bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ecopsychosocial strategies for the self-exploration of professional family caregivers to manage the behavioural and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer patients in Iran: a qualitative study
Authors: Amiri Parastoo , Niazkhani Zahra , Pirnejad Habibollah , Bahaadinbeigy Kambiz 
Published: January 2025

ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to explore the experiences and viewpoints of professional family caregivers in the management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSDs) to identify the ecopsychosocial strategies applied by them.DesignQualitative study.SettingKerman, Iran.ParticipantsStories were collected from 40 professional family caregivers of dementia patients.MeasurementThe guidelines of the National Consensus Project (NCP) of the USA served as the conceptual framework for the deductive thematic analysis of our qualitative data. A schematic of the entire process was performed in five steps.Results30 stories relevant to the aim of this study were included in the analysis from April to June 2021. A majority of the stories were written by female caregivers. We identified 19 ecopsychosocial interventions, which covered the NCP dimensions except ‘Care of the patient nearing the end of life’. More than half of these interventions were classified into psychological/psychiatric and physical aspects of care (57.8%). In addition to the care/support provided by special care units or home care, some caregivers believe that support from the government, various care organisations, social media and even other family members/friends is necessary to better manage BPSDs.ConclusionDespite limitations, such as having a small sample size and analysing only one story from each caregiver, our results indicate that dementia caregivers need more educational and cultural support in their ecopsychosocial strategies. Government involvement would yield more positive outcomes in managing BPSDs.
Double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of late gestation oral melatonin supplementation in reducing induction of labour rates in nulliparous women: the MyTIME study protocol
Authors: Bradfield Zoe , White Scott W , Davies-Tuck Miranda , Sharp Mary , Warland Jane , Callander Emily , Kuliukas Lesley , Rose Monique , Pettitt Amber , Ekin Kylie , Doherty Dorota A , Keelan JA 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionAround the world, rates of induction of labour (IOL) among nulliparous mothers have increased in the last 10 years. In Australia, rates have increased over the last decade by 43%, from 32% to 46%. There is growing concern about the rapid rise in IOL before 41 weeks for nulliparous women without medical complications because of the associated increased rates of caesarean section, reduced satisfaction with birth, and birth trauma. Melatonin potentiates the action of oxytocin and may promote the spontaneous onset of labour; therefore, we will test the hypothesis that exogenous melatonin supplementation in late pregnancy will reduce the rate of labour induction by 30% or more.Methods and analysesThis is a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in nulliparous pregnant women to reduce IOL rates. We will randomise 530 women to receive either 3 mg oral melatonin or placebo daily from 39+0weeks’ gestation until they give birth. The primary endpoint will be IOL rate after 39 weeks post enrolment. Secondary endpoints will include the following: interval between administration of trial medication and birth; a range of maternal and neonatal outcomes, including birth outcomes; breastfeeding on discharge, at 10 days and at 2 months; maternal satisfaction; child developmental outcomes at 2 months of age; and cost-effectiveness of melatonin compared with standard care. All data will be analysed by intention to treat.Ethics and disseminationThe study is approved by the Western Australia Health Central Human Research Ethics Committee (RGS0000006283). Trial findings will be disseminated through conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications.Trial registration numberThe trial has been prospectively registered on the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry as ACTRN12623000502639 on 17/05/2023.
Protocol for a first-in-human feasibility study of T regulatory cells (TR004) for inflammatory bowel disease using (ex vivo) Treg expansion (TRIBUTE)
Authors: Rodger Beverley , Clough Jennifer , Vasconcelos Joana , Canavan James B , Macallan D , Prevost A Toby , Lord Graham M , Irving Peter 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionCrohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), presenting with symptoms of abdominal pain and bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract. There is no known cure. In vitro-expanded ‘thymus-derived’ regulatory T cells (tTreg) have shown promise in preclinical models of IBD, leading to interest in their use as a potential therapy in CD. We present a study protocol for a first-in-human study of Tregs for IBD using ex vivo Treg expansion. This study will explore the preliminary safety and tolerability of a single dose of Treg immunotherapy and will inform the design of a subsequent larger trial.Methods and analysisFour patients will be recruited from gastroenterology clinics at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. Eligible participants are those who are at least 18 years old, have a diagnosis of active moderate to severe CD and have failed to respond to or tolerate at least two prior lines of standard medication. Participants receive a single dose of autologous ex vivo-expanded Tregs and will be followed up to week 21 to collect safety and exploratory efficacy data. Additional safety monitoring will occur at 1 and 2 years post-dose. The primary endpoint is defined as the occurrence of dose-limiting toxicity occurring within 5 weeks post-infusion.Ethics and disseminationThe study protocol and related documents have been approved by a NHS Research Ethics Committee, the Health Research Authority and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for Clinical Trial Authorisation. It is intended that the results of the trial will be presented at international conferences and will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.Trial registration numberNCT03185000
Machine-learning based photon counting for PMT waveforms and its application to the improvement of the energy resolution in large liquid scintillator detectors
Authors: Jiang Wei , Huang Guihong , Liu Zhen , Luo Wuming , Wen Liangjian , Luo Jianyi 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) are widely used in particle experiments for photon detection. PMT waveform analysis is crucial for high-precision measurements of the position and energy of incident particles in liquid scintillator (LS) detectors. A key factor contributing to the energy resolution in large liquid scintillator detectors with PMTs is the charge smearing of PMTs. This paper presents a machine-learning-based photon counting method for PMT waveforms and its application to the energy reconstruction, using the JUNO experiment as an example. The results indicate that leveraging the photon counting information from the machine learning model can partially mitigate the impact of PMT charge smearing and lead to a relative 2.0–2.8% improvement on the energy resolution in the energy range of [1, 9] MeV.
Novel Real-Time Fluoroscopic Assessment Method of THV Expansion Following Balloon-Expandable TAVR
Authors: Husain Ali , Tzimas Georgios , Akodad Mariama , Jelisejevas Julius , Offen Sophie , Millar Kevin , Leipsic Jonathon A. , Blanke Philipp , Wood David A. , Sellers Stephanie L. , Webb John G. , Meier David , Sathananthan Janarthanan 
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND:
Transcatheter heart valve (THV) underexpansion after transcatheter aortic valve replacement may be associated with worse outcomes. THV expansion can be assessed fluoroscopically using a pigtail for calibration; however, the accuracy of this technique specific to transcatheter aortic valve replacement is unknown. We assessed the accuracy and reproducibility of a novel fluoroscopic method to assess THV expansion using the THV commissural post for calibration.

