bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TaqMan Array Card testing of participant-collected stool smears to determine the pathogen-specific epidemiology of travellers’ diarrhoea
Authors: Tisdale Michele D , Tribble David R , Mitra Indrani , Telu Kalyani , Kuo Huai-Ching , Fraser Jamie A , Liu Jie , Houpt Eric R , Riddle Mark S , Tilley Drake H , Kunz Anjali N , Yun Heather C , Geist Charla C , Lalani Tahaniyat
Published: September 2021

Background

We assessed the compliance with self-collection of stool smears on Whatman® FTA® Elute Card (FTA Card) and detection of travellers’ diarrhoea (TD)-associated pathogens by using a quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay [customized TaqMan® array card (TAC)] in a prospective, observational cohort of travellers.

Methods

Enrolled travellers documented symptoms on a travel diary and collected an FTA Card during a diarrhoeal episode, or at the end of travel if they remained asymptomatic. TAC testing was performed on FTA Cards from TD cases and 1:1 matched asymptomatic controls and 1:1 matched loose stool cases that did not meet TD criteria. Odds ratios were used to determine the association between detected pathogens and TD.

Results

Of 2456 travellers, 484 (19.7%) completed an illness diary and met TD criteria, and 257 (53.1%) collected an FTA Card during the TD episode. FTA Cards were stored for a median of 2 years at room temperature (IQR: 1–4 years) before extraction and testing. The overall TAC detection rate in TD cases was 58.8% (95% CI: 52.5–64.8). Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen in TD cases (26.8%), and 3.5% of samples were positive for norovirus. The odds of detecting TD-associated pathogens in 231 matched cases and asymptomatic controls were 5.4 (95% CI: 3.6–8.1) and 2.0 (95% CI: 1.1–3.7) in 121 matched TD and loose stool cases (P < 0.05). Enteroaggregative E. coli was the most common pathogen detected in asymptomatic controls and loose stool cases. Detection of diarrhoeagenic E. coli, Shigella/enteroinvasive E. coli and Campylobacter spp. was significantly associated with TD.

Conclusion

FTA Cards are a useful adjunct to traditional stool collection methods for evaluating the pathogen-specific epidemiology of TD in austere environments. Qualitative detection of pathogens was associated with TD. Measures to improve compliance and quality of FTA Card collection with decreased storage duration may further optimize detection.
‘He Gave to Adam Knowledge’: A Competing Creation Tradition in Early Judaism and Early Christianity
Authors: Montgomery Eric R
Published: September 2021

The Eden narrative in Genesis recounts the story of Adam and Eve and their expulsion from God’s paradise because they consumed fruit from the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil. While the creation account in Genesis 2–3 is well known to modern readers of the Bible, this paper demonstrates that a competing creation tradition existed in Second Temple Judaism. According to this tradition, which circulated at least as early as the Persian period, God intentionally gave knowledge or wisdom to the primordial human(s) as a benevolent gift, and it was this knowledge that set the primordial human(s) apart from other earthly creatures. During the late Second Temple period, the creation account in Genesis 2–3 and the tradition that God gave knowledge to the primordial human(s) came into direct conflict. Consequently, many Jewish writers attempted to accommodate both creation traditions, often by suppressing certain elements of the Eden narrative such as the specific details of Adam’s transgression or the negative portrayal of the tree of knowledge.
Morbidity and Function Loss After Resection of Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors
Authors: Martin Enrico , Pendleton Courtney , Verhoef Cornelis , Spinner Robert J. , Coert J. Henk
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND:

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive soft tissue sarcomas. Their resection may lead to serious morbidity. Incidence of postoperative motor and sensory deficits is unknown, and reconstruction aimed at restoring such deficits is infrequently carried out.

OBJECTIVE:

To identify the incidence and risk factors of postoperative morbidity in MPNST as well as the use and outcomes of functional reconstructions in these patients.

METHODS:

Postoperative function and treatment of MPNSTs diagnosed from 1988 to 2019 in 10 cancer centers was obtained. Two models were constructed evaluating factors independently associated with postoperative motor (<M3) or critical sensory loss. Critical sensation was defined as partial or complete loss of hand, foot, or buttocks sensation.

RESULTS:

A total of 756 patients (33.4% neurofibromatosis type 1, NF1) were included. MPNSTs originated in 34.4% from a major nerve. Of 658 surgically treated patients, 27.2% had <M3 muscle power and 24.3% critical sensory loss. Amputations were carried out in 61 patients. Independent risk factors for motor and sensory loss included patients with NF1, symptomatic, deep-seated, extremity, or plexus tumors originating from major nerves (all P < .05). A total of 26 patients underwent functional reconstructions. The majority (64%) of these patients regained at least M3 muscle power and 33% M4 despite 86% receiving multimodal therapy.

