bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimized gas pressure of an Rb vapor cell in a single-beam SERF magnetometer
Authors: Wang Yaxiang , Jin Ge , Tang Junjian , Zhou Weiyong , Han Bangcheng , Zhou BinQuan , Shi Tao 
Published: December 2021

We present a theoretical and experimental study of a single-beam spin-exchange relaxation-free magnetometer in 87Rb vapor cells under different nitrogen gas pressures. The spin relaxation rate is a key component to limit the magnetic sensitivity, and the zero-field resonance method was used to measure the spin relaxation rates of different alkali metal cells. Simultaneously, in a single-beam spin-exchange-relaxation-free (SERF) magnetometer, we demonstrated that the fundamental magnetic field sensitivity was also limited by the pumping light intensity. Based on our theoretical analysis and experimental results, we determined the optimal pumping light intensity and optimal gas pressure. We experimentally demonstrated that the magnetic field sensitivity was

8.89

fT

/

Hz

in the single-beam configuration, with an active measurement volume of 3 × 3 × 3~mm3.
Prevalence of hypertension, and related factors among adults in Wolaita, southern Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Kumma Wondimagegn Paulos , Lindtjørn Bernt , Loha Eskindir 
Published: December 2021

Introduction
Hypertension is a global public health challenge. There is a lack of evidence on the prevalence of hypertension, prehypertension, and related factors among adult populations of Wolaita, southern Ethiopia.

Aim
To assess the prevalence of hypertension, prehypertension, and related factors among adult populations of Wolaita, southern Ethiopia.

Methods
A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 2483 adult residents, selected using a two-stage random sampling technique. The quantitative data collected from structured questionnaires; anthropometric and biochemical measurements were entered into EpiData version 3.1 using double-entry systems. We determined the weighted prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension for the two-stage survey. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess factors associated with hypertension and carried out after declaring the data set as survey data to account for the effect of clustering. An adjusted coefficient with 95% CI was used to ascertain the significance of the association.

Results
The weighted prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension in the Wolaita area was 31.3% (27.7%-35.1%) and 46.4% (42.9%-50.0%) respectively. The weighted prevalence of hypertension of those who were not aware of their hypertension until the time of the survey was 29.8%% (26.5%-33.3%). Where the weighted prevalence of self-reported cases of hypertension was 2.2% (1.2%-3.8%). Obesity, sugar-sweetened food consumption, male sex, elevated total cholesterol, raised fasting blood sugar, and advancing age were positively associated with hypertension.

Conclusion
The prevalence of hypertension among adults in Wolaita was high. A small proportion of the affected people are aware of their high blood pressure. This study reported a high prevalence of pre-hypertension; which indicates a high percentage of people at risk of hypertension. It is essential to develop periodic screening programs, and primary intervention strategies such as the prevention of obesity, and reduction of sugar-sweetened food consumption.
‘It felt like a black hole, great uncertainty, but we have to take care for our patients’–Qualitative findings on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on specialist palliative home care
Authors: Jansky Maximiliane , Schade Franziska , Rieder Nicola , Lohrmann Danica , Gebel Cordula , Kloppenburg Lars , Wedding Ulrich , Simon Steffen T. , Bausewein Claudia , Nauck Friedemann ,   on behalf of the PallPan Study Group
Published: December 2021

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected health care systems worldwide. Multidisciplinary teams provide specialist palliative home care (SPHC) for patients with incurable, severe, progressive diseases. These patients are at the same time at high risk, if infected, highly constricted by containment measures, and dependent on support.

Aim
To explore i) how German SPHC teams were affected by the pandemic during the first wave, ii) which challenges they faced, and iii) which strategies helped to handle the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for providing good SPHC.

