bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
OurSTORY Includes Indipinos
Authors: Calica Holly , Vendiola Richard
Published: November 2023

Abstract: The connections between the Philippines and Turtle Island have deepened over the 500 years of colonization. Cross-Pacific voyages brought people from our islands to the Americas, and generations of mixed Indipinos have made contributions that go unrecognized. These personal family histories make a difference in our personal journeys as well as record how our communities thrived and continue to thrive. Indipinos Richard, Diane, Randy, and Sage Vendiola, as well as Jeannette Anglin, join moderator Holly Calica to address the interrelationship between Filipinos and tribal peoples in their areas. This look at the past and present is key for us to cocreate our future together!
Queering Filipino American History: Exploring LGBTQ+ Filipina/x/o American THEIR/OURstories
Authors: Nadal Kevin Leo Yabut
Published: November 2023

Abstract: The histories of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual minority (LGBTQ+) people in the United States are often minimal, nonexistent, or erased—mainly due to the systemic transphobia and heterosexism that have prevented LGBTQ+ of the past from living authentically in their gender identities and sexualities. For queer and trans people of color, including LGBTQ+ Filipina/x/o Americans, histories are even more susceptible to invisibility or erasure, due to the added stigmas within and toward communities of color, religious groups, and immigrants. This paper draws on limited existing resources and speculative analysis to highlight the histories of LGBTQ+ Filipina/x/o Americans from early to contemporary migration waves—utilizing primary sources, as well as queer theories and methods. Personal reflections and future directions for Filipina/x/o American history are discussed.
Naimas! The Rise of Filipino Foodways in Hawai‘i
Authors: Cristobal Shannon
Published: November 2023

Abstract: In this article, I situate my research by employing standpoint theory to chart the evolution of Filipino Foodways through the daily lives of Filipina/o/x women in Hawai‘i to illuminate, make explicit, and make visible Filipina/o/x women’s knowledge and epistemologies. I argue that we can learn what needs to be remembered, retold, relearned, and retaught in order to reconnect within the fields of education, ethnic studies, history, and food studies by studying what has been systematically pushed aside and forgotten. My goal is to amplify and uplift the narratives of Filipina/o/x women who have engaged in alternative archives and economies. In addition, I also show how Filipina/o/x foodways in Hawai‘i persist through the transmission of ancestral knowledge despite attempts at erasure via colonial foodways in the Philippines and in the diaspora. We can understand our values, identities, and tastes today by studying Filipina/o/x food stories and history, as well as begin healing from intergenerational trauma while combating colonial mentality and resisting discriminatory practices.
Le discours médiatique transatlantique avant 1900: L'exemple de la première tournée de Sarah Bernhardt en Amérique
Authors: Sandu Corina
Published: November 2023

Abstract: Sarah Bernhardt's first American tour (1880–81) is one of the most publicized cultural events in France and the United States. The controversial actress's performances are commented at length by the Parisian press and the American newspapers, as well as the account of the actress Marie Colombier, fragments of which appear in the press. In my study of this vast corpus of publications from a discourse analysis perspective, I focus on the transatlantic media discourse: a specific discourse based on socio-cultural stereotypes, highlighting new relationships and commonalities in the French and American media systems. While emphasizing the impact of the concepts of distance and circulation on transatlantic media discourse and its enunciators, this article will also point out the similarities between this particular discourse and that of the French colonial press at the end of the nineteenth century. (In French)
Model-driven terahertz image reconstruction method for debonding defects in thermal barrier coatings
Authors: Cao Binghua , Li Hongxi , Fan Mengbao , Sun Fengshan , Ye Bo
Published: November 2023

A terahertz imaging system is considered to be an effective method to study the thermal barrier coating defects in gas turbine engines. However, due to the influence of the system hardware and terahertz wavelength, the imaging system has slow acquisition efficiency, low image resolution, and serious edge blur, which cannot meet the demand for defect detection. To overcome the above defects, a model-driven terahertz image reconstruction method is proposed, which uses simulation data to build datasets, reduces the dependence on experimental data, and has a good reconstruction effect on experimental images. A fusion loss function based on the edge intensity was designed to optimize the edge effect of reconstructed images. Compared with the bicubic, SRCNN, and VDSR methods, the proposed method can achieve better results in terms of visual and evaluation indices for the reduced terahertz images. It is proved that this method can effectively restore the defect contour in the terahertz image, sharpen the edge of the image, and improve the image quality. It has a good application value in the industry.
Common adolescent mental health disorders seen in Family Medicine Clinics in Ghana and Nigeria
Authors: Kumbet Sonny John , Oseni Tijani Idris Ahmad , Mensah-Bonsu Magdalene , Damagum Fatima Mohammed , Opare-Lokko Edwina Beryl Addo , Namisango Eve , Olawumi AbdulGafar Lekan , Ephraim Onyenwe Chibuike , Aweh Benjamin
Published: November 2023

Background

Mental health disorders among adolescents is on the rise globally. Patients seldom present to mental health physicians, for fear of stigmatization, and due to the dearth of mental health physicians. They are mostly picked during consultations with Family Physicians. This study seeks to identify the common mental health disorders seen by family Physicians in Family Medicine Clinics in Nigeria and Ghana.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 302 Physicians practicing in Family Medicine Clinics in Nigeria and Ghana, who were randomly selected for the study. Data were collected using self-administered semi-structured questionnaire, and were entered into excel spreadsheet before analysing with IBM-SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics using frequencies and percentages was used to describe variables.

