bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stand-Alone Left Atrial appendage occlusion for throMboembolism prevention in nonvalvular Atrial fibrillatioN DiseasE Registry (SALAMANDER): protocol for a prospective observational nationwide study
Authors: Kowalewski Mariusz , Wańha Wojciech , Litwinowicz Radoslaw , Kołodziejczak Michalina , Pasierski Michal , Januszek Rafal , Kuźma Łukasz , Grygier Marek , Lesiak Maciej , Kapłon-Cieślicka Agnieszka , Reczuch Krzysztof , Gil Robert , Pawłowski Tomasz , Bartuś Krzysztof , Dobrzycki Sławomir , Lorusso Roberto , Bartuś Stanislaw , Deja Marek Andrzej , Smolka Grzegorz , Wojakowski Wojciech , Suwalski Piotr 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionAtrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent disease considerably contributing to the worldwide cardiovascular burden. For patients at high thromboembolic risk (CHA2DS2-VASc ≥3) and not suitable for chronic oral anticoagulation, owing to history of major bleeding or other contraindications, left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is indicated for stroke prevention, as it lowers patient’s ischaemic burden without augmentation in their anticoagulation profile.Methods and analysisStand-Alone Left Atrial appendage occlusion for throMboembolism prevention in nonvalvular Atrial fibrillatioN DiseasE Registry (SALAMANDER) will be conducted in 10 heart surgery and cardiology centres across Poland to assess the outcomes of LAAO performed by fully thoracoscopic-epicardial, percutaneous-endocardial or hybrid endo-epicardial approach. The registry will include patients with nonvalvular AF at a high risk of thromboembolic and bleeding complications (CHA2DS2-VASc Score ≥2 for males, ≥3 for females, HASBLED score ≥2) referred for LAAO. The first primary outcome is composite procedure-related complications, all-cause death or major bleeding at 12 months. The second primary outcome is a composite of ischaemic stroke or systemic embolism at 12 months. The third primary outcome is the device-specific success assessed by an independent core laboratory at 3–6 weeks. The quality of life (QoL) will be assessed as well based on the QoL EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. Medication and drug adherence will be assessed as well.Ethics and disseminationBefore enrolment, a detailed explanation is provided by the investigator and patients are given time to make an informed decision. The patient’s data will be protected according to the requirements of Polish law, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and hospital Standard Operating Procedures. The study will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was granted by the local Bioethics Committee of the Upper-Silesian Medical Centre of the Silesian Medical University in Katowice (decision number KNW/0022/KB/284/19). The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented during national and international conferences.Trial registration numberNCT05144958.
Influence of cigarette packet branding and colours on young male smokers’ recognition, appeal and harm perceptions of tobacco brands in Cambodia: a mixed-methods study
Authors: Stubbs Thomas , White Victoria , Yong Hua-Hie , Chhordaphea Chhea , Toumbourou John W 
Published: September 2022

