bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development and initial validation of a new self-report measure to assess perceived dependence on tobacco and nicotine products
Authors: Afolalu Esther F. , Salzberger Thomas , Abetz-Webb Linda , Cano Stefan , Weitkunat Rolf , Rose Jed E. , Chrea Christelle 
Published: May 2024

AbstractHow nicotine is administered has evolved from cigarettes to various delivery systems. Assessing perceived dependence on nicotine-containing products now requires accounting for product specificity while allowing comparisons across products and users. This study aims to develop a new self-report measure to assess perceived dependence on tobacco and nicotine products (TNPs) among exclusive and poly-TNP users. A draft version of the new measure, the ABOUT-Dependence, was constructed based on literature review, qualitative research, and expert opinion. Data for scale formation and psychometric assessment was obtained through a US-based web survey (n = 2334) that included additional dependence measures for convergent validity assessment. Qualitative research confirmed a preliminary conceptual framework with seven sub-concepts. Following a cognitive debriefing, 19 items were considered to best represent the different sub-concepts. Psychometric findings supported a three-domain structure [i.e., behavioral impact (five items), signs and symptoms (five items), and extent/timing of use (two items)] and an overall total composite score. The data confirmed convergent and known-group validity, as well as test–retest reliability. The ABOUT-Dependence is a 12-item, psychometrically sound, self-report measure that may be used as a tool for research and further understanding of perceived dependence across the spectrum of TNP and TNP users.
Fairness-aware recommendation with meta learning
Authors: Oh Hyeji , Kim Chulyun 
Published: May 2024

AbstractFairness has become a critical value online, and the latest studies consider it in many problems. In recommender systems, fairness is important since the visibility of items is controlled by systems. Previous fairness-aware recommender systems assume that sufficient relationship data between users and items are available. However, it is common that new users and items are frequently introduced, and they have no relationship data yet. In this paper, we study recommendation methods to enhance fairness in a cold-start state. Fairness is more significant when the preference of a user or the popularity of an item is unknown. We propose a meta-learning-based cold-start recommendation framework called FaRM to alleviate the unfairness of recommendations. The proposed framework consists of three steps. We first propose a fairness-aware meta-path generation method to eliminate bias in sensitive attributes. In addition, we construct fairness-aware user representations through the meta-path aggregation approach. Then, we propose a novel fairness objective function and introduce a joint learning method to minimize the trade-off between relevancy and fairness. In extensive experiments with various cold-start scenarios, it is shown that FaRM is significantly superior in fairness performance while preserving relevance accuracy over previous work.
Demystifying COVID-19 mortality causes with interpretable data mining
Authors: Qian Xinyu , Zuo Zhihong , Xu Danni , He Shanyun , Zhou Conghao , Wang Zhanwen , Xie Shucai , Zhang Yongmin , Wu Fan , Lyu Feng , Zhang Lina , Qian Zhaoxin 
Published: May 2024

AbstractWhile COVID-19 becomes periodical, old individuals remain vulnerable to severe disease with high mortality. Although there have been some studies on revealing different risk factors affecting the death of COVID-19 patients, researchers rarely provide a comprehensive analysis to reveal the relationships and interactive effects of the risk factors of COVID-19 mortality, especially in the elderly. Through retrospectively including 1917 COVID-19 patients (102 were dead) admitted to Xiangya Hospital from December 2022 to March 2023, we used the association rule mining method to identify the risk factors leading causes of death among the elderly. Firstly, we used the Affinity Propagation clustering to extract key features from the dataset. Then, we applied the Apriori Algorithm to obtain 6 groups of abnormal feature combinations with significant increments in mortality rate. The results showed a relationship between the number of abnormal feature combinations and mortality rates within different groups. Patients with “C-reactive protein > 8 mg/L”, “neutrophils percentage > 75.0 %”, “lymphocytes percentage < 20%”, and “albumin < 40 g/L” have a 2$$\times$$
×
mortality rate than the basic one. When the characteristics of “D-dimer > 0.5 mg/L” and “WBC > $$9.5 \times 10^9$$

