bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adherence to Chemotherapy and Associated Factors among Patients with Cancer in the Amhara Region, Northeast Ethiopia, 2022.
Authors: Ademe Sewunet , Mohammed Tariku , Edmealem Afework , Tegegne Belachew , Bewket Bekalu , Andualem Atsedemariam , Bires Abebaw 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Background: Chemotherapy compliance is a joint effort and silent understanding between health workers and clients. Inadequate drug compliance is concerning due to the decreased treatment outcome of the drug. This will lead to poor survival, increased relapse, treatment failure, and elevated healthcare costs. A measure of patient treatment adherence is important for attracting the attention of healthcare providers to achieve optimal outcomes such as curative treatment or quality of life improvement.
Objective: To assess the adherence to chemical treatment and associated factors among cancer patients in the Amhara Region, Northeast Ethiopia, in 2022.
Methods and Materials: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 460 cancer patients in the Amhara region using systematic randomized sampling from May 28, 2022, to June 22, 2022. An interview-based, previously tested questionnaire was used for data collection. The data have been entered into Epi-Data version 4.6 and subsequently exported to Statistical Package for Social Science version 26 for analysis. A bivariable logistic regression was carried out, and variables with a p value of 0.25 were analyzed to select the candidate variable for multivariable logistic regression. A multivariable logistic regression was carried out, and variables with a p value less than 0.05 were considered important factors and are presented as the AOR and 95% CI. The suitability of the model was verified with the Hosmer Lemeshow test, and multicollinearity was verified with a standard error.
Results: Of the total respondents, 94.1% (433) of the cancer patients were involved, and the proportion of patients who adhered to chemotherapy was 42.3%. Having a family history of cancer [AOR = 3.58, 95% CI (2.22, 5.76)], being a woman [AOR = 2.17, 95% CI: (1.31, 3.60)], not having a history of comorbidity [AOR = 2.74, 95% CI (1.56, 4.81)], having no serious side effects from chemotherapy[AOR = 3.50, 95% CI (1.55, 7.90)], or social support [AOR = 1.52, 95% CI (1.21, 1.95)] were associated factors with chemotherapy adherence.
Conclusion and recommendations: Health workers should contribute to the development of social support and mechanisms to reduce the occurrence of side effects of chemotherapy medication among cancer patients who have comorbidities.
Safety and efficacy of anlotinib-based regimen in patients with unresectable or metastatic bone and soft-tissue sarcomas: a retrospective institutional study
Authors: Pang Lina , Zhang Shengli , Wang Liye , Gong Shuai , Zhang Xiaoke , He Wei 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
This retrospective institutional study analyzed the safety and efficacy of anlotinib-chemotherapy combination as a first-line therapy in patients with unresectable or metastatic bone and soft tissue sarcomas (BSTSs). The clinical data of 92 patients with sarcoma treated with chemotherapy combined with or without anlotinib at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2018 to September 2020 were collected and analyzed. To determine the short-term efficacy, the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were analyzed. Long-term survival was assessed using the Kaplan–Meier method, including median progression-free survival (mPFS) and overall survival (mOS). Liposarcoma, synovial sarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma were the primary pathological subtypes of the 92 patients. The median patients’ age was 46 (range, 11–75) years. The ORR and DCR of the anlotinib–chemotherapy combination used as first-line therapy were 31.9% and 85.1%, respectively. However, the ORR and DCR were only 6.7% and 57.8% in the chemotherapy alone (the control group), respectively. Compared with the control group, improvements were observed in the mPFS and mOS with anlotinib-based regimen (mPFS, 8.3 vs. 3.0 months; mOS, 59.0 vs. 22.0 months). Anlotinib-associated adverse events were well tolerated and mainly occurred in grades I and II. New anlotinib-related adverse reactions were not noted. Anlotinib-based regimen as a first-line therapy showed a positive effect on the treatment of unresectable or metastatic BSTSs. The anlotinib-associated adverse events were minor and well tolerated.