Results

Of the 302 Physicians recruited for the study, only 233 completed the study, in which 168 (72.1%) practiced in Nigeria and 65 (27.9%) in Ghana. They were mostly in urban communities (77.3%) and tertiary health facilities (65.2%). Over 90% of Family Medicine practitioners attended to adolescents with mental health issues with over 70% of them seeing at least 2 adolescents with mental health issues every year. The burden of mental health disorder was 16% and the common mental health disorders seen were depression (59.2%), Bipolar Affective Disorder (55.8%), Epilepsy (51.9%) and Substance Abuse Disorder (44.2%).

Conclusion

Family Physicians in Nigeria and Ghana attend to a good number of adolescents with mental health disorders in their clinics. There is the need for Family Physicians to have specialized training and retraining to be able to recognize and treat adolescent mental health disorders. This will help to reduce stigmatization and improve the management of the disease thus, reducing the burden.
Assessment of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and its associated factors in Debre Berhan City, Ethiopia, 2022
Authors: Wubshet Eyuel , Dagnaw Abinet , Gebrelibanos Helen , Tefera Mitiku
Published: November 2023

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread over the world. The ability to achieve sufficient immunization coverage to end the global pandemic depends on the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine, but it has faced a major challenge around the world. In low-income and developing countries, 22.7% of the population has received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, which means that a large percentage of the population are unvaccinated, even though they have access to the Covid-19 vaccine so many countries do not accept the vaccine. The aim of this study was to assess COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and its associated factors in Debre Berhan City, Ethiopia, 2022.

Methods

A mixed-methods approach comprising both qualitative interviews and a quantitative survey was used among participants in Debre Berhan City. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to recruit the study participants. An in-depth interview was used for the qualitative data. Data was collected by a face-to-face interview questionnaire from June 08 to July 08, 2022. The collected data was entered using Epi Data version 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Variables with a p-value less than 0.25 at Bivariable logistic regression analysis were entered into multivariable logistic regression analysis. Logistics regression was employed, and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Result

A total of 765 participants were included in the study, with a response rate of 97.08%. More than half (52.9%) of the respondents had the willingness to accept the COVID-19 vaccine. Participants who had Contact with COVID-19 patient (AOR = 3.98; 95% CI: (1.30–12.14), having good knowledge of COVID-19 vaccine (AOR = 4.63; 95% CI: (1.84–11.63), and positive attitude toward the COVID-19 vaccine (AOR = 3.41; 95% CI: (1.34–8.69) were statistically significantly associated variables with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.

Conclusion and recommendation

The present study revealed that the acceptance COVID-19 vaccine was 52.9, and a significant proportion of participants were hesitant to receive the vaccine and refused to get vaccinated. Significantly associated Variables for COVID-19 vaccine acceptance were Contact with COVID-19 patient, having good knowledge of the COVID-19 vaccine, and having a positive attitude towards the COVID-19 vaccine. Various stakeholders to apprise the public about the cause of the disease and the scientific development of vaccine in order to enhance acceptance of the vaccine.
Adapting the marine stewardship council’s risk-based framework to assess the impact of towed bottom fishing gear on blue carbon habitats
Authors: Morris Kate , Epstein Graham , Kaiser Michel J. , Porter Joanne , Johnson Andrew F.
Published: November 2023

Wild capture fisheries are of economic and social importance, providing a primary source of protein to people globally. There is a broad research base on the environmental impacts of fishing gears and processing methods yet, the impact on the global CO2 budget is less well studied. Evaluating the risk that wild capture fisheries pose to ecosystem health is vital to sustainably managing fishing practices to meet increasing global nutritional needs and reverse declines in marine biodiversity. At the same time meeting net-zero ambitions by reducing direct and indirect GHG emissions is vital. Ecological risk assessments, trait-based assessments, and vulnerability assessments have long supported fisheries management systems globally but do not yet provide any representation regarding the impacts that fishing gears have on the ability of the habitat to capture and store carbon. Considering the importance of accessibility and transparency in approaches necessary for fisheries sustainability certifications, this paper describes a method to integrate habitat carbon capacity attributes into the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Consequence and Spatial Analysis (CSA) framework. Applying the CSA carbon extension developed herein produces different CSA risk scores compared to the MSC CSA that does not account for carbon. This has potential consequences for certification schemes as carbon becomes more important in the fisheries sustainability conversation. The CSA carbon extension tool developed here is an important first step in incorporating carbon indicators into evaluations of fisheries that consider fishery carbon impacts.
Metabolic adjustments in neonatal dwarf and normal-sized goat kids: Relationship between serum metabolites and body size
Authors: Habibu Buhari , Aluwong Tagang , Yaqub Lukuman Surakat , Buhari Hajarah Uwale , Makun Hussaina Joan , Kawu Mohammed Umaru
Published: November 2023

