bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High coverage COVID-19 mRNA vaccination rapidly controls SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Long-Term Care Facilities
Authors: De Salazar Pablo , Link Nicholas , Lamarca Karuna , Santillana Mauricio 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs) represent a major share of COVID-19 deaths worldwide. Information on vaccine effectiveness in these settings is essential to improve mitigation strategies, but evidence remains limited. To evaluate the early effect of the administration of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccines in LTCFs, we monitored subsequent SARS-CoV-2 documented infections and deaths in Catalonia, a region of Spain, and compared them to counterfactual model predictions from February 6th to March 28th, 2021, the subsequent time period after which 70% of residents were fully vaccinated. We calculated the reduction in SARS-CoV-2 documented infections and deaths as well as the detected county-level transmission. We estimated that once more than 70% of the LTCFs population were fully vaccinated, 74% (58%-81%, 90% CI) of COVID-19 deaths and 75% (36%-86%) of all documented infections were prevented. Further, detectable transmission was reduced up to 90% (76-93% 90%CI). Our findings provide evidence that high-coverage vaccination is the most effective intervention to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission and death. Widespread vaccination could be a feasible avenue to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
Developing and Evaluating Non-invasive Healthcare Technologies for a Group of Female Participants from a Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Area
Authors: Awad Eman , Ramji Rathi , Cirovic Stefan , Rämgård Margareta , Kottorp Anders , Shleev Sergey 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background When compared to the general population, socioeconomically disadvantaged communities frequently experience compromised health. Monitoring the divide is challenging since in general, standardized biomedical tests are linguistically and culturally inappropriate. The aim of this study was to develop a novel healthcare technology for its usage in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.Methods A unique mobile biomedical testbed based on non-invasive analysis, accompanied with the World Health Organization Quality of Life survey, was developed. This healthcare approach was used in Lindängen, a socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhood in Malmö, which has been listed as one of the twelve most vulnerable neighborhoods in Sweden. Results The less intrusive biomedical approach, compared to conventional setups used, e.g., wrist blood pressure monitoring, bioimpedance analysis and cardiovascular diagnostics, non-invasive determination of blood bioanalytes, was highly appreciated by the participants, i.e., 39 female volunteers of Middle Eastern origin. Surprisingly, the collected biomedical data illustrated that the apparent health of the participants from Lindängen was comparable to the general Swedish population. The Quality of Life-BREF survey, used to gather information regarding subjective health perceptions within the cohort, combined with advanced statistical data analysis, revealed statistically significant correlations between perceived health and biomedical data. Even though the dependences found were complex, the recognition of which is essential in further research. Conclusions Our results validate the potential of non-invasive technologies in combination with advanced statistical analysis, especially when combined with linguistically and culturally appropriate healthcare methodologies, allowing participants to appreciate the significance of the different parameters to evaluate and monitor aspects of health.
Spectroscopic Analysis of Parathyroid And Thyroid Tissues By Ground-State Diffuse Reflectance and Laser Induced Luminescence : A Preliminary Report
Authors: Serra Carlos , Serra João , Ferreira-Machado Isabel L , Vieira-Ferreira Luís F 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Intraoperative discrimination of thyroid and parathyroid tissues is fundamental in thyroid surgery. Recent fluorescence studies have shown stronger NIR emission in parathyroid tissue than in thyroid tissue, presenting a potential avenue for the development of a tool for surgical assistance. However, the fluorophore responsible for this emission has not yet been identified. In this work, spectroscopic analysis was performed to ascertain the origin of the emission peaks in parathyroid tissue. Ground-state diffuse reflectance (GSDR) absorption spectroscopy and laser-induced luminescence (LIL) emission spectroscopy were performed in parathyroid, thyroid, and fatty tissue samples and the resulting spectra were compared with the peaks of known fluorophores to identify the origin of each peak. The spectra of the different tissue types were also compared in order to evaluate the wavelength which presents the highest parathyroid emission relative to the emission of the surrounding tissues, representing the ideal wavelength for parathyroid detection. An emission peak in these conditions was observed for both thyroid and parathyroid tissue at 711 nm, with a higher intensity in parathyroid sample, making it suitable for detection applications. These results show a potential avenue for the development of a system allowing parathyroid detection in a surgical setting.
