bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multidimensional characteristics of musculoskeletal pain and risk of hip fractures among elderly adults: The first longitudinal evidence from CHARLS
Authors: Mei Fengyao , Li Jiao Jiao , Lin Jianhao , Xing Dan , Dong Shengjie 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background
Hip fractures are a major public health concern among middle-aged and older adults. It is important to understand the associated risk factors to inform health policies and develop better prevention strategies. Musculoskeletal pain is a possible implicating factor, being associated with physical inactivity and risk of falls. However, the association between musculoskeletal pain and hip fractures has not been clearly investigated.
Methods
A nationally representative sample of the Chinese population was obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The study collected patient information on their demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, other health-related behavior, and history of musculoskeletal pain and hip fractures. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to investigate the factors influencing the risk of hip fracture, including factors related to the individual and to musculoskeletal pain. P for trend test was performed to assess the trend of each continuous variable.
Results
Among the 18,813 respondents, a total of 215 individuals reported that they have experienced a hip fracture. An increased risk of hip fracture was associated with the presence of waist pain and leg pain (P < 0.05), as well as with an increased number of musculoskeletal pain sites (P < 0.05). For individuals aged 65 and above, a significant association was found between age and the risk of hip fracture (P < 0.05). Furthermore, respondents with lower education level had a higher risk of hip fracture compared to those with higher education levels (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
In the Chinese population, the risk of hip fracture was found to be associated with both the location and extent of musculoskeletal pain, as well as with other factors such as age and demographic characteristics. The findings of this study may be useful for informing policy development and treatment strategies, and provide evidence for comparison with data from other demographic populations.
Under-nutrition in children under-five in Ethiopia: A hierarchical analysis
Authors: Gagabo Sisay Yohannes , Kuse Kenenisa Abdisa 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
In most developing nations, under-nutrition is a serious public health issue that disproportionately affects young children under the age of five. Ethiopia has one of the worst rates of stunting, wasting, and underweight. The current study sought to determine the prevalence of under-nutrition indicators and the factors that contribute to them in Ethiopian children under the age of five.
Methods
The 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey provided the data for the study. In the final analysis, a weighted sample of 7960 children under five was used. The indices of under-nutrition (stunting, wasting, and underweight) in Ethiopia were examined using multilevel binary logistic regression analysis. To quantify under-nutrition indicator variation between and within areas of Ethiopia, the data were fitted to the multilevel random coefficient model.
Results
The percentage of children that were stunted, wasted, and underweight was 36.6%, 12.2%, and 25.2%, respectively. Across the Ethiopian clusters, there were notable malnutrition variances. Stunting, wasting, and underweight were statistically significantly predicted by a child's age (measured in months), type of toilet facility, type of cooking fuels, number of under-five children in the household, wealth index of mothers, sex of the child, duration of breastfeeding, mother's educational level, region of residence, place of residence, zone, source of drinking water, father's educational level, and mother's BMI. But a key factor in determining stunting and wasting was the birth gap before (in months).
Conclusions
The current investigation discovered strong evidence of nutritional status variations within and between zonal clusters. The variation seen within regions was far greater than the variation found across Ethiopia's regions. Finally, it was discovered that under-five malnutrition contributes to a number of public health issues in the lower part of the nation, particularly regionally.
Designing of a Dual-Degree-of-Freedom Passive Ankle Exoskeleton
Authors: Zhu Haoran , Yin Huijun , Liu Chenglin 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
The current passive spring-actuated ankle-foot exoskeleton draws inspiration from the muscle-tendon unit. However, it still faces challenges such as operational noise, reliability and overbinding due to the lack of freedom. This study presents a novel passive powered clutch-spring design, where disengagement is achieved through cable length control via a pre-tensioning mechanism. The exoskeleton features two rotational degrees of freedom in the sagittal and coronal planes, enabling ankle inversion and eversion. The efficacy of the exoskeleton was evaluated by analyzing lower limb joint angles, joint moment, and calf muscle activation during walking. Preliminary findings suggest that this exoskeleton can offer up to 25% of the natural ankle joint moment, assisting in reducing joint moments and calf muscle activation during walking. These results highlight the potential of this ankle-foot exoskeleton for enhancing daily human activities.
