bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
System dynamic modelling of healthcare associated influenza -a tool for infection control
Authors: Sansone Martina , Holmstrom Paul , Hallberg Stefan , Nordén Rickard , Andersson Lars-Magnus , Westin Johan 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Background
The transmission dynamics of influenza virus within healthcare settings are not fully understood. Capturing the interplay between host, viral and environmental factors is difficult using conventional research methods. Instead, system dynamic modelling may be used to illustrate the complex scenarios including non-linear relationships and multiple interactions which occur within hospitals during a seasonal influenza epidemic. We developed such a model intended as a support for health-care providers in identifying potentially effective control strategies to prevent influenza transmission.

Methods
By using computer simulation software, we constructed a system dynamic model to illustrate transmission dynamics within a large acute-care hospital. We used local real-world clinical and epidemiological data collected during the season 2016/17, as well as data from the national surveillance programs and relevant publications to form the basic structure of the model. Multiple stepwise simulations were performed to identify the relative effectiveness of various control strategies and to produce estimates of the accumulated number of healthcare-associated influenza cases per season.

Results
Scenarios regarding the number of patients exposed for influenza virus by shared room and the extent of antiviral prophylaxis and treatment were investigated in relation to estimations of influenza vaccine coverage, vaccine effectiveness and inflow of patients with influenza. In total, 680 simulations were performed, of which each one resulted in an estimated number per season. The most effective preventive measure identified by our model was administration of antiviral prophylaxis to exposed patients followed by reducing the number of patients receiving care in shared rooms.

Conclusions
This study presents an system dynamic model that can be used to capture the complex dynamics of in-hospital transmission of viral infections and identify potentially effective interventions to prevent healthcare-associated influenza infections. Our simulations identified antiviral prophylaxis as the most effective way to control in-hospital influenza transmission.
Development and validation of a prediction model for tuberculous pleural effusion: a large cohort study and external validation
Authors: Liu Yanqing , Liang Zhigang , Yuan Songbo , Wang Shanshan , Guo Fei , Peng Weidong , Yang Jing , Wu Aihua 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Background
Distinguishing tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) from non-tuberculosis (TB) benign pleural effusion (BPE) remains to be a challenge in clinical practice. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a novel nomogram for diagnosing TPE.

Methods
In this retrospective analysis, a total of 909 consecutive patients with TPE and non-TB BPE from Ningbo First Hospital were divided into the training set and the internal validation set at a ratio of 7:3, respectively. The clinical and laboratory features were collected and analyzed by logistic regression analysis. A diagnostic model incorporating selected variables was developed and was externally validated in a cohort of 110 patients from another hospital.

Results
Six variables including age, effusion lymphocyte, effusion adenosine deaminase (ADA), effusion lactatedehy drogenase (LDH), effusion LDH/effusion ADA, and serum white blood cell (WBC) were identified as valuable parameters used for developing a nomogram. The nomogram showed a good diagnostic performance in the training set. A novel scoring system was then established based on the nomogram to distinguish TPE from non-TB BPE. The scoring system showed good diagnostic performance in the training set [area under the curve (AUC) (95% confidence interval (CI)), 0.937 (0.917–0.957); sensitivity, 89.0%, and specificity, 89.5%], the internal validation set [AUC (95%CI), 0.934 (0.902–0.966); sensitivity, 88.7%, and specificity, 90.3%], and the external validation set [(AUC (95%CI), 0.941 (0.891–0.991); sensitivity, 93.6%, and specificity, 87.5%)], respectively.

Conclusions
The study developed and validated a novel scoring system based on a nomogram originated from six clinical parameters. The novel scoring system showed a good diagnostic performance in distinguishing TPE from non-TB BPE and can be conveniently used in clinical settings.
The functional evolution of termite gut microbiota
Authors: Arora Jigyasa , Kinjo Yukihiro , Šobotník Jan , Buček Aleš , Clitheroe Crystal , Stiblik Petr , Roisin Yves , Žifčáková Lucia , Park Yung Chul , Kim Ki Yoon , Sillam-Dussès David , Hervé Vincent , Lo Nathan , Tokuda Gaku , Brune Andreas , Bourguignon Thomas 
Published: May 2022

