bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Descriptive analysis of changes in Ghana's food availability and food safety information between 2010 and 2020
Authors:   McGill University, Boadi P , Gyimah FT ,   University of Ghana, Aryeetey R
Published: April 2022

Access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food is essential to ensure food and nutrition security and healthy lives for all. Secure access to nutritious food ensures healthy eating habits, economic growth, and stability in an economy. However, food insecurity and malnutrition persist globally. In Ghana, more than half of food-insecure people reside in the Northern ecological zones of the country. Moreover, Ghana lacks a systematic food security monitoring system to track food insecurity among vulnerable populations. This study reviewed existing evidence on the current situation and changes related to food production, trade, safety, and consumption in Ghana, as part of the process to develop food-based dietary guidelines for the country. The literature review included peer-reviewed articles published from 2010 – 2020 in Ghana to document household-level food production, consumption, and safety issues. In addition, food disappearance data (from 2010 to 2018) from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations was analysed. Means and compound annual growth rates were calculated for each food item included. The results showed that per capita food production was higher than per capita consumption in all the food categories studied, except for vegetables, and fish and fishery products. Food consumption was centred on a few priority staple crops such as cassava, maize, rice, and yams, with less consideration given to underutilised foods such as akokono (palm weevil larvae). Food imports exceeded food exports in all food categories except 1) cocoa beans and products, 2) root crops and tubers, 3) oil-bearing crops and nuts, and 4) fruits and products. Fruit and vegetable consumption in Ghana has been declining since 2013. There was also a rise in the import and consumption of processed foods, especially tomato paste, sugars, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Food safety issues included microbial contamination, aflatoxin contamination, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in smoked fish, mercury in fish, pesticide and heavy metal residues in vegetables and fruits, and food adulteration. The evidence synthesized from this study will be useful to inform the development of food-based dietary guidelines for Ghana. Key words: Food, production, trade, consumption, food security, safety, Ghana
Błękitno-zielona infrastruktura a rynek nieruchomości
Authors: Żółtaszek Agata , Stodulska Martyna
Published: April 2022

W ostatnich latach świadomość ekologiczna Polaków systematycznie rośnie. Około 75% obywateli postrzega zmiany klimatu jako kluczowe zagrożenie dla życia ludzi na Ziemi. Wśród najczęściej sugerowanych przez respondentów działań zaradczych jest dbanie o tereny zieleni i cieki wodne. Wzrasta także zainteresowanie obywateli i władz tematem błękitno‑zielonej infrastruktury. Wszystkie elementy zielonej infrastruktury (ZI) oraz błękitnej (niebieskiej) infrastruktury (BI), a także ich połączenia, tzn. błękitno‑zielonej infrastruktury (BZI), niosą ze sobą korzyści zdrowotne, społeczne, ekonomiczne i środowiskowe, zarówno w skali makro (regionu, kraju czy całego świata), jak i mikro (najbliższej okolicy). Z punktu widzenia rynku nieruchomości istotne staje się zbadanie, czy świadomość pozytywnych aspektów BZI znajduje odzwierciedlenie w preferencjach klientów dotyczących popytu. Jeśli tak, powinno wpłynąć to na decyzje popytowe (dotyczące zakupu lub najmu i poziomu cen transakcyjnych) oraz podażowe (budowlane i deweloperskie).
Celem artykułu jest próba rozpoznania preferencji klientów dotyczących wpływu bliskości BZI na popyt na rynku nieruchomości. W badaniu dokonano analizy popytu zrealizowanego na podstawie przeglądu istniejących badań, a także popytu potencjalnego, z wykorzystaniem pilotażowego kwestionariusza internetowego dla próby przypadkowej. Ankieta pozwoliła na wstępną ocenę subiektywnych preferencji przeszłych oraz potencjalnych nabywców i najemców nieruchomości w Polsce. Ponadto dokonano oceny dostępności ZI i BI w Polsce w ujęciu regionalnym.
Wyniki analizy pokazały, że błękitno‑zielona infrastruktura silnie wpływa na popyt na rynku nieruchomości w Polsce. Respondenci cenią sobie bliskość terenów zielonych i zbiorników wodnych. Determinuje ona zauważalnie ich preferencje dotyczące kupowanych i wynajmowanych nieruchomości oraz skłonność do płacenia za nie. Potwierdza to wnioski płynące z licznych badań międzynarodowych. Obecność terenów zielonych oraz akwenów jest czynnikiem podnoszącym prestiż lokalizacji, jednak pod warunkiem, że walory estetyczne obiektów oraz odległość od nich są satysfakcjonujące.
New Findings on Indicator-based Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms: A Brief Summary
Authors: Falcón-Cardona Jesús Guillermo
Published: April 2022

