bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modeling aggregated expertise of user contributions to assess the credibility of OpenStreetMap features
Authors: Muttaqien Bani Idham , Ostermann Frank O. , Lemmens Rob L. G. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe emergence of volunteered geographic information (VGI) during the past decade has fueled a wide range of research and applications. The assessment of VGI quality and fitness‐of‐use is still a challenge because of the non‐standardized and crowdsourced data collection process, as well as the unknown skill and motivation of the contributors. However, the frequent approach of assessing VGI quality against external data sources using ISO quality standard measures is problematic because of a frequent lack of available external (reference) data, and because for certain types of features, VGI might be more up‐to‐date than the reference data. Therefore, a VGI‐intrinsic measure of quality is highly desirable. This study proposes such an intrinsic measure of quality by developing the concept of aggregated expertise based on the characteristics of a feature's contributors. The article further operationalizes this concept and examines its feasibility through a case study using OpenStreetMap (OSM). The comparison of model OSM feature quality with information from a field survey demonstrates the successful implementation of this novel approach.
Cryptococcal infection in lung transplant recipients: A 5‐year retrospective review at an Australian transplant center
Authors: Sohail Asma , Smibert Olivia C. , Snell Greg , Paraskeva Miranda , Jenney Adam 
Published: August 2018

AbstractCryptococcosis is a common invasive fungal infection (IFI) in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Little is known about cryptococcosis in lung transplant (LTx) recipients despite having one of the highest risks of infection. The aim of this study was to describe demographic and clinical features of cryptococcal infection in LTx recipients. We performed a retrospective, observational study of cryptococcal infection in LTx recipients at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, from 2012 to 2017. A total of 11 cases were identified. Seven patients (64%) were male and the median age was 54.7 years (range 34‐69 years). Diagnosis occurred at a median of 233 days (range 1‐3650 days) post‐transplant. Nine patients (82%) had isolated pulmonary infection of whom 7 (78%) were asymptomatic. All were treated with oral antifungal therapy and 1 required surgical resection of infected lung. Two patients (18%) had disseminated infection; 1 with pulmonary and central nervous system (CNS) infection and 1 with isolated CNS infection. Both patients presented with headache and brain imaging demonstrated cerebral edema, myelinosis, and leptomeningeal enhancement. One of these patients died. This study highlights the fact that cryptococcal infection should remain a consideration in asymptomatic LTx recipients, especially in the presence of non‐specific nodules on chest imaging, and that the presence of headache in these patients requires urgent investigation for CNS infection.
Donor‐derived infections and infectious risk in xenotransplantation and allotransplantation
Authors: Nellore Anoma , Fishman Jay A. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractPost‐transplantation infections are common in allograft recipients and should be expected in all immunocompromised hosts. Based on the need for immunosuppression in xenotransplantation, procedures developed to enhance safety in allotransplantation can be applied in future xenotransplantation clinical trials. Standardized approaches can be developed to guide the evaluation of common infectious syndromes in xenograft recipients. The opportunity created by screening of swine intended as xenograft donors has equal applicability to allotransplantation—notably broader screening strategies for allograft donors such as use of advanced sequencing modalities including broad‐range molecular probes, microarrays, and high‐throughput pyrosequencing. Considerations in management of allotransplant‐ and xenotransplant‐associated infections are largely the same. Experience in xenotransplantation will continue to inform thinking regarding donor‐derived infections in allotransplantation. We expect that experience in managing complex allotransplant recipients will similarly inform clinical trials in xenotransplantation.
