bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Community-based HIV testing through a general health check event in a high HIV-prevalent multicultural area in Rotterdam, The Netherlands: a pilot study on feasibility and acceptance
Authors: Twisk Denise E. , Watzeels Anita , Götz Hannelore M. 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Background
HIV testing is crucial for finding the remaining cases in a declining HIV epidemic in The Netherlands; providing HIV testing in non-traditional settings may be warranted. We conducted a pilot study to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a community-based HIV testing (CBHT) approach with general health checks to improve HIV test uptake.

Methods
CBHT’s main conditions were low-threshold, free-of-charge, general health check, and HIV education. We interviewed 6 community leaders, 25 residents, and 12 professionals/volunteers from local organizations to outline these main conditions. Walk-in test events were piloted at community organizations, providing HIV testing along with body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, blood glucose screening, and HIV education (October 2019 to February 2020). Demographics, HIV testing history, risk perception, and sexual contact were collected via questionnaires. To evaluate the pilots’ feasibility and acceptance, we utilized the RE-AIM framework and predefined goals, incorporating quantitative data from the test events and qualitative input from participants, organizations, and staff.

Results
A total of 140 individuals participated (74% women, 85% non-Western, median age 49 years old). The number of participants during the seven 4-h test events ranged from 10 to 31. We tested 134 participants for HIV, and one was found positive (positivity 0.75%). Almost 90% of the participants were never tested or > 1 year ago, and 90% perceived no HIV risk. One-third of the participants had one or more abnormal test results on BMI, blood pressure, or blood glucose. The pilot was well-rated and accepted by all parties. The staff had concerns about waiting time, language problems, and privacy. Participants hardly indicated these concerns.

Conclusions
This CBHT approach is feasible, acceptable, and well-suited for testing not (recently) tested individuals and detecting new cases. Besides reducing HIV-associated stigma and increasing HIV test acceptance, offering multiple health tests may be appropriate as we frequently observed multiple health problems. Whether this laborious approach is sustainable in the micro-elimination of HIV and should be deployed on a large scale is questionable. CBHT like ours may be suitable as a supplement to more sustainable and cost-effective methods, e.g., proactive HIV testing by general practitioners and partner notification.
Machine learning framework with feature selection approaches for thyroid disease classification and associated risk factors identification
Authors: Sultana Azrin , Islam Rakibul 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThyroid disease (TD) develops when the thyroid does not generate an adequate quantity of thyroid hormones as well as when a lump or nodule emerges due to aberrant growth of the thyroid gland. As a result, early detection was pertinent in preventing or minimizing the impact of this disease. In this study, different machine learning (ML) algorithms with a combination of scaling method, oversampling technique, and various feature selection approaches have been applied to make an efficient framework to classify TD. In addition, significant risk factors of TD were also identified in this proposed system. The dataset was collected from the University of California Irvine (UCI) repository for this research. After that, in the preprocessing stage, Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) was used to resolve the imbalance class problem and robust scaling technique was used to scale the dataset. The Boruta, Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE), and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) approaches were used to select appropriate features. To train the model, we employed six different ML classifiers: Support Vector Machine (SVM), AdaBoost (AB), Decision Tree (DT), Gradient Boosting (GB), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and Random Forest (RF). The models were examined using a 5-fold CV. Different performance metrics were observed to compare the effectiveness of the algorithms. The system achieved the most accurate results using the RF classifier, with 99% accuracy. This proposed system will be beneficial for physicians and patients to classify TD as well as to learn about the associated risk factors of TD.
Effective dynamics and fluctuations of a trapped probe moving in a fluid of active hard discs
(a)
Authors: Jayaram Ashreya , Speck Thomas 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
We study the dynamics of a single trapped probe surrounded by self-propelled active particles in two dimensions. In the limit of large size separation, we perform an adiabatic elimination of the small active particles to obtain an effective Markovian dynamics of the large probe, yielding explicit expressions for the mobility and diffusion coefficient. To calculate these expressions, we perform computer simulations employing active Brownian discs and consider two scenarios: non-interacting bath particles and purely repulsive interactions modeling volume exclusion. We keep the probe-to-bath size ratio fixed and vary the propulsion speed of the bath particles. The positional fluctuations of a trapped probe are accessible in experiments, for which we test the prediction from the adiabatic elimination. We find that for a passive bath the Markovian prediction that the integrated force correlations equal the drag coefficient is not fulfilled in the simulations. However, this discrepancy is small compared to the active contribution and the overall agreement between predicted and measured probe fluctuations is very good at larger speeds.
Hormones and Aging: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement
Authors: Cappola Anne R , Auchus Richard J , El-Hajj Fuleihan Ghada , Handelsman David J , Kalyani Rita R , McClung Michael , Stuenkel Cynthia A , Thorner Michael O , Verbalis Joseph G 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Multiple changes occur across various endocrine systems as an individual ages. The understanding of the factors that cause age-related changes and how they should be managed clinically is evolving. This statement reviews the current state of research in the growth hormone, adrenal, ovarian, testicular, and thyroid axes, as well as in osteoporosis, vitamin D deficiency, type 2 diabetes, and water metabolism, with a specific focus on older individuals. Each section describes the natural history and observational data in older individuals, available therapies, clinical trial data on efficacy and safety in older individuals, key points, and scientific gaps. The goal of this statement is to inform future research that refines prevention and treatment strategies in age-associated endocrine conditions, with the goal of improving the health of older individuals.
Periostin in Osteoporosis and Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Pickering Marie-Eva , Oris Charlotte , Chapurlat Roland 
Published: June 2023

