bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predicting HIV Drug Resistance among Persons Living with HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa using Population-based HIV Impact Assessment Surveys: 2015-2019
Authors: Nsonga Edson , Goma Mtumbi , Ng’ambi Wingston Felix , Zyambo Cosmas 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACTIntroductionHIV drug resistance (HIVDR) remains a significant challenge in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where access to effective treatment and healthcare resources varies widely. Socioeconomic status, demographic factors, clinical parameters, and regional disparities have been associated with patterns of HIVDR across SSA. Understanding the interplay of these factors is crucial for designing effective interventions to mitigate the impact of HIVDR and improve treatment outcomes in the region.MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis of the Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (PHIA) HIV drug resistance datasets from Cameroon, Malawi, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. All recipients of care aged between 15+ years were included in this analysis. The outcome of interest was whether a person had HIVDR resistant strains or no HIVDR resistant strains. Predictive analysis, chi-square test, univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted in R. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05.ResultsThe total sample size across the nine countries was 1008. Tanzania had the highest representation (16.8%), followed by Zambia (16.3%) and Zimbabwe (14.2% while Rwanda had the lowest representation (5.1%). Significant associations were observed between ARV status, viral suppression, country of residence and HIVDR in SSA. Individuals residing in Rwanda had significantly higher odds of HIVDR (adjusted OR = 3.63, 95% CI: 1.22-11.0, p = 0.021) compared to other countries. Additionally, individuals with suppressed viral loads had significantly lower odds of HIVDR (adjusted OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.21-0.45, p < 0.001), while those on ART exhibited higher odds of HIVDR (adjusted OR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.75-3.91, p < 0.001).ConclusionThis study focused on how clinical and sociodemographic factors influence HIVDR patterns in SSA. To mitigate the effects of HIVDR and improve treatment outcomes in the region, it is critical to address barriers to treatment access and adherence and upgrade the healthcare system.
Individualized Glycemic Index: A New Approach to Personalized Glycemic Control
Authors: de Oliveira Andrade Luís Jesuíno , de Oliveira Gabriela Correia Matos , de Oliveira Luísa Correia Matos , Rocha Roseanne Montargil , de Oliveira Luís Matos 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACTIntroductionThe assessment of glycemic control is fundamental for diabetes management. However, traditional measures have limitations, including susceptibility to non-glycemic factors. To address these limitations, there is a growing need for personalized metrics of glycemic control that take into account individual variability and provide a more comprehensive assessment of glycemic response.ObjectiveTo develop the Individualized Glycemic Index (IGI) as a new marker of glycemic control. Methods: A simulated dataset representing individuals with varied glycemic profiles, including fasting glucose levels, glycemic variability measures, glycemic response to foods, HbA1c, fructosamine, and other relevant factors, was created. An algorithm was implemented in the Python language using designated libraries. We evaluated: the algorithm’s performance using simulated data with known glycemic control outcomes; the algorithm’s ability to accurately predict glycemic control based on the provided data; the algorithm’s performance with glycemic control analyses.ResultsThe IGI algorithm uses a comprehensive set of input data to provide a personalized assessment of glycemic control. A program in Python language was developed to calculate the IGI, with a comprehensive metric for evaluating glycemic control. The structured algorithm incorporated the most relevant factors to create a program taking into account each patient’s individuality.ConclusionThe IGI provides a more comprehensive and personalized assessment of glycemic control, which may improve diabetes management and outcomes, becoming a promising marker of glycemic control that surpasses the limitations of traditional measures.
Dynamics of sensorimotor reweighting: How light touch alters vestibular-evoked balance responses
Authors: Goar Megan H. , Barnett-Cowan Michael , Horslen Brian C. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIntegrated multisensory feedback plays a crucial role in balance control. Minimal fingertip contact with a surface (light-touch), reduces center of pressure (CoP) by adding sensory information about postural orientation and balance state. Electrical vestibular stimulation (EVS) can increase sway by adding erroneous vestibular cues. This juxtaposition of conflicting sensory cues can be exploited to explore the dynamics of sensorimotor reweighting. We used continuous stochastic EVS (0-25Hz; ±4mA; 200-300s) to evoke balance responses in CoP (Exp-1, Exp-2) and segment accelerations (Exp-2). Systems analyses (coherence, gain) quantified coupling and size of balance responses to EVS. We had participants either touch (TOUCH; <2N) or not touch (NO-TOUCH) a load cell during EVS (Exp-1, Exp-2), or we intermittently removed the touch surface (Exp-2) to measure the effects of light touch on vestibular-evoked balance responses. We hypothesized that coherence and gain between EVS and CoP would decrease, consistent with the CNS down-weighting vestibular cues that conflict with light touch. Light touch reduced CoP displacement, but increased variation in the CoP signal explained by EVS input. Significant coherence between EVS and CoP was observed up to ∼30Hz in both conditions but was significantly greater in the TOUCH condition from 12-28.5-Hz. Conversely, EVS-CoP gain was 63% lower in TOUCH, compared to NO-TOUCH. Our findings show that light touch can re-weight vestibular-evoked responses by reducing their size but also increasing high frequency vestibular contributions for sway. This suggests that the CNS can use novel sensory inputs to alter balance behavior but cannot completely ignore a salient balance cue.New and NoteworthyThis study reveals that minimal fingertip contact (light touch) during balance tasks not only diminishes the impact of electrical vestibular stimulation (EVS) on sway, but also enhances the central nervous systems ability to integrate high-frequency vestibular cues. Specifically, light touch decreases the magnitude of EVS-induced sway while increasing coherence with EVS at higher frequencies, illustrating the central nervous system’s capacity to adaptively reweight sensory inputs for improved balance control without fully disregarding dominant cues.
