bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adjuvanted influenza vaccine for the Italian elderly in the 2018/19 season: an updated health technology assessment
Authors: de Waure Chiara , Boccalini Sara , Bonanni Paolo , Amicizia Daniela , Poscia Andrea , Bechini Angela , Barbieri Marco , Capri Stefano , Specchia Maria Lucia , Di Pietro Maria Luisa , Arata Lucia , Cacciatore Pasquale , Panatto Doanatella , Gasparini Roberto
Published: March 2019

Background

The elderly, defined here as subjects aged ≥ 65 years, are among at-risk subjects for whom annual influenza vaccination is recommended. For the 2018/19 season, three vaccine types are available for the elderly in Italy: trivalent inactivated vaccine (TIV), adjuvanted TIV (aTIV) and quadrivalent inactivated vaccines (QIV). No health technology assessment (HTA) of seasonal influenza vaccination in the elderly has previously been conducted in Italy.

Methods

An HTA was conducted in 2017 to analyze the burden of influenza illness, the characteristics, efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of available vaccines and the related organizational and ethical implications. This was then contextualized to the 2018/19 influenza season. Comprehensive literature reviews/analyses were performed and a static mathematical model developed in order to address the above issues.

Results

In Italy, influenza is usually less common in the elderly than in other age-classes, but the burden of disease is the highest; >10% of infected elderly subjects develop complications, and about 90% of all influenza-related deaths occur in this age-class. All available vaccines are effective, safe and acceptable from an ethical standpoint. However, aTIV has proved more immunogenic and effective in the elderly. Furthermore, from the third payer’s perspective, aTIV is highly cost-effective and cost-saving in comparison with TIV and QIV, respectively. Nevertheless, vaccination coverage needs to be improved.

Conclusions

According to this HTA, aTIV appeared the vaccine of choice in the elderly. HTA should be reapplied whenever new relevant data become available.
Constructing a general competency model for Chinese public health physicians: a qualitative and quantitative study
Authors: Shi Lei , Fan Lihua , Xiao Hai , Chen Zhenkang , Tong Xinfa , Liu Ming , Cao Depin
Published: March 2019

Background

The purpose of the study was to construct a general model of the competencies required by Chinese public health physicians. This study is intended to lay the foundation for promoting reform of public health education in China, and may help perfect the testing and grading system of public health courses.

Methods

The behavioral event interviews were used to collect data on knowledge, skills and performance characteristics of public health physicians for coping with public health events. A random stratified sampling survey was used to select public health professionals and workers from different public health institutions in 14 provinces (municipalities or autonomous regions) of China. We then purposively selected 150 senior public health professionals from various agencies and 85 senior public health educators at colleges and universities to take part in the checklist survey. Finally, three times expert consultations were performed to determine the dimensions and elements of the general competency model for Chinese public health physicians.

Results

The age range of the 3245 participants was 18–65 years old. When comparing public health professionals and public health education specialists, we found significant differences in the perceived importance of the core competencies between these groups. The model was revised several times and finalized through the expert consultations, and comprised seven competency dimensions.

Conclusion

The final public health practitioner competency model comprised seven competency dimensions: basic knowledge of medicine, public health knowledge, health management and health promotion, specialized skills, research and development, comprehensive abilities and professionalism.
Affine Orlicz Pólya–Szegö Principles and Their Equality Cases
Authors: Lin Youjiang , Xi Dongmeng
Published: March 2019

The conjecture about the Orlicz Pólya–Szegö principle posed in [42] is proved. The cases of equality are characterized in the affine Orlicz Pólya–Szegö principle with respect to Steiner symmetrization and Schwarz spherical symmetrization.
Towards the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Nigeria: a health system perspective of the achievements and challenges
Authors: Olakunde Babayemi O , Adeyinka Daniel A , Olawepo John O , Pharr Jennifer R , Ozigbu Chamberline E , Wakdok Sabastine , Oladele Tolu , Ezeanolue Echezona E
Published: March 2019

Despite its scaled-up response for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT), Nigeria still contributes the greatest number of infants infected with HIV worldwide. Drawing on our knowledge, and review of policy documents and research papers, we explored the achievements and challenges in the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Nigeria using the WHO’s health systems framework. We found that Nigeria has increased the number of PMTCT sites, decentralized and integrated PMTCT care for expanded service delivery, adopted task-shifting to address the shortage of skilled healthcare providers, explored alternative sources of domestic funding to bridge the funding gap and harmonized the health management information system to improve data quality. Some of the challenges we identified included: difficulty in identifying HIV-infected pregnant women because of low uptake of antenatal care; interrupted supplies of medical commodities; knowledge gaps among healthcare workers; and lack of a national unique identifying system to enhance data quality. While there have been some achievements in the PMTCT program, gaps still exist in the different blocks of the health system. Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Nigeria will require the implementation of feasible, culturally acceptable and sustainable interventions to address the health system-related challenges.
Characterization and functional analysis of novel circulating NK cell sub-populations
Authors: Khummuang Saichit , Chuensirikulchai Kantinan , Pata Supansa , Laopajon Witida , Chruewkamlow Nuttapol , Mahasongkram Kodchakorn , Sugiura Nobuo , Watanabe Hideto , Tateno Hiroaki , Kamuthachad Ludthawun , Wongratanacheewin Surasakdi , Takheaw Nuchjira , Kasinrerk Watchara
Published: March 2019

