bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Considerations for viral co-infection studies in human populations
Authors: Chin Taylor , Foxman Ellen F. , Watkins Timothy A. , Lipsitch Marc 
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT

When respiratory viruses co-circulate in a population, individuals may be infected with multiple pathogens and experience possible virus–virus interactions, where concurrent or recent prior infection with one virus affects the infection process of another virus. While experimental studies have provided convincing evidence for within-host mechanisms of virus–virus interactions, evaluating evidence for viral interference or potentiation using population-level data has proven more difficult. Recent studies have quantified the prevalence of co-detections using populations drawn from clinical settings. Here, we focus on selection bias issues associated with this study design. We provide a quantitative account of the conditions under which selection bias arises in these studies, review previous attempts to address this bias, and propose unbiased study designs with sample size estimates needed to ascertain viral interference. We show that selection bias is expected in cross-sectional co-detection prevalence studies conducted in clinical settings, except under a strict set of assumptions regarding the relative probabilities of being included in a study limited to individuals with clinical disease under different viral states. Population-wide studies that collect samples from participants irrespective of their clinical status would meanwhile require large sample sizes to be sufficiently powered to detect viral interference, suggesting that a study’s timing, inclusion criteria, and the expected magnitude of interference are instrumental in determining feasibility.
Draft genome sequence of
Bacillus thuringiensis
strain V-AB8.18, a novel isolate with potential nematicidal activity
Authors: Palma Leopoldo , Bel Yolanda , Escriche Baltasar 
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT

We report the draft genome of
Bacillus thuringiensis
strain V-AB8.18, comprising 308 contigs totaling 6,182,614 bp, with 35% G + C content. It contains 6,151 putative protein-coding genes, including App6 and Cry5-like crystal proteins, exhibiting 99% pairwise identity to nematicidal proteins App6Aa2 and Cry5Ba2, active against
Meloidogyne incognita
and
Meloidogyne hapla
.
Trace fossils, paleosalinity, and depositional environment of the Northview Formation, southwest Missouri, USA
Authors: Rovey Charles W. , Bassett Damon J. , Schuette* Jaren , Michelfelder Gary S. 
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT
The Early Mississippian Northview Formation is a siliciclastic deposit reaching 25 m in thickness along an east-west trend in southwest Missouri, USA. Along this trend, the formation coarsens upward from shale to coarse siltstone with shaley interbeds and channel fills. The siltstones have high concentrations of two trace fossils: Nereites missouriensis and Zoophycos. Thus, the ichnofauna is dominated by namesake genera of the two deepest marine ichnofacies. Nevertheless, the Northview was deposited on a shallow carbonate platform.
The vertical succession of trace fossils is consistent with deltaic deposition. The lowest shale is dominated by common elements of the Phycosiphon prodelta ichnofacies, and the lowest overlying siltstone is dominated by elements of the Rosselia delta-front ichnofacies. N. missouriensis occurs abundantly and dominates the overlying siltstones, with Zoophycos covering bedding planes near the top, a pattern found within the lower plain of other Paleozoic deltas. Geochemical proxy measurements indicate paleosalinity decreasing upward through the formation and an approaching freshwater (fluvial) source, raising questions about Early Mississippian source areas and tectonics.
Misoprostol for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: a randomised control trial
Authors: Siyal Mehreen , Abbas Zaigham , Qadeer Muhammad Ali , Saeed Alina , Ali Usman , Khatoon Ambrina 
Published: June 2024

IntroductionThe management of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an unmet clinical need. Misoprostol, a structural analogue of naturally occurring prostaglandin E1, has been reported to decrease proinflammatory cytokine production and may have a potential role in treating NASH. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of misoprostol in treating patients with NASH.MethodsIn this phase 2, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial, patients with NASH were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive 200 µg of misoprostol or placebo thrice daily for 2 months. The primary endpoint was an improvement in liver function tests (LFTs), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and endotoxin levels. The secondary endpoint was improvement in insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia, hepatic fibrosis and hepatic steatosis.ResultsA total of 50 patients underwent randomisation, of whom 44 (88%) were males. The age range was 25–64 years (mean±SE of mean (SEM) 38.1±1.4). 19 (38%) patients had concomitant type 2 diabetes mellitus. 32 (64%) patients were either overweight or obese. At the end of 2 months’ treatment, a reduction in total leucocyte count (TLC) (p=0.005), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p<0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p=0.002) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) (p=0.003) was observed in the misoprostol group, whereas placebo ensued a decline in ALT (p<0.001), AST (p=0.018), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (p=0.003), CAP (p=0.010) and triglycerides (p=0.048). There was no diminution in insulin resistance, hepatic fibrosis (elastography) and dyslipidaemia in both groups. However, misoprostol resulted in a significant reduction in CAP as compared with the placebo group (p=0.039). Moreover, in the misoprostol group, pretreatment and post-treatment IL-6 and endotoxin levels remained stable, while in the placebo group, an increase in the IL-6 levels was noted (p=0.049). Six (12%) patients had at least one adverse event in the misoprostol group, as did five (10%) in the placebo group. The most common adverse event in the misoprostol group was diarrhoea. No life-threatening events or treatment-related deaths occurred in each group.ConclusionImprovement in the biochemical profile was seen in both misoprostol and placebo groups without any statistically significant difference. However, there was more improvement in steatosis, as depicted by CAP, in the misoprostol group and worsening of IL-6 levels in the placebo group.Trial registration numberNCT05804305.
Automatic three-dimensional reconstruction of the oesophagus in achalasia patients undergoing POEM: an innovative approach for evaluating treatment outcomes
Authors: Grünherz Vivian , Ebigbo Alanna , Elia Miriam , Brunner Alessandra , Krafft Tamara , Pöller Leo , Schneider Pia , Stieler Fabian , Bauer Bernhard , Muzalyova Anna , Messmann Helmut , Nagl Sandra 
Published: June 2024

