bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
DNase enhances photodynamic therapy against fluconazole‐resistant Candida albicans biofilms
Authors: Abreu‐Pereira César Augusto , Klein Marlise Inêz , Lobo Carmélia Isabel Vitorino , Gorayb Pereira Ana Luiza , Jordão Cláudia Carolina , Pavarina Ana Claudia 
Published: February 2022

AbstractObjectiveThis study evaluated the effectiveness of DNase I combined with antimicrobial photodynamic therapy, mediated by Photodithazine® and light‐emitting diode light, against biofilms formed by a fluconazole‐resistant Candida albicans strain (ATCC 96901) and two clinical isolates (R14 and R70).Materials and MethodsBiofilms were grown for 48 h and exposed to DNase for 5 min, followed by application of a photosensitizer (P) and light (L), either singly or combined (P+L+, P−L+, P+L−, P−L−, P−L−DNase, P+L+DNase, P+L−DNase, and P−L+DNase; n = 12). Biofilm analysis included quantification of extracellular matrix components (water‐soluble and insoluble polysaccharides, proteins and extracellular DNA), and biomass (total and insoluble), as well as the enumeration of colony‐forming units. The data were analyzed using three‐way analysis of variance with Bonferroni's post hoc test.ResultsThe DNase treatment combined with aPDT showed a reduction of 1.92, 1.65, and 1.29 log10 of cell viability compared with untreated controls for ATCC 96901, R14, and R70 strains, respectively. It also reduced extracellular matrix contents of water‐soluble polysaccharides (36.3%) and extracellular DNA (72.3%), as well as insoluble biomass content (43.3%).ConclusionThe three strains showed similar behavior when treated with DNase, and the extracellular matrix components were affected, improving the effectiveness of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy.
Change in rehabilitation needs and activity limitations over time of adults with acquired visual impairment following entry to a low vision rehabilitation service in England
Authors: Macnaughton Jane , Vianya‐Estopa Marta , Latham Keziah 
Published: February 2022

