生信网-文献期刊

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Nakata Y, Watanabe Y, Otake H

2. Therapeutic monitoring of adalimumab at non-trough levels in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Kato M, Sugimoto K, Ikeya K

3. A patient-oriented research approach to assessing patients' and primary care physicians' opinions on trauma-informed care.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Kokokyi S, Klest B, Anstey H.

4. Immune response dynamics in COVID-19 patients to SARS-CoV-2 and other human coronaviruses.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Ravindran R, McReynolds C, Yang J

5. Resting heart rate is associated with colorectal advanced adenoma.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Park J, Han JS, Jo HJ

6. Evaluation of mass spectrometry MS/MS spectra for the presence of isopeptide crosslinked peptides.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Schopfer LM, Onder S, Lockridge O.

Isopeptide crosslinked proteins can be the product of transglutaminase or of exposure to organophosphorus toxicants (OP). Transglutaminase links glutamine to lysine with loss of ammonia. OP toxicants induce a link between glutamic acid and lysine with loss of water. Our goal was to establish criteria to distinguish real from false isopeptide crosslinks reported by software searches of mass spectrometry data. We used fragmentation spectra of tryptic peptides from MAP-rich tubulin Sus scrofa as a test system for detection of naturally-occurring isopeptide crosslinks. Data were analyzed with Protein Prospector. Criteria for the assignments included the presence of at least 1 crosslink specific product ion, fragment ions from both peptides, Protein Prospector scores ≥20, and best fit of the MS/MS data to the crosslinked peptide as opposed to a linear peptide. Out of 301,364 spectra, 15 potential transglutaminase-type crosslinked peptide candidates were identified. Manual evaluation of these MS/MS spectra reduced the number to 1 valid crosslink between Q112 of NFH and K368 of Tau. Immunopurification with anti-isopeptide 81D1C2 confirmed that MAP-rich tubulin contained only one isopeptide. Support for this isopeptide bond was obtained by showing that transglutaminase was capable of incorporating dansyl-aminohexyl -QQIV into K368. A model of the KIETHK-QLEAHNR isopeptide was synthesized with the aid of transglutaminase. MS/MS spectra of the model validated our interpretation of the native isopeptide. An OP-induced isopeptide bond between K163 of tubulin alpha-1A and E158 of tubulin beta-4B was induced by treating MAP-rich tubulin with 100 μM chlorpyrifos oxon. This crosslink was supported by the criteria described above and by the presence of diethoxyphospho-lysine 163 in the tubulin alpha-1A peptide. The information obtained in this work is valuable for future studies that aim to understand why exposure to OP is associated with increased risk of neurodegenerative disease.

7. Gender inequality among medical, pharmaceutical and dental practitioners in French hospitals: Where have we been and where are we now?

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Le Boedec A, Anthony N, Vigneau C

INTRODUCTION: Women are under-represented in senior academic and hospital positions in many countries. The authors aim to assess the place and the evolution of all appointed female and male health practitioners' working in French public Hospitals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of this observational study were collected from the National Management Centre (Centre National de Gestion) from 2015 up to January 1, 2020. First, the authors described demographic characteristics and specialties of all appointed medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry doctors' working as Hospital Practitioners, Associate Professors, and Full Professors in French General and University-affiliated Hospitals in 2020. Then, they retrospectively reported the annual incidence of new entrance according to gender and professional status from 1999 to 2019 thanks to the appointment date of all practitioners in activity between 2015 and 2020. RESULTS: In 2020, 51 401 appointed practitioners (49.7% of female) were in activity in French public hospitals with a large majority being medical doctors (92.4%) compared to pharmacists (6%) and dentists (1.6%). Women represented 52.5% of the Hospital Practitioners, 48.6% of the Associate Professors, and 22.0% of the Full Professors (p < 0.001). There were disparities between the rates of female Full Professors in medicine (20.6%), pharmacy (36.1%), and dentistry (44.3%, p < 0.001). Women were appointed Hospital Practitioners and Associate Professors earlier than men (respectively 37.1 versus 38.8 years, p < 0.001 and 36.1 versus 36.5 years, p = 0.04), and at a later age among Full Professors (43.7 versus 41.9 years, p < 0.001). Compared to men, the annual proportion of appointed women varied significantly between 1999 and 2019 from 47.6% to 60.4% for Hospital Practitioners, from 50.0% to 44.6% for Associate Professors, and from 11.2% to 33.3% for Full Professors (p < 0.001 for trend). CONCLUSIONS: Although more and more women occupy positions in French hospitals, there is still a gender gap regarding access to Full Professor status in medicine and pharmacy, but not in dentistry. The disparity in numbers makes comparison difficult. Despite a trend towards gender equality during the last twenty years, it has not yet been achieved regarding access to the highest positions.

8. SUMO conjugation susceptibility of Akt/protein kinase B affects the expression of the pluripotency transcription factor Nanog in embryonic stem cells.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Francia M, Stortz M, Echegaray CV

Akt/PKB is a kinase involved in the regulation of a wide variety of cell processes. Its activity is modulated by diverse post-translational modifications (PTMs). Particularly, conjugation of the small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) to this kinase impacts on multiple cellular functions, such as proliferation and splicing. In embryonic stem (ES) cells, this kinase is key for pluripotency maintenance. Among other functions, Akt is known to promote the expression of Nanog, a central pluripotency transcription factor (TF). However, the relevance of this specific PTM of Akt has not been previously analyzed in this context. In this work, we study the effect of Akt1 variants with differential SUMOylation susceptibility on the expression of Nanog. Our results demonstrate that both, the Akt1 capability of being modified by SUMO conjugation and a functional SUMO conjugase activity are required to induce Nanog gene expression. Likewise, we found that the common oncogenic E17K Akt1 mutant affected Nanog expression in ES cells also in a SUMOylatability dependent manner. Interestingly, this outcome takes places in ES cells but not in a non-pluripotent heterologous system, suggesting the presence of a crucial factor for this induction in ES cells. Remarkably, the two major candidate factors to mediate this induction, GSK3-β and Tbx3, are non-essential players of this effect, suggesting a complex mechanism probably involving non-canonical pathways. Furthermore, we found that Akt1 subcellular distribution does not depend on its SUMOylatability, indicating that Akt localization has no influence on the effect on Nanog, and that besides the membrane localization of E17K Akt mutant, SUMOylation is also required for its hyperactivity. Our results highlight the impact of SUMO conjugation in the function of a kinase relevant for a plethora of cellular processes, including the control of a key pluripotency TF.

9. QTL mapping of seedling tolerance to exposure to low temperature in the maize IBM RIL population.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Goering R, Larsen S, Tan J

Maize is a cold sensitive crop that exhibits severe retardation of growth and development when exposed to cold spells during and right after germination, including the slowdown in development of new leaves and in formation of the photosynthetic apparatus. Improving cold tolerance in maize would allow early sowing to improve crop yield by prolonging a growing season and by decreasing the negative effects of summer drought, diseases, and pests. Two maize inbreds widely incorporated into American maize germplasm, B73 and Mo17, exhibit different levels of tolerance to low temperature exposure at seedling stage. In addition, thirty seven diverse inbred maize lines showed large variation for seedling response to low temperature exposure with lines with extremely low tolerance to seedling exposure to low temperatures falling into stiff stalk, non-stiff stalk, and tropical clades. We employed the maize intermated B73×Mo17 (IBM) recombinant inbred line population (IBM Syn4 RIL) to investigate the genetic architecture of cold stress tolerance at a young seedling stage and to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling this variation. A panel of 97 recombinant inbred lines of IBM Syn4 were used to measure, and score based on several traits related to chlorophyll concentration, leaf color, and tissue damage. Our analysis resulted in detection of two QTLs with high additive impact, one on chromosome 1 (bin 1.02) and second on chromosome 5 (bin 5.05). Further investigation of the QTL regions using gene expression data provided a list of the candidate genes likely contributing to the variation in cold stress response. Among the genes located within QTL regions identified in this study and differentially expressed in response to low temperature exposure are the genes with putative functions related to auxin and gibberellin response, as well as general abiotic stress response, and genes coding for proteins with broad regulatory functions.

10. Efficacy of "Essential Iodine Drops" against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Köntös Z.

11. Public understanding of climate change-related sea-level rise.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Priestley RK, Heine Z, Milfont TL.

12. Disparities between HIV patient subgroups in Oman: An analysis of the 2019 cascade of care.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Elgalib A, Shah S, Al-Wahaibi A

BACKGROUND: The HIV cascade of care is a framework for monitoring HIV care, identifying gaps and informing appropriate interventions. This study aimed to describe the cascade of care in Oman in 2019 and highlight disparities at the sub-population level. METHODS: We used the UNAIDS Spectrum modelling software to estimate the number of people living with HIV. A national HIV surveillance database was used to identify Omani people (≥13 years old) diagnosed with HIV from 1984 through December 2019. We calculated the cascade indicators as of 31 December 2019 stratified by sex, age, HIV risk factor, residence, and region of HIV care. We also performed multivariate logistic regression to determine the predictors of attrition at linkage, retention, on ART, and viral suppression. RESULTS: As of December 2019, the estimated number of people living with HIV in Oman was 2440. Out of the estimated number of people living with HIV, 69% were diagnosed, 66% were linked to care, 61% were retained in care, 60% were on ART, and 55% were virally suppressed. Of the 1673 diagnosed individuals, 96% were linked to care, 88% were retained in care, 87% were on ART, and 81% were virally suppressed. People who received HIV care outside Muscat had the largest attrition (11% loss) in the transition from linkage (97%) to retention (86%). Similarly, people aged 13-24 years had the largest attrition (13% loss) from "on ART" (88%) to viral suppression (75%). Logistic regression showed that both not reporting a specific HIV risk factor and receipt of HIV care outside Muscat independently predicted attrition at each cascade stage from linkage to care through viral suppression. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings identified substantial disparities across various subpopulations along the cascade of care in Oman. This analysis will be invaluable in informing future interventions targeting patient subgroups who are at the highest risk of attrition.

13. Micro-computed tomography with contrast enhancement: An excellent technique for soft tissue examination in humans.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

O J, Kwon HJ, Cho TH

14. Partial restoration of immune response in Hepatitis C patients after viral clearance by direct-acting antiviral therapy.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Llorens-Revull M, Costafreda MI, Rico A

15. Exploring willingness to participate in future Human Infection Studies in Lusaka, Zambia: A nested qualitative exploratory study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Kunda-Ngándu EM, Chirwa-Chobe M, Mwamba C

Human Infection Studies (HIC) involve intentional infection of volunteers with a challenge agent or pathogen with the aim of understanding and developing vaccines as well as understanding the disease pathophysiology in a well-controlled environment. Though Africa carries the highest burden of vaccine-preventable diseases, the region is only now being primed to conduct HIC relevant to its population. Given the imminent introduction of HIC in Zambia, we sought to understand potential participants' willingness to volunteer for such studies. We used a qualitative exploratory approach to understand the potential participants' perceptions on willingness to participate in HIC using the example of typhoid. Healthy adults, recruited using random selection and purposive sampling from higher learning institutions in Lusaka, participated in 15 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and 5 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) respectively. Participants considered typhoid a serious disease with potential for life-long consequences and death. After sharing audio-visual materials introducing the concepts of HIC, some participants expressed open willingness to participate or alternatively the need to consult parents and professors, and expressed fear of death and illness. Though willing to be quarantined for up to six months, participants expressed concerns regarding separation from family and duties, having insufficient information to decide, inadequate access to care, severe disease, life-long injury or side-effects, death, and vaccine failure. These concerns along with possibility of underlying conditions that compromise individual immunity, competing priorities, parental refusal, and distrust of study or vaccine efficacy could lead to refusal to participate. Reasons for willingness to participate included monetary compensation, altruism and being part of a team that comes up with a vaccine. Though afraid of deliberate typhoid infection, potential participants are willing to consider participation if given adequate information, time to consult trusted persons, compensation and assurance of adequate care.

16. Dialogic gathering of films. Promoting meaningful online interactions during COVID-19 confinement.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Padrós-Cuxart M, Rodrigues de Mello R, Ramis-Salas M

17. Development and analytical validation of a novel bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D assay.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Berg AH, Tavasoli M, Lo AS

18. Soil organic carbon, physical fractions of the macro-organic matter, and soil stability relationship in lacustrine soils under banana crop.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Rondon T, Hernandez RM, Guzman M.

19. The prevalence of M. tuberculosis among acid fast bacilli cultures from military health system and veterans affairs beneficiaries in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands from 2002 to 2019.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Crecelius EM, Lustik MB, Horseman TS

20. A systematic review of controlled studies of suicidal and self-harming behaviours in adolescents following bereavement by suicide.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Del Carpio L, Paul S, Paterson A

BACKGROUND: Research suggests that being exposed to the suicide of others increases risk of subsequent suicidal or self-harming thoughts or behaviours. What is less clear is whether this applies to adolescents, and if the risk exceeds that following other causes of death, which has implications on suicide prevention approaches. This study aimed to systematically review the evidence on adolescent bereavement experiences by different causes to address this gap. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search using four databases (MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Web of Science, and Embase) identified 21 studies which measured suicidal or self-harm outcomes among bereaved adolescents aged between 12 to 18 years old. The literature was screened, data was extracted using pre-piloted forms, and risk of bias was assessed using versions of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale; a proportion of papers were double extracted and assessed for bias. The review has been registered with PROSPERO (CRD42016051125). RESULTS: A narrative synthesis of the literature demonstrated divergent findings depending on the outcome being measured. Suicide bereavement appears to be strongly associated with suicide mortality among parentally bereaved youth, while self-harm or non-fatal suicide attempts (either presenting to hospital or self-reported) showed mixed evidence. Suicidal ideation was not uniquely associated with suicide bereavement. An exploration of circumstances surrounding the death, characteristics of the person who died, and characteristics of the young person across each outcome measure suggested that earlier experiences of loss, shorter timeframes following the death, and maternal death are associated with particularly elevated risk of suicidal outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that suicide loss is associated with subsequent suicide, and may be associated with non-fatal self-harm. A detailed account of the risk and protective factors surrounding suicide bereavement among young people is crucial to understand the pathways through which suicidal behaviours develop. Researchers, policy makers and practitioners with an interest in suicide prevention will benefit from clarity around the needs of young bereaved individuals.

21. Carbon stocks of above- and belowground tree biomass in Kibate Forest around Wonchi Crater Lake, Central Highland of Ethiopia.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Meragiaw M, Woldu Z, Martinsen V

22. A semi-analytical solution and AI-based reconstruction algorithms for magnetic particle tracking.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Wu H, Du P, Kokate R

23. Scoping review of the characteristics assessed by vulnerability indices applied to people experiencing homelessness.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Currie J, Grech E, Longbottom E

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this scoping review are to investigate the characteristics assessed by existing vulnerability indices and the health outcomes achieved by applying them to people experiencing homelessness. This review forms part of the development and implementation of a novel tool to prioritise people experiencing homelessness for healthcare based on their need and capacity to access healthcare. METHODS: Included papers were primary research, published in the English language, participants were experiencing homelessness and aged over 18 years at the time of the study, a vulnerability index was used in the study, sample size was greater than 30, and the study had a health focus. Databases searched were MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science, between January-April 2020. The Joanna Briggs Appraisal criteria were used to quality appraise the included studies. Results were synthesised narratively. RESULTS: Six papers were included, a total of 27,509 participants. The reported use of the indices varied; they included screening and profiling homeless populations, comparing homeless populations, and two studies evaluated the predictive capacity, reliability and validity of the indices. One vulnerability index focused on screening for human immunodeficiency virus, one used a 50-item index and four used a nine-item index. No direct health outcomes were reported from applying the vulnerability indices. The studies identified limitations of using vulnerability indices, including the potential bias of relying on self-reported data and two studies highlighted the need for further psychometric testing to ensure validity and reliability of the indices. DISCUSSION: The sample of included studies was small. Vulnerability indices are reportedly a useful and easily accessible method of gaining valuable data on the health status and health needs of people experiencing homelessness. The variety of characteristics included in the vulnerability indices suggests the importance of tailoring vulnerability indices to the needs of the population to which it is to be applied. Conducting appropriate psychometric testing is critical so that an index can be used to accurately inform decision making and accurately prioritise people experiencing homelessness who are most at risk of mortality and morbidity. A specific tool that prioritises people experiencing homelessness for access to health care is not yet available. The review was funded by a St Vincent's Network Inclusive Health grant.

24. Fine-grained classification based on multi-scale pyramid convolution networks.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Wang G, Cheng L, Lin J

25. Impact of axisymmetric deformation on MR elastography of a nonlinear tissue-mimicking material and implications in peri-tumour stiffness quantification.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Fiorito M, Fovargue D, Capilnasiu A

26. Effectiveness of a standard clinical training program in new graduate nurses' competencies in Vietnam: A quasi-experimental longitudinal study with a difference-in-differences design.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Horii S, Nguyen CTM, Pham HTT

27. Next-generation sequencing of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in Moroccan prostate cancer patients with positive family history.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Salmi F, Maachi F, Tazzite A

28. Text classification to streamline online wildlife trade analyses.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Stringham OC, Moncayo S, Hill KGW

Automated monitoring of websites that trade wildlife is increasingly necessary to inform conservation and biosecurity efforts. However, e-commerce and wildlife trading websites can contain a vast number of advertisements, an unknown proportion of which may be irrelevant to researchers and practitioners. Given that many wildlife-trade advertisements have an unstructured text format, automated identification of relevant listings has not traditionally been possible, nor attempted. Other scientific disciplines have solved similar problems using machine learning and natural language processing models, such as text classifiers. Here, we test the ability of a suite of text classifiers to extract relevant advertisements from wildlife trade occurring on the Internet. We collected data from an Australian classifieds website where people can post advertisements of their pet birds (n = 16.5k advertisements). We found that text classifiers can predict, with a high degree of accuracy, which listings are relevant (ROC AUC ≥ 0.98, F1 score ≥ 0.77). Furthermore, in an attempt to answer the question 'how much data is required to have an adequately performing model?', we conducted a sensitivity analysis by simulating decreases in sample sizes to measure the subsequent change in model performance. From our sensitivity analysis, we found that text classifiers required a minimum sample size of 33% (c. 5.5k listings) to accurately identify relevant listings (for our dataset), providing a reference point for future applications of this sort. Our results suggest that text classification is a viable tool that can be applied to the online trade of wildlife to reduce time dedicated to data cleaning. However, the success of text classifiers will vary depending on the advertisements and websites, and will therefore be context dependent. Further work to integrate other machine learning tools, such as image classification, may provide better predictive abilities in the context of streamlining data processing for wildlife trade related online data.

29. Control strategies against COVID-19 in China: Significance of effective testing in the long run.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Lin Y, Peng F.

30. The role of race and scientific trust on support for COVID-19 social distancing measures in the United States.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Kazemian S, Fuller S, Algara C.

31. How do researchers approach societal impact?

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Fecher B, Hebing M.

32. The KrasG12D;Trp53fl/fl murine model of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma is macrophage dense, lymphocyte poor, and resistant to immune checkpoint blockade.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Hildebrand KM, Singla AK, McNeil R

33. Cryptococcal antigen carriage among HIV infected children aged 6 months to 15 years at Laquintinie Hospital in Douala.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Kalla GCM, Mboumnyemb JF, Assob JCN

BACKGROUND: Up to 15% of deaths of people living with HIV is attributable to meningeal cryptococcosis, with nearly 75% occuring in sub-Saharan Africa. Although rare in children, it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in people living with HIV. A strong association between cryptococcal antigenemia and the development of meningeal cryptococcosis has been shown in adults. Thus, in 2018, the World Health Organization published an updated version of its guidelines for the diagnosis, prevention and management of cryptococcal infection in adults, adolescents and the HIV-infected child. GOAL: To determine the prevalence of cryptococcal antigenemia and to identify its determinants in children infected with HIV. METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out at the approved treatment center of Laquintinie hospital in Douala over a period of 4 months. Children were recruited consecutively after informed parental consent. Cryptococcal antigenemia and CD4 assay were performed using a Cryptops® immunochromatographic rapid diagnostic test and flow cytometry, respectively. The data collected included the socio-demographic, clinical and paraclinical variables of the children, as well as their antecedents. Data analysis was performed using Epiinfo software version 3.1 and SPSS 21.0. The significance threshold was set at 5%. RESULTS: A total of 147 children were enrolled. The mean age was 9.8 ± 4.09 years. The majority were on antiretroviral therapy (142, 96.60%). Only 13 (8.80%) were in severe immunosuppression. No child showed signs of meningeal cryptococcosis. The prevalence of cryptococcal antigenemia was 6.12%. Severe immunosuppression [OR: 10.03 (1.52-65.91), p = 0.016] and contact with pigeons [OR: 9.76 (1.14-83.65), p = 0.037] were independent factors significantly associated with the carriage of the cryptococcal antigen. CONCLUSION: We recommend screening for cryptococcal antigenemia and routine treatment with fluconazole of all HIV positive children with cryptococcal antigen whether symptomatic or not.

34. Composition Wheels: Visualizing dissolved organic matter using common composition metrics across a variety of Canadian ecozones.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Aukes PJK, Schiff SL.

35. Epidemiology and disease burden of sickle cell disease in France: A descriptive study based on a French nationwide claim database.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Leleu H, Arlet JB, Habibi A

CONTEXT: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a severe hematological disorder. The most common acute complication of SCD is vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC), but SCD is a systemic disease potentially involving all organs. SCD prevalence estimates rely mostly on extrapolations from incidence-based newborn screening programs, although recent improvements in survival may have led to an increase in prevalence, and immigration could account for a substantial number of prevalent patients in Europe. The primary objective of this study was to estimate SCD prevalence in France. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using a representative sample of national health insurance data. SCD patients followed up in France between 2006 and 2011 were captured through hydroxyurea reimbursement and with the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) SCD specific code D570.1.2, excluding code D573 (which corresponds to sickle cell trait (SCT)). Nevertheless, we assumed that ICD-10 diagnosis coding for inpatient stays could be imperfect, with the possibility of SCT being miscoded as SCD. Therefore, prevalence was analyzed in two groups of patients [with at least one (G1) or two (G2) inpatient stay] based on the number of SCD-related inpatient stays in the six-year study period, assuming that SCT patients are rarely rehospitalized compared to SCD. The prevalence of SCD in the sample, which was considered to be representative of the French population, was then extrapolated to the general population. The rate of vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) events was estimated based on hospitalizations, emergencies, opioid reimbursements, transfusions, and sick leave. RESULTS: Based on the number of patients identified for G1 and G2, the 2016 French prevalence was estimated to be between 48.6 per 100,000 (G1) or 32,400 patients and 29.7 per 100,000 (G2) or 19,800 patients. An average of 1.51 VOC events per year were identified, with an increase frequency of 15 to 24 years of age. The average annual number of hospitalizations was between 0.70 (G1) and 1.11 (G2) per patient. Intensive care was observed in 7.6% of VOC-related hospitalizations. Fewer than 34% of SCD patients in our sample received hydroxyurea at any point in their follow-up. The annual average cost of SCD care is €5,528.70 (G1) to €6,643.80 (G2), with most costs arising from hospitalization and lab testing. CONCLUSION: Our study estimates SCD prevalence in France at between 19,800 and 32,400 patients in 2016, higher than previously published. This study highlights the significant disease burden associated with vaso-occlusive events.

36. Value of one additional injection at the root of the limb in the lymphoscintigraphic evaluation and management of primary and secondary lower-limb lymphedemas.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Bourgeois P, Leduc O.

INTRODUCTION: The classical lymphoscintigraphic investigations of lower-limb lymphatic edema [LLLE] sometimes reveal either no or few lymph nodes [LNs] at the root of the limb[s] and/or in the abdomen. The aim of the present paper is to report the results of performing one additional injection at the root of the edematous limb[s] to force the visualization of the LNs and/or to demonstrate the collateral lymphatic pathways in such patients. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We retrospectively reviewed our database and found 99 patients [44 primary LLLE with 47 limbs injected and 55 with LLLE secondary to treatments for cancer with 64 limbs injected] where such an additional injection had been performed. In the 43 LLLE patients where no LNs were seen at the end of the classical exam [15 primary LLLE and 28 secondary LLLE], the extra injection showed lymphatic drainage toward LN[s] in all except 3 and when at least one LN was seen, the injection showed lymphatic drainage in every case toward the same ipsilateral [inguinal and/or iliac] LNs [as shown by the classical injection] and/or toward additional LNs. In 40.7% of patients, we observed one or more additional lymphatic pathways: prepubic superficial lymphatic vessels [LV] crossing the midline anteriorly toward contralateral inguinal LNs in 21 [18.9%], "posterior" LV [toward contralateral inguinal LNs and/or ipsi- or contralateral lumbo-aortic and/or para-renal LNs] in 14 [12.6%], but deep LV toward the ipsilateral common iliac LNs passing between the gluteal muscles in 32 [28.8%]. CONCLUSION: Our work pinpoints one limitation of classical bipedal radionuclide lymphangiography. In patients with primary and secondary LLLE where inguinal and/or iliac LNs cannot be seen on bipedal radionuclide lymphangiography, this additional injection reveals the true lympho-nodal status and shows unexpected collateral lymphatic pathways in 40% of cases. Such information is of the utmost importance in LLLE management and its acquisition is consequently recommended in these patients.

37. Dissection of a rice OsMac1 mRNA 5' UTR to uncover regulatory elements that are responsible for its efficient translation.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Mutsuro-Aoki H, Teramura H, Tamukai R

38. Exposure to low-dose ambient fine particulate matter PM2.5 and Alzheimer's disease, non-Alzheimer's dementia, and Parkinson's disease in North Carolina.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Rhew SH, Kravchenko J, Lyerly HK.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), non-AD dementia, and Parkinson's disease (PD) are increasingly common in older adults, yet all risk factors for their onset are not fully understood. Consequently, environmental exposures, including air pollution, have been hypothesized to contribute to the etiology of neurodegeneration. Because persistently elevated rates of AD mortality in the southern Piedmont area of North Carolina (NC) have been documented, we studied mortality and hospital admissions for AD, non-AD dementia, and PD in residential populations aged 65+ with long-term exposures to elevated levels of ambient air particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality standards (≥10μg/m3). Health data were obtained from the State Center for Health Statistics and the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. PM2.5 levels were obtained from the MODIS/MISR and SeaWiFS datafiles. Residents in the Study group of elevated air particulate matter (87 zip codes with PM2.5≥10μg/m3) were compared to the residents in the Control group with low levels of air particulate matter (81 zip codes with PM2.5≤7.61μg/m3), and were found to have higher age-adjusted rates of mortality and hospital admissions for AD, non-AD dementia, and PD, including a most pronounced increase in AD mortality (323/100,000 vs. 257/100,000, respectively). After adjustment for multiple co-factors, the risk of death (odds ratio, or OR) from AD in the Study group (OR = 1.35, 95%CI[1.24-1.48]) was significantly higher than ORs of non-AD dementia or PD (OR = 0.97, 95%CI[0.90-1.04] and OR = 1.13, 95%CI[0.92-1.31]). The OR of hospital admissions was significantly increased only for AD as a primary case of hospitalization (OR = 1.54, 95%CI[1.31-1.82]). Conclusion: NC residents aged 65+ with long-term exposures to ambient PM2.5 levels exceeding the WHO standard had significantly increased risks of death and hospital admissions for AD. The effects for non-AD dementia and PD were less pronounced.

39. Association of BMI, comorbidities and all-cause mortality by using a baseline mortality risk model.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Li J, Simon G, Castro MR

40. Government responses and COVID-19 deaths: Global evidence across multiple pandemic waves.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Hale T, Angrist N, Hale AJ

41. Racial differences in the systemic inflammatory response to prostate cancer.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Rundle AG, Sadasivan SM, Chitale DA

42. Operative treatment of fragility fractures of the pelvis is connected with lower mortality. A single institution experience.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Rommens PM, Boudissa M, Krämer S

43. Reference genes for mesangial cell and podocyte qPCR gene expression studies under high-glucose and renin-angiotensin-system blocker conditions.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Hosni ND, Anauate AC, Boim MA.

44. The short- and long-term temporal relation between falls and concern about falling in older adults without a recent history of falling.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Weijer RHA, Hoozemans MJM, Meijer OG

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The reciprocal relation between falling and concern about falling is complex and not well understood. We aimed to determine whether concern about falling increases after a fall and whether concern about falling increases the odds of future falls in community-dwelling older adults without a recent fall history. METHODS: We selected 118 community-dwelling older adults (mean age: 71.4 (SD: 5.3) years) without a self-reported history of falling, one year prior to baseline assessment, from the one-year VIBE cohort for analyses. On a monthly basis, we recorded concern about falling (using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International, FES-I), as well as the occurrence of falls (through questionnaires and telephone calls). We determined 1) whether falling predicts an increase in concern about falling and 2) whether a high concern about falling is predictive of falling. Standard linear (fixed-effects) regression and mixed effects regression analyses were performed over long-term, i.e. one year, and short-term, i.e. one-month, intervals, respectively and were adjusted for gender, age and physical activity (quantified as the average total walking duration per day). Analyses were performed separately for all reported falls and for injurious falls only. RESULTS: High concern about falling at baseline did not predict falls over the course of one year, nor over the course of one month. Furthermore, falls in between baseline assessment and one year thereafter did not predict increased concern about falling from baseline to one year later, independent of whether all falls or only injurious falls were considered. However, falls, either all or injurious only, happening somewhere over the course of a one-month interval, significantly predicted small increases in concern about falling (1.49 FES-I points, 95% CI [0.74, 2.25], p<0.001 for all falls; 2.60 FES-I points, 95% CI [1.55, 3.64], p<0.001 for injurious falls) from the start to the end of that one-month interval. CONCLUSION: Older adults without a recent history of falling seem to be resilient against developing concern about falling after having fallen, resulting in a short-term temporary effect of falling on concern about falling. Furthermore, we found no evidence that a high concern about falling predicts future falls over a one-month or a one-year follow-up period, suggesting that concern is not a primary cause for falls in older adults without a recent history of falling.

45. Drug coated balloons for coronary artery bifurcation lesions: A systematic review and focused meta-analysis.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 9

Corballis NH, Paddock S, Gunawardena T

46. A meta-analysis of financial self-control strategies: Comparing empirical findings with online media and lay person perspectives on what helps individuals curb spending and start saving.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 8

Davydenko M, Kolbuszewska M, Peetz J.

47. Large scale dog population demography, dog management and bite risk factors analysis: A crucial step towards rabies control in Cambodia.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 8

Chevalier V, Davun H, Sorn S

48. Perceptions of laboratory animal facility managers regarding institutional transparency.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 8

Brunt MW, Weary DM.

49. The impact of COVID-19 on Physical Activity of Czech children.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 8

Štveráková T, Jačisko J, Busch A

50. Salmon subsidies predict territory size and habitat selection of an avian insectivore.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 8

Wilcox KA, Wagner MA, Reynolds JD.

51. Differential contributions of implicit and explicit learning mechanisms to various contextual cues in dual adaptation.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 8

Ayala MN, Henriques DYP.

The ability to switch between different visuomotor maps accurately and efficiently is an invaluable feature to a flexible and adaptive human motor system. This can be examined in dual adaptation paradigms where the motor system is challenged to perform under randomly switching, opposing perturbations. Typically, dual adaptation doesn't proceed unless each mapping is trained in association with a predictive cue. To investigate this, we first explored whether dual adaptation occurs under a variety of contextual cues including active follow-through movements, passive follow-through movements, active lead-in movements, and static visual cues. In the second experiment, we provided one group with a compensatory strategy about the perturbations (30° CW and 30° CCW rotations) and their relationships to each context (static visual cues). We found that active, but not passive, movement cues elicited dual adaptation. Expectedly, we didn't find evidence for dual adaptation using static visual cues, but those in the Instruction group compensated by implementing aiming strategies. Then, across all experimental conditions, we explored the extent by which dual learning is supported by both implicit and explicit mechanisms, regardless of whether they elicited dual adaptation across all the various cues. To this end, following perturbed training, participants from all experiments were asked to either use or ignore the strategy as they reached without visual feedback. This Process Dissociation Procedure teased apart the implicit and explicit contributions to dual adaptation. Critically, we didn't find evidence for implicit learning for those given instructions, suggesting that when explicit aiming strategies are implemented in dual adaptation, implicit mechanisms are likely not involved. Thus, by implementing conscious strategies, dual adaptation can be easily facilitated even in cases where learning would not occur otherwise.

