julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Fully understanding the efficacy profile of the COVID-19 vaccination and its associated factors in multiple real-world settings
2022-10-25

We performed a review study according to recent COVID-19 vaccines’ real-world data to provide comparisons between COVID-19 vaccines regarding their relative efficacy. Although most vaccine platforms showed comparable effectiveness and efficacy, we highlight critical points and recent developments generated in studies that might affect vaccine efficacy including population-dependent effects of the vaccine (transplantation, adiposity, and specific comorbidities, as well as older age, male sex, ethnicity, and prior infection), vaccine type, variants of concern (VOC), and an extended vaccine schedule. Owing to these factors, community-based trials can be of great importance in determining vaccine effectiveness in a systematic manner; thus, uncertainty remains regarding vaccine efficacy. Long immune protection of vaccination with BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 has been demonstrated to be up to 61 months and 5–12 months after the previous infection, and boosting infection-acquired immunity for both the first and second doses of the BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccines was correlated with high and durable protection. However, large cohort and longitudinal studies are required for the evaluation of immunity dynamics and longevity in unvaccinated, vaccinated, and infected individuals, as well as vaccinated convalescent individuals in real-world settings. Regarding the likelihood of vaccine escape variants evolving, an ongoing examination of the protection conferred against an evolving virus (new variant) by an extended schedule can be crucial.
Leadership program with skills training for general practitioners was highly accepted without improving job satisfaction: the cluster randomized IMPROVEjob study
2022-10-25

Abstract Leadership has become an increasingly important issue in medicine as leadership skills, job satisfaction and patient outcomes correlate positively. Various leadership training and physician psychological well-being programmes have been developed internationally, yet no standard is established in primary care. The IMPROVE job leadership program was developed to improve job satisfaction among German general practitioners and practice personnel. Its acceptance and effectiveness were evaluated. The IMPROVE job intervention is a participatory, interdisciplinary and multimodal leadership intervention that targets leadership, workflows and communication in general practices using three elements: (1) two leadership workshops with skills training; (2) a toolbox with printed and online material, and (3) a 9-month implementation phase supported by facilitators. A cluster-randomised trial with a waiting-list control evaluated the effectiveness on the primary outcome job satisfaction assessed by the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (range 0–100). A mixed-methods approach with questionnaires and participant interviews evaluated the acceptance of the intervention and factors influencing the implementation of intervention content. Statistical analyses respected the clustered data structure. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated intervention adjustments: online instead of on-site workshops, online material instead of facilitator practice visits. Overall, 52 of 60 practices completed the study, with altogether 70 practice leaders, 16 employed physicians, and 182 practice assistants. According to an intention-to-treat analysis, job satisfaction decreased between baseline and follow-up (not significantly) in the total study population and in both study arms, while the subgroup of practice leaders showed a non-significant increase. A mixed multilevel regression model showed no effect of the intervention on job satisfaction ( b = − 0.36, p &gt; 0.86), which was influenced significantly by a greater sense of community ( b = 0.14, p &lt; 0.05). The acceptance of the IMPROVE job workshops was high, especially among practice leaders compared to assistants (1 = best to 5 = worst): skills training 1.78 vs. 2.46, discussions within the practice team 1.87 vs. 2.28, group discussions 1.96 vs. 2.21. The process evaluation revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic complicated change processes and delayed the implementation of intervention content in practice routines. The workshops within the participatory IMPROVE job intervention were rated very positively but the multimodal intervention did not improve job satisfaction 9 months into the pandemic. Qualitative data showed an impairment of implementation processes by the unforeseeable COVID pandemic. Trial registration Registration number: DRKS00012677 on 16/10/2019.
Increased levels of anti-PfCSP antibodies in post-pubertal females versus males immunized with PfSPZ Vaccine does not translate into increased protective efficacy
2022-10-25

Background While prior research has shown differences in the risk of malaria infection and sickness between males and females, little is known about sex differences in vaccine-induced immunity to malaria. Identifying such differences could elucidate important aspects of malaria biology and facilitate development of improved approaches to malaria vaccination. Methods Using a standardized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, IgG antibodies to the major surface protein on Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) sporozoites (SPZ), the Pf circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP), were measured before and two weeks after administration of a PfSPZ-based malaria vaccine (PfSPZ Vaccine) to 5-month to 61-year-olds in 11 clinical trials in Germany, the US and five countries in Africa, to determine if there were differences in vaccine elicited antibody response between males and females and if these differences were associated with differential protection against naturally transmitted Pf malaria (Africa) or controlled human malaria infection (Germany, the US and Africa). Results Females ≥ 11 years of age made significantly higher levels of antibodies to PfCSP than did males in most trials, while there was no indication of such differences in infants or children. Although adult females had higher levels of antibodies, there was no evidence of improved protection compared to males. In 2 of the 7 trials with sufficient data, protected males had significantly higher levels of antibodies than unprotected males, and in 3 other trials protected females had higher levels of antibodies than did unprotected females. Conclusion Immunization with PfSPZ Vaccine induced higher levels of antibodies in post-pubertal females but showed equivalent protection in males and females. We conclude that the increased antibody levels in post-pubertal females did not contribute substantially to improved protection. We hypothesize that while antibodies to PfCSP (and PfSPZ) may potentially contribute directly to protection, they primarily correlate with other, potentially protective immune mechanisms, such as antibody dependent and antibody independent cellular responses in the liver.
Pulse frequency fluctuations of persistent accretion powered pulsars
2022-10-25