CONCLUSION:

Resection of MPNSTs commonly results in motor and sensory deficits. Patients with NF1, symptomatic, deep-seated tumors, arising from major nerves were associated with a higher risk for developing postoperative morbidity. Functional reconstructions are infrequently performed but can improve functional outcomes.
Lateral Thoracolumbar Listhesis as an Independent Predictor of Disability in Adult Scoliosis Patients: Multivariable Assessment Before and After Surgical Realignment
Authors: Daniels Alan H , Durand Wesley M , Lafage Renaud , Zhang Andrew S , Hamilton David K , Passias Peter G , Kim Han Jo , Protopsaltis Themistocles , Lafage Virginie , Smith Justin S , Shaffrey Christopher , Gupta Munish , Klineberg Eric , Schwab Frank , Burton Doug , Bess Shay , Ames Christopher , Hart Robert A ,   on behalf of International Spine Study Group
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND

Lateral (ie, coronal) vertebral listhesis may contribute to disability in adult scoliosis patients.

OBJECTIVE

To assess for a correlation between lateral listhesis and disability among patients with adult scoliosis.

METHODS

This was a retrospective multi-center analysis of prospectively collected data. Patients eligible for a minimum of 2-yr follow-up and with coronal plane deformity (defined as maximum Cobb angle ≥20º) were included (n = 724). Outcome measures were Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and leg pain numeric scale rating. Lateral thoracolumbar listhesis was measured as the maximum vertebral listhesis as a percent of the superior endplate across T1-L5 levels. Linear and logistic regression was utilized, as appropriate. Multivariable analyses adjusted for demographics, comorbidities, surgical invasiveness, maximum Cobb angle, and T1-PA. Minimally clinically important difference (MCID) in ODI was defined as 12.8.

RESULTS

In total, 724 adult patients were assessed. The mean baseline maximum lateral thoracolumbar listhesis was 18.3% (standard deviation 9.7%). The optimal statistical grouping for lateral listhesis was empirically determined to be none/mild (<6.7%), moderate (6.7-15.4%), and severe (≥15.4%). In multivariable analysis, listhesis of moderate and severe vs none/mild was associated with worse baseline ODI (none/mild = 33.7; moderate = 41.6; severe = 43.9; P < .001 for both comparisons) and leg pain NSR (none/mild = 2.9, moderate = 4.0, severe = 5.1, P < .05). Resolution of severe lateral listhesis to none/mild was independently associated with increased likelihood of reaching MCID in ODI at 2 yr postoperatively (odds ratio 2.1 95% confidence interval 1.2–3.7, P = .0097).

CONCLUSION

Lateral thoracolumbar listhesis is associated with worse baseline disability among adult scoliosis patients. Resolution of severe lateral listhesis following deformity correction was independently associated with increased likelihood of reaching MCID in ODI at 2-yr follow-up.
Evolution and Impact of the Brain Trauma Foundation Guidelines
Authors: Hawryluk Gregory W J , Ghajar Jamshid
Published: September 2021

The Brain Trauma Foundation (BTF) Guidelines for the Management of Severe Head Injury were the first clinical practice guidelines published by any surgical specialty. These guidelines have earned a reputation for rigor and have been widely adopted around the world. Implementation of these guidelines has been associated with a 50% reduction in mortality and reduced costs of patient care. Over their 25-yr history the traumatic brain injury (TBI) guidelines have been expanded, refined, and made increasingly more rigorous in conjunction with new clinical evidence and evolving methodologic standards. Here, we discuss the history and accomplishments of BTF guidelines for TBI as well as their limitations. We also discuss planned changes to future TBI guidelines intended to increase their utility and positive impact in an evolving medical landscape. Perhaps the greatest limitation of TBI guidelines now is the lack of high-quality clinical research as well as novel diagnostics and treatments with which to generate substantially new recommendations.
Capitalism: worries of the 1930s for the 2020s
Authors: O’Rourke Kevin Hjortshøj
Published: September 2021

The paper provides an assessment of the health of capitalism, concluding that in a global perspective the institution is prospering. Whether or not that is good for global, national, regional, or sectional welfare is another matter. The paper also compares some 1930s debates about capitalism with similar debates in our own time.
The perceived risks of e-cigarettes to others and during pregnancy
Authors: Viscusi W Kip
Published: September 2021

Background

Public Health England has concluded that e-cigarettes are much safer than cigarettes for the user and for secondhand exposures, but it has not reached a definitive conclusion regarding pregnancy risks. How people perceive the risks to others is less well understood.

Methods

This study uses an online UK sample of 1041 adults to examine perceived e-cigarette risks to others and during pregnancy. The survey examines relative risk beliefs of e-cigarettes compared to cigarettes and the percentage reduction in harm provided by e-cigarettes.

Results

A majority of the sample believes that secondhand exposure to e-cigarette vapors poses less risk than secondhand smoke from cigarettes, but almost two-fifths of the sample equate the secondhand risks from e-cigarettes to those from cigarettes. There is somewhat greater perception of e-cigarette risks during pregnancy compared to beliefs regarding secondhand risks of vaping. About two-fifths of the population believe that e-cigarettes are less risky than cigarettes during pregnancy. Respondents believe that e-cigarettes reduce the harm to others by 39% and the harm to babies by 36%.