Method
Four focus groups (with representatives of 18 SPHC teams) and five guided interviews with stakeholders were conducted and analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Results
Seven key categories emerged from the data. A category in the background describes dependence on organizational characteristics (e.g. sponsorship), which varied by regional factors. Information management was a challenge to SPHC teams, as they had to collect, interpret and adapt, and disseminate information. They reported a shift in patient care because of the COVID-19 pandemic, due to restricted home visits, visitation ban in nursing homes, and difficulties for hospital, hospice and nursing home admissions. Measures to reduce risk of infection impeded teamwork. Teams relied upon their local networks in crisis management, but felt often overlooked by local health authorities. Their respective SPHC state associations supported them in information management and exchange.

Discussion
The pandemic has severely impacted home care for especially vulnerable seriously ill and dying people. A good network with local health providers and authorities could help to harmonize local regulations and ensure quality care for all patient groups. SPHC teams could play an important role in caring for palliative patients with COVID-19 who are not admitted to a hospital due to preferences or resources.
The wealth gradient and the effect of COVID-19 restrictions on income loss, food insecurity and health care access in four sub-Saharan African geographies
Authors: Gummerson Elizabeth , Cardona Carolina , Anglewicz Philip , Zachary Blake , Guiella Georges , Radloff Scott 
Published: December 2021

Introduction
While there has been considerable analysis of the health and economic effects of COVID-19 in the Global North, representative data on the distribution and depth of social and economic impacts in Africa has been more limited.

Methods
We analyze household data collected prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and during the first wave of COVID in four African countries. We evaluate the short-term changes to household economic status and assess women’s access to health care during the first wave of COVID-19 in nationally representative samples of women aged 15–49 in Kenya and Burkina Faso, and in sub-nationally representative samples of women aged 15–49 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo and Lagos, Nigeria. We examine prevalence and distribution of household income loss, food insecurity, and access to health care during the COVID-19 lockdowns across residence and pre-pandemic wealth categories. We then regress pre-pandemic individual and household sociodemographic characteristics on the three outcomes.

Results
In three out of four samples, over 90% of women reported partial or complete loss of household income since the beginning of the coronavirus restrictions. Prevalence of food insecurity ranged from 17.0% (95% CI 13.6–20.9) to 39.8% (95% CI 36.0–43.7), and the majority of women in food insecure households reported increases in food insecurity during the COVID-19 restriction period. In contrast, we did not find significant barriers to accessing health care during COVID restrictions. Between 78·3% and 94·0% of women who needed health care were able successfully access it. When we examined pre-pandemic sociodemographic correlates of the outcomes, we found that the income shock of COVID-19 was substantial and distributed similarly across wealth groups, but food insecurity was concentrated among poorer households. Contrary to a-priori expectations, we find little evidence of women experiencing barriers to health care, but there is significant need for food support.
Transparência Digital na Informação Pública
Authors: Madkur Federico Natalio , Paletta Francisco Carlos 
Published: December 2021

Diversos meios digitais públicos, portais de transparência, dados abertos e repositórios, tem contribuído para o acesso à informação por parte dos cidadãos. Estas mudanças também apresentam uma profunda influência nas normas, princípios e valores que norteiam a vida social dos cidadãos. Mas esse grande volume de dados não implica em transparência, existem diferentes barreiras organizacionais, técnicas, políticas, sociais e éticas que limitam o acesso à informação. O objetivo do trabalho foi debater as principais barreiras éticas à transparência e ao livre acesso da informação das atividades públicas. Por tanto, procede-se à uma pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, do tipo descritiva, que partiu dos estudos do acesso à informação pública, da ética e dos Dados Abertos Governamentais, para estabelecer um elo entre os conceitos. Para coleta e análise dos dados, utilizou-se de pesquisa bibliográfica . O levantamento de dados nesse campo foi por meio do portal Capes, com um recorte temporal dos últimos 10 anos. De esse modo, observa-se que as barreiras éticas identificadas na pesquisa, são a de compartilhamento de informações de conjuntos de dados combinados, que causam violações de privacidade; viés de dados e decisões discriminatórias pela utilização de algoritmos baseados em dados; problemas de privacidade pelas descobertas de hábitos humanos por meio da vigilância em massa; vazamento de dados; dificuldades nas adaptações de visualizações para diferentes públicos; propriedade incerta de dados; desinformação; e dados difundidos de certa forma mais “higienizados”. O que permite concluir que a pesquisa teve como contribuição, a sistematização do processo de acesso à informação e as diferentes possíveis barreiras identificadas, que interferem no aspecto ético para a transparência da informação pública. Sugere-se para futuras pesquisas, estudos empíricos sobre as barreiras éticas intercultural em órgãos federais ou estaduais, na transparência e no acesso à informação, por meio dos diferentes canais ofertados pelos governos, portais repositórios governamentais ou dados abertos.
The Unidentified Skeletal Collection of Capuchos Cemetery (Santarém) housed at the University of Coimbra
Authors: José Andreia , Tomé Laura , Coelho Catarina , Cunha Eugénia , Umbelino Cláudia , Ferreira Maria Teresa 
Published: December 2021

