bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short Blankets in Snow Leopard Conservation: The Case of Qilianshan National Park (China) and Surrounding Areas
Authors: Atzeni Luciano , Wang Jun , Philip Riordan , Shi Kun , Cushman Samuel A
Published: March 2022

ContextThe assessment of landscape-level connectivity patterns is centrally important to the conservation management of wildlife species. This is especially true for highly vagile carnivore species, for which conservation efforts should extend beyond protected areas and link core populations.ObjectivesWe investigated the effectiveness of the Qilianshan National Park (China), across the provinces of Gansu and Qinghai, in providing adequate conservation to snow leopard habitat and major dispersal routes.MethodsWe coupled resistant kernel and factorial least-cost path analyses to identify core home-range areas and major corridors connecting them. We compared two resistance surfaces derived from habitat and genetic models in their ability to describe connectivity routes. We ranked core areas and corridors based on their intensity of snow leopard movement flow. ResultsMuch of the extent of core habitat patches, and a vast proportion of corridors length and area, were located outside the National Park. The kernel analyses identified a critical area to range-wide connectivity connected to the park but not formally protected. We identified important patches representing the backbone of snow leopard habitat and stepping-stone patches ensuring landscape structural and functional connectivity. ConclusionsThe Qilianshan National Park effectively protects some core snow leopard habitats. However, it alone appears insufficient to cover several important core areas and a number of critical connectivity linkages. In the context of ensuring meta-population persistence on the Tibetan Plateau and facilitate gene flow, conservation efforts should expand institute new protected areas strategically located to conserve core habitat areas and provide connectivity linkages among them.
Sex-selective Abortions Over the Past Four Decades in China
Authors: Mei Li , Jiang Quanbao
Published: March 2022

Background: China now faces multiple challenging demographic and public policy problems that have emerged from four decades of sex-selective induced abortions The sex-selective induced abortion of female fetuses has been under-examined quantitatively in China.Methods: Using annual data on the officially registered number of births, induced abortions, and SRB data, we estimate the annual number of sex-selective abortions and then estimated two related proportions over the past decades.Results: The annual proportions and number of selective abortions rose in the 1980s with the strict family planning policy and the diffusion of sex identification technology, remained at a high level between 1990 and 2010, and then declined, totaling 29.70 million. The abortion of second-order female fetuses was the largest proportion of all sex-selective abortions but declined after 2000 partly due to the change in birth composition by order. Children's composition affected sex-selective practice. Village selective abortions accounted for the majority of all selective abortions but decreased markedly in 2010 with changes in birth composition by residence. The rural-urban comparison by order indicated that urban couples were not less likely to abort female fetuses than their rural counterparts. Sex-selective abortions still exhibit provincial differences.Conclusions: In China, due to the long-standing preference for sons, easy access to sex-selective technologies, and the spontaneous fertility decline, the practice of selectively aborting female fetuses would existed for a long time despite China has outlawed such practices, and the imbalanced sex structure may take many years to normalize.
Macrophage-derived exosomal miR-342-3p promotes progression of renal cell carcinoma through the NEDD4L/CEP55 axis-mediated PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway
Authors: Feng Jia-fu , Xu Bei , dai chunmei , Wang Yao-dong , Xie Gang , Yang Wen-yu , Zhang Bin , Li Xiao-han , Wang Jun
Published: March 2022

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is an insidious and common genitourinary malignancy with the incidence rate increasing annually. Due to its difficulty in early diagnosis and lack of sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, RCC continues being a frequent cause of cancer-related death. Therefore, it is urgent to study the molecular mechanism of the occurrence and development of RCC and find new and reliable biomarkers or targets for its early diagnosis and treatment.Methods: miRNA data of M2-EVs and RCC were searched on Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and potential downstream target for miRNA was predicted on a public bioinformatic database. Transcriptional and translational levels of target genes were measured via RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively. M2 macrophage was obtained via flow cytometry and identified by immunofluorescence staining. The morphology and particle size of M2-EVs were examined under a transmission electron microscope, and the internalization by RCC cells was monitored by fluorescence microscopy. The miR-342-3p binding to NEDD4L was validated by a dual-luciferase assay. CO-IP combined with GST-pull down assay was devised to study CEP55 ubiquitination in the presence of NEDD4L. The biological abilities of RCC cells in proliferation, invasion and migration were separately tested by CCK-8 and Transwell assay. Subcutaneous tumor-bearing mouse models and lung metastasis models were built to observe in vivo role of target genes.Results: M2-EVs induced RCC growth and metastasis. miR-342-3p showed high expression in both M2-EVs and RCC cells. M2-EVs carrying miR-342-3p promoted RCC cell abilities to proliferate, invade and migrate. In RCC cells, M2-EV-derived miR-342-3p could specifically bind to NEDD4L, and consequently elevate CEP55 protein expression via suppressing NEDD4L, thereby exerting tumor-promoting effects. Further study showed that CEP55 could be degraded by ubiquitination under the function of NEDD4L, and miR-342-3p within M2-EVs facilitated the RCC occurrence and development by activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.Conclusion: In all, M2-EVs promote RCC growth and metastasis by delivering miR-342-3p to suppress E3 ubiquitin ligase NEDD4L and subsequently inhibit CEP55 ubiquitination and degradation via activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, strongly driving the proliferative, migratory and invasive properties of RCC cells.
A Systematic Review and Bayesian Meta-Analysis of the Acoustic Features of Infant-Directed Speech
Authors: Cox Christopher , Bergmann Christina , Fowler Emma , Keren-Portnoy Tamar , Roepstorff Andreas , Bryant Gregory , Fusaroli Riccardo
Published: March 2022

