bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spatial timing of circulating seasonal influenza A and B viruses in China from 2014 to 2018
Authors: Zhu Ai-qin , Li Zhong-jie , Zhang Hang-jie 
Published: May 2023

AbstractMajor outbreaks of influenza virus occurred in China in 2017–2018. To describe the pattern of influenza circulation and timing of seasonal epidemics, we analyzed data from influenza-like illness (ILI) specimens on surveillance wards of sentinel hospitals during 2014–2018. Among 1,890,084 ILI cases, 324,211 (17.2%) tested positive for influenza. Influenza A virus (particularly A/H3N2), which circulates annually, was detected in 62% of cases, compared with influenza B virus in 38% of cases. The detection rate of A/H1N1, A/H3N2, B/Victoria, and B/Yamagata viruses were 3.56%, 7.07%, 2.08%, and 3.45%, respectively. Influenza prevalence was generally stable over the four years analyzed, but obvious outbreaks occurred in 2015–2016 (17.28%) and 2017–2018 (22.67%), with B/Victoria and B/Yamagata contributing to these outbreaks, respectively. In the south, a characteristic peak in infections was detected in the summer (week 23–38), which was not detected in the north. Influenza B was found high frequency in school-age children (5–14 years) with 4.78% of B/Victoria and 6.76% of B/Yamagata. Therefore, the epidemiological characteristics of seasonal influenza were complex in China during 2014–2018, presenting distinctions in region, season, and susceptible population. These findings underline the importance of enhancing year-round influenza surveillance and provide a reference for the timing and variety of influenza vaccination.
Multiple levels of contextual influence on action-based timing behavior and cortical activation
Authors: Rahimpour Jounghani Ali , Lanka Pradyumna , Pollonini Luca , Proksch Shannon , Balasubramaniam Ramesh , Bortfeld Heather 
Published: May 2023

AbstractProcedures used to elicit both behavioral and neurophysiological data to address a particular cognitive question can impact the nature of the data collected. We used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to assess performance of a modified finger tapping task in which participants performed synchronized or syncopated tapping relative to a metronomic tone. Both versions of the tapping task included a pacing phase (tapping with the tone) followed by a continuation phase (tapping without the tone). Both behavioral and brain-based findings revealed two distinct timing mechanisms underlying the two forms of tapping. Here we investigate the impact of an additional—and extremely subtle—manipulation of the study’s experimental design. We measured responses in 23 healthy adults as they performed the two versions of the finger-tapping tasks either blocked by tapping type or alternating from one to the other type during the course of the experiment. As in our previous study, behavioral tapping indices and cortical hemodynamics were monitored, allowing us to compare results across the two study designs. Consistent with previous findings, results reflected distinct, context-dependent parameters of the tapping. Moreover, our results demonstrated a significant impact of study design on rhythmic entrainment in the presence/absence of auditory stimuli. Tapping accuracy and hemodynamic responsivity collectively indicate that the block design context is preferable for studying action-based timing behavior.
The importance of structural, situational, and psychological factors for involving hunters in the adaptive flyway management of geese
Authors: Eriksson Louise , Månsson Johan , Liljebäck Niklas , Sandström Camilla , Johansson Maria , Eklund Ann , Elmberg Johan 
Published: May 2023

AbstractAdaptive flyway management of superabundant geese is emerging as a strategy to reduce damage to agricultural crops and other ecosystem disservices, while also ensuring sustainable use and conservation objectives. Given the calls for intensified hunting as part of flyway management in Europe, we need to increase the understanding of structural, situational, and psychological factors important for goose hunting among hunters. Our survey data, retrieved in southern Sweden, showed a higher potential to intensify hunting among goose hunters than other hunters. In response to hypothetical policy instruments (including regulations, collaborative, and others), hunters declared a minor increase in their intention to hunt geese, with the greatest expected increase among goose hunters should the hunting season be extended. Situational factors (e.g., access to hunting grounds) were associated with goose hunting (frequency, bag size, and intention to increase hunting). In addition, controlled motivation (derived from external pressures or to avoid guilt) and more importantly autonomous motivation (due to hunting being enjoyable or valuable) were along with goose hunter identity positively associated with goose hunting. Hunters’ involvement in flyway management may be encouraged by using policy instruments to remove situational barriers and facilitate their autonomous motivation.
Social exclusion in people with diabetes: cross-sectional and longitudinal results from the German Ageing Survey (DEAS)
Authors: Prell Tino , Stegmann Stefanie , Schönenberg Aline 
Published: May 2023

