bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modelling the effectiveness of isolation strategies for managing mpox outbreaks with variable infectiousness profiles
Authors: Jeong Yong Dam , Nishiyama Takara , Park Hyeongki , Ishikane Masahiro , Iwamoto Noriko , Aihara Kazuyuki , Watashi Koichi , Op de Coul Eline , Hart William S , Thompson Robin N , Ohmagari Norio , Wallinga Jacco , Iwami Shingo , Miura Fuminari 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe global outbreak of mpox (formerly monkeypox) in 2022 raised public awareness about the disease. The ensuing sporadic outbreaks in 2023 highlighted the importance of sustaining nonpharmaceutical interventions, such as case isolation and contact tracing. Using viral load data, we developed a modelling framework to characterize the various infectiousness profiles of infected individuals. We used this model to examine the potential effectiveness of two different possible isolation rules: specifically, rules permitting infected individuals to stop isolating after either a fixed-duration or following negative tests for infection. Our analysis showed large individual variations in the duration of viral shedding, ranging from about 23 to 50 days. The risk of infected individuals ending isolation too early (i.e., while they remained an infection risk) was estimated to be about 5% after 3 weeks of isolation. Unnecessary isolation after the end of the infectious period could be reduced by use of a testing-based rule. These findings support the choice of a 3-week isolation period following symptom onset if a fixed-duration rule is used, but also demonstrate how testing can mitigate unnecessarily prolonged isolation for those who have shorter infectious periods.
Sexual violence, PrEP discussion, and PrEP use among HIV-negative men who have sex with men in 23 U.S. urban areas – National HIV Behavioral Surveillance, 2017
Authors: Freeman Jincong Q. , Chapin-Bardales Johanna , Cha Susan , Wejnert Cyprian , Baugher Amy R. ,   the NHBS Study Group
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundMen who have sex with men (MSM) who experience sexual violence are at increased risk for HIV. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective in preventing HIV infection. Associations between sexual violence and PrEP discussion or PrEP use among MSM are not well-understood.MethodsNational HIV Behavioral Surveillance used venue-based sampling methods to recruit and interview MSM in 23 U.S. urban areas in 2017. We estimated the prevalence of sexual violence and examined associations between sexual violence and PrEP discussion with a health care provider (HCP) or PrEP use among HIV-negative MSM in the past 12 months. We reported weighted percentages and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) with 95% CIs were calculated using logistic regression with predicted margins to compare groups.ResultsAmong 7,121 HIV-negative MSM, 4.2% (95% CI: 3.6%-4.8%) experienced sexual violence in the past 12 months. Sexual violence was not independently associated with PrEP discussion with HCP (47.6% vs. 40.0%; aPR = 1.16, 95% CI: 0.98-1.37). MSM who experienced sexual violence were more likely to use PrEP than those who did not experience sexual violence, even after adjusting for demographic differences (34.9% vs. 25.7%; aPR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.07-1.67).ConclusionsOverall PrEP discussion and PrEP use were low among HIV-negative MSM. PrEP use was higher among MSM who experienced sexual violence. Supportive patient-provider relationships that foster PrEP discussion and sexual violence screening in healthcare settings may be important to identifying HIV risk and PrEP needs while assessing MSM’s safety.
Oleic acid differentially affectsde novolipogenesis in adipocytes and hepatocytes
Authors: Castillo Hannah B. , Shuster Sydney O. , Tarekegn Lydia H. , Davis Caitlin M. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractLipogenesis is a vital but often dysregulated metabolic pathway. We report super-resolution multiplexed vibrational imaging of lipogenesis rates and pathways using isotopically labelled oleic acid and glucose as probes in live adipocytes and hepatocytes. These findings suggest oleic acid inhibitsde novolipogenesis (DNL), but not total lipogenesis, in hepatocytes. No significant effect is seen in adipocytes. These differential effects may be due to alternate regulation of DNL between cell types and could help explain the complicated role oleic acid plays in metabolism.
