bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lifecycle management in government-driven open source projects – practical framework
Authors: Henttonen Katja , Kääriäinen Jukka , Kylmäaho Jani
Published: March 2022

In many parts of the world, public sector organizations are increasingly interested in collaborating across organizational (and even national) boundaries to develop software solutions under an open licence. However, without sound lifecycle management practices, the full benefits of open collaboration are not achieved and projects fail to achieve sustained success. This paper introduces a lifecycle management model and framework for government-driven open-source projects and reports about its use in a real-life case study. Our focus is on lifecycle management activities which take place between deployment and end-of-life. The framework was developed iteratively through a series of focus group discussions with representatives of public sector organizations. After the framework had been taken into use in our real-life case project, individual qualitative interviews were conducted to collect experiences on its benefits and weaknesses. According to the initial evidence, the deployment of the framework seems to have brought concrete benefits to the project, e.g. by contributing positively to community growth, software quality and inter-organizational learning.
Alphanumeric vs. Numeric Token Systems and the Healthcare Experience: Field Evidence from Healthcare Delivery in India
Authors: Rathee Shelly , Narula Kritika , Mishra Arul , Mishra Himanshu
Published: March 2022

Long wait times for patients are an important health policy issue in many countries, especially developing countries in which there is generally poorer health infrastructure, appointments are not very common, and the opportunity cost of competing life priorities is high. In this research, we examine via field experiments in health clinics in India whether providing numeric versus alphanumeric wait tokens can affect pain perceptions of patients and whether the type of tokens can also affect their wait-time perception and visit satisfaction. Our research provides initial evidence that alphanumeric tokens, in most cases, lead to lower pain perception, lower wait-time perception, and higher satisfaction levels with the healthcare system compared with numeric tokens. However, this is not always true; we also demonstrate boundary conditions when numeric tokens perform better and when the differences between tokens are attenuated. We conducted field experiments in three separate clinics and vary the type of tokens (numeric versus alphanumeric) used to test multiple token operationalizations in varied healthcare contexts. We explain our findings using the cognitive strategy of wait-time perception and discuss why this strategy is helpful for a developing country.

This paper was accepted by Matthew Shum, marketing.

Supplemental Material: The web appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4389 .
A Rare Case of Elevated Osmolar Gap in Diabetic Ketoacidosis/Hyperosmolar Hyperglycaemic State in the Absence of Concomitant Toxic Alcohol Ingestion
Authors: Fichadiya Hardik , Noori Muhammad Atif Masood , Khandait Harshwardhan , Patel Latika , Jesani Shruti
Published: April 2022

The serum osmolar gap, defined as the difference between measured osmolality and calculated osmolarity, is a convenient method to screen for toxins in serum. In normal circumstances, the difference between the two is 6–10 mol/kg. Typical contributors to serum osmolarity are sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, glucose and urea. An elevated gap, defined as a difference >10 mol/kg, can occur if a sufficient quantity of an additional solute other than those mentioned above is present in the serum or there are inaccuracies in sodium measurement secondary to hyperlipidaemia and hyperproteinaemia. An elevated serum osmolar gap should thus prompt clinicians to check for toxic alcohol levels. Treatment with fomepizole should not be delayed if suspicion is high. Isolated diabetic ketoacidosis can occasionally present with an elevated osmolar gap in the absence of concomitant alcohol ingestion. This finding is attributed to the production of acetone and glycerol.  We describe the case of a 62-year-old man presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis/hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state and an elevated osmolar gap in the absence of toxic alcohol ingestion.
NÃO SOMOS (TODAS) GAROTAS DINAMARQUESAS: Gênero, ciência e a produção de conhecimento em esquinas latinas
Authors: Favero Sofia
Published: March 2022

Com o objetivo de discutir a posição analítica que parte da travestilidade, este artigo considera os arranjos nosológicos dos manuais internacionais de saúde como incompatíveis com uma compreensão de gênero no território brasileiro. Problematiza, então, como tais narrativas advindas de uma tradição médica endereçam as travestis e pessoas trans ao lugar de sujeitos mediados por um saber prévio. São inauguradas, assim, disputas pela racionalidade no contexto acadêmico, onde tem sido possível deixar de ser “estudada” e passar a ser “estudiosa”. Não sem esforço, esse deslocamento faz com que uma série de desafios se desenvolva, tendo em vista que uma intelectualidade transfeminista não está dada a priori. Em contrapartida, situa a forma com que essas mesmas pessoas têm se insurgido epistemologicamente a partir da escrita para pensar suas próprias visões de mundo, apostando na crítica a um projeto de ciência tutelar como forma de produzir agência e de afirmar o conhecimento das ruas latinas.
PROMOÇÃO DE RESILIÊNCIA: a comunidade na percepção de juventudes periféricas
Authors: Ferreira Aurino Lima , Da Silva Maria Lúcia Ferreira , Da Cunha Djailton Pereira
Published: March 2022