52. Prevalence and incidence of possible vascular dementia among Mexican older adults: Analysis of the Mexican Health and Aging Study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 8

Yeverino-Castro SG, Mejía-Arango S, Mimenza-Alvarado AJ

INTRODUCTION: Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia. Physical disability and cognitive impairment due to stroke are conditions that considerably affect quality of life. We estimated the prevalence and incidence of possible vascular dementia (PVD) in older adults using data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS 2012 and 2015 waves). METHODS: The MHAS is a representative longitudinal cohort study of Mexican adults aged ≥50 years. Data from 14, 893 participants from the 2012 cohort and 14,154 from the 2015 cohort were analyzed to estimate the prevalence and incidence of PVD. Self-respondents with history of stroke were classified as PVD if scores in two or more cognitive domains in the Cross-Cultural Cognitive Examination were ≥ 1.5 standard deviations below the mean on reference norms and if limitations in ≥ 1 instrumental activities of daily living were present. For proxy respondents with history of stroke, we used a score ≥3.4 on the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly. Crude and standardized rates of prevalent and incident PVD were estimated. RESULTS: Prevalence of PVD was 0.6% (95% CI, 0.5-0.8) (0.5 with age and sex- standardization). Rates increased with age reaching 2.0% among those aged 80 and older and decreased with educational attainment. After 3.0 years of follow-up, 87 new cases of PVD represented an overall incident rate of 2.2 (95% CI, 1.7-2.6) per 1,000 person-years (2.0 with age and sex- standardization). Incidence also increased with advancing age reaching an overall rate of 9.4 (95% CI, 6.3-13.6) per 1,000 person-years for participants aged >80 years. Hypertension and depressive symptoms were strong predictors of incident PVD. CONCLUSION: These data provide new estimates of PVD prevalence and incidence in the Mexican population. We found that PVD incidence increased with age. Males aged 80 years or older showed a greater incidence rate when compared to females, which is comparable to previous estimates from other studies.

53. Integrated evaluation of lung disease in single animals.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 8

Mandal P, Lyons JD, Burd EM

54. The magnitude of undernutrition and associated factors among adult chronic kidney disease patients in selected hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 8

Asefa M, Abebe A, Balcha B

BACKGROUND: Undernutrition is a common comorbidity in chronic kidney disease patients which augments the progression of the disease to an end-stage renal disease, renal dysfunction and related morbidity and mortality. However, in Ethiopia, there is a dearth of research evidence in this regard. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of undernutrition and its associated factors among adult chronic kidney disease patients. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in selected hospitals of Addis Ababa from May to August 2018. Data were collected by structured and pretested questionnaires. Patients' charts were reviewed from their medical profiles. Body mass index was calculated from anthropometric measurements using calibrated instruments. Serum albumin level was determined by reference laboratory standard procedure. Data were entered into Epi- data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 21 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were calculated and presented by tables, graphs and texts. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were computed and the level of statistical significance was declared at p-value <0.05. RESULTS: From the total sample size of 403 participants, 371 were involved in the study. The prevalence of undernutrition (BMI<18.5) among adult chronic kidney disease patients was 43.1% (95% CI: 38%-48%). Undernutrition (BMI<18.5) was significantly higher among patients with diabetic nephropathy [AOR = 2.00, 95% CI, 1.09-2.66], serum albumin value less than 3.8g/dl [AOR = 4.21: CI, 2.07-5.07], recently diagnosed with diabetes mellitus [AOR = 2.36, 95% CI, 1.03-3.14] and stage V chronic kidney disease [AOR = 3.25:95% CI, 1.00-3.87]. CONCLUSION: Undernutrition in chronic kidney disease patients was significantly higher among patients with diabetic nephropathy, patients on stage V chronic kidney disease, recently diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and serum albumin value less than 3.8g/dl.

55. Alkaloid and acetogenin-rich fraction from Annona crassiflora fruit peel inhibits proliferation and migration of human liver cancer HepG2 cells.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 8

Justino AB, Florentino RM, França A

56. Major bioactive chemical compounds in Astragali Radix samples from different vendors vary greatly.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 7

Kafle B, Baak JPA, Brede C.

57. Routine health information utilization and associated factors among health care workers in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 7

Mekonnen BD, Gebeyehu SB.

BACKGROUND: Utilization of routine health information plays a vital role for the effectiveness of routine and programed decisions. A proper utilization of routine health information helps to make decisions based on evidence. Considerable studies have been done on the utilization of routine health information among health workers in Ethiopia, but inconsistent findings were reported. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the pooled utilization of routine health information and to identify associated factors among health workers in Ethiopia. METHODS: Search of PubMed, HINARI, Global Health, Scopus, EMBASE, web of science, and Google Scholar was conducted to identify relevant studies from October 24, 2020 to November 18, 2020. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale tool was used to assess the quality of included studies. Two reviewers extracted the data independently using a standardized data extraction format and exported to STATA software version 11 for meta-analysis. Heterogeneity among studies was checked using Cochrane Q and I2 test statistics. The pooled estimate of utilization of routine health information was executed using a random effect model. RESULTS: After reviewing 22924 studies, 10 studies involving 4054 health workers were included for this review and meta-analysis. The pooled estimate of routine health information utilization among health workers in Ethiopia was 57.42% (95% CI: 41.48, 73.36). Supportive supervision (AOR = 2.25; 95% CI: 1.80, 2.82), regular feedback (AOR = 2.86; 95% CI: 1.60, 5.12), availability of standard guideline (AOR = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.80, 3.58), data management knowledge (AOR = 3.04; 95% CI: 1.75, 5.29) and training on health information (AOR = 3.45; 95% CI: 1.96, 6.07) were identified factors associated with utilization of routine health information. CONCLUSION: This systematic review and meta-analysis found that more than two-fifth of health workers did not use their routine health information. This study suggests the need to conduct regular supportive supervision, provision of training and capacity building, mentoring on competence of routine health information tasks, and strengthening regular feedback at all health facilities. In addition, improving the accessibility and availability of standard set of indicators is important to scale-up information use.

58. Radiocapitellar incongruity of the radial head in magnetic resonance imaging correlates with pathologic changes of the lateral elbow stabilizers in lateral epicondylitis.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 7

Kim YS, Kim ST, Lee KH

59. No evidence for increased fitness of offspring from multigenerational effects of parental size or natal carcass size in the burying beetle Nicrophorus marginatus.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 7

Damron EP, Smith AN, Jo D

60. Rheological modification of partially oxidised cellulose nanofibril gels with inorganic clays.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 7

Bryant SJ, Calabrese V, da Silva MA

61. Women empowerment and skilled birth attendance in sub-Saharan Africa: A multi-country analysis.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 7

Dickson KS, Adde KS, Ameyaw EK.

INTRODUCTION: In 2017, the highest global maternal deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The WHO advocates that maternal deaths can be mitigated with the assistance of skilled birth attendants (SBAs) at childbirth. Women empowerment is also acknowledged as an enabling factor to women's functionality and healthcare utilisation including use of SBAs' services. Consequently, this study investigated the association between women empowerment and skilled birth attendance in SSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved the analysis of secondary data from the Demographic and Health Surveys of 29 countries conducted between January 1, 2010, and December 3, 2018. For this study, only women who had given birth in the five years prior to the surveys were included, which is 166,022. At 95% confidence interval, Binary Logistic Regression analyses were conducted and findings were presented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of skilled birth attendance was 63.0%, with the lowest prevalence in Tanzania (13.8%) and highest in Rwanda (91.2%). Women who were empowered with high level of knowledge (aOR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.51, 1.71), high decision-making power (aOR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.15, 1.23), and low acceptance of wife beating had higher likelihood of skill birth attendance after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics. Women from rural areas had lesser likelihood (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.51-0.55) of skilled birth attendance compared to women from urban areas. Working women had a lesser likelihood of skilled birth attendance (OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.88-0.94) as compared to those not working. Women with secondary (OR = 2.13, 95% CI = 2.03-2.22), or higher education (OR = 4.40, 95% CI = 3.81-5.07), and women in the richest wealth status (OR = 3.50, 95% CI = 3.29-3.73) had higher likelihood of skilled birth attendance. CONCLUSION: These findings accentuate that going forward, successful skilled birth attendant interventions are the ones that can prioritise the empowerment of women.

62. Scanning electron microscopy preparation of the cellular actin cortex: A quantitative comparison between critical point drying and hexamethyldisilazane drying.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 7

Schu M, Terriac E, Koch M

63. Electronic media use and symptoms of depression among adolescents in Norway.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 7

Kleppang AL, Steigen AM, Ma L

64. The drug development pipeline for glioblastoma-A cross sectional assessment of the FDA Orphan Drug Product designation database.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 7

Johann P, Lenz D, Ries M.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant brain tumour among adult patients and represents an almost universally fatal disease. Novel therapies for GBM are being developed under the orphan drug legislation and the knowledge on the molecular makeup of this disease has been increasing rapidly. However, the clinical outcomes in GBM patients with currently available therapies are still dismal. An insight into the current drug development pipeline for GBM is therefore of particular interest. OBJECTIVES: To provide a quantitative clinical-regulatory insight into the status of FDA orphan drug designations for compounds intended to treat GBM. METHODS: Quantitative cross-sectional analysis of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Orphan Drug Product database between 1983 and 2020. STROBE criteria were respected. RESULTS: Four orphan drugs out of 161 (2,4%) orphan drug designations were approved for the treatment for GBM by the FDA between 1983 and 2020. Fourteen orphan drug designations were subsequently withdrawn for unknown reasons. The number of orphan drug designations per year shows a growing trend. In the last decade, the therapeutic mechanism of action of designated compounds intended to treat glioblastoma shifted from cytotoxic drugs (median year of designation 2008) to immunotherapeutic approaches and small molecules (median year of designation 2014 and 2015 respectively) suggesting an increased focus on precision in the therapeutic mechanism of action for compounds the development pipeline. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that current pharmacological treatment options in GBM are sparse, the drug development pipeline is steadily growing. In particular, the surge of designated immunotherapies detected in the last years raises the hope that elaborate combination possibilities between classical therapeutic backbones (radiotherapy and chemotherapy) and novel, currently experimental therapeutics may help to provide better therapies for this deadly disease in the future.

65. Bilateral associated game: Gain and loss in revaluation.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 7

Wang W.

66. Ambient light level varies with different locations and environmental conditions: Potential to impact myopia.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 7

Bhandary SK, Dhakal R, Sanghavi V

PURPOSE: Considering that time spent outdoors is protective for myopia, we investigated how ambient light levels reaching the eye varies across 9 outdoor and 4 indoor locations in 5 different environmental conditions. METHODS: Illuminance (lux) was recorded using a lux meter under conditions of weather (sunny/cloudy), time of a day (7:00,10:00,13:00, and 16:00 hours), seasons (summer/winter), and sun protection (hat and cap) in outdoor and indoor locations. Nine outdoor locations were "open playground", "under a translucent artificial-shade", "under a porch facing east", "under a porch facing south", "under a big tree", "between three buildings", "within 4 buildings", and "canopy". As a ninth outdoor location, "Under a glass bowl" in the outdoor location was used as a simulation for "glass classroom model" and measurement was taken at the floor level only to determine in overall the illuminance conditions with glass covered on all sides. The 4 indoor locations included "room with multiple large windows", "room with combination light source", "room with multiple artificial lights", and "room with single artificial light". RESULTS: The overall median illuminance level (median; Q1-Q3) recorded in 9 outdoor locations was 8 times higher than that of all indoor locations (1175;197-5400 lux vs. 179;50-333 lux). Highest illuminance in outdoor locations was recorded in "open playground" (9300;4100-16825 lux), followed by "under a translucent artificial shade (8180;4200-13300 lux) and the lowest in "within 4 buildings" (11;6-20 lux). Illuminance under 'Canopy', 'between three buildings' and 'within four buildings' was similar to that of indoor locations (<1000 lux). Time of the day, weather, season, sensor position and using sun protection did not alter illuminance to change from high to low level (>1000 to <1000 lux). Among indoor locations, illuminance in "room with multiple large windows" crossed 1000 lux at a specific time points on both sunny and cloudy days. CONCLUSIONS: Illuminance levels in outdoors and indoors varied with location type, but not with other conditions. Given the variation in illuminance in different locations, and the impact it may have on myopia control, appropriate detailed recommendations seems necessary while suggesting time outdoors as an anti-myopia strategy to ensure desired outcomes.

67. Mapping urban greenspace use from mobile phone GPS data.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 7

Mears M, Brindley P, Barrows P

68. Physical activity, brain tissue microstructure, and cognition in older adults.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 7

Dawe RJ, Yu L, Leurgans SE

69. Cervical cancer risk and access: Utilizing three statistical tools to assess Haitian women in South Florida.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 6

Moise RK, Balise R, Ragin C

70. GeneXpert on patients with human immunodeficiency virus and smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 6

Cuong NK, Ngoc NB, Hoa NB

71. A hybrid simulation model to study the impact of combined interventions on Ebola epidemic.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 6

Chen P, Fan W, Guo X.

72. Transcriptome analysis of chloride intracellular channel knockdown in Drosophila identifies oxidation-reduction function as possible mechanism of altered sensitivity to ethanol sedation.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 6

Weston RM, Schmitt RE, Grotewiel M

Chloride intracellular channels (CLICs) are a unique family of evolutionarily conserved metamorphic proteins, switching between stable conformations based on redox conditions. CLICs have been implicated in a wide variety biological processes including ion channel activity, apoptosis, membrane trafficking, and enzymatic oxidoreductase activity. Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which CLICs engage in these activities is an area of active research. Here, the sole Drosophila melanogaster ortholog, Clic, was targeted for RNAi knockdown to identify genes and biological processes associated with Clic expression. Clic knockdown had a substantial impact on global transcription, altering expression of over 7% of transcribed Drosophila genes. Overrepresentation analysis of differentially expressed genes identified enrichment of Gene Ontology terms including Cytoplasmic Translation, Oxidation-Reduction Process, Heme Binding, Membrane, Cell Junction, and Nucleolus. The top term, Cytoplasmic Translation, was enriched almost exclusively with downregulated genes. Drosophila Clic and vertebrate ortholog Clic4 have previously been tied to ethanol sensitivity and ethanol-regulated expression. Clic knockdown-responsive genes from the present study were found to overlap significantly with gene sets from 4 independently published studies related to ethanol exposure and sensitivity in Drosophila. Bioinformatic analysis of genes shared between these studies revealed an enrichment of genes related to amino acid metabolism, protein processing, oxidation-reduction processes, and lipid particles among others. To determine whether the modulation of ethanol sensitivity by Clic may be related to co-regulated oxidation-reduction processes, we evaluated the effect of hyperoxia on ethanol sedation in Clic knockdown flies. Consistent with previous findings, Clic knockdown reduced acute ethanol sedation sensitivity in flies housed under normoxia. However, this effect was reversed by exposure to hyperoxia, suggesting a common set of molecular-genetic mechanism may modulate each of these processes. This study suggests that Drosophila Clic has a major influence on regulation of oxidative stress signaling and that this function overlaps with the molecular mechanisms of acute ethanol sensitivity in the fly.

73. Mortality and morbidity of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with ambient environment in metropolitans in Taiwan.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 6

Zafirah Y, Lin YK, Andhikaputra G

74. Magnitude and determinants of adequate antenatal care service utilization among mothers in Southern Ethiopia.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 6

Gebrekirstos LG, Wube TB, Gebremedhin MH

75. Structural and functional diversity among Type III restriction-modification systems that confer host DNA protection via methylation of the N4 atom of cytosine.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 6

Murray IA, Luyten YA, Fomenkov A

76. Structural characteristics and proximity comparison of China's urban innovation cooperation network.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 30

Yuan Y, Han Z.

How to promote and improve the level of urban innovation cooperation is a major issue in China's current high-quality economic development. Thus, enhancing innovation ability is essential to achieving high-quality economic growth under the "new normal". Based on the data of Chinese invention patents from 1985 to 2017, this paper analyzes the characteristics of China's urban innovation cooperation network and the different roles of proximity by using social network analysis and exploratory spatial data analysis methods. The analysis results show that: (1) On the whole, the development of China's urban innovation cooperation network is characterized by stages (initial development stage, rapid development stage, and gradual decline stage); The urban innovation cooperation network has strong connectivity and centripetal concentration but its imbalance needs to be further improved; The degree of urban participation has gradually increased, consolidating the stability of the network structure. (2) The centrality of urban innovation cooperation network has obvious characteristics of administrative center orientation, coastal areas orientation, and 'strong east and weak west'; Beijing is the center and bridge of the network, and the network flattening characteristics are obvious; A hierarchical 'core-edge' structure is gradually formed for the urban innovation cooperation network, and the pyramid structure with Beijing standing at the top is being consolidated. (3) The geographical proximity presents a significant global spatial positive correlation, while the network proximity and pure network proximity have a more significant global spatial negative correlation; The local spatial autocorrelation of China's urban innovation cooperation system based on network proximity is more obvious and identifiable than that based on the geographical proximity, which better reflects the new development model of "relationship economy".

77. Workplace noise exposure and the prevalence and 10-year incidence of age-related hearing loss.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 30

Gopinath B, McMahon C, Tang D

78. Unhealthy lifestyles and brain condition: Examining the relations of BMI, living alone, alcohol intake, short sleep, smoking, and lack of exercise with gray matter volume.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 30

Kokubun K, Pineda JCD, Yamakawa Y.

79. Cellular responses at the application site of a high-density microarray patch delivering an influenza vaccine in a randomized, controlled phase I clinical trial.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 30

Depelsenaire ACI, Witham K, Veitch M

Microarray patches (MAPs) have the potential to be a safer, more acceptable, easier to use and more cost-effective method for administration of vaccines when compared to the needle and syringe. Since MAPs deliver vaccine to the dermis and epidermis, a degree of local immune response at the site of application is expected. In a phase 1 clinical trial (ACTRN 12618000112268), the Vaxxas high-density MAP (HD-MAP) was used to deliver a monovalent, split inactivated influenza virus vaccine into the skin. HD-MAP immunisation led to significantly enhanced humoral responses on day 8, 22 and 61 compared with IM injection of a quadrivalent commercial seasonal influenza vaccine (Afluria Quadrivalent®). Here, the aim was to analyse cellular responses to HD-MAPs in the skin of trial subjects, using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. HD-MAPs were coated with a split inactivated influenza virus vaccine (A/Singapore/GP1908/2015 [H1N1]), to deliver 5 μg haemagglutinin (HA) per HD-MAP. Three HD-MAPs were applied to the volar forearm (FA) of five healthy volunteers (to achieve the required 15 μg HA dose), whilst five control subjects received three uncoated HD-MAPs (placebo). Local skin response was recorded for over 61 days and haemagglutination inhibition antibody titres (HAI) were assessed on days 1, 4, 8, 22, and 61. Skin biopsies were taken before (day 1), and three days after HD-MAP application (day 4) and analysed by flow-cytometry and immunohistochemistry to compare local immune subset infiltration. HD-MAP vaccination with 15 μg HA resulted in significant HAI antibody titres compared to the placebo group. Application of uncoated placebo HD-MAPs resulted in mild erythema and oedema in most subjects, that resolved by day 4 in 80% of subjects. Active, HA-coated HD-MAP application resulted in stronger erythema responses on day 4, which resolved between days 22-61. Overall, these erythema responses were accompanied by an influx of immune cells in all subjects. Increased cell infiltration of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T cells as well as myeloid CD11b+ CD11c+ and non-myeloid CD11b- dendritic cells were observed in all subjects, but more pronounced in active HD-MAP groups. In contrast, CD19+/CD20+ B cell counts remained unchanged. Key limitations include the use of an influenza vaccine, to which the subjects may have had previous exposure. Different results might have been obtained with HD-MAPs inducing a primary immune response. In conclusion, influenza vaccine administered to the forearm (FA) using the HD-MAP was well-tolerated and induced a mild to moderate skin response with lymphocytic infiltrate at the site of application.

80. Do economic effects of the anti-COVID-19 lockdowns in different regions interact through supply chains?

PLoS One

2021 Jul 30

Inoue H, Murase Y, Todo Y.

81. Attenuating nicotine's effects with high affinity human anti-nicotine monoclonal antibodies.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 30

Raleigh MD, Beltraminelli N, Fallot S

82. Meta-analysis of the prevalence of malaria associated with pregnancy in Colombia 2000-2020.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 30

Cardona-Arias JA, Carmona-Fonseca J.

Knowledge about malaria associated with pregnancy is scarce in Latin America, and in Colombia, little is known about the magnitude of this infection. A systematic review was conducted to determine the prevalence of malaria associated with pregnancy (MAP) and each of its three forms: gestational (GM), placental (PM), and congenital (CM) tested using thick blood smear (TBS) and PCR. Also to compare the proportion of cases due to Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in Colombia from the year 2000-2020. We searched in Pubmed, Science Direct, EMBASE, EMCare, Cochrane Library, Scielo, Lilacs, Google Scholar, libraries, and repositories of Colombian universities, to obtain data on prevalence of GM, PM and CM with their respective testing method. We performed a meta-analysis with a random-effects model to obtain pooled prevalence of MAP and its three forms categorized by testing methods (TBS and PCR). We used data from 14 studies (out of 258 screened) contributing 7932, 2506 women for GM and PM respectively, also data on 1143 umbilical cord blood samples, and 899 peripheral blood of neonates. We found prevalence by TBS as, MAP 4.5% (95%CI = 2.9-6.9), GM 5.8% (95%CI = 3.8-8.7), PM 3.4% (95%CI = 1.7-6.7) and CM 1.3% (95%CI = 0.6-3.0). With PCR the prevalence was, MAP 14.4% (95%CI = 7.6-25.5), GM 16.7% (95%CI = 9.0-28.8), PM 11.0% (95%CI = 4.1-26.3) and CM 16.2% (95%CI = 8.2-29.5). The prevalence of submicroscopic infection was 8.5% (95%CI = 3.4-19.7) in GM, 10.1% (95%CI = 3.5-25.5) in PM and 22.0% (95%CI = 13.2-34.3) in CM. Infections by P. vivax was dominant over P. falciparum when tested with TBS, the PCR test gave similar proportions of P. falciparum and P. vivax. This meta-analysis has demonstrated high prevalence of MAP in Colombia, and highlights the urgent need to increase attention of researchers, research funding institutions, government agencies, and health authorities to study and intervene MAP, that has currently been under investigated.

83. Using financial diaries to understand the economic lives of HIV-positive pregnant women and new mothers in PMTCT in Zomba, Malawi.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 30

Lorenzetti L, Swann M, Martinez A

BACKGROUND: Economic strengthening (ES) interventions can address economic barriers to retention and adherence (R&A) to antiretroviral therapy in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services. To inform tailoring of ES activities for PMTCT, we used financial diaries to understand the economic lives of women in PMTCT and examine associations between participants' finances and their R&A. METHODS: We collected financial data from a stratified sample (n = 241) of HIV-positive pregnant women and new mothers enrolled in PMTCT from three clinics in Zomba, Malawi. For 30 weeks, participants met with staff to record cash and in-kind inflows and outflows. We used clinical records to calculate a measure of R&A for each participant. We summarized diary data using R and used cox proportional hazard models to examine the relationship between R&A and participant characteristics and behavior. RESULTS: There were 68,097 cash transactions over 30 weeks, with 10% characterized as inflows. The median value of cash inflows was US$3.54 compared with US$0.42 for cash outflows. Fewer than 7% of total transactions were considered related to PMTCT, with the majority classified as food or drink. Participants in the rural site had the lowest hazard of non-adherence. Decreased hazard of non-adherence was also linked to having dependents and years on ART. There were significant differences in cash inflows and outflows between those who were always adherent and those who were not. CONCLUSIONS: Financial inflows were large and erratic, whereas outflows were small but consistent. PMTCT expenses comprised a small proportion of overall expenses and focused on proper nutrition. The influence of inflows and outflows on adherence was significant but small; however, always adherent participants demonstrated smoother inflows and outflows, indicating an association between greater adherence and economic stability. Participants would benefit from interventions that bolster and stabilize their economic lives, including income generating activities in the agricultural industry and inclusion in village banks.

84. Prediction of hyaluronic acid target on sucrase-isomaltase (SI) with reverse docking and molecular dynamics simulations for inhibitors binding to SI.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 30

Li X, Qian K, Han W.

85. Positive effect of village debt on land transfer: Evidence from county-level panel data of village finance in Zhejiang Province.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 30

Ye C, Zheng S, Gu E.

86. Single image mixed dehazing method based on numerical iterative model and DehazeNet.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 30

Jiao W, Jia X, Liu Y

87. Prevalence of non-communicable diseases risk factors and their determinants: Results from STEPS survey 2019, Nepal.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 30

Bista B, Dhimal M, Bhattarai S

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends ongoing surveillance of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors, using the WHO STEPwise approach to surveillance (STEPS). The aim of this study was to assess the distribution and determinants of NCD risk factors in Nepal, a low-income country, in which two-thirds (66%) of annual deaths are attributable to NCDs. METHODS: A nationally representative NCD risk factors STEPS survey (instrument version 3.2), was conducted between February and May 2019, among 6,475 eligible participants of age 15-69 years sampled from all 7 provinces through multistage sampling process. Data collection involved assessment of behavioral and biochemical risk factors. Complex survey analysis was completed in STATA 15, along with Poisson regression modelling to examine associations between covariates and risk factor prevalence. RESULTS: The most prevalent risk factor was consumption of less than five servings of fruit and vegetables a day (97%; 95% CI: 94.3-98.0). Out of total participants, 17% (95% CI: 15.1-19.1) were current smoker, 6.8% (95% CI: 5.3-8.2) were consuming ≥60g/month alcohol per month and 7.4% (95% CI:5.7-10.1) were having low level of physical activity. Approximately, 24.3% (95% CI: 21.6-27.2) were overweight or obese (BMI≥25kg/m2) while 24.5% (95% CI: 22.4-26.7) and 5.8% (95% CI: 4.3-7.3) had raised blood pressure (BP) and raised blood glucose respectively. Similarly, the prevalence of raised total cholesterol was 11% (95% CI: 9.6-12.6). Sex and education level of participants were statistically associated with smoking, harmful alcohol use and raised BP. Participants of age 30-44 years and 45-69 years were found to have increased risk of overweight, raised BP, raised blood sugar and raised blood cholesterol. Similarly, participants in richest wealth quintile had higher odds of insufficient physical inactivity, overweight and raised blood cholesterol. On average, each participant had 2 NCD related risk factors (2.04, 95% CI: 2.02-2.08). CONCLUSION: A large portion of the Nepalese population are living with a variety of NCD risk factors. These surveillance data should be used to support and monitor province specific NCD prevention and control interventions throughout Nepal, supported by a multi-sectoral national coordination mechanism.

88. Microbiome of the wasp Vespula pensylvanica in native and invasive populations, and associations with Moku virus.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Rothman JA, Loope KJ, McFrederick QS

Invasive species present a worldwide concern as competition and pathogen reservoirs for native species. Specifically, the invasive social wasp, Vespula pensylvanica, is native to western North America and has become naturalized in Hawaii, where it exerts pressures on native arthropod communities as a competitor and predator. As invasive species may alter the microbial and disease ecology of their introduced ranges, there is a need to understand the microbiomes and virology of social wasps. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize the microbiome of V. pensylvanica samples pooled by colony across two geographically distinct ranges and found that wasps generally associate with taxa within the bacterial genera Fructobacillus, Fructilactobacillus, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, and Zymobacter, and likely associate with environmentally-acquired bacteria. Furthermore, V. pensylvanica harbors-and in some cases were dominated by-many endosymbionts including Wolbachia, Sodalis, Arsenophonus, and Rickettsia, and were found to contain bee-associated taxa, likely due to scavenging on or predation upon honey bees. Next, we used reverse-transcriptase quantitative PCR to assay colony-level infection intensity for Moku virus (family: Iflaviridae), a recently-described disease that is known to infect multiple Hymenopteran species. While Moku virus was prevalent and in high titer, it did not associate with microbial diversity, indicating that the microbiome may not directly interact with Moku virus in V. pensylvanica in meaningful ways. Collectively, our results suggest that the invasive social wasp V. pensylvanica associates with a simple microbiome, may be infected with putative endosymbionts, likely acquires bacterial taxa from the environment and diet, and is often infected with Moku virus. Our results suggest that V. pensylvanica, like other invasive social insects, has the potential to act as a reservoir for bacteria pathogenic to other pollinators, though this requires experimental demonstration.

89. Routine antibiotics may not be needed to treat uncomplicated right diverticulitis: A retrospective cohort study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Lee KY, Lee J, Park YY

90. Reproducibility challenges in the search for antibacterial compounds from nature.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Masota NE, Vogg G, Ohlsen K

91. Urban children's connections to nature and environmental behaviors differ with age and gender.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Keith RJ, Given LM, Martin JM

92. Knowledge, attitude and practices of community pharmacists regarding COVID-19: A paper-based survey in Vietnam.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Nguyen HTT, Dinh DX, Nguyen VM.

OBJECTIVE: To survey the knowledge, attitude, and practices of Vietnamese pharmacists regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: This cross-sectional, paper-based study was conducted from June to August 2020. A validated questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha = 0.84) was used to interview 1,023 pharmacists in nine provinces of Vietnam. Analysis of covariance was employed to identify factors associated with the knowledge of pharmacists. The best model was chosen by using the Bayesian Model Averaging method in R software version 4.0.4. RESULTS: The mean knowledge score was 12.02 ± 1.64 (range: 6-15), which indicated that 93.4% of pharmacists had good knowledge of COVID-19. There was no difference in the average score between males and females (p > 0.05). The multivariate linear regression model revealed that the knowledge was significantly associated with pharmacists' age, education level, and residence (p < 0.001). About attitude and practices, pharmacists daily sought and updated information on the COVID-19 pandemic through mass media and the internet (social network and online newspapers). Nearly 48% of them conceded that they communicated with customers when at least one person did not wear a face mask at the time of the COVID-19 outbreak. At medicine outlets, many measures were applied to protect pharmacists and customers, such as equipping pharmacists with face masks and hand sanitizers (95.0%), using glass shields (83.0%), and maintaining at least one-meter distance between two people (85.2%). CONCLUSION: The pharmacists' knowledge of COVID-19 transmission, symptoms, and prevention was good. Many useful measures against the spread of this perilous virus were applied in medicine outlets. However, pharmacists should restrict forgetting to wear face masks in communication with medicine purchasers. The government and health agencies should have practical remedies to reduce the significant differences in the COVID-19 knowledge of pharmacists among provinces and education-level groups.

93. Evaluation of redevelopment priority of abandoned industrial and mining land based on heavy metal pollution.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Gao X, Tian J, Huo Z

94. Sri Lanka's early success in the containment of COVID-19 through its rapid response: Clinical & epidemiological evidence from the initial case series.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Arambepola C, Wickramasinghe ND, Jayakody S

BACKGROUND: Despite the rising global burden, Sri Lanka reported a relatively low caseload and mortality (13 deaths as of 20 October 2020) for COVID-19. This warrants exploration of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the case series during the initial passive case detection phase in Sri Lanka, in order to understand the success in containment of the disease for more than nine months in the country through its initial early and rapid pandemic response. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted using secondary data (hospital records and investigation reports) extracted from all laboratory-confirmed patients admitted to the three main state-sector hospitals in Sri Lanka from 11 March to 7 April 2020. Clinical outcomes were categorized as mild, severe and critical, as per the international classification. Kruskal-Wallis H, Mann Whitney U and Fisher's exact tests compared differences between the variables. RESULTS: The case series comprised 146 live discharges and six deaths. Majority were males (63.2%); mean age of 40.9 (SD = 17.9); and symptomatic (72.4%). Sixty-one (40.1%) had co-morbidities, the commonest being diabetes (20.4%) and hypertension (17.8%). Mild (93.4%), severe (2.6%) and critical (4.0%) disease outcomes were noted. Disease severity was significantly higher with older age (p = 0.037), co-morbidities (p = 0.026); and higher white-cell (p = 0.045) and lymphocyte (p = 0.043) counts; but not with being symptomatic (p = 0.683). The commonest symptoms were fever (62.5%), dry cough (48.0%) and sore throat (26.9%). The median duration (IQR) was 3.0 (1.0-5.0) and 18.0 (15.0-29.5) days, respectively before and during hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to high-risk countries, the younger age, milder disease and low mortality observed in local patients during the initial phase of the pandemic, reflect the early success in containment of the pandemic in Sri Lanka. However, once the disease becomes severe, the factors determining disease fatality remain the same as in other countries. This highlights the value of establishing strong public health systems and disease surveillance in a country, which could provide long-term effects on disease control.