Data mining: Traditional Spring Festival Associated With Hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Wang Danchen , Zou Yutong , Li Honglei , Yu Songlin , Xia Liangyu , Cheng Xinqi , Qiu Ling , Xu Tengda 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
BackgroundSerum lipid concentrations are affected by long-term high fat diets; thus, we hypothesise that lipid levels increase after Spring Festival in China. In total, 20,192 individuals (males, 10,108; females, 10,084) were enrolled in this retrospective cross-sectional study, based on clinical data from Laboratory Information System (LIS) and Hospital Information System (HIS) in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, from 2014 to 2018. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were analysed. Results Average age, BMI, SBP, and DBP of the participants were 39.4 years, 23.7 kg/m2, 118 mmHg, and 73 mmHg, respectively. Serum TC, TG, and LDL levels were significantly higher in males than in females (P < 0.001); serum HDL-C was statistically lower in males (P < 0.001). In February, the TC, TG, and LDL-C levels were 8.4%, 16.3%, and 9.3% higher than the lowest levels recorded, respectively. Additionally, dyslipidaemia prevalence was statistically higher in the first week after Spring Festival than in May–January. Conclusion Higher TC, TG, LDL-C in winter could be associated with high fat diets during Spring Festival. Spring Festival was immediately followed by a higher lipid concentration. Thus, it is necessary accurately diagnose dyslipidaemia after Spring Festival.
Random analysis of coupled vehicle-bridge systems with local nonlinearity based on explicit time-domain method
Authors: Huang Huan , Zheng Hengbin , Deng Jianliang , Li Wenxiong , Li Yuyu 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Based on the explicit time-domain method in conjunction with the equivalent linearization technique, an efficient analysis algorithm is developed for the random vibration analysis of the coupled vehicle-bridge system with local nonlinear components under the random irregular excitation from a bridge deck. With the coupled vehicle-bridge system divided into two subsystems, the equivalent linearized subsystem for the vehicle subsystem with the hysteretic suspension spring is constructed for the given time instant using the equivalent linearization technique. Then the dimension-reduction vibration analysis for the equivalent linearized coupled vehicle-bridge system can be carried out based on the time-domain explicit method, which has been proven to be highly efficient. The numerical example indicates that the proposed approach is of feasibility.
Nanoscale Silica Coated Graphene Oxide and Its Demulsifying Performance in Water-in-oil and Oil-in-water Emulsions
Authors: Shen Liwei , Hu Wenxiang , Lei Zhiyun , Peng Jianguo , Zhu Enxiong , Zhang Xuanwei , Yang Ming , Feng Xuening , Yang Ying , Mi Yuanzhu 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
In present study, GO@SiO2 nanocomposites was prepared by coating nanoscale silica onto graphene oxide (GO). The nanocomposites were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (IF-IR). Additionally, the demulsifying performance of the nanocomposites was investigated by the bottle test method. The results showed that GO@SiO2 nanocomposites had a good demulsifying performance both in oil-in-water (O/W) and water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions. When the concentration of GO@SiO2 was 200 ppm in O/W emulsion, the optimal light transmittance of aqueous phase (LTA) and corresponding oil removal rate (ORR) at room temperature could reach 86.9% and 99.48%, respectively. Also, GO@SiO2 had an excellent salt tolerance under acidic condition. Furthermore, GO@SiO2 nanocomposites also could demulsify the W/O emulsion, and the efficiency at 70℃ could reach 80.5% when the concentration was 400 ppm.
