bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A COVID-19 Reopening Readiness Index: The Key to Opening up the Economy
Authors: Suh Eunju , Alhaery Mahdi 
Published: May 2020

SummaryWith respect to reopening the economy as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions, governmental response and messaging have been inconsistent, and policies have varied by state as this is a uniquely polarizing topic. Considering the urgent need to return to normalcy, a method was devised to determine the degree of progress any state has made in containing the spread of COVID-19. Using various measures for each state including mortality, hospitalizations, testing capacity, number of infections and infection rate has allowed for the creation of a composite COVID -19 Reopening Readiness Index. This index can serve as a comprehensive reliable and simple-to-use metric to assess the level of containment in any state and to determine the level of risk in further opening. As states struggle to contain the outbreak and at the same time face great pressure in resuming economic activity, an index that provides a data-driven and objective insight is urgently needed.BackgroundWe are in the midst of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. All levels of society and governments are working together to “flatten the curve” of the infection and slow the spread of COVID-19. The universal goal is to mitigate its adverse effects on everyday life across the globe and to reduce the number of fatalities. While a vaccine is being developed, the aim is to limit the number of hospitalizations as not to overwhelm healthcare systems in any given city or country. It is well documented that certain regions and localities are more affected than others. It is imperative that containment efforts utilize state and local data at their disposal to understand the readiness of any given area prior to opening its economy, and the level of restrictions that are needed.
Evidence-Based Quality Scores for Rating Drug Products and Their Utility in Health Systems
Authors: Dabestani Arash , Bazil Carl W. , Costantino Ryan C. , Fox Erin , Graedon Joe , Lever Harry , Makuch Robert , White C. Michael 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe quality of drug products in the United States, which are largely produced overseas, has been a matter of growing concern.1 Buyers and payers of pharmaceuticals, whether they are health-systems, insurers, PBMs, pharmacies, physicians, or patients, have little to no visibility into any quality metrics for the manufacturers of drug products or the products themselves. A system of “quality scores” is proposed to enable health-systems and other purchasers and payers of medication to differentiate among drug products according to evidence-based metrics. Metrics influencing the quality scores described herein include both broadly applicable regulatory information and more drug-specific, third-party chemical analysis information. The aggregation of these metrics through a proposed set of rules results in numerical values on a 0-100 scale that may be further simplified into a red/yellow/green designation. The simplicity of such scores enables seamless integration into existing healthcare systems and an integration scheme is proposed. Using real-world data from currently on-market valsartan drug products, this proposed system generated a variety of quality scores for six major manufacturers. These scores were further evaluated according to their current market price showing no significant correlation between quality score and price. The implementation of drug quality scores at healthcare institutions in the United States and their potential utilization by regulators, could create a much-needed, market-driven incentive for pharmaceutical manufacturers to produce quality medications that would reduce drug shortages and improve public health.
Flexible categorization in perceptual decision making
Authors: Prat-Ortega Genís , Wimmer Klaus , Roxin Alex , de la Rocha Jaime 
Published: May 2020

AbstractPerceptual decisions require the brain to make categorical choices based on accumulated sensory evidence. The underlying computations have been studied using either phenomenological drift diffusion models or neurobiological network models exhibiting winner-take-all attractor dynamics. Although both classes of models can account for a large body of experimental data, it remains unclear to what extent their dynamics are qualitatively equivalent. Here we show that, unlike the drift diffusion model, the attractor model can operate in different integration regimes: an increase in the stimulus fluctuations or the stimulus duration promotes transitions between decision-states leading to a crossover between weighting mostly early evidence (primacy regime) to weighting late evidence (recency regime). Between these two limiting cases, we found a novel regime, which we nameflexible categorization, in which fluctuations are strong enough to reverse initial categorizations, but only if they are incorrect. This asymmetry in the reversing probability results in a non-monotonic psychometric curve, a novel and distinctive feature of the attractor model. Finally, we show psychophysical evidence for the crossover between integration regimes predicted by the attractor model and for the relevance of this new regime. Our findings point to correcting transitions as an important yet overlooked feature of perceptual decision making.
