bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MultiOptForest: An interactive multi-objective optimization tool for forest planning and scenario analysis
Authors: Eyvindson Kyle , Burgas Daniel , Antón-Fernández Clara , Hakanen Jussi , Emmerich Michael , Klein Julian , Mönkkönen Mikko , Snäll Tord , Toraño Caicoya Astor , Vergarechea Marta , Blattert Clemens
Published: June 2023

MultiOptForest is an open-source software designed to simplify building and solving multi-objective optimization problems for forest planning. It aims to find the optimal portfolio of management regimes that balance the objectives regarding multiple forest ecosystem services and biodiversity. The software flexibly imports data, allowing for the use of a variety of forest simulator outputs. The user provides preference information through a user-friendly graphical interface, where the range of possible values for each objective is provided. MultiOptForest solves the optimization problem producing a set of Pareto optimal solutions, i.e., solutions where none of the objectives can be improved without compromising others. MultiOptForest is versatile enough to design a Pareto optimal forest plan for a small holding to assess management and the trade-off between multiple policy objectives impacting the development of forests across regions and countries.
Euclide, the crow, the wolf and the pedestrian: distance metrics for linguistic typology
Authors: Guzmán Naranjo Matías , Jäger Gerhard
Published: June 2023

It is common for people working on linguistic geography, language contact and typology to make use of some type of distance metric between lects. However, most work so far has either used Euclidean distances, or geodesic distance, both of which do not represent the real separation between communities very accurately.

This paper presents two datasets: one on walking distances and one on topographic distances between over 8700 lects across all macro-areas. We calculated walking distances using Open Street Maps data, and topographic distances using digital elevation data. We evaluate these distances.

We evaluate these distance metrics on three case studies and show that topographic distance tends to outperform the other distance metrics, but geodesic distances can be used as an adequate approximation in some cases.
Diverse novel Wolbachia bacteria strains and widespread co-infections with Asaia bacteria in Culicine mosquitoes from ecologically diverse regions of Cameroon
Authors: Mercant Osuna Aina , Gidley Alexandra , Mayi Marie Paul Audrey , Bamou Roland , Dhokiya Vishaal , Antonio-Nkondjio Christophe , Jeffries Claire Louise , Walker Thomas
Published: June 2023

Background: The endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia infects numerous species of insects and Wolbachia transinfection of Aedes mosquito species is now being used for biocontrol programs as Wolbachia strains can both inhibit arboviruses and invade wild mosquito populations. The discovery of novel, resident Wolbachia strains in mosquito species warrants further investigation as potential candidate strains for biocontrol strategies.

Methods: We obtained mosquito specimens from diverse Culicine mosquitoes from Cameroon including ecologically diverse locations in the Central and West Regions. Wolbachia prevalence rates were assessed in addition to the environmentally acquired bacterial species Asaia in major Culicine genera. PCR-based methods were also used with phylogenetic analysis to confirm identities of host mosquito species and Wolbachia strains were classified using multi-locus sequence typing (MLST).

Results: We report high Wolbachia prevalence rates for Culicine species, including in a large cohort of Aedes africanus collected from west Cameroon in which 100% of mono-specific pools were infected. Furthermore, co-infections with Asaia bacteria were observed across multiple genera, demonstrating that these two bacteria can co-exist in wild mosquito populations.  Wolbachia strain MLST and phylogenetic analysis provided evidence for diverse Wolbachia strains in 13 different mosquito species across seven different genera.  Full or partial MLST profiles were generated from resident Wolbachia strains in six Culex species (quinquefasciatus, watti, cinerus, nigripalpus, perexiguus and rima), two Aedes species (africanus and denderensis) and in Mansonia uniformis, Catageiomyia argenteopunctata, Lutzia tigripes, Eretmapodites chrysogaster and Uranotaenia bilineata.

Conclusions: Our study provides further evidence that Wolbachia is widespread within wild mosquito populations of diverse Culicine species and provides further candidate strains that could be investigated as future options for Wolbachia-based biocontrol to inhibit arbovirus transmission.
Case Report: Diabetic ketoacidosis after co-administration of empagliflozin and probenecid
Authors: Martin William P. , Reidy Niamh , Low Justin , Ahern Tomás
Published: June 2023

