bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Scabies: Immunopathogenesis and pathological changes
Authors: Sharaf Mahmoud S. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractScabies is an itchy skin disease caused by the burrowing miteSarcoptes scabiei. During their lifespan, the female mites invade the stratum corneum and create tunnels, in which they reside, move, feed, deposit fecal pellets, and lay eggs. Recently, scabies was included in the World Health Organization roadmap for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030. This review attempts to summarize our knowledge about the mite’s biology and the disease pathogenesis, pathological changes, and complications. Generally, the host–parasite interaction in scabies is highly complex and involves different mechanisms, some of which are yet largely unknown. Elucidation of the nature of such interaction as well as the underlying mechanisms could allow a better understanding of the mite’s biology and the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic options for scabies control programs. Moreover, identification of the molecular basis of such interaction could unveil novel targets for acaricidal agents and vaccines.
Comparison of probability distributions used for harnessing the wind energy potential: a case study from India
Authors: Gugliani Gaurav Kumar , Ley Christophe , Nakhaei Rad Najmeh , Bekker Andriette 
Published: March 2024

AbstractModeling wind speed data is the prime requirement for harnessing the wind energy potential at a given site. While the Weibull distribution is the most commonly employed distribution in the literature and in practice, numerous scientific articles have proposed various alternative continuous probability distributions to model the wind speed at their convenient sites. Fitting the best distribution model to the data enables the practitioners to estimate the wind power density more accurately, which is required for wind power generation. In this paper we comprehensively review fourteen continuous probability distributions, and investigate their fitting capacities at seventeen locations of India covering the east and west offshore corner as well as the mainland, which represents a large variety of climatological scenarios. A first main finding is that wind speed varies a lot inside India and that one should treat each site individually for optimizing wind power generation. A second finding is that the wide acceptance of the Weibull distribution should at least be questioned, as it struggles to represent wind regimes with heterogeneous data sets exhibiting multimodality, high levels of skewness and/or kurtosis. Our study reveals that mixture distributions are very good alternative candidates that can model difficult shapes and yet do not require too many parameters.
Lebensmittelverluste und -abfallaufkommen in Österreich
Authors: Obersteiner Gudrun , Stoifl Barbara 
Published: March 2024

ZusammenfassungIm September 2015 hat die UN-Vollversammlung im Rahmen der Nachhaltigkeitsziele bis 2030 die Zielvorgabe aufgestellt, die Lebensmittelverschwendung pro Kopf auf Einzelhandels- und Verbraucherebene zu halbieren und die Lebensmittelverluste entlang der Produktions- und Lieferkette zu verringern (Sustainable Development Goal 12.3). Die Europäische Union und ihre Mitgliedstaaten haben sich verpflichtet, diese Zielvorgabe zu erfüllen. Mit der Notwendigkeit, die Nachhaltigkeitsziele der UN umzusetzen, wurde seitens der Europäischen Union festgelegt, wie zukünftig Messungen von Lebensmittelabfällen im Rahmen der Berichtspflicht über den Umfang von Lebensmittelabfällen umzusetzen sind. Für das Referenzjahr 2020 wurden erstmals Daten für Österreich an die Europäische Kommission übermittelt. Diese unterscheiden sich jedoch teilweise aufgrund unterschiedlicher methodischer Vorgaben und/oder Herangehensweisen von jenen, die bisher für Österreich erhoben und publiziert wurden. Die jeweiligen Erhebungsmethoden werden im Detail erläutert. Unterschiede in den Ergebnissen zum Lebensmittelabfallaufkommen können, unter anderem über die jeweils verwendeten Definitionen von Lebensmittelabfall, erklärt werden.
Dietary intake of vitamin C and gastric cancer: a pooled analysis within the Stomach cancer Pooling (StoP) Project
Authors: Sassano Michele , Seyyedsalehi Monireh Sadat , Collatuzzo Giulia , Pelucchi Claudio , Bonzi Rossella , Ferraroni Monica , Palli Domenico , Yu Guo-Pei , Zhang Zuo-Feng , López-Carrillo Lizbeth , Lunet Nuno , Morais Samantha , Zaridze David , Maximovich Dmitry , Martín Vicente , Castano-Vinyals Gemma , Vioque Jesús , González-Palacios Sandra , Ward Mary H. , Malekzadeh Reza , Pakseresht Mohammadreza , Hernández-Ramirez Raul Ulises , López-Cervantes Malaquias , Negri Eva , Turati Federica , Rabkin Charles S. , Tsugane Shoichiro , Hidaka Akihisa , Lagiou Areti , Lagiou Pagona , Camargo M. Constanza , Curado Maria Paula , Boccia Stefania , La Vecchia Carlo , Boffetta Paolo 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Previous studies suggest that dietary vitamin C is inversely associated with gastric cancer (GC), but most of them did not consider intake of fruit and vegetables. Thus, we aimed to evaluate this association within the Stomach cancer Pooling (StoP) Project, a consortium of epidemiological studies on GC.

