bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
‘Confidence and fulfillment’: a qualitative descriptive study exploring the impact of palliative care training for long-term care physicians and nurses
Authors: Gill Ashlinder , Meadows Lynn , Ashbourne Jessica , Kaasalainen Sharon , Shamon Sandy , Pereira José 
Published: March 2024

Objective: To explore the impact of a 2-day, in-person interprofessional palliative care course for staff working in long-term care (LTC) homes. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study design was employed. LTC staff who had participated in Pallium Canada’s Learning Essential Approaches to Palliative Care LTC Course in Ontario, Canada between 2017 and 2019 were approached. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, using an online videoconferencing platform in mid-2021 in Ontario, Canada. These were done online, recorded, and transcribed. Data were coded inductively. Results: Ten persons were interviewed: four registered practical nurses, three registered nurses, one nurse practitioner, and two physicians. Some held leadership roles. Participants described ongoing impact on themselves and their ability to provide end-of-life (EOL) care (micro-level), their services and institutions (meso-level), and their healthcare systems (macro-level). At a micro-level, participants described increased knowledge and confidence to support residents and families, and increased work fulfillment. At the meso-level, their teams gained increased collective knowledge and greater interprofessional collaboration to provide palliative care. At the macro level, some participants connected with other LTC homes and external stakeholders to improve palliative care across the sector. Training provided much-needed preparedness to respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including undertaking advance care planning and EOL conversations. The pandemic caused staff burnout and shortages, creating challenges to applying course learnings. Significance of results: The impact of palliative care training had ripple effects several years after completing the training, and equipped staff with key skills to provide care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Palliative care education of staff remains a critical element of an overall strategy to improve the integration of palliative care in LTC.
Gbdmr: identifying differentially methylated CpG regions in the human genome via generalized beta regressions
Authors: Wu Chengzhou , Mou Xichen , Zhang Hongmei 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
DNA methylation is a biochemical process in which a methyl group is added to the cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) site on DNA molecules without altering the DNA sequence. Multiple CpG sites in a certain genome region can be differentially methylated across phenotypes. Identifying these differentially methylated CpG regions (DMRs) associated with the phenotypes contributes to disease prediction and precision medicine development.

Results
We propose a novel DMR detection algorithm, gbdmr. In contrast to existing methods under a linear regression framework, gbdmr assumes that DNA methylation levels follow a generalized beta distribution. We compare gbdmr to alternative approaches via simulations and real data analyses, including dmrff, a new DMR detection approach that shows promising performance among competitors, and the traditional EWAS that focuses on single CpG sites. Our simulations demonstrate that gbdmr is superior to the other two when the correlation between neighboring CpG sites is strong, while dmrff shows a higher power when the correlation is weak. We provide an explanation of these phenomena from a theoretical perspective. We further applied the three methods to multiple real DNA methylation datasets. One is from a birth cohort study undertaken on the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, and the other two are from the Gene Expression Omnibus database repository. Overall, gbdmr identifies more DMR CpGs linked to phenotypes than dmrff, and the simulated results support the findings.

Conclusions
Gbdmr is an innovative method for detecting DMRs based on generalized beta regression. It demonstrated notable advantages over dmrff and traditional EWAS, particularly when adjacent CpGs exhibited moderate to strong correlations. Our real data analyses and simulated findings highlight the reliability of gbdmr as a robust DMR detection tool. The gbdmr approach is accessible and implemented by R on GitHub: https://github.com/chengzhouwu/gbdmr.
ONT read assembly of the black rhino genome
Authors: Kraaijeveld Ken , Bossers Koen , Petrusevski Nikola , Pieterman Stef , Bruins-van Sonsbeek Linda G.R. , Wittink Floyd 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Objectives
The black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) is an endangered mammal for which a captive breeding program is part of the conservation effort. Black rhinos in zoo’s often suffer from chronic infections and heamochromatosis. Furthermore, breeding is hampered by low male fertility. To aid a research project studying these topics, we sequenced and assembled the genome of a captive male black rhino using ONT sequencing data only.

Data description
This work produced over 100 Gb whole genome sequencing reads from whole blood. These were assembled into a 2.47 Gb draft genome consisting of 834 contigs with an N50 of 29.53 Mb. The genome annotation was lifted over from an available genome annotation for black rhino, which resulted in the retrieval of over 99% of gene features. This new genome assembly will be a valuable resource in for conservation genetic research in this species.

