bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hasty Reduction of COVID-19 Lockdown Measures Leads to the Second Wave of Infection
Authors: Hazem Yara , Natarajan Suchitra , Berikaa Essam R.
Published: May 2020

The outbreak of COVID-19 has an undeniable global impact, both socially and economically. March 11th, 2020, COVID-19 was declared as a pandemic worldwide. Many governments, worldwide, have imposed strict lockdown measures to minimize the spread of COVID-19. However, these measures cannot last forever; therefore, many countries are already considering relaxing the lockdown measures. This study, quantitatively, investigated the impact of this relaxation in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and Canada. A modified version of the SIR model is used to model the reduction in lockdown based on the already available data. The results showed an inevitable second wave of COVID-19 infection following loosening the current measures. The study tries to reveal the predicted number of infected cases for different reopening dates. Additionally, the predicted number of infected cases for different reopening dates is reported.
MRI-guided histology of TDP-43 knock-in mice implicates parvalbumin interneuron loss, impaired neurogenesis and aberrant neurodevelopment in ALS-FTD
Authors: Lin Ziqiang , Kim Eugene , Ahmed Mohi , Han Gang , Simmons Camilla , Redhead Yushi , Bartlett Jack , Altamira Luis Emiliano Pena , Callaghan Isobel , White Matthew A. , Singh Nisha , Sawiak Stephen , Spires-Jones Tara , Vernon Anthony C. , Coleman Michael P. , Green Jeremy , Henstridge Christopher , Davies Jeff S. , Cash Diana , Sreedharan Jemeen
Published: May 2020

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are overlapping neurodegenerative diseases that are increasingly understood to have long prodromal periods. Investigation of these early stages promises to yield valuable biomarkers of disease and will be key to understanding mechanisms underlying the genesis of ALS-FTD. Here, we usein vivomagnetic resonance imaging (MRI), histology and computed tomography to identify structural and cellular readouts of early stage disease in the TDP-43Q331Kknock-in mouse model of ALS-FTD. Adult mutant mice demonstrated parenchymal volume reductions affecting the frontal lobe and entorhinal cortex in a manner reminiscent of ALS-FTD. Subcortical, cerebellar and brain stem regions were also affected in line with observations in presymptomatic carriers of mutations inC9orf72, the commonest genetic cause of both ALS and FTD. Volume loss, as measured by MRI, was also observed in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus, along with ventricular enlargement. Guided by these imaging findings, detailedpost-mortembrain tissue analysis revealed reduced parvalbumin-positive (PV+) interneurons as a potential cellular correlate of MRI changes in mutant mice. By contrast, microglia were in a disease activated state even in the absence of brain volume loss. A reduction in immature neurons was found in the DG, indicative of impaired adult neurogenesis, while a paucity of PV+ interneurons in juvenile mutant mice (P14) suggests that TDP-43Q331Kdisrupts neurodevelopment. Computerised tomography imaging also showed altered skull morphology in mutants, further suggesting a role for TDP-43Q331Kin development. Finally, analysis of human post-mortem prefrontal cortices confirmed a paucity of PV+ interneurons in the prefrontal cortex in cases with both sporadic ALS and ALS linked toC9orf72mutations. This study suggests an important role for PV+ interneurons in regional brain vulnerability associated with ALS-FTD, and identifies novel MRI and histological biomarkers that will be of value in assessing the efficacy of putative therapeutics in TDP-43Q331Kknock-in mice.
Performance evaluation of the point-of-care SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 Test for detection of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Assennato Sonny M , Ritchie Allyson V , Nadala Cesar , Goel Neha , Zhang Hongyi , Datir Rawlings , Gupta Ravindra K , Curran Martin D , Lee Helen H
Published: May 2020

Nucleic acid amplification for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in respiratory samples is the standard method for diagnosis. These tests are centralised and therefore turnaround times can be 2-5 days. Point-of-care testing with rapid turnaround times would allow more effective triage in settings where patient management and infection control decisions need to be made rapidly.

Inclusivity and specificity of the SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 assay was determined by in silico analyses of the primers and probes. Analytical and clinical sensitivity and specificity of the SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 Test was evaluated for analytical sensitivity and specificity. Clinical performance was evaluated in residual clinical samples compared to the Public Health England reference tests.

