bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Method for QOE monitoring and increasing in cellular networks based on QOE-to-QOS mapping using spline approximation
Authors: Al-Azzeh Jamil S. , Odarchenko Roman , Abakumova Anastasiia , Bondar Serhii 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThe current level of development of the cellular services market, qualitative changes in the means and methods of providing services, and the increased volume and diversity of information circulating in cellular networks have evoked the need for service quality assessment system improvement. To maintain competitiveness, the main efforts of operators are aimed at improving quality and increasing the service life of subscribers in the network by ensuring the required level of customer satisfaction in high-quality services through a system of organizational–technical and socioeconomic measures to bring the achieved level of quality-of-service (QoS) provision in accordance with the existing, emerging, or projected needs of subscribers. To achieve improved QoS provision, a functional relationship between network parameters has been established: The impact of key performance indicators on a key quality indicator through the use of cubic Hermitian splines (CHS) has been determined. The use of splines, as a signal model, can significantly improve the quality of signal processing due to the continuity of values and partial derivatives in the joints of spline gluing. CHS are characterized by calculation simplicity, as they provide high-speed computing, which, in turn, is important for real-time work when processing large data sets. Experimentally, it was shown that the use of splines allows for the ability to calculate statistical estimates of the required parameters of spline approximations, but also their confidence intervals, which increases the accuracy and probability of further calculations and is a distinct advantage of this approach. Also, the methods of service quality management through machine learning have been improved, which are effective tools for modeling integrated indicators of communication services quality control, monitoring their condition in terms of final copies of services, determining the causes of degradation, and reporting. It monitors the service performance provided by the cellular operator. Finally, the method checks the readiness and availability of services, detects network nodes through which quality degradation occurs, collects various quality metrics, and compares them with pre-installed quality indicators.
On the domain of generalized mean in Nakano sequence space, and its prequasi ideal with some applications
Authors: Bakery Awad A. , El Dewaik M. H. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractSome topological and geometric behavior of the space of all sequences whose generalized mean transforms are in Nakano sequence space, the multiplication mappings acting on it, and the eigenvalue distribution of mappings ideal generated by this space ands-numbers are discussed. We construct the existence of a fixed point of Kannan contraction mapping on these spaces. Several numerical experiments are presented to illustrate our results. Moreover, some successful applications to the existence of solutions of nonlinear difference equations are explained. The strength here is that the current results are constructed under flexible setups given by controlling the weight and power of these spaces.
Self-adaptive subgradient extragradient-type methods for solving variational inequalities
Authors: Ma Beibei , Wang Wanyu 
Published: May 2022

AbstractIn this paper, we introduce two subgradient extragradient-type algorithms for solving variational inequality problems in the real Hilbert space. The first one can be applied when the mapping f is strongly pseudomonotone (not monotone) and Lipschitz continuous. The first algorithm only needs two projections, where the first projection onto closed convex set C and the second projection onto a half-space $C_{k}$

C
k

. The strong convergence theorem is also established. The second algorithm is relaxed and self-adaptive; that is, at each iteration, calculating two projections onto some half-spaces and the step size can be selected in some adaptive ways. Under the assumption that f is monotone and Lipschitz continuous, a weak convergence theorem is provided. Finally, we provide numerical experiments to show the efficiency and advantage of the proposed algorithms.
Illness perceptions, self-care practices, and glycemic control among type 2 diabetes patients in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Authors: Ngetich Elisha , Pateekhum Chanapat , Hashmi Ahmar , Nadal Iliatha Papachristou , Pinyopornpanish Kanokporn , English Mike , Quansri Orawan , Wichit Nutchanart , Kinra Sanjay , Angkurawaranon Chaisiri 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Background
Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) is a fundamental aspect of diabetes care, but no standard program exists in Thailand. Understanding current patterns of illness perceptions (concerns) and self-management practices among patients with diabetes in Thailand is vital to develop culturally tailored DSME programs. This study sought to explore the association between reported self-management practices and diabetes perceptions on glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Specifically, the study examined whether the association between illness perceptions and diabetes control was mediated by self-management.

Methods
This was a cross-sectional study conducted among type 2 diabetes patients on outpatient care and follow-up in four districts hospitals in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Illness perceptions was measured by the Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (BIPQ). Self-management practices were measured by Summary Diabetes Self-Care activities (SDSCA). For illness perceptions and self-management practices, patients were classified into two groups, high level and low level based on the median values. Univariate and multivariable analyses were done to determine the association between the determinant factors: self-care practices and illness perceptions and the outcome of interest- good glycemic control (HbA1c < 7%).

