bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
What are the prognostic factors for the development of incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD): a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Deprez Julie , Kottner Jan , Eilegård Wallin Alexandra , Ohde Nils , Bååth Carina , Hommel Ami , Hultin Lisa , Josefson Anna , Beeckman Dimitri 
Published: July 2023

IntroductionIncontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) is irritant contact dermatitis and skin damage associated with prolonged skin contact with urine and/or faeces. Identifying prognostic factors for the development of IAD may improve management, facilitate prevention and inform future research.Methods and analysisThis protocol follows the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols. Prospective and retrospective observational studies or clinical trials in which prognostic factors associated with the development of IAD are described are eligible. There are no restrictions on study setting, time, language, participant characteristics or geographical regions. Reviews, editorials, commentaries, methodological articles, letters to the editor, cross-sectional and case–control studies, and case reports are excluded. MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library will be searched from inception until May 2023. Two independent reviewers will independently evaluate studies. The Quality in Prognostic Studies tool will be used to assess the risk of bias, and the Checklist for Critical Appraisal and Data Extraction for Systematic Reviews of Prediction Modelling Studies-Prognostic Factors checklist will be used for data extraction of the included studies. Separate analyses will be conducted for each identified prognostic factor, with adjusted and unadjusted estimated measures analysed separately. Evidence will be summarised with a meta-analysis when possible, and narratively otherwise. The Q and I2statistics will be calculated in order to quantify heterogeneity. The quality of the evidence obtained will be evaluated according to the Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation guidance.Ethics and disseminationNo ethical approval is needed since all data is already publicly accessible. The results of this work will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Can baseline features predict a reduction in pain and disability following neck-specific exercise in people with chronic non-specific neck pain?: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
Authors: Chen Ziyan , Falla Deborah , Elgueta Cancino Edith , A Deane Janet 
Published: July 2023

IntroductionNeck-specific exercises (NSEs) are commonly used for the treatment of chronic non-specific neck pain (CNSNP). However, it remains unclear whether baseline features can predict the response to neck-specific exercise (NSE) in people with CNSNP. This systematic review aims to assess whether baseline features such as age, gender, muscle activity, fatigability, endurance and fear of movement can predict pain and disability reduction following a NSE intervention.Methods and analysisThis systematic review and meta-analysis will be reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Protocols guidelines checklist. The Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL databases; key journals; and grey literature will be searched up until June 2023, including medical subject heading terms and keywords combinations. Included studies will investigate an association between the baseline features and pain and disability outcomes following NSE in people with CNSNP. Two independent reviewers will oversee the searching, screening, data extraction and assessment of risk of bias. The risk of bias will be assessed using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) and Risk-Of-Bias tool for randomised trials 2 (ROB 2). The quality of evidence will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach (GRADE). Using standardised forms, details regarding study characteristics, baseline features (predictive factors), intervention, primary outcome and effect size (OR and 95% CI of each predictive factor and p value) will be extracted from included studies. Meta-analyses will be considered, if the studies are sufficiently homogeneous and if three or more studies investigate the same or comparable factors that predict the same response (pain intensity or disability). In the event that less than three studies investigated the same factors, a narrative synthesis will be conducted.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval will not be required as this review will be based on published studies. The results of this study will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and presented at conferences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42023408332.
Leveraging augmentation techniques for tasks with unbalancedness within the financial domain: a two-level ensemble approach
Authors: Ranjbaran Golshid , Reforgiato Recupero Diego , Lombardo Gianfranco , Consoli Sergio 
Published: July 2023

