bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Retention rate of biologic and targeted synthetic anti-rheumatic drugs in elderly rheumatoid arthritis patients: data from GISEA registry
Authors: Manfredi Andreina , Fornaro Marco , Bazzani Chiara , Perniola Simone , Cauli Alberto , Rai Alessandra , Favalli Ennio Giulio , Bugatti Serena , Rossini Maurizio , Foti Rosario , Conti Fabrizio , Lopalco Giuseppe , Scalvini Anna , Garufi Cristina , Congia Mattia , Gorla Roberto , Gremese Elisa , Atzeni Fabiola , Caporali Roberto , Iannone Florenzo , Sebastiani Marco 
Published: March 2024

ObjectivesAn increased number of elderly individuals affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been reported, including both patients with RA onset in advanced age and patients aged with the disease. In this registry-based study, we aimed to analyze the retention rate and cause of discontinuation of biologic (b) and targeted synthetic (ts)-disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in RA patients over 65 year old.MethodsRA patients enrolled in the Italian GISEA registry and starting a b- or a ts-DMARD over 65 years of age were included. Demographic, clinical, serologic, and therapeutic features were collected.ResultsA total of 1,221 elderly RA patients were analyzed (mean age 71.6 ± 5.2 years). RA was diagnosed before 65 years in 72.5% of cases, a 60.6% of patients experienced a previous b- or ts-DMARD. In patients older than 65 initiating a new b- or ts-DMARDS, tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors (TNFi) were prescribed in 29.6% of patients, abatacept in 24.8%, anti-interleukin 6 receptor antagonists (anti-IL6R) in 16.3%, Janus kinases inhibitors (JAKi) in 24.9%, and rituximab in 4.4%. The main causes of discontinuation were primary or secondary inadequate responses (66.1%). The median retention rate for all treatments was 181.3 weeks. A statistically higher retention rate was observed for abatacept when compared to TNFi (p = 0.02), JAKi (p &lt; 0.001), and anti-IL6R (p &lt; 0.001), and for TNFi vs. JAKi (p = 0.013).ConclusionWe described, in a real-life setting, elderly RA patients treated with a biologic or a ts-DMARD in Italy. Loss of efficacy was the main cause of discontinuation, and the DMARD safety profile suggests that age does not contraindicate their use. Our study reinforced that the control of disease activity is mandatory.
Diagnosis of benign and malignant peripheral lung lesions based on a feature model constructed by the random forest algorithm for grayscale and contrast-enhanced ultrasound
Authors: Wei Hong , Wang Yichun , Li Jinyao , Wang Yanyan , Lu Longdi , Sun Jiawei , Wang Xiaolei 
Published: March 2024

Rationale and objectivesTo construct a predictive model for benign and malignant peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs) using a random forest algorithm based on grayscale ultrasound and ultrasound contrast, and to evaluate its diagnostic value.Materials and methodsWe selected 254 patients with PPLs detected using chest lung computed tomography between October 2021 and July 2023, including 161 malignant and 93 benign lesions. Relevant variables for judging benign and malignant PPLs were screened using logistic regression analysis. A model was constructed using the random forest algorithm, and the test set was verified. Correlations between these relevant variables and the diagnosis of benign and malignant PPLs were evaluated.ResultsAge, lesion shape, size, angle between the lesion border and chest wall, boundary clarity, edge regularity, air bronchogram, vascular signs, enhancement patterns, enhancement intensity, homogeneity of enhancement, number of non-enhancing regions, non-enhancing region type, arrival time (AT) of the lesion, lesion-lung AT difference, AT difference ratio, and time to peak were the relevant variables for judging benign and malignant PPLs. Consequently, a model and receiver operating characteristic curve were constructed with an AUC of 0.92 and an accuracy of 88.2%. The test set results showed that the model had good predictive ability. The index with the highest correlation for judging benign and malignant PPLs was the AT difference ratio. Other important factors were lesion size, patient age, and lesion morphology.ConclusionThe random forest algorithm model constructed based on clinical data and ultrasound imaging features has clinical application value for predicting benign and malignant PPLs.
