bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Study on effectiveness of systematic cardiotocography use in National Maternal and Child Health Center in Cambodia: A study protocol for an explanatory clinical trial
Authors: Matsui Mitsuaki , Aoki Ai , Unno Nobuya , Eto Hiromi , Kim Rattana , Koum Kanal , Ly Sotha Keth , Takehara Kenji 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background and objective:
An estimated 2 million stillbirths and 2.4 million neonatal deaths occur globally every year, and 98% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. The main causes of neonatal death are prematurity and intrapartum-related events, and half of stillbirths occur during labor. Although cardiotocography (CTG) is used to detect fetal hypoxia and acidosis in high-income countries, its effectiveness is not shown in resource-limited settings. This study aims to evaluate whether systematic CTG contributes to reducing fetal acidosis, stillbirths and neonatal deaths in a tertiary-level hospital in Cambodia.
Methods:
Participants will be pregnant women with moderate risk. The study employs pre- and post-comparison design, and consists of three phases: observation (pre), pre-intervention, and intervention (post). Standard care is applied during the observation phase. Training on CTG application using a local guideline is applied in the pre-intervention phase. Systematic CTG use and periodic supervision are key components of the intervention. The observation phase is between January and April 2023, and the intervention phase is between January and April 2024. Primary outcome is fetal acidosis, which manifests as a pH less than 7.20 in the umbilical arterial blood. The results in the observation and intervention phases will be compared using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.
Discussion:
The novel idea of this study is the systematic use of CTG and the monitoring of hypoxic and acidotic states using blood gas analysis. It is expected that this study will contribute to show effectiveness of CTG use on reduction of fetal acidosis, and eventually on reduction of preventable child deaths in resource-limited settings.
Clinical trial registration:
UMIN000052815, UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR)
Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor α positive Cells are Essential for Angiogenesis Coupled with Osteogenesis through Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1α Signaling
Authors: liu liwei , sun pengpeng , ma benxu , wang changyao 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Backgroud: Bone remodeling is a lifelong process depending on two dynamic and balanced activities, bone resorption and formation. It was hypothesized that a subset of the smallest vessels is essential to promote bone formation. Questions: What are the cellular and molecular mechanisms that are involved in osteogenic vessel formation during bone remodeling༟ Results: We showed that bone marrow progenitor cells (BMPC) gave rise to endothelial cells for vessel formation during bone remodeling. We further found BMPCs were the targets for hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) in vessel formation. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is the only FDA-approved anabolic agent for osteoporosis. We found that PTH stimulated BMPCs commitment to endothelial cells for vessel formation and bone progenitors for bone formation. Inducible knockout of HIF1α from BMPCs abolished the effect of PTH in mouse models. Conclusion: BMPCs are essential for angiogenesis coupled with osteogenesis via HIF1α pathway. Clinical Relevance: HIF1α is a potential therapeutic target for osteoporosis.
Finite element model reveals the involvement of cartilage endplate in quasi-static biomechanics of intervertebral disc degeneration
Authors: Zhang YuJun , Pan Yanli , Mao Xinning , He Du , Zhang Liangping , Cheng Wei , Zhu Chengyue , Zhu Hang , Zhang Wei , Jin HongTing , Pan Hao , Wang Dong 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background and Objective:
The biomechanical functionality of intervertebral discs is intrinsically linked to their compositional and structural attributes. However, the specific influence of cartilage endplate (CEP) degeneration on these discs' biomechanical behavior remains inadequately understood.
Methods
This study developed and quantitatively validated four biphasic swelling-based finite element models. We then applied four quasi-static tests and simulated daily loading scenarios to examine the effects of CEP degradation.
Results
In free-swelling conditions, short-term responses were prevalent, with CEP performance changes not significantly impacting response proportionality. Creep test results showed over 50% of strain attributed to long-term responses. Stress-relaxation testing indicated that all responses intensified with disc degeneration, yet CEP degeneration's impact was minimal. Daily load analyses revealed that disc degeneration significantly reduces nucleus pulposus pressure and disc height, whereas CEP degeneration marginally increases nucleus pressure and slightly decreases disc height.
