bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Veterans Health Administration Sleep Services: A Comparative Survey Study
Authors: Sico Jason , Koo Brian B. , Perkins Anthony J. , Burrone Laura , Sexson Ali , Myers Laura J. , Taylor Stanley , Yarbrough W. Claibe , Daggy Joanne K. , Miech Edward J. , Bravata Dawn M. 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background To understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep services within the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) using separate surveys from “pre-COVID” and pandemic periods (N=140 VA facilities). Most sleep services were interrupted secondary to the COVID-19 pandemic: more than three-quarters of facilities that responded to the survey discontinued in-lab studies, approximately two-thirds suspended in-person positive airway pressure (PAP) clinics, and one-third stopped home sleep testing (HST). As the pandemic progressed, in-lab diagnostic and titration studies resumed at more than half of sites, less than half provided in-person PAP services, whereas all facilities restarted HST. Most expanded or started telehealth services. Infection control precautions were common. Increased stress, anxiety, fear, and burnout related to the pandemic and workflow changes were often reported by respondents. Methods Data from a pre-pandemic survey (September-November 2019) were combined with data from a pandemic-period survey (August-November 2020) to VA sleep medicine providers about their local sleep medicine services. Results A total of 67 (47.9%) facilities responded to the pandemic online survey. In-lab diagnostic and titration sleep studies were stopped at 91.1% of facilities during the pandemic; 76.5% of facilities resumed diagnostic studies and 60.8% resumed titration studies by the time of the second survey. Half of facilities suspended home sleep testing; all facilities resumed these services. In-person positive airway pressure (PAP) clinics were stopped at 76.3% of facilities; 46.7% resumed these clinics. Video telehealth was either available or in development at 86.6% of facilities and was considered a lasting addition to sleep services. COVID-19 transmission precautions occurred at high rates. Sleep personnel experienced high levels of stress, anxiety, fear, and burnout because of the pandemic and in response to unexpected changes in sleep medicine care delivery. Conclusions Sleep medicine services within the VA evolved during the pandemic with many key services being interrupted. The pandemic adversely affected sleep medicine personnel as they sought to maintain access to care. Trial RegistrationThis manuscript does not report on a clinical trial.
Sheds for Life: Health and Wellbeing outcomes of a tailored community- based health promotion initiative for Men’s Sheds in Ireland
Authors: McGrath Aisling , Murphy Niamh , Egan Tom , Richardson Noel 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background: Gender is increasingly recognised as a critical factor in designing community-based health promotion programmes. Men’s Sheds (‘Sheds’) are community-based informal environments that represent a safe space in which to engage cohorts of hard-to-reach (HTR) men in health promotion. Sheds for Life (SFL), the first structured health promotion initiative evaluated in Sheds, is a 10-week initiative co-designed with Shed Members (Shedders) and delivered directly in the Shed setting in Ireland. This research describes the health and wellbeing outcomes experienced by SFL participants. Methods: Purposive sampling was used to recruit a diverse representation of Shedders (n=421) participating in SFL alongside a wait list control (n=86). Questionnaires assessing constructs of health and wellbeing were administered one-to-one in Sheds at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. Descriptive data for health outcomes were generated for each time point and assessed for significant changes using inferential testing, while considering COVID-19 impact. Results: Outcomes related to subjective wellbeing, mental wellbeing, physical activity, social capital and healthy eating significantly increased post SFL (p<0.05). Mental wellbeing scores (SWEMWBS) post SFL remained significantly higher than baseline despite COVID-19 impact (p<0.05). Binary logistic regression indicated that the odds of a meaningful SWEMWBS change was significantly higher for shedders that had lower SWEMWBS (OR 0.804), less loneliness (OR 0.638) and lived alone (OR 0.456) at baseline. Shedders with lower SWEMBWS had higher odds of experiencing positive changes in life satisfaction (OR 0.911) and trust (OR 0.928), while Shedders who lived alone had also higher odds of experience positive changes in healthy eating (OR 0.481). Finally, inactive Shedders at baseline had higher odds of experiencing increased levels of physical activity (OR 0.582).Conclusions: Findings suggest that the inclusive, community-based SFL model is effective in engaging Shedders and facilitating positive and sustained changes in health and wellbeing outcomes. Using gender-specific approaches in the informal and safe environment of the Shed are effective in engaging men in structured health and wellbeing initiatives, particularly those who may be more vulnerable, isolated or lonely.Trial Registration: This study has been retrospectively registered with the ‘International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number’ registry (ISRCTN79921361) as of 05/03/2021
Decreasing Deuterium Concentration of Water: A Possible Tool in Colon Cancer Therphy
Authors: Yavari Kamal , Mahmoudabadi Zahra Zarei 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Purpose Recent studies show that the depletion of naturally occurring deuterium can result in tumor regression in both in vitro and in vivo models. In the present paper we report the inhibitory effect of different concentrations of DDW discretely and in combination with 5-FU on HT29 colon cancer cells and the possible mechanisms underlying these effects. Methods HT29 cells were treated with decreasing deuterium concentrations of DDW individually, 5-FU alone and both from 24 to 72 h. Cellular cytotoxicity of the cells were determined by the MTT proliferation assay. The morphology and structure of the cells were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results We observed the changes in the cell cycle by flow cytometry and alterations in the cellular antioxidant enzymes by transmission chemiluminescence. Treatment with DDW especially in concentrations of 50 and 75ppm alone imposed inhibitory effects on the growth of the cell line and DDW augmented 5-FU inhibitory effects on HT29 cell lines. The cell cycle analysis revealed that DDW caused the cell cycle arrest in the G1/S transition, reduced the number of the cells in the S phase and significantly increased the population of cells in the G1 phase in HT29 cells. We observed that DDW induced the cellular antioxidant defense system. Under SEM examination, the control cells showed smooth surface and more extracellular matrix, while the DDW exposed group showed a rough surface and more microvillus on the cell surface. Conclusions We conclude that DDW is a promising new adjuvant anti-cancer agent with the potential for future clinical applications.