ABSTRACT In this study, we examine the long-term torque noise fluctuations of persistent X-ray binaries Her X-1, Vela X-1, GX 301-2, Cen X-3, 4U 1538-53, OAO 1657-415, and 4U 1626-67 using the historical pulse frequency measurements provided by CGRO/BATSE and Fermi/GBM. We find that known disc-fed sources exhibit a 1/ω2 red noise component in their power density spectra which is saturated over long time-scales. On the other hand, wind-fed sources form a clear white noise component, and the wind-fed sources with occasional transient disc formation imprint 1/ω type flicker noise. We discuss their long-term timing noise properties based on the models to describe the power density spectrum of pulse frequency derivative fluctuations in terms of monochromatic and coloured noise processes. Furthermore, we investigate the relation between measured timing noise strengths and other independently measured physical parameters. Despite the low number of sample sources, we suggest that the noise strengths of these sources are correlated with their luminosities and uncorrelated with their magnetic field strengths, implying that the dominant noise-generating mechanism is accretion.
A Novel Method for Evaluation of Ore Minerals Based on Optical Microscopy and Image Analysis: Preliminary Results
2022-10-25

Natural or artificial light allows us to see and analyze matter with our eyes, which are the first tools used in several experiments. In geosciences, particularly in mineralogy, light is used for optical microscopy observations. Reflected and transmitted light applied to the study of ore deposits can be useful to discriminate between gangue from precious phases. Knowledge of the structural and morphological characteristics, combined with the quantitative evaluation of mineral abundance, is fundamental for determining the grade of ore deposits. The accuracy and reliability of the information are closely linked to the ability of the mineralogist, who more and more often uses Scanning Electron technology and automated mineralogy systems to validate the observations or solve complex mineralogy. While highly accurate, these methods are often prohibitively expensive. The use of image analysis using standard algorithms and artificial intelligence, available as open source, and commercial packages (such as ImageJ, Fiji or MATLAB), can provide advantages in fast, cost-effective, and robust mineral analysis. Recently, the application of neural networks provided increasingly effective image analysis and, among the different types of neural networks available today, the self-organizing maps of Kohonen (SOM) seem to be among the most promising, given their capacity to receive many images as inputs and reduce them to a low number of neuronal outputs that represent all the input characteristics in a lower-dimensional space. In this work, we will show the preliminary results of a new method based on SOM and the combined use of images acquired in transmitted and reflected light to reconstruct false 3D surfaces, which were able to show the presence of intergrow between gangue phases and precious minerals.
Pnictide-Capped Butterfly Cluster in the Crystal Structure of Nb4PnX11 (Pn = N, P; X = Cl, Br, I)
2022-10-25

Niobium pnictide halides Nb<sub>4</sub><i>PnX</i><sub>11</sub> (<i>Pn</i> = N, P; <i>X</i> = Cl, Br, I) are reported with their average crystal structures. Individual pnictide-capped butterfly cluster cores [Nb<sub>4</sub>P] in the structure are interconnected into two-dimensional layers, with their electronic and magnetic properties being analyzed.
Why do we need interdisciplinary cooperation with anthropologists and archaeologists in soil science?
2022-10-25

Abstract Looking at soils from the perspective of an environmental scientist or agronomist might neglect various dimensions of valuation that can be attributed to soils. Especially social and cultural connoted values including ecosystem services cannot always be measured in terms of scientific values or classified as soil types or soil qualities in a modern, economic way. Even though soils are a fact and have been present on the Earth's surface and used by people, at least for food production, at different times and in different cultures, the ways of dealing with soils and the valuations of soils are extremely diverse. Researchers in anthropology, archaeology, and agriculture, for example, are investigating different perspectives like soils as common good or as private property. This concerns not only different knowledge orders about soils, but also beliefs, techniques, foodways, practices, and power relations concerning soils and cereal cultivation. Based on the example of agriculture with a focus on cereal cultivation, we argue that there is still a great need for interdisciplinarity between the sciences and humanities. However, there is also a need to distinguish and explain between fundamental interdisciplinary research and application of findings in a socio‐economic context. It is necessary to understand different knowledge orders and valuations in time or space and to reevaluate today's perspectives on soils and agriculture for facing modern problems such as soil degradation, erosion, salinization, and an overall loss of soil fertility.
Presence and Perceived Body Orientation Affect the Recall of Out-of-Sight Places in an Immersive Sketching Experiment
2022-10-25