Conclusions
Glycosaminoglycan content and CEP permeability are critical to the fluid-dependent viscoelastic response of intervertebral discs. Our findings suggest CEP's contributory role in disc degeneration under daily loading conditions.
Differences of patient empowerment between elective and contracted physicians in internal medicine in Austria: a quantitative content analysis
Authors: Simetsberger Bettina , Pferzinger Manfred , Waiguny Martin K. J. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Background
Physicians impact and promote patient empowerment at various levels. Specialized ambulatory care is provided by either elective physicians or contracted physicians in Austria, which is unique internationally. The difference between the two groups is due to the contractual relationship with the social health insurance providers. This paper researches whether there are also differences in the promotion of patient empowerment between elective and contracted physicians in internal medicine in Vienna based on four dimensions of patient empowerment.
Methods
A quantitative content analysis analyzes the comments on DocFinder.at to identify the differences between the two groups. A deductive inductive approach based on the literature as the comments on DocFinder.at, led to a codebook with seven categories and forty-eight variables. In total of 1,153 comments collated, 912 have been relevant for further analysis. Differences between elective and contracted physicians became evident through defined dimensions of patient empowerment.
Results
Three out of four dimensions show clear differences between elective and contracted physicians. In health literacy, self-management and communication elective physicians exhibit more conducive conditions for patient empowerment compared to contracted physicians. In particular we observe differences in the communication-relevant factors and in the transfer of information. The time spent by physicians is a decisive factor in this context and is one of the key factors in choosing an elective over a contracted physician.
Conclusions
The findings serve suggest avenues for further research. Our results suggest that elective physicians tend to create more conducive framework conditions for patient empowerment compared to contracted physicians, however our findings are also limited by the method used so future research might address it with different approaches like surveys or experiments.
Determinants of Hand Hygiene Compliance among Healthcare Workers in Intensive Care Units: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Alshagrawi Salah 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background
Practicing hand hygiene is a cost-effective method to decrease the occurrence of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs). However, despite their simplicity, adhering to hand hygiene methods among healthcare workers (HCWs) can be highly challenging. We aim to examine the factors influencing hand hygiene compliance as perceived by HCWs working in the intensive care units (ICUs) at several major hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Method
This qualitative study was conducted by adopting a content analysis to examine the interviews of HCWs who are currently working in the ICUs of various major hospitals located in the capital city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Results
We interviewed 49 HCWs working in ICUs, with an average age of 38 and 8 years of experience. The HCWs comprised doctors (n = 12), anesthesiologists (n = 6), and nurses (n = 31). There were 34 females and 15 males among the participants. Our analysis revealed several factors that impact hand hygiene compliance, including individual, work/environment, team, task, patient, organizational, and management concerns. Furthermore, several obstacles and possibilities for enhancement have been identified.
Conclusion
The results of this study would enhance our comprehension of hand hygiene practices and serve as a foundation for creating future strategies and assessment methods to enhance compliance with hand hygiene protocols in ICUs.
Regression with race-modifiers: towards equity and interpretability
Authors: Kowal Daniel 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

The pervasive effects of structural racism and racial discrimination are well-established and offer strong evidence that the effects of many important variables on health and life outcomes vary by race. Alarmingly, standard practices for statistical regression analysis introduce racial biases into the estimation and presentation of these race-modified effects. We introduce abundance-based constraints (ABCs) to eliminate these racial biases. ABCs offer a remarkable invariance property: estimates and inference for main effects are nearly unchanged by the inclusion of race-modifiers. Thus, quantitative researchers can estimate race-specific effects "for free"--without sacrificing parameter interpretability, equitability, or statistical efficiency. The benefits extend to prominent statistical learning techniques, especially regularization and selection. We leverage these tools to estimate the joint effects of environmental, social, and other factors on 4th end-of-grade readings scores for students in North Carolina (n=27,638) and identify race-modified effects for racial (residential) isolation, PM2.5 exposure, and mother's age at birth.
