bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on self-efficacy scores and intensity of depressiveness in people aged over 60 years providing kinship foster care
Authors: Giezek Marta , Landowski Marek , Kożybska Marta , Karakiewicz Beata 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background: The objective of this study has been to investigate whether the COVID-19 pandemic has had impact on self-efficacy scores and intensity of depressive severity in people aged over 60 who provide kinship foster care to their grandchildren. Methods: The study subjects were selected from among individuals aged over 60 years providing kinship foster care to their grand-children. The participants were asked to complete the Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) before and during the pandemic. The questionnaire was com-pleted in whole twice by 40 participants. Results: There are no statistically significant differences between the GSE and GDS scores obtained before and during the pandemic. In study subjects with the oldest child in foster care aged 10 years or less, the GDS score decreased in a statistically sig-nificant way (p=0.03). The correlation coefficient of the GSE and GDS scores before the pandemic was -0.46 (p = 0.003), while that of scores during the pandemic was -0.43 (p = 0.006).Conclusions: Neither the sense of self-efficacy nor the intensity of depressiveness of the study subjects changed significantly during the pandemic. Both before and during the pandemic, the intensity of depres-siveness decreased as the sense of self-efficacy increased.
Theoretical study of the electronic features of Silicon-Carbon crystal as a semiconductor using Quantum Espresso
Authors: Ayoubi-Chianeh Mojgan 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
In this research, quantum simulations are applied to determine the electronic features of the Silicon-Carbon (SiC) crystal. The band structure (BS), density of states (DOS), k-resolved DOS, and convergence calculations are conducted for the optimized SiC, using the plane-wave (PW) method as implemented in Quantum Espresso (QE) program. The calculated values of the band gap and Fermi energy show the values of 1.41 and 9.80 eV, respectively. Therefore, our scrutinized SiC crystal appears as a notable semiconductor that can promise a new generation of solar cells.
Challenging Organizational Factors Associated With Admission Delay to the Intensive Care Unit – A Novel Quality Indicator
Authors: Jakobson Daniel J. , Bashkin Osnat , Kalatskaya Viktoria , Veinberg Halel , Chernoguz Evgeny , Nesi Vicky , Levy Chezy , Sherer Yaniv 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Background: Delays in admitting patients to the ICU can defer the timely initiation of life-sustaining therapies and invasive monitoring, jeopardizing the success of the treatment. The current study aimed to assess the factors related to delays in admission times of critically ill patients transferred to the ICU using a proactive approach to admission process analysis.Methods: A specifically designed software was created to follow up, compare and measure the defined laps of the time to admission, implemented at the ICU for six months. Measurements included five time-lapse, referral department, and work shift at admission. Data of 1004 patients admitted to the ICU between July 2017 to January 2020 were analyzed in a retrospective observational study.Results: A significant shortening of time to admission before and after the intervention done by the institutional Quality Control Commission. The mean time to admission was shortened by 14 minutes, from a mean of 92.4 minutes to 78.6 minutes. Insights about the organizational factors delaying transfer provide meaningful information for future efficacy interventions.Conclusions: The current study shows the positive effect of a protracted follow-up of the complex process divided into several stations, where possible preventable situations can be found and modified.Trial registration:The study was approved by the Ashkelon Academic College Ethics Committee with a waiver of informed consent. (Approval # 25/1-2020).
Development of a genetic risk score to predict the risk of hypertension in European adolescents from the HELENA study
Authors: Pérez-Gimeno Gloria , Seral-Cortes Miguel , Sabroso-Lasa Sergio , Esteban Luis Mariano , Lurbe Empar , Béghin Laurent , Gottrand Frederic , Meirhaeghe Aline , Muntaner Manon , Kafatos Anthony , Molnár Dénes , Leclercq Catherine , Widhalm Kurt , Kersting Mathilde , Nova Esther , Salazar-Tortosa Diego F. , Gonzalez-Gross Marcela , Breidenassel Christina , Sinningen Kathrin , Ruyter Thaïs , Labayen Idoia , Rupérez Azahara I. , Bueno-Lozano Gloria , Moreno Luis 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background
Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with blood pressure (BP) levels. A combination of SNPs, forming a genetic risk score (GRS) could be considered a useful genetic tool to identify individuals at risk of developing hypertension from early stages in life. Therefore, the study aims to predict the genetic predisposition to hypertension in European adolescents from a GRS.
