bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Randomised controlled trial of students access to resources in an examination
Authors: Tweed Mike , Desrosiers Jen , Wilkinson Tim J. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIntroductionAssessment of healthcare professionals should be authentic to clinical practice. As clinicians regularly use resources in practice, similar resources should be available to those sitting assessment. There is limited information on the impacts of open‐book (resource) assessments on standard setting for use in high‐stakes assessments. This research aims to explore the effects on standard setting and student perceptions when open vs closed resources are available in high‐stakes assessment of medical students.MethodsStudents sat multiple‐choice question (MCQ) examinations under both closed‐ and open‐resource conditions in a randomised crossover design. A standard setting panel set pass‐marks for both closed‐ and open‐resource conditions of delivery, and we compared these pass‐marks with each other and with actual performance. Students responded to a survey on perceptions of open‐resource assessments.ResultsThe pass‐mark was set higher when panellists considered open‐resource conditions compared to closed conditions (59% vs 47%), but actual student performance showed no difference in scores between the two conditions. The net effect was that the pass rate was higher for closed than open‐resource conditions (71% vs 34%). Open‐resource conditions increased the time to complete the questions. The students perceived that open resource was more authentic but was more time‐consuming and would require different preparation. Regarding the acceptability of including open resources in high‐stakes assessment, the responses of students were mixed.DiscussionPass standards based solely on judgements by panellists experienced in closed‐resource conditions might not be applicable under open conditions. Questions vary in how much time accessing resources may take and the degree of assistance in selecting the correct answer. A programme of assessment could be constructed to include both closed‐ and open‐resource condition assessments depending on the questions’ content and format. Open‐resource conditions may promote assessment preparation that focuses more on seeking and evaluating resources rather than learning facts.
Measurement of membrane integrity in canine spermatozoa using a fluorescent computer‐assisted spermatozoal quantification method after SYBR‐14/PI staining compared with manual counting after CFDA/PI staining
Authors: Watts John 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe aim of this study was to compare measurements of spermatozoal membrane status in dogs using computer‐assisted spermatozoal quantification (CASQ) after staining with SYBR‐14 and propidium iodide (PI) with manual counting after CFDA/PI staining. CASQ was performed on fresh (n = 11) and thawed cryopreserved canine semen (n = 91) using (1) a red long‐pass (LP) filter on an untreated sample (membrane‐disrupted spermatozoa, MDS count) and in a sample with all cellular membranes disrupted (total spermatozoal count, TC), (2) green LP filter for a TC and the red filter for an MDS count and (3) a green short‐pass filter to obtain a membrane‐intact spermatozoa (MIS) count and the red filter to obtain the MDS count, which were added to give a TC (red–green filter CASQ, n = 50). Spermatozoa were also stained with CFDA/PI, manually examined and classified as MIS or MDS. All measurements were performed in duplicate. The percentage of membrane‐intact spermatozoa (MIS) was calculated. The percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa (PMS) was determined subjectively. The data were analysed to measure the agreement between the CASQ and CFDA/PI methods, repeatability of the methods and correlation between the MIS and PMS percentage. Compared with the CFDA/PI method, the agreement of MIS percentage with red filter CASQ was −12% to 34%, green LP filter CASQ −42% to 47% and red–green filter CASQ −23% to 29%. The repeatability of the CFDA/PI and red–green filter CASQ methods were the highest. The MIS and PMS percentages were always correlated (p < .05). Measurement of MIS percentage using red and red–green filter CASQ appeared to be the most reliable automated methods.
VO2peak and 24‐hour sleep, sedentary behavior, and physical activity in Australian truck drivers
Authors: Gilson Nicholas D. , Mielke Gregore I. , Coombes Jeff S. , Feter Natan , Smith Emily , Duncan Mitch J. , Wallis Guy , Brown Wendy J. 
Published: April 2021

