bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Criteria for selecting sentinel unit locations in a surveillance system for vector-borne disease: A decision tool
Authors: Guillot Camille , Bouchard Catherine , Aenishaenslin Cécile , Berthiaume Philippe , Milord François , Leighton Patrick A.
Published: November 2022

Objectives

With vector-borne diseases emerging across the globe, precipitated by climate change and other anthropogenic changes, it is critical for public health authorities to have well-designed surveillance strategies in place. Sentinel surveillance has been proposed as a cost-effective approach to surveillance in this context. However, spatial design of sentinel surveillance system has important impacts on surveillance outcomes, and careful selection of sentinel unit locations is therefore an essential component of planning.

Methods

A review of the available literature, based on the realist approach, was used to identify key decision issues for sentinel surveillance planning. Outcomes of the review were used to develop a decision tool, which was subsequently validated by experts in the field.

Results

The resulting decision tool provides a list of criteria which can be used to select sentinel unit locations. We illustrate its application using the case example of designing a national sentinel surveillance system for Lyme disease in Canada.

Conclusions

The decision tool provides researchers and public health authorities with a systematic, evidence-based approach for planning the spatial design of sentinel surveillance systems, taking into account the aims of the surveillance system and disease and/or context-specific considerations.
The epidemiology of road traffic accidents and associated factors among drivers in Dilla Town, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Hareru Habtamu Endashaw , Negassa Belay , Kassa Abebe Reta , Ashenafi Eden , Zenebe Getachew Assefa , Debela Berhanu Gidisa , Ashuro Zemachu , Eshete Soboksa Negasa
Published: November 2022

Background

Data on the magnitude of road traffic accidents (RTAs) were mostly obtained through police records and hospital registration data. However, insufficient data reporting masked the gravity of the problem, and little attention was paid to the magnitude and correlation of road traffic accidents from the driver's perspective. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of RTA and related factors among drivers.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study involving 316 drivers was conducted in Southern Ethiopia. The participants were chosen using a systematic random sample technique, and the data were obtained using an interview-administered structured questionnaire. To analyze the data, SPSS software (version 20) was employed. In addition to descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression analysis was also employed to find factors connected to traffic accidents. RTA factors were considered statistically significant if they had a P-value of 0.05 or below in the multivariate analysis.

Result

The RTA among drivers was 126 (39.9%) (95% confidence interval (CI): 34.2–45.6%) in the previous year. The following factors were associated with RTA: vehicle maintenance (AOR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.96), media utilization (AOR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.65), participation in driving-related training (AOR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.91), punishment for prior traffic violations (AOR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.47, 0.83), and risky driving behavior (AOR = 7.89, 95% CI: 3.22, 12.38).

Conclusion

Two-fifths of the drivers were involved in a traffic accident. Risky driving behaviors, vehicle maintenance, media usage, attending driving-related training in the previous 2 years, and prior experience with traffic police punishment or warning were all strongly linked to road traffic accidents. In light of these statistics, the Federal Ministry of Transport of Ethiopia and other stakeholders should support making it mandatory for drivers to check their vehicles' safety, provide them with safety training, raise awareness about vehicle maintenance and risky driving behaviors, and enforce strict penalties for traffic violations.
A study of parental decision-making over the vaccination of girls, based on the protection motivation theory and the elaboration likelihood model
Authors: Wang Qi , Zhou Fangzhou , Zhang Wen , Tang Chenjin
Published: November 2022

This study proposed a new theoretical framework that combines the protection motivation theory and the elaboration likelihood model to examine how health information processing patterns influence parents' vaccination decision-making on behalf of their daughters. Based on survey data from 359 parents of girls aged 9–15, we tested the theoretical model by using structural equation model. The results showed that the central route, represented by information quality, affected the parents' perceptions of HPV severity and susceptibility; the peripheral route, represented by source credibility, influenced their perceptions of HPV severity, HPV susceptibility, vaccine response efficacy, and secondary risks. Also, Chinese parents' perceptions of HPV vaccines, not perceptions of HPV, affected their intention to vaccinate their daughters. The study suggests in addition to improving the quality of health information, the peripheral route, such as the release of vaccination photos, public immunization evaluations, and case narratives, should also be used to change parents' perceptions. Besides, reducing the traditional stigmatization of female sexuality and improving parents' understanding of the new generation's sexual attitudes will increase parents' intention to have their daughters vaccinated against HPV.
Engaging patients in balanced scorecard evaluation - An implication at Palestinian hospitals and recommendations for policy makers
Authors: Amer Faten , Neiroukh Haroun , Abuzahra Saad , AlHabil Yazan , Afifi Mufeeda , Shellah Duha , Boncz Imre , Endrei Dóra
Published: November 2022

Introduction

A balanced scorecard (BSC) is a comprehensive performance evaluation (PE) tool. A recent review summarized that a balanced consideration of PE from six perspectives in hospitals must be considered: financial, customer, internal, external, knowledge and growth, and managerial. However, patients were rarely engaged in BSC implementations. This research aims to engage Palestinian patients in BSC implementation to develop recommendations for policy makers.

