bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Can innovation vouchers promote SMEs’ innovation in China: A flexible conditional difference-in-differences analysis
Authors: Xu Nini , Guo Junhua 
Published: November 2022

AbstractInnovation voucher is a market-oriented policy instrument to encourage the external resource utilization of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) so as to foster their innovation activities and outcomes. This study extends the extant literature on the effectiveness of innovation voucher policy by investigating whether this small innovation subsidy can promote the innovation output of SMEs in China, a typical emerging economy, and identifying policy-relevant heterogeneities. By using the samples of Chinese technology-based SMEs and a flexible conditional difference-in-differences approach, our results show that innovation vouchers generally do promote SMEs’ innovation output and exert a more salient effect on medium-sized enterprises. Furthermore, the incentive effect of innovation vouchers is stronger on the recipients in the regions where the institutional environment is more developed. This study has important implications for policy makers and SMEs.
Opportunities to advance implementation science and nutrition research: a commentary on the Strategic Plan for NIH Nutrition Research
Authors: Nicastro Holly L , Vorkoper Susan , Sterling Rene , Korn Ariella R , Brown Alison G M , Maruvada Padma , Oh April Y 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Despite population-wide recommendations by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans and others to encourage health-promoting dietary patterns, the proportion of Americans following dietary recommendations remains low. The gaps in the adoption and integration of evidence-based dietary interventions, practices, programs, and policies (EBIs) into community and clinical settings signal the need to strengthen efforts in implementation science (IS) in nutrition research to understand and alleviate barriers to adopting and sustaining healthy dietary behaviors and practices. Equally important is the translation of this research into practice in a variety of settings and across the diversity of populations. Recognizing this need, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) 2020–2030 Strategic Plan for NIH Nutrition Research calls for the expansion of IS as a key opportunity to advancing nutrition research. This commentary highlights three scientific opportunities to stimulate IS in nutrition research and provides examples for each opportunity. These include: (a) Advance consideration of implementation and dissemination early in the design of interventions to facilitate opportunities for equitable scale-up and sustainability of EBIs, (b) Develop and test strategies for equitable implementation of nutrition and diet EBIs in health care and community settings, and (c) Build and strengthen the infrastructure, capacity, and expertise needed to increase use of IS in clinical and community nutrition research to swiftly move the research into practice. By advancing the three opportunities identified in this commentary, the scientific community has the potential to advance the field of nutrition research and IS with the ultimate goal of improving public health.
Genotoxicity, acute, and subchronic toxicity evaluation of dried Neurospora crassa protein-rich biomass
Authors: Lozy Fred , Meetro Jwar , Simon Ryan , Calabrese Philip , Whiteley Justin M 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Filamentous fungus biomass is a protein-rich food, which can serve as an alternative to animal, plant, and legume protein sources. Neurospora crassa is a filamentous fungus that typically grows in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Traditionally, N. crassa has served as a model eukaryotic organism due to its ease of growth and propagation and suitability for genetic manipulation. However, filamentous fungi, such as Neurospora, have also been consumed or used to produce fermented foods for centuries and have been developed into protein-rich biomass ingredients to be used in conventional foods and meat substitutes. A panel of toxicological tests including genotoxic, acute, and subchronic studies were conducted on dried N. crassa biomass to support its safe use in food. The dried N. crassa biomass was found to be not genotoxic in a bacterial reverse mutation (Ames) assay, an in vitro chromosomal aberration test, and an in vivo micronucleus test. In the acute and subchronic toxicity studies, rats were orally gavaged with N. crassa biomass at concentrations of 0, 1,000, 2,500, and 5,000 mg/kg body weight/day for 14 and 90 days, respectively. At the conclusion of the studies, there were no test article-related toxicity results observed in clinical observations, body weight, food consumption, ophthalmology, hematology, clinical chemistry, coagulation, thyroid hormone, urinalysis, and macroscopic and microscopic findings. The no-observed-adverse-effect level for the dried N. crassa biomass ingredient was determined to be 5,000 mg/kg body weight/day, the highest dose tested.
Revealing the cryptic diversity of the widespread and poorly known South American blind snake genusAmerotyphlops(Typhlopidae: Scolecophidia) through integrative taxonomy
Authors: Graboski Roberta , Arredondo Juan C , Grazziotin Felipe G , Guerra-Fuentes Ricardo Arturo , Da Silva Ariane A A , Prudente Ana L C , Pinto Roberta R , Rodrigues Miguel T , Bonatto Sandro L , Zaher Hussam 
Published: November 2022

