bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of Key Assumptions About the Population Biology of Soil-Transmitted Helminths on the Sustainable Control of Morbidity
Authors: Vegvari Carolin , Giardina Federica , Malizia Veronica , de Vlas Sake J , Coffeng Luc E , Anderson Roy M 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe design and evaluation of control programs for soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) is based on surveillance data recording measurements of egg counts in the stool of infected individuals, which underpin estimates of the prevalence and average intensity of infection. There is considerable uncertainty around these measurements and their interpretation. The uncertainty is composed of several sources of measurement error and the limit of detection of fecal smear tests on the one hand, and key assumptions on STH biology on the other hand, including assumptions on the aggregation of worms within hosts and on the impact of density-dependent influences on worm reproduction. Using 2 independently developed models of STH transmission we show how different aspects of STH biology and human behavior impact on STH surveillance and control programs and how accounting for uncertainty can help to develop optimal and sustainable control strategies to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) morbidity target for STHs.
Profile of Chronic Comorbid Conditions and Obstetrical Complications Among Pregnant Women With Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in the United States
Authors: Venkatesh Kartik K , Morrison Leavitt , Tuomala Ruth E , Stek Alice , Read Jennifer S , Shapiro David E , Livingston Elizabeth G 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundTo evaluate the frequency and associated characteristics of chronic comorbid conditions and obstetrical complications among pregnant women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in comparison to those without HIV.MethodsWe compared 2 independent concurrent US pregnancy cohorts: (1) with HIV (International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials Protocol P1025, 2002–2013) and (2) without HIV (Consortium for Safe Labor Study, 2002–2007). Outcomes were ≥2 chronic comorbid conditions and obstetrical complications. For women with HIV, we assessed whether late prenatal care (≥14 weeks), starting ART in an earlier era (2002–2008), and a detectable viral load at delivery (≥400 copies/mL) were associated with study outcomes.ResultsWe assessed 2868 deliveries (n = 2574 women) with HIV and receiving ART and 211 910 deliveries (n = 193 170 women) without HIV. Women with HIV were more likely to have ≥2 chronic comorbid conditions versus those without HIV (10 vs 3%; adjusted OR [AOR]: 2.96; 95% CI: 2.58–3.41). Women with HIV were slightly less likely to have obstetrical complications versus those without HIV (both 17%; AOR: .84; 95% CI: .75–.94), but secondarily, higher odds of preterm birth &lt;37 weeks. Late entry to prenatal care and starting ART in an earlier era were associated with a lower likelihood of ≥2 chronic comorbidities and obstetrical complications; detectable viral load at delivery was associated with a higher likelihood of obstetric complications.ConclusionsPregnant women with HIV receiving ART have more chronic comorbid conditions, but not necessarily obstetrical complications, than their peers without HIV.
Completion Rate and Safety of Programmatic Screening and Treatment for Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Elderly Patients With Poorly Controlled Diabetic Mellitus: A Prospective Multicenter Study
Authors: Huang Hung-Ling , Huang Wei-Chang , Lin Kun-Der , Liu Shin-Shin , Lee Meng-Rui , Cheng Meng-Hsuan , Chin Chun-Shih , Lu Po-Liang , Sheu Chau-Chyun , Wang Jann-Yuan , Lee I-Te , Chong Inn-Wen 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Background
Poor control of diabetes mellitus (DM) increases active tuberculosis (TB) risk. Understanding risk factors for latent TB infection (LTBI) in this population and intervention completion rates is crucial for policy making.

Methods
Under a collaborative multidisciplinary team consisting of public health professionals, endocrinologists, and pulmonologists, patients aged &gt;45 years with poorly controlled DM (pDM), defined as having a glycated hemoglobin level of ≥9% within the preceding year, were enrolled by endocrinologists from 2 hospitals; these patients underwent LTBI screening by using QuantiFERON (QFT). Once-weekly isoniazid and rifapentine for 12 weeks (3HP) or daily isoniazid for 9 months (9H) was administered by pulmonologists. QFT-positivity predictors were evaluated using logistic regression. Completion rates and safety were also investigated.

