bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Understanding COVID-19 reporting behaviour to support political decision-making: a retrospective cross-sectional study of COVID-19 data reported to WHO
Authors: Abbood Auss , Ullrich Alexander , Denkel Luisa A 
Published: January 2023

ObjectiveDaily COVID-19 data reported by WHO may provide the basis for political ad hoc decisions including travel restrictions. Data reported by countries, however, are heterogeneous and metrics to evaluate its quality are scarce. In this work, we analysed COVID-19 case counts provided by WHO and developed tools to evaluate country-specific reporting behaviours.MethodsIn this retrospective cross-sectional study, COVID-19 data reported daily to WHO from 3 January 2020 until 14 June 2021 were analysed. We proposed the concepts of binary reporting rate and relative reporting behaviour and performed descriptive analyses for all countries with these metrics. We developed a score to evaluate the consistency of incidence and binary reporting rates. Further, we performed spectral clustering of the binary reporting rate and relative reporting behaviour to identify salient patterns in these metrics.ResultsOur final analysis included 222 countries and regions. Reporting scores varied between −0.17, indicating discrepancies between incidence and binary reporting rate, and 1.0 suggesting high consistency of these two metrics. Median reporting score for all countries was 0.71 (IQR 0.55–0.87). Descriptive analyses of the binary reporting rate and relative reporting behaviour showed constant reporting with a slight ‘weekend effect’ for most countries, while spectral clustering demonstrated that some countries had even more complex reporting patterns.ConclusionThe majority of countries reported COVID-19 cases when they did have cases to report. The identification of a slight ‘weekend effect’ suggests that COVID-19 case counts reported in the middle of the week may represent the best data basis for political ad hoc decisions. A few countries, however, showed unusual or highly irregular reporting that might require more careful interpretation. Our score system and cluster analyses might be applied by epidemiologists advising policy makers to consider country-specific reporting behaviours in political ad hoc decisions.
Efficacy of electrical pudendal nerve stimulation versus pelvic floor muscle training in treating postradical prostatectomy urinary incontinence: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Chen Shan , Wang Siyou , Liu Shan , Wang Shenhong , Xuan Lihua , Gao Yunqiu 
Published: January 2023

IntroductionUrinary incontinence (UI) is one of the main complications of radical prostatectomy. Electrical pudendal nerve stimulation (EPNS) has been used to treat stress UI based on its mechanism of passive pelvic floor muscle contraction reported in the previous research. However, there are no studies comparing the effects of EPNS and active pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in the treatment of postradical prostatectomy UI (PPUI). Here, we describe the protocol for a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of EPNS in treating PPUI compared with PFMT.Methods and analysisThis study is designed as an open-label randomised controlled trial with blinded assessment and analysis. A total of 90 eligible men will be randomly allocated to two groups. The treatment group (n=45) will receive EPNS while the control group will perform PFMT by doing the Kegel exercise. Forty EPNS treatment sessions will occur over a period of 8 weeks. The primary outcome measure will be improvement rate, and the secondary outcome measures, the number of pads used, 24-hour pad test, and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form will be compared between baseline and the study endpoint. The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Quality of Life and care compared as the quality of life and satisfaction outcomes between groups.Ethics and disseminationThis protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (approval no. 2021 KL-040-02). Written informed consent will be obtained from each participant. The results of the study will be published in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberChiCTR2200055461.
Household living conditions and food insecurity in Nigeria: a longitudinal study during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Orjiakor Ebuka Christian , Adediran Adewumi , Ugwu Jamesclement Onyekachi , Nwachukwu Wisdom 
Published: January 2023

