bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Individual factors influencing public’s perceptions about the importance of COVID-19 immunity certificates: a cross-sectional online questionnaire survey in the UK
Authors: Niculaescu Corina-Elena , Sassoon Isabel Karen , Landa-Avila Irma Cecilia , Colak Ozlem , Jun Gyuchan Thomas , Balatsoukas Panagiotis 
Published: November 2021

AbstractObjectivesTo assess what were the main individual factors influencing people’s perception of the importance of using COVID-19 immunity certificates.DesignCross-sectional online survey.SettingNationally representative survey in the UK, conducted on the 3rdof August 2021.ParticipantsResponses from 534 participants, aged 18 and older, residents of the UK.InterventionsThis was a cross-sectional survey and each participant replied to the same set of questions.Primary outcome measure and independent variablesThe primary outcome measure (dependent variable) was the participants’ perceived importance of using immunity certificates, computed as an index of six items. The following individual drivers were used as the independent variables: a) personal beliefs about COVID-19 (using constructs adapted from the Health Belief Model), b) personal views on vaccination, c) willingness to share immunity status with service providers, and d) variables related to respondents’ lifestyle and socio-demographic characteristics.ResultsPerceived importance of immunity certificates was higher among respondents who felt that contracting COVID-19 would have a severe negative impact on their health(β=0.2564, p=0.0000)and felt safer if vaccinated(β =0.1552, p=0.0000). The prospect of future economic recovery positively influenced perceived importance of immunity certificates. Respondents who were employed or self-employed(β=-0.2412, p=0.0010), or experienced an increase in income after the COVID-19 pandemic(β=-0.1287, p=0.0020)perceived less important the use of immunity certificates compared to those who were unemployed or had retired or those who had experienced reduction in their income during the pandemic.ConclusionsThe findings of our survey suggest that more vulnerable members in our society (unemployed or retired and those believing that COVID-19 would have a severe impact on their health) and people who experienced a reduction in income during the pandemic perceived the severity of not using immunity certificates in their daily life as higher.
Using the Health Belief Model to design a questionnaire aimed at measuring people’s perceptions regarding COVID-19 immunity certificates
Authors: Niculaescu Corina-Elena , Sassoon Isabel Karen , Landa-Avila Irma Cecilia , Colak Ozlem , Jun Gyuchan Thomas , Balatsoukas Panagiotis 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe present short communication paper describes the methodological approach of applying the Health Belief Model to the use COVID-19 immunity certificates in the UK. We designed an online survey including an adaptation of the following Health Belief Model constructs: perceived COVID-19 susceptibility, perceived COVID-19 severity, perceived benefits of using immunity certificates, perceived barriers from using immunity certificates, perceived severity of not using immunity certificates, and perceived vaccination views. The online cross-sectional survey conducted on the 3rdof August 2021 gathered responses from 534 participants aged 18 and older, representative of the UK population in terms of gender, age, and ethnicity.
Updated vaccine protects from infection with SARS-CoV-2 variants, prevents transmission and is immunogenic against Omicron in hamsters
Authors: Sharma Sapna , Vercruysse Thomas , Sanchez-Felipe Lorena , Kerstens Winnie , Rasulova Madina , Abdelnabi Rana , Foo Caroline S , Lemmens Viktor , Van Looveren Dominique , Maes Piet , Baele Guy , Weynand Birgit , Lemey Philippe , Neyts Johan , Thibaut Hendrik Jan , Dallmeier Kai 
Published: November 2021

AbstractCurrent first-generation COVID-19 vaccines are based on prototypic spike sequences from ancestral 2019 SARS-CoV-2 strains. However, the ongoing pandemic is fueled by variants of concern (VOC) that threaten to escape vaccine-mediated protection. Here we show in a stringent hamster model that immunization using prototypic spike expressed from a potent YF17D viral vector (1) provides vigorous protection against infection with ancestral virus (B lineage) and VOC Alpha (B.1.1.7), however, is insufficient to provide maximum protection against the Beta (B.1.351) variant. To improve vaccine efficacy, we created a revised vaccine candidate that carries an evolved spike antigen. Vaccination of hamsters with this updated vaccine candidate provides full protection against intranasal challenge with all four VOCs Alpha, Beta, Gamma (P.1) and Delta (B.1.617.2) resulting in complete elimination of infectious virus from the lungs and a marked improvement in lung pathology. Vaccinated hamsters did also no longer transmit the Delta variant to non-vaccinated sentinels. Hamsters immunized with our modified vaccine candidate also mounted marked neutralizing antibody responses against the recently emerged Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant, whereas the old vaccine employing prototypic spike failed to induce immunity to this antigenically distant virus. Overall, our data indicate that current first-generation COVID-19 vaccines need to be urgently updated to cover newly emerging VOCs to maintain vaccine efficacy and to impede virus spread at the community level.Significance StatementSARS-CoV-2 keeps mutating rapidly, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is fueled by new variants escaping immunity induced by current first-generation vaccines. There is hence an urgent need for universal vaccines that cover variants of concern (VOC). In this paper we show that an adapted version of our vaccine candidate YF-S0* provides full protection from infection, virus transmission and disease by VOCs Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta, and also results in markedly increased levels of neutralizing antibodies against recently emerged Omicron VOC in a stringent hamster model. Our findings underline the necessity to update COVID-19 vaccines to curb the pandemic, providing experimental proof on how to maintain vaccine efficacy in view of an evolving SARS-CoV-2 diversity.
