bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of two highly-effective mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 during periods of Alpha and Delta variant prevalence
Authors: Puranik Arjun , Lenehan Patrick J. , Silvert Eli , Niesen Michiel J.M. , Corchado-Garcia Juan , O’Horo John C. , Virk Abinash , Swift Melanie D. , Halamka John , Badley Andrew D. , Venkatakrishnan A.J. , Soundararajan Venky 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAlthough clinical trials and real-world studies have affirmed the effectiveness and safety of the FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines, reports of breakthrough infections and persistent emergence of new variants highlight the need to vigilantly monitor the effectiveness of these vaccines. Here we compare the effectiveness of two full-length Spike protein-encoding mRNA vaccines from Moderna (mRNA-1273) and Pfizer/BioNTech (BNT162b2) in the Mayo Clinic Health System over time from January to July 2021, during which either the Alpha or Delta variant was highly prevalent. We defined cohorts of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals from Minnesota (n = 25,589 each) matched on age, sex, race, history of prior SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing, and date of full vaccination. Both vaccines were highly effective during this study period against SARS-CoV-2 infection (mRNA-1273: 86%, 95%CI: 81-90.6%; BNT162b2: 76%, 95%CI: 69-81%) and COVID-19 associated hospitalization (mRNA-1273: 91.6%, 95% CI: 81-97%; BNT162b2: 85%, 95% CI: 73-93%). In July, vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization has remained high (mRNA-1273: 81%, 95% CI: 33-96.3%; BNT162b2: 75%, 95% CI: 24-93.9%), but effectiveness against infection was lower for both vaccines (mRNA-1273: 76%, 95% CI: 58-87%; BNT162b2: 42%, 95% CI: 13-62%), with a more pronounced reduction for BNT162b2. Notably, the Delta variant prevalence in Minnesota increased from 0.7% in May to over 70% in July whereas the Alpha variant prevalence decreased from 85% to 13% over the same time period. Comparing rates of infection between matched individuals fully vaccinated with mRNA-1273 versus BNT162b2 across Mayo Clinic Health System sites in multiple states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona, Florida, and Iowa), mRNA-1273 conferred a two-fold risk reduction against breakthrough infection compared to BNT162b2 (IRR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.39-0.64). In Florida, which is currently experiencing its largest COVID-19 surge to date, the risk of infection in July after full vaccination with mRNA-1273 was about 60% lower than after full vaccination with BNT162b2 (IRR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.24-0.62). Our observational study highlights that while both mRNA COVID-19 vaccines strongly protect against infection and severe disease, further evaluation of mechanisms underlying differences in their effectiveness such as dosing regimens and vaccine composition are warranted.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diagnoses of common mental health disorders in adults in Catalonia, Spain
Authors: Raventós Berta , Pistillo Andrea , Reyes Carlen , Fernández-Bertolín Sergio , Aragón María , Berenguera Anna , Jacques-Aviñó Constanza , Medina-Perucha Laura , Burn Edward , Duarte-Salles Talita 
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACTObjectivesTo investigate how incidence trends of anxiety and depressive disorders have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.DesignPopulation-based cohort study.SettingObservational cohort study from 2018 to 2021 using the Information System for Research in Primary Care (SIDIAP) database in Catalonia, Spain.Participants4,255,847 individuals aged 18 or older in SIDIAP on 1 March, 2018 with no prior history of anxiety and depressive disorders.Primary and secondary outcomes measuresIncidence of anxiety and depressive disorders prior to COVID-19 (March, 2018 to February, 2020), during the COVID-19 lockdown (March to June, 2020) and post-lockdown periods (from July, 2020 to March, 2021) were calculated. Forecasted rates over COVID-19 periods were estimated using negative binomial regression models based on previous data. The percentage reduction was estimated by comparing forecasted versus observed events, overall and by age, sex and socioeconomic status.ResultsThe incidence rates per 100,000 person-months of anxiety and depressive disorders were 171.0 (95%CI: 170.2-171.8) and 46.6 (46.2-47.0), respectively, during the pre-lockdown period. We observed an increase of 39.7% (95%PI: 26.5 to 53.3) in incident anxiety diagnoses compared to the expected in March, 2020, followed by a reduction of 16.9% (8.6 to 24.5) during the post-lockdown periods. A reduction of incident depressive disorders occurred during the lockdown and post-lockdown periods (46.6% [38.9 to 53.1] and 23.2% [12.0 to 32.7], respectively). Reductions were higher among adults aged 18 to 34 and individuals living in most deprived areas.