bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 variant 501Y.V2 in Comoros Islands in January 2021
Authors: N. Agoti Charles , Githinji George , S. Mohammed Khadija , W. Lambisia Arnold , R. de Laurent Zaydah , W. Mburu Maureen , M. Ong’era Edidah , M. Morobe John , Otieno Edward , Abdou Azali Hamza , Said Abdallah Kamal , Diarra Abdoulaye , Ahmed Yahaya Ali , Borus Peter , Gumede Moeletsi Nicksy , Fred Athanasius Dratibi , Tsofa Benjamin , Bejon Philip , James Nokes D. , Isabella Ochola-Oyier Lynette 
Published: July 2021

Background. Genomic data is key in understanding the spread and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and informing the design and evaluation of interventions. However, SARS-CoV-2 genomic data remains scarce across Africa, with no reports yet from the Indian Ocean islands. Methods. We genome sequenced six SARS-CoV-2 positive samples from the first major infection wave in the Union of Comoros in January 2021 and undertook detailed phylogenetic analysis. Results. All the recovered six genomes classified within the 501Y.V2 variant of concern (also known as lineage B.1.351) and appeared to be from 2 sub-clusters with the most recent common ancestor dated 30th Oct-2020 (95% Credibility Interval: 06th Sep-2020 to 10th Dec-2020). Comparison of the Comoros genomes with those of 501Y.V2 variant of concern from other countries deposited into the GISAID database revealed their close association with viruses identified in France and Mayotte (part of the Comoros archipelago and a France, Overseas Department). Conclusions. The recovered genomes, albeit few, confirmed local transmission following probably multiple introductions of the SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 variant of concern during the Comoros’s first major COVID-19 wave. These findings demonstrate the importance of genomic surveillance and have implications for ongoing control strategies on the islands.
Cerebral lateralisation of first and second languages in bilinguals assessed using functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound
Authors: Bishop Dorothy V. M. , Grabitz Clara R. , Harte Sophie C. , Watkins Kate E. , Sasaki Miho , Gutierrez-Sigut Eva , MacSweeney Mairéad , Woodhead Zoe V. J. , Payne Heather 
Published: July 2021

Background: Lateralised language processing is a well-established finding in monolinguals. In bilinguals, studies using fMRI have typically found substantial regional overlap between the two languages, though results may be influenced by factors such as proficiency, age of acquisition and exposure to the second language. Few studies have focused specifically on individual differences in brain lateralisation, and those that have suggested reduced lateralisation may characterise representation of the second language (L2) in some bilingual individuals. Methods: In Study 1, we used functional transcranial Doppler sonography (FTCD) to measure cerebral lateralisation in both languages in high proficiency bilinguals who varied in age of acquisition (AoA) of L2. They had German (N = 14) or French (N = 10) as their first language (L1) and English as their second language. FTCD was used to measure task-dependent blood flow velocity changes in the left and right middle cerebral arteries during phonological word generation cued by single letters. Language history measures and handedness were assessed through self-report. Study 2 followed a similar format with 25 Japanese (L1) /English (L2) bilinguals, with proficiency in their second language ranging from basic to advanced, using phonological and semantic word generation tasks with overt speech production. Results: In Study 1, participants were significantly left lateralised for both L1 and L2, with a high correlation (r = .70) in the size of laterality indices for L1 and L2. In Study 2, again there was good agreement between LIs for the two languages (r = .77 for both word generation tasks). There was no evidence in either study of an effect of age of acquisition, though the sample sizes were too small to detect any but large effects. Conclusion: In proficient bilinguals, there is strong concordance for cerebral lateralisation of first and second language as assessed by a verbal fluency task.
Variable and Constant Returns-to-Scale Production Technologies with Component Processes
Authors: Podinovski Victor V. 
Published: July 2021