RAAWC-UNet: an apple leaf and disease segmentation method based on residual attention and atrous spatial pyramid pooling improved UNet with weight compression loss
Authors: Wang Jianlong , Jia Junhao , Zhang Yake , Wang Haotian , Zhu Shisong 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionEarly detection of leaf diseases is necessary to control the spread of plant diseases, and one of the important steps is the segmentation of leaf and disease images. The uneven light and leaf overlap in complex situations make segmentation of leaves and diseases quite difficult. Moreover, the significant differences in ratios of leaf and disease pixels results in a challenge in identifying diseases.MethodsTo solve the above issues, the residual attention mechanism combined with atrous spatial pyramid pooling and weight compression loss of UNet is proposed, which is named RAAWC-UNet. Firstly, weights compression loss is a method that introduces a modulation factor in front of the cross-entropy loss, aiming at solving the problem of the imbalance between foreground and background pixels. Secondly, the residual network and the convolutional block attention module are combined to form Res_CBAM. It can accurately localize pixels at the edge of the disease and alleviate the vanishing of gradient and semantic information from downsampling. Finally, in the last layer of downsampling, the atrous spatial pyramid pooling is used instead of two convolutions to solve the problem of insufficient spatial context information.ResultsThe experimental results show that the proposed RAAWC-UNet increases the intersection over union in leaf and disease segmentation by 1.91% and 5.61%, and the pixel accuracy of disease by 4.65% compared with UNet.DiscussionThe effectiveness of the proposed method was further verified by the better results in comparison with deep learning methods with similar network architectures.
Transcriptome and co-expression network revealed molecular mechanism underlying selenium response of foxtail millet (Setaria italica)
Authors: Wen Yinyuan , Cheng Liuna , Zhao Zeya , An Mengyao , Zhou Shixue , Zhao Juan , Dong Shuqi , Yuan Xiangyang , Yin Meiqiang 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionSelenium-enriched foxtail millet (Setaria italica) represents a functional cereal with significant health benefits for humans. This study endeavors to examine the impact of foliar application of sodium selenite (Na2SeO4) on foxtail millet, specifically focusing on selenium (Se) accumulation and transportation within various plant tissues.MethodsTo unravel the molecular mechanisms governing selenium accumulation and transportation in foxtail millet, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of selenium content and transcriptome responses in foxtail millet spikelets across different days (3, 5, 7, and 12) under Na2SeO4 treatment (200 μmol/L).ResultsFoxtail millet subjected to selenium fertilizer exhibited significantly elevated selenium levels in each tissue compared to the untreated control. Selenate was observed to be transported and accumulated sequentially in the leaf, stem, and spikes. Transcriptome analysis unveiled a substantial upregulation in the transcription levels of genes associated with selenium metabolism and transport, including sulfate, phosphate, and nitrate transporters, ABC transporters, antioxidants, phytohormone signaling, and transcription factors. These genes demonstrated intricate interactions, both synergistic and antagonistic, forming a complex network that regulated selenate transport mechanisms. Gene co-expression network analysis highlighted three transcription factors in the tan module and three transporters in the turquoise module that significantly correlated with selenium accumulation and transportation. Expression of sulfate transporters (SiSULTR1.2b and SiSULTR3.1a), phosphate transporter (PHT1.3), nitrate transporter 1 (NRT1.1B), glutathione S-transferase genes (GSTs), and ABC transporter (ABCC13) increased with SeO42- accumulation. Transcription factors MYB, WRKY, and bHLH were also identified as players in selenium accumulation.ConclusionThis study provides preliminary insights into the mechanisms of selenium accumulation and transportation in foxtail millet. The findings hold theoretical significance for the cultivation of selenium-enriched foxtail millet.
