bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors That Impact Hospital‐Specific Enrollment Rates for a Neonatal Clinical Trial: An Analysis of the HEAL Study
Authors: Guttmann Katherine F. , Li Sijia , Wu Yvonne W. , Juul Sandra E. , Wilfond Benjamin S. , Weiss Elliott Mark ,   HEAL Recruitment Collaborative
Published: January 2023

ABSTRACTInconsistent enrollment among hospitals for neonatal clinical trials may lead to study populations that are not representative of the patient population in the neonatal intensive care unit. The High‐Dose Erythropoietin for Asphyxia and Encephalopathy (HEAL) trial was a multisite randomized clinical trial investigating erythropoietin as a neuroprotective treatment for term infants (those born between 37 and 42 complete weeks) with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Substantial variability was noted in enrollment rate by hospital. We developed survey questions across five conceptual domains to understand systems‐level issues that might contribute to variation in enrollment rate by hospital. Our study found that hospitals varied in their responses across these five domains. We propose three potential reasons that we found a lack of identifiable hospital‐level factors that correlated with enrollment rates: sample‐size limitations, methodological concerns, and confounding factors. Future studies with a larger sample size should be considered to evaluate contributors to hospital‐level variability. This will lead to more robust recruitment strategies, improved enrollment, and decreases in the waste of research resources.
The Drosophila‐parasitizing wasp Leptopilina heterotoma: A comprehensive model system in ecology and evolution
Authors: Quicray Maude , Wilhelm Léonore , Enriquez Thomas , He Shulin , Scheifler Mathilde , Visser Bertanne 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe parasitoid Leptopilina heterotoma has been used as a model system for more than 70 years, contributing greatly to diverse research areas in ecology and evolution. Here, we synthesized the large body of work on L. heterotoma with the aim to identify new research avenues that could be of interest also for researchers studying other parasitoids and insects. We start our review with a description of typical L. heterotoma characteristics, as well as that of the higher taxonomic groups to which this species belongs. We then continue discussing host suitability and immunity, foraging behaviors, as well as fat accumulation and life histories. We subsequently shift our focus towards parasitoid‐parasitoid interactions, including L. heterotoma coexistence within the larger guild of Drosophila parasitoids, chemical communication, as well as mating and population structuring. We conclude our review by highlighting the assets of L. heterotoma as a model system, including its intermediate life history syndromes, the ease of observing and collecting natural hosts and wasps, as well as recent genomic advances.
Trait adaptation enhances species coexistence and reduces bistability in an intraguild predation module
Authors: Li Xiaoxiao , Klauschies Toni , Yang Wei , Yang Zhifeng , Gaedke Ursula 
Published: January 2023

AbstractDisentangling how species coexist in an intraguild predation (IGP) module is a great step toward understanding biodiversity conservation in complex natural food webs. Trait variation enabling individual species to adjust to ambient conditions may facilitate coexistence. However, it is still unclear how coadaptation of all species within the IGP module, constrained by complex trophic interactions and trade‐offs among species‐specific traits, interactively affects species coexistence and population dynamics. We developed an adaptive IGP model allowing prey and predator species to mutually adjust their species‐specific defensive and offensive strategies to each other. We investigated species persistence, the temporal variation of population dynamics, and the occurrence of bistability in IGP models without and with trait adaptation along a gradient of enrichment represented by carrying capacity of the basal prey for different widths and speeds of trait adaptation within each species. Results showed that trait adaptation within multiple species greatly enhanced the coexistence of all three species in the module. A larger width of trait adaptation facilitated species coexistence independent of the speed of trait adaptation at lower enrichment levels, while a sufficiently large and fast trait adaptation promoted species coexistence at higher enrichment levels. Within the oscillating regime, increasing the speed of trait adaptation reduced the temporal variability of biomasses of all species. Finally, species coadaptation strongly reduced the presence of bistability and promoted the attractor with all three species coexisting. These findings resolve the contradiction between the widespread occurrence of IGP in nature and the theoretical predictions that IGP should only occur under restricted conditions and lead to unstable population dynamics, which broadens the mechanisms presumably underlying the maintenance of IGP modules in nature. Generally, this study demonstrates a decisive role of mutual adaptation among complex trophic interactions, for enhancing interspecific diversity and stabilizing food web dynamics, arising, for example, from intraspecific diversity.
