bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining the relationship between processing fluency and memory for source information
Authors: Huang Tina S.-T. , Shanks David R.
Published: April 2021

Familiarity-based processes such as processing fluency can influence memory judgements in tests of item recognition. Many conventional accounts of source memory assume minimal influence of familiarity on source memory, but recent work has suggested that source memory judgements are affected when test stimuli are processed with greater fluency as a result of priming. The present experiments investigated the relationship between fluency and the accuracy of source memory decisions. Participants studied words presented with different source attributes. During test, they identified words that gradually clarified on screen through progressive demasking, made old/new and source memory judgements, and reported confidence ratings for those words. Response times (RTs) recorded from the item identification task formed the basis of a fluency measure, and identification RTs were compared across categories of item recognition, source accuracy and confidence. Identification RTs were faster in trials with correct retrieval of source information compared with trials for which source could not be accurately retrieved. These findings are consistent with the assumption that familiarity-based processes are related to source memory judgements.
Natural Frequency Method: estimating the preferred walking speed of
Tyrannosaurus rex
based on tail natural frequency
Authors: van Bijlert Pasha A. , van Soest A. J. ‘Knoek’ , Schulp Anne S.
Published: April 2021

Locomotor energetics are an important determinant of an animal's ecological niche. It is commonly assumed that animals minimize locomotor energy expenditure by selecting gait kinematics tuned to the natural frequencies of relevant body parts. We demonstrate that this allows estimation of the preferred step frequency and walking speed of
Tyrannosaurus rex
, using an approach we introduce as the Natural Frequency Method. Although the tail of bipedal dinosaurs was actively involved in walking, it was suspended passively by the caudal interspinous ligaments. These allowed for elastic energy storage, thereby reducing the metabolic cost of transport. In order for elastic energy storage to be high, step and natural frequencies would have to be matched. Using a 3D morphological reconstruction and a spring-suspended biomechanical model, we determined the tail natural frequency of
T. rex
(0.66 s
−1
, range 0.41–0.84), and the corresponding walking speed (1.28 m s
−1
, range 0.80–1.64), which we argue to be a good indicator of preferred walking speed (PWS). The walking speeds found here are lower than earlier estimations for large theropods, but agree quite closely with PWS of a diverse group of extant animals. The results are most sensitive to uncertainties regarding ligament moment arms, vertebral kinematics and ligament composition. However, our model formulation and method for estimation of walking speed are unaffected by assumptions regarding muscularity, and therefore offer an independent line of evidence within the field of dinosaur locomotion.
Quantum relaxation in a system of harmonic oscillators with time-dependent coupling
Authors: Lustosa Francisco Bento , Colin Samuel , Perez Bergliaffa Santiago E.
Published: April 2021

In the context of the de Broglie–Bohm pilot-wave theory, numerical simulations for simple systems have shown that states that are initially out of quantum equilibrium—thus violating the Born rule—usually relax over time to the expected |
ψ
|
2
distribution on a coarse-grained level. We analyse the relaxation of non-equilibrium initial distributions for a system of coupled one-dimensional harmonic oscillators in which the coupling depends explicitly on time through numerical simulations, focusing on the influence of different parameters such as the number of modes, the coarse-graining length and the coupling constant. We show that in general the system studied here tends to equilibrium, but the relaxation can be retarded depending on the values of the parameters, particularly to the one related to the strength of the interaction. Possible implications on the detection of relic non-equilibrium systems are discussed.
Adding potentials to superintegrable systems with symmetry
Authors: Fordy Allan P. , Huang Qing
Published: April 2021

In previous work, we have considered Hamiltonians associated with three-dimensional conformally flat spaces, possessing two-, three- and four-dimensional isometry algebras. Previously, our Hamiltonians have represented free motion, but here we consider the problem of adding potential functions in the presence of symmetry. Separable potentials in the three-dimensional space reduce to 3 or 4 parameter potentials for Darboux–Koenigs Hamiltonians. Other three-dimensional coordinate systems reveal connections between Darboux–Koenigs and other well-known super-integrable Hamiltonians, such as the Kepler problem and isotropic oscillator.
Inverse differential quadrature method: mathematical formulation and error analysis
Authors: Ojo Saheed O. , Trinh Luan C. , Khalid Hasan M. , Weaver Paul M.
Published: April 2021

Engineering systems are typically governed by systems of high-order differential equations which require efficient numerical methods to provide reliable solutions, subject to imposed constraints. The conventional approach by direct approximation of system variables can potentially incur considerable error due to high sensitivity of high-order numerical differentiation to noise, thus necessitating improved techniques which can better satisfy the requirements of numerical accuracy desirable in solution of high-order systems. To this end, a novel inverse differential quadrature method (iDQM) is proposed for approximation of engineering systems. A detailed formulation of iDQM based on integration and DQM inversion is developed separately for approximation of arbitrary low-order functions from higher derivatives. Error formulation is further developed to evaluate the performance of the proposed method, whereas the accuracy through convergence, robustness and numerical stability is presented through articulation of two unique concepts of the iDQM scheme, known as Mixed iDQM and Full iDQM. By benchmarking iDQM solutions of high-order differential equations of linear and nonlinear systems drawn from heat transfer and mechanics problems against exact and DQM solutions, it is demonstrated that iDQM approximation is robust to furnish accurate solutions without losing computational efficiency, and offer superior numerical stability over DQM solutions.
Evolutionary simulations clarify and reconcile biodiversity-disturbance models
Authors: Furness Euan N. , Garwood Russell J. , Mannion Philip D. , Sutton Mark D.
Published: April 2021

