bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of the Safety in Interventional Radiology (SIR) Shield in reducing droplet transmission and its effect on image quality and radiation dose
Authors: Ong Shao Jin , Anil Gopinathan , Chia Koon Liang , Khoo Deborah , Lee Joseph KT , Chen Priscilla XH , Nares Teddy M , Koh Calvin J , Su Peijing , Yang Cunli , Singh Pavel , Rajendran Prapul C , Fotheringham Timothy , Quek Swee T , Renfrew Ian 
Published: October 2021

Objective:
To evaluate the efficacy of a barrier shield in reducing droplet transmission and its effect on image quality and radiation dose in an interventional suite.

Methods:
A human cough droplet visualisation model in a supine position was developed to assess efficacy of barrier shield in reducing environmental contamination. Its effect on image quality (resolution and contrast) was evaluated via image quality test phantom. Changes in the radiation dose to patient post-shield utilisation was measured.

Results:
Use of the shield prevented escape of visible fluorescent cough droplets from the containment area. No subjective change in line-pair resolution was observed. No significant difference in contrast-to-noise ratio was measured. Radiation dosage to patient was increased; this is predominantly attributed to the increased air gap and not the physical properties of the shield.

Conclusion:
Use of the barrier shield provided an effective added layer of personal protection in the interventional radiology theatre for aerosol generating procedures.

Advances in knowledge:
This is the first time a human supine cough droplet visualisation has been developed. While multiple types of barrier shields have been described, this is the first systematic practical evaluation of a barrier shield designed for use in the interventional radiology theatre.
“Un”Fair Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Fu Runshan , Aseri Manmohan , Singh Param Vir , Srinivasan Kannan 
Published: October 2021

Ensuring fairness in algorithmic decision making is a crucial policy issue. Current legislation ensures fairness by barring algorithm designers from using demographic information in their decision making. As a result, to be legally compliant, the algorithms need to ensure equal treatment. However, in many cases, ensuring equal treatment leads to disparate impact particularly when there are differences among groups based on demographic classes. In response, several “fair” machine learning (ML) algorithms that require impact parity (e.g., equal opportunity) at the cost of equal treatment have recently been proposed to adjust for the societal inequalities. Advocates of fair ML propose changing the law to allow the use of protected class-specific decision rules. We show that the proposed fair ML algorithms that require impact parity, while conceptually appealing, can make everyone worse off, including the very class they aim to protect. Compared with the current law, which requires treatment parity, the fair ML algorithms, which require impact parity, limit the benefits of a more accurate algorithm for a firm. As a result, profit maximizing firms could underinvest in learning, that is, improving the accuracy of their machine learning algorithms. We show that the investment in learning decreases when misclassification is costly, which is exactly the case when greater accuracy is otherwise desired. Our paper highlights the importance of considering strategic behavior of stake holders when developing and evaluating fair ML algorithms. Overall, our results indicate that fair ML algorithms that require impact parity, if turned into law, may not be able to deliver some of the anticipated benefits. This paper was accepted by Kartik Hosanagar, information systems.
Nurse-led early evaluation following corticosteroid prescription in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Harvey Philip R , Slater Jayne , Algieder Akram , Jones Judith , Bates Beth , De Silva Shanika 
Published: October 2021

BackgroundThe Toronto consensus for management of ulcerative colitis (UC) recommends early evaluation of UC patients 2 weeks after initiation on corticosteroids. A system for early evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease patients was established by specialist nurses in a secondary care centre.AimTo compare outcomes following early evaluation to the previous service.MethodsAll patients undergoing early evaluation over a 1-year period were prospectively audited and compared to a retrospective cohort of patients receiving prednisolone in the preceding year.FindingsOf 140 patients included, 76 (54.3%) underwent early evaluation. All patients in the early evaluation group received drug education and details of the nurse helpline (17.1% of patients did not already have this). Of patients, 81.6% were prescribed Adcal, and 83.9% were on 5-aminosalicylates. Fewer admissions were observed within 6 months following early evaluation (8.6% vs. 23.4%, p=0.013).ConclusionMultiple benefits of early evaluation were observed, including a potential reduction in hospital admissions.
Numerical simulation design of all-inorganic hole-transport-layer-free CsSnI3 (Sn-rich)/CsSnI3 perovskite efficient solar cells
Authors: Jiang Mengying , Tang Jiyu 
Published: October 2021

