bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Key performance indicators of COVID-19 contact tracing in Belgium from September 2020 to December 2021
Authors: Kremer Cécile , Willem Lander , Boone Jorden , Arrazola de Oñate Wouter , Hammami Naïma , Faes Christel , Hens Niel 
Published: October 2022

AbstractBackgroundContact tracing aims to prevent onward transmission of infectious diseases and data obtained during tracing provide unique information on transmission characteristics. A key performance indicator that has been proposed to evaluate contact tracing is the proportion of cases arising from known contacts. However, few empirical studies have investigated the effectiveness of contact tracing.MethodsUsing data collected between September 2020 and December 2021 in Belgium, we investigated the impact of contact tracing on SARS-CoV-2 transmission. We compared confirmed cases that were previously identified as a close contact to those that were not yet known, in terms of their traced contacts and secondary cases as well as the serial interval. In addition, we established contact and transmission patterns by age.FindingsPreviously traced, hence ‘known’, cases comprised 20% of all cases and they were linked to relatively fewer close contacts as well as fewer secondary cases and a lower secondary attack rate compared to cases that were not already known. In addition we observed a shorter serial interval for ‘known’ cases. There was a relative increase in transmission from children to adults during circulation of the Delta and Omicron variants, without an increase in the extent of contact between these age groups.InterpretationThese results suggest that contact tracing in Belgium has been effective in reducing onward transmission and that individuals aware of their exposure to SARS-CoV-2 seemed more reserved in their social contact behaviour. Data from a reference period or region are needed to measure the impact of contact tracing in terms of the number of cases and deaths averted.
Does de-identification of data from wearable Biometric Monitoring Technologies give us a false sense of security? A systematic review
Authors: Chikwetu Lucy , Miao Yu , Woldetensae Melat K. , Bell Diarra , Goldenholz Daniel M. , Dunn Jessilyn 
Published: October 2022

AbstractIt remains unknown whether de-identifying wearable biometric monitoring data is sufficient to protect the privacy of individuals in the dataset. This systematic review seeks to shed light on this. We searched Web of Science, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, PubMed, Scopus, and the ACM Digital Library on December 6, 2021 (PROSPERO CRD42022312922). We also performed manual searches in journals of interest until April 12, 2022. Though our search strategy had no language restrictions, all retrieved studies were in English. We included studies demonstrating re-identification, identification, or authentication using data from wearables. Our search returned 17,625 studies, and 72 studies met our inclusion criteria. Our findings demonstrate that substantial re-identification risk exists in data from sensors generally not thought to generate identifiable information, such as the electrocardiogram and electromyogram. In many cases, only a small amount of data (1-300 seconds of recording) is sufficient for re-identification.
Comparative whole genome analysis reveals re-emergence of typical human Wa-like and DS-1-like G3 rotaviruses after Rotarix vaccine introduction in Malawi
Authors: Mhango Chimwemwe , Banda Akuzike , Chinyama End , Mandolo Jonathan J. , Kumwenda Orpha , Malamba-Banda Chikondi , Barnes Kayla G. , Kumwenda Benjamin , Jambo Kondwani , Donato Celeste M. , Esona Mathew D. , Mwangi Peter N. , Steele A. Duncan , Iturriza-Gomara Miren , Cunliffe Nigel A. , Ndze Valentine N. , Kamng’ona Arox W. , Dennis Francis E. , Nyaga Martin M. , Chaguza Chrispin , Jere Khuzwayo C. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractGenotype G3 rotaviruses rank among the most common rotavirus strains worldwide in humans and animals. However, despite a robust long-term rotavirus surveillance system from 1997 in Blantyre, Malawi, these strains were only detected from 1997 to 1999 and then disappeared and re-emerged in 2017, five years after the introduction of the Rotarix rotavirus vaccine. Here we analysed 27 whole genome sequences to understand how G3 strains re-emerged in Malawi. We randomly selected samples each month between November 2017 and August 2019 from stool samples of children hospitalised with acute diarrhoea at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi. We found three genotypes namely G3P[4] (n=20), G3P[6] (n=1) and G3P[8] (n=6) associated with the re-emergence of G3 strains in Malawi post-Rotarix vaccine introduction. The identified genotypes co-circulated at different time points and were associated with three typical human G3 strains consisting of either a Wa-like or DS-1-like genetic constellation and reassortant strains possessing Wa-like and DS-1-like genetic backbones. Time-resolved phylogenetic trees demonstrated that the most recent common ancestor for each segment of the re-emerged G3 strains emerged between 1996 and 2012, possibly through introductions from outside the country due to the limited genetic similarity with G3 strains which circulated before their disappearance in the late 1990s. Further genomic analysis revealed that the reassortant DS-1-like G3P[4] strains acquired a Wa-like NSP2 genome segment (N1 genotype) through intergenogroup reassortment; an artiodactyl-like VP3 through intragenogroup interspecies reassortment; and VP6, NSP1 and NSP4 segments through intragenogroup reassortment likely before importation into Malawi. Additionally, the re-emerged G3 strains contain amino acid substitutions within the antigenic regions of the VP4 proteins which could potentially impact the binding of rotavirus vaccine-induced antibodies. Altogether, our findings shows that multiple rather than a single genotype have driven the re-emergence of G3 strains likely from other countries highlighting the role of human mobility and genome reassortment events in the dissemination and evolution of rotavirus strains in Malawi necessitating the need for long-term genomic surveillance of rotavirus in high disease burden settings to inform disease prevention and control.
Maternal per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances exposures associated with higher depressive symptom scores among immigrant women in the Chemicals in Our Bodies cohort in San Francisco
Authors: Aung Max T. , Eick Stephanie M. , Padula Amy M. , Smith Sabrina , Park June-Soo , DeMicco Erin , Woodruff Tracey J. , Morello-Frosch Rachel 
Published: October 2022

AbstractBackgroundExposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) remains an important public health issue due to their widespread detection and persistence in environmental media, slow metabolism in humans, and influences physiological processes such as neurological signaling. Maternal depression is highly prevalent during pregnancy and the postpartum period and is an important neurological outcome that is potentially sensitive to PFAS. The health risks associated with PFAS may be further amplified in historically marginalized communities, including immigrants.ObjectiveWe evaluated the extent to which maternal concentrations of PFAS were associated with depression scores during pregnancy and whether effects differed between US born and immigrant women.MethodsOur analytical sample included 282 US born and 235 immigrant pregnant women enrolled in the Chemicals in Our Bodies prospective birth cohort based in San Francisco, CA. We measured 12 PFAS in serum samples collected in the second trimester and depressive symptom scores were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in the same period. Associations were estimated using multiple linear regression, adjusting for maternal age, education, pre-pregnancy body mass index, and parity. Associations with a PFAS mixture were estimated using quantile g-computation.ResultsIn adjusted linear regression models, a natural log unit increase in two PFAS was associated with higher depression scores in the overall sample, and this association persisted only among immigrant women (β[95% confidence interval]: perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (1.3 [0.3-2.3]) and methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamide acetic acid (1.5 [0.6-2.3]). Using quantile g-computation, we observed that simultaneously increasing all PFAS in the mixture by one quartile was associated with increased depressive symptoms among immigrant women (mean change per quartile increase= 1.12 [0.002, 2.3]), and associations were stronger compared to US born women (mean change per quartile increase= 0.09 [-1.0, 0.8]).ConclusionsFindings provide new evidence that PFAS are associated with higher depression symptoms among immigrant women during pregnancy. Results can inform efforts to address environmental factors that may affect depression among US immigrants.