ObjectivesTo explore how cigarette packet branding and colours influence young male smokers’ perceptions of tobacco brands in Cambodia.DesignMixed-methods study.SettingWorksites, living accommodations, a university and public locations in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.Participants147 male Cambodian smokers (18–24 years).InterventionsParticipants were shown mock-up pictures of different cigarette packet branding and colour variations and asked to respond to close-ended and short-response questions.Outcome measuresBrand recognition, appeal and harm perceptions of cigarette packet branding and colours.ResultsWhen shown three packets with brand names removed, 98.6% of participants recognised packet one as Mevius brand, 21.1% recognised packet two as Marlboro and 38.8% recognised packet three as 555. For the three fully-branded and three matching plain packets, most participants selected a fully-branded packet as the most appealing taste (83.0%) and most appealing to youth (81.7%). Participants described their chosen brand as appealing due to beliefs about its superior taste/quality, reduced harm and symbolic attitudes surrounding tobacco brands and smokers of different brands in a social status hierarchy. When shown six different colours of unbranded packets, participants selected the blue packet (51.0%) as the most appealing for taste, the white packet as the least harmful (25.2%), and the red (15.0%) and black (12.9%) packets as the most harmful to health. They described their associations of packet colours with abstract imagery concerning smoking-related harms and their future well-being.ConclusionsFindings suggest that packet branding and colours influence young male smokers’ recognition, appeal and harm perceptions of tobacco brands in Cambodia and remain an influential marketing tool for tobacco companies where advertising is banned. Consequently, Cambodia and other low and middle-income countries in Southeast Asia should implement plain packaging.
Effects of an e-health intervention ‘iSupport’ for reducing distress of dementia carers: protocol for a randomised controlled trial and feasibility study
Authors: Windle Gill , Flynn Greg , Hoare Zoe , Masterson-Algar Patricia , Egan Kieren , Edwards Rhiannon Tudor , Jones Carys , Spector Aimee , Algar-Skaife Katherine , Hughes Gwenllian , Brocklehurst Paul , Goulden Nia , Skelhorn Debbie , Stott Joshua 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionIn the UK, National Health Service (NHS) guidelines recommend that informal carers of people living with dementia should be offered training to help them develop care skills and manage their own physical and mental health. The WHO recommends access to affordable, proven, well-designed, online technologies for education, skills training and support for dementia carers. In response to these recommendations, this multisite randomised controlled trial (RCT) is the first study in the UK to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of an online support programme developed by the WHO called ‘iSupport for dementia carers’.Methods and analysis350 informal carers (age 18+ years) living in Britain who self-identify as experiencing stress and depression will be recruited. They will be randomised to receive ‘iSupport’, or standardised information about caring for someone with dementia (control–comparison). Data will be collected via videoconferencing (eg, Zoom) or telephone interview at baseline, 3 months and 6 months. Intention-to-treat analysis will ascertain effectiveness in the primary outcomes (distress and depression) and combined cost, and quality-adjusted life-year data will be used to assess cost-effectiveness compared with usual care from a public sector and wider societal perspective. A mixed-methods process evaluation with a subgroup of carers in the intervention (~N=50) will explore the barriers and facilitators to implementing ‘iSupport’. A non-randomised feasibility study will adapt ‘iSupport’ for young carers (n=38 participants, age 11–17 years).Ethics and disseminationThe research plan was scrutinised by National Institute for Health Research reviewers ahead of funding being awarded. Ethical approval was granted by Bangor University’s School of Health and Medical Sciences Academic Ethics Committee, reference number 2021-16915. Dissemination plans include delivering events for stakeholders, social media, a project website, developing policy briefings, presenting at conferences and producing articles for open access publications.Trial registration numberISRCTN17420703.
Analysing the influencing factors on caregivers’ burden among amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients in China: a cross-sectional study based on data mining
Authors: Lian Ling , Zheng Minying , He Ruojie , Lin Jianing , Chen Weineng , Pei Zhong , Yao Xiaoli 
Published: September 2022

ObjectivesThere is significant burden on caregivers of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, only a few studies have focused on caregivers, and traditional research methods have obvious shortcomings in dealing with multiple influencing factors. This study was designed to explore influencing factors on caregiver burden among ALS patients and their caregivers from a new perspective.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingThe data were collected at an affiliated hospital in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.ParticipantsFifty-seven pairs of patients with ALS and their caregivers were investigated by standardised questionnaires.Main outcome measuresThis study primarily assessed the influencing factor of caregiver burden including age, gender, education level, economic status, anxiety, depression, social support, fatigue, sleep quality and stage of disease through data mining. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 24.0, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model was established by Python 3.8.1 to minimise the effect of multicollinearity.ResultsAccording to LASSO regression model, we found 10 variables had weights. Among them, Milano-Torinos (MITOS) stage (0–1) had the highest weight (−12.235), followed by younger age group (−3.198), lower-educated group (2.136), fatigue (1.687) and social support (-0.455). Variables including sleep quality, anxiety, depression and sex (male) had moderate weights in this model. Economic status (common), economic status (better), household (city), household (village), educational level (high), sex (female), age (older) and MITOS stage (2–4) had a weight of zero.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates that the severity of ALS patients is the most influencing factor in caregiver burden. Caregivers of ALS patients may suffer less from caregiver burden when the patients are less severe, and the caregivers are younger. Low educational status could increase caregiver burden. Caregiver burden is positively correlated with the degree of fatigue and negatively correlated with social support. Hopefully, more attention should be paid to caregivers of ALS, and effective interventions can be developed to relieve this burden.
Palliative care journal publications by country as a metric for palliative care development level
Authors: Alsirafy Samy A , Mousa Somaia M A 
Published: September 2022

