bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Introducing the African Peace Processes (APP) dataset: Negotiations and mediation in interstate, intrastate and non-state conflicts in Africa
Authors: Duursma Allard , Gamez Samantha Marie
Published: December 2022

This data feature introduces a new dataset to study peace processes to end organized armed violence in Africa: the African Peace Processes (APP) dataset. The APP dataset includes observations on both mediated and unmediated rounds of negotiations in state-based and non-state conflicts in Africa between 1989 and 2019 and builds on conflict data from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP). The APP dataset covers peacemaking efforts in both active and inactive conflicts. Moreover, the start and end month and year of each observation are specified, giving researchers some flexibility with regard to the temporal unit of analysis they use. In addition to discussing the rationale behind the creation of the APP dataset, we explain the data collection process and show some patterns based on the data. We also illustrate how the data could be used by looking at the association between the no. of peacekeepers deployed and the onset of mediated negotiations in intrastate and non-state conflicts. We find that high no. of peacekeepers are associated with a higher likelihood of negotiations in non-state conflicts, but not in intrastate conflicts. A plausible explanation for this finding is that security concerns play a more important role in the decision to initiate negotiations in non-state conflicts than in intrastate conflicts. Our short analysis thus illustrates the value of having data on both intrastate and non-state conflicts.
Investigating the Relation of Political Orientation and Vaccination Outcomes: Identifying the Roles of Political Ideology, Party Affiliation, and Vaccine Hesitancy
Authors: Howard Matt C.
Published: December 2022

Popular press and academic articles alike suggest that political orientation is a primary determinant of vaccination willingness, vaccination, and vaccine word-of-mouth (i.e., sharing of information regarding vaccines). In the current article, we test the validity of these suggestions, and we also assess the differential roles of political ideology (e.g., liberal-conservative) and party affiliation (e.g., Democrat-Republican) as well as the mediating effect of vaccine hesitancy’s dimensions. To do so, we perform a four-wave survey study with 223 participants that completed all waves. Our results support that political orientation indeed relates to our outcomes of interest. Our results also show that political ideology has a more pronounced effect than party affiliation, and the vaccine hesitancy dimensions of Health Risks and Healthy mediate many of these relations. From these results, we suggest many directions for future research and practice, including the integration of political discourse theories in studies on political orientations and vaccination.
Failure Characteristics of Coal Seam Floor and Risk Assessment of Water Inrush Caused by Underground Coal Mining
Authors: Liu Yu , Liu Shiliang , Huo Zhichao , Sun Kai , Wang Ting , Li Weiguo
Published: December 2022

Failure characteristics of the coal seam floor above-confined aquifer are key to evaluating the water inrush risk from the floor in the deep mining. At present, based on the analysis of water inrush impact indicators, mathematical evaluation methods are often used to evaluate the water inrush risk of a mining floor. This study proposes a theoretical risk assessment method for water inrush from the floor considering the failure characteristics of the coal seam floor above-confined aquifer. The 11301# coalface in the Wanglou colliery, Shandong Province, is considered as a case study. The mechanical model of the mining floor stress along the coalface inclination direction was established, and the analytical solutions of the vertical, horizontal, and shear stress and floor failure depth were derived. The floor failure mode along the coalface inclination direction is similar to the letter “lying flat-B” and the maximum and minimum failure depth is around 13 and 6 m. Furthermore, the dynamic failure characteristics of the floor during coal mining were simulated. Subsequently, the thickness of the floor key aquiclude was determined and the water inrush coefficient exhibits a certain trend from increasing to becoming stable in the mining process, that is, from 0.05 to 0.08 MPa/m. The analytical solution of the critical water pressure for floor aquiclude failure was derived based on the limit equilibrium theory. That is, the ultimate water pressure 3.9 MPa is greater than the actual water pressure 2 MPa, and there is no floor water inrush risk. Taking these into account, the water inrush risk of the mining floor above-confined aquifer was comprehensively analyzed and evaluated. The findings were deemed to be consistent with the actual mining case.
Assessing the Feasibility of Employing Transportation Utility Fee: Need to Overlay Landmark Court Decisions on State-Level Determinants
Authors: Mathur Shishir , Robinson Ralph
Published: December 2022

There is a growing interest nationwide in employing a transportation utility fee (TUF). The extant literature discusses ways to make TUF legally defensible by maintaining its fee-like features, so that it is not considered a tax. However, courts consider the context of state law while determining the legality of a TUF; hence, the need to consider the takeaways from landmark TUF-related court cases and state-specific determinants while designing a TUF program. The paper begins to fill this research gap by demonstrating how court decisions can be overlaid on state-specific determinants to identify a set of choices for levying TUF.
Communication Technology and Social Support to Navigate Work/Life Conflict During Covid-19 and Beyond
Authors: Shin Inyoung , Riforgiate Sarah E , Coker Michael C , Godager Emily A
Published: December 2022

