bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness and safety of AV node ablation after His bundle pacing in patients with uncontrolled atrial arrhythmias
Authors: Moriña‐Vázquez Pablo , Moraleda‐Salas María Teresa , Arce‐León Álvaro , Venegas‐Gamero José , Fernández‐Gómez Juan Manuel , Díaz‐Fernández José Francisco 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIntroductionIn patients with uncontrolled atrial fibrillation, atrioventricular (AV) node ablation after permanent His bundle pacing (p‐HBP) could be a therapeutic option for heart rate (HR) control. We aimed to demonstrate the advantages of AV node ablation with p‐HBP, and to describe its effectiveness and safety.MethodsThis descriptive observational study included patients with uncontrolled permanent atrial arrhythmias who were candidates for HR control (January 2019 to July 2020) and underwent p‐HBP and AV node ablation.ResultsA total of 39 patients were included. The median left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 55% (45–60); 46.1% in NYHA class II and 43.6% in NYHA class III. p‐HBP was achieved in 92.3% (n = 36), and AV node ablation was successfully performed in all patients. The LVEF improved in patients with reduced LVEF (baseline, 35% [23.8–45.3%]; follow‐up, 40% [35–56.5%], p < 0.05); the NYHA class also showed improvement (baseline, 71.4% patients in class III and 7.1% in class II, and at follow‐up, 78.6% patients in class II and 14.3% in class I). In patients with previously normal LVEF, LVEF remained stable; nevertheless, a significant NYHA class improvement was observed (baseline, 63.6% class II and 31.8% class III patients; follow‐up, 54.5% class I and 45.5% class II patients). The His thresholds and lead parameter values did not significantly change during the follow‐up and remained stable.ConclusionsIn patients with uncontrolled atrial arrhythmias who underwent AV node ablation after p‐HBP, the NYHA class improved and the LVEF increased in those with reduced baseline LVEF. The values of pacing parameters were acceptable and remained stable during the follow‐up.
Stress management in aquaculture: a review of dietary interventions
Authors: Ciji Alexander , Akhtar Mohammad S. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractOver the last few decades, the demand‐driven growth in aquaculture has been tremendous due to development and adoption of cutting‐edge technologies and production systems such as intensification and high input aquaculture. This growth, however, has witnessed an insurgence of various environmental and husbandry‐related stressors posing major challenges to the aquaculture sector limiting its further expansion worldwide. These stressful conditions impair the health of cultured animals and predispose them to diseases resulting in economic losses. Hence, optimizing the stress resilience of the cultured species is paramount to ensure sustainable development of aquaculture sector. Addressing the concerns of stress mitigation in aquaculture, a plethora of research investigations have been intensively carried out all over the world targeting the management of cultured environment as well as cultured species. Among various mitigation strategies, dietary interventions appear to be pliable and a sustainable approach to develop immunocompetence and stress resistance in fish as requirement of several nutrients may increase under stressful conditions. The suboptimal and/or excessive levels of several essential and non‐essential nutrients modulate the immune response and stress/disease resistance. Hence, the present review is an inclusive and informative compilation of dietary interventions for management of stress in aquaculture. This review highlights the stress‐mitigating roles of different nutritive and non‐nutritive compounds/additives such as amino acids, essential fatty acids, phospholipids, vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, different synthetic chemicals and biological derivatives from bacteria, yeast, fungi, algae, plants and animals as a promising stress management strategy to enhance the overall performance of the cultured species.
Does self‐esteem inflation mitigate mortality salience effects on suicide attitudes?
Authors: Kheibari Athena , Cerel Julie 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIntroductionSuicide stigma is a major barrier to prevention and intervention efforts. Using terror management theory as the guiding framework, the present study examined whether enhancing self‐esteem would buffer against suicide stigma and lead to prosocial attitudes and behavior.MethodsExperimental methods were utilized in the present study. After being primed with death‐related thoughts, participants were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: (1) positive feedback (experimental group) and (2) no feedback (control group). The dependent variables included (1) evaluations of a suicide decedent, (2) intentions to intervene against suicide, and (3) charitable donation behavior toward a suicide prevention organization.ResultsThe most consistent findings for the self‐esteem boost hypothesis were for the interaction effects of death anxiety and self‐esteem boost for the donation allocation task and intentions to intervene against suicide. For participants who were reminded of death, the self‐esteem boost intervention mitigated the negative impact of death anxiety on donation behavior (i.e., an average difference of $16.37). Positive feedback for participants with reported low self‐esteem also led to increased willingness to intervene against suicide.ConclusionThese findings provide some promising potential for the self‐esteem enhancement intervention to attenuate defensive reactions to suicide.
Staphylococcus epidermidisundergoes global changes in gene expression during biofilm maturation in platelet concentrates
Authors: Loza‐Correa Maria , Yousuf Basit , Ramirez‐Arcos Sandra 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundStaphylococcus epidermidisforms surface‐attached aggregates (biofilms) when grown in platelet concentrates (PCs). Comparative transcriptome analyses were undertaken to investigate differential gene expression ofS. epidermidisbiofilms grown in PCs.Study design and methodsTwoS. epidermidisstrains isolated from human skin (AZ22 and AZ39) and one strain isolated from contaminated PCs (ST02) were grown in glucose‐supplemented Trypticase Soy Broth (TSBg) and PCs. RNA was extracted and sequenced using Illumina HiSeq. Differential expression analysis was done using DESeq, and significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were selected. DEGs were subjected to Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes and Gene Ontology analyses. Differential gene expression was validated with quantitative reverse transcription‐PCR.ResultsA total of 436, 442, and 384 genes were expressed in AZ22, AZ39, and ST02, respectively. DEG analysis showed that 170, 172, and 117 genes were upregulated in PCs in comparison to TSBg, whereas 120, 135, and 89 genes were downregulated (p < .05) in mature biofilms of AZ22, AZ39, and ST02, respectively. Twenty‐seven DEGs were shared by all three strains. While 76 DEGs were shared by AZ22 and AZ39, only 34 and 21 DEGs were common between ST02, and AZ22 and AZ39, respectively. Significant transcriptional expression changes were observed in genes involved in platelet‐bacteria interaction, biofilm formation, production of virulence factors, and resistance to antimicrobial peptides and antibiotics.ConclusionDifferential gene expression inS. epidermidisis triggered by the stressful PC storage environment. Upregulation of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes could have clinical implications for transfusion patients.
Implementation of measures to improve blood collection center employee safety and reduce callouts during the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic
Authors: Coberly Emily , Korich Erin , Henesy Michelle , Doerksen Kate , Young Pampee 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundBlood collection center (BCC) employees are essential workers during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The employee callout rate, defined as the percentage of scheduled employees unable to report to work for any cause including COVID‐19 illness or asymptomatic quarantine, was tracked to determine the impact of safety measures including social distancing, masks, enhanced disinfection protocols, and temperature screening.Study design and methodsA contact tracing and quarantine program was implemented for all employees, followed by additional safety measures including social distancing, masks, enhanced disinfection protocols, and temperature screening. The weekly callout rate was tracked nationally for 19,517 BCC employees over 9 months, from March to December 2020.ResultsWeekly employee callout rates increased after implementation of the contact tracing program due to asymptomatic employees placed into COVID‐19‐related quarantine. Mobile collections callouts increased by nearly fivefold the pre‐pandemic baseline within the first 4 weeks, peaking at 9.7% in early April. Peaks for fixed site collections (5.0%) and manufacturing (6.7%) occurred nearly simultaneously. Shortly after implementation of all safety measures, the weekly callout rate declined for all three employee groups and has remained relatively stable with a mean callout rate of 4.3% for mobile collections, 2.4% for fixed site collections, and 3.7% for manufacturing despite further increase in new COVID‐19 cases in the United States.ConclusionCallouts for BCC employees during the COVID‐19 pandemic initially increased, but subsequently declined and stabilized after implementation of safety measures. Since multiple interventions were implemented simultaneously, it is not possible to determine the individual impact of each measure on callout rate.
Facebook como herramienta de comunicación en procesos educativos
Authors: Ortiz Vizuete Fernando , Molina Loyola Cecilia , Ávila Solano Bolívar , Maldonado Vélez Ángela María 
Published: April 2021