Reading reshapes stimulus selectivity in the visual word form area
Authors: Chauhan Vassiki S. , McCook Krystal C. , White Alex L. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractReading depends on a brain region known as the “visual word form area” (VWFA) in left ventral occipito-temporal cortex. This region’s function is debated because its stimulus selectivity is not absolute, it is modulated by a variety of task demands, and it is inconsistently localized. We used fMRI to characterize the combination of sensory and cognitive factors that activate word-responsive regions that we precisely localized in 16 adult humans (4 male). We then presented three types of character strings: English words, pseudowords, and unfamiliar characters with matched visual features. Participants performed three different tasks while viewing those stimuli: detecting real words, detecting color in the characters, and detecting color in the fixation mark. There were three primary findings about the VWFA’s response: (1) It preferred letter strings over unfamiliar characters even when the stimuli were ignored during the fixation task; (2) Compared to those baseline responses, engaging in the word reading taskenhancedthe response to words butsuppressedthe response to unfamiliar characters. (3) Attending to the stimuli to judge their font color had little effect on the response magnitudes. Thus, the VWFA is uniquely modulated by a cognitive signal that is specific to voluntary linguistic processing and is not additive. Functional connectivity analyses revealed that communication between the VWFA and a left frontal language area increased when the participant engaged in the linguistic task. We conclude that the VWFA is inherently selective for familiar orthography, but it falls under control of the language network when the task demands it.Significance StatementThe function of the “visual word form area” (VWFA) is controversial. Some researchers emphasize its bottom-up visual selectivity for words, hence the region’s common name. Others argue that its activity is explained by feedback from regions that control attention or language. To seek clarity, we investigated what drives the VWFA: seeing words, attending visually to words, or trying to read words. None of those factors was sufficient on its own. Our results support a hybrid model: the VWFA has inherent selectivity for words, but its function is reshaped by voluntary language processing. Thus, with an integrated analysis of sensory inputs, task demands, and network connectivity, we provide some resolution to debates about this important region.
Synaptic Basis of Behavioral Timescale Plasticity
Authors: Gonzalez Kevin C. , Negrean Adrian , Liao Zhenrui , Polleux Franck , Losonczy Attila 
Published: October 2023

AbstractLearning and memory are fundamental to adaptive behavior and cognition. Various forms of synaptic plasticity have been proposed as cellular substrates for the emergence of feature selectivity in neurons underlying episodic memory. However, despite decades of work, our understanding of how synaptic plasticity underlies memory encoding remains limited, largely due to a shortage of tools and technical challenges associated with the visualization of synaptic plasticity at single-neuron resolution in awake-behaving animals. Behavioral Timescale Synaptic Plasticity (BTSP) postulates that synaptic inputs active during a seconds-long time window preceding and immediately following a large depolarizing plateau spike are potentiated, while synaptic inputs active outside this time window are depressed. We experimentally tested this modelin vivoin awake-behaving mice using an all-optical approach by inducing place fields (PFs) in single CA1 pyramidal neurons (CA1PNs) while monitoring the spatiotemporal tuning of individual dendritic spines and changes in their corresponding synaptic weights. We identified an asymmetric synaptic plasticity kernel resulting from bidirectional modifications of synaptic weights around plateau burst induction. Surprisingly, our work also uncovered compartment-specific differences in the magnitude and temporal expression of synaptic plasticity between basal and oblique dendrites of CA1PNs. Our results provide the first experimental evidence linking synaptic plasticity to the rapid emergence of spatial selectivity in hippocampal neurons, a critical prerequisite for episodic memory.
