bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pilot Study of Intensive Trismus Intervention Using Restorabite™ During Unilateral Adjuvant Radiation for Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Charters Emma , Loy Jamie , Wu Raymond , Cheng Kai , Dunn Masako , Davies Sarah , Clark Jonathan 
Published: February 2024

AbstractTrismus commonly arises after surgery for head and neck cancer (HNC) and its severity is potentiated by postoperative radiotherapy. While the benefit of trismus rehabilitation after surgery and radiotherapy is well established, the evidence during radiotherapy is less clear. This may be due to poor adherence to trismus exercises secondary to acute mucositis. This study assessed the feasibility of using a novel trismus device during adjuvant radiotherapy for HNC in patients with acute postoperative trismus. Prospective single-arm cohort feasibility study. Eligible patients had undergone surgery with curative intent for HNC, planned for adjuvant radiotherapy, and were suitable for trismus rehabilitation. Participants completed a 10-week exercise program using a novel jaw stretching device. Study outcomes were adherence, maximal incisal opening (MIO), and trismus-related function and quality of life scores, assessed at baseline, 10 weeks, and 6 months after commencing exercises. Nine patients diagnosed with trismus after primary surgery were recruited. The mean increase in MIO at 10 weeks was 7.8 mm (range −4 to 15 mm, p = 0.03), and at 6 months was 10.6 mm (range 1–26 mm, p = 0.03). Significant improvements were observed in trismus-related quality of life (Gothenburg Trismus Questionnaire; p = 0.04). Adherence to the exercises was 100% in week 1–2, 67% in weeks 3–6, and 100% at 10 weeks (1 month post radiation). This study demonstrates the feasibility of using a novel jaw stretching device during adjuvant radiotherapy. Further evaluation is warranted to assess the effectiveness of early intervention and prevention of trismus during HNC radiotherapy.Level of Evidence: IV
Alternative prioritization for mitigating urban transportation challenges using a Fermatean fuzzy-based intelligent decision support model
Authors: Bouraima Mouhamed Bayane , Ayyildiz Ertugrul , Ozcelik Gokhan , Tengecha Nyamatari Anselem , Stević Željko 
Published: February 2024

AbstractPractitioners and decision-makers often face difficulties in selecting and prioritizing effective strategies to address challenges to sustainable urban transportation development. Although there has been considerable research conducted on the subject, the Tanzanian context, which is greatly affected by social and environmental problems, has received inadequate attention. Therefore, this study intends to bridge this gap by pinpointing the obstacles to sustainable urban transportation and proposing the most appropriate strategies to tackle them. The study proposes seven strategies and determines five criteria to prioritize them. To accomplish this, the study proposes a novel Fermatean fuzzy-based intelligent decision support model to assess the criteria weights and prioritizes strategies based on the weighted criteria. The study validates the proposed methodology by conducting a sensitivity analysis, which indicates that restricting car use (A5), improving sector coordination (A1), and conducting extensive research on transportation issues (A7) are the top three strategies for promoting sustainable urban transportation. The study’s findings hold significant value in providing urban transportation planners with helpful guidance to develop optimization techniques that can improve transportation systems.
Adapting transfer learning models to dataset through pruning and Avg-TopK pooling
Authors: OZDEMIR Cuneyt 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis study focuses on efficiently adapting transfer learning models to address the challenges of creating customized deep learning models for specific datasets. Designing a model from scratch can be time-consuming and complex due to factors like model complexity, size, and dataset structure. To overcome these obstacles, a novel approach is proposed using transfer learning models. The proposed method involves identifying relevant layers in transfer learning models and removing unnecessary ones using a layer-based variance pruning technique. This results in the creation of new models with improved computational efficiency and classification performance. By streamlining the models through layer-based variance pruning, the study achieves enhanced accuracy and faster computation. Experiments were conducted using the COVID-19 dataset and well-known transfer learning models, including InceptionV3, ResNet50V2, DenseNet201, VGG16, and Xception to validate the approach. Among these models, the variance-based layer pruning technique was applied to InceptionV3 and DenseNet201, yielding the best results. When these pruned models were combined with the new pooling layer, Avg-TopK, the proposed method achieved an outstanding image classification accuracy of 99.3%. Comparisons with previous models and literature studies indicate that the proposed approach outperforms existing methods, showcasing state-of-the-art performance. This high-performance approach provides great potential for diagnosing COVID-19 and monitoring disease progression, especially on hardware-limited devices. By leveraging transfer learning models, pruning, and efficient pooling techniques, the study presents a promising strategy for tackling challenges in custom model design, leading to exceptional results in such as image classification and segmentation tasks. The proposed methodology holds the potential to yield exceptional outcomes across a spectrum of tasks, encompassing disciplines such as image classification and segmentation.
Lateral fenestration of lumbar intervertebral discs in rabbits: development and characterisation of an in vivo preclinical model with multi-modal endpoint analysis
Authors: Crowley James D. , Oliver Rema A. , Wang Tian , Pelletier Matthew H. , Walsh William R. 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate the biological and biomechanical effects of fenestration/microdiscectomy in an in vivo rabbit model, and in doing so, create a preclinical animal model of IVDD.