METHODS:
Patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement with a SAPIEN 3 (S3) THV had documented 3 cusp and cusp overlap views, and post-implant computed tomography was identified. THV expansion was fluoroscopically assessed in the 3 cusp and cusp overlap views using the S3 commissural post height and the pigtail as a reference for calibration. The correlation between the 2 methods and computed tomography was evaluated.

RESULTS:
Forty patients were included. On the bench, the commissural post height measured 3.3, 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5 mm for the 20 mm S3, 23 mm S3, 26 mm S3, and 29 mm S3, respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) with computed tomography for measuring the inflow, mid-portion, and outflow THV diameter was 0.98, 0.97, and 0.98 for the commissural post height method and 0.82, 0.81, and 0.78 for the pigtail method, respectively. Unlike the pigtail method, the correlation between the commissural post height method and computed tomography remained strong across all THV sizes and in both the 3 cusp and cusp overlap views.

CONCLUSIONS:
The commissural post height method is a novel real-time fluoroscopic tool that has the potential to assess THV expansion and guide further optimization after balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic valve replacement.
Role of Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor in Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension
Authors: Potthoff Sebastian A. , Quack Ivo , Mori Yuri , Yang Guang , Arifaj Denada , Amin Ehsan , Meister Jaroslawna , Meuth Sven G. , Kantauskaite Marta , Argov Doron , Alesutan Ioana , Voelkl Jakob , Park Joon-Keun , Rump Lars C. , Rio Marc , Loirand Gervaise , Linker Ralf A. , Stegbauer Johannes 
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND:
Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), mainly known for its neuroprotective properties, belongs to the IL-6 (interleukin-6) cytokine family. In contrast to IL-6, the effects of CNTF on the vasculature have not been explored. Here, we examined the role of CNTF in AngII (angiotensin II)-induced hypertension.

