bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Envelope Protein of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Influence Neuron Entry, Pathogenicity and Vaccine Protection
Authors: Lindqvist Richard , Rosendal Ebba , Asghar Naveed , Schreier Sarah , Lenman Annasara , Johansson Magnus , Dobler Gerhard , Bestehorn Marlena , Kröger Andrea , Överby Anna K 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is considered to be the medically most important arthropod-borne virus in Europe. The symptoms of an infection ranges from subclinical to mild flu-like disease to lethal encephalitis. The exact determinants of disease severity are not known, however, the virulence of the strain as well as the immune status of the host are thought to be important factors for the outcome of the infection. Here we investigated virulence determinants in TBEV infection.Method: Mice were infected with different TBEV strains, and high virulent and low virulent TBEV were chosen. Sequence alignment were used to identify differences that were cloned to generate chimera virus. The infection rate of the parental and chimeric virus were evaluated in primary mouse neurons, astrocytes and MEFs. Neutralizing capacity of serum from individuals vaccinated with the FSME-IMMUN® and Encepur® or combined were evaluated.Results: We identified a highly pathogenic and neurovirulent TBEV strain, 93/783. Using sequence analysis, we identified the envelope (E) protein of 93/783 as a potential virulence determinant and cloned it into the less pathogenic TBEV strain Torö. We found that the chimeric virus specifically infected primary neurons more efficiently compared to wild type (WT) Torö and this correlated with enhanced pathogenicity in vivo. The E protein is also the major target of neutralizing antibodies, thus genetic variation in the E protein could influence the efficiency of the two available vaccines, FSME-IMMUN® and Encepur®. As TBEV vaccine breakthroughs have occurred in Europe, we choose to compare neutralizing capacity from individuals vaccinated with the two different vaccines or a combination of them. Our data suggest that the different vaccines do not perform equally well against the two Swedish strains.Conclusions: Our findings show that two amino acid substitutions of the E protein found in 93/783, A83T and A463S, enhanced Torö infection of neurons as well as pathogenesis in vivo, furthermore we found that genetic divergence from the vaccine strain resulted in lower neutralizing antibody titers in vaccinated individuals.
Which behaviour change techniques are effective to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in adults: a factorial randomized trial of an e- and m-health intervention
Authors: Schroé Helene , Dyck Delfien Van , De Paepe Annick , Poppe Louise , Loh Wen Wei , Verloigne Maïté , Loeys Tom , De Bourdeaudhuij Ilse , Crombez Geert 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
BackgroundE- and m-health interventions are promising to change health behaviour. Many of these interventions use a large variety of behaviour change techniques (BCTs), but it’s not known which BCTs or which combination of BCTs contribute to their efficacy. Therefore, this study investigated the efficacy of three BCTs (i.e. action planning, coping planning and self-monitoring) and their combinations on physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB).MethodsIn a 2(action planning: present vs absent) x2(coping planning: present vs absent) x2(self-monitoring: present vs absent) factorial trial, 473 adults from the general population used the self-regulation based e- and m-health intervention ‘MyPlan2.0’ for five weeks. All combinations of BCTs were considered, resulting in eight groups. Participants selected their preferred target behaviour, either PA (n = 335,age = 35.8,28.1% men) or SB (n = 138,age = 37.8,37.7% men), and were then randomly allocated to the experimental groups. Levels of PA (MVPA in minutes/week) or SB (total sedentary time in hours/day) were assessed at baseline and post-intervention using self-reported questionnaires. Linear mixed-effect models were fitted to assess the impact of the different combinations of the BCTs on PA and SB.ResultsFirst, overall efficacy of each BCT was examined. The delivery of self-monitoring increased PA (t = 2.735,p = 0.007) and reduced SB (t=-2.573,p = 0.012) compared with no delivery of self-monitoring. Also, the delivery of coping planning increased PA (t = 2.302,p = 0.022) compared with no delivery of coping planning. Second, we investigated to what extent adding BCTs increased efficacy. Using the combination of the three BCTs was most effective to increase PA (x2 = 8,849,p = 0.003) whereas the combination of action planning and self-monitoring was most effective to decrease SB (x2 = 3.918,p = 0.048). To increase PA, action planning was always more effective in combination with coping planning (x2 = 5.590,p = 0.014;x2 = 17.722,p < 0.001;x2 = 4.552,p = 0.033) compared with using action planning without coping planning. Of note, the use of action planning alone reduced PA compared with using coping planning alone (x2 = 4.389,p = 0.031) and self-monitoring alone (x2 = 8.858,p = 003), respectively.ConclusionsThis study provides indications that different (combinations of) BCTs may be effective to promote PA and reduce SB. More experimental research to investigate the effectiveness of BCTs is needed, which can contribute to improved design and more effective e- and m-health interventions in the future.Trial registrationThis study was preregistered as a clinical trial (ID number: NCT03274271). Release date: 20 October 2017, http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03274271
