bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fabrication and characterization of co-electrospun cellulose/poly (4-methyl-1-pentene) nanofibers with improved tensile properties
Authors: Narejo Abdul Rahim , Qureshi Raja Fahad , Almas Rabia , Memon Sanam Irum , Mahar Faraz Khan , Syed Noureen , Ahmed Farooq , Khatri Zeeshan 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
In this study, cellulose acetate and poly (4-methyl-1-pentene) (CA/PMP) nanofibers were co-electrospun with a blending ratio of 1:1 and followed by deacetylation treatment to produce cellulose/PMP nanofibers. The physical morphology of nanofibers was characterized by SEM which reveals even and bead-less morphology of nanofibers with an average diameter of 650 nm. FTIR study confirmed the removal of acetyl groups after deacetylation, and x-ray diffraction analysis was performed to analyze the crystalline nature of nanofibers. The calculated crystallinity and crystal size of CA/PMP nanofibers are 82% and 34 Å. The tensile strength study revealed that the combination of both CA and PMP nanofibers with the blending ratio of 1:1 has improved the tensile strength of composite nanofibers. Further, the deacetylation process has also increased the tensile strength. The obtained tensile strength and Young’s modulus are 6.9 MPa and 195 MPa for cellulose/PMP nanofibers which could be a value addition in cellulose-based membranes.
Polarons in spinless metals—a variational solution
Authors: Berciu M 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
We propose a simple variational solution for calculating one-particle spectral functions in lattice models of spinless metals with strong electron-phonon coupling. It is based on a generalization of the Momentum Average variational approximation for single polarons, combined with the assumption that the other fermions in the system are locked into an inert Fermi sea. We expect the method to be accurate for fermion addition spectral functions in metals with a small Fermi energy (nearly empty band), and for fermion removal spectral functions in metals with a large Fermi energy (nearly full band), provided that the characteristic phonon frequency is not too small. Both these regions are far from the region where the Migdal theorem holds, thus our results offer new insights into polaronic behavior in a largely unexplored part of the parameter space. Here, we show results for the Holstein coupling in one-dimension and present ways to gauge their accuracy, but ultimately this will need to be verified against numerical calculations. This variational method can be extended straightforwardly to higher dimensions and other forms of electron-phonon coupling.
Design of a Hall effect sensor controlled brittle star inspired composite robotic limb
Authors: Mack Jonah , Alam Parvez 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThis paper elucidates a method of actuation and feedback for hard-soft composite continuum pentapod appendages to enable both kinematic accuracy and gait. A feedback mechanism based on Hall effect sensors is integrated within a hard exterior/soft interior composite robotic limb, which is unaffected by actuator slippage, and provides accurate (sub 2°) end point measurements. The proposed method for actuation uses two actuators to control a full semi-spherical range of motion, an improvement to the use of three actuators more commonly reported in the literature. When applied to enable the gait of a complete brittle star inspired pentapod, we find that our design reaches a momentum of 0.52kg·ms−1, surpassing the momentum of previously reported untethered starfish inspired pentapods by 3.7 times.
Multiple exposure distributed lag models with variable selection
Authors: Antonelli Joseph , Wilson Ander , Coull Brent A 
Published: September 2022

Summary
Distributed lag models are useful in environmental epidemiology as they allow the user to investigate critical windows of exposure, defined as the time periods during which exposure to a pollutant adversely affects health outcomes. Recent studies have focused on estimating the health effects of a large number of environmental exposures, or an environmental mixture, on health outcomes. In such settings, it is important to understand which environmental exposures affect a particular outcome, while acknowledging the possibility that different exposures have different critical windows. Further, in studies of environmental mixtures, it is important to identify interactions among exposures and to account for the fact that this interaction may occur between two exposures having different critical windows. Exposure to one exposure early in time could cause an individual to be more or less susceptible to another exposure later in time. We propose a Bayesian model to estimate the temporal effects of a large number of exposures on an outcome. We use spike-and-slab priors and semiparametric distributed lag curves to identify important exposures and exposure interactions and discuss extensions with improved power to detect harmful exposures. We then apply these methods to estimate the effects of exposure to multiple air pollutants during pregnancy on birthweight from vital records in Colorado.
Same-Day Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation as a Predictor of Loss to Follow-up and Viral Suppression Among People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Ross Jonathan , Brazier Ellen , Fatti Geoffrey , Jaquet Antoine , Tanon Aristophane , Haas Andreas D , Diero Lameck , Castelnuovo Barbara , Yiannoutsos Constantin T , Nash Denis , Anastos Kathryn M , Yotebieng Marcel 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Background
Treat-All guidelines recommend initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all people with HIV (PWH) on the day of diagnosis when possible, yet uncertainty exists about the impact of same-day ART initiation on subsequent care engagement. We examined the association of same-day ART initiation with loss to follow-up and viral suppression among patients in 11 sub-Saharan African countries.