The relationship between body size and metabolism of goats remains poorly studied. The study evaluated the neonatal metabolic adjustments and elucidated the relationship between serum metabolites and body size in 39 single-born dwarf and normal-sized goat kids. Body weight, length and height of kids were recorded at birth and blood samples were collected from the dwarf and normal-sized (Red Sokoto and Sahel) goats on Days 0 (birth), 3, 10 and 20, postnatal. Also, the body mass index (BMI) was calculated and the concentration of metabolic markers was determined. Results revealed that values of BMI, body weight, length and height were lowest (P < 0.01) in the dwarf, followed by values in Red Sokoto kids, while the Sahel kids had the highest (P < 0.01) values. Conversely, the concentration of triglyceride at birth was highest (P < 0.05) in the dwarf, moderate in Red Sokoto and lowest in Sahel goats. Similarly, the Sahel goat kids had the lowest neonatal (P < 0.05) concentration of serum cholesterol. Neonatal concentrations of serum albumin and urea were higher in Sahel than Red Sokoto (P < 0.05) and the dwarf (P > 0.05) goats. Concentration of serum albumin was lower (P < 0.05) at birth, but significantly increased later, while values of serum urea concentration were higher (P < 0.05) at birth, but significantly decreased in subsequent postnatal days. Unlike the BMI, birth weight showed significant negative (P < 0.05) correlation with the concentration of most serum metabolites, especially triglyceride, which showed negative correlation at birth and in subsequent postnatal days. We concluded that dwarfism or small body size is associated with high serum triglyceride in single-born neonatal goats, and this is probably due to the accumulation of body energy reserve in the form of body fat to compensate for lower body tissue mass.
Whole blood RNA extraction efficiency contributes to variability in RNA sequencing data sets
Authors: Wilfinger William W. , Eghbalnia Hamid R. , Mackey Karol , Miller Robert , Chomczynski Piotr
Published: November 2023

Numerous methodologies are used for blood RNA extraction, and large quantitative differences in recovered RNA content are reported. We evaluated three archived data sets to determine how extraction methodologies might influence mRNA and lncRNA sequencing results. The total quantity of RNA recovered /ml of blood affects RNA sequencing by impacting the recovery of weakly expressed mRNA, and lncRNA transcripts. Transcript expression (TPM counts) plotted in relation to transcript size (base pairs, bp) revealed a 30% loss of short to midsized transcripts in some data sets. Quantitative recovery of RNA is of considerable importance, and it should be viewed more judiciously. Transcripts common to the three data sets were subsequently normalized and transcript mean TPM counts and TPM count coefficient of variation (CV) were plotted in relation to increasing transcript size. Regression analysis of mean TPM counts versus transcript size revealed negative slopes in two of the three data sets suggesting a reduction of TPM transcript counts with increasing transcript size. In the third data set, the regression slope line of mRNA transcript TPM counts approximates zero and TPM counts increased in proportion to transcript size over a range of 200 to 30,000 bp. Similarly, transcript TPM count CV values also were uniformly distributed over the range of transcript sizes. In the other data sets, the regression CV slopes increased in relation to transcript size. The recovery of weakly expressed and /or short to midsized mRNA and lncRNA transcripts varies with different RNA extraction methodologies thereby altering the fundamental sequencing relationship between transcript size and TPM counts. Our analysis identifies differences in RNA sequencing results that are dependent upon the quantity of total RNA recovery from whole blood. We propose that incomplete RNA extraction directly impacts the recovery of mRNA and lncRNA transcripts from human blood and speculate these differences contribute to the “batch” effects commonly identified between sequencing results from different archived data sets.
Measuring the relationship between body mass index and depression among Saudi adult population: A nationwide cross-sectional study
Authors: Nour Mohamed O. , Hafiz Tamara Abdulrahman , Alharbi Khulud K.
Published: November 2023

Background

The prevalence of obesity and depression shows an accelerating trend with increased risk of morbidity and disability. The exact underlying relationship between them is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of body mass index (BMI) and depression and their associations in a large sample of Saudi adults.

Methods

We administered a nationwide cross-sectional web-based survey using a snowball sampling method among Saudi adults aged 18–60 years. We used a validated Arabic version of Beck’s Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) for depression assessment. We classified BMI into underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity. We used logistic regression analysis to determine the factors associated with depression.

Results

Among 4,683 Saudi adults, different grades of depression were present in 43.3%, most (25.2%) with a mild condition. Overweight and obesity were present in 26.4% and 21%, respectively. We found a positive association between BMI and BDI-II score (ρ = 0.14, p = 0.006). BMI was significantly higher among those who were older, males, married, living in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia, educated at a pre-university level, employed, at high family-income levels, smokers, and people with chronic diseases. Depression score was significantly higher among married, non-employees, non-smokers, people with chronic diseases, and those with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2. Non-smoking, presence of chronic diseases, and being overweight or obese were significantly associated with depression.