Keywords
Black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis, Genome assembly, Long reads, Whole genome sequencing.
Integrated metabolome and transcriptome analyses reveal the molecular mechanism underlying dynamic metabolic processes during taproot development of Panax notoginseng
Authors: Li Xuejiao , Zhao Yan , He Shuilian , Meng Jing , Lu Yingchun , Shi Huineng , Liu Chunlan , Hao Bing , Tang Qingyan , Zhang Shuangyan , Zhang Guanghui , Luo Yu , Yang Shengchao , Yang Jianli , Fan Wei 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Panax notoginseng (Burk) F. H. Chen is one of the most famous Chinese traditional medicinal plants. The taproot is the main organ producing triterpenoid saponins, and its development is directly linked to the quality and yield of the harvested P. notoginseng. However, the mechanisms underlying the dynamic metabolic changes occurring during taproot development of P. notoginseng are unknown.

Results
We carried out metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses to investigate metabolites and gene expression during the development of P. notoginseng taproots. The differentially accumulated metabolites included amino acids and derivatives, nucleotides and derivatives, and lipids in 1-year-old taproots, flavonoids and terpenoids in 2- and 3-year-old taproots, and phenolic acids in 3-year-old taproots. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are related to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, metabolic pathway and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites at all three developmental stages. Integrative analysis revealed that the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway was involved in not only the development of but also metabolic changes in P. notoginseng taproots. Moreover, significant accumulation of triterpenoid saponins in 2- and 3-year-old taproots was highly correlated with the up-regulated expression of cytochrome P450s and uridine diphosphate-dependent glycosyltransferases genes. Additionally, a gene encoding RNase-like major storage protein was identified to play a dual role in the development of P. notoginseng taproots and their triterpenoid saponins synthesis.

Conclusions
These results elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the accumulation of and change relationship between primary and secondary metabolites in P. notoginseng taproots, and provide a basis for the quality control and genetic improvement of P. notoginseng.
Effects of virtual reality versus motor imagery versus routine physical therapy in patients with parkinson’s disease: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kashif Muhammad , Albalwi Abdulaziz Aoudh , Zulfiqar Ayesha , Bashir Kiran , Alharbi Ahmad Abdullah , Zaidi Shiza 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder, mostly affecting balance and motor function caused mainly by a lack of dopamine in the brain. The use of virtual reality (VR) and motor imagery (MI) is emerging as an effective method of rehabilitation for people with Parkinson’s disease. Motor imagery and virtual reality have not been compared in patients with Parkinson’s disease. This randomized clinical trial is unique to compare the effects of virtual reality with routine physical therapy, motor imagery with routine physical therapy, and routine physical therapy alone on balance, motor function, and activities of daily living in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Methods
A total of sixty patients with Parkinson’s disease were randomized into three groups using lottery method; twenty with virtual reality therapy in addition to physical therapy (group A = VR + RPT), twenty with imagery therapy in addition to physical therapy (group B = MI + RPT), and twenty were treated with only routine physical therapy (group C = RPT). All patients were evaluated using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) for motor function and activities of daily living, the Berg balance scale (BBS) for balance, and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABCs) for balance confidence at baseline, six and twelve weeks, and one month after treatment discontinuation. The one-way ANOVA was used to compare the outcomes between three groups, and the repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the outcomes within each of the three groups at a significance level of p-value = 0.05.

Results
According to UPDRS III, the VR + RPT group showed significant improvement in motor function, compared to the MI + RPT and RPT groups, as the Mean ± SD at baseline was 33.95 ± 3.501 and at the 12-week assessment was 17.20 ± 9.451 with a p-value = 0.001. In the VR + RPT group, the BBS score at baseline was 37.15 ± 3.437 and at 12th week was 50.10 ± 4.897 with a p-value = 0.019. Among the VR + RPT group, the ABCS score showed significant improvement as the M ± SD at baseline was 57.95 ± 4.629, and at the 12th week was 78.59 ± 6.386 with a p-value = 0.010. At baseline, the UPDRS II for activities of daily living in the VR + RPT group was 25.20 ± 3.036 and at 12th week it was 15.30 ± 2.364 with p-value of 0.000.

Conclusion
The current study found that the combination of VR and RPT proved to be the most effective treatment method for improving balance, motor function, and activities of daily living in patients with Parkinson’s disease when compared to MI + RPT or RPT alone.
Development of a prediction model for facilitating the clinical application of transcranial color-coded duplex ultrasonography
Authors: Duan Jieyu , Wang Pengfei , Wang Haoyu , Zhao Wei 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Transcranial color-coded duplex ultrasonography (TCCD) is an important diagnostic tool in the investigation of cerebrovascular diseases. TCCD is often hampered by the temporal window that ultrasound cannot penetrate. Rapidly determine whether ultrasound can penetrate the temporal window in order to determine whether to use other acoustic windows to complete the examination process. In this study, Skull thickness can be measured simultaneously during TCCD examination, which makes it possible to use skull thickness to rapidly determine whether the temporal window is penetrated by ultrasound.