95. Inclusion of photoautotrophic cultivated diatom biomass in salmon feed can deter lice.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Eilertsen HC, Elvevoll E, Giæver IH

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of diatom (microalgae) biomass as a lice-reducing ingredient in salmon feed. The original hypothesis was based on the fact that polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUAs), e.g. 2-trans, 4-trans decadenial (A3) produced by diatoms can function as grazing deterrents and harm copepod development. Salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) is a copepod, and we intended to test if inclusion of diatom biomass in the feed could reduce the infestation of lice on salmon. We performed experiments where salmon kept in tanks were offered four different diets, i.e. basic feed with diatoms, fish oil, Calanus sp. oil or rapeseed oil added. After a feeding period of 67 days a statistically representative group of fishes, tagged with diet group origin, were pooled in a 4000L tank and exposed to salmon lice copepodites whereafter lice infestation was enumerated. Salmon from all four diet groups had good growth with SGR values from 1.29 to 1.44% day-1 (increase from ca. 130 g to 350 g). At the termination of the experiment the number of lice on salmon offered diatom feed were statistically significantly lower than on salmon fed the other diets. Mean lice infestation values increased from diatom feed through Calanus and fish oil to standard feed with terrestrial plant ingredients. Analysis of the chemical composition of the different diets (fatty acids, amino acids) failed to explain the differences in lice infestation. The only notable result was that diatom and Calanus feed contained more FFA (free fatty acids) than feed with fish oil and the control feed. None of the potential deleterious targeted polyunsaturated aldehydes could be detected in skin samples of the salmon. What was exclusive for salmon that experienced reduced lice was diatom inclusion in the feed. This therefore still indicates the presence of some lice deterring ingredient, either in the feed, or an ingredient can have triggered production of an deterrent in the fish. An obvious follow up of this will be to perform experiments with different degrees of diatom inclusion in the feeds, i.e. dose response experiments combined with targeted PUA analyses, as well as to perform large scale experiments under natural conditions in aquaculture pens.

96. Combinatorial constraint coding based on the EORS algorithm in DNA storage.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Xiaoru L, Ling G.

97. The transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is likely comodulated by temperature and by relative humidity.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Raines KS, Doniach S, Bhanot G.

98. To comply or not comply? A latent profile analysis of behaviours and attitudes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Kleitman S, Fullerton DJ, Zhang LM

99. Inventorization of traditional ethnobotanical uses of wild plants of Dawarian and Ratti Gali areas of District Neelum, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Pakistan.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Ajaib M, Ishtiaq M, Bhatti KH

BACKGROUND: An ethnobotanical expedition was conducted to document the traditional ethnobotanical (TEB) uses of wild flora of Dawarian and Ratti Gali villages of District Neelam, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Pakistan. District Neelam has rich plant diversity and is hub of many endemic plant species while the study areas are not yet explored. The research area: Dawarian and Rati Gali (DRG) area is mountaineous terrain and villages are located on far and farther distances. DRG area has rich biocultural and plant diversity comprising of different ethnic groups of Kashmir state. The current research was aimed to explore and document traditional medicines (TEMs) and other domestic and commercial uses of wild plants. This study will assist to evaluate conservation and commercial worth of wild flora which can be potential candidate for drug discovery through ethnopharmacological analysis. METHODS: The current quantitative ethnobotanical research was carried out in 2018 by interviewing 150 indigenous informants (90 male and 60 female) of DRG area using questionnaire applying structured and semi structured interview methodology. Data analysis was analyzed by using quantitative ethnobotanical statistical tools such as fidelity level (FL), informant consensus factor (ICF), Spearman's rank correlation (SRC) and data matrix ranking (DMR). RESULTS: The indigenous people of DRG area use wild plants in their daily life to cope life necessities i.e. food, vegetables, fodder, fuel, shelter, timber and herbal medicines. TEMs are primarily used to cure different infirmities like diabetics, asthma, dysentery, constipation, cold, fever, joint pain, wound healing, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, epilepsy, kidney infections and many types of skin diseases. Current study revealed the data of 103 wild plants species belonging to 46 plant families from selected areas of District Neelum, AJK. Results depicted that Asteraceae ranked 1st (12 plants spp). Among plant parts used leaf ranked 1st (18%), followed by seed (17%) and root (13%). While prevalent form recipe mode was decoction (20%), followed by powder (17%) and extract (14%) and fodder was highest (37%) EB use-form fodder, followed by food (32%) and fuel (17%). Quantitative ethnobotanical analysis (QEA) was carried to find the reliability and novelty of the study. Five plant species including Berberis lyceum (FL = 97.78%), Isodon rugosus (FL = 95.71%), Saussurea lappa (FL = 94.74%), Aconitum heterophyllum (FL = 92.71%) and Taxus baccata (91.58%) had shown high fidelity level which confirmed that these plants have high medicinal worth in study area. The highest value (0.94) of ICF was for diseases group "tuberculosis and leucorrhea", followed by stomachache and flatulence (0.93), diabetics and blood pressure (0.92) and asthma and chest infections (0.88). For other uses fuel with ICF (0.83) ranked first and second was hedging and thatching (ICF = 0.82) where people use plants or their parts for construction. Spearman's rank correlation (SRC) test indicated that number of TEB uses increases if number of species is increased. Jaccard index (JI) analysis depicted that 56.31% plants are being used as TEMs which are first time explored from the study area. While 26.21% plants are being used in different TEB uses which are different from past cited literature. These novel findings of research indicate that wild flora of the study area has great potential for novel drug discovery and provision of materialist services for the indigenous communities. CONCLUSION: The present research revealed that TEMs uses of 58 plants are novel being first time reported from the study area (DRG) of District Neelam of AJK. The results showed that plants like Acer cappadocicum, Ajuga bracteosa and Swertia paniculata are used to cure diabetes, Viscum album, Viola canescens, Taxus baccata are used for cure of cancer, Isodon rugosus, Polygala chinensis are used in TEMs for treating cardiovascular disorders and Anaphalis triplinervis is used for epilepsy. Berberis lyceum, Ajuga bracteosa, Aconitum heterophyllum, Bistorta amplexicaule, Saussurea lapa and Jurinea dolomiaea are severely threatened and there is urgent need to do conservation measures for available of valuable MPs to the indigenous communities for life necessities and for future research. The current study will also be useful addition in ethnobotanical database, preservation of traditional culture and drug discovery and drug development through future ethnopharmacological research.

100. Utilizing machine learning with knockoff filtering to extract significant metabolites in Crohn's disease with a publicly available untargeted metabolomics dataset.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Bin Masud S, Jenkins C, Hussey E

101. How norm violators rise and fall in the eyes of others: The role of sanctions.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Wanders F, Homan AC, van Vianen AEM

102. Amblyopia risk factors among pediatric patients in a hospital-based setting using photoscreening.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Al-Haddad C, El Moussawi Z, Hoyeck S

103. How personal values shape job seeker preference: A policy capturing study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Hicklenton CL, Hine DW, Driver AB

104. Tuna behaviour at anchored FADs inferred from Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) of pole-and-line tuna fishers in the Maldives.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Jauharee AR, Capello M, Simier M

105. Lack of neophobic responses to color in a jumping spider that uses color cues when foraging (Habronattus pyrrithrix).

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Vickers ME, Heisey ML, Taylor LA.

106. Analog hardware trojan design and detection in OFDM based wireless cryptographic ICs.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Ali L, Farshad.

107. Streamlining brain tumor surgery care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A case-control study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Mallari RJ, Avery MB, Corlin A

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic forced a reconsideration of surgical patient management in the setting of scarce resources and risk of viral transmission. Herein we assess the impact of implementing a protocol of more rigorous patient education, recovery room assessment for non-ICU admission, earlier mobilization and post-discharge communication for patients undergoing brain tumor surgery. METHODS: A case-control retrospective review was undertaken at a community hospital with a dedicated neurosurgery and otolaryngology team using minimally invasive surgical techniques, total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) and early post-operative imaging protocols. All patients undergoing craniotomy or endoscopic endonasal removal of a brain, skull base or pituitary tumor were included during two non-overlapping periods: March 2019-January 2020 (pre-pandemic epoch) versus March 2020-January 2021 (pandemic epoch with streamlined care protocol implemented). Data collection included demographics, preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status, tumor pathology, and tumor resection and remission rates. Primary outcomes were ICU utilization and hospital length of stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes were complications, readmissions and reoperations. FINDINGS: Of 295 patients, 163 patients were treated pre-pandemic (58% women, mean age 53.2±16 years) and 132 were treated during the pandemic (52% women, mean age 52.3±17 years). From pre-pandemic to pandemic, ICU utilization decreased from 92(54%) to 43(29%) of operations (p<0.001) and hospital LOS≤1 day increased from 21(12.2%) to 60(41.4%), p<0.001, respectively. For craniotomy cohort, median LOS was 2 days for both epochs; median ICU LOS decreased from 1 to 0 days (p<0.001), ICU use decreased from 73(80%) to 29(33%),(p<0.001). For endonasal cohort, median LOS decreased from 2 to 1 days; median ICU LOS was 0 days for both epochs; (p<0.001). There were no differences pre-pandemic versus pandemic in ASA scores, resection/remission rates, readmissions or reoperations. CONCLUSION: This experience suggests the COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity for implementing a brain tumor care protocol to facilitate safely decreasing ICU utilization and accelerating discharge home without an increase in complications, readmission or reoperations. More rigorous patient education, recovery room assessment for non-ICU admission, earlier mobilization and post-discharge communication, layered upon a foundation of minimally invasive surgery, TIVA anesthesia and early post-operative imaging are possible contributors to these favorable trends.

108. Introduced and native vertebrates in pink-footed shearwater (Ardenna creatopus) breeding colonies in Chile.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Carle RD, Fleishman AB, Varela T

Biodiversity conservation planning requires accurate, current information about species status and threats. Although introduced mammals are the greatest threat to seabirds globally, data on introduced species is lacking for many seabird breeding islands. To inform conservation planning, we used trail cameras to document the presence, relative abundance, and seasonal and diel attendance of introduced and native vertebrates within pink-footed shearwater (Ardenna creatopus) breeding colonies on Isla Mocha (five colonies, 2015-2020) and Isla Robinson Crusoe (Juan Fernández Archipelago), Chile (one colony, 2019-2020). The most commonly detected species were pink-footed shearwaters and introduced rats (Rattus spp.) on Isla Mocha, and European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and pink-footed shearwaters on Isla Robinson Crusoe. Introduced mammals observed, in order of greatest catch-per-unit-effort, were rats, cats (Felis catus), dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), and European hares (Lepus europaeus) on Isla Mocha and European rabbits, cats, cattle (Bos taurus), rats, dogs, mice (Mus musculus), and southern coati (Nasua nasua) on Isla Robinson Crusoe. Especially noteworthy results for pink-footed shearwater conservation were the presence of cats during all monitoring months in shearwater colonies on both islands, that catch-per-unit-effort of rabbits was greater than shearwaters on Isla Robinson Crusoe, and that rats were the most observed vertebrates after shearwaters on Isla Mocha. Pink-footed shearwaters were regularly present on the islands from October through May. Presence and relative catch-per-unit-effort of pink-footed shearwaters qualitatively matched the species' known breeding phenology. The regular presence and temporal overlap with shearwaters of cats, rats, rabbits, and cattle within shearwater colonies, coupled with the irregular presence of dogs, coati, hares, and mice, indicated a serious conservation threat for pink-footed shearwaters and other native insular fauna and flora. Finally, our study provides a widely applicable model for analysis of multi-year trail camera data collected with unstandardized settings.

109. Effects of temperature dependent viscosity and thermal conductivity on natural convection flow along a curved surface in the presence of exothermic catalytic chemical reaction.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Ahmad U, Ashraf M, Al-Zubaidi A

110. Exclusive breastfeeding continuation and associated factors among employed women in North Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Gebrekidan K, Hall H, Plummer V

BACKGROUND: Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) can prevent up to 13% of under-five mortality in developing countries. In Sub-Saharan Africa the rate of EBF at six months remains very low at 36%. Different types of factors such as maternal, family and work-related factors are responsible for the low rate of EBF among employed women. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of EBF continuation and associated factors among employed women in North Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in two towns of Tigray region, North Ethiopia. Employed women who had children between six months and two years were surveyed using multistage, convenience sampling. Women filled in a paper based validated questionnaire adopted from the Breastfeeding and Employment Study toolkit (BESt). The questions were grouped into four parts of sociodemographic characteristics, maternal characteristics, family support and work-related factors. Factors associated with EBF continuation as a binary outcome (yes/no) were determined using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Four-hundred and forty-nine women participated in this study with a mean (SD) age 30.4 (4.2) years. Two hundred and fifty-four (56.4%) participants exclusively breastfed their children for six months or more. The main reason for discontinuation of EBF was the requirement of women to return to paid employment (31.5%). Four-hundred and forty (98.2%) participants believed that breastfeeding has benefits either to the infant or to the mother. Three hundred and seventy-one (82.8%) of the participants received support from their family at home to assist with EBF, most commonly from their husbands and mothers. Having family support (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.1, 95%, CI 1.2-3.6; P = 0.005), having frequent breaks at work (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI, 1.4-4.8; P = 0.002) and the possibility of buying or borrowing required equipment for expressing breast milk (AOR = 1.7, 95% CI, 1.0-3.0; P = 0.033) were statistically associated with an increased chance of EBF. CONCLUSION: Although returning to work was reported by the study participants as the main reason for discontinuation of EBF, families and managers' support play significant roles in EBF continuation, which in the absence of six-month's maternity leave for employed women in Ethiopia would be of benefit to both mothers and children.

111. Understanding the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and containment measures: An empirical model of stress.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 29

Wissmath B, Mast FW, Kraus F

112. Patient safety management systems and activities related to promoting voluntary in-hospital reporting and mandatory national-level reporting for patient safety issues: A cross-sectional study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 28

Fujita S, Seto K, Hatakeyama Y

Both voluntary in-hospital reporting and mandatory national-level reporting systems for patient safety issues need to work well to develop a patient safety learning system that is effective in preventing the recurrence of adverse events. Some of the hospital systems and activities may increase voluntary in-hospital reporting and mandatory national-level reporting. This study aimed to identify the hospital systems and activities that increase voluntary in-hospital reporting and mandatory national-level reporting for patient safety issues. An anonymous mail survey of hospitals in Japan was conducted in 2017. The hospitals were selected by stratified random sampling according to number of beds. The survey examined the annual number of reported events in the voluntary in-hospital reporting system for patient safety and experience of reporting unexpected patient deaths possibly due to medical interventions to the mandatory national-level reporting system in the last 2 years. The relationship of the answer to the questions with the patient safety management systems and activities at each hospital was analyzed. The response rate was 18.8% (603/3,215). The number of in-hospital reports per bed was positively related to identifying events by referring complaints or questions of patients or family members, using root cause analysis for analyzing reported events, and developing manuals or case studies based on reported events, and negatively related to the unification and standardization of medical devices and equipment. The experience with mandatory national-level reporting of serious adverse events was positively related to identifying problematic cases by a person in charge of patient safety management from the in-hospital reporting system of complications and accidental symptoms. Enhanced feedback for reporters may promote voluntary in-hospital reporting of minor cases with low litigation risks. Developing an in-hospital mechanism that examines all serious complications and accidental symptoms may promote mandatory national-level reporting of serious adverse events with high litigation risks.

113. A mixed methods study to evaluate participatory mapping for rural water safety planning in western Kenya.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 28

Okotto-Okotto J, Yu W, Kwoba E

114. Can lung ultrasound score accurately predict the need for surfactant replacement in preterm neonates? A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 28

Capasso L, Pacella D, Migliaro F

115. The effect of pregnancy and the duration of postpartum convalescence on the physical fitness of healthy women: A cohort study of active duty servicewomen receiving 6 weeks versus 12 weeks convalescence.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 28

DeGroot DW, Sitler CA, Lustik MB

INTRODUCTION: Pregnancy profoundly affects cardiovascular and musculoskeletal performance requiring up to 12 months for recovery in healthy individuals. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of extending postpartum convalescence from 6 to 12 weeks on the physical fitness of Active Duty (AD) soldiers as measured by the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) and Body Mass Index (BMI). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of AD soldiers who delivered their singleton pregnancy of ≥ 32weeks gestation at a tertiary medical center. Pre- and post-pregnancy APFT results as well as demographic, pregnancy, and postpartum data were collected. Changes in APFT raw scores, body composition measures, and failure rates across the 6-week and 12-week convalescent cohorts were assessed. Multivariable regressions were utilized to associate risk factors with failure. RESULTS: Four hundred sixty women met inclusion criteria; N = 358 in the 6 week cohort and N = 102 in the 12 week cohort. Demographic variables were similar between the cohorts. APFT failure rates across pregnancy increased more than 3-fold in both groups, but no significant differences were found between groups in the decrement of performance or weight gain. With the combined cohort, multivariable regression analysis showed failure on the postpartum APFT to be independently associated with failure on the pre-pregnancy APFT (OR = 16.92, 95% CI 4.96-57.77), failure on pre-pregnancy BMI (OR = 8.44, 95% CI 2.23-31.92), elevated BMI at 6-8 weeks postpartum (OR = 4.02, 95% CI 1.42-11.35) and not breastfeeding at 2 months (OR = 3.23, 95% CI 1.48-7.02). Within 36 months of delivery date, 75% of women had achieved pre-pregnancy levels of fitness. CONCLUSION: An additional 6 weeks of convalescence did not adversely affect physical performance or BMI measures in AD Army women following pregnancy. Modifiable factors such as pre- and post-pregnancy conditioning and weight, weight gain in pregnancy and always breastfeeding were found to be significant in recovery of physical fitness postpartum.

116. Pregnancy outcomes after exposure to crisis pregnancy centers among an abortion-seeking sample recruited online.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 28

Cartwright AF, Tumlinson K, Upadhyay UD.

117. Antiparkinsonian drugs as potent contributors to nocturnal sleep in patients with Parkinson's disease.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 28

Taguchi S, Koide H, Oiwa H

OBJECTIVE: To clarify whether antiparkinsonian drugs contribute to nocturnal sleep disturbances in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). BACKGROUND: Although the major antiparkinsonian drugs L-dopa and dopamine agonists (DAs) have been found to affect sleep, little is known about the effects of specific drugs on sleep in PD patients. METHODS: The study participants consisted of 112 PD patients (median age 72.5 years [inter-quartile range: IQR 65-79]; mean disease duration 8.44 years [standard deviation: 7.33]; median Hoehn and Yahr stage 3 [IQR 2-3.75]) taking one of three types of non-ergot extended-release DAs (rotigotine 32; pramipexole 44; ropinirole 36) with or without L-dopa (median daily total dosage of antiparkinsonian drugs 525.5 mg [IQR 376.25-658] levodopa equivalent dose [LED]). Participants were assessed using the PD Sleep Scale-2 (PDSS-2). RESULTS: For the whole PD patient cohort, the PDSS-2 sleep disturbance domain score and the scores for item 1 assessing sleep quality and item 8 assessing nocturia were positively correlated with daily total dosage of antiparkinsonian drugs and dosage of L-dopa, but not with the dosage of DAs. Sub-analysis according to DA treatment revealed that DA dosage was not correlated with item 1 or 8 score in any of the subgroups. The LED ratio of rotigotine to the total dosage of antiparkinsonian drugs was inversely correlated with the item 1 score. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that antiparkinsonian drugs, in particular L-dopa, adversely affect nocturnal sleep in PD patients, especially in terms of sleep quality and nocturia. Thus, adjusting both the total dosage of antiparkinsonian drugs and the dose-ratio of L-dopa might be key actions for alleviating poor sleep quality in patients with PD. Among DAs, we found a clear positive correlation between the dose-ratio of rotigotine and sleep quality. Thus, partial L-dopa replacement with rotigotine could improve sleep quality in patients with PD.

118. Neural correlates of error-monitoring and mindset: Back to the drawing board?

PLoS One

2021 Jul 28

Janssen TWP, Nieuwenhuis S, Hoefakker J

119. Mechanical energy and propulsion mechanics in roller-skiing double-poling at increasing speeds.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 28

Danielsen J, Sandbakk Ø, McGhie D

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of speed on mechanical energy fluctuations and propulsion mechanics in the double-poling (DP) technique of cross-country skiing. METHODS: Kinematics and dynamics were acquired while fourteen male skiers performed roller-skiing DP on a treadmill at increasing speeds (15, 21 and 27 km∙h-1). Kinetic (Ekin), potential (Epot), and total (Ebody) body mechanical energy and pole power (Ppole) were calculated. Inverse dynamics was used to calculate arm power (Parm). Trunk+leg power (PT+L) was estimated, as was the power associated with body movements perpendicular to goal-direction ([Formula: see text]). RESULTS: Ekin and Epot fluctuated out-of-phase throughout the cycle, at first sight indicating that pendulum-like behaviour occurs partly in DP. However, during the swing phase, the increase in Epot (body heightening) was mainly driven by positive PT+L, while the decrease in Ekin was lost to rolling friction, and during the poling phase, considerable positive Parm generation occurs. Thus, possible exchange between Ekin and Epot seem not to occur as directly and passively as in classic pendulum locomotion (walking). During the poling phase, [Formula: see text]fluctuated out-of-phase with Ppole, indicating a transfer of body energy to Ppole. In this way, power generated by trunk+leg mainly during the swing phase (body heightening) can be used in the poling phase as pole power. At all speeds, negative PT+L occurred during the poling phase, suggesting energy absorption of body energy not transferred to pole power. Thus, DP seem to resemble bouncing ball-like behaviour more than pendulum at faster speeds. Over the cycle, Parm contribution to Ppole (external power) was 63% at 15 km∙h-1 and 66% at 21 and 27 km∙h-1, with the remainder being PT+L contribution. CONCLUSIONS: When speed increases in level DP, both power production and absorption by trunk+leg actions increase considerably. This enhanced involvement of the legs at faster speeds is likely a prerequisite for effective generation of pole power at high speeds with very short poling times. However, the relative trunk+leg power contribution did not increase at the speeds studied here.

120. Characterization of structural changes in modern and archaeological burnt bone: Implications for differential preservation bias.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 28

Gallo G, Fyhrie M, Paine C

121. Registered report protocol: Developing an artifact index for capacitive electrocardiography signals acquired with an armchair.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 28

Warnecke JM, Wang J, Cakir T

122. Cost-effectiveness of procedure-less intragastric balloon therapy as substitute or complement to bariatric surgery.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 28

Mital S, Nguyen HV.

123. Developing a model for estimating the activity of colonic microbes after intestinal surgeries.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 28

Marcus A, Davis TL, Rittmann BE

BACKGROUND: The large intestine provides a compensatory role in energy recovery when surgical interventions such as extensive small intestinal resections or bypass operations lower the efficiency of nutrient absorption in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. While microorganisms in the colon are known to play vital roles in recovering energy, their contributions remain to be qualified and quantified in the small intestine resection. OBJECTIVE: We develop a mathematical model that links nutrient absorption in the upper and lower GI tract in two steps. METHODS: First, we describe the effects of small intestine resection on the ileocecal output (ICO), which enters the colon and provides food for microbes. Second, we describe energy recovered by the colon's microorganisms via short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. We obtain model parameters by performing a least-squares regression analysis on clinical data for subjects with normal physiology and those who had undergone small intestine resection. RESULTS: For subjects with their intestines intact, our model provided a metabolizable energy value that aligns well with the traditional Atwater coefficients. With removal of the small intestine, physiological absorption became less efficient, and the metabolizable energy decreased. In parallel, the inefficiencies in physiological absorption by the small intestine are partly compensated by production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) from proteins and carbohydrates by microorganisms in the colon. The colon recovered more than half of the gross energy intake when the entire small intestine was removed. Meanwhile, the quality of energy absorbed changed, because microbe-derived SCFAs, not the original components of food, become the dominant form of absorbed energy. CONCLUSION: The mathematical model developed here provides an important framework for describing the effect of clinical interventions on the colon's microorganisms.

124. Prevalence of unmasked and improperly masked behavior in indoor public areas during the COVID-19 pandemic: Analysis of a stratified random sample from Louisville, Kentucky.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 28

Karimi SM, Salunkhe SS, White KB

125. Plasmid analysis of NDM metallo-β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales isolated in Vietnam.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 28

Hirabayashi A, Yahara K, Mitsuhashi S

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) represent a serious threat to public health due to the lack of treatment and high mortality. The rate of antimicrobial resistance of Enterobacterales isolates to major antimicrobials, including carbapenems, is much higher in Vietnam than in Western countries, but the reasons remain unknown due to the lack of genomic epidemiology research. A previous study suggested that carbapenem resistance genes, such as the carbapenemase gene blaNDM, spread via plasmids among Enterobacterales in Vietnam. In this study, we characterized blaNDM-carrying plasmids in Enterobacterales isolated in Vietnam, and identified several possible cases of horizontal transfer of plasmids both within and among species of bacteria. Twenty-five carbapenem-nonsusceptible isolates from a medical institution in Hanoi were sequenced on Illumina short-read sequencers, and 13 blaNDM-positive isolates, including isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, Morganella morganii, and Proteus mirabilis, were further sequenced on an Oxford Nanopore Technologies long-read sequencer to obtain complete plasmid sequences. Almost identical 73 kb IncFII(pSE11)::IncN hybrid plasmids carrying blaNDM-1 were found in a P. mirabilis isolate and an M. morganii isolate. A 112 kb IncFII(pRSB107)::IncN hybrid plasmid carrying blaNDM-1 in an E. coli isolate had partially identical sequences with a 39 kb IncR plasmid carrying blaNDM-1 and an 88 kb IncFII(pHN7A8)::IncN hybrid plasmid in a C. freundii isolate. 148-149 kb IncFIA(Hl1)::IncA/C2 plasmids and 75-76 kb IncFII(Yp) plasmids, both carrying blaNDM-1 were shared among three sequence type 11 (ST11) isolates and three ST395 isolates of K. pneumoniae, respectively. Most of the plasmids co-carried genes conferring resistance to clinically relevant antimicrobials, including third-generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones, in addition to blaNDM-1. These results provide insight into the genetic basis of CRE in Vietnam, and could help control nosocomial infections.

126. Drusen and pigment abnormality predict the development of neovascular age-related macular degeneration in Japanese patients.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 27

Notomi S, Shiose S, Ishikawa K

127. Keel bone fractures are more prevalent in White Leghorn hens than in Red Jungle fowl hens-A pilot study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 27

Kittelsen KE, Gretarsson P, Jensen P

128. Searching in the dark: Shining a light on some predictors of non-response to psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 27

Woodbridge J, Reis S, Townsend ML

BACKGROUND: Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a prevalent and serious mental health condition. People can experience recovery or remission after receiving psychotherapy for BPD; however, it is estimated that about 45% of people in well conducted treatment trials do not respond adequately to current psychological treatments. AIM: To further advance psychotherapies for BPD by identifying the factors that contribute to the problem of non-response. METHOD: 184 consecutive participants with BPD in community treatment were naturalistically followed up over 12 months and measures of personality and social functioning were examined. Logistic regressions were used to determine which baseline factors were associated with the likelihood of being a non-responder after 12 months of psychotherapy. After 12 months, 48.4% of participants were classed as non-responders due to a lack of reduction in BPD symptoms according to the Reliable Change Index (RCI) method. RESULTS: At baseline intake, patients who endorsed an adult preoccupied attachment relationship style and increased anger were more likely to be a non-responder regarding BPD symptoms at 12 months. In addition, those with preoccupied attachment patterns in their adult relationships were more likely to be non-responders regarding general psychological distress at follow up. Higher baseline levels of paranoia and endorsement of a dismissive adult relationship style was associated with being a non-responder in regard to global functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with previous research, almost half of the sample did not achieve reliable change at 12-month follow up. A relationship style characterised by preoccupied insecurity and high anger seemed to be particularly challenging in being able to benefit from psychotherapy. This style may have affected both relationships outside, but also inside therapy, complicating treatment engagement and alliance with the therapist. Early identification and modification of treatment based on challenges from these relationship styles may be one way to improve psychotherapy outcomes for BPD.

129. Perceived efficacy of existing waterpipe tobacco warning labels versus novel enhanced generic and waterpipe-specific sets.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 27

Mostafa A, El Houssinie M, Hussein RS.

INTRODUCTION: Since 2008, Egypt has four existing generic bi-annually rotating warning labels (WLs) on 50% of the waterpipe tobacco packs (WTPs). The Ministry of Health Tobacco Control Unit proposed increasing WL size to 80%, removing colours and flavour imagery from WTPs, and plain packaging to help curb the rising epidemic of waterpipe tobacco smoking. Therefore, we measured the perceived efficacy of existing against novel enhanced (generic and waterpipe-specific) WTP WLs and the associated factors among Egyptian waterpipe smokers and nonsmokers. METHODS: A purposive quota sample of 2014 adults was surveyed in two rounds using face interviews. At each round, participants were randomly shown one of four existing WLs, then one of four novel WLs. Participants rated the perceived efficacy of existing and novel WLs regarding the salience, depth of processing, affective reactions, credibility, relevance, perceived harm and perceived behavioural control. Data were analysed using Generalized Estimating Equations. RESULTS: Participants rated novel WTP WLs with higher mean perceived efficacy scores than existing WLs for all measures, although both sets collectively scored modestly (59.7; 95% CI: 58.9-60.5 vs 53.0; 95% CI: 52.1-54.0, respectively; p<0.001). Relative to the existing WTP WLs, novel WLs were particularly able to induce higher salience, affective reactions, and depth of processing. Relative to the generic novel WTP WLs, waterpipe-specific WLs induced higher relevance, perceived harm, and affective reactions. Nonsmokers scored higher than waterpipe tobacco smokers, specifically for perceived behavioral control (65.0±32.5 vs 43.6±19.8, respectively; p<0.001). WTP WLs featuring proximal risks, such as dental effects (β = 9.70; 95% CI: 7.00-12.40), fetal harm (β = 9.42; 95% CI: 6.75-12.10), or toxic contents (β = 9.14; 95% CI: 6.58-11.70) were strongly associated with participants' perceived efficacy scores. Among other independent factors, rural residence (β = 24.09; 95% CI: 22.21-25.97), being a nonsmoker (β = 10.51; 95% CI: 8.92-12.10), survey round 2 (β = 6.96, 95% CI: 5.73-8.19), the novel WTP WL set (β = 6.68; 95% CI: 6.19-7.17), and having higher education (β = 6.31; 95% CI: 4.34-8.27) were highly associated with participants' perceived efficacy scores. CONCLUSIONS: Waterpipe-specific WLs on plain WTPs that feature proximal risks and address different population subgroups need to be developed in conjunction with awareness raising campaigns on WTS harms to reinforce the credibility of WTP WLs. Our findings suggest the proposed WTP WL enhancements by the Tobacco Control Unit may support a more effective WTP labelling policy within a comprehensive waterpipe-specific tobacco control framework.

130. The Mean Unfulfilled Lifespan (MUL): A new indicator of the impact of mortality shocks on the individual lifespan, with application to mortality reversals induced by COVID-19.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 27

Heuveline P.

