bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analytical study: Development potentials to specify the economic basis of Karbala Governorate - Iraq
Authors: Alowaid H K , Alkanaani H A , Alwan K H
Published: April 2021

The process of determining the economic basis of a governorate is achieved through studying the potentials and the resources hidden in that region, then analyze them with the help of tools in this field. One of these tools is the methodology of provincial unit average that is coincided to be one of the effective methods used in special analysis and studying the effectiveness of location in the governorates under study. The aims are to study and analyze the development potentials of the Karbala governorate regularities to determine the economic basis on which these regularities are based, in order to guide those regularities to reasonable development trends within their available potentials. This is achieved by activating and directing the potentials to correspond to the implicit potential in that place. It has been found that Karbala has many characteristics and neglected capabilities that can be promoted to provide the region with important products and job opportunities that help to bridge the unemployment gap that Iraq generally, and Karbala in particular. The strategic location of Karbala has an active role in providing many neighboring governorates with resources and capabilities that help their development and advancement to form an effective growth pole for the development of activities at the national level.
Integrated assessment of food security in agricultural region (based on the Krasnodar territory)
Authors: Kolomyts O N , Savelenko V M , Ivanova I G , Vandrikova O V
Published: April 2021

The article considers the concept, essential characteristics and key factors of food security at different structural levels of organization in the global economic system. A comprehensive assessment of the self-sufficiency level in food resources is carried out using the materials of the Krasnodar Territory with agrarian orientation, located in the Southern Federal District. The analysis has resulted in the formation of recommendations to improve the regional agro-food policy in terms of providing the population with food.
Current state and development trends of the Foodnet market in Russia
Authors: Kusakina O N , Kazarova A YA , Kosinova E A , Agalarova E G , Aydinova A T
Published: April 2021

The article considers the prerequisites for creating a new high – tech market for food production and consumption-FoodNet; examines the possibilities of intellectualization, automation and robotics of technological processes of food production and delivery (FoodTech), and also identifies the main objectives of the roadmap – systematization of Russian business projects, implementation of measures to create conditions for rapid growth and scaling of such projects.
Perspective directions of the agri-food market development in the system of bilateral foreign trade relations between Azerbaijan and the Stavropol Territory
Authors: Vorobyova N V , Gracheva D O , Bannikova N V , Telnova N N , Cheremnykh M B
Published: April 2021

The features of the development of foreign trade bilateral relations in the agri-food markets between the Stavropol Territory and Azerbaijan have been established. The tendencies in the export of agri-food products in the Stavropol Territory, taking into account the cereals export specialization of the region, as well as representation of new directions of the agro-industrial complex at the international, regional levels, have been settled. It is concluded that in the future, the wheat and meslin exports of the region to Azerbaijan is expected to increase. This output based on the extrapolation methods, compiled by the authors, and the SWOT-analysis of the agricultural raw materials exports of the Stavropol Territory. In combination with the identified opportunities and threats for agro-oriented enterprises, the potential market niches for the region have been identified.
Water supply of Azovsky Nemetsky (German) National District in the Omsk Region: present-day situation, problems and outlook
Authors: Kondratyeva T.L. , Ushakova I.G. , Korchevskaya Yu.V. , Trotsenko I.A. , Gorelkina G.A.
Published: April 2021

The article deals with the problem of drinking water supply to population. The water supply sources of Azovsky Nemetsky (German) National District of the Omsk Region are characterized in the research. The Irtysh River is the main source of drinking water supply. In general, the studied district is situated in the territory with a shortage of fresh groundwater. Currently, the water supply to Azovsky Nemetsky (German) National District settlements is provided by a complex of hydraulic constructions of the Lyubino-Isilkul and Tavrichesky group water conduits. These pipes take water from the Irtysh River as part of water intake and treatment facilities, water pipelines and a pressure distribution network. In addition to the generally accepted water supply from the group water conduit we define the aquifers of the lower Miocene deposits of the Abrosimov (N1 ab) and upper Oligocene deposits of the Zhuravsky suites (P3 zr) with water mineralization from 1.3 to 5.4g/l. as the most potentially productive in the period of increasing anthropogenic load within Azovsky Nemetsky (German) National District. In case of their usage for drinking water supply the technology of demineralization is recommended.
Basic economic principles of the digital transformation in Russian agriculture
Authors: Sayfetdinov A R , Sayfetdinova P V
Published: April 2021

The article presents a monographic analysis of global developments in the digital agriculture. The structural-functional model of the system formation of digital agriculture was proposed. The links between its elements and the external environment was established. The system of organizational and economic principles was developed in transition of commodity producers to digital agriculture, ensuring the maximum efficiency of its functioning and establishing the full mastering of technologies of precision agriculture as an obligatory stage. We developed a private methodology for assessing the economic efficiency and riskiness of investments in the development of innovations in the digitalization of regional crop production.
Method to localize snowmelt runoff pollutant sources of surface water bodies by paired geoinformation and hydrological analyses
Authors: Zeyliger A M , Ermolaeva O S , Sukharev Y I
Published: April 2021

The quality of melt runoff from agricultural fields significantly affects the quality of surface water bodies and their ecosystem services. Currently, methods based on geographic information systems (GIS) are used with aim to reduce the risk of pollution of surface water bodies. Thus do make possible a localization of pollutants sources at rural areas and their transport routes to the water bodies. This paper presents the results of geoinformation analysis of the results of melt runoff sampling as well as cartographic modeling of melt runoff on the territory of the summer field dacha (SFD) of the RSAU-MTAA.

