bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Steroid efficacy in Meralgia Paresthetica: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Jawaid Wajid , Haider Samna , Shoaib Navaira , Azhar Naveen , Siddiqui Aroma Shaukat 
Published: October 2023

Objective: To determine the efficacy of steroid injections for pain relief in patients with meralgia paresthetica (MP).
Methods: All the literature published until March 2023 was explored from several databases, including EBSCO, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Articles investigating the change in pain status of MP patients after steroid injection were included. The primary outcomes were complete pain relief, pain scores at 15 days and one month after intervention. When compared to the baseline, the secondary outcomes for the steroid group included pain scores at the end of treatment and quality of life, which were further evaluated by two factors, namely mental and physical health.
Results: The analysis of the studies validated that steroids were significantly successful in providing complete pain relief (p-value = 0.00001), and in reducing the pain score of patients with meralgia paresthetica at 15 days (p-value = 0.02), but not at one month (p-value = 0.79) as compared to the control group. The analysis did not reveal any significant subgroup differences among various steroids (P = 0.52; CI: 0.01 - 0.10; RR: 0.04; I2 = 0%). Mental health (MD = 4.23; 95% CI = 0.42 to 8.03; p = 0.03, I2 = 0%) was significantly improved in the steroid group when compared with baseline.
Conclusion: Steroids injections can play an important role in improving symptoms and complications of meralgia paresthetica, especially in the short term.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.8162
How to cite this: Jawaid W, Haider S, Shoaib N, Azhar N, Siddiqui AS. Steroid efficacy in Meralgia Paresthetica: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(1):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.8162
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.
Radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of multifocal or large-scale high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia of the esophagus: A safe & effective approach
Authors: Yang Yang , Liang Liu  , Jingyu Zhu  
Published: October 2023

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.8927
How to cite this: Yang Y, Liu L, Zhu J. Radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of multifocal or large-scale high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia of the esophagus: A safe and effective approach. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(1):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.8927
Rewilding the night sky: Mitigating the costs of light pollution for bats and insects
Authors: Barber Jesse R. , Cole Hunter J. 
Published: October 2023

Altering the LED street lighting regime in Colter Bay, Grand Teton National Park from warm white to red, in short-term blocks (3-7 days per color) substantially reduces attraction of nocturnal arthropods but has little influence on bat space use. We recommend research on long-term application of this mitigation approach and investigation of lower intensity levels.

Featured photo taken from Figure 2 of the report.
Evaporation of serum after long-term biobank storage: A chemical analysis of maternal serum from a large Danish pregnancy screening registry
Authors: Uldbjerg Cecilie S. , Sørensen Karina M. , Lindh Christian H. , Rantakokko Panu , Hauser Russ , Juul Anders , Andersson Anna-Maria , Bräuner Elvira V. 
Published: October 2023

Background
Relying on freezer stored biospecimens is preferred in epidemiolocal studies exploring environmental pregnancy exposures and later offspring health. Storage duration may increase the pre-analytical variability, potentially adding measurement uncertainty. We investigated evaporation of maternal serum after long-term biobank storage using ions (sodium, Na+; chloride, Cl-) recognized for stability and relatively narrow normal biological reference ranges in human serum.

Methods
A chemical analysis study of 275 biobanked second trimester maternal serum from a large Danish pregnancy screening registry. Serum samples were collected between 1985–1995 and stored at -20°C. Ion concentrations were quantified with indirect potentiometry using a Roche Cobas 6000 analyzer and compared according to storage time and normal biological ranges in second trimester. Ion concentrations were also compared with normal biological variation assessed by baseline Na+ and Cl- serum concentrations from a separate cohort of 24,199 non-pregnant women measured before freezing with the same instrument.

Results
The overall mean ion concentrations in biobanked serum were 147.5 mmol/L for Na+ and 109.7 for Cl-. No marked linear storage effects were observed according to storage time. Ion concentrations were consistently high across sampling years, especially for specific sampling years, and a relatively large proportion were outside respective normal ranges in second trimester: 38.9% for Na+ and 43.6% for Cl-. Some variation in concentrations was also evident in baseline serum used as quality controls.