ObjectiveThere is a growing interest in developing a scientific research metric to assess the level of palliative care (PC) development in countries. This study assesses a metric based on publishing in specialised PC journals as an indicator for the level of PC development.MethodsA 3-year average articles per million population per year (3y-AAMY) metric was calculated using documents published in 19 specialised PC journals indexed in Scopus database. Countries were categorised into six levels starting with level ‘0’ with no publications then levels Q1 to Q5 according to the 3y-AAMY quintiles (Q5=best performance). The relationship between the 3y-AAMY and the level of PC development in countries and opioid consumption figures was tested.ResultsDuring 2016–2018, 6610 eligible documents were published in the selected 19 journals. The median (IQR) 3y-AAMY of 191 countries was 0.0123 (0–0.237). The 3y-AAMY differed significantly among the levels of PC development, being 0 (IQR:0–0) for category 1 (no known activity) countries and 1.129 (IQR:0.286–4.625) for category 4B (advanced integration) countries (Kruskal-Wallis test p<0.000001 and Jonckheere-Terpstra trend test p<0.00001). The correlation between the 3y-AAMY and average opioid consumption was a highly significant positive one (Spearman’s ρ=0.681, p<0.0001). Furthermore, opioid consumption differed significantly between the 3y-AAMY categories being highest for Q5 countries (Kruskal-Wallis test p<0.000001 and Jonckheere-Terpstra trend test p<0.00001).ConclusionA metric based on publishing in specialised PC journals correlates significantly with the levels of PC development and opioid consumption in countries and may be used alongside other indicators for the assessment of PC development.
Geotechnical performance of fine tailings in an oil sands pit lake
Authors: Dunmola Adedeji , Werneiwski Robert A. , McGowan Dallas , Shaw Bill , Carrier David 
Published: September 2022

Syncrude Canada Ltd.’s Base Mine Lake (BML), the first commercial-scale demonstration of an oil sands pit lake, was commissioned in December 2012, following in-pit deposition of fine tailings (FT) between 1995 and 2012. The geotechnical design basis for the FT in BML is that it will consolidate and densify over time, contributing to fines sequestration below the water cap. This paper presents the geotechnical performance of the FT in BML within the context of this geotechnical design basis. The FT has settled from 196.0 to 171.6 Mm3 by 2019, with cumulative settlement varying spatially between 0.3 and 6.7 m. FT settlement is consistent with the expected self-weight consolidation as modeled by finite-strain non-linear consolidation theory, and is reflected as temporal increase in the profiles of solids content and effective stress. Sonar surveying, profile sampling, shear strength, and underwater photography show that the transition of geotechnical properties at the mudline becomes increasingly distinct over time. These observations support the geotechnical design basis for BML and indicate the fines continue to be sequestered below the water cap.
Assessment of Performance, Microbial Community, Bacterial Food Quality, and Gene Expression of Whiteleg Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Reared under Different Density Biofloc Systems
Authors: Said Mohamed M. , El-barbary Y. A. , Ahmed O. M. 
Published: September 2022

Biofloc shrimp culture, as a way of improving shrimp production, gains worldwide consideration. However, the effects of the biofloc system on shrimp culture at high densities could be a challenge. Here, this study is aimed at identifying a better stocking density of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) between two intensive biofloc systems of 100 and 300 org./m2. Achieving that was done by comparing growth performance, water quality, feed utilization, microbial loads from water and shrimps, and gene expression of growth, stress, and immune-related genes. Shrimp postlarvae with a mean weight of

35.4
±
3.7

mg were reared in six indoor cement tanks (36 m3 total capacity each) at two stocking densities (3 replicates each) for a rearing period of 135 days. Better final weight, weight gain, average daily weight gain, specific growth rate, biomass increase percentage, and survival rate were associated with lower density (100/m2), whereas high-density showed significantly higher total biomass. Better feed utilization was found in the lower density treatment. Lower density treatment enhanced water quality parameters, including higher dissolved oxygen and lower nitrogenous wastes. Heterotrophic bacterial count in water samples was recorded as

5.28
±
0.15

and

5.11
±
0.28

log CFU/ml from the high- and low-density systems, respectively, with no significant difference. Beneficial bacteria such as Bacillus spp. were identified in water samples from both systems, still, the Vibrio-like count was developed in the higher density system. Regarding shrimp food bacterial quality, the total bacterial count in the shrimp was recorded as