Xenotransplantation panel for the detection of infectious agents in pigs
Authors: Hartline Caroll B. , Conner Ra'Shun L. , James Scott H. , Potter Jennifer , Gray Edward , Estrada Jose , Tector Mathew , Tector A. Joseph , Prichard Mark N. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundRecent advances in xenotransplantation have produced organs from pigs that are well tolerated in primate models because of genetic changes engineered to delete major antigens from donor animals. To ensure the safety of human transplant recipients, it will be essential to understand both the spectrum of infectious agents in donor pigs and their potential to be transmitted to immunocompromised transplant recipients. Equally important will be the development of new highly sensitive diagnostic methods for use in the detection of these agents in donor animals and for the monitoring of transplant recipients.MethodsHerein, we report the development of a panel of 30 quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays for infectious agents with the potential to be transmitted to the human host. The reproducibility, sensitivity and specificity of each assay were evaluated and were found to exhibit analytic sensitivity that was similar to that of quantitative assays used to perform viral load testing of human viruses in clinical laboratories.ResultsThis analytical approach was used to detect nucleic acids of infectious agents present in specimens from 9 sows and 22 piglets derived by caesarean section. The most commonly detected targets in adult animals were Mycoplasma species and two distinct herpesviruses, porcine lymphotrophic herpesvirus 2 and 3. A total of 14 piglets were derived from three sows infected with either or both herpesviruses, yet none tested positive for the viruses indicating that vertical transmission of these viruses is inefficient.ConclusionsThe data presented demonstrate that procedures in place are highly sensitive and can specifically detect nucleic acids from target organisms in the panel, thus ensuring the safety of organs for transplantation as well as the monitoring of patients potentially receiving them.
Pathogen elimination and prevention within a regulated, Designated Pathogen Free, closed pig herd for long‐term breeding and production of xenotransplantation materials
Authors: Noordergraaf Jeske , Schucker Adrienne , Martin Mike , Schuurman Henk‐jan , Ordway Brianne , Cooley Kevin , Sheffler Marie , Theis Kara , Armstrong Chasa , Klein Laura , Hansen Doug , Olson Megan , Schlechter Lisa , Spizzo Tom 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundWe established a Source Animal (barrier) Facility (SAF) for generating designated pathogen‐free (DPF) pigs to serve as donors of viable organs, tissues, or cells for xenotransplantation into clinical patients. This facility was populated with caesarian derived, colostrum deprived (CDCD) piglets, from sows of conventional‐specific (or specified) pathogen‐free (SPF) health status in six cohorts over a 10‐month period. In all cases, CDCD piglets fulfilled DPF status including negativity for porcine circovirus (PCV), a particularly environmentally robust and difficult to inactivate virus which at the time of SAF population was epidemic in the US commercial swine production industry. Two outbreaks of PCV infection were subsequently detected during sentinel testing. The first occurred several weeks after PCV‐negative animals were moved under quarantine from the nursery into an animal holding room. The apparent origin of PCV was newly installed stainless steel penning, which was not sufficiently degreased thereby protecting viral particles from disinfection. The second outbreak was apparently transmitted via employee activities in the Caesarian‐section suite adjacent to the barrier facility. In both cases, PCV was contained in the animal holding room where it was diagnosed making a complete facility depopulation‐repopulation unnecessary.MethodInfectious PCV was eliminated during both outbreaks by the following: euthanizing infected animals, disposing of all removable items from the affected animal holding room, extensive cleaning with detergents and degreasing agents, sterilization of equipment and rooms with chlorine dioxide, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, and potassium peroxymonosulfate, and for the second outbreak also glutaraldehyde/quaternary ammonium. Impact on other barrier animals throughout the process was monitored by frequent PCV diagnostic testing.ResultAfter close monitoring for 6 months indicating PCV absence from all rooms and animals, herd animals were removed from quarantine status.ConclusionTen years after PCV clearance following the second outbreak, due to strict adherence to biosecurity protocols and based on ongoing sentinel diagnostic monitoring (currently monthly), the herd remains DPF including PCV negative.