Drawing on a national survey of 447 U.S. workers who transitioned to remote work during COVID-19, this study examined how different types of communication technologies (CTs) used for work and private life were associated with work/life conflicts and perceptions of social support across different relationship types (coworker, family, and friends). Findings indicated that work/life conflicts became aggravated when the use of CTs violated relational norms (e.g., mobile texting with coworkers and emailing with family and friends). On the other hand, uses of CTs that were perceived to offer access to social support (e.g., instant messaging with coworkers and friends) were related to lower work/life conflict. Social media (e.g., Facebook) had a direct relationship to higher work/life conflict, but an indirect relationship to lower work/life conflict through social support. Overall, findings suggest that individuals attempt to create work/life boundaries by selecting specific CTs when physical work/life boundaries are collapsed.
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy: Supra-Physiological or Just Physical Effects of Positive Pressure?
Authors: Macionis Valdas
Published: December 2022

This communication provides a new insight into the unexplained physiology of beneficial effects of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). Possible mechanisms of beneficial effects of NPWT in failing replantation and free tissue transfer are discussed. Positive pressure generated by NPWT as well as its draining action creates exudate-free tight tissue-to-tissue interface, which may enhance neovascularization.
Cumulative Data of 1H and 13C NMR Signals and Specific Rotations of Eremophilane Sesquiterpenoids. 2. Bicyclic Eremophilanes (2)
Authors: Tori Motoo
Published: December 2022

1H and 13C NMR signals and specific rotations of eremophilane sesquiterpenoids are cumulated as a series of review articles. In the second chapter of this review, 124 bicyclic eremophilanes without furan or lactone rings (except for epoxides) and with 3-OR functionality (some have OH) are listed in 25 tables. Those bearing long chain acyloxy groups without 3-oxygen functions and some bi- or tri-cyclic compounds are also included in this chapter. These data may help chemists working in the area of natural products chemistry as well as synthetic scientists.
Toward the Discovery of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibitors: Exploring Therapeutic Potentials of Evodiamine and Its Derivatives, Virtual Screening, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamic Studies
Authors: Belal Amany , Elsayed Amani , Gharib Amal F. , Ali Alqarni Maram Abdullah , Soliman Aiten M. , Mehany Ahmed B. M. , Elanany Mohamed A.
Published: December 2022

Continuous scientific research is necessary to help in the discovery of new promising remedies for the treatment of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This current research was aimed at identifying potential novel inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, which represents one of the most important targets in the viral life cycle. Protein data bank file ID: 7JQ2 was used containing the co-crystallized inhibitor MPI5 with the Main protease. A virtual screening process for natural evodiamine compounds was performed through absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination, and toxicity studies, and the promising hits were docked into the binding site of the enzyme. 13-(4-Chlorobenzoyl)-10-hydroxy-14-methyl-8,13,13 b,14-tetrahydroindolo[2′,3′:3,4]pyrido[2,1- b]-quinazolin-5(7 H)-one (29) interacted favorably with the enzyme; it showed high similarity to MPI5. Molecular dynamic simulations for 29 proved the stability of its binding to SARS-CoV-2 protease over 100 ns; subsequent MMGBSA analysis also supported this principle. Furthermore, 29 elucidated higher limiting action on enzymatic behavior throughout the whole process when compared to MPI5. This provides sufficient evidence for the potential of evodiamine compounds in modern antiviral research, especially compound 29, against the modern COVID-19 pandemic.
Taxation and Accountability in Local Government: A Democratic Deficit in Andhra Pradesh
Authors: Elliott Carolyn
Published: December 2022

This study looks at the vibrancy of local democracy through linkages between local tax collection and accountability: When villagers pay taxes to the village panchayat are they more likely to hold the panchayat accountable? Fifty villages in Andhra Pradesh were surveyed through 500 structured interviews. The study found that in the low-tax environment where panchayats generally follow government-established minimum tax rates, the level of taxation is not politically salient and has no acknowledged impact on panchayat elections. Tax-paying villagers are more likely to participate in the panchayat when residents have connections to outside parties and officials. Except in questions regarding the fairness of internal distributions of works and services, panchayats appear more as the lowest end of the state system than as local democracies. Local government in Andhra Pradesh has a democratic deficit.
Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Cognitive Performance in Cognitively Normal Non-Hispanic Whites and Mexican Americans From the HABS-HD Cohort
Authors: Vintimilla Raul , Nevin Thomas , Hall James , Johnson Leigh , O’Bryant Sid
Published: December 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the impact of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) on cognition in non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) versus Mexicans Americans (MA). Methods: A cross sectional analysis was conducted on 663 NHW and 632 MA. Prevalence of specific CVRF were compared between both demographics. Cognition was tested with various neuropsychologic tests. Results: MA had a higher percentage of hypertension, abdominal circumference, diabetes, and current smoking while NHW had a higher prevalence of other CVD. However, specific CVRF impacted NHW neuropsychologic testing on cognition, executive function, and processing, while only memory was affected in MA. Discussion: MA have less access to healthcare services with a higher prevalence of specific CVRF, however previous research has cited a lower mortality compared to NHW, this is known as the Hispanic paradox effect. The Mexican American ethnicity may be a protective factor in cognition creating increased neuropsychologic resilience from CVRF.
Fractured smart cities: Missing links in India’s smart city mission
Authors: Singh Uttam , Upadhyay Surya Prakash
Published: December 2022