AbstractModern financial markets produce massive datasets that need to be analysed using new modelling techniques like those from (deep) Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. The common goal of these techniques is to forecast the behaviour of the market, which can be translated into various classification tasks, such as, for instance, predicting the likelihood of companies’ bankruptcy or in fraud detection systems. However, it is often the case that real-world financial data are unbalanced, meaning that the classes’ distribution is not equally represented in such datasets. This gives the main issue since any Machine Learning model is trained according to the majority class mainly, leading to inaccurate predictions. In this paper, we explore different data augmentation techniques to deal with very unbalanced financial data. We consider a number of publicly available datasets, then apply state-of-the-art augmentation strategies to them, and finally evaluate the results for several Machine Learning models trained on the sampled data. The performance of the various approaches is evaluated according to their accuracy, micro, and macro F1 score, and finally by analyzing the precision and recall over the minority class. We show that a consistent and accurate improvement is achieved when data augmentation is employed. The obtained classification results look promising and indicate the efficiency of augmentation strategies on financial tasks. On the basis of these results, we present an approach focused on classification tasks within the financial domain that takes a dataset as input, identifies what kind of augmentation technique to use, and then applies an ensemble of all the augmentation techniques of the identified type to the input dataset along with an ensemble of different methods to tackle the underlying classification.
RNA polymerase is a unique Maxwell’s demon that converts its transcribing genetic information to free energy for its movement
Authors: Tsuruyama Tatsuaki 
Published: July 2023

AbstractRNA polymerase (RNAP) catalyzes RNA synthesis from template DNA via translocation on the DNA. The experimental value of the free energy change required for RNAP translocation exhibits an unexplainable discrepancy. To address this, we propose a transcription system model based on information thermodynamics. The state function of RNAP was defined from its position on the template DNA (m), its migration direction (d), and the deoxyribonucleotide (dNTP) that it transcribes (N). Based on the state function, the free energy change in the RNAP translocation was defined as the sum of ΔGd in the movement fluctuation or the mutual entropy term kBTlogP(N) from the appearance probability P(N) of N to be transcribed by RNAP. In conclusion, a discrepancy in free energy change values is due to either ΔGd or kBTlogP(N) involvement. The discrepancy highlights that RNAP is a unique information-work converter or Maxwell’s demon that can feed back the obtained dNTP-type information into its self-movement along the DNA.
Synthesizing a Smarter CAR T Cell: Advanced Engineering of T-cell Immunotherapies
Authors: Zhu Iowis , Piraner Dan I. , Roybal Kole T. 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
The immune system includes an array of specialized cells that keep us healthy by responding to pathogenic cues. Investigations into the mechanisms behind immune cell behavior have led to the development of powerful immunotherapies, including chimeric-antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. Although CAR T cells have demonstrated efficacy in treating blood cancers, issues regarding their safety and potency have hindered the use of immunotherapies in a wider spectrum of diseases. Efforts to integrate developments in synthetic biology into immunotherapy have led to several advancements with the potential to expand the range of treatable diseases, fine-tune the desired immune response, and improve therapeutic cell potency. Here, we examine current synthetic biology advances that aim to improve on existing technologies and discuss the promise of the next generation of engineered immune cell therapies.
Investigation on novel natural gas fueled homogeneous charge compression ignition engine based combined power and cooling system
Authors: Al-Mughanam Tawfiq , Khaliq Abdul 
Published: July 2023