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells having potent cytolytic function that provide host defense against microbial infections and tumors. Using our generated monoclonal antibody (mAb), named FE-1H10, new NK cell sub-populations in peripheral blood were identified. The molecules recognized by mAb FE-1H10 were expressed on a sub-population of CD3−CD56dim NK cells. The epitope recognized by mAb FE-1H10 was demonstrated to be N-glycan and proven to be different from CD57. Upon K562 stimulation, the CD56dimFE-1H10+ NK cell sub-population exhibited significantly lower cytolytic function with low ability to degranulate and release cytolytic granules compared to the CD56dimFE-1H10− NK cell sub-population. Moreover, the CD56dimFE-1H10+ NK cells produced less IFN-γ and TNF-α than the CD56dimFE-1H10− NK cells. We demonstrated here that mAb FE-1H10 could identify two sub-populations of circulating CD56dim NK cells with different functions. Our discovery of new sub-populations of NK cells improves our understanding of NK cell biology and may lead to the development of new approaches for NK cell therapy.
Count me in: using a patient portal to minimize implicit bias in clinical research recruitment
Authors: Kannan Vaishnavi , Wilkinson Kathleen E , Varghese Mereeja , Lynch-Medick Sarah , Willett Duwayne L , Bosler Teresa A , Chu Ling , Gates Samantha I , Holbein M E Blair , Willett Mallory M , Reimold Sharon C , Toto Robert D
Published: March 2019

Objective

Determine whether women and men differ in volunteering to join a Research Recruitment Registry when invited to participate via an electronic patient portal without human bias.

Materials and Methods

Under-representation of women and other demographic groups in clinical research studies could be due either to invitation bias (explicit or implicit) during screening and recruitment or by lower rates of deciding to participate when offered. By making an invitation to participate in a Research Recruitment Registry available to all patients accessing our patient portal, regardless of demographics, we sought to remove implicit bias in offering participation and thus independently assess agreement rates.

Results

Women were represented in the Research Recruitment Registry slightly more than their proportion of all portal users (n = 194 775). Controlling for age, race, ethnicity, portal use, chronic disease burden, and other questionnaire use, women were statistically more likely to agree to join the Registry than men (odds ratio 1.17, 95% CI, 1.12–1.21). In contrast, Black males, Hispanics (of both sexes), and particularly Asians (both sexes) had low participation-to-population ratios; this under-representation persisted in the multivariable regression model.

Discussion

This supports the view that historical under-representation of women in clinical studies is likely due, at least in part, to implicit bias in offering participation. Distinguishing the mechanism for under-representation could help in designing strategies to improve study representation, leading to more effective evidence-based recommendations.

Conclusion

Patient portals offer an attractive option for minimizing bias and encouraging broader, more representative participation in clinical research.
Distinct Clinicopathological and Prognostic Features of Thin Nodular Primary Melanomas: An International Study from 17 Centers
Authors: Dessinioti Clio , Dimou Niki , Geller Alan C , Stergiopoulou Aravella , Lo Serigne , Keim Ulrike , Gershenwald Jeffrey E , Haydu Lauren E , Ribero Simone , Quaglino Pietro , Puig Susana , Malvehy Josep , Kandolf-Sekulovic Lidija , Radevic Tatjana , Kaufmann Roland , Meister Laura , Nagore Eduardo , Traves Victor , Champsas Grigorios G , Plaka Mihaela , Dreno Brigitte , Varey Emilie , Ramirez David Moreno , Dummer Reinhard , Mangana Joanna , Hauschild Axel , Egberts Friederike , Peris Ketty , del Regno Laura , Forsea Ana-Maria , Zurac Sabina A , Vieira Ricardo , Brinca Ana , Zalaudek Iris , Deinlein Teresa , Linos Eleni , Evangelou Evangelos , Thompson John F , Scolyer Richard A , Garbe Claus , Stratigos Alexander J
Published: March 2019

Background

Nodular melanoma (NM) is more likely to be fatal compared with other melanoma subtypes, an effect attributed to its greater Breslow thickness.

Methods

Clinicopathological features of NM and superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) diagnosed in 17 centers in Europe (n = 15), the United States, and Australia between 2006 and 2015, were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression analysis, with emphasis on thin (T1 ≤ 1.0 mm) melanomas. Cox analysis assessed melanoma-specific survival. All statistical tests were two sided.