Personal dispositions explain differences in physical health benefits of nature exposure: the role of restorativeness and affect
Authors: Russo Claudia , Romano Luciano , Spano Giuseppina , Theodorou Annalisa , Carrus Giuseppe , Mastandrea Stefano , Angelini Cinzia , Sanesi Giovanni , Panno Angelo 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionUrbanization processes are constantly increasing, and most of the European population currently live in urban areas. Nevertheless, evidence is consistent in highlighting the positive association between nature exposure and human wellbeing, although individual differences might affect this association.MethodsThe present study aimed to investigate the association among nature connectedness, conceptualized as Love and Care for Nature, place identity, and physical wellbeing, via restorativeness and positive and negative affect. A total of 312 visitors of an urban green area (i.e., Milan’s Parco Nord) participated in the study. They completed an anonymous questionnaire.ResultsFindings showed that nature connectedness and place identity positively affect physical wellbeing, via restorativeness and positive affect, but not through the negative ones.DiscussionResults highlight the importance of the joint role of exposure to nature and individual differences in promoting wellbeing. This study offers implications for interventions aimed at enhancing individuals’ health through exposure to nature. Limitations of the study and future research developments are discussed.
Virtual focus groups among individuals with use disorders: assessing feasibility and acceptability in an underserved clinical population
Authors: Bergeria Cecilia L. , Park Brandon , Satyavolu Prem Umang , Dunn Kelly E. , Dworkin Robert H. , Strain Eric C. 
Published: March 2024

ObjectiveThere are substantial barriers to conducting research among individuals with stigmatized and complicated health conditions like substance use disorders. These barriers slow progress when developing, refining, and assessing interventions to better treat underserved populations. Virtual focus groups are an innovative method for collecting data from individuals via a discreet and accessible platform which can inform novel as well as existing treatment approaches. This article reports on the feasibility and acceptability of virtual focus groups as a mechanism to recruit and engage geographically and demographically diverse samples of participants with substance use disorders that are otherwise logistically difficult to assess.MethodParticipants were assessed for eligibility for a virtual focus group study based on demographic features, drug use history, and psychiatric history via a remote, interview-based screening. Focus groups were completed anonymously without video or name-sharing. Discussion contributions, quantified with number of times speaking and total number of words spoken, were compared across gender, and treatment status. Participants provided quantitative and qualitative feedback on the focus group experience in a follow-up survey.ResultsFocus groups (N=26) based in geographical areas throughout the United States were conducted with 88 individuals with opioid use disorder or stimulant use disorder. Discussion contributions were comparable between genders and among individuals in treatment versus those seeking treatment. A follow-up survey (n=50, 57% of focus group participants) reflected high levels of enjoyment, comfort, and honesty during focus group discussions.DiscussionFindings suggest virtual focus groups can be an effective and efficient tool for substance use research.
Multicultural personality traits of Chinese university students and their effects on the psychological adjustment in the aftermath of COVID-19 in Shanghai: a scale validation
Authors: Fu Hanzhi , Nadeem Muhammad Umar , Kulich Steve J. 
Published: March 2024

ObjectiveThis study aims to explore Chinese university students’ multicultural personalities and examine how they predict the psychological adjustment of students in Shanghai. In addition, the validation of Multicultural Personality Questionnaire Short Form (MPQ-SF) scale developed to assess the multicultural personality traits of individuals is also aimed in Chinese context. Data were collected after the psychological stresses from restrictions imposed by COVID-19 in China that influenced life adjustments for nearly three years.MethodA total of 1,099 university students participated in this multi-stage study. First, the Chinese version of MPQ-SF (MPQ-SF-C) was developed and validated. The impact of MPQ-SF-C dimensions was then tested through path analysis to establish the effects of Chinese university students’ multicultural personality traits on their psychological adjustment using the Schwartz Outcome Scale (SOS-10).ResultsThe MPQ-SF-C yielded a five-factor solution which accounted for 60.14% of the common variance. The findings indicated that cultural empathy (β = 0.23, p &lt; 0.05), certainty seeking (β = 0.13, p &lt; 0.05), open-mindedness (β = 0.48, p &lt; 0.05), and emotional stability (β = 0.24, p &lt; 0.05) had significant influences on adjustment. Only flexibility was found to have a statistically insignificant impact on adjustment at this time in this context. MPQ-SF-C and SOS-10 scales represented very good psychometric properties in terms of their reliability and validity.ConclusionThe MPQ-SF-C shows good psychometric properties and appropriateness for evaluating multicultural personalities in Chinese contexts. The multicultural personality characteristics of university students using this scale well predicted their psychological adjustment.
