bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Understanding rural women's preferences for telephone call engagement with primary health care providers in Nigeria: a discrete choice experiment
Authors: Umar Nasir , Hill Zelee , Schellenberg Joanna , Sambo Nuraddeen Umar , Shuaibu Abdulrahman , Aliyu Abdulkarim M , Kulani Kallah Kirpu , Abdullahi Muhammad U , Usman Ahmed , Mohammed Hafsat , Adamu Hajara , Ibrahim Maryam , Mohammed Adamu , Abdulhamid Adama , Muhammed Zainab , Alfayo Afodiya , Marchant Tanya 
Published: December 2023

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the use of mobile phones to provide primary health care services and maintain continuity of care. This study aims to understand rural women’s preferences for telephone call engagement with primary health care providers in Nigeria.MethodsA discrete choice experiment was conducted alongside an action research project that empowered primary health care workers to develop and implement a telephone call intervention to assess and enhance experiences with facility childbirth care. Between January and March 2022, 30 providers from 10 primary health care facilities implemented the choice experiment among rural women who had institutional childbirth to elicit service user preferences for telephone call engagement. The women were asked to express their preferred scenario for telephone call engagement with their primary health care providers. Generalised linear mixed models were used to estimate women’s preferences.ResultsData for 460 women were available for the discrete choice experiment. The study showed that rural women have preferences for telephone call engagement with primary health care providers. Specifically, women preferred engaging with female to male callers (β=1.665 (95% CI 1.41, 1.93), SE=0.13, p<0.001), preferred call duration under 15 min (β=1.287 (95% CI 0.61, 1.96), SE=0.34, p<0.001) and preferred being notified before the telephone engagement (warm calling) (β=1.828 (95% CI 1.10, 2.56), SE=0.37, p<0.001). Phone credit incentive was also a statistically significant predictor of women’s preferences for engagement. However, neither the availability of scheduling options, the period of the day or the day of the week predicts women’s preferences.ConclusionsThe study highlights the importance of understanding rural women’s preferences for telephone call engagement with healthcare providers in low-income and middle-income countries. These findings can inform the development of mobile phone-based interventions and improve acceptability and broader adoption.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the coverage and timeliness of routine childhood vaccinations in the Gambia, 2015–2021
Authors: Wariri Oghenebrume , Utazi Chigozie Edson , Okomo Uduak , Sowe Alieu , Sogur Malick , Fofanna Sidat , Ezeani Esu , Saidy Lamin , Sarwar Golam , Dondeh Bai-Lamin , Murray Kris A , Grundy Chris , Kampmann Beate 
Published: December 2023

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread morbidity and mortality and resulted in the biggest setback in routine vaccinations in three decades. Data on the impact of the pandemic on immunisation in Africa are limited, in part, due to low-quality routine or administrative data. This study examined coverage and timeliness of routine childhood immunisation during the pandemic in The Gambia, a country with an immunisation system considered robust.MethodsWe obtained prospective birth cohort data of 57 286 children in over 300 communities in two health and demographic surveillance system sites, including data from the pre-pandemic period (January 2015–February 2020) and the three waves of the pandemic period (March 2020–December 2021). We determined monthly coverage and timeliness (early and delayed) of the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine (HepB0) and the first dose of pentavalent vaccine (Penta1) during the different waves of the pandemic relative to the pre-pandemic period. We implemented a binomial interrupted time-series regression model.ResultWe observed no significant change in the coverage of HepB0 and Penta1 vaccinations from the pre-pandemic period up until the periods before the peaks of the first and second waves of the pandemic in 2020. However, there was an increase in HepB0 coverage before as well as after the peak of the third wave in 2021 compared with the pre-pandemic period (pre-third wave peak OR = 1.83, 95% CI 1.06 to 3.14; post-third wave period OR=2.20, 95% CI 1.23 to 3.92). There was some evidence that vaccination timeliness changed during specific periods of the pandemic. Early Penta1 vaccination decreased by 70% (OR=0.30, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.78) in the period before the second wave, and delayed HepB0 vaccination decreased by 47% (OR=0.53, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.97) after the peak of the third wave in 2021.ConclusionDespite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Gambia’s routine vaccination programme has defied the setbacks witnessed in other settings and remained resilient, with coverage increasing and timeliness improving during the second and third waves. These findings highlight the importance of having adequate surveillance systems to monitor the impact of large shocks to vaccination coverage and timeliness.
Filamin A heart valve disease as a genetic cause of inherited bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve disease
Authors: Delwarde Constance , Toquet Claire , Boureau Anne Sophie , Le Ruz Robin , Le Scouarnec Solena , Mérot Jean , Kyndt Florence , Bernstein Daniel , Bernstein Jonathan A , Aalberts Jan J J , Le Marec Hervé , Schott Jean-Jacques , Roussel Jean-Christian , Le Tourneau Thierry , Capoulade Romain 
Published: December 2023