Methods
Fourteen case–control studies were included in the analysis (5362 cases, 11,497 controls). We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between dietary intake of vitamin C and GC, adjusted for relevant confounders and for intake of fruit and vegetables. The dose–response relationship was evaluated using mixed-effects logistic models with second-order fractional polynomials.

Results
Individuals in the highest quartile of dietary vitamin C intake had reduced odds of GC compared with those in the lowest quartile (OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.72). Additional adjustment for fruit and vegetables intake led to an OR of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.73, 0.98). A significant inverse association was observed for noncardia GC, as well as for both intestinal and diffuse types of the disease. The results of the dose–response analysis showed decreasing ORs of GC up to 150–200 mg/day of vitamin C (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.71), whereas ORs for higher intakes were close to 1.0.

Conclusions
The findings of our pooled study suggest that vitamin C is inversely associated with GC, with a potentially beneficial effect also for intakes above the currently recommended daily intake (90 mg for men and 75 mg for women).
Detecting and exploring kidney-derived extracellular vesicles in plasma
Authors: Komatsu Shintaro , Kato Noritoshi , Kitai Hiroki , Funahashi Yoshio , Noda Yuhei , Tsubota Shoma , Tanaka Akihito , Sato Yuka , Maeda Kayaho , Saito Shoji , Furuhashi Kazuhiro , Ishimoto Takuji , Kosugi Tomoki , Maruyama Shoichi , Kadomatsu Kenji 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have received considerable attention as ideal biomarkers for kidney diseases. Most reports have focused on urinary EVs, that are mainly derived from the cells in the urinary tract. However, the detection and the application of kidney-derived EVs in plasma remains uncertain.

Methods
We examined the kidney-derived small EVs (sEVs) in plasma that were supposedly released from renal mesangial and glomerular endothelial cells, using clinical samples from healthy controls and patients with kidney transplants. Plasma from healthy controls underwent ultracentrifugation, followed by on-bead flow cytometry, targeting α8 integrin, an antigen-specific to mesangial cells. To confirm the presence of kidney-derived sEVs in peripheral blood, plasma from ABO-incompatible kidney transplant recipients was ultracentrifuged, followed by western blotting for donor blood type antigens.

Results
Immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy confirmed α8 integrin expression in kidney mesangial cells and their sEVs. The CD9-α8 integrin double-positive sEVs were successfully detected using on-bead flow cytometry. Western blot analysis further revealed transplanted kidney-derived sEVs containing blood type B antigens in non-blood type B recipients, who had received kidneys from blood type B donors. Notably, a patient experiencing graft kidney loss exhibited diminished signals of sEVs containing donor blood type antigens.

