bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The role of clinically relevant intra-abdominal collections after pancreaticoduodenectomy
Authors: Lopez Pablo , Pando Elizabeth , Ortega-Torrecilla Nuria , Puertolas Noelia , Adell Montse , Fernandes Nair , Herms Daniel , Barros Marta , Blanco Laia , Balsells Joaquim , Charco Ramon 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
There is controversial evidence regarding the impact of clinically relevant postoperative intra-abdominal collections (CR-IC) on the clinical course after pancreaticoduodenectomy. C-reactive Protein (CRP) has been validated as a predictor of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). Still, its role in predicting CR-IC has not been studied.

Methods
A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent PD at a tertiary hospital between October 2012 and October 2017. The incidence of CR-IC, clinically relevant POPF and other complications, as well as mortality and length of hospitalisation, was retrieved. The impact of CR-IR on mortality and major complications was analysed. The serum CRP levels were retrieved on the third and fifth postoperative days (POD3 and POD5), followed by an analysis of sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve to predict CR-IC using CRP.

Results
One hundred forty patients were enrolled following inclusion and exclusion criteria. The mean age was 66.5 years (15–83). The incidence of CR-IC was 33.7% (47), and CR-POPF was 24.3%. Pancreatic duct diameter ≤ 4 mm was identified as a risk factor related to CR-IC occurrence. The group of patients who developed CR-IC after PD exhibited a higher rate of complications Clavien-Dindo ≥ III compared to patients without CR-IC (40.4% vs 7.5%, p < 0.001), as well as other events such as admission to the intensive care unit (25.5% vs 4.3%, p < 0.001), the incidence of CR-POPF (66% vs 3.2%, p < 0.001), prolonged hospital stay (32 vs 13 days, p < 0.001), postoperative haemorrhage (23.4 vs 5.4%, p = 0.002), and delayed gastric empty (38.8% vs 11.8%, p < 0.001) respectively. Logistic regression analysis identified CR-IC related to POPF as a risk factor for Clavien-Dindo > III: OR = 10.6 (95% CI: 3.90–28.7). No differences in mortality were reported between the CR-IC group and non-CR-IC group. CRP at postoperative day 3 (POD3) > 17.55 mg/dl and CRP at postoperative day 5 (POD5) > 13.46 mg/dl were predictors of CR-IC (AUC: 0.731 and AUC:0.821, respectively).

Conclusions
CR-IC has a significant impact after pancreaticoduodenectomy and is associated with a higher incidence of Clavien-Dindo ≥ III complications. Additionally, CRP levels at POD3 and POD5 play a role in predicting CR-IC. Prospective studies are essential to explore strategies for mitigating the occurrence of CR-IC after PD.
Nomogram for predicting venous thromboembolism after spinal surgery
Authors: Kong Wei-qing , Shao Cheng , Du Yu-kun , Li Jian-yi , Shao Jia-le , Hu Hui-qiang , Qu Yang , Xi Yong-ming 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to establish a nomogram to predict the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), identifying potential risk factors, and providing theoretical basis for prevention of VTE after spinal surgery.

Methods
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 2754 patients who underwent spinal surgery. The general characteristics of the training group were initially screened using univariate logistic analysis, and the LASSO method was used for optimal prediction. Subsequently, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for postoperative VTE in the training group, and a nomogram for predict risk of VTE was established. The discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness of the nomogram were separately evaluated using the C-index, receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration plot and clinical decision curve, and was validated using data from the validation group finally.

Results
Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified 10 independent risk factors for VTE after spinal surgery. A nomogram was established based on these independent risk factors. The C-index for the training and validation groups indicating high accuracy and stability of the model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve indicating excellent discrimination ability; the calibration curves showed outstanding calibration for both the training and validation groups. Decision curve analysis showed the clinical net benefit of using the nomogram could be maximized in the probability threshold range of 0.01–1.

