bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Common pediatric surgical conditions and associated health-seeking behaviors in Pakistan: an urban and rural comparative assessment
Authors: Qazi Saqib Hamid , Meerza Syed Saqlain Ali , Dogar Sohail Asghar , Padhani Zahra Ali , Mirani Mushtaq , Jamali Muhammad Khan , Lakhani Sohail , Muhammad Sajid , Anwar Muhammad , Islam Saleem , Khan Sadaf , Abbas Anjum , Khan Zahid Ali , Khatoon Sana , Sheikh Imtiaz , Bux Rasool , Ali Rafey , Naqvi Hassan , Rizvi Arjumand , Chahudary Imran Ahmed , Rashid Rizwan Haroon Ur , Abbas Syed Akbar , Memon Abdul Sami , Tabassum Sadia , Bhatti Zara , Rehman Abdur , Soofi Sajid , Das Jai K 
Published: May 2024

AbstractApproximately five billion people do not have access to necessary surgical treatment globally and up to 85% of children in LMICs are affected with conditions requiring surgical care by the age of 15 years. It is crucial to identify common surgical conditions in children in Pakistan to inform healthcare professionals and policymakers for effective resource allocation. This is a representative cross-sectional household survey conducted on children aged 5-10 years. It is to assess existing surgical diseases and healthcare-seeking behaviors in the two largest provinces (Sindh and Punjab) of Pakistan. Data was collected through a validated cross-sectional survey tool [Surgeons OverSeas Assessment of Surgical Need (SOSAS)]. Caregivers were asked about their child’s recent and past surgical conditions in six distinct anatomical regions and pictures were taken of identified conditions after appropriate consent for further diagnosis. Health-seeking behaviors including the kind of treatment sought, the nature of care received, and the reasons for not receiving care were noted. The study found that 13.5% of children with a surgical condition, had similar distribution across the urban (13.2%) and rural (13.7) areas. The greatest number of surgical conditions were found to be on the head and neck region (57.7%), while the back accounted for the least number of conditions (1.7%). Our results outline a need for organizing all entities (governmental, non-governmental, and private) involved in child health to ensure efficient resource allocation to cater to existing surgical problems.
Evaluating the Effectiveness and Safety of Large Language Model in Generating Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Management Plans: A Comparative Study with Medical Experts Based on Real Patient Records
Authors: Mondal Agnibho , Naskar Arindam , Roy Choudhury Bhaskar , Chakraborty Sambudhya , Biswas Tanmay , Sinha Sumanta 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe integration of large language models (LLMs) such as GPT-4 into healthcare presents potential benefits and challenges. While LLMs have shown promise in applications ranging from scientific writing to personalized medicine, their practical utility and safety in clinical settings remain under scrutiny. Concerns about accuracy, ethical considerations and bias necessitate rigorous evaluation of these technologies against established medical standards.ObjectiveTo compare the completeness, necessity, dosage accuracy and overall safety of type 2 diabetes management plans created by GPT-4 with those devised by medical experts.MethodsThis study involved a comparative analysis using anonymized patient records from a healthcare setting in West Bengal, India. Management plans for 50 Type 2 diabetes patients were generated by GPT-4 and three blinded medical experts. These plans were evaluated against a reference management plan based on American Diabetes Society guidelines. Completeness, necessity and dosage accuracy were quantified and an error score was devised to assess the quality of the generated management plans. The safety of the management plans generated by GPT-4 was also assessed.ResultsResults indicated that medical experts’ management plans had fewer missing medications compared to those generated by GPT-4 (p=0.008). However, GPT-4 generated management plans included fewer unnecessary medications (p=0.003). No significant difference was observed in the accuracy of drug dosages (p=0.975). The overall error scores were comparable between human experts and GPT-4 (p=0.301). Safety issues were noted in 16% of the plans generated by GPT-4, highlighting potential risks associated with AI-generated management plans.ConclusionThe study demonstrates that while GPT-4 can effectively reduce unnecessary drug prescriptions, it does not yet match the performance of medical experts in terms of plan completeness and safety. The findings support the use of LLMs as supplementary tools in healthcare, underscoring the need for enhanced algorithms and continuous human oversight to ensure the efficacy and safety of AI applications in clinical settings. Further research is necessary to improve the integration of LLMs into complex healthcare environments.
Campylobactercolonization and undernutrition in infants in rural Eastern Ethiopia: a longitudinal community-based birth cohort study
Authors: Chen Dehao , McKune Sarah Lindley , Yang Yang , Usmane Ibsa Aliyi , Ahmed Ibsa Abdusemed , Amin Jafer Kedir , Ibrahim Abdulmuen Mohammed , Seran Abadir Jemal , Shaik Nurmohammad , Ojeda Amanda , Hassen Bahar Mummed , Deblais Loic , Ahmedo Belisa Usmael , Hassen Kedir Abdi , Bhrane Mussie , Li Xiaolong , Singh Nitya , Roba Kedir Teji , French Nigel P. , Rajashekara Gireesh , Manary Mark J. , Hassen Jemal Yusuf , Havelaar Arie Hendrik 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundCampylobacteris associated with environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) and malnutrition in children.Campylobacterinfection could be a critical link between determinants of livestock fecal exposure and health outcomes in low-resource smallholder settings.MethodsWe followed a birth cohort of 106 infants in a community of rural smallholder households in eastern Ethiopia up to 13 months of age. We measured anthropometry, surveyed socio-demographic determinants, and collected