bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intravital imaging technology guides FAK-mediated priming in pancreatic cancer precision medicine according to Merlin status
Authors: Murphy Kendelle J. , Reed Daniel A. , Vennin Claire , Conway James R. W. , Nobis Max , Yin Julia X. , Chambers Cecilia R. , Pereira Brooke A. , Lee Victoria , Filipe Elysse C. , Trpceski Michael , Ritchie Shona , Lucas Morghan C. , Warren Sean C. , Skhinas Joanna N. , Magenau Astrid , Metcalf Xanthe L. , Stoehr Janett , Major Gretel , Parkin Ashleigh , Bidanel Romain , Lyons Ruth J. , Zaratzian Anaiis , Tayao Michael , Da Silva Andrew , Abdulkhalek Lea ,   Australian Pancreatic Genome Initiative (APGI),   Australian Pancreatic Cancer Matrix Atlas (APMA), Gill Anthony J. , Johns Amber L. , Biankin Andrew V. , Samra Jaswinder , Grimmond Sean M. , Chou Angela , Goetz Jacky G. , Samuel Michael S. , Lyons J. Guy , Burgess Andrew , Caldon C. Elizabeth , Horvath Lisa G. , Daly Roger J. , Gadegaard Nikolaj , Wang Yingxiao , Sansom Owen J. , Morton Jennifer P. , Cox Thomas R. , Pajic Marina , Herrmann David , Timpson Paul
Published: September 2021

Intravital imaging guides a personalized medicine approach to target mechanoreciprocity in pancreatic cancer.
A High-Throughput Short Sequence Typing Scheme for Serratia marcescens Pure Culture and Environmental DNA
Authors: Bourdin Thibault , Monnier Alizée , Benoit Marie-Ève , Bédard Emilie , Prévost Michèle , Quach Caroline , Déziel Eric , Constant Philippe
Published: September 2021

Serratia marcescens
is an important opportunistic human pathogen, multidrug resistant and often involved in outbreaks of nosocomial infections in neonatal intensive care unit. Here, we propose a quick and user-friendly method to select the best typing scheme for nosocomial outbreaks in relating environmental and clinical sources.
Genetic Determinants of Stress Resistance in Desiccated Salmonella enterica
Authors: Wang Zhiying , Zhu Tongbo , Chen Zhao , Meng Jianghong , Simpson David J. , Gänzle Michael G.
Published: September 2021

This study directly targeted an increasing threat to food safety and developed knowledge and targeted strategies that can be used by the food industry to help reduce the risk of foodborne illness in their dry products and thereby reduce the overall burden of foodborne illness. Genomic and physiological analyses have elucidated mechanisms of bacterial resistance to many food preservation technologies, including heat, pressure, disinfection chemicals, and UV light; however, information on bacterial mechanisms of resistance to dry heat is scarce.
Trained Immunity as a Preventive Measure for Surgical Site Infections
Authors: ter Steeg Lieke , Domínguez-Andrés Jorge , Netea Mihai G. , Joosten Leo A. B. , van Crevel Reinout
Published: September 2021

Even with strict implementation of preventive measures, surgical site infections (SSIs) remain among the most prevalent health care-associated infections. New strategies to prevent SSIs would thus have a huge impact, also in light of increasing global rates of antimicrobial drug resistance. Considering the indispensable role of innate immune cells in host defense in surgical wounds, enhancing their function may represent a potential strategy for prevention of SSIs.
Evaluation of MicroScan WalkAway for Determination of Ceftazidime-Avibactam and Ceftolozane-Tazobactam Susceptibility in Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacilli
Authors: Ito Carmen Antonia Sanches , Bail Larissa , Arend Lavinia Nery Villa Stangler , Silva Kleber Oliveira , Michelotto Simone Sebold , Nogueira Keite da Silva , Tuon Felipe Francisco
Published: September 2021

We evaluated the performance of ceftazidime-avibactam and ceftolozane-tazobactam MicroScan Neg multidrug-resistant MIC 1 (NMR1) panel for clinical carbapenem-nonsusceptible Gram-negative bacilli isolates. We evaluated 212 clinically significant carbapenem-nonsusceptible Gram-negative bacilli (139
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and 73 KPC-producing
Enterobacterales
) from 71 Brazilian hospitals (2013 to 2020).
Genetic and Antigenic Characterization of an Influenza A(H3N2) Outbreak in Cambodia and the Greater Mekong Subregion during the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020
Authors: Siegers Jurre Y. , Dhanasekaran Vijaykrishna , Xie Ruopeng , Deng Yi-Mo , Patel Sarika , Ieng Vanra , Moselen Jean , Peck Heidi , Aziz Ammar , Sarr Borann , Chin Savuth , Heng Seng , Khalakdina Asheena , Kinzer Michael , Chau Darapheak , Raftery Philomena , Duong Veasna , Sovann Ly , Barr Ian G. , Karlsson Erik A.
Published: September 2021