Results
Of the 200 participants recruited into the study, 180 completed the questionnaire. Only 35% of participants had good glycemic control (HBA1c < 7.0). Both illness perceptions and self-management practices were independently linked to glycemic control. Among illness perceptions, a sense of personal control was strongly associated with good glycemic control (p = 0.01). For self-management, appropriate diet (p = 0.03) and medication adherence (p = 0.05) were associated with good glycemic control. After adjustments for key baseline characteristics, patients with high levels of illness perceptions were less likely to achieve glycemic control (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.29 to 1.14, p = 0.11) and those with high level of self-management were more likely to achieve glycemic control (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.04 to 4.30, p = 0.04). The effect size for illness perception attenuated when further adjusted for levels of self-management (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.39 to 1.96, p = 0.75) while the effect size for self-management and glycemic control did not materially change (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.06 to 5.02, p = 0.04).

Conclusion
Illness perceptions and self-management practices are associated with glycemic control. Future culturally tailored interventions in Thailand aimed at improving glycemic should focus on personal control, improving diet and treatment adherence as these are more likely to help improve diabetes control as demonstrated in this study.
Evaluation of the European Health Information Training Programme (EHITP): results from InfAct Joint Action
Authors: Gómez Verónica , Sousa-Uva Mafalda , Roquette Rita , Garcia Ana Cristina , Matias Dias Carlos 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Background
The InfAct (Information for Action) is a Joint Action of the European Commission’s 3rd Health Programme with the main goal to build an infrastructure of a health information system for a stronger European Union and to strengthen its core elements.
The InfAct Joint Action was developed along 36 months and structured in 10 work packages.
Portugal co-led the Work Package 6 (WP6) of this project, which included the development of the proposal of a flagship capacity building programme - the European Health Information Training Programme - and its evaluation. The evaluation objectives included: to evaluate the adequacy of the training programme to the health information needs in the European Member States; to identify possible changes regarding the participants selection process, the training activities and the pedagogical project; and to contribute to the understanding of the potential of the programme to add to available offers in learning on the topics of Public Health information, on the capacity building and behavioural changes in Public Health activities which can be attributed to the course, and of the potential of the programme to contribute to the alignment of health information criteria and procedures between the European Member States.

Methods
The evaluation process was developed using an observational descriptive study design using a mixed methodological approach with both document analysis and primary data collected by questionnaires and interviews analysis. Mixed quantitative and qualitative data collection methods and analysis were used.

Results
The proposal of the European Health Information Training Programme seemed adequate to the formative needs and capacities in line with the work performed by the InfAct project. In what concerns about its main thematic areas, it was also aligned with the areas identified in the previous formative needs and capacities mapping. The participants selection process proposed seemed, in general, adequate. The potential of the European Health Information Training Programme proposal to learning, capacity building and behavioral changes at work attributable to the course was considered positive, as well as the potential to the alignment of health information criteria and procedures between European Union Member States.

Discussion
In general, we found high consistency between the results obtained from data collected by the techniques used. However, different suggestions for improvement were outlined by the evaluation study population.

Conclusions
The proposed European Health Information Training Programme was a dynamic, flexible, sustainable formative programme in health information and focused on reducing inequalities.
No increase of device associated infections in German intensive care units during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020
Authors: Geffers Christine , Schwab Frank , Behnke Michael , Gastmeier Petra 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic may have had a substantial impact on the incidence of device-associated healthcare-associated infections (HAI), in particular in intensive care units (ICU). A significant increase of HAI was reported by US hospitals when comparing incidence rates from 2019 and 2020. The objective of this study was to investigate the development of the most relevant device-associated HAI in German ICUs during the year 2020 as compared to 2019.

Methods
We utilized the data of the ICU component of the German National Reference Center for Surveillance of Nosocomial Infections (KISS = Krankenhaus-Infektions-Surveillance-System) for the period 2019–2020. We focused on central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), ventilator-associated lower respiratory infections (VALRTI) and bloodstream infections associated with the use of Extracorporeal-Life-Support-Systems (ECLSABSI). Device use was defined as the number device days per 100 patient days; device-associated infection rates as the number of device-associated infections per 1000 device days. To compare the pooled means between the years and quarters we calculated rate ratios of device-associated infection rates with 95% confidence intervals by Poisson regression models.

Results
The number of participating ICUs in the surveillance system decreased from 982 in 2019 to 921 in 2020 (6.2%). Device utilization rates increased significantly for central lines and ventilator use. VALRTI rates and CAUTI rates decreased in 2020 compared with 2019, however, no increase was shown for CLABSI or ECLSABSI. This result was also confirmed when the corresponding quarters per year were analyzed.