AbstractBackgroundTermites primarily feed on lignocellulose or soil in association with specific gut microbes. The functioning of the termite gut microbiota is partly understood in a handful of wood-feeding pest species but remains largely unknown in other taxa. We intend to fill this gap and provide a global understanding of the functional evolution of termite gut microbiota.ResultsWe sequenced the gut metagenomes of 145 samples representative of the termite diversity. We show that the prokaryotic fraction of the gut microbiota of all termites possesses similar genes for carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolisms, in proportions varying with termite phylogenetic position and diet. The presence of a conserved set of gut prokaryotic genes implies that essential nutritional functions were present in the ancestor of modern termites. Furthermore, the abundance of these genes largely correlated with the host phylogeny. Finally, we found that the adaptation to a diet of soil by some termite lineages was accompanied by a change in the stoichiometry of genes involved in important nutritional functions rather than by the acquisition of new genes and pathways.ConclusionsOur results reveal that the composition and function of termite gut prokaryotic communities have been remarkably conserved since termites first appeared ~ 150 million years ago. Therefore, the “world’s smallest bioreactor” has been operating as a multipartite symbiosis composed of termites, archaea, bacteria, and cellulolytic flagellates since its inception.
The feasibility of patient-reported outcomes, physical function, and mobilization in the care pathway for head and neck cancer surgical patients
Authors: Daun Julia T. , Twomey Rosie , Capozzi Lauren C. , Crump Trafford , Francis George J. , Matthews T. Wayne , Chandarana Shamir , Hart Robert D. , Schrag Christiaan , Matthews Jennifer , McKenzie C. David , Lau Harold , Dort Joseph C. , Culos-Reed S. Nicole 
Published: May 2022

AbstractBackgroundHead and neck cancer (HNC) patients are an understudied population whose treatment often includes surgery, causing a wide range of side effects. Exercise prehabilitation is a promising tool to optimize patient outcomes and may confer additional benefits as a prehabilitation tool. The primary objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of measuring patient-reported outcomes (PROs), physical function, and in-hospital mobilization across the HNC surgical timeline in advance of a future prehabilitation trial. The secondary objective was to examine potential changes in these outcomes across the surgical timeline.MethodsHNC patients scheduled to undergo oncologic resection with free-flap reconstruction completed assessments of PROs and physical function at three timepoints across the surgical timeline (baseline, in-hospital, and postsurgical/outpatient). Mobilization was measured during the in-hospital period. The feasibility of recruitment and measurement completion was tracked, as were changes in both PROs and physical function.ResultsOf 48 eligible patients, 16 enrolled (recruitment rate of 33%). The baseline and in-hospital PROs were completed by 88% of participants, while the outpatient assessments were completed by 81% of participants. The baseline and in-hospital assessment of physical function were completed by 56% of participants, and 38% completed the outpatient assessment. Measuring in-hospital mobilization was completed for 63% of participants.ConclusionMeasuring PROs and in-hospital mobilization is feasible across the surgical timeline in HNC; however, the in-person assessment of physical function prior to surgery was not feasible. A multidisciplinary collaboration between exercise specialists and clinicians supported the development of new clinical workflows in HNC surgical care that will aid in the implementation of a future prehabilitation trial for this patient population.
Development of a MnCO3-based Electrocatalyst for Water Oxidation from Rhodochrosite Ore
Authors: Sakai Arisu , Harada Kazuki , Tsunekawa Shun , Tamura Yoshiaki , Ito Masaya , Hatada Keisuke , Ina Toshiaki , Ohara Takumi , Wang Ke-Hsuan , Kawai Takeshi , Yoshida Masaaki 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
An electrocatalyst based on a manganese carbonate mineral and intended to promote the water oxidation reaction was obtained by simply ball milling rhodochrosite ore. This material was found to catalyze the water oxidation reaction in a stable manner. Mn K-edge and O K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analyses combined with theoretical simulations showed that the catalyst was composed of MnCO3 with slight distortions of the surface structure. Operando UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and linear combination fitting of XAFS spectra established that a portion of the MnCO3 surface was oxidized to MnO2. The MnO2 generated on the surface of this material likely provided active sites for the water oxidation reaction.
A phenomenological computational model of the evoked action potential fitted to human cochlear implant responses
Authors: Ramos-de-Miguel Ángel , Escobar José M. , Greiner David , Benítez Domingo , Rodríguez Eduardo , Oliver Albert , Hernández Marcos , Ramos-Macías Ángel 
Published: May 2022

