bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Can Cryptocurrencies Provide Better Diversification Benefits? Evidence from the Indian Stock Market
Authors: Jana Susovon , Nandi Ankita , Sahu Tarak Nath 
Published: January 2024

Cryptocurrency has recently emerged as a financial asset among policymakers, investors and academics as a new alternative asset in the financial landscape. This research intends to empirically evaluate the safe haven, diversification and hedging potentials of digital currencies against the Indian equity market during different time frames. Four cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance Coin and Ripple) and Nifty 50 index data have been collected on a daily basis, from 26 July 2017 to 31 August 2023, for this purpose. Using wavelet-based methods, the study has discovered higher volatility in Nifty 50 and cryptocurrency prices during the crisis and stronger co-movement between pairs of equities and cryptocurrencies. Furthermore, the study finds that, under normal economic conditions, cryptocurrency can hedge the Indian stock market over short-term, medium-term and long-term investment horizons. However, investing in cryptocurrencies in the Indian stock portfolio for the short term does not give any safe haven or diversification advantages during times of economic crisis. Finally, we anticipate that the findings of our study will provide valuable insights into the potential usage of cryptocurrencies in the Indian stock market, both in stable and turbulent economic conditions. JEL Codes: G01, G41, N2, P34
Resolving the Theseus Paradox at the Cusp of Independence: The Battle to Become the Legal Successor of British India
Authors: Rai Sanchi 
Published: January 2024

This paper attempts to answer important questions about the extents to which newly decolonised nations wish to maintain colonial legacies – or jettison them. More viscerally, how are post-colonial identities defined? These questions are particularly intricate in the context of British India’s partition. Before independence, stakeholders debated whether India and Pakistan should be regarded as two new states, or was India a continuation of British India, with Pakistan seceding from it? In the former scenario, the earlier ‘India’ would have ceased to exist. These points are brought out through extensive archival research into the negotiations governing the transfer of power, and furnish a crucial jigsaw piece in the state formation puzzle. The paper focuses on two clear lines of inquiry. Firstly, and perhaps counterintuitively, India’s keenness to become the legal successor to British India and accept the consequent treaty obligations. Archival research shows that Indian National Congress, especially Nehru, fought uncompromisingly for this legal status. It was a matter of ‘prestige’ that the India they had fought hard to free legally continue to exist; that its enduring identity and essence align with its new legal personality. Secondly, the relatively unexplored story of how London sought to saddle the new states with its own commitments in South Asia, and the complicated legal jugglery that ensued. The aforementioned treaty obligations became an important aspect of Independent India’s foreign policy, especially on the eastern border, with ramifications for Tibet and Sino-Indian relations, underlining the continuity of British Indian foreign policy post-independence. Résoudre le paradoxe de Thésée à l’aube de l’indépendance : la lutte pour la succession légale de l’Inde britannique
A simple and efficient clinical prediction scoring system to identify malignant pleural effusion
Authors: Wang Shuyan , An Jing , Hu Xueru , Zeng Tingting , Li Ping , Qin Jiangyue , Shen Yongchun , Wang Tao , Wen Fuqiang 
Published: January 2024

Background: Early diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is of great significance. Current prediction models are not simple enough to be widely used in heavy clinical work. Objectives: We aimed to develop a simple and efficient clinical prediction scoring system to distinguish MPE from benign pleural effusion (BPE). Design: This retrospective study involved patients with MPE or BPE who were admitted in West China Hospital from December 2010 to September 2016. Methods: Patients were divided into training, testing, and validation set. Prediction model was developed from training set and modified to a scoring system. The diagnostic efficacy and clinical benefits of the scoring system were estimated in all three sets. Results: Finally, 598 cases of MPE and 1094 cases of BPE were included. Serum neuron-specific enolase, serum cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1), pleural carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and ratio of pleural CEA to serum CEA were selected to establish the prediction models in training set, which were modified to the scoring system with scores of 6, 8, 10, and 9 points, respectively. Patients with scores >12 points have high MPE risk while ⩽12 points have low MPE risk. The scoring system has a high predictive value and good clinical benefits to differentiate MPE from BPE or lung-specific MPE from BPE. Conclusion: This study developed a simple clinical prediction scoring system and was proven to have good clinical benefits, and it may help clinicians to separate MPE from BPE.
Comparison of Point Accuracy Between Two Widely Used Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems
Authors: Hanson Kevin , Kipnes Mark , Tran Hien 
Published: January 2024