Quality indicators (QIs) are functions that assign a real value to a set that represents the Pareto front approximation of a multi-objective optimization problem. In the evolutionary multi-objective optimization community, QIs have been mainly employed in two ways: (1) for the performance assessment of multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs), which produce Pareto front approximations, and (2) to be adopted as the backbone of selection mechanisms of MOEAs. Regardless of the continuing advances on QIs and their utilization in MOEAs, there are currently a vast number of open questions in this researcharea. In this doctoral thesis, we have focused on two main research directions: the design of new selection mechanisms based on the competition and cooperation of multiple QIs, aiming to compensate for the weaknesses (in terms of convergence and diversity properties) of individual QIs with the strengths of the others. The second research axis is the generation of new QIs that are compliant with the Pareto dominance relation extended to sets. Such QIs have a direct impact on the type of conclusions that can be drawn about the performance of MOEAs. Our experimental results have shown that the use of multiple QIs either to design new selection mechanisms or to construct new Pareto-compliant QIs is a promising research direction that can improve the capabilities of MOEAs and that allows for a performance assessment of MOEAs with a higher degree of confidence.
MATEMATİK OKURYAZARLIĞININ OKUL MATEMATİĞİ İLE ENTEGRASYONU
Authors: ALTUN Murat , KOZAKLI ÜLGER Tuğçe , BOZKURT Işıl , AKKAYA Recai , ARSLAN Çiğdem , DEMİR Furkan , KARADUMAN Burcu , ÖZAYDIN Zeynep
Published: April 2022

Okulda öğrenilen matematiği gerçek yaşama aktarabilme, matematiksel bilgiyi yaşamda kullanabilme ihtiyacı, matematik okuryazarlığı deyimini ön plana çıkarmıştır. Bu ihtiyacın karşılanması okullarda matematik okuryazarı öğrenciler yetiştirmek ve öğretimi bu şekilde planlamakla mümkündür. Bu doğrultudan hareketle bu çalışmada, matematik öğretiminde matematik okuryazarlığını süreç içinde geliştirme amacıyla tasarlanan ve Çift Odaklı Öğretim adı verilen bir öğretim modelinin tanıtılması amaçlanmaktadır. Tasarım tabanlı bir araştırma projesinden elde edilen verilere dayanarak yapılandırılan bu modelde öğretim, matematiksel kavram ve genellemelere ulaşma ve bunları derinleştirme ve pekiştirme üzerine yoğunlaşmaktadır. Çalışmada, modelin içeriği, dayandığı öğrenme kuramları ve örnek bir ders planı üzerinde derse yansıması tüm yönleriyle açıklanmıştır. Modelin varlığına duyulan ihtiyaç, uygulanabilirliği ve başarı potansiyeli literatür ışığında tartışılmıştır.
Análise comparada da ocorrência de Ditassa R.Br. e Minaria T.U.P. Konno & Rapini (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae)
Authors: Zagotta-Vital Flávio Antônio
Published: April 2022

O objetivo deste trabalho foi catalogar as espécies dos gêneros Ditassa e Minaria ocorrentes no município de Lavras. Foi realizada a descrição das espécies, e uma chave de identificação. Uma comparação foi realizada com a ocorrência relatada em outros levantamentos realizados, a fim de se identificar a representatividade dessas espécies no município. O trabalho preconizou a consulta no Herbário ESAL, bem como os herbários SPF, HUEFS, JBRJ, NY e UEC, que apresentavam coletas para o município de Lavras. Os resultados do presente estudo foram também comparados com outros cinco estudos realizados, através da análise hierárquica de agrupamento (Two-way Cluster). Foram encontradas cinco espécies: Ditassa eximia, D. lenheirensis, D. mucronata, Minaria acerosa e M. cordata. Quanto ao grau de endemismo, M. cordata ocorreu apenas em Lavras, sugerindo que essa espécie possa ser endêmica do local. A maior similaridade ocorre entre Lavras e a Cadeia do Espinhaço. Mesmo Lavras apresentando uma extensão territorial reduzida, a diversidade dos táxons em questão foi considerável, revelando uma espécie de ocorrência limitada para a região.
A PM 44, o microfone, a nação angolana e a voz feminina
Authors: Luis Solange E.
Published: April 2022

After the new nation conquers its place in the world, women seek their place in the nation. These different moments will be discussed by observing how the guerrilla fighter and the rapper use their voices. During the collective struggle for the nation's place, Deolinda Rodrigues, the guerrilla-fighter, silences her voice in her diary. In the post-independence era, the rapper Eva Rap Diva projects her voice with the microphone, inscribing her place in the nation. By causing interruptions in the dominant discourse, the rapper allows for new identity constructions in present Angola – which, both women believe, ought to be continuously independent of restrictive moorings.
Socioeconomic and technical characterization of beekeeping in Burkina Faso: case of the Center-West Region
Authors: Kaboré Bénéwendé Aristide , Dahourou Laibané Dieudonné , Ossebi Walter , Bakou Niangoran Serge , Traoré Amadou , Belem Adrien Marie Gaston
Published: April 2022

