bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Probability of chronic kidney disease and associated risk factors in Chinese adults: a cross-sectional study of 9 million Chinese adults in the Meinian Onehealth screening survey
Authors: Zhuang Zhenhuang , Tong Mingkun , Clarke Robert , Wang Bo , Huang Tao , Li Liming 
Published: August 2022

ABSTRACT

Background
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasing global health problem, but little is known about the age- and sex-specific prevalence of CKD and the associated risk factors in low- and middle-income populations. We examined the age- and sex-specific prevalence of CKD and the associated risk factors in a population-based study of 9 million Chinese adults.

Methods
The study involved a cross-sectional survey of 9 461 631 adults, &gt;18 years of age, who were recruited in 2017 from 31 provinces in the Meinian Onehealth screening survey. All participants had plasma creatinine measured by standard methods and CKD was defined if the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was &lt;60 ml/min/1.73 m2.

Results
Overall, among 9.5 million adults [mean age 41 years (standard deviation 13.1)], 88 271 (1.26%) had CKD. The prevalence rate of CKD was 1.20%, 0.04% and 0.02% for stage 3, 4 and 5, respectively. After adjustment for the proportion and prevalence of urban and rural areas, the overall prevalence rate of CKD was 1.07%, indicating that ∼14 million Chinese adults have CKD. The prevalence of CKD increased 3-fold for each 10-year increment in age (1.15%, 3.05% and 13.02% at age 50–59, 60–69 and &gt;70 years, respectively) and was 1.8-fold higher in women than men. The prevalence of CKD was higher in the Southwest region {1.68% [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12–2.24]} but lower in the Northwest region [0.84% (95% CI 0.61–1.07)] than other regions. If proteinuria is also used as a diagnostic criterion, the prevalence rate increased to 2.16%. Stepwise logistic regression analysis demonstrated that body mass index; history of hypertension, cardiovascular disease or diabetes; and levels of systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, fasting glucose and uric acid were independent risk factors for CKD.

Conclusion
CKD is an important public health problem in Chinese adults and this study highlights the need for public health strategies to detect and reduce modifiable risk factors for prevention of CKD.
Standardization of serum creatinine is essential for accurate use of unbiased estimated GFR equations: evidence from three cohorts matched on renal function
Authors: Pottel Hans , Cavalier Etienne , Björk Jonas , Nyman Ulf , Grubb Anders , Ebert Natalie , Schaeffner Elke , Eriksen Björn O , Melsom Toralf , Lamb Edmund J , Mariat Christophe , Dubourg Laurence , Hansson Magnus , Littmann Karin , Sundin Per-Ola , Åkesson Anna , Larsson Anders , Rule Andrew , Delanaye Pierre 
Published: August 2022

ABSTRACT

Background
Differences in the performance of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations have been attributed to the mathematical form of the equations and to differences between patient demographics and measurement methods. We evaluated differences in serum creatinine (SCr) and eGFR in cohorts matched for age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and measured GFR (mGFR).

Methods
White North Americans from Minnesota (n = 1093) and the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) (n = 1548) and White subjects from the European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) cohort (n = 7727) were matched for demographic patient characteristics (sex, age ± 3 years, BMI ± 2.5 kg/m2) and renal function (mGFR ± 3 ml/min/1.73 m2). SCr was measured with isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS)-traceable assays in the Minnesota and EKFC cohorts and with non-standardized SCr assays recalculated to IDMS in the CRIC. The Minnesota cohort and CRIC shared a common method to measure GFR (renal clearance of iothalamate), while the EKFC cohort used a variety of exogenous markers and methods, all with recognized sufficient accuracy. We compared the SCr levels and eGFR predictions [for Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) and EKFC equations] of patients fulfilling these matching criteria.

Results
For 305 matched individuals, mean SCr (mg/dL) was not different between the Minnesota and EKFC cohorts (females 0.83 ± 0.20 versus 0.86 ± 0.23, males 1.06 ± 0.23 versus 1.12 ± 0.37; P &gt; .05) but significantly different from the CRIC [females 1.13 ± 0.23 (P &lt; .0001), males 1.42 ± 0.31 (P &lt; .0001)]. The CKD-EPI equations performed better than the EKFC equation in the CRIC, while the opposite was true in the Minnesota and EKFC cohorts.

