bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhancing an HIV index case testing passive referral model through a behavioural skills‐building training for healthcare providers: a pre‐/post‐assessment in Mangochi District, Malawi
Authors: Tembo Tapiwa A , Kim Maria H , Simon Katherine R , Ahmed Saeed , Beyene Teferi , Wetzel Elizabeth , Machika Mphatso , Chikoti Chrissy , Kammera Willy , Chibowa Henry , Nkhono Zinaumaleka , Kavuta Elijah , Kazembe Peter N , Rosenberg Nora E 
Published: July 2019

AbstractIntroductionAlthough knowledge of HIV positivity is a necessary step towards engagement in HIV care, more than one quarter of HIV‐positive Malawians remain unaware of their HIV status. Testing the sexual partners, guardians and children of HIV‐positive persons (index case finding or ICF) is a promising way of identifying HIV‐positive persons unaware of their HIV status. ICF can be passive where the HIV‐positive individual (index) invites a partner (or contact) for HIV testing or active where a health provider assists the index with partner notification and offers HIV testing to the partner. Strategies to improve passive ICF have not been thoroughly studied. We describe the impact of a behavioural skills‐building training to enhance healthcare workers’ (HCWs) implementation of Malawi's passive ICF programme.MethodsIn June 2017, HCWs from 36 health facilities in Mangochi were oriented to Malawi's ICF programme and began implementation. In February and April 2018, a total of 573 HCWs from these facilities received further training from the Tingathe Programme. The training focused on eliciting more untested sexual contacts from indexes and better equipping indexes on issuing “family referral slips” to contacts. Monthly programmatic data were abstracted from clinical registers from October 2017 to July 2018. Monthly programmatic indicators were collected from the Index Case Testing Register and the HIV Counselling and Testing Register and were entered into a data set with one record per facility per month. T‐tests were used to compare the means of these indicators.ResultsDuring the ten‐month study period, there were 200 facility‐months observed before and 124 facility‐months observed after training. The mean number of indexes identified per facility‐month remained stable after training (pre = 18.9, post = 21.2, p = 0.74), but the mean number of sexual partners listed per facility‐month (pre = 6.3, post = 10.6, p < 0.001) increased. The mean number of contacts who received HIV testing (pre = 11.1, post = 24.8, p < 0.001) and the mean number of HIV‐positive contacts identified per facility‐month (pre = 1.3, post = 2.3, p < 0.001) also increased.ConclusionsA brief behavioural skills‐building training impacted a range of meaningful outcomes, including identification of HIV‐positive individuals in a passive ICF programme. Such approaches could facilitate the identification of HIV‐positive persons unaware of their HIV status, a necessary step for engagement in HIV care.
Integrating PrEPintoHIVcare clinics could improve partner testing services and reinforce mutual support among couples: provider views from a PrEPimplementation project in Kenya
Authors: Odoyo Josephine B , Morton Jennifer F , Ngure Kenneth , O'Malley Gabrielle , Mugwanya Kenneth K , Irungu Elizabeth , Awuor Merceline , Dolla Annabell , Ongolly Fernandos , Bukusi Elizabeth A , Mugo Nelly R , Baeten Jared M ,   for the Partners Scale‐Up Project Team
Published: July 2019

