bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The incidence of delirium in an acute geriatric community hospital: an observational cohort feasibility study
Authors: Ribbink Marthe E. , Stornebrink Emma , Franssen Remco , de Jonghe Annemarieke , MacNeil Vroomen Janet L. , Buurman Bianca M. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractObjectivesDelirium in hospitalised older adults is associated with negative health outcomes. Admission to an alternative care setting may lower the incidence of delirium. The Acute Geriatric Community Hospital (AGCH) was recently opened in the Netherlands and uses a multi-component non-pharmacological intervention strategy to prevent delirium. The objective of this study was to describe the incidence of delirium at the AGCH and compare this incidence to existing rates from literature. If a possible effect on delirium is seen in this comparison this would support conducting a larger prospectively controlled study on delirium in this new care setting.DesignProspective cohort feasibility study; exploratory meta-analysis of proportions.Setting and ParticipantsThe AGCH is an acute geriatric unit in a skilled nursing facility for patients aged >65 years with acute medical conditions.MethodsDelirium assessment using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) upon admission and on day one, two and three or until delirium had resolved. Patients’ charts were reviewed if CAM was missing. In an linear mixed-effects model, the delirium incidence rate in AGCH was compared to pooled delirium incidence rates from six studies found in a high-quality review.Results214 patients from the AGCH (mean age 81.9 years, 47% male, 12% with a history of dementia) were included in the analysis. Delirium developed in 8% (18/214) (95% confidence interval [CI] 5-13%) of patients during AGCH admission compared to 16% (95% CI 12-21%) in hospitals. Admission to the AGCH was associated with a decreased delirium incidence rate compared to the hospital control group (OR[odds ratio]= 0.49, 95% CI 0.24-0.98, p-value=0.044).Conclusions and implicationsThe delirium incidence in the AGCH was low compared to those incidences found in general hospitals in literature. Based on these findings a controlled observational or randomized study measuring delirium in this care setting is recommended.
SARS coronavirus vaccines protect against different coronaviruses
Authors: Dangi Tanushree , Palacio Nicole , Sanchez Sarah , Class Jacob , Visvabharathy Lavanya , Ciucci Thomas , Koralnik Igor , Richner Justin , Penaloza-MacMaster Pablo 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAlthough SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have shown efficacy against SARS-CoV-2, it is unclear if they can also protect against other coronaviruses that may infect humans in the future. Here, we show that SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in humans elicits cross-reactive antibodies against other coronaviruses. Our studies in mice demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 vaccination protects against a common cold coronavirus, and that SARS-CoV-1 vaccination protects against SARS-CoV-2. Similarly, infection with a common cold coronavirus also conferred enhanced protection from subsequent infections with other coronaviruses. Mechanistically, both T cells and antibodies mediated cross-protection. This is the first direct demonstration that coronavirus-specific immunity can confer heterologous protection in vivo, providing a rationale for universal coronavirus vaccines.HighlightsSARS-CoV-2 vaccination elicits cross-reactive antibody against other coronaviruses in humans.COVID-19 patients generate cross-reactive antibody against other coronaviruses.A SARS-CoV-1 vaccine protects against SARS-CoV-2.Prior coronavirus infections improve immune protection following heterologous coronavirus challenges.
Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 mutations reveals regional-specificity and similar trends of N501 and High-Frequency mutation N501Y in different levels of control measures
Authors: Arevalo Santiago Justo , Sifuentes Daniela Zapata , Huallpa César J. , Bianchi Gianfranco Landa , Chávez Adriana Castillo , Casas Romina Garavito-Salini , Uribe Calampa Carmen Sofia , Uceda-Campos Guillermo , Chavarría Roberto Pineda 
Published: June 2021

AbstractCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This disease has spread globally, causing more than 161.5 million cases and 3.3 million deaths to date. Surveillance and monitoring of new mutations in the virus’ genome are crucial to our understanding of the adaptation of SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, how the temporal dynamics of these mutations is influenced by control measures and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) is poorly understood. Using 1 058 020 SARS-CoV-2 from sequenced COVID-19 cases from 98 countries (totaling 714 country-month combinations), we perform a normalization by COVID-19 cases to calculate the relative frequency of SARS-CoV-2 mutations and explore their dynamics over time. We found 115 mutations estimated to be present in more than 3 % of global COVID-19 cases and determined three types of mutation dynamics: High-Frequency, Medium-Frequency, and Low-Frequency. Classification of mutations based on temporal dynamics enable us to examine viral adaptation and evaluate the effects of implemented control measures in virus evolution during the pandemic. We showed that Medium-Frequency mutations are characterized by high prevalence in specific regions and/or in constant competition with other mutations in several regions. Finally, taking N501Y mutation as representative of High-Frequency mutations, we showed that level of control measure stringency negatively correlates with the effective reproduction number of SARS-CoV-2 with High-Frequency or not-High-Frequency and both follows similar trends in different levels of stringency.