Conclusion
Significant differences in SCr concentrations between the Minnesota and EKFC cohorts versus CRIC were observed in subjects with the same level of mGFR and equal demographic characteristics and can be explained by the difference in SCr calibration.
Sophia’s double: photography, archaeology, and modern Greece
Authors: Stager Jennifer M S 
Published: August 2022

AbstractIn the context of the entangled productions of scientific archaeology, photographic technologies, and the Greek nation-state, this article analyses the ancient Greek idea of the eidōlon (image, phantom, double) as a paradigm for photography. Sophia Engastromenou Schliemann presented herself for the camera as Helen of Troy and mobilized an ancient textual debate about Helen and her double and the Trojan War. This image of Sophia adorned in Trojan gold is widely known and little studied and, as this essay will explore, it circulated far beyond Sophia’s control. Undergirding this article’s historical contingencies is an exploration of the photograph as eidōlon.
Right atrial function and fibrosis in relation to successful atrial fibrillation ablation
Authors: Hopman Luuk H G A , Visch Julia E , Bhagirath Pranav , van der Laan Anja M , Mulder Mark J , Razeghi Orod , Kemme Michiel J B , Niederer Steven A , Allaart Cornelis P , Götte Marco J W 
Published: August 2022

AbstractAimsBi-atrial remodelling in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is rarely assessed and data on the presence of right atrial (RA) fibrosis, the relationship between RA and left atrial (LA) fibrosis, and possible association of RA remodelling with AF recurrence after ablation in patients with AF is limited.Methods and resultsA total of 110 patients with AF undergoing initial pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) were included in the present study. All patients were in sinus rhythm during cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging performed prior to ablation. LA and RA volumes and function (volumetric and feature tracking strain) were derived from cine CMR images. The extent of LA and RA fibrosis was assessed from 3D late gadolinium enhancement images. AF recurrence was followed up for 12 months after PVI using either 12-lead electrocardiograms or Holter monitoring. Arrhythmia recurrence was observed in 39 patients (36%) after the 90-day blanking period, occurring at a median of 181 (interquartile range: 122–286) days. RA remodelling parameters were not significantly different between patients with and without AF recurrence after ablation, whereas LA remodelling parameters were different (volume, emptying fraction, and strain indices). LA fibrosis had a strong correlation with RA fibrosis (r = 0.88, P &lt; 0.001). Both LA and RA fibrosis were not different between patients with and without AF recurrence.ConclusionsThis study shows that RA remodelling parameters were not predictive of AF recurrence after AF ablation. Bi-atrial fibrotic remodelling is present in patients with AF and moreover, the amount of LA fibrosis had a strong correlation with the amount of RA fibrosis.
Can vaccines control bacterial virulence and pathogenicity? Bordetella pertussis: the advantage of fitness over virulence
Authors: Guiso Nicole , Soubeyrand Benoit , Macina Denis 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Some vaccines, such as diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccines (aPVs), may favor the emergence of less pathogenic strains of the respective bacteria they target. This review discusses the impact of the wide use of aPV on Bordetella pertussis phenotype evolutions and their beneficial consequences in the light of the diphtheria toxoid immunization program experience and structuring evidence review in a causal analysis following Bradford Hill’s causality criteria. All aPVs contain the pertussis toxin (PT), the main virulence factor of B.pertussis, alone or with one adhesin (filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA)), two adhesins (FHA and pertactin (PRN)) or four adhesins (FHA, PRN and two fimbriae (Fim 2/3)). In countries where the coverage of aPVs containing PRN is high, PRN negative B.pertussis isolates are increasing in prevalence, but isolates nonproducing the other antigens are rarely reported. We hypothesize that the selective pressure at play with PRN should exist against all aVP antigens, although detection biases may hinder its detection for other antigens, especially PT. PT being responsible for clinically frank cases of the disease, the opportunity to collect PT negative isolates is far lower than to collect PRN negative isolates which have a limited clinical impact. The replacement of the current B.pertussis by far less pathogenic isolates no longer producing the factors contained in aPVs should be expected as a consequence of the wide aPV use.
Comparative whole-genome sequence analysis of a BoNT/B5-producing Clostridium botulinum isolate from an infant botulism case of unknown source in Osaka, Japan
Authors: Umeda Kaoru , Hirai Yuji , Nakamura Hiromi , Amo Kiyoko 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
