bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesizing the links between secure housing tenure and health for more equitable cities
Authors: Baumgartner Jill , Rodriguez Judith , Berkhout Frans , Doyle Yvonne , Ezzati Majid , Owuso George , Quayyum Zahidul , Solomon Bethlehem , Winters Meghan , Adamkiewicz Gary , Robinson Brian E.
Published: March 2023

Millions of households in rich and poor countries alike are at risk of being unwilfully displaced from their homes or the land on which they live (i.e., lack secure tenure), and the urban poor are most vulnerable. Improving housing tenure security may be an intervention to improve housing and environmental conditions and reduce urban health inequalities. Building on stakeholder workshops and a narrative review of the literature, we developed a conceptual model that infers the mechanisms through which more secure housing tenure can improve housing, environmental quality, and health. Empirical studies show that more secure urban housing tenure can boost economic mobility, improve housing and environmental conditions including reduced exposure to pollution, create safer and more resourced communities, and improve physical and mental health. These links are shared across tenure renters and owners and different economic settings. Broader support is needed for context-appropriate policies and actions to improve tenure security as a catalyst for cultivating healthier homes and neighbourhoods and reducing urban health inequalities in cities.
Pembuatan Website Musyawarah Guru Mata Pelajaran (MGMP) Bahasa Inggris SMA Provinsi Jawa Timur
Authors: Shiddiqi Ary Mazharuddin , Ahmad Tohari , Santoso Bagus Jati , Studiawan Hudan , Pratomo Baskoro Adi , Anggoro Radityo
Published: March 2023

Internet telah menjadi kebutuhan masyarakat untuk mendapatkan dan menyebarkan informasi sehingga dapat mempercepat proses bisnis yang telah ada sebelumnya. Musyawarah Guru Mata Pelajaran (MGMP) Bahasa Inggris SMA Provinsi Jawa Timur adalah lembaga non-profit yang menaungi guru-guru bahasa inggris tingkat SMA yang membutuhkan sarana untuk berinteraksi dengan anggotanya dan masyarakat. Kebutuhan ini disambut oleh Laboratorium Komputasi Berbasis Jaringan (KBJ) Departemen Teknik Informatika ITS dengan membangun website yang dapat membantu kebutuhan interaksi tersebut. Website ini memiliki tiga tingkat peran yang dapat digunakan untuk mengelola website tersebut yang disesuaikan dengan fungsi-fungsi yang tersedia. Pembagian peran ini dapat meningkatkan efisiensi pengelolaan website dan menjaga keamanan data. Pembangunan website ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan produktifitas pengurus MGMP Bahasa Inggris Jawa Timur dalam menjalankan tugasnya. Dengan fitur yang dibangun pada website tersebut, MGMP Bahasa Inggris dapat menjangkau anggotanya dan juga menyampaikan program-program dan capaiannya kepada masyarakat umum.
Alat Pemberi Pakan Udang Otomatis Portabel Berbasis Panel Surya guna Membantu Proses Budidaya Tambak Udang di Desa Tambak Ploso Kabupaten Lamongan
Authors: Asfani Dimas Anton , Hernanda I Gusti Ngurah Satriyadi , Negara I Made Yulistya , Suwadi Suwadi , Affandi Affandi , Kuswidiastuti Devy , Handayani Puji , Suryani Titiek
Published: March 2023

Kabupaten Lamongan merupakan salah satu wilayah yang memiliki tambak udang seluas 932,29 Ha. Salah satu tambak yang terkenal di Lamongan adalah tambak udang yang berisi udang udang windu (Penaeus monodon) dan udang vaname (Litopenaeus vannamei). Berdasarkan hasil produksi maka perlu dilakukan pembudidayaan secara intesif untuk meningkatkan hasil produksi dan dapat unggul di pasar lokal maupun internasional. Salah satu faktor adalah dalam hal pemberian pakan pada udang yang merupakan hal penting dalam kegiatan pembudidayaan udang. Namun sayangnya saat ini sistem pemberian makan pada udang masih sangat bergantung dengan sumber daya manusia yang dilakukan secara manual. Berkaca pada masalah tersebut, pengabdi pada kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini berupaya untuk merancang dan membuat sebuah alat pemberi pakan otomatis yang menggunakan solar panel sebagai sumber tenaganya. Tak hanya membuat konsep dan alat saja, tetapi kegiatan sosialisasi pun dilakukan untuk memperkenalkan cara menggunakan serta maintenance alat. Pengabdi berharap dengan adanya teknologi pemberi pakan otomatis bisa memudahkan dalam pemberian pakan udangnya.
Pembuatan Media Pembelajaran Digital Interaktif untuk Materi Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab (Nahwu dan Shorof) untuk Santri Milenial
Authors: Muklason Ahmad , Riksakomara Edwin , Mahananto Faizal , Djunaidy Arif , Vinarti Retno Aulia , Anggraeni Wiwik , Nurita Raras Tyas , Utamima Amalia , Basara Naufal Rafiawan , Nuriman Muhammad Arif , Jayanty Amalinda , Khofifah Nur , Laila Nur , Mahatta Hanif Mitsal , Ananda M. Fiqri , Wibowo Tristanto Rachmadi , Hisyam Muhammad , Kamil Mochamad Zidan Aqila
Published: March 2023

