bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
TKI or TKI combined with PD-1 inhibitors as second-line treatment for HCC patients after sorafenib failure
Authors: Lei Jin , Chen Bowen , Song Meiru , Zhang Linzhi , Zhang Xinfeng , Gao Xiaoqiang , Li Yinyin , Lu Yinying , Zuo Shi 
Published: December 2022

Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in combination with programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors become the potential treatment modality for patients undergoing unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) in the first-line setting. However, the efficacy and safety of this combination regimen in patients after sorafenib failure remains unclear.Methods: Participants in this study included patients with uHCC after sorafenib failure who received TKI monotherapy (TKI group) or TKI combined with PD-1 inhibitors therapy (combination group) in our center from July 2018 to July 2021. The overall survival (OS) was used to be the primary efficacy endpoint, while progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and disease control rate (DCR) were applied to be secondary endpoints. In addition, the adverse events are recorded and evaluated.Results: Among the 92 patients contained in this work, 50 patients were categorized into the TKI group, while 42 patients were in the combination group. There existed no evident differences between the two groups concerning the ORR (8.0% vs. 9.5%, p = 1.000). However, the DCR in the combined group was better in relative to that in the TKI group (71.4% vs. 50.0%, p = 0.037). In comparison with the TKI group, it was found that the combination group presented notably better median PFS (8.1 months vs. 4.7 months, p = 0.005) and median OS (21.9 months vs. 16.6 months, p = 0.042). According to multivariate analysis, PFS (HR 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3–0.8, p = 0.005) and OS (HR 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3–1.0, p = 0.051) were improved in the combination group in relative to the TKI group after the adjustment for some risk factors. Additionally, the incidence rates of grade ≥1 adverse event in the TKI group and the combination group were 96.0% and 97.6%, respectively. The most normal adverse event in the TKI group was neutropenia (n = 24,48.0%) and the combination group was hypoalbuminemia (n = 23,54.8%). All of these adverse events improved after symptomatic treatment, and no new toxic events were found to occur.Conclusion: TKI combined with PD-1 inhibitors showed better prognosis with manageable toxicity in uHCC patients after sorafenib failure compared with TKI monotherapy.
Cold-atom optical filtering enhanced by optical pumping
Authors: Guan Xiaolei , Zhuang Wei , Shi Tiantian , Miao Jianxiang , Zhang Jia , Chen Jingbiao , Luo Bin 
Published: December 2022

Atomic optical filters such as Faraday anomalous dispersion optical filters (FADOFs) or similar technologies can achieve very narrow optical bandwidth close to the scale of atomic linewidth, which can be greatly reduced in cold atoms. However, limited by the number of cold atoms and the size of the cold atomic cloud, the number of atoms interacting with the laser is reduced, and the transmission remains as low as 2%. In this work, we introduce the optical pumping into the cold atomic optical filter to solve this problem. Circular polarized optical pumping can produce polarization of the atomic ensemble and induce dichromatic as well as the Faraday rotation. We demonstrate a cold-atom optical filter which operates on the 87Rb 52S1/2 (F=2) to 52P3/2 (F′=2) transition at 780 nm. The filter achieves an ultranarrow bandwidth of 6.6(4) MHz, and its peak transmission is 15.6%, which is nearly 14 times higher than that of the cold-atom optical filter realized by Faraday magneto-optic effect. This scheme can be extended to almost all kinds of atomic optical filters and may find applications in self-stabilizing laser and active optical clock.
Which symptoms are the psychopathological core affecting the manifestation of pseudo-cardiac symptoms and poor sleep quality in young adults? Symptoms of personality disorders versus clinical disorders
Authors: Bahremand Mostafa , Komasi Saeid 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundDiagnosing and identifying the psychological origin of pseudo-cardiac symptoms and comorbid conditions such as poor sleep quality is very difficult due to its extensive and complex nature. The present study was conducted to determine the contribution of symptoms of personality disorders (PDs) and clinical disorders (CDs; i.e., psychological symptoms measured using the Symptom Checklist-90) to the manifestation of pseudo-cardiac symptoms and poor sleep quality.MethodsSubjects in this cross-sectional study were 953 (64.3% female; 28.8 ± 6.2 years) community samples in the west of Iran who were selected by convenience sampling. After applying the inclusion criteria, data were collected using the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90-R), the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire (PDQ-4), and the Scale for Pseudo-Cardiac Symptoms and Poor Sleep Quality (SPSQ). Pearson correlations, factor analytical techniques, and hierarchical regression models were used to examine associations between symptoms of PDs/CDs and outcome factors.ResultsFactor analytical techniques confirmed both the integrated structure of symptoms of PDs and CDs. Both pseudo-cardiac symptoms and poor sleep quality were more strongly associated with symptoms of CDs than PDs. The results of the hierarchical analysis show that the CDs factor alone could explain the total variance of both pseudo-cardiac symptoms (change in R2 = 0.215 vs. 0.009; p &lt; 0.001) and poor sleep quality (change in R2 = 0.221 vs. 0.001; p &lt; 0.001).ConclusionThe different capabilities of two unique factors for the symptoms of PDs and CDs were confirmed by factor analytical methods and regression analysis techniques. Although each of the symptoms of PDs and CDs independently contributes to the manifestation of pseudo-cardiac symptoms and poor sleep quality, the CDs factor is the psychopathological core.
How individual social capital affects residents’ satisfaction with medical services: Based on the evidence from urban residents in China
Authors: Wang Wenbin , Cao Yang 
Published: December 2022