Beekeeping is a potential source of income for rural populations. Once viewed as a minor agrosylvopastoral activity, beekeeping is now considered a promising activity. However, data to guide interventions are insufficient. The objective of this study was to carry out a technical and socioeconomic characterization of beekeeping in the Center-West Region of Burkina Faso. A cross-sectional survey using a pretested questionnaire enabled to collect information on the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of beekeepers (n = 113), and the characteristics of apiaries and beekeeping practices. The results showed that the majority of beekeepers were male (64.3%), educated (71.4%), with an average age of 42.8 ± 10.4 years, belonging mainly to the Mossi ethnic group (76.9%). Practiced as a secondary activity, the main attraction of beekeeping was its profitability for 69.0% of those interviewed. With a dominance of modern Kenyan type hives, the typology identified three production systems: the modern system, the traditional system and the mixed system. Average production was 6.9 ± 2.9 and 11.5 ± 2.8 liters per year for the traditional and modern hives, respectively. The profitability of the apiaries reached 10,504 and 24,620 CFA francs annual net margin for the traditional and modern hives, respectively. The main constraints revealed by the study were the lack of modern equipment and financial resources, insufficient technical supervision, and pests/predators.
Analisis Pemecahan Masalah SPLTV Berdasarkan IDEAL Problem Solving Ditinjau Dari Gaya Belajar Visual-Auditorial-Kinestetik (VAK)
Authors: Islamiah Maulidi Arsih Umaroh , Trapsilasiwi Dinawati , Oktavianingtyas Ervin , Kurniati Dian , Murtikusuma Randi Pratama
Published: April 2022

One the goals learning mathematics is so that students have ability to solve problems. This pupose of this study was to describe of SPLTV problem solving based on IDEAL problem solving in terms of VAK learning style. The result showed (1) The visual subjects can identify problem, write down the problems asked, write problem solving strategies, implement problem solving strategies, as well as make corrections, prove the truth of answers and write conclusions. (2) The auditory subjects can identify problem, write down the problems asked, write problem solving strategies, implement problem solving strategies, as well as make corrections, prove the correctness of answers and write conclusions. (3) The kinesthetic subjects can idendtify problem, write down the problems asked, write problem solving strategies but have not been able to implement problem solving strategies, make corrections but have not been able to prove the truth of the answers and can write conclusions.
IDENTIFIKASI SURFACE RUBBER COVER UNIT INSERT MACHINE BILLING STATEMENT UNTUK MEMINIMALISIR LAJU KEGAGALAN
Authors: Rozie Amam Fachrur
Published: April 2022

A rubber cover flyerroll on an insert machine that has been operating for 3600 hours and is damaged, so an analysis is needed to determine the cause of the damage and a process to overcome the damage and the same failure occurs in the future. This flyer roll functions as a billing statement folder before being inserted into an envelope with dimensions of 28 mm (OD) x 284 mm (L). To find out the cause of the damage, several tests were carried out, namely destructive testing and chemical composition testing. Physical tests carried out include hardness test, tensile strength test, modulus test, elongation break test, density test, and abrasion resistance test. resistance test) and in this study a chemical composition test was conducted. From the test results, it can be seen that the hardness value is still within the tolerance limit, which is 94 shore A with a tensile strength value of 31.7 N/mm2 and the results of the chemical composition are dominated by polyurethane rubber at 62.9% and polystar at 23%. So from the tests that have been carried out, it can be concluded that the cause of the damage that occurs to the rubber cover flyer roll is caused by improper maintenance methods, machine maintenance that is not carried out and standard operational procedures (SOPs) that are not carried out according to the recommended maintenance process
Estágio docente em questão
Authors: Conte Elaine , Gutierre Liliane dos Santos
Published: April 2022

O trabalho docente e a própria prática educativa no ensino superior, seguidamente traz dualidades entre formação e atuação, posições invertidas, opostas ou divisões simplificadoras entre aquele que ensina (supervisor) e o outro que aprende (estagiário). O estudo, com base em experiências de formação à docência, discute a questão do estágio no ensino superior como uma condição de possibilidade para pensar a educação de uma forma compartilhada, cujos princípios orientadores envolvem uma sensibilidade para com o outro, pelas evidências científico-profissionais relacionadas ao campo da gestão acadêmica e da formação no ensino superior. A investigação objetivou monitorar os avanços científicos abordados pela academia, por meio de experiências registradas em relatórios documentados, no sentido de lançar luz à temática do estágio docente para a formação contemporânea e à realidade dos desafios atuais do engajamento no ensino superior. Na verdade, tal preocupação exige uma reviravolta formativa para superar as posições maniqueístas, promover o intercâmbio de estudos e práticas pedagógicas, desenvolvendo o pensar reflexivo do estudante com o docente em uma variedade de situações interdisciplinares, reveladas na circularidade do planejar, avaliar e compreender a própria constituição conjunta da organização didática, que envolve a apreciação de experiências cooperativas e democráticas como marca da presença solidária do agir docente.
An Approach to Detecting and Mapping Individual Fruit Trees Integrated YOLOv5 with UAV Remote Sensing
Authors: Xiong Yongzhu , Zeng Xiaofeng , Chen Yankui , Liao Jiawen , Lai Weiqian , Zhu Mingyong
Published: April 2022

