bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Two Decades of Endemic Dengue in Bangladesh (2000-2022): Trends, Seasonality, and impact of Temperature and Rainfall Patterns on transmission dynamics
Authors: Hasan Mohammad Nayeem , Khalil Ibrahim , Chowdhury Muhammad Abdul Baker , Rahman Mahbubur , Asaduzzaman Md , Billah Masum , Banu Laila Arjuman , Alam Mahbub-ul , Ahsan Atik , Traore Tieble , Uddin Md. Jamal , Galizi Roberto , Russo Ilaria , Zumla Alimuddin , Haider Najmul 
Published: July 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe objectives of this study were to compare the dengue virus (DENV) infection, deaths, case-fatality ratio, as well as meteorological parameters between the first and and the recent decade (2000-2010 vs. 2011-2022) and to understand the trends, seasonality, and impact of change of temperature and rainfall pattern on transmission dynamics of Dengue in BangladeshMethodsFor the period 2000-2022, dengue cases and death data from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s website, and meteorological data from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department were analyzed. Mann-Kendall and Sen’s slop tests were used for trends and variations and fitted a time series Poisson regression model to identify the impact of meteorological parameters on the incidence of dengue cases. A forecast of dengue cases was performed using an autoregressive integrated moving average model.ResultsOver the past 22 years, a total of 244,246 dengue cases were reported including 849 deaths (Case fatality ratio [CFR] =0.34%). The mean annual number of dengue cases increased eight-fold during the second decade, with 2216 cases during 2000-2011 vs. 18,321 during 2012-2022. The mean annual deaths have doubled (21 vs. 46) although the overall CFR had decreased to one-third (0.69 vs 0.24). Between the periods, the annual temperature increased by 0.49 °C, and rainfall decreased by 314 mm despite increasing unusual rainfall in the pre-and-post monsoon period. An increasing trend of dengue cases is observed with a much stiffer rise after 2018. Monthly mean temperature (Incidence risk ratio [IRR]: 1.26), first-lagged rainfall (IRR: 1.08), and second-lagged rainfall (IRR: 1.17) were significantly associated with monthly dengue incidence.ConclusionsThe increased local temperature and unusual rainfall might have contributed to the increased incidence of DENV infection in Bangladesh. Community engagement, vector control, and destruction of mosquito habitats are key to controlling dengue.
The historical fingerprint and future impact of climate change on childhood malaria in Africa
Authors: Carlson Colin J. , Carleton Tamma A. , Odoulami Romaric C. , Molitor Cullen D. , Trisos Christopher H. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractHealth-related risks from climate change are growing exponentially1, but direct attribution of health outcomes to human influence on the climate remains challenging2,3. Here, we leverage a comprehensive dataset of 50,425 population surveys4to investigate whether human-caused climate change has increased the burden of childhood malaria across sub-Saharan Africa. In historical data, we find that prevalence shows a robust response to temperature and extreme precipitation, consistent with expectations from previous empirical and epidemiological work. Comparing historical climate reconstructions to counterfactual simulations without anthropogenic climate forcings, we find two-to-one odds that human-caused climate change has increased the overall prevalence of childhood malaria across sub-Saharan Africa since 1901. We estimate that by 2014, human-caused climate change was responsible for an average of 87 excess cases of malaria per 100,000 children ages 2 to 10, with higher elevation and cooler regions in southern and east Africa experiencing greater increases. Under future climate change, we project that increasing temperatures could accelerate the elimination of malaria in west and central Africa, where the present-day burden is highest, with an average overall reduction of 94 (low greenhouse gas emissions, SSP1-RCP2.6) to 1,890 (high emissions, SSP5-RCP8.5) cases per 100,000 children in sub-Saharan Africa by the end of the century. However, we find that limiting future global warming to under 2°C (SSP1-RCP2.6) compared to 3°C (SSP2-RCP4.5) could prevent an average of 505 excess cases in southern Africa, and 33 excess cases in east Africa, per 100,000 children by 2100. Our study resolves a decades-old debate about one of the first suspected health impacts of climate change, and provides a template for future work measuring its true global burden.
