bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Medical waste management-related factors affecting health and experiences of health risks among medical waste handlers in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol of qualitative studies
Authors: Huda Md Nazmul , Hailemariam Tewodros Getachew , Hossain Syeda Zakia , Malo James Sujit , Khan Sajedul , Hadisuyatmana Setho , Ferdous Afsana , Akombi-Inyang Blessing , Islam Rakibul M , Renzaho Andre M N 
Published: March 2022

IntroductionMedical waste management (MWM)-related factors affecting the health of medical waste handlers (MWHs) and their health risks in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are an important public health concern. Although studies of MWM-related factors and health risks among MWHs in LMICs are available, literature remains undersynthesised and knowledge fragmented. This systematic review will provide a comprehensive synthesis of evidence regarding the individual, system and policy-level MWM-related factors that affect MWHs’ health and their experiences of health risks in LMICs.Methods and analysisAll qualitative studies published in peer-reviewed journals between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2021 with full texts available and accessible will be included in the review. Seven specific electronic databases (eg, Scopus, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, CINAHL, ProQuest and PsycINFO) will be searched. Two authors will review the citations and full texts, extract data and complete the quality appraisal independently. A third reviewer will check discrepancies when a consensus cannot be reached on differences between the two reviewers. Data extraction will be conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute standardised data extraction form for qualitative research. The quality of articles will be assessed using a Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist. Results from eligible articles will be synthesised into a set of findings using the thematic framework analysis approach and will be reported according to the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research statement.Ethics and disseminationThis review is based on published articles, which does not require ethical approval because there is no collection of primary data. Findings from this review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant public health conferences. This protocol has been registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO).PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020226851.
Influence of comorbidities on treatment considerations for first-line biologic prescribing in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in the UK
Authors: Akbar Ayesha , Orchard Tim , Powell Nick , Selinger Christian , tibbatts Clare 
Published: March 2022

BackgroundAnti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapies are the most commonly used biologics for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but for patients with a comorbidity, newer agents may be a more appropriate treatment choice.AimsTo investigate the impact of comorbidities in patients with IBD, on first-line biologic prescribing habits of IBD-specialist healthcare practitioners in the UK.MethodsIBD-specialist physicians and nurses were asked to answer an online survey, considering different prescribing scenarios in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). Respondents could indicate a preference for anti-TNFs or newer biologics, both in the absence and presence of 10 common comorbidities.ResultsA total of 120 IBD-specialist healthcare professionals (HCPs) completed the survey. In the absence of comorbidities, anti-TNFs were favoured; infliximab was the preferred first-line biologic in both UC and CD (43% and 37% of respondents, respectively). On introducing comorbidities, the largest shift in prescribing behaviour was for vedolizumab, with preference increasing by 27% and 21%, compared with infliximab, which fell by 14% and 9% in UC and CD, respectively. Chronic/recurring infection (46%), congestive heart failure (≤44%) and malignancies (≤43%) were the most commonly selected comorbidities for vedolizumab treatment.ConclusionsClinicians adapt their biologic prescribing habits in patients with IBD with comorbidities, considering known contraindications and precautions. A preference for vedolizumab is evident in many cases, however, for several comorbid scenarios, including demyelinating disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and malignancy, anti-TNFs are prescribed despite known risks. It is important that continual re-evaluation of the IBD treatment landscape is undertaken by HCPs, in alignment with recommendations in published guidelines.
An Interpretable Model for Real-time Tracking of Economic Indicators Using Social Media Data
Authors: Pokhriyal Neeti , Valentino Benjamin , Vosoughi Soroush 
Published: March 2022

Measures of public opinion on economic matters are vital in creating accurate official statistics needed to design appropriate policy interventions and shape private investment decisions. This is traditionally done using public opinion polls and representative surveys. However, this process is time and money intensive and currently suffers from reduced public participation. As a result, official statistics are usually delayed and are not frequently available at the resolution needed for better policy interventions. Hence, researchers have looked into anonymized digital data to continuously sense information about public behaviors, especially those related to consumer sentiment index and unemployment insurance claims. However, past studies relied on linear models with simplistic assumptions and thus provided limited extrapolatory power and no insights as to why these predictive methods work. Worryingly, the strong correlations reported in these studies disappeared when the original models were tested with newer social media data.
We propose a novel interpretable machine learning model, called Group Additive Gaussian Processes, to provide accurate and near real-time estimates of economic indicators about public behaviors using social media data, along with insights into the model behavior. Our model exploits the underlying structure in data and encodes interpretability in the modeling framework. It is based on Gaussian Process regression, which provides a robust non-parametric Bayesian learning framework that produces calibrated uncertainty measures along with its predictions. A key challenge in the learning task is learning from limited training data. We demonstrate how our model not only learns but also generalizes well in these scenarios. Through extensive evaluation we show how our model performs on two important indicators of economic health-consumer confidence index and unemployment insurance claims data. Further, we demonstrate how our model can reduce the need to conduct surveys by producing highly accurate and frequent estimates in between the surveying periods.
Optimizing ranking systems online as bandits
Authors: Li Chang 
Published: March 2022

