bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the effect of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis in the treatment of end-stage renal disease
Authors: Zhao Yuan 
Published: September 2023

Objective: To compare the clinical effects of hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) in the treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients.
Methods: Clinical data of ESRD patients who received HD (n=74) and PD (n=77) for more than 12 months in the First People’s Hospital of Tonglu County from October 2020 to November 2021 were retrospectively selected. Renal function indexes, blood pressure, and complication rates in the two groups before the first dialysis and at the end of the observation period were compared.
Results: After the dialysis, the urea nitrogen (BUN) levels decreased in both groups, and were significantly lower in the PD group compared to the HD group. Urea clearance index (Kt/V) increased, and were significantly higher in the PD group compared to the HD group (P<0.05). After the dialysis, albumin (ALB) and cardiac ejection fraction (EF) levels significantly increased, and ALB levels were significantly higher in the HD group while EF levels were significantly higher in the PD group (P<0.05). Levels of whole parathyroid hormone (iPTH), systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure indicators in both groups decreased compared to before the dialysis, and were significantly lower in the PD group compared to the HD group of patients (P<0.05). PD was associated with significantly lower total incidence of complications compared to HD (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Peritoneal dialysis is more effective in maintaining the hemodynamic stability for ESRD patients, reducing blood pressure level, improving the clearance rate of molecular substances, and protecting the renal function of patients compared to hemodialysis.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.6.8056
How to cite this: Zhao Y. Comparison of the effect of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis in the treatment of end-stage renal disease. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(6):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.6.8056
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Building public trust and confidence in secondary use of health data for healthcare improvement and research: a qualitative study pre-protocol
Authors: Bedenik Tina , Cahir Caitriona , Bennett K. 
Published: September 2023

Background Secondary use of health data provides opportunities to drive improvements in healthcare provision, personalised medicine, comparative effectiveness research, health services innovation, and policy and practice. However, secondary data use requires compliance with relevant legislation, implementation of technical safeguards, ethical data management, and respect for data sharers. Existing evidence suggests widespread support for secondary use of health data among the public, which co-exists with concerns about privacy, confidentiality and misuse of data. Balancing the protection of individuals’ rights against the use of their health data for societal benefits is of vital importance, and trust underpins this process. The study protocol explores how to build public trust and confidence in the secondary use of health data through all key stakeholder groups in Ireland, towards developing a culture that promotes a safe and trustworthy use of data. Methods This study will adopt a qualitative cross-sectional approach conducted in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research COREQ guidelines. Participants in the study will include academics and researchers; healthcare professionals, data protection, ethics and privacy experts and data controllers; pharmaceutical industry and patients and public. Purposive and convenience sampling techniques will be utilised to recruit the participants, and data will be collected utilizing focus groups that may be supplemented with semi-structured interviews. Data will be coded by themes using reflexive thematic analysis (TA) and collective intelligence (CI) will be convened post-analysis to explore the preliminary findings with the participants. Ethics and Dissemination Ethical approval was obtained from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Research Ethics Committee (REC202208013). Final data analysis and dissemination is expected by Q1 2024. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journal publications, presentations at relevant conferences, and other academic, public and policy channels. Lay summaries will be designed for Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) contributors and general public.
Constipation - a patient's discomfort or a disturbing symptom - an overview of current knowledge
Authors: Kuziemkowska Daria , Ben Rhaiem Rami , Kępka Przemysław , Kuźma Jan , Łącka-Majcher Anna , Łokczewska-Bojar Aleksandra , Tarsa Grzegorz , Skotalczyk Magdalena , Sawińska Zuzanna , Sudelska Katarzyna 
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Constipation is identified as too few bowel movements (≤2/week; severe constipation is ≤2 bowel movements per month) or hard stools (Bristol Formation Scale 1 and 2) that are passed with effort, often with a sensation of incomplete defecation .
Purpose of study: The aim of this review is to present key aspects of constipation, including epidemiology, diagnosis, management and clinical treatment directed to the individual patient and individual therapy.
Materials and methods: The review was based on the available literature in the PubMed database and the Google Scholar search engine using the key words: "constipation"; “constipation diagnosis”; “constipation treatment”.
Conclusions: Constipation is a common health problem that affects people of all ages. It is the most frequently reported ailment in gastroenterological practice. Not only are they a cause of patient discomfort, but they are often an alarming symptom of a larger pathology in the human body. Correct diagnosis often includes multi-aspect diagnostics, in which doctors of various specialties are involved, and correct treatment significantly improves the quality of life of patients.
Information Provision in Two-Sided Platforms: Optimizing for Supply
Authors: Bimpikis Kostas , Papanastasiou Yiangos , Zhang Wenchang 
Published: September 2023