Estudos envolvendo processos de promoção de resiliência em comunidades periféricas são escassos na literatura brasileira. Esta pesquisa qualitativa, exploratória participante, objetivou investigar as percepções de dez jovens periféricos em relação à comunidade em que vivem, no intuito de mapear possíveis processos de resiliência mobilizados a partir de uma experiência de formação humana de cinco anos com base na promoção de resiliência. Através da análise de conteúdo de entrevistas semiestruturadas foi levantada uma macrocategoria que trata da relação com a comunidade periférica. Os resultados indicam que a participação em processos de promoção de resiliência parece: ampliar a percepção da visão de comunidade para além da violência, incluindo-a como rede de apoio e cuidado de si e do outro; positivar a relação com a comunidade geralmente marginalizada pelo imaginário social e perceber a dimensão solidária e política da comunidade. Nesta perspectiva, a promoção de resiliência nas periferias pode assumir um caráter de aprender a sustentar uma vida de autoria, transcendendo os fins atuais dos modos adaptativos de resiliência e as formas de assujeitamento veiculadas pela sociedade atual.
Expressão corporal e ludicidade na educação infantil
Authors: Grigorowitschs Tamara
Published: March 2022

Este artigo trata do entrecruzamento dos universos da primeira infância, do brincar e da expressão corporal, buscando contribuir para a reflexão a respeito da dimensão lúdico-corporal nas práticas pedagógicas voltadas para essa faixa educacional. Serão abordados aspectos metodológicos e práticos, especificamente voltados para o trabalho com crianças de 3 a 5 anos de idade, que articulam artes e fazeres integrados, como a expressão corporal, a brincadeira, e a contação de histórias. De forma mais detalhada e aprofundada, trataremos dos seguintes tópicos: a dimensão lúdico-corporal na primeira infância; a análise de práticas de sensibilização e de criação em atividades lúdico-corporais; o planejamento de atividades lúdico-corporais (criação de roteiros, estabelecimento de ritmos para a atividade, uso dos espaços etc.); as possibilidades criativas no trabalho com histórias curtas, tendo a expressão corporal como uma de suas principais linguagens; e a integração das contribuições criativas das crianças, de modo que estas sejam tratadas sujeitos ativos nas atividades das quais participam.
UM MANIFESTO SOCIAL-DEMOCRATA: SUNKARA, Bhaskar. O Manifesto Socialista: em defesa da política radical numa era de extrema desigualdade. Tradução de Artur Renzo. 1ª ed. São Paulo: Boitempo, 2021.
Authors: Neto Guilherme Howes
Published: March 2022

O texto em tela propõe em seu título uma defesa de uma política radical numa era de extrema desigualdade
The Effects of Coronavirus on Human Health and Their Influence on Other Aspects of Life: A Scoping Review
Authors: Kewedar Said M.R. , Abulamoun Khaleel Adel Ahmed
Published: April 2022

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus originated from Wuhan city, which spread rapidly throughout the world after it hit China in December 2019 and became a global pandemic. There are two significant classes of the Coronavirus affecting human beings: SARS and MERS. Coronavirus is a positive-sense virus, an RNA virus with a single strand of RNA. And gets its title from the crown-like spikes on their surface. Presently, testing for COVID-19 is done by taking a nasal swab, tracheal aspirate, or bronchoalveolar samples and there are different conventional techniques are available for the detection like CT-scan, PCR, Sequencing, CRISPR, ELISA, LFA, LAMP, RT-PCR, and Rapid Antigen Test. COVID-19 treatment generally depends on the severity and/or the health status of the infected patient. The treatment procedure, at the beginning of the pandemic, includes the use of antiviral drugs which have limited availability. And clinical trials of vaccines are going on by different companies and some are released at the beginning of the COVID-19 currently, 10 vaccines are approved by the WHO. As more clinical examinations continue to be done, the availability of antivirals increases as well as vaccines. Preventive measures are social/physical distancing, masking, and isolation of infected individuals. There is an immense need to consider elective available resources to boost one’s immune system along with probiotics. Along with diminishing the pressure by expanding exercise and meditation. Although educational systems have used different learning management systems, there are concerns about the online teaching system in comparison to the traditional classroom teaching system. Our objective has been to examine the effects of COVID-19 on health systems globally and various aspects of human life as well.
An innovative change from face-to-face to remote assessment of clinical cases in BDS finals exams
Authors: Muthukrishnan Akhila , Hollen Linda , Staines Konrad , Puryer James
Published: March 2022

Introduction

As a response to the lockdown brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, an innovative change was made to a part of the University of Bristol’s Bachelor of Dental Surgery finals examination. Clinical cases, which were previously assessed face-to-face, were rapidly adapted to a remote assessment format and students’ perceptions of the enforced change were explored.

Methods

The blueprint of intended learning outcomes was carefully considered in making amendments. University level and external examiner approval was obtained for the transition from face-to-face to remote assessment. The connectivity and communication required for the remote format was tested prior to the assessment. A questionnaire was used to obtain feedback from students who undertook this remote assessment. Respondents were asked to rate their agreement with statements using a four-point Likert scale.

Results

The intended learning outcomes were satisfactorily assessed remotely. The assessment was delivered successfully with broadly positive perceptions of this new remote assessment format.

