bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Separate and combined effects of individual and neighbourhood socio-economic disadvantage on health-related lifestyle risk factors: a multilevel analysis
Authors: Zhu Yinjie , Duan Ming-Jie , Riphagen Ineke J , Minovic Isidor , Mierau Jochen O , Carrero Juan-Jesus , Bakker Stephan J L , Navis Gerjan J , Dekker Louise H 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Background
Socio-economic disadvantage at both individual and neighbourhood levels has been found to be associated with single lifestyle risk factors. However, it is unknown to what extent their combined effects contribute to a broad lifestyle profile. We aimed to (i) investigate the associations of individual socio-economic disadvantage (ISED) and neighbourhood socio-economic disadvantage (NSED) in relation to an extended score of health-related lifestyle risk factors (lifestyle risk index); and to (ii) investigate whether NSED modified the association between ISED and the lifestyle risk index.

Methods
Of 77 244 participants [median age (IQR): 46 (40–53) years] from the Lifelines cohort study in the northern Netherlands, we calculated a lifestyle risk index by scoring the lifestyle risk factors including smoking status, alcohol consumption, diet quality, physical activity, TV-watching time and sleep time. A higher lifestyle risk index was indicative of an unhealthier lifestyle. Composite scores of ISED and NSED based on a variety of socio-economic indicators were calculated separately. Linear mixed-effect models were used to examine the association of ISED and NSED with the lifestyle risk index and to investigate whether NSED modified the association between ISED and the lifestyle risk index by including an interaction term between ISED and NSED.

Results
Both ISED and NSED were associated with an unhealthier lifestyle, because ISED and NSED were both positively associated with the lifestyle risk index {highest quartile [Q4] ISED beta-coefficient [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 0.64 [0.62–0.66], P &lt; 0.001; highest quintile [Q5] NSED beta-coefficient [95% CI]: 0.17 [0.14–0.21], P &lt; 0.001} after adjustment for age, sex and body mass index. In addition, a positive interaction was found between NSED and ISED on the lifestyle risk index (beta-coefficient 0.016, 95% CI: 0.011–0.021, Pinteraction &lt; 0.001), which indicated that NSED modified the association between ISED and the lifestyle risk index; i.e. the gradient of the associations across all ISED quartiles (Q4 vs Q1) was steeper among participants residing in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods compared with those who resided in the less disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

Conclusions
Our findings suggest that public health initiatives addressing lifestyle-related socio-economic health differences should not only target individuals, but also consider neighbourhood factors.
ACE2, TMPRSS2, and L-SIGN Expression in Placentae From HIV-Positive Pregnancies Exposed to Antiretroviral Therapy—Implications for SARS-CoV-2 Placental Infection
Authors: Kala Smriti , Meteleva Ksenia , Serghides Lena 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Background
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) binding receptor ACE2 and the spike protein priming protease TMPRSS2 are coexpressed in human placentae. It is unknown whether their expression is altered in the context of HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Methods
We compared mRNA levels of SARS-CoV-2 cell-entry mediators ACE2, TMPRSS2, and L-SIGN by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in 105 placentae: 45 from pregnant women with HIV (WHIV) on protease inhibitor (PI)-based ART, 17 from WHIV on non-PI–based ART, and 43 from HIV-uninfected women.

Results
ACE2 levels were lower, while L-SIGN levels were higher, in placentae from WHIV on PI-based ART compared to those on non-PI–based ART and to HIV-uninfected women. TMPRSS2 levels were similar between groups. Black race was significantly associated with lower expression of ACE2 and higher expression of L-SIGN. ACE2 levels were significantly higher in placentae of female fetuses.

Conclusions
We identified pregnant women of black race and WHIV on PI-based ART to have relatively lower expression of placental ACE2 than those of white race and HIV-uninfected women. This may potentially contribute to altered susceptibility to COVID-19 in these women, favorably by reduced viral entry or detrimentally by loss of ACE2 protection against hyperinflammation.
