bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A predictive analytics of production planning model for yield performance in organic broiler industry using ensemble learning
Authors: Lastanto J A , Djatna T
Published: August 2022

The Organic broiler production requires farmers to use organic herbs without growth promoters or other chemical contents. The problem is uncertain production yield performance results. On the other hand, farmers want good performance results to increase income and minimize loss of production. Therefore, machine learning can support organic broiler production decisions. Meanwhile, a single prediction model has a lower level of accuracy, so a combination of various prediction models is needed. The paper aims to find an accurate performance of the yield production prediction model and has a high degree of accuracy using ensemble learning techniques. The attributes that affect performance as input include corn, rice bran, soybean meal, coconut cake, fish meal, and herbs. Then we evaluate the model using the confusion matrix. The result shows that ensemble learning has succeeded in predicting the yield performance of organic broilers with an accuracy of 98.96%. The evaluation model showed that accuracy was 87.98% in the data train and 94.23% in the data test.
The challenge of bamboo craft industry in the VUCA era
Authors: Nindiani A , Suparno O , Machfud  , Anggraeni E
Published: August 2022

Most of the bamboo craft industries in Indonesia are micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). They process bamboo as the raw materials into various products marketed domestically and abroad. The bamboo craft industry is categorised as the creative industry, providing value to intellectual property sourced from creativity based on cultural heritage, science, and technology. Bamboo is processed into different products to meet human needs and desires. This paper describes the profile of the bamboo craft industry in Indonesia and its problems. A literature study was carried out supported by interviews with stakeholders and observations. Nowadays, the bamboo craft industry faces VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity). The unstable business environment, uncertain market competition due to substitute products and imported products’ entry, the increased complexity of business conditions, and unclear situations often colour the business cycle. These conditions cause the bamboo craft industry to experience vulnerability in maintaining business continuity. The challenge faced by the bamboo craft industry is to be resilient to survive and even grow amid unexpected disruptions by being adaptive in meeting business cycle dynamics.
How digital platform changing people way to buy FMCG products
Authors: Mulyawan A , Alamsyah Z , Marimin
Published: August 2022

Current technological developments have brought about major changes in consumers’ views when buying household products. Technological advances due to the Internet have disclosed various opportunities in business. Household products in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) are those that can be applied to digital platforms in business processes. This study aims to determine how digital platforms change customer behavior due to many factors that are affected by technological development. This research also provides a perspective on how customers decide to buy FMCG from a digital platform. The results show that brand awareness, audiovisual social media advertising, ease of access, and reviews from other consumers affect how consumers buy options. Advertising in social media, electronic word of mouth (e-WOM), customer engagement, positive influence, brand awareness, and sales enhancement are major factors that make digital platforms profitable for suppliers or manufacturers as a new business model
A system analysis and design for mobile digital business traceability at a food manufacturing
Authors: Djatna T , Koswara M F , Kuncoro D K R
Published: August 2022

As one of the multinational biscuit manufacturers in Bekasi, the X company is supported by Business Planning and Control System (BPCS) for the traceability in their supply chain. Although it has covered upstream and downstream supply chains, the company’s traceability is still considered ineffective. It is seen from the results of the company’s evaluation through the mock recall procedure. The research aims to identify the requirement of a mobile traceability system for mock recall procedures, design components of mobile traceability system prototype based on an android system, and validate the mobile traceability system and performances. The business process analysis in this research is using Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) to trace the system. The results show that traceability is still less effective because activities are done manually, which takes much time. Therefore, the system is developed with cosine similarity calculation and verification of the model and validation of the black box. The verification and validation of the system against its needs show that the mobile traceability system can improve the effectiveness of company traceability and can be applied in the internal supply chain.
Logistics network configuration: The solution for quality-related problems in long-distance transportation of mango in Indonesia
Authors: Kailaku S I , Arkeman Y , Purwanto Y A , Udin F
Published: August 2022

Indonesia was ranked 46th out of 160 countries in the Logistic Performance Index 2018, below most ASEAN countries. Indonesia’s dependence on inter-island interconnections causes high container handling costs. Mango is one of Indonesia’s superior fruits. While almost every province in Indonesia produces mango, the major mango producers are mainly in Java Island and Eastern Indonesia. This production distribution leads to the demand to distribute mango from the production centers to other areas, which raises concerns about quality preservation. A well-designed logistics network configuration is imperative for a perishable food supply chain such as mango due to its influence on material flow balance, postharvest losses, costs, and response capacity. This study aims to review the problems of mango transportation in Indonesia and the thriving technology in transportation conditions monitoring and propose a formulation to develop a logistics network configuration. The presented paper discusses a multi-objective problem of customers maximization, postharvest losses rate minimization, and transportation cost minimization. We elaborate on the challenges with implementing multimodal transportation for perishable products, requirement analysis for the stakeholders, and transportation conditions monitoring. Ultimately, we develop a surplus model following the multi-objective problems considering the constraints of the harvest season, production volume, and distance from production centers to buyers’ locations. Field data and secondary information consist of material flow behaviour and market competition. The logistics network configuration models the material flow balance, postharvest losses, costs, and response capacity.
Assurance information systems design for blockchain - based micro, small and medium enterprises in Indonesia
Authors: Novianti D , Haditjaroko L , Almunawar M N
Published: August 2022

