bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Community Opinions on Vaccine Issues and Decisions (COVID) Survey: Using a rapid Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) survey in supporting a community engagement approach to address COVID-19 vaccine uptake initiatives
Authors: Rahman Najeeb 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundIn the UK, it is acknowledged that ethnic minority communities have lower vaccination uptake rates compared with their White ethnic counterparts. It is additionally recognised that the UK Muslim community represents diverse ethnicities, which is reflected through their places of worship, namely mosques. Given the current pandemic and the rollout of the COVID-19 Vaccination campaign, mosques, in their capacity as community organisations, have been involved in health promotion initiatives such as webinars. The objective of this project was to support and improve COVID-19 Vaccine related health promotion activities being delivered by mosques in the UK city of Leeds by using a rapidly administered KAP survey.MethodsA short survey was developed, reviewed for appropriateness by relevant mosque leaders, and distributed electronically to 2 mosque congregations. Analysis involved cumulative average scores for key domains with adjustment for key demographics, as well as a review of engagement preferences. Findings were fed back during an engagement webinar hosted by one of the mosques.ResultsThere were a total of 151 participants, majority were male (95), between the ages of 31-50 (88) and of Asian ethnicity (102). Average Knowledge, Attitude and Practice scores for participants from Leeds Grand Mosque were 67,69 and 74% respectively, with participants from Leeds Makkah Mosque scoring 65, 62 and 67% respectively. Female participants as well as those aged less than 30 years scored poorer across all domains compared with the group average. The most important sources of information in relation to the vaccine were considered to be General Practitioners (GP) and National Health Service (NHS) or Government Websites.ConclusionsA KAP survey is a useful tool to develop insights on community perspectives to the COVID-19 Vaccine, and can be rapidly deployed through community organisations such as mosques. Survey findings can then be used to improve the nature of health promotion, community engagement and service delivery in relation to mosques and their congregations. Adapting the survey for other groups and communities, as well as scaling up the partnership-based approaches to survey administration would support the development of multi-component strategies to address vaccine concerns and uptake.
Medication Management of Anxiety and Depression by Primary Care Pediatrics Providers: A Retrospective Electronic Health Record Study
Authors: Lester Talia R. , Bannett Yair , Gardner Rebecca M. , Feldman Heidi M. , Huffman Lynne C. ,   Stanford University School of Medicine
Published: April 2021

AbstractObjectivesTo describe medication management of children diagnosed with anxiety and depression by primary care providers.Study Design/MethodsWe performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of electronic health record (EHR) structured data. All visits for pediatric patients seen at least twice during a four-year period within a network of primary care clinics in Northern California were included. Descriptive statistics summarized patient variables and most commonly prescribed medications. For each subcohort (anxiety, depression, and both (anxiety+depression)), logistic regression models examined the variables associated with medication prescription.ResultsOf all patients (N=93,025), 2.8% (n=2635) had a diagnosis of anxiety only, 1.5% (n=1433) depression only, and 0.79% (n=737) both anxiety and depression (anxiety+depression); 18% of children with anxiety and/or depression had comorbid ADHD. A total of 14.0% with anxiety (n=370), 20.3% with depression (n=291), and 47.5% with anxiety+depression (n=350) received a psychoactive non-stimulant medication. For anxiety only and depression only, sertraline, citalopram, and fluoxetine were most commonly prescribed. For anxiety+depression, citalopram, sertraline, and escitalopram were most commonly prescribed. The top prescribed medications also included benzodiazepines. Logistic regression models showed that older age and having developmental or mental health comorbidities were independently associated with increased likelihood of medication prescription for children with anxiety, depression, and anxiety+depression. Insurance type and sex were not associated with medication prescription.ConclusionsPCPs prescribe medications more frequently for patients with anxiety+depression than for patients with either diagnosis alone. Medication choices generally align with current recommendations. Future research should focus on the use of benzodiazepines due to safety concerns in children.
Estimating SARS-CoV-2 variant strain infectiousness in Japan as of March 28, 2021
Authors: Kurita Junko , Sugawara Tamie , Ohkusa Yasushi 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundA variant strain of SARS-CoV-2, VOC202012/01, emerged in the UK in September, 2020. Its infectiousness was estimated as higher than that of the original strain.ObjectWe estimated the infectiousness of the variant strain of SARS-CoV-2 in comparison to that of the original strain under conditions prevailing in Japan.MethodsWe estimated infectiousness through a simple susceptible–infected–recovered (SIR) model by strain. The study period was March 1–28, 2020. The information used for the study was available as of April 3, 2020.ResultsThe estimated reproduction number of the SARS-CoV-2 variant strain was 1.799; its 95% CI was [1.642, 1.938]. The onset date of the first case in Japan was estimated as December 4 ([November 16, December 14]), 2020. However, infectiousness of the original strain was estimated as 1.123 ([1.093, 1.166]).Discussion and ConclusionWe demonstrated that infectiousness increased by 0.684 or 60%, increasing from the original to the variant. That finding might be comparable to that of a study conducted in the UK. However, the difference must be monitored continuously and carefully.
