bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Terrestrial paleoclimate transition associated with continental weathering and drift during the Aptian–Albian of East Asia
Authors: Jia Jianliang , Miao Changsheng , Xie Wenquan 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Reconstruction of Aptian–Albian paleoclimate obtained from marine records remains a challenging topic, but studies on coeval terrestrial paleoclimate and trigger mechanisms have lagged substantially. In this study, new multiproxy data from mudrocks in the Fuxin Basin of NE China provide a high-resolution terrestrial climate record from East Asia. Here, we demonstrate the occurrence of terrestrial climate cooling during the late Aptian (118–113 Ma), which interrupted the mid-Cretaceous warming shown in global records. Nearly uniform long-term global climate trends attributable to tectonism, volcanism, and weathering occur in Early Cretaceous terrestrial and marine records. In the Fuxin Basin, the long-term terrestrial climate was characterized by increasing temperatures during the late early Aptian, gradual cooling during the late Aptian, and subsequent enhanced warming during the early Albian. Moreover, chemical weathering and humidity during these intervals were low, moderate to high, and then moderate, respectively. A markedly reduced high-elevation paleogeomorphology under strong continental weathering during the late Aptian increased the variability in chemical weathering fluxes as the Eurasian plate in NE China drifted SE during the Early Cretaceous and then NE during the Late Cretaceous. We suggest that a combination of enhanced continental weathering and weakened plate drift induced changes in atmospheric CO2, while the geographic setting ultimately led to cooling in the Fuxin Basin during the late Aptian. Our results illustrate the importance of exploring long-term tectonic-climatic-biotic feedbacks to improve our understanding of tectonic processes and ecological transitions across various spatiotemporal scales.
Synergetic Effect during the Electrocatalytic Reaction of Hydrogen Production in the Presence of 2.2'-Bipyridine
Authors: Ganz O. Yu. , Klimaeva L. A. , Chugunov D. B. , Mazhorova A. V. , Dolganov A. V. , Knyazev A. V. 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
A study is performed of the electrocatalytic properties of 2,2'-bipyridine in the presence of acids of different natures (HBF4, HClO4, TsOH, CF3COOH) and the nature of the synergistic effect. It is shown that the pKa of the acids greatly affect the mechanism of the reactions that occur. Based on electrochemical and electrocatalytic data obtained via cyclic voltammetry and preparative potentiostatic electrolysis, main mechanisms of the electrocatalytic production of molecular hydrogen are proposed that depend on the nature of the acids. The thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of the considered systems are calculated.
Effect of bovine lactoferrin on seroconversion following polio vaccine administration in children: protocol for a double-blinded randomised controlled trial
Authors: Habib Atif , Nausheen Sidrah , Nooruddin Shanila , Javed Tooba , Samejo Tariq , Hussain Amjad , Namdev Suneeta , Amirali Sehrish , Umer Muhammad , Sheikh Lumaan , Hussain Imtiaz , Ariff Shabina , Soofi Sajid 
Published: May 2022

IntroductionThe oral polio vaccine (OPV) has substantial results in eliminating wild poliovirus and the vaccine of choice in polio eradication. However, the mucosal immunity induced by the OPV is still uncertain. Literature has shown that bovine lactoferrin (BLF) is a safe and useful protein found in cow’s milk with extraordinary antimicrobial, antiviral, antiinflammatory and immune-modulatory functions that help children’s gut to fight against micro-organisms like poliovirus. However, limited data exist regarding the effect of BLF on polio vaccine immune response. The primary objective is to evaluate the effect of BLF in enhancing mucosal and humoral immunity in children following the administration of oral and inactivated polio vaccines.Methods and analysisThis is a two-arm double-blinded randomised controlled trial comparing 462 neonates (231 in both groups) receiving either BLF or placebo with breast milk. The intervention is administered from day 1 till 6 weeks of age to a full-term healthy singleton newborn born at the Aga Khan University Hospitals, Karachi, Pakistan. The primary outcome is the seroconversion, 1 month after the receipt of two doses of OPV (at 10 weeks). For descriptive statistical analysis, Stata will be used, the frequency with percentages will be reported to describe baseline characteristics of the participants. A χ2test will be used to compare categorical variables and a simple t test to compare continuous variables. The proportion of seroconversion and shedding will be compared using χ2test or Fisher’s exact test.Ethics and disseminationThe Ethics approval has been granted by the Ethics Review Committee (ERC) of Aga Khan University for the proposed trial (ID: 2019-1955-5013). Furthermore, the National Bioethics Committee (NBC) of Pakistan has also approved the study for human subject research (ID: 4–87/NBC-443/19/669). Study findings will be disseminated through presentations at scientific conferences and educational practice workshops and will be published in an international peer-reviewed scientific journal.Trial registration numberNCT04432935; ClinicalTrials.gov.
Factors associated with self-reported health among New Zealand military veterans: a cross-sectional study
Authors: McBride David , Samaranayaka Ariyapala , Richardson Amy , Gardner Dianne , Shepherd Daniel , Wyeth Emma , de Graaf Brandon , Derrett Sarah 
Published: May 2022