131. Lower serum 25(OH)D levels associated with higher risk of COVID-19 infection in U.S. Black women.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 27

Cozier YC, Castro-Webb N, Hochberg NS

OBJECTIVE: Limited evidence suggests that higher levels of serum vitamin D (25(OH)D) protect against SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) infection. Black women commonly experience 25(OH)D insufficiency and are overrepresented among COVID-19 cases. We conducted a prospective analysis of serum 25(OH)D levels in relation to COVID-19 infection among participants in the Black Women's Health Study. METHODS: Since 1995, the Black Women's Health Study has followed 59,000 U.S. Black women through biennial mailed or online questionnaires. Over 13,000 study participants provided a blood sample in 2013-2017. 25(OH)D assays were performed in a certified national laboratory shortly after collection of the samples. In 2020, participants who had completed the online version of the 2019 biennial health questionnaire were invited to complete a supplemental online questionnaire assessing their experiences related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including whether they had been tested for COVID-19 infection and the result of the test. We used logistic regression analysis to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association of 25(OH)D level with COVID-19 positivity, adjusting for age, number of people living in the household, neighborhood socioeconomic status, and other potential confounders. RESULTS: Among 5,081 eligible participants whose blood sample had been assayed for 25(OH)D, 1,974 reported having had a COVID-19 test in 2020. Relative to women with 25(OH)D levels of 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/l) or more, multivariable-adjusted ORs for COVID-19 infection in women with levels of 20-29 ng/mL (50-72.5 nmol/l) and <20 ng/mL (<50 nmol/l) were, respectively, 1.48 (95% CI 0.95-2.30) and 1.69 (95% CI 1.04-2.72) (p trend 0.02). CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that U.S. Black women with lower levels of 25(OH)D are at increased risk of infection with COVID-19. Further work is needed to confirm these findings and determine the optimal level of 25(OH)D for a beneficial effect.

132. Factors influencing study engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study among health and social professions students.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 27

Koob C, Schröpfer K, Coenen M

133. An evaluation of factors that may influence clinicians' decisions not to enroll eligible patients into randomized trials in critical care.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 27

Ramanan M, Billot L, Rajbhandari D

134. High-density DArT-based SilicoDArT and SNP markers for genetic diversity and population structure studies in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz).

PLoS One

2021 Jul 27

Adu BG, Akromah R, Amoah S

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important industrial and staple crop due to its high starch content, low input requirement, and resilience which makes it an ideal crop for sustainable agricultural systems and marginal lands in the tropics. However, the lack of genomic information on local genetic resources has impeded efficient conservation and improvement of the crop and the exploration of its full agronomic and breeding potential. This work was carried out to obtain information on population structure and extent of genetic variability among some local landraces conserved at the Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute, Ghana and exotic cassava accessions with Diversity Array Technology based SilicoDArT and SNP markers to infer how the relatedness in the genetic materials can be used to enhance germplasm curation and future breeding efforts. A total of 10521 SilicoDArT and 10808 SNP markers were used with varying polymorphic information content (PIC) values. The average PIC was 0.36 and 0.28 for the SilicoDArT and SNPs respectively. Population structure and average linkage hierarchical clustering based on SNPs revealed two distinct subpopulations and a large number of admixtures. Both DArT platforms identified 22 landraces as potential duplicates based on Gower's genetic dissimilarity. The expected heterozygosity which defines the genetic variation within each subpopulation was 0.008 for subpop1 which were mainly landraces and 0.391 for subpop2 indicating the homogeneous and admixture nature of the two subpopulations. Further analysis upon removal of the duplicates increased the expected heterozygosity of subpop1 from 0.008 to 0.357. A mantel test indicated strong interdependence (r = 0.970; P < 0.001) between SilicoDArT and DArTSeq SNP genotypic data suggesting both marker platforms as a robust system for genomic studies in cassava. These findings provide important information for efficient ex-situ conservation of cassava, future heterosis breeding, and marker-assisted selection (MAS) to enhance cassava improvement.

135. Hematological abnormalities and comorbidities are associated with COVID-19 severity among hospitalized patients: Experience from Bangladesh.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 27

Rahman MA, Shanjana Y, Tushar MI

136. Toward the identification of social signatures in ceramic production - An archaeological case study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 26

Harush O, Grosman L.

137. Modeling the survival times of the COVID-19 patients with a new statistical model: A case study from China.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 26

Liu X, Ahmad Z, Gemeay AM

138. Organic cultivation practices enhanced antioxidant activities and secondary metabolites in giant granadilla (Passiflora quadrangularis L.).

PLoS One

2021 Jul 26

Ramaiya SD, Lee HH, Xiao YJ

139. Evaluation of the paw withdrawal latency for the comparison between tramadol and butorphanol administered locally, in the plantar surface of rat, preliminary study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 26

Interlandi C, Leonardi F, Spadola F

140. Seroprevalence and associated factors of HIV and Hepatitis C in Brazilian high-security prisons: A state-wide epidemiological study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 26

Defante Ferreto LE, Guedes S, Braz Pauli F

141. Positioning zoonotic disease research in forced migration: A systematic literature review of theoretical frameworks and approaches.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 26

Tasker A, Braam D.

BACKGROUND: The emergence and transmission of zoonotic diseases are driven by complex interactions between health, environmental, and socio-political systems. Human movement is considered a significant and increasing factor in these processes, yet forced migration remains an understudied area of zoonotic research-due in part to the complexity of conducting interdisciplinary research in these settings. OBJECTIVES: We conducted a systematic review to identify and analyze theoretical frameworks and approaches used to study linkages between forced migration and zoonotic diseases. METHODS: We searched within eight electronic databases: ProQuest, SCOPUS, Web of Science, PubMed, PLoSOne, Science Direct, JSTOR, and Google Scholar, to identify a) research articles focusing on zoonoses considering forced migrants in their study populations, and b) forced migration literature which engaged with zoonotic disease. Both authors conducted a full-text review, evaluating the quality of literature reviews and primary data using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) model, while theoretical papers were evaluated for quality using a theory synthesis adapted from Bonell et al. (2013). Qualitative data were synthesized thematically according to the method suggested by Noblit and Hare (1988). RESULTS: Analyses of the 23 included articles showed the increasing use of interdisciplinary frameworks and approaches over time, the majority of which stemmed from political ecology. Approaches such as EcoHealth and One Health were increasingly popular, but were more often linked to program implementation and development than broader contextual research. The majority of research failed to acknowledge the heterogeneity of migrant populations, lacked contextual depth, and insufficient acknowledgments of migrant agency in responding to zoonotic threats. CONCLUSIONS: Addressing the emergence and spread of zoonoses in forced migration contexts requires more careful consideration and use of interdisciplinary research to integrate the contributions of social and natural science approaches. Robust interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks are an important step for better understanding the complex health, environment, and socio-political drivers of zoonotic diseases in forced migration. Lessons can be learned from the application of these approaches in other hard-to-reach or seldom-heard populations.

142. High-risk clones of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from the University Hospital Establishment of Oran, Algeria (2011-2012).

PLoS One

2021 Jul 26

Zemmour A, Dali-Yahia R, Maatallah M

The purpose of the study was to characterize the resistome, virulome, mobilome and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-associated (CRISPR-Cas) system of extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-KP) clinical isolates and to determine their phylogenetic relatedness. The isolates were from Algeria, isolated at the University Hospital Establishment of Oran, between 2011 and 2012. ESBL-KP isolates (n = 193) were screened for several antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) using qPCR followed by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). Representative isolates were selected from PFGE clusters and subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Genomic characterization of the WGS data by studying prophages, CRISPR-Cas systems, Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST), serotype, ARGs, virulence genes, plasmid replicons, and their pMLST. Phylogenetic and comparative genomic were done using core genome MLST and SNP-Based analysis. Generally, the ESBL-KP isolates were polyclonal. The whole genome sequences of nineteen isolates were taken of main PFGE clusters. Sixteen sequence types (ST) were found including high-risk clones ST14, ST23, ST37, and ST147. Serotypes K1 (n = 1), K2 (n = 2), K3 (n = 1), K31 (n = 1), K62 (n = 1), and K151 (n = 1) are associated with hyper-virulence. CRISPR-Cas system was found in 47.4%, typed I-E and I-E*. About ARGs, from 193 ESBL-KP, the majority of strains were multidrug-resistant, the CTX-M-1 enzyme was predominant (99%) and the prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes was high with aac(6')-lb-cr (72.5%) and qnr's (65.8%). From 19 sequenced isolates we identified ESBL, AmpC, and carbapenemase genes: blaCTX-M-15 (n = 19), blaOXA-48 (n = 1), blaCMY-2 (n = 2), and blaCMY-16 (n = 2), as well as non-ESBL genes: qnrB1 (n = 12), qnrS1 (n = 1) and armA (n = 2). We found IncF, IncN, IncL/M, IncA/C2, and Col replicon types, at least once per isolate. This study is the first to report qnrS in ESBL-KP in Algeria. Our analysis shows the concerning co-existence of virulence and resistance genes and would support that genomic surveillance should be a high priority in the hospital environment.

143. The Shortest Duration Constrained Hidden Markov Model: Data denoise and forecast optimization on the country-product matrix for the Fitness-Complexity Algorithm.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 26

Song P, Zong X, Chen X

144. Integral methods for automatic quantification of fast-scan-cyclic-voltammetry detected neurotransmitters.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 26

Espín LX, Asp AJ, Trevathan JK

145. Prognostic value of baseline carotid blood flow in critically ill children with septic shock.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 23

Mamdouh F, Bazaraa H, Baz A

146. Analysis of the composition and antioxidant status of breast milk in women giving birth prematurely and on time.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 23

Chrustek A, Dombrowska-Pali A, Olszewska-Słonina D.

147. SARS-CoV-2 variant evolution in the United States: High accumulation of viral mutations over time likely through serial Founder Events and mutational bursts.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 23

Tasakis RN, Samaras G, Jamison A

Since the first case of COVID-19 in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, SARS-CoV-2 has spread worldwide and within a year and a half has caused 3.56 million deaths globally. With dramatically increasing infection numbers, and the arrival of new variants with increased infectivity, tracking the evolution of its genome is crucial for effectively controlling the pandemic and informing vaccine platform development. Our study explores evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in a representative cohort of sequences covering the entire genome in the United States, through all of 2020 and early 2021. Strikingly, we detected many accumulating Single Nucleotide Variations (SNVs) encoding amino acid changes in the SARS-CoV-2 genome, with a pattern indicative of RNA editing enzymes as major mutators of SARS-CoV-2 genomes. We report three major variants through October of 2020. These revealed 14 key mutations that were found in various combinations among 14 distinct predominant signatures. These signatures likely represent evolutionary lineages of SARS-CoV-2 in the U.S. and reveal clues to its evolution such as a mutational burst in the summer of 2020 likely leading to a homegrown new variant, and a trend towards higher mutational load among viral isolates, but with occasional mutation loss. The last quartile of 2020 revealed a concerning accumulation of mostly novel low frequency replacement mutations in the Spike protein, and a hypermutable glutamine residue near the putative furin cleavage site. Finally, end of the year data and 2021 revealed the gradual increase to prevalence of known variants of concern, particularly B.1.1.7, that have acquired additional Spike mutations. Overall, our results suggest that predominant viral genomes are dynamically evolving over time, with periods of mutational bursts and unabated mutation accumulation. This high level of existing variation, even at low frequencies and especially in the Spike-encoding region may become problematic when super-spreader events, akin to serial Founder Events in evolution, drive these rare mutations to prominence.

148. Detecting joint attention events in mother-infant dyads: Sharing looks cannot be reliably identified by naïve third-party observers.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 23

Graham KE, Buryn-Weitzel JC, Lahiff NJ

Joint attention, or sharing attention with another individual about an object or event, is a critical behaviour that emerges in pre-linguistic infants and predicts later language abilities. Given its importance, it is perhaps surprising that there is no consensus on how to measure joint attention in prelinguistic infants. A rigorous definition proposed by Siposova & Carpenter (2019) requires the infant and partner to gaze alternate between an object and each other (coordination of attention) and exchange communicative signals (explicit acknowledgement of jointly sharing attention). However, Hobson and Hobson (2007) proposed that the quality of gaze between individuals is, in itself, a sufficient communicative signal that demonstrates sharing of attention. They proposed that observers can reliably distinguish "sharing", "checking", and "orienting" looks, but the empirical basis for this claim is limited as their study focussed on two raters examining looks from 11-year-old children. Here, we analysed categorisations made by 32 naïve raters of 60 infant looks to their mothers, to examine whether they could be reliably distinguished according to Hobson and Hobson's definitions. Raters had overall low agreement and only in 3 out of 26 cases did a significant majority of the raters agree with the judgement of the mother who had received the look. For the looks that raters did agree on at above chance levels, look duration and the overall communication rate of the mother were identified as cues that raters may have relied upon. In our experiment, naïve third party observers could not reliably determine the type of look infants gave to their mothers, which indicates that subjective judgements of types of look should not be used to identify mutual awareness of sharing attention in infants. Instead, we advocate the use of objective behaviour measurement to infer that interactants know they are 'jointly' attending to an object or event, and believe this will be a crucial step in understanding the ontogenetic and evolutionary origins of joint attention.

149. Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in older adults. A retrospective study in long-term nursing homes in Catalonia.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 23

Meis-Pinheiro U, Lopez-Segui F, Walsh S

The natural history of COVID-19 and predictors of mortality in older adults need to be investigated to inform clinical operations and healthcare policy planning. A retrospective study took place in 80 long-term nursing homes in Catalonia, Spain collecting data from March 1st to May 31st, 2020. Demographic and clinical data from 2,092 RT-PCR confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were registered, including structural characteristics of the facilities. Descriptive statistics to describe the demographic, clinical, and molecular characteristics of our sample were prepared, both overall and by their symptomatology was performed and an analysis of statistically significant bivariate differences and constructions of a logistic regression model were carried out to assess the relationship between variables. The incidence of the infection was 28%. 71% of the residents showed symptoms. Five major symptoms included: fever, dyspnea, dry cough, asthenia and diarrhea. Fever and dyspnea were by far the most frequent (50% and 28%, respectively). The presentation was predominantly acute and symptomatology persisted from days to weeks (mean 9.1 days, SD = 10,9). 16% of residents had confirmed pneumonia and 22% required hospitalization. The accumulated mortality rate was 21.75% (86% concentrated during the first 28 days at onset). A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a positive predictive value for mortality for some variables such as age, pneumonia, fever, dyspnea, stupor refusal to oral intake and dementia (p<0.01 for all variables). Results suggest that density in the nursing homes did not account for differences in the incidence of the infection within the facilities. This study provides insights into the natural history of the disease in older adults with high dependency living in long-term nursing homes during the first pandemic wave of March-May 2020 in the region of Catalonia, and suggests that some comorbidities and symptoms have a strong predictive value for mortality.

150. Impact of frailty on clinical outcomes and resource use following emergency general surgery in the United States.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 23

Hadaya J, Sanaiha Y, Juillard C

BACKGROUND: Frailty has been recognized as an independent risk factor for inferior outcomes, but its effect on emergency general surgery (EGS) is understudied. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to define the impact of frailty on risk-adjusted mortality, non-home discharge, and readmission following EGS operations. METHODS: Adults undergoing appendectomy, cholecystectomy, small bowel resection, large bowel resection, repair of perforated ulcer, or laparotomy within two days of an urgent admission were identified in the 2016-2017 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Frailty was defined using diagnosis codes corresponding to the Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups frailty indicator. Multivariable regression was used to study in-hospital mortality and non-home discharge by operation, and Kaplan Meier analysis to study freedom from unplanned readmission at up to 90-days follow-up. RESULTS: Among 655,817 patients, 11.9% were considered frail. Frail patients most commonly underwent large bowel resection (37.3%) and cholecystectomy (29.2%). After adjustment, frail patients had higher mortality rates for all operations compared to nonfrail, including those most commonly performed (11.9% [95% CI 11.4-12.5%] vs 6.0% [95% CI 5.8-6.3%] for large bowel resection; 2.3% [95% CI 2.0-2.6%] vs 0.2% [95% CI 0.2-0.2%] for cholecystectomy). Adjusted non-home discharge rates were higher for frail compared to nonfrail patients following all operations, including large bowel resection (68.1% [95% CI 67.1-69.0%] vs 25.9% [95% CI 25.2-26.5%]) and cholecystectomy (33.7% [95% CI 32.7-34.7%] vs 2.9% [95% CI 2.8-3.0%]). Adjusted hospitalization costs were nearly twice as high for frail patients. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, frail patients had greater unplanned readmissions (log rank P<0.001), with 1 in 4 rehospitalized within 90 days. CONCLUSIONS: Frail patients have inferior clinical outcomes and greater resource use following EGS, with the greatest absolute differences following complex operations. Simple frailty assessments may inform expectations, identify patients at risk of poor outcomes, and guide the need for more intensive postoperative care.

151. Neural correlates of the improvement of cognitive performance resulting from enhanced sense of competence: A magnetoencephalography study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 23

Matsuo T, Ishii A, Ishida R

152. Rethinking remdesivir for COVID-19: A Bayesian reanalysis of trial findings.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 23

Hoek JM, Field SM, de Vries YA

153. Knee joint loadings are related to tibial torsional alignments in people with radiographic medial knee osteoarthritis.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 23

Huang C, Chan PK, Chiu KY

154. Ethical review of COVID-19 research in the Netherlands; a mixed-method evaluation among medical research ethics committees and investigators.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 23

IJkema R, Janssens MJPA, van der Post JAM

BACKGROUND: During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic there was an urgent need for accelerated review of COVID-19 research by Medical Research Ethics Committees (MRECs). In the Netherlands this led to the implementation of so-called 'fast-track-review-procedures' (FTRPs) to enable a swift start of urgent and relevant research. The objective of this study is to evaluate FTRPs of MRECs in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare them with the regular review procedures (RRPs). METHODS AND FINDINGS: An explanatory sequential mixed method study was conducted. Online questionnaires and four group interviews were conducted among MREC representatives and investigators of COVID-19 research. In addition, data from a national research registration system was requested. Main outcome measures are differences in timelines, quality of the review and satisfaction between FTRPs and RRPs. The total number of review days was shorter in FTRP (median 10.5) compared to RRPs (median 98.0). Review days attributable to the MRECs also declined in FTRPs (median 8.0 versus 50.0). This shortening can be explained by installing ad hoc (sub)committees, full priority given to COVID-19 research, regular research put on hold, online review meetings and administrative leniency. The shorter timelines did not affect the perceived quality of the review and ethical and legal aspects were not weighted differently. Both MREC representatives and investigators were generally satisfied with the review of COVID-19 research. Weaknesses identified were the lack of overview of COVID-19 research and central collaboration and coordination, the delay of review of regular research, and limited reachability of secretariats. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that accelerated review is feasible during emergency situations. We did not find evidence that review quality was compromised and both investigators and MRECs were content with the FTRP. To improve future medical ethical review during pandemic situations and beyond, distinguishing main and side issues, working digitally, and (inter)national collaboration and coordination are important.

155. Limb development in skeletally-immature large-sized dogs: A radiographic study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 23

Roccaro M, Diana A, Linta N

Despite the extreme morphological variability of the canine species, data on limb development are limited and the time windows for the appearance of the limb ossification centres (OCs) reported in veterinary textbooks, considered universally valid for all dogs, are based on dated studies. The aim of this study was to acquire up-to-date information regarding the arm, forearm and leg bone development in skeletally-immature large-sized dogs from 6 weeks to 16 weeks of age. Nine litters of 5 large-sized breeds (Boxer, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, Saarloos Wolfdog, White Swiss Shepherd Dog) were included, for a total of 54 dogs, which were subject to radiographic examination on a bi-weekly basis. The appearance of 18 limb OCs was recorded and 14 radiographic measurements were performed; their relationship with age and body weight was investigated and any breed differences were analysed using different statistical non-parametric tests. The number of OCs present was significantly different at 6 and 8 weeks of age between the investigated breeds. The appearance of the OCs occurred earlier in the Saarloos Wolfdog, while the Labrador Retriever was the later breed. In Boxers and Labrador Retrievers, various OCs showed a delayed appearance compared to the data reported in the literature. The number of OCs was strongly and positively correlated to body weight. Breed differences were also observed in the relative increase of the measured OCs and were not limited to dogs of different morphotypes. Statistically significant differences were most frequently observed between Saarloos Wolfdogs and the other breeds. The OCs that showed a greater variability in their development were the olecranon tuber, the patella and the tibial tuberosity. Their increase was more strongly correlated with the dog's age and body weight. Our data strongly suggest that differences in limb development exist in dog breeds of similar size and morphotype.

156. TREND database: Retinal images of healthy young subjects visualized by a portable digital non-mydriatic fundus camera.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 23

Popovic N, Vujosevic S, Radunović M

Topological characterization of the Retinal microvascular nEtwork visualized by portable fuNDus camera (TREND) is a database comprising of 72 color digital retinal images collected from the students of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Montenegro, in the period from February 18th to March 11th 2020. The database also includes binarized images of manually segmented microvascular networks associated with each raw image. The participant demographic characteristics, health status, and social habits information such as age, sex, body mass index, smoking history, alcohol use, as well as previous medical history was collected. As proof of the concept, a smaller set of 10 color digital fundus images from healthy older participants is also included. Comparison of the microvascular parameters of these two sets of images demonstrate that digital fundus images recorded with a hand-held portable camera are able to capture the changes in patterns of microvascular network associated with aging. The raw images from the TREND database provide a standard that defines normal retinal anatomy and microvascular network geometry in young healthy people in Montenegro as it is seen with the digital hand-held portable non-mydriatic MiiS HORUS Scope DEC 200.This knowledge could facilitate the application of this technology at the primary level of health care for large scale telematic screening for complications of chronic diseases, such as hypertensive and diabetic retinopathy. In addition, it could aid in the development of new methods for early detection of age-related changes in the retina, systemic chronic diseases, as well as eye-specific diseases. The associated manually segmented images of the microvascular networks provide the standard that can be used for development of automatic software for image quality assessment, segmentation of microvascular network, and for computer-aided detection of pathological changes in retina. The TREND database is freely available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4521043.

157. Determining optimal laser-beam cutting equipment investment through a robust optimization modeling approach.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 23

Feller J, Mac Cawley AF, Ramos-Grez JA

158. Pollution index of waterfowl farm assessment and prediction based on temporal convoluted network.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 23

Huang J, Liu S, Hassan SG

159. Commonly available but highly effective protection against SARS-CoV-2 during gastrointestinal endoscopies.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 23

Keil R, Hlava Š, Stanovský P

160. Endpoint PCR coupled with capillary electrophoresis (celPCR) provides sensitive and quantitative measures of environmental DNA in singleplex and multiplex reactions.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 23

Thalinger B, Pütz Y, Traugott M.

161. Estimating the effect of tracking tag weight on insect movement using video analysis: A case study with a flightless orthopteran.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Kaláb O, Musiolek D, Rusnok P

162. A mixed methods study on the readiness of dental, medical, and nursing students for interprofessional learning.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Numasawa M, Nawa N, Funakoshi Y

BACKGROUND: Interprofessional education (IPE) is crucial in dentistry, medicine, and nursing. However, scant mixed methods studies have compared the IPE outcomes across these disciplines to develop evidence-based IPE. This study explored the differences in the readiness of dental, medical, and nursing students for interprofessional learning before and after IPE workshops and elucidated reasons for this disparity. METHODS: Data were obtained from dental, medical, and nursing students who participated in IPE workshops conducted at Tokyo Medical and Dental University in Japan in 2019 and 2020. The participants filled the validated Japanese version of the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) before and after attending the workshops (n = 378). Paired t-tests were performed to assess differences between the pre- and post- workshop RIPLS scores. Welch's t-tests were deployed to evaluate interdisciplinary differences in their scores. Qualitative analyses were conducted using an explanatory sequential design with focus group discussions (FGDs) held with 17 dental students to explain the quantitative results. RESULTS: Total RIPLS scores increased significantly for every discipline after the workshops (p < 0.001). Dental students scored significantly lower pre- and post- workshop aggregates than medical and nursing students, respectively (p < 0.001). The FGDs yielded three principal themes in the explanations tendered by dental students on their lower scores: 1) dental students rarely felt the need for interprofessional collaborations, 2) dentists often worked without the need for interprofessional collaborations, and 3) dental students believed their contribution to the workshop was insufficient. CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed divergences in the readiness of dental, medical, and nursing students for interprofessional learning, and the study illuminated possible reasons for these disparities. These outcomes will help develop evidence-based IPE by indicating approaches to place a higher value on interprofessional collaborations in educational environments, ameliorate the awareness of educators, and enhance the workshop facilitation style.

163. Association between ANGPTL3, 4, and 8 and lipid and glucose metabolism markers in patients with diabetes.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Harada M, Yamakawa T, Kashiwagi R

Lipid management, especially with respect to triglyceride (TG) metabolism, in patients with diabetes is not sufficient with current therapeutic agents, and new approaches for improvement are needed. Members of the angiopoietin-like protein (ANGPTL) family, specifically ANGPTL3, 4, and 8, have been reported as factors that inhibit lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and affect TGs. The present study investigated the association between lipid and glucose metabolism markers and the mechanism by which these proteins affect lipid metabolism. A total of 84 patients hospitalized for diabetes treatment were evaluated. Lipid and glucose metabolism markers in blood samples collected before breakfast, on the day after hospitalization, were analyzed. ANGPTL8 showed a significant positive correlation with TG values. HDL-C values displayed a significant positive correlation with ANGPTL3 but a negative correlation with ANGPTL4 and ANGPTL8. The results did not indicate a significant correlation among ANGPTL3, 4, and 8 levels. Thus, it is possible that the distribution of these proteins differs among patients. When patients were divided into groups according to the levels of ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL8, those with high levels of both ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL8 also had high levels of TG and small dense LDL-C/LDL-C (%). Multiple regression analysis indicated that low LPL, high ApoC2, high ApoC3, high ApoE, and high ANGPTL8 levels were the determinants of fasting hypertriglyceridemia. By contrast, no clear association was observed between any of the ANGPTLs and glucose metabolism markers, but ANGPTL8 levels were positively correlated with the levels of HOMA2-IR and BMI. Patients with high levels of both ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL8 had the worst lipid profiles. Among ANGPTL3, 4, and 8, ANGPTL8 is more important as a factor determining plasma TG levels. We anticipate that the results of this research will facilitate potential treatments targeting ANGPTL8 in patients with diabetes.

164. Institutional delivery and associated factors in rural communities of Central Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Nigusie A, Azale T, Yitayal M

INTRODUCTION: Institutional delivery has been considered as one of the important strategies to improve maternal and child health and significantly reduces birth-related complications. However, it is still low in developing countries though there are some improvements. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of institutional delivery and associated factors in the study area. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A multistage systematic sampling technique was used to select 1,394 study participants. We collected data from 18-48 years old women by using a structured questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors at 95% confidence level. RESULTS: The mean age of respondents was 30 (±0.15). The wealth status of 33.48% respondents was poor and 33.33% rich. The prevalence of institutional delivery was 58.17% (95% CI: 55.57%, 60.77%). Multivariable logistic regression showed that demographic factors: women age (≥35years) (AOR = 1.43; 95% CI 1.04, 1.96), having a family size of less than five (AOR = 4.61; 95% CI 3.34, 6.34), having family discussion (AOR = 4.05; 95% CI 2.74, 5.97), distance from the nearby clinic (≤30min) (AOR = 2.92; 95% CI 1.53, 5.58) and decision power about place of delivery (AOR = 2.50; 95% CI 1.56, 4.01); socio-economic factors: husband's educational status of primary school (AOR = 1.64; 95% CI 1.19, 2.24), middle level household wealth index (AOR = 1.78; 95% CI 1.25, 2.54) and rich level household wealth index (AOR = 2.01; 95% CI 1.42, 2.86); and programmatic factors: antenatal care visit during their recent pregnancy (AOR = 1.86;95% CI 1.16, 2.97) were affects institutional delivery positively. Whereas bad behavior of health workers (AOR = 0.27; 95% CI 0.19, 0.39) negatively affects institutional delivery. CONCLUSION: Institutional delivery was low in the study area. This study implies that strengthening family discussion and up taking antenatal care services in regular ways are a few of the suggested recommendations.

165. Competition in Abies kawakamii forests at subtropical high mountain in Taiwan.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Wang W, Liao MC, Tzeng HY.

166. Validating the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire in patients with rheumatoid arthritis using Rasch analysis.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Jayaram M, Wang C, Wang L

167. Optical absorbance of the tympanic membrane in rat and human samples.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Goblet M, Matin F, Lenarz T

168. How to improve technical and tactical actions of dominant and non-dominant players in children's football?

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Hintermann M, Born DP, Fuchslocher J

169. Nutritional value and organoleptic assessment of traditionally smoked cheeses made from goat, sheep and cow's milk.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Filipczak-Fiutak M, Pluta-Kubica A, Domagała J

170. Magnetic-resonance-based measurement of electromagnetic fields and conductivity in vivo using single current administration-A machine learning approach.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Sajib SZK, Chauhan M, Kwon OI

171. Measuring leadership an assessment of the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Batista-Foguet JM, Esteve M, van Witteloostuijn A.

172. Factors enhancing the level of utilisation of research knowledge on ecosystems.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Eschen R, Mbaabu PR, Ramamonjisoa BS

173. Non-native plant removal and high rainfall years promote post-fire recovery of Artemisia californica in southern California sage scrub.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Thomson DM, Meyer WM 3rd, Whitcomb IF.

Non-native plant invasions, changes in fire regime, and increasing drought stress all pose important threats to biodiverse mediterranean-climate shrublands. These factors can also interact, with fire and drought potentially creating opportunities for non-native species to establish dominance before native shrubs recover. We carried out post-fire demographic monitoring of the common native shrub Artemisia californica in a southern California sage scrub fragment for 7 years, including several with very low rainfall. Experimental removals of non-native plants were included for the first 4 years. We quantified A. californica post-fire crown resprouting and seedling emergence, and tested effects of precipitation, non-native plants, and their interactions on seedling and adult survival. Only 7 A. californica were confirmed as resprouts; almost all individuals established after the fire from seedlings, with 90% of emergence occurring in the second growing year after fire (spring 2015). Higher spring precipitation increased both adult and seedling survival. Non-native grasses and forbs rapidly recolonized control plots, but the removal treatment reduced non-native cover by nearly 60%. For seedlings, non-native removal reduced the probability of dropping leaves by start of summer drought and increased survival both directly and through positive interactions with rainfall. Non-native removal also reduced mortality in smaller adult plants. By 2020, mean A. californica canopy area was nearly four times greater in non-native removal plots. These findings reinforce the high vulnerability of sage scrub habitat to post-fire loss of shrub cover and potential type conversion, particularly with increasing drought frequency and in stands and species with limited crown resprouting. Yet they also illustrate the potential for targeted management of non-natives immediately after fire to promote recovery of native shrubs in this increasingly endangered community.

174. A mixed-methods evaluation of the uptake of novel differentiated ART delivery models in a national sample of health facilities in Uganda.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Zakumumpa H, Makobu K, Ntawiha W

INTRODUCTION: Since 2017, Uganda has been implementing five differentiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) delivery models to improve the quality of HIV care and to achieve health-system efficiencies. Community-based models include Community Client-Led ART Delivery and Community Drug Distribution Points. Facility-based models include Fast Track Drug Refill, Facility Based Group and Facility Based Individual Management. We set out to assess the extent of uptake of these ART delivery models and to describe barriers to uptake of either facility-based or community-based models. METHODS: Between December 2019 and February 2020, we conducted a mixed-methods study entailing a cross-sectional health facility survey (n = 116) and in-depth interviews (n = 16) with ART clinic managers in ten case-study facilities as well as six focus group discussions (56 participants) with patients enrolled in differentiated ART models. Facilities were selected based on the 10 geographic sub-regions of Uganda. Statistical analyses were performed in STATA (v13) while qualitative data were analysed by thematic approach. RESULTS: Most facilities 63 (57%) commenced implementation of differentiated ART delivery in 2018. Fast Track Drug Delivery was the most common facility-based model (implemented in 100 or 86% of health facilities). Community Client-Led ART Delivery was the most popular community model (63/116 or 54%). Community Drug Distribution Points had the lowest uptake with only 33 (24.88%) facilities implementing them. By ownership-type, for-profit facilities reported the lowest uptake of differentiated ART models. Barriers to enrolment in community-based models include HIV-related stigma and low enrolment of adult males in community models. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge this is the first study reporting national coverage of differentiated ART delivery models in Uganda. Overall, there has been a higher uptake of facility-based models. Interventions for enhancing the uptake of differentiated ART models in for-profit facilities are recommended.