Conclusions

Remote clinical case assessments can be a suitable alternative to face-to-face conventional methods. Meticulous preparation is critical, including engagement with both staff and students as stakeholders.
Fast and flexible processing of large FRET image stacks using the FRET-IBRA toolkit
Authors: Munglani Gautam , Vogler Hannes , Grossniklaus Ueli
Published: April 2022

Ratiometric time-lapse FRET analysis requires a robust and accurate processing pipeline to eliminate bias in intensity measurements on fluorescent images before further quantitative analysis can be conducted. This level of robustness can only be achieved by supplementing automated tools with built-in flexibility for manual ad-hoc adjustments. FRET-IBRA is a modular and fully parallelized configuration file-based tool written in Python. It simplifies the FRET processing pipeline to achieve accurate, registered, and unified ratio image stacks. The flexibility of this tool to handle discontinuous image frame sequences with tailored configuration parameters further streamlines the processing of outliers and time-varying effects in the original microscopy images. FRET-IBRA offers cluster-based channel background subtraction, photobleaching correction, and ratio image construction in an all-in-one solution without the need for multiple applications, image format conversions, and/or plug-ins. The package accepts a variety of input formats and outputs TIFF image stacks along with performance measures to detect both the quality and failure of the background subtraction algorithm on a per frame basis. Furthermore, FRET-IBRA outputs images with superior signal-to-noise ratio and accuracy in comparison to existing background subtraction solutions, whilst maintaining a fast runtime. We have used the FRET-IBRA package extensively to quantify the spatial distribution of calcium ions during pollen tube growth under mechanical constraints. Benchmarks against existing tools clearly demonstrate the need for FRET-IBRA in extracting reliable insights from FRET microscopy images of dynamic physiological processes at high spatial and temporal resolution. The source code for Linux and Mac operating systems is released under the BSD license and, along with installation instructions, test images, example configuration files, and a step-by-step tutorial, is freely available at github.com/gmunglani/fret-ibra.
SUITOR: Selecting the number of mutational signatures through cross-validation
Authors: Lee Donghyuk , Wang Difei , Yang Xiaohong R. , Shi Jianxin , Landi Maria Teresa , Zhu Bin
Published: April 2022

Forde novomutational signature analysis, the critical first step is to decide how many signatures should be expected in a cancer genomics study. An incorrect number could mislead downstream analyses. Here we present SUITOR (Selecting the nUmber of mutatIonal signaTures thrOugh cRoss-validation), an unsupervised cross-validation method that requires little assumptions and no numerical approximations to select the optimal number of signatures without overfitting the data.In vitrostudies andin silicosimulations demonstrated that SUITOR can correctly identify signatures, some of which were missed by other widely used methods. Applied to 2,540 whole-genome sequenced tumors across 22 cancer types, SUITOR selected signatures with the smallest prediction errors and almost all signatures of breast cancer selected by SUITOR were validated in an independent breast cancer study. SUITOR is a powerful tool to select the optimal number of mutational signatures, facilitating downstream analyses with etiological or therapeutic importance.
Near real-time surveillance of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic with incomplete data
Authors: De Salazar Pablo M. , Lu Fred , Hay James A , Gómez-Barroso Diana , Fernández-Navarro Pablo , Martínez Elena V , Astray-Mochales Jenaro , Amillategui Rocío , García-Fulgueiras Ana , Chirlaque Maria D , Sánchez-Migallón Alonso , Larrauri Amparo , Sierra María J , Lipsitch Marc , Simón Fernando , Santillana Mauricio , Hernán Miguel A
Published: March 2022

When responding to infectious disease outbreaks, rapid and accurate estimation of the epidemic trajectory is critical. However, two common data collection problems affect the reliability of the epidemiological data in real time: missing information on the time of first symptoms, and retrospective revision of historical information, including right censoring. Here, we propose an approach to construct epidemic curves in near real time that addresses these two challenges by 1) imputation of dates of symptom onset for reported cases using a dynamically-estimated “backward” reporting delay conditional distribution, and 2) adjustment for right censoring using the NobBS software package to nowcast cases by date of symptom onset. This process allows us to obtain an approximation of the time-varying reproduction number (Rt) in real time. We apply this approach to characterize the early SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in two Spanish regions between March and April 2020. We evaluate how these real-time estimates compare with more complete epidemiological data that became available later. We explore the impact of the different assumptions on the estimates, and compare our estimates with those obtained from commonly used surveillance approaches. Our framework can help improve accuracy, quantify uncertainty, and evaluate frequently unstated assumptions when recovering the epidemic curves from limited data obtained from public health systems in other locations.
Analysis of human clinical and environmental Leptospira to elucidate the eco-epidemiology of leptospirosis in Yaeyama, subtropical Japan
Authors: Sato Yukuto , Hermawan Idam , Kakita Tetsuya , Okano Sho , Imai Hideyuki , Nagai Hiroto , Kimura Ryosuke , Yamashiro Tetsu , Kajita Tadashi , Toma Claudia
Published: March 2022

Background

Leptospirosis, a zoonosis caused by species in the spirochete genus Leptospira, is endemic to the Yaeyama region in Okinawa, subtropical Japan. Species of the P1 subclade “virulent” group, within the genus Leptospira, are the main etiological agents of leptospirosis in Okinawa. However, their environmental persistence is poorly understood. This study used a combination of bacterial isolation and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding methods to understand the eco-epidemiology of leptospirosis in this endemic region.