AbstractAs social exclusion can be linked to worse health and overall reduced quality of life, we describe social exclusion in people with diabetes and assess whether diabetes can be considered as a risk factor for social exclusion. We analyzed two waves (2014, 2017, N = 6604) from a survey of community-dwelling people aged > 40 using linear regression, group comparison and generalized estimating equations to explore the association between diabetes, social exclusion, socioeconomic, physical and psychosocial variables. In the entire cohort, diabetes was cross-sectionally associated with social exclusion after adjusting for covariates (p = 0.001). In people with diabetes, social exclusion was further associated with self-esteem (p < 0.001), loneliness (p =  < 0.001), income (p = 0.017), depression (p = 0.001), physical diseases (p = 0.04), and network size (p = 0.043). Longitudinal data revealed that higher levels of social exclusion were already present before the diagnosis of diabetes, and future social exclusion was predicted by self-esteem, loneliness, depression, and income, but not by diabetes (p = .221). We conclude that diabetes is not a driver of social exclusion. Instead, both seem to co-occur as a consequence of health-related and psychosocial variables.
A geospatial approach to identify patterns of antibiotic susceptibility at a neighborhood level in Wisconsin, United States
Authors: Legenza Laurel , McNair Kyle , Gao Song , Lacy James P. , Olson Brooke J. , Fritsche Thomas R. , Schulz Lucas T. , LaMuro Samantha , Spray-Larson Frances , Siddiqui Tahmeena , Rose Warren E. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) varies regionally. This study explores whether geospatial analysis and data visualization methods detect both clinically and statistically significant variations in antibiotic susceptibility rates at a neighborhood level. This observational multicenter geospatial study collected 10 years of patient-level antibiotic susceptibility data and patient addresses from three regionally distinct Wisconsin health systems (UW Health, Fort HealthCare, Marshfield Clinic Health System [MCHS]). We included the initial Escherichia coli isolate per patient per year per sample source with a patient address in Wisconsin (N = 100,176). Isolates from U.S. Census Block Groups with less than 30 isolates were excluded (n = 13,709), resulting in 86,467 E. coli isolates. The primary study outcomes were the results of Moran’s I spatial autocorrelation analyses to quantify antibiotic susceptibility as spatially dispersed, randomly distributed, or clustered by a range of − 1 to + 1, and the detection of statistically significant local hot (high susceptibility) and cold spots (low susceptibility) for variations in antibiotic susceptibility by U.S. Census Block Group. UW Health isolates collected represented greater isolate geographic density (n = 36,279 E. coli, 389 = blocks, 2009–2018), compared to Fort HealthCare (n = 5110 isolates, 48 = blocks, 2012–2018) and MCHS (45,078 isolates, 480 blocks, 2009–2018). Choropleth maps enabled a spatial AMR data visualization. A positive spatially-clustered pattern was identified from the UW Health data for ciprofloxacin (Moran’s I = 0.096, p = 0.005) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole susceptibility (Moran’s I = 0.180, p < 0.001). Fort HealthCare and MCHS distributions were likely random. At the local level, we identified hot and cold spots at all three health systems (90%, 95%, and 99% CIs). AMR spatial clustering was observed in urban areas but not rural areas. Unique identification of AMR hot spots at the Block Group level provides a foundation for future analyses and hypotheses. Clinically meaningful differences in AMR could inform clinical decision support tools and warrants further investigation for informing therapy options.
The soil microbiomes of forest ecosystems in Kenya: their diversity and environmental drivers
Authors: Onyango Lorine Akinyi , Ngonga Florence Atieno , Karanja Edward Nderitu , Kuja Josiah Ochieng’ , Boga Hamadi Iddi , Cowan Don A. , Mwangi Kennedy Wanjau , Maghenda Marianne Wughanga , Marinho Lebre Pedro Bixirao Neto , Kambura Anne Kelly 
Published: May 2023

