bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neoadjuvant Therapy in Nonmetastatic Breast Cancer in Kurdistan, Iraq
Authors: Namiq Karez Sarbast , Sulaiman Luqman Rahman 
Published: May 2023

PURPOSE The core management of nonmetastatic breast cancer includes surgical tumor removal by either breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or mastectomy. The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) has shown the potential to downstage locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) and reduce the extent of breast or axillary surgery. This study aimed to assess the treatment approach for nonmetastatic breast cancer in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and to compare its alignment with the current international recommendations for cancer treatment. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the records of 1,000 patients with prespecified eligible inclusion criteria who underwent either BCS or mastectomy for nonmetastatic invasive breast cancer at oncology centers in the Kurdistan region of Iraq between the period 2016 and 2021. RESULTS Of 1,000 patients (median age, 47 years [range, 22-85 years]), 60.2% underwent mastectomy and 39.8% underwent BCS. The proportion of patients treated with NACT has increased over time, with 8.3% of patients receiving neoadjuvant treatment in 2016 compared with 14.2% in 2021. Similarly, BCS increased from 36.3% in 2016 to 43.7% in 2021. Most patients who underwent BCS had early breast cancer with low nodal involvement burden. CONCLUSION The increasing trends of BCS practice in LABC along with the increased use of NACT in the Kurdistan region in recent years comply with international guidelines. Our large multicenter, real-life series emphasizes the need to implement and discuss more conservative surgical approaches, enhanced with the broader use of NACT, through education and information programs for health providers and patients, in the context of multidisciplinary team discussions, to deliver high-quality, patient-centric breast cancer care.
Towards a liquid-state theory for active matter
(a)
Authors: Li Yuting Irene , Garcia-Millan Rosalba , Cates Michael E. , Fodor Étienne 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
In equilibrium, the collective behaviour of particles interacting via steep, short-ranged potentials is well captured by the virial expansion of the free energy at low density. Here, we extend this approach beyond equilibrium to the case of active matter with self-propelled particles. Given that active systems do not admit any free-energy description in general, our aim is to build the dynamics of the coarse-grained density from first principles without any equilibrium assumption. Starting from microscopic equations of motion, we obtain the hierarchy of density correlations, which we close with an ansatz for the two-point density valid in the dilute regime at small activity. This closure yields the nonlinear dynamics of the one-point density, with hydrodynamic coefficients depending explicitly on microscopic interactions, by analogy with the equilibrium virial expansion. This dynamics admits a spinodal instability for purely repulsive interactions, a signature of motility-induced phase separation. Therefore, although our approach should be restricted to dilute, weakly active systems a priori, it actually captures the features of a broader class of active matter.
Probabilistic County-Level Population Projections
Authors: Yu Crystal CY , Ševčíková Hana , Raftery Adrian E. , Curran Sara R. 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Population projections provide predictions of future population sizes for an area. Historically, most population projections have been produced using deterministic or scenario-based approaches and have not assessed uncertainty about future population change. Starting in 2015, however, the United Nations (UN) has produced probabilistic population projections for all countries using a Bayesian approach. There is also considerable interest in subnational probabilistic population projections, but the UN's national approach cannot be used directly for this purpose, because within-country correlations in fertility and mortality are generally larger than between-country ones, migration is not constrained in the same way, and there is a need to account for college and other special populations, particularly at the county level. We propose a Bayesian method for producing subnational population projections, including migration and accounting for college populations, by building on but modifying the UN approach. We illustrate our approach by applying it to the counties of Washington State and comparing the results with extant deterministic projections produced by Washington State demographers. Out-of-sample experiments show that our method gives accurate and well-calibrated forecasts and forecast intervals. In most cases, our intervals were narrower than the growth-based intervals issued by the state, particularly for shorter time horizons.
Development of a fluorescence reporter system to quantify transcriptional activity of endogenous p53 in living cells
Authors: Tsuruoka Tatsuki , Nakayama Emiri , Endo Takuya , Harashima Shingo , Kamada Rui , Sakaguchi Kazuyasu , Imagawa Toshiaki 
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACT
The tumor suppressor p53 (also known as TP53) plays a central role in cellular stress responses by regulating transcription of multiple target genes. The temporal dynamics of p53 are thought to be important for its function; these encode input information and are decoded to induce distinct cellular phenotypes. However, it remains unclear to what extent the temporal dynamics of p53 reflect the activity of p53-induced gene expression. In this study, we report a multiplexed reporter system that allows us to visualize the transcriptional activity of p53 at the single-cell level. Our reporter system features simple and sensitive observation of the transcriptional activity of endogenous p53 to the response elements of various target genes. Using this system, we show that the transcriptional activation of p53 exhibits strong cell-to-cell heterogeneity. The transcriptional activation of p53 after etoposide treatment is highly dependent on the cell cycle but this is not seen after UV exposure. Finally, we show that our reporter system allows simultaneous visualization of the transcriptional activity of p53 and cell cycle. Our reporter system can thus be a useful tool for studying biological processes involving the p53 signaling pathway.
Uncertainty Estimation of Connected Vehicle Penetration Rate
Authors: Jia Shaocheng , Wong S. C. , Wong Wai 
Published: May 2023