Can Social Media Data Be Utilized to Enhance Early Warning: Retrospective Analysis of the U.S. Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Li Lingyao , Gao Lei , Zhou Jiayan , Ma Zihui , Choy David F. , Hall Molly A. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACTThe U.S. needs early warning systems to help it contain the spread of infectious diseases. Conventional early warning systems use lab-test results or dynamic records to signal early warning signs. New early warning systems can supplement these data with indicators of public awareness like news articles and search queries. This study aims to explore the potential of utilizing social media data to enhance early warning of the COVID-19 outbreak. To demonstrate the feasibility, this study conducts a retrospective analysis and investigates more than 14 million related Twitter postings in the date range from January 20 to March 10, 2020. With the aid of natural language processing tools and machine learning classifiers, this study classifies each of these tweets into either a signal or a non-signal. In this study, a “signal” tweet implies that the user recognized the COVID-19 outbreak risk in the U.S. This study then proposes a parameter “signal ratio” to signal warning signs of the COVID-19 pandemic over periods. Results reveal that social media data and the signal ratio can detect the hazards ahead of the COVID-19 outbreak. This claim has been validated with a leading time of 16 days through the comparison to other referenced methods based on Google trends or media news.
An explicit formula for minimizing the infected peak in an SIR epidemic model when using a fixed number of complete lockdowns
Authors: Sontag Eduardo D. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACTCareful timing of NPIs (non-pharmaceutical interventions) such as social distancing may avoid high “second waves” of infections of COVID-19. This paper asks what should be the timing of a set of k complete-lockdowns of prespecified lengths (such as two weeks) so as to minimize the peak of the infective compartment. Perhaps surprisingly, it is possible to give an explicit and easily computable rule for when each lockdown should commence. Simulations are used to show that the rule remains fairly accurate even if lockdowns are not perfect.
The Actual Conditions of Person-to-Object Contact and a Proposal for Prevention Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Hayashi Teruaki , Hase Daisuke , Suenaga Hikaru , Ohsawa Yukio 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is currently spreading worldwide, resulting in widespread infections. Although infection control measures for maintaining physical distance between people and decreasing opportunities for close contact are effective, the global infection rate continues to increase. Conversely, data concerning potentially effective countermeasures related to person-to-object contact are sparse. This study focused on human contact behavior with objects and discussed control measures against infection at various locations where contact between people and objects occurs based on the relationship between human behavior and the objects in question. In this study, 1,260 subjects residing in Tokyo and the Kanagawa prefecture, Japan, were surveyed regarding their activities on days when they went outside (between December 3 [Thursday] and December 7 [Monday], 2020) and the objects they touched during this period. The survey results revealed that, depending on the location, the types and numbers of objects that were touched differed, and the respective mean values of contact objects differed significantly. Previous studies have particularly noted the remnants of viruses on doorknobs and toilets; however, the general dynamics of these contact numbers indicated that the percentage of people coming into contact with these objects is small. Although it is impossible to disinfect all objects and spaces, our findings will provide insights into human behavior and contact with objects. These findings are expected to contribute to the prioritization of disinfection during periods of widespread infection.
Clinical validation of point-of-care SARS-COV-2 BD Veritor antigen test by a single throat swab for rapid COVID-19 status on hospital patients predominantly without overt COVID symptoms
Authors: Bonde Jesper , Ejegod Ditte , Pedersen Helle , Smith Birgitte , Cortes Dina , Leding Cæcilie , Thomsen Thorbjørn , Benfield Thomas , Schnieder Uffe Vest , Tingleff Jens , Arbyn Marc , Lisby Gorm , Andersen Ove 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDFast identification of severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infected individuals is a strategically vital task to ensure correct management and quarantine. Rapid antigen test could be a supplement to the standard-of-care Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT). The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of the BD Veritor SARS-CoV-2 antigen test as a screening instrument in a hospital setting.METHODSA cohort of prospective samples were collected from hospital staff and patients at the Emergency, Infectious Diseases and Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine departments at Hvidovre Hospital. All samples were collected using oropharyngeal swabs, and BD Veritor Antigen test results were paired with routine NAAT test results. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the antigen test were calculated using NAAT as reference.RESULTSOverall, 809 samples from 674 individuals were included (average age 45 years, range 0-98 years). Among all samples, 8% were SARS-CoV-2 positive by NAAT testing and 5.3% by BD Veritor. The sensitivity of the antigen test was 63.1% and specificity 99.7%. The positive predictive value was 95.3%. False-positive rate was 4%. The cycle threshold value was significantly higher among individuals with false negative antigen tests compared to true positives.CONCLUSIONThe sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values show that the BD Veritor antigen test from oropharyngeal collected specimens performs well. Antigen testing may be a supplement, but not substitute, to NAAT testing as the primary diagnostic modality in hospital settings where fast turnaround test results may assist in decisions regarding isolation and quarantine.