Background: Safe and effective self-management of glucose levels requires immediate access to accurate data. We assessed the point accuracy of the Dexcom G7 Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (Dexcom, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) and FreeStyle Libre 3 (Abbott Diabetes Care, Alameda, CA, USA) sensors in a head-to-head comparison. Method: Multicenter, single-arm, prospective, nonsignificant risk evaluation enrolled adults (≥ 18 years) with diagnosed type 1 diabetes (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D). Accuracy was assessed by comparing sensor data to laboratory reference values Yellow Springs Instrument [YSI] and capillary blood glucose values. Outcome measures were differences in mean absolute relative difference (MARD), number and percentage of matched glucose pairs within ±20 mg/dL/±20 of reference values within glucose ranges: < 54, 54 to 69, 70 to 180, 181 to 250, > 250 mg/dL, and combined. Results: Data from 55 adults were included in the analysis. Analysis showed significantly lower MARD with the FreeStyle Libre 3 sensor vs the Dexcom G7 sensor (8.9% vs 13.6%, respectively, P < .0001) with a higher percentage of glucose values within ±20 mg/dL/±20 of reference (91.4% vs 78.6%). The MARD values for both continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensors were similar during the first 12 hours; however, the FreeStyle Libre 3 MARD was notably lower than the Dexcom G7 MARD during the next 12 hours (10.0% vs 15.1%, respectively, P < .0001) and throughout the study period. Conclusions: The FreeStyle Libre 3 sensor was more accurate than the Dexcom G7 sensor in all metrics evaluated throughout the study period. This is the first head-to-head study to our knowledge that compares the flagship products currently in widespread use of the two largest CGM manufacturers.
Glycogen storage disease type III: a mixed-methods study to assess the burden of disease
Authors: Evins Ayla , Mayhew Jill , Cimms Tricia , Whyte Julie , Vong Kathy , Hribal Elizabeth , Evans Christopher J. , Grimm Andrew 
Published: January 2024

Background: Glycogen storage disease type III (GSD III) is a rare inherited disorder that results from a glycogen debranching enzyme deficiency. Objectives: The purpose of this research was to collect data on the signs, symptoms, and impacts of GSD III from the perspective of adult patients and caregivers of individuals with GSD III. Design: Online survey and qualitative interviews. Methods: Following institutional review board approval, adult patients and caregivers of children with GSD III were recruited through advocacy networks and clinical sites. If eligible, participants were consented, screened, and sent a survey and/or participated in a 60-min interview. The survey and interview included questions about family history, diagnosis, signs and symptoms, impacts, and management of GSD III. Conceptual models were developed following the analysis of results. Results: In all, 29 adults and 46 caregivers completed the online survey and/or the interviews with 73 survey and 19 interview respondents. Adults and caregivers reported digestive, musculoskeletal, growth and physical appearance, and cardiac signs and symptoms. Liver conditions were reported by most respondents (83%). Adults and caregivers frequently reported impacts such as difficulty keeping up with peers (77%) and difficulty exercising/difficulty with physical activity (53%). Hypoglycemia was frequently reported in both adults and children, with more than half reporting hospitalizations due to hypoglycemia. Caregivers focused on hypoglycemia when reporting signs/symptoms that most interfere with their child’s life and prevention of hypoglycemia as a desired outcome for an effective therapy. Adults most often reported muscle weakness as a top interfering symptom and the most important goal of a potential therapy. Impacts were also reported in activities of daily living, cognitive, emotional, work/school, and sleep domains. Conclusion: Individuals with GSD III experience a broad spectrum of symptoms and disease impacts. There is an unmet need for therapies that improve metabolic control, reduce the burden of dietary management, reduce fatigue and liver problems, and improve muscle strength and function.
Development and Evaluation of Messages to Facilitate Secure Storage and Disposal of Prescribed Opioid Medication
Authors: Egan Kathleen L , Cox Melissa J , Helme Donald W , Jackson Jeffrey Todd , Sesay Mahdi , Valliani Inara , Richman Alice R 
Published: January 2024