Excitation-inhibition imbalance in Alzheimer’s disease using multiscale neural model inversion of resting-state fMRI
Authors: Li Guoshi , Hsu Li-Ming , Wu Ye , Bozoki Andrea C , Shih Yen-Yu Ian , Yap Pew-Thian 
Published: October 2022

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a serious neurodegenerative disorder without a clear understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology. Recent experimental data has suggested neuronal excitation-inhibition (E-I) imbalance as an essential element and critical regulator of AD pathology, but E-I imbalance has not been systematically mapped out for either local or large-scale neuronal circuits in AD. By applying a Multiscale Neural Model Inversion (MNMI) framework to the resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), we identified brain regions with disrupted E-I balance based on impaired mesoscale excitatory and inhibitory connection strengths in a large network during AD progression. We observed that both intra-regional and inter-regional E-I balance is progressively disrupted from cognitively normal individuals, to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and to AD, and E-I difference (or ratio) can be abnormally increased or decreased, depending on specific region. Also, we found that (local) inhibitory connections are more significantly impaired than excitatory ones and the strengths of the majority of connections are reduced in MCI and AD, leading to gradual decoupling of neural populations. Moreover, we revealed a core AD network comprised mainly of limbic and cingulate regions including the hippocampus, pallidum, putamen, nucleus accumbens, inferior temporal cortex and caudal anterior cingulate cortex (cACC). These brain regions exhibit consistent and stable E-I alterations across MCI and AD, and thus may represent early AD biomarkers and important therapeutic targets. Lastly, the E-I difference (or ratio) of multiple brain regions (precuneus, posterior cingulate cortex, pallium, cACC, putamen and hippocampus) was found to be significantly correlated with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, indicating that the degree of E-I impairment is behaviorally related to MCI/AD cognitive performance. Overall, our study constitutes the first attempt to delineate E-I imbalance in large-scale neuronal circuits during AD progression, which may facilitate the development of new treatment paradigms to restore pathological E-I balance in AD.
Evaluation of the Abbott Panbio™ COVID-19 antigen detection rapid diagnostic test among healthcare workers in elderly care
Authors: Eikelenboom-Boskamp Andrea , Ouden Martijn den , de Groot Theun , Stobernack Tim , Wertheim Heiman , Voss Andreas 
Published: October 2022

AbstractBackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been especially dangerous for elderly people. To reduce the risk of transmission from healthcare workers to elderly people, it is of utmost importance to detect possible severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) positive healthcare workers as early as possible. We aimed to determine whether the Abbott Panbio™ COVID-19 antigen detection rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT) could be used as an alternative to reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The second aim was to compare the cycle threshold (Ct) in RT-qPCR with the results of the Ag-RDT.MethodsA prospective diagnostic evaluation of the Abbott Panbio™ COVID-19 Ag-RDT among healthcare workers across three elderly care facilities as well as home-based elderly care workers who met clinical criteria for COVID-19 during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Per healthcare worker, the first nasopharyngeal swab was obtained to perform the Ag-RDT and the second swab for RT-qPCR. A Ct-value of < 40 was interpreted as positive, ≥ 40 as negative.ResultsA total of 683 healthcare workers with COVID-19 symptoms were sampled for detection of SARS-CoV-2 by both Ag-RDT and RT-qPCR. Sixty-three healthcare workers (9.2%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR. The overall sensitivity of Ag-RDT was 81.0% sensitivity (95%CI: 69.6-88.8%) and 100% specificity (95%CI: 99.4-100%). Using a cut-off Ct-value of 32, the sensitivity increased to 92.7% (95% CI: 82.7-97.1%). Negative Ag-RDT results were moderately associated with higher Ct-values (r = 0.62) compared to positive Ag-RDT results.ConclusionThe Panbio™ COVID-19 Ag-RDT can be used to quickly detect positive SARS-CoV-2 healthcare workers. Negative Ag-RDT should be confirmed by RT-qPCR. In case of severe understaffing and with careful consideration, fully vaccinated healthcare workers with Ag-RDT negative results could work with a mask pending PCR results.
