bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary development of the cephalopod arm armature: a review
Authors: Fuchs Dirk , Hoffmann René , Klug Christian
Published: December 2021

The cephalopod arm armature is certainly one of the most important morphological innovations responsible for the evolutionary success of the Cephalopoda. New palaeontological discoveries in the recent past afford to review and reassess origin and homology of suckers, sucker rings, hooks, and cirri. Since a priori character state reconstructions are still ambiguous, we suggest and discuss three different evolutionary scenarios. Each of them is based on the following assumptions: (1) Neocoleoidea uniting extant Decabrachia and Octobrachia is monophyletic (= proostracum-bearing coleoids); (2) extinct Belemnitida and Diplobelida are stem decabrachians; (3) proostracum-less coleoids (Hematitida, Donovaniconida, Aulacoceratida) represent stem-neocoleoids; (4) Ammonoidea and Bactritoidea are stem coleoids. We consider a scenario where belemnoid hooks derived from primitive suckers as well-supported. Regarding belemnoid hooks and suckers as homologues implies that belemnoid, oegopsid, and probably ammonoid arm hooks arose through parallel evolution. Our conclusions challenge the widespread opinion, whereupon belemnoid hooks evolved de novo, and instead support earlier ideas formulated by Sigurd von Boletzky.
Out-of-pocket payments and catastrophic expenditures due to traffic injuries in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Authors: Petitfour Laurène , Bonnet Emmanuel , Mathevet Isadora , Nikiema Aude , Ridde Valéry
Published: December 2021

Objective

To estimate the out-of-pocket expenditures linked to Road Traffic Injuries in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, as well as the prevalence of catastrophic expenditures among those out-of-pocket payments, and to identify the socio-economic determinants of catastrophic expenditures due to Road Traffic Injuries.

Methods

We surveyed every admission at the only trauma unit of Ouagadougou between January and July 2015 at the time of their admission, 7 days and 30 days later. We estimate a total amount of out-of-pocket expenditures paid by each patient. We considered an expense as catastrophic when it represented 10% at least of the annual global consumption of the patient’s household. We used linear models to determine if socio-economic characteristics were associated to a greater or smaller ratio between out-of-pocket payment and global annual consumption.

Findings

We surveyed 1323 Road injury victims three times (admission, Days 7 and 30). They paid in average 46,547 FCFA (83.64 US dollars) for their care, which represent a catastrophic expenditure for 19% of them. Less than 5% of the sample was covered by a health insurance scheme. Household economic status is found to be the first determinant of catastrophic health expenditure occurrence, exhibiting a significant and negative on the ratio between road injury expenditures and global consumption.

Conclusion

Our findings highlight the importance of developing health insurance schemes to protect poor households from the economic burden of road traffic injuries and improve equity in front of health shocks.
Awake prone position reduces work of breathing in patients with COVID-19 ARDS supported by CPAP
Authors: Chiumello Davide , Chiodaroli Elena , Coppola Silvia , Cappio Borlino Simone , Granata Claudia , Pitimada Matteo , Wendel Garcia Pedro David
Published: December 2021

Background

The use of awake prone position concomitant to non-invasive mechanical ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to COVID-19 has shown to improve gas exchange, whereas its effect on the work of breathing remain unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of awake prone position during helmet continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) ventilation on inspiratory effort, gas exchange and comfort of breathing.

Methods

Forty consecutive patients presenting with ARDS due to COVID-19 were prospectively enrolled. Gas exchange, esophageal pressure swing (ΔPes), dynamic transpulmonary pressure (dTPP), modified pressure time product (mPTP), work of breathing (WOB) and comfort of breathing, were recorded on supine position and after 3 h on prone position.

Results

The median applied PEEP with helmet CPAP was 10 [8–10] cmH2O. The PaO2/FiO2 was higher in prone compared to supine position (Supine: 166 [136–224] mmHg, Prone: 314 [232–398] mmHg, p < 0.001). Respiratory rate and minute ventilation decreased from supine to prone position from 20 [17–24] to 17 [15–19] b/min (p < 0.001) and from 8.6 [7.3–10.6] to 7.7 [6.6–8.6] L/min (p < 0.001), respectively. Prone position did not reduce ΔPes (Supine: − 7 [− 9 to − 5] cmH2O, Prone: − 6 [− 9 to − 5] cmH2O, p = 0.31) and dTPP (Supine: 17 [14–19] cmH2O, Prone: 16 [14–18] cmH2O, p = 0.34). Conversely, mPTP and WOB decreased from 152 [104–197] to 118 [90–150] cmH2O/min (p < 0.001) and from 146 [120–185] to 114 [95–151] cmH2O L/min (p < 0.001), respectively. Twenty-six (65%) patients experienced a reduction in WOB of more than 10%. The overall sensation of dyspnea was lower in prone position (p = 0.005).