Conclusion
Our findings demonstrate the potential usefulness of kidney-derived sEVs in plasma in future research for kidney diseases.
Association between glycated albumin and sudden death in patients undergoing hemodialysis
Authors: Kaizu Yoshiki , Nagata Masaharu , Kaizu Shinako , Qie Yueling , Kaizu Kazo , Tanaka Shigeru , Nakano Toshiaki , Kitazono Takanari 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
The frequency of sudden death and its risk factors in patients undergoing hemodialysis are unknown. This study was performed to examine the association between glycated albumin (GA) and sudden death in Japanese patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Methods
In total, 260 patients undergoing hemodialysis aged ≥18 years were retrospectively followed for a mean of 4.6 years. The patients’ serum GA levels were divided into tertiles, and the patients’ sex, age, albumin level, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) were selected as adjustment factors. A logistic regression model was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for the occurrence of sudden death by GA level.

Results
Ninety-one patients died during follow-up. Of the 91 deaths, 23 (25.2%) were defined as sudden deaths. Compared with non-sudden death cases, sudden death cases were significantly younger (p = 0.002) and had a higher proportion of men (p = 0.03), a higher proportion of diabetes (p = 0.008), and higher GA levels (p = 0.023). Compared with patients with the lowest GA levels (<15.2%), those with the highest GA levels (≥18.5%) had a sex- and age-adjusted OR for sudden death of 5.40 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.35–21.85]. After adjusting for the albumin level, CRP level, and CTR in addition to sex and age, the OR for sudden death of patients with the highest GA levels increased to 6.80 (95%CI: 1.64–28.08); the relationship did not change.

