bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Covid-19 pandemic induced traumatizing medical job contents and mental health distortions of physicians working in private practices and in hospitals
Authors: Ladwig Karl-Heinz , Johar Hamimatunnisa , Miller Inna , Goette Andreas 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background:The traumatic burden of the Covid-19 pandemic during its early phases posed significant psychological threats particularly for medical frontline personal. It is unclear whether the medical workforce with the passage of time has adapted to these threats or whether emotional perturbations have generalized to wider medical settings.Participants and Methods: An online survey was conducted among 1,476 physicians. Valid data were achieved from 1,327 participants. A pandemic induced job context score was built by nine items. Depression and anxiety were screened with the PHQ-2 and the GAD-2.Results:Among a subtotal of 1,139 (86.6%) physicians with personal treatment experiences with Covid-19 patients, 553 (84.8%) worked in a private practice (PP) and 586 (88.3%) in a hospital (HP). Covid-19 provoked profound conflicts between professional and ethical values: more physicians in PPs than HPs reported external constraints on their medical care being in conflict with the code of medical ethics (39.1% vs. 34.4%, p<0.002). However, significantly more HPs failed to maintain the dignity of their patients during the pandemic (48% vs. 27%, p< 0.0001). Prevalence of depression was 23.0% and 24.16% for anxiety. Comparison with mean PHQ-2 and GAD-2 data from reference groups among physicians with comparable size and settings during the first wave of Covid-19 revealed a significant increase in mental health distortions. A total of 63.3% HPs and 53.4% PPs reported feelings of helplessness associated with female sex, minor years of medical experience, being weakened by sleeping problems (OR= 2.5) and being encountered to unsettling events (OR=3.4). The association between exposure to unsettling events and helplessness was significantly mediated by sleep disturbances (Indirect path: ß= 0.29, S E= 0.03, p<0.0001).Conclusions:Major Covid-19 induced stress job content issues have broadened to more medical disciplines beyond frontline workers. Mental health deteriorations and feelings of helplessness among physicians have become frequent. (248)
The mechanical and antibacterial properties of bone cement composites containing silver nanoparticles compounded with various chitosans
Authors: Li Zhuoyang , Yang Xin , Cao Yongping , Meng Zhichao , Liu Heng , Wang Rui , Wu Hao 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Objective:To analyse the mechanical and antibacterial properties of bone cement composites containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) compounded with chitosan (CS) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS).Methods:Ten percent wt% AgNPs, CS-AgNPs and CMCS-AgNPs were prepared through an oxidation-reduction reaction under sonic oscillation and mix with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The compressive and bending strengths of these nanoparticles were measured before and after soaking the samples in simulated body fluid (SBF). The Kirby-Bauer (K-B) method and flask oscillation method were used to evaluate the antibacterial effects of the composites.Results:The compressive and bending strengths of the AgNP, CS-AgNP, and CMCS-AgNP groups were significantly improved (P < 0.001). After soaking in SBF, the bending strengths of the AgNP, CS-AgNP, and CMCS-AgNP groups were significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.001). The K-B test showed only the 5 wt% and 10 wt% CMCS-AgNP groups exhibited bacteriostatic rings for Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The flask oscillation analyses revealed that the 5 wt% and 10 wt% CMCS-AgNP exhibited good bacteriostatic activity against S. aureus, but only the 10 wt% CMCS-AgNP group for MRSA.Conclusion:We developed CS/CMCS-AgNP bone cement composites, which show good mechanical properties and antibacterial activity.
Contriving a multi-epitope vaccine against African swine fever utilizing immunoinformatics
Authors: Fagbohun Olusegun Adesina , Aiki-Raji Comfort Oluladun , Omotosho Oladipo Olufemi 
Published: September 2022

AbstractAfrican swine fever (ASF), a highly fatal haemorrhagic viral disease of domestic pigs has been ravaging swine industries in affected countries. Effective management of this malady is hamstrung by lack of protective vaccines. A cost-effective avenue to develop potent ASF vaccines is by harnessing immunoinformatic tools to construct a multi-epitope broad spectrum subunit vaccine. Therefore, CD8 + T-cell, CD4 + T-cell, B-cell and IFN-γ epitopes of the ASF virus major coat protein p72, CD2 homologue (CD2v) and C-type lectin-like proteins which are good vaccine candidates were computationally appended to develop ASF multi-epitope subunit vaccine. Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation were employed to assess the interaction between the vaccine construct and immune receptors Toll-like-9 (TLR-9) and the Swine Leukocyte Antigen-1 (SLA-1) and stable interactions were observed between the vaccine construct and immune receptors.in silicocloning and codon optimization were used to bolster the efficient expression of the vaccine in anE. coliexpression system. The efficacy of the vaccine to provoke effective immune responses was assessed usingin silicoimmune simulation. All these computational approaches revealed that the designed vaccine is structurally stable and capable of inducing both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses against ASF.