Sediment controls on the transition from debris flow to fluvial channels in steep mountain ranges
Authors: Neely Alexander B. , DiBiase Roman A. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractSteep channel networks commonly show a transition from constant‐gradient colluvial channels associated with debris flow activity to concave‐up fluvial channels downstream. The trade‐off between debris flow and fluvial erosion in steep channels remains unclear, which obscures connections among topography, tectonics, and climate in steep landscapes. Here, we analyze steep debris‐flow‐prone channels across the western United States and observe: (1) similar maximum channel gradients across a range of catchment erosion rates and geologic settings; and (2) lengthening colluvial channels with coarsening sediment cover. Following this compilation, we hypothesize that steep channel gradients are controlled by two competing thresholds of motion for bed‐sediment cover: bed failure by mass‐wasting and fluvial entrainment. We use downstream patterns in discharge, channel geometry, and sediment size to calculate discharges needed to mobilize sediment cover by both mechanisms across channels in the San Gabriel Mountains (SGM) and northern San Jacinto Mountains (NSJM) in southern California. Across steep colluvial channels in both landscapes, decadal discharges are below fluvial entrainment thresholds but above mass‐wasting entrainment thresholds for
(median) sediment sizes, consistent with recent debris flows captured by repeat imagery. Colluvial channel gradient is similar despite > 3× contrasts in surface sediment grain size. In concave‐up fluvial channels downstream, decadal discharges exceed fluvial entrainment thresholds, and mass‐wasting is not predicted on lower gradients. In both landscapes, fluvial channels steepen downstream compared to gradients needed to mobilize sediment cover, which we interpret to reflect downstream increases in sediment flux. Coarser sediment supply in the NSJM than the SGM increases fluvial entrainment thresholds, which increases total channel relief in the NSJM by (1) lengthening colluvial channels shaped by debris flows and (2) increasing fluvial channel gradients. Our compilation and downstream analysis show how differing sensitivity of fluvial and debris flow processes to sediment grain size impacts the relative relief of colluvial and fluvial regimes in headwater channel networks.
Effects of Chemical Compounds on the Activity of the N-acetyl-β-D-Glucosaminidase of the Marine Prawn, Palaemon serratus: Screening In Vitro
Authors: Rollin Marc , Coulaud Romain , Rocher Béatrice , Billoir Elise , Geffard Olivier , Duflot Aurélie , Fromont Chloé , Boulangé-Lecomte Céline , Le Foll Frank , Xuereb Benoit 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase) is important for crustaceans because the enzyme activity is necessary for the molting process. The present study aimed to assess the sensitivity of Palaemon serratus NAGase activity to a set of compounds of diverse chemical families in the context of in vitro exposures. Compounds representing different chemical families were selected according to their abundance, impact in the environment, and relevance as disruptors of the molting process. In a first step, four solvents (dimethylsulfoxide [DMSO], methanol, acetone, and ethanol) were tested to determine their suitability to dissolve hydrophobic compounds without affecting NAGase activity. Exclusively, ethanol had no effect on enzyme activity and on the integrity of the proteins present in the enzyme extract. The 18 other compounds were tested and four of these compounds, pentoxifylline, fenoxycarb, dithiocarbamate, and RH5849, showed a specific alteration on the activity of NAGase, without affecting the protein content. However, cadmium, zinc, and glyphosate showed a nonspecific alteration, affecting both the enzyme activity and the proteins, whereas ibuprofen exclusively altered the protein content. Finally, 10 of the 22 tested compounds (including DMSO, acetone, and methanol) showed a direct alteration of NAGase activity. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:846–858. © 2023 SETAC
Impact of COVID‐19 measures on the health and healthcare of children in East‐Africa: Scoping review
Authors: El Salih Ibrahim , Njuguna Festus Muigai , Widjajanto Pudjo Hagung , Kaspers Gertjan , Bailey Ajay , Mostert Saskia 