Background and aimsPeroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a standard treatment option for achalasia patients. Treatment response varies due to factors such as achalasia type, degree of dilatation, pressure and distensibility indices. We present an innovative approach for treatment response prediction based on an automatic three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction of the tubular oesophagus (TE) and the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) in patients undergoing POEM for achalasia.MethodsA software was developed, integrating data from high-resolution manometry, timed barium oesophagogram and endoscopic images to automatically generate 3-D reconstructions of the TE and LES. Novel normative indices for TE (volume×pressure) and LES (volume/pressure) were automatically integrated, facilitating pre-POEM and post-POEM comparisons. Treatment response was evaluated by changes in volumetric and pressure indices for the TE and the LES before as well as 3 and 12 months after POEM. In addition, these values were compared with normal value indices of non-achalasia patients.Results50 treatment-naive achalasia patients were enrolled prospectively. The mean TE index decreased significantly (p<0.0001) and the mean LES index increased significantly 3 months post-POEM (p<0.0001). In the 12-month follow-up, no further significant change of value indices between 3 and 12 months post-POEM was seen. 3 months post-POEM mean LES index approached the mean LES of the healthy control group (p=0.077).Conclusion3-D reconstruction provides an interactive, dynamic visualisation of the oesophagus, serving as a comprehensive tool for evaluating treatment response. It may contribute to refining our approach to achalasia treatment and optimising treatment outcomes.Trial registration number22-0149.
Toward a more systematic understanding of water insecurity coping strategies: insights from 11 global sites
Authors: Collins Shalean M , Mock Nancy , Chaparro M Pia , Rose Donald , Watkins Benjamin , Wutich Amber , Young Sera L 
Published: June 2024

IntroductionWater insecurity–the inability to access and benefit from affordable, reliable and safe water for basic needs–is a considerable global health threat. With the urgent need to target interventions to the most vulnerable, accurate and meaningful measurement is a priority. Households use diverse strategies to cope with water insecurity; however, these have not been systematically characterised nor measured. The Food Insecurity Coping Strategies Index has been insightful for targeting nutrition interventions to the most vulnerable. As a first step towards creating an analogous scale for water, this study characterises the largest empirical data set on water insecurity coping strategies and proposes guidance on measuring it using a novel toolkit.MethodsOpen-ended responses on water insecurity coping (n=2301) were collected across 11 sites in 10 low- and middle-income countries in the Household Water InSecurity Experiences (HWISE) Scale validation study. Responses were characterised and compared with behaviours identified in the literature to construct an instrument to systematically assess coping.ResultsWe identified 19 distinct strategies that households used when experiencing water insecurity. These findings, paired with prior literature, were used to develop a Water Insecurity Coping Strategies Assessment Toolkit with guidance on its piloting to assess coping prevalence, frequency and severity.ConclusionsThe widespread occurrence of water insecurity coping strategies underscores the importance of understanding their prevalence and severity. The Water Insecurity Coping Strategies Assessment Toolkit offers a comprehensive approach to evaluate these strategies and inform the design and monitoring of interventions targeting those most vulnerable to water insecurity.
Realist process evaluation of occupational performance coaching: protocol
Authors: Graham Fiona , Williman Jonathan , Desha Laura , Snell Deborah , Jones Bernadette , Ingham Tristram , Latu Anna Tiatia Fa'atoese , Ranta Annemarei , Walker Emma , Makasini Salote , Ziviani Jenny 
Published: June 2024