Pregnancy outcomes from a restorative infertility treatment model: a single centre case series
Authors: James Gabriel , Mclindon Lucas A. , Hatch Joshua , Mol Ben W. , Turner Joseph V. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACTBackgroundInfertility is a significant problem with multiple causes and a corresponding array of therapeutic options. In an era of increasing assisted reproductive treatments, few studies examine the role of conventional non-assisted reproductive treatments to address underlying behavioural, lifestyle and medical issues.AimTo assess outcomes from a conventional or non-assisted reproductive treatment approachMaterials and MethodsRetrospective case series of 162 couples that attended an Australian, hospital-based, multidisciplinary fertility clinic between 2005 and 2010.ResultsThere were 58 live births for all couples giving a crude live birth rate of 35.4% over a 24-month analysis period. When adjusted by Kaplan-Meier method, a 57.4% cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) was achieved. Couples had a median 33.9 months duration of infertility and the median female age was 33.7. For the 74 couples with an unexplained infertility diagnosis, 32 achieved a live birth at a crude rate of 43.2% or 71.2% CLBR when adjusted by Kaplan-Meier method.ConclusionsThis observational data indicates that reproductive medicine should have a personalized approach in which alternatives for immediate IVF are considered.
The impact of real-time whole genome sequencing in controlling healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks
Authors: Francis Rodric V. , Billam Harriet , Clarke Mitch , Yates Carl , Tsoleridis Theocharis , Berry Louise , Mahida Nikunj , Irving William L. , Moore Christopher , Holmes Nadine , Ball Jonathan , McClure C. Patrick , Loose Matthew 
Published: April 2021

SummaryBackgroundNosocomial infections have posed a significant problem during the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting bed capacity and patient flow in hospitals. Effective infection control measures and identifying areas of highest risk is required to reduce the risk of spread to patients who are admitted with other illnesses. This is the first pandemic where whole genome sequencing (WGS) has been readily available. We demonstrate how WGS can be deployed to help identify and control outbreaks.Aims & MethodsSwabs performed on patients to detect SARS-CoV-2 underwent RT-PCR on one of multiple different platforms available at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Positive samples underwent WGS on the GridION platform using the ARTIC amplicon sequencing protocol at the University of Nottingham.ResultsPhylogenetic analysis from WGS and epidemiological data was used to identify an initial transmission that occurred in the admissions ward. It also showed high prevalence of asymptomatic staff infection with genetically identical viral sequences which may have contributed to the propagation of the outbreak. Actions were taken to help reduce the risk of nosocomial transmission by the introduction of rapid point of care testing in the admissions ward and introduction of portable HEPA14 filters. WGS was also used in two instances to exclude an outbreak by discerning that the phylotypes were not identical, saving time and resources.ConclusionsIn conjunction with accurate epidemiological data, timely WGS can identify high risk areas of nosocomial transmission, which would benefit from implementation of appropriate control measures. Conversely, WGS can disprove nosocomial transmission, validating existing control measures and maintaining clinical service, even where epidemiological data is suggestive of an outbreak.
Declines in life expectancy following the COVID-19 pandemic in provinces of Spain
Authors: Trias-Llimós Sergi , Blanes Amand , Franco Manuel , Bilal Usama , Riffe Tim 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has impacted population health on a global scale. Most of the studies on mortality impacts are at national level, while broad evidence exists on heterogeneous COVID-19 incidence across regions and within countries. Using Spanish data for 2020, we estimate life expectancy changes in 2020 compared with the 2017-19 period in 50 Spanish provinces. We visualize longer-term trends (1990-2020), and compare the robustness of our province-specific results with cumulative COVID-19 incidence using regional data from the Spanish ENECOVID seroprevalence study. In 2020 there was a 1.2 and 1.1 year drop in life expectancy for men and women in Spain, but this impact was heterogeneous across regions. For men these losses were highest in the province of Segovia (−3.5 years decline), while for women the highest drop was observed in Salamanca (−2.8 years decline). Life expectancy actually increased in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (+1.1 and +0.6 years for men and women, respectively). Declines in life expectancy in 2020 were also highly correlated with the cumulative seroprevalence through November 2020 (ρ=0.80 and 0.77 in men and women, respectively). Monitoring regional life expectancy dynamics provide valuable and granular information on the heterogeneous impacts of the pandemic on health at the population level. Similar exercises in other European countries may reveal insightful geographic patterns in mortality impacts in COVID-19 pandemic years.