Ranking system is the core part of modern retrieval and recommender systems, where the goal is to rank candidate items given user contexts. Optimizing ranking systems online means that the deployed system can serve users' requests, e.g., queries in the web search, and optimize the ranking policy by learning from user interactions, e.g., clicks. Bandit is a general online learning framework and can be used in our optimization task. However, due to the unique features of ranking, there are several challenges in designing bandit algorithms for ranking system optimization. In this thesis, we study and propose bandit algorithms for four challenges in optimizing ranking systems online: effectiveness, safety, nonstationarity, and diversification.
We first focus on the large-scale online ranker evaluation problem. The challenge is that the number of pair-wise ranker comparisons grows quadratically with respect to the number of rankers. We proposed the merge double Thompson sampling (MergeDTS) method to solve the problem. MergeDTS takes the divide-and-conquer idea in Merge Sort to decrease the complexity and uses the Thompson sampling to increase the effectiveness of pair-wise comparisons.
We then address the safety Online Learning to Rank (OLTR) by introducing the BubbleRank algorithm. BubbleRank uses the offline trained ranker, e.g., the production ranker, to obtain the initial ranked list, and then conducts safe online pairwise exploration to improve this list. The safety comes from the fact that BubbleRank explores the ranked lists by randomly exchanging items with their neighbors. Thus, during exploration, low-quality items are hardly shifted at top positions.
Non-stationarity widely appears in interactive systems since user preferences are affected by different factors and change over time. It is critical to design algorithms that capture the non-stationarity in OLTR. This thesis provides CascadeDUCB and CascadeSWUCB algorithms to solve the non-stationary OLTR. We derive gap-dependent bounds on their regret and show the theoretical soundness of the proposed algorithms, and then we conduct simulated experiments to validate the empirical effectiveness.
Result diversification and relevance ranking are two important aspects in modern recommender systems. Ideal learning algorithms should be able to display a ranked list whose items are relevant and the topics of items are diverse. The last research chapter of the thesis focuses on this challenge and provides the CascadeHybrid algorithm. CascadeHybrid learns from interactive feedback online and trained a ranker, which is a hybrid of a linear function capturing the relevance part and a submodular function responding to the results diversification.

Awarded by
: University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands on 4 March 2021.

Supervised by
: Maarten de Rijke.

Available at
: https://dare.uva.nl/search?identifier=f043b9b4-e666-48e0-8a6c-7c5431660e17.
Isolated Aldosterone Deficiency Due to an Aldosterone Synthase Mutation: A Rare Cause of Life-Threatening Salt Wasting in Infancy
Authors: Azar Ahlam , El-Rahi Hiba , Makhoul Kevin , Makhoul Peter , Megarbane Andre 
Published: March 2022

Purpose: Isolated hypoaldosteronism is a rare cause of salt wasting in infancy caused by the loss of activity of aldosterone synthase (AS), which is encoded by the CYP11B2 gene. This condition may be life-threatening, especially in newborns. Methods: We are reporting the case of a newborn male born to consanguineous parents, who presented at the age of 1 month with severe dehydration, vomiting, and hypotonia. Results: Lab studies showed severe hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, and metabolic acidosis. Hormonal assessment confirmed a normal corticotrope axis with severe deficiency in aldosterone. Genetic analysis revealed a novel mutation in the CYP11B2 gene in the highly conserved donor splice site of exon 3 and confirmed the isolated aldosterone deficiency. The patient was subsequently treated with fludrocortisone and sodium only, without hydrocortisone. Conclusion: AS deficiency is a rare inherited disease. There should be a high index of suspicion of cases with life-threatening salt-wasting in infancy as dramatic clinical improvements and good long-term prognosis can be achieved with timely replacement treatment.
Autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis in children
Authors: Griese Matthias , Panagiotou Panagiota , Manali Effrosyni D. , Stahl Mirjam , Schwerk Nicolaus , Costa Vanessa , Douros Konstantinos , Kallieri Maria , Urbantat Ruth Maria , von Bernuth Horst , Kolilekas Lykourgos , Morais Lurdes , Ramos Ana , Landwehr Kerstin , Knoflach Katrin , Gothe Florian , Reiter Karl , Papaevangelou Vassiliki , Kaditis Athanasios G. , Kanaka-Gantenbein Christina , Papiris Spyros A. 
Published: March 2022