Methods
We included ART-naive adult PWH from sites participating in the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) consortium who enrolled in care after Treat-All implementation and prior to January 2019. We used multivariable Cox regression to estimate the association between same-day ART initiation and loss to follow-up and Poisson regression to estimate the association between same-day ART initiation and 6-month viral suppression.

Results
Among 29 017 patients from 63 sites, 18 584 (64.0%) initiated ART on the day of enrollment. Same-day ART initiation was less likely among those with advanced HIV disease versus early-stage disease. Loss to follow-up was significantly lower among those initiating ART ≥1 day of enrollment, compared with same-day ART initiators (20.6% vs 27.7%; adjusted hazard ratio: .66; 95% CI .57–.76). No difference in viral suppression was observed by time to ART initiation (adjusted rate ratio: 1.00; 95% CI: .98–1.02).

Conclusions
Patients initiating ART on the day of enrollment were more frequently lost to follow-up than those initiating later but were equally likely to be virally suppressed. Our findings support recent World Health Organization recommendations for providing tailored counseling and support to patients who accept an offer of same-day ART.
Functional Medicine Approach to Patient Care Improves Sleep, Fatigue, and Quality of Life in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Strobel Thomas M , Nguyen Christine , Riggs Taylor , Horst Sarah N , Motley Amy , Upadhyaya Spencer , Campbell Sarah , Spring Emily , Dalal Robin L , Scoville Elizabeth , Pabla Baldeep , Schwartz David A , Beaulieu Dawn B 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Background
A Functional Medicine program was developed at an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) center with the goal of integrating strategies to address modifiable lifestyle factors and to complete a 6-week elimination diet under the direction of a trained Functional Medicine dietitian and Functional Medicine providers.

Methods
From January 2019 to November 2019, patients with controlled, but persistent, symptoms from IBD were offered enrollment. Each of the 5 visits incorporated an educational session focused on nutrition followed by a session focusing on modifiable lifestyle factors. The patients were placed on a supervised 6-week elimination diet. At each visit, patients completed the SIBDQ (Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire), FSS (Fatigue Severity Scale), PSQI (The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and MSQ (Medical Symptoms Questionnaire). Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon matched pairs signed-rank test.

Results
Nineteen patients enrolled (2 men: 1 ulcerative colitis [UC], 1 Crohn’s disease [CD]; 17 women: 3 UC, 14 CD). 15 patients completed all modules. There was improvement in all patient-reported outcomes (PROs) (FSS, P &lt; .001; PSQI, P &lt; .001; SIBDQ, P &lt; .001; MSQ, P &lt; .001). Every patient who completed the last session demonstrated weight loss.

Conclusions
The psychoemotional roots to immune disease states, particularly IBD, are complicated and often not addressed in traditional care. We are just beginning to understand the impact of nutrition, sleep, stress, movement, and relationships on IBD. In this cohort, utilizing Functional Medicine as an adjunct to traditional care resulted in improvement in all PROs.
Searching of Underground Host Patches by a Pupal Parasitoid
Authors: Okuyama Toshinori 
Published: September 2022