The aim of this article is to present to the scientific and academic community the Unidentified Skeletal Collection of the Capuchos Cemetery. The skeletons, of contemporary individuals, were collected from the same cemetery as those of the 21st Century Identified Skeletal Collection, but their identification is unknown. The collection is composed of 73 individuals, of which 68 are adults of both sexes (34 females, 33 males, and one individual of unknown sex) and five are non-adults. The skeletons are reasonably preserved although several are incomplete as result of taphonomic changes during inhumations, but also due to the experimental research made so far. Most of the adult individuals present nonmetric characters, being the scapular notch the most frequent. Regarding the osteopathology, it was observed that the majority of adult individuals have pathological changes, with degenerative pathology being the most frequent. In addition, some individual exhibit medical devices and/or signs of chirurgical procedures.
The Unidentified Skeletal Collection of the Capuchos Cemetery is an osteological collection that, although not containing individual biographical data, has contributed to teaching and research in Biological and Forensic Anthropology in subjects such as osteology, morphology, biological profile, paleopathology, cremains, and the development of new methods.
Glycemic control is associated with lower odds of mortality and successful extubation in severe COVID-19
Authors: Pescatore Jay M. , Sarmiento Juan , Hernandez-Acosta Ruben A. , Skaathun Britt , Quesada-Rodriguez Nancy , Rezai Katayoun 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Context
Corticosteroids, specifically dexamethasone, have become the mainstay of treatment for moderate to severe COVID-19. Although the RECOVERY trial did not report adverse effects of corticosteroids, the METCOVID (Methylprednisolone as Adjunctive Therapy for Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19) study reported a higher blood glucose level in patients receiving methylprednisolone.

Objectives
This study aims to analyze the association between corticosteroids and COVID-19–related outcomes in patients admitted to the medical ICU (MICU) for COVID-19 pneumonia.

Methods
This is an observational study of 141 patients admitted to the MICU between March 18 and June 7, 2020. Data on demographics, laboratory and imaging studies, and clinical course were obtained, including data on corticosteroid use. Bivariate analyses and logistic regression were performed between patient characteristics and mortality and successful extubation.

Results
Of the 141 patients, 86 required mechanical ventilation, 50 received steroids, and 71 died. Regarding demographics, patients had a median age of 58 (interquartile range [IQR] 48, 65), Hispanic (57.4%, n=81), and non-Hispanic Black (37.5%, n=53). The most prevalent comorbidities were hypertension (49.6%, n=70) and diabetes (48.2%, n=68). Lower blood glucose levels on admission (125.5 vs. 148 mg/dL, p=0.025) and lower peak blood glucose levels on corticosteroids (215.5 vs. 361 mg/dL, p=0.0021) were associated with lower prevalence of mortality. Patients who were successfully extubated had a lower admission blood glucose (126.5 vs. 149 mg/dL, p=0.0074) and lower peak blood glucose on corticosteroids (217 vs. 361 mg/dL, p=0.0023).