The limit of detection of the SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 Test is 250 cp/mL and is specific for detection of 2 regions of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. The clinical sensitivity was evaluated in 172 clinical samples provided by the Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge (CMPHL), which showed a sensitivity of 98.9% (95% CI 94.03-99.97%), specificity of 100% (95% CI 95.55-100%), PPV of 100% and NPV of 98.78% (92.02-99.82%) compared to testing by CMPHLSAMBA detected 3 positive samples that were initially negative by PHE Test. The data shows that the SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 Test performs equivalently to the centralised testing methods with a much quicker turnaround time. Point of care testing, such as SAMBA, should enable rapid patient management and effective implementation of infection control measures.
Patient trajectories and risk factors for severe outcomes among persons hospitalized for COVID-19 in the Maryland/DC region
Authors: Garibaldi Brian T. , Fiksel Jacob , Muschelli John , Robinson Matthew , Rouhizadeh Masoud , Nagy Paul , Gray Josh H. , Malapati Harsha , Ghobadi-Krueger Mariam , Niessen Timothy M. , Kim Bo Soo , Hill Peter M. , Shafeeq Ahmed M. , Dobkin Eric D. , Blanding Renee , Abele Jennifer , Woods Bonnie , Harkness Kenneth , Thiemann David R. , Bowring Mary G. , Shah Aalok B. , Wang Mei-Cheng , Bandeen-Roche Karen , Rosen Antony , Zeger Scott L. , Gupta Amita
Published: May 2020

Background

Risk factors for poor outcomes from COVID-19 are emerging among US cohorts, but patient trajectories during hospitalization ranging from mild-moderate, severe, and death and the factors associated with these outcomes have been underexplored.

Methods

We performed a cohort analysis of consecutive COVID-19 hospital admissions at 5 Johns Hopkins hospitals in the Baltimore/DC area between March 4 and April 24, 2020. Disease severity and outcomes were classified using the WHO COVID-19 disease severity ordinal scale. Cox proportional-hazards regressions were performed to assess relationships between demographics, clinical features and progression to severe disease or death.

Results

832 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized; 633 (76.1%) were discharged, 113 (13.6%) died, and 85 (10.2%) remained hospitalized. Among those discharged, 518 (82%) had mild/moderate and 116 (18%) had severe illness. Mortality was statistically significantly associated with increasing age per 10 years (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.54; 95%CI 1.28-1.84), nursing home residence (aHR 2.13, 95%CI 1.41-3.23), Charlson comorbidity index (1.13; 95% CI 1.02-1.26), respiratory rate (aHR 1.13; 95%CI 1.09-1.17), D-dimer greater than 1mg/dL (aHR 2.79; 95% 1.53-5.09), and detectable troponin (aHR 2.79; 95%CI 1.53-5.09). In patients under 60, only male sex (aHR 1.7;95%CI 1.11-2.58), increasing body mass index (BMI) (aHR1.25 1.14-1.37), Charlson score (aHR 1.27; 1.1-1.46) and respiratory rate (aHR 1.16; 95%CI 1.13-1.2) were associated with severe illness or death.

Conclusions

A combination of demographic and clinical features on admission is strongly associated with progression to severe disease or death in a US cohort of COVID-19 patients. Younger patients have distinct risk factors for poor outcomes.
The H3.3 chaperone Hira complex orchestrates oocyte developmental competence
Authors: Smith Rowena , Jiang Zongliang , Susor Andrej , Ming Hao , Tait Janet , Conti Marco , Lin Chih-Jen
Published: May 2020

Reproductive success relies on a healthy oocyte competent for fertilisation and capable of sustaining early embryo development. By the end of oogenesis, the oocyte is characterised by a transcriptionally silenced state, but the significance of this state and how it is achieved remains poorly understood. Histone H3.3, one of the H3 variants, has unique functions in chromatin structure and gene expression that are cell cycle-independent. We report here a comprehensive characterisation of the roles of the subunits of the Hira complex (i.e. Hira, Cabin1 and Ubn1), which is primarily responsible for H3.3 deposition during mouse oocyte development. Loss-of-function of any component of the Hira complex led to early embryogenesis failure. Transcriptome and nascent RNA analyses revealed that mutant oocytes fail to silence global transcription. Hira complex mutants are unable to establish the H3K4me3 and H3K9me3 repressive marks, resulting in aberrant chromatin accessibility. Among the misregulated genes in mutant oocytes is Zscan4, a 2-cell specific gene that is involved in zygote genome activation. Overexpression of Zscan4 recapitulates the phenotypes of Hira mutants, illustrating that temporal and spatial expression of Zscan4 is fine-tuned at the oocyte-to-embryo transition. Thus, the H3.3 chaperone Hira complex has a maternal effect function in oocyte developmental competence and early embryogenesis by modulating chromatin condensation and transcriptional quiescence.
Reliable identification of protein-protein interactions by crosslinking mass spectrometry
Authors: Lenz Swantje , Sinn Ludwig R. , O’Reilly Francis J. , Fischer Lutz , Wegner Fritz , Rappsilber Juri
Published: May 2020

Crosslinking mass spectrometry is widening its scope from structural analyzes of purified multi-protein complexes towards systems-wide analyzes of protein-protein interactions. Assessing the error in these large datasets is currently a challenge. Using a controlled large-scale analysis ofEscherichia colicell lysate, we demonstrate a reliable false-discovery rate estimation procedure for protein-protein interactions identified by crosslinking mass spectrometry.
Fecal filtrate transfer protects against necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm pigs
Authors: Brunse Anders , Deng Ling , Pan Xiaoyu , Hui Yan , Kot Witold , Nguyen Duc Ninh , Secher Jan Bojsen-Møller , Nielsen Dennis Sandris , Thymann Thomas
Published: May 2020

Background and aims

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an acute and life-threatening gastrointestinal disorder afflicting preterm infants, which is currently unpreventable. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a promising preventative therapy, but potential side effects raise concern. Removal of bacteria from donor fecal water may reduce side effects while maintaining wanted effects. We aimed to assess preclinical efficacy and safety of bacteria-free fecal filtrate transfer (FFT).

