bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Violence and Video in Cali, Colombia
Authors: Hollander Kurt 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
In 2021, a national strike was called in Colombia as a protest to the unpopular government's reforms. During the protests in Cali, the country's third-largest city, there were high levels of violence and vandalism by the protestors, but also by the government and infiltrators. Nonetheless, La Primera Línea (The First Line) were blamed for the criminal acts, and up until today, with a left-wing president now in power, they continue to be blamed, killed, and imprisoned.
Up-regulation of systemic and local BDNF in non-allergic Nasal Polyps in China
Authors: Zhou Xiangmin , Zhang Qian , Yuzhu Wan Yuzhu Wan , Shi Li 
Published: March 2024

Objective: Although the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in allergic rhinitis and/or nasal polyps (NPs) development has been studied, the contribution of BDNF in non-allergic NPs has not been evaluated yet. This study was to investigate the possible role of BDNF in non-allergic NPs pathogenesis.
Methods: The study was carried out at The Second Hospital of Shandong University from December 2020 to November 2021. The non-allergic NPs patients (n=26) and the control group (n=22) were included. Lund-Mackay CT scores, nasal endoscopy scores, and pulmonary function testing were evaluated before surgery. Tissue and serum levels of BDNF, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and cytokeratins 5 (CK5) were assessed between different groups.
Result: The BDNF level in serum and tissue, CK5 count, and eosinophil infiltration in tissue were higher in non-allergic NPs. The eosinophils infiltration, ECP mRNA expression level, as well as BDNF mRNA level were increased in the BDNFhigh subgroup compared with BDNFlow subgroup. Significantly negative correlations between BDNF count and the situation of airway obstruction were found in non-allergic NPs.
Conclusion: BDNF may have both local and systemic effects in non-allergic NPs pathogenesis. BDNF may be a possible therapeutic target or an indicator for eosinophilic NPs management.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.5.7907
How to cite this: Zhou X, Zhang Q, Wan Y, Shi L. Up-regulation of systemic and local BDNF in non-allergic Nasal Polyps in China. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(5):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.5.7907
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Densitometry of STR-PAGE for donor chimerism in acute leukemia’s: A simple method for routine use
Authors: Nayyar Ayesha , Ahmed Suhaib 
Published: March 2024

Objective: To evaluate a PCR based method of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of short tandem repeats and its quantification for detecting donor chimerism after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in acute leukaemias.
Methods: The descriptive study was conducted at Genetic Resource Centre (GRC) Lab Rawalpindi from Feb 2018 - Nov 2020. A total of twenty patients with acute leukaemias having undergone HSCT were selected and assessed for the analysis of chimerism status. DNA extraction from the whole blood was done by chelex method and short tandem repeats were amplified by using conventional STR- PCR assay. Electrophoresis was carried out and 6% polyacrylamide gels were used for the resultant amplified DNA products and then followed by their densitometry. These patients had undergone HSCT from Pakistan Institute of Medical Science and Armed Forces Bone Marrow Transplant Centre.
Results: The peaks in the PAGE densitometry represented the donor chimerism in all post transplant samples of the patients.
Conclusion: Our study showed that densitometry of STR PCR PAGE is a useful and cheaper method for demonstration of donor chimerism in acute leukaemia patients having undergone HSCT. Hence this method can be a valuable option in the monitoring of chimerism status in these patients and therefore helps in preventing graft failure by fast and early treatment strategies for these patients.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.5.9216
How to cite this: Nayyar A, Ahmed S. Densitometry of STR-PAGE for donor chimerism in acute leukemia’s: A simple method for routine use. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(5):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.5.9216
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The alarming link between metabolic disease and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption
Authors: Khan Shahreen Ansar , Riaz Musarrat 
Published: March 2024

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.5.9256
How to cite this: Khan SA, Riaz M. The alarming link between metabolic disease and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(5):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.5.9256
Fast Rates for the Regret of Offline Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Hu Yichun , Kallus Nathan , Uehara Masatoshi 
Published: March 2024