AbstractMorphological stasis is generally associated with relative constancy in ecological pressures throughout time, producing strong stabilizing selection that retains similar shared morphology. Although climate and vegetation are commonly the main key factors driving diversity and phenotypic diversification in terrestrial vertebrates, fossorial organisms have their morphology mostly defined by their fossorial lifestyle. Among these secretive fossorial organisms, blind snakes of the South American genus Amerotyphlops are considered poorly studied when compared to other taxa. Here, we evaluate the cryptic diversity of Amerotyphlops using phylogenetic and multivariate approaches. We based our phylogenetic analysis on a molecular dataset composed of 12 gene fragments (eight nuclear and four mitochondrial) for 109 species of Typhlopidae. The multivariate analysis was implemented using 36 morphological variables for 377 specimens of Amerotyphlops. Additionally, we contrast our phylogenetic result with the morphological variation found in cranial, external and hemipenial traits. Our phylogenetic results recovered with strong support the following monophyletic groups within Amerotyphlops: (1) a clade formed by A. tasymicris and A. minuisquamus; (2) a clade composed of A. reticulatus; (3) a north-eastern Brazilian clade including A. yonenagae, A. arenensis, A. paucisquamus and A. amoipira; and (4) a clade composed of A. brongersmianus and a complex of cryptic species. Based on these results we describe four new species of Amerotyphlops from north-eastern and south-eastern Brazil, which can be distinguished from the morphologically similar species, A. brongersmianus and A. arenensis.
Prospective evaluation of dRAST for selecting optimal targeted antibiotics in positive blood culture with Gram-positive organisms
Authors: Kim Jeong-Han , Kim Taek Soo , Kang Chang Kyung , Han Sangkwon , Kim Dong Young , Kwon Sunghoon , Choe Pyeong Gyun , Kim Nam Joong , Park Wan Beom , Oh Myoung-don 
Published: November 2022

AbstractEmpirical antibiotic selection often fails to be optimal targeted in the era of increasingly common resistant organisms. We prospectively evaluated the usefulness or rapid AST for optimal antibiotic selection by infectious disease (ID) physicians in patients with bacteremia of Gram-positive organisms. QMAC-dRAST results led to optimal antibiotic treatment in 33 (89.2%) of the 37 cases receiving non-optimal targeted antibiotics. Optimal targeted treatments based on QMAC-dRAST results were possible in 133 (97.1%) of the 137 cases. In conclusion, the introduction of rapid phenotypic AST can help increase the selection of optimal targeted antibiotics during the early period of bacteremia.
Heterogeneity and Risk-of-Biases are No Longer the Issues to Conclude the Effectiveness of Baricitinib in Reducing COVID-19 Related Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Eight Randomised Controlled Trials
Authors: Manoharan Sivananthan , Ying Lee Ying 
Published: November 2022