175. Clinical outcomes of adults hospitalized for laboratory confirmed respiratory syncytial virus or influenza virus infection.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Chorazka M, Flury D, Herzog K

176. Regional brain volumes relate to Alzheimer's disease cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers and neuropsychometry: A cross-sectional, observational study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Libowitz MR, Wei K, Tran T

We hypothesized that automated assessment of brain volumes on MRI can predict presence of cerebrospinal fluid abnormal ß-amyloid42 and Tau protein levels and thus serve as a useful screening test for possible Alzheimer's disease. 113 participants ranging from cognitively healthy to Alzheimer's disease underwent MRI exams to obtain measurements of hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, precuneus, parietal cortex, and occipital lobe volumes. A non-exclusive subset (n = 107) consented to lumbar punctures to obtain cerebrospinal fluid for ß-amyloid42 and Tau protein assessment including cognitively health (n = 75), mild cognitively impaired (n = 22), and Alzheimer's disease (n = 10). After adjustment for false discovery rate, ß-amyloid42 was significantly associated with volumes in the hippocampus (p = 0.043), prefrontal cortex (p = 0.010), precuneus (p = 0.024), and the posterior cingulate (p = 0.002). No association between Tau levels and regional brain volume survived multiple test correction. Secondary analysis was performed to determine associations between MRI brain volumes and CSF protein levels to neuropsychological impairment. A non-exclusive subset (n = 96) including cognitively healthy (n = 72), mild cognitively impaired (n = 21), and Alzheimer's disease (n = 3) participants underwent Stroop Interference and Boston Naming neuropsychological testing. A higher score on the Boston Naming Test was optimally predicted in a selective regression model by greater hippocampus volume (p = 0.002), a higher ratio of ß-amyloid42 to Tau protein levels (p < 0.001), greater posterior cingulate volume (p = 0.0193), age (p = 0.0271), and a higher education level (p = 0.002). A better performance on the Stroop Interference Test was optimally predicted by greater hippocampus volume (p = 0.0003) and a higher education level (p < 0.001). Lastly, impaired cognitive status (mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's Disease) was optimally predicted in a selective regression model by a worse performance on the Stroop Interference Test (p < 0.001), a worse performance on the Boston Naming Test (p < 0.001), along with lower prefrontal cortex volume (p = 0.002) and lower hippocampus volume (p = 0.007).

177. Developing a core outcome set for periodontal trials.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Lamont TJ, Clarkson JE, Ricketts DNJ

178. Hypertension among people living with HIV/AIDS in Cameroon: A cross-sectional analysis from Central Africa International Epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Dzudie A, Hoover D, Kim HY

BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) success has led people to live longer with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) and thus be exposed to increasing risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Hypertension (HTN), the biggest contributor to CVD burden, is a growing concern among PLWH. The current report describes the prevalence and predictors of HTN among PLWH in care in Cameroon. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included all PLWH aged 20 years and above who received care between 2016 and 2019 at one of the three Central Africa International Epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (CA-IeDEA) sites in Cameroon (Bamenda, Limbe, and Yaoundé). HTN was defined as blood pressure (BP) ≥140/90 mm Hg or self-reported use of antihypertensive medication. Logistic regressions models examined the relationship between HTN and clinical characteristics, and HIV-related factors. RESULTS: Among 9,839 eligible PLWH, 66.2% were women and 25.0% had prevalent HTN [age-standardized prevalence 23.9% (95% CI: 22.2-25.6)], among whom 28 (1.1%) were on BP lowering treatment, and 6 of those (21.4%) were at target BP levels. Median age (47.4 vs. 40.5 years), self-reported duration of HIV infection (5.1 vs 2.8 years years), duration of ART exposure (4.7 vs 2.3 years), and CD4 count (408 vs 359 cell/mm3) were higher in hypertensives than non-hypertensives (all p<0.001). Age and body mass index (BMI) were independently associated with higher prevalent HTN risk. PLWH starting ART had a 30% lower risk of prevalent HTN, but this advantage disappeared after a cumulative 2-year exposure to ART. There was no significant association between other HIV predictive characteristics and HTN. CONCLUSION: About a quarter of these Cameroonian PLWH had HTN, driven among others by age and adiposity. Appropriate integration of HIV and NCDs services is needed to improve early detection, treatment and control of common comorbid NCD risk factors like hypertension and safeguard cardiovascular health in PLWH.

179. Autocrine signaling by receptor tyrosine kinases in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Lee YH, Lee MM, De Silva DM

180. Divergent long-term impacts of lethally toxic cane toads (Rhinella marina) on two species of apex predators (monitor lizards, Varanus spp.).

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Pettit L, Crowther MS, Ward-Fear G

181. Efficacy and safety of palbociclib and ribociclib in patients with estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positive, HER2 receptor negative metastatic breast cancer in routine clinical practice.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 22

Rath S, Elamarthi P, Parab P

BACKGROUND: There is scant data from India on efficacy and safety of palbociclib and ribociclib in routine clinical practice. METHODS: This retrospective, observational, single institution study included patients with estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative metastatic breast cancers, who received palbociclib or ribociclib with any partner endocrine therapy in any line of treatment between January 2016 and June 2019. Data were analyzed for progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and toxicity. RESULTS: The study included 101 female patients with median age of 57 (IQR 48-62) years, of whom 80 (79.2%) were postmenopausal, 79 (78.2%) received palbociclib or ribociclib in second- or later-line treatment, 59 (58.4%) received fulvestrant and 41 (40.6%) received an aromatase inhibitor. In first-line treatment, at a median follow-up of 21.7 (0.5-41.9) months, median PFS and OS were 21.1 (95%CI 16.36-not estimable) months and not reached, respectively. In second- or later-line setting, at a median follow-up of 17.2 (0.5-43.7) months, median PFS and OS were 5.98 (95%CI 4.96-7.89) months and 20.2 (95%CI 14.1-not estimable) months, respectively. Grade 3-4 neutropenia and febrile neutropenia were seen in 45 (45.0%) and 9 (9.0%) patients, respectively while dose reduction was required in 32 (31.7%) patients. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, first-line setting (HR 0.49, 95%CI 0.25-0.97, p = 0.043) and ECOG performance status 1 (HR 0.43, 95%CI 0.20-0.91, p = 0.028) were significantly associated with PFS while only ECOG PS 1 was significantly associated (HR 0.04, 95%CI 0.008-0.206, p = 0.000) with OS. CONCLUSION: Palbociclib and ribociclib, when used in routine clinical practice in first or subsequent lines of treatment, resulted in efficacy and toxicity outcomes in concordance with those expected from pivotal trials.

182. Factors associated with caring behaviors of family caregivers for patients receiving home mechanical ventilation with tracheostomy: A cross-sectional study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 21

Kim HS, Lee CE, Yang YS.

183. Experiences of menstruation in high income countries: A systematic review, qualitative evidence synthesis and comparison to low- and middle-income countries.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 21

Barrington DJ, Robinson HJ, Wilson E

BACKGROUND: There is growing recognition of the importance of menstruation in achieving health, education, and gender equality for all. New policies in high income countries (HICs) have responded to anecdotal evidence that many struggle to meet their menstrual health needs. Qualitative research has explored lived experiences of menstruating in HICs and can contribute to designing intervention approaches. To inform the growing policy attention to support people who menstruate, here we review and synthesise the existing research. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Primary, qualitative studies capturing experiences of menstruation in HICs were eligible for inclusion. Systematic database and hand searching identified 11485 records. Following screening and quality appraisal using the EPPI-Centre checklist, 104 studies (120 publications) detailing the menstrual experiences of over 3800 individuals across sixteen countries were included. We used the integrated model of menstrual experiences developed from studies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as a starting framework and deductively and inductively identified antecedents contributing to menstrual experiences; menstrual experiences themselves and impacts of menstrual experiences. Included studies described consistent themes and relationships that fit well with the LMIC integrated model, with modifications to themes and model pathways identified through our analysis. The socio-cultural context heavily shaped menstrual experiences, manifesting in strict behavioural expectations to conceal menstruation and limiting the provision of menstrual materials. Resource limitations contributed to negative experiences, where dissatisfaction with menstrual practices and management environments were expressed along with feelings of disgust if participants felt they failed to manage their menstruation in a discrete, hygienic way. Physical menstrual factors such as pain were commonly associated with negative experiences, with mixed experiences of healthcare reported. Across studies participants described negative impacts of their menstrual experience including increased mental burden and detrimental impacts on participation and personal relationships. Positive experiences were more rarely reported, although relationships between cis-women were sometimes strengthened by shared experiences of menstrual bleeding. Included studies reflected a broad range of disciplines and epistemologies. Many aimed to understand the constructed meanings of menstruation, but few were explicitly designed to inform policy or practice. Few studies focused on socioeconomically disadvantaged groups relevant to new policy efforts. CONCLUSIONS: We developed an integrated model of menstrual experience in HICs which can be used to inform research, policy and practice decisions by emphasising the pathways through which positive and negative menstrual experiences manifest. REVIEW PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: The review protocol registration is PROSPERO: CRD42019157618.

184. The benefits and disappointments following clitoral reconstruction after female genital cutting: A qualitative interview study from Sweden.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 21

Jordal M, Sigurjonsson H, Griffin G

185. Bioinformatics prediction of differential miRNAs in non-small cell lung cancer.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 21

Xiao K, Liu S, Xiao Y

186. Cost-effectiveness of artificial intelligence monitoring for active tuberculosis treatment: A modeling study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 21

Salcedo J, Rosales M, Kim JS

187. Performance of an affordable urine self-sampling method for human papillomavirus detection in Mexican women.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 21

Hernández-López R, Hermosillo L, León-Maldonado L

INTRODUCTION: Urine self-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV)-based cervical cancer screening is a non-invasive method that offers several logistical advantages and high acceptability, reducing barriers related to low screening coverage. This study developed and evaluated the performance of a low-cost urine self-sampling method for HPV-testing and explored the acceptability and feasibility of potential implementation of this alternative in routine screening. METHODS: A series of sequential laboratory assays examined the impact of several pre-analytical conditions for obtaining DNA from urine and subsequent HPV detection. Initially, we assessed the effect of ethylaminediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a DNA preservative examining several variables including EDTA concentration, specimen storage temperature, time between urine collection and DNA extraction, and first-morning micturition versus convenience sample collection. We further evaluated the agreement of HPV-testing between urine and clinician-collected cervical samples among 95 women. Finally, we explored the costs of self-sampling supplies as well as the acceptability and feasibility of urine self-sampling among women and healthcare workers. RESULTS: Our results revealed higher DNA concentrations were obtained when using a 40mM EDTA solution, storing specimens at 25°C and extracting DNA within 72 hrs. of urine collection, regardless of using first-morning micturition or a convenience sampling. We observed good agreement (Kappa = 0.72) between urine and clinician-collected cervical samples for HPV detection. Furthermore, urine self-sampling was an affordable method (USD 1.10), well accepted among cervical cancer screening users, healthcare workers, and decision-makers. CONCLUSION: These results suggest urine self-sampling is feasible and appropriate alternative for HPV-testing in HPV-based screening programs in lower-resource contexts.

188. Northern shrimp Pandalus borealis population collapse linked to climate-driven shifts in predator distribution.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 21

Richards RA, Hunter M.

189. Associations between plasma nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors concentrations and cognitive function in people with HIV.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 21

De Francesco D, Wang X, Dickinson L

190. Phenotypic differences between highlanders and lowlanders in Papua New Guinea.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 21

André M, Brucato N, Plutniak S

191. Simple benchmarking method for determining the accuracy of depth cameras in body landmark location estimation: Static upright posture as a measurement example.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 21

Liu PL, Chang CC, Lin JH

192. Identification of a diguanylate cyclase expressed in the presence of plants and its application for discovering candidate gene products involved in plant colonization by Pantoea sp. YR343.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 21

Bible AN, Chang M, Morrell-Falvey JL.

193. TeamTree analysis: A new approach to evaluate scientific production.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 21

Pfrieger FW.

194. The introduction of a mandatory mask policy was associated with significantly reduced COVID-19 cases in a major metropolitan city.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 21

Scott N, Saul A, Spelman T

BACKGROUND: Whilst evidence of use of face masks in reducing COVID-19 cases is increasing, the impact of mandatory use across a large population has been difficult to assess. Introduction of mandatory mask use on July 22, 2020 during a resurgence of COVID-19 in Melbourne, Australia created a situation that facilitated an assessment of the impact of the policy on the epidemic growth rate as its introduction occurred in the absence of other changes to restrictions. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Exponential epidemic growth or decay rates in daily COVID-19 diagnoses were estimated using a non-weighted linear regression of the natural logarithm of the daily cases against time, using a linear spline model with one knot (lspline package in R v 3.6.3). The model's two linear segments pivot around the hinge day, on which the mask policy began to take effect, 8 days following the introduction of the policy. We used two forms of data to assess change in mask usage: images of people wearing masks in public places obtained from a major media outlet and population-based survey data. Potential confounding factors (including daily COVID-19 tests, number of COVID-19 cases among population subsets affected differentially by the mask policy-e.g., healthcare workers) were examined for their impact on the results. Daily cases fitted an exponential growth in the first log-linear segment (k = +0.042, s.e. = 0.007), and fitted an exponential decay in the second (k = -0.023, s.e. = 0.017) log-linear segment. Over a range of reported serial intervals for SARS-CoV-2 infection, these growth rates correspond to a 22-33% reduction in an effective reproduction ratio before and after mandatory mask use. Analysis of images of people in public spaces showed mask usage rose from approximately 43% to 97%. Analysis of survey data found that on the third day before policy introduction, 44% of participants reported "often" or "always" wearing a mask; on the fourth day after, 100% reported "always" doing so. No potentially confounding factors were associated with the observed change in growth rates. CONCLUSIONS: The mandatory mask use policy substantially increased public use of masks and was associated with a significant decline in new COVID-19 cases after introduction of the policy. This study strongly supports the use of masks for controlling epidemics in the broader community.

195. Suicide in rural Australia: A retrospective study of mental health problems, health-seeking and service utilisation.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 21

Fitzpatrick SJ, Handley T, Powell N

BACKGROUND: Suicide rates are higher in rural Australia than in major cities, although the factors contributing to this are not well understood. This study highlights trends in suicide and examines the prevalence of mental health problems and service utilisation of non-Indigenous Australians by geographic remoteness in rural Australia. METHODS: A retrospective study of National Coronial Information System data of intentional self-harm deaths in rural New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania for 2010-2015 from the National Coronial Information System. RESULTS: There were 3163 closed cases of intentional self-harm deaths by non-Indigenous Australians for the period 2010-2015. The suicide rate of 12.7 deaths per 100,000 persons was 11% higher than the national Australian rate and increased with remoteness. Among people who died by suicide, up to 56% had a diagnosed mental illness, and a further 24% had undiagnosed symptoms. Reported diagnoses of mental illness decreased with remoteness, as did treatment for mental illness, particularly in men. The most reported diagnoses were mood disorders (70%), psychotic disorders (9%) and anxiety disorders (8%). In the six weeks before suicide, 22% of cases had visited any type of health service at least once, and 6% had visited two or more services. Medication alone accounted for 76% of all cases treated. CONCLUSIONS: Higher suicide rates in rural areas, which increase with remoteness, may be attributable to decreasing diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, particularly in men. Less availability of mental health specialists coupled with socio-demographic factors within more remote areas may contribute to lower mental health diagnoses and treatment. Despite an emphasis on improving health-seeking and service accessibility in rural Australia, research is needed to determine factors related to the under-utilisation of services and treatment by specific groups vulnerable to death by suicide.

196. Deep learning neural networks to differentiate Stafne's bone cavity from pathological radiolucent lesions of the mandible in heterogeneous panoramic radiography.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 20

Lee A, Kim MS, Han SS

197. Spatiotemporal pattern and coordination relationship between urban residential land price and land use intensity in 31 provinces and cities in China.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 20

Cai X, Liang Y, Huang Z

198. Effect of insulin treatment on pulsatility ratio and resistance index of the retinal artery in patients with type 2 diabetes.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 20

Omae T, Song Y, Yoshioka T

199. Intraoperative quality assessment of tissue perfusion with indocyanine green (ICG) in a porcine model of mesenteric ischemia.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 20

Duprée A, Rieß H, von Kroge PH

200. Effects of passive heat stress and recovery on human cognitive function: An ERP study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 20

Nakata H, Kakigi R, Shibasaki M.

Using event-related potentials (ERPs), we investigated the effects of passive heat stress and recovery on the human cognitive function with Flanker tasks, involving congruent and incongruent stimuli. We hypothesized that modulation of the peak amplitude and latency of the P300 component in ERP waveforms would differ with task difficulty during passive heat stress and recovery. Subjects performed the Flanker tasks before (Pre), at the end of whole body heating (Heat: internal temperature increase of ~1.2°C from the pre-heat baseline), and after the internal temperature had returned to the pre-heat baseline (Recovery). The internal temperature was regulated by a tube-lined suit by perfusing 50°C water for heat stress and 25°C water for recovery immediately after the heat stress. Regardless of task difficulty, the reaction time (RT) was shortened during Heat rather than Pre and Recovery, and standard deviations of RT (i.e., response variability) were significantly smaller during Heat than Pre. However, the peak amplitudes of the P300 component in ERPs, which involved selective attention, expectancy, and memory updating, were significantly smaller during Heat than during Pre, suggesting the impairment of neural activity in cognitive function. Notably, the peak amplitudes of the P300 component were higher during Recovery than during Heat, indicating that the impaired neural activity had recovered after sufficient whole-body cooling. An indicator of the stimulus classification/evaluation time (peak latency of P300) and the RT were shortened during Heat stress, but such shortening was not noted after whole-body cooling. These results suggest that hyperthermia affects the human cognitive function, reflected by the peak amplitude and latency of the P300 component in ERPs during the Flanker tasks, but sufficient treatment such as whole-body cooling performed in this study can recover those functions.

201. Conservative treatment of microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix stage IA1: Defining conization height to an optimal oncological outcome.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 20

Hartman CA, Bragança JF, Gurgel MSC

202. Characterization of two closely related citrus cultivars using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS-based widely targeted metabolomics.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 20

Wang F, Chen L, Chen S

203. Management of residents in difficulty in a Swiss general internal medicine outpatient clinic: Change is necessary!

PLoS One

2021 Jul 20

Lanier C, Muller-Juge V, Dominicé Dao M

AIMS OF THE STUDY: Residents in difficulty are a major cause for concern in medical education, with a prevalence of 7-15%. They are often detected late in their training and cannot make use of remediation plans. Nowadays, most training hospitals in Switzerland do not have a specific program to identify and manage residents in difficulty. The aim of the study was to explore the challenges perceived by physicians regarding the process of identifying, diagnosing, and supporting residents in difficulty in a structured and programmatic way. We explored perceptions of physicians at different hierarchical levels (residents (R), Chief residents (CR), attending physicians (A), Chief Physician (CP)) in order to better understand these challenges. METHODS: We conducted an exploratory qualitative study between December 2015 and July 2016. We asked volunteers from the Primary Care Division of the Geneva University Hospitals to partake to three focus groups (with CR, A, R) and one interview with the division's CP. We transcribed, coded, and qualitatively analyzed the three focus groups and the interview, using a content thematic approach and Fishbein's conceptual framework. RESULTS: We identified similarities and differences in the challenges of the management of residents in difficulty on a programmatic way amongst physicians of different hierarchical levels. Our main findings: Supervisors (CR, A, CP) have good identification skills of residents in difficulty, but they did not put in place systematic remediation strategies.Supervisors (CR, A) were concerned about managing residents in difficulty. They were aware of the possible adverse effects on patient care, but "feared to harm" resident's career by documenting a poor institutional assessment.Residents "feared to share" their own difficulties with their supervisors. They thought that it would impact their career negatively.The four physician's hierarchical level reported environmental constraints (lack of funding, time constraint, lack of time and resources…). CONCLUSION: Our results add two perspectives to specialized recommendations regarding the implementation of remediation programs for residents in difficulty. The first revolves around the need to identify and fully understand not only the beliefs but also the implicit norms and the feeling of self-efficacy that are shared by teachers and that are likely to motivate them to engage in the management of residents in difficulty. The second emphasizes the importance of analyzing these elements that constitute the context for a change and of identifying, in close contact with the heads of the institutions, which factors may favor or hinder it. This research action process has fostered awareness and discussions at different levels. Since then, various actions and processes have been put in place at the Faculty of Medicine in Geneva.

204. Binocular fusion enhances the efficiency of spot-the-difference gameplay.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 20

Venkataramanan K, Gawde S, Hathibelagal AR

205. A breakthrough series collaborative to increase patient participation with hemodialysis tasks: A stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 20

Fotheringham J, Barnes T, Dunn L

BACKGROUND: Compared to in-centre, home hemodialysis is associated with superior outcomes. The impact on patient experience and clinical outcomes of consistently providing the choice and training to undertake hemodialysis-related treatment tasks in the in-centre setting is unknown. METHODS: A stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial in 12 UK renal centres recruited prevalent in-centre hemodialysis patients with sites randomised into early and late participation in a 12-month breakthrough series collaborative that included data collection, learning events, Plan-Study-Do-Act cycles, and teleconferences repeated every 6 weeks, underpinned by a faculty, co-production, materials and a nursing course. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients undertaking five or more hemodialysis-related tasks or home hemodialysis. Secondary outcomes included independent hemodialysis, quality of life, symptoms, patient activation and hospitalisation. ISRCTN Registration Number 93999549. RESULTS: 586 hemodialysis patients were recruited. The proportion performing 5 or more tasks or home hemodialysis increased from 45.6% to 52.3% (205 to 244/449, difference 6.2%, 95% CI 1.4 to 11%), however after analysis by step the adjusted odds ratio for the intervention was 1.63 (95% CI 0.94 to 2.81, P = 0.08). 28.3% of patients doing less than 5 tasks at baseline performed 5 or more at the end of the study (69/244, 95% CI 22.2-34.3%, adjusted odds ratio 3.71, 95% CI 1.66-8.31). Independent or home hemodialysis increased from 7.5% to 11.6% (32 to 49/423, difference 4.0%, 95% CI 1.0-7.0), but the remaining secondary endpoints were unaffected. CONCLUSIONS: Our intervention did not increase dialysis related tasks being performed by a prevalent population of centre based patients, but there was an increase in home hemodialysis as well as an increase in tasks among patients who were doing fewer than 5 at baseline. Further studies are required that examine interventions to engage people who dialyse at centres in their own care.

206. Collective insights of public-private partnership impacts and sustainability: A qualitative analysis.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 20

Strasser S, Stauber C, Shrivastava R

207. Randomised trial on effect of involving media reporters in salt reduction programme to increase media reports and the public's knowledge, belief and behaviors on salt and health: Changzhi reporters trial.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 20

Li Z, Feng X, Wu T

208. Impact of temporal correlations on high risk outbreaks of independent and cooperative SIR dynamics.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 20

Sajjadi S, Ejtehadi MR, Ghanbarnejad F.

209. Ear wound healing in MRL/MpJ mice is associated with gut microbiome composition and is transferable to non-healer mice via microbiome transplantation.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 20

Velasco C, Dunn C, Sturdy C

OBJECTIVE: Adult elastic cartilage has limited repair capacity. MRL/MpJ (MRL) mice, by contrast, are capable of spontaneously healing ear punctures. This study was undertaken to characterize microbiome differences between healer and non-healer mice and to evaluate whether this healing phenotype can be transferred via gut microbiome transplantation. METHODS: We orally transplanted C57BL/6J (B6) mice with MRL/MpJ cecal contents at weaning and as adults (n = 57) and measured ear hole closure 4 weeks after a 2.0mm punch and compared to vehicle-transplanted MRL and B6 (n = 25) and B6-transplanted MRL (n = 20) mice. Sex effects, timing of transplant relative to earpunch, and transgenerational heritability were evaluated. In a subset (n = 58), cecal microbiomes were profiled by 16S sequencing and compared to ear hole closure. Microbial metagenomes were imputed using PICRUSt. RESULTS: Transplantation of B6 mice with MRL microbiota, either in weanlings or adults, improved ear hole closure. B6-vehicle mice healed ear hole punches poorly (0.25±0.03mm, mm ear hole healing 4 weeks after a 2mm ear hole punch [2.0mm-final ear hole size], mean±SEM), whereas MRL-vehicle mice healed well (1.4±0.1mm). MRL-transplanted B6 mice healed roughly three times as well as B6-vehicle mice, and half as well as MRL-vehicle mice (0.74±0.05mm, P = 6.9E-10 vs. B6-vehicle, P = 5.2E-12 vs. MRL-vehicle). Transplantation of MRL mice with B6 cecal material did not reduce MRL healing (B6-transplanted MRL 1.3±0.1 vs. MRL-vehicle 1.4±0.1, p = 0.36). Transplantation prior to ear punch was associated with the greatest ear hole closure. Offspring of transplanted mice healed significantly better than non-transplanted control mice (offspring:0.63±0.03mm, mean±SEM vs. B6-vehicle control:0.25±0.03mm, n = 39 offspring, P = 4.6E-11). Several microbiome clades were correlated with healing, including Firmicutes (R = 0.84, P = 8.0E-7), Lactobacillales (R = 0.65, P = 1.1E-3), and Verrucomicrobia (R = -0.80, P = 9.2E-6). Females of all groups tended to heal better than males (B6-vehicle P = 0.059, MRL-transplanted B6 P = 0.096, offspring of MRL-transplanted B6 P = 0.0038, B6-transplanted MRL P = 1.6E-6, MRL-vehicle P = 0.0031). Many clades characteristic of female mouse cecal microbiota vs. males were the same as clades characteristic of MRL and MRL-transplanted B6 mice vs. B6 controls, including including increases in Clostridia and reductions in Verrucomicrobia in female mice. CONCLUSION: In this study, we found an association between the microbiome and tissue regeneration in MRL mice and demonstrate that this trait can be transferred to non-healer mice via microbiome transplantation. We identified several microbiome clades associated with healing.

210. How is Etuaptmumk/Two-Eyed Seeing characterized in Indigenous health research? A scoping review.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 20

Roher SIG, Yu Z, Martin DH

211. Anchoring the T6SS to the cell wall: Crystal structure of the peptidoglycan binding domain of the TagL accessory protein.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Nguyen VS, Spinelli S, Cascales É

212. Is pedagogical training an essential requirement for inclusive education? The case of faculty members in the area of Social and Legal Sciences in Spain.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Lopez-Gavira R, Orozco I, Doménech A.

213. Leptin and advanced glycation end products receptor (RAGE) in tuberculosis patients.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Lazzari TK, Cavalheiro E, Coutinho SE

214. Registered Report Protocol: Survey on attitudes and experiences regarding preregistration in psychological research.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Spitzer L, Mueller S.

215. Characterization of Vascular plant One-Zinc finger (VOZ) in soybean (Glycine max and Glycine soja) and their expression analyses under drought condition.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Rehman SU, Qanmber G, Tahir MHN

216. Identifying factors that nurses consider in the decision-making process related to patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Anton N, Hornbeck T, Modlin S

BACKGROUND: Nurse identification of patient deterioration is critical, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, as patients can deteriorate quickly. While the literature has shown that nurses rely on intuition to make decisions, there is limited information on what sources of data experienced nurses utilize to inform their intuition. The objectives of this study were to identify sources of data that inform nurse decision-making related to recognition of deteriorating patients, and explore how COVID-19 has impacted nurse decision-making. METHODS: In this qualitative study, experienced nurses voluntarily participated in focused interviews. During focused interviews, expert nurses were asked to share descriptions of memorable patient encounters, and questions were posed to facilitate reflections on thoughts and actions that hindered or helped their decision-making. They were also asked to consider the impact of COVID-19 on nursing and decision-making. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, study team members reviewed transcripts and coded responses, and organized key findings into themes. RESULTS: Several themes related to decision-making were identified by the research team, including: identifying patient care needs, workload management, and reflecting on missed care opportunities to inform learning. Participants (n = 10) also indicated that COVID-19 presented a number of unique barriers to nurse decision-making. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study indicate that experienced nurses utilize several sources of information to inform their intuition. It is apparent that the demands on nurses in response to pandemics are heightened. Decision-making themes drawn from participants' experiences can to assist nurse educators for training nursing students on decision-making for deteriorating patients and how to manage the potential barriers (e.g., resource constraints, lack of family) associated with caring for patients during these challenging times prior to encountering these issues in the clinical environment. Nurse practice can utilize these findings to increase awareness among experienced nurses on recognizing how pandemic situations can impact to their decision-making capability.

217. Vulnerability of Pacific salmon to invasion of northern pike (Esox lucius) in Southcentral Alaska.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Jalbert CS, Falke JA, López JA

218. The correlation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related gene expression and the clinicopathologic features of colorectal cancer patients in Taiwan.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Dai YC, Fang CY, Yang HY

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. It has been the most prevalent malignancy in Taiwan for consecutive thirteen years. Despite the diversity of its etiologic and pathophysiologic factors, a biological process named as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is indispensable in the progression of epithelial cancer. Our aim is to investigate the correlation between the expression of 8 EMT-related proteins (E-cadherin, β-catenin, claudin-1, CD44, N-cadherin, fibronectin, vimentin, S100A4) and the clinicopathologic features of CRC in Taiwan, along with the DNA CpG epigenetic status of CD44 gene. In immunohistochemical assessment, decreased expression of E-cadherin is statistically associated with the progression of cancer stage, while decreased expression of claudin-1 as well as increased β-catenin nuclear translocation and N-cadherin expression is statistically associated with the progression of histopathologic grade. E-cadherin, nuclear β-catenin and claudin-1 are also associated with other important prognostic factors, including nodal metastasis, tumor deposits, and elevated serum CA 19-9 levels. In addition, the left-sided colon and rectal cancers show increased nuclear translocation of β-catenin compared to the right-sided colon cancers, while the rectal cancers show increased fibronectin expression compared to the right-sided and left-sided colon cancers. Moreover, vimentin is aberrantly expressed in one case of signet-ring cell carcinoma. The DNA methylation levels of CD44 gene promoter between the tumoral and non-tumorous tissues by NGS comparison showed statistical difference on six CpG sites. However, such difference may not be sufficient because these DNA methylation proportions are too low to inactivate CD44 gene. Our results demonstrate the expression of E-cadherin, claudin-1, and nuclear β-catenin is closely related to the clinicopathologic prognostic determinants of CRC in Taiwan. The DNA methylation level of CD44 gene and its protein expression, however, show no correlation with the clinicopathologic features in CRC.

219. Revealing immune responses in the Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis-infected THP-1 cells using single cell RNA-sequencing.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Park HT, Park WB, Kim S

220. Effects of taping techniques on arch deformation in adults with pes planus: A meta-analysis.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Tang M, Wang L, You Y

221. Identification of novel and rare variants associated with handgrip strength using whole genome sequence data from the NHLBI Trans-Omics in Precision Medicine (TOPMed) Program.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Sarnowski C, Chen H, Biggs ML

222. A machine learning based exploration of COVID-19 mortality risk.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Mahdavi M, Choubdar H, Zabeh E

223. Weight gain during twin pregnancy with favorable pregnancy outcomes in Japan: A retrospective investigation for new criteria based on perinatal registry data.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Obata S, Shimura M, Misumi T

224. Delftia acidovorans secretes substances that inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis through TCA cycle-triggered ROS production.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Ohkubo T, Matsumoto Y, Cho O

225. Efficacy of duloxetine compared with opioid for postoperative pain control following total knee arthroplasty.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Kim MS, Koh IJ, Choi KY

226. Alpha and beta adrenergic receptors modulate keratinocyte migration.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Yang HY, Steenhuis P, Glucksman AM

227. Spatial disinfection potential of slightly acidic electrolyzed water.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Kurahashi M, Ito T, Naka A.