AbstractSoil microbiomes in forest ecosystems act as both nutrient sources and sinks through a range of processes including organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and humic compound incorporation into the soil. Most forest soil microbial diversity studies have been performed in the northern hemisphere, and very little has been done in forests within African continent. This study examined the composition, diversity and distribution of prokaryotes in Kenyan forests top soils using amplicon sequencing of V4-V5 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. Additionally, soil physicochemical characteristics were measured to identify abiotic drivers of prokaryotic distribution. Different forest soils were found to have statistically distinct microbiome compositions, with Proteobacteria and Crenarchaeota taxa being the most differentially abundant across regions within bacterial and archaeal phyla, respectively. Key bacterial community drivers included pH, Ca, K, Fe, and total N while archaeal diversity was shaped by Na, pH, Ca, total P and total N. To contextualize the prokaryote diversity of Kenyan forest soils on a global scale, the sample set was compared to amplicon data obtained from forest biomes across the globe; displaying them to harbor distinct microbiomes with an over-representation of uncultured taxa such as TK-10 and Ellin6067 genera.
Measure cross-sectoral structural similarities from financial networks
Authors: Boersma M. , Wolsink J. , Sourabh S. , Hoogduin L. A. , Kandhai D. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractAuditing is a multi-billion dollar market, with auditors assessing the trustworthiness of financial data, contributing to financial stability in a more interconnected and faster-changing world. We measure cross-sectoral structural similarities between firms using microscopic real-world transaction data. We derive network representations of companies from their transaction datasets, and we compute an embedding vector for each network. Our approach is based on the analysis of 300+ real transaction datasets that provide auditors with relevant insights. We detect significant changes in bookkeeping structure and the similarity between clients. For various tasks, we obtain good classification accuracy. Moreover, closely related companies are near in the embedding space while different industries are further apart suggesting that the measure captures relevant aspects. Besides the direct applications in computational audit, we expect this approach to be of use at multiple scales, from firms to countries, potentially elucidating structural risks at a broader scale.
UV-shielding properties of a cost-effective hybrid PMMA-based thin film coatings using TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles: a comprehensive evaluation
Authors: Yousefi Fatemeh , Mousavi Seyed Borhan , Heris Saeed Zeinali , Naghash-Hamed Samin 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the UV-shielding features of the PMMA-based thin film coatings with the addition of TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles as nanofillers considering different contents. Furthermore, the effect of TiO2/ZnO nanohybrids at different ratios and concentrations was examined. The XRD, FTIR, SEM, and EDX analyses characterized the prepared films' functional groups, structure, and morphology. Meanwhile, the coatings' optical properties and UV-protecting capability were investigated by ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy. The UV–Vis spectroscopic study revealed that as the concentration of nanoparticles increased in the hybrid-coated PMMA, the absorption in the UVA region increased. Overall, it can be concluded that the optimal coatings for PMMA were 0.1 wt% TiO2, 0.1 wt% ZnO, and 0.025:0.025 wt% TiO2: ZnO nanohybrid. Considering the acquired FT-IR of PMMA with different content of nanoparticles before and after exposure to the UV irradiation, for some films, it was confirmed that the polymer-based thin films degraded after 720 h, with either decreasing or increasing intensity of the degraded polymer, peak shifting, and band broadening. Notably, the FTIR results were in good agreement with UV–Vis outcomes. In addition, XRD diffraction peaks demonstrated that the pure PMMA matrix and PMMA coating films did not show any characteristic peaks indicating the presence of nanoparticles. All diffraction patterns were similar with and without any nanoparticles. Therefore, it depicted the amorphous nature of polymer thin film.