A dual-receptor model of serotonergic psychedelics
Authors: Juliani Arthur , Chelu Veronica , Graesser Laura , Safron Adam 
Published: April 2024

AbstractSerotonergic psychedelics have been identified as promising next-generation therapeutic agents in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders. While their efficacy has been increasingly validated, the mechanism by which they exert a therapeutic effect is still debated. A popular theoretical account is that excessive 5-HT2a agonism disrupts cortical dynamics, relaxing the precision of maladaptive high-level beliefs and making them more malleable and open to revision. We extend this perspective by developing a simple energy-based model of cortical dynamics based on predictive processing which incorporates effects of neuromodulation. Using this model, we propose and simulate hypothetical computational mechanisms for both 5-HT2a and 5-HT1a agonism. Results from our model are able to account for a number of existing empirical observations concerning serotonergic psychedelics effects on cognition and affect. Using the findings of our model, we provide a theoretically-grounded hypothesis for the clinical success of LSD, psilocybin, and DMT, as well as identify the design space of biased 5-HT1a agonist psychedelics such as 5-MeO-DMT as potentially fruitful in the development of more effective and tolerable psychotherapeutic agents in the future.
Comparing the impact of contextual associations and statistical regularities in visual search and attention orienting
Authors: Sefranek Marcus , Zokaei Nahid , Draschkow Dejan , Nobre Anna C. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractDuring visual search, we quickly learn to attend to an object’s likely location. Research has shown that this process can be guided by learning target locations based on consistent spatial contextual associations or statistical regularities. Here, we tested how these different types of learning aid the utilisation of established memories for different purposes. Participants learned contextual associations or statistical regularities that predicted target locations within different scenes. The consequences of this learning for subsequent performance were then evaluated on attention-orienting and memory-recall tasks. Participants demonstrated facilitated attention-orienting and recall performance based on both contextual associations and statistical regularities. Contextual associations facilitated attention orienting with a different time course compared to statistical regularities. Benefits to memory-recall performance depended on the alignment between the learned association or regularity and the recall demands. The distinct patterns of behavioural facilitation by contextual associations and statistical regularities show how different forms of long-term memory may influence neural information processing through different modulatory mechanisms.
A Training-of-Trainers Program for Nurses in Tanzania: ICU Standards of Care, Documentation, and Communication
Authors: Kistner Grace , Macfarlan Shannon 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWe present one method of a Training-of-Trainers (ToT) program supported by a partnership between a low-middle income country (LMIC) hospital and a high income country (HIC) organization through lectures, group discussions, assessments, and bedside coaching over a period of two weeks. The goal was to build capacity in ICU nurses by teaching standards of care and documentation, improving interdisciplinary communication, and scaling up participants’ knowledge and comfort levels in providing quality care. Nurse educators from the Alliance for Global Clinical Training (Alliance) designed the program and conducted the critical care nursing curriculum. Topics were selected by Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) nursing peers who also provided facility information. Understanding what resources and infrastructure are routinely available is essential to applying concepts to practice. The MNH administrative team and nursing education liaison sought out the best suited participants. Identifying talent in participants for ToT programs is crucial to their success. Nurse participants were chosen as effective representatives of their individual units to be future agents of change. Participants described what they most wanted from the program, including: increased knowledge in documentation, communication, and overall critical care specialized training. Pre- and post-knowledge assessments tested critical care knowledge. The nursing process ADPIE (Assessment, Diagnosis, Problem, Intervention, Evaluation) and SBAR communication (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) were provided tools for standard operating procedures which enhance interdisciplinary management of care. Clear and consistent documentation with ADPIE requires clinical assessment and evidence-based diagnoses. Standardized communication with SBAR provides an organized framework to professionally relay critical information and provide recommendations. All materials were provided in an open-access format for the program to be easily replicated by the participants. A long-term goal of this training was to assess impact and sustainability.