5.09
±
0.1

log CFU/g in the 300 org./m2 treatment compared to

4.75
±
0.24

log CFU/g in the lower density. Escherichia coli was isolated from the shrimps in a lower density group while Aeromonas hydrophila and Citrobacter freundii were associated with shrimps from a higher density system. Immune-related genes including prophenoloxidase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and lysozyme (LYZ) expressions were all significantly higher expressed in the shrimp from the lower density treatment. Toll receptor (LvToll), penaiedin4 (PEN4), and stress-related gene (HSP 70) showed a decreased gene expression in the shrimp raised in the lower density. Significant upregulation of growth-related gene (Ras-related protein-RAP) expression was associated with the lower stocking density system. In conclusion, the current study found that applying high stocking density (300 org./m2) contributes negatively to performance, water quality, microbial community, bacterial food quality, and gene expression of immune, stress, and growth-related genes when compared with the lower stocking density system (100 org./m2) under biofloc system.
Depletion of Conventional Type-1 Dendritic Cells in Established Tumors Suppresses Immunotherapy Efficacy
Authors: Teijeira Alvaro , Garasa Saray , Luri-Rey Carlos , de Andrea Carlos , Gato Maria , Molina Carmen , Kaisho Tsuneyasu , Cirella Assunta , Azpilikueta Arantza , Wculek Steffanie K. , Egea Josune , Olivera Irene , Rodriguez Inmaculada , Rouzaut Ana , Verkhusha Vladislav , Valencia Karmele , Sancho David , Berraondo Pedro , Melero Ignacio 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe ability of conventional type-1 dendritic cells (cDC1) to cross-present tumor antigens to CD8+ T cells is critical for the induction of antitumor CTLs. Mice that are constitutively deficient in cDC1 cells have been reported to fail to respond to immunotherapy strategies based on checkpoint inhibitors. However, further work is needed to clarify the precise time during immunotherapy treatment that cDC1 cells are required for the beneficial effect of treatment. Here, we used a refined XCR1-DTR-Venus transgenic mouse model to acutely deplete cDC1 cells and trace their behavior using intravital microscopy. Diphtheria toxin–mediated cDC1 depletion prior to immunotherapy treatment with anti–PD-1 and/or anti-CD137 immunostimulatory mAbs completely ablated antitumor efficacy. The efficacy of adoptive T-cell therapy was also hampered by prior cDC1 depletion. After the onset of immunotherapy treatment, depletion of cDC1s only moderately reduced the therapeutic efficacy of anti–PD-1 and anti-CD137 mAbs. Intravital microscopy of liver-engrafted tumors revealed changes in the intratumoral behavior of cDC1 cells in mice receiving immunotherapy, and treatment with diphtheria toxin to deplete cDC1s impaired tumor T-cell infiltration and function. These results reveal that the functional integrity of the cDC1 compartment is required at the onset of various immunotherapies to successfully treat established tumors.Significance:These findings reveal the intratumoral behavior of cDC1 dendritic cells in transgenic mouse models and demonstrate that the efficacy of immunotherapy regimens is precluded by elimination of these cells.
Recalibrating Risk Prediction Models by Synthesizing Data Sources: Adapting the Lung Cancer PLCO Model for Taiwan
Authors: Chien Li-Hsin , Chen Tzu-Yu , Chen Chung-Hsing , Chen Kuan-Yu , Hsiao Chin-Fu , Chang Gee-Chen , Tsai Ying-Huang , Su Wu-Chou , Huang Ming-Shyan , Chen Yuh-Min , Chen Chih-Yi , Liang Sheng-Kai , Chen Chung-Yu , Wang Chih-Liang , Hung Hsiao-Han , Jiang Hsin-Fang , Hu Jia-Wei , Rothman Nathaniel , Lan Qing , Liu Tsang-Wu , Chen Chien-Jen , Yang Pan-Chyr , Chang I-Shou , Hsiung Chao A. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Background:
Methods synthesizing multiple data sources without prospective datasets have been proposed for absolute risk model development. This study proposed methods for adapting risk models for another population without prospective cohorts, which would help alleviate the health disparities caused by advances in absolute risk models. To exemplify, we adapted the lung cancer risk model PLCOM2012, well studied in the west, for Taiwan.

