bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent Advances in the Transition Metal-Catalyzed Addition of Carboxylic Acids to Alkynes
Authors: Cadierno Victorio
Published: March 2021

:

Recent advances in the metal-catalyzed hydrofunctionalization of alkynes with carboxylic acids are comprehensively reviewed. Both inter- and intramolecular processes, leading respectively to enol esters and lactones, are discussed, as well as the involvement of these transformations in the synthesis of natural products and biologically active molecules, and the assembly of elaborated heterocyclic compounds though cascade processes. Literature published since 2011 is covered.
Current Application of Chemometrics Analysis in Authentication of Natural Products: A Review
Authors: Rebiai Abdelkrim , Hemmami Hadia , Zeghoud Soumeia , Ben Seghir Bachir , Kouadri Imane , Eddine Laouini Salah , Elboughdiri Noureddine , Ghareba Saad , Ghernaout Djamel , Abbas Nadir
Published: March 2021

Background:

The efficiency of herbal medicinal products depends on the quantity of
active ingredients in them, which can vary considerably in different contents. Hence, the quality
control of herbal medicines is a critical concern.

Objective:

This paper aims to provide a succinct review of recent chemometrics applications in
solving the uncertainty of the authentication of herbal medicines over the last two decades.

Methodology:

Studies involving chemometrics applications in conjunction with various analytical
methods have been categorized according to the type of research used in the quality evaluation of
different samples, including chromatographic (HPLC, GC-MS) and spectroscopic analysis (UVVis,
FTIR, NMR, and MS).

Results:

This review consists of over 90 studies illustrating the relevance of chemometrics
methods in the discrimination based on the key bioactive components and phytochemical diversity
of several herbs from closely related species. In addition to the prediction of the active
components, the distinction between varieties and hybrids was accomplished through quantitative
analysis techniques.

Conclusion:

Methods of chemometrics have provided an important and potent tool for the quality
control and authentication of various herbs.
Review of the Biological Activity of Maslinic Acid
Authors: Jing Zhang , Rui Wang , Ruihua Li , Hao Yu , Hengtong Fang
Published: March 2021

Since the discovery of (2α,3β)-2,3-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid, also known as
maslinic acid, many studies have examined its biological activity, which has been shown to promote
health and resist various diseases. This article focuses on previous research on maslinic acid
and mainly reviews its reported effects on cardiovascular diseases, neuroprotection, diabetes, cancer,
inflammation, and pathogens. Maslinic acid exerts positive effects on both cell and animal
models of disease. Although its mechanism of action has not yet been completely elucidated, maslinic
acid is feasible as a nutritional additive and has the potential to be developed as a drug.
Oncolytic Adenovirus H101 Synergizes with Radiation in Cervical Cancer Cells
Authors: Duan Yixin , Bai Haixia , Li Xiang , Wang Depu , Wang Ying , Cao Meng , Zhang Nana , Chen Hongwei , Wang Yili
Published: March 2021

Background::

A major challenge in cervical cancer radiotherapy is tailoring the radiation
doses efficiently to eliminate malignant cells and reduce the side effects in normal tissues. Oncolytic
adenovirus drug H101 was recently tested and approved as a topical adjuvant treatment for several
malignancies.

Objective:

This study aimed to evaluate the potential neoadjuvant radiotherapy benefits of H101 by
testing the inhibitory function of H101 in combination with radiation in different cervical cancer
cells.

Methods:

Human cervical cancer cell lines C33a, SiHa, CaSki, and HeLa were treated with varying
concentrations of H101 alone or in combination with radiation (2 Gy or 4 Gy). Cell viability
and apoptosis were measured at the indicated time intervals. HPV16 E6 and cellular p53 mRNA expression
alteration was measured by qRT-PCR. In situ RNA scope was used to determine HPV E6
status. P53 protein alterations were detected by Western blot.

Results:

Cell viability and apoptosis assays revealed that the combination of a high dose of H101
(MOI=1000, 10000) with radiation yielded a synergistic anticancer effect in all tested cervical cancer
cell lines (P<0.05), with the greatest effect achieved in HPV-negative C33a cells (P<0.05).
Low-HPV16-viral-load SiHa cells were more sensitive to the combination therapy than high-HPV16-
viral-load CaSki cells (P<0.05). The combined treatment reduced HPV16 E6 expression and
increased cellular P53 levels compared to those observed with radiation alone in SiHa and CaSki
cells (P<0.05).