Conclusion
Patients undergoing spinal surgery with elevated D-dimer levels, prolonger surgical, and cervical surgery have higher risk of VTE. The nomogram can provide a theoretical basis for clinicians to prevent VTE.
Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PvP) adsorbs on and interacts with biomembrane-like layers
Authors: Crow Bethany , Stokes William E. , Kapur Nikil , Fite Marti Busquets , Nelson Andrew 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis communication describes an initial study into the interaction of solution polyvinylpyrrolidone (PvP) with electrode-supported monolayers of dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine (DOPC). Experiments were carried out in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.4, and solutions were screened on a DOPC-coated microfabricated Hg/Pt electrode in flow cell. The effect of the PvP interaction on the form of rapid cyclic voltammograms (RCV) was recorded at 40 Vs−1. It was found that the PvP-DOPC interaction is strongly dependent on PvP chain length. For shorter chain lengths, the interaction is linearly related to PvP concentration whereas at longer chain lengths, the interaction is Langmuirean; however, the interaction RCV in all cases is representative of adsorption. Both the affinity constant, K2, and the limit of detection (LoD) are extracted from these plots, and these values are inversely related to each other. Plots of log K2 and –log LoD versus the monomer segment number (PvPm) fit a two-term equation consisting of a power term and an exponential term. Plots of (log K2)/PvPm versus PvPm are near reciprocal showing that there is ‘looping’ of the chains on the DOPC surface during the adsorption process. The results fit a model of entropically driven adsorption at short chain lengths and enthalpically driven adsorption at longer chain lengths the latter assumedly due to non-covalent interactions between the PvP chains on the DOPC surface.
Similar levels of disease activity and remission rates in patients with psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis—results from the Finnish quality register
Authors: Weman Lauri , Salo Henri , Kuusalo Laura , Huhtakangas Johanna , Kärki Johanna , Vähäsalo Paula , Backström Maria , Sokka-Isler Tuulikki 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Objectives
To compare the current disease activity and remission rates, and their regional variation in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Finland.

Methods
Data of patients’ most recent visit in 1/2020–9/2021 were extracted from the Finnish Rheumatology Quality Register. Measures for disease activity and remission included joint counts, DAS28, cDAPSA, CDAI, the Boolean definition, and physician assessment. Regression analyses were applied, adjusted for age and sex.

Results
Data of 3598 patients with PsA (51% female, mean age 54 years) and 13,913 patients with RA (72% female, 74% ACPA-positive, mean age 62 years) were included. The median (IQR) DAS28 was 1.9 (1.4, 2.6) in PsA and 2.0 (1.6, 2.7) in RA (p = 0.94); for cDAPSA, the median (IQR) values were 7.7 (3.1, 14) in PsA and 7.7 (3.3, 14) in RA (p < 0.001). In all regions in both diseases, the median DAS28 was ≤ 2.6 and the median cDAPSA < 13. Remission rates included DAS28 < 2.6 in 73% in PsA and 69% in RA (p = 0.17) and Boolean remission in 17% in PsA and 15% in RA (p < 0.001). By other definitions of remission, the rates ranged between 30% and 46%. Methotrexate was currently used by 49% in PsA and 57% in RA (p < 0.001). Self-administered bDMARDs were currently used by 37% in PsA and 21% in RA (p < 0.001).

Conclusion
The overall disease activity was low and similar in patients with PsA and RA across the country. Remission rates varied between 15 and 73%, depending on the definition but were similar in PsA and RA.

Key Points• The disease activity and clinical picture was similar between patients with PsA and RA, in a cross-sectional setting in 1.2020–9.2021.• A significant majority of patients with PsA had low disease activity or were in remission according to cDAPSA. Majority of patients with RA were in remission according to DAS28.• Patients with PsA and RA used methotrexate similarly. The utilization of bDMARDs was more prevalent in patients with PsA.
GBA-associated Parkinson’s disease in Hungary: clinical features and genetic insights
Authors: Szlepák Tamás , Kossev Annabel P. , Csabán Dóra , Illés Anett , Udvari Szabolcs , Balicza Péter , Borsos Beáta , Takáts Annamária , Klivényi Péter , Molnár Mária J. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Introduction
Parkinson’s disease (PD) has a complex genetic background involving both rare and common genetic variants. Although a small percentage of cases show a clear Mendelian inheritance pattern, it is much more relevant to identify patients who present with a complex genetic profile of risk variants with different severity. The ß-glucocerebrosidase coding gene (GBA1) is recognized as the most frequent genetic risk factor for PD and Lewy body dementia, irrespective of reduction of the enzyme activity due to genetic variants.

Methods
In a selected cohort of 190 Hungarian patients with clinical signs of PD and suspected genetic risk, we performed the genetic testing of the GBA1 gene. As other genetic hits can modify clinical features, we also screened for additional rare variants in other neurodegenerative genes and assessed the APOE-ε genotype of the patients.

Results
In our cohort, we identified 29 GBA1 rare variant (RV) carriers. Out of the six different detected RVs, the highly debated E365K and T408M variants are composed of the majority of them (22 out of 32). Three patients carried two GBA1 variants, and an additional three patients carried rare variants in other neurodegenerative genes (SMPD1, SPG11, and SNCA). We did not observe differences in age at onset or other clinical features of the patients carrying two GBA1 variants or patients carrying heterozygous APOE-ε4 allele.