Use of botanical extracts and bacterial inoculants for the suppression of Alternaria solani causing Early Blight disease in Tomato
Authors: Hyder Sajjad , Gondal Amjad Shahzad , Khan Aimen Razzaq , Riaz Nadia , Rizvi Zarrin Fatima , Iqbal Rashid , Elshikh Mohamed Soliman , Malik Tabarak , Ali Iftikhar 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Early blight-EB, caused by Alternaria solani, is a serious problem in tomato production. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria promote plant growth and inhibit plant disease. The present study explored the bio-efficacy of antagonistic rhizobacterial isolates and ginger powder extract against tomato EB disease, singly and in combination. Six fungal isolates from symptomatic tomato plants were identified as A. solani on the basis of morphological features i.e., horizontal septation (6.96 to 7.93 µm), vertical septation (1.50 to 2.22 µm), conidia length (174.2 to 187.6 µm), conidial width (14.09 to 16.52 µm), beak length (93.06 to 102.26 µm), and sporulation. Five of the twenty-three bacterial isolates recovered from tomato rhizosphere soil were nonpathogenic to tomato seedlings and were compatible with each other and with ginger powder extracts. Out of five isolates tested individually, three isolates (St-149D, Hyd-13Z, and Gb-T23) showed maximum inhibition (56.3%, 48.3%, and 42.0% respectively) against mycelial growth inhibition of A. solani. Among combinations, St-149D + ginger powder extract (GPE) had the highest mycelial growth inhibition (76.9%) over the untreated control. Bacterial strains molecularly characterized as Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus cereus and were further tested in pot trials through seed bacterization for disease control. Seeds treated with bacterial consortia + ginger plant extract-GPE had the highest disease suppression percentage (78.1%), followed by St-149D + GPE (72.2%) and Hyd-13Z + GPE (67.5%). Maximum seed germination was obtained in the bacterial consortia + GPE (95.0 ± 2.04) followed by St-149D + GPE (92.5 ± 1.44) and Hyd-13Z + GPE (90.0 ± 2.04) over control (73.8 ± 2.39) and chemical control as standard treatment (90.0 ± 2). Ginger powder extracts also induce the activation of defence-related enzymes (TPC, PO, PPO, PAL, and CAT) activity in tomato plants. These were highly significant in the testing bacterial inoculants against A. solani infection in tomato crops.
Elevated Serum Soluble Trigger Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cell-1 Levels in Placenta Accreta Spectrum Pregnancies
Authors: Energin Hasan , demir emine turen , kilic fatma , kurban sevil 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to examine the association between soluble trigger receptor expressed on myeloid cell-1 (sTREM-1) levels and placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) pregnancies.
Methods: A prospective case-control study was designed for this study. The study group included PAS pregnancies, and the control group had healthy singleton pregnancies. The control group consisted of healthy women with singleton pregnancies who had the same gestational age and body mass index (BMI) as the study group. Women with PAS were invited to participate in the study if they had no known systemic diseases (e.g., chronic hypertension, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and chronic renal–liver diseases), autoimmune disorders, multiple pregnancies, or fetal structural and chromosomal anomalies. They also did not have pregnancy cholestasis, preterm delivery, or chronic and active infection indications. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was used to measure the sTREM-1 level.
Results: This study was conducted in the obstetrics department of a university hospital between November 2021 and January 2023. Thirty surgically and pathologically confirmed PAS pregnancies were included in the study group, and thirty healthy pregnancies were included in the control group. The plasma sTREM-1 level was significantly higher in the PAS pregnancy group than in the control group (p < 0.05). The mean sTREM-1 level in the PAS pregnancy group was 121.8 + 26.02 and 94.3 + 16.9 pg/mL in the control group.