Comparison of Geographical Traceability of Wild and Cultivated Macrohyporia Cocos With Different Data Fusion Approaches
Authors: Wang Qinqin , Wang Yuan-Zhong , Wang Yunmei 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background Poria originated from the dried sclerotium of Macrohyporia cocos is an edible traditional Chinese medicine with high economic value. Due to the significant difference in quality between wild and cultivated M. cocos, the study aimed to trace the origin of the fungus from the perspectives of wild and cultivation. In addition, there were quite limited studies about data fusion, a potential strategy, employed and discussed in the geographical traceability of M. cocos. Therefore, we traced the origin of M. cocos from the perspectives of wild and cultivation using multiple data fusion approaches. Methods Supervised pattern recognition techniques like partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and random forest, were employed in this study using. Five types of data fusion involving low-, mid- and high-level data fusion strategies were performed. Two feature extraction approaches including the selecting variables by a random forest-based method—Boruta algorithm and producing principal components by the dimension reduction technique of principal component analysis were considered in data fusion. Results (1) the difference of wild and cultivated samples did exist in terms of the content analysis of vital chemical component and fingerprint analysis. (2) the cultivated samples from different origins could be easily identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy or liquid chromatography, while the wild required data fusion. (3) Boruta outperformed principal component analysis (PCA) in feature extraction. (4) Mid-level-Boruta preceded Mid-level-PCA, low-level and high-level data fusion and individual techniques. The Mid-level-Boruta PLS-DA model took full advantage of information synergy and showed the best performance. Conclusions This study proved that both geographical traceability and optimal identification methods of cultivated and wild samples were different, and data fusion was a potential technique in the geographical identification.
Four Centuries of Summer Temperature Changes in Tierra Del Fuego: Atmospheric Drivers and Tree-Ring Reconstruction From the Southernmost Forests of the World
Authors: Matskovsky Vladimir , Roig Fidel A. , Fuentes Mauricio , Korneva Irina , Araneo Diego , Linderholm Hans W. , Aravena Juan Carlos 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Proxy climate records, such as those derived from tree rings, are necessary to extend relatively short instrumental meteorological observations into the past. Tierra del Fuego is the most austral territory with forests in the world, situated close to the Antarctic Peninsula, which makes this region especially interesting for paleoclimatic research. However, high-quality, high-resolution summer temperature reconstruction are lacking in the region. In this study we used 63 tree-ring width chronologies of Nothofagus pumilio and Nothofagus betuloides and partial least squares regression (PLSR) to produce annually resolved December-to-February temperature reconstruction since AD 1600 which explains up to 65% of instrumental temperature variability. We also found that observed summer temperature variability in Tierra del Fuego is primarily driven by the fluctuations of atmospheric pressure systems both in the South Atlantic and South Pacific, while it is insignificantly correlated to major hemispheric modes: ENSO and SAM. This fact makes our reconstruction important for climate modelling experiments, as it represents specific regional variability. Our reconstruction can be used for direct comparison with model outputs to better understand model limitations or to tune a model or contribute to larger scale reconstructions based on paleoclimatic data assimilation. Moreover, we showed that PLSR has improved performance over principal component regression (PCR) in the case of multiple tree-ring predictors. According to these results, PLSR may be a preferable method over PCR for the use in automated tree-ring based reconstruction approaches, akin widely used point-by-point regression.
Prioritization of hazards for risk and resilience management through elicitation of expert judgement
Authors: ioannou ioanna , Gomez Jaime Cadena , Aspinall Willy , Lange David , Honfi Daniel , Rossetto Tiziana 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Risk assessment in communities or regions typically relies on the determination of hazard scenarios and an evaluation of their impact on local systems and structures. One of the challenges of risk assessment for infrastructure operators is how to identify the most critical scenarios that are likely to represent unacceptable risks to such assets in a given time frame. This study develops a novel approach for prioritizing hazards for the risk assessment of infrastructure. Central to the proposed methodology is an expert elicitation technique termed paired comparison which is based on a formal mathematical technique for quantifying the range and variance in the judgements of a group of stakeholders. The methodology is applied here to identify and rank natural and operational hazard scenarios that could cause serious disruption or have disastrous effects to the infrastructure in the transnational Øresund region over a period of five years. The application highlighted substantial divergences of views among the stakeholders on identifying a single ‘most critical’ natural or operational hazard scenario. Despite these differences, it was possible to flag up certain cases as critical among the natural hazard scenarios, and others among the operational hazards.
