bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Concurrent HPV DNA testing and a visual inspection method for cervical precancer screening: A practical approach from Battor, Ghana
Authors: Effah Kofi , Tekpor Ethel , Wormenor Comfort Mawusi , Amuah Joseph Emmanuel , Essel Nana Owusu , Atuguba Bernard Hayford , Klutsey Gifty Belinda , Sesenu Edna , Tay Georgina , Tibu Faustina , Kemawor Seyram , Gedzah Isaac , Morkli Esu Aku Catherine , Danyo Stephen , Akakpo Patrick Kafui
Published: April 2023

Cytology-based cervical cancer screening programs have been difficult to implement and scale up in developing countries. Thus, the World Health Organization recommends a ‘see and treat’ approach by way of hr-HPV testing and visual inspection. We aimed to evaluate concurrent HPV DNA testing and visual inspection in a real-world low-resource setting by comparing the detection rates of concurrent visual inspection with dilute acetic acid (VIA) or mobile colposcopy and hr-HPV DNA testing to standalone hr-HPV DNA testing (using the careHPV, GeneXpert, AmpFire, or MA-6000 platforms). We further compared their rates of loss to follow-up. This retrospective, descriptive cross-sectional study included all 4482 women subjected to cervical precancer screening at our facility between June 2016 and March 2022. The rates of EVA and VIA ‘positivity’ were 8.6% (95% CI, 6.7–10.6) and 2.1 (95% CI, 1.6–2.5), respectively, while the hr-HPV-positivity rate was 17.9% (95% CI, 16.7–19.0). Overall, 51 women in the entire cohort tested positive on both hr-HPV DNA testing and visual inspection (1.1%; 95% CI, 0.9–1.5), whereas a large majority of the women tested negative (3588/4482, 80.1%) for both and 2.1% (95% CI, 1.7–2.6) tested hr-HPV-negative but visual inspection ‘positive’. In total, 191/275 (69.5%) participants who tested hr-HPV positive on any platform, as a standalone test for screening, returned for at least one follow-up visit. In light of factors such as poor socioeconomic circumstances, additional transportation costs associated with multiple screening visits, and lack of a reliable address system in many parts of Ghana, we posit that standalone HPV DNA testing with recall of hr-HPV positives will be tedious for a national cervical cancer prevention program. Our preliminary data show that concurrent testing (hr-HPV DNA testing alongside visual inspection by way of VIA or mobile colposcopy) may be more cost-effective than recalling hr-HPV-positive women for colposcopy.
Methotrexate as a corticosteroid-sparing agent in leprosy reactions: A French multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Jaume Léa , Hau Estelle , Monsel Gentiane , Mahé Antoine , Bertolotti Antoine , Petit Antoine , Le Britney , Chauveau Marie , Duhamel Elisabeth , Maisonobe Thierry , Bagot Martine , Bouaziz Jean-David , Mougari Faïza , Cambau Emmanuelle , Jachiet Marie ,   Groupe d’infectiologie en dermatologie et des infections sexuellement transmissibles (GrIDIST)
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Leprosy reactions (LRs) are inflammatory responses observed in 30%-50% of people with leprosy. First-line treatment is glucocorticoids (GCs), often administered at high doses with prolonged courses, resulting in high morbi-mortality. Methotrexate (MTX) is an immunomodulating agent used to treat inflammatory diseases and has an excellent safety profile and worldwide availability. In this study, we describe the efficacy, GCs-sparing effect and safety of MTX in LRs.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective multicentric study in France consisting of leprosy patients receiving MTX for a reversal reaction (RR) and/or erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) since 2016. The primary endpoint was the rate of good response (GR) defined as the complete disappearance of inflammatory cutaneous or neurological symptoms without recurrence during MTX treatment. The secondary endpoint was the GCs-sparing effect, safety and clinical relapse after MTX discontinuation.

Results

Our study included 13 patients with LRs (8 men, 5 women): 6 had ENL and 7 had RR. All patients had had at least one previous course of GCs and 2 previous treatment lines before starting MTX. Overall, 8/13 (61.5%) patients had GR, allowing for GCs-sparing and even GCs withdrawal in 6/11 (54.5%). No severe adverse effects were observed. Relapse after MTX discontinuation was substantial (42%): the median relapse time was 5.5 months (range 3–14) after stopping treatment.

