bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neurosymptoms of COVID-19: results of cerebrospinal fluid and blood biomarkers and assessment of diagnostic efficacy of risk factors
Authors: Chen Hui , Tong Jianbin , Zhu Haixia , Song Kaiyuan , Tang Xichang , Xu Huan , Liu Qingxiang , Peng Canhui 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background
Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients can exhibit acute neurosymptoms when infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SAS-COV-2), but he mechanism for the occurrence of neurosymptoms in COVID-19 patients are not yet clear. The purpose of this study was to identify potential causes of neurosymptoms in COVID-19 patients by exploring the characteristics of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood in COVID-19 patients with neurosymptoms.
Methods
A study was conducted on 40 COVID-19 patients with neurosymptoms (categorized into subgroups of encephalopathy, encephalitis, and other neurosymptoms). CSF biomarkers and serum cytokines were compared between neurosymptom subgroups and COVID-19-negative control group. Blood biomarkers were compared between neurosymptom subgroups and COVID-19-positive control group. Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were used to detect the risk factors and evaluate the diagnostic performance of risk factors for neurosymptoms in COVID-19 patients.
Results
Compared with COVID-19-negative control, encephalopathy subgroup had significantly higher values of CSF to serum albumin ratio (QAlb) and CSF interleukin-6 (IL-6）（all P<0.05), encephalitis subgroup had significantly higher values of CSF total protein (TP), CSF albumin (Alb), QAlb, CSF white blood cell (WBC) count, and CSF IL-6 (all P<0.05) , other neurosymptom subgroup had significantly higher CSF TP (P<0.05). In addition, serum IL-6 in all subgroups were higher than COVID-19-negative control (P<0.05). Compared with COVID-19-positive control, all subgroups had significantly lower serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels (P<0.05), significantly higher serum complement C3 (C3) levels (P<0.05), and no differences in serum IL-6 concentrations were found between all subgroups and COVID-19-positive control (P>0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed the levels of serum IgG and C3 might be risk factors for neurosymptoms in COVID-19 patients. The area under the curve (AUC) of serum IgG was 0.832 (95%CI 0.727~0.909，P<0.0001), with sensitivity of 80.00%, and specificity of 73.53%. The AUC of serum C3 was 0.768 (95%CI0.655~0.858，P<0.0001), with sensitivity of 70.00%, and specificity 76.47%.
Conclusion
Immunological imbalance with decreased IgG levels and increased C3 levels in circulation may be key factors in the occurrence of neurosymptoms in COVID-19 patients.
Physical Activity and Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Australia: A Within-pair Twin Study
Authors: Caruana Julia M , Young Jesse T , Tyler Jessica , Ferreira Paulo H , Malta Sue , Hopper John L , Calais-Ferreira Lucas 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background:
Low levels of physical activity (PA) have been associated with depression. However, shared familial factors might confound this association, as PA and depression tend to cluster in families. We investigated the association between levels of PA during the COVID-19 pandemic and depression symptoms while controlling for shared factors by design, and assessed if being in lockdown modified this association.
Methods:
We applied within-individual and within-pair regression models to questionnaire data from adult same-sex twin pair members of Twins Research Australia collected between August and November 2020. Depression score was measured using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and PA changes since the onset of the pandemic (and other PA measures) were self-reported. Adjusted models included body-mass-index, sleep adequacy, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
Results
Our sample of 1,148 twins was predominantly female (80%) and had a median age of 54 (Interquartile Range = 41–65). Reduced PA was associated with a higher depression score (β = 1.22, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.70–1.73, P < 0.001) in the adjusted within-individual model, but evidence of a within-pair association was weak (P = 0.023). Lockdown status was an effect modifier (P = 0.006); relative to the co-twin, an increased PA was associated with higher depression scores for those in lockdown but lower scores for those not under restrictions.
Conclusions
Shared familial factors might play a role in the association between PA and depression. Health interventions and educational campaigns for families rather than just individuals might be better suited to improve mental health outcomes, especially when opportunities for PA and exercise are limited.
Synthetic Tabular Data Based on Generative Adversarial Networks in Health Care: Generation and Validation Using the Divide-and-Conquer Strategy
Authors: Kang Ha Ye Jin , Batbaatar Erdenebileg , Choi Dong-Woo , Choi Kui Son , Ko Minsam , Ryu Kwang Sun 
Published: October 2023