In early April 2018 a specially designed fields monitoring was accomplished. Twenty water samples were taken at the locations of ten catchment’s outlets located within the SFD territory. Chemical analyzes identified 5 inorganic chemical components with high concentration values. Digital elevation model (DEM) of the plot area was generated from UAV data for the analysis of the territory’s topography. Spatial analysis of samples in combination with hydrological analysis of DTM showed differentiation in pollution of snowmelt runoff by catchments. This enabled to identify some catchments as providers of the biggest negative contribution to the quality of melt runoff.
Sociotopic component of the socio-economic potential of rural areas
Authors: Baidakov A N , Zvyagintseva O S , Nazarenko A V
Published: April 2021

The article presents a model for the development of rural socio-economic space. It proceeds from the idea of rural areas as complex natural, socio-economic systems. An important direction of the current stage of socio-economic development of rural areas is to eliminate the gap in the quality of life of the urban and rural population of the country. At the same time, an important factor is the ongoing changes in the agrarian economy, which must also meet the social transformations of rural areas. The proposed model for the development of rural socio-economic space and the algorithm for its use is based on the identification and differentiated elimination of problem areas of this space in accordance with the established standards of quality of life in rural areas.
Human resource management in the context of organic farming development
Authors: Semko I A , Altukhova L A
Published: April 2021

The article describes the main elements of the human resource management system in the context of the development of organic farming. The features of personnel processes in the conditions of transformation of traditional technology of cultivation of agricultural crops to the organic type are characterized. Attention is paid to the influence of external and internal factors on human resource management.
Economic efficiency of fungicide application on spring wheat in the southern forest-steppe of Western Siberia
Authors: Korchagina I A , Trubina N K , Yushkevich L V , Lomanovsky A V
Published: April 2021

The work presents the results of studying the development of leaf diseases on soft spring wheat. The damage to plants was largely determined by the hydrothermal conditions of the crop vegetation, agricultural technology, and the applied plant protection products. Fungicidal treatment of crops with the chemical Abacus Ultra in the phase of entering the tube allowed to significantly reduce the development of infection on the upper layer of leaves: with brown rust to 0.2%, septoria - up to 0.3-0.7% and powdery mildew - up to 0.1-0.7%. Net income amounted to 28.228 – 38.609 rubles/ha, profitability 152-207%.
Technology of testing shale reservoirs of Paleogene age on the territory of the Eastern Ciscaucasia
Authors: Saltanova A G , Vasiliev V A , Kerimova E G , Kramarenko V S , Sova V E
Published: April 2021

The article demonstrates the technology of testing reservoir layers represented by fractured clay-carbonate rocks in the Eastern Ciscaucasia. Practice shows that if the saturation of permeable rocks is uniform, the reliability of the tests can be ensured if the tested interval does not exceed 25 m. The probability of obtaining an inflow during tests significantly decreases with the increase in the amount of repression of the washing liquid and the duration of its impact on the reservoir. This is caused by clogging of the near-well zone of the reservoir, which results in the hydrodynamic connection of the reservoir with the well deteriorates. Test results are the most reliable if they are performed no later than 3-5 days after opening the reservoir, however, even in this case, the reservoir may be contaminated. For high-quality testing of reservoir layers represented by fractured clay-carbonate rocks, the following processes are required: to make an individual selection of the depression on the formation, to have a priori accurate information about the strength characteristics of the well walls.
The use of Middle Jurassic mudstones of the Dzhangur Formation as a Possible Raw Material in the Ceramic and Construction Industry
Authors: Kerimov A-G G , Saltanova A G , Sokolenko E V , Sherstyukov M P , Osipyan E A
Published: April 2021

The article provides information about the field studies in the incision that folded with the Dzungur Formation mudstones of the Labino-Malkinskaya zone in the Scythian plate of the Central Ciscaucasia. The accumulation stages and post-sedimentation transformation have been researched. The field data of the petrographic research and the prospects of their possible implementation as raw materials in the construction is presented in this article.
Geoinformation laboratory for determining objects by unmanned aerial vehicles
Authors: Dantsevich I M , Lyutikova M N
Published: April 2021

The paper considers the problem of positioning unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) without using satellite navigation systems. The application of positioning occurs through the visual channel of flight control by means of an on-Board video camera on the basis of the terrain plan or satellite photos. The aim of the work is to improve the accuracy of the positioning method in accordance with several flight control positions, predetermined landmarks and closed route flight (both open or obstructed ways), for implementation in control computer systems or mobile applications.

