bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expanded ACE2 dependencies of diverse SARS-like coronavirus receptor binding domains
Authors: Roelle Sarah M. , Shukla Nidhi , Pham Anh T. , Bruchez Anna M. , Matreyek Kenneth A.
Published: July 2022

Viral spillover from animal reservoirs can trigger public health crises and cripple the world economy. Knowing which viruses are primed for zoonotic transmission can focus surveillance efforts and mitigation strategies for future pandemics. Successful engagement of receptor protein orthologs is necessary during cross-species transmission. The clade 1 sarbecoviruses including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and SARS-CoV-2 enter cells via engagement of angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), while the receptor for clade 2 and clade 3 remains largely uncharacterized. We developed a mixed cell pseudotyped virus infection assay to determine whether various clades 2 and 3 sarbecovirus spike proteins can enter HEK 293T cells expressing human or Rhinolophus horseshoe bat ACE2 proteins. The receptor binding domains from BtKY72 and Khosta-2 used human ACE2 for entry, while BtKY72 and Khosta-1 exhibited widespread use of diverse rhinolophid ACE2s. A lysine at ACE2 position 31 appeared to be a major determinant of the inability of these RBDs to use a certain ACE2 sequence. The ACE2 protein from Rhinolophus alcyone engaged all known clade 3 and clade 1 receptor binding domains. We observed little use of Rhinolophus ACE2 orthologs by the clade 2 viruses, supporting the likely use of a separate, unknown receptor. Our results suggest that clade 3 sarbecoviruses from Africa and Europe use Rhinolophus ACE2 for entry, and their spike proteins appear primed to contribute to zoonosis under the right conditions.
Suprathreshold perceptual decisions constrain models of confidence
Authors: Locke Shannon M. , Landy Michael S. , Mamassian Pascal
Published: July 2022

Perceptual confidence is an important internal signal about the certainty of our decisions and there is a substantial debate on how it is computed. We highlight three confidence metric types from the literature: observers either use 1) the full probability distribution to compute probability correct (Probability metrics), 2) point estimates from the perceptual decision process to estimate uncertainty (Evidence-Strength metrics), or 3) heuristic confidence from stimulus-based cues to uncertainty (Heuristic metrics). These metrics are rarely tested against one another, so we examined models of all three types on a suprathreshold spatial discrimination task. Observers were shown a cloud of dots sampled from a dot generating distribution and judged if the mean of the distribution was left or right of centre. In addition to varying the horizontal position of the mean, there were two sensory uncertainty manipulations: the number of dots sampled and the spread of the generating distribution. After every two perceptual decisions, observers made a confidence forced-choice judgement whether they were more confident in the first or second decision. Model results showed that the majority of observers were best-fit by either: 1) the Heuristic model, which used dot cloud position, spread, and number of dots as cues; or 2) an Evidence-Strength model, which computed the distance between the sensory measurement and discrimination criterion, scaled according to sensory uncertainty. An accidental repetition of some sessions also allowed for the measurement of confidence agreement for identical pairs of stimuli. This N-pass analysis revealed that human observers were more consistent than their best-fitting model would predict, indicating there are still aspects of confidence that are not captured by our modelling. As such, we propose confidence agreement as a useful technique for computational studies of confidence. Taken together, these findings highlight the idiosyncratic nature of confidence computations for complex decision contexts and the need to consider different potential metrics and transformations in the confidence computation.
Water quality assessment in mosquito breeding habitats based on dissolved organic matter and chlorophyll measurements by laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy
Authors: Huzortey Andrew A. , Kudom Andreas A. , Mensah Ben A. , Sefa-Ntiri Baah , Anderson Benjamin , Akyea Angela
Published: July 2022

Rapid urbanization and its associated pollution can affect water quality in mosquito breeding habitats and, as a result, the ecology and control of mosquito vectors. To understand the effects of pollution on mosquito vectors, an accurate assessment of water quality in breeding habitats is needed. Presently, water quality assessment of mosquito breeding habitats is usually based on the measurement of individual physicochemical parameters. However, several parameters are sometimes difficult to interpret or may not give a clear picture of the overall water quality of the breeding habitats, especially when the pollutants are in complex mixtures. This study employed the use of Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy to assess water quality in breeding habitats of Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex mosquitoes in urban areas in Cape Coast, Ghana. The LIF spectra, using a 445-nm diode laser, were measured from field-collected water samples in the laboratory. The LIF spectra showed the presence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and chlorophyll in the breeding habitats. The DOM and chlorophyll fluorescence signals were normalised by the Raman vibrational signals to determine water quality in each habitat. The overall water quality was better in Aedes breeding habitats than in Anopheles and Culex breeding habitats. The poor water quality in Anopheles and Culex breeding habitats was due to the presence of high fulvic acid and chlorophyll content, which often reflect pollutants from anthropogenic sources. Anopheles and Aedes habitats were made up of mainly An. coluzzii and Ae. aegypti respectively while Culex species were identified to genus level. The results add up to the growing concern about the breeding of Anopheles in polluted habitats. The study demonstrated for the first time the ability of LIF spectroscopy to assess water quality in mosquito breeding habitats.
Impact of tourism activities on the distribution and pollution of soil heavy metals in natural scenic spots on the northern slope of Tianshan Mountain
Authors: Yang Jianjun , Xu Huan , Wang Xinjun
Published: July 2022

