bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment and comparison of quality of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, pre- and peri-COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Kenya
Authors: Omari Samuel , Ng'ong'a Florence , Kimotho James 
Published: December 2023

Background: In the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the World Health Organization recommended the use of alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs) to curb transmission, leading to increased production and use. This has posed a danger of production and use of poor-quality ABHRs. Methods: This study assessed and compared the quality of ABHRs in the Kenyan market that were produced before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Quality testing was carried out against European EN 1500:2013 and Kenyan EAS 789:2013 Standards. Results: The study found that 27.8% of the peri-pandemic sanitizers had less than 90% bactericidal reduction activity as compared to 12.5% manufactured pre-pandemic. Only 25% peri-pandemic ABHRs met the EAS 789:2013 acceptable limit of over 60% alcohol content. Product adulteration with methanol was found in 20 % of the samples with only 5% complying with FDA approval limit of <0.063% v/v methanol. Study found no correlation between the total alcohol content and the efficacy of ABHRs. Conclusions: The study found that more substandard products were produced during the pandemic. This raises a concern about possible emergence of alcohol resistant strains of microorganisms. The study therefore recommends an adequate quality monitoring system to curb against substandard products.
Linear Program-Based Policies for Restless Bandits: Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for (Exponentially Fast) Asymptotic Optimality
Authors: Gast Nicolas , Gaujal Bruno , Yan Chen 
Published: December 2023

We provide a framework to analyze control policies for the restless Markovian bandit model under both finite and infinite time horizons. We show that when the population of arms goes to infinity, the value of the optimal control policy converges to the solution of a linear program (LP). We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for a generic control policy to be (i) asymptotically optimal, (ii) asymptotically optimal with square root convergence rate, and (iii) asymptotically optimal with exponential rate. We then construct the LP-index policy that is asymptotically optimal with square root convergence rate on all models and with exponential rate if the model is nondegenerate in finite horizon and satisfies a uniform global attractor property in infinite horizon. We next define the LP-update policy, which is essentially a repeated LP-index policy that solves a new LP at each decision epoch. We conclude by providing numerical experiments to compare the efficiency of different LP-based policies. Funding: This work was supported by Agence Nationale de la Recherche [Grant ANR-19-CE23-0015].
An evaluation of an online education programme to improve nurses' ability to support carers to use subcutaneous medicines
Authors: Parker Deborah , Reymond Liz , Cooper Karen , Tieman Jennifer , Ivynian Serra 
Published: December 2023

Background: Most Australians say they wish to die at home, but many are admitted to inpatient facilities for symptom management. Caring@home resources can be used to support informal carers to manage breakthrough symptoms safely using subcutaneous medicines. Nurses require education about how to teach informal carers to use these resources. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness and relevance of an online education programme for registered nurses (RNs) about using the caring@home resources. Methods: Nurses must complete an online survey prior to the commencement of the online education programme and again upon completion to assess their change in skills, knowledge, confidence and attitudes of the RNs. T-tests were conducted to compare average pre- and post-education scores. Findings: The knowledge, skills and confidence of RNs to teach carers improved significantly following the completion of an education programme. There was a significant change in attitude, meaning that the perceived benefit of teaching informal carers to give subcutaneous medicines improved. All reported they would use the resources in their clinical practice. Conclusion: The online education programme is an effective and cost-efficient strategy to educate nurses to support informal carers to help manage breakthrough symptoms using subcutaneous medicines.
Comparison of outcomes between fungal and non-fungal periprosthetic joint infections in total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Yang Hong-Yeol , Cheon Jae-Hyeok , Jung Dong-Min , Seon Jong-Keun 
Published: December 2023