Building Back More Equitable STEM Education: Teach Science by Engaging Students in Doing Science
Authors: Elgin Sarah C R , Hays Shan , Mingo Vida , Shaffer Christopher D , Williams Jason 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic is a national tragedy, one that has focused our attention on both the need to improve science education and the need to confront systemic racism in our country. We know that active learning strategies, in particular research experiences, can engage and empower STEM undergraduates, effectively closing the achievement gap for historically excluded persons. The apprenticeship model for STEM training – supervised research under a dedicated mentor – is highly effective, but out of reach for most students. Recent efforts have demonstrated that Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) can be an effective approach for making STEM research accessible for all. Our meta-analysis of CUREs finds that published examples now cover the breadth of the typical undergraduate biology curriculum. A thoughtfully designed CURE can go beyond foundational knowledge and analytical thinking to include career-related skills,e.g., teamwork and communication. Similarly, it can be designed with equity as a foundational principle, taking into account the unique contributions of all students and their varying needs. We provide here an example framework (The “Do Science Framework”) for making STEM training more effective and inclusive using CUREs. While CUREs do not inherently address equity, there can be no equity in STEM education without equal access to research participation, and progress toward this goal can be achieved using CUREs. However, implementing new CUREs is not a trivial undertaking, particularly at schools with high teaching loads and little or no research infrastructure, including many community colleges. We therefore propose a National Center for Science Engagement to support this transition, building on experiences of current nationally established CUREs as well as the work of many individual faculty. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, academia has a renewed responsibility to dismantle structural inequities in education; engaging all STEM students in research can be a key step.
Amino acid-derived quorum sensing molecule alanine on the GIT tolerance of the lactobacillus strains in the co-cultured fermentation model
Authors: Wen Jianzhu , Cui Lei , Chen Mengqi , Xia Qiang , Zeng Xiaoqun , Guo Yuxing , Pan Daodong , Wu Zhen 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAs the importance of gut microbiota in health is increasingly recognized, the interest in interventions that can modulate the microbiota and its interactions with its host has soared. The survival status of the probiotics in the gastrointestinal environment and the microbial interactions between the LAB have also received considerable attention. In the present research, the gastrointestinal environment tolerance, adhesion ability, and biofilm formation of the lactobacillus strains in the co-culture system were explored, through the real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR, UPLC-MS/MS metabolic profiling analysis and Live/Dead® BacLight™ cell staining methods. The results show that the co-culture system can promote the release of signal molecules and can effectively protect the liability of the Lactobacillus acidophilus in the gastrointestinal environment. Meanwhile, amino acid-derived quorum sensing molecule L-alanine (1 %) can effectively enhance the communication of the cells in the complex fermentation model, which leads to the increase of the liability of the L. acidophilus in the gastrointestinal environment.ImportanceThe findings of this study provide a clue to the amino acid-derived metabolites in the communication among cells in the GIT environment, which can enhance the communication of the lactobacillus strains in the complex fermentation model. Meanwhile, the liability of Lactobacillus acidophilus could be enhanced in the co-culture system during the gastrointestinal environment stress with the amino acid-derived quorum sensing (QS) components, and it will shed some light to the application of the amino acid-derived QS molecules in the fermentation stater industry.
Proteome and functional decline as platelets age in the circulation
Authors: Allan Harriet E. , Hayman Melissa A. , Marcone Simone , Chan Melissa V. , Edin Matthew L. , Maffucci Tania , Joshi Abhishek , Menke Laura , Crescente Marilena , Mayr Manuel , Zeldin Darryl C. , Armstrong Paul C. , Warner Timothy D. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAnucleate platelets circulate in the blood of healthy individuals for approximately 7-10 days during which time their protein composition may change. We hypothesized such changes would be linked to altered structure and function. Here, we separated platelets of different ages based on mRNA content and characterised them using proteomics, immunofluorescence and functional assays. Total protein content was 45±5% (n=4) lower in old platelets compared to young platelets. Predictive proteomic pathway analysis identified associations with 28 biological processes, notably increased haemostasis in young platelets and apoptosis in old platelets. Further studies confirmed platelet ageing was linked to a reduction decrease in cytoskeletal proteins, a reduction in mitochondria number, and lower calcium dynamics and granule secretion. This work delineates physical and functional changes in platelets as they age and serves as a base to examine differences associated with altered mean age of platelet populations in conditions such as immune thrombocytopenia and diabetes.
