bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Microbial Strain Engraftment, Persistence and Replacement after Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
Authors: Podlesny Daniel , Fricke W. Florian 
Published: September 2020

SummaryFecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) has been clinically validated as a treatment for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) and associated with the compositional and functional restoration of the patient gut microbiota. To characterize the underlying microbiota dynamics of patient and donor strain engraftment, persistence and replacement during FMT, we combined new and existing metagenomic sequence data and developed the bioinformatic SameStr program for the species-specific detection of shared subspecies lineages, including non-dominant strains. We show that personal gut strain profiles are identifiable and detect engraftment after successful and failed FMT in rCDI recipients, specifically of those donor strains that are abundant and stable in healthy individuals. We identify microbiota parameters in statistical models to predict donor species and strain engraftment, as well as recipient strain persistence and replacement. Our findings raise concerns over FMT consequences from questionable donors and suggest that personalized FMT strategies are feasible for targeted microbiota modulation.
Health Economic Studies of Colorectal Cancer and the Contribution of Administrative Data: a Systematic Review
Authors: Lemmon E , Hanna C , Hall P , Morris E 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIntroductionSeveral forces are contributing to an increase in the number of people living with and surviving colorectal cancer (CRC). However, due to the lack of available data, little is known about those implications. In recent years, the use of administrative records to inform research has been increasing. The aim of this paper is to investigate the potential contribution that administrative data could have on the health economic research of CRC.MethodsTo achieve this aim we conducted a systematic review of the health economic CRC literature published in the United Kingdom and Europe within the last decade (2009-2019).ResultsThirty-seven relevant studies were identified and divided into economic evaluations, cost of illness studies and cost consequence analyses.ConclusionsThe use of administrative data, including cancer registry, screening and hospital records, within the health economic research of CRC is commonplace. However, we found that this data often comes from regional databases, which reduces the generalisability of results. Further, administrative data appear less able to contribute towards understanding the wider and indirect costs associated with the disease. We have identified several ways in which various sources of administrative data could enhance future research in this area.
Seroprevalence of SARS CoV-2 antibodies in healthcare workers and administration employees: a prospective surveillance study at a 1,400-bed university hospital in Germany
Authors: Bahrs Christina , Kimmig Aurelia , Weis Sebastian , Ankert Juliane , Hagel Stefan , Maschmann Jens , Stallmach Andreas , Steiner Andrea , Bauer Michael , Behringer Wilhelm , Baier Michael , Kesselmeier Miriam , Richert Cora , Zepf Florian , Walter Martin , Scherag André , Kiehntopf Michael , Löffler Bettina , Pletz Mathias W. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundHealthcare workers (HCWs) are at particular risk to acquire SARS-CoV-2 infections.AimThe objectives of this study were to compare SARS-CoV-2 IgG seroprevalence and compliance to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) between HCWs working within (high-risk) or outside (intermediate-risk) units treating suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients. In addition, administration staff (low-risk) was included.MaterialsCo-HCW is a prospective cohort study among employees at the Jena University Hospital, Germany. Since 16th March 2020, 50 SARS-CoV-2 inpatients and 73 outpatients were treated in our hospital. Mandatory masking was implemented on 20th March 2020. We here evaluated seroprevalence using two IgG detecting immunoassays, assessed COVID-19 exposure, clinical symptoms and compliance to wear PPE.FindingsBetween 19th May and 19th June 2020 we analysed 660 employees [out of 3,228; 20.4%]. Eighteen participants (2.7%) had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in at least one immunoassay. Among them, 13 (72.2%) were not aware of direct COVID-19 exposure and 9 (50.0%) did not report any clinical symptoms. We observed no evidence for an association between seroprevalence and risk area (high-risk: 2 of 137 HCWs (1.5%), intermediate-risk: 10 of 343 HCWs (2.9%), low-risk: 6 of 180 administration employees (3.3%); p=0.574). Reported compliance to wear PPE differed (p<0.001) between working in high-risk (98.3%) and in intermediate-risk areas (69.8%).ConclusionNo evidence for higher seroprevalence against SARS-CoV-2 in HCWs working in high-risk COVID-19 areas could be observed, probably due to high compliance to wear PPE. Compared to administration employees, we observed no additional risk to acquire SARS-CoV-2 infections by patient care.
