bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of raising the bar on medical student study progress: An intersectional approach
Authors: Broks Vera M.A. , Stegers‐Jager Karen M. , van den Broek Walter W. , Woltman Andrea M. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractContextMedical schools seek for measures to improve their students’ study progress and are responsible for a diverse student population.ObjectivesThe effect of a stricter academic dismissal (AD) policy in medical school on short‐term and long‐term study progress was investigated in a longitudinal cohort study. In addition, differential effects for subgroups were assessed by intersecting gender, ethnicity and prior education (intersectional framework).MethodsParticipants were first‐year Bachelor students enrolled in 2011 to 2016 in a Dutch medical school. For cohorts 2011‐2013, the AD policy consisted of a minimum of 67% of Year‐1 credits required to remain enrolled (67%‐policy, n = 1189), and for cohorts 2014‐2016, this bar was raised to 100% of Year‐1 credits (100%‐policy, n = 1233). Outcome measures on study progress were Year‐1 completion and dropout (short term) and Bachelor completion in three and four years (long term).ResultsOverall, Year‐1 completion rates increased under the 100%‐policy compared to the 67%‐policy (OR = 2.50, 95%‐CI:2.06‐3.03, P < .001). Yet, this increase was not present for students with non‐standard prior education – except for males with a migration background (OR = 7.19, 95%‐CI:2.33‐25.73, P < .01). The dropout rate doubled under the 100%‐policy (OR = 2.41, 95%‐CI:1.68‐3.53, P < .001). Mainly students with standard prior education dropped out more often (OR = 3.68, 95%‐CI:2.37‐5.89, P < .001), except for males with a migration background. Bachelor completion rates after three and four years were not positively affected by the 100%‐policy. Notably, females without a migration background and with non‐standard prior education suffered from the 100%‐policy regarding Bachelor completion after three years (OR = 0.29, 95%‐CI:0.11‐0.76, P < .05).ConclusionsDespite increased dropout rates, the stricter AD policy improved Year‐1 completion rates – especially for under‐represented subgroups, thereby improving study progress without harming student diversity on the short term. However, these positive effects did not hold regarding Bachelor completion rates indicating that long‐term effects require higher performance standards throughout the Bachelor, which in turn may harm other subgroups and thereby student diversity.
Old age genetically confirmed frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP‐43 has limbic predominant TDP‐43 deposition
Authors: Buciuc Marina , Whitwell Jennifer L. , Baker Matthew C. , Rademakers Rosa , Dickson Dennis W. , Josephs Keith A. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAimsTo assess the burden of transactive response DNA‐binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP‐43) inclusions in a unique cohort of old‐age patients with genetic frontotemporal lobar degeneration (gFTLD‐TDP) and compare these patients with sporadic old‐age individuals with TDP‐43, either in the presence of Alzheimer's disease (AD‐TDP) or in isolation (pure‐TDP).MethodsThe brain bank at Mayo Clinic‐Jacksonville was searched for cases ≥75 years old at death with TDP‐43 extending into middle frontal cortex. Cases were split into the following groups: (1) gFTLD‐TDP (n = 15) with progranulin (GRN)/C9ORF72 mutations; (2) AD‐TDP (n = 10)—cases with median Braak neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) stage VI, Thal phase V; (3) pure‐TDP (n = 10)—cases with median Braak NFT stage I, Thal phase I. Clinical data were abstracted; TDP‐43 burden was calculated using digital pathology.ResultsAmnestic Alzheimer's dementia was the clinical diagnosis in ≥50% patients in each group. The distribution of TDP‐43 burden in gFTLD‐TDP and AD‐TDP, but not pure‐TDP, was limbic‐predominant targeting CA1 and subiculum. Patients with gFTLD‐TDP had higher burden in entorhinal cortex compared to AD‐TDP. TDP‐43 burden in middle frontal cortex did not differ between the three groups.ConclusionsIn old age it is challenging to clinically and pathologically differentiate gFTLD‐TDP from AD‐TDP and pure‐TDP‐43 based on burden. Like AD‐TDP, old age gFTLD‐TDP have a limbic predominant TDP‐43 distribution. The finding that amnestic Alzheimer's dementia was the most common clinical diagnosis regardless of group suggests that TDP‐43 directly and indirectly targets limbic regions.
Thinking about the idea of consent in data science genomics: How ‘informed’ is it?