New insights into raceway cultivation of Euglena gracilis under long-term semi-continuous nitrogen starvation
Authors: Bakku Ranjith Kumar , Yamamoto Yoshimasa , Inaba Yu , Hiranuma Taro , Gianino Enrico , Amarianto Lawi , Mahrous Waleed , Suzuki Hideyuki , Suzuki Kengo 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the physiological responses of Euglena gracilis (E. gracilis) when subjected to semicontinuous N-starvation (N−) for an extended period in open ponds. The results indicated that the growth rates of E. gracilis under the N− condition (11 ± 3.3 g m−2 d−1) were higher by 23% compared to the N-sufficient (N+, 8.9 ± 2.8 g m−2 d−1) condition. Furthermore, the paramylon content of E.gracilis was above 40% (w/w) of dry biomass in N− condition compared to N+ (7%) condition. Interestingly, E. gracilis exhibited similar cell numbers regardless of nitrogen concentrations after a certain time point. Additionally, it demonstrated relatively smaller cell size over time, and unaffected photosynthetic apparatus under N− condition. These findings suggest that there is a tradeoff between cell growth and photosynthesis in E. gracilis, as it adapts to semi-continuous N− conditions without a decrease in its growth rate and paramylon productivity. Notably, to the author’s knowledge, this is the only study reporting high biomass and product accumulation by a wild-type E. gracilis strain under N− conditions. This newly identified long-term adaptation ability of E. gracilis may offer a promising direction for the algal industry to achieve high productivity without relying on genetically modified organisms.
Effect of vaginal probiotics containing Lactobacillus casei rhamnosus (Lcr regenerans) on vaginal dysbiotic microbiota and pregnancy outcome, prospective, randomized study
Authors: Petricevic Ljubomir , Rosicky Ingo , Kiss Herbet , Janjic Nina , Kaufmann Ulrike , Holzer Iris , Farr Alex 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe intermediate bacterial microbiota is a heterogeneous group that varies in the severity of the dysbiosis, from minor deficiency to total absence of vaginal Lactobacillus spp. We treated women with this vaginal dysbiosis in the first trimester of pregnancy using a vaginally applied lactobacilli preparation to restore the normal microbiota in order to delay the preterm delivery rate. Pregnant women with intermediate microbiota of the vagina and a Nugent score of 4 were enrolled in two groups: intermediate vaginal microbiota and a Nugent score of 4 with lactobacilli (IMLN4) and intermediate vaginal microbiota and a Nugent score of 4 without lactobacilli (IM0N4), with and without vaginal lactobacilli at baseline, respectively. Half of the women in each group received the treatment. Among women without lactobacilli (the IM0N4 group), the Nugent sore decreased by 4 points only in the women who received treatment, and gestational age at delivery and neonatal birthweight were both significantly higher in the treated subgroup than in the untreated subgroup (p = 0.047 and p = 0.016, respectively). This small study found a trend toward a benefit of treatment with vaginal lactobacilli during pregnancy.
Filtration efficiency of medical and community face masks using viral and bacterial bioaerosols
Authors: Djeghdir Sana , Peyron Aurélien , Sarry Gwendoline , Leclerc Lara , Kaouane Ghalia , Verhoeven Paul O. , Pourchez Jérémie 
Published: May 2023