AimsFungal periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are rare, but their diagnosis and treatment are highly challenging. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of patients with fungal PJIs treated with two-stage exchange knee arthroplasty combined with prolonged antifungal therapy.MethodsWe reviewed our institutional joint arthroplasty database and identified 41 patients diagnosed with fungal PJIs and treated with two-stage exchange arthroplasty after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) between January 2001 and December 2020, and compared them with those who had non-fungal PJIs during the same period. After propensity score matching based on age, sex, BMI, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, and Charlson Comorbidity Index, 40 patients in each group were successfully matched. The surgical and antimicrobial treatment, patient demographic and clinical characteristics, recurrent infections, survival rates, and relevant risk factors that affected joint survivorship were analyzed. We defined treatment success as a well-functioning arthroplasty without any signs of a PJI, and without antimicrobial suppression, at a minimum follow-up of two years from the time of reimplantation.ResultsThe fungal PJI group demonstrated a significantly worse treatment success rate at the final follow-up than the non-fungal PJI group (65.0% (26/40) vs 85.0% (34/40); p < 0.001). The mean prosthesis-free interval was longer in the fungal PJI group than in the non-fungal PJI group (6.7 weeks (SD 5.8) vs 4.1 weeks (SD 2.5); p = 0.020). The rate of survivorship free from reinfection was worse in the fungal PJI group (83.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 64.1 to 92.9) at one year and 76.4% (95% CI 52.4 to 89.4) at two years) than in the non-fungal PJI group (97.4% (95% CI 82.7 to 99.6) at one year and 90.3% (95% CI 72.2 to 96.9) at two years), but the differences were not significant (p = 0.270). Cox proportional hazard regression analysis identified the duration of the prosthesis-free interval as a potential risk factor for failure (hazard ratio 1.128 (95% CI 1.003 to 1.268); p = 0.043).ConclusionFungal PJIs had a lower treatment success rate than non-fungal PJIs despite two-stage revision arthroplasty and appropriate antifungal treatment. Our findings highlight the need for further developments in treating fungal PJIs.Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(12):1286–1293.
Classification of distinct osteoarthritis subtypes with different knee joint tissues by gene expression profiles
Authors: Xue Yuan , Zhou Liang , Wang Jiaqian 
Published: December 2023

AimsKnee osteoarthritis (OA) involves a variety of tissues in the joint. Gene expression profiles in different tissues are of great importance in order to understand OA.MethodsFirst, we obtained gene expression profiles of cartilage, synovium, subchondral bone, and meniscus from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Several datasets were standardized by merging and removing batch effects. Then, we used unsupervised clustering to divide OA into three subtypes. The gene ontology and pathway enrichment of three subtypes were analyzed. CIBERSORT was used to evaluate the infiltration of immune cells in different subtypes. Finally, OA-related genes were obtained from the Molecular Signatures Database for validation, and diagnostic markers were screened according to clinical characteristics. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) was used to verify the effectiveness of markers.ResultsC1 subtype is mainly concentrated in the development of skeletal muscle organs, C2 lies in metabolic process and immune response, and C3 in pyroptosis and cell death process. Therefore, we divided OA into three subtypes: bone remodelling subtype (C1), immune metabolism subtype (C2), and cartilage degradation subtype (C3). The number of macrophage M0 and activated mast cells of C2 subtype was significantly higher than those of the other two subtypes. COL2A1 has significant differences in different subtypes. The expression of COL2A1 is related to age, and trafficking protein particle complex subunit 2 is related to the sex of OA patients.ConclusionThis study linked different tissues with gene expression profiles, revealing different molecular subtypes of patients with knee OA. The relationship between clinical characteristics and OA-related genes was also studied, which provides a new concept for the diagnosis and treatment of OA.Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2023;12(12):702–711.
Paradigm shift towards emergency cholecystectomy: one site experience of the Chole-QuiC process
Authors: Hamid M , Bird J , Yeo J , Shrestha A , Carter M , Kudhail K , Akingboye A , Sellahewa C 
Published: December 2023

