bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence, antifungal susceptibility and etiology of vulvovaginal candidiasis in sub–Saharan Africa: a systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression
Authors: Mushi Martha F , Olum Ronald , Bongomin Felix 
Published: July 2022

Abstract

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a commonly occurring form of mucocutaneous candidiasis in women. The aim of this study was to comprehensively investigate the prevalence, antifungal susceptibility, and etiology of VVC in sub–Saharan Africa (SSA). A search of studies was conducted in seven online databases and the reference lists of selected studies. Observational studies published between January 2000, to July 2021, that met the eligibility criteria were included. Meta-analyses with random and fixed-effects model, and subgroup analyses were performed using STATA 16.0. A total of 41 studies including 15 723 participants were included in the meta-analyses. The pooled prevalence of VVC was 33% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 28–38%, I2 = 98%, P &lt; 0.001). Pregnant women had 6% higher odds of having VVC compared to non-pregnant women Odds Ratio (OR): 1.06, 95% CI: 0.99–1.13, P = 0.107). The odds of diagnosing VVC were 40% higher in symptomatic patients than general study population (OR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.3–1.5, P &lt; 0.0001). In 17 studies, a total of 2112 isolates of Candida species were reported: 1514 (71.7%) Candida albicans, 510 (24.1%) non-albicans Candida (NAC) species and 88 (4.2%) unidentified Candida spp. Of the NAC species detected, Candida glabrata (40.9%, n = 209), Candida krusei (21.2%, n = 108), and Candida tropicalis (22.7%, n = 116) were the most common. Resistance to fluconazole in Candida albicans using disc diffusion methods ranged from 6.8% in Cameroon to 53.7% in Ethiopia. One-third of women in SSA have VVC, mainly caused by C. albicans. Data on the susceptibility of the Candida isolates to commonly used antifungal agents is limited and warrants further research.

Lay Summary
The overarching aim of this study was to comprehensively investigate the prevalence, antifungal susceptibility, and causative species of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) in sub–Saharan Africa (SSA). A detailed search of studies was conducted to retrieve eligible observational studies published ‘between’ January 1, 2000, to July 31, 2021. From the 41 selected studies including 15 723 participants, VVC was found in 33% of the participants. The chances of diagnosing VVC was 40% higher in symptomatic patients compared to the general study population. In 71.7% of the cases, C. albicans was the causative species of VVC. We conclude that about one-third of women in SSA have VVC, mainly caused by C. albicans.
Impact of massive binary star and cosmic evolution on gravitational wave observations – II. Double compact object rates and properties
Authors: Broekgaarden Floor S , Berger Edo , Stevenson Simon , Justham Stephen , Mandel Ilya , Chruślińska Martyna , van Son Lieke A C , Wagg Tom , Vigna-Gómez Alejandro , de Mink Selma E , Chattopadhyay Debatri , Neijssel Coenraad J 
Published: July 2022

ABSTRACT
Making the most of the rapidly increasing population of gravitational-wave detections of black hole (BH) and neutron star (NS) mergers requires comparing observations with population synthesis predictions. In this work, we investigate the combined impact from the key uncertainties in population synthesis modelling of the isolated binary evolution channel: the physical processes in massive binary-star evolution and the star formation history as a function of metallicity, Z, and redshift z, $\mathcal {S}(Z,z)$. Considering these uncertainties, we create 560 different publicly available model realizations and calculate the rate and distribution characteristics of detectable BHBH, BHNS, and NSNS mergers. We find that our stellar evolution and $\mathcal {S}(Z,z)$ variations can combined impact the predicted intrinsic and detectable merger rates by factors in the range 102–104. We find that BHBH rates are dominantly impacted by $\mathcal {S}(Z,z)$ variations, NSNS rates by stellar evolution variations and BHNS rates by both. We then consider the combined impact from all uncertainties considered in this work on the detectable mass distribution shapes (chirp mass, individual masses, and mass ratio). We find that the BHNS mass distributions are predominantly impacted by massive binary-star evolution changes. For BHBH and NSNS, we find that both uncertainties are important. We also find that the shape of the delay time and birth metallicity distributions are typically dominated by the choice of $\mathcal {S}(Z,z)$ for BHBH, BHNS, and NSNS. We identify several examples of robust features in the mass distributions predicted by all 560 models, such that we expect more than 95 per cent of BHBH detections to contain a BH $\gtrsim 8\, \rm {M}_{\odot }$ and have mass ratios ≲ 4. Our work demonstrates that it is essential to consider a wide range of allowed models to study double compact object merger rates and properties. Conversely, larger observed samples could allow us to decipher currently unconstrained stages of stellar and binary evolution.
Antenna beam characterization for the global 21-cm experiment LEDA and its impact on signal model parameter reconstruction
Authors: Spinelli M , Kyriakou G , Bernardi G , Bolli P , Greenhill L J , Fialkov A , Garsden H 
Published: July 2022

