bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of age-related hearing loss and hearing aid experience on sentence processing
Authors: Vogelzang Margreet , Thiel Christiane M. , Rosemann Stephanie , Rieger Jochem W. , Ruigendijk Esther 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAge-related hearing loss typically affects the hearing of high frequencies in older adults. Such hearing loss influences the processing of spoken language, including higher-level processing such as that of complex sentences. Hearing aids may alleviate some of the speech processing disadvantages associated with hearing loss. However, little is known about the relation between hearing loss, hearing aid use, and their effects on higher-level language processes. This neuroimaging (fMRI) study examined these factors by measuring the comprehension and neural processing of simple and complex spoken sentences in hard-of-hearing older adults (n = 39). Neither hearing loss severity nor hearing aid experience influenced sentence comprehension at the behavioral level. In contrast, hearing loss severity was associated with increased activity in left superior frontal areas and the left anterior insula, but only when processing specific complex sentences (i.e. object-before-subject) compared to simple sentences. Longer hearing aid experience in a sub-set of participants (n = 19) was associated with recruitment of several areas outside of the core speech processing network in the right hemisphere, including the cerebellum, the precentral gyrus, and the cingulate cortex, but only when processing complex sentences. Overall, these results indicate that brain activation for language processing is affected by hearing loss as well as subsequent hearing aid use. Crucially, they show that these effects become apparent through investigation of complex but not simple sentences.
Deconvolution of hemodynamic responses along the cortical surface using personalized functional near infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Machado A , Cai Z , Vincent T , Pellegrino G , Lina J-M , Kobayashi E , Grova C 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), deconvolution analysis of oxy and deoxy-hemoglobin concentration changes allows estimating specific hemodynamic response functions (HRF) elicited by neuronal activity, taking advantage of the fNIRS excellent temporal resolution. Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) is also becoming the new standard reconstruction procedure as it is more accurate than the modified Beer Lambert law approach at the sensor level. The objective of this study was to assess the relevance of HRF deconvolution after DOT constrained along the cortical surface. We used local personalized fNIRS montages which consists in optimizing the position of fNIRS optodes to ensure maximal sensitivity to subject specific target brain regions. We carefully evaluated the accuracy of deconvolution when applied after DOT, using realistic simulations involving several HRF models at different signal to noise ratio (SNR) levels and on real data related to motor and visual tasks in healthy subjects and from spontaneous pathological activity in one patient with epilepsy. We demonstrated that DOT followed by deconvolution was able to accurately recover a large variability of HRFs over a large range of SNRs. We found good performances of deconvolution analysis for SNR levels usually encountered in our applications and we were able to reconstruct accurately the temporal dynamics of HRFs in real conditions.
Concomitant drugs associated with increased mortality for MDMA users reported in a drug safety surveillance database
Authors: Cohen Isaac V. , Makunts Tigran , Abagyan Ruben , Thomas Kelan 
Published: March 2021

Abstract3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is currently being evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If MDMA is FDA-approved it will be important to understand what medications may pose a risk of drug–drug interactions. The goal of this study was to evaluate the risks due to MDMA ingestion alone or in combination with other common medications and drugs of abuse using the FDA drug safety surveillance data. To date, nearly one thousand reports of MDMA use have been reported to the FDA. The majority of these reports include covariates such as co-ingested substances and demographic parameters. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was employed to uncover the contributing factors to the reported risk of death among MDMA users. Several drug classes (MDMA metabolites or analogs, anesthetics, muscle relaxants, amphetamines and stimulants, benzodiazepines, ethanol, opioids), four antidepressants (bupropion, sertraline, venlafaxine and citalopram) and olanzapine demonstrated increased odds ratios for the reported risk of death. Future drug–drug interaction clinical trials should evaluate if any of the other drug–drug interactions described in our results actually pose a risk of morbidity or mortality in controlled medical settings.
