovid Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library), Chinese electronic databases (Wanfang Database, VIP Database and China National Knowledge Infrastructure) and trial registry databases will be searched from inception to December 2023 to identify randomised controlled trials of RIPC on TAVR. We will calculate mean differences or standardised mean differences with 95% CIs for continuous data, and the risk ratio (RR) with 95% CIs for dichotomous data by Review Manager version 5.4. Fixed-effects model or random-effects model will be used according to the degree of statistical heterogeneity assessed by the I-square test. We will evaluate the risk of bias using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool 2 and assess the evidence quality of each outcome by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation. The robustness of outcomes will be evaluated by trial sequential analysis. In addition, we will evaluate the publication bias of outcomes by Funnel plots and Egger’s regression test.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was not required for this systematic review protocol. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42023462926
Community-Partnered Research appraisal tool for conducting, reporting and assessing community-based research
Authors: Park Avery , van Draanen Jenna 
Published: April 2024

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to develop an appraisal tool to support and promote clear, accurate and transparent standards and consistency when conducting, reporting and assessing community-based research.DesignCurrent recommendations for developing reporting guidelines was used with three key differences: (1) an analysis of existing guides, principles and published literature about community engagement, involvement and participation in research using situational and relational maps; (2) feedback and pilot-testing by a community-based research team; and (3) testing the utility and usability of the appraisal tool.ResultsAfter a series of iterative revisions, the resulting Community-Partnered Research (CPR) appraisal tool emerged into three products: an elaborate prospective format, a basic retrospective format, and a supplemental checklist format. All three versions of the CPR appraisal tool consist of 11 main question items with corresponding prompts aimed to facilitate awareness, accountability, and transparency about processes and practices employed by professional researchers and community co-researchers throughout four phases of research: (1) partnership and planning, (2) methods, (3) results and (4) sustainment.ConclusionWe hope that introducing this tool will contribute to shifting individual and systematic processes and practices towards equitable partnerships, mutual trustworthiness and empowerment among professional researchers and community co-researchers and, in turn, improving the quality of co-created knowledge that benefits communities and creates social change.
Randomised controlled trial of population screening for atrial fibrillation in people aged 70 years and over to reduce stroke: protocol for the SAFER trial
Authors: Mant Jonathan , Modi Rakesh N , Dymond Andrew , Armstrong Natalie , Burt Jenni , Calvert Peter , Cowie Martin , Ding Wern Yew , Edwards Duncan , Freedman Ben , Griffin Simon J , Hoare Sarah , Hobbs F D Richard , Johnson Rachel , Kaptoge Stephen , Lip Gregory Y H , Lobban Trudie , Lown Mark , Lund Jenny , McManus Richard J , Mills Mark T , Morris Stephen , Powell Alison , Proietti Riccardo , Sutton Stephen , Sweeting Mike , Thom Howard , Williams Kate 
Published: April 2024