UBQLN1 functions in telomere maintenance and differentiation of human embryonic stem cells
Authors: Zhao Shuang , Li Jie , Duan Songqi , Liu Chang , Wang Hua , Lu Jiangtao , Zhao Nannan , Sheng Xiaoyan , Wu Yiwei , Li Yanjun , Sun Baofa , Liu Lin 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
Telomeres consist of repetitive DNA sequences at the chromosome ends to protect chromosomal stability, and primarily maintained by telomerase or occasionally by alternative telomere lengthening of telomeres (ALT) through recombination-based mechanisms. Additional mechanisms that may regulate telomere maintenance remain to be explored. Simultaneous measurement of telomere length and transcriptome in the same human embryonic stem cell (hESC) revealed that mRNA expression levels of UBQLN1 exhibit linear relationship with telomere length.
Methods
In this study, we first generated UBQLN1-deficient hESCs and compared with the wild-type (WT) hESCs the telomere length and molecular change at RNA and protein level by RNA-seq and proteomics. Then we identified the potential interacting proteins with UBQLN1 using immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry (IP-MS). Furthermore, the potential mechanisms underlying the shortened telomeres in UBQLN1-deficient hESCs were analyzed.
Results
We show that Ubiquilin1 (UBQLN1) is critical for telomere maintenance in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) via promoting mitochondrial function. UBQLN1 deficiency leads to oxidative stress, loss of proteostasis, mitochondria dysfunction, DNA damage, and telomere attrition. Reducing oxidative damage and promoting mitochondria function by culture under hypoxia condition or supplementation with N-acetylcysteine partly attenuate the telomere attrition induced by UBQLN1 deficiency. Moreover, UBQLN1 deficiency/telomere shortening downregulates genes for neuro-ectoderm lineage differentiation.
Conclusions
Altogether, UBQLN1 functions to scavenge ubiquitinated proteins, preventing their overloading mitochondria and elevated mitophagy. UBQLN1 maintains mitochondria and telomeres by regulating proteostasis and plays critical role in neuro-ectoderm differentiation.
Approximate solution for a class of stochastic differential equations driven by stable processes
Authors: Manou-Abi Solym 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
In this paper we consider a general class of stochastic differential equations driven by stable processes with continuous coefficients functions with at most linear growth. An Euler-Maruyama approximate solution is proved as well as the rate of convergence. Our proposed method is new in this context and is based on a level truncation method by separating the large and small jumps of the stable process along the Lévy-Itô decomposition. Along the paper we give some numerical simulations of stochastic models that agree with our results, namely some stable driven Ornstein-Uhlenbeck, Cox-Ingersoll-Ross and Lotka-Volterra type processes.
AMS Subject Classification: 60G17, 60G52, 60H10, 60H20, 65C30, 65C20, 60E07.
Neural alterations of Omicron infection comorbid with insomnia in Chinese: Insight from surface-based morphometry and bibliometric analysis
Authors: Ju Chao , Yang Longtao , Du Yanyao , Liu Suiling , Liu Ping , Chen Yanjing , Huang Yijie , Li Cong , Liu Jun 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Growing evidence suggests that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can affect the central nervous system (CNS), and insomnia-related acute and long-term CNS sequelae may be suffered by infected patients. Nevertheless, as a common sub-typic strain of SARS-CoV-2, it is currently unknown the impacts of Omicron comorbid with insomnia on brain cortex. The purpose of this study was to mine the neural markers involving cortical grey matter volume (GMV), thickness, and surface area within Omicron individuals either with or without insomnia. Additionally, correlations between these morphological metrics and neuropsychiatric assessments were analyzed. 234 participants were recruited from a prospective cross-sectional study cohort during the Omicron pandemic (December 2022-May 2023) at the Second Xiangya Hospital (China). We further divided participants into healthy controls (HCs), Omicron infection with insomnia group (Omicron_insomnia group), and Omicron infection without insomnia group (Omicron_non_insomnia group). Based on T1-weighted MPRAGE image, cortical thickness, surface area, and GMV were compared via surface-based morphometry (SBM) analysis, and significant morphological metrics were then correlated with neuropsychiatric manifestations. Our findings revealed altered cortical morphology in Omicron individuals. Morphological changes in the temporal, frontal, cingulate, transverse collateral, and lingual gyrus were independent from insomnia comorbidity. The decreased cortical thickness in superior temporal gyrus (STG) was a specific feature for Omicron infection comorbid with insomnia. Then, we discovered greater morphological size indicating neuropsychiatric improvement. This study explores the neural mechanisms underlying Omicron infection comorbid with insomnia, which will help to promote improvement in post-Omicron neuropsychiatric prognosis and clinical management.