METHODS:
Hypertension was chronically induced with AngII (1000 ng/kg per minute, osmotic mini-pumps, 14 days) in CNTF-knockout and wild-type mice (with or without nephrectomy and 1% NaCl drinking water). Blood pressure was measured by tail-cuff and radiotelemetry. Effects of CNTF on vascular function and the JAK2/STAT3 pathway were measured in vivo, in the isolated perfused kidney, and in mouse and human vascular smooth muscle cells.

RESULTS:
At baseline, systolic blood pressure was similar between both groups. During AngII infusion, blood pressure increase was significantly attenuated and hypertensive heart and kidney damage was significantly attenuated in CNTF-knockout compared with wild-type mice. Accordingly, renal pressor response to AngII but not KCl or phenylephrine was significantly decreased in CNTF-knockout compared with wild-type mice. Acute CNTF (5 µmol/L) administration nearly restored the AngII-dependent renal pressor response. Chronic CNTF treatment in CNTF-knockout mice increased blood pressure response to AngII to levels observed in wild-type mice. CNTF augments AngII-induced activation of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in vitro in vascular smooth muscle cells. The significance of this interaction was shown, as the increase in renal pressor response by CNTF was abolished by JAK2/STAT3 inhibitors.

CONCLUSIONS:
Our results demonstrate a major impact of CNTF on blood pressure regulation by modulating AngII-induced pressor response via a JAK2/STAT3-dependent mechanism and indicate that CNTF is an important regulatory cytokine in hypertension.
Poor Sanitation, Deaths, and Regional Inequality in Twentieth-Century Chile
Authors: Llorca-Jaña Manuel , Rivas Javier , Morales-Campos Daniel 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Although Chile experienced a rapid epidemiological transition, high mortality linked to waterborne diseases persisted. The prevention of gastrointestinal illnesses was expensive, so mortality rates varied across geographical areas. The public expenditure on sanitation was insufficient and distributed unevenly across Chile. Before the late 1960s, the probability of dying from diarrhea could be up to twelve times higher in rural areas than in urban regions, which were better equipped with sanitation infrastructure.
A Peculiar History of the Social Sciences
Authors: McCants Anne E. C. 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
A History of the Social Sciences in 101 Books offers a reflective look at the evolution of the social sciences from 1947 to 2016. The book is simultaneously a collection of contemporary book reviews, a chronology of important intellectual landmarks in the social sciences, a history of how its constituent disciplines sometimes ignored and sometimes learned from each other, and a revelation about the intellectual circumstances of French social scientific scholarship toward the end of the second decade of the twenty-first century. This retrospective’s qualitative focus provides a valuable, if selective, insight into French academic thought and invites readers, especially quantitative scholars, to engage critically with its inclusions and notable omissions (such as minimal representation of female authors and studies in economics and the complete omission of historical demography).
Enhanced Delta Band Neural Tracking of Degraded Fundamental Frequency Speech in Noisy Environments
Authors: Guo Yu-Jyun , Hsieh I-Hui 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Pitch variation of the fundamental frequency (F0) is critical to speech understanding, especially in noisy environments. Degrading the F0 contour reduces behaviorally measured speech intelligibility, posing greater challenges for tonal languages like Mandarin Chinese where the F0 pattern determines semantic meaning. However, neural tracking of Mandarin speech with degraded F0 information in noisy environments remains unclear. This study investigated neural envelope tracking of continuous Mandarin speech with three F0-flattening levels (original, flat-tone, and flat-all) under various SNRs (0, −9, and −12 dB). F0 contours were flattened at the word level for flat-tone and at the sentence level for flat-all Mandarin speech. Electroencephalography responses were indexed by the temporal response function in the delta (&lt;4 Hz) and theta (4–8 Hz) frequency bands. Results show that delta-band envelope tracking is modulated by the degree of F0 flattening in a nonmonotonic manner. Notably, flat-tone Mandarin speech elicited the strongest envelope tracking compared with both original and flat-all speech, despite reduced F0 information. In contrast, the theta band, which primarily encodes speech SNR level, was not affected by F0 changes. In addition, listeners with better pitch-related music skills exhibited more efficient neural envelope speech tracking, despite being musically naive. These findings indicate that neural envelope tracking in the delta (but not theta) band is highly specific to F0 pitch variation and highlight the role of intrinsic musical skills for speech-in-noise benefits.
Religion and mental health seeking behaviors in war-tone zones of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: Vivalya Bives Mutume Nzanzu , Vagheni Martial Mumbere , Piripiri Astride Lina , Mbeva Jean-Bosco Kahindo 
Published: January 2025

