bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Heavy metals level in the surficial sediment from Perai River of Penang, Malaysia
Authors: Foo YZ , Ecklyn F F M , Tan Y F , Khoo X Y , Lee H Y , Yong J C , Ong M C 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Perai river is one of the important rivers to Penang and Kedah states. Many industries are located along the river that flows to the Strait of Malacca. In order to gather the status of pollution along the river, a total of 47 stations were established to measure the heavy metals content and the sediment characteristics. Findings show that finer sediments had dominated all sampling sites as samples are mostly muddy sediment. The heavy metal concentration in the surficial sediment was analyzed using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer after the Teflon Bomb digestion method. The average concentration for Zn, Cr, Cu, Cd, Pb were 74.7±33.3, 66.0±28.1, 21.8±9.05, 0.42±0.32, and 28.6±6.84 μg/g dry weights, respectively. Generally, the concentration of metals studied seemed to be controlled by natural processes. This is proved by the enrichment factor, categorized as a deficiency to minimal enrichment, and can be concluded to be the main source from the lithogenous in origin. The sources of the heavy metals in some of the stations in the Perai river are speculated from the nearby urban runoff, industry activities along with the river, fishing and shipping activities, and land transportation emission may also accumulate for the pollution in the river.
Serum markers of biological ageing provide long-term prediction of life expectancy—a longitudinal analysis in middle-aged and older German adults
Authors: Srour Bernard , Hynes Lucas Cory , Johnson Theron , Kühn Tilman , Katzke Verena A , Kaaks Rudolf 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Background
lifestyle behaviours and chronic co-morbidities are leading risk factors for premature mortality and collectively predict wide variability in individual life expectancy (LE). We investigated whether a pre-selected panel of five serum markers of biological ageing could improve predicting the long-term mortality risk and LE in middle-aged and older women and men.

Methods
we conducted a case-cohort study (n = 5,789 among which there were 2,571 deaths) within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer-Heidelberg cohort, a population cohort of middle-aged and older individuals, followed over a median duration of 18 years. Gompertz models were used to compute multi-adjusted associations of growth differentiation factor-15, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, glycated haemoglobin A1c, C-reactive protein and cystatin-C with mortality risk. Areas under estimated Gompertz survival curves were used to estimate the LE of individuals using a model with lifestyle-related risk factors only (smoking history, body mass index, waist circumference, alcohol, physical inactivity, diabetes and hypertension), or with lifestyle factors plus the ageing-related markers.

Results
a model including only lifestyle-related factors predicted a LE difference of 16.8 [95% confidence interval: 15.9; 19.1] years in men and 9.87 [9.20; 13.1] years in women aged ≥60 years by comparing individuals in the highest versus the lowest quintiles of estimated mortality risk. Including the ageing-related biomarkers in the model increased these differences up to 22.7 [22.3; 26.9] years in men and 14.00 [12.9; 18.2] years in women.

Conclusions
serum markers of ageing are potentially strong predictors for long-term mortality risk in a general population sample of older and middle-aged individuals and may help to identify individuals at higher risk of premature death, who could benefit from interventions to prevent further ageing-related health declines.
Medicine against Suicide: Sustaining Solidarity with Those Diminished by Illness and Debility
Authors: Curlin Farr A , Tollefsen Christopher 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The medical profession’s increasing acceptance of “physician aid-in-dying” indicates the ascendancy of what we call the provider-of-services model for medicine, in which medical “providers” offer services to help patients maximize their “well-being” according to the wishes of the patient. This model contrasts with and contradicts what we call the Way of Medicine, in which medicine is a moral practice oriented to the patient’s health. A steadfast refusal intentionally to harm or kill is a touchstone of the Way of Medicine, one unambiguously affirmed by Christians through the centuries. Moreover, physician aid-in-dying contradicts one of the distinctive contributions that the Christian era brought to medicine, namely, a taken-for-granted solidarity between medical practitioners and those suffering illness and disability. Insofar as medical practitioners cooperate in aid-in-dying, they contradict this solidarity and undermine the trust that patients need to allow themselves to be cared for by physicians when they are sick and debilitated.
Laminar-specific functional connectivity mapping with multi-slice line-scanning fMRI
Authors: Choi Sangcheon , Zeng Hang , Chen Yi , Sobczak Filip , Qian Chunqi , Yu Xin 
Published: December 2021

