bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mediterranean diet related metabolite profiles and cognitive performance in a Greek population
Authors: Papandreou Christopher , Papagiannopoulos Christos , Koutsonida Myrto , Kanellopoulou Afroditi , Markozannes Georgios , Polychronidis Georgios , Tzakos Andreas G , Fragkiadakis Georgios A. , Evangelou Evangelos , Ntzani Evangelia , Tzoulaki Ioanna , Aretouli Eleni , Tsilidis Konstantinos K. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBackgroundEvidence suggests that adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) affects human metabolism and may contribute to better cognitive performance. However, the underlying mechanisms are not clear.ObjectiveWe generated a metabolite profile for adherence to MedDiet and evaluated its cross-sectional association with aspects of cognitive performance.MethodsA total of 1,250 healthy Greek middle-aged adults from the Epirus Health Study cohort were included in the analysis. Adherence to the MedDiet was assessed using the 14-point Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS); cognition was measured using the Trail Making Test, the Verbal Fluency test and the Logical Memory test. A targeted metabolite profiling (n = 250 metabolites) approach was applied, using a high-throughput nuclear magnetic resonance platform. We used elastic net regularized regressions, with a 10-fold cross-validation procedure, to identify a metabolite profile for MEDAS. We evaluated the associations of the identified metabolite profile and MEDAS with cognitive tests, using multivariable linear regression models.ResultsWe identified a metabolite profile composed of 42 metabolites, mainly lipoprotein subclasses and fatty acids, significantly correlated with MedDiet adherence (Pearson r = 0.35, P-value = 5.5 × 10−37). After adjusting for known risk factors and accounting for multiple testing, the metabolite profile and MEDAS were not associated with the cognitive tests.ConclusionsA plasma metabolite profile related to better adherence to the MedDiet was not associated with the tested aspects of cognitive performance, in a middle-aged Mediterranean population.
Magnitude and antibiogram of uropathogens and associated risk factors among asymptomatic female college students in Dessie town, Northeast Ethiopia
Authors: Reda Berhanu Kebede , Molla Genet , Gedefie Alemu , Gebretsadik Daniel , Tilahun Mihret , Belete Melaku Ashagrie , Shibabaw Agumas 
Published: September 2022

ABSTRACTBackgroundAsymptomatic Urinary Tract Infection (Asymptomatic bacteriuria and asymptomatic candiduria) in sexually active non-pregnant female’s population in most cases may not be routinely detected at the initial and reversible stages. This is due to the fact that most women may not feel compelled to seek medical help.Objectivesto determine the prevalence, and factors associated with asymptomatic urinary tract infection, and antibiogram of the uropathogen isolates among asymptomatic female college studentsMethodsAn institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted at selected colleges found in Dessie from January 2021 to March 2021. A total of 422 reproductive age non-pregnant female students were included and socio-demographic and clinical characteristics data were collected using structured questionnaires. Ten ml freshly voided mid-stream urine specimen was collected, transported and processed according to standard operating procedure. Data were coded and entered for statistical analysis using SPSS version 22.0 and descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. P-value ≤0.05 with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were considered statistically significant.ResultThe overall prevalence of UTI was 24.6%. The prevalence of asymptomatic UTI bacteriuria and candidiuria were 57 (13.5%) and 47 (11.1%) respectively. The predominant isolated uropathogens were S. saprophyticus 24 (23.07%) followed by Candida tropicalis 23 (22.1%), Candida albican 10 (9.61%), Candida krusei 9(8.65%) and E. coli 8 (7.69%). Gram negative bacterial isolates showed higher level of resistance to Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid 24 (92.3%). Gram positive bacterial uropathogens showed high level of resistance for penicillin 28 (96.6%) and Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole 23 (79.3%). Gram positive bacterial isolates were sensitive to norfloxacin clindamycin and ciprofloxacin accounting 24 (82.7%), 20 (69.0%) and 19 (65.5%), respectively. Moreover, MDR was seen in 50 (87.7%) of all isolated bacterial uropathogens.Frequency of sexual intercourse (> 3 per week) (AOR =7.907, 95% CI: (2.918, 21.425), (P=0.000) and genital area washing habit (during defecation) (AOR = 5.914, 95%CI: (1.860, 18.809), (P=0.0003) and every morning (AOR = 6.128, 95%CI: (1.602, 23.449), (P=0.0008) were found to have statistically significant association with the occurrence of UTI among asymptomatic female college students.ConclusionA significant prevalence of uropathogens, and high resistance of bacterial isolates to commonly prescribed drugs were observed. Therefore, routine UTI screening, regular health education on the risk of asymptomatic infectious diseases and antimicrobial susceptibility testing should be practiced to avoid the progression of asymptomatic infection into symptomatic UTI.
