bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Functional changes in the visual cortex in preoperative and postoperative patients with intermittent exotropia: study protocol for a non-randomised case–control clinical trial
Authors: Guo Yanan , Fu Jing , Hong Jie , Liu Zhaohui , He Xueying 
Published: February 2022

IntroductionIntermittent exotropia (IXT) is the most common type of divergent squint. IXT is primarily a cortical neurologic dysfunction disorder, occurring as a result of the insufficient maintenance of sensory and motor fusion. Recent reports have demonstrated the relationship between IXT and visual cortical impairment. We planned to assess blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD)-functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in patients with IXT during the preoperative and postoperative follow-ups to evaluate the functional changes in the visual cortex.Methods and analysisA total of 90 Chinese subjects will be recruited, and their ages will be between 18 and 40 years old. The subjects will include the surgical treatment (ST) group (45 subjects with IXT who will undergo surgery) and the HC group (45 age-matched, sex-matched and education-matched healthy volunteers). The assessments will include the following aspects: fMRI and general ophthalmic examinations, optometry measurements and strabismus-related tests, such as the ocular deviation, binocular vision test and Newcastle Control Score (NCS). Each subject will complete the resting-state BOLD-fMRI, and the sequences will include echo planar imaging (EPI) pulse and 3-dimensional brain volume (3D-BRAVO) to acquire high-resolution images. The follow-up schedule will be 6 and 12 months after the surgery. The primary outcome will be determined by cortex changes in BOLD-fMRI in the ST group before and after surgery. We will also compare the HC group with the preoperative subjects in the ST group. The secondary outcomes will be changes in strabismus-related examinations, such as binocular visual function and NCS.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was obtained from the Medical Ethics Committee of Beijing Tongren Hospital. We plan to publish the results of this study in a peer-reviewed journal article.Trial registration numberChiCTR2100048852
Experience of depression in older adults with and without a physical long-term condition: findings from a qualitative interview study
Authors: Poole Lydia , Frost Rachael , Rowlands Hannah , Black Georgia 
Published: February 2022

ObjectiveTo understand how the lived experience of depression differs among patients with a long-term condition (LTC) compared with those without an LTC, and how the experience differs across different types of LTC.DesignFace-to-face, semistructured interviews.SettingPrimary care; General Practitioner (GP) surgeries in and around North London.Participants41 primary care patients with depression were recruited. Our sample comprised participants aged 55–75 years with depression only (n=12), depression and coronary heart disease (n=5), depression and type 2 diabetes (n=10) and depression and arthritis (n=14).ResultsInterviews were conducted, audio recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. The results revealed that the cardinal diagnostic symptoms of depression (anhedonia, sadness) were experienced by all our participants regardless of LTC. However, the LTC did interact with depression by compounding somatic, cognitive and emotional symptoms, increasing disability and reducing independence, and hindering attempts at coping with mental illness. Our findings demonstrate common experiences across patients as well as key differences based on LTC.ConclusionsWe suggest four key implications for future care practices of these patients: (1) not all participants with depression and LTC view their mental and physical health as interconnected; there should be allowances in care plans for separate treatment pathways; (2) key features of depression that affect LTC management are social withdrawal and lack of motivation to self-manage or access healthcare; (3) key features of LTCs that worsen depression are pain, the unpredictability of future health and progressive disability; (4) positive self-management of LTC could improve self-efficacy and therefore mood, and should be encouraged.
Acceptability of a perturbation-based balance training programme for falls prevention in older adults: a qualitative study
Authors: Gerards Marissa H G , Sieben Judith , Marcellis Rik , de Bie Rob A , Meijer Kenneth , Lenssen Antoine F 
Published: February 2022