ObjectiveVariants in theFLNAgene have been associated with mitral valve dystrophy (MVD), and even polyvalvular disease has been reported. This study aimed to analyse the aortic valve and root involvement inFLNA-MVD families and its impact on outcomes.Methods262 subjects (37 (18–53) years, 140 male, 79 carriers:FLNA+) from 4FLNA-MVD families were included. Echocardiography was performed in 185 patients and histological analysis in 3 explanted aortic valves. The outcomes were defined as aortic valve surgery or all-cause mortality.ResultsAortic valve alterations were found in 58% ofFLNA+ compared with 6% ofFLNA− (p<0.001). 9 (13.4%)FLNA+ had bicuspid aortic valve compared with 4 (3.4%)FLNA− (p=0.03). Overall, the transvalvular mean gradient was slightly increased inFLNA+ (4.8 (4.1–6.1) vs 4.0 (2.9–4.9) mm Hg, p=0.02). The sinuses of Valsalva and sinotubular junction diameters were enlarged inFLNA+ subjects (all p<0.05). 8FLNA+ patients underwent aortic valve surgery (0 in relatives; p<0.001). Myxomatous remodelling with an infiltration of immune cells was observed. Overall survival was similar betweenFLNA+versusFLNA− subjects (86±5% vs 85±6%, p=0.36). There was no statistical evidence for an interaction between genetic status and sex (p=0.15), but the survival tended to be impaired inFLNA+ men (p=0.06) whereas not in women (p=0.71).ConclusionThe patients withFLNAvariants present frequent aortic valve disease and worse outcomes. Bicuspid aortic valve is more frequent in patients carrying theFLNA-MVD variants. These unique features should be factored into the management of patients with dystrophic and/or bicuspid aortic valve.
ASCC3 promotes the immunosuppression and progression of non-small cell lung cancer by impairing the type I interferon response via CAND1-mediated ubiquitination inhibition of STAT3
Authors: Ao Yong-Qiang , Gao Jian , Jin Chun , Wang Shuai , Zhang Li-Cheng , Deng Jie , Chen Zong-wei , Wang Hai-Kun , Jiang Jia-Hao , Ding Jian-Yong 
Published: December 2023