Genomic evidence that blind cavefishes are not wrecks of ancient life
Authors: Policarpo Maxime , Laurenti Patrick , García-Machado Erik , Metcalfe Cushla , Rétaux Sylvie , Casane Didier 
Published: June 2021

AbstractCavefishes often have modified eyes, from small but otherwise functional, to highly degenerate structures embedded in a connective tissue and covered by skin. Darwin assumed that these animals are ‘wrecks of ancient life’, but several genomic studies suggests they are not ‘ancient’. The most radical dating shift is for populations of a Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus, that have been recently estimated to be at the most a few tens of thousands years old. Despite having highly degenerate eyes, the eye-specific genes of A. mexicanus have low levels of decay. Other blind cavefishes we have examined so far are even older, but also can be dated to the Pleistocene. Here, we estimated the age of blindness of two additional fish species by the level of decay of eye-specific genes. Many pseudogenes were identified in the amblyopsid Typhlichthys subterraneus, suggesting that blindness evolved a few million years ago. In contrast, the blind cichlid Lamprologus lethops appears to be a new case of very recent and rapid eye regression, which occurred in deep river water, an environment similar to caves. Genome-wide analyses support the hypothesis that blindness in cavefishes is never very ancient, and ranges from the Early Pliocene to Late Pleistocene. Together with the description of hundreds of cavefish species, our results suggest that surface fishes were able to recurrently and rapidly adapt to caves and similar small dark ecosystems but the resulting highly specialized blind species with a limited distribution may be evolutionary dead-ends in a relatively short time.
High-energy micrometre-scale pixel direct conversion X-ray detector
Authors: Scott Christopher C. , Farrier Michael , Li Yunzhe , Laxer Sam , Ravi Parmesh , Kenesei Peter , Wojcik Michael J. , Miceli Antonino , Karim Karim S. 
Published: June 2021

The objective of this work was to fabricate and characterize a new X-ray imaging detector with micrometre-scale pixel dimensions (7.8 µm) and high detection efficiency for hard X-ray energies above 20 keV. A key technology component consists of a monolithic hybrid detector built by direct deposition of an amorphous selenium film on a custom designed CMOS readout integrated circuit. Characterization was carried out at the synchrotron beamline 1-BM-B at the Advanced Photon Source of Argonne National Laboratory. The direct conversion detector demonstrated micrometre-scale spatial resolution with a 63 keV modulation transfer function of 10% at Nyquist frequency. In addition, spatial resolving power down to 8 µm was determined by imaging a transmission bar target at 21 keV. X-ray signal linearity, responsivity and lag were also characterized in the same energy range. Finally, phase contrast edge enhancement was observed in a phase object placed in the beam path. This amorphous selenium/CMOS detector technology can address gaps in commercially available X-ray detectors which limit their usefulness for existing synchrotron applications at energies greater than 50 keV; for example, phase contrast tomography and high-resolution imaging of nanoscale lattice distortions in bulk crystalline materials using Bragg coherent diffraction imaging. The technology will also facilitate the creation of novel synchrotron imaging applications for X-ray energies at or above 20 keV.
An analysis of the effects of stakeholders management on IT project risks using Delphi and design of experiments methods
Authors: Figueiredo Filho Letícia Barbosa Gomes , Bouzon Marina , Fettermann Diego de Castro 
Published: June 2021

PurposeThis study aims to evaluate how stakeholders affect project risks by analyzing the connection between stakeholder management and risk management in the information technology (IT) project context.Design/methodology/approachUsing the Delphi method, interviews with IT project experts were conducted to examine four factors concerning stakeholder management and define probabilities for three risk variables. The design of experiments (DoE) method was applied for the design of the research instrument and data analysis.FindingsStakeholder engagement and communication with stakeholders have significant influence on the occurrence of negative risks, opportunities and the development of contingency strategies. These results provide project leaders with relevant data that better guide actions toward stakeholders and enhance project success probability.Originality/valueThis study clarifies important aspects of two main project management areas – stakeholder and risk management – in the IT projects context. This research also presented an unusual application for the DoE method which allows the subjective variables analysis by statistical tools and enables to explore factor influences on real project situations.