There is significant geographic variation in species richness. However, the nature of the underlying relationships, such as that between species richness and environmental stability, remains unclear. The stability-time hypothesis suggests that environmental instability reduces species richness by suppressing speciation and increasing extinction risk. By contrast, the patch-mosaic hypothesis suggests that small-scale environmental instability can increase species richness by providing a steady supply of non-equilibrium environments. Although these hypotheses are often applied to different time scales, their core mechanisms are in conflict. Reconciling these apparently competing hypotheses is key to understanding how environmental conditions shape the distribution of biodiversity. Here, we use REvoSim, an individual-based, eco-evolutionary system, to model the evolution of sessile organisms in environments with varying magnitudes and scales of environmental instability. We demonstrate that when environments have substantial permanent heterogeneity, a high level of localized environmental instability reduces biodiversity, whereas in environments lacking permanent heterogeneity, high levels of localized instability increase biodiversity. By contrast, broad-scale environmental instability, acting on the same time scale, invariably reduces biodiversity. Our results provide a new view of the biodiversity–disturbance relationship that reconciles contrasting hypotheses within a single model and implies constraints on the environmental conditions under which those hypotheses apply. These constraints can inform attempts to conserve adaptive potential in different environments during the current biodiversity crisis.
A multi-faceted comparative perspective on elevational beta-diversity: the patterns and their causes
Authors: Du Yuanbao , Fan Liqing , Xu Zhenghui , Wen Zhixin , Cai Tianlong , Feijo Anderson , Hu Junhua , Lei Fumin , Yang Qisen , Qiao Huijie
Published: April 2021

The observed patterns and underlying mechanisms of elevational beta-diversity have been explored intensively, but multi-dimensional comparative studies remain scarce. Herein, across distinct beta-diversity components, dimensions and species groups, we designed a multi-faceted comparative framework aiming to reveal the general rules in the observed patterns and underlying causes of elevational beta-diversity. We have found that: first, the turnover process dominated altitudinal patterns of species beta-diversity (
β
sim
>
β
sne
), whereas the nestedness process appeared relatively more important for elevational trait dissimilarity (
β
funcsim
<
β
funcsne
); second, the taxonomic turnover was relative higher than its phylogenetic and functional analogues (
β
sim
>
β
phylosim
/
β
funcsim
), conversely, nestedness-resultant trait dissimilarity tended to be higher than the taxonomic and phylogenetic measures (
β
funcsne
>
β
sne
/
β
phylosne
); and third, as elevational distance increased, the contradicting dynamics of environmental filtering and limiting similarity have jointly led the elevational patterns of beta-diversity, especially at taxonomic dimension. Based on these findings, we infer that the species turnover among phylogenetic relatives sharing similar functional attributes appears to be the main cause of shaping the altitudinal patterns of multi-dimensional beta-diversity. Owing to the methodological limitation in the randomization approach, currently, it remains extremely challenging to distinguish the influence of the neutral process from the offset between opposing niche-based processes. Despite the complexities and uncertainties during species assembling, with a multi-dimensional comparative perspective, this work offers us several important commonalities of elevational beta-diversity dynamics.
Eusociality through conflict dissolution
Authors: González-Forero Mauricio , Peña Jorge
Published: April 2021

Eusociality, where largely unreproductive offspring help their mothers reproduce, is a major form of social organization. An increasingly documented feature of eusociality is that mothers induce their offspring to help by means of hormones, pheromones or behavioural displays, with evidence often indicating that offspring help voluntarily. The co-occurrence of maternal influence and offspring voluntary help may be explained by what we call the converted helping hypothesis, whereby maternally manipulated helping subsequently becomes voluntary. Such hypothesis requires that parent-offspring conflict is eventually dissolved—for instance, if the benefit of helping increases sufficiently over evolutionary time. We show that help provided by maternally manipulated offspring can enable the mother to sufficiently increase her fertility to transform parent-offspring conflict into parent-offspring agreement. This conflict-dissolution mechanism requires that helpers alleviate maternal life-history trade-offs, and results in reproductive division of labour, high queen fertility and honest queen signalling suppressing worker reproduction—thus exceptionally recovering diverse features of eusociality. As such trade-off alleviation seemingly holds widely across eusocial taxa, this mechanism offers a potentially general explanation for the origin of eusociality, the prevalence of maternal influence, and the offspring’s willingness to help. Overall, our results explain how a major evolutionary transition can happen from ancestral conflict.
From foraging trails to transport networks: how the quality-distance trade-off shapes network structure
Authors: Lecheval Valentin , Larson Hannah , Burns Dominic D. R. , Ellis Samuel , Powell Scott , Donaldson-Matasci Matina C. , Robinson Elva J. H.
Published: April 2021