Acclimation to water stress improves tolerance to heat and freezing extremes in a common alpine grass
Authors: Sumner Emma , Venn Susanna E , Wevill Tricia , Williamson Virginia G , Gleadow Rosyln M 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Alpine plants in Australia are increasingly exposed to more frequent drought and heatwaves, with significant consequences for physiological stress responses. Acclimation is a critical feature that allows plants to improve tolerance to environmental extremes through directly altering their physiology or morphology. Yet it is unclear how plant performance and tolerance is affected when heat and drought stress co-occur, and whether prior exposure affects responses to subsequent climate extremes. We grew a common alpine grass species under high or low watering treatments for three weeks before exposure to either none, one, or two heat stress events. We determined high and low thermal tolerance (LT 50 , mean temperature causing 50% irreversible damage to photosystem II) and growth. Physiological adjustments to low watering, including more negative water potentials and reduced growth, were also characterised by improved tolerance to extreme high and low temperatures. Shifts to higher heat tolerance was also evident with increasing exposure to heat stress events. These effects were mostly short-term, however, as prior exposure to heat and/or water stress had little to no effect on growth and thermal tolerance following the six week recovery period. We conclude that acclimation to increasingly frequent soil moisture deficits during summer should provide enhanced capacity to tolerate temperature extremes. As leaf temperatures increase with water stress, the risk of exceeding thermal tolerance limits may increase with a drying climate, and physiological acclimation may not adequately mitigate the effects of chronic water stress as would occur under a long-term drought.
Waterless cleaning technique for photovoltaic panels on dual-axis tracker
Authors: Dahlioui Dounia , Alaoui Soukaina Medaghri , Laarabi Bouchra , Barhdadi Abdelfettah 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Several soiling mitigation solutions and cleaning techniques have been developed to maintain high efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) panels. First of its kind, the investigation of the adaptability of the cleaning systems to solar trackers has been performed. The majority of these systems are dedicated to fixed installations whereas only few systems that can be adapted to solar trackers as presented in the updated cleaning systems background. For this reason, this paper presents an innovative approach which consists of combining trackers with an integrated cleaning system that has been designed. Based on the conducted experimental study, a maximum of 7% in soiling losses has been found for the PV generator of 4 kWp equipped with a dual-axis tracker installed in Rabat-Morocco over almost one year. Consequently, a reduced cleaning prototype has been realized and tested to evaluate the energy recovery based on the performed cleaning. The automatic cleaning has presented a similar efficiency with the manual cleaning with a slight difference of 0.95 pp and an increase of energy of 11.5% in the arid region. Through the economic analysis carried out taking into account the gain in energy production, the automatic cleaning cost was 0.14 €/kWh. It has been found that the cleaning technique based on the telescopic arm would be more effective if the tracker is installed in an arid region where soiling is higher than Rabat. In this case the payback time of the cleaning solution is faster (8 to 9 years), hence its profitability.