Thermolabile drug storage in an ambulatory setting
Authors: do Pazo-Oubiña Fernando , Alorda-Ladaria Bartomeu , Gomez-Lobon Ana , Boyeras-Vallespir Bàrbara , Santandreu-Estelrich María Margalida , Martorell-Puigserver Clara , Gomez-Zamora María , Ventayol-Bosch Pere , Delgado-Sanchez Olga 
Published: March 2021

AbstractMore thermolabile drugs are becoming available, and in most cases, these medications are dispensed to ambulatory patients. However, there is no regulation once medications are dispensed to patients and little is known with regard to what happens during transport and home storage. Previous studies suggest that these drugs are improperly stored. The present study was designed to determine the storage conditions of thermolabile drugs once they are dispensed to the patient in the Hospital Pharmacy Department. This is a prospective observational study to assess the temperature profile of 7 thermolabile drugs once they are dispensed to ambulatory patients at a tertiary care hospital. A data logger was added to the medication packaging. Temperature was considered inappropriate if one of the following circumstances were met: any temperature record less than or equal to 0 °C or over 25 °C; temperatures between 0–2 or 8–25 °C for a continuous period over 30 min. The time series of temperature measurements obtained from each data logger were analyzed as statistically independent variables. The data shown did not undergo any statistical treatment and must be considered directly related to thermal measurements. One hundred and fourteen patients were included and 107 patients were available for the analysis. On the whole, a mean of 50.6 days (SD 18.3) were measured and the mean temperature was 6.88 °C (SD 2.93). Three data loggers (2.8%) maintained all the measurements between 2 and 8 °C with less than 3 continuous data (< 30 min) out of this range but no data over 25 °C or below or equal to 0 °C. 28 (26.2%) data loggers had at least one measurement below zero, 1 data logger had a measurement greater than 25 °C and 75 (70.1%) were between 0 and 2 °C and/or between 8 and 25 °C for more than 30 min. In conclusion, once dispensed to patients, most thermolabile drugs are improperly stored. Future studies should focus on clinical consequences and possible solutions.
Multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus cohnii and Staphylococcus urealyticus isolates from German dairy farms exhibit resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and divergent penicillin-binding proteins
Authors: Lienen Tobias , Schnitt Arne , Hammerl Jens Andre , Marino Stephen F. , Maurischat Sven , Tenhagen Bernd-Alois 
Published: March 2021

AbstractNon-aureus staphylococci are commonly found on dairy farms. Two rarely investigated species are Staphylococcus (S.) cohnii and S. urealyticus. Since multidrug-resistant S. cohnii and S. urealyticus are known, they may serve as an antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene reservoir for harmful staphylococcal species. In our study, nine S. cohnii and six S. urealyticus isolates from German dairy farms were analyzed by whole-genome sequencing and AMR testing. The isolates harbored various AMR genes (aadD1, str, mecA, dfrC/K, tetK/L, ermC, lnuA, fexA, fusF, fosB6, qacG/H) and exhibited non-wildtype phenotypes (resistances) against chloramphenicol, clindamycin, erythromycin, fusidic acid, rifampicin, streptomycin, tetracycline, tiamulin and trimethoprim. Although 14/15 isolates lacked the blaZ, mecA and mecC genes, they showed reduced susceptibility to a number of beta-lactam antibiotics including cefoxitin (MIC 4–8 mg/L) and penicillin (MIC 0.25–0.5 mg/L). The specificity of cefoxitin susceptibility testing for mecA or mecC gene prediction in S. cohnii and S. urealyticus seems to be low. A comparison with penicillin-binding protein (PBP) amino acid sequences of S. aureus showed identities of only 70–80% with regard to PBP1, PBP2 and PBP3. In conclusion, S. cohnii and S. urealyticus from selected German dairy farms show multiple resistances to antimicrobial substances and may carry unknown antimicrobial resistance determinants.