ObjectiveTo identify factors associated with better or poorer self-reported health status in New Zealand military Veterans.DesignA cross-sectional survey.ParticipantsThe participants of interest were the 3874 currently serving Veterans who had been deployed to a conflict zone, but all Veterans were eligible to participate.Study variablesThe EQ-5D-5L, asking about problems across five dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain or discomfort and anxiety or depression), with five levels of severity (eg, no, slight, moderate, severe or extreme problems), also containing a Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) to self-assess health state, scaled from 0 (worst) to 100 (best) imagined health.Hypothetical relationships with better health were positive social support, sleep and psychological flexibility; with poorer health, post-traumatic stress, exposure to psychological trauma, distress and hazardous drinking.ResultsThe EQ5-D-5L was completed by 1767 Veterans, 1009 serving, a response rate of 26% from that group, 1767 completing the EQ5-D, 1458 who had deployed, 288 who had not and the 21 who did not provide deployment data. Of these, 247 were not used in the analysis due to missing values in one or more variables, leaving 1520 for analysis.A significantly higher proportion of Veterans reported ‘any problems’ rather than ‘no problems’ with four EQ-5D dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities and pain or discomfort, but no difference in anxiety or depression. Age, length of service, deployment, psychological flexibility and better sleep quality were associated with higher EQ-VAS scores; distress with lower EQ-VAS scores.ConclusionIn this sample of New Zealand Veterans, psychological flexibility and good sleep are associated with better self-rated health, and distress and poor sleep with diminished health. These factors might be used as sentinel health indicators in assessing Veteran health status, and cognitive–behavioural therapy encompassing these domains may be useful in improving the health of New Zealand Veterans.
Applications for social security benefits related to diabetes in the working age in Italy between 2009 and 2019: a nationwide retrospective cohort study
Authors: Trabucco Aurilio Marco , Maiorino Maria Ida , Mennini Francesco Saverio , Scappaticcio Lorenzo , Longo Miriam , Nardone Claudia , Coppeta Luca , Gazzillo Simone , Migliorini Raffaele , Bellastella Giuseppe , Giugliano Dario , Esposito Katherine 
Published: May 2022

ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to estimate the average number of claims for social security benefits from workers with diabetes-related disability.DesignNationwide retrospective cohort study.SettingThe database of the Italian Social Security Institute (INPS) was used to analyse the trends and the breakdown of all claims for social security benefit with diabetes as primary diagnosis from 2009 to 2019.ParticipantsWe selected all the applications with the 250.xx International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision-CM diagnosis code from 2009 to 2019.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe ratio between accepted or rejected claims for both ordinary incapacity benefit (OIB) and disability pension (DP) and total submitted claims over a 10-year period was computed.ResultsFrom 2009 to 2019, 40 800 applications for social security benefits were filed with diabetes as the principal diagnosis, with an annual increase of 30% per year. Throughout the study decade, there was a higher rate of rejected (67.2%) than accepted (32.8%) applications. Among the accepted requests, most of them (30.7%) were recognised as OIB and the remaining 2.1% were recognised as DP. When related to the total number of claims presented per year, there was a 8.8% decrease of rejected applications, associated with a 20.6% increase of overall acceptance rate. In terms of time trends, the overall rise of submitted requests from 2009 to 2019 resulted in an increase in both rejected (+18%) and accepted (+61% for OIB, +11% for DP) applications. The higher rate of accepted requests was for workers aged 51–60 years, with 52% of admitted applications.ConclusionsBetween 2009 and 2019, the number of applications for social security benefits due to diabetes in Italy increased significantly, and so did the number of applications approved, mainly represented by the OIBs.
Percutaneous transuterine fetal cerebral embolisation to treat vein of Galen malformations at risk of urgent neonatal decompensation: study protocol for a clinical trial of safety and feasibility
Authors: See Alfred Pokmeng , Wilkins-Haug Louise E , Benson Carol B , Tworetzky Wayne , Orbach Darren B 
Published: May 2022