Analysis of Clinical Cause and Management of Adult Intussusception: at a Single Institution Experience
Authors: Park Nahyeon , Kim Cheol Jung , Kuk Jung Cheol , Shin Eung Jin , Lim Dae Ro 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
The aim of the present study is to analyze the clinical outcomes of intussusception management in adult patients. The data of 56 patients who underwent treatment for adult intussusception from Jan. 2003 to Feb. 2021 were retrieved from a retrospective database and analyzed. The mean age of patients with adult intussusception was 49.9 years. The mean duration of symptoms was 4.8 days. The most common type of intussusception was entero-enteric type (n=30, 53.6%), and the second most common type was ileocolic (n=13, 23.2%). Small bowel intussusception was found in 40 patients (71.4%) and large bowel intussusception in 16 patients (28.6%). Emergency surgery was performed on 30 patients (53.6%). Among the causes of adult intussusception, tumorous lesion accounted for 60.7% (malignancy: 30.4%, benign: 30.4%) and the rate of no tumorous lesion was 39.3%. Forty-four (44) patients (78.6%) received surgical management and 12 patients (21.4%) received conservative management. Bowel resection was performed in 40 patients (71.4%) and manual reduction in 4 patients (7.1%). Conclusively, there are various causes and types of adult intussusception, and appropriate management should be provided to the patient after careful consideration of the cause and type of each intussusception case.
Cost-effectiveness of pegfilgrastim versus filgrastim for prevention of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia in patients with lymphoma: A systematic review
Authors: Gebremariam Girma Tekle , Mulu Atalay , Beyene Kebede , Sander Beate , Gebretekle Gebremedhin Beedemariam 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a prevalent and potentially life-threatening complication in patients with lymphoma receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy. Pegfilgrastim is more effective than filgrastim as prophylaxis for FN. However, its usage has been limited because of its higher cost. Pegfilgrastim's value for money remains unclear.Objective: To systematically review the cost-effectiveness of pegfilgrastim compared to filgrastim for prevention of chemotherapy-induced FN among patients with lymphoma. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library databases, and Google Scholar. Only full-economic evaluations were included in the review. Data extraction was guided by the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards checklist, and the quality of reviewed articles was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist. Cost-effectiveness data were rigorously summarized and synthesized narratively. Costs were adjusted to 2020 US$.Results: We identified eight full economic evaluation studies (two cost-utility analyses, three cost-effectiveness analyses, and three studies reporting cost-effectiveness and cost-utility analyses). Half of these studies were from Europe (n=4), the other half were from Iran, USA, Canada and Singapore. Six studies met >80% of the JBI quality assessment criteria. Cost-effectiveness estimates in the majority (n=6) of these studies were for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy with high-risk of FN (> 20%). The studies considered a wide range of baseline FN risk (17-97.4%) and mortality rates (5.8-8.9%). Reported incremental cost-effectiveness ratios ranged from 2,199US$ to 8,871,600US$ per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained, dominant to 44,358 US$ per FN averted, and 4,261US$-7,251US$ per life-year gained. The most influential parameters were medication and hospitalization costs, relative risk of FN, and assumptions of mortality benefit.Conclusions: Pegfilgrastim appears to be cost-effective primary prophylactic for preventing chemotherapy-induced FN in lymphoma patients. he findings could assist clinicians and healthcare decision-makers to make informed decisions regarding resource allocation for the management of chemotherapy-induced FN in settings similar to those studied.
Prevention of Variceal Rebleeding in Cirrhotic Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Receiving Molecularly-targeted Therapy: a randomized pilot study Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Versus Endoscopic plus β-blocker
Authors: Chen Yan , Ma Xuemei , Zhang Xuefeng , Lou Jing , An Linjing , Zhang Yu , Chang Xiujuan , Dong Zheng , Zhang Wei , Kong Huifang , Zhao Jun , Ding Huiguo , Liu Fuquan , Yang Yongping 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background Although transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is recommended for secondary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding if standard therapy fails and for patients with high-risk of recurrent bleeding, no guidelines for the treatment of symptomatic portal hypertension in HCC patients are available. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of TIPS with endoscopic+β-blocker for prevention of the rebleeding in such patients. Methods 106 consecutive advanced HCC patients receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) who had been treated with vasoactive drugs plus endoscopic therapy for variceal bleeding were randomly assigned to receive either TIPS (n=52) or endoscopic+β-blocker therapy (n=54) for the prevention of rebleeding. The primary endpoint was variceal rebleeding after randomization.ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 16 months, rebleeding occurred in 14 patients in the endoscopic+β-blocker group and 3 patients in the TIPS group (P<0.001). Forty-nine patients died (38 in endoscopic+β-blocker group and 11 in TIPS group, P<0.001). The 6-, 12-, and 18-month overall survival rates were 95, 81, and 73% for TIPS group and 35, 21, and 15% for endoscopic+β-blocker group, respectively (P<0.001). Eight patients in endoscopic+β-blocker group received TIPS as rescue therapy, but two died. TKIs was discontinued in 32 patients, including 24 in the endoscopic+β-blocker group and 8 in the TIPS group (P<0.001). No significant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to serious adverse events. Conclusions In advanced HCC patients receiving TKIs and presented with variceal bleeding, the use of TIPS was associated with significant reduction in rebleeding, improved a higher adherence to TKIs therapy, and prolonged survival.