Introduction Substantial evidence exists for the superiority of emergency over delayed cholecystectomy for gallstone disease during primary admission. Despite this, emergency surgery rates in the UK remain low compared with other developed countries, with great variation in care across the nation. We aimed to describe the local paradigm shift towards emergency surgery and investigate outcomes. Methods This is a prospective observational study examining patients enrolled onto an emergency cholecystectomy pathway, following the hospital’s subscription to the Royal College of Surgeons of England’s Cholecystectomy Quality Improvement Collaborative (Chole-QuIC), between 1 December 2021 and 31 January 2023. Multivariate logistical regression models were used to identify patient and hospital factors associated with postoperative outcomes. Results Of the 307 suitable acute admissions, 261 (85%) had an emergency cholecystectomy, compared with 5% preceding the Chole-QuIC interventions. Waiting time dropped from 67 to 5 days. A total of 208 (79.7%) patients were primary presentations, 92 (35.2%) were classed Tokyo grade 2 and 142 (54.4%) were obese. A total of 23 (8.8%) patients underwent preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and 26 (10%) patients had a subtotal cholecystectomy. Favourable outcomes (Clavien Dindo ≥3) were observed in first presentations (odds ratio (OR) 0.35; p=0.042) and for operation times within 7 days (OR 0.32; p=0.037), with worse outcomes in BMI ≥35 (OR 3.32; p=0.005) and operation time >7 days (OR 3.11; p=0.037). Conclusion A paradigm shift towards emergency cholecystectomy benefits both the patient and the service. Positive outcomes are apparent for early operation in patients presenting for the first time and recurrent attendees, with early operation (<7 days) providing the most favourable outcome in a select patient group.
Impact of depression on stroke outcomes among stroke survivors: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Shewangizaw Seble , Fekadu Wubalem , Gebregzihabhier Yohannes , Mihretu Awoke , Sackley Catherine , Alem Atalay 
Published: December 2023

BackgroundDepression may negatively affect stroke outcomes and the progress of recovery. However, there is a lack of updated comprehensive evidence to inform clinical practice and directions of future studies. In this review, we report the multidimensional impact of depression on stroke outcomes.MethodsData sources.PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and Global Index Medicus were searched from the date of inception.Eligibility criteria.Prospective studies which investigated the impact of depression on stroke outcomes (cognition, returning to work, quality of life, functioning, and survival) were included.Data extraction.Two authors extracted data independently and solved the difference with a third reviewer using an extraction tool developed prior. The extraction tool included sample size, measurement, duration of follow-up, stroke outcomes, statistical analysis, and predictors outcomes.Risk of bias.We used Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) to assess the quality of the included studies.ResultsEighty prospective studies were included in the review. These studies investigated the impact of depression on the ability to return to work (n = 4), quality of life (n = 12), cognitive impairment (n = 5), functioning (n = 43), and mortality (n = 24) where a study may report on more than one outcome. Though there were inconsistencies, the evidence reported that depression had negative consequences on returning to work, functioning, quality of life, and mortality rate. However, the impact on cognition was not conclusive. In the meta-analysis, depression was associated with premature mortality (HR: 1.61 (95% CI; 1.33, 1.96)), and worse functioning (OR: 1.64 (95% CI; 1.36, 1.99)).ConclusionDepression affects many aspects of stroke outcomes including survival The evidence is not conclusive on cognition and there was a lack of evidence in low-income settings. The results showed the need for early diagnosis and intervention of depression after stroke.The protocol was pre-registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Review (PROSPERO) (CRD42021230579).
Prediction models of incontinence and sexual function one year after radical prostatectomy based on data from 20 164 prostate cancer patients
Authors: Sibert Nora Tabea , Kurth Tobias , Breidenbach Clara , Wesselmann Simone , Feick Günther , Carl Ernst-Günter , Dieng Sebastian , Albarghouth Mohamad Hatem , Aziz Atiqullah , Baltes Stefan , Bartolf Elisabeth , Bedke Jens , Blana Andreas , Brock Marko , Conrad Stefan , Darr Christopher , Distler Florian , Drosos Konstantinos , Duwe Gregor , Gaber Amr , Giessing Markus , Harke Nina Natascha , Heidenreich Axel , Hijazi Sameh , Hinkel Andreas , Kaftan Björn Theodor , Kheiderov Shatlyk , Knoll Thomas , Lümmen Gerd , Peters Inga , Polat Bülent , Schrodi Valentin , Stolzenburg Jens-Uwe , Varga Zoltan , von Süßkind-Schwendi Julius , Zugor Vahudin , Kowalski Christoph 
Published: December 2023