Efficiency Analysis for Multicomponent Production Processes Conventional models concerned with efficiency analysis of organizations typically consider a single production process, or technology, in which all inputs are used in the production of all outputs. This approach does not account well for the situations in which the organizations are involved in several component production processes whose inputs and outputs may be shared by different processes. The main difficulty in modeling such technologies is the fact that we often do not know the exact allocation of the shared inputs and outputs to individual processes. In “Variable and Constant Returns-to-Scale Production Technologies with Component Processes,” V. V. Podinovski shows how this problem can be overcome by the consideration of the worst-case scenario for the allocation of the shared inputs and outputs to different components of the technology. This approach leads to the development of multicomponent variants of two well-established nonparametric models. An application involving universities in England demonstrates the usefulness and improved discriminating power of the new models compared with their conventional analogues.
CT-based volumetric assessment of rotator cuff muscle in shoulder arthroplasty preoperative planning
Authors: Werthel Jean-David , Boux de Casson François , Burdin Valérie , Athwal George S. , Favard Luc , Chaoui Jean , Walch Gilles 
Published: July 2021

Aims The aim of this study was to describe a quantitative 3D CT method to measure rotator cuff muscle volume, atrophy, and balance in healthy controls and in three pathological shoulder cohorts. Methods In all, 102 CT scans were included in the analysis: 46 healthy, 21 cuff tear arthropathy (CTA), 18 irreparable rotator cuff tear (IRCT), and 17 primary osteoarthritis (OA). The four rotator cuff muscles were manually segmented and their volume, including intramuscular fat, was calculated. The normalized volume (NV) of each muscle was calculated by dividing muscle volume to the patient’s scapular bone volume. Muscle volume and percentage of muscle atrophy were compared between muscles and between cohorts. Results Rotator cuff muscle volume was significantly decreased in patients with OA, CTA, and IRCT compared to healthy patients (p < 0.0001). Atrophy was comparable for all muscles between CTA, IRCT, and OA patients, except for the supraspinatus, which was significantly more atrophied in CTA and IRCT (p = 0.002). In healthy shoulders, the anterior cuff represented 45% of the entire cuff, while the posterior cuff represented 40%. A similar partition between anterior and posterior cuff was also found in both CTA and IRCT patients. However, in OA patients, the relative volume of the anterior (42%) and posterior cuff (45%) were similar. Conclusion This study shows that rotator cuff muscle volume is significantly decreased in patients with OA, CTA, or IRCT compared to healthy patients, but that only minimal differences can be observed between the different pathological groups. This suggests that the influence of rotator cuff muscle volume and atrophy (including intramuscular fat) as an independent factor of outcome may be overestimated. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(7):552–561.
High-resolution digital spatial control of a highly multimode laser: erratum
Authors: Tradonsky Chene , Mahler Simon , Cai Gaodi , Pal Vishwa , Chriki Ronen , Friesem Asher A. , Davidson Nir 
Published: July 2021

This erratum corrects typographical errors that appeared in Fig. 5 of
our earlier manuscript [Optica 8,
880 (2021)OPTIC82334-253610.1364/OPTICA.423140].
Setting up a pragmatic clinical trial in a low-resource setting: A qualitative assessment of GoLBeT, a trial of podoconiosis management in Northern Ethiopia
Authors: Erber Astrid C. , Ewing Victoria , Turner Mark , Molla Meseret , Murbe Gharib , Enquoselassie Fikre , Davey Gail , Lang Trudie 
Published: July 2021

Background
Clinical trials are often perceived as being expensive, difficult and beyond the capacity of healthcare workers in low-resource settings. However, in order to improve healthcare coverage, the World Health Organization (WHO) World Health Report 2013 stated that all countries need to become generators as well as recipients of data. This study is a methodological examination of the steps and processes involved in setting up the Gojjam Lymphoedema Best Practice Trial (GoLBeT; ISRCTN67805210), a highly pragmatic clinical trial conducted in northern Ethiopia. Challenges to the trial and strategies used to deal with them were explored, together with the reasons for delays.

Methodology and principal findings
Qualitative research methods were used to analyse emails and reports from the period between trial inception and recruitment. This analysis was complemented by interviews with key informants from the trial operational team. The Global Health Research Process Map was used as a framework against which to compare the steps involved in setting up the trial. A mini-group discussion was conducted with the trial operational team after study completion for reflection and further recommendations.
This study showed that the key areas of difficulty in setting up and planning this trial were: the study design, that is, deciding on the study endpoint, where and how best to measure it, and assuring statistical power; recruitment and appropriate training of staff; planning for data quality; and gaining regulatory approvals. Collaboration, for example with statisticians, the trial steering committee, the study monitors, and members of the local community was essential to successfully setting up the trial.

