bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Simulated Central Field Loss on Street-crossing Decision-Making in Young Adult Pedestrians
Authors: Almutleb Essam S. , Hassan Shirin E. 
Published: April 2020

SIGNIFICANCE
This study explored the street-crossing decision-making performance of young normally sighted subjects with simulated central field loss (CFL). The results suggest that using eccentric viewing enables a person to make safe and reliable street-crossing decisions.

PURPOSE
This study tested the hypothesis that, as the diameter of an experimentally induced central scotoma increases, the accuracy and reliability of street-crossing decisions worsen.

METHODS
Street-crossing decisions were measured in 20 young subjects aged between 23 and 31 years while monocularly viewing a nonsignalized, one-way street for different vehicular arrival times. Using a 5-point rating scale, subjects judged whether they could cross the street before vehicular arrival with habitual vision and simulated CFL with eccentric viewing. The CFL was induced using soft contact lenses with different central opaque diameters. Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, we obtained subjects' accuracy (amount of time in seconds where subjects either overestimated or underestimated vehicular arrival time relative to their actual crossing time) and reliability (how quickly subjects transitioned from judging insufficient to sufficient time to cross relative to their actual crossing time).

RESULTS
The centrally opaque contact lenses induced central scotomata with a mean (standard deviation) diameter of 17.12° (5.83°). No significant difference in street-crossing accuracy (P = .35) or reliability (P = .09) was found between the normal, habitual vision and simulated CFL conditions. No statistically significant correlations were found between scotoma diameter and the accuracy and reliability of subjects' street-crossing decisions (P = .83 and P = .95, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study suggest that adopting eccentric viewing enables a person to successfully mitigate the negative effects of an absolute central scotoma on the accuracy and reliability of their street-crossing decisions.
Outcomes of Children With Cystic Fibrosis Admitted to PICUs*
Authors: Smith Michael A. , McGarry Meghan E. , Ly Ngoc P. , Zinter Matt S. 
Published: April 2020

Objectives:
Data on outcomes of children with cystic fibrosis admitted to PICUs are limited and outdated. Prior studies cite PICU mortality rates ranging from 37.5% to 100%. Given the advances made in cystic fibrosis care, we expect outcomes for these patients to have changed significantly since last studied. We provide an updated report on PICU mortality and the factors associated with death among critically ill children with cystic fibrosis.

Design:
Retrospective multicenter cohort analysis utilizing data from the Virtual Pediatric Systems database.

Setting:
Data were collected from 135 PICUs from January 1, 2009, to June 20, 2018.

Patients:
One-thousand six-hundred thirty-three children with cystic fibrosis accounting for 2,893 PICU admissions were studied.

Interventions:
None.

Measurements and Main Results:
The primary outcome was mortality during PICU admission. Predictors included demographics, anthropometrics, diagnoses, clinical characteristics, and critical care interventions. Odds ratios of mortality were calculated in univariate and multivariable analyses to assess differences in mortality associated with predictor variables. Generalized estimating equation models were used to account for multiple admissions per patient. The overall PICU mortality rate was 6.6%. Factors associated with increased odds of mortality included hemoptysis/pulmonary hemorrhage, pneumothorax, gastrointestinal bleeding, bacterial/fungal infections, lower body mass index/malnutrition, and need for noninvasive or invasive respiratory support. Intubation/mechanical ventilation occurred in 26.4% of the 2,893 admissions and was associated with a 19.1% mortality rate. Of the nonsurvivors, 20.7% died without receiving mechanical ventilation.

Conclusions:
The mortality rate during PICU admissions for patients with cystic fibrosis is lower than has been reported in prior studies, both in the overall cohort and in the subset requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. These data provide updated insight into the prognosis for cystic fibrosis patients requiring critical care.
HIV Self-Testing Programs to Men Who Have Sex With Men Delivered by Social Media Key Opinion Leaders and Community-Based Organizations are Both Effective and Complementary: A National Pragmatic Study in China
Authors: Zhang Wenran , Hu Qinghai , Tang Weiming , Jin Xia , Mao Xiang , Lu Tianyi , Gao Yangyang , Chu Zhenxing , Dong Willa , Bao Yugang , Shang Hong , Xu Junjie 
Published: April 2020

Background:
Social media key opinion leaders (SMKOLs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) are 2 leading delivery strategies for HIV self-testing (HIVST). This study compared respondent characteristics, linkage to care, antiretroviral treatment, and cost of HIVST among men who have sex with men (MSM) recruited via SMKOLs and CBOs in China.