A case of infant botulism of unknown origin, not involved in honey consumption, occurred in Osaka, Japan in 2020. A Clostridium botulinum type B strain named Osaka2020 was isolated from a stool sample of the patient. To clarify the epidemiology of the case, we performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of the isolate and compared it with strains from other sources. WGS analysis revealed that isolate Osaka2020 was classified into ST133 of a new sequence type, B5 subtype, and its toxin gene was encoded in a ∼274 kb plasmid. This plasmid was closely related to the pCLJ plasmid from strain 657Ba in the USA, reported to be conjugatively transferable to other strains. Moreover, isolate Osaka2020 also possesses another smaller plasmid that was common with some type A(B) infant botulism isolates in Japan. The phylogenetic tree from whole-genome SNP analysis showed that isolate Osaka2020 was the most closely related to a type B infant botulism isolate that occurred in Japan 10 years ago. Although no epidemiological connection among the two cases was confirmed, there is possibility that the cases are attributed to common causes such as some environmental substance.
A yeast-based in vivo assay system for analyzing efflux of sugars mediated by glucose and xylose transporters
Authors: Tamayo Rojas Sebastian A , Boles Eckhard , Oreb Mislav 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Sugar transporter research focuses on the sugar uptake into cells. Under certain physiological conditions, however, the intracellular accumulation and secretion of carbohydrates (efflux) are relevant processes in many cell types. Currently, no cell-based system is available for specifically investigating glucose efflux. Therefore, we designed a system based on a hexose transporter-deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain, in which the disaccharide maltose is provided as a donor of intracellular glucose. By deleting the hexokinase genes, we prevented the metabolization of glucose, and thereby achieved the accumulation of growth-inhibitory glucose levels inside the cells. When a permease mediating glucose efflux is expressed in this system, the inhibitory effect is relieved proportionally to the capacity of the introduced transporter. The assay is thereby suitable for screening of transporters and quantitative analyses of their glucose efflux capacities. Moreover, by simultaneous provision of intracellular glucose and extracellular xylose, we investigated how each sugar influences the transport of the other one from the opposite side of the membrane. Thereby, we could show that the xylose transporter variant Gal2N376F is insensitive not only to extracellular but also to intracellular glucose. Considering the importance of sugar transporters in biotechnology, the assay could facilitate new developments in a variety of applications.
Disclosing complex mutational dynamics at a Y chromosome palindrome evolving through intra- and inter-chromosomal gene conversion
Authors: Bonito Maria , Ravasini Francesco , Novelletto Andrea , D’Atanasio Eugenia , Cruciani Fulvio , Trombetta Beniamino 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
The human MSY ampliconic region is mainly composed of large duplicated sequences that are organized in eight palindromes (termed P1–P8), and may undergo arm-to-arm gene conversion. Although the importance of these elements is widely recognized, their evolutionary dynamics are still nuanced. Here, we focused on the P8 palindrome, which shows a complex evolutionary history, being involved in intra- and inter-chromosomal gene conversion. To disclose its evolutionary complexity, we performed a high-depth (50×) targeted next-generation sequencing of this element in 157 subjects belonging to the most divergent lineages of the Y chromosome tree. We found a total of 72 polymorphic paralogous sequence variants that have been exploited to identify 41 Y-Y gene conversion events that occurred during recent human history. Through our analysis, we were able to categorize P8 arms into three portions, whose molecular diversity was modelled by different evolutionary forces. Notably, the outer region of the palindrome is not involved in any gene conversion event and evolves exclusively through the action of mutational pressure. The inner region is affected by Y-Y gene conversion occurring at a rate of 1.52 × 10−5 conversions/base/year, with no bias towards the retention of the ancestral state of the sequence. In this portion, GC-biased gene conversion is counterbalanced by a mutational bias towards AT bases. Finally, the middle region of the arms, in addition to intra-chromosomal gene conversion, is involved in X-to-Y gene conversion (at a rate of 6.013 × 10−8 conversions/base/year) thus being a major force in the evolution of the VCY/VCX gene family.
Comparative Efficacy of Infliximab vs Ustekinumab for Maintenance of Clinical Response in Biologic Naïve Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Wong Emily C L , Dulai Parambir S , Marshall John K , Jairath Vipul , Reinisch Walter , Narula Neeraj 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Background
There is a need to better understand the positioning of biologic therapies for long-term outcomes in biologic-naïve Crohn’s disease (CD). We assessed the comparative effectiveness of infliximab and ustekinumab among induction responders for 1-year outcomes.