Managing User-Centered Design Activities in Distributed Agile Development
Authors: Alyahya Sultan , Almughram Ohoud 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
The integration of user-centered design (UCD) activities into agile information systems development has become more popular recently. Despite the fact that there are many ways the merging of UCD activities into agile development can be carried out, it has been widely recognized that coordinating design activities with development activities is one of the most common problems, especially in distributed environments where designers, developers and users are spread over several sites. The main approach to coordinate UCD activities with distributed agile development is the use of informal methods (e.g. communication through using video conference tools). In addition to the temporal, geographical and socio-cultural barriers associated with this type of methods, a major limitation is a lack of awareness of how UCD activities and development activities affect each other. Furthermore, some agile project management tools are integrated with design platforms but fail to provide the necessary coordination that helps team members understand how the design and development activities affect their daily work. This research aims to support the effective management of integrating UCD activities into distributed agile development by (i) identifying the key activity dependencies between UX design teams and development teams during distributed UCD/agile development and (ii) designing a computer-based system to provide coordination support through managing these activity dependencies. In order to achieve these objectives, two case studies are carried out. Our findings revealed 10 main dependencies between UCD design teams and development teams as shown by six types of activity. In addition, the participatory design approach shows that developing a computer-based system to manage seven of these selected dependencies is achievable.
Assessing the appropriateness of antimicrobial therapy in patients with sepsis at a Vietnamese national hospital
Authors: Nguyen-Hoang Nam , Bui Quynh Thi Huong 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Objectives
To assess the appropriateness of empirical antimicrobial therapy for sepsis and septic shock and determine factors associated with patient treatment outcomes at a Vietnamese national hospital.

Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 134 patients diagnosed with sepsis and/or septic shock at Thong-Nhat Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from January 2018 to June 2018. Appropriateness of antimicrobial therapy was defined as physician adherence to antimicrobial guidelines using the Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy and the Vietnam national guidelines. Bayesian model averaging technique was used to identify the related factors associated with patient treatment outcomes.

Results
The median age of patients was 70 years. Organisms were identified in 54.5% of cases and predominated by Escherichia coli and staphylococci. Appropriate empirical antimicrobial agents were initiated in 56.6% (n = 73) of all cases. Of these patients, 31 cases (42.5%) and 61 cases (83.6%) received the antimicrobials in accordance with recommendations related to dosage and route of administration, respectively, bringing the overall rate of appropriate empirical antimicrobial therapy down to 23.3%. Patients who progressed to septic shock, received inappropriate antimicrobial therapy and required ICU admission were more likely to suffer treatment failure.

Conclusions
The study findings suggest that clinicians should appropriately adhere to antimicrobial guidelines, especially in patients with septic shock and those who require ICU care, to improve treatment outcomes.
Assessing dairy cow welfare during the grazing and housing periods on spring-calving, pasture-based dairy farms
Authors: Crossley Robin E , Bokkers Eddie A M , Browne Natasha , Sugrue Katie , Kennedy Emer , de Boer Imke J M , Conneely Muireann 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe different periods characterizing spring-calving, pasture-based dairy systems common in Ireland have seldom been the focus of large-scale dairy cow welfare research. Thus, the aim of this study was to devise and conduct an animal-based welfare assessment during both the grazing and housing periods on spring-calving, pasture-based dairy farms, to identify areas for improvement and establish benchmarks for indicators of good welfare. Assessment of seven animal-based welfare indicators was conducted during two visits (one each at grazing and housing) to 82 commercial dairy farms in southern Ireland. Herd-level descriptive statistics were performed for all welfare indicators at each visit, and differences between visits were analyzed using paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. A mean of 9% and 10% clinically lame cows (mobility scores 2 and 3) were observed at housing and grazing, respectively. Recommended body condition scores (BCS) were not met for a mean of 13% of cows at grazing and 23% at housing, with more over-conditioned cows present at housing than grazing (P &lt; 0.001). Ocular discharge was uncommon in both periods. Prevalence of moderate and severe nasal discharge combined was lower during housing (5%) than grazing (7%). In both periods, similar mean levels of tail injury were observed: 2% to 3% of cows with tail lacerations, 9% with broken tails, and 8% (measured at housing only) with docked tails. Integument alterations involved primarily hair loss and were most prevalent on the hindquarters (26%) during grazing and on the head–neck–back (66%) and the hindquarter (32%) regions during housing. Cows displayed an avoidance distance of &gt;1 m (indicative of a fearful response) from an approaching human in an average of 82% of grazing cows and 42% to 75% of housed cows, dependent on test location. Opportunities to improve welfare in this system were identified in the areas of tail injury prevention, nasal health, and the management of indoor housing and feeding. The performance of the top 20% of farms for each welfare indicator was used to establish benchmarks of: 0% to 5% clinical lameness, 0% to 12% of cows outside recommended BCS, 0% to 27% ocular discharge, 2% to 16% nasal discharge, 0% tail lacerations and docked tails, 0% to 3% tail breaks, 0% to 14% integument alterations, and 4% to 74% for avoidance distance of &gt;1 m. These represent attainable targets for spring-calving pasture-based farms to promote good dairy cow welfare.