Personal Characteristics and Explanations in Technology-Enhanced Environments: An Exploratory Study in Computer Science Education
Authors: Félix Esther , Amadieu Franck , Broisin Julien 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
The study of explainable artificial intelligence in education is a major preoccupation of the research community. In this paper, we introduce explanations in a competency-based system, in the context of computer education. Our overall aim is to increase learners' understanding of the levels of mastery of their competencies that are computed automatically, and thus to increase their trust in the system. In particular, we are investigating which of the students' personal characteristics affect their consultation and understanding of the explanations, and what impact these explanations have on their perception and behavior within the system. Our study focuses on 98 first-year computer science students in higher education and combines qualitative and quantitative analyses. The quantitative analyses show significant correlations between certain characteristics studied and the use, perception and understanding of explanations on the one hand, as well as learners' general perception of the system on the other hand. For example, students with a low perception of their ability to succeed are less likely to access and understand explanations, and students with low engagement and performance are less likely to understand explanations. Qualitative analyses, meanwhile, help us to identify certain learner needs in terms of the content, form, and timing of explanations: combining local and counterfactual explanations; combining textual and visual formats; providing explanations in real time.
Information Input System Based-on Object-based Visual Attention
Authors: Lv Yuhong , Hisakata Rumi , Kaneko Hirohiko 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
The objective of this study is to propose a communication assistance system for patients with difficulty moving their extremities and eyes, such as advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with completely locked-in syndrome (CLIS), based on object-based visual attention utilizing pupil size measurement data. The present research used a hybrid image created by overlapping an image with high spatial frequency (HSF) components and one with low spatial frequency (LSF) components as the stimulus image. Five participants in Experiment 1 and eight in Experiment 2 were instructed to pay attention to the high or low-spatial frequency image. The stimuli in Experiment 1 were constant throughout one trial; however, in Experiment 2, the spatial frequency condition of the given hybrid image was swapped in one trial with different alternation frequencies: 0.16Hz, 0.33Hz, and 0.50Hz. Participants were required to always maintain their attention on the target image. In experiment 1, maximum and mean pupil constriction values were significantly larger when the attentional target was a HSF image than when it was a LSF image. However, when we extrapolated the target based on the difference in pupil measurement data when the subjects focused their attention on images with different spatial frequencies, the accuracy was lower than 70%. In experiment 2, we found that the slope of pupil size change after stimuli swap was significantly larger when the target image was switched from the HSF image to the LSF image than when from LSF to HSF. While estimating the target image based on the above pattern, we found that almost participants show inferred accuracy exceeding 70%, with the highest reaching 95.24%—the lowest alternation frequency (0.16Hz) used in the present experiment results in higher inferred accuracy. This study proposes a low-cost, practice-free, non-invasive visual attention-based communication support system that does not require professional assistance. Since the stimulus image is a hybrid image, patients do not need to divide their attention from eye gaze position; therefore, reducing the complexity of operation.
Adversity Builds Character? Restricted health service utilization and subsequent positive self-care behavior during the early COVID-19 pandemic in China
Authors: WANG ZHICHAO , Zhou Zhongliang , Liu Guanping , Lu Jiao , Lai Sha , Fan Xiaojing , Zhai Xiaohui , Wang Youfa 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the reallocation of health resources and the restrictions on daily life imposed by epidemic prevention and control measures to some extent have severely affected the healthcare demand of the general population, but those impacts on adults’ self-care behavior and daily lives remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of restricted health service utilization arising from the COVID-19 pandemic on self-care behavior among different populations, particularly vulnerable groups, the correlations between restricted health service utilization and self-care behavior were also quantified and compared by subgroup analysis.