Conclusion
Serum GA levels were significantly associated with sudden death in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
Perceived Impacts of Partners’ Other Relationships on Oneself in Consensual Nonmonogamy
Authors: Arter Jennifer , Bunge Sacha S. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractExisting research suggests a number of both costs and benefits to oneself that can occur as a result of partners’ other relationships in consensual nonmonogamy (CNM), but such costs and benefits have not previously been systematically cataloged. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we present themes derived from semi-structured interviews with 51 individuals (63% white, 55% nonbinary/genderqueer/non-cisgendered, and 77% LGBQ) who have practiced CNM, describing the costs and benefits to themselves that they perceive as a result of their partners’ other relationships. Themes describing costs include experiencing difficult feelings (e.g., jealousy), having less with a partner (e.g., less of a partner’s time) than one would like, difficulties or conflict within one’s own relationship, and difficulties or conflict as a result of interactions between metamours (individuals who share a partner). Themes describing benefits include experiencing positive feelings (e.g., compersion), benefiting from a partner getting needs met in other relationships, strengthening of or pleasurable interactions within one’s own relationship, enjoyable or beneficial relationships or interactions between metamours, and personal growth as a result of sharing partners with others. We note that these costs and benefits roughly mirror each other, suggesting that they may reflect the positive and negative sides of some fundamental aspects of CNM. Each of our themes also contains a rich range of elements that suggest avenues for future research. Our results suggest that CNM relationships are complex and multi-faceted, and that further research could fruitfully examine the circumstances that influence whether individuals experience their partners’ other relationships positively or negatively.
Academic Stress Interventions in High Schools: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Jagiello Tess , Belcher Jessica , Neelakandan Aswathi , Boyd Kaylee , Wuthrich Viviana M. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe experience of academic stress is common during high school and can have significant negative consequences for students’ educational achievement and wellbeing. High school students frequently report heightened levels of school-related distress, particularly as they approach high-stakes assessments. Programs designed to reduce or prevent academic stress are needed, and their delivery in school settings is ideal to improve treatment access. The current review aimed to examine the effectiveness of high school-based programs in reducing or preventing academic stress. A systematic search returned 31 eligible studies across 13 countries. Programs were categorised according to intervention type, format, and facilitator. Results showed that the methodological quality of most studies was poor, and many used an inactive control group. As predicted by theories of academic stress, the strongest evidence was for programs grounded in cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). There was evidence that both universal and targeted approaches can be beneficial. The unique implementation issues for these two formats are discussed. Most programs were delivered by psychologists and were generally effective, but almost all of these were CBT programs. A smaller proportion of programs delivered by teachers were effective. Therefore, future studies should evaluate the implementation success of programs to improve the rate of effective delivery by school staff. Overall, the field will benefit from more randomised controlled trials with comparisons to active control groups, larger sample sizes and longer-term follow-ups.
AI and the need for justification (to the patient)
Authors: Muralidharan Anantharaman , Savulescu Julian , Schaefer G. Owen 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis paper argues that one problem that besets black-box AI is that it lacks algorithmic justifiability. We argue that the norm of shared decision making in medical care presupposes that treatment decisions ought to be justifiable to the patient. Medical decisions are justifiable to the patient only if they are compatible with the patient’s values and preferences and the patient is able to see that this is so. Patient-directed justifiability is threatened by black-box AIs because the lack of rationale provided for the decision makes it difficult for patients to ascertain whether there is adequate fit between the decision and the patient’s values. This paper argues that achieving algorithmic transparency does not help patients bridge the gap between their medical decisions and values. We introduce a hypothetical model we call Justifiable AI to illustrate this argument. Justifiable AI aims at modelling normative and evaluative considerations in an explicit way so as to provide a stepping stone for patient and physician to jointly decide on a course of treatment. If our argument succeeds, we should prefer these justifiable models over alternatives if the former are available and aim to develop said models if not.
Experiences of silent reading
Authors: Barbero Carola , Calzavarini Fabrizio 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn The Performance of Reading, Peter Kivy introduces, on a purely phenomenological basis, an interesting and potentially fruitful analogy between the experience of silently reading literary texts and the experience of silently reading musical scores. In Kivy’s view, both mental experiences involve a critical element of auditory mental imagery, consisting in having a performance “in the head” or the mind’s ear. This analogy might have significant implications for the ontological status of literary works, as well as for the theoretical relations between music and language. Nevertheless, Kivy’s hypothesis has never been investigated and discussed in its empirical merits. In the present paper, we shall claim that neuroscience data support, at least in part, Kivy’s phenomenological observations about the relation between reading musical scores and reading texts. Despite being functionally and anatomically dissociated at the cognitive level, the two reading experiences both involve an auditory simulation of the content, which seems to be functionally critical for a deep and rich experience of literary texts and musical scores.
In vitro true root cultures of Lotus hebranicus Hochst. ex brand: profiling of secondary metabolites and plausible in vivo gastroprotective effect
Authors: Abdelazeez Walla M. A. , Maaty Doaa A. M. , El-Swaify Zeinab A. , Negm Walaa A. , Selim Hend M. , Aboueldis Gamil R. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn vitro, the Lotus hebranicus produces true root cultures under entirely growth regulator-free culture conditions. These roots are completely independent of the shoots and gives abundant amounts of biomass of true root culture as raw materials in a short time. Lately, gastric ulcer have gained an increasing interest as it affects millions around the world. So, this study aimed to screen and evaluate the chemical constituents of the L. hebranicus extract (plant and true root culture), in addition to studying the biological effect of these extracts on mice with ethanol-induced gastric ulcer and the possible role of mediating oxidative stress, inflammation and TGFβ/Smad3 as underlying mechanisms. Fifty-four Albino mice were assigned into nine groups (n = 6). Lotus was orally administered for seven successive days, followed by a single dose of oral ethanol for ulcer induction. Using histological assessment and immunohistochemical studies as well as colorimetric analysis, ELISA and qRT-PCR, the results revealed that ethanol-induced ulcers exhibited a substantial increase (p < 0.05) in malondialdehyde and interleukin 18 with a remarkable lessening in the gastro-protective mediators; superoxide dismutase, prostaglandin E2 and glutathione, parallel with an increase in TGFβ/Smad3 expressions relative to control. Pre-treatment with L. hebranicus showed a comparable result to those with omeprazole and showed a significant inhibitory effect on inflammatory mediators and significant elevation of the gastro-protective mediators relative to the positive control. In conclusion, L. hebranicus extract (plant/true root culture) has the potential to protect the gastric tissues against ethanol by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation and enhancing TGFβ/Smad3 mediators along with gastric protective mediators.
Evaluation of efficacy and safety profile of tadalafil 5 mg daily dose in the tablet form versus oral dispersible film in men with mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction: a comparative placebo-controlled study
Authors: Motawi Ahmad T. , GamalEl Din Sameh Fayek , Meatmed Eslam M. , Fahmy Ibrahim 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Purpose
We aimed to compare the efficacy, safety, and compliance of tadalafil 5 mg daily dose in the tablet form versus oral dispersible film (ODF) in men with mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction (ED).