AbstractBackgroundDue to high heterogeneity and risk of bias (RoB) in previously published meta-analysis, a concrete conclusion on the efficacy of baricitinib in reducing mortality in COVID-19 patients was unable to form.MethodsSearch engines PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect and other sources like preprints and reference lists were searched with appropriate keywords. The included evidence was graded with GRADEpro. The RoB, heterogeneity and meta-analysis were studied through RevMan 5.4.1 software. The heterogeneity was evaluated based on the generatedp-value or I² test.ResultsEight (8) RCTs were included in current analysis. Five studies had low RoB. Based on grading the evidence, the inclusion and exclusion of high RoB articles led to moderate and high certainty of evidence, respectively. Based on 8 RCTs (with high RoB), baricitinib statistically significantly reduced mortality where the risk ratio (RR) = 0.84 [95% CI: 0.76 to 0.92;p= 0.0002; I2= 23%;p= 0.25]. The heterogeneity was insignificant but the RoB was high. We did subgroup analysis of low and high RoB articles and found out baricitinib statistically significantly reduced mortality with the RR = 0.68 [95% CI: 0.56 to 0.82;p< 0.0001; I2= 0%;p= 0.85] and RR = 0.89 [95% CI: 0.80 to 0.99;p= 0.04; I2= 0%;p= 0.43], respectively. The heterogeneity was 0% with insignificantp-values in both subgroup analyses. The percentage of mortality reduction was 31.31% and 7.79%, respectively whereas it was 13.95% in main group analysis.ConclusionWith the presence of optimal sample size of 3944 from 5 low RoB studies which represents a minimum of 300 million population of people and with 0% of heterogeneity, the effectiveness of baricitinib in reducing the mortality in COVID-19 patients is concretely proven.
Selection of long COVID symptoms influences prevalence estimates in a prospective cohort
Authors: Wynberg Elke , de Bree Godelieve J. , Leenstra Tjalling , Verveen Anouk , van Willigen Hugo D.G. , de Jong Menno D. , Prins Maria , Boyd Anders ,   the RECoVERED Study Group
Published: November 2022

AbstractBackgroundStudies on long COVID differ in the selection of symptoms used to define the condition. We aimed to assess to what extent symptom selection impacts prevalence estimates of long COVID.MethodsIn a prospective cohort of patients who experienced mild to critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we used longitudinal data on the presence of 20 different symptoms to evaluate changes in the prevalence of long COVID over time when altering symptom selection.ResultsChanging symptom selection resulted in wide variation in long COVID prevalence, even within the same study population. Long COVID prevalence at 12 months since illness onset ranged from 39.6% (95%CI=33.4-46.2) when using a limited selection of symptoms to 80.6% (95%CI=74.8-85.4) when considering any reported symptom to be relevant.ConclusionsComparing the occurrence of long COVID is already complex due to heterogeneity in study design and population. Disparate symptom selection may further hamper comparison of long COVID estimates between populations. Harmonised data collection tools could be one means to achieve greater reproducibility and comparability of results.
No changes in diffusion-weighted imaging-Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography score from before to after mechanical thrombectomy for anterior circulation occlusion are associated with good outcomes
Authors: Hashimoto Hiroaki , Maruo Tomoyuki , Kimoto Yuki , Nakamura Masami , Fujinaga Takahiro , Nakamura Hajime , Ushio Yukitaka 
Published: November 2022

AbstractBackgroundAlthough preoperative diffusion-weighted imaging-Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (DWI-ASPECTS) is well known as a predictor of outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for large-vessel occlusion (LVO), assessment of changes in DWI-ASPECT from before to after MT is rare. Therefore, we clarified the relationship between the change in DWI-ASPECTS and clinical outcomes.MethodsIn this retrospective single-center study, we enrolled 63 cases of anterior LVOs treated with MT between April 2015 and March 2022. Preoperative and postoperative DWI-ASPECTSs were calculated. DWI-ASPECTSs were categorized into cortical-ASPECTSs (c-ASPECTSs) and subcortical ASPECTSs and assessed. Additionally, medical variables related to patients, such as sex, age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, and premorbid modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, were evaluated. A good outcome was defined as an mRS score of 0 or 2 at 3 months.ResultsForty-five patients met the inclusion criteria. Among the patients, 9 (20%) had a good outcome. The good outcome group showed significantly higher postoperative DWI-ASPECTs (median 8 vs. 5,p= 0.012) and c-ASPECTSs (median 4 vs. 3,p= 0.020) than the not-good outcome group. No changes in DWI-ASPECTSs and c-ASPECTSs from before to after MT were significantly associated with the good outcome (p= 0.017,p= 0.016, respectively). The cut-off values for the good outcome on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for differences between DWI-ASPECTSs and c-ASPECTSs was 0 [area under the curve (AUC) 0.77, sensitivity 0.67, specificity 0.78] and 0 [AUC 0.74, sensitivity 0.44, specificity 1.00]. Logistic regression analyses showed that baseline NIHSS score (odds ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval 0.48–1.00;p= 0.046) and postoperative DWI-ASPECTS (odds ratio, 2.27; 95% confidence interval 1.02–5.04;p= 0.039) were independent factors for the good outcome.ConclusionsThe good outcome of patients with anterior LVO was not associated with any changes in DWI-ASPECTSs and c-ASPECTSs from before to after MT.
Hip and knee joint kinematics predict quadriceps hyperreflexia in people with post-stroke Stiff-Knee gait
Authors: Lee Jeonghwan , Akbas Tunc , Sulzer James 
Published: November 2022