Human activities can significantly impact the natural ecosystem. As an important part of terrestrial ecosystems, soil participates in energy and material cycle. With the continuous intensification of human activities, soil undergoes increasingly serious disturbance. Under the influence of global change and human activities, the variability of heavy metals in soil is worthy of further discussion. Taking Lujiaowan and Juhuatai Scenic Spot on the northern slope of Tianshan Mountain as the research area, this study investigated the concentrations of Pb, As, Zn, Cu and Mn in the soil and analyzed their distribution and pollution levels. Meanwhile, the main sources of soil heavy metals were explored using autocorrelation analysis and principal component analysis. Results showed that the order of the average concentration of heavy metals in the study area was as follows: Mn> Zn> Cu> Pb> As. None of them exceeded the national soil environmental quality level II standard, and the average concentrations of Zn, Cu, and As exceeded the background value of Xinjiang soil, reaching a light pollution level. In addition, the distribution of heavy metals in soil displayed a regular trend, and a positive correlation was found between disturbance intensity and heavy metal concentration. The geoaccumulation index also showed that the five heavy metals in the study area had lower pollution degree compared with the background value in Xinjiang. The order of potential ecological risk was As > Cu > Pb > Zn > Mn.
The importance of evaluating standard monitoring methods: Observer bias and detection probabilities for moose pellet group surveys
Authors: Loosen Anne , Devineau Olivier , Zimmermann Barbara , Marie Mathisen Karen
Published: July 2022

Counting is not always a simple exercise. Specimens can be misidentified or not detected when they are present, giving rise to unidentified sources of error. Deer pellet group counts are a common method to monitor abundance, density, and population trend. Yet, detection errors and observer bias could introduce error into sometimes very large (spatially, temporally) datasets. For example, in Scandinavia, moose (Alces alces) pellet group counts are conducted by volunteer hunters and students, but it is unknown how much uncertainty observer error introduces into these datasets. Our objectives were to 1) estimate the detection probability of moose pellet groups; 2) identify the primary variables leading to detection errors including prior observer experience; and 3) compare density estimates using single and double observer counts. We selected a subset of single observer plots from a long-term monitoring project to be conducted as dependent double observer surveys, where primary and secondary observers worked simultaneously in the field. We did this to quantify detection errors for moose pellet groups, which were previously unknown in Scandinavia, and to identify covariates which introduced variation into our estimates. Our study area was in the boreal forests of southern Norway where we had a nested grid of 100-m2plots that we surveyed each spring. Our observers were primarily inexperienced. We found that when pellet groups were detected by the primary observer, the secondary observer saw additional pellet groups 42% of the time. We found search time was the primary covariate influencing detection. We also found density estimates from double observer counts were 1.4 times higher than single observer counts, for the same plots. This density underestimation from single observer surveys could have consequences to managers, who sometimes use pellet counts to set harvest quotas. We recommend specific steps to improve future moose pellet counts.
Characterizing veteran and PTSD service dog teams: Exploring potential mechanisms of symptom change and canine predictors of efficacy
Authors: Jensen Clare L. , Rodriguez Kerri E. , MacLean Evan L. , Abdul Wahab Ahmad Hakeem , Sabbaghi Arman , O’Haire Marguerite E.
Published: July 2022

Psychiatric service dogs are an emerging complementary intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Initial evidence suggests that partnership with a service dog may be related to less PTSD symptom severity. However, it remains unclear how or why this might occur. To address this gap, we conducted a longitudinal investigation of 82 post-9/11 military members or veterans and their PTSD service dogs to (1) evaluate service dog characteristics as potential predictors of efficacy, (2) assess dog and human characteristics as potential predictors of veteran-dog bond, and (3) explore potential mechanisms for mental health outcomes. Aim 1 results demonstrated that most service dog characteristics did not predict veterans’ mental health outcomes, but lower service dog excitability was associated with less PTSD symptom severity at follow-up. Aim 2 results showed that closer dog-veteran relationships were associated with less excitable dog temperament. Aim 3 results indicated that worse mental health at follow-up was associated with greater use of the specifically trained PTSD service dog task to initiate a social greeting (“make a friend”), whereas better mental health was related to less use of dominance-based training methods, lower perceived emotional/logistical costs of service dog partnership, and closer veteran-dog relationships. More frequent use of the trained service dog task to signal when someone approaches from behind (cover/watch back) was associated with greater anxiety, but less PTSD symptom severity. Overall, veterans spent an average of 82% of their time with service dogs (assessed via Bluetooth proximity between dog collar and veteran smartphone), and most frequently asked their service dogs to perform the trained task for calming their anxiety (calm/comfort anxiety). The present study provides subjective and objective metrics of the heterogeneity among veteran-service dog dyads while also suggesting which of the assessed metrics might be potential mechanisms involved in the intervention.
Impact of preoperative anemia, iron-deficiency and inflammation on survival after colorectal surgery—A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Bath Messina , Viveiros André , Schaefer Benedikt , Klein Sebastian , Pammer Lorenz M. , Wagner Sonja , Lorenz Andreas , Rugg Christopher , Gasser Elisabeth , Ninkovic Marijana , Panzer Marlene , Pertler Elke , Fries Dietmar , Tilg Herbert , Weiss Guenter , Petzer Verena , Öfner-Velano Dietmar , Zoller Heinz
Published: July 2022

