bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Accomplishments of NOAA’s Airborne Hurricane Field Program and a Broader Future Approach to Forecast Improvement
Authors: Zawislak Jonathan , Rogers Robert F. , Aberson Sim D. , Alaka Ghassan J. , Alvey George R. , Aksoy Altug , Bucci Lisa , Cione Joseph , Dorst Neal , Dunion Jason , Fischer Michael , Gamache John , Gopalakrishnan Sundararaman , Hazelton Andrew , Holbach Heather M. , Kaplan John , Leighton Hua , Marks Frank , Murillo Shirley T. , Reasor Paul , Ryan Kelly , Sellwood Kathryn , Sippel Jason A. , Zhang Jun A. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Since 2005, NOAA has conducted the annual Intensity Forecasting Experiment (IFEX), led by scientists from the Hurricane Research Division at NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. They partner with NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center, who maintain and operate the WP-3D and Gulfstream IV-SP (G-IV) Hurricane Hunter aircraft, and NCEP’s National Hurricane Center and Environmental Modeling Center, who task airborne missions to gather data used by forecasters for analysis and forecasting and for ingest into operational numerical weather prediction models. The goal of IFEX is to improve tropical cyclone (TC) forecasts using an integrated approach of analyzing observations from aircraft, initializing and evaluating forecast models with those observations, and developing new airborne instrumentation and observing strategies targeted at filling observing gaps and maximizing the data’s impact in model forecasts. This summary article not only highlights recent IFEX contributions toward improved TC understanding and prediction, but also reflects more broadly on the accomplishments of the program during the 16 years of its existence. It describes how IFEX addresses high-priority forecast challenges, summarizes recent collaborations, describes advancements in observing systems monitoring structure and intensity, as well as in assimilation of aircraft data into operational models, and emphasizes key advances in understanding of TC processes, particularly those that lead to rapid intensification. The article concludes by laying the foundation for the next generation of IFEX as it broadens its scope to all TC hazards, particularly rainfall, storm-surge inundation, and tornadoes, that have gained notoriety during the last few years after several devastating landfalling TCs.
Gender and Social Institutions in the Labour Markets: An Analytical Perspective on the Covid-19 Disruptions in Northeast India
Authors: Doley Padmeswar , Padhan Sarbeswar 
Published: July 2021

This article examines the trends and patterns of unpaid work performed by women in India’s North Eastern States and account for the factors that underlie these trends. It uses the two unit-level datasets from the National Sample Survey Office Employment and Unemployment Survey 2011–2012 and Periodic Labour Force Survey 2018–2019. The multinomial regression results found that illiterate and lower social stratum have more chances to engage in unpaid activities. It then explores the impact of COVID-19 on unpaid work activities among women in the northeast states. The telephonic conversation and informal interviews with different regional stakeholders have been substantiated along with the utilisation of the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy report on employment and unemployment for the second quarter of 2020 for nuanced analysis. The study found that women are losing their livelihood very fast during the pandemic and the effects are likely to linger for a more extended period. JEL Codes: J16, J21, J22, R23
Otolaryngology-Specific Symptoms May Be Highly Observed in Patients With a History of Covid-19 Infection After Inactivated Coronavirus Vaccination
Authors: Avcı Hakan , Karabulut Burak , Eken Hazal Duygu , Faraşoğlu Abdussamet , Çakil Tolga , Çoruk Sedef , Özel Hanife , Kaya Namık Kemal , Özbalta Seva Öztürk 
Published: July 2021

Objective: To evaluate the otolaryngology-specific symptoms that occur after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine and its possible side effects in patients who had Covid-19 infection in the last 6 months before the vaccination. Patients and Methods: The study comprised 3383 health care workers who were vaccinated against Covid 19. After excluding, the study was conducted with 1710 (51%) participants who agreed to answer the study questions. The participants were divided into 2 groups according to the history of Covid-19 positivity in the last 6 months before vaccination. The presence of symptoms related to otolaryngology practice, including cough, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, sore throat, hearing loss, dizziness, loss of smell, loss of taste, ear pressure, and facial paralysis was recorded. Results: The mean age of the study population was 35.79 ± 10.2 (19-71) years and 1454 (85%) of the patients had a history of Covid-19 infection in the last 6 months. Regarding otolaryngology-related symptoms, the most common complaints were rhinorrhea (4.4%), sore throat (3.2%), and nasal congestion (2.9%). The presence of smell and taste loss, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, sore throat, and hearing loss was significantly more common in patients with a history of Covid-19 infection. Conclusions: The patients with a history of Covid-19 disease might have otolaryngology-specific symptoms more commonly than those without a history of Covid-19 disease in the last 6 months before vaccination.
Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Keeling Laura E. , Belk John W. , Kraeutler Matthew J. , Kallner Alexandra C. , Lindsay Adam , McCarty Eric C. , Postma William F. 
Published: July 2021