Methodology

In this cross-sectional study, the BSC-PATIENT survey was distributed between January and October 2021. We evaluated patients' experiences and their attitudes toward BSC dimensions (BSCP ATT). The differences in evaluations based on admission status were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Causal relationships between patients' experiences and attitudes were analyzed using multiple linear regression. We tested the multicollinearity of the model. Path analysis was performed to understand the BSC strategic maps based on the Palestinian patients' evaluations.

Results

Out of 1,000 surveys, 740 were retrieved. The mean scores for Palestinian patient experiences evaluation showed that the services experience factor had the highest score (87.7 ± 17.7), and the patient care experience factor had the lowest score (57 ± 34.5). Patient experiences collectively predicted 56.4% of the variance in the BSCP ATT. The experience factors of information (β = 0.400, t = 13.543, P < 0.001), patient care (β = 0.241, t = 8.061, P < 0.001), services (β = 0.176, t = 6.497, P < 0.001), and building (β = 0.177, t = 6.308, P < 0.001) had the highest impact on BSCP ATT. The price had only a weak negative influence (β = −0.051, t = −2.040, P = 0.042). Accessibility to hospitals did not have any impact on BSCP ATT. Significant differences between inpatient and outpatients' evaluations in regard to experiences related to patient care (P = 0.042), services (P < 0.001), accessibility (P < 0.001), and BSCP ATT (P = 0.003) were found.

Conclusion

BSC-PATIENT successfully engaged patients in BSC PE at Palestinian hospitals. This research provides strong evidence for the impact of patients' information experience on their attitudes. Palestinian health policy makers must prioritize the design and delivery of patient education programs into their action plans and encourage a two-way information communication with patients. Strong evidence for patient care, services, and building experiences role in improving patients' attitudes was found. Managers should enhance patients' feedback and engagement culture in Palestinian hospitals.
Physical activity and substance use among Canadian adolescents: Examining the moderating role of school connectedness
Authors: Fagan Matthew James , Duncan Markus J. , Bedi Robinder P. , Puterman Eli , Leatherdale Scott T. , Faulkner Guy
Published: November 2022

Physical activity may play a role in promoting or preventing substance use among youth. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between different types of physical activity [i.e., non-competitive school sport, competitive school sport, outside of school sport and minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day] and substance use (i.e., current smoking, e-cigarette, cannabis, binge drinking) among Canadian youth. Interaction effects between physical activity and school connectedness were also examined. Using data from the COMPASS study (2018–19; n = 73,672), four multi-level logistic regression models were developed to investigate whether physical activity lessened or worsened the odds of (1) smoking; (2) e-cigarette use; (3) cannabis use; and (4) binge drinking. Models were stratified by gender to reflect the inherent differences between genders. Models were adjusted for demographic factors and other covariates. Sport participation was consistently associated with substance use, whereas less evidence was found for meeting MVPA guidelines. Non-competitive school sport lessened the odds of cannabis use for males and females. However, non-competitive school sport only lessened the odds of e-cigarette use for females but increased the odds of binge drinking for males. Participation in competitive school sport lessened the odds of cigarette smoking but increased the odds of e-cigarette use and binge drinking for males and females. Outside of school sport lessened the odds of cigarette smoking and cannabis use but increased the odds of e-cigarette use and binge drinking for males and females. A significant moderation effect was found for males participating in sport outside of school and meeting MVPA guidelines who were at a lower risk of e-cigarette use in the presence of high levels of school connectedness. Our study provides evidence for further consideration and provision of extracurricular activities, specifically non-competitive sport, in protecting against substance use. Caution is required in claiming that sport participation or physical activity, in general, is negatively associated with substance use among youth.
Does ambient air quality standard contribute to green innovation of enterprises in China? Implications for environmental protection and public health
Authors: Zhang Zhi-feng , Xu Hao-dong , Shan Shuang-shuang , Duan Hong-yan , Lu Yu-qi , Lyu Yi-pin
Published: November 2022

In the post-COVID-19 era, environmental pollution has been a serious threat to public health. Enterprises are in urgent need of enhancing green technology innovation as the main source of pollutant emissions, and it is necessary for governments to support green innovation of enterprises to reduce pollutant emissions and promote public health. In this context, this paper investigates whether the Ambient Air Quality Standard (AAQS) implemented in 2012 in China contributes to green innovation of enterprises, to provide implications for environmental protection and public health. By using panel data of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2008 to 2020, this study adopts the difference-in-difference model to analyze the policy impact of environmental regulation on green innovation of enterprises and its internal mechanism. The results show that AAQS has significantly improved the green innovation of enterprises. Furthermore, AAQS affects the green innovation of enterprises by virtue of two mechanism paths: compliance cost effect and innovation offset effect. On the one hand, AAQS leads to an increase in production costs of enterprises, thus inhibiting green innovation activities of enterprises. On the other hand, AAQS encourages enterprises to increase R&D investment in green technology, thus enhancing their green innovation. In addition, the impact of AAQS on firms' green innovation has heterogeneous characteristics. Our findings not only enrich the studies of environmental regulation and green innovation of enterprises but also provide policymakers in China and other developing countries with implications for environmental protection and public health improvement.
Prevalence of malnutrition among old age people in Africa
Authors: Seid Ahmed Muhye , Babbel Netsanet Fentahun
Published: November 2022

Background: Improved health care and rising life expectancy are creating a growing pool of old age people all over the world, including Africa. Malnutrition in the old age people is associated with both short- and long-term negative health outcomes. However, the reported burdens of malnutrition are fragmented and inconsistent, where more compiled evidence is warranted to aid decision-makers. Hence, this paper is aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of malnutrition among old age people in Africa.

