bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Systematic review and meta‐analysis on probiotics as treatment for food allergies among pediatric patients: A 2024 update
Authors: Tan‐Lim Carol Stephanie C. , Esteban‐Ipac Natasha Ann R. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThis systematic review updated the available evidence on the effectiveness and safety of probiotics as treatment of food allergy among pediatric patients. We conducted a systematic search for all randomized controlled trials available until March 13, 2024 that evaluated the effectiveness and safety of probiotics for treating pediatric food allergy. Two authors independently conducted the search, screening, and data extraction. Data analysis and synthesis were done using Review Manager 5.4 software. We included 13 articles involving 1608 pediatric patients with food allergy. Probiotics probably has no effect on reducing eczema scores among infants with CMA (MD −1.29 points, 95% CI −4.14, 1.56; moderate certainty of evidence), based on two studies. Probiotics may reduce eczema scores for children with various types of allergy (MD −23.08 points, 95% CI −27.55, −18.61; low certainty of evidence), based on one study. It is uncertain whether probiotics may lead to tolerance acquisition among infants with CMA (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.34, 1.00) due to very low certainty of evidence. Subgroup analysis based on time period showed significant benefit in inducing tolerance after at least 2 years (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.29, 0.67; moderate certainty of evidence), suggesting a duration‐dependent effect of probiotic usage. Subgroup analysis by probiotic preparation showed significant benefit for the LGG strain (RR 0.41, 95% CI 0.28, 0.62). Probiotics were generally well tolerated by the study participants. Further well‐designed RCTs focusing on specific types of food allergy, as well as the use of standardized probiotic strains, outcome measurement, and longer follow‐up periods are needed to draw clinically relevant conclusions on the role of probiotics in treating children with food allergy.
Beta‐Blockers and Cutaneous Melanoma Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Random‐Effects Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Muller Nicholas M. , Tan Samuel X. , Vipulaguna Nisal , Zhou Chenhao , Hughes Maria Celia B. , Soyer H. Peter , von Schuckmann Lena , Khosrotehrani Kiarash 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTBeta‐blockers have generated an exciting discourse for their potential as a cheap, safe, and effective adjunctive therapy for cutaneous melanoma patients, but the field remains murky. This systematic review investigates the association between beta‐blocker use and survival outcomes in cutaneous melanoma patients. We reviewed 12 studies with 21,582 patients in a network meta‐analysis and found a benefit between beta‐blocker use and disease‐free survival but no other significant association for melanoma‐specific or overall survival. However, some evidence suggests that pan‐selective beta‐blockers, rather than cardio‐selective ones, may have a protective effect. We conclude that the current evidence is insufficient to recommend beta‐blockers for melanoma treatment but suggest further research focusing on pan‐selective beta‐blockers to clarify their potential benefits.
Perspectives on Abortion Services, the Pre‐Abortion Visit, and Telemedicine Abortion: A Qualitative Study in Sweden
Authors: Jar‐Allah Tagrid , Edalat Mina , Nyman Viola , Milsom Ian , Gemzell‐Danielsson Kristina , Rydelius Johanna , Hognert Helena 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTContextAccording to Swedish law, abortion treatment should be carried out at an approved healthcare facility. All persons seeking medication abortions are obliged to attend an in‐person visit, which includes a gynecological examination, an ultrasound scan, and administration of mifepristone at a hospital/clinic. However, some countries have implemented telemedicine abortion services without the requirement of in‐person visits during and after the COVID‐19 pandemic. The aim of this study is to (1) describe abortion seekers' experience of currently available abortion care; (2) explore abortion seekers' suggestions for improving medication abortion care; and (3) explore abortion seekers' views on an abortion care model that omits an in‐person appointment and examination.MethodsWe interviewed 20 participants who sought early medication abortion at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden, from March to April 2023. Systematic text‐condensation of qualitative semi‐structured interviews was used to explore abortion seekers' experience of the pre‐abortion visit, including the gynecological and ultrasound examinations, thoughts about abortion care services, and telemedicine abortion.ResultsThree main findings emerged (1) The participants found it easy to contact the abortion clinic, but experienced undesired waiting time (2) Most participants appreciated the gynecological examination, but some found it distressing and uncomfortable (3) Participants considered telemedicine and taking mifepristone at home to be a good option in addition to in‐person abortion care.ConclusionOffering both telemedicine and in‐person consultations enhances abortion seekers' autonomy, reduces delays, and minimizes stress in abortion care.