Background
Synthetic data generation (SDG) based on generative adversarial networks (GANs) is used in health care, but research on preserving data with logical relationships with synthetic tabular data (STD) remains challenging. Filtering methods for SDG can lead to the loss of important information.

Objective
This study proposed a divide-and-conquer (DC) method to generate STD based on the GAN algorithm, while preserving data with logical relationships.

Methods
The proposed method was evaluated on data from the Korea Association for Lung Cancer Registry (KALC-R) and 2 benchmark data sets (breast cancer and diabetes). The DC-based SDG strategy comprises 3 steps: (1) We used 2 different partitioning methods (the class-specific criterion distinguished between survival and death groups, while the Cramer V criterion identified the highest correlation between columns in the original data); (2) the entire data set was divided into a number of subsets, which were then used as input for the conditional tabular generative adversarial network and the copula generative adversarial network to generate synthetic data; and (3) the generated synthetic data were consolidated into a single entity. For validation, we compared DC-based SDG and conditional sampling (CS)–based SDG through the performances of machine learning models. In addition, we generated imbalanced and balanced synthetic data for each of the 3 data sets and compared their performance using 4 classifiers: decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and light gradient-boosting machine (LGBM) models.

Results
The synthetic data of the 3 diseases (non–small cell lung cancer [NSCLC], breast cancer, and diabetes) generated by our proposed model outperformed the 4 classifiers (DT, RF, XGBoost, and LGBM). The CS- versus DC-based model performances were compared using the mean area under the curve (SD) values: 74.87 (SD 0.77) versus 63.87 (SD 2.02) for NSCLC, 73.31 (SD 1.11) versus 67.96 (SD 2.15) for breast cancer, and 61.57 (SD 0.09) versus 60.08 (SD 0.17) for diabetes (DT); 85.61 (SD 0.29) versus 79.01 (SD 1.20) for NSCLC, 78.05 (SD 1.59) versus 73.48 (SD 4.73) for breast cancer, and 59.98 (SD 0.24) versus 58.55 (SD 0.17) for diabetes (RF); 85.20 (SD 0.82) versus 76.42 (SD 0.93) for NSCLC, 77.86 (SD 2.27) versus 68.32 (SD 2.37) for breast cancer, and 60.18 (SD 0.20) versus 58.98 (SD 0.29) for diabetes (XGBoost); and 85.14 (SD 0.77) versus 77.62 (SD 1.85) for NSCLC, 78.16 (SD 1.52) versus 70.02 (SD 2.17) for breast cancer, and 61.75 (SD 0.13) versus 61.12 (SD 0.23) for diabetes (LGBM). In addition, we found that balanced synthetic data performed better.

Conclusions
This study is the first attempt to generate and validate STD based on a DC approach and shows improved performance using STD. The necessity for balanced SDG was also demonstrated.
A EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL CRÍTICA EM PESSOA: ENTREVISTA COM CARLOS FREDERICO LOUREIRO
Authors: Maia do Bomfim Alexandre , Pereira do Nascimento Patrícia Maria , Rodrigues de Souza Juliana 
Published: October 2023