BackgroundActivating signal cointegrator 3 (ASCC3) has been identified as an oncogenic factor that impairs host immune defense. However, the underlying mechanisms of carcinogenesis and its impact on the antitumor immune response remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of ASCC3 in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsSingle-cell sequencing data from the Gene Expression Omnibus and gene expression profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas database were analyzed. The expression, clinical relevance and biological functions of ASCC3 in NSCLC were explored. Then, RNA sequencing, immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry analyses were conducted to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. In addition, in vivo experiments in mouse models were conducted to explore the probability of ASCC3 knockdown to improve the efficacy of anti-Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) therapy in NSCLC.ResultsASCC3 was significantly upregulated in NSCLC and correlated with poor pathological characteristics and prognosis in patients with NSCLC. Overexpression of ASCC3 promoted malignant phenotypes of NSCLC cells and induced an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, which was characterized by a decrease in CD8+T cells, natural killer cells and dendritic cells but an increase in regulatory T(Treg) cells. Mechanistically, ASCC3 stabilized signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3 signaling by recruiting Cullin-associated and neddylation dissociated 1 (CAND1), which inhibited ubiquitin-mediated degradation of STAT3, thereby impairing the type I interferon response of tumor cells and promoting the immunosuppression and progression of NSCLC. Furthermore, high expression of ASCC3 impaired the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy, and an anti-PD-1 antibody combined with ASCC3 knockdown exerted promising synergistic efficacy in a preclinical mouse model.ConclusionASCC3 could stabilize the STAT3 pathway via CAND1, reshaping the tumor microenvironment and inducing resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy, which promotes the progression of NSCLC. It is a reliable prognostic indicator and can be a target in combination therapy for NSCLC.
Actinide targets for the synthesis of superheavy nuclei
Authors: Roberto J. B. , Du M. , Ezold J. G. , Hogle S. L. , Moon J. , Myhre K. , Rykaczewski K. P. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe use of heavy actinide targets, including 243Am, 240,242,244Pu, 245,248Cm, 249Bk, and 249Cf, irradiated by intense heavy ion beams of 48Ca has resulted in a significant expansion of the periodic table since 2000, including the discovery of five new heaviest elements and more than 50 new isotopes. These actinide materials can only be produced by intense neutron irradiation in very high flux reactors followed by chemical processing and purification in specialized hot cell facilities available in only a few locations worldwide. This paper reviews the reactor production of heavy actinides, the recovery and chemical separation of actinide materials, and the preparation of actinide targets for superheavy element experiments. The focus is on 248Cm, 249Bk, mixed 249−251Cf, and 254Es, including current availabilities and new production processes. The impacts of new facilities, including the Superheavy Element Factory at Dubna, accelerator and separator upgrades at RIKEN, and proposed upgrades to the High Flux Isotope Reactor at Oak Ridge are also described. Examples of recent superheavy element research are discussed as well as future opportunities for superheavy research using actinide targets.
Demonstrating Einstein’s Time Dilation Using Simple Muon Detectors
Authors: Talgeri R. R. , Neo J. X. , Ronn Tan H. H. , Ma Y. , Eer J. X. , Chong Z. Y. , Kuang J. H. , Lim J. N. , Cindy Ng S. C. , Yang A. , Chan A. H. 
Published: December 2023

Einstein’s theory of special relativity is one of the topics taught in undergraduate university physics courses. As undergraduates rarely have the opportunity to collect data and verify the concepts of Special Relativity, namely time dilation and length contraction, this paper aims to serve as a detailed instructional manual (self-contained) as well as provide insights from the undergraduates’ point of view on how to use a muon detector to collect data at various locations and altitudes in order to experimentally verify the aforementioned concepts. This experimental element enhances and complements the understanding of Special Relativity. The desktop muon detector used — the CosmicWatch Desktop Muon Detector V2 — was developed by the Department of Physics at Massachusetts Institution of Technology.
Differential Regulation of the STING Pathway in Human Papillomavirus–Positive and -Negative Head and Neck Cancers
Authors: Saulters Emma L. , Kennedy Paul T. , Carter Rachel J. , Alsufyani Abdullah , Jones Terence M. , Woolley John F. , Dahal Lekh N. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractSquamous cell carcinomas, which arise from the cells that line the mucosal surfaces of the head and neck, represent the most common type of head and neck cancers (HNSCC). Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been strongly associated with the development of oropharyngeal cancers, which are cancers that occur in the back of the throat, including the tonsils and base of the tongue. HNSCCs with and without HPV infection have distinct pathology, with HPV-positive patients having higher levels of immune infiltration, activation in the tumor microenvironment and better response to radiation and chemotherapy. It is, however, unclear whether HPV infection in HNSCCs has the potential to activate innate-immune sensing pathways and if these cancers possess intrinsic immunogenicity associated with HPV infection. Here we investigate the innate immune stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway and immune responses to STING activation in HNSCCs and uncover fundamental differences in the regulation of this pathway in cell lines versus primary human clinical specimens. We show that while STING is differentially expressed in HPV-positive and -negative HNSCC cell lines, they exhibit a gross functional defect in signaling through this pathway. However, STING activation in immune cell populations generated immune signatures predicted to elicit useful tumoricidal mechanisms. In contrast, IHC analysis of human tissue microarrays revealed enhanced STING expression in HPV-related tumors and high intratumoral expression of STING correlated with increased survival.Significance:STING is an important innate immune sensor of cytosolic DNA, inducing essential antiviral and antitumoral responses. This research shows that STING expression is enhanced in HPV-positive HNSCC patient tissue, with high intratumoral STING expression correlating with increased survival. In addition, STING activation in immune cell populations augmented antitumoral effects against HNSCCs, suggesting patients may benefit from the use of STING agonists in combination with traditional therapies.
Association Between Delays in Time to Bystander CPR and Survival for Witnessed Cardiac Arrest in the United States
Authors: Nguyen Dan D. , Spertus John A. , Kennedy Kevin F. , Gupta Kashvi , Uzendu Anezi I. , McNally Bryan F. , Chan Paul S. 
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND:
Prompt initiation of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is critical to survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, the association between delays in bystander CPR and OHCA survival is poorly understood.