Conclusion: Our study showed that patients with PAS pregnancies had significantly higher serum sTREM-1 levels than those with healthy pregnancies. These findings provide novel insight into the potential pathophysiological processes underlying PAS disorders.
Drought vulnerability assessment and its severe impact on crop production and livelihood of people: An empirical analysis of Barind Tract
Authors: Tahasin Anika , Haydar Mafrid , Hossen Md. Sabbir , Sadia Halima 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
North-Western section of Bangladesh is experiencing a protracted decrease in precipitation, irregular rainfall, and the depletion of ground water, which results in water scarcity and extreme dry weather that impedes the production of agricultural commodities and threatens the people's way of life. Analyzing the precipitation deficit and ground water deficit, the vegetation cover, temperature condition, and the condition of the vegetation is a crucial component of drought vulnerability assessment. Rajshahi zilla, a region of Bangladesh located in the middle of the Barind tract, is experiencing a severe water shortage. The irregular rainfall, decrease in rainfall, prolonged absence of rainfall and ground water depletion results in drought. The study aims to access the vulnerability of drought through analysis of the precipitation rate and ground water depletion level and temperature condition, vegetation condition and the vegetative droughts to find out the severe condition of droughts and the severe effects of this in the livelihoods of the farmers and their crop production practices. In this case the study aims determine NDVI, NDWI, NDMI, VCI, TCI, and VHI. By conducting few questionnaire surveys and Focus Group Discussion the present situation of crop production and the livelihoods of the people has been analyzed. After analyzing data, it has been found that Rajshahi is facing a critical problem of drought that tends to water scarcity problem which has severe effect on agricultural production and livelihoods.
Associations of Wnt5a expression with liver injury in chronic hepatitis B virus infection
Authors: Ji Xiang-Fen , Zhou Qi , Wang Jing-Wei , Sun Fei , Gao Shuai , Wang Kai 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background
Aberrant Wnt5a expression contributes to immunity, inflammation and tissue damage. However, it remains unknown whether Wnt5a is associated with liver injury in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
Methods
Wnt5a mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analyzed in 31 acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF) patients, 82 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, and 20 healthy controls using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Intrahepatic Wnt5a protein expression from 32 chronic HBV infection patients and 6 normal controls was evaluated by immunohistochemistry staining.
Results
Wnt5a mRNA expression was increased in CHB patients and ACHBLF patients compared to that in healthy controls and were positively correlated with liver injury markers and the HBV DNA load. Furthermore, intrahepatic Wnt5a protein expression was elevated in chronic HBV infection patients compared to that in normal controls. Moreover, chronic HBV infection patients with higher hepatic inflammatory grades had increased intrahepatic Wnt5a protein expression than those with lower hepatic inflammatory grades. In addition, the cut off value of 12.59 for Wnt5a mRNA level was a strong indicator for identifying ACHBLF from CHB.
Conclusions
We indicated that Wnt5a expression was associated with liver injury in chronic HBV infection patients. Wnt5a might be involved in the exacerbation of chronic HBV infection procedure.
Pre-hospital ECPR in an Australian Metropolitan setting: A single-arm feasibility assessment. The CPR, pre-Hospital ECPR and Early Reperfusion (CHEER3) study
Authors: Richardson Alexander Sacha 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Survival from refractory out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) without timely return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) utilising conventional advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) therapies is dismal. CHEER3 was a safety and feasibility study of pre-hospital deployed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for refractory OHCA in metropolitan Australia. Methods This was a single jurisdiction, single-arm feasibility study. Physicians, with pre-existing ECMO expertise, responded to witnessed OHCA, age < 65 yrs, within 30 minutes driving-time, using an ECMO equipped rapid response vehicle. If pre-hospital ECPR was undertaken, patients were transported to hospital for investigations and therapies including emergent coronary catheterisation, and standard intensive care (ICU) therapy until either cardiac and neurological recovery or palliation occurred. Analyses were descriptive. Results From February 2020 to May 2023, over 117 days, the team responded to 709 “potential cardiac arrest” emergency calls. 358 were confirmed OHCA. Time from emergency call to scene arrival was 27 minutes (15–37 minutes). 10 patients fulfilled the pre-defined inclusion criteria and all were successfully cannulated on scene. Time from emergency call to ECMO initiation was 50 minutes (35–62 minutes). Time from decision to ECMO support was 16 minutes (11–26 minutes). CPR duration was 46 minutes (32–62 minutes). All 10 patients were transferred to hospital for investigations and therapy. 4 patients (40%) survived to hospital discharge neurologically intact (CPC 1/2). Conclusion Pre-hospital ECPR was feasible, using an experienced ECMO team from a single-centre. Overall survival was promising in this highly selected group. Further prospective studies are now warranted.