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are filtered and secreted to their primary site of action in the proximal tubule of the kidney. Many commonly used medications have potential to diminish renal elimination of SGLT2 inhibitors by inhibiting their tubular secretion. We present a case of severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in a patient with type 2 diabetes occurring several days after co-prescription of empagliflozin and probenecid. Other than the recent introduction of empagliflozin, no cause for the DKA episode was apparent. A pharmacokinetic interaction between probenecid and empagliflozin, involving organic anion transporter 3 (OAT3), reduces proximal tubular secretion of empagliflozin. Co-administration of an OAT3 inhibitor, such as probenecid, with empagliflozin may increase patient exposure and diminish glucosuric response to the SGLT2 inhibitor, thereby increasing the risk of DKA. We suggest that clinicians exercise caution when prescribing empagliflozin alongside inhibitors of OAT3 in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Two decades of malaria control in Malawi: Geostatistical Analysis of the changing malaria prevalence from 2000-2022
Authors: Mategula Donnie , Gichuki Judy , Chipeta Michael Give , Chirombo James , Kalonde Patrick Ken , Gumbo Austin , Kayange Michael , Samuel Vincent , Kwizombe Colins , Hamuza Gracious , Kalanga Alinafe , Kamowa Dina , Mitambo Colins , Kawonga Jacob , Banda Benard , Kafulafula Jacob , Banda Akuzike , Twabi Halima , Musa Esloyn , Masambuka Maclear , Ntwere Tapiwa , Ligomba Chimwemwe , Munthali Lumbani , Sakala Melody , Bangoura Abdoulaye , Kapito-Tembo Atupele , Masingi-Mbeye Nyanyiwe , Mathanga Don P. , Terlouw Dianne J
Published: June 2023

Background  Malaria remains a public health problem in Malawi and has a serious socio-economic impact on the population. In the past two decades, available malaria control measures have been substantially scaled up, such as insecticide-treated bed nets, artemisinin-based combination therapies, and, more recently, the introduction of the malaria vaccine, the RTS,S/AS01. In this paper, we describe the epidemiology of malaria for the last two decades to understand the past transmission and set the scene for the elimination agenda. Methods  A collation of parasite prevalence surveys conducted between the years 2000 and 2022 was done. A spatio-temporal geostatistical model was fitted to predict the yearly malaria risk for children aged 2–10 years (PfPR 2–10) at 1×1 km spatial resolutions. Parameter estimation was done using the Monte Carlo maximum likelihood methods. District level prevalence estimates adjusted for population are calculated for the years 2000 to 2022. Results  A total of 2,595 sampled unique locations from 2000 to 2022 were identified through the data collation exercise. This represents 70,565 individuals that were sampled in the period. In general, the PfPR2_10 declined over the 22 years. The mean modeled national PfPR2_10 in 2000 was 43.93 % (95% CI:17.9 to 73.8%) and declined to 19.2% (95%CI 7.49 to 37.0%) in 2022. The smoothened estimates of PfPR2_10 indicate that malaria prevalence is very heterogeneous with hotspot areas concentrated on the southern shores of Lake Malawi and the country's central region. Conclusions  The last two decades are associated with a decline in malaria prevalence, highly likely associated with the scale up of control interventions. The country should move towards targeted malaria control approaches informed by surveillance data.
The genome sequence of the Red-tipped Clearwing, Synanthedon formicaeformis (Esper, 1783)
Authors: Langdon William B.V. , Fagan Stephanie ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: June 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Synanthedon formicaeformis (the Red-tipped Clearwing; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Sesiidae). The genome sequence is 321.2 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.8 kilobases in length.
The genome sequence of the Large Sharp-tail Bee, Coelioxys conoideus (Illiger,1806)
Authors: Taylor Susan C , Luker Sally , Hawkes William L S ,   Natural History Museum Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: June 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Coelioxys conoideus (the Large Sharp-tail Bee; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Megachilidae). The genome sequence is 417.6 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 12 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 20.8 kilobases in length.
The genome sequence of the Tawny Mining Bee, Andrena fulva (Müller, 1766)
Authors: Crowley Liam M. , Mulley John F. ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: June 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Andrena fulva (the Tawny Mining Bee; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Andrenidae). The genome sequence is 461.7 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 7 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 14.7 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 12,011 protein coding genes.
The genome sequence of the Birch Bell, Epinotia demarniana (Fischer von Röslerstamm, 1839)
Authors: Boyes Douglas , Hammond James ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: June 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Epinotia demarniana (the Birch Bell; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Tortricidae). The genome sequence is 735.8 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 28 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.46 kilobases in length.
The genome sequence of the small spotty-eyed dronefly, Eristalinus sepulchralis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Falk Steven , Sivell Olga , Sivell Duncan , Mitchell Ryan , Woodcock Katie J. ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Natural History Museum Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: June 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Eristalinus sepulchralis (the small spotty-eyed dronefly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Diptera; Syrphidae). The genome sequence is 376.8 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 6 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.96 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 21,752 protein coding genes.
ANTICIPACIÓN DE ESTRATEGIAS DE RESOLUCIÓN DE PROBLEMAS DE DIVISIÓN-MEDIDA CON FRACCIONES MEDIANTE UNA PROGRESIÓN DE APRENDIZAJE
Authors: Montero Eloísa , Callejo María Luz , Valls Julia
Published: June 2023