AbstractWhen hosts are distributed in discrete patches, ways in which parasitoids search and move between patches affect variability in parasitism risk among hosts and host–parasitoid population dynamics. This study examined the patch searching behavior of the solitary pupal parasitoid Dirhinus giffardii (Silvestri) (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) on its host Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) which pupates underground. In a series of two laboratory experiments, host patches were created by burying pupae in peat moss, and the foraging behavior of the parasitoid was recorded. If D. giffardii can detect underground patches, the parasitoid would preferentially exploit high quality patches where the quality of a patch is represented by the number of unparasitized hosts in the patch. The first experiment investigated the effect of patch size (i.e., number of hosts) and host status (whether hosts are parasitized or unparasitized) on patch searching behavior. Results showed parasitoids were more likely to exploit a large patch than a small patch regardless of host status. The second experiment examined the effect of relative locations of patches by establishing three patches (one large patch and two small patches with unequal inter-patch distances from the large patch). The probability of parasitism was lower for the small patch close to the large patch than the small patch far from the large patch. The parasitism patterns described in the experiments have important implications on the distribution of parasitism risk among hosts and population dynamics.
Effects produced by the facemask with and without skeletal anchorage for the orthopaedic treatment of Class III malocclusion in growing patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs
Authors: Rutili Valentina , Nieri Michele , Franceschi Debora , Pierleoni Felicita , Giuntini Veronica , Franchi Lorenzo 
Published: September 2022

SummaryBackgroundSkeletally anchored facemask has been proposed to maximize skeletal effects and minimize dental effects in the treatment of Class III malocclusion in growing patients.ObjectiveTo compare the dento-skeletal effects produced by the facemask with or without skeletal anchorage for the treatment of Class III malocclusion in growing patients.Materials and methodsPubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and OpenGrey were used for the electronic search without language, publication status, and year restrictions. Only RCTs were included. Inclusion criteria were: growing patients (age under 18 years) with Class III malocclusion, with indications for treatment with the facemask. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers. GRADE statement was executed. The mean of differences (MD) and the risk ratio (RR) were used.ResultsThree articles with a total of 123 patients were included. One article was at low risk of bias while two were at high risk of bias. There were no significant differences between the two groups in ANB angle, Wits appraisal, SNB angle, and SN-MP angle. SNA angle was significantly increased in the skeletally anchored facemask (pooled MD = 0.80 favouring skeletal anchorage, 95% CI from 0.29 to 1.31, P = 0.002, I2 = 12 per cent, three studies, GRADE moderate). The U1-SN angle was significantly reduced in the skeletally anchored facemask (pooled MD = −5.91 favouring skeletal anchorage, 95% CI from −7.64 to −4.27, P &lt; 0.00001, I2 = 0 per cent, two studies, GRADE moderate). There were significantly less complications in tooth-anchored facemask (pooled RR = 7.98 favouring dental anchorage, 95 per cent CI from 1.04 to 61.27, P = 0.05, I2 = 0 per cent, two studies, GRADE low).LimitationsFew RCTs (three) were included, and two studies were at high risk of bias. There were no long-term RCTs comparing skeletally anchored facemask with dental-anchored facemask. Only Asiatic patients were included in this systematic review.ConclusionsSkeletally anchored facemask was associated to a greater increase of SNA angle at the end of treatment though clinically not significant. Facemask with skeletal anchorage determined a reduced inclination of maxillary incisors compared to dental-anchored facemask with greater risks of complications.RegistrationPROSPERO register (CRD42020221982).
The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on air pollution in Europe and North America: a systematic review
Authors: Bakola Maria , Hernandez Carballo Ireri , Jelastopulu Eleni , Stuckler David 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Background
Multiple studies report reductions in air pollution associated with COVID-19 lockdowns.

Methods
We performed a systematic review of the changes observed in hazardous air pollutants known or suspected to be harmful to health, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3) and particulate matter (PM). We searched PubMed and Web of Science for studies reporting the associations of lockdowns with air pollutant changes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe and North America.