Halal Product Guarantee is legal certainty regarding the halalness of a product as evidenced by a halal certificate. Regulations regarding halal certificates are carried out based on Law Number 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Assurance (“Law 33/2014”). This provision requires all products to have a halal certificate. This certificate is hoped to add the value of the product to be absorbed by the market more. However, the problem is that not all business actors or industries can implement halal guarantees. Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have weaknesses in the documentation and halal traceability. These two things become one of the criteria for the halal assurance system to get a halal certificate. We need a computerised information system that can help SMEs document and trace. Meanwhile, blockchain technology is needed for documentation transparency, which effectively keeps track of information and transactions. The system is proven to be safe and transparent. Because when the transaction takes place, all parties can see public access.
An analysis and design of fresh milk smart grading system based on internet of things
Authors: Habsari W , Udin F , Arkeman Y
Published: August 2022

The grading of fresh milk affects the quality classification in the dairy industry. This study aims to analyze and design a smart grading system using machine learning models to classify the grade of fresh milk. Business process analysis helped understand the capturing steps as the main elements, such as the smart grading system. The result of the requirement analysis showed how smart the grading system involved stakeholders. The machine learning model can help the Internet of Things system classify goods or services.Artificial Neural Networkand K-means were designed to classify and group indicators of fresh milk quality. The variables used in this study consisted of pH, temperature, odour, turbidity, colour, fat, and taste values. The data were taken from the upstream dairy industry SAE Pujon. The classification result of fresh milk grades using ANN consisted of three low, medium, and high grades. The accuracy value of the classification obtained is 98.74%. The attributes used for grouping were temperature and colour. The best clusterization that used K-Means is the third cluster. Based on the data analysis, the smart grading system made users save time knowing the grade of fresh milk easier.
Cavitation and strain-induced transformation: the austenite phase behavior in a soft martensitic and an austenitic stainless steel
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Authors: Brunatto Silvio Francisco , Cardoso Rodrigo Perito , Santos Leonardo Luis
Published: August 2022

In this work the behavior of the austenite phase at the surface of a low-carbon martensitic stainless steel and an austenitic stainless steel subjected to cavitation through ultrasonic vibration tests in liquid phase was studied. Emphasis was given to the behavior of two distinct types of austenite, in the case the reversed austenite of the as-tempered ASTM CA-6NM martensitic stainless steel, and the thermally-stable austenite of the solution-treated AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel. The evolution of phases fraction at the studied surfaces by XRD technique was characterized by two ways. Firstly, cavitation test intercalated with XRD measurements as a function of the test time was carried out. In the sequence, an indirect measurement technique comprising the use of Vickers indentation and controlled material removal by polishing, also intercalated with XRD characterization along the incubation period of both steels was used. This procedure was strong enough to determine the mechanism that precedes the erosive wear defining the incubation-acceleration stages transition and the cavitation-affected depth presenting γ(austenite)→α′(martensite) strain-induced transformation in the material microstructure, measured from the surface of the tested region into the interior of the substrate bulk of each studied steel. Such mechanism covers deformation of the steel matrix and strain-induced transformation of the austenite phase at the surfaces subjected to cavitation, strongly influencing the beginning of the significant mass loss process for both low-carbon stainless steels studied here.
Performance of dye-sensitized solar cells extracted dye from wood apple leaves
Authors: Alhorani Samah , Kumar Sarvesh , Genwa Mahaveer , Meena P L
Published: August 2022

In this work, wood apple leaves dye has been extracted, characterized, and examined as a potential photosensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The dye was extracted in an ethanolic medium from the fresh wood apple leaves and characterized using thin-layer chromatography (TLC), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The current density-voltage (J–V) characteristics measurements were performed on the two assembled DSSCs for 1–22 days using fresh and seven days old extracted dye. The characterization results revealed that the extracted dye mainly contains the compound of carotenoids (neoxanthin), chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and their derivative (pheophytin) with various functional groups. The J–V characteristics of DSSCs indicate that an open-circuit voltage and short circuit current density radically decrease with increasing time, thus degrading the efficiency of cells. A degraded DSSCs suffered from high defect recombination may be induced by Mg ions migrating from chlorophyll dye into DSSC. Therefore, the extracted dye may be used for energy harvesting from the wood apple leaves.
Trauma care in older people: charting a path from outlier to excellence
Authors: Matharu Gulraj S , Whitehouse Michael R , Harding Karen , Kelly Michael , Walsh Katherine
Published: August 2022