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic in Catalonia was associated with an initial increase in anxiety disorders diagnosed in primary care, but a reduction in cases as the pandemic continued. Diagnoses of depressive disorders were lower than expected throughout the pandemic.Summary boxWhat is already known on this topic-While previous self-reported studies have provided evidence of increased mental health burden during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of studies observed that fewer diagnoses were made in primary care settings than would have been expected during the initial stages of the pandemic.-Population data that examine the impact of COVID-19 on temporal trends of incident cases of common mental health disorders are lacking in Catalonia, Spain.What this study adds-This study has quantified the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on trends of incidence of anxiety and depressive disorders among adults living in Catalonia.-Reductions in incident cases of anxiety and depressive disorders were higher for young adults and people living in most deprived areas.-Incident diagnoses of anxiety and depressive disorders have not been fully recovered to what would have been expected.
Primary glia cells from bank vole propagate multiple rodent-adapted scrapie prions
Authors: Schwenke Karla A. , Wälzlein Joo-Hee , Bauer Agnieszka , Thomzig Achim , Beekes Michael 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSince the beginning prion research has been largely dependent on animal models for deciphering the disease, drug development or prion detection and quantification. Thereby, ethical as well as cost and labour-saving aspects call for alternatives in vitro. Cell models can replace or at least complement animal studies, but their number is still limited and the application usually restricted to certain strains and host species due to often strong transmission barriers. Bank voles promise to be an exception as they or materials prepared from them are uniquely susceptible to prions from various species in vivo, in vitro and in cell-free applications. Here we present a mainly astrocyte-based primary glia cell assay from bank vole, which is infectible with scrapie strains from bank vole, mouse and hamster. Stable propagation of bank vole-adapted RML, murine 22L and RML, and hamster 263K scrapie is detectable from 20 or 30 days post exposure onwards. Thereby, the infected bank vole glia cells show similar or even faster prion propagation than likewise infected glia cells of the corresponding murine or hamster hosts. We propose that our bank vole glia cell assay could be a versatile tool for studying and comparing multiple prion strains with different species backgrounds in a single cell assay.
Early-life telomere length covaries with life-history traits and scales with chromosome length in birds
Authors: Pepke Michael Le , Ringsby Thor Harald , Eisenberg Dan T.A. 
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACTTelomeres, the short DNA sequences that protect chromosome ends, are an ancient molecular structure, which is highly conserved across most eukaryotes. Species differ in their telomere lengths, but the causes of this variation are not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that mean early-life telomere length is an evolutionary labile trait across 58 bird species (representing 35 families in 12 orders) with the greatest trait diversity found among passerines. Among these species, telomere length is significantly negatively associated with the fast-slow axis of life-history variation, suggesting that telomere length may have evolved to mediate trade-offs between physiological requirements underlying the diversity of pace-of-life strategies in birds. Curiously, within some species, larger individual chromosome size predicts longer telomere lengths on that chromosome, leading to the suggestion that telomere length also covaries with chromosome length across species. We show that longer mean chromosome length or genome size tends to be associated with longer mean early-life telomere length (measured across all chromosomes) within a phylogenetic framework constituting up to 32 bird species. Combined, our analyses generalize patterns previously found within a few species and provide potential adaptive explanations for the 10-fold variation in telomere lengths observed among birds.