IntroductionResidents’ satisfaction with medical services has commonly been treated as both a medical and psychosocial process. The influence of psychosocial factors on residents’ satisfaction with medical treatment is generally considered as important as that of medical factors. However, the effect of individual social capital on residents’ satisfaction after medical treatment–an important psychosocial variable that may influence health status and access to medical services–has not received sufficient attention.MethodsThis study used the questionnaire survey data of urban residents in eight Chinese cities in 2014 to investigate how individual social capital affects residents’ satisfaction with medical services over the past year.ResultsThe results revealed a negative impact of individual social capital on residents’ overall satisfaction with medical services. In addition, the use of individual social capital significantly improved residents’ satisfaction with medical resources and significantly reduced residents’ satisfaction with the medical system. Moreover, the negative impact of individual social capital on residents’ overall satisfaction with medical services was greater for individuals with a lower likelihood of using this capital, which may lead to unequal allocation of medical resources and long-term life satisfaction.DiscussionThe heterogeneous impact and mechanism of individual social capital on residents’ satisfaction with medical services was confirmed under the premise of self-selection bias.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of pembrolizumab vs. chemotherapy as second-line treatment for advanced esophageal carcinoma in the United States
Authors: Hu Jia , Ye Zhuomiao , Xu Zhe , Hao Zhinan , Wang Yongjun 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundThe national Comprehensive Cancer Network has suggested pembrolizumab as a second-line therapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients with a programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) combined positive score (CPS) ≥ 10. However, despite the increased survival rate associated with pembrolizumab in these patient population, the high cost of pembrolizumab may influence its antitumor effect. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of pembrolizumab compared to chemotherapy as second-line treatments for esophageal carcinoma (EC) based on KEYNOTE-181 trial.MethodsA Markov model was constructed using TreeAge 2021 based on three different groups: all intent-to-treat patients (ITT population), patients with ESCC (ESCC population), and patients with a PD-L1 CPS ≥10 (CPS ≥10 population). Incremental cost, Incremental effect, Life-years, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and incremental cost–effectiveness ratio (ICER) were calculated. Analyses were conducted on the setting of a willingness-to-pay threshold of $150,000 from the US perspective.ResultsThe ICERs for pembrolizumab were $157,589.545 per QALY, $60,238.823 per QALY, and $100,114.929 per QALY compared with chemotherapy in the ITT, ESCC, and CPS≥10 populations, respectively. The ICER of the ITT population was higher than $150,000, suggesting that pembrolizumab was not a cost-effective treatment scheme in patients with a PD-L1 CPS ≤ 10 or esophageal adenocarcinoma. The ICER was &lt; $150,000 in the ESCC and CPS≥10 populations, indicating that pembrolizumab was cost-effective in these two subgroups.ConclusionThe determining of pembrolizumab as a cost-effective second-line therapy for EC in the United States depends on the histologic type and PD-L1 expression.
Mediterranean diet score is associated with greater allocentric processing in the EPAD LCS cohort: A comparative analysis by biogeographical region
Authors: Gregory Sarah , Ritchie Craig W. , Ritchie Karen , Shannon Oliver , Stevenson Emma J. , Muniz-Terrera Graciela 
Published: December 2022

