bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-Angle Swirling Fluidized Bed Drying Of Stingless Bees Pot-Pollen
Authors: Halim Luqman Abdul , Basrawi Firdaus , Yudin Ahmmad Shukrie Md , Azman Nurul Aini Mohd , Ramli Ahmad Syazwan
Published: January 2024

Pot-pollen is another stingless bee product, a mixture of pollen, honey, and bee enzyme stored in cerumen pots. Pot-pollen is protein rich and have therapeutic properties. However, they contain high moisture rendering them susceptible to microbial and fungi growth which will lead to spoilage without proper storage. Conventional methods to remove moisture includes sun drying, oven drying, and food dehydrators. However, they can be unhygienic, reduce pot-pollen quality, and lengthy drying time. Swirling fluidized bed dryer (SFBD) is a promising alternative as they have rapid drying time without damaging the nutrients. The addition of multi-angle swirling distributor (MASD) has the potential to improve drying performance without additional energy input. The current study aim to investigate the drying performance of swirling fluidized bed dryer with multi-angle distributor. Raw pot-pollen is dried in a lab scale SFBD at 3.0 m/s using single angle and multi-angle swirling distributors, 6767, 6730, and 6745. The results shown that the multi-angle swirling distributors 6730 and 6745 improved the drying performance of SFBD, by 17.1 % and 6.5 %, respectively. The best drying performance is shown by the 6730 distributor. Thus, multi-angle SFBD is able to rapidly dry the heat-sensitive stingless bee pot-pollen and represented significant improvement from single angle SFBD.
Mathematical Modelling of Stingless Bee Honey Dewatering using Low-Temperature Vacuum Drying with Induced Nucleation Bubbling
Authors: Ramli Ahmad Syazwan , Halim Faeeza Abdul , Halim Luqman Abdul , Basrawi Firdaus , Bakri Mohd Azwan Mohd
Published: January 2024

Low-temperature vacuum drying with induced nucleation boiling (LTVD-NB) was developed to dewater heat-sensitive materials such as stingless bee honey (SBH). However, its performance can be further optimised to achieve an efficient LTVD-NB operation. The objective of this paper is to investigate the most fitting drying model for dewatering SBH and to develop a suitable mathematical drying model that can be used to predict and optimise dewatering SBH using LTVD-NB. Established experimental data was used to develop the mathematical model. The data result showed that the logarithmic model had the best fit for drying SBH using LTVD-NB as compared to other models based on the highest value of R
2 and the lowest Root mean square, RMSE and reduced chi-square, χ
2 values which are 0.999988, 7.87E-05, and 1.41E-08, respectively. The model was further regressed to obtain an optimised mathematical model to better predict an LTVD-NB operation to dewater SBH. In conclusion, an optimised drying model to describe the dewatering process of SBH using the LTVD-NB method was able to be developed based on the multiple regression analysis of the obtained experimental data. Therefore, the drying model can predict the efficiency of this process just by giving the temperature and surface roughness values as input information.
Monitoring laser weld penetration status from the optical signal
Authors: Aleem S A A , Yusof M F M , Ishak M
Published: January 2024

Spectrometers have demonstrated their value in laser welding by facilitating the comprehension of welding dynamics and the identification of defects. However, the complex interaction between the laser beam and the material being welded makes it difficult for spectrometers to accurately capture the depth and extent of weld penetration, predominantly because plasma formation during welding interferes. This study presents an innovative approach that integrates laser technology, spectrometers, and advanced data analysis methods to classify and characterize various penetration types in pulse laser welding procedures, with notable computational efficiency. The research entailed the execution of an experiment on a boron steel plate, wherein peak power (1000-1200 kW), pulse duration (2-4 ms), and pulse repetition rate (25-50 Hz) were systematically varied to achieve diverse penetration conditions. Two categories of joints were identified based on their depth of penetration through careful analysis of the collected data. The investigation demonstrated a positive correlation between the depth of weld penetration and the increment of laser energy, with peak power ranging from 1000 kW to 1200 kW. Consequently, an elevation in light intensity was observed related to deeper weld penetration. The information is essential for understanding the relationship between laser energy and weld penetration, highlighting the importance of controlling laser parameters to achieve desired welding results. The spectrums were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to distinguish between different welding conditions. Overlap was observed between data from different weld conditions due to limitations imposed by the restricted dataset. Expanding the sample size can rectify this limitation and improve the accuracy and dependability of analytical outcomes. This study’s results provide valuable insights into optimizing welding parameters and improving understanding of the welding process, specifically in Tailor Weld Blanks. The findings offer potential for improving welding quality and strengthening lightweight components in high-performance industries like aerospace and automotive engineering.
Evaluation of Stability and Enhancement of Nano Fluid Methods
Authors: Shaalan Z.A. , Hussein A.M. , Abdullah M.Z. , Noor M.M.
Published: January 2024