Conclusions:

Oncolytic adenovirus H101 effectively enhances the antitumor efficacy of radiation in
cervical cancer cells and may serve as a novel combination therapy for cervical cancer.
Benzothiazole: Synthetic Strategies, Biological Potential, and Interactions
with Targets
Authors: Singh Chanchal , Kumar Rajnish , Mazumder Avijit , Salahuddin  , Kumar Ajay , Sahu Rakesh , Mishra Shivali , Abdullah Mohd. Mustaqeem
Published: March 2021

:

Benzothiazole is a heterocyclic compound that contains a benzene ring fused with a five-member 1,3-thiazole ring. Several types of research have established its potential as an antimicrobial agent, anticancer agent, anti-epileptic agent, antiviral agent, etc. Nowadays, various effective drugs utilize the hybridization of two or more pharmacophores in a single-molecule for synergizing its pharmacological action or to interact with more than one target or to reduce the side effects associated with it. In this article, various strategies for the synthesis of different pharmacologically active hybrid compounds containing benzothiazole with different substituents are highlighted. Apart from presenting the synthesis strategies, the article also highlights various pharmacological actions and molecular interactions with different biological molecules of the potential drugs containing benzothiazole.
Hypovitaminosis D in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: Frequency and Consequences
Authors: Elolemy Gehan , Hassan Waleed , Nasr Mohamed , Baraka Eman
Published: March 2021

Objectives:

This study aimed to assess the frequency of hypovitaminosis D in patients
with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) compared to healthy controls and evaluate its association with
disease activity, structural damage and Bone Mineral Density (BMD).

Methods:

Serum 25(OH) D in 30 AS male patients was compared to 30 matched healthy controls.
AS disease activity was assessed using AS Disease Activity Score and C - reactive protein (ASDAS-
CRP). Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI) and Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI) were
used to assess the functional impairment and the spinal mobility, respectively. Radiological damage
was scored according to modified Stoke AS Spine Score (mSASSS) and BMD was measured
in the lumbar spine and femoral neck.

Results:

The mean serum 25(OH)D levels in AS patients were significantly lower compared to
healthy controls (27.73 ± 14.27 vs. 38.46 ± 8.11ng/ml, P <0.001). Among the patients, 60% exhibited
hypovitaminosis D. AS patients with hypovitaminosis D had significantly higher ASDAS-CRP
(p<0.001), BASFAI (p=0.0003) and mSASSS (p=0.04) scores. Additionally, BMD and Z scores at
lumbar and femoral sites were significantly reduced in patients with hypovitaminosis D (P < 0.05).
Serum 25(OH)D was positively correlated with BMD (lumbar and femoral; p=0.002 and p=0.01 respectively)
and Z scores (lumbar and femoral; p<0.001and p=0.01 respectively), whereas, negatively
correlated with ASDAS-CRP (p<0.001), BASFI (p<0.001), and mSASSS (p=0.003). ASDAS -
CRP was the only significant predictor of hypovitaminosis D in AS patients.

Conclusions:

Hypovitaminosis D is prevalent among AS patients and is associated with increased
risk of active disease, impaired function, radiographic severity and bone mineral loss. Future
studies with a larger sample size are recommended to assess the impact of vitamin D deficiency on
radiological progression in AS and to address whether or not vitamin D supplementation will help
control the active disease.
Correlations and Influence of TAP2 Genes Polymorphisms and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Propensity
Authors: Rezaieyazdi Zahra , Nomani Hosein , Hatef Mohammad Reza , Afshari Jalil Tavakol , Abbasi Mahnaz , Esmaily Habibollah , Khodashahi Mandana
Published: March 2021

Objectives:

The present study was designed to evaluate the association of transporters associated
with antigen processing (TAP2) polymorphisms TAP2-379Ile > Val (rs1800454),
TAP2-665Thr > Ala (rs241447) and TAP2-565Ala > Thr (rs2228396) as a candidate gene with susceptibility
to the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

Methods:

To analyze these three polymorphic variants, 88 patients with SLE and 100 healthy controls
from northeastern Iran were enrolled from May 2018 to July 2019. Genomic DNA polymorphisms
were performed by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction
(ARMS-PCR) technique. Data were analyzed by SPSS software.

Results:

In this cross-sectional study, there was a stratification between patients and controls. The
distribution of the frequency of Ala73 (41.5%) allele at TAP2/665 and Ile 19 (10.8%) allele at
TAP2/379 was higher in patients. Additionally, the Ala/Ala 13(14.8%) and Ala/Thr 49(55.7%)
genotypes distributions at 665 positions were higher in SLE patients compared to the controls. Furthermore,
frequencies of TAP2*H allele significantly increased in SLE patients 10(5.71%)
(P=0.01). Frequency of TAP2*A allele in the control group was 120(60%) (p=0.06) due to the dominant
genetic model. This allele has a protective effect against SLE. There was no relationship between
TAP2*D, TAP2*E, TAP2*F and TAP2*G alleles with the outbreak of SLE.

Conclusions:

Our data indicated that genetic variants in TAP2 gene may be associated with SLE disease.
A correlation between Ala allele at TAP2/665 and Ile allele at TAP2/379 polymorphisms and
pathogenesis of SLE was observed.
Therapeutic Potential of Functional MRI in the Squamous Cell Cancer of Head and Neck
Authors: Zhen Jianqing , Zhang Yuqing , Wan Li , Li Zhen , Zeng Jia , Sun Jing
Published: March 2021

Background:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is frequently employed for the assessment
of therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. Nonetheless, this technique
has its limitations, the most apparent being the inability to differentiate between after therapy effects
and the reoccurrence of tumor cells.

Objective:

This review was carried out to demonstrate the role of operative MRI in the treatment of
head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients, as well as the analysis of various methods like diffusion,
perfusion, and spectroscopy when used in conjugation.