stool and urine samples. A short survey was conducted during monthly visits, infant stool samples were collected, andCampylobacterspp. was quantified using genus-specific qPCR. In month 13, we collected stool and urine samples to assay for biomarkers of EED. We employed regression analyses to assess the associations of household determinants withCampylobactercolonization, EED, and growth faltering.ResultsTheCampylobacterload in infant stools increased with age. The mean length-for-age z-score (LAZ) decreased from −0.45 at 3-4 months of age to −2.06 at 13 months, while the prevalence of stunting increased from 3% to 51%. The prevalence of EED at 13 months of age was 56%. A higherCampylobacterload was associated with more frequent diarrhea. Prelacteal feeding significantly increasedCampylobacterload in the first month of life. Over the whole follow-up period,Campylobacterload was increased by keeping chickens unconfined at home and unsanitary disposal of infant stools, while decreased by mother’s handwashing with soap. Longitudinally,Campylobacterload waspositivelyassociated with food insecurity, introduction of complementary foods, and raw milk consumption. There were no significant associations betweenCampylobacterload, EED, and LAZ.ConclusionsThis study found that most determinants associated with an increase in Campylobacter infection were related to suboptimal feeding practices and hygiene. Findings related to livestock-associated risks were inconclusive. Though stunting, EED, andCampylobacterprevalence rates all increased tohighlevels by the end of the first year of life, no significant association between them was identified. While additional research is needed to investigate whether findings from this study are replicated in other populations, community efforts to improve infant and young child feeding practices, including age at introduction of complementary foods and exclusive breastfeeding, and WaSH at the household level, could reduce (cross-) contamination at the point of exposure.
Early statin use is associated with improved survival and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation and recent ischaemic stroke
Authors: Choi Sylvia E. , Bucci Tommaso , Huang Jia-Yi , Yiu Kai-Hang , Tsang Christopher T. W. , Lau Kui Kai , Hill Andrew , Irving Greg , Lip Gregory Y. H. , Abdul-Rahim Azmil H. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundStatins reduce recurrent stroke and cardiovascular events in patients with non-cardioembolic stroke. We aimed to investigate the benefits of statins in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and recent ischaemic stroke (IS), which remain unclear.MethodsThis retrospective, cohort study was conducted using deidentified electronic medical records within TriNetX platform. Patients with AF and recent IS, who received statins within 28 days of their index stroke were propensity score-matched with those who did not. Patients were followed-up for 2 years. Primary outcomes were the 2-year risk of recurrent IS, all-cause mortality and the composite outcome of all-cause mortality, recurrent IS, transient ischaemic attack (TIA), and acute myocardial infarction (MI). Secondary outcomes were the 2-year risk of TIA, intracranial haemorrhage (ICH), acute MI, and hospital readmission. Cox regression analyses were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).ResultsOf 20,902 patients with AF and recent IS, 7,500 (35.9%) received statins within 28 days of their stroke and 13,402 (64.1%) did not. 11,182 patients (mean age 73.7±11.5; 5,277 (47.2%) female) remained after propensity score matching. Patients who received early statins had significantly lower risk of recurrent IS (HR: 0.45, 95%CI: 0.41–0.48, p<0.001), mortality (HR: 0.75, 95%CI: 0.66-0.84, p<0.001), the composite outcome (HR: 0.48, 95%CI: 0.45-0.52, p<0.001), TIA (HR: 0.37, 95%CI: 0.30-0.44, p<0.001), ICH (HR: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.47-0.72, p<0.001), acute MI (HR: 0.35, 95%CI: 0.30-0.42, p<0.001) and hospital readmission (HR: 0.46, 95%CI: 0.42-0.50, <0.001). Beneficial effects of early statins were evident in the elderly, different ethnicities, statin dose intensity, and AF subtypes, large vessel occlusion and embolic strokes and within the context of statin lipophilicity and optimal LDL-C levels.ConclusionsPatients with AF and recent IS, who received early statins, had a lower risk of recurrent stroke, death, and other cardiovascular outcomes including ICH, compared to those who did not.
Viral and host network analysis of the human cytomegalovirus transcriptome in latency
Authors: Collins-McMillen Donna , Oliveira Pessoa Diogo De , Zarrella Kristen , Parkins Christopher J. , Daily Michael , Moorman Nathaniel J. , Kamil Jeremy P. , Caposio Patrizia , Padi Megha , Goodrum Felicia D. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractHCMV genesUL135andUL138play opposing roles regulating latency and reactivation in CD34+human progenitor cells (HPCs). Using the THP-1 cell line model for latency and reactivation, we designed an RNA sequencing study to compare the transcriptional profile of HCMV infection in the presence and absence of these genes. The loss ofUL138results in elevated levels of viral gene expression and increased differentiation of cell populations that support HCMV gene expression and genome synthesis. The loss ofUL135results in diminished viral gene expression during an initial burst that occurs as latency is established and no expression of eleven viral genes from the ULb’ region even following stimulation for differentiation and reactivation. Transcriptional network analysis revealed host transcription factors with potential to regulate the ULb’ genes in coordination with pUL135. These results reveal roles forUL135andUL138in regulation of viral gene expression and potentially hematopoietic differentiation.
Unraveling factors responsible for pathogenic differences in Lassa virus strains
Authors: Taniguchi Satoshi , Saito Takeshi , Paroha Ruchi , Huang Cheng , Paessler Slobodan , Maruyama Junki 
Published: May 2024

