bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Usability of a memory aid handbook for older people with subjective cognitive impairment—An explorative pilot study
Authors: Ross Sabrina D. , Rodriguez Francisca S. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundMemory problems are common in advanced age. Memory strategies can be used to manage such challenges. To assist older people facing memory problems, we conducted a pilot study to evaluate the usability of a memory aid handbook that we developed specifically for this purpose.MethodA memory aid handbook with a 7‐week program was developed based on a systematic review. A total of 19 older people with self‐reported memory problems (mean age: 76.11 years, female: 73.68%) tested the memory aid handbook and completed the System Usability Scale (SUS), a checklist on the relevance of the strategies in the handbook, and questionnaires on daily life functioning and self‐efficacy. Further, they participated in cognitive tests. In a pre‐post design, within‐subject differences were determined using paired t‐tests.ResultsThe usability of the memory aid handbook scores as were high (mean SUS score: 99.21). The checklist indicated that the handbook was perceived as beneficial for confirming already established memory strategies and stimulating new ones, such as self‐acceptance, visualizing and verbalizing daily routines, and asking for help. In addition, the checklist revealed that using a calendar was considered the most helpful strategies for daily living, followed closely by taking notes, having specific places for certain items and creating routines in daily life. After the 7 weeks, participants scored significantly better in the cognitive and self‐efficacy tests. The exploratory nature of the study combined with the small sample size should be considered when interpreting the results.ConclusionThe usability of the handbook was high, reflecting the relevance of the strategies it contains. Teaching memory strategies can be a useful, inexpensive method to foster independence among those at risk for cognitive impairment.
Investigation of the abortion‐related experience of the providers, women, and advocators in South Korea: The neglected essential healthcare service
Authors: Moon Juhyeon , Oh Rora , Chang Eun Jee , Park Jiwon , Choe Seung‐Ah , Kim Saerom 
Published: August 2023

AbstractObjectiveThe decriminalization of abortions in South Korea in 2019 has not been followed by the establishment of policies ensuring access to abortion services. This study aimed to explore the current challenges and barriers for quality abortion services in the Korean healthcare system.MethodsEleven women, six healthcare providers, and 11 advocates participated in in‐depth interviews in 2020. Experiences of abortion were analyzed using the modified Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability, and Quality (AAAQ) framework.ResultsWhile informal, access to surgical abortion services was possible in general. However, accessibility to services and information varied according to women's age, marital status, and physical condition. Considering that the Korean government has been reluctant to adopt proactive measures to ensure access to abortion services, the quality of abortion care in Korea remains questionable, with the mandate of male consent for abortion prevailing. The women interviewed in this study expressed dissatisfaction with their current access to and the quality of abortion services.ConclusionAbortion is an essential service that ensures the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women. Although abortion was decriminalized in Korea in 2019, it remains an informal and stigmatized service. Further research and policy efforts are required to ensure access to abortion in Korea.
Developing a simple method for estimating soil infiltration in furrow and border irrigation using advance, recession and runoff data
Authors: Rabbaniha Hossein , Ebrahimian Hamed 
Published: August 2023

AbstractEstimating soil infiltration is important in designing and managing surface irrigation systems. To date, various methods have been proposed to estimate infiltration coefficients. In this research, a simple method for estimating the coefficients of the Kostiakov–Lewis infiltration equation in surface irrigation is presented. Then, the performance of this method is compared with other similar methods, including the Elliott–Walker two‐point, IPARM and Merriam–Keller methods, using eight furrow irrigation datasets and six border irrigation datasets. The proposed method calculates the coefficients of the infiltration equation through the comparison between the measured and calculated infiltrated water amount by an optimization method, the normal decreasing gradient algorithm, using advance and recession data. The mean relative errors in estimating the infiltrated water volume were 13.63, 3.92, 0.005 and 0.00 for the two‐point, IPARM, Merriam–Keller and proposed methods for border irrigation, respectively. Similarly, the respective mean relative error values were 14.35, 6.31, 1.90 and 0.00 for furrow irrigation. In addition, to ensure the optimality of the obtained coefficients, response surfaces were drawn. The coefficients obtained from the proposed method are located in the minimum place of the response surface, while no similar behaviour was observed in the other methods. These results prove the effectiveness of the proposed method in addition to its simplicity.