The location and number data of individual fruit trees is critical for planting area investigation, fruit yield prediction, and smart orchard management and planning. These data are conventionally obtained through manual investigation and statistics with time-consuming and laborious effort. Object detection models in deep learning used widely in computer vision could provide an opportunity for accurate detection of individual fruit trees, which is essential for obtaining the data rapidly and reducing errors of human operations. This study aims to propose an approach to detecting individual fruit trees and mapping their spatial distribution by integrating deep learning with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing. UAV remote sensing was used to collect high-resolution true-color images of fruit trees in the experimental pomelo tree orchards in Meizhou city, South China. An image dataset of deep learning samples of individual pomelo trees (IPTs) was constructed through visual interpretation and field investigation based on the fruit tree images captured by UAV remote sensing. Four different scales of YOLOv5 (YOLOv5s, YOLOv5m, YOLOv5l, and YOLOv5x) for object detection were selected to train, validate, and test on the image dataset of pomelo trees. The results show that the average precision (AP@0.5) of the four YOLOv5 models for validation reaches 87.8%, 88.5%, 89.1%, and 90.7%, respectively. The larger the model scale, the higher the average accuracy of the detection result of validation. It suggests that YOLOv5x is a preferred high-accuracy model among the YOLOv5 family and is suitable to realize the detection of IPTs. The number of the IPTs in the study area was predicted and counted using YOLOv5x and their spatial distribution map was made using the non-maximum suppression method and ArcGIS software. This study is desired to provide primary data and technical support for smart orchard management in Meizhou city and other fruit-producing areas.
Adipose Tissue Plasticity in Response to Pathophysiological Cues: A Connecting Link between Obesity and Its Associated Comorbidities
Authors: De Fano Michelantonio , Bartolini Desirèe , Tortoioli Cristina , Vermigli Cristiana , Malara Massimo , Galli Francesco , Murdolo Giuseppe
Published: April 2022

Adipose tissue (AT) is a remarkably plastic and active organ with functional pleiot-ropism and high remodeling capacity. Although the expansion of fat mass, by defini-tion, represents the hallmark of obesity, the dysregulation of the adipose organ emerges as the forefront of the link between adiposity and its associated metabolic and cardio-vascular complications. The dysfunctional fat displays distinct biological signatures, which include enlarged fat cells (i.e., adipocyte hypertrophy), low-grade inflammation, impaired redox homeostasis, and cellular senescence. While these events are orches-trated in a cell-type, context-dependent and temporal manner, the failure of the adipose precursor cells to form new mature adipocytes appears the main instigator of the adi-pose dysregulation, which, ultimately, poses a deleterious milieu either by promoting ectopic lipid overspill in non-adipose targets (i.e., lipotoxicity) or by inducing an al-tered secretion of different adipose-derived hormones (i.e., adipokines and lipokines). This novel paradigm (“expandability hypothesis”) challenges and extends previous “adipocentric view”, which implies a reduced plasticity of the adipose organ at the nexus between “unhealthy” fat expansion and the development of obesity-associated comorbidities. In this review, we will briefly summarize the potential mechanisms by which adaptive changes to variations of energy balance may impair adipose plasticity and promote fat organ dysfunction. We will also highlight the conundrum with the perturbation of the adipose microenvironment and the development of cardio-metabolic complications by focusing on adipose lipoxidation and cellular senescence. Finally, we discuss the sci-entific rationale for proposing adipose organ plasticity as a target to curb/prevent adi-posity-linked cardio-metabolic complications.
Copyright: the (im)possibility of preventing criminals from profiting with literary works about their crimes
Authors: Moraes Carlos Alexandre , Romeira Eloísa Baliscki
Published: April 2022

Intellectual creation is widely protected by national and international diplomas. This paper questions the (im)possibility of preventing criminals from profiting from the publicity of their crimes. This discussion involves collisions of rights. The research’s methodological focus is on the analysis of national and international diplomas available on the subject. Solid arguments are sought in order to reconcile the public interest and the freedom of expression of the author with personality and patrimonial rights over his or her work. For this, the present study uses the dialectic method and the monographic procedure, which consists of the analysis of the norms, of the doctrine related to the topic, as well as national and foreign jurisprudence. The conclusion is that restricting the author’s patrimonial right does not promote convincing public interest, according to the Brazilian legal system.
A dramatic narrative: crime or fatefulness? Felony, felon and victim in "The attendant’s confession", by Machado de Assis
Authors: Lemos Francisca das Chagas
Published: April 2022

Studies of Law and Literature have been fruitful due to the area’s interdisciplinary aspect, as well as the possible effects that literature is able to bring to the Law, that is, due to the dialogue between such opposite situations. Thus, the Law’s dogmatism and conventionalism, not to mention its pursue for legal safety, are interposed by the playfulness, the inventiveness, and the flexible, progressive aspects so dear to literature. Understanding how the two areas articulate to each other has gained momentum. This paper is an analysis of the short story The Attendant’s Confession, written by Brazilian author Machado de Assis, within the Law in Literature approach. Hence, the fictional traits seem to point to formal aspects regarding legal offenses, as well as the felon and the victim, which go beyond the facts narrated by the character in the short story.
O direito em contos folclóricos: princípios legais incorporados em narrativas orais indígenas e franco-canadenses
Authors: Menard Xavier Foccroulle
Published: April 2022

This essay pertains to the discovery of legal concepts and principles within Indigenous and French Canadian oral folk stories to develop greater dialogue across legal traditions. This is done in two parts. The first part focuses on the literary study of Indigenous and French Canadian folklore. It is argued that oral folk stories are legitimate and relevant object of law in literature study as they constitute dense and potent source of legal principles, concepts and notions. The second part directly engages an archetype of Indigenous and French Canadian folktales. It looks to find legal principles, concepts and notions through the supernatural characters of windigo and werewolf.
Notas sobre a ficção como ferramenta para o ensino do direito
Authors: Parise Agustín
Published: April 2022