Although information design has recently received significant attention as a tool for shaping consumers’ purchase behavior, little is known about its use and implications in two-sided marketplaces, where both supply and demand consist of self-interested strategic agents. In this paper, we develop a model of a two-sided platform that facilitates transactions between vertically differentiated suppliers and consumers who differ in their quality preferences. We focus on illustrating the potential benefits of optimal information provision in managing the supply side of the marketplace, including the entry, exit, and pricing decisions of potential suppliers. We show that the revenue-optimal information provision policy often involves delaying the disclosure of information regarding the quality of the available suppliers. When the outside options available to consumers are relatively unattractive, we find that information design can help the platform achieve a more revenue-efficient matching between supply and demand. On the other hand, when consumers have access to attractive outside options, we show that information design can accelerate the discovery of high-quality suppliers, leading to an increase in the platform’s total transaction volume. Moreover, in cases where the platform benefits from commission subsidies to incentivize the entry of new suppliers, information design can be used to achieve the same goal while allowing the platform to earn higher commission revenue. Overall, our numerical experiments suggest that the impact of information design on platform revenue, as well as on consumer surplus, can be substantial. This paper was accepted by Vishal Gaur, operations management. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4894 .
Older adults’ experiences of taking up a new community-based leisure activity to promote brain health: A focus group study
Authors: Niechcial Malwina A. , Marr Calum , Potter Lauren M. , Dickson Adele , Gow Alan J. 
Published: September 2023

Introduction
An active and engaged lifestyle is supported as being beneficial for brain health. Activities comprising physical, mental and social demands, or combinations of those, are of particular interest, and have been the focus of specific interventions. Exploring how older people engage with such community-based activities, including facilitators and barriers to participation, may help improve the success of future translational activities. The purpose of this study was therefore to identify factors that enabled or hindered activity engagement by conducting focus groups with people who had been supported to take up a new activity as part of an intervention study.

Materials and methods
Twenty-seven older adults aged 65–86 (56% female) who had completed an activity-based intervention study participated in three focus groups. Discussions explored their experiences of taking up a new activity, including facilitators and barriers to their engagement, and their perceptions of any benefits.

Results
Thematic analysis grouped participants’ responses into five themes: positive aspects and facilitators of engagement in a new activity; challenges and barriers to engagement; ageing being a facilitator and a barrier to engagement; differential effects of activities on participants’ health and wellbeing; and general project feedback (including opinions on study design).