Methods
A total of 869 adolescents (53% female), aged 12.5–17.5, were included from the “Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence” (HELENA) cross-sectional study. The sample was divided into altered (≥ 130 mmHg for systolic and/or ≥ 80 mmHg for diastolic) or normal BP.
Results
From 1534 SNPs available, An initial screening of SNPs univariately associated with BP (p < 0.10) was established, to finally obtain a number of 16 SNPs significantly associated with BP (p < 0.05) in the multivariate model. Both unweighted GRS (uGRS) and weighted GRS (wGRS) were associated with altered BP. The area under the curve was explored using ten-fold internal cross-validation for uGRS (0.796) and wGRS (0.803). Further covariates were added to obtain a higher predictive ability.
Conclusions
Both GRSs, could be useful to evaluate the genetic predisposition to hypertension in European adolescents.
What do Black-box Machine Learning Prediction Models See?- An Application Study With Sepsis Detection
Authors: Strickler Ethan A. T. , Thomas Joshua , Thomas Johnson P. , Benjamin Bruce , Shamsuddin Rittika 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to identify additional clinical features for sepsis detection through the use of a novel mechanism for interpreting black-box machine learning models trained and to provide a suitable evaluation for the mechanism.
Methods
We use the publicly available dataset from the 2019 PhysioNet Challenge. It has around 40,000 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients with 40 physiological variables. Using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) as the representative black-box machine learning model, we adapted the Multi-set Classifier to globally interpret the black-box model for concepts it learned about sepsis. To identify relevant features, the result is compared against: i) features used by a computational sepsis expert, ii) clinical features from clinical collaborators, iii) academic features from literature, and iv) significant features from statistical hypothesis testing.
Results
Random Forest (RF) was found to be the computational sepsis expert because it had high accuracies for solving both the detection and early detection, and a high degree of overlap with clinical and literature features. Using the proposed interpretation mechanism and the dataset, we identified 17 features that the LSTM used for sepsis classification, 11 of which overlaps with the top 20 features from the RF model, 10 with academic features and 5 with clinical features. Clinical opinion suggests, 3 LSTM features have strong correlation with some clinical features that were not identified by the mechanism. We also found that age, chloride ion concentration, pH and oxygen saturation should be investigated further for connection with developing sepsis.
Conclusion
Interpretation mechanisms can bolster the incorporation of state-of-the-art machine learning models into clinical decision support systems, and might help clinicians to address the issue of early sepsis detection. The promising results from this study warrants further investigation into creation of new and improvement of existing interpretation mechanisms for black-box models, and into clinical features that are currently not used in clinical assessment of sepsis.
Revealing a conservation challenge towards floodplain disconnection: Decreasing turnover and increasing nestedness of mollusc metacommunities
Authors: Zhang Kun , Jiang Xiaoming , Zheng Peng 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Floodplain disconnection (FDC) has become a profound threat to many large river floodplains. Despite current researches examining the impacts of FDC on aquatic biodiversity, little is known about how FDC affected freshwater molluscs from multifaceted biodiversity perspectives, especially at long-term temporal scales. We selected the 7 lakes in the Yangtze River floodplain to evaluate how river-lake disconnection impacted taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic alpha and beta diversity of molluscan assemblages during past 60 years. Our results showed that five disconnected lakes (DLs) experienced dramatic decline in species richness (decreased by 62.4%) and functional richness (54.6%) but increases in functional evenness (20.0%) and Δ+ (5.5%) after disconnection. Whereas such temporal changes in the two connected lakes (CLs) were much slighter. Somewhat unexpectedly, the overall taxonomic (increased by 7.0%) and phylogenetic (12.2%) dissimilarities only slightly increased through time, due to opposite changes in the turnover (40%-50% decrease) and nestedness-resultant (100%-110% increase) components through time. The functional nestedness experienced more significant increase (162.0%), leading to relatively considerable increase in functional overall dissimilarity (64.0%). Such opposite changes in multifaceted turnover and nestedness distinctly modified the structure of beta diversity and highlight the conservation priority of CLs keeping relative high levels of biodiversity. The overall correlations between changes in both alpha and beta diversity among different facets were generally weak, indicating the different diversity facets would provide complementary information for biodiversity conservation and restoration. Thus, we recommended incorporating functional and phylogenetic information of species into traditional taxonomy-based approaches in large river floodplains studies.