Methods: A systematic search for research reporting the prevalence of malnutrition among old age people (aged above 60 years) was conducted from HINARI/PubMed and Google Scholar databases using combination keywords. Published articles in English language starting from January 2000 to October 2021 were screened. We presented the results based on the standard for reporting systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. A random-effect meta-analysis was done to estimate the prevalence of malnutrition along with the 95% confidence intervals. The publication bias was assessed using the funnel plot.

Results: A total of 1,442 studies were retrieved based on the search strategy, where only 36 studies (n = 15,266 participants) reported from 11 African countries were included for meta-analysis. The reported prevalence of malnutrition ranges from 2.2 to 77.3% across Africa. Overall, the pooled prevalence of malnutrition was 18% (95% CI: 15-22; I2 = 98.1; p < 0.001). The prevalence is higher in the Central Africa (3.8%; 95% CI: 3.2-4.4), in the community (3.1%; 95% CI: 2.7-3.7), and among advanced age (3.5%; 95% CI: 2.3-5.4).

Conclusion: The prevalence of malnutrition in African old age people is high and differs by setting, assessment tool, and country of residence. Hence, due attention to geriatric nutrition is mandatory, and the need for a valid, reliable, and simple screening tool should be thought of.
Sexual and gender minority cultural humility training for oncology settings: An example of iterative adaptation and implementation
Authors: Kamen Charles S. , Reichelt Melhaney , Dadgostar Porooshat , Alpert Ash B. , Doucette Christopher , Vaughan Phillip , Keuroghlian Alex S. , Yousefi-Nooraie Reza
Published: November 2022

Background

Multiple national organizations recommend that cancer care providers and oncology practices be responsive to the needs of sexual and gender minority (SGM) patients. Oncology practices have attempted to incorporate this recommendation through SGM-focused cultural humility training interventions. It is unclear how best to adapt and implement such training across practices. This manuscript outlines one process for adapting a widely-used SGM training from The Fenway Institute to the context of oncology settings using the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Enhanced (FRAME) model.

Methods

We conducted training sessions in two oncology care settings: a breast oncology center and a radiation oncology department. Subsequently, we conducted in-depth interviews with the three trainers involved in adapting The Fenway Institute's training to these two practices. Two independent investigators coded the interviews using components of the FRAME model as an analytic guide.

Results

Training team members described the mechanisms by which FRAME adaption occurred both proactively and reactively; the importance of involving SGM-identified trainers of diverse backgrounds as well as champions from within oncology practices in which trainings were conducted; the importance of adapting both the context and content of training to be relevant to oncology audiences; and the ways in which fidelity to the core principles of improving health care for SGM patients was maintained throughout the process.

Discussion

SGM cultural humility training for oncology providers and staff must undergo iterative adaptation to address the political and social context of specific practice environments and advocate for broader institutional culture change to achieve responsiveness to SGM health needs.
New approach to desensitization in solid organ transplantation-imlifidase
Authors: Durlik Magdalena
Published: November 2022

The IgG-degrading enzyme derived from Streptococcus pyogenes is a recombinant cysteine protease of S. pyogenes produced in Escherichia coli that cleaves all four human subclasses of IgG with strict specificity. The proteolytic activity on IgG molecules prevents the occurrence of IgG-mediated antibody-dependent, cellular cytotoxicity and complement-mediated cytotoxicity, two processes that are critical for antibody rejection. The results from phase II studies demonstrated that desensitization with imlifidase represents a therapeutic strategy that can operationalize desensitization, allowing life-saving transplants from deceased donors (DD) and living donors (LD) to proceed in highly sensitized kidney transplant candidates with low risk of hyperacute rejection. Its action onset is rapid, allowing kidney transplantation from a deceased donor. Disadvantages of imlifidase include a quick reappearance of DSAs, which poses a risk of antibody-mediated rejection, the quick development of anti-Ides antibodies, which rules out repeated use of imlifidase and its IgG-degrading potential, limiting the use of therapeutic antibodies. Imlifdase received conditional approval on 26 August 2020 in the EU for desensitization treatment of highly sensitized adult kidney transplant patients with positive crossmatch against an available deceased donor.
Correlations between core muscle strength endurance and upper-extremity performance in adolescent male sub-elite handball players
Authors: Bauer Julian , Gruber Markus , Muehlbauer Thomas
Published: November 2022