Methods:
Between January and December 2018, SMKOLs distributed HIVST advertisements to MSM through WeChat public platforms; simultaneously, CBOs distributed HIVST program messages to local MSM. All participants were required to pay a deposit to apply for the HIVST kit and had their deposit refunded after completing an online survey and uploading HIVST results. Trained staff provided HIV referral services by telephone and WeChat.

Results:
One thousand seven hundred forty-three [63.0% (1743/2766)] and 1023 [37.0% (1023/2766)] individuals met criteria via SMKOLs and CBOs, respectively. MSM reached by SMKOLs had a lower HIV seropositive rate [2.1% (33/1561) vs. 12.5% (100/803)] and higher proportion received antiretroviral treatment [94.4% (31/33) vs. 29.0% (29/100)] compared with CBO-recruited MSM (all P < 0.05). The average number of HIVST respondents recruited by each investigator in SMKOL-strategy was higher than that of CBO-strategy (290 vs. 49). The SMKOLs had lower cost of per person tested (USD 13.18 vs. USD 101.21) and per newly identified HIV infection case (USD 632.66 vs. USD 812.70).

Conclusions:
SMKOLs have lower cost of per person tested, whereas CBOs can reach MSM subpopulations with higher HIV seropositive rates. Both recruitment methods are efficient and should be used as complementary HIVST delivery strategies to address low HIV testing coverage among Chinese MSM.
Unraveling Haemophilus influenzae virulence mechanisms enable discovery of new targets for antimicrobials and vaccines
Authors: Langereis Jeroen D. , de Jonge Marien I. 
Published: April 2020

Purpose of review
The human upper respiratory tract is colonized with a variety of bacterial microorganisms including Haemophilus influenzae. The species H. influenzae consists of typeable and nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHi) variants. Typeable H. influenzae are subdivided into types a through f, based on the polysaccharide capsule, whereas the NTHi strains do not express a polysaccharide capsule. In this review, we highlight the current advances in the field of H. influenzae, with the focus on bacterial virulence mechanisms that facilitate bacterial colonization and disease, particularly for NTHi.

Recent findings
In the past decade, it has become apparent that NTHi has the ability to cause invasive infections. Recently, a number of adhesins have been shown to be crucial for bacterial colonization and invasion and these proteins were investigated as vaccine antigens. Although NTHi lacks a polysaccharide capsule, it expresses lipooligosaccharide that contribute to adhesion and evasion of complement-mediated killing, both contributing to bacterial virulence, which could potentially be targeted by novel antimicrobial drugs or vaccines.

Summary
The unraveling of H. influenzae virulence mechanisms resulted in the identification of promising targets for novel antimicrobials and vaccine antigens aiming to prevent or treat both typeable and nontypeable H. influenzae infections.
The biological basis of chronic fatigue: neuroinflammation and innate immunity
Authors: Omdal Roald 
Published: April 2020

Purpose of review
Chronic fatigue is common in cancer, neurodegenerative, and chronic inflammatory diseases and is regarded by many patients as their absolutely worst problem. Lately, fatigue is increasingly understood to have a genetic and molecular basis.

Recent findings
Biologically, fatigue occurs as part of the sickness behavior response, a complex and automated behavior triggered by the activation of innate immunity and neuroinflammation. IL-1β causes neuronal activation in the brain and subsequent fatigue. In addition to proinflammatory molecules, potential partners in the complex brain signaling of fatigue include downregulatory mechanisms for inflammation and cellular stress responses and the neuropeptide hypocretin-1. These mechanisms all become constantly activated in chronic conditions. Genetic studies indicate that fatigue may have evolved to enhance survival during infection and injury.