Background: Secure storage and disposal is a critical strategy to reduce prescription opioid misuse. We sought to develop effective messages to promote secure storage and disposal of unused opioid medications that can be used in interventions designed to reduce diversion of opioid medications for nonmedical use. Methods: We used a mixed-method design to develop and evaluate messages. First, we pretested 34 messages in focus group discussions (FGDs; n = 12 FGDs, n = 2-5 participants per FGD; 37 total participants). Then, we tested the 12 most salient messages in an online survey with a nationally representative Qualtrics® panel (n = 1520 participants). A pretest–posttest design was conducted to assess change in beliefs about storage and disposal of opioid medication following message exposure. Results: All 12 messages favorably influenced participants’ perceptions related to concerns and risks of retaining unused opioid medications and the importance of and self-efficacy in securely storing and disposing of unused opioid medications. Storage and disposal messages that included the sentence—“Your prescription can become someone else’s addiction.”—outperformed other messages in encouraging people to safely store or dispose of opioid medication. Conclusions: This study informs the development of a universal text message intervention using multimodal feedback from the target population that the intervention seeks to serve. The next step is to conduct a randomized controlled trial to assess efficacy of the intervention.
Distal and Proximal Minority Stressors on Patterns of Tobacco and Cannabis Use Among Young Bisexual Women
Authors: Ehlke Sarah J. , Fitzer Samantha A. , Stamates Amy L. , Kelley Michelle L. 
Published: January 2024

Background: Bisexual women have high rates of tobacco and cannabis use, but few studies have examined co-use behavior in this population. Although the role of distal minority stressors (eg, discrimination) on substance use has been examined, fewer studies have examined proximal minority stressors (eg, negative sexual identity self-schemas). The current study was a secondary data analysis that examined patterns of tobacco and cannabis use, and the role of distal (instability of bisexuality, sexual irresponsibility of bisexual people, and hostility toward bisexual people) and proximal (illegitimacy of bisexuality, anticipated binegativity, internalized binegativity, and identity affirmation) bisexual-specific minority stressors among bisexual women. Methods: Participants were 224 young (aged 18-30 years old) self-identified bisexual women who reported on their past 30-day tobacco and cannabis use and completed measures of distal and proximal bisexual-specific minority stressors. Participants were categorized into one of 4 patterns: no use, tobacco use only, cannabis use only, and tobacco and cannabis co-use. Results: The most common pattern of past 30-day use was tobacco and cannabis co-use (39.1%). Results from a multinomial logistic regression revealed that bisexual women who reported higher illegitimacy of bisexuality, a proximal minority stressor, were significantly more likely to engage in tobacco and cannabis co-use, relative to no use. Discussion: Bisexual women have particularly high rates of substance use, with tobacco and cannabis co-use as the most common pattern. Incorporating the role of proximal minority stressors, and specifically, beliefs about the legitimacy of bisexuality, may be an important target of substance use interventions for bisexual women.
Pyramiding of Low Chalkiness QTLs Is an Effective Way to Reduce Rice Chalkiness
Authors: Yang Weifeng , Chen Songliang , Hao Qingwen , Zhu Haitao , Tan Quanya , Lin Shaojun , Chen Guodong , Li Zhan , Bu Suhong , Liu Zupei , Liu Guifu , Wang Shaokui , Zhang Guiquan 
Published: January 2024