Findings

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) characterized twelve human clinical L. interrogans isolates belonging to the P1 subclade “virulent” subgroup and 11 environmental soil isolates of the P1subclade “low virulent” subgroup (genetically related to L. kmetyi, n = 1; L. alstonii, n = 4; L. barantonii, n = 6) from the Yaeyama region targeting four virulence-related genes (lipL32, ligA, ligB and lpxD1). Clinical isolates were PCR positive for at least three targeted genes, while all environmental isolates were positive only for lipL32. Analysis of infected renal epithelial cells with selected clinical and environmental strains, revealed the disassembly of cell-cell junctions for the Hebdomadis clinical strain serogroup. Comparison of leptospiral eDNA during winter and summer identified operational taxonomic units corresponding to the species isolated from soil samples (L. kmetyi and L. barantonii) and additional P2 subclade species (L. licerasiae, L. wolffii-related, among others) that were not detected by soil cultivation. Total Leptospira read counts were higher in summer than in winter and the analysis of leptospiral/animal eDNA relationship suggested Rattus spp. as a potential reservoir animal.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated high environmental Leptospira diversity in the Yaeyama region, particularly during summer, when most of the leptospirosis cases are reported. In addition, several Leptospira species with pathogenic potential were identified that have not yet been reported in Yaeyama; however, the environmental persistence of P1 subclade species previously isolated from human clinical cases in this region was absent, suggesting the need of further methodology development and surveillance.
Disentangling snakebite dynamics in Colombia: How does rainfall and temperature drive snakebite temporal patterns?
Authors: Bravo-Vega Carlos , Santos-Vega Mauricio , Cordovez Juan Manuel
Published: March 2022

The role of climate driving zoonotic diseases’ population dynamics has typically been addressed via retrospective analyses of national aggregated incidence records. A central question in epidemiology has been whether seasonal and interannual cycles are driven by climate variation or generated by socioeconomic factors. Here, we use compartmental models to quantify the role of rainfall and temperature in the dynamics of snakebite, which is one of the primary neglected tropical diseases. We took advantage of space-time datasets of snakebite incidence, rainfall, and temperature for Colombia and combined it with stochastic compartmental models and iterated filtering methods to show the role of rainfall-driven seasonality modulating the encounter frequency with venomous snakes. Then we identified six zones with different rainfall patterns to demonstrate that the relationship between rainfall and snakebite incidence was heterogeneous in space. We show that rainfall only drives snakebite incidence in regions with marked dry seasons, where rainfall becomes the limiting resource, while temperature does not modulate snakebite incidence. In addition, the encounter frequency differs between regions, and it is higher in regions where Bothrops atrox can be found. Our results show how the heterogeneous spatial distribution of snakebite risk seasonality in the country may be related to important traits of venomous snakes’ natural history.
Evolution characteristics of temporal and spatial pattern of Russian economic differences since the 21st century
Authors: Chu Nan-Chen , Zhang Ping-Yu , Wu Xiang-Li
Published: March 2022

Under the background of "the Belt and Road" and "the economic corridor of China, Mongolia and Russia" initiatives, it is of great significance to study the temporal and spatial economic pattern in the Russian Federation. Based on the economic development difference index, regional economic grade index, global trend analysis tool and spatial autocorrelation model, this paper analyzes the temporal and spatial pattern evolution characteristics of Russian economic differences from 2002 to 2020. The results are as following. First, although the economic imbalance among various federal subjects has been decreasing, the economic polarization has been still severe between the prosperous developed regions and the stagnant backward regions during 2002–2020. Russia’s economy shows a trend of changing from significant positive correlation in strong agglomeration space to positive correlation in weak agglomeration space, and then to random distribution. Second, there has been great differences of the economic development among various federal subjects. The economic grade of the Russian federal subjects presents a significant spatial differentiation pattern. The Russian Federation’s economic resources are concentrated in the first-class federal subject (Moscow City), second-class federal subjects (Tumen Region, Moscow Region and Saint-Petersburg city) and a few third-class federal subjects (Yamalo-Nenetsky Autonomous Area, Khanty-Mansiysky Autonomous Area, Republic of Tatarstan, Krasnodar Territory, Sverdlovsk Region, etc). Third, the Russian Federation’s economy presents "High Core, Low Periphery", "High West, Low East" and "High south, Low north" spatial differentiation pattern. The economic hot regions coincide with the high-class economic regions, which are mainly distributed in the contiguous areas of Ural Federal District and Volga Federal District, as well as the Moscow City, Moscow Region, Saint-Petersburg city, Krasnodar Territory and Rostov Region. The economic cold regions coincide with the low-class economic regions, which are mainly located in the Far East Federal District, the east of Siberian Federal District, the north of North West Federal District and the south of North-Caucasian Federal District. Finally, we suggest the recommendation for policy makers in Russia. And we propose the future research ideas.
The burning island: Spatiotemporal patterns of fire occurrence in Madagascar
Authors: Frappier-Brinton Tristan , Lehman Shawn M.
Published: March 2022