AbstractWearable assistive technology for the lower extremities has shown great promise towards improving gait function in people with neuromuscular injuries. But common secondary impairments, such as hyperreflexia, have been often neglected. Adding hyperreflexia prediction to the control loop would require expensive or complex measurement of muscle fiber characteristics. In this study, we explore a clinically accessible biomechanical predictor set that can accurately predict rectus femoris (RF) reaction after knee flexion assistance in pre-swing by a powered orthosis. We examined a total of 14 gait parameters based on gait kinematic, kinetic, and simulated muscle-tendon states from 8 post-stroke individuals with Stiff-Knee gait (SKG) wearing a knee exoskeleton robot. We independently performed both parametric and non-parametric variable selection approaches using machine learning regression techniques. Both models revealed the same four kinematic variables relevant to knee and hip joint motions were sufficient to effectively predict RF hyperreflexia. These results suggest that control of knee and hip kinematics may be a more practical method of incorporating quadriceps hyperreflexia into the exoskeleton control loop than the more complex acquisition of muscle fiber properties.
Screening, diagnosis and hospitalization of breast and cervical cancer in Brazil from 2010 to 2022: a time-series study
Authors: Capistrano Gustavo Nepomuceno , de Morais Thiffany Nayara Bento , Silva Costa Ketyllem Tayanne da , Santos Quirino Ana Luiza , da Costa Roberta Letícia Pimentel , de Andrade Fábia Barbosa 
Published: November 2022

AbstractIn Brazil, during the pandemic caused by COVID-19, screening for breast and cervical cancers was postponed or interrupted due to the prevailing health conditions. These neoplasms, however, are responsible for high morbidity and mortality among women in Brazil and have a major impact on the quality of life of this population and on public health. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the epidemiological behavior of hospitalization for cervical and breast cancer in Brazilian women, as well as the trend of screening tests and diagnosis of breast and cervical cancer in the years 2010 to 2022 in Brazil. This is an ecological research of time series, based on secondary data obtained from information systems of the country, about hospital admissions for breast and cervical cancer and screening methods used for these tumors. The data were analyzed in the Joinpoint Regression Program, to obtain the linear regression and temporal analysis of the variables. As results, there is a decrease in hospitalization rates for cervical cancer between the years 2010 and 2015 and a subsequent increase in 2019. Regarding breast cancer, there was an increase in hospitalizations, until reaching a peak in 2019. For both, in the pandemic years, between 2020 and 2022, there is a decrease in Brazil and in all its regions. As for the tracking of these diseases, it was observed that the performance of mammograms and preventive tests showed a similar behavior, in which there is a higher supply of these tests until 2019 and a drop during the pandemic period. This leads to the conclusion that even though Brazil has several policies for screening and early diagnosis of these diseases, there is still instability in the offer of tests and that there was a precariousness in this area during the pandemic.
Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase is a novel fluid biomarker of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Rutledge Jarod , Lehallier Benoit , Zarifkar Pardis , Losada Patricia Moran , Ryman Sephira , Yutsis Maya , Deutsch Gayle , Mormino Elizabeth , Trelle Alexandra , Wagner Anthony D , Kerchner Geoffrey , Tian Lu , Henderson Victor W. , Montine Thomas J , Borghammer Per , Wyss-Coray Tony , Poston Kathleen L 
Published: November 2022

