生信网-文献期刊

PLoS One

2022 Nov 9

Bartels SL, Shaaban CE, Brum WS

INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization recognizes dementia as a public health priority and highlights research as an action to respond to the consequences, with early career dementia researchers (ECDRs) representing the key driving force. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, biomedical and psychosocial dementia research was strained worldwide. The aim of this study was to understand the impact of the pandemic on ECDRs. METHODS: In autumn 2021, the Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART) Professional Interest Area to Elevate Early Career Researchers (PEERs) and University College London conducted an online survey querying ECDRs' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey was shared through the ISTAART network, social media, podcasts, and emailing lists. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Survey data from n = 321 ECDRs from 34 countries were analyzed (67.6% women; 78.8% working in academia). Overall, 77.8% of ECDRs surveyed indicated research delays, 53.9% made project adjustments, 37.9% required additional or extended funding, and 41.8% reported a negative impact on career progression. Moreover, 19.9% felt unsupported by their institutions and employers (33% felt well supported, 42.7% somewhat supported). ECDR's conference attendance remained the same (26.5%) or increased (More: 28.6%; a lot more: 5.6%) since the start of the pandemic. Continental differences were visible, while the impact of the pandemic did not differ greatly based on ECDRs' sociodemographic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic had a substantial impact on ECDRs worldwide and institutions, employers, and funding bodies are urged to consider the implications and lessons-learned when working with, managing, and promoting ECDRs. Strategies related to the pandemic and general career support to improve ECDRs career progression are discussed, including social media training, digital networking, and benefits of hybrid events. Global resources specific for ECDRs are highlighted.

2. Evaluating the use of semi-structured crowdsourced data to quantify inequitable access to urban biodiversity: A case study with eBird.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 9

Grade AM, Chan NW, Gajbhiye P

3. Glycated hemoglobin level dynamics in COVID-19 survivors: 12 months follow-up study after discharge from hospital.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 9

Shestakova M, Kononenko I, Kalmykovа Z

INTRODUCTION: One of the stages of reproduction of SARS-CoV-2 is the S-protein glycosylation to facilitate penetration into target cells. It has been suggested that SARS-CoV-2 is able to enter erythrocytes, interact with heme and porphyrin, which could influence HbA1c levels. Assessment of HbA1c levels in individuals with acute COVID-19 and after recovery may show clinical relevance of this hypothesis. AIM: To assess HbA1c levels in patients with COVID-19 in the acute phase and in early (6-8 weeks) and late (52±2 weeks) periods after recovery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a multicenter prospective study, which included patients hospitalized in Endocrinology Research Centre and the City Clinical Hospital № 52" diagnosed with COVID-19, virus identified/ not identified. Patients were divided into three groups according to baseline HbA1c level and the presence or absence of previous history of diabetes previous history of diabetes mellitus (DM): HbA1c ≤ 6.0%, HbA1c > 6.0% and patients with DM. Patients were examined during the acute COVID-19 phase and in early (6-8 weeks) and late (52±2 weeks) periods after recovery. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed in the group with initial HbA1c > 6.0% to clarify the diagnosis. RESULTS: We included 194 patients in the study. During the follow-up, 52 patients were examined in 6-8 week period: 7 with HbA1c ≤ 6.0%, 34 with HbA1c > 6.0%, 11-with previously diagnosed DM. Carbohydrate metabolism assessment in the later stages (52±2 weeks) after recovery was performed in 78 patients: 33 patients with HbA1c ≤ 6.0%, 36 patients with HbA1c > 6.0% and 9 patients with previously established diabetes. HbA1c median in patients with HbA1c ≤ 6.0% was 5.7% [5.3;5.8], with HbA1c>6.0% -6.4% [6.2; 6.6], with previously diagnosed DM-7.7% [7.2; 8.9]. Statistically significant decrease in HbA1c over time 6-8 weeks after extracts were obtained in both groups of individuals without a history of DM (Wilcoxon test, p<0.05). After 52±2 weeks we observed HbA1c decrease in all three groups (Fridman test, p<0.05): in patients with HbA1c ≤ 6.0% median HbA1c was 5.5[5.3;5.7], with HbA1c>6.0% - 6.1[6.15;6.54], with previously diagnosed DM-7.8 [5.83; 8.08]. Development of DM after 52±2 weeks was recorded in 7.24% of all examined patients without a history of DM, which is 16.6% of the total number of patients examined in dynamics with HbA1c > 6.0%. CONCLUSION: HbA1c elevation during the acute phase of COVID-19 may be false due to the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on hemoglobin kinetics and/or detection on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virion highly glycosylated S-proteins by high performance liquid chromatography determinations. Upon detection HbA1c > 6.0% in patients with COVID-19 in the active phase of the disease without concomitant hyperglycemia re-determine the level of HbA1c after recovery is recommended.

4. Evaluation of pharmaceutically compounded oral caffeine on the impact of medication adherence and risk of readmission among preterm neonates: A single-center quasi-experimental study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 9

Ambreen G, Kumar M, Ali A

BACKGROUND: Caffeine is available in an ampoule, used via parenteral and enteral routes in preterm neonates to treat apnea of prematurity (AOP) in neonates of gestational age ≥ 35-40 weeks. A longer duration of therapy has a higher risk of medication non-adherence due to higher costs and inappropriate dosage forms. Pharmaceutically compounded oral caffeine (PCC) could be an appropriate alternate dosage form. The researchers aimed to determine the impact of PCC on medication-related factors influencing medication adherence (MA) and the frequency of hospital readmission with apnea (HRA) in preterm neonates. METHODS: We conducted a single-center quasi-experimental study for this quality improvement project using PCC among the preterm neonates admitted in a tertiary care level-III NICU at the Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Pakistan, received caffeine therapy, and survived at discharge. The researchers compared pre-PCC data (April-December 2017) with post-PCC data (April-Dec 2018) each for nine months, with three months intervals (January-March 2018) of PCC formulation and implementation phase. The study was conducted according to the SQUIRE2.0 guidelines. The Data were collated on factors influencing MA, including the cost of therapy, medication refill rates, and parental complaints as primary outcome measures. The Risk factors of HRA were included as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: After PCC implementation cost of therapy was reduced significantly from Rs. 97000.0 (729.0 USD) to Rs. 24500.0 (185.0 USD) (p<0.001), significantly higher (p<0.001) number of patients completed remaining refills (77.6% pre-phase vs 97.5% post-phase). The number of parental complaints about cost, ampoule usage, medication drawing issue, wastage, inappropriate dosage form, and longer duration of therapy reduced significantly in post-phase. HRA reduced from 25% to 6.6% (p<0.001). Post-implementation of PCC (RR 0.14; 95% CI: 0.07-0.27) was a significant independent risk factor for reducing HRA using a multivariate analysis model. Longer duration of caffeine therapy after discharge (RR 1.05; 95% CI: 1.04-1.04), those who were born in multiple births (RR 1.15; 95% CI: 1.15-1.15), and those who had higher number of siblings were other significant independent risk factors for HRA. CONCLUSIONS: PCC dispensation in the appropriate dosage form at discharge effectively reduced cost, non-adherence to therapy, and risk of hospital readmissions. This neonatal clinical and compounding pharmacist-led model can be replicated in other resource-limiting setting.

5. E-cigarette aerosol exposure of pulmonary surfactant impairs its surface tension reducing function.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 9

Graham E, McCaig L, Shui-Kei Lau G

INTRODUCTION: E-cigarette (EC) and vaping use continue to remain popular amongst teenage and young adult populations, despite several reports of vaping associated lung injury. One of the first compounds that EC aerosols comes into contact within the lungs during a deep inhalation is pulmonary surfactant. Impairment of surfactant's critical surface tension reducing activity can contribute to lung dysfunction. Currently, information on how EC aerosols impacts pulmonary surfactant remains limited. We hypothesized that exposure to EC aerosol impairs the surface tension reducing ability of surfactant. METHODS: Bovine Lipid Extract Surfactant (BLES) was used as a model surfactant in a direct exposure syringe system. BLES (2ml) was placed in a syringe (30ml) attached to an EC. The generated aerosol was drawn into the syringe and then expelled, repeated 30 times. Biophysical analysis after exposure was completed using a constrained drop surfactometer (CDS). RESULTS: Minimum surface tensions increased significantly after exposure to the EC aerosol across 20 compression/expansion cycles. Mixing of non-aerosolized e-liquid did not result in significant changes. Variation in device used, addition of nicotine, or temperature of the aerosol had no additional effect. Two e-liquid flavours, menthol and red wedding, had further detrimental effects, resulting in significantly higher surface tension than the vehicle exposed BLES. Menthol exposed BLES has the highest minimum surface tensions across all 20 compression/expansion cycles. Alteration of surfactant properties through interaction with the produced aerosol was observed with a basic e-liquid vehicle, however additional compounds produced by added flavourings appeared to be able to increase inhibition. CONCLUSION: EC aerosols alter surfactant function through increases in minimum surface tension. This impairment may contribute to lung dysfunction and susceptibility to further injury.

6. Having allies-Experiences of support in people with stress-related exhaustion: A qualitative study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 9

Alsén S, Ali L, Ekman I

BACKGROUND: The number of people seeking care for symptoms of exhaustion and stress is a major concern in several countries. The condition is a challenging and life-changing experience, and a deeper understanding of support to help people on sick leave due to stress-related exhaustion in their early stages is needed to facilitate recovery. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to explore experiences of support in people with stress-related exhaustion being on sick-leave less than six months. METHOD: A qualitative interview study was conducted with 12 participants (7 women and 5 men; aged 25-46 years) who were on sick leave that had not exceeded six months due to stress-related exhaustion. The participants were recruited from public healthcare centres in the western part of Sweden, and the intention was to reach them early in their ongoing sick leave period. The interviews were performed face-to-face and analysed using a phenomenological hermeneutical approach. RESULTS: The findings show that people affected by stress-related exhaustion struggle to maintain their dignity and define support in terms of allies who acknowledge their personhood and provide them helpful guidance. Participants expressed their needs to be taken seriously by professionals, family, and friends willing to engage in their situation. Lack of empathy and professional knowledge in the clinical encounter induced additional stress. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that people affected by stress-related exhaustion need allies from their surrounding networks in their struggle to maintain their dignity. Our findings highlight that it is essential to acknowledge them as persons and establish an alliance to provide appropriate support based on each person's specific situation, needs and resources. This approach can be facilitated in a partnership, as emphasized in person-centred care (PCC). PCC emphasizes the co-creation of care in partnership between the patient (often with relatives) and health care professionals which may imply a more collaborative view of health care in which patients are engaged as active partners in planning their care.

7. Factors affecting bus accident severity in Thailand: A multinomial logit model.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 9

Mahikul W, Aiyasuwan O, Thanartthanaboon P

8. Income inequality, voters' support for public spending and the size of the welfare state. A simple political model.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 9

Solano-García Á.

9. Oral mitis group streptococci reduce infectivity of influenza A virus via acidification and H2O2 production.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 9

Okahashi N, Sumitomo T, Nakata M

Members of the mitis group streptococci are the most abundant inhabitants of the oral cavity and dental plaque. Influenza A virus (IAV), the causative agent of influenza, infects the upper respiratory tract, and co-infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of morbidity during influenza epidemics. S. pneumoniae is a member of mitis group streptococci and shares many features with oral mitis group streptococci. In this study, we investigated the effect of viable Streptococcus oralis, a representative member of oral mitis group, on the infectivity of H1N1 IAV. The infectivity of IAV was measured by a plaque assay using Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. When IAV was incubated in growing culture of S. oralis, the IAV titer decreased in a time- and dose-dependent manner and became less than 100-fold, whereas heat-inactivated S. oralis had no effect. Other oral streptococci such as Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus salivarius also reduced the viral infectivity to a lesser extent compared to S. oralis and Streptococcus gordonii, another member of the oral mitis group. S. oralis produces hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at a concentration of 1-2 mM, and its mutant deficient in H2O2 production showed a weaker effect on the inactivation of IAV, suggesting that H2O2 contributes to viral inactivation. The contribution of H2O2 was confirmed by an inhibition assay using catalase, an H2O2-decomposing enzyme. These oral streptococci produce short chain fatty acids (SCFA) such as acetic acid as a by-product of sugar metabolism, and we also found that the inactivation of IAV was dependent on the mildly acidic pH (around pH 5.0) of these streptococcal cultures. Although inactivation of IAV in buffers of pH 5.0 was limited, incubation in the same buffer containing 2 mM H2O2 resulted in marked inactivation of IAV, which was similar to the effect of growing S. oralis culture. Taken together, these results reveal that viable S. oralis can inactivate IAV via the production of SCFAs and H2O2. This finding also suggests that the combination of mildly acidic pH and H2O2 at low concentrations could be an effective method to inactivate IAV.

10. Seasonal variation and group size affect movement patterns of two pelagic dolphin species (Lagenorhynchus obscurus and Delphinus delphis).

PLoS One

2022 Nov 9

Dans SL, Luzenti EA, Coscarella MA

11. Dehumanization and mass violence: A study of mental state language in Nazi propaganda (1927-1945).

PLoS One

2022 Nov 9

Landry AP, Orr RI, Mere K.

12. The relationship between parental disability and child outcomes: Evidence from veteran Families.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 9

Lakdawala LK, Bharadwaj P.

13. Cultivation mode of new accounting talents in the context of financial and taxation digitalization.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 9

Wu S.

14. Analysis of bacterial contamination and the effectiveness of UV light-based reprocessing of everyday medical devices.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 9

Rudhart SA, Günther F, Dapper LI

15. Modeling optimal reopening strategies for COVID-19 and its variants by keeping infections low and fixing testing capacity.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 9

Dalton M, Dougall P, Amoah Darko FL

Since early March 2020, government agencies have utilized a wide variety of non-pharmaceutical interventions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and have struggled to determine when it is appropriate to return to in-person activities after an outbreak is detected. At many universities, fundamental issues related to understanding the spread of the disease (e.g. the transmission rate), the ability of administrators to respond quickly enough by closing when there is a sudden rise in cases, and how to make a decision on when to reopen remains a concern. Surveillance testing strategies have been implemented in some places, and those test outcomes have dictated whether to reopen, to simultaneously monitor community spread, and/or to isolate discovered cases. However, the question remains as to when it is safe to reopen and how much testing is required to remain safely open while keeping infection numbers low. Here, we propose an extension of the classic SIR model to investigate reopening strategies for a fixed testing strategy, based on feedback from testing results. Specifically, we close when a predefined proportion of the population becomes infected, and later reopen when that infected proportion decreases below a predefined threshold. A valuable outcome of our approach is that our reopening strategies are robust to variation in almost all model parameters, including transmission rates, which can be extremely difficult to determine as they typically differ between variants, location, vaccination status, etc. Thus, these strategies can be, in theory, translated over to new variants in different regions of the world. Examples of robust feedback strategies for high disease transmission and a fixed testing capacity include (1) a single long lock down followed by a single long in-person period, and (2) multiple shorter lock downs followed by multiple shorter in-person periods. The utility of this approach of having multiple strategies is that administrators of universities, schools, business, etc. can use a strategy that is best adapted for their own functionality.

16. HCLC-FC: A novel statistical method for phenome-wide association studies.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 9

Liang X, Cao X, Sha Q

17. Knowledge of genetic test results among caregivers and individuals with spinal muscular atrophy.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 8

Belter L, Mazzella A, O'Brien S

18. Caring for Carers (C4C): Results from a feasibility randomised controlled trial of positive written disclosure for older adult carers of people with psychosis.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 8

Jones CJ, Hazell CM, Hayward M

BACKGROUND: Older adult carers of people who experience psychosis are at increased risk of developing physical and mental health problems due to the compounding factors of supporting their care-recipient and the health changes associated with ageing. Effective interventions exist but can be difficult to access and maintain prolonged engagement. Self-directed writing therapies, frequently referred to as Written Emotional Disclosure (WED), might be a suitable alternative intervention to improve the wellbeing of carers. METHODS: This study aimed to determine the feasibility (recruitment, retention and primary outcome completion) and acceptability of a specific WED intervention known as Positive Written Disclosure (PWD). Informal carers of people with psychosis were randomised to PWD, neutral writing or no writing. Quantitative outcomes including positive and negative affect, carer wellbeing, quality of life, depression, anxiety, stress, self-efficacy, leisure time satisfaction as well as health care utilisation were collected at baseline, 1-, 3-, and 6-month assessments. Qualitative feedback was also collected via questionnaire and semi-structured interviews from those randomised to either writing group. RESULTS: We successfully met our progression criteria, recruiting to target and within timeframes whilst attaining 97% retention and 84% primary outcome data completed at 6 months. Carers randomised to the positive writing group described the intervention as enabling them to have a more positive attitude and focus on activities for themselves. Both writing groups described their tasks as providing distraction from caring responsibilities. However, some carers found the narrow positive emotion focus challenging. CONCLUSIONS: PWD is a feasible and acceptable intervention for older adult carers of people with psychosis within a community setting. Further refinement of the writing protocol to include choice in type of emotion disclosed in addition to screening for some level of need may be required in future trials to reduce floor/ceiling effects of outcomes which may explain the lack of change observed.

19. Co-occurrences of fall-related factors in adults aged 60 to 85 years in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 8

Rietdyk S, Ambike S, Amireault S

A broad set of factors are associated with falling (e.g., age, sex, physical activity, vision, health), but their co-occurrence is understudied. Our objectives were to quantify the number and pattern of co-occurring fall-related factors. Data were obtained from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (N = 1,957, 60-85 years). Twenty fall-related factors were included (based on previous research), covering a wide range including cognitive, motor, sensory, health, and physical activity measures. The number and pattern of co-occurring fall-related factors were quantified with logistic regression and cluster analyses, respectively. Most participants (59%) had ≥4 fall-risk factors, and each additional risk factor increased the odds of reporting difficulty with falling by 1.28. The identified clusters included: (1) healthy, (2) cognitive and sensory impaired, and (3) health impaired. The mean number of co-occurring fall-related factors was 3.7, 3.8, and 7.2, for clusters 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p<0.001). These observations indicate that co-occurrence of multiple fall-risk factors was common in this national sample of U.S. older adults and the factors tended to aggregate into distinct clusters. The findings support the protective effect of physical activity on fall-risk, the association between gait speed and falls, and the detrimental effect of health-related factors on difficulty with falls (e.g., arthritis, prescription medications). Cluster analyses revealed a complex interplay between sex and BMI that may alter the role of BMI in the etiology of falls. Cluster analyses also revealed a large detrimental effect of health-related factors in cluster 3; it is important to extend current fall interventions (typically focused on balance, flexibility, strength, cognitive, fear factors) to include health-related interventions that target factors such as BMI and arthritis.

20. Spatial repellents transfluthrin and metofluthrin affect the behavior of Dermacentor variabilis, Amblyomma americanum, and Ixodes scapularis in an in vitro vertical climb assay.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 8

Siegel EL, Olivera M, Roig EM

21. Effect of linear accelerator carbon fiber couch on radiotherapy dose.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 8

Kong F, Lu M, Dong J

22. The impact of nature video exposure on pro-environmental behavior: An experimental investigation.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 8

Ibanez L, Roussel S.

23. Risk association of RANKL and OPG gene polymorphism with breast cancer to bone metastasis in Pashtun population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 8

Hayat F, Khan NU, Khan AU

24. Improved DNA extraction on bamboo paper and cotton is tightly correlated with their crystallinity and hygroscopicity.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 7

Ye X, Lei B.

DNA extraction, a vital pre-requisite for most biological studies, continues to be studied extensively. According to some studies, DNA shows a certain degree of absorbability on filter paper made of plant fiber-based adsorbent material. However, the principle underlying such specific adsorption as well as plant species associated with plant fiber-based adsorbents and optimized extraction conditions have not yet been studied. This study demonstrates the tight correlation between crystallinity and hygroscopicity in plant fiber-based adsorbents used for DNA extraction and proposes the concept of DNA adsorption on plant fiber-based adsorbents, for the first time. We also explored optimal extracting and eluting conditions and developed a novel plant fiber-based DNA extraction method that was quadruple times more powerful than current approaches. Starting with the screening of various types of earthed plant fiber-based adsorbents, we went on to mine new plant fiber-based adsorbents, bamboo paper and degreased cotton, and succeeded in increasing their efficiency of DNA extraction to 4.2 times than that of current approaches. We found a very strong correlation between the crystallinity and hygroscopicity of plant fiber-based adsorbents which showed efficiency for DNA extraction, and thus propose a principle that potentially governs such specific adsorption processes, in the hope that this information may guide related multidisciplinary research studies in the future. Nanodrop, electrophoresis and PCR were selected to demonstrate the quantity, quality, integrity and utility of the extracted DNA. Furthermore, crystallinity, hygroscopicity, pore size distribution and composition of plant fiber-based adsorbents were studied to explore their correlation in an attempt to understand the principle underlying this particular type of adsorption. The findings of this study may be further extended to the extraction of other types of nucleic acids with similar biochemical properties.

25. The modulating effect of food composition on the immune system in growing ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus).

PLoS One

2022 Nov 7

Gethöffer F, Liebing J, Ronnenberg K

The decline in the population of ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in northwestern Germany since 2007 raises questions about the underlying causes. We therefore studied the growth and immune status of ring-necked pheasant chicks dependent on different feed composition. Here, 490 ring-necked pheasant chicks were raised in five groups up to nine weeks. While control groups C1 and C2 received sufficient crude protein (28%) and energy (12.5 MJ/Kg feed) according to current standards, group C2 was treated with cyclosporine eight hours prior to phythemagglutination (PHA) testing, serving as a positive immune suppressed control. Group V1 was fed with reduced protein (20%) but optimal energy content (12.5 MJ/Kg feed), group V2 was fed with sufficient protein (28%) and reduced energy content (10 MJ/kg feed) whereas group V3 was fed reduced crude protein (20%) and reduced energy content (10MJ/kg feed). On all chicks, health status was checked each week, and 20 birds of each group were weighed randomly per week. PHA-testing was performed on 12 birds of each group to study the in vivo non-specific activation of lymphocytes at week 2, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9. In addition, hemolysis-hemagglutination-assay (HHA) was performed on each of the PHA-tested chicks, which were subsequently euthanized and dissected. Histopathologic examinations of 5 birds that were randomly chosen were performed. The PHA-test results demonstrate significant differences between control (C1, C2) and experimental groups (V1-V3) in several developmental stages. According to the HHA results, weekly testing detected a significant increase of titres per week in all groups without significant differences. Here, only hemagglutination and no lysis of samples was observed. It seems appropriate to conclude that during their first weeks of life, protein content is of higher importance in ring-necked pheasant chicks than energy intake. In particular T-cell response is significantly reduced, which indicate a weaker immune system resulting in a higher risk for clinical diseases. Therefore, we assume that protein i.e. insect availability is a highly important co-factor in the free-ranging population dynamics, and is linked to declines of the northwestern German population.

26. Gene prioritization based on random walks with restarts and absorbing states, to define gene sets regulating drug pharmacodynamics from single-cell analyses.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 7

Sales de Queiroz A, Sales Santa Cruz G, Jean-Marie A

27. Long-term molecular turnover of actin stress fibers revealed by advection-reaction analysis in fluorescence recovery after photobleaching.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 7

Saito T, Matsunaga D, Deguchi S.

28. Barriers and facilitators for implementing peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) appropriateness guidelines: A longitudinal survey study from 34 Michigan hospitals.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 4

Ray-Barruel G, Horowitz J, McLaughlin E

29. Educational intervention and livestock ownership successfully improved the intake of animal source foods in 6-23 months old children in rural communities of Northern Ethiopia: Quasi-experimental study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 4

Haileselassie M, Redae G, Berhe G

BACKGROUND: Animal source foods (ASFs) are rich in high-quality proteins, including essential amino acids and highly bioavailable micronutrients vital for child growth and cognitive development. But, the daily consumption of ASFs among 6-23 months old children is very low in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of nutrition education intervention to improve the consumption of ASFs among 6-23 months old children from rural communities with strict religious fasting traditions of avoiding intake of ASFs in Northern Ethiopia. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in two food insecure districts namely Samre Seharti (intervention) and Tanqua Abergele (comparison). The mother-child pairs in the intervention group (n = 140) received nutrition education based on the barriers and available resources for optimal consumption of ASFs among children and followed up for nine months. The mother-child pairs in the comparison group (n = 153) received routine nutrition education. The data were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. The baseline and endline data assessment included interviews on socio-demographic and socio-economic status, dietary intake, and child feeding practices. The effectiveness of the intervention was measured using the difference-in-difference (DID) analysis model. RESULTS: At endline, the consumption of ASFs among children was 19.5 percentage points higher in the intervention group compared with the comparison group (p = 0.008). In addition, there was a significant increase in egg consumption among children in the intervention group (DID of 16.9, p = 0.012) from the comparison group. No child was consuming meat at baseline in both the intervention and comparison arms and it was very low at endline (5.2% vs. 7.9%). Overall, the proportion of children that consumed eggs in the intervention group was higher than in the comparison group in households that owned sheep and goats (4.8% vs. 21.4%, p = 0.050) and chicken (6.3% vs. 43.8%, p = 0.002) after education interventions. However, no statistically significant difference was observed between cow ownership and milk consumption among children (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Age-appropriate educational interventions for mothers and owning small livestock in the household can improve the consumption of ASFs and eventually the minimum diet diversity of children in communities with strict religious traditions of avoiding ASFs during the fasting seasons.

30. Optimizing tuberculosis screening for immigrants in southern New Brunswick: A pilot study protocol.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 4

Shamputa IC, Nguyen DTK, Higazy D

INTRODUCTION: Immigrants from high tuberculosis-burdened countries have been shown to have an increased risk of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). To reduce the risk of increased tuberculosis cases in Canada, the country has a comprehensive immigration medical examination process that identifies individuals with active tuberculosis using chest X-ray; however, it fails to identify LTBI. The lack of LTBI identification is concerning because immigrants with LTBI are at an increased risk of developing active tuberculosis within their first few years of migration due to stressful experiences common to many immigrants. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this pilot study is to improve the current LTBI screening protocols among immigrants from high tuberculosis incidence countries and to better prevent and manage tuberculosis cases, by introducing an LTBI screening pilot program. The objectives are threefold: 1) to screen LTBI in immigrants from high tuberculosis incidence countries, including immigrants identified as being at risk of LTBI by the NB health care system, using the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA); 2) to offer LTBI treatment and supports to those identified as having LTBI; and 3) to assess immigrant and health care providers (HCPs) satisfaction of the LTBI screening pilot program. METHODS: This cross-sectional study seeks to recruit 288 participants. Participants will be recruited via posters, social media platforms, invitations at immigrant wellness check-ups, presentations to local ethnocultural groups, and by snowball sampling. Consenting participants will be asked to submit a blood sample for LTBI screening; if positive, participants will be assessed and offered treatment for LTBI based on clinical assessment. Participants and HCPs' feedback will be gathered via short questionnaires. For the quantitative portion of the study, descriptive statistics will be used to summarize participant characteristics and feedback. Simultaneous logistic regression will be performed to identify variables associated with the IGRA test outcome and evidence of increased CD8 T-cell immune response among those found to be LTBI-positive. Qualitative results will be analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. DISCUSSION: The findings from this study will allow us to understand the role of the IGRA LTBI screening assay and its feasibility and acceptability by immigrants and HCPs in New Brunswick. The findings will additionally provide information on the enhancers and barriers of LTBI screening and management useful in determining how best to expand the LTBI screening program if deemed appropriate.

31. Inter-annual variations of vegetation dynamics to climate change in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 4

Jia X, You G, McKenzie S

To reveal the characteristics of climate change and the controlling factors for vegetation dynamics in the Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China, 34 years (1982-2015) of regional climate variables and vegetation dynamics were investigated. The results show that: Annual mean air temperature (TMP) significantly increased with a linear slope of 0.473°C/10yr. Annual precipitation (PRE) had a non-significant positive trend nearly 5 times lower than the trend of potential evapotranspiration (PET). The average Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) computed for the region was found to show a significant positive trend (6.131×10-4/yr). However, all climate variables displayed non-significant correlations with NDVI at annual scale. The reduction of desert and the increase of grassland over the past decades were accountable for the increased NDVI. Principal components analysis revealed that the regional climate change can be characterized as changes in temperature, humidity and the availability of radiant energy. Based on principal components regression coefficients, NDVI was mostly sensitive to humidity component, followed by growing season warmth (WMI). Spatially, 93.1% of the pixels displayed positive trend and 61.8% of the pixels displayed significant change over the past decades. Both principal regression analysis and partial correlation analysis revealed that NDVI in eastern part of Ordos was sensitive to TMP, whereas, NDVI in southern and western areas of Ordos displayed the high sensitivity to combined effects of PRE and cloud coverage (CLD). Partial correlation analyses also revealed that TMX was a surrogate for aridity, TMN was a representative of humidity, and temperature variations below the threshold of 5°C (CDI) were less important than WMI. We conclude that regional climate change can be characterized by warming and increased aridity. The significant positive trend of regional NDVI and the non-significant correlations between NDVI and climate variables at annual scale suggests the hidden role of the human activities.

32. Efficacy and safety of tibial cortex transverse transport for diabetic foot: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 4

Guo J, Bao H, Lideer

33. Iterative deep neural networks based on proximal gradient descent for image restoration.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 4

Lv T, Pan Z, Wei W

34. Variations in long-term care home resident hospitalizations before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 4

Jones A, Mowbray FI, Falk L

OBJECTIVES: To examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the demographic and clinical characteristics, in-hospital care, and outcomes of long-term care residents admitted to general medicine wards for non-COVID-19 reasons. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of long-term care residents admitted to general medicine wards, for reasons other than COVID-19, in four hospitals in Toronto, Ontario between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020. We used an autoregressive linear model to estimate the change in monthly admission volumes during the pandemic period (March-December 2020) compared to the previous two years, adjusting for any secular trend. We summarized and compared differences in the demographics, comorbidities, interventions, diagnoses, imaging, psychoactive medications, and outcomes of residents before and during the pandemic. RESULTS: Our study included 2,654 long-term care residents who were hospitalized for non-COVID-19 reasons between January 2018 and December 2020. The crude rate of hospitalizations was 79.3 per month between March-December of 2018-2019 and 56.5 per month between March-December of 2020. The was an adjusted absolute difference of 27.0 (95% CI: 10.0, 43.9) fewer hospital admissions during the pandemic period, corresponding to a relative drop of 34%. Residents admitted during the pandemic period had similar demographics and clinical characteristics but were more likely to be admitted for delirium (pandemic: 7% pre-pandemic: 5%, p = 0.01) and were less likely to be admitted for pneumonia (pandemic: 3% pre-pandemic: 6%, p = 0.004). Residents admitted during the pandemic were more likely to be prescribed antipsychotics (pandemic: 37%, pre-pandemic: 29%, p <0.001) and more likely to die in-hospital (pandemic:14% pre-pandemic: 10%, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Better integration between long-term care and hospitals systems, including programs to deliver urgent medical care services within long-term care homes, is needed to ensure that long-term care residents maintain equitable access to acute care during current and future public health emergencies.

35. Let's see what happens:"-Women's experiences of open-label placebo treatment for menopausal hot flushes in a randomized controlled trial.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 4

Pan Y, Frank ML, Kaptchuk TJ

36. Practical considerations to establish a validated platform for pooled detection of SARS-CoV-2 by droplet digital PCR.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 4

Heckel S, Pacini A, Paredes F

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 has created an enormous workload for laboratories worldwide resulting in a restriction at the time of massive testing. Pool testing is a strategy that reduces time and costs. However, beyond the detection of infectious diseases in blood banks, this approach is rarely implemented in routine laboratories. Therefore, what was learned from the SARS-CoV-2 pool testing should represent an opportunity to increase diagnostic capabilities. The present work, carried out in the context of a diagnostic laboratory of a public hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, represents a contribution to this end. The main limitation of pool testing is the risk of false negatives that could have been identified by individual tests. These limitations are the dilution of samples with a low virus load during pooling and that the integrity of the sample may be affected by the quality of the sample collection. Fortunately, both limitations coincide with the main strengths of droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). ddPCR is a third-generation PCR that splits the amplification into thousands of droplets that work in parallel, increasing sensitivity and resistance to inhibitors. Therefore, ddPCR is particularly useful for pool testing. Here we show how to factor between test sensitivity and savings in test time and resources. We have identified and optimized critical parameters for pool testing. The present study, which analyzed 1000 nasopharyngeal samples, showed that the pool testing could detect even a single positive sample with a CT value of up to 30 in pools of 34 samples. This test was performed using three different standard extraction methods, the simplest being heating only, which resulted in substantial savings of extraction reagents in addition to PCR reagents. Moreover, we show that pooling can be extended to use saliva, which is less invasive and allows self-collection, reducing the risk for health personnel.