Background

Anemia is present in up to two-thirds of patients undergoing colorectal surgery mainly caused by iron deficiency and inflammation. As anemia is associated with increased risk of perioperative death, diagnosis and treatment of preoperative anemia according to etiology have been recommended.

Objective

The aim of the present study was to assess if the association between anemia and survival in patients undergoing colorectal surgery was determined by the severity of anemia alone or also by anemia etiology.

Methods

To determine the prevalence of anemia and etiology, preoperative hematological parameters, C-reactive protein, ferritin and transferrin saturation were retrospectively assessed and correlated with outcome in a cohort of patients undergoing colorectal surgery between 2005 and 2019 at the University Hospital of Innsbruck. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin <120 g/L in females and <130 g/L in males. The etiology of anemia was classified on the basis of serum iron parameters, as iron deficiency anemia, anemia of inflammation or other anemia etiologies.

Results

Preoperative anemia was present in 54% (1316/2458) of all patients. Anemia was associated with iron deficiency in 45% (134/299) and classified as anemia of inflammation in 32% (97/299) of patients with available serum iron parameters. The etiology of anemia was a strong and independent predictor of survival, where iron deficiency and anemia of inflammation were associated with better postoperative survival than other anemia etiologies. One year survival rates were 84.3%, 77.3% and 69.1% for patients with iron deficiency anemia, anemia of inflammation and other anemia types. Inflammation indicated by high C-reactive protein is a strong negative predictor of overall survival.

Conclusions

Anemia has a high prevalence among patients undergoing colorectal surgery and rational treatment requires early assessment of serum iron parameters and C-reactive protein.
Motivations of potential anchor businesses to support community development and community health
Authors: Cohen Catherine C. , Qureshi Nabeel , Tsai Raymond , Liu Harry H.
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Some for-profit businesses act like non-profit anchor institutions in contributing to community development, particularly health-related initiatives. Their motives are not well understood. We aimed to 1) identify and describe potential anchor businesses, 2) determine their motivations to contribute to community development, and 3) highlight motivations behind health-related initiatives.

Materials and methods

We identified a national sample of potential anchor businesses, grouped by those that contributed to 1) both health-related and non-health initiatives, 2) non-health initiatives only, and 3) those without substantial contributions. We conducted an environmental scan, semi-structured qualitative interviews and directed content analysis through rapid review methodology.

Results

We identified 4,512 potential anchor businesses nationally. Among the 108 of these included in the environmental scan, 48% substantially contributed to community development (12% in health). Interviewees’ company philosophies ranged from the idea that economic well-being of the company and community were intertwined, to the idea that commercial success of the company would benefit the community. Motivations for contributions included improving the hiring pool, improved recruitment and retention, and goodwill. Other common sentiments included strategies to focus on core business strengths to address community needs and a desire that companies should not compete in their giving activities. Further, some participants believed health care companies should be investing in health-related initiatives.

Conclusions

The generosity of potential anchor businesses’ local contributions may be determined by company philosophy about its relationship with the community. Stakeholders interested in spurring contributions to local communities might consider messaging to leverage businesses’ core strengths and encourage cooperation.
Correlations between behavior and hormone concentrations or gut microbiome imply that domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) living in a group are not like ‘groupmates’
Authors: Koyasu Hikari , Takahashi Hironobu , Yoneda Moeka , Naba Syunpei , Sakawa Natsumi , Sasao Ikuto , Nagasawa Miho , Kikusui Takefumi
Published: July 2022

Domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) can live in high densities, although most feline species are solitary and exclusively territorial animals; it is possible that certain behavioral strategies enable this phenomenon. These behaviors are regulated by hormones and the gut microbiome, which, in turn, is influenced by domestication. Therefore, we investigated the relationships between the sociality, hormone concentrations, and gut microbiome of domestic cats by conducting three sets of experiments for each group of five cats and analyzing their behavior, hormone concentrations (cortisol, oxytocin, and testosterone), and their gut microbiomes. We observed that individuals with high cortisol and testosterone concentrations established less contact with others, and individuals with high oxytocin concentrations did not exhibit affiliative behaviors as much as expected. Additionally, the higher the frequency of contact among the individuals, the greater the similarity in gut microbiome; gut microbial composition was also related to behavioral patterns and cortisol secretion. Notably, individuals with low cortisol and testosterone concentrations were highly tolerant, making high-density living easy. Oxytocin usually functions in an affiliative manner within groups, but our results suggest that even if typically solitary and territorial animals live in high densities, their oxytocin functions are opposite to those of typically group-living animals.
Disruptions, restorations and adaptations to health and nutrition service delivery in multiple states across India over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: An observational study
Authors: Avula Rasmi , Nguyen Phuong Hong , Ashok Sattvika , Bajaj Sumati , Kachwaha Shivani , Pant Anjali , Walia Monika , Singh Anshu , Paul Anshuman , Singh Ayushi , Kulkarni Bharati , Singhania Deepak , Escobar-Alegria Jessica , Augustine Little Flower , Khanna Madhulika , Krishna Maitreiyee , Sundaravathanam Nandhini , Nayak Prakash Kumar , Sharma Praveen Kumar , Makkar Prerna , Ghosh Puspen , Subramaniam Sadhana , Mala Sai , Giri Rakesh , Jain Sameeksha , Banjara Santosh Kumar , Nair Sapna , Ghosh Sebanti , Das Suman , Patil Sumeet , Mahapatra Tanmay , Forissier Thomas , Nanda Priya , Krishnan Suneeta , Menon Purnima
Published: July 2022

Background

Modeling studies estimated severe impacts of potential service delivery disruptions due to COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and child nutrition outcomes. Although anecdotal evidence exists on disruptions, little is known about the actual state of service delivery at scale. We studied disruptions and restorations, challenges and adaptations in health and nutrition service delivery by frontline workers (FLWs) in India during COVID-19 in 2020.

Methods

We conducted phone surveys with 5500 FLWs (among them 3118 Anganwadi Workers) in seven states between August–October 2020, asking about service delivery during April 2020 (T1) and in August-October (T2), and analyzed changes between T1 and T2. We also analyzed health systems administrative data from 704 districts on disruptions and restoration of services between pre-pandemic (December 2019, T0), T1 and T2.

Results

In April 2020 (T1), village centers, fixed day events, child growth monitoring, and immunization were provided by <50% of FLWs in several states. Food supplementation was least disrupted. In T2, center-based services were restored by over a third in most states. Administrative data highlights geographic variability in both disruptions and restorations. Most districts had restored service delivery for pregnant women and children by T2 but had not yet reached T0 levels. Adaptations included home delivery (60 to 96%), coordinating with other FLWs (7 to 49%), and use of phones for counseling (~2 to 65%). Personal fears, long distances, limited personal protective equipment, and antagonistic behavior of beneficiaries were reported challenges.

Conclusions

Services to mothers and children were disrupted during stringent lockdown but restored thereafter, albeit not to pre-pandemic levels. Rapid policy guidance and adaptations by FLWs enabled restoration but little remains known about uptake by client populations. As COVID-19 continues to surge in India, focused attention to ensuring essential services is critical to mitigate these major indirect impacts of the pandemic.
A dynamic model of nonviolent resistance strategy
Authors: Chenoweth Erica , Hocking Andrew , Marks Zoe
Published: July 2022

Why have some nonviolent revolutions succeeded even with modest participation numbers, while others have failed despite massive mobilization? We develop an agent-based model that predicts the outcomes of three well-known activism strategies. The first rapidly recruits a wide number of activists, which overwhelms the opponent’s support network and encourages large-scale defections. In the second, activists who have already mobilized remain committed to success and inspire other civilians to protest even when they are unable to protest themselves. In the third strategy, campaigns focus their energy and influence directly on the regime’s pillars of support. We find that this third strategy outperforms the others in generating defections, even when the size of the campaign is small. When activists have information about pillars’ levels of loyalty to the regime, they can target persuasion on the pillars most likely to defect. Importantly, for small or medium-sized movements, the strategy of focusing on pillars—especially the least loyal pillars—is more likely to yield success than relying on rapid mobilization and numerical advantage alone.
Spatial accessibility to HIV testing, treatment, and prevention services in Illinois and Chicago, USA
Authors: Kang Jeon-Young , Farkhad Bita Fayaz , Chan Man-pui Sally , Michels Alexander , Albarracin Dolores , Wang Shaowen
Published: July 2022

Accomplishing the goals outlined in “Ending the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) Epidemic: A Plan for America Initiative” will require properly estimating and increasing access to HIV testing, treatment, and prevention services. In this research, a computational spatial method for estimating access was applied to measure distance to services from all points of a city or state while considering the size of the population in need for services as well as both driving and public transportation. Specifically, this study employed the enhanced two-step floating catchment area (E2SFCA) method to measure spatial accessibility to HIV testing, treatment (i.e., Ryan White HIV/AIDS program), and prevention (i.e., Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis [PrEP]) services. The method considered the spatial location of MSM (Men Who have Sex with Men), PLWH (People Living with HIV), and the general adult population 15–64 depending on what HIV services the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends for each group. The study delineated service- and population-specific accessibility maps, demonstrating the method’s utility by analyzing data corresponding to the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois. Findings indicated health disparities in the south and the northwest of Chicago and particular areas in Illinois, as well as unique health disparities for public transportation compared to driving. The methodology details and computer code are shared for use in research and public policy.
Analysis of the earliest complete mtDNA genome of a Caribbean colonial horse (Equus caballus) from 16th-century Haiti
Authors: Delsol Nicolas , Stucky Brian J. , Oswald Jessica A. , Reitz Elizabeth J. , Emery Kitty F. , Guralnick Robert
Published: July 2022

