bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Examining drivers of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers
Authors: Swann Mandy C. , Bendetson Jesse , Johnson Alexis , Jatta Maimuna , Schleupner Charles J. , Baffoe-Bonnie Anthony 
Published: February 2022

AbstractObjective:To assess characteristics and perceptions associated with vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers to increase coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine uptake in this population.Design:Cross-sectional quantitative survey.Setting:A not-for-profit healthcare system in southwestern Virginia.Participants:A convenience sample of 2,720 employees of a not-for-profit healthcare system.Methods:Between March 15 and 29, 2021, we conducted an Internet-based survey. Our questionnaire assessed sociodemographic and work-related characteristics, vaccine experience and intentions, agreement with vaccine-related perceptions, the most important reasons for getting or not getting vaccinated, and trusted sources of information about COVID-19. We used χ2analyses to assess the relationship between vaccine hesitancy and both HCW characteristics and vaccine-related perceptions.Results:Overall, 18% of respondents were classified as vaccine hesitant. Characteristics significantly associated with hesitancy included Black race, younger age, not having a high-risk household member, and prior personal experience with COVID-19 illness. Vaccine hesitancy was also significantly associated with many vaccine-related perceptions, including concerns about short-term and long-term side effects and a belief that the vaccines are not effective. Among vaccine-acceptant participants, wanting to protect others and wanting to help end the pandemic were the most common reasons for getting vaccinated. Personal physicians were cited most frequently as trusted sources of information about COVID-19 among both vaccine-hesitant and vaccine-acceptant respondents.Conclusions:Educational interventions to decrease vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers should focus on alleviating safety concerns, emphasizing vaccine efficacy, and appealing to a sense of duty. Such interventions should target younger adult audiences. Personal physicians may also be an effective avenue for reducing hesitancy among their patients through patient-centered discussions.
The improvement of parturition duration by high intake of dietary fibre in late gestation is associated with gut microbiota and metabolome in sows
Authors: Liu Yang , Jiang Pingping , Chen Nan , Jiang Yannan , Zhang Ruinan , Fang Zhengfeng , Lin Yan , Xu Shengyu , Feng Bin , Zhuo Yong , Wu De , Theil Peter Kappel , Che Lianqiang 
Published: February 2022

AbstractProlonged parturition duration has been widely demonstrated to be a risk factor for incidence of stillbirth. This study evaluated the supply of dietary fibre on the parturition duration, gut microbiota and metabolome using sows as a model. A total of 40 Yorkshire sows were randomly given diet containing normal level of dietary fibre (NDF, 17·5 % dietary fibre) or high level of dietary fibre (HDF, 33·5 % dietary fibre). Faecal microbiota profiled with 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, SCFA and metabolome in the faeces and plasma around parturition were compared between the dietary groups. Correlation analysis was conducted to further explore the potential associations between specific bacterial taxa and metabolites. Results showed that HDF diet significantly improved the parturition process as presented by the shorter parturition duration. HDF diet increased the abundance of the phyla Bacteroidetes and Synergistetes and multiple genera. Except for butyrate, SCFA levels in the faeces and plasma of sows at parturition were elevated in HDF group. The abundances of fifteen and twelve metabolites in the faeces and plasma, respectively, markedly differ between HDF and NDF sows. These metabolites are involved in energy metabolism and bacterial metabolism. Correlation analysis also showed associations between specific bacteria taxa and metabolites. Collectively, our study indicates that the improvement of parturition duration by high fibre intake in late gestation is associated with gut microbiota, production of SCFA and other metabolites, potentially serving for energy metabolism.