Methods
This post hoc analysis included data from 220 biologic-naïve CD participants with response to induction therapy from 2 clinical trial programs. Participants achieving 1-year clinical remission (CR) (Crohn’s disease activity index &lt;150), corticosteroid-free CR, normalization of fecal calprotectin (FC), endoscopic response (Simple Endoscopic Score for CD decrease ≥50% from baseline), and endoscopic remission (ER) (Simple Endoscopic Score for CD &lt;3) were compared. Multivariate logistic regression evaluated the likelihood of achieving the outcomes adjusted for confounders. Propensity score matching created a cohort with similar distribution of baseline covariates.

Results
One-year CR and corticosteroid-free CR rates were similar between infliximab-treated and ustekinumab-treated patients (CR, 66 of 110 [60.0%] vs 63 of 110 [57.3%]; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.15; 95% CI, 0.67-1.98; P = .681; corticosteroid-free CR, 11 of 28 (39.3%) vs 27 of 51 [52.9%]; aOR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.23-1.47; P = .251). Compared with ustekinumab-treated patients, infliximab-treated participants were more likely to achieve 1-year endoscopic response (43 of 92 [46.7%] vs 6 of 30 [20.0%], aOR, 3.59; 95% CI, 1.34-9.66; P = .011) and ER (31 of 92 [33.7%] vs 4 of 30 [13.3%]; aOR, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.07-10.49; P = .038). Among patients with FC ≥250 mg/kg at baseline, normalization (&lt;250 mg/kg) at 1-year was similar between groups. Similar results were observed within the propensity matched population for all analyses.

Conclusions
Treatment with infliximab and ustekinumab among induction responders achieved 1-year CR with similar efficacy, but infliximab may confer greater benefit for endoscopic outcomes. Findings should be interpreted with caution as our analyses were unpowered.
Scalability and robustness of spectral embedding: landmark diffusion is all you need
Authors: Shen Chao , Wu Hau-Tieng 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Although spectral embedding is a widely applied dimension reduction technique in various fields, so far it is still challenging to make it scalable to handle ’big data’. On the other hand, the robustness property is less explored and there exists only limited theoretical results. Motivated by the need of handling such data, recently we proposed a novel spectral embedding algorithm, which we coined Robust and Scalable Embedding via Landmark Diffusion (ROSELAND). In short, we measure the affinity between two points via a set of landmarks, which is composed of a small number of points, and ’diffuse’ on the dataset via the landmark set to achieve a spectral embedding. Roseland can be viewed as a generalization of the commonly applied spectral embedding algorithm, the diffusion map (DM), in the sense that it shares various properties of DM. In this paper, we show that Roseland is not only numerically scalable, but also preserves the geometric properties via its diffusion nature under the manifold setup; that is, we theoretically explore the asymptotic behavior of Roseland under the manifold setup, including handling the U-statistics-like quantities, and provide a $L^\infty $ spectral convergence with a rate. Moreover, we offer a high dimensional noise analysis, and show that Roseland is robust to noise. We also compare Roseland with other existing algorithms with numerical simulations.
Solvability of discrete Helmholtz equations
Authors: Bernkopf Maximilian , Sauter Stefan , Torres Céline , Veit Alexander 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
We study the unique solvability of the discretized Helmholtz problem with Robin boundary conditions using a conforming Galerkin finite element method. Well-posedness of the discrete equations is typically investigated by applying a compact perturbation argument to the continuous Helmholtz problem so that a `sufficiently rich' discretization results in a `sufficiently small' perturbation of the continuous problem and well-posedness is inherited via Fredholm’s alternative. The qualitative notion `sufficiently rich', however, involves unknown constants and is only of asymptotic nature. Our paper is focussed on a fully discrete approach by mimicking the tools for proving well-posedness of the continuous problem directly on the discrete level. In this way, a computable criterion is derived, which certifies discrete well-posedness without relying on an asymptotic perturbation argument. By using this novel approach we obtain (a) new existence and uniqueness results for the $hp$-FEM for the Helmholtz problem, (b) examples for meshes such that the discretization becomes unstable (Galerkin matrix is singular) and (c) a simple checking Algorithm MOTZ `marching-of-the-zeros', which guarantees in an a posteriori way that a given mesh is certified for a well-posed Helmholtz discretization.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine Effectiveness Against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection in the United States Before the Delta- and Omicron-Associated Surges: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Repeat Blood Donors
Authors: Grebe Eduard , Yu Elaine A , Bravo Marjorie D , Welte Alex , Bruhn Roberta L , Stone Mars , Green Valerie , Williamson Phillip C , Feldstein Leora R , Jones Jefferson M , Busch Michael P , Custer Brian 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Background
To inform public health policy, it is critical to monitor coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine effectiveness (VE), including against acquiring infection.