Prospective assessment of catheter-associated bacteriuria in nursing home residents: clinical presentation, epidemiology, and colonization dynamics
Authors: Armbruster Chelsie E. , Brauer Aimee L. , Humby Monica S. , Shao Jiahui , Chakraborty Saptarshi 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundCatheterization facilitates continuous bacteriuria, for which the clinical significance remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the clinical presentation, epidemiology, and dynamics of bacteriuria in a cohort of long-term catheterized nursing home residents.MethodsProspective urine culture, urinalysis, chart review, and assessment of signs and symptoms of infection were performed weekly for 19 study participants over 7 months. All bacteria ≥103 cfu/ml were cultured, isolated, identified, and tested for susceptibility to select antimicrobials.Results226 of the 234 urines were polymicrobial (97%), with an average of 4.7 isolates per weekly specimen. 228 urines (97%) exhibited ≥106 CFU/ml, 220 (94%) exhibited abnormal urinalysis, 126 (54%) were associated with at least one possible sign or symptom of infection, 82 (35%) would potentially meet a standardized definition of CAUTI, but only 3 had a caregiver diagnosis of CAUTI. 286 (30%) of bacterial isolates were resistant to a tested antimicrobial agent, and bacteriuria composition was remarkably stable despite a combined total of 54 catheter changes and 23 weeks of antimicrobial use.ConclusionsBacteriuria composition was largely polymicrobial, including persistent colonization by organisms previously considered to be urine culture contaminants. Neither antimicrobial use nor catheter changes sterilized the urine, at most resulting in transient reductions in bacterial burden followed by new acquisition of resistant isolates. Thus, this patient population exhibits a high prevalence of bacteriuria coupled with potential indicators of infection, necessitating further exploration to identify sensitive markers of true infection.FundingThis work was supported by the NIH (R00 DK105205, R01 DK123158, UL1 TR001412)
A Sew-Free Origami Mask for Improvised Respiratory Protection
Authors: Realmuto Jonathan , Kleinman Michael T. , Sanger Terence , Lawler Michael J. , Smith James N. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractRecently, respiratory aerosols with diameters smaller than 100 µm have been confirmed as important vectors for the spread of SARS-CoV-2. While cloth masks afford some protection for larger ballistic droplets, they are typically inefficient at filtering these aerosols and require specialized fabrication devices to produce. We describe a fabrication technique that makes use of a folding procedure (origami) to transform a filtration material into a mask. These origami masks can be fabricated by non-experts at minimal cost and effort, provide adequate filtration efficiencies, and are easily scaled to different facial sizes. Using a mannequin fit test simulator, we demonstrate that these masks can provide optimal filtration efficiency and ease of breathing with minimal leakage. Because this mask provides greater comfort compared to commercial alternatives, it is likely to promote greater mask wearing tolerance and acceptance.