Conclusions and significance
Lessons learnt from this trial might guide others planning pragmatic trials in settings where research is not common, allowing them to anticipate possible challenges and address them through trial design, planning and operational delivery. We also hope that this example might encourage similar pragmatic studies to be undertaken. Such studies are rarely undertaken or locally led, but are an accessible and efficient way to drive improved outcomes in public health.
Activation and gut-homing of peripheral T cells in HIV immunologic non-responders despite long term viral suppression
Authors: Rousseau Rodney K. , Szadkowski Leah , Kovacs Colin M. , Saikali Michael F. , Nadeem Rabea , Malazogu Fat , Huibner Sanja , Cummins Carolyn L. , Kaul Rupert , Walmsley Sharon L. 
Published: July 2021

ObjectiveSerious non-AIDS disease events (SNAE) are experienced disproportionately by immunologic non-responders (INRs), HIV-infected individuals who do not restore CD4 T cells in blood despite effective viral suppression. We aimed to characterize the inflammatory biomarker profile of the INR phenotype.MethodsBlinded cross-sectional cohort study comparing markers of immune activation and gut homing between INR and non-INR individuals. HIV-positive participants had HIV RNA suppression on antiretroviral therapy and were categorized as either INR (N = 36) or Clinical Responders (“CR”; CD4>350/mm3; N = 47). 18 HIV-negative comparator individuals were included. Cellular markers were assessed by flow cytometry, with soluble markers assessed by ELISA and LC/MS-MS. Multivariable linear regression models estimated the association between INR phenotype and markers, adjusting for age, sex, duration of ART, and recent infection/vaccination.ResultsINR participants demonstrated a reduced CD4/CD8 ratio (p<0.001), 35% more CD8 activation (p = 0.02), 36% greater α4β7+ CD4 T cells (p<0.01), 54% more HLA-DR+ CD4 T cells (p<0.001), and 20% higher plasma VCAM (p<0.01) compared to CRs. The INR phenotype was not associated with levels of Kyn/Trp, CRP, TNF, IFNγ, IL-8, IL-6, sCD14, D-Dimer, I-FABP, MCP-1, ICAM or CD8%HLA-DR+.ConclusionsPeripheral CD4 non-recovery during long-term treated HIV infection is characterized by elevated CD8 activation and CD4 gut homing. Gut-focused interventions may be warranted in the INR context, and CD8 activation may serve as a surrogate endpoint for clinical interventions.
Interactions between staphylococcal enterotoxins A and D and superantigen-like proteins 1 and 5 for predicting methicillin and multidrug resistance profiles among Staphylococcus aureus ocular isolates
Authors: Lu Min , Parel Jean-Marie , Miller Darlene 
Published: July 2021

Background
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) S. aureus strains are well recognized as posing substantial problems in treating ocular infections. S. aureus has a vast array of virulence factors, including superantigens and enterotoxins. Their interactions and ability to signal antibiotics resistance have not been explored.

Objectives
To predict the relationship between superantigens and methicillin and multidrug resistance among S. aureus ocular isolates.

Methods
We used a DNA microarray to characterize the enterotoxin and superantigen gene profiles of 98 S. aureus isolates collected from common ocular sources. The outcomes contained phenotypic and genotypic expressions of MRSA. We also included the MDR status as an outcome, categorized as resistance to three or more drugs, including oxacillin, penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, moxifloxacin, tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and gentamicin. We identified gene profiles that predicted each outcome through a classification analysis utilizing Random Forest machine learning techniques.

Findings
Our machine learning models predicted the outcomes accurately utilizing 67 enterotoxin and superantigen genes. Strong correlates predicting the genotypic expression of MRSA were enterotoxins A, D, J and R and superantigen-like proteins 1, 3, 7 and 10. Among these virulence factors, enterotoxin D and superantigen-like proteins 1, 5 and 10 were also significantly informative for predicting both MDR and MRSA in terms of phenotypic expression. Strong interactions were identified including enterotoxins A (entA) interacting with superantigen-like protein 1 (set6-var1_11), and enterotoxin D (entD) interacting with superantigen-like protein 5 (ssl05/set3_probe 1): MRSA and MDR S. aureus are associated with the presence of both entA and set6-var1_11, or both entD and ssl05/set3_probe 1, while the absence of these genes in pairs indicates non-multidrug-resistant and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus.