Conclusion

There is a general sense that e-cigarettes pose less risk than cigarettes, but there is a need for further risk communication regarding comparative e-cigarette risks.
Quantifying the High-Frequency Trading “Arms Race”
Authors: Aquilina Matteo , Budish Eric , O’Neill Peter
Published: September 2021

We use stock exchange message data to quantify the negative aspect of high-frequency trading, known as “latency arbitrage.” The key difference between message data and widely familiar limit order book data is that message data contain attempts to trade or cancel that fail. This allows the researcher to observe both winners and losers in a race, whereas in limit order book data you cannot see the losers, so you cannot directly see the races. We find that latency arbitrage races are very frequent (about one per minute per symbol for FTSE 100 stocks), extremely fast (the modal race lasts 5–10 millionths of a second), and account for a remarkably large portion of overall trading volume (about 20%). Race participation is concentrated, with the top six firms accounting for over 80% of all race wins and losses. The average race is worth just a small amount (about half a price tick), but because of the large volumes the stakes add up. Our main estimates suggest that races constitute roughly one-third of price impact and the effective spread (key microstructure measures of the cost of liquidity), that latency arbitrage imposes a roughly 0.5 basis point tax on trading, that market designs that eliminate latency arbitrage would reduce the market’s cost of liquidity by 17%, and that the total sums at stake are on the order of $5 billion per year in global equity markets alone.
Revisiting the link between cereal diversity and production in Ethiopia
Authors: Groom Ben , Fontes Francisco Pereira
Published: September 2021

Studies show that cereal diversity positively affects mean yields, suggesting increased crop diversity as a means of increasing production (Di Falco and Chavas 2009, Baumgärtner and Quaas 2010). In practice though, agricultural development has relied on nondiverse systems. Using the Ethiopian Rural Household Survey panel, we revisit this paradox and disentangle the effects of agroecological zones and composition of crop diversity. We find a positive effect of greater cereal diversity on cereal production, but mostly in specific agroecological zones and for households who diversify away from a particular low-productivity crop: teff. These results indicate that the scope of cereal diversity to drive increases in output may be limited. Similar to recent studies of biodiversity—ecosystem function relationships (e.g. Jochum et al. 2020), the results suggest that the composition of diverse systems can be more important than the measured diversity itself. In the case of cereal crops in Ethiopia, differences in the yields of particular cereals in the crop mix explain the diversity effect, rather than diversity alone. Since some combinations of crops add to productivity but others do not, productivity-related crop choice may not guarantee in situ conservation of crop diversity on its own. Alternative conservation solutions may well be needed for that.
Firm Dynamics, On-the-Job Search, and Labor Market Fluctuations
Authors: Elsby Michael W L , Gottfries Axel
Published: September 2021

We devise a tractable model of firm dynamics with on-the-job search. The model admits analytical solutions for equilibrium outcomes, including quit, layoff, hiring, and vacancy-filling rates, as well as the distributions of job values, a fundamental challenge posed by the environment. Optimal labor demand takes a novel form whereby hiring firms allow their marginal product to diffuse over an interval. The evolution of the marginal product over this interval endogenously exhibits gradual mean reversion, evoking a notion of imperfect labor market competition. This in turn contributes to dispersion in marginal products, giving rise to endogenous misallocation. Quantitatively, the model provides a parsimonious reconciliation of leading estimates of rent sharing, the negative association between wages and quits, the link between job and worker flows, and the cyclicality of labor market quantities and prices.
An evidence-based culture: COVID-19 positivity factors during the asymptomatic occurrence in Jakarta, lndonesia
Authors: Nasution Bahrul Ilmi , Nugraha Yudhistira , Sulasikin Andi , Wiguna Hansen , Kanggrawan Juan Intan , Suherman Alex Lukmanto , Salama Ngabila , Oktavia Dwi
Published: September 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a global disaster, with over 746,312 confirmed cases and still counting in Indonesia, especially Jakarta, which has about 50 per cent asymptomatic confirmed cases. This paper aims to investigate the persistent factors of COVID-19 diagnosis using four scenarios of asymptomatic inclusion. We use Bayesian Logistic Regression to identify the factors of COVID-19 positivity, which can address issues in the traditional approach such as overfitting and uncertainty. This study discovers three main findings: (1) COVID-19 can infect people regardless of age; (2) Among twelve symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), five symptoms increase the COVID-19 likelihood, and two symptoms decrease the possibility of COVID-19 infection; and (3) From an epidemiological perspective, the contact history rises the probability of COVID-19, while healthcare workers and people who did travel are less likely to become infected from COVID-19. Therefore given this study, it is essential to be attentive to the people who have the symptoms and contact history. Surprisingly, health care workers and travelers who apply health protocols strictly according to the rules have a low risk of COVID19 infection.
Synthetic directed evolution in plants: unlocking trait engineering and improvement
Authors: Rao Gundra Sivakrishna , Jiang Wenjun , Mahfouz Magdy
Published: September 2021