Shifts in antimalarial drug policy since 2006 have rapidly selectedP. falciparumresistance alleles in Angola
Authors: Ebel Emily R , Reis Fátima , Petrov Dmitri A , Beleza Sandra 
Published: September 2020

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDPlasmodium falciparumresistance to chloroquine (CQ), the most widely used antimalarial drug, has historically posed a major threat to malaria control in Angola and throughout the world. Although Angola replaced CQ with artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) as a frontline treatment in 2006, malaria cases and deaths have recently been rising. CQ-resistance mutations may still be a contributing factor, given that (1) some also modulate resistance to ACT partner drugs and (2) ACT is not yet consistently implemented across Angola. It is important to continue monitoring all known resistance alleles inP. falciparum, but no studies have done so in Angola since 2012.METHODSWe sampledP. falciparumDNA from the blood of 50 hospital patients in Cabinda, Angola in 2018. Each infection was genotyped for 13 alleles in the genescrt, mdr1, dhps, dhfr, andkelch13, which collectively confer resistance to six common drugs. To analyze frequency trajectories over time, we also collatedP. falciparumgenotype data published from across Angola in the last two decades.RESULTSThe two most important alleles for CQ resistance,crt72-76CVIET andmdr186Y, have both declined in frequency from respective highs of 98% in 1999 and 73% in 2003. However, the former remains at 71% frequency in this sample while the latter has dropped to just 7%. Of seven possible alleles for sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) resistance indhpsanddhfr, the average total number per isolate increased from 2.9 in 2004 to 4.4 in 2018. Finally, we detected no non-synonymous polymorphisms inkelch13, which is involved in artemisinin resistance in Southeast Asia.CONCLUSIONSChanges in drug policy in Angola since 2006 appear to have exerted strong selection onP. falciparumdrug resistance alleles. Resistance to CQ is declining, but due to functional tradeoffs and novel selection atmdr1loci, resistance to ACT partner drugs appears to be rising. More haplotype-based studies atmdr1will be needed to understand the changing efficacy of multiple drugs. Finally, SP resistance has jumped rapidly since 2014, consistent with widespread use of intermittent SP treatment during pregnancy. These data can be used to support effective drug policy decisions in Angola.
Addiction-associated genetic variants implicate brain cell type- and region-specific cis-regulatory elements in addiction neurobiology
Authors: Srinivasan Chaitanya , Phan BaDoi N. , Lawler Alyssa J. , Ramamurthy Easwaran , Kleyman Michael , Brown Ashley R. , Kaplow Irene M. , Wirthlin Morgan E. , Pfenning Andreas R. 
Published: September 2020

ABSTRACTRecent large genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified multiple confident risk loci linked to addiction-associated behavioral traits. Genetic variants linked to addiction-associated traits lie largely in non-coding regions of the genome, likely disrupting cis-regulatory element (CRE) function. CREs tend to be highly cell type-specific and may contribute to the functional development of the neural circuits underlying addiction. Yet, a systematic approach for predicting the impact of risk variants on the CREs of specific cell populations is lacking. To dissect the cell types and brain regions underlying addiction-associated traits, we applied LD score regression to compare GWAS to genomic regions collected from human and mouse assays for open chromatin, which is associated with CRE activity. We found enrichment of addiction-associated variants in putativeCREsmarked by open chromatin in neuronal (NeuN+) nuclei collected from multiple prefrontal cortical areas and striatal regions known to play major roles in reward and addiction. To further dissect the cell type-specific basis of addiction-associated traits, we also identified enrichments in human orthologs of open chromatin regions of mouseneuronal subtypes: cortical excitatory, D1, D2, and PV. Lastly, we developed machine learning models from mouse cell type-specific regions of open chromatin to further dissect human NeuN+ open chromatin regions into cortical excitatory or striatal D1 and D2 neurons and predict the functional impact of addiction-associated genetic variants. Our results suggest that differentneuronal subtypeswithin the reward system play distinct roles in the variety of traits that contribute to addiction.Significance StatementWe combine statistical genetic and machine learning techniques to find that the predisposition to for nicotine, alcohol, and cannabis use behaviors can be partially explained by genetic variants in conserved regulatory elements within specific brain regions and neuronal subtypes of the reward system.This computational framework can flexibly integrateopen chromatindata across species to screen for putative causal variants in a cell type-and tissue-specific manner across numerous complex traits.
