bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sustainable remediation of chromium-contaminated soils: boosting radish growth with deashed biochar and strigolactone
Authors: Younis Uzma , Danish Subhan , Datta Rahul , Alahmadi Tahani Awad , Ansari Mohammad Javed 
Published: February 2024

AbstractChromium (Cr) stress significantly hinders crop production by disrupting nutrient uptake, impairing plant growth, and contaminating soil, posing a substantial threat to agricultural sustainability. The use of deashed biochar (DAB) and strigolactone can be an effective solution to mitigate this issue. Deashed biochar enhances crop production by improving soil structure, water retention, and nutrient availability while mitigating the bioavailability of toxic substances. Strigolactone boosts plant growth by stimulating root growth, branching, shoot formation, and overall plant physiology. Nevertheless, the scientific rationale behind their collective use as an amendment to counter Cr stress remains to be substantiated. Therefore, in this study, a blend of DAB and strigolactone was employed as additives in radish cultivation, both in the absence of Cr stress and under the influence of 200Cr stress. Four treatments, i.e., 0, 20µM Strigolactone, DAB, and 20µM Strigolactone + DAB, were applied in four replications following a completely randomized design. Results demonstrate that 20µM Strigolactone + DAB produced significant improvement in radish shoot length (27.29%), root length (45.60%), plant fresh weight (33.25%), and plant dry weight (78.91%), compared to the control under Cr stress. Significant enrichment in radish chlorophyll a (20.41%), chlorophyll b (58.53%), and total chlorophyll (31.54%) over the control under Cr stress, prove the efficacy of 20µM Strigolactone + DAB treatment. In conclusion, 20µM Strigolactone + DAB is the recommended amendment for mitigating Cr stress in radish. Farmers should consider using Strigolactone + DAB amendments to combat Cr stress and enhance radish growth, contributing to a more resilient agricultural ecosystem.
Comparison of the effects of imputation methods for missing data in predictive modelling of cohort study datasets
Authors: Li JiaHang , Guo ShuXia , Ma RuLin , He Jia , Zhang XiangHui , Rui DongSheng , Ding YuSong , Li Yu , Jian LeYao , Cheng Jing , Guo Heng 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Missing data is frequently an inevitable issue in cohort studies and it can adversely affect the study's findings. We assess the effectiveness of eight frequently utilized statistical and machine learning (ML) imputation methods for dealing with missing data in predictive modelling of cohort study datasets. This evaluation is based on real data and predictive models for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.

Methods
The data is from a real-world cohort study in Xinjiang, China. It includes personal information, physical examination data, questionnaires, and laboratory biochemical results from 10,164 subjects with a total of 37 variables. Simple imputation (Simple), regression imputation (Regression), expectation-maximization(EM), multiple imputation (MICE) , K nearest neighbor classification (KNN), clustering imputation (Cluster), random forest (RF), and decision tree (Cart) were the chosen imputation methods. Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE) are utilised to assess the performance of different methods for missing data imputation at a missing rate of 20%. The datasets processed with different missing data imputation methods were employed to construct a CVD risk prediction model utilizing the support vector machine (SVM). The predictive performance was then compared using the area under the curve (AUC).

Results
The most effective imputation results were attained by KNN (MAE: 0.2032, RMSE: 0.7438, AUC: 0.730, CI: 0.719-0.741) and RF (MAE: 0.3944, RMSE: 1.4866, AUC: 0.777, CI: 0.769-0.785). The subsequent best performances were achieved by EM, Cart, and MICE, while Simple, Regression, and Cluster attained the worst performances. The CVD risk prediction model was constructed using the complete data (AUC:0.804, CI:0.796-0.812) in comparison with all other models with p<0.05.

