bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Deletions of&nbsp;pfhrp2&nbsp;and&nbsp;pfhrp3&nbsp;genes were uncommon in rapid diagnostic test-negative&nbsp;Plasmodium falciparum&nbsp;isolates from Uganda
Authors: Nsobya Sam L , Walakira Andrew , Namirembe Elizabeth , Kiggundu Moses , Nankabirwa Joaniter I , Ruhamyankaka Emmanuel , Arinaitwe Emmanuel , Conrad Melissa D , Kamya Moses R , Dorsey Grant , Rosenthal Philip J 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
BackgroundRapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) play a key role in malaria case management. The most widely used RDT identifies Plasmodium falciparum based on immunochromatographic recognition of P. falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (PfHRP2). Deletion of the paralogous pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 genes leads to false-negative PfHRP2-based RDTs, and has been reported in P. falciparum infections from South America and Africa. However, identification of pfhrp2/pfhrp3 deletions has usually been based only on failure to amplify these genes using PCR, without confirmation based on PfHRP2 protein expression, and understanding of the true prevalence of deletions is incomplete.MethodsDeletions of pfhrp2/pfhrp3 in blood samples were investigated from cross-sectional surveys in 2012-13 in three regions of varied malaria transmission intensity in Uganda. Samples with positive Giemsa-stained thick blood smears, but negative PfHRP2-based RDTs were evaluated by PCR amplification of conserved subunit ribosomal DNA for Plasmodium species, PCR amplification of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 genes to identify deletions, and bead-based immunoassays for expression of PfHRP2.ResultsOf 3516 samples collected in cross-sectional surveys, 1493 (42.5%) had positive blood smears, of which 96 (6.4%) were RDT-negative. Of these 96 RDT-negative samples, P. falciparum DNA was identified by PCR in 56 (58%) and only non-falciparum plasmodial DNA in 40 (42%). In all 56 P. falciparum-positive samples there was a failure to amplify pfhrp2 or pfhrp3: in 25 (45%) pfhrp2 was not amplified, in 39 (70%) pfhrp3 was not amplified, and in 19 (34%) neither gene was amplified. For the 39 P. falciparum-positive, RDT-negative samples available for analysis of protein expression, PfHRP2 was not identified by immunoassay in only four samples (10.3%); these four samples all had failure to amplify both pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 by PCR. Thus, only four of 96 (4.2%) smear-positive, RDT-negative samples had P. falciparum infections with deletion of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 confirmed by failure to amplify the genes by PCR and lack of expression of PfHRP2 demonstrated by immunoassay.ConclusionFalse negative RDTs were uncommon. Deletions in pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 explained some of these false negatives, but most false negatives were not due to deletion of the pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 genes.
Risk factors and comorbidities associated with magnesium deficiency in pregnant women and women with hormone-related conditions: Analysis of a large real-world dataset
Authors: Orlova Svetlana , Dikke Galina , Pickering Gisele , Yaltseva Natalya , Konchits Sofya , Starostin Kirill , Bevz Alina 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
BackgroundAn accumulating body of literature indicates that magnesium deficiency is associated with a number of hormone-related conditions (HRC) in women, and epidemiological studies are needed to assess its prevalence and risk factors. Here, we present a secondary analysis of data pooled from four large observational studies that assessed magnesium deficiency among pregnant women and women with HRC across the Russian Federation.MethodsThe main objective of this analysis was to estimate the prevalence of magnesium deficiency in this population and to describe risk factors and comorbidities associated with low serum magnesium. Univariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors and comorbid conditions associated with an increased risk of low serum magnesium level.ResultsA total of 983 pregnant women and 9444 women with HRC were eligible for analysis. Prevalence of hypomagnesemia (magnesium serum level cut-off <0.66 mmol/L/<0.8 mmol/L) was 34.0%/78.9% in pregnant women and 21.4%/54.8% in women with HRC. The highest prevalence of magnesium deficiency was observed for osteoporosis and climacteric syndrome. Risk factors included diastolic blood pressure, previous pregnancy complications, infections and edema for pregnant women, and age, body mass index, and various comorbidities for women with HRC.ConclusionsThese results confirm the high prevalence of hypomagnesemia in pregnant women and women with HRC and underline the importance of routine screening, since risk factors are mostly non-specific.