Results

In all, 20 132 melanomas (NM: 5062, SSM: 15 070) were included. Compared with T1 SSM, T1 NM was less likely to have regression (odds ratio [OR] = 0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.29 to 0.72) or nevus remnants histologically (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.42 to 0.85), and more likely to have mitoses (OR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.33 to 2.93) and regional metastasis (OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.02 to 3.05). T1 NM had a higher mitotic rate than T1 SSM (adjusted geometric mean = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.9 to 2.5 vs 1.6, 95% CI = 1.5 to 1.7 per mm2, P < .001). Cox multivariable analysis showed a higher risk for melanoma-specific death for NM compared with SSM for T1 (HR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.24 to 3.56) and T2 melanomas (HR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.68), and after accounting for center heterogeneity, the difference was statistically significant only for T1 (HR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.28 to 3.78). The NM subtype did not confer increased risk within each stratum (among localized tumors or cases with regional metastasis).

Conclusions

T1 NM (compared with T1 SSM) was associated with a constellation of aggressive characteristics that may confer a worse prognosis. Our results indicate NM is a high-risk melanoma subtype that should be considered for inclusion in future prognostic classifications of melanoma.
STAT3 Modulation of Regulatory T Cells in Response to Radiation Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Oweida Ayman J , Darragh Laurel , Phan Andy , Binder David , Bhatia Shilpa , Mueller Adam , Court Benjamin Van , Milner Dallin , Raben David , Woessner Richard , Heasley Lynn , Nemenoff Raphael , Clambey Eric , Karam Sana D
Published: March 2019

Background

Radioresistance represents a major problem in the treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. To improve response, understanding tumor microenvironmental factors that contribute to radiation resistance is important. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are enriched in numerous cancers and can dampen the response to radiation by creating an immune-inhibitory microenvironment. The purpose of this study was to investigate mechanisms of Treg modulation by radiation in HNC.

Methods

We utilized an orthotopic mouse model of HNC. Anti-CD25 was used for Treg depletion. Image-guided radiation was delivered to a dose of 10 Gy. Flow cytometry was used to analyze abundance and function of intratumoral immune cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to assess secreted factors. For immune-modulating therapies, anti–PD-L1, anti-CTLA-4, and STAT3 antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) were used. All statistical tests were two-sided.

Results

Treatment with anti-CD25 and radiation led to tumor eradication (57.1%, n = 4 of 7 mice), enhanced T-cell cytotoxicity compared with RT alone (CD4 effector T cells [Teff]: RT group mean = 5.37 [ 0.58] vs RT + αCD25 group mean =10.71 [0.67], P = .005; CD8 Teff: RT group mean = 9.98 [0.81] vs RT + αCD25 group mean =16.88 [2.49], P = .01) and induced tumor antigen-specific memory response (100.0%, n = 4 mice). In contrast, radiation alone or when combined with anti-CTLA4 did not lead to durable tumor control (0.0%, n = 7 mice). STAT3 inhibition in combination with radiation, but not as a single agent, improved tumor growth delay, decreased Tregs, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and M2 macrophages and enhanced effector T cells and M1 macrophages. Experiments in nude mice inhibited the benefit of STAT3 ASO and radiation.

Conclusion

We propose that STAT3 inhibition is a viable and potent therapeutic target against Tregs. Our data support the design of clinical trials integrating STAT3 ASO in the standard of care for cancer patients receiving radiation.
Family Frames as Exile Photography
Authors: Kosh-Zohar Talila
Published: March 2019

This article examines five family photographs. The first of these family frames was taken in Czechoslovakia during the early 1930s and was found after the Holocaust, the one and only surviving photograph of my father’s exterminated family. The other four are family frames taken in Israel, the land of rebirth, where the survivors tried to start over from scratch, forget the past, and create a new family. All five frames are discussed as ‘exile photographs’—images of absence, alienation, and nostalgia; images of emotions like anxiety, sadness, and loneliness, all of which are inherent to the condition of exile. The article argues that the new family frames, which are supposed to represent new (personal and national) beginnings, continue to authenticate the traumatic past. Their testimony bears witness not to revival and reconstruction, but to forced exile from one’s birthplace, a devastated home and family, a condition of terminal loss.
Attitudes and Preferences Regarding the Use of Rapid Self-Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV in San Diego Area Men Who Have Sex With Men
Authors: Cushman Teresa A , Graves Susannah K , Little Susan J
Published: March 2019

Background

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) increase the risk of HIV transmission and are present at high rates among men who have sex with men (MSM). Adherence to HIV/STI testing guidelines is low in the United States. Testing programs that utilize rapid self-administered HIV/STI tests improve testing rates, though multiple factors influence their uptake.

Methods

MSM were recruited at an HIV/STI testing and treatment program in 2014 and provided consent, demographics, risk behaviors, HIV/STI test preferences, and perceived testing barriers via an online questionnaire. Comparisons of testing preferences and barriers were made based on age, risk group, and HIV serostatus using the Fisher exact test.