Anthropogenic fire use is widespread across Madagascar and threatens the island’s unprecedented endemic biodiversity. The vast majority (96%) of lemur species are already threatened with extinction, and Madagascar has already lost more than 44% of its forests. Previous conservation assessments have noted the role of fire in the rampant deforestation and habitat degradation across Madagascar, but published, quantified data on fire use across the island are incredibly limited. Here, we present the first quantification of spatiotemporal patterns in fire occurrence across Madagascar using VIIRS satellite fire detection data. We assess which regions of Madagascar have the most prevalent fire use, how fire use is changing over time, and what this means for Madagascar’s remaining forest ecosystems. An average of 356,189 fires were detected every year in Madagascar from 2012–2019, averaging 0.604 fires/km2. Fire use was near-ubiquitous across the island, but was most prevalent in the western dry deciduous forests and succulent woodlands ecoregions. Fire frequency in the eastern lowlands was highest around the remaining humid rainforest, and fire frequency was increasing over time around much of the remaining humid and dry forest. We found that 18.6% of all remaining forest was within 500 m of a fire within a single year, and 39.3% was within 1 km. More than half of remaining forest was within 1 km of a fire in a single year in the dry deciduous forests, succulent woodlands, and mangroves ecoregions. However, fire frequency within national park protected areas was, on average, 65% lower than their surroundings. Only 7.1% of national park forest was within 500 m of a fire within one year, and 17.1% was within 1 km, suggesting that national parks are effective at reducing fire frequency in Madagascar’s tropical forests.
Sparse CNT networks with implanted AgAu nanoparticles: A novel memristor with short-term memory bordering between diffusive and bipolar switching
Authors: Terasa Maik-Ivo , Holtz Pia , Carstens Niko , Kaps Sören , Faupel Franz , Vahl Alexander , Adelung Rainer
Published: March 2022

With this work we introduce a novel memristor in a lateral geometry whose resistive switching behaviour unifies the capabilities of bipolar switching with decelerated diffusive switching showing a biologically plausible short-term memory. A new fabrication route is presented for achieving lateral nano-scaled distances by depositing a sparse network of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) via spin-coating of a custom-made CNT dispersion. Electrochemical metallization-type (ECM) resistive switching is obtained by implanting AgAu nanoparticles with a Haberland-type gas aggregation cluster source into the nanogaps between the CNTs and shows a hybrid behaviour of both diffusive and bipolar switching. The resistance state resets to a high resistive state (HRS) either if the voltage is removed with a retention time in the second- to sub-minute scale (diffusive) or by applying a reverse voltage (bipolar). Furthermore, the retention time is positively correlated to the duration of the Set voltage pulse. The potential for low-voltage operation makes this approach a promising candidate for short-term memory applications in neuromorphic circuits. In addition, the lateral fabrication approach opens the pathway towards integrating sensor-functionality and offers a general starting point for the scalable fabrication of nanoscaled devices.
The endometrial transcriptomic response to pregnancy is altered in cows after uterine infection
Authors: Dickson Mackenzie J. , Bishop Jeanette V. , Hansen Thomas R. , Sheldon I. Martin , Bromfield John J.
Published: March 2022

Pregnancy induces changes in the transcriptome of the bovine endometrium from 15 days after insemination. However, pregnancy is less likely to occur if cows had a postpartum bacterial infection of the uterus, even after the resolution of disease. We hypothesized that uterine bacterial infection alters the endometrial transcriptomic signature of pregnancy after the resolution of disease. To examine the endometrial transcriptomic signature of pregnancy, cows were inseminated 130 days after intrauterine infusion of pathogenic Escherichia coli and Trueperella pyogenes, subsequently endometrium was collected 16 days after insemination for RNA sequencing. We found 171 pregnancy regulated genes in cows 146 days after bacterial infection. When comparing our findings with previous studies that described the endometrial transcriptomic signature of pregnancy in healthy cows, 24 genes were consistently differentially expressed in pregnancy, including MX1, MX2 and STAT1. However, 12 pregnancy regulated genes were found only in the endometrium of healthy cows, including ISG15 and TRANK1. Furthermore, 28 pregnancy regulated genes were found only in the endometrium of cows following bacterial infection and these were associated with altered iNOS, TLR, and IL-7 signaling pathways. Although 94 predicted upstream regulators were conserved amongst the studies, 14 were found only in the endometrium of pregnant healthy cows, and 5 were found only in cows following bacterial infection, including AIRE, NFKBIA, and DUSP1. In conclusion, there were both consistent and discordant features of the endometrial transcriptomic signature of pregnancy 146 days after intrauterine bacterial infusion. These findings imply that there is an essential transcriptomic signature of pregnancy, but that infection induces long-term changes in the endometrium that affect the transcriptomic response to pregnancy.
A randomized controlled trial of a proportionate universal parenting program delivery model (E-SEE Steps) to enhance child social-emotional wellbeing
Authors: Bywater Tracey , Berry Vashti , Blower Sarah , Bursnall Matthew , Cox Edward , Mason-Jones Amanda , McGilloway Sinead , McKendrick Kirsty , Mitchell Siobhan , Pickett Kate , Richardson Gerry , Solaiman Kiera , Teare M. Dawn , Walker Simon , Whittaker Karen
Published: April 2022

Background

Evidence for parenting programs to improve wellbeing in children under three is inconclusive. We investigated the fidelity, impact, and cost-effectiveness of two parenting programs delivered within a longitudinal proportionate delivery model (‘E-SEE Steps’).

