bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Revisiting vitamin D status and supplementation for inpatients with intellectual and developmental disability in the north of England, UK
Authors: Ciausu Vlad , Ostrowski Marcin , Dudley Bethany , Ince Chris , McKinnon Iain 
Published: June 2021

AimsVitamin D deficiency is common among people with Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) and is linked to worse health outcomes.Our aims were to re-evaluate vitamin D testing and supplementation among inpatients with IDD, examine any correlates with physical health conditions including COVID-19 and make recommendations for the current regime of supplementation and testing within inpatient IDD services.MethodThe study population comprised inpatients who were in any of the Northgate Hospital IDD inpatient services in Northumberland, UK. The wards sampled were the Medium Secure Unit, Low Secure Unit, Hospital Based Rehabilitation Wards and Specialist Autism Inpatient Service. Records of all inpatients between January 2019 and July 2020 were examined for 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level, ward area, supplementation status, test seasonality, medication, and health status.We performed a correlation to see whether there was an association between vitamin D level and length of time on treatment. In addition, comparison of the replete and inadequate group for age, ethnicity, seasonality, ward location and psychotropic medication was undertaken.Data on physical health risk factors, obesity and COVID-19 infection were also collected. The physical comorbidities were described in order to evaluate whether any emerging patterns relating to COVID-19 infection were emerging.ResultThere were 67 inpatients in Northgate IDD services on 1 January 2019, with 11 further patients admitted up to the end of the sampling period on 31 July 2020. Nineteen patients were discharged during that period, so the sample comprised 78 patients.Ages were comparable across three of the ward areas, except for an older group of patients in the hospital-based rehabilitation setting. Mean 25(OH)D level for supplemented (800IU/day) patients was 75nmol/l (SD 20) compared to 40nmol/l (SD 19) in the non-supplemented group (p < 0.001).Thirty-eight percent of those who were inpatients during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic developed symptoms, but the small sample size could not establish vitamin D levels as a predictor of outcome.ConclusionOur findings show that clinicians continue to offer vitamin D supplementation for inpatients, at a dose of 800IU (20μg) per day.The mean vitamin D levels we observed were higher for those on supplements compared to our 2013 baseline data, whereas patients not on supplementation now had levels akin to those found previously. Vitamin D (800IU/day) supplementation is effective but adequacy of the nationally recommended dose of 400IU/day is unclear. Links to COVID-19 merit further research.
Gene expression variation in Arabidopsis embryos at single-nucleus resolution
Authors: Kao Ping , Schon Michael A. , Mosiolek Magdalena , Enugutti Balaji , Nodine Michael D. 
Published: June 2021

ABSTRACT
Soon after fertilization of egg and sperm, plant genomes become transcriptionally activated and drive a series of coordinated cell divisions to form the basic body plan during embryogenesis. Early embryonic cells rapidly diversify from each other, and investigation of the corresponding gene expression dynamics can help elucidate underlying cellular differentiation programs. However, current plant embryonic transcriptome datasets either lack cell-specific information or have RNA contamination from surrounding non-embryonic tissues. We have coupled fluorescence-activated nuclei sorting together with single-nucleus mRNA-sequencing to construct a gene expression atlas of Arabidopsis thaliana early embryos at single-cell resolution. In addition to characterizing cell-specific transcriptomes, we found evidence that distinct epigenetic and transcriptional regulatory mechanisms operate across emerging embryonic cell types. These datasets and analyses, as well as the approach we devised, are expected to facilitate the discovery of molecular mechanisms underlying pattern formation in plant embryos.
This article has an associated ‘The people behind the papers’ interview.
Minding the gap: learning and visual scanning behaviour in nocturnal bull ants
Authors: Islam Muzahid , Deeti Sudhakar , Kamhi J. Frances , Cheng Ken 
Published: June 2021