Objective Although religious leaders play an important role in providing informal mental health care to individuals struggling to seek religious and spiritual care, existing studies have not explored the magnitude of psychiatric symptoms and motivators to seek mental health services from religious leaders in religious listening centers and mental hospitals. This paper presents preliminary data from a survey aimed at assessing psychiatric symptoms and factors associated with access to spiritual services among 151 individuals at a religious listening center, as well as to determine the pathways of care among 150 patients attending a mental health clinic in conflict zones of the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Method Three hundred and one participants were screened for psychiatric symptoms and factors motivating access to religious leaders using a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive analyses were performed to determine information on psychiatric symptoms and factors affecting access to spiritual and mental health services. Results Nearly 6 in 10 individuals seeking spiritual help in the religious center had psychiatric symptoms. Furthermore, 7 in 10 patients seek help for mental health needs from religious leaders and healers before seeking conventional mental health services; among such individuals, there was a high prevalence of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia spectrum disorder, recurrent admissions, and poor adherence to psychotropic medication. Conclusion These results highlight the need for greater integration of mental health services with care provided by religious organizations within conflict zones such as the Congo. They also emphasize the need for greater promotion of person-centered care that considers and integrates patients’ religious beliefs in their treatment.
Apparent diffusion coefficient values in differentiating benign and malignant thoracic masses in children and young adults
Authors: Lim Hyun Ji , Yoon Haesung , Kim Jisoo , Lee Hye-Jeong , Lee Young Han , Lee Mi-Jung 
Published: January 2025

Background In children and young adults, tumors in the chest and thoracic wall exhibit a wide variety of types, making it challenging to differentiate between benign and malignant cases before invasive histopathological examination. Purpose To evaluate the utility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for discriminating malignant thoracic masses in children and young adults. Material and Methods This retrospective study included chest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in patients aged <30 years. Patients' age and sex, tumor location (mediastinum or thoracic wall), tumor size, MR characteristics including necrosis or hemorrhage, and ADC values were assessed. Results Malignant masses were found in older patients (mean age = 18.0 ± 8.1 vs. 10.6, ± 9.1 years; P = 0.008), had lower mean ADC values (0.765 ± 0.298 vs. 2.051 ± 0.855 × 10−3 mm2/s; P < 0.001), and showed more internal hemorrhage (6/12 vs. 17/86; P = 0.031) compared to benign masses. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses also showed significant differences in age, tumor size, and ADC values. In the diagnostic performance analysis, age (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.723, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.624–0.809; P = 0.004) and ADC mean value (AUC = 0.941, 95% CI = 0.874–0.978, P < 0.001) were significant. The optimal cutoff values were 13 years for age (sensitivity = 83.3%, specificity = 61.6%) and an ADC mean of 1.196 × 10−3 mm²/s (sensitivity = 100%, specificity = 86.1%) for discriminating malignant from benign thoracic masses. Conclusion When evaluating thoracic masses in children and young adults, older age and lower ADC values help identify malignancy.
Knowledge and Awareness of Medical and Dental Students About Oral Cancer Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Escoto-Vasquez Lilibeth-Stephania , Alarcón-Sánchez Mario Alberto , Rodríguez-Montaño Ruth , Becerra-Ruiz Julieta Sarai , Lomelí-Martínez Sarah Monserrat , Heboyan Artak 
Published: January 2025