ObjectiveThis study set out to investigate the risk of household food insecurity in Nigeria during the novel COVID-19 pandemic using a harmonised dataset of Nigeria’s prepandemic face-to-face survey and two waves of the COVID-19 National Longitudinal Phone Survey (NLPS).SettingNigeria.ParticipantsA representative sample of 1674 households is used in the analysis.DesignA longitudinal study.ResultsOur longitudinal study reveals a significant increase in the prevalence of food insecurity in Nigeria during the COVID-19 crisis. For a sample of 1674 households used in the analysis, nearly 32% were moderately food insecure in the baseline survey (ie, the prepandemic period), compared with 74% and 72% that faced the same degree of food insecurity in the two waves of the COVID-19 phone survey. In like manner, not up to 4% of the households faced severe food insecurity in the prepandemic period, compared with 43% and 22% that experienced the same level of food insecurity during the period of the pandemic. Based on the available information in the dataset, we construct a composite non-monetary measure (or index) of household well-being and employ the binary logistic model to investigate the objects under study. The empirical results show that the well-being index has a strong negative association with household food insecurity. Further investigation reveals that the risk of being food insecure increases for households in relatively poor living conditions compared with those in the middle category and conversely declines for households in much better living conditions.ConclusionThis study informs an understanding of the prevalence and risk of household food insecurity in Nigeria during the novel COVID-19 pandemic and provides insights that can guide policy actions in responding to the current wave of food crises in Nigeria.
Ordovician stratigraphy and biota of Mexico
Authors: Cuen-Romero Francisco Javier , Buitrón-Sánchez Blanca Estela , Beresi Matilde S. , Palafox-Reyes Juan J. , Monreal Rogelio 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
In Mexico, Ordovician sedimentary rocks are exposed in the states of Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua and Oaxaca, comprising approximately 30 stratigraphic successions ranging from Lower to Upper Ordovician. The ages of the sequences have been established primarily by utilizing conodonts and graptolites, which have also allowed us to differentiate between platform and oceanic basin environments. The State of Sonora has the most complete Ordovician stratigraphic sequences, ranging from Tremadocian to Hirnantian. The deposits in Baja California are Floian in age, while the sequences of Chihuahua range from Sandbian to Katian, and the deposits in Oaxaca are Tremadocian. The Ordovician deposits of northern Mexico (Baja California, Sonora, and Chihuahua) present a palaeogeographic relationship to the North American craton, mainly owing to faunal interspecific affinities, while the southern deposits (Oaxaca) are controversial owing to the high degree of endemism of the faunas; however, they show affinity with Gondwana, Baltica and Avalonia, with a possible insular origin. The biotic assemblages of the Ordovician of Mexico include a variety of taxa, including algae, poriferans, corals, bryozoans, brachiopods, molluscs, trilobites, echinoderms, graptolites and conodonts as predominant elements. Despite many years of field studies in Mexican Ordovician localities, biostratigraphic correlations are as yet insufficient and incomplete or are based on limited interpretations. Thus, the Ordovician biostratigraphic data from Mexico compiled in the present paper have great potential and significant value. The advancement in the knowledge of the Ordovician biostratigraphy of Mexico will contribute to a major understanding of the relationships with the Ordovician System to a continental scale. Future advances will come mainly through increasing the amount and quality of data as well as improving biocorrelations among the Ordovician sequences of Mexico.
Lower crustal hot zones as zircon incubators: Inherited zircon antecryts in diorites from a mafic mush reservoir
Authors: Lim Hoseong , Nebel Oliver , Weinberg Roberto F. , Nebel-Jacobsen Yona , Barrote Vitor R. , Park Jongkyu , Myeong Bora , Cawood Peter A. 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Continental arcs are key sites of granitic magmatism, yet details of the origins of these magmas, including the role and contribution of mafic magma, the timing and location of initial zircon formation and how zircon isotopic signatures relate to granite formation, remain as challenges. Here we use U–Pb dating, trace elements and Hf isotopic systematics of zircon in mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs), from the convergent plate margin Satkatbong diorite (SKD) in Korea to understand lower arc magmatism and zircon production. The host granitic body and MMEs display similar major element evolutionary trends and similar ranges of Sr, Nd and Hf isotopes, implying a cognatic relationship. Zircons show a large variability in
ε
Hf (
t
) (
c.
6 units) and age (>30 Ma). We propose that the SKD and MMEs originated from the same, long-lasting, lower crustal mush reservoir, enabling long and variable residence times for zircons. Prolonged zircon ages, combined with the Hf isotope variability within a single pluton (SKD and its MME), indicate that not all zircons were instantaneously crystallized in a rapidly cooling shallow magma chamber but were continuously formed in a long-lasting hot source. A low-melt-fraction mush type reservoir in a deep crustal hot zone provides a viable model for the source setting. Continuous replenishment of mafic magmas acts as the main re-activator of the reservoir, and provide a critical role in spawning zircons that record a long age span, because (1) the magma adds Zr into the reservoir, enabling it to reach zircon saturation and (2) the generated zircon grains are transported upward as antecrysts by flow inside of the reservoir. This means that antecrysts with different ages may mix with each other in the ascending magma body. The significance of this model is that a conclusive time of intrusion cannot be constrained by such zircon ages, as these antecrysts constitute inherited grains.
Analysis and Design of a MuSiC-Based Angle of Arrival Positioning System
Authors: Gunia Marco , Zinke Adrian , Joram Niko , Ellinger Frank 
Published: January 2023