Comparative analysis of Cucurbita pepo genomes shed light in agronomic traits variation
Authors: Perez-Moro Clara , D’Esposito Daniela , Pérez-de-Castro Ana , Ercolano Maria , Capuozzo Claudio , Guadagno Anna 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background
Cucurbita pepo L. cultivars display high morphological traits variation. In addition, C. pepo faces numerous threats, such as viral and fungal infections, which significantly influence crop cultivation. Recent genomic advancements improved the understanding of genetic diversity and stress responses in this crop. We investigated genetic variations related to plant morphology and quality traits. Additionally, the inclusion of both powdery mildew (PM) and Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) susceptible and tolerant varieties facilitated the examination of genetic diversity concerning biotic stress.
Results
The sequencing of eight Cucurbita pepo varieties produced an average of 40 million raw reads with a coverage of reference genome ranging from 22 to 40X. More than 4.7 million genomic variants were identified in all genomes. Based on admixture and PCA analysis, the eight C. pepo genotypes resulted organized in two clusters belonging to Cocozelle and Zucchini groups, with “Whitaker” separated from the rest of the accessions. Genes involved in pathways related to gibberellin regulation, leaf development, and pigment accumulation resulted highly affected by variation suggesting that the diversity observed among varieties in plant and fruit morphology could be related to variants identified in such genes. Each variety showed its own set of genetic differences. The genomic comparison of 381e, 968Rb and SPQ allowed the identification of variants in chromosome regions affecting response to Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) and powdery mildew (PM). Variants in key genes associated with resistant traits were identified, suggesting potential pathways and mechanisms involved in biotic stress response and plant immunity.
Conclusions
Genetic variations affecting morphology and fruit quality in C. pepo emphasize their significance for breeding efforts. Furthermore, the genomic comparison of 381e, 968Rb and SPQ highlighted variants in chromosomal regions influencing zucchini's response to PM and ZYMV. These findings could pave the way for more targeted and effective genetic improvement strategies, thereby potentially leading to increased agricultural productivity and quality.
Discharge from Secondary Care Services to Primary Care for Adults with Serious Mental Illness: A Scoping Review
Authors: Davis Aubrey , Hamilton Kennedy , Vozza Jaclin 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background: Effective transitions of patients from Secondary Care Services (SCSs) to primary care are necessary for optimization of resources and care. Factors that enable or restrict smooth transitions of individuals with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) to primary care from SCSs have not been comprehensively synthesized.
Methods: A scoping review was conducted to answer the questions 1) “What are the barriers and facilitators to discharge from SCSs to primary care for adults with SMI?” and 2) “What programs have been developed to support these transitions?”.
Results: Barriers and facilitators of discharge included patient-, primary care-, and process/systems-related factors. Patient-related barriers and facilitators were most frequently reported. 11 discharge programs were reported across the evidence sources. The most frequently reported program components were the provision of additional mental health supports for the transition and development of care plans with relapse signatures and intervention plans.
Conclusions: Established discharge programs should be comprehensively evaluated to determine their relative benefits. Furthermore, research should be expanded to evaluate barriers and facilitators to discharge and discharge programs in different national contexts and models of care.
Trial Registration: The protocol for this scoping review is registered with the Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/NBTMZ).
Establishment of novel SSR markers from transcriptome data of Chimonanthus praecox and application in the variety identification
Authors: Liu Bin , Wu Huafeng , Cao Yinzhu , Yang Ximeng , Zhu Ting , Sui Shunzhao 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background Chimonanthus praecox, belongs to the Calycanthaceae, is a unique traditional famous flower and special economic tree species in China. There are numerous varieties but only a few cultivars were named. At present, EST-SSR markers are widely used to identify different species and varieties, as researchers can identify a large number of microsatellites from transcriptome databases.
