bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Population-based Microbiome Research Core: a longitudinal infrastructure for assessment of household microbiome and human health research
Authors: Schultz Amy A , Malecki Kristen MC , Holzhausen Elizabeth A , Bajwa Pravleen , Peppard Paul , LeCaire Tamara , Eggers Shoshannah , Safdar Nasia , Sethi Ajay K 
Published: November 2021

ABSTRACTPurposeThe Population-based Microbiome Research Core (PMRC) is an expandable and longitudinal research core infrastructure to support the study of the human microbiome within the context of environmental, sociodemographic, and health factors. Broadly, the purpose of this infrastructure is to provide new insights into how human-environment interactions affect health through its influence on the composition and function of the microbiome. The PMRC was established as an ancillary study of the Survey of Health of Wisconsin (SHOW) and serves as a platform for ancillary studies, ongoing follow-up of the cohort, and expansion of the microbiome biorepository.ParticipantsThe study recruited adult participants who had previously participated in SHOW’s Wisconsin Microbiome Study (WMS). Over 59% of the eligible WMS participants agreed to provide a repeat stool sample and household samples including dust, high touch surface swabs and outside soil.Findings to datePMRC includes 323 individuals; the majority (96%) were over the age of eighteen, white (84%), urban (75%), and lived in their homes for over one year (92%). Overall, 97% of participants completed the questionnaire and household high-touch surface swab collection, and 93% and 94% completed dust and stool collection, respectively. Soil samples were collected for 86% of all participant homes.Future plansSample protocols developed for the PMRC offer a unique framework for future household-based microbiome research. This infrastructure can support the generation of new knowledge on the role of the home environment in relation to the human microbiome and identify new opportunities for intervention research.
Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among residents of Northern California jails
Authors: Liu Yiran E , Oto Jillian , Will John , LeBoa Christopher , Doyle Alexis , Rens Neil , Aggarwal Shelley , Kalish Iryna , Rodriguez Marcela , Sherif Beruk , Trinidad Chrisele , Del Rosario Michael , Allen Sophie , Spencer Robert , Morales Carlos , Chyorny Alexander , Andrews Jason R 
Published: November 2021

ABSTRACTBackgroundCarceral facilities are high-risk settings for COVID-19 transmission. Understanding of factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among incarcerated individuals is incomplete, especially for people living in jails.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of COVID-19 vaccination data from the electronic health record (EHR) of residents in two Northern California county jails to examine factors associated with vaccine uptake in this population. We additionally administered a survey in four jails to assess reasons for vaccine hesitancy, sources of COVID-19 information, and medical mistrust. We performed multivariate logistic regression to determine associations with vaccine uptake or hesitancy.ResultsOf 2,584 jail residents offered a COVID-19 vaccine between March 19, 2021 and June 30, 2021, 1,464 (56.7%) accepted at least one dose. Among vaccinated residents, 538 (36.7%) initially refused the vaccine. Vaccine uptake was higher among older individuals, women, those with recent flu vaccination, and those living in shared cells or open dorms. Leading reasons for vaccine hesitancy included concerns around side effects and suboptimal efficacy. Television and friends/family were the most commonly cited and the most trusted sources of COVID-19 information, respectively. Vaccine acceptance was associated with increased trust in COVID-19 information sources and in medical personnel both in and out of jail.ConclusionOngoing evidence-based COVID-19 vaccination efforts are needed in high-risk carceral settings. Effective interventions to improve vaccination rates in this population should utilize accessible and trusted sources of information to address concerns about vaccine side effects and efficacy and foster medical trust.
