bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Prevalence of Myopia in School-Age Children in Slovakia and the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Pršová Linda , Halička Juraj , Kozár Marek , Kuderavá Zuzana , Pršo Marek , Jakušová Ľubica , Bánovčin Peter , Žiak Peter 
Published: August 2023

Aims: The aim of the authors' study was to determine the prevalence of myopia and premyopia in children and adolescents attending primary school in a village in the north of Slovakia in the period before and after the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Material and methods: Changes in the spherical equivalent and axial length of the eyes were measured in 2019 and 2022 in a group of 47 children and adolescents within the age range of 7–12 years at the time of first measurement. In all the individuals, refraction was measured using an automatic keratorefractometer without the use of cycloplegic eye drops, and axial length was measured with an optical biometer. Refraction was also measured using an automatic keratorefractometer after using cycloplegic eye drops. Results: We recorded a significant change in the mean spherical equivalent (1.02 ±1.16 D vs. 0.72 ±1.29) and the axial length of the eyes (23.05 ±0.72mm vs. 23.30 ±0.74mm) when comparing the measurements from 2019 to 2022. The probands manifested a myopic refractive shift of -0.30 D throughout the entire cohort (-0.24 D in boys and -0.38 D in girls), and the mean axial length increased by 0.2 mm in the entire cohort (by 0.3 mm in boys and 0.2 mm in girls). The percentage of myopic and premyopic eyes increased (4.3% vs. 8.5% a 31.9% vs. 48.9%). Conclusion: We noted a decrease in the spherical equivalent and increase in the axial length of the eyes after the Covid-19 pandemic compared to the period before the pandemic in Slovak school-aged children. During this period, the prevalence of myopia and premyopia increased.
Performances of Closeness and the Staging of Resistance with Mainstream Music
Authors: Schwenck Anna 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Performances of closeness—showing one's uncovered face, physically touching others, rhythmic chanting combined with hand gestures, and collective singing and dancing—were central to pandemic-skeptical protests in Germany. This article shows that publicly performing such intercorporeal practices can become a political act when governments and health professionals promote physical distancing and mask mandates. Moreover, it analyzes how pandemic skeptics used both visual and auditive symbols of resistance against past dictatorships that are popular in Germany's dominant national narrative to legitimate their protest and stage “the people.” Protesters’ invocation of a new totalitarianism closely connects to fears revolving around the erosion of representative democracy in neoliberal times and the emergence of a digitalized world ruled by mega-corporations that is seen to be threatened by anonymity and isolation.
Does Gender Play a Role?
Authors: Daniel Antje , Brunner Markus , Knasmüller Florian 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
After the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic, a heterogeneous protest movement emerged in Austria that managed to mobilize more than 20,000 people to protest against the prevention measures imposed by the government in February 2021. The preliminary results from the survey we conducted in January showed that an unusually large proportion of women participated in these protests. In this article, we aim at exploring the gendered aspects of the protests through the use of a frame analysis. Against the backdrop of an extensive public debate on the gendered ramifications of the pandemic, we also ask whether experiences of double burden were incorporated into the problem definition. We base our analysis on a mixed-methods approach that complements the results of a quantitative protest survey with qualitative interviews, social media analysis, and data from protest observations.
Building Integrated Thermal Energy Storage Systems
Authors: Ekrami Navid 
Published: August 2023

