bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 pandemic and health worker stress: The mediating effect of emotional regulation
Authors: García-Batista Zoilo Emilio , Guerra-Peña Kiero , Kandany Vahid Nouri , Marte Maria Isabel , Garrido Luis Eduardo , Cantisano-Guzmán Luisa Marilia , Moretti Luciana , Medrano Leonardo A. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackground/IntroductionPsychological and physical well-being of health personnel has been significantly affected by COVID-19. Work overload and continuous exposure to positive COVID-19 cases have caused them fatigue, stress, anxiety, insomnia and other detriments. This research aims: 1) to analyze whether the use of cognitive reevaluation and emotional suppression strategies decreases and increases, respectively, stress levels of health personnel; 2) to quantify the impact of contact with patients with COVID-19 on stress’s level of medical staff.MethodEmotion regulation strategies and stress level were evaluated in 155 Dominican physicians by means of psychological tests with adequate levels of reliability. In addition, a questionnaire created by the researchers quantified the impact that contact with those infected had on their stress levels.ResultsContact with patients with COVID-19 predicts increased use of emotion suppression strategies, although is not associated with the use of cognitive reevaluation. These findings lead to an even greater increase in stress on health care providers.ConclusionsContextual contingencies demand immediate responses and may not allow health personnel to use cognitive re-evaluation strategies, leaning more towards emotion suppression. However, findings regarding high levels of stress require the implementation of intervention programs focused on the promotion of more functional emotion regulation strategies. Such programs may reduce current stress and prevent post-traumatic symptoms.
Clinical Sensitivity and Interpretation of PCR and Serological COVID-19 Diagnostics for Patients Presenting to the Hospital
Authors: Miller Tyler E. , Garcia Beltran Wilfredo F. , Bard Adam Z. , Gogakos Tasos , Anahtar Melis N. , Astudillo Michael Gerino , Yang Diane , Thierauf Julia , Fisch Adam S. , Mahowald Grace K. , Fitzpatrick Megan J. , Nardi Valentina , Feldman Jared , Hauser Blake M. , Caradonna Timothy M. , Marble Hetal D. , Ritterhouse Lauren L. , Turbett Sara E. , Batten Julie , Georgantas Nicholas Zeke , Alter Galit , Schmidt Aaron G. , Harris Jason B. , Gelfand Jeffrey A. , Poznansky Mark C. , Bernstein Bradley E. , Louis David N. , Dighe Anand , Charles Richelle C. , Ryan Edward T. , Branda John A. , Pierce Virginia M. , Murali Mandakolathur R. , Iafrate A. John , Rosenberg Eric S. , Lennerz Jochen 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIntroductionThe diagnosis of COVID-19 requires integration of clinical and laboratory data. SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic assays play a central role in diagnosis and have fixed technical performance metrics. Interpretation becomes challenging because the clinical sensitivity changes as the virus clears and the immune response emerges. Our goal was to examine the clinical sensitivity of two most common SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test modalities, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serology, over the disease course to provide insight into their clinical interpretation in patients presenting to the hospital.MethodsA single-center, retrospective study. To derive clinical sensitivity of PCR, we identified 209 PCR-positive SARS-CoV-2 patients with multiple PCR test results (624 total PCR tests) and calculated daily sensitivity from date of symptom onset or first positive test. To calculate daily clinical sensitivity by serology, we utilized 157 PCR- positive patients with a total of 197 specimens tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for IgM, IgG, and IgA anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.ResultsClinical sensitivity of PCR decreased with days post symptom onset with >90% clinical sensitivity during the first 5 days after symptom onset, 70-71% from days 9-11, and 30% at day 21. In contrast, serological sensitivity increased with days post symptom onset with >50% of patients seropositive by at least one antibody isotype after day 7, >80% after day 12, and 100% by day 21.ConclusionPCR and serology are complimentary modalities that require time- dependent interpretation. Superimposition of sensitivities over time indicate that serology can function as a reliable diagnostic aid indicating recent or prior infection.