Conclusions

Awake prone position with helmet CPAP enables a reduction in the work of breathing and an improvement in oxygenation in COVID-19-associated ARDS.
The impact of relative hypotension on acute kidney injury progression after cardiac surgery: a multicenter retrospective cohort study
Authors: Kotani Yuki , Yoshida Takuo , Kumasawa Junji , Kamei Jun , Taguchi Akihisa , Kido Koji , Yamaguchi Naoki , Kariya Takayuki , Nakasone Masato , Mikami Noriko , Koga Takahiro , Nakayama Izumi , Shibata Mami , Yoshida Tomonao , Nashiki Hiroshi , Karatsu Shinsuke , Nogi Kazutaka , Tokuhira Natsuko , Izawa Junichi
Published: December 2021

Background

Cardiac surgery is performed worldwide, and acute kidney injury (AKI) following cardiac surgery is a risk factor for mortality. However, the optimal blood pressure target to prevent AKI after cardiac surgery remains unclear. We aimed to investigate whether relative hypotension and other hemodynamic parameters after cardiac surgery are associated with subsequent AKI progression.

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled adult patients admitted to 14 intensive care units after elective cardiac surgery between January and December 2018. We defined mean perfusion pressure (MPP) as the difference between mean arterial pressure (MAP) and central venous pressure (CVP). The main exposure variables were time-weighted-average MPP-deficit (i.e., the percentage difference between preoperative and postoperative MPP) and time spent with MPP-deficit > 20% within the first 24 h. We defined other pressure-related hemodynamic parameters during the initial 24 h as exploratory exposure variables. The primary outcome was AKI progression, defined as one or more AKI stages using Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes’ creatinine and urine output criteria between 24 and 72 h. We used multivariable logistic regression analyses to assess the association between the exposure variables and AKI progression.

Results

Among the 746 patients enrolled, the median time-weighted-average MPP-deficit was 20% [interquartile range (IQR): 10–27%], and the median duration with MPP-deficit > 20% was 12 h (IQR: 3–20 h). One-hundred-and-twenty patients (16.1%) experienced AKI progression. In the multivariable analyses, time-weighted-average MPP-deficit or time spent with MPP-deficit > 20% was not associated with AKI progression [odds ratio (OR): 1.01, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.99–1.03]. Likewise, time spent with MPP-deficit > 20% was not associated with AKI progression (OR: 1.01, 95% CI 0.99–1.04). Among exploratory exposure variables, time-weighted-average CVP, time-weighted-average MPP, and time spent with MPP < 60 mmHg were associated with AKI progression (OR: 1.12, 95% CI 1.05–1.20; OR: 0.97, 95% CI 0.94–0.99; OR: 1.03, 95% CI 1.00–1.06, respectively).

Conclusions

Although higher CVP and lower MPP were associated with AKI progression, relative hypotension was not associated with AKI progression in patients after cardiac surgery. However, these findings were based on exploratory investigation, and further studies for validating them are required.

Trial Registration UMIN-CTR, https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index-j.htm, UMIN000037074.
Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Tricco Andrea C. , Thomas Sonia M. , Lillie Erin , Veroniki Areti Angeliki , Hamid Jemila S. , Pham Ba’ , Lee Taehoon , Agarwal Arnav , Sharpe Jane P. , Scott Alistair , Warren Rachel , Brahmbhatt Ronak , Macdonald Erin , Janoudi Ghayath , Muni Rajeev H. , Francisconi Carolina L. M. , Richter Trevor , Straus Sharon E.
Published: December 2021

Background

The comparative safety and efficacy between anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents (anti-VEGFs) and between combined therapies for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is unclear. We conducted a systematic review to examine the comparative safety and efficacy anti-VEGFs for adults with nAMD.

Methods

Studies were identified through MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL (inception to June 3, 2019), grey literature, and scanning reference lists. Two reviewers independently screened citations and full-text articles to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs), extracted data, and appraised risk of bias. Pairwise random-effects meta-analysis and Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) were conducted. The primary outcomes were the proportion of patients experiencing moderate vision gain (≥ 15 letters on the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart) and the proportion of patients experiencing moderate vision loss (≤ 15 letters).

Results

After screening 3647 citations and 485 potentially relevant full-text articles, 92 RCTs with 24,717 patients were included. NMA (34 RCTs, 8809 patients, 12 treatments) showed small differences among anti-VEGFs in improving the proportion of patients with moderate vision gain, with the largest for conbercept versus broluczumab (OR 0.15, 95% CrI: 0.05–0.56), conbercept versus ranibizumab (OR 0.17, 95% CrI: 0.05–0.59), conbercept versus aflibercept (OR 0.19, 95% CrI: 0.06–0.65), and conbercept versus bevacizumab (OR 0.2, 95% CrI: 0.06–0.69). In NMA (36 RCTs, 9081 patients, 13 treatments) for the proportion of patients with moderate vision loss, small differences were observed among anti-VEGFs, with the largest being for conbercept versus aflibercept (OR 0.24, 95% CrI: 0–4.29), conbercept versus brolucizumab (OR 0.24, 95% CrI: 0–4.71), conbercept versus bevacizumab (OR 0.26, 95% CrI: 0–4.65), and conbercept versus ranibizumab (OR 0.27, 95% CrI: 0–4.67).