Discussion and conclusions
Participants’ experiences and expectations included positive (e.g., enjoyment, socialisation) and negative factors (e.g., lack of confidence, other commitments, class costs and poor structure), consistent with previous research on social participation and engaging with new learning opportunities. Future studies should also consider those who do not readily participate in leisure activities to address earlier barriers. It is important that older adults have access to potentially beneficial activities and local authorities should prioritise increasing their provision.
Core temperature and heart rate at the upper limit of the prescriptive zone
Authors: Bernard Thomas E. , Ashley Candi D. , Wolf S. Tony , Kenney W. Larry 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThe expressed goal of limiting workplace heat stress exposures to a core temperature (Tc) of 38°C traces back to a 1969 World Health Organization Technical Report (WHO Series 412). The actual goal was to limit exposures to the upper limit of the prescriptive zone (ULPZ). To explore the physiological strain at the ULPZ, progressive heat stress protocol data from Penn State University (PSU) and University of South Florida (USF) below and at the ULPZ were used to articulate the relation of Tc and heart rate (HR) to metabolic rate (MR) with consideration of acclimatization state, clothing, exposure condition (PreULPZ vs. ULPZ), and sex. Regression models demonstrated the association of MR and sex with Tc and HR. At the ULPZ, women had systematically higher values of Tc and HR than men at the same MR likely due to higher relative demands. There was no effect for acclimatization state and clothing. As expected for individuals, Tc was practically constant below the ULPZ and HR exhibited increasing values approaching the ULPZ. At 490 W, the high MR cited in the WHO document, the mean Tc for men was near the 38°C limit with systematically lower Tc at lower MRs.
“Sacred and Beautiful”: The Lived Experience of Slovak Women who had a Planned Homebirth
Authors: Uhrecký Branislav , Rajnohová Radomíra , Baránková Martina 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
While many Western countries do legally permit homebirths under certain conditions, in the Slovak Republic they exist in a legal vacuum – they are neither permitted nor prohibited. In the present study, we aimed to explore how Slovak women who deliberately delivered at home perceive the reason for this decision and the subsequent homebirth itself. We interviewed eight women aged 21 to 36 and analysed the transcripts using the interpretative phenomenological analysis framework. The analysis revealed four major themes – (1) the sacredness of childbirth, (2) the aspiration to be the director of your childbirth, (3) homebirth as an expression of the need for intimacy, and (4) the struggle with one’s social circle. Childbirth is seen as an ultimate act of nature defined by its beauty and purity, but these qualities are tainted by biomedical approach of healthcare providers. The results of this study suggest that women’s needs of autonomy, relatedness, and inclusion are not properly met by Slovak health care and obstetrics. Stricter adherence to the principle of informed consent during hospital births, and legalisation and regulation of homebirths could reduce medical risks during childbirth and improve women’s mental well-being during and after a pivotal moment in their life.
Intra-operative drug level monitoring of pre-operative antibiotic for surgical prophylaxis in the patients of elective spinal surgery
Authors: Sheikh Salim , Swapnil Kumar , Tripathi Chakra Dhar , Meshram Girish Gulab , Karim Bushra Ahmed 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Objectives
Single dose prophylaxis is good enough for general surgery with low risk patients. However, the evidence for the effectiveness of single dose anti-microbial prophylaxis (AMP) is not conclusive in high risk patients and spinal surgeries requiring instrumentation or the use of implants in particular. No studies have explored the various concentration of ceftriaxone in plasma and tissue as well during an ongoing spinal surgery. Therefore, the objective of study was to correlate the serum and tissue concentrations of ceftriaxone with the SSI and identify patients with increased risk of SSI.

Methods
It was an open label prospective study in 50 consecutive patients who underwent elective spine surgery under prophylactic cover of ceftriaxone. Serum and tissue concentration were estimated by high pressure liquid chromatography during the ongoing surgery.

Results
Subjects were observed for any post-operative complications including SSI. Serum (p=0.002) and tissue (p=0.012) concentrations of ceftriaxone at the closure of spinal surgery were associated with SSI. Duration of the surgery (p=0.04) and use of implants (p=0.02) were also important surgery related risk factors.

Conclusions
Serum and tissue concentrations of ceftriaxone at the closure and duration of surgery and instrumentation or use of implants in the spinal surgery are good predictors of SSI.
Quantitative Analysis of Mancozeb in Water Quality Detection Based on Spectrophotometry
Authors: Yu Yinshan , Ping Ding , Wei Jinsong , Zhang Hui , Zhang Dongyang , Yang Yudong 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Quantitative analysis of the concentration of mancozeb in water quality detection based on spectrophotometry is investigated. It is found that the concentration of mancozeb has a good linear correlation with total nitrogen and turbidity. In the experiment, prediction models are established by using various parameters to detect the concentration of mancozeb. The concentration of mancozeb is analyzed and compared with the actual value to verify the accuracy of the measurement method by the method of testing the total nitrogen and turbidity of different concentrations of liquids. The numerical and analytical results show the meeting with the actual test requirements. This method can improve the effectiveness and rapidity of quantitative analysis of mancozeb content in water quality detection.
Politeness Strategies Used by Trump and El-Sisi in Their Speeches at United Nations Assembly
Authors: Azzahra Ummi Ashim , Pratama Hendi , Saleh Mursid 
Published: September 2023

In this study, the researchers identified ways that politeness strategies are commonly employed in a speech. Specifically, this study aimed at exploring the politeness strategies used by Donald Trump and General El Sisi during their speech at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly. Both the similarities and the differences between Donald Trump’s and General Sisi's use of politeness strategies and sub-strategies in their speeches were investigated. A qualitative research approach was conducted, and the theory of politeness strategies by Brown and Levinson was applied as the analysis framework. The research data was collected from the 57 utterances in Trump's speech and 79 utterances in General Sisi's speech. The analysis results showed that both Trump and El-Sisi applied bald on record, positive, and negative politeness. Specifically, the politeness strategies found in Trump's speech were 10 utterances of bald on record, 53 utterances of positive politeness, 8 utterances of negative politeness, and two utterances of off-record strategy. On the contrary, General Sisi's speech mostly contained negative politeness strategies. It was found that there were 70 utterances of negative politeness, 11 utterances of positive politeness, and 1 utterance of off-record strategy. These various politeness strategies used by Donald Trump and General Sisi could not be separated from their respective social positions, social distances, and cultural backgrounds.
Religion Devolving?
Authors: Shults F LeRon 
Published: September 2023