Knowledge of the connected vehicle (CV) penetration rate is crucial for realizing numerous beneficial applications during the prolonged transition period to full CV deployment. A recent study described a novel single-source data penetration rate estimator (SSDPRE) for estimating the CV penetration rate solely from CV data. However, despite the unbiasedness of the SSDPRE, it is only a point estimator. Consequently, given the typically nonlinear nature of transportation systems, model estimations or system optimizations conducted with the SSDPRE without considering its variability can generate biased models or suboptimal solutions. Thus, this study proposes a probabilistic penetration rate model for estimating the variability of the results generated by the SSDPRE. An essential input for this model is the constrained queue length distribution, which is the distribution of the number of stopping vehicles in a signal cycle. An exact probabilistic dissipation time model and a simplified constant dissipation time model are developed for estimating this distribution. In addition, to improve the estimation accuracy in real-world situations, the braking and start-up motions of vehicles are considered by constructing a constant time loss model for use in calibrating the dissipation time models. VISSIM simulation demonstrates that the calibrated models accurately describe constrained queue length distributions and estimate the variability of the results generated by the SSDPRE. Furthermore, applications of the calibrated models to the next-generation simulation data set and a simple CV-based adaptive signal control scheme demonstrate the readiness of the models for use in real-world situations and the potential of the models to improve system optimizations. Funding: This work was supported by The University of Hong Kong [Francis S Y Bong Professorship in Engineering and Postgraduate Scholarship] and by the Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China [Grants 17204919 and 17205822]. Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2023.1209 .
Fiber laser with intracavity parallel Mach–Zehnder interferometers towards Vernier refractive index sensing
Authors: Mohammed Saif A. , Al-Hayali Sarah Kadhim , Al-Janabi Abdul Hadi 
Published: May 2023

In this paper, dual-wavelength laser emission of an erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) with a tunable distinct wavelength selection of the simultaneously produced laser lines was achieved by applying a parallel comb filter configuration based on the optical Vernier effect. The intracavity inserted proposed comb filter consists of two parallel branches to generate the Vernier effect. Each branch is an in-line Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) filter, which is composed of a polarization-maintaining fiber fusion spliced between single-mode fibers with sphere shapes at both ends. The tunability of the selected laser wavelength was realized by submerging the proposed filter in different sodium chloride/water mixtures. The proposed comb filter-based Vernier effect was used to independently achieve the selection of the dual-wavelength EDFL lines and for refractive index (RI) sensing applications. The in-line MZI1 and MZI2 structures show a wavelength shift sensitivity to RI variations of −88 and 79 nm/RIU, respectively. Our proposed MZI structure presents a reliable, straightforward, and low-cost spectral comb filter for separate tunable dual-wavelength laser generation in the c-band region. Furthermore, the proposed filter structure-based Vernier effect presents a new perspective and method in the RI sensing application.
Broadband ultrafast-laser-absorption spectroscopy for multi-hydrocarbon measurements near 3.3  µm in flames
Authors: Chang Ziqiao , Tancin Ryan J. , Radhakrishna Vishnu , Lucht Robert P. , Goldenstein Christopher S. 
Published: May 2023