When speaking to infants, adults often produce speech that differs systematically from that directed to other adults. In order to quantify the acoustic implementation of this speech style across a wide variety of languages and cultures, we extracted results from empirical studies on the acoustic features of infant-directed speech (IDS). We analyzed data from 87 unique studies (669 effect sizes) on the following five acoustic parameters that have been systematically examined in the literature: i) fundamental frequency (fo), ii) fo variability, iii) vowel space area, iv) articulation rate, and v) vowel duration. Moderator analyses were conducted in hierarchical Bayesian robust regression models in order to examine how these features change with infant age and differ across languages, experimental tasks and recording environments. The moderator analyses indicated that fo, articulation rate, and vowel duration became more similar to adult-directed speech (ADS) over time, whereas fo variability and vowel space area exhibited stability throughout development. These results point the way for future research to disentangle different accounts of the functions and learnability of IDS by conducting theory-driven comparisons among different languages and using computational models to formulate testable predictions.
Coalition Building: What Happens When External Facilitators Put the CBPR Principles in Practice? Ethnographic Examples From the Massachusetts HEALing Communities Study
Authors: Drainoni Mari-Lynn , Walt Galya , Martinez Linda Sprague , Smeltzer Rebecca , Santarpio Savanna , Munoz-Lopez Rosie , McClay Craig , Keisling Lauren , Harris Aumani , Gillen Faizah , El-Alfi Valerie , Crable Erika L. , Carpenter Jane F. , Barkowski Laura K. , Battaglia Tracy A.
Published: March 2022

Background
The HEALing Communities Study (HCS) is a large-scale multisite study testing Community Engagement using coalition facilitation as an approach to addressing the worsening overdose crisis. Within Community Engagement, Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles guide researchers on best practices for working in partnership with communities, yet these principles have not been well researched in large complex multi-site studies.
Methods
This paper used ethnographic methods to explore how coalitions operationalized the CBPR principles during early coalition formation. Two coders independently analyzed 101 ethnographies from HCS coalition meetings in eight Massachusetts communities held between November 2019 and December 2020. Themes were developed through consensus between the coders followed by group discussions among the authorship team.
Results
We found mutual trust, shared goals, addressing power dynamics, meeting structure and attending to the sociopolitical community context could all serve as barriers or facilitators to operationalizing the CBPR principles.
Conclusions
These findings provide unique suggestions for future community-engaged multisite studies, and demonstrate the importance of research teams to mitigate inherent power imbalances by acknowledging and creating space for community ownership. The findings also highlight the value of a community engaged facilitator role to promote the CBPR principles. Strategies such as transparency, uniting over shared interests and bringing in a wide range of stakeholders were notable facilitators for operationalizing the principles.
Paired analysis of host and pathogen genomes identifies determinants of human tuberculosis
Authors: Raychaudhuri Soumya , Luo Yang , Huang Chuan-Chin , Liu Qingyun , Howard Nicole , Li Xinyi , Zhu Junhao , Amariuta Tiffany , Asgari Samira , Ishigaki Kazuyoshi , Calderon Roger , Moody D. Branch , Lecca Leonid , Fortune Sarah , Murray Megan
Published: March 2022

The outcome of infectious diseases may depend on the interaction between human and pathogen genomic variations. We explore this relationship in tuberculosis (TB) by conducting a genome-to-genome (g2g) study of paired genomes from humans and the infectious agent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in 1,556 Peruvian TB patients. We identified a significant association between a human variant in the FLOT1 gene and a unique Mtb Lineage 2 (L2) subclade. The host allele affects FLOT1 expression in multiple tissue and cell types including lung, the primary site of TB disease. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the Mtb subclade has expanded rapidly in Peru since its emergence in the 1950s. Unbiased phenotypic profiling demonstrates that strains from the interacting Mtb subclade display different redox metabolism from other L2 strains. This study presents clear evidence that human and bacterial genetic variation interact together to produce different clinical outcomes.
Improving Boosting Methods With A Stable Loss Function Handling Outliers
Authors: WangChao  , LiBo  , WangLei  , PengPai
Published: March 2022

In classification problems, the occurrence of abnormal observations is often encountered. How to obtain a stable model to deal with outliers has always been a subject of widespread concern. In this article, we draw on the ideas of the AdaBoosting algorithm and propose a asymptotically linear loss function, which makes the output function more stable for contaminated samples, and two boosting algorithms were designed, based on two different way of updating, to handle outliers. In addition, a skill for overcoming the instability of Newton's method when dealing with weak convexity is introduced. Several samples, where outliers were artificially added, show that the Discrete L-AdaBoost and Real L-AdaBoost Algorithms find the boundary of each category consistently under the condition where data is contaminated. In real world data sets, we show the effectiveness of suggested algorithms by comparison with other two ensemble learning methods, especially for large dataset.
A tracing method for the botanical origins of six geographical indication (GI) jujube species by the crude polysaccharides characterization
Authors: Mao Kai , Yang Chun , Ding Weiying , Zhang Jiangning , Ye Zheng , Han Jiming , Zhang Ling
Published: March 2022