When Case Reporting Becomes Untenable: Can Sewer Networks Tell Us Where COVID-19 Transmission Occurs?
Authors: Wang Yuke , Liu Pengbo , VanTassell Jamie , Hilton Stephen P. , Guo Lizheng , Sablon Orlando , Wolfe Marlene , Freeman Lorenzo , Rose Wayne , Holt Carl , Browning Mikita , Bryan Michael , Waller Lance , Teunis Peter F.M. , Moe Christine L. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractMonitoring SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater is a valuable approach to track COVID-19 transmission. Designing wastewater surveillance (WWS) with representative sampling sites and quantifiable results requires knowledge of the sewerage system and virus fate and transport. We developed a multi-level WWS system to track COVID-19 in Atlanta using an adaptive nested sampling strategy. From March 2021 to April 2022, 868 wastewater samples were collected from influent lines to wastewater treatment facilities and upstream community manholes. Variations in SARS-CoV-2 concentrations in influent line samples preceded similar variations in numbers of reported COVID-19 cases in the corresponding catchment areas. Community sites under nested sampling represented mutually-exclusive catchment areas. Community sites with high SARS-CoV-2 detection rates in wastewater covered high COVID-19 incidence areas, and adaptive sampling enabled identification and tracing of COVID-19 hotspots. This study demonstrates how a well-designed WWS provides actionable information including early warning of surges in cases and identification of disease hotspots.
Development and validation of a Context-sensitive Positive Health Questionnaire (CPHQ) to measure health
Authors: Doornenbal Brian M. , van Zutphen Tim , Vos Rimke C. , Haisma Hinke , van den Akker-van Marle M. Elske , Kiefte-de Jong Jessica C. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractA valid context-specific measurement of health is critical for evaluating health policies and interventions. The Positive Health dialogue is a tool that is increasingly being used to evaluate health. However, this tool is meant to spark conversations about health rather than measure context-specific health. In this paper, we advance the Positive Health dialogue tool into a measurement instrument, that we denote as the Context-sensitive Positive Health Questionnaire (CPHQ). We build on previous efforts to create the CPHQ, using the Capability Approach as a theoretical framework. The measurement was developed in three stages: 1) focus groups, 2) expert consultations, and 3) validation among a representative panel of Dutch citizens. The goal of both the (1) focus groups and (2) expert consultations phases was to pilot test and refine previously proposed Positive Health questionnaires into an initial version of the CPHQ. The validation phase (3) sought to examine the initial CPHQ’s factorial validity, using Factor Analysis, and its concurrent validity, using Multivariate Regression Analysis. The developed questionnaire demonstrated adequate factorial and concurrent validity. Furthermore, it explicitly accounts for resilience, which is a key component of Positive Health. We introduced four benefits by aligning the CPHQ instrument with the Capability Approach. First, it embedded the measurement in a theoretical framework, which is required for theory development and testing. Second, it focused the questionnaire on a key concept of Positive Health - that is, on the “ability to adapt.” Third, it addressed issues of health equity by taking contextual factors into account. Fourth, it aided in developing more understandable measurement items. The introduced measurement (i.e., the CPHQ) includes 11 dimensions, which we labeled as follows: relaxation, autonomy, fitness, perceived environmental safety, exclusion, social support, financial resources, political representation, health literacy, resilience, and enjoyment.Highlights- The Context-sensitive Positive Health Questionnaire (CPHQ) was developed using items from Positive Health questionnaires and the Capability Approach, which were then refined through focus groups and professional advice.- The questionnaire considers individuals’ unique environment, an aspect often overlooked in health measurements that can affect how someone feels.- By aligning the CPHQ instrument with the Capability Approach, we embedded the measurement in a theoretical framework, which is required for theory development and testing.- By embedding the measurement in the Capability Approach and including the Brief Resilience Scale into the initial questionnaire, we accounted for a key concept of Positive Health - that is, the “ability to adapt.”- The developed scale showed adequate factorial validity and concurrent validity.