Biological systems are typically dependent on transportation networks for the efficient distribution of resources and information. Revealing the decentralized mechanisms underlying the generative process of these networks is key in our global understanding of their functions and is of interest to design, manage and improve human transport systems. Ants are a particularly interesting taxon to address these issues because some species build multi-sink multi-source transport networks analogous to human ones. Here, by combining empirical field data and modelling at several scales of description, we show that pre-existing mechanisms of recruitment with positive feedback involved in foraging can account for the structure of complex ant transport networks. Specifically, we find that emergent group-level properties of these empirical networks, such as robustness, efficiency and cost, can arise from models built on simple individual-level behaviour addressing a quality-distance trade-off by the means of pheromone trails. Our work represents a first step in developing a theory for the generation of effective multi-source multi-sink transport networks based on combining exploration and positive reinforcement of best sources.
Bacteroides luhongzhouii sp. nov. and Bacteroides zhangwenhongii sp. nov., isolated from human faeces
Authors: Ge Yajun , Zhang Gui , Yang Jing , Lai Xin-He , Jin Dong , Lu Shan , Pu Ji , Huang Ying , Luo Xuelian , Zheng Han , Zhang Xiaoyan , Xu Jianguo
Published: April 2021

Four unknown strains, characterized as Gram-stain-negative, strictly anaerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped, were isolated from fresh faeces of healthy humans in PR China. Pairwise sequence comparisons of the 16S rRNA genes showed that these isolates were separated into two clusters. Cluster I (strains HF-5141T and HF-106) was most closely related to

Bacteroides xylanisolvens

XB1AT (98.0–98.3 % similarity) and

Bacteroides ovatus

ATCC 8483T (97.3–97.5 %), whereas cluster II (strains HF-5287T and HF-5300) exhibited a similarity range of 96.8–97.0 % to

Bacteroides finegoldii

JCM 13345T, 96.7–96.9 % to

Bacteroides faecis

MAJ27T and 96.4–96.5 % to

Bacteroides xylanisolvens

XB1AT. The DNA G+C contents of type strains HF-5141T and HF-5287T were 41.5 and 42.6 mol%, respectively. These strains had anteiso-C15 : 0 as the major cellular fatty acid, MK-9 and MK-11 as the predominant respiratory quinones, and phosphatidylethanolamine, aminophospholipids and phospholipids as major polar lipids, which is typical for members of the genus

Bacteroides

. However, the average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values, accompanied by different phenotypic and biochemical characteristics, distinguished them from their corresponding closest relatives as well as from other recognized members of the genus

Bacteroides

. Therefore, strains HF-5141T and HF-5287T represent two novel species in the genus

Bacteroides

, for which the names Bacteroides luhongzhouii sp. nov. and Bacteroides zhangwenhongii sp. nov. are proposed, with HF-5141T (=CGMCC 1.16787T=GDMCC 1.1591T=JCM 33480T) and HF-5287T (=CGMCC 1.16724T=GDMCC 1.1590T=JCM 33481T) as type strains.
Forecast of the covid19 epidemic in France
Authors: Pottier Loïc
Published: April 2021

With a mathematical method based on linear algebra, from open access data (data.gouv.fr, google, apple) we produce forecasts for the number of patients in intensive care in France with an average error of 4% at 7 days, 7% at 14 days, 8% at 21 days, 10% at one month, 17% at 2 months, and 31% at 3 months. For the other epidemic indicators, the error is on average 6% at 7 days and 25% at 2 months.
Gender differences in the determinants of willingness to get the COVID-19 vaccine among the working-age population in Japan
Authors: Ishimaru Tomohiro , Okawara Makoto , Ando Hajime , Hino Ayako , Nagata Tomohisa , Tateishi Seiichiro , Tsuji Mayumi , Matsuda Shinya , Fujino Yoshihisa ,   for the CORoNaWork Project
Published: April 2021

Many factors are related to vaccination intentions. However, gender differences in the determinants of intention to get the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine have not been fully investigated. This study examined gender differences in the determinants of willingness to get the COVID-19 vaccine among the working-age population in Japan. We conducted a cross-sectional study of Japanese citizens aged 20–65 years using an online self-administered questionnaire in December 2020. Logistic regression analysis was performed. Among 27,036 participants (13,814 men and 13,222 women), the percentage who were willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine was lower among women than among men (33.0% vs. 41.8%). Age and education level showed a gender gap regarding the association with willingness to get the COVID-19 vaccine: men who were older or had a higher level of education were more willing to get the vaccine, whereas women aged 30–49 years and those with a higher level of education showed a relatively low willingness to get the vaccine. For both men and women, marriage, higher annual household income, underlying disease, current smoking, vaccination for influenza during the current season, and fear of COVID-19 transmission were linked to a higher likelihood of being willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. These findings give important insight into identifying target groups in need of intervention regarding COVID-19 vaccination, especially among women. Providing education about COVID-19 and influenza vaccination in the workplace may be an effective strategy to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake.
Genetic risk prediction of COVID-19 susceptibility and severity in the Indian population
Authors: Prakrithi P. , Lakra Priya ,   The Indian Genome Variation Consortium, Sundar Durai , Kapoor Manav , Mukerji Mitali , Gupta Ishaan
Published: April 2021