IntroductionA cluster randomised controlled trial, the Meaning, Agency and Nurturing Autonomy (MANA) study, is underway comparing the effects of occupational performance coaching (OPC) and usual care on the social participation, health and well-being of children with neurodisability and their caregivers. This protocol presents the realist process evaluation which is occurring in parallel with the trial to allow testing and further refinement of OPC programme theory, as represented in its logic model. The aim of this realist evaluation is to examine what works, for whom, in the implementation of OPC with caregivers of children with neurodisability (in particular, Māori and Pasifika) in current service delivery contexts.Methods and analysisGuided by OPC programme theory and realist evaluation processes, mixed-methods data collected from the MANA study OPC group will be analysed to elucidate when OPC works (outcomes), for whom, how (mechanisms) and under what circumstances (contexts). This will culminate in the synthesis of Intervention-Actor Context-Mechanism-Outcome configurations. Descriptive analyses will be reported for quantitative measures of treatment fidelity (OPC-Fidelity Measure), caregiver emotional response to OPC (Session Rating Scale) preintervention emotional state (Depression Stress and Anxiety Scale) and client outcomes (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure). Reflexive thematic analysis will be undertaken to analyse realist interviews with therapists who implemented OPC above and below fidelity thresholds and culturally focused interviews with clients of Māori or Pasifika ethnicity, informing understanding of the contexts influencing therapists’ implementation of OPC with fidelity, and the mechanisms triggered within therapists or caregivers to elicit a response to the intervention. The MANA study trial outcomes will be reported separately.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval for this study was granted by the New Zealand Health and Disability Ethics Committee (20/STH/93). In all participating jurisdictions local area approval was obtained, involving a process of local Māori consultation. Results will be disseminated to all participants, and more broadly to clinicians and policy-makers through conference presentations and peer-reviewed journal publications, which will inform decision-making about resourcing and supporting effective delivery of OPC to optimise outcomes for children and caregivers.Trial registration numberACTRN12621000519853.
Long COVID cognitive sequelae 6 months postinfection and beyond: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Monteiro Sara , Dessenne Coralie , Perquin Magali 
Published: June 2024

IntroductionThe novel and expanding field of long COVID research has undergone diverse methodological approaches in recent years. This protocol lays out the methodological approach, which aims at identifying nuances in current research. It underscores the necessity for a more precise understanding of prolonged cognitive sequelae and their relation to initial disease severity. The findings will add valuable insights for the development of targeted rehabilitation, healthcare interventions and thereby aid patients, clinicians, policymakers and researchers. Our upcoming research is introduced here.Methods and analysisTo map current research in the field, a scoping review will be conducted and documented in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Review Extension standards. A systematic search of scientific databases (PubMed, EMBASE), presented 1409 eligible results, published up to 21 December 2023. After removal of duplicates, 925 articles were extracted for screening. Two independent reviewers will screen for titles, abstracts and full texts, to extract data, which will then be organised using charting software. Data for various variables, that is, journal info, studied population demographics, study design, long COVID related data, cognitive outcomes and neuropsychological tests will be gathered. Descriptive analyses, evidence gap maps, heat map quantifications and narrative synthesis will be conducted for reporting of results.This scoping review has been registered with the Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/JHFX6).Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required, as the study does not involve human participants. The findings will be disseminated through a publication in a scientific journal and within the professional network.
Place-based strengths and vulnerabilities for mental wellness among rural minority older adults: an intervention development study protocol
Authors: Jaramillo Elise Trott 
Published: June 2024

IntroductionSevere inequities in depression and its diagnosis and treatment among rural-dwelling, racial-minority and ethnic-minority older adults compared with their urban white counterparts result in cognitive impairment, comorbidities and increased mortality, presenting a growing public health concern as the United States (US) population ages. These inequities are often attributable to social and environmental factors, including economic insecurity, histories of trauma, gaps in transportation and safety-net services, and disparities in access to policy-making processes rooted in colonialism. This constellation of factors renders racial-minority and ethnic-minority older adults ‘structurally vulnerable’ to mental ill health. Fewer data exist on protective factors associated with social and environmental contexts, such as social support, community attachment and a meaningful sense of place. Scholarship on the social determinants of health widely recognises the importance of such place-based factors. However, little research has examined how they shape disparities in depression and treatment specifically, limiting the development of practical approaches addressing these factors and their effects on mental well-being for rural minority populations.Methods and analysisThis community-driven mixed-method study uses quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews and ecological network research with 125 rural American Indian and Latinx older adults in New Mexico and 28 professional and non-professional social supporters to elucidate how place-based vulnerabilities and protective factors shape experiences of depression among older adults. Data will serve as the foundation of a community-driven plan for a multisystem intervention focused on the place-based causes of disparities in depression. Intervention Mapping will guide the intervention development process.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been reviewed and approved by the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center Institutional Review Board. All participants will provide informed consent. Study results will be disseminated within the community of study through community meetings and presentations, as well as broadly via peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations and social media.
First-in-human, real-time artificial intelligence assisted cerebral aneurysm coiling: a preliminary experience
Authors: Masuo Osamu , Sakakura Yuya , Tetsuo Yoshiaki , Takase Kana , Ishikawa Shun , Kono Kenichi 
Published: June 2024