Conclusion

The only observed differences were that ranibizumab, bevacizumab, aflibercept, and brolucizumab were statistically superior to conbercept in terms of the proportion of patients with nAMD who experienced moderate vision gain. However, this finding is based on indirect evidence through one small trial comparing conbercept with placebo. This does not account for drug-specific differences when assessing anatomic and functional treatment efficacy in variable dosing regimens.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO registration number CRD42015022041.
A suitable time point for quantifying the radiochemical purity of 225Ac-labeled radiopharmaceuticals
Authors: Kelly James M. , Amor-Coarasa Alejandro , Sweeney Elizabeth , Wilson Justin J. , Causey Patrick W. , Babich John W.
Published: December 2021

Background

As 225Ac-labeled radiopharmaceuticals continue to show promise as targeted alpha therapeutics, there is a growing need to standardize quality control (QC) testing procedures. The determination of radiochemical purity (RCP) is an essential QC test. A significant obstacle to RCP testing is the disruption of the secular equilibrium between actinium-225 and its daughter radionuclides during labeling and QC testing. In order to accelerate translation of actinium-225 targeted alpha therapy, we aimed to determine the earliest time point at which the RCP of an 225Ac-labeled radiopharmaceutical can be accurately quantified.

Results

Six ligands were conjugated to macrocyclic metal chelators and labeled with actinium-225 under conditions designed to generate diverse incorporation yields. RCP was determined by radio thin layer chromatography (radioTLC) followed by exposure of the TLC plate on a phosphor screen either 0.5, 2, 3.5, 5, 6.5, or 26 h after the plate was developed. The dataset was used to create models for predicting the true RCP for any pre-equilibrium measurement taken at an early time point. The 585 TLC measurements span RCP values of 1.8–99.5%. The statistical model created from these data predicted an independent data set with high accuracy. Predictions made at 0.5 h are more uncertain than predictions made at later time points. This is primarily due to the decay of bismuth-213. A measurement of RCP > 90% at 2 h predicts a true RCP > 97% and guarantees that RCP will exceed 90% after secular equilibrium is reached. These findings were independently validated using NaI(Tl) scintillation counting and high resolution gamma spectroscopy on a smaller set of samples with 10% ≤ RCP ≤ 100%.

Conclusions

RCP of 225Ac-labeled radiopharmaceuticals can be quantified with acceptable accuracy at least 2 h after radioTLC using various methods of quantifying particle emissions. This time point best balances the need to accurately quantify RCP with the need to safely release the batch as quickly as possible.
White civilians’ implicit danger evaluation of police officers underlies explicit perception of police
Authors: Olivett Vincenzo J. , March David S.
Published: December 2021

The role of implicit processes during police-civilian encounters is well studied from the perspective of the police. Decades of research on the “shooter bias” suggests that implicit Black-danger associations potentiate the perception of threat of Black individuals, leading to a racial bias in the decision to use lethal force. Left understudied are civilians’ possible associations of police with danger and how such associations pervade behavior and explicit views of the police. The current work begins to address this gap. In two within-subjects studies, we separately assess police-threat (i.e., safety/danger) and police-valence (i.e., good/bad) associations as well as their relative influences on explicit perceptions of police. Study 1 revealed that implicit threat evaluations (police-danger associations) more strongly predicted negative explicit views of the police compared to implicit valence evaluations (police-negative associations). Study 2 replicated these findings and suggests that individuals evaluate the police as more dangerous versus negative when each response is pitted against each other within single misattribution procedure trials. The possible implications for explicit attitudes toward police reform and behavior during police-civilian encounters are discussed.
Effects of temporal and spatiotemporal cues on detection of dynamic road hazards
Authors: Wolfe Benjamin , Kosovicheva Anna , Stent Simon , Rosenholtz Ruth
Published: December 2021

While driving, dangerous situations can occur quickly, and giving drivers extra time to respond may make the road safer for everyone. Extensive research on attentional cueing in cognitive psychology has shown that targets are detected faster when preceded by a spatially valid cue, and slower when preceded by an invalid cue. However, it is unknown how these standard laboratory-based cueing effects may translate to dynamic, real-world situations like driving, where potential targets (i.e., hazardous events) are inherently more complex and variable. Observers in our study were required to correctly localize hazards in dynamic road scenes across three cue conditions (temporal, spatiotemporal valid and spatiotemporal invalid), and a no-cue baseline. All cues were presented at the first moment the hazardous situation began. Both types of valid cues reduced reaction time (by 58 and 60 ms, respectively, with no significant difference between them, a larger effect than in many classic studies). In addition, observers’ ability to accurately localize hazards dropped 11% in the spatiotemporal invalid condition, a result with dangerous implications on the road. This work demonstrates that, in spite of this added complexity, classic cueing effects persist—and may even be enhanced—for the detection of real-world hazards, and that valid cues have the potential to benefit drivers on the road.
Systemic racism: individuals and interactions, institutions and society
Authors: Banaji Mahzarin R. , Fiske Susan T. , Massey Douglas S.
Published: December 2021