Over the last ten years, there has been a substantial increase in research on nanofluids, and the findings indicate that these fluids are superior heat transfer fluids for application in engineering. The improved heat transfer is exclusively dependent on the thermal conductivity of the nanoparticles at constant particle volume concentrations and flow rates. By creating hybrid nanoparticles, one can change or vary the thermal conductivity of nanoparticles. Nanoscale particles with two or more separate components come together to form hybrid nanoparticles. Fluids made from hybrid nanoparticles are known as hybrid nanofluids. By utilizing more sophisticated materials, hybrid Nano fluids aim to significantly boost heat transmission. Results shows that the nanofluid stability is sensitive to environmental conditions including temperature, pH, and shear rate. It should be using surfactants, additives such as polymers and colloids, ultra-sonication, high shear mixing, applying magnetic field.
Wireless HVAC compressor diagnostics using state of the art machine learning-based signal analysis Z-freq 2D
Authors: Yusri Muhammad Yuszairie Bin , Ngatiman TS Dr Nor Azazi , Shamsudin Shamsul Anuar , Othman Muhammad Nur
Published: January 2024

One of the priorities in detecting a faulty car engine is through a method known as diagnostic, and it is very crucial as each diagnostic able to provide information and assessment to identify problems in the car A/C compressor. Early detection of a compressor malfunction, is a fast way to prevent any heavy maintenance of vehicles either in the short or long term. This paper introduced a new statistical method to find the faulty in the vehicle’s A/C compressor which is known as Z-freq 2D. The foundation of Z-freq 2D is involving the implementation of a Z-notch frequency domain filter. This approach was enhanced by using a special sensor that can detect two axial axes known as the Phantom Vibration Sensor specifically designed to detect and monitor the performance of the A/C compressor of the vehicle. Using the sensor, the data were recorded at numerous parameter sets of compressor speed. The analyzed data shows that Z-freq 2D coefficient is increase as the speed of the compressor increase over the duration of time. Z-freq 2D can be used to detect the malfunction and the irregularities of vibration signals, which may be indicated that the compressor is failing.
A Tribological Analysis of PAO-Based Hybrid SiO2-TiO2 Nanolubricants
Authors: Ismail R.N.R , Azmi W.H. , Safril  , Zawawi N.N.M.
Published: January 2024

Friction and wear are caused by contact between sliding surfaces over time. It is possible to reduce friction in a compressor by improving its lubrication. The nanoparticle lubrication will aid in reducing wear and friction of the piston mechanism of the compressor. This work aims to analyse the tribology properties of performance of the system employing Polyalphaolefin (PAO)-based hybrid nanolubricants. A two-step method was used to disperse SiO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles in the PAO lubricant at volume concentrations of 0.01% and 0.05% using a two-step method. Then, hybrid nanolubricants are observed visually, and their coefficient of friction (COF) is evaluated using a four-ball tribometer. The SiO2-TiO2/PAO hybrid nanolubricants were found to have a higher than 80% sedimentation ratio up to 180 hours and to be visually stable for up to 30 days. The 0.01% SiO2-TiO2/PAO has a lower COF than the base PAO 68 oil. The 0.05%, however, does not show the expected reduction. The COF ratio for volume concentrations of 0.01% and 0.05% is 0.97 and 1.01, respectively. The highest COF reduction of nanolubricants was attained up to 2.53% at 0.01% volume concentration. Therefore, 0.01% SiO2-TiO2/PAO is the ideal condition for use and is recommended for further investigations.
Hydrophobicity of laser-textured soda-lime glass
Authors: Nur Najwa K. A. , Hilmi M. , Aqida S. N. , Ismail I.
Published: January 2024

This paper studies the effect of the modified soda-lime glass surface that reduces water adhesion and raises the water contact angle by modifying the laser processing parameter. The study looked at how these variables affected the water contact angle and surface morphology. The characterization was performed using an inverted metallurgical microscope for surface morphology, and a sessile drop test setup for water contact angle measurement and bricklayer pattern with two different hatch spacings of 0.3 and 0.5 mm was used. The results revealed that the highest water contact angle achieved after surface modification for 0.3 mm was 98.97° at 1000 mm/min and 1.0 W while for 0.5 mm at 93.01°, at 600 mm/min and 1.2 W, improved its hydrophobicity from untextured glass 32.35°. Both sample patterns with 0.3 and 0.5 mm show no defect and all samples seem to have a mark from laser texturing with an increase in power, the laser mark on the surface becomes wider and the large gap between the line becomes more distinct. These findings are significant for designing hydrophobic glass surfaces using laser texturing.
Access for sale? Overlying rights, land transactions, and groundwater in California
Authors: Rempel Jenny Linder , Belfer Ella , Ray Isha , Morello-Frosch Rachel
Published: January 2024