Host genetic variants can determine the susceptibility to COVID-19 infection and severity as noted in a recent Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS) by Pairo-Castineira et al.1. Given the prominent genetic differences in Indian sub-populations as well as differential prevalence of COVID-19, here, we deploy the previous study and compute genetic risk scores in different Indian sub-populations that may predict the severity of COVID-19 outcomes in them. We computed polygenic risk scores (PRSs) in different Indian sub-populations with the top 100 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with a p-value cutoff of 10−6 derived from the previous GWAS summary statistics1. We selected SNPs overlapping with the Indian Genome Variation Consortium (IGVC) and with similar frequencies in the Indian population. For each population, median PRS was calculated, and a correlation analysis was performed to test the association of these genetic risk scores with COVID-19 mortality. We found a varying distribution of PRS in Indian sub-populations. Correlation analysis indicates a positive linear association between PRS and COVID-19 deaths. This was not observed with non-risk alleles in Indian sub-populations. Our analyses suggest that Indian sub-populations differ with respect to the genetic risk for developing COVID-19 mediated critical illness. Combining PRSs with other observed risk-factors in a Bayesian framework can provide a better prediction model for ascertaining high COVID-19 risk groups. This has a potential utility in the design of more effective vaccine disbursal schemes.
Convergent abnormalities of β-amyloid deposition, glucose metabolism, and fMRI activity in the dorsal precuneus in subjective cognitive decline
Authors: Li Xuan-Yu , Yuan Li-Xia , Zhou Fei-Fan , Ding Chang-Chang , Guo Teng-Fei , Du Wen-Ying , Jiang Jie-Hui , Jessen Frank , Zang Yu-Feng , Han Ying
Published: April 2021

Background

There has been no report on convergent local abnormalities of multiple functional brain imaging modalities including β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition, glucose metabolism, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) activities for participants with subjective cognitive decline (SCD).

Methods

Fifty participants with SCD and 15 normal controls (NC) were scanned with both [18F]-florbetapir positron emission tomography (PET) and [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose PET, each PET sacn accompanied with simultaneous RS-fMRI. Voxel-wise metrics were analyzed, including Aβ deposition, glucose metabolism, and three local metrics for RS-fMRI, i.e., amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and degree centrality (DC).

Results

The SCD group showed increased Aβ deposition and increased glucose metabolism (P < 0.05, corrected), as well as decreased ALFF, ReHo, and DC (P < 0.05, uncorrected) in the same area of the left dorsal precuneus (dPCu). The dPCu showed negative resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) with the default mode network (DMN). Regarding global Aβ deposition positivity, the Aβ deposition in the dPCu showed a gradient change, i.e., SCD+ > SCD- > NC-. Further, both SCD+ and SCD- showed increased glucose metabolism and decreased RS-fMRI metrics in the dPCu.

Conclusions

The convergent abnormal activities in the dPCu of SCD indicate that the dPCu is an early vulnerable region. The anti-RSFC of the dPCu with DMN supports that the earliest symptoms might be more related to other cognitive functions (e.g., unfocused attention) than episodic memory. (Funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03370744.)
COVID-19 epidemic scenarios into 2021 based on observed key superspreading events
Authors: Santana-Cibrian Mario , Acuña-Zegarra M. Adrian , Rodríguez Carlos E. , Mena Ramsés H. , Velasco-Hernandez Jorge X.
Published: April 2021

Key high transmission dates for the year 2020 are used to create scenarios of the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in several states of Mexico for 2021. These scenarios are obtained through the estimation of a time-dependent contact rate, where the main assumption is that disease behavior is heavily determined by the mobility and social activity of the population during holidays and other important calendar dates. First, changes in the effective contact rate on predetermined dates of 2020 are estimated. Then, this information is used to propose different scenarios for the number of cases and deaths for 2021. The fundamental assumptions behind this methodology are that the effective contact rate incorporates the main superspreading transmission events during last year, that each region has an independent epidemic not explicitly interconnected with other regions and, finally, that there are no new highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants active during the timeline of the forecasts. Also, several levels of vaccination are considered to analyze their impact on the projections of the epidemic curve. The objective is to generate a range of scenarios that could be useful to evaluate the possible evolution of the epidemic and its likely impact on incidence and mortality.
Impact of vaccination and non-pharmaceutical interventions on SARS-CoV-2 dynamics in Switzerland
Authors: Shattock Andrew J. , Le Rutte Epke A. , Dünner Robert P. , Sen Swapnoleena , Kelly Sherrie L. , Chitnis Nakul , Penny Melissa A.
Published: April 2021

As vaccination coverage against SARS-CoV-2 increases amidst the emergence and spread of more infectious and potentially more deadly viral variants, decisions on timing and extent of relaxing effective, but unsustainable, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) need to be made. An individual- based transmission model of SARS-CoV-2 dynamics, OpenCOVID, was developed to compare the impact of various vaccination and NPI strategies on the COVID-19 epidemic in Switzerland. We estimate that any relaxation of NPIs in March 2021 will lead to increasing cases, hospitalisations, and deaths resulting in a ‘third wave’ in spring and into summer 2021. However, we find a cautious phased relaxation can substantially reduce population-level morbidity and mortality. We find that faster vaccination campaign can offset the size of such a wave, allowing more flexibility for NPI to be relaxed sooner. Our sensitivity analysis revealed that model results are particularly sensitive to the infectiousness of variant B.1.1.7.
Assessing the Mortality Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Florida State Prisons
Authors: Marquez Neal Marcos , Littman Aaron , Rossi Victoria , Everett Michael , Tyagi Erika , Johnson Hope , Dolovich Sharon
Published: April 2021

Background

The increased risk of COVID-19 infection among incarcerated individuals due to environmental hazards is well known and recent studies have highlighted the higher rates of infection and mortality prisoners in the United States face due to COVID-19. However, the impact of COVID-19 on all-cause mortality rates in incarcerated populations has not been studied.