NOTCH3p.Arg1231Cys is Markedly Enriched in South Asians and Associated with Stroke
Authors: Rodriguez-Flores Juan L. , Khalid Shareef , Parikshak Neelroop , Rasheed Asif , Ye Bin , Kapoor Manav , Backman Joshua , Sepehrband Farshid , DiGioia Silvio Alessandro , Gelfman Sahar , De Tanima , Banerjee Nilanjana , Sharma Deepika , Martinez Hector , Castaneda Sofia , D’Ambrosio David , Zhang Xingmin A. , Xun Pengcheng , Tsai Ellen , Tsai I-Chun ,   Regeneron Genetics Center, Khan Maleeha Zaman , Jahanzaib Muhammad , Mian Muhammad Rehan , Liaqat Muhammad Bilal , Mahmood Khalid , Salam Tanvir Us , Hussain Muhammad , Iqbal Javed , Aslam Faizan , Cantor Michael N. , Tzoneva Gannie , Overton John , Marchini Jonathan , Reid Jeff , Baras Aris , Verweij Niek , Lotta Luca A. , Coppola Giovanni , Karalis Katia , Economides Aris , Fazio Sergio , Liedtke Wolfgang , Danesh John , Kamal Ayeesha , Frossard Philippe , Coleman Thomas , Shuldiner Alan R. , Saleheen Danish 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe genetic factors of stroke in South Asians are largely unexplored. Exome-wide sequencing and association analysis (ExWAS) in 75 K Pakistanis identified NM_000435.3(NOTCH3):c.3691C>T, encoding the missense amino acid substitution p.Arg1231Cys, enriched in South Asians (alternate allele frequency = 0.58% compared to 0.019% in Western Europeans), and associated with subcortical hemorrhagic stroke [odds ratio (OR) = 3.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) = [2.26, 5.10], p value = 3.87×10-9), and all strokes (OR [CI] = 2.30 [1.77, 3.01], p value = 7.79×10-10).NOTCH3p.Arg231Cys was strongly associated with white matter hyperintensity on MRI in United Kingdom Biobank (UKB) participants (effect [95% CI] in SD units = 1.1 [0.61, 1.5], p value = 3.0×10-6). The variant is attributable for approximately 2.0% of hemorrhagic strokes and 1.1% of all strokes in South Asians. These findings highlight the value of diversity in genetic studies and have major implications for genomic medicine and therapeutic development in South Asian populations.
Real World Performance of the 21st Century Cures Act Population Level Application Programming Interface
Authors: Jones James R. , Gottlieb Daniel , McMurry Andrew J. , Atreja Ashish , Desai Pankaja M. , Dixon Brian E. , Payne Philip R.O. , Saldanha Anil J. , Shankar Prabhu , Solad Yauheni , Wilcox Adam B. , Ali Momeena S. , Kang Eugene , Martin Andrew M. , Sprouse Elizabeth , Taylor David , Terry Michael , Ignatov Vladimir ,   the SMART Cumulus Network, Mandl Kenneth D. 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo evaluate the real-world performance in delivering patient data on populations, of the SMART/HL7 Bulk FHIR Access API, required in Electronic Health Records (EHRs) under the 21st Century Cures Act Rule.Materials and MethodsWe used an open-source Bulk FHIR Testing Suite at five healthcare sites from April to September 2023, including four hospitals using EHRs certified for interoperability, and one Health Information Exchange (HIE) using a custom, standards-compliant API build. We measured export speeds, data sizes, and completeness across six types of FHIR resources.ResultsAmong the certified platforms, Oracle Cerner led in speed, managing 5-16 million resources at over 8,000 resources/min. Three Epic sites exported a FHIR data subset, achieving 1-12 million resources at 1,555-2,500 resources/min. Notably, the HIE’s custom API outperformed, generating over 141 million resources at 12,000 resources/min.DiscussionThe HIE’s custom API showcased superior performance, endorsing the effectiveness of SMART/HL7 Bulk FHIR in enabling large-scale data exchange while underlining the need for optimization in existing EHR platforms. Agility and scalability are essential for diverse health, research, and public health use cases.ConclusionTo fully realize the interoperability goals of the 21st Century Cures Act, addressing the performance limitations of Bulk FHIR API is critical. It would be beneficial to include performance metrics in both certification and reporting processes.
Prevalence and correlates of age at first birth and utilization of maternal health care services among pregnant women in four Asian-Pacific Island countries
Authors: Myint Wah W. , Washburn David J. , Lee Shinduk , Colwell Brian , Ahenda Petronella , Maddock Jay E. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDMaternal mortality is still high among adolescent women worldwide. This study explores the influence of socio-demographic characteristics on having four or more antenatal care (ANC4+) visits and use of Skilled Birth Attendants (SBA) among women in four island countries: Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste.METHODSData from Demographic and Health Surveys of Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste were used. We studied the relationship of utilization of ANC4+ visits and SBA among women aged 15-49 years with socio-demographic variables including women’s age at first birth, age at first cohabitation, age at last birth, age groups, place of residence, education, wealth, birth order, number of living children, household ownership of a vehicle, and reproductive health knowledge. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.RESULTSWomen at first birth before age 18 ranged from 18% in Indonesia to 31% in Papua New Guinea. In all countries, wealth status and having knowledge on modern contraceptives were significant predictors for having ANC4+ visits and SBA use. In Indonesia, women older than 25 were 1.38 times (95% CI=1.09-1.74) more likely to use SBA than those younger than 19. Each country demonstrated different patterns of ANC4+ visits and use of SBA that varied by education, place of residence, birth order, number of living children, and household ownership of a vehicle.CONCLUSIONHaving a high number of adolescent births highlighted a need for reproductive health knowledge reach to the young women, which can achieve through ANC4+ visits and use of SBA.