Main Findings:

Techniques such as diffusion-weighted imaging can augment the reliability of the
detection of the main tumor site and local lymphatic nodes post-treatment. It was observed that diffusion
is the most facile of the methods in question and can be easily implemented in follow-up sessions
after therapy, though the evidential information is sometimes insufficient to validate. Perfusion
factors may become elevated in the proliferation of tumors or their reoccurrence, but they are
not employed for their accuracy in clinical settings. Spectroscopy methods pose some potential, but
the case is the same as diffusion; insufficient data cannot be deemed enough to validate its application.

Conclusion:

These operative MRI methods can significantly help in the initial discernment of disease,
thereby resulting in an improved therapeutic approach in patients. Prospective studies are necessary
to layout standard specifications for using operative MRI in routine clinical applications.
Rapid Identification of 44 Steroids in Human Urine Samples using HPLCESI-
QTOF-MS
Authors: Dabur Rajesh , Yadav Aarti
Published: March 2021

Objective:

Detailed analysis of un-processed and un-derivatized free and conjugated
urinary steroids is useful to avoid miscalculations and to diagnose sports doping and adrenal
problems, including abnormal steroidogenesis, congenital deficiency of related enzymes, cancer,
and other disease conditions. Hence, the present study was conducted to develop a soft ionization
method to identify the maximum number of urinary steroids using ultra-performance liquid
chromatography coupled with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometer (HPLC–Q-TOF-MS).

Material and Methods:

HPLC–Q-TOF-MS was carried out for the qualitative detection of steroids
and their conjugates in urine samples. The method provides high sensitivity and fast analysis
of steroids and their glucuronides without hydrolysis or sample preparation or extraction of steroids.

Results:

Using the method, 44 steroids belonging to C-18, C-19, and C-21 classes and their conjugates
were resolved and identified using positive and negative modes of ionizations by their
characteristic ionization and collision energy induced dissociation behaviors.

Conclusion:

The method is time-saving and good to compare samples from different peoples
with control or healthy ones as it does not require any kind of pre-treatment or sample processing.
It provides a complete picture of steroids metabolism and catabolism. It can be good for doping
control or to explore the effects of other drugs. However, in qualitative analysis, one may miss
the significant information unless direct methods of steroids analysis to be employed.
Identification of Disordered Regions of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins by Multi-features Fusion
Authors: Canzhuang Sun , Yonge Feng
Published: March 2021

Background:

Intrinsically disordered proteins lack a well-defined three-dimensional structure
under physiological conditions. They have performed multiple functions in life activities and are closely
related to many human diseases. The identification of the disordered region of intrinsically disordered
proteins is important to protein function annotation.

Objective:

To accurately identify the disordered regions in intrinsically disordered proteins.

Methods:

In this study, we constructed a multi-feature fusion model based on a support vector machine to
predict disordered regions of intrinsically disordered proteins from the DisPort database. We extracted
codons usage frequencies, GC content, protein secondary structure components, hydrophilic-hydrophobic
amino acid components, and chemical shifts as features to predict the disordered regions of intrinsically
disordered proteins.

Results:

The best accuracy is 82.098% by using codon frequencies in single feature prediction. In order to
improve the performance, we fused these features and obtained the best result of 83.173% in combining
codons frequencies with chemical shifts as the feature.

Conclusion:

The results show that our model has achieved a good prediction result in predicting disordered
regions of intrinsically disordered proteins-moreover, the performances of our model are better than
those of existing methods.
Persons with Co-Existing Neurological Disorders: Risk Analysis, Considerations
and Management in COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Sharma Sumit , Batra Sonali , Gupta Saurabh , Sharma Vivek K. , Rahman Md. Habibur , Kamal Mohammad Amjad
Published: March 2021

:

Increasing reports of neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patient’s warrant clinicians
to adopt and define the standardized diagnostic and managing protocols in order to investigate the
linkage of neurological symptoms in COVID-19. Encephalitis, anosmia, acute cerebrovascular disease
and ageusia are some of the emerging neurological manifestations which are reported in several
cohort studies on hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Although the COVID-19 pandemic is
primarily associated with infection of the respiratory tract system, but measures like lockdown and
restricted physical movements to control the spread of this infection will certainly have neurobehavioural
implications. Additionally, some of the patients with pre-existing neurological manifestations
like epilepsy, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease are more prone to infection and demand
extra care as well as improvised treatment. In this review, we have focused on the neurovirological
clinical manifestations associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the prevalence of neurovirological
manifestations is rare increasing reports cannot be ignored and needs to be discussed
thoroughly with respect to risk analysis and considerations for developing a management strategy.
This also helps in defining the burden of neurological disorders associated with COVID-19 patients.
Feasibility of a Scale-down Production of [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-Exendin-4
in a Hospital Based Radiopharmacy
Authors: Migliari Silvia , Sammartano Antonino , Scarlattei Maura , Baldari Giorgio , Janota Barbara , Bonadonna Riccardo C. , Ruffini Livia
Published: March 2021

Background:

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) is preferentially expressed in β-cells, but it is highly expressed in human insulinomas and gastrinomas. Several GLP-1 receptor–avid radioligands have been developed to image insulin-secreting tumors or to provide a quantitative in vivo biomarker of pancreatic β-cell mass. Exendin-4 is a high affinity ligand of the GLP1-R, which is a candidate for being labeled with a PET isotope and used for imaging purposes.