Sensitivity of RT-PCR testing of upper respiratory tract samples for SARS-CoV-2 in hospitalised patients: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Williams Thomas C , Wastnedge Elizabeth , McAllister Gina , Bhatia Ramya , Cuschieri Kate , Kefala Kallirroi , Hamilton Fiona , Johannessen Ingólfur , Laurenson Ian F. , Shepherd Jill , Stewart Alistair , Waters Donald , Wise Helen , Templeton Kate E. 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACTObjectivesTo determine the sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR testing of upper respiratory tract (URT) samples from hospitalised patients with COVID-19, compared to the gold standard of a clinical diagnosis.MethodsAll URT RT-PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 in NHS Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom between the 7th of February and 19th April 2020 (inclusive) was reviewed, and hospitalised patients were identified. All URT RT-PCR tests were analysed for each patient to determine the sequence of negative and positive results. For those who were tested twice or more but never received a positive result, case records were reviewed, and a clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 allocated based on clinical features, discharge diagnosis, and radiology and haematology results. For those who had negative URT RT-PCR tests but a clinical diagnosis of COVID-19, respiratory samples were retested using a multiplex respiratory panel, a second SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay, and a human RNase P control.ResultsCompared to the gold standard of a clinical diagnosis of COVID-19, the sensitivity of an initial URT RT-PCR for COVID-19 was 82.2% (95% confidence interval 79.0-85.1%). Two consecutive URT RT-PCR tests increased sensitivity to 90.6% (CI 88.0-92.7%). A further 2.2% and 0.9% of patients who received a clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 were positive on a third and fourth test.ConclusionsThe sensitivity of a single RT-PCR test of an URT sample in hospitalised patients is 82.2%. Sensitivity increases to 90.6% when patients are tested twice. A proportion of cases with clinically defined COVID-19 never test positive on URT RT-PCR despite repeated testing.
SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR profile in 298 Indian COVID-19 patients : a retrospective observational study
Authors: Bhattacharya Bisakh , Kumar Rohit , Meena Ved Prakash , Soneja Manish , Vig Saurabh , Rastogi Vandana , Bhatnagar Sushma , Mohan Anant , Wig Naveet 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundDespite being in the 5th month of pandemic, knowledge with respect to viral dynamics, infectivity and RT-PCR positivity continues to evolve.AimTo analyse the SARS CoV-2 nucleic acid RT-PCR profiles in COVID-19 patients.DesignIt was a retrospective, observational study conducted at COVID facilities under AIIMS, New Delhi.MethodsPatients admitted with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 were eligible for enrolment. Patients with incomplete details, or only single PCR tests were excluded. Data regarding demographic details, comorbidities, treatment received and results of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR performed on nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs, collected at different time points, was retrieved from the hospital records.Results298 patients were included, majority were males (75·8%) with mean age of 39·07 years (0·6-88 years). The mean duration from symptom onset to first positive RT-PCR was 4·7 days (SD 3·67), while that of symptom onset to last positive test was 17·83 days (SD 6·22). Proportions of positive RT-PCR tests were 100%, 49%, 24%, 8·7% and 20·6% in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & >4 weeks of illness. 12 symptomatic patients had prolonged positive test results even after 3 weeks of symptom onset. Age >= 60 years was associated with prolonged RT-PCR positivity (statistically significant).ConclusionThis study showed that the average period of PCR positivity is more than 2 weeks in COVID-19 patients; elderly patients have prolonged duration of RT-PCR positivity and requires further follow up.
