bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A decision support tool has similar high PrEP uptake and increases early PrEP persistence in adolescent girls and young women in South Africa: results from a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Celum Connie , Seidman Dominika , Travill Danielle , Dehlendorf Christine , Gumede Sanele , Zewdie Kidist , Wilson Whitney , Morton Jennifer F. , Baeten Jared M. , Donnell Deborah , Delany‐Moretlwe Sinead 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIntroductionAfrican adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) have high rates of HIV acquisition and are a priority population for HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP implementation has been limited by AGYW's low perceived HIV risk and provider demands. A decision support tool (DST) with information about PrEP could improve clients’ risk perception, knowledge about PrEP, informed decision‐making and motivation to use PrEP based on their risk, facilitating PrEP delivery in primary healthcare (PHC) clinics.MethodsWe designed MyPrEP, a client‐facing DST about PrEP and HIV prevention, with youth‐friendly information and images. The impact of the MyPrEP tool was assessed among HIV‐negative women aged 18–25 years presenting to a PHC clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa from March 2019 to 2020. AGYW were randomized by day to the DST or a general health website as the control condition. A clinician blinded to DST versus control allocation provided standard of care counselling about PrEP, offered PrEP, administered a questionnaire and conducted sexually transmitted infection testing. The primary outcome was PrEP initiation and the secondary outcome was PrEP persistence at 1 month, determined by pharmacy dispensation records.ResultsOf 386 AGYW screened, 353 were randomized (DSTn= 172, controln= 181) with a median age of 21 years (interquartile range [IQR] 20, 23) and 56% (199/353) attending the clinic for HIV testing, 46% (164/353) using contraception, 15% (53/353) using condoms consistently and 37% (108/353) with a curable sexually transmitted infection. PrEP was initiated by 97% in the DST group and 94% in the control group (OR 1.79; 95% confidence interval, CI = 0.79–1.53), of whom two‐thirds planned to continue PrEP until they decided if they liked PrEP. At 1 month, PrEP persistence was 19% in the DST and 10% in the control group (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.08–3.69). Ninety‐nine percent randomized to the DST reported satisfaction with MyPrEP.ConclusionsAmong AGYW attending a South African PHC clinic, PrEP uptake was >90% with two‐fold higher PrEP persistence at 1 month in those randomized to use the MyPrEP DST. Given the need for strategies to support PrEP implementation and improve low PrEP persistence among African AGYW, a PrEP DST warrants further evaluation.
Clinical characteristics and factors for serious outcomes among outpatients infected with the Omicron subvariant BF.7
Authors: Yang Hui , Wang Zhaojian , Zhang Ying , Xu Man , Wang Yushu , Zhang Yi , Liu Xuefeng , An Zhuoling , Tong Zhaohui 
Published: August 2023

AbstractTo evaluate clinical characteristics and identify risk factors associated with severe outcomes in outpatients infected with the Omicron subvariant BF.7, data were collected from outpatients diagnosed with Corona Virus Disease 2019 from December 19, 2022 to January 5, 2023. Clinical characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with serious outcomes. Variables with a p < 0.10 in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariate model. Our study analyzed 770 patients, of whom 380 (49.4%) were male, with a median age of 59. The most common symptoms reported were cough (71.2%), fever (64.7%), and sore throat (37.7%). Fever lasted an average of 5.93 ± 3.37 days for the general population and 10.64 ± 7.12 days for impaired‐immunity patients. Most cases were mild (68.7%), followed by moderate (27.1%). Severe cases accounted for 2.2%, with 0.5% critically ill. Serious outcomes occurred in 4.2% of cases, with 11 deaths during follow‐up. Underlying‐diseases patients had a higher rate of serious outcomes. Factors associated with serious outcomes included receiving a three‐dose vaccination (odds ratio [OR] = 0.324, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.113–0.932, p = 0.037), male gender (OR = 2.890, 95% CI: 1.107–7.548, p = 0.030), age (OR = 1.060, 95% CI: 1.024–1.097, p = 0.001), and chest tightness or dyspnea at the time of visit (OR = 4.861, 95% CI: 2.054–11.507, p < 0.001). Our study found that cough, fever, and sore throat were the most common symptoms reported by patients. Receiving a three‐dose vaccination was protective, while male gender, age, and chest tightness or dyspnea were identified as risk factors for serious outcomes.
Co‐delivery of a trimeric spike DNA and protein vaccine with aluminum hydroxide enhanced Th1‐dominant humoral and cellular immunity against SARS‐CoV‐2
Authors: Liao Hung‐Chun , Huang Min‐Syuan , Chiu Fang‐Feng , Chai Kit Man , Liao Ching‐Len , Wu Suh‐Chin , Chen Hsin‐Wei , Liu Shih‐Jen 
Published: August 2023

