bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
DETECTION AND CLASSIFICATION OF PLANT LEAF DISEASES USING DIGTAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHODS: A REVIEW
Authors: Mohammed Lele , Yusoff Yusliza 
Published: February 2023

Prediction and classification of plant leaf illnesses by farmers using conventional approaches can be unexciting and erroneous. Problems may occur while trying to predict the sort of illnesses manually. Inability to detect diseases of plants promptly could lead to the destruction of crop plants and this can cause serious decline in the yield. Losses can be prevented and yield be maximized when farmers adopt computerized image processing approaches in their farms. Numerous techniques have been proposed and used in the prediction of diseases of crop plants based on the images of the infected leaves. Researchers have in the past achieved a lot in the aspect of plant illnesses identification by exploring several techniques and models. However, improvement needs to be provided on account of reviews, new advancements and discussions. Deploying technology can greatly enhance crop production across the globe. Different approaches and models can be trained with huge data to identify new improved methods for uncovering diseases of plants to tackle problem of low yield. Previous works have determined the robustness of various image processing techniques such as; K-means clustering, Naive Bayes, Feed forward neutral network (FFNN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-nearest neighbor (KNN) classifier, Fuzzy logic, Genetic Algorithm (GA), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) etc. This paper provides a critical review and results of different types of approaches and methods used previously to detect and classify various types of plant leaf illnesses using image processing approaches.
Managing seismic hazard from induced earthquakes in central Arkansas through cooperation between scientific and regulatory agencies
Authors: Horton Stephen P. , Ausbrooks Scott M. , Ogwari Paul O. 
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACTAfter the first saltwater disposal (SWD) wells associated with the development of the Fayetteville Shale became operational in April 2009, central Arkansas experienced an increase in the rate of earthquakes with M ≤4.7. This seismic activity in the Fayetteville Shale development area (FSDA) included both natural and induced earthquakes that often occurred in spatial and temporal clusters. The Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI) and the Arkansas Geological Survey (AGS) closely monitored the area using a permanent network of seismograph stations, augmented by portable real-time broadband stations, to focus on specific sites of suspected induced seismicity. Any concerns were communicated directly to the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC), the agency charged with regulating SWD wells in the state.The largest and most significant cluster of induced earthquakes in the FSDA occurred between August 2010 and July 2011, when thousands of earthquakes (M ≤4.7) occurred on the Guy-Greenbrier fault, which had not been mapped prior to the earthquakes. Since a 13-km-long fault can potentially produce a M 6 earthquake if it slips as a single event, CERI and AGS staff testified at an AOGC hearing in July 2011 that continued fluid injection into SWD wells near the fault could potentially trigger a damaging earthquake. Operators voluntarily shut down and plugged three nearby SWD wells. Another SWD well operator was ordered (by the AOGC) to shut down and plug their well. Earthquake activity dramatically decreased on the Guy-Greenbrier fault and ceased soon after shut-in, thus providing strong supporting evidence that the earthquakes were induced. The AOGC also established a moratorium that prohibited SWD well operations in the area surrounding the fault and rules governing proximity of new SWD wells to mapped faults and proximity of SWD wells to each other. When the price of natural gas rises to make development cost effective, we anticipate the new rules will help to minimize the occurrence of felt and potentially damaging earthquakes.Although the Guy-Greenbrier earthquake sequence ended in 2011, earthquakes still occurred within the FSDA. While some of these earthquakes were within 10 km of active SWD wells, many other earthquakes were not close to any SWD well. We identified 156 earthquakes M ≤3.4 from the regional catalog that occurred between 2012 and 2016 that were within 5 km of a natural-gas production well during the hydraulic fracturing window posted by the AOGC. This suggests that these earthquakes may have been induced by hydraulic fracturing.
Afatinib in combination with GEMOX chemotherapy as the adjuvant treatment in patients with ErbB pathway mutated, resectable gallbladder cancer: study protocol for a ctDNA-based, multicentre, open-label, randomised, controlled, phase II trial
Authors: Yang Mao , Zhao Yuhao , Li Yongsheng , Cui Xuya , Liu Fatao , Wu Wenguang , Wang Xu-An , Li Maolan , Liu Yun , Liu Yingbin 
Published: February 2023