Adverse childhood experiences and the association with initiating Alcohol, and chat Consumption before age of 18, in school going adolescents, Ethiopia: cross sectional study
Authors: Tsehay Mekonnen , Necho Mogese , Belete Asmare 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background : Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) were associated with poor health outcomes and health-threatening behaviors later in life. The objective of the present study was to investigate associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and early initiation of alcohol and chat use among school going adolescents.Methods : A cross-sectional study was performed with 546 school going adolescents. The ACE International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) was used to assess ACEs, including emotional, physical, and sexual forms of abuse and neglect, as well as household dysfunction. Alcohol and chat use was assessed by questions prepared by authors. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between overall ACE score and alcohol use and the potential moderating effects of confounders.Results : prevalence of chat chewing behavior was 26.6% followed by alcohol use 20%, and small number of student’s use cigarette smoking and other illicit drug users (0.9%) (ganja and Shisha) each. A total of 66.2% of participants reported at least one ACE, and 5.93% reported four or more ACEs. Increased ACE scores were associated with increased risks of drinking (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.09, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.00–1.09), chronic disease (AOR =1.17, 95% CI: 1.06–1.28), depression (AOR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.27–1.48), and posttraumatic stress disorder (AOR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.23–1.42) in adulthood. After adjusting for confounding factors, the individual ACE components had different impacts on risk behavior and health, particularly on poor mental health outcomes in adulthood.Conclusions : Alcohol and Chat use was prevalent and public health concern among school going adolescents. ACEs were significantly associated with risk behaviors, alcohol and chat use may lead poor health and educational outcomes among adolescent students and numbers of ACEs have graded association. Social support, sex, residence, parent educational status and current level of depressive symptoms were significant modulating factors, which parents, school teachers, psychologists and adolescent health care providers should give concern to decrease the effect on school going adolescents.
Relationship between the cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood natural killer cells and recurrent miscarriage
Authors: Zhang Yong-Nu , Huang Chun-Yu , Lian Ruo-Chun , Xu Jian , Fu Yun-Feng , Zeng Yong , Tu Wen-Wei 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background: Peripheral natural killer (pNK) cells are granular lymphocytes of the innate immune system that can be recruited by the endometrium to participate in the decidualization and be in contact with the villus in the intervillous space. Moreover, pNK cells were thought to exert cytotoxicity to cytotrophoblast, especially in abnormal pregnancy. However, it is still controversial about the association between pNK cytotoxicity and RM so far. In this study, we aim to compare the percentage, immunophenotype and function of pNK cells between patients with RM and fertile controls.Methods: The peripheral blood was collected from 49 patients with RM and 11 fertile women in their middle luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. pNK cells were co-cultured with K562 cells at three different cell ratios to measure the cytotoxicity. The percentage of CD3-CD56+ pNK was analyzed by flow cytometry and quantified to evaluate the expression of cytotoxic granules (granzyme B, granulysin, and perforin), and the cell surface receptors related to pNK cell cytotoxicity (NKG2D, NKp30, NKp46, CD158a, CD158b) were also detected.Results: The general linear model analysis showed that pNK cell cytotoxicity in patients with RM was significantly lower than that in fertile controls. The RM group possessed a significantly lower level of granzyme B+ pNK cells and significantly higher level of CD158a+, CD158b+ pNK cells than that in the control group. However, there was no significant difference in the proportion of circulating CD3-CD56+ NK cells expressing the granzyme B, granulysin, perforin, NKG2D, NKp30, NKp46, CD158a, CD158b. Conclusions: Our results suggested that a lower pNK cytotoxicity might be associated with RM.