We study the regret of offline reinforcement learning in an infinite-horizon discounted Markov decision process (MDP). While existing analyses of common approaches, such as fitted Q-iteration (FQI), suggest root-n convergence for regret, empirical behavior exhibits much faster convergence. In this paper, we present a finer regret analysis that exactly characterizes this phenomenon by providing fast rates for the regret convergence. First, we show that given any estimate for the optimal quality function, the regret of the policy it defines converges at a rate given by the exponentiation of the estimate’s pointwise convergence rate, thus speeding up the rate. The level of exponentiation depends on the level of noise in the decision-making problem, rather than the estimation problem. We establish such noise levels for linear and tabular MDPs as examples. Second, we provide new analyses of FQI and Bellman residual minimization to establish the correct pointwise convergence guarantees. As specific cases, our results imply one-over-n rates in linear cases and exponential-in-n rates in tabular cases. We extend our findings to general function approximation by extending our results to regret guarantees based on Lp-convergence rates for estimating the optimal quality function rather than pointwise rates, where L2 guarantees for nonparametric estimation can be ensured under mild conditions. Funding: This work was supported by the Division of Information and Intelligent Systems, National Science Foundation [Grant 1846210].
Pierre Bourdieu e a fotografia: socioantropologia reflexiva em imagens
Authors: Pereira Jesus Marmanillo 
Published: March 2024

O presente artigo visa situar o local da pesquisa imagética segundo a sociologia e antropologia reflexivas de Pierre Bourdieu. Para tanto, consideramos a relação entre teoria, prática e estratégias fotográficas a partir da noção de fotoetnografia, tomando como suporte as experiências desse cientista social francês na Argélia colonial e província do Béarn. Transitando entre uma antropologia visual e a sociologia da imagem, o estudo da produção imagética de Pierre Bourdieu possibilita importantes reflexões epistêmicas sobre os condicionantes sociais da pesquisa em contextos de extraordinariedade, a questão da pluralidade dos papéis do pesquisador e a importância do olhar que, embora teoricamente treinado, não se pode privar das experiências subjetivas e objetivas no campo. Além de suas principais obras, foram utilizados especialistas e comentadores de Pierre Bourdieu, entre os quais destacamos Loïc Wacquant , Tassadit Yacine, entre outros.
Chitosan nanoparticles improve the effectivity of miltefosine against Acanthamoeba
Authors: Latifi Alireza , Esmaeili Fariba , Mohebali Mehdi , Yasami-Khiabani Setayesh , Rezaeian Mostafa , Soleimani Mohammad , Kazemirad Elham , Amani Amir 
Published: March 2024

Background
Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a corneal sight-threatening infection caused by the free-living amoebae of the genus Acanthamoeba. Early and appropriate treatment significantly impacts visual outcomes. Mucoadhesive polymers such as chitosan are a potential strategy to prolong the residence time and bioavailability of the encapsulated drugs in the cornea. Regarding the recent administration of miltefosine (MF) for treating resistant AK, in the present study, we synthesized miltefosine-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (MF-CS-NPs) and evaluated them against Acanthamoeba.

Methodology/Principal findings
Chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) were prepared using the ionic gelation method with negatively charged tripolyphosphate (TPP). The zeta-potential (ZP) and the particle size of MF-CS-NPs were 21.8±3.2 mV and 46.61±18.16 nm, respectively. The release profile of MF-CS-NPs indicated linearity with sustained drug release. The cytotoxicity of MF-CS-NPs on the Vero cell line was 2.67 and 1.64 times lower than free MF at 24 and 48 hours. This formulation exhibited no hemolytic activity in vitro and ocular irritation in rabbit eyes. The IC50 of MF-CS-NPs showed a significant reduction by 2.06 and 1.69-fold in trophozoites at 24 and 48 hours compared to free MF. Also, the MF-CS-NPs IC50 in the cysts form was slightly decreased by 1.26 and 1.21-fold at 24 and 48 hours compared to free MF.