Development and validation of a long-read metabarcoding platform for the detection of filarial worm pathogens infecting animals and humans
Authors: Huggins Lucas George , Atapattu Ushani , Young Neil D. , Traub Rebecca J. , Colella Vito 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background: Filarial worms are important vector-borne pathogens of a large range of mammalian hosts, including humans and are responsible for some of the most pervasive, and pernicious diseases within the tropics. In humans, lymphatic filariasis caused by Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia spp., as well as loiasis caused by Loa loa are all categorized as neglected tropical diseases. Moreover, some emerging or difficult-to-eliminate filarioid pathogens are zoonotic using animals like canines as reservoir hosts, for example Dirofilaria sp. ‘hongkongensis’. Diagnosis of filariasis through commonly available methods, like microscopy, can be challenging as microfilaremia may wane below the limit of detection. In contrast, conventional PCR methods are more sensitive and specific but may show limited ability to detect coinfections as well as emerging and/or novel pathogens. Use of deep-sequencing technologies obviate these challenges, providing sensitive detection of entire parasite communities, whilst also being better suited for the characterisation of rare or novel pathogens.
Methods: Here we present a novel long-read metabarcoding assay for deep-sequencing the filarial worm cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene on Oxford Nanopore Technologies’ (ONT) MinIONTM sequencer. We assessed the overall performance of our assay against commonly used diagnostic methods for filarial worm detection, such as conventional PCR (cPCR) with Sanger sequencing and the microscopy-based modified Knott’s test (MKT)
Results: We confirmed our metabarcoding assay can characterise filarial parasites from a diverse range of genera, including, Breinlia, Brugia, Cercopithifilaria, Dipetalonema, Dirofilaria, Onchocerca, Setaria, Stephanofilaria and Wuchereria. We demonstrated proof-of-concept for this assay by using blood samples from Sri Lankan dogs, whereby we identified infections with the filarioids Acanthocheilonema reconditum, Brugia sp. Sri Lanka genotype and zoonotic Dirofilaria sp. ‘hongkongensis’. When compared to traditionally used diagnostics, such as the MKT and cPCR with Sanger sequencing, we identified additional filarioid species and numerous additional mono- and coinfections.
Conclusions: Our developed metabarcoding assay may show broad applicability for the metabarcoding and diagnosis of the full spectrum of filarioids from a wide range of animal hosts, including mammals and vectors, whilst the utilisation of ONT’ small and portable MinIONTM means that such methods could be deployed for field use.
Mechanical pupil dilation, posterior capsule rupture, and cystoid macular oedema in illuminated chopper-assisted cataract surgery
Authors: Kim Tae Hun , Hwang Sung Ha , Eom Youngsub , Nam Dong Heun 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background: To evaluate the use of mechanical pupil dilation and capsule staining, and the rate of posterior capsule rupture (PCR) and cystoid macular oedema (CME) in illuminated chopper-assisted cataract surgery.
Methods: One university hospital, retrospective non-randomized consecutive case series. Six hundred forty-eight eyes of 648 consecutive patients who underwent illuminated chopper-assisted cataract surgery were included in this study. The use of iris hooks and capsule staining, pupil size, operation time, and complications (PCR and CME) were evaluated.
