bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Criss-crossing the Sahara: New dangers to the ambitions of West African migrants
Authors: Adesanya Olusegun Paul , Olominu Oluwatomilade , Idowu Olusegun O. 
Published: April 2023

Background: This study investigates new dangers that West African migrants travelling through the Sahara Desert to Europe contend with. COVID-19 has left an unprecedented impact on all aspects of global politics, migration inclusive. In turn, limitations to migration have drastically increased, especially the stricter visa application measures set by European countries. This intensified attempts at crisscrossing the desert to Europe. In turn, several migrants used the Sahara as the highway to Europe. While some persons successfully travelled through the desert-scape, several others were unsuccessful. Notwithstanding the negative experiences of previous migrants, several other nationals across the region have plans to travel through the desert to Europe. Methods: As a descriptive study, mixed method of qualitative and quantitative approaches to data gathering and analysis were employed. Primary data for the study were gathered through key informants’ interviews with some emigrants, and electronic copies of an open-ended questionnaire were administered to the staffers of certain international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) that are focused on migration. In addition, the chain-referral sampling technique was employed. Through this, certain former migrants who were interviewed suggested other persons with whom interview sessions were conducted, in all 15 persons were interviewed while 85 persons responded to the questionnaire for the study. Results: The findings of the study indicated that there are new dangers to the lives of the migrants travelling through the Sahara Desert. Interesting however is the fact that migrants prefer being in harm’s way in their attempts to access European states illicitly through the Sahara Desert than to remain safe in their home countries in West Africa. Conclusions: The study holds that there are new dangers to the aspirations of West Africans travelling to Europe through the Sahara and the Mediterranean Sea.
The psychological and health benefits of using a continuous glucose monitor for a person with type 1 diabetes: A South African higher education context
Authors: Wells Rossano , Knowles Anria 
Published: April 2023

Background: There has been an increasing focus on the unique health needs and experiences of people with chronic health problems, given health disparities between these groups and the wider population. The focus of this study is on understanding the psychological and health benefits of using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) by people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and to present findings from interviews on their experiences. All interviewees were subsequently invited for intervention at an Open Distance Learning institution in South Africa. Methods: Data were collected using an online semi-structured questionnaire to gather information influencing the study participant’s decision to use CGM during the context of COVID-19. An invitation was sent via Facebook group ‘Type 1 Diabetics South Africa’ and attracted 30 responses. The final study comprised of 10 respondents whose returned questionnaires met the inclusion criteria and took part in the in-depth interviews for analysis using Atlas.ti9 software. Results: The results suggest that T1D participants benefited from using CGM in combating chronic medical and psychological (psychosocial) conditions. Many reported improvements in health and psychological factors; in time monitoring of glucose levels, low events of hypoglycaemia, improved self-confidence, improved concentration span, diminished numbers of hospitalization. Some reported improved socialization, relief from finger pricking pains and better control of life. Graphical representations of the different results will be depicted in tables and figures. Conclusions: The 4th industrial revolution is technology-based and continuous glucose monitoring is a form of artificial intelligence enabling people living with T1 diabetes to make smarter choices more often and at a faster pace with more information. If people with diabetes are unable to access this intelligent technology, they will be at increased risk of complications, hypoglycaemia, reducing their quality of life. The use of CGM by T1D, with complementary psychotherapy, indicated improved health related quality of life.
Healthcare workers’ perspectives on barriers and facilitators to referral and recruitment to diabetes prevention programmes: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Haseldine Clair , O'Donoghue Gráinne , Kearney Patricia M , Riordan Fiona , Cotterill Sarah , McHugh Sheena 
Published: April 2023

