bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“We Eat Every Day, but I’m Perpetually Hungry”: Interrogating Food System Transformation and (Forced) Dietary Changes in Tamale, Ghana
Authors: Fuseini Issahaka
Published: November 2022

Food system transformation and dietary changes appear ubiquitous in urban areas of Africa. These changes can be as dramatic and rapid as urbanization processes unfolding on the continent. Large cities, secondary cities and small towns all tend to experience these food system changes at varying degree and in unique ways. There is evidence in the Ghanaian context to suggest that urban food system transformations are more prevalent in smaller than larger cities. This chapter is based on a qualitative investigation into urban residents’ lived experiences regarding dietary changes underpinned by complex processes of urban food system transformation in Tamale. It is inspired by a participant’s remark that “we eat everyday but I’m perpetually hungry,” a sentimental expression that captures people’s frustration about ongoing dietary changes borne out of unsatisfactory food availability that affects their subjective wellbeing. The study reveals that the subjective experience of food security among the elderly men is impacted negatively by the unfolding food system transformation in the city. In addition to agricultural and economic development policies, the increased role of women in food decision making and their increased participation in activities outside of the home fuels the micro-level dietary changes. A recommendation is made to broaden the scope of Ghana’s Livelihood Empowerment Against Programme (LEAP) for purposive targeting and better coverage of the elderly urban poor.
Understanding Food Security and Hunger in Xai-Xai, Mozambique
Authors: Raimundo Inês Macamo , Caesar Mary
Published: November 2022

The cyclical alternation of drought, cyclones and floods threaten food security for households in rapidly growing coastal cities such as Xai-Xai, Mozambique. Inhabitants of Xai-Xai are highly dependent on urban subsistence agriculture and informal markets in order to guarantee food for their households. Both of these food security strategies have been affected by natural disasters in recent years making it difficult for households to access food. Recent research discussed in this chapter demonstrates that urban households are deprived of basic needs and live under permanent stress manifested by their inability to provide a pot of xima meal on household’s tables. The area around Xai-Xai used to be the granary of the southern Mozambique, but it is no longer able to guarantee that role. A common response among Xai-Xai residents to questions about urban food security is that food security is a concept for experts who do not understand their lived experiences. To them, food security associated with the whole household having enough xima. This chapter examines the concept of food security from the perspective of what really matters to households in the context of extreme events. The chapter integrates the lead author’s reflections on her community’s experiences with hunger and food security during her childhood with recent research on food security in Mozambique. The significance of this method in this instance is, as stated above, to uncover food security experiences that may well escape rigorous quantitative methods.
Hunger in an Agricultural City: Exploring Vulnerability in Dschang, Cameroon
Authors: Legwegoh Alexander , Riley Liam
Published: November 2022

Cameroon is rapidly becoming an urban society and much of the urban population growth is taking place in secondary cities. Dschang is one of these growing secondary cities. A former administrative centre and market hub for an agriculturally productive area, Dschang has expanded and diversified since the establishment of a national university in the 1990s. A household food security survey in 2017 found that two-thirds of households were severely food insecure, even amid high rates of participation in food production and livestock rearing and a robust informal food marketing system. This chapter documents the findings of the survey and outlines three important factors driving household food insecurity in Dschang: the limited power of the local government; the consequences of the political conflict in neighbouring Anglophone regions of Cameroon, and Dschang’s role as a supplier to the regional food system.
Non-timber Forest Products in Cameroon’s Food System and the Impact of Climate Change on Food Security in Dschang
Authors: Kamga Yanick Borel
Published: November 2022

Cameroon’s forests form an important component of forest block in the Congo Basin with about 20 million hectares containing over 8000 species of vascular plants of which about 150 are endemic. These forest resources are of significant economic value and many people earn their livelihood from the gathering and trading of food, fuel wood, fruits, leaves, medicinal products, and construction materials. Forest foods are vital to Cameroon’s food systems, including urban food systems, but they are threatened by the vulnerability of tropical forest ecosystem to climate change, a vulnerability exacerbated by recurrent past and the present problems related to poor natural resource management, conflict and inequality. Urban residents in Cameroon consume many forest foods and the trade in forest products creates employment for urban residents. This chapter draws together research conducted with forest communities, forest food traders and urban consumers to illustrate the importance of sustainable forest management for urban food security in Cameroon’s secondary cities.
Accessibility of Sanitary Facilities Among Food Sellers in African Secondary Cities: Implications for Food Safety and Urban Planning Policies
Authors: Chilanga Emmanuel , Riley Liam
Published: November 2022