Summary
Fatigue is a major clinical problem. Finding the right treatment is challenging, as no specific options exist and only a few of the mechanisms contributing to fatigue are known. Because fatigue is generated in the brain, further studies should focus on proteomics and specific candidate proteins in cerebrospinal fluid. Studies on genetic variants, gene activation, and epigenetics are also required.
Clinicopathological Correlates: Chronic Arsenic Toxicity Causing Bilateral Symmetric Progressive Optic Neuropathy
Authors: Freund Paul , Al-Shafai Laila , Mankovskii Gabriella , Howarth David , Margolin Edward 
Published: April 2020

Abstract:
A 70 year-old man presented with insidiously progressing central visual acuity loss in both eyes over several years. Objectively the only abnormality identified on the exam was questionable granularity in the fovea in each eye. Extensive work up which included neuro-imaging, screening blood work for toxic and nutritional causes of optic neuropathy as well as electroretinogram and fluorescein angiography to rule out subtle maculopathy was all unrevealing. When vision continued to deteriorate over the next several years investigations were repeated and again did not yield any positive results. Levels of heavy metals were then obtained after further progression of visual loss, revealing very high levels of arsenic. Subsequent investigations revealed that patient has been spending almost every weekend for the past 28 years alone at a remote country cottage where the sole supply of water was from the local well. He also recalled that 1.5 months after purchasing the cottage he developed hemorrhagic colitis requiring partial colectomy. The specimen from colectomy was located and total reflection x-ray fluorescence testing performed in a specialized lab revealed greatly increased level of arsenic particle in the colonic biopsy from 28 years ago. This case is a reminder that heavy metal toxicity should be considered in a differential diagnosis of patients with bilateral symmetric optic neuropathy.
Machine-learning approaches to substance-abuse research: emerging trends and their implications
Authors: Barenholtz Elan , Fitzgerald Nicole D. , Hahn William Edward 
Published: April 2020

Purpose of review
To provide an accessible overview of some of the most recent trends in the application of machine learning to the field of substance use disorders and their implications for future research and practice.

Recent findings
Machine-learning (ML) techniques have recently been applied to substance use disorder (SUD) data for multiple predictive applications including detecting current abuse, assessing future risk and predicting treatment success. These models cover a wide range of machine-learning techniques and data types including physiological measures, longitudinal surveys, treatment outcomes, national surveys, medical records and social media.