Methods
Lateral lumbar IVD fenestration was performed in vivo as single- (L3/4; n = 12) and multi-level (L2/3, L3/4, L4/5; n = 12) fenestration in skeletally mature 6-month-old New Zealand White rabbits. Radiographic, micro-CT, micro-MRI, non-destructive robotic range of motion, and histological evaluations were performed 6- and 12-weeks postoperatively. Independent t tests, one-way and two-way ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used for parametric and nonparametric data, respectively. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.

Results
All rabbits recovered uneventfully from surgery and ambulated normally. Radiographs and micro-CT demonstrated marked reactive proliferative osseous changes and endplate sclerosis at fenestrated IVDs. Range of motion at the fenestrated disc space was significantly reduced compared to intact controls at 6- and 12-weeks postoperatively (P < 0.05). Mean disc height index percentage for fenestrated IVDs was significantly lower than adjacent, non-operated IVDs for both single and multi-level groups, at 6 and 12 weeks (P < 0.001). Pfirrmann MRI IVDD and histological grading scores were significantly higher for fenestrated IVDs compared to non-operated adjacent and age-matched control IVDs for single and multi-level groups at 6 and 12 weeks (P < 0.001).

Conclusions
Fenestration, akin to microdiscectomy, demonstrated significant biological, and biomechanical effects in this in vivo rabbit model and warrants consideration by veterinary and human spine surgeons. This described model may be suitable for preclinical in vivo evaluation of therapeutic strategies for IVDD in veterinary and human patients.
Secular trends in mental health problems among young people in Norway: a review and meta-analysis
Authors: Potrebny Thomas , Nilsen Sondre Aasen , Bakken Anders , von Soest Tilmann , Kvaløy Kirsti , Samdal Oddrun , Sivertsen Børge , Aase Heidi , Bang Lasse 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
There is a growing concern that the mental health of recent generations of youth is deteriorating, yet the etiology of these secular changes is not fully understood. We aimed to review the evidence on trends in mental health problems among young people in Norway. Seven large-scale repeated cross-sectional studies were included in this study, comprising 35 cross-sectional data collections between 1992 and 2019, with a total sample of 776,606 young people. Our study found a clear increase in mental health problems among young females in Norway over the past few decades, while the trends were less marked for males. The proportion of individuals scoring above the problematic symptom score threshold increased on average by 11.2% (range 2.2% to 21.9%) for females and 5.2% (range − 0.9% to 11.1%) for males, based on data from the individual studies. The results from a meta-regression analysis showed that across all surveys, mean symptom scores increased by 17% (95% CI 12 to 21%) among females and 5% (95% CI 1 to 9%) among males from 1992 to 2019. Overall, mental health problems have increased continually since the early 1990s among young people, especially among young females. The cause of these secular changes remains unknown but likely reflect the interplay of several factors at the individual and societal level.
Protocol registration: Open science framework, November 8, 2021 (https://osf.io/g7w3v).
Rural farmers’ perceptions of and adaptations to climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa: Does climate-smart agriculture (CSA) matter in Nigeria and Ethiopia?
Authors: Alhassan Usman , Haruna Emmanuel Umoru 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe available literature has ignored farmers’ perceptions on the benefits and drawbacks of adopting climate-smart agriculture (CSA) in favor of focusing primarily on profitability and economic constraints. We use the Ethiopian Socioeconomic Survey (ESS) and the General Household Survey from 2018 and 2019 to compare Nigeria and Ethiopia, both of which have sizable rural populations to assess farmers’ climate change perception and their adaptation options in promoting CSA. We first hypothesize that farmers with high tolerance for risk and stable financial resources are more likely to adopt CSA techniques, relying on the adopter perception theory of agricultural innovations and