bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and determinants of condom use among the youth in Malawi: evidence from the 2015/16 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Jimu Scholastica Eunice , Ntoimo Lorretta F. C. , Okonofua Friday E. 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Background
Unprotected sexual intercourse among the youth is common in Malawi. This has led to high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and unplanned pregnancies. The study investigated the prevalence and the determinants of male and female condom use for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies among the youth in Malawi.

Methods
The 2015/2016 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS) data were used among 15 to 24-year-old male and female who had sexual intercourse four months preceding the survey. A total of 1543 male and 5143 female were selected from 3226 male and 10,367 female respectively and analyzed with SPSS version 20 using.descriptive, bivariate, and logistic regression.

Results
The study found a low prevalence (27.1%) of condom use among the youth in the last sexual intercourse within four months before the survey. More male (55.8%) used condoms than female (18.5%). The significant predictors of condom use among the male and female youth were: being sexually active (OR 0.39 CI 0.33–0.47), aged 20–24 (OR 0.80 CI 0.68–0.95), ever married (OR 0.07 CI 0.06–0.08), coming from central region (OR 0.56 CI 0.40–0.77), and southern region (OR 0.59 CI 0.42–0.83), residing in the rural area (OR 0.74 CI 0.61–0.90) and ever tested of HIV (OR 1.29 CI 1.03–1.55).

Conclusion
Having established low prevalence of condom use among the youth in Malawi, there is a need to scale up programs and policies that target the youth to practice safe sex, which will assist in addressing the challenges of STIs, including HIV, and preventing unplanned pregnancies in Malawi.
Association of central sensitization, visceral fat, and surgical outcomes in lumbar spinal stenosis
Authors: Ogon Izaya , Takashima Hiroyuki , Morita Tomonori , Fukushi Ryunosuke , Takebayashi Tsuneo , Teramoto Atsushi 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Background
Controversy remains regarding predictors of surgical outcomes for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Pain sensitization may be an underlying mechanism contributing to LSS surgical outcomes. Further, obesity is associated with dissatisfaction and poorer outcomes after surgery for LSS. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between central sensitization (CS), visceral fat, and surgical outcomes in LSS.

Methods
Patients with LSS were categorized based on their central sensitization inventory (CSI) scores into low- (CSI < 40) and high- (CSI ≥ 40) CSI subgroups. The participants completed clinical outcome assessments preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively.

Results
Overall, 60 patients were enrolled in the study (28 men, 32 women; mean age: 62.1 ± 2.8 years). The high-CSI group had significantly higher mean low back pain (LBP), leg pain, and leg numbness visual analogue scale (VAS) scores than the low-CSI group (p < 0.01). The high-CSI group had a significantly higher mean visceral fat area than the low-CSI group (p < 0.01). Postoperatively, LBP VAS score was significantly worse in the high-CSI group. Relative to preoperatively, postoperative leg pain and leg numbness improved significantly in both groups.

Conclusions
We believe that neuro decompression can be effective for LSS surgical outcomes in patients with CS; nonetheless, it should be approached with caution owing to the potential for worsening LBP. Additionally, visceral fat is an important indicator suggesting the involvement of CS.
Myocardial dysfunction assessed by speckle-tracking in good-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage patients (WFNS 1–2): a prospective observational study
Authors: de Courson Hugues , Chadefaux Grégoire , Loiseau Alexandre , Georges Delphine , Biais Matthieu 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Background
Cardiac complications due to non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are usually described using classical echocardiographic evaluation. Strain imaging appears to have better sensitivity than standard echocardiographic markers for the diagnosis of left ventricular dysfunction. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cardiac dysfunction defined as a Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) ≥  − 20% in patients with good-grade SAH (WFNS 1 or 2).

Methods
Seventy-six patients with good-grade SAH were prospectively enrolled and analyzed at admission for neurocritical care. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed on days 1, 3, and 7 after hemorrhage. Routine measurements, including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), were performed, and off-line analysis was performed by a blinded examiner, to determine 2-, 3-, and 4-cavity longitudinal strain and left ventricular GLS. GLS was considered altered if it was ≥  − 20%, we also interested the value of ≥  − 17%. LVEF was considered altered if it was < 50%.