Foodborne diseases are a major public health problem in African cities. Residents of secondary cities are often more at risk due to relatively low capacity for municipalities to provide hygiene infrastructure and to enforce food safety regulations. This study aimed to explore underlying factors that are associated with hygienic practices among food traders in Mzuzu, Malawi and Dschang, Cameroon. A multistage cross-sectional study design was conducted to sample 497 food traders in Mzuzu and 848 traders in Dschang. A questionnaire was administered to obtain data related to food safety practices, knowledge and sociodemographic characteristics of participants. Problems revealed by the survey included a lack of the following: knowledge about food safety regulations; toilet and hand washing facilities; waste bins and health inspections. The study suggests poor compliance of food hygiene practices among food traders. It highlights the lack of adequate action by the municipal government in educating food traders and enforcing food safety regulations.
Migrant Remittances and Household Food Security in Mzuzu, Malawi
Authors: Dhakal Anil
Published: November 2022

International remittances are a major source of income for many low and middle-income countries. As remittances are sent directly to families and friends living at the place of origin, they have a significant impact on alleviating poverty. The literature on remittances suggests that most remittance-receiving households in urban areas use a major portion of the remitted income for food purchase–indicating a close relationship between remittances and food security. However, understanding of how remittances are related to urban food security is still limited. More specifically, what is the role of remittances in overcoming food insecurity both directly (as an additional means available to access food), and indirectly (as a source of investment for income-generating activities)? This chapter explores these relationships between migrant remittances and household food security in the secondary city of Mzuzu, Malawi, based on semi-structured interviews with migrant households, returnee migrants and key informants.
Understanding Secondary City Typologies: A Food Governance Lens
Authors: Haysom Gareth
Published: November 2022

Sub-Saharan Africa is urbanizing rapidly, but this urbanization process is not well understood, in intermediate or secondary cities in particular. Secondary cities will be home to the majority of Africans. Rapidly growing African urban areas encounter multiple, mutually reinforcing development realities related to food and nutrition. Development and governance challenges are amplified when food system-related transitions intersect with other transitions taking place in secondary African cities. Drawing on food systems studies carried out in three secondary African cities, this chapter calls for far greater focus on the different types of secondary cities, and not overly simplistic definitions that use population size as the defining metric. The typologies discussed in this chapter include the trunk city; the satellite city; and the resource city. Understanding the typology of city potentially offers greater governance focus and targeting, ensuring that governance outcomes are positive, pro-poor and health enhancing is food systems governance specific to the diverse African urban contexts.
Co-productive Urban Planning: Protecting and Expanding Food Security in Uganda’s Secondary Cities
Authors: Brown Andrea M.
Published: November 2022

Co-production, a strategy increasingly being adopted by urban planners, has potential for protecting and expanding urban food security. Its goals go beyond those of participation to include substantive sharing in policy design, implementation and monitoring: shifting some power associated with these decisions and actions to primary stakeholders. Co-production is desirable for empowerment outcomes, and also on grounds of greater efficiency, cost savings and more locally informed planning. Slum/Shack Dwellers International (SDI) is a lead actor in co-production and has partnered with the Government of Uganda, working on pro-poor urban development projects underway in several secondary cities, including Jinja and Mbale. SDI frames slum dweller advocacy in a rights-based discourse with provisions that informal settlement residents articulate their own priorities. Given food access is a central priority of the urban poor, co-production creates opportunities to address urban food insecurity. However, governments, including municipal and national governments in Uganda, resist genuine power sharing with urban slum dwellers. This research explores how co-production engages slum dwellers and governance actors in the secondary cities of Jinja and Mbale, Uganda. It seeks to understand the possibilities and limitations of the current SDI co-productive programing in the context of urban food security. Empirical evidence to support this research is drawn from interviews with urban planning stakeholders in Kampala, Jinja and Mbale in 2015 and 2018.
Food Insecurity, Food Sourcing and Food Coping Strategies in the OOO Urban Corridor, Namibia
Authors: Nickanor Ndeyapo , Kazembe Lawrence , Crush Jonathan
Published: November 2022

The urbanizing world population has seen increased food insecurity in urban spaces, a result of unsustainable food systems, growing inequalities and weak urban governance that lacks urban food strategies. To improve our knowledge of household strategies employed to survive in urban spaces, we conducted a household survey to examine the relationship between coping strategies,food insecurity and dietary diversity in the secondary cities corridor of Oshakati-Ongwediva-Ondangwa (OOO) in Northern Namibia. The data were collected from 853 households, using a cluster-stratified sampling design. Household food insecurity in the corridor was77%, while the mean dietary diversity was less than 5. These measures differed by coping strategy andfood sourcing mechanism. The most common coping strategy was to rely on less preferred and less expensive foods (67%). Rural–urban food transfers were another common strategy (55%), while some households grow some of their own food in rural areas (23%). Urban agriculture is very limited as are informal social protection strategies such as sharing meals, borrowing from neighbours and providing food to neighbours or other households in the community.
Time After Time: Imprisonment, Re-entry and Enduring Temporariness
Authors: McNeill Fergus , Thomas Phil Crockett , Frödén Lucy Cathcart , Scott Jo Collinson , Escobar Oliver , Urie Alison
Published: November 2022

