bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Respiratory symptoms of exposure to substances in the workplace among Bulgarian dentists
Authors: Stoeva Iliyana 
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectivesDentists are exposed to a variety of airborne chemicals that can act as irritants and sensitizers and may give rise to work‐related respiratory symptoms. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms of exposure to substances in the workplace and associated risk factors in Bulgarian dentists.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was performed among Bulgarian dentists by using a self‐report questionnaire. A direct acyclic graph (DAG) was elaborated to illustrate the direct and indirect causal pathways between exposure to irritants and/or allergens from dental environment and work‐related respiratory symptoms among dentists. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted in order to investigate the relationship between sex, work experience, daily exposure to chemicals from dental environment, history of atopic disorder and work‐related respiratory symptoms.ResultsA total of 4675 dentists completed the questionnaire (response rate 48.1%). The prevalence of self‐reported work‐related respiratory symptoms was 20.7%. The most common repeated causes of respiratory reactions were disinfectants (65.7%) and materials based on acrylic resins (29.7%). Factors associated with work‐related respiratory symptoms are personal history of asthma (odds ratio (OR) 2.50, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.71‐3.64), work experience >20 years (OR 2.17, 95% CI: 1.74‐2.70) and female gender (OR 2.14, 95% CI: 1.81‐2.56).ConclusionWork‐related respiratory symptoms are frequent among dentists and indicate a need for efforts to establish effective programmes and techniques of reducing or eliminating direct exposure to airborne chemicals in the dental environment.
Disentangling a web of causation: An ethnographic study of interlinked patient barriers to planned dental visiting, and strategies to overcome them
Authors: van der Zande Marieke M. , Exley Catherine , Wilson Samantha A. , Harris Rebecca V. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo explore barriers to planned dental visiting, investigating how barriers interlink, how they accumulate and change, and how individuals envisage overcoming their combination of barriers through personal strategies.MethodsAn ethnographic study was conducted of adult urgent dental care attenders who did not have a dentist, including 155 hours of nonparticipant observations, 97 interviews and 19 follow‐up interviews in six urgent dental care settings. Data were analysed using constant comparison, first identifying barriers and personal strategies to overcome them, and subsequently analysing interlinks between barriers and personal strategies.ResultsAccounts of barriers to planned dental visiting encompassed multiple barriers, which related to socioeconomic circumstances as well as experiences of oral health care. Barriers were multi‐layered and more difficult to overcome when occurring together. Personal strategies to overcome diverse barriers often hinged on increasing importance of oral health to individuals, yet this was not always sufficient. The combination of barriers participants experience was dynamic, changing due to personal, family, or employment circumstances, and with increasing severity of barriers over time. Over time, this could lead to higher cost, and additional barriers, particularly embarrassment.ConclusionBarriers to planned dental visiting are complex, multi‐layered and change over time, constituting a ‘web of causation’. This adds a novel perspective to the literature on barriers to dental visiting, and requires that researchers, dental practitioners and policy makers remain open to barriers’ interlinked effects, changes in primacy among individual patients’ barriers, and their accumulation over time to better support uptake of planned dental visiting.
Changes and determinants of unmet oral health treatment need
Authors: Torppa‐Saarinen Eeva , Tolvanen Mimmi , Lahti Satu , Suominen Anna Liisa 
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectivesOur aim was to describe the nature and determinants of the changes in unmet treatment need between the years 2000 and 2011 after a major oral healthcare reform and a wider supply of subsidized care.MethodsThe study used a longitudinal sample (n = 3838) of adults who had participated in both the Health 2000 and 2011 surveys (BRIF 8901). Those reporting self‐assessed treatment need without having visited a dentist in the previous 12 months were categorized as having unmet treatment need. Two logistic regression models were applied to determine the effects of predisposing and enabling factors on change in unmet treatment need. Model 1 was conducted among those who reported unmet treatment need in 2000 and evaluated the determinants for improvement. Model 2 was conducted among those who did not have unmet treatment need in 2000 to evaluate the risk factors for having unmet treatment need by 2011.ResultsUnmet treatment need was reported by 25% of the participants in 2000 and by 20% in 2011. Those with unmet treatment need in 2000 were less likely to report improvement by 2011 if they had poor subjective oral health, basic or intermediate education level, or poor perceived economic situation in 2000. Those who did not have unmet treatment need in 2000 were more likely to have it in 2011 if they were males or from northern Finland and less likely to if they came from central Finland or were older.ConclusionsThe wider supply of subsidized oral health care during the study years did not lead to complete elimination of treatment need. The determinants of unmet treatment need, such as low or intermediate education level and perceived economic difficulties, should be used in targeting the services at those with treatment need to achieve better oral health outcomes.
Time‐Warped Foveated Rendering for Virtual Reality Headsets
Authors: Franke Linus , Fink Laura , Martschinke Jana , Selgrad Kai , Stamminger Marc 
Published: October 2020