Trauma in older people leads to substantial morbidity and mortality. The National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD) has driven improved practice with units compared to identify outliers. In 2013, our unit was an outlier for mortality post hip fracture (30-day mortality 12.2% vs. 8.3% nationally). This triggered external review. In 2019 the unit was highlighted as an exemplar in the UK. We describe the process that moved us from outlier to outstanding. After the initial review process, we made changes to our healthcare system, with regular reassessment of progress and care quality. Examples include a dedicated hip fracture unit, strong leadership (Nursing, Orthopaedic, Geriatrician, Anaesthetic), consultant-led in-depth monthly mortality reviews, changes to admission pathways and delirium prevention. Improvements were seen in all aspects of hip fracture care in 2019 compared with 2012. Thirty-day case-mixed adjusted mortality halved (12.2–6.1%), with substantial reductions in reoperations and pressure sores. Length of stay reduced by 5.9 days. In 2019 our unit’s performance was significantly above the national average for all six indicators assessed by NHFD: prompt orthogeriatric review (97% vs. 91% national average), prompt surgery (85% vs. 68%); NICE compliant surgery (85% vs. 74%); prompt mobilisation (93% vs. 81%); not delirious postoperatively (77% vs. 69%); return to original residence (78% vs. 71%). The NHFD highlighted our Unit as one of nine (from 175 total) highly performing UK trusts. We summarise our service development and improvement work undertaken to achieve ‘outstanding’ status, which provides a valuable template to units managing trauma in older people.
Dynamics of Change in Poverty Measures amongst Social Service Users in Israel: A Comparison of Standard Care and a Poverty-Aware Programme
Authors: Brand-Levi Aila , Malul Miki , Krumer-Nevo Michal
Published: August 2022

Although social service departments (SSDs) in Israel are the main institutions through which social workers provide social care to people in poverty, the dynamics between the multiple dimensions of poverty amongst service users (SUs) and the consequences of social care to these dynamics have not been systematically explored. The current study is the first study that aims to fill this gap by comparing multidimensional poverty amongst 159 SUs. The study compared two kinds of social care provided by the same SSDs: standard social care and a poverty-aware programme. Data were collected at two time points by telephone interviews and was analysed using independent samples t test, the paired-sample t test, the exact McNemar test for dichotomous variables, the Tukey test, the χ2 test and linear regression. Findings indicate that SUs who were treated in the poverty-aware programme received more assistance in a larger range of areas and a significantly positive change was found amongst them in a variety of measures. The discussion explores the importance of expanding research on the contribution of SSD’s social care in order to adapt public services to the needs of SUs and to make them a vehicle in the fight against poverty.
Modified valve-in-valve bailout technique of transcatheter aortic valve replacement in severe aortic regurgitation for valve jumping up to ascending aorta: a case report
Authors: Hu Zheng , Huang Bing , Jiang Hong , Chen Jing
Published: August 2022

Background

Aortic regurgitation remains a challenge for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), because of the high risk of post-procedural migration or paravalvular leakage resulting from the anatomical and pathophysiological features.

Case summary

A 75-year-old male with symptomatic severe aortic regurgitation underwent transfemoral TAVR due to poor physical condition and a Society of Thoracic Surgeons score of 11.3%. However, complete dislodgement of the valve into the ascending aorta occurred during the operation. We performed a modified valve-in-valve technique by using an ablation catheter (instead of performing urgent surgery), and no post-interventional complications were found during hospitalization. The patient was discharged in a stable condition on postoperative Day 12. At the 6-month follow-up, echocardiography showed trivial paravalvular leakage. The left ventricular ejection fraction further improved from 30 to 48%.

Discussion

The management of valve migration can be troublesome. In this case, we performed a modified valve-in-valve technique by using an ablation catheter without post-interventional complications. This is a novel strategy for the management of emergencies, which could avoid surgical thoracotomy. Our strategy may be an alternative option in some cases of valve jumping up to the ascending aorta.
A threatening meteor for cardiac surgeons: anomalous left main coronary origin in type A aortic dissection
Authors: Braconi Lucio , Cabrucci Francesco , Bacchi Beatrice , Bonacchi Massimo
Published: August 2022

We present the case of a type A aortic dissection originating from the right coronary ostium and an intraoperative diagnosis of the entire coronary artery system originating from a single right-sided coronary ostium.
Exerkine fibronectin type-III domain-containing protein 5/irisin-enriched extracellular vesicles delay vascular ageing by increasing SIRT6 stability
Authors: Chi Chen , Fu Hui , Li Yong-Hua , Zhang Guo-Yan , Zeng Fei-Yan , Ji Qing-Xin , Shen Qi-Rui , Wang Xu-Jie , Li Zi-Chen , Zhou Can-Can , Sun Di-Yang , Fu Jiang-Tao , Wu Wen-Bin , Zhang Ping-Ping , Zhang Jia-Bao , Liu Jian , Shen Fu-Ming , Li Dong-Jie , Wang Pei
Published: August 2022

Aims

Exercise confers protection against cardiovascular ageing, but the mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study sought to investigate the role of fibronectin type-III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5)/irisin, an exercise-associated hormone, in vascular ageing. Moreover, the existence of FNDC5/irisin in circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their biological functions was explored.