Sensitivity of the African Neuropsychology Battery Memory Subtests and Learning Slopes in Discriminating APOE 4 and Amyloid Pathology in Adult Individuals in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Ikanga Jean , Patrick Sarah D. , Schwinne Megan , Patel Saranya Sundaram , Epenge Emmanuel , Gikelekele Guy , Tshengele Nathan , Kavugho Immaculee , Mampunza Samuel , Yarasheski Kevin E. , Teunissen Charlotte E. , Stringer Anthony , Levey Allan , Rojas Julio C. , Chan Brandon , Lago Argentina Lario , Kramer Joel H. , Boxer Adam L. , Jeromin Andreas , Alonso Alvaro , Spencer Robert J. 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe current study examined the sensitivity of two memory subtests and their corresponding learning slope metrics derived from the African Neuropsychology Battery (ANB) to detect amyloid pathology and APOEε4 status in adults from Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Methods85 participants were classified for the presence of β-amyloid pathology and based on allelic presence of APOEε4. All participants were screened using CSID and AQ, underwent verbal and visuospatial memory testing from ANB, and provided blood samples for plasma Aβ42, Aβ40, and APOE proteotype. Pearson correlation, linear and logistic regression were conducted to compare amyloid pathology and APOEε4 status with derived learning scores, including initial learning, raw learning score, learning over trials, and learning ratio.ResultsOur sample included 35 amyloid positive and 44 amyloid negative individuals as well as 42 without and 39 with APOEε4. All ROC AUC ranges for the prediction of amyloid pathology based on learning scores were low, ranging between 0.56-0.70 (95% CI ranging from 0.44-0.82). The sensitivity of all the scores ranged between 54.3-88.6, with some learning metrics demonstrating good sensitivity. Regarding APOEε4 prediction, all AUC values ranged between 0.60-0.69, with all sensitivity measures ranging between 53.8-89.7. There were minimal differences in the AUC values across learning slope metrics, largely due to the lack of ceiling effects in this sample.DiscussionThis study demonstrates that some ANB memory subtests and learning slope metrics can discriminate those that are normal from those with amyloid pathology and those with and without APOEε4, consistent with findings reported in Western populations.
Premature deaths attributable to the consumption of ultra-processed foods: a comparative assessment modelling study in eight countries
Authors: Nilson Eduardo A. F. , Delpino Felipe Mendes , Batis Carolina , Machado Priscila Pereira , Moubarac Jean-Claude , Cediel Gustavo , Corvalan Camila , Ferrari Gerson , Rauber Fernanda , Martinez-Steele Euridice , da Costa Louzada Maria Laura , Levy Renata Bertazzi , Monteiro Carlos A. , Rezende Leandro F.M. 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACTBackgroundUltra-processed foods (UPFs) are becoming dominant in the global food and supply. Prospective cohort studies have found an association between UPF dietary pattern and increased risk of several non-communicable diseases and all-cause mortality. In this study, we (1) estimated the risk of all-cause mortality associated for each 10% increase in the share of UPF consumption in the total energy intake; (2) estimated the population attributable fractions (PAF) and the total number of premature deaths attributable to the consumption of UPF in adults (30-69 years) from 8 selected countries.MethodsFirst, we performed a dose-response meta-analysis of observational cohort studies assessing the association between UPFs dietary pattern and all-cause mortality. As we found evidence of linearity, we estimated the pooled RR (and its 95% CI) for all-cause mortality per each 10% increment in the % UPF. Then, we estimated the population attributable fraction (PAF) of premature all-cause mortality attributable to UPF in 8 selected countries with relatively low (Colombia and Brazil), intermediate (Chile and Mexico), and high (Australia, Canada, UK, and US) UPF consumption.ResultsWe found a linear dose-response association between UPF intake and all-cause mortality, with a 2.7% increased risk of all-cause mortality per 10% increase in the % UPF. Considering the magnitude of the association between UPFs intake and all-cause mortality, and the dietary share of UPF in each of the 8 selected countries, we estimated that 4% (Colombia) to 14% (United Kingdom and United States) of premature deaths were attributable to UPF intake.ConclusionsOur findings support that UPF intake contributes significantly to the overall burden of disease in many countries and its reduction should be included in national dietary guideline recommendations and addressed in public policies.