In vitro characterisation of the MS2 RNA polymerase complex reveals novel host factors that modulate leviviral replicase activity
Authors: Wagner Alexander , Weise Laura , Mutschler Hannes 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
The coliphage MS2 is a well-established model organism that has helped to reveal a variety of fundamental concepts for RNA-based translational control and viral RNA packaging. Despite the comprehensive characterisation of the MS2 life cycle, the macromolecular composition of its RNA replicase remained obscure. Here, we sought to identify the missing host proteins required for the assembly of the active replicase complex. By combining a purified, inactive MS2 replicase sub-complex with selected modules of an in vitro translation system, we confirmed that the three suspected host factors EF-Ts, EF-Tu and ribosomal protein S1 form an active core-enzyme with the viral replicase subunit. Unexpectedly, we also found that the translation initiation factors IF1 and IF3 directly modulate MS2 replicase activity. While IF1 enhances replicase activity in a template-independent manner, IF3 acts as an inhibitor that prevents polymerase initiation and / or elongation. Both observations suggest a previously unknown role of these host proteins during the phage life cycle. Finally, we demonstrate the in vitro formation of small RNAs that contain minimal motifs required for MS2 replicase-dependent amplification. Our work sheds new light on the architecture of the MS2 replication machinery while also providing the basis for a new cell-free evolution platform.
The Role of Structural and Process Quality of Family Planning Care in Modern Contraceptive Use in Indonesia: A Multilevel Analysis
Authors: Nurjaeni Nurjaeni , Sawangdee Yothin , Pattaravanich Umaporn , Holumyong Charamporn , Chamratrithirong Aphichat 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Introduction Relatively low modern contraceptive prevalence and high unintended childbearing pose substantial encounters for Indonesia to achieve sustainable development goals. Despite contraceptive behaviors are influenced by multiple and multilevel variables, studies on modern contraceptive use in Indonesia has concentrated on single-level and mostly individual and household variables, and less interest has been devoted to multilevel analysis that accounts for community and SDP characteristics that may affect woman’s decision to use modern FP method.Methods This study analyzed data from the 2016 PMA2020 survey of 10,210 women in 372 communities in Indonesia. The data were analyzed using a multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression to assess the role of structural quality and process quality of family planning care and other factors in modern contraceptive utilization.Result The highest loading factors for structural quality were number of contraceptive provided, SDP supports CHWs, available water and electricity, and skilled FP personnel, while the highest loading factors for process quality were privacy of clients and provision of post-abortion service. There were significant differences across communities in how study variables associated with modern FP adoption. The finding shows the evidence of significant roles of structural and process quality FP care in modern contraceptive use. Moreover, women with high autonomy in FP decision, those who had free national/district health insurance, and those living in a community with higher proportion of women visited by CHW had higher odds of modern contraceptive usage, yet, women who live in a community with higher mean ideal number of children or greater proportion of women citing personal/husband/religion opposition to FP, had lower odds of modern contraceptive use than their counterparts.Conclusions Study findings suggest improvement in structural and process quality of FP care will yield substantial growths in modern contraceptive use. Moreover, FP workers should also address prevailing cultural/traditional customs in community and should target communities where the demand for modern FP was deprived by social beliefs and norms. There was significant variation across communities in how individual, household, community, and SDP factors affect modern FP practice, hence, context should be taken into consideration in the development of FP intervention and promotion programs.