As perovskite solar cell (PSC) technology is about to be commercialized, the use of toxic and organic material is still a problem. At the same time, hole-transport-layer-free (HTL-free) PSCs have received widespread attention given their simple structure and low manufacturing cost. In this study, we use the wxAMPS software to produce a simulation, using

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all-perovskite as the absorption layer and carbon as the back electrode, as well as to propose a new, to the best of our knowledge, inorganic HTL-free PSC.

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is a narrowband material whose absorption range can be extended to the near-infrared spectral region; it also has very high hole mobility and so can be used as both the light absorption layer and the HTL. Compared with that of standard structure devices, the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of the PSC is better. When the perovskite layer thickness is 900 nm, the optimal PCE is 14.91%, the open-circuit voltage is 0.81 V, the short-circuit current is

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, and the fill factor is 77.37%. Our research further found that

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(Sn-rich) has the best PCE at

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. When the electron transport layer and the light absorption layer conduction band offset is

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, the PCE has an optimal value of 15.02%. Finally, by changing the light temperature, the PCE value of our study is between 12.07% and 16.61% under non-extreme work environments, and the results show that the device has good thermostability. This proves that the proposed all-inorganic HTL-free PSCs have broad prospects in future photovoltaic and optoelectronics applications and provide theoretical guidance for the manufacture of non-toxic and inorganic PSCs.
On-chip microdisk laser on Yb3+-doped thin-film lithium niobate
Authors: Zhou Yuan , Wang Zhe , Fang Zhiwei , Liu Zhaoxiang , Zhang Haisu , Yin Difeng , Liang Youting , Zhang Zhihao , Liu Jian , Huang Ting , Bao Rui , Wu Rongbo , Lin Jintian , Wang Min , Cheng Ya 
Published: October 2021

We demonstrate an on-chip

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-doped lithium niobate (LN) microdisk laser. The intrinsic quality factors of the fabricated

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-doped LN microdisk resonator are measured up to

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at a 976 nm wavelength and

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at a 1514 nm wavelength. The multi-mode laser emissions are obtained in a band from 1020 to 1070 nm pumped by a 984 nm laser and with the low threshold of

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µ

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, resulting in a slope efficiency of 0.53% at room temperature. Furthermore, both the second-harmonic frequency of pump light and the sum frequency of the pump light and laser emissions are generated in the on-chip

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b

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-doped LN microdisk, benefiting from the strong

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nonlinearity of LN. These microdisk lasers are expected to contribute to the high-density integration of a lithium niobate on insulator-based photonic chip.
Soil-transmitted helminthiasis in China: A national survey in 2014-2015
Authors: Chen Ying-Dan , Qian Men-Bao , Zhu Hui-Hui , Zhou Chang-Hai , Zhu Ting-Jun , Huang Ji-Lei , Li Zhong-Jie , Li Shi-Zhu , Zhou Xiao-Nong ,   Group on National Survey of Important Human Parasitic Diseases in China
Published: October 2021

Background
Based on two national surveys, the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) in China had decreased from 53.58% in 1988–1992 to 19.56% in 2001–2004. To update the epidemiology and characteristics of STH in China, a third national survey was implemented in 2014–2015.