A significant part of energy of fuel supplied is lost in internal combustion engines in the form of atmospheric discharge of engine exhaust gases which are considered as a big source of engine inefficiency and formation of pollutant emissions. To address this issue, a bottoming cycle combining the transcritical CO2 (T-CO2) refrigeration cycle and the supercritical CO2 (sCO2) power cycle is employed, aiming to produce cooling for food preservation by utilizing the exhaust heat of homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine powering the refrigerated truck. The operative variables and their effect on thermal and exergetic efficiency of HCCI engine and the combined system are investigated. At the base case operative conditions, the thermal and exergy efficiencies of natural gas fueled HCCI engine are improved significantly from 48.69% to 61.28% and from 41.14% to 42.79%, respectively, after employing the sCO2 powered T-CO2 refrigeration cycle. Promotion of equivalence ratio from 0.3 to 0.9 enhances the thermal and exergy efficiencies of HCCI engine from 47.44% to 49.54% and from 40.14% to 42.12%, respectively. Increasing of engine speed from 1400 r.p.m to 2200 r.p.m provides marginal improvement in HCCI engine efficiencies but the efficiencies of combined cycle are significantly improved from 57.67% to 65.18% and from 40.64% to 45.06%, respectively. Finally, exergy analysis applied to determine the sources of non-idealities within the system revealed that out 361 kW (100%) fuel exergy supplied to the system, HCCI engine destroys 93.31 kW (25.85%), catalytic convertor destroys15.49 kW (4.29%), and the in-cylinder heat transfer losses and system exhaust losses are found as 35.72 kW (9.91%) and 16.61 kW (4.61%), respectively.
Inhibition of Tumor Glycolysis by Umbelliferone and its Binding to Glycolytic Proteins
Authors: Peng Kangbo , Wang Yingxiao , Lei Xia , Wang Yang , Yang Yanfang , Wu Song-Tao 
Published: July 2023

Background and Objectives Both primary and secondary cancers require the involvement of glycolytic pathways. Cancer cell proliferation leads to the upregulation of glycolysis, which results in increased glucose consumption. For demonstrating that umbelliferone can effectively bind to several proteins involved in the glycolytic pathway, thereby inhibiting glycolysis and reducing cancer cell proliferation. Materials and Methods This study uses transcriptomics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking to predict the potential targets and possible pathways of umbelliferone against cancer and microscale thermophoresis (MST) to detect the affinity between umbelliferone and potential targets. Results Transcriptomic analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes were primarily associated with glycolytic and other metabolic pathways and proteins. According to network pharmacology and molecular docking results, glycolysis-related proteins such as glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI), glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, mitochondrial (GPD2), phosphoglycerate kinase 2 (PGK2), and heat shock protein HSP-90 alpha (Hsp90AA1) are potential targets of umbelliferone against tumors. MST confirmed that umbelliferous lactone binds strongly to GPI, GPD2, and PGK2 but not to Hsp90AA1. Conclusion By binding to the glycolysis-related proteins such as GPI, GPD2, and PGK2, umbelliferone acts as an anti-tumor agent by inhibiting glycolysis, cutting off the energy supply to tumor tissue, and reducing tumor growth. It was suggested that umbelliferone might be a brand-new tumor glycolysis inhibitor and that these glycolysis-related proteins might be potential new targets for cancer therapy. This finding helped to establish a solid foundation for the anti-cancer action of umbelliferone.
A roadmap for research in post-stroke fatigue: Consensus-based core recommendations from the third Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable
Authors: English Coralie , Simpson Dawn B , Billinger Sandra A , Churilov Leonid , Coupland Kirsten G , Drummond Avril , Kuppuswamy Annapoorna , Kutlubaev Mansur A , Lerdal Anners , Mahmood Amreen , Moseley G Lorimer , Pittman Quentin J , Riley Ellyn A , Sutherland Brad A , Wong Connie HY , Corbett Dale , Mead Gillian 
Published: July 2023