9.5
×

10
9

/L” are continuously included in this foundation, the mortality rate can be increased to 3$$\times$$
×
or 4$$\times$$
×
. In addition, we also found that liver and kidney diseases significantly affect patient mortality, and the mortality rate can be as high as 100%. These findings can support auxiliary diagnosis and treatment to facilitate early intervention in patients, thereby reducing patient mortality.
On the mechanism of wogonin against acute monocytic leukemia using network pharmacology and experimental validation
Authors: Wang Xixi , Wang Yanfei , Chen Jing , Wang Qinyao , Liu Zhongjian , Yin Yijie , Yang Tonghua , Shen Tao , Sa Yalian 
Published: May 2024

AbstractWogonin is a natural flavone compound from the plant Scutellaria baicalensis, which has a variety of pharmacological activities such as anti-cancer, anti-virus, anti-inflammatory, and immune regulation. However, the potential mechanism of wogonin remains unknown. This study was to confirm the molecular mechanism of wogonin for acute monocytic leukemia treatment, known as AML-M5. The potential action targets between wogonin and acute monocytic leukemia were predicted from databases. The compound-target-pathway network and protein-protein interaction network (PPI) were constructed. The enrichment analysis of related targets and molecular docking were performed. The network pharmacological results of wogonin for AML-M5 treatment were verified using the THP-1 cell line. 71 target genes of wogonin associated with AML-M5 were found. The key genes TP53, SRC, AKT1, RELA, HSP90AA1, JUN, PIK3R1, and CCND1 were preliminarily found to be the potential central targets of wogonin for AML-M5 treatment. The PPI network analysis, GO analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was the significant pathway in the wogonin for AML-M5 treatment. The antiproliferative effects of wogonin on THP-1 cells of AML-M5 presented a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner, inducing apoptosis, blocking the cell cycle at the G2/M phase, decreasing the expressions of CCND1, CDK2, and CyclinA2 mRNA, as well as AKT and p-AKT proteins. The mechanisms of wogonin on AML-M5 treatment may be associated with inhibiting cell proliferation and regulating the cell cycle via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
The impact of lifestyle, measured with the HLPCQ questionnaire on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Poland: a multicenter study
Authors: Babicki Mateusz , Kłoda Karolina , Ledwoch Justyna , Janiak Sandra , Krzyżanowski Filip , Zieliński Tomasz , Grabska Patrycja , Gajowiak Dominik , Malchrzak Wojciech , Mastalerz-Migas Agnieszka 
Published: May 2024

AbstractMetabolic syndrome is one of the most common health problems for people around the world. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among adults without prior diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. We also plan to assess the influence of certain lifestyle components on prevalence of metabolic syndrome. The study involved cardiovascularly healthy patients undergoing lab tests, measurements, and the HLPCQ questionnaire (The Healthy Lifestyle and Personal Control Questionnaire). The data were used to diagnose metabolic syndrome. Out of 1044 patients from 10 primary care facilities, 23.3% met the metabolic syndrome criteria, showing a strong link with increased blood pressure, cholesterol, and fasting glucose. Lower scores in the Organized physical exercise subscale of the HLPCQ questionnaire were noted in those with metabolic syndrome. Comparing the subscale of HLPCQ questionnaire, the lower results in Organized physical exercise subscale were found among the participants with metabolic syndrome, both male and females. Metabolic syndrome, a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, should be screened for actively, even in apparently healthy populations. Results obtained in our study from analysis of HLPCQ show that screening for metabolic syndrome should be preceded by prevention based on regular physical activity and proper eating habits.
Preparation and characterization of artemether-loaded niosomes in Leishmania major-induced cutaneous leishmaniasis
Authors: Niroumand Uranous , Motazedian Mohammad Hossein , Ahmadi Fatemeh , Asgari Qasem , Bahreini Mohammad Saleh , Ghasemiyeh Parisa , Mohammadi-Samani Soliman 
Published: May 2024

