bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sodium salicylate ameliorates exercise-induced muscle damage in mice by inhibiting NF-kB signaling
Authors: Wang Yiming , Sun Yuning , Yang Chunhui , Han Bing , Wang Sining 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
Eccentric muscle contraction can cause muscle damage, which reduces the efficiency of exercise. Previous evidence suggested that Sodium salicylate (SS) could improve the repair of aged muscle. This study intends to investigate whether SS can impact skeletal muscle damage caused by eccentric exercise.

Methods
Eccentric treadmill exercise was performed to induce muscle damage in mice. Plasma levels of muscle damage markers were estimated. RT-qPCR was employed for detecting mRNA levels of proinflammatory mediators in murine gastrocnemius muscle. Immunofluorescence staining of laminin/DAPI was utilized for quantifying centrally nucleated myofibers in the gastrocnemius muscle. Western blotting was implemented to examine protein levels of mitsugumin 53 (MG53), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/9, and NF-κB signaling-related markers.

Results
SS administration reduced muscle damage marker production in the plasma and decreased the levels of proinflammatory mediators, MG53 and MMP-2/9 in mice after exercise. SS alleviated the severity of muscle damage in the gastrocnemius of mice after eccentric exercise. SS blocked NF-κB signaling pathway in the gastrocnemius muscle.

Conclusion
SS administration ameliorates skeletal muscle damage caused by eccentric exercise in the mouse model.
Ferroptosis in cardiovascular diseases: role and mechanism
Authors: Zhang Qi , Luo Yuhao , Peng Lin , Rong Xi , Liu Yingxue , Li Jiafu , Luo Jing 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIn multicellular organisms, regulatory cell death is a crucial aspect of growth and development. Ferroptosis, which was postulated roughly ten years ago, is a mode of cell death that differs from apoptosis, autophagy, and pyrodeath. This distinct pattern of cell death is triggered by an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants and strongly associated with the metabolism of iron, lipids, amino acids, and glutathione. A growing body of research has implicated ferroptosis in the incidence and progression of many organ traumas and degenerative diseases. Recently, ferroptosis has gained attention as a crucial regulatory mechanism underlying the initiation and development of a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, chemotherapy, and Corona Virus-2-induced cardiac injury. Pharmacological therapies that inhibit ferroptosis have great potential for the management of cardiovascular disorders. This review discusses the prevalence and regulatory mechanisms of ferroptosis, effect of ferroptosis on the immune system, significance of ferroptosis in cardiovascular diseases, and potential therapeutic value of regulating ferroptosis in a variety of heart diseases.
Investigating performance metrics for container-based HPC environments using x86 and OpenPOWER systems
Authors: Kuity Animesh , Peddoju Sateesh K. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractContainer-based High-Performance Computing (HPC) is changing the way computation is performed and reproduced without sacrificing the raw performance compared to hypervisor-assisted virtualization technologies. It primarily supports continuously evolving data-intensive applications such as computational fluid dynamics, seismic tomography, molecular biology, and Proteomics. OpenPOWER systems, unlike the x86 systems, use the POWER-compliant processor to exploit instruction-level and thread-level parallelism heavily. In our previous work, we designed and developed a Containerized HPC environment (cHPCe) from the scratch using Linux namespaces on OpenPOWER systems. This paper aims to provide an in-depth performance analysis of the Containerized HPC environment using x86 systems and Containerized HPC environment using the OpenPOWER system, on systems’ subcomponents, processor, memory, interconnect, and IO. This sub-component analysis provides an insight on several aspects of the system performance. To the best of our knowledge, no research has been reported yet for such a comparative analysis that designs cHPCe for both x86 and OpenPOWER systems. The performance of the developed cHPCe is compared with BareMetals, and VMs using the benchmarks HPCC, and IOZone. Our experimental results achieve 0.13% less compute performance penalty at its peak performance on cHPCe compared to the BareMetal-based solution for x86 systems. In contrast, a VM-based solution introduces an overhead of 20% and 4.83% in x86 and OpenPOWER cases, respectively. Moreover, the x86 and OpenPOWER systems observe inconsistent behavior for memory performance with a worst-case penalty of 9.68% and 6.64% compared to achieved peak performance, respectively. However, similar behavior is reported for cHPCe with an overhead of less than 3% and 2% in the worst case for the latency and bandwidth, respectively, compared to the BareMetal for network and disk performance. Our experimental results reveal that the containerized OpenPOWER environment represents a viable alternative to the counterpart x86 environment for the HPC solution.
Youth perception of difficulty accessing cannabis following cannabis legalization and during the early and ongoing stages of the COVID-19 pandemic: repeat cross-sectional and longitudinal data from the COMPASS study
Authors: Leatherdale Scott T. , Amores Angelica , Bélanger Richard E. , Battista Kate , Patte Karen A. , Jiang Ying 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
Very little research has examined how perceptions of cannabis access among underage youth in Canada have changed since cannabis was legalized and since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, this paper examines the effect of the early and ongoing stages of the COVID-19 pandemic period on youth perceptions of cannabis access over time since the onset of the Cannabis Act in 2018 in a large sample of Canadian youth.