Detailed structure of mouse interferon α2 and its interaction with Sortilin
Authors: Watanabe Honoka , Yabe-Wada Toshiki , Onai Nobuyuki , Unno Masaki 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Interferon α (IFNα) is a type I interferon, an essential cytokine employed by the immune system to fight viruses. Although a number of the structures of type I interferons have been reported, most of the known structures of IFNα are in complex with its receptors. There are only two examples of structures of free IFNα: one is a dimeric X-ray structure without side-chain information; and another is an NMR structure of human IFNα. Although we have shown that Sortilin is involved in the secretion of IFNα, the details of the molecular interaction and the secretion mechanism remain unclear. Recently, we solved the X-ray structure of mouse Sortilin, but the structure of mouse IFNα remained unknown. In this study, we determined the crystal structure of mouse IFNα2 at 2.1 Å resolution and investigated its interaction with Sortilin. Docking simulations suggested that Arg22 of mouse IFNα2 is important for the interaction with mouse Sortilin. Mutation of Arg22 to alanine facilitated IFNα2 secretion, as determined by flow cytometry, highlighting the contribution of this residue to the interaction with Sortilin. These results suggest an important role for Arg22 in mouse IFNα for Sortilin-mediated IFNα trafficking.
A Fast and Efficient Single-stranded Genomic Library Preparation Method Optimized for Ancient DNA
Authors: Kapp Joshua D , Green Richard E , Shapiro Beth 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWe present a protocol to prepare extracted DNA for sequencing on the Illumina sequencing platform that has been optimized for ancient and degraded DNA. Our approach, the Santa Cruz Reaction or SCR, uses directional splinted ligation of Illumina’s P5 and P7 adapters to convert natively single-stranded DNA and heat denatured double-stranded DNA into sequencing libraries in a single enzymatic reaction. To demonstrate its efficacy in converting degraded DNA molecules, we prepare 5 ancient DNA extracts into sequencing libraries using the SCR and 2 of the most commonly used approaches for preparing degraded DNA for sequencing: BEST, which targets and converts double-stranded DNA, and ssDNA2.0, which targets and converts single-stranded DNA. We then compare the efficiency with which each approach recovers unique molecules, or library complexity, given a standard amount of DNA input. We find that the SCR consistently outperforms the BEST protocol in recovering unique molecules and, despite its relative simplicity to perform and low cost per library, has similar performance to ssDNA2.0 across a wide range of DNA inputs. The SCR is a cost- and time-efficient approach that minimizes the loss of unique molecules and makes accessible a taxonomically, geographically, and a temporally broader sample of preserved remains for genomic analysis.