Conclusion

MTX seems to be an effective alternative treatment in LRs, allowing for GCs-sparing with a good safety profile. Furthermore, early introduction during LRs may lead to a better therapeutic response. However, its efficacy seems to suggest prolonged therapy to prevent recurrence.
Structural equation modeling (SEM) of kidney function markers and longitudinal CVD risk assessment
Authors: Fujii Ryosuke , Melotti Roberto , Gögele Martin , Barin Laura , Ghasemi-Semeskandeh Dariush , Barbieri Giulia , Pramstaller Peter P. , Pattaro Cristian
Published: April 2023

Lower kidney function is known to enhance cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. It is unclear which estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equation best predict an increased CVD risk and if prediction can be improved by integration of multiple kidney function markers. We performed structural equation modeling (SEM) of kidney markers and compared the performance of the resulting pooled indexes with established eGFR equations to predict CVD risk in a 10-year longitudinal population-based design. We split the study sample into a set of participants with only baseline data (n = 647; model-building set) and a set with longitudinal data (n = 670; longitudinal set). In the model-building set, we fitted five SEM models based on serum creatinine or creatinine-based eGFR (eGFRcre), cystatin C or cystatin-based eGFR (eGFRcys), uric acid (UA), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). In the longitudinal set, 10-year incident CVD risk was defined as a Framingham risk score (FRS)>5% and a pooled cohort equation (PCE)>5%. Predictive performances of the different kidney function indexes were compared using the C-statistic and the DeLong test. In the longitudinal set, a SEM-based estimate of latent kidney function based on eGFRcre, eGFRcys, UA, and BUN showed better prediction performance for both FRS>5% (C-statistic: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.65–0.74) and PCE>5% (C-statistic: 0.75; 95%CI: 0.71–0.79) than other SEM models and different eGFR formulas (DeLong test p-values<3.21×10−6 for FRS>5% and <1.49×10−9 for PCE>5%, respectively). However, the new derived marker could not outperform eGFRcys (DeLong test p-values = 0.88 for FRS>5% and 0.20 for PCE>5%, respectively). SEM is a promising approach to identify latent kidney function signatures. However, for incident CVD risk prediction, eGFRcys could still be preferrable given its simpler derivation.
Active management of the third stage of labour in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Mihretie Gedefaye Nibret , Ayele Alemu Degu , Liyeh Tewachew Muche , Beyene Fentahun Yenealem , Kassa Bekalu Getnet , Arega Dawit Tiruneh , Belay Habtamu Gebrehana , Worke Mulugeta Dile
Published: April 2023

Background

Post-partum haemorrhage occurs in over 10% of all births and is the leading cause of maternal mortality, accounting for 25% of all maternal deaths worldwide. Active management of the third stage of labor is the most important intervention for reducing maternal morbidity and mortality by preventing postpartum hemorrhage. Previously, documented primary studies had been great discrepancy, inconsistent results, and there is a lack of comprehensive study. Hence, this systematic review and meta-analysis were intended to assess the prevalence and associated factors of the practice of active management of the third stage of labour among obstetric care providers in Ethiopia.

Method

Cross-sectional studies were systematically searched from January 01, 2010, to December 24, 2020, using PubMed, Google Scholar, HINARI, Cochrane Library, and grey literature. The pooled prevalence of active management of the third stage of labour practice and associated factors was estimated using DerSemonial-Laird Random Effect Model. Stata (version 16.0) was used to analyze the data. The I-squared statistic was used to assess the studies’ heterogeneity. A funnel plot and Egger’s test were used to check for publication bias. A subgroup analysis was performed to minimize the underline heterogeneity depending on the study years and the sample sizes.

Results

Seven hundred fifty articles were extracted. The final ten studies were included in this systematic review, including 2438 participants. The pooled prevalence of practices of active management of the third stage of labour among obstetric care providers in Ethiopia was 39.65% (30.86, 48.45%). Educational status (OR = 6.11, 95%CI, 1.51–10.72), obstetric care training (OR = 3.56, 95% CI: 2.66, 4.45), work experience (OR = 2.17, 95%CI, 0.47, 3.87) and knowledge of active management of the third stage of labour (OR = 4.5, 95% CI: 2.71, 6.28) were significantly associated with active management of the third stage of labour practices.