Unlike other European domesticates introduced in the Americas after the European invasion, equids (Equidae) were previously in the Western Hemisphere but were extinct by the late Holocene era. The return of equids to the Americas through the introduction of the domestic horse (Equus caballus) is documented in the historical literature but is not explored fully either archaeologically or genetically. Historical documents suggest that the first domestic horses were brought from the Iberian Peninsula to the Caribbean in the late 15thcentury CE, but archaeological remains of these early introductions are rare. This paper presents the mitochondrial genome of a late 16thcentury horse from the Spanish colonial site of Puerto Real (northern Haiti). It represents the earliest complete mitogenome of a post-Columbian domestic horse in the Western Hemisphere offering a unique opportunity to clarify the phylogeographic history of this species in the Americas. Our data supports the hypothesis of an Iberian origin for this early translocated individual and clarifies its phylogenetic relationship with modern breeds in the Americas.
Short communication: Comments on hair disorders associated with dupilumab based on VigiBase
Authors: Park Sunny , Park So Hyang , Byun Young Joo , Choi Soo An
Published: July 2022

Background

Dupilumab is a human antibody that blocks the signaling of both interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 receptors. It has been approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. However, several case reports have reported conflicting effects of dupilumab on alopecia.

Objectives

This study aimed to examine dupilumab-related hair disorders using the large real-world database, VigiBase.

Methods

All individual case safety reports associated with dupilumab in the Uppsala Monitoring Center VigiBase until December 29, 2019, were analyzed. Hair disorder-related terms were defined in High Level Terms with “alopecias,” “pilar disorders NEC (not elsewhere classified),” and “hypertrichoses,” using the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities Hierarchy. Hair disorder reports associated with dupilumab and other biologics that inhibit the Th2 axis (omalizumab, mepolizumab, reslizumab, and benralizumab) were analyzed to determine their association with hair disorders. Disproportionality analysis was performed based on the proportional reporting ratio, reporting odds ratio, and information components.

Results

Among the 20,548 total dupilumab adverse event (AE) reports, hair disorders were reported in 462 dupilumab cases (2.2%), most of which reported hair loss, and only eight cases reported an increase in hair growth. The paradoxical trend in hair loss and growth after dupilumab use was confirmed using a disproportionality analysis. Among the other investigated biologics on Th2 immunity, only omalizumab was associated with hair loss. Additionally, hair disorders after dupilumab treatment were more frequently reported in women than in men. The proportion of hair disorder cases was high in Europe, accounting for 20.8% of hair disorder reports, whereas only 9.7% of all dupilumab-related AEs were reported in Europe. In conclusion, our analysis using a large real-world database confirmed that dupilumab is associated with hair disorders.
Whether intelligentization promotes regional industrial competitiveness: Evidence from China
Authors: Zhao Bingjian , Li Yi , Tan Junyin , Wen Chuanhao
Published: July 2022

Intelligentization-oriented development is a fast-developing trend of technological revolution. It promotes the reconstruction of the industrial system of a region and affects its overall industrial competitiveness. This paper sets up a variety of models featuring intelligentization level and multi-dimensional industrial competitiveness, and collects data of 28 provinces and cities in China from 2003 to 2017 to test the influence of industrial intelligentization level on the industrial competitiveness of a region. The result reveals that: 1) In China’s provincial jurisdictions, the higher the level of intelligentization is, the lower the overall level of industrial competitiveness and the lower the proportion of industry in the economic system will be. In regions where the facilities are highly intelligentialized, the production sectors tend to move to the less developed regions, and the growth effect of technological dividends is the focus. 2) Compared with the middle region and the Western region of China, the Eastern region, which is more developed with higher intelligentization level, has stronger ability in the research and development (R&D) of technologies, and the economic structure of the industry there tends to be stable, manifesting a strong growth potential.
Surface pre-reacted glass-ionomer eluate protects gingival epithelium from penetration by lipopolysaccharides and peptidoglycans via transcription factor EB pathway
Authors: Takeuchi Hiroki , Kato Yuta , Sasaki Naoko , Tanigaki Keita , Yamaga Shunsuke , Mita Ena , Kuboniwa Masae , Matsusaki Michiya , Amano Atsuo
Published: July 2022