Post-exposure Prophylaxis Against SARS-CoV-2 in Close Contacts of Confirmed COVID-19 Cases (CORIPREV): Study Protocol for a Cluster-randomised Trial
Authors: Tan Darrell , Chan Adrienne K. , Jüni Peter , Tomlinson George , Daneman Nick , Walmsley Sharon , Muller Matthew , Fowler Rob , Murthy Srinivas , Press Natasha , Cooper Curtis , Lee Todd , Mazzulli Tony , McGeer Allison 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a well-established strategy for the prevention of infectious diseases, in which recently exposed people take a short course of medication to prevent infection. The primary objective of the COVID-19 Ring-based Prevention Trial with lopinavir/ritonavir (CORIPREV-LR) is to evaluate the efficacy of a 14-day course of oral lopinavir/ritonavir as PEP against COVID-19 among individuals with a high-risk exposure to a confirmed case.Methods: This is an open-label, multicenter, 1:1 cluster-randomized trial of LPV/r versus no intervention, using an adaptive approach to sample size calculation. Participants will be individuals aged >6 months with a high-risk exposure to a confirmed COVID-19 case within the past 7 days. A combination of remote and in-person study visits at days 1, 7, 14, 35 and 90 include comprehensive epidemiological, clinical, microbiologic and serologic sampling. The primary outcome is microbiologically confirmed COVID-19 infection within 14 days after exposure, defined as a positive respiratory tract specimen for SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction. Secondary outcomes include safety, symptomatic COVID-19, seropositivity, hospitalization, respiratory failure requiring ventilator support, mortality, psychological impact, and health-related quality of life. Additional analyses will examine the impact of LPV/r on these outcomes in the subset of participants who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 at baseline. To detect a relative risk reduction of 40% with 80% power at α=0.05, assuming p0=15%, 5 contacts per case and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC)=0.05, we require 110 clusters per arm, or 220 clusters overall and approximately 1220 enrollees after accounting for 10% loss-to-follow-up. We will modify the sample size target after 60 clusters, based on preliminary estimates of p0, ICC and cluster size and consider switching to an alternative drug after interim analyses and as new data emerges. The primary analysis will be a generalized linear mixed model with logit link to estimate the effect of LPV/r on the probability of infection. Discussion: Harnessing safe, existing drugs such as LPV/r as PEP could provide an important tool for control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Novel aspects of our design include the ring-based prevention approach, and the incorporation of remote strategies for conducting study visits and biospecimen collection.Trial registration: This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04321174) on March 25, 2020. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04321174
Using Item Response Theory (IRT) to Improve the Efficiency of the Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI) for patients with ulcerative colitis
Authors: Walsh Alissa , Cao Rena , Wong Darren , Kantschuster Ramona , Matini Lawrence , Wilson Jean , Cohort Oxford IBD , Kormilitzin Andrey , South Matthew , Travis Simon , Bauermeister Sarah 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
BackgroundThe SCCAI was designed to facilitate assessment of disease activity in ulcerative colitis (UC). We aimed to interrogate the metric properties of individual items of the SCCAI using item response theory (IRT) analysis, to simplify and improve its performance. MethodsThe original 9-item SCCAI was collected through TrueColours, a real-time software platform which allows remote entry and monitoring of patients with UC. Data were securely uploaded onto Dementias Platform UK Data Portal, where they were analysed in Stata 16.1 SE. A 2-parameter (2-PL) logistic IRT model was estimated to evaluate each item of the SCCAI for its informativeness (discrimination). A revised scale was generated and re-assessed following systematic removal of items. ResultsSCCAI data for 516 UC patients (41 years, SD=15) treated in Oxford were examined. After initial item deletion (Erythema nodosum, Pyoderma gangrenosum), a 7-item scale was estimated. Discrimination values (information) ranged from 0.41 to 2.52 indicating selected item inefficiency with three items <1.70 which is a suggested discriminatory value for optimal efficiency. Systematic item deletions found that a 4-item scale (bowel frequency day; bowel frequency nocturnal; urgency to defaecation; rectal bleeding) was more informative and discriminatory of trait severity (discrimination values of 1.50 to 2.78). The 4-item scale possesses higher scalability and unidimensionality, suggesting that the responses to items are either direct endorsement (patient selection by symptom) or non-endorsement of the trait (disease activity). Conclusion Reduction of the SCCAI from the original 9-item scale to a 4-item scale provides optimum trait information that will minimise response burden. This new 4-item scale needs validation against other measures of disease activity such as faecal calprotectin, endoscopy and histopathology.