Methods and results

FNDC5/irisin was reduced in natural ageing, senescence, and angiotensin II (Ang II)-treated conditions. The deletion of FNDC5 shortened lifespan in mice. Additionally, FNDC5 deficiency aggravated vascular stiffness, senescence, oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction in 24-month-old naturally aged and Ang II-treated mice. Conversely, treatment of recombinant irisin alleviated Ang II-induced vascular stiffness and senescence in mice and vascular smooth muscle cells. FNDC5 was triggered by exercise, while FNDC5 knockout abrogated exercise-induced protection against Ang II-induced vascular stiffness and senescence. Intriguingly, FNDC5 was detected in human and mouse blood-derived EVs, and exercise-induced FNDC5/irisin-enriched EVs showed potent anti-stiffness and anti-senescence effects in vivo and in vitro. Adeno-associated virus-mediated rescue of FNDC5 specifically in muscle but not liver in FNDC5 knockout mice, promoted the release of FNDC5/irisin-enriched EVs into circulation in response to exercise, which ameliorated vascular stiffness, senescence, and inflammation. Mechanistically, irisin activated DnaJb3/Hsp40 chaperone system to stabilize SIRT6 protein in an Hsp70-dependent manner. Finally, plasma irisin concentrations were positively associated with exercise time but negatively associated with arterial stiffness in a proof-of-concept human study.

Conclusion

FNDC5/irisin-enriched EVs contribute to exercise-induced protection against vascular ageing. These findings indicate that the exerkine FNDC5/irisin may be a potential target for ageing-related vascular comorbidities.
Assembly of root-associated N2O-reducing communities of annual crops is governed by selection for nosZ clade I over clade II
Authors: Graf Daniel R H , Jones Christopher M , Zhao Ming , Hallin Sara
Published: August 2022

The rhizosphere is a hotspot for denitrification. The nitrous oxide (N2O) reductase among denitrifiers and nondenitrifying N2O reducers is the only known N2O sink in the biosphere. We hypothesized that the composition of root-associated N2O-reducing communities when establishing on annual crops depend on soil type and plant species, but that assembly processes are independent of these factors and differ between nosZ clades I and II. Using a pot experiment with barley and sunflower and two soils, we analyzed the abundance, composition, and diversity of soil and root-associated N2O reducing communities by qPCR and amplicon sequencing of nosZ. Clade I was more abundant on roots compared to soil, while clade II showed the opposite. In barley, this pattern coincided with N2O availability, determined as potential N2O production rates, but for sunflower no N2O production was detected in the root compartment. Root and soil nosZ communities differed in composition and phylogeny-based community analyses indicated that assembly of root-associated N2O reducers was driven by the interaction between plant and soil type, with inferred competition being more influential than habitat selection. Selection between clades I and II in the root/soil interface is suggested, which may have functional consequences since most clade I microorganisms can produce N2O.
Three-dimensional models of the cervicovaginal epithelia to study host–microbiome interactions and sexually transmitted infections
Authors: Edwards Vonetta L , McComb Elias , Gleghorn Jason P , Forney Larry , Bavoil Patrik M , Ravel Jacques
Published: August 2022

2D cell culture systems have historically provided controlled, reproducible means to analyze host–pathogen interactions observed in the human reproductive tract. Although inexpensive, straightforward, and requiring a very short time commitment, these models recapitulate neither the functionality of multilayered cell types nor the associated microbiome that occurs in a human. Animal models have commonly been used to recreate the complexity of human infections. However, extensive modifications of animal models are required to recreate interactions that resemble those in the human reproductive tract. 3D cell culture models have emerged as alternative means of reproducing vital elements of human infections at a fraction of the cost of animal models and on a scale that allows for replicative experiments. Here, we describe a new 3D model that utilizes transwells with epithelial cells seeded apically and a basolateral extracellular matrix (ECM)-like layer. The model produced tissues with morphologic and physiological resemblance to human cervical and vaginal epithelia, including mucus levels produced by cervical cells. Infection by Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae was demonstrated, as well as the growth of bacterial species observed in the human vaginal microbiota. This enabled controlled mechanistic analyses of the interactions between host cells, the vaginal microbiota, and STI pathogens. Affordable and semi high-throughput 3D models of the cervicovaginal epithelia that are physiologically relevant by sustaining vaginal bacterial colonization, and facilitate studies of chlamydial and gonococcal infections.
Yeast osmoregulation – glycerol still in pole position
Authors: Blomberg Anders
Published: August 2022