IntroductionGallbladder cancer (GBC) is an aggressive type of digestive system cancer with a dismal outcome. Given the lack of effective treatment options, the disease rapidly reoccurs and 5-year survival rate is <5%. Our team previously found that a significant percentage of GBC tissues harboured mutations of the ErbB-related pathway. Afatinib is a chemically synthesised drug specifically targeting the ErbB pathway mutations. However, its efficacy in the treatment of patients with GBC remains unknown. Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) refers to a proportion of cell-free DNA in the blood which is released by apoptotic and necrotic cells from tumours in situ, metastatic foci or circulating tumour cells. ctDNA-based liquid biopsy is a non-invasive pathological detection method that offers additional value to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of antitumour drugs.Methods and analysisWe conduct a multicentre and randomised study on afatinib combined with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GEMOX) in patients with ErbB pathway mutated GBC. Clinical and biological evaluation involving ErbB pathway ctDNA detection will be made during the 3-year follow-up after participation. The primary objective of this clinical trial is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of afatinib. Disease-free survival is the primary end point and will be correlated with plasma ctDNA of patients in the treatment with afatinib. In addition, we will evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of plasma ctDNA for monitoring tumour recurrence and progression. Finally, we will assess the safety of afatinib by keeping an eye on the safety indicators.Ethics and disseminationThe study was approved by the medical-ethical review committee of Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. The clinical trials results, even inconclusive, will be published in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberNCT04183712.
Smartphone-supported behavioural weight loss treatment in adults with severe obesity: study protocol for an exploratory randomised controlled trial (SmartBWL)
Authors: Hilbert Anja , Juarascio Adrienne , Prettin Christiane , Petroff David , Schlögl Haiko , Hübner Claudia 
Published: February 2023

IntroductionBehavioural weight loss (BWL) treatment is the standard evidence-based treatment for severe obesity (SO; body mass index ≥40.0 kg/m2or ≥35.0 kg/m2with obesity-related comorbidity), leading to moderate weight loss which often cannot be maintained in the long term. Because weight loss depends on patients’ use of weight management skills, it is important to support them in daily life. In an ecological momentary intervention design, this clinical trial aims to adapt, refine and evaluate a personalised cognitive-behavioural smartphone application (app) in BWL treatment to foster patients’ weight management skills use in everyday life. It is hypothesised that using the app is feasible and acceptable, improves weight loss and increases skills use and well-being.Methods and analysisIn the pilot phase, the app will be adapted, piloted and optimised for BWL treatment following a participatory patient-oriented approach. In the subsequent single-centre, assessor-blind, exploratory randomised controlled trial, 90 adults with SO will be randomised to BWL treatment over 6 months with versus without adjunctive app. Primary outcome is the amount of weight loss (kg) at post-treatment (6 months), compared with pretreatment, derived from measured body weight. Secondary outcomes encompass feasibility, acceptance, weight management skills use, well-being and anthropometrics assessed at pretreatment, midtreatment (3 months), post-treatment (6 months) and 6-month follow-up (12 months). An intent-to-treat linear model with randomisation arm, pretreatment weight and stratification variables as covariates will serve to compare arms regarding weight at post-treatment. Secondary analyses will include linear mixed models, generalised linear models and regression and mediation analyses. For safety analysis (serious) adverse events will be analysed descriptively.Ethics and disseminationThe study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Leipzig (DE-21-00013674) and notified to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices. Study results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications.RegistrationThis study was registered at the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00026018), www.drks.de.Trial registration numberDRKS00026018
Existing gaps and missed opportunities in delivering quality nutrition services in primary healthcare: a descriptive analysis of patient experience and provider competence in 11 low-income and middle-income countries
Authors: Ramadan Marwa , Muthee Tonny B , Okara Latifat , Feil Cameron , Villar Uribe Manuela 
Published: February 2023

ObjectivesTo assess the competence of primary healthcare (PHC) providers in delivering maternal and child nutrition services at the PHC level and patients’ experience in receiving the recommended components of care.DesignObservational cross-sectional analysis.SettingHealthcare facilities in low/middle-income countries (LMICs) with available service provision assessment surveys (Afghanistan (2018), Democratic Republic of Congo (2018), Haiti (2017), Kenya (2010), Malawi (2013–2014), Namibia (2009), Nepal (2015), Rwanda (2007), Senegal (2018), Tanzania (2015) and Uganda (2007).Participants18 644 antenatal visits and 23 262 sick child visits in 8458 facilities across 130 subnational areas in 11 LMICs from 2007 to 2019.Outcomes(1) Provider competence assessed as the direct observations of actions performed during antenatal care (ANC) and sick child visits; and (2) patients’ experience defined as the self-reported awareness of the nutrition services received during ANC and sick child visits and provider effectiveness in delivering these services.ResultsExcept for DRC, all countries scored below 50% on patients’ experience and provider competence. More than 70% of clients were advised on taking iron supplements during pregnancy; however, less than 32% of patients were advised on iron side effects in all the studied countries. Across all countries, providers commonly took anthropometric measurements of expectant mothers and children; however, such assessments were rarely followed up with advice or counselling about growth patterns. In addition, less than 20% of observed providers advised on early/immediate breast feeding in all countries with available data.ConclusionThe 11 assessed countries demonstrated the delivery of limited nutrition services; nonetheless, the apparent deficiency in the extent and depth of questions asked for the majority of tracer activities revealed significant opportunities for improving the quality of nutrition service delivery at the PHC level.
Prevalence and risk factors of chronic kidney disease among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at a tertiary care hospital in Nepal: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Joshi Rinku , Subedi Prativa , Yadav Gopal Kumar , Khadka Sitaram , Rijal Thaneshwar , Amgain Kapil , Rajbhandari Sabin 
Published: February 2023

ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and determine the sociodemographic and clinical risk factors associated with CKD.Design and settingsCross-sectional study among diabetic outpatients of a tertiary hospital in Nepal.Participants201 patients with T2DM above 18 years of age.InterventionParticipants completed a questionnaire regarding their socioeconomic information and underwent pertinent physical and haematological examinations.Primary and secondary outcomes measureThe prevalence and risk factors of CKD among patients with T2DM.ResultsThe prevalence of CKD in T2DM was 86.6%. In univariable analysis, the variables like age (p=0.026), hypertension status (p=0.002), duration of diabetes (p=0.009) and haemoglobin levels (p=0.027) were significantly associated with CKD among the participants with T2DM. Kruskal-Wallis H test showed that age was significantly different between various CKD stages. Multivariate analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between CKD with age (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3, 95% CI 1.1 to 8.8) and literacy status (AOR 5.8, 95% CI 1.4 to 24.6)ConclusionAdvancing age, concomitant hypertension, increasing duration of T2DM and presence of anaemia were found to be important risk factors of CKD. Age is the most important predictor of CKD showing increasing prevalence in the elderly population. Periodic screening tests are essential at an early age to identify kidney diseases at incipient stages, thereby preventing progression to end-stage renal disease.
Protocol of a randomised controlled trial to assess medical staff’s inhalation exposure to infectious particles exhaled by patients during oesophagogastroduodenoscopy and the efficacy of surgical masks in this context
Authors: Zhang Shengyu , Yan Zhiyu , Zhang Yuheng , Wu Xi , Liu Li , Yang Aiming , Duan Mengjie 
Published: February 2023

BackgroundAerosol-generating procedures such as oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) result in infectious particles being exhaled by patients. This substantially increases the medical staff’s risk of occupational exposure to pathogenic particles via airway inhalation and facial mucosal deposition. Infectious particles are regarded as a key route of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and, thus, represents a major risk factor for medical staff during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need for quantitative evidence on medical staff’s risk of multiroute exposure to infectious particles exhaled by patients during OGD to enable the development of practical, feasible and economical methods of risk-reduction for use in OGD and related procedures. This randomised controlled trial (RCT)—Personal protective EquiPment intervention TrIal for oesophagogastroDuodEnoscopy (PEPTIDE)—aims to establish a state-of-the-art protocol for quantifying the multiroute exposure of medical staff to infectious particles exhaled by patients during real OGD procedures.Method and analysisPEPTIDE will be a prospective, two-arm, RCT using quantitative methods and will be conducted at a tertiary hospital in China. It will enrol 130 participants (65 per group) aged over 18. The intervention will be an anthropomorphic model with realistic respiratory-related morphology and respiratory function that simulates a medical staff member. This model will be used either without or with a surgical mask, depending on the group allocation of a participant, and will be placed beside the participants as they undergo an OGD procedure. The primary outcome will be the anthropomorphic model’s airway dosage of the participants’ exhaled infectious particles with or without a surgical mask, and the secondary outcome will be the anthropomorphic model’s non-surgical mask-covered facial mucosa dosage of the participants’ exhaled infectious particles. Analyses will be performed in accordance with the type of data collected (categorical or quantitative data) using SPSS (V.26.0) and RStudio (V.1.3.959).Ethics and disseminationEthical approval for this RCT was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Peking Union Medical College Hospital (ZS-3377). All of the potential participants who agree to participate will provide their written informed consent before they are enrolled. The results will be disseminated through presentations at national and international conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberNCT05321056.
Brief self-guided digital intervention versus a comprehensive therapist-guided online cognitive behavioural therapy for atopic dermatitis: a trial protocol for a randomised non-inferiority trial
Authors: Kern Dorian , Ljótsson Brjánn , Lönndahl Louise , Hedman-Lagerlöf Erik , Bradley Maria , Lindefors Nils , Kraepelien Martin 
Published: February 2023