Result A total of 162,638 unigenes were assembled by using RNA-seq, and 82,778 unigenes was annotated by Nr, Nt, Swiss-Prot, Pfam, GO, KOG and KEGG databases. A total of 13,556 SSR loci were detected from 11,691 unigenes, with trinucleotide repeat motifs being the most abundant among the six types of repeat motifs. In order to develop markers, 64,440 pairs of SSR primers with polymorphism potential were designed, and 75 pairs of primers were randomly selected for amplification. Among them, seven pairs amplified fragments of the expected size with high polymorphism, and twelve C.praecoxvarieties were clustered into two monophyletic clades by the seven EST-SSR markers.
Conclusion The microsatellites in the transcriptome of C.preacox have the advantages of rich types, strong specificity, and great polymorphism potential. These EST-SSR markers can provide molecular technical methods for identifying different varieties of C.preacox, and can also explore a large number of candidate genes associated to traits.
Automatic Non-Invasive Prediction of Hemoglobin Using a Deep Learning-Assisted Smartphone-Based System
Authors: Chen YuWen , Yi Bin , Hu Xiaoyan , Zhu Yiziting , Liu Xiang 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Background
The context and purpose of this study is to introduce a novel, compact, and efficient system that leverages deep learning and smartphone technology to estimate hemoglobin levels. Accurate measurement of hemoglobin concentration is essential for various medical scenarios, including preoperative evaluations and determining blood loss. Current models, due to their complex parameters, are not well-suited for mobile medical settings, which limits the ability to conduct frequent and rapid testing.
Methods
The study employed a smartphone application to capture images of the eye, which were then analyzed by a deep neural network trained using invasive blood test data. For the task of eyelid segmentation, the EGE-Unet model was used. The performance of this model was evaluated using statistical metrics including mean intersection over union (MIOU), F1 Score, accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity. For hemoglobin level prediction, the DHA(C3AE) model was employed. The performance of this model was assessed using mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), root mean square error (RMSE), and R^2.
Results
The EGE-Unet model demonstrated robust performance in eyelid segmentation, achieving a MIOU of 0.78, an F1 Score of 0.87, an accuracy of 0.97, a specificity of 0.98, and a sensitivity of 0.86. The DHA(C3AE) model for hemoglobin level prediction yielded promising outcomes with a MAE of 1.34, a MAPE of 2.85, an RMSE of 1.69, and an R^2 of 0.34. The overall size of the model is modest at 1.08M, with a computational complexity of 0.12 FLOPs (G).
Conclusions
This groundbreaking approach eliminates the necessity for supplementary devices, providing a cost-effective, swift, and accurate method for healthcare professionals to enhance treatment planning and improve patient care in perioperative environments. The proposed system has the potential to enable frequent and rapid testing of hemoglobin levels, which can be particularly beneficial in mobile medical settings.
Trial Registration:
The clinical trial was registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No. ChiCTR2100044138) on March 11, 2021.
Using some non-thermal techniques as a new processing to produce safe, high-quality orange juice that is very rich in phytochemicals
Authors: Ghanem Sameh M. , Mahmoud Nashaat N. , Kadry Mostafa M. , Salama Mokhtar M. , Foda Ali H. , abd-ElAzim Essam I. , Haggag Muhammed I. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Objective: the goal of this study was to compare the effects of novel processing techniques thermal processing, pulsed electric field (PEF), orange peel extract (OPE), and ultraviolet (UV) on the physiochemical, microbiological inactivation, and sensory qualities of orange juice that was produced.
Methods: using standard procedures, a phytochemical analysis was conducted, both quantitative and qualitative. Orange juice samples were subjected to UV light for 20 minutes using a germicidal fluorescent UV lamp, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method was used to measure the antioxidant activity and agar well diffusion technique was modified to assess antimicrobial activity.