This paper presents the development and application of a broadband
ultrafast-laser-absorption-spectroscopy (ULAS) technique operating in
the mid-infrared for simultaneous measurements of temperature, methane (CH4), and propane (C3H8) mole fractions. Single-shot
measurements targeting the C-H stretch fundamental vibration bands of CH4 and C3H8 near 3.3 µm were acquired in
both a heated gas cell up to ≈650K and laminar diffusion flames at
5 kHz. The average temperature error is 0.6%. The average
species mole fraction errors are 5.4% for CH4 and 9.9% for C3H8. This demonstrates that ULAS is
capable of providing high-fidelity hydrocarbon-based thermometry and
simultaneous measurements of both large and small hydrocarbons in
combustion gases.
Performance of optical sensors for cloud measurements deployed by the ARM Aerial Facility during ACE-ENA
Authors: Glienke Susanne , Allwayin Nithin , Mei Fan , Comstock Jennifer M. , Shaw Raymond A. , Tomlinson Jason , Schmid Beat 
Published: May 2023

During the Aerosol and Cloud Experiment in the Eastern North Atlantic
(ACE-ENA), a variety of in situ optical
sensors using shadow imaging, scattering and holography were deployed
by the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Aerial Facility to
determine cloud properties. Taking advantage of the wide, overlapping
range of instrumentation, we compare in
situ cloud data from several different measurement methods
for droplets up to 100 µm. Data processing was tailored to the
encountered conditions, leading to good agreement. Improvements
include noise reduction for holography and better out-of-focus
correction for shadow imaging. Comparison between direct liquid water
content measurements and optical sensors showed better agreement at
higher droplet number concentrations (>120/cm3).
Linear and nonlinear optical characterization of tellurium dioxide (α-TeO2) for generation of terahertz radiation using time-domain spectroscopy
Authors: Ghorui Chandan , Chaudhary A. K. 
Published: May 2023

This paper reports the linear and nonlinear optical characterization of α−TeO2 crystal in the optical and terahertz domains for efficient terahertz (THz) generation using a difference frequency mixing technique. We have ascertained the optical properties such as refractive index, absorption coefficients, real and imaginary dielectric constants, and coherence length l
c
=280mm at 1.77 THz range using an indigenously developed THz spectrometer. The value of refractive index was ascertained from temporal and spectral THz profiles of the crystal and employed for calculating the Type I phase-matching angle, i.e., θ=21.15∘ for the generation of tunable radiation between the 0.1 and 1.9 THz range. The figure of merits in the optical and THz domains lie between the 0.02–0.015 range. The effective bandwidth of the crystal lies between the 0.1 and 3.0 THz range.
Bacterial, fungal and parasitic co-infections in leprosy: A scoping review
Authors: Fróes Luis Alberto Ribeiro , Toma Tereza Setsuko , Jachiet Marie , Rousset Laurie , Poderoso Rosana Evangelista , Trindade Maria Angela Bianconcini 
Published: May 2023