Perception of animal welfare and its certification system by Brazilian consumers and dairy farmers
Authors: Comin Vinicius Cardoso , Karsburg Helena Fagundes , Souza Bruna Maria Salotti de , Almeida Henrique Meiroz de Souza , Neira Ligia Maria , Rossi Gabriel Augusto Marques 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe practices adopted in dairy farms can positively or negatively affect the perception of consumers. To meet consumer expectations and improve the productivity of dairy farms, a welfare certification system has recently been initiated in Brazil. In this research communication we describe the perceptions of Brazilian consumers and farmers regarding the implementation of welfare certification systems and the most common practices that affect animal welfare on dairy farms. For this purpose, two semi-structured questionnaires were used: one applied to 409 consumers and the other to 158 dairy farmers. The results demonstrate that consumers are concerned with the adoption of welfare practices in animal husbandry at dairy farms, mainly on topics related to movement restriction and cow-calf separation. Thus, the majority of consumers state that they are willing to pay more for welfare-certified dairy products. In addition, most dairy farmers are interested in adopting a welfare certification system, especially if it could add value to the raw milk sold to industries. Veterinarians and animal scientists are important for disseminating animal welfare recommendations, and the consequences of its improper adoption need to be emphasized. Finally, dairy farms need improvements regarding environmental hygiene, thermal conditions, animal husbandry, health, and milking processes. In conclusion, consumers and farmers are interested in welfare systems and their certification, and there is a need for stakeholders to make welfare certification a reality in the Brazilian dairy supply chain.
Impact of parasitic infection on mental health and illness in humans in Africa: a systematic review
Authors: Lampard-Scotford Alexandra R. , McCauley Angela , Kuebel Julius Arthur , Ibbott Rachel , Mutapi Francisca 
Published: February 2022

AbstractA growing body of research implicates inflammation as a potential pathway in the aetiology and pathophysiology of some mental illnesses. A systematic review was conducted to determine the association between parasitic infection and mental illnesses in humans in Africa and reviewed the state of the evidence available. The search focused on publications from Africa documenting the relationship between parasites from two parasite groups, helminths and protozoans, and four classifications of mental illness: mood affective disorders, neurotic and stress-related disorders, schizotypal disorders and unspecified mental illnesses. In the 26 reviewed papers, the prevalence of mental illness was significantly higher in people with parasitic infection compared to those without infection, i.e., 58.2% vs 41.8% (P < 0.001). An overall odds ratio found that the association of having a mental illness when testing positive for a parasitic infection was four times that of people without infection. Whilst the study showed significant associations between parasite infection and mental illness, it also highlights gaps in the present literature on the pathophysiology of mental illness in people exposed to parasite infection. This study highlighted the importance of an integrated intervention for parasitic infection and mental illness.
Design of a customized humanoid robot with coevolution of body morphology and its locomotion
Authors: Zhang Jiwen , Shi Xunlei , Fu Chenglong , Liu Li , Chen Ken 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAn important goal for humanoid robots is to achieve fast, flexible and stable walking. In previous research, the structure and walking algorithms evolved separately, resulting in a slow evolution speed and lack of an initial design basis. This paper proposes comprehensively considering body morphology and walking patterns, exploring the relationship between them and their influence on the motion ability. The method parameterizes the body morphology and walking patterns. Then a response surface model is established to describe the complex relationship between these parameters and finally obtain the optimized parameters, which provides a reference for the structural design and gait generation.
The prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in Bangladesh: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Banik Sujan , Datta Anamika , Ghosh Antara , Ghosh Kanak Yadab , Debi Hoimonti 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Despite the availability of an effective vaccine, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major public health problems worldwide, mostly in developing countries. This systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to estimate the pooled prevalence of HBV infection in Bangladesh. We systematically searched various electronic databases to retrieve relevant studies published until April 2021. A total of 15 studies were met the inclusion criteria and included in the meta-analysis. The pooled estimated prevalence of HBV infection in the general population of Bangladesh from 1995 to 2017 was 4.0% [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.0–5.1]. The results of subgroup analysis revealed that the prevalence of hepatitis B was higher in females than males [odds ratio (OR) 1.20, 95% CI 0.48–2.97, P = 0.70], people of age <25 years had a higher prevalence than people of age >25 years (OR 1.25, 95% CI 0.72–2.17, P = 0.42) and married people had a higher prevalence than unmarried/single people (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.51–3.10, P < 0.0001). The Egger's test statistics (P = 0.584), Begg and Mazumdar's rank correlation test (P = 0.054) indicated the absence of publication bias. This study analysis reported a low intermediate prevalence of HBV infection (4%) in Bangladesh, which is currently higher than the global prevalence of HBV infection (3.5%).