228. Are responders to patient health surveys representative of those invited to participate? An analysis of the Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Pilot from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Harris IA, Cashman K, Lorimer M

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are commonly used to evaluate surgical outcome in patients undergoing joint replacement surgery, however routine collection from the target population is often incomplete. Representative samples are required to allow inference from the sample to the population. Although higher capture rates are desired, the extent to which this improves the representativeness of the sample is not known. We aimed to measure the representativeness of data collected using an electronic PROMs capture system with or without telephone call follow up, and any differences in PROMS reporting between electronic and telephone call follow up. METHODS: Data from a pilot PROMs program within a large national joint replacement registry were examined. Telephone call follow up was used for people that failed to respond electronically. Data were collected pre-operatively and at 6 months post-operatively. Responding groups (either electronic only or electronic plus telephone call follow up) were compared to non-responders based on patient characteristics (joint replaced, bilaterality, age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) score and Body Mass Index (BMI)) using chi squared test or ANOVA, and PROMs for the two responder groups were compared using generalised linear models adjusted for age and sex. The analysis was restricted to those undergoing primary elective hip, knee or shoulder replacement for osteoarthritis. RESULTS: Pre-operatively, 73.2% of patients responded electronically and telephone follow-up of non-responders increased this to 91.4%. Pre-operatively, patients responding electronically, compared to all others, were on average younger, more likely to be female, and healthier (lower ASA score). Similar differences were found when telephone follow up was included in the responding group. There were little (if any) differences in the post-operative comparisons, where electronic responders were on average one year younger and were more likely to have a lower ASA score compared to those not responding electronically, but there was no significant difference in sex or BMI. PROMs were similar between those reporting electronically and those reporting by telephone. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing total joint replacement who provide direct electronic PROMs data are younger, healthier and more likely to be female than non-responders, but these differences are small, particularly for post-operative data collection. The addition of telephone call follow up to electronic contact does not provide a more representative sample. Electronic-only follow up of patients undergoing joint replacement provides a satisfactory representation of the population invited to participate.

229. State-trait interactions in regulatory focus determine impulse buying behavior.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Krishna A, Ried S, Meixner M.

230. Effects of imatinib on vascular insulin sensitivity and free fatty acid transport in early weight gain.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Box CVJ, Sandhu AK, Turaihi AH

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial dysfunction is an essential part of the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes and its complications. In type 2 diabetes, endothelial dysfunction is characterized by reduced insulin signaling and increased transendothelial transport of fatty acids (FA). As the Abl kinase inhibitor imatinib was previously shown to reverse type 2 diabetes and to inhibit VEGF signaling via Abl kinases, we studied the effect of imatinib on vascular insulin sensitivity and fatty acid transport in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: C57/BL6J mice were fed a chow diet or Western diet (WD), and received daily imatinib injections for two weeks. Insulin-mediated vasoreactivity of resistance arteries was studied using intravital microscopy, and metabolic insulin sensitivity using the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. The effect of imatinib on triglyceride content in skeletal muscle and heart in vivo was also determined. In vitro, the effect of imatinib on fatty acid transport was studied in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by evaluating the effect of imatinib on fluorescently labeled FA uptake both under basal and VEGF-B-stimulated conditions. RESULTS: Imatinib prevented the WD-induced weight gain in mice, independently from food intake. In line with this, imatinib enhanced insulin-mediated vasoreactivity of resistance arteries in the WD-fed mice. However, imatinib did not affect triglyceride content in muscle. In cultured endothelial cells, VEGF-B stimulation resulted in a time-dependent uptake of fatty acids in parallel with increased phosphorylation of the Abl kinase substrate Crk-like protein (CrkL) at Tyr207. Although imatinib effectively prevented VEGF-B-mediated Abl kinase activation, it had no effect on VEGF-B mediated endothelial FA uptake. CONCLUSION: Imatinib prevents weight gain and preserves insulin-mediated vasodilation in WD-fed mice, but does not affect endothelial FA transport despite inhibiting VEGF-B signaling. The beneficial effect of imatinib on insulin-mediated vasodilation may contribute to the anti-diabetic effects of imatinib.

231. Investigating the relationship of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus RNA detection between adult/sow farm and wean-to-market age categories.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 2

Jiang Y, Li Q, Trevisan G

232. Viral mapping in COVID-19 deceased in the Augsburg autopsy series of the first wave: A multiorgan and multimethodological approach.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 19

Hirschbühl K, Dintner S, Beer M

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is only partly understood, and the level of evidence available in terms of pathophysiology, epidemiology, therapy, and long-term outcome remains limited. During the early phase of the pandemic, it was necessary to effectively investigate all aspects of this new disease. Autopsy can be a valuable procedure to investigate the internal organs with special techniques to obtain information on the disease, especially the distribution and type of organ involvement. METHODS: During the first wave of COVID-19 in Germany, autopsies of 19 deceased patients were performed. Besides gross examination, the organs were analyzed with standard histology and polymerase-chain-reaction for SARS-CoV-2. Polymerase chain reaction positive localizations were further analyzed with immunohistochemistry and RNA-in situ hybridization for SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: Eighteen of 19 patients were found to have died due to COVID-19. Clinically relevant histological changes were only observed in the lungs. Diffuse alveolar damage in considerably different degrees was noted in 18 cases. Other organs, including the central nervous system, did not show specific micromorphological alterations. In terms of SARS-CoV-2 detection, the focus remains on the upper airways and lungs. This is true for both the number of positive samples and the viral load. A highly significant inverse correlation between the stage of diffuse alveolar damage and viral load was found on a case and a sample basis. Mediastinal lymph nodes and fat were also affected by the virus at high frequencies. By contrast, other organs rarely exhibited a viral infection. Moderate to strong correlations between the methods for detecting SARS-CoV-2 were observed for the lungs and for other organs. CONCLUSIONS: The lung is the most affected organ in gross examination, histology and polymerase chain reaction. SARS-CoV-2 detection in other organs did not reveal relevant or specific histological changes. Moreover, we did not find CNS involvement.

233. Late antiretroviral refills and condomless sex in a cohort of HIV-seropositive pregnant and postpartum Kenyan women.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 19

Eastment MC, Kinuthia J, Wang L

INTRODUCTION: The postpartum period can be challenging for women living with HIV. Understanding how the postpartum period impacts ART adherence and condomless sex could inform the development of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and HIV services tailored to the needs of women living with HIV during this critical interval. METHODS: In a longitudinal cohort study of HIV-seropositive Kenyan women, late ART refills and self-reported condomless sex were compared between the woman's pregnancy and the postpartum period. Analyses were conducted using generalized estimating equations and adjusted for alcohol use, depressive symptoms, intimate partner violence (IPV), and having a recent regular partner. Effect modification was explored for selected variables. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: 151 women contributed visits. Late ART refills occurred at 7% (32/439) of pregnancy visits compared to 18% (178/1016) during the postpartum period (adjusted relative risk [aRR] 2.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.62-3.67). This association differed by women's education level. Women with ≥8 years of education had late ART refills more during the postpartum period than pregnancy (aRR 3.00, 95%CI 1.95-4.62). In contrast, in women with <8 years of education, late ART refills occurred similarly during pregnancy and the postpartum period (aRR 0.88, 95%CI 0.18-4.35). Women reported condomless sex at 10% (60/600) of pregnancy visits compared to 7% (72/1081) of postpartum visits (aRR 0.76, 95%CI 0.45-1.27). This association differed by whether women had experienced recent IPV. Women without recent IPV had a significant decline in condomless sex from pregnancy to postpartum (aRR 0.53, 95%CI 0.30-0.95) while women with recent IPV had no significant change in condomless sex from pregnancy to postpartum (aRR 1.76, 95%CI 0.87-3.55). CONCLUSION: Improved support for ART adherence during the postpartum period and addressing IPV to limit condomless sex could improve HIV treatment and prevention outcomes for HIV-seropositive women as well as their infants and sexual partners.

234. Interpregnancy intervals and adverse birth outcomes in high-income countries: An international cohort study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 19

Tessema GA, Marinovich ML, Håberg SE

BACKGROUND: Most evidence for interpregnancy interval (IPI) and adverse birth outcomes come from studies that are prone to incomplete control for confounders that vary between women. Comparing pregnancies to the same women can address this issue. METHODS: We conducted an international longitudinal cohort study of 5,521,211 births to 3,849,193 women from Australia (1980-2016), Finland (1987-2017), Norway (1980-2016) and the United States (California) (1991-2012). IPI was calculated based on the time difference between two dates-the date of birth of the first pregnancy and the date of conception of the next (index) pregnancy. We estimated associations between IPI and preterm birth (PTB), spontaneous PTB, and small-for-gestational age births (SGA) using logistic regression (between-women analyses). We also used conditional logistic regression comparing IPIs and birth outcomes in the same women (within-women analyses). Random effects meta-analysis was used to calculate pooled adjusted odds ratios (aOR). RESULTS: Compared to an IPI of 18-23 months, there was insufficient evidence for an association between IPI <6 months and overall PTB (aOR 1.08, 95% CI 0.99-1.18) and SGA (aOR 0.99, 95% CI 0.81-1.19), but increased odds of spontaneous PTB (aOR 1.38, 95% CI 1.21-1.57) in the within-women analysis. We observed elevated odds of all birth outcomes associated with IPI ≥60 months. In comparison, between-women analyses showed elevated odds of adverse birth outcomes for <12 month and >24 month IPIs. CONCLUSIONS: We found consistently elevated odds of adverse birth outcomes following long IPIs. IPI shorter than 6 months were associated with elevated risk of spontaneous PTB, but there was insufficient evidence for increased risk of other adverse birth outcomes. Current recommendations of waiting at least 24 months to conceive after a previous pregnancy, may be unnecessarily long in high-income countries.

235. Beneficial osseointegration effect of hydroxyapatite coating on cranial implant - FEM investigation.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 19

Chamrad J, Marcián P, Cizek J.

236. Quinazolin-derived myeloperoxidase inhibitor suppresses influenza A virus-induced reactive oxygen species, pro-inflammatory mediators and improves cell survival.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 19

De La Cruz JA, Ganesh T, Diebold BA

237. Unaffected fellow eye neovascularization in patients with type 3 neovascularization: Incidence and risk factors.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 19

Kwak JH, Park WK, Kim RY

238. Modeling vaccination strategies in an Excel spreadsheet: Increasing the rate of vaccination is more effective than increasing the vaccination coverage for containing COVID-19.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 19

Alvarez MM, Bravo-González S, Trujillo-de Santiago G.

239. Can situations awaken emotions? The compilation and evaluation of the Emotional Situation Sentence System (ESSS).

PLoS One

2021 Jul 19

Zhao Y, Yin M, Zhu C

240. Improved DEMATEL-ISM integration approach for complex systems.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 16

Chen JK.

241. Comparison of efficacy and safety of complementary and alternative therapies for essential hypertension with anxiety or depression disorder.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 16

Han X, Liu X, Zhong F

BACKGROUND: Essential hypertension (EH) with anxiety or depression belongs to the category of psycho-cardiology. Hypertension is closely related to anxiety and depression. The adverse reactions of Western medicine are apparent and the compliance is poor. Supplementary and replacement therapies have accumulated rich experience in clinical practices, which can reduce side effects and improve clinical efficacy. This study intends to use the Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) analysis method for the first time to gather randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to complementary and alternative therapies in the treatment of hypertension with anxiety or depression disorder and rank efficacy and safety, to provide a reference basis for the treatment of hypertension with anxiety or depression disorder. METHODS: All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and registered and ongoing trials of Chinese and English databases, related to supplementation and replacement therapies of EH with anxiety or depression disorder, published from initial state to February 2021, will be collected in the form of computer retrieval. Two researchers will independently screen the literature, extracting data, assessing bias risk and assessing heterogeneity. We will use software WinBUGS 1.4.3 and Stata 16.0 for pairwise meta-analysis and NMA to comprehensively evaluate various interventions. The quality of evidence will be evaluated through the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). RESULTS: This NMA will comprehensively compare and rank the efficacy and safety of a series of complementary and alternative therapies in treating EH with anxiety or depression disorder. CONCLUSION: Supplementary and replacement therapies have accumulated rich experience of clinical practices in improving EH with anxiety or depression disorder. We expect that this NMA will guide practice and research by providing reliable evidence of evidence-based medicine for the treatment of EH with anxiety or depression disorder. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY202120068.

242. The patient satisfaction in primary care consultation-Questionnaire (PiC): An instrument to assess the impact of patient-centred communication on patient satisfaction.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 16

Stark S, Worm L, Kluge M

243. Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation increases corticospinal excitability, while performance is unchanged.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 16

Kristiansen M, Thomsen MJ, Nørgaard J

244. Ethical and practical considerations for interventional HIV cure-related research at the end-of-life: A qualitative study with key stakeholders in the United States.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 16

Kanazawa J, Gianella S, Concha-Garcia S

BACKGROUND: A unique window of opportunity currently exists to generate ethical and practical considerations presented by interventional HIV cure-related research at the end-of-life (EOL). Because participants would enroll in these studies for almost completely altruistic reasons, they are owed the highest ethical standards, safeguards, and protections. This qualitative empirical ethics study sought to identify ethical and practical considerations for interventional HIV cure-related research at the EOL. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We conducted 20 in-depth interviews and three virtual focus groups (N = 36) with four key stakeholder groups in the United States: 1) bioethicists, 2) people with HIV, 3) HIV care providers, and 4) HIV cure researchers. This study produced six key themes to guide the ethical implementation of interventional HIV cure-related research at the EOL: 1) all stakeholder groups supported this research conditioned upon a clearly delineated respect for participant contribution and autonomy, participant understanding and comprehension of the risks associated with the specific intervention(s) to be tested, and broad community support for testing of the proposed intervention(s); 2) to ensure acceptable benefit-risk profiles, researchers should focus on limiting the risks of unintended effects and minimizing undue pain and suffering at the EOL; 3) only well-vetted interventions that are supported by solid pre-clinical data should be tested in the EOL translational research model; 4) the informed consent process must be robust and include process consent; 5) research protocols should be flexible and adopt a patient/participant centered approach to minimize burdens and ensure their overall comfort and safety; and 6) a participant's next-of-kin/loved ones should be a major focus of EOL research but only if the participant consents to such involvement. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this empirical ethics study generated the first ethical and practical considerations for interventional HIV cure-related research at the EOL. The ethical complexities of such research must be considered now. We must navigate this ethical conundrum so that we are good stewards of the participants' extremely altruistic gifts by maximizing the impact and social value of this research. We hope that this study will serve as the foundation for future research and discussion on this topic.

245. Microbially induced calcite precipitation performance of multiple landfill indigenous bacteria compared to a commercially available bacteria in porous media.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 16

Rajasekar A, Moy CKS, Wilkinson S

Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) is currently viewed as one of the potential prominent processes for field applications towards the prevention of soil erosion, healing cracks in bricks, and groundwater contamination. Typically, the bacteria involved in MICP manipulate their environment leading to calcite precipitation with an enzyme such as urease, causing calcite crystals to form on the surface of grains forming cementation bonds between particles that help in reducing soil permeability and increase overall compressive strength. In this paper, the main focus is to study the MICP performance of three indigenous landfill bacteria against a well-known commercially bought MICP bacteria (Bacillus megaterium) using sand columns. In order to check the viability of the method for potential field conditions, the tests were carried out at slightly less favourable environmental conditions, i.e., at temperatures between 15-17°C and without the addition of urease enzymes. Furthermore, the sand was loose without any compaction to imitate real ground conditions. The results showed that the indigenous bacteria yielded similar permeability reduction (4.79 E-05 to 5.65 E-05) and calcium carbonate formation (14.4-14.7%) to the control bacteria (Bacillus megaterium), which had permeability reduction of 4.56 E-5 and CaCO3 of 13.6%. Also, reasonably good unconfined compressive strengths (160-258 kPa) were noted for the indigenous bacteria samples (160 kPa). SEM and XRD showed the variation of biocrystals formation mainly detected as Calcite and Vaterite. Overall, all of the indigenous bacteria performed slightly better than the control bacteria in strength, permeability, and CaCO3 precipitation. In retrospect, this study provides clear evidence that the indigenous bacteria in such environments can provide similar calcite precipitation potential as well-documented bacteria from cell culture banks. Hence, the idea of MICP field application through biostimulation of indigenous bacteria rather than bioaugmentation can become a reality in the near future.

246. A pilot cohort study assessing the feasibility of complete revascularization with balloon pulmonary angioplasty for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 16

Fujii S, Nagayoshi S, Ogawa K

Balloon pulmonary angioplasty improves prognosis by alleviating pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, even with incomplete revascularization. However, hypoxia or the requirement for pulmonary vasodilators often remain even after pulmonary hypertension relief. With this cohort study, we aimed to examine whether complete revascularization by additional balloon pulmonary angioplasty on residual lesions, even after pulmonary hypertension relief, could resolve hypoxia or the requirement for pulmonary vasodilators. During complete revascularization with balloon pulmonary angioplasty in 42 patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, we investigated therapeutic effects at baseline (T1), pulmonary hypertension relief phase (T2), and at 6 months post-final balloon pulmonary angioplasty (T3). The pulmonary hypertension relief phase was defined as the first time that a mean pulmonary artery pressure ≤ 25 mmHg or pulmonary vascular resistance ≤ 240 dyn-s/cm5 was reached in right heart catheterization before balloon pulmonary angioplasty. The partial pressure of oxygen increased progressively over T1, T2, and T3 (59.2±8.5, 69.0±9.7, and 80.0±9.5 mmHg, respectively; P<0.001 T2 vs. T3). Minimum oxygen saturation levels during the 6-minute walk distance test were 87% (81‒89%), 88% (84‒92%), and 91% (89‒93.3%), respectively (P<0.001 T2 vs. T3), with gradual increase in the 6-minute walk distance (346±125 m, 404±90 m, 454±101 m, respectively; P<0.001 T2 vs. T3). The percentages of patients using pulmonary vasodilators (54.8%, 45.2%, 4.8%, respectively; P<0.001 T2 vs. T3) and requiring oxygen therapy (26%, 26%, 7%, respectively; P = 0.008 T2 vs. T3) decreased significantly without hemodynamic exacerbation or major complications. Despite the discontinuation of pulmonary vasodilators, mean pulmonary artery pressure improved (36.0 [31.0‒41.3], 21.4±4.2, 18.5±3.6 mmHg, respectively; P<0.001 T2 vs. T3). Complete revascularization with balloon pulmonary angioplasty beyond pulmonary hypertension relief benefits patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension; it may improve oxygenation and exercise capacity, and reduce the need for pulmonary vasodilators and oxygen therapy.

247. Non-invasive hemoglobin measurement devices require refinement to match diagnostic performance with their high level of usability and acceptability.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 16

Young MF, Raines K, Jameel F

Anemia remains an important global health problem. Inexpensive, accurate, and noninvasive solutions are needed to monitor and evaluate anemia in resource-limited settings. We evaluated the performance of multiple point-of-care hemoglobin devices, including a novel noninvasive smartphone application tested on Apple® and Android® cell phones, Masimo Pronto®, and HemoCue® Hb-301 and Hb-801, against a gold-standard hematology analyzer (reference hemoglobin) using venous blood. We examined correlations between hemoglobin devices and reference hemoglobin, device accuracy (average bias, Bland-Altman plots, clinical performance) and classification bias (sensitivity, specificity) among 299 refugees (10mo-65y) in Atlanta, GA. Semi-structured interviews (n = 19) with participants and staff assessed usability and acceptability. Mean reference hemoglobin was 13.7 g/dL (SD:1.8) with 12.5% anemia. Noninvasive hemoglobin devices were not well correlated with reference hemoglobin (Apple® R2 = 0.08, Android® R2 = 0.11, Masimo Pronto® R2 = 0.29), but stronger correlations were reported with HemoCue® Hb-301 (R2 = 0.87) and Hb-801 (R2 = 0.88). Bias (SD) varied across each device: Apple®: -1.6 g/dL (2.0), Android®: -0.7 g/dL (2.0), Masimo Pronto®: -0.4 g/dL (1.6), HemoCue® Hb-301: +0.4 g/dL (0.7) and HemoCue® Hb-801: +0.2 g/dL (0.6). Clinically acceptable performance (within ± 1 g/dL of reference hemoglobin) was higher for the invasive devices (HemoCue® Hb-301: 90.3%; HemoCue® Hb-801: 93.4%) compared to noninvasive devices (Apple®: 31.5%; Android®: 34.6%; Masimo Pronto®: 49.5%). Sensitivity and specificity were 63.9% and 48.2% for Apple®, 36.1% and 67.6% for Android®, 45.7% and 85.3% for Masimo Pronto®, 54.3% and 97.6% for HemoCue® Hb-301, and 66.7% and 97.6% for HemoCue® Hb-801. Noninvasive devices were considered easy to use and were the preferred method by participants. Among the only studies to compare multiple point-of-care approaches to hemoglobin testing, the diagnostic ability of HemoCue® was comparable to reference hemoglobin, while noninvasive devices had high user acceptability but considerable biases. Improvements in noninvasive device performance and further testing in anemic populations are recommended before broader use.

248. Reduction of knee joint load suppresses cartilage degeneration, osteophyte formation, and synovitis in early-stage osteoarthritis using a post-traumatic rat model.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 16

Takahashi I, Takeda K, Matsuzaki T

249. Models of provider care in long-term care: A rapid scoping review.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 16

Hamel C, Garritty C, Hersi M

INTRODUCTION: One of the current challenges in long-term care homes (LTCH) is to identify the optimal model of care, which may include specialty physicians, nursing staff, person support workers, among others. There is currently no consensus on the complement or scope of care delivered by these providers, nor is there a repository of studies that evaluate the various models of care. We conducted a rapid scoping review to identify and map what care provider models and interventions in LTCH have been evaluated to improve quality of life, quality of care, and health outcomes of residents. METHODS: We conducted this review over 10-weeks of English language, peer-reviewed studies published from 2010 onward. Search strategies for databases (e.g., MEDLINE) were run on July 9, 2020. Studies that evaluated models of provider care (e.g., direct patient care), or interventions delivered to facility, staff, and residents of LTCH were included. Study selection was performed independently, in duplicate. Mapping was performed by two reviewers, and data were extracted by one reviewer, with partial verification by a second reviewer. RESULTS: A total of 7,574 citations were screened based on the title/abstract, 836 were reviewed at full text, and 366 studies were included. Studies were classified according to two main categories: healthcare service delivery (n = 92) and implementation strategies (n = 274). The condition/ focus of the intervention was used to further classify the interventions into subcategories. The complex nature of the interventions may have led to a study being classified in more than one category/subcategory. CONCLUSION: Many healthcare service interventions have been evaluated in the literature in the last decade. Well represented interventions (e.g., dementia care, exercise/mobility, optimal/appropriate medication) may present opportunities for future systematic reviews. Areas with less research (e.g., hearing care, vision care, foot care) have the potential to have an impact on balance, falls, subsequent acute care hospitalization.

250. Online social cohesion reflects real-world group action in Syria during the Arab Spring.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 16

Chiovaro M, Windsor LC, Windsor A

251. Belowground productivity varies by assessment technique, vegetation type, and nutrient availability in tidal freshwater forested wetlands transitioning to marsh.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 16

From AS, Krauss KW, Noe GB

Wetlands along upper estuaries are characterized by dynamic transitions between forested and herbaceous communities (marsh) as salinity, hydroperiod, and nutrients change. The importance of belowground net primary productivity (BNPP) associated with fine and coarse root growth also changes but remains the dominant component of overall productivity in these important blue carbon wetlands. Appropriate BNPP assessment techniques to use in various tidal wetlands are not well-defined, and could make a difference in BNPP estimation. We hypothesized that different BNPP techniques applied among tidal wetlands differ in estimation of BNPP and possibly also correlate differently with porewater nutrient concentrations. We compare 6-month and 12-month root ingrowth, serial soil coring techniques utilizing two different calculations, and a mass balance approach (TBCA, Total Belowground Carbon Allocation) among four tidal wetland types along each of two river systems transitioning from freshwater forest to marsh. Median values of BNPP were 266 to 2946 g/m2/year among all techniques used, with lower BNPP estimation from root ingrowth cores and TBCA (266-416 g/m2/year), and higher BNPP estimation from serial coring of standing crop root biomass (using Smalley and Max-Min calculation methods) (2336-2946 g/m2/year). Root turnover (or longevity) to a soil depth of 30 cm was 2.2/year (1.3 years), 2.7/year (1.1 years), 4.5/year (0.9 years), and 1.2/year (2.6 years), respectively, for Upper Forest, Middle Forest, Lower Forest, and Marsh. Marsh had greater root biomass and BNPP, with slower root turnover (greater root longevity) versus forested wetlands. Soil porewater concentrations of NH3 and reactive phosphorus stimulated BNPP in the marsh when assessed with short-deployment BNPP techniques, indicating that pulses of mineralized nutrients may stimulate BNPP to facilitate marsh replacement of forested wetlands. Overall, ingrowth techniques appeared to represent forested wetland BNPP adequately, while serial coring may be necessary to represent herbaceous plant BNPP from rhizomes as marshes replace forested wetlands.

252. A deadly encounter: Alien invasive Spodoptera frugiperda in Africa and indigenous natural enemy, Cotesia icipe (Hymenoptera, Braconidae).

PLoS One

2021 Jul 16

Mohamed SA, Wamalwa M, Obala F

The invasion and wide spread of Spodoptera frugiperda represent real impediments to food security and the livelihood of the millions of maize and sorghum farming communities in the sub-Saharan and Sahel regions of Africa. Current management efforts for the pest are focused on the use of synthetic pesticides, which are often economically unviable and are extremely hazardous to the environment. The use of biological control offers a more economically and environmentally safer alternative. In this study, the performance of the recently described parasitoid, Cotesia icipe, against the pest was elucidated. We assessed the host stage acceptability by and suitability for C. icipe, as well as its ovigenic status. Furthermore, the habitat suitability for the parasitoid in the present and future climatic conditions was established using Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) algorithm and the Genetic Algorithm for Rule-set Prediction (GARP). Cotesia icipe differentially accepted the immature stages of the pest. The female acceptance of 1st and 2nd instar larvae for oviposition was significantly higher with more than 60% parasitism. No oviposition on the egg, 5th and 6th larval instars, and pupal stages was observed. Percentage of cocoons formed, and the number of emerged wasps also varied among the larval stages. At initial parasitism, parasitoid progenies, time to cocoon formation and overall developmental time were significantly affected by the larval stage. Egg-load varied significantly with wasp age, with six-day-old wasps having the highest number of mature eggs. Ovigeny index of C. icipe was 0.53. Based on the models, there is collinearity in the ecological niche of the parasitoid and the pest under current and future climate scenarios. Eastern, Central and parts of coastal areas of western Africa are highly suitable for the establishment of the parasitoid. The geographic distribution of the parasitoid would remain similar under future climatic conditions. In light of the findings of this study, we discuss the prospects for augmentative and classical biological control of S. frugiperda with C. icipe in Africa.

253. Integrating perspectives of patients, healthcare professionals, system developers and academics in the co-design of a digital information tool.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 16

Grynne A, Browall M, Fristedt S

254. Side- and similarity-biases during confidence conformity.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 16

Yue WWY, Miyoshi K, Yue WWS.

Memory conformity may develop when people are confronted with distinct memories reported by others in social situations and knowingly/unknowingly adhere to these exogenous memories. Earlier research on memory conformity suggests that (1) subjects were more likely to conform to confederate with high confidence; (2) subjects with low confidence on their memory accuracy were more likely to conform, and; (3) this subjective confidence could be adjusted by social manipulations. Nonetheless, it remains unclear how the confidence levels of ours and others may interact and produce a combined effect on our degree of conformity. More importantly, is memory conformity, defined by a complete adoption of the opposite side, the result of a gradual accumulation of subtler changes at the confidence level, i.e., a buildup of confidence conformity? Here, we followed participant's confidence transformation quantitatively over three confederate sessions in a memory test. After studying a set of human motion videos, participants had to answer simultaneously whether a target or lure video had appeared before by indicating their side (i.e., Yes/No) and their associated confidence rating. Participants were allowed to adjust their responses as they were being shown randomly-generated confederates' answers and confidence values. Results show that participants indeed demonstrated confidence conformity. Interestingly, they tended to become committed to their side early on and gain confidence gradually over subsequent sessions. This polarizing behaviour may be explained by two kinds of preferences: (1) Participant's confidence enhancement towards same-sided confederates was greater in magnitude compared to the decrement towards an opposite-sided confederate; and (2) Participants had the most effective confidence boost when the same-sided confederates shared similar, but not considerably different, confidence level to theirs. In other words, humans exhibit side- and similarity-biases during confidence conformity.

255. Effects of six codend meshes on the size selection of juvenile white croaker (Pennahia argentata) in demersal trawl fishery of the South China Sea.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 16

Yang B, Herrmann B, Yan L

256. SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity rate and seroprevalence of related antibodies among a sample of patients in Cairo: Pre-wave 2 results of a screening program in a university hospital.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 15

Girgis SA, Hafez HM, Elarab HE

257. Infectious titer determination of lentiviral vectors using a temporal immunological real-time imaging approach.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 15

Labisch JJ, Wiese GP, Barnes K

258. Prediction of well-being and insight into work-life integration among physicians using machine learning approach.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 15

Nishi M, Yamano M, Matoba S.

259. Pilot study of extended-release lorcaserin for cocaine use disorder among men who have sex with men: A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 15

Santos GM, Ikeda J, Coffin P

OBJECTIVE: To determine if men who have sex with men (MSM) with cocaine use disorder (CUD) and actively-using cocaine could be enrolled and retained in a pharmacologic intervention trial of lorcaserin-a novel 5-HT2cR agonist-and determine the degree to which participants would adhere to study procedures. METHODS: This was a phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study with 2:1 random parallel group assignment to daily extended-release oral lorcaserin 20 mg versus placebo (clinicaltrials.gov identifier-NCT03192995). Twenty-two of a planned 45 cisgender MSM with CUD were enrolled and had weekly follow-up visits during a 12-week treatment period, with substance use counseling, urine specimen collection, and completion of audio-computer assisted self-interview (ACASI) behavioral risk assessments. Adherence was measured by medication event monitoring systems (MEMS) caps and self-report. This study was terminated early because of an FDA safety alert for lorcaserin's long-term use. RESULTS: Eighty-six percent completed the trial, with 82% of weekly study follow-up visits completed. Adherence was 55.3% (lorcaserin 51.6% vs. placebo 66.2%) by MEMS cap and 56.9% (56.5% vs. placebo 57.9%) by self-report and did not differ significantly by treatment assignment. Intention-to-treat analyses (ITT) did not show differences in cocaine positivity by urine screen between the lorcaserin and placebo groups by 12 week follow-up (incidence risk ratio [IRR]: 0.96; 95%CI = 0.24-3.82, P = 0.95). However, self-reported cocaine use in timeline follow-back declined more significantly in the lorcaserin group compared to placebo (IRR: 0.66; 95%CI = 0.49-0.88; P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: We found that it is feasible, acceptable, and tolerable to conduct a placebo-controlled pharmacologic trial for MSM with CUD who are actively using cocaine. Lorcaserin was not associated with significant reductions in cocaine use by urine testing, but was associated with significant reductions in self-reported cocaine use. Future research may be needed to continue to explore the potential utility of 5-HT2cR agonists.