Efficacy of Electroacupuncture in Preventing Nausea and Vomiting After Thyroidectomy: a Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Park Min-Su , Park Won Seo , Nam Dongwoo , Min Sun Young , Chae Sumin 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is regarded as a serious concern after thyroidectomy. Electroacupuncture (EA) shows potential to reduce general anesthesia-related side effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of EA in preventing PONV that commonly occurs in patients after thyroidectomy. Methods: This study was a prospective randomized controlled trial with a two-arm, parallel-group structure. Sixty-four participants were randomly assigned to the acupuncture (n=35) or control (n=29) group. Patients in the acupuncture group received EA and intradermal press needles at the ST36 and PC6 positions. The primary endpoint was the incidence and severity of PONV, and secondary endpoints were the length of hospital stay, pain severity, and postoperative in-hospital morbidity.Results: The total incidence of PONV was 40.6% (26/64). There was no difference in the incidence of PONV between the control (10/29, 34.5%) and acupuncture (16/35, 45.7%) groups (p = 0.362). Severity of PONV, as measured by VAS, was not different between the groups (p = 0.842). Length of hospitalization and postoperative complications were not different between the groups.Conclusion: In this randomized controlled trial, EA treatment after thyroidectomy is safe and comparable to conventional anti-emetic therapy. Trial registration: Clinical Research Information Service, KCT0001782. Registered on 26 January 2016.
Rare disease awareness and perspectives of physicians in China: a questionnaire-based study
Authors: Li Xuefeng , Zhang Xiangyu , Zhang Shu , Lu Zijuan , Zhang Jianyong , Zhou Jincheng , Li Bingzhe , Ou Li 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: It is estimated that there are over 16.8 million rare disease patients in China, representing a significant challenge for the healthcare system and society. Rare disease patients often experience delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, or improper treatment, which may be due to the lack of rare disease awareness among physicians. Materials and Methods: A total of 224 physicians from different hospitals in China participated in the questionnaire, and 9 rare disease experts were interviewed with open-ended questions.Results: Most physicians (83.5%) were from Tertiary hospitals, which have over 500 beds. Only 5.3% of physicians were moderately or well aware of rare diseases. Most physicians (80.1%) had suspected their patients to have rare diseases less than 3 times. There was a strong support for special legislations for rare diseases and orphan drugs. Further, multinomial logistic regression (MLR) was used to determine whether hospitals, gender, and career length has an impact on perspectives and awareness. It was shown that male physicians were more likely to think newborn screening is important (p<0.05). The longer the career length is, the more likely physicians believe that their previous education has not provided sufficient information about rare diseases and that their hospital has paid enough attention to rare diseases. Physicians from Tertiary A hospitals were more likely to rate the affordability of orphan drugs high. In addition, nine experts believed that rare disease awareness is essential for early diagnosis and timely treatment. These experts also made recommendations on how to improve rare disease awareness through medical school education and continuing training. Conclusions: Our study highlighted the importance of improving rare disease awareness among physicians in China. Recommendations about how to improve rare disease awareness in medical school education and establish an online ‘information hub’ are made for considerations of policy-makers.