Cell-Type Specific Responses to Associative Learning in the Primary Motor Cortex
Authors: Lee Candice , Harkin Emerson , Naud Richard , Chen Simon X. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe primary motor cortex (M1) is known to be a critical site for movement initiation and motor learning. Surprisingly, it has also been shown to possess reward-related activity, presumably to facilitate reward-based learning of new movements. However, whether reward-related signals are represented among different cell types in M1, and whether their response properties change after cue-reward conditioning remains unclear. Here, we performed longitudinal in vivo two-photon Ca2+ imaging to monitor the activity of different neuronal cell types in M1 while mice engaged in a classical conditioning task. Our results demonstrate that most of the major neuronal cell types in M1 showed robust but differential responses to both cue and reward stimuli, and their response properties undergo cell-type specific modifications after associative learning. PV-INs’ responses became more reliable to the cue stimulus, while VIP-INs’ responses became more reliable to the reward stimulus. PNs only showed robust response to the novel reward stimulus, and they habituated to it after associative learning. Lastly, SOM-IN responses emerged and became more reliable to both conditioned cue and reward stimuli after conditioning. These observations suggest that cue- and reward-related signals are represented among different neuronal cell types in M1, and the distinct modifications they undergo during associative learning could be essential in triggering different aspects of local circuit reorganization in M1 during reward-based motor skill learning.
The role of fucose-containing glycan motifs across taxonomic kingdoms
Authors: Thomès Luc , Bojar Daniel 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe extraordinary diversity of glycans leads to large differences in the glycomes of different kingdoms of life. Yet, while most monosaccharides are solely found in certain taxonomic groups, there is a small set of monosaccharides with widespread distribution across nearly all domains of life. These general monosaccharides are particularly relevant for glycan motifs, as they can readily be used by commensals and pathogens to mimic host glycans or hijack existing glycan recognition systems. Among these, the monosaccharide fucose is especially interesting, as it frequently presents itself as a terminal monosaccharide, primed for interaction with proteins. Here, we analyze fucose-containing glycan motifs across all taxonomic kingdoms. Using a hereby presented large species-specific glycan dataset and a plethora of methods for glycan-focused bioinformatics and machine learning, we identify characteristic as well as shared fucose-containing glycan motifs for various taxonomic groups, demonstrating clear differences in fucose usage. Even within domains, fucose is used differentially based on an organism’s physiology and habitat. We particularly highlight differences in fucose-containing motifs between vertebrates and invertebrates. With the example of pathogenic and non-pathogenic Escherichia coli strains, we also demonstrate the importance of fucose-containing motifs in molecular mimicry and thereby pathogenic potential. Finally, we also confirm and extend the role of fucosyltransferase-coding genes (FUT) in several important biological processes that include development, immunity, and diseases, especially cancer. We envision that this study will shed light on an important class of glycan motifs, with potential new insights into the role of fucosylated glycans in symbiosis, pathogenicity, and immunity.
Systematic design of multi-objective enhanced genetic algorithm optimized fractional order PID controller for sensorless brushless DC motor drive
Authors: Kumarasamy Vanchinathan , Ramasamy Valluvan KarumanchettyThottam , Chinnaraj Gnanavel 
Published: August 2021