ABSTRACT
Cosmic dawn, the onset of star formation in the early universe, can in principle be studied via the 21-cm transition of neutral hydrogen, for which a sky-averaged absorption signal, redshifted to MHz frequencies, is predicted to be O(10–100) mK. Detection requires separation of the 21-cm signal from bright chromatic foreground emission due to Galactic structure, and the characterization of how it couples to instrumental response. In this work, we present characterization of antenna gain patterns for the Large-aperture Experiment to detect the Dark Ages (LEDA) via simulations, assessing the effects of the antenna ground-plane geometries used, and measured soil properties. We then investigate the impact of beam pattern uncertainties on the reconstruction of a Gaussian absorption feature. Assuming the pattern is known and correcting for the chromaticity of the instrument, the foregrounds can be modelled with a log-polynomial, and the 21-cm signal identified with high accuracy. However, uncertainties on the soil properties lead to percentage changes in the chromaticity that can bias the signal recovery. The bias can be up to a factor of two in amplitude and up to few per cent in the frequency location. These effects do not appear to be mitigated by larger ground planes, conversely gain patterns with larger ground planes exhibit more complex frequency structure, significantly compromising the parameter reconstruction. Our results, consistent with findings from other antenna design studies, emphasize the importance of chromatic response and suggest caution in assuming log-polynomial foreground models in global signal experiments.
Nocardia beijingensis Isolated From an Adrenal Abscess in a Diabetic Host
Authors: Pender Melissa , Mehta Ninad , Hamilton Blake D , Swaminathan Sankar 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
We describe the case of a 57-year-old man with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus who presented with 30 days of left-sided abdominal pain. He was found to have a left adrenal abscess and underwent adrenalectomy. Intraoperative cultures grew Nocardia beijingensis, which is an uncommonly identified Nocardia species rarely affecting immunocompetent patients. We review the published literature on cases of N beijingensis among immunocompetent patients. This is the first report summarizing the diagnosis and management of N beijingensis isolated from an adrenal abscess.
Prevalence of and Factors Associated With Post-Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Condition in the 12 Months After the Diagnosis of COVID-19 in Adults Followed in General Practices in Germany
Authors: Kostev Karel , Smith Lee , Koyanagi Ai , Jacob Louis 
Published: July 2022

Abstract

Background
Little is known about the epidemiology of post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) condition (PCC) in primary care practices. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of and the factors associated with PCC in the 12 months after the diagnosis of COVID-19 in patients followed in general practices in Germany.

Methods
This retrospective cohort study included adults aged ≥18 years who were diagnosed for the first time with COVID-19 (index date) in 1 of 855 general practices in Germany between October 2020 and August 2021 (Disease Analyzer database; IQVIA). The outcome was the occurrence of PCC 91 to 365 days after the index date. Covariates included age, sex, and comorbidities documented in the 12 months before the index date. The association between covariates and PCC was assessed using a multivariable logistic regression model.

Results
We included 51 630 patients in this study (mean age, 47.1 [standard deviation, 19.8] years; 54.3% women). The prevalence of PCC was 8.3%. Age &gt;30 years (odds ratios [ORs] ranging from 1.40 for 31–45 years to 2.10 for 46–60 years) and female sex (OR = 1.23) were positively and significantly associated with PCC compared with age 18–30 years and male sex, respectively. There was also a significant relationship of PCC with asthma (OR = 1.38), reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders (OR = 1.24), and somatoform disorders (OR = 1.23).

