bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Global health workforce strategies to address the COVID‐19 pandemic: Learning lessons for the future
Authors: Williams Gemma A. , Ziemann Margaret , Chen Candice , Forman Rebecca , Sagan Anna , Pittman Patricia 
Published: January 2024

AbstractCOVID‐19 put unprecedented strain on the health and care workforce (HCWF). Yet, it also brought the HCWF to the forefront of the policy agenda and revealed many innovative solutions that can be built upon to overcome persistent workforce challenges. In this perspective, which draws on a Policy Brief prepared for the WHO Fifth Global Forum on Human Resources for Health, we present findings from a scoping review of global emergency workforce strategies implemented during the pandemic and consider what we can learn from them for the long‐term sustainability of the HCWF. Our review shows that strategies to strengthen HCWF capacity during COVID‐19 fell into three categories: (1) surging supply of health and care workers (HCWs); (2) optimizing the use of the workforce in terms of setting, skills and roles; and (3) providing HCWs with support and protection. While some initiatives were only short‐term strategies, others have potential to be continued. COVID‐19 demonstrated that changes to scope‐of‐practice and the introduction of team‐based roles are possible and central to an effective, sustainable workforce. Additionally, the use of technology and digital tools increased rapidly during COVID‐19 and can be built on to enhance access and efficiency. The pandemic also highlighted the importance of prioritizing the security, safety, and physical and mental health of workers, implementing measures that are gender and equity‐focused, and ensuring the centrality of the worker perspective in efforts to improve HCWF retention. Flexibility of regulatory, financial, technical measures and quality assurance was critical in facilitating the implementation of HCWF strategies and needs to be continued. The lessons learned from COVID‐19 can help countries strengthen the HCWF, health systems, and the health and well‐being of all, now and in the future.
The optimum fin length distribution of tabular PCM heat exchanger
Authors: Saleh Hussein Hatem , Mussa Munther Abdullah 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe study aims to find the optimal fin length distribution for improved heat transfer during melting and solidification in a tubular phase change material (PCM) heat exchanger (HE) designed for heat storage. Three types of horizontal PCM tabular HEs, all with five longitudinal fins, were studied numerically. While maintaining a constant heat‐transfer area, each model depicts a unique fin length distribution design. The first model, which serves as the reference design, has a uniform fin length distribution and each fi\n is 30 mm long. The second model has shorter upper and side fins and longer lower fins. The third model has long lower fins but shorter than that of the second model, with short side fins and no change in upper fin length with reference design. The findings indicate that the second model exhibits the best heat‐transfer performance for the melting process, while the first model is most effective for solidification. Interestingly, the third design emerges as the optimum choice for both melting and solidification processes, where for 1 h of melting operation, results obtained 87%, 92%, and 90% for three models, respectively, from the first uniform model to the third model. While for 2 h of solidification the result obtained 11%, 17%, and 13% liquid fraction for the three models, respectively.
Preclinical toxicity evaluation of novel antibacterial contezolid acefosamil in rats and dogs
Authors: Wang Wen , Li Zhengyao , Gordeev Mikhail F. , Yuan Hong 
Published: January 2024

AbstractContezolid acefosamil (CZA) is an intravenous prodrug of oxazolidinone antibiotic contezolid (CZD). It is being developed to treat infections due to Gram‐positive bacteria including multidrug‐resistant pathogens, while addressing myelosuppression and neurotoxicity limitations associated with long‐term use of this class of antibiotics. In vivo, CZA is rapidly deacylated into its first metabolite MRX‐1352, which is then dephosphorylated to release active drug CZD. Four‐week repeat‐dose toxicity studies of intravenous CZA were conducted in Sprague–Dawley rats (40, 80, and 160/120 mg/kg/dose twice a day [BID]) and beagle dogs (25, 50, and 100/75 mg/kg/dose BID). The high doses administered to both rats and dogs were adjusted due to adverse effects including decreased body weight and food consumption. Additionally, a dose‐dependent transient reduction in erythrocyte levels was recorded at the end of dosing phase. Importantly, no myelosuppressive reduction in platelet counts was observed, in contrast to the myelosuppression documented for standard‐of‐care oxazolidinone linezolid. The no‐observed‐adverse‐effect level (NOAEL) of CZA was 80 and 25 mg/kg/dose BID in rats and dogs, respectively. Separately, 3‐month neuropathological evaluation in Long–Evans rats (25, 37.5, and 50 mg/kg/dose, oral CZA, BID) demonstrated no neurotoxicity in the central, peripheral, and optical neurological systems. Toxicokinetic data from these studies revealed that CZD exposures at NOAELs were higher than or comparable with that for the intended clinical dose. These results confirm the favorable safety profile for CZA and support its clinical evaluation for long‐term therapy of persistent Gram‐positive infections, beyond the application for earlier oxazolidinones.