El objetivo de esta investigación es caracterizar cómo los estudiantes para maestro, un año  después de un experimento de enseñanza, reconocen diferentes etapas de progresión al anticipar estrategias de estudiantes de educación primaria al resolver problemas de división - medida con fracciones. Los 41 participantes cursaban el séptimo semestre del Grado en Maestro en Educación Primaria durante el curso 2018-2019. En el análisis se tuvo en cuenta el tipo de estrategias utilizadas y si estas evidenciaban la idea de progresión. Los resultados muestran tres categorías en el uso de la idea de progresión al anticipar respuestas a problemas de división-medida: (a) No usan la idea de progresión; (b) usan parcialmente la idea de progresión; (c) usan la idea de progresión. Pese a su dificultad, es posible comenzar a desarrollar la idea de progresión al anticipar estrategias en la formación de futuros maestros
What Causes Privatization? Evidence from Import Competition in China
Authors: Hu Qing , Li Wenjing , Lin Chen , Wei Lai
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we identify product market competition as a driver of privatization. Using product market shocks caused by trade liberalization of China, which has the world’s largest state sector, we find that subjecting state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to higher competition leads to an increase in private ownership. This response is strengthened when SOEs operate in industries with large technology or productivity gaps from those in the frontier economies or when SOEs impose large fiscal burdens on local governments. Our findings are consistent with politicians’ incentives to boost economic growth for better career development and to shed burdens when rents decrease.

This paper was accepted by Tomasz Piskorski, finance.

Funding: C. Lin acknowledges financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 72192841]. Q. Hu acknowledges financial support from the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities and the Renmin University of China [Grant 21XNF002]. W. Li acknowledges financial support from the Major Project of the Ministry of Education [Grant 22JZD007] and the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 72132002]. L. Wei acknowledges financial support from the Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee [Grant 13501619].

Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4847 .
Forewarned Is Forearmed? Contingent Sourcing, Shipment Information, and Supplier Competition
Authors: Lu Tao , Tomlin Brian
Published: June 2023

Problem definition: Dual sourcing and contingent sourcing are important risk-mitigation strategies to manage supply chain risks, including transportation-related losses of inbound orders. Contingent sourcing as a means of managing transportation risk is made possible by shipment information realized at in-transit inspection points or through shipment monitoring technologies. We examine the impact of contingent sourcing and shipment information in a setting where a buyer can source from two competing suppliers. One supplier (unreliable) has a long transportation lead time and is prone to in-transit yield loss; the other supplier (reliable) has a short, but nonzero, lead time with no yield loss. Methodology/results: We analyze a multistage game-theoretical model in which the two suppliers compete on wholesale prices and then, the buyer determines initial order quantities. Later, the buyer can place an emergency order with the reliable supplier based on shipment information, which reveals (possibly imperfectly) the status of the in-transit order from the unreliable supplier. We show that the buyer will adopt one of four possible sourcing strategies: (1) initially source only from the unreliable supplier but resort to the reliable supplier contingent on the updated shipment information, (2) diversify its initial order across the two suppliers but resort to the reliable supplier if needed, (3) diversify its initial order and not engage in contingent sourcing, or (4) sole source from the reliable supplier. Interestingly, contingent sourcing may or may not benefit the buyer because it may soften the competition between suppliers. Moreover, the buyer’s profit may not be monotonic in the accuracy of shipment information. Managerial implications: The buyer must design its supply base so that the unreliable supplier is particularly cost efficient if the buyer is to benefit from the possibility of contingent sourcing. The buyer may not always benefit from operational improvements that enhance shipment information accuracy because they may soften supplier competition.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2021.0540 .
Os lazaristas do Cosme Velho: política e prática educacional no Rio de Janeiro em dois tempos
Authors: Pinto Jefferson De Almeida
Published: June 2023

Este artigo parte de um conjunto de documentos do Serviço Nacional de Informações (SNI) cujo alvo era o Colégio São Vicente de Paulo, situado no bairro Cosme Velho no Rio de Janeiro. Alguns professores e alunos aparecem na documentação, que passa a ser desqualificada como um centro de agitações e de ideias políticas ligadas ao comunismo. Partindo desses dados, problematizamos o artigo levando em consideração que a trajetória dos lazaristas no Brasil era entendida no século XIX justamente por seus aspectos conservadores. O estudo da documentação mostrou como essa mudança na proposta pedagógica da escola dos lazaristas se deu e como foi recebida sobretudo em meio a uma classe média que se valia de seus serviços educacionais em contexto de ditadura civil-militar brasileira e de sua abertura política nos anos 1980.
ProfHistória: formação docente, demandas do presente e novas perspectivas para o Ensino de História
Authors: Monteiro Ana Maria , Rossato Luciana
Published: June 2023

Investigaremos, neste artigo, os principais temas de pesquisa das dissertações desenvolvidas pelos discentes do ProfHistória a fim de identificar permanências e mudanças no ensino de história na Educação Básica. Para isso, analisamos as dissertações defendidas pelos mestrandos entre 2016 e 2019. Este artigo foi organizado em três partes: inicialmente, apresentamos o ProfHistória e sua concepção sobre formação docente continuada. Depois, identificaremos os temas preponderantes entre os trabalhos desenvolvidos neste programa pelos mestrandos das turmas de 2014 e 2016. Na terceira, buscamos exemplificar os recortes das pesquisas e as motivações de seus autores a fim de discutir tradições e inovações no ensino de história no Brasil.
Que teoria da História para que ensino de História? Uma análise a partir do ProfHistória
Authors: Martins Marcus Leonardo Bomfim , Araújo Cinthia Monteiro de
Published: June 2023

