bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Split limb phenomenon in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: electrophysiologic study
Authors: Abdul-wahab Dhay Mohammed Ali , Al-Mahdawi Akram 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerative disease that affects the upper and lower motor neurons. The onset of the disease is frequently focal, usually involving the distal segments of the extremities. A dissociated pattern of muscle atrophy is commonly found in the hands and feet. This study aims to investigate the presence (if any) of split indices in ALS patients and to correlate these indices with confounding factors. A total of 48 people were studied. The control group consists of 24 ALS patients and another 24 age- and gender-matched patients. To assess functional status and muscle strength, the ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) were used, respectively. Sensory and motor nerve conduction, as well as compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude, were recorded from the muscles of the upper and lower limbs. The electromyographic (EMG) activity of 20 motor unit action potentials (MUAPs) from four different areas was also studied.

Results
Distal CMAP amplitude was reduced in all tested muscles (especially noticed when comparing the reciprocal muscles). In ALS patients, the split foot index (SFI) is significantly higher, while the split elbow index (SEI) is significantly lower. The split foot index (SFI) was found to be negatively related to disease duration, but positively related to ALSFRS scores. The CMAP amplitude was found to be positively related to the MRC score.

Conclusion
Ankle dorsiflexion muscles are more involved (dissociated) than plantar flexor muscles, and elbow flexors are more involved than extensors. SFI correlates significantly with disease duration and ALSFRS scores.
Asking about self-harm during risk assessment in psychosocial assessments in the emergency department: questions that facilitate and deter disclosure of self-harm
Authors: McCabe Rose , Bergen Clara , Lomas Matthew , Ryan Mary , Albert Rikke 
Published: May 2023

Background
Emergency departments are key settings for suicide prevention. Most people are deemed to be at no or low risk in final contacts before death.

Aim
To micro-analyse how clinicians ask about suicidal ideation and/or self-harm in emergency department psychosocial assessments and how patients respond.

Method
Forty-six psychosocial assessments between mental health clinicians and people with suicidal ideation and/or self-harm were video-recorded. Verbal and non-verbal features of 55 question–answer sequences about self-harm thoughts and/or actions were micro-analysed using conversation analysis. Fisher's exact test was used to test the hypothesis that question type was associated with patient disclosure.

Results
(a) Eighty-four per cent of initial questions (N = 46/55) were closed yes/no questions about self-harm thoughts and/or feelings, plans to self-harm, potential for future self-harm, predicting risk of future self-harm and being okay or keeping safe. Patients disclosed minimal information in response to closed questions, whereas open questions elicited ambivalent and information rich responses. (b) All closed questions were leading, with 54% inviting no and 46% inviting yes. When patients were asked no-inviting questions, the disclosure rate was 8%, compared to 65% when asked yes-inviting questions (P < 0.05 Fisher's exact test). (c) Patients struggled to respond when asked to predict future self-harm or guarantee safety. (d) Half of closed questions had a narrow timeframe (e.g. at the moment, overnight) or were tied to possible discharge.

Conclusion
Across assessments, there is a bias towards not uncovering thoughts and plans of self-harm through the cumulative effect of leading questions that invite a no response, their narrow timeframe and tying questions to possible discharge. Open questions, yes-inviting questions and asking how people feel about the future facilitate disclosure.
Improved Survival of Young Patients With Breast Cancer 40 Years and Younger at Diagnosis
Authors: El Saghir Nagi S. , Khalil Lana E. , El Dick Joud , Atwani Rula W. , Safi Nadine , Charafeddine Maya , Al-Masri Ahmad , El Saghir Bassem N. , Chaccour Maha , Tfayli Arafat , Assi Hazem , Abbas Jaber , Ayoub Zeina , Sbaity Eman , Moukadem Hiba A. 
Published: May 2023