Results

HIV testing preferences included rapid oral test (71.1%), home test location (78.5%), electronic delivery of HIV-negative test results (76.4%), and direct provider notification for HIV-positive test results (70%), with respondents age >45 years being significantly more likely to prefer home testing (P = .033). STI testing preferences included self-collection of specimens (73.2%), home test location (61%), electronic delivery of negative STI test results (76.4%), and direct provider notification for positive STI test results (56.6%) with no significant differences between age, HIV serostatus, or risk groups. The most frequently reported HIV and STI testing barrier was lack of known prior HIV/STI exposure (57.3% for HIV, 62.9% for STI) with respondents age <45 years more frequently citing inconvenience as a barrier to testing (HIV: 50.9% vs 17.4%, P = .010; STI: 58.3% vs 31.8%, P = .070).

Conclusions

Although additional research is needed, increasing resources directed specifically toward home testing has the potential to translate into improved uptake of rapid HIV/STI testing. Efforts to improve convenience in testing programs must be balanced with the need for continued educational outreach.
Association of Cytomegalovirus DNA and Immunologic Markers of Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Garg Ankita , Gianella Sara , Nakazawa Masato , Trout Rodney , Spector Stephen A
Published: March 2019

Background

Persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH) with high cytomegalovirus (CMV)–specific interferon (IFN) γ response have increased numbers of endothelium homing receptor (CX3CR1)+–expressing cells that are associated with cardiovascular disease. The current study was performed to investigate the effect of cellular levels of CMV DNA on these markers.

Methods

Eighty paired peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples were collected ≥12 months apart from 40 CMV-seropositive PLWH with suppressed HIV RNA, who started antiretroviral therapy at median of 3-months of infection. The samples were assessed for CMV-specific IFN-γ response by means of enzyme-linked immunospot assay, and participants were classified as low responders (LRs) or high responders (HRs) based on IFN-γ production (≤100 or >100 spot-forming units [SFUs]/105 cells).

Results

Of the 40 participants, 26 (65%) were HRs and 14 (35%) LRs at baseline, which did not change over time or by CMV levels (median at first/second time points, 383/308 SFUs/106 cells for HRs vs 21/41 SFUs/106 for LRs). A decrease in IFN-γ over time was associated with higher CMV DNA levels (P < .01). High CMV response was also associated with increased CD28+CD27−CD4+ T cells expressing CX3CR1 (P < .001). Similarly, increased IFN-γ production was associated with increased CMV-specific CX3CR1+CD28+CD27−CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (P < .001).

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate that levels of CMV-specific IFN-γ response in PLWH are stable over time, and that HRs have increased circulating T cells expressing CX3CR1 that may put them at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and other inflammatory diseases.
Stellar wind accretion and accretion disk formation: Applications to neutron star high-mass X-ray binaries
Authors: Karino Shigeyuki , Nakamura Kenji , Taani Ali
Published: March 2019

Recent X-ray observations have revealed the complexity and diversity of high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs). This diversity challenges a classical understanding of the accretion process on to the compact objects. In this study, we reinforce the conventional concept of the nature of wind-fed accretion on to a neutron star considering the geometrical effect of radiatively accelerated wind, and re-evaluate the transported angular momentum by using a simple wind model. Our results suggest that even in an OB-type HMXB fed by stellar wind, a large amount of angular momentum could be transported to form an accretion disk due to the wind-inhomogeneity, if the binary separation is tight enough and/or the stellar wind is slow. We apply our model to actual systems such as LMC X-4 and OAO 1657−415, and discuss the possibility of disk formations in these systems.
Searches for Population III pair-instability supernovae: Impact of gravitational lensing magnification
Authors: Wong Kenneth C , Moriya Takashi J , Oguri Masamune , Hilbert Stefan , Koyama Yusei , Nomoto Ken’ichi
Published: March 2019

Superluminous supernovae have been proposed to arise from Population III progenitors that explode as pair-instability supernovae (PISNe). Population III stars are the first generation of stars in the Universe, and are thought to have formed as late as z ∼ 6. Future near-infrared imaging facilities such as ULTIMATE-Subaru will potentially be able to detect and identify these PISNe with a dedicated survey. Gravitational lensing by intervening structure in the Universe can aid in the detection of these rare objects by magnifying the high-z source population into detectability. We perform a mock survey with ULTIMATE-Subaru, taking into account lensing by line-of-sight (LOS) structure to evaluate its impact on the predicted detection rate. We compare a LOS mass reconstruction using observational data from the Hyper Suprime Cam survey to results from cosmological simulations to test their consistency in calculating the magnification distribution in the Universe to high z, but find that the data-based method is still limited by an inability to accurately characterize structure beyond z ∼ 1.2. We also evaluate a survey strategy of targeting massive galaxy clusters to take advantage of their large areas of high magnification. We find that targeting clusters can result in a gain of a factor of about two in the predicted number of detected PISNe at z > 5, and even higher gains with increasing redshift, given our assumed survey parameters. For the highest-redshift sources at z ∼ 7–9, blank field surveys will not detect any sources, and lensing magnification by massive clusters will be necessary to observe this population.
Complications of type II supracondylar humerus fractures treated at a specialized paediatric centre
Authors: Morrison Steven A , Pincus Daniel , Camp Mark W
Published: March 2019