Conclusions

Saudi adults were suffering from different grades of depression, overweight, and obesity. A positive association between BMI and BDI-II score was observed. Depression score did not differ by age, sex, geographical region, educational level, or family income. Non-smoking, presence of chronic diseases, and being overweight or obese were significantly associated with depression. Further longitudinal research is required to understand the factors underpinning causal relationships between BMI and depression, the subgroups’ variation, and mediating strategies.
Let’s talk about PFAS: Inconsistent public awareness about PFAS and its sources in the United States
Authors: Berthold T. Allen , McCrary Audrey , deVilleneuve Stephanie , Schramm Michael
Published: November 2023

The presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in U.S. drinking water has recently garnered significant attention from the media, federal government, and public health professionals. While concerns for PFAS exposure continue to mount, the general public’s awareness and knowledge of the contaminant has remained unknown. This exploratory study sought to fill this data gap by administering a nationwide survey in which the awareness of PFAS and community contamination, awareness of PFAS containing products and intentions to change product use, and awareness and concern about PFAS in drinking water were assessed. The results indicated that almost half the respondents had never heard of PFAS and do not know what it is (45.1%). Additionally, 31.6% responded that they had heard of PFAS but do not know what it is. A large portion of respondents (97.4%) also responded that they did not believe their drinking water had been impacted by PFAS. Demographic association did not influence knowledge of PFAS or levels of concern with PFAS in drinking water. The strongest predictor of PFAS awareness was awareness due to known community exposure. The respondents aware of community exposure were more likely to have knowledge of PFAS sources, change their use of items with potential PFAS contamination, and answer that their drinking water sources were also contaminated with PFAS. Based on the received responses, PFAS information and health risks need to be better communicated to the public to help increase awareness. These efforts should also be coordinated between government agencies, utilities, the research community, and other responsible entities to bolster their effectiveness.
Estimating the economic burden of influenza on the older population in Malaysia
Authors: Mad Tahir Nur Syazana , Ismail Aniza , Aljunid Syed Mohamed , Abdul Aziz Aznida Firzah , Azzeri Amirah , Alkhodary Ahmed Abdelmajed
Published: November 2023

Background

Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness that can cause life-threatening complications among high-risk groups. Estimating the economic burden of influenza is essential to guide policy‐making on influenza vaccination programmes, especially in resource‐limited settings. This study aimed to estimate the economic burden of influenza on older adults (those aged ≥60 years) in Malaysia from the provider’s perspective.

Methods

The main data source in this study was the MY-DRG Casemix database of a teaching hospital in Malaysia. Cases with principal and secondary diagnoses coded in the International Classification of Diseases version 10 (ICD-10) as J09, J10.0, J10.1, J10.8, J11.0, J11.1, J11.8, J12.8, and J12.9, which represent influenza and its complications, were included in the study. The direct cost of influenza at all severity levels was calculated from the casemix data and guided by a clinical pathway developed by experts. The effect of the variations in costs and incidence rate of influenza for both the casemix and clinical pathway costing approaches was assessed with sensitivity analysis.

Results

A total of 1,599 inpatient and 407 outpatient influenza cases were identified from the MY-DRG Casemix database. Most hospitalised cases were aged <18 years (90.6%), while 77 cases (4.8%) involved older people. Mild, moderate, and severe cases comprised 56.5%, 35.1%, and 8.4% of cases, respectively. The estimated average annual direct costs for managing mild, moderate, and severe influenza were RM2,435 (USD579), RM6,504 (USD1,549), and RM13,282 (USD3,163), respectively. The estimated total annual economic burden of influenza on older adults in Malaysia was RM3.28 billion (USD782 million), which was equivalent to 10.7% of the Ministry of Health Malaysia budget for 2020. The sensitivity analysis indicated that the influenza incidence rate and cost of managing severe influenza were the most important factors influencing the total economic burden.

Conclusions

Overall, our results demonstrated that influenza imposes a substantial economic burden on the older Malaysian population. The high cost of influenza suggested that further efforts are required to implement a preventive programme, such as immunisation for older people, to reduce the disease and economic burdens.
OptEnvelope: A target point guided method for growth-coupled production using knockouts
Authors: Motamedian Ehsan , Berzins Kristaps , Muiznieks Reinis , Stalidzans Egils
Published: November 2023