External relationships as implementation determinants in community-engaged, equity-focused COVID-19 vaccination events
Authors: Moore Ramey , Callaghan-Koru Jennifer , Vincenzo Jennifer L. , Patton Susan K. , Spear Marissa J. , Riklon Sheldon , Alik Eldon , Padilla Ramos Alan , Takamaru Stephanie , McElfish Pearl A. , Curran Geoffrey M. 
Published: March 2024

BackgroundWhile relationships and connectedness among organizations have been included in implementation theories, models, and frameworks, the increased attention to health equity in implementation science raises the urgency of understanding the role of relationships external to the implementing organization. This paper addresses this gap through an exploration of the role of external relationships in community-based, equity-focused interventions.MethodsThis study focuses on an equity-focused, community-based COVID-19 vaccination intervention in Arkansas, drawing upon long-term community-engaged relationships among University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Hispanic and Marshallese Islander communities. We used an exploratory qualitative descriptive design to examine barriers and facilitators to implementation of COVID-19 vaccination events analyzing in-depth qualitative interviews with implementation team members (n = 17).ResultsAll participants described pre-existing relationships among the implementing organization, partner organizations, and communities as a key implementation determinant for this equity-focused program. At the inter-organizational level, external relationships included formal connections and informal relationships among staff (e.g., communication channels from prior partnerships). At the individual level, strong external relationships with the community were facilitators leveraging long-term engagement, community familiarity, and staff from the communities of focus. Strong external relationships facilitated program reach in underserved communities through three mechanisms: (1) reduced time required to establish functional working relationships among partners; (2) accessibility and cultural congruence of health services; and (3) increased trust among community members. Barriers to implementation also existed in external relationships, but had less influence than facilitators.ConclusionsAchieving health equity in implementation science requires greater understanding of external relationships as implementation determinants. This exploratory study makes a significant contribution to the literature by describing the types of external relationships that facilitate equitable implementation and identifying the mechanisms through which they may work. We argue that approaches to community engagement drawn from community-engaged research approaches may be useful, as these processes require investment in building/maintaining formal and informal organizational and interpersonal relationships. Further research is needed to understand connections among external relationships and other implementation determinants.
Do rural migrant parents intend to settle in cities? Impacts of childcare strategies, split households, migration duration, and distance
Authors: Guo Chunlan 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionThe current transnational and internal migration involve more and more circular and temporary residences in the host communities. However, few studies have examined the settlement intention of circular and temporary migrant parents with children under 18 years old, which has made inclusive planning for these migrants' needs difficult. This paper aimed to examine whether rural migrant parents intended to settle in cities, with specific discussion about the impacts of childcare strategies, split households, and migration duration and distance.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study design. The data was sourced from the China Migrants Dynamic Survey.ResultsThrough analysis of a sample of 4,247 rural migrant parents in the Pearl River Delta, this study found that 56% of rural migrant parents intended to become urban settlers. Higher levels of education and income and longer migration durations yielded the parents' increased intention to become urban settlers. The birthplaces and primary caregivers of migrants' children were also significant factors. Moreover, split households, especially households in which the youngest child did not live with the parents in cities, decreased parents' intention to settle permanently. Instead of geographic distance, administrative provincial boundaries were found to be a critical factor in inter-provincial migrant parents' decreased intention to settle in cities.DiscussionThis study provides insights into understanding urbanization in China and contributes to future policy studies regarding internal migration, social integration and population growth, especially in a low fertility and rapid aging contest.