The postscripts of smart cities have been written before its prelude. Inserting smart technologies in infrastructure to improve urban environments, smart cities emphasize data-driven approaches and evidence-based planning. While it asks for production of new vocabularies, new ways of thinking, and proposes new methodologies, smart cities have trivialized baseline surveys. The insignificance to baseline survey hides the existing and functioning cities and leads to appropriation of “smart in the box” technologies. The omission of baseline survey fails to revamp planning and governance techniques as well as management and delivery of urban services. India’s Smart City Mission runs through a similar fate. Despite changes in vision and approach towards urban improvement, Smart City Mission suffers from methodological apathy and produces fractured smart cities. In doing so, the paper explores how the idea of normative smart city shrouds urban complexities and heterogeneities and proposes solutions without comprehending the functional and existing cities. Drawing on cases of urban water and solid waste management in Smart City Dharamshala, this paper discusses how fissures in normative and functional smart cities are continually produced through broken, incomplete, and erroneous data that, ultimately, fails in creating robust and resilient cities.
Control of system parameters by estimating screw withdrawal strength values of particleboards using artificial neural network-based statistical control charts
Authors: Kurt Rıfat
Published: December 2022

In this study, with data obtained from a particleboard factory, screw withdrawal strength (SWS) values of particleboards were estimated using artificial neural networks (ANNs). Predictive control charts were also created. A total of seven independent variables were used for the ANN model: modulus of elasticity (MoE), surface soundness (SS), internal bond strength (IBS), density, press time, press temperature, and press pressure. The results showed that the ANN-based individual moving range (I-MR) and cumulative sum (CUSUM) control charts created for SWS values detected out-of-control signal points close to those of the real-time control charts. Among the selected independent variables, IBS was the most important parameter affecting SWS. The most suitable press temperatures and times for high SWS values were determined as 198–201 °C and 165–175 s, respectively. Moreover, the boards with 2500–2800 N/mm2 MoE and 0.55 N/mm2 IBS values exhibited the best SWS.
Determination of biomarkers threshold values and illustration of their use for the diagnostic in large-scale freshwater biomonitoring surveys
Authors: Leprêtre Maxime , Geffard Alain , Palos Ladeiro Mélissa , Dedourge-Geffard Odile , David Elise , Delahaut Laurence , Bonnard Isabelle , Barjhoux Iris , Nicolaï Miguel , Noury Patrice , Espeyte Anabelle , Chaumot Arnaud , Degli-Esposti Davide , Geffard Olivier , Lopes Christelle
Published: December 2022

Background

Several biomarkers developed from freshwater sentinel species are used to complement chemical assessment of freshwater ecosystems and improve the evaluation of their contamination levels. While active biomonitoring strategies allow to compare biological data in the field, the lack of assessment criteria to interpret biomarkers modulations restricts their application in freshwater biomonitoring surveys. For this purpose, the determination of threshold values emerges as a relevant approach to support the biomarker-based diagnosis within biomonitoring surveys. Based on the distribution of contamination baselines, a statistical approach was proposed to define threshold values of bioaccumulated concentrations in the sentinel species Gammarus fossarum. Although this methodology is limited to chemical databases, this approach could be adapted for defining threshold values at the biological level. This study aims to demonstrate the possibility of defining threshold values for different classes of biomarkers monitored in two freshwater sentinel species (Dreissena polymorpha, G. fossarum) and evidence the added value of such an approach in biomarker-based diagnosis.

Results

For this purpose, the study benefited from exceptional environmental biomarker datasets acquired from mussels and gammarids caged in hundred environmental sites, representative of the diversity of French water bodies. Thanks to these environmental datasets, inhibition and/or induction thresholds could be defined for 8 biochemical, cellular, and molecular biomarkers of D. polymorpha and 25 peptide biomarkers of G. fossarum, not influenced by confounding factors. Threshold values were then applied to another biomarker dataset acquired from mussels and gammarids caged upstream and downstream four wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Several biomarkers were modulated both downstream and upstream of WWTPs, indicating a potential contamination not related to WWTPs. In contrast, some biomarkers were impacted exclusively downstream of the WWTPs, highlighting an impact of WWTP discharges on the aquatic fauna.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the possibility to define threshold values for a wide range of biomarkers (cellular, biochemical and molecular) monitored on different sentinel species. The definition of threshold values constitutes an attractive solution to support the application of biomarkers in active biomonitoring surveys and improve the biomarker-based diagnosis without the need of “reference sites”.
Impacts of multiple anthropogenic stressors on the transcriptional response of Gammarus fossarum in a mesocosm field experiment
Authors: Brasseur Marie V. , Beermann Arne J. , Elbrecht Vasco , Grabner Daniel , Peinert-Voss Bianca , Salis Romana , Weiss Martina , Mayer Christoph , Leese Florian
Published: December 2022