Conclusion

The practice of active management of the third stage of labour in Ethiopia was low. This study showed that educational status, taking obstetric care training, knowledge of AMTSL, and work experience of obstetric care providers were associated with of practices of active management of the third stage of labour. Therefore, obstetric care professionals should improve their academic level, knowledge, and skills in order to provide useful service to AMTSL and save mothers’ lives. All obstetric care providers should get obstetric care training. Furthermore, the government should increase obstetric care professionals’ educational level.
Diverse evolutionary rates and gene duplication patterns among families of functional olfactory receptor genes in humans
Authors: Wang Yupeng , Sun Ying , Joseph Paule V.
Published: April 2023

In humans, odors are detected by ~400 functional olfactory receptor (OR) genes. The superfamily of functional OR genes can be further divided into tens of families. In large part, the OR genes have experienced extensive tandem duplications, which have led to gene gains and losses. However, whether different OR gene families have experienced distinct modes of gene duplication has yet to be reported. We conducted comparative genomic and evolutionary analyses for human functional OR genes. Based on analysis of human-mouse 1–1 orthologs, we found that human functional OR genes show higher-than-average evolutionary rates, and there are significant differences among families of functional OR genes. Via comparison with seven vertebrate outgroups, families of human functional OR genes show different extents of gene synteny conservation. Although the superfamily of human functional OR genes is enriched in tandem and proximal duplications, there are particular families which are enriched in segmental duplications. These findings suggest that human functional OR genes may be governed by different evolutionary mechanisms and that large-scale gene duplications have contributed to the early evolution of human functional OR genes.
Narrowing yield gaps does not guarantee a living income from smallholder farming–an empirical study from western Kenya
Authors: Marinus Wytze , Descheemaeker Katrien , van de Ven Gerrie W. J. , Vanlauwe Bernard , Giller Ken E.
Published: April 2023

Crop yields in sub-Saharan Africa need to increase to keep pace with food demands from the burgeoning population. Smallholder farmers play an important role in national food self-sufficiency, yet many live in poverty. Investing in inputs to increase yields is therefore often not viable for them. To investigate how to unlock this paradox, whole-farm experiments can reveal which incentives could increase farm production while also increasing household income. In this study we investigated the impact of providing farmers with a US$ 100 input voucher each season, for five seasons in a row, on maize yields and overall farm-level production in two contrasting locations in terms of population density, Vihiga and Busia, in western Kenya. We compared the value of farmers’ produce with the poverty line and the living income threshold. Crop yields were mainly limited by cash constraints and not by technological constraints as maize yield immediately increased from 16% to 40–50% of the water-limited yield with the provision of the voucher. In Vihiga, at best, one-third of the participating households reached the poverty line. In Busia half of the households reached the poverty line and one-third obtained a living income. This difference between locations was caused by larger farm areas in Busia. Although one third of the households increased the area farmed, mostly by renting land, this was not enough for them to obtain a living income. Our results provide empirical evidence of how a current smallholder farming system could improve its productivity and value of produce upon the introduction of an input voucher. We conclude that increasing yields of the currently most common crops cannot provide a living income for all households and additional institutional changes, such as alternative employment, are required to provide smallholder farmers a way out of poverty.
The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on birthweight among singleton term birth in Denmark
Authors: de Knegt Victoria E. , Hedley Paula L. , Hedermann Gitte , Wilstrup Casper , Bækvad-Hansen Marie , Thagaard Ida N. , Hjalgrim Henrik , Kanters Jørgen , Melbye Mads , Hougaard David M. , Hviid Anders , Krebs Lone , Breindahl Morten , Lausten-Thomsen Ulrik , Christiansen Michael
Published: April 2023