BackgroundNeuroendovascular procedures require careful and simultaneous attention to multiple devices on multiple screens. Overlooking unintended device movements can result in complications. Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have enabled real-time notifications of device movements during procedures. We report our preliminary experience with real-time AI-assisted cerebral aneurysm coiling in humans.MethodsA real-time AI-assistance software (Neuro-Vascular Assist, iMed technologies, Tokyo, Japan) was used during coil embolization procedures in nine patients with an unruptured aneurysm. The AI system provided real-time notifications for ‘coil marker approaching’, ‘guidewire movement’, and ‘device entry’ on biplane fluoroscopic images. The efficacy, accuracy, and safety of the notifications were evaluated using video recordings.ResultsThe AI system functioned properly in all cases. The mean number of notifications for coil marker approaching, guidewire movement, and device entry per procedure was 20.0, 3.0, and 18.3, respectively. The overall precision and recall were 92.7% and 97.2%, respectively. Five of 26 true positive guidewire notifications (19%) resulted in adjustment of the guidewire back toward its original position, indicating the potential effectiveness of the AI system. No adverse events occurred.ConclusionsThe software was sufficiently accurate and safe in this preliminary study, suggesting its potential usefulness. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported use of a real-time AI system for assisting cerebral aneurysm coiling in humans. Large scale studies are warranted to validate its effectiveness. Real-time AI assistance has significant potential for future neuroendovascular therapy.
Free Vibration of Prestressed Plates and Shallow Shells with Piezoelectric Elements
Authors: Kamenskikh Alexander , Lekomtsev Sergey , Matveenko Valerii 
Published: June 2024

In this paper, the possibility of using piezoelectric elements to create a prestress state in a plate and a shallow shell leading to a change in the natural frequencies is demonstrated numerically and experimentally. Strains in the thin-walled structure are determined using the non-linear relations based on the Reissner–Mindlin theory, which are linearized with respect to the state with a small deviation from the initial equilibrium caused by the inverse piezoeffect. A mathematical formulation of the dynamics problem is based on the variational principle of virtual displacements, taking into account the prestress state. The solution was developed by the finite element method. The validity of the obtained results is confirmed by comparing the natural frequencies and mode shapes of a rectangular plate with a piezoelectric element obtained numerically and experimentally at different values of electrical voltage. A series of calculations has been carried out to analyze the influence of the elasticity modulus, length, thickness, curvature of the shallow shell and voltage on the spectrum of natural frequencies of vibration. It was found that the effectiveness of using this technique decreases with increasing stiffness of the structure as a whole.
Avaliação pericial previdenciária de motoristas de ônibus urbano com dor lombar e ciatalgia
Authors: Santos Jose Henrique Peres dos , Medeiros Clarissa Mari de 
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Lumbar and sciatica pain (LP) are health problems that cause loss of productivity and absenteeism, generating high social security costs due to benefits. Urban public transport drivers show these symptoms at significant rates, generating high social security costs, with the granting of benefits. The causes vary considerably, ranging from localized diseases to psychosocial factors. The medico-legal experts at the Brazilian National Social Security Institute (INSS) must decide whether the person needs or not the benefit in order to grant the benefit to whom it is due.
Objectives: To present relevant aspects of the medical expert assessment of urban bus drivers with DL or sciatica in the last 35 years. Method: Bibliographic review in the Scielo, Pubmed, Cochrane and Science Direct databases. In addition, books on Orthopedics and Ergonomics were consulted. Results and discussion: The medical expert must dedicate himself, on a regular basis, to anamnesis, physical examination, evaluation of truth-telling, supplementary examinations and examinations in the workplace to arrive to an objective and impartial conclusion. The expert’s diagnosis of LP and sciatica depends not only on pathological, but on biopsychosocial factors as well. Conclusion: Since pain is a subjective symptom, establishing a diagnosis is a challenging task to the medical expert, who must be experienced to be able to identify the truth of the alleged symptom. To perform an adequate evaluation of the bus driver’ health conditions, a series of examinations are conducted by the experts in the social security system: an anamnesis, to identify possible focal or psychosocial causes; a physical examination, to evaluate if the person has a real or simulated condition; supplementary tests, to corroborate and assist in the formulation of the diagnostic hypothesis; and an ergonomic evaluation, to verify external factors related to work that may affect the person’s health, as recommended by the Federal Council of Medicine. This evaluation should be as comprehensive and objective as possible; otherwise, a benefit may be improperly canceled, maintained or granted.