IntroductionThere is a lack of evidence that the benefits of screening for atrial fibrillation (AF) outweigh the harms. Following the completion of the Screening for Atrial Fibrillation with ECG to Reduce stroke (SAFER) pilot trial, the aim of the main SAFER trial is to establish whether population screening for AF reduces incidence of stroke risk.Methods and analysisApproximately 82 000 people aged 70 years and over and not on oral anticoagulation are being recruited from general practices in England. Patients on the palliative care register or residents in a nursing home are excluded. Eligible people are identified using electronic patient records from general practices and sent an invitation and consent form to participate by post. Consenting participants are randomised at a ratio of 2:1 (control:intervention) with clustering by household. Those randomised to the intervention arm are sent an information leaflet inviting them to participate in screening, which involves use of a handheld single-lead ECG four times a day for 3 weeks. ECG traces identified by an algorithm as possible AF are reviewed by cardiologists. Participants with AF are seen by a general practitioner for consideration of anticoagulation. The primary outcome is stroke. Major secondary outcomes are: death, major bleeding and cardiovascular events. Follow-up will be via electronic health records for an average of 4 years. The primary analysis will be by intention-to-treat using time-to-event modelling. Results from this trial will be combined with follow-up data from the cluster-randomised pilot trial by fixed-effects meta-analysis.Ethics and disseminationThe London—Central National Health Service Research Ethics Committee (19/LO/1597) provided ethical approval. Dissemination will include public-friendly summaries, reports and engagement with the UK National Screening Committee.Trial registration numberISRCTN72104369.
Danish Diabetes Birth Registry 2: a study protocol of a national prospective cohort study to monitor outcomes of pregnancies of women with pre-existing diabetes
Authors: Knorr Sine , Aalders Jori , Overgaard Martin , Støvring Henrik , Mathiesen Elisabeth R , Damm Peter , Clausen Tine D , Bjerre-Christensen Ulla , Andersen Lise Lotte T , Vinter Christina , Kofoed-Enevoldsen Allan , Lauenborg Jeannet , Kampmann Ulla , Fuglsang Jens , Ovesen Per G , Christensen Trine T , Sørensen Anne , Ringholm Lene , Jensen Dorte M 
Published: April 2024

IntroductionDespite technological developments and intensified care, pregnancies in women with pre-existing diabetes are still considered high-risk pregnancies. The rate of adverse outcomes in pregnancies affected by diabetes in Denmark is currently unknown, and there is a limited understanding of mechanisms contributing to this elevated risk. To address these gaps, the Danish Diabetes Birth Registry 2 (DDBR2) was established. The aims of this registry are to evaluate maternal and fetal-neonatal outcomes based on 5 years cohort data, and to identify pathophysiology and risk factors associated with short-term and long-term outcomes of pregnancies in women with pre-existing diabetes.Methods and analysisThe DDBR2 registry is a nationwide 5-year prospective cohort with an inclusion period from February 2023 to February 2028 of pregnancies in women with all types of pre-existing diabetes and includes registry, clinical and questionnaire data and biological samples of mother–partner–child trios. Eligible families (parents age ≥18 years and sufficient proficiency in Danish or English) can participate by either (1) basic level data obtained from medical records (mother and child) and questionnaires (partner) or (2) basic level data and additional data which includes questionnaires (mother and partner) and blood samples (all). The primary maternal outcome is Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels at the end of pregnancy and the primary offspring endpoint is the birth weight SD score. The DDBR2 registry will be complemented by genetic, epigenetic and metabolomic data as well as a biobank for future research, and the cohort will be followed through data from national databases to illuminate possible mechanisms that link maternal diabetes and other parental factors to a possible increased risk of adverse long-term child outcomes.Ethics and disseminationApproval from the Ethical Committee is obtained (S-20220039). Findings will be sought published in international scientific journals and shared among the participating hospitals and policymakers.Trial registration numberNCT05678543.
Relationship of domestic violence with pregnancy symptoms and pregnancy experience in Iranian pregnant women: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Aliasghari Fatemeh , Effati-Daryani Fatemeh , Mohammadi Azam , Mirghafourvand Mojgan 
Published: April 2024