Effectiveness and Duration of Protection of a Fourth Dose of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine among Long-Term Care Residents in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Grewal Ramandip , Nguyen Lena , Buchan Sarah A , Wilson Sarah E , Costa Andrew P , Kwong Jeffrey C 
Published: September 2022

ABSTRACTBackgroundAs of December 30, 2021, Ontario long-term care (LTC) residents who received a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine ≥84 days previously were offered a fourth dose to prevent a surge in COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality due to the Omicron variant. Seven months have passed since fourth doses were implemented, allowing for the examination of fourth dose protection over time.MethodsWe used a test-negative design and linked databases to estimate the marginal effectiveness (4 versus 3 doses) and vaccine effectiveness (VE; 2, 3, or 4 doses versus no doses) of mRNA vaccines among Ontario LTC residents aged ≥60 years who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 between December 30, 2021 and August 3, 2022. Outcome measures included any Omicron infection, symptomatic infection, and severe outcomes (hospitalization or death).ResultsWe included 21,275 Omicron cases and 273,466 test-negative controls. The marginal effectiveness of a fourth dose <84 days ago compared to a third dose received ≥84 days ago was 23% (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 17-29%), 36% (95%CI 26-44%), and 37% (95%CI 24-48%) against SARS-CoV-2 infection, symptomatic infection, and severe outcomes, respectively. Additional protection provided by a fourth dose compared to a third dose was negligible against all outcomes ≥168 days after vaccination. Compared to unvaccinated individuals, vaccine effectiveness (VE) of a fourth dose decreased from 49% (95%CI 44%-54%) to 18% (95%CI 5-28%) against infection, 69% (95%CI 62-75%) to 44% (95%CI 24-59%) against symptomatic infection, and 82% (95%CI 77-86%) to 74% (95%CI 62-82%) against severe outcomes <84 days versus ≥168 days after vaccination.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that fourth doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines provide additional protection against Omicron-related outcomes in LTC residents, but the protection wanes over time, with more waning seen against infection than severe outcomes.
Differential Lifespan Impacts on Veterans by War Exposure in the First World War
Authors: Wilson Nick , Clement Christine , Summers Jennifer A , Thomson George , Harper Glyn 
Published: September 2022

ABSTRACTIntroductionThere remains uncertainty around the impact of war on the lifespan of First World War (WW1) veterans.MethodsWe obtained lifespan data on a random sample of 857 war-exposed New Zealand WW1 veterans and compared this with lifespans of a non-war military cohort (n=1039). This comparison was possible as the non-war-cohort arrived in Europe too late to participate in the war, allowing a “natural experiment” that avoided the “healthy solider effect”.ResultsThe lifespan comparisons indicated lower mean lifespan in the war-exposed veteran cohort compared to the non-war veteran cohort (69.7 vs 71.1 years; p=0.0405). This gap persisted (range: 0.8 to 1.1 years) but was no longer statistically significant when only considering the non-Māori ethnic grouping (nearly all European/Pākehā personnel), when excluding additional deaths in the immediate post-war period up to 31 December 1923, and when excluding participation in any other wars. Within the war-exposed cohort there were suggestive patterns of increasing lifespan with increasing occupational status and military rank (eg, 69.5, 70.0 and 70.7 mean years as group-level occupational status progressively increased). There were also stark differences in lifespan of 8.3 years between Māori (Indigenous) and non-Māori veterans (p=0.0083).ConclusionsThe pattern of reduced lifespan in war-exposed vs non-war-exposed veterans, was compatible with a smaller previous New Zealand study. There are a number of feasible avenues to further improve this type of work with existing data sources.Key messages➢There is still uncertainty around the impact of the First World War on premature death and lifespan in veterans internationally.➢This study of New Zealand veterans found lower mean lifespan in the war-exposed cohort compared to the non-war cohort (69.7 vs 71.1 years). This gap persisted, but was no longer statistically significant, when considering such factors as ethnicity of personnel and participation in any other wars.➢The pattern of reduced lifespan in war-exposed veterans was compatible with a smaller previous New Zealand study.➢There are a number of feasible avenues to further improve this type of work with existing data sources.