Methods

Using fecal material from healthy suckling piglets, we administered rectal FMT or cognate FFT by either rectal or oro-gastric administration to formula-fed preterm, cesarean piglets, and compared gut pathology and related safety parameters with saline controls. We then analyzed mucosa and luminal bacterial and viral composition using 16S rRNA gene amplicon and metavirome sequencing, respectively. Finally, we used isolated ileal mucosa, coupled with RNA-Seq, to gauge the host response to the different treatments.

Results

Oro-gastric FFT eliminated NEC, which was confirmed by microscopy, whereas FMT did not perform better than control. Moreover, FFT but not FMT reduced intestinal permeability, whereas FMT animals had reduced body weight increase and intestinal growth. Oro-gastric FFT increased viral diversity and reduced Proteobacteria abundance in ileal mucosa relative to control. Global gene expression of host mucosa responded to FMT but not FFT with increased and decreased bacterial and viral defense mechanisms, respectively.

Conclusions

As preterm infants are extremely vulnerable, rational therapies need incontestable safety profiles. Here we show in a clinically relevant animal model that FFT, as opposed to FMT, efficiently prevents NEC without any recognizable side effects. If translatable to preterm infants, this could lead to a change of practice and in turn a reduction in NEC burden.
Curiosity is associated with enhanced tonic firing in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex
Authors: Wang Maya Zhe , Hayden Benjamin Yost
Published: May 2020

Disparity between current and desired information, known as information gap, is an important driver of information-seeking and curiosity. To gain insight into its neural basis, we recorded responses of single neurons in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) while rhesus macaques performed a task that induces and quantifies demand for information. We find that enhanced firing rates in dACC before the start of a trial predict a stronger bias towards information-seeking choices. Following choices of uninformative options, firing rates are tonically enhanced until information is delivered. The level of enhancement observed is correlated on a trial-by-trial basis with the value assigned to the prospective information. Finally, variation in this tone is positively correlated with receptiveness to new information, as inferred by preference changes on subsequent trials. These patterns are not observed in a complementary dataset collected in orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), suggesting these effects reflect at least somewhat anatomically localized processing.
Giantin is required for intracellular N-terminal processing of type I procollagen
Authors: Stevenson Nicola L. , Dylan J. M. Bergen , Hammond Chrissy L. , Stephens David J.
Published: May 2020

Knockout of the golgin giantin leads to skeletal and craniofacial defects driven by poorly studied changes in glycosylation and extracellular matrix deposition. Here, we sought to determine how giantin impacts the production of healthy bone tissue by focussing on the main protein component of the osteoid, type I collagen. Giantin mutant zebrafish accumulate multiple spontaneous fractures in their caudal fin, suggesting their bones may be more brittle. Inducing new experimental fractures revealed defects in the mineralisation of newly deposited collagen as well as diminished procollagen reporter expression in mutant fish. Analysis of giantin knockout cells expressing a GFP-tagged procollagen showed that procollagen trafficking is independent of giantin. However, our data show that intracellular N-propeptide processing of pro-α1(I) is defective in the absence of giantin. These data demonstrate a conserved role for giantin in collagen biosynthesis and extracellular matrix assembly. Our work also provides evidence of a giantin-dependent pathway for intracellular procollagen processing.
Prioritizing COVID-19 tests based on participatory surveillance and spatial scanning
Authors: Leal-Neto OB , Santos FAS , Lee JY , Albuquerque JO , Souza WV
Published: May 2020

Objectives

This study aimed to identify, describe and analyze priority areas for COVID-19 testing combining participatory surveillance and traditional surveillance.

Design

It was carried out a descriptive transversal study in the city of Caruaru, Pernambuco state, Brazil, within the period of 20/02/2020 to 05/05/2020. Data included all official reports for influenza-like illness notified by the municipality health department and the self-reports collected through the participatory surveillance platform Brasil Sem Corona.

Methods

We used linear regression and loess regression to verify a correlation between Participatory Surveillance (PS) and Traditional Surveillance (TS). Also a spatial scanning approach was deployed in order to identify risk clusters for COVID-19.

Results

In Caruaru, the PS had 861 active users, presenting an average of 1.2 reports per user per week. The platform Brasil Sem Corona started on March 20th and since then, has been officially used by the Caruaru health authority to improve the quality of information from the traditional surveillance system. Regarding the respiratory syndrome cases from TS, 1,588 individuals were positive for this clinical outcome. The spatial scanning analysis detected 18 clusters and 6 of them presented statistical significance (p-value < 0.1). Clusters 3 and 4 presented an overlapping area that was chosen by the local authority to deploy the COVID-19 serology, where 50 individuals were tested. From there, 32% (n=16) presented reagent results for antibodies related to COVID-19.