AbstractDespite extensive studies detecting laminar functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals to illustrate the canonical microcircuit, the spatiotemporal characteristics of laminar-specific information flow across cortical regions remain to be fully investigated in both evoked and resting conditions at different brain states. Here, we developed a multislice line-scanning fMRI (MS-LS) method to detect laminar fMRI signals in adjacent cortical regions with high spatial (50 μm) and temporal resolution (100 ms) in anesthetized rats. Across different trials, we detected either laminar-specific positive or negative blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) responses in the surrounding cortical region adjacent to the most activated cortex under the evoked condition. Specifically, in contrast to typical Layer (L) 4 correlation across different regions due to the thalamocortical projections for trials with positive BOLD, a strong correlation pattern specific in L2/3 was detected for trials with negative BOLD in adjacent regions, which indicated brain state-dependent laminar-fMRI responses based on corticocortical interaction. Also, in resting-state (rs-) fMRI study, robust lag time differences in L2/3, 4, and 5 across multiple cortices represented the low-frequency rs-fMRI signal propagation from caudal to rostral slices. In summary, our study provided a unique laminar fMRI mapping scheme to better characterize trial-specific intra- and inter-laminar functional connectivity in evoked and resting-state MS-LS.
Immunogenicity of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection and Ad26.CoV2.S Vaccination in People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Authors: Khan Khadija , Lustig Gila , Bernstein Mallory , Archary Derseree , Cele Sandile , Karim Farina , Smith Muneerah , Ganga Yashica , Jule Zesuliwe , Reedoy Kajal , Miya Yoliswa , Mthabela Ntombifuthi , Magula Nombulelo P , Lessells Richard , de Oliveira Tulio , Gosnell Bernadett I , Abdool Karim Salim , Garrett Nigel , Hanekom Willem , Bekker Linda-Gail , Gray Glenda , Blackburn Jonathan M , Moosa Mahomed-Yunus S , Sigal Alex ,   COMMIT-KZN Team, Steyn Adrie , Leslie Alasdair , Ramjit Dirhona , Wong Emily , Harling Guy , Kloverpris Henrik , Marakalala Jackson , Seeley Janet , Giandhari Jennifer , Dullabh Kaylesh , Nyamande Kennedy , Herbst Kobus , Naidoo Kogie , Mazibuko Matilda , Archary Moherndran , Moshabela Mosa , Padayatchi Nesri , Klein Nigel , Mbatha Nikiwe , Ngcobo Nokuthula , Gumede Nokwanda , Ngcobo Nokwanda , Goulder Philip , Jeena Prakash , Madansein Rajhmun , Gupta Ravindra K. , Harrichandparsad Rohen , Singh Samita , Khoza Thandeka , Smit Theresa , Ndung'u Thumbi , Patel Vinod , Ndhlovu Zaza 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Background
People living with HIV (PLWH) have been reported to have a higher risk of more severe COVID-19 disease and death. We assessed the ability of the Ad26.CoV2.S vaccine to elicit neutralizing activity against the Delta variant in PLWH relative to HIV-negative individuals. We also examined effects of HIV status and suppression on Delta neutralization response in SARS-CoV-2—infected unvaccinated participants.

Methods
We enrolled participants who were vaccinated through the SISONKE South African clinical trial of the Ad26.CoV2.S vaccine in healthcare workers (HCWs). PLWH in this group had well-controlled HIV infection. We also enrolled unvaccinated participants previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. Neutralization capacity was assessed by a live virus neutralization assay of the Delta variant.

Results
Most Ad26.CoV2.S vaccinated HCWs were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. In this group, Delta variant neutralization was 9-fold higher compared with the infected-only group and 26-fold higher relative to the vaccinated-only group. No decrease in Delta variant neutralization was observed in PLWH relative to HIV-negative participants. In contrast, SARS-CoV-2—infected, unvaccinated PLWH showed 7-fold lower neutralization and a higher frequency of nonresponders, with the highest frequency of nonresponders in people with HIV viremia. Vaccinated-only participants showed low neutralization capacity.