ObjectiveViolence has had adverse effects on the physical and psychological dimensions of pregnant women. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the relationship of domestic violence with pregnancy symptoms and pregnancy experience.DesignIn this cross-sectional study, pregnant women were selected through two-stage cluster sampling method. Data were collected using the domestic violence questionnaire of the WHO, pregnancy symptoms inventory (PSI) and pregnancy experience scale (PES). To determine the relationship between domestic violence with pregnancy symptoms and pregnancy experience, adjusted general linear model was used in multivariate analysis.SettingHealth centres in Urmia—Iran in 2022.Participants415 pregnant women.ResultsThe frequency of emotional, physical and sexual violence was 86.0%, 67.7% and 79.5%, respectively. The mean (SD) of PSI was 49.45 (14.38) with attainable score of 0–123 and PES including happiness and worry was 14.32 (6.48) and 16.21 (2.51) with attainable score of 0–30, respectively. Based on the adjusted general linear model, the mean score of PSI in women who experienced physical violence (mild (p<0.001) and moderate (p<0.001)); sexual violence (mild (p<0.001), moderate (p<0.001) and severe (p<0.001)); and emotional violence (mild (p<0.001), moderate (p=0.002) and severe (p<0.001)) was significantly higher than women without experiencing violence. The mean score of happiness during pregnancy in women who experienced physical violence (moderate (p=0.011)) and emotional violence (mild (p<0.001), moderate (p=0.002) and severe (p<0.001)) was significantly lower than women without experience of violence. Also, the mean score of worry scores in women with experience of sexual violence (mild (p=0.001) and moderate (p=0.012)) and emotional violence (mild (p<0.001), moderate (p<0.001)) and severe (p<0.001)) was significantly higher than women without experiencing violence.ConclusionConsidering the relationship between violence and pregnancy symptoms and pregnancy experiences, it is necessary to use appropriate strategies to prevent violence in pregnant women.
Development and validation of a risk assessment tool for uncontrolled type 2 diabetes among patients in South Karnataka, India
Authors: Anil Deepak , Doddaiah Sunil Kumar , Shivaswamy Rajendra Prasad , Gopi Arun , Basheer Sayana , Narayana Murthy Mysore Ramakrishnaiah 
Published: April 2024

IntroductionDiabetes is a chronic medical condition with severe complications mainly caused due to unhealthy lifestyles in genetically susceptible individuals. This study attempts to develop a non-invasive risk assessment tool to identify patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in southern India.MethodologyAn exploratory study was conducted among 545 patients with T2DM in the Mysuru district, South India for 6 months. A prevalidated questionnaire was used to collect data. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to develop the risk score. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the cut-off for the risk score. The risk score is specifically designed for the population of South Karnataka, India.ResultsOut of the 545 study participants, the prevalence of uncontrolled diabetes was 59.9%. Physical activity, duration of diabetes, diabetic diet, regular health check-ups, history of hypertension, smoking history and alcohol consumption were factors significantly associated with uncontrolled diabetes (p<0.05). For an optimum cut-off point of >13.50, the risk assessment model showed a moderate sensitivity of 71.3%, specificity of 61%, positive predictive value of 73.2% and negative predictive value of 58.3%. The ROC curve was plotted for the model with an AUC of 0.726 (95% CI 0.683 to 0.769).ConclusionThis study developed ‘Diabetes Care’, a simple web-based, non-invasive and inexpensive tool for identifying individuals at risk of developing uncontrolled T2DM in the future.
Focused update to guidelines for endovascular therapy for emergent large vessel occlusion: basilar artery occlusion patients
Authors: Heit Jeremy Josef , Chaudhary Neeraj , Mascitelli Justin R , Al-Kawaz Mais , Baker Amanda , Bulsara Ketan R , Burkhardt Jan Karl , Marden Franklin A , Raper Daniel , Tjoumakaris Stavropoula I , Schirmer Clemens M , Hetts Steven W ,   SNIS Standards and Guidelines Committee
Published: April 2024