Putative novel avian paramyxoviruses identified from wild bird surveillance (United States, 2016‒2018) and retrospective analysis of APMV-2s and APMV-6s in GenBank
Authors: Young Kelsey T. , Stephens Jazz Q. , Poulson Rebecca L. , Stallknecht David E. , Dimitrov Kiril M. , Butt Salman L. , Stanton James B. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractAvian paramyxoviruses (APMVs) (subfamily Avulavirinae) have been isolated from over 200 species of wild and domestic birds from around the world. The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) currently defines 22 different APMV species, with Avian orthoavulavirus 1 (whose viruses are designated as APMV-1) being the most frequently studied due to its economic burden to the poultry industry. Less is known about other APMV species, including limited knowledge on the genetic diversity in wild birds and there is a paucity of public whole genome sequences for APMV-2 to -22. The goal of this study was to use MinION sequencing to genetically characterize APMVs isolated from wild bird swab samples collected during 2016–2018 in the United States. Multiplexed MinION libraries were prepared using a random strand-switching approach using 37 egg-cultured, influenza-negative, hemagglutination-positive samples. Thirty-five APMV isolates that had complete polymerase coding sequences were speciated using ICTV’s current Paramyxoviridae phylogenetic methodology. Viruses from APMV-1, -4, -6, -8 were classified, one putative novel species (Avian orthoavulavirus 23) was identified from viruses isolated in this study, two putative new APMV species (Avian metaavulavirus 24 and 27) were identified from viruses isolated in this study and from retrospective GenBank sequences, and two putative new APMV species (Avian metaavulavirus 25 and 26) were identified solely from retrospective GenBank sequences. Furthermore, co-infections of APMVs were identified in a subset of the samples. The potential limitations of the branch length being the only speciation criterion and the potential benefit of a group pairwise distance analysis are discussed.ImportanceMost species of APMVs are understudied and/or underreported and many species were incidentally identified from asymptomatic wild birds; however, the disease significance of APMVs in wild birds is not fully determined. The rapid rise in high-throughput sequencing coupled with avian influenza surveillance programs have identified 12 different APMV species in the last decade and have challenged the resolution of classical serological methods to identify new viral species. Currently, ICTV’s only criterion for Paramyxoviridae species classification is the requirement of a branch length >0.03 using a phylogenetic tree constructed from polymerase (L) amino acid sequences. The results from this study identify one new APMV species, propose four additional new APMV species, and highlight that the criterion may have insufficient resolution for APMV species demarcation and that refinement or expansion of this criterion may need to be established for Paramyxoviridae speciation.
AI/ML Models to Aid in the Diagnosis of COVID-19 Illness from Forced Cough Vocalizations: Good Machine Learning Practice and Good Clinical Practices from Concept to Consumer for AI/ML Software Devices
Authors: Kelley K. , Kelley M. , Kelley S. C. , Sakara A.A. , Ramirez M.A. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractFrom a comprehensive and systematic search of the relevant literature on signal data signature (SDS)-based artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) systems designed to aid in the diagnosis of COVID-19 illness, we identified the highest quality articles with statistically significant data sets for a head-to-head comparison to our own model in development. Further comparisons were made to the recently released “Good Machine Learning Practice (GMLP) for Medical Device Development: Guiding Principles” and, in conclusions, we proposed supplemental principles aimed at bringing AI/ML technologies in closer alignment GMLP and Good Clinical Practices (GCP).