Enhancing Psychophysiological Well‐Being Through Nature‐Based Soundscapes: An Examination of Heart Rate Variability in a Cross‐Over Study
Authors: Kumpulainen Susanne , Esmaeilzadeh Samad , Pesonen Markus , Brazão Catarina , Pesola Arto J. 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTStress and psychological disorders are substantial public health concerns, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies. This study investigated the psychophysiological benefits of nature‐based soundscapes, drawing on the biophilia hypothesis. Using a randomized, acute cross‐over design, 53 healthy participants experienced either a nature‐based or a reference soundscape for 10 min, with a 2‐min washout period. The nature‐based soundscape integrated nature sounds with elements of music to create an immersive nature experience. A calm coffee shop soundscape without discernible speech was selected as a reference to represent a typical urban relaxation environment. Heart rate variability (HRV) was the primary outcome, with exploratory outcomes including heart and respiratory rates, and questionnaires assessing affective well‐being, creativity, and belonging. Results showed that the nature‐based soundscape significantly improved HRV and reduced heart and respiratory rates, indicating enhanced parasympathetic activity. Participants reported lower feelings of anxiety and depression and increased feelings of comfort, enthusiasm, creativity, and belonging. This study highlights the multifaceted benefits of nature‐based soundscapes, suggesting they could serve as easily accessible therapeutic options for promoting immediate recovery and reducing daily stress in healthy individuals.
Heterogeneity of reduced FEV1 in early adulthood: A looking forward, looking backwards analysis
Authors: Olvera Nuria , Agusti Alvar , Vonk Judith M. , Wang Gang , Hallberg Jenny , Boezen H. Marike , van den Berge Maarten , Melén Erik , Faner Rosa 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundSome individuals never achieve normal peak FEV1 in early adulthood. It is unknown if this is due to airflow limitation and/or lung restriction.MethodsTo investigate this, we: (1) looked forward in 19,791 participants in the Dutch Lifelines general population cohort aged 25–35 years with 5‐year follow‐up; and (2) looked backwards in 2032 participants in the Swedish BAMSE birth cohort with spirometry at 24 years of age but also at 16 and/or 8 years.Results(1) In Lifelines 8.5% of participants had reduced FEV1 at 25–35 years, 68% due to Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry (‘PRISm’) and 32% to airflow limitation (‘low‐limited’); besides, 3.8% participants with normal FEV1 showed airflow‐limitation (‘normal‐limited’). Low‐limited and normal‐limited, but not PRISm, reported higher smoking exposures and asthma diagnosis than normal (p < 0.05). At 5‐year follow‐up, 91.2% of participants remained in the same group, and FEV1 decline was similar in normal and normal‐limited participants, but statistically smaller (p < 0.05) in PRISm and low‐limited; (2) these observations were largely reproduced in BAMSE at 24 years of age; and, (3) in BAMSE, low‐limited or PRISm individuals were already identifiable at 8–16 years of age.ConclusionLow peak FEV1 in early adulthood is most often due to PRISm and results in a significant burden of respiratory symptoms. Only low‐limited and normal‐limited, but not PRISm, associate with a doctor diagnosis of asthma, and FEV1 decline was statistically different in PRISm indicating a need for differentiated clinical approaches. These spirometric abnormalities can be already identified in childhood and adolescence.