Conclusions
Elevated ion concentrations suggest evaporation, but independent of storage duration in the present study (27–37 years). Any evaporation may have occurred prior to freezer storage or during the first 27 years. Other pre-analytical factors such as low serum volume have likely influenced the concentrations, particularly given the high within year variability. Overall, we consider the biobanked serum samples internally comparable to enable their use in epidemiological studies.
Racial Differences in Auditory Hallucination Content and Attitudes: An Advancement in Cultural Psychiatry and Clinical Application of Social Determinants of Health
Authors: Thomas-Tran Emily Phu , Thomas-Tran Jane , Tran Ivy Phu , Hu Rona J. 
Published: October 2023

Background: Minimal prior literature compares the hallucinatory experiences of individuals from different racial backgrounds living within the same geographic area. Understanding differences of hallucinatory content and attitudes is essential to tailoring clinical advice for patients. We aim to investigate the differences in hallucinatory content and attitudes toward hallucinations for individuals of different races receiving care from the same academic institution. Methods: Cross-sectional study using an institutional database, randomly selected patient charts from 2008-2020. Inclusion criteria: age 10+ years, primary psychotic disorder, known race, documented auditory hallucination content. Excluded patients with hallucinations of non-psychiatric origin. Racial cohorts White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian each had n=50. Due to database limitations, Native American/Alaska Natives had n=8, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander had n=7. Hallucination content and perception of symptoms (positive or negative) compared between cohorts using chi-square test of independence and multinomial regression. Findings: Blacks had the most hallucinations of violence, including police violence, and racism. Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders were most likely to have hallucinations of nature and medical violence. Hispanics had the most religious hallucinations. Asians had more derogatory hallucinations. Whites had more hallucinations of government violence. Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders were most likely to have a positive attitude towards hallucinations (positive:negative 3:4). Whites were least likely (positive:negative 1:11). Interpretation: Patients from different racial backgrounds in one geographic area experience auditory hallucinations differently. Appreciating these differences may improve trauma-informed care and cultural humility.
Influence of the addition of WO3 on TeO2–Na2O glass systems in view of the feature of mechanical, optical, and photon attenuation
Authors: Al-Ghamdi Hanan , Yasmin Sabina , Abualsayed Mohammad Ibrahim , Kumar Ashok , Almuqrin Aljawhara H. , Mohammed Shlair Ibrahim 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
A study was conducted to investigate how the addition of WO3 affects the mechanical, optical, and photon attenuation properties of TeO2–Na2O glass systems. In this study, four glass systems categorized as W5, W10, W15, and W20 were studied to evaluate the impact of WO3 on TeO2–Na2O glass systems in view of the feature of mechanical, optical, and photon attenuation. The rising values of elastic moduli suggest that increasing WO3 on TeO2–Na2O glass systems makes the glassy structure more stable. Incorporating WO3 into TeO2–Na2O glass systems results in an increased energy band gap, rising from 2.83 to 2.95 eV. This phenomenon, in turn, leads to a decrease in the refractive index, dielectric constant, and optical dielectric constant values from 2.444 to 2.411, 5.975 to 5.811, and 4.975 to 4.811, respectively. While the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) of the examined glass systems (W5, W10, W15, and W20) displayed a comparable pattern, the LAC value of glass sample W20 stood out as the highest among them. However, due to the addition of WO3 on the TeO2–Na2O glass system, at a lower energy region from 0.0284 to 0.06 MeV, there was a little variation among the mass attenuation coefficients of these glass systems studied herein, but a negligible variation was found from 0.662 to 2.51 MeV. The studied glass sample W20 with the highest amount of WO3 (20 mol%) on the TeO2–Na2O glass system displayed the lowest half-value layer. However, glass samples W5, W10, and W15 exposed 1.29, 1.07, and 1.03 times higher values of mean free path than W20. In addition, the values of the half-value layer were compared with the literature data of WO3–MoO3–TeO2, BaO–Li2O–B2O3, and CaF2–BaO–P2O5 glass systems. Studied glass sample W20 showed the maximum shielding performance from energy 0.284 to 2.51 MeV.
Improved osseointegration of dental titanium implants by TiO2 nanotube arrays with self-assembled recombinant IGF-1 in type 2 diabetes mellitus rat model
Authors: Zhang Qian , Wang Jun-Jun , Xue Qian , Wang Ying-Jie , Zhang Min , Chen Yong-Jin 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Improvement of poor implant osseointegration under diabetes is always a poser in clinics. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) and self-assembled minTBP-1-IGF-1 on implant osseointegration in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats. There were four groups, the control group, the TNTs group, the minTBP-1-IGF-1 group, and the minTBP-1-IGF-1-TNTs group. The atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscope (SEM) results showed that 500 nm nanotubes were formed by anodic oxidation and minTBP-1-IGF-1 could self-assemble into almost all nanotubes. ELISA assay confirmed that more protein was adsorbed on TNTs surface. The contact angle of the minTBP-1-IGF-1-TNTs group was the lowest, confirmed that the hydrophilicity was the highest. The double fluorescence staining was used to evaluate the mineral apposition rate (MAR) at early stage and the MAR of the minTBP-1-IGF-1-TNTs group was the highest. Micro-CT images displayed that bone formed around the minTBP-1-IGF-1-TNTs implant was the most homogeneous and dense, and the quantitative analysis of these images at 12 weeks also confirmed these results. The cross-section SEM results showed that the connection between bone and minTBP-1-IGF-1-TNTs implant was the tightest. All results demonstrated that minTBP-1-IGF-1-TNTs can significantly improve low implant osseointegration under T2DM condition.
A szellemi tőkepotenciál és a munkaerő felkészültsége mint telephelyi tényezők Magyarországon
Authors: Koltai Zoltán 
Published: October 2023