ABSTRACTInsects possess small brains but exhibit sophisticated behaviour, specifically their ability to learn to navigate within complex environments. To understand how they learn to navigate in a cluttered environment, we focused on learning and visual scanning behaviour in the Australian nocturnal bull ant, Myrmecia midas, which are exceptional visual navigators. We tested how individual ants learn to detour via a gap and how they cope with substantial spatial changes over trips. Homing M. midas ants encountered a barrier on their foraging route and had to find a 50 cm gap between symmetrical large black screens, at 1 m distance towards the nest direction from the centre of the releasing platform in both familiar (on-route) and semi-familiar (off-route) environments. Foragers were tested for up to 3 learning trips with the changed conditions in both environments. The results showed that on the familiar route, individual foragers learned the gap quickly compared with when they were tested in the semi-familiar environment. When the route was less familiar, and the panorama was changed, foragers were less successful at finding the gap and performed more scans on their way home. Scene familiarity thus played a significant role in visual scanning behaviour. In both on-route and off-route environments, panoramic changes significantly affected learning, initial orientation and scanning behaviour. Nevertheless, over a few trips, success at gap finding increased, visual scans were reduced, the paths became straighter, and individuals took less time to reach the goal.
Metal-Iodine and Metal-Bromine Batteries: A Review
Authors: Li Pei , Li Chuan , Guo Xun , Li Xinliang , Zhi Chunyi 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Rechargeable metal-iodine and metal-bromine batteries have been pursued as potentially effective, low-cost, and mass-producible alternatives to current transition-metal-based batteries due to highly reversible redox and abundant resource. However, several challenges, such as low operability caused by thermodynamic instability of cathode and unsatisfactory cycling stability from shuttle effect, must be overcome before a real breakthrough and their widespread application. This review summarizes the state-of-the-art progress of their energy storage mechanisms and discusses the emerging metal-iodine/bromine batteries including Zn-I2 and Zn-Br2 batteries, Li-I2 and Li-BrCl batteries and other metal-I2 batteries. We show the key issues that current metal-iodine/bromine batteries are facing and, furthermore, some promising solutions proposed during the past few years are highlighted to outline key perspectives for future research in this thriving field.
Improving reference standards for validation of AI-based radiography
Authors: Duggan Gavin E , Reicher Joshua J , Liu Yun , Tse Daniel , Shetty Shravya 
Published: June 2021

Objective:
Demonstrate the importance of combining multiple readers' opinions, in a context-aware manner, when establishing the reference standard for validation of artificial intelligence (AI) applications for, e.g. chest radiographs. By comparing individual readers, majority vote of a panel, and panel-based discussion, we identify methods which maximize interobserver agreement and label reproducibility.

Methods:
1100 frontal chest radiographs were evaluated for 6 findings: airspace opacity, cardiomegaly, pulmonary edema, fracture, nodules, and pneumothorax. Each image was reviewed by six radiologists, first individually and then via asynchronous adjudication (web-based discussion) in two panels of three readers to resolve disagreements within each panel. We quantified the reproducibility of each method by measuring interreader agreement.

Results:
Panel-based majority vote improved agreement relative to individual readers for all findings. Most disagreements were resolved with two rounds of adjudication, which further improved reproducibility for some findings, particularly reducing misses. Improvements varied across finding categories, with adjudication improving agreement for cardiomegaly, fractures, and pneumothorax.

Conclusion:
The likelihood of interreader agreement, even within panels of US board-certified radiologists, must be considered before reads can be used as a reference standard for validation of proposed AI tools. Agreement and, by extension, reproducibility can be improved by applying majority vote, maximum sensitivity, or asynchronous adjudication for different findings, which supports the development of higher quality clinical research.