Nosso entrevistado é Carlos Frederico Bernardo Loureiro, com certeza uma das principais referências em Educação Ambiental Crítica do país. Loureiro é professor titular da Faculdade de Educação da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, professor do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação (PPGE) da UFRJ. Líder do Laboratório de Investigações em Educação, Ambiente e Sociedade (LIEAS/UFRJ). Foram suas graduações pela UFRJ (seu Bacharelado em Ecologia e Licenciatura em Ciências Físicas e Biológicas) que o levaram à Educação Ambiental, mas certamente foi seu percurso acadêmico posterior, seu percurso como pesquisador, assim como suas atividades profissionais e inclusive sua militância, que o conduziram para uma postura ainda mais crítica, para uma práxis sociológica-filosófica-política. Além de ser muito lido, Loureiro é formador de muitos formadores. Busca apreender a problemática ambiental, trazendo relevantes contribuições para processos educativos que se contraponham às respostas e soluções apregoadas pela educação hegemônica capitalista
Impact of Hospital International Health Services on Medical Tourism: A Review of Private Lebanese Hospitals’ Online Services and its Readiness to be Part of a National Medical Tourism Plan
Authors: Sweidy Charbel , Abou-Abbas Linda 
Published: October 2023

Background: The phenomenon of medical tourism, rooted in ancient traditions and thriving in the modern world, has transformed into a robust global industry. Lebanon's private healthcare sector has historically attracted international patients, but it faces challenges such as communication barriers and evolving economic landscapes. This research delves into Lebanon's private healthcare sector, aiming to identify obstacles and propose strategies for effective International Health Services (IHS).
Methods: Employing a descriptive methodology, this study evaluates 44 private hospital websites in Lebanon across dimensions like accessibility, institutional credentials, and communication standards. Healthcare management experts conducted the assessment, leading to the categorization of websites into informative, communicative, collaborative, and empowered tiers. Statistical analysis ensured the reliability of the reviewers' ratings, revealing consistent findings.
Results: The assessment highlighted varying approaches among Lebanese private hospitals in catering to medical tourists. While most websites emphasize medical services, crucial information such as staff credentials and cost-related details often remain undisclosed. The study uncovered gaps in services like medical record transfers and post-treatment care. However, some hospitals proactively engage international patients, showcasing specialized expertise.
Conclusion: This research not only evaluates private hospital websites in Lebanon but also proposes an innovative IHS framework. This framework envisions an independent department, an online platform for telemedicine and appointment booking, and tailored marketing strategies. Implementing these components can bolster Lebanon's position in global medical tourism, fostering economic growth, enhancing healthcare services, and strengthening diplomatic relations. Strategic collaborations and the adoption of these proposed strategies can elevate Lebanon's private hospitals, contributing significantly to the healthcare system and the economy.
Bridging Binaries: Navigating Bicultural Space in Film Design
Authors: Ings Welby , Mortensen Steagall Marcos 
Published: October 2023