BackgroundCurrent official standards of geographical indication (GI) jujube species only employed simple parameters like appearance, grown region as distinguishing indicators, but they could not tell the subtle differences. In addition to the genetic method, the most efficient and accurate way to trace botanical origins at present, some researchers successfully tracing the geographical or botanical origin by the content or characteristics of biomacromolecule or functional ingredients such as metabolomics and polysaccharide. This article was to develop an efficient way to trace the botanical origins of 6 GI jujube species by crude polysaccharide characterization.ResultsThe crude polysaccharides from 6 geographical indication (GI) jujube species of Shanxi province were tested with the parameters of purity, uronic acid content, Mw distribution, monosaccharide composition, functional groups and bonds. In the purity and uronic acid content assay, the purity varied within a very narrow band (96%-99%) and presented no negative or positive correlation with uronic acid content. In the experiment of Mw distribution by HPGPC, five peaks (RT1, RT2, RT3, RT4, RT5) were almost observed in 6 jujube species, and the content of RT3 (240–250 Da), with significant correlation to the content of RT4 and RT5, exhibited significant differences among 6 jujube species (RSD = 1.28 > 1.00). The monosaccharides composition indicated that the polysaccharides from 6 jujube species were rich in glucose (55–75%), arabinose (10–15%) and galactose acid (10–20%), with small amounts of rhamonose, glucosamine hydrochloride, galactose, xylose, mannose (less than 5%). The FT-IR spectrum showed that crude polysaccharides from six jujube species shared similar functional groups and chemical bonds.ConclusionsThe results above indicated that the Mw distribution of crude polysaccharides showed both homogeneity and differences in the 6 GI jujube species. First of all, five peaks (RT1, RT2, RT3, RT4, RT5), respectively representing the Mw of 186646–285262 Da (RT1), 4634–17296 Da (RT2), 240–250 Da (RT3), 98–103 Da (RT4) and 57–64 Da (RT5), could be detected in all 6 jujube species. Secondly, the RT3 contents exhibited significant differences among 6 jujube species (RSD = 1.28 > 1.00) and showed significant correlation with RT4 and RT5. Therefore, the Mw distribution may be treated as a potential distinguishing indicator among 6 jujube species.
Do Hospital Workers Experience A Higher Risk Of Respiratory Symptoms And Loss Of Lung Function?
Authors: Heibati Behzad , Jaakkola Maritta S. , Lajunen Taina K. , Ducatman Alan , Veysi Rahmat , Karimi Ali , Jaakkola Jouni J.K.
Published: March 2022

Background: The hospital work environment contains various biological and chemical exposures that can affect indoor air quality and have impact on respiratory health of the staff. The objective of this study was to investigate potential effects of occupational exposures on the risk of respiratory symptoms and lung function in hospital work, and to evaluate potential interaction between smoking and occupational exposures.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 228 staff members in a hospital and 228 employees of an office building as the reference group in Shiraz, Iran. All subjects completed a standardized respiratory ATS questionnaire and performed a spirometry test. Results: In Poisson regression, the adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) among the hospital staff were elevated for cough (aPR 1.90, 95% CI: 1.15, 3.16), phlegm production (aPR 3.21, 95% CI: 1.63, 6.32), productive cough (aPR 2.83, 95% CI: 1.48, 5.43), wheezing (aPR 3.18, 95% CI: 1.04, 9.66), shortness of breath (aPR 1.40, 95% CI: 0.93, 2.12), and chest tightness (aPR 1.73, 95% CI: 0.73, 4.12). Particularly laboratory personnel experienced increased risk of most symptoms. In linear regression adjusting for confounding, there were no significant differences in lung function between the hospital and office workers. There was an indication of synergism between hospital exposures and current smoking on FEV1/FVC% (β = -5.37, 95%CI: -10.27, -0.47).Conclusions: This study provides evidence that hospital work, especially in laboratories, increases the risk of respiratory symptoms. Smoking appears to enhance these effects considerably. Our findings suggest that policymakers should implement evidence-based measures to prevent these occupational exposures.
Fabrication Of Poly (O-Toluidine) (POT) For DC Conductivity And Schottky Diodes Application By Sandwiching Nano Zno As An Interfacial Region By In Situ Polymerization Technique
Authors: Hari Praveen , M Thushara K
Published: March 2022

