bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Causes of Outcome Learning: a causal inference-inspired machine learning approach to disentangling common combinations of potential causes of a health outcome
Authors: Rieckmann Andreas , Dworzynski Piotr , Arras Leila , Lapuschkin Sebastian , Samek Wojciech , Arah Onyebuchi Aniweta , Rod Naja Hulvej , Ekstrøm Claus Thorn 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Nearly all diseases are caused by different combinations of exposures. Yet, most epidemiological studies focus on estimating the effect of a single exposure on a health outcome. We present the Causes of Outcome Learning approach (CoOL), which seeks to discover combinations of exposures that lead to an increased risk of a specific outcome in parts of the population. The approach allows for exposures acting alone and in synergy with others. The road map of CoOL involves (i) a pre-computational phase used to define a causal model; (ii) a computational phase with three steps, namely (a) fitting a non-negative model on an additive scale, (b) decomposing risk contributions and (c) clustering individuals based on the risk contributions into subgroups; and (iii) a post-computational phase on hypothesis development, validation and triangulation using new data before eventually updating the causal model. The computational phase uses a tailored neural network for the non-negative model on an additive scale and layer-wise relevance propagation for the risk decomposition through this model. We demonstrate the approach on simulated and real-life data using the R package ‘CoOL’. The presentation focuses on binary exposures and outcomes but can also be extended to other measurement types. This approach encourages and enables researchers to identify combinations of exposures as potential causes of the health outcome of interest. Expanding our ability to discover complex causes could eventually result in more effective, targeted and informed interventions prioritized for their public health impact.
Risk factors for Ebola virus disease among household care providers, Sierra Leone, 2015
Authors: Duffy Nadezhda , Bruden Dana , Thomas Harold , Nichols Erin , Knust Barbara , Hennessy Thomas , Reichler Mary R ,   and the Household Transmission Investigative Team, Bangura James , Keimbe Charles , Jambai Amara , Morgan Oliver , Farmar Ismail , Davies Francis , Dumbuya Mohamed Sima , Kamara Hannah , Kallon Mohamed , Kpukumu Joseph , Abu Sheku , Bangura Fatmata , Bangura Saidu Rahim , Bangura Tomeh , Benya Hassan , Blango Sandi , Conteh Imurana , Conteh Peter , Jabbie Bintu , Jabbie Sheku , Kamara Luseni , Lansana Francis , Rogers Maada , Sewa Sahr Brima , Yamba Matthew , Bessler P , Washburn Faith , Ervin E , Campbell S , Chung W , Hersey S 
Published: April 2022

Abstract

Background
Household contacts who provide care to an Ebola virus disease (EVD) case have a 3-fold higher risk of EVD compared with contacts who do not provide care.

Methods
We enrolled persons with confirmed EVD from December 2014 to April 2015 in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and their household contacts. Index cases and contacts were interviewed, and contacts were followed for 21 days to identify secondary cases. Epidemiological data were analysed to describe household care and to identify risk factors for developing EVD.

Results
Of 838 contacts in 147 households, 156 (17%) self-reported providing care to the index case; 56 households had no care provider, 52 a single care provider and 39 multiple care providers. The median care provider age was 29 years, 68% were female and 32% were the index case’s spouse. Care providers were more likely to report physical contact, contact with body fluids or sharing clothing, bed linens or utensils with an index case, compared with non-care providers (P &lt;0.01). EVD risk among non-care providers was greater when the number of care providers in the household increased (odds ratio: 1.61; 95% confidence interval: 1.1, 2.4). In multivariable analysis, factors associated with care provider EVD risk included no piped water access and absence of index case fever, and protective factors included age &lt;20 years and avoiding the index case.

Conclusions
Limiting the number of care providers in a household could reduce the risk of EVD transmission to both care providers and non-care providers. Strategies to protect care providers from EVD exposure are needed.
Long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and associations with cardiopulmonary diseases and lung cancer in Taiwan: a nationwide longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Lo Wei-Cheng , Ho Chi-Chang , Tseng Eva , Hwang Jing-Shiang , Chan Chang-Chuan , Lin Hsien-Ho 
Published: April 2022

Abstract

Background
Although a number of studies have reported on the health effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure, particularly in North American and European countries as well as China, the evidence about intermediate to high levels of PM2.5 exposures is still limited. We aimed to investigate the associations between long-term exposure to PM2.5 and risk of cardiopulmonary disease incidence in Taiwan with intermediate levels of PM2.5 exposure.