37. Progression of microstructural deterioration in load-bearing immobilization osteopenia.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 4

Koseki H, Osaki M, Honda Y

38. Impact of body and orofacial appearance on life satisfaction among Brazilian adults.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 4

Campos LA, Campos JADB, Silva WRD

AIMS: 1. to elaborate a general model of physical appearance taking into account body image (BI) and orofacial appearance (OA) components; and 2. to evaluate the impact of BI and OA on life satisfaction among Brazilian adults. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional observational study. The cognitive, behavioral, affective, and satisfaction/dissatisfaction aspects of BI, the satisfaction and psychosocial impact of OA, and life satisfaction were evaluated by self-reported psychometric scales. Principal Component Analysis and Parallel Analysis were performed. Structural equation models were elaborated to estimate the impact of BI and OA on life satisfaction. The fit of the models was verified and the significance of the path estimates (β) was evaluated using z-tests (α = 5%). RESULTS: A total of 1,940 individuals participated in the study (age: mean = 24.8, standard deviation = 5.7 years; females = 70.1%). In the male sample, three physical appearance factors were retained (OA, cognitive and behavioral components of BI, and affective and satisfaction/dissatisfaction components of BI). In the female sample, two factors were retained (OA and all components of BI). All factors had significant impact on life satisfaction (β = |0.26|-|0.48|, p<0.001) in both samples. Individuals dissatisfied with BI and OA had lower levels of life satisfaction. For men, the affective and satisfaction components of BI had a greater impact on life satisfaction (β = 0.48, p<0.001) than the other factors (β =] -0.30;-0.25[, p<0.001). For women, both BI and OA had a similar impact (BI: β = -0.30, p<0.001; OA: β = -0.32, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: BI and OA formed distinct clusters in the physical appearance evaluation. Physical appearance was perceived differently by men and women, fostering discussion about the sociocultural construction of the body. BI and OA had a significant impact on life satisfaction and should be considered in assessment and treatment protocols.

39. An instrument for measuring job satisfaction (VIJS): A validation study for community pharmacists in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 4

Nguyen TTP, Truong GTH, Nguyen HTT

BACKGROUND: Job satisfaction is one of the main factors creating and bringing about work motivation, productivity, and efficiency as well as decreasing job-hopping and job turnover. No previous studies have been conducted to assess job satisfaction for community pharmacists in Vietnam. OBJECTIVE: This research was conducted to develop and validate an instrument used to measure community pharmacists' job satisfaction in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 351 pharmacists participated in this survey. Data were analyzed using R software version 4.2.0. The final instrument (VIJS) has 34 items divided into six factors which were determined via a parallel analysis (including physical working conditions, work nature, income and other benefits, management policies and managers, relationships with coworkers and customers, and learning and advancement opportunities). VIJS's internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.97, Omega total = 0.98, split-half reliability = 0.985, and composite reliability>0.8). Two-week test-retest reliability results (intraclass correlation coefficient for the overall instrument: 0.97, for six factors: 0.865-0.938) demonstrated the consistency of the VIJS when the same test was repeated on the same sample (62 pharmacists) at different points in time. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis was employed to assess the construct validity. The VIJS was a good fit to a six-factor model (Chisq/df = 2.352, Comparative Fit Index = 0.937, Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.929, Standardized Root Mean Square Residual = 0.042, and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.062). VIJS's good convergent and discriminant validity was demonstrated via Average Variance Extrated>0.5 and the Heterotrait-Monotrait ratio of correlations<0.85. CONCLUSIONS: The VIJS possesses good reliability and validity and can be used to measure community pharmacists' job satisfaction.

40. Influence of chitosan and chitosan oligosaccharide on dual antibiotic-loaded bone cement: In vitro evaluations.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 30

Tantavisut S, Leanpolchareanchai J, Wongrakpanich A.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of incorporating chitosan (Ch) and chitosan oligosaccharides (ChO) into the commercially premixed antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ALBC). We compare antibiotic release profiles, antibacterial activity, and mechanical properties among different ALBC formulations. The hypothesis was that increasing the amount of Ch and ChO in the cement mixture would increase the antibiotics released and bacterial control. ALBC mixed with Ch or ChO may create a greater effect due to its superior dissolving property. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The bone cement samples used in this project were made from Copal® G+V composed of vancomycin and gentamicin. To prepare the Ch and the ChO mixed bone cement samples, different amounts of Ch and ChO were added to the polymethylmethacrylate matrix with three concentrations (1%, 5%, and 10%). Drug elution assay, antimicrobial assay, in vitro cytotoxicity, and mechanical properties were conducted. RESULTS: Bone cement samples made from Copal® G+V alone or combined with Ch or ChO can release vancomycin and gentamicin into the phosphate-buffered saline. Mixing ChO into the bone cements can increase the amount of drug released more than Ch. ChO 10% gave the highest amount of antibiotics released. All samples showed good antibacterial properties with good biocompatibility in vitro. The microhardness values of the Ch and ChO groups increased significantly compared to the control group. In all groups tested, the microhardness of bone cements was reduced after the drug eluted out. However, this reduction of the Ch and ChO groups was in line with the control. INTERPRETATION: Various attempts have been made to improve the ALBC efficacy. In our study, the best bone cement formulation was bone cement mixed with ChO (10%), which had the highest drug release profiles, was biocompatible, and contained antibacterial properties with acceptable mechanical properties. This phenomenon could result from the superior water solubility of the ChO. When ChO leaves the bone cement specimens, it generates pores that could act as a path that exposes the bone cement matrix to the surrounding medium, increasing antibiotic elution. From all above, ChO is a promising substance that could be added to ALBC in order to increase the drug elution rate. However, more in vitro and in vivo experiments are needed before being used in the clinic.

41. County-wide assessments of Illinois white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) prion protein gene variation using improved primers and potential implications for management.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 30

Raudabaugh DB, Ishida Y, Haley NJ

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal, highly infectious prion disease that affects captive and wild cervids. Chronic wasting disease is the only known transmissible spongiform encephalopathy affecting free-ranging wildlife. In CWD-positive deer, some haplotypes of the prion protein gene PRNP are detected at lower frequencies as compared to CWD-negative deer, as are some variants of the prion protein PrP. Here, we examined wild, hunter-harvested CWD-negative white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to determine whether there were geographical or temporal differences in the PRNP haplotypes, PRNP diplotypes, PrP proteoforms, and in the proportion of deer with at least one protective haplotype. We sampled 96-100 hunter-harvested deer per county at two time points in the Illinois counties of Jo Daviess, LaSalle, and Winnebago, chosen based on their geographic locations and known occurrence of CWD. The entire coding region of PRNP was sequenced, with haplotypes, diplotypes, and PrP proteoforms inferred. Across time, in Winnebago there was a significant increase in PrP proteoform F (p = 0.034), which is associated with a lower vulnerability to CWD. In every county, there was an increase over time in the frequency of deer carrying at least one protective haplotype to CWD, with a significant increase (p = 0.02) in the Jo Daviess County CWD infected region. We also found that primer combination was important as there was an 18.7% difference in the number of the deer identified as homozygous depending on primer usage. Current Illinois state management practices continue to remove CWD infected deer from locally infected areas helping to keep CWD prevalence low. Nonetheless, continued research on spatial and temporal changes in PRNP haplotypes, PrP proteoforms, and levels of deer vulnerability among Illinois deer will be important for the management of CWD within the state of Illinois and beyond.

42. Inflammatory responses in SARS-CoV-2 associated Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome and Kawasaki Disease in children: An observational study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 30

Biesbroek G, Kapitein B, Kuipers IM

43. Ultrasound classification of non-mass breast lesions following BI-RADS presents high positive predictive value.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 30

Lin M, Wu S.

44. A protocol to identify the barriers and facilitators for people with severe mental illness and/or learning disabilities for PErson Centred Cancer Screening Services (PECCS).

PLoS One

2022 Nov 30

Sykes K, Tuschick E, Giles EL

OBJECTIVES: To identify the barriers and facilitators that people with severe mental illness and people with learning disabilities may encounter when accessing cancer screening and make recommendations for implementing reasonable adjustments throughout cancer screening services. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: An 18-month sequential, mixed-methods study comprising of two phases of work and underpinned by Normalisation Process Theory, recruiting from across the North-East and North Cumbria. The first phase aims to identify the barriers and facilitators for people with severe mental illness in accessing cervical, breast and colorectal cancer screening. A systematic review of eight databases (Part 1a; PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022331781) alongside semi-structured interviews of up to 36 people with severe mental illness (Part 1b) will occur. Additional characteristics indicating populations whose perspectives may not have been accounted for in the systematic review will be targeted in the interviews. Potential participants will be identified from a range of settings across the North-East and North Cumbria, including through social media and gatekeepers within National Health Service Trusts and charities. Interviews will be analysed using framework analysis, which will be in line with the Normalisation Process Theory. The second phase of the project (part 2a) involves triangulating the results of the systematic review and interviews with existing research previously completed with people with learning disabilities accessing cancer screening. This will be to identify population specific barriers and facilitators across people with learning disabilities and people with severe mental illness to access cancer screening services. Following triangulation, part 2b will include designing and planning a future study involving stakeholders in cancer screening to explore the feasibility, practicality, and priority for implementing the recommendations to improve person centred cancer screening services (PECCS). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has received Teesside University ethical approval, Health Research Authority approval (IRAS: 310622) and favourable opinion (REF: 22/PR/0793). Findings will be disseminated through a range of academic and non-academic modes including infographics, blog posts and academic publications.

45. Changes in coverage among non-elderly adults with chronic diseases following Affordable Care Act implementation.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 30

Goodson JD, Shahbazi S, Song Z.

IMPORTANCE: Changes in insurance coverage after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) among non-elderly adults with self-reported chronic conditions across income categories have not been described. OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in insurance coverage after the ACA among non-elderly adults with chronic conditions across income categories, by geographic region. DESIGN: We compared self-reported access to health insurance pre-ACA (2010-2013) and post-ACA (2014-2017) for individuals 18-64 years of age with ≥ 2 chronic conditions, including hypertension, heart disease/stroke, emphysema, diabetes, asthma, cancer, and arthritis, across regions using a logistic regression approach, adjusted for covariates. We also assessed U.S. Census regional differences in insurance coverage post-ACA using modified Poisson regression models with robust variance and calculated the risk ratio (RR) of being uninsured by region, with the Northeast as the reference category. Within each region, we then examined changes in insurance coverage by income level among non-elderly individuals with any chronic condition. SETTING: 2010-2017 household component of the nationally representative Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). PARTICIPANTS: All members of surveyed households during five interviews over a two-year period. INTERVENTION: Start of insurance coverage expansion under the ACA. MAIN OUTCOMES: Health insurance status. RESULTS: On average nationwide, non-elderly adults with self-reported chronic conditions experienced increased insurance coverage associated with the ACA (diabetes: +6.41%, high-blood pressure: +6.09%, heart disease: +6.50%, asthma: +6.37%, arthritis: +6.77%, and ≥ 2 chronic conditions: +6.39%). Individuals in the West region reported the largest increases (diabetes +9.71%, high blood pressure +8.10%, and heart disease/stroke +8.83 %, asthma +9.10%, arthritis +8.39%, and ≥ 2 chronic conditions +8.58). In contrast, individuals in the South region reported smaller increases in insurance coverage post-ACA among those with diabetes, heart disease/stroke, and asthma compared to the Midwest and West. The Northeast region, which had the highest levels of insurance coverage pre-ACA, exhibited the smallest increase in reported coverage post-ACA. Reported insurance coverage improved across all regions for adults with any chronic condition across income levels, most notably for very low- and low-income individuals. A further cross-sectional comparison after the ACA demonstrated important residual differences in insurance coverage, despite the gains in all regions. When compared to the Northeast, adults with any self-reported chronic conditions living in the South were more likely to report no insurance coverage (diabetes: RR 1.99, p-value <0.001, high blood pressure: RR 2.02, p-value <0.001, heart diseases/stroke: RR 2.55, p-value <0.001, asthma RR 2.21, p-value <0.001, arthritis: RR 2.25, p-value <0.001), and ≥ 2 chronic condition (RR 2.29, p-value <0.001). CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: The ACA was associated with meaningful increases in insurance coverage for adults with any self-reported chronic condition in all US regions, most notably in the West region and among those with lower incomes, suggesting a nation-wide trend to improved access to health insurance following implementation. However, intra-regional comparisons after ACA implementation showed important differences. Individuals with ≥2 chronic conditions in the South were 2.29 times less likely to have insurance coverage in comparison to their peers in the Northeast. Though the post-ACA improvements in reported access to health insurance coverage affected all US regions, the reported experience of those with multiple chronic conditions in the South point to continued barriers for those most likely to benefit from access to health insurance coverage. Medicaid expansion in the South would likely result in increased insurance coverage for individuals with chronic conditions and improve health care outcomes.

46. Hydrogel treatment for idiopathic osteoarthritis in a Dunkin Hartley Guinea pig model.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 30

Parola LR, Pinette MP, Proffen BL

47. Overprescribing among older people near end of life in Ireland: Evidence of prevalence and determinants from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA).

PLoS One

2022 Nov 30

Matthews S, Moriarty F, Ward M

International evidence shows that people approaching end of life (EOL) have high prevalence of polypharmacy, including overprescribing. Overprescribing may have adverse side effects for mental and physical health and represents wasteful spending. Little is known about prescribing near EOL in Ireland. We aimed to describe the prevalence of two undesirable outcomes, and to identify factors associated with these outcomes: potentially questionable prescribing, and potentially inadequate prescribing, in the last year of life (LYOL). We used The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, a biennial nationally representative dataset on people aged 50+ in Ireland. We analysed a sub-sample of participants with high mortality risk and categorised their self-reported medication use as potentially questionable or potentially inadequate based on previous research. We identified mortality through the national death registry (died in <365 days versus not). We used descriptive statistics to quantify prevalence of our outcomes, and we used multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with these outcomes. Of 525 observations, 401 (76%) had potentially inadequate and 294 (56%) potentially questionable medications. Of the 401 participants with potentially inadequate medications, 42 were in their LYOL. OF the 294 participants with potentially questionable medications, 26 were in their LYOL. One factor was significantly associated with potentially inadequate medications in LYOL: male (odds ratio (OR) 4.40, p = .004) Three factors were associated with potentially questionable medications in LYOL: male (OR 3.37, p = .002); three or more activities of daily living (ADLs) (OR 3.97, p = .003); and outpatient hospital visits (OR 1.03, p = .02). Thousands of older people die annually in Ireland with potentially inappropriate or questionable prescribing patterns. Gender differences for these outcomes are very large. Further work is needed to identify and reduce overprescribing near EOL in Ireland, particularly among men.

48. Black Queen Hypothesis, partial privatization, and quorum sensing evolution.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 30

Souza LS, Irie Y, Eda S.

49. Can a supranational medicines agency restore trust after vaccine suspensions? The case of Vaxzevria.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 30

Albanese A, Fallucchi F, Verheyden B.

50. Academic resilience from school entry to third grade: Child, parenting, and school factors associated with closing competency gaps.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 30

Williams KE, Berthelsen D, Laurens KR.

51. Effects of smoking cessation using varenicline on the serum concentrations of oxidized high-density lipoprotein: Comparison with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 30

Umeda A, Miyagawa K, Mochida A

52. Figure skating: Increasing numbers of revolutions in jumps at the European and World Championships.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 30

Rauer T, Pape HC, Knobe M

53. STIMULATE-ICP-Delphi (Symptoms, Trajectory, Inequalities and Management: Understanding Long-COVID to Address and Transform Existing Integrated Care Pathways Delphi): Study protocol.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 30

van der Feltz-Cornelis CM, Sweetman J, Allsopp G

INTRODUCTION: As mortality rates from COVID-19 disease fall, the high prevalence of long-term sequelae (Long COVID) is becoming increasingly widespread, challenging healthcare systems globally. Traditional pathways of care for Long Term Conditions (LTCs) have tended to be managed by disease-specific specialties, an approach that has been ineffective in delivering care for patients with multi-morbidity. The multi-system nature of Long COVID and its impact on physical and psychological health demands a more effective model of holistic, integrated care. The evolution of integrated care systems (ICSs) in the UK presents an important opportunity to explore areas of mutual benefit to LTC, multi-morbidity and Long COVID care. There may be benefits in comparing and contrasting ICPs for Long COVID with ICPs for other LTCs. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study aims to evaluate health services requirements for ICPs for Long COVID and their applicability to other LTCs including multi-morbidity and the overlap with medically not yet explained symptoms (MNYES). The study will follow a Delphi design and involve an expert panel of stakeholders including people with lived experience, as well as clinicians with expertise in Long COVID and other LTCs. Study processes will include expert panel and moderator panel meetings, surveys, and interviews. The Delphi process is part of the overall STIMULATE-ICP programme, aimed at improving integrated care for people with Long COVID. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval for this Delphi study has been obtained (Research Governance Board of the University of York) as have approvals for the other STIMULATE-ICP studies. Study outcomes are likely to inform policy for ICPs across LTCs. Results will be disseminated through scientific publication, conference presentation and communications with patients and stakeholders involved in care of other LTCs and Long COVID. REGISTRATION: Researchregistry: https://www.researchregistry.com/browse-the-registry#home/registrationdetails/6246bfeeeaaed6001f08dadc/.

54. Developing a classification system to assign activity states to two species of freshwater turtles.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 30

Auge AC, Blouin-Demers G, Murray DL.

55. Coral restoration and adaptation in Australia: The first five years.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 30

McLeod IM, Hein MY, Babcock R

While coral reefs in Australia have historically been a showcase of conventional management informed by research, recent declines in coral cover have triggered efforts to innovate and integrate intervention and restoration actions into management frameworks. Here we outline the multi-faceted intervention approaches that have developed in Australia since 2017, from newly implemented in-water programs, research to enhance coral resilience and investigations into socio-economic perspectives on restoration goals. We describe in-water projects using coral gardening, substrate stabilisation, coral repositioning, macro-algae removal, and larval-based restoration techniques. Three areas of research focus are also presented to illustrate the breadth of Australian research on coral restoration, (1) the transdisciplinary Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP), one of the world's largest research and development programs focused on coral reefs, (2) interventions to enhance coral performance under climate change, and (3) research into socio-cultural perspectives. Together, these projects and the recent research focus reflect an increasing urgency for action to confront the coral reef crisis, develop new and additional tools to manage coral reefs, and the consequent increase in funding opportunities and management appetite for implementation. The rapid progress in trialling and deploying coral restoration in Australia builds on decades of overseas experience, and advances in research and development are showing positive signs that coral restoration can be a valuable tool to improve resilience at local scales (i.e., high early survival rates across a variety of methods and coral species, strong community engagement with local stakeholders). RRAP is focused on creating interventions to help coral reefs at multiple scales, from micro scales (i.e., interventions targeting small areas within a specific reef site) to large scales (i.e., interventions targeting core ecosystem function and social-economic values at multiple select sites across the Great Barrier Reef) to resist, adapt to and recover from the impacts of climate change. None of these interventions aim to single-handedly restore the entirety of the Great Barrier Reef, nor do they negate the importance of urgent climate change mitigation action.

56. A single application of fertilizer can affect semi-natural grassland vegetation over half a century.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 30

Tsutsumi M, Hiradate S, Yokogawa M

57. UniCon: A unified star-operation to efficiently find connected components on a cluster of commodity hardware.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 30

Kim C, Han C, Park HM.

With a cluster of commodity hardware, how can we efficiently find all connected components of an enormous graph containing hundreds of billions of nodes and edges? The problem of finding connected components has been used in various applications such as pattern recognition, reachability indexing, graph compression, graph partitioning, and random walk. Several studies have been proposed to efficiently find connected components in various environments. Most existing single-machine and distributed-memory algorithms are limited in scalability as they have to load all data generated during the process into the main memory; they require expensive machines with vast memory capacities to handle large graphs. Several MapReduce algorithms try to handle large graphs by exploiting distributed storage but fail due to data explosion problems, which is a phenomenon that significantly increases the size of data as the computation proceeds. The latest MapReduce algorithms resolve the problem by proposing two distinguishing star-operations and executing them alternately, while the star-operations still cause massive network traffic as a star-operation is a distributed operation that connects each node to its smallest neighbor. In this paper, we unite the two star-operations into a single operation, namely UniStar, and propose UniCon, a new distributed algorithm for finding connected components in enormous graphs using UniStar. The partition-aware processing of UniStar effectively resolves the data explosion problems. We further optimize UniStar by filtering dispensable edges and exploiting a hybrid data structure. Experimental results with a cluster of 10 cheap machines each of which is equipped with Intel Xeon E3-1220 CPU (4-cores at 3.10GHz), 16GB RAM, and 2 SSDs of 1TB show that UniCon is up to 13 times faster than competitors on real-world graphs. UniCon succeeds in processing a tremendous graph with 129 billion edges, which is up to 4096 times larger than graphs competitors can process.

58. Moderating role of observing the five precepts of Buddhism on neuroticism, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 30

Wongpakaran N, Pooriwarangkakul P, Suwannachot N

59. Exploring the lived experience of renal cachexia for individuals with end-stage renal disease and the interrelated experience of their carers: Study protocol.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Blair C, Shields J, Mullan R

Renal cachexia is an important consideration in the person-centred care that is needed in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, given that clinical guidelines relating to renal cachexia are largely absent, this is an unmet care need. To inform guidelines and future renal service planning, there is an urgency to understand individuals' experiences of renal cachexia and the interrelated experiences of the carers in their lives. We report here the protocol for an interpretative phenomenological study which will explore this lived experience. A purposive sampling strategy will recruit individuals living with ESRD who have cachexia and their carers. A maximum of 30 participants (15 per group) dependent on saturation will be recruited across two nephrology directorates, within two healthcare trusts in the United Kingdom. Individuals with renal cachexia undergoing haemodialysis will be recruited via clinical gatekeepers and their carers will subsequently be invited to participate in the study. Participants will be offered the opportunity to have a face-to-face, virtual or telephone interview. Interviews will be audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. NVivo, will be used for data management. Ethical approval for this study was granted by the Office for Research Ethics Committees Northern Ireland (REC Reference: 22/NI/0107). Scientific evidence tends to focus on measurable psychological, social and quality of life outcomes but there is limited research providing in-depth meaning and understanding of the views of individuals with renal disease who are experiencing renal cachexia. This information is urgently needed to better prepare healthcare providers and in turn support individuals with ESRD and their carers. This study will help healthcare providers understand what challenges individuals with ESRD, and their carers face in relation to cachexia and aims to inform future clinical practice guidelines and develop supportive interventions which recognise and respond to the needs of this population.

60. Agreement and relationship between measures of absolute and relative intensity during walking: A systematic review with meta-regression.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Warner A, Vanicek N, Benson A

INTRODUCTION: A metabolic equivalent (MET) is one of the most common methods used to objectively quantify physical activity intensity. Although the MET provides an 'objective' measure, it does not account for inter-individual differences in cardiorespiratory fitness. In contrast, 'relative' measures of physical activity intensity, such as heart rate reserve (HRR), do account for cardiorespiratory fitness. The purpose of this systematic review with meta-regression was to compare measures of absolute and relative physical activity intensity collected during walking. METHODS: A systematic search of four databases (SPORTDiscus, Medline, Academic Search Premier and CINAHL) was completed. Keyword searches were: (i) step* OR walk* OR strid* OR "physical activity"; (ii) absolute OR "absolute intensity" OR mets OR metabolic equivalent OR actigraph* OR acceleromet*; (iii) relative OR "relative intensity" OR "heart rate" OR "heart rate reserve" OR "VO2 reserve" OR VO2* OR "VO2 uptake" OR HRmax* OR metmax. Categories (i) to (iii) were combined using 'AND;' with studies related to running excluded. A Bayesian regression was conducted to quantify the relationship between METs and %HRR, with Bayesian logistic regression conducted to examine the classification agreement between methods. A modified Downs and Black scale incorporating 13 questions relative to cross-sectional study design was used to assess quality and risk of bias in all included studies. RESULTS: A total of 15 papers were included in the systematic review. A comparison of means between absolute (METs) and relative (%HRR, %HRmax, %VO2R, %VO2max, HRindex) values in 8 studies identified agreement in how intensity was classified (light, moderate or vigorous) in 60% of the trials. We received raw data from three authors, incorporating 3 studies and 290 participants. A Bayesian random intercept logistic regression was conducted to examine the agreement between relative and absolute intensity, showing agreement in 43% of all trials. Two studies had identical relative variables (%HRR) totalling 240 participants included in the Bayesian random intercept regression. The best performing model was a log-log regression, which showed that for every 1% increase in METs, %HRR increased by 1.12% (95% CI: 1.10-1.14). Specifically, the model predicts at the lower bound of absolute moderate intensity (3 METs), %HRR was estimated to be 33% (95%CI: 18-57) and at vigorous intensity (6 METs) %HRR was estimated to be 71% (38-100). CONCLUSION: This study highlights the discrepancies between absolute and relative measures of physical activity intensity during walking with large disagreement observed between methods and large variation in %HRR at a given MET. Consequently, health professionals should be aware of this lack of agreement between absolute and relative measures. Moreover, if we are to move towards a more individualised approach to exercise prescription and monitoring as advocated, relative intensity could be more highly prioritised.

61. Household composition and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A population-based study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

McDonald AJ, Hamilton HA, Elton-Marshall T

62. Prediction of the development of delirium after transcatheter aortic valve implantation using preoperative brain perfusion SPECT.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Takeuchi M, Suzuki H, Matsumoto Y

63. Tweeting about alcohol: Exploring differences in Twitter sentiment during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Stone JA, Ryerson NC.

64. Autonomic nervous system responses of dogs to human-dog interaction videos.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Matsushita S, Nagasawa M, Kikusui T.

65. Whole genome resequencing and comparative genome analysis of three Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici pathotypes prevalent in India.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Yadav IS, Bhardwaj SC, Kaur J

66. Dietary parameters in patients with drug allergy: Assessing dietary inflammatory index.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Dias de Castro E, Paredes S, Pinhão S

BACKGROUND: Research on the increasing incidence of allergic diseases evidenced the role of diet as a potential key factor. Diet can modulate the low-grade systemic inflammation related to obesity and several diseases. There are no published data on drug allergy. AIM: To investigate a potential association between diet, including dietary inflammatory index (DII), and drug allergy. Also, to evaluate correlations between diet and obesity, inflammatory and metabolic parameters in patients with drug allergy. METHODS: Ninety consecutive patients studied for suspected drug allergy were evaluated in terms of dietary parameters, anthropometric measurements, bioimpedance and biochemical analysis. DII was calculated based on information collected from a food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: After diagnostic work-up, 39 patients had confirmed drug allergy and 45 excluded, representing the study group and the control group, respectively. The majority (79%) were female, with mean age of 39.58±13.3 years. The 84 subjects revealed an anti-inflammatory diet pattern. No significative difference was found in DII scores between drug allergic patients and controls (-3.37±0.95 vs -3.39±0.86, p = 0.985). However, the patients with drug allergy revealed higher obesity and inflammatory parameters. A significative negative correlation was found between DII and adiponectin levels, in the control group (r = -0.311, p = 0.040). In the patient group, a significative positive correlation was observed between DII and triglycerides (r = 0.359, p = 0.032). No other correlations were found between DII and the assessed parameters. Patients with drug allergy presented a significative higher intake of mono-unsaturated fatty-acids comparing to controls (19.8±3.7 vs 17.8 ± 4.0, p = 0.021). No other statistically significant differences were achieved in dietary parameters, between patients and controls. CONCLUSION: The population assessed in this study revealed an anti-inflammatory diet profile. Although we have found in a previous work that the same patients with drug allergy revealed higher obesity and inflammatory parameters, the DII did not allow to distinguish between patients with drug allergy or controls. The DII scores correlated with triglycerides levels in the drug allergy patients and inversely with adiponectin levels in the control group. Larger studies are needed to clarify the potential role of the diet in drug allergy and its outcomes.

67. Perceptions and experiences of psychological trauma in nursing and psychiatric nursing students: A small scale qualitative case study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Chachula KM, Varley E.

68. AGR2 expression as a predictive biomarker for therapy response in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Lin CH, Chuang HN, Hsiao TH

69. Salient syllabi: Examining design characteristics of science online courses in higher education.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Fischer C, McPartlan P, Orona GA

70. Over prescription of antibiotics in children with acute upper respiratory tract infections: A study on the knowledge, attitude and practices of non-specialized physicians in Egypt.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Amin MT, Abd El Aty MA, Ahmed SM

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is currently one of the global public health threats. Increased antibiotic consumption in humans, animals, and agriculture has contributed directly to the spread of AMR. Upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) are one of the most common conditions treated by antibiotics, even if unnecessary as in cases of viral infections and self-limited conditions which represent the most cases of URIs. Investigating physicians' knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding antibiotic prescriptions in children with acute URIs may reflect the problem of antibiotic over prescription. This study aims to assess the problem in our community and provide information for further planning of appropriate interventions to optimize antibiotic prescriptions. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study for all non-specialized physicians dealing with acute upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) in pediatrics sittings in Assiut district, Egypt. We used a self-administered questionnaire to assess physicians' knowledge, attitudes, and practice. In addition, four clinical vignettes addressing different URI scenarios were included in the questionnaire to assess the patterns of antibiotic prescriptions in common cases. RESULTS: Our study included 153 physicians whose mean age was 32.2 ± 8.7, most of whom were pediatric residents in different health institutes in Assiut district. They had good knowledge as out of the 17 knowledge questions,the mean number of correct answers was 12.4 ± 2.9. Regarding their attitudes, mean attitude scores for inappropriate antibiotic prescribing were low. However, of those scores, the responsibility of others had the highest score (3.8 ± 0.61). Prescribing practice in special conditions of URIs showed that 80% of participants prescribed antibiotics if fever continued for more than five days and 61.4% if the child had a yellowish or greenish nasal discharge. Among 612 clinical vignettes, 326 contained antibiotic prescriptions (53.3%), and appropriate antibiotic prescriptions represented only 8.3% overall. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians dealing with acute URIs in outpatients' clinics in the Assiut district have good knowledge about antibiotic use and resistance and demonstrate a good attitude toward appropriate antibiotic use. Although the percentage of inappropriate prescriptions in clinical vignettes in high, more research is required to investigate the factors of antibiotic inappropriate prescribing practice and non-adherence to guidelines. Also, it is essential to set up a national antibiotic stewardship program to improve antibiotic prescribing and contain antimicrobial resistance problems.

71. Survival modelling and cost-effectiveness analysis of treatments for newly diagnosed metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Barbier MC, Tomonaga Y, Menges D

72. System resilience distribution identification and analysis based on performance processes after disruptions.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Song Y, Li R.

73. Hospitalization among vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection after dose sparing strategies in Libya: A cohort study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Abdelhamid MHM, Almsellati IA, Annajar BB

SARS-CoV-2 infection is widely spread over people, from youth to the elderly. Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is an essential preventive measure to help end the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. A multi-center retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients in Libya who had received single-dose licensed three different types of vaccines (Oxford/AstraZeneca, CoronaVac, or Sputnik-V) and were admitted to healthcare centers with SARS-CoV-2 infection from 30th April to 15th July 2021. In this study, the number of people infected with SARS-COV-2 and the mortality rate from daily reports issued by the National Centers for Disease Control of Libya (NCDC) were collected. Approximately 445000 single doses of the SARS-COV-2 vaccine were administered in Libya from April to July 2021. In corresponding, 39996 people were infected during this period. It has been found that among the people who did not receive any vaccine, the number of patients infected by SARS-COV-2 and admitted to the healthcare centers, and died was (N = 3176 patients (7.94%), and 266 (7.10%) respectively). Compared to 43 (0.10%) of those admitted to healthcare centers who had taken a single dose from one of the licensed vaccines, of which 8 patients (0.02%) died during this period. The documented 23 patients were those who admitted to healthcare centers and got vaccinated with the CoronaVac (Sinovac) vaccine. Fourteen patients received Oxford/AstraZeneca. Only 2 patients received the Sputnik V vaccine. Of the breakthrough infection cases reviewed, 8 patients died. No deaths due to breakthrough infection among Sputnik V vaccinated patients were reported. In conclusion, a single dose of the three different types of the vaccine has significantly reduced virus interpersonal transmission and also showed a decrease in the mortality rate until the tenth week in Libya. The present study demonstrates the extent of the remarkable success of the early rollout of the coronavirus national vaccination campaign.