Differential pathogenic and molecular features in neurological infection of SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron BA.5.2 and BA.2.75 and Delta
Authors: Wang Erlin , Yang Qiao‐Jiang , Xu Xiang‐Xiong , Zou Qing‐Cui , Long Yanghaopeng , Ma Guanqin , Deng Zhong‐Hua , Zhao Jie‐Bin , Li Ming‐Hua , Zeng Jianxiong 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) remains a global threat, exacerbated by the emergence of viral variants. Two variants of SARS‐CoV‐2, Omicron BA.2.75 and BA.5, led to global infection peaks between May 2022 and May 2023, yet their precise characteristics in pathogenesis are not well understood. In this study, we compared these two Omicron sublineages with the previously dominant Delta variant using a human angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 knock‐in mouse model. As expected, Delta exhibited higher viral replication in the lung and brain than both Omicron sublineages which induced less severe lung damage and immune activation. In contrast, the Omicron variants especially BA.5.2 showed a propensity for cellular proliferation and developmental pathways. Both Delta and BA.5.2 variants, but not BA.2.75, led to decreased pulmonary lymphocytes, indicating differential adaptive immune response. Neuroinvasiveness was shared with all strains, accompanied by vascular abnormalities, synaptic injury, and loss of astrocytes. However, Immunostaining assays and transcriptomic analysis showed that BA.5.2 displayed stronger immune suppression and neurodegeneration, while BA.2.75 exhibited more similar characteristics to Delta in the cortex. Such differentially infectious features could be partially attributed to the weakened interaction between Omicron Spike protein and host proteomes decoded via co‐immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry in neuronal cells. Our present study supports attenuated replication and pathogenicity of Omicron variants but also highlights their newly infectious characteristics in the lung and brain, especially with BA.5.2 demonstrating enhanced immune evasion and neural damage that could exacerbate neurological sequelae.
Spatial risk of Haemaphysalis longicornis borne Dabieshan tick virus (DBTV) in China
Authors: Han Xiaohu , Gao Shan , Xin Qing , Yang Mingwei , Bi Yudan , Jiang Feng , Zeng Zan , Kan Wei , Wang Tongyao , Chen Qijun , Chen Zeliang 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe uncertainty and unknowability of emerging infectious diseases have caused many major public health and security incidents in recent years. As a new tick‐borne disease, Dabieshan tick virus (DBTV) necessitate systematic epidemiological and spatial distribution analysis. In this study, tick samples from Liaoning Province were collected and used to evaluate distribution of DBTV in ticks. Outbreak points of DBTV and the records of the vector Haemaphysalis longicornis in China were collected and used to establish a prediction model using niche model combined with environmental factors. We found that H. longicornis and DBTV were widely distributed in Liaoning Province. The risk analysis results showed that the DBTV in the eastern provinces of China has a high risk, and the risk is greatly influenced by elevation, land cover, and meteorological factors. The risk geographical area predicted by the model is significantly larger than the detected positive areas, indicating that the etiological survey is seriously insufficient. This study provided molecular and important epidemiological evidence for etiological ecology of DBTV. The predicted high‐risk areas indicated the insufficient monitoring and risk evaluation and the necessity of future monitoring and control work.