AbstractRice chalkiness is a key limiting factor of high-quality rice. The breeding of low chalkiness varieties has always been a challenging task due to the complexity of chalkiness and its susceptibility to environmental factors. In previous studies, we identified six QTLs for the percentage of grain chalkiness (PGC), named qPGC5, qPGC6, qPGC8.1, qPGC8.2, qPGC9 and qPGC11, using single-segment substitution lines (SSSLs) with genetic background of Huajingxian 74 (HJX74). In this study, we utilized the six low chalkiness QTLs to develop 17 pyramiding lines with 2–4 QTLs. The results showed that the PGC decreased with the increase of QTLs in the pyramiding lines. The pyramiding lines with 4 QTLs significantly reduced the chalkiness of rice and reached the best quality level. Among the six QTLs, qPGC5 and qPGC6 showed greater additive effects and were classified as Group A, while the other four QTLs showed smaller additive effects and were classified as Group B. In pyramiding lines, although the presence of epistasis, additivity remained the main component of QTL effects. qPGC5 and qPGC6 showed stronger ability to reduce rice chalkiness, particularly in the environment of high temperature (HT) in the first cropping season (FCS). Our research demonstrates that by pyramiding low chalkiness QTLs, it is feasible to develop the high-quality rice varieties with low chalkiness at the best quality level even in the HT environment of FCS.
Human health and ecology at risk: a case study of metal pollution in Lahore, Pakistan
Authors: Iqbal Hafiza Hira , Siddique Ayesha , Qadir Abdul , Ahmad Sajid Rashid , Liess Matthias , Shahid Naeem 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
With rapid industrial development, heavy metal contamination has become a major public health and ecological concern worldwide. Although knowledge about metal pollution in European water resources is increasing, monitoring data and assessments in developing countries are rare. In order to protect human health and aquatic ecosystems, it is necessary to investigate heavy metal content and its consequences to human health and ecology. Accordingly, we collected 200 water samples from different water resources including groundwater, canals, river and drains, and investigated metal contamination and its implications for human and ecological health. This is the first comprehensive study in the region that considered all the water resources for metal contamination and associated human health and ecological risks together.

Results
Here we show that the water resources of Lahore (Pakistan) are highly contaminated with metals, posing human and ecological health risks. Approximately 26% of the groundwater samples are unsuitable for drinking and carry the risk of cancer. Regarding dermal health risks, groundwater, canal, river, and drain water respectively showed 40%, 74%, 80%, and 90% of samples exceeding the threshold limit of the health risk index (HRI > 1). Regarding ecological risks, almost all the water samples exceeded the chronic and acute threshold limits for algae, fish, and crustaceans. Only 42% of groundwater samples were below the acute threshold limits. In the case of pollution index, 72%, 56%, and 100% of samples collected from canals, river Ravi, and drains were highly contaminated.

Conclusions
In conclusion, this comprehensive study shows high metal pollution in water resources and elucidates that human health and aquatic ecosystems are at high risk. Therefore, urgent and comprehensive measures are imperative to mitigate the escalating risks to human health and ecosystems.
Convolutional neural network for brachial plexus segmentation at the interscalene level
Authors: Xi Yang , Chong Hao , Zhou Yan , Zhu Feng , Yao Yuhang , Wang Geng 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
Regional anesthesia with ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block is widely used for patients undergoing shoulder and upper limb surgery, but needle misplacement can result in complications. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a convolutional neural network (CNN) model for segmentation of the brachial plexus at the interscalene level.

Methods
This prospective study included patients who underwent ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block in the Anesthesiology Department of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital between October 2019 and June 2022. A Unet semantic segmentation model was developed to train the CNN to identify the brachial plexus features in the ultrasound images. The degree of overlap between the predicted segmentation and ground truth segmentation (manually drawn by experienced clinicians) was evaluated by calculation of the Dice index and Jaccard index.

Results
The final analysis included 502 images from 127 patients aged 41 ± 14 years-old (72 men, 56.7%). The mean Dice index was 0.748 ± 0.190, which was extremely close to the threshold level of 0.75 for good overlap between the predicted and ground truth segregations. The Jaccard index was 0.630 ± 0.213, which exceeded the threshold value of 0.5 for a good overlap.

Conclusion
The CNN performed well at segregating the brachial plexus at the interscalene level. Further development could allow the CNN to be used to facilitate real-time identification of the brachial plexus during interscalene block administration.