A national survey assessing public readiness for digital health strategies against COVID-19 within the United Kingdom
Authors: Sounderajah Viknesh , Clarke Jonathan , Yalamanchili Seema , Acharya Amish , Markar Sheraz R. , Ashrafian Hutan , Darzi Ara 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThere is concern that digital public health initiatives used in the management of COVID-19 may marginalise certain population groups. There is an overlap between the demographics of groups at risk of digital exclusion (older, lower social grade, low educational attainment and ethnic minorities) and those who are vulnerable to poorer health outcomes from SARS-CoV-2. In this national survey study (n = 2040), we assessed how the UK population; particularly these overlapping groups, reported their preparedness for digital health strategies. We report, with respect to using digital information to make health decisions, that those over 60 are less comfortable (net comfort: 57%) than those between 18 and 39 (net comfort: 78%) and lower social grades are less comfortable (net comfort: 63%) than higher social grades (net comfort: 75%). With respect to a preference for digital over non-digital sources in seeking COVID-19 health information, those over 60 (net preference: 21%) are less inclined than those between 18 and 39 (net preference: 60%) and those of low educational attainment (net preference: 30%) are less inclined than those of high educational attainment (net preference: 52%). Lastly, with respect to distinguishing reliable digital COVID-19 information, lower social grades (net confidence: 55%) are less confident than higher social grades (net confidence: 68%) and those of low educational attainment (net confidence: 51%) are less confident than those of high educational attainment (net confidence: 71%). All reported differences are statistically significant (p < 0.01) following multivariate regression modelling. This study suggests that digital public health approaches to COVID-19 have the potential to marginalise groups who are concurrently at risk of digital exclusion and poor health outcomes from SARS-CoV-2.
Prevalence and associated factors of pistol grip deformity in Japanese local residents
Authors: Taniguchi Takaya , Harada Teiji , Iidaka Toshiko , Hashizume Hiroshi , Taniguchi Wataru , Oka Hiroyuki , Asai Yoshiki , Muraki Shigeyuki , Akune Toru , Nakamura Kozo , Kawaguchi Hiroshi , Yoshida Munehito , Tanaka Sakae , Yamada Hiroshi , Yoshimura Noriko 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPistol grip deformity (PGD) may be the main factor in femoroacetabular impingement development. This study aimed to clarify the epidemiological indices and factors related to PGD in Japanese people. This population-based cohort study included 1575 local Japanese residents. PGD, center edge angle, and joint space width were measured radiographically. We investigated the relationship between PGD and spino-pelvic parameters. Factors associated with PGD were examined using multiple logistic regression analysis, with the presence/absence of PGD as an objective variable, and sex, age, body mass index (BMI), and the presence/absence of hip pain or spino-pelvic parameters as explanatory variables. In the entire cohort, 4.9% (10.6% men, 2.1% women) had PGD on at least one side. A trend was observed between PGD and increasing age in both men and women (men: p < 0.0001, women: p = 0.0004). No relationship was observed between PGD and hip pain (risk ratio 1.0 [95% confidence interval 0.97–1.03]). Factors significantly associated with PGD were age, sex, and BMI in the multivariate model. Acquired factors may be related to PGD in Japanese people as the PGD prevalence increased with age and PGD was not significantly associated with hip pain. This study provides new insights into the etiology and clinical significance of PGD.
Effects of vitamin D deficiency on the improvement of metabolic disorders in obese mice after vertical sleeve gastrectomy
Authors: Zhang Jie , Feng Min , Pan Lisha , Wang Feng , Wu Pengfei , You Yang , Hua Meiyun , Zhang Tianci , Wang Zheng , Zong Liang , Han Yuanping , Guan Wenxian 
Published: March 2021

AbstractVertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) is one of the most commonly performed clinical bariatric surgeries for the remission of obesity and diabetes. Its effects include weight loss, improved insulin resistance, and the improvement of hepatic steatosis. Epidemiologic studies demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is associated with many diseases, including obesity. To explore the role of vitamin D in metabolic disorders for patients with obesity after VSG. We established a murine model of diet-induced obesity + VDD, and we performed VSGs to investigate VDD's effects on the improvement of metabolic disorders present in post-VSG obese mice. We observed that in HFD mice, the concentration of VitD3 is four fold of HFD + VDD one. In the post-VSG obese mice, VDD attenuated the improvements of hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, intestinal inflammation and permeability, the maintenance of weight loss, the reduction of fat loss, and the restoration of intestinal flora that were weakened. Our results suggest that in post-VSG obese mice, maintaining a normal level of vitamin D plays an important role in maintaining the improvement of metabolic disorders.