In response to osmotic dehydration cells sense, signal, alter gene expression, and metabolically counterbalance osmotic differences. The main compatible solute/osmolyte that accumulates in yeast cells is glycerol, which is produced from the glycolytic intermediate dihydroxyacetone phosphate. This review covers recent advancements in understanding mechanisms involved in sensing, signaling, cell-cycle delays, transcriptional responses as well as post-translational modifications on key proteins in osmoregulation. The protein kinase Hog1 is a key-player in many of these events, however, there is also a growing body of evidence for important Hog1-independent mechanisms playing vital roles. Several missing links in our understanding of osmoregulation will be discussed and future avenues for research proposed. The review highlights that this rather simple experimental system—salt/sorbitol and yeast—has developed into an enormously potent model system unravelling important fundamental aspects in biology.
The genome sequence of the scarce swallowtail, Iphiclides podalirius
Authors: Mackintosh Alexander , Laetsch Dominik R , Baril Tobias , Ebdon Sam , Jay Paul , Vila Roger , Hayward Alex , Lohse Konrad
Published: August 2022

The scarce swallowtail, Iphiclides podalirius (Linnaeus, 1758), is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly for Iphiclides podalirius as well as gene and transposable element annotations. We investigate how the density of genomic features differs between the 30 Iphiclides podalirius chromosomes. We find that shorter chromosomes have higher heterozygosity at four-fold-degenerate sites and a greater density of transposable elements. While the first result is an expected consequence of differences in recombination rate, the second suggests a counter-intuitive relationship between recombination and transposable element evolution. This high-quality genome assembly, the first for any species in the tribe Leptocircini, will be a valuable resource for population genomics in the genus Iphiclides and comparative genomics more generally.
Discovery of nonautonomous modulators of activated Ras
Authors: Corchado-Sonera Marcos , Rambani Komal , Navarro Kristen , Kladney Raleigh , Dowdle James , Leone Gustavo , Chamberlin Helen M
Published: August 2022

Communication between mesodermal cells and epithelial cells is fundamental to normal animal development and is frequently disrupted in cancer. However, the genes and processes that mediate this communication are incompletely understood. To identify genes that mediate this communication and alter the proliferation of cells with an oncogenic Ras genotype, we carried out a tissue-specific genome-wide RNAi screen in Caenorhabditis elegans animals bearing a let-60(n1046gf) (RasG13E) allele. The screen identifies 24 genes that, when knocked down in adjacent mesodermal tissue, suppress the increased vulval epithelial cell proliferation defect associated with let-60(n1046gf). Importantly, gene knockdown reverts the mutant animals to a wild-type phenotype. Using chimeric animals, we genetically confirm that 2 of the genes function nonautonomously to revert the let-60(n1046gf) phenotype. The effect is genotype restricted, as knockdown does not alter development in a wild type (let-60(+)) or activated EGF receptor (let-23(sa62gf)) background. Although many of the genes identified encode proteins involved in essential cellular processes, including chromatin formation, ribosome function, and mitochondrial ATP metabolism, knockdown does not alter the normal development or function of targeted mesodermal tissues, indicating that the phenotype derives from specific functions performed by these cells. We show that the genes act in a manner distinct from 2 signal ligand classes (EGF and Wnt) known to influence the development of vulval epithelial cells. Altogether, the results identify genes with a novel function in mesodermal cells required for communicating with and promoting the proliferation of adjacent epithelial cells with an activated Ras genotype.
A Beary Good Genome: Haplotype-Resolved, Chromosome-Level Assembly of the Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
Authors: Armstrong Ellie E , Perry Blair W , Huang Yongqing , Garimella Kiran V , Jansen Heiko T , Robbins Charles T , Tucker Nathan R , Kelley Joanna L
Published: August 2022

The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is the second largest and most widespread extant terrestrial carnivore on Earth and has recently emerged as a medical model for human metabolic diseases. Here, we report a fully phased chromosome-level assembly of a male North American brown bear built by combining Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) HiFi data and publicly available Hi-C data. The final genome size is 2.47 Gigabases (Gb) with a scaffold and contig N50 length of 70.08 and 43.94 Megabases (Mb), respectively. Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Ortholog (BUSCO) analysis revealed that 94.5% of single copy orthologs from Mammalia were present in the genome (the highest of any ursid genome to date). Repetitive elements accounted for 44.48% of the genome and a total of 20,480 protein coding genes were identified. Based on whole genome alignment to the polar bear, the brown bear is highly syntenic with the polar bear, and our phylogenetic analysis of 7,246 single-copy orthologs supports the currently proposed species tree for Ursidae. This highly contiguous genome assembly will support future research on both the evolutionary history of the bear family and the physiological mechanisms behind hibernation, the latter of which has broad medical implications.
The evolution of recombination in self-fertilizing organisms
Authors: Stetsenko Roman , Roze Denis
Published: August 2022