Advances in knowledge:
A panel of three experts is a common technique for establishing reference standards when ground truth is not available for use in AI validation. The manner in which differing opinions are resolved is shown to be important, and has not been previously explored.
Extending P4 in-band telemetry to user equipment for latency- and localization-aware autonomous networking with AI forecasting
Authors: Scano Davide , Paolucci Francesco , Kondepu Koteswararao , Sgambelluri Andrea , Valcarenghi Luca , Cugini Filippo 
Published: June 2021

In beyond-5G networks, detailed end-to-end monitoring of specific application traffic will be required along with the access-backhaul-cloud continuum to enable low latency service due to local edge steering. Current monitoring solutions are confined to specific network segments. In-band network telemetry (INT) technologies for software defined network (SDN) programmable data planes based on the P4 language are effective in the backhaul network segment, although limited to inter-switch latency; therefore, link latencies including wireless and optical segments are excluded from INT monitoring. Moreover, information such as user equipment (UE) geolocation would allow detailed mobility monitoring and improved cloud-edge steering policies. However, the synchronization between latency and location information, typically provided by different platforms, is hard to achieve with current monitoring systems. In this paper, P4-based INT is proposed to be thoroughly extended involving UE. The INT mechanism is designed to provide synchronized and accurate end-to-end latency and geolocation information, enabling decentralized steering policies, i.e., involving UE and selected switches, without SDN controller intervention. The proposal also includes an artificial-intelligence-assisted forecast system able to predict latency and geolocation in advance and trigger faster edge steering.
Multifunctional plasmonic metasurface demultiplexer and wavelength-polarization controllable beam splitter
Authors: Benetou Maria I. , Tsakmakidis Kosmas L. 
Published: June 2021

We report the experimental realization of a multifunctional microscale plasmonic metasurface capable of sampling a light beam and performing five functionalities, while allowing high direct transmission and maintenance of the properties of the input light beam. The plasmonic metasurface integrates light-to-surface-plasmon coupling, two-channel wavelength demultiplexing with a channel spacing smaller than 44 nm, wavelength and polarization controllable beam splitting of a monochromatic, single polarization signal, and four-level polarization and wavelength-polarization demultiplexing in an all-in-one structure. Such a device can play a key role for on-chip adaptable integrated circuits for parallel signal processing, communications, and nondestructive sensing.
Raman wavelength conversion in a multipass cell
Authors: Daher Nour , Délen Xavier , Guichard Florent , Hanna Marc , Georges Patrick 
Published: June 2021

Positively chirped femtosecond pulses at 1030 nm are wavelength-converted using spontaneous and stimulated Raman scattering in a potassium gadolinium tungstate crystal inserted inside a multipass cell. Recirculation in the cell and the Raman material allows both a high conversion efficiency and good spatial beam quality for the generated Stokes beams. The converted pulses can be compressed to sub-picosecond duration. Multipass cells could be an appealing alternative to other Raman shifter implementations in terms of thermal effects, control of the Raman cascade, and overall output beam quality.
The role of the Basic Public Health Service program in the control of hypertension in China: Results from a cross-sectional health service interview survey
Authors: Qin Jiangmei , Zhang Yanchun , Fridman Masha , Sweeny Kim , Zhang Lifang , Lin Chunmei , Mao Lu 
Published: June 2021

Objectives
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become the main cause of mortality in China. In 2009, the Chinese government introduced the Basic Public Health Service (BPHS) program to relieve the rising burden of NCDs through public health measures and delivery of essential medical care. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the BPHS program on hypertension control.

Methods
The China National Health Development Research Center (CNHDRC) undertook a Cross-sectional Health Service Interview Survey (CHSIS) of 62,097 people from primary healthcare reform pilot areas across 17 provinces from eastern, central, and western parts of China in 2014. The current study is based on responses to the CHSIS survey from 7,867 participants, who had been diagnosed with hypertension. Multi-variable mixed logit regression analysis was used to estimate the association between BPHS management and uncontrolled hypertension. In a follow-up analysis, generalized structural equation modelling (GSEM) was used to test for mediation of the BPHS program effect through patient compliance with medication.

Findings
The estimated proportion of patients with uncontrolled hypertension was 30% lower (23.2% vs 31.5%) in those participants who were adequately managed under the BPHS program. Other predictors of hypertension control included compliance with medication, self-reported wellbeing, income, educational attainment and exercise; smoking was associated with reduced hypertension control. The significant inverse association between uncontrolled hypertension and age indicates poor outcomes for younger patients. Additional testing suggested that nearly 40% of the effect of BPHS management (95% CI: 28.2 to 51.7) could be mediated by improved compliance with medication; there was also an indication that the effect of management was 30% stronger in districts/counties with established digital information management systems (IMS).