Results
On day 1, 60.6% of patients had GLS ≥  − 20% and 21.2% of patient had GLS ≥  − 17%. In comparison, alteration of LVEF was present in only 1.7% of patients. The concordance rate between LVEF < 50% and GLS ≥  − 20% and LVEF ≥ 50% and GLS <  − 20% was 46%.

Conclusion
Strain imaging showed a higher prevalence (60.6%) of left ventricular dysfunction during the acute phase of good-grade SAH (WFNS 1 or 2) than previously described.
Captive ERVWE1 triggers impairment of 5-HT neuronal plasticity in the first-episode schizophrenia by post-transcriptional activation of HTR1B in ALKBH5-m6A dependent epigenetic mechanisms
Authors: Wu Xiulin , Liu Lianzhong , Xue Xing , Li Xuhang , Zhao Kexin , Zhang Jiahang , Li Wenshi , Yao Wei , Ding Shuang , Jia Chen , Zhu Fan 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Background
Abnormalities in the 5-HT system and synaptic plasticity are hallmark features of schizophrenia. Previous studies suggest that the human endogenous retrovirus W family envelope (ERVWE1) is an influential risk factor for schizophrenia and inversely correlates with 5-HT4 receptor in schizophrenia. To our knowledge, no data describes the effect of ERVWE1 on 5-HT neuronal plasticity. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulates gene expression and impacts synaptic plasticity. Our research aims to systematically investigate the effects of ERVWE1 on 5-HT neuronal plasticity through m6A modification in schizophrenia.

Results
HTR1B, ALKBH5, and Arc exhibited higher levels in individuals with first-episode schizophrenia compared to the controls and showed a strong positive correlation with ERVWE1. Interestingly, HTR1B was also correlated with ALKBH5 and Arc. Further analyses confirmed that ALKBH5 may be an independent risk factor for schizophrenia. In vitro studies, we discovered that ERVWE1 enhanced HTR1B expression, thereby activating the ERK-ELK1-Arc pathway and reducing the complexity and spine density of 5-HT neurons. Furthermore, ERVWE1 reduced m6A levels through ALKBH5 demethylation. ERVWE1 induced HTR1B upregulation by improving its mRNA stability in ALKBH5-m6A-dependent epigenetic mechanisms. Importantly, ALKBH5 mediated the observed alterations in 5-HT neuronal plasticity induced by ERVWE1.

Conclusions
Overall, HTR1B, Arc, and ALKBH5 levels were increased in schizophrenia and positively associated with ERVWE1. Moreover, ALKBH5 was a novel risk gene for schizophrenia. ERVWE1 impaired 5-HT neuronal plasticity in ALKBH5-m6A dependent mechanism by the HTR1B-ERK-ELK1-Arc pathway, which may be an important contributor to aberrant synaptic plasticity in schizophrenia.
Measuring training effectiveness of laboratory biosafety program offered at African Center for Integrated Laboratory Training in 22 President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief supported countries (2008–2014)
Authors: Shrivastava Ritu , Stevens Thomas , Westerman Larry , Bressler David , van Schalkwyk Elsie , Bressler Cristina , Ugwu Ken , Mwangi Christina , Opio Joel Peter , Nkodyo Joseph , Mwangi Jane W. , Martin Monte D. , Nesby-O’Dell Shanna 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Introduction
The African Center for Integrated Laboratory Training (ACILT) in Johannesburg, South Africa offered a laboratory biosafety program to improve laboratory biosafety practices in 22 President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) supported countries. This manuscript evaluates the transference of newly gained knowledge and skills to the participants’ place of employment for HIV and TB diagnostic laboratory programs. It also serves as a follow-on to a previously published manuscript that measured training effectiveness for all courses offered at ACILT.