Background

Freshwaters are exposed to multiple anthropogenic stressors, leading to habitat degradation and biodiversity decline. In particular, agricultural stressors are known to result in decreased abundances and community shifts towards more tolerant taxa. However, the combined effects of stressors are difficult to predict as they can interact in complex ways, leading to enhanced (synergistic) or decreased (antagonistic) response patterns. Furthermore, stress responses may remain undetected if only the abundance changes in ecological experiments are considered, as organisms may have physiological protective pathways to counteract stressor effects. Therefore, we here used transcriptome-wide sequencing data to quantify single and combined effects of elevated fine sediment deposition, increased salinity and reduced flow velocity on the gene expression of the amphipod Gammarus fossarum in a mesocosm field experiment.

Results

Stressor exposure resulted in a strong transcriptional suppression of genes involved in metabolic and energy consuming cellular processes, indicating that G. fossarum responds to stressor exposure by directing energy to vitally essential processes. Treatments involving increased salinity induced by far the strongest transcriptional response, contrasting the observed abundance patterns where no effect was detected. Specifically, increased salinity induced the expression of detoxification enzymes and ion transporter genes, which control the membrane permeability of sodium, potassium or chloride. Stressor interactions at the physiological level were mainly antagonistic, such as the combined effect of increased fine sediment and reduced flow velocity. The compensation of the fine sediment induced effect by reduced flow velocity is in line with observations based on specimen abundance data.

Conclusions

Our findings show that gene expression data provide new mechanistic insights in responses of freshwater organisms to multiple anthropogenic stressors. The assessment of stressor effects at the transcriptomic level and its integration with stressor effects at the level of specimen abundances significantly contribute to our understanding of multiple stressor effects in freshwater ecosystems.
Genome-wide identification and functional analysis of Dof transcription factor family in Camelina sativa
Authors: Luo Tao , Song Yanan , Gao Huiling , Wang Meng , Cui Hongli , Ji Chunli , Wang Jiping , Yuan Lixia , Li Runzhi
Published: December 2022

Background

Dof transcription factors (TFs) containing C2-C2 zinc finger domains are plant-specific regulatory proteins, playing crucial roles in a variety of biological processes. However, little is known about Dof in Camelina sativa, an important oil crop worldwide, with high stress tolerance. In this study, a genome-wide characterization of Dof proteins is performed to examine their basic structural characteristics, phylogenetics, expression patterns, and functions to identify the regulatory mechanism underlying lipid/oil accumulation and the candidate Dofs mediating stress resistance regulation in C. sativa.

Results

Total of 103 CsDof genes unevenly distributed on 20 chromosomes were identified from the C. sativa genome, and they were classified into four groups (A, B, C and D) based on the classification of Arabidopsis Dof gene family. All of the CsDof proteins contained the highly-conserved typic CX2C-X21-CX2C structure. Segmental duplication and purifying selection were detected for CsDof genes. 61 CsDof genes were expressed in multiple tissues, and 20 of them showed tissue-specific expression patterns, suggesting that CsDof genes functioned differentially in different tissues of C. sativa. Remarkably, a set of CsDof members were detected to be possible involved in regulation of oil/lipid biosynthesis in C. sativa. Six CsDof genes exhibited significant expression changes in seedlings under salt stress treatment.

Conclusions

The present data reveals that segmental duplication is the key force responsible for the expansion of CsDof gene family, and a strong purifying pressure plays a crucial role in CsDofs’ evolution. Several CsDof TFs may mediate lipid metabolism and stress responses in C. sativa. Several CsDof TFs may mediate lipid metabolism and stress responses in C. sativa. Collectively, our findings provide a foundation for deep understanding the roles of CsDofs and genetic improvements of oil yield and salt stress tolerance in this species and the related crops.
Prevalence of sensory impairments in home care and long-term care using interRAI data from across Canada
Authors: Guthrie Dawn M. , Williams Nicole , Jaiswal Atul , Mick Paul , O’Rourke Hannah M. , Pichora-Fuller M. Kathleen , Wittich Walter , Sutradhar Rinku
Published: December 2022

Background

In the general population, sensory impairments increase markedly with age in adults over 60 years of age. We estimated the prevalence of hearing loss only (HL), vision loss only (VL), and a combined impairment (i.e., dual sensory loss or DSL) in Canadians receiving home care (HC) or long-term care (LTC).

Methods

Annual cross-sectional analyses were conducted using data collected with one of two interRAI assessments, one used for the HC setting (n = 2,667,199), and one for LTC (n = 1,538,691). Items in the assessments were used to measure three mutually exclusive outcomes: prevalence of VL only, HL only, or DSL. Trends over time for each outcome were examined using the Cochran-Armitage trend test. A negative binomial model was used to quantify the trends over time for each outcome while adjusting for age, sex and province.

