bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Tripterygium wilfordii granules in the treatment of plaque psoriasis: Protocol for a single-arm trial
Authors: Cheng Linyan , Guo Dongjie , Guo Wanjun , Wang Peiyao , Xi Ruo-fan , Duan Yanjun , Liu Xin , Wang Yi , Du Ting , Lu Hanzhi , Yan Ge , Zhu Jianyong , Li Fulun 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background
Tripterygium wilfordii is a traditional Chinese medicine renowned for its exceptional anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Triptolide, the predominant compound found in T. wilfordii, has been extensively studied for its remarkable therapeutic effects in psoriasis treatment. However, the usage of triptolide is often hindered by uncontrollable adverse reactions, posing a considerable challenge. Consequently, it becomes imperative to effectively harness the benefits of triptolide while minimizing its drawbacks. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the topical anti-inflammatory effects of triptolide, investigate the factors contributing to individual variations in response to triptolide, and identify potential markers for predicting the efficacy of triptolide in treating plaque psoriasis.
Methods
This was a single-arm study. All patients with plaque psoriasis who met the inclusion criteria were to be treated with Tripterygium granules for 4 weeks and followed up for 12 weeks. The improvement rate of the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score was the main therapeutic index. The relationship between C-terminal binding protein 1 (CtBP1) protein expression in skin lesions and the therapeutic effect was evaluated. We evaluated secondary indicators, including body surface area (BSA), Physician Global Assessment (PGA), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score, relapse rate, and body surface area. Safety indicators included vital signs, routine blood tests, liver function, renal function, physical examination, adverse events and serious adverse events.
Discussion
T. wilfordii granules are a frequently prescribed Chinese medicine for psoriasis treatment. However, the effectiveness of this medicine varies among patients, with some experiencing poor results. The level of serum CtBP1 expression differs between patients who respond positively to T. wilfordii granules and those who do not. Therefore, CtBP1 has the potential to serve as a crucial indicator in predicting the efficacy of T. wilfordii granule treatment of plaque psoriasis.
Trial registration ChiCTR.govChiCTR2000036398. Registered on August 22, 2020.
FaIRClocks: Fair and Interpretable Representation of the Clock Drawing Test for mitigating classifier bias against lower educational groups
Authors: Zhang Jiaqing , Bandyopadhyay Sabyasachi , Kimmet Faith , Wittmayer Jack , Khezeli Kia , Libon David J. , Price Catherine C. , Rashidi Parisa 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

The clock drawing test (CDT) is a neuropsychological assessment tool to evaluate a patient’s cognitive ability. In this study, we developed a Fair and Interpretable Representation of Clock drawing tests (FaIRClocks) to evaluate and mitigate bias against people with lower education while predicting their cognitive status. We represented clock drawings with a 10-dimensional latent embedding using Relevance Factor Variational Autoencoder (RF-VAE) network pretrained on publicly available clock drawings from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) dataset. These embeddings were later fine-tuned for predicting three cognitive scores: the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) total score, attention composite z-score (ATT-C), and memory composite z-score (MEM-C). The classifiers were initially tested to see their relative performance in patients with low education ( < = 8 years) versus patients with higher education (> 8 years). Results indicated that the initial unweighted classifiers confounded lower education with cognitive impairment, resulting in a 100% type I error rate for this group. Thereby, the samples were re-weighted using multiple fairness metrics to achieve balanced performance. In summary, we report the FaIRClocks model, which a) can identify attention and memory deficits using clock drawings and b) exhibits identical performance between people with higher and lower education levels.