Conclusion
We need further studies to better understand the drivers of clinical differences in these patients, as this could have important therapeutic implications.
Evaluation of the Differential Postbiotic Potential of Shewanella putrefaciens Pdp11 Cultured in Several Growing Conditions
Authors: Domínguez-Maqueda Marta , García-Márquez Jorge , Tapia-Paniagua Silvana T. , González-Fernández Carmen , Cuesta Alberto , Espinosa-Ruíz Cristóbal , Esteban María Ángeles , Alarcón Francisco Javier , Balebona María Carmen , Moriñigo Miguel Ángel 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe increased knowledge of functional foods has led to the development of a new generation of health products, including those containing probiotics and products derived from them. Shewanella putrefaciens Pdp11 (SpPdp11) is a strain described as a probiotic that exerts important beneficial effects on several farmed fish. However, the use of live probiotic cells in aquaculture has limitations such as uncertain survival and shelf life, which can limit their efficacy. In addition, its efficacy can vary across species and hosts. When probiotics are administered orally, their activity can be affected by the environment present in the host and by interactions with the intestinal microbiota. Furthermore, live cells can also produce undesired substances that may negatively impact the host as well as the risk of potential virulence reversion acquired such as antibiotic resistance. Therefore, new alternatives emerged such as postbiotics. Currently, there is no knowledge about the postbiotic potential of SpPdp11 in the aquaculture industry. Postbiotic refers to the use of bacterial metabolites, including extracellular products (ECPs), to improve host physiology. However, the production of postbiotic metabolites can be affected by various factors such as cultivation conditions, which can affect bacterial metabolism. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the postbiotic potential of ECPs from SpPdp11 under different cultivation conditions, including culture media, temperature, growth phase, and salinity. We analyzed their hydrolytic, antibacterial, antiviral, and cytotoxic capacity on several fish cell lines. The results obtained have demonstrated how each ECP condition can exert a different hydrolytic profile, reduce the biofilm formation by bacterial pathogens relevant to fish, lower the titer of nervous necrosis virus (NNV), and exert a cytotoxic effect on different fish cell lines. In conclusion, the ECPs obtained from SpPdp11 have different capacities depending on the cultivation conditions used. These conditions must be considered in order to recover the maximum number of beneficial capacities or to choose the appropriate conditions for specific activities.
Untangling “Chinese characteristics”: an examination of “the China Discipline Evaluation with Chinese characteristics” and what it implies
Authors: Zhou Yiran 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe terminology of “Chinese characteristics” (zhongguo tese) is ubiquitous in China’s political language, but its precise definition remains elusive. This study focuses specifically on the mobilising of the idea of Chinese characteristics of China’s science evaluation programme: the China Discipline Evaluation (CDE). Implemented as an instrument of the higher education reform since 1978, it still plays a vital role in China today. This paper is structured into three parts. It begins by laying out the broad landscape of the science evaluation systems across several countries including China, to distil the distinctiveness of the CDE. Then, it moves to focus on the CDE and locates it in its historical and social-political context. Finally, it investigates the origin and use of Chinese characteristics, suggesting that this terminology functions as a rhetoric modality which describes, labels, and legitimates seemingly self-contradictory phenomena exclusive to China. It also emphasises the idea of Chinese exceptionalism that is touted as irreducible to other cultural forms. Based on these considerations, it proposes three dimensions of the Chinese characteristics of the CDE: (i) the paradoxical status of the evaluation agency, (ii) the co-existence of contradictory values embedded in the objectives and criteria of the evaluation, and (iii) the promotion of the visibility of the idea of China at the international stage. Overall, it shows that while the CDE may appear to be a decentralisation instrument, it is in essence a “hegemonic project” and “hegemonic apparatus” to fulfil the party-state’s ambition in securing domestic stability and pursuing international competitiveness.
A plant disease classification using one-shot learning technique with field images
Authors: Saad Mohamed H. , Salman Ahmed E. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract Early diagnosis of plant diseases is crucial for preventing plagues and mitigating their effects on crops. The most precise automatic methods for identifying plant diseases using images of plant fields are powered by deep learning. Big image datasets should always be gathered and annotated for these methods to work, which is often not technically or financially feasible. This paper offers one-shot learning (OSL) techniques for plant disease classification with limited datasets utilizing Siamese Neural Network (SNN). There are five different crop kinds in the dataset: grape, wheat, cotton, cucumber, and corn. Five sets of images showing both healthy and diseased crops are used to represent each of the new crops. The dataset's includes 25 classes with 875 leaf images. Data augmentation techniques are used to enhance the size and dimension of the plant leaf disease image dataset. To provide effective segmentation, this paper provides a unique method for region-based image segmentation that divides an image into its most prominent regions. It also addresses issues with earlier region-based segmentation methods. SVM-based classifiers have better generalization properties as their efficiency does not depend on the number of features. Such merit is beneficial in primary diagnostics decisions to check if the input image is included in the database or not to reduce the consumed time. OSL was applied and compared to standard fine-tuning transfer learning utilizing Siamese networks and triplet loss. Siamese provides superior classification accuracy and localization accuracy with minimal errors than other approaches. The proposed approach has a total processing time of 5 ms, which makes it appropriate for real-time applications. In terms of specificity, sensitivity, precision, accuracy, MCC, and F-measure, the proposed approach beats all current machine learning algorithms for small training sets.
Fixed time control of free-flying space robotic manipulator with full state constraints: a barrier-Lyapunov-function term free approach
Authors: Xie Zhicheng , Chen Xianliang , Wu Xiaofeng 
Published: December 2023