Methods
This retrospective study included 301 patients with clinical symptoms of cerebrovascular diseases. These 301 patients were divided into an impenetrable temporal window (ITW) group and a penetrable temporal window group according to the results of the TCCD examination.

Results
The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) for skull thickness was 0.887 (cutoff value 1.045 cm). Following multivariate logistic regression, sex, age, and skull thickness were used to develop a nomogram. The AUC for the nomogram was 0.923 (cutoff value 0.407).

Conclusions
The skull thickness at the temporal window was measured by ultrasound, which was convenient and accurate. The probability of ITW in females was higher than that in males, and it increased with age. In this study, a prediction model incorporating sex, age and skull thickness could predict ITW probability well. If the patient’s temporal window was rapidly predicted as an ITW, other acoustic window examinations were used to complete the TCCD examination process to optimize the TCCD examination process of cerebrovascular diseases and facilitate the popularization of TCCD in clinical application.
The association between new inflammation markers and frequent peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis
Authors: Tang Jing , Wang Dongxue , Chen Yun , Feng Jinhong 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Objective
To validate an association between new inflammation and frequent peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP).

Materials and methods
In China, retrospective clinical data were collected on 208 patients who received continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) between 2010 and 2021. The patients were divided into two groups: non-frequent PDAP (the interval between two peritonitis episodes of more than one year) and frequent PDAP (the interval between two peritonitis episodes of less than one year). Patients with their first episode of peritonitis had their age, gender, history of hypertension, diabetic disease, underlying renal disease, bacterial infection, and laboratory data collected. The outcomes of bacterial dispersion, systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), C-reactive protein (CRP), and risk variables associated with frequent PDAP were analyzed.

Results
There are differences between the two groups in dialysis time (p = 0.006), hypertensive nephropathy (p = 0.038), staphylococcus (p = 0.035), white blood cells (p = 0.001), neutrophil (p < 0.01), lymphocyte (p < 0.01), platelet(p = 0.01), SII(p < 0.01), CRP/HDL-C (p = 0.002), CRP (p < 0.001), serum creatinine (p = 0.007), blood urea nitrogen (p = 0.05), serum magnesium (0.03), serum potassium (p = 0.007), and dialysate polymorphonuclear cells (p = 0.004). Multifactorial logistic regression analysis found that SII (p < 0.001), CRP/HDL-C (p = 0.041), and Diabetes mellitus (p = 0.027) were independent risk factors for frequent PDAP. The ROC curve analysis revealed that combining SII with CRP/HDL-C resulted in the largest AUC area (AUC = 0.814).

Conclusions
Our findings offer clinical proof of the combination of SII and CRP/HDL-C in patients with frequent PDAP.
Adherence to the evidence-based recommendations in managing bone health, pain, and mobility of patients with multiple myeloma: a mixed method in the Palestinian healthcare system
Authors: Shawahna Ramzi , Amer Riad , Salameh Husam , Shawahna Abdul-Rahman , Aljondy Mohmmad , Zain-Aldain Mohmmad 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Consensus/evidence-based recommendations for assessing, managing, and monitoring bone health, pain, and mobility in patients with multiple myeloma were developed. This study was conducted to assess the adherence of the hematologists-oncologists to the consensus/evidence-based recommendations for assessing, managing, and monitoring bone health, pain, and mobility in patients with multiple myeloma who received care in the Palestinian healthcare system.

Methods
A mixed method was used in this study. The consensus/evidence-based recommendations were identified through a systematic search in Scopus, PubMed, SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. A panel of 5 researchers (3 hematologists-oncologists, 3 medical students, and 1 pharmacologist) sorted the consensus/evidence-based recommendations and developed the survey tool during 3 iterative meetings. The extent to which the hematologists-oncologists in the 5 centers caring for patients with multiple myeloma adhered to the consensus/evidence-based recommendations was assessed using a questionnaire.

Results
Responses were collected from 10 hematologists-oncologists in all 5 healthcare centers where patients with multiple myeloma receive healthcare in the West Bank of Palestine. The median number of years in the practice of the hematologists-oncologists was 7.5 [2.75, 14.0] years and the median number of patients with multiple myeloma care per month was 12.5 [7.5, 21.25]. The vast majority (90%) of the hematologists-oncologists reported inadequate adherence to screening for medication problems related to bone health, pain, cardiopulmonary fitness, healthy behaviors, nutritional deficits, and mental health. Of the hematologists-oncologists, 70% reported inadequate adherence to ordering and evaluating calcium, vitamin D, alkaline phosphatase, electrolytes, and phosphorus levels to monitor bone health and 60% reported inadequate adherence to prescribing calcium and vitamin D supplements whenever there was a need.