Prevalence and predictors of contraceptives use among women age (15-49) with induced abortion history in Ghana
Authors: Salifu Mohammed Gazali , Kamaldeen Mohammed 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background Abortion incidence in Ghana ranges from 27 per 1000 to 61 per 1000 women, causing major gynecological complications or problems and maternal mortality. Though, the use of modern contraceptives has been documented to be a reliable public health preventive measure towards reducing unwanted pregnancies, only 19% of women aged (15-49) with abortion history receive post-abortion contraception support. This study therefore aimed at determining the proportion and identifying predictors of contraceptives use in these underreported and vulnerable population.Methods This study used secondary data from the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey (GMHS) for the analysis. The analysis is on a weighted sample of 3,039 women aged (15-49 years) with history of induced abortion. Both descriptive and inferential methods were employed. Chi- Square test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression techniques were used to assess statistical associations between the outcome variable and the predictors. Statistical significance was set at 95% confidence interval and p-values <0.05.Results Out of the 3039 participants, 37% (95% CI: 34.6, 38.84) used contraceptives. We identified women age, union, place of residence, knowledge of fertile period, total pregnancy outcomes, and region as strong significant (95% CI p<0.005) predictors of post induced abortion contraceptives use.Conclusion Contraceptives use among this vulnerable population is low. Therefore, there is the need to provide widespread access to post-abortion contraception services and enhance efforts to efficiently integrate the safe abortion practices law into health services in Ghana.
Scouting the Receptor Binding Domain of COVID-19: A Comprehensive Immunoinformatics Inquisition
Authors: Rehman Zaira , Fahim Ammad , Bhatti Muhammad Faraz 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
The December of 2019 witnessed emergence of worldwide outbreak by a novel strain of coronavirus termed COVID-19 with sequence similarity of overall 96.2% with BatCoV RaTG13 (coronavirus isolated from bat) and 94% sequence identity with Severe Acute respiratory syndrome Virus (SARS-CoV) that resulted in outbreak in 2002-2003. There is no therapeutic or preventive strategy like vaccine developed so far to overcome infection.The receptor binding domain (RBD) of COVID-19 for any potential vaccine epitopes were explored. The structure of RBD of COVID-19, BatCoV RaTG13 and bACE2 were chalked through homology modeling followed by molecular docking and structural validation. A comprehensive immunoinformatics approach mapped conserved peptide sequence on COVID-19 RBD for their B-, Helper T- & Cytotoxic T-cell epitope profile. The recognized epitopes were further studied and validated for their docking interaction with MHC-I and MHC-II alleles. Through immune-informatics approaches the study identified conserved B- and T-cell epitopes in RBD. The B-cell epitopes lying within the receptor binding motif, LFRKSN and SYGFQPT l were found to be highly antigenic. Among T-cell epitopes, the epitope CVADYSVLY and FTNVYADSF were antigenic and exhibited affinity for maximum number of MHC-I alleles. The T cell epitopes YRLFRKSNL, VYAWNRKRI displayed affinity for maximum number of MHC-II alleles. The docking analysis of the epitopes with MHC proteins revealed strong interactions of T-cell epitopes with MHC-I and MHC-II alleles. The overlapping epitope among B- and T-cells was YRLFRKSNL. The deployment of these epitopes in potential vaccine against COVID-19 may help in sweeping the COVID-19 infectious spread.