Rationale: Fatigue affects almost half of all people living with stroke. Stroke survivors rank understanding fatigue and how to reduce it as one of the highest research priorities. Methods: We convened an interdisciplinary, international group of clinical and pre-clinical researchers and lived experience experts. We identified four priority areas: (1) best measurement tools for research, (2) clinical identification of fatigue and potentially modifiable causes, (3) promising interventions and recommendations for future trials, and (4) possible biological mechanisms of fatigue. Cross-cutting themes were aphasia and the voice of people with lived experience. Working parties were formed and structured consensus building processes were followed. Results: We present 20 recommendations covering outcome measures for research, development, and testing of new interventions and priority areas for future research on the biology of post-stroke fatigue. We developed and recommend the use of the Stroke Fatigue Clinical Assessment Tool. Conclusions: By synthesizing current knowledge in post-stroke fatigue across clinical and pre-clinical fields, our work provides a roadmap for future research into post-stroke fatigue.
Targeting conditioned media dependencies and FLT-3 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Parvin Salma , Aryal Aditi , Yin Shanye , Fell Geoffrey G. , Davids Matthew S. , Wu Catherine J. , Letai Anthony 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
The importance of the stromal microenvironment in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) pathogenesis and drug resistance is well established. Despite recent advances in CLL therapy, identifying novel ways to disrupt interactions between CLL and its microenvironment may identify new combination partners for the drugs currently in use. To understand the role of microenvironmental factors on primary CLL cells, we took advantage of an observation that conditioned media (CM) collected from stroma was protective of CLL cells from spontaneous cell death ex vivo. The cytokine in the CM-dependent cells that most supports CLL survival in short-term ex vivo culture was CCL2. Pretreatment of CLL cells with anti-CCL2 antibody enhanced venetoclax-mediated killing. Surprisingly, we found a group of CLL samples (9/23 cases) that are less likely to undergo cell death in the absence of CM support. Functional studies revealed that CM-independent (CMI) CLL cells are less sensitive to apoptosis than conventional stroma-dependent CLL. In addition, a majority of the CMI CLL samples (80%) harbored unmutated immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable (IGHV) region. Bulk-RNA sequence analysis revealed upregulation of the focal adhesion and RAS signaling pathways in this group, along with expression of fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) and CD135. Treatment with FLT3 inhibitors caused a significant reduction in cell viability among CMI samples. In summary, we were able to discriminate and target 2 biologically distinct subgroups of CLL based on CM dependence with distinct microenvironmental vulnerabilities.
Feasibility trial for the management of severe acute malnutrition in older children with sickle cell anemia in Nigeria
Authors: Abdullahi Shehu U. , Gambo Safiya , Murtala Hassan Adam , Kabir Halima , Shamsu Khadija A. , Gwarzo Garba , Acra Sari , Stallings Virginia A. , Rodeghier Mark , DeBaun Michael R. , Klein Lauren J. 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) living in Nigeria are at an increased risk of malnutrition, which contributes to increased morbidity and mortality. However, evidence-based guidelines for managing malnutrition in children with SCA are lacking. To address this gap, we conducted a multicenter, randomized controlled feasibility trial to assess the feasibility and safety of treating children with SCA aged from 5 to 12 years and having uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition (body mass index z score of &lt;−3.0). Children with SCA and uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition were randomly allocated to receive supplemental ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) with or without moderate-dose hydroxyurea therapy (20 mg/kg per day). Over a 6-month enrollment period, 3190 children aged from 5 to 12 years with SCA were evaluated for eligibility, and 110 of 111 children who were eligible were enrolled. During the 12-week trial, no participants withdrew or missed visits. One participant died of unrelated causes. Adherence was high for hydroxyurea (94%, based on pill counts) and RUTF (100%, based on the number of empty sachets returned). No refeeding syndrome event or hydroxyurea-related myelosuppression occurred. At the end of the trial, the mean change in body mass index z score was 0.49 (standard deviation = 0.53), and 39% of participants improved their body mass index z score to ≥−3.0. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility, safety, and potential of outpatient treatment for uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition in children with SCA aged from 5 to 12 years in a low-resource setting. However, RUTF sharing with household and community members potentially confounded the response to malnutrition treatment. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03634488
Exploring right ovary degeneration in duck and goose embryos by histology and transcriptome dynamics analysis
Authors: Ran Mingxia , Ouyang Qingyuan , Li Xuejian , Hu Shenqiang , Hu Bo , Hu Jiwei , Dong Dan , Li Liang , He Hua , Liu Hehe , Wang Jiwen 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Background
The development of asymmetric chick gonads involves separate developmental programs in the left and right gonads. In contrast to the left ovary developing into a fully functional reproductive organ, the right ovary undergoes gradual degeneration. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the the degeneration of the right ovary remain incompletely understood. In the present study, we investigated the histomorphological and transcriptomic changes in the right ovary of ducks and geese during the the embryonic stage up to post-hatching day 1.