The influence of nano ZnO in Poly (O-toluidine) for Schottky diode application was prepared by in situ chemical polymerization method with different weight perctange of nano zinc oxide. FTIR results reveals that the amorphous nature has been faded due to the addition of nano zinc oxide and thus it was effective for crystallinity. SEM images proves that the uniformity arrangement of particles in spherical shape and the composition of particles in the POT-n-ZnO is proved from the EDAX analysis The current increase inside the sample increases due to the external source of light, electrical conductivity inside the sample has enhanced due to increase in Zinc oxide (nano) concentration. DC Conductivity of the prepared samples was high and POT doped with 75wt% of nano ZnO shows highly appropriateness material as direct current conducting substance. The results of this work disclose that the material is appropriate for diode due to increase in barrier height and ideality factor and another factor was forward bias current enhances in all the samples while reverse biased current was fade. Scope of this work was to fabricate the diode and conducting material with cost effective, high yield and vastly efficient material.
Development and characterization of the microsatellite markers for the Neptune whelk, Neptunea cumingii
Authors: Ma Peizhen , Zhang Tao , Li Haizhou , Wang Haiyan
Published: March 2022

BackgroundThe Neptune whelk, Neptunea cumingii, is an economic species endemic to the East Asia Warm Temperate Biotic Subregion. The development of microsatellite markers will be beneficial to the assessment of genetic diversity and conservation of resources on this decreasing gastropod.Methods and ResultsThe microsatellite markers were developed and characterized through Illumina high-throughput sequencing and capillary electrophoresis techniques. 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci were screened and validated. The observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity of each locus ranged from 0.0600 to 0.6508 and from 0.7380 to 0.9375, respectively. The average Shannon’s information index, polymorphism information content, F-Statistics and gene flow were 2.0828, 0.8325, 0.0519 and 4.5660, respectively. The genetic diversity analysis indicated a closer genetic distance between populations of Dalian and Lvshun. ConclusionsThe distribution pattern of polymorphic microsatellite loci reveals that the Yellow Sea Warm Current generates the high level of genetic connectivity in N. cumingii. The markers developed in this study are expected as informative for further analysis of genetic diversity in N. cumingii.
Bibliometric analysis of scientific research publications on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (2020 – 2021)
Authors: Sweileh Waleed M.
Published: March 2022

Background: Vaccine hesitancy is a real threat to the global efforts to end COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis of literature on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy helps develop interventional policies to overcome this threat. The objective of the present study was to analyze worldwide research trends and patterns on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancyMethod: This was a descriptive bibliometric study using SciVerse Scopus to retrieve relevant articles. The research was based on the use of specific phrases in the title/abstract of the articles. The study included the years 2020 and 2021. Only research and review articles were included. VOSviewer program was used to map author keywords, terms, and collaborative ties. Results: The research strategy found 1184 articles with an h-index of 55. The vast majority of the retrieved articles were published in 2021 in an open-access format. Analysis showed the following key findings: (1) research was disseminated in journals with a diverse scope, mainly immunology and public health, (2) authors from different geographic regions participated in publishing articles on the topic with those in the United States participating in one-third of the retrieved literature, (3) authors and institutions in the Arab Gulf countries made a noticeable contribution while those from the African region was limited, (4) cross-country collaboration was adequate but little author-author interaction was found, (5) research themes focused on healthcare workers, misinformation, and ethnic/racial variation, (6) Lancet and BMJ journals in addition to Vaccine and Vaccines journals were pioneering in the emphasis and emergence of the topic, (7) leading global universities such as Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine ranked top in publishing articles on the topic, and (8) the bulk of the retrieved articles was multi-authored suggestive of the multidisciplinary nature of the topic.Conclusion: Research and detailed information on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is needed from all countries and regions to help build interventional policies to face the pandemic and the new emerging COVID-19 variants. Collaborative research efforts in the field should be extended to other world regions where research on the topic was limited.
Artificial Intelligence for Radiological Paediatric Fracture Assessment: A Systematic Review
Authors: Shelmerdine Susan , White Richard D , Liu Hantao , Arthurs Owen J , Sebire Neil J
Published: March 2022

Background:
Majority of research and commercial efforts have focussed on use of artificial intelligence (AI) for fracture detection in adults, despite the greater long-term clinical and medicolegal implications of missed fractures in children. The objective of this study was to assess the available literature regarding diagnostic performance of AI tools for paediatric fracture assessment on imaging, and where available, how this compares with the performance of human readers.
Materials & Methods:
MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were queried for studies published between 1 January 2011–2021 using terms related to ‘fracture’, ‘artificial intelligence’, ‘imaging’ and ‘children’. Risk of bias was assessed using a modified QUADAS-2 tool. Descriptive statistics for diagnostic accuracies were collated.
Results:
Nine eligible articles from 362 publications were included, with most (8/9) evaluating fracture detection on radiographs, with the elbow being the most common body part. Nearly all articles used data derived from a single institution and used deep learning methodology. Accuracy rates generated by AI ranged from 88.8–97.9%. In two of the three articles where AI performance was compared to human readers, sensitivity rates for AI was marginally higher, but this was not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
There is a high diagnostic accuracy for most AI tools for fracture detection in children, although the generalisability of these tools for a wider population is unknown. Opportunities exist for future development of AI tools for cross-sectional imaging and in certain paediatric populations (e.g. <2 years old, those with inherited bone disorders).
X-ray diffraction reveals two structural transitions in szomolnokite
Authors: Pardo Olivia S. , Dobrosavljevic Vasilije V. , Perez Tyler , Sturhahn Wolfgang , Liu Zhenxian , Rossman George R. , Jackson Jennifer M.
Published: March 2022