Conclusion
KNN and RF exhibit superior performance and are more adept at imputing missing data in predictive modelling of cohort study datasets.
Opinions and perceptions of patients with cardiovascular disease on adherence: a qualitative study of focus groups
Authors: Carbonell-Soliva Álvaro , Nouni-García Rauf , López-Pineda Adriana , Cordero-Fort Alberto , Pérez-Jover Virtudes , Quesada Jose A. , Orozco-Beltrán Domingo , Nolasco Andreu , Castellano-Vázquez Jose Maria , Mira-Solves Jose Joaquín , Gil-Guillen Vicente F. , Carratala-Munuera Concepción 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Cardiovascular diseases are becoming more frequent throughout the world. Adherence to both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment, as well as lifestyles, is important for good management and control of the disease. This study aims to explore the opinions and perceptions of patients with ischemic heart disease on the difficulties associated with therapeutic adherence.

Methods
An interpretive phenomenological study was carried out using focus groups and one semi-structured interview. The MAXQDA qualitative data analysis program was used for inductive interpretation of the group discourses and interview. Data were coded, and these were grouped by categories and then consolidated under the main themes identified.

Results
Two in-person focus groups and one remote semi-structured interview were performed. Twelve participants (6 men and 6 women) from the Hospital de San Juan de Alicante participated, two of them being family companions . The main themes identified were aspects related to the individual, heart disease, drug treatment, and the perception of the health care system.

Conclusions
Adhering to recommendations on healthy behaviors and taking prescribed medications for cardiovascular disease was important for most participants. However, they sometimes found polypharmacy difficult to manage, especially when they did not perceive the symptoms of their disease. Participants related the concept of fear to therapeutic adherence, believing that the latter increased with the former. The relationship with health professionals was described as optimal, but, nevertheless, the coordination of the health care system was seen as limited.
Trajectories of negative and positive experiences of caregiving for older adults with severe dementia: application of group-based multi-trajectory modelling
Authors: Malhotra Chetna , Chaudhry Isha , Shah Shimoni Urvish , Østbye Truls , Malhotra Rahul 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Family caregivers of older adults with severe dementia have negative and positive experiences over the course of caregiving. We aimed to delineate joint trajectories (patterns over time) for negative and positive experiences, identify risk factors associated with membership of joint trajectories, and ascertain the association between joint trajectories and caregivers’ outcomes after the death of the older adult.

Methods
Two hundred fifteen family caregivers of older adults with severe dementia in Singapore were surveyed every 4 months for 2 years, and 6 months after the death of the older adult. Using group-based multi trajectory modelling, we delineated joint trajectories for positive (Gain in Alzheimer Care Instrument) and negative (sub-scales of modified Caregiver Reaction Assessment) experiences of caregiving.

Results
We identified four joint trajectories – “very high positive, low negative” (23% of caregivers), “high positive, moderate negative” (28%), “very high positive, moderate negative” (28%), and “high positive, high negative” (21%). Caregivers of older adults with more behavioural symptoms, and who did not receive strong emotional support from family were more likely to have “high positive, moderate negative” or “very high positive, moderate negative” trajectory. Compared to caregivers with “very high positive, low negative” trajectory, caregivers with “very high positive, moderate negative” or “high positive, high negative” trajectories expressed greater grief and distress, with the latter also having lower spiritual well-being and quality of life at 6 months after the death of the older adult.

Conclusion
The caregiving experiences for older adults with severe dementia vary between caregivers but remain stable over time. Modifiable risk factors identified for trajectories involving negative experiences of caregiving may be targeted in future interventions to improve the experience of caregiving and caregiver quality of life and distress after the death of the older adult.

Trial registration
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03382223).
A case report: new-onset nummular headache after stenting of the middle cerebral artery
Authors: Liu Yuanyuan , Chu Xuehong , Dong Xiao , Yu Erlan , Jia Xiaole , Wu Chuanjie , Ji Xunming 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Nummular headache (NH) is categorized as a primary headache in the International Classification of Headache Disorders, Third edition (ICHD-3) diagnostic criteria, but there are secondary etiologies as well. We present a case of secondary NH that associated with vascular lesion.