Climate change intensifies longstanding tensions over groundwater sustainability and equity of access among users. Though private land ownership is a primary mechanism for accessing groundwater in many regions, few studies have systematically examined the extent to which farmland markets transform groundwater access patterns over time. This study begins to fill this gap by examining farmland transactions overlying groundwater from 2003–17 in California. We construct a novel dataset that downscales well construction behavior to the parcel level, and we use it to characterize changes in groundwater access patterns by buyer type on newly transacted parcels in the San Joaquin Valley groundwater basin during the 2011–17 drought. Our results demonstrate large-scale transitions in farmland ownership, with 21.1% of overlying agricultural acreage statewide sold at least once during the study period and with the highest rates of turnover occurring in critically overdrafted basins. By 2017, annual individual farmland acquisitions had halved, while acquisitions by limited liability companies increased to one-third of all overlying acres purchased. Together, these trends signal increasing corporate farmland acquisitions; new corporate farmland owners are associated with the construction, on comparable parcels, of agricultural wells 77–81 feet deeper than those drilled by new individual landowners. We discuss the implications of our findings for near-term governance of groundwater, and their relevance for understanding structural inequities in exposure to future groundwater level declines.
Modelling the daily probability of wildfire occurrence in the contiguous United States
Authors: Keeping Theodore , Harrison Sandy P , Prentice I Colin
Published: January 2024

The development of a high-quality wildfire occurrence model is an essential component in mapping present wildfire risk, and in projecting future wildfire dynamics with climate and land-use change. Here, we develop a new model for predicting the daily probability of wildfire occurrence at 0.1° (∼10 km) spatial resolution by adapting a generalised linear modelling (GLM) approach to include improvements to the variable selection procedure, identification of the range over which specific predictors are influential, and the minimisation of compression, applied in an ensemble of model runs. We develop and test the model using data from the contiguous United States. The ensemble performed well in predicting the mean geospatial patterns of fire occurrence, the interannual variability in the number of fires, and the regional variation in the seasonal cycle of wildfire. Model runs gave an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.85–0.88, indicating good predictive power. The ensemble of runs provides insight into the key predictors for wildfire occurrence in the contiguous United States. The methodology, though developed for the United States, is globally implementable.
Enhancing quality control in bioprinting through machine learning
Authors: Bonatti Amedeo Franco , Vozzi Giovanni , De Maria Carmelo
Published: January 2024

Bioprinting technologies have been extensively studied in literature to fabricate three-dimensional constructs for tissue engineering applications. However, very few examples are currently available on clinical trials using bioprinted products, due to a combination of technological challenges (i.e. difficulties in replicating the native tissue complexity, long printing times, limited choice of printable biomaterials) and regulatory barriers (i.e. no clear indication on the product classification in the current regulatory framework). In particular, quality control (QC) solutions are needed at different stages of the bioprinting workflow (including pre-process optimization, in-process monitoring, and post-process assessment) to guarantee a repeatable product which is functional and safe for the patient. In this context, machine learning (ML) algorithms can be envisioned as a promising solution for the automatization of the quality assessment, reducing the inter-batch variability and thus potentially accelerating the product clinical translation and commercialization. In this review, we comprehensively analyse the main solutions that are being developed in the bioprinting literature on QC enabled by ML, evaluating different models from a technical perspective, including the amount and type of data used, the algorithms, and performance measures. Finally, we give a perspective view on current challenges and future research directions on using these technologies to enhance the quality assessment in bioprinting.
Light switching between localized and delocalized states in chiral moiré-like photonic lattice
Authors: He Yundong , Wen Zhixi , Tong Zhenzhu , Guan Jiahao , Xin Guoguo , Zhang Wenjing , Gao Yuanmei , Qi Xinyuan
Published: January 2024

We constructed a chiral moiré-like lattice pattern by the interference between two sets of plane waves and two circular polarized beams. The study shows that the intensity distributions of the lattice pattern are a moiré-like structure in the transverse direction and a spiral structure in the longitudinal direction. By tuning the relative rotation angle between two sets of beams, moiré-like lattice pattern can be switched between periodic to aperiodic systems. Further, we numerically study the impacts of relative rotation angle, the screw pitch of the lattice waveguide, the width and incident direction of the probe beam on the light behavior in chiral moiré-like photonic lattice fabricated with photon-induction method. It turns out that light propagation can be switched between localization and delocalization. Our study enriches the physical content of moiré-like lattice patterns and paves a novel way to the light modulation in photonic lattices.
Simultaneous mapping of the magnetic field components using near-field microscopy
Authors: Merlo Juan M , Ettinger-Finley Raphael J , Carhart Madeleine Hoag , Binny Florence , Merlo-Ramírez Lázaro
Published: January 2024

In this work, we present a near-field scanning optical microscope capable of simultaneously mapping the

x
−

,

y
−

, and

z
−

components of the magnetic field generated by a set of magnetic coils in the

kHz

range. Using this device, we present two experiments: the observation of the well-known magnetic field of a circular coil and a resolution test. The observations achieved with our instrument are supported by numerically calculated simulations, which confirm the validity of our experimental results. In addition, our instrument is capable of imaging features of the order of