Handball is an Olympic contact sport with high physical, tactical, and technical demands by the players. Out of the different techniques, throwing is the most important one to be able to score. The objective of the study was to investigate the relationships between core muscle strength endurance (Bourban test: ventral, dorsal and lateral chain) and shoulder mobility/stability (Upper Quarter Y Balance test [YBT-UQ]) as well as throwing velocity in adolescent male sub-elite handball players (N = 32, age: 17.1 ± 0.7 years, height: 181.8 ± 6.3 cm, BMI: 24.6 ± 4.9 kg/m2). All participants were free of injuries at least two weeks prior to the study, experienced (training experience: 8.5 ± 3.3 years) handball players who were tested mid-season in the evening of one of their training sessions. Pearson correlations were calculated for core muscle strength endurance with (a) shoulder mobility/stability and (b) throwing velocity. The throwing arm reach displayed significant correlations (both p < 0.05) between the Bourban test (ventral chain) and the inferolateral reach direction (IL) of the YBT-UQ (r = 0.41) as well as the composite score (CS) (r = 0.34). For the dorsal chain, significant correlations (all p < 0.01) were found for the medial (MD) (r = 0.42) and IL (r = 0.61) reach direction as well as the CS (r = 0.51). For the right but not the left side of the lateral chain, significant correlations (both p < 0.05) were detected for the IL reach direction (r = 0.40) and the CS (r = 0.35). For the non-throwing arm reach, significant correlations were found between the ventral chain and the MD reach direction (r = 0.53, p < 0.01) as well as the CS (r = 0.31, p < 0.05). For the dorsal chain, significant correlations (all p < 0.01) were found for the MD (r = 0.47) and IL (r = 0.44) reach direction as well as the CS (r = 0.41). For the lateral chain, significant correlations were detected for the MD (left and right side: r = 0.49, p < 0.01) and IL (left and right side: r = 0.35, p < 0.05) reach direction as well as the CS (left and right side: r = 0.37, p < 0.05). The dorsal chain but not the ventral and lateral chain of the Bourban test showed a significant correlation with throwing velocity (r = 0.33, p < 0.05). Our results indicate that better core muscle strength endurance is associated with better shoulder mobility/stability as well as partially higher throwing velocity of adolescent male sub-elite handball players. Therefore, practitioners should integrate core muscle strength endurance exercises into the training routines to improve upper-extremity performance of this target group.
Unanticipated fake-and-cut maneuvers do not increase knee abduction moments in sport-specific tasks: Implication for ACL injury prevention and risk screening
Authors: Mai Patrick , Bill Kevin , Glöckler Katharina , Claramunt-Molet Mireia , Bartsch Julia , Eggerud Mathias , Tidemann Pedersen Anniken , Sæland Fredrik , Bergh Moss Reidar , Mausehund Lasse , Willwacher Steffen , Kersting Uwe G. , Eriksrud Ola , Krosshaug Tron
Published: November 2022

Non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injuries typically occur during cutting maneuvers and are associated with high peak knee abduction moments (KAM) within early stance. To screen athletes for injury risk or quantify the efficacy of prevention programs, it may be necessary to design tasks that mimic game situations. Thus, this study compared KAMs and ranking consistency of female handball players in three sport-specific fake-and-cut tasks of increasing complexity. The biomechanics of female handball players (n = 51, mean ± SD: 66.9 ± 7.8 kg, 1.74 ± 0.06 m, 19.2 ± 3.4 years) were recorded with a 3D motion capture system and force plates during three standardized fake-and-cut tasks. Task 1 was designed as a simple pre-planned cut, task 2 included catching a ball before a pre-planned cut in front of a static defender, and task 3 was designed as an unanticipated cut with three dynamic defenders involved. Inverse dynamics were used to calculate peak KAM within the first 100 ms of stance. KAM was decomposed into the frontal plane knee joint moment arm and resultant ground reaction force. RANOVAs (α ≤ 0.05) were used to reveal differences in the KAM magnitudes, moment arm, and resultant ground reaction force for the three tasks. Spearman's rank correlations were calculated to test the ranking consistency of the athletes' KAMs. There was a significant task main effect on KAM (p = 0.02; ηp2 = 0.13). The KAM in the two complex tasks was significantly higher (task 2: 1.73 Nm/kg; task 3: 1.64 Nm/kg) than the KAM in the simplest task (task 1: 1.52 Nm/kg). The ranking of the peak KAM was consistent regardless of the task complexity. Comparing tasks 1 and 2, an increase in KAM resulted from an increased frontal plane moment arm. Comparing tasks 1 and 3, higher KAM in task 3 resulted from an interplay between both moment arm and the resultant ground reaction force. In contrast to previous studies, unanticipated cutting maneuvers did not produce the highest KAMs. These findings indicate that the players have developed an automated sport-specific cutting technique that is utilized in both pre-planned and unanticipated fake-and-cut tasks.
Cathepsin L and acute ischemic stroke: A mini-review
Authors: Ma Linda , Wu Silin , Gusdon Aaron M. , Chen Hua , Hu Heng , Paz Atzhiry S. , Aronowski Jaroslaw , Savarraj Jude P. , Kitagawa Ryan S. , Choi Huimahn A. , Ren Xuefang S.
Published: November 2022