Contributions of neighborhood social environment and air pollution exposure to Black-White disparities in epigenetic aging
Authors: Yannatos Isabel , Brown Rebecca T. , McMillan Corey T. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractRacial disparities in many aging-related health outcomes are persistent and pervasive among older Americans, reflecting accelerated biological aging for Black Americans compared to White, known as weathering. Environmental determinants that contribute to weathering are poorly understood. Having a higher biological age, measured by DNA methylation (DNAm), than chronological age is robustly associated with worse age-related outcomes and higher social adversity. We hypothesize that individual socioeconomic status (SES), neighborhood social environment, and air pollution exposures contribute to racial disparities in DNAm aging according to GrimAge and Dunedin Pace of Aging methylation (DPoAm). We perform retrospective cross-sectional analyses among 2,960 non-Hispanic participants (82% White, 18% Black) in the Health and Retirement Study whose 2016 DNAm age is linked to survey responses and geographic data. DNAm aging is defined as the residual after regressing DNAm age on chronological age. We observe Black individuals have significantly accelerated DNAm aging on average compared to White individuals according to GrimAge (239%) and DPoAm (238%). We implement multivariable linear regression models and threefold decomposition to identify exposures that contribute to this disparity. Exposure measures include individual-level SES, census-tract-level socioeconomic deprivation and air pollution (fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone), and perceived neighborhood social and physical disorder. Race and gender are included as covariates. Regression and decomposition results show that individual-level SES is strongly associated with and accounts for a large portion of the disparity in both GrimAge and DPoAm aging. Higher neighborhood deprivation for Black participants significantly contributes to the disparity in GrimAge aging. Black participants are more vulnerable to fine particulate matter exposure for DPoAm, perhaps due to individual- and neighborhood-level SES, which may contribute to the disparity in DPoAm aging. DNAm aging may play a role in the environment “getting under the skin”, contributing to age-related health disparities between older Black and White Americans.
Dopamine regulates decision thresholds in human reinforcement learning
Authors: Chakroun Karima , Wiehler Antonius , Wagner Ben , Mathar David , Ganzer Florian , vanEimeren Thilo , Sommer Tobias , Peters Jan 
Published: September 2022

AbstractDopamine fundamentally contributes to reinforcement learning by encoding prediction errors, deviations of an outcome from expectation. Prediction error coding in dopaminergic regions in human functional neuroimaging studies is well replicated. In contrast, replications of behavioral and neural effects of pharmacological modulations of the dopamine system in human reinforcement learning are scarce. Additionally, dopamine contributes to action selection, but direct evidence and process-specific accounts in human reinforcement learning are lacking. Here we examined dopaminergic mechanisms underlying human reinforcement learning in a within-subjects pharmacological approach in male human volunteers (n=31, within-subjects design; Placebo, 150mg L-dopa, 2mg Haloperidol) in combination with functional magnetic resonance imaging and a stationary reinforcement learning task. We had two aims. First, we aimed to replicate previously reported beneficial effects of L-dopa vs. Haloperidol on reinforcement learning from gains. This replication was not successful. We observed no performance benefit of L-Dopa vs. Haloperidol, and no evidence for alterations in neural prediction error signaling. In contrast, Bayesian analyses provided moderate evidence in favor of the null hypothesis. This unsuccessful replication is likely at least partly due to a number of differences in experimental design. Second, using combined reinforcement learning drift diffusion models, we tested the recent proposal that dopamine contributes to action selection by regulating decision thresholds. Model comparison revealed that the data were best accounted for by a reinforcement learning drift diffusion model with separate learning rates for positive and negative prediction errors. The model accounted for both reductions in RTs and increases in accuracy over the course of learning. The only parameter showing robust drug effects was the boundary separation parameter, which revealed reduced decision thresholds under both L-Dopa and Haloperidol, compared to Placebo, and the degree of threshold reduction accounted for individual differences in RTs between conditions. Results are in line with the idea that striatal dopamine regulates decision thresholds during action selection, and that lower dosages of D2 receptor antagonists increase striatal DA release via an inhibition of autoreceptor-mediated feedback mechanisms.