Objective:

Here, we report the development and validation results of a semi manual procedure to label [Lys40,Nle14(Ahx-NODAGA)NH2]exendin-4, with Ga-68.

Methods:

A 68Ge/68Ga Generator (GalliaPharma®,Eckert and Ziegler) was eluted with 0.1M HCl on an automated synthesis module (Scintomics GRP®).
The peptide contained in the kit vial (Radioisotope Center POLATOM) in different amounts (10-20-30 µg) was reconstituted with 2-[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazin-1-yl]ethansulfonic acid (HEPES) solution and 68GaCl3 (400–900 MBq), followed by 10 min incubation at 95°C. The reaction solution was then purified through an Oasis HLB column.
The radiopharmaceutical product was tested for quality controls (CQs), in accordance with the European Pharmacopoeia standards.

Results:

The synthesis of 68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-Exendin-4 provided optimal results with 10 µg of peptide, getting the best radiochemical yield (23.53 ± 2.4 %), molar activity (100 GBq/µmol) and radiochemical purity (91.69 %).

Conclusion:

The study developed an imaging tool [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-Exendin-4, avoiding pharmacological effects of exendin-4, for the clinical community.
Rational Allocation of Guaranteed Time Slots to Support Real-Time Traffic in Wireless Body Area Networks
Authors: Soni Gulshan , Selvaradjou Kandasamy
Published: March 2021

Background:

The main requirement of Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) is on-time
delivery of vital signs that are sensed through the delay-sensitive biological sensors that are implanted
in the body of the patient being monitored by the central gateway. The Medium Access Control
(MAC) protocol standard IEEE 802.15.4 supports real-time data delivery through its unique feature
called Guaranteed Time Slot (GTS) under its beacon-enabled mode. This protocol is considered suitable
for the WBAN Scenario. However, as per the standard, IEEE 802.15.4 uses a simple and straightforward
First Come First Served (FCFS) mechanism to distribute GTS slots among the contender
nodes. This kind of blindfolded allocation of GTS slots results in poor utilization of bandwidth and
also prevents the delay-sensitive sensor nodes from effectively utilizing the contention-free slots.

Objective:

The main objective of this work is to provide a solution for the unfair allocation of GTS
slots in the beacon-enabled mode of the IEEE 802.15.4 standard in WBAN.

Method:

We propose a Rational Allocation of Guaranteed Time Slot (RAGTS) protocol that distributes
the available GTS slots based on the delay-sensitivity of the contender nodes.

Results:

A series of simulation experiments has been performed to assess the performance of our
proposed RAGTS protocol. The simulations capture the dynamic nature of the real-time deadlines associated
with sensor traffic. Through simulations, we show that our proposed RAGTS protocol appears
to be more stable in terms of various performance metrics than that of the FCFS nature of the
GTS allocation technique.

Conclusion:

In this article, we introduced the RAGTS scheme that enhances the real-time traffic feature
of the beacon-enabled mode of IEEE 802.15.4 MAC.
Removing NOx Pollution by Photocatalytic Building Materials in Real- Life: Evaluation of Existing Field Studies
Authors: Pedersen Pernille D. , Lock Nina , Jensen Henrik
Published: March 2021

The NOx gasses (NO and NO2) are among the most important air pollutants due to the toxicity
of NO2, as well as the role of NOx in the tropospheric oxidation of Volatile Organic Carbons
(VOCs), contributing to the formation of other hazardous air pollutants. Air pollution is one of the
biggest health threats worldwide; hence reducing NOx levels is an important objective of the UN sustainable
development goals, e.g., #3, “Good health and well-being” and #11 “Sustainable cities and
communities.”Photocatalysis using TiO2 and light is a promising technique for removing NOx along
with other pollutants, as demonstrated on a laboratory scale. Furthermore, a long-range of real-life test
studies of varying scales have been conducted during the past two decades. The results of these studies
have been conflicting, with some studies reporting no effect on the ambient air quality and others
reporting significant reductions of NOx levels. However, the studies are very difficult to compare and
assess due to the different approaches used, which consequently vary in quality. In this review, we
aim to develop a set of objective evaluation criteria to assess the quality of the individual studies in
order to simplify the interpretation and comparison of the existing studies. Moreover, we propose
some guidelines for future test studies. Furthermore, the approaches and main conclusion from 23
studies are independently assessed and discussed herein.
Transmission, Prevention and Therapeutic Strategies for COVID-19: Updates and Challenges
Authors: Rahman Habibur
Published: March 2021

Background:

Almost the whole world is observing a pandemic like never before in the last century, affecting the human lifestyle and economies known as coronavirus disease -2019 (COVID-19). A new severe acute respiratory syndrome that has emerged in China in late 2019 and spread in more than 210 countries makes a global health care emergency.

Objective:

Considering the epidemiological features of COVID-19, it is crucial to prevent the spread of such a highly infectious disease through effective control methods such as early detection, isolation, and treatment strategies.