AbstractProtein subunit vaccines have been used as prophylactic vaccines for a long time. The well‐established properties of these vaccines make them the first choice for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) outbreak. However, it is not easy to develop a protein vaccine that induces cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses and requires a longer time for manufacturing, which limits the usage of this vaccine type. Here, we report the combination of a recombinant spike (S)‐trimer protein with a DNA vaccine‐encoded S protein as a novel COVID‐19 vaccine. The recombinant S protein was formulated with different adjuvants and mixed with the DNA plasmid before injection. We found that the recombinant S protein formulated with the adjuvant aluminum hydroxide and mixed with the DNA plasmid could enhance antigen‐specific antibody titers, neutralizing antibody titers. We further evaluated the IgG2a/IgG1 isotype and cytokine profiles of the specific boosted T‐cell response, which indicated that the combined vaccine induced a T‐helper 1 cell‐biased immune response. Immunized hamsters were challenged with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, and the body weight of the hamsters that received the recombinant S protein with aluminum hydroxide and/or the DNA plasmid was not reduced. Alternatively, those that received control or only the DNA plasmid immunization were reduced. Interestingly, after the third day of the viral load in the lungs, the viral challenge could not be detected in hamsters immunized with the recombinant S protein in aluminum hydroxide mixed with DNA (tissue culture infectious dose < 10). The viral load in the lungs was 109, 106, and 107 for the phosphate‐buffered saline, protein in aluminum hydroxide, and DNA‐only immunizations, respectively. These results indicated that antiviral mechanisms neutralizing antibodies play important roles. Furthermore, we found that the combination of protein and DNA vaccination could induce relatively strong CD8+ T‐cell responses. In summary, the protein subunit vaccine combined with a DNA vaccine could induce strong CD8+ T‐cell responses to increase antiviral immunity for disease control.
Validation of Luminex immunological and competitive Luminex immunological assays for clinical immunogenicity assessment of a 14‐valent recombinant human papillomavirus vaccine
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Meng Dan , Li Hong , Li Xuefeng , Li Jing , Hu Ping , Zhao Lu , Wang Rui , Zhao Chaonan , Luo Chunxia , Gu Weihua , Gai Wenlin , Wang Yang , Xie Liangzhi 
Published: August 2023

AbstractA novel virus‐like particle (VLP)‐based multivalent recombinant human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was developed and evaluated in human, including 14 HPV‐type specific VLP antigens (HPV6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, and 59). The pseudovirus‐based neutralizing assay (PBNA) method is widely used for immunogenicity assessment of HPV vaccine in clinical trials. However, as many as 14 antigen‐specific antibody levels need be determined, PBNA is, for many reasons, challenging and time‐consuming. In this study, we developed a Luminex immunological assay (LIA) and a competitive Luminex immunological assay (cLIA). These methods increase the throughput, reproducibility and precision, as well as reduce the complexity. All assay parameters showed good characteristics in the validation of both methods, benefiting from highly purified and structurally correct VLPs, high specific antibodies, standard VLP‐microspheres and PE‐mAbs conjugating process, adequate assay development and stable system. Validation data support the use of both methods for immunogenicity assessment in clinical trials. LIA showed higher sensitivity than cLIA, and due to limited epitopes of mAb, cLIA detected lower antibody responses, and therefore, fewer antibodies. This work not only supports clinical trials of 14‐valent HPV vaccines more efficiently and reliably, but also provides a set of validation strategies and usable standards for general vaccine immunogenicity testing.
Identification of HPV oncogene and host cell differentiation associated cellular heterogeneity in cervical cancer via single‐cell transcriptomic analysis
Authors: Li Yingjie , Wang Cankun , Ma Anjun , Rani Abdul Qawee , Luo Mingjue , Li Jenny , Liu Xuefeng , Ma Qin 
Published: August 2023