In childhood, a multitude of causes lead to pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP), an excessive surfactant accumulation in the alveolar space, limiting gas exchange. Autoantibodies against granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) causing autoimmune PAP, the principal aetiology in adults, are rare.In this first case series on autoimmune PAP, we detail the presentation and management issues of four children.Whereas three children presented insidiously with progressive dyspnoea, one was acutely sick with suspected pneumonia. During management, one patient was hospitalised with coronavirus disease 2019, noninvasively ventilated, and recovered. All treatment modalities known from adults including whole-lung lavage, augmentation of GM-CSF by inhaled GM-CSF, removal of neutralising antibody by plasmapheresis and interruption of antibody production using rituximab were considered; however, not all options were available at all sites. Inhaled GM-CSF appeared to be a noninvasive and comfortable therapeutic approach.The management with best benefit-to-harm ratio in autoimmune PAP is unknown and specialised physicians must select the least invasive and most effective treatment. To collect this cohort in a rare condition became feasible as patients were submitted to an appropriate registry. To accelerate the authorisation of novel treatments for autoimmune PAP, competent authorities should grant an inclusion of adolescents into trials in adults.
CD4, CD8 and natural killer cells are depressed in patients with alopecia areata: their association with disease activity
Authors: Younes Abdel-Khalek , Hammad Refaat , Othman Mona , Sobhy Ali 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBackgroundAlopecia areata (AA) is a common inflammatory disorder targeting the hair follicles leading to non-scaring hair loss. The pathogenesis of AA is still unclear, despite the accumulating evidence of the immune-mediated nature of this disease. So, in this study, we aimed to assess the level of CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells and natural killer (NK) cells in the peripheral blood of patients with active AA and control subjects, and to evaluate the association between the level of those cells and the duration of disease in different subtypes of AA.ResultsFifty female patients and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this case control study. CBC analysis and the level of CD4, CD8 T cells and NK cells were evaluated during the active stage of the disease. We found that CD4, CD8 T cells and NK cells proportion was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in patients with active stage AA compared with healthy subjects, however, the ratio of CD4:CD8 T cells was significantly higher in patients than control subjects. The level of CD4, CD8 T cells CD56 bright CD16−% NK cells were positively correlated with the disease duration.ConclusionActive stage of AA disease is associated with a reduction of the circulating CD4, CD8 T cells and NK cells and an increase in CD4/CD8 T cells ratio, however, the level of those cells were higher with prolonged disease duration. Our findings confirm that immune mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of AA.
Effects of combining two techniques of non-invasive brain stimulation in subacute stroke patients: a pilot study
Authors: Pipatsrisawat Sutthikit , Klaphajone Jakkrit , Kitisak Kittipong , Sungkarat Somporn , Wivatvongvana Pakorn 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
Strokes have recently become a leading cause of disability among Thai people. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) seems to give promising results in stroke recovery when combined with standard rehabilitation programs.

Objective
To evaluate the combined effect of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the non-lesional primary motor cortex on upper limb motor recovery in patients with subacute stroke. No reports of a combination of these two techniques of NIBS were found in the relevant literature.

Methods
This pilot study was a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial of ten patients with subacute stroke admitted to the Rehabilitation Medicine Inpatient Unit, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, Chiang Mai University. They were randomized into two groups: five in an active and five in a sham intervention group. Fugl-Meyer’s upper extremity motor score (FMA-UE) and Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) were used to assess motor recovery at baseline, immediately, and 1 week after stimulation.

Results
A two-way repeated ANOVA (mixed design) showed a significant improvement in FMA-UE scores in the active intervention group both immediately and 1 week after stimulation in comparison to the baseline, [time, F (2, 16) = 27.44, p < 0.001, time x group interaction, F (2, 16) = 13.29, p < 0.001]. Despite no statistical significance, a trend toward higher WMFT scores was shown in the active intervention group.

Conclusions
A single session of low-frequency rTMS and cathodal tDCS over the non-lesional primary motor cortex may enhance upper limb motor recovery in patients with subacute stroke.
Sex differences in body composition affect total airway resistance during puberty
Authors: Kim Ju Hee , Kim Jin Ah , Ha Eun Kyo , Jee Hye Mi , Lee Seung Won , Jung Mo Kyung , Lee Sanghoo , Shin Yoon Ho , Yoo Eun-Gyong , Han Man Yong 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
During puberty, changes in body composition due to sex hormones are associated with lung mechanics. However, little is known about the mediation effect of sex differences in body composition during puberty with total airway resistance.