Purpose
The puspose of this paper, a novel systematic design of fractional order proportional integral derivative (FOPID) controller-based speed control of sensorless brushless DC (BLDC) motor using multi-objective enhanced genetic algorithm (EGA). This scheme provides an excellent dynamic and static response, low computational burden, the robust speed control.

Design/methodology/approach
The EGA is a meta-heuristic-inspired algorithm for solving non-linearity problems such as sudden load disturbances, modeling errors, power fluctuations, poor stability, the maximum time of transient processes, static and dynamic errors. The conventional genetic algorithm (CGA) and modified genetic algorithm (MGA) are not very effective in solving the above-mentioned problems. Hence, a multi-objective EGA optimized FOPID (EGA-FOPID) controller is proposed for speed control of sensorless BLDC motor under various conditions such as constant load conditions, varying load conditions, varying set speed (Ns) conditions, integrated conditions and controller parameters uncertainty.

Findings
This systematic design of the multi-objective EGA-FOPID controller is implemented in MATLAB 2020a with Simulink models for optimal speed control of the BLDC motor. The overall performance of the EGA-FOPID controller is observed and evaluated for computational burden, time integral performance indexes, transient and steady-state characteristics. The hardware experiment results confirm that the proposed EGA-FOPID controller can precisely change the BLDC motor speed is desired range with minimal effort.

Research limitations/implications
The conventional real time issues such as nonlinearity characteristics, poor controllability and stability.

Practical implications
It is clearly evident that out of these three intelligent controllers, the EGA optimized FOPID controller gives enhanced performance by minimizing the time domain parameters, performance Indices error and convergence time. Also, the hardware experimental setup and the results of the proposed EGA-FOPID controller are presented.

Originality/value
It shows the effectiveness of the proposed controllers is completely verified by comparing the above three intelligent optimization algorithms. It is clearly evident that out of these three intelligent controllers, the EGA optimized FOPID controller gives enhanced performance by minimizing the time domain parameters, performance Indices error and convergence time. Also, the hardware experimental setup and the results of the proposed EGA-FOPID controller are presented.
Knowledge sharing and self-efficacy in an EFL context: the mediating effect of creativity
Authors: Parhamnia Farshad , Farahian Majid , Rajabi Yusef 
Published: August 2021

PurposeAs demonstrated in the literature, teachers’ knowledge sharing, self-efficacy and creativity display certain levels of cause-and-effect and correlational connections from different perspectives. Nonetheless, few studies, if any, have been reported on the interplay of these three concepts in the context of the language classroom. As such, this study aims to test a structural model of English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers’ knowledge sharing, self-efficacy and creativity and specifically to examine the hypothesis that creativity mediates the relationship between EFL teachers’ knowledge sharing and self-efficacy.Design/methodology/approachThe participants were 384 EFL teachers from different language institutes across Iran. The EFL teachers were selected based on random stratified sampling method. To verify the research hypotheses, a quantitative correlational design was used in the present study. The quantitative data was collected using three questionnaires, and then descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Therefore, we used the EFL teachers’ creativity questionnaire developed by Khany and Boghayeri (2014), knowledge sharing behavior scale by Ramayahet al.(2014) and teachers’ self-efficacy questionnaire by Tschannen-Moran and Hoy (2001). To analyze the data, Pearson correlation and multiple regression were run.FindingsThe findings revealed the hypothesized model of relationships among the study variables. The results also confirmed the mediator role of creativity. The implications of the findings in relation to creativity, knowledge sharing and self-efficacy are discussed.Originality/valueThe bulk of research on teacher self-efficacy has concentrated fairly adequately on its relationship with factors such as teachers’ reflective practice, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, personality and student achievement. What seems to be rather missing in this line of research has to do with the exploration of the possible links among knowledge sharing, self-efficacy and creativity as interacting variables, especially in the context of Iran where teachers’ knowledge sharing is lower than expected. More importantly, no previous investigation has tapped into the mediating effect of creativity on the connection between English teachers’ knowledge sharing and self-efficacy.
Site selection and system sizing of desalination plants powered with renewable energy sources based on a web-GIS platform
Authors: Koutroulis Eftichios , Petrakis George , Agou Vicky , Malisovas Athanassios , Hristopulos Dionissios , Partsinevelos Panagiotis , Tripolitsiotis Achilleas , Halouani Nabila , Ailliot Pierre , Boutigny Marrie , Monbet Valerie , Allard Denis , Cuzol Anne , Kolokotsa Denia , Varouchakis Emmanouil , Kokolakis Konstantinos , Mertikas Stelios 
Published: August 2021

Purpose
The combination of desalination technology with renewable energy sources (RES) provides a sustainable approach for increasing potable water availability without imposing negative environmental effects. This paper aims to present the development of a platform, which is an internet-based tool integrating the design optimization of desalination systems with spatial modeling based on a geographic information system (GIS).