15

mm

, representing a resolution of

λ

/

10
000

. Our approach establishes an important avenue for the three-dimensional mapping of the electromagnetic field in any spectral range, using the correct configuration of the probe, and opens a new discussion on the resolution of scanning probe microscopes imaging more than one component of the studied field.
Reinvigorating Social Support Systems in Rural Northwestern Ghana: Towards Affective Empathy in a Neoliberal Age
Authors: Akurugu Constance Awinpoka
Published: January 2024

Scholars frequently allude to the concept of a supportive extended family system that provides a lifeline to less privileged members of society, such as the indigent and the aged. Yet, the extended family and the network of support it enables have come under immense threat from neoliberalism. This article examines the constrained role of the extended family system and its implications, based on residential ethnographic fieldwork data gathered in rural northwestern Ghana. It draws on transnational discourses on empathy and local conceptions of interdependence and unity as encapsulated by African communitarian philosophies such as Ubuntu and Te jaa bonyeni of the Waala people of northwestern Ghana to explore how to generate empathy. Neoliberal individualist values have intensely undermined the support networks of the extended family system. Te jaa bonyeni philosophy, similar to Ubuntu, and many humanistic philosophies, offers important opportunities for reinvigorating debates on African indigenous support networks as important steps towards nurturing affective empathy. This study contributes to discourses on affective empathy by connecting it to communitarianism. Cultivating empathy is necessary towards imagining forms of existence that are dignifying for the marginalized and preventing them from descending into abysmal deprivation.
From G1 to M: a comparative study of methods for identifying cell cycle phases
Authors: Guo Xinyu , Chen Liang
Published: January 2024

Accurate identification of cell cycle phases in single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data is crucial for biomedical research. Many methods have been developed to tackle this challenge, employing diverse approaches to predict cell cycle phases. In this review article, we delve into the standard processes in identifying cell cycle phases within scRNA-seq data and present several representative methods for comparison. To rigorously assess the accuracy of these methods, we propose an error function and employ multiple benchmarking datasets encompassing human and mouse data. Our evaluation results reveal a key finding: the fit between the reference data and the dataset being analyzed profoundly impacts the effectiveness of cell cycle phase identification methods. Therefore, researchers must carefully consider the compatibility between the reference data and their dataset to achieve optimal results. Furthermore, we explore the potential benefits of incorporating benchmarking data with multiple known cell cycle phases into the analysis. Merging such data with the target dataset shows promise in enhancing prediction accuracy. By shedding light on the accuracy and performance of cell cycle phase prediction methods across diverse datasets, this review aims to motivate and guide future methodological advancements. Our findings offer valuable insights for researchers seeking to improve their understanding of cellular dynamics through scRNA-seq analysis, ultimately fostering the development of more robust and widely applicable cell cycle identification methods.
Reliable method for predicting the binding affinity of RNA-small molecule interactions using machine learning
Authors: Krishnan Sowmya R , Roy Arijit , Gromiha M Michael
Published: January 2024

Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) play important roles in cellular regulation. Consequently, dysregulation of both coding and non-coding RNAs has been implicated in several disease conditions in the human body. In this regard, a growing interest has been observed to probe into the potential of RNAs to act as drug targets in disease conditions. To accelerate this search for disease-associated novel RNA targets and their small molecular inhibitors, machine learning models for binding affinity prediction were developed specific to six RNA subtypes namely, aptamers, miRNAs, repeats, ribosomal RNAs, riboswitches and viral RNAs. We found that differences in RNA sequence composition, flexibility and polar nature of RNA-binding ligands are important for predicting the binding affinity. Our method showed an average Pearson correlation (r) of 0.83 and a mean absolute error of 0.66 upon evaluation using the jack-knife test, indicating their reliability despite the low amount of data available for several RNA subtypes. Further, the models were validated with external blind test datasets, which outperform other existing quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models. We have developed a web server to host the models, RNA-Small molecule binding Affinity Predictor, which is freely available at: https://web.iitm.ac.in/bioinfo2/RSAPred/.
‘Sedative Coping’, Contextual Maturity and Institutionalization Among Prisoners Serving Life Sentences in England and Wales
Authors: Crewe Ben
Published: January 2024

Based on a longitudinal study of life-sentenced prisoners in England and Wales, this article seeks to make sense of what it characterizes as ‘sedative coping’. In doing so, it brings together analytic conclusions from the existing research literature that appear highly inconsistent, but which indicate the centrality of emotion in the experience of serving a long prison sentence. Specifically, it highlights the forms of emotion management and suppression involved in coping with the trauma of such circumstances, and the post-release impact of sustained forms of emotional self-preservation. This focus helps us better understand the connection between ‘mature coping’ in custody and the post-release difficulties that life-sentenced prisoners often describe.
Influence Maximization in Social Networks Using an Improved Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Wang Ping , Zhang Ruisheng
Published: January 2024