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<p>A ventilated concrete slab (VCS) was designed to be used as thermal energy storage. The slab has implemented air channels inside and can be charged either by air source heat pump or building integrated photovoltaic and thermal (BIPV/T) system. Multiple charging scenarios with different air temperatures, air velocities, concrete temperatures, etc., were studied to identify the effectiveness of the VCS. It was shown that the average concrete temperature increased up to 12.2<sup>o</sup>C when charged directly by BIPV/T system while it increased up to 18.7<sup>o</sup>C when an air source heat pump was used to charge the slab. It was also shown that decrease in the air temperature after passing through the channels highly depend on the air velocity and its source temperature.</p>
<p>Next, an insulated concrete form (ICF) wall was designed as thermal energy storage to be charged through single or double pipe hydronic system when there is excess, or free, or inexpensive energy available. The heat source for charging the ICF is either heat pump or solar thermal collector system. Various charging cycles were modeled and advantages and disadvantages of the ICF thermal energy storage were investigated. It was shown that the maximum of 2,195 kJ can be stored in each single ICF block when charged with heat pump during a six-hour cycle. However, the same ICF block can be charged as much as 2,866 kJ using four flat plate solar collectors in series with 0.02 kg/s mass flowrate.</p>
<p>A typical townhouse model and a bungalow house were modeled using building energy simulations. These models were used to estimate how ICF thermal storage can cover the thermal loads of the buildings. Simulated results showed that as much as 284.5% of the total heating demand of the townhouse and 246.4% of the heating load of the detached house in Toronto weather condition was covered using the solar collectors to charge the basement walls of these buildings. Similarly, using the heat pump to charge the basement ICF walls resulted in storing more than 88 kWh in the townhouse and 140 kWh of energy which was more than two times required heating demand of the buildings.</p>
Inadvertent sabotage: the novice nurse experience in caring for patients with a mental illness in medical-surgical settings
Authors: Fyke Meghan Linda 
Published: August 2023

<p> The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological study was to understand the lived experience of novice nurses in caring for patients with a mental illness within a medical-surgical setting. More specifically, this study explored the experiences of novice nurses who have chosen to work in a medical-surgical setting, but find themselves unexpectedly assigned to a patient whose acute physical illness is complicated by a severe mental illness. A total of seven novice nurses participated in face-to-face interviews. Through data analysis, the overarching theme of inadvertent sabotage emerged. Within this overarching theme, the following four themes illustrated the consequences of this sabotage: (a) “It’s not the care I want to give”, (b) “You can only do so much”, (c) “I am struggling to provide care”, and (d) “We were not given the toolbox”. This study concludes with recommendations for nursing education, research, and health care institutions, to support novice nurses in their endeavors to provide psychiatric care within traditional medical settings. </p>
Biomechanical properties of a novel cervical spine implant with elastic deformation: a cadaveric study
Authors: Abudouaini Haimiti , Wu Tingkui , Meng Yang , Ding Chen , Liu Hao , Beiyu Wang 
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a most frequently used surgical procedure for treating cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy. However, there is concern about the high adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) rate after ACDF surgery. We creatively designed an elastically deformable cervical implant to reduce the postoperative stress concentration. In this study, we aimed to investigate the biomechanical performance of this novel cervical implant and compare it with the commonly used cervical devices.Methods: Biomechanical test was conducted on twelve fresh-frozen human cadaveric cervical spines (C2–C7) and randomly divided into four groups according to implant types: intact group, Zero-P VA fusion (ACDF) group, the novel cervical implant group and Pretic-I artificial cervical disc (ACDR) group. An optical tracking system was used to evaluate the segmental range of motion (ROM) of the C4/C5, C5/C6, and C6/C7 segments and micro pressure sensor was used to record the maximum facet joint pressure (FJP), maximum intradiscal pressure (IDP) at the C4-5 and C6-7 segments.Results: There were no significant differences in the ROM of adjacent segments between the groups. Compared with the intact group, the ACDR group essentially retained the ROM of the operated segment. The novel cervical implant decrease some ROM of the operated segment, but it was still significantly higher than in the fusion group; The maximum FJP and IDP at the adjacent segments in the ACDF group were significantly higher than those values in the other groups, and there were no differences in the other groups.Conclusion: While the newly developed elastically deformable cervical implant does not completely maintain ROM like the artificial cervical disc, it surpasses the fusion device with regards to biomechanical attributes. After further refinement, this novel implant may be suitable for patients who are prone to severe adjacent segment degeneration after fusion surgery but no indication for artificial cervical disc surgery.
Resistance to CLnA-induced ferroptosis is acquired in Caco-2 cells upon differentiation
Authors: Cuvelier Géraldine , Vermonden Perrine , Rousseau Justine , Feron Olivier , Rezsohazy René , Larondelle Yvan 
Published: August 2023