Methods
A cohort of Taiwanese adults, who participated in the 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013 National Health Interview Surveys, was followed through 2016 to identify cardiopulmonary disease onset. Exposure to PM2.5 was estimated by incorporating a widespread monitoring network of air quality monitoring stations and microsensors. We used time-dependent Cox regression models to examine the associations between the PM2.5 exposures and health outcomes, adjusting for individual characteristics and ecological covariates. The natural cubic spline functions were used to explore the non-linear effects of the PM2.5 exposure.

Results
A total of 62 694 adults from 353 towns were enrolled. Each 10-μg/m3 increase in 5-year average exposure to PM2.5 was associated with a 4.8% increased risk of incident ischaemic heart disease (95% CI: -3.3, 13.6), 3.9% increased risk of incident stroke (95% CI: -2.9, 11.1), 6.7% increased risk of incident diabetes (95% CI: 1.1, 12.7), 15.7% increased risk of incident lung cancer (95% CI: -0.9, 35.1) and 11.5% increased risk of incident chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (95% CI: -0.8, 25.2). The concentration-response curve showed that there was no statistical evidence of non-linearity for most of the disease outcomes except for ischaemic heart disease (P for non-linearity = 0.014).

Conclusions
Long-term exposure to intermediate levels of ambient PM2.5 was associated with cardiopulmonary health outcomes. Our study adds value to future application and national burden of disease estimation in evaluating the health co-benefits from ambient air pollution reduction policy in Asian countries.
Immunosuppressants contribute to a reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Guo Xingzhi , Chong Li , Zhang Xin , Li Rui 
Published: April 2022

Abstract

Background
Observational studies have suggested a decreased risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the results are controversial and the biological mechanism underlying this effect remains largely unknown.

Methods
The effect sizes of five observational studies were summarized to determine the association between RA and PD. A two-step Mendelian randomization (TSMR) analysis was conducted using genome-wide association studies data sets of RA, PD and prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), immunosuppressants (IS) and glucocorticoids (GC). A multivariable MR (MVMR) was also performed to verify the impact of prescription history on PD risk.

Results
Integrated data from observational studies showed that RA was associated with a decreased risk of PD in the European population (effect size = –0.38, P = 0.004). We found that genetically predicted RA was correlated with a decreased risk of PD [odds ratio (OR) = 0.91, P = 0.007]. In the TSMR, RA patients tended to have an increased prescription of GC (OR = 1.16, P = 2.96e − 07) and IS (OR = 1.77, P = 5.58e − 64), which reduced the risk of PD (GC: OR = 0.86, P = 0.0270; IS: OR = 0.82, P = 0.0277), respectively. Further MVMR analysis demonstrated that only IS was linked to a decreased risk of PD (OR = 0.86, P = 0.004).