74. The impacts of preoperative frailty on readmission after cardiac implantable electrical device implantation.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Takeda T, Tsubaki A, Ikeda Y

75. Flexico: An efficient dual-mode consensus protocol for blockchain networks.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Ren S, Lee C, Kim E

76. Predicting the aggravation of coronavirus disease-19 pneumonia using chest computed tomography scans.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Yamasaki Y, Ooka S, Matsuoka S

Presently, coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is spreading worldwide without an effective treatment method. For COVID-19, which is often asymptomatic, it is essential to adopt a method that does not cause aggravation, as well as a method to prevent infection. Whether aggravation can be predicted by analyzing the extent of lung damage on chest computed tomography (CT) scans was examined. The extent of lung damage on pre-intubation chest CT scans of 277 patients with COVID-19 was assessed. It was observed that aggravation occurred when the CT scan showed extensive damage associated with ground-glass opacification and/or consolidation (p < 0.0001). The extent of lung damage was similar across the upper, middle, and lower fields. Furthermore, upon comparing the extent of lung damage based on the number of days after onset, a significant difference was found between the severe pneumonia group (SPG) with intubation or those who died and non-severe pneumonia group (NSPG) ≥3 days after onset, with aggravation observed when ≥14.5% of the lungs exhibited damage at 3-5 days (sensitivity: 88.2%, specificity: 72.4%) and when ≥20.1% of the lungs exhibited damage at 6-8 days (sensitivity: 88.2%, specificity: 69.4%). Patients with aggravation suddenly developed hypoxemia after 7 days from the onset; however, chest CT scans obtained in the paucisymptomatic phase without hypoxemia indicated that subsequent aggravation could be predicted based on the degree of lung damage. Furthermore, in subjects aged ≥65 years, a significant difference between the SPG and NSPG was observed in the extent of lung damage early beginning from 3 days after onset, and it was found that the degree of lung damage could serve as a predictor of aggravation. Therefore, to predict and improve prognosis through rapid and appropriate management, evaluating patients with factors indicating poor prognosis using chest CT is essential.

77. Preparation, characterization, and evaluation (in-vitro, ex-vivo, and in-vivo) of naturosomal nanocarriers for enhanced delivery and therapeutic efficacy of hesperetin.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Gurav S, Usapkar P, Gurav N

78. Effects of social isolation on quality of life in elderly adults.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Newman-Norlund RD, Newman-Norlund SE, Sayers S

79. Risk factors and outcome due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli in community-onset bloodstream infections: A ten-year cohort study in Sweden.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Holmbom M, Möller V, Kristinsdottir L

80. Contextual factors and spatial trends of childhood malnutrition in Zambia.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Phiri M, Mulemena D, Kalinda C

81. Unexplained mechanism of subdural hematoma with convulsion suggests nonaccidental head trauma: A multicenter, retrospective study by the Japanese Head injury of Infants and Toddlers study (J-HITs) group.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Narisawa A, Nonaka M, Akutsu N

82. ggmotif: An R Package for the extraction and visualization of motifs from MEME software.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Li X, Ma L, Mei X

83. Methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus isolates from skin and nares of Brazilian children with atopic dermatitis demonstrate high level of clonal diversity.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Guimarães LC, Assunção MIMM, de Oliveira TLR

84. Leonurine inhibits cardiomyocyte pyroptosis to attenuate cardiac fibrosis via the TGF-β/Smad2 signalling pathway.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Li Z, Chen K, Zhu YZ.

85. A multi-pulse ultrasound technique for imaging of thick-shelled microbubbles demonstrated in vitro and in vivo.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Berg S, Eggen S, Caidahl K

86. The COVID HOME study research protocol: Prospective cohort study of non-hospitalised COVID-19 patients.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Tami A, van der Gun BTF, Wold KI

87. Uncovering the characteristics of the gut microbiota in patients with acute ischemic stroke and phlegm-heat syndrome.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Li T, Sun Q, Feng L

Growing evidence has indicated that the characteristics of gut microbiota are associated with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Phlegm-heat syndrome (PHS), a specific pathological state of the AIS, is one of the common traditional Chinese syndromes of stroke. The long duration of PHS in patients with AIS could lead to poor clinical outcomes. Gut microbiota characteristics in patients with both AIS and PHS, and their relationship remains unknown. This study was designed to investigate the alterations in gut microbiota in patients with AIS and PHS through a cross-sectional study. Fecal samples were collected from 10 patients with AIS and non-PHS (ntAIS), 7 patients with AIS and PHS (tAIS), and 10 healthy controls (HC). Samples were profiled via Illumina sequencing of the 16S rRNA V3-V4. Stroke severity was assessed at admission by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin scale (mRS); their correlation with gut microbiota was investigated. The alpha-diversity of the bacterial communities was significantly higher in the fecal samples of patients with tAIS than in patients with ntAIS (Shannon index, P = 0.037). In addition, the combined tAIS and ntAIS group (tntAIS) exhibited higher microbiotic diversity when compared with HC (chao1, P = 0.019). The structure of intestinal microbiota was effectively distinguished between the tAIS and ntAIS group (ANOSIM, r = 0.337, P = 0.007). Additionally, the gut microbiota structure was significantly different between the tntAIS and HC groups (ANOSIM, r = 0.217, P = 0.005). The genera, Ruminococcaceae_ UCG_002 and Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, were implicated in the discrimination of PHS from non-PHS. The order Lactobacillales and family Lachnospiraceae were significantly negatively correlated with NIHSS and mRS at admission (P < 0.05). By contrast, the order Desulfovibrionales, families Christensenellaceae and Desulfovibrionaceae, and genera Ruminococcaceae UCG-014 and Ruminococcaceae UCG-002 were significantly positively correlated with NIHSS and mRS at admission (P < 0.05). This study is the first to profile the characteristics of gut microbiota in patients with AIS and PHS, compared with those with non-PHS. The genera, Ruminococcaceae_ UCG_002 and Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, may be objective indicators of this traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome in AIS. Furthermore, it provides a microbe-inspired biological basis for TCM syndrome differentiation.

88. Reporting quality in preclinical animal experimental research in 2009 and 2018: A nationwide systematic investigation.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Kousholt BS, Præstegaard KF, Stone JC

Lack of translation and irreproducibility challenge preclinical animal research. Insufficient reporting methodologies to safeguard study quality is part of the reason. This nationwide study investigates the reporting prevalence of these methodologies and scrutinizes the reported information's level of detail. Publications were from two time periods to convey any reporting progress and had at least one author affiliated to a Danish University. We retrieved all relevant animal experimental studies using a predefined research protocol and a systematic search. A random sampling of 250 studies from 2009 and 2018 led to 500 publications in total. Reporting of measures known to impact study results estimates were assessed. Part I discloses a simplified two-level scoring "yes/no" to identify the presence of reporting. Part II demonstrates an additional three-level scoring to analyze the reported information's level of detail. Overall reporting prevalence is low, although minor improvements are noted. Reporting of randomization increased from 24.0% in 2009 to 40.8% in 2018, blinded experiment conduct from 2.4% to 4.4%, blinded outcome assessment from 23.6% to 38.0%, and sample size calculation from 3.2% to 14.0%. Poor reporting of details is striking with reporting of the random allocation method to groups being only 1.2% in 2009 and 6.0% in 2018. Reporting of sample size calculation method was 2.4% in 2009 and 7.6% in 2018. Only conflict-of-interest statements reporting increased from 37.6% in 2009 to 90.4%. Measures safeguarding study quality are poorly reported in publications affiliated with Danish research institutions. Only a modest improvement was noted during the period 2009-2018, and the lack of details urgently prompts institutional strategies to accelerate this. We suggest thorough teaching in designing, conducting and reporting animal studies. Education in systematic review methodology should be implemented in this training and will increase motivation and behavior working towards quality improvements in science.

89. SPARE-Tau: A flortaucipir machine-learning derived early predictor of cognitive decline.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Toledo JB, Rashid T, Liu H

BACKGROUND: Recently, tau PET tracers have shown strong associations with clinical outcomes in individuals with cognitive impairment and cognitively unremarkable elderly individuals. flortaucipir PET scans to measure tau deposition in multiple brain areas as the disease progresses. This information needs to be summarized to evaluate disease severity and predict disease progression. We, therefore, sought to develop a machine learning-derived index, SPARE-Tau, which successfully detects pathology in the earliest disease stages and accurately predicts progression compared to a priori-based region of interest approaches (ROI). METHODS: 587 participants of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) cohort had flortaucipir scans, structural MRI scans, and an Aβ biomarker test (CSF or florbetapir PET) performed on the same visit. We derived the SPARE-Tau index in a subset of 367 participants. We evaluated associations with clinical measures for CSF p-tau, SPARE-MRI, and flortaucipir PET indices (SPARE-Tau, meta-temporal, and average Braak ROIs). Bootstrapped multivariate adaptive regression splines linear regression analyzed the association between the biomarkers and baseline ADAS-Cog13 scores. Bootstrapped multivariate linear regression models evaluated associations with clinical diagnosis. Cox-hazards and mixed-effects models investigated clinical progression and longitudinal ADAS-Cog13 changes. The Aβ positive cognitively unremarkable participants, not included in the SPARE-Tau training, served as an independent validation group. RESULTS: Compared to CSF p-tau, meta-temporal, and averaged Braak tau PET ROIs, SPARE-Tau showed the strongest association with baseline ADAS-cog13 scores and diagnosis. SPARE-Tau also presented the strongest association with clinical progression in cognitively unremarkable participants and longitudinal ADAS-Cog13 changes. Results were confirmed in the Aβ+ cognitively unremarkable hold-out sample participants. CSF p-tau showed the weakest cross-sectional associations and longitudinal prediction. DISCUSSION: Flortaucipir indices showed the strongest clinical association among the studied biomarkers (flortaucipir, florbetapir, structural MRI, and CSF p-tau) and were predictive in the preclinical disease stages. Among the flortaucipir indices, the machine-learning derived SPARE-Tau index was the most sensitive clinical progression biomarker. The combination of different biomarker modalities better predicted cognitive performance.

90. Factors that characterize oleotourists in the province of Córdoba.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 3

Cava Jimenez JA, Millán Vázquez de la Torre MG, Dancausa Millán MG.

91. In vivo chromatic and spatial tuning of foveolar retinal ganglion cells in Macaca fascicularis.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 29

Godat T, Cottaris NP, Patterson S

The primate fovea is specialized for high acuity chromatic vision, with the highest density of cone photoreceptors and a disproportionately large representation in visual cortex. The unique visual properties conferred by the fovea are conveyed to the brain by retinal ganglion cells, the somas of which lie at the margin of the foveal pit. Microelectrode recordings of these centermost retinal ganglion cells have been challenging due to the fragility of the fovea in the excised retina. Here we overcome this challenge by combining high resolution fluorescence adaptive optics ophthalmoscopy with calcium imaging to optically record functional responses of foveal retinal ganglion cells in the living eye. We use this approach to study the chromatic responses and spatial transfer functions of retinal ganglion cells using spatially uniform fields modulated in different directions in color space and monochromatic drifting gratings. We recorded from over 350 cells across three Macaca fascicularis primates over a time period of weeks to months. We find that the majority of the L vs. M cone opponent cells serving the most central foveolar cones have spatial transfer functions that peak at high spatial frequencies (20-40 c/deg), reflecting strong surround inhibition that sacrifices sensitivity at low spatial frequencies but preserves the transmission of fine detail in the retinal image. In addition, we fit to the drifting grating data a detailed model of how ganglion cell responses draw on the cone mosaic to derive receptive field properties of L vs. M cone opponent cells at the very center of the foveola. The fits are consistent with the hypothesis that foveal midget ganglion cells are specialized to preserve information at the resolution of the cone mosaic. By characterizing the functional properties of retinal ganglion cells in vivo through adaptive optics, we characterize the response characteristics of these cells in situ.

92. Estimation of export cutoff productivity of Chinese industrial enterprises.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 29

Duan L.

93. Interdisciplinary collaboration from diverse science teams can produce significant outcomes.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 29

Specht A, Crowston K.

94. High throughput bioluminescent assay to characterize and monitor the activity of SARS-CoV-2 methyltransferases.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 29

Hsiao K, Zegzouti H, Goueli S.

95. Genetic analysis and physiological relationships of drought response in fennel: Interaction with mating system.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 29

Hosseini E, Majidi MM, Saeidnia F

The consequences of water deficit and its interaction with pollination system (deliberate selfing compared with open-pollination) on physiological, agronomic and phytochemical traits are not understood in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.). A research was started by creating selfed (S1) and half-sib (HS) families on a fennel germplasm in 2018. Populations were studied in the field, applying a normal and a water deficit condition during two years (2019-2020). Considerable genotypic variation was observed within S1 and HS families for all of the evaluated traits, demonstrating that selection for these traits would be successful. Consequences of water deficit were manifested as declined most of the traits; and significantly increased essential oil content, harvest index, and proline content, in both populations. Mandatory selfing reduced the performance of genotypes for most of the traits confirming the existence of inbreeding depression (ID) with higher values for plant dry weight, seed yield, essential oil content, and number of umbelets per umbel. In S1 population, some of the studied traits had higher heritability estimates under normal condition and some of them showed higher heritability under water deficit. Positive relationship between GCA and STI in OP population indicated that it is possible to identify genotypes having high values of combining ability and drought tolerance. Results of the present study suggest that physiological traits cannot be used as an indicator to distinguish drought-tolerant genotypes in S1 progenies, whereas in OP progenies Chl a, Chl b, TChl, CAR, PRO, and RWC, which had significant correlations with drought tolerance, may be used for this purpose. Based on the results contrasting genotypes were identified, which can be used to develop mapping populations for genome studies of drought tolerance and physiological traits of this species in future studies.

96. Construction of ultra-high-density genetic linkage map of a sorghum-sudangrass hybrid using whole genome resequencing.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 29

Lu Q, Yu X, Wang H

97. Translation and psychometric evaluation of Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) among Chinese college students.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 29

Zhao H, Rafik-Galea S, Fitriana M

BACKGROUND: Smartphone addiction is very prevalent among college students, especially Chinese college students, and it can cause many psychological problems for college students. However, there is no valid research instrument to evaluate Chinese college students' smartphone addiction. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to translate the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) into Chinese and evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the Smartphone Addiction Scale- Chinese Short version (SAS-CSV) among Chinese college students. METHODS: The SAS-SV was translated into Chinese using the forward-backward method. The SAS-CSV was completed by 557 Chinese college students (sample 1: n = 279; sample 2: n = 278). 62 college students were randomly selected from the 557 Chinese college students to be meas- ured twice, with an interval of two weeks. The reliability of the SAS-CSV was evaluated by internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability, and the validity of the SAS-CSV was evaluated by content validity, structural validity, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. RESULTS: The SAS-CSV presented good content validity, high internal consistency (sample 1: α = 0.829; sample 2: α = 0.881), and good test-retest reliability (ICC: 0.975; 95% CI: 0.966-0.985). After one exploratory factor analysis, three components (tolerance, withdrawal, and negative effect) with eigenvalues greater than 1 were obtained, and the cumulative variance contribution was 50.995%. The results of confirmatory factor analysis indicated that all the fit indexes reached the standard of good model fit (χ2/df = 1.883, RMSEA = 0.056, NFI = 0.954, RFI = 0.935, IFI = 0.978, TLI = 0.969, CFI = 0.978). The SAS-CSV presented good convergent validity for the factor loading of all the items ranged from 0.626 to 0.892 (higher than 0.50), the three latent variables' AVE ranged from 0.524 to 0.637 (higher than 0.50), and the three latent variables' CR ranged from 0.813 to 0.838 (higher than 0.70). Moreover, the square roots of the AVE of component 1 (tolerance), component 2 (withdrawal) and component 3 (negative effect) were 0.724, 0.778, and 0.798, respectively, higher than they were with other correlation coefficients, indicating that the SAS-CSV had good discrimination validity. CONCLUSION: The SAS-CSV is a valid instrument for measuring smartphone addiction among Chinese college students.

98. Modifying (M)CoVaR and constructing tail risk networks through analytic higher-order moments: Evidence from the global forex markets.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 29

Hakim A, Salman ANM, Ashari Y

In a financial system, entities (e.g., companies or markets) face systemic risk that could lead to financial instability. To prevent this impact, we require quantitative systemic risk management we can carry out using conditional value-at-risk (CoVaR) and a network model. The former measures any targeted entity's tail risk conditional on another entity being financially distressed; the latter represents the financial system through a set of nodes and a set of edges. In this study, we modify CoVaR along with its multivariate extension (MCoVaR) considering the joint conditioning events of multiple entities. We accomplish this by first employing a multivariate Johnson's SU risk model to capture the asymmetry and leptokurticity of the entities' asset returns. We then adopt the Cornish-Fisher expansion to account for the analytic higher-order conditional moments in modifying (M)CoVaR. In addition, we attempt to construct a conditional tail risk network. We identify its edges using a corresponding Delta (M)CoVaR reflecting the systemic risk contribution and further compute the strength and clustering coefficient of its nodes. When applying the financial system to global foreign exchange (forex) markets before and during COVID-19, we revealed that the resulting expanded (M)CoVaR forecast exhibited a better conditional coverage performance than its unexpanded version. Its superior performance appeared to be more evident over the COVID-19 period. Furthermore, our network analysis shows that advanced and emerging forex markets generally play roles as net transmitters and net receivers of systemic risk, respectively. The former (respectively, the latter) also possessed a high tendency to cluster with their neighbors in the network during (respectively, before) COVID-19. Overall, the interconnectedness and clustering tendency of the examined global forex markets substantially increased as the pandemic progressed.

99. Acute coronary syndrome risk prediction based on gradient boosted tree feature selection and recursive feature elimination: A dataset-specific modeling study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 29

Lin H, Xue Y, Chen K

100. Factors affecting mortality of hospitalized facial trauma patients in Al-Ain City, United Arab Emirates.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 29

Al-Ali MA, Alao DO, Abu-Zidan FM.

101. Pairing medical students on the wards: A multi-site analysis of pairing effect on clerkship performance.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 29

Sharma KK, Chang Y, Miloslavsky EM.

102. Cas9-mediated endogenous plasmid loss in Borrelia burgdorferi.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Takacs CN, Nakajima Y, Haber JE

103. Association between use of ß2-adrenergic receptor agonists and incidence of Parkinson's disease: Retrospective cohort analysis.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Nadeem H, Zhou B, Goldman D

INTRODUCTION: Previous observational studies assessing β2-agonist/-antagonist use on PD risk have yielded conflicting results. We evaluated the relationship between β2-agonist use and the incidence of Parkinson's disease in patients with chronic lung disease. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis on a 20% random sample abstracted from a traditional (fee-for-service) Medicare program in the United States. Inclusion criteria were individuals over 65 years old diagnosed with asthma, COPD, and/or bronchiectasis who were enrolled in a prescription drug (standalone Part D) plan over 2007-2010 and alive through 2014. The main outcome measure was a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease over the period 2011-2014, in relation to the number of 30-day-equivalent drug claims over 2007-2010. Logistic regression analysis was performed on a sample including 236,201 Medicare beneficiaries. RESULTS: The sample was 68% female, 80% white, and on average 77 years old as of 2010. Compared to non-users, β2-agonist users were more likely to be younger (76.3y versus 78.0y), smokers (40.4% versus 31.1%) and asthmatic (62.4% versus 28.3%). The odds ratio for a β2-agonist claim on PD development was 0.986 (95% CI 0.977-0.995) after adjusting for demographics, smoking history, respiratory exacerbations, comorbidities, and other drug use. Risk reductions were larger for males than females (0.974 versus 0.994, P = 0.032), and for individuals with COPD compared to those with asthma (0.968 versus 0.998, P = 0.049). Reverse causality was addressed with a Cox analysis that allowed β2-agonist use to vary from medication initiation to disease onset. By the end of the follow-up period, β2-agonist use was shown to be associated with a true protective effect against PD onset. DISCUSSION: β2-agonist use is associated with decreased risk of PD incidence. Further investigation, possibly including clinical trials, is warranted to strengthen the evidence base supporting clinical decision-makers looking to repurpose pharmaceuticals to prevent neurodegenerative disease onset.

104. Impact on outcomes of measuring lactates prior to ICU in unselected heterogeneous critically ill patients: A propensity score analysis.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Tamakawa T, Endoh H, Kamimura N

BACKGROUND: Elevated blood lactate levels were reported as effective predictors of clinical outcome and mortality in ICU. However, there have been no studies simply comparing the timing of measuring lactates before vs. after ICU admission. METHODS: A total of 19,226 patients with transfer time ≤ 24 hr were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database (MIMIC-IV). After 1:1 propensity score matching, the patients were divided into two groups: measuring lactates within 3 hr before (BICU group, n = 4,755) and measuring lactate within 3 hr after ICU admission(AICU group, n = 4,755). The primary and secondary outcomes were hospital mortality, hospital 28-day mortality, ICU mortality, ICU length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS, and restricted mean survival time (RMST). RESULTS: Hospital, hospital 28-day, and ICU mortality were significantly higher in AICU group (7.0% vs.9.8%, 6.7% vs. 9.4%, and 4.6% vs.6.7%, respectively, p<0.001 for all) Hospital LOS and ICU LOS were significantly longer in AICU group (8.4 days vs. 9.0 days and 3.0 days vs. 3.5 days, respectively, p<0.001 for both). After adjustment for predefined covariates, a significant association between the timing of measuring lactate and hospital mortality was observed in inverse probability treatment weight (IPTW) multivariate regression, doubly robust multivariate regression, and multivariate regression models (OR, 0.96 [95%CI, 0.95-0.97], OR 0.52 [95%CI, 0.46-0.60], OR 0.66 [95%CI, 0.56-0.78], respectively, p<0.001 for all), indicating the timing as a significant risk-adjusted factor for lower hospital mortality. The difference (BICU-AICU) of RMST at 28- days after ICU admission was 0.531 days (95%CI, 0.002-1.059, p<0.05). Placement of A-line and PA-catheter, administration of intravenous antibiotics, and bolus fluid infusion during the first 24-hr in ICU were significantly more frequent and faster in the BICU vs AICU group (67.6% vs. 51.3% and 126min vs.197min for A-line, 19.6% vs.13.2% and 182min vs. 274min for PA-catheter, 77.5% vs.67.6% and 109min vs.168min for antibiotics, and 57.6% vs.51.6% and 224min vs.278min for bolus fluid infusion, respectively, p<0.001 for all). Additionally, a significant indirect effect was observed in frequency (0.19879 [95% CI, 0.14061-0.25697] p<0.001) and time (0.07714 [95% CI, 0.22600-0.13168], p<0.01) of A-line replacement, frequency of placement of PA-catheter (0.05614 [95% CI, 0.04088-0.07140], p<0.001) and frequency of bolus fluid infusion (0.02193 [95%CI, 0.00303-0.04083], p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Measuring lactates within 3 hr prior to ICU might be associated with lower hospital mortality in unselected heterogeneous critically ill patients with transfer time to ICU ≤ 24hr, presumably due to more frequent and faster therapeutic interventions.

105. A simulation study: Using dual ancillary variable to estimate population mean under stratified random sampling.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Ahmad S, Hussain S, Yasmeen U

106. Acute influence of an adaptive sporting event on quality of life in veterans with disabilities.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Sidiropoulos AN, Glasberg JJ, Moore TE

107. Association between desire thinking and problematic social media use among a sample of Lebanese adults: The indirect effect of suppression and impulsivity.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Awad E, El Khoury-Malhame M, Yakin E

BACKGROUND: Desire thinking, impulsivity and suppression are psychological variables that are intricately related to behavioral addictions. Bearing in mind the scarcity of data on desire thinking, impulsivity, thought suppression and pathological social media use in developing countries such as Lebanon, with the existing literature suggesting a heightened mental health burden associated with this problematic social media use, it becomes all the more important to elucidate their relationship. Our study aims at investigating the association between desire thinking and problematic social media use specifically, and to further test the effect of impulsivity and thought suppression in mediating the relation between the two distinct facets of desire thinking and problematic social media use. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out between November 2021 and March 2022 using a sample of 414 community-dwelling participants aged above 18 years from all Lebanese districts. The data was collected through an online questionnaire including a section about sociodemographic information, the Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ), Impulsive Behavior Scale (S-UPPS-P), White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI) and Social Media Disorder Short Form (SMD). The tests used in the bivariate analysis to assess correlates of SMD were the Student t test to compare two means and the Pearson test to correlate two continuous scores. The PROCESS SPSS Macro version 3.4, model four was used to conduct the mediation analysis. RESULTS: Desire thinking was shown to correlate with increased social media use. Moreover, we found that suppression and lack of premeditation mediated the association between verbal perseveration and social media use disorder whereas suppression and urgency mediated the association between imaginal prefiguration and social media use disorder. CONCLUSION: This study provides new insight on a topic of increasing public health concern. Although understudied to date, suppression and impulsivity differentially mediate the influence of both facets of desire thinking on problematic social media use disorder. The current findings point to the highly pervasive issue of social media use disorder and the need to investigate underlying psychological factors that aggravate it to better profile and support individuals struggling with it.

108. Is image-to-image translation the panacea for multimodal image registration? A comparative study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Lu J, Öfverstedt J, Lindblad J

Despite current advancement in the field of biomedical image processing, propelled by the deep learning revolution, multimodal image registration, due to its several challenges, is still often performed manually by specialists. The recent success of image-to-image (I2I) translation in computer vision applications and its growing use in biomedical areas provide a tempting possibility of transforming the multimodal registration problem into a, potentially easier, monomodal one. We conduct an empirical study of the applicability of modern I2I translation methods for the task of rigid registration of multimodal biomedical and medical 2D and 3D images. We compare the performance of four Generative Adversarial Network (GAN)-based I2I translation methods and one contrastive representation learning method, subsequently combined with two representative monomodal registration methods, to judge the effectiveness of modality translation for multimodal image registration. We evaluate these method combinations on four publicly available multimodal (2D and 3D) datasets and compare with the performance of registration achieved by several well-known approaches acting directly on multimodal image data. Our results suggest that, although I2I translation may be helpful when the modalities to register are clearly correlated, registration of modalities which express distinctly different properties of the sample are not well handled by the I2I translation approach. The evaluated representation learning method, which aims to find abstract image-like representations of the information shared between the modalities, manages better, and so does the Mutual Information maximisation approach, acting directly on the original multimodal images. We share our complete experimental setup as open-source (https://github.com/MIDA-group/MultiRegEval), including method implementations, evaluation code, and all datasets, for further reproducing and benchmarking.

109. Alcohol inhibits the metabolism of dimethyl fumarate to the active metabolite responsible for decreasing relapse frequency in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Yang B, Parker RB, Meibohm B

110. MiR-302d inhibits TGFB-induced EMT and promotes MET in primary human RPE cells.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Hu X, Binter M, Hufendiek K

PURPOSE: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGFB)-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of retinal fibrosis, which is one of the leading causes of impaired vision. Current approaches to treating retinal fibrosis focus, among other things, on inhibiting the TGFB signaling pathway. Transient expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is one way to inhibit the TGFB pathway post-transcriptionally. Our previous study identified the miRNA miR-302d as a regulator of multiple TGFB-related genes in ARPE-19 cells. To further explore its effect on primary cells, the effect of miR-302d on TGFB-induced EMT in primary human retinal pigment epithelium (hRPE) was investigated in vitro. METHODS: hRPE cells were extracted from patients receiving enucleation. Transfection of hRPE cells with miR-302d was performed before or after TGFB1 stimulation. Live-cell imaging, immunocytochemistry staining, Western blot, and ELISA assays were utilized to identify the alterations of cellular morphology and EMT-related factors expressions in hRPE cells. RESULTS: hRPE cells underwent EMT by TGFB1 exposure. The transfection of miR-302d inhibited the transition with decreased production of mesenchymal markers and increased epithelial factors. Meanwhile, the phosphorylation of SMAD2 activated by TGFB1 was suppressed. Moreover, miR-302d expression promoted TGFB1-induced fibroblast-like hRPE cells to revert towards an epithelial stage. As confirmed by ELISA, miR-302d reduced TGFB receptor 2 (TGFBR2) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) levels 48 hours after transfection. CONCLUSIONS: The protective effect of miR-302d might be a promising approach for ameliorating retinal fibrosis and neovascularization. MiR-302d suppresses TGFB-induced EMT in hRPE cells via downregulation of TGFBR2, even reversing the process. Furthermore, miR-302d reduces the constitutive secretion of VEGFA from hRPE cells.

111. Metabolite profiling, antifungal, biofilm formation prevention and disruption of mature biofilm activities of Erythrina senegalensis stem bark extract against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Harley BK, Quagraine AM, Neglo D

The antifungal activity of the 70% ethanol stem bark extract of Erythrina senegalensis (ESB) against different strains and drug resistant clinical isolates of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata were evaluated in the study. The effect of ESB on biofilms as well as its activity in combination with fluconazole, nystatin or caspofungin against the Candida strains were also evaluated. We then evaluated the antifungal activity of a microemulsion formulation of ESB against planktonic and biofilms of the Candida species. UPLC-QTOF-MS2 analysis was then undertaken to identify the phytoconstituents of the extract and UPLC fingerprints developed for the routine authentication as part of quality control measures. ESB exerted strong antifungal activities against C. albicans ATCC 10231 and SC5314 strains, and C. glabrata ATCC 2001 strain with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values from 3.91 to 31.25 μg/mL and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) that ranged from 62.5 to 250 μg/mL. It also exhibited potent antifungal activities (MIC = 4-64 μg/mL) against a collection of C. albicans and C. glabrata clinical isolates that were resistant to either nystatin or azole antifungals. The formulated ESB demonstrated higher antifungal potency against the C. albicans and C. glabrata strains with MIC values of 3.91-31.25 μg/mL which was the same as the MFC values. The extract and its microemulsion formulation were active against biofilms of the strains of the Candida species inhibiting their biofilm formations (SMIC50 = 16-64 μg/mL) and their preformed biofilms (SMIC50 = 128 ->512 μg/mL). ESB also exhibited synergistic antifungal action with fluconazole and nystatin against C. albicans ATCC 10231 and C. glabrata ATCC 2001 strains in the checkerboard assay. Chemical characterization of the extract revealed the presence of phenolic compounds such as flavonoids and their prenylated derivatives, anthracene glycosides and alkaloids. UPLC Fingerprints of the extract was also developed and validated for routine identification and authentication of the stem bark of E. senegalensis. The study findings have demonstrated that the stem bark of E. senegalensis is as a potential source of bioactive compounds that could be developed as novel antifungal agents.

112. I feel I have been taken seriously" Women's experience of greater trochanteric pain syndrome treatment-A nested qualitative study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Andreasen J, Fearon A, Morissey D

BACKGROUND: Women experiencing greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) report high levels of pain and reduced quality of life. Exploring how they manage GTPS in a daily life context can provide important knowledge about individual coping strategies. Education, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and exercise have good group level evidence for efficacy in clinical trials and are increasingly used in routine care for patients with GTPS. Exploring women's experiences of such treatment may help understand the mechanisms underpinning these positive results and inform treatment strategies. We therefore aimed to explore how women with GTPS experience and manage their daily life, and their experience of the combined treatment of education, ESWT and exercises. METHODS: This qualitative study was nested within a cohort study based in a hospital outpatient clinic and a physiotherapy clinic in Denmark assessing the combined treatment of education, ESWT and exercises. Data was collected from eleven women using in-person, individual, semi-structured interviews which were audio recorded. Transcripts were coded and analysed using an inductive thematic analysis approach. FINDINGS: Five themes were identified: (1) Daily life was controlled and structured by pain; (2) The condition was acknowledged and taken seriously by treating professionals; (3) The participants´ experiences of the intervention-information is key; (4) Improved capability and autonomy in pain management and (5) The women´s perspectives on improving and expanding the intervention. Learning how to manage pain was experienced as the most important element of the program to the women to be able to minimize pain and manage daily life. CONCLUSION: Exploration of how women with greater trochanteric pain syndrome experienced and managed daily hip pain, and how they experienced and adapted to treatment are important novel findings that will inform clinical practice. This new knowledge may be used to inform an individualized patient education, treatment and evaluation strategy for women with the painful and debilitating condition of GTPS.

113. Investigating the effects of antipsychotics on brain insulin action: Study protocol for a multi-modality magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study in healthy controls.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Stogios N, Hamel L, Smith E

Antipsychotics (APs) are the cornerstone of treatment for schizophrenia (SCZ) but are unfortunately associated with serious metabolic adverse effects including weight gain and type 2 diabetes. The pathophysiology of AP-induced metabolic dysfunction is largely undetermined. Brain insulin resistance has been posited to be at the cross-roads of many cognitive and metabolic disorders, and disruption of central insulin action has emerged as a possible explanatory mechanism underlying AP induced metabolic dysfunction. Previous studies suggest that change in neuroimaging-based parameters with intranasal insulin administration can be leveraged to investigate brain insulin resistance. In this proof-of-concept study, we will utilize neural signatures of insulin action in the brain to examine if APs disrupt brain insulin signaling. It is hypothesized that: 1) intranasal insulin (INI), but not intranasal placebo (INP), will change cerebral blood flow and resting state connectivity, as well as increase glutamate levels in the striatum and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; 2) oral olanzapine (OLA), but not oral placebo (PL), will inhibit the effect of INI on these parameters. Thirty-two healthy volunteers will undergo a single blind, cross-over design, wherein all participants receive the following four treatment combinations, 2-6 weeks apart, in a random sequence: INP + PL, INP + OLA, INI + PL, and INI + OLA. Participants will undergo an MRI-based assay of brain insulin resistance 15 minutes after administering 160 IU INI or INP. The scanning protocol includes resting and task-based functional MRI, arterial spin labelling, and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Demonstrating that OLA can acutely induce brain insulin resistance is clinically relevant to metabolic health in SCZ. Evidence of brain insulin resistance induced by acute AP dosing can inform the early use of adjunctive insulin sensitizers for the treatment of metabolic comorbidities associated with AP treatment in severe mental illness. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Registration: NCT03741478.