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly altered the circulation patterns of respiratory diseases worldwide and disrupted continued surveillance in many countries. Introduction of control measures in early 2020 against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has resulted in a remarkable reduction in the circulation of many respiratory diseases.
Inhibitors of Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 Family Proteins Exhibit Potent and Broad-Spectrum Anti-mammarenavirus Activity via Cell Cycle Arrest at G0/G1 Phase
Authors: Kim Yu-Jin , Witwit Haydar , Cubitt Beatrice , de la Torre Juan C.
Published: September 2021

Antiapoptotic Bcl-2 inhibitors have been shown to exert potent antiviral activities against various types of viruses via mechanisms that are currently poorly understood. This study has revealed that Bcl-2 inhibitors’ mediation of cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, rather than their proapoptotic activity, plays a critical role in blocking mammarenavirus multiplication in cultured cells.
In Situ
Live Imaging of Gut Microbiota
Authors: Zhang Zhi , Xu Duo , Fang Jianyang , Wang Dai , Zeng Jie , Liu Xiaodong , Hong Shouqiang , Xue Yunxin , Zhang Xianzhong , Zhao Xilin
Published: September 2021

Gut microbiota dysbiosis correlates with many diseases, but such correlations derive mostly from relationships between one or a few bacteria and a particular disease. Since microbiota resemble complex forest ecosystems more closely than individual patches of trees, the overall landscape (spatial and temporal distribution) of gut bacteria may also affect/reflect disease development.
Altered Spatial and Temporal Gait Parameters in Mice Infected with Ross River Virus
Authors: Abeyratne Eranga , Reshamwala Ronak , Shelper Todd , Liu Xiang , Zaid Ali , Mahalingam Suresh , Taylor Adam
Published: September 2021

Mouse models that accurately replicate the immunopathogenesis and clinical disease of alphavirus infection are vital to the preclinical development of therapeutic strategies that target alphavirus infection and disease. Current models rely on subjective scoring made through experienced observation of infected mice.
Novel Daptomycin Tolerance and Resistance Mutations in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Adaptive Laboratory Evolution
Authors: Sulaiman Jordy Evan , Lam Henry
Published: September 2021

Although the phenotype of increased tolerance and/or resistance was commonly observed in evolved populations from typical adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) experiments, a wide variety of mutations that underlie those phenotypes have been discovered. Therefore, performing ALE experiments in multiple populations in parallel would serve the purpose of mining for different tolerant/resistant mutants and would be useful to explore the diverse population dynamics of evolution.
In Vivo
Structure-Function Analysis and Redox Interactomes of Leishmania tarentolae Erv
Authors: Turra Gino L. , Liedgens Linda , Sommer Frederik , Schneider Luzia , Zimmer David , Vilurbina Perez Jordi , Koncarevic Sasa , Schroda Michael , Mühlhaus Timo , Deponte Marcel
Published: September 2021

The discovery of the redox proteins Mia40/CHCHD4 and Erv1/ALR, as well as the elucidation of their relevance for oxidative protein folding in the mitochondrial intermembrane space of yeast and mammals, founded a new research topic in redox biology and mitochondrial protein import. The lack of Mia40/CHCHD4 in protist lineages raises fundamental and controversial questions regarding the conservation and evolution of this essential pathway.
Study protocol for a prospective process evaluation of a culturally secure rehabilitation programme for Aboriginal Australians after brain injury: the Healing Right Way project
Authors: Skoss Rachel , White Jane , Stanley Mandy J , Robinson Melanie , Thompson Sandra , Armstrong Elizabeth , Katzenellenbogen Judith M
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter respectfully referred to as Aboriginal) people are Australia’s First Peoples, having the longest continuous culture in the world and deep spiritual connections with ancestral land. Improvements in their health and well-being is a major policy goal of Australian governments, as the legacy of colonisation and disruption of cultural practices contribute to major health challenges. Lack of culturally secure services impacts participation of Aboriginal people in health services. Aboriginal people with a brain injury typically experience poor access to rehabilitation and support following hospital discharge. ‘Healing Right Way’ (HRW) is a randomised control trial aiming to improve access to interdisciplinary and culturally secure rehabilitation services for Aboriginal people after brain injury in Western Australia, improve health outcomes and provide the first best practice model. This protocol is for the process evaluation of the HRW trial.

Methods and analysis

A prospective mixed methods process evaluation will use the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to evaluate implementation and intervention processes involved in HRW. Data collection includes qualitative and quantitative data from all sites during control and intervention phases, relating to three categories: (1) implementation of trial processes; (2) cultural security training; and (3) Aboriginal Brain Injury Coordinator role. Additional data elements collected from HRW will support the process evaluation regarding fidelity and intervention integrity. Iterative cross-sectional and longitudinal data synthesis will support the implementation of HRW, interpretation of findings and inform future development and implementation of culturally secure interventions for Aboriginal people.

Ethics and dissemination

This process evaluation was reviewed by The University of Western Australia Human Research Ethics Committee (RA/4/20/4952). Evaluation findings will be disseminated via academic mechanisms, seminars at trial sites, regional Aboriginal health forums, peak bodies for Aboriginal health organisations and the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet (https://healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/).