Methods
Data on demographics, socioeconomic, health status, and self-care behavior were collected in “The Early China COVID-19 Survey”, it is a cross-sectional anonymous online survey of the general population in China. Self-care behavior was measured by four indicators: weight control(WC), physical activity(PA), prevention behavior(PB) and Online medical consultation(OMC). The multiple linear models and binary logistic regression were used to examine whether restricted health service utilization (RHSU) is associated with self-care behaviors; also, adjusted multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse subgroup heterogeneity.
Results
In total, 8,428 adult participants completed the survey, the mean OMC score was 1.51(SD 1.34), the mean PB score was 18.17 (SD 3.44), and the proportion of participants who engaged in WC and PA was 42.30% and 62.57%, respectively. According to the multiple regression model, the RHSU was significantly positively correlated with all four indicators of self-care(WC: OR = 1.34, p < 0.001, PA: OR = 1.34, p < 0.05, MC: OR = 1.30, p < 0.001, PB:coef = 0.16, p < 0.05). Also we observed some significant differences in the intensity of this relationship by subgroup analysis, precisely, OMC(high vs moderate vs. low infection-risk level: OR = 1.48; 1.41; 1.19, p < 0.1), PA(high vs Moderate and low infection-risk level: OR = 1.51, p < 0.05), PB(Chronic disease groups vs no: coef = 0.46;0.1, p < 0.05).
Conclusions
Restricted health service utilization due to the pandemic had positive correlations with self-care behavior outcomes, and the intensity of partial correlation was significantly different in the subgroups of living area infection risk levels and chronic diseases. These findings have practical value for improving self-care behavior in adult populations during the pandemic.
Lower Humoral and Cellular Immunity following Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Education (The ACE Cohort)
Authors: Hopkins Georgina , Gomez Nancy , Tucis Davis , Bartlett Laura , Steers Graham , Burns Ellie , Brown Michaela , Harvey-Cowlishaw Tyler , Santos Rute , Lauder Sarah N , Scurr Martin , Capitani Lorenzo , Burnell Stephanie , Rees Tara , Smart Kathryn , Somerville Michelle , Gallimore Awen , Perera Marianne , Potts Martin , Metaxaki Marina , Krishna Benjamin , Jackson Hannah , Tighe Paddy , Onion David , Godkin Andrew , Wills Mark , Fairclough Lucy 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections were widely reported during the COVID-19 pandemic, acting as a hidden source of infection. Many existing studies investigating asymptomatic immunity failed to recruit true asymptomatic individuals. Thus, we conducted a cohort study to evaluate humoral- and cell-mediated responses to infection and vaccination in well-defined asymptomatic young adults (the Asymptomatic COVID-19 in Education [ACE] cohort).
Methods
Asymptomatic testing services located at three UK universities identified asymptomatic young adults who were subsequently recruited with age- and sex-matched symptomatic and uninfected controls. Blood and saliva samples were collected after SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan infection, and again after vaccination. Anti-spike antibody titres, neutralizing antibodies, and spike-specific T-cell responses were measured, against both Wuhan and Omicron variants.
Results
Asymptomatic participants exhibited reduced Wuhan-specific neutralization antibodies pre- and post-vaccination, as well as fewer Omicron-specific neutralization antibodies post-vaccination, compared to symptomatic participants. Lower Wuhan and Omicron-specific IgG titres in asymptomatic individuals were also observed pre- and post-vaccination, compared to symptomatic participants. There were no differences in salivary IgA levels. Conventional flow cytometry analysis and multi-dimensional clustering analysis of indicated unvaccinated asymptomatic participants had significantly fewer Wuhan-specific IL-2 secreting CD4+ CD45RA+ T cells and activated CD8+ T cells than symptomatic participants, though these differences dissipated after vaccination.
Conclusions
Asymptomatic infection results in decreased antibody and T cell responses to further exposure to SARS-CoV-2 variants, compared to symptomatic infection. Post-vaccination, antibody responses are still inferior, but T cell immunity increases to match symptomatic subjects, emphasising the importance of vaccination to help protect asymptomatic individuals against future variants.