Methods
ACILT offered 20 Laboratory Biosafety and Infrastructure courses (2008–2014), also referred as biosafety course/course comprising of 14 core laboratory safety elements to 402 participants from 22 countries. In 2015, participants received 22 e-questions divided into four categories: (1) Safety Policies, (2) Management’s Engagement, (3) Safety Programs and (4) Assessments of Safety Practices to determine retrospectively the training effectiveness of biosafety practices in their place of employment 6 months before and after attending their course. We used Kirkpatrick model to assess the transference of knowledge, skills and obstructive factors.

Results
20% (81/402) of the participants completed the e-questionnaire. The overall percentage of positive responses indicating implementation of new safety practices increased from 50% to 84%. Improvement occurred in all four categories after attending the course, with the greatest increases in Safety Policies (67–94%) and Safety Programs (43–91%). Creating a safety committee, allocating resources, and establishing a facility safety policy were important drivers for implementing and maintaining laboratory safety practices. In addition, accredited laboratories and countries with national safety regulations or policies had a higher percentage of improvements. The most reported challenges were inadequate funding and lack of management enforcement.

Conclusions
PEPFAR and other partners’ investments in training institutions, such as ACILT, were effective in building sustainable country ownership to strengthen biosafety practices and were leveraged to combat zoonotic diseases and COVID-19. Although support continues at the national/regional level, a standardized, coordinated and continent-wide sustainable approach to offer a biosafety program-like ACILT is missing. Continuous offerings of biosafety programs similar to ACILT could contribute to sustainable strengthening of laboratory biosafety, QMS and pandemic preparedness.
Role of cardiac magnetic resonance T1 mapping in comparison to T2* for cardiac iron overload assessment in transfusion-dependent thalassemia major patients
Authors: Ibrahim Heba R. , Ahmed Ahmed Tohamy 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Background
Cardiac complications are the leading cause of death in transfusion-dependent thalassemia major (TDT) patients due to increased cardiac iron overload (CIO), so this study’s purpose is to assess the diagnostic utility of cardiac magnetic resonance T1 mapping in correlation to T2* for the assessment of CIO in TDT patients. This prospective case–control study involved 55 TDT patients and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. All the patients underwent assessment of myocardial T2*, and native T1 values by conventional cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and native T1 mapping technique to assess the CIO. Comparison and association between T2*, and native T1 values among TDT patients were studied.

Results
A statistically significant difference is noted between control and patient groups in regard to mean T2* and native T1 values (P = 0.03 and 0.01, respectively). The mean native T1 value in TDT patients was lower than in the control group (992 ± 54 vs. 1234 ± 42), respectively, with a statistically significant P value of 0.04. The study evoked a statistically significant strong positive association, and correlation was noted between measured T2* and native T1 values (r = 0.84, P value = 0.001), while a moderate negative association was observed between native T1 values and S. ferritin levels (r = − 0.53, P value = 0.02).

Conclusions
Native T1 mapping is a non-invasive promising complementary technique to T2* that helps to detect cardiac iron overload in TDT patients, as it is strongly associated with T2*. Also, native T1 value can differentiate mild, moderate, severe, and no cardiac iron overload.
Association between the severity of liver cirrhosis with quality of life and its impact on clinical practice
Authors: Mustika Syifa , Susanto Jefri Pratama , Lesmana Cosmas Rinaldi Adithya 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Introduction
Liver cirrhosis (LC) has a significant impact in quality of life, and it is frequently linked to loss of a job, mood fluctuations, anxiety, low self-esteem, and despair. Recent LC treatment primarily focuses on clinical manifestations rather than the patient’s quality of life. By analyzing quality of life, one can learn about the disease’s emotional, physical, and lifestyle effects.

Objectives
To find the relationship between quality of life with the severity of liver cirrhosis.

Methods
The research was conducted as an observational study with cross-sectional data being collected. The study’s participants were recruited from Saiful Anwar Hospital’s outpatient and inpatient clinics. The individuals completed a chronic liver disease questionnaire to assess their quality of life, and the Child-Pugh score was used to determine the severity of their liver disease. The data was analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and the rank Spearman test, with a significance level of 0.05.