114. Facing flood disaster: A cluster randomized trial assessing communities' knowledge, skills and preparedness utilizing a health model intervention.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Mhd Noor MT, Kadir Shahar H, Baharudin MR

Floods occur when a body of water overflows and submerges normally dry terrain. Tropical cyclones or tsunamis cause flooding. Health and safety are jeopardized during a flood. As a result, proactive flood mitigation measures are required. This study aimed to increase flood disaster preparedness among Selangor communities in Malaysia by implementing a Health Belief Model-Based Intervention (HEBI). Selangor's six districts were involved in a single-blinded cluster randomized controlled trial Community-wide implementation of a Health Belief Model-Based Intervention (HEBI). A self-administered questionnaire was used. The intervention group received a HEBI module, while the control group received a health talk on non-communicable disease. The baseline variables were compared. Immediate and six-month post-intervention impacts on outcome indicators were assessed. 284 responses with a 100% response rate. At the baseline, there were no significant differences in ethnicity, monthly household income, or past disaster experience between groups (p>0.05). There were significant differences between-group for intervention on knowledge, skills, preparedness (p<0.001), Perceived Benefit Score (p = 0.02), Perceived Barrier Score (p = 0.03), and Cues to Action (p = 0.04). GEE analysis showed receiving the HEBI module had effectively improved knowledge, skills, preparedness, Perceived Benefit Score, Perceived Barrier Score, and Cues to Action in the intervention group after controlling the covariate. Finally, community flood preparedness ensured that every crisis decision had the least impact on humans. The HEBI module improved community flood preparedness by increasing knowledge, skill, preparedness, perceived benefit, perceived barrier, and action cues. As a result, the community should be aware of this module. Clinical trial registration: The trial registry name is Thai Clinical Trials Registry, trial number TCTR20200202002.

115. Student trainee and paid internship programs have positive results but do little to influence long-term employee diversity in the USDA forest service.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Dockry MJ, Sachdeva SS, Fisher CL

116. Cardiovascular risk in subjects over 55 years of age and cognitive performance after five years. NEDICES2-RISK study. Study protocol.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Tapias-Merino E, De Hoyos-Alonso MDC, Contador-Castillo I

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment and dementia have a high prevalence among the elderly and cause significant socio-economic impact. Any progress in their prevention can benefit millions of people. Current data indicate that cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors increase the risk of developing cognitive impairment and dementia. Using models to calculate CVR specific for the Spanish population can be useful for estimating the risk of cognitive deterioration since research on this topic is limited and predicting this risk is mainly based on outcomes in the Anglo-Saxon population. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between CVR in the Spanish population, as calculated using the FRESCO (Función de Riesgo Española de acontecimientos Coronarios y Otros) and REGICOR (Registre Gironí del Cor) CVR tables, and the change in cognitive performance at a 5-year follow-up. METHODS: Design: Observational, analytic, prospective cohort study, with a 5-year follow-up. Ambit: Population. Population: Subjects 55 to 74 years of age, included in the NEDICES2 (2014-2017) cohort, who did not present dementia and had undergone the neuropsychological evaluation (N = 962). Variables: Exposure factors (CVR factors and estimated risk according to the CVR predictors by REGICOR and FRESCO), dependent variables (change in the score of the brief neuropsychological test in the study NEDICES2 five years after the first evaluation), and clinical and socio-demographic variables. Statistical analysis: Analysis of data quality. Descriptive analysis: socio-demographic and clinical variables of subjects. Bivariate analysis: relationship between basal CVR and change in neuropsychological tests. Multivariate analysis: relationship between basal CVR and change in neuropsychological tests adjusted by co-variables. Analysis and comparison of the reliable change in independent samples. DISCUSSION: The Spanish population can benefit from determining if individuals with high CVR, which is commonly detected in usual clinical practice, will present decreased cognitive performance compared to subjects with lower CVR. This study can affect how to address CVR factors and the design of effective prevention strategies for cognitive deterioration. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03925844.

117. The effect of body image dissatisfaction on goal-directed decision making in a population marked by negative appearance beliefs and disordered eating.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Onysk J, Seriès P.

118. Correction: Probiotic Sonicates Selectively Induce Mucosal Immune Cells Apoptosis through Ceramide Generation via Neutral Sphingomyelinase.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

PLOS ONE Editors.

119. Association of mental health and behavioral disorders with health care and service utilization in children before and after diagnosis.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Nurminen M.

120. Dynamic analysis of lathe bed of woodworking CNC machining center based on the modeling of joint surface.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Sun YK, Hua J, Li YN

121. Cancer and diabetes co-occurrence: A national study with 44 million person-years of follow-up.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Gurney J, Stanley J, Teng A

122. Evaluation of emerging inflammatory markers for predicting oxygen support requirement in COVID-19 patients.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Kamjai P, Hemvimol S, Bordeerat NK

123. Perpendicular probing and screwing technique: A simple method for accurate pedicle screw placement based on the human internal reference frame for angle estimation.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Kato G, Baba S, Kawaguchi K

The pedicle screw (PS) is widely used for spinal fixation surgery. However, PS malpositioning can cause critical complications; thus, the accuracy of ascertaining PS trajectory is paramount. This study aimed to demonstrate the accuracy and safety of a simple and cost-effective PS placement technique using a human internal reference frame for angle estimation. Ex vivo lumbar porcine spine samples were fixed to a wooden board with rostrocaudal and mediolateral rotational angles adjusted by two angle vises. PS entry points (EPs) were identified using clear anatomical vertebral landmarks. PS placement was performed on one side using the perpendicular probing and screwing technique (PPST), wherein the attitude angle of the sample was adjusted such that the longitudinal axis of the target pedicle was perpendicular to the ground. The pedicle probe and PS driver were manually maintained perpendicular to the ground during probing and PS placement. PS placement on the contralateral side was performed freehand as a control. Offsets between the preoperatively planned and implanted PS rotational angles measured using computed tomography for PPST and freehand method were analyzed. Pedicle wall penetration was also evaluated. The mean ± standard error of the medial rotational offsets was 5.83° ± 0.57° in the freehand group versus 2.89° ± 0.31° in the PPST group (p <0.001), and the rostrocaudal rotational offsets were 4.81° ± 0.65° in the freehand group versus 2.92° ± 0.45° in the PPST group (p = 0.01). The mean pedicle wall penetration distance was significantly reduced by PPST (0.28 ± 0.12 mm vs 0.80 ± 0.17 mm in the freehand group, p = 0.0071). Thus, PPST improved PS positioning accuracy, resulting in reduced pedicle wall penetration and increased PS placement safety. This simple technique is also potentially cost-effective for institutions without computer-assisted surgical systems.

124. Drug utilization patterns before and during COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba, Canada: A population-based study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Aboulatta L, Peymani P, Vaccaro C

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has led the Canadian provincial governments to take unprecedented measures, including restrictions to healthcare services and pharmacists. Limited evidence exists on changes in prescription trends in Canada during the pandemic period. OBJECTIVES: To examine the trend of prescription medications' utilization before and during COVID-19, among incident and prevalent users in the general population. We examined 18 major classes of medications. METHODS: We used the administrative health databases from the province of Manitoba, Canada, to conduct a province-wide cross-sectional study. Incident and prevalent use was compared between two time periods; pre-COVID-19: July 2016-March 2020 and during COVID-19: April 2020-March 2021. Interrupted time series analysis using autoregressive models was used to quantify the change in level and slope in quarterly medication use among incident and prevalent users. RESULTS: The quarterly study population ranged from 1,353,485 to 1,411,630 Manitobans. The most common comorbidities were asthma (26.67%), hypertension (20.64%), and diabetes (8.31%). On average, the pandemic restrictions resulted in a 45.55% and 12.17% relative decline in the aggregated utilization of all drugs among both incident and prevalent users, respectively. Subclass analysis showed a 46.83%, 23.05%, and 30.98% relative drop among incident users of antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs and opioids use, respectively. We observed a significant slope increase during COVID-19 among the quarterly cardiovascular, antidiabetics, alpha-1 blockers, and statins incident users compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. We noted a significant decrease in level among NSAIDs, opioids, and antibiotic prevalent users, however, no significant changes in slope were observed. CONCLUSION: Our findings show a significant impact of COVID-19 measures on prescription trends in the general population. The observed decline among several medication classes was temporary. Further research is needed to monitor prescription trends and better understand if those changes were associated with increased health services and worsened outcomes.

125. Diagnostic accuracy of a SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test among military and civilian personnel of an Air Force airport in central Italy.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 28

Verde P, Marcantonio C, Costantino A

BACKGROUND: Most SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen detection tests (RADTs) validation studies have been performed on specimens from COVID-19 patients and negative controls or from mostly symptomatic individuals. Herein we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of AFIAS COVID-19 Ag, hereinafter denominated as AFIAS, during a COVID-19 screening program surveillance testing conducted among personnel of an Italian military airport. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPSs) were collected from study participants and were analysed by both AFIAS and RT-PCR assay. A questionnaire collecting demographic and exposure data were administered to all participants. AFIAS accuracy parameters including Cohen's kappa (K) were determined. RESULTS: Overall, from November 2020 to April 2021, 1294 (NPSs) were collected from 1183 participants (88.6% males, 11.4% females; mean age were 41.3, median age 42). Forty-nine NPSs (3.78%) were positive by RT-PCR, while 54 NPSs were positive by AFIAS. Overall baseline sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 0.633, 0.981, 0.574, 0.985, respectively and K was 0.585 (moderate). AFIAS sensitivity tended to be higher for NPSs with higher viral load. A higher sensitivity (0.944) compared to the overall baseline sensitivity (0.633) was also found for NPSs from participants with COVID-19 compatible symptoms, for which K was 0.891 (almost perfect). Instead, AFIAS sensitivity was quite poor for NPSs from asymptomatic participants. Most false negative NPSs in this group had moderate viral load. CONCLUSION: Overall, AFIAS showed high specificity but only moderate sensitivity, mainly because of the high proportion of asymptomatic participants. However, AFIAS showed good sensitivity for NPSs with high viral load and nearly optimal accuracy parameters for NPSs from participants with COVID-19 compatible symptoms. Thus, taking into consideration its performance features, this test can be useful for COVID-19 case identification and management as well as for infection control.

126. Hydroxychloroquine reduces soluble Flt-1 secretion from human cytotrophoblast, but does not mitigate markers of endothelial dysfunction in vitro.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 23

Kadife E, Hannan N, Harper A

127. Android malware detection method based on highly distinguishable static features and DenseNet.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 23

Yang J, Zhang Z, Zhang H

The rapid growth of malware has become a serious problem that threatens the security of the mobile ecosystem and needs to be studied and resolved. Android is the main target of attackers due to its open source and popularity. To solve this serious problem, an accurate and efficient malware detection method is needed. Most existing methods use a single type of feature, which can be easily bypassed, resulting in low detection accuracy. In addition, although multiple types of features are used in some methods to solve the drawbacks of detection methods using a single type of feature, there are still some problems. Firstly, due to multiple types of features, the number of features in the initial feature set is extremely large, and some methods directly use them for training, resulting in excessive overhead. Furthermore, some methods utilize feature selection to reduce the dimensionality of features, but they do not select highly distinguishable features, resulting in poor detection performance. In this article, an effective and accurate method for identifying Android malware, which is based on an analysis of the use of seven types of static features in Android is proposed to cope with the rapid increase in the amount of Android malware and overcome the drawbacks of detection methods using a single type of feature. Instead of utilizing all extracted features, we design three levels of feature selection methods to obtain highly distinguishable features that can be effective in identifying malware. Then a fully densely connected convolutional network based on DenseNet is adopted to leverage features more efficiently and effectively for malware detection. Compared with the number of features in the original feature set, the number of features in the feature set obtained by the three levels of feature selection methods is reduced by about 97%, but the accuracy is only reduced by 0.45%, and the accuracy is more than 99% in a variety of machine learning methods. Moreover, we compare our detection method with different machine learning models, and the experimental results show that our method outperforms general machine learning models. We also compare the performance of our detection method with two state-of-the-art neural networks. The experimental results show that our detection model can greatly reduce the training cost and still achieve good detection performance, reaching an accuracy of 99.72%. In addition, we compare our detection method with other similar detection methods that also use multiple types of features. The results show that our detection method is superior to the comparison methods.

128. Variation in carbon and nitrogen concentrations among peatland categories at the global scale.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 23

Watmough S, Gilbert-Parkes S, Basiliko N

129. Label-free quantitative proteomics and stress responses in pigs-The case of short or long road transportation.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 23

Di Luca A, Ianni A, Henry M

130. The doubling effect of COVID-19 cases on key health indicators.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 23

Petrof O, Fajgenblat M, Neyens T

131. Prevalence and determinants of wasting of under-5 children in Bangladesh: Quantile regression approach.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 23

Hossain MM, Abdulla F, Rahman A.

BACKGROUND: Wasting is perhaps one of the signs of malnutrition that has been linked to the deaths of children suffering from malnutrition. As a result, understanding its correlations and drivers is critical. Using quantile regression analysis, this research aims to contribute to the discussion on under-5 malnutrition by analyzing the predictors of wasting in Bangladesh. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The dataset was extracted from the 2017-18 Bangladesh demographic and health survey (BDHS) data. The weight-for-height (WHZ) z-score based anthropometric indicator was used in the study as the target variable. The weighted sample constitutes 8,334 children of under-5 years. However, after cleaning the missing values, the analysis is based on 8,321 children. Sequential quantile regression was used for finding the contributing factors. RESULTS: The findings of this study depict that the prevalence of wasting in children is about 8 percent and only approximately one percent of children are severely wasted in Bangladesh. Age, mother's BMI, and parental educational qualification, are all major factors of the WHZ score of a child. The coefficient of the female child increased from 0.1 to 0.2 quantiles before dropping to 0.75 quantile. For a child aged up to three years, the coefficients have a declining tendency up to the 0.5 quantile, then an increasing trend. Children who come from the richest households had 16.3%, 3.6%, and 15.7% higher WHZ scores respectively than children come from the poorest households suggesting that the risk of severe wasting in children under the age of five was lower in children from the wealthiest families than in children from the poorest families. The long-term malnutrition indicator (wasting) will be influenced by the presence of various childhood infections and vaccinations. Furthermore, a family's economic position is a key determinant in influencing a child's WHZ score. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that socioeconomic characteristics are correlated with the wasting status of a child. Maternal characteristics also played an important role to reduce the burden of malnutrition. Thus, maternal nutritional awareness might reduce the risk of malnutrition in children. Moreover, the findings disclose that to enrich the nutritional status of children along with achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-3 by 2030, a collaborative approach should necessarily be taken by the government of Bangladesh, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at the community level in Bangladesh.

132. Mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Impacts of disease, social isolation, and financial stressors.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 23

Kraut RE, Li H, Zhu H.

133. MTNet: A combined diagnosis algorithm of vessel segmentation and diabetic retinopathy for retinal images.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 23

Liu R, Gao S, Zhang H

134. How providing public COVID-19 mitigation instructions in a foreign language can increase people's sense of control.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 23

Saile K, Munz R, Hüttl-Maack V.

135. A comparison of drying methods on the quality for bryophyte molecular specimens collected in the field.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 23

Shen F, Li L, Wang D

136. Development and application of multiplex targeted-sequencing approaches to identify Phytophthora species associated with root rot and wilting complex of red raspberry.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 23

Sapkota S, Burlakoti RR, Lamour K

137. A national household survey on HIV prevalence and clinical cascade among children aged ≤15 years in Kenya (2018).

PLoS One

2022 Nov 23

Mutisya I, Muthoni E, Ondondo RO

We analyzed data from the 2018 Kenya Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (KENPHIA), a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey, to estimate the burden and prevalence of pediatric HIV infection, identify associated factors, and describe the clinical cascade among children aged < 15 years in Kenya. Interviewers collected information from caregivers or guardians on child's demographics, HIV testing, and treatment history. Blood specimens were collected for HIV serology and if HIV-positive, the samples were tested for viral load and antiretrovirals (ARV). For participants <18 months TNA PCR is performed. We computed weighted proportions with 95% confidence intervals (CI), accounting for the complex survey design. We used bivariable and multivariable logistic regression to assess factors associated with HIV prevalence. Separate survey weights were developed for interview responses and for biomarker testing to account for the survey design and non-response. HIV burden was estimated by multiplying HIV prevalence by the national population projection by age for 2018. Of 9072 survey participants (< 15 years), 87% (7865) had blood drawn with valid HIV test results. KENPHIA identified 57 HIV-positive children, translating to an HIV prevalence of 0.7%, (95% CI: 0.4%-1.0%) and an estimated 138,900 (95% CI: 84,000-193,800) of HIV among children in Kenya. Specifically, children who were orphaned had about 2 times higher odds of HIV-infection compared to those not orphaned, adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) 2.2 (95% CI:1.0-4.8). Additionally, children whose caregivers had no knowledge of their HIV status also had 2 times higher odds of HIV-infection compared to whose caregivers had knowledge of their HIV status, aOR 2.4 (95% CI: 1.1-5.4)". From the unconditional analysis; population level estimates, 78.9% of HIV-positive children had known HIV status (95% CI: 67.1%-90.2%), 73.6% (95% CI: 60.9%-86.2%) were receiving ART, and 49% (95% CI: 32.1%-66.7%) were virally suppressed. However, in the clinical cascade for HIV infected children, 92% (95% CI: 84.4%-100%) were receiving ART, and of these, 67.1% (95% CI: 45.1%-89.2%) were virally suppressed. The KENPHIA survey confirms a substantial HIV burden among children in Kenya, especially among orphans.

138. Reversible shifts between interstitial and epibenthic habitats in evolutionary history: Molecular phylogeny of the marine flatworm family Boniniidae (Platyhelminthes: Polycladida: Cotylea) with descriptions of two new species.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 23

Tsuyuki A, Oya Y, Kajihara H.

Tiny animals in various metazoan phyla inhabit the interstices between sand and/or gravel grains, and adaptive traits in their body plan, such as simplification and size reduction, have attracted research attention. Several possible explanations of how such animals colonized interstitial habitats have been proposed, but their adaptation to this environment has generally been regarded as irreversible. However, the actual evolutionary transitions are not well understood in almost all taxa. In the present study, we show reversible evolutionary shifts from interstitial to epibenthic habitats in the lineage of the polyclad flatworm genus Boninia. In addition, we establish two new species of this genus found from different microhabitats on a single beach in Okinawa Island, Japan: (i) the interstitial species Boninia uru sp. nov. from gravelly sediments and (ii) the epibenthic species Boninia yambarensis sp. nov. from rock undersurfaces. Our observations suggest that rigid microhabitat segregation exists between these two species. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on the partial 18S and 28S rDNA sequences of the new Boninia species and four other congeners, for which molecular sequences were available in public databases [Boninia antillara (epibenthic), Boninia divae (epibenthic), Boninia neotethydis (interstitial), and an unidentified Boninia sp. (habitat indeterminate)], revealed that the two interstitial species (B. neotethydis and B. uru sp. nov.) were not monophyletic among the three epibenthic species. According to ancestral state reconstruction analysis, the last common ancestor of the analyzed Boninia species inhabited interstitial realms, and a shift to the epibenthic environment occurred at least once. Such an "interstitial to noninterstitial" evolutionary route seems to be rare among Animalia; to date, it has been reported only in acochlidian slugs in the clade Hedylopsacea. Our phylogenetic tree also showed that the sympatric B. uru sp. nov. and B. yambarensis sp. nov. were not in a sister relationship, indicating that they colonized the same beach independently rather than descended in situ from a common ancestor that migrated and settled at the beach.

139. Throughput screening of Bacillus subtilis strains that abundantly secrete surfactin in vitro identifies effective probiotic candidates.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 23

Lee D, Oh T, Kang B

140. Accessibility and disability inclusion among top-funded U.S. Undergraduate Institutions.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 23

Campanile J, Cerilli C, Varadaraj V

141. Olfactory testing as COVID-19 screening in school children; A prospective cross-sectional study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 22

Gitomer SA, Tholen K, Pickett K

142. Tele-Rapid Response Team (Tele-RRT): The effect of implementing patient safety network system on outcomes of medical patients-A before and after cohort study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 22

Balshi AN, Al-Odat MA, Alharthy AM

143. Evaluation of the diagnostic performance of PanbioTM Abbott SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test for the detection of COVID-19 from suspects attending ALERT center.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 22

Ashagre W, Atnafu A, Wassie L

144. High prevalence of burnout syndrome among medical and nonmedical residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 22

Pinho RDNL, Costa TF, Silva NM

BACKGROUND: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, health professionals have been working under extreme conditions, increasing the risk of physical and mental illness. We evaluated the prevalence of burnout and its associated factors among postgraduate student residents in health professions during the global health crisis. METHODS: Healthcare residents were recruited from all across Brazil between July and September 2020 through digital forms containing instruments for assessing burnout (Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI)), resilience (brief resilient coping scale (BRCS)) and anxiety, stress and depression (depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)). Additionally, the relationships between burnout and chronic diseases, autonomy and educational adequacy in the residency programme, personal protective equipment (PPE), workload and care for patients with COVID-19 were evaluated. The chi-square test, Student's t test, Pearson's correlation test and logistic regression were performed. RESULTS: A total of 1,313 participants were included: mean (standard deviation) age, 27.8 (4.4) years; female gender, 78.1%; white race, 59.3%; and physicians, 51.3%. The overall prevalence of burnout was 33.4%. The odds (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]) of burnout were higher in the presence of pre-existing diseases (1.76 [1.26-2.47]) and weekly work > 60 h (1.36 [1.03-1.79]) and were lower in the presence of high resilience (0.84 [0.81-0.88]), autonomy (0.87 [0.81-0.93]), and educational structure (0.77 [0.73-0.82]), adequate availability of PPE (0.72 [0.63-0.83]) and non-white race (0.63 [0.47-0.83]). Burnout was correlated with anxiety (r = 0.47; p < 0.05), stress (r: 0.58; p < 0.05) and depression (r: 0.65; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We observed a high prevalence of burnout among residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individual characteristics and conditions related to the work environment were associated with a higher or lower occurrence of the syndrome.

145. Azimuthal sound localization in the chicken.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 22

Maldarelli G, Firzlaff U, Luksch H.

146. Household preferences for pet keeping: Findings from a rural district of Sri Lanka.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 22

Rathish D, Rajapakse J, Weerakoon K.

147. The effectiveness of problem based learning in improving critical thinking, problem-solving and self-directed learning in first-year medical students: A meta-analysis.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 22

Manuaba IBAP, -No Y, Wu CC.

148. Gender differentials in the timing and prognostic factors of pubarche in Nigeria.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Fagbamigbe AF, Obiyan M, Fawole OI.

Paucity of data exists on the timing of puberty, particularly the pubarche, in developing countries, which has hitherto limited the knowledge of the timing of pubarche, and assistance offered by physicians to anxious young people in Nigeria. Factors associated with the timings of puberty and pubarche are not well documented in Nigeria. We hypothesized that the timing of pubarche in Nigeria differs by geographical regions and other characteristics. We assessed the timing of pubarche among adolescents and young adults in Nigeria and identified prognostic factors of the timing by obtaining information on youths' sexual and reproductive developments in a population survey among in-school and out-of-school youths aged 15 to 24 years in Nigeria. A total of 1174 boys and 1004 girls provided valid information on pubarche. Results of time-to-event analysis of the data showed that mean age at pubarche among males aged 15 to 19 years and 20 to 24 years was 13.5 (SD = 1.63 years) and 14.2 (SD = 2.18 years) (respectively) compared with 13.0 (SD = 1.57 years) and 13.5 (SD = 2.06 years) among females of the same age. Median time to pubarche was 14 (Interquartile range (IQR) = 3) years and 13 (IQR = 3) years among the males and females, respectively. Cumulatively, 37% of the males had attained pubarche by age 13 years versus 53% among females, 57% vs 72% at age 14, and 73% vs 81% at age 15. The likelihood of pubarche among males was delayed by 5% compared with females (Time Ratio (TR) = 1.05: 95% CI = 1.03-1.05). Every additional one-year in the ages of both males and females increases the risk of pubarche by 1%. Similar to the females, males residents in Northeast (aTR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.07-1.21), in the Northwest (aTR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.13-1.27) and in the Southwest (aTR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.11-1.26) had delayed pubarche than males from the South East. Yoruba males had delayed pubarche than Ibo males (aTR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01-1.12). Age at pubarche among adolescents and young adults in Nigeria differed among males and females with earlier onset among females. Pubarche timing varied mainly by ethnicity, region, and location of residence. Our findings will aid medical practitioners in providing appropriate advice and support on pubarche-related issues among adolescents in Nigeria as it could help douse pubarche anxiousness in relation to request for medical assistance.

149. Money attitudes, financial capabilities, and impulsiveness as predictors of wealth accumulation.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Fenton-O'Creevy M, Furnham A.

150. Home-based exercise using balance disc and smartphone inclinometer application improves balance and activity of daily living in individuals with stroke: A randomized controlled trial.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Aphiphaksakul P, Siriphorn A.

151. Papain ameliorates monocyte-platelet aggregate formation-mediated inflammatory responses in monocytes by upregulating miRNA-146a transcription.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Jiang L, Xu C, Zhao Y

152. The integrated transcriptome bioinformatics analysis identifies key genes and cellular components for proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Gao N, Hao S, Huang G

153. The impact of caregivers on nosocomial transmission during a COVID-19 outbreak in a community-based hospital in South Korea.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Lee HJ, Lee HK, Kim YR.

154. A longitudinal study of physical activity among Malaysian breast cancer survivors.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Lee YL, Islam T, Danaee M

155. Historical development of accelerometry measures and methods for physical activity and sedentary behavior research worldwide: A scoping review of observational studies of adults.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Evenson KR, Scherer E, Peter KM

156. Prevalence, causes, impacts, and management of needle phobia: An international survey of a general adult population.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Alsbrooks K, Hoerauf K.

Needle phobia is an overlooked condition that affects virtually all medical procedures. Our study aimed to identify how commonly needle phobia is experienced, its underlying reasons, impacts, and potential mitigation strategies. A global survey was conducted in a general adult population using a questionnaire based on a targeted literature review that identified under-researched areas. The 21-item questionnaire was completed on a secure, web-based survey platform. Statistical analyses and models were utilized to identify relationships between participant characteristics and needle phobia. Of the 2,098 participants enrolled in the study, 63.2% (n = 1,325) reported experiencing needle phobia, and rated the intensity of their fear as 5.7 (±2.6) on average on a scale from 0 (no fear) to 10 (very strong/unreasonable fear or avoidance). According to the logistic regression model, other medical fears (odds coefficient = 2.14) and family history (1.67) were the most important factors associated with needle phobia. General anxiety (96.1%) and pain (95.5%) were the most common reasons for needle fear. Of the participants experiencing needle phobia, 52.2% stated avoiding blood draws, followed by 49.0% for blood donations, and 33.1% for vaccinations. While 24.3% of participants have seen a therapist, most have never sought help. The majority have shared their fear with nurses (61.1%) or physicians (44.4%); however, the provider helpfulness was rated as 4.9 (±3.1) on average on a scale from 0 (unhelpful) to 10 (extremely helpful). Utilizing non-invasive alternatives (94.1%) and smaller needles (91.1%) were most commonly identified as potential device-related solutions to alleviate fear; distractions (92.1%) and relaxation techniques (91.7%) were the top non-device-related approaches. Our findings highlight the prevalent nature of needle phobia and provide insights into its etiology and effects on patient care. Clinician responses were not perceived as helpful, emphasizing the need to address needle phobia, and improve patient experience.

157. Neonatal mortality by gestational age in days in infants born at term: A cohort study in Sao Paulo city, Brazil.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Reis Queiroz M, Ramos Junqueira ME, Roman Lay AA

158. COVID-19 masks increase the influence of face recognition algorithm decisions on human decisions in unfamiliar face matching.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Barragan D, Howard JJ, Rabbitt LR

159. Aquatic insects differentially affect lake sturgeon larval phenotypes and egg surface microbial communities.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Walquist RW, Scribner KT, Waraniak J

Documentation of how interactions among members of different stream communities [e.g., microbial communities and aquatic insect taxa exhibiting different feeding strategies (FS)] collectively influence the growth, survival, and recruitment of stream fishes is limited. Considerable spatial overlap exists between early life stages of stream fishes, including species of conservation concern like lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), and aquatic insects and microbial taxa that abundantly occupy substrates on which spawning occurs. Habitat overlap suggests that species interactions across trophic levels may be common, but outcomes of these interactions are poorly understood. We conducted an experiment where lake sturgeon eggs were fertilized and incubated in the presence of individuals from one of four aquatic insect FS taxa including predators, facultative and obligate-scrapers, collector-filterers/facultative predators, and a control (no insects). We quantified and compared the effects of different insect taxa on the taxonomic composition and relative abundance of egg surface bacterial and lower eukaryotic communities, egg size, incubation time to hatch, free embryo body size (total length) at hatch, yolk-sac area, (a measure of resource utilization), and percent survival to hatch. Mean egg size varied significantly among insect treatments. Eggs exposed to predators had a lower mean percent survival to hatch. Eggs exposed to predators had significantly shorter incubation periods. At hatch, free embryos exposed to predators had significantly smaller yolk sacs and total length. Multivariate analyses revealed that egg bacterial and lower eukaryotic surface community composition varied significantly among insect treatments and between time periods (1 vs 4 days post-fertilization). Quantitative PCR documented significant differences in bacterial 16S copy number, and thus abundance on egg surfaces varied across insect treatments. Results indicate that lethal and non-lethal effects associated with interactions between lake sturgeon eggs and free embryos and aquatic insects, particularly predators, contributed to lake sturgeon trait variability that may affect population levels of recruitment.

160. Associations between cardiovascular disease risk factors and spinal pain may be moderated by sex and health-related physical activity (CHAMPS Study-DK).

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Beynon AM, Wedderkopp N, Leboeuf-Yde C

BACKGROUND: Spinal pain has been previously linked with cardiovascular disease risk factors in children. This study investigated the prospective associations between cardiovascular disease risk factors and non-traumatic spinal pain occurrences in children, and examined the moderating role of sex and health-related physical activity in these relationships. METHODS: We used prospective data from the Childhood Health, Activity, and Motor Performance School Study Denmark (CHAMPS Study-DK). The exposure variables were a clustered cardiovascular risk score and homeostasis assessment model-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) score collected in 2008 and 2010. The spinal pain outcome comprised the number of weeks of non-traumatic spinal pain from 2008-2010 and 2010-2012. Potential confounders included age, sex, and time spent in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity. We constructed age-adjusted mixed negative binominal regression models to investigate the prospective associations of cardiovascular disease risk factors and non-traumatic spinal pain, while considering the potential moderating roles of sex and physical activity in these relationships. RESULTS: Girls with low HOMA-IR scores and boys with low clustered cardiovascular disease risk scores, who engaged in higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, reported more weeks of spinal pain, compared to girls with high HOMA-IR scores (p = 0.001) and boys with high clustered cardiovascular disease risk scores (p = 0.024). whereas boys with higher clustered cardiovascular disease risk who had less time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reported more weeks of spinal pain than boys with low clustered cardiovascular disease risk score (p = 0.024). CONCLUSION: Our results show that cardiovascular disease risk factors are related to future occurrences of non-traumatic spinal pain. However, these relationships appear complex and dependent on the nature of the interactions with sex and physical activity.

161. A domain-knowledge modeling of hospital-acquired infection risk in Healthcare personnel from retrospective observational data: A case study for COVID-19.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Huynh PK, Setty AR, Tran QM

INTRODUCTION: Hospital-acquired infections of communicable viral diseases (CVDs) have been posing a tremendous challenge to healthcare workers globally. Healthcare personnel (HCP) is facing a consistent risk of viral infections, and subsequently higher rates of morbidity and mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We proposed a domain-knowledge-driven infection risk model to quantify the individual HCP and the population-level risks. For individual-level risk estimation, a time-variant infection risk model is proposed to capture the transmission dynamics of CVDs. At the population-level, the infection risk is estimated using a Bayesian network model constructed from three feature sets, including individual-level factors, engineering control factors, and administrative control factors. For model validation, we investigated the case study of the Coronavirus disease, in which the individual-level and population-level infection risk models were applied. The data were collected from various sources such as COVID-19 transmission databases, health surveys/questionaries from medical centers, U.S. Department of Labor databases, and cross-sectional studies. RESULTS: Regarding the individual-level risk model, the variance-based sensitivity analysis indicated that the uncertainty in the estimated risk was attributed to two variables: the number of close contacts and the viral transmission probability. Next, the disease transmission probability was computed using a multivariate logistic regression applied for a cross-sectional HCP data in the UK, with the 10-fold cross-validation accuracy of 78.23%. Combined with the previous result, we further validated the individual infection risk model by considering six occupations in the U.S. Department of Labor O*Net database. The occupation-specific risk evaluation suggested that the registered nurses, medical assistants, and respiratory therapists were the highest-risk occupations. For the population-level risk model validation, the infection risk in Texas and California was estimated, in which the infection risk in Texas was lower than that in California. This can be explained by California's higher patient load for each HCP per day and lower personal protective equipment (PPE) sufficiency level. CONCLUSION: The accurate estimation of infection risk at both individual level and population levels using our domain-knowledge-driven infection risk model will significantly enhance the PPE allocation, safety plans for HCP, and hospital staffing strategies.