The influence maximization (IM) problem has received great attention in the field of social network analysis, and its analysis results can provide reliable basis for decision makers when promoting products or political viewpoints. IM problem aims to select a set of seed users from social networks and maximize the number of users expected to be influenced. Most previous studies on the IM problem focused only on the single-objective problem of maximizing the influence spread of the seed set, ignoring the cost of the seed set, which causes decision makers to be unable to develop effective management strategies. In this work, the IM problem is formulated as a multi-objective IM problem that considers the cost of the seed set. An improved multi-objective particle swarm optimization (IMOPSO) algorithm is proposed to solve this problem. In the IMOPSO algorithm, the initialization strategy of Levy flight based on degree value is used to improve the quality of the initial solution, and the local search strategy based on greedy mechanism is designed to improve the Pareto Frontier distribution and promote algorithm convergence. Experimental results on six real social networks demonstrate that the proposed IMOPSO algorithm is effective, reducing runtime while providing competitive solutions.
Lack of NAD(P)+ transhydrogenase activity in patients with primary adrenal insufficiency due to NNT variants
Authors: Francisco Annelise , Goler Ayse Mine Yilmaz , Navarro Claudia Daniele Carvalho , Onder Asan , Yildiz Melek , Kendir Demirkol Yasemin , Karademir Yilmaz Betul , Seven Menevse Tuba , Güran Tülay , Castilho Roger Frigério
Published: January 2024

Background

Pathogenic variants in the nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase gene (NNT) are a rare cause of primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI), as well as functional impairment of the gonads.

Objective

Despite the description of different homozygous and compound heterozygous NNT variants in PAI patients, the extent to which the function and expression of the mature protein are compromised remains to be clarified.

Design

The activity and expression of mitochondrial NAD(P)+ transhydrogenase (NNT) were analyzed in blood samples obtained from patients diagnosed with PAI due to genetically confirmed variants of the NNT gene (n = 5), heterozygous carriers as their parents (n = 8), and healthy controls (n = 26).

Methods

NNT activity was assessed by a reverse reaction assay standardized for digitonin-permeabilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The enzymatic assay was validated in PBMC samples from a mouse model of NNT absence. Additionally, the PBMC samples were evaluated for NNT expression by western blotting and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and for mitochondrial oxygen consumption.

Results

NNT activity was undetectable (<4% of that of healthy controls) in PBMC samples from patients, independent of the pathogenic genetic variant. In patients' parents, NNT activity was approximately half that of the healthy controls. Mature NNT protein expression was lower in patients than in the control groups, while mRNA levels varied widely among genotypes. Moreover, pathogenic NNT variants did not impair mitochondrial bioenergetic function in PBMCs.

Conclusions

The manifestation of PAI in NNT-mutated patients is associated with a complete lack of NNT activity. Evaluation of NNT activity can be useful to characterize disease-causing NNT variants.
Contact tracing in Austria, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, and Kosovo during the COVID-19 pandemic: response review and good practices
Authors: Aboushady Ahmed Taha , Blackmore Claire , Nagel Anna , Janashvili Lika , Gexha Dafina , Otorbaeva Dinagul , Bugaienko Natalia , Pebody Richard , Hegermann-Lindencrone Michala
Published: January 2024

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, effective contact tracing was recognized as a crucial public health response to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and reduce COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality, particularly before widespread vaccination. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended implementing active surveillance strategies to trace and quarantine contacts of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases.

Methods

A detailed review and analysis of the COVID-19 contact tracing responses was conducted in five European countries and territories, between March 2021 and August 2022. The countries and territories were selected to ensure geographical representation across the WHO European Region and applied a mixed-methods approach of in-depth interviews with various stakeholders across different administrative levels to identify good practices in COVID-19 contact tracing. The interviews covered 12 themes, including methods and procedures for COVID-19 contact tracing, information technology, quality assurance and key performance indicators.

Results

The findings demonstrate that the policy approach, digitalization capabilities and implementation approach varied in the countries and territories and were dynamic throughout the pandemic. The analysis revealed that some practices were applicable across all countries and territories, while others were context-specific, catering to each country’s and territory’s unique needs. The study highlighted a need for all countries to institutionalize contact tracing as an essential function of existing health systems, to digitalize contact tracing practices and processes, and to build and retain contact tracing capacities for better pandemic preparedness.