In contrast to canonical ferroptosis inducers, highly peroxidable conjugated linolenic acids (CLnA) directly fuel the lipid peroxidation cascade upon their incorporation into membrane phospholipids. Little is known, however, about the cytotoxicity level of CLnAs to normal epithelial cells. Caco-2 cells, derived from colorectal adenocarcinoma, spontaneously differentiate into enterocyte-like cells over a period of 21 days of cell culturing, allowing for graduated phenotypic shift from proliferative, undifferentiated cells to a functional intestinal barrier. We exploited this property to assess the sensitivity of Caco-2 cells to CLnAs at different stages of differentiation. Our results show a significant decrease in CLnA-induced ferroptotic cell death over time. The acquired resistance aligned with decreases in cell proliferation and in the extent of lipid peroxidation, as well as with an increase in the expression of GPX4 upon differentiation. These results highlight that while CLnAs are highly toxic for proliferating cancer cells, differentiated epithelial cells are resistant to CLnA-induced ferroptosis. Therefore, this study gives credential to the therapeutic use of CLnAs as an anticancer strategy and offers a new model study to further investigate the safety of peroxidable fatty acids in differentiated cells.
Deciphering the binding mechanism of an anti-cancer phytochemical plumbagin with calf thymus DNA using biophysical and in silico techniques
Authors: Rahaman Abdul , Anjum Farah , Kumari Aknita , Shafie Alaa , Alee Mahafooj , Badr Omnia , Khan Shaheer Hasan , Ashour Amal Adnan , Hazazi Ali , Arif Sultan , Zeng Xin-An 
Published: August 2023

Plumbagin (PLM), a plant derivative, is well known for a wide range of therapeutic effects in humans including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-microbial. Cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of this phytochemical has been studied which demands further insight. DNA being a major target for several drugs was taken to study against PLM to understand its effects on the cellular system. UV-Vis spectroscopy has indicated the binding of PLM to ctDNA and dye displacement assays have confirmed the formation of PLM-ctDNA complex. The insignificant changes in circular dichroism spectra suggested that PLM is not affecting the structural makeup of the ctDNA, hence the binding could be peripheral and not intercalating. Further, the relative viscosity and minimal change in melting temperature upon the complex formation supported this finding and confirmed the groove binding of PLM. Molecular docking analysis and simulation studies also show PLM as a minor groove binder to DNA and provide details on the interaction dynamics of PLM-DNA complex. Docking followed by a 100 ns simulation reveals the negative Gibbs free energy change (∆G = −6.6 kcal mol−1), and the formation of a stable complex. The PLM- DNA complex with stable dynamics was further supported by different parameters including RMSD, RMSF, SASA, Rg, and the energy profile of interaction. This study provides an insight into the cytotoxic and genotoxic mechanism of PLM which can be a crucial step forward to exploit its therapeutic potential against several diseases including cancer.
Can spirometry improve the performance of cardiovascular risk model in high-risk Eastern European countries?
Authors: Court Tatyana , Čapková Naděžda , Pająk Andrzej , Tamošiūnas Abdonas , Bobák Martin , Pikhart Hynek 
Published: August 2023

AimsImpaired lung function has been strongly associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. We aimed to assess the additive prognostic value of spirometry indices to the risk estimation of CVD events in Eastern European populations in this study.MethodsWe randomly selected 14,061 individuals with a mean age of 59 ± 7.3 years without a previous history of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases from population registers in the Czechia, Poland, and Lithuania. Predictive values of standardised Z-scores of forced expiratory volume measured in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1 divided by height cubed (FEV1/ht3) were tested. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of CVD events of various spirometry indices over the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) model. The model performance was evaluated using Harrell’s C-statistics, likelihood ratio tests, and Bayesian information criterion.ResultsAll spirometry indices had a strong linear relation with the incidence of CVD events (HR ranged from 1.10 to 1.12 between indices). The model stratified by FEV1/ht3 tertiles had a stronger link with CVD events than FEV1 and FVC. The risk of CVD event for the lowest vs. highest FEV1/ht3 tertile among people with low FRS was higher (HR: 2.35; 95% confidence interval: 1.96–2.81) than among those with high FRS. The addition of spirometry indices showed a small but statistically significant improvement of the FRS model.ConclusionsThe addition of spirometry indices might improve the prediction of incident CVD events particularly in the low-risk group. FEV1/ht3 is a more sensitive predictor compared to other spirometry indices.
Burden of untreated transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy on patients and their caregivers by disease severity: results from a multicenter, non-interventional, real-world study
Authors: Ponti Lucia , Hsu Kristen , Damy Thibaud , Villacorta Eduardo , Verheyen Nicolas , Keohane Denis , Wang Ronnie , Ines Monica , Kumar Nisith , Munteanu Carmen , Cappelli Francesco 
Published: August 2023