Surface pre-reacted glass-ionomer (S-PRG) filler, produced by PRG technology for use with various dental materials, is bioactive and known to release ions from a glass-ionomer phase. We previously reported that coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CXADR), a tight junction associated protein, was located in the epithelial barrier of gingival epithelium. In the present study, the tissue protective effects of an S-PRG eluate prepared with S-PRG filler were investigated using a three-dimensional human gingival epithelial tissue model. The results showed that the S-PRG eluate specifically induced CXADR expression at the transcriptional level of messenger RNA as well as the protein level, and also nuclear translocation of transcription factor EB (TFEB) in gingival epithelial cells. Furthermore, shigyakusan, a TFEB inhibitor, canceled induction of the CXADR protein by the S-PRG eluate. Additionally, gingival epithelial permeation by 40-kDa dextran, lipopolysaccharide, and peptidoglycan in the 3D-tissue models was prevented by the eluate, with those effects abrogated by knockdown of CXADR. These findings suggest that S-PRG eluate increases CXADR expression via the TFEB pathway, thus inhibiting penetration of bacterial virulence factors into subepithelial tissues.
Comparison of scientometric achievements at PhD and scientific output ten years later for 4,790 academic researchers
Authors: Munkácsy Gyöngyi , Herman Péter , Győrffy Balázs
Published: July 2022

Introduction

PhD is the highest awarded degree offered by universities in different disciplines. Owners of a PhD can teach at universities, start independent research and receive a higher salary while further building a scientific career. We examined whether the publication output before the PhD degree has a correlation with subsequent research activities.

Methods

We downloaded publication and citation data from the Hungarian Scientific Bibliography for Hungarian researchers who obtained PhD between the ages of 24 and 45. The researchers were grouped into eleven scientific sections. We examined the number of Q1 publications published in the previous 5 years, the H-index, the total number of citations for the last complete year, and the biological age of the researcher. Each parameter was computed for the year at which the PhD was obtained and ten years later. Pre-PhD publications (and citations for these) were excluded when assessing post-PhD track records. Spearman rank correlation and Kruskal-Wallis test were computed.

Results

We analyzed all together 4,790 researchers. We obtained a positive correlation between the number of Q1 publications before and after PhD (corr. coeff. = 0.21–0.54, p<0.01 in all sections), between the H-index before and after PhD (corr. coeff. = 0.32–0.56, p<0.01 in all sections), and between the citations received before and after PhD (corr. coeff. = 0.34–0.51, p<0.01 in all sections). All three metrics measured ten years after the PhD were negatively correlated with the age of the researcher at the time of obtaining the PhD (number of publications corr. coeff. = -0.09–0.22, p<0.05; H-index corr. coeff. = -0.09–0.29, p<0.08; number of citations corr. coeff. = -0.14–0.30, p<0.01). Among all disciplines, Philosophy and History and Engineering sciences show the strongest correlation between pre- and post-PhD output. When running multiple regression analysis for all three metrics as dependent variables and the number of articles, the H-index, the number of citations in the year of the PhD, the calendar year of PhD, and the gender of the researcher as independent variables, the number of articles and the H-index in the year of PhD reached the strongest positive correlations while gender had a negative correlation.

Conclusions

We independently evaluated pre- and post-PhD publication performance. In connection with age, the discipline-specific reference values of scientometric parameters at the time of obtaining the PhD can help to select candidates for postdoctoral grants and positions.
Effect of neurofeedback therapy on neurological post-COVID-19 complications (A pilot study)
Authors: Orendáčová Mária , Kvašňák Eugen , Vránová Jana
Published: July 2022

Objective

Anxiety, fatigue and depression are common neurological manifestations after COVID-19. So far, post-COVID complications were treated by rehabilitation, oxygen therapy and immunotherapy. Effects of neurofeedback on post-COVID complications and their potential interrelatedness have not been studied yet. In this pilot study, we investigated the effectiveness of neurofeedback (Othmer method) for treatment of fatigue, anxiety, and depression after COVID-19.

Methods

10 participants met inclusion criteria for having positive anamnesis of at least one of the following complications following COVID-19: fatigue, anxiety, and depression which were measured by questionnaires. ANOVA was used for calculating differences in questionnaire score before and after neurofeedback. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to calculate correlations between anxiety, depression and fatigue.

Results

After five neurofeedback sessions, there came to significant reduction of severity of post-COVID anxiety and depression persisting for at least one month. Effect of neurofeedback on fatigue was insignificant. Severity of anxiety, fatigue and depression as well as reductions in depression and fatigue were positively correlated with each other.