Finding the best knockout strategy for coupling biomass growth and production of a target metabolite using a mathematic model of metabolism is a challenge in biotechnology. In this research, a three-step method named OptEnvelope is presented based on finding minimal set of active reactions for a target point in the feasible solution space (envelope) using a mixed-integer linear programming formula. The method initially finds the reduced desirable solution space envelope in the product versus biomass plot by removing all inactive reactions. Then, with reinsertion of the deleted reactions, OptEnvelope attempts to reduce the number of knockouts so that the desirable production envelope is preserved. Additionally, OptEnvelope searches for envelopes with higher minimum production rates or fewer knockouts by evaluating different target points within the desired solution space. It is possible to limit the maximal number of knockouts. The method was implemented on metabolic models of E. coli and S. cerevisiae to test the method benchmarking the capability of these industrial microbes for overproduction of acetate and glycerol under aerobic conditions and succinate and ethanol under anaerobic conditions. The results illustrate that OptEnvelope is capable to find multiple strong coupled envelopes located in the desired solution space because of its novel target point oriented strategy of envelope search. The results indicate that E. coli is more appropriate to produce acetate and succinate while S. cerevisiae is a better host for glycerol production. Gene deletions for some of the proposed reaction knockouts have been previously reported to increase the production of these metabolites in experiments. Both organisms are suitable for ethanol production, however, more knockouts for the adaptation of E. coli are required. OptEnvelope is available at https://github.com/lv-csbg/optEnvelope.
Increased cesarean section rate and premature birth according to modified WHO maternal cardiovascular risk in pregnant women with congenital heart disease
Authors: Wedlund Frida , von Wowern Emma , Hlebowicz Joanna
Published: November 2023

Background

During pregnancy and delivery, hemodynamics are altered and complex congenital heart disease has been associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. We sought to investigate pregnancy outcome and complications in relation to complexity of heart condition.

Materials and methods

We studied women with ACHD discussed at multidisciplinary conferences at Lund University Hospital March 2009-May 2021. We studied 149 pregnancies in 101 women. We scored each woman retrospectively according to the modified World Health Organization (mWHO) risk classification and included patients in risk class I (n = 36, 24.1%), II (n = 43, 28.9%), II-III (n = 43, 28.9%), III (n = 24, 16.1%) and IV (n = 3, 2.0%).

Results

Women with mWHO class ≥III underwent cesarean section more often than women in less complex mWHO classes, (OR, 5.1; 95% CI, 2.0–12.5; p<0.001). The odds of premature delivery were significantly higher among pregnant women with mWHO class ≥III (OR, 6.7; 95% CI, 2.6–17.4; p<0.001). We found no difference in incidence of preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, hemorrhage >1000 ml or cardiac defect in the neonate depending on WHO-class. Women in mWHO classes III-IV had a higher rate of fetal growth restriction (FGR) compared to women in mWHO classes I, II, II-III (p<0.007).

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that women with more complex heart disease (mWHO classes III or IV) tend to have a higher rate of cesarean section, premature birth and FGR.
Predictive value of serum creatinine and total bilirubin for long-term death in patients with ischemic heart disease: A cohort study
Authors: Seyiti Zulihuma , Yang Long , Kasimujiang Abudushalamu , Dejite Tuohutasheng , Shan Xue-Feng , Gao Xiao-Ming
Published: November 2023

Background

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) has a high mortality in the population. Although serum creatinine (Cr) and serum total bilirubin (TBil) are rapid and readily available biomarkers in routine blood tests, there is a lack of literature on the prognostic value of combined Cr and TBil tests for IHD. This study aimed to evaluate a combined equation based on Cr and TBil to predict the long-term risk of death in IHD and to find indicators sensitive to the prognosis of IHD patients.

Method

In this study, 2625 patients with IHD were included, and the combined value and combined equations of Cr and TBil were obtained by logistic regression analysis based on Cr and TBil collected at the time of admission. Patients were divided into four groups according to the quartiles of the combined value. COX proportional hazard regression model was used to analyze the risk factors for long-term death in IHD patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the prognostic effect of Cr, TBil and combined value on long-term death events.

Results

Logistic regression analysis was performed for long-term death events with Cr and TBil as independent variables, and the logit regression model was Logit(P) = 0.0129×TBil+0.007×Cr-0.417. Multifactorial Cox regression analysis showed that high values of the equation were independent risk factors for long-term death events (all-cause death: HR 1.457, 95% CI 1.256–1.689, P<0.001; cardiovascular death: HR 1.452, 95% CI 1.244–1.695, P<0.001). Combined Cr and TBil value are more valuable in predicting long-term death (AUC: 0.609, 95% CI 0.587–0.630, P<0.001).

Conclusion

Combined Cr and TBil assay is superior to single biomarkers for predicting long-term death in patients with IHD. High values of the equation are independent predictors of long-term death and can be used to identify patients at high risk for IHD.
KIPEs3: Automatic annotation of biosynthesis pathways
Authors: Rempel Andreas , Choudhary Nancy , Pucker Boas
Published: November 2023

Flavonoids and carotenoids are pigments involved in stress mitigation and numerous other processes. Both pigment classes can contribute to flower and fruit coloration. Flavonoid aglycones and carotenoids are produced by a pathway that is largely conserved across land plants. Glycosylations, acylations, and methylations of the flavonoid aglycones can be species-specific and lead to a plethora of biochemically diverse flavonoids. We previously developed KIPEs for the automatic annotation of biosynthesis pathways and presented an application on the flavonoid aglycone biosynthesis. KIPEs3 is an improved version with additional features and the potential to identify not just the core biosynthesis players, but also candidates involved in the decoration steps and in the transport of flavonoids. Functionality of KIPEs3 is demonstrated through the analysis of the flavonoid biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana Nd-1, Capsella grandiflora, and Dioscorea dumetorum. We demonstrate the applicability of KIPEs to other pathways by adding the carotenoid biosynthesis to the repertoire. As a technical proof of concept, the carotenoid biosynthesis was analyzed in the same species and Daucus carota. KIPEs3 is available as an online service to enable access without prior bioinformatics experience. KIPEs3 facilitates the automatic annotation and analysis of biosynthesis pathways with a consistent and high quality in a large number of plant species. Numerous genome sequencing projects are generating a huge amount of data sets that can be analyzed to identify evolutionary patterns and promising candidate genes for biotechnological and breeding applications.
Relationship between myomectomy and risk of osteoporosis or fracture: A population-based cohort study
Authors: Yuk Jin-Sung , Yoon Sang-Hee
Published: November 2023