Comparative gene expression profiling of pig‐derived iPSC‐like cells: Effects of induced pluripotency on expression of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV)
Authors: Godehardt Antonia W. , Petkov Stoyan , Gulich Barbara , Fischer Nicole , Niemann Heiner , Tönjes Ralf R. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundPorcine induced pluripotent stem cells (piPSCs) offer an alternative strategy in xenotransplantation (XTx). As human endogenous retroviruses (HERV), particularly HERV‐K, are highly expressed in natural human stem cells, we compared the expression of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERV) and retrotransposon LINE‐1 (L1) open reading frames 1 and 2 (pORF1 and pORF2) in different piPSC‐like cell lines with their progenitors (porcine fetal fibroblasts, pFF).MethodsCells reprogrammed via Sleeping Beauty‐transposed transcription factors were cultured and analyzed on a custom‐designed microarray representing the reference pig genome. Data were complemented by qRT‐PCR and reverse transcriptase (RT) assay.ResultsThe expression profiles revealed that 8515 of 26 967 targets were differentially expressed. A total of 4443 targets showed log2 expression ratio >1, and 4072 targets showed log2 expression ratio less than −1 with 0.05 P‐value threshold. Approximately ten percent of the targets showed highly significant expression ratios with log2 ≥4 or ≤−4. Besides this general switch in cellular gene expression that was accompanied by an altered morphology, expression of both PERV and L1 pORF1/pORF2 was significantly enhanced. piPSC‐like cells revealed a 10‐fold to 100‐fold higher transcription of the viral PERV‐A and PERV‐B envelope genes (env), viral protease/polymerase (prt/pol), and L1 elements. No functional retrovirus could be detected under these conditions.ConclusionEpigenetic reprogramming has functional impact on retrotransposons. Thus, the induction of pig‐derived pluripotent cells influences their PERV expression profile. Data emphasize the necessity to focus on animals, which show non‐functional endogenous viral background to ensure virological safety.
Long‐term safety outcome of systemic immunosuppression in pig‐to‐nonhuman primate corneal xenotransplantation
Authors: Choi Se Hyun , Yoon Chang Ho , Lee Hyun Ju , Kim Hong Pyo , Kim Jong Min , Che Jeong‐Hwan , Roh Kyoung Min , Choi Hyuk Jin , Kim Jiyeon , Hwang Eung Soo , Park Chung‐Gyu , Kim Mee Kum 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundSafety concerns exist for corneal recipients under immunosuppression. We report long‐term safety results of porcine corneal xenotransplantation under immunosuppression in nonhuman primates.MethodsSystemic monitoring data from 49 Chinese rhesus macaques that received pig corneal transplant between 2009 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The recipients were divided into 4 groups depending on the systemic immunosuppressants used: (a) conventional steroid group; costimulation blockade groups ([b] anti‐CD154 antibody, [c] anti‐CD40 antibody); and (d) commercially available immunosuppressants (anti‐CD20 antibody, tacrolimus, basiliximab) group. We compared results of general condition monitoring; hematologic, biochemical, and electrolyte tests; and Rhesus Cytomegalovirus infection monitoring.ResultsAll recipients recovered from early weight loss. White blood cell counts significantly decreased at 6 months in the steroid and anti‐CD154 groups. Abnormal liver and kidney function and electrolyte imbalance were not observed in all groups. The mean value of Rhesus Cytomegalovirus DNA copies was consistently lower than 200 copies/mL, and antibody titers did not change over time in all groups. Tacrolimus‐associated thrombotic microangiopathy was developed in one case, which resolved after discontinuation of tacrolimus. In 2017, a simian varicella virus outbreak led to clinical signs in 5 that received immunosuppressive therapies, of which 3 died.ConclusionCostimulatory blockade‐based and anti‐CD20 antibody/tacrolimus‐based immunosuppressive therapies seem to be comparably safe with steroid therapy in nonhuman primates receiving corneal xenotransplantation, as they did not reactivate Rhesus Cytomegalovirus and maintained manageable systemic status. Although reactivation is rare, antiviral prophylaxis for simian varicella virus should be considered in immunocompromised hosts.