Trial registration number

ACTRN12618000139279.
Standard automated perimetry using size III and size V stimuli in advanced stage glaucoma: an observational cross-sectional comparative study
Authors: Sood Devindra , Czanner Gabriela , Somerville Tobi , Sood Ishaana , Rowe Fiona J
Published: September 2021

Objectives

In this study, we sought to evaluate the extent of further visual field that could be assessed when using stimulus size V in standard automated perimetry compared with size III in advanced stage glaucoma and whether cut-off values could be determined for when to switch from size III to size V.

Design

Prospective cross-sectional study.

Setting

Single-centre outpatient eye clinic in India (New Delhi).

Participants

Advanced stage glaucoma defined as stages 3–4.

Intervention

Central static perimetry with Octopus 900 G programme (size III stimulus dynamic strategy) and low vision central programme (size V stimulus dynamic strategy).

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Visual field assessment for right and left eyes with both sizes III and V were undertaken within one clinic visit.

Results

We recruited 126 patients (170 eyes). Mean patient age at assessment was 55.86 years (SD 15.15). Means (SD) for size III versus size V, respectively, were 6.94 dB (5.58) and 12.98 dB (7.77) for mean sensitivity, 20.02 dB (5.67) and 19.22 dB (7.74) for mean deviation, 5.89 dB (2.29) and 7.69 dB (2.78) for standard loss variance and 3.32 min (1.07) and 6.40 min (1.43) for test duration. All except mean deviation were significantly different between size III and V tests.

Conclusion

Useful visual field information was obtained with size V stimuli which allowed continued monitoring of these patients that was not possible with size III. Increased test duration, standard loss variance and mean sensitivity were found with size V, as expected, given that more visual responses were obtained with the increased target size. A switch from size III to V may be considered when mean sensitivity reaches 10 dB and/or mean deviation reaches 18 dB.
Open-label, randomised, clinical trial to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of a prophylactic vaccination of healthcare providers by administration of a heterologous vaccine regimen against Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: the study protocol
Authors: Larivière Ynke , Zola Trésor , Stoppie Elke , Maketa Vivi , Matangila Junior , Mitashi Patrick , De Bie Jessie , Muhindo-Mavoko Hypolite , Van geertruyden Jean-Pierre , Van Damme Pierre
Published: September 2021

Introduction

This article describes the protocol of an Ebola vaccine clinical trial which investigates the safety and immunogenicity of a two-dose prophylactic Ebola vaccine regimen comprised of two Ebola vaccines (Ad26.ZEBOV and MVA-BN-Filo) administered 56 days apart, followed by a booster vaccination with Ad26.ZEBOV offered at either 1 year or 2 years (randomisation 1:1) after the first dose. This clinical trial is part of the EBOVAC3 project (an Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking), and is the first to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of two different booster vaccination arms in a large cohort of adults.

Methods and analysis

This study is an open-label, monocentric, phase 2, randomised vaccine trial. A total of 700 healthcare providers and frontliners are planned to be recruited from the Tshuapa province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The primary and secondary objectives of the study assess the immunogenicity of the first (Ad26.ZEBOV), second (MVA-BN-Filo) and booster (Ad26.ZEBOV) dose. Immunogenicity is assessed through the evaluation of EBOV glycoprotein binding antibody responses after vaccination. Safety is assessed through the collection of serious adverse events from the first dose until 6 months post booster vaccination and the collection of solicited and unsolicited adverse events for 1 week after the booster dose.

Ethics and dissemination

The protocol was approved by the National Ethics Committee of the Ministry of Health of the DRC (n°121/CNES/BN/PMMF/2019). The clinical trial was registered on 4 December 2019 on ClinicalTrials.gov. Trial activities are planned to finish in October 2022. All participants are required to provide written informed consent and no study-related procedures will be performed until consent is obtained. The results of the trial will be added on ClinicalTrials.gov, published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT04186000; Pre-results.
Knowledge, attitude and practice of physical activity among patients with diabetes in Kilimanjaro region, Northern Tanzania: a descriptive cross-sectional study
Authors: Mwimo Julius Lucas , Somoka Suzana , Leyaro Beatrice J , Amour Caroline , Mao Experansa , Mboya Innocent B
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common non-communicable diseases and is the fifth leading cause of death in most developing countries. Regular physical activity (PA) is strongly recommended for individuals with diabetes for its beneficial effects in improving blood glucose control and insulin sensitivity, prevention and reduction of morbidities and complications, and its cardiovascular benefits.

Objective

To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of PA among patients with diabetes in the Kilimanjaro region, Northern Tanzania.

Research design and methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to September 2020 among 315 patients with diabetes aged 18 years and above receiving care from diabetic clinics in the Kilimanjaro region, Northern Tanzania. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants who were interviewed using a modified version of the WHO-STEPS Survey for non-communicable diseases. Data were analysed using SPSS V.20. Categorical variables were summarised using frequencies and percentages, and continuous variables using means and SDs. The Χ2test was used to compare the proportion of PA across participant characteristics.

Results

The vast majority (94.3%) of the participants were physically active, and from our findings, most of it was contributed by work (70%) and transport-related (20%) activities. Participants had high levels of knowledge (98.4%) and positive attitudes (95.6%) towards PA. These were mainly contributed by a healthcare provider or doctors’ advice (96%) on PA benefits to patients with diabetes. There was a strong statistical association (p<0.001) between knowledge and attitude towards PA with PA practice.