In Denmark, a nationwide COVID-19 lockdown was implemented on March 12, 2020 and eased on April 14, 2020. The COVID-19 lockdown featured reduced prevalence of extremely preterm or extremely low birthweight births. This study aims to explore the impact of this COVID-19 lockdown on term birthweights in Denmark. We conducted a nationwide register-based cohort study on 27,870 live singleton infants, born at term (weeks 37–41), between March 12 and April 14, 2015–2020, using data from the Danish Neonatal Screening Biobank. Primary outcomes, corrected for confounders, were birthweight, small-for-gestational-age (SGA), and large-for-gestational-age (LGA), comparing the COVID-19 lockdown to the previous five years. Data were analysed using linear regression to assess associations with birthweight. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess associations with relative-size-for-gestational-age (xGA) categories. Adjusted mean birthweight was significantly increased by 16.9 g (95% CI = 4.1–31.3) during the lockdown period. A dip in mean birthweight was found in gestational weeks 37 and 38 balanced by an increase in weeks 40 and 41. The 2020 lockdown period was associated with an increased LGA prevalence (aOR 1.13, 95% CI = 1.05–1.21). No significant changes in proportions of xGA groups were found between 2015 and 2019. The nationwide COVID-19 lockdown resulted in a small but significant increase in birthweight and proportion of LGA infants, driven by an increase in birthweight in gestational weeks 40 and 41.
English as a foreign language writing anxiety and its relationship with self-esteem and mobile phone addiction among Chinese medical students—A structural equation model analysis
Authors: Song Yang , Sznajder Kristin , Bai Qiuye , Xu Yanyan , Dong Yifei , Yang Xiaoshi
Published: April 2023

Medical students in China and other non-English speaking countries are susceptible to English as a Foreign Language (EFL) writing anxiety. English writing is not only a vital component tested for admission to postgraduate and doctoral programs, but it is also critical for the publication of academic papers. Although there is mounting evidence indicating relationships between anxiety, self-esteem and mobile phone addiction, pathways between these three constructs within a structural equation model have not yet been examined. Furthermore, there has been a dearth of studies exploring EFL writing anxiety, from which medical students in China as well as other non-English speaking countries are prone to suffer. The study was to assess EFL writing anxiety among Chinese medical students and to examine the relationships between EFL writing anxiety, self-esteem, and mobile phone addiction, with an aim to offer empirical evidence for effective preventive or intervention measures to alleviate EFL writing anxiety. Cross-sectional data were obtained from 1,238 medical students in China, with the administration of a self-administered questionnaire comprising the Second Language Writing Anxiety Inventory (SLWAI), the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Mobile Phone Addiction Tendency Scale (MPATS). The results indicated that both self-esteem and mobile phone addiction exerted significant direct effects on EFL writing anxiety. Self-esteem also had a significant indirect effect on EFL writing anxiety via the mediating role of mobile phone addiction. The path coefficients of self-esteem on EFL writing anxiety were significantly reduced when mobile phone addiction was modeled as a mediator. Efforts to alleviate EFL writing anxiety among medical students may benefit from enhancing self-esteem and establishing a healthy relationship with mobile phones.
Obscurin Rho GEF domains are phosphorylated by MST-family kinases but do not exhibit nucleotide exchange factor activity towards Rho GTPases in vitro
Authors: Koch Daniel , Kho Ay Lin , Fukuzawa Atsushi , Alexandrovich Alexander , Vanaanen Kutti J. , Beavil Andrew , Pfuhl Mark , Rees Martin , Gautel Mathias
Published: April 2023

Obscurin is a giant muscle protein (>800 kDa) featuring multiple signalling domains, including an SH3-DH-PH domain triplet from the Trio-subfamily of guanosine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). While previous research suggests that these domains can activate the small GTPases RhoA and RhoQ in cells, in vitro characterization of these interactions using biophysical techniques has been hampered by the intrinsic instability of obscurin GEF domains. To study substrate specificity, mechanism and regulation of obscurin GEF function by individual domains, we successfully optimized recombinant production of obscurin GEF domains and found that MST-family kinases phosphorylate the obscurin DH domain at Thr5798. Despite extensive testing of multiple GEF domain fragments, we did not detect any nucleotide exchange activity in vitro against 9 representative small GTPases. Bioinformatic analyses show that obscurin differs from other Trio-subfamily GEFs in several important aspects. While further research is necessary to evaluate obscurin GEF activity in vivo, our results indicate that obscurin has atypical GEF domains that, if catalytically active at all, are subject to complex regulation.
Translation and cultural adaptation of MedStopper®—A web-based decision aid for deprescribing in older adults: A protocol
Authors: Monteiro Luís , Baptista Sofia , Ribeiro-Vaz Inês , McCormack James , Matos Cristiano , Teixeira Andreia , Monteiro-Soares Matilde , Martins Carlos
Published: April 2023