O Mestrado Profissional em Ensino de História (ProfHistória) apresenta como uma de suas propostas a formação continuada de professores de História que atuam na educação básica. Uma das disciplinas obrigatórias presentes na estrutura curricular desse Programa de Pós-graduação (PPG) é “Teoria da História”. Considerando a abrangência desse PPG, as demandas trazidas pelos docentes da educação básica a partir de seus contextos de inserção profissional e as finalidades e os objetivos dessa disciplina, interessa-nos, nesse artigo, analisar o perfil que ela tem assumido no contexto do ProfHistória. Para isso, exploramos os programas da disciplina “Teoria da História”, oferecidos por diversas Universidades que compõem a rede entre 2014 e 2019, disponibilizados no site do Programa. A análise aponta para a necessidade de indisciplinarmos a Teoria da História voltada para professores em efetivo exercício sob o risco de o Programa malograr em seu objetivo de oferecer subsídios teóricos para atender às demandas de identidade/diferença que interpelam as aulas de História.
Teoria da história, ensino de história e universidade: diálogos e perspectivas
Authors: Silva Daniel Pinha , Rangel Marcelo De Mello
Published: June 2023

Apresentação. Revista Maracanan, PPGH/UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, n. 32 - "Teoria da história, ensino de história e universidade: diálogos e perspectivas, jan.-abr. 2023.
Osmotherapy and the management of traumatic brain injury: still a dilemma
Authors: Lal Shankar , Moore Michael
Published: June 2023

Despite extensive study and use, selecting an osmotherapy agent for traumatic brain injury remains a dilemma. This article explores the challenges in managing patients with traumatic brain injury and the ongoing debate surrounding the efficacy of different hyperosmolar agents as treatment options.
Palliative care delivery models: a systematic scoping review protocol
Authors: Dashti Seemin , Shaghaghi Abdolreza
Published: June 2023

Aim:

This scoping review will map out the evidence for palliative care delivery models in hospitals and the challenges of their application in practice from 2012 to 2022. A list of the predetermined MeSH terms will be used to search electronic databases for the relevant literature in English or Persian.

Method:

The Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewer's guideline will be used to qualitatively appraise the identified reports and to assess their scientific rigour. Information about the introduced models will be summarised in extraction sheets and a narrative synthesis of the retrieved data will be performed and tabulated for benchmarking analysis. The findings will be applicable for evidence-informed policy-making in health systems and in response to palliative care unmet needs. The study results could also be accommodated in decision-making processes for the adoption of an integrated PalC model to achieve enhanced organisational performance in clinical settings.
ASSOCIAÇÃO ENTRE A FREQUÊNCIA ALÉLICA DO IL33 (RS1420101) E A QUANTIFICAÇÃO DE A. actinomycetemcomitans NO BIOFILME SUBGENGIVAL
Authors: Anderson de Moura Oliveira  , Soraya Castro Trindade
Published: June 2023

A IL-33 é uma citocina pleiotrópica capaz de induzir ação de células envolvidas na resposta imune inata e adaptativa. Sua ação varia de acordo com o estímulo encontrado, podendo atuar como alarmina do sistema imunológico, e liberadas por células danificadas podem ativar células que possuem receptor ST2, a exemplo de basófilos, células linfoides inata tipo 2, eosinófilos, mastócitos e Tregs que quando ativadas, essas células podem ativar a osteoclastogênese por meio da redução e a produção de citocinas inflamatórias e devido a isso a interleucina IL33 tem sido um marcador inflamatório associado ao desenvolvimento da periodontite (Lopes et al. 2020). A periodontite é uma doença inflamatória crônica de etiologia multifatorial que está associada a um biofilme disbiótico e é caracterizada pela perda das estruturas de suporte dental (Papapanou et al. 2018).
In vitro Studies on the Biology and Predatory Potential of Commonly Occurring Ant Species in a Selected Agro-ecosystem of the Himalayan Range, India
Authors: Thakur Kushal , Jayakumar Pathma , Sonawane Bhushan Laxman
Published: June 2023