PURPOSE Around 50% of patients with breast cancer in low- or middle-income countries are younger than 50 years, a poor prognostic variable. We report the outcome of patients with breast cancer 40 years and younger. METHODS We reviewed 386 patients with breast cancer 40 years and younger and retrieved demographic, clinicopathologic, treatment-related, disease progression, and survival data from electronic medical records. RESULTS The median age at diagnosis was 36 years, and infiltrating ductal carcinoma was present in 94.3% of patients, infiltrating lobular carcinoma in 1.3%, and ductal carcinoma in situ in 4.4%. Grade 1 disease was present in 8.5% of patients, grade 2 in 35.5%, and grade 3 in 53.4%; 25.1% had human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–positive, 74.6% had hormone receptor (HR)+, and 16.6% had triple-negative breast cancer. Early breast cancer (EBC) constituted 63.6% (stage I, 22.4%; stage II, 41.2%) of patients, whereas 23.2% had stage III, and 13.2% had metastatic disease at diagnosis. Of patients with EBC, 51% had partial mastectomy and 49.0% had total mastectomy. And 77.1% had chemotherapy with or without anti-HER2 therapy. All HR+ patients received adjuvant hormonal therapy. The disease-free survival at 5 years was 72.5% and 55.9% at 10 years. The overall survival (OS) was 89.4% at 5 years and 76% at 10 years. Patients with stages I/II had an OS of 96.0% at 5 years and 87.1% at 10 years. Patients with stage III had an OS of 88.3% at 5 years and 68.7% at 10 years. The OS of patients with stage IV was 64.5% at 5 years and 48.4% at 10 years. CONCLUSION We report survival rates of 89% at 5 years and 76% at 10 years with modern multidisciplinary management. Best results were seen in EBC: OS rates of 96% and 87% at 5 years and 10 years.
Lorentz violation emergence in a superconductivity phase transition scenario
Authors: Granado Diego R. 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
In this letter, we use a condensation of topological defects mechanism to show how a Lorentz-violating (LV) term can emerge. The approach used here was originally developed to describe phase transitions due to a vortice proliferation in systems such as superconductors. First, as a consequence of our approach, we obtain a Podolsky-like LV term as a result of this work. Second, a condensation of topological defects in the theory restores the original Lorentz symmetric phase of the theory. The approach presented here can be seen as an early description of a mechanism to describe a phase transition between a Lorentz symmetric phase and a non-symmetric one. Besides the usage of this mechanism to show how LV terms can emerge, we also show how to extend the condensation mechanism to scalar theories. The condensation mechanism was originally designed for gauge theories. As a result, our scalar extension recovers the Ginzburg-Landau (GL) description of both regular and non-local superconductors. The GL description, in our approach, arises as a consequence of the condensation of topological defects.
“A Form of Reparation”
Authors: Godoy Angelina Snodgrass 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
This article shares insights from participatory research conducted with former political prisoners, all of whom survived torture during El Salvador’s armed conflict (1980–92). An analysis of declassified documents reveals that while US officials generally resisted efforts to examine abuses against guerrilla supporters, they advocated behind the scenes for international oversight of prisons, and, in doing so, helped save lives. However, former prisoners’ analyses of the documents shows that US advocacy perpetuated grave misrepresentations about the nature of state repression, further empowering the apparatus of institutional violence even as it spared selected actors. Participatory research projects like this one can offer victims of human rights abuses abetted by US foreign policy an opportunity to reckon with the records of empire. Not only does this process generate new knowledge, but it contributes to survivor-led processes of healing. This is important to counter the imperialist epistemologies that often characterize scholarship on US foreign policy.
Open Letters from Prison
Authors: Fadem Pam , Klein Rachel Leah , Weber Benjamin D. 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
This article describes the response of a group of California women prisoners and their allies on the outside to the conditions that radically altered and devastated the lives of people in prison during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Benjamin Weber, African American and African Studies faculty member at the University of California, Davis, reached out to the California Coalition for Women Prisoners (CCWP), with its over twenty-six years of relationships with incarcerated women in California prisons. CCWP members Pam Fadem and Rachel Leah Klein collaborated to intervene early in the pandemic to facilitate communication among people both on the inside and outside of prison.
Percutaneous ablative therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma in the caudate lobe of the liver: efficacy and outcome
Authors: Mukund Amar , Tripathy Tara Prasad , Patel Ranjan Kumar , Chandel Karamvir , Patidar Yashwant , Jindal Ankur , Sarin Shiv Kumar 
Published: May 2023