The Substrate of Sudden Death in Long-QT Syndrome is localized in the Epicardium
Authors: Pappone Carlo , Ciconte Giuseppe , Anastasia Luigi , Borrelli Valeria , Grant Edward , Vicedomini Gabriele , Santinelli Vincenzo 
Published: November 2021

ABSTRACTDespite significant advances in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, sudden cardiac death (SCD) persists as a major public health problem. Among young and apparently healthy individuals, Long-QT syndrome (LQTS) represents a leading progenitor of SCD owing to fatal ventricular arrhythmia. Scientific understanding of this association has grown in recent years, and the mortality rate after LQTS diagnosis has significantly decreased. However, despite medical treatment advances, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias still occur. Until now, no research has established the degree to which this inherited condition arises from an underlying arrhythmogenic electroanatomical substrate. Here, we present direct evidence showing that LQTS patients who survive spontaneous malignant arrhythmias harbor structural electrophysiological abnormalities localized in the epicardium of the right ventricle. We further show that the elimination of these abnormalities by means of catheter ablation successfully suppresses malignant arrhythmias, offering a new approach for the effective treatment of LQTS patients.
Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 variants by rVSV-ΔG-spike-elicited human sera
Authors: Yahalom-Ronen Yfat , Erez Noam , Fisher Morly , Tamir Hadas , Politi Boaz , Achdout Hagit , Melamed Sharon , Glinert Itai , Weiss Shay , Cohen-Gihon Inbar , Israeli Ofir , Izak Marina , Mandelboim Michal , Caraco Yoseph , Madar-Balakirski Noa , Mechaly Adva , Shinar Eilat , Zichel Ran , Cohen Daniel , Beth-Din Adi , Zvi Anat , Marcus Hadar , Israely Tomer , Paran Nir 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe emergence of rapidly spreading variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a major challenge to the ability of vaccines and therapeutic antibodies to provide immunity. These variants contain mutations at specific amino acids that might impede vaccine efficacy. BriLife® (rVSV-ΔG-spike) is a newly developed SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate currently in Phase II clinical trials. It is based on a replication competent vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) platform. rVSV-ΔG-spike contains several spontaneously-acquired spike mutations that correspond to SARS-CoV-2 variants’ mutations. We show that human sera from BriLife® vaccinees preserve comparable neutralization titers towards alpha, gamma and delta variants, and show less than 3-fold reduction in neutralization capacity of beta and omicron compared to the original virus. Taken together, we show that human sera from BriLife® vaccinees overall maintain neutralizing antibody response against all tested variants. We suggest that BriLife® acquired mutations may prove advantageous against future SARS-CoV-2 VOCs.
Trait and state mindfulness modulate EEG microstates
Authors: Zarka D. , Cevallos C. , Ruiz P. , Cebolla A. M. , Petieau M. , Bengoetxea A. , Cheron G. 
Published: November 2021

ABSTRACTThe present study aimed to characterize microstate dynamics induced by non-reactive attention underlying mindfulness. Electroencephalogram signals from eighteen trained meditators and a matched non-meditators group were recorded before, during, and after a non-reactive attention meditation or during three resting periods respectively, while they were passively exposed to auditory stimulation. In a multimodal approach, microstate cluster decompositions, personality trait questionnaires, phenomenological ratings, and microstates sources localization were analyzed. Our results revealed that temporal parameters of microstates A and C at rest were negatively correlated to mindfulness traits across all participants. After meditation, the frequency of microstate A and C was decreased while microstate B was of longer duration, in meditators. Source localization analysis revealed that the non-reactive trait effect on microstate C at rest was explained by a modified activity of the salience network (identified by the anterior cingulate cortex, thalamus, and insula), while the non-reactive attentional state effect relied on a contribution of (anterior and posterior) cerebellum during meditation. Our results suggest that decreased microstates A and C reflect decreased mental state reactivity, while the increased microstate B relies on attention stability. These findings strongly encourage more research to assess the use of the microstate temporal parameters as a biomarker of the salience network activity, as well as objectify the brain changes induced by non-reactive attention training.HIGHLIGHTThe present study aimed to characterize microstate dynamics induced by non-reactive attention meditation, by the use of multimodal analysis including EEG microstate clusters decompositions, personality trait questionnaires, phenomenological reports, and source localization analysis.The occurrence of microstate A, recognized to be related to phonological processing and depressive disorders, was negatively correlated to mindfulness trait and was decreased after non-reactive attention meditation.The duration of microstate B, generally associated with the visual system, increases after meditation, in particular in meditators with a high non-reactivity trait.Temporal parameters of microstate C, recognized to be related to default mode, were negatively correlated to the non-reactivity trait of meditators and were decreased after non-reactive attention meditation. Source analysis revealed that these trait and state effects reflect modified activities of the salient network.