Conclusion

Participatory surveillance is an effective epidemiological method to complement the traditional surveillance system in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by adding real-time spatial data to detect priority areas for COVID-19 testing.
Radiofrequency Monitoring of Intracranial Hemorrhage in the Neurological Intensive Care Unit: A Pilot Trial of the SENSE Device
Authors: Korfhagen Joseph J. , Shaw George J. , Flaherty Matthew L. , Adeoye Opeolu , Knight William A.
Published: May 2020

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating form of stroke, with substantial mortality and morbidity. Hemorrhage expansion (HE) occurs in ~40% of patients and portends worse neurologic outcome and mortality. Currently, ICH patients are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and monitored for HE with neurologic exam and neuroimaging. By the time a change is detected, it may be too late to mitigate HE. There is a clinical need for a non-invasive bedside monitor of ICH.

The SENSE consists of a 9-antenna array mounted around the head with driving electronics. A 913 MHz signal is transmitted by a given antenna, crosses the intracranial region, and received by the remaining 8 antennae. A complete measurement consists of one cycle with each antenna serving as the transmitting antenna. It was hypothesized that HE of 3 ml would be detected by the device.

Ten ICH subjects admitted within 24 hours of stroke onset were enrolled. All patients received a diagnostic head CT (baseline), and a repeat head CT at 12 (+/-6) hours. ICH volumes were determined by blinded neuroradiologist reading, and a significant HE from baseline was considered ≥ 3 ml. Subjects were scanned with the device every 10 minutes for up to 72 hours.

Data from one subject was lost from operator error. Among the remaining nine, two experienced HE of ≥ 3ml (3 and 8.2 ml respectively). SENSE device readings were 100% concordant with the CT scan results.
Understanding Spatial Heterogeneity of COVID-19 Pandemic Using Shape Analysis of Growth Rate Curves
Authors: Srivastava Anuj , Chowell Gerardo
Published: May 2020

The growth rates of COVID-19 across different geographical regions (e.g., states in a nation, countries in a continent) follow different shapes and patterns. The overall summaries at coarser spatial scales that are obtained by simply averaging individual curves (across regions) obscure nuanced variability and blurs the spatial heterogeneity at finer spatial scales. We employ statistical methods to analyze shapes of local COVID-19 growth rate curves and statistically group them into distinct clusters, according to their shapes. Using this information, we derive the so-called elastic averages of curves within these clusters, which correspond to the dominant incidence patterns. We apply this methodology to the analysis of the daily incidence trajectory of the COVID-pandemic at two spatial scales: A state-level analysis within the USA and a country-level analysis within Europe during mid-February to mid-May, 2020. Our analyses reveal a few dominant incidence trajectories that characterize transmission dynamics across states in the USA and across countries in Europe. This approach results in broad classifications of spatial areas into different trajectories and adds to the methodological toolkit for guiding public health decision making at different spatial scales.

Highlights

Coarsely summarizing epidemic data collected at finer spatial scales can result in a loss of heterogenous spatial patterns that exist at finer scales. For instance, the average curves may give the impression that the epidemic’s trajectory is declining when, in fact, the trajectory of the epidemic is increasing in certain areas.

Shape analysis of COVID-19 growth rate curves discovers significant heterogeneity in epidemic spread patterns across spatial areas which can be statistically clustered into distinct groups.

At a higher level, clustering spatial patterns into distinct groups helps discern broad trends, such as rapid growth, leveling off, and slow decline in epidemic growth curves resulting from local transmission dynamics. At a finer level, it helps identify temporal patterns of multiple waves that characterize rate curves for different clusters.

Quantitative methods for characterizing the spatial-temporal dynamics of evolving epidemic emergencies provide an objective framework to understand transmission dynamics for public health decision making.
In-depth phenotyping of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in convalescent COVID-19 patients following a mild versus severe disease course
Authors: Chu Chang-Feng , Sabath Florian , Sun Shan , Chao Ying-Yin , Zielinski Christina E.
Published: May 2020

Background

Covid-19, the disease caused by infection with SARS-CoV-2, has developed to a pandemic causing more than 239, 000 deaths worldwide as of 6th May according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It presents with a highly variable disease course ranging from a large proportion of asymptomatic cases to severe respiratory failure in 17-29% of cases even in the absence of apparent comorbidities 1, 2. This implies a diverse host immune response to SARS-CoV-2. The immunological characteristics underlying these divergent disease courses, however, still remain elusive. While insights into abrogations of innate immunity begin to emerge, adaptive immune responses towards SARS-CoV-2 are poorly investigated, although they serve as immune signatures of protection and vaccine responses. We therefore set out to characterize immune signatures of convalescent COVID-19 patients stratified according to their disease severity.