AbstractLassa virus (LASV) is the etiological agent of Lassa fever (LF), a severe hemorrhagic disease with potential for lethal outcomes. Apart from acute symptoms, LF survivors often endure long-term complications, notably hearing loss, which significantly impacts their quality of life and socioeconomic status in endemic regions of West Africa. Classified as a Risk Group 4 agent, LASV poses a substantial public health threat in affected areas. Our laboratory previously developed a novel lethal guinea pig model of LF utilizing the clinical isolate LASV strain LF2384. However, the specific pathogenic factors underlying LF2384 infection in guinea pigs remained elusive. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the differences in the immunological response induced by LF2384 and LF2350, another LASV isolate from a non-lethal LF case within the same outbreak. Through comprehensive immunological gene profiling, we compared the expression kinetics of key genes in guinea pigs infected with LASV LF2384 and LF2350. Our analysis revealed differential expression patterns for several immunological genes, including CD94, CD19-2, CD23, IL-7, and CIITA, during LF2384 and LF2350 infection. Moreover, through the generation of recombinant LASVs, we sought to identify the specific viral genes responsible for the observed pathogenic differences between LF2384 and LF2350. Our investigations pinpointed the L protein as a crucial determinant of pathogenicity in guinea pigs infected with LASV LF2384.Author summaryLassa virus (LASV) is known to cause lethal hemorrhagic fever, Lassa fever, and is classified as a Risk Group-4 agent, which need to be handled in the highest biocontainment laboratories, biosafety level-4 (BSL-4), due to its high pathogenicity and the lack of preventive or treatment methods. LASV infection has a huge impact on public health and socioeconomics in endemic areas, however, its pathogenic mechanism is still largely unknown. In order to unveil the mechanisms of LASV pathogenesis, we compared the pathogenicity of two LASV isolates, which have opposite phenotypes in guinea pigs. Additionally, we determined the viral factor responsible for pathogenic differences between LASV isolates using reverse genetics. In summary, our study provides valuable insights into the immunological and virological factors underlying the pathogenic differences between LASV strains associated with lethal and non-lethal LF cases. Understanding these distinctions is essential for informing strategies for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of LF.
Engineering drive-selection balance for localised population suppression with neutral dynamics
Authors: Willis Katie , Burt Austin 
Published: May 2024