Results

In HC, there was a significant trend in the rate for all three outcomes (p < 0.001), with a small increase (roughly 1%) each year. In HC, HL was the most prevalent sensory loss, with a rate of roughly 25% to 29%, while in LTC, DSL was the most prevalent impairment, at roughly 25% across multiple years of data. In both settings, roughly 60% of the sample was female. Males in both HC and LTC had a higher prevalence of HL compared to females, but the differences were very small (no more than 2% in any given year). The prevalence of HL differed by province after adjusting for year, age and sex. Compared to Ontario, Yukon Territory had a 26% higher rate of HL in HC (relative rate [RR] = 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.11, 1.43), but LTC residents in Newfoundland and Labrador had a significantly lower rate of HL (RR: 0.57; CI: 0.43, 0.76).When combined, approximately 60% of LTC residents, or HC clients, had at least one sensory impairment.

Conclusions

Sensory impairments are highly prevalent in both HC and LTC, with small sex-related differences and some variation across Canadian provinces. The interRAI assessments provide clinicians with valuable information to inform care planning and can also be used to estimate the prevalence of these impairments in specific population sub-groups.
End-user research in support of long-acting systemic antiretroviral delivery systems: insights from qualitative research with providers and target users in South Africa
Authors: Brown Morgan S. , Hanif Homaira , Little Kristen M. , Clark Meredith R. , Thurman Andrea R. , Flomen Lola , Doncel Gustavo F.
Published: December 2022

Background

While oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV, challenges such as adhering to a daily-dosing regimen and persistence have emerged as barriers for at-risks populations in South Africa. This qualitative research sought to investigate perceptions of and preferences for a long-acting, biodegradable implantable PrEP product designed to address these barriers.

Methods

To identify and understand motivators, barriers, and preferences for the PrEP implant, we conducted qualitative in-depth interviews (IDIs) among health care providers (HCPs) and target end-users (young women, adolescent girls, and female sex workers) in urban and rural/peri-urban regions of Gauteng Province, South Africa. The IDIs focused on defining values, beliefs, habits, lifestyles, influencers, and information channels for potential PrEP implant end-users.

Results

We conducted 36 IDIs across health care providers and target end-user respondent segments. Respondents had generally positive reactions to the PrEP implant. Most end-users felt that some undesirable aspects of the implant (e.g., side effects, pain during insertion, potential scarring, and inability to remove implant) would be offset by having a highly effective, and long-lasting HIV prevention product. Although some HCPs believed the implantable PrEP would lead to increases in promiscuity and risky sexual behavior, most HCPs saw value in the PrEP implant’s long duration of protection, its biodegradability, and the likelihood of higher adherence relative to oral PrEP.

Conclusions

This study is a first step toward further research needed to demonstrate the demand for a biodegradable, long-acting implantable PrEP and suggests such a product would be accepted by end-users and HCPs in South Africa. This study indicates the need to develop more convenient, discreet, long-acting, and highly effective biomedical HIV prevention options for at-risk populations.
COVID-19 impact on index testing services and programmatic cost in 5 high HIV prevalence Indian districts
Authors: Pollard Rose , Enugu Ajay , Sriudomporn Salin , Bell Jade , Ghosh Subash Chandra , Arumugam Visvanathan , Mugundu Parthasarathy , Singh Aditya , McFall Allison M. , Mehta Shruti H. , Patenaude Bryan N. , Solomon Sunil S.
Published: December 2022

Background

Restrictions to curb the first wave of COVID-19 in India resulted in a decline in facility-based HIV testing rates, likely contributing to increased HIV transmission and disease progression. The programmatic and economic impact of COVID-19 on index testing, a standardized contact tracing strategy, remains unknown.

Methods

Retrospective programmatic and costing data were analyzed under a US government-supported program to assess the pandemic’s impact on the programmatic outcomes and cost of index testing implemented in two Indian states (Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh). We compared index testing continuum outcomes during lockdown (April–June 2020) and post-lockdown (July–Sept 2020) relative to pre-lockdown (January–March 2020) by estimating adjusted rate ratios (aRRs) using negative binomial regression. Startup and recurrent programmatic costs were estimated across geographies using a micro-costing approach. Per unit costs were calculated for each index testing continuum outcome.

Results

Pre-lockdown, 2431 index clients were offered services, 3858 contacts were elicited, 3191 contacts completed HIV testing, 858 contacts tested positive, and 695 contacts initiated ART. Compared to pre-lockdown, the number of contacts elicited decreased during lockdown (aRR = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.11–0.16) and post-lockdown (aRR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.43–0.56); and the total contacts newly diagnosed with HIV also decreased during lockdown (aRR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.18–0.26) and post-lockdown (aRR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.45–0.59). HIV positivity increased from 27% pre-lockdown to 40% during lockdown and decreased to 26% post-lockdown. Further, ART initiation improved from 81% pre-lockdown to 88% during lockdown and post-lockdown. The overall cost to operate index testing was $193,457 pre-lockdown and decreased during lockdown to $132,177 (32%) and $126,155 (35%) post-lockdown. Post-lockdown unit cost of case identification rose in facility sites ($372) compared to pre-lockdown ($205), however it decreased in community-based sites from pre-lockdown ($277) to post-lockdown ($166).