AbstractFace masks are often recommended in community settings to prevent the airborne transmission of respiratory viruses or bacteria. Our first objective was to develop an experimental bench to assess the viral filtration efficiency (VFE) of a mask with a methodology similar to the normative measurement of bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE) used to determine the filtration performance of medical masks. Then, using three categories of masks of increasing filtration quality (two types of community masks and one type of medical mask), filtration performances measured ranged from 61.4 to 98.8% of BFE and from 65.5 to 99.2% of VFE. A strong correlation (r = 0.983) between bacterial and viral filtration efficiency was observed for all types of masks and for the same droplets size in the 2–3 µm range. This result confirms the relevance of the EN14189:2019 standard using bacterial bioaerosols to evaluate mask filtration, to also extrapolate mask performances whatever their filtration quality against viral bioaerosols. Indeed, it appears that the filtration efficiency of masks (for micrometer droplet sizes and low bioaerosol exposure times) depends mainly on the size of the airborne droplet, rather than on the size of the infectious agent contained in that droplet.
Experimental comparison between Nb2O5- and TiO2-based photoconductive and photogating GFET UV detector
Authors: Sadeghi Neisiani Zahra , Khaje Mahdi , Eslami Majd Abdollah 
Published: May 2023

AbstractIn the present study, by adding graphene to a photoconductive photodetector with a niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) absorber layer and exploiting the photogating effect, the responsivity of the photodetector is significantly improved. In this photodetector, the Nb2O5 layer detects the light, and the graphene improves the responsivity based on the photogating effect. The photocurrent and the percentage ratio of the photocurrent to dark current of the Nb2O5 photogating photodetector are compared with those of the corresponding photoconductive photodetector. Also, the Nb2O5 photoconductive and photogating photodetectors are compared with titanium dioxide (TiO2) photoconductive and photogating photodetectors in terms of responsivity at different applied (drain-source) voltages and gate voltages. The results show that the Nb2O5 photodetectors have better figures of merit (FOMs) in comparison with the TiO2 ones.
Novel design of inspiratory flow generation and gas mixing for critical care ventilators suitable for rapid production and mass casualty incidents
Authors: Roubik Karel , Ort Vaclav , Horakova Lenka , Walzel Simon 
Published: May 2023

AbstractScarcity of medical resources inspired many teams worldwide to design ventilators utilizing different approaches during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Although it can be relatively easy to design a simple ventilator in a laboratory, a large scale production of reliable emergency ventilators which meet international standards for critical care ventilators is challenging and time consuming. The aim of this study is to propose a novel and easily manufacturable principle of gas mixing and inspiratory flow generation for mechanical lung ventilators. Two fast ON/OFF valves, one for air and one for oxygen, are used to control the inspiratory flow generation using pulse width modulation. Short gas flow pulses are smoothed by low-pass acoustic filters and do not propagate further into the patient circuit. At the same time, the appropriate pulse width modulation of both ON/OFF valves controls the oxygen fraction in the generated gas mixture. Tests focused on the accuracy of the delivered oxygen fractions and tidal volumes have proved compliance with the international standards for critical care ventilators. The concept of a simple construction using two fast ON/OFF valves may be used for designing mechanical lung ventilators and thus suitable for their rapid production during pandemics.
Improved grey water footprint model based on uncertainty analysis
Authors: Li Juan , Lin Ma , Feng Yan 
Published: May 2023

AbstractIn the practical water resources management, the allowable thresholds of pollutants are not unique. However, the conventional grey water footprint (GWF) model cannot deal with this uncertainty in the controlling threshold. To solve this problem, an improved GWF model and pollution risk evaluation method is designed according to the uncertainty analysis theory and maximum entropy principle. In this model, GWF is defined as the mathematical expectation of virtual water to dilute the pollution load within the allowable threshold, and the pollution risk is deduced by the stochastic probability by which GWF exceeds the local water resources. And then, the improved GWF model is applied in the pollution evaluation of Jiangxi Province, China. The results show that: (1) From 2013 to 2017, the annual GWF values of Jiangxi Province were 136.36 billion m3, 143.78 billion m3, 143.77 billion m3, 169.37 billion m3 and 103.36 billion m3, respectively. And their pollution risk values and grades were 0.30 (moderate), 0.27 (moderate), 0.19 (low), 0.22 (moderate), and 0.16 (low), respectively. In 2015, the determinant of the GWF was TP, and TN in other years. (2) The improved GWF model has an evaluation result which is basically consistent with WQQR, and it is an effective water resource evaluation method to deal with the uncertainty in controlling thresholds. (3) Compared with the conventional GWF model, the improved GWF model has better capacities in identifying pollution grades and recognizing pollution risks.
A reduction from an LWE problem to maximum independent set problems
Authors: Kawano Yasuhito 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe learning with errors (LWE) problem is a problem derived from machine learning that is believed to be intractable for quantum computers. This paper proposes a method that can reduce an LWE problem to a set of maximum independent set (MIS) problems, which are graph problems that are suitable for a quantum annealing machine to solve. The reduction algorithm can reduce an n-dimensional LWE problem to several small MIS problems with at most $$2^{O(\sqrt{n})}$$

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nodes when the lattice-reduction algorithm used in the LWE-reduction method successfully finds short vectors. The algorithm is useful for solving LWE problems in a quantum-classical hybrid manner by using an existing quantum algorithm to solve the MIS problems. For example, the smallest LWE challenge problem is reduced to MIS problems with about 40,000 vertices. This result means that the smallest LWE challenge problem will be within the scope of a real quantum computer in the near future.