This study understands fiction as a tool for teaching law. It shows teachers and students about the use of fiction to examine different areas of the law. The subject is approached from two perspectives. First, it explores how authors of fiction craft their own law. For this, examples provided by folklore, science fiction and plays are evoked, recalling that the law is an important element in the plot structures and that it is worth studying it. Second, the paper is about how jurists create their own fictional scenarios. To this end, the Socratic method, problem-based learning and the production of plays are addressed, all of them as vehicles for teaching law. With this, it is evident that law and fiction are not antagonistic or incompatible. Both can coexist, either to offer arguments to a fictional author or to operate as a didactic and pedagogical method in the hands of a jurist.
Justiça: notas à margem da obra de Friedrich Dürrenmatt (com especial referência à novela "A pane")
Authors: Fersini Maria Pina
Published: April 2022

Considering the capacity of literature in relation to the projection of legal meaning to feed the involuntary memory of law, the present work proposes a reflection around the idea of justice as brought by Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s narrative, with the intention of demonstrating how his works offer an image of real justice alien to the legal canon, but no less true for that. In this sense, the paper analyzes the main works by Dürrenmat that approach the theme of justice, paying special attention A Dangerous Game, a story in which, through the allegory of a dinner, the organic trace and the ancient logic of sacrifice that characterize the modern judicial system.
Finite-time synchronization transmission of quantum signals between Jaynes-Cummings models based on coupling technology
Authors: Lü Ling , Zhao Lina
Published: April 2022

In this work, the finite-time synchronization transmission of quantum signals between Jaynes-Cummings models is researched based on coupling technology. We first analyze the quantum properties of Jaynes-Cummings model. Based on these, we achieve the finite-time synchronization transmission of quantum signals between Jaynes-Cummings models, and design the adaptive law of coupling coefficient. Finally, numerical simulations are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the analytical results.
Dual-Attention Network with Aggregate Local Descriptors Vector for 3D Point Cloud Classification
Authors: Zhang Guodao , Zhou Jian , Weng Hangli , Ge Yisu , Ye MingTao , Li Xiaonan , Chen Ping-Kuo , Qiu Feiyue
Published: April 2022

Contextual fine-grained local features play an essential position in 3D point cloud classification, and have not been utilized effectively in existing deep-learning-based models. Aiming to address this problem, a 3D point cloud classification network based on a dual attention mechanism with vector of locally aggregated descriptors(VLAD) is proposed. First, the neighbourhood fine-grained features and global information of the point cloud are mined by using a self-attention mechanism, and then the local geometric representation is learned by embedding a graph attention mechanism in a multilayer perceptron layer. To make the most of the features, a multiheaded mechanism is applied to aggregate different features from separate headers, and an effective key point descriptor is introduced to help identify the global geometry. Finally, the high-level semantic features of point clouds are obtained by the VLAD layers. Through extensive experiments, the model achieves 92.45% accuracy on the ModelNet40 dataset.
Antibiotic prescription rates for upper respiratory tract infections at the Alain ambulatory healthcare centers, United Arab Emirates (2014–2016)
Authors: Alneyadi Amna Matar , Alketbi Latifa
Published: April 2022

Background: Antibiotic resistance has been a global issue over the last two centuries. According to the WHO report on antimicrobial resistance, the antibiotic overuse in primary healthcare practice is a major cause of increasing resistance to antibiotics. In the UAE, there have been no studies targeting the overuse of, or prescription rates for antibiotics in primary healthcare centers.Objective: To estimate the rate of antibiotic prescription for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in primary healthcare centers in the city of Alain for over a two-year period. To estimate the most common antibiotic used for URTI and to identify the determinants of giving particular antibiotics. Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Settings: Data of all patients who visited ambulatory healthcare centers and received oral antibiotic prescriptions for URTIs, during the study period (November 2014–November 2016), were extracted from the medical electronic system, including patient demographics (age, gender), patient clinical examination (fever, presence of throat pain), and diagnostic assessments (rapid streptococcal antigen detection test, throat culture), diagnosis name and ICD 9 code, as well as the antibiotic name, dose and duration. Participants: All ambulatory healthcare centers in Alain were included in the study (n=18). Inclusion criteria: Patients who visited an ambulatory healthcare center in Alain during the study period, a diagnosis of URTI (acute pharyngitis, acute laryngitis, acute sinusitis, acute tonsillitis, acute otitis media, croup, acute nasopharyngitis), ICD 9 (462, 464, 461.9, 463, 465.9, 460, 382.9, 382.9), treated with oral antibiotics. Main outcomes and measures: The rate of antibiotic prescriptions for upper respiratory tract infections in primary healthcare centers. Results: Approximately 461,926 individual patient visits from 18 ambulatory healthcare were included in the analysis. Acute nasopharyngitis was the most common URTI (89%), followed by acute pharyngitis (26.3%). Antibiotic prescription rates were 45.9% during the two-year period, with amoxicillin-clavulanate being the most common antibiotic prescribed for URTI (55%), followed by azithromycin and cefdinir (17.8% and 6.5%, respectively). Antibiotics were most frequently prescribed in the winter, and were not variable among different age groups. The presence of diagnoses such as acute otitis media, acute pharyngitis, and acute tonsillitis were significantly higher in antibiotic prescription rate as compared to other conditions. Patients presenting with fever are much more likely to be given antibiotics as compared to without fever. Conclusion: The knowledge of data concerning antibiotic prescriptions in primary healthcare centers can help to conduct effective intervention, with a decrease in the misuse of antibiotics for common URTI.
Positive impact of high-throughput drug sensitivity assay and salvage autologous CD19 CAR-T therapy on second marrow relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia with NT5C2 mutation
Authors: Tang Xue , Qin Lijiao , Wang Lulu , Jiao Cheng , Chen Fen , Zhou Guichi , Liu Shilin , Wang Ying , Liu Yuchen , Liu Sixi , Wen Feiqiu , Chang Lung-Ji , Mai Huirong
Published: April 2022