This chapter aims to address the scant attention that has been paid to time and temporalities in re-entry and re/integration research. Drawing on data from the ‘Distant Voices—Coming Home’ project, which used creative methods to explore re/integration after punishment—we illustrate and analyse three ‘travails’ of penal time. We use the term travails here to stress the significant, difficult and active work involved in addressing these temporal challenges. Respectively, these travails concern the struggles caused by ‘de-synchrony’ between time inside and outside of prison and the problems of ‘re-synchrony’ that it creates; the contestation of ‘readiness’ for progression and release; and the problem of living with the paradox of ‘enduring temporariness’. In our conclusion, we argue that tackling these three challenges requires people re-entering society to travel not just through spaces and to places but also through time, both backwards and forwards. These journeys are fraught with both difficulty and danger.
Making a Case for the Case: An Introduction
Authors: O’Mathúna Dónal , Iphofen Ron
Published: November 2022

This chapter agues for the importance of case studies in generating evidence to guide and/or support policymaking across a variety of fields. Case studies can offer the kind of depth and detail vital to the nuances of context, which may be important in securing effective policies that take account of influences not easily identified in more generalised studies. Case studies can be written in a variety of ways which are overviewed in this chapter, and can also be written with different purposes in mind. At the same time, case studies have limitations, particularly when evidence of causation is sought. Understanding these can help to ensure that case studies are appropriately used to assist in policymaking. This chapter also provides an overview of the types of case studies found in the rest of this volume, and briefly summarises the themes and topics addressed in each of the other chapters.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in a Time of Pandemics: Developing Options for the Ethical Governance of COVID-19 AI Applications
Authors: Kritikos Mihalis
Published: November 2022

This chapter analyses the various applications of artificial intelligence (AI) developed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and examines the range of ethical questions that their multi-level deployment may raise. Within this frame, the author sheds light on the challenges posed by the fast-tracking authorization of some of the AI systems and pays particular attention to the form and shape that ‘emergency response’ in the field of ethics has taken in order to cope with these extraordinary challenges and the ethical practices that have been developed thus far. The chapter will also provide a detailed set of policy suggestions to overcome these challenges with a special focus on the need to develop an emergency ethics framework that will allow policy-makers to authorize the deployment of AI-powered tools in a responsible and trustworthy manner.
Automated Justice: Issues, Benefits and Risks in the Use of Artificial Intelligence and Its Algorithms in Access to Justice and Law Enforcement
Authors: Gans-Combe Caroline
Published: November 2022

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of law has generated many hopes. Some have seen it as a way of relieving courts’ congestion, facilitating investigations, and making sentences for certain offences more consistent—and therefore fairer. But while it is true that the work of investigators and judges can be facilitated by these tools, particularly in terms of finding evidence during the investigative process, or preparing legal summaries, the panorama of current uses is far from rosy, as it often clashes with the reality of field usage and raises serious questions regarding human rights. This chapter will use the Robodebt Case to explore some of the problems with introducing automation into legal systems with little human oversight. AI—especially if it is poorly designed—has biases in its data and learning pathways which need to be corrected. The infrastructures that carry these tools may fail, introducing novel bias. All these elements are poorly understood by the legal world and can lead to misuse. In this context, there is a need to identify both the users of AI in the area of law and the uses made of it, as well as a need for transparency, the rules and contours of which have yet to be established.
Has the Case for the Case Been Made? Concluding Remarks
Authors: O’Mathúna Dónal , Iphofen Ron
Published: November 2022

This chapter brings together some of the general themes that can be gleaned from a consideration of all the case studies in this volume taken as a whole. Despite the substantive uniqueness of specific cases, no less than the ones collected here, there remain some key advantages to examining cases in detail and drawing on the broader lessons that can be learned from adopting the case study method. Equally important are the lessons that can be learned about how ethically generated evidence can help inform trustworthy and effective policies.
Data Protection in Croatia: An Indicator of Ethics Processes in Research Institutions
Authors: Koporc Zvonimir
Published: November 2022

The implementation of the European Union’s(EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the Republic of Croatia did not include derogations for scientific research purposes at the national level except for official statistical purposes. Research has shown that the Croatian Personal Data Protection Agency (AZOP) received very few inquiries related to personal data protection from academic and research institutions in Croatia, both before and after GDPR, but received many general inquiries and non-research-related reports. This chap uses Croatia as a case study to assess two explanations for this: that data protection is managed well in Croatian research, or that potential ethics issues in research data protection are not sufficiently recognized. This chap summarizes research findings exploring these issues, the inferences that can be drawn, and lessons learned that could contribute to research ethics processes in other European Member States.
The PRO-RES Guidance Framework for Scientific Research: A Novel Response to Long-Standing Issues
Authors: Kavouras P. , Charitidis C. A.
Published: November 2022