Objective This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the knowledge and awareness of oral cancer risk factors among medical and dental students. Methods This study followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in INPLASY (ID: 2024110035). Four databases were consulted (PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science) from February 20th, 2005, to May 10th, 2024. The study selection and data extraction process was performed independently by 2 investigators. The risk of bias was assessed using the JBI tool, which can be found at: https://jbi.global/critical-appraisal-tools . A third investigator was consulted in case of disagreement. Meta-analysis results were systematically illustrated in a forest plot and expressed as odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. The I2 statistic assessed heterogeneity between studies. Funnel plot and Egger regression analysis were used for bias analysis. A P value <.05 was considered significant. All statistical analyses were performed using the STATA V.15 software. Results After the selection process, 41 studies met the eligibility criteria, comprising a total of 14,425 participants, 22% medical students and 78% dental students, primarily female (53%). The meta-analysis showed that 98% of students demonstrated relatively good knowledge about oral cancer risk factors. The most recognized risk factor was smoking (99%), followed by advanced age (68%), UV-rays exposure (64%), and alcoholism (57%). Knowledge of several other factors was comparatively lower, with less than 50% of students recognizing them. The studies indicated significant heterogeneity (I2 = 99.8%) and publication bias ( P < .001). Conclusions These findings suggest that while medical and dental students have a strong understanding of key risk factors for oral cancer, there are gaps in knowledge regarding other important factors. Addressing these gaps through enhanced education and training is essential to improving early detection and prevention efforts.
Standardization of the Arabic Version of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Screening Scale for DSM-5 (ASRS-5) Among Adults in Saudi Arabia: Variability of ADHD Screening According to Sociodemographic Variables
Authors: Alqahtani Mohammed M. J. , Al Saud Nouf Mohammed , Alsharef Nawal Mohammed , AlHadi Ahmad N. , Alsalhi Saleh Mohammed , Al-Hifthy Elham H. , Ad-Dab’bagh Yasser , Alrahili Nader , Alenazi Fawwaz Abdulrazaq , Alotaibi Barakat M. , Alsaeed Sultan Mahmoud , Arnout Boshra A. , ALQasem Latifah , Alhossein Abdulkarim , Alqahtani Yasser Jubran , AlGhamdi Samirah A. , Varnham Jeremy , Asiri Saeed Abdulwahab , Buraik Maysaa W. 
Published: January 2025

Objective: This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Adult Self-Report Scale-5 (the ASRS-5-AR) within a large sample of adults residing in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study applied the ASRS-5-AR to a random sample of 4,299 Saudi and non-Saudi adults, aged 19 to 66 years (31.16 ± 9.26 years), living in the regions of Riyadh, Makkah, and the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia. Collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26, JASP 0.18.3.0 software, and MedCalc 22.030 statistical software. Results: The ASRS-5-AR demonstrated strong internal consistency, with all six items showing significant positive correlation with the total score (.675–.735). Results of confirmatory factor analysis revealed a goodness-of-fit coefficient of 0.983 for the one-factor model and McDonald’s omega, Cronbach’s α, and Spearman-Brown coefficients of 0.786, 0.788, and 0.724, respectively. In addition, the findings revealed statistically significant differences in self-reported ADHD symptoms based on age ( F = 18.68; p < .001), level of education ( F = 2.61; p < .05), and marital status ( F = 22.30; p < .001). However, there were no significant differences in self-reported ADHD symptoms between males and females ( t = 0.625; p > .05) or Saudi and non-Saudi participants ( t = 0.409; p > .05) or based on region of residence ( t = 2.19; p > .05). Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into the psychometric properties of the ASRS-5-AR within a large sample of adults in Saudi Arabia. The findings demonstrate acceptable reliability of the ASRS-5-AR within this population. While these findings suggest the ASRS-5-AR may be a useful tool for initial assessment, further research is crucial. Future studies should focus on establishing accurate cutoff scores by comparing a general population sample with a clinically diagnosed sample of adults with ADHD in Saudi Arabia. This will allow for a more accurate evaluation of the scale’s utility in identifying individuals who may require further clinical assessment.