Published: January 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe COVID‐19 pandemic is of grave concern. As scientific data is being collected about the nature of COVID‐19, government leaders and policy makers are challenged. They might feel pressured to take strong measures to stop virus spread. However, decisions could cause more harm than do good. This study maps all existing literature regarding the impact of COVID‐19 containment measures on the health and healthcare of children in East‐Africa.MethodsThis scoping review follows Population Concept Context guidelines of Arksey and O’Malley and PRISMA 2020 checklist. PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched. All peer‐reviewed literature published in English between January 2020 and October 2022 was considered. Initial screening of titles and abstracts was undertaken independently by two reviewers, with a third available in case of doubt. This was followed by full‐text screening involving two independent reviewers.ResultsIn total, 70 studies were included. Eight containment measures affecting children's health and healthcare were distinguished: lockdowns, school closures, physical distancing, travel restrictions, business closures, stay‐at‐home orders, curfews, quarantine measures with contact tracing. The consensus in the studies is that containment measures could minimise COVID‐19 spread but have adverse indirect effects on children in East‐Africa. Seven indirect effects were distinguished: economic damage, limited education access, food insecurity, child abuse, limited healthcare access, disrupted health‐programs, and mental health challenges.ConclusionGovernment leaders and policy makers should take adverse indirect effects of COVID‐19 measures into account, particularly in resource‐limited regions such as East‐Africa, apply a holistic approach, and strengthen socioeconomic and health‐systems to protect the most vulnerable.
Direct Hydrogenolysis of Cellulose to Methane Utilizing Rare‐Earth Promoted Nickel Catalysts
Authors: Koch Christopher J. , Alagaratnam Anushan , Goeppert Alain , Surya Prakash G. K. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractCellulose is one of the main components of plant matter, which makes it a viable target for biomass conversion to fuels. The direct conversion of cellulose to methane utilizing nickel‐based catalysts often has challenges associated with it. Carbon agglomeration creating nickel‐carbon nanoparticles deactivating catalytic hydrogenation of cellulose has been well reported. Utilizing rare‐earth metals as promoters increases the conversion of cellulose to methane, albeit with deactivation of the catalyst in the form of nickel‐rare‐earth‐carbon nanoparticles. Adding an additional zinc metal promoter eliminates the carbon agglomeration and allows for increased methane yields. Herein, we report an 81 % methane yield from cellulose in 48 hours utilizing a Ni/Zn/Y/Al2O3 catalyst at 225 °C and under 50 bar H2 pressure.
Total variation‐based ultrasound image despeckling using method noise thresholding in non‐subsampled contourlet transform
Authors: Singh Prabhishek , Diwakar Manoj 
Published: January 2023

AbstractMedical diagnostics rely heavily on ultrasound imaging since it is non‐invasive, inexpensive, and able to provide images in real time. However, the inherent existence of a kind of signal‐dependent noise in these images diminishes the use of ultrasound imaging systems. Speckle noise is inherently present in ultrasound images. Its inherent presence occurs during the image acquisition phase. It decreases the diagnostic usefulness of this imaging modality since it interferes with and reduces the image resolution and contrast. Speckle noise is multiplicative in nature. This multiplicative nature of speckle noise causes adverse effects on ultrasound imaging because it distorts the image quality and causes a loss of the patient's informative content in ultrasound imaging. This causes difficulty in tissue characterization. A lot of research has been done in this field to remove speckle noise while preserving medical information in the image. To handle this issue, research has been grouped into multiple domains. The two main domains include homomorphic and non‐homomorphic filtering. The homomorphic filtering uses a logarithmic transform that converts this multiplicative nature into an additive nature and uses any additive image restoration model to do a despeckling task. Non‐homomorphic filtering encompasses all methods that do not employ a logarithmic transform. Since the presence of speckle noise in ultrasound imaging is an inherent property. Therefore, the despeckling of medical ultrasound images is a mandatory task that cannot be avoided or ignored. This paper proposes a two‐step hybrid and homomorphic despeckling technique, where modified total variation method is applied as step one for speckle reduction purposes. Step two implements method of noise thresholding in the non‐subsampled contourlet transform (NSCT) domain using the bivariate shrinkage rule for edge preservation. The effectiveness and reliability of the proposed method are tested by comparing it with some of the latest methods based on qualitative and quantitative analyses. This paper will help the new researchers understand various problems and their solutions related to ultrasound image despeckling.