Conclusion

The lessons related to COVID-19 contact tracing should be utilized to strengthen future outbreak response operations as part of epidemic and pandemic preparedness.
Divergent effects of switching from cytology to HPV-based screening in the Nordic countries
Authors: Partanen Veli-Matti , Dillner Joakim , Tropé Ameli , Ágústsson Ágúst Ingi , Lönnberg Stefan , Heinävaara Sirpa , Anttila Ahti
Published: January 2024

Background

Cervical cytology has been the primary method of cervical cancer screening for decades. Tests that detect viral HPV are shown in several randomized trials to provide better protection against cancer compared with cytology. HPV-based screening has been implemented alongside cytology in the Nordic countries for several years. The aim of this study was to compare cytology and HPV-based screening in the colposcopy referrals and detection rates of cervical lesions.

Methods

Individual-level screening data from Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden were harmonized and aggregated locally. We utilized data for tests taken during years 2015–17 and biopsies taken during years 2015–19 to allow 24 months of follow-up. Age-standardized estimates and age-adjusted risk ratios for six different outcomes of screening management were calculated.

Results

The age-standardized colposcopy rates were higher in HPV-based testing compared with cytology in Finland (3.5% vs. 0.9%) and Norway (6.0% vs. 4.1%) but lower in Sweden (3.7% vs. 4.9%). The relative detection rate of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 and above in HPV-based testing compared with cytology was highest in Finland (RR 2.37, 95% CI 2.13–2.63) and Norway (RR 1.66, 95% CI 1.57–1.72) while in Sweden the difference was not statistically significant (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.95–1.00).

Conclusions

The effects of implementing HPV screening varied by country as different screening algorithms were implemented. HPV-based screening increases colposcopy rates mainly through referrals from increased repeat testing and detection rate is therefore significantly higher compared with cytology. Monitoring of these indicators in subsequent rounds of HPV-based screening remains essential.
Differences in transcription initiation directionality underlie distinctions between plants and animals in chromatin modification patterns at genes and cis-regulatory elements
Authors: Silver Brianna D , Willett Courtney G , Maher Kelsey A , Wang Dongxue , Deal Roger B
Published: January 2024

Transcriptional initiation is among the first regulated steps controlling eukaryotic gene expression. High-throughput profiling of fungal and animal genomes has revealed that RNA Polymerase II often initiates transcription in both directions at the promoter transcription start site, but generally only elongates productively into the gene body. Additionally, Pol II can initiate transcription in both directions at cis-regulatory elements such as enhancers. These bidirectional RNA Polymerase II initiation events can be observed directly with methods that capture nascent transcripts, and they are also revealed indirectly by the presence of transcription-associated histone modifications on both sides of the transcription start site or cis-regulatory elements. Previous studies have shown that nascent RNAs and transcription-associated histone modifications in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana accumulate mainly in the gene body, suggesting that transcription does not initiate widely in the upstream direction from genes in this plant. We compared transcription-associated histone modifications and nascent transcripts at both transcription start sites and cis-regulatory elements in A. thaliana, Drosophila melanogaster, and Homo sapiens. Our results provide evidence for mostly unidirectional RNA Polymerase II initiation at both promoters and gene-proximal cis-regulatory elements of A. thaliana, whereas bidirectional transcription initiation is observed widely at promoters in both D. melanogaster and H. sapiens, as well as cis-regulatory elements in Drosophila. Furthermore, the distribution of transcription-associated histone modifications around transcription start sites in the Oryza sativa (rice) and Glycine max (soybean) genomes suggests that unidirectional transcription initiation is the norm in these genomes as well. These results suggest that there are fundamental differences in transcriptional initiation directionality between flowering plant and metazoan genomes, which are manifested as distinct patterns of chromatin modifications around RNA polymerase initiation sites.
Hepatitis C virus point-of-care microelimination approach in a vulnerable population in the South of Spain
Authors: Pinazo-Bandera José María , Aranda Jesús , García-García Alberto Manuel , Alcántara Ramiro , Ortega-Alonso Aida , Del Campo-Herrera Enrique , Clavijo Encarnación , García-Escaño M Dolores , Ruiz Ruiz Juan Jesús , Morales-Herrera Mónica , Valle-López Vanesa , Martín-Alarcón Rosa , Viciana Isabel , Jiménez Juan Bautista , Fernández-García Felix , Toro-Ortiz Juan Pedro , Sánchez-Yáñez Elena , Álvarez-Álvarez Ismael , Andrade Raúl J , Robles-Díaz Mercedes , García-Cortés Miren
Published: January 2024

Background

Since the introduction of direct-acting antivirals, thousands of chronic hepatitis C patients have been successfully treated. However, vulnerable populations have a higher prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and face barriers that impede their access to antivirals. We carried out an HCV microelimination program focused on vulnerable population groups in Malaga.

Methods

People in drug addiction treatment centers and homeless shelters in Malaga who participated in the program between October 2020 and October 2021 were included. After providing participants with educational information on HCV, a dry drop test (DDT) was used to collect blood for subsequent screening for HCV infection. The participants who were diagnosed with HCV infection were scheduled for comprehensive healthcare assessments, including blood tests, ultrasonography, elastography, and the prescription of antivirals, all conducted in a single hospital visit. Sustained viral response (SVR) was analysed 12 weeks after end of treatment.