Conclusions
The neutralization response of the Delta variant following Ad26.CoV2.S vaccination in PLWH with well-controlled HIV was not inferior to HIV-negative participants, irrespective of past SARS-CoV-2 infection. In SARS-CoV-2—infected and nonvaccinated participants, HIV infection reduced the neutralization response to SARS-CoV-2, with the strongest reduction in HIV viremic individuals.
Incidence and Duration of Pharyngeal Chlamydia Among a Cohort of Men Who Have Sex With Men
Authors: Khosropour Christine M , Soge Olusegun O , Golden Matthew R , Hughes James P , Barbee Lindley A 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Background
The prevalence of pharyngeal chlamydia is low, but its incidence and duration are unknown. A high incidence or duration may support the role of pharyngeal chlamydia in sustaining chlamydia transmission.

Methods
From March 2016 to December 2018, we enrolled men who have sex with men (MSM) in a 48-week cohort study in Seattle, Washington. Participants self-collected pharyngeal specimens weekly. We tested specimens using nucleic acid amplification testing at the conclusion of the study. In primary analyses, we defined incident pharyngeal chlamydia as &gt;2 consecutive weeks of a positive pharyngeal specimen. In sensitivity analyses, we defined incident chlamydia as &gt;1 week of a positive specimen. We estimated duration of pharyngeal chlamydia, censoring at loss to follow-up, receipt of antibiotics, or end of study.

Results
A total of 140 participants contributed 70.5 person-years (PY); 1.4% had pharyngeal chlamydia at enrollment. In primary analyses, there were 8 pharyngeal chlamydia cases among 6 MSM (incidence = 11.4 per 100 PY; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.0–21.9). In sensitivity analysis, there were 19 cases among 16 MSM (incidence = 27.1 per 100 PY; 95% CI: 18.5–39.8). The median duration was 6.0 weeks (95% CI: 2.0–undefined) in primary analysis and 2.0 weeks (95% CI: 1.1–6.0) in sensitivity analysis. Duration was shorter for those with a history of chlamydia compared with those without (3.6 vs 8.7 weeks; P = .02).

Conclusions
Pharyngeal chlamydia has a low incidence and duration relative to other extragenital sexually transmitted infections. Its contribution to population-level transmission remains unclear.
Hyperinflammatory Syndromes After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Messenger RNA vaccination in Individuals With Underlying Immune Dysregulation
Authors: Rocco Joseph M , Mallarino-Haeger Christina , Randolph Attiya H , Ray Susan M , Schechter Marcos C , Zerbe Christa S , Holland Steven M , Sereti Irini 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The development of effective severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines has been a significant accomplishment. Adverse events are extremely rare, but continued surveillance is important, especially in at-risk populations. In 5 patients with preexisting immune dysregulation, hyperinflammatory syndromes, including hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, developed after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination. Early recognition of this rare condition is essential.
‘Your Muse Remains Forever’: memory and monumentality in Elizabethan manuscript partbooks
Authors: Gibbs Daisy M 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The presence within Elizabethan music collections of antiphons and motets with explicitly Catholic themes has long been a source of interest and historiographical argument. The old theory that the inclusion of such pieces reveals covert Catholic beliefs among early modern collectors has been undermined by recent historical research, and it is now more frequently taken as evidence of their education and discerning musical taste. This article argues that the most important shared characteristic of this musical corpus is not its Catholic origins, but the status of its composers as (nearly always) both British and already dead. By interrogating late Elizabethan and early Jacobean discourse surrounding the British past, and the ways that the past was investigated and evidenced—particularly the study of funerary monuments and other material culture—I reveal that Tudor copyists explicitly invoked tropes of memory and memorialization in their copies of contemporary and earlier music, which link their collections to broader notions of developing national identity. In so doing, they shifted the emphasis of their collections, allowing problematic Latin motet texts to acquire new meaning within mainstream Protestant thought.
480 Catheter pulmonary vein ablation vs. medical therapy or atrioventricular node ablation and resynchronization in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liccardo Gaetano , Cannata Francesco , Chiarito Mauro , Bombace Sara , Maccallini Marta , Villaschi Alessandro , Pinto Giuseppe , Fazzari Fabio , Pini Daniela , Bragato Renato Maria , Condorelli Gianluigi , Cappato Riccardo , Stefanini Giulio G 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Aims
Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) are increasing in prevalence worldwide and, when present altogether, are associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Several and recent randomized clinical trials have reported an improvement of clinical outcomes in patients with HF and AF with catheter ablation. To provide a comprehensive and updated synthesis of effect estimates of the available randomized and observational clinical trials comparing pulmonary vein isolation with optimal medical therapy (rate or rhythm) or atrioventricular node ablation and resynchronization.