Results
Among 980 patients with pDM (age: 64.2 ± 9.7 years), 261 (26.6%) were QFT-positive. Age, DM duration, chronic kidney disease stage ≥3, and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor use, not using metformin, were associated with QFT-positivity. Preventive therapy (3HP: 138; 9H: 62) was administered in 200 (76.6%) QFT-positive patients. The completion rates of 3HP and 9H were 84.1% and 79.0%, respectively (P = .494). Nine (6.5%) and zero patients in the 3HP and 9H groups, respectively, developed systemic drug reactions (P = .059); 78.3% and 45.2% had ≥1 adverse drug reactions (P &lt; .001); and post-treatment QFT conversion rates were 32% and 20%, respectively (P = .228).

Conclusions
LTBI prevalence exceeds 25% in elderly patients with pDM. Under care from a collaborative multidisciplinary team, the completion rate of preventive therapy, regardless of regimen could approach, or even exceed 80% in this population.
Outcomes of single ventricle palliation in infants with heterotaxy syndrome
Authors: Vodiskar Janez , Kido Takashi , Strbad Martina , Cleuziou Julie , Hager Alfred , Ewert Peter , Hörer Jürgen , Ono Masamichi 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Heterotaxy is a known risk factor for morbidity and mortality in single ventricle palliation. In this study, we examined our experience with this challenging group of patients.

METHODS
Records of patients born between 2001 and 2019 with heterotaxy, who needed staged single ventricle palliation were retrospectively analysed.

RESULTS
A total of 53 patients were included in this study. Thirty-five (66%) patients had a right ventricular dominance, common atrioventricular septal defect was present in 37 (70%) patients. Anomalous pulmonary venous drainage was present in 29 (55%) patients. Forty-six (86%) patients underwent first-stage palliation. Forty-one (77.3%) patients received a bidirectional cavopulmonary connection. Thirty-one (58%) patients received total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC). Overall survival rate was 92% at 1 month, 74% at 1 year and 68% at 10 years. Twelve (22.6%) patients died before second palliation stage. Four (10%) patients died before TCPC. No patient died after TCPC. Independent risk factors for mortality in the multivariate COX regression were a presence of restrictive pulmonary blood flow (HR 3.23; 95% CI 1.02–10.2; P = 0.05) and greater than mild atrioventricular valve regurgitation (HR 3.57; 95% CI 1.27–10.0; P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS
Mortality and morbidity in patients with single ventricle and heterotaxy are high. Restrictive pulmonary blood flow needing early modulation and greater than mild atrioventricular valve regurgitation at presentation are independent risk factors for mortality. Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection was not identified as a risk factor in the current era.
Coprime Ehrhart Theory and Counting Free Segments
Authors: Manecke Sebastian , Sanyal Raman 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
A lattice polytope is free (or empty) if its vertices are the only lattice points it contains. In the context of valuation theory, Klain [16] proposed to study the functions $\alpha _i(P;n)$ that count the number of free polytopes in $nP$ with $i$ vertices. For $i=1$, this is the famous Ehrhart polynomial; for $i&gt; 3$, the computation is likely impossible; and for $i=2,3$ it is computationally challenging.
In this paper, we develop a theory of coprime Ehrhart functions that count lattice points with relatively prime coordinates and use it to compute $\alpha _2(P;n)$ for unimodular simplices. We show that the coprime Ehrhart function can be explicitly determined from the Ehrhart polynomial and we give some applications to combinatorial counting.
AGN and star formation across cosmic time
Authors: Symeonidis M , Page M J 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACT
We investigate the balance of power between stars and AGN across cosmic history, based on the comparison between the infrared (IR) galaxy luminosity function (LF) and the IR AGN LF. The former corresponds to emission from dust heated by stars and AGN, whereas the latter includes emission from AGN-heated dust only. We find that at all redshifts (at least up to z ∼ 2.5), the high-luminosity tails of the two LFs converge, indicating that the most IR-luminous galaxies are AGN-powered. Our results shed light to the decades-old conundrum regarding the flatter high-luminosity slope seen in the IR galaxy LF compared to that in the UV and optical. We attribute this difference to the increasing fraction of AGN-dominated galaxies with increasing total IR luminosity (LIR). We partition the LIR−z parameter space into a star formation-dominated and an AGN-dominated region, finding that the most luminous galaxies at all epochs lie in the AGN-dominated region. This sets a potential ‘limit’ to attainable star formation rates, casting doubt on the abundance of ‘extreme starbursts’: if AGN did not exist, LIR &gt; 1013 L⊙ galaxies would be significantly rarer than they currently are in our observable Universe. We also find that AGN affect the average dust temperatures (Tdust) of galaxies and hence the shape of the well-known LIR−Tdust relation. We propose that the reason why local ULIRGs are hotter than their high-redshift counterparts is because of a higher fraction of AGN-dominated galaxies amongst the former group.
Systematicin vitrospecificity profiling reveals nicking defects in natural and engineered CRISPR–Cas9 variants
Authors: Murugan Karthik , Suresh Shravanti K , Seetharam Arun S , Severin Andrew J , Sashital Dipali G 
Published: March 2021