Assessing the Impact of Olfactory Dysfunction on Eating Behavior: A Systematic Scoping Review and Call for Standardized Assessments
Authors: Parvin Parvaneh , Boesveldt Sanne , Postma Elbrich M. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractOlfaction plays a priming role in both the anticipation and consumption phases of eating behavior. Olfactory dysfunction can therefore lead to changes in various aspects of eating behavior, such as food choice, appetite, and food intake. In light of the increasing prevalence of persistent olfactory dysfunction among patients affected by Covid-19, providing proper care and dietary advice to individuals with olfactory dysfunction is imperative. Therefore, this scoping review seeks to gain a better understanding of the impact of olfactory dysfunction on eating behavior. Following the PRISMA guidelines, 49 papers were included, the outcomes were presented by dividing them into two categories: 1) anticipatory eating behavior, including (anticipatory) food liking, appetite and craving, food preferences, food neophobia, and cooking habits; and 2) consummatory behavior, including, food intake, consumption frequency, adherence to dietary guidelines, (experienced) food liking, food enjoyment, and eating habits. Our results show that in the anticipatory phase of eating behavior, food liking and, food preferences and in the consummatory phase, food enjoyment is most affected in people who experienced a sudden change in olfactory function rather than a gradual decline. Moreover, changes in food flavor perception due to olfactory dysfunction, result in a shift of food preferences towards more taste-based preferences, such as salty or savory (i.e., umami) foods. Subsequently, changes in preferences can affect food intake and adherence to dietary guidelines, but only to a limited extent. Appetite is more likely to be low in individuals with short-term olfactory dysfunction compared to those with long-term changes. Generally, eating behavior is more impacted in individuals with a distorted sense of smell than in those with smell loss, and the effect becomes more pronounced over time. Due to the heterogeneity of methods used to measure different aspects of eating behavior, this review stresses the importance of more research on olfaction and eating behavior using standardized and validated assessments. Such research is essential to better understand the effects of olfactory dysfunction on each aspect of eating behavior and provide effective interventions.HighlightsFood liking, preferences, and enjoyment are the most affected by olfactory dysfunctionImpact on eating behavior is more pronounced in qualitative vs. quantitative smell lossEffects of olfactory dysfunction vary by duration and nature (qualitative vs. quantitative)Standardized, validated methods are needed to assess eating behavior in future studiesThere is a crucial need for effective interventions to enhance the eating experienceGraphical Abstract
CWAS-Plus: Estimating category-wide association of rare noncoding variation from whole-genome sequencing data with cell-type-specific functional data
Authors: Kim Yujin , Jeong Minwoo , Koh In Gyeong , Kim Chanhee , Lee Hyeji , Kim Jae Hyun , Yurko Ronald , Kim Il Bin , Park Jeongbin , Werling Donna M. , Sanders Stephan J. , An Joon-Yong 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACTVariants in cis-regulatory elements link the noncoding genome to human brain pathology; however, detailed analytic tools for understanding the association between cell-level brain pathology and noncoding variants are lacking. CWAS-Plus, adapted from a Python package for category-wide association testing (CWAS) employs both whole-genome sequencing and user-provided functional data to enhance noncoding variant analysis, with a faster and more efficient execution of the CWAS workflow. Here, we used single-nuclei assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing to facilitate CWAS-guided noncoding variant analysis at cell-type specific enhancers and promoters. Examining autism spectrum disorder whole-genome sequencing data (n = 7,280), CWAS-Plus identified noncodingde novovariant associations in transcription factor binding sites within conserved loci. Independently, in Alzheimer’s disease whole-genome sequencing data (n = 1,087), CWAS-Plus detected rare noncoding variant associations in microglia-specific regulatory elements. These findings highlight CWAS-Plus’s utility in genomic disorders and scalability for processing large-scale whole-genome sequencing data and in multiple-testing corrections. CWAS-Plus and its user manual are available athttps://github.com/joonan-lab/cwas/andhttps://cwas-plus.readthedocs.io/en/latest/, respectively.KEY POINTSCWAS-Plus efficiently identifies noncoding associations in WGS data, supporting user-friendly categorization and burden enrichment tests.CWAS-Plus integrates various functional datasets, emphasizing cell-type-specific noncoding associations.CWAS-Plus provides a novel approach for multiple testing correction, enhancing the reliability of the results.Autism spectrum disorder risk noncoding variants are identified as enriched with transcription factors, suggesting their role in the pathology.Rare variant analysis with Alzheimer’s disease samples reveals strong association with microglia, supporting the reliability of the results produced by CWAS-Plus.