technologies. We address potential selection bias using the Heckman selection model, and estimate our data using multinomial logistic estimator, as well as standard logistic regression for robustness checks. We find that in both Ethiopia and Nigeria, household income and plot size influence farmers’ adaptations to climate change mitigation practices. However, farmers with bigger plots who run the risk of massive production loss tend to adopt measures of coping with climate change. We show that in both Ethiopia and Nigeria, rural farmers’ adaptation decisions are heavily influenced by agricultural extension programs and community social networks. Overall, our work highlights the important role of income, farm size, and climate-related information for investing in climate-smart agricultural methods to curb food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Electroantennographic and Behavioral Responses of the Melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett), to Volatile Compounds of Ridge Gourd, Luffa acutangular L.
Authors: Wang Jing jing , Ma Chao , Tian Zhen ya , Zhou Yong ping , Yang Jin fang , Gao Xuyuan , Chen Hong song , Ma Wei hua , Zhou Zhong shi 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett), is a major invasive pest, widely distributed in the Asia–Pacific region and some parts of Africa. Melon fly attractants could improve the effectiveness of current pest management measures. Previous studies have shown that some host fruits are attractive to melon flies but few have investigated the chemical compounds responsible for their attraction. In this study, we aimed to identify the volatile compounds from Luffa acutangula L that attract Z. cucurbitae. In headspace trapping, chemical profiling identified 19 compounds from ridge gourds, with 1-pentadecene being the major component. EAG results revealed that seven compounds elicited antennal responses in Z. cucurbitae, and significant differences in antennal responses between male and female Z. cucurbitae adults were recorded to p-xylene, alpha-pinene, and 1-octadecene. Behavioral experiments demonstrated that the EAG-active compounds methyl isovalerate and methyl myristate had either attractive or repellent effects on Z. cucurbitae at different concentrations, and 1-octadecene attracted Z. cucurbitae. Our findings provide a theoretical basis producing repellents or attractants for effective Integrated Pest Management of Z. cucurbitae.
GLP-1(7–36) protected against oxidative damage and neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampal CA region after traumatic brain injury by regulating ERK5/CREB
Authors: Wang Shuwei , Liu Aijun , Xu Chaopeng , Hou Jingxuan , Hong Jun 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Background
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) (7–36) amide, an endogenous active form of GLP-1, has been shown to modulate oxidative stress and neuronal cell survival in various neurological diseases.

Objective
This study investigated the potential effects of GLP-1(7–36) on oxidative stress and apoptosis in neuronal cells following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and explored the underlying mechanisms.

Methods
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) models were established in male SD rats for in vivo experiments. The extent of cerebral oedema was assessed using wet-to-dry weight ratios following GLP-1(7–36) intervention. Neurological dysfunction and cognitive impairment were evaluated through behavioural experiments. Histopathological changes in the brain were observed using haematoxylin and eosin staining. Oxidative stress levels in hippocampal tissues were measured. TUNEL staining and Western blotting were employed to examine cell apoptosis. In vitro experiments evaluated the extent of oxidative stress and neural apoptosis following ERK5 phosphorylation activation. Immunofluorescence colocalization of p-ERK5 and NeuN was analysed using immunofluorescence cytochemistry.

Results
Rats with TBI exhibited neurological deterioration, increased oxidative stress, and enhanced apoptosis, which were ameliorated by GLP-1(7–36) treatment. Notably, GLP-1(7–36) induced ERK5 phosphorylation in TBI rats. However, upon ERK5 inhibition, oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis levels were elevated, even in the presence of GLP-1(7–36).