Conclusions
Lower blood glucose on admission and lower maximum blood glucose on corticosteroids were associated with lower odds of mortality and successful extubation, regardless of preexisting diabetes. Hyperglycemia may be negating any potential benefit of corticosteroid therapy. These findings suggest that glucose control could be a parameter that impacts the outcome of patients receiving corticosteroids for COVID-19 pneumonia.
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in hospital employees, Central Germany
Authors: Keller Christian , Chung Ho-Ryun , Jerrentrup Andreas , Feldmann Leah , Rohde Cornelius , Halwe Sandro , Wölfel Friederike , Günther Susanne , Renz Harald 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Objectives
Unidentified SARS-CoV-2 infections among hospital staff can become a major burden for healthcare systems worldwide. We hypothesized that the number of previous SARS-CoV-2 infections among hospital employees is substantially higher than known on the basis of direct testing strategies. A serological study was thus performed among staff of Marburg University Hospital, Germany, in May and June 2020.

Methods
Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers were measured by spike protein (S1)-specific IgG ELISA (Euroimmun) and by nucleoprotein-(NCP) specific total antibody CLIA (Roche). Selected sera were analyzed by SARS-CoV-2 neutralization test. Participants provided questionnaires regarding occupational, medical, and clinical items. Data for 3,623 individuals (74.7% of all employees) were collected.

Results
Individuals reactive to both S1 and NCP were defined as seropositive; all of those were confirmed by neutralization test (n=13). Eighty-nine samples were reactive in only one assay, and 3,521 were seronegative. The seroprevalence among hospital employees at Marburg University Hospital was 0.36% (13/3,623). Only five of the 13 seropositive employees had reported a positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test result.

Conclusions
Usage of a single S1-specific assay highly overestimated seroprevalence. The data provided no evidence for an increased risk for a SARS-CoV-2 infection for staff involved in patient care compared to staff not involved in patient care.
Bronsted acidic surfactants: efficient organocatalysts for diverse organic transformations
Authors: Singh Abhijeet , Singh Pargat , Nath Mahendra 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Organic transformations using efficient, atom-economical, cost-effective and environmentally benign strategies for the construction of diversified molecules have attracted synthetic chemists worldwide in recent years. These processes often minimize the waste production and avoid the use of hazardous flammable organic solvents. Among various green protocols, the procedures using surfactant-based catalytic systems have received a considerable attention in organic synthesis. In this context, Bronsted acidic surfactants have emerged as efficient catalysts for various C–C, C–O, C–N and C–S bond forming reactions. Many of these reactions occur in water, as Bronsted acidic surfactants have a unique ability of creating hydrophobic pocket through micelle formation in aqueous medium and the substrate molecules react efficiently to afford the targeted products in good yields. In the past, Bronsted acidic surfactant combined catalysts successfully displayed their potential to accelerate the reaction rates of diverse organic transformations. This chapter presents a complete overview on Bronsted acidic surfactants catalyzed organic reactions to construct a variety of aromatic and heteroaromatic molecular frameworks.
Recent advances in dual-filler mixed matrix membranes
Authors: Prasetya Nicholaus , Himma Nurul Faiqotul , Sutrisna Putu Doddy , Wenten I Gede 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) have been widely developed as an attractive solution to overcome the drawbacks found in most polymer membranes, such as permeability-selectivity trade-off and low physicochemical stability. Numerous fillers based on inorganic, organic, and hybrid materials with various structures including porous or nonporous, and two-dimensional or three-dimensional, have been used. Demanded to further improve the characteristics and performances of the MMMs, the use of dual-filler instead of a single filler has then been proposed, from which multiple effects could be obtained. This article aims to review the recent development of MMMs with dual filler and discuss their performances in diverse potential applications. Challenges in this emerging field and outlook for future research are finally provided.
Neural Mechanism for Coding Depth from Motion Parallax in Area MT: Gain Modulation or Tuning Shifts?
Authors: Xu Zhe-Xin , DeAngelis Gregory C. 
Published: December 2021