AbstractCas9 is an RNA-guided endonuclease in the bacterial CRISPR–Cas immune system and a popular tool for genome editing. The commonly used Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) is relatively non-specific and prone to off-target genome editing. Other Cas9 orthologs and engineered variants of SpCas9 have been reported to be more specific. However, previous studies have focused on specificity of double-strand break (DSB) or indel formation, potentially overlooking alternative cleavage activities of these Cas9 variants. In this study, we employed in vitro cleavage assays of target libraries coupled with high-throughput sequencing to systematically compare cleavage activities and specificities of two natural Cas9 variants (SpCas9 and Staphylococcus aureus Cas9) and three engineered SpCas9 variants (SpCas9 HF1, HypaCas9 and HiFi Cas9). We observed that all Cas9s tested could cleave target sequences with up to five mismatches. However, the rate of cleavage of both on-target and off-target sequences varied based on target sequence and Cas9 variant. In addition, SaCas9 and engineered SpCas9 variants nick targets with multiple mismatches but have a defect in generating a DSB, while SpCas9 creates DSBs at these targets. Overall, these differences in cleavage rates and DSB formation may contribute to varied specificities observed in genome editing studies.
Preparedness and attitude toward personal protective equipment among house officers during COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt
Authors: Ahmed Sayed Asmaa , Mostafa Ahmed Marwa , Talaat Elsayed Inas , Saeed Soliman , Inas Alsallout , Nouran Elfazary , Samar Fares 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) struck the world by surprise by the rising numbers that required prompt governmental and hospital staff reaction to the ongoing crisis. A robust preparedness and personal protective equipment (PPE) were yet to be regarded as our best plan.

Methods
A survey study was conducted on 254 Egyptian house officers using an anonymous web-based questionnaire that was filled using Google Forms after obtaining online informed consent.

Results
The mean age of the participants was 25 years. Only 28.74% of the house officers were categorized as having a good preparedness, while 85.83% of them have a good PPE attitude. The preparedness and willingness were significantly associated with the overall worry related to the pandemic (P value = 0.012). Fear of contracting COVID-19 infection negatively affected their preparedness by 60% (odds ratio (OR) 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.17–0.93, P value = 0.034). The House officers with family members at-risk for severe COVID-19 were less likely to be prepared and willing by 70% (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.15–0.60, P value = 0.001). The house officers with good preparedness and willingness to deal with COVID-19 seemed to have a good PPE attitude (OR 11.48, 95% CI 2.43-54.34, P value = 0.002).