Methods and results
MEDLINE database was searched from inception to 4 March 2021 by two reviewers (F.C. and M.C.) for relevant studies. The following key words were used: ‘atrial fibrillation’, ‘heart failure’, ‘ablation’, ‘medical’, ‘drug’, ‘rate’, ‘rhythm’, ‘resynchronization’, and ‘atrial flutter’. The co-primary outcomes were all-cause death and hospitalization for HF. A total of 16 studies enrolling 42 908 patients were included; of these, 9 were randomized controlled trials, 3 unadjusted observational studies, and 4 adjusted observational trials. Patients treated with catheter ablation had a statistically significant reduction for the risk of all-cause death {Figure on the left: odds ratio [OR]: 0.51, [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.31–0.84], P = 0.008, NNT 33} and hospitalization for HF [Figure on the right: OR: 0.52, (95% CI: 0.31–0.87), P 0.014, NNT 24]. Subgroup analysis confirmed these results only in HF with reduced ejection fraction subgroup. Meta-regression analyses showed a direct correlation between a higher burden of persistent/long-standing persistent AF and the positive impact of catheter ablation of AF. Moreover, the age of 70 years emerged as the cut-off age for a greater impact of catheter ablation.

Conclusions
Catheter ablation of AF is associated with a lower risk of all-cause death and HF hospitalizations in patients with AF and HF, as compared to medical therapy or atrioventricular node ablation and resynchronization. These results are mainly applicable for HF with reduced ejection fraction.
Controls on the spatio-temporal patterns of induced seismicity in Groningen constrained by physics-based modelling with Ensemble-Smoother data assimilation
Authors: Candela Thibault , Pluymaekers Maarten , Ampuero Jean-Paul , van Wees Jan-Diederik , Buijze Loes , Wassing Brecht , Osinga Sander , Grobbe Niels , Muntendam-Bos Annemarie G 
Published: December 2021

SUMMARY
The induced seismicity in the Groningen gas field, The Netherlands, presents contrasted spatio-temporal patterns between the central area and the south west area. Understanding the origin of this contrast requires a thorough assessment of two factors: (1) the stress development on the Groningen faults and (2) the frictional response of the faults to induced stresses. Both factors have large uncertainties that must be honoured and then reduced with the observational constraints. Ensembles of induced stress realizations are built by varying the Poisson's ratio in a poro-elastic model incorporating the 3-D complexities of the geometries of the Groningen gas reservoir and its faults, and the historical pore pressure distribution. The a priori uncertainties in the frictional response are mapped by varying the parameters of a seismicity model based on rate-and-state friction. The uncertainties of each component of this complex physics-based model are honoured through an efficient data assimilation algorithm. By assimilating the seismicity data with an Ensemble-Smoother, the prior uncertainties of each model parameter are effectively reduced, and the posterior seismicity rate predictions are consistent with the observations. Our integrated workflow allows us to disentangle the contributions of the main two factors controlling the induced seismicity at Groningen, induced stress development and fault frictional response. Posterior distributions of the model parameters of each modelling component are contrasted between the central and south west area at Groningen. We find that, even after honouring the spatial heterogeneity in stress development across the Groningen gas field, the spatial variability of the observed induced seismicity rate still requires spatial heterogeneity in the fault frictional response. This work is enabled by the unprecedented deployment of an Ensemble-Smoother combined with physics-based modelling over a complex case of reservoir induced seismicity.
Earlier and Higher Rate of Hepatitis B Virus Relapse After Discontinuing Tenofovir Versus Entecavir in Hepatitis B e Antigen–Positive Patients
Authors: Chen Chien-Hung , Peng Cheng-Yuan , Kuo Yuan-Hung , Hu Tsung-Hui , Hung Chao-Hung , Wang Jing-Houng , Lu Sheng-Nan 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Background
This study investigated the incidence and predictors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) relapse in patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)–positive chronic hepatitis B who discontinued entecavir (ETV) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF).

Methods
A total of 205 and 111 HBeAg-positive patients without cirrhosis who had stopped ETV or TDF treatment, respectively, for at least 6 months were recruited.