Objective: To assess the efficacy and outcomes of percutaneous ablative therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the caudate lobe. Methods: Patients within Milan criteria, who underwent thermal ablation (RFA/MWA) for HCC were analyzed. Based on the inclusion-criteria, patients were categorized in two groups. Group-1 (caudate-lobe HCC) and Group-2 (non-caudate-lobe HCC). Both the groups were analyzed for technical success (TS), local tumor progression (LTP), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were compared between both the groups. Predictive factors for LTP, DFS, or OS in the study cohort were analyzed using appropriate statistical analyses. Results: Twenty-one patients qualified to be in Group-1 while 130 patients fulfilled the criteria for Group-2. TS of 90.5 and 97.7% was seen after the first session of ablation for Group-1 and group-2 respectively, while a TS of 95.2% (Group-1) and 100% (Group-2) was achieved after second session. The right-intercostal-approach was used in 66.7% (n = 14) and the anterior-epigastric-approach was used in 33.3% (n = 7) of patients having caudate-lobe HCC. Procedure-related complications in both the groups were comparable. Although, statistically insignificant, LTP in the Group-1 (19.5%, n = 4) was twice that of non-caudate lobe HCC (8.5%, n = 11). The cumulative DFS rate was better in Group-2 while OS in both groups were comparable. Multivariate analysis showed: tumor size and ablative margin of 5 mm being independent predictors of LTP after percutaneous-ablation of caudate-lobe HCC. Conclusion: Ablative therapies for HCC in caudate lobe is feasible and safe with comparable LTP and OS to non-caudate lobe HCC. Tumor size >2 cm and lack of 5 mm ablative margin are independent predictors of LTP. Advances in knowledge: 1. Percutaneous ablation of caudate lobe HCC is feasible using anterior epigastric approach or right intercostal approach. 2. These approaches may allow a safe and effective ablation of caudate lobe HCC with results comparable to non-caudate HCC ablation.
An Approximation Algorithm for k-Depot Split Delivery Vehicle Routing Problem
Authors: Lai Xiaofan , Xu Liang , Xu Zhou , Du Yang 
Published: May 2023

A multidepot capacitated vehicle routing problem aims to serve customers’ demands using a fleet of capacitated vehicles located in multiple depots, such that the total travel cost of the vehicles is minimized. We study a variant of this problem, the k-depot split delivery vehicle routing problem (or k-DSDVRP in short), for the situation where each customer’s demand can be served by more than one vehicle, and the total number of depots, denoted by [Formula: see text], is a fixed constant. This is a challenging problem with broad applications in the logistics industry, for which no constant ratio approximation algorithm is known. We develop a new approximation algorithm for the k-DSDVRP, ensuring an approximation ratio of [Formula: see text] and a polynomial running time for any fixed constant [Formula: see text]. To achieve this, we propose a novel solution framework based on a new relaxation of the problem, a cycle splitting procedure, and a vehicle assignment procedure. To further enhance its efficiency for practical usage, we adapt the newly developed approximation algorithm to a heuristic, which runs in polynomial time even when k is arbitrarily large. Experimental results show that this heuristic outperforms a commercial optimization solver and a standard vehicle routing heuristic. Moreover, our newly proposed solution framework can be applied to developing new constant ratio approximation algorithms for several other variants of the k-DSDVRP with [Formula: see text] being a fixed constant. History: Accepted by Erwin Pesch, Area Editor for Heuristic Search & Approximation Algorithms. Funding: This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 71971177, 71725001, U1811462], Research Grants Council of Hong Kong SAR, China [Grant 15221619], and Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation [Grant 2023A1515030260]. Supplemental Material: The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/ijoc.2021.0193 . The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information ( https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2021.0193 ) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2021.0193 ). The complete IJOC Software and Data Repository is available at https://informsjoc.github.io/ .
Presence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy in hospitalized Covid-19 patients in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan–A cross-sectional study
Authors: Bhatti Faryal S. , Malik Amyn A. , Malik Adeel A. 
Published: May 2023

Background
The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy in hospitalized Covid-19 patients in a tertiary care hospital in the metropolitan city of Lahore, Pakistan from September 2020 till July 2021.