The obtained results will improve the effectiveness of UAV technology in applications for environmental monitoring, construction monitoring, agriculture, maritime industry, forestry, law enforcement, urban and municipal economy.
Comparative Estimate of the Resource Dependence of the Far Eastern Federal District Entities
Authors: Kovrov G S , Nikiforova V V , Egorov H E
Published: April 2021

The paper is devoted to studying the issues of estimating the resource dependence of the RF constituent entities and classifying them as resource-type regions. The methodological and technical approaches to determining and identifying the resource-type regions and estimating their resource dependence have been reviewed. The approach and technique for estimating the resource dependence of regions have been proposed, based on the analysis of which, a criterion for classifying a subject as resource-type regions identified. The state of the mineral resource base of the Russian Federation Far Eastern Federal District (FEFD) entities has been analyzed. According to the technique proposed, the resource dependence of the FEFD entities has been comparatively estimated based on the share of statistical indicators for the mining economic activity in the structure of the gross regional product (GRP) of an entity. Based on the analysis of the results obtained, the criteria for classifying entities as resource-type regions have been determined, according to which the FEFD entities classified.
Copulatory Signaling and Polygamy of Glassy-Winged Sharpshooters (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)
Authors: Gordon Shira D , Krugner Rodrigo
Published: April 2021

Finding a partner to mate with may be only part of ensuring successful siring of offspring. Females often exhibit cryptic female choice (CFC) during or after copulation, which can influence whose sperm from her multiple partners is chosen for egg fertilization. Known behavioral mechanisms for CFC include assessment of males by their nuptial gifts, duration of copulation, and seminal fluid contents. In this study, the glassy-winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), behaviors during the course of copulation were investigated. Glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) use vibrational communication before copulation occurs. However, little is known about behaviors that occur during and after copulation. Results from this study determined that vibrational signaling also occurs during copulation. Vibrational signals similar to those emitted during precopulatory communication were identified during copulation alongside a new, ‘hum-like’ signal that typically occurred within 10 s after the pair joined in copulation. In addition, results determined the duration of copulation was on average of 15 h, though with a 10-h range (8.5–18.5 h) among observed male–female pairs. Finally, both males and females mated more than once. Collectively, results identified key reproductive parameters required for CFC to occur in GWSS. The study expands on the known animals that use CFC and emphasizes the role that copulatory vibrational communication may play setting the foundations for future more in-depth studies. Understanding of insect behaviors necessary for successful production of offspring is important from an ecological perspective and for development of pest control methods.
Diagnostic Challenges in Children With Congenital Bleeding Disorders: A Developing Country Perspective
Authors: Khaliq Sehar
Published: April 2021

Objectives

To assess the frequency and characteristics of children with inherited bleeding disorders that were initially misdiagnosed, leading to inappropriate disease management.

Methods

This study was conducted at the Haematology/Pathology Department of Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from August 2014 to August 2018. Children who were diagnosed with an inherited bleeding disorder but did not respond to initial therapy were reevaluated.

Results

In total, 62 children were diagnosed with a bleeding disorder. Of these, 27 were diagnosed with an inherited bleeding disorder and 35 with an acquired bleeding disorder. Of the 27 children with inherited bleeding disorders, 18% (n = 5) were misdiagnosed and treated inappropriately. The median age of the misdiagnosed patients was 9 years (range, 5-13 years). Three patients with Bernard-Soulier syndrome had been misdiagnosed as having immune thrombocytopenic purpura, 1 patient with von Willebrand disease had been misdiagnosed as having hemophilia A, and 1 patient with haemophilia B had been misdiagnosed as having hemophilia A.

Conclusions

There are chances of misdiagnosis and improper or invasive management if comprehensive laboratory evaluation and a thorough clinical evaluation are not performed in children with congenital bleeding disorders.
VisuaLife: library for interactive visualization in rich web applications
Authors: Kryś Justyna D , Gront Dominik
Published: April 2021

Motivation

Visualization is a powerful tool to analyze, understand and present big data. Computational biology, bioinformatics and molecular modeling require dedicated tools, tailored to very complex, highly multidimensional data. Over the recent years, numerous tools have been developed for online presentation, but new challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic require new libraries which will guarantee fast development of online tools for a better understanding of biomedical data/results.

Results

VisuaLife is a Python library that provides a new approach to visualization in a web browser. It offers 2D and 3D plotting capabilities as well as widgets designed to display the most common biological data types: nucleotide or protein sequences, 3D biomolecular structures and multiple sequence alignments. Components provided by the VisuaLife library can be assembled into a web application to create an analysis tool tailored to provide multidimensional analysis of a specific research problem. VisuaLife, to our best knowledge, is the most modern solution that allows one to implement such a client-side interactivity in Python.