Methods
One hundred thirty-five randomized patients were equally divided into three groups according to age where each group included forty-five patients. Within each group, 15 patients received oral tadalafil 5 mg, 15 patients received ODF tadalafil 5 mg and 15 patients received a placebo once daily for 1 month. All participants were assessed by the validated Arabic version of the international index of erectile function (ArIIEF-5) at baseline and after 1 month. Also, the efficacy of different forms of tadalafil 5 mg was assessed by responding affirmatively to a questionnaire.

Results
Patients aged > 25 to < 40 years and 40–55 years and > 55 years showed a statistically significant improvement of ArIIEF-5 scores after tadalafil 5 mg tablet and ODF tadalafil 5 mg compared to placebo ODF (23 ± 1.4; 22.7 ± 0.9; 20 ± 0.9; 20.4 ± 1.3; 20.2 ± 1.2; 16.6 ± 1.2; 18.5 ± 1.7; 19.6 ± 1.4; 16.3 ± 1.4; p < 0.001, respectively). Three patients (> 25 to < 40 years) who received tadalafil 5 mg tablet showed muscle and back pain. Gastrointestinal (GIT) upset (eight patients) followed by headache (seven patients) were the main side effects reported in patients (40–55 years) who received tadalafil 5 mg tablet. While GIT upset was the main side effect reported in patients (> 55 years) who received tadalafil 5 mg tablet.

Conclusion
ODF tadalafil 5 mg is an effective, tolerable, and safe formulation that can be used in patients with mild-to-moderate ED.
Experiences of Aging with Opioid Use Disorder and Comorbidity in Opioid Treatment Programs: A Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Han Benjamin H. , Orozco Mirella A. , Miyoshi Mari , Doland Heidi , Moore Alison A. , Jones Katie Fitzgerald 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
The number of older adults entering opioid treatment programs (OTPs) to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) is increasing. However, the lived experiences of aging in OTPs have not been examined.

Objective
To explore the aging experience with OUD and barriers to medical care for older adults who receive care in OTPs.

Design
From November 2021 to July 2022, we conducted 1-to-1, semi-structured qualitative interviews in English and Spanish, audio-recorded, transcribed, systematically coded, and analyzed to identify key themes regarding the challenges of aging with OUD and managing chronic diseases.

Participants
Thirty-six adults aged ≥ 55 enrolled in OTPs in San Diego, California.

Approach
A descriptive qualitative approach was used. Major themes and subthemes were identified through thematic analysis until thematic saturation was reached.

Key Results
All participants were on methadone and had a mean age of 63.4 (SD 5.1) years; 11 (30.6%) identified as female, 14 (39%) as Hispanic/Latino, and 11 (36%) as Black, with a mean duration of methadone treatment of 5.6 years. Chronic diseases were common, with 21 (58.3%) reporting hypertension, 9 (25%) reporting untreated hepatitis C, and 32 (88.9%) having ≥ 2 chronic diseases. Three major themes emerged: (1) avoidance of medical care due to multiple intersectional stigmas, including those related to drug use, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, ageism, and housing insecurity; (2) increasing isolation with aging and loss of family and peer groups; (3) the urgent need for integrating medical and aging-focused care with OUD treatment in the setting of increasing health and functional challenges.

Conclusions
Older adults with OUD reported increasing social isolation and declining health while experiencing multilevel stigma and discrimination. The US healthcare system must transform to deliver age-friendly care that integrates evidence-based geriatric models of care incorporated with substance use disorder treatment and addresses the intersectional stigma this population has experienced in healthcare settings.