In-contest body acceleration profiles for the judo male and female weight divisions
Authors: Santos Luis , Federolf Peter A. , Schneider Friedemann , Pocecco Elena , Fernández-Río Javier , Iglesias-Soler Eliseo , Carballeira-Fernández Eduardo , Uriarte Sugoi , Dopico-Calvo Xurxo 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionThis study aimed to determine the body accelerations (BA) profile of the judo contest of the male and female weight divisions and to ascertain the involvement of the vertical, mediolateral and anteroposterior axes in it.MethodsForty-eight male and forty-eight female national and international level athletes (some of them medalists in World, European and national championships) participated in a 5-min simulated contest (official fight time plus breaks) against an opponent of the same sex and weight division, wearing an accelerometer. Heart rate, blood lactate and ratings of perceived exertion were recorded to certify that the athletes performed the fullest.ResultsThe t2way test expressed differences in the athletes' BA (p = 0.001) and three profiles were identified: the light/middle weight male divisions, the light/middle weight female divisions and the heavy male and female ones. Athletes of all weight divisions performed their BA during the contest in all three directions (the one-sample Person's chi-square did not detect any significantly predominant one: p = 0.400, p = 0.631, p = 0.844, p = 0.749, p = 0.644 and p = 0.895, for male light, moderate and heavy, female light, moderate and heavyweight athletes, respectively). Monte Carlo method simulations suggested as the most likely scenarios those with BA involving all axes, with a slight preference of the anteroposterior and mediolateral ones.DiscussionThese results suggest that the demands on judo athletes in a contest differ between weight classes and sexes.
Accessing the behavior and awareness of veterinary professionals towards antimicrobials use and antimicrobial resistance in Indian district
Authors: Dhayal Virendra S. , Rehman Bilal Ur , Krishnan Ayana , Singh Vijay Pal 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant public health threat, and understanding the awareness and practices of healthcare professionals is crucial for its mitigation. Since the animal sector plays a key role in India’s economy, we decided to explore the understanding of Antimicrobial Use (AMU) and AMR among veterinary professionals.MethodsThe study aimed to evaluate the awareness and behavior of veterinarians and para-veterinarians working in the Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, India, concerning AMU and AMR. Questionnaire surveys were administered to them with closed-ended questions. The data was collected and subjected to statistical analysis to derive meaningful insights. The key findings highlight notable differences in certain behavioral aspects of antibiotic prescription among the two groups.Results and DiscussionIt appears that 53.8% of veterinarians as compared to 25.8% para-veterinarians do not surely inform farmers about the importance of adhering to antibiotic withdrawal periods, thereby failing to raise awareness about proper antibiotic use. Moreover, para-veterinarians (46.6%) tend to engage less in evidence-based antibiotic prescription than veterinarians (81%). Furthermore, both groups exhibit a lower frequency of advice on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (ABST), essential for informed prescribing decisions. Most significantly, both groups show a tendency to prefer critically important antibiotics for prescription, raising concerns about the escalating threat of AMR. This study thus emphasizes the areas that need targeted interventions to enhance responsible antimicrobial usage and curb the growth of AMR in the region.
Analysis of multimode radiation from 0.4 THz backward wave oscillator
Authors: Annaka Yuta , Sugawara Akira , Kokubo Yuma , Takebuchi Aoi , Funaki Kazuto , Matsuzaki Rei , Iguchi Touta 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
A terahertz backward wave oscillator (BWO) is a high-power terahertz wave source based on the Cherenkov interaction between an electron beam and a slow backward wave. Excitation of slow wave modes with different mode numbers degrades the performance of BWO due to mode competition. Analyzing the mode spectrum is a difficult challenge to confirm single mode operation. In this study, the excitation of the slow waves in a 0.4 THz cylindrical corrugated waveguide is examined. In the corrugated waveguide, azimuthal modes become slow backward waves with evanescent fields. We found the superposition of the modes with different azimuthal indices has an asymmetric field intensity and the excitation of the superposed modes produces the terahertz radiation with the asymmetric pattern. We conduct a BWO experiment using a 0.4 THz corrugated waveguide. The experimental radiation pattern is obtained and corresponds well to the calculated asymmetric pattern. The symmetry of the radiation can be regarded as an indicator of the mode control.