The typical and atypical development of empathy: How big is the gap from lab to field?
Authors: Bulgarelli Chiara , Jones Emily J. H. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractBackgroundEmpathy‐understanding and sharing someone else's feelings‐is crucial for social bonds. Studies on empathy development are limited and mainly performed with behavioural assessments. This is in contrast to the extensive literature on cognitive and affective empathy in adults. However, understanding the mechanisms behind empathy development is critical to developing early interventions to support children with limited empathy. This is particularly key in toddlerhood, as children transition from highly scaffolded interactions with their parents and towards interactions with their peers. However, we know little about toddlers' empathy, in part due to the methodological constraints of testing this population in traditional lab settings.MethodsHere, we combine naturalistic observations with a targeted review of the literature to provide an assessment of our current understanding of the development of empathy in toddlerhood as it is expressed in real‐world settings. We went into toddlers' typical habitat, a nursery, and we performed 21 h of naturalistic observations of 2‐to‐4‐year‐olds. We then reviewed the literature to evaluate our current understanding of the mechanisms that underpin observed behaviours.ResultsWe observed that (i) emotional contagion, possibly a primitive form of empathy, was observed at the nursery, but rarely; (ii) older toddlers often stared when someone cried, but there was no clear evidence of shared feelings; (iii) teacher and parent scaffolding might be paramount for empathy development; (iv) as some atypical empathic reactions can be observed from toddlerhood, early interventions could be developed. Several competing theoretical frameworks could account for current findings.ConclusionsTargeted studies of toddlers and their interaction partners in both controlled and naturalistic contexts are required to distinguish different mechanistic explanations for empathic behaviour in toddlerhood. We recommend the use of new cutting‐edge methodologies to embed neurocognitively‐informed frameworks into toddlers' natural social world.
Incident HIV acquisition among pregnant women in Botswana: findings from the Tsepamo birth outcomes surveillance study
Authors: Mussa Aamirah , Mayondi Gloria Katuta , Diseko Modiegi , Mabuta Judith , Mmalane Mompati , Makhema Joseph , Lockman Shahin , Morroni Chelsea , Shapiro Roger , Zash Rebecca 
Published: January 2023

AbstractIntroductionIn Botswana, where almost all pregnant women known to have HIV receive antiretroviral therapy, a large proportion of vertical HIV transmission may occur among women with incident undiagnosed HIV infection during pregnancy. Botswana guidelines recommend repeat HIV testing every 3 months in pregnancy, with at least one test in the third trimester. We evaluated the rate of repeat HIV testing, calculated HIV incidence during pregnancy and estimated missed seroconversions.MethodsIn the Botswana Tsepamo Study, we abstracted HIV test dates and results from obstetric records of all women who delivered at maternity wards in 18 communities between 7th May 2017 and 20th August 2021. We defined seroconversion as an initial negative/indeterminate HIV test in pregnancy followed by a positive test during pregnancy/at delivery. The incidence rate (IR) of seroconversion was calculated among women with > = 2 known test dates. Missed seroconversions were estimated among women without a test in the third trimester by applying the IR to the time after the last HIV test until delivery.ResultsAmong 103,529 women delivering in the study period testing negative at the first test and with known conception and HIV test dates, 29,085 (28%) were tested in one trimester of pregnancy, 73,156 (71%) were tested in ≥ 2 trimesters of pregnancy and 9628 (9%) had a test in all trimesters. A total of 78,162 (75%) women had a third‐trimester test. There were 223 seroconversions (2.58/1000 pregnancies, 0.26%) among those with ≥ 2 known HIV test dates, yielding an IR of 0.69/100 person‐years. Among 25,289 women who did not have a test in the third trimester, we estimate approximately 58 seroconversions may have been missed during pregnancy due to a lack of repeat testing. Factors associated with seroconversion during pregnancy included younger age, less education and not being married.ConclusionsMore than two‐thirds of women had repeat HIV testing in pregnancy and HIV incidence was low. However, an estimated 21% of seroconversions in pregnancy were likely missed due to a lack of re‐testing. To reach the goal of zero new paediatric HIV infections, Botswana will need to intensify repeat HIV testing in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Efficacy and safety of zero‐fluoroscopy ablation of ventricular arrhythmias originating from the right ventricular outflow tract: Comparison with fluoroscopy‐guided ablation without a three‐dimensional electroanatomic mapping system