Ischemic stroke is a serious cerebrovascular event that results in cell death, blood-brain barrier dysfunction, tissue degradation, and inflammation, often leading to permanent disability or death. As the incidence of ischemic stroke continues to rise globally, it is crucial to examine the mechanisms of the various proteins and molecules contributing to worsened patient outcome and recovery. Cathepsin L, a cysteine protease known for degrading tissues in lysosomes and elsewhere, may play a role in brain tissue loss and inflammation after stroke. Studies have suggested that cathepsin L appears in the ischemic core shortly after stroke is induced. Using immunohistochemical staining, mass spectrometry, and other assays, the increase of cathepsin L in the brain was correlated with extracellular matrix and perlecan degradation after ischemic stroke. Additionally, injection of a cathepsin L inhibitor significantly reduced brain infarct size and improved functional scores. More research is needed to elucidate cathepsin L's role in post-stroke inflammation and brain damage, in order to further explore the factors contributing to worsened patient outcome after ischemic stroke and work toward finding better therapeutic interventions.
Total hip arthroplasty for posttraumatic osteoarthritis secondary to acetabular fracture: An evidence based on 1,284 patients from 1970 to 2018
Authors: Yuan Qiling , Wang Xinyi , Cai Yongsong , Yang Mingyi , Zheng Haishi , Zhao Xiaoming , Ma Hongyun , Xu Peng
Published: November 2022

Background

Posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) can be a crippling sequela of acetabular fracture (AF), and total hip arthroplasty (THA) is often necessary to alleviate the clinical progression of symptoms. The purpose of this study was to summarize the existing clinical evidence concerning the surgical management of AF with THA through meta-analyses.

Methods

Databases were searched for articles published between 1995 and January 2022 that contained the keywords “acetabular,” “fracture,” “arthroplasty,” and “osteoarthritis.” Our study was registered in PROSPERO under number CRD42022314997.

Results

We screened 3,125 studies and included data from 31 studies with 1,284 patients. The median patient age at the time of THA was 52 years and ranged from 19 to 94 years. The pooled overall survival rate was 88% [86%–90%, 95% confidence interval (CI)] and could reach 83% at ≥15-year follow-up. For the Harris Hip Score, we pooled 22 studies with an overall mean difference of 43.25 (40.40–46.10, 95% CI; P < 0.001), indicating a large clinical effect. The pooled complications (incidence rates) across studies were: heterotopic ossification (22.53%), implant dislocation (4.66%), implant infection (3.44%), and iatrogenic nerve injury (1.07%).

Conclusion

THA in patients with PTOA following AF leads to significant improvement in symptoms and function at ≥15-year follow-up. Survival rates of implants free from re-operation or revision after THA decreased with follow-up time and could still reach 83% at ≥15-year follow-up. THA might be an effective therapeutic method for patients with PTOA due to AF.
Innovations in integrating machine learning and agent-based modeling of biomedical systems
Authors: Sivakumar Nikita , Mura Cameron , Peirce Shayn M.
Published: November 2022

Agent-based modeling (ABM) is a well-established computational paradigm for simulating complex systems in terms of the interactions between individual entities that comprise the system’s population. Machine learning (ML) refers to computational approaches whereby algorithms use statistical methods to “learn” from data on their own, i.e., without imposing any a priori model/theory onto a system or its behavior. Biological systems—ranging from molecules, to cells, to entire organisms, to whole populations and even ecosystems—consist of vast numbers of discrete entities, governed by complex webs of interactions that span various spatiotemporal scales and exhibit nonlinearity, stochasticity, and variable degrees of coupling between entities. For these reasons, the macroscopic properties and collective dynamics of biological systems are generally difficult to accurately model or predict via continuum modeling techniques and mean-field formalisms. ABM takes a “bottom-up” approach that obviates common difficulties of other modeling approaches by enabling one to relatively easily create (or at least propose, for testing) a set of well-defined “rules” to be applied to the individual entities (agents) in a system. Quantitatively evaluating a system and propagating its state over a series of discrete time-steps effectively simulates the system, allowing various observables to be computed and the system’s properties to be analyzed. Because the rules that govern an ABM can be difficult to abstract and formulate from experimental data, at least in an unbiased way, there is a uniquely synergistic opportunity to employ ML to help infer optimal, system-specific ABM rules. Once such rule-sets are devised, running ABM calculations can generate a wealth of data, and ML can be applied in that context too—for example, to generate statistical measures that accurately and meaningfully describe the stochastic outputs of a system and its properties. As an example of synergy in the other direction (from ABM to ML), ABM simulations can generate plausible (realistic) datasets for training ML algorithms (e.g., for regularization, to mitigate overfitting). In these ways, one can envision a variety of synergistic ABM⇄ML loops. After introducing some basic ideas about ABMs and ML, and their limitations, this Review describes examples of how ABM and ML have been integrated in diverse contexts, spanning spatial scales that include multicellular and tissue-scale biology to human population-level epidemiology. In so doing, we have used published studies as a guide to identify ML approaches that are well-suited to particular types of ABM applications, based on the scale of the biological system and the properties of the available data.
Palliative repeated electroporations of oral tumours in dogs: A case series
Authors: Moretti Giulia , Dentini Alfredo , Beccati Francesca , Arcelli Rolando , Matteo Irene Di , Giovannini Giuseppe , Bufalari Antonello
Published: November 2022

Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a highly developed treatment for many solid tumours that provides good local control in 80% of neoplasms in dogs. ECT can be used to treat different types of tumours, particularly as an innovative approach for non-resectable masses. As reported in the literature, electroporation-based treatments are safe, simple, fast and cost-effective treatment alternatives for selected oral and maxillofacial tumours not involving the bone in dogs (e.g., small squamous cell carcinoma or malignant melanoma). In this descriptive retrospective paper, the authors describe the outcome of various types of oral tumours treated with ECT as a palliative first line treatment or as a rescue treatment in dogs with local tumour recurrence. Nineteen dogs were included and treated with at least one session of three electroporations coupled with intravenous administration of bleomycin every 21 days. Tumour size, localization, histotype, stage, recurrence, solid tumour response evaluation criteria (RECIST), local toxicity, progression free survival (PFS) and median survival time (MST) were evaluated. The small population did not allow the analysis of the ECT response by comparing different tumour types; further studies with a larger caseload are needed. However, all dogs, despite the low MST, showed a good local response to treatment with a rapid improvement in quality of life from the first ECT application; no side effects attributable to chemotherapy have been detected and toxicity due to the electroporation was minimal and well tolerated in all dogs.
Effect of a recent parenteral dexamethasone and ketoprofen administration on the immunological diagnosis of tuberculosis in goats
Authors: Ortega Javier , de Juan Lucia , Sevilla Iker A. , Garrido Joseba M. , Roy Álvaro , Velasco Carlos , Romero Beatriz , Domínguez Mercedes , Pérez de Val Bernat , Nebot Carolina , Sáez-Llorente José Luis , Álvarez Julio , Bezos Javier
Published: November 2022

Caprine tuberculosis (TB) is a zoonosis caused by members of theMycobacterium tuberculosiscomplex (MTBC). Caprine TB eradication programmes are based mainly on intradermal tuberculin tests and slaughterhouse surveillance. Different factors may affect the performance of the TB diagnostic tests used in caprine herds and, therefore, their ability to detect infected animals. The present study evaluates the effect of the fraudulent administration of two anti-inflammatory substances, dexamethasone and ketoprofen, on the performance of the TB diagnostic techniques used in goats, as well as the suitability of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for their detection in hair samples. The animals (n= 90) were distributed in three groups: (1) a group treated with dexamethasone (n= 30); a second group treated with ketoprofen (n= 30); and a third non-treated control group (n= 30). Both dexamethasone and ketoprofen groups were subjected to intramuscular inoculation with the substances 48 h after the administration of bovine and avian purified protein derivatives (PPDs), that is, 24 h before the tests were interpreted. All the animals were subjected to the single and comparative intradermal tuberculin (SIT and CIT, respectively) tests, interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) and P22 ELISA. The number of SIT test reactors was significantly lower in the dexamethasone (p= 0.001) and ketoprofen (p< 0.001) groups 72 h after the bovine PPD inoculation compared with the control group. A significantly higher number of positive reactors to IGRA was detected within the dexamethasone group (p= 0.016) 72 h after PPD administration compared to the control group. Dexamethasone and ketoprofen detection in either hair or serum samples was challenging when using HPLC since these substances were not detected in animals whose skin fold thickness (SFT) was reduced, what could be an issue if they are used for fraudulent purposes. In conclusion, the parenteral administration of dexamethasone or ketoprofen 48 h after the PPDs administration can significantly reduce the increase in SFT (mm) and subsequently the number of positive reactors to SIT test.
A review of food additives to control the proliferation and transmission of pathogenic microorganisms with emphasis on applications to raw meat-based diets for companion animals
Authors: Kiprotich Samuel S. , Aldrich Charles G.
Published: November 2022