Background: Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) has emerged as a therapeutic option for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). Purpose: To systematically review the literature to evaluate the efficacy of isolated BMAC injection in the treatment of OA of the knee joint. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A systematic review was performed by searching the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases up to July 2020 to identify human studies that assessed the clinical outcomes of isolated BMAC injection for the treatment of knee OA. The electronic search strategy used was “bone marrow aspirate concentrate knee osteoarthritis.” Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, including a total of 299 knees with a mean follow-up of 12.9 months (range, 6-30 months). Of all patient-reported outcomes assessed across studies, 34 of 36 (94.4%) demonstrated significant improvement from baseline to latest follow-up ( P < .05). Five studies evaluating numerical pain scores (visual analog scale and Numeric Rating Scale) reported significant improvements in pain level at final follow-up ( P < .01). However, 3 comparative studies evaluating BMAC in relation to other therapeutic injections failed to demonstrate the clinical superiority of BMAC. Conclusion: The BMAC injection is effective in improving pain and patient-reported outcomes in patients with knee OA at short- to midterm follow-up. Nevertheless, BMAC has not demonstrated clinical superiority in relation to other biologic therapies commonly used in the treatment of OA, including platelet-rich plasma and microfragmented adipose tissue, or in relation to placebo. The high cost of the BMAC injection in comparison with other biologic and nonoperative treatment modalities may limit its utility despite demonstrable clinical benefit.
A Survey of People With Parkinson’s and Their Carers: The Management of Pain in Parkinson’s
Authors: Naisby Jenni , Amjad Anneesa , Ratcliffe Natasha , Yarnall Alison J. , Rochester Lynn , Walker Richard , Baker Katherine 
Published: July 2021

Background: Pain in Parkinson’s is problematic but under treated in clinical practice. Healthcare professionals must understand the impact of pain in Parkinson’s and patient preferences for management. Objective: To understand the impact of pain in Parkinson’s and to understand current management and preferences for pain management. Methods: We conducted a national survey with 115 people with Parkinson’s (PwP) and 10 carers. Both closed and open questions were used. The questions focused on how pain affected the individual, healthcare professional involvement in supporting pain management, current pain management strategies and views on future pain management interventions. We used descriptive statistics to summarize closed responses and thematic analysis to summarize open question responses. Results: 70% of participants reported pain impacted their daily life. Pain had a multifactorial impact on participants, affecting movement, mood and quality of life. Improved pain management was viewed to have the potential to address each of these challenges. Pain affected a number of different sites, with low back pain and multiple sites being most frequently reported. Exercise was the most frequently noted strategy (38%) recommended by healthcare professionals for pain management. PwP would value involvement from healthcare professionals for future pain management, but also would like to self-manage the condition. Medication was not suggested as a first line strategy. Conclusions: Despite reporting engagement in some strategies to manage pain, pain still has a wide-ranging impact on the daily life of PwP. Results from this survey highlight the need to better support PwP to manage the impact of pain.
Impact of stroke center certification on rt-PA thrombolysis after acute ischemic stroke in South China from 2015 to 2020
Authors: Chen Yicong , Li Jiaoxing , Dang Chao , Tan Shuangquan , Ouyang Fubing , Li Jianle , Yu Jian , Zeng Jinsheng , Fan Yuhua 
Published: July 2021

Background and purpose In China, stroke center certification was launched in 2015, but little is known about its impact on intravenous thrombolysis. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of stroke center certification on the use of intravenous thrombolysis during a five-year period in South China. Methods We retrospectively collected data regarding the use of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in 21 cities of Guangdong from 2015 to 2020. The annual thrombolysis rate was defined as the number of patients who underwent intravenous rt-PA therapy divided by the number of those who had acute ischemic stroke within the same year. The density of stroke centers was calculated as the number of stroke centers divided by the corresponding residents. Spearman’s correlation analysis was used to determine the correlations between the annual thrombolysis rates and the number/density of stroke centers. Paired t-test was used to compare differences in growth in annual thrombolysis rates before and after having stroke centers. Results From 2015 to 2020, the annual rt-PA thrombolysis rates of Guangdong increased from 1.4% to 7.2%, which was accompanied by an increase in the number of stroke centers from 0 to 82 and density of stroke centers from 0.00 to 0.71 per million population. The average annual rt-PA use in stroke centers was higher than that in non-stroke centers from 2016 to 2020 (all P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation of annual thrombolysis rates with the number of stroke centers ( r = 1.00, P = 0.0028) and with the density of stroke centers in the 21 cities from 2018 to 2020 (all P < 0.05). The growth in annual thrombolysis rates significantly accelerated at the city-level after having stroke centers (1.55%/y vs. 0.77%/y, P < 0.001). Conclusions Stroke center certification may partially drive the increased use of rt-PA thrombolysis. Stroke center certification should be continually promoted to facilitate access to intravenous thrombolysis for patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Dynamic Changes, Correlation of Basophils, and the Therapeutic Effect in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis During Allergen-specific Immunotherapy
Authors: Huo Meixu , Tang Susu , Wang Daihua , Liu Xiaoqing , Liu Qianxu 
Published: July 2021