Systemic racism is a scientifically tractable phenomenon, urgent for cognitive scientists to address. This tutorial reviews the built-in systems that undermine life opportunities and outcomes by racial category, with a focus on challenges to Black Americans. From American colonial history, explicit practices and policies reinforced disadvantage across all domains of life, beginning with slavery, and continuing with vastly subordinated status. Racially segregated housing creates racial isolation, with disproportionate costs to Black Americans’ opportunities, networks, education, wealth, health, and legal treatment. These institutional and societal systems build-in individual bias and racialized interactions, resulting in systemic racism. Unconscious inferences, empirically established from perceptions onward, demonstrate non-Black Americans’ inbuilt associations: pairing Black Americans with negative valences, criminal stereotypes, and low status, includinganimalrather thanhuman. Implicit racial biases (improving only slightly over time) imbed within non-Black individuals’ systems of racialized beliefs, judgments, and affect that predict racialized behavior. Interracial interactions likewise convey disrespect and distrust. These systematic individual and interpersonal patterns continue partly due to non-Black people’s inexperience with Black Americans and reliance on societal caricatures. Despite systemic challenges, Black Americans are more diverse now than ever, due to resilience (many succeeding against the odds), immigration (producing varied backgrounds), and intermarriage (increasing the multiracial proportion of the population). Intergroup contact can foreground Black diversity, resisting systemic racism, but White advantages persist in all economic, political, and social domains. Cognitive science has an opportunity: to include in its study of the mind the distortions of reality about individual humans and their social groups.
Assessing knowledge, attitude, and practices of veterinarians towards antimicrobial use and stewardship as drivers of inappropriate use in Abuja, Nigeria
Authors: Aworh Mabel Kamweli , Kwaga Jacob Kwada Paghi , Okolocha Emmanuel Chukwudi
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has recently gained worldwide recognition, as the emergence of multi-drug resistant organisms has led to increased mortality and economic burden. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of veterinarians towards rational antimicrobial prescribing and identify factors influencing use.

Methods

We interviewed veterinary doctors in Abuja, Nigeria using a 50-point questionnaire distributed via WhatsApp mobile application. The questionnaire inquired about their experiences, knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards AMR and stewardship. We analyzed the data by calculating frequencies and proportions.

Results

Of 220 registered veterinarians, 144 (65.5%) participated in the survey. Most (52.8%) were within the age group 30 - 39 years; males (72.2%), with a Master’s degree (42.4%) and worked in public service (44.4%). Three-quarters (75.7%) had good knowledge of antimicrobials; 47.2% had received training on stewardship while 88.9% reported that they believed that overuse of antimicrobials was the major contributory factor towards AMR. Antimicrobial stewardship regulations are important in veterinary practice. Veterinarians were aware of the occurrence of resistant pathogens and agreed that restricting antimicrobial use in animal health care was necessary to reduce AMR.

Conclusion

Most respondents referred to the veterinary formulary (VF) when in doubt of the appropriate antimicrobial agent to administer. We recommend that the VF be updated following the WHO list of critically-important-antimicrobials (CIA) and veterinarians educated not to use these CIAs in the treatment of food animals.
Gut microbiome composition, not alpha diversity, is associated with survival in a natural vertebrate population
Authors: Worsley Sarah F. , Davies Charli S. , Mannarelli Maria-Elena , Hutchings Matthew I. , Komdeur Jan , Burke Terry , Dugdale Hannah L. , Richardson David S.
Published: December 2021

Background

The vertebrate gut microbiome (GM) can vary substantially across individuals within the same natural population. Although there is evidence linking the GM to health in captive animals, very little is known about the consequences of GM variation for host fitness in the wild. Here, we explore the relationship between faecal microbiome diversity, body condition, and survival using data from the long-term study of a discrete natural population of the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis) on Cousin Island. To our knowledge, this is the first time that GM differences associated with survival have been fully characterised for a natural vertebrate species, across multiple age groups and breeding seasons.

Results

We identified substantial variation in GM community structure among sampled individuals, which was partially explained by breeding season (5% of the variance), and host age class (up to 1% of the variance). We also identified significant differences in GM community membership between adult birds that survived, versus those that had died by the following breeding season. Individuals that died carried increased abundances of taxa that are known to be opportunistic pathogens, including several ASVs in the genusMycobacterium. However, there was no association between GM alpha diversity (the diversity of bacterial taxa within a sample) and survival to the next breeding season, or with individual body condition. Additionally, we found no association between GM community membership and individual body condition.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that components of the vertebrate GM can be associated with host fitness in the wild. However, further research is needed to establish whether changes in bacterial abundance contribute to, or are only correlated with, differential survival; this will add to our understanding of the importance of the GM in the evolution of host species living in natural populations.
Platform economy: (dis-) embeddedness processes in urban spaces
Authors: Hardaker Sina
Published: December 2021

Digital platforms, understood as multi-sided matchmakers, have amassed huge power, reimagining the role of consumers, producers, and even ownership. They increasingly dictate the way the economy and urban life is organized. Yet, despite their influential and far-reaching role in shaping our economic as well as sociocultural world, our understanding of their embeddedness, namely how their activities are embedded in systems of social and societal relationships and how they conceptualize their main functions and actions in relation to their wider setting, remains rudimentary. Consequently, the purpose of this frontier paper is threefold. Firstly, it reveals the need to discuss and evaluate (dis-)embedding processes in platform urbanism in order to understand the underlying dynamics of platform power and urban transformation. Secondly, it aims to reveal the main reasons in regard to the difficulties in pinpointing digital platforms embeddedness. Thirdly, it seeks to propose future research unravelling the (dis-)embeddedness of the platform economy.