Methadone and Suboxone® mentions on Twitter: Thematic and Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Chenworth M , Perrone J , Love JS , Graves R , Hogg-Bremer W , Sarker A 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundMethadone and buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone®) have been discussed and compared extensively in the medical literature as effective treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD). While the evidence basis for the use of these medications is very favorable, less is known about the perceptions of these medications within the general public.ObjectiveThis study aimed to use social media, specifically Twitter, to assess the public perception of these medications, and to compare the discussion content between each medication based on theme, subtheme, and sentiment.MethodsWe conducted a mixed methods descriptive study analyzing individual microposts (“tweets”) that mentioned “methadone” or “suboxone”. We then categorized these tweets into themes and subthemes, as well as by sentiment and personal experience, and compared the information posted about these two medications, including in tweets that mentioned both medications.ResultsWe analyzed 900 tweets, most of which related to access (13.8% for methadone; 12.9% for suboxone®), stigma (15.3%; 14.0%), and OUD treatment (11.5%; 5.4%). Only a small proportion of tweets (16.4% for suboxone® and 9.3% for methadone) expressed positive sentiments about the medications, with few tweets describing personal experiences. Tweets mentioning both medications primarily discussed MOUD in general, rather than comparing the two medications directly.ConclusionsTwitter content about methadone and suboxone are similar, with the same major themes and similar sub-themes. Despite the proven effectiveness of these medications, there was little dialogue related to their benefits or efficacy in the treatment of opioid use disorder. Perceptions of these medications may contribute to their underutilization in combatting opioid use disorder.
The support needs of Australian primary health care nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Halcomb Elizabeth , Williams Anna , Ashley Christine , McInnes Susan , Stephen Catherine , Calma Kaara , James Sharon 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAimTo identify Australian primary healthcare nurses immediate support needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.BackgroundCOVID-19 has had widespread implications for primary healthcare nurses. Supporting these nurses’ capacity to deliver quality care ensures that ongoing health needs can be met.MethodsPrimary healthcare nurses were recruited to an online survey via social media and professional organisations in April 2020.ResultsSix-hundred and thirty-seven responses were included in analysis. Participants provided 1213 statements about perceived supports required to provide quality clinical care. From these, seven key categories emerged, namely; personal protective equipment, communication, funding, industrial issues, self-care, workplace factors and valuing nurses.ConclusionA number of key issues relating to personal health and safety, care quality, and job security need to be addressed to support primary healthcare nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing these support issues can assist in retaining nurses and optimising the role of primary healthcare nurses during a pandemic.Implications for nursing managementResponding to the needs of primary healthcare nurses has the potential to facilitate their role in providing community based healthcare. This knowledge can guide the provision of support for primary healthcare nurses during the current pandemic, as well as informing planning for future health crises.
Can root-associated fungi mediate the impact of abiotic conditions on the growth of a High Arctic herb?
Authors: Wutkowska Magdalena , Ehrich Dorothee , Mundra Sunil , Vader Anna , Eidesen Pernille B. 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACTArctic plants are affected by many stressors. Root-associated fungi are thought to influence plant performance in stressful environmental conditions. However, the relationships are not transparent; do the number of fungal partners, their ecological functions and community composition mediate the impact of environmental conditions and/or influence host plant performance? To address these questions, we used a common arctic plant as a model system: Bistorta vivipara. Whole plants (including root system) were collected from nine locations in Spitsbergen (n=214). Morphometric features were measured as a proxy for performance and combined with metabarcoding datasets of their root-associated fungi (amplicon sequence variants, ASVs), edaphic and meteorological variables. Seven biological hypotheses regarding fungal influence on plant measures were tested using structural equation modelling. The best-fitting model revealed that local temperature affected plants both directly (negatively aboveground and positively below-ground) and indirectly - mediated by fungal richness and the ratio of symbio- and saprotrophic ASVs. Fungal community composition did not impact plant measurements and plant reproductive investment did not depend on any fungal parameters. The lack of impact of fungal community composition on plant performance suggests that the functional importance of fungi is more important than their identity. The influence of temperature on host plants is therefore complex and should be examined further.