AbstractHuman Papillomaviruses (HPVs) are associated with around 5%–10% of human cancer, notably nearly 99% of cervical cancer. The mechanisms HPV interacts with stratified epithelium (differentiated layers) during the viral life cycle, and oncogenesis remain unclear. In this study, we used single‐cell transcriptome analysis to study viral gene and host cell differentiation‐associated heterogeneity of HPV‐positive cervical cancer tissue. We examined the HPV16 genes—E1, E6, and E7, and found they expressed differently across nine epithelial clusters. We found that three epithelial clusters had the highest proportion of HPV‐positive cells (33.6%, 37.5%, and 32.4%, respectively), while two exhibited the lowest proportions (7.21% and 5.63%, respectively). Notably, the cluster with the most HPV‐positive cells deviated significantly from normal epithelial layer markers, exhibiting functional heterogeneity and altered epithelial structuring, indicating that significant molecular heterogeneity existed in cancer tissues and that these cells exhibited unique/different gene signatures compared with normal epithelial cells. These HPV‐positive cells, compared to HPV‐negative, showed different gene expressions related to the extracellular matrix, cell adhesion, proliferation, and apoptosis. Further, the viral oncogenes E6 and E7 appeared to modify epithelial function via distinct pathways, thus contributing to cervical cancer progression. We investigated the HPV and host transcripts from a novel viewpoint focusing on layer heterogeneity. Our results indicated varied HPV expression across epithelial clusters and epithelial heterogeneity associated with viral oncogenes, contributing biological insights to this critical field of study.
Beyond the brink: STEM women and resourceful sensemaking after burnout
Authors: Lee Margaret Y. W. , Riach Kathleen 
Published: August 2023

SummaryThis paper attends to the burnout recovery experiences of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and qualitatively explores how these individuals renegotiate, reorient, and recalibrate their work trajectories after burnout; an ambiguous and shocking event that has been shown to cause lingering disruption for both individuals and organizations (Salvagioni et al., 2017). We bring together conservation of resources (COR) theory and a sensemaking approach, illustrating how attention to sensemaking reveals the dynamics of resource allocation during times of disruption and loss; that is, the relational negotiation of protecting, investing, and fostering resources, including and importantly to burnout, a recognizable sense of recovery. Our rich qualitative analysis and findings reveal three sensemaking plotlines (Combative, Regenerative, and Promissory) through which rituals of resource management take place. Insights from this study provide a theoretical exposition for the post‐burnout experience, illuminating the black box between burnout and recovery. We present a number of theoretical and practical contributions in developing the scholarly vistas surrounding (post‐)burnout studies and STEM careers that better conceptualize (i) how marginalized members in highly instituted settings experience the aftermath of burnout and (ii) the broader implications this has for the sustainability of workforces.
Eligibility for elective surgery in patients recovering from mild COVID‐19: A propensity‐matched analysis
Authors: Zhang Fuzhen , Di Lichao , Jiang Sufang , Wang Shizhao , Tian Meng‐wu , Liang Zhi , Wu Wenhao , Li Yongxin , Zhang Jiaqi , Huang Lining 
Published: August 2023

AbstractObjectiveTo study the timing of surgery after a recent Omicron variant infection, to provide a reference for policymakers, clinicians, and patients.MethodsThis single‐center propensity‐matched analysis was designed and reported according to the EQUATOR‐STROBE guidelines. Patients recovering from COVID‐19 infection were divided into three groups based on the period from disappearance of respiratory symptoms to surgery: ≤7 days, 8–14 days, and >14 days groups. Outcome measures included postoperative respiratory complications, vascular thrombosis, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and mortality.ResultsBetween August 1 and December 31, 2022, 9023 surgical procedures were performed, of which 7490 surgeries met the inclusion criteria. Propensity matching resulted in a final cohort of 227 patients recovered from COVID‐19 and 2043 SARS‐CoV‐2 negative patients. Compared with the SARS‐CoV‐2 negative group, the incidence of postoperative respiratory complications was significantly higher (15.91% vs. 6.71%, p = 0.028) only in the ≤7 days group. There were no statistically significant differences in the other 30‐day outcomes between the SARS‐CoV‐2 negative and the three COVID‐19 recovery groups.ConclusionsPatients who have recovered from mild COVID‐19 may be eligible for elective surgery at least 7 days after recovery, since they do not have an increased risk of postoperative complications or mortality within 30 days.
Mirror‐Coupled Plasmonic Bound States in the Continuum for Tunable Perfect Absorption
Authors: Wang Juan , Weber Thomas , Aigner Andreas , Maier Stefan A. , Tittl Andreas 
Published: August 2023