AbstractCutaneous leishmaniasis is the most prevalent form of leishmaniasis worldwide. Although various anti-leishmanial regimens have been considered, due to the lack of efficacy or occurrence of adverse reactions, design and development of novel topical delivery systems would be essential. This study aimed to prepare artemether (ART)-loaded niosomes and evaluate their anti-leishmanial effects against Leishmania major. ART-loaded niosomes were prepared through the thin-film hydration technique and characterized in terms of particle size, zeta potential, morphology, differential scanning calorimetry, drug loading, and drug release. Furthermore, anti-leishmanial effect of the preparation was assessed in vitro and in vivo. The prepared ART-loaded niosomes were spherical with an average diameter of about 100 and 300 nm with high encapsulation efficiencies of > 99%. The results of in vitro cytotoxicity revealed that ART-loaded niosomes had significantly higher anti-leishmanial activity, lower general toxicity, and higher selectivity index (SI). Half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of ART, ART-loaded niosomes, and liposomal amphotericin B were 39.09, 15.12, and 20 µg/mL, respectively. Also, according to the in vivo study results, ART-loaded niosomes with an average size of 300 nm showed the highest anti-leishmanial effects in animal studies. ART-loaded niosomes would be promising topical drug delivery system for the management of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Graft cell expansion from hiPSC-RPE strip after transplantation in primate eyes with or without RPE damage
Authors: Kajita Keisuke , Nishida Mitsuhiro , Kurimoto Yasuo , Yokota Satoshi , Sugita Sunao , Semba Toshika , Shirae Satoshi , Hayashi Naoko , Ozaki Atsuta , Miura Yoko , Maeda Akiko , Mitamura Yoshinori , Takahashi Masayo , Mandai Michiko 
Published: May 2024

AbstractClinical studies using suspensions or sheets of human pluripotent cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial cells (hiPSC-RPE) have been conducted globally for diseases such as age-related macular degeneration. Despite being minimally invasive, cell suspension transplantation faces challenges in targeted cell delivery and frequent cell leakage. Conversely, although the RPE sheet ensures targeted delivery with correct cell polarity, it requires invasive surgery, and graft preparation is time-consuming. We previously reported hiPSC-RPE strips as a form of quick cell aggregate that allows for reliable cell delivery to the target area with minimal invasiveness. In this study, we used a microsecond pulse laser to create a local RPE ablation model in cynomolgus monkey eyes. The hiPSC-RPE strips were transplanted into the RPE-ablated and intact sites. The hiPSC-RPE strip stably survived in all transplanted monkey eyes. The expansion area of the RPE from the engrafted strip was larger at the RPE injury site than at the intact site with no tumorigenic growth. Histological observation showed a monolayer expansion of the transplanted RPE cells with the expression of MERTK apically and collagen type 4 basally. The hiPSC-RPE strip is considered a beneficial transplantation option for RPE cell therapy.
Association between biological aging and diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Tang Haoxian , Luo Nan , Zhang Xuan , Huang Jingtao , Yang Qinglong , Lin Hanyuan , Zhang Xinyi 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe impact of aging on diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains underestimated. The current study aimed to investigate the association between biological aging and DR, in contrast to chronological age (CA). Using the National Health and Nutrition Survey data from 2005 to 2008. Biological aging was evaluated through the biological age (BA) and phenotypic age (PA), which were calculated from clinical markers. DR was identified in participants with diabetes mellitus (DM) when they exhibited one or more retinal microaneurysms or retinal blot hemorrhages under retinal imaging, with or without the presence of more severe lesions. Survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression was performed, and the regression model was further fitted using restricted cubic splines. The discriminatory capability and clinical utility of the model were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and decision curve analysis (DCA). Based on weighted analyses, of the 3100 participants included in this study, of which 162 had DR. In the adjusted model, BA (odds ratio [OR] = 1.12, 95% CI, 1.06–1.18) and PA (OR = 1.11, 95% CI, 1.07–1.14) were associated with DR, while CA was not significantly (OR = 1.01, 95% CI, 0.99–1.03). Narrowing the analysis to DM participants and adjusting for factors like insulin showed similar results. ROC and DCA analyses indicate that BA/PA predicted DR better than CA and offer greater clinical utility. The positive association between BA/PA and DR was consistent across subgroups despite potential interactions. Biological aging heightens DR risk, with BA/PA showing a stronger association than CA. Our findings underscored the importance of timely anti-aging interventions for preventing DR.
Determinants of hand pulse wave velocity and hand pulse transit time in healthy adults
Authors: Chen Yung-Sheng , Lu Wan-An , Hsu Ling-Yen , Kuo Cheng-Deng 
Published: May 2024