An implant for long-term cervical vagus nerve stimulation in mice
Authors: Mughrabi Ibrahim T. , Hickman Jordan , Jayaprakash Naveen , Papadoyannis Eleni S. , Abbas Adam , Chang Yao-Chuan , Lee Sunhee , Datta-Chaudhuri Timir , Chang Eric H. , Zanos Theodoros P. , Froemke Robert C. , Welle Cristin , Al-Abed Yousef , Zanos Stavros 
Published: June 2020

AbstractVagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a neuromodulation therapy with the potential to treat a wide range of chronic conditions in which inflammation is implicated, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis and heart failure. Many of these diseases have well-established mouse models but due to the significant surgical and engineering challenges that accompany a reliable interface for long-term VNS in mice, the therapeutic implications of this bioelectronic approach remain unexplored. Here, we describe a long-term VNS implant in mice, developed at 3 research laboratories and validated for between-lab reproducibility. Implant functionality was evaluated over 3-8 weeks in 81 anesthetized or conscious mice by determining the stimulus intensity required to elicit a change in heart rate (heart rate threshold, HRT). HRT was also used as a method to standardize stimulation dosing across animals. Overall, 60-90% of implants produced stimulus-evoked physiological responses for at least 4 weeks, with HRT values stabilizing after the second week of implantation. Furthermore, stimulation delivered through 6-week-old implants decreased TNF levels in a subset of mice with acute inflammation caused by endotoxemia. Histological examination of 4- to 6-week-old implants revealed fibrotic encapsulation and no gross fiber loss. This implantation and dosing approach provide a tool to systematically investigate the therapeutic potential of long-term VNS in chronic diseases modeled in the mouse, the most widely used vertebrate species in biomedical research.
Identification of Neuronal Polarity by Node-Based Machine Learning
Authors: Su Chen-Zhi , Chou Kuan-Ting , Huang Hsuan-Pei , Lo Chung-Chuan , Wang Daw-Wei 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIdentifying the directions of signal flows in neural networks is one of the most important stages for understanding the intricate information dynamics of a living brain. Using a dataset of 213 projection neurons distributed in different regions of aDrosophilabrain, we develop a powerful machine learning algorithm: node-based polarity identifier of neurons (NPIN). The proposed model is trained by nodal information only and includes both Soma Features(which contain spatial information from a given node to a soma)and Local Features(which contain morphological information of a given node). After including the spatial correlations between nodal polarities, our NPIN provided extremely high accuracy (>96.0%) for the classification of neuronal polarity, even for complex neurons with more than two dendrite/axon clusters. Finally, we further apply NPIN to classify the neuronal polarity of the blowfly, which has much less neuronal data available. Our results demonstrate that NPIN is a powerful tool to identify the neuronal polarity of insects and to map out the signal flows in the brain’s neural networks.Availability of data and materialThe FlyCircuit database(http://www.flycircuit.tw/)is provided by the National Center for High-Performance Computing.Code availabilityWe provide an online version of NPIN to be used or tested by other research groups at the following address:https://npin-for-drosophila.herokuapp.com/
Body mass index, time of day, and genetics affect perivascular spaces in the white matter
Authors: Barisano Giuseppe , Sepehrband Farshid , Sheikh-Bahaei Nasim , Law Meng , Toga Arthur W. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe analysis of cerebral perivascular spaces (PVS) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows to explorein vivotheir contributions to neurological disorders. To date the normal amount and distribution of PVS in healthy human brains are not known, thus hampering our ability to define with confidence pathogenic alterations. Furthermore, it is unclear which biological factors can influence the presence and size of PVS on MRI. We performed exploratory data analysis of PVS volume and distribution in a large population of healthy individuals (n = 897, age = 28.8 ± 3.7). Here we describe the global and regional amount of PVS in the white matter, which can be used as a reference for clinicians and researchers investigating PVS and may help the interpretation of the structural changes affecting PVS in pathological states. We found a relatively high inter-subject variability in the PVS amount in this population of healthy adults (range: 1.31-14.49 cm3). We then identified body mass index, time of day, and genetics as new elements significantly affecting PVSin vivounder physiological conditions, offering a valuable foundation to future studies aimed at understanding the physiology of perivascular flow.