This study assessed cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and 24‐h sleep, sedentary behavior (SB), and physical activity (PA) in Australian truck drivers. Participants (n = 37 men) attended clinic sessions for an exercise test to exhaustion to establish CRF and wore an accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X+) to estimate sleep, SB, and PA. Relative to normative values, CRF was “below percentile 25” in 51% of drivers (mean [SD] VO2peak=30.1 [7.6] mL.kg‐1.min‐1). Accelerometer data indicated that total vigorous‐intensity (3.5–4.5 min/day) and sustained moderate‐ to vigorous‐intensity PA (>5 min; 0.5–1.6 bouts/day) were limited. The findings show there is a need to design and test PA interventions that can improve poor levels of CRF in truck drivers.
Food quality in a post‐industrial economy: Alternatives to the crisis of the Spanish agricultural sector
Authors: Macías Vázquez Alfredo 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe Spanish agricultural sector crisis is intimately related to the weak position of local producers in the value chain. In order to analyse this issue, we will use a model that describes the post‐industrial economy value creation process, and the role played by immaterial resources as a structural variable in that process. Collective strategies, like the creation of product designations of origin or the constitution of producers’ organizations, are meant to halt resource rent appropriations by economic actors at the value chain's most concentrated stages. However, they have not performed well, thus giving rise to a debate on new models for the social construction of food quality. Despite their differences, the two cases analysed herein show the need to qualitatively transform the mediators of that social construction, taking into account the economic and institutional context of Spanish rural areas.
Quantitative Evaluation and Optimization of Feeding-Back Previous Cycles Information for Computational Fluid Dynamics Periodic Convergence
Authors: Contreras Jesus , Crespo Javier 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Unsteady simulations represent an expensive subset of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations in terms of computational resources. Among the unsteady simulations, the time-periodic cases are of special interest in many applications such as turbomachinery. The special characteristics of these cases allow specific methodologies to improve its periodic convergence behavior, neglecting the physical transient to achieve it. The scope of this paper is focused on these unsteady periodic simulations. In this context, departing from a plain Dual Time-Step methodology, where the standard generic procedure is to converge every physical time-step from the solution of the previous one, the effect of feeding-back the previous period information to restart the convergence of the equivalent time-steps in the new period is assessed in this paper. With that aim, options to alleviate the possible penalties of the procedure are presented, and the parameter set election and boundary conditions optimized to define a complete methodology. Finally, a benchmarking of the defined methodology is performed against the standard plain Dual Time-Step technique and the much more efficient Harmonic Balance methodology. For that comparison, a basic two-dimensional (2D) case and a more realistic 3D compressor, both with harmonic torsion vibration, as well as two rotor–stator configurations, are computed and presented here. The results show that a comparable efficiency to the Harmonic Balance technique is achieved with lower memory requirements, meaning that the performance of the plain Dual Time-Step methodology is greatly improved just by changing small parts of its formulation.
Adherence to the test, trace, and isolate system in the UK: results from 37 nationally representative surveys
Authors: Smith Louise E , Potts Henry W W , Amlôt Richard , Fear Nicola T , Michie Susan , Rubin G James 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Objective
To investigate rates of adherence to the UK’s test, trace, and isolate system over the initial 11 months of the covid-19 pandemic.

Design
Series of cross sectional online surveys.

Setting
37 nationally representative surveys in the UK, 2 March 2020 to 27 January 2021.

Participants
74 699 responses from 45 957 people living in the UK, aged 16 years or older (37 survey waves, about 2000 participants in each wave).

Main outcome measures
Identification of the main symptoms of covid-19 (cough, high temperature or fever, and loss of sense of smell or taste), self-reported adherence to self-isolation if symptoms were present and intention to self-isolate if symptoms were to develop, requesting a test for covid-19 if symptoms were present and intention to request a test if symptoms were to develop, and intention to share details of close contacts.

Results
Only 51.5% of participants (95% confidence interval 51.0% to 51.9%, n=26 030/50  570) identified the main symptoms of covid-19; the corresponding values in the most recent wave of data collection (25-27 January 2021) were 50.8% (48.6% to 53.0%, n=1019/2007). Across all waves, duration adjusted adherence to full self-isolation was 42.5% (95% confidence interval 39.7% to 45.2%, n=515/1213); in the most recent wave of data collection (25-27 January 2021), it was 51.8% (40.8% to 62.8%, n=43/83). Across all waves, requesting a test for covid-19 was 18.0% (95% confidence interval 16.6% to 19.3%, n=552/3068), increasing to 22.2% (14.6% to 29.9%, n=26/117) from 25 to 27 January. Across all waves, intention to share details of close contacts was 79.1% (95% confidence interval 78.8% to 79.5%, n=36 145/45 680), increasing to 81.9% (80.1% to 83.6%, n=1547/1890) from 25 to 27 January. Non-adherence was associated with being male, younger age, having a dependent child in the household, lower socioeconomic status, greater financial hardship during the pandemic, and working in a key sector.