Characterization of microbial antifreeze protein with intermediate activity suggests that a bound-water network is essential for hyperactivity
Authors: Khan N. M.-Mofiz Uddin , Arai Tatsuya , Tsuda Sakae , Kondo Hidemasa 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAntifreeze proteins (AFPs) inhibit ice growth by adsorbing onto specific ice planes. Microbial AFPs show diverse antifreeze activity and ice plane specificity, while sharing a common molecular scaffold. To probe the molecular mechanisms responsible for AFP activity, we here characterized the antifreeze activity and crystal structure of TisAFP7 from the snow mold fungus Typhula ishikariensis. TisAFP7 exhibited intermediate activity, with the ability to bind the basal plane, compared with a hyperactive isoform TisAFP8 and a moderately active isoform TisAFP6. Analysis of the TisAFP7 crystal structure revealed a bound-water network arranged in a zigzag pattern on the surface of the protein’s ice-binding site (IBS). While the three AFP isoforms shared the water network pattern, the network on TisAFP7 IBS was not extensive, which was likely related to its intermediate activity. Analysis of the TisAFP7 crystal structure also revealed the presence of additional water molecules that form a ring-like network surrounding the hydrophobic side chain of a crucial IBS phenylalanine, which might be responsible for the increased adsorption of AFP molecule onto the basal plane. Based on these observations, we propose that the extended water network and hydrophobic hydration at IBS together determine the TisAFP activity.
Conspicuousness, phylogenetic structure, and origins of Müllerian mimicry in 4000 lycid beetles from all zoogeographic regions
Authors: Motyka Michal , Kusy Dominik , Masek Michal , Bocek Matej , Li Yun , Bilkova R. , Kapitán Josef , Yagi Takashi , Bocak Ladislav 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBiologists have reported on the chemical defences and the phenetic similarity of net-winged beetles (Coleoptera: Lycidae) and their co-mimics. Nevertheless, our knowledge has remained fragmental, and the evolution of mimetic patterns has not been studied in the phylogenetic context. We illustrate the general appearance of ~ 600 lycid species and ~ 200 co-mimics and their distribution. Further, we assemble the phylogeny using the transcriptomic backbone and ~ 570 species. Using phylogenetic information, we closely scrutinise the relationships among aposematically coloured species, the worldwide diversity, and the distribution of aposematic patterns. The emitted visual signals differ in conspicuousness. The uniform coloured dorsum is ancestral and was followed by the evolution of bicoloured forms. The mottled patterns, i.e. fasciate, striate, punctate, and reticulate, originated later in the course of evolution. The highest number of sympatrically occurring patterns was recovered in New Guinea and the Andean mountain ecosystems (the areas of the highest abundance), and in continental South East Asia (an area of moderate abundance but high in phylogenetic diversity). Consequently, a large number of co-existing aposematic patterns in a single region and/or locality is the rule, in contrast with the theoretical prediction, and predators do not face a simple model-like choice but cope with complex mimetic communities. Lycids display an ancestral aposematic signal even though they sympatrically occur with differently coloured unprofitable relatives. We show that the highly conspicuous patterns evolve within communities predominantly formed by less conspicuous Müllerian mimics and, and often only a single species displays a novel pattern. Our work is a forerunner to the detailed research into the aposematic signalling of net-winged beetles.