Methods

Using data reported by the Florida Department of Corrections on prison populations and mortality events we conducted a retrospective cohort study of all individuals incarcerated in Florida state prisons between 2015 and 2020. We calculated excess deaths by estimating age-specific expected deaths from mortality trends in 2015 through 2019 and taking the difference between observed and expected deaths during the pandemic period. We calculated life table measures using standard demographic techniques and assessed significant yearly changes using bootstrapping.

Findings

The Florida Department of Corrections reported 510 total deaths from March 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 among the state prison population. This was 42% higher (rate ratio 1.42, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.89) than the expected number of deaths in light of mortality rates for previous years. Reported COVID-19 deaths in a month were positively correlated with estimated excess deaths (80.4%, p <.01). Using age-specific mortality estimates, we found that life expectancy at age 20 declined by 4 years (95% CI 2.06-6.57) between 2019 and 2020 for the Florida prison population.

Interpretation

The Florida prison population saw a significant increase in all-cause mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic period, leading to a decrease in life expectancy of more than four years. Life years lost by the Florida prison population were likely far greater than those lost by the general United States population, as reported by other studies. This difference in years lost highlights the need for increased interventions to protect vulnerable incarcerated populations during pandemics.

Funding

Vital Projects Fund, Arnold Ventures, US Centers for Disease Control, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Development and validation of a deep learning algorithm using fundus photographs to predict 10-year risk of ischemic cardiovascular diseases among Chinese population
Authors: Ma Yanjun , Xiong Jianhao , Zhu Yidan , Ge Zongyuan , Hua Rong , Fu Meng , Li Chenglong , Wang Bin , Dong Li , Zhao Xin , Chen Jili , Rong Ce , He Chao , Chen Yuzhong , Wang Zhaohui , Wei Wenbin , Xie Wuxiang , Wu Yangfeng
Published: April 2021

Background

Ischemic cardiovascular diseases (ICVD) risk predict models are valuable but limited by its requirement for multidimensional medical information including that from blood drawing. A convenient and affordable alternative is in demand.

Objectives

To develop and validate a deep learning algorithm to predict 10-year ICVD risk using retinal fundus photographs in Chinese population.

Methods

We firstly labeled fundus photographs with natural logarithms of ICVD risk estimated by a previously validated 10-year Chinese ICVD risk prediction model for 390,947 adults randomly selected (95%) from a health checkup dataset. An algorithm using convolutional neural network was then developed to predict the estimated 10-year ICVD risk by fundus images. The algorithm was validated using both internal dataset (the other 5%) and external dataset from an independent source (sample size = 1,309). Adjusted R2and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the goodness of fit.

Results

The adjusted R2between natural logarithms of the predicted and calculated ICVD risks was 0.876 and 0.638 in the internal and external validations, respectively. For detecting ICVD risk ≥ 5% and ≥ 7.5%, the algorithm achieved an AUC of 0.971 (95% CI: 0.967–0.975) and 0.976 (95% CI: 0.973–0.980) in internal validation, and 0.859 (95% CI: 0.822–0.895) and 0.876 (95% CI: 0.816–0.837) in external validation.

Conclusions

The deep learning algorithm developed in the study using fundus photographs to predict 10-year ICVD risk in Chinese population had fairly good capability in predicting the risk and may have values to be widely promoted considering its advances in easy use and lower cost. Further studies with long term follow up are warranted.
A Feasibility Trial to Evaluate the Composite Efficacy of Inhaled Nitric Oxide in the Treatment of Covid 19 Pneumonia : Impact on Viral Load and Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Moni Merlin , Madathil Thushara , Sathyapalan Dipu T , Menon Veena , Gutjahr Georg , Edathadathil Fabia , Sureshkumar Deepthi , Prasanna Preetha , Jose Soumya , Jerome Roshni , Krishnan Ajai , Pillai Indulekha C , Kumar Geetha , Nair Bipin , Jayant Aveek
Published: April 2021

Background

Hypoxic patients with Covid 19 pneumonia are at high risk of adverse outcomes. Inhaled Nitric Oxide (iNO) inhibits viral entry and replication of SARS-CoV2 and in vivo proof of its antiviral actions is unavailable to date. This feasibility study was conducted to test the antiviral effects of iNO and to describe clinical outcomes.

Trial design and Methods

The phase II open label, randomised controlled feasibility trial(ISRCTN 16806663) conducted at a South Indian tertiary care referral centre, recruited COVID-19 pneumonia patients with hypoxic respiratory failure and allocated them into iNO cases and control groups(1:1). iNO was administered as pulses for 30 minutes for three consecutive days at 12-hour intervals in cases, in addition to standard of care received by the control group. The primary outcome was decline in viral load, as defined by a surrogate change in the RT-PCR cycle threshold. The co-primary clinical outcome was time to improvement of >2 points on the WHO Ordinal Scale(WOS).

Results

Among the 29 patients enrolled, 14 iNO cases and 11 controls completed the study protocol. Longitudinal analysis revealed a significant difference in the decline (p <0.002, N= 23) in viral load among the iNO cases compared to controls. The proportion of patients achieving 2-point improvement in the WOS within 14 days of randomisation was significantly higher in the iNO cases (n=11, 79%), as compared to the controls (n=4, 36%) (p=0.05).