Conclusion
This work clarified that patients with RA had a decreased risk of PD, which was partially attributed to the use of IS in RA patients but not GC or NSAIDs.
Dynamic analysis of biodiversity, carbon storage and environmental factors of coniferous forest in Loudi City, Hunan Province
Authors: Zhou You , She Jiyun , Zhu Xiongmei 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe analyzation of the dynamics of biodiversity, carbon storage and environmental factors of coniferous forest in Loudi, Hunan Province is meaningful, and the determination of the aboveground and underground carbon storage, plant diversity and environmental factors of multiple plant communities in Loudi, Hunan Province among different succession stage is of great significance to effectively clarify the distribution of plant diversity and carbon storage in coniferous forests along the succession gradient, to clarify the influence of environmental factors on carbon storage, and to quantify the relationship between carbon storage and plant diversity. This article selected the natural growth of subalpine coniferous forest in Loudi, Hunan Province from 5 to 60 years as the research objective and compared the species richness (S), plant diversity (S) and other information. The results showed that the carbon pools of aboveground and underground ecosystems of several plant communities are significantly different during vegetation restoration, and there is a functional relationship between plant diversity and carbon storage. The aboveground carbon content increased several times, and the soil organic carbon (SOC) content increased from the herbaceous community type to the mixed forest type, constituting the main carbon pool of the system (63–89%) and then decreased. The average carbon storage of the whole ecosystem was between 105 and 730 Mg C ha−1. In addition, it was also found that root biomass and litter C/N ratio had significant effects on SOC. Path analysis also showed that the C/N ratio of litter was mainly regulated by the changes of microbial population and soil invertase activity. The research of this project is of positive significance to deepen the understanding of coniferous forest biodiversity and corresponding conservation measures.
Effect of desiccation on ashcrete (HSDA)-treated soft soil used as flexible pavement foundation: zero carbon stabilizer approach
Authors: Onyelowe Kennedy C , Tome Sylvain , Ebid Ahmed M , Usungedo Thompson , Bui Van Duc , Etim Roland K , Onuoha Ifeanyi C , Attah Imoh C 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe potential of using ashcrete to improve the microstructural, microspectral and shrinkage properties of expansive soils has been investigated under laboratory conditions. In addition to microstructural, three chemical modulus (TCM) and microspectral examinations, responses to linear shrinkage, volumetric shrinkage and crack width were also investigated using 30-day drying periods for expansive soil treated with ash cement. Moisture-related infrastructures such as the sub-floor of resilient pavements are prone to moisture by the rise and fall of the water table during seasonal changes. Therefore, the effect of soil improvement on soil morphology, chemical content and microspectral patterns was investigated. The soil was classified and characterized as (A-7-6) high plasticity soil and poor classification conditions. The hybrid sawdust ash (SDA) known as ashcrete, which has zero carbon footprint was obtained by activating SDA by mixing it with a reformulated activator material (a mixture of 8 M NaOH and a solution of NaSiO2 in a 1:1 ratio). The zero carbon cement was further used in percent-by-weight proportions of 3, 6, 9 and 12 for the soil improvement. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) experiments were carried out to evaluate the pozzolanic resistance via the chemical composition of the oxide, TCM and the profile of the surface contour of the additives and the soil. XRF exposures revealed that the additives had lower pozzolanic resistance, which increased with the improved mixtures thus forming an improved soil mass. In addition, it showed that TCM silica moduli dominated soil stabilization with ashcrete. Scanning electron microscopy examination showed an increase in soil-ettringite and gel formation with the addition of ashcrete. Also, the microspectral studies of chemical oxide EDXRF and XRD have shown excellent results at 12 mass percent cement and soil cement, which has optimized aluminosilicate formation more than 70% and formation of calcite and quartz that has shown the potential of a zero carbon stabilization geomaterial ash cement as a good complementary binder.
Skin Tones and Polarized Politics: How Skin Color Differences Between Interviewers and Respondents Influence Survey Answers in Bolivia
Authors: Blanchard Maxime 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
American scholarship claims that the racial make-up of interviews influences the attitudes disclosed in public opinion surveys. It remains unclear whether such an effect travels to other cases where racial cleavages are less salient, and whether it affects all respondents. We address these gaps by using a flexible approach focusing on skin tone rather than race. Relying on survey data from Bolivia, where polarization maps onto ethnic lines, we investigate whether the skin color difference between an interviewer and a respondent influences the latter’s answers. Building on the race-of-interviewer effect and colorism literatures, this article investigates the effect of the skin color dynamic of interviews by leveraging the random interviewer-to-respondent assignment process of LAPOP surveys. The results suggest that nonresponses are more likely in cross-skin tone interviews and that respondents questioned by interviewers of lighter skin tone than them will express opinions that more closely align with the stereotypical opinions of the interviewer than if their interviewer shared their skin tone. This article contributes to the interviewer effect literature by testing the competing claims of the social distance and social acquiescence theories, along with providing an adaptation of the race-of-interviewer effect to cases that are not polarized along racial lines.
Multicentre prospective observational study on community pharmacist interventions to reduce inappropriate medications
Authors: Uchida Mayako , Suzuki Shinya , Sugawara Hideki , Suga Yukio , Nakagawa Takayuki , Takase Hisamitsu 
Published: April 2022

Abstract

Objectives
The status of community pharmacists’ involvement in inappropriate prescription practices among outpatients who visit community pharmacies has not been reported in Japan. Therefore, this study described community pharmacists’ interventions aimed at the discontinuation of inappropriate drugs or the reduction of drug doses.