For more than three quarters of a century the large-scale application of superconductors demanded the use of expensive liquid helium, rendering large-scale application of superconductors unfeasible. The only way out of this deadlock was the invention of high temperature or high TC superconductors. In 1986, J.G. Bednorz and K.A. Müller demonstrated superconductivity at the record temperature of 30 K. This publication fostered a scientific research rush that culminated in the development, by P. Chu, of a material that turned into a superconductor below 93 K. The stakes could not be higher from academic, technological and economic perspectives, since high TC superconductivity could bring a Nobel Prize in Physics to its creators, would open up the way to commercial applications of superconductors, triggering a major technological revolution, and most possibly, create a multibillion-dollar market. In this chapter, we discuss cases of possible breaches of research integrity that occurred during the so-called “race for the superconductor”, as was chronicled in the book “The Breakthrough: The Race for the Superconductor” by R.M. Hazen, vis-à-vis the values and principles established within the PRO-RES normative framework, which is being built to merge the principles of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), required from researchers, and research funding and performing organizations, with an aim to balance political, institutional and professional contradictions and constraints.
Powering up a Country into the Middle-Income Club
Authors: Amin Sakib , Mansur Ahsan H. , Kamal Syed Mafiz , Groh Sebastian
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we discuss the stylized facts of Bangladesh’s energy sector, critically review the different policies of the government for powering up the nation in the last 50 years, identify existing controversies and finally indicate potential pathways to ensure future energy security. The novelty of the papers is twofold: First, prior literature did not study the in-depth policy analysis of the Bangladesh energy sector. Second, this paper contributes to the existing literature by providing strategic policy suggestions to the Bangladesh government for formulating its own set of energy policies to achieve its vision for 2041 of becoming a high-income country, after having cleared the interim goal of becoming a middle-income country at its 50th anniversary of independence. The paper also provides insights for other developing countries aspiring to become middle-income countries.
Low-Carbon Energy Transformation in China, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan: An Overview
Authors: Fahimi Abdullah , Stepputat Kai
Published: November 2022

Approximately 40% of the world’s population lived in China, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan in 2021. These countries were responsible for about 36% of the world’s CO2 emissions in 2018. Economically, in the same year they represented 20% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Considering the population, the CO2 emissions, and the share of their GDP in world economy, actions in these countries regarding fighting climate change and promoting low-carbon energy transformations have global consequences and are key to realization of 2015 Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (e.g., SDG7 and SDG13). In this article, we review the current energy situation, low-carbon energy targets and challenges to low-carbon energy transformation in each country and provide an overview of general trends and key factors in this transformation. The assessment shows that the above countries are not on the path to achieve the Paris Agreement target. CO2 emissions and the use of fossil fuels are still high in these countries. However, general trends such as decreasing costs of renewables, a decreasing dependency on fossil fuels imports, additional liquidity for energy infrastructure due to fuel costs savings, and remuneration schemes for renewables are all promising for decarbonisation efforts and low-carbon energy transformation.
Arbeits- und Organisationsstrukturen für hybride Wertschöpfung
Authors: Hartmann Veit , Sparwel Stefan
Published: November 2022

Die Umsetzung hybrider Geschäftsmodelle im eigenen Unternehmen stellt betriebliche Akteure vor Herausforderungen. Während auf der einen Seite das Geschäftsmodell im Hinblick auf Produkte und Dienstleistungen als Angebot für die späteren Kunden realisiert werden muss, ist es andererseits notwendig, die Arbeits- und Organisationsstrukturen im Unternehmen den neuen Anforderungen anzupassen bzw. so zu gestalten, dass die Arbeits- und Organisationsstrukturen das neue Geschäftsmodell bestmöglich unterstützen. Dazu ist es wichtig, sich darüber zu verständigen, welche Anforderungen das neue Geschäftsmodell an die bestehenden Arbeits- und Organisationsstrukturen stellt, welche Veränderungen notwendig sind und wie diese Veränderungen im Betrieb eingeführt werden. Dieses Kapitel stellt einen strukturierten Prozess der Gestaltung von Arbeits- und Organisationsstrukturen für hybride Wertschöpfung anhand eines konkreten, erprobten Fallbeispiels vor.
Doubly charged Higgs boson production at hadron colliders II: a Zee-Babu case study
Authors: Ruiz Richard
Published: November 2022

Abstract

Motivated by searches for so-called leptonic scalars at the LHC and the recent measurement of the W boson’s mass at the Tevatron, we revisit the phenomenology of the Zee-Babu model for neutrino masses and the ability to differentiate it from the Type II Seesaw model at the LHC. We conclude that this task is much more difficult than previously believed. All inputs equal in the two scenarios, we find that total and differential rates for producing pairs of doubly and singly charged scalars are identical in shape and only differ in normalization. The normalization is given by the ratio of hadronic cross sections and can be unity. Differences in cross sections are small and can be hidden by unknown branching rates. This holds for Drell-Yan, γγ fusion, and gg fusion, as well as observables at LO and NLO in QCD. This likeness allows us to reinterpret Run II limits on the Type II Seesaw and estimate projections for the HL-LHC. Using updated neutrino oscillation data, we also find that some collider observables, e.g., lepton flavor-violating branching ratios, are now sufficiently precise to provide a path forward. Other means of discrimination are also discussed. As a byproduct of this work, we report the availability of new Universal FeynRules Object libraries, the SM_ZeeBabu UFO, that enable fully differential simulations up to NLO+LL(PS) with tool chains employing MadGraph5_aMC@NLO.
Gradient formula for transition semigroup corresponding to stochastic equation driven by a system of independent Lévy processes
Authors: Kulik Alexei M. , Peszat Szymon , Priola Enrico
Published: November 2022