Abstract

Context
Osteoporosis (OP) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), prevalent disorders worldwide, often coexist and share common risk factors. The identification of common biomarkers could significantly improve patients’ preventive care.

Objectives
The objectives are 1, to review periostin (Postn) involvement in osteoporosis and in CVD, and 2, identify if Postn could be a common biomarker.

Design
This is a scoping review on Postn in OP and CVD.

Methods
Databases were searched, in vitro and in vivo, for publications in English on Postn, bone, and the cardiovascular system, with no limit regarding publication date.

Results
Postn appears as a key factor in OP and CVD. Its role as a potential biomarker in both pathologies is described in recent studies, but a number of limitations have been identified.

Conclusions
Current evidence provides fragmented views on Postn in OP and CVD and does not encapsulate Postn as a common pivotal thread linking these comorbidities. A number of gaps impede highlighting Postn as a common biomarker. There is room for future basic and clinical research with Postn as a marker and a target to provide new therapeutic options for aging patients with concomitant OP and CVD.
Low-Dose Radiosurgery for Brain Metastases in the Era of Modern Systemic Therapy
Authors: Alzate Juan Diego , Mashiach Elad , Berger Assaf , Bernstein Kenneth , Mullen Reed , Nigris Vasconcellos Fernando De , Qu Tanxia , Silverman Joshua S. , Donahue Bernadine R. , Cooper Benjamin T. , Sulman Erik P. , Golfinos John G. , Kondziolka Douglas 
Published: June 2023

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Dose selection for brain metastases stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) classically has been based on tumor diameter with a reduction of dose in the settings of prior brain irradiation, larger tumor volumes, and critical brain location. However, retrospective series have shown local control rates to be suboptimal with reduced doses. We hypothesized that lower doses could be effective for specific tumor biologies with concomitant systemic therapies. This study aims to report the local control (LC) and toxicity when using low-dose SRS in the era of modern systemic therapy.

METHODS:
We reviewed 102 patients with 688 tumors managed between 2014 and 2021 who had low-margin dose radiosurgery, defined as ≤14 Gy. Tumor control was correlated with demographic, clinical, and dosimetric data.

RESULTS:
The main primary cancer types were lung in 48 (47.1%), breast in 31 (30.4%), melanoma in 8 (7.8%), and others in 15 patients (11.7%). The median tumor volume was 0.037cc (0.002-26.31 cm3), and the median margin dose was 14 Gy (range 10-14). The local failure (LF) cumulative incidence at 1 and 2 years was 6% and 12%, respectively. On competing risk regression analysis, larger volume, melanoma histology, and margin dose were predictors of LF. The 1-year and 2-year cumulative incidence of adverse radiation effects (ARE: an adverse imaging-defined response includes increased enhancement and peritumoral edema) was 0.8% and 2%.