This paper argues for three main reasons namely unawareness, unaccountability and non-transparency of digital platforms that drive the lack of embeddedness and reaffirms platform power. This is mainly based on the configuration of new commodities, platforms’ strategic avoidance of labour protections and other regulatory frameworks as well as platforms’ secrecy in which they operate. This frontier paper argues that transferring the concept of embeddedness to the platform economy might serve as a valuable tool to understand and pinpoint essential dynamics and relationships at play, therefore proposing embeddedness as a basis for future research on the platform economy. It strongly argues that a more detailed understanding is urgently needed, in order to be able to understand, accompany and actively influence the development of the platform economy in regulatory terms.
A variant of raw observation approach for BDS/GNSS precise point positioning with fast integer ambiguity resolution
Authors: Zhao Qile , Guo Jing , Liu Sijing , Tao Jun , Hu Zhigang , Chen Gang
Published: December 2021

The Precise Point Positioning (PPP) technique uses a single Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver to collect carrier-phase and code observations and perform centimeter-accuracy positioning together with the precise satellite orbit and clock corrections provided. According to the observations used, there are basically two approaches, namely, the ionosphere-free combination approach and the raw observation approach. The former eliminates the ionosphere effects in the observation domain, while the latter estimates the ionosphere effects using uncombined and undifferenced observations, i.e., so-called raw observations. These traditional techniques do not fix carrier-phase ambiguities to integers, if the additional corrections of satellite hardware biases are not provided to the users. To derive the corrections of hardware biases in network side, the ionosphere-free combination operation is often used to obtain the ionosphere-free ambiguities from the L1 and L2 ones produced even with the raw observation approach in earlier studies. This contribution introduces a variant of the raw observation approach that does not use any ionosphere-free (or narrow-lane) combination operator to derive satellite hardware bias and compute PPP ambiguity float and fixed solution. The reparameterization and the manipulation of design matrix coefficients are described. A computational procedure is developed to derive the satellite hardware biases on WL and L1 directly. The PPP ambiguity-fixed solutions are obtained also directly with WL/L1 integer ambiguity resolutions. The proposed method is applied to process the data of a GNSS network covering a large part of China. We produce the satellite biases of BeiDou, GPS and Galileo. The results demonstrate that both accuracy and convergence are significantly improved with integer ambiguity resolution. The BeiDou contributions on accuracy and convergence are also assessed. It is disclosed for the first time that BeiDou only ambiguity-fixed solutions achieve the similar accuracy with that of GPS/Galileo combined, at least in mainland China. The numerical analysis demonstrates that the best solutions are achieved by GPS/Galileo/BeiDou solutions. The accuracy in horizontal components is better than 6 mm, and in the height component better than 20 mm (one sigma). The mean convergence time for reliable ambiguity-fixing is about 1.37 min with 0.12 min standard deviation among stations without using ionosphere corrections and the third frequency measurements. The contribution of BDS is numerically highlighted.
Symptom remission and functional outcome in an Egyptian sample of patients with schizophrenia
Authors: El Ghamry Reem , Saad Ahmed , Elbatrawy Amira Nassieb , Hassan Ghada A. M. , Rabie Eman S. , Mohamed Mohamed Youssef
Published: December 2021

Background

The ultimate treatment goal of schizophrenia is regaining patients’ pre-morbid function.

Results

Ninety-three outpatients with schizophrenia, diagnosed according to the criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—fourth edition (DSM-IV), were recruited, of whom 35 patients (37.6%) had achieved the remission severity criteria, whereas 58 patients (62.4%) failed to fulfill the criteria for remission. The functional aspects were examined by the Global Assessment of Functioning scale (GAF) and the Social Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ). Predictors of outcome were examined by applying binary logistic regression analysis. Patients who fulfilled those specific criteria for remission showed a favorable outcome in the assessed areas, regarding GAF and social functioning in society. Lack of judgment or insight item of PANSS showed significantly good functional outcomes.

