bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of feeding method on nutrient utilization and cow performance in limit-fed cow-calf systems
Authors: Baber J R , Sawyer J E , Trubenbach L A , Wickersham T A 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Delivery of limit-fed, complete rations requires significant capital investment, and creates logistical challenges for producers. Deconstruction and separate delivery of roughage and concentrate portions of diets may decrease feeding cost. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the potential of separately limit-feeding roughage and concentrate. In Experiment 1, 4 ruminally cannulated steers (371 ± 12 kg bodyweight) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square to evaluate the effects of time of concentrate delivery in deconstructed diets. Intake was restricted to 80% of predicted NEm requirements of a diet consisting of wheat straw (35%), cracked corn (29%), and distillers’ grains (27%) formulated to contain 1.58 Mcal NEm/kg. Treatments were: concentrate fed 2 h prior to wheat straw (–2S), concentrate and wheat straw fed as total mixed ration (TMR), concentrate fed 2 h after wheat straw (+2S), and concentrate fed 12 h after wheat straw (+12S). In Experiment 2, 95 mid- to late-gestation cows (503 ± 151 kg) were used in a 112-d trial to evaluate feeding system on cow performance. Cows were assigned to 1 of 12 pens. Treatments were limit-fed the complete diet from Experiment 1 (TMR), fed roughage and concentrate portions of the deconstructed TMR 12 h apart (SEP), and ad libitum bermudagrass hay (HAY). Bodyweight (BW), BCS, and back fat measures were collected every 28 d. In Experiment 1, treatment did not affect DM or OM digestion (P ≥ 0.88), rate of particulate passage (P ≥ 0.55), or ruminal DM fill (P ≥ 0.19). Fill averaged 3.8 kg DM. Nadir of ruminal pH occurred 4–8 h after concentrate was delivered, but mean ruminal pH was not different among treatments (P = 0.22) ranging from 6.4 to 6.6 for +2S and 12S, respectively. In Experiment 2, treatment did not affect final BW (518 kg; P = 0.72) or final BCS (5.6; P = 0.67), but limit-fed strategies tended (P = 0.06) to have greater final RE (137.1, 98.9, and –14.6 Mcal for TMR, SEP, and HAY, respectively). Delivering forage and concentrate separately did not change digestion, and timing of concentrate delivery had only minor effects on ruminal fermentation. Limit-feeding a TMR or separate delivery of roughage and concentrate sustained cow performance compared to ad libitum hay consumption.
Morphology and Bayesian tip-dating recover deep Cretaceous-age divergences among major chrysidid lineages (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae)
Authors: Lucena Daercio A A , Almeida Eduardo A B 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe integrated phylogenetic, biogeographic and palaeontological data to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the cuckoo wasps. We propose a phylogenetic hypothesis based on a comprehensive morphological study resulting in 300 characters coded for both living and extinct species. Phylogenetic relationships and divergence time estimation were simultaneously inferred in a Bayesian tip-dating framework, applying a relaxed morphological clock. Results unequivocally indicate Chrysididae to be monophyletic, as well as all traditionally recognized subfamilies and tribes. Within the Chrysidinae, Elampini was placed as the sister-group of the other three chrysidine tribes, with Parnopini as sister to the clade including Allocoeliini and Chrysidini. Dating analysis indicates that the major lineages started to differentiate around 130 Mya during the Early Cretaceous. The clades recognized as subfamilies started differentiating during the Palaeogene and the Neogene. Our results reveal an intricate process on the geographic evolution of chrysidid wasps and dispute previous ideas that Cretaceous-old splits in their early history could be associated with vicariant events related to the breakup between Africa and South America. The present-day southern disjunctions of some groups are interpreted as the outcome of more recent dispersals and extinctions of representatives from Nearctic and Palaearctic faunas during the Neogene, when northern continents became significantly colder.
Oral Levodopa Formulation Does Not Affect Progression of Parkinson Disease
Authors: Sethi Ambica , Dilwali Sonam , McCreary Morgan , Dewey Richard B. 