Let $$(P_t)$$

(

P
t

)

be the transition semigroup of the Markov family $$(X^x(t))$$

(

X
x

(
t
)

)

defined by SDE $$\begin{aligned} \mathrm{d}X= b(X)\mathrm{d}t + \mathrm{d}Z, \qquad X(0)=x, \end{aligned}$$

d
X
=
b
(
X
)
d
t
+
d
Z
,

X
(
0
)
=
x
,

where $$Z=\left( Z_1, \ldots , Z_d\right) ^*$$

Z
=

Z
1

,
…
,

Z
d

∗

is a system of independent real-valued Lévy processes. Using the Malliavin calculus we establish the following gradient formula $$\begin{aligned} \nabla P_tf(x)= {\mathbb {E}}\, f\left( X^x(t)\right) Y(t,x), \qquad f\in B_b({\mathbb {R}}^d), \end{aligned}$$

∇

P
t

f

(
x
)

=
E

f

X
x

(
t
)

Y

(
t
,
x
)

,

f
∈

B
b

(

R

d

)

,

where the random field Y does not depend on f. Moreover, in the important cylindrical $$\alpha $$
α
-stable case $$\alpha \in (0,2)$$

α
∈
(
0
,
2
)

, where $$Z_1, \ldots , Z_d$$

Z
1

,
…
,

Z
d

are $$\alpha $$
α
-stable processes, we are able to prove sharp $$L^1$$

L
1

-estimates for Y(t, x). Uniform estimates on $$\nabla P_tf(x)$$

∇

P
t

f

(
x
)

are also given.
Bleeding complications in patients on warfarin undergoing joint injection/aspiration: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tarar M. Y. , Malik R. A. , Charalambous C. P.
Published: November 2022

Steroid injections in joints are commonly administered for the management of inflammatory or degenerative conditions. There is substantial controversy as to whether to continue warfarin when undertaking joint injection or aspiration. To assess the rate of bleeding complications in patients on warfarin undergoing joint injection/aspiration. Systematic review and meta-analysis. A literature search of 3 online databases was conducted by 2 reviewers using the Cochrane methodology for systematic reviews. Eligibility criteria were any study that reported bleeding complication rates in adult patients on warfarin undergoing a joint injection/aspiration whilst taking warfarin anticoagulation. Studies reporting on less than 5 patients were excluded. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random effects model. The search of databases resulted in a total of 1547 articles. After screening, 8 articles were deemed suitable for inclusion in the analysis, involving 871 injection/aspiration procedures. There were only 5 reported cases of bleeding. On meta-analysis the estimated bleeding complication rate was 1.5% (95% CI 0.5–4.5%). This meta-analysis shows that it is safe to perform joint injection and aspiration in patients on warfarin without routine prior testing of INR. Level of evidence: Level 4.
Development of a remineralizing calcium phosphate nanoparticle-containing self-etching system for orthodontic bonding
Authors: Garma Noor M. H. , Ibrahim Ali I.
Published: November 2022

Objectives

This study aimed to incorporate hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHA) or amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles (nACP) into a self-etch primer (SEP) to develop a simplified orthodontic bonding system with remineralizing and enamel preserving properties.

Materials and Methods

nHA and nACP were incorporated into a commercial SEP (Transbond™ plus) in 7% weight ratio and compared with the plain SEP as a control. Shear bond strengths (SBS), enamel damage, and adhesive remnant index (ARI) scores were evaluated at 24 h and post 5000 thermocycling. Field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) was used to inspect the distribution of the nanoparticles in the experimental SEPs and evaluate the enamel surface integrity both before bracket bonding and post bracket debonding. Phase determination and remineralizing capability of the modified SEP were characterized by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, respectively.

Results

The addition of nHA or nACP to the SEP significantly reduced the SBS, ARI, and enamel damage (p < 0.05) as compared to the control SEP; however, only nHA-SEP survived the thermocycling protocol and yielded acceptable SBS (13.38 MPa). Enamel remineralizing ability of the developed nHA-SEP was confirmed by both FESEM images and Raman phosphate map.

Conclusions

Incorporating nHA into SEP resulted in clinically acceptable bond strengths with remineralizing ability.