Reforming Long‐Term Care Provision and Work in Post‐Pandemic Times: Scope and Drivers of Policy Change in the Spanish Decentralised System
Authors: Perna Roberta , Hernández‐Moreno Jorge , Cruz‐Martínez Gibrán 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTThe COVID‐19 pandemic unveiled and magnified structural challenges of long‐term care (LTC) provision and work across Europe, bringing the need for reforms on the quality‐of‐care provision and work to the fore in several countries. Focusing on the case of Spain, this paper analyses to what extent the window of opportunity opened by the pandemic resulted in structural LTC reform, focusing on the scope and drivers of policy change/continuity. Relying on a multidimensional framework to analyse policy change, we performed qualitative policy analysis to assess our expectations on the mechanisms facilitating/hindering policy change in the country, where a reform process on LTC provision and work took place between July 2021 and June 2022. Our findings reveal that the pandemic fostered a radical policy change; yet, its scope was constrained by the opening of veto points, partisan incongruence, and financial limitations. The reform led to the introduction of a new care model and a new configuration of service provision. However, results were mixed, with some areas only seeing incremental adjustments due to resistance from vested interests and institutional veto players operating along the country's multi‐level governance of LTC. Our findings contribute to understanding welfare policy change beyond the ‘expansion–retrenchment’ debate, delving into the complexities of pursuing crisis‐induced reforms on LTC provision and work in decentralised welfare systems.
Omitting continuous covariates in binary regression models: Implications for sensitivity and mediation analysis
Authors: Gasparin Matteo , Scarpa Bruno , Stanghellini Elena 
Published: January 2025

AbstractIn statistical analysis, Cochran's formula plays a crucial role in disentangling the relationships between marginal and conditional regression coefficients. However, its results and implications are valid only within the linear case. Despite this, due to its simplicity and interpretability, practitioners often continue to use Cochran's formula also outside linear models. With reference to binary outcome models, we derived the approximated expression of the marginal regression coefficient when marginalization is performed over a continuous covariate and show that it mimics Cochran's formula under certain simplifying assumptions. We initially postulate a logistic link function and then show how it can be generalized. We then explore the implications of this formula in the context of sensitivity analysis and causal mediation analysis, thereby enlarging the number of circumstances where explicit parametric formulations can be used to evaluate causal direct and indirect effects, otherwise computed via numerical integration. Simulations show that our proposed estimators perform equally well as others based on numerical methods and that the additional interpretability of the explicit formulas does not compromise their precision.
Integrating plant growth microorganisms in potato farming reduce soil CO2 emissions and improve crop quality
Authors: Ollio Irene , González Rosado Manuel , Lloret Eva , Martínez‐Martínez Silvia , Egea‐Gilabert Catalina , Calviño David Fernández , Zornoza Raúl , Fernández Juan A. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractCurrent horticultural practices typically require high demands of fertilizers, leading to significant environmental impacts and increased production costs. Alternatives based on microbial inoculants have garnered considerable interest owing to their potential to enhance soil quality whilst reducing external inputs and costs, all without compromising productivity. This study aimed to compare the impact of four fertilizer application strategies, including mineral fertilizers and microbial inoculants, on crop yield, soil fertility and functionality and soil greenhouse gas emissions in potato production in Southern Spain. Four treatments were tested: (i) mineral fertilizers added to meet the crop's nutritional needs (F100); (ii) a 50% reduction of the F100 rate (F50); (iii) a 50% reduction of the F100 rate combined with the application of a formulation containing nutrient‐solubilizing bacteria, nitrogen‐fixing bacteria and non‐mycorrhizal fungi (BAI+FU) and (iv) a 50% reduction of the F100 rate combined with a formulation of N, P and K solubilizing bacteria (BAII). Results showed that crop yield was unaffected by the different fertilizer application treatments. However, the mean tuber weight and firmness were significantly higher under the BAI+FU treatment, indicating improved product quality. CO2 release rates decreased by 25%, 34% and 42% with F50, BAI+FU and BAII treatments, respectively, compared with F100. The N2O and CH4 emissions or soil nutrient contents were not affected by treatments, except for ammonium content, which was highest under the BAI+FU treatment. Additionally, whilst overall soil bacterial and fungal abundance was not significantly affected, the BAI+FU treatment resulted in a higher number of nirK (denitrification) and cbbL (carbon fixation) gene copies. Therefore, combining biofertilizers with reduced chemical fertilizer rates could represent a sustainable strategy for mitigating climate change whilst enhancing crop quality in potato production.