Hydrated sulfates have been identified and studied in a wide variety of environments on Earth, Mars, and the icy satellites of the solar system. The subsurface presence of hydrous sulfur-bearing phases to any extent necessitates a better understanding of their thermodynamic and elastic properties at pressure. End-member experimental and computational data are lacking and are needed to accurately model hydrous, sulfur-bearing planetary interiors. In this work, high-pressure X-ray diffraction (XRD) and synchrotron Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) measurements were conducted on szomolnokite (FeSO4·H2O) up to ~83 and 24 GPa, respectively. This study finds a monoclinic-triclinic (C2/c to P1) structural phase transition occurring in szomolnokite between 5.0(1) and 6.6(1) GPa and a previously unknown triclinic-monoclinic (P1 to P21) structural transition occurring between 12.7(3) and 16.8(3) GPa. The high-pressure transition was identified by the appearance of distinct reflections in the XRD patterns that cannot be attributed to a second phase related to the dissociation of the P1 phase, and it is further characterized by increased H2O bonding within the structure. We fit third-order Birch-Murnaghan equations of state for each of the three phases identified in our data and refit published data to compare the elastic parameters of szomolnokite, kieserite (MgSO4·H2O), and blödite (Na2Mg(SO4)2·4H2O). At ambient pressure, szomolnokite is less compressible than blödite and more than kieserite, but by 7 GPa both szomolnokite and kieserite have approximately the same bulk modulus, while blödite’s remains lower than both phases up to 20 GPa. These results indicate the stability of szomolnokite’s high-pressure monoclinic phase and the retention of water within the structure up to pressures found in planetary deep interiors.
A eficiência dos gastos públicos com ensino superior nas universidades federais brasileiras no período de 2008 a 2018
Authors: Barbosa Karla Marisa Fernandes , Santos João Paulo Araujo dos , Vale Sousa Isabela Motta do , Lima Luciana Piccini Moreira , Silva Júnior Luiz Honorato da
Published: March 2022

A busca por eficiência na prestação de serviço público deve ser incessante, sobretudo em tempos de grave crise fiscal. O que se pode afirmar a respeito disso nas universidades federais? O objetivo deste estudo é buscar evidências a respeito do nível de eficiência técnica-comparativa das universidades federais brasileiras, por meio da Análise Envoltória de Dados (DEA). O modelo utilizado proposto para o alcance deste objetivo foi o CCR orientado a input. Foram analisados os dados conjuntos do período de 2008 a 2018 em 53 universidades públicas federais e utilizados dados do Sistema Integrado de Administração Financeira do Governo Federal. Verificou-se que a Universidade Federal do Pará foi a mais eficiente - considerada benchmark. São apresentadas sugestões para ganhos de eficiência com base nos resultados obtidos.
Práticas adotadas na suinocultura alinhadas com a economia circular: uma revisão integrativa da literatura
Authors: Lima Gabriel William Boente , Leitão Fabrício Oliveira , Silva Warley Henrique da
Published: March 2022

Diferentemente da Economia Linear (EL), baseada na exploração dos recursos naturais para produção de bens, a Economia Circular (EC) visa eliminar os desperdícios, otimizar recursos e melhorar o design dos produtos e processos. A suinocultura é caracterizada pelo seu potencial poluidor, e o problema aumenta pelo fato de a carne suína ser a mais consumida mundialmente, se tornando fundamental entender o que tem sido feito pelos agentes para mitigar os impactos causados ao meio ambiente. Destarte, o objetido deste trabalho foi o de identificar quais práticas têm sido adotadas pelos agentes na suinocultura e em que medida estão alinhadas ao que é preconizado pela EC. Para tanto, foi utilizado o procedimento técnico da revisão integrativa da literatura para o levantamento das informações necessárias para atingir o objetivo do trabalho, que teve abordagem quali-quantitativa, se caracterizando com uma pesquisa básica, exploratória, e com recorte transversal. Como principais resultado foram identificadas 14 práticas adotadas pela suinocultura alinhadas ao que é preconizado pela EC, mostrando que há uma evolução dessa cadeia no sentido de uma transição da EL para a EC.
A magyarországi történeti demográfiai kutatás vázlatos története (1945-2020)
Authors: Faragó Tamás, Őri Péter
Published: March 2022