Background

Supracondylar humerus (SCH) fractures are the most common operatively treated paediatric fracture in Canada. Previous literature describing the low-energy (Gartland type II) subtype reports varying complication rates from a variety of practice settings. We sought to examine complications of type II SCH fractures treated at a Canadian specialized paediatric centre.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients aged 0 to 14 admitted to SickKids, Toronto, Ontario for surgical treatment of a type II SCH fracture from 2008 to 2015. The primary outcome of this study was relevant perioperative complications including: open fracture, compartment syndrome, pre- and postoperative vascular compromise, pre- and postoperative neurological compromise, failure to obtain a closed reduction (i.e., open reduction), postoperative infection, and reoperation within 3 months.

Results

There were 370 patients included in the study with mean (standard deviation) age 5.14 years (±2.51). The overall rate of relevant complications in the study cohort was 3.6% (13/358, 12 missing), with 12 cases of nerve palsy (3.3%; 2 iatrogenic [0.6%]) that resolved by final follow-up and one case of preoperative nerve palsy (0.3%) that did not. Importantly, there were no cases of vascular compromise, open fracture, compartment syndrome, or infection.

Discussion and conclusion

Complications associated with type II SCH fractures managed at a specialized paediatric centre that result in long-term morbidity are extremely rare (0.3%). Perioperative inpatient monitoring for patients with these fractures may not be justified based on these data. Prospective studies are required to confirm safety, evaluate patient perspectives, and demonstrate cost savings of outpatient surgical management.
Development and evaluation of a consumer information resource, including Patient Decision Aid, for lung cancer screening: a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Manners David , Pettigrew Simone , Lake Fiona R , Piccolo Francesco , McWilliams Annette M , Brims Fraser J H
Published: March 2019

Lung cancer screening of high-risk individuals with computed tomography is a promising intervention to reduce lung cancer mortality. Patient Decision Aids (PtDAs) may assist eligible individuals assess the risks and benefits associated with screening. Screening preference is high among lower-risk, screening-ineligible individuals and strategies are needed to reduce screening demand among this group. We developed and evaluated a resource comprising a recruitment pamphlet combined with either a PtDA for screening-eligible individuals or an education pamphlet for screening-ineligible individuals. Quasi-experimental pre-post pamphlet exposure design. Ever-smokers aged 55–80 years attending hospital outpatient clinics were invited. Among screening-eligible participants, the assessed outcome was change in score on the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS). Among screening-ineligible participants, the assessed outcomes were change in screening preference. In the study 51% (55/107) of invited individuals participated, with mean ± standard deviation age 66.9 ± 6.4 years, 53% (29/55) male, and 65% (36/55) eligible for screening. Median (interquartile range) DCS among screening-eligible participants reduced from 28.9 (22.7–45.3) pre-PtDA to 25 (1.6–29.7) post-PtDA (p < .001), but there was no significant change in the proportion that reached the accepted threshold for decisional certainty (DCS < 25, 10/36 [28%] pre-exposure vs. 14/36 [39%] post-exposure, p = .1). Screening preference among screening-ineligible individuals reduced after viewing the screening-ineligible brochure (pre-exposure median of “Prefer” to post-exposure median of “Unsure,” p = .001). Our consumer information pamphlets about lung cancer screening may reduce decisional conflict and improve alignment of screening preference with eligibility.
Memory and mental time travel in humans and social robots
Authors: Prescott Tony J. , Camilleri Daniel , Martinez-Hernandez Uriel , Damianou Andreas , Lawrence Neil D.
Published: March 2019

From neuroscience, brain imaging and the psychology of memory, we are beginning to assemble an integrated theory of the brain subsystems and pathways that allow the compression, storage and reconstruction of memories for past events and their use in contextualizing the present and reasoning about the future—mental time travel (MTT). Using computational models, embedded in humanoid robots, we are seeking to test the sufficiency of this theoretical account and to evaluate the usefulness of brain-inspired memory systems for social robots. In this contribution, we describe the use of machine learning techniques—Gaussian process latent variable models—to build a multimodal memory system for the iCub humanoid robot and summarize results of the deployment of this system for human–robot interaction. We also outline the further steps required to create a more complete robotic implementation of human-like autobiographical memory and MTT. We propose that generative memory models, such as those that form the core of our robot memory system, can provide a solution to the symbol grounding problem in embodied artificial intelligence.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘From social brains to social robots: applying neurocognitive insights to human–robot interaction’.
Social robotics and the modulation of social perception and bias
Authors: Skewes Joshua , Amodio David M. , Seibt Johanna
Published: March 2019