A murine model ofTrypanosoma brucei-induced myocarditis and cardiac dysfunction
Authors: Crilly Nathan P. , Zita Marcelle Dina , Beaver Alexander K. , Sysa-Shah Polina , Bhalodia Aashik , Gabrielson Kathy , Adamo Luigi , Mugnier Monica R. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractTrypanosoma bruceiis a protozoan parasite that causes human and animal African trypanosomiases (HAT and AAT). Cardiac symptoms are commonly reported in HAT patients, and intracardiac parasites with accompanying myocarditis have been observed in both natural hosts and animal models ofT. bruceiinfection. Despite the importance ofT. bruceias a cause of cardiac dysfunction and the dramatic socioeconomic impact of African trypanosomiases in sub-Saharan Africa, there are currently no reproducible murine models ofT. brucei-associated cardiomyopathy. We present the first clinically relevant, reproducible murine model of cardiac dysfunction in chronicT. bruceiinfection. Similar to humans, mice showed histological evidence of myocarditis and elevation of serum NT-proBNP with electrocardiographic abnormalities. Serum NT-proBNP levels were elevated prior to the development of severe ventricular dysfunction. On flow cytometry, myocarditis was associated with an increase of most myocardial immune cell populations, including multiple T cell and macrophage subsets, corroborating the notion thatT. brucei-associated cardiac damage is an immune-mediated event. This novel mouse model represents a powerful and practical tool to investigate the pathogenesis ofT. brucei-mediated heart damage and supports the development of therapeutic options forT. brucei-associated cardiac disease.
Effect of antiretroviral protease inhibitors onPlasmodium falciparumerythrocyte egress and invasion
Authors: Wilson Danny W. , Frolich Sonja , Andrews Katherine T. , Skinner-Adams Tina S. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundAnti-retroviral protease inhibitors directly inhibit the growth of asexual blood stage malaria parasites, however, this activity is not fully understood. While mode of action hypotheses have included parasite aspartic protease (plasmepsin) inhibition, current data suggest that digestive vacuole plasmepsins I-IV are not essential for asexual parasite survival, that plasmepsins VI-VIII are not expressed in these parasites and that antiretroviral protease inhibitors are poor inhibitors of plasmepsin V. The remaining plasmepsins, IX and X, have recently been shown to be essential for merozoite egress and invasion, playing important roles in the processing of key proteins including the rhoptry bulb proteinPfRAP1, and subtilisin-like serine proteasePfSUB1, respectively. To further understand the antiplasmodial activity of antiretroviral protease inhibitors, here we investigated the impact of tipranavir, lopinavir, ritonavir and saquinavir on the processing ofPfRAP1, thePfSUB1-processedPfMSP1, and the egress and invasion ofP. falciparumparasites from human erythrocytes.MethodsThe effect of tipranavir, lopinavir, ritonavir and saquinavir onP. falciparumparasite egress and invasion was assessed using synchronized asexual blood stageP. falciparumparasites. Schizont rupture and purified merozoite invasion were performed with and without drug and quantified by flow cytometry analysis. The impact of selected antitretroviral protease inhibitors onPfRAP1 andPfMSP1 processing was assessed by Wesstern blot.ResultsThe effect of tipranavir, lopinavir, ritonavir and saquinavir on the egress and invasion ofP. falciparumparasites from human erythrocytes varied considerably, but was low at concentrations shown to inhibitP. falciparumasexual parasite growthin vitroand negligible at clinically relevant concentrations. While the treatment of parasites with the antiretrovial protease inhibitors appeared to reduce the overall expression ofPfRAP1 andPfMSP1, the processing of these proteins was not inhibited by concentrations known to inhibit parasite growthin vitro.ConclusionsThe limited activity of tipranavir, lopinavir, ritonavir and saquinavir on the egress and invasion ofP. falciparumparasites from human erythrocytes and the processing ofPfRAP1 andPfMSP1 suggests that plasmepsin IX and X are unlikely to be the primary targets of these drugs in these parasites.