Miközben a politikai makrokörnyezet az 1950-es évek végétől viszonylag kedvezően alakult, és a történeti demográfusok más társadalomtudományok képviselőihez képest viszonylag szabadon működhettek, a tudományterület folyamatosan súlyos intézményes problémákkal küzdött. A demográfia általában és a történeti demográfia nem épült be az akadémiai kutatási rendszerbe, nem kapott helyet az egyetemeken, nem volt és ma sincs biztosítva a demográfusképzés, illetve a történeti tanszékek nem neveltek ki a történeti demográfiával professzionálisan, a kor követelményeinek megfelelően foglalkozó szakembereket. Ennek eredményként a történeti demográfiai kutatások elsősorban a Központi Statisztikai Hivatal intézményeiben (Könyvtár, Levéltár, Népességtudományi Kutatóintézet) folytak, de a kutatómunka mindig néhány kutató személyes erőfeszítésére épült. Noha folyamatosan születtek jelentős eredmények, folytak korszerű kutatások, amelyek időnként a nemzetközi tudományos életbe is beépültek (pl. Andorka Rudolf családrekonstitúciós kutatásai), ezek mindig kiskapacitású, a történettudomány szempontjából nézve marginális jelentőségű erőfeszítések voltak. Az eredmények korlátozott körben váltak ismertté, elfogadottá, nem épültek be az egyetemi képzésbe. Így a kutatás professzionális része nagyrészt megmaradt a KSH keretei között, ezenkívül pedig nagyon erős maradt az előző korszak hagyománya, a népességszám változásaira, a népesség etnikai és felekezeti összetételére irányuló kutatások. Vannak tehát fontos eredmények, jelentős életművek az egyik oldalon, ugyanakkor a legfontosabb források kritikai feldolgozása, digitalizálása sem valósult meg, és jórészt hiányoznak a szisztematikus, az egész ország népesedési folyamatainak megismerésére irányuló korszerű kutatások. A tudományterület máig komoly utánpótlási gondokkal küzd, és összességében a hasonló méretű, környező országokhoz képest is hátrányos helyzetben van.
The complex nature of household water supply: an evidence-based assessment of urban water access in Southwest Nigeria
Authors: Oyerinde A. O. , Jacobs H. E.
Published: March 2022

Access to domestic water supply is a big challenge for many households in developing countries, as a large number of households do not have access to municipal water sources. The purpose of this study is to investigate the nature of access and characteristics of water sources and their impact on the choice and usage of water by providing empirical and statistical evidence. A survey of 1,300 households was conducted across six major cities in Southwest Nigeria, using structured questionnaires, field surveys, personal interviews, and observations. The data obtained were analysed using SPSS 27 for descriptive statistics and characterised using enhancement-based strategies. The result showed that 5% of respondents had access to pipe water, 66% used private wells and boreholes, and 29% used off-site water sources. The study discovered that 15 different water sources with unique attributes were consumed. The daily consumption ranged between 301 and 361 and 1,153 and 1,421 litres per household (L/hh/d) for those using off-site and on-site water sources, respectively. This study provides new insights with empirical evidence. As such, there is a need to re-evaluate the present water supply policy implementation, funding approach, and level of coverage. Additional policies that support and fund decentralised water projects, without compromising on water quality, should be provided, since they are more accessible to the people.
Netrin-1 in Post-stroke Neuroprotection: Beyond Axon Guidance Cue
Authors: Liao Songjie , Yu Jian , Luo Ying
Published: March 2022

Background:

Stroke, especially ischemic stroke, is a leading disease associated with
death and long-term disability with limited therapeutic options. Neuronal death caused by vascular
impairment, programmed cell death and neuroinflammation has been proven to be associated with
increased stroke severity and poor stroke recovery. In light of this, a development of neuroprotective
drugs targeting injured neurons is urgently needed for stroke treatment. Netrin-1, known as a bifunctional
molecule, was originally described to mediate the repulsion or attraction of axonal growth by
interacting with its different receptors. Importantly, accumulating evidence has shown that netrin-1
can manifest its beneficial functions to brain tissue repair and neural regeneration in different neurological
disease models.

Objective:

In this review, we focus on the implications of netrin-1 and its possibly involved pathways
on neuroprotection after ischemic stroke, through which a better understanding of the underlying
mechanisms of netrin-1 may pave the way to novel treatments.

Methods:

Peer-reviewed literature was recruited by searching databases of PubMed, Scopus, Embase,
and Web of Science till the year 2021.

Conclusion:

There has been certain evidence to support the neuroprotective function of netrin-1 by
regulating angiogenesis, autophagy, apoptosis and neuroinflammation after stroke. Netrin-1 may be
a promising drug candidate in reducing stroke severity and improving outcomes.
Simple Models of Charge-Transfer Reactivity
Authors: Nalewajski Roman F.
Published: March 2022

Finite-difference expressions for the chemical potential (negative electronegativity)
and hardness (inverse softness) descriptors of molecular and donor-acceptor systems
are summarized and chemically “biased” (informed) and “unbiased” (uninformed) estimates
of charge-transfer (CT) descriptors in A(acid)⎯B(base) systems are reexamined. The former
recognizes the chemical characteristics of reactants and the chemical-potential discontinuity,
while in the latter no prior knowledge of such kind is used. The biased chemical
potential and fragment hardness descriptors are interpreted in terms of the frontier-electron
orbitals, and the equivalence of predictions in both treatments is demonstrated using the
electronegativity-equalization principle. Two-state description of CT involves a statistical
mixture of initial state |NCT = 0〉 = |A0, B0〉 of the polarized (mutually closed) reactants in
R+ = (A+|B+), and one of admissible final states for the full electron transfer, |NCT| = 1, in
the forward B0→A0 or reverse A0→B0 directions, leading to ion-pairs |B0→A0〉 = |NCT = 1〉
= |A−1, B+1〉 and |A0→B0〉 = |NCT = −1〉 = |A+1, B−1〉. Parabolic interpolation between energies
of the integral-N states identifies the process activation and reaction energies predicts the
equilibrium amount of CT and stabilization energy it generates.
Competition between Spin Excitation and Kondo Correlation in Magnetic
Molecular Junctions: Theoretical Insight from First-principles-based Simulations
Authors: Zhuang Qingfeng , Ye Lyuzhou , Zheng Xiao
Published: March 2022