AbstractIntroductionPartner notification services (PNS) increase theHIVstatus knowledge and linkage to care and treatment. However, it is unclear ifPNScan facilitate linkage ofHIV‐negative partners to prevention services such as pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Using qualitative methods, we explored provider perspective regarding the interaction of PrEPavailability,PNSand antiretroviral treatment (ART) outcomes within a project integrating PrEPservices intoHIVcare clinics in eight counties in western and central Kenya.MethodsFrom May 2017 to August 2018, data on integrated PrEPservice delivery including its interaction withPNSwere collected through 71 key informant in‐depth interviews with healthcare providers and 24 standardized technical assistance reports summarizing implementation at the participating clinics. Thus, the perspective was from that of providers; analyses focused on emergent themes relatingPNSto PrEPandARTservices.ResultsProviders found that PrEPintegration provided an additional concrete prevention option forHIV‐negative partners and created a motivation to offerPNSto persons living withHIV. PrEPavailability also seemed to operate as an incentive for those living withHIVto participate inPNS, which in turn enhanced identification of potential PrEPclients and created an environment for discussingHIVtransmission risk. Providers commented that initiatingHIV‐negative partners on PrEPenhanced mutual monitoring of health outcomes, including improved adherence toARTby partners living withHIV. Clinics noted prioritizing people living withHIVwith detectable viral loads forPNSin order to identifyHIV‐negative partners who would benefit most from PrEP. Providers felt motivated by the apparent synergistic interaction ofPNS, PrEPandART.ConclusionsProviders felt that the integration of PrEPintoHIVcare clinics stimulated the provision ofPNS, andPNSwas used to improve the identification of potential PrEPclients. The integrated combination ofPNS, PrEPandARTis synergistic and should be promoted inHIVclinics.
Assisted HIV partner notification services in resource‐limited settings: experiences and achievements from Cameroon
Authors: Tih Pius M , Temgbait Chimoun Francois , Mboh Khan Eveline , Nshom Emmanuel , Nambu Winifred , Shields Ray , Wamuti Beatrice M , Golden Matthew R , Welty Thomas 
Published: July 2019

AbstractIntroductionIn 2007, the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS) initiated an assisted partner notification services (aPNS) public health programme to increase HIV case identification and reduce HIV incidence in the most affected regions of Cameroon. We describe large‐scale implementation of aPNS and overall programmatic achievements in a resource‐limited setting through 2015.MethodsCBCHS trained health advisors (HAs) from 16 CBCHS facilities and 22 non‐CBCHS facilities to integrate aPNS into their existing jobs in five of the ten Cameroon regions. HAs recorded basic demographic, clinical and risk factor information from consenting index persons (IPs) and similar information about their sexual partners’/contact persons (CPs) on interview records and aPNS registers. These data were entered into an Epi‐Info database. HAs provided pre‐test counselling to CPs and offered them HIV testing in their home or other location. HAs educated IPs and CPs on HIV prevention and risk reduction, and referred IPs and HIV positive CPs to HIV care and treatment centres. Starting in 2014, HAs re‐interviewed IPs 30 days after their initial aPNS interview to ascertain instances of social harms following partner notification. Continuous predictor and outcome variables were summarized using median and interquartile range, while categorical variables were summarized using percentages from 2007 to 2015.ResultsA total of 18,730 IPs (71% women) received aPNS over nine years. IPs identified 21,057 CPs (67% men) (mean CP/IP 1.12), of whom 12,867 (61.1%) were notified of their exposure to HIV. A total of 9202 (71.5% of notified CPs) tested for HIV, 4764 (51.8%) of whom tested HIV positive (number of IPs needed to interview = 3.9); 3112 (65.3%) HIV‐positive partners were referred to HIV care and treatment centres. Of the 976 IPs receiving aPNS in 2014 to 2015, for whom follow‐up data were available, 11 (1.1%) reported physical intimate partner violence from CPs. Thus, 44.3% of 1224 CPs were notified through provider referral. Of the 784 CPs who tested for HIV, 157 were newly diagnosed and the overall HIV prevalence was 41.6% (326/784).ConclusionsaPNS is feasible, can be brought to scale, yields a high level of case identification, and is infrequently associated with social harms and intimate partner violence.
Implementation experiences and insights from the scale‐up of an HIV assisted partner notification intervention in Central Asia
Authors: Little Kristen M , Kan Maxim , Samoylova Olga , Rsaldinova Altynai , Saliev Daniyar , Ishokov Faridun , Gray Robert , Hasen Nina S 
Published: July 2019