Methods
We prospectively recruited 620 children (10–12 years old) from the general population and conducted a cross-sectional study. This study assessed pubertal status according to the five Tanner stages using a questionnaire, line drawings, and each subject’s blood sex hormone profile. Both the impulse oscillation system for total lung mechanics and multifrequency bioelectrical impedance for body composition analyses were conducted. The effects of puberty on body composition and subsequent total lung resistance were evaluated using mediation analysis.

Results
Among the 503 children enrolled, there were 261 males (51.9%) and 242 females (48.1%). In males, higher testosterone levels corresponded with reduced total lung resistance (β = –0.13, 95% CI = –0.21 to –0.05, p < 0.001), and the proportion of the mediating effect through the muscle-fat ratio was 19% (95% CI = 4 to 59, p = 0.02). In contrast, in females, pubertal status reduced total lung resistance (β = –0.27, 95% CI = –0.58 to –0.05, p = 0.04), however, the proportion of the mediating effect through the body mass index was –51% (95% CI = –244 to –4%, p = 0.04).

Conclusion
The muscle-fat ratio in adolescent males had a synergistic effect with testosterone on improving total airway resistance, whereas improvements in lung resistance by pubertal status were partially masked by body mass index in adolescent females. In conclusion, body composition changes during puberty between males and females have differing effects on total airway resistance.
Prevalence and perception of substance abuse and associated economic indicators and mental health disorders in a large cohort of Kenyan students: towards integrated public health approach and clinical management
Authors: Mutiso Victoria N. , Ndetei David M. , N.Muia Esther , Musyimi Christine , Osborn Tom L. , Kasike Rita , Onsinyo Lydia , Mbijjiwe Jane , Karambu Pamela , Sounders Andre , Weisz John R. , Swahn Monica H. , Mamah Daniel 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
The earlier younger people begin to use drugs, the more vulnerable they become to both their short term and long-term harmful effects. The overall aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse, the socio-demographic characteristic, perception of abuse and associated economic indicators and mental disorders and how they inform potential intervention in a cohort of Kenyan students.

Methods
This was a cross-sectional study on a total of 9742 high school, college and university students. We used tools to document socio-demographic characteristics, economic indicators, drug and alcohol use and related perceptions and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) related psychiatric disorders. Basic descriptive statistics (means and standard deviations for numerical variables and frequencies for nominal and ordinal variables) were done. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association and odds ratios between the use of a given substance and the use of the other substances, as well as associations with the various available socio-demographic factors and economic indicators. Chi-squared tests were used in socio-economic characteristics disaggregated by current alcohol use.

Results
The mean age was 21.4 ± 2.4; median = 21.3 (range 15–43) years. We found a wide range of different drugs of abuse. Alcohol abuse was the commonest and inhalants were the least, with different perceptions.Both alcohol and drug abuse were associated with various economic indicators and various mental disorders.

Conclusion
This study has established for the first time in Kenya the multifaceted associations and predictors of alcohol and drug abuse in a cross-sectional student population ranging from high school to college and university levels. In the process, the study contributes to global data on the subject. These associations call for an integrated and multifaceted approach in addressing alcohol and substance abuse. This approach should take into account various associations and predictors as part of holistic approach in both public awareness and clinical interventions.
Individual placement and support and employment in personality disorders: a registry based cohort study
Authors: Juurlink T. T. , Lamers F. , van Marle H. J. F. , Zwinkels W. , Spijkerman M. A. , Beekman A. T. F. , Anema J. R. 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
To explore the relative impact of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) in patients with personality disorders (PDs) as compared to patients with other mental disorders.

Methods
Data from the Dutch Employee Insurance Agency of participants enrolled in a national IPS trajectory between 2008 and 2018 were linked to corresponding data on employment outcomes, diagnostic and sociodemographic information from Statistics Netherlands. This resulted in a sample of 335 participants with PDs who could be compared with 1073 participants with other mental disorders.

Results
Participants with PD just as often found competitive employment as participants with other mental disorders (37.6% vs. 38.0%, ORadjusted = 0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74 to 1.27). The median time to gaining employment for those gaining employment (37.9%) was 195.5 days (mean number of days 252.5) in the PD group and 178.5 days (mean number of days 234.6) in the other mental disorders group (HRadjusted = 0.95, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.18). Also, total number of hours paid for competitive employment did not differ significantly between groups (median hours 686.5 vs 781.5, IRRadjusted = 0.85 95% CI 0.69 to 1.05).

Conclusions
Based on this study, which includes the largest sample of patients with PDs in any published IPS study, IPS seems to result in an equal percentage of patients with PDs and other mental disorders, gaining and maintaining employment. Although future studies should determine whether PD-specific adaptations to IPS are useful, our findings indicate that IPS could be an effective way to increase employment outcomes in PDs. This is important because the enormous societal costs of PDs are largely driven by loss of economic productivity, and because clinical recovery in PDs is suggested to be enhanced when patients are employed.