Raw meat-based diets (RMBDs) or sometimes described as biologically appropriate raw food (BARFs) are gaining in popularity amongst dog and cat owners. These pet guardians prefer their animals to eat minimally processed and more “natural” foods instead of highly heat-processed diets manufactured with synthetic preservatives. The market for RMBDs for dogs and cats is estimated at $33 million in the United States. This figure is likely underestimated because some pet owners feed their animals raw diets prepared at home. Despite their increasing demand, RMBDs have been plagued with numerous recalls because of contamination from foodborne pathogens like Salmonella, E. coli, or Campylobacter. Existing literature regarding mitigation strategies in RMBD's for dogs/cats are very limited. Thus, a comprehensive search for published research was conducted regarding technologies used in meat and poultry processing and raw materials tangential to this trade (e.g., meats and poultry). In this review paper, we explored multiple non-thermal processes and GRAS approved food additives that can be used as potential antimicrobials alone or in combinations to assert multiple stressors that impede microbial growth, ultimately leading to pathogen inactivation through hurdle technology. This review focuses on use of high-pressure pasteurization, organic acidulants, essential oils, and bacteriophages as possible approaches to commercially pasteurize RMBDs effectively at a relatively low cost. A summary of the different ways these technologies have been used in the past to control foodborne pathogens in meat and poultry related products and how they can be applied successfully to impede growth of enteric pathogens in commercially produced raw diets for companion animals is provided.
Patient Satisfaction With Healthcare Service Quality and Its Associated Factors at One Polyclinic in Hanoi, Vietnam
Authors: Duc Thanh Nguyen , My Anh Bui Thi , Xiem Chu Huyen , Quynh Anh Pham , Tien Pham Hung , Thi Phuong Thanh Nguyen , Huu Quang Cao , Ha Vu Thu , Thanh Hung Phung
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Patient satisfaction is one of the most important components of measuring healthcare quality.

Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the patient satisfaction scale with the quality of health services and its associated factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data on patient satisfaction with 301 outpatients at one polyclinic in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Results: The overall outpatient satisfaction was 53.5%. There were five factors (facilities, services provision results, information transparency and administrative procedures, accessibility, and interaction and communication of staff) including one major factor with high Eigenvalues coefficient, 22.5 for satisfaction with facility, and four others with lower Eigenvalues coefficient, 3.2, 2.0, 1.5, and 1.2 for satisfaction with service provision results, information transparency and administrative procedures, accessibility, and interaction and communication of staff respectively. All satisfaction-factors show internal consistency reliability, with a Cronbach’s Alpha of over 0.9. The insured are 3.5 times (95% CI: 1.9–6.2) more likely to be satisfied with health services than the uninsured.

Conclusion: The patient satisfaction measurement tool should be used for intervention to improve the quality of health services at the clinic.
A Systematic Approach to the Management of Military Human Resources through the ELECTRE-MOr Multicriteria Method
Authors: Costa Igor Pinheiro de Araújo , Terra Adilson Vilarinho , Moreira Miguel Ângelo Lellis , Pereira Maria Teresa , Fávero Luiz Paulo Lopes , Santos Marcos dos , Gomes Carlos Francisco Simões
Published: November 2022

Personnel selection is increasingly proving to be an essential factor for the success of organizations. These issues almost universally involve multiple conflicting objectives, uncertainties, costs, and benefits in decision-making. In this context, personnel assessment problems, which include several candidates as alternatives, along with several complex evaluation criteria, can be solved by applying Multicriteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods. Uncertainty and subjectivity characterize the choice of personnel for missions or promotions at the military level. In this paper, we evaluated 30 Brazilian Navy officers in the light of four criteria and 34 subcriteria. To support the decision-making process regarding the promotion of officers, we applied the ELECTRE-Mor MCDM method. We categorized the alternatives into three classes in the modeling proposed in this work, namely: Class A (Promotion by deserving), Class B (Promotion by seniority), and Class C (Military not promoted). As a result, the method presented 20% of the officers evaluated with performance corresponding to class A, 53% of the alternatives to class B, and 26.7% with performances attributed to class C. In addition, we presented a sensitivity analysis procedure through variation of the cut-off level λ, allowing decision-making on more flexible or rigorous scenarios at the discretion of the Naval High Administration. This work brings a valuable contribution to academia and society since it represents the application of an MCDM method in state of the art to contribute to solving a real problem.
Do Anatomical Differences of the Volar Rim of the Distal Radius Affect Implant Design? A Three-Dimensional Analysis of Its Anatomy and Need for Personalized Medicine
Authors: Yoneda Hidemasa , Iwatsuki Katsuyuki , Saeki Masaomi , Yamamoto Michiro , Tatebe Masahiro
Published: November 2022

The distal radius, one of the frequent sites of upper extremity fractures, includes unique anatomy referred to as the volar rim. Few studies have addressed its interindividual differences. Additionally, implants for osteosynthesis must match the anatomical structures to prevent soft tissue invasion, but no implants have focused on that so far. In this study, three-dimensional surface models were created from CT images of 101 cases. Analysis of the distal radius, including the volar rim anatomy, was performed to design plates to minimize the discrepancy between the bone anatomy and the implant. The results showed that there were considerable interindividual differences in the morphology of the distal radius, particularly in the degree of palmar protrusion of the volar rim. A moderate correlation between the width of the distal radius and the shape of the volar rim was demonstrated. Considering that variations in plate width are available for treatment of normal distal radius fractures and that the shape of the volar rim changes in correlation with the width of the bone, we infer that simply adding volar rim shape information to the current variations should suffice in preventing complications. We conclude that individualized design according to the shape of the volar rim is unnecessary in fracture surgery.
Three-Level Hybrid Envelope Tracking Supply Modulator with High-Bandwidth Wide-Output-Swing
Authors: Yang Ke , Leng Yongqing , Chen Chengying , Qiu Xin , Cui Xingli , Xu Bo , Hui Ming
Published: November 2022