Este artículo se enmarca en el proyecto de investigación “Usos y aplicaciones de la Red Social Facebook en la Universidad de Cuenca”. Nos interesó conocer si facebook ha generado escenarios de aprendizaje complementarios a los procesos formales y escolarizados, o, si constituye una herramienta de comunicación en las dinámicas educativas. La metodología se basó en una encuesta aplicada a 375 estudiantes y 287 docentes de la Universidad de Cuenca, en grupos focales y en entrevistas a profundidad realizadas a profesores de diferentes facultades. El artículo analiza a facebook como una herramienta de mediación entre profesores y estudiantes. Se plantea la necesidad de establecer procesos más abiertos para comprender las formas cómo los estudiantes se comunican, aprenden y conviven en esta red social, que es un escenario de interactividad docente-estudiante, estudiante-estudiante, y, que se vislumbra como un espacio para establecer diálogos orientados a la generación de conocimientos compartidos.
Design and Analysis of a Novel Reconfigurable Parallel Manipulator With Kirigami-Inspired Bennett Plano-Spherical Linkages and Angular Pouch Motors
Authors: Zhang Ketao , Liu Chen 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Drawing inspiration from kirigami, this article first presents the crease pattern of a kirigami model which is kinematically equivalent to a Bennett plano-spherical linkage. In terms of the screw theory, distinct closed-loop motion branches of the linkage are revealed. This article then introduces a new reconfigurable parallel manipulator with three hybrid kinematic limbs. Each limb consists of closed-loop subchain, the Bennett plano-spherical linkage, and a R(RR) serial chain. Constraints provided by the hybrid limb are explored by analyzing constraint screws of serial limbs kinematically equivalent to the hybrid limb in different motion branches. The analysis reveals motion characteristics of the moving platform when the parallel manipulator is in different motion branches. The kinematic model provides a unified mapping between joint inputs and outputs of the reconfigurable manipulator in all three motion branches. This article further presents a new inflatable angular pouch motor and fabricated a prototype using a rectangular tile origami base and adhesive fabric. The pouch motors are then integrated with 3D printed prototypes of the Bennett plano-spherical linkage and the parallel manipulator for the purpose of reconfiguring motion branches.
Household economic burden of childhood severe pneumonia in Bangladesh: a cost-of-illness study
Authors: Sultana Marufa , Alam Nur H , Ali Nausad , Faruque A S G , Fuchs George J , Gyr Niklaus , Chisti Md Jobayer , Ahmed Tahmeed , Gold Lisa 
Published: April 2021