Jaynes Machine: The universal microstructure of deep neural networks
Authors: Venkatasubramanian Venkat , Sanjeevrajan N. , Khandekar Manasi 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
We present a novel theory of the microstructure of deep neural networks. Using a theoretical framework called statistical teleodynamics, which is a conceptual synthesis of statistical thermodynamics and potential game theory, we predict that all highly connected layers of deep neural networks have a universal microstructure of connection strengths that is distributed lognormally (LN (µ, σ). Furthermore, under ideal conditions, the theory predicts that µ and σ are the same for all layers in all networks. This is shown to be the result of an arbitrage equilibrium where all connections compete and contribute the same effective utility towards the minimization of the overall loss function. These surprising predictions are shown to be validated by empirical data from six real-life large-scale deep neural networks. We also discuss how these results can be exploited to reduce the amount of data, time, and computational resources needed to train large deep neural networks.
Overcoming tea-drinking limitation by Fortification of Iron Bio- absorption
Authors: El-Beshlawy Menna 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Tea is a popular drink with beneficial health properties, and a rich source of specific flavanols. The tea extract has high antioxidant activities, evidenced by its ability to chelate ferrous ions. There is a clear indication that tea drinking limits the absorption of iron through complex formation with the phenolic compounds in the gastro-intestinal lumen. There are some iron absorption enhancing factors such as pH, ascorbic acid, albumin egg and sucrose. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of adding these different beneficial compounds to tea components that inhibits the formation of iron complex with the phenolic compounds to enhance iron bio-absorption and prevent iron deficiency anemia. This study recommends that, acidity is favored at pH less than 4.5 and sucrose increases the bio-absorption of iron and fortifies green tea than black tea. Also, addition of ascorbic acid before drinking fortifies the iron bio-absorption with green and black teas.
Association of disability and cognitive performance in U.S. older adults: the NHANES 2013-2014
Authors: Chen Run-xiang , Chen Chun-miao , Zhang Da-ya , Zhang Xiao-dong , Chen Shi-ju , Huang Shi-mei , Chen Chen , Zeng Fan , Li Da , Lyu Yan-ting , Huang Xian-feng , Mao Feng-jiao , Bai Fei-hu 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background
Identifying the link between disability and cognitive function is critical to ensuring the health of older adults. The aim of this study was to identify associations between disability and cognitive performance, and to explore the role that comorbidities play in these associations.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1,516 adults aged 60 years and older who had participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013–2014 in the United States. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between disability and low cognitive performance. Sample weights were used to ensure the generalizability of the results.
Results
Among all the participants, 26.1% reported low cognitive performance. Among participants with low cognitive performance, the weighted prevalence of difficulty hearing, difficulty seeing, difficulty walking, difficulty, and difficulty dressing or bathing were 17.7%, 12.2%, 35.9%, and 13.7% respectively. Difficulty hearing, walking, dressing, or bathing were significantly associated with low cognitive performance and varied by the number of comorbidities. There is a positive correlation between the number of disabilities and low cognitive performance.
Conclusion
In older adults, we observed significant associations between difficulty hearing, difficulty walking, difficulty dressing or bathing and low cognitive performance, and found strong associations in those with high numbers of comorbidities. There is a positive correlation between low cognitive performance and the number of disabilities. This study suggests that attenuating cognitive decline through early intervention for disability and treatment of comorbidities is worth trying.