Results: In 39 of the 648 eyes (6.6%), the red reflex was insufficient for safe cataract surgery. Of 39 eyes, iris hooks and capsule staining were used in 7 (1.08%) and 1 (0.15%), respectively, while even without any iris hooks or capsule staining, illuminated chopper-assisted capsulorhexis was safely performed in 31 (4.78%) eyes. The rates of PCR and clinically significant CME were 0% (0/648 eyes) and 4.1% (26/648 eyes), respectively.
Conclusion: Not only the use of mechanical pupil dilation and capsule staining but also PCR and CME were very low in illuminated chopper-assisted cataract surgery.
Trial registration: retrospectively registered.
Age, growth, and energy storage of the cavefish Triplophysa rosa
Authors: Xu Yuan , Jing Yangyang , Zhou Jing , Long Rui , Meng Juanzhu , Yang Ya , Luo Yiping 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background
The age, growth, and energy storage of Triplophysa rosa, a typical cavefish, were explored in this study. A total of 102 wild T. rosa were collected in Wulong County, Chongqing, China, from 2018-2022. The otoliths were used for age determination.
Results
The earliest mature individuals were 4.8 years old, and the maximum ages for both females and males were estimated to be 15.8 years and 12.2 years, respectively. The length (L, cm)-weight (W, g) relationship was the same for both sexes, i.e., W = 0.0046L3.03. The von Bertanlanffy growth models were fitted to the total length at age data with an asymptotic length of 23.4 cm and a value of the K-parameter of 0.060 year-1. This implies growth rates that are lower than those in the majority of previously reported other fish but within the range of values for other Triplophysa species. The body content of protein, ash, and glycogen did not significantly correlate with the total length of T. rosa. However, both lipid and energy content increased significantly with total length. The lipid (ranging from 40.5 to 167.1 mg g-1) and energy (ranging from 4.50 to 11.39 kJ g-1) contents indicate high storage features of T. rosa.
Conclusions
The results confirm that T. rosa has characteristics that make it suitable for survival in cave conditions, i.e., slow growth, small size, and high lipid energy storage.
The impact of different censoring methods for analyzing survival using real-world data with linked mortality information: a simulation study
Authors: Hsu Wei-Chun , Crowley Aaron , Parzynski Craig S. 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
Evaluating outcome reliability is critical in real-world evidence studies. Overall survival is a common clinical outcome in these studies; however, its capture in real-world data sources is incomplete and often supplemented with linked mortality information from external sources. There are conflicting recommendations for censoring overall survival in real-world evidence studies. We conducted a simulation study to understand the impact of these different methods on estimating median survival and log hazard ratios when external mortality information is not fully captured.
Methods
We used Monte Carlo simulation to emulate a non-randomized comparative effectiveness study of two treatments with real-world data from electronic health records and linked external mortality data. We simulated the time to death, the time to last database activity and the time to data cutoff. We attributed death events after the last database activity to linked external mortality data and randomly set them to missing to reflect the sensitivity and specificity of contemporary real-world data sources. Two censoring schemes were evaluated: (1) censor at the last activity date without an observed death, and (2) censor at the end of data availability (data cutoff). We used bias, coverage, and rejection rate to assess the performance of each method in estimating median survival and log hazard ratios under varying amounts of incomplete mortality information and varying treatment effects, length of follow-up, and sample size.
Results
When mortality information was captured, median survival estimates were unbiased when censoring at data cutoff and underestimated when censoring at the last activity. When linked mortality information was missing, censoring at the last activity date underestimated the median survival, while censoring at the data cutoff overestimated it. As missing linked mortality information increased, bias decreased when censoring at the last activity date and increased when censoring at data-off.
Conclusions
Researchers should understand the completeness of linked external mortality information when choosing how to censor the analysis of overall survival using real-world data. Substantial bias in median survival estimates can occur if an inappropriate censoring scheme is selected. We advocate for real-world data providers to perform validation studies of their mortality data and to publish their findings to inform methodological decisions better.