Methods

We performed high-dimensional flow cytometric profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of convalescent COVID-19 patients who we stratified according to their disease severity by a physician-assisted questionnaire based assessment of COVID-19 symptoms.

Results

Surprisingly, we did not observe any difference in the relative proportions of any major immune cell type in convalescent patients presenting with different severity of COVID-19 disease except for a reduction in monocytes. The frequency of Tnaive T cells was significantly reduced in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, whereas other T cell differentiations states (TCM, TEM, TEMRA) remained relatively unaffected by COVID-19 severity as assessed approximately two weeks after infection.

Conclusions

In our COVID-19 patient cohort, which is characterized by absence of comorbidities and therapeutic interventions other than symptomatic antipyretics, the immunophenotype is similar irrespective of a highly variable disease severity. Convalescence is therefore associated with a rather uniform immune signature. Abrogations, which were previously identified in the innate and adaptive immune compartment of COVID-19 patients should be scrutinized for direct associations with a preconditioned immune system shaped and made vulnerable for SARS-CoV-2 by preexisting comorbidities.
Finding Tentative Causes for the reduced impact of Covid-19 on the Health Systems of poorer and developing nations: An ecological study of the effect of demographic, climatological and health-related factors on the global spread of Covid-19
Authors: Banerjee Shabnam , Saha Arunanjan
Published: May 2020

Objective - The objective of this study is to evaluate the association with different factors empirically found to affect the spread and the severity of Covid-19. Evidently there is less likelihood of having one single and absolute solution to this pandemic. It is pragmatic to look for a multi-pronged and collaborative assembly of probable solutions, which is the higher objective of this study.
Design - Ecological study.
Setting - Global setting including 45 countries from all six inhabited continents Population Two (2) or three (3) countries from each geographical region of the continents selected on the basis of population
Main outcome - measures correlation factors derived from comparisons between different sets of variables
Results - Empirical trends suggested in the existing literature were quantified in a global setting establishing clear trends. Correlation between the proportion of the population affected and median age, prime climate zones, malaria and tuberculosis incidence, BCG coverage and mitigation measures were established. Conclusions The study findings suggest that demographic and climatological factors, high endemicity of TB and Malaria, and universal BCG programmes may have a cushioning effect in the impact of Covid-19 on health systems of poorer and developing nations. In the light of these findings more emphasis is necessary on the protective effects of BCG and antiviral properties of antimalarial drugs.
Adherence to home-based videogame treatment for amblyopia in children and adults
Authors: Gao Tina Y. , Black Joanna M. , Babu Raiju J. , Bobier William R. , Chakraborty Arijit , Dai Shuan , Guo Cindy X. , Hess Robert F. , Jenkins Michelle , Jiang Yannan , Kearns Lisa S. , Kowal Lionel , Lam Carly S. Y. , Pang Peter C. K. , Parag Varsha , Pieri Roberto , Raveendren Rajkumar Nallour , South Jayshree , Staffieri Sandra Elfride , Wadham Angela , Walker Natalie , Thompson Benjamin
Published: May 2020

Objective

Home-based videogame treatments are increasingly being used for various sensory conditions, including amblyopia (“lazy eye”), but adherence continues to limit success. To examine detailed behavioral patterns associated with home-based videogame treatment, we analyzed in detail the videogame adherence data from the Binocular treatment of amblyopia with videogames (BRAVO) clinical trial (ACTRN12613001004752).

Methods

Children (7-12 years), Teenagers (13-17 years) and Adults (≥18 years) with unilateral amblyopia were loaned iPod Touch devices with either an active treatment or placebo videogame and instructed to play for 1-2 hours/day for six weeks at home. Objectively-recorded adherence data from device software were used to analyze adherence patterns such as session length, daily distribution of gameplay, use of the pause function, and differences between age groups. Objectively-recorded adherence was also compared to subjectively-reported adherence from paper-based diaries.

Results

105 of the 115 randomized participants completed six weeks of videogame training. Average adherence was 65% (SD 37%) of the minimum hours prescribed. Game training was generally performed in short sessions (mean 21.5, SD 11.2 minutes), mostly in the evening, with frequent pauses (median every 4.1 minutes, IQR 6.1). Children played in significantly shorter sessions and paused more frequently than older age groups (p<0.0001). Participants tended to over-report adherence in subjective diaries compared to objectively-recorded gameplay time.

Conclusion

Adherence to home-based videogame treatment was characterized by short sessions interspersed with frequent pauses, suggesting regular disengagement. This complicates dose-response calculations and may interfere with the effectiveness of treatments like binocular treatments for amblyopia, which require sustained visual stimulation.