Conclusions
Levels of adherence to test, trace, and isolate are low, although some improvement has occurred over time. Practical support and financial reimbursement are likely to improve adherence. Targeting messaging and policies to men, younger age groups, and key workers might also be necessary.
Stakeholder perceptions of current practices and challenges in priority setting for non-communicable disease control in Kenya: a qualitative study
Authors: Wanjau Mary Njeri , Kivuti-Bitok Lucy W. , Aminde Leopold Ndemnge , Veerman Lennert 
Published: April 2021

ObjectiveTo explore the stakeholders’ perceptions of current practices and challenges in priority setting for non-communicable disease (NCD) control in Kenya.DesignA qualitative study approach conducted within a 1-day stakeholder workshop that followed a deliberative dialogue process.SettingStudy was conducted within a 1-day stakeholder workshop that was held in October 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya.ParticipantsStakeholders who currently participate in the national level policymaking process for health in Kenya.Outcome measurePriority setting process for NCD control in Kenya.ResultsDonor funding was identified as a key factor that informed the priority setting process for NCD control. Misalignment between donors’ priorities and the country’s priorities for NCD control was seen as a hindrance to the process. It was identified that there was minimal utilisation of context-specific evidence from locally conducted research. Additional factors seen to inform the priority setting process included political leadership, government policies and budget allocation for NCDs, stakeholder engagement, media, people’s cultural and religious beliefs.ConclusionThere is an urgent need for development aid partners to align their priorities to the specific NCD control priority areas that exist in the countries that they extend aid to. Additionally, context-specific scientific evidence on effective local interventions for NCD control is required to inform areas of priority in Kenya and other low-income and middle-income countries. Further research is needed to develop best practice guidelines and tools for the creation of national-level priority setting frameworks that are responsive to the identified factors that inform the priority setting process for NCD control.
Spatial clustering of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Hunan province, China: an ecological study
Authors: Alene Kefyalew Addis , Xu Zuhui , Bai Liqiong , Yi Hengzhong , Tan Yunhong , Gray Darren , Viney Kerri , Clements Archie CA 
Published: April 2021

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the spatial distribution of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) in Hunan province, China.MethodsAn ecological study was conducted using DR-TB data collected from the Tuberculosis Control Institute of Hunan Province between 2012 and 2018. Spatial clustering of DR-TB was explored using the Getis-Ord statistic. A Poisson regression model was fitted with a conditional autoregressive prior structure, and with posterior parameters estimated using a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation, to quantify associations with possible risk factors and identify clusters of high DR-TB risk.ResultsA total of 2649 DR-TB patients were reported to Hunan TB Control Institute between 2012 and 2018. The majority of the patients were male (74.8%, n=1983) and had a history of TB treatment (88.53%, n=2345). The proportion of extensively DR-TB among all DR-TB was 3.3% (95% CI 2.7% to 4.1%), which increased from 2.8% in 2012 to 4.4% in 2018. Of 1287 DR-TB patients with registered treatment outcomes, 434 (33.8%) were cured, 198 (15.3%) completed treatment, 92 (7.1%) died, 108 (8.3%) had treatment failure and 455 (35.3%) were lost to follow-up. Half (50.9%, n=655) had poor treatment outcomes. The annual cumulative incidence rate of notified DR-TB increased over time from 0.25 per 100 000 people in 2012 to 0.83 per 100 000 people in 2018. Substantial spatial heterogeneity was observed, and hotspots were detected in counties located in the North and East parts of Hunan province. The cumulative incidence of notified DR-TB was significantly associated with urban communities.ConclusionThe annual incidence of notified DR-TB increased over time in Hunan province. Spatial clustering of DR-TB was detected and significantly associated with urbanisation. This finding suggests that targeting interventions to the highest risk areas and population groups would be effective in reducing the burden and ongoing transmission of DR-TB.
Cohort profile: Understanding Pregnancy Signals and Infant Development (UPSIDE): a pregnancy cohort study on prenatal exposure mechanisms for child health
Authors: O'Connor Thomas , Best Meghan , Brunner Jessica , Ciesla Allison Avrich , Cunning Allison , Kapula Ntemena , Kautz Amber , Khoury Leena , Macomber Allison , Meng Ying , Miller Richard K , Murphy Hannah , Salafia Carolyn M , Vallejo Sefair Ana , Serrano Jishyra , Barrett Emily 
Published: April 2021