There is a growing interest in biomedical engineering in developing procedures that provide accurate simulations of the neural response to electrical stimulus produced by implants. Moreover, recent research focuses on models that take into account individual patient characteristics.
We present a phenomenological computational model that is customized with the patient’s data provided by the electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) for simulating the neural response to electrical stimulus produced by the electrodes of cochlear implants (CIs). The model links the input currents of the electrodes to the simulated ECAP.
Potentials and currents are calculated by solving the quasi-static approximation of the Maxwell equations with the finite element method (FEM). In ECAPs recording, an active electrode generates a current that elicits action potentials in the surrounding auditory nerve fibers (ANFs). The sum of these action potentials is registered by other nearby electrode. Our computational model emulates this phenomenon introducing a set of line current sources replacing the ANFs by a set of virtual neurons (VNs). To fit the ECAP amplitudes we assign a suitable weight to each VN related with the probability of an ANF to be excited. This probability is expressed by a cumulative beta distribution parameterized by two shape parameters that are calculated by means of a differential evolution algorithm (DE). Being the weights function of the current density, any change in the design of the CI affecting the current density produces changes in the weights and, therefore, in the simulated ECAP, which confers to our model a predictive capacity.
The results of the validation with ECAP data from two patients are presented, achieving a satisfactory fit of the experimental data with those provided by the proposed computational model.
The impact of the internationalization of China’s new retail industry on corporate performance—A moderating effect based on proprietary assets
Authors: Lin Li-Wei , Wei Shih-Yung 
Published: May 2022

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the factors influencing China’s new retail industry on corporate performance. We mainly design the adjustment effect of the internationalization of its new retail industry on corporate performance and proprietary assets.

Design/Methodology/Approach
The framework is based on dynamic panel data of 590 listed companies in China’s new retail industry from 2007 to 2019.

Findings
We apply the concept of big data for the analysis and investigation, including the DOI explanatory variable for the degree of internationalization, Tobin’s Q explained variable, and adjusted variable of proprietary assets (R&D intensity RDI, marketing intensity MI, and capital intensity CI). We found that the degree of internationalization of the new retail industry has a positive impact on corporate performance.

Research limitations/implications
The resultant findings only reflect the setting of China’s new retail marketplace. With the research model developed here in, future research can target cross-country studies of various forms of online and offline market sites to determine regional differences in the development of new retail activities.

Originality/Value
The results show that the major new retail industry is a multi-channel concept that affects overall corporate performance. The authors focus on corporate performance, which is a moderating effect based on proprietary assets.
High-dose vitamin D versus placebo to prevent complications in COVID-19 patients: Multicentre randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Mariani Javier , Antonietti Laura , Tajer Carlos , Ferder León , Inserra Felipe , Sanchez Cunto Milagro , Brosio Diego , Ross Fernando , Zylberman Marcelo , López Daniel Emilio , Luna Hisano Cecilia , Maristany Batisda Sebastián , Pace Gabriela , Salvatore Adrián , Hogrefe Jimena Fernanda , Turela Marcela , Gaido Andrés , Rodera Beatriz , Banega Elizabeth , Iglesias María Eugenia , Rzepeski Mariela , Gomez Portillo Juan Manuel , Bertelli Magalí , Vilela Andrés , Heffner Leandro , Annetta Verónica Laura , Moracho Lucila , Carmona Maximiliano , Melito Graciela , Martínez María José , Luna Gloria , Vensentini Natalia , Manucha Walter 
Published: May 2022