CONCLUSION:
It is feasible to achieve acceptable LC in BMs with low-dose SRS. Volume, melanoma histology, and margin dose seem to be predictors for LF. The value of a low-dose approach may be in the management of patients with higher numbers of small or adjacent tumors with a history of whole brain radio therapy or multiple SRS sessions and in tumors in critical locations with the aim of LC and preservation of neurological function.
The effects of crank power and cadence on muscle fascicle shortening velocity, muscle activation and joint-specific power during cycling
Authors: Riveros-Matthey Cristian D. , Carroll Timothy J. , Lichtwark Glen A. , Connick Mark J. 
Published: June 2023

ABSTRACT
Whilst people typically choose to locomote in the most economical fashion, during bicycling they will, unusually, chose cadences that are higher than metabolically optimal. Empirical measurements of the intrinsic contractile properties of the vastus lateralis (VL) muscle during submaximal cycling suggest that the cadences that people self-selected might allow for optimal muscle fascicle shortening velocity for the production of knee extensor muscle power. It remains unclear, however, whether this is consistent across different power outputs where the self-selected cadence (SSC) varies. We examined the effect of cadence and external power requirements on muscle neuromechanics and joint power during cycling. VL fascicle shortening velocity, muscle activation and joint-specific power were measured during cycling between 60 and 120 rpm (including SSC), while participants produced 10%, 30% and 50% of peak maximal power. VL shortening velocity increased as cadence increased but was similar across the different power outputs. Although no differences were found in the distribution of joint power across cadence conditions, the absolute knee joint power increased with increasing crank power output. Muscle fascicle shortening velocity increased in VL at the SSC as pedal power demands increased from submaximal towards maximal cycling. A secondary analysis of muscle activation patterns showed minimized activation of VL and other muscles near the SSC at the 10% and 30% power conditions. Minimization of activation with progressively increasing fascicle shortening velocities at the SSC may be consistent with the theory that the optimum shortening velocity for maximizing power increases with the intensity of exercise and recruitment of fast twitch fibers.
Multi-drug resistant microbes are resident on nose masks used as preventive protocols for COVID-19 in selected Ghanaian cohort
Authors: Gyapong Francis , Debra Ethel , Ofori Maame O. , Ayerakwa Eunice A. , Abban Molly K. , Mosi Lydia , Isawumi Abiola 
Published: June 2023

Background: Use of nose masks was an effective and significant part of the World Health Organization (WHO) coronavirus disease (COVID-19) preventive protocols; however, unhygienic practices by the user could lead to microbial contamination of masks. This study profiled bacteria and fungi resident on nose masks and established unhygienic practices; which was not prioritized during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This was a cross-sectional exploratory study, and questionnaires on unhygienic practices toward mask use were completed by 100 consenting participants from which their nose masks were collected for microbial assessment. The isolated microorganisms were characterized with phenotypic and molecular assays. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and presented in graphs. Results: Overall, 65% out of the 100 participants reported using a single nose mask for more than a day and 31% washed the mask to reuse. The bacterial load on the exterior (9.9 x 104 CFU/ml) mask interior (9.1 x 104 CFU/ml) was higher than the threshold outlined by WHO. Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Proteus, Citrobacter, Salmonella, Penicillium, and Aspergillus species were isolated from the mask, and about 80-100% of these isolates were resistant to 18 antimicrobials tested. Uncommon bacterial and fungal isolates, including Providencia, Morganella, Edwardsiella, Rhodotorula and Fusarium species, were also resident on the masks. Conclusions: Diverse multidrug-resistant pathobionts resided on the used mask. These microbes can be opportunistic and cause infections. Nose masks have become a common social accessory; thus strategies are required to ease user discomfort and encourage hygiene practices.
Maximizing the Benefits of an On-Demand Workforce: Fill Rate-Based Allocation and Coordination Mechanisms
Authors: Lu Tao , Zheng Zhichao , Zhong Yuanguang 
Published: June 2023