Methods:
Using Taiwanese multiple data sources, we formed an age-matched case–control study of ever-smokers (AMCCSE), estimated the number of ever-smoking lung cancer patients in 2011–2016 (NESLP2011), and synthesized a dataset resembling the population of cancer-free ever-smokers in 2010 regarding the PLCOM2012 risk factors (SPES2010). The AMCCSE was used to estimate the overall calibration slope, and the requirement that NESLP2011 equals the estimated total risk of individuals in SPES2010 was used to handle the calibration-in-the-large problem.

Results:
The adapted model PLCOT-1 (PLCOT-2) had an AUC of 0.78 (0.75). They had high performance in calibration and clinical usefulness on subgroups of SPES2010 defined by age and smoking experience. Selecting the same number of individuals for low-dose computed tomography screening using PLCOT-1 (PLCOT-2) would have identified approximately 6% (8%) more lung cancers than the US Preventive Services Task Forces 2021 criteria. Smokers having 40+ pack-years had an average PLCOT-1 (PLCOT-2) risk of 3.8% (2.6%).

Conclusions:
The adapted PLCOT models had high predictive performance.

Impact:
The PLCOT models could be used to design lung cancer screening programs in Taiwan. The methods could be applicable to other cancer models.
RNA-Based Classification of Homologous Recombination Deficiency in Racially Diverse Patients with Breast Cancer
Authors: Walens Andrea , Van Alsten Sarah C. , Olsson Linnea T. , Smith Markia A. , Lockhart Alex , Gao Xiaohua , Hamilton Alina M. , Kirk Erin L. , Love Michael I. , Gupta Gaorav P. , Perou Charles M. , Vaziri Cyrus , Hoadley Katherine A. , Troester Melissa A. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Background:
Aberrant expression of DNA repair pathways such as homologous recombination (HR) can lead to DNA repair imbalance, genomic instability, and altered chemotherapy response. DNA repair imbalance may predict prognosis, but variation in DNA repair in diverse cohorts of breast cancer patients is understudied.

Methods:
To identify RNA-based patterns of DNA repair expression, we performed unsupervised clustering on 51 DNA repair-related genes in the Cancer Genome Atlas Breast Cancer [TCGA BRCA (n = 1,094)] and Carolina Breast Cancer Study [CBCS (n = 1,461)]. Using published DNA-based HR deficiency (HRD) scores (high-HRD ≥ 42) from TCGA, we trained an RNA-based supervised classifier. Unsupervised and supervised HRD classifiers were evaluated in association with demographics, tumor characteristics, and clinical outcomes.

Results
: Unsupervised clustering on DNA repair genes identified four clusters of breast tumors, with one group having high expression of HR genes. Approximately 39.7% of CBCS and 29.3% of TCGA breast tumors had this unsupervised high-HRD (U-HRD) profile. A supervised HRD classifier (S-HRD) trained on TCGA had 84% sensitivity and 73% specificity to detect HRD-high samples. Both U-HRD and S-HRD tumors in CBCS had higher frequency of TP53 mutant-like status (45% and 41% enrichment) and basal-like subtype (63% and 58% enrichment). S-HRD high was more common among black patients. Among chemotherapy-treated participants, recurrence was associated with S-HRD high (HR: 2.38, 95% confidence interval = 1.50–3.78).

Conclusions:
HRD is associated with poor prognosis and enriched in the tumors of black women.

Impact:
RNA-level indicators of HRD are predictive of breast cancer outcomes in diverse populations.
Multiple inputs all-optical logic gates based on nanoring insulator-metal-insulator plasmonic waveguides
Authors: Fakhruldeen Hassan Falah , Mansour Tahreer Safa’a , Ibrahim Jabbar Feryal , Alkhayyat Ahmed 
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we report new nanoscale plasmonic multiple inputs logic gates based on insulator-metal-insulator (IMI) nanoring waveguides. The proposed all-optical gates are numerically analyzed by the finite element method. NOT, AND, NAND, NOR, and EX-NOR all-optical logic gates were suitably designed and investigated based on the linear interface between the propagated waves through the waveguides. The operation wavelength was 1550 nm. The simulation results show that the optical transmission threshold of (0.26) which performs the operation of planned logic gates is accomplished. Moreover, simulation results show that our compact structure of all-optical logic gates may have potential applications in all-optical integrated networks.