PurposeExtensive research suggests that maternal prenatal distress is reliably related to perinatal and child health outcomes—which may persist into adulthood. However, basic questions remain regarding mechanisms involved. To better understand these mechanisms, we developed the Understanding Pregnancy Signals and Infant Development (UPSIDE) cohort study, which has several distinguishing features, including repeated assessments across trimesters, analysis of multiple biological pathways of interest, and incorporation of placental structure and function as mediators of child health outcomes.ParticipantsWomen with normal risk pregnancies were recruited at <14 weeks gestation. Study visits occurred in each trimester and included extensive psychological, sociodemographic, health behaviour and biospecimen collection. Placenta and cord blood were collected at birth. Child visits (ongoing) occur at birth and 1, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 months of age and use standard anthropometric, clinical, behavioural, biological and neuroimaging methods to assess child physical and neurodevelopment.Findings to dateWe recruited 326 pregnancies; 294 (90%) were retained through birth. Success rates for prenatal biospecimen collection were high across all trimesters (96%–99% for blood, 94%–97% for urine, 96%–99% for saliva, 96% of placentas, 88% for cord blood and 93% for buccal swab). Ninety-four per cent of eligible babies (n=277) participated in a birth examination; postnatal visits are ongoing.Future plansThe current phase of the study follows children through age 4 to examine child neurodevelopment and physical development. In addition, the cohort participates in the National Institutes of Health’s Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes programme, a national study of 50 000 families examining early environmental influences on perinatal outcomes, neurodevelopment, obesity and airway disease. Future research will leverage the rich repository of biological samples and clinical data to expand research on the mechanisms of child health outcomes in relation to environmental chemical exposures, genetics and the microbiome.
Investigation of Oral, Gastric, and Duodenal Microbiota in Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Authors: Cervantes Jorge , Michael Majd , Hong Bo-Young , Springer Aden , Guo Hua , Mendoza Burgandy , Zeng Mingtao , Sundin Olof , McCallum Richard 
Published: April 2021

Disease-associated alterations of the intestinal microbiota composition, known as dysbiosis, have been well described in several functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Several studies have described alterations in the gastric microbiota in functional dyspepsia, but very few have looked at the duodenum. Here, we explored the upper GI tract microbiota of inpatients with upper GI dyspeptic symptoms, and compared them to achalasia controls, as there is no indication for an esophagogastroduodenoscopy in healthy individuals. We found differences in the microbiota composition at the three sites evaluated (ie, saliva, stomach and duodenum). Changes observed in patients with dyspepsia included an increase in Veillonella in saliva, an oral shift in the composition of the gastric microbiota, and to some degree in the duodenum as well, where an important abundance of anaerobes was observed. Metabolic function prediction identified greater anaerobic metabolism in the stomach microbial community of patients with dyspepsia. Proton pump inhibitor use was not associated with any particular genus. Co-abundance analysis revealed Rothia as the main hub in the duodenum, a genus that significantly correlated with the relative abundance of Clostridium, Haemophilus, and Actinobacillus. We conclude that patients with upper GI symptoms consistent with dyspepsia have alterations in the microbiota of saliva, the stomach, and duodenum, which could contribute to symptoms of functional GI disorders.
Fully human antibody VHdomains to generate mono and bispecific CAR to target solid tumors
Authors: Wang Guanmeng , Zhou Xin , Fucà Giovanni , Dukhovlinova Elena , Shou Peishun , Li Hongxia , Johnston Colette , Mcguinness Brian , Dotti Gianpietro , Du Hongwei 
Published: April 2021

BackgroundChimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are effective in B-cell malignancies. However, heterogeneous antigen expression and antigen loss remain important limitations of targeted immunotherapy in solid tumors. Therefore, targeting multiple tumor-associated antigens simultaneously is expected to improve the outcome of CAR-T cell therapies. Due to the instability of single-chain variable fragments, it remains challenging to develop the simultaneous targeting of multiple antigens using traditional single-chain fragment variable (scFv)-based CARs.MethodsWe used Humabody VHdomains derived from a transgenic mouse to obtain fully human prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) VHand mesothelin (MSLN) VHsequences and redirect T cell with VHbased-CAR. The antitumor activity and mode of action of PSMA VHand MSLN VHwere evaluated in vitro and in vivo compared with the traditional scFv-based CARs.ResultsHuman VHdomain-based CAR targeting PSMA and MSLN are stable and functional both in vitro and in vivo. VHmodules in the bispecific format are capable of binding their specific target with similar affinity as their monovalent counterparts. Bispecific CARs generated by joining two human antibody VHdomains can prevent tumor escape in tumor with heterogeneous antigen expression.ConclusionsFully human antibody VHdomains can be used to generate functional CAR molecules, and redirected T cells elicit antitumoral responses in solid tumors at least as well as conventional scFv-based CARs. In addition, VHdomains can be used to generate bispecific CAR-T cells to simultaneously target two different antigens expressed by tumor cells, and therefore, achieve better tumor control in solid tumors.
Multiparametric flow cytometry highlights B7-H3 as a novel diagnostic/therapeutic target in GD2neg/low neuroblastoma variants
Authors: Dondero Alessandra , Morini Martina , Cangelosi Davide , Mazzocco Katia , Serra Martina , Spaggiari Grazia Maria , Rotta Gianluca , Tondo Annalisa , Locatelli Franco , Castellano Aurora , Scuderi Francesca , Sementa Angela Rita , Eva Alessandra , Conte Massimo , Garaventa Alberto , Bottino Cristina , Castriconi Roberta 
Published: April 2021

BackgroundHigh-risk neuroblastomas (HR-NBs) are rare, aggressive pediatric cancers characterized by resistance to therapy and relapse in more than 30% of cases, despite using an aggressive therapeutic protocol including targeting of GD2. The mechanisms responsible for therapy resistance are unclear and might include the presence of GD2neg/low NB variants and/or the expression of immune checkpoint ligands such as B7-H3.MethodHere, we describe a multiparametric flow cytometry (MFC) combining the acquisition of 106nucleated singlets, Syto16pos CD45neg CD56pos cells, and the analysis of GD2 and B7-H3 surface expression. 41 bone marrow (BM) aspirates from 25 patients with NB, at the onset or relapse, are analyzed, comparing results with cytomorphological analysis (CA) and/or immunohistochemistry (IHC). Spike in experiments assesses the sensitivity of MFC. Kaplan-Meier analysis on 498 primary NBs selects novel prognostic markers possibly integrating the MFC panel.ResultsNo false positive are detected, and MFC shows high sensitivity (0.0005%). Optimized MFC identifies CD45negCD56pos NB cells in 11 out of 12 (91.6%) of BM indicated as infiltrated by CA, 7 of which coexpress high levels of GD2 and B7-H3. MFC detects CD45negCD56posGD2neg/low NB variants expressing high surface levels of B7-H3 in two patients with HR-NB (stage M) diagnosed at 53 and 139 months of age. One of them has a non-MYCN amplified tumor with unusual THpos PHOX2Bneg phenotype, which relapsed 141 months post-diagnosis with BM infiltration and a humerus lesion. All GD2neg/low NB variants are detected in patients at relapse. Kaplan-Meier analysis highlights an interesting dichotomous prognostic value of MML5, ULBPs, PVR, B7-H6, and CD47, ligands involved in NB recognition by the immune system.ConclusionsOur study validates a sensitive MFC analysis providing information on GD2 and B7-H3 surface expression and allowing fast, specific and sensitive evaluation of BM tumor burden. With other routinely used diagnostic and prognostic tools, MFC can improve diagnosis, prognosis, orienting novel personalized treatments in patients with GD2low/neg NB, who might benefit from innovative therapies combining B7-H3 targeting.