SARS-CoV-2 Mortality Surveillance among Community Deaths brought to University Teaching Hospital Mortuary in Lusaka, Zambia, 2020
Authors: Hamukale Amos , Hines Jonas Z. , Sinyange Nyambe , Fwoloshi Sombo , Malambo Warren , Sivile Suilanji , Chanda Stephen , Mucheleng’anga Luchenga Adam , Kayeyi Nkomba , Himwaze Cordelia Maria , Shibemba Aaron , Leigh Tally , Mazaba Mazyanga L. , Kapata Nathan , Zulu Paul , Zyambo Khozya , Mupeta Francis , Agolory Simon , Mulenga Lloyd B. , Malama Kennedy , Kapina Muzala 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIntroductionDuring March-December 2020, Zambia recorded 20,725 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with the first wave peaking between July and August. Of the 388 COVID-19-related deaths occurring nationwide, most occurred in the community. We report findings from COVID-19 mortality surveillance among community deaths brought to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) mortuary in Lusaka.MethodsIn Zambia, when a person dies in the community, and is brought into a health facility mortuary, they are recorded as ‘brought in dead’ (BID). The UTH mortuary accepts persons BID for Lusaka District, the most populated district in Zambia. We analyzed data for persons BID at UTH during 2020. We analyzed two data sources: weekly SARS-CoV-2 test results for persons BID and monthly all-cause mortality numbers among persons BID. For all-cause mortality among persons BID, monthly deaths during 2020 that were above the upper bound of the 95% confidence interval for the historic mean (2017-2019) were considered significant. Spearman’s rank test was used to correlate the overall percent positivity in Zambia with all-cause mortality and SARS-CoV-2 testing among persons BID at UTH mortuary.ResultsDuring 2020, 7,756 persons were BID at UTH (monthly range 556-810). SARS-CoV-2 testing began in April 2020, and through December 3,131 (51.9%) of 6,022 persons BID were tested. Of these, 212 (6.8%) were SARS-CoV-2 positive with weekly percent test positivity ranging from 0-32%, with the highest positivity occurring during July 2020. There were 1,139 excess persons BID from all causes at UTH mortuary in 2020 compared to the 2017-2019 mean. The monthly number of persons BID from all causes was above the upper bound of the 95% confidence interval during June-September and December.ConclusionIncreases in all-cause mortality and SARS-CoV-2 test positivity among persons BID at UTH mortuary corresponded with the first peak of the COVID-19 epidemic in June and August 2020, indicating possible increased mortality related to the COVID-19 epidemic in Zambia. Combining all-cause mortality and SARS-CoV-2 testing for persons BID provides useful information about the severity of the epidemic in Lusaka and should be implemented throughout Zambia.
COVID-19 in the Republic of Belarus: pandemic features and the interim safety and efficacy assessment of the Gam-COVID-Vac vaccine
Authors: Dashkevich Ala M , Vysotskaya Veronika S , Hlinskaya Iryna N , Skuranovich Anzhela L , Tarasenka Aliaksandr A , Karaban Inna A , Kolomiets Natalya D 
Published: November 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo study the COVID-19 pandemic features among the population of the Republic of Belarus from February 2020 to September 2021 and assess the safety (tolerance) and epidemiological efficacy of the Gam-COVID-Vac vaccine (Sputnik V).Materials and methodsA retrospective analysis of COVID-19 cases in the Republic of Belarus from the beginning of registration (February 28, 2020) to September 12, 2021 was performed. To assess the COVID-19 case detection dynamics, official registration data available on the website of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus were used.Vaccine safety (tolerance) and efficacy were assessed in an observational study. Safety (tolerance) was assessed by presence/absence of adverse reactions: general and local ones.The efficacy rate (E) and the epidemiological efficacy index (K) was calculated according to the formula: E(%)=100*(b-a)/b, K=b/a.ResultsOur data show that The COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Belarus is characterized by successive development stages: the first is the absence of COVID-19 cases in the country; the second is the registration of individual infection cases that came from abroad followed by local pathogen spread among the country’s population; the third is a local spread of COVID-19 among individuals who had contact with infected people; the fourth is the detection of cases where patients had no history of exposure to COVID-19 patients.As of calendar week 26, 2021 Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 has become the prevalent in the country.Follow-up results in January-August 2021 showed that the Sputnik V vaccine was well tolerated, with 80,832 adverse reactions reported (2.99% (95% CI 2.9-3.0) of the total number of vaccine doses administered). In terms of severity, adverse reactions were mild (91.4% (95% CI 91.2-91.6)) and moderate (8.6% (95% CI 8.6-8.8)). The epidemiological efficacy rate was 96.3%, the epidemiological efficacy index was 26.7. Thus, the results obtained testify to high prophylactic efficacy of the Sputnik V vaccine.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Belarus is characterized by successive development stages: from no cases in early 2020 to detected cases where most individuals had no history of contact with COVID-19 patients; periods of rising and falling incidence. The Sputnik V vaccine has demonstrated a high safety profile and epidemiological efficacy throughout mass vaccination in the Republic of Belarus.