AbstractArterial pulse wave velocity (PWV) is recognized as a convenient method to assess peripheral vascular stiffness. This study explored the clinical characteristics of hand PWV (hPWV) and hand pulse transit time (hPTT) in healthy adults (sixty males = 42.4 ± 13.9 yrs; sixty-four females = 42.8 ± 13.9 yrs) voluntarily participated in this study. The arterial pulse waveform and the anatomical distance from the radial styloid process to the tip of the middle finger of both hands were recorded in the sitting position. The hPWV was calculated as the traversed distance divided by hPTT between those two points. Male subjects showed significantly greater hPWV, systolic blood pressure, and pulse pressure than age-matched female subjects, while the hPTT was not significantly different between genders. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that gender is a common determinant of hPWV and hPTT, and that age and heart rate (HR) were negatively correlated with hPWV and hPTT, respectively. We conclude that male subjects have greater hPWV than female subjects. Ageing is associated with decreased hPWV, while increased HR is associated with a smaller hPTT. The hPWV and hPTT might be used as non-invasive indices to characterise the ageing and arterial stiffness of peripheral blood vessels.
Reduced processing of afforded actions while observing mental content as ongoing mental phenomena
Authors: Katyal Sucharit , Abdoun Oussama , Mounier Hugues , Lutz Antoine 
Published: May 2024

AbstractWhile consciousness is typically considered equivalent to mental contents, certain meditation practices—including open monitoring (OM)—are said to enable a unique conscious state where meditators can experience mental content from a de-reified perspective as “ongoing phenomena.” Phenomenologically, such a state is considered as reduction of intentionality, the mental act upon mental content. We hypothesised that this de-reified state would be characterised by reduced mental actional processing of affording objects. We recruited two groups of participants, meditators with long-term experience in cultivating a de-reified state, and demographically-matched novice meditators. Participants performed a task with images in two configurations—where objects did (high-affordance) and did not imply actions (low-affordance)—following both a baseline and OM-induced de-reified state, along with EEG recordings. While long-term meditators exhibited preferential processing of high-affordance images compared to low-affordance images during baseline, such an effect was abolished during the OM state, as hypothesised. For novices, however, the high-affordance configuration was preferred over the low-affordance one both during baseline and OM. Perceptual durations of objects across conditions positively correlated with the degree of µ-rhythm desynchronization, indicating that neural processing of affordance impacted perceptual awareness. Our results indicate that OM styles of meditation may help in mentally decoupling otherwise automatic cognitive processing of mental actions by affording objects.
Effects of damage initiation points of depth-damage function on flood risk assessment
Authors: Rahim Md Adilur , Al Assi Ayat , Mostafiz Rubayet Bin , Friedland Carol J. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe flood depth in a structure is a key factor in flood loss models, influencing the estimation of building and contents losses, as well as overall flood risk. Recent studies have emphasized the importance of determining the damage initiation point (DIP) of depth-damage functions, where the flood damage is assumed to initiate with respect to the first-floor height of the building. Here we investigate the effects of DIP selection on the flood risk assessment of buildings located in Special Flood Hazard Areas. We characterize flood using the Gumbel extreme value distribution’s location (μ) and scale (α) parameters. Results reveal that average annual flood loss (AAL) values do not depend on μ, but instead follow an exponential decay pattern with α when damage initiates below the first-floor height of a building (i.e., negative DIP). A linear increasing pattern of the AAL with α is achieved by changing the DIP to the first-floor height (i.e., DIP = 0). The study also demonstrates that negative DIPs have larger associated AAL, thus contributing substantially to the overall AAL, compared to positive DIPs. The study underscores the significance of proper DIP selection in flood risk assessment.
Brillouin light storage for 100 pulse widths
Authors: Stiller Birgit , Jaksch Kevin , Piotrowski Johannes , Merklein Moritz , Schmidt Mikołaj K. , Vu Khu , Ma Pan , Madden Stephen , Steel Michael J. , Poulton Christopher G. , Eggleton Benjamin J. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractSignal processing based on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) is limited by the narrow linewidth of the optoacoustic response, which confines many Brillouin applications to continuous wave signals or optical pulses longer than several nanoseconds. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate Brillouin interactions at the 150 ps time scale and a delay for a record 15 ns which corresponds to a delay of 100 pulse widths. This breakthrough experimental result was enabled by the high local gain of the chalcogenide waveguides as the optoacoustic interaction length reduces with pulse width. We successfully transfer 150 ps-long pulses to traveling acoustic waves within a Brillouin-based memory setup. The information encoded in the optical pulses is stored for 15 ns in the acoustic field. We show the retrieval of eight amplitude levels, multiple consecutive pulses, and low distortion in pulse shape. The extension of Brillouin-based storage to the ultra-short pulse regime is an important step for the realization of practical Brillouin-based delay lines and other optical processing applications.
Deep-tissue NIR-II bioimaging performance of Si-based and InGaAs-based imaging devices using short-wave infrared persistent luminescence
Authors: Chen Yafei , Spinelli Simona , Pan Zhengwei 
Published: May 2024