Clinical trial ID

ACTRN12613001004752
Knowledge and attitude towards COVID-19 in Bangladesh: Population-level estimation and a comparison of data obtained by phone and online survey methods
Authors: Karim Anwarul , Akter Mastura , Mazid AHM Thafikul , Pulock Orindom Shing , Aziz Tasmiah Tahera , Hayee Samira , Tamanna Nowrin , Chuwdhury GS , Haque Afsana , Yeasmin Farhana , Mitu Mashkura Akter , Yeasmin Farjana , Rashid Humayun , Kuri Ashish Kumar , Das Arni , Majumder Koushik , Barua Dipen , Rahaman Md Mahabubur , Akter Sanjida , Munia Nashid Niaz , Sultana Jabin , Usaila Faeeqa , Sifat Sabrina , Nourin Nishat Anjum , Uddin Md Forhad , Bhowmik Mrinmoy , Ahammed Tanvir , Sharik Nabil , Mehnaz Quddus , Bhuiyan Md Nur Hossain , Banu Tahmina
Published: May 2020

Peoples’ adherence to the guidelines and measures suggested in fighting the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is partly determined by the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) of the population. In this cross-sectional study, we primarily addressed two key issues. First, we tried to determine whether there is a significant difference in the estimated COVID-19 knowledge level from the online and phone survey methods. Second, we tried to quantify the knowledge and attitude of COVID-19 in Bangladeshi adult population. Data were collected through phone calls (April 14-23, 2020) and online survey (April 18-19, 2020) in Bangladesh. The questionnaire had 20 knowledge questions with each correct response getting one point and incorrect/don’t know response getting no point (maximum total knowledge score 20). Participants scoring >17 were categorized as having good knowledge. The percentages of good knowledge holders were 57.6%, 75.1%, and 95.8% in the phone (n=1426), online non-medical (n=1097), and online medical participants (n=382), respectively. Comparison between phone and online survey showed that, overall, online survey might overestimate knowledge level than that of phone survey, although there was no difference for elderly, poor, and rural people. Male gender, higher education, living in town/urban areas, good financial condition, and use of internet were positively associated with good knowledge. However, higher knowledge was associated with having less confidence in the final control of COVID-19. Our adult population-level estimates showed that only 32.6% (95% CI 30.1-35.2%) had good knowledge. This study provides crucial information that could be useful for the researchers and policymakers to develop effective strategies.
Death, Demography and the Denominator: Age-Adjusted Influenza-18 Mortality in Ireland
Authors: Colvin Christopher L. , McLaughlin Eoin
Published: May 2020

Using the Irish experience of the Spanish flu, we demonstrate that pandemic mortality statistics are sensitive to the demographic composition of a country. We build a population database for Ireland’s 32 counties with vital statistics on births, ageing, migration and deaths. We show how age-at-death statistics in 1918 and 1919 should be used to construct the age-adjusted mortality statistics necessary to make comparisons across time and space. We conclude that studies of the economic consequences of Influenza-18 and Covid-19 must better control for demographic factors if they are to yield useful policy-relevant results. For example, while Northern Ireland has a higher crude death rate in the current pandemic, it also has an older population; age-adjusted mortality paints a very different picture.
Identification of pipe inner surface in heat conduction problems by deep learning and effective thermal conductivity transform
Authors: Chen Haolong , Du Zhibo , Li Xiang , Zhou Huanlin , Liu Zhanli
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a transform method and a deep learning model to identify the inner surface shape based on the measurement temperature at the outer boundary of the pipe.

Design/methodology/approach

The training process is assisted by the finite element method (FEM) simulation which solves the direct problem for the data preparation. To avoid re-meshing the domain when the inner surface shape varies, a new transform method is proposed to transform the shape identification problem into the effective thermal conductivity identification problem. The deep learning model is established to set up the relationship between the measurement temperature and the effective thermal conductivity. Then the unknown geometry shape is acquired by the mapping between the inner shape and the effective thermal conductivity through the inverse transform method.

Findings

The new method is successfully applied to identify the internal boundary of a pipe with eccentric circle, ellipse and nephroid inner geometries. The results show that as the measurement points increased and the measurement error decreased, the results became more accurate. The position of the measurement point and mesh density of the FEM model have less effect on the results.

Originality/value

The deep learning model and the transform method are developed to identify the pipe inner surface shape. There is no need to re-mesh the domain during the computation progress. The results show that the proposed method is a fast and an accurate tool for identifying the pipe inner surface.
Connecting universities with entrepreneurship through digital learning platform: functional requirements and education-based knowledge exchange activities
Authors: Linzalone Roberto , Schiuma Giovanni , Ammirato Salvatore
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Studies on academic entrepreneurship (AE) agree on the significant impact that Universities can have on entrepreneurial development. AE deploys through fundamental activities, like the start-up of new companies and the connection of the University with Enterprises. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the role of digital learning platforms (DLP) to connect Universities and Enterprises effectively. Although the literature has extensively investigated DLP, there is a lack of understanding of the role of DLP in supporting digital AE. This paper focuses, in particular, on the functional requirements that have to distinguish the development of DLPs supporting education-based activities of knowledge transfer between academia and enterprise.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is carried out, adopting a case study methodology. A single and holistic case regarding a DLP developed for the strategic and exclusive deployment of AE activities is proposed to describe and discuss the functional requirements of such Platform.