IntroductionAlthough endovascular techniques have improved outcomes in vein of Galen malformations (VOGM), there is still a high rate of morbidity and mortality, particularly among cases with decompensation in the neonatal period. The dimension of the draining venous sinus on fetal imaging correlates with the risk of neonatal decompensation. In fetuses within this high-risk group who do not have end-organ injury, there is a theoretical therapeutic opportunity to reduce the arteriovenous shunt before the normal physiological changes of birth precipitate decompensation. This study investigates the safety and potential benefit of treating a VOGM in utero, which has not been previously studied.Methods and analysisThis study aims to enroll 20 subjects: pregnant women with a fetus harbouring a high-risk VOGM (defined on MRI by a narrowest medial-lateral width greater than 8 mm in the draining venous sinus). Unfortunately, the subset of fetuses with in utero end-organ injury is ineligible, because the late stage of pathology is not amenable to recovery from a cerebrovascular intervention, likely not even in utero. This study aims to alter the physiology before such developments accrue.At or after 23 weeks of gestation, a transuterine transposterior fontanelle needle puncture to the torcular allows ultrasound-guided deployment of coils to embolise the draining venous malformation.This study has 97.5% power to detect major safety events at 30% or greater, and 80% power to detect a reduction in the rate of neonatal intervention from 80% to 30%. In the staged study design, an interval evaluation after 11 patients invokes study termination if safety events occur above the allowed threshold.Ethics and disseminationThe institutional review boards at Mass General Brigham and Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) reviewed and approved this protocol. The BCH Department of Radiology and a patient family philanthropic donation fund this study. The trial results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific conferences.Trial registration numberNCT04434729
Cohort profile: The Bariatric Experience Long Term (BELONG): a long-term prospective study to understand the psychosocial, environmental, health and behavioural predictors of weight loss and regain in patients who have bariatric surgery
Authors: Coleman Karen J , Paz Silvia R , Bhakta Bhumi B , Taylor Brianna , Liu Jialuo , Yoon Tae K , Macias Mayra , Arterburn David E , Crawford Cecelia L , Drewnowksi Adam , Figueroa Gray Marlaine S , Hansell Laurel D , Ji Ming , Lewis Kristina H , Moore Darren D , Murali Sameer B , Young Deborah R 
Published: May 2022