Conclusion:

This review highlights the virus transmission routes among communities and control measure to improve the quarantine and isolation of infected individuals. The "gold standard" molecular and other rapid diagnostic tests used to detect SARS-CoV-2 and their benefits and limitations have reported. Several repurposed drugs, including antivirals, trailed for COVID-19 patients and supportive treatments such as general, cellular, and immune therapies with the role of vitamins in the safe deployment for COVID-19 patients, have also discussed. Finally, the review also encompasses an overview and update about the recent development of COVID-19 vaccines and ongoing clinical studies, which can provide further research advances.
Language Teacher Noticing in Tasks
Authors: Jackson Daniel O.
Published: March 2021

This book provides an accessible account of teacher noticing, the process of attending to, interpreting and acting on events which occur during engagement with learners, in contexts of language teacher education. It presents an innovative study of task-based interaction and emphasizes the role of reflective practice in professional development.
Evidence on Digital Mental Health Interventions for Adolescents and Young People: Systematic Overview
Authors: Lehtimaki Susanna , Martic Jana , Wahl Brian , Foster Katherine T , Schwalbe Nina
Published: March 2021

Background

An estimated 1 in 5 adolescents experience a mental health disorder each year; yet because of barriers to accessing and seeking care, most remain undiagnosed and untreated. Furthermore, the early emergence of psychopathology contributes to a lifelong course of challenges across a broad set of functional domains, so addressing this early in the life course is essential. With increasing digital connectivity, including in low- and middle-income countries, digital health technologies are considered promising for addressing mental health among adolescents and young people. In recent years, a growing number of digital health interventions, including more than 2 million web-based mental health apps, have been developed to address a range of mental health issues.

Objective

This review aims to synthesize the current evidence on digital health interventions targeting adolescents and young people with mental health conditions, aged between 10-24 years, with a focus on effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and generalizability to low-resource settings (eg, low- and middle-income countries).

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane databases between January 2010 and June 2020 for systematic reviews and meta-analyses on digital mental health interventions targeting adolescents and young people aged between 10-24 years. Two authors independently screened the studies, extracted data, and assessed the quality of the reviews.

Results

In this systematic overview, we included 18 systematic reviews and meta-analyses. We found evidence on the effectiveness of computerized cognitive behavioral therapy on anxiety and depression, whereas the effectiveness of other digital mental health interventions remains inconclusive. Interventions with an in-person element with a professional, peer, or parent were associated with greater effectiveness, adherence, and lower dropout than fully automatized or self-administered interventions. Despite the proposed utility of digital interventions for increasing accessibility of treatment across settings, no study has reported sample-specific metrics of social context (eg, socioeconomic background) or focused on low-resource settings.

Conclusions

Although digital interventions for mental health can be effective for both supplementing and supplanting traditional mental health treatment, only a small proportion of existing digital platforms are evidence based. Furthermore, their cost-effectiveness and effectiveness, including in low- and middle-income countries, have been understudied. Widespread adoption and scale-up of digital mental health interventions, especially in settings with limited resources for health, will require more rigorous and consistent demonstrations of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness vis-à-vis the type of service provided, target population, and the current standard of care.
Mass Testing With Contact Tracing Compared to Test and Trace for the Effective Suppression of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom: Systematic Review
Authors: Mbwogge Mathew
Published: March 2021

Background

Making testing available to everyone and tracing contacts might be the gold standard to control COVID-19. Many countries including the United Kingdom have relied on the symptom-based test and trace strategy in bringing the COVID-19 pandemic under control. The effectiveness of a test and trace strategy based on symptoms has been questionable and has failed to meet testing and tracing needs. This is further exacerbated by it not being delivered at the point of care, leading to rising cases and deaths. Increases in COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United Kingdom despite performing the highest number of tests in Europe suggest that symptom-based testing and contact tracing might not be effective as a control strategy. An alternative strategy is making testing available to all.

Objective

The primary objective of this review was to compare mass testing and contact tracing with the conventional test and trace method in the suppression of SARS-CoV-2 infections. The secondary objective was to determine the proportion of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases reported during mass testing interventions.

Methods

Literature in English was searched from September through December 2020 in Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Mendeley, and PubMed. Search terms included “mass testing,” “test and trace,” “contact tracing,” “COVID-19,” “SARS-CoV-2,” “effectiveness,” “asymptomatic,” “symptomatic,” “community screening,” “UK,” and “2020.” Search results were synthesized without meta-analysis using the direction of effect as the standardized metric and vote counting as the synthesis metric. A statistical synthesis was performed using Stata 14.2. Tabular and graphical methods were used to present findings.

Results

The literature search yielded 286 articles from Google Scholar, 20 from ScienceDirect, 14 from Mendeley, 27 from PubMed, and 15 through manual search. A total of 35 articles were included in the review, with a sample size of nearly 1 million participants. We found a 76.9% (10/13, 95% CI 46.2%-95.0%; P=.09) majority vote in favor of the intervention under the primary objective. The overall proportion of asymptomatic cases among those who tested positive and in the tested sample populations under the secondary objective was 40.7% (1084/2661, 95% CI 38.9%-42.6%) and 0.0% (1084/9,942,878, 95% CI 0.0%-0.0%), respectively.