Conclusions

There was a dramatic decline in the number of index testing clients in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions that resulted in higher unit costs to deliver services; yet, improved linkage to ART suggests that decongesting centres could improve efficiency. Training index testing staff to provide support across services including non-facility-based HIV testing mechanisms (i.e., telemedicine, HIV self-testing, community-based approaches) may help optimize resources during public health emergencies.
Patterns and prognostic predictive value of perineural invasion in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Ma Yu , Chen Jie , Yao Xi , Li Zhenzhen , Li Wensheng , Wang Hongtao , Zhu Jianfei
Published: December 2022

Background

The pathological phenotype of perineural invasion (PNI) in squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is prevalent but highly heterogeneous.

Methods

Postoperative specimens from all patients with ESCC at Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital were evaluated for PNI using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and S100 immunohistochemistry (IHC). We determined the correlation between PNI status and clinical outcomes.

Results

Among 349 ESCC cases, PNI was identified in 127 patients (36.3%), and four subtypes of PNI were identified in our study. Correlation analysis confirmed that PNI was related to tumour invasion depth (pT stage) and lymph node status (pN stage) (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that PNI (P = 0.001) was an independent factor affecting disease-free survival (DFS) in ESCC, and a similar result was found for overall survival (OS) (P = 0.017). Further analysis revealed that PNI status was a prognostic factor of DFS (P < 0.001) and OS (P = 0.003) exclusively in pN-negative patients. We also found that patients with the PNI-a subtype had better DFS (P = 0.002) and OS (P = 0.002) than patients with the other three subtypes (PNI-b, c, d).

Conclusion

The pathological phenotypes of PNI are diverse, and the identification of PNI subtypes has important clinical guiding value.
Complications of radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection for cervical cancer: a 10-year single-centre clinical observational study
Authors: Jing Huang , Xiuhong Wu , Ying Yu , Xiyun Cheng , Deping Luo , Changmei Shen , Qi Wang , Tao Peng , Yiyun Pan
Published: December 2022

Background and purpose

The complications of radical surgery for cervical cancer can increase patient suffering and affect their quality of life. This retrospective study assessed the safety of radical hysterectomy (RH) with pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) by observing the complications of patients with cervical cancer who underwent this procedure in a single centre over 10 years. Our findings may provide experience and evidence for preventing and reducing complications.

Methods

A total of 2226 cervical cancer patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled. All patients underwent RH + PLND. Intraoperative injury to adjacent tissues and short-term and long-term complications were recorded to analyze factors associated with the occurrence of complications.

Results

Postoperative complications occurred in 34.41% (766/2226) of patients, including 7.68% of patients with injury to adjacent tissues, 31.45% with short-term complications, and 2.96% with long-term complications. Age, tumor size, invasion depth, parametrial invasion, lymph vascular space invasion (LVSI), lymph node metastasis, International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, and surgical procedure were closely associated with the postoperative complications of RH + PLND (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The results of this study showed that RH + PLND for cervical cancer is safe and practical. Patients aged 40–60 years, with tumors ≥ 4 cm, invasion depth ≥ 2/3, parametrial invasion, LVSI, lymph node metastasis, FIGO stage > IB2, and who underwent open surgery were more prone to complications.
Nomogram model predicts the risk of visual impairment in diabetic retinopathy: a retrospective study
Authors: Zhao Yuancheng , Yu Rentao , Sun Chao , Fan Wei , Zou Huan , Chen Xiaofan , Huang Yanming , Yuan Rongdi
Published: December 2022

Background

To develop a model for predicting the risk of visual impairment in diabetic retinopathy (DR) by a nomogram.

Methods

Patients with DR who underwent both optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) were retrospectively enrolled. FFA was conducted for DR staging, swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) of the macula and 3*3-mm blood flow imaging by OCTA to observe retinal structure and blood flow parameters. We defined a logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity (LogMAR VA) ≥0.5 as visual impairment, and the characteristics correlated with VA were screened using binary logistic regression. The selected factors were then entered into a multivariate binary stepwise regression, and a nomogram was developed to predict visual impairment risk. Finally, the model was validated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), calibration plots, decision curve analysis (DCA), and clinical impact curve (CIC).

Results

A total of 29 parameters were included in the analysis, and 13 characteristics were used to develop a nomogram model. Finally, diabetic macular ischaemia (DMI) grading, disorganization of the retinal inner layers (DRIL), outer layer disruption, and the vessel density of choriocapillaris layer inferior (SubVD) were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). The model was found to have good accuracy based on the ROC (AUC = 0.931) and calibration curves (C-index = 0.930). The DCA showed that risk threshold probabilities in the (3–91%) interval models can be used to guide clinical practice, and the proportion of people at risk at each threshold probability is illustrated by the CIC.