Conclusion
A significant number of house officers expressed low levels of preparedness, while most of them have a good PPE attitude.
Thyroid Disrupting Chemicals in Mixture Perturb Thymocyte Differentiation in Xenopus laevis Tadpoles
Authors: McGuire Connor C , Lawrence B Paige , Robert Jacques 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can perturb the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis affecting human and wildlife health. Thyroid hormones (TH) are crucial regulators of metabolism, growth, and differentiation. The perinatal stage is most reliant on TH, thus vulnerable to TH disrupting chemicals. Dysregulation of TH signaling during perinatal development can weaken T cell function in maturity, raising the question of whether TH disrupting chemicals can perturb thymocyte development. Using Xenopus laevis tadpoles as model, we determined TH disrupting effects and thymocyte alterations following exposure to a mixture of common waterborne TH disrupting chemicals at concentrations similar to those found in contaminated water. This mixture included naphthalene, ethylene glycol, ethoxylated nonylphenol, and octylphenol, which have documented TH disrupting activity. Besides hypertrophy-like pathology in the thyroid gland and delayed metamorphosis, exposure to the mixture antagonized TH receptor-induced transcription of the Krüppel-like factor 9 transcription factor and significantly raised thyroid-stimulating hormone gene expression in the brain, two genes that modulate thymocyte differentiation. Importantly, exposure to this mixture reduced the number of Xenopus immature cortical thymocyte-specific-antigen (CTX+) and mature CD8+ thymocytes, whereas co-exposure with exogenous TH (T3) abolished the effect. When each chemical of the mixture was individually tested, only ethylene glycol induced significant antagonist effects on brain, thymic gene expression, and CD8+ thymocytes. These results suggest that EDCs in mixture are more potent than each chemical alone to perturb thymocyte development through TH-dependent pathway, and provide a starting point to research TH influence on thymocyte development.
Teaching Intimate Partner Violence Education: A Quasi-Experimental Study Exploring Gaming and Storytelling
Authors: Hall Susan Williams , Beck Melissa Schwartz 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to evaluate best strategies for teaching intimate partner violence (IPV) education in an undergraduate community health nursing course. Results suggest gaming was a more effective strategy than storytelling for knowledge acquisition and storytelling was more effective for knowledge retention. IPV-related nursing interventions can impact client outcomes; therefore, education is needed prior to entering the workforce. The evaluation of strategies to improve knowledge acquisition and retention of IPV content is essential to ensure best practices for detection and intervention.
Does thoracic epidural anaesthesia constitute over-instrumentation in video- and robotic-assisted thoracoscopic lung parenchyma resections?
Authors: Loop Torsten 
Published: February 2021

Purpose of review
Effective and sustained perioperative analgesia in thoracic surgery and pulmonary resection is beneficial to patients by reducing both postoperative pulmonary complications and the incidence of chronic pain. In this review, the indication of thoracic epidural anaesthesia in video- (VATS) and robotic-assisted (RATS) thoracoscopy shall be critically objectified and presented in a differentiated way.

Recent findings
Pain following VATS and RATS has a negative influence on lung function by inhibiting deep respiration, suppressing coughing and secretion and favours the development of atelectasis, pneumonia and other postoperative pulmonary complications.
In addition, inadequate pain therapy after these procedures may lead to chronic pain.

Summary
Since clear evidence-based recommendations for optimal postoperative analgesia are still lacking in VATS and RATS, there can be no universal recommendation that fits all centres and patients. In this context, thoracic epidural analgesia is the most effective analgesia procedure for perioperative pain control in VATS and RATS-assisted surgery for patients with pulmonary risk factors.
Fluoroscopically Guided Facet Cyst Rupture
Authors: Bell Joshua , Bhatia Manminder , Hadeed Michael M. , George Jose , Hill Andrew , Novicoff Wendy M. , Nacey Nicolas C. , Shimer Adam L. 
Published: February 2021

Study Design:
Retrospective case series at a single academic medical center.

Objective:
The aim was to determine if specific clinical, radiologic, and procedural factors are associated with conversion to surgery after fluoroscopically guided cyst rupture.

Summary of Background Data:
Percutaneous fluoroscopic rupture of facet cysts can often be the definitive treatment; however, it is unknown before the procedure who will ultimately proceed to formal surgical decompression. Differences in clinical, radiographic, and procedural factors of facet cysts may relate to the difference in efficacy of fluoroscopically guided cyst rupture.

Methods:
A continuous cohort of 45 patients who underwent fluoroscopically guided cyst rupture was evaluated. The primary outcome measured rate of conversion to surgery and of those that underwent surgery, the rate of decompression and fusion compared with fusion alone was noted. Secondary outcomes included analysis of clinical, radiologic, and procedural variables to determine if there were risk factors associated with conversion to surgery.