Porcine endogenous retroviruses: Quantification of the copy number in cell lines, pig breeds, and organs
Authors: Fiebig Uwe , Fischer Konrad , Bähr Andrea , Runge Carolin , Schnieke Angelika , Wolf Eckhard , Denner Joachim 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundPorcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) may pose a risk of xenotransplantation using porcine cells, tissues, or organs. PERVs are integrated in the genome of all pigs, and some can infect certain human cells. The copy number of PERVs in different pig breeds has been determined by using different methods, with varying results.MethodsTo determine the PERV copy number in pig cell lines and in animals, a new method, droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) was used. DNA was isolated from pig cell lines (PK15 and PTK75 cells), from Aachen, Göttingen, and Black minipigs, and from genetically modified and non‐modified German landrace pigs. Primers specific for the polymerase gene (pol) were used for the ddPCR.ResultsThe median copy number of integrated proviruses was found between 46 and 70 copies in three different PK15 cell lines, 49 copies in PTK75 cells, 64 copies in Göttingen minipigs, 69 copies in Aachen minipigs, 117 copies in Black minipigs, and 59 copies in genetically modified pigs generated for xenotransplantation. PERV copy numbers varied between different organs from a single pig, indicating proviral amplification. The study also revealed that different PK15 cell lines from different laboratories which had been used as virus source for infection experiments carry different PERV copies. Furthermore, different copy numbers of cellular reference genes (GAPDH, ACTB) were detected in different cell lines and pigs.ConclusionThe determination of the PERV copy number using ddPCR extended previous data showing differences between the pig breeds and between different organs of a single animal. The determination of PERV copy numbers can be used to select animals less likely to transmit PERVs during xenotransplantation. In addition, this method will be of special value when PERV proviruses are to be inactivated by CRISPR/Cas9.
Early weaning completely eliminates porcine cytomegalovirus from a newly established pig donor facility for xenotransplantation
Authors: Egerer Stefanie , Fiebig Uwe , Kessler Barbara , Zakhartchenko Valeri , Kurome Mayuko , Reichart Bruno , Kupatt Christian , Klymiuk Nikolai , Wolf Eckhard , Denner Joachim , Bähr Andrea 
Published: August 2018

AbstractFor clinical xenotransplantation, transplants must be free of porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV). Piglets become infected primarily in the perinatal period by the mother sow. While individual donor animals can be protected from infection by isolation husbandry, success is not guaranteed and this strategy poses the risk of undetected infections and raises animal welfare questions. Here, we present the establishment of a completely PCMV‐negative pig herd for breeding donor animals for xenotransplantation. Eleven pregnant DanAvl Basic hybrid sows were purchased from a designated pathogen‐free (DPF), PCMV‐positive colony and transferred to a new pig facility at the Centre for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM) 4 weeks prior to farrowing. At the age of 24 hours, piglets were early‐weaned and transferred to a commercially available Rescue Deck system dedicated to motherless rearing of piglets. Sows were removed from the facility. The PCMV status of F1‐generation animals was determined at regular intervals over a period of 14 months by a sensitive real‐time PCR‐based detection method testing blood, nasal swabs and cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). F1 sows were used as recipients of genetically modified embryos to generate a xenotransplant donor herd. Offspring were tested for PCMV accordingly. All offspring have remained PCMV negative over the whole observation period of 14 months. A completely PCMV‐negative pig herd for xenotransplantation has thus been successfully established.
Possible risks posed by single‐stranded DNA viruses of pigs associated with xenotransplantation
Authors: Karuppannan Anbu K. , Opriessnig Tanja 
Published: August 2018

AbstractRoutine large‐scale xenotransplantation from pigs to humans is getting closer to clinical reality owing to several state‐of‐the‐art technologies, especially the ability to rapidly engineer genetically defined pigs. However, using pig organs in humans poses risks including unwanted cross‐species transfer of viruses and adaption of these pig viruses to the human organ recipient. Recent developments in the field of virology, including the advent of metagenomic techniques to characterize entire viromes, have led to the identification of a plethora of viruses in many niches. Single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA) viruses are the largest group prevalent in virome studies in mammals. Specifically, the ssDNA viral genomes are characterized by a high rate of nucleotide substitution, which confers a proclivity to adapt to new hosts and cross‐species barriers. Pig‐associated ssDNA viruses include torque teno sus viruses (TTSuV) in the Anelloviridae family, porcine parvoviruses (PPV), and porcine bocaviruses (PBoV) both in the family of Parvoviridae, and porcine circoviruses (PCV) in the Circoviridae family, some of which have been confirmed to be pathogenic to pigs. The risks of these viruses for the human recipient during xenotransplantation procedures are relatively unknown. Based on the scant knowledge available on the prevalence, predilection, and pathogenicity of pig‐associated ssDNA viruses, careful screening and monitoring are required. In the case of positive identification, risk assessments and strategies to eliminate these viruses in xenotransplantation pig stock may be needed.