Conclusion

The nomogram model for predicting visual impairment in DR patients demonstrated good accuracy and utility, and it can be used to guide clinical practice.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2200059835. Registered 12 May 2022,

https://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=169290&htm=4
Association between dietary theobromine with depression: a population-based study
Authors: Li Xin-yu , Liu Hui , Zhang Lu-yu , Yang Xi-tao
Published: December 2022

Objective

The purpose of this study is to investigate the possible link between dietary theobromine intake and symptoms of depression.

Materials and methods

These results are based on the responses of 3637 people who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2017–2018. Participants' daily theobromine intake was determined using a 24-h food questionnaire from the 2017–2018 cycle. Presence of depression was defined as a score of 5 or above on the Patient Health Questionnaire. Association between theobromine intake and depression was examined using a multivariate logistic regression adjusting for several relevant sociodemographic, lifestyle and health-related factors.

Results

A total of 6903 participants were included in the study. The results of multivariate logistic regression showed a correlation between depressive symptoms and theobromine intake (OR:1.17, 95%CI:1.02–1.34).

Conclusions

Our cross-sectional population based study suggests that increased theobromine intake is associated with increased risk for depression. Nevertheless, more investigations are needed to confirm our findings.
Social determinants and mental health needs of Palestine refugees and UNRWA responses in Gaza during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative assessment
Authors: Jamal Zeina , ElKhatib Zoheir , AlBaik Shatha , Horino Masako , Waleed Mohammed , Fawaz Farah , Loffreda Giulia , Seita Akihiro , Witter Sophie , Diaconu Karin
Published: December 2022

Background

Due to pre-existing difficulties, refugees are especially susceptible to the negative effects of the pandemic; nonetheless, the pandemic’s effect on this group is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of Palestine refugees in Gaza by identifying the role of social determinants. During the pandemic, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) enacted a number of policies and measures. The purpose of this research was to assess their efficacy and acceptability.

Methods

This qualitative study took place between August and November 2020. Twenty-nine key-informant interviews were conducted remotely with UNRWA Headquarters, field and clinical staff in Gaza and with community members, aged ≥18 years and residing in Rafah and Jabalia camps. We sought informed consent verbally or via email. Data was coded based on the framework for social determinants of mental health.

Results

Interview results indicated that the relationship might be unidirectional, with COVID-19 causing the degradation of living conditions and vice versa, with living conditions exacerbating the COVID-19 situation by facilitating virus transmission. In other instances, the association between mental health determinants and COVID-19 might be bidirectional. In terms of experiencing violence and anxieties, women, children, and daily-paid employees were significantly more disadvantaged than other groups in the community. UNRWA modified its service delivery techniques in order to continue providing essential services. In general, UNRWA’s strategies throughout the pandemic were deemed beneficial, but insufficient to meet the needs of Gazans.

Conclusion

The pandemic highlights the need to go beyond disease treatment and prevention to address social determinants to improve refugees’ health and reduce their susceptibility to future shocks. UNRWA has rapidly implemented telemedicine and mental telehealth services, making it imperative to assess the efficacy of these novel approaches to provide care at a distance. A long-term option may be to employ a hybrid strategy, which combines online and in-person therapy.
Intimate partner violence against women in Southern Punjab, Pakistan: A phenomenological study
Authors: Sattar Tehmina , Ahmad Saeed , Asim Muhammad
Published: December 2022

Background

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) refers to behavior by an intimate partner that can cause physical, sexual, or psychological harm; is a common global public health issue requiring immediate attention. IPV is the most common form of violence in rural areas of Punjab, Pakistan.

Methods

This qualitative phenomenological study collected 46 in-depth interviews from married women who experienced IPV in the rural areas of South Punjab. A semi-structured interview guide was used for data collection. These women were selected through a snowball sampling technique from October 2018 to March 2019. Researchers accessed the study setting with the help of gatekeepers (Lady Health Workers and Village Heads). The interviews were audio-recorded in the local language (Saraiki) and were translated into English. The data were analyzed using the thematic inductive analysis technique.

Results

The study has presented multifaceted factors of IPV by using the socio-ecological framework in rural areas of South Punjab, Pakistan. The current study introduced culturally contextualized terminologies of "protection," "physical submissiveness," "mental delicacy," and "social security". For married women, culturally embedded terms became the primary cause of IPV. In addition, the study also highlighted some of the cultural terminologies (such as run-mureed, watta-satta, beghairat, izzat, etc.) that are ubiquitous in the local context that sometimes intensifies IPV in the family and community sphere. Furthermore, the study discussed how gender-based inequalities trigger a status quo that ultimately creates power discrimination between spouses, which perpetuates violence in the domestic context.