In this research article, a concept for a secondary RAdio Direction And Ranging (RADAR) angle of arrival based system with cooperative targets transmitting at 2.4 GHz and using Multiple Signal Classification (MuSiC) to determine the angles of incidence is investigated. In addition to introducing common algorithms and presenting thorough derivations, the system is first examined through simulations. To prove the concept, hardware, firmware, and software are developed. For MuSiC, we propose three novel methods to obtain the correct incident angle from the spectrum, especially in strong multipath environments. These methods work either for a single spectrum or for a combination recorded at multiple times. Together with the estimated angles of incidence, our methods determine measures on the respective likelihoods. Based on this, we additionally propose two algorithms for computing the final position. Our system is characterized in both a simple 20 m × 15 m outdoor and a 17 m × 13 m multipath indoor environment, where we achieve a mean angular error of 3∘ and a mean positioning error of 0.67 m for the former using only four base stations with four antennas each. Our novel approach shows position accuracy improvements of 15% outdoors and 25% indoors compared to classical MuSiC estimation.
Food-to-Food Fortification of a Traditional Pearl Millet Gruel with a Natural Source of β-Carotene (Sweet Potato) Improves the Bioaccessibility of Iron and Zinc
Authors: Mawouma Saliou , Awoudamkine Emmanuel , Ponka Roger , Ndjidda Yaya Verlai , Dzusuo Tedom William 
Published: January 2023

Iron and zinc deficiencies are still a major public health concern in the Far North Region of Cameroon where staple foods are mainly mineral rich cereals which equally contain inhibitors of their bioaccessibility. The effect of food-to-food fortification of a traditional pearl millet gruel with a natural source of β-carotene on the bioaccessibility of iron and zinc was assessed. A sensory evaluation of gruels fortified at 20, 30, and 40% with mashed sweet potato was carried out. The samples were analysed for carotenoids, phytates, polyphenols, iron, and zinc contents. Bioaccessible iron and zinc were evaluated using in vitro digestion method. The gruel fortified at 20% with mashed sweet potato had better scores (

P

< 0.05) of taste (3.93), colour (3.36), and overall acceptability (3.80) compared to the control. Carotenoid, polyphenol, and phytate contents were higher in fortified gruels (

P

< 0.05) compared to the control, while iron and zinc contents were lower. A significant increase (

P

< 0.05) in bioaccessibility of 8.08% and 26.96% for iron and 53.79% and 62.92% for zinc was observed at 20 and 30% incorporation level, respectively. However, at 40% incorporation level, the increase in bioaccessible iron was less important and bioaccessible zinc decreased. Mashed sweet potato can be used as a fortificant to improve the bioaccessibility of iron and zinc contents of local pearl millet gruel, if added moderately.
Strength Recovery Effect of Bisphenol A Epoxy Resin E44 on Rock Masses with Various Crack Widths
Authors: Zhou Yaming , Zhang Jianhai , Zhang Ru , Liu Enlong , Wang Lu , Zhang Guoyan 
Published: January 2023