BackgroundThe role of oral vitamin D3supplementation for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 remains to be determined. The study was aimed to evaluate whether vitamin D3supplementation could prevent respiratory worsening among hospitalized patients with COVID-19.Methods and findingsWe designed a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, sequential, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The study was conducted in 17 second and third level hospitals, located in four provinces of Argentina, from 14 August 2020 to 22 June 2021. We enrolled 218 adult patients, hospitalized in general wards with SARS-CoV-2 confirmed infection, mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and risk factors for disease progression. Participants were randomized to a single oral dose of 500 000 IU of vitamin D3or matching placebo. Randomization ratio was 1:1, with permuted blocks and stratified for study site, diabetes and age (≤60 vs >60 years). The primary outcome was the change in the respiratory Sepsis related Organ Failure Assessment score between baseline and the highest value recorded up to day 7. Secondary outcomes included the length of hospital stay; intensive care unit admission; and in-hospital mortality. Overall, 115 participants were assigned to vitamin D3and 105 to placebo (mean [SD] age, 59.1 [10.7] years; 103 [47.2%] women). There were no significant differences in the primary outcome between groups (median [IQR] 0.0 [0.0–1.0] vs 0.0 [0.0–1.0], for vitamin D3and placebo, respectively;p= 0.925). Median [IQR] length of hospital stay was not significantly different between vitamin D3group (6.0 [4.0–9.0] days) and placebo group (6.0 [4.0–10.0] days;p= 0.632). There were no significant differences for intensive care unit admissions (7.8% vs 10.7%; RR 0.73; 95% CI 0.32 to 1.70;p= 0.622), or in-hospital mortality (4.3% vs 1.9%; RR 2.24; 95% CI 0.44 to 11.29;p= 0.451). There were no significant differences in serious adverse events (vitamin D3= 14.8%, placebo = 11.7%).ConclusionsAmong hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and risk factors, a single high oral dose of vitamin D3as compared with placebo, did not prevent the respiratory worsening.Trial registrationClincicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT04411446.
Pranlukast treatment and the use of respiratory support in infants with respiratory syncytial virus infection
Authors: Kubota Jun , Takahashi Sho , Suzuki Takayuki , Ito Akira , Akiyama Naoe , Takahata Noriko 
Published: May 2022

Background
In infants, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection occasionally causes severe symptoms requiring respiratory support; however, supportive care is the primary treatment. This study compared the use of respiratory support among infants with RSV infection treated with or without pranlukast.

Methods
This retrospective cohort study included infants aged <10 months with RSV infection who were admitted to three secondary level hospitals in Japan between 2012 and 2019. The infants were divided into two groups depending on whether they were treated with pranlukast. The primary outcome was the receiving respiratory support (high-flow nasal cannula, nasal continuous positive airway pressure, or ventilator). The secondary outcomes were the length of hospital stay, and the Global Respiratory Severity Score (GRSS) on starting respiratory support or at the time of the worst signs during hospitalization. We performed a propensity score-matched analysis.

Results
A total of 492 infants, including 147 propensity score-matched pairs, were included in the analysis. The use of respiratory support was significantly lower in infants treated with pranlukast (3.4% [5/147]) than those treated without pranlukast (11.6% [17/147]; P = 0.01). In the propensity score-matched analysis, pranlukast use was associated with a significantly lower chance of needing respiratory support (odds ratio: 0.27, 95% confidence interval: 0.08–0.79; P = 0.01); however, the length of hospital stay (median: 4 days) and the GRSS (median: 2.804 and 2.869 for infants treated with and without pranlukast, respectively) did not differ significantly between propensity score-matched pairs.

Conclusions
Pranlukast use was associated with a reduced likelihood of requiring respiratory support in infants aged <10 months with RSV infection.
Manejo quirúrgico del hiperparatiroidismo primario con pruebas de localización prequirúrgicas negativas
Authors: Toribio-Ruano Ignacio , García-Martín Mikel , Sánchez-Mora Belén , Torrico-Román Pablo de Jesús 
Published: May 2022