Conclusions
The MF-CS-NPs were more effective against the trophozoites and cysts than free MF. The nano-chitosan formulation was more effective on trophozoites than the cysts form. MF-CS-NPs reduced toxicity and improved the amoebicidal effect of MF. Nano-chitosan could be an ideal carrier that decreases the cytotoxicity of miltefosine. Further analysis in animal settings is needed to evaluate this nano-formulation for clinical ocular drug delivery.
The national distribution of lymphatic filariasis cases in Malawi using patient mapping and geostatistical modelling
Authors: Barrett Carrie , Chiphwanya John , Mkwanda Square , Matipula Dorothy E. , Ndhlovu Paul , Chaponda Limbikani , Turner Joseph D. , Giorgi Emanuele , Betts Hannah , Martindale Sarah , Taylor Mark J. , Read Jonathan M. , Kelly-Hope Louise A. 
Published: March 2024

Background
In 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that Malawi had successfully eliminated lymphatic filariasis (LF) as a public health problem. Understanding clinical case distributions at a national and sub-national level is important, so essential care packages can be provided to individuals living with LF symptoms. This study aimed to develop a national database and map of LF clinical cases across Malawi using geostatistical modelling approaches, programme-identified clinical cases, antigenaemia prevalence and climate information.

Methodology
LF clinical cases identified through programme house-to-house surveys across 90 sub-district administrative boundaries (Traditional Authority (TA)) and antigenaemia prevalence from 57 sampled villages in Malawi were used in a two-step geostatistical modelling process to predict LF clinical cases across all TAs of the country. First, we modelled antigenaemia prevalence in relation to climate covariates to predict nationwide antigenaemia prevalence. Second, we modelled clinical cases for unmapped TAs based on our antigenaemia prevalence spatial estimates.

Principle findings
The models estimated 20,938 (95% CrI 18,091 to 24,071) clinical cases in unmapped TAs (70.3%) in addition to the 8,856 (29.7%), programme-identified cases in mapped TAs. In total, the overall national number of LF clinical cases was estimated to be 29,794 (95% CrI 26,957 to 32,927). The antigenaemia prevalence and clinical case mapping and modelling found the highest burden of disease in Chikwawa and Nsanje districts in the Southern Region and Karonga district in the Northern Region of the country.

Conclusions
The models presented in this study have facilitated the development of the first national LF clinical case database and map in Malawi, the first endemic country in sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights the value of using existing LF antigenaemia prevalence and clinical case data together with modelling approaches to produce estimates that may be used for the WHO dossier requirements, to help target limited resources and implement long-term health strategies.
A community-based mentoring scheme for pregnant and parenting adolescents in Sierra Leone: Protocol for a hybrid pilot cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Fernandez Turienzo Cristina , Kamara Mangenda , November Lucy , Kamara Philemon , Kingsford Appiah M. , Ridout Alexandra , Thomas Suzanne , Seed Paul T. , Shennan Andrew H. , Sandall Jane , Williams Prince T. 
Published: March 2024

Background
Sierra Leone has a very high maternal mortality rate, and this burden falls heavily on adolescents, a particularly vulnerable group; this is usually driven by poverty, lack of education and employment opportunities. In 2017, a local grassroots organisation, Lifeline Nehemiah Projects, developed a community-based mentoring intervention ‘2YoungLives’ (2YLs) for adolescent girls in Eastern Freetown. We aim to formally assess the feasibility and implementation of the 2YL mentorship scheme in new communities in Sierra Leone.

Methods
A hybrid type 2 pilot cluster randomised controlled trial of the 2YL mentoring scheme in urban and rural communities living around twelve peripheral health units (PHU) across five districts in Sierra Leone. Clusters will be matched into pairs and randomisation will be determined by computer-generated random numbers via a secure web-based system hosted by MedSciNet. All under-eighteen adolescents identified as pregnant in the community and/or the PHU are included. Feasibility (recruitment, retention, and attrition rates; data collection and completeness; sample calculation) and primary clinical outcome data (composite of maternal deaths, stillbirths, neonatal deaths) will be collected. A mixed-methods process evaluation will explore implementation outcomes, mechanisms of change, contextual factors, experiences of care, and health and wellbeing. A concurrent cost-consequence analysis will be undertaken. Main trial analysis will be pragmatic, by intention to treat, and a complementary per protocol analysis will also be included.