Conclusions

There was low-level but promising evidence that mass testing and contact tracing could be more effective in bringing the virus under control and even more effective if combined with social distancing and face coverings. The conventional test and trace method should be superseded by decentralized and regular mass rapid testing and contact tracing, championed by general practitioner surgeries and low-cost community services.
Risk Factors of Extensively Drug Resistant Typhoid Fever Among Children in Karachi: Case-Control Study
Authors: Vighio Anum , Syed Muhammad Asif , Hussain Ishfaque , Zia Syed Masroor , Fatima Munaza , Masood Naveed , Chaudry Ambreen , Hussain Zakir , Iqbal Baig Mirza Zeeshan , Baig Mirza Amir , Ikram Aamer , S Khader Yousef
Published: March 2021

Background

Extensively drug resistant typhoid fever (XDR-TF) has been responsible for an ongoing outbreak in Pakistan, which began in November 2016.

Objective

This study aimed to determine the risk factors associated with XDR-TF.

Methods

This age- and sex-matched case-control study was conducted during May-October 2018 in Karachi. All patients with XDR-TF were identified from the laboratory-based surveillance system data. Cases included patients aged <15 years living in Karachi with culture-positive Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi with resistance to chloramphenicol, ampicillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, fluoroquinolones, and third-generation cephalosporins. Age- and sex-matched controls included children free from the symptoms of TF, aged under 15 years, and residing in Karachi. All controls were recruited from among those who attended outpatient clinics.

Results

A total of 75 cases and 75 controls were included in this study. On univariate analysis, the odds of having XDR-TF were 13-fold higher among participants who used piped municipal water than among those who did not (odds ratio [OR] 12.6, 95% CI 4.1-38.6). The use of bore water was significantly associated with XDR-TF (OR 5.1, 95% CI 1.4-19.0). Cases were more likely to report eating French fries with sauce (OR 13.5, 95% CI 3.9-47.0) and poppadum (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.7-6.7) from street vendors than controls. Boiling water at home was negatively associated with XDR-TF (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.2-0.7). On multivariate analysis, 2 factors were independently associated with XDR-TF. Using piped municipal water (OR 10.3, 95% CI 3.4-30.4) and eating French fries with sauce from street vendors (OR 8.8, 95% CI 2.1-36.2) were significantly associated with an increased odds of XDR-TF.

Conclusions

Community water supply and street food eating habits were implicated in the spread of the superbug S typhi outbreak, which continues to grow in Karachi. Therefore, it is recommended to improve the community water supply to meet recommended standards and to develop a policy to improve the safety of street food. In addition, health authorities are required to conduct mass vaccination for TF among high-risk groups.
Investigating Associations Between Screen Time and Symptomatology in Individuals With Serious Mental Illness: Longitudinal Observational Study (Preprint)
Authors: Henson Philip , Rodriguez-Villa Elena , Torous John
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Increasing screen time exposure from digital devices like smartphones has shown a variety of mixed associations with cognition, behavior, and well-being in adults and children but little is known about its associations with symptomatology in individuals with serious mental illness.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the range of associations between screen time and symptoms of individuals with mental illness, we utilized a method called specification curve analysis.

METHODS

In this observational study, we recruited smartphone-owning adults (≥18 years old) with schizophrenia and healthy controls. We installed 2 research-source smartphone apps, mindLAMP and Beiwe, to collect survey results, cognitive test results, and screen time metrics over a period of 3 months. Surveys were scheduled for twice a week, but participants were instructed to take the surveys naturally as much or as little as they wanted. Screen time was collected continuously in the background. A total of 140 participants was recruited from the outpatient clinic population as well as through general public advertising. Age-matched, smartphone-owning healthy controls were also part of the recruitment pool. A specification curve analysis was a priori designed to explore the relationship between every combination of independent variable and dependent variable in order to demonstrate to what degree screen time relates to symptoms in individuals with serious mental illness.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 88 participants (54 with schizophrenia and 34 healthy controls) who completed both the initial and follow-up visits, completed at least one self-reported survey, and had a minimum passive data cutoff of 5 consecutive days. While we found an association between smartphone screen time metrics and cognition (adjusted R2=0.107, P<.001), specification curve analysis revealed a wide range of heterogenous associations with screen time from very negative to very positive. The effects differed based on diagnostic group, age bracket, type of regression model used, and the specific independent and dependent variables selected for analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The associations between screen time and mental health in patients with schizophrenia are heterogenous when examined with methods that reduce analytical bias. The heterogeneity in associations suggests that complex and personalized potential effects must be understood in the greater context of an individual. This analysis of longitudinally collected screen time data shows potential for future research that could benefit from high resolution metrics on smartphone use.
Benchmarking Triage Capability of Symptom Checkers Against That of Medical Laypersons: Survey Study (Preprint)
Authors: Schmieding Malte L , Mörgeli Rudolf , Schmieding Maike A L , Feufel Markus A , Balzer Felix
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Symptom checkers (SCs) are tools developed to provide clinical decision support to laypersons. Apart from suggesting probable diagnoses, they commonly advise when users should seek care (triage advice). SCs have become increasingly popular despite prior studies rating their performance as mediocre. To date, it is unclear whether SCs can triage better than those who might choose to use them.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to compare triage accuracy between SCs and their potential users (ie, laypersons).