Conclusion
Hypertension control improved markedly following active management through the BPHS program. Some of that improvement could be explained by greater compliance with medication among program participants. This study also identified the need to tailor the BPHS program to the needs of younger patients to achieve higher levels of control in this population. Future investigations should explore ways in which existing healthcare management influences the success of the BPHS program.
Distributed optimal power flow
Authors: Oh HyungSeon 
Published: June 2021

Objective
The objectives of this paper are to 1) construct a new network model compatible with distributed computation, 2) construct the full optimal power flow (OPF) in a distributed fashion so that an effective, non-inferior solution can be found, and 3) develop a scalable algorithm that guarantees the convergence to a local minimum.

Existing challenges
Due to the nonconvexity of the problem, the search for a solution to OPF problems is not scalable, which makes the OPF highly limited for the system operation of large-scale real-world power grids—“the curse of dimensionality”. The recent attempts at distributed computation aim for a scalable and efficient algorithm by reducing the computational cost per iteration in exchange of increased communication costs.

Motivation
A new network model allows for efficient computation without increasing communication costs. With the network model, recent advancements in distributed computation make it possible to develop an efficient and scalable algorithm suitable for large-scale OPF optimizations.

Methods
We propose a new network model in which all nodes are directly connected to the center node to keep the communication costs manageable. Based on the network model, we suggest a nodal distributed algorithm and direct communication to all nodes through the center node. We demonstrate that the suggested algorithm converges to a local minimum rather than a point, satisfying the first optimality condition.

Results
The proposed algorithm identifies solutions to OPF problems in various IEEE model systems. The solutions are identical to those using a centrally optimized and heuristic approach. The computation time at each node does not depend on the system size, and Niter does not increase significantly with the system size.

Conclusion
Our proposed network model is a star network for maintaining the shortest node-to-node distances to allow a linear information exchange. The proposed algorithm guarantees the convergence to a local minimum rather than a maximum or a saddle point, and it maintains computational efficiency for a large-scale OPF, scalable algorithm.
Predictors of severity and mortality among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Rhode Island
Authors: Pandita Aakriti , Gillani Fizza S. , Shi Yiyun , Hardesty Anna , McCarthy Meghan , Aridi Jad , Farmakiotis Dimitrios , Chiang Silvia S. , Beckwith Curt G. 
Published: June 2021

BackgroundIn order for healthcare systems to prepare for future waves of COVID-19, an in-depth understanding of clinical predictors is essential for efficient triage of hospitalized patients.MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study of 259 patients admitted to our hospitals in Rhode Island to examine differences in baseline characteristics (demographics and comorbidities) as well as presenting symptoms, signs, labs, and imaging findings that predicted disease progression and in-hospital mortality.ResultsPatients with severe COVID-19 were more likely to be older (p = 0.02), Black (47.2% vs. 32.0%, p = 0.04), admitted from a nursing facility (33.0% vs. 17.9%, p = 0.006), have diabetes (53.9% vs. 30.4%, p<0.001), or have COPD (15.4% vs. 6.6%, p = 0.02). In multivariate regression, Black race (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–3.9) and diabetes (aOR 2.2, 95%CI: 1.3–3.9) were independent predictors of severe disease, while older age (aOR 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.07), admission from a nursing facility (aOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.1–6.7), and hematological co-morbidities predicted mortality (aOR 3.4, 95% CI 1.1–10.0). In the first 24 hours, respiratory symptoms (aOR 7.0, 95% CI: 1.4–34.1), hypoxia (aOR 19.9, 95% CI: 2.6–152.5), and hypotension (aOR 2.7, 95% CI) predicted progression to severe disease, while tachypnea (aOR 8.7, 95% CI: 1.1–71.7) and hypotension (aOR 9.0, 95% CI: 3.1–26.1) were associated with increased in-hospital mortality.ConclusionsCertain patient characteristics and clinical features can help clinicians with early identification and triage of high-risk patients during subsequent waves of COVID-19.
Method-specific beliefs and subsequent contraceptive method choice: Results from a longitudinal study in urban and rural Kenya
Authors: Odwe George , Wado Yohannes Dibaba , Obare Francis , Machiyama Kazuyo , Cleland John 
Published: June 2021