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated significant improvement in virological and clinical outcomes among patients with adjunct iNO therapy and no adverse effects were reported.
Preventing childhood obesity primary schools: a realist review from UK perspective
Authors: Ijaz Sharea , Nobles James , Johnson Laura , Moore Theresa , Savović Jelena , Jago Russell
Published: April 2021

Objective

to identify contextual and mechanistic factors associated with outcomes of school-based obesity prevention interventions which may be implementable in UK primary schools.

Design

realist synthesis following REMESES guidance. We developed an initial programme theory through expert consensus and stakeholder input and refined it with data from included studies to produce a final programme theory including all context-mechanism-outcome configurations.

Setting

primary schools

Participants

children aged 4-12

Interventions

included in the 2019 Cochrane review on prevention of childhood obesity

Outcomes

BMIz

Results

We included 24 studies comprised of 71 documents in our synthesis. We found that contextual factors such as baseline BMIz affects intervention mechanisms variably, while girls, older children and those with higher parental education consistently benefitted more from school-based interventions. Key mechanisms associated with beneficial effect were sufficient intervention dose, environmental modification, and the intervention components working together as a whole. Education alone did not produce favourable outcomes.

Conclusions

Interventions should go beyond education and incorporate a sufficient dose to trigger change in BMIz. Contextual factors deserve consideration when commissioning interventions to avoid widening health inequalities.
Pharmacokinetics and safety of XAV-19, a swine glyco-humanized polyclonal anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody, for COVID-19-related moderate pneumonia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase IIa study
Authors: Gaborit Benjamin , Dailly Eric , Vanhove Bernard , Josien Régis , Lacombe Karine , Dubee Vincent , Ferre Virginie , Brouard Sophie , Ader Florence , Vibet Marie-Anne , Thuaut Aurélie Le , Danger Richard , Flet Laurent , Omnes Anne , Berly Laetitia , Chiffoleau Anne , Jobert Alexandra , Duvaux Odile , Raffi François ,   POLYCOR trial group
Published: April 2021

Background

We assessed the pharmacokinetics and safety of XAV-19, a swine glyco-humanized polyclonal antibody against SARS-CoV-2, in COVID-19-related moderate pneumonia. In vitro, 100% neutralization activity is seen with XAV-19 concentrations above 5 μg/mL.

Methods

In this phase 2a trial, adults with COVID-19-related moderate pneumonia of ≤10 days duration were randomized to infusion of XAV-19 0.5 mg/kg at day 1 and day 5 (group 1), 2 mg/kg at day 1 and day 5 (group 2), 2 mg/kg at day 1 (group 3) or placebo.

Results

Eighteen patients (n=7 for group 1, n=1 for group 2, n=5 for group 3, and n=5 for placebo) were enrolled. Baseline characteristics were similar across groups, XAV-19 serum concentrations (μg/mL, median, range) at Cmaxand at day 8 were 9.1 (5.2-18.1) and 6.4 (2.8-11.9), 71.5 and 47.2, and 50.4 (29.1-55.0) and 20.3 (12.0-22.7) for groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (p=0.012). Terminal half-life (median, range) was estimated at 11.4 (5.5-13.9) days for 2 mg/kg of XAV-19 at day 1. Serum XAV-19 concentrations were above the target concentration of 10 μg/mL (tow fold the in vitro 100% inhibitory concentration [IC100]) from the end of perfusion to more than 8 days for XAV-19 2 mg/kg at day 1. No hypersensitivity or infusion-related reactions were reported during treatment, there was no discontinuation for adverse events and no serious adverse events related to study drug.

Conclusions

Single intravenous dose of 2 mg/kg of XAV-19 demonstrated high serum concentrations, predictive of potent durable neutralizing activity with good tolerability.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT04453384

Main point

In this first-in-human trial including patients with COVID-19-related pneumonia, a single 2mg/kg dose of a swine glyco-humanized polyclonal anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody, achieved serum concentrations above the target of neutralization threshold for 8 days in all patients, with good tolerability and safety.
The genetics of hereditary cancer risk syndromes in Brazil: a comprehensive analysis of 1682 patients
Authors: de Oliveira Jarbas Maciel , Zurro Nuria Bengala , Coelho Antonio Victor Campos , Caraciolo Marcel Pinheiro , de Alexandre Rodrigo Bertollo , Cervato Murilo Castro , Minillo Renata Moldenhauer , de Vasconcelos Carvalho Neto George , Grivicich Ivana , de Oliveira Filho João Bosco
Published: April 2021

Hereditary cancer risk syndromes are caused by germline variants. Most studies on hereditary cancer have been conducted in white populations. We report the largest study in Brazilian individuals with multiple ethnicities. We genotyped 1682 individuals from all regions of the country with Next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels. Most were women with personal/family history of cancer, mostly breast and ovarian. We identified 321 pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants in 305 people (18.1%) distributed among 32 genes. Most were on BRCA1 and BRCA2 (129 patients, 26.2% and 14.3% of all P/LP, respectively), MUTYH (42 monoallelic patients, 13.1%), PALB2 (25, 7.8%), Lynch syndrome genes (17, 5.3%), and TP53 (17, 5.3%). Transheterozygosity prevalence in our sample was 0.89% (15/1682). BRCA1/BRCA2 double heterozygosity rate was 0.78% (1/129) for BRCA variants carriers and 0.06% (1/1682) overall. We evaluated the performance of the genetic testing criteria by NCCN and Brazilian National Health Agency (ANS). We observed false negative rates of 17.3% and 44.2%, meaning that both failed to detect a substantial part of P/LP positive patients. Our results add knowledge on the Brazilian spectrum of cancer risk germline variants, demonstrate that large multigene panels have high rates of positivity, and indicate that Brazilian testing guidelines should be improved.
Racial Differences in Liver Cancer Incidence and Risk Factors Among a Low Socioeconomic Population
Authors: Muhimpundu Sylvie , Conway Baqiyyah N. , Andersen Shaneda Warren , Lipworth Loren , Steinwandel Mark D. , Blot William J. , Shu Xiao-Ou , Sudenga Staci L.
Published: April 2021