162. Physical activity pattern of patients with interstitial lung disease compared to patients with COPD: A propensity-matched study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Breuls S, Pereira de Araujo C, Blondeel A

163. A comparative study on renewable and traditional electricity: The influence of the European Union framework and the impact of COVID-19.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Boldeanu FT, Clemente-Almendros JA, Seguí-Amortegui LA

164. Effects analysis of reward functions on reinforcement learning for traffic signal control.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Lee H, Han Y, Kim Y

165. Combined monitoring of IgG and IgA anti-Spike and anti-Receptor binding domain long term responses following BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination in Greek healthcare workers.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Sarrigeorgiou I, Moschandreou D, Dimitriadis A

166. Interneurons of fan-shaped body promote arousal in Drosophila.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Kato YS, Tomita J, Kume K.

167. Treatment patterns, healthcare resource use, and costs associated with uncomplicated urinary tract infection among female patients in the United States.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Moon RC, Marijam A, Mitrani-Gold FS

BACKGROUND: We evaluated associations between antibiotic prescription and healthcare resource use and costs (Part A), and between antibiotic switching and healthcare resource use, costs, and uncomplicated urinary tract infection recurrence (Part B) in female patients with uncomplicated urinary tract infection in the United States. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study of linked Optum and Premier Healthcare Database data included female patients ≥12 years old with an uncomplicated urinary tract infection diagnosis (index date), who were prescribed antibiotics during an outpatient/emergency department visit between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2018. In Part A, patients were stratified by antibiotic prescription appropriateness: appropriate and optimal (compliant with Infectious Diseases Society of America 2011 guidelines for drug class/treatment duration) versus inappropriate/suboptimal (inappropriate drug class/treatment duration per Infectious Diseases Society of America 2011 guidelines, and/or treatment failure). In Part B, patients were stratified by treatment pattern (antibiotic switch vs no antibiotic switch). Healthcare resource use and costs during index episode (within 28 days of index date) and 12-month follow-up were compared. RESULTS: Of 5870 patients (mean age 44.5 years), 2762 (47.1%) had inappropriate/suboptimal prescriptions and 567 (9.7%) switched antibiotic. Inappropriate/suboptimal prescriptions were associated with higher healthcare resource use (mean number of ambulatory care and pharmacy claims [both p < 0.001]), and higher total mean cost (inpatient, outpatient/emergency department, ambulatory visits, and pharmacy costs) per patient ($2616) than appropriate and optimal prescriptions ($649; p < 0.001) (Part A). Antibiotic switching was associated with more pharmacy claims and higher total mean costs (p ≤ 0.01), and a higher incidence of recurrent uncomplicated urinary tract infection (18.9%) than no antibiotic switching (14.2%; p < 0.001) (Part B). CONCLUSIONS: Inappropriate/suboptimal prescriptions and antibiotic switching were associated with high costs, ambulatory care, and pharmacy claims, suggesting a need for improved uncomplicated urinary tract infection prescribing practices in the United States.

168. Social distancing with chronic pain during COVID-19: A cross-sectional correlational analysis.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 21

Donaghy B, Walker SC, Moore DJ.

169. Factors influencing open government data post-adoption in the public sector: The perspective of data providers.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 2

Mustapa MN, Hamid S, Md Nasaruddin FH.

Providing access to non-confidential government data to the public is one of the initiatives adopted by many governments today to embrace government transparency practices. The initiative of publishing non-confidential government data for the public to use and re-use without restrictions is known as Open Government Data (OGD). Nevertheless, after several years after its inception, the direction of OGD implementation remains uncertain. The extant literature on OGD adoption concentrates primarily on identifying factors influencing adoption decisions. Yet, studies on the underlying factors influencing OGD after the adoption phase are scarce. Based on these issues, this study investigated the post-adoption of OGD in the public sector, particularly the data provider agencies. The OGD post-adoption framework is crafted by anchoring the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework and the innovation adoption process theory. The data was collected from 266 government agencies in the Malaysian public sector. This study employed the partial least square-structural equation modeling as the statistical technique for factor analysis. The results indicate that two factors from the organizational context (top management support, organizational culture) and two from the technological context (complexity, relative advantage) have a significant contribution to the post-adoption of OGD in the public sector. The contribution of this study is threefold: theoretical, conceptual, and practical. This study contributed theoretically by introducing the post-adoption framework of OGD that comprises the acceptance, routinization, and infusion stages. As the majority of OGD adoption studies conclude their analysis at the adoption (decisions) phase, this study gives novel insight to extend the analysis into unexplored territory, specifically the post-adoption phase. Conceptually, this study presents two new factors in the environmental context to be explored in the OGD adoption study, namely, the data demand and incentives. The fact that data providers are not influenced by data requests from the agency's external environment and incentive offerings is something that needs further investigation. In practicality, the findings of this study are anticipated to assist policymakers in strategizing for long-term OGD implementation from the data provider's perspective. This effort is crucial to ensure that the OGD initiatives will be incorporated into the public sector's service thrust and become one of the digital government services provided to the citizen.

170. Bin1 targeted immunotherapy alters the status of the enteric neurons and the microbiome during ulcerative colitis treatment.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 2

Thomas S, Mercogliano G, Prendergast GC.

171. Exposure to images showing (non)adherence to physical distancing rules: Effect on adherence behavior and perceived social norms.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 2

Raghoebar S, Delnoij J, Kamphorst BA

172. Assessing the effect of compounds from plantar foot sweat, nesting material, and urine on social behavior in male mice, Mus musculus.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 2

Barabas AJ, Soini HA, Novotny MV

Home cage aggression causes poor welfare in male laboratory mice and reduces data quality. One of the few proven strategies to reduce aggression involves preserving used nesting material at cage change. Volatile organic compounds from the nesting material and several body fluids not only correlate with less home cage aggression, but with more affiliative allo-grooming behavior. To date, these compounds have not been tested for a direct influence on male mouse social behavior. This study aimed to determine if 4 previously identified volatile compounds impact home cage interactions. A factorial design was used with cages equally split between C57BL/6N and SJL male mice (N = 40). Treatments were randomly assigned across cages and administered by spraying one compound solution on each cage's nesting material. Treatments were refreshed after day 3 and during cage change on day 7. Home cage social behavior was observed throughout the study week and immediately after cage change. Several hours after cage change, feces were collected from individual mice to measure corticosterone metabolites as an index of social stress. Wound severity was also assessed after euthanasia. Measures were analyzed with mixed models. Compound treatments did not impact most study measures. For behavior, SJL mice performed more aggression and submission, and C57BL/6N mice performed more allo-grooming. Wound severity was highest in the posterior region of both strains, and the middle back region of C57BL/6N mice. Posterior wounding also increased with more observed aggression. Corticosterone metabolites were higher in C57BL/6N mice and in mice treated with 3,4-dimethyl-1,2-cyclopentanedione with more wounding. These data confirm previous strain patterns in social behavior and further validates wound assessment as a measure of escalated aggression. The lack of observed treatment effects could be due to limitations in the compound administration procedure and/or the previous correlation study, which is further discussed.

173. Long-term exposure to low concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and alterations in platelet indices: A longitudinal study in China.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 2

Cui J, Zhang T, Zhang C

Long-term exposure to low polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentration may ave detrimental effects, including changing platelet indices. Effects of chronic exposure to low PAH concentrations have been evaluated in cross-sectional, but not in longitudinal studies, to date. We aimed to assess the effects of long-term exposure to the low-concentration PAHs on alterations in platelet indices in the Chinese population. During 2014-2017, we enrolled 222 participants who had lived in a village in northern China, 1-2 km downwind from a coal plant, for more than 25 years, but who were not employed by the plant or related businesses. During three follow-ups, annually in June, demographic information and urine and blood samples were collected. Eight PAHs were tested: namely 2-hydroxynaphthalene, 1-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydroxyfluorene, 9-hydroxyfluorene (9-OHFlu), 2-hydroxyphenanthrene (2-OHPh), 1-hydroxyphenanthrene (1-OHPh), 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), and 3-hydroxybenzo [a] pyrene. Five platelet indices were measured: platelet count (PLT), platelet distribution width (PDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet crit, and the platelet-large cell ratio. Generalized mixed and generalized linear mixed models were used to estimate correlations between eight urinary PAH metabolites and platelet indices. Model 1 assessed whether these correlations varied over time. Models 2 and 3 adjusted for additional personal information and personal habits. We found the following significant correlations: 2-OHPh (Model1 β1 = 18.06, Model2 β2 = 18.54, Model β3 = 18.54), 1-OHPh (β1 = 16.43, β2 = 17.42, β3 = 17.42), 1-OHP(β1 = 13.93, β2 = 14.03, β3 = 14.03) with PLT, as well as 9-OHFlu with PDW and MPV (odds ratio or Model3 ORPDW[95%CI] = 1.64[1.3-2.06], ORMPV[95%CI] = 1.33[1.19-1.48]). Long-term exposure to low concentrations of PAHs, indicated by2-OHPh, 1-OHPh, 1-OHP, and 9-OHFlu, as urinary biomarkers, affects PLT, PDW, and MPV. 9-OHFlu increased both PDW and MPV after elimination of the effects of other PAH exposure modes.

174. The effect of soil type on yield and micronutrient content of pasture species.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 2

Darch T, Blackwell MSA, Hood J

The use of multispecies swards on livestock farms is growing due to the wide range of benefits they bring, such as improved biomass yield and animal performance. Preferential uptake of micronutrients by some plant species means the inclusion of legumes and forbs in grass-dominated pasture swards could improve micronutrient provision to livestock via careful species selection. However, although soil properties affect plant micronutrient concentrations, it is unknown whether choosing 'best-performing' species, in terms of their micronutrient content, needs to be soil-specific or whether the recommendations can be more generic. To address this question, we carried out an experiment with 15 common grass, forb and legume species grown on four soils for five weeks in a controlled environment. The soils were chosen to have contrasting properties such as texture, organic matter content and micronutrient concentrations. The effect of soil pH was tested on two soils (pH 5.4 and 7.4) chosen to minimise other confounding variables. Yield was significantly affected by soil properties and there was a significant interaction with botanical group but not species within a botanical group (grass, forb or legume). There were differences between botanical groups and between species in both their micronutrient concentrations and total uptake. Micronutrient herbage concentrations often, but not always, reflected soil micronutrient concentrations. There were soil-botanical group interactions for micronutrient concentration and uptake by plants, but the interaction between plant species (within a botanical group) and soil was significant only for forbs, and predominantly occurred when considering micronutrient uptake rather than concentration. Generally, plants had higher yields and micronutrient contents at pH 5.4 than 7.4. Forbs tended to have higher concentrations of micronutrients than other botanical groups and the effect of soil on micronutrient uptake was only significant for forbs.

175. Pelvic organ prolapse: The lived experience.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 2

Carroll L, O' Sullivan C, Doody C

176. Predictors of unwillingness to receive COVID -19 vaccines among Ethiopian Medical students.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 2

Getachew D, Yosef T, Solomon N

177. Chew on this: Oral jaw shape is not correlated with diet type in loricariid catfishes.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 2

Black CR, Armbruster JW.

178. Prevalence and associated factors of COVID-19 among Moroccan physicians: A cross-sectional study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 2

Baldi ME, Laghrissi A, Marso Z

179. Automatic assessment of laparoscopic surgical skill competence based on motion metrics.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 2

Ebina K, Abe T, Hotta K

The purpose of this study was to characterize the motion features of surgical devices associated with laparoscopic surgical competency and build an automatic skill-credential system in porcine cadaver organ simulation training. Participants performed tissue dissection around the aorta, dividing vascular pedicles after applying Hem-o-lok (tissue dissection task) and parenchymal closure of the kidney (suturing task). Movements of surgical devices were tracked by a motion capture (Mocap) system, and Mocap-metrics were compared according to the level of surgical experience (experts: ≥50 laparoscopic surgeries, intermediates: 10-49, novices: 0-9), using the Kruskal-Wallis test and principal component analysis (PCA). Three machine-learning algorithms: support vector machine (SVM), PCA-SVM, and gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT), were utilized for discrimination of the surgical experience level. The accuracy of each model was evaluated by nested and repeated k-fold cross-validation. A total of 32 experts, 18 intermediates, and 20 novices participated in the present study. PCA revealed that efficiency-related metrics (e.g., path length) significantly contributed to PC 1 in both tasks. Regarding PC 2, speed-related metrics (e.g., velocity, acceleration, jerk) of right-hand devices largely contributed to the tissue dissection task, while those of left-hand devices did in the suturing task. Regarding the three-group discrimination, in the tissue dissection task, the GBDT method was superior to the other methods (median accuracy: 68.6%). In the suturing task, SVM and PCA-SVM methods were superior to the GBDT method (57.4 and 58.4%, respectively). Regarding the two-group discrimination (experts vs. intermediates/novices), the GBDT method resulted in a median accuracy of 72.9% in the tissue dissection task, and, in the suturing task, the PCA-SVM method resulted in a median accuracy of 69.2%. Overall, the mocap-based credential system using machine-learning classifiers provides a correct judgment rate of around 70% (two-group discrimination). Together with motion analysis and wet-lab training, simulation training could be a practical method for objectively assessing the surgical competence of trainees.

180. Intranasal nanoemulsion adjuvanted S-2P vaccine demonstrates protection in hamsters and induces systemic, cell-mediated and mucosal immunity in mice.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 2

Ganesan S, Acosta H, Brigolin C

181. Variables appended to ABS frames: Has their data quality improved?

PLoS One

2022 Nov 2

Roth S, Caporaso A, DeMatteis J.

182. Predicting physiologically-relevant oxygen concentrations in precision-cut liver slices using mathematical modelling.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 2

Chidlow SJ, Randle LE, Kelly RA.

183. COVID-19 and excess mortality in Russia: Regional estimates of life expectancy losses in 2020 and excess deaths in 2021.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 2

Scherbov S, Gietel-Basten S, Ediev D

184. Evaluation of the virtual learning environment by school students and their parents in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic after school closure.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 2

Hegazi MA, Butt NS, Sayed MH

BACKGROUND: Very few previous studies have involved school students or their parents in the evaluation of virtual learning environment (VLE). Thus, this survey was performed to evaluate the satisfaction of both school students and their parents with the VLE in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was distributed online for VLE evaluation. The questionnaire was based on previous studies and expert opinions from validated instruments for assessing distance education, integrative and literature reviews of VLE environment. A median value >3 indicated participant satisfaction in each of the 5 domains of the questionnaire as well as overall VLE satisfaction. The used questionnaire was checked after its implementation by all possible statistical means and it was found to be of acceptable validity and reliability. RESULTS: Six hundred and ninety-three participants including 571 Saudi citizens and 122 non-Saudi residents participated in this survey. The number of school students who agreed or strongly agreed were significantly lower than the number of students who disagreed or strongly disagreed with preferring the VLE over traditional education (p<0.001). The participants evaluated the VLE experience as unsatisfactory with a median value ≤3 for 4 out of 5 questionnaire domains with an overall satisfaction value of 2.8. Among the 117 participants who gave further written opinions/comments, 42(35.9%) participants supported the VLE as an alternative to traditional classrooms, if equipment and internet are made available and for the safety of their children. CONCLUSIONS: This is one of few available adequate population-based studies for exploring the VLE satisfaction of both Saudi citizens and non-Saudi residents school students and their parents. This study showed the participants' unsatisfactory VLE experience. The VLE is accepted as an alternative to traditional classrooms to keep up with learning and to maintain the safety of children and it can be a supplementary learning method but many measures are still needed to develop the VLE.

185. A national study of burnout and spiritual health in UK general practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 2

Whitehead IO, Moffatt S, Jagger C

186. Reference intervals for common clinical chemistry parameters in healthy adults of Northeast Ethiopia.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 2

Fiseha T, Alemayehu E, Mohammed Adem O

BACKGROUND: Clinical chemistry reference intervals are important tools for health evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring adverse events. Currently used reference intervals in most African countries including Ethiopia are mainly derived from Western populations, despite studies reporting differences that could lead to incorrect clinical decisions. The aim of this study was to establish reference intervals for commonly used clinical chemistry parameters for healthy adults in Northeast Ethiopia. METHODS: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 328 apparently healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 57 years. Blood samples were collected for clinical chemistry analysis using Dirui CS-T240 auto-analyzer and serological testing to screen the population. Medians and 95% reference intervals were computed using non-parametric method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guideline. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare reference values between males and females. RESULTS: Reference intervals established were: ALT 11.2-48.0 U/L, AST 16-60 U/L, ALP 53-342.3 U/L, total protein 5.4-8.9 mg/dL, total bilirubin 0.1-1.23 mg/dL, glucose 65-125 mg/dL, total cholesterol 69-213 mg/dL, triglycerides 46-207 mg/dL, creatinine 0.3-1.2 mg/dL and urea 9.5-46.3 mg/dL. Significant sex-differences were observed for ALT, AST, ALP, total cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine and urea. We found that the established reference intervals substantially differ from the reference ranges currently in use. Up to 43.1% of apparently healthy adults are considered as having abnormal test values on the bases of the currently in use reference ranges. If the reference values from the United States based intervals were applied to the study population, 81.8% would have been classified as having abnormal laboratory test results. CONCLUSIONS: Local population-specific reference intervals were established for commonly used clinical chemistry parameters in adult population of Northeast Ethiopia. Although further study is needed, these reference intervals may have the potential to facility the decision-making process based on laboratory test results in this population.

187. Gastropods underwent a major taxonomic turnover during the end-Triassic marine mass extinction event.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 2

Ferrari M, Hautmann M.

Based on an exhaustive database of gastropod genera and subgenera during the Triassic-Jurassic transition, origination and extinction percentages and resulting diversity changes are calculated, with a particular focus on the end-Triassic mass extinction event. We show that gastropods suffered a loss of 56% of genera and subgenera during this event, which was higher than the average of marine life (46.8%). Among molluscs, gastropods were more strongly affected than bivalves (43.4%) but less than ammonoids, which were nearly annihilated. However, there were also pronounced differences among gastropod subclasses. The most strongly affected subclass was the Neritimorphia, which lost 72.7% of their Rhaetian genera; on the other extreme, the Heterobranchia remained nearly unaffected (11% loss). We analysed this extinction pattern with respect to larval development, palaeobiogeography, shell size, and anatomy and found that putative feeding of the pelagic larval stage, adaptation to tropical-temperate water temperatures, and flexibility of the mantle attachment were among the factors that might explain extinction resilience of heterobranchs during the end-Triassic crisis. Among molluscs, extinction magnitude roughly correlates with locomotion activity and thus metabolic rates. We suggest three potential kill mechanisms that could account for these observations: global warming, ocean acidification, and extinction of marine plankton. The end-Triassic extinction of gastropods therefore fits to proposed extinction scenarios for this event, which invoke the magmatic activity of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province as the ultimate cause of death. With respect to gastropods, the effect of the end-Triassic mass extinction was comparable to that of the end-Permian mass extinction. Notably, Heterobranchia was relatively little affected by both events; the extinction resilience of this subclass during times of global environmental changes was therefore possibly a key aspect of their subsequent evolutionary success.

188. Vasoactive intestinal peptide and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator contribute to the transepithelial calcium transport across intestinal epithelium-like Caco-2 monolayer.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 18

Rodrat M, Wongdee K, Teerapornpuntakit J

189. B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and its receptors' expression in pediatric nephrotic syndrome is associated with worse prognosis.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 18

Forero-Delgadillo J, Ochoa V, Restrepo JM

190. Current knowledge of physicians' dual practice in Iran: A scoping review and defining the research agenda for achieving universal health coverage.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 18

Moghri J, Arabloo J, Rahatlou MB

BACKGROUND: Physicians' dual practice (simultaneous practice in both public and private sectors) may be challenging for achieving universal health coverage. The purpose of this review is to identify the types of available evidence in physicians' dual practice in Iran and define the research agenda for achieving universal health coverage (UHC). METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of the literature using Arksey and O'Malley's approach. We searched Embase, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science core collection, as well as internal databases including the National Magazine Database (Magiran) and the Scientific Information Database (SID) until August 3, 2020. Studies published in Persian or English and investigating physicians' dual practice in the health system of Iran were included. Each step of the study was performed by two of the present researchers. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) recommendations were used to conduct this study and report the findings. RESULTS: Fourteen studies were included in the current review. The findings were categorized and synthesized into five themes including the forms of dual practice, the extent of dual practice, the motivators and factors affecting dual practice, the policy options, and the consequences of dual practice. There were limited evidence on the nature, types, and prevalence of this phenomenon for different provinces and medical specialties and on health policy options in Iran. There seems to be a methodological gap (a gap in the type of study and its method) in the subject area. Most studies have only used quantitative or qualitative study methods and based on the self-report of research samples in most of the included studies. CONCLUSIONS: More research is required at national level on the nature, types, and prevalence of this phenomenon, focusing on clarifying the root causes of this phenomenon and on the effects of dual practice on the indicators of accessibility to health services, especially for vulnerable populations, the quality of care provided, and equity, and on complex policy research on health policy options in Iran. The research questions proposed in the present study can help to bridge the knowledge gap in this area. Additional studies should address issues related to the quality of data collection in physicians' dual practice.

191. Assessing the cost and economic impact of tertiary-level pediatric cancer care in Tanzania.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 18

Saxton AT, Bhattacharya M, Sivaraj D

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, an estimated 400,000 children develop cancer each year. The bulk of the mortalities from these cases occur in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). In Sub-Saharan Africa, there is a tremendous need to strengthen the capacity of health systems to provide high-quality cancer care for children. However, a lack of data on the economic impact of cancer treatment in low-resource settings hinders its consideration as a healthcare priority. To address this gap, this study models the clinical and financial impact of pediatric cancer care in Tanzania, a lower-middle income country in East Africa. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with cancer under the age of 19 years treated at Bugando Medical Centre from January 2010 to August 2014. Information was collected from a total of 161 children, including demographics, type of cancer, care received, and five-year survival outcomes. This data was used to calculate the number of averted disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) with treatment. Charges for all direct medical costs, fixed provider costs, and variable provider costs were used to calculate total cost of care. The societal economic impact of cancer treatment was modeled using the value of statistical life (VSL) and human capital methods. FINDINGS: The total health impact for these 161 children was 819 averted DALYs at a total cost of $846,743. The median cost per patient was $5,064 ($4,746-5,501 interquartile range). The societal economic impact of cancer treatment ranged from $590,534 to $3,647,158 using VSL method and $1,776,296 using a human capital approach. INTERPRETATION: Despite the limitations of existing treatment capacity, economic modeling demonstrates a positive economic impact from providing pediatric cancer care in Tanzania. As many countries like Tanzania progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage, these key economic indicators may encourage future investment in comprehensive pediatric cancer care programs in low-resource settings to achieve clinically and economically beneficial results not only for the individual patients, but for the country as a whole.

192. Barriers and facilitators to diabetes screening and prevention after a pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 18

Sinha DD, Williams RC, Hollar LN

OBJECTIVE: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing in the United States, with higher rates among minoritized racial and ethnic populations and lower income populations. GDM increases risk for type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and postpartum diabetes screening and prevention are imperative. This qualitative study examines barriers and facilitators to postpartum T2DM screening and prevention among non-privately insured individuals with a history of GDM in a state prior to Medicaid expansion. METHODS: Thirty-six non-privately insured women with a history of GDM completed semi-structured interviews. Four focus groups and seven interviews were conducted with 30 nurse practitioners, physicians, physician assistants, nurses and registered dietitians from Federally Qualified Health Centers in St. Louis, MO. Interviews and focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed. Data were analyzed using an integrative thematic analysis informed by the socio-ecological model. RESULTS: Barriers and facilitators to T2DM screening and prevention occur across multiple environments (society, healthcare system, interpersonal, and individual). Societal barriers include insurance issues, unemployment, and lack of transportation, childcare, safe housing, and healthy food access, while facilitators include government sponsored programs and community organizations. Healthcare system barriers include care fragmentation, scheduling policies and time constraints while facilitators include care coordination, pregnancy support groups, and education materials. Interpersonal barriers include negative care experiences, cultural differences, communication challenges, competing priorities, and lack of a social support network, while facilitators include family and friend support and positive care experiences. Individual barriers include health complications and unhealthy food and exercise patterns, while facilitators include child wellbeing, empowered attitudes and healthy food and exercise patterns. CONCLUSIONS: The socioecological model highlights the societal and systemic determinants that encompass individual and interpersonal factors affecting postpartum T2DM screening and prevention. This framework can inform multi-level interventions to increase postpartum T2DM screening and prevention in this high-risk population, including policy changes to alleviate higher-level barriers.

193. A large Australian longitudinal cohort registry demonstrates sustained safety and efficacy of oral medicinal cannabis for at least two years.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 18

Vickery AW, Roth S, Ernenwein T

INTRODUCTION: Oral medicinal cannabis (MC) has been increasingly prescribed for a wide range of clinical conditions since 2016. Despite an exponential rise in prescriptions and publications, high quality clinical efficacy and safety studies are lacking. The outcomes of a large Australian clinical electronic registry cohort are presented. METHODS: A prospective cannabis-naïve patient cohort prescribed oral MC participated in an ongoing longitudinal registry at a network of specialised clinics. Patient MC dose, safety and validated outcome data were collected regularly over two years and analysed. RESULTS: 3,961 patients (mean age 56.07 years [SD 19.08], 51.0% female) with multimorbidity (mean diagnoses 5.14 [SD 4.08]) and polypharmacy (mean 6.26 medications [SD 4.61]) were included in this analysis. Clinical indications were for: chronic pain (71.9%), psychiatric (15.4%), neurological (2.1%), and other diagnoses (10.7%). Median total oral daily dose was 10mg for Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 22.5mg for cannabidiol (CBD). A stable dose was observed for over two years. 37.3% experienced treatment related adverse events. These were graded mild (67%), moderate (31%), severe (<2%, n = 23) and two (0.1%) serious adverse events. Statistically significant improvements at a p value of <0.001 across all outcomes were sustained for over two years, including: clinical global impression (CGI-E, +39%: CGI-I, +52%; p<0.001), pain interference and severity (BPI, 26.1% and 22.2%; p<0.001), mental health (DASS-21, depression 24.5%, anxiety 25.5%, stress 27.7%; p<0.001), insomnia (ISI, 35.0%; p<0.001), and health status (RAND SF36: physical function, 34.4%: emotional well-being, 37.3%; p<0.001). Mean number of concomitant medications did not significantly change over 2 years (p = 0.481). CONCLUSIONS: Oral MC was demonstrated to be safe and well-tolerated for a sustained period in a large complex cohort of cannabis-naïve, multimorbid patients with polypharmacy. There was significant improvement (p<0.001) across all measured clinical outcomes over two years. Results are subject to limitations of Real World Data (RWD) for causation and generalisability. Future high quality randomised controlled trials are awaited.

194. Diabetes-free survival among living kidney donors and non-donors with obesity: A longitudinal cohort study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 18

Killian AC, Reed RD, McLeod MC

195. A simulation study: Improved ratio-in-regression type variance estimator based on dual use of auxiliary variable under simple random sampling.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 18

Ahmad S, Hussain S, Ullah K

196. The causal role of affect sharing in driving vicarious fear learning.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 18

Müllner-Huber A, Anton-Boicuk L, Pronizius E

197. A predictive model of the effect of therapeutic radiation on the human ovary.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 18

Kelsey TW, Hua CH, Wyatt A

Radiation to the female pelvis as part of treatment for cancer predisposes young women to develop Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI). As the human female is born with their full complement of non-growing follicles which decline in an exponential fashion until the menopause, the age at which POI occurs is dependent on the age of the patient at treatment and the dose received by the ovary. A model that predicts the age at which POI occurs for a known dose at a known age will aid counselling patients on their fertility risk. Patients deemed to be at high risk of POI may be considered to be good candidates for established fertility preservation techniques. An updated and externally validated model of the age-related decline in human ovarian reserve was combined with the best available estimate of the median lethal dose LD50 for the human ovary. Using known age at diagnosis and posited radiotherapy treatment plan to estimate the dose to the least-affected ovary, we use an age-related model of the decline in ovarian reserve to generate a personalized age prediction of premature ovarian insufficiency. Our algorithm is available as an online calculator which graphs model outputs to inform discussions around survivor fertility. We report four example cases across different ages and diagnoses, each with two carefully designed photon and proton treatment plans. The treatment options are compared in terms of remaining fertile lifespan for the survivor. International oncology guidelines now mandate the consideration of later fertility when reviewing treatment options for children diagnosed with cancer. Our calculator (https://sites.cs.st-andrews.ac.uk/radiosensitivity), and the underlying algorithm and models, allow detailed predictions of the impact of various radiotherapy plans on fertility. These patient-specific data enhance pre-treatment discussions around post-treatment fertility and fertility preservation.

198. Assessment of Jordanian health care professionals' perception towards new COVID-19 variants of concern.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 18

Sawan HM, Al Omari SM, Al Bahar F

BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals working at the frontline, dealing with COVID-19 patients or their samples, should know about variants of concern (VOCs) and their transmissibility, disease severity, and vaccine efficacy. Healthcare professionals' (HCPs) perceptions towards new VOCs affect their practice and attitudes towards their patients. Moreover, these perceptions might significantly impact their patients' perceptions of new COVID-19 variants and public vaccine acceptability. METHODS: Online and paper-based questionnaires were distributed among Healthcare professionals in Jordan between August 2021 and October 2021. RESULTS: Among 423 HCPs who participated in this study, a majority believe that when viruses mutate, they become more transmissible (77.8%), more deadly (61.7%), and pathogenic (64.8%). In addition, half of the respondents, perceived current treatments as partially effective against VOCs and current diagnostics to be efficient. However, all VOCs were perceived as more transmissible, more virulent, and related to higher mortality rates when compared to the original strain. Regarding immunity against VOCs, (57.4%) of respondents believe in partial immunity against re-infection, and most respondents were either unsure about the current vaccines' efficacy or agreed that available vaccines would be ineffective. However, respondents (44.4%) still believe that people previously infected should get vaccinated. Respondents referred to the Ministry of Health as the most reliable source of information (45.6%) and the party responsible for educating the public about COVID-19 VOCs (57.9%). Travel was not a source of worry among respondents. However, they were worried about their families getting the new COVID-19 VOCs from their work. Similar proportions agreed/disagreed on the efficacy of the precautions and infection control measures currently applied by the government for preventing the spread of the new COVID-19 VOCs. CONCLUSION: Campaigns, workshops, and webinars targeting vaccines are highly recommended among HCPs to increase public acceptance of the vaccine and further booster shots.

199. Moving online: Experiences and potential benefits of digital dance for older adults and people with Parkinson's disease.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 18

Bek J, Leventhal D, Groves M

BACKGROUND: Dance provides a range of beneficial effects for older adults including individuals with age-related neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease (PD). The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the development of at-home dance programs delivered digitally through live and pre-recorded media, but little is known about how participants may engage with and benefit from these resources. OBJECTIVE: This study explored experiences and potential benefits of digital dance participation among healthy older adults and people with PD. METHODS: An online survey consisting of fixed-choice and open questions was designed in collaboration with dance program providers and distributed between June and November 2020. RESULTS: Healthy older adults (N = 149) and people with PD (N = 178) participating in at-home dance programs reported frequent engagement and a range of benefits. People with PD reported greater levels of motor (e.g., ease of movement, balance) than non-motor (e.g., energy, confidence) outcomes, while healthy older adults reported similar numbers of motor and non-motor outcomes. Positive outcomes were associated with the use of movement imagery during dance in both groups, while singing was associated with benefits in people with PD and vocalising was associated with benefits in older adults. At-home dance resources were found to offer convenience and flexibility, but participants missed the interaction, support, and routine provided by in-person classes. The majority expressed a preference to continue with both digital and in-person participation in the future. Qualitative analysis of participants' comments further revealed that digital participation could help to maintain connection and well-being, as well as identifying further considerations for improving accessibility and facilitating digital engagement. CONCLUSIONS: At-home dance appears to be accessible, engaging, and potentially beneficial for older adults and people with PD, although barriers to participation should be addressed. Digital resources will be increasingly important to enable cost-effective, large-scale provision of home-based therapeutic activities.