Conclusion

The vast majority of the participants were physically active. High levels of PA were associated with a high level of knowledge and positive attitudes towards PA. Healthcare provider or doctors’ advice in diabetic clinics is essential in promoting PA practice in this population and in diabetes management.
Interaction of caregiver-expressed emotions and neuropsychiatric symptoms in persons with dementia: a longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Tan Eva YL , de Vugt Marjolein E , Deckers Kay , Schols Jos MGA , Verhey Frans RJ
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) have a major impact in persons with dementia (PwD). The interaction between the caregiver and the person with dementia may be related to the emergence of NPS. The concept of expressed emotion (EE) is used to capture this dyadic interaction. The aim of the present study is to examine longitudinally the association between EE in caregivers and NPS in PwD living at home.

Design

A longitudinal cohort study with 2 years of follow-up.

Setting

PwD and their informal caregivers living at home in the south of the Netherlands.

Participants

112 dyads of PwD and their caregivers from the MAAstricht Study of BEhavior in Dementia.

Main outcome measures

EE was measured at baseline with the Five-Minute Speech Sample and was used to classify caregivers in a low-EE or high-EE group. Associations between EE and neuropsychiatric subsyndromes (hyperactivity, mood and psychosis) measured with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) were analysed over time.

Results

Seventy-six (67.9%) caregivers were classified in the low-EE group and 36 (32.1%) in the high-EE group. There was no difference between the EE groups in mean NPI scores over time. In the high-EE group, hyperactivity occurred more frequently than in the low-EE group at baseline (p=0.013) and at the other time points, but the mean difference was not always significant. There were no differences for the mood and psychosis subsyndromes. PwD with caregivers scoring high on the EE subcategory critical comments had an increased risk of institutionalisation (OR 6.07 (95% CI 1.14 to 32.14, p=0.034)) in comparison with caregivers scoring low on critical comments.

Conclusions

High EE in informal caregivers is associated with hyperactivity symptoms in PwD. This association is likely to be bidirectional. Future studies investigating this association and possible interventions to reduce EE are needed.
Timing of first antenatal care contact, its associated factors and state-level analysis in Nigeria: a cross-sectional assessment of compliance with the WHO guidelines
Authors: Fagbamigbe Adeniyi Francis , Olaseinde Olugbenga , Fagbamigbe Omon Stellamaris
Published: September 2021

Objectives

To assess the compliance of WHO guidelines on the timeliness of antenatal care (ANC) initiation in Nigeria and its associated factors and to provide subcountry analysis of disparities in the timing of the first ANC in Nigeria.

Design

Cross-sectional.

Setting

Nationally representative data of most recent pregnancies between 2013 and 2018 in Nigeria.

Participants

Women with pregnancies within 5 years before the study.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The outcome variable was the trimesters of the first ANC contact. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, bivariable and multivariable multinomial logistic regression at 5% significance level.

Results

Of all the 21 785 respondents, 75% had at least one ANC contact during their most recent pregnancies within the five years preceding the data collection. Among which 24% and 63% started in the first and second trimester, respectively. The proportion who started ANC in the first trimester was highest in Benue (44.5%), Lagos (41.4%) and Nasarawa (39.3%) and lowest in Zamfara (7.6%), Kano (7.4%) and Sokoto (4.8%). Respondents aged 40–49 years were 65% (adjusted relative risk ratio (aRRR: 1.65, 95 % CI: 1.10 to 2.45) more likely to initiate ANC during the first trimester of pregnancy relative to those aged 15–19 years. Although insignificant, women who participate in their healthcare utilisation were 4% (aRRR: 1.04, 95 % CI: 0.90 to 1.20) times more likely to have early initiation of ANC. Other significant factors were respondents’ and spousal educational attainment, household wealth quintiles, region of residence, ethnicity, religion and birth order.

Conclusions

Only a quarter of pregnant women, initiated ANC contact during the first trimester with wider disparities across the states in Nigeria and across the background characteristics of the pregnant women. There are needs to enhance women’s autonomy in healthcare utilisation. Concerted efforts on awareness creation and empowerment for women by all stakeholders in maternal and child healthcare are antidotes for early ANC contact initiation.
Sex-specific mortality prediction by pro-C-type natriuretic peptide measurement in a prospective cohort of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: Mark Peter D , Frydland Martin , Helgestad Ole Kristian Lerche , Holmvang Lene , Møller Jacob Eifer , Johansson Pär I , Ostrowski Sisse R , Prickett Timothy , Hassager Christian , Goetze Jens Peter
Published: September 2021

Objective

To determine the predictive value of pro-C-type natriuretic peptide (pro-CNP) measurement in plasma sampled on admission from patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Two University Hospitals in Denmark.

Participants

1760 consecutive patients (470 females and 1290 males) with confirmed STEMI.

Main outcomes and measures

The main outcome was all-cause mortality at 1 year after presentation and the primary measure was pro-CNP concentration in plasma at admission in all patients and longitudinal measurements in a consecutive subgroup of 287 patients. A reference population (n=688) defined cut-off values of increased pro-CNP concentrations.