Background The role of basophils in allergic rhinitis (AR) has been studied extensively; however, there are very few reports on changes in basophils after allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT). Objective To examine the changes and correlation of peripheral blood basophils and the therapeutic effect in patients with AR during allergen-SIT. Methods A total of 77 patients with AR who were allergic only to house dust mites received allergen-SIT. At 3 time points, patients underwent testing for the percentage and activation rate of basophils in peripheral blood, skin index (SI) measurement, visual analog scale (VAS) assessment, and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) evaluation. The results were compared to a control group with congenital preauricular fistula. Results (1) Before treatment, the percentage and activation rate of basophils in patients with AR were significantly higher than those in controls. There was no significant difference in the percentages and activation rates of basophils at the 3 time points. (2) The SIs, VAS, and RQLQ scores of the patients immediately after treatment and 2 years posttreatment decreased significantly compared to those before treatment; the SI, VAS, and RQLQ scores of the patients 2 years posttreatment increased significantly compared with those immediately after treatment. (3) There was no correlation between the patients’ basophil activation rate and percentage and the SI, VAS, and RQLQ scores at all time points. Conclusion The percentage and activation rate of basophils were higher in patients with AR than in controls. The values did not change significantly after allergen-SIT and showed no correlation with treatment effectiveness. Therefore, the frequency and activation rate of basophils cannot be used as criteria for assessing the effectiveness of allergen-SIT for house dust mites. Allergen-SIT is effective for the management of AR, but the effect declines after the completion of therapy.
Novel integrative rehabilitation system for the upper extremity: Design and usability evaluation
Authors: Burdea Grigore , Kim Nam , Polistico Kevin , Kadaru Ashwin , Roll Doru , Grampurohit Namrata 
Published: July 2021

Purpose Design and test the usability of a novel virtual rehabilitation system for bimanual training of gravity supported arms, pronation/supination, grasp strengthening, and finger extension. Methods A robotic rehabilitation table, therapeutic game controllers, and adaptive rehabilitation games were developed. The rehabilitation table lifted/lowered and tilted up/down to modulate gravity loading. Arms movement was measured simultaneously, allowing bilateral training. Therapeutic games adapted through a baseline process. Four healthy adults performed four usability evaluation sessions each, and provided feedback using the USE questionnaire and custom questions. Participant’s game play performance was sampled and analyzed, and system modifications made between sessions. Results Participants played four sessions of about 50 minutes each, with training difficulty gradually increasing. Participants averaged a total of 6,300 arm repetitions, 2,200 grasp counts, and 2,100 finger extensions when adding counts for each upper extremity. USE questionnaire data averaged 5.1/7 rating, indicative of usefulness, ease of use, ease of learning, and satisfaction with the system. Subjective feedback on the custom evaluation form was 84% favorable. Conclusions The novel system was well-accepted, induced high repetition counts, and the usability study helped optimize it and achieve satisfaction. Future studies include examining effectiveness of the novel system when training patients acute post-stroke.
The Trend of Health Service Utilization and Challenges Faced During the COVID-19 Pandemic at Primary Units in Addis Ababa: A Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Shimels Tariku 
Published: July 2021