METHODS:
In this observational study using a nationally representative US registry, we identified patients who received bystander CPR from a layperson for a witnessed OHCA from 2013 to 2021. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to estimate the association between time to CPR (<1 minute versus 2–3, 4–5, 6–7, 8–9, and ≥10-minute intervals) and survival to hospital discharge and favorable neurological survival (survival to discharge with cerebral performance category of 1 or 2 [ie, without severe neurological disability]).

RESULTS:

Of 78 048 patients with a witnessed OHCA treated with bystander CPR, the mean age was 63.5±15.7 years and 25, 197 (32.3%) were women. The median time to bystander CPR was 2 (1–5) minutes, with 10% of patients having a≥10-minute delay before initiation of CPR. Overall, 15 000 (19.2%) patients survived to hospital discharge and 13 159 (16.9%) had favorable neurological survival. There was a graded inverse relationship between time to bystander CPR and survival to hospital discharge (
P
for trend <0.001). Compared with patients who received CPR within 1 minute, those with a time to CPR of 2 to 3 minutes were 9% less likely to survive to discharge (adjusted odds ratio, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.87–0.95]) and those with a time to CPR 4 to 5 minutes were 27% less likely to survive (adjusted odds ratio, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.68–0.77]). A similar graded inverse relationship was found between time to bystander CPR and favorable neurological survival (
P
for trend <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:
Among patients with witnessed OHCA, there was a dose-response relationship between delays in bystander initiation of CPR and lower survival rates.
Severe Convective Storms in Limited Instability Organized by Pattern and Distribution
Authors: Campbell Trevor A. , Lackmann Gary M. , Molina Maria J. , Parker Matthew D. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Severe convection occurring in high-shear, low-CAPE (HSLC) environments is a common cool-season threat in the southeastern United States. Previous studies of HSLC convection document the increased operational challenges that these environments present compared to their high-CAPE counterparts, corresponding to higher false-alarm ratios and lower probability of detection for severe watches and warnings. These environments can exhibit rapid destabilization in the hours prior to convection, sometimes associated with the release of potential instability. Here, we use self-organizing maps (SOMs) to objectively identify environmental patterns accompanying HSLC cool-season severe events and associate them with variations in severe weather frequency and distribution. Large-scale patterns exhibit modest variation within the HSLC subclass, featuring strong surface cyclones accompanied by vigorous upper-tropospheric troughs and northward-extending regions of instability, consistent with prior studies. In most patterns, severe weather occurs immediately ahead of a cold front. Other convective ingredients, such as lower-tropospheric vertical wind shear, near-surface equivalent potential temperature (θe) advection, and the release of potential instability, varied more significantly across patterns. No single variable used to train SOMs consistently demonstrated differences in the distribution of severe weather occurrence across patterns. Comparison of SOMs based on upper and lower quartiles of severe occurrence demonstrated that the release of potential instability was most consistently associated with higher-impact events in comparison to other convective ingredients. Overall, we find that previously developed HSLC composite parameters reasonably identify high-impact HSLC events.