Methods
We estimated VE using self-reported vaccination in a retrospective cohort of repeat blood donors who donated during the first half of 2021, and we demonstrated a viable approach for monitoring VE via serological surveillance.

Results
Using Poisson regression, we estimated an overall VE of 88.8% (95% confidence interval, 86.2–91.1), adjusted for demographic covariates and variable baseline risk.

Conclusions
The time since first reporting vaccination, age, race and/or ethnicity, region, and calendar time were statistically significant predictors of incident infection.
Potent Neutralizing Activity of Polyclonal Equine Antibodies Against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Variants of Concern
Authors: Luczkowiak Joanna , Radreau Pauline , Nguyen Ludovic , Labiod Nuria , Lasala Fátima , Veas Francisco , Herbreteau Cécile Hélène , Delgado Rafael 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Several anti–severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have received emergency authorization for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment. However, most of these mAbs are not active against the highly mutated Omicron SARS-CoV-2 subvariants. We have tested a polyclonal approach of equine anti-SARS-CoV-2 F(ab’)2 antibodies that achieved a high level of neutralizing potency against all SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern tested including Omicron BA.1, BA.2, BA.2.12 and BA.4/5. A repertoire of antibodies targeting conserved epitopes in different regions of the spike protein could plausibly account for this remarkable breadth of neutralization. These results warrant the clinical investigation of equine polyclonal F(ab’)2 antibodies as a novel therapeutic strategy against COVID-19.
Demographic inference provides insights into the extirpation and ecological dominance of eusocial snapping shrimps
Authors: Chak Solomon T C , Harris Stephen E , Hultgren Kristin M , Duffy J Emmett , Rubenstein Dustin R 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Although eusocial animals often achieve ecological dominance in the ecosystems where they occur, many populations are unstable, resulting in local extinction. Both patterns may be linked to the characteristic demography of eusocial species—high reproductive skew and reproductive division of labor support stable effective population sizes that make eusocial groups more competitive in some species, but also lower effective population sizes that increase susceptibility to population collapse in others. Here, we examine the relationship between demography and social organization in Synalpheus snapping shrimps, a group in which eusociality has evolved recently and repeatedly. We show using coalescent demographic modeling that eusocial species have had lower but more stable effective population sizes across 100,000 generations. Our results are consistent with the idea that stable population sizes may enable competitive dominance in eusocial shrimps, but they also suggest that recent population declines are likely caused by eusocial shrimps’ heightened sensitivity to environmental changes, perhaps as a result of their low effective population sizes and localized dispersal. Thus, although the unique life histories and demography of eusocial shrimps have likely contributed to their persistence and ecological dominance over evolutionary time scales, these social traits may also make them vulnerable to contemporary environmental change.