Availability and implementation

The git repository of the library is hosted at BitBucket: https://bitbucket.org/dgront/visualife/. PyPI distribution is also provided for MacOS and Linux. While basic examples are provided in the supporting materials, the full documentation is available at ReadTheDocs website: https://visualife.readthedocs.io/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
A meta-inference framework to integrate multiple external models into a current study
Authors: Gu Tian , Taylor Jeremy M G , Mukherjee Bhramar
Published: April 2021

It is becoming increasingly common for researchers to consider incorporating external information from large studies to improve the accuracy of statistical inference instead of relying on a modestly sized data set collected internally. With some new predictors only available internally, we aim to build improved regression models based on individual-level data from an “internal” study while incorporating summary-level information from “external” models. We propose a meta-analysis framework along with two weighted estimators as the composite of empirical Bayes estimators, which combines the estimates from different external models. The proposed framework is flexible and robust in the ways that (i) it is capable of incorporating external models that use a slightly different set of covariates; (ii) it is able to identify the most relevant external information and diminish the influence of information that is less compatible with the internal data; and (iii) it nicely balances the bias-variance trade-off while preserving the most efficiency gain. The proposed estimators are more efficient than the naïve analysis of the internal data and other naïve combinations of external estimators.
Convergence of Modality Invariance and Attention Selectivity in the Cortical Semantic Circuit
Authors: Nakai Tomoya , Yamaguchi Hiroto Q , Nishimoto Shinji
Published: April 2021

The human linguistic system is characterized by modality invariance and attention selectivity. Previous studies have examined these properties independently and reported perisylvian region involvement for both; however, their relationship and the linguistic information they harbor remain unknown. Participants were assessed by functional magnetic resonance imaging, while spoken narratives (auditory) and written texts (visual) were presented, either separately or simultaneously. Participants were asked to attend to one stimulus when both were presented. We extracted phonemic and semantic features from these auditory and visual modalities, to train multiple, voxel-wise encoding models. Cross-modal examinations of the trained models revealed that perisylvian regions were associated with modality-invariant semantic representations. Attentional selectivity was quantified by examining the modeling performance for attended and unattended conditions. We have determined that perisylvian regions exhibited attention selectivity. Both modality invariance and attention selectivity are both prominent in models that use semantic but not phonemic features. Modality invariance was significantly correlated with attention selectivity in some brain regions; however, we also identified cortical regions associated with only modality invariance or only attention selectivity. Thus, paying selective attention to a specific sensory input modality may regulate the semantic information that is partly processed in brain networks that are shared across modalities.
Results of a Shortened Quarantine Protocol on a Midwestern College Campus
Authors: Fox Mark D , Leiszler Matthew S , Seamon Michael D , Garman Benjamin L
Published: April 2021

A shortened quarantine protocol after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 exposure was implemented on a college campus. We assessed data on exposures, symptoms, and tests in 1152 unvaccinated individuals released from quarantine on day 7. A shortened quarantine period for asymptomatic individuals testing negative can be implemented with low risk.
Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes, Maternal Complications, and Severe Illness Among US Delivery Hospitalizations With and Without a Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Diagnosis
Authors: Ko Jean Y , DeSisto Carla L , Simeone Regina M , Ellington Sascha , Galang Romeo R , Oduyebo Titilope , Gilboa Suzanne M , Lavery Amy M , Gundlapalli Adi V , Shapiro-Mendoza Carrie K
Published: April 2021

Background

Evidence on risk for adverse outcomes from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among pregnant women is still emerging. We examined the association between COVID-19 at delivery and adverse pregnancy outcomes, maternal complications, and severe illness, and whether these associations differ by race/ethnicity, and describe discharge status by COVID-19 diagnosis and maternal complications.

Methods

Data from 703 hospitals in the Premier Healthcare Database during March–September 2020 were included. Adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) overall and stratified by race/ethnicity were estimated using Poisson regression with robust standard errors. Proportion not discharged home was calculated by maternal complications, stratified by COVID-19 diagnosis.

Results

Among 489 471 delivery hospitalizations, 6550 (1.3%) had a COVID-19 diagnosis. In adjusted models, COVID-19 was associated with increased risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome (aRR, 34.4), death (aRR, 17.0), sepsis (aRR, 13.6), mechanical ventilation (aRR, 12.7), shock (aRR, 5.1), intensive care unit admission (aRR, 3.6), acute renal failure (aRR, 3.5), thromboembolic disease (aRR, 2.7), adverse cardiac event/outcome (aRR, 2.2), and preterm labor with preterm delivery (aRR, 1.2). Risk for any maternal complications or for any severe illness did not significantly differ by race/ethnicity. Discharge status did not differ by COVID-19; however, among women with concurrent maternal complications, a greater proportion of those with (vs without) COVID-19 were not discharged home.