Published: February 2021

Objective
Motor fluctuations develop in most patients treated with carbidopa/levodopa for Parkinson disease. The continuous dopamine stimulation hypothesis suggests that longer-acting forms of levodopa might improve outcomes, but this has been inadequately tested in humans. We undertook to determine if there is any difference in symptom progression rate among patients taking immediate-release carbidopa/levodopa (IR), controlled-release carbidopa/levodopa (CR), or carbidopa/levodopa/entacapone (CLE) using standard outcome measures in a naturalistic study.

Methods
We evaluated Parkinson disease subjects prospectively followed for up to 48 months in the Parkinson's Disease Biomarker Project. Bayesian linear or generalized linear mixed-effects models were developed to determine if oral levodopa formulation influenced the rate of symptom progression as measured by 8 outcome measures.

Results
At baseline, the IR, CR, and CLE groups were similar except that the CR group had milder disease and was represented at only 1 site, and the CLE group had a longer disease duration. In the primary analysis, there was no difference in rate of symptom progression as measured by the Movement Disorder Society–Sponsored Revision of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale Part II, Part IV, or total score. In the secondary exploratory analysis, there was no difference in progression rate as measured by change in levodopa equivalent daily dose, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire mobility subscore, Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living Scale, or a global composite outcome.

Conclusions
We found no difference in symptom progression rate in patients taking IR, CR, or CLE. This clinical observation supports pharmacokinetic studies demonstrating that none of these oral levodopa formulations achieve continuous dopamine stimulation.
Hospitalizations, resource use and outcomes of acute pulmonary embolism in Germany during the Covid-19 pandemic Emergence of different phenotypes of thrombotic disease?
Authors: Husser Daniela , Hohenstein Sven , Pellissier Vincent , König Sebastian , Ueberham Laura , Hindricks Gerhard , Meier-Hellmann Andreas , Kuhlen Ralf , Bollmann Andreas 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundThere is discussion evolving around the emergence of different phenotypes of Covid-19-associated thromboembolic disease, i.e. acute pulmonary embolism vs pulmonary thrombosis and different phenotypes of in situ thrombosis. With this study, we wish to provide hospitalization, treatment and in-hospital outcome data for pulmonary embolism during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic and a corresponding 2016 – 2019 control period.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of claims data of Helios hospitals in Germany. Consecutive cases with a hospital admission between January 1 and December 15, 2020 and pulmonary embolism as primary discharge diagnosis were analyzed and compared to a corresponding period covering the same weeks in 2016 – 2019.ResultsAs previously reported for other emergent medical conditions, there was a hospitalization deficit coinciding with the 1st pandemic wave. Beginning with the 12-week interval May 6 – July 28, there was a stable surplus of hospital admissions in 2020. During this surplus period (May 6 – December 15, 2020), there were 2,449 hospitalizations including 45 PCR-confirmed Covid-19 cases (1.8%) as opposed to 8,717 in 2016 – 2019 (IRR 1.12, 95% CI 1.07 – 1.18, P<0.01). When excluding Covid-19 cases IRR was 1.10 (95% CI 1.05 – 1.15, P<0.01). While overall comorbidities expressed as weighted AHRQ Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (14.1 ± 10.1 vs. 13.9 ±10.3, P=0.28), the presence of thrombosis (46.1 vs 45.4%, P=0.55) and surgery (3.8 vs. 4.3%, P=0.33) were comparable, coagulopathy (3.3 vs 4.5%, P=0.01) and metastatic cancer (3.0 vs 4.0%, P=0.03) as contributing factors were less frequently observed during the 2020 surplus. Interventional treatments (thrombolytic therapy, thrombectomy or inferior vena cava filter placement) were less frequently used (4.7 vs 6.6%, OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.58 − 0.89, P< 0.01). Similarly, intensive care (35.1 vs 38.8%, OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.75 − 0.92, P< 0.01) and mechanical ventilation utilization (7.2 vs 8.1%, OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.74 – 1.04, P=0.14) as well as in-hospital-mortality rates (7.8 vs 9.8%, OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.64 − 0.90, P< 0.01) were lower in 2020 compared with 2016 – 2019. This was associated with a shorter length of hospital stay (6.4 ±5.4 vs. 7.2 ±5.7 days, P< 0.01) during the 2020 surplus period.ConclusionsOnly a minority of cases were associated with PCR-confirmed Covid-19 but this does not rule out preceding or undetected SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although there is a shift towards milder disease course, the increased incidence of hospitalizations for pulmonary embolism requires immediate attention, close surveillance and further studies.