Significance Statement
Even when atmospheric instability is not optimal for severe convective storms, in some situations they can still occur, presenting increased challenges to forecasters. These marginal environments may occur at night or during the cool season, when people are less attuned to severe weather threats. Here, we use a sorting algorithm to classify different weather patterns accompanying such storms, and we distinguish which specific patterns and weather system features are most strongly associated with severe storms. Our goals are to increase situational awareness for forecasters and to improve understanding of the processes leading to severe convection in marginal environments.
Clinical Characteristics and Management of Peripancreatic Arterial Aneurysms: A 20-year Experience
Authors: Kang Jihee , Kim Sejun , Yang Shin-Seok , Kim Young-Wook , Do Young-Soo , Park Kwang-Bo , Park Yang-Jin 
Published: December 2023

Pancreaticoduodenal and gastroduodenal artery aneurysms (PDAAs and GDAAs) are rare visceral aneurysms. Considering the rupture risk regardless of size, treatment should be provided promptly. We reviewed the characteristics and management of peripancreatic aneurysms in a retrospective, single-center review of consecutive patients with PDAAs and GDAAs between 2000 and 2022. Demographics, clinical characteristics, radiologic features, treatment, and outcomes were recorded. Nineteen PDAAs and seven GDAAs were identified in 24 patients. The median sizes of the PDAAs and GDAAs were 21 mm (range: 8–50 mm) and 14 mm (range: 11–32 mm), respectively. There were 4 ruptured cases (15.4%). Ten aneurysms (38.5%) had concomitant visceral aneurysms, and 16 (61.6%) were associated with celiac pathology. Aneurysms were managed using endovascular in 12 (46.2%), surgical in 4 (15.4%), and combined methods in 3 (11.5%) cases; 7 patients (26.9%) were lost to follow-up or refused treatments. During a median 13.8-month follow-up (range: 1–147.6), two complications (7.7%) occurred including pancreatitis and coil migration into the superior mesenteric artery after embolization within 30 days. After 30 days, aorto-common hepatic artery bypass graft stenosis was identified in one PDAA. Depending on the characteristics of peripancreatic aneurysms, endovascular, surgical, and hybrid approaches might all be practical treatment options.
Relationship Between Export and Economic Growth: Evidence from West African Countries
Authors: Kulu Evans 
Published: December 2023

The export-led growth hypothesis (ELGH) postulates that export is a major driver of economic growth. This study tests this hypothesis and further analyses the determinants of exports in the case of West African countries. An annual panel data spanning from 2008 to 2018 was used. Findings from the system GMM and OLS estimations validate the ELGH in West Africa. The results also reveal that foreign direct investment, employment, remittances, land area and infrastructure are significant boosters of export while population, real effective exchange rate and taxes on international trade are detrimental to export performance in the region. The study recommends the relaxation of taxes especially on international trade to encourage businesses that produce to feed the export sectors, provide an enabling environment for businesses and also attract foreign investors. JEL Codes: F14, F21, O55
Mechanical characterization of lattice structure produced by additive manufacturing under torsion and compression
Authors: Akbay Özgün Ceren , Özdemir Burak , Bahçe Erkan , Emir Ender , Uslu Uysal Mine 
Published: December 2023

In the present paper, the torsion and compression behaviors of lattice structures were studied. The PLA (Polylactic Acid) materials were used in assembly and produced by additive manufacturing method. The structure and lattice behaviors were investigated by Digital Image Correlation (DIC) system during experimental study. Models created using three different unit cell model as Trunch Octa Dense, Trunch Octa Light, Body Diagonals With Nodes and two different, 70 mm and 140 mm, total length size. The influence of the unit cell model, cell size on the strength of the structure were studied by compression and torsion experiments. The maximum compressive stress and maximum torsion were obtained and their deformations were presented. The highest maximum torque was determined in Body Diagonals With Nodes cell model and 140 mm due to the fact that the cell model structure compatible with torsion. The highest compressive stress was determined in Trunch Octa Light cell model and 140 mm cell length.