Conclusions
Post-COVID-19 condition was found in the 12 months after the diagnosis of COVID-19 in approximately 8% of adults from general practices in Germany. More data from other settings are warranted to confirm these findings.
Ovule siRNAs methylate protein-coding genes in trans
Authors: Burgess Diane , Chow Hiu Tung , Grover Jeffrey W , Freeling Michael , Mosher Rebecca A 
Published: July 2022

AbstractTwenty-four-nucleotide (nt) small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) maintain asymmetric DNA methylation at thousands of euchromatic transposable elements in plant genomes in a process called RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM). RdDM is dispensable for growth and development in Arabidopsis thaliana, but is required for reproduction in other plants, such as Brassica rapa. The 24-nt siRNAs are abundant in maternal reproductive tissue, due largely to overwhelming expression from a few loci in the ovule and developing seed coat, termed siren loci. A recent study showed that 24-nt siRNAs produced in the anther tapetal tissue can methylate male meiocyte genes in trans. Here we show that in B. rapa, a similar process takes place in female tissue. siRNAs are produced from gene fragments embedded in some siren loci, and these siRNAs can trigger methylation in trans at related protein-coding genes. This trans-methylation is associated with silencing of some target genes and may be responsible for seed abortion in RdDM mutants. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a consensus sequence in at least two families of DNA transposons is associated with abundant siren expression, most likely through recruitment of CLASSY3, a putative chromatin remodeler. This research describes a mechanism whereby RdDM influences gene expression and sheds light on the role of RdDM during plant reproduction.
Crop genetic diversity uncovers metabolites, elements, and gene networks predicted to be associated with high plant biomass yields in maize
Authors: Hajheidari Mohsen , Gerlach Nina , Dorau Kristof , Omidbakhshfard M Amin , Pesch Lina , Hofmann Jörg , Hallab Asis , Ponce-Soto Gabriel Y , Kuhalskaya Anastasiya , Medeiros David B , Bourceret Amélia ,   the RECONSTRUCT Consortium, Usadel Björn , Mayer Jochen , Fernie Alisdair , Mansfeldt Tim , Sonnewald Uwe , Bucher Marcel 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Rapid population growth and increasing demand for food, feed, and bioenergy in these times of unprecedented climate change require breeding for increased biomass production on the world's croplands. To accelerate breeding programs, knowledge of the relationship between biomass features and underlying gene networks is needed to guide future breeding efforts. To this end, large-scale multiomics datasets were created with genetically diverse maize lines, all grown in long-term organic and conventional cropping systems. Analysis of the datasets, integrated using regression modeling and network analysis revealed key metabolites, elements, gene transcripts, and gene networks, whose contents during vegetative growth substantially influence the build-up of plant biomass in the reproductive phase. We found that S and P content in the source leaf and P content in the root during the vegetative stage contributed the most to predicting plant performance at the reproductive stage. In agreement with the Gene Ontology enrichment analysis, the cis-motifs and identified transcription factors associated with upregulated genes under phosphate deficiency showed great diversity in the molecular response to phosphate deficiency in selected lines. Furthermore, our data demonstrate that genotype-dependent uptake, assimilation, and allocation of essential nutrient elements (especially C and N) during vegetative growth under phosphate starvation plays an important role in determining plant biomass by controlling root traits related to nutrient uptake. These integrative multiomics results revealed key factors underlying maize productivity and open new opportunities for efficient, rapid, and cost-effective plant breeding to increase biomass yield of the cereal crop maize under adverse environmental factors.
SARS-CoV-2 and influenza coinfection throughout the COVID-19 pandemic: an assessment of coinfection rates, cohort characteristics, and clinical outcomes
Authors: Pawlowski Colin , Silvert Eli , O'Horo John C , Lenehan Patrick J , Challener Doug , Gnass Esteban , Murugadoss Karthik , Ross Jason , Speicher Leigh , Geyer Holly , Venkatakrishnan A J , Badley Andrew D , Soundararajan Venky 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Case reports of patients infected with COVID-19 and influenza virus (“flurona”) have raised questions around the prevalence and severity of coinfection. Using data from HHS Protect Public Data Hub, NCBI Virus, and CDC FluView, we analyzed trends in SARS-CoV-2 and influenza hospitalized coinfection cases and strain prevalences. We also characterized coinfection cases across the Mayo Clinic Enterprise from January 2020 to April 2022. We compared expected and observed coinfection case counts across different waves of the pandemic and assessed symptoms and outcomes of coinfection and COVID-19 monoinfection cases after propensity score matching on clinically relevant baseline characteristics. From both the Mayo Clinic and nationwide datasets, the observed coinfection rate for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza has been higher during the Omicron era (2021 December 14 to 2022 April 2) compared to previous waves, but no higher than expected assuming infection rates are independent. At the Mayo Clinic, only 120 coinfection cases were observed among 197,364 SARS-CoV-2 cases. Coinfected patients were relatively young (mean age: 26.7 years) and had fewer serious comorbidities compared to monoinfected patients. While there were no significant differences in 30-day hospitalization, ICU admission, or mortality rates between coinfected and matched COVID-19 monoinfection cases, coinfection cases reported higher rates of symptoms including congestion, cough, fever/chills, headache, myalgia/arthralgia, pharyngitis, and rhinitis. While most coinfection cases observed at the Mayo Clinic occurred among relatively healthy individuals, further observation is needed to assess outcomes among subpopulations with risk factors for severe COVID-19 such as older age, obesity, and immunocompromised status.
Preferences and Performance in Simultaneous First-Price Auctions: A Structural Analysis
Authors: Gentry Matthew , Komarova Tatiana , Schiraldi Pasquale 
Published: July 2022