Four commonly occurring species of queen ants were collected after their nuptial flight from an agroecosystem in Lehri Sarail village of Himachal Pradesh (31°32’03.9”N 76°38’57.7“E) using light traps. Queens named HAC1, HAC2, HAC3, and HAC4 were placed individually in a test tube with water sources. Once the queen started laying eggs, and a few workers emerged, they were transferred to an artificial formicarium. HAC1 and HAC2 were identified as Camponotus compressus, while HAC3 and HAC4 were identified as Polyrhachis thompsoni and Pheidole minor, respectively. In the study period of one year between July 2020 and July 2021, offspring from all colonies were found to be workers. HAC1, HAC2, and HAC4 produced dimorphic workers, the majors and minors. Studies on colony establishment, biology, and behavior were carried out with colonies from HAC1, HAC2, and HAC3, while a colony from HAC4 failed to establish. All species showed similar types of colony founding, nesting, brood management, necrophorosis, and hibernation. C. compressus showed higher fecundity, while percent hatchability was higher in P. thompsoni. Percent pupation and adult emergence were higher in C. compressus and lower in P. thompsoni. P. thompsoni was observed to be more aggressive with a high predation rate, followed by C. compressus. P. minor showed aggressiveness initially but was unable to incapacitate the host larva. Understanding ant biodiversity, biology, behavior, predatory potential, etc., will allow us to use the native ants in the agroecosystem as biological control agents. Methods of rearing ants under the artificial setup described here enable laboratory culturing of ants with biocontrol potential and using ants as model organisms to study the bio-efficacy of agrochemicals and pharmaceutical drugs.
Physico-Chemical Properties of Brazilian Eastern Amazon Honey Assessed by Multivariate Principal Components Analysis
Authors: Oliveira Thiessa Maramaldo de Almeida , Mendes Virginia Janeísa Castro , Cappelini Luciana Teresa Dias , Alberice Juliana Vieira , Morais Michelle Manfrini , Faleiros-Quevedo Mayara , Francoy Tiago Maurício , Diniz Lia Gracy Rocha , Amarante Junior Ozelito Possidonio , Vieira Eny Maria , Franco Teresa Cristina Rodrigues dos Santos
Published: June 2023

Honey from the Apis mellifera bee (Hymenoptera, Apidae) is one of the most consumed beehive products in the world, mainly due to its nutritional and therapeutic value. In poorer regions, its commercialization can be an essential source of income for families and communities. However, the quality of honey can change both during harvesting and processing, as well as by climatic conditionsand the type of vegetation. Therefore, implementing good production practices, with quality control in collection and processing, can add value to this product, promoting the development of the region in which it is produced. Thus, the objectives of this work were to characterize the honey of Africanized honeybees produced in the Eastern Amazon region in the cities of Nova Olinda do Maranhão(NO), Santa Luzia do Paruá (SL) and verify its correlation with a commercial honey sample (CH) – from São Luiz-MA. The physicochemical properties (color, moisture, solids insoluble in water, minerals, and ash, hydroxymethylfurfural, acidity, anddiastatic activity) were analyzed according to the methods of CODEX Alimentarius and the Association of Official Analytical Chemists, and these data were evaluated by the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The results showed that commercial honey presented higher levels of insoluble solids, HMF, minerals, and ash than samples from NO and SL. Variables that differentiated NO and SL honey were HMF, moisture, and diastase index. Although the samples have different characteristics, the data comply with Brazilian legislation, which can strengthen the development of apiculture in the region.
DGE-CNN: 2D-to-3D holographic display based on a depth gradient extracting module and ZCNN network
Authors: Liu Ninghe , Huang Zhengzhong , He Zehao , Cao Liangcai
Published: June 2023

Holography is a crucial technique for the ultimate three-dimensional (3D) display, because it renders all optical cues from the human visual system. However, the shortage of 3D contents strictly restricts the extensive application of holographic 3D displays. In this paper, a 2D-to-3D-display system by deep learning-based monocular depth estimation is proposed. By feeding a single RGB image of a 3D scene into our designed DGE-CNN network, a corresponding display-oriented 3D depth map can be accurately generated for layer-based computer-generated holography. With simple parameter adjustment, our system can adapt the distance range of holographic display according to specific requirements. The high-quality and flexible holographic 3D display can be achieved based on a single RGB image without 3D rendering devices, permitting potential human-display interactive applications such as remote education, navigation, and medical treatment.
Public health benefits of shifting from hospital-focused to ambulatory TB care in Eastern Europe: Optimising TB investments in Belarus, the Republic of Moldova, and Romania
Authors: Kelly Sherrie L. , Jaoude Gerard Joseph Abou , Palmer Tom , Skordis Jolene , Haghparast-Bidgoli Hassan , Goscé Lara , Jarvis Sarah J. , Kedziora David J. , Abeysuriya Romesh , Benedikt Clemens , Fraser-Hurt Nicole , Shubber Zara , Cheikh Nejma , Bivol Stela , Roberts Anna , Wilson David P. , Martin-Hughes Rowan
Published: June 2023