Results: The treatments could be applied singly or in combination (TOPE+UV, TOPE+PEF, TPEF+UV, and TOPE+PEF+UV). Orange juice samples underwent the following non-thermal treatments: a pulsed electric field (18.5 kV/cm for 500 µs at 100 Hz) for one-minute, thermal processing (at 90 °C for five minutes), non-thermal processing (UV treated at 25 °C for 20 minutes), and addition of 300 µl phytochemical-rich orange peel extract/100 ml juice. The ascorbic acid degradation for juice that was not thermally processed ranged from 11.11 to 20.5%, but thermal processing produced a higher percentage of degradation (62.8%). Some non-thermally processed juice samples had significantly higher carotenoid extractability (p<0.05) when compared to the control and thermally processed juice samples. Additionally, all non-thermally processed juice samples caused a critical increment (p<0.05) in the all-out phenolic content contrasted with the control and thermally treated juice tests. This resulted in the non-thermally processed juice samples having the highest antioxidant capacity compared to thermally processed juice samples. Compared to the control, thermal and non-thermal processing showed a discernible decrease in the microbial burden. Additionally, the sensory scores of the non-thermally processed samples were greater than those of the thermally processed sample but lower than those of the control sample.
Conclusion: the results obtained are consistent with the preservation of orange juice while maintaining its quality attributes through the use of non-thermally processed juice. To produce fruit and vegetable juices with excellent nutritional value and pleasing flavours, heat treatment can be substituted with UV, PEF, and OPE technologies.
Dynamically documenting archaeological excavations based on 3D modeling: a case study of the excavation of the #3 fossil of hominin cranium from Yunxian, Hubei, China
Authors: Niu Wenyuan , Lu Chengqiu , Zou Qiushi , Luo Yunbing , Wang Xuan , Xiang Hanyu , Zhang Fan , Gao Xing , Xing Song , Wei Xuan , Lou Wentai , Huang Dailong , Wang Cheng , Jiang Dongqing , Wan Xiaofeng , Zhang Zhongyun , Yin Huanghao , Lu Jiayang , Wang Feng , Huang Xianfeng , Li Yinghua 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Documenting tangible cultural heritage using 3D modeling techniques is gradually becoming an indispensable component of archaeological practice. The 3D modeling techniques based on photogrammetry and LiDAR scanning enable high-accuracy and high-realistic reconstruction of sites and ruins, and have been proven a powerful tool for documenting archaeological excavations. However, dynamically documenting an ongoing excavation using these techniques is still considered tedious, time-consuming, expensive, and dependent on expertise. In these senses, documenting the archaeological excavation at the \emph{Yunxian Man} site (located in Hubei, China) is an invaluable opportunity for exploration and practice. Archaeologists determined to conduct dynamically documenting at the beginning of the 6th excavation project for the site, and established a rotation system to reconcile physical excavation with digital preservation. Through repeated practice and communication, we proposed a workflow and pursued several new methods to enhance the feasibility of dynamically documenting, and obtained multi-temporal 3D models of the ongoing archaeological excavations. In 2022, the \emph{Yunxian Man} site unearthed the most intact fossil of hominin cranium from about one million years ago in the Eurasian continent, preserving important and scarce anatomical features of early humans in Asia. As the original taphonomic context of the fossil corroded away during physical excavations, the digital documentation consisting of multi-temporal 3D models serves as permanent original data source in subsequent archaeological research. Moreover, we obtained cross-scale 3D models from geographical environment to archaeological site, excavation area, and cultural remains, and all of these 3D models are in an actual, unified coordinate framework. Thus, we can contribute to multidisciplinary cross-collaborative research through data sharing. Considering that digital documentations serve a great value in archaeological research, this paper focuses on sharing the workflow and methods to facilitate digital preservation for more archaeological projects.