Turnover of soil microaggregate‐protected carbon and the challenge of microscale analyses
Authors: Meyer Nele , Kaldun Jacqueline , Rodionov Andrei , Amelung Wulf , Lehndorff Eva 
Published: January 2024

AbstractBackgroundMicroaggregates are suspected to protect soil organic carbon (SOC) from microbial decay, but its residence time is not well understood.AimsWe aimed at unraveling the relevance of microaggregates for C storage and testing the hypothesis that C in the interior of aggregates is older, compared to the exterior.MethodsWe sampled soil under C3 vegetation and at a site where cropping shifted to C4 vegetation 36 years ago. We isolated free and macroaggregate‐occluded size fractions (250–53 µm) by wet sieving and ultrasound, manually isolated aggregates therefrom, and analyzed whether vegetation‐related differences in δ13C could be traced at the interior and exterior of microaggregate cross‐sections using elemental and laser ablation‐isotope ratio mass spectrometry.ResultsSize fraction weights comprised <5% of microaggregates. Based on a source partitioning approach including C3‐ and C4‐derived C, we found mean residence times of SOC in occluded and free microaggregates of 62 and 105 years, respectively. Thus, C storage was longer than that in size fractions (35 years) and bulk soil (58 years). The small‐scale variability of δ13C within aggregate cross‐sections was considerable, both in C3 and C4 soil, yet without significant (p = 0.46) differences between interior and exterior locations.ConclusionsWe conclude that microaggregates do not persist in an intact form in such a long‐term that systematic differences in δ13C patterns between exterior and interior parts can develop.
Maternal supplementation with konjac glucomannan improves maternal microbiota for healthier offspring during lactation
Authors: Gao Feng , Zhang Wentao , Cao Mingming , Liu Xinyu , Han Tingting , He Wei , Shi Baoming , Gu Zhigang 
Published: January 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe maternal diet during gestation and lactation affects the health of the offspring. Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a significantly functional polysaccharide in food research, possessing both antioxidant and prebiotic properties. However, the mechanisms of how KGM regulates maternal nutrition remain insufficient and limited. This study aimed to investigate maternal supplementation with KGM during late gestation and lactation to benefit both maternal and offspring generations.RESULTSOur findings indicate that KGM improves serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) and antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, the KGM group displayed a significant increase in the feed intake‐related hormones neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY), Ghrelin, and adenosine monophosphate‐activated kinase (AMPK) levels. KGM modified the relative abundance of Clostridium, Candidatus Saccharimonas, unclassified Firmicutes, and unclassified Christensenellaceae in sow feces. Acetate, valerate, and isobutyrate were also improved in the feces of sows in the KGM group. These are potential target bacterial genera that may modulate the host's health. Furthermore, Spearman's correlation analysis unveiled significant correlations between the altered bacteria genus and feed intake‐related hormones. More importantly, KGM reduced interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) levels in milk, further improved IL‐10 levels, and reduced zonulin levels in the serum of offspring.CONCLUSIONIn conclusion, maternal dietary supplementation with KGM during late gestation and lactation improves maternal nutritional status by modifying maternal microbial and increasing lactation feed intake, which benefits the anti‐inflammatory capacity of the offspring serum. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Tourists' perceived value and behavioral intentions based on the choice attributes of wellness tourism
Authors: Kim Miseong , Moon Hyunji , Joo Yeonwoo , Yoon Yooshik 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis study was carried out to examine the wellness that tourists wanted to fulfill through wellness tourism and identify the relationship between tourists' perceived value and their future behavioral intentions. To perform this study, residents aged 20 or older living in Seoul who are interested in wellness tourism were surveyed, and a total of 401 valid responses were used for analyses. The findings suggest that particular attributes of wellness tourism had a positive relationship with ‘emotional value’ except ‘physical wellness’. Also, a positive relationship was observed between utilitarian value, epistemic value, and all particular attributes of wellness tourism.