High rates of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) continue to threaten public health, especially in Eastern Europe. Costs for treating DR-TB are substantially higher than treating drug-susceptible TB, and higher yet if DR-TB services are delivered in hospital. The WHO recommends that multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB be treated using mainly ambulatory care, shown to have non-inferior health outcomes, however, there has been a delay to transition away from hospital-focused MDR-TB care in certain Eastern European countries. Allocative efficiency analyses were conducted for three countries in Eastern Europe, Belarus, the Republic of Moldova, and Romania, to minimise a combination of TB incidence, prevalence, and mortality by 2035. A primary focus of these studies was to determine the health benefits and financial savings that could be realised if DR-TB service delivery shifted from hospital-focused to ambulatory care. Here we provide a comprehensive assessment of findings from these studies to demonstrate the collective benefit of transitioning from hospital-focused to ambulatory TB care, and to address common regional considerations. We highlight that transitioning from hospital-focused to ambulatory TB care could reduce treatment costs by 20% in Romania, 24% in Moldova, and by as much as 40% in Belarus or almost 35 million US dollars across these three countries by 2035 without affecting quality of care. Improved TB outcomes could be achieved, however, without additional spending by reinvesting these savings in higher-impact TB diagnosis and more efficacious DR-TB treatment regimens. We found commonalities in the large portion of TB cases treated in hospital across these three regional countries, and similar obstacles to transitioning to ambulatory care. National governments in the Eastern European region should examine barriers delaying adoption of ambulatory DR-TB care and consider lost opportunities caused by delays in switching to more efficient treatment modes.
The use of newborn foot length to identify low birth weight and preterm babies in Papua New Guinea: A diagnostic accuracy study
Authors: Mengi Alice , Vallely Lisa M. , Laman Moses , Jally Eunice , Kulimbao Janeth , Warel Sharon , Enman Regina , Aipit Jimmy , Low Nicola , Riddell Michaela A.
Published: June 2023

Low birth weight (LBW, <2.50 kg) and preterm birth (PTB, <37 completed weeks of gestation) are important contributors to neonatal death. Newborn foot length has been reported to identify LBW and PTB babies. The objectives of this study were to determine the diagnostic accuracy of foot length to identify LBW and PTB and to compare foot length measurements of a researcher with those of trained volunteers in Papua New Guinea. Newborn babies were enrolled prospectively with written informed consent from their mothers, who were participating in a clinical trial in Madang Province. The reference standards were birth weight, measured by electronic scales and gestational age at birth, based on ultrasound scan and last menstrual period at the first antenatal visit. Newborn foot length was measured within 72 hours of birth with a firm plastic ruler. Optimal foot length cut-off values for LBW and PTB were derived from receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Bland-Altman analysis was used to assess inter-observer agreement. From 12 October 2019 to 6 January 2021, we enrolled 342 newborns (80% of those eligible); 21.1% (72/342) were LBW and 7.3% (25/342) were PTB. The area under the curve for LBW was 87.0% (95% confidence intervals 82.8–90.2) and for PTB 85.6% (81.5–89.2). The optimal foot length cut-off was <7.7 cm for both LBW (sensitivity 84.7%, 74.7–91.2, specificity 69.6%, 63.9–74.8) and PTB (sensitivity 88.0% (70.0–95.8), specificity 61.8% (56.4–67.0). In 123 babies with paired measurements, the mean difference between the researcher and volunteer measurements was 0.07 cm (95% limits of agreement -0.55 to +0.70) and 7.3% (9/123) of the pairs were outside the 95% limits of agreement. When birth at a health facility is not possible, foot length measurement can identify LBW and PTB in newborns but needs appropriate training for community volunteers and evaluation of its impact on healthcare outcomes.
Reaching those at risk: Active case detection of leprosy and contact tracing at Kokosa, a hot spot district in Ethiopia
Authors: Lema Tsehaynesh , Bobosha Kidist , Kasang Christa , Tarekegne Azeb , Lambert Saba , Mengiste Addis , Britton Sven , Aseffa Abraham , Woldeamanuel Yimtubezenash
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Leprosy is a chronic mycobacterial disease of public health importance. It is one of the leading causes of permanent physical disability. The prevalence of leprosy in Ethiopia has remained stagnant over the last decades. The aim of the study was to identify new leprosy cases and trace household contacts at risk of developing leprosy by active case detection. The study area was Kokosa district, West Arsi zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia.

Method

A prospective longitudinal study was conducted from June 2016-September 2018 at Kokosa district. Ethical approvals were obtained from all relevant institutions. Health extension workers screened households by house-to-house visits. Blood samples were collected and the level of anti-PGL-I IgM measured at two-time points.

Results

More than 183,000 people living in Kokosa district were screened. Dermatologists and clinical nurses with special training on leprosy confirmed the new cases, and their household contacts were included in the study. Of the 91 new cases diagnosed and started treatment, 71 were recruited into our study. Sixty-two percent were males and 80.3% were multibacillary cases. A family history of leprosy was found in 29.6% of the patients with cohabitation ranging from 10 to 30 years. Eight new leprosy cases were diagnosed among the 308 household contacts and put on multi-drug therapy. The New Case Detection Rate increased from 28.3/100,000 to 48.3/100,000 between 2015/2016 and 2016/2017. Seventy one percent of leprosy patients and 81% of the household contacts’ level of anti-PGL-I IgM decreased after treatment. In conclusion,the results of the study showed the importance of active case detection and household contact tracing. It enhances early case finding, and promotes early treatment, thereby interrupting transmission and preventing potential disability from leprosy.
The role of perceived expertise and trustworthiness in research study and clinical trial recruitment: Perspectives of clinical research coordinators and African American and Black Caribbean patients
Authors: Morgan Susan E. , Harrison Tyler R. , Wright Kallia O. , Jia Xiaofeng , Deal Bonnie , Malova Kate
Published: June 2023