Investigating seasonal patterns in enteric infections: a systematic review of time series methods
Authors: Simpson Ryan B. , Kulinkina Alexandra V. , Naumova Elena N. 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Foodborne and waterborne gastrointestinal infections and their associated outbreaks are preventable, yet still result in significant morbidity, mortality and revenue loss. Many enteric infections demonstrate seasonality, or annual systematic periodic fluctuations in incidence, associated with climatic and environmental factors. Public health professionals use statistical methods and time series models to describe, compare, explain and predict seasonal patterns. However, descriptions and estimates of seasonal features, such as peak timing, depend on how researchers define seasonality for research purposes and how they apply time series methods. In this review, we outline the advantages and limitations of common methods for estimating seasonal peak timing. We provide recommendations improving reporting requirements for disease surveillance systems. Greater attention to how seasonality is defined, modelled, interpreted and reported is necessary to promote reproducible research and strengthen proactive and targeted public health policies, intervention strategies and preparedness plans to dampen the intensity and impacts of seasonal illnesses.
The effects of MALL training on preservice and in-service EFL teachers’ perceptions and use of mobile technology
Authors: Hafour Marwa F. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractOwing to the anytime-anywhere-anyhow nature of mobile learning, together with the ubiquity of affordably priced mobile phones, learning has become a mobigital practice, as termed by Şad and Göktaş (2014). Consequently, language teaching/learning is gradually shifting from computer-assisted language learning to mobile-assisted language learning (MALL). In response, the current study examined the impact of MALL training on preservice and in-service EFL teachers’ perceptions and use of mobile technology (MT). For this purpose, two groups of preservice (N = 33) and in-service (N = 31) EFL teachers were randomly selected and exposed to MALL training. The pretest-posttest experimental mixed-methods design was used as a framework for collecting and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data (using closed- and open-ended-question surveys). Quantitative results revealed that both preservice and in-service teachers had similar perceptions of MT before and after training. The only exception is that, after training, in-service teachers were more interested in MT than preservice teachers. However, both groups demonstrated an overall (and subfactor) improvement in their perceptions after MT training, except for their perceived ease of use. In-service teachers’ use also improved after training and, due to the yielded positive correlation, their perceptions were a significant predictor of use. Qualitative findings showed that in-service teachers used MT more in listening and speaking (for synchronous communication) than in reading and writing, selecting social media and translation apps as the least useful ones. Moreover, they regarded technical and digital literacy problems as the ones most challenging to the use of MT.
Rainfall shocks and fertilizer use: a district level study of India
Authors: Bora Kaushik 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIn the context of climate change and increasing occurrences of extreme events, it is essential to understand farmers' responses to weather shocks and adaptations. This paper uses a panel dataset of 311 selected Indian districts ranging from 1966 to 2009 to investigate how application of chemical fertilizers varies in response to rainfall shocks. Two rainfall shock measures are constructed based on deviation in rainfall from the normal, a categorical measure of rainfall shock; and another, a continuous index of negative rainfall deviation. Based on a panel fixed effect regression, the study finds no apparent reduction in the level of fertilizer use in negative rainfall shock years. However, with a one-year lagged rainfall shock, a reduction in fertilizer application rate is observed for the continuous drought index. Further, exposure to higher intensity droughts in the previous year leads to an increase in the amount of fertilizer application in the current year.