Conclusion

The results suggest that the remission concept has important implications for the treatment of schizophrenia. Remission seems to be associated with better functional capabilities. However, this does not necessarily mean that remitted patients have “adequate” functioning, especially regarding the social skills domain.
Resuming post living donor liver transplantation in the COVID-19 pandemic: real-life experience, single-center experience
Authors: Abdellatif Abeer Awad , Mogawer Mohamad Sherif , El- Shazli Mostafa , El-Karaksy Hanaa , Salah Ayman , Abdel-Maqsod Amany , El-Amir Mona , Said Mohamed , Zayed Naglaa , Hosny Karim , Eldeen Hadeel Gamal , Osman Ayman M. A. , Mansour Doaa A. , Nabil Ahmed , Abdel-Ghani Ahmed , Mogahed Engy A. , Yasin Noha A.
Published: December 2021

Background

Solid organ transplantation (SOT) service has been disrupted during the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which deferred the service in most centers worldwide. As the pandemic persists, there will be an urgency to identify the best and safest practices for resuming activities as areas re-open. Resuming activity is a difficult issue, in particular, the decision of reopening after a period of slowing down or complete cessation of activities.

Objectives

To share our experience in resuming living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Liver Transplantation Unit of El-Manial Specialized Hospital, Cairo University, Egypt, and to review the obstacles that we have faced.

Material and methods

This study is a single-center study. We resumed LDLT by the 26th of August 2020 after a period of closure from the 1st of March 2020. We have taken a lot of steps in order to prevent COVID-19 transmission among transplant patients and healthcare workers (HCWs).

Results

In our study, we reported three LDLT recipients, once resuming the transplantation till now. All our recipients and donors tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 by nasopharyngeal RT-PCR a day before the transplantation. Unfortunately, one of them developed COVID-19 infection. We managed rapidly to isolate him in a single room, restricting one team of HCWs to deal with him with strict personal protective measures. Finally, the patient improved and was discharged in a good condition. The second patient ran a smooth course apart from FK neurotoxicity which improved with proper management. The third patient experienced a sharp rise in bilirubin and transaminases on day 14 that was attributed to drug toxicity vs. rejection and managed by discontinuing the offending drugs and pulse steroids. In addition, one of our head nurses tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 that was manageable with self-isolation.

Conclusion

Careful patient, donor, personnel screening is mandatory. Adequate supply of personal protective equipments, effective infection control policies, and appropriate administrative modifications are needed for a safe return of LDLT practice.
Construction of a tool for assessment of joint attention in Egyptian Cairene children
Authors: Muhammad Aya Adel , ElFiky Yomna Hassan , Shoeib Rasha Mohammed , Rifaie Nahla Abd El-Aziz , Saleh Marwa Mahmoud
Published: December 2021

Background

Joint attention (JA) is a basic social communicative skill important for language development. JA deficits appear prior to language acquisition. Because autism is often not diagnosed until a child is three or four years of age, it is important to look for indicators prior to language acquisition such as JA to provide appropriate treatment at a younger age. Therefore, the aim of this study is to construct an objective tool for assessment of joint attention skills in young Egyptian children to detect the presence of autistic behaviour in high-risk children in order to conduct plans for early intervention. The questionnaire was constructed to assess the five main components of JA and was termed Egyptian Joint Attention Questionnaire. The questions were formulated in the colloquial Egyptian Arabic language and in an ‘easy-to understand’ design that would be comprehensible by mothers. No question was directly translated from another questionnaire. Ten typically developing (TD) children, with an age range of 18–54 months, were included in the pilot study of the test design. It was applied to 90 TD children and 30 autistic children (contrast group) within the same age range. Participant's responses were statistically analysed to assess the validity and reliability of the questionnaire and to compare the responses related to TD children and autistic children.

Results

There was high internal consistency and reliability of the questionnaire (Cronbach’s α = 0.9, Intra-class correlation = .776), with a statistically significant difference between TD and autistic children (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The questionnaire is a valid and reliable assessment tool that could be used in early detection of autistic Egyptian children.
Characterization of cerebrospinal fluid DNA methylation age during the acute recovery period following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Heinsberg Lacey W. , Liu Dongjing , Shaffer John R. , Weeks Daniel E. , Conley Yvette P.
Published: December 2021

Background

Biological aging may occur at different rates than chronological aging due to genetic, social, and environmental factors. DNA methylation (DNAm) age is thought to be a reliable measure of accelerated biological aging which has been linked to an array of poor health outcomes. Given the importance of chronological age in recovery following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), a type of stroke, DNAm age may also be an important biomarker of outcomes, further improving predictive models. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a unique tissue representing the local central nervous system environment post-aSAH. However, the validity of CSF DNAm age is unknown, and it is unclear which epigenetic clock is ideal to compute CSF DNAm age, particularly given changes in cell type heterogeneity (CTH) during the acute recovery period. Further, the stability of DNAm age post-aSAH, specifically, has not been examined and may improve our understanding of patient recovery post-aSAH. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to characterize CSF DNAm age over 14 days post-aSAH using four epigenetic clocks.