The field of social robotics offers an unprecedented opportunity to probe the process of impression formation and the effects of identity-based stereotypes (e.g. about gender or race) on social judgements and interactions. We present the concept of fair proxy communication—a form of robot-mediated communication that proceeds in the absence of potentially biasing identity cues—and describe how this application of social robotics may be used to illuminate implicit bias in social cognition and inform novel interventions to reduce bias. We discuss key questions and challenges for the use of robots in research on the social cognition of bias and offer some practical recommendations. We conclude by discussing boundary conditions of this new form of interaction and by raising some ethical concerns about the inclusion of social robots in psychological research and interventions.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘From social brains to social robots: applying neurocognitive insights to human–robot interaction’.
Imagine how to behave: the influence of imagined contact on human–robot interaction
Authors: Wullenkord Ricarda , Eyssel Friederike
Published: March 2019

Imagined contact (IC), that is, mentally simulating an interaction with an outgroup member, reduces negative attitudes towards outgroup members, increases contact intentions, and reduces intergroup anxiety in human–human intergroup context. Our experiment tested the effectiveness of IC with a robot to improve human–robot interaction (HRI). Social psychological literature suggested that IC provides a behavioural script for an interaction. Hence, an imagined scenario similar to a real contact scenario should be more effective in eliciting the aforementioned positive effects. We therefore examined the effect of similarity between IC with a robot and the following actual HRI on interaction perception, and behaviours towards the robot. High similarity was expected to lead to a more positive perception of HRI and more positive interaction behaviour towards the robot (e.g. more social behaviour). Results showed that perceived HRI quality was evaluated more positively and participants displayed more social behaviour towards the robot when the imagined task resembled the HRI that followed, compared to when it did not resemble the subsequent HRI. When controlling for covariates, the effects on number of social behaviours and perceived interaction quality remained significant, however, there was no effect on the total amount of time spent producing social behaviours.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘From social brains to social robots: applying neurocognitive insights to human–robot interaction’.
Feeling committed to a robot: why, what, when and how?
Authors: Powell Henry , Michael John
Published: March 2019

The paper spells out the rationale for developing means of manipulating and of measuring people's sense of commitment to robot interaction partners. A sense of commitment may lead people to be patient when a robot is not working smoothly, to remain vigilant when a robot is working so smoothly that a task becomes boring and to increase their willingness to invest effort in teaching a robot. We identify a range of contexts in which a sense of commitment to robot interaction partners may be particularly important.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘From social brains to social robots: applying neurocognitive insights to human–robot interaction’.
Selective autophagic clearance of protein aggregates is mediated by the autophagy receptor, TAX1BP1
Authors: Sarraf Shireen A. , Shah Hetal V. , Kanfer Gil , Ward Michael E. , Youle Richard J.
Published: March 2019

Misfolded protein aggregates can disrupt cellular homeostasis and cause toxicity, a hallmark of numerous neurodegenerative diseases. Protein quality control by the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy is vital for clearance of aggregates and maintenance of cellular homeostasis1. Autophagy receptor proteins bridge the interaction between ubiquitinated proteins and the autophagy machinery allowing selective elimination of cargo2. Aggrephagy is critical to protein quality control, but how aggregates are recognized and targeted for degradation is not well understood. Here we examine the requirements for 5 autophagy receptor proteins: OPTN, NBR1, p62, NDP52, and TAX1BP1 in proteotoxic stress-induced aggregate clearance. Endogenous TAX1BP1 is both recruited to and required for the clearance of stress-induced aggregates while overexpression of TAX1BP1 increases aggregate clearance through autophagy. Furthermore, TAX1BP1 depletion sensitizes cells to proteotoxic stress and Huntington’s disease-linked polyQ proteins, whereas TAX1BP1 overexpression clears cells of polyQ protein aggregates by autophagy. We propose a broad role for TAX1BP1 in the clearance of cytotoxic proteins, thus identifying a new mode of clearance of protein inclusions.
Outbreak of murine infection withClostridium difficileassociated with the administration of a pre- and peri-natal methyl-donor diet
Authors: Mau Theresa , Eckley Samantha S. , Bergin Ingrid L. , Saund Katie , Villano Jason S. , Vendrov Kimberly C. , Snitkin Evan S. , Young Vincent B. , Yung Raymond
Published: March 2019

Between October 2016 and June 2017, a C57BL/6J mouse colony that was undergoing a pre- and peri-natal methyl-donor supplementation diet intervention to study the impact of parental nutrition on offspring susceptibility to disease was found to suffer from an epizootic of unexpected deaths. Necropsy revealed the presence of severe colitis, and further investigation linked these outbreak deaths to aClostridium difficilestrain of ribotype 027 we term 16N203.C. difficileinfection (CDI) is associated with antibiotic use in humans. Current murine models of CDI rely on antibiotic pretreatment to establish clinical phenotypes. In this report, theC. difficileoutbreak occurs in F1 mice linked to alterations in the parental diet. The diagnosis of CDI in the affected mice was confirmed by cecal/colonic histopathology, presence ofC. difficilebacteria in fecal/colonic culture, and detection ofC. difficiletoxins. F1 mice from parents fed the methyl-supplementation diet also had significantly reduced survival (p<0.0001) than F1 mice from parents fed the control diet. When we tested the 16N203 outbreak strain in an established mouse model of antibiotic-induced CDI, we confirmed that this strain is pathogenic. Our serendipitous observations from this spontaneous outbreak ofC. difficilein association with a pre- and perinatal methyl-donor diet suggest the important role diet may play in host defense and CDI risk factors.