Results

Of the 417 persons invited to participate, 271 (65%) agreed to participate in the program. These participants were screened for HCV infection and 28 of them were diagnosed with HCV infection (10%). These hepatitis C-infected patients had a mean age of 53 ± 9 years; 86% were males and 93% were or had been drug users. Among 23 patients with HCV infection, HCV genotype 1a predominated (74%). Medical exams showed that 19% (4/21) had advanced fibrosis (F3–4), and 5% (1/21) had portal hypertension. Finally, 23 infected patients received treatment with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir and SVR was confirmed in 22 patients (96%).

Conclusions

Drug users and homeless people have a higher prevalence of HCV infection than the general population. The microelimination program with educational activity and screening tools achieved a high participation rate, easy healthcare access, and a high rate of SVR despite the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Deciphering the low-frequency seismic signals in the Weiyuan Shale gas field: implications for reservoir and structural heterogeneity
Authors: Abbas Aqeel , Yang Hongfeng , Zi Jinping
Published: January 2024

Hydraulic fracturing (HF) often stimulates the local earthquake productivity which provides a unique opportunity to characterize the crustal heterogeneities, reservoir properties and fluid injection effects. However, the velocity models acquired solely based on the arrival time records are often undermined due to the seismic network coverage and interpolation techniques. Instead, we adopt the waveform-based approach to apprehend; (1) structural heterogeneities, (2) reservoir distribution and (3) signatures of the injected fluid in the Weiyuan shale gas field. We categorize the waveforms into dominant high and low frequencies based on the qualitative inspection and frequency index analysis of the seismic waveforms. We first inspect the waveform to access the potential controlling mechanisms (source, site and path effects) at both single and multiple stations in different azimuthal orientations. As a result, we find the path effect as a dominant factor to influence the waveform characteristics, for example S-wave amplitude, and frequency. Subsequently, to localize the path effect, we conduct an in-depth examination of events within 10 km of each seismic station and classify the waveform records using their frequency indices. Notably, certain stations record a significant proportion of low-frequency waveforms (LFWs, up to 20 per cent), while others have limited occurrences (∼1 per cent) indicating suspected anomalous zones. Afterward, we identify two suspected anomalous zones based on LFWs intensity and ray tracing map. Both zones are in close proximity to fault zones and preserved reservoirs with no HF activities, where fault damage zones or the fluid-rich reservoir may contribute to our observed LFWs.
Pindel-TD: A Tandem Duplication Detector Based on A Pattern Growth Approach
Authors: Yang Xiaofei , Zheng Gaoyang , Jia Peng , Wang Songbo , Ye Kai
Published: January 2024

Tandem duplication (TD) is a major type of structural variations (SVs) that plays an important role in novel gene formation and human diseases. However, TDs are often missed or incorrectly classified as insertions by most modern SV detection methods due to the lack of specialized operation on TD-related mutational signals. Herein, we developed a TD detection module for the Pindel tool, referred to as Pindel-TD, based on a TD-specific pattern growth approach. Pindel-TD is capable of detecting TDs with a wide size range at single nucleotide resolution. Using simulated and real read data from HG002, we demonstrated that Pindel-TD outperforms other leading methods in terms of precision, recall, F1-score, and robustness. Furthermore, by applying Pindel-TD to data generated from the K562 cancer cell line, we identified a TD located at the seventh exon of SAGE1, providing an explanation for its high expression. Pindel-TD is available for non-commercial use at https://github.com/xjtu-omics/pindel.
Making development assistance work for Africa: from aid-dependent disease control to the new public health order
Authors: Nonvignon Justice , Soucat Agnès , Ofori-Adu Paulina , Adeyi Olusoji
Published: January 2024

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has revealed the fragility of pre-crisis African health systems, in which too little was invested over the past decades. Yet, development assistance for health (DAH) more than doubled between 2000 and 2020, raising questions about the role and effectiveness of DAH in triggering and sustaining health systems investments. This paper analyses the inter-regional variations and trends of DAH in Africa in relation to some key indicators of health system financing and service delivery performance, examining (1) the trends of DAH in the five regional economic communities of Africa since 2000; (2) the relationship between DAH spending and health system performance indicators and (3) the quantitative and qualitative dimensions of aid substitution for domestic financing, policy-making and accountability. Africa is diverse and the health financing picture has evolved differently in its subregions. DAH represents 10% of total spending in Africa in 2020, but DAH benefitted Southern Africa significantly more than other regions over the past two decades. Results in terms of progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) are slightly associated with DAH. Overall, DAH may also have substituted for public domestic funding and undermined the formation of sustainable UHC financing models. As the COVID-19 crisis hit, DAH did not increase at the country level. We conclude that the current architecture of official development assistance (ODA) is no longer fit for purpose. It requires urgent transformation to place countries at the centre of its use. Domestic financing of public health institutions should be at the core of African social contracts. We call for a deliberate reassessment of ODA modalities, repurposing DAH on what it could sustainably finance. Finally, we call for a new transparent framework to monitor DAH that captures its contribution to building institutions and systems.
Factors impacting sustained coverage in the context of donor transitions: experience from Sri Lanka
Authors: Perera Prasadini N , Amarasinghe Sarasi N , Fonseka Sachini H , Abeysinghe Nihal , Rannan-Eliya Ravindra P
Published: January 2024