Cytological data from flowering plants suggest that the evolution of recombination rates is affected by the mating system of organisms, as higher chiasma frequencies are often observed in self-fertilizing species compared with their outcrossing relatives. Understanding the evolutionary cause of this effect is of particular interest, as it may shed light on the selective forces favoring recombination in natural populations. While previous models showed that inbreeding may have important effects on selection for recombination, existing analytical treatments are restricted to the case of loosely linked loci and weak selfing rates, and ignore the stochastic effect of genetic interference (Hill–Robertson effect), known to be an important component of selection for recombination in randomly mating populations. In this article, we derive general expressions quantifying the stochastic and deterministic components of selection acting on a mutation affecting the genetic map length of a whole chromosome along which deleterious mutations occur, valid for arbitrary selfing rates. The results show that selfing generally increases selection for recombination caused by interference among mutations as long as selection against deleterious alleles is sufficiently weak. While interference is often the main driver of selection for recombination under tight linkage or high selfing rates, deterministic effects can play a stronger role under intermediate selfing rates and high recombination, selecting against recombination in the absence of epistasis, but favoring recombination when epistasis is negative. Individual-based simulation results indicate that our analytical model often provides accurate predictions for the strength of selection on recombination under partial selfing.
Utilization of Colonoscopy Following Treatment Initiation in U.S. Commercially Insured Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, 2013-2019
Authors: Yang Jeff Y , Lund Jennifer L , Pate Virginia , Kappelman Michael D
Published: August 2022

Background

Evaluation of mucosal healing with colonoscopy is recommended for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management; however, little is known about real-world use of treat-to-target monitoring following IBD treatment initiation. We aimed to estimate the proportion of U.S. commercially insured IBD patients who receive colonoscopy in the 3 to 15 months after initiating treatment.

Methods

We identified IBD patients, 18 to 64 years of age, in the IBM MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database as those with ≥3 IBD diagnoses prior to initiation of biologic, small molecule, or immunomodulatory treatment. We excluded patients with prior colectomy and with rheumatologic and other indications for these therapies. Colonoscopies were identified using International Classification of Diseases–Ninth Revision, International Classification of Diseases–Tenth Revision, and Current Procedural Terminology procedure codes. We used Kaplan-Meier methods to estimate the proportion of newly treated IBD patients who received colonoscopy in the 3 to 6 months, 3 to 12 months, and 3 to 15 months following treatment initiation, and stratified trends by year, patient age and sex, and region.

Results

From 2013 to 2019, we identified 39 734 initiators of IBD medications (51.9% female, mean age 39.4 years). We observed similar colonoscopy incidence among ulcerative colitis patients (3-6 months: 14.2% [95% confidence interval (CI), 13.6%-14.8%]; 3-12 months: 37.7% [95% CI, 36.8%-38.6%]; 3-15 months: 46.1% [95% CI, 45.2%-47.1%]) and Crohn’s disease patients (3-6 months: 11.2% [95% CI, 10.8%-11.6%]; 3-12 months: 32.2% [95% CI, 31.5%-32.9%]; 3-15 months: CD: 40.1% [95% CI, 39.3%-40.8%]). Overall colonoscopy use was slightly higher among women, patients in the Northeast, and those initiating newer biologic therapies.

Conclusions

Fewer than half of newly treated IBD patients underwent colonoscopy within 3 to 15 months of initiating new treatment, suggesting low uptake of treat-to-target endoscopic disease monitoring in real-world practice.
Investment Protection in Post-Brexit EU–UK Relations
Authors: Peters Laura , Wuschka Sebastian
Published: August 2022

With the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, in particular from its internal market, the customs union and all of the EU’s international agreements, a new chapter in Europe’s legal, economic and political history has begun. This note sets out the consequences of Brexit for investment protection and arbitration, focusing on EU-UK investment relations. In a first step, it addresses the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement’s investment protection provisions and its unique dispute settlement mechanism before turning to the fate of the United Kingdom’s bilateral investment treaties with EU Member States as well as the Energy Charter Treaty. Even though these investment treaties are likely to remain in force, the article concludes that, from the point of view of EU investors in the UK and UK investors in the EU, it can overall be seen as a clear omission that the Trade and Cooperation Agreement does not regulate investment protection in a comprehensive manner. The current situation leaves significant gaps in treaty protection, especially for investments from and into the Western EU Member States.
Bilateral pulmonary artery banding for transposition of the great arteries complex with coarctation
Authors: Miwa Koji , Iwai Shigemitsu , Nagashima Toshiaki
Published: August 2022