Results

In all patients, an increased pro-CNP concentration was associated with a higher all-cause mortality after 1 year (HR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.4, Plogrank=0.009) including an interaction of sex (p=0.03). In separate sex-stratified analyses, female patients showed increased all-cause mortality (HR1 year2.6, 95% CI 1.5 to 4.6), Plogrank<0.001), whereas no differences were found in male patients (HR1 year1.1, 95% CI 0.7 to 1.9, Plogrank=0.66). After adjusting for potential risk factors, we found increased pro-CNP concentrations≥the median value to be independently associated with increased risk of mortality in female patients within 1 year (HR per 1 pmol/L increase: 1.04, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.06, p=0.007). Moreover, we found indications of sex differences in pro-CNP concentrations over time (higher pro-CNP in males (4.4, 95% CI −0.28 to 9.1 pmol/L, p=0.07) and interaction of sex and time (p=0.13)), and that hypertension was independently associated with higher pro-CNP (4.5, 95% CI 0.6 to 8.4 pmol/L, p=0.03).

Conclusions

In female but not male patients presenting with STEMI, high concentrations of pro-CNP (≥median) at admission independently indicate a higher risk of all-cause mortality. The findings are remarkably specific for female patients, suggesting a different vascular phenotype beyond traditional measures of coronary artery flow compared with male patients.
Observational study investigating Tolerance Of Anticancer Systemic Therapy In the Elderly (TOASTIE): a protocol
Authors: Dearden Helen , Baxter Mark A , Martin Sally , Rowe Michael , Zucker Kieran , Jones Christopher Mark , Olsson-Brown Anna C , Petty R D , Swinson Daniel
Published: September 2021

Introduction

The number of older adults diagnosed with cancer is increasing. Older adults are more likely to have pre-existing frailty, which is associated with greater chemotherapy-related toxicity. Early identification of those at risk of toxicity is important to reduce patient morbidity and mortality. Current chemotherapy toxicity prediction tools including the Cancer and Ageing Research Group (CARG) tool exist but are not in routine clinical use and have not been prospectively validated in a UK population. This study is the first prospective study to investigate the CARG tool in a UK population with cancer.

Methods and analysis

Tolerance Of Anticancer Systemic Therapy In the Elderly is a prospective observational study of patients, aged ≥65 years, commencing first-line (any indication) chemotherapy for a solid-organ malignancy. Patients receiving other systemic anticancer agents or radiotherapy will be excluded. The primary objective will be to validate the ability of the CARG score to predict grade 3+ toxicity in this population. Secondary objectives include describing the feasibility of screening for frailty, as well as the prevalance of frailty in this population and assessing patient and clinician perception of chemotherapy toxicity risk. 500 patients will be recruited over a two year period. Baseline assessments will be recorded. At the end of the 6-month follow-up period, toxicity data will be retrospectively collected. A descriptive analysis of the recruited population will be performed. The validity of the CARG model will be analysed using receiver-operating characteristic curves and calculation of the area under the curve (c-statistic).

Ethics and dissemination

The study has received ethical approval from the East of Scotland Research Ethics Service 20/ES/0114. Results will be reported in peer-reviewed scientific journals and disseminated to patient organisations and media.
Publication practices of sub-Saharan African Cochrane authors: a bibliometric study
Authors: Mbuagbaw Lawrence , Schoonees Anel , Oliver Joy , Arikpo Dachi , Durão Solange , Effa Emmanuel , Hohlfeld Ameer , Kredo Tamara , Wiysonge Charles Shey , Young Taryn
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Cochrane Africa (https://africa.cochrane.org/) aims to increase Cochrane reviews addressing high priority questions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Researchers residing in SSA, despite often drawing on Cochrane methods, training or resources, conduct and publish systematic reviews outside of Cochrane. Our objective was to investigate the extent to which Cochrane authors from SSA publish Cochrane and non-Cochrane reviews.

Methods

We conducted a bibliometric study of systematic reviews and overviews of systematic reviews from SSA, first by identifying SSA Cochrane authors, then retrieving their first and last author systematic reviews and overviews from PubMed (2008 to April 2019) and using descriptive analyses to investigate the country of origin, types of reviews and trends in publishing Cochrane and non-Cochrane systematic reviews over time. To be eligible, a review had to have predetermined objectives, eligibility criteria, at least two databases searched, data extraction, quality assessment and a first or last author with a SSA affiliation.

Results

We identified 657 Cochrane authors and 757 eligible systematic reviews. Most authors were from South Africa (n=332; 51%), followed by Nigeria (n=126; 19%). Three-quarters of the reviews (71%) were systematic reviews of interventions. The intervention reviews were more likely to be Cochrane reviews (60.3% vs 39.7%). Conversely, the overviews (23.8% vs 76.2%), qualitative reviews (14.8% vs 85.2%), diagnostic test accuracy reviews (16.1% vs 83.9%) and the ‘other’ reviews (11.1% vs 88.9%) were more likely to be non-Cochrane reviews. During the study period, the number of non-Cochrane reviews increased more than the number of Cochrane reviews. About a quarter of the reviews covered infectious disease topics.