Introduction
Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, shows that negative beliefs about contraceptive methods are associated with non-use. However, little is known about the relationship between contraceptive beliefs and subsequent method choice.

Methodology
We used data from a two-year longitudinal survey of married women aged 15–39 years at enrollment from one urban site (Nairobi) and one rural site (Homa Bay) in Kenya. Analysis entails descriptive statistics and estimation of a conditional logit analysis to examine associations between method-specific beliefs and choice of injectables, implants or pills among women who were not using any method or were pregnant at baseline (round 1) but adopted these methods at 12-month follow-up (Nairobi, n = 221; Homa Bay n = 197).

Results
Beliefs about pills, injectables and implants among non-users were generally negative. With the partial exception of the pill in Nairobi, the majority thought that each method was likely to cause serious health problems, unpleasant side effects, menstrual disruption, and would be unsafe for long-term use. In both sites, satisfied past use of a method and the perception that a method is easy to use had a major influence on method choice. Concerns about menstrual disruption and safety for long-term use were unimportant in both sites. There were some marked differences between the two sites. Beliefs about long-term fertility impairment and perceived husband approval had strong influences on choice of injectables, implants or pills in the urban site but not in the rural site.

Conclusion
The relative importance of beliefs, some erroneous, in predisposing women to choose one method over another appears to be conditioned by the social context. There is need for family planning counseling programmes to pay attention to erroneous beliefs and misconceptions about contraceptives.
Telemonitoring-Supported Exercise Training in Employees With Metabolic Syndrome Improves Liver Inflammation and Fibrosis
Authors: Haufe Sven , Hupa-Breier Katharina L. , Bayerle Pauline , Boeck Hedwig T. , Rolff Simone , Sundermeier Thorben , Kerling Arno , Eigendorf Julian , Kück Momme , Hanke Alexander A. , Ensslen Ralf , Nachbar Lars , Lauenstein Dirk , Böthig Dietmar , Hilfiker-Kleiner Denise , Stiesch Meike , Terkamp Christoph , Wedemeyer Heiner , Haverich Axel , Tegtbur Uwe 
Published: June 2021

INTRODUCTION:
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major health problem worldwide and the main risk factor for metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Established treatment options are lifestyle interventions facilitating dietary change and increased physical activity. Here, we tested the effect of a telemonitoring-supported intervention on liver parameter of inflammation and fibrosis in individuals with MetS.

METHODS:
This was a prospective, randomized, parallel-group, and assessor-blind study performed in workers of the main Volkswagen factory (Wolfsburg, Germany). Volunteers with diagnosed MetS were randomly assigned (1:1) to a 6-month lifestyle intervention focusing on supervised, activity-tracker–guided exercise or to a waiting-list control group. This secondary analysis assessed the effect of the intervention on liver enzymes and MAFLD-related parameters.

RESULTS:
We screened 543 individuals between October 10, 2017, and February 27, 2018, of whom 314 were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 160) or control group (n = 154). Liver transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase significantly decreased after 6 months in the intervention group compared with the CG. Furthermore, an aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index score as a marker for liver fibrosis significantly decreased in the intervention group. These improvements were associated with changes in obesity and exercise capacity.

DISCUSSION:
A 6-month lifestyle intervention based on exercise training with individualized telemonitoring-based supervision led to improvements of liver inflammation and fibrosis in employees with MetS. Therefore, this intervention shows therapeutic potential for individuals at high risk of MAFLD (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03293264).