Potato farmers' typology in Menoua Department, West Region of Cameroon
Authors: Haaland NGOUO NGUIMO , Honoré BEYEGUE DJONKO , Carlos TEMFACK DELOKO Dely , Honorine NTANGMO TSAFACK , Théodore MAYAKA BILING 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
As elsewhere, the Menoua agricultural basin is characterised by a diversity of agricultural practices and the use of a variety of inputs (fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, fertilisers). In order to assess the impact of agricultural practices and inputs on the biological and chemical quality of the soil, preliminary work has been carried out, the results of which have been used in the writing of this article. The objective was to create a catalogue of the different categories of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) farmers in the Department of Menoua, West Cameroon. A semi-structured survey was conducted on a random sample of 220 farmers in three localities of the Department of Menoua (Bafou, Baleveng and Fokoué). 55.91% of the farmers interviewed were women and 75% had never received any training in potato cultivation techniques. Mixed Data Factorial Analysis followed by hierarchical ascending classification revealed three groups of farmers. Group 1 consists of small potato farmers. They alternate potatoes with other food crops such as maize (Zea mays L.) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). They use very low doses of organic fertilizer (0.14 kg/m2, less than the recommended 2 kg/m2). The dose of mineral fertilizer applied (0.068 kg/m2) corresponds to the recommended value (0.06 kg/m2). Group 2 consists mainly of farmers in flood plains (61% of farmers). These are small farmers with an average area of 3,017 m2. In this group, the organic input is 0.13 kg/m2 and the mineral input is 0.063 kg/m2. Group 3 farmers cultivate an average area of 15,912 m2. As in the first two groups, the organic matter input is very low (0.17 kg/m2). However, this group is characterised by higher mineral fertilizer inputs (0.47 kg/m2higher than 0.06 kg/m2). As regards fungicides, Mancozeb is the most widely used (72.27%), followed by chlorothalonil (39.03%). Cypermethrin is the most used insecticide (41.81%). Organic fertilisation consisted exclusively of chicken manure, while N-P-K fertilisers (20-10-10) dominated chemical fertilisation. In conclusion, variations in cropping techniques, the type of crop grown and the amount of inputs used by the farmer and the location would have an impact on the soil fauna.A potato rhizosphere’ fauna characterization study will allow us to assess the impact of agricultural practices on soil biodiversity and their effect on crop yield.
Experimental study on the monitoring of concrete shrinkage based on intelligent string strain sensors
Authors: Chen Jie , Chen Shunchao , Xiong Hongrui , Ning Yufeng , Li Zhengyuan , Nie Liangpeng 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Aiming at the phenomenon that shrinkage will generate tensile stresses inside the concrete structure and cause damage, thus forming a potential hazard to the engineering structure, as well as current incomplete research on the influence of reinforcement on the shrinkage of concrete, the study was carried out using intelligent string strain sensors to monitor the shrinkage of three specimens with different reinforcement ratios in a natural environment for nine months. The results show that: the intelligent string strain sensor can automatically record the strain and temperature, as well as the temperature correction in the shrinkage monitoring; in the natural environment, the effect of humidity on the concrete shrinkage is more obvious than the temperature, and when the coefficient of thermal expansion of the concrete and the sensor is closer to each other, it can offset the effect of the temperature on the shrinkage of the concrete; the shrinkage of reinforced concrete is not linearly decreasing with the increase in reinforcement rate at all ages. The shrinkage inhibition effect of steel reinforcement on concrete is obvious only when the reinforcement ratio reaches a certain amount.
Characterizing abnormalities in resting-state EEG microstates in patients with chronic subjective dizziness
Authors: Tang Pan , Shao Pei-Ning , Qin Rong-Rong , Yin Cai-Xia , Qu Qi-Fei , Ying Zi-Xuan , Yuan Ti-Fei , Song Rong-Rong 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background Dizziness is one of the most prevalent clinical symptoms in neurology clinics. Nevertheless, the neural mechanisms of dizziness, especially the characterization of EEG microstates, remain incompletely elucidated.Objectives This study aimed to explore the potential characteristics of EEG microstate in patients with Chronic Subjective Dizziness (CSD) and the relationship between dizziness handicaps and EEG microstate parameters.Methods We recruited 29 patients with CSD and 31 age-matched healthy adults. The 128-channel EEG recording of all participants at resting state with eyes closed was performed. Dizziness handicap Inventory (DHI) was used to evaluate patients’ dizziness related handicaps. The EEG microstates was clustered into four classes (A, B, C, and D) and we identified their parameters for logistic analysis.Results The CSD group scored higher on BAI, BDI-13, and the time coverage and occurrence of Microstate B compared to the HC group. And the time coverage and occurrence of Microstate B were also significantly associated with dizziness handicaps in CSD patients. Logistic regression analysis showed that the occurrence of class B microstates (OR = 0.058, 95%CI: 0.005 ~ 0.744) was a significant indicator for distinguishing the CSD group from the HC group.Conclusion The temporal dynamic alternations of EEG microstates and the relationship between dizziness handicaps and Microstate B in patients with CSD may reflect anomalies in their visual network. These neurophysiological characteristics of EEG microstates could be significant for auxiliary diagnosis of dizziness.