AbstractMotivated by the prevalence of simultaneous bidding across a wide range of auction markets, we develop and estimate a model of strategic interaction in simultaneous first-price auctions when objects are heterogeneous and bidders have non-additive preferences over combinations. We establish non-parametric identification of primitives in this model under standard exclusion restrictions, providing a basis for both estimation and testing of preferences over combinations. We then apply our model to data on Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) highway procurement auctions, quantifying the magnitude of cost synergies and evaluating the performance of the simultaneous first-price mechanism in the MDOT marketplace.
Inhibition of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV in arthritis: dual effect on Th17 cell activation and osteoclastogenesis
Authors: Koga Tomohiro , Umeda Masataka , Yoshida Nobuya , Satyam Abhigyan , Jha Meenakshi , Scherlinger Marc , Bhargava Rhea , Tsokos Maria G , Sato Tomohito , Furukawa Kaori , Endo Yushiro , Fukui Shoichi , Iwamoto Naoki , Abiru Norio , Okita Minoru , Ito Masako , Kawakami Atsushi , Tsokos George C 
Published: July 2022

Abstract

Objective
To investigate the role of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMK4) in the development of joint injury in a mouse model of arthritis and patients with RA.

Methods
Camk4-deficient, Camk4flox/floxLck-Cre, and mice treated with CaMK4 inhibitor KN-93 or KN-93 encapsulated in nanoparticles tagged with CD4 or CD8 antibodies were subjected to collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Inflammatory cytokine levels, humoral immune response, synovitis, and T-cell activation were recorded. CAMK4 gene expression was measured in CD4+ T cells from healthy participants and patients with active RA. Micro-CT and histology were used to assess joint pathology. CD4+ and CD14+ cells in patients with RA were subjected to Th17 or osteoclast differentiation, respectively.

Results
CaMK4-deficient mice subjected to CIA displayed improved clinical scores and decreased numbers of Th17 cells. KN-93 treatment significantly reduced joint destruction by decreasing the production of inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, Camk4flox/floxLck-Cre mice and mice treated with KN93-loaded CD4 antibody-tagged nanoparticles developed fewer Th17 cells and less severe arthritis. CaMK4 inhibition mitigated IL-17 production by CD4+ cells in patients with RA. The number of in vitro differentiated osteoclasts from CD14+ cells in patients with RA was significantly decreased with CaMK4 inhibitors.

Conclusion
Using global and CD4-cell-targeted pharmacologic approaches and conditionally deficient mice, we demonstrate that CaMK4 is important in the development of arthritis. Using ex vivo cell cultures from patients with RA, CaMK4 is important for both Th17 generation and osteoclastogenesis. We propose that CaMK4 inhibition represents a new approach to control the development of arthritis.
Effects of Resilience-Promoting Interventions on Cancer Patients’ Positive Adaptation and Quality of Life
Authors: Wang Qing , Zhou Miao , Zhao Di , Lv Gaorong , Zhang Yunxue , Xie Zihui , Li Ping 
Published: July 2022

Background
Resilience-promoting interventions (RPIs) are increasingly used for cancer patients. However, there are few comprehensive reports on the efficacy of RPIs in cancer patients.