Although not reliant on donor funding for health, the external assistance that Sri Lanka receives contributes to the improvement of the health system and health outcomes. In this study, we evaluated transition experiences of the expanded programme on immunization (EPI) that received Gavi funding to expand the vaccine portfolio and the Anti-Malaria Campaign (AMC) that received funding from the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to scale-up interventions to target and achieve malaria elimination. We assessed if EPI and AMC programmes were able to sustain coverage of previously donor-funded interventions post-transition and explain the facilitators and barriers that contribute to this. We used a mixed methods approach using quantitative data to assess coverage indicators and the financing mix of the health programmes and qualitative analysis guided by a framework informed by the Walt and Gilson policy triangle that brought together document review and in-depth interviews to identify facilitators and barriers to transition success. The EPI programme showed sustained coverage of Gavi-funded vaccines post-transition and the funding gap was bridged by mobilizing domestic financing facilitated by the Gavi co-financing mechanism, full integration within existing service delivery structures, well-established and favourable pharmaceutical procurement processes for the public sector and stewardship and financial advocacy by technically competent managers. Although the absence of indigenous cases of malaria since 2012 suggests overall programme success, the AMC showed mixed transition success in relation to its different programme components. Donor-supported programme components requiring mobilization of operational expenses, facilitated by early financial planning, were successfully transitioned (e.g. entomological and parasitological surveillance) given COVID-19-related constraints. Other key programme components, such as research, training, education and awareness that are dependent on non-operational expenses are lagging behind. Additionally, concerns of AMC’s future financial sustainability within the current structure remain in the context of low malaria burden.
Adjustments in purchasing arrangements to support the COVID-19 health sector response: evidence from eight middle-income countries
Authors: Parmar Divya , Mathauer Inke , Bloom Danielle , Dkhimi Fahdi , Abuosi Aaron Asibi , Chen Dorothee , Chukwuma Adanna , de Claro Vergil , Comsa Radu , Domingo Albert Francis , Doroshenko Olena , Gong Estelle , Goroshko Alona , Nketiah-Amponsah Edward , Lylozian Hratchia , Nkangu Miriam , Onwujekwe Obinna , Obikeze Obioma , Pattnaik Anooj , Rivillas Juan Carlos , Tapkigen Janet , Vîlcu Ileana , Wang Huihui , Wee Co Pura Angela
Published: January 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered several changes in countries’ health purchasing arrangements to accompany the adjustments in service delivery in order to meet the urgent and additional demands for COVID-19-related services. However, evidence on how these adjustments have played out in low- and middle-income countries is scarce. This paper provides a synthesis of a multi-country study of the adjustments in purchasing arrangements for the COVID-19 health sector response in eight middle-income countries (Armenia, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Philippines, Romania and Ukraine). We use secondary data assembled by country teams, as well as applied thematic analysis to examine the adjustments made to funding arrangements, benefits packages, provider payments, contracting, information management systems and governance arrangements as well as related implementation challenges. Our findings show that all countries in the study adjusted their health purchasing arrangements to varying degrees. While the majority of countries expanded their benefit packages and several adjusted payment methods to provide selected COVID-19 services, only half could provide these services free of charge. Many countries also streamlined their processes for contracting and accrediting health providers, thereby reducing administrative hurdles. In conclusion, it was important for the countries to adjust their health purchasing arrangements so that they could adequately respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, but in some countries financing challenges resulted in issues with equity and access. However, it is uncertain whether these adjustments can and will be sustained over time, even where they have potential to contribute to making purchasing more strategic to improve efficiency, quality and equitable access in the long run.
The Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis: Identifying Structural Disorders
Authors: Schwartzberg David M , Kayal Maia , Barnes Edward L
Published: January 2024

Lay Summary

Chronic disorders of a pelvic pouch may result from structural complications secondary to postoperative surgical complications which manifest as a variety of symptoms. Knowing the crucial pitfalls of pouch construction can guide treatment options in patients suffering from signs of pouch failure.
¿Cómo pueden fracasar los procesos constituyentes?How can constitution-making processes fail?
Authors: Verdugo Sergio , Prieto Marcela
Published: January 2024

This introduction to the symposium presents some preliminary insights on the constitution-making literature, identifies some of the gaps in the field, explains the purposes of the symposium, and provides an overview of all the symposium contributions.