Case presentation
We report on a 40-year-old man with a medical history of symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis who developed a headache after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting because of Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis(ICAS). This new-onset headache was a pinprick headache confined to the parietal part of the head and 5 cm in size. This headache most closely resembled the phenotype of a NH. And other causes of secondary headache were excluded. Thus, the diagnosis of NH was highly speculated. This patient represents a rare headache phenomenon after intracranial arterial stent placement.

Conclusion
This is the first report of NH after stent placement treatment in a patient with ICAS.
Metabolic subtypes and immune landscapes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: prognostic implications and potential for personalized therapies
Authors: Yu Xiao-wan , She Pei-wei , Chen Fang-chuan , Chen Ya-yu , Zhou Shuang , Wang Xi-min , Lin Xiao-rong , Liu Qiao-ling , Huang Zhi-jun , Qiu Yu 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
This study aimed to identify metabolic subtypes in ESCA, explore their relationship with immune landscapes, and establish a metabolic index for accurate prognosis assessment.

Methods
Clinical, SNP, and RNA-seq data were collected from 80 ESCA patients from the TCGA database and RNA-seq data from the GSE19417 dataset. Metabolic genes associated with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were selected, and k-means clustering was performed. Immune-related pathways, immune infiltration, and response to immunotherapy were predicted using bioinformatic algorithms. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was conducted to identify metabolic genes associated with co-expression modules. Lastly, cell culture and functional analysis were performed using patient tissue samples and ESCA cell lines to verify the identified genes and their roles.

Results
Molecular subtypes were identified based on the expression profiles of metabolic genes, and univariate survival analysis revealed 163 metabolic genes associated with ESCA prognosis. Consensus clustering analysis classified ESCA samples into three distinct subtypes, with MC1 showing the poorest prognosis and MC3 having the best prognosis. The subtypes also exhibited significant differences in immune cell infiltration, with MC3 showing the highest scores. Additionally, the MC3 subtype demonstrated the poorest response to immunotherapy, while the MC1 subtype was the most sensitive. WGCNA analysis identified gene modules associated with the metabolic index, with SLC5A1, NT5DC4, and MTHFD2 emerging as prognostic markers. Gene and protein expression analysis validated the upregulation of MTHFD2 in ESCA. MTHFD2 promotes the progression of ESCA and may be a potential therapeutic target for ESCA.

Conclusion
The established metabolic index and identified metabolic genes offer potential for prognostic assessment and personalized therapeutic interventions for ESCA, underscoring the importance of targeting metabolism-immune interactions in ESCA. MTHFD2 promotes the progression of ESCA and may be a potential therapeutic target for ESCA.
Reliability and validity of the Chinese revised version of the pectus excavatum evaluation questionnaire in children with pectus excavatum
Authors: Wu Yujia , Zeng Qi , Peng Yaguang , Chen Chenghao , Zhang Na , Yu Jie 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Objective
This study aims to translate the Pectus Excavatum Evaluation Questionnaire(PEEQ) into Chinese, and to comprehensively assess subjective outcomes in quality of life of children with pectus excavatum.

Methods
The PEEQ was translated from English to Chinese as according to the PRO translation guidelines. Structural validity and reliability of the questionnaire were examined by validated factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient analysis respectively.

Results
The results of the validation factor analysis for the Chinese PEEQ parent’s and child’s questionnaires demonstrated that the fit indicators for each dimension met the required criteria. The overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of parent’s and child’s questionnaires were 0.840 and 0.854. Both the item-level content validity index (I-CVI) and scale-level content validity index (S-CVI) of each sub-questionnaire were 1.

Conclusion
The Chinese version of the PEEQ parent’s questionnaire is suitable as a proxy assessment for patients with PE, but the child’s questionnaire needs further adjustments.
A woman with schizophrenia who died due to Takotsubo cardiomyopathy occurring after electroconvulsive therapy
Authors: Muto Takahiro , Kyono Hotsumi 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe treatment for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. However, it has some side effects, and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is considered one of the minor complications. Several cases of patients developing Takotsubo cardiomyopathy during a course of ECT have been reported, but none have died. We present a case of post-ECT Takotsubo cardiomyopathy that became fatal.