Surgical approaches for transposition of the great arteries with aortic arch obstruction include primary repair and two-stage repair. However, neither approach provides a satisfactory outcome. We report a case of patient who underwent two-stage repair, wherein arterial switch operation combined with aortic arch reconstruction was preceded by bilateral pulmonary artery banding; this yielded good outcomes. This approach safely avoids primary repair in the neonatal period and allows for the opportunity to evaluate right ventricle outlet tract stenosis before the definitive repair.
Invasive Trichoderma spp. infections: clinical presentation and outcome of cases from the literature and the FungiScope® registry
Authors: Sal Ertan , Stemler Jannik , Salmanton-García Jon , Falces-Romero Iker , Kredics László , Meyer Elisabeth , Würstl Benjamin , Lass-Flörl Cornelia , Racil Zdenek , Klimko Nikolay , Cesaro Simone , Kindo Anupma Jyoti , Wisplinghoff Hilmar , Koehler Philipp , Cornely Oliver A , Seidel Danila
Published: August 2022

Background

Trichoderma spp. are filamentous fungi causing invasive fungal diseases in patients with haematological malignancies and in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Objectives

To analyse clinical presentation, predisposing factors, treatment and outcome of Trichoderma infections.

Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted for published cases of invasive Trichoderma infection in PubMed until December 2021 and by reviewing the included studies’ references. Cases from the FungiScope® registry were added to a combined analysis.

Results

We identified 50 invasive infections due to Trichoderma species, including 11 in the FungiScope® registry. The main underlying conditions were haematological malignancies in 19 and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in 10 cases. The most prevalent infection sites were lung (42%) and peritoneum (22%). Systemic antifungal therapy was administered in 42 cases (84%), mostly amphotericin B (n = 27, lipid-based formulation 13/27) and voriconazole in 15 cases (30%). Surgical interventions were performed in 13 cases (26%). Overall mortality was 48% (n = 24) and highest for allogeneic HSCT and solid organ transplantation (SOT) recipients [80% (4/5) and 77% (7/9), respectively]. In patients treated with amphotericin B, voriconazole and caspofungin, mortality was 55% (15/27), 46% (7/15) and 28% (2/7), respectively. Three out of four patients treated with a combination therapy of voriconazole and caspofungin survived.

Conclusions

Despite treatment with antifungal therapies and surgery, invasive Trichoderma infections are life-threatening complications in immunocompromised patients, especially after HSCT and SOT. In addition, Trichoderma spp. mainly affect the lungs in patients with haematological malignancies and the peritoneum in CAPD patients.
BSAC Vanguard Series: Tracking the global rise of antimicrobial resistance
Authors: Murray Christopher J L
Published: August 2022

One of the major challenges for tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is understanding the true burden of resistance and its impact on human health, particularly in locations where surveillance is minimal and data are sparse. The Global Research on AntiMicrobial resistance (GRAM) Project was launched to address these gaps. The scale of the challenge was considerable, but after 4 years of developing a stringent methodological approach and collecting/analysing data from many different sources, the capstone GRAM paper was published in January 2022. This article discusses the key findings and reviews the challenges in scaling-up AMR surveillance systems in a One Health framework. The GRAM Project represents a critical first-step in obtaining the accurate data that are needed to correctly target actions to control AMR.
Implementation outcomes of the Structured and Codified SIG format in electronic prescription directions
Authors: Lester Corey A , Flynn Allen J , Marshall Vincent D , Rochowiak Scott , Bagian James P
Published: August 2022

Objective

To determine the extent of implementation, completeness, and accuracy of Structured and Codified SIG (S&C SIG) directions on electronic prescriptions (e-prescriptions).

Materials and Methods

A retrospective analysis of a random sample of 3.8 million e-prescriptions sent from electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) software to outpatient pharmacies in the United States between 2019 and 2021. Natural language processing was used to identify direction components, including action verb, dose, frequency, route, duration, and indication from free-text directions and were compared to the S&C SIG format. Inductive qualitative analysis of S&C direction identified error types and frequencies for each component.

Results

Implementation of the S&C SIG format in e-prescribing software resulted in 32.4% of e-prescriptions transmitted with these standardized directions. Directions using the S&C SIG format contained a greater percentage of each direction component compared to free-text directions, except for the indication component. Structured and codified directions contained quality issues in 10.3% of cases.

Discussion

Expanding adoption of more diverse direction terminology for the S&C SIG formats can improve the coverage of directions using the S&C SIG format. Building out e-prescribing software interfaces to include more direction components can improve patient medication use and safety. Quality improvement efforts, such as improving the design of e-prescribing software and auditing for discrepancies, are needed to identify and eliminate implementation-related issues with direction information from the S&C SIG format so that e-prescription directions are always accurately represented.