Abstract The orientation of sketch maps of remote but familiar city squares produced from memory has been shown to depend on the distance and airline direction from the production site to the remembered square (position dependent recall, Röhrich, Hardiess, &amp; Mallot, 2014). Here, we present a virtual reality version of the original experiment and additionaly study the role of body orientation. Three main points can be made: First, “immersive sketching” is a novel and useful paradigm in which subjects sketch maps live on paper while being immersed in virtual reality. Second, the original effect of position dependent recall was confirmed, indicating that the sense of presence generated in a virtual environment suffices to bias the imagery of distant places. Finally, the orientation of the produced sketch maps depended also on the body orientation of the subjects. At each production site, body orientation was controlled by varying the position of the life feed in the virtual environment such that subjects had to turn towards the prescribed direction. Position dependent recall is strongest if subjects are aligned with the airline direction to the target and virtually goes away if they turn in the opposite direction.
The effects of late Cenozoic climate change on the global distribution of frost cracking
2022-10-25

Abstract. Frost cracking is a dominant mechanical weathering phenomenon facilitating the breakdown of bedrock in periglacial regions. Despite recent advances in understanding frost cracking processes, few studies have addressed how global climate change over the late Cenozoic may have impacted spatial variations in frost cracking intensity. In this study, we estimate global changes in frost cracking intensity (FCI) by segregation ice growth. Existing process-based models of FCI are applied in combination with soil thickness data from the Harmonized World Soil Database. Temporal and spatial variations in FCI are predicted using surface temperature changes obtained from ECHAM5 general circulation model simulations conducted for four different paleoclimate time slices. Time slices considered include pre-industrial (∼ 1850 CE, PI), mid-Holocene (∼ 6 ka, MH), Last Glacial Maximum (∼ 21 ka, LGM), and Pliocene (∼ 3 Ma, PLIO) times. Results indicate for all paleoclimate time slices that frost cracking was most prevalent (relative to PI times) in the middle- to high-latitude regions, as well as high-elevation lower-latitude areas such the Himalayas, Tibet, the European Alps, the Japanese Alps, the US Rocky Mountains, and the Andes Mountains. The smallest deviations in frost cracking (relative to PI conditions) were observed in the MH simulation, which yielded slightly higher FCI values in most of the areas. In contrast, larger deviations were observed in the simulations of the colder climate (LGM) and warmer climate (PLIO). Our results indicate that the impact of climate change on frost cracking was most severe during the PI–LGM period due to higher differences in temperatures and glaciation at higher latitudes. The PLIO results indicate low FCI in the Andes and higher values of FCI in Greenland and Canada due to the diminished extent of glaciation in the warmer PLIO climate.
ASSESSMENT OF SOCIETY'S READINESS FOR MODERN CHALLENGES OF THE INSURANCE MARKET
2022-10-25

The article summarizes the theoretical aspects of the insurance market. The authors systematize the main approaches to determining the specifics of the insurance sector based on a review of publications of foreign and domestic scientists. The aim of the study is to assess the readiness of society to the challenges of the insurance market as one of the leading elements of the financial system. The article identifies the main trends in the activities of insurance companies. The authors have analyzed the following indicators: the volume of insurance premiums to the total population, the share of life insurance, the ratio of total insurance premiums to GDP, the volume of total insurance premiums to the number of employees in the insurance sector, the ratio of reinsurance and the share of insurance premiums kept on the accounts of insurance companies. To achieve the purpose of the study, factor analysis, principal components method, built on the basis of statistically significant indicators, integral index of the degree of readiness of society to modern challenges of the insurance market for OECD countries were used. The methods of generalization, comparison, analysis, synthesis, tabular and graphical research tools were also used. The results of the factor analysis confirmed the statistical significance of the analyzed indicators of insurance activity. This leads to constant monitoring of the insurance sector in the context of various services and products offered.
Boosting Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction via an Unexpected Dynamic Evolution of Molybdenum and Selenium on MoSe2 Electrode
2022-10-26