Two distinctTrypanosomaeIF4F complexes co-exist, bind different mRNAs and are regulated during nutritional stress
Authors: Gabiatti Bernardo Papini , Freire Eden Ribeiro , da Costa Jimena Ferreira , Ferrarini Mariana Galvão , de Matos Tatiana Reichert Assunção , Preti Henrique , da Rocha Isadora Munhoz , Guimarães Beatriz Gomes , Kramer Susanne , Zanchin Nilson Ivo Tonin , Holetz Fabíola Barbieri 
Published: April 2024

AbstractMany eIF4F subunits and PABP paralogues are found in trypanosomes: six eIF4E, five eIF4G, one eIF4A and two PABPs. They are expressed simultaneously and assemble into different complexes, contrasting the situation in metazoans that use distinct complexes in different cell types or developmental stages. Each eIF4F complex has its own proteins, mRNAs and, consequently, a distinct function. We set out to study the function and regulation of the two major eIF4F complexes ofTrypanosoma cruziand identified the associated proteins and mRNAs of eIF4E3 and eIF4E4 in cells in exponential growth and in nutritional stress. Upon stress, eIF4G/eIF4A and PABP remain associated to the eIF4E, but the associations with other 43S pre-initiation factors decrease, indicating that ribosome attachment is impaired. Most eIF4E3-associated mRNAs encode for metabolic proteins, while eIF4E4 associate to mRNAs encoding ribosomal proteins. Interestingly, for both eIF4E3/4, more mRNAs were associated in stressed cells than in non-stressed cells, even though these mRNAs have lower translational efficiencies in stress. In summary, trypanosomes have two co-existing eIF4F complexes involved in translation of distinct mRNA cohorts important for growth. Under stress conditions, both complexes exit translation but remain bound to their mRNA targets.
Role of Glycogen Metabolism inClostridioides difficileVirulence
Authors: Hasan Md Kamrul , Pizzarro-Guajardo Marjorie , Sanchez Javier , Govind Revathi 
Published: April 2024

AbstractGlycogen plays a vital role as an energy reserve in various bacterial and fungal species.Clostridioides difficilepossesses a glycogen metabolism operon that contains genes for both glycogen synthesis and utilization. In our investigation, we focused on understanding the significance of glycogen metabolism in the physiology and pathogenesis ofC. difficile. To explore this, we engineered aC. difficileJIR8094 strain lacking glycogen synthesis capability by introducing a group II intron into theglgCgene, the operon’s first component. Quantification of intracellular glycogen levels validated the impact of this modification. Interestingly, the mutant strain exhibited a 1.5-fold increase in toxin production compared to the parental strain, without significant changes in sporulation rate. Our analysis also revealed that wild-typeC. difficilespores contained glycogen, whereas spores from the mutant strain lacking stored glycogen showed increased sensitivity to physical and chemical treatments and had a shorter storage life. By suppressingglgPexpression, the gene coding for glycogen-phosphorylase, via CRISPRi, we demonstrated that glycogen accumulation but not the utilization is needed for spore resilience inC. difficile. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed a significantly lower core/cortex ratio inglgCmutant strain spores. In hamster challenge experiments, both the parental andglgCmutant strains colonized hosts similarly; however, the mutant strain failed to induce infection relapse after antibiotic treatment cessation. These findings highlight the importance of glycogen metabolism inC. difficilespore resilience and suggest its role in disease relapse.ImportanceThis study on the role of glycogen metabolism inC. difficilehighlights its critical involvement in the pathogen’s energy management, its pathogenicity and resilience. Our results also revealed that glycogen presence in spores is pivotal for their structural integrity and resistance to adverse conditions, which is essential for their longevity and infectivity. Importantly, the inability of the mutant strain to cause infection relapse in hamsters post-antibiotic treatment pinpoints a potential target for therapeutic interventions, highlighting the importance of glycogen in disease dynamics. This research thus significantly advances our understanding ofC. difficilephysiology and pathogenesis, offering new avenues for combating its persistence and recurrence.
Extremely large water droplet impact onto a deep liquid pool
Authors: Dighe Sandip , Maity Dilip Kumar , Fonnesbeck Jeffrey N. , Dutta Som , Truscott Tadd 
Published: April 2024

Most studies of droplet impact on liquid pools focus on droplet diameters up to the capillary length (0.27 cm). We break from convention and study extremely large water droplets (1 to 6 cm diameter) falling into a pool of water. We demonstrate that the depth and width of the cavity formed by large droplet impact is greatly influenced by the deformed shape of the droplet at impact (i.e., prolate, spherical, and oblate), and larger droplets amplify this behavior by flattening before impact. In particular, the maximum cavity depth is a function of the Froude number and axis ratio of the droplet just before impact. Further, the cavity depth is more dependent on the droplet height than width, and the maximum cavity diameter is independent of the droplet height. In general, we observe that more oblate droplets result in decreasing cavity depths for a fixed liquid volume. This is because an increase in horizontal droplet diameter results in a reduced impact energy flux and therefore reduced cavity depth.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024