AbstractWhilst the release of sterile males has been highly successful in suppressing some pest populations, it is impractical for other species due to the males disappearing after a single generation, necessitating large, repeated releases to maintain sufficient impact. Synthetic gene drives promise more efficient approaches since they can increase in frequency from rare, yet this also allows them to spread across a landscape, which may not always be desired. Between these two extremes are selectively neutral genetic constructs which persist at the frequency they are released, offering the potential for efficient suppression that remains localised. One way to achieve this would be to have perfect balance, at all construct frequencies, between gene drive increasing frequency and selection decreasing it. Here we describe a way to create this balance involving a toxin-antidote genetic construct that causes recessive lethality, encodes a genomic editor that makes dominant lethal edits in the genome, and provides protection against the action or consequences of the editing. Computer modelling shows that this design can be 100-fold more efficient than sterile males, increasing to 1000-fold more when released alongside a genetic booster. We describe designs for CRISPR-based molecular construction, including options that avoid using recoded genes as antidotes.
Virtual patient analysis identifies strategies to improve the performance of predictive biomarkers for PD-1 blockade
Authors: Arulraj Theinmozhi , Wang Hanwen , Deshpande Atul , Varadhan Ravi , Emens Leisha A. , Jaffee Elizabeth M. , Fertig Elana J. , Santa-Maria Cesar A. , Popel Aleksander S. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractPatients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) show variable responses to PD-1 inhibition. Efficient patient selection by predictive biomarkers would be desirable, but is hindered by the limited performance of existing biomarkers. Here, we leveraged in-silico patient cohorts generated using a quantitative systems pharmacology model of metastatic TNBC, informed by transcriptomic and clinical data, to explore potential ways to improve patient selection. We tested 90 biomarker candidates, including various cellular and molecular species, by a cutoff-based biomarker testing algorithm combined with machine learning-based feature selection. Combinations of pre-treatment biomarkers improved the specificity compared to single biomarkers at the cost of reduced sensitivity. On the other hand, early on-treatment biomarkers, such as the relative change in tumor diameter from baseline measured at two weeks after treatment initiation, achieved remarkably higher sensitivity and specificity. Further, blood-based biomarkers had a comparable ability to tumor- or lymph node-based biomarkers in identifying a subset of responders, potentially suggesting a less invasive way for patient selection.
Morphological instability at topological defects in a three-dimensional vertex model for spherical epithelia
Authors: Drozdowski Oliver M. , Schwarz Ulrich S. 
Published: May 2024