Pondok Pesantren adalah lembaga pendidikan tertua di Indonesia. Kurang lebih separuh dari pondok pesantren tesebut adalah pondok pesantren salafiyah, yaitu pesantren yang menerapkan metode tradisional. Sistem pendidikan salafiyah ini menemui tantangan karena santri saat ini adalah santri milenial yang memiliki kecenderungan yang berbeda dan lebih senang belajar menggunakan gadget. Oleh, karena itu kegiatan pengabdian masyarakat ini bertujuan untuk mengembangkan konten pembelajaran digital interaktif dari materi pembelajaran bahasa arab pondok pesantren salaf yaitu pelajaran Nahwu dan Shorof yang saat ini rujukannya adalah kitab kuning. Konten digital ini dikembangkan menggunakan teknologi H5P. Untuk mengetahui tingkat penerimaan santri terhadap konten digital ini, dilakukan Focus Group Discussion, wawancara, dan pengisian kuesioner. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa 73,7% santri merasa lebih mudah memahami materi dengan menggunakan digital learning, dan 89,7% santri merasa konten digital ini membuat pembelajaran lebih menyenangkan. Secara keseluruhan, platform ini memberikan kemudahan dan pembelajaran menjadi lebih menyenangkan. Akan tetapi, masih terdapat beberapa umpan balik yang dijadikan evaluasi platform dan sistem pembelajaran kedepannya, seperti tidak adanya mentor untuk mendampingi para santri belajar.
Model Pelatihan Kelayakan Proyek Untuk UMKM Konstruksi dalam Pengembangan Usaha
Authors: Utomo Christiono , Indryani Retno , Wiguna I Putu Artama , Adi Tri Joko Wahyu , Rohman M. Arif , Rachmawati Farida , Nurcahyo Cahyono Bintang , Putri Yusronia Eka
Published: March 2023

Proyek adalah alat implementasi strategi perusahaan. Pengembangan proyek menjadi usaha untuk mengkaji, mengevaluasi dan memilih prioritas proyek dalam mewujudkan tujuan strategis perusahaan. Modal merupakan utilitas yang terbatas. Diperlukan pengetahuan dan ketrampilan tentang kelayakan proyek termasuk pengelolaan pasar, pembiayaan, dan investasi. UMKM memiliki kepentingan yang sangat kuat untuk memahami kelayakan proyek tersebut dalam hal ketangguhan usaha dan kemampuan pengembangan usaha. Meskipun mempunyai peran penting bagi pertumbuhan ekonomi Indonesia, UMKM menghadapi banyak hambatan yang mengakibatkan sulit untuk berkembang dan pada kondisi ekstrim bisa mengalami kegagalan usaha. Sebab munculnya masalah salah satu yang terbesar adalah keterbatasan pengetahuan dan ketrampilan dalam mengembangkan usaha. UMKM konstruksi dengan karakter padat modal dan padat karya sangat memerlukan peningkatan pemahaman dan kemampuan tersebut. Diharapkan kegiatan dapat berkelanjutan dan menghasilkan rumusan kerjasama pengabdian masyarakat dalam jangka panjang melalui terdesiminasinya keilmuan kelayakan proyek bagi UMKM konstruksi di Surabaya, terutama untuk keilmuan fisibiliti pasar dan fisibiliti keuangan. Keilmuan dan ketrampilan kelayakan proyek dan bisnis yang di berikan dapat membantu usaha memperkuat kemampuan mengembangkan usaha dan keunggulan bersaingnya. Dan dalam jangka panjang mampu menaikkan katagori usahanya dari UMKM ke besar.
Video Profil Desa Pucang sebagai Sarana Promosi Usaha Mikro Kecil dan Menengah serta Peningkatan Ekonomi Masyarakat
Authors: Arini Nuskha Ilma , Kristianto Fesa , Supardi Supardi
Published: March 2023

Desa Pucang merupakan sentra Usaha Mikro Kecil dan Menengah (UMKM) kerajinan tanduk, kayu dan tempurung yang akan diolah menjadi produk kerajinan. Produk kerajinan kayu yang dijual oleh UMKM Desa Pucang berupa sendok nasi, serok, penjepit, sisir, garpu dan suvenir. Saat ini pemasaran produknya menggunakan sistem offline ke berbagai kota besar di Indonesia yaitu Solo, Semarang, Yogyakarta dan Jakarta. Akan tetapi dengan situasi pandemi Covid-19 membuat penjualan UMKM desa Pucang menurun. Adanya pandemi ini memaksa perubahan pola belanja dari offline menjadi online sehingga merubah proses pemasarannya. Oleh karena itu, untuk merubah proses pemasarannya diperlukan media-media penunjang salah satunya video profil Desa Pucang. Pengumpulan data untuk pembuatan video profil dilakukan melalui dokumentasi foto dan video serta didukung dengan data dari internet. Video ini berupa video interaktif dengan konsep gaya desain modern. Untuk video profil Desa Pucang dapat diakses pada media sosial Youtube dengan nama channel Manajemen Bisnis Industri Furnitur. Dampak dari adanya video profil ini adalah kemudahan dalam mengakses informasi Desa Pucang sehingga dapat meningkatkan penjualan UMKM Desa Pucang.
Clinical learning for pre-registration nursing students: a viva voce approach during COVID-19
Authors: King Kathryn , Baker Edward , Baker Mark J
Published: March 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic restricted face-to-face contact between students and educators, limiting continual assessment of student's clinical skill development. This led to rapid transformational online adaptations to nursing education. This article will present and discuss the introduction of a clinical ‘viva voce’ approach, which has been used at one university to formatively assess students' clinical learning and reasoning skills using virtual methods. The Virtual Clinical Competency Conversation (V3C) was developed using the ‘Think aloud approach’ and involved facilitated one-to-one discussion based on two questions from a bank of 17 predefined clinically focused questions. A total of 81 pre-registration students completed the formative assessment process. Overall, feedback from students and academic facilitators was positive and facilitated both learning and consolidation in a safe and nurturing way. Further local evaluation is continuing to measure the impact of the V3C approach on student learning now that some aspects of face-to-face education have resumed.
The importance of integration
Authors: Oldman Crystal
Published: March 2023