What is the effect of aerobic exercise intensity on cardiorespiratory fitness in those undergoing cardiac rehabilitation? A systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Mitchell Braden L , Lock Merilyn J , Davison Kade , Parfitt Gaynor , Buckley John P , Eston Roger G 
Published: August 2018

ObjectiveAssess the role of exercise intensity on changes in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in patients with cardiac conditions attending exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation.DesignSystematic review with meta-analysis.Data sourcesMEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO and Web of Science.Eligibility criteria for selectionStudies assessing change in CRF (reported as peak oxygen uptake; V̇O2peak) in patients post myocardial infarction and revascularisation, following exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation. Studies establishing V̇O2peakvia symptom-limited exercise test with ventilatory gas analysis and reported intensity of exercise during rehabilitation were included. Studies with mean ejection fraction <40% were excluded.Results128 studies including 13 220 patients were included. Interventions were classified as moderate, moderate-to-vigorous or vigorous intensity based on published recommendations. Moderate and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity interventions were associated with a moderate increase inrelativeV̇O2peak(standardised mean difference±95% CI=0.94±0.30 and 0.93±0.17, respectively), and vigorous-intensity exercise with a large increase (1.10±0.25). Moderate and vigorous-intensity interventions were associated with moderate improvements inabsoluteV̇O2peak(0.63±0.34 and 0.93±0.20, respectively), whereas moderate-to-vigorous-intensity interventions elicited a large effect (1.27±0.75). Large heterogeneity among studies was observed for all analyses. Subgroup analyses yielded statistically significant, but inconsistent, improvements in CRF.ConclusionEngagement in exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation was associated with significant improvements in both absolute and relative V̇O2peak. Although exercise of vigorous intensity produced the greatest pooled effect for change in relative V̇O2peak, differences in pooled effects between intensities could not be considered clinically meaningful.RegistrationProspero CRD42016035638.
Comparison of hospital admission rates for psychiatric patients cared for by multidisciplinary outreach teams with and without peer specialist: a retrospective cohort study of Japanese Outreach Model Project 2011–2014
Authors: Kido Yoshifumi , Kawakami Norito , Kayama Mami 
Published: August 2018

ObjectiveThis study examined whether having peer specialists (PS) in psychiatric multidisciplinary outreach teams was associated with a lower risk of hospitalisation, improved social functioning and decreased problem behaviours.Design and settingThis study was a retrospective cohort study based on medical records. This study was conducted as a part of the Japanese Outreach Model Project 2011–2014, which provides services for persons diagnosed mainly as ICD-10 F0, F2 and F3, who have a high possibility of hospital admission/readmission with regular Japanese outpatient care.ParticipantsA total of 292 participants (clients) from 31 multidisciplinary outreach teams with and without PS (n=108 and 184, respectively) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis.Outcome measuresThe primary outcome measure was hospitalisation during follow-up. The difference in hospitalisation during the follow-up between teams with and without PS was analysed by Kaplan-Meier survival curves and a Cox proportional hazards model. The secondary outcome measures were social functioning (Global Assessment of Functioning, GAF) and problem behaviours (Social Behaviour Schedule, SBS) of clients, and were assessed at baseline and at 6-month follow-up. Changes in social functioning and problem behaviours were compared between clients cared for by the two team types. Amount and content of the service were also compared.ResultsThe clients cared by teams with PS had a significantly decreased probability of hospitalisation in Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for baseline characteristics (HR=0.53, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.89). The 6-month change in GAF or SBS was not significantly different between the two groups.ConclusionThis is an observational study in which the presence of a PS appeared to be associated with a reduced rate of hospitalisation. A randomised study would be required to demonstrate a causal relationship.