This article examines how a researcher (a filmmaker whose lineage is both Indigenous and European) navigates ‘betweenness’ that is sometimes disruptive to cultural conventions. As a gay man who identifies as bicultural, I orient myself with, within and across worlds. From this position my approaches are largely shaped by the Māori values of manaakitanga (caring for the needs of people), kaitiakitanga (protecting and caring for all creation) and whanaungatanga (creating and sustaining relationships). These are supplemented by values emanating from my position as a gay activist and the resulting concerns with social justice and facing down the erasure, marginalization or exoticization of LGBTQ+ identities. Although I am of mixed race ancestry, I see my bicultural positioning as a way of accessing a form of epistemological pluralism that embraces intellectual, physical, social and spiritual ways of knowing. Thus, when creating the feature film Punch (Ings, 2022), it was necessary to find a place to stand, in practice, as a bicultural story designer. This involved actualizing productive care inside how the film production was experienced, working in communion with the land as a living being, and navigating tensions of transgression by establishing facilities for cultural guidance and insight within the project.
Improving Efficiency of Corn Seed Separation and Calibration Process
Authors: Bredykhin Vadym , Tikunov Stanislav , Slipchenko Maksym , Alfyorov Oleksiy , Bogomolov Alexey , Shchur Taras , Kocira Sławomir , Kiczorowski Piotr , Paslavskyy Rostysav 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
The paper analyzes the existing theoretical research of corn seed separation and calibration processes. The machines, tools and equipment that implement the process were studied. An innovative sieve with openings in the Cassini oval shape was proposed for the economical separation and calibration of corn seeds. The results of operation of the proposed sieve in the operating conditions of Kharkiv Feed Mill on BSH-100 serial separators were considered. The study of the effectiveness of sifting corn seeds through the holes of the sieves was carried out in partnership with the State University “Ukrainian Research Institute of Forecasting and Testing of Agricultural Production Techniques and Technologies named after Leonid Pohorily” (Kharkiv Branch). The use of sieves with openings in the Cassini oval shape, instead of classic circular base openings, was found to result in an increase in throughput capacity of the sieve and open area of up to 20%.
Reducing the Probability of Failure in Manufacturing Equipment by Quantitative FTA Analysis
Authors: Bujna Marián , Prístavka Miroslav , Lee Chia Kuang , Borusiewicz Andrzej , Samociuk Waldemar , Beloev Ivan , Malaga-Toboła Urszula 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) is a method that directly focuses on the modes of failures. The FTA is a graphical representation of the major faults or critical failures associated with a product, as well as the causes for the faults and potential countermeasures. The aim of this research paper is to calculate the probability of the top event – the failure of the process using FTA and propose a technique to prioritize factors for action design and reduce the likelihood of a top event failure based on manufacturers' requirements. We have constructed a qualitative fault tree to produce office components packed and sealed in blister packs using a KOCH KBS-PL machine. We defined the top event G – the production of office components, packed and sealed in blister packs on the machinery KOCH KBS-PL. Then we defined events leading to top events down to individual failure factors. Based on the links between the fault tree and the probability of failure, we performed a quantitative analysis to determine the probability of failure of individual events. We found out that the probability of failure of G is 5.04%. Subsequently, we identified which factors most significantly reduce the resulting probability of failure of factor G. These are the factors: E – feed rate, F – cooling, AL – incorrect setting and D – break. It has been proven that by controlling these 4 factors, we can reduce the probability of failure of top event G to 2.36%, provided that effective measures are taken. The final proposal meets the requirements of several manufacturers for a fast, efficient, and cost-effective solution. We have created a proposal that saves time, has minimal software and hardware requirements, and is easy to use. The efficiency and effectiveness of the proposal was that we identified the weakest points in the fault tree that most significantly cause the top event to fail. This prioritized the factors for the design of the measures.
Chemical and Energetical Properties in Methane Fermentation of Morphological Parts of Corn with Different Variety Earliness Standard FAO
Authors: Wojcieszak Dawid , Pawłowski Artur , Dammer Karl-Heinz , Przybył Jacek 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
In the last decades, the production of biomass biofuels for thermochemical conversion to replace fossil fuels has attracted increasing attention as it offers significant environmental benefits. A very common way to convert biomass to energy is methane fermentation. The importance of biogas as a source of energy is growing. The use of biomass to biogas production on a large, global scale may lead to controversial competition for arable land, water, and consequently, food. Therefore, only waste materials and agricultural by-products and residues should be used for biogas production. Corn stover is a good example of agricultural residues for biogas production. Therefore, the aim of these studies was to determine the influence of corn variety earliness FAO on the chemical compositions and energy value of morphological parts (fractions) of corn plants. The research material consisted of morphological parts of corn plants: stalks, leaves, husks, and cobs of selected corn cultivars, differing in terms of their FAO earliness: early (FAO 220), medium-early q(FAO 240) and late (FAO 300) varieties. The research included laboratory investigations, elemental analysis, methane fermentation and statistical analyses of results. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that the FAO earliness of a corn variety had a significant impact on the elemental composition, ash content, biogas, and methane yield in the corn morphological fractions. The highest methane yield of 267.4 m3·Mg−1 TS was found for the cucurbit cover leaves of a variety with an FAO 240 earliness standard.
Updated insights into predictive biomarkers for response to cardiac resynchronization therapy - A literature review
Authors: Pal Krisztina , Cotoi Ionela M. , Vlad Georgiana G. , Lupu Silvia 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) was shown to greatly improve outcomes in specific patients with heart failure, low ejection fraction and wide QRS complex; however post-therapeutic response is heterogeneous and currently difficult to predict. There is an increasing interest in identifying humoral biomarkers which could help stratify prognosis, and better identify responders. The aim of this review was to provide an overview of recent data regarding the predictive value of biomarkers for evaluating response to CRT. A definitive conclusion cannot currently be drawn due to disparate results, varying methodologies, relatively small-scale studies and lack of consensus in defining CRT response. More extensive comparable research is paramount to facilitate progress in this field.
Molecular and clinical aspects of HNSCC in the Republic of Moldova
Authors: Stratan Valentina , Țuțuianu Valeri , Sîtnic Victor , Popa Cristina , Balan Veronica , Clipca Adrian , Sclifos Ina , Monastirscaia Anastasia , Trohin Victoria , Sprincean Mariana 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Introduction: Complex molecular characterization and integrated approaches in the basic research of HNSCC provide new insights into the understanding and treatment of these tumors. Mutations in the TP53 gene, HPV infection, aberrant DNA methylation are just a few factors that have a direct link with the clinical and psychological condition of patients with this type of cancer. In the Republic of Moldova, these aspects are insufficiently studied.