Background: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), a primarily plant-based eating pattern, has been associated with lower dementia incidence. Much of the research has focused on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), with less research looking at the preclinical symptomatically silent stages that pre-empt MCI and AD dementia. Although there is evidence from studies conducted globally, no studies have compared the effects of the MedDiet within and outside of the Mediterranean region in one cohort.Methods: Our study explored cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between MedDiet and cognition in the pan-European EPAD LCS, comparing those living within and outside of the Mediterranean region (as classified by European Union biogeographical definitions). After deriving MEDAS scores to quantify adherence to the MedDiet, we used linear regression and linear mixed effects models to test for associations between the MEDAS score and cognitive function measured by the Four Mountains Test (FMT) and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). We additionally calculated MEDAS continuous and PYRAMID scores to provide alternative measures of MedDiet adherence.Results: We included 1826 participants, mean age 65.69 (±7.42) years, majority female (56.2%) with family history (65.8%) and minority APOEε4 carriers (38.9%). Higher MEDAS scores were associated with better performance on the FMT both cross-sectionally (n = 1,144, ß: −0.11, SE: 0.04, p = 0.007) and longitudinally (slope: 0.10, 95% CI: 0.04–0.17, p: 0.002). The effect was marginally greater in the Mediterranean region in the cross-sectional analysis, with a stronger effect emerging longitudinally. In exploratory analyses, the association between MEDAS and FMT scores was only seen in female participants. A sensitivity analysis excluding Toulouse and Perugia, as cities near, but not within, the biogeographical region, found significant associations between higher MEDAS and MEDAS continuous scores, and a number of RBANS total and index scores.Conclusion: MedDiet adherence is associated with better FMT scores, with effects seen most strongly in the Mediterranean region from longitudinal data. Our sensitivity analysis suggested a more global cognitive benefit of MedDiet adherence. This study highlights the need to further explore for whom and for what brain health outcomes the MedDiet confers benefit. This evidence would identify a window of opportunity in the life-course to maximise the benefit and better inform public health campaigns and patient-level interventions.
The practice of sustainable home cooking – a fascinating philosophical perspective
Authors: Salgado Diana , Verkerk Maarten J. 
Published: December 2022

IntroductionIn this article we explore the practice of sustainable home cooking from a philosophical perspective.MethodologyWe analyze the practice of sustainble homecooking on the basis of the theory of modal aspects (Dooyeweerd) and the Triple I model (Verkerk and others).Results and discussionPhilosophy offers a fascinating perspective on sustainable home cooking. First, it shows the richtness of the phenomenon of home cooking. Second, it shows that home cooking constists out of two sub practices: preparing a meal and eating a dish. Each of these sub practices has an own identity and own inherent values. Third, the transition to sustainable home cooking requires three related strategies. (1) A transition of present home cooking practices to a sustainable practice by focussing on the inherent values of sustainable home cooking. (2) A transition of the whole food chain to a sustainable one. (3) A transition in the ideals and basic beliefs of society about sustainable home cooking.
Poor Outcomes of Patients With NAFLD and Moderate Renal Dysfunction or Short-Term Dialysis Receiving a Liver Transplant Alone
Authors: Fernández-Carrillo Carlos , Li Yaming , Ventura-Cots Meritxell , Argemi Josepmaria , Dai Dongling , Clemente-Sánchez Ana , Duarte-Rojo Andres , Behari Jaideep , Ganesh Swaytha , Jonassaint Naudia L. , Tevar Amit D. , Hughes Christopher B. , Humar Abhinav , Molinari Michele , Landsittel Douglas P. , Bataller Ramon 
Published: December 2022