Conclusions
MRSA and MDR S. aureus show a different spectrum of ocular pathology than their non-resistant counterparts. When assessing the role of enterotoxins in predicting antibiotics resistance, it is critical to consider both main effects and interactions.
Empirical Comics Research, Alexander Dunst, Jochen Laubrock and Janina Wildfeuer (eds) (2019)
Authors: Davies Paul Fisher 
Published: July 2021

Review of: Empirical Comics Research, Alexander Dunst, Jochen Laubrock and Janina Wildfeuer (eds) (2019)
New York: Routledge, 366 pp.,
ISBN 978-1-138-73744-0, h/bk, £120.00
Monstrous Women in Comics, Samantha Langsdale and Elizabeth Rae Coody (eds) 2020
Authors: Austin Hailey J. 
Published: July 2021

Review of: Monstrous Women in Comics, Samantha Langsdale and Elizabeth Rae Coody (eds) (2020)
Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi, 295 pp., 35 b&w illustrations
ISBN 978-1-49682-763-0, p/bk, $30
Peppermint Oil Treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Nee Judy , Ballou Sarah , Kelley John M. , Kaptchuk Ted J. , Hirsch William , Katon Jesse , Cheng Vivian , Rangan Vikram , Lembo Anthony , Iturrino Johanna 
Published: July 2021

INTRODUCTION:
Peppermint oil is often used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); however, the overall quality of previous studies is low, and findings have been heterogeneous. This study aimed to compare the effects of peppermint oil vs placebo in relieving IBS symptoms.

METHODS:
In a 6-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at a single academic center in the United States, individuals diagnosed with IBS (Rome IV criteria), with moderate to severe symptoms based on the IBS Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS score ≥175), were randomized to enteric-coated peppermint oil 180 mg 3 times daily vs placebo in a 1:2 ratio. The primary outcome was mean change in IBS-SSS scores from baseline to 6-week endpoint.

RESULTS:
A modified intent-to-treat analysis revealed that there were substantial mean improvements from baseline to 6-week endpoint in the main outcome measure (IBS-SSS) for both peppermint oil (90.8, SD = 75.3) and placebo (100.3, SD = 99.6). Although the peppermint oil group reported numerically lower improvement than the placebo group, the effect size was small (d = −0.11), and the difference between the groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.97). Similarly, both groups reported substantial improvements on the secondary endpoints; but again, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups on any of the secondary measures. Sensitivity analyses using multiple imputation to replace missing data produced similar results and revealed no significant differences between peppermint oil and placebo on any outcome measure.

DISCUSSION:
Peppermint oil and placebo both showed clinically meaningful improvement in IBS symptoms. However, there were no significant differences between the groups. Further large, rigorous trials are needed to evaluate the role of peppermint oil for the treatment of IBS.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE RATE OF ABSORPTION OF WATER OF BASALT, POLYPROPYLENE, AND STEEL FIBERS REINFORCED CONCRETE
Authors: Haruna Sadi Ibrahim 
Published: July 2021

Good durability of concrete is an essential part of the design process, and tests to determine sustainability have been developed for both laboratory and site use. The main feature of durable concrete is low water absorption. Almost all forms of deterioration in reinforced concrete involve deleterious fluid ingress through the concretes pore structure. In wet concrete, the water ingress rate or other liquids is mostly controlled by absorption due to capillary rise. This study examines the effect of basalt, polypropylene, and steel fiber in different volume fractions at 0.3%, 0.6%, and 0.9% for absorption tests. A total of 8 specimens for different fiber were examined based on the rate of water absorption test recommended by ASTM C1585-04. A result obtained has been analyzed and compared with the control specimen. A relationship between absorption rate and the square root of time for both concrete mixtures was represented graphically and linearly. Result data showed a precise decrease in absorption due to incorporating both types of fiber. Also, from the result data, basalt and polypropylene showed greater uptake than steel fiber and enhances mass transport of water into concrete specimens. However, steel fiber addition showed high resistance to absorption rater than the control specimen and other fiber.
Study on the design of heating and energy saving of enclosure structure of rural self-built houses
Authors: Chang Weixian 
Published: July 2021