Background: Diabetes is a growing global health problem. International guidelines recommend identification, screening, and referral to behavioural programmes for those at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Diabetes prevention programmes (DPPs) can prevent type 2 diabetes in those at high risk, however many eligible participants are not referred to these programmes. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are pivotal to the referral and recruitment processes. This study aims to identify, appraise and synthesise the evidence on barriers and facilitators to referral and recruitment to DPPs from the perspective of HCWs. Methods: A “best fit” framework synthesis method will synthesise qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods evidence on factors that affect HCWs referral and recruitment to DPPs, with the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) as the a priori framework. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Web of Science and Scopus will be searched for primary studies published in English. Year of publication will be restricted to the last 25 years (1997–2022). Quality will be assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. A mix of deductive coding using the TDF and inductive coding of data that does not fit the TDF will be synthesised into themes representing the whole dataset. The relationships between the final set of themes will be explored to create a new model to understand HCWs’ perspectives on referral and recruitment to DPPs. Sensitivity analysis will be carried out this conceptual model. Confidence in the synthesised findings will be assessed using the GRADE-CERQual approach. One author will screen, extract, appraise the literature while a second author will independently verify a 20% sample at each stage. Discussion: Participation in DPPs is key for programme impact. HCWs typically identify those at risk and refer them to DPPs. Understanding HCWs’ perspectives of the barriers and facilitators to referral and recruitment will inform future implementation of DPPs.
The Sensitivity of the Healthy Life Years Indicator: Approaches for Dealing with Age-Specific Prevalence Data
Authors: Di Lego Vanessa , Sauerberg Markus 
Published: April 2023

The Healthy Life Years (HLY) indicator is the official European Union indicator and a cornerstone of many health policies used in over 15 countries in the EU region to set national health plans and monitor targets. It is also used to investigate trends over time in the proportion of total life years spent in good or poor health, socioeconomic inequalities in health and mortality and the male-female health survival paradox. Based on the Global Activity Limitation Indicator (GALI) included in the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), a great amount of effort has been directed at harmonising and making HLY comparable across countries. Nonetheless, the characteristics of the age-specific prevalence distribution are still rarely accounted for, regardless of the fact that patterns of prevalence often fluctuate considerably by age. In addition, the impact of assumptions used at very young ages on HLY estimates are seldom discussed, despite the fact that the majority of policies and initiatives at the EU level use HLY at birth, while data on health is only available after age 16. In this paper, we assess whether smoothing the age-specific prevalence distributions by different methods, extrapolating to older ages and changing assumptions at younger ages affect HLY estimates. Overall, assumptions made before age 15 are the most important and affect women and men differently, thus affecting HLY at birth for some countries. Estimates at age 65 are very slightly impacted. Generalised linear models (GAMs) seem promising for harmonising and extrapolating to older ages, while using polynomials or aggregating into 5-year age groups seem best for younger ages. As most EU policies use HLY at birth and by sex for developing and monitoring health policies, caution is needed when estimating HLY at birth.
* This article belongs to a special issue on “Levels and Trends of Health Expectancy: Understanding its Measurement and Estimation Sensitivity”.
Soil Temperature Prediction Based on 1D-CNN-MLP Neural Network Model
Authors: Wang Yujie , Zhuang Dongling , Xu Jinghui , Wang Yemin 
Published: April 2023

Highlights

To predict soil temperature, a new deep learning model called 1D-CNN-MLP is proposed, which has higher accuracy or faster convergence compared with MLP or LSTM.

Convolutional neural network part in the model could extract and calculate transmission of soil temperature.

Using the non-sequential data of several soil temperature layers combined with the model, we can predict other temperature layers.

The model can greatly reduce the difficulty and cost of soil temperature measurement.