Methods
We retrospectively collected data of Covid-19 patients hospitalized from September 2020 till July 2021. Only those patients who tested PCR positive through a nasopharyngeal swab, were enrolled in the study. Patients’ whose data were missing were excluded from this study. Our exclusion criteria included patients who tested negative on Covid-19 PCR, patients with comorbidities that may cause enlarged mediastinal lymphadenopathies such as haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, neoplasia, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis or a systemic disease. The extent of lung involvement in Covid-19 patients was quantified by using a 25-point visual quantitative assessment called the Chest Computed Tomography Score. This score was then correlated with the presence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

Findings
Of the 210 hospitalized patients included in the study, 131 (62.4%) had mediastinal lymphadenopathy. The mean and median Severity Score of Covid-19 patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy (mean: 17.1, SD:5.7; median: 17, IQR: 13–23) were higher as compared to those without mediastinal lymphadenopathy (mean: 12.3, SD:5.4; median: 12, IQR:9–16)

Interpretation
Our study documents a high prevalence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy in hospitalized patients with Covid-19 with the severity score being higher in its presence representing a more severe course of disease.
The benefits of Shuai Shou Gong (SSG) demonstrated in a Randomised Control Trial (RCT) study of older adults in two communities in Thailand
Authors: Xiao Zhen , Cruz Marcos , Hojo Emi , Eungpinichpong Wichai , Wang Xingze , Xiao Li , Chatchawan Uraiwan , Hu Ying , Roberts Neil 
Published: May 2023

Introduction
Shuai Shou Gong (SSG) is a type of Arm Swing Exercise (ASE) developed and practiced especially by older people in China for over one thousand years to maintain physical health and well-being. Until now the potential benefits of SSG have not been investigated in a Randomised Control Trial (RCT).

Materials and methods
Fifty six older women were recruited from each of two urban communities in Khon Kaen, Thailand. One community was randomly assigned as the Exercise Group (mean age 68.3 years, standard deviation 5.6 years) and the other as the Control Group (69.4 years, 4.4 years). The Exercise Group performed SSG for 40 minutes, three days per week for two months, whereas the Control Group maintained their usual daily life. Measurements of Posture (C7 to Wall Distance (C7WD), Standing Height (SH), Flexibility (Back Scratch of Left and Right arms (BSL and BSR) and Chair Sit and Reach of Left and Right legs (CSRL and CSRR), Gait (Timed Up and Go (TUG)), and Cognition (Barthel Activities of Daily Living Index (BADL) and Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES) questionnaires) were recorded for each group prior to, on day 1, week 4, and week 8 of the SSG training.

Results
The 8 week SSG training course produced a significant interaction between group and time for the combined set of all outcome measures (C7WD, SH, BSL, BSR, CSRL, CSRR, TUG, BADL, and BSES) (Modified ANOVA-Type Statistic (MATS) p-value < 0.001) and for the four categories of Posture, Flexibility, Gait, and Cognition (all Wald-Type Statistic (WTS) p-values < 0.05) and in all cases the changes in the Exercise Group were in the direction predicted to be beneficial. No significant interaction effect between time and group was found after either one session or four weeks of SSG training for any of the categories (all WTS p > 0.05) with significant effects only arising after eight weeks (all WTS p < 0.05). Thus although alterations were shown to be increasingly beneficial over time the minimum period required to produce a statistically significant benefit from performing SSG training was 8 weeks. For the Control Group no significant changes were identified for Posture, Flexibility and Cognition however a significant deterioration was observed in TUG (WTS p = 0.003).