260. Predicting performance in 4 x 200-m freestyle swimming relay events.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 15

Wu PP, Babaei T, O'Shea M

261. Risk factors for precancerous cervical lesion among women screened for cervical cancer in south Ethiopia: Unmatched case-control study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 15

Beyene T, Akibu M, Bekele H

BACKGROUND: Nearly 90% of deaths from cervical cancer occur in a low resource setting. In Ethiopia, the magnitude of precancerous cervical lesions ranges from 7% to 28%. Precancerous cervical lesions may progress to cervical cancer. Early screening and treatment of precancerous cervical lesions is a cost-effective way to avert the growth of cervical cancer. However, there has been limited research on risk factors for precancerous cervical lesions in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to identify risk factors for precancerous cervical lesions among women screened for cervical cancer in south Ethiopia. METHOD: A facility-based unmatched case-control study was carried out in five health facilities in south Ethiopia between 8 May to 28 September 2018. Interviewer administered questionnaires were used to collect data from 98 cases and 197 controls. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify determinants of precancerous cervical lesions. RESULTS: Women aged 30-39 years (AOR = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.03-6.08), monthly income ≤66 (AOR = 3.51, 95% CI: 1.77-6.97), initiation of first sexual intercourse at age less than or equal to 20 (AOR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.14-5.47), having more than one lifetime sexual partner (AOR = 4.70, 95% CI: 2.02-10.95), having a partner/ husband with more than one lifetime sexual partner (AOR = 2.98, 95% CI: 1.35-6.65) had higher odds of precancerous cervical lesions. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Strategies to prevent precancerous cervical lesions should focus on modification of lifestyle and sexual behaviour. The findings of this study highlight several implications for policymakers: targeting older women for cervical cancer screening, addressing inequalities and education relating to risky sexual behaviour may reduce precancerous cervical lesions. Furthermore, future longitudinal studies are needed to assess the awareness of women about cervical cancer screening.

262. Development of an educational intervention to reduce the burden of adult chronic lung disease in rural India: Inputs from a qualitative study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 15

Paul B, Isaac R, R H

263. The geometric attention-aware network for lane detection in complex road scenes.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 15

Long J, Yan Z, Peng L

264. Increasing the comprehensive economic benefits of farmland with Even-lighting Agrivoltaic Systems.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 15

Zheng J, Meng S, Zhang X

265. Managing occupational health among goldminers in Ghana: Modelling the likelihood of experiencing occupational related health problems.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 15

Aram SA.

BACKGROUND: The importance of goldmining to Ghana's development cannot be overestimated. However, the associated morbidities and mortalities resulting from occupational exposure to health hazards and the general cost associated with it is critical. In managing occupational health, a simple comprehension of the main determinants of the problem is required. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 504 goldminers was fitted to a nested binary logistic regression model to evaluate the independent effect of subsector departments, compositional attributes, contextual factors and working conditions on goldminers' likelihood of experiencing occupational related health problems. RESULTS: Subsector department was robust and persisted in predicting experiencing occupational related health problems in all three models. Goldminers who were in artisanal small scale (ASM) non-production, large scale (LSM) production and LSM non-production were less likely to experience occupational related health problems as compared to their counterparts in ASM production. For the compositional factors, female goldminers were more likely to experience occupational related health problems as compared to their male co-workers. Goldminers who were married and also older miners were more likely to experience occupational related health problems as compared to the unmarried and the relatively younger goldminers. At the contextual level, miners who worked on shift-based schedule and also miners who lived close to mine sites were more likely to experience occupational related health problems. Among the working conditions, goldminers who worked in good health conditions were less likely to experience occupational related health problems. Surprisingly, goldminers who rated their safety conditions as good were more likely to experience occupational related health problems. CONCLUSION: Gold miners are exposed to different health risk scenarios across subsectors and departments. These conditions need critical attention and action from industry stakeholders. Programs that promote self-care culture should be promoted, especially in the ASM subsector. PPE's could be relied on for protection in the mining industry but they should be the last line of defense and not to replace preventive measures and actions.

266. Seasonal and diel activity patterns of the endangered taiga bean goose (Anser fabalis fabalis) during the breeding season, monitored with camera traps.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 15

Nykänen M, Pöysä H, Hakkarainen S

267. Quick sequential organ failure assessment score combined with other sepsis-related risk factors to predict in-hospital mortality: Post-hoc analysis of prospective multicenter study data.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 15

Ueno R, Masubuchi T, Shiraishi A

This study aimed to assess the value of quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) combined with other risk factors in predicting in-hospital mortality in patients presenting to the emergency department with suspected infection. This post-hoc analysis of a prospective multicenter study dataset included 34 emergency departments across Japan (December 2017 to February 2018). We included adult patients (age ≥16 years) who presented to the emergency department with suspected infection. qSOFA was calculated and recorded by senior emergency physicians when they suspected an infection. Different types of sepsis-related risk factors (demographic, functional, and laboratory values) were chosen from prior studies. A logistic regression model was used to assess the predictive value of qSOFA for in-hospital mortality in models based on the following combination of predictors: 1) qSOFA-Only; 2) qSOFA+Age; 3) qSOFA+Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS); 4) qSOFA+Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI); 5) qSOFA+lactate levels; 6) qSOFA+Age+CCI+CFS+lactate levels. We calculated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and other key clinical statistics at Youden's index, where the sum of sensitivity and specificity is maximized. Following prior literature, an AUC >0.9 was deemed to indicate high accuracy; 0.7-0.9, moderate accuracy; 0.5-0.7, low accuracy; and 0.5, a chance result. Of the 951 patients included in the analysis, 151 (15.9%) died during hospitalization. The AUC for predicting in-hospital mortality was 0.627 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.580-0.673) for the qSOFA-Only model. Addition of other variables only marginally improved the model's AUC; the model that included all potentially relevant variables yielded an AUC of only 0.730 (95% CI: 0.687-0.774). Other key statistic values were similar among all models, with sensitivity and specificity of 0.55-0.65 and 0.60-0.75, respectively. In this post-hoc data analysis from a prospective multicenter study based in Japan, combining qSOFA with other sepsis-related risk factors only marginally improved the model's predictive value.

268. Relation of prior statin and anti-hypertensive use to severity of disease among patients hospitalized with COVID-19: Findings from the American Heart Association's COVID-19 Cardiovascular Disease Registry.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 15

Daniels LB, Ren J, Kumar K

269. Introducing the 4Ps Model of Transitioning to Distance Learning: A convergent mixed methods study conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 15

Otaki F, Zaher S, Du Plessis S

270. Least-squares community extraction in feature-rich networks using similarity data.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 15

Shalileh S, Mirkin B.

271. Cure and death play a role in understanding dynamics for COVID-19: Data-driven competing risk compartmental models, with and without vaccination.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 15

Lu M, Ishwaran H.

272. High-molecular weight DNA extraction, clean-up and size selection for long-read sequencing.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 15

Jones A, Torkel C, Stanley D

273. Manifestations of renal system involvement in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 15

Allemailem KS, Almatroudi A, Khan AA

BACKGROUND: Although COVID-19 is an acute disease that usually resolves rapidly in most cases, the disease can be fatal and has a mortality rate of about 1% to 56%. Alveolar injury and respiratory failure are the main causes of death in patients with COVID 19. In addition, the effect of the disease on other organs is not fully understood. Renal system affection has been reported in patients with COVID 19 and is associated with a higher rate of diverse outcomes, including mortality. Therefore, in the present work, we reported the clinical characteristics and laboratory data of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and analyzed the manifestations that indicated renal system involvement and their impact on clinical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an observational retrospective study conducted at King Fahd Specialist Hospital, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. All patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to this Hospital from April to December 2020 were included in the study. The patients' findings at presentation were recorded. Demographic data and laboratory results (hematuria, proteinuria, urinary sediment cast and pus cell presence, and kidney function tests) were retrieved from electronic patient records. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-three patients with confirmed COVID 19 were included in the study. Dipstick examinations of all urine samples showed proteinuria and hematuria in 53.9% and 22.3% of patients, respectively, whereas microscopic examination revealed the presence of pus and brown muddy granular casts in 33.7% and 12.4% of samples, respectively. Acute kidney injury was reported in 23.3% of patients. A multivariable analysis demonstrated that hematuria was associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.2-4.9; P = 0.001), ICU admission (OR, 3.789; 95% CI, 1.913-7.505; P = 0.003), and mortality (OR, 8.084; 95% CI, 3.756-17.397; P = 0.002). Conversely, proteinuria was less significantly associated with the risk of AKI (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.91-7.50; P = 0.003), ICU admission (OR, 2.493; 95% CI, 1.25-4.72; P = 0.001), and mortality (OR, 2.764; 95% CI, 1.368-5.121; P = 0.003). Patients with AKI had a higher probability for mortality than did those without AKI (OR, 14.208; 95% CI, 6.434-31.375; P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The manifestations of the involvement of the renal system are not uncommon in COVID-19. These manifestations included proteinuria, hematuria, and AKI and were usually associated with a poor prognosis, including high incidences of both ICU admission and mortality.

274. Knowledge, attitude and preventive practice towards COVID-19 and associated factors among outpatient service visitors at Debre Markos compressive specialized hospital, north-west Ethiopia, 2020.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 15

Feleke BT, Wale MZ, Yirsaw MT.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is an emerging infectious disease which is a major public health problem worldwide. Given the serious threats imposed by COVID-19 and the absence of vaccines until August 2020, preventive measures play an essential role in reducing infection rates and controlling its spread. This shows the necessity of public adherence for preventive and control measures, which is affected by their knowledge, attitudes, and practices. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards COVID-19 and associated factors among outpatient service visitors, Debre Markos compressive specialized hospital, north-west,Ethiopia. METHOD: Institutional-based cross-sectional study design with a systematic random sampling technique was conducted from July to August 2020. Among a total of 404 participants, 398 were recruited. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The data was edited, coded, and entered into Epi data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS-25 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were employed to identify factors associated with KAP. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULT: The prevalence of poor knowledge, attitude and practice among the outpatient service visitors were 27.1%, 30.7% and 44%, respectively. The mean age of the participants was 33.4 ±10.9 years. Variables like; educational status, ''can't read and write" [AOR = 3.76, 95% CI (1.36-10.42), P = 0.01], read and write [AOR = 5.90, 95% CI (2.39-14.98), P = 0.01], rural residence [AOR = 3.04, 95% CI (1.43-6.46), P = 0.01] and having no television [AOR = 0.8, 95% CI (0.79-0.89), P = 0.03] were significantly associated with poor knowledge. While, educational status of "can't read and write", [AOR = 6.71, 95% CI (2.78-16.16), P = 0.01] and rural residence [AOR = 2.03, 95% CI (1.14-3.61), P = 0.02] were significantly associated with poor attitude. Additionally, poor knowledge, [AOR = 22.73, 95% CI (10.5-49.21), P = 0.01], rural residence [AOR = 2.08, 95% CI (1.08-4.88), P = 0.04] and having no television [AOR = 2.24, 95% CI (1.05-4.79), P = 0.01] were significantly associated with poor practice. CONCLUSION: In this study, knowledge, attitude, and practice among outpatient service visitors was poor which needs targeted health education and interventions from the health professional to enhance their knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19. In parallel with this, special attention should be given for the rural community and for those with an educational status of can't read and write.

275. Epicardial adipose tissue is associated with cardiorespiratory fitness and hemodynamics among Japanese individuals of various ages and of both sexes.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

Sugita Y, Ito K, Sakurai S

Epicardial adipose tissue may affect hemodynamics and cardiorespiratory fitness as it is a metabolically active visceral adipose tissue and a source of inflammatory bioactive substances that can substantially modulate cardiovascular morphology and function. However, the associations between epicardial adipose tissue and hemodynamics and cardiorespiratory fitness remain unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the association between epicardial adipose tissue volume and hemodynamics, and cardiorespiratory fitness among Japanese individuals of various ages and of both sexes. Epicardial adipose tissue volume was measured in 120 participants (age, 21-85 years) by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. To evaluate cardiorespiratory fitness, peak oxygen uptake was measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Peak cardiac output and arteriovenous oxygen difference were calculated by impedance cardiography. The epicardial adipose tissue volume was significantly increased in middle-aged and older women. The epicardial adipose tissue volume was significantly and negatively correlated to peak cardiac output and peak oxygen uptake, regardless of age and sex; furthermore, epicardial adipose tissue showed a strong negative correlation with peak heart rate. Epicardial adipose tissue and peak cardiac output were significantly associated (β = -0.359, 95% confidence interval, -0.119 to -0.049, p < 0.001), even after multivariate adjustment (R2 = 0.778). However, in the multiple regression analysis with peak oxygen uptake as a dependent variable, the epicardial adipose tissue volume was not an independent predictor. These data suggest that increased epicardial adipose tissue volume may be correlated with decreased peak oxygen uptake, which might have mediated the abnormal hemodynamics among Japanese people of various ages and of both sexes. Interventions targeting epicardial adipose tissue could potentially improve hemodynamics and cardiorespiratory fitness.

276. Predicting self-intercepted medication ordering errors using machine learning.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

King CR, Abraham J, Fritz BA

Current approaches to understanding medication ordering errors rely on relatively small manually captured error samples. These approaches are resource-intensive, do not scale for computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems, and are likely to miss important risk factors associated with medication ordering errors. Previously, we described a dataset of CPOE-based medication voiding accompanied by univariable and multivariable regression analyses. However, these traditional techniques require expert guidance and may perform poorly compared to newer approaches. In this paper, we update that analysis using machine learning (ML) models to predict erroneous medication orders and identify its contributing factors. We retrieved patient demographics (race/ethnicity, sex, age), clinician characteristics, type of medication order (inpatient, prescription, home medication by history), and order content. We compared logistic regression, random forest, boosted decision trees, and artificial neural network models. Model performance was evaluated using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and the area under the precision-recall curve (AUPRC). The dataset included 5,804,192 medication orders, of which 28,695 (0.5%) were voided. ML correctly classified voids at reasonable accuracy; with a positive predictive value of 10%, ~20% of errors were included. Gradient boosted decision trees achieved the highest AUROC (0.7968) and AUPRC (0.0647) among all models. Logistic regression had the poorest performance. Models identified predictive factors with high face validity (e.g., student orders), and a decision tree revealed interacting contexts with high rates of errors not identified by previous regression models. Prediction models using order-entry information offers promise for error surveillance, patient safety improvements, and targeted clinical review. The improved performance of models with complex interactions points to the importance of contextual medication ordering information for understanding contributors to medication errors.

277. Differences in personality related determinants of empathetic sensibility in female and male students of medicine.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

Bętkowska-Korpała B, Epa R, Sikora-Zych K

278. Biochars derived from bamboo and rice straw for sorption of basic red dyes.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

Sackey EA, Song Y, Yu Y

The primary purpose of this study is to eliminate Basic Red 46 dye from aqueous solutions utilizing batch experiments by adsorption on biochars prepared from bamboo and rice straw biomass. Biochars prepared from bamboo (B), and rice straw (R) was pyrolyzed at 500°C (B500 and R500). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and surface area and porosity analyzers were used to characterize the B500 and R500 samples. The characterization results indicated that the biochars possessed an amorphous porous structure with many functional groups consisting primarily of silicates. The adsorption rate of BR46 was evaluated using two kinetic models (pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order), and the results indicated that the pseudo-second-order model fitted to the experimental data well (R2>0.99). Nearly 24 h was sufficient to achieve equilibrium with the dye adsorption for the two biochars. R500 had a greater adsorption efficiency than B500. As pH levels increased, the dye's adsorption capability increased as well. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were used to investigate the equilibrium behavior of BR46 adsorption, and the equilibrium data fitted well with the Langmuir model (R2>0.99) compared to the Freundlich model (R2>0.89). The maximum adsorption capacities of BR46 are 9.06 mg/g for B500 and 22.12 mg/g for R500, respectively. Additionally, adsorption capacity increased as temperature increased, indicating that adsorption is favored at higher temperatures. The electrostatic interaction is shown to be the dominant mechanism of BR46 adsorption, and BR46 acts as an electron-acceptor, contributing to n-π EDA (Electron Donor-Acceptor) interaction. Thermodynamic parameters for the dye-adsorbent system revealed that the adsorption process is spontaneous and feasible. The values of the adsorption coefficient (Kd) were on the order of 102-103. Kd of R500 was greater than that of B500, indicating that R500 had a greater adsorption capacity. The results showed that R500 could be used as a low-cost alternative adsorbent for removing BR46 from effluents.

279. Effects of water stably-enriched with oxygen as a novel method of tissue oxygenation on mitochondrial function, and as adjuvant therapy for type 2 diabetes in a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

Khoo J, Hagemeyer CE, Henstridge DC

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is associated with inadequate delivery of oxygen to tissues. Cellular hypoxia is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction which increases oxidative stress and hyperglycaemia. Hyperbaric oxygenation therapy, which was shown to improve insulin sensitivity, is impractical for regular use. We evaluated the effects of water which is stably-enriched with oxygen (ELO water) to increase arterial blood oxygen levels, on mitochondrial function in the presence of normal- or high-glucose environments, and as glucose-lowering therapy in humans. METHODS: We compared arterial blood oxygen levels in Sprague-Dawley rats after 7 days of ad libitum ELO or tap water consumption. Mitochondrial stress testing, and flow cytometry analysis of mitochondrial mass and membrane potential, were performed on human HepG2 cells cultured in four Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium media, made with ELO water or regular (control) water, at normal (5.5 mM) or high (25 mM) glucose concentrations. We also randomized 150 adults with type 2 diabetes (mean age 53 years, glycated haemoglobin HbA1c 8.9% [74 mmol/mol], average duration of diabetes 12 years) to drink 1.5 litres daily of bottled ELO water or drinking water. RESULTS: ELO water raised arterial oxygen tension pO2 significantly (335 ± 26 vs. 188 ± 18 mmHg, p = 0.006) compared with tap water. In cells cultured in control water, mitochondrial mass and membrane potential were both significantly lower at 25 mM glucose compared with 5.5 mM glucose; in contrast, mitochondrial mass and membrane potential did not differ significantly at normal or high glucose concentrations in cells cultured in ELO water. The high-glucose environment induced a greater mitochondrial proton leak in cells cultured in ELO water compared to cells cultured in control medium at similar glucose concentration. In type 2 diabetic adults, HbA1c decreased significantly (p = 0.002) by 0.3 ± 0.7% (4 ± 8 mmol/mol), with ELO water after 12 weeks of treatment but was unchanged with placebo. CONCLUSIONS: ELO water raises arterial blood oxygen levels, appears to have a protective effect on hyperglycaemia-induced reduction in mitochondrial mass and mitochondrial dysfunction, and may be effective adjuvant therapy for type 2 diabetes.

280. The thionin family of antimicrobial peptides.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

Höng K, Austerlitz T, Bohlmann T

281. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Cincinnati Ohio USA from August to December 2020.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

Davis G, York AJ, Bacon WC

282. Evaluation of tractor driving vibration fatigue based on multiple physiological parameters.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

Gao R, Yan H, Yang Z.

283. Late-life depression, subjective cognitive decline, and their additive risk in incidence of dementia: A nationwide longitudinal study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

Wang SM, Han KD, Kim NY

284. A hitchhiker guide to manta rays: Patterns of association between Mobula alfredi, M. birostris, their symbionts, and other fishes in the Maldives.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

Nicholson-Jack AE, Harris JL, Ballard K

Despite being among the largest and most charismatic species in the marine environment, considerable gaps remain in our understanding of the behavioural ecology of manta rays (Mobula alfredi, M. birostris). Manta rays are often sighted in association with an array of smaller hitchhiker fish species, which utilise their hosts as a sanctuary for shelter, protection, and the sustenance they provide. Species interactions, rather than the species at the individual level, determine the ecological processes that drive community dynamics, support biodiversity and ecosystem health. Thus, understanding the associations within marine communities is critical to implementing effective conservation and management. However, the underlying patterns between manta rays, their symbionts, and other hitchhiker species remain elusive. Here, we explore the spatial and temporal variation in hitchhiker presence with M. alfredi and M. birostris throughout the Maldives and investigate the factors which may influence association using generalised linear mixed effects models (GLMM). For the first time, associations between M. alfredi and M. birostris with hitchhiker species other than those belonging to the family Echeneidae are described. A variation in the species of hitchhiker associated with M. alfredi and M. birostris was identified, with sharksucker remora (Echeneis naucrates) and giant remora (Remora remora) being the most common, respectively. Spatiotemporal variation in the presence of manta rays was identified as a driver for the occurrence of ephemeral hitchhiker associations. Near-term pregnant female M. alfredi, and M. alfredi at cleaning stations, had the highest likelihood of an association with adult E. naucrates. Juvenile E. naucrates were more likely to be associated with juvenile M. alfredi, and a seasonal trend in E. naucrates host association was identified. Remora were most likely to be present with female M. birostris, and a mean number of 1.5 ± 0.5 R. remora were observed per M. birostris. It is hoped these initial findings will serve as the basis for future work into the complex relationships between manta rays and their hitchhikers.

285. Prenatal and postnatal determinants of stunting at age 0-11 months: A cross-sectional study in Indonesia.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

Sartika AN, Khoirunnisa M, Meiyetriani E

BACKGROUND: Childhood stunting remains the most challenging consequence of undernutrition because it is associated with suboptimal brain development and the subsequent increased risk of metabolic diseases and decreased earnings in adult life. The Sambas District in Indonesia has a high prevalence of stunting (28.4%), followed by underweight (25.5.%) and wasting (14.4%) among children, as well chronic energy deficiency (27%) and anemia (62%) among pregnant women. The present study sought to determine significant factors in childhood stunting with a focus on maternal and child nutrition and prenatal and postnatal determinants. METHODS: This prospective, repeat, cross-sectional study investigated factors associated with stunting among 559 infants age 0-11 months in Sambas District, Indonesia. Anthropometric measurements were performed by trained enumerators. Data from a 2016 survey of pregnant women and a 2017 survey on mothers and their children were used for postnatal data collection to quantify the prevalence of stunting at age 0-11 months. Using 20 potential predictors of stunting categorized by household characteristics, maternal characteristics, antenatal care services, and child characteristics, logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the adjusted association between stunting and these factors. RESULTS: Of 559 children analyzed, 20.8% were stunted. In the model with low birth weight (LBW) as predictor for stunting, the odds of stunting increased significantly among children who weighed <2.500 g at birth; children who had diarrhea in the past 2 weeks and children who had incomplete basic immunization coverage as infants age 9-11 months. In model without LBW, the odds of stunting increased significantly among children who had preterm at birth, short maternal stature and children who had incomplete basic immunization coverage for 9-11 months infants. CONCLUSIONS: Postnatal factors-preterm birth, low birth weight, diarrhea and complete basic immunization coverage-were associated with infant stunting in Sambas District, Indonesia. The prenatal factors such as short maternal stature were significant in the multivariate model. Policy makers, especially in the government, should recommend measures focused on those prenatal and postnatal factors to prevent stunting in children and to avoid the sequelae of childhood stunting in adult life.

286. Prevalence and risk factors for feather-damaging behavior in psittacine birds: Analysis of a Japanese nationwide survey.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

Ebisawa K, Nakayama S, Pai C

A case control study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of feather-damaging behavior and evaluate the correlation with risk factors among pet psittacine birds in Japan. Although feather-damaging behavior among pet parrots is frequently observed in Japan, its prevalence and potential risk factors have not been investigated. Therefore, we conducted an online questionnaire survey on parrot owners throughout Japan to examine regional differences in feather-damaging behavior and associated risk factors. In total, 2,331 valid responses were obtained. The prevalence of feather-damaging behavior was 11.7%, in general agreement with prior studies. The highest prevalence was among Cockatoos (Cacatua spp., etc.; 30.6%), followed by Lovebirds (Agapornis spp.; 24.5%) and African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus; 23.7%). Multivariate logistic regression was carried out to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) for potential risk factors and adjust the confounding of the variables. The odds of feather-damaging behavior were significantly higher for Conures (Aratinga spp., Pyrrhura spp., Thectocercus acuticaudatus, Cyanoliseus patagonus) (ORadj = 2.55, P = 0.005), Pacific parrotlets (Forpus coelestis) (ORadj = 3.96, P < 0.001), African grey parrots (ORadj = 6.74, P < 0.001), Lovebirds (ORadj = 6.79, P < 0.001) and Cockatoos (ORadj = 9.46, P < 0.001) than Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus), and for young adults (ORadj = 1.81, P = 0.038) and adults (ORadj = 3.17, P < 0.001) than young birds, and for signs of separation anxiety (ORadj = 1.81, P < 0.001). Species, bird age and signs of separation anxiety were significantly higher risk factors for feather-damaging behavior than any other potential risk factors. Our findings, which include broad species diversity, are a good source of data for predicting risk factors for feather-damaging behavior and could be useful in preventing declines in welfare.

287. Sex ratio at birth in Vietnam among six subnational regions during 1980-2050, estimation and probabilistic projection using a Bayesian hierarchical time series model with 2.9 million birth records.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

Chao F, Guilmoto CZ, Ombao H.

288. The Minimal Phenomenal Experience questionnaire (MPE-92M): Towards a phenomenological profile of "pure awareness" experiences in meditators.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

Gamma A, Metzinger T.

289. Comparative transcriptomics of leaves of five mulberry accessions and cataloguing structural and expression variants for future prospects.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

Baranwal VK, Negi N, Khurana P.

290. Acute apnea and white blood cell count: A biphasic response formal comment on 'Hematologic changes after short term hypoxia in non-elite apnea divers under voluntary dry apnea conditions'.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

Bouten J, Bourgois JG, Lootens L

291. Knowledge, beliefs and practices regarding prevention of bacterial meningitis in Burkina Faso, 5 years after MenAfriVac mass campaigns.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

Mueller JE, Seanehia J, Yaro S

BACKGROUND: To adapt communications concerning vaccine prevention, we studied knowledge, beliefs and practices around meningitis risk and prevention in a young adult population in Burkina Faso in 2016, 5 years after the MenAfriVac® mass campaign and one year before the vaccine's inclusion in the infant immunization schedule. METHODS: In a representative sample of the population aged 15 to 33 years (N = 220) in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, study nurses administered a standardized paper questionnaire consisting of predominantly open questions, collecting information on meningitis risk factors and prevention, and on exposure to dry air and kitchen fire smoke. We identified themes and analyzed their frequency. We created a meningitis knowledge score (range 0 to 4) based on pre-defined best responses and analyzed the determinants of knowledge score levels ≥2 (basic score) and ≥3 (high score) using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Biomedically supported facts and good practices were known by the majority of participants (eg vaccine prevention, 84.5%). Younger women aged 15-20 years had a higher frequency of low scores <2 (17.0%) compared to older women aged 21-33 years (6.3%) and men of both age groups (3.8%). Junior secondary School attendance explained the differences between the two groups of women, the gender gap for the older, but not the young women, and explained score differences among young women. Local understandings and practices for risk and prevention were commonly reported and used (risk from unripe mango consumption and prevention through nasal application of shea nut butter). DISCUSSION: This study shows a gender gap in knowledge of meningitis risk and prevention, largely due to education-level inequalities. Women below 21 years had particularly low levels of knowledge and may need interventions outside schools and perinatal care. Our study suggests a strong adherence to local understandings of and practices around meningitis risk and prevention, which should be taken into account by vaccination promotion.

292. If you build it, will they come? Social, economic, and psychological determinants of COVID-19 testing decisions.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

Perry BL, Aronson B, Railey AF

293. Prediction of anemia and estimation of hemoglobin concentration using a smartphone camera.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

Suner S, Rayner J, Ozturan IU

Anemia, defined as a low hemoglobin concentration, has a large impact on the health of the world's population. We describe the use of a ubiquitous device, the smartphone, to predict hemoglobin concentration and screen for anemia. This was a prospective convenience sample study conducted in Emergency Department (ED) patients of an academic teaching hospital. In an algorithm derivation phase, images of both conjunctiva were obtained from 142 patients in Phase 1 using a smartphone. A region of interest targeting the palpebral conjunctiva was selected from each image. Image-based parameters were extracted and used in stepwise regression analyses to develop a prediction model of estimated hemoglobin (HBc). In Phase 2, a validation model was constructed using data from 202 new ED patients. The final model based on all 344 patients was tested for accuracy in anemia and transfusion thresholds. Hemoglobin concentration ranged from 4.7 to 19.6 g/dL (mean 12.5). In Phase 1, there was a significant association between HBc and laboratory-predicted hemoglobin (HBl) slope = 1.07 (CI = 0.98-1.15), p<0.001. Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of HBc for predicting anemia was 82.9 [79.3, 86.4], 90.7 [87.0, 94.4], and 73.3 [67.1, 79.5], respectively. In Phase 2, accuracy, sensitivity and specificity decreased to 72.6 [71.4, 73.8], 72.8 [71, 74.6], and 72.5 [70.8, 74.1]. Accuracy for low (<7 g/dL) and high (<9 g/dL) transfusion thresholds was 94.4 [93.7, 95] and 86 [85, 86.9] respectively. Error trended with increasing HBl values (slope 0.27 [0.19, 0.36] and intercept -3.14 [-4.21, -2.07] (p<0.001) such that HBc tended to underestimate hemoglobin in higher ranges and overestimate in lower ranges. Higher quality images had a smaller bias trend than lower quality images. When separated by skin tone results were unaffected. A smartphone can be used in screening for anemia and transfusion thresholds. Improvements in image quality and computational corrections can further enhance estimates of hemoglobin.

294. Occurrence and molecular characterization of cyst nematode species (Globodera spp.) associated with potato crops in Colombia.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 14

Vallejo D, Rojas DA, Martinez JA

295. Slim cigarette smoking in Urban China: Who are the early adopters and why?

PLoS One

2021 Jul 13

Wang J, Wong S, Zhuang YL

296. Association between type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis risk: A representative cohort study in Taiwan.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 13

Lin HH, Hsu HY, Tsai MC

297. Bacterial superinfection in adults with COVID-19 hospitalized in two clinics in Medellín-Colombia, 2020.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 13

Cataño-Correa JC, Cardona-Arias JA, Porras Mancilla JP

298. Prediction of 28-day mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19: Development and internal validation of a clinical prediction model.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 13

Leoni MLG, Lombardelli L, Colombi D

299. Shuanghuanglian oral preparations combined with azithromycin for treatment of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in Asian children: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 13

Peng Y, Chen Z, Li Y

BACKGROUND: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the main causes of community-acquired pneumonia. Due to the imperfect immune system of children, this also causes Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) to be more common in children. Globally, the incidence of MPP in children is gradually increasing. This study was the first to systematically review the clinical efficacy and safety of Shuanghuanglian (SHL) oral preparations combined with azithromycin in the treatment of MPP in children. METHODS: This study fully retrieved 3 Chinese databases and 5 English databases to search the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of SHL oral preparations combined with azithromycin in the treatment of children with MPP. The search time is from the inception to September 2020. Data extraction and risk bias evaluation were performed independently by two researchers. We conducted a Meta-analysis of all the outcome indicators. Besides, Meta-regression, subgroup analysis, and heterogeneity analysis were used for the primary outcomes to find the possible potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Finally, we included 27 RCTs involving 2884 patients. SHL oral preparations combined with azithromycin were better than azithromycin alone in response rate (RR = 1.14, 95% CI[1.11, 1.18]; low certainty evidence), disappearance time of fever(MD = -1.72, 95% CI[-2.47, -0.97]; low certainty evidence), disappearance time of cough (MD = -2.95, 95% CI[-3.55, -2.34]; low certainty evidence), and disappearance time of pulmonary rales (MD = -2.13, 95% CI[-2.88, -1.38]; low certainty evidence). The Meta-regression results showed that the course of disease, age, and method of administration may be the source of heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis have found that the results were stable. For other related clinical symptoms, T lymphocytes, and Serum inflammatory factors, SHL oral preparations combined with azithromycin was better than azithromycin alone, and the difference was statistically significant. For adverse events with low certainty evidence, safety needs further verification. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of meta-analysis with low certainty evidence, we believed that SHL oral preparations combined with azithromycin likely be effectively improved clinical symptoms compared with azithromycin alone. Low certainty evidence showed that SHL may safety with no serious adverse events. Due to these limitations, the safety needs further verification. More high-quality, multicenter, and large-sample RCTs should be tested and verified in the future.