Methodology/Principal findings
This survey covered rural areas in 31 provinces in mainland of China. Multiple-stage stratified cluster sampling was employed, which included three levels (provinces, ecozones and economical levels). Stool samples were collected and the Kato-Katz method was applied for helminth eggs detection. Samples with hookworm eggs were selected and hatched to differentiate the species based on larval morphology. Between June 2014 and May 2015, a total of 484,210 participants from 604 counties were enrolled. The weighted prevalence of STH overall was 4.49% (95% confidential interval (CI): 2.45%-6.53%), including 2.62% (95% CI: 0.86%-4.38%) hookworm infections, 1.36% (95% CI: 0.49%-2.23%) ascariasis, and 1.02% (95% CI: 0.15%-1.89%) trichuriasis. The estimated population infected was 29.12 million (95% CI: 15.88 million-42.32 million) for all STH; 16.97 million (95% CI: 5.57 million-28.39 million) for hookworm infections; 8.83 million (95% CI: 3.18 million-14.45 million) for ascariasis; and 6.60 million (95% CI: 0.97 million-12.25 million) for trichuriasis. Overall, the prevalence of ascariasis and trichuriasis was relatively high in children, while hookworm infections were more common in the older population, especially those over 60. STH was highly prevalent in western China, and moderately in central areas, but low in eastern and northern regions. Out of 3,579 hookworm cases with species differentiation, 479 cases (13.38%) were infected with only Ancylostoma spp., 2,808 cases (78.46%) with only Necator americanus, and another 292 cases (8.16%) with both species.

Conclusions/Significance
This survey demonstrated the continuous decrease of STH in rural China. However, endemicity still prevails in the western areas of the country. Hookworm, especially N. americanus, is becoming the predominant species. Older farmers in western China should be prioritized for control due to the high prevalence of hookworm.
Individual responses to a single oral dose of albendazole indicate reduced efficacy against soil-transmitted helminths in an area with high drug pressure
Authors: Walker Martin , Cools Piet , Albonico Marco , Ame Shaali M. , Ayana Mio , Dana Daniel , Keiser Jennifer , Matoso Leonardo F. , Montresor Antonio , Mekonnen Zeleke , Corrêa-Oliveira Rodrigo , Pinto Simone A, , Sayasone Somphou , Vercruysse Jozef , Vlaminck Johnny , Levecke Bruno 
Published: October 2021

Background
Albendazole (ALB) is administered annually to millions of children through global deworming programs targeting soil-transmitted helminths (STHs: Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms, Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale). However, due to the lack of large individual patient datasets collected using standardized protocols and the application of population-based statistical methods, little is known about factors that may affect individual responses to treatment.

Methodology/Principal findings
We re-analyzed 645 individual patient data from three standardized clinical trials designed to assess the efficacy of a single 400 mg oral dose of ALB against STHs in schoolchildren from different study sites, each with varying history of drug pressure based on duration of mass drug administration programs: Ethiopia, low; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), moderate; Pemba Island (Tanzania), high. Using a Bayesian statistical modelling approach to estimate individual responses (individual egg reduction rates, ERRi), we found that efficacy was lower in Pemba Island, particularly for T. trichiura. For this STH, the proportion of participants with a satisfactory response (ERRi ≥50%), was 65% in Ethiopia, 61% in Lao PDR but only 29% in Pemba Island. There was a significant correlation between ERRi and infection intensity prior to drug administration (ERRi decreasing as a function of increasing infection intensity). Individual age and sex also affected the drug response, but these were of negligible clinical significance and not consistent across STHs and study sites.

Conclusions/Significance
We found decreased efficacy of ALB against all the STHs analyzed in Pemba Island (Tanzania), an area with high drug pressure. This does not indicate causality, as this association may also be partially explained by differences in infection intensity prior to drug administration. Notwithstanding, our results indicate that without alternative treatment regimens, program targets will not be achievable on Pemba Island because of inadequate efficacy of ALB.

Trial registration
The study was registered on Clinicaltrials.gov (ID: NCT03465488) on March 7, 2018.
Is vaginal delivery of a fetus in breech presentation at an extremely preterm gestational age associated with an increased risk of neonatal death? A comparative study
Authors: Pierre Clémentine , Leroy Audrey , Pierache Adeline , Storme Laurent , Debarge Véronique , Depret Sandrine , Rakza Thameur , Garabedian Charles , Subtil Damien 
Published: October 2021

Background
The effect on neonatal mortality of mode of delivery of a fetus in breech presentation at an extremely preterm gestational age remains controversial.

Objective
To compare mortality associated with planned vaginal delivery (PVD) of fetuses in breech presentation with that of fetuses in breech presentation with a planned cesarean delivery (PCD).

Material and methods
Retrospective study reviewing records over a 19-year period in a level 3 university referral center of singleton infants born between 25+0 and 27+6 weeks of gestation, alive on arrival in the delivery room, and weighing at least 500 grams at birth. Infants in the first group were in breech presentation with PVD and the second in breech presentation with PCD. The principal endpoint was neonatal death.