METHODS

On Amazon Mechanical Turk, we recruited 91 adults from the United States who had no professional medical background. In a web-based survey, the participants evaluated 45 fictitious clinical case vignettes. Data for 15 SCs that had processed the same vignettes were obtained from a previous study. As main outcome measures, we assessed the accuracy of the triage assessments made by participants and SCs for each of the three triage levels (ie, emergency care, nonemergency care, self-care) and overall, the proportion of participants outperforming each SC in terms of accuracy, and the risk aversion of participants and SCs by comparing the proportion of cases that were overtriaged.

RESULTS

The mean overall triage accuracy was similar for participants (60.9%, SD 6.8%; 95% CI 59.5%-62.3%) and SCs (58%, SD 12.8%). Most participants outperformed all but 5 SCs. On average, SCs more reliably detected emergencies (80.6%, SD 17.9%) than laypersons did (67.5%, SD 16.4%; 95% CI 64.1%-70.8%). Although both SCs and participants struggled with cases requiring self-care (the least urgent triage category), SCs more often wrongly classified these cases as emergencies (43/174, 24.7%) compared with laypersons (56/1365, 4.10%).

CONCLUSIONS

Most SCs had no greater triage capability than an average layperson, although the triage accuracy of the five best SCs was superior to the accuracy of most participants. SCs might improve early detection of emergencies but might also needlessly increase resource utilization in health care. Laypersons sometimes require support in deciding when to rely on self-care but it is in that very situation where SCs perform the worst. Further research is needed to determine how to best combine the strengths of humans and SCs.
Usability, Acceptability, and Safety Analysis of a Computer-Tailored Web-Based Exercise Intervention (ExerciseGuide) for Individuals With Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Multi-Methods Laboratory-Based Study (Preprint)
Authors: Evans Holly EL , Forbes Cynthia C , Galvão Daniel A , Vandelanotte Corneel , Newton Robert U , Wittert Gary , Chambers Suzanne , Vincent Andrew D , Kichenadasse Ganessan , Girard Danielle , Brook Nicholas , Short Camille E
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Digital health interventions such as tailored websites are emerging as valuable tools to provide individualized exercise and behavioral change information for individuals diagnosed with cancer.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to investigate and iteratively refine the acceptability and usability of a web-based exercise intervention (ExerciseGuide) for men with metastatic prostate cancer and determine how well individuals can replicate the video-based exercise prescription.

METHODS

A laboratory-based multi-methods design was used, incorporating questionnaires, think-aloud tests, interviews, and movement screening among 11 men aged 63 to 82 years with metastatic prostate cancer. Overall, 9 participants were undergoing androgen deprivation therapy, and 2 were completing chemotherapy. Data were collected in two waves, with changes made for quality improvement after participant 5.

RESULTS

The intervention’s usability score was deemed moderate overall but improved after modifications (from 60, SD 2.9 to 69.6, SD 2.2 out of 100). Overall, the participants found the intervention acceptable, with scores improving from wave 1 (24.2, SD 1.1 out of 30) to wave 2 (26.3, SD 2.1 out of 30). The personalized multimodal exercise prescription and computer-tailored education were seen as valuable. After wave 1, website navigation videos were added, medical terminology was simplified, and a telehealth component was included after expert real-time telehealth support was requested. Wave 2 changes included the added variety for aerobic exercise modes, reduced computer-tailoring question loads, and improved consistency of style and grammar. Finally, the participants could replicate the resistance exercise videos to a satisfactory level as judged by the movement screen; however, additional technique cueing within the videos is recommended to address safety concerns.

CONCLUSIONS

The acceptability and usability of ExerciseGuide were deemed satisfactory. Various problems were identified and resolved. Notably, the participants requested the inclusion of personalized expert support through telehealth. The resistance training algorithms were shown to provide appropriate content safely, and the users could replicate the exercise technique unaided to a satisfactory level. This study has optimized the ExerciseGuide intervention for further investigation in this population.

CLINICALTRIAL

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12618001978257; https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12618001978257
Rates of Assessment of Social Media Use in Psychiatric Interviews Prior to and During COVID-19: Needs Assessment Survey (Preprint)
Authors: Raphaely Shiri , Goldberg Simon B , Moreno Megan , Stowe Zachary
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Current research suggests that there is a nuanced relationship between mental well-being and social media. Social media offers opportunities for empowerment, information, and connection while also showing links with depression, high-risk behavior, and harassment. As this medium rapidly integrates into interpersonal interactions, incorporation of social media assessment into the psychiatric evaluation warrants attention. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic and containment measures (ie, social distancing) led to increased dependence on social media, allowing an opportunity to assess the adaptation of psychiatric interviews in response to sociocultural changes.

OBJECTIVE

The first aim of this study was to evaluate if general psychiatry residents and child and adolescent psychiatry fellows assessed social media use as part of the clinical interview. Second, the study examined whether changes were made to the social media assessment in response to known increase of social media use secondary to social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

As part of a quality improvement project, the authors surveyed general psychiatry residents and child psychiatry fellows in a university-based training program (n=21) about their assessment of social media use in patient evaluations. Soon after the survey closed, “stay-at-home” orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic began. A subsequent survey was sent out with the same questions to evaluate if residents and fellows altered their interview practices in response to the dramatic sociocultural changes (n=20).