Excitatory and inhibitory modulation of septal and striatal neurons during hippocampal sharp-wave ripple events
Authors: Howe Andrew G. , Blair Hugh T. 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTSingle-units were recorded in hippocampus, septum, and striatum while freely behaving rats (n=3) ran trials in a T-maze task, and rested in a holding bucket between trials. During periods of motor inactivity, SWRs triggered excitatory responses from 28% (64/226) and inhibitory responses from 14% (31/226) of septal neurons. By contrast, only 4% (14/378) of striatal neurons were excited and 6% (24/378) were inhibited during SWRs. In both structures, SWR-responsive neurons exhibited greater spike coherence with hippocampal theta rhythm than neurons that did not respond to SWRs. In septum, neurons that were excited by SWRs fired at late phases of the theta cycle, whereas neurons that were inhibited by SWRs fired at early phases of the theta cycle. By contrast, SWR-responsive striatal neurons did not show consistent phase preferences during the theta cycle. A subset of SWR-responsive neurons in septum (55/95) and striatum (26/38) behaved asspeed cells, with firing rates that were positively or negatively modulated by the rat’s running speed. In both structures, firing rates of most SWR-excited speed cells were positively modulated by running speed, whereas firing rates of most SWR-inhibited speed cells were negatively modulated by running speed. These findings are consistent with a growing body of evidence that SWRs can activate subcortical representations of motor actions in conjunction with hippocampal representations of places and states, which may be important for storing and retrieving values of state-action pairs during reinforcement learning and memory consolidation.
On the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indian State of Maharashtra: Forecasting & Effect of different parameters
Authors: Avhad Arvind S. , Sutar Prasad P. , Mohite Onkar T. , Pawar Vaibhav S. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThis work details the outbreak and factors affecting the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Indian state of Maharashtra, which is considered as one of the most massive and deadly pandemic outbreaks. Observational data collected between 14 March 2020 and 4 May 2020 is statistically analyzed to determine the nonlinear behavior of the epidemic. It is followed by validating predicted results with real-time data. Proposed model is further used to obtain statistical summaries in which Grubbs tests for outlier detection have justified high values of evaluation metrics. Outliers are found to be pilot elements in an outbreak under considered region. Statistically, a significant correlation has been observed between dependent and explanatory variables. Transmission pattern of this virus is very much different from the SARS-CoV-1 virus. Key findings of this work will be predominant in maintaining environment conditions at healthcare facilities to reduce transmission rates at these most vulnerable places.
Are we #Stayinghome to Flatten the Curve?
Authors: Sears James , Villas-Boas J. Miguel , Villas-Boas Vasco , Villas-Boas Sofia Berto 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe recent spread of COVID-19 across the U.S. led to concerted efforts by states to flatten the curve through the adoption of stay-at-home mandates that encourage individuals to reduce travel and maintain social distance. Combining data on changes in travel activity with COVID-19 health outcomes and state policy adoption timing, we characterize nationwide changes in mobility patterns, isolate the portion attributable to statewide mandates, and link these reductions to changes in COVID-19 health outcomes. We find evidence of dramatic nationwide declines in mobility prior to adoption of any statewide mandates. Once states adopt a mandate, we estimate further mandate-induced declines between 2.1 and 7.0 percentage points relative to pre-COVID-19 baseline levels. Controlling for pre-treatment changes in mobility, we estimate mandate-induced declines of 0.13-0.17 fewer deaths and 5.6-6 fewer hospitalizations per 100,000 residents, equivalent to 23-30,000 averted deaths in adopting states for the months of March and April and death rates 42-54% lower than in the absence of policies. These estimates represent a likely lower bound on the health impacts of stay-at-home mandates, and our findings for the health impacts of early mobility reductions convey important policy implications for re-opening.
Containing the Spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Meteorological Factors and Control Strategies
Authors: Lin Jun , Huang Weihao , Wen Muchen , Ma Shuyi , Hua Jiawen , Hu Hang , Li Dehong , Yin Shan , Qian Yanjun , Chen Peiling , Zhang Qiao , Yuan Ningbo , Sun Shaolong 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread globally and the meteorological factors vary greatly across the world. Understanding the effect of meteorological factors and control strategies on COVID-19 transmission is critical to contain the epidemic. Using individual-level data in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and the number of confirmed cases in other regions, we explore the effect of temperature, relative humidity, and control measures on the spread of COVID-19. We found that high temperature mitigates the transmission of the disease. High relative humidity promotes COVID-19 transmission when temperature is low, but tends to reduce transmission when temperature is high. Implementing classical control measures can dramatically slow the spread of the disease. However, due to the occurrence of pre-symptomatic infections, the effect of the measures to shorten onset-to-isolation time is markedly reduced and the importance of contact tracing and quarantine and social distancing increases. The analytic results also highlight the importance of early intervention to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Coadaptation of the chemosensory system with voluntary exercise behavior in mice
Authors: Nguyen Quynh Anh Thi , Hillis David , Katada Sayako , Harris Timothy , Pontrello Crystal , Garland Theodore , Haga-Yamanaka Sachiko 
Published: May 2020

AbstractEthologically relevant chemical senses and behavioral habits are likely to coadapt in response to selection. As olfaction is involved in intrinsically motivated behaviors in mice, we hypothesized that selective breeding for a voluntary behavior would enable us to identify novel roles of the chemosensory system. Voluntary wheel running (VWR) is an intrinsically motivated and naturally rewarding behavior, and even wild mice run on a wheel placed in nature. We have established 4 independent, artificially evolved mouse lines by selectively breeding individuals showing high VWR activity (High Runners; HRs), together with 4 non-selected Control lines, over 88 generations. We found that several sensory receptors in specific receptor clusters were differentially expressed between the vomeronasal organ (VNO) of HRs and Controls. Moreover, one of those clusters contains multiple single-nucleotide polymorphism loci for which the allele frequencies were significantly divergent between the HR and Control lines, i.e., loci that were affected by the selective breeding protocol. These results indicate that the VNO has become genetically differentiated between HR and Control lines during the selective breeding process, strongly suggesting the chemosensory receptors as quantitative trait loci (QTL) for voluntary exercise in mice. We propose that olfaction may play an important role in motivation for voluntary exercise in mammals.