AbstractPurposeLongitudinal changes in priority rehabilitation needs, vision‐related activity limitation and importance of visual goals were evaluated in a sample of people with a visual impairment over a year following entry to low vision rehabilitation services in England.MethodsParticipants were adults with newly registered visual impairment within Leicestershire. Priority scores, indicating the level of rehabilitative need, were determined from the importance and difficulty scores of the 48 goals of the Participation and Activity Inventory (PAI). Rasch analysis of the difficulty and importance scores examined activity limitation and importance separately. PAI outcome measures were assessed on entry to rehabilitation services and at 4 and 12 months thereafter.ResultsForty‐eight participants (mean age 74.2, SD 14.1 years) completed three visits. Overall, there was a statistically significant reduction in the perceived need for rehabilitation over time (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.29), driven by reduced perceived difficulty (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.32) but stable importance (p = 0.73) of goals, with most change occurring between baseline and 4 months. PAI goals with greatest rehabilitative need at study entry were reading, mobility and writing, and these remained of highest priority over time. The greatest priority score decrease was for the goal ‘Hobbies and crafts’. The largest decrease in importance was for ‘Mobility outdoors’, whereas ‘Relationship with loved ones’ increased most.ConclusionsDespite a decline in the perceived need for rehabilitation over the study period, there remains a need for continued support and intervention at 12 months following registration with rehabilitation services, particularly for the key goals of reading, writing and mobility. Early identification and support for individuals’ important but difficult goals could prevent such goals being relinquished. Goals concerning relationships and communication became more important over time, indicating that re‐evaluation of needs at follow‐up is necessary to inform ongoing service provision.
Income Inequality and Increasing Dispersion of the Transition to First Birth in the Global South
Authors: Castro Torres Andrés F. , Batyra Ewa , Myrskylä Mikko 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe relationship between levels of social and economic inequality and demographic changes remains poorly documented, particularly for fertility. Covering a period from 1986 to 2018, this paper documents a positive country‐level association between income inequality and the dispersion of first birth schedules among women from 88 countries of the Global South. This association is driven by a dual dynamic of the decreasing mean age at first birth among a shrinking group of women who transition to motherhood early, and the increasing mean age at first birth and rising heterogeneity in the timing of childbearing among a group of first birth delayers. We show that this association is strongest in countries where the total fertility rate is below 2.5 children per woman. We argue that differential opportunities for accessing quality education, formal labor markets, and migration are potential drivers of the rising heterogeneity in the ages at which women transition to childbearing. These results highlight the importance of examining societal and demographic processes jointly and clearly indicate that more and better‐quality data on social and economic inequality are needed.
Application of Bioluminescent Methods to Study the Effect of the Membrane‐active Antibiotic Colistin on Bacterial Cells
Authors: Yu. Lomakina Galina , Ugarova Natalia N. 
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACTFor the first time, recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing thermostable Luciola mingrelica firefly luciferase were used to study the effect of the membrane‐active antibiotic colistin on live cells. Simple, fast, and highly sensitive bioluminescent methods were developed for measurement of luciferase activity and ATP concentration inside and outside E. coli cells incubated in a nutrient medium, or in saline. Luciferase proved to be an informative protein marker for detecting the irreversible changes in cell membrane permeability. The study of kinetics of intra‐ and extracellular ATP concentration at different concentrations of colistin showed that the rate of decrease in intracellular ATP concentration significantly exceeded the rate of accumulation of extracellular ATP concentration. This fact could not be explained only by the release of ATP from the cell with an increase in the permeability of the outer cell membrane under the action of colistin. The loss of a significant part of intracellular ATP in presence of the colistin is probably due to a decrease in the activity of the respiratory chain enzymes and ATP synthase which operate in the cytoplasmic cell membrane, which leads to a decrease in the rate of ATP synthesis or even to its halt.
Genetic simulation for high‐stakes conversations
Authors: Saleh Maha , Shugar Andrea , Dodds Alison , Bismilla Zia 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundHigh‐stakes conversations are frequent in Medical Genetics. News shared is often perceived as “bad” and can lead to patient hostility. Breaking bad news (BBN) is therefore a challenging clinical task for physicians and is often included as a foundational skill in medical education. The methods of teaching this skill are variable, with no widely accepted standard. We propose the use of simulation as a safe and effective training tool.ApproachMedical Genetics residents participated in a 4‐week curriculum on BBN and de‐escalating patient hostility and anger. The curriculum consisted of (1) a standardised patient simulation scenario requiring the disclosure of abnormal prenatal test result to a hostile patient, (2) coaching and feedback by genetic counsellors (GCs), (3) reflective exercises, and (4) workshops on de‐escalation techniques. Trainees completed a postsimulation survey and postencounter reflection forms. Written comments on the survey and the reflections were analysed for themes.EvaluationSix junior and four senior residents participated in this curriculum innovation. Analysis of reflections revealed that simulation coupled with the genetic counsellor's (GC) timely feedback and reflection exercise were good education strategies for practicing BBN and de‐escalation techniques in a challenging counselling situation. Most of the trainees felt that this teaching approach was successful and should be used for future training.ImplicationsSimulation can help prepare Medical Genetics trainees deliver difficult news and successfully de‐escalate a hostile patient encounter. Consideration should be given to counselling and de‐escalation simulations as a useful addition to standing curricula for Medical Genetics trainees.
Assessing the psychosocial dimensions of frailty among older adults in Singapore: a community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Chong Elliot Yeung , Lim Angela Hui-Shan , Mah Freda Cheng Yee , Yeo Lyn Hui Wen , Ng Shu Tian , Yi Huso 
Published: February 2022