Epithelial monolayers are a central building block of complex organisms. Topological defects have emerged as important elements for single cell behavior in flat epithelia. Here we theoretically study such defects in a three-dimensional vertex model for spherical epithelia like cysts or intestinal organoids. We find that they lead to the same generic morphological instability to an icosahedral shape as it is known from spherical elastic shells like virus capsids, polymerized vesicles, or buckyballs. We derive analytical expressions for the effective stretching and bending moduli as a function of the parameters of the vertex model, in excellent agreement with computer simulations. These equations accurately predict both the buckling of a flat epithelial monolayer under uniaxial compression and the faceting transition around the topological defects in spherical epithelia. We further show that localized apico-basal tension asymmetries allow them to reduce the transition threshold to small system sizes.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Neural Wave Functions for Superfluids
Authors: Lou Wan Tong , Sutterud Halvard , Cassella Gino , Foulkes W. M. C. , Knolle Johannes , Pfau David , Spencer James S. 
Published: May 2024

Understanding superfluidity remains a major goal of condensed matter physics. Here, we tackle this challenge utilizing the recently developed fermionic neural network (FermiNet) wave function [D. Pfau , .] for variational Monte Carlo calculations. We study the unitary Fermi gas, a system with strong, short-range, two-body interactions known to possess a superfluid ground state but difficult to describe quantitatively. We demonstrate key limitations of the FermiNet in studying the unitary Fermi gas and propose a simple modification based on the idea of an antisymmetric geminal power singlet (AGPs) wave function. The new AGPs FermiNet outperforms the original FermiNet significantly in paired systems, giving results which are more accurate than fixed-node diffusion Monte Carlo and are consistent with experiment. We prove mathematically that the new , which differs from the original only by the method of antisymmetrization, is a strict generalization of the original FermiNet architecture, despite the use of fewer parameters. Our approach shares several advantages with the original FermiNet: The use of a neural network removes the need for an underlying basis set; sand the flexibility of the network yields extremely accurate results within a variational quantum Monte Carlo framework that provides access to unbiased estimates of arbitrary ground-state expectation values. We discuss how the method can be extended to study other superfluid.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Topology optimization for magnetic circuits with continuous adjoint method in 3D
Authors: Houta Zakaria , Messine Frederic , Huguet Thomas 
Published: May 2024

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a new approach to optimizing the design of 3D magnetic circuits. This approach is based on topology optimization, where derivative calculations are performed using the continuous adjoint method. Thus, the continuous adjoint method for magnetostatics has to be developed in 3D and has to be combined with penalization, filtering and homotopy approaches to provide an efficient optimization code.

Design/methodology/approach
To provide this new topology optimization code, this study starts from 2D magnetostatic results to perform the sensitivity analysis, and this approach is extended to 3D. From this sensitivity analysis, the continuous adjoint method is derived to compute the gradient of an objective function of a 3D topological optimization design problem. From this result, this design problem is discretized and can then be solved by finite element software. Thus, by adding the solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP) penalization approach and developing a homotopy-based optimization algorithm, an interesting means for designing 3D magnetic circuits is provided.

Findings
In this paper, the 3D continuous adjoint method for magnetostatic problems involving an objective least-squares function is presented. Based on 2D results, new theoretical results for developing sensitivity analysis in 3D taking into account different parameters including the ferromagnetic material, the current density and the magnetization are provided. Then, by discretizing, filtering and penalizing using SIMP approaches, a topology optimization code has been derived to address only the ferromagnetic material parameters. Based on this efficient gradient computation method, a homotopy-based optimization algorithm for solving large-scale 3D design problems is developed.

Originality/value
In this paper, an approach based on topology optimization to solve 3D magnetostatic design problems when an objective least-squares function is involved is proposed. This approach is based on the continuous adjoint method derived for 3D magnetostatic design problems. The effectiveness of this topology optimization code is demonstrated by solving the design of a 3D magnetic circuit with up to 100,000 design variables.