Conclusions
The lack of an increase in device-associated healthcare associated infections (HAI) in German ICUs may be due to the lower overall incidence of COVID-19 cases in Germany in 2020 compared with US, to a very high availability of ICU beds per 100,000 inhabitants compared with many other countries, and a change in the ICU patient mix due to numerous elective procedures that were postponed during the first two waves. The primary reason seems to be that only 7% of all ICU patients in Germany in 2020 were COVID-19 patients.
Association of vitamin D receptor gene rs739837 polymorphism with type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes mellitus susceptibility: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zeng Qiaoli , Zou Dehua , Wei Yue , Ouyang Yingguang , Lao Zhaohang , Guo Runmin 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Background
Increasing evidence shows that genetic variants of genes in the diabetes mellitus (DM) metabolic pathway, such as the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene rs739837 polymorphism, increase the risk of DM susceptibility. However, the findings have been inconsistent. The present study was performed to evaluate the association of VDR gene rs739837 and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk.

Methods
A comprehensive meta-analysis and a subgroup analysis were conducted to assess the association between VDR rs739837 and T2DM or GDM among five genetic models (dominant, recessive, homozygote heterozygote, and allele models) using a fixed or random model.

Results
The meta-analysis included 9 studies. In the overall analysis, the results showed that VDR rs739837 was associated with an increased risk of T2DM or GDM in the allele model (T vs. G: OR = 1.088; 95% CI: 1.018–1.163; P = 0.012) and dominant model (TT + GT vs. GG: OR = 1.095; 95% CI: 1.001–1.197; P = 0.047). In the subgroup analysis, VDR rs739837 was also associated with an increased risk of T2DM in the allele model (T vs. G: OR = 1.159; 95% CI: 1.055–1.273; P = 0.002) and dominant model (TT + GT vs. GG: OR = 1.198; 95% CI: 1.048–1.370; P = 0.008). However, VDR rs739837 was not associated with GDM.

Conclusions
Significant associations were found between the VDR rs739837 polymorphism and T2DM susceptibility, but not with GDM.
Pharmacological agents for the prevention of colistin-induced nephrotoxicity
Authors: Mirjalili Mahtabalsadat , Mirzaei Ehsan , Vazin Afsaneh 
Published: May 2022

AbstractBackgroundColistin is a polymyxin antibiotic which has been used for treatment of Gram-negative infections, but it was withdrawn due to its nephrotoxicity. However, colistin has gained its popularity in recent years due to the reemergence of multidrug resistant Gram-negative infections and drug-induced toxicity is considered as the main obstacle for using this valuable antibiotic.ResultsIn total, 30 articles, including 29 animal studies and one clinical trial were included in this study. These compounds, including aged black garlic extract, albumin fragments, alpha lipoic acid, astaxanthin, baicalein, chrysin, cilastatin, colchicine, curcumin, cytochrome c, dexmedetomidine, gelofusine, grape seed proanthocyanidin extract, hesperidin, luteolin, lycopene, melatonin, methionine, N-acetylcysteine, silymarin, taurine, vitamin C, and vitamin E exhibited beneficial effects in most of the published works.ConclusionsIn this review, the authors have attempted to review the available literature on the use of several compounds for prevention or attenuation of colistin-induced nephrotoxicity. Most of the studied compounds were potent antioxidants, and it seems that using antioxidants concomitantly can have a protective effect during the colistin exposure.
The effect of high-yielding variety on rice yield, farm income and household nutrition: evidence from rural Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Mohammad Mahbubur , Connor Jeffery D 
Published: May 2022

AbstractBackgroundHigh-yielding variety (HYV) seed breeding has been one key approach to improving agricultural productivity and to reduce global hunger and poverty. This paper explores the causal relationship between high-yielding rice variety, rice productivity, farm income and household nutrition. A challenge with evaluating the impact of changes such as crop varieties on yield is self-selection and endogeneity. This article robustly identifies marginal input contributions, correcting for self-selection potential by applying matched Difference in Difference method.ResultsWe found that the farms that switched from local to HYV, experienced around 35% higher yield and 76% higher profit from Aman rice than non-adopting farms. More calorie intake, more protein and especially higher fruit and vegetable intake meant less calorie poverty for adopted households.ConclusionThis recent evidence suggests improved seed remains a high potential return investment for regions of the world where smallholder farming and malnutrition is a wider phenomenon.
Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on mental health in a UK student sample
Authors: Catling J. C. , Bayley A. , Begum Z. , Wardzinski C. , Wood A. 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions placed upon society have had a profound impact on both physical and mental health, particularly for young people.