Crystal Oldman explains how Integrated Care Boards in England are providing an opportunity for the commissioning of services that facilitate a smoother pathway to integrated care
CROSSING KIRSCHNER WIRES DURING SURGIAL FIXATION FOR BASE OF FIFTH METACARPAL FRACTURES: A RISK FACTOR FOR POSTOPERATIVE INFECTION?
Authors: Biddle M. , Wilson V. , Phillips S. , Miller N. , Little K. , Martin D.
Published: March 2023

Our aim was to explore factors associated with early post operative infection for surgically managed base of 4th/5th metacarpal fractures. We hypothesised that K-wires crossing the 4th and 5th carpometacarpal joint (CMCJ) would be associated with an increased risk of post-operative infection.

Data from consecutive patients requiring surgical fixation for a base of 4th/5th metacarpal fracture from October 2016 to May 2021 were collected. Patient demographics, time to surgery, length of surgery, operator experience, use of tourniquet, intra-operative antibiotics, number and thickness of K-wire used, as well as whether or not the K-wires crossed CMCJ joints were recorded. Factors associated with post operative infection were assessed using Chi Squared test and univariable logistic regression using R studio.

Of 107 patients, 10 (9.3%) suffered post operative infection. Time to surgery (p 0.006) and length of operation (p=0.005) were higher in those experiencing infection. There was a trend towards higher risk of infection seen in those who had K-wires crossed (p=0.06). On univariable analysis, patients who had wires crossed were >7 times more likely to experience infection than those who didn't (OR 7.79 (95% CI, 1.39 - 146.0, p=0.056). Age, smoking, K-wire size, number of K-wires used, intraoperative antibiotics, tourniquet use and operator experience were not associated with infection.

In patients with a base of 4th/5th metacarpal fractures requiring surgical fixation, we find an increased risk of post-operative infection associated with K-wires crossing the CMCJ, which has implications for surgical technique. Larger prospective studies would be useful in further delineating these findings.
PROJECTED HIP FRACTURE INCIDENCE IN SCOTLAND
Authors: Harris E. , Farrow L. , Martin C. , Adam K. , Holt G.
Published: March 2023

The hip fracture burden on health and social care services in Scotland is anticipated to increase significantly, primarily driven by an ageing population. This study forecasts future hip fracture incidence and the annual number of hip fractures in Scotland until 2029.

The monthly number of patients with hip fracture aged ≥ 50 admitted to a Scottish hospital between 01/01/2017 and 31/12/2021 was identified through data collected by the Scottish Hip Fracture Audit. This data was analysed using Exponential Smoothing and Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average forecast modelling to project future hip fracture incidence and the annual number of hip fractures until 2029. Adjustments for population change were accounted for by integrating population projections published by National Records of Scotland.

Between 2017 and 2021 the annual number of hip fractures in Scotland increased from 6675 to 7797, with a respective increase in hip fracture incidence from 313 to 350 per 100,000. By 2029, the averaged projected annual number of hip fractures is 10311, with an incidence rate of 463 per 100,000. The largest percentage increase in hip fracture occurs in the 70-79 age group (57%), with comparable increases in both sexes (30%). Based upon these projections, overall length of stay following hip fracture will increase from 142713 bed days per annum in 2021, to 203412 by 2029, incurring an additional cost of over £25 million.

Forecast modelling demonstrates that the annual number of hip fractures in Scotland will rise substantially by 2029, with considerable implications for health and social care services.
UM LUGAR NO AMOR DO OUTRO
Authors: Gisele Braulio de Jesus  , Ivone Maia de Mello
Published: March 2023

A pesquisa se justificou pela necessidade em pesquisar sobre as mulheres em situação de violência bem como a recepção às vítimas de violência e as designações que estas recebem durante o processo de acolhimento são decisivas e até mesmo problemáticas.
promoció de la lectura a les Biblioteques públiques a Catalunya (2020-2021)
Authors: Ruiz Chacón Gisela , Vazquez Puig Elisabet
Published: March 2023

El període 2020-2021, marcat per la crisi sanitària de la COVID-19, presenta un dels majors reptes que han hagut d’afrontar les biblioteques públiques. El tancament dels equipaments va obligar les biblioteques a adaptar-se a una nova situació, oferir part dels serveis en format virtual i crear noves accions per acostar la lectura als usuaris en aquesta situació excepcional. L’article recull una selecció de programes, accions i serveis que les biblioteques catalanes han dut a terme en aquesta etapa, principalment en l’àmbit de la promoció i el foment de la lectura. També s’esmenten les jornades i trobades professionals, així com els premis, els estudis de recerca i les principals publicacions sobre la matèria que s’han publicat en aquest bienni.
Introduction to “Pandemic as Polemic”
Authors: Renes Cornelis
Published: March 2023

Editorial note on this issue.
Engaging with the Great Pandemic War: Citizens, Artists, Academics
Authors: Alomes Stephen
Published: March 2023