Conclusion

Although directions using the S&C SIG format may result in more complete directions, greater adoption of the format and best practices for preventing its incorrect use are necessary.
Keeping synthetic patients on track: feedback mechanisms to mitigate performance drift in longitudinal health data simulation
Authors: Zhang Ziqi , Yan Chao , Malin Bradley A
Published: August 2022

Objective

Synthetic data are increasingly relied upon to share electronic health record (EHR) data while maintaining patient privacy. Current simulation methods can generate longitudinal data, but the results are unreliable for several reasons. First, the synthetic data drifts from the real data distribution over time. Second, the typical approach to quality assessment, which is based on the extent to which real records can be distinguished from synthetic records using a critic model, often fails to recognize poor simulation results. In this article, we introduce a longitudinal simulation framework, called LS-EHR, which addresses these issues.

Materials and methods

LS-EHR enhances simulation through conditional fuzzing and regularization, rejection sampling, and prior knowledge embedding. We compare LS-EHR to the state-of-the-art using data from 60 000 EHRs from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and the All of Us Research Program. We assess discrimination between real and synthetic data over time. We evaluate the generation process and critic model using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). For the critic, a higher value indicates a more robust model for quality assessment. For the generation process, a lower value indicates better synthetic data quality.

Results

The LS-EHR critic improves discrimination AUROC from 0.655 to 0.909 and 0.692 to 0.918 for VUMC and All of Us data, respectively. By using the new critic, the LS-EHR generation model reduces the AUROC from 0.909 to 0.758 and 0.918 to 0.806.

Conclusion

LS-EHR can substantially improve the usability of simulated longitudinal EHR data.
The Africa Temporal Scalp Flap: A Novel Flap for Facial Reconstruction
Authors: Venter Tertius HJ , Parker Gary R , Rogers Alan D , Clapham Laura E , Mende Konrad
Published: August 2022

Although a number of flaps exist for nasal reconstruction, severe scarring of the forehead after burn injury led to the development of a novel two-stage flap based on the superficial temporal artery. The Africa Temporal Scalp (ATS) flap is composed of an axial ascending part on the superficial temporal artery, and a descending anterior extension for reconstruction of the midface. This is a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent ATS flap surgery on the MV Africa Mercy. During the 7.5-year period, the ATS flap was applied to 45 facial reconstructions, with a median age of 28 years (range 19 months to 51 years). The main indications were previous burn injury (n = 27, 60%) and noma (n = 15, 33.3%). The majority of the flaps were used to reconstruct the lower third of the nose (n = 39, 86.7%), and the remaining six were for the lips or cheek. Experience allowed for earlier division than 3 weeks depending on the length of the flap, and the recipient site. There was one partial flap loss, one infection requiring revision, and two injuries to frontal branch of the facial nerve. The ATS flap is a novel two-stage flap that has proved especially versatile when forehead flaps are unavailable for nasal reconstruction due to extensive forehead scarring. The ATS flap reliably provides ample supple skin, and the donor site is effectively obscured from view, located in the periphery of the face.
The Origins and Operation of the General Principles of Law as Gap fillers
Authors: Wang Yilin
Published: August 2022

The gap-filling function is a prominent feature of general principles of law (GPL). However, there are several questions surrounding the prominence and characterization of this function. In light of this, this article revisits the origins of the GPL and their gap-filling function to understand why it gained prominence, and what it means to international law. By tracing the debates of the Advisory Committee of Jurists on the sources of international law, this article identifies that the necessity of gap filling is tied to the prevalent idea of the completeness of the international legal system. The article further explains the origins of the gap-filling requirement and how the GPL satisfy it. By historicizing the gap-filling discourse, the article argues that the GPL have been used to strengthen the completeness of international law.
Using Airborne LiDAR to Monitor Spatial Patterns in South Central Oregon Dry Mixed-Conifer Forest
Authors: Olszewski Julia , Bienz Craig , Markus Amy
Published: August 2022

A common forest restoration goal is to achieve a spatial distribution of trees consistent with historical forest structure, which can be characterized by the distribution of individuals, clumps, and openings (ICO). With the stated goal of restoring historical spatial patterns comes a need for effectiveness monitoring at appropriate spatial scales. Airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) can be used to identify individual tree locations and collect data at landscape scales, offering a method of analyzing tree spatial distributions over the scales at which forest restoration is conducted. In this study, we investigated whether tree locations identified by airborne LiDAR data can be used with existing spatial analysis methods to quantify ICO distributions for use in restoration effectiveness monitoring. Results showed fewer large clumps and large openings, and more small clumps and small openings relative to historical spatial patterns, suggesting that the methods investigated in this study can be used to monitor whether restoration efforts are successful at achieving desired tree spatial patterns.

Study Implications: Achieving a desired spatial pattern is often a goal of forest restoration. Monitoring for spatial pattern, however, can be complex and time-consuming in the field. LiDAR technology offers the ability to analyze spatial pattern at landscape scales. Preexisting methods for evaluation of the distribution of individuals, clumps, and openings were used in this study along with LiDAR individual tree detection methodology to assess whether a forest restoration project implemented in a Southern Oregon landscape achieved desired spatial patterns.