Methods

Eligible parents with a child ≤ 8 weeks were recruited into a parallel two-arm, assessor blinded, randomized controlled, community-based, trial with embedded economic and process evaluations. Post-baseline randomization applied a 5:1 (intervention-to-control) ratio, stratified by primary (child social-emotional wellbeing (ASQ:SE-2)) and key secondary (maternal depression (PHQ-9)) outcome scores, sex, and site. All intervention parents received the Incredible Years®Baby Book (IY-B), and were offered the targeted Infant (IY-I)/Toddler (IY-T) program if eligible, based on ASQ:SE-2/PHQ-9 scores. Control families received usual services. Fidelity data were analysed descriptively. Primary analysis applied intention to treat. Effectiveness analysis fitted a marginal model to outcome scores. Cost-effectiveness analysis involved Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratios (ICERs).

Results

The target sample (N = 606) was not achieved; 341 mothers were randomized (285:56), 322 (94%) were retained to study end. Of those eligible for the IY-I (n = 101), and IY-T (n = 101) programs, 51 and 21 respectively, attended. Eight (of 14) groups met the 80% self-reported fidelity criteria. No significant differences between arms were found for adjusted mean difference scores; ASQ:SE-2 (3.02, 95% CI: -0.03, 6.08, p = 0.052), PHQ-9 (-0.61; 95% CI: -1.34, 0.12, p = 0.1). E-SEE Steps had higher costs, but improved mothers’ Health-related Quality of Life (0.031 Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) gain), ICER of £20,062 per QALY compared to control. Serious adverse events (n = 86) were unrelated to the intervention.

Conclusions

E-SEE Steps was not effective, but was borderline cost-effective. The model was delivered with varying fidelity, with lower-than-expected IY-T uptake. Changes to delivery systems and the individual programs may be needed prior to future evaluation.

Trial registration

International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number:ISRCTN11079129.
Publicly available data reveals association between asthma hospitalizations and unconventional natural gas development in Pennsylvania
Authors: Bushong Anna , McKeon Thomas , Regina Boland Mary , Field Jeffrey
Published: March 2022

Since the early 2000s, unconventional natural gas development (UNGD) has rapidly grown throughout Pennsylvania. UNGD extracts natural gas using a relatively new method known as hydraulic fracturing (HF). Here we addressed the association of HF with asthma Hospitalization Admission Rates (HAR) using publicly available data. Using public county-level data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA-DOH) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for the years 2001–2014, we constructed regression models to study the previously observed association between asthma exacerbation and HF. After considering multicollinearity, county-level demographics and area-level covariables were included to account for known asthma risk factors. We found a significant positive association between the asthma HAR and annual well density for all the counties in the state (3% increase in HAR attributable to HF, p<0.001). For a sensitivity analysis, we excluded urban counties (urban counties have higher asthma exacerbations) and focused on rural counties for the years 2005–2014 and found a significant association (3.31% increase in HAR attributable to HF in rural counties, p<0.001). An even stronger association was found between asthma hospitalization admission rates (HAR) and PM2.5 levels (7.52% increase in HAR attributable to PM2.5, p<0.001). As expected, asthma HAR was significantly higher in urban compared to rural counties and showed a significant racial disparity. We conclude that publicly available data at the county-level supports an association between an increase in asthma HAR and UNGD in rural counties in Pennsylvania.
Clinical characteristics, systemic complications, and in-hospital outcomes for patients with COVID-19 in Latin America. LIVEN-Covid-19 study: A prospective, multicenter, multinational, cohort study
Authors: Reyes Luis F. , Bastidas Alirio , Narváez Paula O. , Parra-Tanoux Daniela , Fuentes Yuli V. , Serrano-Mayorga Cristian C. , Ortíz Valentina , Caceres Eder L. , Ospina-Tascon Gustavo , Díaz Ana M. , Jibaja Manuel , Vera Magdalena , Silva Edwin , Gorordo-Delsol Luis Antonio , Maraschin Francesca , Varón-Vega Fabio , Buitrago Ricardo , Poveda Marcela , Saucedo Lina M. , Estenssoro Elisa , Ortíz Guillermo , Nin Nicolás , Calderón Luis E. , Montaño Gina S. , Chaar Aldair J. , García Fernanda , Ramírez Vanessa , Picoita Fabricio , Peláez Cristian , Unigarro Luis , Friedman Gilberto , Cucunubo Laura , Bruhn Alejandro , Hernández Glenn , Martin-Loeches Ignacio ,   for the LIVEN-Covid-19 Investigators
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread worldwide, and almost 396 million people have been infected around the globe. Latin American countries have been deeply affected, and there is a lack of data in this regard. This study aims to identify the clinical characteristics, in-hospital outcomes, and factors associated with ICU admission due to COVID-19. Furthermore, to describe the functional status of patients at hospital discharge after the acute episode of COVID-19.