Discussion
Improving health and wellbeing for adolescent girls (including sexual and reproductive health) remains a top priority in Sierra Leone indicated by several government policies targeted to this group, in which maternal and infant mortality are still persistently high. Supporting these girls and facilitating their wellbeing is imperative, along with sensitisation of communities, strengthening of youth friendly services and collaboration with stakeholders at all levels (government, regional, community, family). We believe 2YL supports the global holistic agenda to integrate and implement interventions across health, education, and social systems in order to protect, nurture, and support the health and development potential of every adolescent girl, and thus become a model of good practice for adolescent pregnancy, to be adopted more widely in Sierra Leone and elsewhere.

Trial registration
ISRCTN registry ISRCTN32414369. Prospectively registered on 14/03/2022.
Prediction of homologous recombination deficiency from Oncomine Comprehensive Assay Plus correlating with SOPHiA DDM HRD Solution
Authors: Kang Jun , Na Kiyong , Kang Haeyoun , Cho Uiju , Kwon Sun Young , Hwang Sohyun , Lee Ahwon 
Published: March 2024

Objective
Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are used for targeted therapy for ovarian cancer with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD). In this study, we aimed to develop a homologous recombination deficiency prediction model to predict the genomic integrity (GI) index of the SOPHiA DDM HRD Solution from the Oncomine Comprehensive Assay (OCA) Plus. We also tried to a find cut-off value of the genomic instability metric (GIM) of the OCA Plus that correlates with the GI index of the SOPHiA DDM HRD Solution.

Methods
We included 87 cases with high-grade ovarian serous carcinoma from five tertiary referral hospitals in Republic of Korea. We developed an HRD prediction model to predict the GI index of the SOPHiA DDM HRD Solution. As predictor variables in the model, we used the HRD score, which included percent loss of heterozygosity (%LOH), percent telomeric allelic imbalance (%TAI), percent large-scale state transitions (%LST), and the genomic instability metric (GIM). To build the model, we employed a penalized logistic regression technique.

Results
The final model equation is -21.77 + 0.200 × GIM + 0.102 × %LOH + 0.037 × %TAI + 0.261 × %LST. To improve the performance of the prediction model, we added a borderline result category to the GI results. The accuracy of our HRD status prediction model was 0.958 for the test set. The accuracy of HRD status using GIM with a cut-off value of 16 was 0.911.

Conclusion
The Oncomine Comprehensive Assay Plus provides a reliable biomarker for homologous recombination deficiency.
‘Integrating Ethics and Equity with Economics and Effectiveness for newborn screening in the genomic age: A qualitative study protocol of stakeholder perspectives
Authors: Kariyawasam Didu S. , Scarfe Joanne , Meagher Christian , Farrar Michelle A. , Bhattacharya Kaustav , Carter Stacy M. , Newson Ainsley J. , Otlowski Margaret , Watson Jo , Millis Nicole , Norris Sarah 
Published: March 2024

Background
Newborn bloodspot screening is a well-established population health initiative that detects serious, childhood-onset, treatable conditions to improve health outcomes. With genomic technologies advancing rapidly, many countries are actively discussing the introduction of genomic assays into newborn screening programs. While adding genomic testing to Australia’s newborn screening program could improve outcomes for infants and families, it must be considered against potential harms, ethical, legal, equity and social implications, and economic and health system impacts. We must ask not only ‘can’ we use genomics to screen newborns?’ but ‘should we’?’ and ‘how much should health systems invest in genomic newborn screening?’.

Methods
This study will use qualitative methods to explore understanding, priorities, concerns and expectations of genomic newborn screening among parents/carers, health professionals/scientists, and health policy makers across Australia. In-depth, semi-structured interviews will be held with 30–40 parents/carers recruited via hospital and community settings, 15–20 health professionals/scientists, and 10–15 health policy makers. Data will be analysed using inductive content analysis. The Sydney Children’s Hospital Network Human Research Ethics Committee approved this study protocol [2023/ETH02371]. The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research will guide study planning, conduct and reporting.