Results

Genome-wide DNAm data were available for two tissues: (1) CSF for N = 273 participants with serial sampling over 14 days post-aSAH (N = 850 samples) and (2) blood for a subset of n = 72 participants at one time point post-aSAH. DNAm age was calculated using the Horvath, Hannum, Levine, and “Improved Precision” (Zhang) epigenetic clocks. “Age acceleration” was computed as the residuals of DNAm age regressed on chronological age both with and without correcting for CTH. Using scatterplots, Pearson correlations, and group-based trajectory analysis, we examined the relationships between CSF DNAm age and chronological age, the concordance between DNAm ages calculated from CSF versus blood, and the stability (i.e., trajectories) of CSF DNAm age acceleration over time during recovery from aSAH. We observed moderate to strong correlations between CSF DNAm age and chronological age (R = 0.66 [Levine] to R = 0.97 [Zhang]), moderate to strong correlations between DNAm age in CSF versus blood (R = 0.69 [Levine] to R = 0.98 [Zhang]), and stable CSF age acceleration trajectories over 14 days post-aSAH in the Horvath and Zhang clocks (unadjusted for CTH), as well as the Hannum clock (adjusted for CTH).

Conclusions

CSF DNAm age was generally stable post-aSAH. Although correlated, CSF DNAm age differs from blood DNAm age in the Horvath, Hannum, and Levine clocks, but not in the Zhang clock. Taken together, our results suggest that, of the clocks examined here, the Zhang clock is the most robust to CTH and is recommended for use in complex tissues such as CSF.
pubassistant.ch: consolidating publication profiles of researchers
Authors: Gerber Reto , Robinson Mark D.
Published: December 2021

Online accounts to keep track of scientific publications, such as Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID) or Google Scholar, can be time consuming to maintain and synchronize. Furthermore, the open access status of publications is often not easily accessible, hindering potential opening of closed publications. To lessen the burden of managing personal profiles, we developed a R shiny app that allows publication lists from multiple platforms to be retrieved and consolidated, as well as interactive exploration and comparison of publication profiles. A live version can be found at pubassistant.ch.
Proficiency-based progression intern training to reduce critical blood sampling errors including ‘wrong blood in tube’
Authors: O' Herlihy Noirin , Griffin Sarah , Gaffney Robert , Henn Patrick , Khashan Ali S. , Ring Mary , Gallagher Anthony , Cahill Mary R
Published: December 2021

Background: Blood sampling errors including ‘wrong blood in tube’ (WBIT) may have adverse effects on clinical outcomes. WBIT errors occur when the blood sample in the tube is not that of the patient identified on the label. This study aims to determine the effect of proficiency-based progression (PBP) training in phlebotomy on the rate of blood sampling errors (including WBIT).

Methods: A non-randomised controlled trial compared the blood sampling error rate of 43 historical controls who had not undergone PBP training in 2016 to 44 PBP trained interventional groups in 2017. In 2018, the PBP training programme was implemented and the blood sampling error rate of 46 interns was compared to the 43 historical controls in 2016. Data analysis was performed using logistic regression analysis adjusting for sample timing.

Results: In 2016, 43 interns had a total blood sample error rate of 2.4%, compared to 44 interns in 2017, who had error rate of 1.2% (adjusted OR=0.50, 95% CI 0.36-0.70; <0.01). In 2018, 46 interns had an error rate of 1.9% (adjusted OR=0.89, 95% CI 0.65-1.21; p=0.46) when compared to the 2016 historical controls. There were three WBITs in 2016, three WBITs in 2017 and five WBITs in 2018. 

Conclusions: The study demonstrates that PBP training in phlebotomy has the potential to reduce blood sampling errors.

Trial registration number: NCT03577561
ECORISK2050: An Innovative Training Network for predicting the effects of global change on the emission, fate, effects, and risks of chemicals in aquatic ecosystems
Authors: Welch Samuel A. , Lane Taylor , Desrousseaux Alizée O.S , van Dijk Joanke , Mangold-Döring Annika , Gajraj Rudrani , Hader John D. , Hermann Markus , Parvathi Ayillyath Kutteyeri Anju , Mentzel Sophie , Nagesh Poornima , Polazzo Francesco , Roth Sabrina K. , Boxall Alistair B.A. , Chefetz Benny , Dekker Stefan C. , Eitzinger Josef , Grung Merete , MacLeod Matthew , Moe S. Jannicke , Rico Andreu , Sobek Anna , van Wezel Annemarie P. , van den Brink Paul
Published: December 2021

By 2050, the global population is predicted to reach nine billion, with almost three quarters living in cities. The road to 2050 will be marked by changes in land use, climate, and the management of water and food across the world. These global changes (GCs) will likely affect the emissions, transport, and fate of chemicals, and thus the exposure of the natural environment to chemicals.

ECORISK2050 is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network that brings together an interdisciplinary consortium of academic, industry and governmental partners to deliver a new generation of scientists, with the skills required to study and manage the effects of GCs on chemical risks to the aquatic environment. The research and training goals are to: (1) assess how inputs and behaviour of chemicals from agriculture and urban environments are affected by different environmental conditions, and how different GC scenarios will drive changes in chemical risks to human and ecosystem health; (2) identify short-to-medium term adaptation and mitigation strategies, to abate unacceptable increases to risks, and (3) develop tools for use by industry and policymakers for the assessment and management of the impacts of GC-related drivers on chemical risks.