Methods
We conducted a multicentre prospective observational study of pharmacists’ interventions on inappropriate prescriptions for outpatients during a 1-month period in September 2018. A total of 28 pharmacists from 28 community pharmacies in Japan participated in this study. We analysed cases in which pharmacists discontinued drugs or changed the doses due to drugs being inappropriate, adverse effects, duplication of pharmacological effects and drug–drug interactions.

Key findings
Community pharmacists provided interventions for 736 patients at an average of 26.2 patients per day during the study period. The pharmacists recommended that doctors discontinue inappropriate drugs or reduce the doses of regular drugs for 103 patients (13.9%). Among the 107 pharmacist recommendations to decrease inappropriate prescriptions, 83 (77.6%) were accepted, including 62 cases of discontinuation (57.9%) and 21 of drug dose reduction (19.6%). A total of 122 drugs were discontinued according to pharmacists’ recommendations. In addition, pharmacists’ intervention improved sleepiness, sedation and cognitive function.

Conclusions
This study shows the active involvement of community pharmacists in polypharmacy by discontinuing inappropriate drugs or reducing the dose of regular drugs, which may contribute to the improvement of adverse effects among outpatients.
Reach control problem for a class of convex differential inclusions on simplices
Authors: Lv Dejing , Ge Bin , Wu Mingze 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
This paper focuses on the reach control problem for systems expressed as a class of convex differential inclusions. The purpose is to find affine feedback for the trajectories of the systems to reach and leave an unrestricted facet of a given simplex in a finite time. It is proved that the condition for strong reachability is sufficient and necessary. The sufficient condition for weak reachability is obtained based on the solvability of the reach control problem for linear affine systems. At last, algorithms are designed and numerical examples are given to verify the validity of the results.
A sequential optimality condition for Mathematical Programs with equilibrium constraints based on a nonsmooth formulation
Authors: Helou Elias S , Santos Sandra A , Simões Lucas E A 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Explicitly nonsmooth reformulations of mathematical programs with equilibrium constraints (MPEC) described by smooth functions are investigated. A sequential optimality condition ($\epsilon $-ANOC) previously developed for nonsmooth optimization problems is adapted to suit the reformulations under analysis. Relationships between $\epsilon $-ANOC and sequential optimality conditions especially crafted for MPEC are established. It is revealed that approaches developed for nonsmooth optimization improve the understanding of smooth problems with ill-conditioned geometries, which is the case for MPEC. Moreover, based on the availability of algorithms capable of generating $\epsilon $-ANOC sequences, illustrative experiments are reported in which difficult problems are successfully solved.
Special Cubic Four-Folds, K3 Surfaces, and the Franchetta Property
Authors: Fu Lie , Laterveer Robert 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
O’Grady conjectured that the Chow group of 0-cycles of the generic fiber of the universal family over the moduli space of polarized K3 surfaces of genus $g$ is cyclic. This so-called generalized Franchetta conjecture has been solved only for low genera where there is a Mukai model (precisely, when $g\leq 10$ and $g=12, 13, 16, 18, 20$), by the work of Pavic–Shen–Yin. In this paper, as a non-commutative analogue, we study the Franchetta property for families of special cubic four-folds (in the sense of Hassett) and relate it to O’Grady’s conjecture for K3 surfaces. Most notably, by using special cubic four-folds of discriminant 26, we prove O’Grady’s generalized Franchetta conjecture for $g=14$, providing the first evidence beyond Mukai models.
Rigidity of Lagrangian embeddings into symplectic tori and K3 surfaces
Authors: Entov Michael , Verbitsky Misha 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
A Kähler-type form is a symplectic form compatible with an integrable complex structure. Let $M$ be either a torus or a K3-surface equipped with a Kähler-type form. We show that the homology class of any Maslov-zero Lagrangian torus in $M$ has to be nonzero and primitive. This extends previous results of Abouzaid and Smith (for tori) and Sheridan and Smith (for K3-surfaces) who proved it for particular Kähler-type forms on $M$. In the K3 case, our proof uses dynamical properties of the action of the diffeomorphism group of $M$ on the space of the Kähler-type forms. These properties are obtained using Shah’s arithmetic version of Ratner’s orbit closure theorem.
Set Partitions, Fermions, and Skein Relations
Authors: Kim Jesse , Rhoades Brendon 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Let $\Theta _n = (\theta _1, \dots , \theta _n)$ and $\Xi _n = (\xi _1, \dots , \xi _n)$ be two lists of $n$ variables, and consider the diagonal action of ${{\mathfrak {S}}}_n$ on the exterior algebra $\wedge \{ \Theta _n, \Xi _n \}$ generated by these variables. Jongwon Kim and the 2nd author defined and studied the fermionic diagonal coinvariant ring$FDR_n$ obtained from $\wedge \{ \Theta _n, \Xi _n \}$ by modding out by the ideal generated by the ${{\mathfrak {S}}}_n$-invariants with vanishing constant term. On the other hand, the 2nd author described an action of ${{\mathfrak {S}}}_n$ on the vector space with basis given by noncrossing set partitions of $\{1,\dots ,n\}$ using a novel family of skein relations that resolve crossings in set partitions. We give an isomorphism between a natural Catalan-dimensional submodule of $FDR_n$ and the skein representation. To do this, we show that set partition skein relations arise naturally in the context of exterior algebras. Our approach yields an ${{\mathfrak {S}}}_n$-equivariant way to resolve crossings in set partitions. We use fermions to clarify, sharpen, and extend the theory of set partition crossing resolution.
Mortality Associated With Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Bronchiolitis, and Influenza Among Infants in the United States: A Birth Cohort Study From 1999 to 2018
Authors: Reichert Heidi , Suh Mina , Jiang Xiaohui , Movva Naimisha , Bylsma Lauren C , Fryzek Jon P , Nelson Christopher B 
Published: April 2022