Importance

Clostridium difficileinfection (CDI) has become the leading cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitals worldwide, owing its preeminence to the emergence of hyperendemic strains, such as ribotype 027 (RT027). A major CDI risk factor is antibiotic exposure which alters gut microbiota, resulting in the loss of colonization resistance. Current murine models of CDI also depend on pretreatment of antibiotics of animals to establish disease. The outbreak we report here is unique in that the CDI occurred in mice with no antibiotic exposure and is associated to a pre- and peri-natal methyl-supplementation donor diet intervention study. Our investigation subsequently reveals that the outbreak strain we term 16N203 is an RT027 strain, and this isolated strain is also pathogenic in an established murine model of CDI (with antibiotics). Our report of this spontaneous outbreak offers additional insight into the importance of environmental factors, such as diet, and CDI susceptibility.
A Collaborative Multi-Model Ensemble for Real-Time Influenza Season Forecasting in the U.S
Authors: Reich Nicholas G , McGowan Craig J , Yamana Teresa K , Tushar Abhinav , Ray Evan L , Osthus Dave , Kandula Sasikiran , Brooks Logan C , Crawford-Crudell Willow , Gibson Graham Casey , Moore Evan , Silva Rebecca , Biggerstaff Matthew , Johansson Michael A , Rosenfeld Roni , Shaman Jeffrey
Published: March 2019

Seasonal influenza results in substantial annual morbidity and mortality in the United States and worldwide. Accurate forecasts of key features of influenza epidemics, such as the timing and severity of the peak incidence in a given season, can inform public health response to outbreaks. As part of ongoing efforts to incorporate data and advanced analytical methods into public health decision-making, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has organized seasonal influenza forecasting challenges since the 2013/2014 season. In the 2017/2018 season, 22 teams participated. A subset of four teams created a research consortium called the FluSight Network in early 2017. During the 2017/2018 season they worked together to produce a collaborative multi-model ensemble that combined 21 separate component models into a single model using a machine learning technique called stacking. This approach creates a weighted average of predictive densities where the weight for each component is based on that component’s forecast accuracy in past seasons. In the 2017/2018 influenza season, one of the largest seasonal outbreaks in the last 15 years, this multi-model ensemble performed better on average than all individual component models and placed second overall in the CDC challenge. It also outperformed the baseline multi-model ensemble created by the CDC that took a simple average of all models submitted to the forecasting challenge. This project shows that collaborative efforts between research teams to develop ensemble forecasting approaches can bring measurable improvements in forecast accuracy and important reductions in the variability of performance from year to year. Efforts such as this, that emphasize real-time testing and evaluation of forecasting models and facilitate the close collaboration between public health officials and modeling researchers, are essential to improving our understanding of how best to use forecasts to improve public health response to seasonal and emerging epidemic threats.
Dengue after Zika: characterizing impacts of Zika emergence on endemic dengue transmission
Authors: Borchering Rebecca K. , Huang Angkana , Mier-y-Teran-Romero Luis , Rojas Diana P. , Rodriguez-Barraquer Isabel , Katzelnick Leah C. , Martinez Silvio D. , King Gregory D. , Cinkovich Stephanie C. , Lessler Justin , Cummings Derek A.T.
Published: March 2019

In 2015 and 2016, Zika virus (ZIKV) swept through many Latin American countries where dengue virus (DENV) is endemic. Dengue and Zika viruses are of the same family, share a vector and may interact competitively or synergistically through human immune responses. We examine dengue incidence data from Brazil and Colombia from before, during, and after the Zika epidemic. We find evidence that dengue incidence was atypically low in 2017 in both Brazil and Colombia. We investigate whether Zika incidence at the state or department level is associated with changes in dengue incidence and find mixed results. We use simulations to investigate expected impact of cross-protection or enhancement between dengue and Zika. Our simulations show that regardless of the mechanism, low periods of dengue incidence are followed by a resurgence in dengue cases. It is therefore likely that countries currently experiencing low levels of dengue incidence will experience large dengue seasons in the near future. By considering multiple combinations of DENV and ZIKV reproduction numbers, we demonstrate that the mixed results of our statistical models are not entirely unexpected. Correlations in DENV and ZIKV reproduction number could contribute to complicating or masking an association between their case counts.
Variation of immune cell responses in humans reveals sex-specific coordinated signaling across cell types
Authors: Fragiadakis Gabriela K. , Bjornson-Hooper Zachary B. , Madhireddy Deepthi , Sachs Karen , Spitzer Matthew H. , Bendall Sean C. , Nolan Garry P.
Published: March 2019