Genetic variation accelerates adaptation and resilience and enables the survival of species in their changing environment. Increasing the genetic diversity of crop species is essential to improve their yield and enhance food security. Synthetic directed evolution (SDE) employs localized sequence diversification (LSD) of gene sequence and selection pressure to evolve gene variants with better fitness, improved properties and desired phenotypes. Recently, CRISPR–Cas-dependent and -independent technologies have been applied for LSD to mediate synthetic evolution in diverse species, including plants. SDE holds excellent promise to discover, accelerate and expand the range of traits of the value in crop species. Here, we highlight the efficient SDE approaches for the LSD of plant genes, selection strategies and critical traits for targeted improvement. We discuss the potential of emerging technologies, including CRISPR–Cas base editing, retron editing, EvolvR and prime editing, to establish efficient SDE in plants. Moreover, we cover CRISPR–Cas-independent technologies, including T7 polymerase editor for continuous evolution. We highlight the key challenges and potential solutions of applying SDE technologies to improve the plant traits of the value.
The Pension Schemes Act 2021: new duties for trustees and managers of pension fund trusts
Authors: Brown Lloyd
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the new “climate duties” that are created for pension trustees under the Pension Schemes Act 2021. An evaluation is provided of the Act’s section on “climate change risk.” The article suggests that while more could have been done to enforce climate change risk amongst pension trustees, the regulatory regime should nevertheless be seen as a positive development. Indeed, the new statutory requirements for the increased management and reporting of climate change risk should assist in making this important environmental issue be considered as a “financially material risk” throughout the sector.
The Impact of Error-Consequence Severity on Cue Processing in Importance-Biased Prospective Memory
Authors: Krasich Kristina , Gjorgieva Eva , Murray Samuel , Bhatia Shreya , Faber Myrthe , De Brigard Felipe , Woldorff Marty G
Published: September 2021

Prospective memory (PM) enables people to remember to complete important tasks in the future. Failing to do so can result in consequences of varying severity. Here, we investigated how PM error-consequence severity impacts the neural processing of relevant cues for triggering PM and the ramification of that processing on the associated prospective task performance. Participants role-played a cafeteria worker serving lunches to fictitious students and had to remember to deliver an alternative lunch to students (as PM cues) who would otherwise experience a moderate or severe aversive reaction. Scalp-recorded, event-related potential (ERP) measures showed that the early-latency frontal positivity, reflecting the perception-based neural responses to previously learned stimuli, did not differ between the severe versus moderate PM cues. In contrast, the longer-latency parietal positivity, thought to reflect full PM cue recognition and post-retrieval processes, was elicited earlier by the severe than the moderate PM cues. This faster instantiation of the parietal positivity to the severe-consequence PM cues was then followed by faster and more accurate behavioral responses. These findings indicate how the relative importance of a PM can be neurally instantiated in the form of enhanced and faster PM-cue recognition and processing and culminate into better PM.
Responses of fine root exudation, respiration and morphology in three early successional tree species to increased air humidity and different soil nitrogen sources
Authors: Sell Marili , Ostonen Ivika , Rohula-Okunev Gristin , Rusalepp Linda , Rezapour Azadeh , Kupper Priit
Published: September 2021

Global climate change scenarios predict an increase in air temperature, precipitation and air humidity for northern latitudes. Elevated air humidity may significantly reduce the water flux through forest canopies and affect interactions between water and nutrient uptake. However, we have limited understanding of how altered transpiration would affect root respiration and carbon (C) exudation as fine root morphology acclimates to different water flux. We investigated the effects of elevated air relative humidity (eRH) and different inorganic nitrogen sources (NO3− and NH4+) on above and belowground traits in hybrid aspen (Populus × wettsteinii Hämet-Ahti), silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) grown under controlled climate chamber conditions. The eRH significantly decreased the transpiration flux in all species, decreased root mass-specific exudation in pine, and increased root respiration in aspen. eRH also affected fine root morphology, with specific root area increasing for birch but decreasing in pine. The species comparison revealed that pine had the highest C exudation, whereas birch had the highest root respiration rate. Both humidity and nitrogen treatments affected the share of absorptive and pioneer roots within fine roots; however, the response was species-specific. The proportion of absorptive roots was highest in birch and aspen, the share of pioneer roots was greatest in aspen and the share of transport roots was greatest in pine. Fine roots with lower root tissue density were associated with pioneer root tips and had a higher C exudation rate. Our findings underline the importance of considering species-specific differences in relation to air humidity and soil nitrogen availability that interactively affect the C input–output balance. We highlight the role of changes in the fine root functional distribution as an important acclimation mechanism of trees in response to environmental change.
Correlating Light Absorbance Parameters in Peach Skin with Susceptibility to Streaking and Association with Rainwater Components
Authors: Schmitz Linus Thaddaeus , Schnabel G.
Published: September 2021