Facing the Australian experience of the global Great Pandemic of the virus SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoV-2), known as the resultant disease, Covid-19, many citizens, including artists, writers and academics, engaged through analytical and creative works. Many of us have become 'citizen scientists', different from "Facebook Certified Experts”, denialists and anti-vaxxers who declare that they have "done my research" ... often on YouTube or Google sites. Seeing “Our Pandemic Zeitgeist”, a warlike experience, through the lens of my own engagements as a prose poet diarising our stories, a painter escaping the pandemic, one of several researchers advocating better health policies, and a trench warrior against Facebook pandemic fantasists, this account offers a distinctive perspective.
Signbank: una herramienta para el estudio de las lenguas de señas como L2
Authors: Cruz-Aldrete Miroslava
Published: March 2023

El estudio de las lenguas de señas (LS) como segundas lenguas es un nuevo campo de conocimiento, cuyo desarrollo está íntimamente relacionado con la lingüística de corpus (LC). Si bien hemos sido testigos del auge en la LC con respecto al análisis de las lenguas orales minoritarias, en el caso de aquellas de modalidad visogestual pareciera que su crecimiento va a la zaga. Esto se debe a varios factores que involucra la discusión sobre las características de las LS, desde su reconocimiento como una lengua natural (objeto de estudio de la lingüística, de otras disciplinas del ámbito de las humanidades y de las ciencias cognitivas), hasta la complejidad de su representación, al tratarse de sistemas lingüísticos simultáneos, secuenciales, espaciales y temporales. En la actualidad observamos un creciente interés por el aprendizaje de estas lenguas como una segunda lengua (L2), tanto por personas oyentes, como por personas sordas usuarias de una lengua de señas que se interesan por el aprendizaje de otra LS. Esta situación conduce a los estudiosos de las LS a volcarse en los datos primarios que se tienen sobre este tipo de idiomas, con el fin de discutir su estructura y su variación sociolingüística. Teniendo en cuenta todas estas cuestiones, la intención del presente artículo es presentar el desarrollo de la aplicación Signbank (https://signbank.cls.ru.nl) como una herramienta que puede contribuir a la investigación en el campo del estudio de las LS como L2.
Vistas y vivencias urbanas del París de 1900 en los aguafuertes de Joaquim Sunyer
Authors: Vives Piqué Maria Rosa
Published: March 2023

Joaquim Sunyer (Sitges, 1874 -1956), pintor y grabador, destacó en esta última faceta con un amplio catálogo de grabados realizados en diferentes momentos de su trayectoria artística. Un período excepcional lo constituye la serie de grabados que hizo en plena juventud durante su estancia en París en los albores del siglo XX que, por mor de su alta calidad plástica, merecen ser observados con detenimiento.

En ellos representa diversas facetas de la vida urbana, vistas animadas que, todo y evocar un cierto tipismo, obvian los parámetros ilustrativos pintorescos. Sunyer plasma con visión altamente comprensiva tanto la sociedad bohemia como las clases medias y obreras, a veces, incluso marginadas, que transitan por la ciudad. La diversión en bailes y espectáculos, tertulias de estudiantes ociosos, paseantes, mercados ambulantes, lavanderas, obreros y una retahíla de personajes de larga prosapia iconográfica situados en entornos identificables, calles o plazas que a menudo dan nombre a la estampa: el parque del Luxembourg,  calle Lepic, calle de Belleville, calle de la Lune, canal de Saint Martin..., donde se reconocen edificios y establecimientos, medios de transporte, pavimentos, alumbrado, etc., de manera que el conjunto constituye un particular repertorio testimonial del París de aquel entonces cotejable con fuentes literarias, fotográficas e incluso cinematográficas.

Aunque la fotografía y el cine ya eran los medios de captación documental de este tiempo y lugar, las estampas de Sunyer, sin abstraerse de la realidad, aúnan el documento con una romántica melancolía mediante una experimental y altamente expresiva ejecución al aguafuerte en color. Obviamente una creación artística no es un testimonio fehaciente de una realidad catastral o notarial, pero mediante el pálpito artístico que desprende se nos permite no sólo pensar y disfrutar de su fenomenología, sino también de unos particulares flases del Paris de la Belle Époque.­­­
OpenSpyrit: an ecosystem for open single-pixel hyperspectral imaging
Authors: Beneti Martins Guilherme , Mahieu-Williame Laurent , Baudier Thomas , Ducros Nicolas
Published: March 2023

This paper describes OpenSpyrit, an open access and open source ecosystem for reproducible research in hyperspectral single-pixel imaging, composed of SPAS (a Python single-pixel acquisition software), SPYRIT (a Python single-pixel reconstruction toolkit) and SPIHIM (a single-pixel hyperspectral image collection). The proposed OpenSpyrit ecosystem responds to the need for reproducibility and benchmarking in single-pixel imaging by providing open data and open software. The SPIHIM collection, which is the first open-access FAIR dataset for hyperspectral single-pixel imaging, currently includes 140 raw measurements acquired using SPAS and the corresponding hypercubes reconstructed using SPYRIT. The hypercubes are reconstructed by both inverse Hadamard transformation of the raw data and using the denoised completion network (DC-Net), a data-driven reconstruction algorithm. The hypercubes obtained by inverse Hadamard transformation have a native size of 64 × 64 × 2048 for a spectral resolution of 2.3 nm and a spatial resolution that is comprised between 182.4 µm and 15.2 µm depending on the digital zoom. The hypercubes obtained using the DC-Net are reconstructed at an increased resolution of 128 × 128 × 2048. The OpenSpyrit ecosystem should constitute a reference to support benchmarking for future developments in single-pixel imaging.
The epithelial polarity genes frazzled and GUK-holder adjust morphogen gradients to coordinate changes in cell position with cell fate specification
Authors: Xue Yongqiang , Krishnan Aravindan , Chahda Juan Sebastian , Schweickart Robert Allen , Sousa-Neves Rui , Mizutani Claudia Mieko
Published: March 2023