Abstract. Soil temperature plays an important role in agriculture. In order to achieve cost reduction in the sensor arrangement when monitoring soil temperature, a novel model called 1D-CNN-MLP (One dimensional convolutional neural network-Multilayer perceptron) was proposed for soil temperature prediction. Meteorological data and soil temperature data on different soil layers collected for the 2018~2021 period from a weather station in Yangling, China, were used for calculation in our work. Our model was evaluated using statistical measures of MSE (Mean Square error). The model parameters with high operation efficiency and high accuracy are obtained, and the training result records much lower error than MLP (multilayer perceptron) and faster convergence than LSTM (long short-term memory) with an MSE of 0.288 x 10&-3. The 1D-CNN (One-dimensional convolutional neural network) part of the model is used to reveal and extrapolate the law of how soil temperature propagates in different soil layers. In the case where only three layers of soil temperature data are known, the characteristic temperature layer depths of 10 cm, 15 cm, and 40 cm, are selected to place sensors and obtain the best prediction effect of soil temperature at different depths of 5 to 160 cm with a RMSE (Root mean squared error) of 1.988?. The model may help users with improved and economical soil temperature prediction and control, thus boosting crop yield. Ultimately, we found the model has a relatively poor performance in the accuracy of deep soil temperature prediction when only three layers of soil temperature data are known, and it is suggested that the model can be further optimized in terms of kernel parameter setting, data composition, and the variation law of deep soil temperature. Keywords: 1D-CNN, MLP, Soil temperature prediction.
Translation of immunomodulatory therapy to treat chronic heart failure: Preclinical studies to first in human
Authors: Humes H. David , Aaronson Keith D. , Buffington Deborah A. , Sabbah Hani N. , Westover Angela J. , Yessayan Lenar T. , Szamosfalvi Balazs , Pagani Francis D. 
Published: April 2023

Background
Inflammation has been associated with progression and complications of chronic heart failure (HF) but no effective therapy has yet been identified to treat this dysregulated immunologic state. The selective cytopheretic device (SCD) provides extracorporeal autologous cell processing to lessen the burden of inflammatory activity of circulating leukocytes of the innate immunologic system.

Aim
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the SCD as an extracorporeal immunomodulatory device on the immune dysregulated state of HF. HF.

Methods and results
SCD treatment in a canine model of systolic HF or HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) diminished leukocyte inflammatory activity and enhanced cardiac performance as measured by left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction and stroke volume (SV) up to 4 weeks after treatment initiation. Translation of these observations in first in human, proof of concept clinical study was evaluated in a patient with severe HFrEFHFrEF ineligible for cardiac transplantation or LV LV assist device (LVAD) due to renal insufficiency and right ventricular dysfunction. Six hour SCD treatments over 6 consecutive days resulted in selective removal of inflammatory neutrophils and monocytes and reduction in key plasma cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α),), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1. These immunologic changes were associated with significant improvements in cardiac power output, right ventricular stroke work index, cardiac index and LVSV index…. Stabilization of renal function with progressive volume removal permitted successful LVAD implantation.

Conclusion
This translational research study demonstrates a promising immunomodulatory approach to improve cardiac performance in HFrEFHFrEF and supports the important role of inflammation in the progression of HFHF.
The effects of ischemia during rest intervals on strength endurance performance
Authors: Trybulski Robert , Bichowska Marta , Piwowar Rafal , Pisz Anna , Krzysztofik Michal , Filip-Stachnik Aleksandra , Fostiak Krzysztof , Makar Piotr , Wilk Michal 
Published: April 2023

Background
The study aimed to evaluate the effects of ischemia used during the rest periods between successive sets on maximal number of performed repetitions, time under tension and bar velocity during the bench press exercise.

Methods and materials
Thirteen healthy resistance trained men volunteered for the study (age = 28.5 ± 7.1 years; body mass = 87.2 ± 8.6 kg; bench press 1RM = 143.1 ± 20.7 kg; training experience = 11.0 ± 6.9 years). In experimental protocol the subjects performed 5 sets of bench press exercise at 70%1RM with maximal number of repetitions in each and with 5 minutes rest periods between each set. During the ischemia condition occlusion with 80% arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) was applied using a 10 cm wide cuff, before the first set of the bench press exercise and during all rest periods between sets (for 4.5 minute). During the control condition no ischemia was applied.