Abstract Transition metal chalcogenides are a promising and extremely pivotal class of electrocatalysts with potential applications in alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), especially, molybdenum diselenide. Although the exposed edge sites are generally considered to be the active sites of MoSe 2 for HER, an intrinsic behavior (surface species evolution, structure/morphology conversion, stability) of MoSe 2 electrode itself was not unveiled. Herein, the origin of MoSe 2 ‐electrocatalyzed HER activity monitored by the quasi‐operando XPS and in situ Raman spectroscopy is presented. The findings clearly show dynamic evolution of both Mo and Se species on MoSe 2 electrode surface for promoting HER activity and maintaining long‐term catalytic stability and reveal an electro‐oxidative dissolution and re‐adsorption mechanism. Theoretical calculations also corroborate these results. As expected, the addition of single or mixed MoO 4 2− and SeO 3 2− to the electrolyte of nickel foam directly verifies the critical role of surface‐adsorbed Mo and Se species for boosting HER activity and stability. Additionally, the oxidative dissolution of Se on Ni x Se y electrode surface during HER is also observed, revealing the universality of oxidative dissolution of Se in transition metal selenides. This study provides a unique insight into the species evolution and surface structure transformation mechanism and activity improved origin of materials during the electroreduction process.
Cholinergic white matter pathways along the Alzheimer's disease continuum
2022-10-26

Abstract Previous studies have shown that the cholinergic nucleus basalis of Meynert and its white matter projections are affected in Alzheimer’s disease dementia and mild cognitive impairment. However, it is still unknown whether these alterations can be found in individuals with subjective cognitive decline, and whether they are more pronounced than changes found in conventional brain volumetric measurements. To address these questions, we investigated microstructural alterations of two major cholinergic pathways in individuals along the Alzheimer’s disease continuum using an in vivo model of the human cholinergic system based on neuroimaging. We included 402 participants (52 Alzheimer’s disease, 66 mild cognitive impairment, 172 subjective cognitive decline and 112 healthy controls) from the Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Study. We modelled the cholinergic white matter pathways with an enhanced diffusion neuroimaging pipeline that included probabilistic fibre-tracking methods and prior anatomical knowledge. The integrity of the cholinergic white matter pathways was compared between stages of the Alzheimer’s disease continuum, in the whole cohort and in a CSF amyloid-beta stratified subsample. The discriminative power of the integrity of the pathways was compared to the conventional volumetric measures of hippocampus and nucleus basalis of Meynert, using a receiver operating characteristics analysis. A multivariate model was used to investigate the role of these pathways in relation to cognitive performance. We found that the integrity of the cholinergic white matter pathways was significantly reduced in all stages of the Alzheimer’s disease continuum, including individuals with subjective cognitive decline. The differences involved posterior cholinergic white matter in the subjective cognitive decline stage and extended to anterior frontal white matter in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease dementia stages. Both cholinergic pathways and conventional volumetric measures showed higher predictive power in the more advanced stages of the disease, i.e. mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease dementia. In contrast, the integrity of cholinergic pathways was more informative in distinguishing subjective cognitive decline from healthy controls, as compared with the volumetric measures. The multivariate model revealed a moderate contribution of the cholinergic white matter pathways but not of volumetric measures towards memory tests in the subjective cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment stages. In conclusion, we demonstrated that cholinergic white matter pathways are altered already in subjective cognitive decline individuals, preceding the more widespread alterations found in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. The integrity of the cholinergic pathways identified the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease better than conventional volumetric measures such as hippocampal volume or volume of cholinergic nucleus basalis of Meynert.
Bioengineered Pancreas–Liver Crosstalk in a Microfluidic Coculture Chip Identifies Human Metabolic Response Signatures in Prediabetic Hyperglycemia
2022-10-26

Abstract Aberrant glucose homeostasis is the most common metabolic disturbance affecting one in ten adults worldwide. Prediabetic hyperglycemia due to dysfunctional interactions between different human tissues, including pancreas and liver, constitutes the largest risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes. However, this early stage of metabolic disease has received relatively little attention. Microphysiological tissue models that emulate tissue crosstalk offer emerging opportunities to study metabolic interactions. Here, a novel modular multitissue organ‐on‐a‐chip device is presented that allows for integrated and reciprocal communication between different 3D primary human tissue cultures. Precisely controlled heterologous perfusion of each tissue chamber is achieved through a microfluidic single “synthetic heart” pneumatic actuation unit connected to multiple tissue chambers via specific configuration of microchannel resistances. On‐chip coculture experiments of organotypic primary human liver spheroids and intact primary human islets demonstrate insulin secretion and hepatic insulin response dynamics at physiological timescales upon glucose challenge. Integration of transcriptomic analyses with promoter motif activity data of 503 transcription factors reveals tissue‐specific interacting molecular networks that underlie β ‐cell stress in prediabetic hyperglycemia. Interestingly, liver and islet cultures show surprising counter‐regulation of transcriptional programs, emphasizing the power of microphysiological coculture to elucidate the systems biology of metabolic crosstalk.