PurposeThe Bariatric Experience Long Term (BELONG) prospective study cohort was created to address limitations in the literature regarding the relationship between surgical weight loss and psychosocial, health, behaviour and environmental factors. The BELONG cohort is unique because it contains 70% gastric sleeve and 64% patients with non-white race/ethnicity and was developed with strong stakeholder engagement including patients and providers.ParticipantsThe BELONG cohort study included 1975 patients preparing to have bariatric surgery who completed a baseline survey in a large integrated health system in Southern California. Patients were primarily women (84%), either black or Hispanic (59%), with a body mass index (BMI) of 45.1±7.4 kg/m2, age 43.3±11.5 years old, and 32% had at least one comorbidity.Findings to dateA total of 5552 patients were approached before surgery between February 2016 and May 2017, and 1975 (42%) completed a baseline survey. A total of 1203 (73%) patients completed the year 1 and 1033 (74%) patients completed the year 3 postoperative survey. Of these survey respondents, 1341 at baseline, 999 at year 1, and 951 at year 3 were included in the analyses of all survey and weight outcome data. A total of 803 (60% of eligible patients) had survey data for all time points. Data collected were self-reported constructs to support the proposed theoretical model. Height, weight and BMI were abstracted from the electronic medical record to obtain the main outcomes of the study: weight loss and regain.Future plansWe will collect self-reported constructs and obtain height, weight and BMI from the electronic medical record 5 years after bariatric surgery between April 2022 and January 2023. We will also collect patient experiences using focus groups of 8–12 patients each throughout 2022.
Demographic and clinical characteristics associated with variations in antibody response to BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare workers at an academic medical centre: a longitudinal cohort analysis
Authors: Ebinger Joseph E , Joung Sandy , Liu Yunxian , Wu Min , Weber Brittany , Claggett Brian , Botting Patrick G , Sun Nancy , Driver Matthew , Kao Yu Hung , Khuu Briana , Wynter Timothy , Nguyen Trevor-Trung , Alotaibi Mona , Prostko John C , Frias Edwin C , Stewart James L , Goodridge Helen S , Chen Peter , Jordan Stanley C , Jain Mohit , Sharma Sonia , Fert-Bober Justyna , Van Eyk Jennifer E , Minissian Margo B , Arditi Moshe , Melmed Gil Y , Braun Jonathan G , McGovern Dermot P B , Cheng Susan , Sobhani Kimia 
Published: May 2022

ObjectivesWe sought to understand the demographic and clinical factors associated with variations in longitudinal antibody response following completion of two-dose regiment of BNT162b2 vaccination.DesignThis study is a 10-month longitudinal cohort study of healthcare workers and serially measured anti-spike protein IgG (IgG-S) antibody levels using mixed linear models to examine their associations with participant characteristics.SettingA large, multisite academic medical centre in Southern California, USA.ParticipantsA total of 843 healthcare workers met inclusion criteria including completion of an initial two-dose course of BNT162b2 vaccination, complete clinical history and at least two blood samples for analysis. Patients had an average age of 45±13 years, were 70% female and 7% with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.ResultsVaccine-induced IgG-S levels remained in the positive range for 99.6% of individuals up to 10 months after initial two-dose vaccination. Prior SARS-CoV-2 infection was the primary correlate of sustained higher postvaccination IgG-S levels (partial R2=0.133), with a 1.74±0.11 SD higher IgG-S response (p<0.001). Female sex (beta 0.27±0.06, p<0.001), younger age (0.01±0.00, p<0.001) and absence of hypertension (0.17±0.08, p=0.003) were also associated with persistently higher IgG-S responses. Notably, prior SARS-CoV-2 infection augmented the associations of sex (−0.42 for male sex, p=0.08) and modified the associations of hypertension (1.17, p=0.001), such that infection-naïve individuals with hypertension had persistently lower IgG-S levels whereas prior infected individuals with hypertension exhibited higher IgG-S levels that remained augmented over time.ConclusionsWhile the IgG-S antibody response remains in the positive range for up to 10 months following initial mRNA vaccination in most adults, determinants of sustained higher antibody levels include prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, female sex, younger age and absence of hypertension. Certain determinants of the longitudinal antibody response appear significantly modified by prior infection status. These findings offer insights regarding factors that may influence the ‘hybrid’ immunity conferred by natural infection combined with vaccination.
Venerable vulnerability or remarkable resilience? A prospective study of the impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine measures on loneliness in Swedish older adults with home care
Authors: Gustafsson Per E , Nilsson Ingeborg , San Sebastian Miguel 
Published: May 2022