Conclusions
SSG is a holistic, gentle, rhythmic, whole body sequence of movements that may be readily learned and enjoyed in a group setting and has been confirmed in an RCT study of older adult females to produce significant benefits in Posture, Flexibility, Gait and Cognition.
Determinants of WHO recommended COVID-19 prevention measures among pregnant women attending antenatal care during the third wave of COVID-19 in eastern Ethiopia, 2021
Authors: Alemayehu Astawus , Yusuf Mohammed , Demissie Abebaw , Abdullahi Yasin , Oljira Lemessa , Assefa Nega 
Published: May 2023

Background
The novel coronavirus disease has emerged as the most pressing global health issue. In women with COVID-19 disease, pregnancy confers a substantial additional risk of morbidity and mortality.

Objective
This study aimed to assess WHO-recommended COVID-19 prevention practices and determinant factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care during the third wave of COVID-19 in eastern Ethiopia.

Methods
An Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 pregnant women attending antenatal care in Harar, from October 10 to November 10, 2021. The sample size was proportionally allocated to all healthcare facilities, then the study participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Descriptive summary statistics were done. Logistic regression analyses were computed to identify associations between dependent and independent variables. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 were declared statistically significant.

Result
Out of 422 pregnant women, 61.6% of them had good WHO Recommended COVID-19 Prevention Practices. Those with age 25–34 years (AOR: 9.7, 95%CI: 4.8, 19.3), age 35–44 years (AOR:4.8, 95%CI: 2.6, 9.03), monthly income > 10,000 ETB (AOR: 9.4, 95%CI: 2.1, 42.1), being a student (AOR: 10, 95%CI: 2.3, 47.1), having a good level of knowledge (AOR: 2.3, 95%CI:1.4, 3.8), and having ≥10 family members (AOR: 0.24, 95%CI: 0.06, 0.9) were found to have a significant association with WHO recommended prevention practice among pregnant women.

Conclusion
Overall, the WHO-recommended COVID-19 prevention practice among pregnant women attending antenatal care was good, but it needs improvement. In order to improve prevention practices among pregnant women, Harari Regional Health Bureau and other stakeholders should provide repeated, targeted, and tailored information to pregnant women and the community at large through different media.
Correlates of the HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders among adults living with HIV in Dodoma region, central Tanzania: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Nyundo Azan A. 
Published: May 2023

BackgroundHIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) continue to manifest despite advancements and improved antiretroviral therapy coverage. Neurocognitive impairment is a significant predictor of poor prognosis related to poor antiretroviral therapy adherence and retention in HIV care.MethodsThis cross-sectional study examined 397 participants attending cared for and treatment at Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital (DRRH) and selected by systematic sampling. The combination of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS), and The Lawton Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL) were used to assess HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. Factors associated with HAND were determined using univariate and multivariable logistic regression.ResultsOf 397 participants, 234(59.1%) met the criteria for HAND with 231(58.2%) comprising asymptomatic neurocognitive disorder (ANI) or mild neurocognitive disorders (MND), and 3 (0.76%) HIV- associated dementia (HAD). Participants with HAND had significantly poorer performance in each cognitive domain on both MoCA and IHDS. Under multivariable regression, age of 55 years or above with Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 3.5 (95%CI: 1.1, 11.6), p = 0.041 and female gender (AOR): 2.7 (95%CI: 1, 6, 4.5), p<0.001 were significantly associated with HAND. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy AOR: 0.4(95%CI: 0.2, 1.0), p = 0.044, and attaining primary education AOR: 0.3(95%CI: 0.1, 0.8), p = 0.01 or secondary education AOR: 0.1(95%CI: 0.03, 0.2), p<0.001 compared to having no formal education showed good cognitive performance.ConclusionHIV-associated neurocognitive disorders are common in HIV, especially ANI and MND, are common in HIV infected Tanzanians. Both socio-demographic and clinical variables influence neurocognitive functioning in this population. Screening for mild neurocognitive disorders may be indicated if effective treatment becomes available.