Comparison of Shoulder Functions Between Workers With and Without Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
Authors: Kim Jun-hee , Kwon Oh-yun , Yi Chung-hwi , Jeon Hye-seon , Choi Woo-chol Joseph , Weon Jong-hyuck 
Published: May 2020

The occurrence of shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) is associated with the frequent handling and lifting of heavy loads and excessive repetitive work above the shoulder level. Thus, assembly workers have a high prevalence of shoulder injuries, including SIS. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in shoulder ROM, muscle strength, asymmetry ratio, function, productivity, and depression between workers with and without SIS.Sixty-seven assembly line male workers (35 workers with SIS and 32 workers without SIS) participated in this study. The four shoulder ROMs and the five muscle strengths were measured using a Smart KEMA system. The asymmetry ratios were calculated using the asymmetry ratio formula; shoulder functions were measured using the shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI), disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH), and visual analogue scale (VAS); and Endicott work productivity scale (EWPS). Severity of depression was measured using the Beck depression inventory (BDI). Independent t-tests were performed for statistical analysis.The SPADI, DASH, and VAS values of workers with SIS were significantly higher than those of workers without SIS. Also, workers with SIS had significantly smaller shoulder internal rotation and shoulder abduction compared to workers without SIS. In addition, workers with SIS exhibited significantly lower SIR muscle strength than workers without SIS. Workers with SIS had significantly higher asymmetry ratios in shoulder internal rotation, shoulder external rotation, and elbow flexion muscle strength than workers without SIS.The SPADI and DASH scores, which indicate shoulder function, were higher, and the intensity of self-aware pain was higher in workers with SIS. Also, workers with SIS exhibited reduced SIR and SAB ROMs; decreased SIR muscle strength. Particularly, the asymmetry ratios of SIR, SER, EF muscle strength are good comparable factors for workers with and without SIS. In addition, the asymmetry ratios of shoulder muscle strengths could provide an important baseline comparison for the workers with SIS.
Pitting the Gumbel and logistic growth models against one another to model COVID-19 spread
Authors: Yoo Keunyoung , Arashi Mohammad , Bekker Andriette 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we investigate briefly the appropriateness of the widely used logistic growth curve modeling with focus on COVID-19 spread, from a data-driven perspective. Specifically, we suggest the Gumbel growth model for behaviour of COVID-19 cases in European countries in addition to the United States of America (US), for better detecting the growth and prediction. We provide a suitable fit and predict the growth of cases for some selected countries as illustration. Our contribution will stimulate the correct growth spread modeling for this pandemic outbreak.
1-C Nonlinear Covid-19 Epidemic Model and Application to the Epidemic Prediction in France
Authors: Quadrat J.-P. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractWe have shown in a previous paper that the standard time-invariant SIR model was not effective to predict the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic propagation. We have proposed a new model predicting z the logarithm of the number of detected-contaminated people. It follows a linear dynamical system ż = b − az. We show here that we can improve this prediction using a non linear model ż = b − azr where r is an exponent that we have also to estimate from data. Some countries have an epidemic with a bell shaped form that we call unimodal epidemic. With this new model, we fit observed data of different countries having an unimodal epidemic with a surprising quality. We discuss also the prediction quality obtained with these models at the epidemic start in France. Finally, we evaluate the containment impact on the Covid French mortality in hospitals.