Conclusion
The findings of this study suggested inadequate adherence to the consensus/evidence-based recommendations and highlighted areas for improvement to ensure that patients receive optimal care. The findings suggested a need for further education and training on the latest guidelines and recommendations. Decision-makers and policymakers might need to design measures and implement policies to improve adherence to the consensus/evidence-based recommendations. Addressing these gaps in adherence to the consensus/evidence-based recommendations may improve the care and outcomes of patients with multiple myeloma.
Potential causal associations between leisure sedentary behaviors, physical activity, sleep traits, and myopia: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Bin , Jiang He-He , Zhang Lin-Lin , Li Chun-Jing , Chen Chen , Xing Meng-Zhen , Ma Yu-Ning , Ma Yu-Xia 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Myopia is the most prevalent refractive error and a growing global health concern that significantly affects visual function. Researchers have recently emphasized considerably on the influence of lifestyle on myopia incidence and development. This study investigates the relationship between leisure sedentary behaviors (LSB)/physical activity (PA)/sleep traits and myopia.

Methods
LSB, PA, and sleep trait-associated genetic variants were used as instrument variables in a Mendelian randomization (MR) study to examine their causal effects on myopia. Summary genome-wide association studies (GWASs) statistical data for LSB and PA were obtained from UK Biobank, and the data of sleep traits was obtained from UK Biobank, UK Biobank and 23andMe, and FinnGen. We used summary statistics data for myopia from MRC IEU. The MR analyses was performed using the inverse variance-weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, and MR Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier methods.

Results
Computer use was genetically predicted to increase the myopia risk [IVW odds ratio (OR) = 1.057; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.038–1.078; P = 7.04 × 10− 9]. The self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (IVW OR = 0.962; 95% CI, 0.932–0.993; P = 1.57 × 10− 2) and television watching (IVW OR = 0.973; 95% CI, 0.961–0.985, P = 1.93 × 10− 5) were significantly associated with a lower myopia risk. However, genetically predicted sleep traits or accelerometer-measured physical activity had no significant associations with myopia.

Conclusion
Our results indicated that computer use is a risk factor for myopia, whereas television watching and MVPA may protect against myopia. These findings shed new light on possible strategies for reducing the prevalence of myopia.
Novel surgical approaches for treating myopic traction maculopathy: a meta-analysis
Authors: Quiroz-Reyes Miguel A. , Quiroz-Gonzalez Erick A. , Quiroz-Gonzalez Miguel A. , Lima-Gomez Virgilio 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Myopic traction maculopathy (MTM) is a complication of pathological myopia and encompasses various pathological conditions caused by tractional changes in the eye. These changes include retinoschisis, foveal retinal detachment, and lamellar or full-thickness macular holes (FTMHs). This meta-analysis evaluated the safety and efficacy of novel surgical for treating MTM.

Methods
To compare the outcomes of different surgical approaches for MTM, multiple databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and the Meta-Register of Controlled Trials, were comprehensively searched. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.1.

Results
Nine comparative studies involving 350 eyes were included in this meta-analysis. There were significant differences between fovea-sparing internal limiting membrane peeling (FSIP) and standard internal limiting membrane peeling (ILMP). Preoperative best-corrected visual acuity BCVA (standard mean difference (SMD): -0.10, 95% CI: -0.32 to 0.12) and central foveal thickness CFT (SMD: 0.05, 95% CI: -0.22 to 0.33) were not significantly different (p = 0.39 and p = 0.71, respectively). However, the postoperative BCVA improved significantly (SMD = − 0.47, 95% CI: − 0.80, − 0.14, p = 0.006) in the FSIP group compared to the standard ILMP group. Postoperative CFT did not differ significantly between the two groups (p = 0.62). The FSIP group had a greater anatomical success rate than the other groups, although the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.26). The incidence of postoperative macular hole formation was significantly lower (OR = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.07–0.54; p = 0.05) in the FSIP group than in the standard ILMP group. The unique characteristics of highly myopic eyes, such as increased axial length and structural changes, may have contributed to the greater incidence of FTMH in the ILMP group.

Conclusion
Based on the findings of this meta-analysis, FSIP is the initial surgical approach for early-stage MTM and has shown promising outcomes. However, to establish the safest and most efficient surgical technique for treating different MTM stages, further comparative studies, specifically those focusing on ILMP and FSIP, are necessary.

Trial registration
Retrospectively registered.