| 1. |
- Sabatini, F. M., et al.
(author)
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sPlotOpen - An environmentally balanced, open-access, global dataset of vegetation plots
- 2021
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In: Global Ecology and Biogeography. - : Wiley. - 1466-822X .- 1466-8238.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Motivation Assessing biodiversity status and trends in plant communities is critical for understanding, quantifying and predicting the effects of global change on ecosystems. Vegetation plots record the occurrence or abundance of all plant species co-occurring within delimited local areas. This allows species absences to be inferred, information seldom provided by existing global plant datasets. Although many vegetation plots have been recorded, most are not available to the global research community. A recent initiative, called 'sPlot', compiled the first global vegetation plot database, and continues to grow and curate it. The sPlot database, however, is extremely unbalanced spatially and environmentally, and is not open-access. Here, we address both these issues by (a) resampling the vegetation plots using several environmental variables as sampling strata and (b) securing permission from data holders of 105 local-to-regional datasets to openly release data. We thus present sPlotOpen, the largest open-access dataset of vegetation plots ever released. sPlotOpen can be used to explore global diversity at the plant community level, as ground truth data in remote sensing applications, or as a baseline for biodiversity monitoring. Main types of variable contained Vegetation plots (n = 95,104) recording cover or abundance of naturally co-occurring vascular plant species within delimited areas. sPlotOpen contains three partially overlapping resampled datasets (c. 50,000 plots each), to be used as replicates in global analyses. Besides geographical location, date, plot size, biome, elevation, slope, aspect, vegetation type, naturalness, coverage of various vegetation layers, and source dataset, plot-level data also include community-weighted means and variances of 18 plant functional traits from the TRY Plant Trait Database. Spatial location and grain Global, 0.01-40,000 m(2). Time period and grain 1888-2015, recording dates. Major taxa and level of measurement 42,677 vascular plant taxa, plot-level records. Software format Three main matrices (.csv), relationally linked.
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- Cable, Jennifer, et al.
(author)
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Lessons from the pandemic : Responding to emerging zoonotic viral diseases-a Keystone Symposia report
- 2022
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In: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. - : Wiley. - 0077-8923 .- 1749-6632. ; 1518:1, s. 209-225
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The COVID-19 pandemic caught the world largely unprepared, including scientific and policy communities. On April 10-13, 2022, researchers across academia, industry, government, and nonprofit organizations met at the Keystone symposium "Lessons from the Pandemic: Responding to Emerging Zoonotic Viral Diseases" to discuss the successes and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and what lessons can be applied moving forward. Speakers focused on experiences not only from the COVID-19 pandemic but also from outbreaks of other pathogens, including the Ebola virus, Lassa virus, and Nipah virus. A general consensus was that investments made during the COVID-19 pandemic in infrastructure, collaborations, laboratory and manufacturing capacity, diagnostics, clinical trial networks, and regulatory enhancements-notably, in low-to-middle income countries-must be maintained and strengthened to enable quick, concerted responses to future threats, especially to zoonotic pathogens.
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| 8. |
- Porsbjerg, Celeste M., et al.
(author)
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Association between pre-biologic T2-biomarker combinations and response to biologics in patients with severe asthma
- 2024
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In: Frontiers in Immunology. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 1664-3224. ; 15
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: To date, studies investigating the association between pre-biologic biomarker levels and post-biologic outcomes have been limited to single biomarkers and assessment of biologic efficacy from structured clinical trials.Aim: To elucidate the associations of pre-biologic individual biomarker levels or their combinations with pre-to-post biologic changes in asthma outcomes in real-life.Methods: This was a registry-based, cohort study using data from 23 countries, which shared data with the International Severe Asthma Registry (May 2017-February 2023). The investigated biomarkers (highest pre-biologic levels) were immunoglobulin E (IgE), blood eosinophil count (BEC) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). Pre- to approximately 12-month post-biologic change for each of three asthma outcome domains (i.e. exacerbation rate, symptom control and lung function), and the association of this change with pre-biologic biomarkers was investigated for individual and combined biomarkers.Results: Overall, 3751 patients initiated biologics and were included in the analysis. No association was found between pre-biologic BEC and pre-to-post biologic change in exacerbation rate for any biologic class. However, higher pre-biologic BEC and FeNO were both associated with greater post-biologic improvement in FEV1 for both anti-IgE and anti-IL5/5R, with a trend for antiI-IL4R alpha. Mean FEV1 improved by 27-178 mL post-anti-IgE as pre-biologic BEC increased (250 to 1000 cells/mu L), and by 43-216 mL and 129-250 mL post-anti-IL5/5R and - anti- IL4R alpha, respectively along the same BEC gradient. Corresponding improvements along a FeNO gradient (25-100 ppb) were 41-274 mL, 69-207 mL and 148-224 mL for anti-IgE, anti-IL5/5R, and anti-IL4R alpha, respectively. Higher baseline BEC was also associated with lower probability of uncontrolled asthma (OR 0.392; p=0.001) post-biologic for anti-IL5/5R. Pre-biologic IgE was a poor predictor of subsequent pre-to-post-biologic change for all outcomes assessed for all biologics. The combination of BEC + FeNO marginally improved the prediction of post-biologic FEV1 increase (adjusted R-2: 0.751), compared to BEC (adjusted R-2: 0.747) or FeNO alone (adjusted R-2: 0.743) (p=0.005 and <0.001, respectively); however, this prediction was not improved by the addition of IgE.Conclusions: The ability of higher baseline BEC, FeNO and their combination to predict biologic-associated lung function improvement may encourage earlier intervention in patients with impaired lung function or at risk of accelerated lung function decline.