BackgroundIncontinence and sexual dysfunction are long-lasting side effects after surgical treatment (radical prostatectomy, RP) of prostate cancer (PC). For an informed treatment decision, physicians and patients should discuss expected impairments. Therefore, this paper firstly aims to develop and validate prognostic models that predict incontinence and sexual function of PC patients one year after RP and secondly to provide an online decision making tool.MethodsObservational cohorts of PC patients treated between July 2016 and March 2021 in Germany were used. Models to predict functional outcomes one year after RP measured by the EPIC-26 questionnaire were developed using lasso regression, 80–20 splitting of the data set and 10-fold cross validation. To assess performance, R2, RMSE, analysis of residuals and calibration-in-the-large were applied. Final models were externally temporally validated. Additionally, percentages of functional impairment (pad use for incontinence and firmness of erection for sexual score) per score decile were calculated to be used together with the prediction models.ResultsFor model development and internal as well as external validation, samples of 11 355 and 8 809 patients were analysed. Results from the internal validation (incontinence:R2= 0.12,RMSE= 25.40, sexual function:R2= 0.23,RMSE= 21.44) were comparable with those of the external validation. Residual analysis and calibration-in-the-large showed good results. The prediction tool is freely accessible:https://nora-tabea.shinyapps.io/EPIC-26-Prediction/.ConclusionThe final models showed appropriate predictive properties and can be used together with the calculated risks for specific functional impairments. Main strengths are the large study sample (> 20 000) and the inclusion of an external validation. The models incorporate meaningful and clinically available predictors ensuring an easy implementation. All predictions are displayed together with risks of frequent impairments such as pad use or erectile dysfunction such that the developed online tool provides a detailed and informative overview for clinicians as well as patients.
Reflections on Music in Fiction: Rose Tremain’sMusic and Silence(1999), Julian Barnes’sThe Noise of Time(2016) and Roger Scruton’sPerictione in Colophon(2000)
Authors: Mildorf Jarmila 
Published: December 2023

AbstractMusic and literature are sister arts whose affinities and intertwinement over time have been explored from musicological and literary studies perspectives. Music holds great fascination with both scholars and lay persons because it manages to move us deeply even if we do not know much about it in a technical or theoretical sense. Aesthetic theories of music have time and again assigned this art form a special, sometimes even a divine, status. This article explores some ways in which contemporary novels reflect on music as an art form and cultural practice, its personal as well as political significance. It investigates how such reflection about music is embedded in the narrative texts, either as narratorial comments which momentarily suspend the action or as thoughts and opinions expressed by characters. In each case, readers are invited to follow the often deeply philosophical lines of reasoning presented in the text and to form their own ideas. Musical ekphrasis is used to convey at least a fleeting impression of the ephemeral ‘texture’ of the respective music and its lasting effects on the novels’ characters.
Can Online Platforms Promote Women-Led Exporting Firms?
Authors: Poole Jennifer P. , Volpe Martincus Christian 
Published: December 2023