Deep-tissue NIR-II bioimaging performance of Si CCD and InGaAs FPA cameras was evaluated under identical imaging-signal-only tissue environment using 950–1100 nm SWIR persistent luminescence signals from MgGeO3:Yb3+ nanoparticles (NPs).
The Gaia-ESO Survey: No sign of multiple stellar populations in open clusters from their sodium and oxygen abundances
Authors: Bragaglia A. , D’Orazi V. , Magrini L. , Baratella M. , Bensby T. , Martell S. L. , Randich S. , Tautvaišienė G. , Alfaro E. J. , Morbidelli L. , Smiljanic R. , Zaggia S. 
Published: May 2024

Context. The light element (anti-)correlations shown by globular clusters (GCs) are the main spectroscopic signature of multiple stellar populations. These internal abundance variations provide us with fundamental constraints on the formation mechanism of stellar clusters.
Aims. Using Gaia-ESO, the largest and most homogeneous survey of open clusters (OCs), we intend to check whether these stellar aggregates display the same patterns. Based on previous studies of many GCs, several young and massive clusters in the Magellanic Clouds, as well as a few OCs, we do not expect to find any anti-correlation, given the low mass of Milky Way OCs.
Methods. We used the results based on UVES spectra of stars in Gaia-ESO to derive the distribution of Na and O abundances and see whether they show an unexplained dispersion or whether they are anti-correlated. By selecting only high-probability members with high-precision stellar parameters, we ended up with more than 700 stars in 74 OCs. We examined the O-Na distribution in 28 OCs with at least 4 stars available as well as the Na distribution in 24 OCs, with at least 10 stars available.
Results. We find that the distribution of Na abundances is compatible with a single-value population, within the errors. The few apparent exceptions can be explained by differences in the evolutionary phase (main sequence and giant post first dredge-up episode) or by difficulties in analysing low gravity giants. We did not find any indication of an Na-O anti-correlation in any of the clusters for which O has been derived.
Conclusions. Based on the very small spread we find, OCs maintain the status of single stellar populations. However, a definitive answer requires studying more elements and larger samples covering different evolutionary phases. This will be possible with the next generation of large surveys.