Evaluating the psychosocial impact of gender‐affirming dermatology treatments: A systematic review
Authors: de Baun Heloise , Truong Thu Minh , Beloborodova Anna , Alper David P. , Sanabria Bianca , Rao Babar 
Published: January 2024

AbstractTransgender individuals experience elevated mental health issues and a diminished quality of life compared to the general population. While gender‐affirming dermatology treatments hold promise in addressing these challenges, there is a notable dearth of research in this area. Therefore, the objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive summary of the existing literature on the psychosocial effects of gender‐affirming dermatology treatments in transgender populations. A systematic review of original research on gender‐affirming dermatology treatments in transgender populations was conducted from PubMed (including Medline), Cochrane Library and Embase following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses 2020 guidelines. The search was limited to studies published after 1 January 2013 and was conducted on 26 June 2023. Relevant reviews were excluded but had their references screened. All studies that met the inclusion criteria also had their references screened. Article screening involved two steps: initial abstract/title screening using Rayyan.ia, followed by full‐text screening for selected articles. Risk of bias was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklists. Thirteen studies were analyzed and most revealed a positive association between gender‐affirming dermatology treatments and favorable psychosocial outcomes. However, there was a large imbalance in the focus on transfeminine versus transmasculine individuals, alongside disparities in gender identification methods. Hair removal followed by nonsurgical injectables were the primary treatments studied. Most studies faced notable limitations, preventing a definitive causal relationship between gender‐affirming dermatology treatments and psychosocial effects. Across studies, there were discrepancies in the type of psychosocial outcome studied and a lack of standardized assessment tools. Despite these limitations, gender‐affirming dermatology treatments appear to have psychosocial benefits for transgender individuals, but further robust studies are needed for a comprehensive understanding of this relationship.
Poly(dehydroalanine)‐Based Hydrogels as Efficient Soft Matter Matrices for Light‐Driven Catalysis
Authors: Çeper Tolga , Langer Marcel , Vashistha Nikita , Dietzek‐Ivanšić Benjamin , Streb Carsten , Rau Sven , Schacher Felix H. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractSoft matter integration of photosensitizers and catalysts provides promising solutions to developing sustainable materials for energy conversion. Particularly, hydrogels bring unique benefits, such as spatial control and 3D‐accessibility of molecular units, as well as recyclability. Herein, the preparation of polyampholyte hydrogels based on poly(dehydroalanine) (PDha) is reported. Chemically crosslinked PDha with bis‐epoxy poly(ethylene glycol) leads to a transparent, self‐supporting hydrogel. Due to the ionizable groups on PDha, this 3D polymeric matrix can be anionic, cationic, or zwitterionic depending on the pH value, and its high density of dynamic charges has a potential for electrostatic attachment of charged molecules. The integration of the cationic molecular photosensitizer [Ru(bpy)3]2+ (bpy = 2,2′‐bipyridine) is realized, which is a reversible process controlled by pH, leading to light harvesting hydrogels. They are further combined with either a thiomolybdate catalyst ([Mo3S13]2−) for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) or a cobalt polyoxometalate catalyst (Co4POM = [Co4(H2O)2(PW9O34)2]10−) for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Under the optimized condition, the resulting hydrogels show catalytic activity in both cases upon visible light irradiation. In the case of OER, higher photosensitizer stability is observed compared to homogeneous systems, as the polymer environment seems to influence decomposition pathways.
Fast and Scalable Synthetic Route to Densely Grafted, Branched Polystyrenes and Polydienes via Anionic Polymerization Utilizing P2VP as Branching Point
Authors: Schußmann Max G. , Kreutzer Lukas , Hirschberg Valerian 
Published: January 2024

AbstractDefined, branched polymer architectures with low dispersity and architectural purity are of great interest to polymer science but are challenging to synthesize. Besides star and comb, especially the pom‐pom topology is of interest as it is the simplest topology with exactly two branching points. Most synthetic approaches to a pom‐pom topology reported a lack of full control and variability over one of the three topological parameters, the backbone or arm molecular weight and arm number. A new, elegant, fast, and scalable synthetic route without the need for post‐polymerization modification (PPM) or purification steps during the synthesis to a pom‐pom and a broad variety of topologies made from styrene and dienes is reported, with potential application to barbwire, bottlebrush, miktoarm star, Janus type polymers, or multi‐graft copolymers. The key is to inset short poly(2‐vinyl‐pyridine) blocks (<2 mol% in the branched product) into the backbone as branching points. Carb anions can react at the C6 carbon of the pyridine ring, grafting the arms onto the backbone. Since the synthetic route to polystyrene pom‐poms has only two steps and is free of PPM or purification, large amounts of up to 300 g of defined pom‐pom structures can be synthesized in one batch.