Asia’s oceanic Anthropocene: How political elites and global offshore oil development moved Asian marine spaces into the new epoch
Authors: Huebner Stefan 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe Anthropocene epoch, characterized by human-caused planetary-scale transformations like climate change and ocean acidification, today is usually associated with the period beginning in the mid-twentieth century. Taking an oceanic perspective on the Anthropocene in Asia, the article argues that oceanic and terrestrial energy regimes synchronized since the 1950s when, for the first time in history, oceanic ghost acres turned marine spaces into a major fuel source. Despite global connections between offshore oil regions located in North America, Asia, and other places going back to the late nineteenth century, Asia’s contingent offshore oil field locations and their physical geographies, combined with political factors, inhibited large-scale offshore drilling before the 1950s. These characteristics of marine spaces meant that Asian political elites and their developmentalist agendas became the guiding force in exploring offshore fields, a process that was hardly dominated by corporate capitalism or structural choice limitations due to the legacies of colonialism.
Why IR scholars should care about quantum theory, part II: critics in the PITs
Authors: Wendt Alexander 
Published: February 2022

AbstractPart II responds to some of my critics' substantive concerns about QMASS. However, to sharpen that discussion I first introduce the idea of classical and quantum physical instantiation tests or ‘PITs’. PITs are a thought experiment taking advantage of the causal closure of physics. To encourage critical self-reflection on the usually tacit ontological assumptions of our theories, PITs invite social scientists to translate their mostly qualitative, folk psychological arguments into physical descriptions, meeting classical and quantum constraints respectively, to see which feels more appropriate to the case at hand. With this diagnostic tool in hand, the paper addresses criticisms of QMASS in five areas: (1) the threat of physics reductionism; (2) the potential for epistemic repression stemming from the realist nature of QMASS’ argument; (3) doubts that a quantum approach can support a genuine notion of human freedom; (4) the place of ethics and normativity in social and international life; and (5) implications for graduate methods training and quantum pedagogy more generally.
High-resolution fabrication of nanopatterns by multistep iterative miniaturization of hot-embossed prestressed polymer films and constrained shrinking
Authors: Sayed Shady , Selvaganapathy P. Ravi 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe fabrication of nanostructures and nanopatterns is of crucial importance in microelectronics, nanofluidics, and the manufacture of biomedical devices and biosensors. However, the creation of nanopatterns by means of conventional nanofabrication techniques such as electron beam lithography is expensive and time-consuming. Here, we develop a multistep miniaturization approach using prestressed polymer films to generate nanopatterns from microscale patterns without the need of complex nanolithography methods. Prestressed polymer films have been used as a miniaturization technique to fabricate features with a smaller size than the initial imprinted features. However, the height of the imprinted features is significantly reduced after the thermal shrinking of the prestressed films due to the shape memory effect of the polymer, and as a result, the topographical features tend to disappear after shrinking. We have developed a miniaturization approach that controls the material flow and maintains the shrunken patterns by applying mechanical constraints during the shrinking process. The combination of hot embossing and constrained shrinking makes it possible to reduce the size of the initial imprinted features even to the nanoscale. The developed multistep miniaturization approach allows using the shrunken pattern as a master for a subsequent miniaturization cycle. Well-defined patterns as small as 100 nm are fabricated, showing a 10-fold reduction in size from the original master. The developed approach also allows the transfer of the shrunken polymeric patterns to a silicon substrate, which can be used as a functional substrate for many applications or directly as a master for nanoimprint lithography.