ObjectivesTo examine the early impact of the pandemic and of quarantine measures targeting older adults introduced in March 2020 on loneliness among older adults in Sweden.Design Prospective pretest–posttest and controlled interrupted time series designs.SettingThe population of older adults receiving home care before and during the emergence of the first COVID-19 pandemic wave in Sweden in Spring 2020.ParticipantsRespondents (n=45 123, mean age 85.6 years, 67.6% women) came from two waves of a total population survey targeting all community-dwelling older adults receiving home care for older adults in Sweden in Spring 2019 and 2020.OutcomeSelf-reported loneliness.ResultsResults estimated 14% (95% CI: 10 to 19) higher loneliness in Spring 2020 compared with 2019, taking covariates into account. No impact of the quarantine measure was found (1% increase, 95% CI: −1 to 4).ConclusionsThe results illustrate the broader public health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for older adults, but also suggest a relative resilience among older adults in home care to quarantine measures, at least during the first months of the pandemic. Future studies should examine the long-term effects of sustained pandemic and social distancing measures on loneliness among older adults.
Assessing a norming intervention to promote acceptance of HIV testing and reduce stigma during household tuberculosis contact investigation: protocol for a cluster-randomised trial
Authors: Armstrong-Hough Mari , Ggita Joseph , Gupta Amanda J , Shelby Tyler , Nangendo Joanita , Ayen Daniel Okello , Davis J L , Katamba Achilles 
Published: May 2022

IntroductionHIV status awareness is important for household contacts of patients with tuberculosis (TB). Home HIV testing during TB contact investigation increases HIV status awareness. Social interactions during home visits may influence perceived stigma and uptake of HIV testing. We designed an intervention to normalise and facilitate uptake of home HIV testing with five components: guided selection of first tester; prosocial invitation scripts; opt-out framing; optional sharing of decisions to test; and masking of decisions not to test.Methods and analysisWe will evaluate the intervention effect in a household-randomised controlled trial. The primary aim is to assess whether contacts offered HIV testing using the norming strategy will accept HIV testing more often than those offered testing using standard strategies. Approximately 198 households will be enrolled through three public health facilities in Kampala, Uganda. Households will be randomised to receive the norming or standard strategy and visited by a community health worker (CHW) assigned to that strategy. Eligible contacts ≥15 years will be offered optional, free, home HIV testing. The primary outcome, proportion of contacts accepting HIV testing, will be assessed by CHWs and analysed using an intention-to-treat approach. Secondary outcomes will be changes in perceived HIV stigma, changes in perceived TB stigma, effects of perceived HIV stigma on HIV test uptake, effects of perceived TB stigma on HIV test uptake and proportions of first-invited contacts who accept HIV testing. Results will inform new, scalable strategies for delivering HIV testing.Ethics and disseminationThis study was approved by the Yale Human Investigation Committee (2000024852), Makerere University School of Public Health Institutional Review Board (661) and Uganda National Council on Science and Technology (HS2567). All participants, including patients and their household contacts, will provide verbal informed consent. Results will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated to national stakeholders, including policy-makers and representatives of affected communities.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05124665.
Intravenous lipo-prostaglandin E1 administration for patients with acute central retinal artery occlusion
Authors: Suzuki Takafumi , Obata Ryo , Inoue Tatsuya , Ueta Yoshiki , Azuma Keiko , Tate Hideo , Kitamoto Kohdai , Otaki Chisato , Hashimoto Yoshihiro , Aihara Makoto , Tachi Naoko 
Published: May 2022

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the anatomical and functional changes in patients with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) (n=21) treated with 10 µg/day intravenous liposomal prostaglandin E1 (lipo-PGE1).Methods and analysisWe used best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness with spectral domain optical coherence photography, optical intensity ratio (OIR) with imageJ software and retinal vessel diameter with fundus photography as indicators. Data were analysed using Tukey’s multiple comparisons, Wilcoxon test or Spearman’s correlation analysis as appropriate.ResultsBCVA was significantly improved at 1 month and 3 months after the initial visit (from 2.18±0.60 to 1.54±0.84 and 1.53±0.88, p=0.030 and p=0.027, respectively). The ratio of retinal vein diameter to optic disc diameter increased in the first month (from 0.40%±0.13% to 0.52%±0.16%, p=0.005). In addition, the OIR at the initial visit was significantly correlated with BCVA at 3 months (p=0.006, r=0.58). No severe adverse effects were observed.ConclusionThe results showed that visual acuity and retinal vein constriction improved after lipo-PGE1 therapy. In addition, the OIR in the initial phase can be an indicator of visual prognosis after treatment with PGE1 in patients with CRAO.