Synthesis of biomass based plasticizer from linoleic acid and cardanol for preparing durable PVC material
Authors: Chu Hongying , Li Huabei , Sun Xiaoyan , Zhang Yaowang 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
In this paper, we synthesized a kind of bio-based plasticizer epoxidized linoleic acid cardanol ester(ELCE) from cardanol and linoleic acid. Its chemical structure was characterized with FT-IR and 1H NMR. Polyvinyl chloride(PVC) blends plasticized with ELCE were prepared via thermoplastic blending with torque rheometer. The performance including torque, mechanical property, thermal stability, plasticizing property and migration resistance of plasticized PVC blends were investigated and compared with plasticized PVC blends with commercial plasticizer dioctyl phthalate(DOP). The results showed that ELCE improved thermal stability of PVC blends. ELCE played more excellent plasticizing effect on PVC blends than DOP. The better solvent extraction resistance and volatile resistance of ELCE make it impossible to completely replace DOP in PVC products.
Immortalized mesenchymal stem cells: a safe cell source for cellular or cell membrane-based treatment of glioma
Authors: Zhang Yuxuan , Liu Jie , Mo Yunzhao , Chen Zetao , Chen Taoliang , Li Yan , Zheng Yaofeng , Deng Shaokang , Xu Xiangdong , Chen Huajian , He Haoqi , Chen Jiansheng , Jin Tao , Sun Xinlin , Ke Yiquan , Wang Jihui 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as putative therapeutic tools due to their intrinsic tumour tropism, anti-tumour, and immunoregulatory properties. The limited passage and self-differentiation abilities of MSCs in vitro hinder preclinical studies of mesenchymal stem cells, and makes the MSC-based treatment of tumours lack a stable, uniform, and homogeneous source of cells. In this study, we focused on the safety of immortalised mesenchymal stem cells (im-MSCs) and, for the first time, studied the feasibility of im-MSCs as candidates for the treatment of glioma.METHODS: The im-MSCs were constructed by the lentiviral transfection of genes, and the proliferative capacity of immortalised MSCs and the proliferative phenotype of MSCs and MSCs co-cultured with glioma cells (U87) were measured using CCK-8 and EdU assays. After long-term culture, karyotype analysis of im-MSCs was conducted. In addition, the tumourigenicity of engineered MSCs was evaluated using soft agar cloning assays. Moreover, the engineered cells were injected into the brain of female BALB/c nude mice. Finally, the cell membranes of im-MSCs were labelled with DIO or DIR to detect their ability to be taken by glioma cells and target in situ gliomas using an IVIS system.RESULTS: Im-MSCs expressed CD73, CD90, CD105, CD29, and CD44 but did not express CD45, CD34, CD14, CD11b, or CD31. Engineered MSCs maintained the ability to differentiate into mesenchymal lineages in vitro. Im-MSCs showed stronger proliferative capacity than unengineered MSCs without colony formation in soft agar, no tumourigenicity in the brain, and normal chromosomes. MSCs or im-MSCs co-cultured with U87 cells showed enhanced proliferation ability, but did not show malignant characteristics in soft agar cloning experiments. Immortalised cells continued to express homing molecules. The cell membranes of im-MSCs were taken up by glioma cells and targeted in situ gliomas in vivo.CONCLUSIONS: Im-MSCs are promising candidates for cellular anti-glioma therapy. Im-MSCs provide a safe, adequate, quality-controlled, and continuous source of cells or cell membranes for the treatment of glioma.
Phase Separation During Blood Spreading
Authors: BENABDELHALIM Houssine , BRUTIN David 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Blood pools can spread on several types of substrates depending on the surrounding environment and conditions. Understanding the influence of these parameters on the spreading of blood pools can provide crime scene investigators with useful information. The focus of the present study is on phase separation, that is, when the serum spreads outside the main blood pool. For this purpose, blood pools with constant initial masses on wooden floors that were either varnished or not were created at ambient temperatures of 21 °C, 29 °C, and 37 °C with a relative humidity varying from 20 % to 90 %. The range 21 °C to 37 °C covers almost all worldwide indoor cases. The same whole blood from the same donor was used for all experiments. As a result, an increase in relative humidity was found to result in an increase in the final pool area. In addition, at the three different experimental temperatures, the serum spread outside the main pool at relative humidity levels above 50 %. This phase separation is more significant on varnished substrates, and does not lead to any changes in the drying morphology. This phenomenon is explained by the competition between coagulation and evaporation.