Material and methods

This was a prospective, multicenter, multinational observational cohort study of subjects admitted to 22 hospitals within Latin America. Data were collected prospectively. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize patients, and multivariate regression was carried out to identify factors associated with severe COVID-19.

Results

A total of 3008 patients were included in the study. A total of 64.3% of patients had severe COVID-19 and were admitted to the ICU. Patients admitted to the ICU had a higher mean (SD) 4C score (10 [3] vs. 7 [3)], p<0.001). The risk factors independently associated with progression to ICU admission were age, shortness of breath, and obesity. In-hospital mortality was 24.1%, whereas the ICU mortality rate was 35.1%. Most patients had equal self-care ability at discharge 43.8%; however, ICU patients had worse self-care ability at hospital discharge (25.7% [497/1934] vs. 3.7% [40/1074], p<0.001).

Conclusions

This study confirms that patients with SARS CoV-2 in the Latin American population had a lower mortality rate than previously reported. Systemic complications are frequent in patients admitted to the ICU due to COVID-19, as previously described in high-income countries.
Arousal, subjective significance and the origin of valence aligned words in the processing of an emotional categorisation task
Authors: Imbir Kamil K. , Duda-Goławska Joanna , Sobieszek Adam , Wielgopolan Adrianna , Pastwa Maciej , Żygierewicz Jarosław
Published: March 2022

An emotional categorisation task allows us to study how emotionality is understood and how emotional factors influence decisions. As emotionality is not only the valence but is also composed of activation (arousal and subjective significance) and the type of process needed to produce emotion (origin), we wanted to test the influence of these emotional factors on with a group of stimuli not differing in valence. We predicted that increasing activation levels should lead to increased classification of stimuli as emotional, with a focus on the late processing stages, when explicit word processing occurs, which on the electrophysiological level corresponds to P300, N450 and LPC components. The behavioural results showed that the emotionality of words increased with increasing levels of arousal and subjective significance. Automatically originated words were assessed as more emotional than reflective ones. The amplitude of the N450 component revealed dissociation for subjective significance and origin effects, showing that these two dimensions ascribe distinct properties of emotionality. Finally, the LPC component was susceptible to all affective dimensions used in manipulation. Our study showed that arousal, subjective significance and origin are dimensions of affect that shape the processing of words’ emotionality, when the values of valence were aligned among the stimuli.
What we think prayers do: Americans’ expectations and valuation of intercessory prayer
Authors: Thunström Linda , Noy Shiri
Published: March 2022

Praying for others in the wake of a disasters is a common interpersonal and public response to tragedy in the United States. But these gestures are controversial. In a survey experiment, we elicit how people value receiving a prayer from a Christian stranger in support of a recent hardship and examine factors that affect the value of the prayer. We find that people who positively value receiving the prayer do so primarily because they believe it provides emotional support and will be answered by God. Many also value the prayer because they believe it will improve their health and wealth, although empirical support of such effects is lacking. People who negatively value receiving the prayer do so primarily because they believe praying is a waste of time. The negative value is particularly large if people are offended by religion. Finally, the hardship experienced by the prayer recipient matters to the intensity by which recipients like or dislike the gesture, suggesting the benefit of prayers varies not only across people, but also across contexts.
Correlates of prevalent syphilis infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV attending the HIV clinic in Trinidad
Authors: Edwards R. Jeffrey , Mohammed Abigail , Lavia Leon-Omari , Edwards Jonathan , Verma Shiva , Reddy Saketh , Boyce Gregory
Published: March 2022

Background

Syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV is of public health concern, thus the objective of the study is to determine the correlates of prevalent syphilis infection in this population so that urgent interventions could be instituted.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted during the period September 2020-June 2021 among MSM who attended a large HIV Clinic in Trinidad. A questionnaire was administered to obtain socio-demographic data and correlates of prevalent syphilis and patients were screened for syphilis using the traditional algorithm. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted and multivariable logistic regression factors was used to assess factors significantly associated with a syphilis diagnosis.

Results

Two hundred and sixty four MSM were enrolled; age range 18–64 years, median age 33 years and 89 (34.4%) were actively bisexual. The prevalence of syphilis was 28% (74/264) and 89.2% (66/74) of these infections were asymptomatic. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that those patients who participated in sex with anonymous partners (OR 2.09; 95% CI, 1.03–4.26), those with a previous diagnosis of syphilis (OR 5.16; 95% CI, 1.03–25.83) and those who used marijuana in the last 12 months (OR 2.13; 95% CI, 1.14–3.96) were more likely to be diagnosed with syphilis.