The outcomes of patients with moderate renal impairment and the impact of liver disease etiology on renal function recovery after liver transplant alone (LTA) are largely unknown. We explored whether NAFLD patients with pre-LTA moderate renal dysfunction (GFR 25–45 ml/min/1.73 m2) may be more susceptible to develop post-LTA severe renal dysfunction (GFR&lt;15 ml/min/1.73 m2) than ALD patients, as well as other overall outcomes. Using the UNOS/OPTN database, we selected patients undergoing liver transplant for NAFLD or ALD (2006–2016), 15,103 of whom received LTA. NAFLD patients with moderate renal dysfunction were more likely to develop subsequent GFR&lt;15 ml/min/1.73 m2 than ALD patients (11.1% vs. 7.38%, p &lt; 0.001). Patients on short-term dialysis pre-LTA (≤12 weeks) were more likely to develop severe renal dysfunction (31.7% vs. 18.1%), especially in NAFLD patients, and were more likely to receive a further kidney transplant (15.3% vs. 3.7%) and had lower survival (48.6% vs. 50.4%) after LTA (p &lt; 0.001 for all). NAFLD was an independent risk factor for post-LTA severe renal dysfunction (HR = 1.2, p = 0.02). NAFLD patients with moderate renal dysfunction and those receiving short-term dialysis prior to LTA are at a higher risk of developing subsequent severe renal dysfunction. Underlying etiology of liver disease may play a role in predicting development and progression of renal failure in patients receiving LTA.
Variation in laboratory testing for patients with long-term conditions: a longitudinal cohort study in UK primary care
Authors: Jones Timothy , Patel Rita , Elwenspoek Martha M C , Watson Jessica C , Mann Ed , Alsop Katharine , Whiting Penny F 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundUse of laboratory testing has increased in the UK over the past few decades, with considerable geographical variation.AimTo evaluate what laboratory tests are used to monitor people with hypertension, type 2 (T2) diabetes, or chronic kidney disease (CKD) and assess variation in test use in UK primary care.Design & settingLongitudinal cohort study of people registered with UK general practices between June 2013 and May 2018 and previously diagnosed with hypertension, T2 diabetes, or CKD.MethodClinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) primary care data linked to ethnic group and deprivation was used to examine testing rates over time, by GP practice, age, sex, ethnic group, and socioeconomic deprivation, with age–sex standardisation.ResultsNearly 1 million patients were included, and more than 27 million tests. The most ordered tests were for renal function (1463 per 1000 person-years), liver function (1063 per 1000 person-years), and full blood count (FBC; 996 per 1000 person-years). There was evidence of undertesting (compared with current guidelines) for HbA1c and albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR) or microalbumin, and potential overtesting of lipids, FBC, liver function, and thyroid function. Some GP practices had up to 27 times higher testing rates than others (HbA1c testing among patients with CKD).ConclusionTesting rates are no longer increasing, but they are not always within the guidelines for monitoring long-term conditions (LTCs). There was considerable variation by GP practice, indicating uncertainty over the most appropriate testing frequencies for different conditions. Standardising the monitoring of LTCs based on the latest evidence would provide greater consistency of access to monitoring tests.
NEURAL NETWORK FOR A DESIGNER: IS AN ASSISTANT OR RIVAL?
Authors: Argunova A. , Volegova A. 
Published: December 2022

The research is focused on cooperation of a designer and neural network. The authors rise a question of a possibility to replace the professional designer by neural network. AI ability to creative thought is analyzed in the article. Neural networks programmed to create a visual product are considered.
The "creativity" of neural networks and the possibility of creating innovative solutions are described.
Predictors of pacemaker implantation in patients with myocardial infarction and heart block
Authors: Bryukhanova I. A. , Gorbunova E. V. , Mamchur S. E. 
Published: December 2022