Protocol for a cross-sectional study: Effects of a Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Therapy with Methylprednisolone on Offspring Neurocognitive Development and Behaviour (MS-Children)
Authors: Kozik Valeska , Schwab Matthias , Thiel Sandra , Hellwig Kerstin , Rakers Florian , Dreiling Michelle 
Published: November 2021

ABSTRACTIntroductionMultiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common neuroimmunological disease in women of childbearing age. Current MS therapy consists of immunomodulatory relapse prevention with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and acute relapse therapy with the synthetic glucocorticoid (GC) methylprednisolone (MP). As most DMTs are not approved for use during pregnancy, treatment is usually discontinued, increasing the risk for relapses. While MP therapy during pregnancy is considered relatively save for the foetus, it may be detrimental for later cognitive and neuropsychiatric function. The underlying mechanism is thought to be an epigenetically mediated desensitisation of GC receptors, the subsequent increase in stress sensitivity, and a GC-mediated impairment of brain development. The aim of this study is to investigate the associations of foetal MP exposure in the context of MS relapse therapy with later cognitive function, brain development, stress sensitivity, and behaviour.Methods and analysis80 children aged 8 to 18 years of mothers with MS will be recruited. 40 children, exposed to GC in utero will be compared to 40 children without foetal GC exposure. The intelligence quotient will serve as primary outcome. Secondary outcomes will include attention, motor development, emotional excitability, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-related symptoms, and behavioural difficulties. The Trier Social Stress Test will test stress sensitivity, EEG and MRI will assess functional and structural brain development. To determine underlying mechanisms, DNA methylation of the GC receptor gene and the H19/IGF2 locus and changes in the microbiome and the metabolome will be investigated. Primary and secondary outcomes will be analysed using linear regression models. Time-variant outcomes of the stress test will be analysed in two mixed linear models exploring overall activity and change from baseline.Ethics and disseminationThis study was approved by the participating institutions’ ethics committees and results will be presented in accordance with the STROBE 2007 Statement.Trial registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04832269?id=ZKSJ0130
Bayesian Logical Neural Networks for Human-Centered Applications in Medicine
Authors: Diaz O. Juan G. , Maier Lukas , Csiszár Orsolya 
Published: November 2021

AbstractMedicine is characterized by its inherent ambiguity, i.e., the difficulty to identify and obtain exact outcomes from available data. Regarding this problem, electronic Health Records (EHRs) aim to avoid imprecisions in the data recording, for instance by its recording in an automatic way or by the integration of data that is both readable by humans and machines. However, the inherent biology and physiological processes introduce a constant epistemic uncertainty, which has a deep implication in the way the condition of the patients is estimated. For instance, for some patients, it is not possible to speak about an exact diagnosis, but about the “suspicion” of a disease, which reveals that the medical practice is often ambiguous. In this work, we report a novel modeling methodology combining explainable models, defined on Logic Neural Networks (LONNs), and Bayesian Networks (BN) that deliver ambiguous outcomes, for instance, medical procedures (Therapy Keys (TK)), depending on the uncertainty of observed data. If epistemic uncertainty is generated from the underlying physiology, the model delivers exact or ambiguous results depending on the individual parameters of each patient. Thus, our model does not aim to assist the customer by providing exact results but is a user-centered solution that informs the customer when a given recommendation, in this case, a therapy, is uncertain and must be carefully evaluated by the customer, implying that the final customer must be a professional who will not fully rely on automatic recommendations. This novel methodology has been tested on a database for patients with heart insufficiency.
Memory perfectionism is associated with persistent memory complaints after concussion
Authors: Picon Edwina L. , Todorova Evgenia , Palombo Daniela J. , Perez David L. , Howard Andrew , Silverberg Noah D. 
Published: November 2021

ABSTRACTObjectiveThe etiology of persistent memory complaints after concussion is poorly understood. Memory perfectionism (highly valuing memory ability and intolerance of minor memory lapses) may help explain why some people report persistent subjective memory problems in the absence of corresponding objective memory impairment. The present study investigated the relationship between memory perfectionism and persistent memory complaints after concussion.MethodsAdults (N=77; 61% women) with persistent symptoms following concussion were recruited from outpatient specialty clinics. Participants completed the National Institutes of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery, Test of Memory Malingering-Trial 1, and questionnaires measuring memory perfectionism (Memory in Adulthood-Achievement subscale), forgetfulness and other post-concussion symptoms (Rivermead Postconcussion Symptoms Questionnaire; RPQ), and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-2) at M=17.8 weeks post-injury. Patients with vs. without severe memory complaints (based on the RPQ) were compared.ResultsMemory perfectionism was associated with severe memory complaint, after controlling for objective memory ability, overall cognitive ability, and depression (95% confidence interval for odds ratio = 1.11 to 1.40). Sensitivity analyses showed that this relationship did not depend on use of specific objective memory tests nor on inclusion of participants who failed performance validity testing. In a control comparison to test the specificity of identified relationships, memory perfectionism was not associated with severe fatigue (95% confidence interval for odds ratio = 0.91 to 1.07).DiscussionMemory perfectionism may predispose people to experience persistent memory symptoms and/or contribute to their perpetuation after concussion, with potential relevance to the spectrum of functional cognitive disorders more broadly.