Background: Recently, the five-year survival rate of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has reached 90%. However, recurrence remains common following treatment. Recently, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell immunotherapy has been shown to be effective in control of relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies. Although lymphocyte-depleting conditioning chemotherapy, including fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, has increased the efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy, reduction in the tumor load before CAR-T cell infusion is still a challenge. Case presentation: A 12-year-old girl diagnosed with intermediate risk B-ALL in 2017 received chemotherapy according to CCLG-2008 ALL protocol and achieved a complete remission (CR) after induction. However, four years later, she had a first bone marrow relapse and received treatment with HKPHOSG Relapsed ALL 2007 protocol. During maintenance chemotherapy, approximately one year after the first relapse, she developed a second bone marrow relapse with NT5C2 gene mutation detected. Flow cytometry analysis showed that the blasts were CD19 positive. Tumor burden was not well controlled after DEAV (dexamethasone, cytarabine, etoposide) chemotherapy, with the blasts in bone marrow increasing from 49.3% to 96%. The analysis of high-throughput drug sensitivity of tumor resistant genes was consistent with the poor response to chemotherapy. As the leukemia cells progressed rapidly with extremely high burden, CD19 CAR-T cell immunotherapy bridged to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was introduced at this stage. Following peripheral lymphocyte apheresis, the patient received lymphodepleting conditioning with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide three days before CAR-T cell infusion. Dexamethasone and carfilzomib were then given according to the outcome of high-throughput drug sensitivity test. Around 68.6% blasts were detected by flow cytometry at the day of CAR-T cell infusion. After infusion of CAR-T cells，the patient experienced grade 1 cytokine release syndrome without immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. CR of morphology and molecule biology was achieved on day 28 after CAR-T cell infusion. Finally, the child received haploid-HSCT and remained in remission. Conclusions：Overall, this report reveals that the combination of drug sensitivity test with lymphodepleting conditioning could significantly reduce the tumor burden before infusion of CAR-T cells, and as a result, patients may achieve deeper remission and obtain opportunity for transplantation.Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04016129. Registered 11 July 2019, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04016129
Prediction of Prognosis, Immune Infiltration and Immunotherapy Response with N6-Methyladenosine-Related lncRNA Clustering Patterns in Cervical Cancer
Authors: Jia Haixia , Wang Jiahao , Wang Jintao
Published: April 2022

LncRNAs and tumor microenvironment (TME) exert an important effect in antitumor immunity. Nonetheless, the role of m6A-related lncRNA clustering patterns in prognosis, TME and immunotherapy of cervical cancer (CC) remains unknown. Here, based on 7 m6A-related prognostic lncRNAs obtained from TCGA-CC dataset, two m6AlncRNA clustering patterns were determined. m6AlncRNA clusterA was characterized by immune cell infiltrates and immune activation. m6AlncRNA clusterB was characterized by enrichment of immune evasion and tumorigenic activation pathways as well as survival and clinical stage disadvantage. Then, principal component analysis algorithms were used to construct m6AlncRNAscore based on prognostic differentially expressed genes between two m6AlncRNA clusters to quantify m6AlncRNA clustering patterns. m6AlncRNAscore was an independent prognostic protective factor. Higher Th2 and Treg cells and enrichment of immunosuppressive pathways were observed in the low-m6AlncRNAscore group, with poorer survival. High-m6AlncRNAscore was characterized by increased infiltration of activated CD8 T cell, enrichment of immune activation pathways, lower IL-10 and TGF-beta1 levels, and higher immunophenscore values, indicating inflamed TME and better anti-tumor immunotherapy efficacy. Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction was used for detection of m6A-related prognostic lncRNAs. Collectively, we identified two m6AlncRNA clustering patterns which play a nonnegligible role in the prognosis, TME heterogeneity and immunotherapy of CC patients.
Application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) associated with energy plant, Pennisetum purpurenum, in cadmium and zinc contaminated soil
Authors: Sumranwanich Thitinun , Leartsiwawinyu Wasawat , Meeinkuirt Weeradej , Chayapan Parichat
Published: April 2022