Methods
Using data from the COMPASS study (T1:2018/19, T2:2019/20, T3:2020/21), we used both repeat cross-sectional data [T1 (n = 38,890), T2 (n = 24,109), and T3 (n = 22,795)] to examine overall trends in perceptions of cannabis access, and sequential cohort longitudinal data [n = 4,677 students linked from T1 to T3] to examine the differential changes in perceptions of cannabis access among students over time.

Results
In the cross-sectional sample, the frequency of students reporting that cannabis was easy to access decreased by 26.7% from T1 (51.0%) to T3 (37.4%), although respondents who have used cannabis were more likely to report access was easy. In the longitudinal sample, perceptions of cannabis access being easy increased over time, especially among cannabis users. Perceived ease of access appears to have been slightly impeded during the initial pandemic period but rebounded during the ongoing pandemic period.

Conclusions
While the prevalence of youth reporting that cannabis is easy to access has declined since legalization and throughout the early and ongoing pandemic periods, a substantial number of underage youth continue to report that cannabis is easy to access. This suggest that there is an ongoing need for continued cannabis control efforts to address this issue.
Analyzing development finance flows in the Western Balkans’ energy sector: a 2008–2020 perspective
Authors: Causevic Amar , Macura Biljana , Haque Nabil , Solujic Sasa , Ploskić Adnan 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
Development finance is vital for low- and middle-income countries to enhance their sustainability agendas, as it provides essential funding necessary to close domestic financing gaps, including in the energy sector. Coal is still a vital power source for the energy sectors in the Western Balkans (i.e., Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia). The energy sector is a critical component in the five countries’ pursuit to decarbonize (i.e., follow the net zero pathways) due to its central role as a primary contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and a critical enabler of sustainability transition. This article presents a mapping exercise of development finance for five Western Balkan countries’ energy sectors. The study conducted a scoping literature review and detailed analysis of the five countries’ energy sector-related development finance flows from 2008 to 2020. This aimed to provide insights into the development finance flows for renewable and non-renewable energy sources in five Western Balkan countries.

Results
The scoping literature review indicated a significant gap in knowledge about the effects and effectiveness of development finance in the Western Balkans. Data analysis identified US$3.2 billion in energy development finance in the examined countries. The disbursement ratios were above the global average of 63%. Serbia received the highest proportion of the total funding, while Montenegro obtained the highest funding per capita. The data analysis did not establish a connection between adopting the Paris Agreement in 2016 and increasing development finance flows for renewable energy projects. Around one-third of the disbursed development finance was invested in projects for energy supply using non-renewable sources. Official Development Aid loans represented 37% (US$1.2 billion) of the total funding, contributing to the increase in indebtedness in the five countries. European-based bilateral and multilateral development finance providers were the most important actors in the five examined countries.