Morphogenetic gradients specify distinct cell populations within tissues. Originally, morphogens were conceived as substances that act on a static field of cells, yet cells usually move during development. Thus, the way cell fates are defined in moving cells remains a significant and largely unsolved problem. Here, we investigated this issue using spatial referencing of cells and 3D spatial statistics in the Drosophila blastoderm to reveal how cell density responds to morphogenetic activity. We show that the morphogen decapentaplegic (DPP) attracts cells towards its peak levels in the dorsal midline, whereas dorsal (DL) stalls them ventrally. We identified frazzled and GUK-holder as the downstream effectors regulated by these morphogens that constrict cells and provide the mechanical force necessary to draw cells dorsally. Surprisingly, GUKH and FRA modulate the DL and DPP gradient levels and this regulation creates a very precise mechanism of coordinating cell movement and fate specification.
Varied performance of picture description task as a screening tool across MCI subtypes
Authors: Mefford Joel A. , Zhao Zilong , Heilier Leah , Xu Man , Zhou Guifeng , Mace Rachel , Sloane Kelly L. , Sheppard Shannon M. , Glenn Shenly
Published: March 2023

A picture description task is a component of Miro Health’s platform for self-administration of neurobehavioral assessments. Picture description has been used as a screening tool for identification of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but currently requires in-person administration and scoring by someone with access to and familiarity with a scoring rubric. The Miro Health implementation allows broader use of this assessment through self-administration and automated processing, analysis, and scoring to deliver clinically useful quantifications of the users’ speech production, vocal characteristics, and language. Picture description responses were collected from 62 healthy controls (HC), and 33 participants with MCI: 18 with amnestic MCI (aMCI) and 15 with non-amnestic MCI (naMCI). Speech and language features and contrasts between pairs of features were evaluated for differences in their distributions in the participant subgroups. Picture description features were selected and combined using penalized logistic regression to form risk scores for classification of HC versus MCI as well as HC versus specific MCI subtypes. A picture-description based risk score distinguishes MCI and HC with an area under the receiver operator curve (AUROC) of 0.74. When contrasting specific subtypes of MCI and HC, the classifiers have an AUROC of 0.88 for aMCI versus HC and and AUROC of 0.61 for naMCI versus HC. Tests of association of individual features or contrasts of pairs of features with HC versus aMCI identified 20 features with p-values below 5e-3 and False Discovery Rates (FDRs) at or below 0.113, and 61 contrasts with p-values below 5e-4 and FDRs at or below 0.132. Findings suggest that performance of picture description as a screening tool for MCI detection will vary greatly by MCI subtype or by the proportion of various subtypes in an undifferentiated MCI population.
Infection with chikungunya virus confers heterotypic cross-neutralizing antibodies and memory B-cells against other arthritogenic alphaviruses predominantly through the B domain of the E2 glycoprotein
Authors: Powers John M. , Lyski Zoe L. , Weber Whitney C. , Denton Michael , Streblow Magdalene M. , Mayo Adam T. , Haese Nicole N. , Nix Chad D. , Rodríguez-Santiago Rachel , Alvarado Luisa I. , Rivera-Amill Vanessa , Messer William B. , Streblow Daniel N.
Published: March 2023

Infections with Chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne alphavirus, cause an acute febrile syndrome often followed by chronic arthritis that persists for months to years post-infection. Neutralizing antibodies are the primary immune correlate of protection elicited by infection, and the major goal of vaccinations in development. Using convalescent blood samples collected from both endemic and non-endemic human subjects at multiple timepoints following suspected or confirmed chikungunya infection, we identified antibodies with broad neutralizing properties against other alphaviruses within the Semliki Forest complex. Cross-neutralization generally did not extend to the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus (VEEV) complex, although some subjects had low levels of VEEV-neutralizing antibodies. This suggests that broadly neutralizing antibodies elicited following natural infection are largely complex restricted. In addition to serology, we also performed memory B-cell analysis, finding chikungunya-specific memory B-cells in all subjects in this study as remotely as 24 years post-infection. We functionally assessed the ability of memory B-cell derived antibodies to bind to chikungunya virus, and related Mayaro virus, as well as the highly conserved B domain of the E2 glycoprotein thought to contribute to cross-reactivity between related Old-World alphaviruses. To specifically assess the role of the E2 B domain in cross-neutralization, we depleted Mayaro and Chikungunya virus E2 B domain specific antibodies from convalescent sera, finding E2B depletion significantly decreases Mayaro virus specific cross-neutralizing antibody titers with no significant effect on chikungunya virus neutralization, indicating that the E2 B domain is a key target of cross-neutralizing and potentially cross-protective neutralizing antibodies.
Seasonal variation of diarrhoeal pathogens among Guinea-Bissauan children under five years of age
Authors: Mero Sointu , Lääveri Tinja , Ursing Johan , Rombo Lars , Kofoed Poul-Erik , Kantele Anu
Published: March 2023

Background

Diarrhoea remains a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in low-income countries (LICs). The frequency of diarrhoeal episodes may vary by season, yet few prospective cohort studies have examined seasonal variation among various diarrhoeal pathogens using multiplex qPCR to analyse bacterial, viral and parasitic pathogens.