Clinical relevance

The newly developed nHA-SEP has unprecedented ability to simultaneously etch, prime, and remineralize the enamel in a single step leaving immaculate enamel surface with the potential of saving cost and time at the post-debonding step.
Surveillance of tick-borne encephalitis in emerging risk areas in southern Sweden: a retrospective case finding study
Authors: Waldeck Mattias , Winqvist Niclas , Henriksson Gunnel , Dyrdak Robert , Settergren Bo , Lindgren Per-Eric
Published: November 2022

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an emerging infection causing CNS infection of various severity. Good knowledge of the incidence in the population and defined risk areas is important in risk communication and vaccination recommendations. The aim of this study was to investigate potential underreporting by retrospectively diagnose TBE among patients with viral CNS infections of unknown etiology in a region with emerging risk areas for TBE, and define variables associated with performed TBE serology at the time of infection. Epidemiological data and microbiological diagnostics of cases with viral CNS infection of unknown etiology treated at departments of infectious diseases and pediatrics in Skåne County during 2000–2012 were investigated. Analyses to evaluate variables associated with performed TBE serology at the time of infection were performed. Retrospective TBE serology was performed on stored blood samples when available. TBE serology was already performed at the time of CNS infection in 193 out of 761 cases. Department, type of clinical manifestation, time period of illness, and whether Borrelia serology had been performed were independent variables associated with having had TBE serology performed or not at the time of illness. Only one of 137 cases, where samples could be retrospectively analyzed for TBE, turned out positive. This study shows a low frequency of TBE sampling among patients with meningoencephalitis in a region with emerging risk for TBE. A higher awareness of TBE as differential diagnosis could contribute to earlier detection of new risk areas and adequate preventive advice to the public.
Collagen-bound fibrin sealant (TachoSil®) for dural closure in cranial surgery: single-centre comparative cohort study and systematic review of the literature
Authors: Carretta Alessandro , Epskamp Mirka , Ledermann Linus , Staartjes Victor E. , Neidert Marian C. , Regli Luca , Stienen Martin N.
Published: November 2022

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is a well-known complication of craniotomies and there are several dural closure techniques. One commonly used commercial product as adjunct for dural closure is the collagen-bound fibrin sealant TachoSil®. We analysed whether the addition of TachoSil has beneficial effects on postoperative complications and outcomes. Our prospective, institutional database was retrospectively queried, and 662 patients undergoing craniotomy were included. Three hundred fifty-two were treated with dural suture alone, and in 310, TachoSil was added after primary suture. Our primary endpoint was the rate of postoperative complications associated with CSF leakage. Secondary endpoints included functional, disability and neurological outcome. Systematic review according to PRISMA guidelines was performed to identify studies comparing primary dural closure with and without additional sealants. Postoperative complications associated with CSF leakage occurred in 24 (7.74%) and 28 (7.95%) procedures with or without TachoSil, respectively (p = 0.960). Multivariate analysis confirmed no significant differences in complication rate between the two groups (aOR 0.97, 95% CI 0.53–1.80, p = 0.930). There were no significant disparities in postoperative functional, disability or neurological scores. The systematic review identified 661 and included 8 studies in the qualitative synthesis. None showed a significant superiority of additional sealants over standard technique regarding complications, rates of revision surgery or outcome. According to our findings, we summarize that routinary use of TachoSil and similar products as adjuncts to primary dural sutures after intracranial surgical procedures is safe but without clear advantage in complication avoidance or outcome. Future studies should investigate whether their use is beneficial in high-risk settings.
Deep Learning for Image Enhancement and Correction in Magnetic Resonance Imaging—State-of-the-Art and Challenges
Authors: Chen Zhaolin , Pawar Kamlesh , Ekanayake Mevan , Pain Cameron , Zhong Shenjun , Egan Gary F.
Published: November 2022

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides excellent soft-tissue contrast for clinical diagnoses and research which underpin many recent breakthroughs in medicine and biology. The post-processing of reconstructed MR images is often automated for incorporation into MRI scanners by the manufacturers and increasingly plays a critical role in the final image quality for clinical reporting and interpretation. For image enhancement and correction, the post-processing steps include noise reduction, image artefact correction, and image resolution improvements. With the recent success of deep learning in many research fields, there is great potential to apply deep learning for MR image enhancement, and recent publications have demonstrated promising results. Motivated by the rapidly growing literature in this area, in this review paper, we provide a comprehensive overview of deep learning-based methods for post-processing MR images to enhance image quality and correct image artefacts. We aim to provide researchers in MRI or other research fields, including computer vision and image processing, a literature survey of deep learning approaches for MR image enhancement. We discuss the current limitations of the application of artificial intelligence in MRI and highlight possible directions for future developments. In the era of deep learning, we highlight the importance of a critical appraisal of the explanatory information provided and the generalizability of deep learning algorithms in medical imaging.
Systematic Review of mHealth Interventions for Adolescent and Young Adult HIV Prevention and the Adolescent HIV Continuum of Care in Low to Middle Income Countries
Authors: Goldstein Madeleine , Archary Moherndran , Adong Julian , Haberer Jessica E. , Kuhns Lisa M. , Kurth Ann , Ronen Keshet , Lightfoot Marguerita , Inwani Irene , John-Stewart Grace , Garofalo Robert , Zanoni Brian C.
Published: November 2022