ObjectiveTo examine how multiple dimensions of mental and social health, in addition to physical health, were associated with frailty among older adults.DesignA door-to-door sampling household community-based survey.SettingThirty-two public housing blocks within a residential town in Singapore’s central region.Participants497 residents aged 60 years or older from the public housing town.Outcome measuresPhysical frailty was assessed using the FRAIL Scale, which stands for fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illnesses and loss of weight. Physical health was assessed by multimorbidity, physical activity and functional ability; mental illness was assessed by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ); and social domains were assessed by the Lubben Social Network Scale, Community Integration Measure and UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) Loneliness Scale.ResultsCompared with robust (59.5%) and prefrail (32.6%) older adults, frail adults (7.9%) reported higher morbidity, lower functional ability and physical activity, higher scores on GHQ, and lower scores on all three social health scales. In multiple regression models, frailty was significantly associated with age 81–90 years (adjusted OR=2.22, 95% CI 1.23 to 3.99), having 2–3 (adjusted OR=1.56, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.38) or >3 (adjusted OR=1.83, 95% CI 1.05 to 3.18) chronic diseases, reduced ability to perform daily tasks without assistance (adjusted OR=0.41, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.73), having fallen in the past 6 months (adjusted OR=2.18, 95% CI 1.18 to 4.06), social dysfunction in GHQ (adjusted OR=1.24, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.43) and loneliness (adjusted OR=1.26, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.50). Physical activity did not remain significantly associated with frailty when mental and social health-related factors were entered in the regression.ConclusionCommunity intervention for frailty prevention and management needs to include mental health promotion and social engagement to increase its impact on older adults.
Consumption and effects of caffeinated energy drinks in young people: an overview of systematic reviews and secondary analysis of UK data to inform policy
Authors: Khouja Claire , Kneale Dylan , Brunton Ginny , Raine Gary , Stansfield Claire , Sowden Amanda , Sutcliffe Katy , Thomas James 
Published: February 2022

BackgroundThis overview and analysis of UK datasets was commissioned by the UK government to address concerns about children’s consumption of caffeinated energy drinks and their effects on health and behaviour.MethodsWe searched nine databases for systematic reviews, published between 2013 and July 2021, in English, assessing caffeinated energy drink consumption by people under 18 years old (children). Two reviewers rated or checked risk of bias using AMSTAR2, and extracted and synthesised findings. We searched the UK Data Service for country-representative datasets, reporting children’s energy-drink consumption, and conducted bivariate or latent class analyses.ResultsFor the overview, we included 15 systematic reviews; six reported drinking prevalence and 14 reported associations between drinking and health or behaviour. AMSTAR2 ratings were low or critically low. Worldwide, across reviews, from 13% to 67% of children had consumed energy drinks in the past year. Only two of the 74 studies in the reviews were UK-based. For the dataset analysis, we identified and included five UK cross-sectional datasets, and found that 3% to 32% of children, across UK countries, consumed energy drinks weekly, with no difference by ethnicity. Frequent drinking (5 or more days per week) was associated with low psychological, physical, educational and overall well-being. Evidence from reviews and datasets suggested that boys drank more than girls, and drinking was associated with more headaches, sleep problems, alcohol use, smoking, irritability, and school exclusion. GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) assessment suggests that the evidence is weak.ConclusionsWeak evidence suggests that up to a third of children in the UK consume caffeinated energy drinks weekly; and drinking 5 or more days per week is associated with some health and behaviour problems. Most of the evidence is from surveys, making it impossible to distinguish cause from effect. Randomised controlled trials are unlikely to be ethical; longitudinal studies could provide stronger evidence.PROSPERO registrationsCRD42018096292 – no deviations. CRD42018110498 – one deviation - a latent class analysis was conducted.
Association of occupational sitting with cardiovascular outcomes and cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review with a sex-sensitive/gender-sensitive perspective
Authors: Reichel Kathrin , Prigge Michaela , Latza Ute , Kurth Tobias , Backé Eva-Maria 
Published: February 2022