IntroductionPerturbation-based balance training (PBT) is reported to effectively reduce falls in older adults and may even be superior compared with various exercise programmes. Due to the nature of the intervention, requiring unpredictable balance perturbations, the question arises whether acceptability is an issue in PBT.ObjectiveTo evaluate the acceptability of PBT in older adults with a recent history of falls.Design, method, participants and settingThis is a qualitative study in which semistructured interviews were conducted in 16 older adults (14 women and 2 men, mean age 73.6±6.0 years) who completed a three-session PBT protocol as part of another study in a university medical centre in the Netherlands. Typical case and purposive sampling strategies were applied. Interviews were based on the theoretical framework of acceptability (TFA) alongside context-specific factors and analysed using a template analysis approach.ResultsThe results indicate that this PBT protocol is perceived as acceptable by older adults with a recent history of falls and highlight key areas for potential future modifications. Enjoyment of the novel training and technology, being able to feel safe during training, and perceived impact of increased self-efficacy and balance confidence were identified as facilitating factors. Potential issues included initial apprehension or anxiety during training and perceived impact being predominantly psychological instead of physical. Complementary to the TFA one additional theme emerged which described challenges regarding the training setting, such as preference for group training in some participants and travel to the training location.ConclusionsThe results suggest that PBT is perceived acceptable by older adults with a history of falls. Increasing the social aspect of training and sharing the experiences of peers may be considered to enhance acceptability to new participants who initially feel apprehensive or anxious about their ability to participate in future implementation of PBT.Trial registration numberThe article is linked to a randomised clinical trial registered on https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/7680, NL7680; Results.
Sex differences and adverse events of antiretrovirals in people living with HIV/AIDS: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
Authors: de Oliveira Jardel Corrêa , Alves Maíra Ramos , Lopes Luis Phillipe Nagem , Iwami Rodrigo Suguimoto , Motter Fabiane Raquel , Bergamaschi Cristiane de Cássia , Silva Marcus Tolentino , Itria Alexander , Scalco Diogo Luis , Lucio Donavan de Souza , Mazzei Lauren Giustti , Derech Rodrigo D’Agostini , Pereira Tiago Veiga , Barreto Jorge Otávio Maia , Lopes Luciane Cruz 
Published: February 2022

IntroductionAntiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV/AIDS is associated with adverse events (AEs). However, little is known about the differences in the risk of AEs between women and men living with HIV/AIDS. This study aims to determine (1) whether there are sex differences in the risk of AEs in people with HIV/AIDS treated with ART and (2) the prevalence of AEs to the reproductive system and bone mineral density in women.Methods and analysisThis systematic review (SR) will include randomised trials evaluating ART in people living with HIV/AIDS with at least 12 weeks of duration follow-up. Searches will be conducted in Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Epistemonikos, Lilacs, trial registries and grey literature databases, without restriction on publication status, year of publication and language. The primary outcome will be the risk of ART discontinuation or drop-outs/withdrawals of ART due to AEs and the number of any treatment-emergent AE. The secondary outcomes are the incidence of serious clinic or laboratory (grade 3 and/or 4) treatment-emergent AEs, hospitalisation, death and AEs specific to the reproductive system and bone mineral density (osteoporosis, osteopenia and fractures) of women. Selection, data extraction and quality assessment will be performed by pairs of reviewers. Cochrane collaboration tools will be used to assess the risk of bias. If appropriate, a meta-analysis will be conducted to synthesise results. The overall quality of the evidence for each outcome will be determined by the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation.Ethics and disseminationThe results of this SR will assist the formulation of public policies aimed at the management and monitoring of AEs of ART in people living with HIV/AIDS. A deliberative dialogue will be scheduled with the Department of Chronic Conditions and Sexually Transmitted Infections of Brazil’s Ministry of Health to align the project with policymakers’ interests.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42021251051.
Tranexamic acid versus placebo to reduce perioperative blood transfusion in patients undergoing liver resection: protocol for the haemorrhage during liver resection tranexamic acid (HeLiX) randomised controlled trial
Authors: Karanicolas Paul Jack , Lin Yulia , McCluskey Stuart , Roke Rachel , Tarshis Jordan , Thorpe Kevin E , Ball Chad G , Chaudhury Prosanto , Cleary Sean P , Dixon Elijah , Eeson Gareth , Moulton Carol-Anne , Nanji Sulaiman , Porter Geoff , Ruo Leyo , Skaro Anton I , Tsang Melanie , Wei Alice C , Guyatt Gordon 
Published: February 2022

IntroductionDespite use of operative and non-operative interventions to reduce blood loss during liver resection, 20%–40% of patients receive a perioperative blood transfusion. Extensive intraoperative blood loss is a major risk factor for postoperative morbidity and mortality and receipt of blood transfusion is associated with serious risks including an association with long-term cancer recurrence and overall survival. In addition, blood products are scarce and associated with appreciable expense; decreasing blood transfusion requirements would therefore have health system benefits. Tranexamic acid (TXA), an antifibrinolytic, has been shown to reduce the probability of receiving a blood transfusion by one-third for patients undergoing cardiac or orthopaedic surgery. However, its applicability in liver resection has not been widely researched.Methods and analysisThis protocol describes a prospective, blinded, randomised controlled trial being conducted at 10 sites in Canada and 1 in the USA. 1230 eligible and consenting participants will be randomised to one of two parallel groups: experimental (2 g of intravenous TXA) or placebo (saline) administered intraoperatively. The primary endpoint is receipt of blood transfusion within 7 days of surgery. Secondary outcomes include blood loss, postoperative complications, quality of life and 5-year disease-free and overall survival.Ethics and disseminationThis trial has been approved by the research ethics boards at participating centres and Health Canada (parent control number 177992) and is currently enrolling participants. All participants will provide written informed consent. Results will be distributed widely through local and international meetings, presentation, publication and ClinicalTrials.gov.Trial registration numberNCT02261415.
Medicines prescribed by non-medical independent prescribers in primary care in Wales: a 10-year longitudinal study April 2011–March 2021
Authors: Deslandes Paul , Blowers Hannah , Haines Kath , Hodson Karen , Deslandes Rhian 
Published: February 2022