Summary
The application of machine-learning models to substance use disorder data shows significant promise, with some use cases and data types showing high predictive accuracy, particularly for models of physiological and behavioral measures for predicting current substance use, portending potential clinical diagnostic applications; however, these results are uneven, with some models performing poorly or at chance, a limitation likely reflecting insufficient data and/or weak validation methods. The field will likely benefit from larger and more multimodal datasets, greater standardization of data recording and rigorous testing protocols as well as greater use of modern deep neural network models applied to multimodal unstructured datasets.
Bibliometric Analysis of Manuscript Characteristics that Influence Citations: A Comparison of Six Major Family Medicine Journals
Authors: Paracha Hamza , Johal Amit , Tiwana Maida , Hafeez Dawood M , Jalal Sabeena , Rehman Ateeq , Hussain Syed Asim , Khosa Faisal 
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACTObjectiveThe premise of our study was to investigate the characteristics of family medicine (FM) manuscripts that influence citation rate, capturing features of manuscript construction that are discrete from the study design.DesignWe conducted a cross-sectional study of published articles (n = 199), from January to June 2008, from 6 major FM journals with the highest impact factor. Annals of Family Medicine (IF = 1.864), British Journal of General Practice (1.104), Journal of American Board of Family Medicine (1.015), Family Practice (0.976), Family Medicine (0.936), and BMC Family Practice (0.815). Citation counts for these articles were retrieved using Web of Science filter on SCImago and 25 article characteristics were tabulated manually. We then predicted the citation rate by performing univariate analysis, spearman rank-order correlation, and multiple regression model on the collected variables.ResultsUsing spearman rank-order correlation, we found the following variables to have significant positive correlation with citations: number of references (rs and p-value, 0.31 and 0.001 respectively), total words (0.36, 0.001), number of pages (0.33, 0.001), abstract word count (0.17, 0.010) and abstract character count (0.16, 0.010). In a multivariate linear regression model: number of references (p-value = 0.010, R2 = 0.06) and multi-institutional (p-value = 0.050, R2 = 0.01) had a significant effect on citation rates.ConclusionEditors and authors of FM can enhance the impact of their journals and articles by utilizing this bibliometric study when assembling their manuscript.
Supportive Care for Patient with Respiratory Diseases: An Umbrella Review
Authors: Luo Xufei , Lv Meng , Wang Xiaoqing , Long Xin , Ren Mengjuan , Zhang Xianzhuo , Liu Yunlan , Li Weiguo , Zhou Qi , Ma Yanfang , Fukuoka Toshio , Ahn Hyeong Sik , Lee Myeong Soo , Luo Zhengxiu , Liu Enmei , Wang Xiaohui , Chen Yaolong 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundSupportive treatment is an important and effective part of the management for patients with life-threatening diseases. This study aims to identify and evaluate the forms of supportive care for patients with respiratory diseases.MethodsAn umbrella review of supportive care for patient respiratory diseases was undertaken. We comprehensively searched the following databases: Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), Wanfang Data and CBM (SinoMed) from their inception to 31 March 2020, and other sources to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses related to supportive treatments for patient with respiratory diseases including COVID-19, SARS, MERS and influenza. We assessed the methodological quality using the AMSTAR score and the quality of the evidence for the primary outcomes of each included systematic review and meta-analysis.ResultsWe included 18 systematic reviews and meta-analyses in this study. Most studies focused on the respiratory and circulatory support. Ten studies were of high methodological quality, five studies of medium quality, and three studies of low quality. According to four studies extracorporeal membrane oxygenation did not reduce mortality in adults (OR/RR ranging from 0.71 to 1.28), but two studies reported significantly lower mortality in patients receiving venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation than in the control group (OR/RR ranging from 0.38 to 0.73). Besides, monitoring of vital signs and increasing the number of medical staff may also reduce the mortality in patients with respiratory diseases.ConclusionsOur overview suggests that supportive care may reduce the mortality of patients with respiratory diseases to some extent. However, the quality of evidence for the primary outcomes in the included studies was low to moderate. Further systematic reviews and meta-analyses are needed to address the evidence gap regarding the supportive care for SARS, MERS and COVID-19.
Modeling Exit Strategies from COVID-19 Lockdown with a Focus on Antibody Tests
Authors: German Reinhard , Djanatliev Anatoli , Maile Lisa , Bazan Peter , Hackstein Holger 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThis paper presents two epidemiological models that have been developed in order to study the disease dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic and exit strategies from the lockdown which has been imposed on many countries world-wide. A strategy is needed such that both the health system is not overloaded letting people die in an uncontrolled way and also such that the majority of people can get back their social contacts as soon as possible. We investigate the potential effects of a combination of measures such as continuation of hygienic constraints after leaving lockdown, isolation of infectious persons, repeated and adaptive short-term contact reductions and also large-scale use of antibody tests in order to know who can be assumed to be immune and participate at public life without constraints. We apply two commonly used modeling approaches: extended SEIR models formulated both as System Dynamics and Agent-Based Simulation, in order to get insight into the disease dynamics of a complete country like Germany and also into more detailed behavior of smaller regions. We confirm the findings of other models that without intervention the consequences of the pandemic can be catastrophic and we extend such findings with effective strategies to overcome the challenge. Based on the modeling assumptions it can be expected that repeated short-term contact reductions will be necessary in the next years to avoid overload of the health system and that on the other side herd immunity can be achieved and antibody tests are an effective way to mitigate the contact reductions for many.
Epidemic Landscape and Forecasting of SARS-CoV-2 in India
Authors: Rajendrakumar Aravind Lathika , Narayanan Nair Anand Thakarakkattil , Nangia Charvi , Chourasia Prabhal Kumar , Chourasia Mehul Kumar , Ghouse Syed Mohammed , Nair Anu Sasidharan , Nair Arun B , Koya Shaffi Fazaludeen 
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUNDIndia was one of the countries to institute strict measures for SARS-CoV-2 control in early phase. Since, then, the epidemic growth trajectory was slow before registering an explosion of cases due to local cluster transmissions.METHODSWe estimated growth rate and doubling time of SARS-CoV-2 for India and high burden states using crowd sourced time series data. Further, we also estimated Basic Reproductive Number (R0) and time dependent reproductive number (Rt) using serial intervals from the data. We compared the R0 estimated from five different methods and R0 from SB was further used in analysis. We modified standard SIR models to SIRD model to accommodate deaths using R0 with the Sequential Bayesian method (SBM) for simulation in SIRD models.RESULTSOn an average, 2.8 individuals were infected by an index case. The mean serial interval was 3.9 days. The R0 estimated from different methods ranged from 1.43 to 1.85. The mean time to recovery was 14 ± 5.3 days. Daily epidemic growth rate of India was 0.16 [95%CI; 0.14, 0.17] with a doubling time of 4.30 days [95%CI; 3.96, 4.70]. From the SIRD model, it can be deduced that the peak of SARS-CoV-2 in India will be around mid-July to early August 2020 with around 12.5% of population likely to be infected at the peak time.CONCLUSIONSThe pattern of spread of SARS-CoV-2 in India is suggestive of community transmission. There is a need to increase fund for infectious disease research and epidemiologic studies. All the current gains may be reversed rapidly if air travel and social mixing resumes rapidly. For the time being, these must be resumed only in a phased manner, and should be back to normal levels only after we are prepared to deal with the disease with efficient tools like vaccine or a medicine.
Fatigue in perinatal stroke is associated with resting-state functional connectivity
Authors: Wrightson J.G , Carlson H.L , Condliffe E.G , Kirton A 
Published: April 2020