BackgroundIn leprosy patients, the most commonly reported non-viral co-infections are Tuberculosis, Leishmaniasis, Chromoblastomycosis and Helminths. The presence of a secondary infection is believed to increase the likelihood of leprosy reactions. The purpose of this review was to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the most reported bacterial, fungal, and parasitic co-infections in leprosy.Methodology/Principal findingsFollowing the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, a systematic literature search was conducted by two independent reviewers, resulting in the inclusion of 89 studies. For tuberculosis, a total of 211 cases were identified, with a median age of 36 years and male predominance (82%). Leprosy was the initial infection in 89% of cases, 82% of individuals had multibacillary disease, and 17% developed leprosy reactions. For leishmaniasis, 464 cases were identified, with a median age of 44 years and male predominance (83%). Leprosy was the initial infection in 44% of cases, 76% of individuals presented with multibacillary disease, and 18% developed leprosy reactions. Regarding chromoblastomycosis, we identified 19 cases with a median age of 54 years and male predominance (88%). Leprosy was the primary infection in 66% of cases, 70% of individuals had multibacillary disease, and 35% developed leprosy reactions. Additionally, we found 151 cases of co-infection with leprosy and helminths, with a median age of 43 years and male predominance (68%). Leprosy was the primary infection in 66% of cases, and 76% of individuals presented with multibacillary disease, while the occurrence of leprosy reactions varied from 37% to 81% across studies.ConclusionWe observed a male-dominated pattern of co-infections among working-age individuals with multibacillary leprosy. Unlike prior studies reporting increased leprosy reactions in chronic viral co-infections, our findings did not indicate any increase among bacterial, fungal, or parasitic co-infections. Rather, co-infections with tuberculosis and leishmaniasis appeared to reduce leprosy reactions.
Validation of the family focused mental health practice questionnaire in measuring health and social care professionals’ family focused practice
Authors: Grant Anne , Lagdon Susan , Devaney John , Davidson Gavin , Duffy Joe , Perra Oliver 
Published: May 2023

Background
Parental mental illness is a major public health issue and there is growing evidence that family focused practice can improve outcomes for parents and their families. However, few reliable and valid instruments measure mental health and social care professionals’ family focused practice.

Objectives
To explore the psychometric properties of the Family Focused Mental Health Practice Questionnaire in a population of health and social care professionals.

Methods
Health and Social Care Professionals (n = 836) in Northern Ireland completed an adapted version of the Family Focused Mental Health Practice Questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis was used to test the structure of the underlying dimensions in the questionnaire. The results, and theoretical considerations, guided construction of a model that could explain variation in respondents’ items. This model was then validated using confirmatory factor analysis.

Results
Exploratory factor analysis revealed that solutions including 12 to 16 factors provided a good fit to the data and indicated underlying factors that could be meaningfully interpreted in line with existing literature. From these exploratory analyses, we derived a model that included 14 factors and tested this model with Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The results suggested 12 factors that summarized 46 items that were most optimal in reflecting family focused behaviours and professional and organizational factors. The 12 dimensions identified were meaningful and consistent with substantive theories: furthermore, their inter-correlations were consistent with known professional and organizational processes known to promote or hinder family focused practice.

Conclusion
This psychometric evaluation reveals that the scale provides a meaningful measure of professionals’ family focused practice within adult mental health and children’s services, and the factors that hinder and enable practice in this area. The findings, therefore, support the use of this measure to benchmark and further develop family focused practice in both adult mental health and children’s services.
Somatic characteristic, morphological asymmetry and postural stability of youth male canoeists compared to control. A cross-sectional study
Authors: Krzykała Magdalena , Karpowicz Krzysztof , Karpowicz Małgorzata , Bartkowiak Sylwia , Demuth Anna , Czerniak Urszula , Janowski Jarosław 
Published: May 2023