In magnetic molecular junctions, the interactions between the local spin state at the transition-
metal center and the conduction electrons from the electrodes or substrates can bring about
many interesting strong correlation effects. Spin excitation and the Kondo effect are two representative
phenomena, where the spin-unpaired d or f electrons plays the key role in forming these manybody
states. This paper reviews the recent developments and applications of several first-principles
methods in conjunction with the hierarchical equations of motion (HEOM) approach for the accurate
simulation of magnetic molecular systems. The large-scale electrodes and substrates are treated
by the density functional theory (DFT), while the properties of the magnetic center are studied by
using the high-level complete active space self-consistent field method. The competition between
the spin excitation and the Kondo effect are scrutinized by the HEOM approach. This combined
DFT+HEOM method has proven to be useful for the accurate characterization of strongly-correlated
magnetic molecular systems.
Formulation Strategies and Therapeutic Applications of Shikonin and Related
Derivatives
Authors: Bedi Neena , Kaur Kirandeep , Singh Atamjit , Sharma Hamayal , Punj Sanha
Published: March 2022

Shikonin and its derivatives are excellent representatives of biologically active naphthoquinones.
A wide range of investigations carried out in the last few decades validated their pharmacological
efficacy. Besides having magnificent therapeutic potential, shikonin and its derivatives suffer from
various pharmacokinetic, toxicity, and stability issues like poor bioavailability, nephrotoxicity, photodegradation,
etc. Recently, various research groups have developed an extensive range of formulations
to tackle these issues to ease their path to clinical practice. The latest formulation approaches have
been focused on exploiting the unique features of novel functional excipients, which in turn escalate
the therapeutic effect of shikonin. Moreover, the codelivery approach in various drug delivery systems
has been taken into consideration in a recent while to reduce toxicity associated with shikonin and its
derivatives. This review sheds light on the essential reports and patents published related to the array
of formulations containing shikonin and its derivatives.
Deep transfer learning CNN based approach for COVID-19 detection
Authors:   Department of Electrical Engineering, Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology, Khuzdar, Pakistan, et al. Muhammad
Published: March 2022

Recently, the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) and its different variants have spread rapidly across the world. Early-stage detection of COVID-19 is a challenging task due to the limited availability of Covid testing kits to the public. Conventionally, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the reliable test for the detection of COVID-19 which is time-consuming and costly. The aim of this work is to identify the COVID-19 symptoms with the help of a deep learning algorithm using chest X-Ray images. In order to improve the quality of chest X-Ray images, authors have further modified the pre-trained model with some extra CNN layers, such as the first layer is the average pooling layer and the other two are dense layers followed by ReLU with softmax activation function. The experimental results have been carried out on publicly available chest X-Ray images of COVID-19 to mark COVID-19 patients as positive and negative datasets. For evaluation purpose, we have used benchmark of pre-trained models such as VGG-16 (Visual Geometry Group), VGG19, Xception, ResNet152, ResNet152v2, ResNet101, ResNet101v2, DenseNet201, DenseNet169 and DenseNet121. On the benchmark datasets, viz. COVID-19 X-Ray images, an average improvement in terms of training/validation accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-scores scores were 95%, 94%, 99/88%, 99/88%, and 93/92% respectively. The results provide sufficient evidence that deep learning can be used efficiently for the detection of COVID-19 symptoms.
Atipična lokalizacija i simptomatologija sindroma Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber
Authors: Poslon Danijela , Laslo Dorian , Ploh Maja , Petranović Duška
Published: March 2022