Since it was first observed in 2003, peach skin streaking (PSS) has increasingly affected fruit production in the southeastern United States. Since 2017, we have documented the occurrence of PSS on 21 cultivars in South Carolina, and symptoms have also been reported in Maryland and Pennsylvania. PSS seems to be linked to an unidentified causal agent mediated in rainwater with susceptibility closely related to the ripening status of maturing fruit. Over the course of the 2019 peach growing season, we collected rainwater at a South Carolina peach farm with a history of PSS and analyzed samples for chemical and physical properties. Five cultivars were monitored for occurrence of PSS to associate specific rain events with symptom development in the field. PSS was observed in the field on one of the monitored and three additional cultivars between May and June, and five rain events coincided in time with symptom development. However, chemical and physical properties from these rainwater samples were not significantly different from samples not associated with PSS in that time frame. Fruit of the five cultivars was also collected at 21, 14, 7, and 0 days before harvest to determine light absorbance parameters, ΔA, and color space and to induce symptoms under laboratory conditions by treatment with ClO2. Results indicate significant correlations between symptom development and light absorbance parameters, illustrating that proneness to PSS increases during fruit maturation.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
Association Between Pandemic Coronavirus Disease 2019 Public Health Measures and Reduction in Critical Care Utilization Across ICUs in Alberta, Canada
Authors: Bagshaw Sean M. , Zuege Danny J. , Stelfox Henry T. , Opgenorth Dawn , Wasylak Tracy , Fraser Nancy , Nguyen Thanh X. ,   for the Critical Care Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada
Published: September 2021

OBJECTIVES:

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has disrupted critical care services across the world. In anticipation of surges in the need for critical care services, governments implemented “lockdown” measures to preserve and create added critical care capacity. Herein, we describe the impact of lockdown measures on the utilization of critical care services and patient outcomes compared with nonlockdown epochs in a large integrated health region.

DESIGN:

This was a population-based retrospective cohort study.

SETTING:

Seventeen adult ICUs across 14 acute care hospitals in Alberta, Canada.

PATIENTS:

All adult (age ≥ 15 yr) patients admitted to any study ICU.

INTERVENTIONS:

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

The main exposure was ICU admission during “lockdown” occurring between March 16, 2020, and June 30, 2020. This period was compared with two nonpandemic control periods: “year prior” (March 16, 2019, to June 30, 2019) and “pre lockdown” immediately prior (November 30, 2019, to March 15, 2020). The primary outcome was the number of ICU admissions. Secondary outcomes included the following: daily measures of ICU utilization, ICU duration of stay, avoidable delay in ICU discharge, and occupancy; and patient outcomes. Mixed multilevel negative binomial regression and interrupted time series regression were used to compare rates of ICU admissions between periods. Multivariable regressions were used to compare patient outcomes between periods. During the lockdown, there were 3,649 ICU admissions (34.1 [8.0] ICU admissions/d), compared with 4,125 (38.6 [9.3]) during the prelockdown period and 3,919 (36.6 [8.7]) during the year prior. Mean bed occupancy declined significantly during the lockdown compared with the nonpandemic periods (78.7%, 95.9%, and 96.4%; p < 0.001). Avoidable ICU discharge delay also decreased significantly (42.0%, 53.2%, and 58.3%; p < 0.001). During the lockdown, patients were younger, had fewer comorbid diseases, had higher acuity, and were more likely to be medical admissions compared with the nonpandemic periods. Adjusted ICU and hospital mortality and ICU and hospital lengths of stay were significantly lower during the lockdown compared with nonpandemic periods.

CONCLUSIONS:

The coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown resulted in substantial changes to ICU utilization, including a reduction in admissions, occupancy, patient lengths of stay, and mortality.
Successful Implementation of an Increased Viral Risk Donor Waiting List for Preconsented Kidney Transplant Candidates in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Lee Darren , Gramnea Indra , Seng Nina , Bruns Meaghan , Hudson Fiona , D’Costa Rohit , McEvoy Leanne , Sasadeusz Joe , O’Leary Michael J. , Basu Gopal , Kausman Joshua Y. , Masterson Rosemary , Paizis Kathy , Kanellis John , Hughes Peter D. , Goodman David J. , Whitlam John B.
Published: September 2021

Background.

Increased viral risk donors (IVRDs) with increased risk behaviors for blood-borne virus infection and negative nucleic acid testing have a low absolute risk of “window period” infection. Utilization and allocation of IVRD organs differ between jurisdictions.

Methods.

We examined the characteristics and utilization of deceased donor IVRD kidneys and recipient outcomes within a 2-y period (July 31, 2018–July 31, 2020) postimplementation of a new opt-in allocation pathway for preconsented recipients in Victoria, Australia.

Results.

Fifty-six kidneys from 31 IVRDs were utilized, comprising 13% of donors. Preconsent rate to accept IVRD kidneys increased to 41% of the waitlist in the 2 y postimplementation, and IVRDs having no kidneys utilized reduced to 0%. Compared with non-IVRD kidneys, kidney offer declines >10 per donor were less likely from IVRDs (3% vs 19%; P < 0.05). IVRDs were younger (median age 36 [IQR 30–44] vs 51 [35–60] y; P < 0.0001), with lower kidney donor profile index (25% [13–40%] vs 57% [29–75%]; P < 0.0001), and less hypertension (0% vs 22%; P < 0.01). Estimated glomerular filtration rate 3 mo post-transplant was superior (P < 0.01). Injecting drug use (61%) was the most common increased risk behavior. 29% of IVRDs were hepatitis C antibody positive but nucleic acid testing negative. No active infection was detected in any recipient post-transplant.

Conclusions.