Accelerated in vitro oxidative degradation testing of polypropylene surgical mesh
Authors: Jain Tanmay , Tantisuwanno Chinnapatch , Paul Arindam , Takmakov Pavel , Joy Abraham , Isayeva Irada , Simon David D. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractPolypropylene (PP) surgical mesh had reasonable success in repair of hernia and treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI); however, their use for the repair of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) resulted in highly variable results with lifelong complications in some patients. One of several factors that could be associated with mesh‐related POP complications is changes in the properties of the implanted surgical mesh due to oxidative degradation of PP in vivo. Currently, there are no standardized in vitro bench testing methods available for assessing the susceptibility to oxidative degradation and estimating long‐term in vivo stability of surgical mesh. In this work, we adapted a previously reported automated reactive accelerated aging (aRAA) system, which uses elevated temperatures and high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), for accelerated bench‐top oxidative degradation testing of PP surgical mesh. Since H2O2 is highly unstable at elevated temperatures and for prolonged periods, the aRAA system involves a feedback loop based on electrochemical detection methods to maintain consistent H2O2 concentration in test solutions. Four PP mesh samples with varying mesh knit designs, filament diameter, weight, and % porosity, were selected for testing using aRAA up to 4 weeks and characterized using thermal analysis, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy‐attenuated total reflectance (FTIR‐ATR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Additionally, the oxidation index (OI) values were calculated based on the FTIR‐ATR spectra to estimate the oxidative degradation and oxidation reaction kinetics of PP surgical mesh. The OI values and surface damage in the form of surface flaking, peeling, and formation of transverse cracks increased with aRAA aging time. The aRAA test method introduced here could be used to standardize the assessment of long‐term stability of surgical mesh and may also be adopted for accelerated oxidative degradation testing of other polymer‐based medical devices.
Prognostic role of radiomics‐based body composition analysis for the 1‐year survival for hepatocellular carcinoma patients
Authors: Saalfeld Sylvia , Kreher Robert , Hille Georg , Niemann Uli , Hinnerichs Mattes , Öcal Osman , Schütte Kerstin , Zech Christoph J. , Loewe Christian , van Delden Otto , Vandecaveye Vincent , Verslype Chris , Gebauer Bernhard , Sengel Christian , Bargellini Irene , Iezzi Roberto , Berg Thomas , Klümpen Heinz J. , Benckert Julia , Gasbarrini Antonio , Amthauer Holger , Sangro Bruno , Malfertheiner Peter , Preim Bernhard , Ricke Jens , Seidensticker Max , Pech Maciej , Surov Alexey 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundParameters of body composition have prognostic potential in patients with oncologic diseases. The aim of the present study was to analyse the prognostic potential of radiomics‐based parameters of the skeletal musculature and adipose tissues in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsRadiomics features were extracted from a cohort of 297 HCC patients as post hoc sub‐study of the SORAMIC randomized controlled trial. Patients were treated with selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) in combination with sorafenib or with sorafenib alone yielding two groups: (1) sorafenib monotherapy (n = 147) and (2) sorafenib and SIRT (n = 150). The main outcome was 1‐year survival. Segmentation of muscle tissue and adipose tissue was used to retrieve 881 features. Correlation analysis and feature cleansing yielded 292 features for each patient group and each tissue type. We combined 9 feature selection methods with 10 feature set compositions to build 90 feature sets. We used 11 classifiers to build 990 models. We subdivided the patient groups into a train and validation cohort and a test cohort, that is, one third of the patient groups.ResultsWe used the train and validation set to identify the best feature selection and classification model and applied it to the test set for each patient group. Classification yields for patients who underwent sorafenib monotherapy an accuracy of 75.51% and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.7576 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6376–0.8776). For patients who underwent treatment with SIRT and sorafenib, results are accuracy = 78.00% and AUC = 0.8032 (95% CI: 0.6930–0.9134).ConclusionsParameters of radiomics‐based analysis of the skeletal musculature and adipose tissue predict 1‐year survival in patients with advanced HCC. The prognostic value of radiomics‐based parameters was higher in patients who were treated with SIRT and sorafenib.