AbstractHow can policymakers promote women-led exporting firms? In this paper, we study the role of online business platforms to reduce informational barriers to exporting for women entrepreneurs. We hypothesize that, if the costs associated with accessing digital platforms are more symmetric across gender than traditional trade costs, digital trade platforms can play an important role in making trade more gender equal. To assess this hypothesis, we combine information on firms’ participation inConnectAmericas, a free and purely informational online platform, and detailed firm-level export data of a developing country over a long period. We find that participation in this platform is associated with a significantly larger increase in exports for women-managed firms than for men-managed firms in otherwise identical products and destinations. Given existing evidence on the role of women-managed businesses in reducing gender earnings inequality, these results suggest that policies which encourage women participation in online environments, to reduce the informational barriers associated with operating in foreign markets, have the capacity to promote gender equality more broadly.
Meso-Py: Dual Brain Cortical Calcium Imaging in Mice during Head-Fixed Social Stimulus Presentation
Authors: Michelson Nicholas J. , Bolaños Federico , Bolaños Luis A. , Balbi Matilde , LeDue Jeffrey M. , Murphy Timothy H. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractWe present a cost-effective, compact foot-print, and open-source Raspberry Pi-based widefield imaging system. The compact nature allows the system to be used for close-proximity dual-brain cortical mesoscale functional-imaging to simultaneously observe activity in two head-fixed animals in a staged social touch-like interaction. We provide all schematics, code, and protocols for a rail system where head-fixed mice are brought together to a distance where the macrovibrissae of each mouse make contact. Cortical neuronal functional signals (GCaMP6s; genetically encoded Ca2+sensor) were recorded from both mice simultaneously before, during, and after the social contact period. When the mice were together, we observed bouts of mutual whisking and cross-mouse correlated cortical activity across the cortex. Correlations were not observed in trial-shuffled mouse pairs, suggesting that correlated activity was specific to individual interactions. Whisking-related cortical signals were observed during the period where mice were together (closest contact). The effects of social stimulus presentation extend outside of regions associated with mutual touch and have global synchronizing effects on cortical activity.
The Dark Versus Bright Side of a Smiley: A Preregistered Replication of Experiment 3 in Glikson et al. (2018) “The Dark Side of a Smiley”
Authors: Lai Linda , Mayiwar Lewend 
Published: December 2023

The present paper reports an independent and better powered (N = 847 vs. N = 85) replication of Experiment 3 in Glikson et al. (2018). The authors of the original study reported support for their proposition that due to perceptions of (in)appropriateness, the use of smileys may backfire and produce less favorable perceptions of competence in a formal work-related setting, yet more favorable perceptions of warmth in an informal work-related setting. Our results, in contrast, indicated that smileys produce a negative effect on perceptions of competence and a positive effect on perceptions of warmth, regardless of the level of formality. Moreover, our results did not support the reported moderated mediation model involving perceptions of appropriateness. Potential explanations for the discrepancies in results are discussed. We provide data, code, and materials on https://osf.io/n7yc4/.
Accuracy of a Single Financial Security Question to Screen for Social Needs
Authors: Hanmer Janel , Ray Kristin N. , Schweiberger Kelsey , Berkowitz Seth A. , Palakshappa Deepak 
Published: December 2023

OBJECTIVES
Screening for social needs is recommended during clinical encounters but multi-item questionnaires can be burdensome. We evaluate if a single question about financial stress can be used to prescreen for food insecurity, housing instability, or transportation needs.

METHODS
We use retrospective medical record data from children (&lt;11 years) seen at 45 primary pediatric care offices in 2022. Social needs screening was automated at well child visits and could be completed by the parent/guardian via the patient portal, tablet in the waiting room, or verbally with staff. We report the area under the receiver operating curve for the 5 response options of the financial stress question as well as sensitivity and specificity of the financial stress question (“not hard at all” vs any other response) to detect other reported social needs.

RESULTS
Of 137 261 eligible children, 130 414 (95.0%) had social needs data collected. Seventeen percent of respondents reported a housing, food, or transportation need. The sensitivity of the financial stress question was 0.788 for any one or more of the 3 other needs, 0.763 for food insecurity, 0.743 for housing instability, and 0.712 for transportation needs. Using the financial stress question as the first-step of a screening process would miss 9.7% of the families who reported food insecurity, 22.6% who reported housing instability, and 33.0% who reported transportation needs.

CONCLUSIONS
A single question screener about financial stress does not function well as a prescreen because of low sensitivity to reports of food insecurity, housing instability, and transportation needs.