Results
One hundred nine studies were identified and analyzed. Several pollutants exhibited marked and sustained reductions. The strongest was NO2 (93% of 89 estimated changes were reductions) followed by CO (88% of 33 estimated pollutant changes). All NOx and benzene studies reported significant reductions although these were based on fewer than 10 estimates. About three-quarters of PM2.5 and PM10 estimates showed reductions and few studies reported increases when domestic fuel use rose during COVID-19 lockdowns. In contrast, O3 levels rose as NOx levels fell. SO2 and ammonia (NH3) had mixed results. In general, greater reductions appeared when lockdowns were more severe, as well as where baseline pollutant levels were higher, such as at low-elevation and in densely populated areas. Substantial and robust reductions in NO2, NO, CO, CO2, PM2.5, PM10, benzene and air quality index pollution occurred in association with COVID-19 lockdowns. O3 levels tended to increase, while SO2 and NH3 had mixed patterns.

Conclusions
Our study shows the profound impact of human activity levels on air pollution and its potential avoidability.
Microbial communities of stratified aquatic ecosystems of Kandalaksha Bay (White Sea) shed light on the evolutionary history of green and brown morphotypes ofChlorobiota
Authors: Grouzdev Denis , Gaisin Vasil , Lunina Olga , Krutkina Maria , Krasnova Elena , Voronov Dmitry , Baslerov Roman , Sigalevich Pavel , Savvichev Alexander , Gorlenko Vladimir 
Published: September 2022

AbstractAnoxygenic photoautotrophic metabolism of green sulfur bacteria of the family Chlorobiaceae played a significant role in establishing the Earth's biosphere. Two known major ecological forms of these phototrophs differ in their pigment composition and, therefore, in color: the green and brown forms. The latter form often occurs in low-light environments and is specialized to harvest blue light, which can penetrate to the greatest depth in the water column. In the present work, metagenomic sequencing was used to investigate the natural population of brown Chl. phaeovibrioides ZM in a marine stratified Zeleny Mys lagoon in the Kandalaksha Bay (the White Sea) to supplement the previously obtained genomes of brown Chlorobiaceae. The genomes of brown and green Chlorobiaceae were investigated using comparative genome analysis and phylogenetic and reconciliation analysis to reconstruct the evolution of these ecological forms. Our results support the suggestion that the last common ancestor of Chlorobiaceae belonged to the brown form, i.e. it was adapted to the conditions of low illumination. However, despite the vertical inheritance of these characteristics, among modern Chlorobiaceae populations, the genes responsible for synthesizing the pigments of the brown form are subject to active horizontal transfer.
Differential vaccine-induced kinetics of humoral and cellular immune responses in SARS-CoV-2 naive and convalescent health care workers
Authors: Smit Wouter , Thijsen Steven , van der Kieft Robert , van Tol Sophie , Reimerink Johan , Reusken Chantal , Rümke Lidewij , Bossink Ailko , Limonard Gijs , Heron Michiel 
Published: September 2022