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- Bengtsson, Rhodel, et al.
(author)
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Evaluating the viscoelastic shear properties of clear wood via off-axis compression testing and digital-image correlation
- 2023
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In: Mechanics of time-dependant materials. - 1385-2000 .- 1573-2738.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Highly anisotropic materials like wood and unidirectional polymer composite structures are sensitive to shear deformations, in particular close to fixed joints. Large wooden structures in buildings and, e.g. wind-turbine blades, are designed to last for decades, and hence are susceptible to unwanted creep deformations. For improved structural design, the shear-creep properties of the material are needed. These are rarely available in the literature, possibly because of technical difficulties to achieve a well-defined shear-stress state in test specimens. For cost-efficient testing, this goal of a pure stress state necessarily needs to be compromised. In the present study, we propose a simple test method based on uniaxial compression on wooden cubes, but is equally applicable for fibre composites. The viscoelastic shear properties of Norway spruce (Picea abies) under off-axis creep compression tests have been characterised in all three directions. The tests are performed in a controlled climate chamber and the creep strains are captured using digital-image correlation.
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- Benomar, Anass, et al.
(author)
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Nonaneurysmal perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage on noncontrast head CT: An accuracy, inter-rater, and intra-rater reliability study
- 2024
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In: Journal of neuroradiology. - : MASSON EDITEUR. - 0150-9861 .- 1773-0406. ; 51:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and purpose: To evaluate the reliability and accuracy of nonaneurysmal perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage (NAPSAH) on Noncontrast Head CT (NCCT) between numerous raters. Materials and methods: 45 NCCT of adult patients with SAH who also had a catheter angiography (CA) were independently evaluated by 48 diverse raters; 45 raters performed a second assessment one month later. For each case, raters were asked: 1) whether they judged the bleeding pattern to be perimesencephalic; 2) whether there was blood anterior to brainstem; 3) complete filling of the anterior interhemispheric fissure (AIF); 4) extension to the lateral part of the sylvian fissure (LSF); 5) frank intraventricular hemorrhage; 6) whether in the hypothetical presence of a negative CT angiogram they would still recommend CA. An automatic NAPSAH diagnosis was also generated by combining responses to questions 2 -5. Reliability was estimated using Gwet 's AC1 ( K G ), and the relationship between the NCCT diagnosis of NAPSAH and the recommendation to perform CA using Cramer 's V test. Multi -rater accuracy of NCCT in predicting negative CA was explored. Results: Inter -rater reliability for the presence of NAPSAH was moderate ( K G = 0.58; 95%CI: 0.47, 0.69), but improved to substantial when automatically generated ( K G = 0.70; 95%CI: 0.59, 0.81). The most reliable criteria were the absence of AIF filling ( K G = 0.79) and extension to LSF ( K G = 0.79). Mean intra-rater reliability was substantial ( K G = 0.65). NAPSAH weakly correlated with CA decision ( V = 0.50). Mean sensitivity and specificity were 58% (95%CI: 44%, 71%) and 83 % (95%CI: 72 %, 94%), respectively. Conclusion: NAPSAH remains a diagnosis of exclusion. The NCCT diagnosis was moderately reliable and its impact on clinical decisions modest. (c) 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. This is an open access article under the CC BY -NC -ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
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| 12. |
- Chemaly, RF, et al.