Heavy metal contamination of soil and water causes environmental problems by inhibiting plant growth and harming microbial communities. Cooperative interactions between plants and bacteria can promote the growth and survival of the two taxa in harsh environments. Plants have been shown to secrete nutrients for enhancing growth of certain bacteria. In return, these bacteria chelate toxic metals, dissolve minerals, produce auxin, or even fix nitrogen for plants. Our work explored the interactions between economically important plants and a bacterial community with potential to be a biofertilizer for cadmium contaminated areas. Experiments were performed in a greenhouse under controlled conditions. Three Napier grass (Pennisetum purpurenum) variants (Pak Chong 1, King Grass, and Emperor) were planted with the addition of selected microbial species, Klebsiella huaxiensis and Pantoea cypripedii, in contaminated soil from an agricultural area in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. Each plant variant was separated into three groups; control, plants with P. cypripedii (Pc), and plants with K. huaxiensis (Kh). Solutions containing cadmium and zinc were added to each pot daily to simulate conditions at a contaminated site. After 60 days, Pc and Kh groups of all Napeir grass variants showed significantly higher plant growths than the controls. Total Cd uptakes of PCPc, PCKh, and KGPc were significantly higher than those in control groups, while Zn uptakes were significantly higher in KG and EM plants with the addition of Pc and Kh than other treatments. Growing Napier grass with the addition of Pc or Kh as biofertilizer in the cadmium and zinc contaminated agricultural area in Mae Sot District, Tak Province could be considered for high biomass production. Future field experiments for greater understanding of the heavy metal uptake and development of sustainable solutions are recommended.
Superior calyceal access versus other calyceal access in percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ma Yucheng , Lin Lede , Luo Zhumei , Jin Tao
Published: April 2022

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness and safety of superior calyceal access compared with other calyceal access in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).Methods: This meta-analysis was carried out according to preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA). We searched Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) to identify relevant studies for this meta-analysis. Failed stone clearance event and complication event are two main outcomes, operation time and hospital stay time are two secondary outcomes. Relative data were extracted and assessed by using RevMan 5.3, Stata 15.0 and R 4.0.2.Results: 16 studies (8541 participants) were identified and included in this meta-analysis. Pooled results indicated that superior calyceal access could offer less failed stone clearance than other calyceal access (OR: 0.64, 95%CI: 0.47-0.88, P=0.006). No complication difference was found (OR: 1.10, 95%CI: 0.78-1.56, P=0.57). Superior calyceal access could offer shorter operation time (SMD: -0.57, 95%CI: -0.98, -0.15, P=0.007). No hospital stay difference was found (SMD: 0.07, 95%CI: -0.09, 0.22, P=0.38). Large heterogeneity was detected in stone clearance comparison (I2=71%, P<0.001) and operation time (I2=97%, P<0.001). Significant publication bias was also identified in stone clearance comparison (P=0.026). These defects weaken the credibility of results.Conclusion: Despite the considerable heterogeneity and publication bias, superior calyceal access in PCNL may bring better stone clearance rate, shorter operation time, with no increase in postoperative complication and hospital stay for patients with kidney stones. This finding still needs to be verified by larger randomized controlled trials.
Knowledge, attitude and practice of infection prevention and control precautions among hospital laboratory staff: a mixed-methods systematic review
Authors: Aldhamy Haifa , Maniatopoulos Gregory , McCune Victoria L. , Mansi Ilaf , Althaqafy Majid , Pearce Mark S.
Published: April 2022

BackgroundClinical laboratories provide diagnostic testing services to support the effective delivery of care in today's complex healthcare systems. Processing clinical material and the use of chemicals or radiation presents potential hazard to laboratory workers, from both biological and chemical sources. Nevertheless, the laboratory should be a safe workplace if the identification of possible hazards, clear guidelines, safety rules and infection prevention and control (IPC) precautions are applied and followed. The main aim of this systematic review was to identify, critically appraise and synthesise the research evidence to gain a clear explanation of the implementation, knowledge, attitude and practice of infection prevention and control guidelines among hospital laboratory staff. MethodsThe review is based upon a narrative synthesis of quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research papers that examine the implementation, knowledge, attitude and practice of infection prevention and control guidelines among hospital laboratory staff.ResultsAfter the full-text screening, a total of 34 articles remained and were included in the final review. The knowledge, attitude and practice of infection prevention and control, and biosafety guidelines were identified and grouped into several themes: awareness of IPC precautions; acceptability of IPC precautions; application of IPC precautions; perception of risk; exposure and post exposure prophylaxis; immunisation against infectious diseases; training and on infection prevention and control guidelines; associations between knowledge and practice; barriers and facilitators to poor practice and adherence. ConclusionThere is a gap between knowledge, attitude and practice related to the implementation of infection prevention and control guidelines which indicate that hospital laboratory staff may be at high risk of acquiring infections in the workplace. These findings suggest that training (including IPC precautions, safety policies, safety equipment and materials, safety activities, initial biohazard handling, ongoing monitoring and potential exposure) of hospital laboratory staff to increase their knowledge about IPC precautions could improve their use of these precautions.
The social cost of methane
Authors: Martin Jorge Garcia , Azar Christian , Johansson Daniel JA , Sterner Thomas
Published: April 2022