Oxygenated subsurface drip irrigation and organic fertilizer increase the yield and quality of P. notoginseng by improving soil microenvironment
Authors: Wei Mingze , Shi Yuzhe , Yang Qiliang , Liang Jiaping 
Published: January 2025

AbstractYunnan Province has the most extensive planting of Panax notoginseng (Burk) F. H. Chen, comprising more than 90% of the country's area. Many traditional cultivators employ outdated water and fertilizer management practices, which lead to inefficient utilization of these resources, a higher incidence of diseases, and a decrease in both yield and quality. Therefore, this study hopes to propose a new planting scheme with irrigation and fertilizer application to improve the yield and quality of P. notoginseng. The study focused on 5‐year‐old P. notoginseng, employing three irrigation techniques: oxygenated subsurface drip irrigation (OI), micro‐sprinkler irrigation (SI), and surface drip irrigation (DI). Additionally, four fertilizer application rates were examined: low (F1: 75 kg ha−1), medium (F2: 100 kg ha−1), medium‐high (F3: 125 kg ha−1), and high (F4: 150 kg ha−1). The results showed that oxygenated subsurface drip irrigation significantly increased the soil water content in the 0–40 cm soil layer. In addition, with the increase of organic fertilizer application, the fertilizer use efficiency (PFP) showed a downward trend. Under the interaction of different irrigation methods and fertilizer application amount, OIF3 treatment significantly promoted root growth, enhancing root hydraulic conductivity, and the root‐shoot ratio led to a reduction in the incidence of root rot (5.72%), the highest yield (4649.70 kg ha−1), and the best irrigation water utilization efficiency (9.69 kg m−3), fertilizer utilization efficiency (1.55 kg kg−1) and total saponin content (12.50%). The TOPSIS model was utilized to perform an all‐encompassing assessment of P. notoginseng yield, irrigation water utilization efficiency, fertilizer utilization efficiency, and total saponin content; it was found that OIF3 treatment was optimal. This combination can create higher yield and improve the quality of P. notoginseng, which provides a new scientific planting mode and reduces the planting cost.
Investigation of Water Quality in Izmir Bay With Remote Sensing Techniques Using NDCI on Google Earth Engine Platform
Authors: Yılmaz Osman Salih , Acar Ugur , Sanli Fusun Balik , Gülgen Fatih , Ateş Ali Murat 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTIn this study, the effects of algal blooms occurring in Izmir Bay in the summer of 2024 on marine ecosystems were investigated using remote sensing techniques on Google Earth Engine platform. The normalized difference chlorophyll index (NDCI) was calculated from January to the end of September and the chlorophyll‐a density was analyzed. Additionally, an NDCI time series analysis was conducted between September 2018 and 2024 at the designated points. The values, which fluctuated narrowly until 2022, showed a sharp increase in 2024. NDCI, which vary between −0.4 and 0.2 in January 2024 and increase up to 0.8 toward the summer months, indicate that algal blooms are occurring, concentrated in critical areas such as Karşıyaka, Bayraklı, and Alsancak Port. These findings revealed a connection between the sudden fish deaths in the bay during the summer of 2024 and algal blooms, as well as the deterioration of water quality.