Conclusions
The amount of the disbursed development finance was insufficient to cover a significant percentage of the needs of the surveyed countries. Although carbon-intensive energy infrastructure received considerable funding, the total amount of disbursed energy development finance ranged between 0.15 and 0.62% of the average gross domestic product for the analyzed countries during the study period. Based on the research findings, we recommend that development finance providers and recipient countries pay greater attention to planning for strategic funding disbursement.
Factors assessed in the first year of a longitudinal study predict subsequent study visit compliance: the TEDDY study
Authors: Melin Jessica , Lynch Kristian F. , Lundgren Markus , Aronsson Carin Andrén , Larsson Helena Elding , Johnson Suzanne Bennett 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
Compliance with a study protocol is central to meeting its research goals. In longitudinal research studies, data loss due to missed visits limit statistical power and introduce bias. The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) study is a longitudinal multinational (US, Finland, Germany, and Sweden) investigation of children at risk for type 1 diabetes (T1D) that seeks to identify the environmental triggers of islet autoimmunity and T1D. The purpose of the current study was to identify sociodemographic variables and maternal characteristics assessed in the first year of TEDDY that were associated with study visit compliance in the subsequent 3 years.

Methods
Sociodemographic variables, maternal life-style behaviors, post-partum depression, maternal reactions to the child’s T1D risk, and study-related variables were collected at child-age 6 months and 15 months. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the association of these variables to study visit compliance in the subsequent 3 years.

Results
Study visit compliance was highest in Sweden (p > 0.001), in children who were their mother’s first child (p > 0.001), and whose mothers were older (p > 0.001) and more satisfied with the TEDDY study (p > 0.001). Father participation was also associated with better study visit compliance (p > 0.001). In contrast, children whose mothers smoked (p > 0.001), suffered from post-partum depression (p = 0.034), and were more anxious about their child’s T1D risk (p = 0.002), completed fewer visits. Father’s study satisfaction was also associated with study visit compliance (p = 0.029); however, it was not significant in models that included maternal study satisfaction.

Conclusions
Sociodemographic variables, maternal characteristics—including study satisfaction—and fathers’ participation in the first year of a longitudinal study were associated with subsequent study visit compliance in a sample of children genetically at-risk for T1D followed for 4 years. This information can inform future strategies designed to improve study visit compliance in longitudinal pediatric studies.
Trial registration: NCT00279318, 06/09/2004.
Recent progress of exciton transport in two-dimensional semiconductors
Authors: Lee Hyeongwoo , Kim Yong Bin , Ryu Jae Won , Kim Sujeong , Bae Jinhyuk , Koo Yeonjeong , Jang Donghoon , Park Kyoung-Duck 
Published: December 2023

AbstractSpatial manipulation of excitonic quasiparticles, such as neutral excitons, charged excitons, and interlayer excitons, in two-dimensional semiconductors offers unique capabilities for a broad range of optoelectronic applications, encompassing photovoltaics, exciton-integrated circuits, and quantum light-emitting systems. Nonetheless, their practical implementation is significantly restricted by the absence of electrical controllability for neutral excitons, short lifetime of charged excitons, and low exciton funneling efficiency at room temperature, which remain a challenge in exciton transport. In this comprehensive review, we present the latest advancements in controlling exciton currents by harnessing the advanced techniques and the unique properties of various excitonic quasiparticles. We primarily focus on four distinct control parameters inducing the exciton current: electric fields, strain gradients, surface plasmon polaritons, and photonic cavities. For each approach, the underlying principles are introduced in conjunction with its progression through recent studies, gradually expanding their accessibility, efficiency, and functionality. Finally, we outline the prevailing challenges to fully harness the potential of excitonic quasiparticles and implement practical exciton-based optoelectronic devices.
Regional lymph node density-based nomogram predicts prognosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients without distant metastases
Authors: Ma Jie , Zhao Rong , Wu Yu-Lan , Liu Yang , Jin Guan-Qiao , Su Dan-Ke 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a relatively common type of cancer in Southern China, with local recurrence or distant metastases even after radical treatment; consequently, it is critical to identify the patients at higher risk for these events beforehand. This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of regional lymph node density (RLND) associated nomograms in NPC and to evaluate the utility of nomograms in risk stratification.