ObjectiveTo estimate household cost of illness (COI) for children with severe pneumonia in Bangladesh.DesignAn incidence-based COI study was performed for one episode of childhood severe pneumonia from a household perspective. Face-to-face interviews collected data on socioeconomic, resource use and cost from caregivers. A micro-costing bottom-up approach was applied to calculate medical, non-medical and time costs. Multiple regression analysis was applied to explore the factors associated with COI. Sensitivity analysis explored the robustness of cost parameters.SettingFour urban and rural study sites from two districts in Bangladesh.PatientsChildren aged 2–59 months with severe pneumonia.Results1472 children with severe pneumonia were enrolled between November 2015 and March 2019. The mean age of children was 12 months (SD ±10.2) and 64% were male. The mean household cost per episode was US$147 (95% CI 141.1 to 152.7). Indirect costs were the main cost drivers (65%, US$96). Household costs for the poorest income quintile were lower in absolute terms, but formed a higher proportion of monthly income. COI was significantly higher if treatment was received from urban health facilities compared with rural health facilities (difference US$84.9, 95% CI 73.3 to 96.3). Child age, household income, healthcare facility and hospital length of stay (LoS) were significant predictors of household COI. Costs were most sensitive to hospital LoS and productivity loss.ConclusionsSevere pneumonia in young children is associated with high household economic burden and cost varies significantly across socioeconomic parameters. Management strategies with improved accessibility are needed particularly for the poor to make treatment affordable in order to reduce household economic burden.
Life course socioeconomic position and DNA methylation age acceleration in mid-life
Authors: George Anitha , Hardy Rebecca , Castillo Fernandez Juan , Kelly Yvonne , Maddock Jane 
Published: April 2021