Evaluation of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on hospital admission related to common infections
Authors: Fahmi Ali , Palin Victoria , Zhong Xiaomin , Yang Ya-Ting , Watts Simon , Ashcroft Darren M , Goldacre Ben , Mackenna Brian , Fisher Louis , Massey Jon , Mehrkar Amir , Bacon Seb ,   OpenSAFELY collaborative, Hand Kieran , Staa Tjeerd Pieter van 
Published: July 2023

AbstractBackgroundAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a multifaceted global challenge, partly driven by inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted antibiotic prescribing for common bacterial infections. This highlights the need to examine risk of hospital admissions related to common infections, excluding COVID-19 infections during the pandemic.MethodsWith the approval of NHS England, we accessed electronic health records from The Phoenix Partnership (TPP) through OpenSAFELY platform. We included patients with primary care diagnosis of common infections, including lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), and lower urinary tract infection (UTI), from January 2019 to August 2022. We excluded patients with a COVID-19 record 90 days before to 30 days after the infection diagnosis. Using Cox proportional-hazard regression models, we predicted risk of infection-related hospital admission in 30 days follow-up period after the diagnosis.ResultsWe found 12,745,165 infection diagnoses from January 2019 to August 2022. Of them, 80,395 (2.05%) cases were admitted to hospital in the follow-up period. Counts of hospital admission for infections dropped during COVID-19, e.g., LRTI from 3,950 in December 2019 to 520 in April 2020. Comparing those prescribed an antibiotic to those without, reduction in risk of hospital admission were largest with LRTI (adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 0.35; 95% CI, 0.35-0.36) and UTI (adjusted OR 0.45; 95% CI, 0.44-0.46), compared to URTI (adjusted OR 1.04; 95% CI, 1.03-1.06).ConclusionLarge effectiveness of antibiotics in preventing complications related to LRTI and UTI can support better targeting of antibiotics to patients with higher complication risks.Key messages- The main drivers of infection-related hospital admission are age, Charlson comorbidity index, and history of prior antibiotics.- Antibiotics are more effective in preventing hospital admission related to infections such as lower respiratory tract infection and urinary tract infection, rather than upper respiratory tract infection.- Common antibiotic types are associated with more reduction in the risk of infection-related hospital admission.
Perception of the consumption of legal and illegal substances in the Honduran population
Authors: Espinoza-Turcios Eleonora , Sosa-Mendoza Carlos Antonio , Zambrano Lysien Ivania , Castro Ramos Henry Noel , Armada José , Mejia Christian R. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractIntroductionSubstance use affects physical health, mental health, causes social, economic damage in their family environment and society. In recent decades this has changed.AimTo determine the perception of the consumption of legal and illegal substances and related factors in the general Honduran population.MethodologyAnalytical cross-sectional study, through an active search, the information was provided by a suitable informant ≥ 18 years of age, both sexes. Direct questions were asked about consumption, this was associated to influential variables, through descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: Of the 3309 participants distributed nationally, When multivariate analysis was performed, it was found that there was a greater perception of problematic drug use when there was a history of previous violence (aPR: 1.53; 95%CI: 1.22-1.92; p-value<0.001), if cannabis had been consumed in the last quarter (aPR: 1.29; 95%CI: 1.05-1.58; p-value=0.016), if she stopped doing what was expected (aPR : 7.05; 95%CI: 5.00-9.95; p-value<0.001) or if she worried a friend or family member (aPR: 1.49; 95%CI: 1.20-1.86; p-value<0.001), on the contrary, there was less concern among those with university studies (aPR: 0.70; 95%CI: 0.49-0.99; p-value=0.048), adjusted for six variables.DiscussionAn association was found between the perception of problematic substance use according to sex, academic grade, history of previous violence, use of tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, opioids, hallucinogens, whether the person stopped doing what was expected, whether a friend or relative was concerned, or whether the person injected.ConclusionThe most reported legal substance of use among the Honduran population was tobacco, followed by marijuana and cocaine among illegal substances.