There are two distinct sources of retinal image motion: objects moving in the world and observer movement. When the eyes move to track a target of interest, the retinal velocity of some object in the scene will depend on both eye velocity and that object's motion in the world. Thus, to compute the object's velocity relative to the head, a coordinate transformation must be performed by vectorially adding eye velocity and retinal velocity. In contrast, a very different interaction between retinal and eye velocity signals has been proposed to underlie estimation of depth from motion parallax, which involves computing the ratio of retinal and eye velocities. We examined how neurons in the middle temporal (MT) area of male macaques combine eye velocity and retinal velocity, to test whether this interaction is more consistent with a partial coordinate transformation (for computing head-centered object motion) or a multiplicative gain interaction (for computing depth from motion parallax). We find that some MT neurons show clear signatures of a partial coordinate transformation for computing head-centered velocity. Even a small shift toward head-centered velocity tuning can account for the observed depth-sign selectivity of MT neurons, including a strong dependence on speed preference that was previously unexplained. A formal model comparison reveals that the data from many MT neurons are equally well explained by a multiplicative gain interaction or a partial transformation toward head-centered tuning, although some responses can only be well fit by the coordinate transform model. Our findings shed new light on the neural computations performed in area MT, and raise the possibility that depth-sign selectivity emerges from a partial coordinate transformation toward representing head-centered velocity.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTEye velocity signals modulate the responses of neurons in the middle temporal (MT) area to retinal image motion. Two different types of interactions between retinal and eye velocities have previously been considered: a vector addition computation for computing head-centered velocity, and a multiplicative gain interaction for computing depth from motion parallax. Whereas previous work favored a multiplicative gain interaction in MT, we demonstrate that some MT neurons show clear evidence of a partial shift toward coding head-centered velocity. Moreover, we demonstrate that even a small shift toward head coordinates is sufficient to account for the depth-sign selectivity observed previously in area MT, thus raising the possibility that a partial coordinate transformation may also provide a mechanism for computing depth from motion parallax.
Late-Onset, Short-Term Intermittent Fasting Reverses Age-Related Changes in Calcium Buffering and Inhibitory Synaptic Transmission in Mouse Basal Forebrain Neurons
Authors: Bang Eunyoung , Fincher Annette S. , Nader Sophie , Murchison David A. , Griffith William H. 
Published: December 2021

Aging is often associated with cognitive decline and recurrent cellular and molecular impairments. While life-long caloric restriction (CR) may delay age-related cognitive deterioration as well as the onset of neurologic disease, recent studies suggest that late-onset, short-term intermittent fasting (IF), may show comparable beneficial effects as those of life-long CR to improve brain health. We used a new optogenetic aging model to study the effects of late-onset (>18 months), short-term (four to six weeks) IF on age-related changes in GABAergic synaptic transmission, intracellular calcium (Ca2+) buffering, and cognitive status. We used male mice from a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenic mouse line with stable expression of the channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) variant H134R [VGAT-ChR2(H134R)-EYFP] in a reduced synaptic preparation that allows for specific optogenetic light stimulation on GABAergic synaptic terminals across aging. We performed quantal analysis using the method of failures in this model and show that short-term IF reverses the age-related decrease in quantal content of GABAergic synapses. Likewise, short-term IF also reversed age-related changes in Ca2+buffering and spontaneous GABAergic synaptic transmission in basal forebrain (BF) neurons of aged mice. Our findings suggest that late-onset short-term IF can reverse age-related physiological impairments in mouse BF neurons but that four weeks IF is not sufficient to reverse age-related cognitive decline.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTHere, we demonstrate plasticity of the aging brain and reversal of well-defined hallmarks of brain aging using short-term intermittent fasting (IF) initiated later in life. Few therapeutics are currently available to treat age-related neurologic dysfunction although synaptic dysfunction occurs during aging and neurologic disease is a topic of intense research. Using a new reduced synaptic preparation and optogenetic stimulation we are able to study age-related synaptic mechanisms in greater detail. Several neurophysiological parameters including quantal content were altered during aging and were reversed with short-term IF. These methods can be used to identify potential therapies to reverse physiological dysfunction during aging.