Using rapid (point-of-care) tests for COVID-19: A decision analysis comparing the expected benefit of two screening strategies
Authors: Baillargeon Raymond H. , Seyer Xavier , Bernard-Bédard Éricka 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundRapid tests for COVID-19 could be used to augment the otherwise limited laboratory-based testing capacity, but there are concerns that their utility may be compromised by their limited accuracy. The objective of this article is to compare the expected benefit (EB) of two screening strategies, one with rapid tests (SwRT) and another one without rapid tests.MethodsWe performed a decision analysis, with the overall EB defined as the proportion of correctly identified individuals minus the proportion of incorrectly identified individuals. Accordingly, the SwRT strategy will be deemed a better screening strategy if its lesser EB for COVID-19 free individuals is more than compensated by its greater EB for COVID-19 individuals. Otherwise, it will not.ResultsAs expected, the EB for COVID-19 individuals was greater for the SwRT strategy, with a far superior ability to rule out the presence of COVID-19. In fact, under the scenario of interest (i.e., 8000 ID Now rapid tests in addition to 28185 lab-based RT-PCR tests), it identified almost 16% more COVID-19 individuals than thestrategy. In addition, the EB for COVID-19 free individuals was the same for both strategies, with a perfect ability at ruling in the presence of COVID-19.ConclusionThe SwRT strategy identified more COVID-19 individuals and this gain was not obtained at the detriment of COVID-19 free individuals who were equally well identified by both strategies. Hence, the SwRT strategy is a better screening strategy for COVID-19. It represents an opportunity to curtail the spread of SARS-CoV-2 that we may not afford to miss with new more contagious variants becoming more and more common in Canada.
Evaluating implementation of LEAPS, a youth-led early childhood care and education intervention in rural Pakistan: protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial
Authors: Yousafzai Aisha K. , Sudfeld Christopher R. , Franchett Emily E. , Siyal Saima , Rehmani Karima , Bhamani Shelina , Dai Quanyi , Reyes Chin R. , Fink Günther , Ponguta Liliana A. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlight the importance of investments in early childhood care and education (ECCE) for young children and youth development. Given Pakistan’s large young population, and gender and urban-rural inequalities in access to education, training and employment, such investments offer opportunities. LEAPS is a youth-led ECCE program that trains female youth, 18-24 years, as Community Youth Leaders (CYLs) to deliver high-quality ECCE for children, 3.5-5.5 years, in rural Sindh, Pakistan.MethodsWe use a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial to evaluate implementation of LEAPS. Ninety-nine clusters will be randomized to receive the intervention in one of three seven-month steps (33 clusters/step). Primary outcomes are children’s school readiness (measured with the International Development and Early Learning Assessment) and executive functions. Secondary outcomes are youth personal and professional development, depressive symptoms, and executive functions. Data is collected in cross-sectional surveys of 1,089 children (11 children/cluster from 99 clusters) aged 4.5-5.5 years at four time points (baseline and at the end of each step). We will enroll three youth participant open cohorts, one per step (33 CYLs: 66 comparison youth per cohort; 99:198 in total). Youth cohorts will be assessed at enrollment and every six to seven months thereafter (i.e., once per consecutive Step). A school cohort of 330 LEAPS students (10 students/cluster from 33 clusters) will be enrolled and assessed during Step 1 after intervention rollout and at endline. The quality of the learning environment will be assessed in each LEAPS ECCE center and in a comparison center at two time points midway following rollout and at endline. A concurrent mixed-methods implementation evaluation will assess program fidelity and quality, as well as the extent to which a technical support strategy is successful in strengthening systems for program expansion. A cost evaluation will assess cost-per-beneficiary. Data collection for implementation and cost evaluations will occur in Step 3.DiscussionYouth-led models for ECCE offer a promising approach to support young children and youth; however, there is little empirical evidence on real-world implementation. This study will contribute to the evidence as a means to promote sustainable human development across multiple SDG targets.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov:NCT03764436. Registered December 5th, 2018,https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03764436.