Conclusion

Cochrane authors from SSA are increasingly publishing a diverse variety of systematic reviews and overviews of systematic reviews, often opting for non-Cochrane journals.
Enablers and barriers to effective clinical supervision in the workplace: a rapid evidence review
Authors: Rothwell Charlotte , Kehoe Amelia , Farook Sophia Farhene , Illing Jan
Published: September 2021

Objectives

We aimed to review the international literature to understand the enablers of and barriers to effective clinical supervision in the workplace and identify the benefits of effective clinical supervision.

Design

A rapid evidence review.

Data sources

Five databases (CINAHL, OVID Embase, OVID Medline, OVID PsycInfo and ProQuest) were searched to ensure inclusion and breadth of healthcare professionals.

Eligibility criteria

Studies identifying enablers and barriers to effective clinical supervision across healthcare professionals in a Western context between 1 January 2009 and 12 March 2019.

Data extraction and synthesis

An extraction framework with a detailed inclusion/exclusion criteria to ensure rigour was used to extract data. Data were analysed using a thematic qualitative synthesis. These themes were used to answer the research objectives.

Results

The search identified 15 922 papers, reduced to 809 papers following the removal of duplicates and papers outside the inclusion criteria, with 135 papers being included in the full review. Enablers identified included regular supervision, occurs within protected time, in a private space and delivered flexibly. Additional enablers included supervisees being offered a choice of supervisor; supervision based on mutual trust and a positive relationship; a cultural understanding between supervisor and supervisee; a shared understanding of the purpose of supervision, based on individual needs, focused on enhancing knowledge and skills; training and feedback being provided for supervisors; and use of a mixed supervisor model, delivered by several supervisors, or by those trained to manage the overlapping (and potentially conflicting) needs of the individual and the service. Barriers included a lack of time, space and trust. A lack of shared understanding to the purpose of the supervision, and a lack of ongoing support and engagement from leadership and organisations were also found to be barriers to effective clinical supervision.

Conclusions

This review identified several enablers of and barriers to effective clinical supervision and the subsequent benefits of effective clinical supervision in a healthcare setting.
One chance to get it right: improving clinical handovers for better symptom control at the end of life
Authors: Goldraij Gabriel , Tripodoro Vilma Adriana , Aloisio Melisa , Castro Sandra Analía , Gerlach Christina , Mayland Catriona Rachel , Haugen Dagny Faksvåg
Published: September 2021

Poor communication contributes to morbidity and mortality, not only in general medical care but also at the end oflife. This leads to issues relating to symptom control and quality of care. As part of an international project focused on bereaved relatives’ perceptions about quality of end-of-life care, we undertook a quality improvement (QI) project in a general hospital in Córdoba city, Argentina.

By using two iterative QI cycles, we launched an educational process and introduced a clinical mnemonic tool, I-PASS, during ward handovers. The introduction of the handover tool was intended to improve out-of-hours care.

Our clinical outcome measure was ensuring comfort in at least 60% of dying patients, as perceived by family carers, during night shifts in an oncology ward during the project period (March–May 2019). As process-based measures, we selected the proportion of staff completing the I-PASS course (target 60%) and using I-PASS in at least 60% of handovers. Participatory action research was the chosen method.

During the study period, 13/16 dying patients were included. We received 23 reports from family carers about the level of patient comfort during the previous night.

Sixty-five per cent of healthcare professionals completed the I-PASS training. The percentage of completed handovers increased from 60% in the first Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle to 68% in the second one.

The proportion of positive reports about patient comfort increased from 63% (end of the first PDSA cycle) to 87% (last iterative analysis after 3 months). Moreover, positive responses to ‘Did doctors and nurses do enough for the patient to be comfortable during the night?’ increased from 75% to 100% between the first and the second QI cycle.

In conclusion, we achieved the successful introduction and staff training for use of the I-PASS tool. This led to improved perceptions by family carers, about comfort for dying patients.
Why did some parents not send their children back to school following school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Woodland Lisa , Smith Louise E , Webster Rebecca K , Amlôt Richard , Rubin Antonia , Wessely Simon , Rubin James G
Published: September 2021

Background

On 23 March 2020, schools closed to most children in England in response to COVID-19 until September 2020. Schools were kept open to children of key workers and vulnerable children on a voluntary basis. Starting 1 June 2020, children in reception (4–5 years old), year 1 (5–6 years old) and year 6 (10–11 years old) also became eligible to attend school.

Methods

1373 parents or guardians of children eligible to attend school completed a cross-sectional survey between 8 and 11 June 2020. We investigated factors associated with whether children attended school or not.

Results

46% (n=370/803) of children in year groups eligible to attend school and 13% (n=72/570) of children of key workers had attended school in the past 7 days. The most common reasons for sending children to school were that the child’s education would benefit, the child wanted to go to school and the parent needed to work. A child was significantly more likely to attend if the parent believed the child had already had COVID-19, they had special educational needs or a person in the household had COVID-19 symptoms.