Problem definition: With the rapid growth of the gig economy, on-demand staffing platforms have emerged to help companies manage their temporary workforce. This emerging business-to-business context motivates us to study a new form of supply chain coordination problem. We consider a staffing platform managing an on-demand workforce to serve multiple firms facing stochastic labor demand. Before demand realization, each individual firm can hire permanent employees, whereas the platform determines a compensation rate for potential on-demand workers. After knowing the realized demand, firms in need can request on-demand workers from the platform, and then, the platform operator allocates the available on-demand workforce among the firms. We explore how to maximize and distribute the benefits of an on-demand workforce through coordinating self-interested parties in the staffing system. Methodology/results: We combine game theory and online optimization techniques to address the challenges in incentivizing and coordinating the online workforce. We propose a novel and easily implementable fill rate-based allocation and coordination mechanism that enables the on-demand workforce to be shared optimally when individual firms and the platform operator make decisions in their own interest. We also show that the proposed mechanism can be adapted to the cases when contract terms need to be identical to all firms and when actual demand is unverifiable. Managerial implications: The proposed contract mechanism is in line with the performance-based contracting commonly used in on-demand staffing services. Our results suggest that under an appropriately designed performance-based mechanism, individual firms and the platform operator can share the maximum benefits of on-demand staffing. Funding: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 71871097] and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, China. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2021.0327 .
Compliance with oral iron supplementation among pregnant women in the Tain district, Ghana
Authors: Ferka Listowel , Kumi-Kyereme Akwasi 
Published: June 2023

Background/Aims Iron deficiency anaemia is considered a major global public health challenge, especially in developing countries, with pregnant women being most affected. In Ghana, the prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy is relatively high, particularly in the Tain district. This has been attributed to problems with compliance to oral iron and folic acid supplementation. The aim of this study was to assess personal factors associated with compliance with oral iron supplementation in rural areas of the Tain district. Methods A cross-sectional design was used for this study, which collected quantitative data from 480 pregnant women. Ten health facilities were selected, with proportional allocation of the sample to each facility. Simple random sampling was used to select pregnant women in the clinical setting. A structured questionnaire was used to collect participants' data and descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. Results Only a third (34%) of respondents complied with oral iron supplementation. Cohabiting with a partner (P=0.003), having no formal or only primary level education (P=0.009), having a partner with middle school or junior high school level education (P=0.014) and being in the first trimester (P<0.001) were significantly associated with compliance. Conclusions Compliance with oral iron supplementation was low. Health education on iron supplementation should be strengthened by targeting pregnant women at risk of non-compliance. This education should be carried out by midwives during routine antenatal visits.
Understanding antenatal care use in pastoralist communities: a focused ethnographic study in Kenya
Authors: Barako Talaso D , Spiby Helen , Evans Catrin , Konstantinidis Stathis 
Published: June 2023

Background/Aims The provision of high-quality antenatal care improves maternal and child health outcomes. Pastoralist communities face unique challenges in accessing healthcare associated with a nomadic, marginalised lifestyle, and have high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality. There is minimal evidence on antenatal care use globally among this group. To develop optimal services for pastoralist communities, there is an urgent need to understand pastoralist women's use of antenatal care services. This study's aim was to explore experiences of antenatal care among pastoralist communities in Kenya, to identify key barriers and facilitators of uptake. Methods This focused ethnographic qualitative study was underpinned by a philosophy of critical realism. A total of 58 participants (women, husbands, traditional birth attendants and nurses) were included. Data were collected using interviews, focus group discussions and observation. Data were collected for 6 months in six villages and five health facilities in a pastoralist region of northern Kenya. Inductive thematic analysis and retroduction were used to identify concepts, structures and mechanisms that influenced antenatal care use. Results Pastoralist women's antenatal care experiences and use were linked to two main themes. The first was government policies that incentivised antenatal care use by linking the provision of the baby's health and citizenship records to antenatal care uptake and encouraging traditional birth attendants to adopt defined referral roles. The second highlighted multiple structural barriers that impeded consistent antenatal care uptake, including the pastoralist lifestyle, cultural barriers, health system constraints and a gap in information sharing. The dissonance between these led to partial, sub-optimal use patterns of antenatal care. Conclusions Government policy created an impetus for the pastoralist community to use contemporary healthcare services. At the same time, multiple barriers impeded access to services. This explains the partial use of antenatal care services among pastoralist communities. The findings throw doubt on the feasibility of antenatal care guidelines that recommend eight contacts during pregnancy. There is a need to work collaboratively with communities to develop context-specific models of care.
DESENVOLVIMENTO DE SOLUÇÃO DE GEOINFORMAÇÃO ABERTA VOLTADA AO PLANEJAMENTO DA ATUALIZAÇÃO CADASTRAL DE UMA CIDADE PEQUENA
Authors: Vieira Arthur Duarte , Camara Gabriele Silveira , Bravo João Vitor Meza , Camboim Silvana Philippi 
Published: June 2023