Methods
A total of 610 NPC patients without distant metastases (425 in the training and 185 in the validation cohort) were enrolled. The MRI-identified nodal features and clinical characteristics were documented, and the RLND was calculated. Cox analyses were conducted to identify prognostic-associated factors. Nomograms were generated based on the multivariate analysis results. The predictive accuracy and discriminative ability of the nomogram models were determined using the concordance index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and calibration curve; the results were compared with those of the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) classification. Decision curve analysis (DCA) and C-index were used to assess the prognostic effect and added discriminative ability of RLND. We also estimated the optimal RLND-based nomogram score cut-off values for survival prediction.

Results
RLND was an independent predictor of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), with hazard ratios of 1.36 and 1.30, respectively. RLND was utilized in the construction of nomograms, alongside other independent prognostic factors. The RLND-based nomogram models presented a more effective discriminative ability than the TNM classification for predicting OS (C-index, 0.711 vs. 0.680) and DFS (C-index, 0.681 vs. 0.669), with favorable calibration and consistency. The comparison of C-index values between the nomogram models with and without RLND provided substantiation of the crucial role RLND plays in these models. DCA confirmed the satisfactory clinical practicability of RLND. Moreover, the nomograms were used to categorize the patients into three groups (high-, middle-, and low-risk), and the Kaplan–Meier curves showed significant differences in prognosis between them (p < 0.05). These results were verified in the validation cohort.

Conclusion
RLND stands as a robust prognostic factor in NPC. The RLND-based nomograms excel in predicting survival, surpassing the TNM classification.
Prediction of malaria positivity using patients’ demographic and environmental features and clinical symptoms to complement parasitological confirmation before treatment
Authors: Ojurongbe Taiwo Adetola , Afolabi Habeeb Abiodun , Bashiru Kehinde Adekunle , Sule Waidi Folorunso , Akinde Sunday Babatunde , Ojurongbe Olusola , Adegoke Nurudeen A. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
Current malaria diagnosis methods that rely on microscopy and Histidine Rich Protein-2 (HRP2)-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) have drawbacks that necessitate the development of improved and complementary malaria diagnostic methods to overcome some or all these limitations. Consequently, the addition of automated detection and classification of malaria using laboratory methods can provide patients with more accurate and faster diagnosis. Therefore, this study used a machine-learning model to predict Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) antigen positivity (presence of malaria) based on sociodemographic behaviour, environment, and clinical features.

Method
Data from 200 Nigerian patients were used to develop predictive models using nested cross-validation and sequential backward feature selection (SBFS), with 80% of the dataset randomly selected for training and optimisation and the remaining 20% for testing the models. Outcomes were classified as Pf-positive or Pf-negative, corresponding to the presence or absence of malaria, respectively.

Results
Among the three machine learning models examined, the penalised logistic regression model had the best area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the training set (AUC = 84%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 75–93%) and test set (AUC = 83%; 95% CI: 63–100%). Increased odds of malaria were associated with higher body weight (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.50, 95% CI: 2.27 to 8.01, p < 0.0001). Even though the association between the odds of having malaria and body temperature was not significant, patients with high body temperature had higher odds of testing positive for the Pf antigen than those who did not have high body temperature (AOR = 1.40, 95% CI: 0.99 to 1.91, p = 0.068). In addition, patients who had bushes in their surroundings (AOR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.30 to 4.66, p = 0.006) or experienced fever (AOR = 2.10, 95% CI: 0.88 to 4.24, p = 0.099), headache (AOR = 2.07; 95% CI: 0.95 to 3.95, p = 0.068), muscle pain (AOR = 1.49; 95% CI: 0.66 to 3.39, p = 0.333), and vomiting (AOR = 2.32; 95% CI: 0.85 to 6.82, p = 0.097) were more likely to experience malaria. In contrast, decreased odds of malaria were associated with age (AOR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.41 to 0.90, p = 0.012) and BMI (AOR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.26 to 0.80, p = 0.006).