Conclusion
In summary, this study suggested that GLP-1(7–36) suppressed oxidative damage and neuronal apoptosis after TBI by activating ERK5/CREB.
Learning from failure: do narcissists learn?
Authors: Sewaid Ahmed , Silaghi Florina , García-Cestona Miguel 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
We investigate the narcissists’ response to failure and whether narcissists effectively learn from this negative experience. To address this, we leverage data from a leading crowdfunding platform, and analyze 116,981 failed crowdfunding attempts. Our analysis shows a positive relationship between narcissism and the probability of relaunching which is negatively moderated by the degree of failure. Indeed, due to their fragility, narcissistic entrepreneurs are more likely to engage in ego-defensive behavior, and thus, they are less likely to relaunch following high degrees of failure. Moreover, narcissistic entrepreneurs exhibit poorer performance in their subsequent endeavors. This underperformance is driven by external attribution of failure and lower levels of pro-activity. In fact, following failure, narcissistic entrepreneurs are less likely to change internal factors that might contribute to their previous failure and they are more likely to respond to failure by reattempting in a different context. Managerial and policy implications are discussed.
Die Auswirkungen von Feedback auf Lernbereitschaft und Wechseltendenz von Arbeitnehmern und Studierenden
Authors: Genkova Petia , Gassel Gwenda 
Published: February 2024

ZusammenfassungIn Zeiten des Fachkräftemangels sind Organisationen gezwungen ihre Mitglieder durch vielfältige Maßnahmen an sich zu binden. Gleichzeitig müssen sie dem schnellen Wandel der modernen Arbeitswelt gerecht werden und das Wissen und die Kompetenzen ihrer Angestellten kontinuierlich weiterentwickeln. Diese Entwicklung ist abhängig von der Lernbereitschaft des jeweiligen Individuums. Aus dieser doppelten Herausforderung ergibt sich die Fragestellung, was Organisationen tun können, um ihre Mitglieder einerseits an sich zu binden und anderseits die Lernbereitschaft zu fördern. In diesem Zusammenhang kann die Bedeutung von Feedback Prozessen für die erfolgreiche Bindung, Motivation und Entwicklung von Mitarbeiter*innen betont werden. Diese Querschnittsstudie untersucht an 186 Studierende und Angestellten, inwiefern Feedback von Vorgesetzten und Kolleg*innen die Lernbereitschaft erhöht und die Wechseltendenz senkt, unter Berücksichtigung der Selbstwirksamkeitserwartung (SWE). Die Ergebnisse zeigen Zusammenhänge zwischen Feedback von Kolleg*innen und der Lernbereitschaft sowie von Vorgesetzten und der Lernbereitschaft, jeweils mediiert von der SWE. Für die Wechseltendenz konnte kein signifikantes Ergebnis nachgewiesen werden.
Unveiling global sustainability boundaries: exploring inner dimensions of human critical determinants for sustainability
Authors: Santos Filipe Duarte , O’Riordan Tim , de Sousa Miguel Rocha , Pedersen Jiesper Tristan Strandsbjerg 
Published: February 2024

AbstractGreater global awareness and action to implement sustainable development are underway. However, global progress towards sustainability has been slow. Advancing towards some form of sustainability requires greater attention and analysis of the role played by the human inner world. While the scientific analytic tools have focused on external aspects, we present a scientific methodology to identify human critical determinants (HCDs) acquired during the human biological and cultural evolution, which, although crucial for survival, well-being, and economic prosperity, may also currently act as human sustainability boundaries (HSDs). These boundaries can be softened by personal transformations with the capability of spurring resonant institutional and governance transformations. This commentary examines how a definable set of interacting and interdependent HCD provides a complete and coherent explanation of why reaching sustainability is currently an elusive objective.
Assessing the Potential Apoptotic Effects of Different Hydatid Cyst Fluids on Human Healthy Hepatocytes and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Baysal İpek , Örsten Serra , Cengiz Görkem , Ünal Emre , Doğrul Ahmet Bülent , Çiftçi Türkmen , Çiftçi Samiye Yabanoğlu , Akinci Devrim , Akhan Okan 
Published: February 2024