Unambiguous observation of vesicle fusion in the interior of a cone
Authors: Zhenpeng Ge 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWhen a vesicle was put onto the inner surface of a cone, it would spontaneously move to the bottom of the cone. The mechanism was explained elsewhere. In this work, we showed that when we put two vesicles onto the inner surface of a cone, both of them would spontaneously climb to the bottom of the cone. What’s following is the unambiguous fusion of these two vesicles. The probability of fusion was greatly enhanced by the confined space and close contact between these two vesicles. Our result may shed new insights on the fusions of vesicles in complex environments in biological systems, especially in the axonal and nerve growth processes.
Preference for animate domain sounds in the fusiform gyrus of blind individuals is modulated by shape-action mapping
Authors: Bola Łukasz , Yang Huichao , Caramazza Alfonso , Bi Yanchao 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn high-level visual shape areas in the human brain, preference for inanimate objects is observed regardless of stimulation modality (visual/auditory/tactile) and subjects’ visual experience (sighted/blind individuals), whereas preference for animate entities seems robust only in the visual modality. Here, we test a hypothesis explaining this effect: visual shape representations can be reliably activated through different sensory modalities when they are systematically related to action system representations. We studied fMRI activations in congenitally blind and sighted subjects listening to animal, object, and human sounds. We found that, in blind individuals, the typical anatomical location of the fusiform face area responds to human facial expression sounds, with a clear mapping between the facial motor action and the resulting face shape, but not to speech or animal sounds. Using face areas’ activation in the blind subjects we could distinguish between specific facial expressions used in the study, but not between specific speech sounds. We conclude that auditory stimulation can reliably activate visual representations of those stimuli – inanimate or animate - for which shape and action computations are transparently related. Our study suggests that visual experience is not necessary for the development of functional preference for face-related information in the fusiform gyrus.
fruitlesstunes functional flexibility of courtship circuitry during development
Authors: Chen Jie , Jin Sihui , Cao Jie , Peng Qionglin , Pan Yufeng 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACTDrosophilamale courtship is controlled by the male-specific products of thefruitless (fruMgene and its expressing neuronal circuitry.fruMis considered a master gene that controls all aspects of male courtship. By temporally and spatially manipulatingfruMexpression, we found thatfruMis required during a critical developmental period for innate courtship towards females, and its function during adulthood is relatively trivial. By altering or eliminatingfruMexpression, we generated males that are innately heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, or without innate courtship but could acquire such behavior in an experience-dependent manner. These findings show thatfruMis not absolutely necessary for courtship but is critical during development to build a sex circuitry with reduced flexibility and enhanced efficiency and provide a new view about howfruMtunes functional flexibility of a sex circuitry.
Distinct roles for RAB10 and RAB29 in pathogenic LRRK2-mediated endolysosomal trafficking alterations
Authors: Rivero-Ríos Pilar , Romo-Lozano Maria , Fernández Belén , Fdez Elena , Hilfiker Sabine 
Published: June 2020

AbstractMutations in the gene encoding leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) cause familial Parkinson’s disease, and sequence variations are associated with the sporadic form of the disease. LRRK2 phosphorylates a subset of RAB proteins implicated in secretory and recycling trafficking pathways, including RAB8A and RAB10. Another RAB protein, RAB29, has been reported to recruit LRRK2 to the Golgi where it stimulates its kinase activity. Our previous studies revealed that G2019S LRRK2 expression or knockdown of RAB8A deregulate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) trafficking, with a concomitant accumulation of the receptor in a RAB4-positive recycling compartment. Here, we show that the G2019S LRRK2-mediated EGFR deficits are mimicked by knockdown of RAB10 and rescued by expression of active RAB10. By contrast, RAB29 knockdown is without effect, but expression of RAB29 also rescues the pathogenic LRRK2-mediated trafficking deficits independently of Golgi integrity. Our data suggest that G2019S LRRK2 deregulates endolysosomal trafficking by impairing the function of RAB8A and RAB10, whilst RAB29 positively modulates non-Golgi-related trafficking events impaired by pathogenic LRRK2.