Result
Hematoxylin–eosin stainings revealed that the right ovary developed until embryonic day 20 in ducks (DE20) or embryonic day 22 in geese (GE22), after which it started to regress. Further RNA-seq analyses revealed that both the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ducks and geese right ovary developmental stage were significantly enriched in cell adhesion-related pathway (ECM-receptor interaction, Focal adhesion pathway) and Cellular senescence pathway. Then during the degeneration stage, the DEGs were primarily enriched in pathways associated with inflammation, including Herpes simplex virus 1 infection, Influenza A, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. Moreover, duck-specific DEGs showed enrichment in Steroid hormone biosynthesis, Base excision repair, and the Wnt signaling pathway, while geese-specifically DEGs were found to be enriched in apoptosis and inflammation-related pathways, such as Ferroptosis, Necroptosis, RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathway, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway. These findings suggest that the degeneration process of the right ovary in ducks occurs at a slower pace compared to that in geese. Additionally, the observation of the left ovary of the geese varying degeneration rates in the right ovary after hatching indicated that the development of the left ovary may be influenced by the degeneration of the right ovary.

Conclusion
The data presented in this study provide valuable insights into the dynamic changes in histological structure and transcriptome during the degeneration of the right ovary in ducks and geese. In addition, through the analysis of shared characteristics in the degeneration process of the right ovary in both ducks and geese, we have uncovered the patterns of degradation and elucidated the molecular mechanisms involved in the regression of the right ovary in poultry. Furthermore, we have also made initial discoveries regarding the relationship between the degeneration of the right ovary and the development of the left ovary.
Socioeconomic inequality in early sexual initiation among female youths in sub-Saharan African countries: a decomposition analysis
Authors: Fentie Elsa Awoke , Kidie Atitegeb Abera , Fetene Samrawit Mihret , Shewarega Ever Siyoum 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Introduction
Youths are defined as individuals within the age group 15–24 years. It is the transitional stage from childhood to adulthood with biological, social, and psychological change, so it is a time of risk and opportunity for their future life. Early sexual initiation exposes young people to various social, economic, sexual, and reproductive health issues, such as unwanted adolescent pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, unsafe abortion, cervical cancer, and early marriages. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the presence of socioeconomic inequality in early sexual initiation and contributing factors in sub-Saharan African countries.

Methods
A total of 118,932 weighted female youths from SSA countries’ DHS data were included in the study. Socioeconomic inequality of Early sexual initiation was evaluated using the Erreygers znormalized concentration index and associated concentration curve. Decomposition analysis was performed to determine those factors causing socioeconomic-related inequality.

Results
The weighted Erreygers normalized concentration index of wealth-related inequality of early sexual initiation was − 0.157 with a Standard error = 0.0046 (P value < 0.0001); this indicated that early sexual initiation was disproportionately concentrated among the poor (pro-poor). Moreover, the weighted Erreygers normalized concentration index (ECI) of educational status-related inequality of early sexual initiation was − 0.205 with a Standard error = 0.0043 (P value < 0.0001). This indicated that early sexual initiation was disproportionately concentrated among youths with no formal education. The decomposition analysis revealed that mass media exposure, wealth index, place of residency, religion, marital status, educational status, and age were significant contributors to the pro-poor socioeconomic inequalities in early sexual initiation.

Conclusion and recommendation
This study has revealed pro-poor inequality in early sexual initiation. Therefore, priority must be given to modifiable factors such as promoting the accessibility of media exposure in the household, improving the educational opportunity of female youths, and improving their country’s economy to a higher economic level to improve the wealth status of the population.