Case presentation
We experienced a case of a 67-year-old woman who had delusions and catatonic symptoms due to schizophrenia but was resistant to several medications. Her symptoms improved by conducting ECT, but she had difficulty maintaining her improvement, which caused her to receive multiple courses of ECT. 3 weeks after her 6th course of ECT, the patient was diagnosed with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and had a fatal outcome.

Conclusion
Our patient had numerous cases of aspiration pneumonia and malnutrition before ECT was performed, which might have made this case fatal. In conclusion, appropriate supplementation of nutrition and reduction of physical stressors are important to avoid death from Takotsubo cardiomyopathy caused by ECT. Prescribing clozapine was a solution in the present case, but there are some difficulties, such as the restriction against prescribing this drug in Japan.
Assessment of the association between health problems and cooking fuel type, and barriers towards clean cooking among rural household people in Bangladesh
Authors: Rasel Sayed Mohammad , Siddique Abu Bakkar , Nayon Md. Fahad Shahariar , Suzon Md Shakil Mahmud , Amin Sanzida , Mim Sadia Sultana , Hossain Md. Shakhaoat 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
In low- and middle-income countries, households mainly use solid fuels like wood, charcoal, dung, agricultural residues, and coal for cooking. This poses significant public health concerns due to the emission of harmful particles and gases. To address these issues and support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopting cleaner cooking fuels like electricity and gas are acknowledged as a viable solution. However, access to these cleaner fuels is limited, especially in rural areas.

Methods
This study conducted a face-to-face survey with 1240 individuals in rural Bangladesh to explore the link between health issues and cooking fuel type, as well as barriers to transitioning to clean cooking. Using a convenient sampling technique across four divisions/regions, the survey gathered socio-demographic and health data, along with information on clean cooking barriers through a semi-structured questionnaire. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were then employed to identify significant associations between cooking fuel type and health problems.

Results
The study revealed that a majority of participants (73.3%) relied on solid fuel for cooking. The use of solid fuel was significantly correlated with factors such as lower education levels, reduced family income, location of residence, and the experience of health issues such as cough, chest pressure while breathing, eye discomfort, diabetes, asthma, and allergies. Economic challenges emerged as the foremost obstacle to the adoption of clean cooking, accompanied by other contributing factors.

Conclusion
The use of solid fuel in rural Bangladeshi households poses substantial health risks, correlating with respiratory, eye, cardiovascular, and metabolic issues. Lower education and income levels, along with specific residential locations, were associated with higher solid fuel usage. Economic challenges emerged as the primary obstacle to adopting clean cooking practices. These findings emphasize the need for implementing strategies to promote clean cooking, address barriers, and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal targets for health and sustainable energy access in Bangladesh.
Improving cancer incidence evaluation through local government area matching: a study of the Edo-Benin cancer registry in Nigeria
Authors: Oko-oboh Gregrey A. , Auvinen Anssi , Obaseki Darlington E. , Pitkäniemi Janne 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Cancer registries in Nigeria, as well as in other sub-Saharan African countries, face challenges in adhering to international cancer registration standards. We aimed to improve cancer incidence estimation by identifying under-reporting of new cancers through matching patient-reported local government areas (LGAs) in Edo state, Nigeria, to their respective catchment populations.

Methods
Information on cancers was obtained from records of hospitals, medical clinics, pathology laboratories, and death certificates according to IARC guidelines. We utilized normalized scores to establish consistency in the number of cancers by calendar time, and standardized incidence ratios (SIR) to assess the variation in cancer incidence across LGAs compared to Edo state average. Subsequently, we estimated sex- and site-specific annual incidence using the average number of cancers from 2016 to 2018 and the predicted mid-year population in three LGAs. Age-standardization was performed using the direct method with the World Standard Population of 1966.