Cilj: Sindrom Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber rijedak je kongenitalni sporadični poremećaj koji rezultira abnormalnim razvojem krvnih žila, mekih tkiva i kostiju. Cilj je ovog rada prikazati izazovan tijek dijagnostike i terapije u pacijentice s ovom rijetkom bolešću, gdje je izostao kožni hemangiom, inače prisutan u 98 % pacijenata i gdje se bolest javila na gornjem ekstremitetu, što je zabilježeno u tek 12,5 % slučajeva. Prikaz slučaja: U ženskog je novorođenčeta pri prvom pregledu neonatologa uočena bezbolna oteklina desne ruke i kroz kožu vidljive zadebljane vene na desnoj podlaktici i šaci. Promjene su ostale trajno prisutne uz blago ograničenu fleksiju lakatnog zgloba i prstiju desne ruke. Nakon sedam godina javili su se bolovi u desnoj ruci pa je učinjena ehotomografija mišića podlaktice i šake. Nalazi su pokazali široke venske prostore uz znakove arteriovenskih fistula, nakon čega je upućena na CT s kontrastom i flebografiju. Potvrđena je tvorba vaskularnog podrijetla, dijelom trombozirana i niske brzine protoka. U idućih šest godina tegobe su postale jače izražene, stoga je bio indiciran kirurški tretman stanja. Pacijentica je podvrgnuta ekstirpaciji varikoziteta desne ruke. Tegobe su i dalje perzistirale, stoga su učinjene magnetska rezonancija i angiografija magnetskom rezonancijom desne ruke, čiji su nalazi bili suspektni na intramuskularni hemangiom. Sedam godina kasnije učinjena je posljednja embolizacija vaskularne tvorbe te se planira nastavak operativnog liječenja. Zaključak: Sindrom Klippel-Trenaunay može se prezentirati bez kožnog hemangioma, koji je inače najčešći klinički znak. Također, znakovi sindroma mogu atipično biti prisutni na gornjim ekstremitetima.
Epidemiología de malaria en la región Caribe colombiana, 1950-2019
Authors: Acuña Luis Mariano , Padilla Julio Cesar , Olivera Mario Javier
Published: March 2022

Objetivo: Establecer el comportamiento epidemiológico de la malaria en la Región Caribe, 1950-2019. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo y retrospectivo, a partir de fuentes secundarias del Ministerio de Salud. Se definieron variables de lugar, persona y tiempo. Se organizó una base de datos de casos de malaria, se estimaron indicadores de frecuencia absoluta, medidas de tendencia central y frecuencia relativa. Resultados: Se registraron 325.427 casos de malaria, las décadas 1950-1959 (33,6 %) y 1980-1989 (29,3%) aportaron la mayoría de los casos. El promedio por década fue de 46.489 casos/década (DE± 38.551, M: 25.283), los valores máximos y mínimos fueron 109.416 y 19.525 casos, respectivamente. La distribución por especie fue de 55,8% (181.663 casos) para Plasmodium vivax y 44,2% (143.764 casos) para P.falciparum. Los índices parasitarios mediano anual, por P.vivax y por P.falciparum en la fueron de 2.2, 1.1 y 0.8 por cada 1000 habitantes respectivamente. Los departamentos que aportaron la mayor carga de casos fueron Bolívar, La Guajira y Magdalena. Conclusiones: El comportamiento secular de la transmisión mostró un patrón endemo-epidémico, de baja y muy baja intensidad de la transmisión, con predominio de infecciones por P.vivax y una frecuencia irregular en la aparición de brotes.
Auditoría externa en una ESE. Un ejercicio de apoyo en un sistema de costos
Authors: Caraballo Hernández Eliecer
Published: March 2022

En Colombia en los últimos seis lustros se han dado importantes transformaciones en la organización del sistema nacional de salud, especialmente en relación con la calidad de la atención, convirtiéndola en uno de los pilares fundamentales de la prestación de los servicios de salud; precisamente, fue la Ley 10 de 1990 quien  estableció la salud como un servicio esencial y obligatorio que podría ser prestado directamente a través del estado o mediante particulares, y fue así como determinó en sus articulado, que debía “establecerse un sistema de fijación de normas de calidad de los servicios de salud y los mecanismos para controlar y vigilar su cumplimiento”(1).
Reporting of Model Performance and Statistical Methods in Studies That Use Machine Learning to Develop Clinical Prediction Models: Protocol for a Systematic Review
Authors: Weaver Colin George Wyllie , Basmadjian Robert B , Williamson Tyler , McBrien Kerry , Sajobi Tolu , Boyne Devon , Yusuf Mohamed , Ronksley Paul Everett
Published: March 2022

Background

With the growing excitement of the potential benefits of using machine learning and artificial intelligence in medicine, the number of published clinical prediction models that use these approaches has increased. However, there is evidence (albeit limited) that suggests that the reporting of machine learning–specific aspects in these studies is poor. Further, there are no reviews assessing the reporting quality or broadly accepted reporting guidelines for these aspects.

Objective

This paper presents the protocol for a systematic review that will assess the reporting quality of machine learning–specific aspects in studies that use machine learning to develop clinical prediction models.

Methods

We will include studies that use a supervised machine learning algorithm to develop a prediction model for use in clinical practice (ie, for diagnosis or prognosis of a condition or identification of candidates for health care interventions). We will search MEDLINE for studies published in 2019, pseudorandomly sort the records, and screen until we obtain 100 studies that meet our inclusion criteria. We will assess reporting quality with a novel checklist developed in parallel with this review, which includes content derived from existing reporting guidelines, textbooks, and consultations with experts. The checklist will cover 4 key areas where the reporting of machine learning studies is unique: modelling steps (order and data used for each step), model performance (eg, reporting the performance of each model compared), statistical methods (eg, describing the tuning approach), and presentation of models (eg, specifying the predictors that contributed to the final model).

Results

We completed data analysis in August 2021 and are writing the manuscript. We expect to submit the results to a peer-reviewed journal in early 2022.

Conclusions

This review will contribute to more standardized and complete reporting in the field by identifying areas where reporting is poor and can be improved.

Trial Registration

PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42020206167; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=206167

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

RR1-10.2196/30956