Methods

We combined our recent qPCR data of diarrhoeal pathogens (nine bacterial, five viral and four parasitic) among Guinea-Bissauan children under five years old with individual background data, dividing by season. The associations of season (dry winter and rainy summer) and the various pathogens were explored among infants (0–11 months) and young children (12–59 months) and those with and without diarrhoea.

Results

Many bacterial pathogens, especially EAEC, ETEC and Campylobacter, and parasitic Cryptosporidium, prevailed in the rainy season, whereas many viruses, particularly the adenovirus, astrovirus and rotavirus proved common in the dry season. Noroviruses were found constantly throughout the year. Seasonal variation was observed in both age groups.

Conclusion

In childhood diarrhoea in a West African LIC, seasonal variation appears to favour EAEC, ETEC, and Cryptosporidium in the rainy and viral pathogens in the dry season.
Topological data analysis of human brain networks through order statistics
Authors: Das Soumya , Anand D. Vijay , Chung Moo K.
Published: March 2023

Understanding the common topological characteristics of the human brain network across a population is central to understanding brain functions. The abstraction of human connectome as a graph has been pivotal in gaining insights on the topological properties of the brain network. The development of group-level statistical inference procedures in brain graphs while accounting for the heterogeneity and randomness still remains a difficult task. In this study, we develop a robust statistical framework based on persistent homology using the order statistics for analyzing brain networks. The use of order statistics greatly simplifies the computation of the persistent barcodes. We validate the proposed methods using comprehensive simulation studies and subsequently apply to the resting-state functional magnetic resonance images. We found a statistically significant topological difference between the male and female brain networks.
Modeling in higher dimensions to improve diagnostic testing accuracy: Theory and examples for multiplex saliva-based SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays
Authors: Luke Rayanne A. , Kearsley Anthony J. , Pisanic Nora , Manabe Yukari C. , Thomas David L. , Heaney Christopher D. , Patrone Paul N.
Published: March 2023

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has emphasized the importance and challenges of correctly interpreting antibody test results. Identification of positive and negative samples requires a classification strategy with low error rates, which is hard to achieve when the corresponding measurement values overlap. Additional uncertainty arises when classification schemes fail to account for complicated structure in data. We address these problems through a mathematical framework that combines high dimensional data modeling and optimal decision theory. Specifically, we show that appropriately increasing the dimension of data better separates positive and negative populations and reveals nuanced structure that can be described in terms of mathematical models. We combine these models with optimal decision theory to yield a classification scheme that better separates positive and negative samples relative to traditional methods such as confidence intervals (CIs) and receiver operating characteristics. We validate the usefulness of this approach in the context of a multiplex salivary SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G assay dataset. This example illustrates how our analysis: (i) improves the assay accuracy, (e.g. lowers classification errors by up to 42% compared to CI methods); (ii) reduces the number of indeterminate samples when an inconclusive class is permissible, (e.g. by 40% compared to the original analysis of the example multiplex dataset) and (iii) decreases the number of antigens needed to classify samples. Our work showcases the power of mathematical modeling in diagnostic classification and highlights a method that can be adopted broadly in public health and clinical settings.
The influence of bank governance structure on green credit
Authors: Yao Fengge , Qin Zenan , Wang Xiaomei
Published: March 2023

The introduction of green credit policy provides an important idea to solve the contradiction between economic development and environmental protection. Based on fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) method, from the perspective of bank governance structure, this paper selects ownership concentration, independence of the Board, executive incentive, activity of Supervisory Board, degree of market competition and loan quality as antecedent variables to analyze the path of their impact on green credit. It is found that: (1) The main way to achieve high-level green credit is high ownership concentration and good loan quality. (2) The configuration of green credit has causal asymmetry. (3) Ownership structure is the most important factor affecting green credit. (4) There is a substitution between the low independence of the Board and the low executive incentive. The low activity of Supervisory Board and the poor loan quality are also substitutable to a certain extent. The research conclusion of this paper is helpful to improve the green credit level of Chinese banks and win the green reputation for banks.
Body mass index and obesity-related behaviors in African American church-based networks: A social network analysis
Authors: Nam Soohyun , Jung Sunyoung , Vlahov David , Latkin Carl , Kershaw Trace , Whittemore Robin
Published: March 2023

A growing body of research suggests that obesity can be understood as a complex and biobehavioral condition influenced by social relationships ─social networks. Social network analysis allows us to examine how an individual’s network characteristics (e.g., popularity) are associated with obesity and obesity-related behaviors. The objectives of the study were to (a) examine whether network members in African American churches are similar in body mass index (BMI) and obesity-related behaviors (physical activity, eating, alcohol consumption) and (b) examine whether an individual’s network characteristics, such as popularity (i.e., receiving nominations from peers) and expansiveness (i.e., sending nominations to peers) are associated with BMI and obesity-related behaviors. We used a cross-sectional study design and conducted social network analysis using Exponential random graph models with three African American church-based social networks (network A, B, and C, n = 281). There were no significant network members’ similarities on BMI in the three church-based networks. One out of three networks showed similarities in fruit and vegetable consumption (network B), fast food consumption (network C), physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and alcohol consumption (network A). African Americans with a high BMI were more popular, as were individuals with greater fat intake and alcohol consumption. Our findings support the perspective that we need to improve obesity-related behaviors by targeting influential individuals and existing ties and to develop obesity interventions using social networks. The degree to which our findings varied across churches also suggests that the relationship among an individual’s obesity-related behaviors and network characteristics should be understood in the unique social context.
Patient visits and prescriptions for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder from 2017–2021: Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic in primary care
Authors: Butt Debra A. , Stephenson Ellen , Kalia Sumeet , Moineddin Rahim , Tu Karen
Published: March 2023

Objective

To determine whether more patients presented with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related visits and/or sought care from family physicians more frequently during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Electronic medical records from the University of Toronto Practice-Based Research Network were used to characterize changes in family physician visits and prescriptions for ADHD medications. Annual patient prevalence and visit rates pre-pandemic (2017–2019) were used to calculate the expected rates in 2020 and 2021. The expected and observed rates were compared to identify any pandemic-related changes.