BackgroundThe humanistic burden of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is poorly defined.MethodsAn international study to comprehensively characterize the burden of ATTR-CM on patients naïve to disease-modifying therapy and their unpaid primary caregivers using study-specific and established surveys (patients: Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Overall Summary [KCCQ-OS], 12-Item Short Form Health Survey [SF-12], Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS], Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System [PROMIS] Fatigue and Dyspnea; caregivers: SF-12, HADS, PROMIS Fatigue, Zarit Burden Interview [ZBI]). All data were summarized descriptively.Results208 patient and caregiver pairs were included. 86% of patients were male, median age was 81 years, and 91% (141/155 with genetic testing) had wild-type ATTR-CM. Patient responses characterized the mental and physical burden of ATTR-CM, which was numerically higher among those who were New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III (n = 43) vs. class I/II (n = 156). NYHA class III patients had particularly low KCCQ-OS (36) and SF-12 physical component (27) scores, and 67% had a HADS depression score ≥8. Caregivers (median age 68 years; 85% female; 59% spouse of the patient; median duration of caregiving 1.5 years) reported that NYHA III patients more frequently required help with a range of physical activities than NYHA class I/II patients. 51% of caregivers to NYHA class III patients reported at least a mild-to-moderate burden in the ZBI. A plain language summary of this paper can be found as a supplemental material.ConclusionsUntreated ATTR-CM is a burden to both patients and their caregivers.
Evaluation of road network slopes susceptibility to seismically-induced landslides in the Granada Basin (S Spain)
Authors: Román-Herrera J. C. , Delgado J. , Rodríguez-Peces M. J. , Peláez J. A. , Garrido J. 
Published: August 2023

In this work, a method for the fast evaluation of seismically-induced landslides is applied at regional scale in the Granada Basin (southern Spain). The methodology is based on the concept of rigid block but takes into account the variability in input data (geotechnical properties, failure depth and saturation state of the materials) through the use of a logical tree scheme. Input data were combined and evaluated using five different Newmark displacement empirical relations, which are automatically weighted to obtain a final co-seismic landslide susceptibility map. A Geographic Information System system was used to obtain the resulting maps considering the different branches and weights of the logic tree through an specifically developed automatic code written in Phyton. The landslides induced by the 2021 Mw 4.4 events of the Santa Fe seismic series have been used to validate the methodology. This is later used as input along with the road network to analyze the distribution of areas of different susceptibility level. The results obtained show that 1.73% of the total area is characterized by moderate to high susceptibility, being the southern and eastern sections of the Granada basin were more vulnerable slopes are found. When considering only zones around the road network (50 m buffer), it is found that 2.11% of slopes around highways and 1.33% of road slopes have moderate to high susceptibility, especially the A-92 highway and the A-338 road. These roads traverse areas with steep slopes and a combination of hard and soft materials, which increases the susceptibility of disrupted landslides. On the other hand, in more densely populated areas such as the metropolitan area of Granada, the susceptibility is lower due to their location on terrain with low to negligible slopes. The results are of interest for authorities managing slope stabilities because they allow establishing effective and locally-based seismic forecast works in order to minimize the damage of future events.
Platinum-group elements (PGE) in the New Afton alkalic Cu-Au porphyry deposit, Canadian Cordillera, I: relationships between PGE, accessory metals and sulfur isotopes in pyrite
Authors: Boucher Brandon M. , Robb Samuel J. , Hanley Jacob J. , Kerr Mitchell J. , Mungall James E. 
Published: August 2023