As a desirable bonding and repair material, epoxy resin combined with other materials is widely used in civil engineering, but its application in underground rock engineering is still limited compared with the wide use of cement grout. To explore and optimize the effect of room temperature-cured bisphenol A epoxy resin E44 on the strength recovery of rock samples with cracks of various widths, the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of epoxy resin was studied and the mass ratio of the curing agent to epoxy resin (

k

C
E

) was adjusted and optimized. On this basis, the UCS of the selected epoxy resin was investigated by adding diverse amounts of ethanol so that the ratio corresponding to the repair material with better mechanical properties could be selected. Artificial cracks of various widths were filled with the optimized materials, and then, a UCS test was conducted on the repaired rock samples to evaluate the effect on strength recovery and compare it with that of ultrafine Portland cement (UPC). The results show that the UCS of epoxy resin stones increases when

k

C
E

≤ 0.25 and decreases when

k

C
E

> 0.25, reaching a peak of 92.41 MPa. Furthermore, as the mass ratio of ethanol to curing agent and epoxy resin (

k

A

) increases, the UCS increases to 94.65 MPa for

k

C
E

= 0.25 and

k

A

= 0.01. The crack width influences the UCS of the repaired rock mass. With increasing crack width, the effect of epoxy resin on recovery continuously improves, whereas that of UPC shows the opposite trend. Compared with UPC, epoxy resin has an overwhelmingly greater effect on strength recovery. For instance, for a 3 mm-wide crack, the recovered UCS for 28 d epoxy resin is 83.48 MPa, with much larger peak strains, and the strength recovery rate (

k

r

) is 77.55%; however, the

k

r

of UPC is only 15.12%.
Combination Therapies Targeting ALK-aberrant Neuroblastoma in Preclinical Models
Authors: Tucker Elizabeth R. , Jiménez Irene , Chen Lindi , Bellini Angela , Gorrini Chiara , Calton Elizabeth , Gao Qiong , Che Harvey , Poon Evon , Jamin Yann , Martins Da Costa Barbara , Barker Karen , Shrestha Sumana , Hutchinson J. Ciaran , Dhariwal Simran , Goodman Angharad , Del Nery Elaine , Gestraud Pierre , Bhalshankar Jaydutt , Iddir Yasmine , Saberi-Ansari Elnaz , Saint-Charles Alexandra , Geoerger Birgit , Marques Da Costa Maria Eugénia , Pierre-Eugène Cécile , Janoueix-Lerosey Isabelle , Decaudin Didier , Nemati Fariba , Carcaboso Angel M. , Surdez Didier , Delattre Olivier , George Sally L. , Chesler Louis , Tweddle Deborah A. , Schleiermacher Gudrun 
Published: January 2023

AbstractPurpose:ALK-activating mutations are identified in approximately 10% of newly diagnosed neuroblastomas and ALK amplifications in a further 1%–2% of cases. Lorlatinib, a third-generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor, will soon be given alongside induction chemotherapy for children with ALK-aberrant neuroblastoma. However, resistance to single-agent treatment has been reported and therapies that improve the response duration are urgently required. We studied the preclinical combination of lorlatinib with chemotherapy, or with the MDM2 inhibitor, idasanutlin, as recent data have suggested that ALK inhibitor resistance can be overcome through activation of the p53-MDM2 pathway.Experimental Design:We compared different ALK inhibitors in preclinical models prior to evaluating lorlatinib in combination with chemotherapy or idasanutlin. We developed a triple chemotherapy (CAV: cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine) in vivo dosing schedule and applied this to both neuroblastoma genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) and patient-derived xenografts (PDX).Results:Lorlatinib in combination with chemotherapy was synergistic in immunocompetent neuroblastoma GEMM. Significant growth inhibition in response to lorlatinib was only observed in the ALK-amplified PDX model with high ALK expression. In this PDX, lorlatinib combined with idasanutlin resulted in complete tumor regression and significantly delayed tumor regrowth.Conclusions:In our preclinical neuroblastoma models, high ALK expression was associated with lorlatinib response alone or in combination with either chemotherapy or idasanutlin. The synergy between MDM2 and ALK inhibition warrants further evaluation of this combination as a potential clinical approach for children with neuroblastoma.
Relationship Between Ascending Thoracic Aortic Diameter and Blood Pressure: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: DePaolo John , Levin Michael G. , Tcheandjieu Catherine , Priest James R. , Gill Dipender , Burgess Stephen , Damrauer Scott M. , Chirinos Julio A. 
Published: January 2023

Background:
Observational studies identified elevated blood pressure (BP) as a strong risk factor for thoracic aortic dilation, and BP reduction is the primary medical intervention recommended to prevent progression of aortic aneurysms. However, although BP may impact aortic dilation, aortic size may also impact BP. The causal relationship between BP and thoracic aortic size has not been reliably established.