Age-dependent impairment in antibody responses elicited by a homologous CoronaVac booster dose
Authors: Filardi Bruno Andraus , Monteiro Valter Silva , Schwartzmann Pedro Vellosa , Martins Vivian do Prado , Rosa Zucca Luis Eduardo , Baiocchi Gabriela Crispim , Hahn Anne M. , Chen Nicholas F. G. , Pham Kien , Pérez-Then Eddy , Miric Marija , Brache Vivian , Cochon Leila , Larocca Rafael A. ,   Yale SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Surveillance Initiative, Mendez Roberto Della Rosa , Silveira Douglas Bardini , Pinto Aguinaldo Roberto , Croda Julio , Yildirim Inci , Omer Saad B. , Ko Albert I. , Vermund Sten H. , Grubaugh Nathan D. , Iwasaki Akiko , Lucas Carolina 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThe emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineages resulted in drastically increased transmission rates and reduced protection from vaccine-induced immunity. To counteract these effects, multiple booster strategies were used in different countries, although data comparing their efficiency in improving protective immunity remains sparse, especially among vulnerable populations, including older adults. The inactivated CoronaVac vaccine was among the most widely distributed worldwide, particularly in China, and South America. However, whether homologous versus heterologous booster doses in those fully vaccinated with CoronaVac induce distinct humoral responses and whether these responses vary across age groups remain unknown. We analyzed plasma antibody responses from CoronaVac-vaccinated younger or older individuals in central and south America that received a homologous CoronaVac or heterologous BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1 booster vaccines. We found that both IgG levels against SARS-CoV-2 spike or RBD, as well as neutralization titers against Omicron sublineages, were substantially reduced in participants that received homologous CoronaVac when compared to heterologous BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1 booster. This effect was specifically prominent in recipients older than 50 years of age. In this group, CoronaVac booster induced low virus-specific IgG levels and failed to elevate their neutralization titers against any omicron sublineage. Our results point to significant inefficiency in mounting protective anti-viral humoral immunity in those who were primed with CoronaVac followed by CoronaVac booster, particularly among older adults, urging a heterologous regimen in high-risk populations fully vaccinated with CoronaVac.One Sentence SummaryHomologous CoronaVac boosters do not improve neutralization responses against current VOCs in older adults in contrast to heterologous regimens.
α-synuclein fibril and synaptic vesicle interactions lead to vesicle destruction and increased uptake into neurons
Authors: Stephens Amberley D. , Villegas Ana Fernandez , Chung Chyi Wei , Vanderpoorten Oliver , Pinotsi Dorothea , Mela Ioanna , Ward Edward , McCoy Thomas M. , Cubitt Robert , Routh Alexander F. , Kaminski Clemens F. , Schierle Gabriele S. Kaminski 
Published: October 2022

AbstractMonomeric alpha-synuclein (aSyn) is a well characterised as a lipid binding protein. aSyn is known to form amyloid fibrils which are also localised with lipids and organelles in so called Lewy bodies, insoluble structures found in Parkinson’s disease patient’s brains. It is still unclear under which conditions the aSyn-lipid interaction can start to become pathological. Previous work to address pathological interactions has focused on using synthetic lipid membranes, which lack the complexity of physiological lipid membranes which not only have a more complex lipid composition, but also contain lipid interacting proteins. Here, we investigate how either monomeric or fibrillar aSyn interact with physiological synaptic vesicles (SV) isolated from rodent brain. Using small angle neutron scattering and high-resolution imaging we observe that aSyn fibrils disintegrate SV, whereas aSyn monomers cause clustering of SV. Furthermore, SV enhance the aggregation rate of aSyn, however increasing the SV:aSyn ratio causes a reduction in aggregation propensity. SV lipids appear as an integrated part of aSyn fibrils and while the fibril morphology differs to aSyn fibrils alone, the core fibril structure remains the same. We finally demonstrate that lipid-associated aSyn fibrils are more easily taken up into cortical i3Neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. Our study sheds light on differences between interactions of aSyn with synthetic lipid vesicles and physiological SV. We show how aSyn fibrils may enhance pathology by disintegrating SV, which in turn may have fatal consequences for neurons. Furthermore, disease burden may additionally be impacted by an increased uptake of lipid-associated aSyn by neurons, leading to more SV damage and enhancing aSyn aggregation.