Myomectomy, a surgery to remove multiple leiomyomas from the uterus, is a treatment option for uterine fibroids (UF) in premenopausal patients. Osteoporosis and bone fractures are known to be strongly associated with menopausal status or hormonal changes. However, no studies have discussed the association between myomectomy and osteoporosis or fractures. This study investigated the risk of osteoporosis or fractures (vertebrae, hip, and others) in Korean patients who had undergone myomectomy without bilateral oophorectomy. We used data from the 10-year claims database of the Korean National Health Insurance from January 2009 to December 2020. Data for patients who had undergone myomectomy without oophorectomy (n = 211,969) and the control group (n = 450,124) who were randomly selected from the database were extracted. The incidence and hazard ratios (HRs) of osteoporosis or fracture between the myomectomy patients and the control group were calculated. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Subgroup analyses were performed based on age. The adjusted hazard ratios for osteoporosis and total fractures were 0.934 (95% CI: 0.916–0.954, P<0.001) and 0.919 (95% CI: 0.896–0.941, P<0.001), respectively, in the myomectomy group. The adjusted hazard ratios according to fracture site were 0.857 (95% CI: 0.799–0.92, P<0.001) for vertebral fractures, 0.706 (95% CI: 0.48–1.037, P = 0.076) for hip fractures, and 0.919 (95% CI: 0.896–0.943, P<0.001) for other fractures. In conclusion, patients who have undergone myomectomy might have a decreased risk of osteoporosis or fractures.
Using a penalized likelihood to detect mortality deceleration
Authors: C. Patricio Silvio , Missov Trifon I.
Published: November 2023

We suggest a novel method for detecting mortality deceleration by adding a penalty to the log-likelihood function in a gamma-Gompertz setting. This is an alternative to traditional likelihood inference and hypothesis testing. The main advantage of the proposed method is that it does not involve using ap-value, hypothesis testing, and asymptotic distributions. We evaluate the performance of our approach by comparing it with traditional likelihood inference on both simulated and real mortality data. Results have shown that our method is more accurate in detecting mortality deceleration and provides more reliable estimates of the underlying parameters. The proposed method is a significant contribution to the literature as it offers a powerful tool for analyzing mortality patterns.
Cost savings in male circumcision post-operative care using two-way text-based follow-up in rural and urban South Africa
Authors: Su Yanfang , Mukora Rachel , Ndebele Felex , Pienaar Jacqueline , Khumalo Calsile , Xu Xinpeng , Tweya Hannock , Sardini Maria , Day Sarah , Sherr Kenneth , Setswe Geoffrey , Feldacker Caryl
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) clients are required to attend multiple post-operative follow-up visits in South Africa. However, with demonstrated VMMC safety, stretched clinic staff in SA may conduct more than 400,000 unnecessary reviews for males without complications, annually. Embedded into a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test safety of two-way, text-based (2wT) follow-up as compared to routine in-person visits among adult clients, the objective of this study was to compare 2wT and routine post-VMMC care costs in rural and urban South African settings.

Methods

Activity-based costing (ABC) estimated the costs of post-VMMC care, including counselling, follow-ups, and tracing in $US dollars. Transportation for VMMC and follow-up was provided for rural clients in outreach settings but not for urban clients in static sites. Data were collected from National Department of Health VMMC forms, RCT databases, and time-and-motion surveys. Sensitivity analysis presents different follow-up scenarios. We hypothesized that 2wT would save per-client costs overall, with higher savings in rural settings.

Results

VMMC program costs were estimated from 1,084 RCT clients: 537 in routine care and 547 in 2wT. On average, 2wT saved $3.56 per client as compared to routine care. By location, 2wT saved $7.73 per rural client and increased urban costs by $0.59 per client. 2wT would save $2.16 and $7.02 in follow-up program costs if men attended one or two post-VMMC visits, respectively.