Pregnancy Outcome in 57 patients with Splenomegaly
Authors: Ali AbdelAziem A. , Eldin Israa Badr 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Background: The spleen is a lymphopoietic organ, contains almost one quarter of the body’s lymphocytes, helps mediate both cellular and humoral immunity, and participates in immune responses against blood-borne pathogens.Method: This was a prospective cross sectional facility based study, carried out at Kassala hospital, Sudan between 1st of May 2019 to 30th of April 2020. The study sought to investigate the pregnancy outcome in women with splenomegaly, an enlarged spleen detected by palpation during the physical examination and subcategorized into mild, moderate and severe one according to its length below the left costal margin. Ultrasound was performed to help determine the size of the spleen. Means and proportions were compared between the groups of the study-using student and x2 test, and P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: During the study period, we approached 57 women with splenomegaly. The most predominant type of splenomegaly was massive (50.9%) splenomegaly. The reported obstetric complications among the investigated women include intrauterine growth restriction (19.3%), preterm labor ((17.5%), miscarriage (12.3%) and stillbirth (3.5%). Out of 50 patients their pregnancy progressed to delivery, two patients underwent cesarean delivery due to fetal distress and meconium stained liquor in early labor. Three patients developed primary hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion with ≥ 2 units of blood. Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), acute tachypnea of the newborn and stillborn babies were observed in 18%, 6% and 4% respectively. Higher proportion of women with poor obstetric outcomes was observed in cases of massive splenomegaly in comparison with other types. Conclusion: The study showed significant association between adverse obstetric outcomes and massive splenomegaly.
Suppression of stacking-fault expansion in 4H-SiC PiN diodes using proton implantation to solve bipolar degradation
Authors: Kato Masashi , Watanabe Ohga , Mii Toshiki , Sakane Hitoshi , Harada Shunta 
Published: September 2022

Abstract4H-SiC has been commercialized as a material for power semiconductor devices. However, the long-term reliability of 4H-SiC devices is a barrier to their widespread application, and the most important reliability issue in 4H-SiC devices is bipolar degradation. This degradation is caused by the expansion of single Shockley stacking faults (1SSFs) from basal plane dislocations in the 4H-SiC crystal. Here, we present a method for suppressing the 1SSF expansion by proton implantation on a 4H-SiC epitaxial wafer. PiN diodes fabricated on a proton-implanted wafer show current–voltage characteristics similar to those of PiN diodes without proton implantation. In contrast, the expansion of 1SSFs is effectively suppressed in PiN diodes with proton implantation. Therefore, proton implantation into 4H-SiC epitaxial wafers is an effective method for suppressing bipolar degradation in 4H-SiC power-semiconductor devices while maintaining device performance. This result contributes to the development of highly reliable 4H-SiC devices.
Risk Factors and Prevalence of Mother to New-born Transmission of Carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae in two Hospitals in Yaounde, Cameroon
Authors: Djuikoue Cecile I. , Chounna Noemy T , Djouela Dana , Wega Farid , Nzenya Joelle D , Nana Cedric , Mbenza Benjamin Longo , Apalata Teke 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the burden of neonatal sepsis is the highest, the spread of Carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in the community, potentially contributing to the neonatal mortality, is a public health concern. Data regarding the acquisition of CPE during the perinatal period are scarce. The routes of transmission are not well defined and particularly the possible key role played by pregnant women. This study aimed to understand the neonatal acquisition of CPE in Yaounde. A transversal analytical study was conducted in an urban area. Maternal stool samples at delivery and the first stool from her new-born were collected and cultured to isolate Enterobacteriaceae. After isolation of Enterobacteriaceae, a phenotypic characterization using API20E identification system and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed according to the Antibiogram Committee of the French Society of Microbiology (AC-SFM 2020). The detection and classification of carbapenemases was done on each carbapenem-resistant strains by Modified Hodge Test (MHT) and synergy tests with different inhibitors (Boronic acid and EDTA). Of the 54 CPE isolates identified, Escherichia coli was the most frequent species (n = 29, 53.70%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 12, 22.22%). Class D and class B carbapenemases (n = 27, 11.25%) were equally represented. Out of the 120 couples, the estimated prevalence of vertical transmission, based on the carriage of the same CPE strain producing enzymes of the same class in mothers and their new-borns, and the similarities in their resistance profile was 10% (n = 12). Logistic regression showed that CPE carriage in mothers and CPE acquisition in their new-borns were independently associated with the presence of greenish amniotic fluid (OR = 3.96, p < 0.0001 in mothers and OR = 3.5, p = 0.05 in new-borns), and meconial amniotic fluid (OR = 1.37, p = 0.02 in mothers and OR = 4.92, p = 0.02 in new-borns). Our results highlight the non-negligeable role played by pregnant women carriage in the neonatal acquisition of Carbapenemases Producing Enterobacteriaceae. The CPE, of which the most prevalent is Carbapenemase class D followed by class B; and also supported by the presence of prenatal fetal distress.