IntroductionOur aim is to investigate whether a shortened digital self-care intervention is non-inferior to, and cost-effective compared with, a comprehensive and therapist-guided cognitive behavioural therapy treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD).Methods and analysisThis is a single-blind, randomised clinical non-inferiority trial at Karolinska Institutet, a medical university in Stockholm, Sweden. We will recruit 174 adult participants with AD through self-referral. Participants will be randomised 1:1 to the two experimental conditions. Participants randomised to guided care will receive internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for 12 weeks. Participants randomised to digital self-care will have access to this self-guided intervention for 12 weeks. At post-treatment (primary endpoint), non-inferiority will be tested and resource use will be compared between the two treatment groups. Cost-effectiveness will be explored at 1-year follow-up. Potential mediators will be investigated. Data will be analysed intention to treat. We define non-inferiority as a three-point difference on the primary outcome measure (Patient-oriented Eczema Measure). Recruitment started in November 2022.Ethics and disseminationThis study is approved by the Swedish ethics authority (reg. no 2021-06704-01) and is preregistered at ClinicalTrials.gov. The study will be reported according to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement for non-pharmacological trials. The results of the study will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and disseminated to patient organisations and media.Trial registration numberNCT05517850.
Characterising the speech phenotype in individuals with craniofacial microsomia: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Kinter Sara , Kotlarek Katelyn , Meehan Anna , Heike Carrie 
Published: February 2023

IntroductionAsymmetric mandibular hypoplasia, microtia, tongue and laryngeal anomalies, and soft palate and facial nerve dysfunction are clinical features observed in children with craniofacial microsomia (CFM). Despite involvement of all these structures in hearing and speech, there is limited evidence reporting speech outcomes in this population. Systematic reviews of clinical and surgical interventions related to CFM have been published, but no methodological review of speech outcomes exists. This scoping review will summarise what is known about speech production in individuals with CFM as well as illustrate gaps in the existing body of literature that will guide future research.Methods/analysisThis review will follow the methodological framework for scoping reviews first reported by Arksey & O’Malley and revised by Levac and others. Databases searched will include Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and grey literature. Articles reporting any parameter of speech production in individuals with CFM will be considered for inclusion. Articles published in a language other than English will be excluded. Articles will be screened in three stages: (1) title review, (2) abstract review and (3) full text review. Ten per cent of articles will be rescreened by a second reviewer. Reference lists will be hand reviewed to identify additional relevant articles. Data charting will capture article metadata, study population and design, CFM diagnostic criteria, speech outcome measurement and key findings. The Preferred Reporting Systems for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols-Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist will guide reporting of results. Descriptive analysis and data visualisation strategies will be used.Ethics and disseminationInstitutional review board approval is not required for a scoping review, as it does not directly involve human subjects. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication as well as conference presentation.
Venetoclax improves CD20 immunotherapy in a mouse model of MYC/BCL2 double-expressor diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Authors: Melchor Javier , Garcia-Lacarte Marcos , Grijalba Sara C. , Arnaiz-Leché Adrián , Pascual Marién , Panizo Carlos , Blanco Oscar , Segura Victor , Novo Francisco J. , Valero Juan Garcia , Pérez-Galán Patricia , Martinez-Climent Jose A. , Roa Sergio 
Published: February 2023

BackgroundApproximately one-third of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients exhibit co-expression of MYC and BCL2 (double-expressor lymphoma, DEL) and have a dismal prognosis. Targeted inhibition of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL2 with venetoclax (ABT-199) has been approved in multiple B-cell malignancies and is currently being investigated in clinical trials for DLBCL. Whether BCL2 anti-apoptotic function represents a multifaceted vulnerability for DEL-DLBCL, affecting both lymphoma B cells and T cells within the tumor microenvironment, remains to be elucidated.MethodsHere, we present novel genetically engineered mice that preclinically recapitulate DEL-DLBCL lymphomagenesis, and evaluate their sensitivity ex vivo and in vivo to the promising combination of venetoclax with anti-CD20-based standard immunotherapy.ResultsVenetoclax treatment demonstrated specific killing of MYC+/BCL2+lymphoma cells by licensing their intrinsically primed apoptosis, and showed previously unrecognized immunomodulatory activity by specifically enriching antigen-activated effector CD8 T cells infiltrating the tumors. Whereas DEL-DLBCL mice were refractory to venetoclax alone, inhibition of BCL2 significantly extended overall survival of mice that were simultaneously treated with a murine surrogate for anti-CD20 rituximab.ConclusionsThese results suggest that the combination of anti-CD20-based immunotherapy and BCL2 inhibition leads to cooperative immunomodulatory effects and improved preclinical responses, which may offer promising therapeutic opportunities for DEL-DLBCL patients.