OptiCogs: Feasibility of a multicomponent intervention to rehabilitate people with cognitive impairment post-stroke
Authors: Donoghue Mairead O , Boland Pauline , Taylor Sinead , Hennessy Edel , Murphy Eva , Leahy Siobhan , McManus John , Lisiecka Dominika , Purtill Helen , Galvin Rose , Hayes Sara 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background: Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Despite the prevalence and associated burden of cognitive impairment post-stroke, there is uncertainty regarding optimal cognitive rehabilitation for people post-stroke. This study aimed to assess whether a multicomponent intervention, called OptiCogs, is feasible, acceptable and safe for people with cognitive impairment post-stroke. A secondary aim was to explore changes in cognitive function as a result of the intervention, on fatigue, quality of life, physical function and occupational performance, from pre-intervention to post-intervention.
Methods: A feasibility study was conducted where people post-stroke with cognitive impairment enrolled in a 6-week multicomponent intervention. The primary outcomes recorded included recruitment rate, retention rate, adherence to the intervention protocol, adverse events and acceptability of the intervention to people post-stroke. Secondary outcomes included (i) change in cognitive functioning using the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination III, (ii) fatigue using the Fatigue Severity scale, (iii) quality of life using the the Stroke Specific Quality of Life scale (iv) physical function using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System, and (v) patient-reported occupational performance using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials extension reporting guidelines were followed, for pilot and feasibility studies, to standardise the conduct and reporting of this study.
Results: Nine eligible participants were enrolled during the 4 month recruitment period, with eight participants completing the entire six-week intervention, as well as the pre and post-intervention outcome measures. There were no reported adverse events. Participants were satisfied with the intervention and found it acceptable overall. Results of the secondary outcomes were promising for cognitive function (ACE III, Pre: 63.3±23.9 to Post: 69±24.6), fatigue (FSS, Pre: 52.5±7.3 to Post: 45.6±7.2), quality of life (SSQoL, Pre: 131.0±26.3 to Post: 169.9±15.3), physical function (PROMIS-PF, Pre: 15.5±6.3 to Post: 15.8±5.3) and occupational performance (COPM Performance, Pre: 9.3±2.3 to Post: 22.9±4.2) and COPM Satisfaction, Pre: 9.9±2.1 to Post: 22.7±3.5).
Conclusion: Preliminary results suggest low-modest recruitment and high retention rates to the OptiCogs intervention. Changes in cognitive function, fatigue, quality of life and self-reported occupational performance show improvement from pre to post-intervention. These potential benefits require further testing in a larger pilot trial.