Authors: Vu Ba Van , Phan Phong Dinh , Pham Linh Tran , Hoang Kien Trung , Do Thinh Duc , Nguyen Hung Manh , Ngo Linh Thi Hai , Le Dung Tien , Phan Nguyen Thao , Nguyen Huu Cong , Luong Thuc Cong 
Published: January 2023

AbstractBackgroundRadiofrequency catheter ablation is the preferred treatment choice for ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) originating from right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) in symptomatic patients and is usually performed under fluoroscopy guidance. Zero‐fluoroscopy (ZF) ablations using 3D mapping system applied for treatment of various types of arrhythmias are trending and practiced in many centers around the world, but rarely done in Vietnam. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of zero‐fluoroscopy ablation of RVOT VAs, compared with fluoroscopy‐guided ablation without a 3D electroanatomic mapping (EAM) system.Methods and ResultsWe conducted a nonrandomized, prospective single‐center study including 114 patients with RVOT VAs that had electrocardiographic features of typical left bundle branch block, inferior axis QRS morphology, and a precordial transition ≥ V3, from May 2020 to July 2022. The patients were assigned (without randomization) to two different approaches of either zero‐fluoroscopy ablation under the guidance of the Ensite system (ZF group) or fluoroscopy‐guided ablation without a 3D EAM (fluoroscopy group) in a 1:1 ratio. After a follow‐up time of 5.0 ± 4.9 months and 6.9 ± 9.3 months in the ZF and fluoroscopy groups, respectively, the results showed a higher success rate in the fluoroscopy group than in the complete ZF group (87.3% vs 86.8%), although the difference was not statistically significant. No major complication was noted in both the groups.ConclusionZF ablation for RVOT VAs can be done safely and effectively using the 3D electroanatomic mapping system. The results of ZF approach are comparable to that of the fluoroscopy‐guided approach without a 3D EAM system.
High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation for Patients With Locally Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A Propensity Score‐Matching Analysis
Authors: Ning Jiwei , Wang Shifeng , Guo Yuehao , Diao Jianfeng , Bai Xuehong , Wang Hongjin , Hu Kaimeng , Zhao Qingwen 
Published: January 2023

ObjectivesThis retrospective study was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in combination with chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone in treating patients with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC).MethodsThe data of unresectable LAPC patients who received chemotherapy with or without HIFU ablation were retrieved retrospectively. The overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), cancer antigen 19‐9 response rate, and safety were compared between these two groups before and after propensity score matching (PSM).ResultsOverall, 254 patients with LAPC were included, of whom 92 underwent HIFU ablation. After PSM to control for potential biases, HIFU was associated with improved OS (12.8 versus 12.2 months, log‐rank P = .046), as compared to patients without HIFU ablation. Patients with numeric rating scale (NRS) less than 4, and receiving HIFU ablation were significantly associated with improved OS (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.365 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.148–0.655], P = .002; aHR = 0.490 [95% CI = 0.250–0.961], P = .038; respectively) by multivariate analyses with the adjustment of age, NRS, and tumor size. ORR was also observed to be higher in HIFU group of 30.0% than in the chemotherapy group of 13.3% (P = .039). No severe adverse events of special interest or HIFU‐caused deaths were observed.ConclusionsPatients with unresectable LAPC who received gemcitabine‐based chemotherapy might benefit from additional HIFU ablation.