Conclusion

These findings showed effectiveness neurofeedback for reducing anxiety and depression after COVID-19 and for studying correlations between neurological complications after COVID-19. However, since our pilot clinical trial was open-label, it is hard to differentiate between neurofeedback-specific and unspecific effects on our participants. Future randomized controlled trials with more robust sample are necessary to investigate feasibility of neurofeedback for post-COVID neurological complications. The study has identification number trial ID ISRCTN49037874 in ISRCTN register of clinical trials (Retrospectively registered).
Longitudinal monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-specific antibody responses in Lower Austria
Authors: Rebholz Heike , Braun Ralf J. , Saha Titas , Harzer Oliver , Schneider Miriam , Ladage Dennis
Published: July 2022

The Lower Austrian Wachau region was an early COVID-19 hotspot of infection. As previously reported, in June 2020, after the first peak of infections, we determined that 8.5% and 9.0% of the participants in Weißenkirchen and surrounding communities in the Wachau region were positive for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies against the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, respectively. Here, we present novel data obtained eight months later (February 2021) from Weißenkirchen, after the second peak of infection, with 25.0% (138/552) and 23.6% (130/552) of participants that are positive for IgG and IgA, respectively. In participants with previous IgG/IgA positivity (June 2020), we observed a 24% reduction in IgG levels, whereas the IgA levels remained stable in February 2021. This subgroup was further analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 induced T cell activities. Although 76% (34/45) and 76% (34/45) of IgG positive and IgA positive participants, respectively, showed specific T cell activities (upon exposure to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-derived peptides), those were not significantly correlated with the levels of IgG or IgA. Thus, the analyses of antibodies cannot surrogate the measurement of T cell activities. For a comprehensive view on SARS-CoV-2-triggered immune responses, the measurement of different classes of antibodies should be complemented with the determination of T cell activities.
Association of parental characteristics and emotion regulation in children and adolescents with and without psychopathology: A case-control study
Authors: Fassot Eva-Maria , Tuschen-Caffier Brunna , Asbrand Julia
Published: July 2022

This study explores the difference in child emotion regulation (ER) and parenting between a heterogeneous clinical sample (ClinS) and a community sample (ComS). We hypothesized that parents of the ClinS would report more dysfunctional child ER and more dysfunctional parenting regarding the child’s negative emotions than parents of the ComS. Further, we aimed to predict child ER by parenting behavior, parents’ ER, and mental health. Parents of children and adolescents (aged 6–18 years) seeking treatment at an outpatient clinic were compared to a matched sample of parents in a ComS (n = 57 each group). As predicted, the children in the clinical group were reported to use less reappraisal and more suppression than ComS children. No difference was found in dysfunctional emotion parenting between the groups. Reappraisal in parents and supportive reactions to negative emotions predicted reappraisal in children. No predictor was found for child suppression. Child emotion regulation and parents’ psychopathology were not associated. These results could suggest new elements for prevention and intervention programs with parents concerning their own emotion regulation and their reaction to negative emotions in children.
The willingness to perform first aid among high school students and associated factors in Hue, Vietnam
Authors: Huy Le Duc , Tung Pham Thanh , Nhu Le Nguyen Quynh , Linh Nguyen Tuan , Tra Dinh Thanh , Thao Nguyen Vu Phuong , Tien Tran Xuan , Hai Hoang Huu , Khoa Vo Van , Anh Phuong Nguyen Thi , Long Hoang Bao , Linh Bui Phuong
Published: July 2022

Background

Adolescents who are willing to perform first aid can help prevent injuries and ultimately death among themselves and others involved in accidents or injuries. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of students’ willingness to perform first aid procedures and additionally examine associated factors among high school students in Hue, Vietnam.

Methods

A cross-sectional study utilizing multi-stage stratified random sampling was conducted between April to July 2020 by investigating 798 high school students in Hue, Vietnam. Participants were invited to complete a self-reported questionnaire pertaining to individual demographic characteristics, personal perception of self-efficacy, and willingness to perform first aid. To better interpret these findings, both multivariable linear and Poisson regression models were fitted to evaluate the association between individual student characteristics and the willingness to perform first aid.

Results

The prevalence of having willingness to perform first aid (defined as ≥4 points out of 5 to all three questions) was 49.9% (95%CI:28.6–71.2%). The major reported barriers in performing first aid were fear of making mistakes and hurting victims (34.4%, 95%CI:31.9–37.0%), no prior first aid training (29.8%, 95%CI:25.9–33.9%), and forgetting first aid steps (23.0%, 95%CI:15.8–32.2%). By employing the multivariable linear regression model, it was identified that students with high (β = 0.614, 95%CI:0.009–1.219) or very high (β = 1.64, 95%CI:0.857–2.422) levels of self-efficacy appeared to be more willing to perform first aid. Similarly, in the Poisson regression models, compared to neutral students, students who reported high (PR = 1.214, 95%CI:1.048–1.407) or very high (PR = 1.871, 95%CI:1.049–3.337) levels of self-efficacy were more willing to perform first aid.