Cooperative Eco-Driving for an All-Electric and Mixed Two-Vehicle Platoon Based on Pontryagin's Minimum Principle
Authors: Su Zifei , Chen Pingen 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Cooperative eco-driving (Co-ED) is a promising technology for improving vehicle efficiency through appropriate coordination. Additionally, platooning can significantly improve the vehicle's energy efficiency by reducing aerodynamic resistance. The optimal trajectory of the Co-ED vehicles in a platoon will be challenging to derive due to the high nonlinearity of the aerodynamic drag coefficient. Furthermore, although the electrification of vehicles has made rapid progress, the traffic on the road will still tend to be a mix of conventional vehicles (CVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) for a long time. It is critical to take the energy consumption characteristics of different vehicle types into account for a mixed platoon during Co-ED. This paper considers the platooning effects and heterogeneity of leading vehicles in two-vehicle platoons and utilizes Pontryagin's Minimum Principle (PMP) to derive the optimal speed trajectories for both homogeneous (all-electric) platoon and heterogeneous platoons (with different fuel types of vehicle). Simulation results from the proposed PMP-based Co-ED strategy show that the platooning effect has a noticeable impact on the Co-ED driving behaviors (particularly the intervehicle space and the transient performance). Simulation results also demonstrate that the same following EV will result in less energy consumption by 4.8% in an EV-led platoon under urban/suburban scenario and approximately the same energy consumption under an interstate scenario compared in a CV-led platoon.
Hydro Power Generation
Authors: Rao K. R. 
Published: January 2025

Hydro power generation, once upon a time considered as the primary source for domestic and industrial power is considered today as the secondary source of power generation, mostly because of the natural causes, in addition to the shifting population trends. In chapter one. Steven B Spain elaborately discussed the history of power generation, both in the global as well as the US perspective in Chapter 1 of this publication.
Hydro and Wave power generation was discussed in the 2011 Handbook in four chapters by Spain, Jacobson, Thareja, and Gamble et al which have been updated in this current book. Steven Spain stated that the hydropower was considered as “a safe, reliable and renewable energy source. The coverage in this chapter are aspects of hydropower (HP), shown in the parenthesis are sections where these topics are addressed - Vision (5.2), Resources - Dams and Lakes (5.3), Storage and Hybrid Hydro Energy (5.4), Monitoring (5.5), Population Accessibility (5.6), Climate Impact (5.7), Functionality Indicators (5.8), Hydraulic Power Quality and Delivery System (5.9), Hydraulic Engineering Problems and Prospects. - Pros and Cons (5.10), Modernizing HP (5.11), Why and How Can US HP be Modernized? (5.12), How are other US Enterprises handling this crucial HP Modernization Problem? (5.13), HP Modernization Needs in Asia (5.14), HP modernizing in Europe (5.15), HP Modernization in Canada (5.16), Global Hydropower Potential and Future Usage (5.17), Rapid Changes Coming for HP (5.18), Objectives of Standard Modular HP (5.19), Are Modular Systems the Future for Hydropower? (5.20), and finally Sustainable HP Projection (5.21).
Draft genome sequence of
Listeria monocytogenes
BDSA strain isolated from ready-to-eat chicken product in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Authors: Afrin Sunjida , Netherland Michael , Habib Halima , Hasan Nur , Ahmed Sangita 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACT

We present the genome of
Listeria monocytogenes
BDSA isolated from ready-to-eat (RTE) meat collected in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The genome displays the Listeria pathogenicity island 1 and virulence, stress response, and antimicrobial resistance genes. It was phylogenetically classified as ST7, and clustered with serotype 1/2a belonging to lineage II.
Whole-genome sequences of six
Borrelia recurrentis
strains obtained via PacBio sequencing
Authors: Gaber Alhussien M. , Blazier John C. , Rogovskyy Artem S. 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACT

Provided are whole-genome sequences of six
Borrelia recurrentis
strains that had been earlier isolated from louse-borne relapsing fever patients. The sequences of each genome presented here included one linear chromosome and 5 linear plasmids, whose average size was 1,284,895 bp with the mean GC content being 27.5%.