Investigating SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections per variant and vaccine type
Authors: Dingemans Jozef , van der Veer Brian M.J.W. , Gorgels Koen M.F. , Hackert Volker , Hensels Audrey Y.J. , den Heijer Casper D.J. , Hoebe Christian J.P.A , Savelkoul Paul H.M. , van Alphen Lieke B. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBreakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections have been reported in fully vaccinated individuals, in spite of the high efficacy of the currently available vaccines, proven in trials and real-world studies. Several variants of concern (VOC) have been proffered to be associated with breakthrough infections following immunization. In this study, we investigated 378 breakthrough infections recorded between January and July 2021 and compared the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 genotypes identified in 225 fully vaccinated individuals to the frequency of circulating community lineages in the region of South Limburg (The Netherlands) in a week-by-week comparison. Although the proportion of breakthrough infections was relatively low and stable when the Alpha variant was predominant, the rapid emergence of the Delta variant lead to a strong increase in breakthrough infections, with a higher relative proportion of individuals vaccinated with Oxford-AstraZeneca or J&J/Janssen being infected compared to those immunized with mRNA-based vaccines. A significant difference in median age was observed when comparing fully vaccinated individuals with severe symptoms (83 years) to asymptomatic cases (46.5 years) or individuals with mild-to-moderate symptoms (42 years). There was no association between SARS-CoV-2 genotype or vaccine type and disease symptoms. Interestingly, symptomatic individuals harbored significantly higher SARS-CoV-2 loads than asymptomatic vaccinated individuals and breakthrough infections caused by the Delta variant are associated with increased viral loads compared to those caused by the Alpha variant. Altogether, these results indicate that the emergence of the Delta variant might have lowered the efficiency of particular vaccine types to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections and that, although rare, the elderly are particularly at risk of becoming severely infected as the consequence of a breakthrough infection.
Final sizes and durations of new COVID-19 pandemic waves in Ukraine and around the world predicted by generalized SIR model
Authors: Nesteruk Igor 
Published: November 2021

ABSTRACTNew waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine, which began in the summer of 2021, and after holidays in the middle of October 2021, were characterized by almost exponential growth of smoothed daily numbers of new cases. This is a matter of great concern and the need to immediately predict the epidemic dynamics in order to assess the possible maximum values of new cases, the risk of infection and the number of deaths. The generalized SIR-model and corresponding parameter identification procedure was used to simulate and predict the dynamics of two new epidemic waves in Ukraine and one in the whole world. Results of calculations show that new cases in Ukraine will not stop to appear before November 2022. If the global situation with vaccination, testing and treatment will not change, the pandemic could continue for another ten years.
Oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses in mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Nantachai Gallayaporn , Vasupanrajit Asara , Tunvirachaisakul Chavit , Solmi Marco , Maes Michael 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThis study aims to systematically review and meta-analyze the nitro-oxidative stress (O&NS)/antioxidant (ANTIOX) ratio in the peripheral blood of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We searched PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science for articles published from inception until July 31, 2021. Forty-six studies on 3.798 MCI individuals and 6.063 healthy controls were included. The O&NS/ANTIOX ratio was significantly higher in MCI than in controls with a Standardized Mean Difference (SMD)=0.378 (95% CI: 0.250; 0.506). MCI individuals showed increased lipid peroxidation (SMD=0.774, 95%CI: 4.416; 1.132) and O&NS-associated toxicity (SMD=0.621, CI: 0.377; 0.865) and reduced glutathione (GSH) defenses (SMD=0.725, 95%CI: 0.269; 1.182) as compared with controls. MCI was also accompanied by significantly increased homocysteine (SMD=0.320, CI: 0.059; 0.581), but not protein oxidation, and lowered non-vitamin (SMD=0.347, CI: 0.168; 0.527) and vitamin (SMD=0.564, CI: 0.129; 0.999) antioxidant defenses. The results show that MCI is at least in part due to increased neuro-oxidative toxicity and suggest that treatments targeting lipid peroxidation and the GSH system may be used to treat or prevent MCI.