Authors: Greenwood Jennifer , Crowden Andrew 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIn this paper we argue that ‘informed’ consent in Big Data genomic biobanking is frequently less than optimally informative. This is due to the particular features of genomic biobanking research which render it ethically problematic. We discuss these features together with details of consent models aimed to address them. Using insights from consent theory, we provide a detailed analysis of the essential components of informed consent which includes recommendations to improve consent performance. In addition, and using insights from philosophy of mind and language and psycholinguistics we support our analyses by identifying the nature and function of concepts (ideas) operational in human cognition and language together with an implicit coding/decoding model of human communication. We identify this model as the source of patients/participants poor understanding. We suggest an alternative, explicit model of human communication, namely, that of relevance‐theoretic inference which obviates the limitations of the code model. We suggest practical strategies to assist health service professionals to ensure that the specific information they provide concerning the proposed treatment or research is used to inform participants’ decision to consent. We do not prescribe a standard, formal approach to decision‐making where boxes are ticked; rather, we aim to focus attention towards the sorts of considerations and questions that might usefully be borne in mind in any consent situation. We hope that our theorising will be of real practical benefit to nurses and midwives working on the clinical and research front‐line of genomic science.
DNA methylation is involved in acclimation to iron‐deficiency in rice (Oryza sativa)
Authors: Sun Shuo , Zhu Jiamei , Guo Runze , Whelan James , Shou Huixia 
Published: May 2021

SUMMARYIron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient in plants, and Fe limitation significantly affects plant growth, yield and food quality. While many studies have reported the transcriptomic profile and pursue molecular mechanism in response to Fe limitation, little is known if epigenetic factors play a role in response to Fe‐deficiency. In this study, whole‐genome bisulfite sequencing analysis, high‐throughput RNA‐Seq of mRNA, small RNA and transposable element (TE) expression with root and shoot organs of rice seedlings under Fe‐sufficient and Fe‐deficient conditions were performed. The results showed that widespread hypermethylation, especially for the CHH context, occurred after Fe‐deficiency. Integrative analysis of methylation and transcriptome revealed that the transcript abundance of Fe‐deficiency‐induced genes was negatively correlated with nearby TEs and positively with the 24‐nucleotide siRNAs. The ability of methylation to affect the physiology and molecular response to Fe‐deficiency was tested using an exogenous DNA methyltransferase inhibitor (5‐azacytidine), and genetically using a mutant for domains rearranged methyltransferase 2 (DRM2), that lacks CHH methylation. Both approaches resulted in decreased growth and Fe content in rice plants. Thus, alterations in specific methylation patterns, directed by siRNAs, play an important role in acclimation of rice to Fe‐deficient conditions. Furthermore, comparison with other reports suggests this may be a universal mechanism to acclimate to limited nutrient availability.
Hydrothermally Reduced Graphene Oxide–Coated Carbon Cloth for Flexible Supercapacitors
Authors: Rajaputra Subhakaran Singh , Nagalakshmi P. , Yerramilli Anjaneyulu , Naga Mahesh K. 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Hydrothermally synthesized graphene (HRG) was tested for its supercapacitive behavior using nickel (Ni) and hydrothermally treated carbon cloth as current collectors, respectively. Performance evaluation studies were carried out in an in-house fabricated SS cell. Commercially obtained untreated carbon cloth (CCUn) was exfoliated via oxidation (CCOx) followed by hydrothermal treatment to obtain a reduced carbon cloth (CCHy). The physicochemical and electrochemical properties of carbon cloth by oxidative exfoliation and hydrothermal treatment have been studied using scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area, Contact angle measurements, cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD), and EIS. HRG coated on the CCHy (HRG-CCHy) had shown superior performance and endurance compared to HRG coated on Ni strip (HRG-Ni), with distinguishable specific capacitances (Cs) of 170 and 134 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 current density, respectively. At a higher 10 A g−1 current density, HRG-CCHy, and HRG-Ni have displayed distinctive specific capacitances of 120 and 80 F g−1, respectively, indicating a comparative decline in the performance of HRG-Ni with respect to HRG-CCHy. Endurance study performed for 5000 cycles at 2 A g−1, resulted in HRG-CCHy and HRG-Ni, retaining 88% and 81% of their initial-specific capacitances. At 1 kW kg−1 of power density, HRG-CCHy displayed a 5.5 Wh kg−1 of energy density. The electrochemical performance of HRG-CCHy may be attributed to exceptional properties like high wettability, low impedance, high pore volume, and specific surface area.