Recent trends of research in open and distance education in India
Authors: Srivastava Manjulika , Mishra Bijayalaxmi , Rao Dev Kant , Abrol Navita , Varma Vandana , Bhushan Bharat 
Published: September 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this paper was to analyse the research trends on the Indian Open and Distance Education (ODE) system as reflected in the articles published in the prominent journals of distance education across the world.Design/methodology/approachA study was undertaken to review the research articles on ODE in India published in 11 prominent peer-reviewed journals of distance education during the period 2010–2019. Content analysis was done to find out areas of research undertaken in the ODE of India based on a validated classification of research areas; types of research studies conducted; and authorship and publication patterns.FindingsOut of a total of 2,571 articles published in 11 selected journals, only 191 (7.42%) pertained to ODE in India. The majority of these 191 articles (68.42%) were published in Indian journals. The Indian and Asian journals together accounted for 93.55% of total articles. Globally, the share of articles on the Indian ODE system was significantly low ranging between 4.27 and a maximum of 10.77%, which was much below expectations from a country having the maximum number of ODE learners in the world. Results further revealed that 63% of the contributors to research on ODE in India were affiliated to Indira Gandhi National Open University.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitation of this study was only analysing the research articles published in journals of distance education and other types of articles, namely, book reviews, editorials, field notes and workshop reports were excluded from the analysis.Practical implicationsThe study is intended to help researchers, policymakers, and open and distance education institutions to draw a roadmap for the promotion and conduct of system-based research, which would be vital for strengthening the system.Social implicationsThe quantum of research is not proportionate to the number of faculty members working in the ODE system of India and the large number of learners that it serves, which is a matter of concern. For any system to grow its periodic systemic review is essential. The research outcomes need to be ploughed back into the system for its betterment.Originality/valueThe study is original. There is no such study undertaken till date. This study will be extremely useful to researchers, as the gaps in distance education research which are yet to be addressed, have been identified by the authors.
Systematic review of determinants of sales performance: Verbekeet al.’s (2011) classification extended
Authors: Chawla Vaibhav , Lyngdoh Teidorlang , Guda Sridhar , Purani Keyoor 
Published: September 2020

PurposeConsidering recent changes in sales practices, such as the sales role becoming more strategic, increased reliance on technology for sales activities, increased stress from adding technological responsibilities to the sales role and decreased avenues of social support (such as traditional forms of community) to cope with work-related stressors, there is a need to reconsider Verbekeet al.’s (2011) classification scheme of determinants of sales performance, which was based on literature published before these critical changes became apparent. This paper aims to conduct a systematic review of sales performance research published during 1983–2018 to propose an extension to Verbekeet al.’s (2011) classification.Design/methodology/approachThis paper followed a systematic approach to the literature review in five sequential steps – search, selection, quality control, extraction and synthesis – as suggested by Tranfieldet al.(2003). In total, 261 peer-reviewed journal papers from 36 different journals were selected for extraction and synthesis.FindingsThe findings make the following additions to the classification: strategic and nonstrategic activities as a new category, technological drivers of sales performance and job-related psychosocial factors as a broader category to replace role perceptions. Derived from the job demand–control–support model, three subcategories within the category of job-related psychosocial factors are psychological demands (encompasses role perceptions and digital-age stressors such as technostress creators), job control and work-related social support.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper identifies that manager’s role in facilitating technology skills, providing informal social support to remote or virtual salespeople using technology, and encouraging strategic behaviors in salespeople are future research areas having good potential. Understanding and building positive psychology aspects in salespeople and their effect on sales performance is another promising area.Practical implicationsNewly added technological drivers draw the attention of sales firms toward the influence of technology and its skilful usage on salesperson performance. Newly added strategic activities makes a case for the importance of strategic participation in salesperson performance.Originality/valueThis review extends Verbekeet al.’s (2011) classification scheme to include recent changes that sales profession and literature have undergone.
Health economic analysis of pharmaceutical inventory levels
Authors: Ellison Peter Benjamin , Cook Robert A. 