Conclusions

Gender-prejudiced roles and expectations imposed by orthodoxy, misinterpretations of Islamic teachings, and dominant patriarchy can be contested through awareness campaigns among the public, and gender sensitization drives among public institutions of police and judiciary. Education and employment-based can lead to women's empowerment and help to challenge the orthodox anti-feminist societal norms and the role of kinship-based networks in the family and community sphere.
Assessing the acceptability of dried blood spot testing for HIV and STBBI among Métis people in a community driven pilot project in Alberta, Canada
Authors: Landy Rachel , Atkinson Danielle , Ogilvie Kandace , St. Denys Raye , Lund Carrielynn , Worthington Catherine ,   on behalf of the DRUM & SASH team
Published: December 2022

Background

Little literature exists on culturally grounded approaches for addressing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) among Métis people. The goal of this mixed-methods research was to explore the experiences of Métis community members participating in a dried blood spot testing (DBST) for HIV/STBBI pilot for Métis communities in Alberta, Canada, with the aim of assessing the acceptability of this testing method.

Methods

Grounded in community-based and Indigenous research approaches and working in partnership with a Métis community-based organization, data collection included a survey and four gathering circles with Métis DBST recipients at one of two community events, and semi-structured interviews with three DBST providers.

Results

Twenty-six of the 30 DBST recipients completed surveys, and 19 DBST recipients participated in gathering circles. Survey results suggest DBST is a highly acceptable STBBI testing method to Métis community members. Thematic analysis of gathering circle and interview transcripts revealed four broad themes related to the participants’ experiences with DBST related to its acceptability (i. ease of DBST process, ii. overcoming logistical challenges associated with existing STBBI testing, iii. Reducing stigma through health role models and event-based, and iv. Métis-specific services).

Conclusions

These findings illustrate the potential for DBST to be part of a culturally grounded, Métis-specific response to HIV and STBBI.
De novo emergence, existence, and demise of a protein-coding gene in murids
Authors: Petrzilek Jan , Pasulka Josef , Malik Radek , Horvat Filip , Kataruka Shubhangini , Fulka Helena , Svoboda Petr
Published: December 2022

Background

Genes, principal units of genetic information, vary in complexity and evolutionary history. Less-complex genes (e.g., long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expressing genes) readily emerge de novo from non-genic sequences and have high evolutionary turnover. Genesis of a gene may be facilitated by adoption of functional genic sequences from retrotransposon insertions. However, protein-coding sequences in extant genomes rarely lack any connection to an ancestral protein-coding sequence.

Results

We describe remarkable evolution of the murine gene D6Ertd527e and its orthologs in the rodent Muroidea superfamily. The D6Ertd527e emerged in a common ancestor of mice and hamsters most likely as a lncRNA-expressing gene. A major contributing factor was a long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposon insertion carrying an oocyte-specific promoter and a 5′ terminal exon of the gene. The gene survived as an oocyte-specific lncRNA in several extant rodents while in some others the gene or its expression were lost. In the ancestral lineage of Mus musculus, the gene acquired protein-coding capacity where the bulk of the coding sequence formed through CAG (AGC) trinucleotide repeat expansion and duplications. These events generated a cytoplasmic serine-rich maternal protein. Knock-out of D6Ertd527e in mice has a small but detectable effect on fertility and the maternal transcriptome.

Conclusions

While this evolving gene is not showing a clear function in laboratory mice, its documented evolutionary history in Muroidea during the last ~ 40 million years provides a textbook example of how a several common mutation events can support de novo gene formation, evolution of protein-coding capacity, as well as gene’s demise.
Chromatin accessibility illuminates single-cell regulatory dynamics of rice root tips
Authors: Feng Dan , Liang Zhe , Wang Yifan , Yao Jiaying , Yuan Zan , Hu Guihua , Qu Ruihong , Xie Shang , Li Dongwei , Yang Liwen , Zhao Xinai , Ma Yanfei , Lohmann Jan U. , Gu Xiaofeng
Published: December 2022

Background

Root development and function have central roles in plant adaptation to the environment. The modification of root traits has additionally been a major driver of crop performance since the green revolution; however, the molecular underpinnings and the regulatory programmes defining root development and response to environmental stress remain largely unknown. Single-cell reconstruction of gene regulatory programmes provides an important tool to understand the cellular phenotypic variation in complex tissues and their response to endogenous and environmental stimuli. While single-cell transcriptomes of several plant organs have been elucidated, the underlying chromatin landscapes associated with cell type-specific gene expression remain largely unexplored.

Results

To comprehensively delineate chromatin accessibility during root development of an important crop, we applied single-cell ATAC-seq (scATAC-seq) to 46,758 cells from rice root tips under normal and heat stress conditions. Our data revealed cell type-specific accessibility variance across most of the major cell types and allowed us to identify sets of transcription factors which associate with accessible chromatin regions (ACRs). Using root hair differentiation as a model, we demonstrate that chromatin and gene expression dynamics during cell type differentiation correlate in pseudotime analyses. In addition to developmental trajectories, we describe chromatin responses to heat and identify cell type-specific accessibility changes to this key environmental stimulus.

Conclusions

We report chromatin landscapes during rice root development at single-cell resolution. Our work provides a framework for the integrative analysis of regulatory dynamics in this important crop organ at single-cell resolution.