BackgroundEndovascular therapy (EVT) dramatically improves clinical outcomes for patients with anterior circulation emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO) strokes. With recent publication of two randomized controlled trials in favor of EVT for basilar artery occlusions, the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) Standards and Guidelines Committee provides this focused update for the existing SNIS guideline, ‘Current endovascular strategies for posterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke.’MethodsA structured literature review and analysis of studies related to posterior circulation large vessel occlusion (basilar or vertebral artery) strokes treated by EVT was performed. Based on the strength and quality of the evidence, recommendations were made by consensus of the writing committee, with additional input from the full SNIS Standards and Guidelines Committee and the SNIS Board of Directors.ResultsBased on the results of the most recent randomized, controlled trials on EVT for basilar or vertebral artery occlusion, the expert panel agreed on the following recommendations. For patients presenting with an acute ischemic stroke due to an acute basilar or vertebral artery occlusion confirmed on CT angiography, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of ≥6, posterior circulation Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (PC-ASPECTS) ≥6, and age 18–89 years: (1) thrombectomy is indicated within 12 hours since last known well (class I, level B-R); (2) thrombectomy is reasonable within 12–24 hours from the last known well (class IIa, level B-R); (3) thrombectomy may be considered on a case by case basis for patients presenting beyond 24 hours since last known well (class IIb, level C-EO). In addition, thrombectomy may be considered on a case by case basis for patients aged <18 years or >89 years on a case by case basis (class IIb, level C-EO).ConclusionsThe indications for EVT of ELVO strokes continue to expand and now include patients with basilar artery occlusion. Further prospective, randomized controlled trials are warranted to elucidate the efficacy and safety of EVT in populations not included in this set of recommendations, and to confirm long term outcomes.
Impacts of soil, water source, and agro-climatic conditions on exchangeable sodium in rice-cultivated lowland soils of Sri Lanka
Authors: Sugathas Sinthuja , Sirisena Dineratne , Nijamudeen Mohomad , Marambe Buddhi , Kadupitiya Harsha , Beneragama Chalinda , Chandrajith Rohana , Suriyagoda Lalith 
Published: April 2024

Rice is sensitive to salt stress, commonly caused by high concentrations of sodium (Na) in soils. However, the concentration and spatial variability of exchangeable Na in lowland paddy fields of Sri Lanka are not known. This study examined the interactive effects of the agro-climatic zones (ACZs), soil orders, and water sources on exchangeable Na in lowland paddy fields in Sri Lanka using 8566 soil samples. Exchangeable Na was extracted using 0.01 mol/L CaCl2 solution and detected using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrophotometry. Exchangeable-Na concentration ranged from 0.05 to 4814 mg kg−1 with a mean concentration of 140.7 mg kg−1, and these values were within the optimal range reported for tropical paddy soils. The distribution of exchangeable Na was right skewed with 44%, 35%, and 9.3% of samples falling into 0–100, 100–200, and 200–300 mg kg−1, respectively. Samples from the Low country Dry zone had the highest (157 mg kg−1) Na concentration while that in the Upcountry Intermediate zone was the lowest (13 mg kg−1) ( p < 0.05). Vertisols recorded the highest (255 mg kg−1) and Ultisols recorded the lowest (81 ± 5.0 mg kg−1) among soil orders. Soils receiving supplementary irrigation in Low country Dry zone had lower Na than that in rainfed systems. Exchangeable-Na concentration was positively correlated with soil pH ( p < 0.05). Even though the concentrations of Na in soil samples were within the optimal range, agronomic decisions based on ACZ, soil order, and water source need to be made to minimize the potential development of saline–sodic soils in the study areas.
Simulating the spread of COVID-19 with cellular automata: A new approach
Authors: Chowdhury Sourav , Roychowdhury Suparna , Chaudhuri Indranath 
Published: April 2024

Between the years 2020 and 2022, the world was hit by the pandemic of COVID-19 giving rise to an extremely grave situation. Many people suffered and died from this disease. Also, the global economy was badly hurt due to the consequences of various intervention strategies (like social distancing, lockdown) which were applied by different countries to control this pandemic. There are multiple speculations that humanity will again face such pandemics in the future. Thus, it is very important to learn and gain knowledge about the spread of such infectious diseases and the various factors which are responsible for it. In this study, we have extended our previous work [S. Chowdhury, S. Roychowdhury and I. Chaudhuri, Eur. Phys. J. Spec. Top. 231, 3619 (2022), doi:10.1140/epjs/s11734-022-00619-1] on the probabilistic cellular automata (CA) model to reproduce the spread of COVID-19 in several countries by modifying its earlier used neighborhood criteria. This modification gives us the liberty to adopt the effect of different restrictions like lockdown and social distancing in our model. We have done some theoretical analysis for initial infection and simulations to gain insights into our model. We have also studied the data from eight countries for COVID-19 in a window of 876 days and compared it with our model. We have developed a proper framework to fit our model on the data for confirmed cases of COVID-19 and have also re-checked the goodness of the fit with the data of the deceased cases for this pandemic. Our model is compared with other well-known CA models and the ODE-based SEIR model. This model fits well with different peaks of COVID-19 data for all the eight countries and can be possibly generalized for a global prediction. Our study shows that the rate of disease spread depends both on infectivity of a disease and social restrictions. Also, it shows an overall decrement in mortality rate with time due to COVID-19 as more and more people get infected as well as vaccinated. Our minimal model with modified neighborhood condition can easily quantify the degree of social restrictions. It is statistically concluded that the overall degree of social restrictions is above the mean when we considered all eight countries. Finally to conclude, this study has given us various important insights about this pandemic which can help in preparing for combating epidemics in future situations.
Heating of the interstellar gas by cosmic rays and warm transparent ionized plasma observed by pulsar dispersions
Authors: Ben-Aryeh Y. 
Published: April 2024