Research on Multi-source Sparse Optimization Method and Its Application On Polymorphic-oscillatory signal separation
Authors: Yan Lu , Juan Du 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
In general, during the whole life cycle operation of mechanical system, its corresponding condition signal often presents multi-component polymorphic-oscillatory characteristic and is accompanied with strong interference noise. In order to identify system operating status, how to achieve polymorphic signal decomposition is an unavoidable focus. Weak signal features corrupted by heavy background noise can be effectively extracted through sparse decomposition. In order to solve the problems of classical sparse decomposition method, such as the lack of signal fidelity, the local optimal solution caused by the non-convex objective function, and the poor universality of the model, a novel multi-source sparse optimization objective function with convexity is constructed based on the generalized mini-max concave penalty function. Then the sparse coefficients of unilateral attenuation transient component, bilateral attenuation transient component and harmonic component are calculated respectively based on Laplace wavelet dictionary, Morlet wavelet dictionary and DFT dictionary using forward backward splitting algorithm. Ultimately, each distinct component can be extracted based on these sparse coefficients. Comparison with the classical resonance sparse signal decomposition (RSSD) based on L1-norm, signal adaptive decomposition and spectral kurtosis show that the proposed method can accurately preserve the amplitude of morphological components under the low SNR premise. Experimental case infers that the proposed method compared with double tree complex wavelet (DTCW) possesses potential value of application on mechanical system fault detection without the prior knowledge of specific number of faults.
Pyramiding of multiple strong-culm genes originating from indica and tropical japonica to the temperate japonica rice
Authors: Ookawa Taiichiro , Nomura Tomohiro , Kamahora Eri , Jiang Mingjin , Ochiai Yusuke , Samadi Ahmad , Yamaguchi Takuya , Adachi Shunsuke , Katsura Keisuke , Motobayashi Takashi 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Severe lodging has recurrently occurred at strong typhoon’s hitting in recent climate change. The pyramiding of strong-culm genes are important for developing high-yielding varieties with a superior lodging resistance. To evaluate the effects of four strong-culm genes on lodging resistance, the temperate japonica near isogenic line (NIL) with the introgressed SCM1 or SCM2 locus of the indica variety, Habataki and the another NIL with the introgeressed SCM3 or SCM4 locus of the tropical japonica variety, Chugoku 117 were developed. Then, we developed the pyramiding lines with double,triple and quadruple combinations derived from step-by-step crosses among NIL-SCM1–NIL-SCM4. Quadruple pyramiding line (NIL-SCM1+2+3+4) showed the largest culm diameter and the highest culm strength among the combinations and increased spikelet number due to the pleiotropic effects of these genes. Pyramiding of strong culm genes resulted in much increased culm thickness, culm strength and spikelet number due to their additive effect. SCM1 mainly contributed to enhance their pyramiding effect. These results in this study suggest the importance of identifying the combinations of superior alleles of strong culm genes among natural variation and pyramiding these genes for improving high-yielding varieties with a superior lodging resistance.
Characterization of aging-related profiles in esophageal cancer reveals a signature predicting favorable outcome and immunogenicity
Authors: Deng Weijun , Fan Wei , Qi Jinyou , Chi Hao , Ji Guoxian , Yao Juan , Zhao Jun 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
It has been revealed that aging plays crucial roles in tumorigenesis, prognosis, and therapy response of tumors including esophageal carcinoma (ESCA). In this work, we aim to establish an aging-relevant risk signature to assess the survival outcome and immunogenicity status of ESCA patients.
Methods
A total of 351 ESCA patients with both gene expression data and clinical information from 3 independent datasets were curated. The Lasso-Cox regression model was applied to identify the aging genes that contributed most to the survival outcome. The risk signature was constructed by combining the specific gene expression level with the corresponding regression coefficients. Microenvironment-based immunologic factors, mutational burden, and significantly mutated genes were evaluated based on the identified risk groups. One cohort under the immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment was used to investigate the immunotherapy predictive roles of the determined aging signature.
Results
Based on the 22 aging-relevant genes, a risk signature was constructed. ESCA patients with low-risk scores had improved survival outcomes in both discovery and validation datasets. Subsequent immunologic exploration demonstrated that the enhanced infiltration abundance of immune-response cells, decreased abundance of immune-suppressive cells, immune response-related signals, and the preferable ICI indicator enrichment were found in the low-risk group. Genomic mutation analysis showed the elevated mutational burden and increased mutation rates of significantly mutated genes of TP53, NAV3, and FAT1 were observed in patients with low-risk scores. In the ICI-treated cohort, we noticed that low-risk aging scores were significantly linked to favorable treatment outcomes and elevated response rates.
Conclusions
In summary, our identified aging risk signature showed the associations with survival, immune microenvironment, immunogenicity, and especially, the immunotherapy efficacy, which offers the clues for guiding prognosis evaluation and immune treatment strategies, and promotes precision therapy of ESCA patients.