bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
COVID‐19 Knowledge and Behavior Change among High School Students in Semi‐Rural Georgia
Authors: Campbell Katherine , Weingart Rachel , Ashta Jasleen , Cronin Thomas , Gazmararian Julie 
Published: May 2021

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDMany schools transitioned online to reduce viral spread and promote social distancing amid the COVID‐19 pandemic. Remote learning may impact health behaviors and coping strategies among adolescents, including reduced physical activity and increased screen time. Social media and peers provide information about the pandemic to adolescents and may influence prevention behaviors. This study aims to assess adolescent knowledge and information about COVID‐19, determine students' behavior change, and identify sources students turn to for information on the pandemic.METHODSStudents from 2 high schools in semi‐rural Georgia participated in a cross‐sectional online survey in March 2020 (N = 761).RESULTSCommon sources for COVID‐19 news were peers (80%) and social media (58%). Few adolescents (3%) indicated that teenagers were at higher risk of severe illness due to COVID‐19. Responses reveal adolescents understand social distancing and many are participating in prevention behaviors, including handwashing (87%) and staying at home as much as possible (87%). Most respondents reported increases in screen time outside of class (82%).CONCLUSIONSFindings suggest adolescents are obtaining COVID‐19 knowledge from various sources, including social media, with varying degrees of implementation of prevention practices. Increases in screen time and reduced physical activity may impact long‐term health among adolescents.
Measuring Fundamentalism Across the Abrahamic Faiths
Authors: Moaddel Mansoor , Karabenick Stuart A. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWe develop a scale to measure fundamentalism among the followers of the Abrahamic faiths. The scale is intended to overcome the challenges that beset the comparative analysis of the subject: variability of religious fundamentalist movements historically, cross‐nationally, and across these religions; differences in the definition of fundamentalism, and etymological ambiguity of the term. We conceptualized fundamentalism as a cluster of core orientations toward one's and others’ religion. These orientations are categorized into four components: disciplinarian deity, inerrancy or literalism, religious exclusivity, and religious intolerance. Each component is measured by four survey questions. The 16 items make a single fundamentalism scale. We discuss the scale's validity, and then verify its statistical and predictive validity on nationally representative samples from Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Turkey, a total of 24,758 cases.
Clinical outcome and prognostic factors in dogs with B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A retrospective study
Authors: Rout Emily D. , Labadie Julia D. , Yoshimoto Janna A. , Avery Paul R. , Curran Kaitlin M. , Avery Anne C. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundB‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (BCLL) in dogs generally is considered an indolent disease, but previous studies indicate a wide range in survival times.ObjectivesWe hypothesized that BCLL has a heterogeneous clinical course, similar to chronic lymphocytic leukemia in humans. We aimed to assess presentation and outcome in dogs with BCLL and evaluate the prognostic relevance of clinical and flow cytometric factors.AnimalsOne hundred and twenty‐one dogs with BCLL diagnosed by flow cytometry. Three breed groups were represented: small breed dogs (n = 55) because of increased risk of BCLL; Boxers (n = 33) because of preferential use of unmutated immunoglobulin genes; and other breeds (n = 33).MethodsRetrospective study reviewing signalment, clinicopathologic data, physical examination findings, treatment, and survival of dogs with BCLL. Cellular proliferation, determined by the percentage of Ki67‐expressing CD21+ B‐cells by flow cytometry, was measured in 39 of 121 cases. Clinical and laboratory variables were evaluated for association with survival.ResultsThe median survival time (MST) for all cases was 300 days (range, 1‐1644 days). Boxers had significantly shorter survival (MST, 178 days) than non‐Boxers (MST, 423 days; P < .0001), and no significant survival difference was found between small breeds and other non‐Boxer breeds. Cases with high Ki67 (>40% Ki67‐expressing B‐cells) had significantly shorter survival (MST, 173 days) than did cases with <40% Ki67 (MST undetermined; P = .03), regardless of breed. Cases with a high lymphocyte count (>60 000 lymphocytes/μL) or clinical signs at presentation had significantly shorter survival.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceB‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia had a variable clinical course and Boxer dogs and cases with high Ki67 had more aggressive disease.