Organizational learning, innovativeness and performance of financial service firms in an emerging market: examining the mediation effects of customer-focused strategy
Authors: Yuliansyah Yuliansyah , Rammal Hussain Gulzar , Maryani Maryani , Mohamed Jais Ismie Roha , Mohd-Sanusi Zuraidah 
Published: June 2021

PurposeThe study investigates the extent to which organizational learning and innovativeness can improve the firms' performance through a customer-focused strategy.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from Indonesian financial service firms using a questionnaire-based survey. The 157 useable survey responses were analysed to test the proposed hypotheses using SmartPLS.FindingsThis study finds that both organizational learning and innovativeness have a positive effect on performance. The effect of organizational learning on performance depends on the variations of the customer-focused strategy. However, innovativeness does not mediate through customer-focused strategy to enhance performance.Practical implicationsIn firms that implement business model innovation, managers should focus on resource flexibility. Where it is responsive, managers need to be concerned with ensuring various uses of existing resources to understand the performance effectively.Social implicationsAs one of the types of dynamic capabilities, organizational learning and innovativeness are also important antecedents of performance.Originality/valueThis study extends the business innovation model from the adaptability of customer-focused strategy. The findings confirm that organizational learning has a prominent role in meeting customer needs for a dynamic market.
Does financial literacy reduce financial fragility during COVID-19? The moderation effect of psychological, economic and social factors
Authors: Chhatwani Malvika , Mishra Sushanta Kumar 
Published: June 2021

PurposeThe present study examines the linkage between financial literacy and financial fragility during COVID-19. It further examines if financial literacy has a differential impact on financial fragility based on psychological (financial confidence), economic (wealth) and social (race) factors.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used nationally representative data of the American working age-group. They collated six different datasets collected at different time-periods to conduct the present study. Based on 2,202 observations, they conducted logistic regression analyses to test the proposed relationships.FindingsThe authors find that financial literacy reduces the odds of being financially fragile by 9.1%. Furthermore, they find that financially literate consumers having high financial confidence are less financially fragile during COVID-19. Besides, the adverse impact of financial literacy on financial fragility is more for consumers having more than less wealth. The interaction with race is not significant, suggesting that financial literacy cuts across racial boundaries.Practical implicationsFinancial fragility is an important factor having numerous deleterious consequences. The authors’ study found that financial confidence, psychological factor and wealth economic factor enhances the negative effect of financial literacy on financial fragility. Banks and financial institutes can develop mechanisms to infuse confidence in individuals during the pandemic to reduce their financial fragility. Policymakers and governments may increase awareness related to debt management practices and design financial literacy interventions to reduce financial fragility among individuals.Originality/valueThe study is one of the initial studies to examine the antecedents of financial fragility. Based on a time-lagged data, the authors’ study examines the linkage between financial literacy and financial fragility. Though scholars have investigated financial literacy and its implications, scholarly work in this domain during COVID-19 is at best limited. The study contributes to the literature by testing the effects of boundary conditions that can change financial literacy's impact on financial fragility.
The influence of institutional context on entrepreneurial intention: evidence from the Saudi young community
Authors: Aloulou Wassim J. 
Published: June 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to contribute to a better understanding of how a country’s institutional environment is impacting the young community’s entrepreneurial intention through perceived desirability and feasibility as mediators.Design/methodology/approachThis research applies and validates a measure of a country’s institutional profile for entrepreneurship to Saudi university students. This research develops a structural model to investigate the young community’s perceptions about their institutional context, desirability and feasibility and their influence on entrepreneurial intentions. Data was collected from 287 Saudi young communities (university students) from several public universities located in Riyadh. Structural equation modeling analysis was applied to examine the structural model of entrepreneurial intentions.FindingsResearch findings revealed positive and significant relationships between institutional context dimensions and young community students’ perceived desirability and feasibility and between students’ perceived desirability and feasibility and their entrepreneurial intentions. Their perceived desirability and feasibility were shown to have positive full mediation effects on the relationships between institutional environment dimensions and entrepreneurial intention.Research limitations/implicationsResearch Implications are advanced to help researchers and practitioners in considering the institutional environment for promoting entrepreneurship. Limitations and future research directions are discussed for better generalization of findings and renewed streams of research in the field.Originality/valueTo the best knowledge of the author, this research is one of the first studies to apply the scale on the institutional country profile to Saudi Arabia with a young community. Studies linking institutional profile to entrepreneurial intentions were also limited in developing countries having a young population. This might catch the attention of researchers, educators and policy-makers.