Reopening Businesses and Risk of COVID-19 Transmission
Authors: O’Donoghue Ashley , Dechen Tenzin , Pavlova Whitney , Boals Michael , Moussa Garba , Madan Manvi , Thakkar Aalok , DeFalco Frank J , Stevens Jennifer P 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTImportanceThe United States has the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the world, with over 150,000 COVID-19-related deaths as of July 31, 20201. The true risk of a COVID-19 resurgence as states prepare to reopen businesses is unknown.ObjectiveTo quantify the potential risk of COVID-19 transmission in business establishments by building a risk index for each business that measures transmission risk over time.DesignThis retrospective case series study uses anonymized cell phone GPS data to analyze trends in traffic patterns to businesses that may be potentially high-risk from January 2020 to June 2020.SettingMassachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New York, and California.Participants1,272,260 businesses within 8 states from January 2020 – June 2020.Exposure(s)We monitored business traffic before the pandemic, during the pandemic and after early phases of reopening in 8 states.Main OutcomeOur primary outcome is our business risk index. The index was built using two metrics: visitors per square foot and the average duration of visits. Visitors per square foot account for how densely visitors are packed into businesses. The average duration of visits accounts for the length of time visitors are spending in a business.ResultsPotentially risky traffic behaviors at businesses decreased by 30% by April. Since the end of April, the risk index has been increasing as states reopen. On average, it has increased between 10 to 20 percentage points since April and is moving towards pre-pandemic levels of traffic. There are some notable differences in trends across states and industries.ConclusionOur risk index provides a way for policymakers and hospital decision makers to monitor the potential risk of COVID-19 transmission from businesses based on the frequency and density of visits to businesses. Traffic is slowly moving towards pre-pandemic levels. This can serve as an important metric as states monitor and evaluate their reopening strategies.
MCH enables synchronized firing in the hippocamposeptal circuit to facilitate spatial memory
Authors: Liu Jing-Jing , Tsien Richard W. , Pang Zhiping P. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractNeuropeptide melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) plays important roles in the brain including control of energy homeostasis, sleep, learning and memory. However, the synaptic and circuitry mechanisms underlying MCH-mediated regulations remain largely unknown. Here, we uncover that MCH modulates the hippocampo (HP) −dorsal lateral septum (dLS) −lateral hypothalamus neural circuit to facilitate spatial learning and memory. MCH achieves this function by enhancing both excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission via presynaptic mechanisms. The dLS neuronal spiking activity in response to HP CA3 excitatory inputs is strongly controlled by feed-forward inhibition (FFI) mediated by both GABAAand GABABreceptors. Endogenous MCH signaling enhancesSignal/Noise (S/N)ratio of dLS neurons by increase the excitatory strengths, meanwhile decrease the overall dLS excitability by enhance inhibition which reduces dLS FFI, and consequentially enables dLS neurons to fire with high fidelity with HP synaptic inputs. Our data unravel the multifaceted synaptic mechanisms of MCH in the defined HP-dLS circuitry which may contribute to learning and memory.
Beta-tACS does not impact the dynamics of motor memory consolidation
Authors: Roshchupkina Liliia , Stee Whitney , Peigneux Philippe 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe consolidation of motor memory is a non-linear temporal dynamic. There are critical time points at which post-training performance can improve (e.g., 30 min and 24 h) or merely stabilize (e.g., 4 h). Besides, neuronal plasticity is supported by synchronized oscillatory activity in and between brain areas at play during the acquisition and consolidation of motor skills. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can entrain cortical oscillatory activity, which may eventually modulate brain plasticity-related processes. Previous reports suggest that 20 Hz electrical stimulation over the primary motor cortex (M1) following training facilitates the consolidation of motor memories. To the best of our knowledge, the effect of tACS was not investigated when applied at critical post-training time points, nor its impact at longer time scales. In the present study, we investigated the effect of 20 Hz tACS applied over M1 within critical time periods (25min vs. 4h) on motor memory consolidation at immediate and delayed (24h) retrieval. Performance similarly evolved over time in all conditions, independently from the stimulation type (20 Hz tACS vs. Sham tACS) or the stimulation time point. As it stands, our results do not support the proposal that 20 Hz tACS exerts a positive, specific effect on the consolidation of motor memories.
Glutamate transporters contain a conserved chloride channel with two hydrophobic gates
Authors: Chen Ichia , Pant Shashank , Wu Qianyi , Cater Rosemary , Sobti Meghna , Vandenberg Robert , Stewart Alastair G. , Tajkhorshid Emad , Font Josep , Ryan Renae 
Published: May 2020

AbstractGlutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, therefore its precise control is vital for maintaining normal brain function and preventing excitotoxicity1. Removal of extracellular glutamate is achieved by plasma membrane-bound transporters, which couple glutamate transport to sodium, potassium and pH gradients using an elevator mechanism2–5. Glutamate transporters also conduct chloride ions via a channel-like process that is thermodynamically uncoupled from transport6–8. However, the molecular mechanisms that allow these dual-function transporters to carry out two seemingly contradictory roles are unknown. Here we report the cryo-electron microscopy structure of a glutamate transporter homologue in an open-channel state, revealing an aqueous cavity that is formed during the transport cycle. Using functional studies and molecular dynamics simulations, we show that this cavity is an aqueous-accessible chloride permeation pathway gated by two hydrophobic regions, and is conserved across mammalian and archaeal glutamate transporters. Our findings provide insight into the mechanism by which glutamate transporters support their dual function and add a crucial piece of information to aid mapping of the complete transport cycle shared by the SLC1A transporter family.