BackgroundAgeing biomarkers can help us better understand how well-established socioeconomic position (SEP) disparities in ageing occur. A promising new set of DNAm methylation (DNAm)-based ageing biomarkers indicate through their age acceleration (AA) measures if biological ageing is slower or faster than chronological ageing. Few studies have investigated the association between SEP and DNAm AA.MethodsWe used linear regression to examine the sex-adjusted relationships between childhood social class, adult social class, intergenerational social class change, education and adult household earnings with first (Horvath AA and Hannum AA) and second generation (PhenoAge AA and GrimAge AA) DNAm AA markers using data from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development.ResultsIn the first-generation biomarkers, there was little evidence of any associations with Horvath AA but associations of childhood social class and income with Hannum AA were observed. Strong associations were seen between greater disadvantage in childhood and adult SEP and greater AA in the second generation biomarkers. For example, those with fathers in an unskilled occupational social class in childhood had 3.6 years greater PhenoAge AA (95% CI 1.8 to 5.4) than those with fathers from a professional social class. Individuals without qualifications had higher AA compared with those with higher education (4.1 years greater GrimAge AA (95% CI 3.1 to 5.0)).ConclusionOur findings highlight the importance of exposure to social disadvantage in childhood to the biological ageing process. The second generation clocks appear to be more sensitive to the accumulation of social disadvantage across the life course.
Social deprivation as a risk factor for COVID-19 mortality among women and men in the UK Biobank: nature of risk and context suggests that social interventions are essential to mitigate the effects of future pandemics
Authors: Woodward Mark , Peters Sanne A E , Harris Katie 
Published: April 2021

ObjectivesTo investigate sex differences in the effects of social deprivation on COVID-19 mortality and to place these effects in context with other diseases.DesignProspective population-based study.SettingUK Biobank.Participants501 865 participants (54% women).Main outcome measureCOVID-19 as the underlying cause of death.ResultsOf 472 946 participants alive when COVID-19 was first apparent in the UK (taken as 1 February 2020), 217 (34% women) died from COVID-19 over the next 10 months, resulting in an incidence, per 100 000 person years, of 100.65 (95% CI 79.47 to 121.84) for women and 228.59 (95% CI 194.88 to 262.30) for men. Greater social deprivation, quantified using the Townsend Deprivation Score, was associated with greater risk of fatal COVD-19. Adjusted for age and ethnicity, HRs for women and men, comparing those in the most with the least deprived national fifths, were 3.66 (2.82 to 4.75) for women and 3.00 (2.46 to 3.66) for men. Adjustments for key baseline lifestyle factors attenuated these HRs to 2.20 (1.63 to 2.96) and 2.62 (2.12 to 3.24), respectively. There was evidence of a log-linear trend in the deprivation–fatal COVID-19 association, of similar magnitude to the equivalent trends for the associations between deprivation and fatal influenza or pneumonia and fatal cardiovascular disease. For all three causes of death, there was no evidence of a sex difference in the associations.ConclusionsHigher social deprivation is a risk factor for death from COVID-19 on a continuous scale, with two to three times the risk in the most disadvantaged 20% compared with the least. Similarities between the social gradients in COVID-19, influenza/pneumonia and cardiovascular disease mortality, the lack of sex differences in these effects, and the partial mediation of lifestyle factors suggest that better social policies are crucial to alleviate the general medical burden, including from the current, and potential future, viral pandemics.
Early life involvement in C9orf72 repeat expansion carriers
Authors: Gossink Flora , Dols Annemiek , Stek Max L , Scheltens Philip , Nijmeijer Bas , Cohn Hokke Petra , Dijkstra Anke , Van Ruissen Fred , Aalfs Cora , Pijnenburg Yolande A L 
Published: April 2021