A comparative study of hard clustering algorithms for vegetation data
Authors: Pakgohar Naghmeh , Eshaghi Rad Javad , Gholami Gholamhossein , Alijanpour Ahmad , Roberts David W. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractQuestionsWhich clustering algorithms are most effective according to different cluster validity evaluators? Which distance or dissimilarity measure is most suitable for clustering algorithms?LocationHyrcanian forest, Iran (Asia), Virginia region forest, United States (North America), beech forests, Ukraine (Europe).MethodsWe tested 25 clustering algorithms with nine vegetation data sets comprised of three real data sets and six simulated data sets exhibiting different cluster separation values. The clustering algorithms included both hierarchical and non‐hierarchical partitioning. Five evaluators were employed on each cluster solution to evaluate different clustering algorithms. Algorithms were ranked from best to worst on each clustering evaluator for each data set.ResultsThe comparison revealed that the OPTSIL initiated from a Flexible‐β (−0.25) solution achieved particularly good performance. We also found that Ward's method and Flexible‐β (−0.1) implementations were accurate. K‐means with Hellinger distance was superior to Partitioning Around Medoids (PAM) algorithms. Accordance between distance measures and clustering algorithms was also observed. Bray–Curtis dissimilarity combined with a range of clustering algorithms was successful in most cases. Bray–Curtis dissimilarity proved superior to other distance measures for heterogeneous data sets.ConclusionsAll in all, the results demonstrate that choosing the most suitable method before clustering is critical for achieving maximally interpretable clusters. The complexity of vegetation data sets makes this issue even more important. The choice of distance measure had more effect than the choice of clustering method on the quality of results. Our results illustrate that OPTSIL Flexible‐β (−0.1) and OPTPART could prove superior to alternative conventional clustering algorithms when internal evaluation criteria are used to optimize clustering.
Early virological response in six patients with hepatitis D virus infection and compensated cirrhosis treated with Bulevirtide in real‐life
Authors: Asselah Tarik , Loureiro Dimitri , Le Gal Fréderic , Narguet Stéphanie , Brichler Ségolène , Bouton Valérie , Abazid Malek , Boyer Nathalie , Giuly Nathalie , Gerber Athenais , Tout Issam , Maylin Sarah , Bed Cheikh M. , Marcellin Patrick , Castelnau Corinne , Gordien Emmanuel , Mansouri Abdellah 
Published: May 2021

AbstractHepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection is the most severe form of viral hepatitis. Bulevirtide (BLV, Hepcludex®) is an HDV/HBV entry inhibitor approved in June 2020 in the European Union for adult patients with chronic hepatitis delta (CHD) and compensated liver disease and positive HDV RNA viral load. This real‐life preliminary report described early virological efficacy and safety of BLV in six patients with CHD and compensated liver disease: four patients were treated with the combination of BLV (2 mg/d in subcutaneous injection) and pegylated interferon (PEG‐IFN) and two patients with BLV monotherapy. Four patients treated with combined therapy had a decline of a minimum of 1 log10 and 3/3 of 2 log10 of HDV‐VL at 12 and 24 weeks, respectively. One patient among four had stopped the treatment at 12 weeks because of thrombocytopenia and an HDV‐VL relapse was notified 24 weeks after treatment cessation. Three patients among four (3/4) had undetectable HDV‐VL during the therapy (<100 IU/ml). One patient (1/2) treated with BLV monotherapy had a decline of HDV‐VL by 1 log10 at 8 weeks and 1/1 by 2 log10 at 28 week on‐treatment. Two patients among four (2/4) with combined therapy had normal ALT reached at 4 and 56 weeks. One patient (1/2) with BLV monotherapy achieves ALT normalization at​ 4 weeks on treatment. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels remain unchanged. Three among six (3/6) patients had an elevation of total biliary acids without pruritus. These early data generated confirm the interest in this new treatment. Final results will be important to demonstrate long‐term clinical benefit (fibrosis reversibility and reduction in hepato‐cellular carcinoma [HCC]).