Kidney urinary biomarkers in patients with branched‐chain amino acid and cobalamin metabolism defects
Authors: Köpfer Felix , Garbade Sven F. , Klingbeil Kristina , Schmidt‐Mader Brigitte , Westhoff Jens H. , Okun Jürgen G. , Zorn Markus , Hoffmann Georg F. , Peters Verena , Morath Marina 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThere is a clinical need for early detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with organic acidurias. We measured kidney markers in a longitudinal study over 5 years in 40 patients with methylmalonic aciduria (Mut0), propionic aciduria (PA), cobalamin A (CblA), and cobalamin C (CblC) deficiencies. Neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (NGAL), calprotectin (CLP), kidney injury molecule‐1 (KIM‐1), dickkopf‐3 (DKK‐3), albumin and beta‐2‐microglobulin (B2MG) in urine, as well as cystatin C (CysC) in serum were quantified. In Mut0 patients, mean concentrations of B2MG, KIM‐1, and DKK‐3 were elevated compared with healthy controls, all markers indicative of proximal tubule damage. In PA patients, mean B2MG, albumin, and CLP were elevated, indicating signs of proximal tubule and glomerulus damage and inflammation. In CblC patients, mean B2MG, NGAL, and CLP were increased, and considered as markers for proximal and distal tubule damage and inflammation. B2MG, was elevated in all three diseases, and correlated with DKK‐3 in Mut0/CblA and with eGFR(CysC) and KIM‐1 in PA patients, respectively. None of the markers were elevated in CblA patients. Significant deterioration of kidney function, as determined by steady increase in CysC concentrations was noted in seven patients within the observation period. None of the investigated biomarker profiles showed a clear increase or added value for early detection. In conclusion, we identified disease‐specific biomarker profiles for inflammation, tubular, and proximal damage in the urine of Mut0, PA, and CblC patients. Whether these biomarkers can be used for early detection of CKD requires further investigation, as significant kidney function deterioration was observed in only a few patients.
When leaders are forced to stay: The indirect effects of leaders' reluctant staying on subordinates' performance
Authors: Fan Xueqing , Wang Danni , Wang Fuxi , Kraimer Maria L. 
Published: August 2023

SummaryLeaders who desire to leave the current organization are sometimes forced to stay. The leadership behaviors of these leaders are underexplored in the current literature. Building on proximal withdrawal states theory, this study examines two pathways through which leaders' reluctant staying mindset (i.e., desire but are unable to quit) relates to their subordinates' task performance and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB). One pathway proposes increased laissez‐faire leadership behaviors due to leaders' lower intrinsic motivation; the second pathway proposes increased delegation behaviors due to leaders' higher extrinsic motivation. Using three‐wave data collected from 100 leaders and 313 subordinates, we found that leaders' reluctant staying was indirectly and negatively associated with subordinates' task performance and OCB through leaders' lower perceptions of task significance and higher laissez‐faire leadership behaviors. At the same time, leaders' reluctant staying increased their bottom‐line mentality and delegation behaviors, but the indirect effects on subordinates' performance outcomes were not significant. We discuss the implications of our findings for theory, practices, and future research regarding how to manage leaders who stay reluctantly in the organization.