Conclusion

There is a high prevalence of asymptomatic syphilis among MSM living with HIV in Trinidad. Repeat episodes of syphilis and anonymous sex may play a role in the transmission dynamics of T pallidum infection in this population, thus urgent public health prevention interventions are warranted.
The impact of boron seed priming on seedling establishment, growth, and grain biofortification of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) in yermosols
Authors: Rehman Atique-ur , Fatima Zartash , Qamar Rafi , Farukh Fizza , Alwahibi Mona S. , Hussain Mubshar
Published: March 2022

Boron-deficiency in Yermosols is among the major constraints to mungbean productivity and grain biofortification in Pakistan. However, agronomic strategies such as boron (B) seed priming have potential to improve mungbean yield and grain biofortification. Moreover, deficiency to toxicity range for B is very narrow; therefore, it is pre-requisite to optimize its dose before field evaluation. A wire house experiment was planned out to reconnoiter the impact of seed priming with B on growth and quality of two cultivars of mungbean, i.e., ‘NM-2011’ and ‘NM-2016’. Four different B levels were used as seed priming, i.e., 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.1% and 1.0% B, (borax Na2B4O7.10H2O, 11.5% B) were tested, whereas hydropriming was regarded as control. Seed priming with 0.01% B significantly (p≤0.05) lowered time taken to start germination and time to reach 50% emergence, whereas improved mean emergence time, emergence index, final emergence percentage, number of leaves, dry and fresh weight of root, shoot, and total weight, root length, plant height, chlorophyll contents, number of pods and 100-grain weight, seeds per plant, grain yield per plant, B concentrations in stem and grain, grain protein, carbohydrate and fiber in both cultivars. Boron seed priming proved beneficial under a specific range; however, deficiency (hydropriming) and excess (above 0.01% B) of B were detrimental for mungbean growth and productivity. The cultivar ‘NM-2016’ had significantly (p≤0.05) higher yield due to prominent increase in yield related traits with 0.01% B priming as compared to ‘NM-2011’. In conclusion, B seed priming (0.01% B) seemed a feasible choice for improving mungbean growth, yield related traits and grain-B concentration of mungbean on Yermosols.
Induction of apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells by nanovesicles from fingerroot (Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf.)
Authors: Wongkaewkhiaw Saharut , Wongrakpanich Amaraporn , Krobthong Sucheewin , Saengsawang Witchuda , Chairoungdua Arthit , Boonmuen Nittaya
Published: April 2022

Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, warranting the urgent need for a new treatment option. Plant-derived nanovesicles containing bioactive compounds represent new therapeutic avenues due to their unique characteristics as natural nanocarriers for bioactive molecules with therapeutic effects. Recent evidence has revealed potential anticancer activity of bioactive compounds from Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf. (fingerroot). However, the effect and the underlying mechanisms of fingerroot-derived nanovesicles (FDNVs) against colorectal cancer are still unknown. We isolated the nanovesicles from fingerroot and demonstrated their anticancer activity against two colorectal cancer cell lines, HT-29 and HCT116. The IC50 values were 63.9 ± 2.4, 57.8 ± 4.1, 47.8 ± 7.6 μg/ml for HT-29 cells and 57.7 ± 6.6, 47.2 ± 5.2, 34 ± 2.9 μg/ml for HCT116 cells at 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Interestingly, FDNVs were not toxic to a normal colon epithelial cell line, CCD 841 CoN. FDNVs exhibited selective uptake by the colorectal cancer cell lines but not the normal colon epithelial cell line. Moreover, dose- and time-dependent FDNV-induced apoptosis was only observed in the colorectal cancer cell lines. In addition, reactive oxygen species levels were substantially increased in colorectal cancer cells, but total glutathione decreased after treatment with FDNVs. Our results show that FDNVs exhibited selective anticancer activity in colorectal cancer cell lines via the disruption of intracellular redox homeostasis and induction of apoptosis, suggesting the utility of FDNVs as a novel intervention for colorectal cancer patients.
Characterization of an intracellular humanized single-chain antibody to matrix protein (M1) of H5N1 virus
Authors: Sun He , Wu Guangmou , Zhang Jiyuan , Wang Yu , Qiu Yue , Man Hongyang , Zhang Guoli , Li Zehong , Yue Yuhuan , Tian Yuan
Published: March 2022

We developed a human intracellular antibody based on the M1 protein from avian influenza virus H5N1 (A/meerkat/Shanghai/SH-1/2012) and then characterized the properties of this antibody. The M1 protein sequence was amplified by RT-PCR using the cDNA of the H5N1 virus as a template, expressed in bacterial expression system BL21 (DE3) and purified. A human strain, high affinity, and single chain antibody (HuScFv) against M1 protein was obtained by phage antibody library screening using M1 as an antigen. A recombinant TAT-HuScFv protein was expressed by fusion with the TAT protein transduction domain (PTD) gene of HIV to prepare a human intracellular antibody against avian influenza virus. Further analysis demonstrated that TAT-HuScFv could inhibit the hemagglutination activity of the 300 TCID50 H1N1 virus, thus providing preliminary validation of the universality of the antibody. After two rounds of M1 protein decomposition, the TAT-HuScFv antigen binding site was identified as Alanine (A) at position 239. Collectively, our data describe a recombinant antibody with high binding activity against the conserved sequences of avian influenza viruses. This intracellular recombinant antibody blocked the M1 protein that infected intracellular viruses, thus inhibiting the replication and reproduction of H5N1 viruses.