ObjectivesThe therapeutic classes of medicines prescribed by non-medical independent prescribers (NMIPs) working in primary care in Wales has not been studied in detail. The aim of this study was to conduct a 10-year longitudinal analysis of NMIP prescribing in Wales from April 2011 to March 2021. The study examined the British National Formulary (BNF) chapters from which medicines were prescribed by NMIPs, whether this changed over time, and whether there was variation in prescribing across the geographic regions of Wales.DesignRetrospective secondary data analysis of primary care prescribing data. Monthly prescribing data for the 10 National Health Service financial years (April to March) from April 2011 to March 2021 were obtained from the Comparative Analysis System for Prescribing Audit software. Data were analysed according to BNF chapter, to identify in which therapeutic areas NMIPs were prescribing, and whether this changed over the study period.ResultsThe number of items prescribed by NMIPs increased during the study period. From April 2011 to March 2021 prescribing in seven BNF chapters equated to approximately 80% of total items, with cardiovascular system medicines most prescribed. In the financial year 2011–2012 the BNF chapters with the greatest proportion of items prescribed were infection (18%) and respiratory system (13%), while in 2020–2021, these had changed to cardiovascular (23%) and nervous system (19%). The number of items prescribed in each health board in Wales varied, however, the BNF chapters contributing the largest percentages of items to the health board totals were broadly comparable.ConclusionsThe BNF chapter with the most prescribed items changed from infection to cardiovascular during the study period, suggesting an increase in chronic disease management by NMIPs. The impact of this on the delivery of primary care services and patient outcomes is a focus for future work.
Consolidation chemotherapy in postmolar low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Branco-Silva Mariza , Maesta Izildinha , Elias Kevin , Berkowitz Ross Stuart , Abbade Joelcio Francisco , Horowitz Neil S 
Published: February 2022

IntroductionCurrent evidence remains insufficient to strongly demonstrate the benefits of consolidation chemotherapy to all women with low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). This protocol outlines a systematic review to investigate whether consolidation chemotherapy is necessary for all patients with postmolar low-risk GTN after human chorionic gonadotropin normalisation with first-line single-agent chemotherapy.Methods and analysisA search string will be used to search the PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, Web of Sciences, Scopus, LILACS and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases. Articles will be screened at the title and abstract level, and then at the full article level by two independent reviewers using inclusion/exclusion criteria. Randomised and non-randomised study designs will be included, while case studies, commentaries, editorials, review articles, animal studies, basic science studies and cross-sectional studies, as well as studies not reporting relapse/recurrence rates and/or whether consolidation chemotherapy was delivered will be excluded. There will be no restrictions on date of publication, geographical location, study setting, or language of publication. The primary outcome is rate of recurrence/relapse. The assessments of randomised controlled trials will be performed using the risk of bias tool from the Cochrane Collaboration. Non-randomised studies will be assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The quality of evidence will be assessed using the Grading quality of evidence and strength of recommendations (Grades of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) guidelines.Ethics and disseminationNo formal ethical approval is required as all data collected will be secondary data and analysed anonymously. Results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication and at scientific events.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020164822.
Cherenkov and scintillation separation in water-based liquid scintillator using an LAPPDTM
Authors: Kaptanoglu T. , Callaghan E. J. , Yeh M. , Orebi Gann G. D. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThis manuscript describes measurements of water-based liquid scintillators (WbLS), demonstrating separation of the Cherenkov and scintillation components using a low energy $$\beta $$
β
source and the fast timing response of a Large Area Picosecond Photodetector (LAPPD). Additionally, the time profiles of three WbLS mixtures, defined by the relative fractions of scintillating compound, are characterized, with improved sensitivity to the scintillator rise-time. The measurements were made using both an LAPPD and a conventional photomultiplier tube (PMT). All samples were measured with an effective resolution $$O\left( 100~\text {ps}\right) $$