The described opt-in system permits efficient allocation and utilization of kidneys from IVRDs, with superior quality and graft function. Education is crucial to facilitate informed consent and equity of access to this donor pool.
The interplay of wind and uplift facilitates over-water flight in facultative soaring birds
Authors: Nourani Elham , Bohrer Gil , Becciu Paolo , Bierregaard Richard O. , Duriez Olivier , Figuerola Jordi , Gangoso Laura , Giokas Sinos , Higuchi Hiroyoshi , Kassara Christina , Kulikova Olga , Lecomte Nicolas , Monti Flavio , Pokrovsky Ivan , Sforzi Andrea , Therrien Jean-François , Tsiopelas Nikos , Vansteelant Wouter M. G. , Viana Duarte S. , Yamaguchi Noriyuki M. , Wikelski Martin , Safi Kamran
Published: September 2021

Flying over the open sea is energetically costly for terrestrial birds. Despite this, over-water journeys of many birds, sometimes hundreds of kilometres long, are uncovered by bio-logging technology. To understand how these birds afford their flights over the open sea, we investigated the role of atmospheric conditions, specifically wind and uplift, in subsidizing over-water flight at a global scale. We first established that ΔT, the temperature difference between sea surface and air, is a meaningful proxy for uplift over water. Using this proxy, we showed that the spatio-temporal patterns of sea-crossing in terrestrial migratory birds are associated with favourable uplift conditions. We then analysed route selection over the open sea for five facultative soaring species, representative of all major migratory flyways. The birds maximized wind support when selecting their sea-crossing routes and selected greater uplift when suitable wind support was available. They also preferred routes with low long-term uncertainty in wind conditions. Our findings suggest that, in addition to wind, uplift may play a key role in the energy seascape for bird migration that in turn determines strategies and associated costs for birds crossing ecological barriers such as the open sea.
Sea ice reduction drives genetic differentiation among Barents Sea polar bears
Authors: Maduna Simo Njabulo , Aars Jon , Fløystad Ida , Klütsch Cornelya F. C. , Zeyl Fiskebeck Eve M. L. , Wiig Øystein , Ehrich Dorothee , Andersen Magnus , Bachmann Lutz , Derocher Andrew E. , Nyman Tommi , Eiken Hans Geir , Hagen Snorre B.
Published: September 2021

Loss of Arctic sea ice owing to climate change is predicted to reduce both genetic diversity and gene flow in ice-dependent species, with potentially negative consequences for their long-term viability. Here, we tested for the population-genetic impacts of reduced sea ice cover on the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) sampled across two decades (1995–2016) from the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway, an area that is affected by rapid sea ice loss in the Arctic Barents Sea. We analysed genetic variation at 22 microsatellite loci for 626 polar bears from four sampling areas within the archipelago. Our results revealed a 3–10% loss of genetic diversity across the study period, accompanied by a near 200% increase in genetic differentiation across regions. These effects may best be explained by a decrease in gene flow caused by habitat fragmentation owing to the loss of sea ice coverage, resulting in increased inbreeding of local polar bears within the focal sampling areas in the Svalbard Archipelago. This study illustrates the importance of genetic monitoring for developing adaptive management strategies for polar bears and other ice-dependent species.
Cyberlindnera dasilvae sp. nov., a xylitol-producing yeast species isolated from rotting wood and frass of cerambycid larva
Authors: Barros Katharina O. , Souza Rafael M. , Palladino Fernanda , Cadete Raquel M. , Santos Ana Raquel O. , Goes-Neto Aristóteles , Berkov Amy , Zilli Jerri E. , Vital Marcos J. S. , Lachance Marc-André , Rosa Carlos A.
Published: September 2021

Six yeast isolates were obtained from rotting wood samples in Brazil and frass of a cerambycid beetle larva in French Guiana. Sequence analysis of the ITS-5.8S region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene showed that the isolates represent a novel species of Cyberlindnera. This novel species is related to Cyberlindnera japonica, Cyberlindnera xylosilytica, Candida easanensis and Candida maesa. It is heterothallic and produces asci with two or four hat-shaped ascospores. The name Cyberlindnera dasilvae sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate the novel species. The holotype of Cy. dasilvae is CBS 16129T and the designated paratype is CBS 16584. The MycoBank number is 838252. All isolates of Cy. dasilvae were able to convert xylose into xylitol with maximum xylitol production within 60 and 72 h. The isolates produced xylitol with values ranging from 12.61 to 31.79 g l−1 in yeast extract–peptone–xylose medium with 5% xylose. When the isolates were tested in sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate containing around 35–38 g l−1
d-xylose, isolate UFMG-CM-Y519 showed maximum xylitol production.
Polymorphisms in HTLV-1 Tax-responsive elements in HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis patients are associated with reduced proviral load but not with disease progression
Authors: Gomes Yago Côrtes Pinheiro , Silva Marcus Tulius Teixeira , Leite Ana Claudia Celestino Bezerra , Lima Marco Antonio Sales Dantas , Araújo Abelardo Queiroz Campos , Silva Filho Isaac Lima , Vicente Ana Carolina Paulo , Espíndola Otávio de Melo
Published: September 2021