ObjectivesSedentary behaviour is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular health. Although long periods of sedentary behaviour take place at work, evidence of the relationship between such occupational sitting and cardiometabolic health risks remains limited. This systematic review aimed to update the evidence on the associations of occupational sitting with cardiovascular outcomes and cardiometabolic risk factors based on longitudinal studies.DesignSystematic review.SettingWorkplace.PopulationEmployees aged 18–65 years.Primary and secondary outcomesPrimary outcomes were cardiovascular diseases and cardiometabolic risk markers. The secondary outcome was all-cause mortality.Data sourcesTen databases, including PubMed, Web of Science and CINAHL (search January 2018, updated February 2019).Data extraction and synthesisData were screened, extracted and appraised by three independent reviewers following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.ResultsStudies were markedly heterogeneous in terms of measurement of occupational sitting, cardiometabolic risk factors and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, so that standards were hardly identifiable and limiting the value of the evidence. The review included 27 high or acceptable quality publications. Of the eight high-quality publications from seven cohorts, three cohort studies found significant associations of occupational sitting with primary outcomes. Additionally, one study described an association with the secondary outcome. Another high-quality publication found an association between occupational sitting and ischaemic heart disease in a subgroup already at risk due to hypertension. For sex/gender analysis, 11 of the 27 high and acceptable quality publications reported sex-stratified results. Five of these found sex differences.ConclusionsEvidence regarding the association of occupational sitting with cardiometabolic health risks was limited because of the lack of standardised measurements for occupational sitting. Occupational sitting combined with an overall sedentary lifestyle was associated with an elevated relative risk for several cardiometabolic outcomes. There is an urgent need for standardised measurements of occupational sitting to facilitate meta-analysis. Sex/gender aspects of this relationship require further investigation.
Non-linear relationship between basal serum albumin concentration and cardiac arrest in critically ill patients with end-stage renal disease: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zeng Yong-Qin , Qin Zuo-An , Guo Zi-Wei , Li Bo , Yu Hai-Yan , Chen Rui-Xue , Tang Ying-Qian , Hu Ke-Jin , Guan Cheng-Jing , Yan Rui 
Published: February 2022

ObjectivesThe aim of our study was to investigate the association between serum albumin concentration and the risk of cardiac arrest in critically ill patients with end-stage renal disease in the intensive care unit (ICU).DesignThis was a secondary analysis.SettingThe Phillip electronic-ICU collaborative database from 2014 to 2015.ParticipantsThis study included 4990 critically ill patients diagnosed with end-stage renal disease.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe exposure of interest was serum albumin concentration. The outcome variable was cardiac arrest.ResultsA non-linear relationship was observed between serum albumin concentration and risk of cardiac arrest, with an inflection point of 3.26 g/dL after adjusting for potential confounders. The effect sizes and the CIs on the left and right sides of the inflection point were 0.88 (0.65 to 1.19) and 0.32 (0.16 to 0.64), respectively.ConclusionsWithin an albumin range of 3.26–5.6 g/dL, each 1 g/dL increase in serum levels is associated with a 68% decrease of the risk of cardiac arrest in critically ill patients with end-stage renal disease.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on TB prevention and care in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a retrospective database study
Authors: Arega Balew , Negesso Abebe , Taye Betelhem , Weldeyohhans Getachew , Bewket Bekure , Negussie Tesfaye , Teshome Ayele , Endazenew Getabalew 
Published: February 2022

ObjectiveThe current COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia could cause severe dysfunction in tuberculosis (TB) treatment, diagnostic services, and prevention and control efforts. In this study, we evaluated the effect of COVID-19 on TB service indicators in Addis Ababa, where more than two-thirds of the country’s COVID-19 morbidity was recorded.DesignWe performed a comparative retrospective study to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on TB services during the pre-COVID-19 era (from April 2019 to March 2020) and the COVID-19 era (from April 2020 to March 2021) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We extracted data on total TB detection rate, TB treatment success rate, isoniazid prophylaxis therapy, and drug susceptibility tests and others from the health information system. Using Poisson regression, we estimated the incidence rate ratios and the absolute number difference of the indicators (number per quarter and year) in the COVID-19 and pre-COVID-19 eras.ResultsCompared with the pre-COVID-19 era, the total TB detection, bacteriologically confirmed TB, TB treatment success rate, latent TB infection treatment and community health workers’ engagement in TB detection decreased, respectively, by 11%, 11.8%, 17%, 44.7% and 77.2% during the COVID-19 period. Rifampicin resistance increased by 27.7% during the same period. Comparative analysis showed a significant decline in these TB service indicators (p<0.001)ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on TB service indicators in Addis Ababa. This highlights the importance of reinforcing TB services, including adopting alternative digital health technology to screen for TB and integrating TB and COVID-19 services to mitigate COVID-19’s challenges to TB prevention and care.
Can achievement at medical admission tests predict future performance in postgraduate clinical assessments? A UK-based national cohort study
Authors: Paton Lewis W , McManus I C , Cheung Kevin Yet Fong , Smith Daniel Thomas , Tiffin Paul A 
Published: February 2022