A települések telephelyi sikerességét mára elsősorban belső adottságaik határozzák meg, a településhierarchiában elfoglalt pozíció, a közigazgatási szerepkör mellett meghatározó faktorrá gazdasági adottságaik, jövedelemszerzési lehetőségeik váltak. A kérdőíves kutatásunk által érintett, mintegy másfél évtizedet átfogó időszakban jelentősen átalakult a magyar gazdaság növekedését meghatározó térségek köre. Megerősödött a modern üzleti szolgáltatások, a földrajzi elhelyezkedés, megközelíthetőség, az infrastrukturális ellátottság, a történelmi-kulturális adottságok, a település környezetében elérhető humán erőforrás, az innovációt hordozó intézmények, a környezeti állapot és nem utolsósorban a helyi fejlesztéspolitika aktivitásának magyarázó ereje.
Tanulmányunk célja, hogy rétegzett kérdőíves megkeresések alapján (magyarországi vállalkozások régiók, vállalati méret és szektorok szerinti megoszlása) bemutassa a telephelyi tényezők magyarországi vállalati megítélését, jellemezze az értékelések időbeli változását. Kiemelt figyelmet fordítunk a szellemi tőkepotenciál és a munkaerő felkészültsége mint telephelyi tényezők értékelésére, azok megjelenésére a differenciált méretű települések vonatkozásában. Úgy véljük, kapott eredményeink érdemi hozzájárulást biztosíthatnak egyes konkrét települések komplex térségi tényezőkínálatának megalapozásához, ami fejlesztéspolitikai aspektusból különösen sürgető feladat.
Pull-Out Tests for GFRP/BFRP/Steel Bars Used as Nailing for Coal-Bearing Soil Slopes in Humid Regions
Authors: Que Yun , Dai Yiqing , Hong Qifeng , Fang Lei , Zhang Canlin 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Coal-bearing soil slopes are associated with a high risk of landslides when subjected to high soil water content. Steel bars have been used as soil nailing for slope stabilization; however, corrosion may occur in an aggressive environment. Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) and basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) bars have higher resistance to corrosion and could be alternatives to steel bars, but their elastic modulus and bonding strength with cement concrete are inferior to steel bars, which may result in lower reinforcement effects against landslides and hence require further investigation. In this study, the mechanical properties of different types of bars were investigated using tensile tests. The mineral composition of the soil samples was analyzed. Subsequently, pull-out tests were conducted on three types of bars (steel, GFRP, and BFRP) embedded in grouts in the soil. Up to 38 test scenarios were investigated, and the results were statistically analyzed using an analysis of variance test. The effects of several factors were studied, including the bar type, water content, soil compaction degree, and soil surcharge. The results showed that the bar type had an insignificant effect on the maximum pull-out loads, indicating the feasibility of using GFRP and BFRP bars as alternatives to steel bars for soil nailing in coal-bearing soil slopes. The reinforcement effect can be weakened by rainfall or drought events and enhanced by higher compaction energy and surcharge loads.
Influence of initial moisture content on creep and shrinkage of concrete at constant and cyclic ambient humidity
Authors: Podhajecky Anna-Lena , Oneschkow Nadja , Kern Bianca , Lohaus Ludger , Müller Harald S. , Haist Michael 
Published: October 2023