Conclusions

These findings emphasize the importance of implementing recommended prevention strategies to reduce risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and further inform counseling and clinical care for pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in a Patient Transport Van
Authors: Jones Lucas D , Chan Ernest R , Zabarsky Trina F , Cadnum Jennifer L , Navas Maria E , Redmond Sarah N , Kovach Jeffrey D , Linger Marlin , Rutala William A , Zimmerman Peter A , Donskey Curtis J
Published: April 2021

We report 2 episodes of potential SARS-CoV-2 transmission from infected van drivers to passengers despite masking and physical distancing. Whole-genome sequencing confirmed relatedness of driver and passenger SARS-CoV-2. With the heater operating, fluorescent microspheres were transported by airflow >3 meters from the front to the back of the van.
Suppressing Kv1.3 Ion Channel Activity with a Novel Small Molecule Inhibitor Ameliorates Inflammation in a Humanised Mouse Model of Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Unterweger Anna-Lena , Jensen Morten Ø , Giordanetto Fabrizio , Jogini Vishwanath , Rüschher Alena , Seuß Marietta , Winkelmann Paula , Koletzko Leandra , Shaw David E , Siebeck Matthias , Gropp Roswitha , Beigel Florian , Aszodi Attila
Published: April 2021

Background and Aims

The potassium channel Kv1.3 is a potentially attractive therapeutic target in T cell-mediated inflammatory diseases, as the activity of antigen-activated T cells is selectively impeded by Kv1.3 inhibition. In this study, we examined Kv1.3 as a potential therapeutic intervention point for ulcerative colitis [UC], and studied the efficacy of DES1, a small-molecule inhibitor of Kv1.3, in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

Kv1.3 expression on T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMCs] isolated from donors with and without UC was examined by flow cytometry. In biopsies from UC patients, Kv1.3-expressing CD4+ T cells were detected by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. In vitro, we determined the ability of DES1 to inhibit anti-CD3-driven activation of T cells. In vivo, the efficacy of DES1 was determined in a humanised mouse model of UC and compared with infliximab and tofacitinib in head-to-head studies.

Results

Kv1.3 expression was elevated in PBMCs from UC patients and correlated with the prevalence of TH1 and TH2 T cells. Kv1.3 expression was also detected on T cells from biopsies of UC patients. In vitro, DES1 suppressed anti-CD3-driven activation of T cells in a concentration-dependent manner. In vivo, DES1 significantly ameliorated inflammation in the UC model and most effectively so when PBMCs from donors with higher levels of activated T cells were selected for reconstitution. The efficacy of DES1 was comparable to that of either infliximab or tofacitinib.

Conclusion

Inhibition of Kv1.3 [by DES1, for instance] appears to be a potential therapeutic intervention strategy for UC patients.
Advancing physician wellness, engagement and excellence in a mental health setting: a Canadian perspective
Authors: Wilkie Treena , Tajirian Tania , Stergiopoulos Vicky
Published: April 2021

This article describes the development and implementation of wellness initiatives within a large Canadian academic mental health hospital, based on the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s workplace standards for mental health. To support the implementation of an organizational framework for physician wellness, a needs assessment of Centre for Addiction and Mental Health physicians (N = 181) was conducted between 21 November and 5 December 2017, including measuring physician burnout rates using two items on the Maslach Burnout Inventory tool. Based on findings, and the organizational wellness framework, a multi-pronged wellness approach was developed, improving physician supports at the individual, team and organizational levels. Eighty-four survey responses (46% response rate) were gathered across eight clinical divisions, with 59% of respondents stating that they were negatively impacted by emotionally stressful events at work within the past year. Themes emerging from open-ended questions included the importance of a culture of safety and wellbeing, leadership accountability and availability of formal supports and processes. In response to survey findings, and our organizational framework, the following six initiatives were implemented: (i) a peer support program, (ii) an office of professionalism, (iii) individual and group mentorship opportunities, (iv) communities of practice, (v) enhanced training and leadership development opportunities, and (vi) efforts to optimize use of electronic health records to enhance efficiency of practice. It is possible to implement a multifaceted organizational approach to physician wellness, engaging physicians and continuously adapting in response to physician input. Future robust evaluation of these strategies can inform organizational roadmaps to improve physician wellness.
Law and urban governance for health in times of rapid change
Authors: Burris Scott , Lin Vivian
Published: April 2021

Governance is an important factor in urban health, and law is an important element of healthy governance. Law can be an intervention local government wields to influence behavior and shape environments. Law can also be an important target of health promotion efforts: Law and the enforcement and implementation behaviors it fosters can promote unhealthy behaviors and environmental conditions, and can act as a barrier to healthy interventions or practices. Finally, law is a design and construction tool for the organization of governance. Law is the means through which cities are formally established. Their powers and duties, organizational structure, boundaries and decision-making procedures are all set by law. Regardless of the form of government, cities have legal levers they can manipulate for health promotion. Cities can use tax authority to influence the price of unhealthy products, or to encourage consumption of healthy foods. Cities can use their legal powers to address incidental legal effects of policies that they themselves cannot control. Cities may also have the authority to use law to address deeper determinants of health. The overall level of income or wealth inequality in a country reflects factors well-beyond a local government’s control, but city government nonetheless has levers to directly and indirectly reduce economic and social inequality and their effects. A renewed focus on law and urban governance is the key to assuring health and well-being and closing the health equity gap.
Educational note: causal decomposition of population health differences using Monte Carlo integration and the g-formula
Authors: Sudharsanan Nikkil , Bijlsma Maarten J
Published: April 2021