AbstractTailoring critical light‐matter coupling is a fundamental challenge of nanophotonics, impacting fields from higher harmonic generation and energy conversion to surface‐enhanced spectroscopy. Plasmonic perfect absorbers (PAs), where resonant antennas couple to their mirror images in adjacent metal films, excel at obtaining different coupling regimes by tuning the antenna‐film gap size. However, practical PA applications require constant gap size, making it impossible to maintain critical coupling beyond singular wavelengths. Here, a new approach for plasmonic PAs is introduced by combining mirror‐coupled resonances with the unique loss engineering capabilities of plasmonic quasi‐bound states in the continuum. This novel combination allows to tailor the light–matter interaction within the under‐coupling, over‐coupling, and critical coupling regimes using flexible tuning knobs including asymmetry parameter, dielectric gap, and geometrical scaling factor. The study demonstrates a pixelated PA metasurface with optimal absorption over a broad range of mid‐infrared wavenumbers (950–2000 cm−1) using only a single gap size and applies it for multispectral surface‐enhanced molecular spectroscopy. Moreover, the asymmetry parameter enables convenient adjustment of the quality factor and resonance amplitude. This concept expands the capabilities and flexibility of traditional gap‐tuned PAs, opening new perspectives for miniaturized sensing platforms towards on‐chip and in situ detection.
Simultaneous Interpenetrating Polymer Networks Based on Poly(2‐Oxazoline)s
Authors: Shah Shaffiq Zainal Osman , Trengove Anna , O'Connor Andrea J. , Quinn John F. , Kempe Kristian 
Published: August 2023

AbstractInterpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs), comprised of two or more independent crosslinked networks in which the individual networks are interlaced, can be used to enhance material properties and increase functionality for applications such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, and biofabrication. IPNs can be formed by either simultaneous or sequential crosslinking, with sequential crosslinking being complicated by the need to infiltrate the constituents of the second network into the first network. Herein, the study reports the first simultaneous IPN based on the cationic ring‐opening polymerization (CROP) of 2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline (MeOx) with bis(butyl‐2‐oxazoline) (BBOx) crosslinker and the reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization of N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMAAm) with N,N`‐methylene bis(acrylamide) (BAM) crosslinker. Specifically, the compatibility of the synthesis techniques is demonstrated for the preparation of simultaneous IPNs, and it is shown that, by varying the amounts of the two crosslinkers and comparing to single‐component networks, the equilibrium degree of swelling (EDS) in water and compressive modulus can be tuned. The results reported demonstrate the utility of CROP and RAFT for preparing IPNs and suggest that with appropriate optimization the technique can be expanded to other monomer pairs which are polymerizable via CROP and RAFT.
Multi‐Analyte Sensitive Fluorophore Cross‐Linked Nanofibers Based Antimicrobial Surface Enabling Bacterial Detection and Their Usage as Crystal Growth Template
Authors: Dikmen Zeynep , Bütün Vural 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn situ preparation of bifunctional thiazolo[5,4‐d]thiazole (TTz)‐based fluorophore cross‐linked nanofibers is successfully performed. These multifunctional nanofibers are used as both crystal growth template and antibacterial substrate that makes bacterial detection possible simultaneously. These highly fluorescent nanofibers act as optical sensors toward many analytes. The acid, base, and metal cation‐sensitive nature of the 2,5‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)thiazolo[5,4‐d]thiazole (HPhTT) dye makes the prepared PVA nanofibers sensitive against these chemicals. Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) or metal oxide crystal formation occurs on the surface of nanofibers without any reducing agent. The strong interaction between metal cations and fluorophores results in crystal formation on the surface, which is named for the first time as “complexation‐triggered crystalization.” These dye cross‐linked and metal‐interacted nanofibers exhibit antibacterial effect against E. coli (ATCC 25922), S. aureus (ATCC 25923), P. aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), and E. faecalis (ATCC 25922) strains. Also, the emission wavelength change of nanofibers in bacterial contamination makes it possible to use smart nanofiber films for optical bacteria detection. These novel materials pave the way for new applications such as smart wound bands, optical sensors, and one‐step preparation of surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrate.
Building Porous Ni(Salen)‐Based Catalysts from Waste Styrofoam via Autocatalytic Coupling Chemistry for Heterogeneous Oxidation with Molecular Oxygen
Authors: Wan Shuocheng , Zou Qingyang , Zhu Jiawen , Luo Huimin , Li Yuqiang , Abu‐Reziq Raed , Tang Juntao , Tang Ruiren , Pan Chunyue , Zhang Chunyan , Yu Guipeng 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe development of robust and industrially viable catalysts from plastic waste is of great significance, and the facile construction of high performance heterogeneous catalyst systems for phenol–quinone conversions remains a grand challenge. Herein, a feasible strategy is demonstrated to reclaim Styrofoam into hierarchically porous nickel–salen–loaded hypercrosslinked polystyrene (PS@Ni–salen) catalysts with high activities through an unusual autocatalytic coupling route. The salen is immobilized onto PS chain by Friedel–Crafts alkylation of benzyl chloride derivatives, and the generated hydrogen chloride coordinately promotes the simultaneous crosslinking and bridge formation between aromatic rings via a Scholl coupling route, leading to hierarchically porous networks. After the metallization with Ni, the resultant networks exhibit high catalytic activity for the oxidation of 2,3,6‐trimethylphenol to 2,3,5‐trimethyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone under mild conditions (303 K, 1 bar of O2). This catalyst also demonstrates attractive recycling performance without an obvious loss of catalytic efficiency over five consecutive cycles. This methodology might provide a potential sustainable alternative to construct environmentally benign and cost‐effective catalysts for specific organic transformation.
Conjugated Polymers from Direct Arylation Polycondensation of 3,4‐Difluorothiophene‐Substituted Aryls: Synthesis and Properties
Authors: Sui Ying , Zhang Xuwen , Xu Chenhui , Shi Yibo , Deng Yunfeng , Han Yang , Geng Yanhou 
Published: August 2023