Combinatorial analysis of phenotypic and clinical risk factors associated with hospitalized COVID-19 patients
Authors: Das Sayoni , Pearson Matthew , Taylor Krystyna , Bouchet Veronique , Møller Gert Lykke , Hall Taryn O. , Strivens Mark , Tzeng Kathy T. H. , Gardner Steve 
Published: February 2021

1AbstractCharacterization of the risk factors associated with variability in the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 is important. Our previous study using genomic data identified a potential role of calcium and lipid homeostasis in severe COVID-19. This study aimed to identify similar combinations of features (disease signatures) associated with severe disease in a separate patient population with purely clinical and phenotypic data.The PrecisionLife combinatorial analytics platform was used to analyze features derived from de-identified health records in the UnitedHealth Group COVID-19 Data Suite. The platform identified and analyzed 836 disease signatures in two cohorts associated with increased risk of COVID-19 hospitalization. Cohort 1 was formed of cases hospitalized with COVID-19 and a set of controls who developed mild symptoms. Cohort 2 included Cohort 1 individuals for whom additional laboratory test data was available.We found several disease signatures where lower levels of lipids were found co-occurring with lower levels of serum calcium and leukocytes. Many of the low lipid signatures were independent of statin use and 50% of cases with hypocalcemia signatures were reported with vitamin D deficiency. These signatures may be attributed to similar mechanisms linking calcium and lipid signaling where changes in cellular lipid levels during inflammation and infection affect calcium signaling in host cells.This study and our previous genomics analysis demonstrate that combinatorial analysis can identify disease signatures associated with the risk of developing severe COVID-19 separately from genomic or clinical data in different populations. Both studies suggest associations between calcium and lipid signalling in severe COVID-19.
Pooling of samples for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance using a rapid antigen test
Authors: Salcedo Nol , Harmon Alexander , Herrera Bobby Brooke 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWhile molecular assays, such as RT-PCR, have been widely used throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the technique is costly and resource intensive. As a means to reduce costs and increase diagnostic efficiency, pooled testing for RT-PCR has been implemented. However, pooling samples for antigen testing has not been evaluated. We propose a pooling strategy for antigen testing that would significantly expand SARS-CoV-2 surveillance, especially for low-to-middle income countries, schools, and workplaces. Our data demonstrate that combining of up to 20 nasal swab specimens per pool can expand surveillance with antigen tests, even if a pool contains only one positive sample.
Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 in Slovakia using a novel, multiplexed RT-qPCR assay
Authors: Kováčová Viera , Boršová Kristína , Paul Evan D , Radvánszka Monika , Hajdu Roman , Čabanová Viktória , Sláviková Monika , Ličková Martina , Lukáčiková Ľubomíra , Belák Andrej , Roussier Lucia , Kostičová Michaela , Líšková Anna , Maďarová Lucia , Štefkovičová Mária , Reizigová Lenka , Nováková Elena , Sabaka Peter , Koščálová Alena , Brejová Broňa , Staroňová Edita , Mišík Matej , Vinař Tomáš , Nosek Jozef , Čekan Pavol , Klempa Boris 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe emergence of a novel SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern called B.1.1.7 lineage sparked global alarm due to evidence of increased transmissibility, mortality, and uncertainty about vaccine efficacy, thus accelerating efforts to detect and track the variant. Current approaches to detect lineage B.1.1.7 include sequencing and RT-qPCR tests containing a target assay that fails or results in reduced sensitivity towards the B.1.1.7 variant.AimSince many countries lack robust genomic surveillance programs and failed assays detect multiple unrelated variants containing similar mutations as B.1.1.7, we sought to develop an RT-qPCR test that can accurately and rapidly differentiate the B.1.1.7 variant from other SARS-CoV-2 variants.MethodsWe used bioinformatics, allele-specific PCR, and judicious placement of LNA-modified nucleotides to develop a test that differentiates B.1.1.7 from other SARS-CoV-2 variants. We validated the test on 106 clinical samples with lineage status confirmed by sequencing and conducted a surveillance study of B.1.1.7 lineage prevalence in Slovakia.ResultsOur multiplexed RT-qPCR test showed 97% clinical sensitivity at detecting lineage B.1.1.7. The assay was used in a country-wide surveillance of B.1.1.7 lineage spread in Slovakia. Retesting nearly 7,000 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples obtained during three campaigns performed within a one month period, revealed pervasive spread of B.1.1.7 with an average prevalence of 82%.ConclusionLabs can easily implement this test to rapidly scale B.1.1.7 surveillance efforts and it is particularly useful in countries with high prevalence of variants possessing only the ΔH69/ΔV70 deletion because current strategies using target failure assays incorrectly identify these as putative B.1.1.7 variants.