Electron densities in different locations of our galaxy are obtained in pulsar astronomy by dividing the dispersion measure (DM) by the distance of the pulsar to Earth. The properties of the interstellar plasma are related to its heating by cosmic rays. Following the present analysis, DM’s measurements are obtained with different properties of the corresponding plasmas at different temperatures. (1) For relatively low temperatures (around and below 10,000 (K)), the state of molecular, atomic and ionized hydrogen is analyzed by the interstellar medium model with partially ionized plasma. In this region, various spectroscopic effects are obtained. (2) For temperatures above this limit, the interstellar gas is found to be a completely ionized medium, and this plasma is defined as warm ionized medium (WIM) plasma. We show in the first part of the paper that this plasma is transparent, as obtained from the solution of Saha’s equation. The index of refraction of the WIM plasma is real, but the plasma can be observed by dispersion measurements. (3) For very high temperatures (around 1 million (K)), the plasma is defined as hot ionized medium, where X-rays are obtained. We concentrate in the present work on the analysis of WIM plasma. We calculate the mass densities of this plasma and compare it with dark matter mass densities, which are found to be larger. But some factors which may reduce this difference are discussed.
Large Pólya groups in simplest cubic fields and consecutive bi-quadratic fields
Authors: Islam Md. Imdadul , Chattopadhyay Jaitra , Chakraborty Debopam 
Published: April 2024

The Pólya group of an algebraic number field is the subgroup generated by the ideal classes of the products of prime ideals of equal norm inside the ideal class group. Inspired by a recent work on consecutive quadratic fields with large class numbers by Cherubini et al., we extend the notion of consecutiveness of number fields to certain parametric families of cyclic cubic fields and bi-quadratic fields and address the question of the existence of infinitely many such consecutive fields with large Pólya groups. This extends a recent result of the second author and Saikia for totally real bi-quadratic fields.
GraphSER: Distance-Aware Stream-Based Edge Repartition for Many-Core Systems
Authors: Li Junkaixuan , Kang Yi 
Published: April 2024

With the explosive growth of graph data, distributed graph processing has become popular, and many graph hardware accelerators use distributed frameworks. Graph partitioning is foundation in distributed graph processing. However, dynamic changes in graph make existing partitioning shifted from its optimized points and cause system performance degraded. Therefore, more efficient dynamic graph partition methods are needed.
In this work, we propose GraphSER, a dynamic graph partition method for many-core systems. To improve the cross-node spatial locality and reduce the overhead of repartition, we propose a stream-based edge repartition, in which each computing node sequentially traverses its local edge list in parallel, then migrating edges based on distance and replica degree. GraphSER does not need costly searching and prioritizes nodes so it can avoid poor cross-node spatial locality.
Our evaluation shows that compared to state-of-the-art edge repartition software methods, GraphSER has an average speedup of 1.52×, with the maximum up to 2×. Compared to the previous many-core hardware repartition method, GraphSER performance has an average of 40% improvement, with the maximum to 117%.