Results
The two-way repeated measures ANOVA showed a statistically significant interaction effect for time under tension (p = 0.022; η2 = 0.20). However, the results did not show a statistically significant interaction effect for peak bar velocity (p = 0.28; η2 = 0.10) mean bar velocity (p = 0.38; η2 = 0.08), and for number of performed repetitions (p = 0.28; η2 = 0.09). The post hoc analysis for interaction showed significantly shorter time under tension for ischemia condition compared to control in set 1 (p < 0.01). The post hoc analysis for main effect of condition revealed that time under tension was significantly shorter for ischemia compared to control condition (p = 0.04).

Conclusion
The results of this study indicate that ischemia intra-conditioning does not increase strength-endurance performance as well as bar velocity during bench press exercise performed to muscle failure.
Pre- and postoperative angle kappa in MIOL patients after touch-up LASIK
Authors: Saad Amr , Frings Andreas , Druchkiv Vasyl , Katz Toam 
Published: April 2023

Purpose
To study the influence of angle kappa (κ) on visual acuity after implantation of a multifocal intraocular lens (MIOL) and consecutive “touch-up” corneal refractive surgery with Laser-in-situ-Keratomileusis (LASIK).

Methods
This retrospective multicenter study included patients who underwent MIOL surgery and consecutive LASIK (= Bioptics) in the period from 2016 to 2020 at Care Vision Refractive Centers in Germany. Our study was approved by the local ethics committee at the University in Duesseldorf (approval date: 23.04.2021) and conducted according to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practices Guidelines. The pre- and post-operative κ of 548 eyes were measured using a Scheimpflug-based imaging system. Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and the safety index (SI) were analyzed in relation with κ. For a more detailed analysis, the cohort was divided into pre-operative hyperopic and myopic patients to show group-specific differences.

Results
There was a significant decrease (p<0.001) in the magnitude of κ after MIOL implantation and Bioptics. However, there was almost no significant correlation of κ on CDVA and SI, pre- and postoperatively.

Conclusion
A large κ is not a significant risk factor for poor visual acuity. Therefore, it is not a suitable clinical predictor of postoperative outcomes after a Bioptic procedure.
Parents’ and healthcare professionals’ perspectives on manual therapy in infants: A mixed-methods study
Authors: Driehuis Femke , Bakker-Jacobs Annick , Staal J. Bart , de Bie Rob A. , Nijhuis-van der Sanden Maria W. G. , Hoogeboom Thomas J. 
Published: April 2023

Objectives
Manual therapy in infants is embedded in Dutch healthcare despite inconsistent evidence and ongoing debate about its safety and merits. This study examines decision-making in manual therapy in infants and explores parents’ and healthcare professionals’ perspectives on this treatment approach.

Methods
This mixed-methods study consisted of an online survey among manual physiotherapists and paediatric physiotherapists exploring decision-making on manual therapy in infants and interprofessional collaboration. These data prompted further exploration and were combined with data collected with semi-structured interviews exploring parents’ and healthcare professionals’ perspectives. Interviews were analysed using an inductive content analysis approach.

Results
607 manual physiotherapists and 388 paediatric physiotherapists completed the online survey; 45% and 95% indicated they treat infants, respectively. Collaboration was reported by 46% of manual physiotherapists and 64% of paediatric physiotherapists for postural asymmetry, positional preference, upper cervical dysfunction, excessive crying, anxiety or restlessness. Reasons to not treat or collaborate were: limited professional competence, practice policy, not perceiving added value, lack of evidence and fear of complications. Analysis of interviews with 7 parents, 9 manual physiotherapists, 7 paediatric physiotherapists, 5 paediatricians and 2 maternity nurses revealed that knowledge and beliefs, professional norms, interpersonal relation, treatment experiences and emotions of parents influenced attitudes and decision-making towards choosing for manual therapy in infants.