This project will deliver the next generation of scientists, consultants, and industry and governmental decision-makers who have the knowledge and skillsets required to address the changing pressures associated with chemicals emitted by agricultural and urban activities, on aquatic systems on the path to 2050 and beyond.
COVID-19 Social Science and Public Engagement Action Research in Vietnam, Indonesia and Nepal (SPEAR): Protocol for a mixed methods study exploring the experiences and impacts of COVID-19 for healthcare workers and vulnerable communities
Authors: Van Nuil Jennifer Ilo , Friska Dewi , Kekalih Aria , Bhandari Anup Raj , Bogh Claus , Brindle Hannah , Bui Thi Hong Ngoc , Deokota Dinesh , Ragil Dien Soraya Weldina , Doan Phuong Nhung , Fisher Jaom , Gautum Amit , Kurniawan Livia Nathania , Limato Ralalicia , Nguyen Hoang Yen , Nguyen Thanh Ha , Nguyen Thanh Phong , Nguyen Thanh Truong , Nguyen Thi Hong Yen , Nguyen Thi Kim Ngoc , Nguyen Thi Kim Tuyen , Nguyen Le Thao My , Pandey Aakriti , Rijal Samita , Roberts Chrissy , Shakya Rabi , Shakya Summita Udas , Sharma Pawan , Sutrisni Ida Aya , Thapa Pratibha , Timoria Diana , Tran Minh Hien , Tran Phuong Thao , Tran Thi Hang , Vu Bao Hung , Vu Tien Viet Dung ,   OUCRU COVID-19 research group, Karkey Abhilasha , Hamers Raph L , Chambers Mary , Lewycka Sonia
Published: December 2021

Background: When the novel coronavirus – SARS-CoV-2 – started to spread globally, there was a call for social and behavioral scientists to conduct research to explore the wider socio-cultural contexts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), to understand vulnerabilities, as well as to increase engagement within communities to facilitate adoption of public health measures. In this manuscript, we describe the protocol for a study conducted in Indonesia, Nepal, and Vietnam. In the study, we explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting individuals and their communities. We focus on the wider health and economic impacts of COVID-19, in particular emerging and increased burden on mental health, as well as new or deepened vulnerabilities in the communities. The introduction of vaccines has added another layer of complexity and highlights differences in acceptance and inequalities around access. 

Methods: We use mixed methods, combining survey methods and social media surveillance to gain a picture of the general situation within each country, with in-depth qualitative methods to gain a deeper understanding of issues, coupled with a synergistic engagement component. We also include an exploration of the role of social media in revealing or driving perceptions of the pandemic more broadly. Participants include health workers and members of communities from 13 sites across the three countries. Data collection is spread across two phases. Phase 1 is concerned with exploring lived experiences, impacts on working lives and livelihoods, mental health and coping strategies. Phase 2 is concerned with acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines, factors that increase and reduce acceptance, and factors that influence access.

Conclusions: We will disseminate findings in multiple ways including short reports and policy briefs, articles in peer-reviewed journals, and digital diaries will be edited into short films and uploaded onto social media sites.
Longitudinal assessment of blood-borne musculoskeletal disease biomarkers in the DE50-MD dog model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Riddell Dominique O. , Hildyard John C. W. , Harron Rachel C. M. , Wells Dominic J. , Piercy Richard J.
Published: December 2021

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal muscle wasting disease caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. Due to their phenotypic similarity to human patients, large animal models are invaluable tools for pre-clinical trials. The DE50-MD dog is a relatively new model of DMD, and carries a therapeutically-tractable mutation lying within the hotspot for human patients, making it especially valuable. Prior to conducting therapeutic trials using this novel animal model, it is essential to establish a panel of viable biomarkers.

Methods: We evaluated a panel of blood-borne biomarkers of musculoskeletal disease in the DE50-MD dog. Venous blood samples were obtained monthly throughout an 18-month study period in DE50-MD (N=18) and wild-type (WT) control (N=14) dogs. A panel of potential plasma/serum biomarkers of DMD was measured and their theoretical utility in future clinical trials determined using sample size calculations.

Results: Compared to WT dogs, DE50-MD dogs had substantially higher circulating creatine kinase (CK) activities, myomesin-3 (MYOM3), and the dystromiRs miR-1, miR-133a and miR-206, but significantly lower serum myostatin concentrations. An age-associated pattern, similar to that observed in DMD patients, was seen for CK and MYOM3. Sample size calculations suggested that low cohort sizes (N≤3) could be used to detect up to a 50% improvement in DE50-MD results towards WT levels for each biomarker or a combination thereof (via principal component analysis); as few as N=3 animals should enable detection of a 25% improvement using a combined biomarker approach (alpha 0.05, power 0.8).

Conclusions: We have established a panel of blood-borne biomarkers that could be used to monitor musculoskeletal disease or response to a therapeutic intervention in the DE50-MD dog using low numbers of animals. The blood biomarker profile closely mimics that of DMD patients, supporting the hypothesis that this DMD model would be suitable for use in pre-clinical trials.