Background

Older patients are more likely to have medication-related problems, which are associated with changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, multimorbidity, and polypharmacy. Polypharmacy and inappropriate prescribing are well-known risk factors which commonly cause adverse clinical outcomes in older people. Prescribers struggle to identify potentially inappropriate medications and to choose an adequate tapering approach.

Methods/design

The goal of the study is to translate and culturally adapt MedStopper®, an original English language web-based decision aid system in deprescribing medication, to the Portuguese population. A translation-back translation method, with validation of the obtained Portuguese version of MedStopper® will be used, followed by a comprehension test.

Discussion

This is the first research in the Portuguese primary care setting that aims to provide a useful online tool for the appropriate prescription of older patients. The translated version in Portuguese version of the MedStopper® tool will represent an advance that seeks to continue improving the management of medications in the elderly. The adaptation into Portuguese of the educational tool provides clinicians with a screening tool to detect potentially inappropriate prescribing in patients older than 65 that reliable and easier to use.

Trial registration

Retrospectively registered.
Can visual impairment impact your income potential?
Authors: Wickramaarachchi Colinie , Jayathilaka Ruwan , Suraweera Theekshana , Thelijjagoda Samantha , Kollure Lakshika , Liyanage Thushya , Serasinghe Wageesha , Bandara Samanthi
Published: April 2023

People’s quality of life (QOL) has been disrupted globally in the wake of the pandemic in recent times. This was mainly due to global economic crises fuelled by the coronavirus (COVID– 19) and other related factors. Sri Lanka, too, was facing major social and economic constraints in the period 2021–2022. Thus, all communities islandwide have been economically disturbed. Among others, people with Visual Impairment and Blindness (VIB) have been pushed to severely disadvantageous positions, financially and otherwise. A sample from three geographical locations in Sri Lanka; and eleven individuals representing diverse cadres in Sri Lankan society were purposively selected for the study based on the existence of the majority of the visually impaired community using a mixed approach. Descriptive statistics were utilised to analyse the identified socio-economic characteristics. Ordered probit regression was employed to determine the mediating effect of socio-economic status on income levels. Word Cloud illustrates the factors affecting the QOL. Most severely impaired individuals are more likely to earn a lower rate of income. This situation has degraded their lives and poor QOL. Participants’ responses elucidate that facilities, resources, education, opportunities, income, employment, and government activities would enhance their QOL. The study adds value to society by recognising VIB people, helping them gain financial independence and strengthening them without marginalising the impaired community. The proposed policies in this study would be valuable for these social groups to address their wealth concerns.
Stream nitrate enrichment and increased light yet no algal response following forest harvest and experimental manipulation of headwater riparian zones
Authors: Johnson Sherri L. , Argerich Alba , Ashkenas Linda R. , Bixby Rebecca J. , Plaehn David C.
Published: April 2023

Disturbances to forested watersheds often result in increases of nutrients and light to nearby streams. Such changes are generally expected to produce a shift to a more autotrophic aquatic ecosystem, with measurable increases in algae, and associated implications for food webs and fisheries. Although this paradigm is widely established, results from our 10-year study (2007–2016) in 12 headwater streams and four sites downstream in the Trask River Watershed (Oregon, USA), did not concur. In 2012, one watershed was thinned, three were clearcut harvested with variable buffers and three with uniform riparian buffers. After harvest, light to the stream surface significantly increased at the three watersheds with variable buffers while dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) significantly increased in all of the clearcut harvested streams. Despite the increase in DIN and light, algal standing stocks and chlorophyllaconcentrations did not significantly increase. The common assumption of increased autotrophic responses in stream food webs following increases of nitrogen and light was not supported here. We postulate the co-limitation of nutrients, driven by low phosphorus concentrations, which unlike DIN did not increase post-harvest, and the characteristics of the algal community, which were dominated by low light adapted diatoms rather than green algae, contributed to our findings of no responses for standing stocks of epilithic algae or concentrations of chlorophylla. The inclusion of multiple statistical analyses provided more certainty around our findings. This study documents responses to current forest practices and provides cautionary information for management and restoration activities aiming to increase fish abundance and standing stocks by opening riparian canopies and adding nutrients.
Effect of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling on radiation-induced chemokine expression in human osteosarcoma cells
Authors: Withers Sita S. , Moeller Cambri E. , Quick Cally N. , Liu Chin-Chi , Baham Shelby M. , Looper Jayme S. , Subramanian Ramesh , Kousoulas Konstantin G.
Published: April 2023