Demographic and Hygienic Factors as Predictors of Face Mask Wearing During Covid-19 Pandemic in Malaysia
Authors: Looi Kim Hoe , Zhang Stephen X. , Li Nicolas 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWearing a face mask has been recognised as an effective way of slowing down the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, there is scarce evidence on predictors of face mask wearing during a pandemic. This research aims to investigate which demographic and hygienic factors could predict the compliance for face mask wearing in Malaysia. We employed a structured online survey of 708 Malaysian adult respondents. Among the factors examined, we found gender, hand washing and wearing of personal protective equipment significantly predicted face mask wearing.
A rigorous evaluation of optimal peptide targets for MS-based clinical diagnostics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Authors: Rajczewski Andrew T. , Mehta Subina , Nguyen Dinh Duy An , Grüning Björn A. , Johnson James E. , McGowan Thomas , Griffin Timothy J. , Jagtap Pratik D. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic has had a profound, lasting impact on the world’s population. A key aspect to providing care for those with COVID-19 and checking its further spread is early and accurate diagnosis of infection, which has been generally done via methods for amplifying and detecting viral RNA molecules. Detection and quantitation of peptides using targeted mass spectrometry-based strategies has been proposed as an alternative diagnostic tool due to direct detection of molecular indicators from non-invasively collected samples as well as the potential for high-throughput analysis in a clinical setting; many studies have revealed the presence of viral peptides within easily accessed patient samples. However, evidence suggests that some viral peptides could serve as better indicators of COVID-19 infection status than others, due to potential misidentification of peptides derived from human host proteins, poor spectral quality, high limits of detection etc. In this study we have compiled a list of 639 peptides identified from Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) samples, including from in vitro and clinical sources. These datasets were rigorously analyzed using automated, Galaxy-based workflows containing tools such as PepQuery, BLAST-P, and the Multi-omic Visualization Platform as well as the open-source tools MetaTryp and Proteomics Data Viewer (PDV). Using PepQuery for confirming peptide spectrum matches, we were able to narrow down the 639 peptide possibilities to 87 peptides which were most robustly detected and specific to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The specificity of these sequences to coronavirus taxa was confirmed using Unipept and BLAST-P. Applying stringent statistical scoring thresholds, combined with manual verification of peptide spectrum match quality, 4 peptides derived from the nucleocapsid phosphoprotein and membrane protein were found to be most robustly detected across all cell culture and clinical samples, including those collected non-invasively. We propose that these peptides would be of the most value for clinical proteomics applications seeking to detect COVID-19 from a variety of sample types. We also contend that samples taken from the upper respiratory tract and oral cavity have the highest potential for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection from easily collected patient samples using mass spectrometry-based proteomics assays.
Performing arts as a health resource? An umbrella review of the health impacts of music and dance participation
Authors: McCrary J. Matt , Redding Emma , Altenmüller Eckart 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAn increasing body of evidence notes the health benefits of arts engagement and participation. However, specific health effects and optimal modes and ‘doses’ of arts participation remain unclear, limiting evidence-based recommendations and prescriptions. The performing arts are the most popular form of arts participation, presenting substantial scope for established interest to be leveraged into positive health outcomes. Results of a three-component umbrella review (PROSPERO ID #: CRD42020191991) of relevant systematic reviews (33), epidemiologic studies (9) and descriptive studies (87) demonstrate that performing arts participation is broadly health promoting activity. Beneficial effects of performing arts participation were reported in healthy (non-clinical) children, adolescents, adults, and older adults across 17 health domains (9 supported by moderate-high quality evidence (GRADE criteria)). Positive health effects were associated with as little as 30 (acute effects) to 60 minutes (sustained weekly participation) of performing arts participation, with drumming and both expressive (ballroom, social) and exercise-based (aerobic dance, Zumba) modes of dance linked to the broadest health benefits. Links between specific health effects and performing arts modes/doses remain unclear and specific conclusions are limited by a still young and disparate evidence base. Further research is necessary, with this umbrella review providing a critical knowledge foundation.