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed an extraordinary challenge to the health and socio-economic facet of nations globally. Health facilities have encountered tremendous challenges to contain service delivery at all levels. This study aims to assess the trend of health service utilization and challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic at primary units in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Method: A multi-facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Addis Ababa between 1 and 30 of August 2020. A mixed-methods design was employed, and both quantitative and qualitative data were collected at 5 health centers. Facilities were selected randomly from 5 sub-cities while interviewees were recruited purposively. A structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from the HMIS units of each facility. Qualitative data was collected using a semi-structured key-informant interview guide. Quantitative data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, and a 10-month time-series trend was generated. For the qualitative data, qualitative data analysis (QDA-minor) software was used. Results: Time-series comparison of the pre-COVID-19 era loads with the COVID-19 period showed that there was an extensive disparity in the service delivery capacity of the health facilities. A huge drop in inpatient flow of some units such as PICT, VCT, FP services, and most sub-units of the OPDs has been recorded following the COVID-19 outbreak. The key-informant interview also revealed that such challenges, as fear of infection and stigma, poor infrastructure, challenges related to human resources, and challenges related to the supply of prevention and treatment inputs were prominently encountered at the health centers. Conclusion: The COVID-19 wave has negatively impacted many service delivery points in the study settings. The presence of weak infrastructure, lack of PPEs, fear of the infection and stigma, and staff workload have been mentioned as the predominant challenges faced during the outbreak. Health authorities should arrange multifaceted supports to ensure uninterrupted service delivery at primary healthcare units.
Convalescent plasma for COVID-19 in hospitalised patients: an open-label, randomised clinical trial
Authors: Sekine Leo , Arns Beatriz , Fabro Bruna R. , Cipolatt Murillo M. , Machado Rafael R.G. , Durigon Edison L. , Parolo Edino , Pellegrini José Augusto S. , Viana Marina V. , Schwarz Patrícia , Lisboa Thiago C. , Dora José Miguel S. , Portich Julia P. , Paz Alessandra A. , Silla Lucia , Balsan Almeri M. , Schirmer Felipe da-Silva , Franz Juliana P.M. , da-Silveira Luciana M. , Breunig Raquel C. , Petersen Viviana , Sosnoski Monalisa , Mesquita Nanci F. , Volpato Fabiana Caroline Z. , Sganzerla Daniel , Falavigna Maicon , Rosa Regis G. , Zavascki Alexandre P. 
Published: July 2021

BackgroundThe effects of convalescent plasma (CP) therapy in hospitalised patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain uncertain. This study investigates the effect of CP on clinical improvement in these patients.MethodsThis is an investigator-initiated, randomised, parallel arm, open-label, superiority clinical trial. Patients were randomly (1:1) assigned to two infusions of CP plus standard of care (SOC) or SOC alone. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with clinical improvement 28 days after enrolment.ResultsA total of 160 (80 in each arm) patients (66.3% critically ill, 33.7% severely ill) completed the trial. The median (interquartile range (IQR)) age was 60.5 (48–68) years; 58.1% were male and the median (IQR) time from symptom onset to randomisation was 10 (8–12) days. Neutralising antibody titres >1:80 were present in 133 (83.1%) patients at baseline. The proportion of patients with clinical improvement on day 28 was 61.3% in the CP+SOC group and 65.0% in the SOC group (difference −3.7%, 95% CI −18.8–11.3%). The results were similar in the severe and critically ill subgroups. There was no significant difference between CP+SOC and SOC groups in pre-specified secondary outcomes, including 28-day mortality, days alive and free of respiratory support and duration of invasive ventilatory support. Inflammatory and other laboratory marker values on days 3, 7 and 14 were similar between groups.ConclusionsCP+SOC did not result in a higher proportion of clinical improvement on day 28 in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 compared to SOC alone.
The long noncoding RNA MEG3 regulates Ras-MAPK pathway through RASA1 in trophoblast and is associated with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion
Authors: Zhang Jun , Liu Xinqiong , Gao Yali 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundMaternally Expressed Gene 3 (MEG3) is expressed at low levels in placental villi during preeclampsia; however, its roles in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship betweenMEG3and URSA.MethodsThe differentially expressed lncRNAs (MEG3) and its downstream genes (RASA1) were identified using bioinformatics analysis of Genomic Spatial Event (GSE) database. The expression levels ofMEG3in embryonic villis (with gestational ages of 49–63 days) and primary trophoblasts were determined using quantitative RT-PCR assay. A mouse model of Embryo implantation, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry, and Transwell migration assays were performed to determine the implantation, proliferative, apoptotic, and invasive capacities of trophoblast. The level of phosphorylated core proteins in the RAS-MAPK pathway were analyzed using Western blot assay. The mechanisms ofMEG3in the regulation ofRASA1were studied by RNA pulldown, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), DNA pulldown, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays.ResultsMEG3had a low expression level in embryonic villis of 102 URSA patients compared with those of 102 normal pregnant women. MEG3 could promote proliferation and invasion, inhibit the apoptosis of primary trophoblast of URSA patients (PT-U cells), as well as promote embryo implantation of mouse. Besides, MEG3 also promoted the phosphorylation of rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (Raf), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK), and extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) proteins. The results of RNA pull down and RIP assays showed that MEG3 bound with the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2). The DNA pulldown assay revealed that MEG3 could bind to the promoter sequence of the RAS P21 Protein Activator 1 (RASA1) gene. Further, the ChIP assay showed that MEG3 promoted the binding of EZH2 to the promoter region of theRASA1gene.ConclusionsThe inactivation of MEG3 in embryonic villi association with URSA; MEG3 inhibited the expression ofRASA1by mediating the histone methylation of the promoter ofRASA1gene by EZH2, thereby activating the RAS-MAPK pathway and enhancing the proliferative and invasive capacities of trophoblasts.