300. Learning epistatic gene interactions from perturbation screens.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 13

Elmes K, Schmich F, Szczurek E

The treatment of complex diseases often relies on combinatorial therapy, a strategy where drugs are used to target multiple genes simultaneously. Promising candidate genes for combinatorial perturbation often constitute epistatic genes, i.e., genes which contribute to a phenotype in a non-linear fashion. Experimental identification of the full landscape of genetic interactions by perturbing all gene combinations is prohibitive due to the exponential growth of testable hypotheses. Here we present a model for the inference of pairwise epistatic, including synthetic lethal, gene interactions from siRNA-based perturbation screens. The model exploits the combinatorial nature of siRNA-based screens resulting from the high numbers of sequence-dependent off-target effects, where each siRNA apart from its intended target knocks down hundreds of additional genes. We show that conditional and marginal epistasis can be estimated as interaction coefficients of regression models on perturbation data. We compare two methods, namely glinternet and xyz, for selecting non-zero effects in high dimensions as components of the model, and make recommendations for the appropriate use of each. For data simulated from real RNAi screening libraries, we show that glinternet successfully identifies epistatic gene pairs with high accuracy across a wide range of relevant parameters for the signal-to-noise ratio of observed phenotypes, the effect size of epistasis and the number of observations per double knockdown. xyz is also able to identify interactions from lower dimensional data sets (fewer genes), but is less accurate for many dimensions. Higher accuracy of glinternet, however, comes at the cost of longer running time compared to xyz. The general model is widely applicable and allows mining the wealth of publicly available RNAi screening data for the estimation of epistatic interactions between genes. As a proof of concept, we apply the model to search for interactions, and potential targets for treatment, among previously published sets of siRNA perturbation screens on various pathogens. The identified interactions include both known epistatic interactions as well as novel findings.

301. Novel non-invasive in-house fabricated wearable system with a hybrid algorithm for fetal movement recognition.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 13

Delay U, Nawarathne T, Dissanayake S

Fetal movement count monitoring is one of the most commonly used methods of assessing fetal well-being. While few methods are available to monitor fetal movements, they consist of several adverse qualities such as unreliability as well as the inability to be conducted in a non-clinical setting. Therefore, this research was conducted to design a complete system that will enable pregnant mothers to monitor fetal movement at home. This system consists of a non-invasive, non-transmitting sensor unit that can be fabricated at a low cost. An accelerometer was utilized as the primary sensor and a micro-controller based circuit was implemented. Clinical testing was conducted utilizing this sensor unit. Two phases of clinical testing procedures were done and during the first phase readings from 120 mothers were taken while during the second phase readings from 15 mothers were taken. Validation was done by conducting an abdominal ultrasound scan which was utilized as the ground truth during the second phase of the clinical testing procedure. A clinical survey was also conducted in parallel with clinical testings in order to improve the sensor unit as well as to improve the final system. Four different signal processing algorithms were implemented on the data set and the performance of each was compared with each other. Out of the four algorithms three algorithms were able to obtain a true positive rate around 85%. However, the best algorithm was selected on the basis of minimizing the false positive rate. Consequently, the most feasible as well as the best performing algorithm was determined and it was utilized in the final system. This algorithm have a true positive rate of 86% and a false positive rate of 7% Furthermore, a mobile application was also developed to be used with the sensor unit by pregnant mothers. Finally, a complete end to end method to monitor fetal movement in a non-clinical setting was presented by the proposed system.

302. A comparison of liver fat fraction measurement on MRI at 3T and 1.5T.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 13

Athithan L, Gulsin GS, House MJ

303. Dimensions of social categorization: Inside the role of language.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 12

Lorenzoni A, Santesteban M, Peressotti F

304. Identification of LecRLK gene family in Cerasus humilis through genomic-transcriptomic data mining and expression analyses.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 12

Han H, Mu X, Wang P

305. Utilization of the neighborhood design to evaluate suitable cover crops and their density for Echinochloa colona management.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 12

Matloob A, Chauhan BS.

Summer weed species, including Echinochloa colona, are becoming problematic in the eastern grain region of Australia, but cover crops can be useful to suppress weeds during the summer fallow period. The present study evaluated the growth and seed production of E. colona grown alone or with four and eight cover crop plants per pot (i.e., 80 and 160 plants m-2). Four legume (cowpea, lablab, pigeonpea, and soybean) and two grass (forage sorghum and Japanese millet) cover crops were used. Interference by cover crops reduced the height, the number of leaves and tillers, inflorescence number, seed production, and biomass of this weed than when it was grown alone. Cover crops differed in their ability to suppress the growth and seed production of E. colona. The effect of cover crop density on the studied attributes was non-significant in most cases. Pigeonpea as a cover crop was the least effective in suppressing the growth and seed production of E. colona. In general, leguminous cover crops exhibited less suppression of E. colona than grasses. Forage sorghum was most efficient in reducing the growth of this weed. Forage sorghum and Japanese millet reduced E. colona leaf and tiller numbers per plant by 90 and 87%, respectively. These cover crops reduced E. colona leaf number to only 17 per plant as against 160 per plant recorded without cover crops. Inflorescence number per E. colona plant growing alone was as high as 48. However, it was reduced by 20-92% when this weed was grown with cover crop plants. E. colona's seed production was significantly suppressed by all the cover crops, except pigeonpea. Biomass of E. colona was suppressed largely by forage sorghum and Japanese millet compared to other cover crops. Among the cover crops, pigeonpea produced the lowest biomass of 11 g pot-1, and the highest biomass (114 g pot-1) was produced by forage sorghum. The study demonstrated the usefulness of cover crops, especially forage sorghum and Japanese millet, to suppress the growth and seed output of E. colona.

306. Burden of post-COVID-19 syndrome and implications for healthcare service planning: A population-based cohort study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 12

Menges D, Ballouz T, Anagnostopoulos A

BACKGROUND: Longer-term consequences after SARS-CoV-2 infection are becoming an important burden to societies and healthcare systems. Data on post-COVID-19 syndrome in the general population are required for the timely planning of healthcare services and resources. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of impaired health status and physical and mental health symptoms among individuals at least six months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and to characterize their healthcare utilization. METHODS: This population-based prospective cohort study (Zurich SARS-CoV-2 Cohort) enrolled 431 adults from the general population with polymerase chain reaction-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection reported to health authorities between 27 February 2020 and 05 August 2020 in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland. We evaluated the proportion of individuals reporting not to have fully recovered since SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the proportion reporting fatigue (Fatigue Assessment Scale), dyspnea (mMRC dyspnea scale) or depression (DASS-21) at six to eight months after diagnosis. Furthermore, the proportion of individuals with at least one healthcare contact after their acute illness was evaluated. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess factors associated with these main outcomes. RESULTS: Symptoms were present in 385 (89%) participants at diagnosis and 81 (19%) were initially hospitalized. At six to eight months, 111 (26%) reported not having fully recovered. 233 (55%) participants reported symptoms of fatigue, 96 (25%) had at least grade 1 dyspnea, and 111 (26%) had DASS-21 scores indicating symptoms of depression. 170 (40%) participants reported at least one general practitioner visit related to COVID-19 after acute illness, and 10% (8/81) of initially hospitalized individuals were rehospitalized. Individuals that have not fully recovered or suffer from fatigue, dyspnea or depression were more likely to have further healthcare contacts. However, a third of individuals (37/111) that have not fully recovered did not seek further care. CONCLUSIONS: In this population-based study, a relevant proportion of participants suffered from longer-term consequences after SARS-CoV-2 infection. With millions infected across the world, our findings emphasize the need for the timely planning of resources and patient-centered services for post-COVID-19 care.

307. Relationship between sex and cardiovascular mortality in chronic kidney disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 12

Shajahan S, Amin J, Phillips JK

308. Acute kidney injury and its progression in hospitalized patients-Results from a retrospective multicentre cohort study with a digital decision support system.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 12

Kister TS, Remmler J, Schmidt M

309. China's outward foreign direct investment in energy sector: The role of "intimate" relations between countries.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 12

Tan N, Chang L, Guo R.

310. The interplay of Rac1 activity, ubiquitination and GDI binding and its consequences for endothelial cell spreading.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 12

Majolée J, Podieh F, Hordijk PL

311. Risk of acute myocardial infarction among new users of chondroitin sulfate: A nested case-control study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 12

Mazzucchelli R, Rodríguez-Martín S, García-Vadillo A

312. The effectiveness of eye tracking in the diagnosis of cognitive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 12

Liu Z, Yang Z, Gu Y

313. Understanding and predicting COVID-19 clinical trial completion vs. cessation.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 12

Elkin ME, Zhu X.

314. Epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis lineages and strain clustering within urban and peri-urban settings in Ethiopia.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 12

Taye H, Alemu K, Mihret A

BACKGROUND: Previous work has shown differential predominance of certain Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) lineages and sub-lineages among different human populations in diverse geographic regions of Ethiopia. Nevertheless, how strain diversity is evolving under the ongoing rapid socio-economic and environmental changes is poorly understood. The present study investigated factors associated with M. tb lineage predominance and rate of strain clustering within urban and peri-urban settings in Ethiopia. METHODS: Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) and Cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis (TBLN) patients who visited selected health facilities were recruited in the years of 2016 and 2017. A total of 258 M. tb isolates identified from 163 sputa and 95 fine-needle aspirates (FNA) were characterized by spoligotyping and compared with international M.tb spoligotyping patterns registered at the SITVIT2 databases. The molecular data were linked with clinical and demographic data of the patients for further statistical analysis. RESULTS: From a total of 258 M. tb isolates, 84 distinct spoligotype patterns that included 58 known Shared International Type (SIT) patterns and 26 new or orphan patterns were identified. The majority of strains belonged to two major M. tb lineages, L3 (35.7%) and L4 (61.6%). The observed high percentage of isolates with shared patterns (n = 200/258) suggested a substantial rate of overall clustering (77.5%). After adjusting for the effect of geographical variations, clustering rate was significantly lower among individuals co-infected with HIV and other concomitant chronic disease. Compared to L4, the adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (AOR; 95% CI) indicated that infections with L3 M. tb strains were more likely to be associated with TBLN [3.47 (1.45, 8.29)] and TB-HIV co-infection [2.84 (1.61, 5.55)]. CONCLUSION: Despite the observed difference in strain diversity and geographical distribution of M. tb lineages, compared to earlier studies in Ethiopia, the overall rate of strain clustering suggests higher transmission and warrant more detailed investigations into the molecular epidemiology of TB and related factors.

315. Two species, one island: Retrospective analysis of threatened fauna translocations with divergent outcomes.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 12

Rayner K, Lohr CA, Garretson S

Translocations are globally a popular tool used with the intention of improving threatened species conservation and re-establishing ecosystem function. While practitioners strive for successful outcomes the failure rate of translocations continues to be high. We demonstrate how predictive modelling can contribute to more informed decision making and hence potentially improve the success rate of translocation programs. Two species, the Djoongari (Shark Bay mouse) Pseudomys fieldi and the golden bandicoot Isoodon auratus barrowensis, were introduced independently to Doole Island in the Exmouth Gulf of Western Australia. We used population viability analysis to critique the outcomes of these translocations and provide an example of how this tool can be incorporated with expert knowledge to predict likely outcomes of translocations. Djoongari did not establish on the island after seven translocations over nine years, while golden bandicoots established a population after just one release event. Retrospective population viability analysis (of data that was unavailable prior to the translocations) predicted and clarified the reasons behind the outcomes of both translocations. Golden bandicoots have considerably higher demographic plasticity than Djoongari, which were never likely to establish on the island. We conclude that the failure of the Djoongari translocation was due to interactions between sparse habitat, native predators and cyclonic storm surges, whereas golden bandicoots have demonstrated habitat flexibility and an ability to recover from multiple natural disasters. As a result we (1) remind conservation planners of the importance of quantifying likely refuges and habitat availability at release sites, (2) suggest practitioners consider how different threats (including natural disasters) may interact at potential release sites and (3) advocate for the incorporation of predictive modelling during the planning stages of translocations, particularly for conservation introductions where no precedent exists for the species' survival at a particular location.

316. Are indigenous territories effective natural climate solutions? A neotropical analysis using matching methods and geographic discontinuity designs.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 12

Alejo C, Meyer C, Walker WS

317. Ozone inactivation of airborne influenza and lack of resistance of respiratory syncytial virus to aerosolization and sampling processes.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 12

Dubuis ME, Racine É, Vyskocil JM

318. Impact of the EU Blue Card programme on cultural participation and subjective well-being of migrants in Germany.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 12

Giovanis E, Akdede SH, Ozdamar O.

319. A novel olfactory threshold test for screening cognitive decline among elderly people.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 12

Kim SM, Kim HR, Min HJ

320. Symptomatic pelvic floor disorders and its associated factors in South-Central Ethiopia.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

Beketie ED, Tafese WT, Assefa ZM

INTRODUCTION: Pelvic floor disorders (PFD) are gynecologic health problems containing a wide variety of clinical problems; the most prevalent problems are pelvic organ prolapse, fecal incontinence, and urinary incontinence. It is a significant women's health problem for both developed and developing countries. One in five women in Ethiopia experiences at least one major type of pelvic floor disorders. Despite the severity of the problem, due attention was not given, and no study has been conducted on pelvic floor disorders in the Gurage Zone. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of symptomatic pelvic floor disorders among women living in Gurage Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia, 2020. METHODOLOGY: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2020 among 542 women residing in the Gurage Zone. A multi-stage sampling method was used to select the participants. Interviewer administered, pretested questionnaires containing questions related to pelvic organ prolapse, urinary, and fecal incontinence was used. The urinary incontinence severity index questionnaire was used to assess the severity of urinary incontinence. Epi-Info x7 was used to record data, and SPSS was used to analyze the data. Binary logistic regression with 95% CI was used to explore the relationship between PFD and other independent variables. After multivariable logistic regression analysis variables with P-value less than 0.05 was used to determine significant association. RESULT: A total of 542 participants were included in this study. Overall, 41.1% of the participants reported one or more symptoms of pelvic floor disorders. Urinary incontinence had the highest prevalence (32.8%), followed by pelvic organ prolapse (25.5%) and fecal incontinence (4.2%). History of weight lifting >10 Kg (AOR = 3.38; 95% CI: 1.99, 5.72), ≥5 vaginal delivery (AOR = 11.18; 95% CI: 1.53, 81.58), and being in menopause (AOR = 3.37; 95% CI: 1.40, 8.07) were identified as possible contributing factors in the development of a pelvic floor disorders. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of symptomatic PFD was higher compared to other similar studies in Ethiopia. Heavy weight lifting, repetitive vaginal deliveries and menopause were factors significantly associated with PFD. Expansion of technologies and building basic infrastructures, health education on kegel exercise and promotion of family planning should be considered as a prevention strategy.

321. Reaching skills in six-month-old infants at environmental and biological risk.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

Araújo Rohr L, Cabral TI, Moraes MM

322. Use and experiences of galactagogues while breastfeeding among Australian women.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

McBride GM, Stevenson R, Zizzo G

BACKGROUND: Galactagogues are substances thought to increase breast milk production, however evidence to support their efficacy and safety remain limited. We undertook a survey among Australian women to examine patterns of use of galactagogues and perceptions regarding their safety and effectiveness. METHODS: An online, cross-sectional survey was distributed between September and December 2019 via national breastfeeding and preterm birth support organisations, and networks of several research institutions in Australia. Women were eligible to participate if they lived in Australia and were currently/previously breastfeeding. The survey included questions about galactagogue use (including duration and timing), side effects and perceived effectiveness (on a scale of 1 [Not at all effective] to 5 [Extremely effective]). RESULTS: Among 1876 respondents, 1120 (60%) reported using one or more galactagogues. Women were 31.5 ± 4.8 years (mean ± standard deviation) at their most recent birth. Sixty-five percent of women were currently breastfeeding at the time of the survey. The most commonly reported galactagogues included lactation cookies (47%), brewer's yeast (32%), fenugreek (22%) and domperidone (19%). The mean duration of use for each galactagogue ranged from 2 to 20 weeks. Approximately 1 in 6 women reported commencing galactagogues within the first week postpartum. Most women reported receiving recommendations to use herbal/dietary galactagogues from the internet (38%) or friends (25%), whereas pharmaceutical galactagogues were most commonly prescribed by General Practitioners (72%). The perceived effectiveness varied greatly across galactagogues. Perceived effectiveness was highest for domperidone (mean rating of 3.3 compared with 2.0 to 3.0 among other galactagogues). Over 23% of domperidone users reported experiencing multiple side effects, compared to an average of 3% of women taking herbal galactagogues. CONCLUSIONS: This survey demonstrates that galactagogues use is common in Australia. Further research is needed to generate robust evidence about galactagogues' efficacy and safety to support evidence-based strategies and improve breastfeeding outcomes.

323. Dealing with uncertainty: A high-density EEG investigation on how intolerance of uncertainty affects emotional predictions.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

Del Popolo Cristaldi F, Mento G, Sarlo M

324. A cross-sectional study of factors associated with unstable housing among marginalized people who use drugs in Ottawa, Canada.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

Rowlands Snyder EC, Boucher LM, Bayoumi AM

INTRODUCTION: Housing affects an individual's physical and mental health, particularly among people who use substances. Understanding the association between individual characteristics and housing status can inform housing policy and help optimize the care of people who use drugs. The objective of this study was to explore the factors associated with unstable housing among people who use drugs in Ottawa. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analysis of data from 782 participants in the Participatory Research in Ottawa: Understanding Drugs (PROUD) Study. PROUD is a prospective cohort study of people who use drugs in Ottawa. Between March and December 2013, participants were recruited through peer-based recruitment on the streets and in social services settings and completed a peer-administered questionnaire that explored socio-demographic information, drug use patterns, community integration, experiences with police and incarceration, and access to health care and harm reduction services. Eligibility criteria included age of 16 years or older, self-reported illicit drug use within the past 12 months and having lived in Ottawa for at least 3 months. Housing status was determined by self-report. "Stable housing" was defined as residence in a house or apartment and "unstable housing" was defined as all other residence types. Exploratory multivariable logistic regression analyses of the association between characteristics of people who use drugs and their housing status were conducted. RESULTS: Factors that were associated with unstable housing included: recent incarceration; not having a regular doctor; not having received support from a peer worker; low monthly income; income source other than public disability support payments; and younger age. Gender, language, ethnicity, education level, opioid use and injection drug use were not independently associated with housing status. CONCLUSIONS: People who use drugs face significant barriers to stable housing. These results highlight key areas to address in order to improve housing stability among this community.

325. We need our own clinics": Adolescents' living with HIV recommendations for a responsive health system.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

Woollett N, Pahad S, Black V.

326. Accuracy of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)-4 and GDS-5 for the screening of depression among older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

Brañez-Condorena A, Soriano-Moreno DR, Navarro-Flores A

BACKGROUND: The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a widely used instrument to assess depression in older adults. The short GDS versions that have four (GDS-4) and five items (GDS-5) represent alternatives for depression screening in limited-resource settings. However, their accuracy remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of the GDS-4 and GDS-5 versions for depression screening in older adults. METHODS: Until May 2020, we systematically searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Google Scholar; for studies that have assessed the sensitivity and specificity of GDS-4 and GDS-5 for depression screening in older adults. We conducted meta-analyses of the sensitivity and specificity of those studies that used the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or the International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) as reference standard. Study quality was assessed with the QUADAS-2 tool. We performed bivariate random-effects meta-analyses to calculate the pooled sensitivity and specificity with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) at each reported common cut-off. For the overall meta-analyses, we evaluated each GDS-4 version or GDS-5 version separately by each cut-off, and for investigations of heterogeneity, we assessed altogether across similar GDS versions by each cut-off. Also, we assessed the certainty of evidence using the GRADE methodology. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies were included and meta-analyzed, assessing eleven different GDS versions. The number of participants included was 5048. When including all versions together, at a cut-off 2, GDS-4 had a pooled sensitivity of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.70-0.82) and a pooled specificity of 0.75 (0.68-0.81); while GDS-5 had a pooled sensitivity of 0.85 (0.80-0.90) and a pooled specificity of 0.75 (0.69-0.81). We found results for more than one GDS-4 version at cut-off points 1, 2, and 3; and for more than one GDS-5 version at cut-off points 1, 2, 3, and 4. Mostly, significant subgroup differences at different test thresholds across versions were found. The accuracy of the different GDS-4 and GDS-5 versions showed a high heterogeneity. There was high risk of bias in the index test domain. Also, the certainty of the evidence was low or very low for most of the GDS versions. CONCLUSIONS: We found several GDS-4 and GDS-5 versions that showed great heterogeneity in estimates of sensitivity and specificity, mostly with a low or very low certainty of the evidence. Altogether, our results indicate the need for more well-designed studies that compare different GDS versions.

327. Quantifying responses to changes in the jurisdiction of a congestion charge: A study of the London western extension.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

Ait Bihi Ouali L, Musuuga D, Graham DJ.

328. Influence of surgical and N95 face masks on speech perception and listening effort in noise.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

Rahne T, Fröhlich L, Plontke S

329. Determinants of hazardous alcohol use among pregnant women attending antenatal care at public health facilities in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia: A nested case-control study.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

Addila AE, Azale T, Gete YK

BACKGROUND: Alcohol use during pregnancy has a potential negative impact on the health of women and children. Binge or hazardous drinking may do greater alcohol-related damage to the developing fetus than drinking a comparable amount spread over several days or weeks. This study aimed to identify determinants of hazardous alcohol use among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Gondar town public health facilities, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: An unmatched facility-based nested case-control study was carried out to identify the determinants of hazardous alcohol use among pregnant women within a prospective cohort study from 29 October 2019 to 7 May 2020. A two-stage random sampling technique was used to select 455 (113 cases and 342 controls) pregnant women. Data collection was performed using the AUDIT-C standardized and pretested questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were computed to identify the predictors of alcohol consumption using the odds ratio, 95% CI, and p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: Multivariable logistic regression model revealed that no formal education of the husbands [AOR = 2.79; 95%CI: 1.24, 6.29], being housewife[AOR = 2.43; 95%CI: 1.12, 5.26], poor household wealth index[AOR = 2.65; 95%CI: 1.07, 6.54], unplanned pregnancy [AOR = 4.36;95%CI: 2.44, 7.79], poor social support [AOR = 4.9;95%CI: 2.4, 10.04], depression[AOR = 3.84;95%CI: 2.16, 6.82], and not ever heard the risk of alcohol drinking during pregnancy [AOR = 1.97; 95%CI: 1.08, 3.58] were significantly associated with hazardous alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS: Routine alcohol screening during ANC visits creates an appropriate referral system for clinical management and provides an opportunity for healthcare workers to offer information on the potential risks associated with alcohol use in pregnancy. Antenatal care providers have a special role to play in assuring that women receive adequate advice about alcohol use and care to manage the problems especially for pregnant women with depression, poor social support, unplanned pregnancy, low socioeconomic status, and for housewives during the antenatal visits. The warning marks on alcoholic beverages including an ongoing message about the risks of alcohol use during pregnancy could be public health good strategies to minimize preventable harms attributed to alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

330. Human reliability analysis in de-energization of power line using HEART in the context of Z-numbers.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

Aghaei H, Mirzaei Aliabadi M, Mollabahrami F

331. Utility of the Global Respiratory Severity Score for predicting the need for respiratory support in infants with respiratory syncytial virus infection.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

Kubota J, Hirano D, Okabe S

332. Kinetics in lumbosacral and lower-limb joints of sprinters during barbell hip thrust compared to deadlift and back squat.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

Otsuka M, Honjo T, Nagano A

Joint kinetic characteristics during the eccentric phase are important in resistance exercises because eccentric actions with elastic potential energy storage lead to the energy recoil with large joint moment and power generation during the subsequent concentric phase. Previous studies assessed the force production capacity in the barbell hip thrust; however, these were reported by the methodology using only surface electromyographic amplitudes recorded in the lower back and thigh muscles and did not focus on eccentric action. This study aimed to determine kinetic characteristics of lumbosacral, hip and knee joints of sprinters during the eccentric and concentric phases in a barbell hip thrust, compared to those of deadlift and back squat. Eleven well-trained male sprinters participated in this study. Each participant performed two full ranges of motion repetition using their previously determined six-repetition maximum loads. During strength exercises, reflective marker displacements attached to the body and a barbell were captured using 22 high-speed cameras, and ground reaction forces were captured using 4 force plates simultaneously. In the barbell hip thrust, as well as deadlift, the peak values of the lumbosacral and hip extension moments were generated almost immediately after the eccentric phase and were 24% and 42% larger than those in the back squat, respectively. In the knee joint, the largest was the peak extension moment in the back squat (155 ± 28 Nm), followed in order by that in the barbell hip thrust (66 ± 33 Nm) and that in the deadlift (24 ± 27 Nm). These demonstrated that a barbell hip thrust, as well as deadlift, can be a resistance exercise to strengthen the lower back and posterior thigh muscles. Thus, these resistance exercises may be able to be used separately according to their intended purposes, enabling transformations of strength training to specific dynamic motions such as sprint running.

333. Home-based exercise for people living with frailty and chronic kidney disease: A mixed-methods pilot randomised controlled trial.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

Nixon AC, Bampouras TM, Gooch HJ

BACKGROUND: Frailty is associated with adverse health outcomes in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Evidence supporting targeted interventions is needed. This pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) aimed to inform the design of a definitive RCT evaluating the effectiveness of a home-based exercise intervention for pre-frail and frail older adults with CKD. METHODS: Participants were recruited from nephrology outpatient clinics to this two-arm parallel group mixed-methods pilot RCT. Inclusion criteria were: ≥65 years old; CKD G3b-5; and Clinical Frailty Scale score ≥4. Participants categorised as pre-frail or frail using the Frailty Phenotype were randomised to a 12-week progressive multi-component home-based exercise programme or usual care. Primary outcome measures included eligibility, recruitment, adherence, outcome measure completion and participant attrition rate. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants to explore trial and intervention acceptability. RESULTS: Six hundred and sixty-five patients had an eligibility assessment with 217 (33%; 95% CI 29, 36) eligible. Thirty-five (16%; 95% CI 12, 22) participants were recruited. Six were categorised as robust and withdrawn prior to randomisation. Fifteen participants were randomised to exercise and 14 to usual care. Eleven (73%; 95% CI 45, 91) participants completed ≥2 exercise sessions/week. Retained participants completed all outcome measures (n = 21; 100%; 95% CI 81, 100). Eight (28%; 95% CI 13, 47) participants were withdrawn. Fifteen participated in interviews. Decision to participate/withdraw was influenced by perceived risk of exercise worsening symptoms. Participant perceived benefits included improved fitness, balance, strength, well-being, energy levels and confidence. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot RCT demonstrates that progression to definitive RCT is possible provided recruitment and retention challenges are addressed. It has also provided preliminary evidence that home-based exercise may be beneficial for people living with frailty and CKD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN87708989; https://clinicaltrials.gov/.

334. Service utilization and HIV outcomes among transgender women receiving Ryan White Part A services in New York City.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

Thomas JA, Irvine MK, Xia Q

BACKGROUND: Prior research has found evidence of gender disparities in U.S. HIV healthcare access and outcomes. In order to assess potential disparities in our client population, we compared demographics, service needs, service utilization, and HIV care continuum outcomes between transgender women, cisgender women, and cisgender men receiving New York City (NYC) Ryan White Part A (RWPA) services. METHODS: The analysis included HIV-positive clients with an intake assessment between January 2016 and December 2017 in an NYC RWPA services program. We examined four service need areas: food and nutrition, harm reduction, mental health, and housing. Among clients with the documented need, we ascertained whether they received RWPA services targeting that need. To compare HIV outcomes between groups, we applied five metrics: engagement in care, consistent engagement in care, antiretroviral therapy (ART) use, point-in-time viral suppression, and durable viral suppression. RESULTS: All four service needs were more prevalent among transgender women (N = 455) than among cisgender clients. Except in the area of food and nutrition services, timely (12-month) receipt of RWPA services to meet a specific assessed need was not significantly more or less common in any one of the three client groups examined. Compared to cisgender women and cisgender men, a lower proportion of transgender women were durably virally suppressed (39% versus 52% or 50%, respectively, p-value < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with cisgender women and cisgender men, transgender women more often presented with basic (food/housing) and behavioral-health service needs. In all three groups (with no consistent between-group differences), assessed needs were not typically met with the directly corresponding RWPA service category. Targeting those needs with RWPA outreach and services may support the National HIV/AIDS Strategy 2020 goal of reducing health disparities, and specifically the objective of increasing (to ≥90%) the percentage of transgender women in HIV medical care who are virally suppressed.

335. Access experiences and attitudes toward abortion among youth experiencing homelessness in the United States: A systematic review.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

Munro S, Benipal S, Williams A

336. Validation of the indication for colposcopy proposed by the 2019 ASCCP risk-based management consensus guidelines: A single-center study in China.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

Gui T, Chen Z, Chen F.

337. Societal perceptions of caregivers linked to culture across 20 countries: Evidence from a 10-billion-word database.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

Ng R, Indran N.

338. Gender and intersectional analysis of livestock vaccine value chains in Kaffrine, Senegal.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

McKune S, Serra R, Touré A.

Among livestock species, poultry and small ruminants are of particular importance to rural women in low- and middle-income countries, as means to generate income, provide nutritious food for the family, accumulate wealth, and confer social status. Newcastle disease (ND) and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) are widespread livestock diseases of poultry and small ruminants, respectively. While both diseases are vaccine preventable, numerous constraints limit the availability of and access to livestock vaccines, especially among the most vulnerable populations in developing countries. The literature on equity and effectiveness of livestock vaccine distribution systems has emphasized many of these constraints, however a gendered analysis and deeper understanding of the vaccine system remain insufficient. This paper applies a gendered and intersectional transformational approach, or GITA, to highlight how gender and other social factors affect the provision and utilization of vaccines for ND and PPR diseases in the region of Kaffrine, Senegal. We first articulate and describe the vaccine value chains (VVCs) for these diseases in Kaffrine, and then analyze the gendered and intersectional dynamics at different nodes of the VVCs, including actors at the national level, through the regional and district levels, down to providers of animal health at community level and the livestock keepers themselves. Our findings indicate that actors' various experiences are shaped and defined mainly by rigid gender norms, location and remoteness, and to a lesser degree by other social stratifications of age, ethnicity, and livelihood. Given the significant role that gender norms play in the livestock vaccine value chains, differences according to the livestock species, regulation of vaccine administration, and vaccine distribution systems emerge as highly relevant for understanding barriers that women specifically face within the livestock vaccination system.

339. Unhygienic stool-disposal practices among mothers of children under five in Cambodia: Evidence from a demographic and health survey.

PLoS One

2021 Jul 1

Vong P, Banchonhattakit P, Sim S

BACKGROUND: Unhygienic disposal of children's stools affects children's health in terms of their susceptibility to many diseases. However, there are no existing studies into the impact of unhygienic stool disposal in Cambodia. Therefore, this study aimed to identify factors associated with the unhygienic disposal of children's stools among children under the age of five in Cambodia. METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS) 2014. A multivariable binary logistic regression was conducted using Stata to analyze factors associated with the unhygienic disposal of children's stools. RESULTS: Overall, the prevalence of practicing unhygienic disposal of children's stools was 29.27% (95%CI: 27.51%- 31.09%). Factors statistically associated with this practice were: living in the Central Plain, Plateau and Mountains, Coastal and Sea regions (AOR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.33-2.04), (AOR = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.98-3.24) and (AOR = 4.16; 95% CI: 3.15-5.48) respectively, poor household wealth (AOR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.31-1.91), the mother having no education (AOR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.14-1.85), a high number of children aged under five (AOR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.03-1.20), being in the "other" religious category (AOR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.25-2.51), living in a household with unimproved toilet facilities (AOR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.11-1.34), living in a household with inadequate hygiene (AOR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.12-1.59), and the household not being visited by a family planning worker in the last year (AOR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.19-1.77). However, an increase in the child's age by even a month had significant negative associations with unhygienic practice (AOR = 0.65; 95% CI: 0.60-0.70), even when controlling for other covariates. CONCLUSION: Almost one third of the mothers do not practice hygienic disposal of children's stools in Cambodia. Unhygienic practices were more prevalent in certain regions, and were also associated with low wealth, lack of education, an increase in the number of children under five in the household, religion, lack of sanitation and access to healthcare professionals. Conversely, the child's age was found to be positively associated with the hygienic disposal of children's stools.

Newmer生物

Newmer生物