Results
In the entire cohort, patients with HBeAg seroconversion during treatment, and propensity score–matched patients, those who discontinued TDF had significantly higher rates of virological and clinical relapse than patients who discontinued ETV therapy. Multivariate analysis identified that TDF was independently associated with virological and clinical relapse in the entire cohort and subgroup analysis. Patients with HBeAg loss without anti-HBe antibody formation during treatment had significantly higher rates of off-therapy HBV relapse and HBeAg seroreversion than patients with HBeAg seroconversion during treatment. The hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) level at end of treatment (EOT) was independently associated with HBV relapse and HBeAg seroreversion in all patients and patients with HBeAg seroconversion during treatment.

Conclusions
TDF therapy, HBeAg loss without seroconversion during treatment, and higher HBcrAg levels at EOT are significant predictors of HBV relapse in HBeAg-positive patients who discontinued ETV or TDF.
Acclimation to wind loads and/or contact stimuli? A biomechanical study of peltate leaves of Pilea peperomioides
Authors: Langer Max , Hegge Elena , Speck Thomas , Speck Olga 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Plants are exposed to various environmental stresses. Leaves immediately respond to mechano-stimulation, such as wind and touch, by bending and twisting or acclimate over a longer time period by thigmomorphogenetic changes of mechanical and geometrical properties. We selected the peltate leaves of Pilea peperomioides for a comparative analysis of mechano-induced effects on morphology, anatomy, and biomechanics of petiole and transition zone. The plants were cultivated for 6 weeks in a phytochamber divided into four treatment groups: control (no stimulus), touch stimulus (brushing every 30 s), wind stimulus (constant air flow of 4.6 m s−1), and a combination of touch and wind stimuli. Comparing the four treatment groups, neither the petiole nor the transition zone showed significant thigmomorphogenetic acclimations. However, comparing the petiole and the transition zone, the elastic modulus (E), the torsional modulus (G), the E/G ratio, and the axial rigidity (EA) differed significantly, whereas no significant difference was found for the torsional rigidity (GK). The twist-to-bend ratios (EI/GK) of all petioles ranged between 4.33 and 5.99, and of all transition zones between 0.67 and 0.78. Based on the twist-to-bend ratios, we hypothesize that bending loads are accommodated by the petiole, while torsional loads are shared between the transition zone and petiole.
Comparison of the PneumoGenius® and RealStar® Pneumocystis jirovecii PCR CE-IVD assays with a lab developed test for the detection of Pneumocystis jirovecii
Authors: Nijhuis Roel H T , Godschalk Peggy C R , Smink Jorike H I , van der Zee Cindy , van Hannen Erik J 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Pneumocystis jirovecii (Pj) is a fungal pathogen that can cause severe and potential fatal pneumonia (Pneumocystis pneumonia, PCP) in immunocompromised patients. Microbiological diagnosis is necessary to confirm PCP, for which mainly real-time PCR assays are used by detecting Pj from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens. In this study, we evaluate the performance of the CE-IVD PneumoGenius® assay and CE-IVD RealStar® Pneumocystis jirovecii PCR assay in comparison to the lab developed test (LDT) that is used in routine diagnostics. Comparison was done by including 100 BAL specimens: 25 retrospective specimens, selected based on results obtained with LDT (15 positive/10 negative), and 75 prospectively collected specimens. LDT (targeting MSG) was performed according to local procedures and the PneumoGenius® (targeting mtLSU and DHPS fas) and RealStar® assays (targeting mtLSU) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Combining results of retrospective and prospective analysis, sensitivity was 69.7, 100 and 100% for the LDT, PneumoGenius® and RealStar®, respectively. Specificity was 100% for LDT and Pneumogenius®, whereas RealStar® showed a specificity of 97%. Correlation of fungal loads found with the PneumoGenius® and RealStar® assays was high (R2: 0.98). The PneumoGenius® and RealStar® assays performed comparable, and both showed high sensitivity in comparison to the LDT. For optimal diagnosis of PCP, the LDT has to be replaced by another, more sensitive assay.

Lay summary
In this study, we evaluated the performance of two commercially available CE-IVD cleared real-time PCR assays to detect Pneumocystis jirovecii in comparison to the lab-developed test as used in routine diagnostics. Performance of the CE-IVD real-time PCR assay was superior to the lab-developed test.