Result
There were 54 individuals, with an average age of 53.71 years and a male-to-female ratio of 74%. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the Child-Pugh A, Child-Pugh B, and Child-Pugh C groups in all aspects of the chronic liver disease questionnaire (p = 0.000). The rank Spearman test revealed a substantial link between quality of life and liver cirrhosis severity (r: −0.817).

Conclusion
The severity of LC is associated with the quality of life of the patients.
Invoking Identity? Partisan Polarization in Discussions of Race, Racism, and Gender in 2022 Midterm Advertising in the United States
Authors: Fowler Erika Franklin , Moore Steven T. , Floyd Breeze , Yao Jielu , Neumann Markus , Lewis Jr. Neil A. , Niederdeppe Jeff , Gollust Sarah E. 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Context: Media messaging matters for public opinion and policy, and analyzing patterns of campaign strategy can provide important windows into policy priorities.
Methods: The authors used content analysis supplemented with keyword-based text analysis to assess the volume, proportion, and distribution of media attention to race-related issues in comparison to gender-related issues during the general election period of the 2022 midterm campaigns for federal office in the United States.
Findings: Race-related mentions in campaign advertising were overwhelmingly focused on crime and law and order, with very little attention to racism, racial injustice, and the structural barriers that lead to widespread inequities. In stark contrast to mentions of gender, racial appeals were less identity focused and were competitively contested between the parties in their messaging, but they were much more likely to be led by Republicans.
Conclusions: The results suggest that discussions of race and gender were highly polarized, with consequences for public understanding of and belief in disparities and policies important to population health.
Medicaid by Any Other Name? Investigating Malleability of Partisan Attitudes toward the Public Program
Authors: McIntyre Adrianna , McCrain Josh , Pavliv Danielle 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Context: Medicaid is the largest health insurance program by enrollment in the United States. The program varies across states and across a variety of dimensions, including what it is called; some states use state-specific naming conventions, for example, MassHealth in Massachusetts.
Methods: In a preregistered online survey experiment (N = 5,807), the authors tested whether public opinion shifted in response to the use of state-specific Medicaid program names for the provision of information about program enrollment.
Findings: Replacing “Medicaid” with a state-specific name resulted in a large increase in the share of respondents reporting that they “haven't heard enough to say” how they felt about the program. This corresponded to a decrease in both favorable and unfavorable attitudes toward the program. Although confusion increased among all partisan groups, there is evidence that state-specific names may also strengthen positive perceptions among Republicans. Providing enrollment information generally did not affect public opinion.
Conclusions: These findings offer suggestive evidence that state-specific program names may muddle understanding of the program as a government-provided benefit. Policy makers seeking to bolster support for the program or claim credit for expanding or improving it may be better served by simply referring to it as “Medicaid.”
Impervious to Elite Influence: Americans’ ACA Attitudes, 2009–2020
Authors: Hopkins Daniel J. 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was a central issue dividing Republicans and Democrats for the decade following its 2010 enactment. As such, it offers key lessons about policy making and public opinion during a highly polarized political period. The author draws out some of those lessons from his 2023 book Stable Condition: Elites’ Limited Influence on Health Care Attitudes, detailing how polarization shaped both the elite- and mass-level politics of the ACA. At the elite level, polarization and nationalization within the federal and state governments laid the groundwork for a highly complex law that was a patchwork of policies experienced very differently by different Americans. At the mass level, polarization and nationalization contributed to a remarkable level of stability in public opinion, so much so that even direct beneficiaries of the law did not typically become markedly more positive toward it. Elite efforts at opinion leadership through policy making and messaging were largely unsuccessful.
ZAPINKI PROWINCJONALNORZYMSKIE ODKRYTE NA STANOWISKU 30 W PERKOWIE NA KUJAWACH
Authors: Rakoczy Jacek 
Published: November 2023