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) provirus expression is mainly directed by Tax-responsive elements (TRE) within the long terminal repeats (LTR). Mutations in TRE can reduce provirus expression and since a high proviral load (PVL) is a risk factor for the development of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), we evaluated polymorphisms in the 5′ LTR and the association with PVL and disease progression. HTLV-1 LTR and tax sequences derived from asymptomatic carriers (AC) and HAM/TSP patients followed in a longitudinal study were analysed according to PVL and clinical severity. Individuals infected with HTLV-1 presenting the canonical TRE, considering strain ATK-1 as the consensus, displayed sustained higher PVL. By contrast, an LTR A125G mutation in TRE was associated with slightly reduced PVL only in HAM/TSP patients, although it did not influence the speed of disease progression. Moreover, this polymorphism was frequent in Latin American strains of the HTLV-1 Cosmopolitan Transcontinental subtype. Therefore, polymorphisms in the 5′ TRE of HTLV-1 may represent one of the factors influencing PVL in HAM/TSP patients, especially in the Latin American population. Indeed, higher PVL in the peripheral blood has been associated with an increased inflammatory activity in the spinal cord and to a poorer prognosis in HAM/TSP. However, this event was not associated with TRE polymorphisms.
How Informative Were Early SARS-CoV-2 Treatment and Prevention Trials? A longitudinal cohort analysis of trials registered on clinicaltrials.gov
Authors: Hutchinson Nora , Klas Katarzyna , Carlisle Benjamin G. , Kimmelman Jonathan , Waligora Marcin
Published: September 2021

Background

Early in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, commentators warned that some COVID trials were inadequately conceived, designed and reported. Here, we retrospectively assess the prevalence of informative COVID trials launched in the first 6 months of the pandemic.

Methods

We created a cohort of SARS-CoV-2 treatment and prevention efficacy trials that were initiated from 2020-01-01 to 2020-06-30 using ClinicalTrials.gov registration records. We evaluated trials on 3 criteria of informativeness: potential redundancy, design quality and feasibility of patient-participant recruitment. The study protocol was prospectively registered with the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/fp726/).

Results

We included 500 trials in our cohort, 58% of which were Phase 2 and 84.8% were directed towards the treatment of SARS-CoV-2. Close to one third of trials met all three criteria and were deemed informative (29.9% (95% Confidence Interval 23.7 – 36.9)). The proportion of potentially redundant trials in our cohort was 4.1%. Over half of the trials in our cohort (56.2%) did not meet our criteria for high quality trial design. The proportion of trials with infeasible patient-participant recruitment was 22.6%.

Conclusions

Less than one third of COVID-19 trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov during the first six months met all three criteria for informativeness. Shortcomings in trial design, recruitment feasibility and redundancy reflect longstanding weaknesses in the clinical research enterprise that were likely amplified by the exceptional circumstances of a pandemic.
The comparability of Anti-Spike SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests is time-dependent: a prospective observational study
Authors: Perkmann Thomas , Mucher Patrick , Perkmann-Nagele Nicole , Radakovics Astrid , Repl Manuela , Koller Thomas , Schmetterer Klaus G , Bigenzahn Johannes W , Leitner Florentina , Jordakieva Galateja , Wagner Oswald F , Binder Christoph J , Haslacher Helmuth
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Various commercial anti-Spike SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests are used for studies and in clinical settings after vaccination. An international standard for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies has been established to achieve comparability of such tests, allowing conversions to BAU/ml. This study aimed to investigate the comparability of antibody tests regarding the timing of blood collection after vaccination.

Methods

For this prospective observational study, antibody levels of 50 participants with homologous AZD1222 vaccination were evaluated at 3 and 11 weeks after the first dose and 3 weeks after the second dose using two commercial anti-Spike binding antibody assays (Roche and Abbott) and a surrogate neutralization assay.

Results

The correlation between Roche and Abbott changed significantly depending on the time point studied. Although 3 weeks after the first dose, Abbott provided values three times higher than Roche, 11 weeks after the first dose, the values for Roche were twice as high as for Abbott, and 3 weeks after the second dose even 5-6 times higher.

Conclusions

The comparability of quantitative anti-Spike SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests is highly dependent on the timing of blood collection after vaccination. Therefore, standardization of the timing of blood collection might be necessary for the comparability of different quantitative SARS-COV-2 antibody assays.

Abstract Figure
Comparative quantitative analysis of SARS- CoV-2 Spike neutralizing antibody titers following two anti COVID-19 vaccines in India
Authors: Chanukya GV , Srikantam Aparna
Published: September 2021

In COVID 19 Pandemic,first line of defence is effective vaccination program.Because of multiple platforms available for vaccine production we tested relative immunogenicity of two vaccines available in India, Covaxin® and Covishield® We performed quantitative analysis of neutralizing antibodies to SARS Cov2 spike (receptor binding domain) protein, from sera of 53 subjects who completed vaccines schedules.There was significantly higher immunogenic response with Covishield® as compared to Covaxin® and are independent of age. Studies on a large scale with long term follow up are needed to further advance the knowledge in this domain.
National Population-Level Disparities in COVID-19 Mortality Across the Intersection of Race/Ethnicity and Sex in the United States
Authors: Xu Jay J. , Chen Jarvis T. , Belin Thomas R. , Brookmeyer Ronald S. , Suchard Marc A. , Ramirez Christina M.
Published: September 2021