The aim of the study was to identify predictors of early and delayed pacemaker (PM) implantation in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and heart block, allowing the development of models for predicting the feasibility of its implantation.Methods. A randomized selection method was used to form a cohort of patients with MI complicated by cardiac conduction disorders. The first (control) group included 72 patients who did not have a PM implanted, the second (n=46) and third (n=68) groups consisted of patients with MI, having, respectively, indications for early (in the acute period of MI) and delayed (average after 3 years) PM implantation. All patients underwent endovascular revascularization of the infarct-dependent artery during hospitalization. Demographic, clinical, and morphological predictors of PM implantation in patients of the second and third groups were evaluated in comparison with the control group. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the need for PM implantation in the short term (hospital period) and in the long-term period.Results. Factors that determine the expediency of a permanent PM in the acute period of MI at the hospital stage, delayed pacemaker implantation 3.2±1.9 years after myocardial infarction, as well as predictors that do not require a permanent PM throughout the entire observation period, were identified. The main factors that require permanent PM implantation in the acute period were identified: 3rd degree atrioventricular (AV) block in NSTEMI, GRACE score 96 or higher, development of 3rd degree AV block in MI of any localization except postero-inferior. Predictors for the need for PM implantation after 3.2±1.9 years (delayed period) were STEMI of anterior localization; at the same time, age had an inversely proportional relationship in predicting the fact of permanent pacing. The factors that determine the need for PM implantation are the presence of anterior MI, the multiple coronary artery lesions.Conclusion. In the acute (hospital) period of NSTEMI, PM implantation is indicated at a high risk of adverse cardiovascular complications (GRACE scale of 96 points and above), in the presence of the 3rd degree AV block in any MI localization, except for the inferior one. Indications for permanent pacing 3.2±1.9 years after an acute coronary event are STEMI of anterior localization and multiple coronary artery lesions.
PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT OF CUDA APPLICATIONS BY OVERLAPPING DATA TRANSFER AND KERNEL EXECUTION
Authors: Raju K. , N Chiplunkar Niranjan 
Published: December 2022

The CPU-GPU combination is a widely used heterogeneous computing system in which the CPU and GPU have different address spaces. Since the GPU cannot directly access the CPU memory, prior to invoking the GPU function the input data must be available on the GPU memory. On completion of GPU function, the results of computation are transferred to CPU memory. The CPU-GPU data transfer happens through PCI-Express bus. The PCI-E bandwidth is much lesser than that of GPU memory. The speed at which the data is transferred is limited by the PCI-E bandwidth. Hence, the PCI-E acts as a performance bottleneck. In this paper two approaches are discussed to minimize the overhead of data transfer, namely, performing the data transfer while the GPU function is being executed and reducing the amount of data to be transferred to GPU. The effectiveness of these approaches on the execution time of a set of CUDA applications is realized using CUDA streams. The results of our experiments show that the execution time of applications can be minimized with the proposed approaches.
Solution-processed near-infrared organic photodetector based on a liquid crystalline phthalocyanine derivative for vital signal monitoring
Authors: Kabir Shahriar , Takayashiki Yukiko , Hanna Jun-ichi , Iino Hiroaki 
Published: December 2022

AbstractIn this study, near-infrared (NIR) organic photodetectors (OPDs) based on a liquid crystalline phthalocyanine derivative, 1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octaoctyl-phthalocyanine (8H2Pc), and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) were realized. The best device had a blend ratio of 1:1 by weight and exhibited responsivity of 0.2 A W−1, external quantum efficiency of 29% and shot-noise-limited specific detectivity of 1.3 × 1012Jones at 740 nm with −1 V reverse bias. This notable performance was attributed to the uniformity and smooth surface morphology of the spin-coated active layer and the intermixed condition of the liquid crystalline 8H2Pc and PC61BM, resulting in smaller domain sizes and better separation of photogenerated exciton pairs. Finally, the future prospects of the realized NIR OPD in practical applications were demonstrated by monitoring the vital signals of a human subject with a very simple experimental setup.