AbstractFatigue is prevalent in youth with perinatal stroke, but the causes are unclear. Predictive coding models of adult post-stroke fatigue suggest that fatigue may arise from dysfunction in predictive processing networks. To date, the association between fatigue and neural network connectivity in youth with perinatal stroke has not been examined. The present study examined the association between fatigue and the functional connectivity of predictive processing neural networks, measured using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, in individuals with perinatal stroke. Participants who reported experiencing fatigue had weaker functional connectivity between the non-lesioned middle frontal and supramarginal gyri and between the non-lesioned intracalcarine cortex and the lesioned paracingulate cortex. In contrast, participants reporting fatigue had stronger functional connectivity between the lesioned inferior temporal gyrus and non-lesioned insula. These results suggest that fatigue in youth with hemiparetic cerebral palsy caused by perinatal stroke is associated with the functional connectivity of hubs previously associated with predictive processing and fatigue. These results suggest potential cortical and behavioral targets for the treatment of fatigue in individuals with perinatal stroke.
Ability of Fabric Facemasks Materials to Filter Ultrafine Particles at Coughing Velocity
Authors: O’Kelly Eugenia , Pirog Sophia , Ward James , Clarkson P. John 
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACTObjectivesWe examined the ability of fabrics which might be used to create homemade face masks to filter out ultrafine (0.1μm and smaller in diameter) particles at the velocity of adult human coughing.MethodTwenty commonly available fabrics and materials were evaluated for their ability to reduce air concentrations of ultrafine particles at a face velocity of 16.5 m/s. Further assessment was made on the filtration ability of select fabrics while damp and of fabric combinations which might be used to construct homemade masks.ResultsSingle fabric layers blocked a range of ultrafine particles. When fabrics were layered, significantly more ultrafine particles were filtered. Nonwoven fusible interfacing significantly increased filtration.ConclusionsThe current coronavirus pandemic has left many communities without access N95 facemasks. Our findings suggest that face masks made from layered common fabric can help filter ultrafine particles and provide some protection for the wearer when commercial facemasks are unavailable.STRENGHTS AND LIMITATIONS OF THIS STUDYTested a large number of potential facemask materials, including materials currently in common use such as Lycra which have not been previously testedEvaluated filtration efficiency at coughing velocities, more closely mimicking use-case of masks worn for community protection than previous studiesAssess the data from prior published work and current study, creating a picture of Filtration Efficiency and the impact of velocityDid not discriminate between pathogenic and non-pathogenic particlesBreathing resistance was estimated based on qualitative feedback