AbstractCreep and shrinkage are strongly influenced by the moisture content of concrete and by the ambient humidity. The effect of the latter is currently considered in models and design codes such as the fib Model Code 2010 by time-average considerations, thus totally neglecting cyclic changes in ambient humidity normally observed in outdoor structures. However, the influence of the cyclic ambient humidity on the long-term deformations of concrete compared to the constant mean humidity has barely been investigated. Therefore, the developments of creep and shrinkage of a normal-strength concrete C30/37 with three initial (before testing) moisture contents at constant humidity as well as cyclic humidity were investigated. Results demonstrate that the drying shrinkage and drying creep, but also the basic creep, are higher with higher initial moisture contents at constant ambient humidity conditions. Additionally, creep strains sharply increased up to plus 60% due to cyclic humidity compared to those due to corresponding average constant humidity. The influence of cyclic ambient humidity is more pronounced for concretes with lower initial moisture contents. Those strong deviations in the creep behaviour (compared to existing design models) may cause severe safety risks in prestressed concrete constructions. Therefore, existing creep models should be modified considering the influence of cyclic changes in humidity and the combined influence of the initial moisture content.
Sınava Hazırlanan Öğrencilerde Sınav Kaygısının Beslenme Durumu Üzerine Etkisi
Authors: RASHİDİ Mahruk , KANBUR Bahar Nur , YILDIRIM Gülay 
Published: October 2023

Amaç: Bu çalışma sınava hazırlanan öğrencilerin sınav kaygısı ile beslenme alışkanlıkları arasındaki ilişkiyi değerlendirmek amacıyla planlanmıştır.
Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı, kesitsel ve ilişkisel tipte planlanan araştırmanın örneklemini İstanbul’da özel bir kolejde okuyan, lise ve üniversite sınavlarına hazırlanan 166 öğrenci oluşturmuştur. Veriler; Anket Formu, Sınav Kaygı Envanteri, Beslenme Alışkanlıkları Ölçeği kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde; tanımlayıcı istatistikler, Mann Whitney U, KruskalWallis H, Student t testi, Oneway Anova testi ve Spearman Korelasyon testleri kullanılmıştır.
Bulgular: Araştırmada kız öğrencilerin erkek öğrencilere, üniversite sınavlarına girecek olan 9.-12. Sınıflarda okuyan öğrencilerin lise sınavlarına girecek 5.-8. Sınıf öğrencilerine göre daha fazla sınav kaygısı yaşadıkları saptanmıştır (p
History of the Hematology Proficiency Exam and the Turkish Experience
Authors: BULDUK Tuba , DEMİR Ahmet Muzaffer , ANDIC Neslihan , SAYNALP Nilgün , AYLI Meltem 
Published: October 2023

Objective: The purpose of the present paper was to provide information about the Turkish Society of Hematology Proficiency Exam and to raise awareness about continuing medical education and proficiency certification.
Method: The data of the theoretical proficiency exams organized by the Turkish Society of Hematology since 2010 and the participation of Turkish hematologists in the European Hematology Examinations organized since 2017 were evaluated in the study. The number of hematology assistants and specialists who applied for the exam and the success levels of the participants were investigated.
Results: A total of 10 Hematology Proficiency Written Exams have been administered since 2010 and a total of 108 candidates applied for the exam. A total of 53.7% (58 candidates) of the test takers were female and 46.3% (50 candidates) were male. According to the results of the proficiency exam that has been applied since 2010, almost all of the candidates (99%) were successful in the exam. The proficiency oral/practical exam was held for the first time on 29.04.2023.
Conclusion: Proficiency exams are essential to provide an ideal level and standardization in hematology education. When compared to the European Hematology Examination, participation in the proficiency exam is lower than expected in our country. Hematologists should be encouraged to participate in the Hematology Proficiency Exam organized by the Hematology Medical Specialization Qualification Commission (HEM-TUYEK). Hematologists must also be supported to have a certificate of competence, which is an indicator of professionalism and continuous medical education.
Bone Health in the Transgender Population
Authors: Goodrich Ezra , Walcott Quinnlyn , Dallman Johnathan , Crow Hanna , Templeton Kimberly 
Published: October 2023