Objective
A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to systematically evaluate the effects of RPIs on resilience, posttraumatic growth (PTG), and quality of life in cancer patients.

Methods
Two authors conducted independent literature searches in electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE, EBSCO [ASC], Cochrane library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Data, and Chinese Scientific and Technological Journal Database) from the first available date to February 2021. Then, eligible studies were selected, data for meta-analysis were extracted, and the risk of bias was evaluated.

Results
Sixteen independent randomized controlled trials with 1620 participants were included. Meta-analysis showed that RPIs significantly improved the level of resilience and PTG among cancer patients. Further analysis indicated that both group and individual interventions could enhance resilience and PTG levels. However, RPIs did not significantly enhance the quality of life in cancer patients.

Conclusions
Clinical evidence from current randomized controlled trials shows that RPIs can improve the positive adaptation in cancer patients through either group intervention or individual intervention methods. In the future, the impact of RPIs on the quality of life needs further validation.

Implications for Practice
Interventions to enhance the positive adaptation for patients with cancer are needed. Considering that both group and individual forms of RPIs can improve resilience and PTG, future clinical intervention methods can be considered in combination with the specific situation of research implementation.
100 years of mathematical cosmology: Models, theories and problems, Part B
Authors: Cotsakis Spiros , Yefremov Alexander P. 
Published: July 2022

We continue our overview of mathematical cosmology with a survey of the third and fourth periods of the development of the subject. The first Part includes the first two periods and is published separately. The third period (1980–2000) continues here with brief descriptions of the main ideas of inflation, the multiverse, quantum, Kaluza–Klein, and string cosmologies, wormholes and baby universes, cosmological stability and modified gravity. The last period, which ends today, includes various more advanced topics such as M-theoretic cosmology, braneworlds, the landscape, topological issues, the measure problem, genericity, dynamical singularities and dark energy. We emphasize certain threads that run throughout the whole period of development of theoretical cosmology and underline their importance in the overall structure of the field. We end this outline with an inclusion of the abstracts of all papers contributed to the second part of thePhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, theme issue ‘The future of mathematical cosmology’.This article is part of the theme issue ‘The future of mathematical cosmology, Volume 2’.
Aether, dark energy and string compactifications
Authors: Townsend Paul K. 
Published: July 2022

The nineteenth-century aether died with special relativity but was resurrected by general relativity in the form of dark energy; a tensile material with tension equal to its energy density. Such a material is provided by the D-branes of string-theory; these can support the fields of supersymmetric particle-physics, although their energy density is cancelled by orientifold singularities upon compactification. Dark energy can still arise from supersymmetry-breaking anti-D-branes but it is probably time-dependent. Recent results on time-dependent compactifications to an FLRW universe with late-time accelerated expansion are reviewed.
This article is part of the theme issue ‘The future of mathematical cosmology, Volume 2’.
Intracellular carbon storage by microorganisms is an overlooked pathway of biomass growth
Authors: Mason-Jones Kyle , Breidenbach Andreas , Dyckmans Jens , Banfield Callum C. , Dippold Michaela A. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe concept of microbial biomass growth is central to microbial carbon (C) cycling and ecosystem nutrient turnover. Growth is usually assumed to occur by cellular replication, despite microorganisms’ capacity to increase biomass by synthesizing storage compounds. Here we examined whether C storage in triacylglycerides (TAGs) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) contribute significantly to microbial biomass growth, under contrasting conditions of C availability and complementary nutrient supply. Together these compounds accounted for 19.1 ± 1.7% to 46.4 ± 8.0% of extractable soil microbial biomass, and revealed up to 279 ± 72% more biomass growth than observed by a DNA-based method alone. Even under C limitation, storage represented an additional 16 – 96% incorporation of added C into microbial biomass. These findings encourage greater recognition of storage synthesis and degradation as key pathways of biomass change and as mechanisms underlying resistance and resilience of microbial communities.