Inter-scanner Aβ-amyloid PET harmonization using barrel phantom spatial resolution matching
Authors: Ruwanpathirana Gihan P. , Williams Robert C. , Masters Colin L. , Rowe Christopher C. , Johnston Leigh A. , Davey Catherine E. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) is used to measure Aβ uptake in PET images of the brain. Variations in PET scanner technologies and image reconstruction techniques can lead to variability in images acquired from different scanners. This poses a challenge for Aβ-PET studies conducted across multiple centers. The aim of harmonization is to achieve consistent Aβ-PET measurements across scanners. In this study, the procedure of matching the spatial resolution of a barrel phantom measured in each PET scanner is proposed as a method of Aβ-PET harmonization, validated using subject data.MethodsThree different PET scanners were used: the Siemens Biograph Vision 600, Siemens Biograph mCT, and Philips Gemini TF64. A total of five, eight, and five subjects were each scanned twice with [18F]-NAV4694 across Vision-mCT, mCT-Philips, and Vision-Philips scanner pairs. The Vision and mCT scans were reconstructed using various iterations, subsets, and post-reconstruction Gaussian smoothing, while one reconstruction configuration was used for the Philips scans. The full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of each reconstruction configuration was calculated using [18F]-filled barrel phantom scans with the SNMMI phantom analysis toolkit. Regional SUVRs were calculated from 72 brain regions using the AAL3 atlas for each subject and reconstruction configuration. Statistical similarity between SUVRs was assessed using paired (within subject) t-tests for each pair of reconstructions across scanners; the higher the p-value, the greater the similarity between the SUVRs.ResultsVision-mCT harmonizationmaximal statistical similarity (i.e.,p-value) between regional SUVRs was achieved using a 4.10 mm FWHM Vision reconstruction with a 4.30 mm FWHM mCT reconstruction.Philips-mCT harmonizationmaximal statistical similarity between regional SUVRs was achieved using an 8.2 mm FWHM Philips reconstruction with a 9.35 mm FWHM mCT reconstruction.Philips-Vision harmonizationa 9.1 mm FWHM Vision reconstruction had maximum statistical similarity with regional SUVRs from an 8.2mm FWHM Philips reconstruction. Reconstruction pairs that maximized statistical similarity, and supported a null hypothesis of being drawn from the same distribution, were selected as harmonised for each scanner pair.ConclusionUsing data obtained from three sets of participants, each scanned on a different pair of PET scanners, using reconstruction configurations with matched barrel phantom spatial resolutions, we have demonstrated that Aβ-PET quantitation can be harmonised across scanners, producing SUVR values statistically likely to be drawn from the same distribution. This finding is encouraging for the use of different PET scanners in multi-centre trials, or updates during longitudinal studies.
A binding site for phosphoinositides described by multiscale simulations explains their modulation of voltage gated sodium channels
Authors: Lin Yiechang , Tao Elaine , Champion James P , Corry Ben 
Published: July 2023

AbstractVoltage gated sodium channels (Nav) are membrane proteins which open to facilitate the inward flux of sodium ions into excitable cells. In response to stimuli, Navchannels transition from the resting, closed state to an open, conductive state, before rapidly inactivating. Dysregulation of this functional cycle due to mutations causes diseases including epilepsy, pain conditions and cardiac disorders, making Navchannels a significant pharmacological target. Phosphoinositides are important lipid cofactors for ion channel function. The phosphoinositide PI(4,5)P2decreases Nav1.4 activity by increasing the difficulty of channel opening, accelerating fast inactivation and slowing recovery from fast inactivation. Using multiscale molecular dynamics simulations, we show that PI(4,5)P2binds stably to inactivated Navat a conserved site within the DIV S4-S5 linker, which couples the voltage sensing domain (VSD) to the pore. As the Nav C-terminal domain is proposed to also bind here during recovery from inactivation, we hypothesise that PI(4,5)P2prolongs inactivation by competitively binding to this site. In atomistic simulations, PI(4,5)P2reduces the mobility of both the DIV S4-S5 linker and the DIII-IV linker, responsible for fast inactivation, slowing the conformational changes required for the channel to recover to the resting state. We further show that in a resting state Navmodel, phosphoinositides bind to VSD gating charges, which may anchor them and impede VSD activation. Our results provide a mechanism by which phosphoinositides alter the voltage dependence of activation and the rate of recovery from inactivation, an important step for the development of novel therapies to treat Nav-related diseases.SignificanceVoltage-gated sodium channels form pores in the membrane to mediate electrical activity in nerve and muscle cells. They play critical roles throughout the human body and their dysfunction leads to diseases including epilepsy, cardiac arrhythmias and pain disorders. Membrane lipids called phosphoinositides have recently been shown to reduce the activity of a voltage-gated sodium channel, but the molecular basis of this mechanism is not known. Here we use simulations to reveal where these lipids bind to the channels and how they reduce channel activity by making it harder for the pores to open and slower to subsequently recover to the closed resting state.