A rapid and sustained reduction of methane emissions has been proposed recently as a key strategy to meet the climate targets of the Paris Agreement. The social cost of methane (SCM), which expresses the climate damage cost associated with an additional tonne of methane emitted, is a metric that can be used to designs policies to reduce the emissions of this gas. Here, we extend the DICE-2016R2 model so that it includes an improved carbon cycle and energy balance model as well as methane emissions, methane abatement cost, and an atmospheric methane cycle explicitly to be able to provide consistent estimations of the SCM. We estimate the SCM to lie in the range 820-7,400 USD/tCH4 in 2020, with a base case estimate of 3,700 USD/tCH4. We find our base case estimate to be larger than the average SCM presented in other studies mainly due to the revised damage function we use. We also estimate the social cost of carbon (SCC) and find that SCM estimates are less sensitive to variations in the social discount rate (SDR) than the SCC due to the relatively short lifetime of methane. The effect that changes in the damage cost have on both SCM and SCC is more similar. Further, we evaluate the ratio of SCM to SCC as an alternative metric to GWP-100 of CH4 to facilitate tradeoffs between these two gases. We find this ratio to lie in the range 6–30 in 2020, with a base case estimate of 19, based on an extensive sensitivity analysis with respect to the discount rate, damage cost, and underlying emission scenarios.
A Novel Hardmask-to-Substrate Pattern Transfer Method for Creating 3D, Multi-level, Hierarchical, High aspect-ratio Structures for Applications in Microfluidics and Cooling Technologies
Authors: Hazra Sougata , Zhang Chi , Wu Qianying , Asheghi Mehdi , Goodson Kenneth , Dede Ercan M. , Palko James , Narumanchi Sreekant
Published: April 2022

This letter solves a major hurdle that mars photolithography-based fabrication of micro-mesoscale structures in silicon. Conventional photolithography is usually performed on smooth, flat wafer surfaces to lay a 2D design and subsequently etch it to create single-level features. It is, however, unable to process non-flat surfaces (already etched wafers) to create more than one level to give rise to multi-level, 3D, hierarchical structures in the substrate. In this study, we have described a novel cleanroom-based process flow that allows for easy creation of such multi-level, hierarchical structures in a substrate. This is achieved by introducing an ultra-thin sacrificial silicon dioxide hardmask layer on the substrate, which is first 3D patterned via multiple rounds of lithography. Then, this 3D pattern is scaled vertically by a factor of 200 – 300 and transferred to the substrate underneath via a single shot deep etching step. The proposed method is also easily characterizable. Using features of different topographies and dimensions, the etch rates and selectivities were quantified, these characterization information were later used while fabricating specific target structure. Furthermore, this study comprehensively compares the novel pattern transfer technique to already existing methods of creating multi-level structures, like grayscale lithography, chip stacking and double-sided etching. The proposed process was found to be cheaper, faster, and easier to standardize compared to other methods – this makes the overall process more reliable and repeatable. We hope it will encourage more research into hybrid structures that hold the key to dramatic performance improvements in several micro-mesoscale devices.
Prognostic and immunological role of MRC1: A pan-cancer analysis
Authors: Huang Heyuan , Zhang Jingwei , Huang Changhao , Ding Xiang
Published: April 2022

MRC1 is an endocytic lectin receptor primarily expressed in macrophages, dendritic cells and some endothelial cells. It acts as phagocytic receptor for bacteria, fungi and other pathogens. Until now, the role of MRC1 in cancer remains unclear. We performed a pan-cancer analysis to investigate the potential value of MRC1 in cancer immunotherapy. MRC1 expression in normal tissues, cancer cell lines, and tumor tissue compared with their para-cancerous tissues displayed heterogeneity among different cancers. By analyzing the correlation between prognostic value and expression of MRC1 in multiple cancer types, we found that MRC1 levels significantly affected prognosis in the seven cancer types. High MRC1 expression was associated with poorer prognosis in six types of cancers and improved prognosis of GBM, KICH, LAML, LUSC, THCA, and THYM. Then we compared these results with immune-related indicators including immune infiltrative cells, immune scores, and immune checkpoint molecules. MRC1 expression significantly correlated with the 6 immune infiltrates in most cancer types. Similarly, MRC1 was also positively correlated with Stromal score, Immune score, and ESTIMATE score. These results indicate that MRC1 affects prognosis through immune related pathways. For immune related molecules, MRC1 was both significantly associated with stimulatory and inhibitory checkpoint molecules, which suggest that the role of MRC1 in immune system differs from cancer types. To explore whether MRC1 has a predictive value in the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) treatment, we analyzing the relationship between current predictors and MRC1 in multiple cancer types. MRC1 expression was positively correlated with tumor mutation burden (TMB) and DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes in most of cancer types but negatively associated with a small proportion of cancer types. However, MRC1 expression was negatively correlated with tumor neoantigen burden (TNB) and microsatellite instability (MSI) in most of cancer types. The relationship between MRC1 and the four DNA methyltransferases was significant in multiple cancers types, but also with a cancer type-specific pattern. In conclusion, our study finds that MRC1 expression correlates with a variety of tumors and its prognostic value in multiple cancer types. In addition, the expression of MRC1 has a potential predictive value for the efficacy of ICIs. Nevertheless, in practical application, it needs to be adjusted according to different cancer types.