Findings

The DLP is a virtual learning space in which Enterprises and Universities can interact. The definition of design requirements is crucial for the efficacy of DLPs and needs to be carefully supported. Various criteria are proposed, respect to the various stakeholders engaged in DAE learning platform (Universities, Enterprises, students, employees), and according to the short- and long-term objectives of Universities and Entrepreneurship connection.

Originality/value

The paper explores an original case of DLP established in AE, to connect Universities and Enterprises. The research also sheds light on the under focussed typology of AE activities regarding education-based knowledge exchange. They are currently unaddressed by the literature on AE.
Evolution of private returns to schooling over the business cycle in a transition economy
Authors: Wincenciak Leszek
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to provide the estimates of returns to schooling using consistent methodology and comparable set of data for a long time horizon for a country undergoing economic transition. Second, the paper aims to verify if returns to schooling in Poland were pro-cyclical or counter-cyclical.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on the human capital theory in estimating the wage returns to years of schooling controlling additionally for unemployment rates at a regional level. Data come from a collection of Polish individual LFS waves for the period 1995–2017.

Findings

Returns to schooling in Poland were increasing until 2006 and declining afterwards unveiling the supply side effects domination. The estimates suggested counter-cyclicality of returns in Poland.

Research limitations/implications

Using LFS data made it impossible to control for ability bias therefore it is possible that the estimates are somewhat biased (the literature however suggests that the extent of the bias is likely to be small). It might still be argued that using consistent methodology for the whole period of analysis still offers valuable insight into returns evolution.

Originality/value

This paper finds a reversal of returns trend after 2006 suggesting the period after accession to EU exhibited a supply side effect domination. The findings on counter-cyclicality of returns to education in Poland have not yet been documented in the literature.
Social media engagement, service complexity, and experiential quality in US hospitals
Authors: Lee Youngsu , In Joonhwan , Lee Seung Jun
Published: May 2020

Purpose

As social media platforms become increasingly popular among service firms, many US hospitals have been using social media as a means to improve their patients’ experiences. However, little research has explored the implications of social media use within a hospital context. The purpose of this paper is to investigate a hospital’s customer engagement through social media and its association with customers’ experiential quality. Also, this study examines the role of a hospital’s service characteristics, which could shape the nature of the interactions between patients and the hospital.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 669 hospitals with complete experiential quality and demographic data were collected from multiple sources of secondary data, including the rankings of social media friendly hospitals, the Hospital Compare database, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) cost report, the CMS impact file, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Analytics database and the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care. Specifically, the authors designed the instrumental variable estimate to address the endogeneity issue.

Findings

The empirical results suggest a positive association between a hospital’s social media engagement and experiential quality. For hospitals with a high level of service sophistication, the association between online engagement and experiential quality becomes more salient. For hospitals offering various services, offline engagement is a critical predictor of experiential quality.

Research limitations/implications

A hospital with more complex services should make efforts to engage customers through social media for better patient experiences. The sample is selected from databases in the US, and the databases are cross-sectional in nature.

Practical implications

Not all hospitals may be better off improving the patient experience by engaging customers through social media. Therefore, practitioners should exercise caution in applying the study’s results to other contexts and in making causal inferences.

Originality/value

The current study delineates customer engagement through social media into online and offline customer engagement. This study is based on the theory of customer engagement and reflects the development of mobile technology. Moreover, this research may be considered as pioneering in that it considers the key characteristics of a hospital’s service operations (i.e., service complexity) when discovering the link between customers’ engagement through a hospital’s social media and experiential quality.
Theoretical and analytical analysis of convective heat transport of radiated micropolar fluid over a vertical plate under nonlinear Boussinesq approximation
Authors: Mahanty Debarati , Babu Reeba , Mahanthesh B.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

In heat transfer problems, if the temperature difference is not sufficiently so small then the linear Boussinesq approximation is not adequate to describe thermal analysis. Also, nonlinear density variation with respect to temperature/concentration has a significant impact on heat and fluid flow characteristics. Because of this reason, the impact of nonlinear density variation in the buoyancy force term cannot be neglected. Therefore in this paper, the unsteady flow and heat transfer of radiating magneto-micropolar fluid by considering nonlinear Boussinesq approximation is investigated analytically.

Design/methodology/approach

The flow is fully developed and time-dependent. Heat and mass flux boundary conditions are also accounted in the analysis. The governing equations of transport phenomena are treated analytically using regular perturbation method. To analyze the tendency of the obtained solutions, a parametric study is performed.

Findings

It is established that the velocity field is directly proportional to the nonlinear convection parameter and the same trend is observed with the increase of the value of Grashof number. The micro-rotational velocity profile decreases with increase in the nonlinear convection parameter. Further, the temperature profile increases due to the presence of radiative heat aspect.