Predictors of Treatment Response, Remission, Relapse and Rehospitalization in First-Episode Psychosis Patients in Medellin, Colombia
Authors: Garcia Jenny , Agudelo Lina M. , Canas Maria A. , Castro-Campos Natalia , Ribero Oscar J. , Gallego Juan A. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackgroundMost studies with first episode psychosis patients have been conducted in high-income countries. On the other hand, very few first episode studies have been conducted in Latin-America. Therefore, the goal of our study is to determine predictors of treatment response, remission, relapse and rehospitalization in a first episode psychosis population from Medellin, Colombia.MethodsData was obtained from electronic health records from first episode patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia-spectrum disorder diagnoses who were evaluated between January 2014 and December 2016 at two psychiatric institutions in Medellin, Colombia. Survival and Cox proportional hazard models were used for the analysis.ResultsDuration of untreated psychosis and hospitalization at the time of presentation was associated with both response and remission. Response was also predicted by less first-order symptoms and more years of education. Remission was predicted by older age of onset. Relapse and rehospitalization were predicted by use of substances and poor adherence to pharmacologic treatment. Less years of education and hospitalization at the time of presentation were also associated with rehospitalization.ConclusionPredictors of treatment response, remission, relapse and rehospitalization in first-episode patients are similar in Colombia compared to other high-income regions such as the United States and Europe.
Bibliometric Analysis of Academic Journal Articles Reporting Results of Psychedelic Clinical Studies
Authors: Weleff Jeremy , Akiki Teddy J. , Barnett Brian S. 
Published: November 2021

ABSTRACTAfter a decades long period of investigational dormancy, there is renewed interest in employing psychedelics as treatments for mental illness and addiction. The academic journals, journal articles, academic institutions, and countries that have helped sustain clinical psychedelic research and the evolution of the literature on clinical studies of psychedelic compounds have only been minimally investigated. Therefore, in we conducted a bibliometric analysis of clinical studies of 5-methoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), ayahuasca, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ibogaine, mescaline, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and psilocybin published from 1965-2018. Our search revealed 320 articles published across 106 journals. After a nearly quarter century lull between the 1970s and 1990s, publications in this area have resurged over the last two decades and continue on an upward trajectory, with most clinical studies now focusing on LSD, MDMA, and psilocybin. A subanalysis of the ten most cited articles in psychedelic research prior to 2010 and afterwards demonstrated a shift from research on risks of psychedelics, primarily those of MDMA, to research on therapeutic applications, predominantly those of psilocybin. We also conducted network analyses of inter-country collaborations in psychedelic research, which suggested that psychedelic researchers in the United Kingdom have more diverse international collaborations.
Progressive axonopathy when oligodendrocytes lack the myelin protein CMTM5
Authors: Buscham Tobias J. , Eichel-Vogel Maria A. , Steyer Anna M. , Jahn Olaf , Strenzke Nicola , Dardawal Rakshit , Memhave Tor R. , Siems Sophie B. , Müller Christina , Meschkat Martin , Sun Ting , Ruhwedel Torben , Möbius Wiebke , Krämer-Albers Eva-Maria , Boretius Susann , Nave Klaus-Armin , Werner Hauke B. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractOligodendrocytes facilitate rapid impulse propagation along the axons they myelinate and support their long-term integrity. However, the functional relevance of many myelin proteins has remained unknown. Here we find that expression of the tetraspan-transmembrane protein CMTM5 (Chemokine-like factor-like MARVEL-transmembrane domain containing protein 5) is highly enriched in oligodendrocytes and CNS myelin. Genetic disruption of the Cmtm5-gene in oligodendrocytes of mice does not impair the development or ultrastructure of CNS myelin. However, oligodendroglial Cmtm5-deficiency causes an early-onset progressive axonopathy, which we also observe in global and in tamoxifen-induced oligodendroglial Cmtm5-mutants. Presence of the Wlds mutation ameliorates the axonopathy, implying a Wallerian degeneration-like pathomechanism. These results indicate that CMTM5 is involved in the function of oligodendrocytes to maintain axonal integrity rather than myelin biogenesis.