Free-heme induces neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment by microglial activation via the TLR4/MyD88/NF-kB signaling pathway
Authors: Wei Xin , Zhang Fan , Cheng Dan , Wang Zhongyu , Xing Na , Yuan Jingjing , Zhang Wei , Xing Fei 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background: Red blood cells (RBCs) transfusion is related to perioperative neurocognitive disorders. The toxic effect of free-heme has been identified in many pathologies. However, the underlying mechanisms of RBCs transfusion or free-heme in cognitive impairment have not been clearly explored. Therefore, this research was conducted to determine the mechanism of heme-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment.
Methods: Rats were received intraperitoneal injection of hemin alone or combined with intracerebroventricular injection of Hemopexin (HPX), and MWM test was conducted to measure cognitive function. The elimination condition of heme-HPX complexes was evaluated by flow cytometry for CD91+ cells. The microglial inflammatory response in rat brain and BV2 cells was observed by immunofluorescence staining of Iba-1 and ELISA analysis of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. Furthermore, neuronal apoptosis in HT22 cells alone and in HT22 + BV2 coculture system was detected by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining. Finally, western blot was conducted to detect TLR4/MyD88/NF-kB proteins in rat brain and BV2 cells treated with hemin or combined with pathway inhibitors. Additionally, the M1 surface marker CD86 was observed in BV2 cells to further confirm neuroinflammation.
Results: Intraperitoneal injection of hemin induced cognitive impairment, increase of CD91+ cells, up-regulation of TNF-α and IL-1β, down-regulation of IL-6, activation of microglia, and activation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-kB signaling pathway in rat brain. Significantly, intracerebroventricular injection of HPX reduced the above effects. Hemin induced boost of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in BV2 cells, as well as apoptosis in HT22 cells. Notably, when HT22 cells were cocultured with BV2 cells, apoptosis was significantly increased. Hemin also induced activation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-kB signaling pathway and increased the M1 surface marker CD86 in BV2 cells, and inhibiting this pathway reduced the inflammatory responses.
Conclusions: Free-heme induces cognitive impairment, and the underlying mechanism may involve neuronal apoptosis and microglial inflammation via the TLR4/MyD88/NF-kB signaling pathway. HPX may have potential therapeutic effects.
Analysis of effective elastic parameters of natural bamboo honeycomb cells(BHC) structure
Authors: Yu Minggong , Wang Zhangheng , Jiang Xiawang , Gong Le , Song Ling , Sun Deilin 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Bamboo is a kind of green and environmentally friendly building structure material. This work was based on the cavity structural characteristics and excellent physical and mechanical properties of honeycomb sandwich and natural bamboo in the longitudinal direction, the effective elastic parameters of periodically arranged hexagonal bamboo honeycomb cells (BHC) under in-plane and out-of-plane loading were modeled using analytical and numerical approaches. The equivalent density analysis of the BHC was based on the condition of double cell wall thickness. In addition, the effective elastic parameters were analyzed considering the effective bending length, axial compression, shear deformation, and bending deformation of the inclined and vertical members of BHC. Then, different sizes of hexagonal BHC were used for experiments, and the finite element method(FEM) was combined with the computational homogenization technique to validate the effective elastic parameter model of bamboo cells. The results showed that the maximum relative errors between the values of the modeled and simulated elastic parameters of the BHC and the experimental results were 8.6 and 8.7%, respectively, indicating that the constructed effective elastic parameter model better reflected the state of the stressed BHC. This study provides new insights for further research on the mechanical properties of bamboo materials and their application in bamboo-based lightweight and high-strength sandwich structures.