Conclusions

The level of willingness to perform first aid among high school students in this study population was found to be moderate. Therefore, integrating activities to promote self-efficacy in first aid training could be considered a progressive step towards improving a student’s willingness to provide such life-saving procedures.
HIV-1 latency is established preferentially in minimally activated and non-dividing cells during productive infection of primary CD4 T cells
Authors: Soto Paula C. , Terry Valeri H. , Lewinski Mary K. , Deshmukh Savitha , Beliakova-Bethell Nadejda , Spina Celsa A.
Published: July 2022

Latently infected CD4 T cells form a stable reservoir of HIV that leads to life-long viral persistence; the mechanisms involved in establishment of this latency are not well understood. Three scenarios have been proposed: 1) an activated, proliferating cell becomes infected and reverts back to a resting state; 2) an activated cell becomes infected during its return to resting; or 3) infection is established directly in a resting cell. The aim of this study was, therefore, to investigate the relationship between T cell activation and proliferation and the establishment of HIV latency. Isolated primary CD4 cells were infected at different time points before or after TCR-induced stimulation. Cell proliferation within acutely infected cultures was tracked using CFSE viable dye over 14 days; and cell subsets that underwent varying degrees of proliferation were isolated at end of culture by flow cytometric sorting. Recovered cell subpopulations were analyzed for the amount of integrated HIV DNA, and the ability to produce virus, upon a second round of cell stimulation. We show that cell cultures exposed to virus, prior to stimulus addition, contained the highest levels of integrated and replication-competent provirus after returning to quiescence; whereas, cells infected during the height of cell proliferation retained the least. Cells that did not divide or exhibited limited division, following virus exposure and stimulation contained greater amounts of integrated and inducible HIV than did cells that had divided many times. Based on these results, co-culture experiments were conducted to demonstrate that latent infection could be established directly in non-dividing cells via cell-to-cell transmission from autologous productively infected cells. Together, the findings from our studies implicate the likely importance of direct infection of sub-optimally activated T cells in establishment of latently infected reservoirs in vivo, especially in CD4 lymphocytes that surround productive viral foci within immune tissue microenvironments.
Academic, clinical and personal experiences of undergraduate healthcare students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A prospective cohort study
Authors: McFadden Sonyia , Guille Sharon , Daly-Lynn Jean , O’Neill Brenda , Marley Joanne , Hanratty Catherine , Shepherd Paul , Ramsey Lucia , Breen Cathal , Duffy Orla , Jones Andrea , Kerr Daniel , Hughes Ciara
Published: July 2022

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 has impacted upon the role and safety of healthcare workers, with the potential to have a lasting effect on their wellbeing. Limited research has been conducted during previous pandemics exploring how student healthcare workers are impacted as they study and train for their professional careers.

Objective

The aim of the current study was to examine the specific impact of COVID-19 on the academic, clinical and personal experiences of healthcare students.

Method

Undergraduate students across three year groups within the School of Health Sciences at Ulster University completed online Qualtrics surveys at three timepoints during one academic year (2020/2021). Quantitative survey data was downloaded from Qualtrics into SPSS Version 25 for descriptive analysis of each cross-sectional sample. Qualitative survey data was downloaded into text format, which was thematically analysed using content analysis.

Results

412 students completed the survey at Time 1 (October 2020), n = 309 at Time 2 (December 2020) and n = 259 at Time 3 (April 2021). Academically, the pandemic had mostly a negative impact on the learning environment, the development of practical skills, the assessment process and opportunities for peer learning and support. Students reported increased stress and challenges managing their workload and maintaining a sense of motivation and routine. Clinically, they felt unprepared by the university for placement where the pandemic had an increasingly negative impact over time on learning and skill development. In terms of personal experiences, despite the majority of students taking steps to keep physically and mentally well, negative impacts on friendships, mental wellbeing and concerns for family were reported. The pandemic had not impacted upon career choice for most students.

Conclusion

Consideration must be given to the development of practical skills so students feel prepared for their professional careers given the practical nature of their roles. Programme coordinators should adopt a holistic approach to student wellbeing.
Women’s contraceptive profiles in Burundi: Knowledge, attitudes, and interactions with media and health services
Authors: MacQuarrie Kerry L. D. , Juan Christina , Gemmill Alison
Published: July 2022

Reproductive health program managers seek information about existing and potential clients’ motivations, behaviors, and barriers to services. Using sequence and cluster analysis of contraceptive calendar data from the 2016–17 Burundi Demographic and Health Survey, we identified discrete clusters characterizing patterns in women’s contraceptive and pregnancy behaviors over the previous 5 years. This study pairs these clusters with data on factors typically targeted in social behavior change interventions: knowledge, attitudes, and women’s interactions with media and health services, to create composite profiles of women in these clusters. Of six clusters, three are characterized by contraceptive use and three are characterized by its absence. Media exposure and attitudes regarding sex preference, wife beating, and self-efficacy largely do not explain cluster membership. Contraceptive knowledge is positively associated with two clusters (Family Builder 1 and Traditional Mother) and negatively associated with a third (Quiet Calendar). Clusters also differ in their members’ fertility desires, contraceptive intentions, and interactions with health services. Two “Family Builder” clusters are both characterized by the presence (but not timing) of multiple pregnancies in their calendar histories, but differ in that women with high contraceptive knowledge, intentions to use contraception, and well-articulated family size ideals are characteristic of one cluster (Family Builder 1), and low contraceptive knowledge, no use of contraception, and vague family size preferences are characteristic of the other (Family Builder 2). These results can guide reproductive health programs as they target social and behavioral change and other interventions to the unique subpopulations they seek to serve.