Zarys treści. Przedmiotem niniejszego opracowania są znalezione na stanowisku w Perkowie zapinki, które można zaliczyć do produktów prowincjonalnorzymskich. Stanowią one nieliczną, choć bardzo ważną grupę wśród ogromnej liczby zróżnicowanego chronologicznie materiału źródłowego ze wspomnianego stanowiska. Fibule są reprezentowane przez egzemplarze typów: A.18, A.22, A.65, A.73, A.247. Poza nimi znaleziono też dwie zapinki tarczowate: z grup III i II.8 według K. Exnera. Wszystkie odkryte na stanowisku artefakty datowane są od początku młodszego okresu przedrzymskiego po okres wędrówek ludów, czyli przez cały okres istnienia kultury przeworskiej. Zarówno liczba wyrobów importowanych, jak i tych miejscowej proweniencji stawia stanowisko w Perkowie w rzędzie najciekawszych pozostałości kultury przeworskiej. Niezwykle rzadko mamy do czynienia ze stanowiskami, na których możemy prześledzić rozwój danej jednostki kulturowej – od jej wykrystalizowania się aż do zaniku.
Laser tissue welding by using collagen excitation at a 1,720  nm near-infrared optical window III
Authors: Thomas Stefan , Sriramoju Vidyasagar , Alfano Robert R. 
Published: November 2023

Laser tissue welding (LTW) is a method of fusing incised tissues together. LTW has the potential to revolutionize plastic surgery and wound healing techniques by its ability to produce watertight, scarless seals with minimal foreign body reaction. While using thermal mechanisms to achieve LTW, energy from the incident laser is absorbed by water in the tissue. As the water temperature increases, partial denaturing of the collagen triple helix briefly occurs, which is quickly followed by renaturation of collagen as the tissue cools, thus providing a watertight seal. This research study investigates the efficacy of direct collagen excitation at 1,720 nm to accomplish LTW. This wavelength falls within the near-infrared (NIR) optical window III. The tensile strengths of pig skin that have been welded with NIR continuous-wave (CW) diode lasers at 1,455 nm, which promote thermal mechanisms of tissue welding, and 1,720 nm wavelengths, are compared. Near-infrared lasers tuned to 1,455 and 1,720 nm were used to weld incised pieces of porcine skin together without extrinsic solders or dyes. The tensile force of the welded tissues was measured using a digital force gauge. The average tensile force of the welded pig skin using the 1,720 nm laser was approximately four times greater than that using the CW 1,455 nm laser, suggesting that LTW accomplished through direct collagen excitation in the NIR optical window III provides greater tensile strengths.
Fully integrated and broadband Si-rich silicon nitride wavelength converter based on Bragg scattering intermodal four-wave mixing
Authors: Vitali Valerio , Bucio Thalía Domínguez , Liu Hao , González José Manuel Luque , Jurado-Romero Francisco , Ortega-Moñux Alejandro , Churchill Glenn , Gates James C. , Hillier James , Kalfagiannis Nikolaos , Melati Daniele , Schmid Jens H. , Cristiani Ilaria , Cheben Pavel , Wangüemert-Pérez J. Gonzalo , Molina-Fernández Íñigo , Gardes Frederic , Lacava Cosimo , Petropoulos Periklis 
Published: November 2023

Intermodal four-wave mixing (FWM) processes have recently attracted significant interest for all-optical signal processing applications thanks to the possibility to control the propagation properties of waves exciting distinct spatial modes of the same waveguide. This allows, in principle, to place signals in different spectral regions and satisfy the phase matching condition over considerably larger bandwidths compared to intramodal processes. However, the demonstrations reported so far have shown a limited bandwidth and suffered from the lack of on-chip components designed for broadband manipulation of different modes. We demonstrate here a silicon-rich silicon nitride wavelength converter based on Bragg scattering intermodal FWM, which integrates mode conversion, multiplexing and de-multiplexing functionalities on-chip. The system enables wavelength conversion between pump waves and a signal located in different telecommunication bands (separated by 60 nm) with a 3 dB bandwidth exceeding 70 nm, which represents, to our knowledge, the widest bandwidth ever achieved in an intermodal FWM-based system.