Results

The number of patients presenting for ADHD-related visits during the pandemic was consistent with pre-pandemic trends. However, observed ADHD-related visits in 2021 were 1.32 times higher than expected (95% CI: 1.05–1.75), suggesting that patients visited family physicians more frequently than before the pandemic.

Conclusion

Demand for primary care services related to ADHD has continued to increase during the pandemic, with increased health service use among those accessing care.
Health facility readiness to provide antenatal care (ANC) and non-communicable disease (NCD) services in Nepal and Bangladesh: Analysis of facility-based surveys
Authors: Thapa Deependra K. , Acharya Kiran , Karki Anjalina , Cleary Michelle
Published: March 2023

Background

Antenatal care (ANC) visits provide an important opportunity for diagnostic, preventive, and curative services for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) during pregnancy. There is an identified need for an integrated, system-wide approach to provide both ANC and NCD services to improve maternal and child health outcomes in the short and long term.

Objective

This study assessed the readiness of health facilities to provide ANC and NCD services in Nepal and Bangladesh, identified as low–and middle–income countries.

Method

The study used data from national health facility surveys in Nepal (n = 1565) and Bangladesh (n = 512) assessing recent service provision under the Demographic and Health Survey programs. Using the WHO’s service availability and readiness assessment framework, the service readiness index was calculated across four domains: staff and guidelines, equipment, diagnostic, and medicines and commodities. Availability and readiness are presented as frequency and percentages, while factors associated with readiness were examined using binary logistic regression.

Results

Of the facilities, 71% in Nepal, and 34% in Bangladesh reported offering both ANC and NCD services. The proportion of facilities which showed readiness for providing ANC and NCD services was 24% in Nepal and 16% in Bangladesh. Gaps in readiness were observed in the availability of trained staff, guidelines, basic equipment, diagnostics, and medicines. Facilities managed by the private sector or a Non-Governmental Organization, located in an urban area, with management systems to support the delivery of quality services were positively associated with readiness to provide both ANC and NCD services.

Conclusion

There is a need to strengthen the health workforce by ensuring skilled personnel, having policy, guidelines and standards, and that diagnostics, medicines, and commodities are available/provided in health facilities. Management and administrative systems are also required, including supervision and staff training, to enable health services to provide integrated care at an acceptable level of quality.
Poor outcomes among critically ill HIV-positive patients at hospital discharge and post-discharge in Guinea, Conakry: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Albus Sebastian Ludwig , Harrison Rebecca E. , Moudachirou Ramzia , Nanan-N’Zeth Kassi , Haba Benoit , Casas Esther C. , Isaakidis Petros , Diallo Abdourahimi , Camara Issiaga , Doumbuya Marie , Sako Fode Bangaly , Cisse Mohammed
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Optimal management of critically ill HIV-positive patients during hospitalization and after discharge is not fully understood. This study describes patient characteristics and outcomes of critically ill HIV-positive patients hospitalized in Conakry, Guinea between August 2017 and April 2018 at discharge and 6 months post-discharge.

Methods

We carried out a retrospective observational cohort study using routine clinical data. Analytic statistics were used to describe characteristics and outcomes.

Results

401 patients were hospitalized during the study period, 230 (57%) were female, median age was 36 (IQR: 28–45). At admission, 229 patients (57%) were on ART, median CD4 was 64 cells/mm3, 166 (41%) had a VL >1000 copies/ml, and 97 (24%) had interrupted treatment. 143 (36%) patients died during hospitalisation. Tuberculosis was the major cause of death for 102 (71%) patients. Of 194 patients that were followed after hospitalization a further 57 (29%) were lost-to-follow-up (LTFU) and 35 (18%) died, 31 (89%) of which had a TB diagnosis. Of all patients who survived a first hospitalisation, 194 (46%) were re-hospitalised at least once more. Amongst those LTFU, 34 (59%) occurred immediately after hospital discharge.

Conclusion

Outcomes for critically ill HIV-positive patients in our cohort were poor. We estimate that 1-in-3 patients remained alive and in care 6 months after their hospital admission. This study shows the burden of disease on a contemporary cohort of patients with advanced HIV in a low prevalence, resource limited setting and identifies multiple challenges in their care both during hospitalisation as well as during and after re-transitioning to ambulatory care.
The influence of flow velocity on the response of rheophilic fish to visual cues
Authors: Miles James , Vowles Andrew S. , Kemp Paul S.
Published: March 2023