PELATIHAN ANTI BULLYING SEBAGAI UPAYA PENCEGAHAN BULLYING DI SEKOLAH
Authors: Sari Citra Ayu Kumala 
Published: December 2020

Angka perundungan atau bullying di Indonesia masih sangat tinggi dan sudah sangat mengkhawatirkan. Hampir di setiap sekolah terdapat kasus bullying. Termasuk di MTsN 2 Tulungagung masih banyak terdapat kasus bullying terutama bullying verbal. Selain itu juga maraknya cyber bullying yang sudah diluar pengawasan sekolah dan berdampak luarbiasa bagi para korban. Salah satu cara untuk memutus mata rantai bullying adalah dengan memberikan pemahaman secara komprehensif kepada siswa tentang apa itu bullying dan dampak dari bullying itu sendiri melalui sebuah pelatihan anti bullying. Pelatihan yang dilaksanakan berupa psikoedukasi anti bullying pada siswa MTsN 2 Tulungagung. Pelatihan dilaksanakan selama 2 hari yaitu 12 September 2019 dan 13 September 2019. Pelatihan diikuti 30 peserta perwakilan dari masing-masing kelas 7-9. Pelaksaan pelatihan diisi oleh dua narasumber dari IAIN Tulungagung. Dengan adanya pelatihan ini diharapakan peserta mendapatkan wawasan mengenai bullying dan ketrampilan yang harus dimiliki untuk mencegah terjadinya bullying yang ada di sekolah
IMPLEMENTASI GAYA KEPEMIMPINAN TRANSFORMATIF DALAM PENINGKATKAN DAYA SAING PENDIDIKAN
Authors: Widodo Agus Purwo , Zuhri Saifudin , Djani Djani 
Published: December 2020

Budaya organisasi pada tataran sekolah memerlukan pemimpin yang berkemampuan memobilisasi perkembangan dan perubahan yaitu melakukan kegiatan kreatif, menemukan strategi, metode, cara-cara, atau konsep-konsep yang baru dalam pengajaran agar pembelajaran bermakna dan melahirkan pendidikan yang berkualitas.
Berkenaan dengan hal tersebut maka diperlukan kepemimpinan transformatif sebagai upaya untuk menghasilkan pendidikan yang mampu berdaya saing dan menghasilkann peserta didik yang mempunyai integritas kepribadian, sikap disiplin, kreatif, inovatif, dan kompetitif. Profesionalitas kepemimpinan pendidikan sebagai pemimpin transformasional perlu memiliki kompetensi, transparansi, efisiensi, dan kualitas tinggi.
Strategi Pelaksanaan Kepemimpinan Transformatif Kepala MI Perwanida Kota Blitar dan SD Islam Al Munawar Tulungagung dalam meningkatkan kebijakan daya saing pendidikan di lembaganya: (1) Di lembaga Madrasah/sekolah terjadi adanya kerjasama dengan wakil-wakilnya, guru-guru, dan staf dalam kerja tim (team work), sehingga memungkinkan terlaksananya peran kepemimpinan tim (team leadership); (2) Di lembaga Madrasah/sekolah terjadi adanya peningkatan motivasi dan membangkitkan gairah kerja guru yang diorientasikan pada terciptanya pertumbuhan personal dan profesional guru (personal and professional growth), sehingga memungkinkan terlaksananya peran kepemimpinan supervisi (supervisory leadership); (3) Di lembaga madrasah tercipta penataan organisasi madrasah, iklim hubungan yang bersifat loose coupling, dan mengubah struktur dan iklim birokrasi menjadi menyenangkan (comfortable bureaucracy) atau profesional (professional bureaucracy) sehingga memungkinkan terlaksanya peran kepemimpinan organisasional (organizational leadership).
Reusability performance of green zinc oxide nanoparticles for photocatalysis of bathroom greywater
Authors: Yashni G. , Al-Gheethi Adel , Mohamed Radin , Al-Sahari Mohammed 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
This study aims to investigate the potential of green zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in reusability performance for photocatalysis of bathroom greywater. It was found that ZnO NPs photocatalytic treatment of real bathroom greywater (RBGW) effluent reduces both the COD and BOD5 concentrations by 72.01, 62.75 and 57.79% (COD) and 70.18, 60.32 and 57.56% (BOD5) respectively for the first, second and third cycle. Meanwhile for the photocatalysis of ABGW, it was observed that COD and BOD5 were removed by 82.27, 68.27 and 60.96% (COD) and 82.91, 74.37 and 60.39% (BOD5) for the first, second and third cycle respectively. Besides, TSS and turbidity were reduced by 52.34, 46.85 and 37.98% (TSS) and 80.38, 67.65 and 56.81% (turbidity) respectively in RBGW and for ABGW, TSS and turbidity were reduced by 60.94, 52.37 and 41.95% (TSS) and 80.68, 72.63 and 69.91% (turbidity) for the first, second and third experimental run respectively. This designates that green ZnO NPs can be reused multiple times as an effective photocatalyst. However, ZnO NPs were used in the dispersed form, which causes difficulty in the separation of ZnO NPs from the greywater. Thus, further investigation in producing appropriate fixed film should be focused. Moreover, phytotoxicity analysis of V. radiate seeds in the treated ABGW and RBGW was not significantly different from their germination in water. This assured the less lethal nature of the degradation metabolites in greywater effluent. This investigation would be a solution to wastewater treatment plant for reusing photocatalyst in order to achieve the development of advanced and greener technologies.