AbstractIntroductionWHO recommends assisted partner notification (APN) for people living with HIV (PLHIV). These services have not been widely scaled in Central Asia. We describe the results from an APN intervention implemented within a programme focused on PLHIV and people who inject drugs in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan.MethodsRoutine data from index cases and their partners were analysed from equal‐length periods before and after APN launch. Prior to APN index cases could recruit partners using passive referral, and under APN, had their choice of passive referral or APN (provider, contract or dual‐referral). We compared the demographic characteristics of index cases and their sexual/injecting partners from the pre‐APN and APN periods, described the number/proportion of HIV cases found (positivity rate) and evaluated predictors of HIV infection among partners using logistic regression.ResultsUnder APN 2676 PLHIV served as index cases and recruited 3735 partners for testing, compared to 4418 index cases and 2240 partners during the pre‐APN period. A total of 322 (8.6%) partners were rapid test positive during APN versus 161 (7.2%, p = 0.048) before APN. Women represented 38% of APN index cases (vs. 42% pre‐APN), 52% of partners tested (vs. 50% pre‐APN) and 56% of all PLHIV identified (vs. 63% pre‐APN). Compared to the pre‐APN period, the number of partners tested per index case recruited increased (0.5 to 1.4, p < 0.001) and the number of index cases needed to find one HIV‐positive partner decreased significantly (27.4 to 8.3, p < 0.001) under APN.ConclusionsAPN was feasibly integrated within a people who inject drugs and PLHIV‐focused HIV programme, and was acceptable to high‐risk populations in Central Asia. Under APN, large numbers of sexual and injecting partners of PLHIV – including women and non‐marital partners – were tested while maintaining high positivity rates. Relative to the pre‐APN period, APN approximately tripled the number of partners recruited per index case and reduced the number of index cases needed to find a positive partner by >3 times.
Data‐driven self‐calibration and reconstruction for non‐cartesian wave‐encoded single‐shot fast spin echo using deep learning
Authors: Chen Feiyu , Cheng Joseph Y. , Taviani Valentina , Sheth Vipul R. , Brunsing Ryan L. , Pauly John M. , Vasanawala Shreyas S. 
Published: July 2019

BackgroundCurrent self‐calibration and reconstruction methods for wave‐encoded single‐shot fast spin echo imaging (SSFSE) requires long computational time, especially when high accuracy is needed.PurposeTo develop and investigate the clinical feasibility of data‐driven self‐calibration and reconstruction of wave‐encoded SSFSE imaging for computation time reduction and quality improvement.Study TypeProspective controlled clinical trial.SubjectsWith Institutional Review Board approval, the proposed method was assessed on 29 consecutive adult patients (18 males, 11 females, range, 24–77 years).Field Strength/SequenceA wave‐encoded variable‐density SSFSE sequence was developed for clinical 3.0T abdominal scans to enable 3.5× acceleration with full‐Fourier acquisitions. Data‐driven calibration of wave‐encoding point‐spread function (PSF) was developed using a trained deep neural network. Data‐driven reconstruction was developed with another set of neural networks based on the calibrated wave‐encoding PSF. Training of the calibration and reconstruction networks was performed on 15,783 2D wave‐encoded SSFSE abdominal images.AssessmentImage quality of the proposed data‐driven approach was compared independently and blindly with a conventional approach using iterative self‐calibration and reconstruction with parallel imaging and compressed sensing by three radiologists on a scale from –2 to 2 for noise, contrast, sharpness, artifacts, and confidence. Computation time of these two approaches was also compared.Statistical TestsWilcoxon signed‐rank tests were used to compare image quality and two‐tailed t‐tests were used to compare computation time with P values of under 0.05 considered statistically significant.ResultsAn average 2.1‐fold speedup in computation was achieved using the proposed method. The proposed data‐driven self‐calibration and reconstruction approach significantly reduced the perceived noise level (mean scores 0.82, P < 0.0001).Data ConclusionThe proposed data‐driven calibration and reconstruction achieved twice faster computation with reduced perceived noise, providing a fast and robust self‐calibration and reconstruction for clinical abdominal SSFSE imaging.Level of Evidence: 1Technical Efficacy: Stage 1J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:841–853.
Mycorrhizal, nutritional and virgin olive oil parameters affected by groundcovers
Authors: García-González Irene , García-Díaz Andrés , Sastre Blanca , Teutscherova Nikola , Pérez Ma Ángeles , Bienes Ramón , Espejo Rafael , Hontoria Chiquinquirá 
Published: July 2019