(author)
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A Phase 2, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Presatovir for the Treatment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Upper Respiratory Tract Infection in Hematopoietic-Cell Transplant Recipients
- 2020
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In: Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1537-6591. ; 71:11, s. 2777-2786
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundHematopoietic-cell transplant (HCT) recipients are at risk for severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. We evaluated the RSV fusion inhibitor presatovir in a randomized, double-blind, Phase II trial in HCT recipients with RSV upper respiratory tract infections.MethodsPatients were stratified by lymphopenia (<200/µL) and ribavirin use; were randomized, stratified by lymphopenia (<200/μL) and ribavirin use, to receive oral presatovir at 200 mg or a placebo on Days 1, 5, 9, 13, and 17, and were followed through Day 28. The coprimary efficacy endpoints were the time-weighted average change in the nasal RSV viral load between Days 1 and 9 and the proportion of patients developing lower respiratory tract complications (LRTCs) through Day 28.ResultsFrom 23 January 2015 to 16 June 2017, 189 patients were randomly assigned to treatment (96 to presatovir and 93 to the placebo). Presatovir treatment, compared with the placebo treatment, did not significantly affect (prespecified α = 0.01) a time-weighted average decline in the RSV viral load from Day 1 to 9 (treatment difference, −0.33 log10 copies/mL; 95% confidence interval [CI] −.64 to −.02 log10 copies/mL; P = .040) or the progression to LRTC (11.2% vs 19.5%, respectively; odds ratio, 0.50; 95% CI, .22–1.18; P = .11). In a post hoc analysis among patients with lymphopenia, presatovir decreased LRTC development by Day 28 (2/15 [13.3%] vs 9/14 [64.3%], respectively; P = .008), compared with the placebo. Adverse events were similar for patients receiving presatovir and the placebo.ConclusionsPresatovir had a favorable safety profile in adult HCT recipients with RSV but did not achieve the coprimary endpoints. Exploratory analyses suggest an antiviral effect among patients with lymphopenia.Clinical Trials RegistrationNCT02254408; EUDRA-CT#2014-002474-36.
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| 13. |
- Garrison, AR, et al.
(author)
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ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Nairoviridae
- 2020
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In: The Journal of general virology. - : Microbiology Society. - 1465-2099 .- 0022-1317. ; 101:8, s. 798-799
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Members of the family Nairoviridae produce enveloped virions with three single-stranded RNA segments comprising 17.1 to 22.8 kb in total. These viruses are maintained in arthropods and transmitted by ticks to mammals or birds. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus is tick-borne and is endemic in most of Asia, Africa, Southern and Eastern Europe whereas Nairobi sheep disease virus, which is also tick-borne, causes lethal haemorrhagic gastroenteritis in small ruminants in Africa and India. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the family Nairoviridae, which is available at ictv.global/report/nairoviridae.
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| 14. |
- Kaku, Chengzi I., et al.
(author)
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Recall of preexisting cross-reactive B cell memory after Omicron BA.1 breakthrough infection
- 2022
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In: Science immunology. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science. - 2470-9468. ; 7:73
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Understanding immune responses after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) breakthrough infection will facilitate the development of next-generation vaccines. Here, we profiled spike (S)-specific B cell responses after Omicron/BA.1 infection in messenger RNA-vaccinated donors. The acute antibody response was characterized by high levels of somatic hypermutation and a bias toward recognition of ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strains, suggesting the early activation of vaccine-induced memory B cells. BA.1 breakthrough infection induced a shift in B cell immunodominance hierarchy from the S2 subunit, which is highly conserved across SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), and toward the antigenically variable receptor binding domain (RBD). A large proportion of RBD-directed neutralizing antibodies isolated from BA.1 breakthrough infection donors displayed convergent sequence features and broadly recognized SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. Together, these findings provide insights into the role of preexisting immunity in shaping the B cell response to heterologous SARS-CoV-2 variant exposure.
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| 16. |
- Leijenaar, Jolien F., et al.
(author)
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Comorbid amyloid-β pathology affects clinical and imaging features in VCD
- 2020
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In: Alzheimer's and Dementia. - : Wiley. - 1552-5260 .- 1552-5279. ; 16:2, s. 354-364
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: To date, the clinical relevance of comorbid amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology in patients with vascular cognitive disorders (VCD) is largely unknown. Methods: We included 218 VCD patients with available cerebrospinal fluid Aβ42 levels. Patients were divided into Aβ+ mild-VCD (n = 84), Aβ− mild-VCD (n = 68), Aβ+ major-VCD (n = 31), and Aβ− major-VCD (n = 35). We measured depression with the Geriatric Depression Scale, cognition with a neuropsychological test battery and derived white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and gray matter atrophy from MRI. Results: Aβ− patients showed more depressive symptoms than Aβ+. In the major-VCD group, Aβ− patients performed worse on attention (P =.02) and executive functioning (P =.008) than Aβ+. We found no cognitive differences in patients with mild VCD. In the mild-VCD group, Aβ− patients had more WMH than Aβ+ patients, whereas conversely, in the major-VCD group, Aβ+ patients had more WMH. Atrophy patterns did not differ between Aβ+ and Aβ− VCD group. Discussion: Comorbid Aβ pathology affects the manifestation of VCD, but effects differ by severity of VCD.
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