Soil–water characteristic curves of extracellular polymeric substances-affected soils and sensitivity analyses of correlated parameters
Authors: Zhang Han , Bian Jianmin , Wan Hanli , Wei Nan , Ma Yuxi 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Quantifying the ways in which biological activity may alter the hydraulic properties of soils (the soil-water characteristic curves; SWCCs) is vital for understanding and engineering water pollution and supply systems. The study used centrifugation and a sand funnel method to determine the SWCCs of pure sandy soils with different particle sizes and sandy soils mixed with different extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) analogs. The sensitivity of correlated parameters for SWCCs obtained using a van Genuchten (VG) model was analyzed by single-factor perturbation analysis. The results show the following. (1) Fine sand has the strongest water retention ability. (2) The more polysaccharide there is in the media, the stronger its water-holding capacity. Polysaccharide not only has its strong water-holding capacity, but also changes the structure of medium to increase water-holding capacity. The humic acid and protein components had little effect on the hydrodynamic properties of fine sandy soil. (3) Sensitivity analyses revealed that the saturated water content, θs, greatly affected the ability of solute transport to reach equilibrium concentrations. Therefore, it is essential to define the range of media particles and component content, and ensure the accuracy of VG model parameters in the practical application of soil media affected by biological activity.
Joint estimation of states and parameters of two-layer coastal aquifers based on ENKF
Authors: Huang Xiaohua , Liu Guodong , Chen Yu , Li Jun 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Management of groundwater resources has become a source of heated discussion in coastal hydrogeology. Thus, we introduced an Ensemble Kalman Filter (ENKF) into a two-layer confined groundwater model based on the interactive operation between the MATLAB and GMS to investigate the capability of ENKF under complex conditions and obtain a relatively new forecasting method. ENKF was employed to assimilate and forecast groundwater levels, and invert the hydraulic conductivity (K) of the heterogeneous study area, where the initial values of K were obtained by using trial-and-error based on the two-period groundwater levels. After comparing the efficiencies in forecasting groundwater levels among ENKF, the modified model, and the initial model, four major conclusions could be drawn. ENKF converged fast when forecasting groundwater levels and the accuracy was high. Various convergent results would be represented by ENKF when K in different layers was observed in the same error. ENKF performed better than the initial simulation when monitored data subjected to a certain range of interferences. Forecasting accuracy in the middle of the study area could be enhanced by the large improvement degree of K through ENKF. Therefore, this analytical method could be a theoretical reference for groundwater resources management in coastal areas.
Design and Synthesis of Quinolizidine Derivatives as Influenza Virus and HIV-1 Inhibitors
Authors: Dang Zhao , Zhu Lei , Xie Lan , Lee Kuo-Hsiung , Malik Faisal , Li Zhijun , Huang Li , Chen Chin-Ho 
Published: December 2020

Background:
We have previously reported that a quinolizidine natural product,
aloperine, and its analogs can inhibit influenza virus and/or HIV-1 at low μM concentrations.

Objective:
The main goal of this study was to further optimize aloperine for improved
anti-influenza virus activity.

Methods:
Structural modifications have been focused on the N12 position of aloperine
scaffold. Conventional chemical synthesis was used to obtain derivatives with improved
antiviral activities. The anti-HIV and anti-influenza virus activities of the synthesized
compounds were determined using an MT4 cell-based HIV-1 replication assay and an anti-
influenza virus infection of MDCK cell assay, respectively.

Results:
Aloperine derivatives can be classified into three activity groups: those that exhibit
anti-HIV activity only, anti–influenza virus only, or activity against both viruses.
Aloperine optimized for potent anti-influenza activity often lost anti-HIV-1 activity, and
vice versa. Compound 19 inhibited influenza virus PR8 replication with an IC50 of 0.091
μM, which is approximately 160- and 60-fold more potent than aloperine and the previously
reported aloperine derivative compound 3, respectively.

Conclusion:
The data suggest that aloperine is a privileged scaffold that can be modified
to become a selective antiviral compound with markedly improved potency against influenza
virus or HIV-1.