AbstractManagement of olive groves faces the challenge of reconciling yield, soil degradation and virgin olive oil (VOO) quality. We evaluated the effect of replacing tillage management by vegetal groundcovers (GC) on the relationships between mycorrhizal symbiosis, olive nutritional status, and VOO quality under field rainfed conditions. The experiment was set up in 2014 in an existing Cornicabra olive orchard with a Haplic Gypsisol soil under a Mediterranean semiarid climate. Four treatments were replicated four times and consisted of: (1) annual cover of bitter vetch, (2) permanent Brachypodium distachyon, (3) spontaneous vegetation cover (mainly Brassicaceae species), and (4) tilled soil. The use of bitter vetch GC increased the olive root colonization by 50% compared with the tillage treatment. The effect of tillage on VOO differed from that of GC use. Tillage treatment decreased maturity index and its VOO had lower polyphenol content and less luminosity than that from the GC treatments. Olive root colonization, together with changes in nutrients such as Cu, B and other elements resulting from GC use, seems to play an important role in explaining the variability of VOO quality parameters. Although tillage may lead to higher yield by controlling competition for water and nutrients, the introduction of GC in olive groves led to higher polyphenol contents, enhancing VOO quality and, at the same time, protecting soil from erosion.
Alternative control of grape rots by essential oils of two Eucalyptus species
Authors: Pedrotti Carine , Marcon Ângela Rossi , Delamare Ana Paula Longaray , Echeverrigaray Sérgio , da Silva Ribeiro Rute Terezinha , Schwambach Joséli 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDEssential oils (EOs) are volatile natural compounds produced by plant secondary metabolism, and some of them exhibit antimicrobial activity. The objective of the present study was to determine the chemical composition the EOs of Eucalyptus staigeriana and Eucalyptus globulus, and their effect in vitro and in vivo against Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum acutatum, the most important fungal rot diseases of grapes. Moreover, grapes collected from field experiments were used to evaluate the impact of the alternative control on the alcoholic fermentation and wine composition.RESULTSThe major compound of E. staigeriana EO were citral 30.91% (19.74% geranial, 11.17% neral), 1.8‐cineole (24.59%) and limonene (19.47%), while 1.8‐cineole represented 68.26% of E. globulus EO. The two EOs showed in vitro antifungal activity against both pathogens. Eucalyptus staigeriana EO exhibited the highest activity inhibiting mycelial growth (MG) and conidial germination at 0.5 μL mL−1. Moreover, this EO was able to reduce the incidence and severity of grey rot caused by B. cinerea and the severity of ripe rot caused by C. acutatum The alternative control did not significantly influence alcoholic fermentation, the physicochemical characteristics, and the volatile composition of wines.CONCLUSIONThese results are promising and indicate that E. staigeriana EO might be further investigated as a natural alternative for the control of fungal rots on wine grapes. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Sharp contrasts between freshwater and marine microbial enzymatic capabilities, community composition, and DOM pools in a NE Greenland fjord
Authors: Balmonte John Paul , Hasler‐Sheetal Harald , Glud Ronnie N. , Andersen Thorbjørn J. , Sejr Mikael K. , Middelboe Mathias , Teske Andreas , Arnosti Carol 
Published: July 2019

AbstractIncreasing glacial discharge can lower salinity and alter organic matter (OM) supply in fjords, but assessing the biogeochemical effects of enhanced freshwater fluxes requires understanding of microbial interactions with OM across salinity gradients. Here, we examined microbial enzymatic capabilities—in bulk waters (nonsize‐fractionated) and on particles (≥ 1.6 μm)—to hydrolyze common OM constituents (peptides, glucose, polysaccharides) along a freshwater–marine continuum within Tyrolerfjord‐Young Sound. Bulk peptidase activities were up to 15‐fold higher in the fjord than in glacial rivers, whereas bulk glucosidase activities in rivers were twofold greater, despite fourfold lower cell counts. Particle‐associated glucosidase activities showed similar trends by salinity, but particle‐associated peptidase activities were up to fivefold higher—or, for several peptidases, only detectable—in the fjord. Bulk polysaccharide hydrolase activities also exhibited freshwater–marine contrasts: xylan hydrolysis rates were fivefold higher in rivers, while chondroitin hydrolysis rates were 30‐fold greater in the fjord. Contrasting enzymatic patterns paralleled variations in bacterial community structure, with most robust compositional shifts in river‐to‐fjord transitions, signifying a taxonomic and genetic basis for functional differences in freshwater and marine waters. However, distinct dissolved organic matter (DOM) pools across the salinity gradient, as well as a positive relationship between several enzymatic activities and DOM compounds, indicate that DOM supply exerts a more proximate control on microbial activities. Thus, differing microbial enzymatic capabilities, community structure, and DOM composition—interwoven with salinity and water mass origins—suggest that increased meltwater may alter OM retention and processing in fjords, changing the pool of OM supplied to coastal Arctic microbial communities.
Proteomic Analysis Reveals Anti‐Fibrotic Effects of Blue Light Photobiomodulation on Fibroblasts
Authors: Chang Lo‐Yu , Fan Sabrina Mai‐Yi , Liao Yen‐Chen , Wang Wei‐Hung , Chen Yu‐Ju , Lin Sung‐Jan 
Published: July 2019