RESULTS

Pre-COVID-19 pandemic survey results found that 10% (2/21) of respondents incorporated social media questions in patient evaluations. In a follow-up survey after the onset of the pandemic, 20% (4/20) of respondents included any assessment of social media use. Among the 15 participants who completed both surveys, there was a nonsignificant increase in the likelihood of asking about social media use (2/15, 13% vs 4/15, 27%, for pre- and during COVID-19, respectively; McNemar χ21=0.25, P=.617, Cohen d=0.33).

CONCLUSIONS

These small survey results raise important questions relevant to the training of residents and fellows in psychiatry. The findings suggest that the assessment of social media use is a neglected component of the psychiatric interview by trainees. The burgeoning use and diversity of social media engagement warrant scrutiny with respect to how this is addressed in interview training. Additionally, given minimal adaptation of the interview in the midst of a pandemic, these findings imply an opportunity for improving psychiatric training that incorporates adapting clinical interviews to sociocultural change.
Update on New Species and Record of Fishes in the Coral Triangle Region for the Last 10 Years (2008-2019)
Authors: Yalindua Fione Yukita , Peristiwady Teguh , Ibrahim Putri Saphira
Published: March 2021

Updated data is an essential requirement for carrying out research, planning, and policy briefs. The Coral reef triangle region is one of the areas with the highest diversity of marine biota and the discovery of new species in this area are increasing every year, much of this information is already available. However, most of the data is not available per region and is still scattered. This study aims to create a checklist and assessment of new species and a new record of fishes from this region over the last ten years based on several aspects, including species composition, pattern of distribution, endemicity, and depth using every source of the report and secondary literature data. The current new species and a new record of fish in the last decades combined consists of 360 species (268 new species and 92 new records). The most speciose group of family dominated by Gobiidae (93), followed by Labridae, Pomacentridae and Serranidae (18), Apogonidae (17), Dasyatidae (15), and the rest were ranged from 1-9 species per family. More than half of new species and new records are found in Indonesia, followed by the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Island. The result shows that cryptobenthic Families especially Gobiidae from genus Trimma and eviota are dominated the trend of new species and new record discovery and it is expected to rise over time while there will also be an emergence of some possibly new endemic species from major and rare families from the eastern part of Indonesia (West Papua and Papua New Guinea). Thus, the eastern part of Indonesia (Papua, Maluku, Aru Sea, and Papua New Guinea) and the northern part of Indonesia (North Sulawesi and Philippine) are suitable for exploration for marine biodiversity discovery research in the future.
El empleador como garante de la seguridad del trabajo en el Código Penal peruano. Globalización, riesgo típico y COVID-19
Authors: Rodríguez Salinas Sergio
Published: March 2021

La actual pandemia de la COVID-19 ha puesto de manifiesto los riesgos a los que se enfrentan las personas en la sociedad globalizada. Esta crisis sanitaria pone de relieve, además, los riesgos a los que se enfrentan los trabajadores a causa de la realización de un trabajo o prestación de un servicio. En este artículo se abordan las transformaciones económicas y políticas de la globalización, a partir de la global supply chain y el surgimiento de autoridades privadas, y sus consecuencias para el mercado de trabajo. A partir de ahí, se analiza la protección penal de la seguridad del trabajo en el ordenamiento jurídico peruano, partiendo de un bien jurídico que se derive del concepto de trabajo decente y que sirva de barrera frente a la mercantilización del trabajo en la economía globalizada. Se pone especial énfasis en el empleador como responsable por evitar los riesgos que se produzcan con ocasión de la prestación de servicios y cómo esta responsabilidad opera en el contexto de la COVID-19.
Quantum one-time tables for unconditionally secure qubit-commitment
Authors: Lie Seok Hyung , Kwon Hyukjoon , Kim M. S. , Jeong Hyunseok
Published: March 2021

The commodity-based cryptography is an alternative approach to realize conventionally impossible cryptographic primitives such as unconditionally secure bit-commitment by consuming pre-established correlation between distrustful participants. A unit of such classical correlation is known as the one-time table (OTT). In this paper, we introduce a new example besides quantum key distribution in which quantum correlation is useful for cryptography. We propose a scheme for unconditionally secure qubit-commitment, a quantum cryptographic primitive forbidden by the recently proven no-masking theorem in the standard model, based on the consumption of the quantum generalization of the OTT, the bipartite quantum state we namedquantum one-time tables(QOTT). The construction of the QOTT is based on the newly analyzed internal structure of quantum masker and the quantum secret sharing schemes. Our qubit-commitment scheme is shown to be universally composable. We propose to measure the randomness cost of preparing a (Q)OTT in terms of its entropy, and show that the QOTT with superdense coding can increase the security level with half the cost of OTTs for unconditionally secure bit-commitment. The QOTT exemplifies an operational setting where neither maximally classically correlated state nor maximally entangled state, but rather a well-structured partially entangled mixed state is more valuable resource.