Results
During the study period, we observed 113 breech presentations with PVD, and 80 breech presentations with PCD. Although not significant after adjustment, neonatal mortality in the breech PVD group was more than twice that of the breech PCD group (19.5 vs 7.8%, P = 0.031, ORa = 2.6, 95% CI 0.8–9.3, NNT = 8). This higher neonatal mortality in the breech PVD group was exclusively associated with a higher risk of death in the delivery room (12.4 vs 0.0% P = 0.001, OR not calculable, NNT = 8). In these extremely preterm breech presentations with PVD, neonatal mortality in the delivery room was associated with entrapment of the aftercoming head, cord prolapse, and a short duration of labor.

Conclusion
For deliveries between 25+0 and 27+6 weeks’ gestation, vaginal delivery in breech presentation is associated with a higher risk of death in the delivery room.
Differentiating severe and non-severe lower respiratory tract illness in patients hospitalized with influenza: Development of the Influenza Disease Evaluation and Assessment of Severity (IDEAS) scale
Authors: Chow Eric J. , Tenforde Mark W. , Rolfes Melissa A. , Lee Benjamin , Chodisetty Shreya , Ramirez Julio A. , Fry Alicia M. , Patel Manish M. 
Published: October 2021

BackgroundExperimental studies have shown that vaccination can reduce viral replication to attenuate progression of influenza-associated lower respiratory tract illness (LRTI). However, clinical studies are conflicting, possibly due to use of non-specific outcomes reflecting a mix of large and small airway LRTI lacking specificity for acute lung or organ injury.MethodsWe developed a global ordinal scale to differentiate large and small airway LRTI in hospitalized adults with influenza using physiologic features and interventions (PFIs): vital signs, laboratory and radiographic findings, and clinical interventions. We reviewed the literature to identify common PFIs across 9 existing scales of pneumonia and sepsis severity. To characterize patients using this scale, we applied the scale to an antiviral clinical trial dataset where these PFIs were measured through routine clinical care in adults hospitalized with influenza-associated LRTI during the 2010–2013 seasons.ResultsWe evaluated 12 clinical parameters among 1020 adults; 210 (21%) had laboratory-confirmed influenza, with a median severity score of 4.5 (interquartile range, 2–8). Among influenza cases, median age was 63 years, 20% were hospitalized in the prior 90 days, 50% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 22% had congestive heart failure. Primary influencers of higher score included pulmonary infiltrates on imaging (48.1%), heart rate ≥110 beats/minute (41.4%), oxygen saturation <93% (47.6%) and respiratory rate >24 breaths/minute (21.0%). Key PFIs distinguishing patients with severity < or ≥8 (upper quartile) included infiltrates (27.1% vs 90.0%), temperature ≥ 39.1°C or <36.0°C (7.1% vs 27.1%), respiratory rate >24 breaths/minute (7.9% vs 47.1%), heart rate ≥110 beats/minute (29.3% vs 65.7%), oxygen saturation <90% (14.3% vs 31.4%), white blood cell count >15,000 (5.0% vs 27.2%), and need for invasive or non-invasive mechanical ventilation (2.1% vs 15.7%).ConclusionWe developed a scale in adults hospitalized with influenza-associated LRTI demonstrating a broad distribution of physiologic severity which may be useful for future studies evaluating the disease attenuating effects of influenza vaccination or other therapeutics.
Adverse event profile and associated factors following surgical voluntary medical male circumcision in two regions of Namibia, 2015–2018
Authors: O’Bryan Gillian , Feldacker Caryl , Ensminger Alison , Nghatanga Magdaleena , Brandt Laura , Shepard Mark , Billah Idel , Aupokolo Mekondjo , Mengistu Assegid Tassew , Forster Norbert , Zemburuka Brigitte , Sithole Edwin , Mutandi Gram , Barnhart Scott , O’Malley Gabrielle 
Published: October 2021

Introduction
Monitoring clinical safety of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) is critical to minimize risk as VMMC programs for HIV prevention are scaled. This cross-sectional analysis describes the adverse event (AE) profile of a large-scale, routine VMMC program and identifies factors associated with the development, severity, and timing of AEs to provide recommendations for program quality improvement.