Discussion
Few studies have engaged a diverse range of stakeholders to explore the implications of genomics in newborn screening in a culturally and genetically diverse population, nor in a health system underpinned by universal health care. As the first study within a multi-part research program, findings will be used to generate new knowledge on the risks and benefits and importance of ethical, legal, social and equity implications of genomic newborn screening from the perspective of key stakeholders. As such it will be the foundation on which child and family centered criteria can be developed to inform health technology assessments and drive efficient and effective policy decision-making on the implementation of genomics in newborn screening.
Intention to leave and associated factors among health professionals working at public hospitals in East Gojjam zone, Northwest Ethiopia, cross-sectional study
Authors: Molla Friehiwot , Molla Muluye , Delle Endalkachew , Asrade Geta , Endalew Bekalu 
Published: March 2024

Background
The most important element of health systems for meeting the population’s healthcare demands is the workforce. The main issue facing the health industry, particularly in emerging nations, has been their shortage and turnover. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the intention of leaving and related variables among medical professionals employed at East Gojjam zone public health hospitals.

Methods
An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among 561 randomly selected health professionals working at public hospitals in East Gojjam Zone from 04 March 2019 to 30 March 2019. Self-administered structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Both bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were fitted. Variables having P-value less than 0.2 during bi-variable regressional analysis were entered in to multivariable logistic regression analysis and Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to declare the associated factors with intention to leave.

Results
Overall, 61.3% (95% CI: 57.2, 65.4) of health professionals were intended to leave their working organizations. Dissatisfaction with work nature (AOR: 3.01; 95% CI: 2.05, 4.43), work environment (AOR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.25, 2.68), Remuneration (AOR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.29, 2.76), having low normative commitment (AOR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.38, 0.81) and being unmarried (AOR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.23, 2.58) were satistically significant factors with intention to leave their working organizations.

Conclusions
The health professionals’ intention to leave their working organizations was high, three-fifth of the health professionals had intention to leave their organization which might result great service quality compromization and decrease the responsiveness of the health institutions in the study area. Dissatisfaction with remuneration, working environment, work nature, low normative commitment and being unmarried were factors associated with health professional’s intention to leave their working organizations. Therefore, hospital administrators, supervisors, and Healthcare policymakers need to emphasize on retention of health workers at their working organization by taking into account the above significant variables. Such as, through creating an attractive working environment and designing better benefit mechanisms.
O plátano e o canto das cigarras no Fedro de Platão: o ambiente do Diálogo
Authors: Guimarães Henrique 
Published: March 2024

Este artigo visa repensar as imagens da “natureza” e do humano em Platão, mais especificamente através de alguns exemplos contidos no diálogo Fedro, raro diálogo “mais afastado” da cidade. Fedro e Sócrates saem de Atenas numa trilha para fora dos muros, passando pelo córrego Ilisso e pela brisa dos bosques, e acabam sentados nas sombras das árvores cheias de cigarras cantantes. Qual o sentido desse cenário na construção do texto? É possível aprender com carvalhos ou insetos? O filosofar desse diálogo passa pelo aconchego das sombras das árvores no quente meio-dia de verão. Essa topografia sensual através do texto revela o escritor Platão cuidadoso com o significado envolvente do drama vivo entre Fedro e Sócrates. Chamo atenção aqui para a participação-audiência dos elementos naturais, das árvores e cigarras no diálogo entre Fedro e Sócrates notando um cuidado do discurso com a atmosfera circundante, preocupação especial de Sócrates em sua palinódia e em sua oração final à Pan. Nesse diálogo, mais do que distintos e afastados da natureza, repensamos o ser humano (e a razão) mergulhado nela – numa tentativa de integração e busca mitológica e dialógica entre rio, rocha, plantas, animais, humanos, deuses e semi-deuses. A imagem de um Platão demasiado racionalista and humanista encontra nesse texto uma outra perspectiva: a de um escritor inspirado, hibrido poeta e filósofo na missão de restaurar a linguagem e a cidade à vida animal e cósmica.