This study investigates the role of source credibility on minority participant recruitment, particularly African American and Black Caribbean patients. A total of nine focus groups (N = 48 participants) were conducted with both patient groups and clinical research coordinators (CRCs). Using the elaboration likelihood model as a guiding framework for analysis, this study found that the credibility of research coordinators (or other professionals who recruit for research studies and clinical trials) was instrumental in shaping attitudes of prospective participants. The perspectives of patients and CRCs aligned closely, with few exceptions. For both groups, professionalism and professional displays (clothing, institutional artifacts) enhanced perceived expertise, a core component of credibility. Trustworthiness, another important component of credibility, was fostered through homophily between recruiter and patient, expressions of goodwill and assuaging anxiety about CRCs’ financial motivations for recruitment. Additionally, CRCs believed that credibility was supported when CRCs could emphasize transparency and truthfulness in communication. The importance of these findings for the development of empirically-based training programs to improve communication practices in recruitment contexts is discussed.
Characterization of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) microbiota at the time of initial surgical intervention for children with hydrocephalus
Authors: Pandey Shailly , Whitlock Kathryn B. , Test Matthew R. , Hodor Paul , Pope Christopher E. , Limbrick David D. , McDonald Patrick J. , Hauptman Jason S. , Hoffman Lucas R. , Simon Tamara D. ,   on behalf of the Cerebrospinal FLuId MicroBiota in Shunts (CLIMB) Study Group
Published: June 2023

Objective

To characterize the microbiota of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from children with hydrocephalus at the time of initial surgical intervention.

Study design

CSF was obtained at initial surgical intervention. One aliquot was stored in skim milk-tryptone-glucose-glycerol (STGG) medium and the second was unprocessed; both were then stored at –70°C. Bacterial growth for CSF samples stored in STGG were subsequently characterized using aerobic and anaerobic culture on blood agar and MALDI-TOF sequencing. All unprocessed CSF samples underwent 16S quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) sequencing, and a subset underwent standard clinical microbiological culture. CSF with culture growth (either after storage in STGG or standard clinical) were further analyzed using whole-genome amplification sequencing (WGAS).

Results

11/66 (17%) samples stored in STGG and 1/36 (3%) that underwent standard clinical microbiological culture demonstrated bacterial growth. Of the organisms present, 8 were common skin flora and 4 were potential pathogens; only 1 was also qPCR positive. WGAS findings and STGG culture findings were concordant for only 1 sample, identifying Staphylococcus epidermidis. No significant difference in time to second surgical intervention was observed between the STGG culture-positive and negative groups.

Conclusion(s)

Using high sensitivity methods, we detected the presence of bacteria in a subset of CSF samples at the time of first surgery. Therefore, the true presence of bacteria in CSF of children with hydrocephalus cannot be ruled out, though our findings may suggest these bacteria are contaminants or false positives of the detection methods. Regardless of origin, the detection of microbiota in the CSF of these children may not have any clinical significance.
Machine learning based canine posture estimation using inertial data
Authors: Marcato Marinara , Tedesco Salvatore , O’Mahony Conor , O’Flynn Brendan , Galvin Paul
Published: June 2023

The aim of this study was to design a new canine posture estimation system specifically for working dogs. The system was composed of Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) that are commercially available, and a supervised learning algorithm which was developed for different behaviours. Three IMUs, each containing a 3-axis accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer, were attached to the dogs’ chest, back, and neck. To build and test the model, data were collected during a video-recorded behaviour test where the trainee assistance dogs performed static postures (standing, sitting, lying down) and dynamic activities (walking, body shake). Advanced feature extraction techniques were employed for the first time in this field, including statistical, temporal, and spectral methods. The most important features for posture prediction were chosen using Select K Best with ANOVA F-value. The individual contributions of each IMU, sensor, and feature type were analysed using Select K Best scores and Random Forest feature importance. Results showed that the back and chest IMUs were more important than the neck IMU, and the accelerometers were more important than the gyroscopes. The addition of IMUs to the chest and back of dog harnesses is recommended to improve performance. Additionally, statistical and temporal feature domains were more important than spectral feature domains. Three novel cascade arrangements of Random Forest and Isolation Forest were fitted to the dataset. The best classifier achieved an f1-macro of 0.83 and an f1-weighted of 0.90 for the prediction of the five postures, demonstrating a better performance than previous studies. These results were attributed to the data collection methodology (number of subjects and observations, multiple IMUs, use of common working dog breeds) and novel machine learning techniques (advanced feature extraction, feature selection and modelling arrangements) employed. The dataset and code used are publicly available on Mendeley Data and GitHub, respectively.
The earliest unambiguous Neanderthal engravings on cave walls: La Roche-Cotard, Loire Valley, France
Authors: Marquet Jean-Claude , Freiesleben Trine Holm , Thomsen Kristina Jørkov , Murray Andrew Sean , Calligaro Morgane , Macaire Jean-Jacques , Robert Eric , Lorblanchet Michel , Aubry Thierry , Bayle Grégory , Bréhéret Jean-Gabriel , Camus Hubert , Chareille Pascal , Egels Yves , Guillaud Émilie , Guérin Guillaume , Gautret Pascale , Liard Morgane , O’Farrell Magen , Peyrouse Jean-Baptiste , Thamó-Bozsó Edit , Verdin Pascal , Wojtczak Dorota , Oberlin Christine , Jaubert Jacques
Published: June 2023