Do evidence-based fact boxes improve informed decision-making about COVID-19 and influenza vaccination in more and less disadvantaged groups equally? - Study protocol for a multi-centre cluster randomised controlled trial in health and social care in Germany
Authors: Ellermann Christin , Rebitschek Felix G. 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background
Evidence-based fact boxes have been shown to support informed decision-making. However, few studies have analysed how the boxes support decision-making in different social groups. Further, it is unclear whether fact boxes promote informed and shared decision making equally when implemented by health educators (HE) in different settings. Hence, there is a risk that fact boxes will only help less disadvantaged people to make informed health decisions. The aim of our study is to assess whether fact boxes can help people from different social groups make informed decisions about COVID-19 and influenza vaccination, and whether they contribute to reducing inequities in health care.
Methods
In a multi-centre cluster randomised controlled trial, HE from usual care (e.g. doctors) and outreach work (e.g. from social services) in Germany will be recruited. HE who are randomized to receive the intervention will receive a flyer with a QR code and a link to an online survey to pass on to those who are about to make a vaccination decision. The back of the flyer contains an evidence-based fact box about COVID-19 or the influenza vaccine, which can be used to inform. HE who are randomized to control will receive the flyer without the fact box. The flyer and online study will be available in Arabic, German, Turkish and Russian language.
The primary outcome is informed vaccination intention, based on vaccination knowledge, attitudes, vaccination intentions and behaviour. Secondary outcomes include risk perception, decisional conflict and shared decision making. The statistical analysis plan includes the selection of appropriate measures of effect size, sample size calculation, and significance testing.
Discussion
Failing to consider inequalities when developing and evaluating interventions that influence health decisions - such as evidence-based health information - exacerbates health inequities. The aim of our study is to find out whether evidence-based fact boxes developed with an equity lens work well in different settings where health communication takes place. The results will help determine if and how fact boxes can be used to improve health care in and outside of traditional primary care structures, especially for disadvantaged groups, and will thus provide valuable insights into advancing health care equity.
Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov (registered on 29 September 2023, not yet published)
A first species-wide phylogenetic analysis of small mammals from Costa Rica using mitochondrial cytochrome b
Authors: Gómez-Lépiz Alexander , Sampaio Sara , Hughes Jonathan J. , Valdés Sara María Cáceres , Alves Paulo Célio , Paupério Joana , Searle Jeremy 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Within the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot, Costa Rica shows high species richness, due to its biogeographical, tectonic and climatic history. Small mammals (i.e. species of less than 500 grams) are a very diverse group in Costa Rica with about 52 native species. This high diversity, recent records of new species and molecular studies detecting cryptic genetic diversity highlight this group and this region as an important target for the DNA barcoding approach. Here we used 131 tissue samples across multiple localities in Costa Rica and sequenced the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b (1140 bp). These samples represented 17 recognized species (including Didelphis marsupialis, which is technically not a small mammal) and two taxa of uncertain status. The new sequence data were supplemented with previously published data from INSDC. Our phylogenetic analyses are consistent with and extend upon recent revisions in Heteromys, Peromyscus and Reithrodontomys and suggest possible new cryptic forms within what are currently named Melanomys chrysomelas, Nyctomys sumichrasti and Proechimys semispinosus. The previously named “Heteromys sp” is indeed likely a new species requiring a full taxonomic description. Our results suggest the continuity of previously described species at our newly described localities in Costa Rica reinforcing recent taxonomic surveys and field guides for the small mammals of Costa Rica. To confirm the presence of cryptic species and major genetic forms in Heteromys, Peromyscus, Reithrodontomys, Melanomys, Nyctomys and Proechimys there needs to be greater sampling, additional genetic markers, morphometrics and other studies. Scotinomys also shows interesting phylogenetic subdivision, requiring further investigation.