Cancer cell-intrinsic mechanisms affecting radiation immunomodulation could be exploited to optimize systemic effects of localized radiation. Radiation-induced DNA damage is sensed by cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), which ultimately activates stimulator of interferon (IFN) genes (STING). Resultant expression of soluble mediators such as CCL5 and CXCL10 can facilitate recruitment of dendritic cells and immune effector cells into the tumor. The primary objectives of this study were to determine the baseline expression levels of cGAS and STING in OSA cells and evaluate the dependence of OSA cells on STING signaling for eliciting radiation-induced expression of CCL5 and CXCL10. cGAS and STING expression, and CCL5/CXCL10 expression in control cells, STING-agonist treated cells, and cells treated with 5 Gy ionizing radiation were assessed utilizing RTqPCR, Western blot, and ELISA. U2OS and SAOS-2 OSA cells were deficient in STING relative to human osteoblasts (hObs), while SAOS-2-LM6 and MG63 OSA cells expressed equivalent amounts of STING compared to hObs. A dependence on baseline or induced STING expression was observed for STING-agonist, and radiation-induced, expression of CCL5 and CXCL10. This finding was confirmed by performing siRNA knockdown of STING in MG63 cells. These results show that STING signaling is necessary for radiation-induced expression of CCL5 and CXCL10 in OSA cells. Additional studies are necessary to determine whether STING expression in OSA cells in vivo alters immune cell infiltrates after radiation exposure. These data may also have implications for other potentially STING-dependent characteristics such as resistance to oncolytic virus cytotoxicity.
Effect of packaging in preventing cholesterol autoxidation in milk chocolates for a higher quality and safer shelf-life
Authors: Canzoneri Federico , Leoni Valerio , Risso Davide , Arveda Matteo , Zivoli Rosanna , Peraino Andrea , Poli Giuseppe , Menta Roberto
Published: April 2023

Non-enzymatic cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) are nowadays receiving increasing attention in food technology for their potential use as biomarkers of freshness and safety in raw materials and complex food matrices, as well as markers of cholesterol oxidation during the production and shelf-life of end products. Here reported is the investigation of how long three prototype milk chocolates containing whole milk powders (WMPs) of increasing shelf-lives (i.e. 20, 120, and 180 days), could be safely stored in the market by adopting the non-enzymatic COPs as a quality markers. In addition, the protective effect of two different primary packaging, sealed and unsealed ones, in mitigating the generation of non-enzymatic COPs in three prototype milk chocolates after 3, 6, 9, 12 months of shelf-life was assessed to simulate two real storage conditions. Quantifying oxysterols’ levels by mass spectrometry, the oxygen impermeable packaging (PLUS) resulted to significantly quench the non-enzymatic COPs production up to 34% as to that found in the same product but with unsealed standard packaging (STD). This study represents one practical application of non-enzymatic COPs as a reliable tool for corrective strategies to prevent food oxidation.
Genetic characterization of a group of commercial African timber species: From genomics to barcoding
Authors: Mascarello Maurizio , Lachenaud Olivier , Amalfi Mario , Smets Erik , Hardy Olivier J. , Beeckman Hans , Janssens Steven B.
Published: April 2023