One key objective of the population health sciences is to understand why one social group has different levels of health and well-being compared with another. Whereas several methods have been developed in economics, sociology, demography, and epidemiology to answer these types of questions, a recent method introduced by Jackson and VanderWeele (2018) provided an update to decompositions by anchoring them within causal inference theory. In this paper, we demonstrate how to implement the causal decomposition using Monte Carlo integration and the parametric g-formula. Causal decomposition can help to identify the sources of differences across populations and provide researchers with a way to move beyond estimating inequalities to explaining them and determining what can be done to reduce health disparities. Our implementation approach can easily and flexibly be applied for different types of outcome and explanatory variables without having to derive decomposition equations. We describe the concepts of the approach and the practical steps and considerations needed to implement it. We then walk through a worked example in which we investigate the contribution of smoking to sex differences in mortality in South Korea. For this example, we provide both pseudocode and R code using our package, cfdecomp. Ultimately, we outline how to implement a very general decomposition algorithm that is grounded in counterfactual theory but still easy to apply to a wide range of situations.
The Limit Shape of the Leaky Abelian Sandpile Model
Authors: Alevy Ian , Mkrtchyan Sevak
Published: April 2021

The leaky Abelian sandpile model (Leaky-ASM) is a growth model in which $n$ grains of sand start at the origin in $\mathbb{Z}^2$ and diffuse along the vertices according to a toppling rule. A site can topple if its amount of sand is above a threshold. In each topple, a site sends some sand to each neighbor and leaks a portion $1-1/d$ of its sand. We compute the limit shape as a function of $d$ in the symmetric case where each topple sends an equal amount of sand to each neighbor. The limit shape converges to a circle as $d\to 1$ and a diamond as $d\to \infty $. We compute the limit shape by comparing the odometer function at a site to the probability that a killed random walk dies at that site. When $d\to 1$, the Leaky-ASM converges to the ASM with a modified initial configuration. We also prove that the limit shape is a circle when simultaneously with $n\to \infty $ we have that $d=d_n$ converges to $1$ slower than any power of $n$. To gain information about the ASM, faster convergence is necessary.
Vaccination With Detoxified Leukocidin AB Reduces Bacterial Load in a Staphylococcus aureus Minipig Deep Surgical Wound Infection Model
Authors: Fernandez Jeffrey , Sanders Holly , Henn Jessica , Wilson Jolaine M , Malone Danielle , Buoninfante Alessandra , Willms Matthew , Chan Rita , DuMont Ashley L , McLahan Craig , Grubb Kaitlyn , Romanello Anthony , van den Dobbelsteen Germie , Torres Victor J , Poolman Jan T
Published: April 2021

Vaccines against Staphylococcus aureus have eluded researchers for >3 decades while the burden of staphylococcal diseases has increased. Early vaccine attempts mainly used rodents to characterize preclinical efficacy, and all subsequently failed in human clinical efficacy trials. More recently, leukocidin AB (LukAB) has gained interest as a vaccine antigen. We developed a minipig deep surgical wound infection model offering 3 independent efficacy readouts: bacterial load at the superficial and at the deep-seated surgical site, and dissemination of bacteria. Due to similarities with humans, minipigs are an attractive option to study novel vaccine candidates. With this model, we characterized the efficacy of a LukAB toxoid as vaccine candidate. Compared to control animals, a 3-log reduction of bacteria at the deep-seated surgical site was observed in LukAB-treated minipigs and dissemination of bacteria was dramatically reduced. Therefore, LukAB toxoids may be a useful addition to S. aureus vaccines and warrant further study.
COVID-19 trial graph: a linked graph for COVID-19 clinical trials
Authors: Du Jingcheng , Wang Qing , Wang Jingqi , Ramesh Prerana , Xiang Yang , Jiang Xiaoqian , Tao Cui
Published: April 2021

Objective

Clinical trials are an essential part of the effort to find safe and effective prevention and treatment for COVID-19. Given the rapid growth of COVID-19 clinical trials, there is an urgent need for a better clinical trial information retrieval tool that supports searching by specifying criteria, including both eligibility criteria and structured trial information.

Materials and Methods

We built a linked graph for registered COVID-19 clinical trials: the COVID-19 Trial Graph, to facilitate retrieval of clinical trials. Natural language processing tools were leveraged to extract and normalize the clinical trial information from both their eligibility criteria free texts and structured information from ClinicalTrials.gov. We linked the extracted data using the COVID-19 Trial Graph and imported it to a graph database, which supports both querying and visualization. We evaluated trial graph using case queries and graph embedding.