Risk Assessment of Flonicamid Resistance in Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae): Resistance Monitoring, Inheritance, and Cross-Resistance Potential
Authors: Abbas Naeem , Abubakar Muhammad , Hassan Muhammad Waqar , Shad Sarfraz Ali , Hafez Abdulwahab M 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Flonicamid is a chordotonal modulator and novel systemic insecticide that has been used frequently for controlling a broad range of insect pests. The risk of flonicamid resistance was assessed through laboratory selection and determining inheritance pattern and cross-resistance potential to five insecticides in house fly, Musca domestica L. Very low to high flonicamid resistance in M. domestica populations was found compared with the susceptible strain (SS). A flonicamid-selected (Flonica-RS) M. domestica strain developed 57.73-fold resistance to flonicamid screened for 20 generations compared with the SS. Overlapping 95% fiducial limits of LC50 of the F1 and F1ǂ, and dominance values (0.87 for F1 and 0.92 for F1ǂ) revealed an autosomal and incomplete dominant flonicamid resistance. The monogenic model of resistance inheritance suggested a polygenic flonicamid resistance. The Flonica-RS strain displayed negative cross-resistance between flonicamid and sulfoxaflor (0.10-fold) or clothianidin (0.50-fold), and very low cross-resistance between flonicamid and flubendiamide (4.71-fold), spinetoram (4.68-fold), or thiamethoxam (2.02-fold) in comparison with the field population. The estimated realized heritability (h2) value of flonicamid resistance was 0.02. With selection mortality 40–90%, the generations required for a 10-fold increase in LC50 of flonicamid were 94–258 at h2 (0.02) and slope (3.29). Flonicamid resistance was inherited as autosomal, incomplete dominant, and polygenic in the Flonica-RS. Negative or very low cross-resistance between flonicamid and sulfoxaflor, clothianidin, flubendiamide, spinetoram, and thiamethoxam means that these insecticides can be used as alternatives for controlling M. domestica. These data can be useful in devising the management for M. domestica.
Genetically modified maize hybrids and delayed sowing reduced drought effects across a rainfall gradient in temperate Argentina
Authors: Otegui Maria E , Riglos Maximiliano , Mercau Jorge L 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Before the introduction of genetically modified insect-tolerant maize (Zea mays L.) in 1997, most of the production of this staple in Argentina was concentrated in humid and sub-humid temperate regions. Early spring sowings minimized the risk of water deficit around flowering and yield reduction due to pests. Use of genetically modified maize allowed optimization of sowing dates to synchronize critical periods for kernel set determination with the times of the year when water deficits are less likely, reducing large interannual variations in grain yield. This change in sowing date did not start until 2009, after the occurrence of two successive dry phases of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation phenomenon. The area of land cropped to maize in Argentina has expanded dramatically since then, particularly beyond the humid areas. Currently, maize is sown in an almost 50%/50% distribution between early and late sowings, including double cropping. Changes in agronomic practices such as sowing date and production area can lead to changes in the timing and intensity of water deficits along the maize growth cycle. This review provides an overview of new patterns of water deficit across humid, sub-humid, and semi-arid mid-latitude environments of Argentina, and their effects on grain yield and yield components.
Choreographing Sensibility: Innocence and Politeness in Haydn’s Hob. XVI: 40 and 42
Authors: Hui Keri 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
This article examines the first movements of Haydn’s keyboard sonatas Hob. XVI: 40 and 42, composed for and dedicated to Princess Marie Esterházy. The movements are explored alongside the various public portraits of the princess to observe how the music might have helped confirm or reinforce the feminine ideals and behaviours of the eighteenth-century culture of sensibility. The studies of Hob. XVI: 40’s Allegretto e innocente and Hob. XVI: 42’s Andante con espressione focus respectively on the notions of innocence and politeness. Framed in this way, these works can be heard as a musical choreography of tasteful innocence and politeness in the culture of sensibility—the music, when performed, brings forth an experience similar to reading a sentimental fictional narrative and a chapter in a conduct-book.
Wave dark matter and ultra-diffuse galaxies
Authors: Pozo Alvaro , Broadhurst Tom , de Martino Ivan , Luu Hoang Nhan , Smoot George F , Lim Jeremy , Neyrinck Mark 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACT
Dark matter (DM) as a Bose–Einstein condensate, such as the axionic scalar field particles of String Theory, can explain the coldness of DM on large scales. Pioneering simulations in this context predict a rich wave-like structure, with a ground state soliton core in every galaxy surrounded by a halo of excited states that interfere on the de Broglie scale. This de Broglie scale is largest for the low-mass galaxies as momentum is lower, providing a simple explanation for the wide cores of dwarf spheroidal galaxies. Here we extend these ‘wave dark matter’ (ψDM) predictions to the newly discovered class of ‘ultra-diffuse galaxies’ (UDG) that resemble dwarf spheroidal galaxies but with more extended stellar profiles. Currently, the best-studied example, ‘Dragon Fly 44’ (DF44), has a uniform velocity dispersion of ≃33 km s−1, extending to at least 3 kpc, that we show is reproduced by our ψDM simulations with a soliton radius of ≃0.5 kpc. In the ψDM context, we show that relatively flat dispersion profile of DF44 lies between massive galaxies with compact dense solitons, as may be present in the Milky Way on a scale of 100 pc and lower mass galaxies where the velocity dispersion declines centrally within a wide, low-density soliton, like Antlia II, of radius 3 kpc.