200. Divergent gene expression responses in two Baltic Sea heterotrophic model bacteria to dinoflagellate dissolved organic matter.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Osbeck CMG, Lundin D, Karlsson C

Phytoplankton release massive amounts of dissolved organic matter (DOM) into the water column during recurring blooms in coastal waters and inland seas. The released DOM encompasses a complex mixture of both known and unknown compounds, and is a rich nutrient source for heterotrophic bacteria. The metabolic activity of bacteria during and after phytoplankton blooms can hence be expected to reflect the characteristics of the released DOM. We therefore investigated if bacterioplankton could be used as "living sensors" of phytoplankton DOM quantity and/or quality, by applying gene expression analyses to identify bacterial metabolisms induced by DOM. We used transcriptional analysis of two Baltic Sea bacterial isolates (Polaribacter sp. BAL334 [Flavobacteriia] and Brevundimonas sp. BAL450 [Alphaproteobacteria]) growing with DOM from axenic cultures of the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum. We observed pronounced differences between the two bacteria both in growth and the expressed metabolic pathways in cultures exposed to dinoflagellate DOM compared with controls. Differences in metabolic responses between the two isolates were caused both by differences in gene repertoire between them (e.g. in the SEED categories for membrane transport, motility and photoheterotrophy) and the regulation of expression (e.g. fatty acid metabolism), emphasizing the importance of separating the responses of different taxa in analyses of community sequence data. Similarities between the bacteria included substantially increased expression of genes for Ton and Tol transport systems in both isolates, which are commonly associated with uptake of complex organic molecules. Polaribacter sp. BAL334 showed stronger metabolic responses to DOM harvested from exponential than stationary phase dinoflagellates (128 compared to 26 differentially expressed genes), whereas Brevundimonas sp. BAL450 responded more to the DOM from stationary than exponential phase dinoflagellates (33 compared to 6 differentially expressed genes). These findings suggest that shifts in bacterial metabolisms during different phases of phytoplankton blooms can be detected in individual bacterial species and can provide insights into their involvement in DOM transformations.

201. Interchanges and movements of humpback whales in Japanese waters: Okinawa, Ogasawara, Amami, and Hokkaido, using an automated matching system.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Kobayashi N, Kondo S, Tsujii K

Humpback whales in the western North Pacific are considered endangered due to their small population size and lack of information. Although previous studies have reported interchanges between regions within a population, the relationship between the geographic regions of a population in Japan is poorly understood. Using 3,532 fluke photo IDs of unique individuals obtained from four areas in Japan: Hokkaido, six IDs (2009-2019); Ogasawara, 1,477 IDs, from two organizations (1) Everlasting nature of Asia (1987-2020) and (2) Ogasawara Whale Watching Association, (1990-2020); Amami, 373 IDs (1992-1994, 2005-2016); Okinawa, 1,676 IDs (1990-2018), interchanges were analyzed. The ID matchings were conducted using an automated system with an 80.9% matching accuracy. Interchange and within-region return indices were also calculated. As a result, number of matches and interchange indices follow locations, Hokkaido-Okinawa (3, 0.31), Amami-Ogasawara (36, 0.06), Amami-Okinawa (222, 0.37), and Okinawa-Ogasawara (225, 0.08), respectively. Interchange indices among Japanese areas were much higher than the indices between Ogasawara/Okinawa and Hawaii (0.01) and Mexico (0.00) reported in previous studies, indicating that the Japanese regions are utilized by the same population. At the same time, the frequency of interchanges among the three breeding areas vary, and the high within-region return indices in respective breeding areas suggest the site fidelity of the whales in each area at some level. These results indicate the existence of several groups within the population which are possibly be divided into at least two groups based on geographical features: one tend to utilize Ogasawara and the Mariana Archipelago; the other utilize Amami, Okinawa, and the Philippines, migrating along the Ryukyu and Philippine Trench. The matching results also suggest that Hokkaido is possibly be utilized as a corridor between northern feeding areas and southern breeding areas at least by individuals migrating to Okinawa area.

202. Impact of built environment on residential online car-hailing trips: Based on MGWR model.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Cao Y, Tian Y, Tian J

203. Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 is dispensable for osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Fujita H, Ando A, Mizusawa Y

Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CysLTR1) is a G protein-coupled receptor for the inflammatory lipid mediators cysteinyl leukotrienes, which are involved in smooth muscle constriction, vascular permeability, and macrophage chemokine release. The Cysltr1 gene encoding CysLTR1 is expressed in the macrophage lineage, including osteoclasts, and the CysLTR1 antagonist Montelukast has been shown to suppress the formation of osteoclasts. However, it currently remains unclear whether CysLTR1 is involved in osteoclast differentiation and bone loss. Therefore, to clarify the role of CysLTR1 in osteoclastogenesis and pathological bone loss, we herein generated CysLTR1 loss-of-function mutant mice by disrupting the cysltr1 gene using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. These mutant mice had a frameshift mutation resulting in a premature stop codon (Cysltr1 KO) or an in-frame mutation causing the deletion of the first extracellular loop (Cysltr1Δ105). Bone marrow macrophages (BMM) from these mutant mice lost the intracellular flux of calcium in response to leukotriene D4, indicating that these mutants completely lost the activity of CysLTR1 without triggering genetic compensation. However, disruption of the Cysltr1 gene did not suppress the formation of osteoclasts from BMM in vitro. We also demonstrated that the CysLTR1 antagonist Montelukast suppressed the formation of osteoclasts without functional CysLTR1. On the other hand, disruption of the Cysltr1 gene partially suppressed the formation of osteoclasts stimulated by leukotriene D4 and did not inhibit that by glutathione, functioning as a substrate in the synthesis of cysteinyl leukotrienes. Disruption of the Cysltr1 gene did not affect ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis or lipopolysaccharide-induced bone resorption. Collectively, these results suggest that the CysLT-CysLTR1 axis is dispensable for osteoclast differentiation in vitro and pathological bone loss, while the leukotriene D4-CysTR1 axis is sufficient to stimulate osteoclast formation. We concluded that the effects of glutathione and Montelukast on osteoclast formation were independent of CysLTR1.

204. Investigating impacts of small dams and dam removal on dissolved oxygen in streams.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Abbott KM, Zaidel PA, Roy AH

Small surface-release dams are prevalent across North American watersheds and can alter stream flow, thermal regimes, nutrient dynamics, and sediment transport. These dams are often implicated as a cause of negative water quality impacts-including reduced dissolved oxygen (DO)-and dam removal is increasingly employed to restore natural stream processes and improve DO. Published impacts of small dams on DO vary widely across sites, and even less is known about the extent and timescale of DO recovery following removal. Therefore, we sought to quantify the effects of small dams and dam removal on DO and determine the dam, stream, and watershed characteristics driving inter-site variation in responses. We deployed continuous data loggers for 3 weeks during summer months in upstream (reference), impoundment, and downstream reaches at each of 15 dammed sites and collected equivalent data at 10 of those sites following dam removal. Prior to dam removal, most sites (60%) experienced a decrease in DO (an average of 1.15 mg/L lower) within the impoundment relative to upstream, but no consistent impacts on diel ranges or on downstream reaches. Before dam removal, 5 impacted stream reaches experienced minimum DO levels below acceptable water quality standards (<5 mg/L); after dam removal, 4 of 5 of these reaches met DO standards. Sites with wider impoundments relative to upstream widths and sites located in watersheds with more cultivated land experienced the greatest decreases in impoundment DO relative to upstream. Within one year following dam removal, impoundment DO recovered to upstream reference conditions at 80% of sites, with the magnitude of recovery strongly related to the magnitude of pre-removal impacts. These data suggest that broadly, small dams negatively affect stream DO, and the extent of effects are modulated by impoundment geometry and watershed characteristics. These results may help practitioners to prioritize restoration efforts at those sites where small dams are having outsized impacts, and therefore where the greatest water quality benefits may occur.

205. Explicit solution of divide-and-conquer dividing by a half recurrences with polynomial independent term.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Coronado TM, Mir A, Rosselló F.

206. In vitro and in vivo acute toxicity of a novel citrate-coated magnetite nanoparticle.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Rocha JMV, de Souza VB, Panunto PC

207. Association of clinical course with thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin in Graves' ophthalmopathy in Mongolians.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Bayarmunkh O, Ganbold C, Das S

208. Census of Twitter users: Scraping and describing the national network of South Korea.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Guan L, Liu XF, Sun W

209. Selective immunoglobulin A deficiency in children with diabetes mellitus: Data from a medical center in Ukraine.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Boyarchuk O, Dobrovolska L, Svystunovych H.

210. Low transmission of SARS-CoV-2 derived from children in family clusters: An observational study of family households in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, Spain.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Mele-Casas M, Launes C, de Sevilla MF

211. Research on brownfield redevelopment based on Wuli-Shili-Renli system theory and catastrophe progression method.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Jian H, Hao H, Haize P

212. Institution and gender-related differences in publication speed before and during COVID-19.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Acciai C, Holding BC, W Schneider J

213. Comparison of sampling methods for small oxbow wetland fish communities.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Osterhaus DM, Leberg SS, Pierce CL

214. Evaluation of ERIC-PCR and MALDI-TOF as typing tools for multidrug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates from a tertiary care center in India.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Kundu J, Kansal S, Rathore S

215. Rates of cardiovascular events among patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in an integrated health care system: A retrospective cohort study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Hedderson MM, Asgari MM, Xu F

216. Analysis of two choir outbreaks acting in concert to characterize long- range transmission risks through SARS-CoV-2, Berlin, Germany, 2020.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Reichert F, Stier O, Hartmann A

BACKGROUND: Superspreading events are important drivers of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and long-range (LR) transmission is believed to play a major role. We investigated two choir outbreaks with different attack rates (AR) to analyze the contribution of LR transmission and highlight important measures for prevention. METHODS: We conducted two retrospective cohort studies and obtained demographic, clinical, laboratory and contact data, performed SARS-CoV-2 serology, whole genome sequencing (WGS), calculated LR transmission probabilities, measured particle emissions of selected choir members, and calculated particle air concentrations and inhalation doses. RESULTS: We included 65 (84%) and 42 (100%) members of choirs 1 and 2, respectively, of whom 58 (89%) and 10 (24%) became cases. WGS confirmed strain identity in both choirs. Both primary cases transmitted presymptomatically. Particle emission rate when singing was 7 times higher compared to talking. In choir 1, the median concentration of primary cases' emitted particles in the room was estimated to be 8 times higher, exposure at least 30 minutes longer and room volume smaller than in choir 2, resulting in markedly different estimated probabilities for LR transmission (mode: 90% vs. 16%, 95% CI: 80-95% vs. 6-36%). According to a risk model, the first transmission in choir 1 occurred likely after 8 minutes of singing. CONCLUSIONS: The attack rate of the two choirs differed significantly reflecting the differences in LR transmission risks. The pooled proportion of cases due to LR transmission was substantial (81%; 55/68 cases) and was facilitated by likely highly infectious primary cases, high particle emission rates, and indoor rehearsing for an extended time. Even in large rooms, singing of an infectious person may lead to secondary infections through LR exposure within minutes. In the context of indoor gatherings without mask-wearing and waning or insufficient immunity, these results highlight the ongoing importance of non-pharmaceutical interventions wherever aerosols can accumulate.

217. The foreign language effects on strategic behavior games.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Wang Z, Yip MCW.

218. Molecular dynamics study on the strengthening behavior of Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD improved receptor-binding affinity.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Kodchakorn K, Kongtawelert P.

219. Significant adhesion reduction and time saving in pediatric heart surgery with 4DryField PH: A retrospective, controlled study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Cesnjevar R, Purbojo A, Haake C

220. Reduced midbrain raphe echogenicity in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Üçeyler N, Schließer M, Evdokimov D

221. Starting the SToP trial: Lessons from a collaborative recruitment approach.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

McRae T, Walker R, Jacky J

222. The effect of catchment based mentorship on quality of maternal and newborn care in primary health care facilities in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia: A controlled quasi-experimental study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Weldearegay HG, Kahsay AB, Godefay H

BACKGROUND: In Ethiopia, quality of maternal and newborn care is poor. This situation has persisted, despite the wide implementation of several capacity building-oriented interventions including clinical mentoring for skilled birth attendants that were anticipated to translate in to high-quality maternal and newborn care on each encounter. The effectiveness of mentoring programs is not yet well documented in the research literature. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of a catchment based clinical mentorship in improving the quality of maternal and newborn care in primary level facilities of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. METHODS: We conducted a controlled quasi-experimental pre-post study among 19 primary health care facilities, with 10 facilities assigned to the group where the catchment based clinical mentorship program was implemented (intervention group), and 9 facilities to the control group. We assigned the group based on administrative criteria, number of deliveries in each facility, accessibility, and ease of implementation of the intervention. A sample of 1320 women(662 at baseline; 658 at post intervention) and 233 skilled birth attendants(121 at baseline and 112 at end line) were included. We collected data from mothers, skilled birth attendants and facilities. The first round of data collection (baseline) took place two weeks prior the inauguration of the intervention, 05 October to 04 November 2019. The end line data collection occurred from 22 May to 03 July 2020. The primary Outcome was "receipt quality of maternal/newborn care". We analyzed the data using difference in differences (DiD) and logistic regression with Generalized Estimating Equation. The level of significance of predictors was declared at p-value less than 0.05in the multivariable analysis. INTERVENTION: We deployed a team of local clinical mentors working at primary hospitals to provide clinical mentorship, and direct feedback in routine and emergency obstetrical and newborn care to the mentees (all skilled birth attendants performing maternal and newborn health services) functioning in their catchment rural health centers for duration of six months. While visiting a facility, mentors remain at the facility each lasting at least five to seven days per month, over the course of intervention period. RESULTS: A significantly higher proportion of women at intervention facilities received quality of care services, compared with women at comparison facilities. (DiD = 18.4%, p<0.001). Moreover, following the implementation of the intervention we detected a difference in the occurrences of maternal complication outcome during delivery and immediately after birth. This was decreased by 4.5%, with significant differences between intervention and comparison sites (DiD = 4.5%, p = 0.013). We also found a favorable difference in occurrences of neonatal obstetric complications, with a decrease of 4.8% in the intervention site and almost no change in the comparison site (DiD = 4.8%, p = 0.002). Among the determinants of quality of care, we found that providers' job satisfaction (AoR = 2.95, 95%CI: 1.26 to 6.91), and making case presentation at regular basis(AoR = 1.89, 95%CI: 1.05 to 3.39) were significantly associated to improve the quality of care. However, delivery load(AoR = 0.95, 95%CI: 0.93 to 0.98) was negatively associated with quality of care. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the catchment based clinical mentorship intervention is effective to improve quality of care and reduce childbirth complications in northern Ethiopia. This finding further elaborated that incorporating maternal and newborn health catchment based clinical mentorship activities into the existing health system strengthening strategies can catalyze improvement processes to quality practice and health systems. This is seen as a necessary step to achieve the effective quality universal health care required to meet the health-related Sustainable Development Goals. Besides, more attention needs to be given to develop interventions and strategies that directly enhance providers' job satisfaction and reduce delivery work load.

223. Development and validation of a quantitative instrument for measuring temporal and social disorientation in the Covid-19 crisis.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Fernandez Velasco P, Gurchani U, Perroy B

224. Is it really a piece of cake to label Geographical Indications with the Nutri-Score? Consumers' behaviour and policy implications.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 17

Stiletto A, Trestini S.

To improve the dietary habits of the population, the EU, within the Farm to Fork strategy (F2F), is strongly supporting the Nutri-Score (NS) Front Of Pack (FOP) label. Under the NS system, Geographical Indications (GIs) are generally scored as "unhealthy" food, given the predominance of products of animal origin among GIs which are, notoriously, high-fat products. This study aims to determine the impact of the NS label on consumers' preferences for two Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) cheeses, in comparison with generic ones. A Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) was conducted on 600 Italian consumers through the estimation of a Random Parameter Logit model. Results highlighted that Italian consumers are generally not familiar with the NS and perceive it as a positive characteristic of the product, even if it is signalling an unhealthy choice (D score). However, consumers aware of the Nutri-Score meaning are willing to pay less to buy a product considered "unhealthy" according to this system. Furthermore, we found that consumers who already knew the NS system have homogeneous behaviours in rejecting the product, independently of the association with a PDO certification. This result has important implications on the agri-food sector. If the Nutri-Score becomes mandatory in the EU, consumers might refuse many GIs due to their negative Nutri-Score values. However, the quality of these products is recognized and protected worldwide. In this vein, the GI policy could be questioned by the F2F strategy: both of them aims to reduce information asymmetry producing, at the same time, contrasting results. Within the Geographical Indication policy, the PDO and PGI goods are protected for their quality attributes, which are strictly linked to their geographical origin of the products and traditional know-how. However, the EU adoption of the Nutri-Score could damage these products, reducing their perceived quality/value.

225. Synergistic effect between plant extracts and fluoride to protect against enamel erosion: An in vitro study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

Carvalho TS, Pham K, Rios D

Polyphenol-rich solutions, such as plant extracts and teas, can modify the salivary pellicle and improve the protection against dental erosion. In this study, we further explored how these polyphenol-rich plant extracts solutions behave in the presence of fluoride. We distributed enamel specimens into 9 groups (n = 15): Control_No_F- (Deionized water); Control_F- (500 ppm F-), Grape_Seed_No_F- (Grape seed extract), Grape_Seed_F- (Grape seed extract + 500 ppm F-), Grapefruit_Seed_No_F- (Grapefruit seed extract), Grapefruit_Seed_F- (Grapefruit seed extract + 500 ppm F-), Blueberry_No_F- (Blueberry extract), Blueberry_F- (Blueberry extract + 500 ppm F-), and Sn2+/F-_Rinse (commercial solution containing 800 ppm Sn2+ and 500 ppm F-). The specimens were submitted to 5 cycles (1 cycle per day), and each cycle consisted of: salivary pellicle formation (human saliva, 30 min, 37°C), modification of the pellicle (2 min, 25°C), pellicle formation (60 min, 37°C), and an erosive challenge (1 min, citric acid). Between cycles, the specimens were kept in a humid chamber. Relative surface hardness (rSH), relative surface reflection intensity (rSRI) and calcium released to the acid were analysed, using general linear models, and Kruskal-Wallis with post-hoc Dunn's tests. We observed that the presence of fluoride in synergy with the extract solutions provided better protection than the groups containing extract or fluoride only. For rSH, we observed a significant main effect of extracts (F(4,117) = 9.20; p<0.001) and fluoride (F(1,117) = 511.55; p<0.001), with a significant interaction (F(3,117) = 6.71; p<0.001). Grape_Seed_F- showed the best protection, better than fluoride, and Sn2+/F-_Rinse. Calcium results also showed greater protection for the groups containing fluoride, whereas for rSRI, despite a significant interaction between extract and fluoride (F(3,117) = 226.05; p<0.001), the differences between the groups were not as clearly observed. We conclude that polyphenols from plant extracts, when combined with fluoride, improve the protective effect of salivary pellicles against enamel erosion.

226. Psychometric properties of the Infant Motor Profile (IMP): A scoping review protocol.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

Machado LR, da Silva CFR, Hadders-Algra M

INTRODUCTION: The IMP is a novel video-based instrument to assess motor behavior of infants. It evaluates gross and fine motor behavior in five domains: variation, adaptability, symmetry, fluency, and performance. The latter assesses motor milestones, the other four domains assess qualitative aspects of movements. Literature suggests that it is a promising tool for pediatric health care, as its assists early detection of neurodevelopmental disorders and facilitates the design and monitoring of early intervention. This, this scoping review (ScR) aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Infant Motor Profile (IMP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic search will be conducted to identify relevant studies up to October 15, 2022. All papers published in English that evaluated or used the IMP in children under two years of age will be included. The search will be performed in Pubmed, Lilacs, PEDro, Scielo, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, Ovid PsycINFO, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, as well as in gray literature sources following the University of Toronto library guidelines. Standardized data extraction forms (Excel Tables) will be used to collect information. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for the Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist and JBI guidelines will be taken into consideration for results analysis and reporting. DISCUSSION: This Scoping Review will summarize available knowledge on the psychometric properties of the IMP. By proving that IMP is a reliable tool, a valid predictor of neurodevelopmental outcomes and a responsive instrument to measure change induced by early intervention, this will facilitate the implementation of the IMP in pediatric health care. It will assist the detection of infants at high risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, and it will facilitate the design of the tailor-made early intervention. SCOPING REVIEW PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: This scoping review protocol has been registered at Open Science Framework (OSF) (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/4HYKZ).

227. Repositioning of anti-dengue compounds against SARS-CoV-2 as viral polyprotein processing inhibitor.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

Bajrai LH, Faizo AA, Alkhaldy AA

228. The effectiveness of organisational-level workplace mental health interventions on mental health and wellbeing in construction workers: A systematic review and recommended research agenda.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

Greiner BA, Leduc C, O'Brien C

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review assesses the scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of organisational-level workplace mental health interventions on stress, burnout, non-clinical depressive and anxiety symptoms, and wellbeing in construction workers. METHODS: Eligibility criteria were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cluster randomized controlled trials (cRCTs), controlled or uncontrolled before- and after studies published in peer-reviewed journals between 2010 and May 2022 in five databases (Academic Search Complete, PsycInfo, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science). Outcomes were stress, burnout and non-clinical depression and anxiety symptoms, and wellbeing (primary) and workplace changes and sickness absenteeism (secondary). Quality appraisal was conducted using the QATQS scale, a narrative synthesis was applied. The protocol was published in PROSPERO CRD42020183640 https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020183640. MAIN RESULTS: We identified five articles (four studies) with a total sample size of 260, one cRCT, one controlled before- and after study, and two uncontrolled before- and after studies. The methodological quality of one study was rated as moderate, while for three studies it was weak. One study showed significant effects of a work redesign programme in short-term physiological stress parameters, one study showed a significant employee perceived improvement of information flow after supervisor training and one study showed a substantial non-significant decline in sick leave. There was no significant effect on general mental health (SF12) nor on emotional exhaustion. The focus of all studies was on physical health, while detailed mental health and wellbeing measures were not applied. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: The evidence for the effectiveness of organisational-level workplace mental health interventions in construction workers is limited with opportunities for methodological and conceptual improvement. Recommendations include the use of a wider range of mental health and wellbeing outcomes, interventions tailored to the specific workplace and culture in construction and the application of the principles of complex interventions in design and evaluation.

229. Validation of "the patient evaluation of emotional care during hospitalisation" questionnaire in intensive care unit patients.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

Fernández Trujillo A, Vallverdú Cartié H, Roman Maestre B

230. Reduction in medical costs for cardiovascular diseases through innovative health awareness projects in a rural area in Japan.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

Shoji A, Kudo K, Murashita K

231. Getting rid of 'rain' and 'stars': Mitigating inhibition effects on ddPCR data analysis, the case study of the invasive crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus in the streams of Luxembourg.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

Porco D, Hermant S, Purnomo CA

ddPCR is becoming one of the most widely used tool in the field of eDNA-based aquatic monitoring. Although emulsion PCR used in ddPCR confers a partial mitigation to inhibition due to the high number of reactions for a single sample (between 10K and 20K), it is not impervious to it. Our results showed that inhibition impacts the amplitude of fluorescence in positive droplets with a different intensity among rivers. This signal fluctuation could jeopardize the use of a shared threshold among samples from different origin, and thus the accurate assignment of the positive droplets which is particularly important for low concentration samples such as eDNA ones: amplification events are scarce, thus their objective discrimination as positive is crucial. Another issue, related to target low concentration, is the artifactual generation of high fluorescence droplets ('stars'). Indeed, these could be counted as positive with a single threshold solution, which in turn could produce false positive and incorrect target concentration assessments. Approximating the positive and negative droplets distribution as normal, we proposed here a double threshold method accounting for both high fluorescence droplets ('stars') and PCR inhibition impact in delineating positive droplets clouds. In the context of low concentration template recovered from environmental samples, the application of this method of double threshold establishment could allow for a consistent sorting of the positive and negative droplets throughout ddPCR data generated from samples with varying levels of inhibitor contents. Due to low concentrations template and inhibition effects, Quantasoft software produced an important number of false negatives and positive comparatively to the double threshold method developed here. This case study allowed the detection of the invasive crayfish P. leniusculus in 32 out of 34 sampled sites from two main rivers (Alzette and Sûre) and five of their tributaries (Eisch, Attert, Mamer, Wiltz and Clerve).

232. Preferences for accessing sexual and reproductive health services among adolescents and young adults living with HIV/AIDs in Western Kenya: A qualitative study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

Adhiambo HF, Ngayo M, Kwena Z.

Despite the need, adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in resource-limited settings have limited access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care services for improved health outcomes. This is worse for AYAs living with HIV in resource-limited settings where much is unknown about contexts and issues inhibiting access to SRHs. We explored adolescents', healthcare workers, and caregivers' preferences for access to sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents and young adults living with HIV. We conducted 30 in-depth interviews and 8 focus group discussions among a subset of AYA aged 14-24 living with HIV, healthcare workers, and caregivers/parents. We recruited participants from Lumumba Sub-County Hospital (KLM) and Kisumu County Referral Hospitals in Kisumu County (KCH). Trained and experienced qualitative research assistants 5-10 years older than the adolescents conducted interviews and facilitated discussions using guides designed to elicit detailed views and perspectives on sex and sexuality, access to SRH services, challenges of AYA living with HIV, and potential interventions to improve access to SRH services. Audio files were transcribed verbatim and translated to English where necessary before coding and analysis. We applied constant comparative analysis for theme and content to arrive at our conclusions. Our analysis yielded two main themes: preferences for a venue for SRH services and choices for qualities of an SRH counsellor. We found that AYAs generally preferred receiving SRH services to be co-situated within clinical facilities. We also observed gender differences in the qualities of SRH providers, with male AYAs preferring older male service providers compared to females who preferred younger female providers close to their age. The study highlighted the preferences of AYAs for accessing SRH, which need to be considered when designing their health programs. Further, AYAs seem to endite health systems to individualize access to SRH for AYAs living with HIV by providing a combination of attributes that meet individual preferences.

233. Economic precarity, loneliness, and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

Raifman J, Ettman CK, Dean LT

234. Structure-from-motion photogrammetry demonstrates variability in coral growth within colonies and across habitats.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

Lange ID, Molina-Hernández A, Medellín-Maldonado F

235. Predicting sustainable food consumption across borders based on the theory of planned behavior: A meta-analytic structural equation model.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

Shen X, Xu Q, Liu Q.

236. How do international humanitarian aid workers stay healthy in the face of adversity?

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

De Jong K, Martinmäki S, Brake HT

BACKGROUND: International humanitarian aid workers (iHAWs) are motivated strongly to travel abroad to help communities affected by war, famine, disaster and disease. They expose themselves to dangers and hardships during their field assignments. Despite working under such challenging circumstances, most workers remain healthy. The objective of the present study was to unravel the mechanism that enables workers to remain healthy under the same circumstances that affect these communities. We hypothesised that the different components of the Sense of Coherence (SOC) health mechanism mediate the relationship between field stressors and post-assignment health. METHODS AND FINDINGS: The stress-health model was tested among 465 international aid workers using a longitudinal pre-post assignment study design and structural equation modelling for path analyses. The (health) outcome variables were PTSD, anxiety, depression, emotional exhaustion, and work engagement. Our findings highlight the importance of being healthy before aid assignment and the negative health impact of field stressors that were not potentially traumatic. The SOC components mediated the relationship between field stress and post-assignment health, with males and females using different SOC components to alleviate stress. Males are more likely trying to understand the nature of the stressor, whereas females mobilise their resources to manage stressors. In both groups, a high level of meaningfulness of the work was an important component in maintaining health. Regarding using the SOC concept for understanding the process of maintaining health, our findings indicated that SOC is best considered context-specific and multidimensional. CONCLUSION: In addition to good pre-mission health, the SOC components help prevent field assignment-related negative health effects in iHAWs. Our findings support the idea to compose gender-balanced teams of iHAWs to maintain and promote health. The findings can be used to develop or refine health conversation tools and SOC based health interventions to promote health and wellbeing and prevent ill-health among aid workers and other stress-exposed populations.

237. Climate change and international migration: Exploring the macroeconomic channel.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

Rikani A, Frieler K, Schewe J.

238. Machine learning based multi-modal prediction of future decline toward Alzheimer's disease: An empirical study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

Karaman BK, Mormino EC, Sabuncu MR; Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition that progresses over decades. Early detection of individuals at high risk of future progression toward AD is likely to be of critical significance for the successful treatment and/or prevention of this devastating disease. In this paper, we present an empirical study to characterize how predictable an individual subjects' future AD trajectory is, several years in advance, based on rich multi-modal data, and using modern deep learning methods. Crucially, the machine learning strategy we propose can handle different future time horizons and can be trained with heterogeneous data that exhibit missingness and non-uniform follow-up visit times. Our experiments demonstrate that our strategy yields predictions that are more accurate than a model trained on a single time horizon (e.g. 3 years), which is common practice in prior literature. We also provide a comparison between linear and nonlinear models, verifying the well-established insight that the latter can offer a boost in performance. Our results also confirm that predicting future decline for cognitively normal (CN) individuals is more challenging than for individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Intriguingly, however, we discover that prediction accuracy decreases with increasing time horizon for CN subjects, but the trend is in the opposite direction for MCI subjects. Additionally, we quantify the contribution of different data types in prediction, which yields novel insights into the utility of different biomarkers. We find that molecular biomarkers are not as helpful for CN individuals as they are for MCI individuals, whereas magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers (hippocampus volume, specifically) offer a significant boost in prediction accuracy for CN individuals. Finally, we show how our model's prediction reveals the evolution of individual-level progression risk over a five-year time horizon. Our code is available at https://github.com/batuhankmkaraman/mlbasedad.

239. Characterization of hepatitis B viral forms from patient plasma using velocity gradient: Evidence for an excess of capsids in fractions enriched in Dane particles.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

Pronier C, Bomo J, Besombes J

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) morphogenesis is characterized by a large over-production of subviral particles and recently described new forms in parallel of complete viral particles (VP). This study was designed to depict circulating viral forms in HBV infected patient plasmas, using velocity gradients and most sensitive viral markers. Plasmas from chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, HBeAg positive or negative, genotype D or E, were fractionated on velocity and equilibrium gradients with or without detergent treatment. Antigenic and molecular markers were measured in plasma and in each collected fraction. Fast Nycodenz velocity gradients revealed good reproducibility and provided additional information to standard equilibrium sucrose gradients. HBV-RNAs circulated as enveloped particles in all plasmas, except one, and at lesser concentrations than VP. Calculations based on standardized measurements and relative virion and subviral particle molecular stoichiometry allowed to refine the experimental approach. For the HBeAg-positive plasma, VP were accompanied by an overproduction of enveloped capsids, either containing HBs, likely corresponding to empty virions, or for the main part, devoid of this viral envelope protein. Similarly, in the HBeAg-negative sample, HBs enveloped capsids, likely corresponding to empty virions, were detected and the presence of enveloped capsids devoid of HBs protein was suspected but not clearly evidenced due to the presence of contaminating high-density subviral particles. While HBeAg largely influences HBcrAg measurement and accounts for two-thirds of HBcrAg reactivity in HBeAg-positive patients, it remains a 10 times more sensitive marker than HBsAg to characterize VP containing fractions. Using Nycodenz velocity gradients and standardized biomarkers, our study proposes a detailed characterization of circulating viral forms in chronically HBV infected patients. We provide evidence for an excess of capsids in fractions enriched in Dane particles, likely due to the presence of empty virions but also by capsids enveloped by an HBs free lipid layer. Identification of this new circulating viral particle sets the basis for studies around the potential role of these entities in hepatitis B pathogeny and their physiological regulation.

240. Feeling low and unhappy together? An actor-partner-interdependence model uncovering the linkage between different operationalizations of relationship quality and depression in different-sex couples.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

Aguilar-Raab C, Winter F, Jarczok MN

Some studies suggest a bi-directional association between low relationship quality and depression. However, the social impact of depression and the potential preventative effects of healthy relationships are not yet sufficiently understood, as studies have shown heterogenous results for effects in both directions. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to differentiate the actor and partner effects of this association more comprehensively using two measures to capture characteristics of relationship quality-firstly regarding general aspects of social system quality and secondly considering specific aspects of the romantic relationship. 110 different-sex couples were included, being separated in partners with highly pronounced depressive symptoms in women (Cw/DW) versus partners with low depressive symptoms (LDCs). We investigated effects cross-sectionally using multi-group analyses to predict relationship (couple specific questionnaire: PFB) versus system quality (general system quality questionnaire: EVOS) in a step-by-step approach, modelling actor and partner effects with variation within and across both groups and then comparing the results to models with equal actor and partner effects. Depression was measured with the PHQ-9. With regard to the relationship between depressive symptoms and system quality, the model that constrained actor and partner effects to be equal across both groups was preferred and showed negative significant actor effects across gender and groups. Concerning the association between depressive symptoms and relationship quality, the model constraining actor and partner effects to be equal within groups had the best fit to the data and revealed a negative partner effect in LDCs. Conclusions Controlling for the moderating variable of clinically relevant depressive symptoms, we found evidence for actor and partner effects, which differed between the two relationship measures. This underlines the importance to reflect how relationship quality is operationalized. The negative partner effect on relationship quality in LDCs emphasizes that even in a non-clinical context, depressive symptoms negatively impact the perceived relationship quality of both women and men. This suggests that addressing the relationship is important in non-clinical preventive contexts and calls for integrating the partner into counselling or trainings.