Results
The number of incident cancers consistent between 2016–2018 in Egor, Oredo, and Uhunmwonde showed a significantly increased SIR. From 2016 to 2018 in these three LGAs, 1,045 new cancers were reported, with 453 (42.4%) in males and 592 (57.6%) in females. The average annual age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) was 50.6 (95% CI: 45.2 – 56.6) per 105. In men, the highest incidence was prostate cancer (ASR: 22.4 per 105), and in women, it was breast cancer (ASR: 16.5 per 105), and cervical cancer (ASR: 12.0 per 105). Microscopically verified cancers accounted for 98.1%.

Conclusions
We found lower age-standardized incidence rates than those reported earlier for the Edo state population. Collecting information on the local government areas of the cancers allows better matching with the respective target population. We recommend using LGA information to improve the evaluation of population-based cancer incidence in sub-Saharan countries.
Punicalagin, a pomegranate polyphenol sensitizes the activity of antibiotics against three MDR pathogens of the Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Kiran Saba , Tariq Anam , Iqbal Shoaib , Naseem Zubera , Siddique Waqar , Jabeen Sobia , Bashir Rizwan , Hussain Ashfaq , Rahman Moazur , Habib Fazal-e , Rauf Waqar , Ali Aamir , Sarwar Yasra , Jander Georg , Iqbal Mazhar 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackgroundMultidrug resistance (MDR) in the familyEnterobacteriaceaeis a perniciously increasing threat to global health security. The discovery of new antimicrobials having the reversing drug resistance potential may contribute to augment and revive the antibiotic arsenal in hand. This study aimed to explore the anti-Enterobacteriaceaecapability of bioactive polyphenols fromPunica granatum(P. granatum) and their co-action with antibiotics against clinical isolates ofEnterobacteriaceaepredominantly prevalent in South Asian countries.MethodsThe KandhariP. granatum(Pakistani origin) extracts were tested for anti-Enterobacteriaceaeactivity by agar well diffusion assay against MDRSalmonella entericaserovar Typhi,serovar Typhimurium andEscherichia coli. Predominant compounds of active extract were determined by mass spectrometry and screened for bioactivity by agar well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay. The active punicalagin was further evaluated at sub-inhibitory concentrations (SICs) for coactivity with nine conventional antimicrobials using a disc diffusion assay followed by time-kill experiments that proceeded with SICs of punicalagin and antimicrobials.ResultsAmong allP. granatumcrude extracts, pomegranate peel methanol extract showed the largest inhibition zones of 25, 22 and 19 mm, and the MICs as 3.9, 7.8 and 7.8 mg/mL forS. typhi, S. typhimurium andE. coli,respectively. Punicalagin and ellagic acid were determined as predominant compounds by mass spectrometry. In plate assay, punicalagin (10 mg/mL) was active with hazy inhibition zones of 17, 14, and 13 mm againstS. typhi, S. typhimurium andE. coli,respectively. However, in broth dilution assay punicalagin showed no MIC up to 10 mg/mL. The SICs 30 μg, 100 μg, and 500 μg of punicalagin combined with antimicrobials i.e., aminoglycoside,β-lactam, and fluoroquinolone act in synergy against MDR strains with % increase in inhibition zone values varying from 3.4 ± 2.7% to 73.8 ± 8.4%. In time-kill curves, a significant decrease in cell density was observed with the SICs of antimicrobials/punicalagin (0.03–60 μg/mL/30, 100, 500 μg/mL of punicalagin) combinations.ConclusionsTheP. granatumpeel methanol extract exhibited antimicrobial activity against MDREnterobacteriaceaepathogens. Punicalagin, the bacteriostatic flavonoid act as a concentration-dependent sensitizing agent for antimicrobials againstEnterobacteriaceae. Our findings for the therapeutic punicalagin-antimicrobial combination prompt further evaluation of punicalagin as a potent activator for drugs, which otherwise remain less or inactive against MDR strains.