Conclusion

Quality 2wT follow-up care reduces overall post-VMMC care costs by supporting most men to heal at home while triaging clients with potential complications to timely, in-person care. 2wT saves more in rural areas where 2wT offsets transportation costs. Minimal additional 2wT costs in urban areas reflect high care quality and client engagement, a worthy investment for improved VMMC service delivery. 2wT scale-up in South Africa could significantly reduce overall VMMC costs while maintaining service quality.
Nexus between inflation, income inequality, and economic growth in Ethiopia
Authors: Ali Abdurhman Kedir , Asfaw Dagmawe Menelek
Published: November 2023

The relationship between inflation, income inequality, and economic growth is a subject of intense debate among economic researchers and policymakers. This study aims to analyze this relationship in Ethiopia using advanced statistical techniques such as VEC (vector error correction) model with Granger causality, and Johansen’s cointegrated. The study covers the period from 1980 to 2022 and includes pre and post-estimation diagnosis tests to ensure the accuracy of the model. The results indicate the presence of a long-run relationship among inflation, income inequality, and economic growth, as confirmed by Johansen’s cointegrated test. Additionally, the vector error correction model shows a strong long-run relationship between economic growth, income inequality, and inflation. In the short run, there is a significant association between income inequality and economic growth, as well as between inflation and economic growth. The Granger causality test reveals a bidirectional causality between economic growth and income inequality and between economic growth and inflation. However, there is a unidirectional causality from inflation to income inequality. Based on these findings, it is suggested that the government should implement various strategies and policies, including redistribution policies, social safety nets, promoting inclusive economic growth, coordinating effective monetary and fiscal policies, implementing progressive taxation, and reforming the labor market.
CTIVA: Censored time interval variable analysis
Authors: Kim Insoo , Seok Junhee , Kim Yoojoong
Published: November 2023

Traditionally, datasets with multiple censored time-to-events have not been utilized in multivariate analysis because of their high level of complexity. In this paper, we propose the Censored Time Interval Analysis (CTIVA) method to address this issue. It estimates the joint probability distribution of actual event times in the censored dataset by implementing a statistical probability density estimation technique on the dataset. Based on the acquired event time, CTIVA investigates variables correlated with the interval time of events via statistical tests. The proposed method handles both categorical and continuous variables simultaneously—thus, it is suitable for application on real-world censored time-to-event datasets, which include both categorical and continuous variables. CTIVA outperforms traditional censored time-to-event data handling methods by 5% on simulation data. The average area under the curve (AUC) of the proposed method on the simulation dataset exceeds 0.9 under various conditions. Further, CTIVA yields novel results onNational Sample Cohort Demo(NSCD) and proteasome inhibitor bortezomib dataset, a real-world censored time-to-event dataset of medical history of beneficiaries provided by theNational Health Insurance Sharing Service(NHISS) and National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). We believe that the development of CTIVA is a milestone in the investigation of variables correlated with interval time of events in presence of censoring.
Space and Time in African Cinema and Cine-scapes, Kenneth W. Harrow (2022)
Authors: Mututa Addamms
Published: November 2023

Review of: Space and Time in African Cinema and Cine-scapes, Kenneth W. Harrow (2022)

New York and London: Routledge, 238 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-00328-889-3, e-book, $35.09
Comprehensive Assessment of Nutrition and Dietary Influences in Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome—A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Topan Rabia , Pandya Shraya , Williams Sarah , Ruffle James K. , Zarate-Lopez Natalia , Aziz Qasim , Fikree Asma
Published: November 2023

INTRODUCTION:

Disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) are common in patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome/hypermobility spectrum disorder (hEDS/HSD). Food is a known trigger for DGBI symptoms, which often leads to dietary alterations and, increasingly, nutrition support. We aimed to explore dietary behaviors and influencing factors in patients with hEDS/HSD.

METHODS:

In a cross-sectional study, patients with hEDS/HSD were recruited from Ehlers-Danlos Support UK (nontertiary) and tertiary neurogastroenterology clinics to complete questionnaires characterizing the following: dietary behaviors, nutrition support, DGBI (Rome IV), gastrointestinal symptoms, anxiety, depression, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), mast cell activation syndrome, postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS), and quality of life. We used stepwise logistic regression to ascertain which factors were associated with dietary behaviors and nutrition support.

RESULTS:

Of 680 participants (95% female, median age 39 years), 62.1% altered their diet in the last year and 62.3% regularly skipped meals. Altered diet was associated with the following: reflux symptoms (P < 0.001), functional dyspepsia (P = 0.008), reported mast cell activation syndrome (P < 0.001), and a positive screen for ARFID, specifically fear of eating and low interest (P < 0.001). Approximately 31.7% of those who altered their diet required nutrition support. The strongest predictor of requiring nutrition support was a positive screen for ARFID, specifically fear of eating (OR: 4.97, 95% CI: 2.09–11.8, P < 0.001).