Unraveling the roles of plant specialized metabolites: using synthetic biology to design molecular biosensors
Authors: Garagounis Constantine , Delkis Nikolaos , Papadopoulou Kalliope K. 
Published: May 2021

SummaryPlants are a rich source of specialized metabolites with a broad range of bioactivities and many applications in human daily life. Over the past decades significant progress has been made in identifying many such metabolites in different plant species and in elucidating their biosynthetic pathways. However, the biological roles of plant specialized metabolites remain elusive and proposed functions lack an identified underlying molecular mechanism. Understanding the roles of specialized metabolites frequently is hampered by their dynamic production and their specific spatiotemporal accumulation within plant tissues and organs throughout a plant’s life cycle. In this review, we propose the employment of strategies from the field of Synthetic Biology to construct and optimize genetically encoded biosensors that can detect individual specialized metabolites in a standardized and high‐throughput manner. This will help determine the precise localization of specialized metabolites at the tissue and single‐cell levels. Such information will be useful in developing complete system‐level models of specialized plant metabolism, which ultimately will demonstrate how the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites is integrated with the core processes of plant growth and development.
What does it take to facilitate the integration of clinical practice guidelines for the management of low back pain into practice? Part 2: A strategic plan to activate dissemination
Authors: Longtin Christian , Décary Simon , Cook Chad E. , Tousignant‐Laflamme Yannick 
Published: May 2021

AbstractLow back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability worldwide among all musculoskeletal disorders despite an intense focus in research efforts. Researchers and decision makers have produced multiple clinical practice guidelines for the rehabilitation of LBP, which contain specific recommendations for clinicians. Adherence to these recommendations may have several benefits, such as improving the quality of care for patients living with LBP, by ensuring that the best evidence‐based care is being delivered. However, clinicians’ adherence to recommendations from these guidelines is low and numerous implementation barriers and challenges, such as complexity of information and sheer volume of guidelines have been documented. In a previous paper, we performed a systematic review of the literature to identify high‐quality clinical practice guidelines on the management of LBP, and developed a concise yet comprehensive infographic that summarizes the recommendations from these guidelines. Considering the wealth of scientific evidence, passive dissemination alone of this research knowledge is likely to have limitations to help clinicians implement these recommendations into routine practice. Thus, an active and engaging dissemination strategy, aimed at improving the implementation and integration of specific recommendations into practice is warranted. In this paper, we argue that a conceptual framework, such as the theoretical domains framework, could facilitate the implementation of these recommendations into clinical practice. Specifically, we present a systematic approach that could serve to guide the development of a theory‐informed knowledge translation intervention as a means to overcome implementation challenges in rehabilitation of LBP.
Management of tinea capitis in Israel: A comparative study
Authors: Shemer Avner , Gupta Aditya K. , Galili Eran , Daniel Ralph , Kassem Riad , Farhi Renata , Grunwald Hadas , Bamimore Mary A. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundTinea capitis is a common fungal infection in Israel, most commonly caused by the dermatophyte Trichophyton tonsurans.ObjectivesTo investigate the effectiveness of oral antifungal monotherapy in producing clinical or complete cure. We also evaluated the impact of topical therapy (bifonazole 1% shampoo and/or betamethasone valerate 0.1% solution), prior to oral treatment, on patients' likelihood of clinical or complete cure.MethodsA retrospective chart review was conducted. Patients with mycologically confirmed tinea capitis were treated with one of four regimens: (1) terbinafine (greater than 40 kg: 250 mg/day, 20 to 40 kg: 125 mg/day, less than 20 kg: 62.5 mg/day), (2) itraconazole 5 mg/kg daily, (3) fluconazole 6 mg/kg daily, or (4) griseofulvin 20 mg/kg daily. We used generalized linear models (GLM) to determine whether there was a significant association between the odds of cure and choice of treatment.ResultsThe causative species was Trichophyton tonsurans in all but 6 cases that grew T violaceum. For pediatric patients, the odds of having complete or clinical cure within 6 weeks was greater if they used terbinafine compared to itraconazole, fluconazole, or griseofulvin (odds ratio [OR] = 9.06, P = .047). The likelihood of complete or clinical cure within 8 weeks of oral therapy was lower if topical steroids were previously used compared to if topical antifungals were used prior to systemic treatment (OR = 0.29, P = .046).ConclusionsOur findings substantiate prior literature demonstrating that terbinafine is non‐inferior to griseofulvin, itraconazole, and fluconazole in the therapy of pediatric tinea capitis caused by T tonsurans.