Implementing a community-based HIV screening that serves basic science research and contributes to achieving public health goals
Authors: Abana Christopher Z-Y , Kushitor Dennis K. , Asigbee Theodore W. , Parbie Prince K. , Ishikawa Koichi , Kiyono Hiroshi , Mizutani Taketoshi , Siaw Samuel , Ofori Sampson B. , Addo-Tetebo Gifty , Ansong Maclean Richard D. , Williams Marion , Morton Samuel , Danquah George , Matano Tetsuro , Ampofo William K. , Bonney Evelyn Yayra 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Background: The 95-95-95 UNAIDS global strategy was adapted to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. The target is based on the premise that early detection of HIV-infected persons and linking them to treatment regardless of their CD4 counts will lead to sustained viral suppression. HIV testing strategies to increase uptake of testing in Western and Central Africa remain inadequate. Hence, a high proportion of people living with HIV in this region do not know their status. This report describes the implementation of a community-based health screening (also known as “Know Your Status” -KYS), as part of basic science research, in a way that contributed to achieving public health goals. Methods: A community-based health screening was conducted in 7 communities within the Eastern region of Ghana between November 2017 to April 2018, to recruit and match HIV seronegative persons to HIV seropositive persons in a case-control HIV gut microbiota study. Health assessments included blood pressure, body mass index, blood sugar, Hepatitis B virus, syphilis, and HIV testing for those who consented. HIV seronegative participants who consented were consecutively enrolled in an ongoing HIV gut microbiota case-control study. Descriptive statistics (percentages) were used to analyze data. Results: Out of 738 people screened during the exercise, 700 consented to HIV testing and 23 (3%) were HIV positive. Hepatitis B virus infection was detected in 4% (33/738) and Syphilis in 2 % (17/738). Co-infection of HIV and HBV was detected in 4 persons. The HIV prevalence of 3% found in these communities is higher than both the national prevalence of 1.7% and the Eastern Regional prevalence of 2.7 in 2018. Conclusion: Community-based health screening, such as undertaken in our study could be critical for identifying infected persons from the community and linking them to care. This will greatly contribute to achieving the first two 95s and working towards ending AIDS by 2030.
The Classification of Flash Visual Evoked Potential Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Liang Na , Wang Chengliang , Li Shiying , Xie Xin , Lin Jun , Zhong Wen 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background: Visual electrophysiology is an objective visual function examination widely used in clinical work, which can objectively evaluate the function of the retina or optic nerve, and objectively reflect the corresponding changes of the disease according to the waveform change.In the visual electrophysiological examination, FVEP varies greatly among individuals, resulted in the different waveforms in different normal subjects. Moreover, most of the FVEP waves labeling were performed by the professional clinical technicians. Those labeling may has bias due to individual variation in subjects, incomplete clinical examination data, differences professional skills, personal habits and other factors. The labeling results can be very different, then disturb the clinical diagnosis.In the past, computer algorithms were mainly based on manually set rules for diagnosis, which was limited by the complex and volatile clinical conditions. This time, through the retrospective study of big data, artificial intelligence algorithm is used to maintain high generalization ability in complex situations and improve the accuracy of pre-screening. Methods: A novel multi-input neural network based on convolution and confidence branching (MCAC-Net) for RP recognition and out-of-distribution detection is proposed. The MCAC-Net with global and local feature extraction is designed for the FVEP signal that has different information locally and globally, and a confidence branch is added for out-of-distribution sample detection. For the proposed manual features, a new input layer is added. Results: The model is verified by the clinically collected FVEP dataset, and an accuracy of 90.7% is achieved in the classification task and 93.3% in the out-of-distribution detection task. Conclusion: We built a deep learning-based FVEP classification algorithm that promises to be an excellent tool for screen of RP diseases by using FVEP signals.