The strong association with visual cues exhibited by fish that prefer to inhabit flowing water (rheophilic species) may help reduce the energetic costs of maintaining position due to the provision of spatial points of reference. If this “Station Holding Hypothesis” is true, a positive relationship between the association with visual cues and flow velocity is expected. This hypothesis was tested experimentally by quantifying the response of common minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) to visual cues under three flow velocities. In contradiction to the prediction, there was no evidence that the association with strong visual cues was positively related to flow velocity when fish were presented with vertical black stripes in an open channel flume, although interspecific variation in response was observed. The association with visual cues was relatively weak in trout, compared to minnow that spent 660% more time associated with the zone in which visual cues were present during the treatment, than the control when visual cues were absent. Trout tended to be more exploratory and made short visits to the area where visual cues were present, whereas minnow associated with the cues for longer. The strong association with visual cues independent of flow velocity exhibited by minnow and the weak association across all velocities by trout suggest that this behaviour is unlikely to reflect a strategy to minimise the energetic cost of maintaining position in flowing water. Minnow may have used the visual cues as a proxy indicator of physical structure that provides alternative benefits, such as refuge from predators. Trout may have employed alternative cues (e.g. mechanosensory) to seek more energetically favourable regions of the experimental area, reducing the importance of stationary visual stimuli.
Impact of dispersion media and carrier type on spray-dried proliposome powder formulations loaded with beclomethasone dipropionate for their pulmonary drug delivery via a next generation impactor
Authors: Khan Iftikhar , Al-Hasani Ali , Khan Mohsin H. , Khan Aamir N. , -Alam Fakhr-e , Sadozai Sajid K. , Elhissi Abdelbary , Khan Jehanzeb , Yousaf Sakib
Published: March 2023

Drug delivery via aerosolization for localized and systemic effect is a non-invasive approach to achieving pulmonary targeting. The aim of this study was to prepare spray-dried proliposome (SDP) powder formulations to produce carrier particles for superior aerosolization performance, assessed via a next generation impactor (NGI) in combination with a dry powder inhaler. SDP powder formulations (F1-F10) were prepared using a spray dryer, employing five different types of lactose carriers (Lactose monohydrate (LMH), lactose microfine (LMF), lactose 003, lactose 220 and lactose 300) and two different dispersion media. The first dispersion medium was comprised of water and ethanol (50:50% v/v ratio), and the second dispersion medium comprised wholly of ethanol (100%). In the first dispersion medium, the lipid phase (consisting of Soya phosphatidylcholine (SPC as phospholipid) and Beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP; model drug) were dissolved in ethanol and the lactose carrier in water, followed by spray drying. Whereas in second dispersion medium, the lipid phase and lactose carrier were dispersed in ethanol only, post spray drying. SDP powder formulations (F1-F5) possessed significantly smaller particles (2.89 ± 1.24–4.48 ± 1.20 μm), when compared to SDP F6-F10 formulations (10.63 ± 3.71–19.27 ± 4.98 μm), irrespective of lactose carrier type via SEM (scanning electron microscopy). Crystallinity of the F6-F10 and amorphicity of F1-F15 formulations were confirmed by XRD (X-ray diffraction). Differences in size and crystallinity were further reflected in production yield, where significantly higher production yield was obtained for F1-F5 (74.87 ± 4.28–87.32 ± 2.42%) then F6-F10 formulations (40.08 ± 5.714–54.98 ± 5.82%), irrespective of carrier type. Negligible differences were noted in terms of entrapment efficiency, when comparing F1-F5 SDP formulations (94.67 ± 8.41–96.35 ± 7.93) to F6-F10 formulations (78.16 ± 9.35–82.95 ± 9.62). Moreover, formulations F1-F5 demonstrated significantly higher fine particle fraction (FPF), fine particle dose (FPD) and respirable fraction (RF) (on average of 30.35%, 890.12 μg and 85.90%) when compared to counterpart SDP powder formulations (F6-F10). This study has demonstrated that when a combination of water and ethanol was employed as dispersion medium (formulations F1-F5), superior formulation properties for pulmonary drug delivery were observed, irrespective of carrier type employed.
Prevalence of abnormal uterine bleeding in Brazilian women: Association between self-perception and objective parameters
Authors: Rezende Gabriela Pravatta , Yela Gomes Daniela Angerame , Benetti-Pinto Cristina Laguna
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is the main cause of demand for gynecological care during the reproductive period, with negative consequences on women’s lives. In Brazil, data on the prevalence of AUB is scarce and does not reflect the national reality.

Objective

To evaluate the prevalence of AUB and associated factors in Brazil.

Methods

Multicenter cross-sectional study, including 8 centers representing the 5 official geographic regions of Brazil. It included postmenarchal women who answered a sociodemographic questionnaire, with socioeconomic stratum and data related to uterine bleeding (self-perception of AUB and objective data)

Results

1928 women were included, with 35.5±12.5 years of age, 167 postmenopausal. The 1761 women in their reproductive period, had a menstrual cycle duration of 29.2±20.6 days, with bleeding for 5.6±4.0 days. In these, the prevalence of AUB, considering self-perception by the women, was 31.4%. Only among women who considered their bleeding abnormal, the menstrual cycle lasted less than 24 days in 28.4%, bleeding lasted longer than 8 days in 21.8%, 34.1% reported intermenstrual bleeding and 12.8% reported postcoital bleeding. Also, regarding these women, 47% reported a previous diagnosis of anemia, with 6% requiring intravenous treatment (iron or blood transfusion). Half of the women mentioned that the menstrual period had a negative impact on quality of life, while this worsening occurs in about 80% of those with self-perception of AUB.

Conclusion

In Brazil, the prevalence of AUB is 31.4%, assessed by self-perception, in agreement with objective AUB parameters. The menstrual period has a negative impact on the quality of life of 8 out of 10 women with AUB.