Conclusion
Newly developed routinely collected baseline sociodemographic, environmental, and clinical features to predict Pf antigen positivity may be a valuable tool for clinical decision-making.
Language teacher psychological well-being: an insight into the impacts of emotion regulation, reflective teaching, self-efficacy, and identity in an EFL context
Authors: Ismail Sayed M. , Patra Indrajit , Yang HeXu , Ajanil Bemnet 
Published: December 2023

AbstractTeachers' psychological wellbeing is defined as their evaluation and contentment with their own fulfillment, wellness, and profession as a concept best observable in positive psychology. Therefore, the psychological well-being of teachers is intertwined with a variety of other concepts. In the past, investigations mirrored that emotional regulation, reflective teaching, self-efficacy, and identity play important roles in the psychological and mental health of language instructors. Despite the enormous impact they play, there has never been any study that specifically investigated the contribution of emotion regulation, reflective teaching, self-efficacy, or identity to the psychological well-being of language teachers. As a result, the purpose of this sturdy was to provide emphasis on the aforementioned interpersonal dynamics within an EFL context. The Language Teacher Emotion Regulation Inventory, the English Language Teacher Reflective Inventory, the Teachers' Sense of Efficacy Scale, the Professional Identity Scale, and the Psychological Well-Being at Work were all part of an online survey that 433 EFL teachers from China responded to. The data analysis conducted with Structural Equation Modeling as well as Confirmatory Factor Analysis via LISREL 8.80 suggested that the status of language instructors' emotion control, reflective teaching, self-efficacy, and identity may be expected to be a significant indicator for their psychological well-being. This was shown to be the case after they were subjected to a questionnaire. The results highlight the need of adding reflective practices, skills for emotional management, self-efficacy beliefs, and identity reconstruction within the curriculum of teacher training programs.
The validity and reliability of Indonesian version of atrial fibrillation effect on quality of life (AFEQT) questionnaire for atrial fibrillation patients
Authors: Zulmiyusrini Putri , Yamin Muhammad , Muhadi Muhadi , Kurniawan Juferdy , Salim Simon 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
More than 60% of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have a significant health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impairment. HRQoL, a patient-reported outcome (PRO), has become an important endpoint to assess treatment success in AF patients. The Atrial Fibrillation Effect on Quality of Life (AFEQT) questionnaire is an AF-specific HRQoL tool shown to be feasible, reliable, and valid, with translations in various languages. Since this questionnaire has never been translated or validated in Indonesian, we aimed to determine the validity and reliability of the Indonesian version of the AFEQT questionnaire for AF patients.

Results
This cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in the Integrated Cardiovascular Service Polyclinic, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Indonesia, from December 2021 to March 2022. A total of 30 participants were recruited for cross-cultural adaptation process, which consisted of translation and adaptation process, and a total of 102 participants were consecutively recruited to participate in the validation process, which consisted of validity test (construct validity) and reliability tests (internal consistency and test-retest). The retest was conducted within a 1–2-week interval after the baseline assessment, by analyzing the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The construct validity was determined by multitrait scaling analysis, and the convergent and divergent validity was compared to SF-36 domains. Multitrait scaling analysis revealed that all items in the Indonesian version of the AFEQT questionnaire had a strong negative correlation towards their respective domains (r -0.639–-0.960). For convergent and divergent validity, AFEQT domains had weak to strong positive correlations to all SF-36 domains (r 0.338–0.693). This questionnaire also had acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α for overall score: 0.947; Domains: Symptoms: 0.818, Daily Activities: 0.943, Treatment Concern: 0.894, and Treatment Satisfaction: 0.865), as well as moderate-to-good test-retest reliability (0.521–0.828).

Conclusions
The Indonesian version of the AFEQT questionnaire has good validity and reliability for assessing quality of life of atrial fibrillation patients in Indonesia.