Results:
Twenty-nine percent of patients eventually underwent a surgical procedure with an average interval to surgery of 95 days after attempted rupture. Thirty-eight percent of patients that underwent surgery had a decompression and fusion. Failure of percutaneous cyst rupture trended toward significance for a future surgical decompression (P=0.08).

Conclusions:
Percutaneous facet cyst rupture is potentially a definitive treatment for this condition; however, it is unknown ahead of time who will proceed to definitive surgical decompression. On the basis of the data in this study, less than one-third of patients who had a fluoroscopically guided facet cyst rupture went on to surgery. There were no clinical, radiographic, or procedural details which could be used to robustly predict failure of percutaneous treatment. At this time, it is recommended to continue to attempt this nonoperative treatment intervention when there is a clinical indication after discussion of the risks and benefits with the patient.
Checklist for Early Recognition and Treatment of Acute Illness and Injury: An Exploratory Multicenter International Quality-Improvement Study in the ICUs With Variable Resources
Authors: Vukoja Marija , Dong Yue , Adhikari Neill K. J. , Schultz Marcus J. , Arabi Yaseen M. , Martin-Loeches Ignacio , Hache Manuel , Gavrilovic Srdjan , Kashyap Rahul , Gajic Ognjen 
Published: February 2021

OBJECTIVES:
To determine whether the “Checklist for Early Recognition and Treatment of Acute Illness and Injury” decision support tool during ICU admission and rounding is associated with improvements in nonadherence to evidence-based daily care processes and outcomes in variably resourced ICUs.

DESIGN, SETTINGS, PATIENTS:
This before-after study was performed in 34 ICUs (15 countries) from 2013 to 2017. Data were collected for 3 months before and 6 months after Checklist for Early Recognition and Treatment of Acute Illness and Injury implementation.

INTERVENTIONS:
Checklist for Early Recognition and Treatment of Acute Illness and Injury implementation using remote simulation training.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:
The coprimary outcomes, modified from the original protocol before data analysis, were nonadherence to 10 basic care processes and ICU and hospital length of stay. There were 1,447 patients in the preimplementation phase and 2,809 patients in the postimplementation phase. After adjusting for center effect, Checklist for Early Recognition and Treatment of Acute Illness and Injury implementation was associated with reduced nonadherence to care processes (adjusted incidence rate ratio [95% CI]): deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis (0.74 [0.68–0.81), peptic ulcer prophylaxis (0.46 [0.38–0.57]), spontaneous breathing trial (0.81 [0.76–0.86]), family conferences (0.86 [0.81–0.92]), and daily assessment for the need of central venous catheters (0.85 [0.81–0.90]), urinary catheters (0.84 [0.80–0.88]), antimicrobials (0.66 [0.62–0.71]), and sedation (0.62 [0.57–0.67]). Analyses adjusted for baseline characteristics showed associations of Checklist for Early Recognition and Treatment of Acute Illness and Injury implementation with decreased ICU length of stay (adjusted ratio of geometric means [95% CI]) 0.86 [0.80–0.92]), hospital length of stay (0.92 [0.85–0.97]), and hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI], 0.81 (0.69–0.95).

CONCLUSIONS:
A quality-improvement intervention with remote simulation training to implement a decision support tool was associated with decreased nonadherence to daily care processes, shorter length of stay, and decreased mortality.
A Case of Whipple Disease With Cutaneous Manifestations
Authors: Borretta Lisa , Walsh Noreen M. , Bakowsky Volodko , Arnason Thomas , Croul Sidney , Pasternak Sylvia 
Published: February 2021

Abstract:
Whipple disease (WD) is a rare bacterial infectious disease that is classically characterized by years of arthralgia, followed by malabsorption, diarrhea, and weight loss. However, WD may manifest in virtually any organ system, and patients with WD rarely develop subcutaneous erythema nodosum-like lesions. We report a case of a 51-year-old man diagnosed with WD who subsequently developed widely distributed erythematous subcutaneous nodules after 5 months of antibiotic therapy.