Aims
The current study assesses the impact of COVID-19 on student mental health.

Method
Four hundred and thirty four first year Undergraduate students completed a battery of self-report questionnaires (PHQ-P, GAD-7 and SAS-SV) to assess for depression, anxiety and mobile phone addiction respectively with data being collected over a 2 year period. The data from each year was compared (216 and 218 students respectively).

Results
A MANOVA revealed that COVID-19 had a significant impact on self-reported levels of depression, anxiety and smartphone addiction—which all significantly increased from the 2020 to the 2021 group. The percentage of students who had a score which warranted a classification of clinical depression increased from 30 to 44%, and for anxiety increased from 22 to 27%—those students who showed a comorbidity across the two rose from 12 to 21%. Smartphone addiction levels rose from 39 to 50%. Correlational analysis showed a significant relationship between Smartphone usage and depression and anxiety.

Conclusions
This research suggests that COVID-19 has had a major impact upon student mental health, and smartphone addiction. The importance of identifying predictive factors of depression and anxiety is emphasised, and suggestions for intervention are discussed.
White and non-White Australian mental health care practitioners’ desirable responding, cultural competence, and racial/ethnic attitudes
Authors: Dune Tinashe , Chimoriya Ritesh , Caputi Peter , MacPhail Catherine , Olcon Katarzyna , Ogbeide Anita 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Background
Racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity in Australia is rapidly increasing. Although Indigenous Australians account for only approximately 3.5% of the country’s population, over 50% of Australians were born overseas or have at least one migrant parent. Migration accounts for over 60% of Australia’s population growth, with migration from Asia, Sub-Saharan African and the Americas increasing by 500% in the last decade. Little is known about Australian mental health care practitioners’ attitudes toward this diversity and their level of cultural competence.

Aim
Given the relationship between practitioner cultural competence and the mental health outcomes of non-White clients, this study aimed to identify factors that influence non-White and White practitioners’ cultural competence.

Methods
An online questionnaire was completed by 139 Australian mental health practitioners. The measures included: the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding (BIDR); the Multicultural Counselling Inventory (MCI); and the Color-blind Racial Attitudes Scale (CoBRAS). Descriptive statistics were used to summarise participants’ demographic characteristics. One-way ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis tests were conducted to identify between-group differences (non-White compared to White practitioners) in cultural competence and racial and ethnic blindness. Correlation analyses were conducted to determine the association between participants’ gender or age and cultural competence. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to predict cultural competence.

Results
The study demonstrates that non-White mental health practitioners are more culturally aware and have better multicultural counselling relationships with non-White people than their White counterparts. Higher MCI total scores (measuring cultural competence) were associated with older age, greater attendance of cultural competence-related trainings and increased awareness of general and pervasive racial and/or ethnic discrimination. Practitioners with higher MCI total scores were also likely to think more highly of themselves (e.g., have higher self-deceptive positive enhancement scores on the BIDR) than those with lower MCI total scores.

Conclusion
The findings highlight that the current one-size-fits-all and skills-development approach to cultural competence training ignores the significant role that practitioner diversity and differences play. The recommendations from this study can inform clinical educators and supervisors about the importance of continuing professional development relevant to practitioners’ age, racial/ethnic background and practitioner engagement with prior cultural competence training.
Volunteers’ concerns about facial neuromuscular electrical stimulation
Authors: Efthimiou Themis Nikolas , Hanel Paul H. P. , Korb Sebastian 
Published: May 2022

AbstractFacial neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is the application of an electrical current to the skin to induce muscle contractions and has enormous potential for basic research and clinical intervention in psychology and neuroscience. Because the technique remains largely unknown, and the prospect of receiving electricity to the face can be daunting, willingness to receive facial NMES is likely to be low and gender differences might exist in the amount of concern for the sensation of pain and skin burns. We investigated these questions in 182 healthy participants. The likelihood of taking part (LOTP) in a hypothetical facial NMES study was measured both before and after presenting a detailed vignette about facial NMES including its risks. Results showed that LOTP was generally high and that participants remained more likely to participate than not to, despite a decrease in LOTP after the detailed vignette. LOTP was significantly predicted by participants’ previous knowledge about electrical stimulation and their tendency not to worry about the sensations of pain, and it was inversely related to concerns for burns and loss of muscle control. Fear of pain was also inversely related to LOTP, but its effect was mediated by the other concerns. We conclude that willingness to receive facial NMES is generally high across individuals in the studied age range (18–45) and that it is particularly important to reassure participants about facial NMES safety regarding burns and loss of muscle control. The findings are relevant for scholars considering using facial NMES in the laboratory.