Insulinopathies of the brain? Genetic overlap between somatic insulin-related and neuropsychiatric disorders
Authors: Fanelli Giuseppe , Franke Barbara , De Witte Ward , Ruisch I. Hyun , Haavik Jan , van Gils Veerle , Jansen Willemijn J. , Vos Stephanie J. B. , Lind Lars , Buitelaar Jan K. , Banaschewski Tobias , Dalsgaard Søren , Serretti Alessandro , Mota Nina Roth , Poelmans Geert , Bralten Janita 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe prevalence of somatic insulinopathies, like metabolic syndrome (MetS), obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is higher in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Dysregulation of insulin signalling has been implicated in these neuropsychiatric disorders, and shared genetic factors might partly underlie this observed multimorbidity. We investigated the genetic overlap between AD, ASD, and OCD with MetS, obesity, and T2DM by estimating pairwise global genetic correlations using the summary statistics of the largest available genome-wide association studies for these phenotypes. Having tested these hypotheses, other potential brain “insulinopathies” were also explored by estimating the genetic relationship of six additional neuropsychiatric disorders with nine insulin-related diseases/traits. Stratified covariance analyses were then performed to investigate the contribution of insulin-related gene sets. Significant negative genetic correlations were found between OCD and MetS (rg = −0.315, p = 3.9 × 10−8), OCD and obesity (rg = −0.379, p = 3.4 × 10−5), and OCD and T2DM (rg = −0.172, p = 3 × 10−4). Significant genetic correlations with insulin-related phenotypes were also found for anorexia nervosa (AN), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia (p < 6.17 × 10−4). Stratified analyses showed negative genetic covariances between AD, ASD, OCD, ADHD, AN, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and somatic insulinopathies through gene sets related to insulin signalling and insulin receptor recycling, and positive genetic covariances between AN and T2DM, as well as ADHD and MetS through gene sets related to insulin processing/secretion (p < 2.06 × 10−4). Overall, our findings suggest the existence of two clusters of neuropsychiatric disorders, in which the genetics of insulin-related diseases/traits may exert divergent pleiotropic effects. These results represent a starting point for a new research line on “insulinopathies” of the brain.
RIPK1-RIPK3 mediates myocardial fibrosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus by impairing autophagic flux of cardiac fibroblasts
Authors: Qiao Shigang , Hong Lei , Zhu Yongming , Zha Jun , Wang An , Qiu Jia , Li Wei , Wang Chen , An Jianzhong , Zhang Huiling 
Published: February 2022

AbstractReceptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) and 3 (RIPK3) are critical regulators of programmed necrosis or necroptosis. However, the role of the RIPK1/RIPK3 signaling pathway in myocardial fibrosis and related diabetic cardiomyopathy is still unclear. We hypothesized that RIPK1/RIPK3 activation mediated myocardial fibrosis by impairing the autophagic flux. To this end, we established in vitro and in vivo models of type 2 diabetes mellitus with high glucose fat (HGF) medium and diet respectively. HGF induced myocardial fibrosis, and impaired cardiac diastolic and systolic function by activating the RIPK1/RIPK3 pathway, which increased the expression of autophagic related proteins such as LC3-II, P62 and active-cathepsin D. Inhibition of RIPK1 or RIPK3 alleviated HGF-induced death and fibrosis of cardiac fibroblasts by restoring the impaired autophagic flux. The autophagy blocker neutralized the effects of the RIPK1 inhibitor necrostatin-1 (Nec-1) and RIPK3 inhibitor GSK872 (GSK). RIPK1/RIPK3 inhibition respectively decreased the levels of RIPK3/p-RIPK3 and RIPK1/p-RIPK1. P62 forms a complex with RIPK1-RIPK3 and promotes the binding of RIPK1 and RIPK3, silencing of RIPK1 decreased the association of RIPK1 with P62 and the binding of P62 to LC3. Furthermore, inhibition of both kinases in combination with a low dose of Nec-1 and GSK in the HGF-treated fibroblasts significantly decreased cell death and fibrosis, and restored the autophagic flux. In the diabetic rat model, Nec-1 (1.65 mg/kg) treatment for 4 months markedly alleviated myocardial fibrosis, downregulated autophagic related proteins, and improved cardiac systolic and diastolic function. In conclusion, HGF induces myocardial fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction by activating the RIPK1-RIPK3 pathway and by impairing the autophagic flux, which is obviated by the pharmacological and genetic inhibition of RIPK1/RIPK3.