Results

The graph currently (as of October 5, 2020) contains 3392 registered COVID-19 clinical trials, with 17 480 nodes and 65 236 relationships. Manual evaluation of case queries found high precision and recall scores on retrieving relevant clinical trials searching from both eligibility criteria and trial-structured information. We observed clustering in clinical trials via graph embedding, which also showed superiority over the baseline (0.870 vs 0.820) in evaluating whether a trial can complete its recruitment successfully.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 Trial Graph is a novel representation of clinical trials that allows diverse search queries and provides a graph-based visualization of COVID-19 clinical trials. High-dimensional vectors mapped by graph embedding for clinical trials would be potentially beneficial for many downstream applications, such as trial end recruitment status prediction and trial similarity comparison. Our methodology also is generalizable to other clinical trials.
EHR “SWAT” teams: a physician engagement initiative to improve Electronic Health Record (EHR) experiences and mitigate possible causes of EHR-related burnout
Authors: Sequeira Lydia , Almilaji Khaled , Strudwick Gillian , Jankowicz Damian , Tajirian Tania
Published: April 2021

This case report describes an initiative implemented to improve physicians’ experience with Electronic Health Records (EHRs), and is one of several strategies within our organization developed to reduce physician burnout attributed to the EHR. The EHR SWAT Team—a 10-member team—with interdisciplinary representation from clinical informatics, pharmacy informatics, health information management, clinical applications, and project management, is a direct feedback channel for all physicians to express their EHR challenges and have their requests reviewed, prioritized, and fixed in a timely manner. Through in-person divisional meetings, we gathered 118 requests, 36.4% of which were related to re-education and 17% of which were quick fixes. Popular requests included keyword search functionality, minimizing freezing, auto-faxing and auto-save. Our brief evaluation of 46 physicians demonstrated that physicians were satisfied with the initiative, with 61.3% physicians reporting that it increased their proficiency in using EHR functionalities. Lessons learned from this initiative include the importance of buy-in from Information Technology (IT) and physician leadership, extensive physician engagement, and leveraging project management techniques for coordination. Next steps include measuring the impact of this SWAT initiative on EHR-related burnout through a post-intervention organizational wide survey and objective back-end usage logs.
Higher order electro-magneto-elastic free vibration analysis of piezomagnetic nano panel
Authors: Wang Guoping , Hao Huadong , Arefi Mohammad
Published: April 2021

This paper investigates electro-magneto-elastic free vibration responses of piezomagnetic cylindrical nano panel subjected to electro-magneto-mechanical loads based on third-order theory. Third-order shell theory is used for description of the displacement field. The zero transverse shear strains are obtained using the third-order displacement field. Hamilton’s principle is employed to obtain the governing equations of motion. The nano panel is subjected to a coupling of magnetic and electric loads, including a linear function along with the thickness direction and a 2D function along with the axial and circumferential directions. To account the effect of nanoscale in governing equations, the Eringen nonlocal elasticity theory is used. The numerical results are obtained to investigate the impact of significant parameters such as axial and circumferential mode numbers, the nanoscale parameter, applied electromagnetic potentials, and length-to-radius ratio. It is concluded that an increase in initial electric potential and a decrease in magnetic potential lead to an increase in natural frequencies of the nano panel.
Application of stable carbon and hydrogen isotope technology in the determination of gas sources from limestone layers at Shuangliu mine, China
Authors: Zhou Wei , Xue Sheng , Han Yunchun , Zheng Chunshan
Published: April 2021

Stable carbon and hydrogen isotope technology is used in determining gas sources in coal mines. Coal measures at the Shuangliu mine mainly contain nine coal seams (i.e. No. 2 to No. 10) and five limestone layers (namely, L1 to L5). The coal seams are interbedded with the limestone layers. A large amount of methane is adsorbed in the limestone layer, and the actual measured maximum gas pressure is 1.3 MPa, posing a serious gas emission safety risk in roadway excavation in the coal measures. In order to effectively manage the safety risk of gas emissions, it is necessary to determine gas sources and take necessary control measures. In this study, 50 gas samples were taken from the coal seams and 10 gas samples were collected from the limestone layers. These samples were measured for their composition and stable carbon and hydrogen isotopes. Stable carbon and hydrogen isotope tracer separation technique and multi-source linear calculation methods were used to analyze the measurement results. The study shows that 84% of gas in the L1, L2 and L3 limestone layers comes from the No. 8 coal seam and 11% from the No. 9 coal seam; gas in the L4 limestone layer is mainly from the No. 8 (44%), No. 7 (37%) and No. 6 coal seams (16%), and gas in L5 limestone layer mainly comes from the No. 6 (59%), No. 7 (23%) and No. 8 coal seams (13%). The research results can guide the design of gas drainage boreholes before roadway tunneling, so it has important guiding significance in the formulation of comprehensive gas control schemes.
Medulloblastoma in Adults: Cytogenetic Phenotypes Identify Prognostic Subgroups
Authors: Goschzik Tobias , zur Muehlen Anja , Doerner Evelyn , Waha Andreas , Friedrich Carsten , Hau Peter , Pietsch Torsten
Published: April 2021