AbstractSpace robotic manipulator (SRM) should be always performed in the given workspace for safety concern. This requires the system states such as rotation of each joint, attitude of base, and their velocities to be always constrained in the given regions. In this article, a new sliding mode control scheme based on a fixed time disturbance observer is proposed to realize the fixed time coordinate motion control of SRM with full-state constraints. Firstly, the tracking error and error velocity at the novel sliding manifold can converge to the equilibrium within a fixed time without violating their state constraints. Then, the control law based on the fixed time disturbance observer is designed to achieve the sliding manifold within a fixed time, which simultaneously satisfies the state constraints during the approaching stage. Unlike the most existing state constraint control schemes, the proposed controller does not include any Barrier Lyapunov Function (BLF) terms of system states, and therefore the risk of controller outputting inappropriately high control commands is eliminated. Moreover, the proposed control scheme is compatible to the initial system states violating their constraints, which thereby removes the assumption of feasible initial states. Furthermore, the proposed sliding manifold solves the singularity issue by a continuously varying power of tracking error, which thereby does not need an additional switch mechanism of manifold compared to the conventional fixed time controllers. The stability of the proposed control scheme is proven by using the Lyapunov theory, and the effectiveness is verified by numerical simulations.
The influence of the whole school approach on implementing education for sustainable development in Japan
Authors: Sasaki Orie , Yonehara Aki , Kitamura Yuto 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis research investigates the influence of the whole school approach (WSA) on the education for sustainable development (ESD) practices of teachers in Japan. We focus on understanding how school organizations that facilitate WSA influence teachers’ ESD practices in a multifaceted and hierarchical manner. The multilevel analysis, which targeted 683 elementary and middle school teachers in ESD-promoting schools, revealed that the actual working environment may be more important than the school’s management system for helping individual teachers implement ESD, and that school-level WSA made a clear contribution to promoting ESD. The research suggests the importance of establishing the environmental conditions, such as the school board and principals’ guarantee of basic conditions (e.g., working hours, teaching materials, and an environment where teachers can exercise ownership), so that teachers who are interested in ESD practice can feel secure and assume ownership of ESD activities.
A transdisciplinary multiscaled approach to engage with green infrastructure planning, restoration and use in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Breed Christina A. , Engemann Kristine , Pasgaard Maya 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe systematic integration of green infrastructure (GI) concepts in urban planning shows promise to reduce environmental hazards; while creating sociocultural benefits. However, cities in sub-Saharan Africa face rapid urbanisation and are challenged by the degradation of existing GI, increasing their vulnerability to climatic risks. This paper presents the findings of a transdisciplinary research project that investigated GI planning in the City of Tshwane, South Africa, over two years. The researchers conducted a community survey, an on-the-ground rapid assessment of multifunctional benefit provisions, first-hand observations of local stormwater systems, reviewed policy documents and conducted semi-structured interviews with metro officials. To integrate the above findings, four design studios and eight co-creation workshops were held that explored GI spatial planning in the city. The researchers examined the uptake of GI planning principles, and the challenges, opportunities and local proposals for GI applications, and here synthesised some main conclusions. Despite many well-known challenges, GI opportunities include creating socioeconomic incentives for stronger human-nature relations, providing for multifunctional benefits and anchoring GI in local communities. Interactive research can facilitate increased local awareness and engagement, but access to GI benefits is physically constrained and socially determined by knowledge, networks and safety factors. Based on the above findings, the researchers propose locally adapted planning strategies to enhance GI: creating opportunities for GI access and co-ownership, encouraging multifunctional, safe and flexible GI, supporting multiscale GI integration, and strengthening collaborative governance. A joint GI vision can reinforce city ownership along with flexible and creative design alternatives that are rooted in local communities.