Trial Registration: NCT05414539
Molecular characterization of a novel fusarivirus isolated from the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium pseudograminearum
Authors: Wei Chenxing , Guan Zhengzhe , Zhong Rongrong , Wang Ganlin , Du Hongyan , Zhang Yuanyuan , Meng Haoguang , Xie Jiatao , Fu Yanping , ying zhao , Wen Caiyi 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Fusarium pseudograminearum is a pathogenic fungus causeing crown rot. Only two mycovirus have been reported in F. pseudograminearum thus far. Here, we report a fungal virus (mycovirus), Fusarium pseudograminearum fusarivirus 1 (FpFV1), isolated from the F. pseudograminearum strain ZZ-1. FpFV1 has a single-stranded positive-sense RNA (+ ssRNA) genome of 6622 nucleotides containing four open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 encodes for a large 1,550 amino acids (aa) polypeptide with a conserved RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and two helicase domains. The ORF2, ORF3 and ORF4 have overlapping regions and encode putative proteins of 154 aa, 53aa and 429aa, respectively. All three ORFs have unknown functions. Based on the genomic structure, homology searches, and phylogenetic analysis, FpFV1 could be a new member of the proposed “Fusariviridae”. This is the first study to report a fusarivirus that infects F. pseudograminearum.
Vitamin D3 Improves Spatial Memory and Modulates Cytokine Levels in Aged Rats
Authors: Bellettini-Santos Tatiani , Garcez Michelle Lima , Mina Francielle , Magnus Natália Quadros , Pereira Nathalia de Souza , Marques Ariandne de Oliveira , Keller Gabriela Serafim , Zabot Gabriel Casagrande , Nascimento Natália Baltazar do , Medeiros Eduarda Behenck , Rempel Lisienny Campoli Tono , Kucharska Ewa , Frizon Tiago Elias Allievi , Dal-Bó Alexandre Gonçalves , Budni Josiane 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background: Vitamin D deficiency is associated
with an increased risk of dementia. An association between vitamin
D deficiency and subjective cognitive complaints in geriatric
patients has been reported.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the
neurochemical and behavioral effects of vitamin D3 (1α-25
Dihydroxyvitamin D3) on 2-, 6-, 13-, 22-, and 31-month-old male
Wistar rats.

Research Methods & Procedures: The animals
were supplemented with vitamin D at doses of 42 IU/kg and 420 IU/kg
for 21 days. The radial maze test was performed to evaluate spatial
memory. After the behavioral test, the frontal cortex and
hippocampus were dissected for the enzyme immunoassay analyses to
measure cytokine levels (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10).

Results: Our results showed that vitamin D
supplementation was able to reverse the spatial memory impairment
at the supplemented doses (42 and 420 IU/kg) in 6-, 13-, and
22-month-old animals and at a dose of 420 IU/kg in 31-month-old
animals. Conclusion: Our results suggest vitamin D
has a modulatory action on pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines,
since older animals showed increased cytokine levels than the
2-month-old animals. The lower dose (42 IU/kg) was able to regulate
both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus. Our
results suggest that vitamin D may exert an immunomodulating effect
on aging
Carboplatin combined with arsenic trioxide versus carboplatin combined with docetaxel neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer: a randomized, open-label, phase II clinical study
Authors: Li Sijin , Huang Jiaxin , Lin Xueer , zhang Yawen , Li An , Yan Jiao , Li Daocheng , Gao Jie 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Objective. To compare the efficacy and safety of carboplatin combined with arsenic trioxide versus carboplatin combined with docetaxel neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC).
Methods. A total of 48 patients with LACC were enrolled in this study between May, 2019 and May, 2022 will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group (carboplatin combined with arsenic trioxide, n = 24) or the control group (carboplatin combined with docetaxel, n = 24). The clinical curative effect, adverse reaction and serological indicator of the two groupsof patients were established for the statistical analysis to clarify the efficacy and safety of carboplatin combined with arsenic trioxide versus carboplatin combined with docetaxel in improving the outcome of patients with LACC.
Results. There was no statistical difference at baseline between the two groups (P>0.05). There was almost no significant difference of total effective rate between the two groups with 72.22% in the test group and 68.42% in the control group (P>0.05). Although the serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) of the two groups were significantly reduced after chemotherapy (P<0.05) , the level of SCC in experimental group was slightly lower than that of the control group without significant difference (6.00 ± 11.36 ng/ml vs 8.42 ± 12.17 ng/ml, P>0.05). In addition,there was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative adverse reactions between the two groups (P>0.05).