Associations between size at birth and size at 6 years among preterm infants: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Awata Kentaro , Shoji Hiromichi , Santosa Irena , Ikeda Naho , Murano Yayoi , Ohkawa Natsuki , Nishizaki Naoto , Hisata Ken , Kantake Masato , Obinata Kaoru , Shimizu Toshiaki 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundLittle is known about the relationship between fetal growth and size at school age in children born prematurely. We evaluated the relationships between gestational age and anthropometric z‐scores at birth and size at 6 years of age in very‐low‐birthweight infants born at <30 weeks’ gestation.MethodsWe collected data from the medical records of 187 preterm children at birth and 6 years of age. We evaluated correlations between gestational age and z‐scores for weight, body length, and head circumference at birth and z‐scores for weight, height, and body mass index at 6 years of age.ResultsSimple regression analysis showed that, in boys and the overall group, gestational age and z‐scores for weight, body length, and head circumference at birth had significant association with z‐scores for weight, height, and body mass index at 6 years of age. No significant associations were found in girls, except for weight z‐scores at 6 years with gestational age and head circumference z‐scores at birth. Multiple regression analysis showed that gestational age and length z‐score at birth were significantly and independently associated with weight and height z‐score at 6 years. Gestational age was also significantly and independently associated with body mass index z‐score at 6 years.ConclusionGestational age and fetal growth in length (assessed with the birth‐length z‐score) were associated with anthropometric z‐scores at 6 years in very‐low‐birthweight children born at <30 weeks of gestation, especially in boys.
Improving rural disaster response preparedness
Authors: Betka Alisha A. , Bergren Martha Dewey , Rowen Judith L. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundDisasters happen in all communities and negatively impact the health and safety of populations if not well managed. Rural health organizations face greater challenges when implementing emergency preparedness policies and need unique resources to help ensure the health of their communities. The purpose of this article is to describe the development and evaluation of an agricultural simulation scenario designed for rural health organizations.MethodsThe agricultural disaster scenario was developed after determining the desired content domains. Forty students from nursing, medicine, public health, and social work participated in a functional simulation using the scenario. Outcomes were measured using a pre–post measurement with one cohort design. Data were analyzed using paired‐samples t‐tests.ResultsStudents reported a 30% increase in self‐confidence, 38% increase in disaster competence, and 19% increase in interprofessional collaboration competence after the simulation. Statistically significant increases in student scores were noted on all surveys across professions.ConclusionThe agricultural disaster simulation is a valid scenario to use for disaster preparation using emergency operations plans.
The Impact of Experiences and Perceptions of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) on Water‐Related Biosecurity Behaviour in Rural Vietnam
Authors: Whelan Mairéad G. , Le Quynh B. , Hall David C. 