Can ACE2 receptor polymorphism predicts species susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2?
Authors: Devaux Christian A. , Pinault Lucile , Osman Ikram Omar , Raoult Didier 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
A novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2, emerged in China in December 2019 and recently spread worldwide causing more than 144,987 deaths from COVID-19 disease. Similar to SARS-CoV that was related to a bat-borne coronavirus, this new virus originated from Rhinolophus affinis bats. Because bats usually transmit their coronaviruses to intermediate animal hosts that in turn represent a source of virus able to cross the species barrier to finally infect humans, the identification of an intermediate animal reservoir was recently the subject of intense researches. At the very beginning it was claimed that a reptile (Ophiophagus hannah) was the intermediate host. This hypothesis was quickly eliminated to be replaced by the pangolin (Manis javanica) hypothesis. Yet, several other animal species were recently reported as possible intermediate hosts in between bats and humans. To determine which intermediate animal host could have infected the index case patient with SARS-CoV-2, we used multi-sequence alignment, 3-D structure analysis and electrostatic potential surface generation of the angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) that serves as cellular receptor for SARS-CoV-2. We report evidence that such in silico investigation is a powerful tool that may help identification of potential SARS-CoV-2 susceptible species and that positions K31and Y41 in the a1 ridge, N82 and N90 in the loop and a3 and K353 in loop and b5 play a major role for SARS-CoV-2 binding to ACE2.
All-in-One Dual CRISPR-Cas12a (AIOD-CRISPR) Assay: A Case for Rapid, Ultrasensitive and Visual Detection of Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and HIV virus at the Point of Care
Authors: Ding Xiong , Yin Kun , Li Ziyue , Lalla Rajesh V. , Ballesteros Enrique , Sfeir Maroun M. , Liu Changchun 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
The recent outbreak of novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19 disease, has spread rapidly all over the world. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is another deadly virus and causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Rapid and early detection of these viruses will facilitate early intervention and prevent disease spread. Here, we present an All-In-One Dual CRISPR-Cas12a (termed "AIOD-CRISPR") assay method for simple, rapid, ultrasensitive, specific, one-pot, and visual detection of coronavirus SARS-CoV- 2 and HIV-1 virus. In our AIOD-CRISPR assay, a pair of crRNAs was introduced to initiate dual CRISPR-Cas12a-based detection and improve both detection sensitivity and fluorescence signals. The AIOD-CRISPR assay method was utilized to detect nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) of the SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1 with a sensitivity of few copies. We validated our AIOD-CRISPR method by using COVID-19 swab samples and obtained consistent results with that of RT-PCR method. More importantly, we successfully demonstrated to use a low- cost hand warmer (~$ 0.3) as an incubator of our AIOD-CRISPR assay and detect COVID-19 patient samples within 20 minutes, enabling an instrument-free, visual detection of COVID-19 at the point of care. Thus, our method has significant potential for developing next-generation point-of-care molecular diagnostics.
Development of high affinity monobodies recognizing SARS-CoV-2 antigen
Authors: Du Yushen , Zhang Tian-hao , Meng Xiangzhi , Shi Yuan , Hu Menglong , Yuan Shuofeng , La Chit Ying , Li Shu-xing , Liu Siwei , Li Jiayan , Huang Haigen , Jian Hong , Chen Dongdong , Sheng Li , Hong Mengying , Olson Anders , Liao Hsiang-I , Chen Xiaojiang , Li Xinmin , Zhao Gexin , Roberts Richard W. , Chan Jasper F W , Jin Dong-Yan , Chen Irvin SY , Chen Honglin , Yuen Kwok-Yung , Hao Quan , Sun Ren 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a threat to global public health. Prompt patient identification and quarantine is the most effective way to control its rapid transmission, which can be facilitated by early detection of viral antigens. Here we present a platform to develop and optimize the fibronectin-based affinity-enhanced antibody mimetics (monobodies) for recognizing viral antigens. Specifically, we developed monobodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein. We showed that two monobodies, NN2 and NC2, bind to N protein’s N- and C-terminal domains respectively with a Kd in nM range.The specificity of the recognition was confirmed with co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays. Furthermore, we demonstrated that one round of in vitro maturation using mRNA display can improve the binding affinity of monobodies. Machine learning algorithms were integrated with deep sequencing data for selecting candidates that improve the detection sensitivity of N. Using this pair of monobodies, we have developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for viral detection. We were able to detect recombinant N at 4 pg/ml and detect N in viral culture supernatant, with no cross-reactivity with other CoV. Integrating high-dense mutagenesis, mRNA display, deep sequencing and machine learning, this platform can be applied through iterations to identify and optimize monobodies against emerging viral antigens, potentiating point-of-care detection of communicable diseases in a cost-and time-sensitive manner.Authors Yushen Du, Tian-hao Zhang, Xiangzhi Meng, Yuan Shi, and Menglong Hu contributed equally to this work.