Evaluation of Facial Protection Against Close-Contact Droplet Transmission
Authors: Stephenson Thomas B. , Cumberland Courtney , Kibble Geoff , Church Christopher , Nogueira-Prewitt Sheila , MacNamara Sebastian , Harnish Delbert A. , Heimbuch Brian K. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundFace shields are used as an alternative to facemasks, but their effectiveness in mitigating the spread of SARS-CoV-2 is unclear. The goal of this study is to compare the performance of face shields, surgical facemasks, and cloth facemasks for mitigation of droplet transmission during close contact conditions.MethodsA novel test system was developed to simulate droplet transmission during close contact conditions using two breathing headforms (transmitter and receiver) placed 4 feet apart with one producing droplets containing a DNA marker. Sampling coupons were placed throughout the test setup and subsequently analyzed for presence of DNA marker using quantitative PCR.ResultsAll PPE donned on the transmitter headform provided a significant reduction in transmission of DNA marker to the receiver headform: cloth facemask (78.5%), surgical facemask (89.4%), and face shield (96.1%). All PPE resulted in increased contamination of the eye region of the transmitter headform (9,525.4% average for facemasks and 765.8% for the face shield). Only the face shield increased contamination of the neck region (207.4%), with the cloth facemask and surgical facemask resulting in reductions of 85.9% and 90.2%, respectively.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates face shields can provide similar levels of protection against direct droplet exposure compared to surgical and cloth masks. However, all PPE tested resulted in release of particles that contaminated surfaces. Contamination caused by deflection of the user’s exhalation prompts concerns for contact transmission via surfaces in exhalation flow path (e.g., face, eyeglasses, etc.).
SEED: Symptom Extraction from English Social Media Posts using Deep Learning and Transfer Learning
Authors: Magge Arjun , Weissenbacher Davy , O’Connor Karen , Scotch Matthew , Gonzalez-Hernandez Graciela 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe increase of social media usage across the globe has fueled efforts in digital epidemiology for mining valuable information such as medication use, adverse drug effects and reports of viral infections that directly and indirectly affect population health. Such specific information can, however, be scarce, hard to find, and mostly expressed in very colloquial language. In this work, we focus on a fundamental problem that enables social media mining for disease monitoring. We present and make available SEED, a natural language processing approach to detect symptom and disease mentions from social media data obtained from platforms such as Twitter and DailyStrength and to normalize them into UMLS terminology. Using multi-corpus training and deep learning models, the tool achieves an overall F1 score of 0.86 and 0.72 on DailyStrength and balanced Twitter datasets, significantly improving over previous approaches on the same datasets. We apply the tool on Twitter posts that report COVID19 symptoms, particularly to quantify whether the SEED system can extract symptoms absent in the training data. The study results also draw attention to the potential of multi-corpus training for performance improvements and the need for continuous training on newly obtained data for consistent performance amidst the ever-changing nature of the social media vocabulary.
The Milano Sforza Registers of the Dead: Health Policies in Italian Renaissance
Authors: Biganzoli Elia , Luconi Ester , Boracchi Patrizia , Nodari Riccardo , Comandatore Francesco , Ferrara Alfio , Castaldi Silvana , Vaglienti Folco , Panella Cristiana , Galli Massimo 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe institution of theLiber Mortuorumin Milan greatly anticipates death registrations in Europe. Introduced in 1450 by Duke Francesco Sforza for the early containment of plague it was daily compiled until 1801, reporting demographical data and causes of death, leaving a corpus of 366 volumes, an outstanding source for interdisciplinary research. Addressed to ascertain individual causes of death, it represents an unprecedented early example of disease monitoring and prevention. The paper discusses Sforza’s health policy in Milan, describes the Mortuorum registres features at the end of the 15thcentury, and analyzes the distribution of the city deaths in 1480, a year without epidemic events. These data constituted the first entry of a database of theLiber Mortuorum.