A monochromatically excitable green-red dual-fluorophore fusion incorporating a new large Stokes shift fluorescent protein
Authors: Ejike J. Obinna , Sadoine Mayuri , Shen Yi , Ishikawa Yuuma , Sunal Erdem , Hänsch Sebastian , Hamacher Anna B. , Frommer Wolf B. , Wudick Michael M. , Campbell Robert E. , Kleist Thomas J. 
Published: July 2023

ABSTRACTGenetically encoded sensors enable quantitative imaging of analytes in live cells. State-of-the-art sensors are commonly constructed by combining ligand-binding domains with one or more sensitized fluorescent protein (FP) domains. Sensors based on a single FP are susceptible to artifacts caused by differing expression levels or sensor distributionin vivo. Hence, our lab developed dual-FP Matryoshka technology introduced by a single cassette that contains a stable large Stokes shift (LSS) reference FP nested within a reporter FP (cpEGFP), allowing simple construction of intensiometric sensors with the capacity for ratiometric quantification. The first-generation Green-Orange (GO) Matryoshka cassette established proof of concept but required custom optical setups to maximize achievable dynamic range. Here, we present a genetically encoded calcium sensor that employs optimized second-generation Green-Apple (GA) Matryoshka technology that incorporates a newly designed red LSSmApple fluorophore. LSSmApple provides improved excitation spectrum overlap with cpEGFP, allowing for monochromatic co-excitation with blue light. The exceptionally large Stokes shift of LSSmApple results in improved emission spectrum separation from cpEGFP, which minimizes fluorophore bleed-through and facilitates imaging using standard dichroics and red fluorescent protein (RFP) emission filters. We developed an image analysis pipeline for yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) timelapse imaging that utilizes LSSmApple to segment and track cells for high-throughput quantitative analysis. In summary, we engineered a new fluorescent protein, constructed a genetically encoded calcium indicator (GA-MatryoshCaMP6s), and performed calcium imaging in yeast as a demonstration.
Reactivating and Reorganizing Activity-Silent Working Memory Through Two Distinct Mechanisms After Pinging the Brain
Authors: Yang Can , He Xianhui , Cai Ying 
Published: July 2023

SummaryRecent studies have proposed that visual information can be maintained in an activity-silent state during working memory (WM), which can be reactivated by task-irrelevant high-contrast visual impulses (i.e., “pinging the brain”). Although pinging the brain has become a popular tool for exploring activity-silent WM in recent years, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the current study, we directly compared the behavioral consequences and neural reactivation effects of context-independent and context-dependent pings to distinguish the noise-reduction and target-interaction hypotheses of pinging the brain. At first, in a behavioral study, we found that, compared with the baseline condition (no ping), only the horizontal context-dependent pings impaired recall performance. In a follow-up electroencephalogram study, our neural decoding results showed that the context-independent pings reactivated activity-silent WM transiently without changing the original WM representations or recall performance. In contrast, the context-dependent pings reactivated activity-silent WM more durably and further reorganized WM information by decreasing the dynamics of items’ neural representations. Notably, only the reactivation strength of the context-dependent pings correlated with recall performance and was modulated by the location of memorized items, with neural representations only being reactivated when both items and pings were presented horizontally. Together, our results provided evidence for two distinct mechanisms underlying pinging the brain, and the ping’s context played a critical role in reactivating and reorganizing activity-silent WM.