Abstract3,4‐Difluorothiophene‐substituted aryls, i.e., 1,4‐bis(3,4‐difluorothiophen‐2‐yl)‐benzene (Ph‐2FTh), 1,4‐bis(3,4‐difluorothiophen‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐difluorobenzene (2FPh‐2FTh), and 4,7‐bis(3,4‐difluorothiophen‐2‐yl)‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole (BTz‐2FTh), are synthesized as C─H monomers for the synthesis of conjugated polymers (CPs) via direct arylation polycondensation (DArP) with diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) and isoindigo (IID) derivatives as C─Br monomers. The Gibbs free energies of activation for direct arylation (ΔG298 K, kcal mol−1) for α─C─H bonds of thiophene moieties as calculated by density functional theory (DFT) are 14.3, 16.5, and 16.4 kcal mol−1 for Ph‐2FTh, 2FPh‐2FTh and BTz‐2FTh, respectively, meaning that inserting an electron‐deficient unit in 3,3′,4,4′‐tetrafluoro‐2,2′‐bithiophene (4FBT, ΔG298K: 14.6 kcal mol−1) may cause a reactivity decrease of the C─H monomers. Photophysical and semiconducting properties of the resulting six CPs (i.e., DPP‐Ph, DPP‐2FPh, DPP‐BTz, 2FIID‐Ph, 2FIID‐2FPh, and 2FIID‐BTz) are characterized in detail. DPP‐based CPs show ambipolar transport properties while IID‐based ones exhibited n‐type behavior owing to the deeper frontier molecular orbital energy levels of IID‐based CPs. With source/drain electrodes modified with polyethylenimine ethoxylated, n‐channel organic thin‐film transistors with maximum electron mobility of 0.40, 0.54, 0.29, 0.05, 0.16, and 0.01 cm2 V−1 s−1 for DPP‐Ph, DPP‐2FPh, DPP‐BTz, 2FIID‐Ph, 2FIID‐2FPh, and 2FIID‐BTz, respectively, are fabricated. DPP‐2FPh exhibits the best device performance due to the good film morphology and the highest intermolecular packing order.