The combined effect of coating treatments to nisin, nano-silica, and chitosan on oxidation processes of stored button mushrooms at 4 °C
Authors: Sami Rokayya , Elhakem Abeer , Alharbi Mona , Benajiba Nada , Fikry Mohammad , Helal Mahmoud 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAgaricus bisporus is an edible fungus with a limited shelf life due to high moisture loss, browning, respiration, self-dissolve, lack of physical protection, rotting, and microbial attack. Mushrooms have been coated with nisin, nano-silica, and chitosan films in order to extend the shelf life, preserve quality and oxidation activities. The results showed that treating the mushrooms with chitosan and nano-silica (CH-AN-SILICA) increased superoxide dismutase activity (SOD—6.53 U kg−1), total phenolic content (TPC—0.39 g kg−1), and malondialdehyde content (MDA—1.63 µmol kg−1). CH-AN-SILICA treatment exhibited the highest scavenging against 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals. While, CH-AN-SILICA with the addition of nisin as an antimicrobial agent preserved almost the reactive oxygen species such as hydroxyl radicals (OH—0.33 µmol g−1), superoxide anion (O2•−—0.271 mmol s−1 kg−1), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2—21.54 µmol g−1). Besides, both CH-AN-SILICA and CH-AN-SILICA/N enhanced the catalase (CAT) activity and reduced the respiration rate. The results indicated that the combination of nisin, nano-silica, and chitosan coating films was effective in providing a longer storage life with acceptable quality in mushrooms.
Genomic investigation of the coronavirus disease-2019 outbreak in the Republic of Korea
Authors: Kim Jeong-Min , Park Sung Yong , Lee Daesang , Kim Jun-Sub , Park Youngjoon , Gwack Jin , Kim Mi Young , Song Dong Hyun , Jeong Seong Tae , Chung Yoon-Seok , Yoo Cheon Kwon , Lee Ha Youn , Han Myung-Guk 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe South Korean government effectively contained the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak primarily associated with a religious group. We conducted SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing of 66 cases to investigate connections among the initial South Korean cases and the religious group outbreak. We assessed the accuracy of genomic investigation by comparing the whole genome sequences with comprehensive contact tracing records. Five transmission clusters were estimated among the 15 initial cases. The six close-contact cases and two potential exposure pairs identified by contact tracing showed two or fewer nucleotide base differences. Additionally, we identified two transmission clusters that were phylogenetically distinct from the initial clusters, sharing common G11083T, G26144T, and C14805T markers. The strain closest to the two additional clusters was identified from a pair of identical sequences isolated from individuals who traveled from Wuhan to Italy. Our findings provide insights into the origins of community spread of COVID-19.
Effects of surgery on survival of patients aged 75 years or older with oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas
Authors: Li Yujiao , Chu Chu , Hu Chaosu 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe objective of this study is to assess prognostic value of surgery for elderly oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas (OTSCC) patients. Patients with OTSCC were extracted from the SEER database between 2010 and 2014. The distributions of categorical demographic and clinicopathological characteristics were determined for different age groups: the 75–79, 80–84, and 85–102 years old groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the effects of each variable on survival. A total of 1064 patients were analyzed. 75–79 years old patients tended to be male and rate of surgery declined with advancing age (P < 0.001). 75–79 years old patients more frequently presented with advanced stage compared to their older peers (P = 0.002). Compared to surgery groups, the hazard ratios for no surgery groups were 2.856 (95% CI 2.267–3.599; (P < 0.001)) for OS and 3.687 (95% CI 2.561–5.308; (P < 0.001)) for CSS in multivariable analysis. In subgroup analysis, the effect of no surgery was significantly associated with a higher risk of poor CSS in patients aged 75–79 years, 80–84 years and 85–102 years (P < 0.001, respectively). Our results showed that there were a series of factors contributing to poor outcomes in the elderly OTSCC patients, including clinicopathological characteristics and surgical management. Surgical resection is significantly associated with an improved OS and CSS, but further exploration in larger prospective clinical trials and better prognostic and predictive tools for select old patients for surgery are needed.