Conclusions

Following any future school closure, helping parents to feel comfortable returning their child to school will require policy makers and school leaders to communicate about the adequacy of their policies to: (A) ensure that the risk to children in school is minimised; (B) ensure that the educational potential within schools is maximised; and (C) ensure that the benefits of school for the psychological well-being of children are prioritised.
Cardiovascular complications of prehospital emergency anaesthesia in patients with return of spontaneous circulation following medical cardiac arrest: a retrospective comparison of ketamine-based and midazolam-based induction protocols
Authors: King Christopher , Lewinsohn Asher , Keeliher Chris , McLachlan Sarah , Sherrin James , Khan-Cheema Hafsah , Sherren Peter
Published: September 2021

Background

Hypotension following intubation and return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after cardiac arrest is associated with poorer patient outcomes. In patients with a sustained ROSC requiring emergency anaesthesia, there is limited evidence to guide anaesthetic practice. At the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust, a UK-based helicopter emergency medical service, we assessed the relative haemodynamic stability of two different induction agents for post-cardiac arrest medical patients requiring prehospital emergency anaesthesia (PHEA).

Methods

We performed a retrospective database review over a 5-year period between December 2014 and December 2019 comparing ketamine-based and midazolam-based anaesthesia in this patient cohort. Our primary outcome was clinically significant hypotension within 30 min of PHEA, defined as a new systolic BP less than 90 mm Hg, or a 10% drop if less than 90 mm Hg before induction.

Results

One hundred ninety-eight patients met inclusion criteria. Forty-eight patients received a ketamine-based induction, median dose (IQR) 1.00 (1.00–1.55) mg/kg, and a 150 midazolam-based regime, median dose 0.03 (0.02–0.04) mg/kg. Hypotension occurred in 54.2% of the ketamine group and 50.7% of the midazolam group (p=0.673). Mean maximal HRs within 30 min of PHEA were 119 beats/min and 122 beats/min, respectively (p=0.523). A shock index greater than 1.0 beats/min/mm Hg and age greater than 70 years were both associated with post-PHEA hypotension with ORs 1.96 (CI 1.02 to 3.71) and 1.99 (CI 1.01 to 3.90), respectively. Adverse event rates did not significantly differ between groups.

Conclusion

PHEA following a medical cardiac arrest is associated with potentially significant cardiovascular derangements when measured up to 30 min after induction of anaesthesia. There was no demonstrable difference in post-induction hypotension between ketamine-based and midazolam-based PHEA. Choice of induction agent alone is insufficient to mitigate haemodynamic disturbance, and alternative strategies should be used to address this.
Next steps for ecosystem service models: integrating complex interactions and beneficiaries
Authors: Thierry Hugo , Parrott Lael , Robinson Brian
Published: September 2021

Accounting for ecosystem services (ES)—the ways in which society and people directly benefit from ecological processes and functions—is crucial for developing sustainable landscape management approaches that consider the interrelationship between people and nature. Previous research has produced models that estimate the provision of potential ES by landscapes to help inform policy and stakeholder decision-making. However, most modelling efforts do not consider the delivery of ES to specific human populations or communities, making it difficult to evaluate any possible human welfare implications from alternative land use planning scenarios. In this paper, we first explore the recent state of science of ES modelling from the perspective of ES provision and delivery to the people that benefit from them. Second, we propose the addition of some essential aspects of complexity using the classic social–ecological system framework, crucial for developing models to inform pragmatic decision-making. Our propositions are illustrated using simplified examples inspired by sea otter conservation in the seascapes of British Columbia. Integrating these concepts in future ES models should serve as a baseline for future management approaches that more adequately capture the important implications of landscape scenarios on human well-being.
Escape from supercooling with or without bubbles: gravitational wave signatures
Authors: Lewicki Marek , Pujolàs Oriol , Vaskonen Ville
Published: September 2021

Quasi-conformal models are an appealing scenario that can offer naturally a strongly supercooled phase transition and a period of thermal inflation in the early Universe. A crucial aspect for the viability of these models is how the Universe escapes from the supercooled state. One possibility is that thermal inflation phase ends by nucleation and percolation of true vacuum bubbles. This route is not, however, always efficient. In such case another escape mechanism, based on the growth of quantum fluctuations of the scalar field that eventually destabilize the false vacuum, becomes relevant. We study both of these cases in detail in a simple yet representative model. We determine the duration of the thermal inflation, the curvature power spectrum generated for the scales that exit horizon during the thermal inflation, and the stochastic gravitational wave background from the phase transition. We show that these gravitational waves provide an observable signal from the thermal inflation in almost the entire parameter space of interest. Furthermore, the shape of the gravitational wave spectrum can be used to ascertain how the Universe escaped from supercooling.
On estimating the predictability of human mobility: the role of routine
Authors: Teixeira Douglas do Couto , Almeida Jussara M. , Viana Aline Carneiro
Published: September 2021

Given the difficulties in predicting human behavior, one may wish to establish bounds on our ability to accurately perform such predictions. In the case of mobility-related behavior, there exists a fundamental technique to estimate the predictability of an individual’s mobility, as expressed in a given dataset. Although useful in several scenarios, this technique focused on human mobility as a monolithic entity, which poses challenges to understanding different types of behavior that may be hard to predict. In this paper, we propose to study predictability in terms of two components of human mobility: routine and novelty, where routine is related to preferential returns, and novelty is related to exploration. Viewing one’s mobility in terms of these two components allows us to identify important patterns about the predictability of one’s mobility.