AbstractRendering in real time for virtual reality headsets with high user immersion is challenging due to strict framerate constraints as well as due to a low tolerance for artefacts. Eye tracking‐based foveated rendering presents an opportunity to strongly increase performance without loss of perceived visual quality. To this end, we propose a novel foveated rendering method for virtual reality headsets with integrated eye tracking hardware. Our method comprises recycling pixels in the periphery by spatio‐temporally reprojecting them from previous frames. Artefacts and disocclusions caused by this reprojection are detected and re‐evaluated according to a confidence value that is determined by a newly introduced formalized perception‐based metric, referred to as confidence function. The foveal region, as well as areas with low confidence values, are redrawn efficiently, as the confidence value allows for the delicate regulation of hierarchical geometry and pixel culling. Hence, the average primitive processing and shading costs are lowered dramatically. Evaluated against regular rendering as well as established foveated rendering methods, our approach shows increased performance in both cases. Furthermore, our method is not restricted to static scenes and provides an acceleration structure for post‐processing passes.
Growth arrest–specific 2 protein family: Structure and function
Authors: Zhang Nan , Zhao Chunyan , Zhang Xinxin , Cui Xiaoteng , Zhao Yan , Yang Jie , Gao Xingjie 
Published: October 2020

AbstractMembers of the growth arrest–specific 2 (GAS2) protein family consist of a putative actin‐binding (CH) domain and a microtubule‐binding (GAR) domain and are considered miniversions of spectraplakins. There are four members in the GAS2 family, viz. GAS2, GAS2L1, GAS2L2 and GAS2L3. Although GAS2 is defined as a family of growth arrest–specific proteins, the significant differences in the expression patterns, interaction characteristics and biological issues or diseases among the different GAS2 family members have not been systemically reviewed to date. Therefore, we summarized the available evidence on the structures and functions of GAS2 family members. This review facilitates a comprehensive molecular understanding of the involvement of the GAS2 family members in an array of biological processes, including cytoskeleton reorganization, cell cycle, apoptosis and cancer development.
Comparing short‐term outcomes between conus medullaris and cauda equina surgical techniques of selective dorsal rhizotomy
Authors: Duffy Elizabeth A , Hornung Alexander L , Chen Brian Po‐Jung , Munger Meghan E , Aldahondo Nanette , Krach Linda E , Novacheck Tom F , Schwartz Michael H 
Published: October 2020

AimTo compare short‐term outcomes between conus medullaris (conus) and cauda equina (cauda) selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) techniques in children with spastic cerebral palsy.MethodThis was a retrospective review of SDR at a single center from 2013 to 2017. Gait and functional outcome measures were assessed at no more than 18 months pre‐SDR (baseline) and 8 to 36 months post‐SDR (follow‐up). Transient complications during inpatient stay were quantified.ResultsIn total, 21 and 59 children underwent conus and cauda SDR respectively. Ashworth Scale scores were nearly normalized at follow‐up. Most physical examination and functional measures exhibited similar baseline to follow‐up responses for both groups. From baseline to follow‐up, sagittal plane knee kinematics for both groups significantly improved (p<0.01) by 11° at initial contact, 9° to 10° in stance phase, and 4° in swing phase. Sagittal plane ankle kinematics improved more for the cauda group than the conus group in both stance phase (10° vs 2°, p<0.01) and swing phase (13° vs 3°, p<0.01). Post‐surgical complications were similar between groups.InterpretationConus and cauda SDR techniques resulted in similar short‐term outcomes except in ankle kinematics at follow‐up. The cauda group exhibited a large improvement towards dorsiflexion, while there was residual equinus in the conus group despite Ashworth Scale scores normalizing equally in both groups.What this paper adds

Conus and cauda selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) resulted in mostly similar short‐term gait and functional outcomes.