Published: May 2021

BackgroundIn Southeast Asia from 2004 to 2006, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) resulted in culling 45 million birds and jeopardizing sustainable agricultural production. HPAI is highly virulent; small‐scale farms present a high‐risk environment for disease transmission between animals and humans. We investigated how attitudes toward HPAI influence water‐related biosecurity mitigation behaviors on small‐scale farms in Vietnam using the conceptual framework Social Cognitive Theory.MethodWe analyzed a secondary cross‐sectional data set from northern (Thai Binh) and southern (An Giang) provinces in Vietnam, describing a stratified randomized selection of 600 small‐scale farmers who were interviewed using questionnaires and in‐person interviews. Logistic regression analysis and odds ratios were used to examine relationships between factors influencing HPAI attitudes, social norms, perceived importance, and behaviors (α = 0.10)ResultsConcern about the severity of HPAI was significantly associated with increased perceived importance for all water management biosecurity methods (p < 0.01). Media and/or peer influence had negative effects on perceived importance to practice water‐related biosecurity (p < 0.10). High importance of practice water‐related biosecurity resulted in high uptake (p < 0.05). Past experiences with HPAI were significant in predicting perceived importance; none were significant in describing behavior uptake.DiscussionBiosecurity guidelines may not be consistent with management styles of Vietnamese small‐scale farms; perceived importance of a behavior may be an important mediating variable. Gaps exist in uptake of water management practices as biosecurity for HPAI, potentially negatively affected by peer and media influence. Our results should be of interest to public health and policy authorities addressing HPAI mitigation.
Aortic Elasticity and Arsenic Exposure: A Step Function rather than a Linear Function
Authors: Ahn Jaeil , Lamm Steven H. , Ferdosi Hamid , Boroje Isabella J. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWhile the dose–response relationship for the carcinogenic effects of arsenic exposure indicates nonlinearity with increases only above about 150 μg/L arsenic in drinking water, similar analyses of noncarcinogenic effects of arsenic exposure remain to be conducted. We present here an alternative analysis of data on a measure of aortic elasticity, a risk factor for hypertension, and its relationship to urinary arsenic levels. An occupational health study from Ankara, Turkey by Karakulak et al. compared urinary arsenic levels and a measure of aortic elasticity (specifically, aortic strain) in workers with a linear no‐threshold model. We have examined these data with three alternative models—a fitted step‐function, a stratified, and a weighted linear regression model. Discontinuity within the data revealed two subsets of data, one for workers with urinary arsenic levels ≤ 160 μg/L whose mean aortic strain level was 11.3% and one for workers with arsenic levels > 160 μg/L whose mean aortic stain level was 5.33 % (p < 0.0001). Several alternative models were examined that indicated the best model to be the threshold model with a threshold at a urinary arsenic level of 160 μg/L. Observation of a discontinuity in the data revealed their better fit to a threshold model (at a urinary arsenic level of 160 μg/L) than to a linear‐no threshold model. Examinations with alternative models are recommended for studies of arsenic and hypertension and possibly other noncarcinogenic effects.
The effectiveness of the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) compared to alternative treatment conditions: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Swift Joshua K. , Trusty Wilson T. , Penix Elizabeth A. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIntroductionThis meta‐analysis aimed to test the efficacy of the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) intervention against other commonly used interventions for the treatment of suicide ideation and other suicide‐related variables.MethodDatabase, expert, and root and branch searches identified nine empirical studies that directly compared CAMS to other active interventions. A random effects model was used to calculate the effect size differences between the interventions; additionally, moderators of the effect sizes were tested for suicidal ideation.ResultsIn comparison to alternative interventions, CAMS resulted in significantly lower suicidal ideation (d = 0.25) and general distress (d = 0.29), significantly higher treatment acceptability (d = 0.42), and significantly higher hope/lower hopelessness (d = 0.88). No significant differences for suicide attempts, self‐harm, other suicide‐related correlates, or cost effectiveness were observed. The effect size differences for suicidal ideation were consistent across study types and quality, timing of outcome measurement, and the age and ethnicity of participants; however, the effect sizes favoring CAMS were significantly smaller with active duty military/veteran samples and with male participants.ConclusionsThe existing research supports CAMS as a Well Supported intervention for suicidal ideation per Center of Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Limitations and future directions are discussed.