One session of prism adaptation training does not increase immediate engagement in occupational therapy in people with spatial neglect early after stroke: a proof-of-concept study nested within a phase II RCT
Authors: Checketts Matthew , Turton Ailie , Woodward-Nutt Kate , Longley Verity , Stocking Katie , Vail Andy , Bamford Ann , Bowen Audrey 
Published: July 2023

AbstractObjectivesSpatial neglect, a debilitating cognitive syndrome and predictor of poor functional outcome, affects attention and awareness after stroke. Early rehabilitation is essential but neglect itself may impede participation in therapy. In a proof-of-concept study nested within an RCT, we investigated whether the oft-reported immediate effects of prism adaptation training (PAT) might enable engagement if introduced at the start of an occupational therapy session.MethodsEarly after stroke we video-recorded in-patients carrying out a standardised activity in their first RCT occupational therapy session, before and after PAT (or a control therapy activity). Level of engagement was later scored by a video-rater, experienced in therapy, blind to arm allocation (intervention/control) and whether randomly presented videos were recorded pre-or post-therapy. The rater recorded engagement scores on a 100mm visual analogue scale. Treating therapists also reported, on a 3-point Likert scale, whether or not engagement changed.Results49 of the RCT’s 53 patients were recruited (37 PAT, 12 control), 43 of whom consented to be video-recorded. Regression analysis did not suggest improvement in engagement following one session of PAT, using the blinded expert video scoring method: mean difference (95% CI) = −0.5 (−7.4 to 6.4) mm;p=0.89). Similarly, post-hoc re-rating of engagement scores (the video-rater viewed paired pre- and post-therapy recordings but remained blind to arm allocation) excluded any material difference in engagement following PAT: mean difference (95% CI) = 1.2 (−2.5 to 4.9) mm;p=.52). Impressions of level of engagement provided by the treating occupational therapists also suggested no change: OR (95% CI) = 1.3 (0.13 to 13);p=0.81).ConclusionsDespite the need to enable neglect patients to engage in the therapy they are offered, we are confident that a single session of PAT at the start of a therapy session does not enhance immediate engagement in occupational therapy early after stroke. Our study does not address the alternative definition of engagement as a longitudinal, rapport-building process which could meaningfully be explored.
A zebrafish knock-in reporter line for the Foxo1a transcription factor
Authors: Suñer Inés Garteizgogeascoa , Singh Sumeet Pal 
Published: July 2023

ABSTRACTZebrafish is a powerful model organism for in vivo live imaging. However, protein visualization relies to this date on the overexpression of fluorescently tagged proteins from a specific promoter which very often does not recapitulate endogenous patterns of expression and dynamics. Tagging proteins in the endogenous locus is not widely used in the field due to its technical inefficiency and difficulty. Here we developed a knock-in reporter line for the Foxo1a transcription factor by inserting an EGFP-pA cassette in frame at the C-terminal generating a fusion protein. Foxo1a has been involved in the regulation of many biological processes regarding metabolism, stress response, longevity, cell differentiation and others and its functions are conserved from invertebrates to vertebrates. Using in-vivo live imaging at early developmental stages, we validated the expression in the cardiovascular network, CNS, olfactory epithelium, spinal cord, retina, skeletal muscle, and myocardium. Our line opens the way for imaging studies aiming to characterize the expression and localization of this transcription factor in a tissue and context specific manner. Also, the knock-in line can be used in combination with other modern techniques to determine the transcriptional targets of Foxo1a, many of which remain unknown.