Conus SDR resulted in residual equinus dynamically, despite normalized spasticity measures.

Post‐surgical complications were mostly similar between SDR techniques.
Outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 in patients with neuromyelitis optica and associated disorders
Authors: Louapre Céline , Maillart Elisabeth , Papeix Caroline , Zeidan Sinead , Biotti Damien , Lepine Zoé , Wahab Abir , Zedet Mickael , Labauge Pierre , Tilikete Caroline , Pique Julie , Tourbah Ayman , Mathey Guillaume , Dimitri Boulos Dalia , Branger Pierre , Kremer Laurent Daniel , Marignier Romain , Collongues Nicolas , De Seze Jérôme 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundOutcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody‐associated disease (MOGAD), often treated with immunosuppressive therapies, are still unknown.MethodsWe conducted a multicenter, retrospective, observational cohort study among all French expert centers for neuromyelitis optica and related disorders. Patients with NMOSD or MOGAD included in the study received a confirmed or highly suspected diagnosis of COVID‐19 between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2020. Main outcome was COVID‐19 severity score assessed on a seven‐point ordinal scale ranging from 1 (not hospitalized with no limitations on activities) to 7 (death).ResultsFifteen cases (mean [SD] age: 39.3 [14.3] years, 11 female) were included. Five patients (33.3%) were hospitalized, all receiving rituximab. A 24‐year‐old patient with positive aquaporine‐4 antibody, with obesity as comorbidity, needed mechanical ventilation. Outpatients were receiving anti‐CD20 (5), mycophenolate mofetil (3) or azathioprine (3). They were younger (mean [SD] age: 37.0 [13.4] years), with a longer disease duration (mean [SD]: 8.3 [6.3] years) and had a lower expanded disability severity score (EDSS) score (median [range] EDSS: 2.5 [0–4]) relative to patients requiring hospitalization (mean [SD] age: 44.0 [16.4] years, mean [SD] disease duration: 5.8 [5.5] years, median [range] EDSS: 4 [0–6.5]).ConclusionsCOVID‐19 outcome was overall favorable in this cohort. Larger international studies are needed to identify risk factors of severe COVID‐19; however, we recommend personal protective measures to reduce risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in this immunocompromised population.
Immune privilege of skin stem cells: What do we know and what can we learn?
Authors: Agudo Judith 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe skin forms a barrier that prevents dehydration and keeps us safe from pathogens. To ensure proper function, the skin possesses a myriad of stem cell populations that are essential for maintenance and repair upon damage. In order to protect, the skin is also an active immunological site, with abundant resident immune cells and strong recruitment of even more immune cells during wounding or infection. Such active and strong immunity makes the skin susceptible to a diverse spectrum of autoimmune diseases, such as vitiligo and alopecia areata. Conversely, despite constant immune surveillance, the skin is also a tissue where frequent malignancies occur, which suggests that immune evasion must also take place. Skin stem cells play a crucial role during both regeneration and tumorigenesis. How immune cells, and in particular T cells, interact with skin stem cells and the implications this crosstalk has in skin disease (both autoimmunity and cancer) is not fully understood. Uncovering the mechanisms governing immune‐stem cells interactions in the skin is critical for the development of new therapeutic strategies to safeguard susceptible cells during autoimmunity and, conversely, to improve cancer immunotherapy. Here, I will discuss how distinct skin stem cell populations are attacked by, or conversely, cloaked from immune cells, and the implications their differences have in autoimmunity and cancer.
Anisotropic fracture and energy dissipation characteristics of interbedded marble subjected to multilevel uniaxial compressive cyclic loading
Authors: Wang Yu , Han Jianqiang , Ren Junyu , Li Changhong 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis work aims to investigate the anisotropic fracture and energy dissipation characteristics of marbles cored along an angle of 0°, 30°, 60° and 90° with respect to interbed planes and subjected to multilevel cyclic loading conditions. Rock fatigue deformation, strength, lifetime and dissipated energy first decrease and then increase with increasing interbed orientation, and they get to the minimum for the sample at a 30° interbed orientation. Rock stiffness degradation is significant with the increase of cyclic level, and the stiffness evolution is affected by the interbed structure. The incremental rate of dissipated energy becomes faster with increase of cyclic loading level, and it presents an abrupt increasing trend at the last cyclic loading level. A damage evolution model was first established based on dissipated energy to describe the two‐phase damage accumulation characteristics. It suggests that the proposed model fits to the testing data well and favourably represents the non‐linear characteristics of damage accumulation.
Multiple life‐stage connectivity of Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) across the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska
Authors: Sadorus Lauri L. , Goldstein Esther D. , Webster Raymond A. , Stockhausen William T. , Planas Josep V. , Duffy‐Anderson Janet T. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) is managed as a single stock throughout the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and eastern Bering Sea (BS), but biogeographical barriers and the potential for differential impacts of climate change may alter habitat use and distributions, and restrict connectivity between these ecosystems. To improve our understanding of larval dispersal pathways and migrations of young fish within and between GOA and BS, we (a) examined potential pelagic larval dispersal and connectivity between the two basins using an individual‐based biophysical model (IBM) focusing on years with contrasting climatic conditions and (b) tracked movement of fish up to age‐6 years using annual age‐based distributions and a spatiotemporal modeling approach. IBM results suggest that the Aleutian Islands constrain connectivity between GOA and BS, but that large island passes serve as pathways between these ecosystems. The degree of connectivity between GOA and BS is influenced by spawning location such that an estimated 47%–58% of simulated larvae from the westernmost GOA spawning location arrived in the BS, with progressive reductions in connectivity from spawning grounds further east. From the results of spatial modeling of 2‐ to 6‐year‐old fish, we can infer ontogenetic migration from the inshore settlement areas of eastern BS toward Unimak Pass and GOA. The pattern of larval dispersal from GOA to BS, and subsequent post‐settlement migrations back from BS toward GOA, provides evidence of circular, multiple life stage, connectivity between these ecosystems, regardless of climatic variability or year‐class strength.
Distinctively altered lignin biosynthesis by site‐modification of OsCAD2 for enhanced biomass saccharification in rice
Authors: Zhang Guifen , Wang Lingqiang , Li Xukai , Bai Shuming , Xue Yali , Li Zihui , Tang Shang‐wen , Wang Yanting , Wang Youmei , Hu Zhen , Li Ping , Peng Liangcai 
Published: October 2020