Originality/value

The effectiveness of nonlinear Boussinesq approximation in the flow of micropolar fluid past a vertical plate in the presence of thermal radiation and magnetic dipole is investigated for the first time.
Surprising low diversity of the plant pathogen Phytophthora in Amazonian forests
Authors: Legeay Jean , Husson Claude , Boudier Benjamin , Louisanna Eliane , Baraloto Christopher , Schimann Heidy , Marcais Benoît , Buée Marc
Published: May 2020

The genus Phytophthora represents a group of plant pathogens with broad global distribution. The majority of them cause the collar and root‐rot of diverse plant species. Little is known about Phytophthora communities in forest ecosystems, especially in the Neotropical forests where natural enemies could maintain the huge plant diversity via negative density dependence. We characterized the diversity of soil‐borne Phytophthora communities in the North French Guiana rainforest and investigated how they are structured by host identity and environmental factors. In this little‐explored habitat, 250 soil cores were sampled from 10 plots hosting 10 different plant families across three forest environments (Terra Firme, Seasonally Flooded and White Sand). Phytophthora diversity was studied using a baiting approach and metabarcoding (High‐Throughput Sequencing) on environmental DNA extracted from both soil samples and baiting‐leaves. These three approaches revealed very similar communities, characterized by an unexpected low diversity of Phytophthora species, with the dominance of two cryptic species close to Phytophthora heveae. As expected, the Phytophthora community composition of the French Guiana rainforest was significantly impacted by the host plant family and environment. However, these plant pathogen communities are very small and are dominated by generalist species, questioning their potential roles as drivers of plant diversity in these Amazonian forests.
The relationship between tomato fruit growth, incidence of blossom‐end rot and phytohormone content as affected by sink/source ratio
Authors: Aslani Leila , Gholami Mahdiyeh , Mobli Mostafa
Published: May 2020

Blossom‐end rot is generally considered a calcium‐related physiological disorder. The results of the previous studies show that several factors such as plant conditions can be effective on the blossom‐end rot incidence. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of the sink/source ratio on the incidence of the blossom‐end rot of two greenhouse tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivars: ‘Grandella’ and ‘Isabella’. To this end, four treatments were applied: saving one fruit per truss (1F), two fruits per truss (2F), three fruits per truss (3F), and no fruit pruning (control). The results showed that the tomato cultivar ‘Isabella’ was more susceptible to the blossom‐end rot than ‘Grandella’. Decreasing the sink/source ratio increased the incidence of the blossom‐end rot and the relative fruit growth rate. The correlation between the blossom‐end rot incidence and the relative fruit growth rate showed that the fruit growth rate could be regarded as an important factor in the incidence of this disorder. Endogenous auxin and cytokinin concentrations acted as the regulators of the fruit growth rate and influenced it. Slowing down the relative growth rate by keeping proper sink/source ratio based on tomato cultivar is, therefore, an effective, cheap and healthy way to control the incidence of the blossom‐end rot, especially in organic farming.
Lanadelumab demonstrates rapid and sustained prevention of hereditary angioedema attacks
Authors: Riedl Marc A. , Maurer Marcus , Bernstein Jonathan A. , Banerji Aleena , Longhurst Hilary J. , Li H. Henry , Lu Peng , Hao James , Juethner Salomé , Lumry William R. ,   for the HELP Investigators
Published: May 2020

Background

Lanadelumab demonstrated efficacy in preventing hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks in the phase 3 HELP Study.

Objective

To assess time to onset of effect and long‐term efficacy of lanadelumab, based on exploratory findings from the HELP Study.

Methods

Eligible patients with HAE type I/II received lanadelumab 150 mg every 4 weeks (q4wks), 300 mg q4wks, 300 mg q2wks, or placebo. Ad hoc analyses evaluated day 0‐69 findings using a Poisson regression model accounting for overdispersion. Least‐squares mean monthly HAE attack rate for lanadelumab was compared with placebo. Intrapatient comparisons for days 0‐69 versus steady state (days 70‐182) used a paired t test for continuous endpoints or Kappa statistics for categorical endpoints.

Results

One hundred twenty‐five patients were randomized and treated. During days 0‐69, mean monthly attack rate was significantly lower with lanadelumab (0.41‐0.76) vs placebo (2.04), including attacks requiring acute treatment (0.33‐0.61 vs 1.66) and moderate/severe attacks (0.31‐0.48 vs 1.33, all P ≤ .001). More patients receiving lanadelumab vs placebo were attack free (37.9%‐48.1% vs 7.3%) and responders (85.7%‐100% vs 26.8%). During steady state, the efficacy of lanadelumab vs placebo was similar or improved vs days 0‐69. Intrapatient differences were significant with lanadelumab 300 mg q4wks for select outcomes. Lanadelumab efficacy was durable—HAE attack rate was consistently lower vs placebo, from the first 2 weeks of treatment through study end. Treatment emergent adverse events were comparable during days 0‐69 and 70‐182.

Conclusion

Protection with lanadelumab started from the first dose and continued throughout the entire study period.