Rising age‐specific rates of immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy: Report from an Italian Breast Unit
Authors: Fancellu Alessandro , Deiana Giulia , Sanna Valeria , Rubino Corrado , Cossu Antonio , Cottu Pietrina , Giuliani Giuliana , Sant Lisa , Norcia Giuseppe , Porcu Alberto 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesImmediate breast reconstruction (IBR) represents a fundamental part in the management of patients receiving mastectomy. In recent years, there has been an increasing trend in the use of IBR in all age groups. The study aims were to evaluate the age‐specific trend of IBR, and to discuss its effects in work organization at an Italian Breast Unit.MethodsWe searched for women diagnosed with breast cancer between 2010 and 2019, focusing on IBR rates in patients who received mastectomy. Age‐specific trends were assessed using the Cochrane–Armitage test. Differences in operative times and hospital stay between women undergoing mastectomy + IBR (Ma + IBR) or mastectomy alone (Ma) were evaluated by Student's t test or χ2 test.ResultsAmong 1915 patients, 62.4% underwent breast conserving surgery (BCS), and 37.6% mastectomy. Overall, rates of Ma + IBR increased from 32% in 2010 to 58% in 2019 (p < 0.001). Although rates of IBR rose in all age groups, the trend was significantly increased among patients aged 50–59 (p < 0.001), 60–69 (p < 0.0001), and 70–79 (p < 0.05).ConclusionsRates of Ma + IBR have increased over years, especially among older women. Ma + IBR resulted in longer operative times and hospital stay than Ma alone. These findings imply that, in the near future, resources should be implemented to improve and strengthen the surgical activity of Breast Units, to support the increasing use of IBR in women of all age groups.
Raccoon densities across four land cover types in the southeastern United States
Authors: Hill Jacob E. , Helton James L. , Bernasconi David A. , Dixon Wesley C. , Hamilton Matt T. , Chipman Richard B. , Gilbert Amy T. , Beasley James C. , Dharmarajan Guha , Rhodes Olin E. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractRaccoons (Procyon lotor) are the primary reservoir for rabies virus in eastern North America. Management of rabies in raccoons is achieved primarily with the use of oral rabies vaccination (ORV) and effective ORV bait densities are determined in part by the densities of raccoons. Decisions regarding ORV bait densities, however, are limited by an incomplete understanding of raccoon densities across the spectrum of landscapes they occupy. We carried out a mark‐recapture study of raccoons on the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, USA, from 2017–2019, to develop sex‐ and landscape‐specific raccoon density estimates across 4 rural land cover types in the southeastern United States: bottomland hardwood, riparian forest, isolated wetland, and upland pine (Pinus spp.). We captured 404 unique raccoons 773 times over the 3‐year trapping period. Estimated densities were 5.44 ± 0.37 (SE) animals/km2 in bottomland hardwood forest, 2.62 ± 0.32 animals/km2 in riparian forest, 2.19 ± 0.29 animals/km2 in isolated wetlands, and 2.14 ± 0.23 animals/km2 in upland pine. Densities were significantly higher in bottomland hardwood than all other land cover types, whereas densities among the remaining cover types were similar. These patterns are likely the result of landscape fragmentation and configuration, with riparian forests typically embedded in a matrix of less suitable cover types, leading to low densities despite presumably high resource availability. There were higher densities of males than females in every cover type except upland pine, where the sex ratio was balanced. Densities on our site were low compared to other rural areas, which likely results from the lack of human influence in terms of agriculture or development. The financial cost of baiting for ORV distribution may be reduced by considering the comparatively low densities of raccoons in these rural landscapes in the southeastern United States.