For severe cold areas, indoor heating in winter is very important, and it is also important to achieve energy saving and emission reduction in the heating process. This paper briefly introduced a kind of heating envelope structure, the geothermal energy-based phase change wall, and analyzed two rural self-built houses in Shangluo city, Shaanxi province. One self-built house was built without the phase change wall, and the other was built with the geothermal energy-based phase change wall by the municipal government. The results showed that the self-built house that adopted the phase change wall had a better heat preservation effect and relieved the indoor temperature fluctuation; after the heating equipment was turned on, the self-built house that adopted the geothermal energy-based phase change wall had a higher and more stable indoor temperature, and the power consumption during the experiment was less.
KAJIAN PENDEKATAN HOLISTIK ANTROPOLOGI HUKUM PADA KEBUDAYAAN TARI ANGGUK DESA KAYEN KABUPATEN PATI
Authors: Handayani Emy 
Published: July 2021

Pendekatan holistik antropologi hukum memandang bahwa kebudayaan tari angguk merupakan budaya yang sakral dalam peradaban Jawa sebagai media dakwah dan syiar Agama Islam dan tari angguk sebagai sumber-sumber tradisi lisan yang diwujudkan dalam tarian sakral sebagai manifestasi dari penghormatan para leluhurnya sesuai dengan ajaran Agama Islam, sehingga dalam pendekatan holistik antropologi hukum dapat disimpulkan bahwa tari Angguk tercipta sebagai tarian pergaulan di kalangan remaja yang digelar sebagai ungkapan rasa syukur kepada Tuhan yang berdasarkan Agama Islam. Unsur Agama Islam terlihat di saat sholawat nabi sebagai pembuka pertunjukkan, budaya barat (Belanda) terlihat pada gerakan dan kostum para penari memakai celana pendek, budaya timur yang terlihat pada keluwesan alur cerita tari angguk dan selalu diadakan ritual sesaji di sekitar lokasi pementasan tari angguk. Hendaknya masyarakat Pati turut mempertahankan, melestarikan tari angguk sebagai sumber-sumber tradisi lisan dan membangun peradaban Jawa, barat dan timur sebagai perwujudan mempertahankan tradisi yang sakral.
Rectifiability of entropy defect measures in a micromagnetics model
Authors: Marconi Elio 
Published: July 2021

AbstractWe study the fine properties of a class of weak solutionsuof the eikonal equation arising as asymptotic domain of a family of energy functionals introduced in [T. Rivière and S. Serfaty, Limiting domain wall energy for a problem related to micromagnetics, Comm. Pure Appl. Math. 54 2001, 3, 294–338]. In particular, we prove that the entropy defect measure associated touis concentrated on a 1-rectifiable set, which detects the jump-type discontinuities ofu.
Artificial neural network (ANN) approach for prediction and modeling of breakthrough curve analysis of fixed-bed adsorption of iron ions from aqueous solution by activated carbon from Limonia acidissima shell
Authors: Das Shilpi , Mishra Susmita 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
The present research article explored the potential of activated carbon prepared from Limonia acidissima shell to adsorb total Fe ions from aqueous solution in a packed bed up-flow column. The effect of essential factors such as bed height (3–5 cm), initial concentration (30–50 mg/L), and flow rate (3.32–5.4 mL/min) on the performance of the column bed was investigated. The adsorption capacity augmented with an increase in bed height and initial adsorbate concentration but declined with an increase in flow rate. The maximum uptake capacity of 209.6 mg/g was achieved at 5 cm bed height, 3.32 mL/min, and 50 mg/L initial concentration. The bed depth service time (BDST) model was used to analyze the experimental data and determine the characteristic parameters of the packed bed reactor suitable for designing large-scale column studies. The Adams–Bohart, Thomas, and Yoon–Nelson models were applied to the experimental data to predict breakthrough curves using non-linear regression. The artificial neural network (ANN) based model was able to efficaciously predict the column performance using the Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) algorithm. A comparison between the experimental data and model results contributed to a high degree of correlation, specifying that the preliminary information was in good agreement with the ANN predicted data.