The second part of this article can be found here: 10.3389/feart.2023.819109 (DOI). At the late Triassic New Afton alkalic porphyry Cu-Au deposit (British Columbia, Canada), pyrite is a widely distributed minor sulfide phase within hypogene ore where it predates Cu mineralization and hosts significant concentrations of Pd and Pt. Here we characterize pyrite major, minor and trace element composition by EPMA and LA-ICP-MS, and S isotopes (bulk pyrite and in situ SIMS in individual growth zones) to elucidate compositional variations at different stages of pyrite growth with respect to PGE deposition. At least two cycles of zoned Co-Ni-Pd-Pt-Se-As co-enrichment are recorded over two stages of pyrite growth at the New Afton deposit. Concentrations of Co (up to ∼5.5 wt%; highest observed in any reported ore-forming system) and Ni (up to 1 wt%) overlap with pyrite from mafic-ultramafic platinum-group element (PGE) deposits, iron oxide±apatite and iron oxide-copper-gold deposits (IOA-IOCG), and mantle peridotite-associated base metal exhalative deposits. In early hypogene (type I) pyrite, high Pt (up to ∼24 ppm) occurs in crystal cores that have high Co/Ni ratio (&gt;∼7), high Co (&gt;∼ 1 wt%) and are poor in Ni, Se, and As. With progressive growth, early hypogene pyrite rims and late hypogene (type II) cores record an initial Ni-Pd-As-Se (±Co) co-enrichment stage, followed by oscillations in composition (from “barren” to variably Co-Ni-Pd-Pt-As-Se-enriched). Pd in pyrite (up to ∼70 ppm) is inversely correlated to Co/Ni ratio, being enriched when Co/Ni &lt; ∼7 and Ni &gt; ∼1000 ppm. The highest levels of Pd enrichment occur in the most Ni- and Se-enriched growth zones. The transition from early, high Co/Ni (Pt-enriched) to later, low Co/Ni (Pd-enriched) growth zones is accompanied by a decrease in pyrite δ34SVCDT of up to ∼7‰ (4‰ range in single grains) with a total range in composition measured between −5.5‰ and +1.4‰. Subsequent to the shift to lower values, overgrowths of high Co/Ni pyrite formed with values of δ34SVCDT similar to the earliest Co-Pt-rich growth zones. Some combination of fluctuations in temperature and oxygen fugacity related to episodic cooling and hydrothermal recharge involving new pulses of metal-rich magmatic fluids is required to explain the observed metal enrichment patterns and variations in S isotope values. Co-Ni-rich pyrite may be a valuable exploration vector to PGE enrichment in porphyry deposits.
Impact of thyroid-stimulating hormone levels after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation on in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes in women with fresh embryo transfer: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Huang Ning , Chen Lixue , Lian Ying , Chi Hongbin , Qiao Jie 
Published: August 2023

ObjectiveMaternal hypothyroidism before and during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes; many studies have evidenced that controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) triggers a significant increase in the levels of TSH; however, no large-scale prospective studies have evaluated the impact of TSH levels after COH on assisted reproductive technology outcomes. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate whether in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) outcomes are affected by TSH levels after COH in women with fresh embryo transfer (ET).MethodsA total of 664 patients who underwent IVF/ICSI treatment and received fresh ET at the Peking University Third Hospital were included in this study. The rates of clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, live birth, and preterm delivery were analyzed.ResultsThe patients were categorized into two groups based on serum TSH levels after COH (0.55 mIU/L &lt; TSH &lt; 2.5 mIU/L: n= 449, 2.5 mIU/L ≤ TSH ≤ 4.78 mIU/L: n= 215). There were no significant differences in the rates of clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, and live birth between the two groups, even after adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), thyroid antibody positivity, and COH protocols. However, the preterm delivery rate was significantly higher in women with TSH &lt; 2.5 mIU/L than in those with TSH ≥ 2.5 mIU/L, even after adjusting for relevant confounding factors. There was no significant difference in live birth weight between the two groups.DiscussionMildly elevated TSH levels (TSH ≥ 2.5 mIU/L) after COH did not affect IVF/ICSI outcomes, and strict control of TSH levels within 2.5 mIU/L after COH might not be necessary. Additionally, strictly controlled TSH levels (TSH &lt; 2.5 mIU/L) may increase preterm delivery risk.