Methods:
Genome-wide association studies summary statistics were obtained for BP and ascending thoracic aortic diameter (AscAoD). Causal effects of BP on AscAoD were estimated using 2-sample Mendelian randomization using a range of pleiotropy-robust methods.

Results:

Genetically predicted increased systolic BP, diastolic BP, and mean arterial pressure all significantly associate with higher AscAoD (systolic BP: β estimate, 0.0041 mm/mm Hg [95% CI, 0.0008–0.0074];
P
=0.02, diastolic BP: β estimate, 0.0272 mm/mm Hg [95% CI, 0.0224–0.0320];
P
<0.001, and mean arterial pressure: β estimate, 0.0168 mm/mm Hg [95% CI, 0.0130–0.0206];
P
<0.001). Genetically predicted pulse pressure, meanwhile, had an inverse association with AscAoD (β estimate, −0.0155 mm/mm Hg [95% CI, −0.0213 to −0.0096];
P
<0.001). Multivariable Mendelian randomization analyses showed that genetically predicted increased mean arterial pressure and reduced pulse pressure were independently associated with AscAoD. Bidirectional Mendelian randomization demonstrated that genetically predicted AscAoD was inversely associated with pulse pressure (β estimate, −2.0721 mm Hg/mm [95% CI, −3.1137 to −1.0306];
P
<0.001) and systolic BP (β estimate, −1.2878 mm Hg/mm [95% CI, −2.3533 to −0.2224];
P
=0.02), while directly associated with diastolic BP (0.8203 mm Hg/mm [95% CI, 0.2735–1.3672];
P
=0.004).

Conclusions:
BP likely contributes causally to ascending thoracic aortic dilation. Increased AscAoD likely contributes to lower systolic BP and pulse pressure, but not diastolic BP, consistent with the hemodynamic consequences of a reduced aortic diameter.
Substrate Mapping Alters Ventricular Tachycardia Inducibility
Authors: Aboud Asad A. , Davogustto Giovanni , Adeola Oluwaseun , Richardson Travis D. , Tokutake Kenichi , Michaud Gregory F. , Stevenson William G. , Kanagasundram Arvindh 
Published: January 2023

Background:
Initiation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) by programmed electrical stimulation (PES) has an important role to allow mapping and assess ablation end points. We hypothesized that substrate mapping may alter VT inducibility by mechanical bumping of critical sites.

Methods:
Subjects with left ventricular scar-related VT that was inducible by PES who were undergoing ablation were included. PES was repeated after substrate mapping (Group I) or after time under sedation/anesthesia during which additional imaging and transeptal puncture were performed without substrate mapping (Group II). The response to the second PES was categorized as type I if the same VT was induced, type II if a different VT was induced, and type III if VT was not inducible.

Results:

Twenty-eight patients (median age 66 years, 61% ischemic cardiomyopathy), 14 in Group I and 14 in Group II, were included. Age, time between initial and second PES, type of cardiomyopathy, ejection fraction, and anesthesia methods were not different between the 2 groups. Initial VT cycle length, however, was shorter in Group I (305 millisecond [range, 235–600] versus 350 millisecond [range, 235–600],
P
=0.016). Also, Group I required more extrastimuli to induce VT in PES 1 (2 [1–4] versus 2 [1–3],
P
=0.022). In Group I, following substrate mapping, the second PES induced the same VT in 3 patients (21%), a different VT in 9 (64%), and no VT in 2 (14%) patients. In contrast, in Group II the same VT was induced in 10 (71%) patients, a different VT in 3 (21%) and no VT in 1 (7%) patient (
P
=0.017).

Conclusions:
Mechanical effects of substrate mapping commonly alter inducibility of VT. This has important implications for catheter ablation procedure planning and acute assessment of outcome and can potentially account for some recurrent VTs that are not recognized at the time of the procedure.