Males and certain racial/ethnic minority groups have borne a disproportionate burden of COVID-19 mortality in the United States, and substantial scientific research has sought to quantify and characterize population-level disparities in COVID-19 mortality outcomes by sex and across categories of race/ethnicity. However, there has not yet been a national population-level study to quantify disparities in COVID-19 mortality outcomes across the intersection of these demographic dimensions. Here, we analyze a publicly available dataset from the National Center for Health Statistics comprising COVID-19 death counts stratified by race/ethnicity, sex, and age for the year 2020, calculating mortality rates for each race/ethnicity-sex-age stratum and age-adjusted mortality rates for each race/ethnicity-sex stratum, quantifying disparities in terms of mortality rate ratios and rate differences. Our results reveal persistently higher COVID-19 age-adjusted mortality rates for males compared to females within every racial/ethnic group, with notable variation in the magnitudes of the sex disparity by race/ethnicity. However, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native females have higher age-adjusted mortality rates than non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander males. Moreover, persistent racial/ethnic disparities are observed among both males and females, with higher COVID-19 age-adjusted mortality rates observed for non-Hispanic Blacks, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Natives relative to non-Hispanic Whites.
Validation of HER2 status in whole genome sequencing data of breast cancers with AI-driven, ploidy-corrected approach
Authors: Marzena Wojtaszewska , Rafał Stępień , Alicja Woźna , Maciej Piernik , Maciej Dąbrowski , Michał Gniot , Sławomir Szymański , Maciej Socha , Piotr Kasprzak , Rafał Matkowski , Paweł Zawadzki
Published: September 2021

The HER2 protein overexpression is one of the most significant biomarkers for breast cancer diagnostics, prediction, and prognostics. The availability of HER2-inhibitors in routine clinical practice directly translates into the diagnostic need for precise and robust marker identification.

At the brink of the genomic era, multigene next-generation sequencing methodologies slowly take over the field of single-biomarker molecular and cytogenetic tests. However, copy number alterations such as amplification of the HER2-coding ERBB2 gene, are certainly harder to validate as an NGS biomarker than simple SNV mutations. They are characterized by several compound genomic factors i.a. structural heterogeneity, dependence on chromosome count and genomic context of ploidy. In our study, we tested the approach of using whole genome sequencing instead of NGS panels to robustly and accurately determine HER2 status in clinical setup. Based on the large dataset of 877 breast cancer patients’ genomes with curated clinical data and a machine learning approach for optimization of an unbiased diagnostic classifier, we provide a reliable algorithm of HER2 status assessment.
Impact of Stratified Interventions in University Reopenings
Authors: Zhang Yiwei , Yu Zhuoting , Fujimoto Akane , Keskinocak Pinar , Swann Julie L.
Published: September 2021

More than 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. are scheduled to start a new semester in August or September, 2021. Many colleges require Covid-19 vaccination, as well as some combination of face coverings or diagnostic testing, while others do not (in some cases due to governance structure). Large state universities may especially have limitations and are not requiring vaccination, testing, or indoor face coverings, nor offering hybrid classes (to promote physical distancing). Group living quarters or classrooms with densely packed students are among the riskiest settings for infectious disease spread.
Differences in Skilled Nursing Facility Characteristics and Quality Ratings by Long-Term Care Pharmacy Provider
Authors: Zullo Andrew R. , Riester Melissa R. , Goldberg Elizabeth M. , Cupp Meghan A. , Berry Sarah D. , Beaudoin Francesca L.
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Limited data exist on the U.S. long-term care (LTC) pharmacy market and how skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) may differ by LTC pharmacy provider. We estimated the market shares of two major LTC pharmacies (Omnicare and PharMerica) and assessed if SNF characteristics differ by pharmacy.

Design

Cross-sectional.

Setting and Participants

Seventy-five Rhode Island (RI) SNFs that provided post-acute care (PAC) services in 2019.

Methods

SNF location, structure, staffing measures, and quality ratings were ascertained from publicly available data sources. The LTC pharmacy used by each SNF was compiled by case managers at a RI health system.

Results

Among 75 SNFs, 32 (43%) were served by Omnicare and 36 (48%) by PharMerica. LASSO logistic regression and random forest models identified 5 key predictors of SNFs selecting PharMerica over Omnicare: number of skilled beds, total number of beds, nursing hours per resident per day, five-star health inspection rating, and average number of residents per day. In a multivariable regression model including 4 predictors (total number of beds excluded due to collinearity), SNFs had a 6% higher prevalence of using Omnicare over PharMerica for every additional 10 skilled beds (Prevalence Ratio 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.10).

Conclusions and Implications

Omnicare and PharMerica comprised over 90% of the SNF PAC market in RI, with Omnicare covering larger facilities. Understanding if these companies serve a similar proportion of SNFs in other U.S. states is necessary to advance future research initiatives and examine how collaborations between SNFs and LTC pharmacy chains may improve medication management in SNFs.

Brief Summary

Two pharmacies may comprise over 90% of the skilled nursing facility post-acute care market. This market concentration may represent a prime opportunity to efficiently improve medication management.