Adult medulloblastomas (MB) are rare. We investigated the genetic landscape and prognostic impact of genetic aberrations in a cohort of 117 adult medulloblastomas. Histological features and pathway activation were evaluated at the protein level; 14.5% showed wingless-type activation, 63.3% SHH activation, and 22.2% were classified as non-WNT/non-SHH-MB. Genome-wide copy number analysis was performed by molecular inversion probe array technology. MB-related genes were sequenced in WNT- and SHH-activated MBs. 79.7% of SHH-MBs showed desmoplastic/nodular histology; all other MBs had classic histology. WNT-MBs carried oncogenic CTNNB1 mutations in 88.2% and had monosomy 6 in 52.9%. In SHH-MBs, TERT promoter mutations occurred in 97%, mutations in PTCH1 in 38.2%, SMO in 15.5%, SUFU in 7.4%, and TP53-mutations in 4.1%. In all, 84.6% of non-WNT/non-SHH-MBs had an isochromosome 17q. A whole chromosomal aberration (WCA) signature was present in 45.1% of SHH-TP53-wild type (wt)-MBs and 65.4% of non-WNT/non-SHH-MBs. In 98 cases with survival data, WNT-MBs had a 5-year overall survival (OS) of 68.6%. SHH-MBs TP53wt type and non-WNT/non-SHH-MBs showed 5-year OS of 80.4% and 70.8%, respectively. TP53-mutant SHH-MBs represented a prognostically unfavorable entity; all patients died within 5 years. Patients with a WCA signature showed significantly increased OS (p = 0.011 for SHH-TP53wt-MBs and p = 0.048 for non-WNT/non-SHH-MBs).
Functional diversity and redundancy of subalpine meadows subjected to anthropogenic disturbances
Authors: Huang Xiaoxia , Sheng Zhilu , He Kejian , Zhang Yong , Kang Bin , Ding Jiao , Liu Dongmei
Published: April 2021

Aims

The aims of this study were to assess how functional diversity (FD) and functional redundancy respond to subalpine meadow ecosystem degradation under anthropogenic disturbance and how species contribute to functional redundancy along the disturbance gradient.

Methods

The study was carried out in the subalpine meadow in Mount Jade Dragon, which is located at the southeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Four disturbance intensities [no disturbance (ND), weak disturbance (WD), moderate disturbance (MD) and severe disturbance (SD)] were identified. Species richness, soil properties and five key plant functional traits were assessed along the disturbance gradient. Simpson’s diversity index, FD based on the Rao algorithm, functional redundancy, community-weighted mean of each functional trait and species-level functional redundancy were determined.

Important Findings

Unimodal change pattern of FD and functional redundancy along the disturbance gradient were found in the present study, with their maximum in MD and WD, respectively. Species diversity showed a decreasing trend with increasing disturbance intensity. As disturbance intensified, species with traits related to conservative growth strategies, such as low specific leaf area (SLA) and high leaf dry matter content (LDMC), decreased, whereas species with resource acquisitive strategies, such as small plant, high SLA and low LDMC, increased in the community. At the species level, species showed species-specific roles in functional redundancy. Notably, some species were important in the community in terms of their unique function. For instance, Ligularia dictyoneura in ND and Potentilla delavayi in MD and SD.
Mycorrhizal symbiosis primes the accumulation of antiherbivore compounds and enhances herbivore mortality in tomato
Authors: Rivero Javier , Lidoy Javier , Llopis-Giménez Ángel , Herrero Salvador , Flors Víctor , Pozo María J
Published: April 2021

Plant association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can increase their ability to overcome multiple stresses, but their impact on plant interactions with herbivorous insects is controversial. Here we show higher mortality of the leaf-chewer Spodoptera exigua when fed on tomato plants colonized by the AMF Funneliformis mosseae, evidencing mycorrhiza-induced resistance. In search of the underlying mechanisms, an untargeted metabolomic analysis through ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) was performed. The results showed that mycorrhizal symbiosis had a very limited impact on the leaf metabolome in the absence of stress, but significantly modulated the response to herbivory in the damaged area. A cluster of over accumulated metabolites was identified in those leaflets damaged by S. exigua feeding in mycorrhizal plants, while unwounded distal leaflets responded similar to those from non-mycorrhizal plants. These primed-compounds were mostly related to alkaloids, fatty acid derivatives and phenylpropanoid-polyamine conjugates. The deleterious effect on larval survival of some of these compounds, including the alkaloid physostigmine, the fatty acid derivatives 4-oxododecanedioic acid and azelaic acid, was confirmed. Thus, our results evidence the impact of AMF on metabolic reprograming upon herbivory that leads to a primed accumulation of defensive compounds.