Introducción y objetivo: Una vez realizado el diagnóstico de hiperparatiroidismo primario (HPTp), el único tratamiento curativo posible es la paratiroidectomía. Puede llevarse a cabo mediante una exploración cervical bilateral o por medio de una paratiroidectomía mínimamente invasiva (MIP), en la que exclusivamente se explora el compartimento cervical en el que se encuentra la glándula paratiroides sospechosa de causar el HPTp. Los resultados de ambas técnicas son comparables, existiendo una mayor tendencia a realizar MIP cuando en las pruebas de localización de imagen se localiza correctamente la glándula afecta. En el caso de que las pruebas de localización resulten negativas o discordantes el tipo de abordaje quirúrgico es controvertido.
Método: Se realizó una revisión sistemática de artículos originales, guías, y documentos de sociedades científicas dedicadas al manejo del hiperparatiroidismo primario que incluían casos con pruebas de localización contradictorias o negativas. Se localizaron 211 estudios y finalmente se seleccionaron 2 revisiones sistemáticas, 20 estudios originales y 4 guías de recomendaciones de sociedades profesionales.
Discusión: La recomendación formal de las guías es realizar una BNE en los casos de pruebas de localización negativa. En el resto de la literatura revisada se observó una tendencia creciente de los cirujanos a solicitar pruebas de localización complementarias para intentar una MIP, aunque la mayoría seguían la recomendación de las guías. Algunos autores han reportado tasas de éxito de MIP con medición intraoperatoria de PTH similares a los obtenidos con BNE. Técnicas como el PET-TC con 18F-fluorocolina o 11C-colina, la cirugía radioguiada con gammacámara y la medición intraoperatoria de PTH, son de especial utilidad en el estudio prequirúrgico y como apoyo durante la cirugía de casos con pruebas de localización negativas

PALABRAS CLAVE

Hiperparatiroidismo primario; Paratiroidectomía; Diagnóstico por imagen;
proteção do consumidor como política global e regional
Authors: Lima Marques Claudia 
Published: May 2022

Este artigo defende que a proteção internacional dos consumidores deve ser uma política global no século XXI, pois os consumidores são importantes atores da atual globalização econômica. Porém, além das Diretrizes da ONU sobre Proteção ao Consumidor de 1985, revisadas em 1999 e 2015, e do Código Internacional de Proteção dos Turistas (UNWTO), de 2021, não existem outras regras mundiais ou globais (sejam instrumentos de soft ou de hard law) em matéria de proteção dos consumidores. Ao contrário do que acontece na área da proteção do meio abiente não há uma só convenção mundial ou instrumento vinculante sobre proteção do consumidor. Assim, parece imperioso agir regionalmente para proteger os consumidores, especialmente por meio de instrumentos jurídicos internacionais vinculantes. Este artigo analisa o papel do Mercosul no que diz respeito à promoção do direito internacional do consumidor, particularmente, os esforços do governo brasileiro para aprimorá-la dentro dessa organização econômica regional. Isso porque, o objetivo principal deste artigo é lançar luz sobre as atuais iniciativas regionais de proteção ao consumidor para confirmar a necessidade de outros instrumentos mais abrangentes e vinculants, especialmente em nível global, para que o autal quadro fragmentado da proteção do consumidor no mundo não crie disparidades que terminem por discriminar consumidores domiciliados em locais diferentes.
Distinct morphology of cardiac‐ and brown adipose tissue‐projecting neurons in the stellate ganglia of mice
Authors: Barrett Madeleine S. , Hegarty Deborah M. , Habecker Beth A. , Aicher Sue A. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractSympathetic neurons that innervate the heart are located primarily in the stellate ganglia (SG), which also contains neurons that project to brown adipose tissue (BAT). These studies were designed to examine the morphology of these two populations (cardiac‐ and BAT‐projecting) and their target connectivity. We examined SG neurons in C57BL/6J mice following injections of the retrograde tracer cholera toxin B (CTb) conjugated to Alexa Fluor 488 and Alexa Fluor 555, into cardiac tissue and intrascapular BAT. BAT‐projecting SG neurons were widely dispersed in SG, while cardiac‐projecting SG neurons were localized primarily near the inferior cardiac nerve base. SG neurons were not dual‐labeled, suggesting that sympathetic innervation is specific to the heart and BAT, supporting the idea of “labeled lines” of efferents. Morphologically, cardiac‐projecting SG somata had more volume and were less abundant than BAT‐projecting neurons using our tracer‐labeling paradigm. We found a positive correlation between the number of primary dendrites per neuron and soma volume in cardiac‐projecting SG neurons, though not in BAT‐projecting neurons. In both SG subpopulations, the number of cholinergic inputs marked with vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) puncta contacting the soma was positively correlated to soma volume, suggesting scaling of inputs across a range of neuronal sizes. In separate studies using dual tracing from left and right BAT, we found that BAT‐projecting SG neurons were located predominately ipsilateral to the injection, but a small subset of SG neurons project bilaterally to BAT. This tracing approach will allow the assessment of cell‐specific mechanisms of plasticity within subpopulations of SG neurons.