Background

Liver cancer incidence in the United States is higher among African Americans compared to Whites. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in risk factors associated with Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among Whites and African Americans from low socioeconomic backgrounds in the Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS).

Methods

The SCCS is a prospective cohort study with participants from the southeastern US. HCC incidence rates were calculated. Multivariable Cox regression was used to calculate HCC adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) associated with known baseline HCC risk factors for Whites and African Americans, separately.

Results

There were 294 incident HCC. The incidence rate ratio for HCCwas higher (IRR=1.4, 95%CI: 1.1-1.9) in African Americans compared to Whites. Whites saw a stronger association between self-reported Hepatitis C Virus (aHR= 19.24, 95%CI: 10.58-35.00) and diabetes (aHR= 3.55, 95%CI: 1.96-6.43) for the development of HCCcompared to African Americans (aHR= 7.73, 95%CI: 5.71-10.47 and aHR = 1.48, 95%CI: 1.06-2.06, respectively) even though the prevalence of these risk factors was similar between races. Smoking (aHR= 2.91, 95%CI: 1.87-4.52) and heavy alcohol consumption (aHR= 1.59, 95%CI: 1.19-2.11) were significantly associated with HCC risk among African Americans only.

Conclusions

In this large prospective cohort, we observed racial differences in HCC incidence and risk factors associated with HCC among African Americans and Whites.

Impact

Understanding HCC risk differences can assist prevention strategies that target people at high risk, potentially based on risk factors that differ by race.
A Retrospective Analysis of Feeding Practices and Complications in Patients with Critical Bronchiolitis on Non-invasive Respiratory Support
Authors: Lenihan Ariann , Ramos Vannessa , Nemec Nichole , Lukowski Joseph , Lee Junghyae , Kendall K. Meghan , Mahapatra Sidharth
Published: April 2021

Limited data exist regarding feeding pediatric patients managed on non-invasive respiratory support (NRS) modes that augment oxygentation and ventilation in the setting of respiratory failure. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to explore the safety of feeding patients managed on NRS with acute respiratory failure secondary to bronchiolitis. Children up to 2 years old with critical bronchiolitis managed on RAM, CPAP, or BiPAP were included. Of the 178 eligible patients, 64 were reportedly NPO while 114 were fed (EN). Overall equivalent in severity of illness, younger patients populated the EN group, while the NPO group experienced a higher incidence of intubation. Duration of PICU stay and NRS were shorter in the NPO group, though intubation eliminated the former difference. Within the EN group, ninety percent had feeds initiated within 48 hours and 94% reached full feeds within 7 days of NRS initiation, with an 8% complication and <1% aspiration rate. Reported complications did not result in escalation of respiratory support. Notably, a significant improvement in heart rate and respiratory rate was noted after feeds initiation. Taken together, our study supports the practice of early enteral nutrition in patients with critical bronchiolitis requiring non-invasive respiratory support.
Structural Brain Correlates of Cognitive Function in Schizophrenia: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Khalil Marianne , Hollander Philippine , Raucher-Chéné Delphine , Lepage Martin , Lavigne Katie M.
Published: April 2021

Schizophrenia is characterized by cognitive impairments and widespread structural brain alterations (e.g., decreased volume, thickness, surface area). Brain structure-cognition associations have been extensively studied in schizophrenia, typically involving individual cognitive domains or brain regions of interest. Findings in overlapping and diffuse brain regions may point to structural alterations in large-scale brain networks. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis examining whether brain structure-cognition associations can be explained in terms of biologically meaningful brain networks. Of 7,621 screened articles, 88 were included in a series of meta-analyses assessing publication bias, heterogeneity, and study quality. Significant associations were found between overall brain structure and eight cognitive domains (speed of processing, attention/vigilance, working/verbal/visual memory, executive function, social cognition, and verbal fluency). Brain structure within functionally defined networks (default, dorsal/ventral attention, frontoparietal, limbic, somatosensory, visual) and external structures (amygdala, hippocampus and cerebellum) typically showed associations with conceptually related cognitive domains, with higher-level domains (e.g., executive function, social cognition) associated with more networks. These findings suggest brain structure- cognition associations in schizophrenia may follow network architecture.
Influenza outbreak, disease transmission rate and mortality risk in the United States (2021 to 2050 Projection)
Authors: Etaware Peter M.
Published: April 2021