Conclusion
Parents’ and healthcare professionals’ attitudes towards manual therapy in infants can be divided as ‘in favour’ or ‘against’. Those who experienced a good interpersonal relation with a manual physiotherapist and positive treatment outcomes reported positive attitudes. Lack of evidence, treatment experience and related knowledge, safety issues due to publications on adverse events and professional norms led to negative attitudes. Despite lacking evidence, positive treatment experiences, good interpersonal relation and parents feeling frustrated and despaired can overrule negative attitudes and directly influence the decision-making process and choosing for manual therapy treatment.
Survey research of patient’s preference on choosing microscopic or endoscopic spine surgery for lumbar discectomy
Authors: Keorochana Gun , Kraiwattanapong Chaiwat , Lertudomphonwanit Thamrong , Udomsubpayakul Umaporn , Leelapattana Pittavat , Chanplakorn Pongsthorn , Wannaratsiri Nutthee , Tawonsawatruk Tulyapruek 
Published: April 2023

Background
There are several surgical methods of lumbar discectomy which provide the similar clinical outcomes. There is no clear evidence for how to select the procedures. To better understand the patient’s opinion and decision process in the selection of surgical methods between microscopic lumbar discectomy (MLD) and endoscopic lumbar discectomy (ELD).

Methods
A cross-sectional survey study. Summary information sheet was created by reviewing the comparative literatures, and tested for quality and bias. Participants read the summary information sheet then were asked to complete the anonymous questionnaire.

Results
Seventy-six patients (71%) of patients who had no experience in lumbar discectomy selected ELD while 31 patients (29%) selected MLD. There were significant differences of score between patients who selected MLD and ELD in this group for wound size, anesthetic method, operative time, blood loss and length of stay (P< 0.05). In patients who had experience in discectomy group, 22 patients (76%) who underwent MLD still selected MLD if they could select surgical methods again for themselves, while 24 patients (96%) who underwent ELD still selected ELD if they could select again. The most important factor in patients who selected MLD was outcomes of treatment. The most important factor in patients who selected ELD was wound size. There were significant differences of scores between patients who selected MLD and ELD in this group for wound size, anesthetic method, operative time, complication, cost and length of stay (P< 0.05).

Conclusions
About two thirds of the participants preferred ELD after reading the summary evidence information. The most important factor in MLD group was outcomes of treatment while the most important factor in ELD group was wound size.
Comparison of Modified Cap-Assisted Endoscopic Mucosal Resection and Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection in Treating Intraluminal Gastric Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (≤20 mm)
Authors: Meng Rui , Ni Muhan , Ren Wei , Zhou Ting , Zhang Xiang , Yan Peng , Ding Xiwei , Xu Guifang , Lv Ying , Zou Xiaoping , Zhou Lin , Wang Lei 
Published: April 2023

INTRODUCTION:
A modified cap-assisted endoscopic mucosal resection (mEMR-C), introduced in this study, was a novel variation of the standard EMR. We aimed to compare the outcomes of mEMR-C and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for the treatment of small (≤20 mm) intraluminal gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (gGISTs).

METHODS:
This retrospective study included 43 patients who underwent mEMR-C and 156 patients who received ESD at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. Baseline characteristics, adverse events, and clinical outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. Univariate and multivariable analyses were conducted to adjust for confounders. After propensity score matching using sex, year, location, and tumor size, outcomes were compared with 41 patients in each group.

RESULTS:
A total of 199 patients underwent endoscopic resection and the en bloc resection rate was 100%. The complete resection rate was comparable in both groups (P = 1.000). Approximately 9.5% of all patients had a positive margin. There was no significant difference in positive margin for patients undergoing mEMR-C or ESD (9.3% vs 9.6%, P = 1.000). No difference in adverse events in both groups (P = 0.724). The mEMR-C was associated with shorter operation time and lower cost than the ESD. Recurrence was reported in 2 patients at 1 and 5 years after ESD during a median follow-up of 62 months. No metastasis and disease-related death were identified in both groups. Propensity score matching analysis revealed similar results.

DISCUSSION:
The mEMR-C was found to be the preferable technique for small (≤20 mm) intraluminal gGISTs with shorter operation time and lower cost as compared with ESD.