In the last decades, illegal logging has posed a serious threat for the integrity of forest ecosystems and for biodiversity conservation in tropical Africa. Although international treaties and regulatory plans have been implemented to reduce illegal logging, much of the total timber volume is harvested and traded illegally from tropical African forest regions. As a result, the development and the application of analytical tools to enhance the traceability and the identification of wood and related products is critical to enforce international regulations. Among available techniques, DNA barcoding is a promising approach for the molecular identification of plant species. However, although it has been used successfully for the discrimination of animal species, no set of genetic markers is available for the universal identification of plant species. In this work, we firstly characterized the genetic diversity of 17 highly-valuable African timber species from five genera (Afzelia, Guibourtia, Leplea, Milicia, Tieghemella) across their distribution ranges in West and Central Africa using the genome skimming approach in order to reconstruct their chloroplast genomes and nuclear ribosomal DNA. Next, we identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for the discrimination of closely-related species. In this way, we successfully developed and tested novel species-specific genetic barcodes for species identification.
Numeracy skills learning of children in Africa:—Are disabled children lagging behind?
Authors: Zhang Huafeng , Holden Stein T.
Published: April 2023

Significant progress has been achieved in universal basic education in African countries since the late 1990s. This study provides empirical evidence on the within- and across-country variation in numeracy skills performance among children based on nationally representative data from eight African countries (DR Congo, The Gambia, Ghana, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe). We assess whether and to what extent children with disabilities lag in numeracy skills and how much it depends on their type of disabilities. More specifically, we explore whether disabled children benefit equally from better school system quality. The assessment is analysed as a natural experiment using the performance of non-disabled children as a benchmark and considering the different types of disabilities as random treatments. We first evaluate the variation in average numeracy skills in the eight African countries. They can roughly be divided into low- and high-numeracy countries. We apply Instrumental Variable (IV) methods to control the endogeneity of completed school years when assessing subjects’ school performance and heterogeneous disability effects. Children with vision and hearing disabilities are not especially challenged in numeracy skills performance. The low numeracy skills among physically and intellectually disabled children are mainly attributable to their limited school attendance. Children with multiple disabilities are constrained both by low school attendance and by poor numeracy skills return to schooling. The average differences in school performance across the high- versus low-numeracy skill country groups are larger than the within-group average differences for disabled versus non-disabled kids. This indicates that school enrolment and quality are crucial for children’s learning of numeracy skills, and that disabled children benefit equally from better school quality across these African countries.
On the social-ecological systems (SES) diagnostic approach of the commons: Sharing, cooperation, and maintenance
Authors: Zhang Yan
Published: April 2023

The future of human civilisation is dependent upon linking the prosperity of people and the planet. This paper provides a balanced survey of relevant studies on the social-ecological systems (SES) integration, organised in the analytical structure of institutionalised governance process of enduring human cooperation on shared common resources and environment. It takes a critical look at the emerging SES literature on complexity and uncertainty that attempts to capture the dynamics of change over time and across scale. The final section looks into some of the major challenges ahead—application of various valuation methods without proper location of diverse values in the SES model, interdisciplinary gap to capture the SES interactions, and obstacles of practising SES in reality. It aims to contribute to the broader significance by identifying 2 interconnected research gaps: systematic understanding of interactions among the SES integration (diagnostic explanation), and the development of appropriate scalable and integrated strategies for solving complex problems under SES integration (policy intervention).
Od Waszyngtonu do Osaki. Zagadnienie cyfryzacji w agendzie Grupy Dwudziestu
Authors: Rewizorski Marek
Published: April 2023

Głównym celem niniejszego artykułu jest empiryczna analiza znaczenia problematyki cyfryzacji w agendzie Grupy Dwudziestu (G20). Punktem wyjścia jest oparta na ilościowej i jakościowej analizie treści dokumentów i rozmowach z ekspertami obserwacja, zgodnie z którą problematyka ta – początkowo towarzysząca zagadnieniom gospodarczym i traktowana marginalnie przez G20 – zyskała na znaczeniu podczas prezydencji w Grupie sprawowanej przez Chiny (2016) i Niemcy (2017). Emancypując się spod kurateli ekonomii cyfryzacja stała się w latach 2016–2019 priorytetem w międzypaństwowej przestrzeni deliberacyjnej i podstawą promowanej przez G20 wizji „świata połączonego”, opartego na przyjęciu szerokiego podejścia do przeobrażeń w cyberprzestrzeni i pozwalającego na powiązanie zagadnień ekonomicznych i finansowych z polityką rozwojową, bezpieczeństwem oraz ochroną praw obywatelskich.