Influenza and COVID-19 pandemics are among the deadliest respiratory diseases recorded in the history of humanity. Influenza infections are difficult to diagnose and nearly impossible to predict because the disease symptoms changes as the pathogen(s) evolve. The U.S. was the case study for this research (Latitude: 37.0902°N and Longitude: 95.7129°W). The principle employed in the design of the influenza forecast model was “The Integrated Independent System of Disease Prediction (IISDP)”, where the functionality of one forecast model depends on the predictive capacity of one or more forecast models. It was predicted that 49,734,427 individuals will be infected in 2021 out of the current estimation of 322,900.000 U.S. citizens (only about 1.5% of the total population). The situation was estimated by Etaware-Pred-2021 to worsen in 2050 (300,803,433 infected individuals out of the estimated 400,000,000 U.S. citizens), with a geometric increase in the ratio of infected individuals from 1.5% (in 2021) to 75.2% (in 2050), if necessary health precautions fail. unless there are potent influenza vaccines in circulation, total compliance to influenza vaccination and a high level of personal hygiene among U.S. citizens, influenza infection will become a global threat to humanity. These situations can be averted if the U.S. citizens act accordingly.
Association between Influenza-like illness and acute myocardial infarction patients: A case-control study
Authors: Shokri Mehran , Mohseni Seyed Morteza , Ganji Ghasem Faghanzadeh , Babazadeh Arefeh , Amin Kamyar , Barary Mohammad , Hasanpour Amirhossein , Esmailzadeh Malihe , Ebrahimpour Soheil
Published: April 2021

Seasonal Influenza can cause cardiovascular complications. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate recent influenza-like illnesses (ILI) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients compared to other hospitalized patients as the control group during the cold season in the north of Iran. This retrospective case-control study included 300 patients (150 AMI patients and 150 controls) aged ≥ 50 years hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or other conditions between September 22, 2019, and March 15, 2020. Patients in each group were frequency-matched for gender and age range. The primary exposure was a recent ILI (fever ≥ 37.8°C, cough, and sore throat) in the past month. The patients’ mean age was 64.42 ± 9.47 years, with a range of 50-94 years. Forty-five (15%) patients had diseases that met the ILI criteria. The AMI group patients significantly reported more ILI than controls (adjusted OR: 3.04, 95% CI: 1.02 to 9.09, p < 0.001). On the other hand, patients who received the influenza vaccine were significantly less likely to have an acute myocardial infarction than those who did not receive the vaccine (adjusted OR: 0.02, 95% CI: 0.001 to 0.38, p = 0.006). In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that ILI can significantly increase the risk of AMI. Also, it was confirmed that Influenza vaccination could significantly reduce the risk of AMI.
Sensitive on-site detection of SARS-CoV-2 by ID NOW COVID-19
Authors: Krause Eva , Puyskens Andreas , Bourquain Daniel , Brinkmann Annika , Biere Barbara , Schaade Lars , Michel Janine , Nitsche Andreas
Published: April 2021

Point of care detection of SARS-CoV-2 is one pillar in a containment strategy and important to break infection chains. Here we report the sensitive, specific and robust detection of SARS-CoV-2 and respective variants of concern by the ID NOW COVID-19 device.
Deep learning identifies pathological abnormalities predictive of graft loss in kidney transplant biopsies
Authors: Yi Zhengzi , Salem Fadi , Menon Madhav C , Keung Karen , Xi Caixia , Hultin Sebastian , Al Rasheed M. Rizwan Haroon , Li Li , Su Fei , Sun Zeguo , Wei Chengguo , Huang Weiqing , Fredericks Samuel , Lin Qisheng , Banu Khadija , Wong Germaine , Rogers Natasha M. , Farouk Samira , Cravedi Paolo , Shingde Meena , Smith R. Neal , Rosales Ivy A. , O’Connell Philip J. , Colvin Robert B. , Murphy Barbara , Zhang Weijia
Published: April 2021

Background

Interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, and inflammation are major contributors to renal allograft failure. Here we seek an objective, quantitative pathological assessment of these lesions to improve predictive utility.

Methods

We constructed a deep-learning-based pipeline recognizing normal vs. abnormal kidney tissue compartments and mononuclear leukocyte (MNL) infiltrates from Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stained slides of transplant biopsies (training: n=60, testing: n=33) that quantified pathological lesions specific for interstitium, tubules and MNL infiltration. The pipeline was applied to 789 whole slide images (WSI) from baseline (n=478, pre-implantation) and 12-month post-transplant (n=311) protocol biopsies in two independent cohorts (GoCAR: 404 patients, AUSCAD: 212 patients) of transplant recipients to correlate composite lesion features with graft loss.

Results

Our model accurately recognized kidney tissue compartments and MNLs. The digital features significantly correlated with Banff scores, but were more sensitive to subtle pathological changes below the thresholds in Banff scores. The Interstitial and Tubular Abnormality Score (ITAS) in baseline samples was highly predictive of 1-year graft loss (p=2.8e-05), while a Composite Damage Score (CDS) in 12-month post-transplant protocol biopsies predicted later graft loss (p=7.3e-05). ITAS and CDS outperformed Banff scores or clinical predictors with superior graft loss prediction accuracy. High/intermediate risk groups stratified by ITAS or CDS also demonstrated significantly higher incidence of eGFR decline and subsequent graft damage.

Conclusions

This deep-learning approach accurately detected and quantified pathological lesions from baseline or post-transplant biopsies, and demonstrated superior ability for prediction of posttransplant graft loss with potential application as a prevention, risk stratification or monitoring tool.