Methods: The study included 128 patients with HNSCC from whom the following samples were collected: fresh tumor tissue, NAT, blood, and saliva. All samples, except saliva, were tested for 3 mutations in the TP53 gene, while DNA isolated from tumor tissue was also tested for global DNA methylation assessment. HPV genotypes were tested from saliva. HPV positive samples were retested from tumor tissue.

Results: Of the total analyzed samples for TP53 pathogenic variants, in 30 (23.44%) samples there were detected one or two mutations, and in 9 samples (7.03%) – it was detected the presence of two mutations simultaneously. HPV infection was detected in 17 samples (13.28%). Regarding global DNA methylation, in patients with a high degree of exposure to stress, a 44% lower level was observed (median 13.5 ng/ml) compared to those with moderate and low exposure (median 20.5 ng/ml ).

Conclusion: The most frequent mutation identified in the TP53 gene was the 524G>A substitution and the frequency of high-risk HPV infection in HNSCC patients from Moldova was 13.28%. The high degree of stress exposure showed a lower level of global methylation.
Associations of levels of high-molecular-weight adiponectin, secreted frizzled-related protein 5 and vascular endothelial growth factor-165 with diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Fu Yanfang , Ye Shizhen , Peng Jianjun 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background: The pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains unclear. The aim of the study was to explore the associations of DR with the levels of high-molecular-weight adiponectin (HMW-ADP), secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP-5) as well as vascular endothelial growth factor-165 (VEGF165).

Methods: Based on the diagnostic criteria for DR, non-DR (NDR), proliferative DR (PDR) plus non-proliferative DR (NPDR) groups were set up for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients (n=180) treated from January 2020 to March 2021. The control group consisted of another 60 healthy subjects undergoing physical examinations. Their clinical data were compared. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted to assess the predictive values of HMW-ADP, VEGF165 and SFRP-5 for DR. The predictive efficiency of the established nomogram model was assessed.

Results: The differences in age, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), T2DM duration, triglyceride (TG), hypertension history, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), serum creatinine (Scr), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), urine acid (UA), SFRP-5 HMW-ADP, and VEGF165 were significant between control and DR groups (P<0.05). HMW-ADP, VEGF165 and SFRP-5 had predictive values for DR (AUC>0.7), and the predictive efficiency of their combination was highest. The duration of T2DM, Scr, UA and VEGF165 were independent risk factors for DR, while HMW-ADP and SFRP-5 were protective factors (P<0.05). Preferable discrimination and accuracy together with clinical applicability were obtained for the nomogram prediction model.

Conclusions: The three indicators as a whole have a high predictive value for DR, as potential indicators for the clinical screening of high-risk groups.