241. Thermoregulatory heat-escape/cold-seeking behavior in mice and the influence of TRPV1 channels.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

Masuda Y, Sakai R, Kato I

242. Examining the differential use of a North American animal poison control call center by veterinarians and the public for dog-related calls.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

Shahin K, Pearl DL, Martinko C

243. The association between women's economic participation and physical and/or sexual domestic violence against women: A case study for Turkey.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

Greulich A, Dasré A.

244. The small RNA landscape is stable with age and resistant to loss of dFOXO signaling in Drosophila.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 16

Gartland S, Zeng B, Marr MT 2nd.

245. Dynamics and resiliency of networks with concurrent cascading failure and self-healing.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 15

Al-Aqqad W, Hayajneh HS, Zhang X.

246. Improvement of non-invasive tests of liver steatosis and fibrosis as indicators for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with elevated cardiovascular risk profile using the PPAR-α/γ agonist aleglitazar.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 15

Grobbee EJ, de Jong VD, Schrieks IC

247. Use of X-ray irradiation for inactivation of Aspergillus in cannabis flower.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 15

Frink S, Marjanovic O, Tran P

248. Evaluating noninvasive methods for estimating cestode prevalence in a wild carnivore population.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 15

Brandell EE, Jackson MK, Cross PC

Helminth infections are cryptic and can be difficult to study in wildlife species. Helminth research in wildlife hosts has historically required invasive animal handling and necropsy, while results from noninvasive parasite research, like scat analysis, may not be possible at the helminth species or individual host levels. To increase the utility of noninvasive sampling, individual hosts can be identified by applying molecular methods. This allows for longitudinal sampling of known hosts and can be paired with individual-level covariates. Here we evaluate a combination of methods and existing long-term monitoring data to identify patterns of cestode infections in gray wolves in Yellowstone National Park. Our goals were: (1) Identify the species and apparent prevalence of cestodes infecting Yellowstone wolves; (2) Assess the relationships between wolf biological and social characteristics and cestode infections; (3) Examine how wolf samples were affected by environmental conditions with respect to the success of individual genotyping. We collected over 200 wolf scats from 2018-2020 and conducted laboratory analyses including individual wolf genotyping, sex identification, cestode identification, and fecal glucocorticoid measurements. Wolf genotyping success rate was 45%, which was higher in the winter but decreased with higher precipitation and as more time elapsed between scat deposit and collection. One cestode species was detected in 28% of all fecal samples, and 38% of known individuals. The most common infection was Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (primarily E. canadensis). Adult wolves had 4x greater odds of having a cestode infection than pups, as well as wolves sampled in the winter. Our methods provide an alternative approach to estimate cestode prevalence and to linking parasites to known individuals in a wild host system, but may be most useful when employed in existing study systems and when field collections are designed to minimize the time between fecal deposition and collection.

249. Behavioral trajectories of aging prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster): Adapting behavior to social context wanes with advanced age.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 15

Powell JM, Garvin MM, Lee NS

Several studies using mice have examined the effects of aging on cognitive tasks, as well as sensory and motor functions. However, few studies have examined the influence of aging on social behavior. Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) are a socially monogamous and biparental rodent that live in small family groups and are now among the most popular rodent models for studies examining social behavior. Although the social behavioral trajectories of early-life development in prairie voles have been well-studied, how social behavior may change throughout adulthood remains unknown. Here we examined behavior in virgin male and female prairie voles in four different age groups: postnatal day (PND) 60-80, 140-160, 220-240, and 300-320. All animals underwent testing in a novel object task, a dominance test, a resident-intruder test, and several iterations of social approach and social interaction tests with varying types of social stimuli (i.e., novel same-sex conspecific, novel opposite-sex conspecific, familiar same-sex sibling/cagemate, small group of novel same-sex conspecifics). We found that age influenced neophobia and dominance, but not social approach behavior. Further, we found that young adult, but not older adult, prairie voles adapt prosocial and aggressive behavior relative to social context, and that selective aggression occurs in relation to age even in the absence of a pair bond. Our results suggest that prairie voles calibrate social phenotype in a context-dependent manner in young adulthood and stop adjusting behavior to social context in advanced age, demonstrating that social behavior is plastic not only throughout early development, but also well into adulthood. Together, this study provides insight into age-related changes in social behavior in prairie voles and shows that prairie voles may be a viable model for studying the cognitive and physiological benefits of social relationships and social engagement in advanced age.

250. Cooperation dynamics in dynamical networks with history-based decisions.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 15

Miles AL, Cavaliere M.

In many aspects of life on earth, individuals may engage in cooperation with others to contribute towards a goal they may share, which can also ensure self-preservation. In evolutionary game theory, the act of cooperation can be considered as an altruistic act of an individual producing some form of benefit or commodity that can be utilised by others they are associated with, which comes at some personal cost. Under certain conditions, individuals make use of information that they are able to perceive within a group in order to aid with their choices for who they should associate themselves within these cooperative scenarios. However, cooperative individuals can be taken advantage of by opportunistic defectors, which can cause significant disruption to the population. We study a model where the decision to establish interactions with potential partners is based on the opportune integration of the individual's private ability to perceive the intentions of others (private information) and the observation of the population, information that is available to every individual (public information). When public information is restricted to a potential partners current connection count, the population becomes highly cooperative but rather unstable with frequent invasions of cheaters and recoveries of cooperation. However, when public information considers the previous decisions of the individuals (accepted / rejected connections) the population is slightly less cooperative but more stable. Generally, we find that allowing the observation of previous decisions, as part of the available public information, can often lead to more stable but fragmented and less prosperous networks. Our results highlight that the ability to observe previous individual decisions, balanced by individuals personal information, represents an important aspect of the interplay between individual decision-making and the resilience of cooperation in structured populations.

251. Molecular diversity of hepatitis B virus among pregnant women in Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 15

Dagnew M, Moges F, Tiruneh M

BACKGROUND: Despite the availability of effective vaccines and treatments for hepatitis B virus (HBV), it continues to be a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa including Ethiopia. Routine screening for HBV in pregnant women is widely recommended, but there is lack of screening for HBV during pregnancy in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess viral load, and genetic diversity among pregnant women in the Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) testing was performed on 1846 pregnant women, 85 of who tested positive were included in this study. HBV DNA was isolated from 85 positive sera, and the partial surface/polymerase gene was amplified and sequenced. HBV genotypes, sub-genotypes, serotypes and mutations in surface genes and polymerase were studied. RESULTS: Out of 85 pregnant women`s HBsAg positive sera, 59(69.4%) had detectable viral DNA. The median viral load was 3.4 log IU/ml ranging from 2.6 to7.6 and 46 samples were successfully sequenced and genotyped. Genotypes A and D were identified in 39 (84.8%) and 7 (15.2%); respectively. All genotype A isolates were further classified into sub-genotype A1 and serotype adw2 (84.8%) whereas genotype D isolates were further classified into three sub genotypes; 2 (4.3%) D2, 1(2.2%) D4, and 4 (8.7%) D10 with serotypes ayw2 (10.9%), and ayw3 (4.3%). There were 19 (41.3%) surface gene mutations in the major hydrophilic region (MHR). Six (13.1%) of them were discovered in MHR`s `a'-determinant region. Six polymerase gene mutations (13%) were identified. CONCLUSION: Genotype A was the predominant genotype in the Amhara National Regional State. The surface and polymerase gene mutations identified in this study may lead to immune therapy failure, diagnostics escape and drug resistance. Thus, the data generated in this study will contribute to the planning of HBV diagnosis, vaccination and treatment, and most importantly to the prevention of vertical transmission of HBV in Ethiopia. Therefore, further molecular studies on HBV are warranted and continuous surveillance is important for patient management and for the prevention and control of HBV infection in the country.

252. Apoptosis in platelets is independent of the actin cytoskeleton.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 15

De Silva E, Paul M, Kim H.

253. Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding antimicrobial usage, spread and resistance emergence in commercial poultry farms of Rajshahi district in Bangladesh.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 15

Islam MZ, Islam MS, Kundu LR

BACKGROUND: Inappropriate and injudicious use of antimicrobials in broiler and layer farms has become a common practice in lower and middle-income countries including Bangladesh. This study aimed to assess poultry farmers' knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding antimicrobial usage (AMU), and their beliefs in factors that affect antimicrobial resistance (AMR) spread and emergence in humans through commercial poultry farms in Bangladesh. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 204 farmers (95.6% male; meanage = 35.14 ± 10.25 years) in the Rajshahi district of Bangladesh who were recruited from three upazilas (sub-districts) through a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected from June to November 2021 via face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. RESULTS: The proportion of farmers who reported having received information regarding AMU from veterinarians was higher in layer compared to broiler farms (65.9% vs. 44.9%, p < 0.001). A higher proportion of layer compared to broiler farmers believed that antimicrobial residues and pathogens in poultry can pass to humans through the consumption of contaminated eggs (28.1% vs. 5.8%, p < 0.05). The mean score of the farmers' attitude towards addressing AMU was 4.49 (SD = 1.37) out of 7, with the higher score indicating a better attitude. The mean score of better attitudes towards addressing AMU was significantly higher among educated participants (bachelor's or higher levels of education (p = 0.006). A higher proportion of layer (56.3%) farmers did not keep a record of AMU when compared to broiler farmers (37.7%) (p = 0.012). More broiler (50.7%) compared to layer (38.5%) farmers continued using the full dose of antimicrobials (p = 0.042). The most frequently used antimicrobials in broiler and layer poultry farms were Colistin (broiler vs layer: 73.9% vs. 86.75%; p = 0.024), and Ciprofloxacin (broiler vs. layer: 95.7% vs. 84.4%; p = 0.021). Farmers' beliefs were significantly associated with the spread of AMR pathogens from contaminated eggs to humans (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings reflected that majority of farmers had inadequate knowledge of AMU, less knowledgeable beliefs aboutAMU, and inappropriate AMU (e.g., poor record keeping, incomplete doses) in chicken production systems. The government should ensure education or advisory services for poultry farmers on proper AMU, enforce current veterinary laws and regulations on antimicrobials, and implement AMU surveillance systems.

254. The benefits and harms of adjuvant chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer in patients with major comorbidities: A simulation study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 15

Leiter A, Kong CY, Gould MK

BACKGROUND: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated a survival benefit for adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy after resection of locoregional non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The relative benefits and harms and optimal approach to treatment for NSCLC patients who have major comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], coronary artery disease [CAD], and congestive heart failure [CHF]) are unclear, however. METHODS: We used a simulation model to run in-silico comparative trials of adjuvant chemotherapy versus observation in locoregional NSCLC in patients with comorbidities. The model estimated quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained by each treatment strategy stratified by age, comorbidity, and stage. The model was parameterized using outcomes and quality-of-life data from RCTs and primary analyses from large cancer databases. RESULTS: Adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with clinically significant QALY gains for all patient age/stage combinations with COPD except for patients >80 years old with Stage IB and IIA cancers. For patients with CHF and Stage IB and IIA disease, adjuvant chemotherapy was not advantageous; in contrast, it was associated with QALY gains for more advanced stages for younger patients with CHF. For stages IIB and IIIA NSCLC, most patient groups benefited from adjuvant chemotherapy. However, In general, patients with multiple comorbidities benefited less from adjuvant chemotherapy than those with single comorbidities and women with comorbidities in older age categories benefited more from adjuvant chemotherapy than their male counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Older, multimorbid patients may derive QALY gains from adjuvant chemotherapy after NSCLC surgery. These results help extend existing clinical trial data to specific unstudied, high-risk populations and may reduce the uncertainty regarding adjuvant chemotherapy use in these patients.

255. The impact of economic policy uncertainty on firms' investment in innovation: Evidence from Chinese listed firms.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 15

Kun W, Hu X, Liu F.

256. Witch Nails (Krt90whnl): A spontaneous mouse mutation affecting nail growth and development.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 14

Sundberg JP, Galantino-Homer H, Fairfield H

257. Down-regulation of hepatic expression of GHR/STAT5/IGF-1 signaling pathway fosters development and aggressiveness of HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma: Crosstalk with Snail-1 and type 2 transforming growth factor-beta receptor.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 14

Abu El-Makarem MA, Kamel MF, Mohamed AA

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: So far, few clinical trials are available concerning the role of growth hormone receptor (GHR)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5)/insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) axis in hepatocarcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatic expression of GHR/STAT5/IGF-1 signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and to correlate the results with the clinico-pathological features and disease outcome. The interaction between this signaling pathway and some inducers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), namely Snail-1 and type 2 transforming growth factor-beta receptor (TGFBR2) was studied too. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 40 patients with HCV-associated HCC were included in this study. They were compared to 40 patients with HCV-related cirrhosis without HCC, and 20 healthy controls. The hepatic expression of GHR, STAT5, IGF-1, Snail-1 and TGFBR2 proteins were assessed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with cirrhotic patients without HCC and healthy controls, cirrhotic patients with HCC had significantly lower hepatic expression of GHR, STAT5, and IGF-1proteins. They also displayed significantly lower hepatic expression of TGFBR2, but higher expression of Snail-1 versus the non-HCC cirrhotic patients and controls. Serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) showed significant negative correlations with hepatic expression of GHR (r = -0.31; p = 0.029) and STAT5 (r = -0.29; p = 0.04). Hepatic expression of Snail-1 also showed negative correlations with GHR, STAT5, and IGF-1 expression (r = -0.55, p = 0.02; r = -0.472, p = 0.035, and r = -0.51, p = 0.009, respectively), whereas, hepatic expression of TGFBR2 was correlated positively with the expression of all these proteins (r = 0.47, p = 0.034; 0.49, p = 0.023, and r = 0.57, p<0.001, respectively). Moreover, we reported that decreased expression of GHR was significantly associated with serum AFP level>100 ng/ml (p = 0.048), increased tumor size (p = 0.02), vascular invasion (p = 0.002), and advanced pathological stage (p = 0.01). Similar significant associations were found between down-regulation of STAT5 expression and AFP level > 100 ng/ml (p = 0.006), vascular invasion (p = 0.009), and advanced tumor stage (p = 0.007). Also, attenuated expression of IGF-1 showed a significant association with vascular invasion (p < 0.001). Intriguingly, we detected that lower expression of GHR, STAT5 and IGF-1 were considered independent predictors for worse outcome in HCC. CONCLUSION: Decreased expression of GHR/STAT5/IGF-1 signaling pathway may have a role in development, aggressiveness, and worse outcome of HCV-associated HCC irrespective of the liver functional status. Snail-1 and TGFBR2 as inducers of EMT may be key players. However, large prospective multicenter studies are needed to validate these results.

258. Communication interventions for medically unexplained symptom conditions in general practice: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 14

Byrne AK, Scantlebury A, Jones K

BACKGROUND: Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) account for 3-50% of all General Practitioner (GP) consultations and are difficult to diagnose due to their unknown aetiology, symptom overlap between conditions, and lack of effective treatment options. MUS patients' and primary care clinicians frequently face challenges during consultations, with GPs reporting difficulty identifying and classifying MUS, whilst patients report stigma and feeling illegitimised by clinicians. Communication interventions have been proposed as a method to facilitate the doctor-patient relationship and aid the management of MUS. AIM: This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of primary care based communication interventions at improving MUS patients' and/or clinician outcomes. METHOD: Four electronic databases were searched from inception to November 2021. Two researchers independently undertook screening, data extraction and quality appraisal. Given the heterogeneous nature of the studies identified, narrative syntheses were conducted, along with meta-analyses where possible to pool data. RESULTS: 9 papers from 10 Randomised Controlled Trials were included. The included studies displayed considerable risk of bias and poor reporting. Some limited evidence suggests that communication interventions tailored to MUS and not following a pre-specified model (such as reattribution) could improve pain, mental and physical functioning whilst reattribution training may improve clinician confidence treating MUS. However, methodological limitations mean that these findings should be interpreted with caution. CONCLUSION: A range of interventions for improving communication with MUS patients in primary care have been evaluated. However, the heterogeneous nature of existing evidence and poor study quality mean we cannot conclude whether these interventions are effective. Before considering further randomised controlled trials researchers should focus on developing a new or modified communication intervention for MUS patients and their clinicians. TRAIL REGISTRATION: The systematic review was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (registration record CRD42020206437).

259. Extracellular vesicles from focal segmental glomerulosclerosis pediatric patients induce STAT3 activation and mesangial cell proliferation.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 14

Pekkucuksen NT, Liu LP, Aly R

260. High-speed lateral stability and trajectory tracking performance for a tractor-semitrailer with active trailer steering.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 14

Hou Y, Xu X.

261. Trauma consultations in a Swiss tertiary emergency department: Comparison of asylum seekers and the local population-Patient characteristics and patterns of injuries, a retrospective study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 14

Jachmann A, Saffuri R, Eijer H

262. Enhanced recombinant protein production in CHO cell continuous cultures under growth-inhibiting conditions is associated with an arrested cell cycle in G1/G0 phase.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 14

Avello V, Torres M, Vergara M

263. It's just that uncertainty that eats away at people: Antarctic expeditioners' lived experiences of COVID-19.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 14

Nash M, Leane E, Norris K.

264. The negative impact of COVID-19 on working memory revealed using a rapid online quiz.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 14

Baseler HA, Aksoy M, Salawu A

Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects the respiratory system, it can also have neurological consequences leading to cognitive deficits such as memory problems. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 on working memory function. We developed and implemented an online anonymous survey with a working memory quiz incorporating aspects of gamification to engage participants. 5428 participants successfully completed the survey and memory quiz between 8th December 2020 and 5th July 2021 (68.6% non-COVID-19 and 31.4% COVID-19). Most participants (93.3%) completed the survey and memory quiz relatively rapidly (mean time of 8.84 minutes). Categorical regression was used to assess the contribution of COVID status, age, time post-COVID (number of months elapsed since having had COVID), symptoms, ongoing symptoms and gender, followed by non-parametric statistics. A principal component analysis explored the relationship between subjective ratings and objective memory scores. The objective memory scores were significantly correlated with participants' own assessment of their cognitive function. The factors significantly affecting memory scores were COVID status, age, time post-COVID and ongoing symptoms. Our main finding was a significant reduction in memory scores in all COVID groups (self-reported, positive-tested and hospitalized) compared to the non-COVID group. Memory scores for all COVID groups combined were significantly reduced compared to the non-COVID group in every age category 25 years and over, but not for the youngest age category (18-24 years old). We found that memory scores gradually increased over a period of 17 months post-COVID-19. However, those with ongoing COVID-19 symptoms continued to show a reduction in memory scores. Our findings demonstrate that COVID-19 negatively impacts working memory function, but only in adults aged 25 years and over. Moreover, our results suggest that working memory deficits with COVID-19 can recover over time, although impairments may persist in those with ongoing symptoms.

265. Public perceptions About Foreign Investment, A PLS-SEM Analysis toward republic sustainable infrastructure.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 11

Sohail MT, Chen S.

Over the years, Pakistan and China have developed strong bilateral trade and economic linkages. China Pakistan economic corridors (CPEC) is a multidimensional development plan, encircling several diverse projects and the Chinese government is going to invest a huge amount in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor on several different projects. CPEC is an approach toward economic stability for both countries in the globalized world and is known as a game changer in this region. In the present study China-Pakistan economics door has been discussed, to check the CPEC implementations situation, its restraints, challenges, and benefits. An empirical process was adopted to check public opinion about it with aimed public perceptions About Foreign Investment, A PLS-SEM Analysis toward republic sustainable infrastructure. PLS-SEM direct path analysis revealed that there is direct relationship among IV and DV, these results offer support to hypotheses H1-H6 accepted. We have also looked at the levels of education and gender of the respondents as control variables, gender and education showed insignificant relationships with CPEC. It means there is no direct relationship between gender and education to DV. Age significantly moderates the relationship of CPEC associated with IV, depicts the moderation role of age on the relationship, under this research H2a and H3a have significant relationships with age as a moderator while other moderators did not show any relationship. In the current study, there is a significant relationship among all parameters, and there is a medium to strong correlation between diverse variables. The study showed that CPEC will have positive and strong impacts on the economic development of both countries and public of Pakistan consider it can open many doors for them for education, jobs and tourism. This study can help policy makers to make policy to make more effective policy in this are for sustainable development.

266. Social, psychological and health characteristics associated with stability and change in adult alcohol consumption.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 11

Michelsen ME, Grønkjær M, Mortensen EL

BACKGROUND: Many studies analyzing health effects of alcohol consumption have operationalized alcohol intake from a single baseline measure without further follow-up. Consequently, there is a lack of knowledge about stability and change in alcohol consumption over the life course and the social, psychological, lifestyle, and health characteristics associated with different alcohol consumption trajectories. OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to describe the prevalence of different adult-life alcohol consumption trajectories among Danish men and to analyze social, psychological, lifestyle and health characteristics associated with these trajectories. METHODS: For 2510 Danish men, retrospective decade-based information on alcohol consumption during life period 26-60 years was obtained in late midlife and information on individual characteristics was obtained in young adulthood, late midlife and from national hospital registries. The men were allocated to one of six a priori defined alcohol consumption trajectories. RESULTS: About 65% of Danish men had a stable moderate consumption, drinking 1-21 units weekly while the five other consumption trajectories were comparatively rare: 3% stable abstainers, 4.7% stable high-risk drinkers, 10.9% with increasing and 12.7% with decreasing consumption. Moderate consumption over the adult life-course was associated with the most favorable social, psychological, lifestyle and health characteristics while the other trajectories were generally associated with less favorable characteristics to varying degrees-e. g. this was the case for the stable abstaining trajectory and in particular the trajectory with decreasing consumption. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the majority of Danish men drink moderately in the life period from young adulthood to late midlife, and deviance from this 'normal' moderate consumption trajectory is associated with less favorable social, psychological, lifestyle and health characteristics. Some of these characteristics may influence alcohol consumption patterns, but for some of the trajectories, alcohol consumption may influence health as well as social and psychological functioning.

267. Role of platelet indices as diagnostic and predictive biomarkers for comorbidity of diabetes and metabolic syndrome in southern Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 11

Haile K, Kedir R, Timerga A

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndromes (MetS) and diabetes mellitus (DM) comorbidity is a growing major global public health problem with huge morbidity and mortality. It is a pro-inflammatory and prothrombotic disorder characterized by alteration of platelet indices and increased platelet activation, however, the tendency to use them in diagnosis is not yet fully evaluated in our context and there is limited evidence on the role of platelet indices in predicting and differentiating DM+MetS comorbidity in Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate platelet indices in HC, DM, and DM+MetS, and to determine their role in the prediction of DM+MetS comorbidity risk and the distinction between DM+MetS and DM or healthy persons in southwest Ethiopia. METHOD AND MATERIALS: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Wolkite University specialized hospital from March to August 2021. A total of 336 study participants (112 healthy controls (HC), 112 DM, 112 DM+MetS) was included in this study. Anthropmetric data were measured and the venous blood sample was collected to determine platelet indices, lipid profiles, and blood glucose levels. The SPSS version 21 statistical software was used to perform receiver operating curve (ROC), one-way ANOVA, and independent T-test analysis. The p-value for statistical significance was set at <0.05. RESULT: In the present study, we found a significant difference in the mean value of PLT, MPV, and PDW between DM+MetS, DM, and HC. A statistically significant difference in the mean value of MPV and PDW was observed between HC and DM+MetS as well as DM and DM+MetS (p-value<0.001). At the cutoff value of 9.65fl with a sensitivity of 81.3% and a specificity of 67.9%, MPV differentiates DM+MetS from HC with an AUC of 0.859. MPV can differentiate DM+MetS from DM at a cutoff value of 10.05fl with sensitivity, specificity, and an AUC of 67.9%, 65.2%, and 0.675, respectively. At the cutoff value of 9.65fl with a sensitivity of 69.6% and a specificity of 67.9%, MPV differentiates DM from HC with an AUC of 0.747. The best platelet parameter identified in this study for predicting the presence of DM+MetS comorbidity was MPV (AUC=0.859; 95%CI=0.81-0.90). CONCLUSION: In this study, a significant difference in the mean value of PLT, MPV, and PDW was found between DM+MetS, DM, and HC. The mean value of platelet indices showed significant increases in DM+MetS patients in comparison to HC and DM. MPV has been identified as a good potential marker to predict DM+MetS comorbidity and to differentiate DM+MetS comorbidity from the HC or DM. Our results show that MPV could be a good hematological marker to differentiate DM+MetS comorbidity from the HC or DM, and may offer supportive information for early diagnosis, prevention, and control. Thus, the findings of this study should be taken into account for the prevention and control of DM+MetS comorbidity.

268. Proof of principle study replicating microbial clusters in connection to birth mode and diet in the early life intestine.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 11

Schimmel P, Kleinjans L, Vael C

269. A novel hybrid transformer-CNN architecture for environmental microorganism classification.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 11

Shao R, Bi XJ, Chen Z.

270. Relationship between early-career collaboration among researchers and future funding success in Japanese academia.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 11

Tsugawa S, Kanetsuki T, Sugihara J.

271. What does it mean to be affiliated with care?: Delphi consensus on the definition of "unaffiliation" and "specialist" in sickle cell disease.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 11

Lamont AE, Hsu LL, Jacobs S

Accruing evidence reveals best practices for how to help individuals living with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD); yet, the implementation of these evidence-based practices in healthcare settings is lacking. The Sickle Cell Disease Implementation Consortium (SCDIC) is a national consortium that uses implementation science to identify and address barriers to care in SCD. The SCDIC seeks to understand how and why patients become unaffiliated from care and determine strategies to identify and connect patients to care. A challenge, however, is the lack of agreed-upon definition for what it means to be unaffiliated and what it means to be a "SCD expert provider". In this study, we conducted a Delphi process to obtain expert consensus on what it means to be an "unaffiliated patient" with SCD and to define an "SCD specialist," as no standard definition is available. Twenty-eight SCD experts participated in three rounds of questions. Consensus was defined as 80% or more of respondents agreeing. Experts reached consensus that an individual with SCD who is unaffiliated from care is "someone who has not been seen by a sickle cell specialist in at least a year." A sickle cell specialist was defined as someone with knowledge and experience in SCD. Having "knowledge" means: being knowledgeable of the 2014 NIH Guidelines, "Evidence-Based Management of SCD", trained in hydroxyurea management and transfusions, trained on screening for organ damage in SCD, trained in pain management and on SCD emergencies, and is aware of psychosocial and cognitive issues in SCD. Experiences that are expected of a SCD specialist include experience working with SCD patients, mentored by a SCD specialist, regular attendance at SCD conferences, and obtains continuing medical education on SCD every 2 years." The results have strong implications for future research, practice, and policy related to SCD by helping to lay a foundation for an new area of research (e.g., to identify subpopulations of unaffiliation and targeted interventions) and policies that support reaffiliation and increase accessibility to quality care.

272. Vitamin D deficiency in low-birth-weight infants in Uganda; a cross sectional study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 11

Chebet M, Piloya T, Ameda F

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency affects 7-86% of infants globally and results in recurrent infections, impaired growth and nutritional rickets. Low-birth-weight infants in Uganda are at risk of vitamin D deficiency due to limited sunlight exposure and dependence on breastmilk. We aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with vitamin D deficiency among low-birth-weight infants aged 6 weeks to 6 months at Mulago national referral hospital in Uganda. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study at Mulago Hospital between September 2016 and March 2017. We enrolled infants born with low birth weight between six weeks and six months whose mothers were available and willing to provide informed consent. Upon obtaining informed consent, we administered a structured questionnaire and performed a physical examination on the participants. Blood was drawn for calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D estimation. We measured serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) using the electrochemiluminescence method. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were defined as (25(OH)D) < 20ng/ml and from 20ng/ml to <30 ng/ml respectively. To determine factors associated with vitamin D deficiency, we fit multivariable logistic regression models with exposure factors determined a priori. Data were analysed using Stata version 14. RESULTS: We enrolled 297 participants, 49.2% (167/297) of whom were males. The median infant age was nine weeks (interquartile range 7-13). All infants had less than one hour of sunlight exposure and over 90.6% (269/297) had received multivitamin supplements containing vitamin D. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 12.1% (36/297): 95% CI (8.9%-16.4%). The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency was 19.9% (59/297): 95% CI (15.7%-24.8%). Boys had higher odds of vitamin D deficiency compared to girls [adjusted odds ratio 2.8: 95% CI 1.3-6.1]. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency was 12.1% among low-birth-weight infants in Uganda although almost all of them had received multivitamin supplements containing vitamin D. We recommend that more studies are done in low-birth-weight infants to assess the risk factors for vitamin D in these population in Uganda.

273. Vulnerability in maternal, new-born, and child health in low- and middle-income countries: Findings from a scoping review.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 11

Makinde OA, Uthman OA, Mgbachi IC

OBJECTIVES: To identify and synthesise prevailing definitions and indices of vulnerability in maternal, new-born and child health (MNCH) research and health programs in low- and middle-income countries. DESIGN AND SETTING: Scoping review using Arksey and O'Malley's framework and a Delphi survey for consensus building. PARTICIPANTS: Mothers, new-borns, and children living in low- and middle-income countries were selected as participants. OUTCOMES: Vulnerability as defined by the authors was deduced from the studies. RESULTS: A total of 61 studies were included in this scoping review. Of this, 22 were publications on vulnerability in the context of maternal health and 40 were on new-born and child health. Definitions used in included studies can be broadly categorised into three domains: biological, socioeconomic, and environmental. Eleven studies defined vulnerability in the context of maternal health, five reported on the scales used to measure vulnerability in maternal health and only one study used a validated scale. Of the 40 included studies on vulnerability in child health, 19 defined vulnerability in the context of new-born and/or child health, 15 reported on the scales used to measure vulnerability in child health and nine reported on childhood vulnerability indices. As it was difficult to synthesise the definitions, their keywords were extracted to generate new candidate definitions for vulnerability in MNCH. CONCLUSION: Included studies paid greater attention to new-born/ child vulnerability than maternal vulnerability, with authors defining the terms differently. A definition which helps in improving the description of vulnerability in MNCH across various programs and researchers was arrived at. This will further help in streamlining research and interventions which can influence the design of high impact MNCH programs. SCOPING REVIEW REGISTRATION: The protocol for this review was registered in the open science framework at the registered address (https://osf.io/jt6nr).

274. Association of social determinants of health with frailty, cognitive impairment, and self-rated health among older adults.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 11

Tan V, Chen C, Merchant RA.

275. Effects of plant density on the aboveground dry matter and radiation-use efficiency of field corn.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Li YC, Dai HY, Chen H.

276. Long-range axonal projections of transplanted mouse embryonic stem cell-derived hypothalamic neurons into adult mouse brain.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Kawata M, Kodani Y, Ohkuma M

277. Effect of an optimized X-ray blanket design on operator radiation dose in cardiac catheterization based on real-world angiography.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Davidsen C, Bolstad K, Ytre-Hauge K

278. Prognostic comparison of COVID-19 outpatients and inpatients treated with Remdesivr: A retrospective cohort study.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Zamani S, Alizadeh M, Shahrestanaki E

INTRODUCTION: Since the late COVID-19, many countries have faced various surges and peaks within the number of infected. Iran was one of the countries that faced many surges and peaks within these years and faced many inadequacies and shortages of resources and hospital beds. Hence the healthcare system started using in-hospital medication such as Remdesivir in outpatients to reduce the load of patients admitted to the hospital. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the reported signs, symptoms, and outcomes of COVID-infected hospitalized and out-patients receiving Remdesivir. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, 214 patients (121 outpatient and 93 hospitalized) with moderate levels of Covid infection between October 2021 and February 2022 were studied. Both groups were treated with 200mg of Remdesivir, followed by 100 mg daily intravenous injections for five days; signs and symptoms, such as pain, shortness of breath, cough, fever and etc., of patients at the initiation and the end of treatment were recorded. Moreover, the patients' blood oxygen saturation was assessed two to three times a day, and the mean of the recorded measures was considered as the daily oxygen saturation. The outpatient group had to visit the hospital daily for treatment and assessment. At the treatment's end, mortality rates, disease signs, and symptoms alleviations were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The outpatient and hospitalized group's mean age was 40.30 ± 12.25 and 37.70 ± 12.00 years, and 51.2% and 55.9% were males, respectively. There was no statistical difference between baseline and clinical characteristics in the outpatients and hospitalized groups. After adjusting for oxygen saturation at baseline and gender in the multivariable Cox regression analysis, the risk of death did not statistically differ between the hospitalized and outpatient group (hazard ratio: 0.99, 95% confidence interval: 0.39-2.50)) at the end of the study. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, the outcome, signs, and symptoms of inpatient and outpatient Remdesivir treatment groups did not differ significantly. Hence in COVID-19 surges where we have limitations in admitting patients, outpatient Remdesivir treatment for those without any underlying diseases can be a proper management method.