ABSTRACT
Effective vaccination is a key element in the exit strategy from the current severe acute respiratory syndrome—CoV coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, and may also offer protection against severe disease from future variants of concern. Here, we prospectively monitored T-cell responses over time, using ELISpot interferon-γ (INF-y) release assays, and B-cell responses, using serological tests, after vaccination and booster with BioNTech/Pfizer mRNA (Pfizer) and Janssen vector (Janssen/Johnson & Johnson) vaccines in hospital health care workers. Vaccine recipients were divided into seropositive and seronegative individuals at baseline, in order to determine the effect of natural immunity on vaccine-induced immune kinetics. We found that convalescent individuals mounted higher spike-specific INF-y-secreting T-cell responses and B-cell-mediated IgG responses, after receiving the Janssen vaccine or the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. IgG levels corresponded to the virus neutralization capacity as measured by VNT assay. At 8 months postvaccination, spike-specific cellular immunity waned to low levels in individuals with or without prior natural immunity, whereas waning of humoral immunity occurred predominantly in naive individuals. The booster shot effectively reinduced both cellular and humoral immune responses. To conclude, our data supports the implemented single-dose mRNA booster strategy employed in the Netherlands. Furthermore, the level of pre-existing natural immunity may be factored into determining the optimal time window between future booster vaccines.
Evolution of Bacterial Interspecies Hybrids with Enlarged Chromosomes
Authors: Bartke Katrin , Huseby Douglas L , Brandis Gerrit , Hughes Diarmaid 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Conjugation driven by a chromosomally integrated F-plasmid (high frequency of recombination strain) can create bacteria with hybrid chromosomes. Previous studies of interspecies hybrids have focused on hybrids in which a region of donor chromosome replaces an orthologous region of recipient chromosome leaving chromosome size unchanged. Very little is known about hybrids with enlarged chromosomes, the mechanisms of their creation, or their subsequent trajectories of adaptative evolution. We addressed this by selecting 11 interspecies hybrids between Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium in which genome size was enlarged. In three cases, this occurred by the creation of an F′-plasmid while in the remaining eight, it was due to recombination of donor DNA into the recipient chromosome. Chromosome length increased by up to 33% and was associated in most cases with reduced growth fitness. Two hybrids, in which chromosome length was increased by the addition of 0.97 and 1.3 Mb, respectively, were evolved to study genetic pathways of fitness cost amelioration. In each case, relative fitness rapidly approached one and this was associated with large deletions involving recombination between repetitive DNA sequences. The locations of these repetitive sequences played a major role in determining the architecture of the evolved genotypes. Notably, in ten out of ten independent evolution experiments, deletions removed DNA of both species, creating high-fitness strains with hybrid chromosomes. In conclusion, we found that enlargement of a bacterial chromosome by acquisition of diverged orthologous DNA is followed by a period of rapid evolutionary adjustment frequently creating irreversibly hybrid chromosomes.
Bayesian analysis of azimuthal anisotropy in the Alpine lithosphere from beamforming of ambient noise cross-correlations
Authors: Soergel Dorian , Pedersen Helle A , Bodin Thomas , Paul Anne , Stehly Laurent ,   AlpArray Working Group, Hetényi Görgy , Abreu Rafael , Allegretti Ivo , Apoloner Maria-Theresia , Aubert Coralie , Bes De Berc Maxime , Bokelmann Götz , Brunel Didier , Capello Marco , Cǎrman Martina , Cavaliere Adriano , Chèze Jérôme , Chiarabba Claudio , Clinton John , Cougoulat Glenn , Crawford Wayne , Cristiano Luigia , Czifra Tibor , D’Alema Ezio , Danesi Stefania , Daniel Romuald , Dasović Iva , Deschamps Anne , Dessa Jean-Xavier , Doubre Cécile , Egdorf Sven 
Published: September 2022

SUMMARY
Surface waves extracted from ambient noise cross-correlations can be used to study depth variations of azimuthal anisotropy in the crust and upper mantle, complementing XKS splitting observations. In this work, we propose a novel approach based on beamforming to estimate azimuthal anisotropy of Rayleigh wave phase velocities extracted from ambient noise cross-correlations. This allows us to identify and remove measurements biased by wave front deformation due to 3-D heterogeneities, and to properly estimate uncertainties associated with observed phase velocities. In a second step, phase velocities measured at different periods can be inverted at depth with a transdimensional Bayesian algorithm where the presence or absence of anisotropy at different depths is a free variable. This yields a comprehensive probabilistic solution that can be exploited in different ways, in particular by projecting it onto a lower dimensional space, appropriate for interpretation. For example, we show the probability distribution of the integrated anisotropy over a given depth range (e.g. upper crust, lower crust). We apply this approach to recent data acquired across the AlpArray network and surrounding permanent stations. We show that only the upper crust has a large-scale coherent azimuthal anisotropy at the scale of the Alps with fast axis directions parallel to the Alpine arc, while such large-scale patterns are absent in the lower crust and uppermost mantle. This suggests that the recent Alpine history has only overridden the anisotropic signature in the upper crust, and that the deeper layers carry the imprint of older processes. In the uppermost mantle, fast directions of anisotropy are oriented broadly north–south, which is different from results from XKS-splitting measurements or long-period surface waves. Our results therefore suggest that XKS observations are related to deeper layers, the asthenosphere and/or subduction slabs. The area northwest of the Alps shows strong anisotropy in the lower crust and uppermost mantle with a fast axis in the northeast direction that could be related to Variscan deformation.