Background and ObjectivesThis study was aimed at determining the effects of blue light photobiomodulation on primary adult mouse dermal fibroblasts (AMDFs) and the associated signaling pathways.Study Design/Materials and MethodsCultured AMDFs from adult C57BL/6 mice were irradiated by blue light from a light‐emitting diode (wavelength = 463 ± 50 nm; irradiance = 5 mW/cm2; energy density = 4–8 J/cm2). The cells were analyzed using mass spectrometry for proteomics/phosphoproteomics, AlamarBlue assay for mitochondrial activity, time‐lapse video for cell migration, quantitative polymerase chain reaction for gene expression, and immunofluorescence for protein expression.ResultsProteomic/phosphoproteomic analysis showed inhibition of extracellular signal‐regulated kinases/mammalian target of rapamycin and casein kinase 2 pathways, cell motility‐related networks, and multiple metabolic processes, including carbon metabolism, biosynthesis of amino acid, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and the pentose phosphate pathway. Functional analysis demonstrated inhibition of mitochondrial activities, cell migration, and mitosis. Expression of growth promoting insulin‐like growth factor 1 and fibrosis‐related genes, including transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) and collagen type 1 ɑ2 chain diminished. Protein expression of α‐smooth muscle actin, an important regulator of myofibroblast functions, was also suppressed.ConclusionsLow‐level blue light exerted suppressive effects on AMDFs, including suppression of mitochondrial activity, metabolism, cell motility, proliferation, TGFβ1 levels, and collagen I production. Low‐level blue light can be a potential treatment for the prevention and reduction of tissue fibrosis, such as hypertrophic scar and keloids. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Neural control properties of the external anal sphincter in young and elderly women
Authors: Dias Nicholas , Zhang Chuan , Li Xuhong , Neshatian Leila , Orejuela Francisco J. , Zhang Yingchun 
Published: July 2019

AbstractAimsThe prevalence of fecal incontinence (FI) increases with age and affects more than 15% of the elderly population. Sarcopenia, skeletal muscle structural, and functional decline with aging, is known to be caused by neuromuscular dysfunction. However, age‐related alterations of the neuromuscular function of the external anal sphincter (EAS) have not been studied. This study aims to quantitatively characterize the effect of aging on the EAS by assessing the firing patterns and size of motor unit action potential (MUAP) using high‐density surface electromyography (HD‐sEMG) recording and analysis techniques.MethodsThirteen young (31.0 ± 3.6 years) and 14 elderly (64.3 ± 6.2 years) healthy women were recruited for this study. EMG activity of the EAS during maximal voluntary contraction was recorded by a 64‐Channel, HD‐sEMG intra‐rectal probe. HD‐sEMG signals were decomposed into MUAP spike trains to extract the firing rate and amplitudes thereof.ResultsHD‐sEMG decomposition was successfully performed. For the young and elderly groups, mean motor unit (MU) firing rates of 11.4 ± 2.1 pulses per second (PPS) and 9.6 ± 2.3 PPS, and mean MUAP amplitudes of 45.2 ± 14.3 µV and 61.9 ± 21.2 µV were respectively obtained. Both the MU firing rate and MUAP amplitude were significantly different between two groups (P < .05). Moreover, the MUAP firing rate and amplitude correlated with age with a linear regression model (P < .05).ConclusionsThis study represents the first effort to examine the effect of aging on the neuromuscular function of EAS. Results suggest an age‐related impairment of lower motor neuron descending excitation to the EAS with a compensatory increase in mean MU size.