Mitigation Options to Reduce Peak Air Temperature and Air-Conditioning Demand in the Context of a Warming Climate for a Tropical Coastal City
Authors: Pokhrel Rabindra , González-Cruz Jorge E. 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Air conditioning (AC) demand has recently grown to about 10% of total electricity globally, and the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that the cooling requirement for buildings globally increases by three-fold by 2050 without additional policy interventions. The impacts of these increases for energy demand for human comfort are more pronounced in tropical coastal areas due to the high temperatures and humidity and their limited energy resources. One of those regions is the Caribbean, where building energy demands often exceed 50% of the total electricity, and this demand is projected to increase due to a warming climate. The interconnection between the built environment and the local environment introduces the challenge to find new approaches to explore future energy demand changes and the role of mitigation measures to curb the increasing demands for vulnerable tropical coastal cities due to climate change. This study presents mid-of-century and end-of-century cooling demand projections along with demand alleviation measures for the San Juan Metropolitan Area in the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico using a high-resolution configuration of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model coupled with Building Energy Model (BEM) forced by bias-corrected Community Earth Systems Model (CESM1) global simulations. The World Urban Database Access Portal Tool (WUDAPT) Land Class Zones (LCZs) bridge the gap required by BEM for their morphology and urban parameters. MODIS land covers land use is depicted for all-natural classes. The baseline historical period of 2008–2012 is compared with climate and energy projections in addition to energy mitigation options. Energy mitigation options explored include the integration of solar power in buildings, the use of white roofs, and high-efficiency heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The impact of climate change is simulated to increase minimum temperatures at the same rate as maximum temperatures. However, the maximum temperatures are projected to rise by 1–1.5 °C and 2 °C for mid- and end-of-century, respectively, increasing peak AC demand by 12.5% and 25%, correspondingly. However, the explored mitigation options surpass both increases in temperature and AC demand. The AC demand reduction potential with energy mitigation options for 2050 and 2100 decreases the need by 13% and 1.5% with the historical periods. Overall, the demand reduction potential varies with LCZs showing a high reduction potential for sparsely built (32%), and low for compact low rise (21%) for the mid-of-century period compared with the same period without mitigation options.
Accuracy of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Depression subscale (HADS-D) to screen for major depression: systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis
Authors: Wu Yin , Levis Brooke , Sun Ying , He Chen , Krishnan Ankur , Neupane Dipika , Bhandari Parash Mani , Negeri Zelalem , Benedetti Andrea , Thombs Brett D 
Published: May 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the accuracy of the depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) to screen for major depression among people with physical health problems.DesignSystematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.Data sourcesMedline, Medline In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations, PsycInfo, and Web of Science (from inception to 25 October 2018).Review methodsEligible datasets included HADS-D scores and major depression status based on a validated diagnostic interview. Primary study data and study level data extracted from primary reports were combined. For HADS-D cut-off thresholds of 5-15, a bivariate random effects meta-analysis was used to estimate pooled sensitivity and specificity, separately, in studies that used semi-structured diagnostic interviews (eg, Structured Clinical Interview forDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), fully structured interviews (eg, Composite International Diagnostic Interview), and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. One stage meta-regression was used to examine whether accuracy was associated with reference standard categories and the characteristics of participants. Sensitivity analyses were done to assess whether including published results from studies that did not provide raw data influenced the results.ResultsIndividual participant data were obtained from 101 of 168 eligible studies (60%; 25 574 participants (72% of eligible participants), 2549 with major depression). Combined sensitivity and specificity was maximised at a cut-off value of seven or higher for semi-structured interviews, fully structured interviews, and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Among studies with a semi-structured interview (57 studies, 10 664 participants, 1048 with major depression), sensitivity and specificity were 0.82 (95% confidence interval 0.76 to 0.87) and 0.78 (0.74 to 0.81) for a cut-off value of seven or higher, 0.74 (0.68 to 0.79) and 0.84 (0.81 to 0.87) for a cut-off value of eight or higher, and 0.44 (0.38 to 0.51) and 0.95 (0.93 to 0.96) for a cut-off value of 11 or higher. Accuracy was similar across reference standards and subgroups and when published results from studies that did not contribute data were included.ConclusionsWhen screening for major depression, a HADS-D cut-off value of seven or higher maximised combined sensitivity and specificity. A cut-off value of eight or higher generated similar combined sensitivity and specificity but was less sensitive and more specific. To identify medically ill patients with depression with the HADS-D, lower cut-off values could be used to avoid false negatives and higher cut-off values to reduce false positives and identify people with higher symptom levels.Trial registrationPROSPERO CRD42015016761.