Additionally, we argue that mobility behavior in the novelty component is hard to predict if we rely on the history of visited locations (as the predictability technique does), and therefore we here focus on analyzing what affects the predictability of one’s routine. To that end, we propose a technique that allows us to (i) quantify the effect of novelty on predictability, and (ii) gauge how much one’s routine deviates from a reference routine that is completely predictable, therefore estimating the amount of hard-to-predict behavior in one’s routine. Finally, we rely on previously proposed metrics, as well as a newly proposed one, to understand what affects the predictability of a person’s routine. Our experiments show that our metrics are able to capture most of the variability in one’s routine (adjusted $R^{2}$

R
2

of up to 84.9% and 96.0% on a GPS and CDR datasets, respectively), and that routine behavior can be largely explained by three types of patterns: (i) stationary patterns, in which a person stays in her current location for a given time period, (ii) regular visits, in which people visit a few preferred locations with occasional visits to other places, and (iii) diversity of trajectories, in which people change the order in which they visit certain locations.
Dynamical phenomena in complex networks: fundamentals and applications
Authors: Yanchuk Serhiy , Roque Antonio C. , Macau Elbert E. N. , Kurths Jürgen
Published: September 2021

This special issue presents a series of 33 contributions in the area of dynamical networks and their applications. Part of the contributions is devoted to theoretical and methodological aspects of dynamical networks, such as collective dynamics of excitable systems, spreading processes, coarsening, synchronization, delayed interactions, and others. A particular focus is placed on applications to neuroscience and Earth science, especially functional climate networks. Among the highlights, various methods for dealing with noise and stochastic processes in neuroscience are presented. A method for constructing weighted networks with arbitrary topologies from a single dynamical node with delayed feedback is introduced. Also, a generalization of the concept of geodesic distances, a path-integral formulation of network-based measures is developed, which provides fundamental insights into the dynamics of disease transmission. The contributions from the Earth science application field substantiate predictive power of climate networks to study challenging Earth processes and phenomena.
Blow-up of solutions of semilinear wave equations in accelerated expanding Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker spacetime
Authors: Tsutaya Kimitoshi , Wakasugi Yuta
Published: September 2021

Consider a nonlinear wave equation for a massless scalar field with self-interaction in the spatially flat Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker spacetimes. For the case of accelerated expansion, we show that the blow-up in a finite time occurs for the equation with arbitrary power nonlinearity as well as upper bounds of the lifespan of blow-up solutions. Comparing to the case of the Minkowski spacetime, we discuss how the scale factor affects the lifespan of blow-up solutions of the equation.
Synchronization Analysis In Epileptic EEG Signals Via State Transfer Networks Based On Visibility Graph Technique
Authors: Olamat Ali , Ozel Pinar , Akan Aydin
Published: September 2021

Epilepsy is a persistent and recurring neurological condition in a community of brain neurons that results from sudden and abnormal electrical discharges. This paper introduces a new form of assessment and interpretation of the changes in electroencephalography (EEG) recordings from different brain regions in epilepsy disorders based on graph analysis and statistical rescale range analysis. In this study, two different states of epilepsy EEG data (preictal and ictal phases), obtained from 17 subjects (18 channels each), were analyzed by a new method called state transfer network (STN). The analysis performed by STN yields a network metric called motifs, which are averaged over all channels and subjects in terms of their persistence level in the network. The results showed an increase of overall motif persistence during the ictal over the preictal phase, reflecting the synchronization increase during the seizure phase (ictal). An evaluation of intermotif cross-correlation indicated a definite manifestation of such synchronization. Moreover, these findings are compared with several other well-known methods such as synchronization likelihood (SL), visibility graph similarity (VGS), and global field synchronization (GFS). It is hinted that the STN method is in good agreement with approaches in the literature and more efficient. The most significant contribution of this research is introducing a novel nonlinear analysis technique of generalized synchronization. The STN method can be used for classifying epileptic seizures based on the synchronization changes between multichannel data.
Flavor-mass majorization uncertainty relations and their links to the mixing matrix
Authors: Rastegin Alexey E. , Shemet Anzhelika M.
Published: September 2021

Uncertainties in flavor and mass eigenstates of neutrinos are considered within the majorization approach. Nontrivial bounds reflect the fact that neutrinos cannot be simultaneously in flavor and mass eigenstates. As quantitative measures of uncertainties, both the Rényi and Tsallis entropies are utilized. Within the current amount of experience concerning the mixing matrix, majorization uncertainty relations need to put values of only two parameters, viz. [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. That is, the majorization approach is applicable within the same framework as the Maassen–Uffink relation recently utilized in this context. We also consider the case of detection inefficiencies, since it can naturally be incorporated into the entropic framework. Short comments on applications of entropic uncertainty relations with quantum memory are given.