AbstractCrop straws represent enormous biomass resource convertible for biofuels and bioproducts, but lignocellulose recalcitrance restricts its saccharification for commercial utility. Despite genetic modification of lignin biosynthesis being attempted to reduce recalcitrance in bioenergy crops, it remains challenging to optimize lignin deposition without an unacceptable yield penalty. Based on gene expression analysis and phylogenetic tree profiling, a cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase gene (OsCAD2) as the target for genetic engineering of lignin biosynthesis in rice was selected in this study. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, independent homozygous transgenic lines with precise site mutation of OsCAD2, which showed slightly reduced lignin levels but markedly decreased p‐hydroxyphenyl (H) contents in lignin by 34% and increased guaiacyl (G) contents by 16%, compared to the wild type were generated in this study. Under mild alkali pretreatment (1% NaOH, 50°C), the OsCAD2 site‐modified lines showed effective lignin extraction up to 70% (of total lignin) from mature rice straws, which caused either significantly increased biomass porosity and cellulose accessibility or remarkably reduced cellulase adsorption to lignin in pretreated lignocellulose residues. These consequently led to almost complete biomass enzymatic saccharification with increased hexoses yields by 61%–72% in the modified lines, being much higher than those of the lignin‐altered lines reported in previous studies. Hence, this study has demonstrated a novel genetic engineering strategy to reduce lignocellulose recalcitrance with minimized biomass loss for cost‐effective biomass conversion to bioethanol in rice and bioenergy crops.
HIV prevalence and HIV clinical outcomes of transgender and gender‐diverse people in England
Authors: Kirwan PD , Hibbert M , Kall M , Nambiar K , Ross M , Croxford S , Nash S , Webb L , Wolton A , Delpech VC 
Published: October 2020