Clinical trial registration
The trial was registered prior to patient enrollment at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200055591), the site url is https://www.chictr.org.cn/. The date of trial registration and patient enrollment is 14/01/2022.
Transition of patients with recently diagnosed Dementia from inpatient to outpatient setting– a scoping review
Authors: Hegerath Flora-Marie , Giehl Chantal , Pentzek Michael , Vollmar Horst Christian , Otte Ina Carola 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Introduction
After being diagnosed with dementia, patients need a medical professional to empathetically address their fears and get initial questions answered. This scoping review therefore addresses how patients newly diagnosed with dementia are cared for in the general practitioner (GP) setting and how the communication between different healthcare professionals and the GP is handled.

Methods
The scoping review was conducted based on the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. After developing a search algorithm, literature searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PsychInfo, GeroLit and Cinahl using defined search criteria, such as a focus on qualitative study designs. After the removal of duplicates, title/abstract and full text screening was carried out.

Results
Final data extraction included 10 articles out of 12,633 records. Strategies regarding the post-acute care of newly diagnosed patients included providing clarity and comfort to the patients and giving support and information both pre- and post-diagnosis. Care efforts were focused on advanced care planning and deprescribing. Involving people with dementia and their caregivers in further care was seen as crucial to provide them with the support needed. GPs emphasised the importance of listening to concerns, as well as ensuring wishes are respected, and autonomy is maintained. All studies found communication between the GP setting and other healthcare professionals regarding post-acute care to be inadequate. Lack of information sharing, clinical notes and recommendations for the GP setting resulted in inefficient provision of support, as GPs feel limited in their ability to act.

Discussion
Sharing necessary information with the GP setting could promote patient-centred care for people living with dementia and facilitate appropriate and timely resource allocation and effective healthcare collaboration between the settings, for example, by defining clear care pathways and clarifying roles and expectations.
Baseline NT-proBNP levels as a predictor of short-and long-term prognosis in COVID-19 patients: a prospective observational study
Authors: Mojón-Álvarez Diana , Giralt Teresa , Carreras-Mora José , Calvo-Fernández Alicia , Izquierdo Andrea , Soler Cristina , Cabero Paula , Pérez-Fernández Silvia , Vaquerizo Beatriz , Ribas Barquet Núria 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
Up to 20% of COVID-19 patients can suffer COVID-19-related myocardial injury. Elevated cardiac biomarkers, such as hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP, have been related to worse short-term prognosis. However, data on NT-proBNP and long-term prognosis are scarce. We have evaluated the potential association of baseline age-adjusted NT-proBNP levels and outcomes at one-year follow-up in COVID-19 patients.

Methods
This was a single-center prospective study of 499 COVID-19 patients in whom NT-proBNP was assessed at hospital admission. NT-proBNP levels were age-adjusted and patients were classified as high or low NT-proBNP. Clinical and demographic characteristics, comorbidities, laboratory results, and in-hospital complications and mortality were compared between the two groups. Survivors of the acute phase of COVID-19 were followed up for one year from admission to detect readmissions and mortality.

Results
The 68 patients with high NT-proBNP levels at hospital admission were older, with more cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular disease, comorbidities, myocardial injury, and higher levels of inflammatory markers than patients with low NT-proBNP levels. They also had more in-hospital complications and a higher acute-phase mortality rate (60.3% vs. 10.2%, p < 0.001). High NT-proBNP levels were an independent marker of death during hospitalization (HR 1.95; CI 1.07–3.52). At one-year follow-up, high NT-proBNP levels were independently associated with mortality (HR 2.69; CI 1.47–4.89). Among survivors of the acute phase of COVID-19, there were no differences in hospital readmissions between those with high vs. low NT-proBNP levels, but survivors with high baseline NT-proBNP levels showed a higher 1-year mortality rate (7.4% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.018).

Conclusions
High age-adjusted NT-proBNP levels at the time of hospital admission for COVID-19 are associated with poor short and long-term prognosis. High NT-proBNP seems also to be related to worse prognosis in survivors of the acute phase of COVID-19. A closer follow-up on these patients may be crucial.