Astrocyte-Oligodendrocyte interaction regulates central nervous system regeneration
Authors: Molina-Gonzalez Irene , Holloway Rebecca K. , Jiwaji Zoeb , Dando Owen , Emelianova Katie , Lloyd Amy F. , Forbes Lindsey H. , Mahmood Ayisha , Skripuletz Thomas , Gudi Viktoria , Febery James A. , Johnson Jeffrey A. , Fowler Jill H. , Kuhlmann Tanja , Williams Anna , Chandran Siddharthan , Stangel Martin , Howden Andrew J.M. , Hardingham Giles E. , Miron Veronique E. 
Published: October 2022

SummaryFailed regeneration of myelin around neuronal axons following central nervous system damage contributes to nerve dysfunction and clinical decline in various neurological conditions, for which there is an unmet therapeutic demand1,2. Here, we show that interaction between glial cells – astrocytes and mature myelin-forming oligodendrocytes – is a critical determinant of remyelination. Astrocytes support the survival of regenerating oligodendrocytes, via downregulation of the Nrf2 pathway associated with increased astrocytic cholesterol biosynthesis pathway activation. Remyelination fails following sustained astrocytic Nrf2 activation yet is restored by either cholesterol biosynthesis/efflux stimulation, or Nrf2 inhibition using the existing therapeutic Luteolin. We identify that astrocyte-oligodendrocyte interaction regulates remyelination, and reveal a drug strategy for central nervous system regeneration centred on targeting this interaction.
A reevaluation of the relationship between EGL-43 (EVI1/MECOM) and LIN-12 (Notch) duringC. elegansanchor cell invasion
Authors: Martinez Michael A. Q. , Mullarkey Angelina A. , Yee Callista , Zhao Chris Z. , Zhang Wan , Shen Kang , Matus David Q. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractDevelopment of theC. elegansreproductive tract is orchestrated by the anchor cell (AC). Among other things, this occurs through a cell invasion event that connects the uterine and vulval tissue. Several key transcription factors regulate AC invasion, such as EGL-43, HLH-2, and NHR-67. Specifically, these transcription factors function together to maintain the post-mitotic state of the AC, a requirement for AC invasion. EGL-43 is theC. eleganshomolog of the human EVI1/MECOM proto-oncogene, and recently, a mechanistic connection has been made between its loss and AC cell-cycle entry. The current model states that EGL-43 represses LIN-12 (Notch) expression to prevent AC proliferation, suggesting that Notch signaling is mitogenic in the absence of EGL-43. To reevaluate the relationship between EGL-43 and LIN-12, we designed and implemented a heterologous co-expression system called AIDHB that combines the auxin-inducible degron (AID) system of plants with a live cell-cycle sensor based on human DNA helicase B (DHB). After validating the AIDHB approach using AID-tagged GFP, we sought to test this approach using AID-tagged alleles ofegl-43andlin-12. Auxin-inducible degradation of either EGL-43 or LIN-12 resulted in the expected AC phenotypes. Lastly, we seized the opportunity to pair AIDHB with RNAi to co-deplete LIN-12 and EGL-43, respectively. This combined approach revealed that LIN-12 is not required for AC proliferation following loss of EGL-43, which contrasts with a double RNAi experiment directed against these same targets. The addition of AIDHB to theC. eleganstransgenic toolkit should facilitate functionalin vivoimaging of cell-cycle associated phenomena.
Real-time inactivation of airborne SARS-CoV-2 using ultraviolet-C
Authors: Koutras Carolina , Wade Richard L. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractCOVID-19 is a life-threatening respiratory infection that has had a profound impact on indoor air quality awareness. Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) is a physical disinfection process that triggers microbial inactivation through creating irreversible genetic material damage. An upper room device equipped with germicidal UV-C (UR GUV) was evaluated against airborne SARS-CoV-2 for antimicrobial efficacy using a robust aerosol testing protocol. In 30 minutes, it led to a virucidal efficacy of 99.994 % in a large, room-sized chamber. UR GUV is a promising mitigation strategy for airborne pathogens.