Children zoonoses and ill-health perceptions: lessons for rabies in Bhutan
Authors: Lungten Lungten , Tenzin Tenzin , Thys Severine , Phimpraphai Waraphon , Rinchen Sangay , Garine-Wichatitsky Michel 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

BackgroundThe perception of illness and health seeking behaviors differs from one culture to another including rabies. Depending on the cultural setting of the society in which people live, definition for causal factors of illness may ranges from modern biological causes to supernational causes which greatly influence subsequent health seeking behavior. To ensure best health practices and planning effective health intervention strategies including rabies, we explored how school children and adult health and education professionals perceive the causes of illness and their associated health seeking behaviors in southern Bhutan.MethodsWe collected quantitative data related to causes of illness and health seeking practices of the school children using questionnaire survey. Qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions and key informant interviews from the education and health communities that closely associated with school children. Descriptive analysis was performed for the qualitative data collected from school children and thematic analysis were performed for the qualitative data collected from community members that closely interact with students.ResultsSchool children associated the causes of illness with microorganisms (n=526, 75%), badkarmicactions n=118, 16.8%), spirits (n=67, 9.6%) and black magic practices (n=64, 9.1%). They further indicated that these illnesses can be treated through medical intervention by visiting hospitals (n=687, 98%), performing rituals (n=414, 59.1%), and seeking traditional treatments practices (n=131, 18.8%). Similarly, the education and health professional surveyed in the study associated illnesses with bio-physical causes (e.g. microorganisms), supernatural or religious related causes (e.g. spirits, deities) and social causes (e.g. taboos, family problems). In addition to the allopathic medicines, most of the participants indicated the importance of performing religious healing practices to cure the illness. However, most respondents were well aware of the need for allopathic treatments for rabies, such as washing of the bite wound with soap and water and anti-rabies vaccine injection.ConclusionThere is need for the consideration of socio-cultural context in the planning and implementation of health-related policies, including rabies prevention program in Bhutan, associating traditional healers and religious entities with “One Health” public health sectors.
Safer Care for Older Persons in (residential) Environments: a pragmatic controlled trial of a care aide-led quality improvement intervention.
Authors: wagg adrian , Hoben Matthias , Ginsburg Liane , Doupe Malcolm , Berta Whitney , Song Yuting , Norton Peter , Knopp-Sihota Jennifer , Estabrooks Carole 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background: The increased complexity of residents and increased needs for care in long term care (LTC) have not been met with increased staffing. There remains a need to improve the quality of care. Care aides, providers of the bulk of direct care, are well placed to contribute to quality improvement efforts but are often excluded from so doing. This study examined the effect of a facilitation intervention enabling care aides to lead quality improvement efforts and improve the use of evidence-informed best practices. The eventual goal was to improve both the quality of care for older residents in LTC homes and the engagement and empowerment of care aides in leading quality improvement efforts.Methods: Intervention teams participated in a year-long facilitative intervention which supported care aide-led teams to test changes in care provision to residents using a combination of networking and QI education meetings, and quality advisor and senior leader support. This was a controlled trial with random selection of intervention clinical care units matched 1:1 post hoc with control units. The primary outcome, between group change in conceptual research use (CRU), was supplemented by secondary staff- and resident- level outcome measures. A power calculation based upon pilot data effect sizes resulted in a sample size of 25 intervention sites. Results: The final sample included 32 intervention care units matched to 32 units in the control group. In an adjusted model, there was no statistically significant difference between intervention and control units for CRU or in secondary staff outcomes. Compared to baseline, resident adjusted pain scores were statistically significantly reduced (less pain) in the intervention group (p=0.02). The level of resident dependency significantly decreased statistically for residents whose teams addressed mobility (p<0.0001) compared to baseline. Conclusions: SCOPE resulted in a smaller change in its primary outcome than initially expected resulting in a study underpowered to detect a difference. These findings should inform sample size calculations of future studies of this nature if using similar outcome measures. Importantly, findings from the concurrent process evaluation provided important insights into interpretation of main trial data and suggest the need to consider more broadly what constitutes “success” in complex interventions.Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03426072 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03426072), registered 08/02/2018, first participant site 04/05/2018.
Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Genetically-Encoded Multivalent Liquid N-glycan Arrays
Authors: Lin Chih-Lan , Sojitra Mirat , Carpenter Eric , Hayhoe Ellen , Sarkar Susmita , Volker Elizabeth , Atrazhev Alexei , Lowary Todd , Macauley Matthew , Derda Ratmir 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
A hallmark of cellular glycosylation is its chemical complexity and heterogeneity, which can be challenging to capture synthetically. Using chemoenzymatic synthesis on M13 phage, we produce a genetically-encoded liquid glycan array (LiGA) of biantennary complex type N-glycans. Ligation of azido-functionalized sialylglycosyl-asparagine derived from egg yolk to phage functionalized with 50–1000 copies of dibenzocyclooctyne produced divergent intermediate that can be trimmed by glycosidases and extended by glycosyltransferases to yield a library of phages with different N-glycans. Post-reaction analysis by MALDI-TOF MS provided a rigorous approach to confirm N-glycan structure and density, both of which were encoded in the bacteriophage DNA. The binding of this N-glycan LiGA by ten lectins, including CD22 or DC-SIGN expressed on live cells, uncovered an optimal structure/density combination for recognition. Injection of the LiGA into mice identified glycoconjugates with structures and avidity necessary for enrichment in specific organs. This work provides an unprecedented quantitative evaluation of the interaction of complex N-glycans with GBPs in vitro and in vivo.