AbstractThere are currently limited molecular markers of Parkinson’s disease, and there is an urgent need for new markers to guide clinical care, support earlier diagnosis, and hasten drug development. Here, we performed CSF and plasma proteomics in 5 Parkinson’s disease cohorts to identify novel protein biomarkers for these purposes, resulting in one of the largest such resources for Parkinson’s disease to date. We discovered a consistent upregulation of the protein L-Aromatic Acid Decarboxylase (AADC, EC 4.1.1.28, DDC) in the CSF and plasma of Parkinson’s disease patients. AADC is a key protein in the synthesis of dopamine and other monoamine neurotransmitters. We found that higher CSF AADC levels are associated with greater motor symptom severity in Parkinson’s patients. We replicated and extended these findings in another undescribed proteomics cohort ofde novoParkinson’s disease participants from the Parkinson’s Progression Marker Initiative, where we found that AADC expression is upregulated in treatment naïve participants and is associated with motor and cognitive symptoms. We found that AADC expression can accurately distinguish Parkinson’s disease from healthy participants and Alzheimer’s disease participants in multiple independent cohorts, and developed a panel of 16 proteins that achieves 95% receiver operator area under the curve (ROC AUC) in distinguishing these three states. Our results suggest that CSF AADC is a marker of the underlying disease process in Parkinson’s disease with potential utility in multiple contexts.
Use of Sociodemographic Information in Clinical Vignettes of Multiple-Choice Questions for Preclinical Medical Students
Authors: Carey-Ewend Kelly , Feinberg Amir , Flen Alexis , Williamson Clark , Gutierrez Carmen , Cykert Samuel , Beck Dallaghan Gary L. , Gilliland Kurt O. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractPurposeTo characterize the use of demographic data in multiple-choice questions from a commercial preclinical question bank and determine if there is appropriate use of different distractors.BackgroundMultiple-choice questions for medical students often include vignettes describing a patient’s presentation to help guide students to a diagnosis, but overall patterns of usage between different types of nonmedical patient information in question stems has yet to be determined.Methods380 of 453 randomly selected questions were included for analysis after determining they contained a clinical vignette and required a diagnosis. The vignettes and following explanations were then examined for the presence/absence of 11 types of demographic information, including age, sex/gender, and socioeconomic status. We compared both the usage frequency and relevance between the 11 information types.ResultsMost information types were present in less than 10% of clinical vignettes, but age and sex/gender were present in over 95% of question stems. Over 50% of questions included irrelevant information about age and sex/gender, but 75% of questions did not include any irrelevant information of other types. Patient weight and environmental exposures were significantly more likely to be relevant than age or sex/gender.DiscussionStudents using the questions in this study will frequently gain practice incorporating age and sex/gender into their clinical reasoning while receiving little exposure to other demographic information. Based on our findings, we posit that questions could include more irrelevant information, outside age and sex/gender, to better approximate real clinical scenarios and ensure students do not overvalue certain demographic data.
Year-round RSV Transmission in the Netherlands Following the COVID-19 Pandemic - A Prospective Nationwide Observational and Modeling Study
Authors: Löwensteyn Yvette N. , Zheng Zhe , Rave Neele , Bannier Michiel A.G.E. , Billard Marie-Noëlle , Casalegno Jean-Sebastien , Pitzer Virginia E. , Wildenbeest Joanne G. , Weinberger Daniel M. , Bont Louis 
Published: November 2022

ABSTRACTA nationwide prospective study showed year-round RSV transmission in the Netherlands after an initial 2021 summer outbreak. The pattern was unprecedented and distinct from neighboring countries. Our dynamic simulation model suggests that this transmission pattern could be associated with waning immunity because of low RSV circulation during the COVID-19 pandemic.