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) in low to middle income countries (LMIC) have poorer outcomes along each step in the HIV continuum of prevention and care compared to younger children or older adults. The use of mHealth technology provides a potentially promising implementation strategy for interventions to remedy these disparities. We therefore conducted a systematic review of the English literature and conference proceedings from January 1, 2000 to April 1, 2021 evaluating mHealth interventions targeting AYA along each step of the HIV continuum of care in LMIC. We identified 27 mHealth interventions across the HIV continuum, with no interventions addressing transition from pediatric to adult care. The majority of studies were single arm, uncontrolled or underpowered, with few randomized trials resulting in mixed and inconclusive outcomes. mHealth interventions have potential to remedy disparities along the HIV continuum of care for AYA in LMIC but larger, powered randomized trials are needed.
Large–Eddy Simulation of the Flow Inside a Scour Hole Around a Circular Cylinder Using a Cut Cell Immersed Boundary Method
Authors: Unglehrt Lukas , Jenssen Ulrich , Kurz Fabian , Schanderl Wolfgang , Kreuzinger Johannes , Schwertfirm Florian , Manhart Michael
Published: November 2022

We present a novel symmetry-preserving cut cell finite volume method which is a three-dimensional generalisation of the method by Dröge and Verstappen (Int J Numer Method Fluids 47:979–985, 2005). A colour-coding scheme for the three-dimensional cut momentum cell faces reduces the number of possible cut cell configurations. A cell merging strategy is employed to alleviate time step constraints. We demonstrate the energy conservation property of the convective and pressure gradient terms, and the second-order spatial convergence with suitable benchmark cases. We used the scheme to perform highly resolved large–eddy simulations of the flow inside a scour hole around a circular cylinder mounted vertically in a flume. The simulation results are extensively compared to a stereoscopic particle image velocimetry experiment of the same configuration performed by Jenssen and Manhart (Exp Fluids 61:217, 2020). We demonstrate that for the investigated Reynolds numbers (20,000 and 40,000) nearly converged solutions are obtained; however at large computational efforts (up to 2.35 billion cells for the higher Reynolds number). It turns out that the flow topology of the horseshoe vortex system is strongly dependent on the grid resolution. For simulation results obtained on the finest grid, the mean flow and turbulence quantities agree well with the experiment. We investigate the shape and turbulence structure of the horseshoe vortex based on three-dimensional fields, and discuss the distribution of the mean and standard deviation of the wall shear stress in the scour hole and the implications for the physics of the scouring process over a sand bed.
Using Genomic Structural Equation Modeling to Partition the Genetic Covariance Between Birthweight and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors into Maternal and Offspring Components in the Norwegian HUNT Study
Authors: Moen Gunn-Helen , Nivard Michel , Bhatta Laxmi , Warrington Nicole M , Willer Cristen , Åsvold Bjørn Olav , Brumpton Ben , Evans David M.
Published: November 2022

The Barker Hypothesis posits that adverse intrauterine environments result in fetal growth restriction and increased risk of cardiometabolic disease through developmental compensations. Here we introduce a new statistical model using the genomic SEM software that is capable of simultaneously partitioning the genetic covariation between birthweight and cardiometabolic traits into maternally mediated and offspring mediated contributions. We model the covariance between birthweight and later life outcomes, such as blood pressure, non-fasting glucose, blood lipids and body mass index in the Norwegian HUNT study, consisting of 15,261 mother-eldest offspring pairs with genetic and phenotypic data. Application of this model showed some evidence for maternally mediated effects of systolic blood pressure on offspring birthweight, and pleiotropy between birthweight and non-fasting glucose mediated through the offspring genome. This underscores the importance of genetic links between birthweight and cardiometabolic phenotypes and offer alternative explanations to environmentally based hypotheses for the phenotypic correlation between these variables.
Biological nitrogen fixation and nifH gene abundance in deadwood of 13 different tree species
Authors: Groß Christina , Hossen Shakhawat , Hartmann Henrik , Noll Matthias , Borken Werner
Published: November 2022

Deadwood is an extremely nitrogen (N) poor plant litter whose decomposition may rely on external N sources. Biological N2 fixation (BNF) by free-living diazotrophs, encoded with the nifH gene, is a potential pathway of N acquisition in deadwood. Still, the control of this process by tree species specific traits is hardly known. Here, we examined (1) BNF rates and nifH gene abundances in deadwood of 13 tree species after 12 years of decomposition and (2) how BNF was related to nutrient concentrations and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC). Comparing our BNF rates with the literature revealed no difference for angiosperms but gymnosperms. Large variability prevented any significant difference in BNF and nifH gene abundance between tree species identities of deadwood. Still, higher BNF and nifH gene abundances occurred in the group of diffuse-porous angiosperms compared to ring-porous angiosperms and gymnosperms. Positive relationships between BNF rates and molybdenum, phosphor, sulfur, and N suggested co-limitation of BNF by several nutrients in deadwood. Relatively high NSC concentrations indicated good carbon availability for diazotrophs. Furthermore, structural equation modeling highlighted the importance of water content for BNF and nifH gene abundance, although the overall explanatory power was low. In conclusion, BNF is a ubiquitous microbial process in deadwood of native European tree species and the comparison with other studies suggests no down-regulation of BNF by high N deposition in Central Europe.
The potential for eye donation from hospice and palliative care clinical settings in England: a retrospective case note review of deceased patients' records
Authors: Long-Sutehall Tracy , Madi-Segwagwe Banyana Cecilia , Hurlow Adam , Faull Christina , Rayment Clare , Jacob Faith , Wale Jane , Short Jill , Johnston Julie , Georgiade Katerina , Brown Mark , Seaton Naomi , Mollart Sarah , Gillon Suzie , Bracher Mike
Published: November 2022