Genetic diversity assessment of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) in northern Nigeria
Authors: Mshelmbula Barka P. , Anoliefo Geoffrey O. , Ikhajiagbe Beckley , Edegbai Boniface O. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractNeem is a tropical tree that can adapt to a wide range of places and particularly to semi-arid conditions. As at present, it is grown in many Asian countries and also in the tropical regions of the western hemisphere. Genetic variability and diversity are a major requirement needed for both immediate results and the one ones thereafter adaptation of plant types in their original domain. The evaluation of genetic diversity of any species is extremely crucial for their sustainability, continuity, survival and gene manipulation. Major breakthroughs in the field of molecular biology was able to develop several tools for the investigation of genetic diversity at the genome level to determine phylogenetic relationships among inter or intra-species. The advent of molecular markers for the detection and exploitation of DNA polymorphism is one of the major breakthroughs in the world of molecular genetics.The importance of genetic diversity in plant germplasm conservation, especially in economically important species such as Azadirachtaindica, is enormous, particularly in Nigeria. The question is whether A. indica from different Agro-ecological zones have genetic variations or similarities. This was the bane of the current study, which used RAPD to look atgenetic diversity of 27 randomly selected neem trees within the agro-ecological zones in Northern Nigeria. A total of 9 primers were employed out of which only 5 were responsive (OPA-02, OPA-03, OPA-15 and OPA-19). These primers showed dissimilarities in the visible DNA bands among the various tree samples. There was evidence of genetic dissimilarities among the trees sampled. Differences in percentage polymorphism was reported, where it was reportedly highest among the Borno State tree samples (97.44%), compared to those in Yobe State with no polymorphism.
Vocal markers of autism: assessing the generalizability of machine learning models
Authors: Rybner Astrid , Jessen Emil Trenckner , Mortensen Marie Damsgaard , Larsen Stine Nyhus , Grossman Ruth , Bilenberg Niels , Cantio Cathriona , Møllegaard Jepsen Jens Richardt , Weed Ethan , Simonsen Arndis , Fusaroli Riccardo 
Published: November 2021

AbstractMachine learning (ML) approaches show increasing promise in their ability to identify vocal markers of autism. Nonetheless, it is unclear to what extent such markers generalize to new speech samples collected e.g., using a different speech task or in a different language. In this paper, we systematically assess the generalizability of ML findings across a variety of contexts.We train promising published ML models of vocal markers of autism on novel cross-linguistic datasets following a rigorous pipeline to minimize overfitting, including cross-validated training and ensemble models. We test the generalizability of the models by testing them on i) different participants from the same study, performing the same task; ii) the same participants, performing a different (but similar) task; iii) a different study with participants speaking a different language, performing the same type of task.While model performance is similar to previously published findings when trained and tested on data from the same study (out-of-sample performance), there is considerable variance between studies. Crucially, the models do not generalize well to different, though similar, tasks and not at all to new languages. The ML pipeline is openly shared.Generalizability of ML models of vocal markers of autism is an issue. We outline three recommendations for strategies researchers could take to be more explicit about generalizability and improve it in future studies.LAY SUMMARYMachine learning approaches promise to be able to identify autism from voice only. These models underestimate how diverse the contexts in which we speak are, how diverse the languages used are and how diverse autistic voices are. Machine learning approaches need to be more careful in defining their limits and generalizability.