DISCUSSION:

Altered diet is very common in the patients with hEDS/HSD we studied and influenced by functional dyspepsia, reflux symptoms, and ARFID. Those with ARFID have a 4-fold increased risk of requiring nutrition support, and therefore, it is paramount that psychological support is offered in parallel with dietary support in the management of DGBI in hEDS/HSD.
Manajemen dan Kepemimpinan: Dinamika di Pesantren Al-Muttaqien Pancasila Sakti
Authors: Muhammad Syukron , Hidayati Wiji
Published: November 2023

This research examines the management system and dynamics of Al-Muttaqien Pancasila Sakti Islamic boarding school in Karanganom, Klaten, Central Java. This boarding school has played a significant role in the education and development of Indonesian society since the era of the struggle for independence. The background of this research is that traditional Islamic boarding schools have undergone various changes in adapting to the modern era. The objective of this research is to understand how this boarding school manages its operations and identify the dynamics it experiences. This research employs a qualitative approach, collecting data through observations, interviews, and documentation. The results of the research indicate that the management of the boarding school involves structured processes of planning, organization, execution, and supervision. The boarding school has also undergone dynamics in the development of infrastructure, the establishment of formal educational institutions such as MTs and MA, and improvements in teaching methods. This research demonstrates that Al-Muttaqien Pancasila Sakti Islamic boarding school remains relevant in educating Indonesian society. The changes and adaptations made by this boarding school reflect its contribution to education and the development of human resources that align with the demands of the times.
Analisis Standar Penilaian pada Satuan Pendidikan Dasar dan Menengah di Indonesia
Authors: Baroroh Umi , Sukiman Sukiman
Published: November 2023

Assessment is an important and inseparable part of the educational process. The importance of this assessment component is proven by the existence of Minister of Education and Culture Regulation Number 23 of 2016 concerning Assessment Standards for Primary and Secondary Education levels which was later updated with Minister of Education and Culture Regulation No. 21 of 2022 as a consequence of changes in the curriculum in Indonesia. This research aims to analyze the Education Assessment Standards in Minister of Education and Culture Regulation Number 23 of 2016 and Minister of Education and Culture Regulation Number 21 of 2022. This research uses a qualitative approach with the type of research being a literature study (library research). Data analysis was carried out in three stages, namely data condensation, data display, and drawing conclusions. This research found that in Minister of Education and Culture Regulation Number 23 of 2026, Educational Assessment Standards include criteria regarding scope, objectives, benefits, principles, mechanisms, procedures and assessment instruments. Meanwhile, in Permendikbudristek Number 21 of 2022, it was found that the Education Assessment Standards include minimum criteria regarding assessment mechanisms.
Quaternary Geology of the Washington-Jasper Area
Authors: Antinao Jose Luis , Davis Ginger , Loope Henry
Published: November 2023

"Quaternary Geology of the Washington-Jasper Area" was created to present basic quaternary geologic information that contributes to the characterization of potential aggregate resources, characterization of bedrock aquifer systems, and analysis of the overlying predominantly glacial deposits. This map is based on data compiled from project field observations and project exploratory borings, complemented with IGWS cartographic (e.g., Gray, 1989) and archive borehole data, select Indiana Department of Natural Resources water well logs, and United States Department of Agriculture soil survey maps. Expert knowledge of fluvial, glacifluvial and ice-marginal environments was used to draw contacts between units.
 
This geologic map was funded in part through the STATEMAP program supported by the U.S. Geological Survey under Cooperative Agreement No. G21AC10646.
 
"Quaternary Geology of the Washington-Jasper Area" is a composite geodata set that conforms to "GeMS (Geologic Map Schema)--a standard format for the digital publication of geologic maps," available at http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Info/standards/GeMS/. Metadata records associated with each element within the geodata set contain more detailed descriptions of their purposes, constituent entities, and attributes. An OPEN shapefile version of the data set is also available. It consists of shapefiles, DBF files, and delimited text files and retains all information in the native geodatabase, but some programming will likely be necessary to assemble these components into usable formats.
Von subhumaner zu humanspezifischer Interaktion. Tomasello und die Qualität des Zeigens
Authors: Mollenhauer Rafael
Published: November 2023

Zusammenfassung. Die zunehmend auch in sozialtheoretischen Diskursen beachte­te Forschung Michael Tomasellos erhebt deiktische Gesten zum entscheidenden Umschlagpunkt zwischen animalischen und spezifisch menschlichen Interaktionsfor­maten. Auf einer mentalistischen Grundlage scheut Tomasello nicht davor zurück, das Zeigen qualitativ gleichzusetzen mit der gesprochenen Sprache und es zur ontogene­tisch und phylogenetisch frühesten Form humanspezifischer kooperativer Kommuni­kation zu erklären. In diesem Beitrag sollen zunächst aus der ausdruckstheoretischen Anlage des Forschungsprogramms resultierende Widersprüche und Zirkularitäten auf­gedeckt werden, um anschließend unter Zuhilfenahme der Arbeiten Karl Bühlers eine funktionalistische Analyse der von Tomasello in verschiedenen Beispielen dargeleg­ten deiktischen Qualität vorzunehmen, die auch ein neues Licht wirft auf Tomasellos Erklärung des Übergangs zur gesprochenen Sprache. Abschließend wird gezeigt, dass Tomasellos Ansatz kaum verlässliche Aussagen zur sozialen Praxis sowie zur Genese von kognitiven Vermögen und Kontaktmitteln generiert, dass seine Erkennt­nisse zur kognitiven Leistungsfähigkeit von Kindern und nichtmenschlichen Primaten aber unterstützend hinzugezogen werden sollten, um den tatsächlichen Übergang zur menschlichen Sprache näher zu entschlüsseln.