ObjectiveTo determine whether scores on two undergraduate admissions tests (BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) and University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)) predict performance on the postgraduate Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians (MRCP) examination, including the clinical examination Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills (PACES).DesignNational cohort study.SettingDoctors who graduated medical school between 2006 and 2018.Participants3045 doctors who had sat BMAT, UCAT and the MRCP.Primary outcome measuresPassing each section of the MRCP at the first attempt, including the clinical assessment PACES.ResultsSeveral BMAT and UCAT subtest scores displayed incremental predictive validity for performance on the first two (written) parts of the MRCP. Only aptitude and skills on BMAT (OR 1.34, 1.08 to 1.67, p=0.01) and verbal reasoning on UCAT (OR 1.34, 1.04 to 1.71, p=0.02) incrementally predicted passing PACES at the first attempt.ConclusionsOur results imply that the abilities assessed by aptitude and skills and verbal reasoning may be the most important cognitive attributes, of those routinely assessed at selection, for predicting future clinical performance. Selectors may wish to consider placing particular weight on scales assessing these attributes if they wish to select applicants likely to become more competent clinicians. These results are potentially relevant in an international context too, since many admission tests used globally, such as the Medical College Admission Test, assess similar abilities.
The geometry of suspicious money laundering activities in financial networks
Authors: Granados Oscar M. , Vargas Andrés 
Published: February 2022

AbstractCorruption and organized crime are social problems that affect different communities around the world, involving public and private organizations in diverse sectors and activities. However, these problems are global phenomena that transcend economic, cultural, and social borders, especially, when corrupt individuals use the global financial system to protect their illegal money. This paper aims to evaluate the money laundering mechanism in financial networks, studying the structure of some suspicious money laundering groups, and how they could be detected by the use of topological and geometrical considerations that avoid the need of possibly non-available (or restricted) information.
Effective Heuristic Techniques for Combined Robust Clustering Problem
Authors: Xu Yunhe , Wu Chenchen , Gai Ling , Han Lu 
Published: February 2022

Clustering is one of the most important problems in the fields of data mining, machine learning, and biological population division, etc. Moreover, robust variant for [Formula: see text]-means problem, which includes [Formula: see text]-means with penalties and [Formula: see text]-means with outliers, is also an active research branch. Most of these problems are NP-hard even the most classical problem, [Formula: see text]-means problem. For the NP-hard problems, the heuristic algorithm is a powerful method. When the quality of the output can be guaranteed, the algorithm is called an approximation algorithm. In this paper, combining two types of robust settings, we consider [Formula: see text]-means problem with penalties and outliers ([Formula: see text]-MPO). In the [Formula: see text]-MPO, we are given an [Formula: see text]-point set [Formula: see text], a penalty cost [Formula: see text] for each [Formula: see text], an integer [Formula: see text], and an integer [Formula: see text]. The target is to find a center subset [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text], a penalty subset [Formula: see text] and an outlier subset [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text], such that the sum of the total costs, including the connection cost and the penalty cost, is minimized. We offer an approximation algorithm using a heuristic local search scheme. Based on a single-swap manipulation, we obtain [Formula: see text]-approximation algorithm.