Abstract

Background
Infant mortality due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the United States is not well understood.

Methods
From 1999 to 2018, RSV, bronchiolitis, and influenza deaths were described for infants &lt;1 year using linked birth/death datasets from the National Vital Statistics System. Mortality was described overall and by infant birth and death characteristics. Bronchiolitis was included as the plausible upper limit of RSV, while influenza served as a comparator.

Results
Total infant deaths were 561 RSV, 1603 bronchiolitis, and 504 influenza, and rates were 6.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.4–7.5), 19.8 (95% CI, 18.9–20.8), and 6.2 (95% CI, 5.7–6.8) per 1 000 000 live births, respectively. The highest RSV rates were observed among &lt;29 weeks’ gestational age infants (103.5; 95% CI, 81.8–129.1), American Indian/Alaskan Native (20.3; 95% CI, 11.6–33.0), and Medicaid-insured (7.3; 95% CI, 5.9–8.9). However, RSV mortality burden was greatest in full-term (53.7%), white (44.9%), and Medicaid-insured (61.7%) infants. Deaths outside the inpatient setting were 21% and 54% for RSV and bronchiolitis; more Medicaid- (58%) and other/unknown-insured (69%) infants with bronchiolitis died outside of the inpatient setting, compared to privately insured infants (48%) (P = .0327).

Conclusions
These national estimates emphasize the importance of considering all infants across all healthcare settings when describing RSV mortality.
Breakthrough Gastrointestinal COVID-19 and Intrahost Evolution Consequent to Combination Monoclonal Antibody Prophylaxis
Authors: Beddingfield Brandon J , Rowe Lori A , Russell-Lodrigue Kasi E , Doyle-Meyers Lara A , Golden Nadia , Spencer Skye , Chirichella Nicole , Blair Robert V , Maness Nicholas J , Roy Chad J 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Breakthrough gastrointestinal COVID-19 was observed after experimental SARS-CoV-2 upper mucosal infection in a rhesus macaque undergoing low-dose monoclonal antibody prophylaxis. High levels of viral RNA were detected in intestinal sites contrasting with minimal viral replication in upper respiratory mucosa. Sequencing of virus recovered from tissue in 3 gastrointestinal sites and rectal swab revealed loss of furin cleavage site deletions present in the inoculating virus stock and 2 amino acid changes in spike that were detected in 2 colon sites but not elsewhere, suggesting compartmentalized replication and intestinal viral evolution. This suggests suboptimal antiviral therapies promote viral sequestration in these anatomies.