O

100

ps

, which allows for the separation of Cherenkov and scintillation light (henceforth C/S separation) by selecting on the arrival time of the photons alone. The Cherenkov purity of the selected photons is greater than 60% in all cases, with greater than 80% achieved for a sample containing 1% scintillator. This is the first demonstration of the power of synthesizing low light yield scintillators, of which WbLS is the canonical example, with fast photodetectors, of which LAPPDs are an emerging leader, and has direct implication for future mid- and large-scale detectors, such as Theia, ANNIE, and AIT-NEO.
Inference of cosmic-ray source properties by conditional invertible neural networks
Authors: Bister Teresa , Erdmann Martin , Köthe Ullrich , Schulte Josina 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe inference of physical parameters from measured distributions constitutes a core task in physics data analyses. Among recent deep learning methods, so-calledconditional invertible neural networksprovide an elegant approach owing to their probability-preserving bijective mapping properties. They enable training the parameter-observation correspondence in one mapping direction and evaluating the parameter posterior distributions in the reverse direction. Here, we study the inference of cosmic-ray source properties from cosmic-ray observations on Earth using extensive astrophysical simulations. We compare the performance of conditional invertible neural networks (cINNs) with the frequently used Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method. While cINNs are trained to directly predict the parameters’ posterior distributions, the MCMC method extracts the posterior distributions through a likelihood function that matches simulations with observations. Overall, we find good agreement between the physics parameters derived by the two different methods. As a result of its computational efficiency, the cINN method allows for a swift assessment of inference quality.
Fast characterization of compounds and components of explosives
Authors: Rizzo A. , Telloli C. , Ubaldini A. , Ottaviano G. , Salvi S. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractFinding markers to detect and identify compounds and components related to an explosive is an important task that could reduce threats of unlawful uses of explosives. The capability of Raman spectroscopy to characterize chemical composition of explosive compounds and the analysis of stable isotope ratios could be useful to identify specific markers to identify the origin of the material used. Using Raman spectrometer directly on-site after the accident scene could be a useful tool for an immediate characterization of the components. In addition, carbon and nitrogen analysis on some fragments collected on the accident scene will then confirm the characterization of the components. The proposed configuration of double technique, coupled with a digital database and algorithms, could be useful to run analysis, with fast response time, in work environment related to emergency situations.
Exploring Dose-Dependent Cytotoxicity Profile of Gracilaria edulis-Mediated Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles against MDA-MB-231 Breast Carcinoma
Authors: Mohanta Yugal Kishore , Mishra Awdhesh Kumar , Nayak Debasis , Patra Biswajit , Bratovcic Amra , Avula Satya Kumar , Mohanta Tapan Kumar , Murugan Kadarkarai , Saravanan Muthupandian 
Published: February 2022

Green-based synthesis of metal nanoparticles using marine seaweeds is a rapidly growing technology that is finding a variety of new applications. In the present study, the aqueous extract of a marine seaweed, Gracilaria edulis, was employed for the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles without using any reducing and stabilizing chemical agents. The visual color change and validation through UV-Vis spectroscopy provided an initial confirmation regarding the Gracilaria edulis-mediated green synthesized silver nanoparticles. The dynamic light scattering studies and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy pictographs exhibited that the synthesized Gracilaria edulis-derived silver nanoparticles were roughly spherical in shape having an average size of

62.72
±
0.25

nm and surface zeta potential of -

15.6
±
6.73

mV. The structural motifs and chemically functional groups associated with the Gracilaria edulis-derived silver nanoparticles were observed through X-ray diffraction and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Further, the synthesized nanoparticles were further screened for their antioxidant properties through DPPH, hydroxyl radical, ABTS, and nitric oxide radical scavenging assays. The phycosynthesized nanoparticles exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cells having IC50 value of

344.27
±
2.56

μg/mL. Additionally, the nanoparticles also exhibited zone of inhibition against pathogenic strains of Bacillus licheniformis (MTCC 7425), Salmonella typhimurium (MTCC 3216), Vibrio cholerae (MTCC 3904), Escherichia coli (MTCC 1098), Staphylococcus epidermidis (MTCC 3615), and Shigella dysenteriae (MTCC9543). Hence, this investigation explores the reducing and stabilizing capabilities of marine sea weed Gracilaria edulis for synthesizing silver nanoparticles in a cost-effective approach with potential anticancer and antimicrobial activity. The nanoparticles synthesized through green method may be explored for their potential utility in food preservative film industry, biomedical, and pharmaceutical industries.
Expectations about upcoming discourse referents
Authors: Gotzner Nicole , Spalek Katharina 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
In the current study, we explore how different information-structural devices affect which referents conversational partners expect in the upcoming discourse. Our main research question is how pitch accents (H*, L+H*) and focus particles (German nur ‘only’ and auch ‘also’) affect speakers’ choices to mention focused referents, previously mentioned alternatives or new, inferable alternatives. Participants in our experiment were presented with short discourses involving two referents and were asked to orally produce two sentences that continue the story. An analysis of speakers’ continuations showed that participants were most likely to mention a contextual alternative in the condition with only and the L+H* conditions, followed by H* conditions. In the condition with also, in turn, participants mentioned both the focused/accented referent and the contextual alternative. Our findings highlight the importance of information structure for discourse management and suggest that speakers take activated alternatives to be relevant for an unfolding discourse.