AbstractCystic Echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic infection caused by the larval form of Echinococcus granulosus in humans. Emerging evidence suggests an intriguing inverse association between E. granulosus infection and the occurrence of cancer. This study aimed to investigate the influence of diverse host-derived hydatid cyst fluids (HCF) with distinct genotypes on human liver hepatocytes (HC) and hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2). Specifically, we examined their effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis sensitivity (BAX/BCL-2), apoptosis-related p53 expression, and the expression of cancer-related microRNA (hsa-miR-181b-3p). Cell proliferation assays, real-time PCR, and ELISA studies were conducted to evaluate potential anti-cancer properties. The findings revealed that animal-origin HCF (G1(A)) induced direct cell death by augmenting the susceptibility of HepG2 cells to apoptosis. Treatment with both G1(A) and G1(H) HCF sensitized HepG2 and HC cell lines to apoptosis by modulating the BAX/BCL-2 ratio, accompanied by upregulation of the p53 gene. Additionally, G1(A) HCF and human-derived HCFs (G1(H), G7(H)) reduced the expression of miR-181b-3p in HepG2 cells. Consequently, this study demonstrates the potential anti-cancer effect of HCF in HepG2 cells and provides the first comparative assessment of HCFs from human and animal sources with diverse genotypes, offering novel insights into this field.
The Effects of Sleeve Gastrectomy on the Appetitive Domain of Taste Using the Progressive Ratio Task
Authors: Althukair Noura K. , Abdeen Ghalia N. , le Roux Carel W. , Miras Alex D. , Alqahtani Aayed R. 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Introduction
Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is an effective treatment for obesity in adolescents. The underlying weight loss mechanism may impact the peripheral and central gustatory system along with reward circuits in the brain. This study aims to assess changes in appetitive behavior in short-, medium-, and long-term follow-up.

Methods
In this prospective observational study, a total of 8 adolescents with obesity who underwent SG and 9 comparator unoperated participants were studied. Appetitive behaviour towards fat and sweet taste stimuli was assessed using the Progressive Ratio Task (PRT) over a 6 year period.

Results
Mean body mass index (BMI) of the surgical patients dropped from 51.5 ± 2.8 kg/m2 to 31.4 ± 1.9 and 30.9 ± 2.3 kg/m2 at 1 and 6 years follow-up, respectively. (p < 0.001). The median (interquartile range) total rewards earned during the PRT was 6 (5–7) pre-surgery, 5 (3–6) after one year and 4 (2–4) after six years from surgery (p = 0.007).

Conclusion
SG reduced appetitive behaviour at 1 year with maintained the benefit over 6 years as measured by the progressive ratio task.

Graphical Abstract
Hematopoiesis Revolves Around the Primordial Evolutional Rhythm of Purinergic Signaling and Innate Immunity – A Journey to the Developmental Roots
Authors: Ratajczak Mariusz Z. , Bujko Kamila , Brzezniakiewicz-Janus Katarzyna , Ratajczak Janina , Kucia Magdalena 
Published: February 2024

AbstractA cell's most significant existential task is to survive by ensuring proper metabolism, avoiding harmful stimuli, and adapting to changing environments. It explains why early evolutionary primordial signals and pathways remained active and regulate cell and tissue integrity. This requires energy supply and a balanced redox state. To meet these requirements, the universal intracellular energy transporter purine nucleotide-adenosine triphosphate (ATP) became an important signaling molecule and precursor of purinergic signaling after being released into extracellular space. Similarly, ancient proteins involved in intracellular metabolism gave rise to the third protein component (C3) of the complement cascade (ComC), a soluble arm of innate immunity. These pathways induce cytosol reactive oxygen (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) that regulate the redox state of the cells. While low levels of ROS and RNS promote cell growth and differentiation, supra-physiological concentrations can lead to cell damage by pyroptosis. This balance explains the impact of purinergic signaling and innate immunity on cell metabolism, organogenesis, and tissue development. Subsequently, along with evolution, new regulatory cues emerge in the form of growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, and bioactive lipids. However, their expression is still modulated by both primordial signaling pathways. This review will focus on the data that purinergic signaling and innate immunity carry on their ancient developmental task in hematopoiesis and specification of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). Moreover, recent evidence shows both these regulatory pathways operate in a paracrine manner and inside HSPCs at the autocrine level.
Graphical Abstract