ObjectiveTo determine the relationships between selected morphological characteristics and the level of body composition asymmetry with postural stability among canoeists and a control group.MethodsThe sample consisted of 43 males (21 canoeists 21.8±3.29 years and 22 university students 21.7±1.32 years). Measurements included body height and weight. Segmental body composition analysis was assessed using the bioelectrical impedance by determining: fat mass (FM, kg, %), fat-free mass (FFM, kg) and predicted muscle mass (PMM, kg). Postural stability was tested using the BIODEX Balance System. Anterior–posterior stability index (APSI), medial–lateral stability index (MLSI) and overall stability index (OSI) were calculated.ResultsOur findings suggest that the canoeists had statistically lower level of fatty tissue compared to controls. There was a statistically important difference between groups in lower limb FM (% and kg). In both groups morphological asymmetry was observed, but in most cases—in athletes. Asymmetries between right and left arms appeared in all parameters, while asymmetries between right and left legs were noted in all parameters except FM (kg). There were relationships between stature and body weight with postural stability in canoeists. Canoeists demonstrated better balance than controls, particularly in the APSI. For all stability indices, significant differences were observed between right and left legs across all participants.ConclusionsAthletes, with larger asymmetries or poorer balance, require more attention to improve performance and reduce the risk of overload injury. Future studies needed to develop sport-specific level of morphofunctional asymmetry which would be optimal for sport results and health as well.
Unplanned pregnancy and the association with maternal health and pregnancy outcomes: A Swedish cohort study
Authors: Carlander Alisa , Hultstrand Jenny Niemeyer , Reuterwall Isa , Jonsson Maria , Tydén Tanja , Kullinger Merit 
Published: May 2023

Objectives
Unplanned pregnancies are common and associated with late initiation and inadequate antenatal care attendance, which may pose health risks to mother and child. How pregnancy planning relates to maternal health and delivery in Sweden, a country with free antenatal care and free abortion, has not been studied previously. Our aims were to study whether pregnancy planning was associated with antenatal care utilization and pregnancy outcomes in a Swedish setting.

Methods
Data for 2953 women, who answered a questionnaire when recruited at antenatal clinics in Sweden and later gave birth, was linked to the Swedish Medical Birth Register. The degree of pregnancy planning was estimated using the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy. Unplanned (comprising unplanned and ambivalent intention to pregnancy) was compared to planned pregnancy. Differences between women with unplanned and planned pregnancy intention and associated pregnancy outcomes were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test and logistic regression.

Results
There were 31% unplanned (2% unplanned and 29% ambivalent) pregnancies, whereas most woman (69%) reported their pregnancy to be planned. Women with an unplanned pregnancy enrolled later to antenatal care, but there was no difference in number of visits compared with planned pregnancy. Women with an unplanned pregnancy had higher odds to have induced labor (17% versus 13%; aOR 1.33 95% CI 1.06–1.67) and a longer hospital stay (41% versus 37%; aOR 1.21 95% CI 1.02–1.44). No associations were found between pregnancy planning and pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, epidural analgesia use, vacuum extraction delivery, Caesarean section or sphincter rupture.

Conclusions
Unplanned pregnancy was associated with delayed initiation of antenatal care, higher odds for induction of labor and longer hospital stay, but not with any severe pregnancy outcomes. These findings suggest that women with an unplanned pregnancy cope well in a setting with free abortion and free health care.
A Second-Order Difference Scheme for Generalized Time-Fractional Diffusion Equation with Smooth Solutions
Authors: Khibiev Aslanbek , Alikhanov Anatoly , Huang Chengming 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
In the current work, we build a difference analog of the Caputo fractional derivative with generalized memory kernel (𝜇L2-1𝜎 formula).
The fundamental features of this difference operator are studied, and on its ground, some difference schemes generating approximations of the second order in time for the generalized time-fractional diffusion equation with variable coefficients are worked out.
We have proved stability and convergence of the given schemes in the grid

L
2

L_{2}

-norm with the rate equal to the order of the approximation error.
The achieved results are supported by the numerical computations performed for some test problems.
The Instability of the Market for Government Bonds in the EMU
Authors: Kleinert Joern 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
The introduction of the Transmission Protection Instrument is the latest evidence, that the EMU is confronted with unstable markets for government bonds. Based on a parsimonious model of the government bond market, I argue, that this results from the introduction of the euro, which has homogenized government bonds. Now, several easily substitutable bonds are traded at the same time. Investors sort according to return and risk instead of along currencies. This self-selection, however, creates instability in crises. Price convergence and sorting characterized the first decade of the euro, instability the second.