» Transgender women are more susceptible to low bone mineral density (BMD) before initiating gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), and while bone density initially improves with GAHT, it gradually declines while still remaining above baseline. Transgender women older than 50 years have a comparable fracture risk as age-matched cisgender women. Transgender men typically have normal or increased BMD before initiating and while receiving GAHT and are not at increased risk of fractures.» Transgender youth who receive puberty-blocking medications experience either no change or a slight decrease in BMD that returns to baseline after initiating GAHT.» It is important to abide by the International Society for Clinical Densitometry guidelines whenever ordering, performing, or reading a BMD scan for a gender-diverse patient.» There are no specific guidelines concerning vitamin D and calcium supplementation or the use of bisphosphonates in the transgender population, so the current recommendation is to abide by the guidelines for cisgender individuals.
Mineral Scaling Impact on Petrophysical Properties of Reservoir Rock in a Geothermal Field Located in Northwestern Iran
Authors: Zolfagharroshan Mohammad , Khamehchi Ehsan 
Published: October 2023

Summary
As the usage of geothermal energy as a zero-emission power resource continues to grow in significance, comprehending the interplay between physical and chemical processes within geothermal reservoirs becomes crucial. In this study, a computationally efficient fluid flow and heat transfer model, combined with a fluid chemistry model, is used to simulate fluid circulation and mineral precipitation in reservoir rock, resulting in changes in rock porosity and permeability. A 2D hybrid approach is employed to solve transient mass and momentum conservation equations, coupled with an analytical solution of the energy equation proposed in the literature for geological formations. A marching algorithm is utilized to calculate velocity and temperature fields in the axial direction within the production zone. Mineral scaling is addressed using the outputs of the hybrid model to perform saturation index (SI) and solution/dissolution computations for qualitative and quantitative mineral precipitation modeling. Multiple criteria are considered to assess the likelihood and intensity of fouling issues. The analysis results are used in an empirical model to estimate rock secondary porosity and permeability changes over a 5-year period of heat extraction. The developed simulator is applied to model a site in the Sabalan geothermal field in Iran, and its initial verification is conducted using data from the same site in the literature. The findings in the study for a sensitivity on fluid circulation rate reveal that increasing water circulation flow rate increases precipitation rate and pumping power required. Furthermore, even minor instances of pore blockage can result in notable reductions in permeability. Consequently, ensuring precise control over pressure and temperature during the production phase becomes progressively crucial for both reservoir integrity and production assurance. The proposed framework provides a promising approach for accurate and efficient simulation of geothermal reservoirs to optimize power generation and minimize environmental impact.
Investigating the Design Parameters and Simulation of a Piezo-actuated Vibratory Micro-robot in Hybrid Motion
Authors: Jalili Hadi , salarieh hassan , Vossoughi Gholamreza 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
In this paper, a complete dynamics model of a vibratory micro-robot has been investigated by considering both the dynamics of actuators and jump phenomena. The actuators of this micro-robot are piezo-electric. The main motion mechanism of this micro-robot is based on the principle of the friction drive. But due to the nature of piezo-electric actuators (high frequency), situations sometimes occur where the micro-robot encounters the phenomenon of jumping, and the principle of the friction drive no longer applies. Combining the principle of friction drive with the phenomenon of jumping creates a hybrid dynamic motion, which is called the principle of stick-slip-jump. Modeling and motion simulation based on this principle, adding the dynamic model of piezo-electric actuators, are very complicated, especially when the micro-robot impacts moving substrate. In this research, along with complete modeling of the micro-robot in stick-slip-jump motion and extracting the effective design parameters, the ability to model this complex dynamic for the exact simulation of the micro-robot's behavior has been verified experimentally.