Assessing the health and competence of the immune system is central to evaluating vaccination responses, autoimmune conditions, cancer prognosis and treatment. With an increasing number of studies examining immune dysregulation, there is a growing need for a curated reference of variation in immune parameters in healthy individuals. We used mass cytometry (CyTOF) to profile blood from 86 humans in response to 15 ex vivo immune stimuli. We present reference ranges for cell-specific immune markers and highlight differences that appear across sex and age. We identified modules of immune features that suggests there exists and underlying structure to the immune system based on signaling pathway responses across cell types. We observed increased MAPK signaling in inflammatory pathways in innate immune cells and greater overall coordination of immune cell responses in women. In contrast, men exhibited stronger STAT1 and TBK1 responses. These reference data are publicly available as a resource for immune profiling studies.
Trajectories of change after a health-education program in Japan
Authors: Park MJ , Green Joseph , Jung Hun Sik , Park Yoon Soo
Published: March 2019

Background

Health education can benefit people with chronic diseases. However, in previous research those benefits were small, and reinforcement to maintain them was not effective. A possible explanation is that the benefitsappearedto be small and reinforcementappearedto be ineffective because those analyses mixed data from two latent groups: one group of people who needed reinforcement and one group of people who did not. The hypothesis is that mixing the data from those two different groups caused the true effects to be “diluted.”

Methods

To test that hypothesis we used data from the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program in Japan, focusing on anxiety, depression, and patient-physician communication. To identify latent trajectories of change after the program, we used growth-mixture modeling. Then, to find out which baseline factors were associated with trajectory-group membership, we used logistic regression.

Results

Growth-mixture modeling revealed two trajectories – two groups that were defined by distinct patterns of change after the program. One of those patterns was improvement followed by backsliding: decay of impact. On anxiety and depression the decay of impact was large enough to be clinically important, and its prevalence was as high as 50%. Next, logistic regression analysis revealed that being in the decay-of-impact group could be predicted from multimorbidity, low self-efficacy, and high scores on anxiety or depression at baseline. In addition, one unexpected finding was an association between multimorbidity andbetterpatient-physician communication.

Conclusions

These results support the hypothesis that previous findings (i.e.apparentlysmall effect sizes andapparentlyineffective reinforcement) actually reflect “dilution” of large effects, which was caused by mixing of data from distinct groups. Specifically, there was one group with decay of impact and one without. Thus, evaluations of health education should include analyses of trajectory-defined groups. These results show how the group of people who are most likely to need reinforcement can be identified even before the educational program begins. Extra attention and reinforcement can then be tailored. They can be focused specifically to benefit the people with the greatest need.
Correlations between stochastic endemic infection in multiple interacting subpopulations
Authors: Meakin Sophie R , Keeling Matt J
Published: March 2019

Heterogeneity plays an important role in the emergence, persistence and control of infectious diseases. Metapopulation models are often used to describe spatial heterogeneity, and the transition from random-to heterogeneous-mixing is made by incorporating the interaction, or coupling, within and between subpopulations. However, such couplings are difficult to measure explicitly; instead, their action through the correlations between subpopulations is often all that can be observed. We use moment-closure methods to investigate how the coupling and resulting correlation are related, considering systems of multiple identical interacting populations on highly symmetric complex networks: the complete network, thek-regular tree network, and the star network. We show that the correlation between the prevalence of infection takes a relatively simple form and can be written in terms of the coupling, network parameters and epidemiological parameters only. These results provide insight into the effect of metapopulation network structure on endemic disease dynamics, and suggest that detailed case-reporting data alone may be sufficient to infer the strength of between population interaction and hence lead to more accurate mathematical descriptions of infectious disease behaviour.
Optic flow helps explain gulls’ altitude control over seas
Authors: Serres Julien R. , Evans Thomas J. , Åkesson Susanne , Duriez Olivier , Shamoun-Baranes Judy , Ruffier Franck , Hedenström Anders
Published: March 2019

For studies of how flying animals control their flight, seabirds are of particular interest to track with a biologger because they forage offshore where the visual environment can be simply modeled by a flat world textured by waves. This study suggests that optic flow can explain gull’s altitude control over seas. In particular, a new flight model that includes both energy and optical invariants (called theventral optic flow regulation) explain the dynamics of gulls’ altitude control during offshore takeoff and cruising flight. A linear statistical model applied to 352 flights from 16 individual lesser black backed gulls (Larus fuscus) gave a strong correlation between wind assistance and gulls’ altitude. Thereafter, an optic flow-based flight model was applied to 18 offshore takeoff flights from 1. individual gulls. By introducing an upper limit in climb rate in a non-linear first order parametric model on the gull’s elevation dynamics, coupled with an optic-flow set-point, the predicted altitude gives an optimized fit factor value of 63% on average (min value: 30%, max value: 83%) with respect to GPS data. We conclude that the optic-flow regulation principle (here running close to 25°/s) allows gulls to adjust their altitude over sea without having to directly measure their current altitude.