No Brasil as cidades pequenas são as mais afetadas com a desatualização ou a inexistência de informações cadastrais das unidades imobiliárias. Geralmente, a avaliação e a tributação da terra nas cidades pequenas tem defasagem, pois as prefeituras normalmente não têm recursos para realizar atualizações constantes em suas bases cartográficas. Desse modo, neste trabalho desenvolveu-se uma solução de geoinformação aberta, voltada ao planejamento da atualização cadastral de uma cidade pequena, visando contribuir com o processo de avaliação e tributação de terra em ambiente urbano. Para tanto, selecionou-se Monte Carmelo, uma cidade pequena localizada no Estado de Minas Gerais, como estudo de caso. A intenção foi desenvolver uma ferramenta capaz de realizar o cáculo do Imposto sobre Propriedade Predial e Territorial Urbano (IPTU) utilizando 1) dados desatualizados da Prefeitura Municipal e 2) dados do OpenStreetMap. Os resultados mostraram que é possível utilizar dados abertos para se estimar os valores de impostos sobre as propriedades urbanas, quando não há geoinformação oficial disponível. Essa abordagem mostrou que é viável a criação de uma ferramenta no ambiente QGIS, de código aberto e reprodutível, capaz de apoiar gestores urbanos no processo de tomada de decisão no contexto de uma cidade pequena.
PROCESSOS HIDROGEOMORFOLÓGICOS EM ÁREAS DE EXPANSÃO URBANA: UM ESTUDO ACERCA DE LOTEAMENTOS IMPLANTADOS A PARTIR DE 2004 NA CIDADE DE CHAPECÓ/SC
Authors: Segnor Cássia Regina , Binda Andrey Luis 
Published: June 2023

A especialização das áreas do conhecimento e os estudos voltados para o urbano tem recebido atenção nas últimas décadas, principalmente, pela relevância das áreas urbanas como local de moradia da maior parte da população mundial. A influência da urbanização no ciclo hidrológico e as interações com o relevo demonstram a necessidade de se conhecer como a ocupação urbana afeta os processos hidrogeomorfológicos. Segundo a literatura clássica, o desenvolvimento urbano pode ser dividido em três estágios distintos, cada qual, com respostas hidrogeomorfológicas igualmente distintas. Para verificar essa questão em Chapecó, no oeste catarinense, selecionou-se 12 loteamentos, observados em quatro temporalidades (2006, 2012, 2018 e 2021), com o objetivo de identificar os processos hidrogeomorfológicos atuantes nos diferentes estágios de ocupação apresentados por Wolman (1967). A partir da análise de imagens de satélite e de visitas em campo, constatou-se que os três estágios descritos na literatura nem sempre acontecem em sequência, pois o tecido urbano é construído a partir da anexação de novas áreas que se conectam a outras com diferentes graus de desenvolvimento. Outro aspecto relevante é que um mesmo local pode manifestar diferentes contextos simultaneamente, já que a consolidação do loteamento, ainda que rápida, em alguns casos, não é homogênea.