Materials and methods
From 2015–2018 there were 28,990 circumcisions performed in International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH) supported regions of Namibia in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Services. Two routine follow-up visits after VMMC were scheduled to identify clients with AEs. Summary statistics were used to describe characteristics of all VMMC clients and the subset who experienced an AE. We used chi-square tests to evaluate associations between AE timing, patient age, and other patient and AE characteristics. We used a logistic regression model to explore associations between patient characteristics and AE severity.

Results
Of the 498 clients with AEs (AE rate of 1.7%), 40 (8%) occurred ≤2 days, 262 (53%) occurred 3–7 days, 161 (32%) between day 8 and 14, and 35 (7%) were ≥15 days post-VMMC. Early AEs (on or before day 2) tended to be severe and categorized as bleeding, while infections were the most common AEs occurring later (p<0.001). Younger clients (aged 10–14 years) experienced more infections, whereas older clients experienced more bleeding (p<0.001).

Conclusions
Almost 40% of AEs occurred after the second follow-up visit, of which 179 (91%) were infections. Improvements in pre-surgical and post-surgical counselling and post-operative educational materials encouraging clients to seek care at any time, adoption of alternative follow-up methods, and the addition of a third follow-up visit may improve outcomes for patients. Enhancing post-surgical counselling and emphasizing wound care for younger VMMC clients and their caregivers could help mitigate elevated risk of infection.
Angiotensin II receptor blocker intake associates with reduced markers of inflammatory activation and decreased mortality in patients with cardiovascular comorbidities and COVID-19 disease
Authors: Cremer Sebastian , Pilgram Lisa , Berkowitsch Alexander , Stecher Melanie , Rieg Siegbert , Shumliakivska Mariana , Bojkova Denisa , Wagner Julian Uwe Gabriel , Aslan Galip Servet , Spinner Christoph , Luxán Guillermo , Hanses Frank , Dolff Sebastian , Piepel Christiane , Ruppert Clemens , Guenther Andreas , Rüthrich Maria Madeleine , Vehreschild Jörg Janne , Wille Kai , Haselberger Martina , Heuzeroth Hanno , Hansen Arne , Eschenhagen Thomas , Cinatl Jindrich , Ciesek Sandra , Dimmeler Stefanie , Borgmann Stefan , Zeiher Andreas ,   on behalf of the LEOSS study group
Published: October 2021

Aims
Patients with cardiovascular comorbidities have a significantly increased risk for a critical course of COVID-19. As the SARS-CoV2 virus enters cells via the angiotensin-converting enzyme receptor II (ACE2), drugs which interact with the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) were suspected to influence disease severity.

Methods and results
We analyzed 1946 consecutive patients with cardiovascular comorbidities or hypertension enrolled in one of the largest European COVID-19 registries, the Lean European Open Survey on SARS-CoV-2 (LEOSS) registry. Here, we show that angiotensin II receptor blocker intake is associated with decreased mortality in patients with COVID-19 [OR 0.75 (95% CI 0,59–0.96; p = 0.013)]. This effect was mainly driven by patients, who presented in an early phase of COVID-19 at baseline [OR 0,64 (95% CI 0,43–0,96; p = 0.029)]. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significantly lower incidence of death in patients on an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) (n = 33/318;10,4%) compared to patients using an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) (n = 60/348;17,2%) or patients who received neither an ACE-inhibitor nor an ARB at baseline in the uncomplicated phase (n = 90/466; 19,3%; p<0.034). Patients taking an ARB were significantly less frequently reaching the mortality predicting threshold for leukocytes (p<0.001), neutrophils (p = 0.002) and the inflammatory markers CRP (p = 0.021), procalcitonin (p = 0.001) and IL-6 (p = 0.049). ACE2 expression levels in human lung samples were not altered in patients taking RAAS modulators.

Conclusion
These data suggest a beneficial effect of ARBs on disease severity in patients with cardiovascular comorbidities and COVID-19, which is linked to dampened systemic inflammatory activity.