ObjectivesWe provide the first estimate of HIV prevalence among trans and gender‐diverse people living in England and compare outcomes of people living with HIV according to gender identity.MethodsWe analysed a comprehensive national HIV cohort and a nationally representative self‐reported survey of people accessing HIV care in England (Positive Voices). Gender identity was recorded using a two‐step question co‐designed with community members and civil society. Responses were validated by clinic follow‐up and/or self‐report. Population estimates were obtained from national government offices.ResultsIn 2017, HIV prevalence among trans and gender‐diverse people was estimated at 0.46–4.78 per 1000, compared with 1.7 (95% credible interval: 1.6–1.7) in the general population. Of 94 885 people living with diagnosed HIV in England, 178 (0.19%) identified as trans or gender‐diverse. Compared with cisgender people, trans and gender‐diverse people were more likely to be London residents (57% vs. 43%), younger (median age 42 vs. 46 years), of white ethnicity (61% vs. 52%), under psychiatric care (11% vs. 4%), to report problems with self‐care (37% vs. 13%), and to have been refused or delayed healthcare (23% vs. 11%). Antiretroviral uptake and viral suppression were high in both groups.ConclusionsHIV prevalence among trans and gender‐diverse people living in England is relatively low compared with international estimates. Furthermore, no inequalities were observed with regard to HIV care. Nevertheless, trans and gender‐diverse people with HIV report poorer mental health and higher levels of discrimination compared with cisgender people.
Examining Chile's unique food marketing policy: TV advertising and dietary intake in preschool children, a pre‐ and post‐ policy study
Authors: Jensen Melissa L. , Carpentier Francesca Dillman , Adair Linda , Corvalán Camila , Popkin Barry M. , Taillie Lindsey Smith 
Published: October 2020

SummaryBackgroundThe Chilean government implemented the first phase of a comprehensive marketing policy in 2016, restricting child‐directed marketing of products high in energy, total sugars, sodium or saturated fat (hereafter “high‐in”).ObjectivesTo examine the role that high‐in TV food advertising had in the effect of the policy on consumption of high‐in products between 2016 and 2017.MethodsDietary data were obtained from 24‐hour diet recall measured in 2016 (n = 940) and 2017 (n = 853), pre‐ and post‐policy, from a cohort of 4 to 6 years children. Television use was linked to analyses of food advertisements to derive individual‐level estimates of exposure to advertising. A multilevel mediation analysis examined direct and indirect effects of the policy through advertising exposure.ResultsChildren's high‐in food consumption and advertising exposure declined significantly from 2016 to 2017 (P < .01). Consumption changes were not significantly mediated by changes in advertising exposure, which might suggest other elements of the Chilean Law potentially driving decreases in consumption to a greater extent than TV ads.ConclusionsPreschoolers' exposure to high‐in advertising and consumption of high‐in products decreased post‐policy. Further research is needed to understand how marketing changes will relate to dietary changes after full implementation of the law and in the long term.
A continuous districting model focusing on intra‐ and inter‐zonal squared distances and its Voronoi‐based heuristic
Authors: Morimoto Keitaro , Tanaka Ken‐ichi 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWe consider the problem of dividing a given convex polygon into p convex polygons called zones, each of which receives a designated land area. The position and shape of each zone is determined so that intra‐ and inter‐zonal trips for the resulting zones are conducted efficiently. To evaluate the compactness of the resulting zones, we derive the average squared distance between two points uniformly distributed in each zone, as well as the average squared distance between two points uniformly distributed in two zones. The weighted sum of these measures is used as the objective function, and a Voronoi‐based heuristic algorithm is proposed that iteratively updates the positions of p generator points placed inside a convex polygon. The method is used to divide several regular polygons, and the results show that zones become (i) rounded when intra‐zonal trips are prioritized and (ii) elongated with longer boundary lines when inter‐zonal trips are prioritized.