Envelope tracking is a dynamic supply modulation technique, which is mainly used to improve the efficiency of radio frequency power amplifier. For 5G NR mobile devices, this paper presents an envelope tracking supply modulator which is composed of a three-level switching converter and linear amplifier (LA) in parallel. The hysteresis control method is adopted in the supply modulator to improve the bandwidth of the switching converter and the loop response speed. At the same time, a rail-to-rail input-output class AB linear amplifier is designed to achieve a wide output swing and a super source follower is proposed to reduce the output impedance of LA. Designed with the 180 nm CMOS technology, the supply modulator operated at 5G NR 100 MHz envelope signal. The output power of the modulator reaches 1.5 W for a 6 Ω load resistor and the output swing is 4.3 V at 5.0 V supply, and the maximum efficiency reaches 85%.
Predicting CO2 Emission Footprint Using AI through Machine Learning
Authors: Meng Yang , Noman Hossain
Published: November 2022

Adequate CO2 is essential for vegetation, but industrial chimneys and land, space and oceanic vehicles exert tons of excessive CO2 and are mostly responsible for the greenhouse effect, global warming and climate change. Due to COVID-19, CO2 emission was in 2020 at its lowest level compared to prior decades. However, it is unknown how long it will take to reduce CO2 emission to a tolerable point. Furthermore, it is also unknown to what extent it can increase or change in the future. Accurate forecasting of CO2 emissions has real significance for choosing the optimum ways of reducing CO2 emissions. Although some existing models have noticeable CO2 emission forecasting accuracy, the models implemented in this work have more efficacy in prediction due to incorporating COVID-19’s effect on CO2 emission. This paper implements four prediction models using SARIMA (SARIMAX) based on ARIMA. The four models are based on the time period of the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main objective of this work is to compare these four models to suggest an effective model to predict the total CO2 emissions for the future. The study forecasts global total CO2 emission from 2022 to 2027 for near future prediction, 2022 to 2054 for future prediction and 2022 to 2072 for far future prediction. Among the various error measures, mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) is chosen for accuracy comparison. The calculation yields different accuracy for the four SARIMAX models. The MAPEs for the four methods are: pre-COV (MAPE: 0.32), start-COV (MAPE: 0.28), trans-COV (MAPE: 0.19), post-COV (MAPE: 0.09). The MAPE value is relatively low for post-COV (MAPE: 0.09). Hence, it can be inferred that post-COV are suitable models to forecast the global total CO2 emission for the future. The post-COV predictions for the global total CO2 emission for the years 2022 to 2027 are: 36,218.59, 36,733.69, 37,238.29, 37,260.88, 37,674.01 and 37,921.47 million tons (MT). This study successfully predicts CO2 emission either for the COVID-19 period or the post-COVID-19 normal periods. The Machine Learning (ML) method used in this study has shown good agreement with the IPCC model in predicting the past emissions, the current emissions due to COVID-19 and the emissions of the upcoming future. These prediction results can be an asset for the decision support system to develop a suitable policy for global CO2 emission reduction. For future research, a number of other external influence variables responsible for CO2 emission can be added for finer forecasts. This research is an original work in predicting COVID-19-affected CO2 emission using AI through the ML methodology.
Identification of Factors Driving Doxorubicin-Resistant Ewing Tumor Cells to Survival
Authors: Yakushov Semyon , Menyailo Maxim , Denisov Evgeny , Karlina Irina , Zainullina Viktoria , Kirgizov Kirill , Romantsova Olga , Timashev Peter , Ulasov Ilya
Published: November 2022

Background: Ewing sarcoma (ES) cells exhibit extreme plasticity that contributes to the cell’s survival and recurrence. Although multiple studies reveal various signaling pathways mediated by the EWSR1/FLI1 fusion, the specific transcriptional control of tumor cell resistance to doxorubicin is unknown. Understanding the molecular hubs that contribute to this behavior provides a new perspective on valuable therapeutic options against tumor cells. Methods: Single-cell RNA sequencing and LC-MS/MS-based quantitative proteomics were used. Results: A goal of this study was to identify protein hubs that would help elucidate tumor resistance which prompted ES to relapse or metastasize. Several differentially expressed genes and proteins, including adhesion, cytoskeletal, and signaling molecules, were observed between embryonic fibroblasts and control and doxorubicin-treated tumor cell lines. While several cancer-associated genes/proteins exhibited similar expression across fibroblasts and non-treated cells, upregulation of some proteins belonging to metabolic, stress response, and growth pathway activation was uniquely observed in doxorubicin-treated sarcoma cells, respectively. The novel information on differentially expressed genes/proteins provides insights into the biology of ES cells, which could help elucidate mechanisms of their recurrence. Conclusions: Collectively, our results identify a novel role of cellular proteins in contributing to tumor cell resistance and escape from doxorubicin therapy and contributing to ES progression.