Effects of organic amendments on soil bacterial community structure and yield in a saline‐sodic soil cropped with rice
Authors: Guo Liangliang , Nie Zhaoyang , Zhou Jie , An Fenghua , Zhang Lu , Zhang Shixin , Tóth Tibor , Yang Fan , Wang Zhichun 
Published: August 2023

AbstractOrganic improvement measures play a crucial role in the reclamation of saline‐sodic soil. However, there is still a limited understanding regarding the relationships between soil microbes and soil properties and crop yield in response to the application of these organic materials to saline‐sodic soils. In a field trial, the following treatments were carried out: no modifier input (CK) and compound lignite organic modifier 30 t/ha (LOM) with 2 years of rice cultivation, no modifier input (RF) with 5 years of rice cultivation, and the full amount of straw was returned to the field with rice‐duck farming (SW). Compared with RF and CK, the SOM content in the 0–20 cm soil layer of SW and LOM was significantly increased by 4.600 and 5.020 g kg−1, respectively, while the total alkalinity and pH were significantly decreased. In the 20–40 cm soil layer, the LOM treatment resulted in decreased pH and total alkalinity compared with other treatments. Overall, changes in soil microbial structure changes were significantly associated with SOM and pH levels. In the 0–20 cm soil layer, the LOM treatment significantly increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, while SW treatment significantly increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes compared with CK. Moreover，the relative abundances of Longobacteriaceae of Bacteroidetes, Hydrogenaceae, and Xanthomonas of Proteobacteria were positively correlated with crop yield. The yields of SW and LOM were 6985.587 and 7879.910 kg ha−1, respectively. These results demonstrate that implementing comprehensive organic improvement measures can enhance the properties of saline‐sodic soil and increase crop yield, with lignite composite organic amendments may be more suitable for sustainable agricultural development.
Aberration Modeling in Deep Learning for Volumetric Reconstruction of Light‐Field Microscopy
Authors: Zhou You , Jin Zhouyu , Zhao Qianhui , Xiong Bo , Cao Xun 
Published: August 2023

AbstractOptical aberration is a crucial issue in optical microscopes, fundamentally constraining the achievable imaging performance. As a commonly encountered one, spherical aberration is introduced by the refractive index mismatches between samples and their surrounding environments, leading to problems like low contrast, blurring, and distortion in imaging. Light‐field microscopy (LFM) has recently emerged as a powerful tool for rapid volumetric imaging. The presence of spherical aberration in LFM will cause substantial changes of the point spread function (PSF) and thus greatly affects the imaging performance. Here, the aberration‐modeling view‐channel‐depth (AM‐VCD) network is proposed for LFM reconstruction, effectively mitigating the influence of severe spherical aberration. By quantitatively estimating the spherical aberration in advance and incorporating it into the network training, the AM‐VCD achieves aberration‐corrected high‐speed visualization of 3D processes with uniform spatial resolution and real‐time reconstruction speed. Without necessitating hardware modifications, this method provides a convenient way for directly observing the 3D dynamics of samples in solution. The capability of AM‐VCD under a large refractive index mismatch is demonstrated through volumetric imaging of a large‐scale fishbone of a largemouth bass. Furthermore, the capability of AM‐VCD in nearly 100 Hz volumetric imaging of neutrophil migration and a beating heart in living zebrafish is investigated.
EEF1E1 promotes glioma proliferation by regulating cell cycle through PTEN/AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Wang Hongyu , Han Ruiqin , Li Qiao , Kang Wei , Dong Qiang , Yin Hang , Niu Liang , Dai Junqiang , Yan Yunji , Su Yuanping , Yao Xuan , Zhang He , Yuan Guoqiang , Pan Yawen 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe cell cycle, a pivotal regulator of cell proliferation, can be significantly influenced by the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/AKT signaling pathway's modulation of cyclin‐related proteins. In our study, we discovered the crucial role of EEF1E1 in this process, as it appears to downregulate PTEN expression. Furthermore, our findings affirmed that EEF1E1 modulates downstream cell cycle‐related proteins by suppressing the PTEN/AKT pathway. Cell cycle assay results revealed that EEF1E1 downregulation stunted the advancement of glioma cells in both the G1 and S phases. A suite of assays—Cell Counting Kit‐8, colony formation, and ethyl‐2’‐deoxyuridine—substantiated that the EEF1E1 downregulation markedly curtailed glioma proliferation. We further validated this phenomenon through animal studies and coculture experiments on brain slices. Our comprehensive investigation indicates that EEF1E1 knockdown can effectively inhibit the glioma cell proliferation by regulating the cell cycle via the PTEN/AKT signaling pathway. Consequently, EEF1E1 emerges as a potential therapeutic target for glioma treatment, signifying critical clinical implications.