This article highlights several of the valuable contributions in Religion Evolving by Benjamin Purzycki and Richard Sosis (2022) and offers some material and methodological reflections that are intended to complement their efforts. Their book offers a clear and useful operationalization of religion, emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to the phenomena in question, and makes great strides in overcoming the polarizing debate between proponents of the “by-product” and “adaptationist” camps in the cognitive and evolutionary science of religion. The bulk of the current article argues for the importance of building on their efforts by also attending to the conditions under which – and the mechanisms by which – religion can become “maladaptive” in contemporary contexts.
Medical Diagnosis via Refined Neutrosophic Fuzzy Logic: Detection of Illness using Neutrosophic Sets
Authors: Kalla Hemabala , Kumar B.Srinivasa , Smarandache Florentin 
Published: September 2023

The objective of the paper is to implement and validate diagnosis in the medical field via refined neutrosophic fuzzy logic (RNFL). As such, we have proposed a Max-Min composition (MMC) method in RNFL. This method deals with the diagnosis under certain constraints like uncertainty and indeterminacy. Further, we have considered the diagnosis problems to validate the sensitivity analysis of the novel multi attribute decision-making technique. Finally, we gave the graphical representations and compared the obtained results with other existing measures in refined neutrosophic fuzzy sets.
Evolution of sugar exports in two centuries
Authors: Lemos Jose de Jesus Sousa , Cruz Marcos Paulo Mesquta da , Filho Joao da Costa , Paiva Elizama Cavalcante de , Sousa Erika Costa , Monteiro Alexandra Pedrosa 
Published: September 2023

The research showed the trajectory of Brazilian exports and sugar prices between 1821 and 2020 (two centuries). The hypothesis of the research was that exporters' price forecasting errors affected their export forecasting errors in the period evaluated. The data were obtained from the Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade (MIDIC). Sugar prices were translated to 2020 Brazilian currency values (R$) and then to US dollars using the 2020 (R$/USD) average conversion rate. Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models were used to forecast sugar exports and prices over the entire period. Geometric growth rates of exports and prices were estimated for each quartile using trend evaluation models. Dummy variables were used to test whether there were differences between the elasticities measuring the forecast errors of exports as a function of the forecast errors of sugar prices in each quartile. The estimated models proved to be parsimonious and robust from a statistical point of view. The hypotheses that prices and export quantities expanded at different rates in the four quartiles were confirmed and the estimated elasticities were shown to be statistically different suggesting that export forecasting errors are likely to be related to sugar price forecasts.
Determining mental health and related factors among informal workers in Bangkok, Thailand
Authors: Chantra Niranyakarn , Klinkwan Phassakorn , Luksamijarulkul Saovalug , Luenam Amonrat , Yubonpunt Pataraporn 
Published: September 2023

Introduction: The informal workers in Bangkok have low income, high expenses, and inequity in health coverage, especially in Bangkok metropolitan area. Moreover, the urban lifestyle was severer than in rural area. However, their mental heaths were not directly determined. Therefore, the objective of this study was aimed to determine the relationship among mental health and related factors including demographic data, health behaviors, and coping responses. Methods: The research areas in Bangkok metropolitan area were included voluntarily which were Ladkrabang, Prawet, and Prapradang districts and the subjects were recruited from conventional sampling. They were interviewed by questionnaire. Results: The subjects were 94 male and 76 female informal workers. Most of them finished primary school and an average income was 9,019.68 bahts per month. The happiness score was 31.56 (S.D.=5.06). The mental state was 11.1(S.D.=3.04), mental capacity was 6.25 (S.D.=1.49), mental quality was 6.92(S.D.=1.31) and family support was 7.28 (S.D.=1.41). Conclusion: The happiness and work-family balance were in medium; the others were in high level. The work-family balance, medium work demands, financial status and occupations are the potential factors that affected to mental health status of the informal workers. Discussion: The mental capacity and the work-family balance need to be improved for increasing their mental health status. Hence, the working schedule should be arranged and the monitoring of mental health status should be monitored in further study.