Study of the mechanical properties of pervious concrete with a rice husk ash–metakaolin composite admixture
Authors: Yuan Zhang , Cheng Zheng 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

In this paper, the influences of rice husk ash and metakaolin on the mechanical properties of pervious concrete are studied, a balance between compressive strength and the pervious coefficient is found, the reuse of industrial waste residue from rice husk ash is realized, and the mechanical properties of pervious concrete are improved. The response surface test method is used to study the influences of rice husk ash and metakaolin on the compressive strength and perviousness coefficient of the pervious concrete specimen. The response surface experiment method was used to optimize the mix ratio of pervious concrete. The results reveal that the optimal contents of rice husk ash and metakaolin in the mixed pervious concrete test group optimized by the response surface test method is 9.2% rice husk ash and 8.2% metakaolin, with a water-to-binder ratio of 0.41. These parameters increase the compressive strength by 10% compared with that of the reference group under the same conditions, and they meet the requirements of the C20 concrete technical specification for pervious cement concrete pavement. Thus, this material can be applied to both urban and highway pavement. Herein, new concepts and technical references for the development and application of pervious concrete are provided.
Introduction of accelerated BOIN design and facilitation of its application
Authors: Kojima Masahiro , Wende Wu , Zhao Henry 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
During discussions at the Data Science Roundtable meeting in Japan, there were instances where the adoption of the BOIN design was declined, attributed to the extension of study duration and increased sample size in comparison to the 3 + 3 design. We introduce an accelerated BOIN design aimed at completing a clinical phase I trial at a pace comparable to the 3 + 3 design. Additionally, we introduce how we could have applied the BOIN design within our company, which predominantly utilized the 3 + 3 design for most of its clinical oncology dose escalation trials. The accelerated BOIN design is adaptable by using efficiently designated stopping criterion for the existing BOIN framework. Our approach is to terminate the dose escalation study if the number of evaluable patients treated at the current dose reaches 6 and the decision is to stay at the current dose for the next cohort of patients. In addition, for lower dosage levels, considering a cohort size smaller than 3 may be feasible when there are no safety concerns from non-clinical studies. We demonstrate the accelerated BOIN design using a case study and subsequently evaluate the performance of our proposed design through a simulation study. In the simulation study, the average difference in the percentage of correct MTD selection between the accelerated BOIN design and the standard BOIN design was − 2.43%, the average study duration and the average sample size of the accelerated BOIN design was reduced by 14.8 months and 9.22, respectively, compared with the standard BOIN design.
Direct Deposition of Copper Atoms onto Graphitic Step Edges Lowers Overpotential and Improves Selectivity of Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction
Authors: Thangamuthu Madasamy , Burwell Tom , Aliev Gazi , Ghaderzadeh Sadegh , Kohlrausch Emerson , Chen Yifan , Theis Wolfgang , Norman Luke , Fernandes Jesum , Besley Elena , Licence Pete , Khlobystov Andrei 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Minimizing our reliance on bulk precious metals is to increase the fraction of surface atoms and improve the metal-support interface. In this work, we employ a solvent/ligand/counterion-free method to deposit copper in the atomic form directly onto a nanotextured surface of graphitized carbon nanofibers (GNFs). Our results demonstrate that under these conditions, copper atoms coalesce into nanoparticles securely anchored to the graphitic step edges, limiting their growth to 2–5 nm. The resultant hybrid Cu/GNF material displays remarkable electrocatalytic properties in CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), exhibiting selectivity for formate production with a faradaic efficiency of ~ 94% at a low overpotential of 0.17 V and an exceptionally high turnover frequency of 2.78×106 h− 1. The Cu nanoparticles adhered to the graphitic step edges significantly enhance electron transfer to CO2, with the formation of CO2∙− intermediate identifiedas the rate-determining step. Long-term CO2RR tests coupled with atomic-scale elucidation of changes in Cu/GNF reveal nanoparticles coarsening, and a simultaneous increase in the fraction of single Cu atoms. These changes disfavour CO2RR, as confirmed by density functional theory calculations, revealing that CO2 cannot effectively compete with H2O for adsorption on single Cu atoms on the graphitic surfaces.