279. IgG antibody responses to Anopheles gambiae gSG6-P1 salivary peptide are induced in human populations exposed to secondary malaria vectors in forest areas in Cameroon.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Ndo C, Elanga-Ndille E, Cheteug G

Human IgG antibody response to Anopheles gambiae gSG6-P1 salivary peptide was reported to be a pertinent indicator for assessing human exposure to mosquito bites and evaluating the risk of malaria transmission as well as the effectiveness of vector control strategies. However, the applicability of this marker to measure malaria transmission risk where human populations are mostly bitten by secondary vectors in Africa has not yet been evaluated. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether anti-gSG6-P1 antibodies response could be induced in humans living in forest areas in Cameroon where An. gambiae s.l is not predominant. In October 2019 at the pick of the rainy season, blood samples were collected from people living in the Nyabessang in the forest area in the South region of Cameroon. Malaria infection was determined using thick blood smear microscopy and Rapid Diagnostic Test. The level of IgG Anti-gSG6-P1 response as a biomarker of human exposure to Anopheles bite, was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mosquitoes were collected using the human landing catches to assess Anopheles density and for the identification of Anopheles species present in that area. IgG antibody response to the gSG6-P1 salivary peptide was detected in inhabitants of Nyabessang with high inter-individual heterogeneity. No significant variation in the level of this immune response was observed according to age and gender. The concentration of gSG6-P1 antibodies was significantly correlated with the malaria infection status and, Plasmodium falciparum-infected individuals presented a significantly higher level of IgG response than uninfected individuals (p = 0.0087). No significant difference was observed according to the use of insecticide treated nets. Out of the 1,442 Anopheles mosquitoes species collected, 849 (58.9%) were identified as An. paludis, 489 (33.91%) as An. moucheti, 28 (4.44%) as An. nili, 22 (2.08%) as An. gambiae s.l and 10 (0.69%) as An. marshallii. Our findings show that IgG response to An. gambiae gSG6-P1 peptide could be detected in humans exposed predominantly to An. moucheti and An. paludis bites. Taken together, the data revealed the potential of the Anti-gSG6-P1 IgG antibody response to serve as a universal marker to assess human exposure to any Anopheles species.

280. Application of machine learning for multi-community COVID-19 outbreak predictions with wastewater surveillance.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Ai Y, He F, Lancaster E

The potential of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) as a surveillance and early warning tool for the COVID-19 outbreak has been demonstrated. For areas with limited testing capacity, wastewater surveillance can provide information on the disease dynamic at a community level. A predictive model is a key to generating quantitative estimates of the infected population. Modeling longitudinal wastewater data can be challenging as biomarkers in wastewater are susceptible to variations caused by multiple factors associated with the wastewater matrix and the sewersheds characteristics. As WBE is an emerging trend, the model should be able to address the uncertainties of wastewater from different sewersheds. We proposed exploiting machine learning and deep learning techniques, which are supported by the growing WBE data. In this article, we reviewed the existing predictive models, among which the emerging machine learning/deep learning models showed great potential. However, most models are built for individual sewersheds with few features extracted from the wastewater. To fulfill the research gap, we compared different time-series and non-time-series models for their short-term predictive performance of COVID-19 cases in 9 diverse sewersheds. The time-series models, long short-term memory (LSTM) and Prophet, outcompeted the non-time-series models. Besides viral (SARS-CoV-2) loads and location identity, domain-specific features like biochemical parameters of wastewater, geographical parameters of the sewersheds, and some socioeconomic parameters of the communities can contribute to the models. With proper feature engineering and hyperparameter tuning, we believe machine learning models like LSTM can be a feasible solution for the COVID-19 trend prediction via WBE. Overall, this is a proof-of-concept study on the application of machine learning in COVID-19 WBE. Future studies are needed to deploy and maintain the model in more real-world applications.

281. An analytical solution to ecosystem-based FMSY using trophic transfer efficiency of prey consumption to predator biological production.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Hodgson BR.

282. Emotion recognition while applying cosmetic cream using deep learning from EEG data; cross-subject analysis.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Kim J, Hwang DU, Son EJ

283. Gelatin coating enhances therapeutic cell adhesion to the infarcted myocardium via ECM binding.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Davis KA, Gottipatti A, Peng H

284. SARS due to COVID-19: Predictors of death and profile of adult patients in the state of Rio de Janeiro, 2020.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Eleuterio TA, Oliveira MC, Velasco MDS

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to describe the profile of adult patients and analyze the predictors of death from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Knowledge of the predictors of death by COVID-19 in Rio de Janeiro, a state with one of the highest mortality rates in Brazil, is essential to improve health care for these patients. METHODS: Data from the Information System for Epidemiological Surveillance of Influenza and the Mortality Information System were used. A binary logistic regression model evaluated the outcome of death, sociodemographic data, and clinical-epidemiological and health care covariates. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistics were performed with the R program, version 4.0.0. RESULTS: Overall, 51,383 cases of SARS due to COVID-19 among adults were reported in the state between March 5 and December 2, 2020. Mortality was high (40.5%). The adjusted final model presented the following predictors of death in SARS patients due to COVID-19: male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.17); age (OR = 5.35, 95%CI, 4.88-5.88; ≥75 years); oxygen saturation <95% (OR = 1.48, 95%CI, 1.37-1.59), respiratory distress (OR = 1.31, 95%CI, 1.21-1.41) and dyspnoea (OR = 1.25, 95%CI, 1.15-1.36), the presence of at least one risk factor/comorbidity (OR = 1.32, 95%CI, 1.23-1.42), chronic kidney disease (OR = 1.94, 95%CI, 1.69-2.23), immunosuppression (OR = 1.51, 95%CI, 1.26-1.81) or chronic neurological disease (OR = 1.36, 95%CI, 1.18-1.58), and ventilatory support, invasive (OR = 8.89, 95%CI, 8.08-9.79) or non-invasive (OR = 1.25, 95%CI, 1.15-1.35). CONCLUSIONS: Factors associated with death were male sex, old age, oxygen saturation <95%, respiratory distress, dyspnoea, chronic kidney and neurological diseases, immunosuppression, and use of invasive or noninvasive ventilatory support. Identifying factors associated with disease progression can help the clinical management of patients with COVID-19 and improve outcomes.

285. Non-trivial relationship between scaling behavior and the spatial organization of GDP in Indonesian cities.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Kuno G, Pradipto.

286. Where there are challenges, there are opportunities: An undergraduate medical students' teaching concept for mental health in times of COVID-19.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Herrmann-Werner A, Erschens R, Zipfel S

COVID-19 had a tremendous effect on medical education. Most teaching sessions had to be shifted online, posing additional stress and potential isolation on medical students. However, it also offered the promotion of innovative digital teaching concepts. In this article, an approach to undergraduate mental health training is presented and evaluated. The curriculum was designed according to Kern's six-step approach and consisted of asynchronous online material as well synchronous digital teaching and was accompanied by a plethora of newly developed teaching material (videos, fact sheets, etc.). Content covered the whole spectrum of diseases seen in a service of psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy (i.e. anxiety, depression, trauma, somatoform and eating disorders, as well as motivational interviewing). Feedback from participants was collected, and exam results (written and practical) were compared to pre-COVID-19 times using t-tests for dependent and independent samples. Students were highly satisfied with the teaching (rating of 1.3 ± 0.6, n = 139 students). There was no significant difference from course evaluations before COVID-19 (1.5 ± 0.5, p > .05). The teaching also received an award in the students' competition "best digital teaching concept in summer term 2020". In the written exams, there was no significant difference between before COVID-19 (2.4 ± 0.45) and during COVID-19 times (1.6 ± 0.39; p > .05). In the practical objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), there was also no significant difference between students' judgement of the difficulty of the station (1.9 ± 0.22 vs 1.9 ± 0.31; p > .05) or how well-prepared they felt for the exam (2.0 ± 0.24 vs 2.0 ± 0.31; p > .05). However, there was a significant difference in terms of grades, with the pre-COVID-19 grades being significantly better (2.7 ± 0.37 vs 2.0 ± 0.44; p < .05), which reflects the difficulty of transferring practical skills training to an online setting. Students particularly valued the possibility of self-directed learning combined with personal guidance by departmental experts, reflecting the importance of wellbeing-centred medical education. The pandemic triggered overnight challenges for teaching mental health that may also offer the opportunity to think about worldwide teaching standards with easily accessible material and courses online. This may offer the opportunity to enthral medical students to become mental health specialists themselves.

287. Machine learning based skin lesion segmentation method with novel borders and hair removal techniques.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Rehman M, Ali M, Obayya M

288. The complete chloroplast genome sequences of eight Orostachys species: Comparative analysis and assessment of phylogenetic relationships.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Lee HR, Kim KA, Kim BY

We analyzed the complete chloroplast genomes of eight Orostachys species and compared the sequences to those of published chloroplast genomes of the congeneric and closely related genera, Meterostachys and Hylotelephium. The total chloroplast genome length of thirteen species, including the eight species analyzed in this study and the five species analyzed in previous studies, ranged from 149,860 (M. sikokianus) to 151,707 bp (H. verticillatum). The overall GC contents of the genomes were almost identical (37.6 to 37.8%). The thirteen chloroplast genomes each contained 113 unique genes comprising 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. Among the annotated genes, sixteen genes contained one or two introns. Although the genome structures of all Orostachys and Hylotelephium species were identical, Meterostachys differed in structure due to a relatively large gene block (trnS-GCU-trnS-GGA) inversion. The nucleotide diversity among the subsect. Orostachys chloroplast genomes was extremely low in all regions, and among the subsect. Appendiculatae, genus Orostachys, and all thirteen chloroplast genomes showed high values of Pi (>0.03) in one, five, or three regions. The phylogenetic analysis showed that Orostachys formed polyphyly, and subsect. Orostachys and Appendiculatae were clustered with Hylotelephium and Meterostachys, respectively, supporting the conclusion that each subsection should be considered as an independent genus. Furthermore, the data supported the taxonomic position of O. margaritifolia and O. iwarenge f. magnus, which were treated as synonyms for O. iwarenge in a previous study, as independent taxa. Our results suggested that O. ramosa and O. japonica f. polycephala were individual variations of O. malacophylla and O. japonica, respectively. The exact taxonomic position of O. latielliptica and the phylogenetic relationship among the three species, O. chongsunensis, O. malacophylla and O. ramosa, should be a topic of future study.

289. Working toward sustainability: Transitioning HIV programs from a USA-based organization to a local partner in Zimbabwe.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Vu M, Holec M, Levine R

BACKGROUND: Despite the history of United States of America (USA)-based partners implementing global health programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), future models for sustainable healthcare rely on local country ownership and leadership. Transition is the process of shifting programs towards country ownership, where local stakeholders plan, manage, and deliver health programs. Transition is not a singular event but a process which may include a phase where health programs are led and managed by local entities but still reliant on awards from international partners. This phase is scarcely described yet can impact long-term program sustainability if navigated poorly. This qualitative study examines the transition of Zimbabwe's voluntary medical male circumcision and HIV care and treatment services from management by a USA-based organization, the International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH), to management under a new Zimbabwean organization, the Zimbabwe Technical Assistance, Training and Education Centre for Health (Zim-TTECH). The primary objective of this paper is to explore challenges, successes, and lessons learned during this transition to inform other non-governmental organizations. METHODS: We conducted sixteen virtual, key informant interviews using purposeful sampling, identifying potential participants based on their role in the transition team (leadership, administrative, financial, or human resources) and willingness to consent to the study. We aimed for equal representation from USA-based, I-TECH headquarters staff and Zimbabwe-based, Zim-TTECH staff involved in the transition team. Data were analyzed in Atlas.Ti using deductive and inductive methods, followed by a thematic analysis guided by several frameworks for program transition and organizational change. RESULTS: Findings suggest five themes to guide transition: 1) Develop a vision and empower leadership for change by delegating clear roles and supporting local ownership; 2) Plan and strategize for transition in a manner that accounts for historical context; 3) Communicate with and inform stakeholders to understand transition perceptions, understand barriers to transition, and enable open communications related to risks and benefits; 4) Engage and mobilize staff by constructing necessary infrastructure and providing technical assistance as needed; and 5) Define short-term and long-term success. CONCLUSION: Transition processes were challenged by the local country context, compressed transition timelines, and all-or-nothing measures of transition success. Facilitators included strong staff capacity and a synergistic partnership model between Zim-TTECH and I-TECH. Global funders and international organizations should support local LMIC partners in their pathway to independence by removing restrictions on funding awards, including transitioning ownership mid-stream, and positioning leadership of international awards for in-country entities.

290. Self-reported and pill count measures of adherence to oral HIV PrEP among female sex workers living in South-Western Uganda.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Nakiganda LJ, Grulich AE, Poynten IM

BACKGROUND: Female sex workers (FSWs) in Uganda are at high risk of HIV infection. Scaling up oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) will reduce HIV incidence if high levels of adherence are maintained. This study evaluates PrEP adherence using clinic-based pill counts and self-reported measures, and factors associated with protective levels of adherence. METHODS: Participants were sex workers who had been taking PrEP for at least 5 months and were attending routine follow-up visits for PrEP care in fishing communities and along the Trans-African Highway. Participants who had a pill count showing at least 85% use since their last clinic visit and those who reported taking their PrEP every day in the last 5 months were categorised as having 'protective adherence'. Spearman's correlation and weighted kappa assessed the relationship between pill count and self-reported measures. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with protective adherence as measured by pill count. RESULTS: We recruited 524 FSWs, with a median age of 29 years (IQR 23-35). Participants were recruited from fishing communities and Trans-African Highway towns (n = 297, 56.7%, and n = 227, 43.0%). Nearly three quarters (n = 372, 71.0%) of women were estimated to have protective adherence based on pill count (i.e., a pill count of >85%) and 50.4% by self-report in last 3 months. There was a strong positive association between self-reported measures and pill count measures (rest = 0.6453, 95% CI = 0.5924-0.6927) and a moderate agreement between self-reported measures and pill count measures, κ = 0.544 (95%CI = 0.4869-0.6011, p < 0.001). Factors associated with protective adherence included being aged 35 years or older (aOR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.17-4.86), living in a fishing community (aOR = 1.45, 95% CI = 0.62-3.38), and having an STI in last 3 months (aOR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.07-2.49). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that PrEP-experienced FSWs attending clinical follow-up visits reported high protective levels of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis, as measured by both pill count and self-reported measures, and a moderate agreement between pill count and self-reported measures.

291. Lack of relationship between 25-hydoxyvitamin D concentration and a titer of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen in children under 12 years of age.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Dabrowska-Leonik N, Sawicka-Powierza J, Bernatowska E

292. Synergistic drug combinations designed to fully suppress SARS-CoV-2 in the lung of COVID-19 patients.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

De Forni D, Poddesu B, Cugia G

Despite new antivirals are being approved against SARS-CoV-2 they suffer from significant constraints and are not indicated for hospitalized patients, who are left with few antiviral options. Repurposed drugs have previously shown controversial clinical results and it remains difficult to understand why certain trials delivered positive results and other trials failed. Our manuscript contributes to explaining the puzzle: this might have been caused by a suboptimal drug exposure and, consequently, an incomplete virus suppression, also because the drugs have mostly been used as add-on monotherapies. As with other viruses (e.g., HIV and HCV) identifying synergistic combinations among such drugs could overcome monotherapy-related limitations. In a cell culture model for SARS-CoV-2 infection the following stringent criteria were adopted to assess drug combinations: 1) identify robust, synergistic antiviral activity with no increase in cytotoxicity, 2) identify the lowest drug concentration inhibiting the virus by 100% (LIC100) and 3) understand whether the LIC100 could be reached in the lung at clinically indicated drug doses. Among several combinations tested, remdesivir with either azithromycin or ivermectin synergistically increased the antiviral activity with no increase in cytotoxicity, improving the therapeutic index and lowering the LIC100 of every one of the drugs to levels that are expected to be achievable and maintained in the lung for a therapeutically relevant period of time. These results are consistent with recent clinical observations showing that intensive care unit admission was significantly delayed by the combination of AZI and RDV, but not by RDV alone, and could have immediate implications for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 as the proposed "drug cocktails" should have antiviral activity against present and future SARS-CoV-2 variants without significant overlapping toxicity, while minimizing the onset of drug resistance. Our results also provide a validated methodology to help sort out which combination of drugs are most likely to be efficacious in vivo, based on their in vitro activity, potential synergy and PK profiles.

293. What do people write about COVID-19 and teaching, publicly? Insulators and threats to newly habituated and institutionalized practices for instruction.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Martinez MA.

294. Circulatory C-type natriuretic peptide reduces mucopolysaccharidosis-associated craniofacial hypoplasia in vivo.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Kashiwagi M, Nakao K, Yamanaka S

295. Impossibility results about inheritance and order of death.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Wang Y.

296. Greenwash and green brand equity: The mediating role of green brand image, green satisfaction, and green trust, and the moderating role of green concern.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Ha MT.

297. Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer, the FIB-4 index, and a combination of the two as predictors of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Kiyoaki I, Sumida Y, Nakade Y

298. Efficient training approaches for optimizing behavioral performance and reducing head fixation time.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Nasr A, Dominiak SE, Sehara K

299. Prognostic value of syntax score, intravascular ultrasound and near-infrared spectroscopy to identify low-risk patients with coronary artery disease 5-year results from the ATHEROREMO and IBIS-3 cohorts.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Vlieger S, Oemrawsingh RM, Cheng JM

300. Determinants of financial poverty alleviation efficiency: Evidence from Henan, China.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Liu Q.

Poverty alleviation is a common cause for all human beings. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of financial poverty alleviation in 18 cities in Henan, China, and to explore the factors affecting the efficiency of financial poverty alleviation, so as to contribute new knowledge to the cause of poverty alleviation. Based on the relevant data of 18 cities in Henan, using output-oriented DEA model and Tobit regression model with bootstrap method, this study evaluates the efficiency of financial poverty alleviation in various cities in Henan, and explores the determinants of the efficiency of financial poverty alleviation. The results show that the overall poverty alleviation efficiency of Henan is high, and the financial poverty alleviation efficiencies of different cities show distinct heterogeneities. The efficiencies of financial poverty alleviation in Zhengzhou and Luoyang are 1, and there are different spaces for improvement in the efficiency of financial poverty alleviation in other cities. Financial subsidies are the most important positive factors affecting the efficiency of financial poverty alleviation. For every 1% increase in the value of financial subsidies, the poverty alleviation efficiency will increase by 0.213%. The urban-rural dualistic economic structure is negatively correlated with the efficiency of financial poverty alleviation. Every 1% increase in the value of the urban-rural dualistic economic structure will reduce the poverty alleviation efficiency by 0.11%. Industrial structure is positively related to the efficiency of financial poverty alleviation. For every 1% increase in the value of the industrial structure, the poverty alleviation efficiency will increase by 0.072%. The formulation of financial poverty alleviation policies in various regions should be combined with their own characteristics, and promote the efficiency of financial poverty alleviation by strengthening the advantages and making up for the deficiencies.

301. Rising tension in the Himalayas: A geospatial analysis of Chinese border incursions into India.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Brethouwer JT, Fokkink R, Greene K

302. Capturing Russian drinking patterns with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test: An exploratory interview study in primary healthcare and narcology centers in Moscow.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 10

Neufeld M, Ferreira-Borges C, Bunova A

BACKGROUND: Despite a considerable reduction in alcohol consumption, Russia has one of the highest levels of alcohol-attributable burden of disease worldwide due to heavy episodic drinking patterns. Further improvement of alcohol control measures, including early provision of screening and brief interventions (SBI), is needed. The legislative framework for delivering SBI in Russia was introduced in 2013. As part of the creation and validation of a Russian version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the present contribution explored challenges in using the AUDIT in Russia to inform a subsequent validation study of the tool. METHODS: Qualitative in-depth expert interviews with patients and healthcare professionals from four primary healthcare and narcology facilities in Moscow. A total of 25 patients were interviewed, 9 from a preventive medicine hospital, 8 from a polyclinic, and 9 from narcology clinics. Also, 12 healthcare professionals were interviewed, 5 of whom were primary healthcare doctors and 7 were narcologists. RESULTS: Patients and healthcare professionals expressed difficulties in dealing with the concept of a "standard drink" in the AUDIT, which is not used in Russia. Various patients struggled with understanding the meaning of "one drinking occasion" on the test, mainly because Russian drinking patterns center around festivities and special occasions with prolonged alcohol intake. Narcology patients had specific difficulties because many of them experienced zapoi-a dynamic drinking pattern with heavy use and a withdrawal from social life, followed by prolonged periods of abstinence. Surrogate alcohol use was described as a common marker of alcohol dependence in Russia, not accounted for in the AUDIT. CONCLUSIONS: The provided analyses on the perception of the Russian AUDIT in different patient and professional groups suggest that a series of amendments in the test should be considered to capture the specific drinking pattern and its potential harms.

303. Differential activation of NLRP3 inflammasome by Acinetobacter baumannii strains.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 1

Li FJ, Starrs L, Mathur A

304. Vertical distributions of dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) in the Eastern Pacific Ocean suggest variability in potential associations with floating objects.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 1

Ortega-Garcia S, Perle CR, Whitney NM

Floating objects play a pivotal role in pelagic ecosystems by serving as shelters, meeting points, cleaning stations, nurseries, and feeding grounds. The abundance of these objects is increasing globally in the form of flotsam, plastics, discarded or lost fishing gear, and fish aggregating devices (FADs) deployed by commercial fisheries. However, it is difficult to measure how often and in what ways fish interact with floating objects in pelagic environments. Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) is prevalent among the fish species that associate with floating objects, but the extent to which dolphinfish utilize them is unclear. This study applies existing knowledge of FAD-associated dolphinfish diving behavior to identify periods of potential association with floating objects in a remote telemetry dataset of 23 fish with a total of 678 days at liberty spanning two distinct regions within the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Fish inhabiting waters off the western coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico spent significantly more time exhibiting behavior indicative of association with floating objects than those off the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico. When not exhibiting this behavior, dolphinfish in both regions occupied similar vertical habitats, with western Baja fish utilizing more of the water column than Oaxaca fish. Observed regional differences in behavior were coincident with regional differences in size (Oaxaca fish fork lengths ranged from 103 to 118 cm (mean = 110 cm), while Baja fish ranged from 85 to 106 cm (mean = 93 cm)). Although larger fish in the Baja region displayed behavior consistent with smaller Baja fish, future studies should investigate whether the observed regional differences are due to (i) size, (ii) sex, (iii) oceanography, or (iv) availability of floating objects. Dolphinfish are an important mid-trophic level predator and potentially sustainable fishery resource. Understanding their behavior and use of floating objects is of both ecological and economic importance-particularly in the context of expanding international FAD-based fisheries. Our study suggests dolphinfish spend a large amount of their time exhibiting potential floating object associated behavior, and this could influence their population structure and growth.

305. Health professionals and scientists' views on genome-wide NIPT in the French public health system: Critical analysis of the ethical issues raised by prenatal genomics.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 1

Perrot A, Horn R.

In France, since January 2020, laboratories have started to make available genome-wide Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (GW-NIPT) beyond the three common trisomies (T21, T13 and T18) at the same cost as standard NIPT. With the possible margins for interpretation of the legal framework and in the absence of clear and updated guidelines, health professionals are left with questions about which type of screening offer may be clinically responsible, morally appropriate, and, at the same time, respectful of women's values and ability to make autonomous choices. The aim of this study is to provide an analysis and understanding of the challenging dimensions of clinical practices in the context of evolving scientific knowledge and techniques in prenatal genomics. In this article, we develop a critical analysis of the arguments and concerns that emerge around the offer of expanded NIPT and are discussed by health professionals and scientists. To achieve this, we conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with 17 health professionals and scientists from September 2021 to February 2022 and a comprehensive literature review (regulatory, scientific, medical, institutional sources). The results of our empirical research highlight the importance of addressing ethical issues related to the differing quality of counselling, the complexity of achieving informed consent, and the avoidance of harm to pregnant women in the feedback of findings beyond T21, T18 and T13. If there is an increase in the provision of GW-NIPT within the French public health system, it will be essential to promote medical practices that respect reproductive choices of women, support their autonomous decision and their understanding of the limitations and uncertainties associated with GW screening. Further research is required to provide an insight into women's perceptions in order to refine our analysis from the patients' perspective.

306. Association of congenital Zika syndrome with dental alterations in children with microcephaly.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 1

Gomes PN, do Amaral BA, Azevedo ID

307. Knowledge, attitudes, and positions of religious leaders towards female genital cutting: A cross-sectional study from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 1

Mahmood KI, Shabu SA, M-Amen K

BACKGROUND: Understanding the perspectives of the key players in the community regarding female genital cutting (FGC) is very important for directing preventive programs. Religious leaders help shape community behaviors, which is highly pertinent in the case of FGC as it is frequently perceived to be a religious requirement. This study assesses religious leaders' knowledge, attitudes, and positions towards FGC in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It included a purposive sample of 147 local religious leaders (khateebs) representing the three governorates of Erbil, Sulaimaniyah, and Duhok. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data about the religious leaders' knowledge, attitude, and position towards FGC. RESULTS: The participants identified reduction of the sexual desire of women as the main benefit (37%) and risk (24%) of FGC. Cultural tradition and religious requirements were the main reported reasons for practicing FGC. About 59% of the religious leaders stated that people ask for their advice on FGC. Around 14% of the participants supported performing FGC, compared to 39.1% who opposed it. Religious (73.9%) and cultural (26.1%) rationales were the main reasons given for supporting FGC. Being a cultural practice with harmful effects (53.5%) and lack of clear religious evidence (46.6%) were the main reasons for being against FGC. Around 52% of the participants recommended banning FGC by law, while 43.5% did not support banning it. A statistically significant association (P = 0.015) was found between religious leaders' residence and their position on performing FGC. More than 46% of those residing in Duhok were against performing FGC, compared to lower proportions in Erbil (38.8%) and Sulaimaniyah (30%). CONCLUSION: Religious leaders believed that cultural tradition was the main reason behind practicing FGC and they believed that FGC is not common in KRI, and even that it is decreasing. The religious leaders in our study reported that they could have an influential role in the FGC issue due to their position in the community. There was no statistically significant association between religious leaders' age, education level, or work experience and their position on performing FGC. However, a statistically significant association was found between religious leaders' residence and their position on performing FGC. A conclusive decision concerning the prohibition of FGC needs to be made by religious authorities. Health awareness activities incorporating FGC risks should be carried out to inform religious leaders at different levels of religious positions. Further research exploring perspectives of religious authorities concerning religious leaders' inconclusive judgment about FGC is deemed necessary.

308. Investigating sentence processing and working memory in patients with mild Alzheimer and elderly people.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 1

Nasiri M, Moayedfar S, Purmohammad M

INTRODUCTION: Linguistic disorders are one of the common problems in Alzheimer's disease, which in recent years has been considered as one of the key parameters in the diagnosis of Alzheimer (AD). Given that changes in sentence processing and working memory and the relationship between these two activities may be a diagnostic parameter in the early and preclinical stages of AD, the present study examines the comprehension and production of sentences and working memory in AD patients and healthy aged people. METHODS: Twenty-five people with mild Alzheimer's and 25 healthy elderly people participated in the study. In this study, we used the digit span to evaluate working memory. Syntactic priming and sentence completion tasks in canonical and non-canonical conditions were used for evaluating sentence production. We administered sentence picture matching and cross-modal naming tasks to assess sentence comprehension. RESULTS: The results of the present study revealed that healthy elderly people and patients with mild Alzheimer's disease have a significant difference in comprehension of relative clause sentences (P <0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in comprehension of simple active, simple active with noun phrase and passive sentences (P> 0.05). They had a significant difference in auditory and visual reaction time (P <0.05). Also there was a significant difference between the two groups in syntactic priming and sentence completion tasks. However, in non-canonical condition of sentence completion, the difference between the two groups was not significant (P> 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed that the mean scores related to comprehension, production and working memory in people with mild Alzheimer's were lower than healthy aged people, which indicate sentence processing problems at this level of the disease. People with Alzheimer have difficulty comprehending and producing complex syntactic structures and have poorer performance in tasks that required more memory demands. It seems that the processing problems of these people are due to both working memory and language problems, which are not separate from each other and both are involved in.

309. Hypoglycemia prevention practice and associated factors among diabetes mellitus patients in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analyssis.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 1

Lankrew Ayalew T, Gelaw Wale B, Tefera Zewudie B.

BACKGROUND: Hypoglycemia is an urgent, life-threatening condition that requires prompt recognition and treatment for diabetes mellitus patients to prevent organ and brain damage. Hypoglycemia is one of the most important complications of diabetes mellitus patients around the globe. Hypoglycemia may increase vascular events and even death, in addition to other possible detrimental effects. In spite of the absence of other risk factors, patients receiving intensive insulin therapy are more likely to experience hypoglycemia. To reduce the risk of hypoglycemia and calculate the combined prevalence of hypoglycemia prevention practices among diabetes mellitus patients, recognition of hypoglycemia is critical. OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this review was to evaluate the available data on Ethiopian diabetes mellitus patients' practices for preventing hypoglycemia and related factors. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This review was searched using PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Google, Google Scholar, and the Web of Sciences. Microsoft Excel was used to extract the data. All statistical analyses were done using STATA Version 14 software with a random-effects model. The funnel plot and heterogeneity of the studies were checked. Subgroup analysis was done with the study area and authors' names. RESULTS: In this systematic review, 12 studies totaling 3,639 participants were included. The estimated overall practice for preventing hypoglycemia among diabetic patients in Ethiopia were 48.33% (95% CI (28.21%, 68.46%, I2 = 99.7%, p ≤ 0.001). According to the subgroup analysis based on region, the highest estimated prevalence of the prevention practice of hypoglycemia among diabetes patients in Addis Ababa was 90%, followed by SNNRP at 76.18% and in the Amhara region at 68.31% respectively. The least prevalent was observed in the Oromia region 6.10%. In this meta-analysis, diagnoses with type II diabetes (AOR = 2.53, 95%CI: 1.05, 4.04), duration (AOR = 5.49, 95%CI:3.27,7.70), taking insulin for a long time(AOR = 4.31,95%CI:2.60,6.02), having good prevention knowledge (AOR = 2.89, 95%CI: 1.15,4.23), and occupation (AOR = 4.17, 95%CI: 2.20, 6.15) were significantly associated with hypoglycemia prevention practice. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review revealed that diabetic patients in Ethiopia had poor hypoglycemia prevention practices. Being an employee, taking insulin for a long time, having a good prevention practice, and having a type of diabetes mellitus were strongly correlated with practicing hypoglycemia prevention. This review implied the subsequent need for educational interventions for an individualized patient.

310. Systematic review the efficacy and safety of cilostazol, pentoxifylline, beraprost in the treatment of intermittent claudication: A network meta-analysis.

PLoS One

2022 Nov 1

Liang X, Wang Y, Zhao C

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of cilostazol, pentoxifylline, beraprost for intermittent claudication due to lower extremity arterial occlusive disease. METHODS: Randomized controlled clinical trials were identified from PubMed, Scopus, EMbase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, SinoMed, Wanfang and Chongqing VIP databases, from the database inception to 31/12/2021. The outcome measures were walking distance measured by treadmill (maximum and pain-free walking distance), ankle-brachial index and adverse events. The quality of included studies was assessed by the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool. A network meta-analysis was carried out with Stata 16.0 software. RESULTS: There were 29 RCTs included in the study, covering total 5352 patients. Cilostazol was ranked first for both maximum and pain-free walking distance, followed by beraprost and pentoxifylline. For cilostazol, pentoxifylline and beraprost, maximum walking distance increased by 62.93 95%CI(44.06, 81.79), 32.72 95%CI(13.51, 55.79) and 43.90 95%CI(2.10, 85.71) meters, respectively relative to placebo, and pain-free walking distance increased by 23.92 95%CI(11.24, 36.61), 15.16 95%CI(2.33, 27.99) and 19.78 95%CI(-3.07, 42.62) meters. For cilostazol, pentoxifylline, beraprost and cilostazol combined with beraprost, ankle-brachial index increased by 0.06 95%CI(0.04, 0.07), -0.01 95%CI(-0.08, 0.05), 0.18 95%CI(0.12, 0.23) and 0.23 95%CI(0.18, 0.27), respectively relative to placebo. The pentoxifylline and cilostazol was associated with a lower ratio of adverse events than beraprost and cilostazol combined with beraprost. CONCLUSION: Cilostazol, pentoxifylline and beraprost were all effective treatments for intermittent claudication; cilostazol with good tolerance was likely to be the most effective in walking distance, while beraprost and cilostazol combined with beraprost were more prominent in the ankle-brachial index.

Newmer生物

Newmer生物