21-cm foregrounds and polarization leakage: cleaning and mitigation strategies
Authors: Cunnington Steven , Irfan Melis O , Carucci Isabella P , Pourtsidou Alkistis , Bobin Jérôme 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACT
The success of H i intensity mapping is largely dependent on how well 21-cm foreground contamination can be controlled. In order to progress our understanding further, we present a range of simulated foreground data from two different ∼3000 deg2 sky regions, with varying effects from polarization leakage. Combining these with cosmological H i simulations creates a range of intensity mapping test cases that require different foreground treatments. This allows us to conduct the most generalized study to date into 21-cm foregrounds and their cleaning techniques for the post-reionization era. We first provide a pedagogical review of the most commonly used blind foreground removal techniques [principal component analysis (PCA)/singular value decomposition (SVD), fast independent component analysis (FASTICA), and generalized morphological component analysis (GMCA)]. We also trial a non-blind parametric fitting technique and discuss potential hybridization of methods. We highlight the similarities and differences in these techniques finding that the blind methods produce near equivalent results, and we explain the fundamental reasons for this. Our results demonstrate that polarized foreground residuals should be generally subdominant to H i on small scales ($k\gtrsim 0.1\, h\, \text{Mpc}^{-1}$). However, on larger scales, results are more case dependent. In some cases, aggressive cleans severely damp H i power but still leave dominant foreground residuals. We find a changing polarization fraction has little impact on results within a realistic range (0.5–2 per cent); however, a higher level of Faraday rotation does require more aggressive cleaning. We also demonstrate the gain from cross-correlations with optical galaxy surveys, where extreme levels of residual foregrounds can be circumvented. However, these residuals still contribute to errors and we discuss the optimal balance between overcleaning and undercleaning.
The black hole transient MAXI J1348–630: evolution of the compact and transient jets during its 2019/2020 outburst
Authors: Carotenuto F , Corbel S , Tremou E , Russell T D , Tzioumis A , Fender R P , Woudt P A , Motta S E , Miller-Jones J C A , Chauhan J , Tetarenko A J , Sivakoff G R , Heywood I , Horesh A , van der Horst A J , Koerding E , Mooley K P 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACT
We present the radio and X-ray monitoring campaign of the 2019/2020 outburst of MAXI J1348–630, a new black hole X-ray binary (BH XRB) discovered in 2019 January. We observed MAXI J1348–630 for ∼14 months in the radio band with MeerKAT and the Australia Telescope Compact Array, and in the X-rays with MAXI and Swift/XRT. Throughout the outburst, we detected and tracked the evolution of compact and transient jets. Following the main outburst, the system underwent at least four hard-state-only re-flares, during which compact jets were again detected. For the major outburst, we observed the rise, quenching and reactivation of compact jets, as well as two single-sided discrete ejecta travelling away from the BH, launched ∼2 months apart. These ejecta displayed the highest proper motion (≳100 mas d−1) ever measured for an accreting BH binary. From the jet motion, we constrain the ejecta inclination and speed to be ≤46○ and ≥0.69 c, and the opening angle and transverse expansion speed of the first component to be ≤6○ and ≤0.05 c. We also infer that the first ejection happened at the hard-to-soft state transition, before a strong radio flare, while the second ejection was launched during a short excursion from the soft to the intermediate state. After travelling with constant speed, the first component underwent a strong deceleration, which was covered with unprecedented detail and suggested that MAXI J1348–630 could be located inside a low-density cavity in the interstellar medium, as already proposed for XTE J1550–564 and H1743–322.