Methotrexate inhibition of muropeptide transporter SLC46A2 controls psoriatic skin inflammation
Authors: Bharadwaj Ravi , Lusi Christina F. , Mashayekh Siavash , Nagar Abhinit , Subbarao Malireddi , Kane Griffin I. , Wodzanowski Kimberly , Brown Ashley , Okuda Kendi , Monahan Amanda , Paik Donggi , Nandy Anubhab , Anonick Madison , Goldman William E. , Kanneganti Thirumala-Devi , Orzalli Megan H. , Grimes Catherine Leimkuhler , Atukorale Prabhani U. , Silverman Neal 
Published: September 2022

SummaryCytosolic innate immune sensing is critical for protecting barrier tissues. NOD1 and NOD2 are cytosolic sensors of small peptidoglycan fragments (muropeptides) derived from the bacterial cell wall. These muropeptides enter cells, especially epithelial cells, through unclear mechanisms. We previously implicated SLC46 transporters in muropeptide transport in Drosophila immunity. Here we focus on Slc46a2, which is highly expressed in mammalian epidermal keratinocytes, and show that it is critical for delivery of DAP-muropeptides and activation of NOD1 in keratinocytes, while the related transporter Slc46a3 is critical for responding to MDP, the NOD2 ligand. In a mouse model, Slc46a2 and Nod1 deficiency strongly suppressed psoriatic inflammation, while methotrexate, a commonly used psoriasis therapeutic, inhibited Slc46a2-dependent transport of DAP-muropeptides. Collectively these studies define SLC46A2 as a transporter of NOD1 activating muropeptides, with critical roles in the skin barrier, and identify this transporter as an important target for anti-inflammatory intervention.
The trait coding rule in phenotype space
Authors: Wang Jianguo , He Xionglei 
Published: September 2022

AbstractGenotype and phenotype are both the themes of modern biology. Despite the elegant protein coding rules recognized decades ago in genotype, little is known on how traits are coded in a phenotype space (P). Mathematically, P can be partitioned into a subspace determined by genetic factors (PG) and a subspace affected by non-genetic factors (PNG). Evolutionary theory predicts PG is composed of limited dimensions while PNG may have infinite dimensions, which suggests a dimension decomposition method, termed as uncorrelation-based high-dimensional dependence (UBHDD), to separate them. We applied UBHDD to a yeast phenotype space comprising ~400 traits in ~1,000 individuals. The obtained tentative PG matches the actual genetic components of the yeast traits, explains the broad-sense heritability, and facilitates the mapping of quantitative trait loci, suggesting the tentative PG be the yeast genetic subspace. A limited number of latent dimensions in the PG were found to be recurrently used for coding the diverse yeast traits, while dimensions in the PNG tend to be trait specific and increase constantly with trait sampling. A similar separation success was achieved when applying UBHDD to the UK Biobank human brain phenotype space that comprises ~700 traits in ~26,000 individuals. The obtained PG helped elucidate the genetic versus non-genetic origins of the left-right asymmetry of human brain, and reveal several hundred novel genetic correlations between brain regions and dozens of mental traits/diseases. In sum, by developing a dimension decomposition method we show that phenotypic traits are coded by a limited number of genetically determined common dimensions and unlimited trait-specific dimensions shaped by non-genetic factors, a rule fundamental to the emerging field of phenomics.