Published: September 2020

PurposeHumanitarian crises increase vulnerability of children to pneumonia, so aid agencies store pharmaceuticals in advance of this demand. Decisions on how much to store are plagued by many diverse challenges as is common in humanitarian contexts, so this study considers storing more medications to improve the relatively poor (∼80) demand coverage at a representative aid agency.Design/methodology/approachThe paper combines inventory theory with health economics to calculate the impact inventory increases would have on the final cost of pneumonia treatment. It can then assess to what extent inventory can be increased while pneumonia treatment remains cost effective.FindingsThe study finds that more drug investment has only a small effect on the final treatment cost. Substantial drug inventory increases remain well within established guidelines for highly cost-effective treatments, so the agency should consider large increases as an efficient use of funding.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focuses on pneumonia treatment only to allow sufficient depth of analysis. Further research could look at many other treatments using the same approach, although some problem scenarios will include complicating parameters like drug perishability.Practical implicationsThe level of pharmaceutical inventory at humanitarian warehouses is a high-value decision for the aid sector. The method shows the potential for health economics to provide practical decision support for a wide range of humanitarian and ministry of health warehouse operations. While large increases in inventory investment are within guidelines, there is an asymptotically increasing cost as demand coverage approaches 100%. As a result, decision makers may want to set a target demand coverage (e.g. 99%) and allocate remaining aid funding to other projects.Originality/valueMany humanitarian supply chain decisions lack analytical support due to issues with complexity, scale or a lack of reliable input data, and this study is the first to provide analytical insights which can greatly improve the current approach to inventory control policies for pneumonia medications and beyond.
An affordable, sustainable tourist QoL model: the case study of Appalachian mountain towns
Authors: McGrath John M. 
Published: September 2020

PurposeThis article proposes a model for benchmarking tourism quality of life (QoL) that is practical and affordable to implement by communities of all sizes. The model is tested on a group of 30 mountain towns in the Appalachian region of the United States.Design/methodology/approachAn existing model measuring resident QoL from Roanoke, Virginia, is discussed and a new model for tourist QoL is proposed. Both models employ secondary data from free sources to calculate a practical, affordable and quantifiable QoL index.FindingsAnalysis of the data indicates the Appalachian mountain town with the highest tourist QoL score is Lynchburg, Virginia, with a composite QoL index value of 128, followed closely by Charlottesville, Virginia, with an index of 126 (where an index of 100 = the US national average).Practical implicationsA tourist QoL model has practical value because it can be used by local policymakers to benchmark their region's QoL, make comparisons with other destinations, and ultimately, as a tool to help market their community – all using free and readily available data.Originality/valueThis case study adds value to the hospitality and tourism literature by sharing the Roanoke QoL model for the first time with the academic and practitioner community and extends its methods to propose how a tourist QoL model would work. It also addresses the research gap noted by Uysal et al. (2016) who observed a dearth of tourism research studies that utilize objective measures.
The roles of external embeddedness and institutional distance in the subsidiary product/process innovation and R&D capacity
Authors: Rodrigues Cristina Doritta , Borini Felipe Mendes , Raziq Muhammad Mustafa , Bernardes Roberto Carlos 
Published: September 2020

PurposeThis study aims to look at the relationship of external embeddedness and institutional distance (governance aspects) with the foreign subsidiary research and development (R&D) capacity. Furthermore, it examines whether these relationships are mediated by subsidiary product and process innovation, and whether institutional distance plays a moderating role in the relationship between subsidiary innovation and R&D capacity.Design/methodology/approachThe authors draw on survey data from 130 foreign subsidiaries operating in Brazil and test their model using variance-based structural equation modeling.FindingsResults suggest that subsidiary (product and process) innovation fully mediates the relationships between: subsidiary external embeddedness and R&D capacity; and institutional distance and subsidiary R&D capacity, such that the relationship is positive in case of the former and negative in case of the latter. The relationship between subsidiary product and process innovation and R&D capacity is positive and stronger at lower levels of institutional distance.Originality/valueThe research ignores the underlying mechanisms of the external embeddedness and institutional distance relationship with subsidiary R&D capacity. Furthermore, institutional distance based on formal governance aspects and their impacts on subsidiary innovation and R&D capacity are rarely investigated. This paper contributes with regard to these aspects.