Clinical value of positive CNVs results by NIPT without fetal ultrasonography‐identified structural anomalies
Authors: Wang Changhong , Mei Li , Wan Yang , Li Hong , Luan Shanshan , Lu Jali , Wang Pei , Wen Liu , Han Xue , Li Xiaona , Zhang Ningzhi 
Published: January 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical value of positive copy number variations (CNVs) results by non‐invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) without fetal ultrasonography‐identified structural anomalies, especially with several known CNVs results.MethodsA total of 135,981 results of NIPT performed between April 1, 2017, and March 31, 2020, enrolled in the free NIPT service program implemented by the local government were retrospectively analyzed. Of these, 87 cases with positive NIPT screens for CNVs and no fetal ultrasonography‐identified anomalies were recalled and provided genetic counseling. After obtaining full informed consent, these cases were provided invasive prenatal diagnosis by karyotyping and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA)/copy number variation sequencing (CNV‐seq) with follow‐up. One case was lost, while 86 cases were successfully followed up.ResultsA total of 44 (50.6%) cases underwent invasive prenatal diagnosis, of which six cases were detected with abnormal karyotype. CMA/CNV‐Seq revealed 11 fetuses with positive results for CNVs, among whom eight were consistent with NIPT results, two were partially consistent, one was inconsistent, and positive predictive value (PPV) was 22.7% (10/44). For known CNVs, PPVs were 20% (15q11.2‐q13 microdeletion) and 33.3% (5p end deletions). Among 11 pregnant women with positive prenatal diagnosis, seven were confirmed to have pathogenic CNVs in their fetuses; four had CNVs of unknown clinical significance.ConclusionsEven in pregnancies without ultrasonography‐identified anomalies, a positive NIPT screen for CNVs must be interpreted with caution and validated by additional diagnostic study.
Targeted exome sequencing strategy (NeoEXOME) for Chinese newborns using a pilot study with 3423 neonates
Authors: Cao Ziyang , He Xiaoyan , Wang Dongjuan , Gu Maosheng , Suo Feng , Qiang Rong , Zhang Ruixue , Song Chengrong , Wang Xiaohua , Zhu Bo , Cao Donghua , Yu Haihua , Qu Yiping , Shen Guosong , Wu Jian , Wang Pengpeng , Wang Jinxia , Zhang Hongyang , Yan Zijun , Yu Guangjun , Zou Lin 
Published: January 2024

AbstractBackgroundNewborn screening (NBS) aims to detect congenital anomalies, and next‐generation sequencing (NGS) has shown promise in this aspect. However, the NBS strategy for monogenic inherited diseases in China remains insufficient.MethodsWe developed a NeoEXOME panel comprising 601 genes that are relevant to the Chinese population found through extensive research on available databases. An interpretation system to grade the results into positive (high‐risk, moderate‐risk, and low‐risk genotypes), negative, and carrier according to the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) guidelines was also developed. We validated the panel to evaluate its efficacy by using data from the “1000 Genomes Project” and conducted a pilot multicenter study involving 3423 neonates.ResultsThe NGS positive rate in the 1000 Genomes Project was 7.6% (23/301), whereas the rate was 12.0% in the multicenter study, including 3249 recruited neonates. Notably, in 200 neonates, positive per conventional NBS, 58.5% (69/118) showed results consistent with NGS. In the remaining 3049 neonates showing negative results in conventional NBS, 271 (8.9%) were positive per NGS, and nine of them were clinically diagnosed with diseases in the follow‐up.ConclusionWe successfully designed a NeoEXOME panel for targeted sequencing of monogenic inherited diseases in NBS. The panel demonstrated high performance in the Chinese population, particularly for the early detection of diseases with no biochemical markers.