ObjectivesThe chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 gene (C9orf72) hexanucleotide repeat expansion (C9orf72RE) is the most common genetic cause of behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Since the onset of the C9orf72RE-associated disease is sometimes hard to define, we hypothesise that C9orf72REmay cause a lifelong neuropsychiatric vulnerability. The first aim of our study was to explore lifelong behavioural and personality characteristics in C9orf72RE. Second, we aimed to describe distinctive characteristics of C9orf72REduring disease course.MethodsOut of 183 patients from the Amsterdam Dementia Cohort that underwent genetic testing between 2011 and 2018, 20 C9orf72REbvFTD patients and 23 C9orf72REnegative bvFTD patients were included. Patients and their relatives were interviewed extensively to chart their biography. Data analysis was performed through a mixed-methods approach including qualitative and quantitative analyses.ResultsEducation, type of professional career and number of intimate partners were not different between carriers and non-carriers. Carriers were more often described by their relatives as having ‘fixed behavioural patterns in daily life’ and with limited empathy already years before onset of bvFTD symptoms. In carriers, disease course was more often characterised by excessive buying and obsessive physical exercise than in non-carriers.ConclusionThis is the first study thoroughly exploring biographies of bvFTD patients with C9orf72RE, revealing that subtle personality traits may be present early in life. Our study suggests that C9orf72REexerts a lifelong neuropsychiatric vulnerability. This may strengthen hypotheses of links between neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, the presence of a distinct C9orf72RE-associated syndrome within the FTD spectrum opens doors for investigation of vulnerable neuronal networks.
Shift work is associated with positive COVID-19 status in hospitalised patients
Authors: Maidstone Robert , Anderson Simon G , Ray David W , Rutter Martin K , Durrington Hannah J , Blaikley John F 
Published: April 2021

Introduction
Shift work is associated with lung disease and infections. We therefore investigated the impact of shift work on significant COVID-19 illness.

Methods
501 000 UK Biobank participants were linked to secondary care SARS-CoV-2 PCR results from Public Health England. Healthcare worker occupational testing and those without an occupational history were excluded from analysis.

Results
Multivariate logistic regression (age, sex, ethnicity and deprivation index) revealed that irregular shift work (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.92 to 3.05), permanent shift work (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.95 to 3.19), day shift work (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.55 to 2.6), irregular night shift work (OR 3.04, 95% CI 2.37 to 3.9) and permanent night shift work (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.67 to 3.7) were all associated with positive COVID-19 tests compared with participants that did not perform shift work. This relationship persisted after adding sleep duration, chronotype, premorbid disease, body mass index, alcohol and smoking to the model. The effects of workplace were controlled for in three ways: (1) by adding in work factors (proximity to a colleague combined with estimated disease exposure) to the multivariate model or (2) comparing participants within each job sector (non-essential, essential and healthcare) and (3) comparing shift work and non-shift working colleagues. In all cases, shift work was significantly associated with COVID-19. In 2017, 120 307 UK Biobank participants had their occupational history reprofiled. Using this updated occupational data shift work remained associated with COVID-19 (OR 4.48 (95% CI 1.8 to 11.18).

Conclusions
Shift work is associated with a higher likelihood of in-hospital COVID-19 positivity. This risk could potentially be mitigated via additional workplace precautions or vaccination.