Global economic footprint of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Guan Dabo , Wang Daoping , Hallegatte Stephane , Huo Jingwen , Li Shuping , Bai Yangchun , Lei Tianyang , Xue Qianyu , Davis Steven J. , Coffman D’Maris , Cheng Danyang , Chen Peipei , Liang Xi , Xu Bing , Lu Xiaoshang , Wang Shouyang , Hubacek Klaus , Gong Peng 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Countries around the world have sought to stop the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) by severely restricting travel and in-person commercial activities. Here, we analyse the economic footprint of such “lockdowns” using detailed datasets of global supply chains and a set of pandemic scenarios. We find that COVID-related economic losses are largely dependent on the number of countries imposing lockdowns, and that losses are more sensitive to the duration of a lockdown that its strictness—suggesting that more severe restrictions can reduce economic damages if they successfully shorten the duration of a lockdown. Our results also highlight several key vulnerabilities in global supply chains: Even countries that are not directly affected by COVID-19 can experience large losses (e.g., >20% of their GDP)—with such cascading impacts often occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Open and highly-specialized economies suffer particularly large losses (e.g., energy-exporting Central Asian countries or tourism-focused Caribbean countries). Supply bottlenecks and declines in consumer demand lead to especially large losses in globalized sectors such as electronics (production decreases of 13-53% across our scenarios) and automobiles (2-49%). Although retrospective analyses will undoubtedly provide further policy-relevant insights, our findings already imply that earlier, stricter, and thus shorter lockdowns are likely to minimize overall economic damages, and that global supply chains will magnify economic losses in some countries and industry sectors regardless of direct effects of the coronavirus.
Morphological and molecular characterization of Pungentus sufiyanensis n. sp. and additional data on P. engadinensis (Altherr, 1950) Altherr, 1952 (Dorylaimida: Nordiidae) from northwest of Iran
Authors: Vazifeh Nasir , Niknam Gholamreza , Jabbari Habibeh , Peña-Santiago Reyes 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Two species of the genus Pungentus, one new and one known, collected in natural vegetation and cultivated soils in northwest of Iran, are studied. Pungentus sufiyanensis n. sp. is characterized by its 1.22 to 1.57 mm long body, offset lip region by a constriction and 7 to 9 μm broad, 18 to 21 μm long odontostyle, 304 to 348 μm long neck, 133 to 161 μm long esophageal expansion, mono-opisthodelphic female genital system without anterior uterine sac, slightly backward directed vagina, absence of pars refringens vaginae, V = 47−54, rounded-conoid caudal region (17.5–23 μm, c = 65–84, c´ = 0.7–1) with saccate bodies, and the absence of male. Molecular analysis, based on D2-D3 expansion segments of the 28S rDNA (LSU), confirms the monophyly of the family Nordiidae and suggests the monophyly of the genus Pungentus, with the new species forming a clade with other Iranian species. New data are presented for six Iranian populations of P. engadinensis, and an updated key for the identification of Pungentus species is also provided.