Conclusion. Arsenic trioxide combined with carboplatin as a preoperative NACT for LACC is not worse than docetaxel combined with carboplatin in terms of short term efficacy and safety during the treatment of LACC.
Correlation between Selective Motor Control of the Lower Extremities and Balance in Spastic Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Mohammed Amira. H. , Elserougy Hager R. , Karim Amel E. Abdel , Sakr Mohamad , Sheha Samah M. 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have motor deficits caused by spasticity, weakness, contractures, diminished selective motor control (SMC), and poor balance. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the influence of mirror feedback on lower extremity selective motor control and balance in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Understanding the relationship between selective motor control and balance will help children with hemiplegic CP receive more appropriate therapies. Forty-seven children of both sexes diagnosed with hemiplegic CP participated in the study. Group1 (Gr1 - control group) received conventional physical therapy training while group 2 (Gr2 - intervention group) received conventional physical therapy training in addition to bilateral lower extremity mirror therapy (MT). The primary outcome measure used was Selective Control Assessment of Lower Extremity scale (SCALE), while the secondary outcome measure was the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS). Results showed significant differences in Selective Control Assessment of Lower Extremity Scale (SCALE) and Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) between both groups in favor of Gr2. After treatment, both groups improved significantly, yet Gr2 outperformed Gr1 by a large margin. Mirror therapy may be a useful addition to home-based motor interventions for children with hemiplegic CP due to its relative simplicity, low cost, and high patient adherence. Additionally, it may help children improve their selective motor skills and balance.
The epidemiological features of respiratory tract infection using the multiplex panels detection during COVID-19 pandemic in Shandong province, China
Authors: Zhang Jie , Yang Tao , Zou Mingjin , Wang Lili , Sai Lintao 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
High attention has been paid to the etiological tracing of respiratory tract infection (RTI) since the advent of COVID-19. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the epidemiological features of pathogens in RTI, especially during COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 7668 patients with RTI were included from Qilu Hospital of Shandong University between March 2019 and December 2021. The respiratory tract specimens were detected using a commercial multiplex PCR-based panel assay for 13 common respiratory pathogens. Compared with 2019, the positive rate of pathogen detection from January 2020 to December 2021 was significantly lower, especially the detection of Flu-A. The positive rate of respiratory pathogen strains was 40.18% during COVID-19 pandemic, and a total of 297 cases (4.69%) of mixed infection with two or more pathogens were detected. The positive rates of infection were different among different age groups, with higher incidence of RSV in infancy and toddler group, MP infection in children and teenager group, and HRV infection in adult patients. Moreover, Flu-A and Flu-B were higher in winter, and MP and RSV were higher in spring, autumn and winter. The pathogens such as ADV, BOCA, PIV, and COV were detected without significant seasonal distribution. In conclusions, pathogens of RTI may vary by age and season, regardless of gender. During the COVID-19 epidemic, blocking transmission routes could help reduce the incidence of RTI. The current prevalence of pathogens is of great significance for clinical prevention, diagnosis and treatment of RTI.
Analysis of the dynamics of the resonant planetary system HD 45364
Authors: MIA RAJIB , Paul Arjun Kumar 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
The aim of this work is to analyse the orbital dynamics and stability of exoplanetary system in which two planets are in nearly 3:2 MMR. We have taken HD 45364 system for our study in which two planets are most likely in a 3:2 MMR. We have plotted two resonant angles and the relative apsidal longitudes and it is observed that they are librating around a constant value. From this observation our opinion is that there exist nearly 3:2 MMR between HD 45364b and HD 45364c. The perturbative solution is obtained for the time variation of the semi-major axes. The short and long term variations of semimajor axes are studied. For the validation of our analytical results we have compared our analytical solutions with the numerical solutions. The effect of planetary perturbations on eccentricity is studied with the help of secular resonance dynamics theory. The short and long term variations of eccentricities of HD 45364b and HD 45364c are shown graphically. Moreover, using the latest stability criteria, we have studied the dynamical stability of HD 45364 system.