Design/methodology/approach
The proposed platform assists decision-makers to select the optimal location and configuration of both the energy- and water-related subsystems of desalination plants that are power-supplied by RES, such that the lifetime cost of the overall desalination plant is minimized. It enables to optimize the desalination plant site selection and sizing with various hybrid power supply (solar, wind, wave and electrical grid power systems) and desalination technologies combinations, while simultaneously exploiting spatial technologies in an internet-based GIS platform.

Findings
A pilot study for the optimal design of stand-alone and grid-connected desalination plants powered by RES is presented, which demonstrates the functionality and features of the proposed platform. It is also shown that a grid-connected desalination plant designed by the proposed software design tool exhibits significantly lower lifetime installation and maintenance costs compared to its stand-alone counterpart.

Originality/value
The proposed platform combines technological, scientific and industrial knowledge with information about societal/political conditions and geo-spatial technologies in a user-friendly graphical interface. Therefore, it provides a design tool enabling its users to secure water supply in a sustainable and economically viable manner.
Enterprising profile and career development of Kuwaitiyouth community
Authors: Zainal Mohammad 
Published: August 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to measure the impact of entrepreneurial profile dimensions on the career development of the youth community in Kuwait. Further, this study aims to measure the moderating effect of entrepreneurial education on entrepreneurial profile dimensions and entrepreneurial career development (ECD) relationship.

Design/methodology/approach
The study will use a quantitative research methodology. This study is focussed on measuring the impact of these eight entrepreneurial profiles, namely, self-efficacity; opportunity detector abilities; creativity; persistence; risk-taking propensity; sociability; planning abilities and leadership skills as independent variables on the ECD as a dependent variable. Entrepreneurship education is considered as moderating variable. A structured questionnaire is distributed to 200 students who study at the College of Business Administration, Kuwait University (KU), where 170 students responded positively and the response rate was 85%. The evaluation of the proposed model was done through structural equation modelling analysis.

Findings
The results will show how these dimensions impact the decision on the ECD.

Research limitations/implications
This research is conducted only in one college of KU and the findings cannot be used to generalise the impact of these dimensions on the career development of all young people of Kuwait.

Originality/value
There are very few studies about entrepreneurship in general in Kuwait and this research will be an additional value and contribution in this field for a particular context. It is the first effort to measure the impact of entrepreneurial profile dimensions on career development in Kuwait, and this research will be a good base for similar studies in other Gulf Cooperation Council Countries and beyond.
Residents’ perceptions of policing and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Nouri Seyvan , Kochel Tammy Rinehart 
Published: August 2021

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic has raised unique challenges for police. Reductions in manpower due to officer illness and the need to social distance to suppress spread of the disease restricts the ability of police to fully engage with the public and deliver full services. Changes to policing strategies may affect residents’ feelings of safety and their relationships with police. The purpose of this study is to understand high crime area residents’ experiences with police and safety during the pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe current study draws on household surveys of residents across three high crime, disadvantaged neighborhoods in St. Louis County, Missouri. We implemented three methods. First, we synthesized qualitative feedback about the impact on safety and policing. Second, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks tests compared pre-pandemic assessments of policing and safety measures to measures collected during the pandemic. Finally, we employed multinomial regression to examine how perceived changes in policing affected residents’ change in safety during the pandemic.FindingsResidents saw police less and engaged with police less during the pandemic. They reported hearing gunshots more often. Reduced police presence in neighborhoods led to mixed effects on safety, largely decreasing residents’ feelings of safety. However, two factors that consistently improved safety were positive encounters with police and police being less involved with minor offenses.Originality/valueThis is the first study that assesses the pandemic impact on residents’ perceptions of safety and police in disadvantaged, high crime contexts.