Here we report on Neanderthal engravings on a cave wall at La Roche-Cotard (LRC) in central France, made more than 57±3 thousand years ago. Following human occupation, the cave was completely sealed by cold-period sediments, which prevented access until its discovery in the 19thcentury and first excavation in the early 20thcentury. The timing of the closure of the cave is based on 50 optically stimulated luminescence ages derived from sediment collected inside and from around the cave. The anthropogenic origin of the spatially-structured, non-figurative marks found within the cave is confirmed using taphonomic, traceological and experimental evidence. Cave closure occurred significantly before the regional arrival ofH.sapiens, and all artefacts from within the cave are typical Mousterian lithics; in Western Europe these are uniquely attributed toH.neanderthalensis. We conclude that the LRC engravings are unambiguous examples of Neanderthal abstract design.
Novel randomization and iterative based algorithms for the transactions assignment in blockchain problem
Authors: Bajahzar Abdullah
Published: June 2023

This study focuses on the load balancing of the transactions in the blockchain. The problem is how to assign these transactions to the blocks. The objective is to guarantee a load balancing of the workload in the time of blocks. The proposed problem is an NP-hard one. To face the hardness of the studied problem, the challenge is to develop algorithms that solve the problem approximately. Finding an approximate solution is a real challenge. In this paper, nine algorithms are proposed. These algorithms are based on the dispatching-rules method, randomization approach, clustering algorithms, and iterative method. The proposed algorithms return approximate solutions in a remarkable time. In addition, in this paper, a novel architecture composed of blocks is proposed. This architecture adds the component “Balancer”. This component is responsible to call the best-proposed algorithm and solve the scheduling problem in a polynomial time. In addition, the proposed work helps users to solve the problem of big data concurrency. These algorithms are coded and compared. The performance of these algorithms is tested over three classes of instances. These classes are generated based on uniform distribution. The total number of instances tested is 1350. The average gap, execution time, and the percentage of the best-reached value are used as metrics to measure the performance of the proposed algorithms. Experimental results show the performance of these algorithms and a comparison between them is discussed. The experimental results show that the best algorithm is best-mi-transactions iterative multi-choice with 93.9% in an average running time of 0.003 s.
More people, more cats, more parasites: Human population density and temperature variation predict prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii oocyst shedding in free-ranging domestic and wild felids
Authors: Zhu Sophie , VanWormer Elizabeth , Shapiro Karen
Published: June 2023

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous zoonotic parasite that can infect warm-blooded vertebrates, including humans. Felids, the definitive hosts, drive T. gondii infections by shedding the environmentally resistant stage of the parasite (oocysts) in their feces. Few studies characterize the role of climate and anthropogenic factors in oocyst shedding among free-ranging felids, which are responsible for the majority of environmental contamination. We determined how climate and anthropogenic factors influence oocyst shedding in free-ranging domestic cats and wild felids using generalized linear mixed models. T. gondii oocyst shedding data from 47 studies were systematically reviewed and compiled for domestic cats and six wild felid species, encompassing 256 positives out of 9,635 total fecal samples. Shedding prevalence in domestic cats and wild felids was positively associated with human population density at the sampling location. Larger mean diurnal temperature range was associated with more shedding among domestic cats and warmer temperature in the driest quarter was associated with lower oocyst shedding in wild felids. Increasing human population density and temperature fluctuation can exacerbate environmental contamination with the protozoan parasite T. gondii. Management of free-ranging domestic cats could lower the burden of environmental oocysts due to their large population sizes and affinity with human settlements.
Large-scale sports events, sports gambling market and promotion risk management: Theoretical model and case analysis based on option hedging theory
Authors: Chen Qi-an , Zhao Xu , Zhang Guohong
Published: June 2023

Large-scale sports events have become a good opportunity for major enterprises to promote due to their high social attention; however, they also force enterprises to confront the risks of uncertainty and extreme loss. During the 2018 Russia World Cup, Vatti Co., Ltd.’s promotion activity “If France Wins, Get a Full Refund” suffered double losses economically and reputationally due to France’s victory and the company’s failure to fulfill its promise. This paper uses option hedging theory, and the risk management tools to construct a risk management model. Case analysis and program improvement were carried out. The research results show that using the winning odds can effectively control the risks. Companies should determine their promotion plan based on sale returns and the maximum implicit income generated by promotional activities. The research paper opens a new field using derivative financial instruments to control corporate promotion risks.