A bibliometric analysis of COVID-19 research in Africa
Authors: Guleid Fatuma Hassan , Oyando Robinson , Kabia Evelyn , Mumbi Audrey , Akech Samuel , Barasa Edwine 
Published: May 2021

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented global research effort to build a body of knowledge that can inform mitigation strategies. We carried out a bibliometric analysis to describe the COVID-19 research output in Africa in terms of setting, study design, research themes and author affiliation.MethodsWe searched for articles published between 1 December 2019 and 3 January 2021 from various databases including PubMed, African Journals Online, medRxiv, Collabovid, the WHO global research database and Google. All article types and study design were included.ResultsA total of 1296 articles were retrieved. 46.6% were primary research articles, 48.6% were editorial-type articles while 4.6% were secondary research articles. 20.3% articles used the entire continent of Africa as their study setting while South Africa (15.4%) was the most common country-focused setting. The most common research topics include ‘country preparedness and response’ (24.9%) and ‘the direct and indirect health impacts of the pandemic’ (21.6%). However, only 1.0% of articles focus on therapeutics and vaccines. 90.3% of the articles had at least one African researcher as author, 78.5% had an African researcher as first author, while 63.5% had an African researcher as last author. The University of Cape Town leads with the greatest number of first and last authors. 13% of the articles were published in medRxiv and of the studies that declared funding, the Wellcome Trust was the top funding body.ConclusionsThis study highlights Africa’s COVID-19 research and the continent’s existing capacity to carry out research that addresses local problems. However, more studies focused on vaccines and therapeutics are needed to inform local development. In addition, the uneven distribution of research productivity among African countries emphasises the need for increased investment where needed.
Long-term improvements following a residential combined physical and psychological programme for chronic low back pain
Authors: Wellburn Shaun , Ryan Cormac G , Coxon Andrew , Dickson Alastair J , Dickson D John , Fatoye Francis , Ferguson Diarmaid , Green Paul W , Greenhough Charles , Hamilton Sharon , Jess Mary-Anne , Jones Andrea , Peat Glynis , Martin Denis J 
Published: May 2021

ObjectivesEvaluate the outcomes and explore experiences of patients undergoing a residential combined physical and psychological programme (CPPP) for chronic low back pain.DesignA longitudinal observational cohort design, with a parallel qualitative design using semistructured interviews.SettingResidential, multimodal rehabilitation.Participants136 adults (62 male/74 female) referred to the CPPP, 100 (44 male/56 female) of whom completed the programme, during the term of the study. Ten (2 male/8 female) participated in the qualitative evaluation.InterventionA 3-week residential CPPP.Outcome measuresPrimary outcome measures were the STarT Back screening tool score; pain intensity—11-point Numerical Rating Scale; function—Oswestry Disability Index (ODI); health status/quality of life—EQ-5D-5L EuroQol five-Dimension-five level; anxiety—Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7; depression—Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Secondary outcome measures were the Global Subjective Outcome Scale; National Health Service Friends and Family Test;.ResultsAt discharge, 6 and 12 months follow ups, there were improvements from baseline that were greater than minimum clinically important differences in each of the outcomes (with the sole exception of ODI at discharge). At 12 months, the majority of people considered themselves a lot better (57%) and were extremely likely (86%) to recommend the programme to a friend. The qualitative data showed praise for the residential nature of the intervention and the opportunities for interaction with peers and peer support. There were testimonies of improvements in understanding of pain and how to manage it better. Some participants said they had reduced, or stopped, medication they had been taking to manage their pain.ConclusionsParticipants improved, and maintained long term, beyond minimum clinically important differences on a wide range of outcomes. Participants reported an enhanced ability to self-manage their back pain and support for the residential setting.
Averaging generalized scalar field cosmologies I: locally rotationally symmetric Bianchi III and open Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker models
Authors: Leon Genly , González Esteban , Lepe Samuel , Michea Claudio , Millano Alfredo D. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractScalar field cosmologies with a generalized harmonic potential and a matter fluid with a barotropic Equation of State (EoS) with barotropic index $$\gamma $$
γ
for locally rotationally symmetric (LRS) Bianchi III metric and open Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) metric are investigated. Methods from the theory of averaging of nonlinear dynamical systems are used to prove that time-dependent systems and their corresponding time-averaged versions have the same late-time dynamics. Therefore, simple time-averaged systems determine the future asymptotic behavior. Depending on values of barotropic index $$\gamma $$
γ
late-time attractors of physical interests for LRS Bianchi III metric are Bianchi III flat spacetime, matter dominated FLRW universe (mimicking de Sitter, quintessence or zero acceleration solutions) and matter-curvature scaling solution. For open FLRW metric late-time attractors are a matter dominated FLRW universe and Milne solution. With this approach, oscillations entering nonlinear system through Klein–Gordon (KG) equation can be controlled and smoothed out as the Hubble factor H – acting as a time-dependent perturbation parameter – tends monotonically to zero. Numerical simulations are presented as evidence of such behaviour.