There is a need to identify additional routes of supply for ophthalmic tissue in the UK. This paper reports the findings from a national study exploring the potential for eye donation (ED) from three Hospice Care (HC) and three Hospital Palliative Care Services (HPC) in England. The objectives addressed in this paper are i.) to establish the size and describe the clinical characteristics of the potential eye donor population across six clinical sites; ii.) to identify challenges for clinicians in applying the standard ED criteria for assessing patient eligibility. Retrospective assessment of 1199 deceased patient case notes, 601 Hospice Care and 598 Hospital Palliative Care services, against current eye donation criteria. Clinicians’ assessments were then evaluated against the same criteria. by specialists based at the National Health Service Blood and Transplant Tissue Services division (NHSBT-TS). Results of the assessment and evaluation are reported as descriptive statistics (numerical data). Free-text comment boxes facilitated clarification and/or justification of review and evaluation decisions. 46% (n = 553) of 1199 deceased patients’ notes were agreed as eligible for eye donation (Hospice care settings = 56% (n = 337); Palliative care settings = 36% (n = 216). For all eligible cases (n = 553) the option of ED was recorded as being raised with family members in only 14 cases (3%). Significant potential exists for eye donation from the clinical sites in this study. This potential is not currently being realised.
Cellulose acetate/polyvinylidene fluoride based mixed matrix membranes impregnated with UiO-66 nano-MOF for reverse osmosis desalination
Authors: Koriem Omneya A. , Showman Marwa S. , El-Shazly Ahmed H. , Elkady Marwa F.
Published: November 2022

Reverse osmosis (RO) is considered a lifesaver technology to conquer the current catastrophic water shortage situation. However, reaching a competitive RO membrane is a challenging issue. Therefore, this study investigated the optimum polymeric blending ratio between cellulose acetate (CA) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) to have a new blended polymeric membrane named cellulose acetate polyvinyl (CAPV-X), where X is the PVDF concentration %, with enhanced properties. The optimum prepared CA/PVDF blended membrane was selected for further enhancement with nano sized metal organic framework (UiO-66 MOF). Selection was made depending on each membrane salt rejection. A membrane characterization was performed based on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope, thermal gravimetric analysis, and contact angle. FTIR and XRD data confirmed the successful preparation of the blended polymeric membranes CAPV-5, CAPV-7 and CAPV-10. Further, they proved UiO-66 nanofiller impregnation in the hybrid CA/PVDF/UiO-66 membrane (CPU). The addition of PVDF and nano-MOF had a slight positive effect on the membrane thermal stability. The contact angle increased with increasing the PVDF concentration and decreased once more with the impregnation of UiO-66. The RO membrane performance revealed that the optimum CA/PVDF ratio was found to be 93/7% with around 80% salt rejection and a permeate water flux of 4 L/m2 h. CPU composite membrane was then fabricated to enhance salt rejection and permeate water flux. The testing data indicated that salt rejection and permeate water flux increased over blended CAPV-7 membrane by almost 12% and 42%, respectively. Overall, CPU hybrid membrane could be used for water desalination with a good salt rejection of 90.2% and a permeate water flux of 5.7 L/m2 h.

Graphical abstract
Differences in Anxiety and Depression Among Migrant and Non-Migrant Primary School Children in The Netherlands
Authors: Kösters Mia P , Chinapaw Mai JM , Zwaanswijk Marieke , van der Wal Marcel F , Koot Hans M.
Published: November 2022

This is the first Dutch study investigating symptoms of five DSM-IV-classified anxiety disorders and depression in a large sample of pre-adolescent children with and without a migration background, adjusting for socioeconomic position (SEP) and social preference. Both are potential explanatory factors for differences in mental health among migrant children. We measured anxiety and depression scores with the self-report Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) in 2063 children (aged 8–13 years, 55% girls) in the Netherlands. Surinamese/Antillean, Turkish, and Moroccan children reported significantly higher anxiety scores than Dutch children. SEP and peer rejection partly explained higher anxiety scores. Surinamese/Antillean and Turkish children reported comparable depression scores to Dutch children, but Moroccan children reported lower depression scores after adjusting for SEP and peer rejection. Girls reported higher anxiety and depression levels across all four subgroups. Although differences between children with or without a migration background were small, these may increase in later life as the prevalence of anxiety and depression increases with age.